Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

Podcast: Sherlock Holmes Short Stories (Noiser)
Episode: The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot: Part Two
Release Date: September 3, 2025
Narrator: Hugh Bonneville

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode brings the tense resolution of “The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot,” with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson deciphering a string of terrifying and supernatural-seeming tragedies at the Cornish coast. Murders, madness, and a mysterious poison culminate in a vérité moment of justice and heartbreak. The story explores not only the unraveling of a clever, deadly plot, but also deep motives of revenge, forbidden love, and the ethics of justice outside the law.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Developments

1. A New Tragedy: The Death of Mortimer Tregennis

• Setting: Holmes and Watson are summoned by a frantic vicar, Mr. Roundhay, who brings the news that Mortimer Tregennis has died in the night—mirroring the fate of his siblings.

• Scene: Upon arrival at the vicarage:

  • The room is described as horribly stuffy; a lamp is still burning and smoking on the table.
  • Mortimer is slumped dead, face fixed in terror, limbs contorted.

• Clue Gathering: Holmes’s investigation focuses on the window, the lamp, and collects ashes from the lamp’s talc shield.

  "I am glad to say that my investigation has not been entirely barren..."
  — Holmes, (16:40)

2. Holmes’s Reasoning: The Path to the Poison

• Reasoning: Holmes notices a commonality in all incidents: the oppressive atmosphere in each death room—suggesting a poi­sonous vapor created by combustion (fire or lamp).

• Experiment: Holmes tests this hypothesis by recreating the conditions with a duplicate lamp and the probable poison, with Watson at hand.

  "Now, Watson, we will light our lamp. We will, however, take the precaution to open our window to avoid the premature decease of two deserving members of society."
  — Holmes, (10:40)

• Results: Both men experience a brief, intense terror and hallucination before Watson breaks the “spell” and they flee outside. Holmes admits this was highly dangerous and thanks Watson for his loyalty and quick action.

  "Upon my word, Watson ... I owe you both my thanks and an apology. It was an unjustifiable experiment even for one's self, and doubly so for a friend."
  — Holmes, (13:30)

3. Reconstruction & Motive: Identifying the True Criminals

• Holmes deduces that Mortimer Tregennis was guilty of using the poison (devil’s foot root) on his own family:

  • Motive: Inheritance and dissatisfaction stemming from a family quarrel.
  • Method: He alone could have slipped the poison onto the fire.

  "We must remember ... there is some story of a family quarrel followed by a reconciliation. How bitter that quarrel may have been or how hollow the reconciliation we cannot tell."
  — Holmes, (14:15)

• Mortimer’s own death could not plausibly be suicide—there are indications of another agency.

4. Confrontation: Dr. Leon Sterndale’s Confession (22:10–32:30)

• Holmes summons Dr. Leon Sterndale, renowned explorer and family friend, to account for himself and reveals he knows Sterndale's movements.

• Holmes reconstructs Sterndale’s actions using physical evidence (gravel, footprints, lamp, and so on).

• Under pressure, Sterndale presents a photograph of Brenda Tregennis, confessing his long secret love:

  "For years I have loved her. For years she has loved me... I could not marry her, for I have a wife who has left me for years, and yet whom, by the deplorable laws of England, I could not divorce."
  — Dr. Sterndale, (27:01)

• Sterndale describes how, after showing Mortimer the rare “devil’s foot root” (a powerful fear-inducing poison he collected in West Africa), Mortimer stole a portion to kill his siblings—hoping to inherit their property.

• Outraged and heartbroken by Brenda’s murder, Sterndale took justice into his own hands: he gave Mortimer the same death using the stolen poison.

  "There is my story, Mr. Holmes. Perhaps if you loved a woman, you would have done as much yourself. At any rate, I am in your hands. You can take what steps you like."
  — Dr. Sterndale, (31:09)

5. Holmes’s Ethical Decision

• Holmes decides not to turn Sterndale over to the police, believing the law would not understand or accept the bizarre circumstances and motivations:

  "Go and do the other half [of your work in Africa]. I, at least, am not prepared to prevent you."
  — Holmes, (32:42)

• Holmes and Watson agree that this is a case best left out of official hands—a rare moment where Holmes’s justice is tempered by sympathy and humanity.

  “I have never loved, Watson, but if I did, and if the woman I loved had met such an end, I might act even as our lawless lion-hunter has done. Who knows?”
  — Holmes, (34:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Holmes’s Description of the Crime Scene:

  "The atmosphere of the room was of a horrible and depressing stuffiness... his lean dark face turned towards the window and twisted into the same distortion of terror which had marked the features of his dead sister."
  — Watson, (04:00)

• The Experiment's Terrifying Effect:

  "A thick black cloud swirled before my eyes ... in this cloud, unseen as yet but about to spring out upon my appalled senses, lurked all that was vaguely horrible, all that was monstrous and inconceivably wicked in the universe."
  — Watson, (12:28)

• Confrontation and Confession:

  "I have lived so long beyond the law… you would do well, Mr. Holmes, not to forget it for I have no desire to do you an injury..."
  — Dr. Sterndale, (22:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Previous episode recap & Mortimer’s death: 00:08 – 04:25
• Crime scene investigation & Holmes’s deductions: 04:25 – 08:32
• Holmes’s theoretical discourse on poison: 08:59 – 13:30
• Holmes and Watson’s dangerous experiment: 12:00 – 13:50
• Accusation and confession with Sterndale: 22:10 – 32:30
• Dr. Sterndale’s motives & origin of the poison: 26:25 – 32:30
• Holmes’s resolution and closing remarks: 32:35 – 35:10

Overall Tone & Style

• The narration (Hugh Bonneville) is meticulous and evocative, drawing listeners into the oppressive Cornish gloom and the drama of Holmes’s methodical investigation.
• Holmes’s reasoning is sharp, sometimes sardonic, but shades into empathy and moral ambiguity at the conclusion.
• Dialogue and internal commentary maintain the classic, elevated tone of Conan Doyle’s original stories.

Conclusion

“The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot: Part Two” presents a chilling, deeply emotive mystery that probes not only exotic chemistry and deduction but the very limits of revenge and natural justice. Holmes solves the puzzle, exposing both the culprit and the avenger, but ultimately leaves the final act of judgment to fate and forgiveness. The episode is a showcase for the humanity beneath the legendary detective’s disciplined mind, dramatized with suspense and pathos for listeners new and old to Sherlock Holmes.