The Additional Investigations of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Hall

Author:Arthur Hall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: authentic adventures, Canonical, short story collection, traditional, Sherlockian, pastiche, Victorian London, murder, historical, Pentonville, gu poison, Surrey, tattoo, revenge, visions, Worcestershire, kidnapping, Conk-Singleton, portrait, Grand Vizier
ISBN: 9781787059740
Publisher: Andrews UK
Published: 2022-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

The Adventure of Mr Fairdale Hobbs

During the years when I lived in Baker Street with my friend, the consulting detective Mr Sherlock Holmes, I was privileged to share many extraordinary adventures with him as he would often honour me by requesting my assistance.

There were, of course, occasional similarities between the cases, that is to say that one bank robbery was much like another. Yet I was always able, when given permission to publish an account of the circumstances at a much later date, to discern some distinguishing feature which qualified the tale as unique.

“I fear, Watson, that we must postpone further discussion of my early cases until another time. I believe I heard the door-bell just now and Mrs Hudson has admitted someone.” My friend sat up straight in his chair as we prepared to fill our pipes after dinner one early summer evening.

“You have already said that you have no appointments, Holmes.”

“Indeed I did, and I expected none, but this fellow whose tread on the stairs is so heavy may have brought us something interesting. Besides, I have two cases on hand that will doubtless come to fruition before the end of the month, but nothing that requires my immediate attention.”

This abrupt change to the evening caused me only momentary surprise. I had long become accustomed to my friend’s bohemian character, and his sudden changes of mood and intentions. We put away our pipes and waited in silence for the few moments that passed before our landlady opened the door to usher in a middle-aged man of average height, dressed in a worn but well-pressed tweed suit.

“Good evening, Mr Holmes and Doctor Watson,” he said without waiting to be announced. “It is good to make your acquaintances again, sirs.”

“You know us then?” I responded.

“Indeed he does, Watson,” Holmes confirmed. “This is Mr Fairdale Hobbs, who you may remember from the affair immediately before that which you over-dramatized as ‘The Red Circle’.”

“As I recall, you said that case was hardly worth the trouble, since it was ‘a simple matter’.”

“Which remains an accurate description. I should have seen it all before I left this room.” He glanced towards the door, having realised that our landlady was hovering. “Would you care for tea, Mr Hobbs?”

“No thank you, sir. If you don’t mind, I would rather tell you what brings me here.”

Holmes waited until Mrs Hudson had withdrawn, then gestured that our visitor should sit. “I think you will find the basket chair the most comfortable.”

I was surprised that Holmes did not immediately recover his pipe, whereupon I would have done likewise, but it seemed that his curiosity had been aroused by the reappearance of Mr Hobbs as had my own.

“I hope you will pardon this intrusion gentlemen,” Mr Hobbs said then. “I was sent to London only this afternoon, and so had not enough time to make an appointment since the nearest Post Office is further away than the railway station.”

Holmes nodded. “Further away from where, pray?”

“Why, from where I live and work these days, sir.

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