April 21, 2014
Ma Chere MoMo,
I am glad to hear that your April snow has turned to April showers. “We have much to hope from the flowers…” as Sherlock says. It is quite perplexite’, what you write about the four carpenter bees you found dead on your deck. No apparent cause you say. Perhaps they died from the freezing temperatures of your April ice storm? C’est dammage. You and I should be as Sherlock and John and investigate insect deaths. Consulting Entomology Detectives. Only most people want our little insect friends dead to begin with. It would be like people coming to Sherlock Holmes and asking for imaginative ways to kill someone. Wait, that would be Moriarty, n’est pas? But it would be tres amusement to investigate insect murders! How did this “yellow jacket” die? Why, it was drowned in a can of beer! And the beer belonged to… duhduhduh…
I think I have gone too far with this analogy.
Anyway, on to more serious matters. I paid a visit to Mari on Easter. Oh! Her holiday cooking was magnifique! Anchoiade, Cavier d’ Aubergine, Daube and her baguettes. Heavenly! Vedette was there with her sisters Valere and Viollette. After dinner, after a little wine and sisterly persuasion, my young cousines told me what Vedette had been hesitant, non, afraid to tell me.
When John Watson wrote “A Study in Scarlet” he was persuaded by his friend and colleague, Arthur Conan Doyle, to allow him to reprint the reminiscences and publish them. John was unsure. Even being a detective for so short a time had taught him the need for secrecy. But he also felt that Sherlock was a brilliant gem that should not be hidden away.
When Sherlock became famous, he drew the attention of the London underworld. Especially one James Moriarty. At this point Sherlock was just someone to keep an eye on. And the eyes and ears of the city were the street gangs. These gangs of poor young boys were everywhere at the time. And Moriarty used them to his advantage, although he was never actually known to them. Moriarty set word to start one to watch Sherlock Holmes and The Baker Street Scuttlers (BBS) were formed. But Sherlock, always one step ahead, had already adopted a local gang, The Baker Street Irregulars (BSI) and they were fiercely loyal to him. It helped that Sherlock paid them well for helping him. But the boys knew that since Sherlock came into their lives, not one of them ever went hungry, and they knew Sherlock would tell them to just keep an ear open. And would pay them regularly for doing nothing more. “The Doc” was a hero to them. He seemed stern, but was always there to help a wounded boy. The Irregulars knew no matter what they did or where they were hiding out “The Doc” would come, giving them a hard lecture, while saving their lives with his gentle hands. And he would never turn you in to the coppers.
When The Scuttlers invaded The Irregular’s turf. A war broke out. The Scuttlers would mess with 221b, throwing garbage at the door, knocking bins and boxes over, stealing the newspaper. Trying to harass Mrs. Hudson. Trying, because Mrs. Hudson was a force to be reckoned with, she could hit a boy with her umbrella with such speed they could not run away. The Irregulars took turns watching 221b and escorted Mrs Hudson on her errands.
In 1883 the street war escalated. Boys were being hurt more often. John was especially concerned for his boys. He was a Soldier and did not like the idea of these children fighting on his behalf. When The Scuttlers stole his Bull pup, The Irregulars scoured the city, to no avail. A boy got seriously wounded on that search and John was outraged. It had to stop.
Then the letters started. Nasty, disgusting letters, delivered by, but certainly not written by any boy. They accused Sherlock and John of being lovers, and threatened exposure, arrest and death. They were under a death sentence, with hate-filled criminals as the judge and jury.
John wanted to fight, but Sherlock was concerned for John’s welfare. But when word came of the death of a 8 year old Irregular, they were devastated. They decided to leave London and live with Sherlock’s cousins for a while, letting their notoriety become old news. The public was fickle and would soon forget them. The Baker Street Irregulars would grow, as boys do, and be safe. Mrs. Hudson took over the care and feeding of the BSI, with Sherlock’s and John’s support.
What Vedette and her sisters are concerned about is just as the BSI still exists today, (you are a scion member, oui, just like Vedette and her sisters). The BSS still exists also. Only now they send threatening emails to anyone who insinuates that John and Sherlock were lovers or dig too deep into the past. There are some members of the BSI that have secretly sworn to fight the BSS. Vedette and her sisters are such members, but they are also Vernets. And we protect our own.
The cousines agree, the blood and the heart have come together again. No more secrets. The story of this great love should be bravely and boldly told.
Cordialement, Marianna
amongyourbeesandyourbooks 