Further Little-Known Cases of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Hall

Author:Arthur Hall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, murder, short stories, short story collection, burglary, art collection, paintings, reproductions, oubliette, trap, tailor, rogues gallery, Her Majesty's Royal Rifles Corps, wedding, diamond, Canal Reach, West Byfleet, spyglass, tobacco, Italian, assassination, Italian Minister of Justice, gambling house, gambling scheme, suicide, debt, drug, antidote, German agent
ISBN: 9781787055773
Publisher: Andrews UK
Published: 2020-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

The Adventure of the Phantom Coachman

There were occasions, during my long acquaintance with Sherlock Holmes, when a case would present itself indirectly, rather than by the usual means of a visiting client. Often, these would prove to be among the most curious, and therefore most attractive to him, to be undertaken by my friend.

At breakfast, one early April morning in that fateful year of 1891, I saw that a dark mood threatened him, probably because no new cases had recently presented themselves.

‘A walk in the fresh air of St James’s Park will raise your spirits,’ I suggested.

‘Perhaps,’ he replied gloomily. ‘But wait, I hear a coach near our door!’ He sprang to his feet, abandoning his coffee for the view from the window. After a moment he shook his head and resumed his seat at the table.

‘A married woman,’ he explained, ‘who seeks the jewellers’ shop along the street.’

‘And how,’ I enquired mildly, ‘did you deduce from such a brief glance that she is married?’

‘She carried a newborn child.’

‘And her destination?’

‘She wore no wedding ring. Therefore she requires a replacement, or an adjustment to one that is ill-fitting.’

As he finished speaking the doorbell rang, repeatedly.

‘A telegram,’ I said. ‘The impatient fellow must be in a hurry.’

‘Could it not be a new client?’

It was now my turn to explain. ‘The telegram boy’s ring is familiar to me, and he arrived on foot or by bicycle.’

‘Bravo, Watson!’ Holmes clapped his hands. ‘Truly, I never get your measure. I can hear Mrs Hudson scolding the lad for his impertinence.’

Soon she entered, bearing a yellow envelope. I looked on eagerly, hoping that this was something to raise his spirits further. He slit the envelope eagerly with his breakfast knife.

‘It is from Mycroft.’

‘You have not heard from your brother for some time.’

He dropped the form onto the table. ‘He would like us to call on him, this morning.’

‘We have agreed that there is nothing pressing.’

‘He seems to require some assistance.’

‘Is he at the Diogenes Club?’

Holmes shook his head. ‘It seems that he has temporarily forsaken his Whitehall office for premises at East Cheshire Place. It is a small square, near enough to cause him no inconvenience. Come then, if you have no objection, we will go now.’

With that and pausing only for Holmes to impale the telegram on the jack knife that secured his correspondence to the mantle shelf, we took our hats and coats and went out into the sunshine.

As the hansom left us, I glanced around East Cheshire Place with curiosity. It was one of those hidden squares that are scattered all over London, and I had not known of its existence until now. It was made up of square stone buildings, and near the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall.

Holmes preceded me up a short flight of steps and rang the bell. Presently the door was opened by an elderly servant. Holmes produced his card and the man bowed and stood aside for us. ‘You are expected, gentlemen.’

He led us along a short passage.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.