Talk:Arthur Conan Doyle

There's a story somewhat popular among preachers that goes like this: Doyle was a practical joker. Once he sent the same telegram to twelve of his friends: "All is discovered. Flee at once." All twelve left the country.

Google turns up a number of such citations [1] (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22flee+at+once%22+arthur+conan+doyle).

<>< tbc

This looks like a hoax, or urban legend to me. I recall having heard something about it before, but almost every single citation I discovered turns up in a sermon, used to illustrate the well-travelled theme of guilt. The twelve friends can also be the twelve most important men in England. sjc

The plot of one of the Holmes stories, "The 'Gloria Scott'" (http://holmes-sherlock.com/sherlock/mem/glor), hinges on such a message. --RjLesch

Thanks! I made the story a link so page visitors can read it. I scanned through it and see exactly what you mean. However, the message in that context isn't a prank.

<>< tbc

---

There are many more citations at Google attributing the quote to Mark Twain [2] (http://www.google.com/search?q=all+discovered+flee+once+mark+twain).

<>< tbc