The Ectoplasmic Man Read Online Free PDF Page A

his narration was made all the more compelling by its quiet logic and absolute self-assurance. I could see Houdini growing restless as Holmes continued.
    “Now let us turn our attentions to Houdini himself.” Holmes, still in the orchestra pit, walked to the edge of the stage and found himself level with our feet. “I note a long scuff along the inside of the left shoe. This mark was not there a moment ago. Perhaps the shoes dislike transforminginto ectoplasm?” He stepped back onto the stage and took Houdini’s arm as if it were a laboratory specimen. “What do we see here? In Houdini’s cuff buttons we find strands of red carpeting. This is extremely significant. From this we may—”
    “Enough, Holmes!” Houdini snatched his arm away, his face dark purple. “You are mocking me! You are mocking the Great Houdini! You — you —” Houdini then said something in German which had a distinctly unsavoury sound. By Holmes’s expression it was clear that the meaning was not lost on him.
    “I see that diplomacy is not among your talents, Mr Houdini,” said Holmes. “Perhaps you had best concentrate on those abilities which you do possess, for ill-temper is often overlooked in an accomplished performer. “Est quadam prodire tenus, si non datur ultra.” *
    With this rather obscure quote from Horace, Sherlock Holmes turned and was gone.
                         
    * “A Scandal In Bohemia”, which begins, “To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman.”
    * “Your powers may reach this far, if not beyond.”

Three

    A C ALLER A T B AKER S TREET
    “S ee what I have become in my old age, Watson,” Holmes said as we climbed the steps to our lodgings, “an exposer of magicians! Sherlock Holmes, scourge of the conjuror! I’m afraid I am nearing the end of my usefulness.”
    “You make too much of the matter, Holmes,” I said. “Perhaps this morning’s encounter was a disappointment, but I’m sure Lestrade will return with a more—”
    “Lestrade! The poor man is worse off than I! He has abandoned his reason! Soon we shall find him engaged in earnest conversation with the pigeons in St James’s Park.”
    “Holmes, you are exaggerating.”
    “Possibly, possibly. But it is also possible that I have delayed my retirement for too long. I hear the call of the bees.” *
    I knew then how truly irritated Holmes had been with the morning’s
    He was not long at it, however, before the page brought in a calling card to announce another visitor. “Thank you, Billy,” said Holmes, taking up the card, “show her up. Perhaps this will lead to a more fruitful investigation, Watson. What do you make of this?”
    It was an ordinary lady’s calling card, which announced a Miss Beatrice Rahner. “I cannot see that there is anything to be learned, apart from the obvious fact that our caller is an unmarried woman.”
    “That is precisely what we do not learn. See how worn the card is, and the reverse side is stained. No self-respecting maiden would present such a card, she would have fresh ones printed. No, I suspect we are dealing with a married woman who carries this card as a keepsake, and who for some reason wishes to conceal her married state from us. Now,” he walked to the bow window and began drumming his fingers on a pane of glass, “let us see. The cardboard stock and the printing are American, so I think we may hazard a guess that our caller is as well. There is something in the name...” He walked to the mantel and took up his black clay pipe. “Beatrice. Watson, didn’t our conjuror friend refer to his wife as ’Bess’? I believe that is a common American contraction of—” He walked over to the door and threw it open. There stood a diminutive dark-haired woman with a timid, almost fearful expression. “Won’t you come in, Mrs Houdini?”
    Our visitor gasped and her hand flew to her throat. “How could you possibly—?” she began in a quiet American accent. “Never mind. I