The Uncollected Cases of Sherlock Holmes by Geoff Finch

Author:Geoff Finch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Victorian England, crime, ghost, murder, pastiche, traditional, canonical, poison, chess, abduction, diamonds, turnpike, counterfeiting, tobacco, circus, Russian agent, Marijuana, blackmail, Highwayman, Scotland, snuff, aristocracy, Mongolism, Palaeontology, fossil, theft, Natural History Museum, revenge, Dunwich
ISBN: 9781787059504
Publisher: Andrews UK
Published: 2022-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

The Missing Heir

“How is your knowledge of the aristocracy, Watson,” Holmes asked one morning as we were sitting smoking after breakfast.

“Patchy,” I replied. “Do you have anyone particular in mind?”

“The Earl of Craigmouth. There’s precious little in Debrett beyond the fact that his country seat is Craigmouth Castle in Hampshire, which has been in the family since the dawn of time. Burke adds several children and a second wife.”

“He breeds racehorses I believe, Holmes. There have been a couple of Derby winners.”

“That is not enormously instructive,” he returned.

“I’m pretty sure there was something about him recently in the society column of The Times, too,” I added.

I got up and walked over to a pile of papers heaped on the floor. “Yes,” I said, picking up the previous Saturday’s edition. “The engagement is announced of Julia, only daughter of the Earl of Craigmouth to the Hon. Richard Cavendish, eldest son of the Duke of Devonshire.”

“Quite a coup for the Earl’s daughter,” Holmes commented. “The Duke is one of the richest men in the country. He owns most of Sussex.”

“What is your interest in the Earl?”

“We are to get a visit from his equerry this morning on an urgent and highly confidential matter.”

“Five pounds says it is something to do with the forthcoming nuptials,” I said.

“Well, I hardly think he is coming to borrow money, Watson. That much is fairly predictable.”

About eleven o’clock we heard a knock on the front door and a few minutes later Mrs. Hudson showed our visitor in. He was a well-built man of about middle-age dressed in a morning suit and sporting an ivory-handled walking cane.

“Good morning gentlemen,” he said. “I am Sir Jeffrey Marchmont. Which of you is Sherlock Holmes?”

“I am, Sir Jeffrey,” Holmes replied. “And this is my friend and associate, Doctor Watson. Please be seated.”

Marchmont frowned. “This is a matter of the utmost delicacy, Mr. Holmes. I did not anticipate anyone else being privy to our meeting.”

“You may rely absolutely on Watson’s discretion, Sir Jeffrey. I never undertake an investigation without him.”

“Very well,” he replied, sitting down. “But I should explain that his lordship is an extremely private person. He has a horror of publicity. I had considerable difficulty persuading him to allow me to consult you. It was only his fear for the safety of his child that enabled me to prevail.”

“What has occasioned this fear?” enquired Holmes.

“Albert, his younger son is missing. His lordship believes he may have been abducted.”

“You have naturally informed the police,” Holmes said.

“No, the Earl has ordered everyone to keep the child’s disappearance strictly within the family.”

“Might I ask why?”

“Albert is not a normal child, Mr. Holmes. He is mentally defective. His lordship is concerned to protect him and the family from public exposure.”

“What form does this defect take, Sir Jeffrey?” I asked.

“He is imbecilic, Doctor. Although now 16 years old he behaves like a child of seven or eight. His appearance is disturbing, and he has had to be kept out of polite society for much of his life.

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