Sherlock Holmes 11 and the Theatre of Death by Val Andrews

Author:Val Andrews [Andrews, Val]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780947533120
Google: fNoIAAAACAAJ
Publisher: Breese Books
Published: 1997-12-14T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

That evening Sherlock Holmes surprised us both by inviting us to dinner at an Edinburgh restaurant as a change from taking it at the Royal Caledonian. At Hamish’s they may not have exactly piped in a haggis but they gave us local Scottish delicacies, including the locally caught cod with stuffed potatoes and parsley sauce. We washed it down with some excellent hock and were tackling a Dundee pudding before the subject of the theatre of death was brought up again. I wondered if Holmes had made any other investigations following his patently obvious examination of the Mercedes, a matter which he had not as yet mentioned. At last he spoke. ‘So you found nothing in the car, Watson?’

I suspected a bluff, asking, ‘What makes you think that I have been anywhere near the car?’

He smile indulgently. ‘Oh come, the washing and scrubbing has not removed all traces of engine oil. You read my note, of course, otherwise you would have no reason to keep silent upon your examination of the vehicle.’

I side stepped by asking, ‘What else occupied your afternoon?’

He said, ‘About half an ounce of Scottish mixture. Do you know, for the first time since I left Baker Street I actually sat upon a pile of cushions on the floor whilst I inhaled the smoke. Such behaviour hardly seems apt at Fowlhaven but, for a serious answer to your question, I did make a few more enquiries around the hotel, especially among the retainers. They are a little more stoical than their southern counterparts but are fine honest people and extremely alert.’

The next day, shortly after breakfast, Holmes surprised me and, I feel sure, Greyshot as well when he suggested a visit to the mortuary for animals where the dog was at rest in her glass-topped casket. Our reception, at the pet’s last resting place prior to interment, was polite though not ecstatic. The gentleman in charge said that he did not object to an inspection always provided that he was present. He said ‘Only one other person has requested a last sight of our dear little friend. He brought a dog with him which, apart from the late Mr Neuberger, he assured me was Beauty’s closest friend.’ Holmes displayed no great surprise at this confidence.

As we peered down through the glass lid of the eerie little sarcophagus I was struck by the bizarre situation. The sad body of the lurcher was curled around the urn, presumably containing her master’s ashes. The jewelled collar gave the poor little creature a strangely festive look, as if it had been decorated for Christmas, but Holmes read more into the sight than I did. He said, ‘I notice, Watson, that the collar is encrusted with emeralds and rubies, yet those that I have questioned mentioned diamonds.’

I asked, ‘Do you infer that the original collar has been stolen and replaced by a substitute?’ He shrugged, so I went on, ‘Surely a thief who did not wish his theft to be noticed

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