Read Online Secret Archives of Sherlock Holmes, The, The by June Thomson - Free Book Online

had expected he would, but instead he made some hurried excuse that he had suddenly remembered a prior appointment with an old army friend and, shaking hands with us both, he left, much to Thurston’s disappointment, as I could see from the look on his face. As for myself, I was extremely relieved not to have to share a table with him and to join in reminiscing with him about our mutual experiences in Afghanistan.
    However, there was no respite from Colonel Carruthers, even in his absence, for hardly had we sat down to luncheon in the dining-room than, like Banquo’sghost at the feast, 10 his name came up. It was Thurston who introduced it.
    ‘Interesting man, don’t you think?’ he remarked.
    I knew whom he was referring to but, in a futile attempt to kick the subject into the long grass, so to speak, I replied with feigned ignorance, ‘Who do you mean?’
    ‘Why Carruthers, of course!’ Before I had time to say anything more, Thurston continued enthusiastically, ‘I thought you would take to him. As soon as I was introduced to him, I said to myself, “That’s someone who my old friend Watson would like to meet.” You have so much in common: the Indian army; Afghanistan; both wounded …’
    ‘Yes, it is quite a coincidence,’ I agreed. ‘Does he play billiards?’
    ‘Probably not. After all, he only has one eye,’ Thurston pointed out with a touch of sharpness in his voice that drew attention to my foolishness in asking such an obviously ridiculous question, and, at the sound of it, my antipathy for the wretched man grew even stronger.
    It took all the pleasure out of our game of billiards after luncheon. I could not concentrate and, in consequence, Thurston won hands down, anotherblow to my self-esteem and another reason to dislike Carruthers even more, a quite unfair reaction on my part, as I shamefacedly admitted to myself at the time.
    I was therefore not in a good mood when I returned to Baker Street, a state of mind that Holmes, with his usual acuity, was aware of from the moment I entered the room.
    ‘So what happened this afternoon to put you in such low spirits?’ he inquired.
    ‘Nothing,’ I replied.
    ‘Oh, come, my dear fellow! I have shared these lodgings with you for long enough to know your moods almost as well as my own. Despite women claiming that they alone possess the powers of intuition, we mere men can be just as sensitive – more so in some cases. Was it Thurston who has put you in this frame of mind?’
    Without intending to say anything specific, I heard myself replying, ‘No; it was a new member of the club, a man called Carruthers – Colonel Godfrey Carruthers.’
    ‘And?’ Holmes persisted, raising an inquiring eyebrow.
    ‘That is the trouble, Holmes!’ I burst out. ‘I just do not know why I have taken such a dislike to the man.’
    ‘Is it because he is a colonel?’ he suggested gently.
    ‘And I am just a lieutenant? I do not think so, Holmes; at least, I hope it is not so. All I can say in the way of explanation is that there is something not quite pukkah about him.’
    I used the word involuntarily, dredging it up from mymemory of Anglo-Indian words and phrases which had been familiar during my army days, and I was surprised by this and also by Holmes’ apparent knowledge of the meaning of the word.
    ‘And how is he not quite genuine?’
    ‘That is the trouble. I do not know. I just felt …’
    And here I broke off, unable to offer a coherent explanation.
    ‘Ah, your intuition again!’ Holmes exclaimed. ‘But behind all these intuitive reactions, there must be some rational explanation. At least, that is my belief. So let us examine your feelings as one would dissect a body, looking for the causes of a medical condition. Was it his demeanour which was not genuine?’
    ‘No, not really. He looked and behaved much as any former army officer.’
    ‘His manner of speech, then?’
    ‘That, too, seemed quite normal.’
    ‘Did you take into consideration his