The Complete Sherlock Holmes - The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter

[Gem , Moderator]

The Complete Sherlock Holmes
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter (The Return of Sherlock Holmes)

Availability The Return of Sherlock Holmes: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/108

Background Information

"The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 13 stories in the cycle collected as The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905). It was originally published in The Strand Magazine in the United Kingdom in August 1904, and was also published in Collier's in the United States on November 26, 1904.

Publication History

"The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter" was published in the UK in The Strand Magazine in August 1904, and in the US in Collier's on 26 November 1904. The story was published with seven illustrations by Sidney Paget in the Strand, and with seven illustrations by Frederic Dorr Steele in Collier's. It was included in the short story collection The Return of Sherlock Holmes, which was published in the US in February 1905 and in the UK in March 1905.



A Short Review / Summary



Cyril Overton, captain of the Cambridge University rugby team, seeks Holmes' help after their star player, Godfrey Staunton, vanishes the night before a major match against Oxford. Holmes and Watson follow a trail of clues, including a telegram and a dog's keen sense of smell, to track down Staunton. Holmes suspects Dr. Leslie Armstrong, a friend of Staunton, who is evasive and seems to

[Gem , Moderator]

The Complete Sherlock Holmes
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
Discussion Questions

1) Why do you think Watson mentioned Holmes' drug addiction in the story? Did it play a part during the case?

2) What was the purpose of Holmes acquiring Pompey, one of the local draghounds?

3) Holmes stated he knew nothing about the sport rugby in this case. Do you think if he knew more about the sport, he would have solved the case more effectively?

4) Why did Godfrey Staunton choose to take the telegram to the telegraph office himself rather than have someone else take it for him?

5) What was your opinion of Lord Mount-James?

[Lori, Moderator]

Actually, I guessed the mystery pretty close to the beginning (it seemed pretty obvious, with a miserly uncle and a doctor in confidence), but I figured there would be a happy ending - that maybe the wife would have safely given birth (since I wasn't sure if she was ill or expecting) or be on the way to recovery. Godfrey seemed like a nice young man, and I'm sorry he lost his wife (again, reminding myself these are fictional characters). The aniseed oil and the dog were nice touches.

[Emmeline]

It was certainly an interesting blend of the tragic and the comic, with the doctor putting Holmes through his paces, and the absolutely dreadful Lord Mount-James. But then what a downer of a conclusion!

Interesting question about whether knowing the sport would help Holmes solve the case. I don't think there was anything sport-specific to the mystery, but I do have my doubts about Holmes's claims that he doesn't waste brain space on unnecessary information like the earth circling the sun! Surely it must be hard to know just what information will prove handy!

[Neil]

Well, I agree with Emily, a story was rather a downer at the end. I’m just wondering when Holmes was killed off initially, was that time for the author to call it a day? That happens sometimes in a sequel to films etc. I thought
the hound of the Baskervilles was a hard act to follow.

[Emmeline]

Neil wrote: "Well, I agree with Emily, a story was rather a downer at the end. I’m just wondering when Holmes was killed off initially, was that time for the author to call it a day? That happens sometimes in a..."

I do think there are some very good stories in this collection (The Dancing Men, The Priory School, The Second Stain, The Abbey Grange). But there are some pretty random ones interspersed among them. Hound of the Baskervilles is to be fair a hard act for anyone to follow!

[Trev]

The hidden wife reminded me straight away of (Wives and Daughters spoiler) (view spoiler)[ Osbourne Hamley’s secret wife Aimée in ‘Wives and Daughters.’ (hide spoiler)] I wonder if Conan Doyle had read that novel before writing this?

Bill Shankley, the celebrated Liverpool football club manager from 1959 to 1974 is famous for this quote……

’ Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that’

Godfrey Staunton’s actions disproved that theory wholeheartedly but sadly was unable to do anything to keep his wife alive.

I would imagine that Lord Mount James would find out the truth and might still disinherit the lad, so the whole story seemed rather depressing.

Whether Oxford or Cambridge won the match paled into insignificance.

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