Sherlock Holmes and The Baron of Brede Place by Daniel D. Victor

Author:Daniel D. Victor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes novels, sherlock holmes fiction
ISBN: 9781780927749
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2015
Published: 2015-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

“All the way to Crane in Cuba,” said I to his own mirror image.

“Just so. ‘Money talks,’ is the operative expression. It gets people to do things they might ordinarily not do, and Milverton is a master at ferreting them out. He once paid a footman seven hundred pounds for a written note of two lines that would incriminate the servant’s master. Seven hundred pounds, Watson! Think of it!”

He let me digest the sum while he employed the second towel to wipe away whatever spirit gum, make-up,or grime still remained. Then he fixed me in the mirror again.

“When Milverton first met Aggie at Fredric’s home in Croydon - have I told you she likes me to call her ‘Aggie’? - he immediately recognized another pawn that money could manipulate. Her expressive eyes flashed with pride when she told me how he’d pulled her aside that day at Homefield. He asked her if she wanted to make an extra pound or two by keeping him informed as to what was going on in the Frederic household. He offered her more if she could filch any personal documents.”

“Like those letters sent by Crane, I should imagine.”

“Precisely.”

“Aggie never saw any letters,” said Holmes, now easing the brush from front to back through his dark hair. “But that didn’t stop her reports to Milverton about Frederic’s deteriorating condition. And once Milverton learned that Frederic was so amenable to faith-healing, he paid Aggie more money to encourage Kate Lyon’s aversion to doctors. In fact, it was Aggie who left Mrs. Mills’ card for Kate Lyon to find.”

“But why?”

“Harold Frederic committed the grievous error of challenging Charles Milverton. That was enough. Milverton has always sought to make life as miserable as possible for anyone who stands in his way. His success depends on people fearing his cold-hearted reputation. The more stories he can produce about the ‘ill-luck’ that befalls those who cross him, the less likely it is that any prospective victim will attempt to call his bluff.”

“Like Sir Nigel Chandless and the Greenwich bombing.”

“Exactly, Watson. Milverton brought up the Greenwich affair to let us know the consequences of crossing him, and he must have hoped that we’d convey those threats to Crane and Frederic as well.”

It all made sense in a twisted sort of way. “And your immediate future with Miss Rimes?” I couldn’t keep from asking Holmes’ reflection in the mirror.

“She intends to testify at the trial and will gain even more money. Portraying a noble woman like Kate Lyon as a passionate but misguided fool broadens the scope of Milverton’s power. He’s quite an evil man, Watson, ensnaring the innocent along with his victims - all the while quite unconcerned with the damage he leaves behind.”

On a lesser scale, Holmes might have been describing his own actions with the maid. Ignoring such thoughts, I asked, “And the women’s trial?”

“There’s nothing we can do. Both Miss Lyon and Mrs. Mills have committed the crime with which they are charged. I don’t believe Aggie can make them look any worse.

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