Artie Conan Doyle and the Scarlet Phantom by Robert J. Harris

Author:Robert J. Harris [Robert J. Harris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782506225
Publisher: Floris Books
Published: 2019-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

When they left the Police Office and made their way along the High Street, Peril was still fuming.

“Ectoplasm indeed!” she sneered. “I never heard such gibberish.”

“You know what Shakespeare said, Peril,” Artie told her. “‘There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’”

“It will be a fine day when I have to take advice from a playwright,” Peril declared stubbornly.

“I don’t know, Peril,” said Ham. “Pendragon sounded awfully convincing to me.”

“That’s because you’ll swallow any nonsense if it sounds exciting enough,” Peril sniffed. “It’s all just a way of extorting money from the gullible. You persuade them that a few random accidents in their home are the result of a curse or some invading ghost, then you convince them that you can put an end to their troubles with some psychic mumbo-jumbo. So long as they can pay the fee, of course.”

“And Mr Daffyd Pendragon has been very well paid by some of his wealthy clients,” put in a voice.

Johnny Ferryman stepped out of a doorway right into their path. “So, Mr Doyle, have you any new information to offer me?”

“If you’re referring to that large gentleman whose name you gave us,” said Artie – he avoided saying Figg’s name out loud in a public place – “I don’t think there’s anything to be gained from following him around.”

“I was thinking more of Pendragon,” said the reporter. “I suppose he’s been brought in to protect our former Lord Provost.”

“How did you know about that?” asked Artie.

“Sir Archibald’s not one to keep mum about somebody threatening him,” the Ferret explained. “His servants have been blabbing about it all over town. When I saw our former Lord Provost go into the Police Office and then Pendragon, it was obvious what’s going on. So what can you tell me about your little meeting in there, Mr Doyle?” He plucked a pencil from behind his ear and pointed it in the direction of the Police Office.

“Lieutenant Sneddon wanted us off the case,” said Artie, “but Pendragon said we should be present as witnesses at Sir Archibald’s house tomorrow night.”

“I hope you can provide me with a few details of whatever occurs,” said the Ferret. “Perhaps a first-hand account of the psychic battle between the Scarlet Phantom and Daffyd Pendragon.”

Artie was reluctant to become further involved with the prying reporter. “Maybe you should speak to Mr Pendragon himself,” he suggested.

“Chance would be a fine thing,” said Ferryman. “As soon as I heard he was back in town, I went straight to his house in Broughton Road. Can’t miss it. There’s an ugly stone gargoyle mounted over the front door. When I tried to get an interview I was chased off by the most ferocious housekeeper I ever set eyes on – a real harpy.”

“It seems to me,” said Peril, “that if there is somebody behind these robberies, it’s Pendragon himself. After all, he makes his living from fakery and so he might know exactly how to pull off these seemingly impossible crimes.

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