The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume II - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [466]
ar
Rug made in India of coarse wool and cotton.
as
In uncomfortable circumstances, especially financial trouble.
at
Matter-of-factly humorous.
au
Damages awarded by a court for injury to feelings.
av
Bradshaw’s Monthly Railway Guide, first devised by George Bradshaw (1801-1853).
aw
Given to victors of the ancient Greek contests called the Pythian games, and sometimes to victorious generals.
ax
Writing paper; so called because its watermark shows a jester’s cap and bells.
ay
Criminal Investigation Department of Scotland Yard.
az
That is, you are unnaturally obsessed with something. Also reminds us that Holmes will retire as a beekeeper.
ba
Young Girl with a Lamb (French).
bb
The grim Colonel appears as a principal in “The Adventure of the Empty House” and is mentioned in “The Adventure of the Illustrious Client” and “His Last Bow.”
bc
The times of James I, king of England from 1603 to 1625; Jacob is the Latin form of James.
bd
Explosive noise of the rifle.
be
Slang for “odd” or “strange.”
bf
Trees whose top branches have been pruned so that they will produce dense growths of new shoots.
bg
Adjustable wrench.
bh
Term denoting the head of a lodge.
bi
Nook or comer near the ingle (fireplace).
bj
Spirit of a place (Latin).
bk
James I reigned from 1603 until 1625; thus 1607.
bl
Reference to the Bible, Luke 21:19: “In your patience possess ye your souls” (King James Version; henceforth, KJV).
bm
Strong and hard punishment (French).
bn
Conan Doyle’s mangled attempt to recreate an Irish endearment; what this word actually means is “O diarrhea” (per the Oxford edition of The Valley of Fear).
bo
Reference to the Bible, Galatians 6:7: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (KJV).
bp
An Irish girl.
bq
Daily exchanges; at the time the word carried no sexual connotation.
br
Reference to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (act 2, scene 5): “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.”
bs
Candidate for admission to an order or fraternity.
bt
Division Master of Ancient Order of Freemen; the organization is probably part of or related to the secret fraternal order the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
bu
That is, live under the oppressive tyranny of Czar Alexander II.
bv
Medicine; remedy.
bw
Loud wailing over the dead.
bx
Power-operated hammer lifted by a lever and then dropped.
by
Reference to the early Holmes story “The Red-Headed League.”
bz
Reference to another early story, “The Five Orange Pips.”
ca
The beginning of a quarter of a year; some payments are made on such days.
cb
Reference to Shakespeare’s Henry V (act 3, scene 1): “The game’s afoot!”
cc
One of the outer buildings of the main house (not a toilet).
cd
State of deep thought or reverie.
ce
In A Study in Scarlet Holmes expresses a decidedly different opinion.
cf
Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), Italian composer and virtuoso violinist.
cg
Handcuffs.
ch
Not drinking alcohol.
ci
Enlisted men lived in the forecastle; officers, in the poop deck.
cj
Large barrel.
ck
Again Holmes misquotes Twelfth Night (scene 2, scene 3); Shakespeare wrote: “Journeys end in lovers meeting.”
cl
Secret political society in France and Italy in the early nineteenth century.
cm
Covent Garden Theatre is London’s world-renowned opera house.
cn
Mycroft functions as what we call today a relational database.
co
Train-track rails.
cp
Yes, Holmes quotes “Humpty Dumpty.”
cq
Lantern with a panel for blocking the light.
cr
European term for what Americans call the second floor.
cs
Legal term for the return of an estate to its grantor after the grant has terminated.
ct
The name may ring a bell: Count Dracula rented Carfax Abbey.
cu
A savage—a veritable savage! (French).
cv
Workman (French).
cw
Big, high cap trimmed with frills and ribbons.
cx
South African gold mining town.
cy
Reference to Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part II (act 3, scene 2): “Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just.”
cz
Call sounded during a fox hunt to let the