Read Online Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Rat of Sumatra by Paul D. Gilbert - Free Book Online
Authors: Paul D. Gilbert
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with great intensity and without the impatience that you normally fail to conceal,â I observed quietly while we awaited both our supper and the return of our client.
Holmes observed me quizzically for a moment or two while he lit his cherry-wood. âSometimes it is as important to have an insight into the character of the principal in a case as it is to be in possession of the relevant facts. In this instance we are fortunate indeed, for Sir Michael Collier has laid himself bare before us and revealed a remarkable nature. Besides which, I am already convinced that we are about to delve into areas that are considerably beyond the realms of my usual investigations. Therefore, it is impossible, at this early stage, for me to distinguish between those facts that are irrelevant and the ones that might guide us to the truth.â
âYou have already heard something that so convinces you?â I asked incredulously.
Holmes smiled enigmatically, as he drew leisurely on his pipe. âSomething suggestive, perhaps,â he stated simply. Unfortunately I was to learn nothing more of my friendâs thoughts at this time, for a moment later the welcome sight of Mrs Hudson, awkwardly bearing a heavily laden tray full of food, interrupted us. Daniel Collier returned from his constitutional a moment later and the three of us made short work of our impromptu meal.
Once our empty plates had been cleared away, a glass of port had been poured for each of us and our cigars were under way, we three returned to our seats by the fire and Holmes invited our client to read from his fatherâs second letter. After a long drawfrom his cheroot and a sip from his port, the young archaeologist cleared his throat and began to read.
âThe envelope is post-marked Calcutta and the letter itself is dated the fifteenth of October 1897.
My dearest son Daniel, I sincerely hope that this letter, from the âJewel in the Crownâ finds you in good health and that your own investigations are progressing as well as you would have hoped for.
After my last communication I lost little time in securing my passage aboard the
Diomedes
and I sent my luggage and equipment ahead of me to the port of London, while I closed up and made arrangements for the house. The
Diomedes
turned out to be a somewhat smaller vessel than had been originally described to me and I was disappointed to discover that my berth was barely large enough to contain my bunk, which itself proved to be far too small to contain my frame of six feet three inches.
However, the
Diomedes
did have one advantage over the other available vessels that were departing at this time, in that she was to lay up in Cape Town for a full three weeks before proceeding to Calcutta. This fuelled my ambition to travel into Natal in order to learn more of the ways of the famed Zulu witch doctors, but, more important, it would give me the opportunity to make enquiries into the welfare of our sweet Charlotte. This thought alone consoled me throughout all of my inconveniences and discomforts.
These were tolerable, at least during the early stages of our voyage. The glass was set fair, a steady westerly wind filled our canvas and my treks around the deck were enjoyably bracing. All this ended somewhat abruptly, however as we edged our way across the infamous Bay of Biscay.
The wind that had, so far, proved to be our compliant servant, suddenly turned to a northerly and seemed to unleash its pent-up frustrations against us as the tempest sought to destroy us.Our masts were suddenly dwarfed by the unimaginable height of the sheer, white waves that threatened to engulf our tiny vessel. The shipâs master, Captain Theo Economides, ordered that every non-essential crew member and passenger be confined below decks and there we were to remain, battened down, for three full days and nights!
I can assure you, my dear boy, that those three days might as well have been three months. My
Holmes observed me quizzically for a moment or two while he lit his cherry-wood. âSometimes it is as important to have an insight into the character of the principal in a case as it is to be in possession of the relevant facts. In this instance we are fortunate indeed, for Sir Michael Collier has laid himself bare before us and revealed a remarkable nature. Besides which, I am already convinced that we are about to delve into areas that are considerably beyond the realms of my usual investigations. Therefore, it is impossible, at this early stage, for me to distinguish between those facts that are irrelevant and the ones that might guide us to the truth.â
âYou have already heard something that so convinces you?â I asked incredulously.
Holmes smiled enigmatically, as he drew leisurely on his pipe. âSomething suggestive, perhaps,â he stated simply. Unfortunately I was to learn nothing more of my friendâs thoughts at this time, for a moment later the welcome sight of Mrs Hudson, awkwardly bearing a heavily laden tray full of food, interrupted us. Daniel Collier returned from his constitutional a moment later and the three of us made short work of our impromptu meal.
Once our empty plates had been cleared away, a glass of port had been poured for each of us and our cigars were under way, we three returned to our seats by the fire and Holmes invited our client to read from his fatherâs second letter. After a long drawfrom his cheroot and a sip from his port, the young archaeologist cleared his throat and began to read.
âThe envelope is post-marked Calcutta and the letter itself is dated the fifteenth of October 1897.
My dearest son Daniel, I sincerely hope that this letter, from the âJewel in the Crownâ finds you in good health and that your own investigations are progressing as well as you would have hoped for.
After my last communication I lost little time in securing my passage aboard the
Diomedes
and I sent my luggage and equipment ahead of me to the port of London, while I closed up and made arrangements for the house. The
Diomedes
turned out to be a somewhat smaller vessel than had been originally described to me and I was disappointed to discover that my berth was barely large enough to contain my bunk, which itself proved to be far too small to contain my frame of six feet three inches.
However, the
Diomedes
did have one advantage over the other available vessels that were departing at this time, in that she was to lay up in Cape Town for a full three weeks before proceeding to Calcutta. This fuelled my ambition to travel into Natal in order to learn more of the ways of the famed Zulu witch doctors, but, more important, it would give me the opportunity to make enquiries into the welfare of our sweet Charlotte. This thought alone consoled me throughout all of my inconveniences and discomforts.
These were tolerable, at least during the early stages of our voyage. The glass was set fair, a steady westerly wind filled our canvas and my treks around the deck were enjoyably bracing. All this ended somewhat abruptly, however as we edged our way across the infamous Bay of Biscay.
The wind that had, so far, proved to be our compliant servant, suddenly turned to a northerly and seemed to unleash its pent-up frustrations against us as the tempest sought to destroy us.Our masts were suddenly dwarfed by the unimaginable height of the sheer, white waves that threatened to engulf our tiny vessel. The shipâs master, Captain Theo Economides, ordered that every non-essential crew member and passenger be confined below decks and there we were to remain, battened down, for three full days and nights!
I can assure you, my dear boy, that those three days might as well have been three months. My
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