The Strange Case of the Pharaoh's Heart by Timothy Miller

Author:Timothy Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Strange Case of the Pharaoh’s Heart
Publisher: Seventh Street Books
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten: Mrs. Estelle Roberts

When he came round, I breathed a sigh of relief, though he

was still babbling about flames. His face was white as a ghost’s in the light of Mr. Carter’s torch.

Sir Sherlock turned to me. “Were there flames?”

“None that I saw, though there were plenty of sparks.”

Dr. Watson’s eyelids fluttered open.

“I knew I’d need someone as stouthearted as you,” I said, leaning over him.

“Holmes isn’t stouthearted enough?” he croaked.

Sir Sherlock broke out in a smile upon hearing his old friend’s gibe.

“Sir Sherlock would have insisted on taking action. You have a talent for stillness.”

He seemed to chew this over, not knowing what to make of it.

“On the other hand, I’ve never heard a man scream quite that loud before,” jeered the baronet.

“Perhaps Mr. Holmes would not have been such a bumbling boob,” Mr. Carter added unfeelingly. “I can’t leave you people alone for five minutes.” He had come galloping into the chamber ranting after the lights had gone.

“This will make the headline of the year,” said Mr. Merton, all excited.

“Not if you ever want another headline out of me,” answered Mr. Carter, crushing him.

“What happened?” Dr. Watson gingerly raised himself into a sitting position.

“You pulled the lights down around you. Looks as if you’ve broken a few. May have gotten a little shock. And of course you took out the power for the entire valley. Work has ground to a halt,” said Carter.

“Yes, I’m all right, thank you,” said Dr. Watson.

“You’re the fortunate one. I’ll have to write the reports explaining it all,” scolded Mr. Carter.

At that, Sir Sherlock took a torch from his own pocket and flicked it on. Where were all these torches when we were groping our way down in the dark? He took the doctor’s wrist and trained his light on it. “There is a burn mark on his cuff—indeed, the celluloid is nearly melted— but no cuts on his hands.”

He turned his attention to the light cord. There were a number of smashed lightbulbs. He took no interest in them.

“Ah, you see?” There it was, a bare patch of copper. If Dr. Watson touched that—!

“Must be rats!” judged the baronet. It did look gnawed on.

Mr. Carter’s face was a warring of emotions. For a moment I thought he was going to apologize. That moment passed in a hurry.

Sir Sherlock gave me a signal look, and I caught his meaning. What were the chances that Dr. Watson would reach out and make random contact with a live wire? No, it was a message from the elementals. Not a welcome mat, either.

Sir Sherlock tugged the doctor to his feet.

“I heard Louise—I mean, Mrs. Roberts, except it wasn’t Mrs. Roberts—say my name,” said Dr. Watson.

“Louise?” asked Sir Sherlock sharply.

“Well, I don’t really have the foggiest idea what she sounds like—”

“It was she,” I confirmed. “And then another woman. I don’t know who.”

Dr. Watson tottered over to the mummy. He stared down at it, his face bathed in golden light, as if he had lost something there.

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.