Mr. Barker, We Meet Again (Before?) Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear
This is a sort of unofficial or at least somewhat unexpected second of a further unexpected three-part series wherein we thrice meet a man named Barker in Sherlockian canon. Perhaps the same man named Barker. We shall see. Not long ago at all, depending upon how you individually process time, I wrote and posted here an article titled, "An Introduction to Mr. Barker (from The Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Retired Colourman)" I mentioned therein that his lone appearance was in those RETI pages. I might have been... less than correct. Although I stop safely shy of claiming full-blown incorrect.
However, as stated, we do meet other Barkers, and perhaps they are all he. The focus here is on one Cecil Barker, more precisely--the focus here is to suss out if they are one and the same, the Retired Colourman and Valley of Fear Mr. Barkers. According to William Stuart Baring-Gould and his chronology of canon, RETI took place in July of 1898. Before that, Cecil Barker plays a role in The Valley of Fear, circa January 1888. Again, could this be our first introduction to our man? If so, we know a lot more about him or at least have a lot more potential information with which to hypothesize upon his character-build. This VALL role is a meaty role.
The Barker in VALL is introduced as "Cecil James Barker, of Hales Lodge, Hampstead." This immediately does two things, one offers somewhat of a pro and the other somewhat of a con, in connecting the two Barkers as one. First, the full name. He is known only as Barker in The Adventure of the Retired Colourman, as well as (in which we will delve in pt. 3) The Adventure of the Empty House. Although the allusion to EMPT is admittedly misleading, as he is not mentioned by any name at all (at times I confuse my headcanon with canon-canon). Although a VALL full name, an EMPT cameo, and a familiar surname in RETI as acts I, II, & III of his saga, can well be a designed thing.
Nevertheless, 'Hampstead.' puts him near enough to his RETI base of Surrey. Thus far, it's inconclusive at best. Looking further, what is his role in the Valley story? He was a regular guest at Birlstone House and quite cozy with Douglas/Edwards and his wife, and with D/E from the way-back. He was first on the scene of the murder. Posited his own 'very definite' theory (although he did know the truth) and even went so far as to seem adept at handling said scene, or at least not tainting it. (Adept up to manipulating it.) "Nothing has been touched up to now," said Cecil Barker. "I'll answer for that. You see it all exactly as I found it."
Let's get physical. "A tall, sunburned, capable-looking, clean-shaved man looked in at us. I had no difficulty in guessing that it was the Cecil Barker of whom I had heard. His masterful eyes travelled quickly with a questioning glance from face to face." Tall jives with his RETI description. Sunburned could be in step with 'dark' from those pages as well. An out-of-doors sort of fellow. But clean-shaved. I suppose he could later-on have decided to grow a mustache. Also, 'stern' fits. His taking-in of the room seems quite detective-y. He comes to offer the new evidence of a found bicycle. An investigator would be proficient at steering an investigation.
Barker was, as noted, first on the scene. He then turned back Mrs. Douglas. "Poor Jack is dead! You can do nothing. For God's sake, go back!" She heeded his trusted words silently. Holmes noted the oddity of this behavior but what if she had known of the potential scheme? I say potential because I do not believe she knew it all until she congregated by the hedges with Barker quite gleefully, in a scene that all but convinced Watson they were, if not knew, her husband's murder(s)*... probably the former. Actually, "He entreated her to go back, and she answered him, but what she said could not be heard." Could be an "Easy. I will explain later," sort of quick kayfabe convo.
I believe that the most convincing look at Cecil Barker as a detective in-the-know was slipped in "He imagined that some secret society, some implacable organization, was on Douglas's track." To me, this obviously alludes to the presence of Moriarty--not Scowrers. (Holmes too would acknowledge Moriarty by this adventure's end.) Remember, word of the Scowrers was no secret, as news of their horrid misdeeds spread throughout America, so why not across the pond? (A trip Cecil took.) Barker's mind, and here his words, were a step-ahead. From that interview, "Some inquiries are offensive," Barker answered angrily. Here we see the short-fuse I cited sensing in what is now pt. 1 of our look at him... how he kept it overly in-check during RETI.
More physical traits. Watson likes hands. He freely notes Holmes' and here in VALL he notes Barker's "... great, strong [man-handler?] hands." Remember this from RETI: "When I could twist my head round I looked into the tinted spectacles of my friend and rival, Mr. Barker. It was a curious foregathering and set us both smiling." WHEN HE COULD. This is strength, as we recall Holmes capable of bending a fire poker. More-so, "strong black eyebrows," is a match for his I say now probable RETI description. Add too, "broad shoulders" to the growing list.
Now then, what of the VALL lack of 'grey,' 'coloured,' or 'tinted' glasses made mentioned in RETI and EMPT, respectively. Recall this is the first meeting, chronologically-speaking of this character. Perhaps his sensitive eyes were prone to later worsening? Perhaps some unmentioned injury in the interim twixt? Or, perhaps, as his renown grew larger over time so did his need to secret his identity or at least make it a tick obscured. Also, look at the William Stuart Baring-Gould dates. This eye-protectionless VALL appearance occurs in dull-sunned January. EMPT is in April, and RETI, July. It's sunnier in his shades donning months.
*This is the clincher passage perhaps, in proving these two Barkers are one-in-the-same indeed. "Now all pretense of grief had passed away from her. Her eyes shone with the joy of living, and her face still quivered with amusement at some remark of her companion." A few ticks later, Mrs. Douglas wants to let Holmes and Watson in on all she's just learned. At first, Barker rejects the idea but quickly changes his mind: "Yes, that's it," said Barker eagerly. "Is he on his own or is he entirely in with them?” In other words, will he work with me, together as private investigators, at the expense of not working with the official police?
And we see here Barker's plucky bootstrapping attempt at pulling himself up to Holmes' level. He's just not been deemed ready yet for primetime. So comes the response of "I wish none of their confidences." The great detective simply requires eating a fourth egg (cholesterol levels be damned) and then will show how he has the case in hand. He knows Barker lied and so did the Mrs., and furthermore are not the actual murderers. "Mrs. Douglas and Barker are both in a conspiracy to conceal something; that they aided the murderer's escape," the master is almost there if not (silently) already arrived.
We now come to Holmes baiting Barker via the direct correspondence of a letter. Long unnecessary story short, enter the not-dead at all previously thought brutally murdered Douglas. He says, "I hadn't much time to make it all clear to Barker and to my wife; but they understood enough to be able to help me. I knew all about this hiding place, so did Ames; but it never entered his head to connect it with the matter. I retired into it, and it was up to Barker to do the rest." So she did know and what I mentioned before between Barker and wifey was simply a notification of all going according to plan. With Barker taking the lead because, again, who better to steer an investigation than an investigator? That or it's a high-percentage utter fabrication.
Finishing up what we do know of our man, our one-man, Barker, he amassed a fortune alongside Douglas. Deep pockets are mandated if pursuing a career similar to the one which Holmes invented if you wish at all to play at or near his level. He's an Englishman, as I deduced in pt.1, and at this tale's completion--he is in league with Sherlock Holmes. It's he that brings word of the death of Birdy Edwards to 221b. He "beat his head with his clenched fist in his impotent anger. "Do not tell me that we have to sit down under this? Do you say that no one can ever get level with this king devil?" 'WE.'
"I don't say that he can't be beat. But you must give me time--you must give me time!" We all sat in silence for some minutes while those fateful eyes still strained to pierce the veil." A meeting of all those employed under the Holmes Detective Agency. I'd imagine with Barker allowed to moonlight later, then inheriting upn Holmes' retiring to the bees. Why then, do we not know of Barker's own adventures, even as we know of Holmes'? One word: Watson. Everyone plays a role in the HDA. The Master, the hot-headed apprentice, and the loyal chronicler.
REMINDER OF TIMELINE
(William Stuart Baring-Gould)
VALL: 7 January 1888
EMPT: 5 April 1894
RETI: 28 July 1898
*This is the clincher passage perhaps, in proving these two Barkers are one-in-the-same indeed. "Now all pretense of grief had passed away from her. Her eyes shone with the joy of living, and her face still quivered with amusement at some remark of her companion." A few ticks later, Mrs. Douglas wants to let Holmes and Watson in on all she's just learned. At first, Barker rejects the idea but quickly changes his mind: "Yes, that's it," said Barker eagerly. "Is he on his own or is he entirely in with them?” In other words, will he work with me, together as private investigators, at the expense of not working with the official police?
And we see here Barker's plucky bootstrapping attempt at pulling himself up to Holmes' level. He's just not been deemed ready yet for primetime. So comes the response of "I wish none of their confidences." The great detective simply requires eating a fourth egg (cholesterol levels be damned) and then will show how he has the case in hand. He knows Barker lied and so did the Mrs., and furthermore are not the actual murderers. "Mrs. Douglas and Barker are both in a conspiracy to conceal something; that they aided the murderer's escape," the master is almost there if not (silently) already arrived.
We now come to Holmes baiting Barker via the direct correspondence of a letter. Long unnecessary story short, enter the not-dead at all previously thought brutally murdered Douglas. He says, "I hadn't much time to make it all clear to Barker and to my wife; but they understood enough to be able to help me. I knew all about this hiding place, so did Ames; but it never entered his head to connect it with the matter. I retired into it, and it was up to Barker to do the rest." So she did know and what I mentioned before between Barker and wifey was simply a notification of all going according to plan. With Barker taking the lead because, again, who better to steer an investigation than an investigator? That or it's a high-percentage utter fabrication.
Finishing up what we do know of our man, our one-man, Barker, he amassed a fortune alongside Douglas. Deep pockets are mandated if pursuing a career similar to the one which Holmes invented if you wish at all to play at or near his level. He's an Englishman, as I deduced in pt.1, and at this tale's completion--he is in league with Sherlock Holmes. It's he that brings word of the death of Birdy Edwards to 221b. He "beat his head with his clenched fist in his impotent anger. "Do not tell me that we have to sit down under this? Do you say that no one can ever get level with this king devil?" 'WE.'
"I don't say that he can't be beat. But you must give me time--you must give me time!" We all sat in silence for some minutes while those fateful eyes still strained to pierce the veil." A meeting of all those employed under the Holmes Detective Agency. I'd imagine with Barker allowed to moonlight later, then inheriting upn Holmes' retiring to the bees. Why then, do we not know of Barker's own adventures, even as we know of Holmes'? One word: Watson. Everyone plays a role in the HDA. The Master, the hot-headed apprentice, and the loyal chronicler.
REMINDER OF TIMELINE
(William Stuart Baring-Gould)
VALL: 7 January 1888
EMPT: 5 April 1894
RETI: 28 July 1898
Part III coming soon. A final look at (maybe) Barker in EMPT.
::: very :::