Sherlock Holmes - The Criminal Mastermind of Baker Street by Rob Nunn

Author:Rob Nunn [Nunn, Rob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sherlock holmes, Mystery, Crime, british crime, sherlock holmes fiction, sherlock holmes novel
ISBN: 9781787051751
Published: 2017-09-18T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10: Signs of Renewed Activity

Watson found marriage to be a happy position. Although his wife was vaguely aware of Holmes’ shadowy enterprises, having been a client herself, she urged her husband to begin his own practice, one not tied to Holmes’ shadier dealings. After weeks of pressure from his wife, Watson finally conceded and visited Baker Street to deliver the news to Holmes.

Holmes set aside the commonplace book into which he was placing a newspaper cutting and welcomed his friend warmly. “Wedlock suits you, Watson. You have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you.”

“Seven,” Watson answered.

“Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, I fancy, Watson, and you have hired a most clumsy servant girl at your practice.”

“My dear Holmes, this is too much. I fail to see how you work such things out.”

“I deduce it,” Holmes answered, lighting a cigarette. “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room.”

“Frequently.”

“Then how many are there?”

“How many! I don’t know.”

“Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed,” Holmes chuckled to himself and rubbed his long nervous hands together.

“I fear that I have news to bring you,” Watson started.

“Mrs. Watson would prefer you to spend more time as a doctor and less time assisting in my enterprises?”

Smiling and shaking his head, Watson continued, “I would of course be happy to assist you when I can, but Mary does deserve a respectable life,” Watson offered.

“I cannot begrudge you this one selfish action,” Holmes sighed. “You have been a most stalwart companion in our association. I would, however, like to retain your services on an as-needed basis. Surely, Mrs. Watson cannot deny me that request?”

Laughing, Watson replied, “Surely not, my good man! Perhaps I can even persuade you to forgo your Bohemian habits and visit us every now and again.”

“Don’t expect too much of me, Watson.”

Relieved to have gotten Holmes’ blessing, Watson sold the pearls his wife had inherited and bought a connection in the Paddington district from an old Mr. Farquhar. Farquhar had once been an excellent general practitioner, but his affliction of St. Vitus’ dance and his increased age had thinned his clientele. Watson directed all his energy into revitalizing the practice, and within a year from its purchase, business was steadily rising and the practice was well on its way to be as flourishing as ever.

During this time, Holmes continued his own work, and took care of a most lucrative problem for the Vatican during May of that year. When the two men would meet, Holmes would regale Watson with stories from his latest exploits. One day would find Holmes retelling how he helped Lestrade solve a murder in Boscombe Valley or accepting a commission to help an escaped Princetown convict

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