Eight short stories from the portfolio of Doctor Watson, illustrating the singular mental faculties of his friend Sherlock Holmes. The title story of this collection refers to Holmes emergence from retirement to help the government fight the German threat at the approach of the First World War. Several of the detectives earlier cases complete the volume, including Wister Eight short stories from the portfolio of Doctor Watson, illustrating the singular mental faculties of his friend Sherlock Holmes. The title story of this collection refers to Holmes emergence from retirement to help the government fight the German threat at the approach of the First World War. Several of the detectives earlier cases complete the volume, including Wisteria Lodge, The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, and The Dying Detective.