A clip taken from the Daily Mail—6 January 1940

The death of Dr. John H. Watson in the previous year sent shockwaves throughout the medical and literary communities of this great country. His death remains a sorrowful subject in the hearts and minds of all yet his very death has also created a tantalizing mystery that his companion Sherlock Holmes would no doubt investigate—if it were not for the fact that it concerns the great detective himself.

Soon after the good doctor's death, his private vault at Cox and Co. was opened. Many items of notable interest including several unpublished stories and souvenirs no doubt from his many adventures with the famous detective have been discovered in its depths. However, there is one particular article that has seized this writer's attention.

A photograph of considerable age has been discovered—what appears to be a wedding photograph to be exact.

The participants in this photograph include a young Sherlock Holmes dressed in a dark suit and an unidentified young lady dressed in a white gown. Mr. Holmes has a known aversion towards women yet this photograph provides us with titillating questions nevertheless. Was Holmes married once before? Did this woman spurn his love and is the very reason for his perpetual bachelordom? And most importantly, who exactly is this woman?

A futile trek to Sussex only created more questions. Still in fine form for his age, Mr. Holmes was found hiking around the Downs. The renowned detective treated my questions regarding the photograph with slight annoyance. It was as if this writer's presence was akin to a bee buzzing in his ears, so to speak.

However, there was one question that the man vaguely answered.

"Mr. Holmes, was she your match?"

He had been bending over to inspect a certain plant specimen when I had asked. His aquiline profile turned towards the waters of the Atlantic in thought before answering. The elderly detective slowly stood up from his spot and turned his keen eyes towards me.

"No…but in very few aspects she actually may have exceeded me."

The smallest of smiles emerged on his lips and bade me good day as he trekked up a hill and away from our field of vision.