stonepicnicking_okapi | Sherlock Sunday: The Yellow Face

"The Adventure of the Yellow Face" was published in February 1893 in The Strand.

We get mention of an early spring ramble by Holmes & Watson:

One day in early spring he had so far relaxed as to go for a walk with me in the Park, where the first faint shoots of green were breaking out upon the elms, and the sticky spearheads of the chestnuts were just beginning to burst into their five-fold leaves. For two hours we rambled about together, in silence for the most part, as befits two men who know each other intimately.

Much like the client in the Blue Carbuncle and his hat, Grant Munro leaves a pipe behind and Holmes does a bit of deduction (which I had forgotten about) which is solid.

BUT Holmes makes very bold speculations on practically no evidence with regard to Munro's domestic matter. He instructs Watson to whisper 'Norbury' in his ear whenever he becomes arrogant. I wonder if Watson ever made good on that suggestion.

But the mystery is race, Mrs. Munro had a black child by her first husband which she is endeavoring to conceal from her second husband. But Grant Munro does the right thing:

It was a long two minutes before Grant Munro broke the silence, and when his answer came it was one of which I love to think. He lifted the little child, kissed her, and then, still carrying her, he held his other hand out to his wife, and turned towards the door.

'We can talk it over more comfortably at home,' said he. 'I am not a very good man, Effie, but I think that I am a better one than you have given me credit for being.'