Enrico Solito (“Devon”) sent us a very tricky quiz question indeed, with the only correct answer coming from the team of Sheila Holtgrieve (“Daisy”) and Margie Deck (“Mopsy”), who wrote:
The Tuscan is Giovanni Boccaccio. He famous book, the Decameron, was found amongst Enoch J. Drebber’s pocket contents in the house at Lauriston Gardens (STUD, p. 30). It was found with the luxury items of a gold watch by Barraud of London, a heavy gold chain, a gold ring, a gold pin with rubies in the bull dog’s head, and a Russian leather card case. Wow—this man had some bucks!
Also, the history of the Decameron plus some story threads in the individual stories may have some relation to/similarity with A Thousand and One Nights. mentioned in NOBL, p. 296 in connection with the luxuries of the “epicurean little cold supper” that Holmes ordered.
Honourable Mention goes to Robert Perret (“Sampson”), who suggested:
Do you perhaps refer to Goldini, the proprietor of a garish restaurant in BRUC? I understand his cigars, likely the famous Toscanos, are less poisonous than one might expect.
Well done, all three of you, and thank you again, “Devon”!
If you’ve been bitten by the bug to create your own Canonical Quiz, send questions (and answers, please!) to Selena.
We really enjoyed working on this question, and by ‘we’, I pretty much mean Sheila.
Thanks for a great question!