Sherlock Holmes & Scandal

 Sherlock 6 is my latest book which consists of Sherlock Holmes adventures told in the canonical tradition of the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In The Hound of the Baskervilles Watson alludes to Sherlock Holmes's involvement in the affair of exposing the atrocious conduct of Colonel Upwood in connection with the famous card scandal of the Nonpareil Club.

In this particular story I blend two famous Victorian scandals: The Royal Baccarat Scandal of 1890, sometimes referred to as the Tranby Croft Affair, involved some royal personages that culminated in a trial.

The second Victorian scandal was the Cleveland Street scandal of 1889. Police discovered a male brothel, and the government was accused of covering it up to protect royal personages and prominent patrons.

Here is an excerpt from a chapter in Sherlock 6 entitled The Nonpareil Club Scandal. 

IF I WERE to choose the one thing that helped make England

notable among great nations, I would have to say that it was the

spirit of Victorian morality inspired by that distinguished lady

who had sat upon the throne for many decades. For me she

was the only queen I had ever known, and was herself,

responsible for England’s code of truthfulness, duty to one’s

country, personal responsibility and a strong work ethic.

Along with those qualities was a chivalric ideal left over from

our illustrious past, along with a disdain and repulsion for law

breakers and those who indulged in sexual promiscuity.

    Many in England, regardless of their social standing, found

their strength and guidance for British moral behaviour in their

religion and in the good Book. One could find solace in these

societal norms and strict codes of conduct which became

ingrained in the British heart and mind. Many lived out these

mores with personal pride, and accepted them as a way of life.              

    Then there was Sherlock Holmes. 

    The London consultant, as I have stated elsewhere, loathed

certain forms of society with his whole Bohemian soul. I like to

think that I had a somewhat positive influence upon him in the

few years we spent together, but more often than not Holmes

fought against convention. He would keep irregular hours,

sometimes sleeping till noon. He could be the most untidy

person, allowing our rooms to degenerate into disarray.

Holmes could be sullen and taciturn one minute and launch

into a lengthy discourse on medieval architecture the next.

He could be quite charming to a young lady who came to

consult him on a minor problem, but be dismissive to heads

of state who graced our Baker Street room and sought his

counsel upon a pressing problem of national importance.

    Holmes was quite brilliant though, and through our long

association I took him to be unparalleled in his abilities.

    It was November 16, 1888, when I first learned of The

Nonpareil Club, and now that a full decade has passed,

I feel secure to record how a scandal shocked London,

and brought an end to this prestigious club.