The setting is a worthy one, if the devil did desire to have a hand in the affairs of men.

All right, Watson. Don’t look so scared,” he muttered in a very weak voice. “It’s not as bad as it seems.” “Thank God for that!” “I’m a bit of a single-stick expert, as you know. I took most of them on my guard. It was the second man that was too much for me.” “What can I do, Holmes? Of course, it was that damned fellow who set them on. I’ll go and thrash the hide off him if you give the word.” “Good old Watson!(...)

I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical reasoner.

His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge.

Hot hate is twin brother to hot love.

The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more difficult it is to bring it home.

There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind none the less and a cleaner, better stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared.