The Secret Chronicles of Sherlock Holmes Read Online Free PDF

upper landing, Holmes glanced down over the gallery rail.
    The entrance hall was now empty, the butler having disappeared from sight.
    ‘Gone, no doubt, to inform Lord Deerswood of our intentions,’ Holmes remarked. ‘Come, Watson, the hunt is nearly over but we may not have much time to draw the last covert.’
    ‘What covert, Holmes?’
    ‘Why, the one where our fox has gone to earth, of course.’
    ‘You seem very sure.’
    ‘Indeed I am, my dear fellow.’
    ‘How is that?’
    ‘From our observations last night, coupled with what we have seen this morning.’
    ‘But we have been shown nothing except a large number of empty rooms.’
    ‘Oh, we have seen a great deal more than that, including the fingers on the right hand of his lordship’s secretary. Did you not notice that they were stained, not with ink, as one would suppose, but with …?’
    He broke off as the spaniel we had encountered earlier rose from the rug where it had been sleeping and came to the foot of the stairs, wagging its tail with the same eager air.
    ‘A canine assistant!’ * Holmes declared and, snapping his fingers at it over the banisters, called it up to join us.
    It obeyed with alacrity, bounding up the steps and following at our heels as Holmes led the way down the passage and into the Tudor wing of the house which, only shortly before, we had, to the best of my belief, thoroughly examined.
    We halted outside the door to Barker’s room, Holmes tapping on the panel as if expecting that, in our absence, its owner would have returned.
    In this assumption he was correct for, having received permission to enter, we opened the door to see Barker in the act of laying aside a book and rising to his feet from a chair by the window, his expression full of consternation at our unexpected appearance, the spaniel at our heels.
    It was apparent that the creature had never before been inside the room for it halted just within the door, uneasy at finding itself in such unfamiliar surroundings.
    Barker had stepped towards us as if about to object to our presence when Holmes sent the dog forward with the words: ‘Go, Handel! Seek your master!’
    At this command, the spaniel ran towards the great oaken press to sniff eagerly at its closed doors, its tail thumping against the carpet.
    It was at this moment that Lord Deerswood appeared silently in the open doorway behind us, our first intimation of his presence being Barker’s stammered apology.
    ‘I’m sorry, my lord. I had no idea Mr Holmes or Dr Watson would return …’
    Lord Deerswood advanced into the room and, ignoring Barker’s attempt at explanation, addressed Holmes directly, his expression no longer supercilious but full of a brooding melancholy.
    ‘I can see, Mr Holmes, that it is impossible to deceive you, a fact I should have recognised, knowing your reputation.’
    Making a slight bow in acknowledgement, Holmes replied, ‘My inquiries have led me this far, Lord Deerswood, but, without your permission, I shall proceed no further than the doors to this press. Although I am retained by Miss Russell, whose concern in this affair is, I should add, solely on behalf of your nephew, I have her agreement that she will desist from allfurther inquiries should you so desire it. If you wish Dr Watson and myself to withdraw, we shall do so immediately.’
    For several moments, Lord Deerswood considered this proposition without speaking. And then he seemed suddenly to come to a decision for, turning to Barker, he inquired, ‘Is all well?’ On receiving the man’s assurance that it was, his lordship continued, ‘Then show them the Paradol Chamber.’
    At this, Barker crossed to the cupboard and opened its double doors.
    As I have already described, the press was large and its commodious interior was divided up into two sections, in one of which clothes were hanging on hooks. The other was entirely taken up by a set of shelves on which some shirts and underlinen were lying.
    Stretching one arm