His love of danger, his intense appreciation of the drama of an adventure--all the more intense for being held tightly in--his consistent view that every peril in life is a form of sport, a fierce game betwixt you and Fate, with Death as a forfeit, made him a wonderful companion at such hours.

He had maintained a platonic relationship with Jean while his first wife was still alive out of loyalty to her. A sequel to A Study in Scarlet was commissioned and The Sign of the Four appeared in Lippincott's Magazine in February 1890 under agreement with the Ward Lock company. Conan Doyle fathered five children.

He was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories plays romances poetry non-fiction and historical novels.