Sherlock Holmes
Page 42
The lad took off his apron and set to work. He had barely gone down a foot into the soil when it was clear from the sound that his spade had touched a solid object. The lad stopped and Holmes was down on his knees in an instant. Turning to the lad he asked, “Do you have a trowel?”
The young man nodded. “Why, yes, sir, in my apron." Picking up the discarded apron, he produced a trowel from the large lap pocket.
“Capital!” cried Holmes and he immediately started scrapping away the soil. In a minute or so, Holmes had cleared away the surface sufficiently to reveal a small flagstone measuring about a foot square. He reached down and, with help from the gardener, lifted the stone to reveal a small stone chamber. The chamber was surprisingly dry due to the excellent fit of the stonework. At its centre could be seen a small, iron bound, teak chest. From my army days I recognised it as being typical of those on sale in the markets in the north east of India.
Holmes reached down and carefully lifted the chest, saying, “I think we ought to open this in your study, your grace.” Adding, “If you would be kind enough to ready your carriage, we will shortly take our leave of you.” The Duke solemnly nodded, motioned to one of his footmen and then led us back to his study.
Once inside, Holmes asked me to close the study door before he stood the small chest on the Duke's desk. The Duke moved forward and, with a little hesitation, he opened the chest. As he did so, Holmes and I both instinctively moved a little closer to see the contents.
The chest was lined with silk and, although a little stained with age, was quite intact. Reaching inside, he withdrew two objects. The first was a sealed letter and the second, a small bundle of raw silk. He placed the bundle on the desk and then turned his attention to the envelope. The face of the envelope bore his grandfather’s crest and beneath it, written in fine copperplate, were the words, “To my heirs.”
On turning the envelope over, I could see that it was sealed with wax which also bore his grandfather’s crest. The Duke looked up at Holmes, almost as if asking permission. Holmes gave a thin smile and then nodded. Breaking the seal, the Duke took from the envelope a single, folded sheet of paper.
In an unsteady voice, he read aloud, “To you, my heirs, I entrust an awful task. The ‘Star of Bithur’ is a bloody link to events that no man should have witnessed. I trust that you will ensure that any benefits from its possession are passed to the families of those who have suffered most. I truly hope that God will be merciful towards me.” It was signed simply, William George Burley.
We stood quietly for several moments, reflecting on one man’s anguish as he attempted to restore his honour, even from beyond the grave. Almost reverently, the Duke picked up the small silk wrapped package. It was tied with a silken cord and, on releasing it, the silk slid free to reveal a diamond the size of a bantam's egg. The Duke picked it up between his finger and thumb and the whole room suddenly seemed to be lit by a myriad of sparkling fireflies caused by the afternoon sunlight streaming through the stone.
The Duke turned to Holmes, asking, “What now, Mr Holmes?”
Holmes was clearly moved. He drew a deep breath before replying, “I’m afraid I cannot help you any further, your grace. I shall send you a note of my fees.” With that he turned on his heel and left. I muttered some kind of apology and bid the Duke farewell before hurrying off after Holmes.
The Duke’s carriage had been waiting at the door and Holmes had already climbed inside. I joined him, somewhat confused and alarmed by Holmes’ behaviour, saying, “I found your departure a little abrupt, Holmes!”
Holmes was silent. He was not a man easily moved, but on this occasion, he was. “I was humbled, Watson.” After saying this, he would say no more. He reached up, tapped on the carriage roof as a signal to the coachman and we drove back in silence to 'The Grapes'.
We paid the landlord and swiftly packed our belongings that we had left behind after our early morning call to the Grange. Holmes was still strangely silent throughout the whole of the journey back to Baker Street. On our arrival at 221b, he simply turned his back and disappeared up the stairs.
For the next week, I was busy with my practice and it was some ten days before I had the opportunity to visit my friend again. I was only part way up the stairs when I heard Holmes shout, “Come along Watson, you should be well rested and taking those steps two at a time!” Holmes knew the sound of my tread on the stairs and was laughing jovially as I entered our old rooms.
Holmes was sitting back in his favourite chair and the air was filled with the light blue haze from his meerschaum. Clearly in a better frame of mind than when I had seen him last, he was indeed eager for my company. “Come in old chap. Have you read today’s ‘Times’? ”
“No, Holmes. I have been busy dealing with a particularly nasty case of gout!” I replied, rather testily.
Holmes took the meerschaum from his lips and laughed heartily and, in truth, my spirits lifted too. He tossed me a copy of the paper, saying, “I think you will find page two to be of interest.”
I caught the paper and turned to the page. Almost a quarter of it was devoted to an account of how the legendary 'Star of Bithur' had been sold anonymously to The British Museum. It was to go on permanent display later in the month together with its known history and an account of the British sacrifice in Cawnpore. ‘The Times’ had been informed that the money raised by the sale of the diamond was to be used to provide pensions and educational bursaries for the families of those who perished at Cawnpore. I folded the paper, saying, “That’s splendid Holmes.”
Holmes nodded and then passed me a crested envelope. “And this arrived in the morning post.” I opened the envelope and within it was a cheque for two hundred guineas together with a single sheet of paper. The note read, “Dear Mr Holmes and Doctor Watson. I hope, by my deeds, to have fulfilled my grandfather’s wishes. Words cannot sufficiently express my gratitude to you both." The letter was not signed but simply carried the monogram ‘G’. I sat down and was once again touched by the humility of this young nobleman.
Holmes took his pipe from his mouth saying “I think we can agree, Watson, that honour has been fully satisfied.”
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Table of Contents
Preface.
Chapter 1 - An invitation from afar!
Chapter 2 - Meeting the Chinese ambassador.
Chapter 3 - Frustrated by the Crown
Chapter 4 - Holmes’ fears are confirmed!
Chapter 5 - A curious clue and a musical olive branch.
Chapter 6 - A murder and the bell returns!
Chapter 7 - A visit to The Raven
Chapter 8 - The five bells
Chapter 9 - A ringing success.
Chapter 1 - The letter .
Chapter 2 – Truro.
Chapter 3 - The victims .
Chapter 4 - A common thread .
Chapter 5 - The solution
Chapter 6 - The motive
Chapter 7- A rare error!
Chapter 8 - The conclusion
Chapter 1 - A letter from Italy.
Chapter 2 - A visit to an old friend.
Chapter 3 - The Anarchist Club.
Chapter 4 - Greenwich Park.
Chapter 5 - Dressing for the Ball.
Chapter 6 - A Venetian Cinderella.
Chapter 7 - Reflection.
Chapter 1 - The Bishop of Westfield
Chapter 2 - The Massage Scandal
Chapter 3 - Old Burlington Street
Chapter 4 - The Bishop of Sandbury
Chapter 5 - Mycroft muddies the waters.
Chapter 6 - Watson bares all!
Chapter 7 - Illustrious Gentlemen
Chapter 8 - A triumphant return!
Chapter 1 – A proof of innocence
Chapter 2 – Hammersmith mortuary
Chapter 3 – A taste for Chemistry
Chapter 4 – A visit to Robert Talbot
Chapter 5 – The second letter
Chapter 6 – Lestrade
springs the trap
Chapter 7 – A question of conscience
Chapter 1 – A friend in need
Chapter 2 – Mihail Konsulov
Chapter 3 – A summons to Scotland Yard
Chapter 4 – The mysterious engine
Chapter 5 – The death of Catherine Ward
Chapter 6 – A shop in Dorset Street
Chapter 7 – A beast of burden!
Chapter 8 – Mycroft takes the bait
Chapter 9 – A map of Westminster
Chapter 10 – Meeting Sean O’Leary
Chapter 11 – A Bulgarian custom
Chapter 1 - The Round Pond
Chapter 2 - Lymington
Chapter 3 - Illness in Hampshire
Chapter 4 - A visit to Aunt Rachel
Chapter 5 - Absent friends
Chapter 6 - Considering the evidence
Chapter 7 - A visit to an Oast House
Chapter 8 - A hive of activity
Chapter 9 - Dr John Parry
Chapter 10 - Memories and Epsom salts
Chapter 1 - A meeting with Elizabeth Carter
Chapter 2 -The Left Luggage Office
Chapter 3 - The rays of Herr Roentgen
Chapter 4 - A bomb, Lestrade and William Tindall.
Chapter 5 - An invitation for Mycroft
Chapter 6 - Five thousand sovereigns!
Chapter 7 - A small, black bead
Chapter 8 - Holmes offers a lifeline
Chapter 9 - An invitation to Brighton
Chapter 10 - Travelling First Class
Chapter 11 - A personal crusade
Chapter 1 - Little Alfie
Chapter 2 - Bow Street
Chapter 3 - The Post-Mortem
Chapter 4 - The House in Broad Street
Chapter 5 - The Imperial Gasworks
Chapter 6 - A little Chemistry
Chapter 7 - A Former Tenant
Chapter 8 - Doctor Parry
Chapter 9 - The Inquest
Chapter 10 - Making a Statement
Chapter 1 – The house in Portman Square
Chapter 2 – Afternoon tea with Charlotte
Chapter 3 – A visit to Betsom’s Hill Fort
Chapter 4 – Broken bones and an invitation
Chapter 5 – Madame Adelinda Duval
Chapter 6 – Kew Gardens and a lesson in Applied Botany
Chapter 1 – A letter from Lymington.
Chapter 2 – The death of Elsie Grainger
Chapter 3 – Meeting Stephen Grainger
Chapter 4 – Conjuring the Emerald Spirit!
Chapter 5 – A séance with Dr Garton
Chapter 6 – The Crimson Spirit is invoked!
Chapter 7 – Lady Macbeth in St. John’s Wood
Chapter 1 - The Duke of Salcombe
Chapter 2 - A family secret.
Chapter 3 - Memories of India, 1857.
Chapter 4 - Salcombe Grange.
Chapter 5 - A helpful Landlord and intruders!
Chapter 6 - Charles Stretton, Solicitor.
Chapter 7 - A little Trigonometry and Horticulture.