---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The door opened after a few moments…"
description: "\"“The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking slightly upwards, expecting Amyus Crowe to be standing inside the doorway, and for a moment ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/andrew-lane-55040_empty-space_the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sher_72681.jpg"
---

#  The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking…

![“The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking slightly upwards, expecting Amyus Crowe to be standing inside the doorway, and for a moment he was confused by the empty space. His gaze droped, and he felt his heart stutter as it came to rest on the face of a girl at the same level as his…” quote by Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/andrew-lane-55040_empty-space_the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sher_72681.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/andrew-lane-55040_empty-space_the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sher_72681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/andrew-lane-55040_empty-space_the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sher_72681.jpg)

> ““The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking slightly upwards, expecting Amyus Crowe to be standing inside the doorway, and for a moment he was confused by the empty space. His gaze droped, and he felt his heart stutter as it came to rest on the face of a girl at the same level as his own. Her cloths were dark, and in the shadows of the hall her face seemed to be floating in mid-air.””

[Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Sherlock experiences a sudden, disorienting shift from expectation to unexpected intimacy, highlighting how perception can be upended in a moment.

**In simple terms:** Unexpected emotional shift

Key Takeaway

Perception can change instantly

Themes

suspense romance psychology visual imagery character dynamics

Mood

tense wonderful intimate

Type

narrative descriptive dramatic

When to use this quote

- detective confronting a surprise
- first encounter with a love interest
- moment of vulnerability
- scene transition
- revelation of hidden presence

Key Concepts

expectation vs reality visual metaphor emotional tension

Practical Applications

- writing atmospheric tension
- building character depth

Questions to Reflect On

- How does surprise alter a character's focus?
- What does the visual description reveal about inner states?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Empty space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-space/) [Love at first sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-at-first-sight/) [Sherlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherlock/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“It was as if a door had opened somewhere. Or possibly a series of doors. There was a sensation as of a breeze blowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/it-was-as-if-a-door-had-opened-somewhere-or-possibly-a-series-of/)

[Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/)

> [“I heard a bolt moving, then the door opened. It was Washio. “You’re early,” he said. I shrugged. I rarely make appointments. You don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-heard-a-bolt-moving-then-the-door-opened-it-was-washio-you-re-early/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-one-door-of-happiness-closes-another-opens-but-often-we-look-so-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The door opened, and we were met by a fifty-something man with a grizzled blond beard. He was wearing Bermuda shorts and a Lynyrd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/the-door-opened-and-we-were-met-by-a-fifty-something-man-with-a/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“veterinarian right? Paul and I discussed his options to either keep trying or believe what others were telling him and put Kali to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-james-st-clair/veterinarian-right-paul-and-i-discussed-his-options-to-either-keep/)

Dr. James St.Clair

> [“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/keep-asking-and-it-will-be-given-to-you-keep-searching-and-you-will/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [I was getting make up done in the car when the door opened and Park Bo Gum came in. After we said 'Hello,' an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwak-dong-yeon/i-was-getting-make-up-done-in-the-car-when-the-door-opened-and-park/)

[Kwak Dong-yeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwak-dong-yeon/)

> [When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shy/when-one-door-closes-another-opens-but-we-often-look-so-long-and-so/)

Shy

> [There was a knock on our dressing-room door. Our manager shouted, 'Keith! Ron! The Police are here!' Oh, man, we panicked, flushed everything down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/there-was-a-knock-on-our-dressing-room-door-our-manager-shouted-keith/)

[Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/)

> [“Have you done your work?” she asked. “Dare you stay here a few minutes?” Becky lost her breath again. “Here, miss? Me?” Sara ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/have-you-done-your-work-she-asked-dare-you-stay-here-a-few-minutes/)

[Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/)

> [“The front door opened again. I glanced up and saw Karate. Christ, I thought. The gang’s all here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-front-door-opened-again-i-glanced-up-and-saw-karate-christ-i/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [Whenever I have knocked, a door has opened. Wherever I have wandered, a path has appeared. I have been helped, supported, encouraged and nurtured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/whenever-i-have-knocked-a-door-has-opened-wherever-i-have-wandered-a/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/improve-life-books/when-one-door-of-happiness-closes-another-opens-but-often-we-look-so/)

Improve Life Books

> [When one door closes, another one opens, but sometimes we wait too long looking at the closed door, and never realize that another door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-one-door-closes-another-one-opens-but-sometimes-we-wait-too-long/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [“How many times have I been put at the front of the line without even knowing there was a line? How many times have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-crouch/how-many-times-have-i-been-put-at-the-front-of-the-line-without-even/)

[Andy Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-crouch/)

## More by Andrew Lane

> [“I am a . . . solitary . . . man, he said. 'I do not suffer fools gladly, and I prefer to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/i-am-a-solitary-man-he-said-i-do-not-suffer-fools-gladly-and-i-prefer/)

[Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/)

> [“When you've only got two choices, and you don't like either of them, make a third choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/when-you-ve-only-got-two-choices-and-you-don-t-like-either-of-them/)

[Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/)

> [“The sensible man,' Crow had said (to Sherlock Holmes), 'don't look to confirm what he already knows -- he looks to deny it. Finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-sensible-man-crow-had-said-to-sherlock-holmes-don-t-look-to/)

[Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/)

> [“I ran out the door but it was to late… i felt a sharp pain in my back as i heard the gun shoot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/i-ran-out-the-door-but-it-was-to-late-i-felt-a-sharp-pain-in-my-back/)

[Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/)

> [“The thing is', (Rufus) Stone said, 'that if you don't believe that you are an old man, or a woman, or a tramp, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-thing-is-rufus-stone-said-that-if-you-don-t-believe-that-you-are/)

[Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/)

[Explore all 6 Andrew Lane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/)

## More Empty space quotes

> [“Love. Such a sweet, simple word. A word I've been searching for my entire life - but especially since I met Eio - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/love-such-a-sweet-simple-word-a-word-i-ve-been-searching-for-my/)

[Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/)

> [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/)

[Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/)

> [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/)

[Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/)

> [It's everywhere, really. It's between the galaxies. It is in this room. We believe that everywhere that you have space, empty space, that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-riess/it-s-everywhere-really-it-s-between-the-galaxies-it-is-in-this-room/)

[Adam Riess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-riess/)

> [Would you believe me if I said I was sorry The question wasn't mean to hurt, It was just my fear of losing you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/every-avenue/would-you-believe-me-if-i-said-i-was-sorry-the-question-wasn-t-mean/)

Every Avenue

> [Now, almost one hundred years later, it is difficult to fully appreciate how much our picture of the universe has changed in the span…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/now-almost-one-hundred-years-later-it-is-difficult-to-fully/)

[Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/)

> [“An atom is mostly made up of empty space. If you remove the empty space from every atom, the entire world's human population could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/an-atom-is-mostly-made-up-of-empty-space-if-you-remove-the-empty/)

[Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/)

> [“The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-thirty-spokes-unite-in-the-one-nave-but-it-is-on-the-empty-space/)

[Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/)

> [“She inhabited a world from which I was excluded, and she had left me in an immense empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hayes/she-inhabited-a-world-from-which-i-was-excluded-and-she-had-left-me/)

[Alfred Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hayes/)

> [Losing my daughter was a very serious pain. There was always some empty space in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/losing-my-daughter-was-a-very-serious-pain-there-was-always-some/)

[Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/)

> [At the moment, I'm toying with a new idea for a book, but fully engaged with writing screenplays, so the book idea - which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/at-the-moment-i-m-toying-with-a-new-idea-for-a-book-but-fully-engaged/)

[Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/)

> [“The first time I walked through the spacious house, I didn't see possibility or a new start. I saw a big, empty space. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-talbot/the-first-time-i-walked-through-the-spacious-house-i-didn-t-see/)

[Jill Talbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-talbot/)

> [“All my life, I've been trying to fill an emptiness inside. But that emptiness...I've built myself around it. Filling it in would be like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-charlton/all-my-life-i-ve-been-trying-to-fill-an-emptiness-inside-but-that/)

[Blake Charlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-charlton/)

> [“Where are we headed? Are we not endlessly plunging —backwards, sideways, forwards, in all directions? Is there an up and a down anymore? Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/where-are-we-headed-are-we-not-endlessly-plunging-backwards-sideways/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [..holding a book but reading the empty spaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/holding-a-book-but-reading-the-empty-spaces/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

[Browse all 453 Empty space quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-space/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking slightly upwards, expecting Amyus Crowe to be standing inside the doorway, and for a moment he was confused by the empty space. His gaze droped, and he felt his heart stutter as it came to rest on the face of a girl at the same level as his own. Her cloths were dark, and in the shadows of the hall her face seemed to be floating in mid-air.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andrew Lane"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sherlock-was-looking-slightly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Empty space"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sherlock-was-looking-slightly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/andrew-lane-55040_empty-space_the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sher_72681.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/andrew-lane-55040_empty-space_the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sher_72681.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/andrew-lane-55040_empty-space_the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sher_72681.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking slightly upwards, expecting Amyus Crowe to be…” — Andrew Lane",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andrew Lane",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The door opened after a few...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sherlock-was-looking-slightly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sherlock-was-looking-slightly/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
