For me, Watson, life is not so interesting,’ says Holmes. ‘I loved to read the newspaper, hoping to find some news of an interesting crime for me to investigate or a dangerous criminal for me to catch. Where are all those clever criminals these days?’

Then, suddenly, a wild, excited young man, a Mr. John Hector McFarland, runs up the stairs to Holmes’ room. He has a story to tell about a fire and strange crime that took place in Norwood. But who is the criminal? Is it this man? Is he dangerous? Life, for Holmes, suddenly starts to get interesting.

But when Holmes and Watson rush off, it’s to Blackheath, not Norwood.