I think 'bow' may refer to the ACD story 'His Last Bow' and was a hint for 'His Last Vow'. I believe its the last story chronologically in the ACD universe. The 'East Wind' talk originates in this story.  

For 'rat', there is an ACD story "Sherlock Holmes and the Giaant Rat of Sumatra'. In TEH, Sherlock refers to Lord Moran as a rat and the abandoned underground station that is being targeted is the Sumatra Road. 

The plot lines are not identical to their inspirations, but I think they're meant to be more of easter eggs after the fact. I can't imagine how what were supposed to glean about TEH from 'rat', for example.