The Sign of the Four - pt I - V
“My mind,” he said, “rebels at stagnation.
Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere.
I can dispense then with artificial stimulants.
But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation.
That is why I have chosen my own particular profession,—or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.”
Holmes’ mind rebels at stagnation
Craving instead exhalation
Send the man telegrams
Brimming with cryptograms
Detecting is his true vocation.
"Holmes how can you risk psychosis?
The risks you run are enormous!
Morphine and cocaine
Will both rot your brain.
The damage that's done is atrocious!"
Dear Watson, have you not noticed?
My eyes are bright and in focus
My cravings' erased
When I have a case.
You've made the wrong diagnosis!"
Miss Morstan had come to their door
The detective's help to now implore
Her dad had gone missing
And soon they were listening
To her story and found out there's more…
So then her tale unfurls
Someone keeps sending her pearls
They say she's been wronged
For the truth she's now longed
Instead of the darkness that swirls…
And now there's a chance to learn more
(At least a bit more than before)
She's asked to a meeting
So now she's entreating
The pair's help for what's now in store
That night the three banded together
To find out just who wrote the letter
They were whisked through the night
And were stunned by the sight
Of a mansion just bursting with treasure
They met with the man they did seek
(Though he was a bit of a creep)
The man that they spoke to
Was Thaddeus Sholto
The tale he told was unique…
It seemed like an old tale of yore
Their fathers had met in the war
The treasure was real
And one they did steal
Which promised them riches galore
But Major Sholto was greedy
And even though he'd signed a treaty
He left them in prison
(Quite a bad decision)
And his departure was speedy
But Mary's father had tracked him down
And he came to old London town
Then he wrote to Mary
(And she didn't tarry)
But by then he couldn't be found…
It turned out her poor dad had died
When confronting the major he'd tried
They covered it up
(Since he was corrupt)
The treasure he then went to hide.
The major had now died of fright
(And that was just the other night)
Some poetic justice?
Is that what confronts us?
Will some treasure make it all right?
Thaddeus talked the night away
(Since he had a whole lot to say)
"We must see my brother"
(Since there was another)
And to him they drove right away…
But when they got there he was dead
And the ones that did it had fled
The box with the treasure
They took for good measure
Just leaving the body instead…
T'was a locked room in an attic
(Accessibility, problematic)
There's a footprint in tar
But so small it's bizarre…
Sherlock was simply ecstatic!
Another print there in the dust
About which Holmes constantly fussed
T'was of a "timber toe"
(That's a peg-leg you know)
A clue which they keenly discussed.
The weapon? A poisonous dart.
(Sherlock knew right from the start)
Utterly lethal
(Holmes was quite gleeful)
Not touching it proved to be smart.....
I'm doing limericks for all of the ACD Holmes stories!
Catch up here 🍀
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