Alright I’m sorry but there is something you need to know about the opening of The Creeping Man. This is the story where Holmes summons Watson to his house with the famous telegram: “Come at once if convenient—if inconvenient come all the same. -- S.H.”
Well, Watson shows up, and Holmes is silent, apparently deep in thought:
When I arrived at Baker Street I found him huddled up in his armchair with updrawn knees, his pipe in his mouth and his brow furrowed with thought. It was clear that he was in the throes of some vexatious problem. With a wave of his hand he indicated my old armchair, but otherwise for half an hour he gave no sign that he was aware of my presence. Then with a start he seemed to come from his reverie, and with his usual whimsical smile he greeted me back to what had once been my home.
When he finally does speak up, he tells Watson what was absorbing his thoughts so deeply...And, well,
“You will excuse a certain abstraction of mind, my dear Watson,” said he. “Some curious facts have been submitted to me within the last twenty-four hours, and they in turn have given rise to some speculations of a more general character. I have serious thoughts of writing a small monograph upon the uses of dogs in the work of the detective.”
“But surely, Holmes, this has been explored,” said I. “Bloodhounds—sleuth-hounds—”
“No, no, Watson, that side of the matter is, of course, obvious. But there is another which is far more subtle. You may recollect that in the case which you, in your sensational way, coupled with the Copper Beeches, I was able, by watching the mind of the child, to form a deduction as to the criminal habits of the very smug and respectable father.”
“Yes, I remember it well.”
“My line of thoughts about dogs is analogous. A dog reflects the family life. Whoever saw a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog in a happy one? Snarling people have snarling dogs, dangerous people have dangerous ones. And their passing moods may reflect the passing moods of others.”
Basically, Holmes sent that famous “come at once” telegram demanding Watson’s presence so he could have Watson come sit and stare at him for 30 minutes while he was deep in thought about puppies and then try get some encouragement from Watson to validate his “serious thoughts” about writing a monograph on dog emotions. Watson doesn’t seem into it, which Holmes just ignores, because it’s clear that Watson doesn’t grasp the important subtleties of puppy behavior. Holmes always seems somewhat frustrated that nobody reads his monographs, so I’m just saying, Holmes is testing the waters to see if Watson might read some of his opinions about important dog feelings--which imo he probably already started writing but doesn’t want to admit just yet unless his friend seems interested. Anyway, no luck this time, but I’m glad he tried.
