Percy Phelps

Percy Phelps recovering the treaty (The Strand Magazine, november 1893)

Fictional character.

In the Sherlock Holmes stories

• Percy Phelps was an old schoolmate of Dr. Watson, nicknamed "Tadpole" at school (NAVA 15).

• He was a very brilliant boy who carried away every prize and went on to Cambridge (NAVA 9).

• Through Lord Holdhurst's influence, he secured a prestigious post at the Foreign Office (NAVA 16).

• Entrusted by his uncle Lord Holdhurst with copying a highly confidential naval treaty between England and Italy (NAVA 99).

• During a brief absence to fetch coffee, the treaty was stolen (NAVA 131).

• This "horrible misfortune" ruined his career prospects and nearly destroyed him emotionally (NAVA 16).

• The shock and guilt caused him to collapse into nine weeks of brain fever, during which he was nursed by his fiancée Annie Harrison (NAVA 292).

• Out of desperation, he wrote to Dr. Watson asking Sherlock Holmes to investigate (NAVA 14).

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