Dr. John Watson 03 A Study in Murder by Robert Ryan

Author:Robert Ryan [Ryan, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thrillers, Suspense
ISBN: 9781471135095
Google: 9afvAwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00JHIDNLO
Goodreads: 24907299
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2013-12-31T18:30:00+00:00

THIRTY-TWO

Winston Churchill entertained Mycroft Holmes in a minor drawing room, relatively restrained by the standards of Blenheim, but still opulent by any other benchmark. The wallpaper was hand painted, every cornice and curlicue gilded, all the artwork venerable and valuable. They sat on a pair of couches, arranged in parallel in front of a roaring fire, under the black eyes of famed and framed ancestors. A manservant brought two enormous balloon glasses of brandy and then retreated from the men sitting before the grate, the flickering flames giving them a devilish hue.

Churchill was in his early forties, four decades younger than Mycroft, but a spectator might think they were of the same generation. Years of political infighting – and a daily intake of brandy, cigars and champagne – were beginning to take their toll on the younger man. His physical state was not helped by the strain of waiting for the report of the Dardanelles Commission, as Mycroft well knew. Churchill’s political future rested on whether he was condemned as a reckless adventurer who gambled away men’s lives or as the engineer of a noble failure.

‘How are you, sir?’ Mycroft asked, deferring to the younger man.

Churchill sipped his brandy. ‘Well enough. Although my enemies are all powerful today and my friendship counts for less than nothing. I am simply existing.’

‘Until the report?’

‘Of course.’

‘I am sure it will be good news.’ Mycroft was certain of this because a government-appointed body was unlikely to admit to a catastrophic failure in planning and thousands of wasted lives. If they did so, Australia and New Zealand, which had lost many thousands of sons, would be in uproar. It might even threaten the Empire.

‘We haven’t always seen eye to eye, have we, Holmes?’

Mycroft shook his great head. ‘We have had our disagreements.’ It was an understatement. Churchill was a great admirer of Mycroft’s brother, Sherlock, and had had reason to use his talents in the past, and had come to know Watson quite well since their meeting at the front in Belgium. But, unlike them, Mycroft was a political beast with his own ideas about how best the nation could be served and so Churchill was always wary around him.

‘Well, then I can expect you to give an honest opinion about me.’

Mycroft thought for a moment and opened the bout with rather a soft jab. ‘You know I think as Home Secretary you could have organized our intelligence services in a more efficient manner.’

‘You can do better than that, sir.’

Mycroft took a slug of his own brandy. He didn’t like the tone Churchill had adopted or the challenging one-eyed stare he was giving him. Had the man been drinking already? ‘How do you mean, Mr Churchill?’

‘Clemmie will tell me I am a wonderful man. Not without fault, mind, but wonderful. Lloyd George, too, flatters. But, really, I value most the opinion of those I have crossed swords with.’ He leaned forward. ‘Give me your assessment of Winston Spencer Churchill, Holmes. Both barrels, if need be.’

Mycroft took another generous dose of brandy before he spoke.

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