The Mad Judge (A Sherlock Holmes Uncovered Tale Book 3) by Ehrman Steven

Author:Ehrman, Steven [Ehrman, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-12-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The lady lay limp in my arms. I struggled to a sofa, and was in the process of setting her upon it, when the maid entered. She expressed no surprise at the situation, and merely came to my aid and assisted me in comforting the prostrate lady. After a few moments Cecilia came to. I gave her a snifter of brandy and soon saw the color come back into her cheeks.

“I cannot think of what might have gotten into me, doctor,” she said shamefaced. “I feel the perfect fool.”

“There is no need my dear for an apology. You have had multiple shocks tonight, and the reaction was quite in line with the nature of the trauma.”

She assured me that she was well enough for me to depart. After a short talk with the maid, I left the two of them in attendance to Honoria Upton and left the room.

Coming down the stairs I saw that there was no new arrival. Evidently the police had still not made an appearance. The room was subdued and conversation was low. Holmes was standing by the fireplace talking with Colonel North. He greeted me and I joined the both of them.

“And how is the lady, Watson?”

I gave a brief summary of Honoria Upton’s condition, as well as the swoon that Cecilia had taken. Holmes seemed keenly interested in the exact conversation I had had with Cecilia, but nothing appeared to be untoward to me. Presently I requested that Holmes and I speak privately, and he assented. We left the hall and entered the library, leaving the door open so that Holmes could make certain that the murder room was not disturbed. Once alone I let my fury loose upon my friend.

“Holmes, how can you explain this scandalous behavior towards me? I feel completely betrayed and you have made me look foolish.”

Holmes spread his arm and spoke quietly. “My dear Watson, the subterfuge was necessary, I assure you. I feared that something was afoot from the first moment that I heard the lady’s story. Had I come in the open it might have caused the crime to be driven underground until I was forced to suspend my holiday. As it was, I sent you in my stead, and I arranged with Honoria Upton to become a member of the staff. Only she and I, and Mr. George Withers, were aware of my true identity, though I could not completely fool Meadows. He discerned immediately that I was not of the servant class, but he said nothing.”

As always, when he wished it so, the words of Sherlock Holmes had a soothing, pacifying effect. The logic of his argument was difficult to challenge, yet I still felt raw over his treatment. He looked as ever now. He had removed the accouterments that had gone into his disguise. I suddenly looked into his eyes and cried out. “My word, Holmes, but your eyes are blue!”

The detective gave a short chuckle and leaned his head forward. With a quick hand motion to each eye Holmes detached two convex disks and displayed them to me.

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