Of that statement, I could make no sense. Admittedly, Warren Whatmore did wear thick-rimmed glasses, but obviously they needed to be thicker. It was only when I looked back through those thick lenses and saw the strange look in Warren William’s exaggerated eyes that I began to feel uneasy about this.
 “I suppose you don’t find me attractive at all,” Warren said.

… “Is there any point to which you wish to draw my attention?”
“To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”
“The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
“That was the curious incident.”…

... The Silver Blaze.
 

 

 

 

… “If you wish to preserve your incognito,” said Holmes, smiling. “I should suggest that you cease to write your name upon the lining of your hat, or else turn the crown toward the person you are addressing…”

… The Yellow Face.
 

… “My dear fellow, you know my methods.”

… The Stockbroker’s Clerk.
 

 

 

 

 

 

… “I was never a very social person, Watson…” … The ‘Gloria Scott’

 

 

… “Ah, that is a question that will take some time to answer.” ...

… The Musgrave Ritual.
 

 

 

 

 

… “I don’t think you need alarm yourself,” said I. “I have usually found that there is method in his madness.”
“Some folk might say there is madness in his method,” muttered the Inspector. …

... The Reigate Squires.
 

 

 

 

… “Excellent,” I cried. “Elementary,” said he.
Which was as close as Holmes went to saying “Elementary, my dear Watson.”, in The Crooked Man.
 

 

… “Two of these have been smoked from a holder and two without,” said he. “Two have been cut by a not very sharp knife, and two have their ends bitten off by a set of excellent teeth. This is no suicide, Mr. Lanner. It is a very deeply planned and cold-blooded murder.” … ...The Resident Patient.

 

… “My dear Watson,” said he. “I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues.” …

... The Greek Interpreter.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… “There! There!” said Holmes, soothingly, patting him on the shoulder. “It was bad to spring it on you like this; but Watson here will tell you that I never can resist a touch of the dramatic.” …

... The Naval Treaty
 

 

… “He is the Napoleon of crime.” …

... The Final Problem.

 

   It is at the end of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, the second volume of stories, that Holmes goes over the Reichenback Falls in the clutches of Professor Moriaty, and Doyle hoped himself rid of the man forever, even more so than did the villains of London (not to mention certain Police Inspectors). In fact there is every sign that the writer was running out of ideas here.

   Amusingly, H. G. Wells in his novel The Wheels of Chance, several times refers to the hero making use of the deductive powers of the recently deceased Sherlock, especially because that book was published in 1898, five years after his ‘death’. But there is nothing more difficult to kill than an immortal character, as Doyle would soon discover. You have to wonder if Doyle ever apologised to Wells for leading him up the garden path like that.