Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 260 Blood-Written Words in an Empty House! (Thanks to the patron "It's Not the Night That's Enduring, It's Freedom")

A barrage of questions instantly bombarded Conan Doyle.

"Sir! Do you live at 21B Baker Street?"

What is your relationship with Sherlock Holmes?

"Are you Dr. John H. Watson?"

Are the stories in novels true?

Conan Doyle had never seen anything like this before, and for a moment he was flustered and blushed.

His instinct was to deny it, to break free, but under immense pressure, he stammered as he tried to clarify:

"No...no...you've misunderstood..."

"I'm just... just a doctor still studying at the University of Edinburgh..."

"I came to London to... to do research..."

As he spoke, he struggled to break free from the entanglement and then disappeared into 21B Baker Street.

But it didn't matter; his panic and the phrase "a doctor still studying at the University of Edinburgh" sounded like perfect evidence to the reporters!
"Look! He admitted it!"

"University of Edinburgh! Doctor! It's Watson!"

"Dr. Watson, is Mr. Holmes home?"

What are his thoughts on the recent cases?

"Dr. Watson, please tell us about your experience working with Mr. Holmes!"

Conan Doyle's defense is completely invalid.

His image and words were quickly processed by reporters, becoming the explosive news that "Dr. Watson makes a low-key appearance, confirming that he is living with Sherlock Holmes," which made the headlines of many evening newspapers that night.

Even his momentary panic was interpreted as evidence that "Dr. Watson is humble and gentle, and not used to facing the public."

If Watson has been proven to be real, then could the legendary Sherlock Holmes he created be merely fictional?

For a time, the whole of London was engulfed in a frenzied atmosphere that was both real and surreal.

People can no longer distinguish between literature and reality: are we reading a novel, or a polished documentary about a real-life genius detective?
Or rather, they willingly believed that this detective, who represented reason and wisdom, truly lived among them.

Just as this frenzy, where truth and falsehood were indistinguishable, reached its peak, another even more sensational "discovery" completely ignited the situation.

A tabloid reporter named Jackson receives a mysterious tip that the case in "A Study in Scarlet" is real and took place in Brixton!

So, in order to make a big splash, he started wandering around Brixton.

By some strange twist of fate, he found a secluded street, Somerley Lane.

Jackson was astonished to discover that an empty house similar to "3 Lauriston Garden Street," the crime scene in the novel, actually existed!

What chilled him to the bone even more was that, through the dirty windowpane, he could vaguely see some kind of dark red, scrawled marks on the walls inside the room…

Jackson's heart pounded as a daring idea seized him.

He managed to pick the lock on the back door and sneaked inside. Once his eyes adjusted to the dim light, the sight before him almost suffocated him—

The room's decor, the color of the carpet, the arrangement of the furniture, and especially the huge words written in dark red paint on the wall—words that seemed to still be flowing—

RACHE
Everything is strikingly similar to the descriptions in "A Study in Scarlet"!

This isn't fiction! This is clearly a real crime scene that has yet to be revealed to the public!

Lionel Sorel did not fabricate a story; he was subtly recording a real, bizarre case that Scotland Yard might have covered up or been unable to solve!

Sherlock Holmes was the hero who solved this mysterious case!
Jackson scrambled out of the house and rushed to the newspaper office.

He knew he had uncovered the most earth-shattering news of the summer!
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The newspaper Jackson worked for, called *The Gossip Journal*, was notorious for its sensationalism and exaggeration, specializing in gossip and scandals. On July 27th, this newspaper devoted its entire front page to Jackson's groundbreaking discovery:
[...After a long and arduous journey, our reporter finally discovered a scene in a remote neighborhood in Brixton that strikingly matched the description in the novel!]

On the wall inside the room, the huge red word "RACHE" is prominently displayed!

Its shape, location, and even the layout of the room are exactly the same as those described in the novel!
This is irrefutable evidence, and it is by no means a coincidence!
……

Scotland Yard's recent denial appears utterly weak and powerless in the face of irrefutable evidence!

This house is both a silent indictment and a monument to genius!
The truth has come to light! Stay tuned for further reports in this newspaper for more details!

This report instantly caused an uproar throughout London.

Although the Trivia Newspaper has a poor reputation, this time the report was very detailed and even specified that the empty house was in the Brixton area.

Driven by curiosity, more readers, journalists, and ordinary citizens who were simply there to watch the spectacle flocked to Brixton, a district filled with impoverished streets.

In just half a day, with the help of many "coincidences", people found the lonely house at the end of Somerley Lane.

But soon they discovered that the front and back doors of the house were firmly locked with new padlocks, and the windows had been fitted with bars.

Clearly, after the report was published, someone quickly took measures to prevent curious individuals from continuing to spy on the house.

However, this did not stop the enthusiastic crowd.

People crowded under the windows, standing on tiptoe, shielding their eyes from the light, trying to peer into the dimly lit room.

Although the view was blurry, the huge dark red "RACHE" letter painted on the wall was clearly visible, like a brand!

The eerie colors and the flowing "tears" were exactly as described in the novel!
"It's true! My God, there are words on the wall!"

"Look! Those are words written in blood! Exactly the same as in the book!"

"Someone must have died in this house! Sherlock Holmes solved his case here!"

Screams and whispers rose and fell.

The crowd that had gathered at 21B Baker Street, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sherlock Holmes, moved to another location almost overnight.

The once quiet Somerley Lane has instantly become one of London's busiest "tourist attractions".

Vendors flocked to the scene, selling low-quality sandwiches and hot coffee.

Some people have even started selling poorly made "Sherlock Holmes sets," which include a toy magnifying glass and a wooden pipe.

Street performers even come here to perform, playing the accordion and singing impromptu songs about the Brixton Mystery in Scarlet.

A bizarre yet festive atmosphere permeated the air.

Reporters from major newspapers naturally wouldn't let this excellent news fodder slip by.

Unable to enter the house, they used their imaginations to create elaborate interpretations of the blurry view through the window.

The detailed address was repeatedly mentioned, the exterior of the house was meticulously described, and the "blood-stained word" was given various chilling interpretations.

Even the usually serious Times had to publish a short commentary inside, mentioning:

A public gathering has erupted in London over an empty house that resembles a scene from a popular novel, raising concerns about potential disruption to public order.

The words conveyed a sense of helplessness and worry.

But this did not stop the public from going completely crazy.

If the previous debate about the authenticity of Sherlock Holmes was still at the level of speculation, then this empty house with the eerie "blood lettering" provides conclusive physical evidence.

The Metropolitan Police, affectionately known as "Scotland Yard," could no longer sit idly by!

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(End of this chapter)