The Isle of Devils (61 page)

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Despite recurring revolts from 1866 onwards, Crete would only achieve partial independence in 1897, and would not fully join Greece until the end of the Balkan Wars in 1913.


        
It is interesting to speculate whether Mr. Delopolous’ unnamed mother was somehow related to Paul and Sophy Kratides, both of whom hailed from Athens (
The Greek Interpreter
). Paul and Sophy both appeared to be young when they attracted the attention of Sherlock Holmes in 1888. Based on the timing of these cases, it seems plausible that Mr.
Delop
o
lous
could be either their first cousin once removed or their second cousin.


        
The Marquess of Queensbury rules were drafted in 1867. Holmes was described several times as an “expert boxer” (first noted in Chapter I,
A Study in Scarlet
). As for Delopolous’ claim that the Greeks invented boxing, there is certainly some truth there, though the Sumerians and Egyptians can also make a case. The earliest use of gloves is depicted in the great frescos of the Minoan palaces of Crete and Santorini. However these sites were not excavated until after 1880. The boxing match in the
Iliad
was won by Epeios, son of Panopeus, a minor character. Although the first modern international Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896, precursor events also occurred in 1870 and 1875, to which Delopolous clearly must have been referring. 


        
Delopolous’ unnamed cousin likely attended the same university where Mr. Hilton Soames taught, as the described scholarship sounds much like the Fortescue (
The Adventure of the Three Students
). It seems unlikely that his cousin would be the chief Greek interpreter in London, Mr. Melas, who did not know the Kratides (
The Greek Interpreter
). 

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It is tempting to speculate that ‘Murderous Mathews’ later returned to the capital of his native land and went on to knock out the left canine of Sherlock Holmes in the waiting-room at Charing Cross (
The Adventure of the Empty House
).

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Lumbago, or rheumatism of the lumbar muscles, was suspected by Watson in the strange case of Professor Presbury (
The Adventure of the Creeping Man
). Watson would learn much more about malingering during his association with Holmes, who was practiced it often enough (
The Reigate Squires
) to become something of an expert: “Malingering is a subject upon which I have sometimes thought of writing a monograph” (
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
).

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Mr. Del
o
polous descending the flimsy ladder during the height of a hurricane is perhaps even more impressive than the climbing feats performed by Captain Jack Croker, which could only have been done by a sailor or an acrobat (
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
).

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Watson cannot seem to decide whether Delopolous wore dungaree or denim trousers. Although similar, there are slight differences. Dungarees are a coarse cotton cloth, often blue, that originated in India. They were worn by Mr. Hudson, who was also a sailor (
The “Gloria Scott”
). Denim is also a coarse cotton twill originally died indigo on half the weave, and was invented in the city of Nimes, France. 

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Henry’s sarcastic prediction of Watson’s next adventure was not far from the mark. Although Watson originally published two novel length tales of his cases with Holmes, the first of his published ‘Adventures’ involved a mission proposed by a poorly disguised King of Bohemia (
A Scandal in Bohemia
).

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Chianti also kept on hand by the eccentric Mr. Thaddeus Sholto (Chapter IV,
The Sign of the Four
). At the time of Watson’s Bermuda adventure, a fine Chianti likely hailed from the vineyards of the Baron Ricasoli. Their name has been linked to wine production since 1141 and it is reputed to be the second oldest winery in the world. In 1872, Baron Bettino
Ricasoli
wrote the formula for Chianti Classico wine, which he developed after more than decades of research. He called for a mixture of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 10% Malvasia (later amended to include Trebbiano) and 5% other local red varieties. In 1967, the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) regulation set by the Italian government firmly established the "Ricasoli formula" of a Sangiovese-based blend with 10-30% Malvasia and Trebbiano. However, recent modifications have moved today’s Chianti further away from the blend that Watson and his brother would have enjoyed. Since 1996 the blend for Chianti Classico has been 75-100% Sangiovese, up to 10% Canaiolo and up to 20% of any other approved red grape variety such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah, and in the greatest of ironies, since 2006, the use of white grape varieties such as Malvasia and Trebbiano have been prohibited in Chianti Classico. The Iron Baron would have shuddered at this deviation from his formula.

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Telegrams were frequently used by Holmes and Watson throughout London and beyond, but at first glance this appeared to be an anachronism that might call into question the authenticity of the Bermuda Manuscript, for Bermuda was not linked to the outside world by telegraph until the completion of the Bermuda-Halifax Cable undersea cable in 1890. However, on
further review it appears that the Royal Engineers had at least erected an intra-isle system to connect the strategic forts and Dockyard, which replaced the flag signals that had worked across the islands since the 1820s. In 1863 the No 5 Company of Royal Engineers had constructed a single overhead, roadside iron wire from the Central Signal Station at Fort George above St George's eleven miles west to the Governor's Residence at Mount Langton. In 1864, the civil government contributed for its extension with a branch from Mount Langton to the Post Office in the capital of Hamilton. By 1866, the line had been extended two miles westwards to Spanish Point and the Admiral's House opposite Dockyard on Ireland Island. It was completed in 1868 by the laying of an over two mile submarine cable to Dockyard, with a grand total of eleven military telegraph offices on the Bermudas. Clearly this is the system that Watson must have utilized.

CHAPTER XVII: THE EVIDENCE OF THE ENGLISH NATURALIST


        
The distinction between a Persian and Turkish slipper may have been too fine for Watson, as he appears to use both in the Canon. Dr. Grimesby Roylott was fond of wearing red heelless Turkish slippers as part of his nighttime attire (
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
).


        
Watson had some knowledge of plants, as he immediately knew that Tonga’s thorn was not native to England (Chapter IV,
The Sign of the Four
).


        
An orchid makes only one other appearance in the Canon, when Beryl Stapleton points one out to Watson upon the moor (Chapter VII,
The Hound of the Baskervilles
).

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The Langham, London opened in 1865 and was one of the Grand Hotels of Victorian high society with opulent comforts and luxuries. The Langham is where the King of Bohemia stayed under his pseudonym Count von Kramm (
A Scandal in Bohemia
), where Colonel Morstan planned to stay before his murder (Chapter II,
The Sign of the Four
), and where the Honorable Philip Green receives his correspondence (
The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
).


        
In addition to George Warburton’s father, Trelawney is also the given name of the Right Honorable Trelawney Hope, Secretary for European Affairs, and the most rising statesman in the country, one of the two men who hire Holmes to solve the case of the Second Stain. Watson must have found it a funny coincidence the following year, when Robert Louis
Stevenson’s
Treasure Island
was serialized and featured the Squire Trelawney as a major character.


        
Warburton’s story regarding his father appears to be entirely falsified. There is no record of a Trelawney Warburton serving in the 17th Lancers during the Charge of the Light Brigade. The Lancers were in fact commanded by Captain William Morris, and while three members of the 17th did receive a V.C. for their gallantry, none were named Warburton. However, it seems odd that Warburton would pick such a famous battle in which to set a fictional account of his father’s exploits, when more obscure ones were available. So perhaps the historical records are incomplete?   


        
Colonel Warburton’s patron, Lord Balmoral, makes several more appearance in the Canon (
The Adventures of the Noble Bachelor, Silver Blaze, and the Empty House
).


        
Sometime before 1889, George Warburton must have called upon Watson to help him with his father’s madness. Clearly recognizing that it did not have an organic cause, Watson then referred the case over to Holmes (
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
). Unfortunately, the case of Colonel Warburton’s madness was one that Watson never fully recorded, either because it was too prosaic or one that the world was not yet ready to hear. 


        
As a naturalist, Warburton’s passion for exotic animals like the baboon seems less nefarious that that of Dr. Grimesby Roylott who allowed his baboon and cheetah to wander freely over the grounds of his estate at Stoke Moran (
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
).

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Warburton’s enthusiasm for re-discovering the presumably extinct Cahow was ahead of his time. Seventy-one years later, in 1951, the Cahow would be dramatically rediscovered on islets in Castle Harbor.

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Coincidentally, Warburton’s inheritance was deposited at the same bank where Holmes foils an attempted robbery by Mr. John Clay (
The Red-Headed League
), though some have accused Watson of fabricating this institution, for records of it are scarce.