The Return of Sherlock Holmes (TV Series)

The Six Napoleons (1986)

Jeremy Brett: Sherlock Holmes

Photos 

Quotes 

• Inspector Lestrade : [Lestrade speaks slowly, deliberately, and sincerely without his usual arrogance]  I've seen you handle a good many cases in my time, but I don't know that I ever knew a more workmanlike one than this.

  [Holmes beams with pride] 

  Inspector Lestrade : We're not jealous of you, you know, at Scotland Yard. No, sir, we're proud of you.

  [Holmes seems startled by this revelation] 

  Inspector Lestrade : And if you come down tomorrow, there's not a man from the oldest inspector to the youngest constable... who wouldn't be glad to shake you by the hand.

  Sherlock Holmes : Thank you!

  [Then quietly and softly with uncharacteristic humility] 

  Sherlock Holmes : Thank you.

• [Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade are on a stakeout] 

  [Watson sneezes] 

  Sherlock Holmes : Watson, if you've caught a cold, it's your fault. You left the rugs behind.

  Dr. Watson : Sorry, Holmes.

• Dr. Watson : Have a humbug, Lestrade.

  Sherlock Holmes : Watson, this is no time for humbugs!

• Sherlock Holmes : And now, Watson, I commend to you the universal answer to almost all problems.

  Dr. Watson : What's that, Holmes?

  Sherlock Holmes : Sleep.

• Sherlock Holmes : I dare call nothing trivial, Lestrade. Some of my most classic cases have had the least promising commencement.

  Dr. Watson : Yeah. That dreadful business of the Abernetty family.

  Sherlock Holmes : Yah! Woo.

  Inspector Lestrade : I'd hardly call the dismemberment of an entire family trivial.

  [Watson laughs] 

  Sherlock Holmes : Oh, Watson, would you be so kind as to explain?

  Dr. Watson : What? Oh, uh, the point is that, um, it only came to Holmes's notice because of the depth to which the parsley had sunk into the butter on a hot day.

• Inspector Lestrade : If it might interest you, Mister Holmes...

  Sherlock Holmes : [Staring intently at a dead body in the morgue]  Forgive me, Lestrade; I was just contemplating the one mystery that not even I can solve... Death itself!

• Sherlock Holmes : I would be grateful, Lestrade, if you could make it convenient to come around to Baker Street at six o'clock this evening. Until then I would like to keep this photograph found in the dead man's pocket.

  Inspector Lestrade : Ah, Mr. Holmes, that might be a vital clue.

  Sherlock Holmes : I trust it is; otherwise it's of no interest to me.

• [When asked about Lestrade's theory about the six Napoleons] 

  Sherlock Holmes : I'm sure that they have the greatest interest, but I regret to say I've not listened to a word of them.

• Inspector Lestrade : Don't suppose we can smoke, can we?

  Sherlock Holmes : [immediately]  No.

  Inspector Lestrade : No. Thought as much.

• [Lestrade visits Holmes and Watson in their rooms at 221B Baker Street] 

  Dr. Watson : Anything remarkable on hand, Lestrade?

  Inspector Lestrade : No, nothing in particular.

  Sherlock Holmes : [after a long pause, lowers the newspaper he's reading and smiles at Lestrade]  Then tell us about it.

• Sherlock Holmes : [as a prelude to his explanation on how he solved the case]  Observe... and learn!