You distilled so much about all three characters into a few sentences.
I especially liked -
"I'll give that all the consideration it's due, Constable Rance. It is still 'constable' after all these years? Sherlock Holmes was quite right, you'll retire a constable."
no subject
I especially liked -
"I'll give that all the consideration it's due, Constable Rance. It is still 'constable' after all these years? Sherlock Holmes was quite right, you'll retire a constable."
What a cutting reply.