Holmes and Watson End Peace: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes by David Ruffle Page A

that you see me as having succeeded.”
    â€œIn essence, Holmes, in essence!”
    â€œI had noted the word, Watson, and allow me to use it also. In essence, my professional life was not exactly going how I had envisioned it. The income situation was grim to put it mildly and my daily life was solitary and fast becoming tiresome and commonplace, which I abhorred. My only other pursuits were visits to local theatres, they being the only ones I could afford to visit. The stagecraft of the actors fascinated me, the way they could submerge their own personalities under the makeup they applied, the tricks they used to gain or lose height. I inveigled myself into various dressing rooms to watch these processes at close quarters.”
    â€œDid the opportunity present itself to actually put some of the skills you learned to legitimate use? By that, I mean, did you take to the boards yourself?”
    â€œThe Hampstead players recognised my talent and gave me ample opportunities to employ it. I graduated from small roles such as ‘third guard’ or ‘constable’ to roles more suited to my wonderfully dynamic range-“
    â€œWas it beyond them I wonder to assign parts to you which reflected your modesty !?”
    â€œI must admit I have always failed to see why any importance is attached to modesty.”
    â€œPerhaps because it goes some way to making a fellow just a dash more likeable.”
    â€œAn intriguing and yet debatable point. I have never ranked modesty as one of the virtues and I see little point in devaluing any gifts I possess in order to appear likeable. I am a logician, Watson and logic dictates that everything be seen as it is. Equally so, I never seek to exaggerate my gifts either.”
    â€œI beg your pardon, Holmes?”
    â€œI had no need to; I had my Boswell to do that for me. You can hardly blame me that if at times you were too effusive in your praise.”
    â€œTell me, what were these roles that you graduated to, that made such good use of your acting skills?”
    â€œChief amongst them was the role of Malvolio.”
    â€œAh, Twelfth Night, I should have guessed.”
    â€œI received a very favourable review in the ‘Gazette’.”
    â€œI have no doubt at all that you remember it word for word.”
    â€œAs it happens, I do. ‘ The performance of Mr William Escott as Malvolio was a delight; this young performer captured every nuance of the character and lit up the stage with his energy and brilliance. Mark my words; this man will go a long way. ’ One of my earliest uses for that particular pseudonym.”
    â€œReserved for the stage and courtships?”
    â€œReserved for when necessity dictated its usage, Watson. That wasn’t my only success on the stage although I say so myself and I quickly realised how much acting and the art of disguise would play a part in my professional life. I had occasion to resort to such skills in my career as you know and by far the best way to successfully act a part is to be it.”
    â€œAnd without exception, you fooled me every time.”
    â€œThis was always enormously gratifying for me, because if my closest friend could not penetrate my disguise than I could be confident no one else would.”
    â€It may be that I was just easily fooled. There were many times I felt very slow on the uptake.”
    â€œOnce again, Watson, you do yourself an injustice. You are more astute than you give yourself credit for.”
    â€œThank you, Holmes. Were you at your lowest ebb when you met me?”
    â€œProfessionally, no, but in many other ways, yes. I had cases to work on, hence the test you saw me so enthusiastically involved in at Barts and my reaction to having my theory proved, but as I have said, my finances were by then in a perilous condition and were likely to remain so unless I took action to reduce my expenditure. Our meeting when we did was fortuitous in the extreme and