 The Man with the Twisted Lip
 Synopsis
Sent by a concerned wife to bring a friend home from an opium den, Watson is surprised to encounter Holmes. At first, Watson assumes that Holmes has added opium to his list of vices (along with cocaine), but all becomes clear when Holmes explains that he is investigating a suspected murder.
A few days ago, NEVILLE ST CLAIR, a businessman, was unexpectedly seen by his wife in the upper window of the opium den. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then vanished. She tried to go into the house but was rudely pushed out by the owners. Returning almost immediately with the police, she found the place empty except for hideous deformed beggar HUGH BOONE, a well-known local character. When the police searched the room, they found all Neville St Clair’s clothes. There was a blood stain on the windowsill. Boone was arrested on suspicion of murdering St Clair and pushing him out of the window into the Thames. Later, St Clair’s coat, his pockets weighted down with hundreds of pennies, is found in the Thames.
Holmes is convinced that St Clair is dead, but then St Clair’s wife receives a letter from him claiming it’s all a misunderstanding. Holmes solves the mystery – Boone is St Clair in disguise. While his wife believes him to be working in the city, he has been a professional beggar all along. He changes at the opium den, but was thrown that day on seeing his wife. He hastily put on his “beggar” disguise, and tried to throw his clothes out of the window, cutting himself as he did so. Even when he was arrested, he couldn’t admit his shameful occupation to his wife. St Clair / Boone is released, on condition that no more is heard of Hugh Boone.
Comments
Was Neville St Clair right to take up begging instead of getting a proper job? What forces might have driven him to make this decision? Is it right that a man who is clearly so bright must be driven to get his money by begging? Isn’t there a potentially brighter future for Neville St Clair? These issues, still so relevant today, might stimulate class discussion. |
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