Sherlock Holmes Murder Most Foul Read Online Free PDF Page A

into the street, hauling along another young guardsman, Private Law.
    Mary burps and giggles.
    Law slumps back against the facade of the tavern and deeply inhales the night air.
    Indicating Law to Mary, Martha cackles mockingly, “Can’t take ’is [33] ale, can ’e?”
    Mary grins stupidly, [34] “Be no lead in ’is pencil t’night.”
    Martha chuckles, [35] “A knee-trembler will soon wake ’im up.”
    Sidling up to Law, Mary sniggers, “’Ow ’bout it, luv?”
    Perspiring, Law heaves and then swallows hard.
    Swaying from side to side and staring at Martha desirously, Leary hiccups, “’Ow much, then?”
    Martha feigns indifference, “Dunno if I fancy it now.”
    Leary edges closer to her imploringly, “Come on, ’ow much?”
    Martha haughtily cocks her head, [36] “Tanner!”
    Befuddled, Law stares at Mary and slurs, “Sixpence?”
    Stiffening, Leary glowers at Martha, “We stood the drinks. Yer drop the price.”
    Mary grins at Law, [37] “Fourpence is fer me bed an’ [38] tu’pence is fer me breakfast.” She turns on her heel and scowls at Leary, “It’s a tanner each, or [39] sling yer ’ook.”
    Quickly changing her tune and determined to placate Leary, Martha runs a seductive finger along the single white stripe on the arm of his scarlet tunic, “We ain’t askin’ fer the [40] Crown Jewels, are we?”
    Promptly subdued, Leary relents, “All right, where?”
    Martha indicates a narrow dismal street beyond a darkened archway beside the tavern, “’Long there, George Yard.” She then looks at Mary, pointing at Law, “Where yer takin’ ’im?”
    Mary peers over her shoulder, “’Round the corner, Angel Alley.”
    Satisfied, Martha nods, “Back in fifteen minutes, right?”
    Irritated yet again, Leary once more stiffens, “Fifteen minutes fer a tanner!”
    Riled by his quibbling manner, Martha grabs Leary by the arm, “Ah, come on, will yer?” She drags him through the archway, “Yer probably won’t even git started.”
     
    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
     
    Mary and Law unsteadily lurch along the gas-lit high street and, upon reaching Ye Olde Angel tavern, turn left into Angel Alley. Aware that Law is veering away from her, Mary seizes his arm and hauls him back beside her, “I don’t ’alf git ’em, don’t I?”
    Stepping backwards into a darkened doorway, she extends her hand, palm up, “All right, luv, a tanner.”
    Law shoves his hand into a pocket and, producing a small silver coin, shakily gives it to her.
    Clutching the coin tightly, Mary lifts both her skirt and petticoat, “All right, we ain’t got all night, let’s git on wiv it.”
    Law tensely glances over his shoulder and then meekly stares at her, “Wot if someone comes?”
    Mary sighs and shakes her head, “Look, luv, that’s wot yer suppose t’ do, [41] innit?”
    Law begins to fumble with the front buttons of his dark blue trousers. Mary burps and then giggles, “First time, is it?”
    Law sways and swallows hard.
    Infuriated by his ineptitude, she drops her skirt and, reaching out, grabs Law by his tunic and yanks him forward, “’Ere, let me do that! Otherwise we’ll be ’ere ’til mornin’.”
    Law retches violently and vomits on the shoulder of her beer-stained waist-length jacket.
    Mary pushes him away and shrieks, “Yer paid me t’ serve yer ol’ [42] John Thomas. Belchin’ yer guts over me weren’t part of the price.”
     
    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦  
     
    Near the top end of George Yard, close to Wentworth Street, is a scruffy tenement block unimaginatively named George Yard Buildings. Providing cheap accommodation for local residents, it is a bleak, gloomy structure at night, due to the fact that the gas lamps illuminating its inner flights of wide stone steps and landings are punctually extinguished at eleven o’clock, thereby plunging the entire edifice into near total darkness.
    Casually fastening his trousers, Leary steps out of the shadows alongside the grim building and glances along