Dear Holmesians,

I think we can find the answer to this in "His Last Bow"

"There's an east wind coming, Watson."
"I think not, Holmes. It is very warm."
"Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age. There's an
east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will
be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast.
But it's God's own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will
lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared."

This obvious patriotic (and religious?) sentiment was expressed by Holmes in
this story written during the First World War. Some authorities are of the
opinion that Holmes was, in fact, a British spy during those difficult times.
Some others go on to say that he was actually a double agent, sending out false
info. to the Germans. Given how much spies are supposed to actually earn
(watching some James Bond flicks makes this pretty clear - underpaid, overworked
- the things he does for Queen and country!!!), I doubt if Holmes did it for the
money (and this would also clarify Doyle's own patriotism). Holmes not only got
to ply his skills as a detective but also did something so exciting and
nerve-wracking in itself that made drugs (read opium) completely dispensable.


Sridhar


kumaaraswaami <kumaaraswaami@...> wrote:

Doyle may be a patriot. But it's simply from Holmsian observations on
Holmes findable that Holmes was not a patriot. But in the stories like
'The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans', 'Naval Treaty, The
'Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' etc. Or did he do all these for his
brother Mycroft?






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