#the disappearance of lady frances carfax

[holmosexualitea]

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

[thefisherqueen]

Sherlock Holmes was too irritable for conversation and too restless for sleep. I left him smoking hard, with his heavy, dark brows knotted together, and his long, nervous fingers tapping upon the arms of his chair, as he turned over in his mind every possible solution of the mystery. Several times in the course of the night I heard him prowling about the house. Finally, just after I had been called in the morning, he rushed into my room. He was in his dressing-gown, but his pale, hollow-eyed face told me that his night had been a sleepless one.

Sherlock 'cold rational machine without a heart' Holmes cares so much he's sleepless with worry

[ineffabletwaddle13]

Holmes tapping his fingers on things such as a book, his lip, his tummy, a piece of paper, a picture frame, his thigh, plus tapping his pipe on a map.

Holmes in the books by Arthur Conan Doyle also taps his fingers on things a lot:

The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington plans: “He sat lost in thought, tapping his fingers on the table”... “ tapping the furniture”

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax: “his long, nervous fingers tapping upon the arms of his chair"

His last bow: “Holmes, tapping the valise”

The Adventure of the Empty House: “More than once he fidgeted with his feet and tapped rapidly with his fingers upon the wall”

A Study In Scarlet: “He gnawed his lip, drummed his fingers upon the table, and showed every other symptom of acute impatience”

The Problem of Thor Bridge: “in his nervous restlessness, he could not sit still, but paced the carriage or drummed with his long, sensitive fingers upon the cushions beside him”

[47gaslamps]

Poor Holy Peters, born too late to get in on the action

[blistering-typhoons]

really like granada's the disappearance of lady frances carfax but cannot articulate why, because how do you say 'i like seeing my favourite guy in distress' without sounding massively unwell

[jelloduckie]

Watson the dangerous ruffian <3

HE'S ALSO NOT SAYING THAT HE ISN'T A BURGLER

[mariana-oconnor]

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax pt 1

Well, that title is a little different from the usual ones.

“The bath!” he said; “the bath! Why the relaxing and expensive Turkish rather than the invigorating home-made article?”

So Watson has been to the Turkish baths? As part of a 'alternative' lifestyle. Right. Got it. Okay then.

Nice to have an introduction of Holmes teasing Watson with deductions about him.

“One of the most dangerous classes in the world,” said he, “is the drifting and friendless woman. She is the most harmless and often the most useful of mortals, but she is the inevitable inciter of crime in others."

I'd like to congratulate Holmes here on giving such an incredible example of victim blaming. Just, beautifully done. Pure, unsullied victim blaming. And in such a way that it blames all single female victims. Bravo.

"There is one correspondent who is a sure draw, Watson. That is the bank. Single ladies must live, and their passbooks are compressed diaries."

I assume that this is specifically vs married ladies who would not have to handle their own money, but the way it's phrased does make me chuckle. Because no one else must live except Single ladies, and no one else uses banks.

"Besides, on general principles it is best that I should not leave the country. Scotland Yard feels lonely without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the criminal classes."

Lestrade when Sherlock goes away.

So Holmes is just sending Watson on holiday? Is this just because Watson's feeling rheumatic and old? Is there even a case? Historically, though, Watson has never done all too well on his own - at least according to Holmes. He usually misses every piece of information Holmes would like him to get.

Marie Devine, the maid, was as popular as her mistress. She was actually engaged to one of the head waiters in the hotel...

That explains the money given to her, then.

He connected the sudden departure with the visit to the hotel a day or two before of a tall, dark, bearded man. “Un sauvage—un véritable sauvage!” cried Jules Vibart.

Do we have anyone else's word about this other than the maid and her waiter's?

Only one thing Jules would not discuss. That was the reason why Marie had left her mistress.

So it... wasn't to marry him? That seems like a reason to me, but I don't really know, I suppose. I would have assumed she just left because she wanted to get married to someone who loved in Lausanne. It would definitely be easier if she didn't have to leave Lausanne whenever Lady Frances wanted.

While there she had made the acquaintance of a Dr. Shlessinger and his wife, a missionary from South America. Like most lonely ladies, Lady Frances found her comfort and occupation in religion. Dr. Shlessinger's remarkable personality, his whole hearted devotion, and the fact that he was recovering from a disease contracted in the exercise of his apostolic duties affected her deeply. She had helped Mrs. Shlessinger in the nursing of the convalescent saint.

These people seem suspicious. But I can't say why. Maybe just because they seem too religious to be true. A disease contracted in the exercise of his duties? It just kind of feels like a scam to me. Maybe I'm wrong.

“None; but he was an Englishman, though of an unusual type.” “A savage?” said I, linking my facts after the fashion of my illustrious friend.

I mean... objection: leading the witness springs to mind. Don't give a person a description, ask them for a description, Watson.

Already the mystery began to define itself, as figures grow clearer with the lifting of a fog.

I'm pretty sure you're just creating a whole new smoke cloud to add to the fog so you can see even less, but sure.

I'm not 100% convinced this savage wasn't Holmes himself in disguise, but I am a very suspicious person.

In reply I had a telegram asking for a description of Dr. Shlessinger's left ear. Holmes's ideas of humour are strange and occasionally offensive, so I took no notice of his ill-timed jest...

I don't think that was a joke, Watson. I think he actually wanted to know about the guy's ear.

“You are an Englishman,” I said. “What if I am?” he asked with a most villainous scowl. “May I ask what your name is?” “No, you may not,” said he with decision. The situation was awkward, but the most direct way is often the best.

You've already been fairly direct, Watson. Running up to a random person and declaring their nationality without even stopping to say bonjour is kind of rude.

And now you're getting attacked.

“Well, Watson,” said he, “a very pretty hash you have made of it! I rather think you had better come back with me to London by the night express.”

I mean, I hate to say I told you so, Watson but I really did tell you so. Holmes, why do you let Watson go unsupervised when he never manages to do what you want? I know Lestrade would pine without you, but I'm sure he could cope for a few weeks. Probably.

Current theory is that Holmes only sent Watson so he could get some fresh Alpine air. As to what happened to Lady Frances, I have no idea. But I think maybe the 'savage' is on her side, not against her.

[hechiima]

Love stories where Watson is just going fully feral. I just watched the Lady Frances Carfax episode and the bank scene was so funny. Holmes takes his eyes off Watson for a second to talk to the manager and Watson's already downstairs tackling someone. Good for him.

[red-umbrella-811]

Holmes never thinks that tho :(

[hitchell-mope]

Ooooh. She’s been abducted

[sherlockianscholar]

when holmes' tender side really jumps out <3

[thefisherqueen]

I turned to thank my preserver, who stood beside me in the roadway.

“Well, Watson,” said he, “a very pretty hash you have made of it! I rather think you had better come back with me to London by the night express.”

It was Holmes who saved him! :) :) So glad Watson isn't alone anymore. A bit dissapointed, however, at today's lack of heartfelt emotions and love realisations and "for god's sake, say that you're not hurt!" Would have loved another 'It was worth it being strangled..." xD

[ineffabletwaddle13]

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax by Arthur Conan Doyle: “I [Watson] was reclining”

[47gaslamps]

Isn't there... you know... a doctor in in the room? A medical professional, with no particular boundary issues toward the woman in need of medical assistance?

Philip Green has shown himself to have genuine sacrificial love for Lady Frances. It could happen on its own. But the matchmaking from Holmes to force the issue is not appreciated. By B-G chronology, knowing what makes for a healthy marriage is the one thing he's actually gotten worse at since the early days.

[lexie-squirrel]

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax illustration by Frederic Dorr Steele (1911)

[tremendously-crazy]

pov: the solitary cyclist and the disappearance of lady frances carfax