The end... but what an ending. All explained - and you slipped a catfish in there too ;) It's been a real treat reading this and I've loved each and every update. Will we get to hear what Holmes had planned for the Viscount (hint, hint)?

Thank you for a brilliant story!

great story :) would you consider a brief epilogue involving Holmes retribution against the Viscount? I am curious to know what sort of revenge he was planning for the way Watson was treated.

So the story is over? Now I want to know what happened with Holmes and the Viscount... And shouldn't "that’s why he was arrogant enough to try to work alongside Mr. Holmes instead of against!” be "against Mr. Holmes instead of alongside?"

Aragonite, this read was truly a treat. Thank you very much for sharing. I'm still in awe of your denoument.

A splendidly, gorgeously, luxuriantly-written chapter. The dialogue was pure heaven and so very natural. I can almost hear their conversation in my head.

But I'm still in the dark as to the solution of the mystery! Looking forward to more :)

Very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing.

Yay! More! I've been waiting as patiently as I could, but I am very happy to see that you've put fingers to keyboard once more.

And I'm nearly as curious to know what's happening as Clea!

I can picture the boys trying to cultivate minerals. It also is very like Holmes to find out the probability of heads vs. tails. Didn't Martin find out the kind of snake already? Did Lady Woodrow curse her husband? I really liked this chapter, and am looking forward to the next one!

Well, I just finished reading this story, and I love it. You do a really good job keeping Holmes and Watson in character.I'm really interested to find out who did it. Keep up the good work!

“What sort of snake?” I'm thinking (and hoping) not a swamp adder lol! How very intriguing.

Loving this story immensely. Looking forward to reading more :)

"A civilian on holiday" - an interesting thought. Are policemen ever not on duty (as you are quite beautifully proving)?

Well, I'm glad you laid out the salient facts for us, but I'm still as mystified as ever!

Can't imagine Geoffrey managing to put one over on his wife very often at all - she's one clever cookie :) But give the boy credit for a good effort.

Some lovely touches in this - you spoil us, you really do! Great stuff :)

Just wanted to say I am loving this story, as ever. I love your descriptions of places and characters, and putting Holmes in conversation with anyone always leads to delicate fireworks of insight; colorful and illuminating.

Thank you!

Good job, Aragonite! Thank you for sharing.

I love love love that observation of Watson -- that his questions are as much a way of keeping Holmes on the topic as a way of learning about detection.

And the mystery... ah, the clues are beginning to fall at our feet now!