From A Very Holmesian Christmas: Something Borrowed, Something Blue: Holmes and Watson go undercover at a wedding to catch a conman.


"Four marriages, Holmes?"

Holmes nodded. "Mr. Dankworth, or rather Culpepper, as he has styled himself to avoid detection, has indeed had four previous marriages, each to a wealthy widow. Each time, shortly after the marriage, the fiend has his wife committed to a sanitarium."

"But in order to marry the next, the first would have to —"

"Die, Watson," Holmes said calmly, straightening his bow tie. "Indeed. Each unlucky lady has died within a few months of being committed."

"Then Ms. Sloan is in terrible danger!"

"Which is why," Holmes said, turning away from the mirror. For the first time, I noted that the cut of his morning jacket was more than usually fashionable — Holmes as a rule did not greatly care about these things — and made of a much finer cloth. "I, in the person of Ms. Sloan's long-lost and incurably wealthy uncle, am prepared to offer alternatives. You, of course, shall impersonate my solicitor."

I sighed; there was no point in protesting. Not only would it do no good, but I was seized with a desire to help the unfortunate lady.

"Very well, Holmes, I shall trust your judgment."