Sherlock Holmes and The Flying Scotsman by John Worth

Author:John Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes novels, sherlock holmes fiction, sherlock holmes short stories
ISBN: 9781780925615
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2013
Published: 2013-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

The mood was subdued in the study; they were gathered to conduct what Sir Adrian termed a situation analysis. Holmes sat by the fire; his face had a decidedly sulky cast to it, thought Lachlan, Holmes seemingly still preoccupied with his torn trousers. Sir Adrian waved his man Lambert to a seat - he had been standing at the door until the others were present. Apart from Lachlan and the three already mentioned, Major Stentz completed the group.

‘Well gentlemen.’ Sir Adrian began. ‘I think we have to conclude that we are definitely under observation. Lachlan was sharp enough today to spot one of them twice today’ - Holmes broke in peevishly.

‘And the fool managed to let him slip tonight.’ As he raised his hooded eyes and looked accusingly at Lachlan.

As Lachlan’s angry retort rose to his lips, Sir Adrian held up his hand and spoke very sharply. ‘Gentlemen, Gentlemen! If you please!

We have some serious business here, perhaps a very grave situation; I cannot tolerate petty point scoring in these circumstances.’ He looked suddenly very stern.

To Lachlan’s surprise, Holmes was the first to apologize, first to Sir Adrian and then to Lachlan himself.

‘Thank you, Holmes, responded Sir Adrian, ‘I am not asking you to like one another, only that you work together.’ He gazed around the room, looking each man in the eye until they nodded agreement.

‘Now then. Our main problem is that we don’t know for certain just who this man - or men - is working for. We have possibly two situations here, as I think some of you are aware. Perhaps I should sum up.

First, he and I have reason to believe that a rogue element within the secret service of the Prussian government may be attempting to assassinate Major Stentz. They have already tried a couple of times, once with tragic consequences for the Major.’ He gave a short summing up of what had occurred so far, culminating in the bomb in the bookshop. Here he paused, to allow for a murmur of concerned remarks as the others made their condolences. Holmes again surprised Lachlan.

‘I hope you will accept my sincere regrets over this grievous incident Stentz. Dreadful business. And I would also like to apologize wholeheartedly to yourself as well, for my regrettable baiting of yourself earlier, sir. My sense of humor is somewhat perverse, I must admit.’

Lachlan saw that Stentz was almost as surprised as he was himself. Nevertheless he took this handsome apology well, even stepping forward and offering his hand, albeit still rather stiff necked. Sir Adrian called their attention once more.

‘Very good gentlemen, good to clear the air. Now, the other potential for trouble lies in the forthcoming talks which I have been called upon to host here.’ Lachlan noticed that Sir Adrian didn’t elaborate upon the forthcoming meeting; other than to briefly mention that it was ‘boring constitutional stuff.’

Holmes however picked him up on this straight away.

‘If you don’t mind, Sir Adrian, I would like to ask why some

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