Beryl's bank

A foreign colleague of mine was confused recently by my reference to "the Bank of Mum and Dad". Very soon after, I picked up 'The Beryl Coronet' to read and was met with a classic example of that very 'bank'.

Arthur Holder is marked by his own father Alexander Holder as something of a disappointment. Cleverly, this colours not only Holder Sr's perception of Arthur's apparent role in the theft of the Beryl Coronet itself, but also colours our perception of it, as readers. Sherlock Holmes, of course, sees through this almost immediately and is able to store (one can hardly say 'restore') Arthur in his father's affections.

Still though, can Holder Sr be blamed for this? It does look as if all Arthur ever did was hold out his hand and expect money every time - which he usually got. 'The Bank of Mum and Dad' is a popular destination of first financial resort - and the Holder branch obviously gave better terms than most. "I have never denied him a wish" - and Arthur obviously had a lot of wishes!

*

The tale has many curious aspects to it. The concealed identity of "my illustrious client" (not to be confused with 'THE Illustrious Client'... or is he??) is apparently a mystery only to Watson. A mystery to everyone is why Holder thinks the Coronet would be safer in a bureau in the ground floor of his house than in the vaults of his own bank! And of course the Coronet, though recovered, is now in two pieces... maybe Holmes, with his exact knowledge of London, knew the nearest glue manufacturers' and paid them a quick visit, unrecorded by Watson's pen?

Or perhaps "No doubt you think me mad?" 

 

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