Mrs Hudson's Olympic Triumph by Barry S Brown

Author:Barry S Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sherlock holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes fiction, sherlock holmes novel, mrs hudson
ISBN: 9781787051720
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2017
Published: 2017-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

Lord Sterling Returns

At first, the dream had Holmes’ full attention. He was in a fencing match, but wore no protection and carried a sword that was little more than an elongated knife. His opponent was in full protective gear and wielded a thick broadsword. A mask kept hidden his opponent’s identity. He only knew the person was short, and spoke to him in a strange dialect when the person spoke at all. The platform on which they competed was surrounded by water. Across the water on either side of the platform stood each of a set of twins, their faces an indistinct blur except for trim moustaches. One cheered loudly for Holmes, the other decorously for his competitor. For a time the clash of swords obscured any other sound. The knocking finally broke through his slumbers, and he called sleepily to the sound, “Is somebody there?” He got no answer. He pulled on his robe, pushed his hair back from his forehead, and called again to the door, receiving the same response.

He looked to the pocket watch he had set on the table next to his bed. It was nearly three in the morning. He considered the revolver on the shelf of the wardrobe, and rejected it in favor of the umbrella he had left by the door. The man in the doorway required neither precaution. He was a little past fifty, not much above middle height, but thickset with a full beard that had once been black and now held gray streaks. Another time his burly presence might have appeared menacing, now he seemed to slink beneath the cap pulled low to cover much of his face. Holmes recognized him from the brief exchange they’d had a few days earlier.

“Please come in and have a seat, ambassador, I know you’ve had a long trip.”

Lord Sterling nodded his appreciation, but said nothing as he accepted Holmes’ invitation, selecting what looked to be the more comfortable of the room’s two easy chairs. For a while, he maintained his silence while Holmes tried to shake off the drowsiness he felt from being awakened a few hours into a sound sleep. Holmes was about to give Lord Sterling the option of either speaking or making use of the couch while he went back to sleep, when the ambassador began an explanation for appearing at his door.

“I believe you’re a man who can be trusted to be discreet, Mr. Holmes. You’re the only person in Athens who knows I’m here. I got your hotel and room number from the visit a Mrs. Hudson made to my in-laws, Baron and Lady Martinson, and I came up the backstairs to avoid anyone seeing me. I hope you can understand, Mr. Holmes, I needed time to deal with all that happened that night. I came home to find my wife dead, and a man I’d never seen before lying dead with her. I tell you, Mr. Holmes, I felt miserable and confused, both at the same time.

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