The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part IV

by David Marcum

  HOLMES Since you have come to me instead of the police, Mr. Staunton, I take it that the precious object was not stolen from your bank, but from your own house.

  STAUNTON You are correct, sir. I wished to make a proper study of the chalice before depositing it with my bankers. Ah! I had, of course, taken out an insurance policy upon it.

  WATSON Where do you live, Mr. Staunton?

  STAUNTON The house is called Holly Trees. It is not large, but it suits my needs, and the situation close to Highgate Ponds is very charming. I am a bachelor, you see, and I live a simple life.

  HOLMES Pray continue, Mr. Staunton.

  STAUNTON Ah, yes. There is a safe in my study, securely built into the wall, and hidden behind a looking-glass. That, of course, is where I kept the chalice. You may imagine my distress - my utter distress, sir - when, this very morning, I discovered the safe unlocked and the chalice gone!

  WATSON You would be well advised, I think, to give the police a description of the chalice.

  STAUNTON I should rather not have to deal with the police, Dr. Watson. I value my privacy, and I do not relish the thought of large clumsy boots tramping through my house and garden. No, I prefer to call upon the skill and discretion of Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

  HOLMES That is very good of you, Mr. Staunton. You will appreciate, however, that I must have all the details, no matter how trivial they may seem.

  STAUNTON Of course, sir, of course. Well, my housekeeper, Mrs. Elliott, called me at seven o’clock this morning, slightly earlier than usual, and she was in a most agitated state. Rather than trust to her somewhat incoherent account, I went myself directly to my study, where I found the safe door standing open and the study window broken. Here, plainly, the miscreant had gained entrance, inserting his hand through the broken pane and unfastening the latch. I observed also a double line of footprints running across the bare, damp earth from the high garden wall, and returning thither.

  WATSON One moment, Mr. Staunton. Are we to understand that your study overlooks bare earth?

  STAUNTON (A PAINED CHUCKLE) It does seem odd, sir, put like that, but the matter is simply explained: the ground has been prepared for a new lawn, but my gardener has strained his back, and the turves have not yet been laid. A fortunate thing, as I am sure you will agree, sir! Most fortunate, for now we have the clearest clues as to the thief’s means of entrance and egress. Naturally, I have left strict instructions that the footprints are to be left untouched.

  WATSON Very sensible.

  HOLMES Yes, indeed. Well, Mr. Staunton, I think that we had better come at once and investigate the scene of the crime. I shall just gather a few essential items of equipment. Watson, will you call a cab?

  MUSIC BRIDGE

  Scene 2

  FX STREET SOUNDS, THE CLIP-CLOP OF HORSE’S HOOVES, AND THE SOUND OF WHEELS ON THE HARD ROAD (THE WHEELS HAVE SOLID RUBBER TYRES) - WE’RE IN A FOUR-WHEELER ON OUR WAY TO HIGHGATE.

  HOLMES Now, Mr. Staunton, you have mentioned your housekeeper. What other staff have you at Holly Trees?

  STAUNTON Besides Mrs. Elliott, there are the maid and the gardener - that is all. I live very simply, as I have told you, sir.

  HOLMES And there is no one else in your immediate household? You have no guests, no lodgers?

  STAUNTON No, indeed, sir. I am not what you would call a sociable man. I have no family and very few friends. I do not wish for more.

  WATSON Your study is on the ground floor, Mr. Staunton, but is it at the front or the back of the house?

  STAUNTON It is at the front, sir.

  WATSON So a passer-by could see the study window from the street?

  STAUNTON Oh, dear me, no! No indeed. The entire property is surrounded by a high brick wall. There is a gate, of course, but that is as high as the wall, and made of solid oak planks. As I told you, sir, I value my privacy.

  FX THE STREET SOUNDS GRADUALLY FADE OUT, BUT THE HOOFBEATS AND THE SOUND OF THE WHEELS CONTINUE.

  HOLMES No doubt there is a gate at the back as well?

  STAUNTON There is, Mr. Holmes, but it is kept locked. The only person who ever uses it is the gardener, Albert Lowry, who comes and goes that way. He rents a cottage in Bacons Lane. (A SUDDEN CHUCKLE)

  WATSON Mr. Staunton?

  STAUNTON Lowry thinks himself a wit, sir, but he has only one joke. His room overlooks the cemetery. He calls it the dead centre of the village. (A BEAT) It is not a very good joke, I fear.

  HOLMES (A BEAT) So the gardener does not live in. Where do the other servants sleep?

  STAUNTON Ah, yes. Mrs. Elliott’s two rooms occupy the second floor back. She can almost see Hampstead Heath from her sitting-room window, I believe. The maid, Sarah Gilbert, sleeps in the attic at the back of the house.

  WATSON And where is your own bedroom, Mr. Staunton?

  STAUNTON I also sleep at the rear of the house, Doctor, and I sleep the sleep of the just. Like the servants, I was quite unaware that my property was under attack last night. It is a wicked world, gentlemen, a wicked world. (A BEAT) Ah! But here we are!

  FX THE CAB STOPS.

  STAUNTON Welcome to Holly Trees, gentlemen.

  MUSIC BRIDGE

  Scene 3

  FX OUTDOOR AMBIENCE. IT’S A COLD, DAMP DAY, SO THERE’S NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF BIRDSONG. HOLMES, WATSON, AND STAUNTON ARE WALKING ON A GRAVEL PATH.

  WATSON The gate and the wall are quite as formidable as you suggested, Mr. Staunton. The wall must be at least nine feet high.

  HOLMES Ten-and-a-half feet, I should say, Watson.

  STAUNTON The ground is quite bare, as you see, right up to the front of the house, and there are the stacks of turf, just waiting for Lowry to lay them. You will wish to inspect the footprints, of course?

  HOLMES All in good time, Mr. Staunton. Now, Watson, how far would you say it is from the house to the garden wall?

  WATSON Not more than twenty yards, Holmes. On a good day, this garden must be a pleasant spot - or it will be once the new lawn is laid - but the property is not extensive.

  HOLMES Just so.

  FX THE FOOTSTEPS COME TO A HALT.

  HOLMES Your study is on the right of the front door, Mr. Staunton.

  STAUNTON So it is, sir. But how - ? Ah! The broken window, of course. Yes. And the parlour is on the left.

  HOLMES Very good. Now for the footprints. I don’t wish to trample on this flower bed, Mr. Staunton, but I see a way through just ahead of us.

  FX THE FOOTSTEPS RESUME AND SHORTLY FADE DOWN.

  WATSON (A MOMENTARY PAUSE) Thank goodness we’ve had no rain today! Your intended lawn would be a sea of mud, Mr. Staunton, and we might well have lost the burglar’s footprints.

  HOLMES Instead, the ground is just firm enough for us, and the prints are perfectly preserved. How very fortunate! Well, before the weather does take a turn for the worse, we should take a cast of these prints. Watson, will you please fetch me a bucket of water? There must be a bucket and a tap in the scullery. I’m sure Mr. Staunton will show you.

  STAUNTON Water, sir?

  WATSON To mix with plaster of Paris, Mr. Staunton. Didn’t you notice how heavy Holmes’s bag is?

  STAUNTON Oh... Yes. (A BEAT) Come with me, Doctor.

  HOLMES Don’t be too long, Watson.

  MUSIC BRIDGE

  HOLMES Capital! I have rarely seen such clear prints. Our man has a long stride - perhaps he was eager to cross the garden as quickly as possible without running. The night was rather dark, was it not?

  WATSON These impressions are quite remarkably sharp. It looks to me as if the boots were new. They’re large, too. What size would you say, Holmes?

  HOLMES Size eleven, Watson - no doubt about it. (A BEAT) The preservation of the footprints is fortunate, but the newness of the boots is not. There has not be
en time for their owner to impress his personality upon them.

  WATSON The burglar could hardly have left plainer traces if he had intended to.

  HOLMES Indeed.

  STAUNTON (CALLING FROM SOME YARDS AWAY) Will you not come and examine the study, Mr. Holmes? That is where the theft took place, after all.

  HOLMES (CALLING BACK) By all means, Mr. Staunton. (TO WATSON) You know, there are two very singular features here, Watson. For instance, our man seems to have let himself down from the wall with commendable delicacy.

  WATSON Yes, I noticed that. There’s no indication that he jumped, and I see no sign that a ladder was used. * Still, it’s not impossible that he dropped delicately on to the ground, is it...?

  FX * FADE DOWN WATSON’S VOICE.

  HOLMES (A MOMENTARY PAUSE) Well, our burglar certainly knew what he was doing. This window has been broken in a most efficient manner. The pane was smeared with (HE SNIFFS) treacle and covered with a sheet of strong brown paper. There would have been very little noise, and the broken glass could just be pulled away to leave an opening. (A BEAT) Hmm. The thief removed just the one pane and reached through - like - this - to undo the latch.

  FX HOLMES UNDOES THE LATCH AND RAISES THE SASH WINDOW.

  HOLMES And here on the sill is the print of his left boot - muddy and indistinct, as one might expect. No matter. Let us enter the room.

  WATSON Holmes! Not that way, surely!

  HOLMES Oh, very well. The front door it is, then.

  FX GARDEN BACKGROUND OUT.

  Scene 4

  STAUNTON (A MOMENTARY PAUSE) As you see, gentlemen, I choose the company of art and literature over that of my fellow men. That landscape is by Madame Vigée-Lebrun, and the portrait is the work of Godfrey Schalcken. Both are genuine. I have my doubts about the Fragonard on the far wall, but you will admit that it is very charming.

  WATSON We are digressing, Mr. Staunton. Mr. Holmes is –

  HOLMES (FROM THE FLOOR) Just examining the floor, Watson. (HE STANDS UP) These muddy marks tell us nothing more, I fear. Let us look at the safe. Behind the looking-glass, I think you said, Mr. Staunton?

  FX A CLICK AS STAUNTON RELEASES THE CATCH AND SWINGS BACK THE MIRROR.

  STAUNTON That is correct, sir. I have the key here –

  FX STAUNTON INSERTS THE KEY IN THE LOCK OF THE SAFE AND TURNS IT. HE TURNS THE HANDLE AND OPENS THE HEAVY IRON DOOR.

  HOLMES Ah, yes. Chatwood. A good make, though perhaps you should have invested in something more sophisticated. (A MOMENTARY PAUSE WHILE HE EXAMINES THE LOCK) A really competent burglar would have no great difficulty in picking this lock... Hmm. It appears to have been opened with a key, however. It has certainly not been forced. (A BEAT) And nothing was taken except the chalice?

  STAUNTON Nothing except the chalice, sir. I begin to suspect that I have harboured a spy in my house, but I cannot think how that could be. The servants are certainly innocent. Both the maid and the gardener have been in my employ for at least fifteen years, and the invaluable Mrs. Elliott has worked for my family since I was a young man. I trust them all, sir, trust them implicitly. Besides, I am quite sure that none of them knew of my purchase. Even the housekeeper never enters this room without my express permission.

  WATSON Is there only one key to the safe?

  STAUNTON There are two, Doctor. I carry this one upon my watch-chain at all times.

  HOLMES And the other?

  STAUNTON It is with my bankers, Holder and Stephenson.

  HOLMES Very good. Now, you have cleared your servants of suspicion. Have you entertained any visitors during the past ten days?

  STAUNTON No. Oh, yes - yes, there has been one visitor. In fact he has spent two evenings here - but you need not suspect him, Mr. Holmes. The idea is quite absurd! I have told you that I am not a sociable man, but once a week I play Ecarté or Piquet with my cousin, Walter Ruskin. Sometimes we meet here, and sometimes at Walter’s house at Mill Hill. He is a bachelor, like me, with no other close family.

  WATSON Ruskin? Is that Ruskin the gunsmith, with the shop in Jermyn Street?

  STAUNTON That is correct, Doctor, though Walter retired six months ago. He is a good fellow. We have been friends since boyhood.

  HOLMES Did you tell him about the chalice, Mr. Staunton?

  STAUNTON Er - yes. Yes, I did. All he said was that I ought to deposit it in a bank-vault as soon as possible.

  HOLMES Your spare safe key is secure, but your cousin might perhaps have had the opportunity to take an impression of the key on your watch-chain. Such things can be done quickly and discreetly.

  STAUNTON It - it is - possible, Mr. Holmes... Physically possible, I mean. I cannot believe that Walter would stoop to such a thing! Besides, he would have no cause to steal from me. He is my creditor, not my debtor, thanks to our weekly gaming. I owe him a substantial sum, as it happens.

  WATSON Nevertheless, Mr. Staunton, we must examine every possibility. Can you give us a description of your cousin?

  STAUNTON If I must, Doctor! Walter is quite as tall as Mr. Holmes here, but more heavily built. He is fifty-nine years of age, with thick dark hair and a heavy moustache. His eyes are light brown - hazel, I think, is the word.

  HOLMES Do you know what size he takes in boots?

  STAUNTON Really, Mr. Holmes! I - I am not sure... Walter is much taller than I, and his feet are larger than mine. Larger than yours too, I should say. Size ten, perhaps, or even size eleven.

  HOLMES Well, Mr. Staunton, I think we have done all that we can do here - for the time being, at least. My next move must be to call upon Mr. Walter Ruskin, if you will kindly give me his address. I have a curious feeling that this is one of those straightforward cases that turn out not to be quite so straightforward after all.

  STAUNTON Walter’s address is Kingsland, Wiseman’s Lane, Mill Hill. But I assure you, Mr. Holmes, that you are barking up the wrong tree.

  HOLMES Thank you, Mr. Staunton. I shall let you know as soon as I have something to report. Come, Watson.

  Scene 5

  FX THE GARDEN BACKGROUND AGAIN. HOLMES AND WATSON ARE WALKING ON THE GRAVEL PATH.

  WATSON Holmes, you said that there are two odd features here in the garden. What is the second?

  HOLMES You didn’t notice it? Why, it was simply that the two lines of prints are quite separate: at no point do the footprints leaving the house overlap those made in going to the house. Now, old fellow, I shall endeavour to make my way to Mill Hill. I think perhaps you should return to Baker Street. You’d probably do well to have some lunch on the way. I know how grumpy you can get if you miss your lunch.

  WATSON Whereas a problem like this is meat and drink to you. Very well, Holmes.

  FX THE FOOTSTEPS FADE OUT UNDER.

  MUSIC BRIDGE

  Scene 6

  WATSON (HE’S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, CALLING FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS) Thank you, Mrs. Hudson!

  FX HE OPENS THE DOOR OF THE SITTING-ROOM AND ENTERS, CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM.

  WATSON Lestrade! How are you? Mrs. Hudson told me you were here. You’ve not been waiting long, I hope?

  LESTRADE Only a few minutes, Doctor. It’s good to see you again. Mr. Holmes not with you?

  WATSON No. He’s off on a case. Gone to Mill Hill. I can’t say what time he’ll be back. Do sit down again. (A BEAT) Er - would you care for a cigar?

  LESTRADE Thank you, Doctor. I don’t mind if I do.

  FX BOTH MEN TAKE CIGARS FROM A BOX. WATSON STRIKES A MATCH AND LIGHTS LESTRADE’S.

  LESTRADE (HE DRAWS ON HIS CIGAR, THEN - ) Thank you!

  FX UNDER LESTRADE’S REMARK, WATSON LIGHTS HIS OWN CIGAR.

  WATSON (HE DRAWS ON HIS CIGAR, THEN - ) Well, Inspector, is it good news or bad? What brings you here this afternoon?

  LESTRADE Goo
d news, in a way, I think. Do you remember Esmond Northcote?

  WATSON I do indeed! A very nasty piece of work. Card-sharp and blackmailer. Murderer too, I think.

  LESTRADE We could never prove the murder, but we did get Northcote sentenced to five years’ hard labour on the blackmail charge. He was sent to Maidstone.

  WATSON Five years? Then he must have served his time by now. You surely haven’t come just to tell us that Northcote has been released?

  LESTRADE No-o-o. That’s not the whole story, Dr. Watson - but I think I shall save the important part until Mr. Holmes returns. You don’t mind if I wait here, I hope?

  WATSON My dear fellow, I shall be delighted.

  LESTRADE Thank you, Doctor. Er, can you tell me something about the case that Mr. Holmes is investigating?

  WATSON Yes. Yes - why not? Have you ever heard of the Grace Chalice, Inspector? No? Neither had I until this morning. * I don’t need to say any anything about the chalice itself except that it’s made of gold and it’s worth more money than you or I could ever hope to own...

  FX * FADE DOWN WATSON’S VOICE.

  FX FADE UP LESTRADE’S VOICE.

  LESTRADE Retiring nature! Clumsy boots! These people are their own worst enemies. He should at least have reported the theft at the local police station, and given the duty officer a good description of the stolen item.

  WATSON That’s just what I said, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

  FX WE HEAR THE DISTANT SLAM OF THE FRONT DOOR.

  WATSON Ah! Here’s Holmes now.

  LESTRADE (A BEAT) He doesn’t sound any too happy, does he?

  FX THE DOOR OF THE SITTING-ROOM OPENS.

  HOLMES (APPROACHING FROM THE DOORWAY) I don’t like it, Watson. I don’t like it at all. Walter Ruskin hasn’t been seen since yesterday evening. The only positive information to emerge is that Ruskin does take size eleven in boots. (A BEAT) Ah, Lestrade. To what do we owe this visit?

  WATSON It’s about Esmond Northcote, Holmes.