Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Rat of Sumatra Read Online Free PDF Page A

inspector.
    ‘Well, Mr Holmes,’ Lestrade chuckled quietly, ‘you seem to have learnt as little from the examination of the corpse as the rest of us.’
    ‘That, Inspector, remains to be seen!’ Holmes sternly rebuked Lestrade and with that he rapped on the roof of the cab with his cane to stir the driver into motion. Lestrade promised to arrange for us to meet Mr Dodd at Canary Wharf on the following afternoon and we diverted to allow him out at Scotland Yard on our way to Baker Street. I remained there only long enough to down a welcome cognac, for mine had not been the most pleasant of experiences, before continuing to my surgery where I had some work that could not be neglected for a moment longer.
    I was occupied for the remainder of the day and as a consequence did not see my friend again until the time of our appointment on the following afternoon. I arrived at the wharf promptly at two o’clock, only to be confronted by two of Lestrade’slargest and most saturnine constables who would not let me pass until they had received a cursory nod from their superior.
    Lestrade waved for me to join him at the quayside where he was standing next to a most singular-looking individual, whom I correctly assumed to be our prospective client.
    Alistair Dodd, of Morrison, Morrison & Dodd was a man in his mid fifties, of average height, whose long black frock-coat did nothing to disguise how rotund he really was. This was also evident in his corpulent face which was decorated with an absurdly dark, coiled moustache that was positively dripping with pomade! This he was constantly twisting impatiently with the fingers of his right hand, which caused me to consider twice before I extended my own to him. His handshake was as weak and oily as I had anticipated and I wasted no time in releasing my grip. He hardly gave me a glance as he pointed towards the ship in front of us.
    ‘Apparently we have been prohibited from going on board!’ Dodd protested. ‘I must say, Doctor Watson, that your associate holds a mighty high opinion of himself. He does not wish to run the risk of our disturbing any clues that he might discover. Clues indeed, stuff and nonsense if you ask me! After all, Inspector Lestrade here is a professional policeman!’
    ‘He is also very aware of Mr Holmes’s methods and, I am certain, that he would be more than willing to attest to the miraculous success that his methods have always yielded!’ I rejoined, determined to defend my friend to the hilt.
    ‘I have no difficulty in confirming everything that the doctor has told you, Mr Dodd, and I am certain that none of us would be standing here this afternoon were it not the case.’ I felt strangely proud of Lestrade at his defence of Holmes in his absence and I was on the point of telling him so when Holmes suddenly summoned me to board the
Matilda Briggs.
I did so somewhat sheepishly, for Holmes had also insisted that I come alone.
    ‘His effrontery is intolerable!’ Dodd blustered. ‘You would do well to warn Mr Holmes that my patience is wearing somewhat thin and that should this tomfoolery of his continue for much longer, I shall seriously consider advising my clients to seek assistance from another source.’ I acknowledged this advice by sarcastically doffing my hat in Dodd’s direction, then I slowly began ascending the gangplank, leaving him still twisting his ridiculous moustache.
    As I came upon the deck, I could understand at once the cause of Dodd’s confusion at the investigative techniques of my friend. He was stretched out, lying flat on his stomach, with his right hand raised above his head as if he was shielding his eyes from a non-existent glare.
    ‘Really Holmes,’ I began, ‘you really cannot afford to be so cavalier towards our client if—’ Holmes was determined not to hear another word upon the subject.
    ‘Watson!’ he warned me. ‘Now, would you be good enough to pass me down a sheet or two of your notepaper and a sharp, stout