I know nothing of romance.

Romance is usually all nonsense in my estimation.

The real detective, who gets results in real life, is NOT a Sherlock Holmes." The enemies of Wilton Barnstable sometimes said of him that he was jealous of Sherlock Holmes.

When this was reported to Barnstable he invariably remarked: "How preposterous! The idea of a man being envious of a literary creation!" Perhaps his denial of the existence of romance was merely one of those poses which geniuses so often permit themselves.

Perhaps he saw it and was thrilled with it even while he denied it.