How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Story.Paragraph)
Quote #4
'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details (Identity.86).
Poor Watson, he's always being told that he's "missed everything of importance." How does Holmes's interactions with Watson develop Holmes's own character for you? How does Watson act as Holmes's foil?
Quote #5
"Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," said he.
"Ha! you find it so?"
"Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly."
Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!"
"On the contrary, this is the right side." […]
"I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them into the bag, and made for the door (Bachelor.166-75).
Speaking of foils: if Holmes's relationship with Lestrade is so antagonistic, why do they keep working together? How does this scene illuminate both Holmes's and Lestrade's characters? Why might Conan Doyle find Lestrade a useful character to have around?
Quote #6
Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of analysis and deduction! (Beeches.9).
Holmes is criticizing Watson's "romantic" representation of Holmes's deductive methods. Watson protests that his stories are popular, and Holmes replies, "what does the public know?" Here, we get a tiny snapshot of Holmes's slightly elitist attitude towards the whole question of cunning. Sure, Holmes may talk a good game about not caring about the status of his clients, but as far as logical reasoning goes – leave it to the professionals, folks.