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The Inquisition – The Norwood Builder (Answers)

The Inquisition – The Norwood Builder (Answers)

“Now we have the Sherlock Holmes test …”

–  A Scandal in Bohemia (SCAN)

So, how well do you know your Canon and The Adventure of the Norwood Builder. Let’s see the answers (in bold) to this month’s Inquisition.

1. Whose death does Holmes appear to lament in the story’s opening paragraphs? Professor Moriarty

2. Watson is living with Holmes again. Who bought his Kensington practice? Dr. Verner (a distant cousin of Holmes’)

3. What does Watson divulge about the case of “the shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland”? It almost cost him and Holmes their lives.

4. How does their new case’s client introduce himself? “The unhappy John Hector MacFarlane”

5. Holmes makes four immediate deductions about the client, and Watson tells us the basis for each. What was deduced from the untidiness of the man’s attire? that he was a bachelor

6. And what was deduced from the charm on his watch-chain? that he was a Freemason

7. What Scotland Yarder is on the case? Lestrade

8. After examining the draft of Oldacre’s will, what does Holmes immediately deduce about it? that it was written on a train

9. Why did Mrs. MacFarlane break her long-ago engagement to Jonas Oldacre? She heard that he had turned a cat loose in an aviary.

10. Besides organic remains, what clue did the police find in the burnt woodpile? several metal trouser buttons

11. What additional clue are the police presented with the day after their investigation? a thumbprint in the hall

12. How did Holmes know where Oldacre was hiding? He had paced one corridor and found it six feet shorter than the corresponding one below.

13. What is Oldacre’s defense for his actions? It was a practical joke.

14. What alter-ego had Oldacre created as part of his scheme? Mr. Cornelius

15. What does Holmes tell Watson to record as the source of the organic remains in the woodpile? rabbits

BONUS: Jonas Oldacre is described as “a little, wizened man” whose career spanned “many years” and who has been retired for “some years.” But how old is he? 52 years old

How well did you do on this quiz?

Karen Wilson has the investiture of “A Faithful Scotchwoman” with us and the Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes. She was the Tantalus (Quizmaster) of Watson’s Tin Box for 5 years and for the last three years she has helped develop the “killer quiz” on all 60 stories for that group’s annual Mycroft. Karen has been the organizer of the annual Scintillation of Scions conference and is already planning for the 2021 event to be held on August 6-7.

Data! Data! Data! – The Norwood Builder

Data! Data! Data! – The Norwood Builder

“‘Data! Data! Data!‘ he cried impatiently. ‘I can’t make bricks without clay.’” – The Adventures of The Copper Beeches (COPP) This column is composed of material (Data!) developed for a short course called Appreciating Sherlock Holmes that I taught twice a year in the Community Education Life Enrichment Program for a local community college.  It is composed of… Continue Reading

The Inquisition – The Norwood Builder

The Inquisition – The Norwood Builder

“Now we have the Sherlock Holmes test …” –  A Scandal in Bohemia (SCAN) Sharpen your pencils! How well do you know your Canon and The Adventure of the Norwood Builder.   1. Whose death does Holmes appear to lament in the story’s opening paragraphs? 2. Watson is living with Holmes again. Who bought his Kensington… Continue Reading

The 17 Steps: The Norwood Builder

The 17 Steps: The Norwood Builder

Seventeen thoughts for further ponderance of the case at hand – The Norwood Builder (NORW) LIFE WITHOUT PROFESSOR MORIARTY “The community is certainly the gainer, and no one the loser, save the poor out-of-work specialist, whose occupation has gone. With that man in the field, one’s morning paper presented infinite possibilities. Often it was only the… Continue Reading

The 1995 Sherlock Holmes Philatelic Numismatic Covers

The 1995 Sherlock Holmes Philatelic Numismatic Covers

“Or did it come through the post?” – The Adventure of the Reigate Squire (REIG) In October 1993, the United Kingdom issued five different 24 pence stamps featuring Sherlock Holmes themes. In May 1995, a set of five different Philatelic – Numismatic Combination Covers (envelope with postal cancellation and a numismatic item, usually a coin) or… Continue Reading

Video: Sherlock Holmes & Numismatics – 1991 ANA Convention Presentation

Video: Sherlock Holmes & Numismatics – 1991 ANA Convention Presentation

“… and had delivered his usual brilliant lecture to a crowded class.” – The Adventure of The Creeping Man (CREE) During the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 100th Anniversary Convention (aka The World’s Fair of Money, the first ANA convention to use this marketing theme) in August, 1991, the then Vice President of the ANA, Edward C. Rochette,… Continue Reading