Sherlock Holmes - The Solitary Cyclist

Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

Dr. Watson recounts the case of Miss Violet Smith, a music teacher who seeks Sherlock Holmes's assistance after being stalked on lonely road

Key takeaways

• Miss Violet Smith was being followed by a mysterious man on a bicycle near Charlington Hall.
• The motive behind the harassment was the inheritance left by Violet's deceased uncle, Ralph Smith.

Main topics

• Stalking and surveillance
• Inheritance fraud

Notable quotes

The trap's empty. Frivolous. Cheap and abducted. Murdered.

Conclusion

The episode highlights Holmes's ability to dismantle complex criminal

Transcript preview

Speaker 3 (0:13) Now, I'm afraid I'm a fool that I was not too allowed for the early trade. Well, you'll probably be all right. Nothing's happened to her. The trap hasn't been solved for her. These are quite true, but... Watson! Speaker 2 (0:23) Huh? Look, the trap's empty. Frivolous. Cheap and abducted. Murdered. Who knows what. Speaker 3 (0:34) When his advice led others into danger, my friend Sherlock Holmes was always the first to suffer. For a garnish of the true cause, he always blamed himself. My name is Watson, Dr. Watson, and it was my privilege to share the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I will tell you what happened in the case of the solitary cyclist. The details are in my notebooks, if I may refer to them a moment. In referring to my notebook for the year 1895, I find that it was on Saturday, April 23, that Sherlock Holmes and I first heard of Miss Violet Smith, the solitary cyclist of Charleston, the young and beautiful woman who presented herself at 221B Baker Street late that evening and implored his assistance and advice. Speaker 2 (1:30) At least it can't be your health that is troubling you, Miss Smith. So ardent a bicyclist must be full of energy. Speaker 1 (1:35) Bicyclist? Well, how do you know that, Mr. Holmes? Speaker 2 (1:39) A slight ruffling of the soles of your shoes at the sides. The friction of the edge of the pedal. Speaker 1 (1:44) Well, yes, I do bicycle a good bit. Speaker 1 (1:50) Holmes. Speaker 2 (1:50) You will excuse me, I'm sure, Miss Smith. I took your hand out of curiosity. Speaker 1 (1:54) Curiosity? Speaker 2 (1:55) It's my business. I nearly fell into the error of supposing that you were typewriting. But it's obvious, of course, that it's music. You see, Speaker 3 (2:02) Watson? What, Holmes? Speaker 2 (2:04) Observe the spatula finger end. It's common to both professions. Speaker 3 (2:07) Yes, yes. Speaker 2 (2:09) But there's a spirituality about the face which the typewriter does not generate. Now, this lady is a musician. Speaker 1 (2:18) Yes, Mr. Holmes, I teach music. In Speaker 2 (2:20) the country, I presume, from your complexion? Speaker 1 (2:23) Yes, sir. Near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey. Speaker 2 (2:27) What has happened to you near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey? Speaker 1 (2:31) My father is dead, Mr. Holmes. My mother and I were left without a relation in the world, except for Uncle Ralph. Ralph Smith. He went to South Africa 25 years ago, and we've never had a word from him since. When father died, we were left very poor. But one day... About four months ago, we were told that there was an advertisement in the Times inquiring for our whereabouts. Well, you can imagine how excited we were as we hurried off to the lawyer whose name was given in the paper. In his office, he introduced us to two other gentlemen, a Mr. Carruthers and a Mr. Woodley, and then withdrew, leaving us alone with them. Speaker 3 (3:11) Well, ma'am, I'll explain right Speaker 2 (3:12) away that Mr. Woodley here and I are home on a visit from South Africa. Speaker 3 (3:16) Oh, yes, Speaker 1 (3:17) Mr. Speaker 3 (3:18) Carruthers? Speaker 2 (3:18) Yes, so we were old friends there of a relative of yours, Mr. Speaker 3 (3:22) Ralph Smith. Speaker 2 (3:23) Oh, indeed. I Speaker 3 (3:24) yet Speaker 2 (3:24) regret to say that Mr. Smith died some little while ago, ma'am. Speaker 3 (3:28) I Speaker 2 (3:29) see. Speaker 3 (3:30) We had heard nothing, of course. Speaker 2 (3:32) He died in poverty, ma'am. Oh. Woodley and I visited Ralph Smith at his deathbed. He asked us, Speaker 3 (3:39) almost with his last breath, to look up his relations here in the old country and see that they were in no want. You'll excuse the question, ma'am, but how exactly are you placed? I don't know why you're asking, gentlemen, but if you Speaker 2 (3:52) want the truth, we've barely two pennies to rub together. I have a Speaker 3 (3:56) proposition to put to you. Speaker 1 (4:00) Proposition? Speaker 3 (4:02) Mrs. Smith, I have a daughter aged ten down at Farnham in Surrey. I am a widower and the child needs a woman's care and attention. I don't know whether Miss Smith has ever considered the position of governess. I am a Speaker 1 (4:15) music teacher, sir. I am trained. Yes, and out of a position, what's more. Speaker 3 (4:21) A music teacher, but that couldn't be better. My little darling shows every musical promise, they tell me. I never dreamed that... Miss Smith. Do come down to Surrey and teach my pet. Speaker 1 (4:34) You said you're a widower, Mr. Carruthers? Speaker 3 (4:39) Alas, yes. But my household is managed by my housekeeper, Mrs. Dixon. Oh, I see. A lady of the highest respectability. Speaker 1 (4:46) Why, Liz? I shouldn't like to leave my mother alone in London. Oh, don't worry about me, Marlet. Speaker 3 (4:51) There'd be no question of it now. Miss Smith could come home to you every weekend and with a good wage in her pocket. Speaker 2 (4:57) Say, uh... A hundred pounds a year? Speaker 3 (5:01) A hundred? Why, Speaker 1 (5:02) oh, please, dear, say you'll go. Speaker 3 (5:06) Oh, Violet. Speaker 1 (5:08) Oh, very well, then. It shall be as you wish. Speaker 2 (5:18) And so you went down to Farnham, Miss Smith. What then? Speaker 1 (5:21) Oh, Speaker 2 (5:22) it Speaker 1 (5:22) was much better than I'd imagined, Mr. Holmes. The first flaw in my happiness came when Mr. Woodley arrived to visit for a week. Speaker 3 (5:29) What happened? Oh, Speaker 1 (5:31) yes. Speaker 1 (5:34) odious love to me. Speaker 3 (5:35) The devil he is. He Speaker 1 (5:37) boasted of his wealth and said that if I married him I should have the finest diamonds in London. It made no difference when I told him about Cyril. Speaker 3 (5:43) Cyril? Speaker 1 (5:44) Cyril Morton. He's an electrical engineer in Coventry. Speaker 3 (5:49) We Speaker 1 (5:49) hoped to be married at the end of the summer. Although this didn't stop Mr. Woodley. He seized me in his arms and swore that he wouldn't let me go. Speaker 2 (6:02) Well, Speaker 1 (6:02) luckily, Mr. Carruthers came in and tore Woodley from me. Mr. Carruthers apologized to me the next day, and I've never seen Mr. Woodley since. Speaker 2 (6:10) Very distressing for you, Miss Smith, but such incidents are not unknown. What special thing has caused you to seek my advice? Speaker 1 (6:16) It is this. Every Saturday morning, I ride my bicycle to Farman Station to get the 1222 to town. Speaker 2 (6:23) Yes? Speaker 1 (6:23) Well, the road from Chiltern Grange is