The Beryl Coronet - reread

[mightymads]

A few notes on this story. For some reason, I don’t have much to submit when it’s my turn to write a post XD Nevertheless, I learned an important detail for writing while reading BERY. Had to go through all of my fics and fix it, d’oh! But let’s start from the beginning.

Holmes & Watson. Their interaction is sweet and lovely in this story too, as it was in the previous ones.

- There’s Watson’s dry humour: “Holmes, here is a madman coming along...”;

- His faith in Holmes which is surely a powerful emotional support for Sherlock: “I had such faith in Holmes’s judgment...” Despite seeing no way out of the situation, he believes in Holmes and relies on him to find a solution without a shade of doubt;

- Watson easily reads every Holmes’s mood. Despite not knowing what exactly is on Holmes’s mind, he can see the gears in his head working and can tell whether Holmes has a progress in his investigation or not;

- This story is also a rare instance when Watson actually tries to prod Holmes with questions about the case but Holmes is evasive. Usually Watson just waits when Holmes is ready to tell all;

- We also get a glimpse of Watson’s circadian rhythm. In the previous stories we observed that he is a late riser, 7.15 in the morning being outrageously early for him. Here he waits for Holmes until midnight and then comes down for breakfast after nine which is quite late. It seems like both Holmes and he are night creatures when given a preference.

Holmes, from his side values Watson’s presence highly. He insists on Watson’s accompanying him to Mr. Holder’s house and expresses his regret when he can’t take Watson along with him on an outing to investigate further. As always, they work smoothly as a team: Watson does a small talk part with Mr. Holder which allows Holmes to think and spares him being distracted by the chatty client.

- This story is another proof that Holmes doesn’t forget entirely about food when he is done with his thinking. He makes himself a sandwich before going out;

- I rather liked Holmes’s playfulness when Holmes is in a good mood: “However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly respectable self.”

- And again Holmes is very compassionate and empathetic in this story. Holmes does everything do soothe the agitated Mr. Holder when he first comes to Baker Street. Holmes makes him comfortable and talks to him gently. He clearly knows how to handle a person in distress. “The cold jerk” stereotype really must go.

- The minor point which I found important: Holmes’s bedroom is also upstairs, most likely next to Watson’s, and not on the same floor as the sitting-room. “He hurried to his chamber and was down again in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer.” It is even more convenient for shippy fics. Their rooms are adjacent which makes a rather short, inconspicuous trip at night.

The case. I would have never entrusted any precious valuables of my own into Mr. Holder’s care. What was the point in carrying the coronet with him? Someone could watch him and attack him on the street. He told about the coronet to his family members, knowing that at least one of them has money issues. He put the coronet into a place which practically begs to be burgled! A soundless lock which can be opened with any key, really?

In this story a man takes the blame to protect the lady he loves, just like in BOSC. Arthur Holder, being ACD’s namesake, seems to have similar ideas about chivalry which overrules common sense. This is also an example of ACD’s misogynistic views: not only women can betray their family for a lover. This time, though, Holmes does express overtly his prejudice against women while in most stories he is nice to them and we are just told by Watson that he doesn’t like them.

And lastly, this Sidney Paget illustration. Mary Holder ignores Watson, and Watson seems so pissed off that he is about to hit her with a chair XD

Comments

[luthienberen]

Also, that illustration and your commentary! Hilarious. Watson evidently needs some attention 😜

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

methylviolet10b has done a nice re-working of this case.

The Adventure of the Calamitous Collateral (9331 words) by methylviolet10b
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Additional Tags: Case Fic, Canon-Typical Violence, Period Typical Attitudes, Holmes being devious, Watson being stalwart, References to real persons and institutions, And also lots of fictitious persons and institutions
Summary:

A client comes to Holmes hoping to prevent a crime.

[luthienberen]

Sorry for the spam...thought it better than constant edits!

We also get a glimpse of Watson’s circadian rhythm. In the previous stories we observed that he is a late riser, 7.15 in the morning being outrageously early for him. Here he waits for Holmes until midnight and then comes down for breakfast after nine which is quite late. It seems like both Holmes and he are night creatures when given a preference.

Re-reading the canon has surprised me at how late both men stay up! I would be flagging lol.


Also, it was nice to discover that Holmes doesn't always neglect food or nourishment when on a case. I do wonder whether that is also something blown out of proportion by fanon? Be good to find out as we progress and refresh our / my memories!

[mightymads]

I agree that the coronet was submitted by a very high profile person. Didn't think much about it, to be honest. The possibility of a grand scandal might hint at the royal involvement.

Yes, it's strange that Mr. Holder didn't trust the security of his own bank. That makes it rather questionable and unfavourable for his clients.

Interesting to know that you don't find this story misogynistic. You're right, it's up to a personal interpretation. "The Greek Interpreter" episode of the Granada left a bad taste in my mouth regarding the way they treated the heroine. Her characterisation was borrowed from this story which was rather unfair.

[mightymads]

Yeah, weird, isn't it? I wonder what Mr. Paget was thinking 😆

[mightymads]

Oh yes, thank you for the rec! A great story where Miss Holder is handled so much better :)

[mightymads]

No problem at all! It's great to have your comments 😊 Agreed, re-reading is very helpful to dispel one's own misconceptions and set things right. Been certainly helpful to me!

[luthienberen]

I think it merely stuck out for me re: who the client may be due to it being my first reading (or at least to my knowledge ah), so it made an impression. Hmmm...now I need a fanfic about who the gentleman was, why he needed the money so quickly and what he thought at receiving a damaged coronet in return?

Yes, it's strange that Mr. Holder didn't trust the security of his own bank. That makes it rather questionable and unfavourable for his clients.

Excellent point! If he is so concerned, what does that say overall about his bank and other clients' safety of their deposits?

Oh gosh, "The Greek Interpreter" episode of Granada left a bad taste in my mouth as well. There was no need to change that and I wonder why they did. :/ I agree, they borrowed he characterisation from here when in the canon she avenged her brother and herself. Still gets me :O

[luthienberen]

I do wonder! ;P (Out of season icon, but it suited the comment so...)

[mightymads]

I think Mr. Holder fixed the coronet at his own expense. The main crux, as I understand, was that the gems were unique, and any replacement would be noticeable at once.

Also, this is another case which was supposed to be confidential but Watson wrote a story about it. Perhaps Mr. Holder's business did go down eventually?

[luthienberen]

Ah thanks for that suggestion mightymads! Makes sense :-).

I think you're right re confidentiality. Society then would surely have had a good idea as to who the client was no matter the era, and the potential damage to Mr Holder's bank due to, in essence, this exposé could be significant. Then again, Watson offers no date for this story (unless I'm mistaken?), only that it is February.

We can infer it is is early in their association and pre-marriage if one adheres to Watson's marrying. Yet Holmes' reputation is obviously well established due to the police recommending him. So, slightly conflicting as I had (perhaps erroneously) the impression that Watson's writings had some influence on Holmes' career. However, if Watson is publishing long after the fact this is not the case entirely.

Perhaps at the time of writing sufficient time had passed to publish, along with, as you propose, that Mr Holder's business was in dire straits or of course a pseudonym was used by Watson to protect Mr Holder? But...Watson refers to a well-known bank so...conflicting 🤣!

[luthienberen]

Thanks mightymads 😊

[mightymads]

Yes, it would be difficult to mistake Mr. Holder for a random person since Watson describes him as “the senior partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City of London”.

Since Mr. Holder’s son was not of a business turn and could not continue his business, it us very likely that either Mr. Holder’s business went down or Mr. Holder retired and was not in business anymore.

[rachelindeed]

I have a feeling that this was probably one of Holmes and Watson's early cases together, and I suspect -- though Watson says nothing of it -- that he is perhaps still in a less-than-recovered state of health. I say this because the only part of the investigation to which Holmes neither invites Watson nor wishes to invite him is the part where he goes off with a pistol in his pocket to confront a thief whom he expects to get violent. That is precisely the type of confrontation for which, in later years, he relied on Watson for back-up. But I think he's not yet learned to depend on Watson as a protector in physically dangerous situations and clearly doesn't want to ask him to share that level of risk yet, instead concealing his plans and casually ensuring that Watson doesn't worry or try to follow him:

“I only looked in as I passed,” said he. “I am going right on.”

“Where to?”

“Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time before I get back. Don’t wait up for me in case I should be late.”

In a story set later in their relationship, I'm sure Watson would object to Holmes going off into danger without him.

Another small running detail in the Holmes stories that I find sweet is how often Holmes speaks of his relationship to his clients in familial terms. He talks about feeling fatherly or brotherly toward them. We have this charming (and quietly funny) quote from today's story:

"You owe a very humble apology to that noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to have one."

It's a sweet sentiment, and I find that wry little caveat -- 'should I ever chance to have one' -- amusing. And I am touched that, after a tense and exhausting day's work, Holmes, instead of going home to bed, went out to the jail at probably past midnight because he couldn't abide the thought of leaving the young man in his cell without hope for one more night.

In the previous story, The Noble Bachelor, Holmes sympathizes with Hatty, saying: Having no mother, she had no one to advise her at such a crisis. He then appoints himself to act in place of that absent parent and offer her and her husband some words of wisdom and perspective -- so thither I travelled, and being fortunate enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be better in every way that they should make their position a little clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in particular. The fact that he's offering 'paternal' advice to people who are likely no more than ten years younger than him is rather charming.

In the upcoming story, The Copper Beeches, he expresses worry for Miss Hunter by saying: “I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to see a sister of mine apply for.”

Doyle's stories stress, and fandom tends to accept, that Holmes has no romantic interest in his clients. But that's not the same thing as being reserved. He is perfectly ready to express brotherly/fatherly interest in them, be they male or female. I think that's nice :)

Oh, P.S., I remembered a few more. In A Case of Identity, Holmes's behavior toward Miss Sutherland has plenty of problems, but he does say he wants to step into the role of friend/brother in avenging the cruel deception practiced on her: If the young lady has a brother or a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!” he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the man’s face, “it is not part of my duties to my client, but here’s a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat myself to—”

And many years later, there is this passage about his attempts to persuade Violet de Merville not to marry the evil Baron in The Illustrious Client: I was sorry for her, Watson. I thought of her for the moment as I would have thought of a daughter of my own. I am not often eloquent. I use my head, not my heart. But I really did plead with her with all the warmth of words that I could find in my nature.

[mightymads]

Excellent points! It does feel like an earlier case now that you’ve pointed it out. And by the time Watson wrote the story several years had passed which makes it even more likely that Mr. Holder had retired.

The family aspect I enjoyed the most. Fantastic observation! It takes Holmes’s caring for his clients on a whole new level. Not only is he gentle and kind to them, he actually treats them like family and cares for them deeply as long as they are under his protection. Many new clients mention that they came by recommendation from other people who said how kind Holmes was.