PREFACE
THE CASE BOOK OF Private detective HOLMES
I fear that Mr. Private detective Holmes may become like one of those popular tenors who, having outlived their time, are still tempted to do perennial farewell bows to their indulgent audiences. This must cease and he must go the way of all flesh, material or imaginary. One likes to think that there is several fantastic limbo for the children of imagination, several strange, impossible place wherever the beaux of Fielding may still do love to the belles of Richardson, wherever Scott's heroes still may strut, Dickens's delicious Cockneys still raise a laugh, and Thackeray's worldlings continue to carry on their condemnable careers. Possibly in several humble corner of such a Valhalla, Private detective and his Watson may for a time find a place,