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

pencil?’ Then, in answer to my questioning glance, he added: ‘I wish to take some rubbings from this piece of decking.’
    I was on the point of querying this request when I remembered Lestrade’s reference to a set of strange but irrelevant markings that he had noticed during his own examination of the ship. Evidently Holmes was attaching more importance to these carvings than his professional counterpart.
    As I stood there, staring down at Holmes, I suddenly became aware that the stiff autumnal breeze was being chilled by its sweeping across the broad expanse of the Thames. I immediately turned up the collar of my coat to guard against it and lit up a cigarette with some difficulty.
    By the time that Holmes had completed his rubbings our client’s patience had become exhausted. He and Lestrade arrived on deck just as Holmes was brushing himself down.
    Dodd’s plump features were reddened by his impatience and Holmes could barely suppress a mischievous smile as he cheerily greeted the two of them on board. ‘You really should not upset yourself, Mr Dodd, Watson and Lestrade will tell you that my methods are not always of the most conventional. However, any hope that I may have had of unravelling your little mystery would have been made that much harder had the two of you added your own footmarks to those that have already confused the issue.’
    ‘Well, I must say! Little mystery indeed!’ Dodd exploded.
    ‘Perhaps I am not doing full justice to the problem with this flippant description of mine. For this could well prove to be one of the most challenging cases that I have ever been involved in and it is certainly unique in the annals of crime. Now please, gentlemen, kindly allow me to continue with my work.’ With that, Holmes turned his back on the two of them and threw himself down on to the deck once again.
    This time he took out his lens and began slithering around on the boards like a viper in pursuit of its prey. Every so often he would pause for a moment or two and examine something or other with minute diligence. Occasionally he would emit a loud grunt of disappointment. Then again he might laugh to himself as he made a more positive discovery although, of course, the nature of each find would remain a mystery to the rest of us for some time to come.
    After a while he paused from his reptilian motions and withdrew a small buff envelope from his inside pocket. He gestured for me to hold this open while he then proceeded to shuffle together a small pile of what appeared to be dark and dusty grain from the deck. He then poured this delicately into the envelope with as much care as if he had been handling gold dust.
    Once he had brushed himself down for a second time Holmes proceeded to examine every inch of the polished handrails withhis glass while I began to sense Dodd’s growing impatience. At last, when Holmes paused to light a cigarette, Dodd could contain himself no longer. He addressed himself quietly to Lestrade but at a level just loud enough for Holmes to overhear.
    ‘I must confess, Inspector, that based on this first evidence, I am not altogether convinced that employing Mr Holmes and his so-called method is in the best interests of my clients. Surely his glowing reputation is pure hyperbole and if the best we can come up with in the next few days is an envelope full of dust, then I will advise my clients accordingly.’
    ‘That, sir, is your privilege,’ Lestrade responded. ‘However, this is a criminal matter and I am duty bound to take the best advice that is available to me. For all that his ways are unconventional, which I do not always approve of, Mr Holmes has rarely failed in his unorthodox investigations.
    ‘Thank you, Lestrade.’ Holmes smiled broadly through a thick plume of smoke. ‘I can assure you both, however, that I shall get to the bottom of this matter with or without Mr Dodd’s approval! Now I shall conclude my examination of the ship below decks. Alone! ‘Holmes