Sherlock Holmes and A Quantity of Debt by David Marcum

Author:David Marcum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes novels
ISBN: 9781780925004
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2013
Published: 2013-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The Calm During The Storm

Holmes gestured toward the two armchairs located near the fire. I knew that he wished to use me as his sounding board, as he had so often in the past. By discussing the case with me, he would be able to arrange his thoughts in such a way as to order them from start to finish. Occasionally, I might ask a question which would reveal to him an aspect of the matter that might not have previously been considered.

After the travels of the day, the tramps through the rain, and the recent meal in the warm room downstairs, I wished that I was going to be dozing in front of the fire instead of discussing the case. Clearly, however, Holmes had something else planned for the night, and now was not the time to rest. We settled in, one on each side of the fire, mirroring our usual arrangement in the Baker Street sitting room. After taking time to prepare our pipes, we were at last ready to speak.

“I take it,” said Holmes, “that you have gained some knowledge of Burton’s plans for his future. I had noticed you were watching both him and the serving girl at dinner more closely than I would have expected, and certainly with more attention than you showed them during lunch.”

I proceeded to relate the conversation that I had overheard before Holmes and MacDonald had arrived back at the house. In times past, I would have felt some hesitance and reluctance about eavesdropping as I had, as well as unhesitatingly reporting on what I had heard. However, I had long ago found that all was fair when conducting an inquiry with Holmes, and I also knew one might not realize which particular fact would be the key that would unlock the door, thus allowing Holmes to complete his case. Therefore, I always kept my eyes and ears open, and reported what I had learned as best as I could. It had paid off more often than not, especially during the recent events of the Shropshire House, and the wily counterfeiters who had ensconced themselves within it.

“I had suspected as much,” said Holmes, “and it is well for Burton that it appears to be no secret. If Mrs. Lynch knows about and disapproves of it, you may be certain Briley also knows about it. And since there seems to be no disappointment coming from that direction, one may assume Briley approves of the match. That is significant, since it is almost certain that Burton is the man’s heir, in spite of there being no known written acknowledgement of the fact.”

“And you believe Burton when he states that he does not know if he is the heir?”

“Provisionally.”

“Is the lack of a written record regarding Briley’s heir one of the facts that you confirmed while in the village this afternoon?”

“It was alluded to in an oblique fashion by several of the individuals that I encountered. At one point while I was at the inn, I managed to turn the conversation toward Burton.

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