It was long after our second departure from London and the reported deaths of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Professor James Moriarty that we received a letter from Terai which has been reproduced below:

Dear Miss Adler,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you have not been forced to spend too long awaiting its arrival. I confess I must share in the blame for the delay. You may imagine my surprise upon receiving such a message after not hearing the name Sherlock Holmes for many years. I do not know if he is still the same man as the one I knew all those years ago, but I will endeavour to answer your entreaties as honestly as I can.

He was as dear a friend as ever I have known. If he has told you about me, then I hope he has recounted how we met when my dog bit his ankle. It was an uncommon way of making a friend and I doubt he would recommend it, but I believe he eventually came to appreciate my overzealous canine companion for the uncommon friendship that resulted from the incident, if nothing else. We were both friendless aside from the other throughout our time at university and I am afraid I left him alone once more with my sudden departure. It is no small relief to hear that he has found such companionship in my absence, though perhaps I should not flatter myself to think that it was so unlikely.

Your letter surprised me, not only on account of the subject of whom I have not heard in a long time, but also because I would not have expected Sherlock Holmes to ever marry. In all the time I knew him, he had no interest in women and on the few occasions he was forced to interact with them he expressed a general disdain for womankind in addition to his usual dismissal of all who were not himself. If he has changed in that regard, then I can only say that it is for the best.

Neither of us were easy fellows to get along with. In truth, we were both likely culpable for our own isolation. Sherlock Holmes may have said he preferred solitude to foolish company, but in truth he was as lonely as I. He has always needed an audience for his spectacular deductions, which he frequently enjoyed making to my amusement and the dismay of our classmates.

It is difficult not to get lost in reminiscences. It has been a long time since I have had the occasion to speak of Sherlock Holmes. I can but wonder how it was that he spoke of me - well enough for you to turn to me at least. I do not know how much use my words may be to you. I know nothing of Dr. Watson or his friendship with Sherlock Holmes. I can only surmise based on our own friendship, as far removed as we both are from it now.

In an attempt to answer your query, I wonder what he makes of Dr. Watson's wife. Though at times I felt as though I was taken for granted, if my attention began to stray he would suddenly attempt to make up for his neglect many fold, never to the advantage of any other with whom I had begun to socialise. My behaviour was hardly better; we were both insecure in our youth, but I wonder if his jealousy has not reared its head again.

The truth of the matter is that all I can give you is tales of Sherlock Holmes's youth - his many flaws and perhaps even a few of his better qualities. But for all that he is, he has never been so self-sacrificing, nor so malicious as to burden himself with a woman if he was not absolutely certain that she would not be a burden to him. I would have never imagined him marrying, but if that is what he has chosen to do, then I trust that his reason is good and that he will do everything in his considerable power to make you happy. At times he will fail, but I have little doubt that he is a far better person now than he was when I knew him and that he will grow as you do. He was certainly a better man by the time I left than when I met him.

So all I can do is congratulate you both on your engagement, and if you are now married, that as well, and send my very best wishes to Sherlock Holmes.

Always your obedient servant,

Victor Trevor

Note: Thank you very much for reading a story that was very long in the making!

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