The Memoirs of Irene Adler: The Irene Adler Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t know you two were married. I have always wanted to make your acquaintance.’
    ‘Algie has told me that you have unique mental resources which can be put to good use. You need to be aware of what’s being done to save Sir Roger’s neck if you are to make a contribution to the cause.’
    ‘Have you considered writing about Sir Roger’s great record as a government official in Africa for the newspapers, like you did in the case of Edalji?’ I asked.
    ‘Ha, indeed I thought of that, but
The Daily Telegraph
which supported the Parsi man has no truck with what they consider unpatriotic.’
    At the moment, Doyle continued, all they were able to do was enlisting worthy men to the cause. They were using whatever influence they had, to acquire signatures petitioning His Majesty.
    ‘That nincompoop,’ Algie spat out.
    ‘We know that he is not very keen on clemency,’ continued Doyle. ‘He is known to have said that the Irish insurrection was directed against
him
, but if we manage to get some very powerful people to affix their signatures to our document, then he may be forced to think again.’ He then went on to talk about Casement’s fake “Black Diaries” which his enemies are circulating facsimile copies of.’ I noticed Algie making signs to me to keep my mouth shut. Obviously he knew that they were genuine, buthe had thought it more sagacious to keep the innocent Conan Doyle in the dark.
    ‘The “Black Diaries” are said to be a journal kept by Sir Roger about his encounters with handsome Black youths for sexual gratification, I ask you!’ At this point he picked the cup of tea and noisily drank half of it in one go.
    ‘However, succour is at hand. I gather you used to know Mr Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street?’ he asked. I nodded.
    ‘And you know his brother Mr Mycroft Holmes?’
    ‘I know of him, but we haven’t met.’
    ‘Anyway, this fellow Mycroft...possibly you know all this, he is purported to be an adviser to the Cabinet, but he is known to indulge in some, shall I say occult, activities. You know, all under cover, hush hush, for the government.’
    ‘I’ve heard that.’
    ‘Now I must entreat you never to reveal this to any soul, as the information was given to me under an oath of secrecy. This fellow Mycroft has approached Sherlock with facsimiles of this damned document, asking him to authenticate it.’ He paused to allow his information to sink in, and committed the remnant of the tea in his mouth and gulped it down.
    ‘Ha!’ he said, his humorous eyes in which I read great generosity of spirit lighting up. But they are playing into our hands. Holmes will indubitably confirm our conviction that they are fakes and confound their impudent lies.’ I saw Algie pull a face in my direction, making sure our eminent visitor did not catch our drift. This news produced the opposite effect on us, but we kept our counsels to ourselves.
    ‘But there is a small hitch. One of his cases has forced Holmes to go to Suffolk, but he has promised to be back in two days and will immediately set to work on the facsimile on his return.’ We breathed again.
    ‘I hope it won’t be too late then?’ Algie said, but Mr Doyle assured us that on account of people in America having voiced their sympathy for the Irishman, the authorities, forever mindful of their good names across the Atlantic will not rush into things.
    ‘Although we seem to be taking the upper hand, Miss Adler ... eh your ladyship, we mustn’t assume anything. In my estimation, our opponentsdo not give up easily. Besides, they are well-known for their love of the belt.’
    ‘What do you mean, Conan?’ Our visitor’s eyes twinkled mischievously.
    ‘Oh, yes, the belt. They love it so they know below what to hit.’ Algie guffawed and the author of
The Lost World
nodded merrily.
    ‘There is always the risk that they will contest his expertise. Or they might
mislay
Sherlock Holmes’ report. Anything is possible. So my dear lady, in