Billy
From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
Fictional character.
In the Sherlock Holmes stories
Billy was the page at Baker Street. He had three main jobs : gatekeeper/household manager, information conduit, and active assistant for Sherlock Holmes. He was Holmes' trusted house operative — he kept the home running, briefed Dr. Watson, and managed admissions — while also helping Holmes' schemes with practical execution.
The Valley of Fear (1914)
- Billy, the page, brought to Sherlock Holmes a letter from Fred Porlock (VALL 69).
- Billy swung open the door of the Baker Street living-room and Inspector MacDonald of Scotland Yard was ushered into the room (VALL 212).
The Mazarin Stone (1921)
- Dr. Watson was welcomed by the fresh and smiling face of Billy the young but very wise and tactful page, who had helped a little to fill up the gap of loneliness and isolation which surrounded the saturnine figure of the great detective (MAZA 3).
- Billy managed the curtain and revealed the Sherlock Holmes effigy (MAZA 45).
- He brought up Count Sylvius' card and announced him (MAZA 143).
- He controlled when Count Sylvius is admitted and even had conditional instructions if Sherlock Holmes was absent (MAZA 159).
- He was later used to summon Sam Merton from outside (MAZA 349).
The Problem of Thor Bridge (1922)
- Billy ushered Marlow Bates to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (THOR 108).
