The Man On The Tor The

Holmes is killed off in “The Final Problem,” which is published in 1893. In the story, he returns in 1895. In real life, however, “Empty Houses” isn’t published until 1903. The Hound of the Baskervilles was serialized in the Strand from 1901-1902. I always wondered why Doyle had Holmes send Watson down to Baskerville Hall alone. But now I realize: The Hound of the Baskervilles was a trial run. Not only was Doyle testing the waters to see if Holmes could really still find a welcome in the twentieth century, he was actually rehearsing Holmes and Watson’s reunion. He was also writing something which really ought to be part of “The Adventure of the Empty House,” but–for length reasons–couldn’t be: the story of Watson’s waiting.