Thread: "...and I don't care who knows it." (Doyle, The sign of the four)

In "The Sign of the Four" by A. Conan Doyle (1890), Athelney Jones, a police officer, speaks about Sherlock Holmes:

"Your friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man, sir," said he, in a husky and confidential voice. "He's a man who is not to be beat. I have known that young man go into a good many cases, but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. He is irregular in his methods, and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories, but, on the whole, I think he would have made a most promising officer, and I don't care who knows it."

Could anyone explain the meaning of "...and I don't care who knows it", please?

Apparently, he is saying he doesn't care who knows that he thinks SH would have made a promising officer. Perhaps there are people who are not likely to agree with his positive opinion of SH.

Originally Posted by sperk

...he doesn't care who knows

Here "knows" means "gets to know" or "learns", right?

Yes, he doesn't care who finds out or learns what his opinion of SH is. BTW, get to know is used with people, not facts: I got to know John very well last summer.

Thank you very much for your explanations (about "getting to know" as well)!