The Chronicles of Sherlock Holmes Read Online Free PDF Page B

left fist triumphantly above his head.
    ‘I must go at once to the Diogenes Club!’ he announced excitedly. ‘Allowing your premise that coincidence does not exist, the fact that Beasant, Maupertuis, Naismith and myself are all long-standing members must, surely, have significance! Perhaps if the good Inspector would accompany me, so as to lend credence to my masquerade as a suspected murderer, I should be able to undertake the journey and my enquiries with a certain degree of safety. My position, as one of the founding members, of the club, should certainly ease the process of obtaining confidential information,’ Mycroft concluded emphatically.
    To judge by his brother’s response, Mycroft’s enthusiasm was most infectious. ‘That appears to be an excellent plan, brother Mycroft, certainly one that needs to be put in motion with all speed. Assuming Inspector Lestrade’s co-operation, of course.’
    The expectant gaze of the two imposing brothers was more than enough to dissuade Lestrade from refusal. Equally, I am sure, the thought of adding Moriarty to his glorious bag would have gone some way towards persuading him also!
    ‘By all means, gentlemen, we must start at once,’ was his immediate response as he jumped up to grab his coat. While I procured a cab for their journey to Pall Mall, Holmes ensured that the elements of Mycroft’s Naismith disguise were suitably in place and within a few minutes they were gone.
    The next two hours passed surprisingly quietly. For once I found myself with little need of further enlightenment, all aspects of the case now being clear to me, and Holmes was unusually calm under the circumstances. Normally a prolonged period of inactivity while awaiting important news provoked great anxiety within him, and continuous pacing up and down the room. However, on this occasion, no doubt because he could sense he was so close to running down his Nemesis, he remained in good spirits and even struck up a few cords on his violin.
    When Mycroft and Lestrade eventually returned Holmes remained calmly seated and relit his pipe while they removed their coats.
    ‘Sherlock,’ Mycroft boomed, ‘we have our man! Not only have I discovered that Naismith was also a regular billiards partner of Maupertuis, but I also have his address for when he is in residence within these shores. He spends the remainder of his time ensconced within a small castle near Salzburg.’
    ‘Ah, so there is the final link in our chain. Our noble Baron has been building a connection between Moriarty and myself, using your esteemed club as the centre of his web. Now show me where we can at last meet this “master swindler”!’ Holmes got to his feet while Mycroft withdrew a crumpled piece of paper, bearing the crest of the Diogenes Club from his coat pocket, which he then flattened out on our table top.
    Holmes asked me to read to him from it, only for Mycroft to interrupt.
    ‘No need, dear boy. Despite my advancing years I still have some capacity for memory. Maupertuis’ last known address is a walled villa, known as The Willows, barely halfa mile away from the village of Bushey Heath, in Hertfordshire. A strangely quaint name for the home of a deadly criminal, I would say.’
    ‘Although we cannot be certain that he is still in residence,’ Lestrade rejoined. ‘I have already been in touch with the local constable, who has informed me that he is aware of activity within the villa. As to whether the activity is on the part of the staff, Parker, or Maupertuis himself, we have no way of knowing.’
    ‘You have both done extremely well; however the task of ascertaining the nature of this activity at The Willows will surely be mine and Watson’s,’ said Holmes. Then, bowing towards me he added: ‘With your kind acquiescence, of course.’
    ‘I should be honoured. Shall I require an overnight bag?’
    ‘It may be necessary to spend a day or two in getting the lie of the land, so yes, a bag by all means and, I