Watson's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page B

things down at parties! What do we write, anyway?’
    Sir Bohun and his secretary’s next remarks explained this.
    ‘On view, not hidden, but put in (possibly) unexpected places and sometimes slightly disguised,’ he began, ‘are, altogether – how many did we say, Bell?’
    ‘Ten, Sir Bohun.’
    ‘Oh, yes! Well, go on. You tell them.’
    ‘There are ten items, all of which are mentioned as being of great importance in the problems which Sherlock Holmes so brilliantly solved,’ said Bell. ‘I repeat that these objects are all of first-rate importance such as would be known to, and recognized by, any person even moderately well-read in the classic collections of stories entitled, respectively, the Adventures and the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. It is understood that no competitor removes or alters the appearance or position of any object, and Sir Bohun trusts that there will be no collusion. Each competitor is requested very earnestly to work alone. There is a time-limit of one hour, to begin with, from when Sir Bohun gives the word to begin searching. The objects are in various parts of the house, and every room – the nursery quarters and the servants’ rooms, for example – which is out-of-bounds is clearly marked with a notice on the door.’
    ‘When you say there is a time-limit of one hour to begin with – ’ observed Laura.
    ‘Ah, yes,’ said Sir Bohun. ‘If, at the end of an hour, the majority, that is, more than half of you, want an extension, you can have it. The objects are not hidden away exactly, but there’s no reason why you should not open cupboards and drawers and so forth. However, you need not ransack the rooms. The idea isn’t to have a treasure hunt. The objects can all be found very easily; it’s the identification of them which is the test, for you will find on your competition papers two columns. One is for the name of the object; the other is for the title of the story in which it is mentioned.’
    Mrs Dance groaned aloud this time, and one or two others, notably Mrs Godley, her daughter Celia, and Mrs Mildren, looked alarmed. Manoel laughed heartily and Mrs Bradley grinned mirthlessly.
    ‘I shall excuse myself, on the score of my advanced years, from taking part,’ she announced. Sir Bohun nodded.
    ‘Thought you’d contract out of it,’ he said. ‘You can sit and talk to me in my den, from which I shall do the time-keeping. Nobody else is excused.’
    Mrs Godley began to protest, but was waved to silence. Sir Bohun looked at his watch and gave the word for the participants to go to the library. As soon as they had picked up a competition paper and a pencil, they were to set to work without loss of time.
    ‘And how many of your ten objects do you anticipate that the successful competitor will identify?’ Mrs Bradley enquired, when he and her host had retired to the small snuggery which openeds out of the library, and the secretary, Bell, the only other non-competitor, had taken himself off to enact as discreetly as possible the rôle of umpire.
    ‘Shouldn’t wonder if Grimston doesn’t manage to get the whole lot. Clever fellow, although mad as a hatter,’ Sir Bohun replied.
    ‘Really?’ said Mrs Bradley, referring to the cleverness, and not to the madness. Sir Bohun misunderstood her.
    ‘Yes. You remember I mentioned my life is in danger? Well, Grimston’s the chap. Always lock my door at nights and keep Bell dancing attendance during the day. Bell doesn’t know what I think about Grimston, of course. Libellous to tell him. But while you’re here, Beatrice, you might just keep him under observation – Grimston, I mean. He can bear watching. Very peculiar fellow. Jealous, you know. Suspicious. Bee in his bonnet and, as I say, bats in the belfry. Interesting study for you. You’ll enjoy it.’
    Mrs Bradley, whose private opinion of these disclosures would not have flattered Sir Bohun had he been permitted to know it, said courteously that she was certain she would