"What? There's no more?!"
George Wilson, sitting at his desk in the insurance company, practically leapt out of his chair.
He frantically flipped through the pages of Good Words magazine, the rustling paper sounding particularly harsh in the quiet office.
He hoped to find the continuation of the story behind the next irrelevant essay or the next advertisement.
However, the cold hard truth told him that this issue's content ended there.
He couldn't help but curse under his breath,
"Damn it! How could it stop here!"
Drawing a sideways glance from a nearby colleague, he could only awkwardly explain,
"Sorry, a client missed an appointment..."
Across London, countless readers like George Wilson were, at this moment, experiencing what it meant to be utterly tormented by suspense.
They had just been drawn into a perplexing and mysterious case, had just witnessed an unprecedented genius detective display his wisdom, and had just had their strongest curiosities piqued...
Yet, the story had abruptly stopped at the most crucial moment!
In a club, an old gentleman angrily stamped his cane on the floor:
"Half a month to wait! A whole half a month!
This is more agonizing than waiting for the results of a parliamentary debate!"
In a pub, a worker took a big gulp of beer, indignantly remarking,
"That Frenchman, Lionel Sorell, he knows all too well how to torment his readers!"
The readers' uproar quickly spread into a media sensation.
The very next day after the publication of A Study in Scarlet, major London newspapers reported on the enthusiastic reception of the story among readers.
The arts section of The Times commented:
[...This young writer from France has delivered a heavy blow to the London literary scene with his new work, A Study in Scarlet.
His 'consulting detective'—Mr. Sherlock Holmes—with his astonishing powers of observation and logical deduction, has completely overturned our previous understanding of detective fiction...]
Meanwhile, The Pall Mall Gazette focused more on the social impact:
[...Recently, London gentlemen have been afflicted with a peculiar 'epidemic': observing each other's palms and pocket watches.
All of this stems from A Study in Scarlet, serialized in Good Words magazine.
The name Sherlock Holmes has become the most popular topic of conversation in clubs and salons...]
Dr. Norman McLeod sat in his office, looking at the various newspapers spread out on his desk, a satisfied smile on his face.
Everything was developing as anticipated in Lionel's letter, even better than expected.
He could already foresee what a peak the sales of the late July issue of Good Words would reach.
He called his assistant:
"Tell the printing factory to prepare for a reprint! Also, send a telegram to Mr. Sorell in Paris, just write, erm—
'London is in character; awaiting the next act.'"
Meanwhile, in his apartment at 221B Baker Street, Arthur Conan Doyle had also purchased the latest issue of Good Words.
He gently touched the small line "Conan Doyle" next to Lionel Sorell's name on the cover, his heart swelling with emotion.
Although he was only mentioned as an assistant for now, he felt as if he could already see a future where his name was inextricably linked with the legend of Holmes.
He walked to the window, watching the passersby who occasionally stopped and looked up, murmuring to himself:
"Lion, you... we did it.
We've made all of London go mad for 'Sherlock Holmes'."
------
The fervor ignited by A Study in Scarlet did not subside with time; instead, it gained even more momentum.
London, the heart of the empire, seemed for the first time to beat with such unified rhythm, inspired by a work of literature.
The speed at which word-of-mouth spread exceeded everyone's expectations.
Initially, discussions were confined to clubs, reading rooms, and literary salons—
Gentlemen waved their magazines, fiercely debating the plausibility of Holmes's deductions, or imitating his tone, attempting to analyze their companions' pocket watches or canes.
But soon, this trend broke through geographical boundaries.
On the platforms of Victoria Station, clerks waiting for trains exchanged their views on A Study in Scarlet;
At the docks of Greenwich, workers during their breaks could overhear snippets of conversation about "that detective who can see through everything";
Even nannies pushing prams in Hyde Park would whisper under the shade of trees, guessing what "RACHE" truly meant.
Local newspapers' literary columns began reprinting reviews from their London counterparts or publishing reader feedback written by local literati.
"Holmes" and "A Study in Scarlet" quickly became the shared focus of literary enthusiasts across the entire United Kingdom.
In this nationwide "Holmes fever," readers from all social strata found their points of resonance.
Intellectuals and professionals were captivated by Holmes's rigorous "deductive method," viewing him as the literary embodiment of scientific rationalism;
Ordinary citizens were deeply drawn by the bizarre murder cases and mysterious suspense, enjoying the pleasure of intellectual puzzles;
And many young students not only immensely admired Holmes's profound knowledge but also felt a great affinity for Watson as a peer.
This widespread word-of-mouth was most directly reflected in the sales of Good Words magazine.
On Dr. Norman McLeod's desk, the sales report figures were breaking records daily.
Previously, a total circulation of 100,000 copies for an issue of Good Words was considered excellent.
Yet, on the third day after A Study in Scarlet was published, local sales in London approached that number.
By the fifth day, urgent orders from major industrial cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool were pouring in like snowflakes.
By the seventh day, even Edinburgh, Glasgow, and even distant Dublin joined the rush to purchase.
The printing presses roared day and night, workers shifted in rotations, and the smell of ink permeated the entire workshop.
The inventory originally planned to last for a month was declared sold out within just ten days.
Norman McLeod had to urgently order two reprints, each time for a quantity that astonished even experienced printing house owners.
The distribution manager of Good Words rushed into McLeod's office with the latest figures:
"It's insane, absolutely insane!"
His face was a mix of exhaustion and euphoria:
"Doctor, our sales for this issue have already surpassed the highest record of any issue in the past five years!
And it's still growing! Newsstands along the railway lines are complaining about shortages!"
Dr. McLeod sat behind his desk, a calm smile on his face, as if he had foreseen everything.
He had long since calmed down from his initial excitement; Lionel's predictions in his letter were steadily becoming reality:
"Tell the printing factory to keep reprinting.
Also, send telegrams to our distributors to ensure that even remote areas receive stock as quickly as possible. We want all of Britain to read this story."
However, what pushed this craze to its peak was an unexpected "assist" from an official source.
On July 24th, The Times published a short statement from Scotland Yard:
[To the Citizens of the Empire:
Recently, the Metropolitan Police Service has noted references in a serialized novel within a certain literary journal to its detectives entrusting a fictional case to a private detective named "Sherlock Holmes."
The Metropolitan Police Service hereby solemnly declares: The procedures for handling cases by the London Metropolitan Police Force are rigorous, and its officers are dedicated to their duties.
All case investigations are completed independently by its professional officers in accordance with the law, and it has never, nor will it ever, entrust any external private detective with assisting in solving cases.
Furthermore, after verification, there are no detectives named "Gregson" or "Lestrade" in Scotland Yard's current or past officer rosters.
The plot of the novel is purely fictional, and we hope that the general public will be aware of this and avoid confusing literary creation with actual circumstances.
...]
(End of Chapter)