The Return of Moriarty Read Online Free PDF Page B

kissing his hand again, and Moriarty had to look severely toward Paget so that the bodyguard moved in behind Mrs. Jacobs, took her by the shoulders and gently moved her away.
    Paget returned a few moments later,
    â€œParker’s here, Professor.”
    Moriarty was again sitting behind his desk.
    â€œHe looks worried?”
    â€œVery.”
    â€œIt will keep. Paget, tell me about the Maidenhead Manor break. Are we involved?”
    â€œNot directly, sir, no.”
    â€œDo we know who?”
    â€œThe word is that it’s Michael the Peg and a con-head called Peter the Butler.”
    Moriarty rose again, looking toward the window. He knew Michael the Peg (so called because one of his favorite disguises was that of a one-legged tinker, or sailor), and there was little love lost between them.
    â€œPeter the Butler, otherwise Lord Peter, eh?”
    â€œThe same.”
    â€œI would not have thought either of those gentlemen would have used Bland; after all they come from the other side of the river.”
    Paget nodded sagely.
    â€œDid they get much from Maidenhead?”
    â€œA lot of silver, jewels; they do say there was coin and paper worth one thousand pound also.”
    â€œAnd it was recovered by the police at Bland’s swagshop?”
    â€œThe lot. When the case came up, it only took an hour or so from start to finish.”
    â€œIt does not smell right, Paget, not right at all. It smacks of someone blowing on Bland.”
    â€œYea, blowing to the peelers?”
    â€œPrecisely. We have had occasion, I seem to recall, to warn off our wooden-legged friend before this.”
    â€œI was there when it was done.”
    â€œWhen we have finished here, I would be grateful if you would nose around for me, Paget. Old Bland is my man, as are the Jacobs boys. Michael the Peg may well have to be taught a lesson. It could just possibly be that Maidenhead was done for more devious reasons.”
    It worried Moriarty that Bland was in prison; the old man had fenced for the Professor and his people for a long time. His removal was a serious inconvenience and, what was worse, Moran had omitted to mention the case. It was almost certain that he would have to mete out justice to Michael the Peg, but there was also the problem of Bill and Bert Jacobs. Their mother would settle for nothing less than seeing them with her around the family hearth once more.
    â€œI shall also need you to arrange a meeting with Robert Alton,” he said. “Alton is a turnkey at the ’Steel, so this will have to be performed with great stealth. You understand?”
    â€œUnderstood, Professor.”
    â€œGood. I’ll see Parker now.”
    It was difficult to tell whether Parker was naturally dirty or simply disguised as a vagrant. Certainly he smelled like one who had not seen soap or water for a lengthy stretch of time; his hair and beard were long and matted and the loose, shapeless coat he wore over stained and thin trousers and shirt was ragged and threadbare.
    â€œYou’ve lost him,” announced Moriarty as soon as Parker was shown into the room.
    â€œNot me, Professor. Machin lost him—or them, really, but we’re certain sure that they are now back in Baker Street.”
    â€œTell me about it.”
    Parker launched into the tale of how his group, all acting as lurkers (beggars), had observed Holmes, disguised as an elderly and deformed man, make contact with Dr. Watson at the Oxford Street end of Park Lane and later follow the doctor to his Kensington practice.
    â€œI let the others do the following as I had the feeling as how Holmes had spotted me in Baker Street,” he continued. “Anyhow, he was with Watson in Kensington for about an hour. When they come out, Holmes was without his disguise. They got into a hansom and Machin lost them. But since then I been back to Baker Street and Holmes is there without a doubt; you can see him sittin’ in the chair in front of