The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (13 page)

‘I am afraid, Doctor, that that was another case where I pledged myself to secrecy. I can only reveal that I was asked to help with one case only, and that involved locating a missing person.’

‘And did you find him?’ asked Miss Norton.

‘It was a woman, and yes, we did.’

‘This has proved to be a useful conversation for all of us,’ said Holmes. ‘Mr Futrelle, if we find that we need the assistance of an observant pair of eyes, we will be in touch. Meanwhile, we would appreciate your discretion.’

‘You shall have it, Mr Holmes... Oh, excuse me, Commodore.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Now, I am afraid I must leave you. My wife just glanced at her watch, which means she is anxious to begin our walk around the deck. Please would you excuse me?’

‘We look forward to seeing you later,’ said Holmes, rising and shaking the writer’s hand. Futrelle said goodbye to Miss Norton and me, and rejoined his wife. After exchanging a few words, they left the restaurant, Futrelle waving to us as he passed through the door.

‘Well, Holmes, it appears that we have some unexpected assistance in our investigation.’

‘Yes, I would have preferred to retain my anonymity but perhaps this will work out for the best.’

‘Do you really plan to include him in our investigation?’ Miss Norton asked.

‘He has a keen mind, and we do have more suspects than the three of us can keep an eye on at any one time. It is at times like this that I wish I had Wiggins and my Baker Street Irregulars available.’ He smiled. ‘Terribly inconsiderate of them all to grow into manhood.’

‘Well, with just the three of us at the moment, how should we proceed?’ Holmes, who had just begun to poke at his mutton chops, replied to my question by issuing instructions.

‘Watson, perhaps you would pay your respects to the baron and baroness. Learn as much about them as possible.’

‘Miss Norton, please talk to Miss Storm-Fleming. I find it curious that this young widow spends so much time travelling. Is there more to her holidays than she admits.’

‘Holmes, do you not think it would be better if I questioned Miss Storm-Fleming?’ I asked. ‘After all, she and I have already become acquainted...’

‘No, Watson, I think you are in a better position to question the Von Sterns. They came to you asking for help with the anonymous notes they claim to be receiving. Take advantage of that... Besides, old fellow, I would not want you to jeopardize your friendship with someone who may prove to be a fine woman.’

I nodded in agreement. ‘Yes, Holmes, of course, very wise.’

‘Time to begin, I believe,’ said Holmes, just before he manoeuvred a large slice of mutton onto his fork. ‘There are several matters I must look into, including the activities of our bearded stoker.’

We rose and began to make our way to the door. But before we could travel half way through the obstacle course of tables and chairs, we were spotted by a boy in uniform, who had just darted through the doorway.

‘Commodore!’ he called out, somewhat out of breath. He scurried past amused diners and stopped short when he reached us. ‘The captain wants to see you in his cabin right away. He said the man you wanted to meet has arrived.’

‘Excellent! That would be Mr Strickley,’ said Holmes, clearly pleased that the investigation was once again moving forward. ‘Let us not keep the captain waiting.’

When we arrived at the captain’s sitting room, we found Strickley seated on a wooden chair, somewhat more subdued than when we last encountered him in the boiler room. Two muscular seaman stood like bookends on either side of him. Apart from these three men, there was no one else in the cabin. I was about to inquire as to the captain’s whereabouts, when Captain E J Smith stepped through the doorway.

‘Gentlemen, Miss Norton, thank you for coming so promptly.’

‘Captain, would it be possible for these two gentlemen to wait outside?’

‘I suppose the four of us can handle our guest. Bates, Johnson, wait outside the door, please.’

After the two crewmen left, the captain went to his desk and sat back in his big leather chair.

‘Mr Strickley, the commodore tells me that you were impolite to him down in the boiler room. Do you have anything to say to that?’

The stoker was hunched forward in his chair. His posture suggested submission, but his eyes were filled with defiance.

‘I wasn’t rude to nobody. I just don’t like a lot of accusations being thrown at me. I’m an honest working man, just trying to do his job.’

‘Well then, how
did
you get those scratches on your face?’ asked the captain, his voice firm, but calm.

‘Like I told the officer here this morning, I fell into some scrap metal. That ain’t no crime.’

‘I doubt it,’ I said, causing Strickley to sit up suddenly in his chair and look in my direction. ‘I am a doctor and I have treated many injuries. Those scratches were not made by scrap metal. I would give ten-to-one odds that they were made by a hand.’

‘All right. All right. It was a woman who scratched me. But it wasn’t what you’re thinking. I had a get-together last night with a young lady in steerage, that’s all. I got a little too romantic for her, so she slapped me and ran off.’

‘Did anyone see you with this young lady?’ asked Holmes.

‘No, we weren’t exactly in a public place.’

‘And do you recall her name?’

‘No, I didn’t even ask it. What for? We were just having a little fun together.’

‘Captain, did you search the pockets of this fine example of English chivalry?’

‘Yes, but we did not find anything — just a wallet, a comb and a few coins. There is nothing in his wallet except for a small amount of money and some personal papers. It is all over on the map table, if you would care to look.’

Holmes, who had been standing by the porthole, moved over to the table and examined the stoker’s belongings. The contents of the wallet were arranged neatly on top of a nautical map.

‘I see you play the horses, Mr Strickley. Here, on the back of this old betting slip, you have listed directions to two race tracks in the state of New York. Do you plan to place a few bets while you’re in America?’

‘Sure, I bet a few pounds. What of it?’

‘Oh, nothing at all, except the money you have in your wallet will not make you a fortune. Unless, of course, you expect to have much more money when we reach America.’

‘Just my regular pay, that’s all.’

And I’ve noticed that you’re not wearing your work clothes.’

‘That’s right. My back started acting up, so I reported in sick. I was resting in my cabin when the cap’n sent for me.’

‘Allow me to compliment you on your shoes. They appear to be of high quality, and well kept. Not like the rest of your clothes, I’m afraid.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘Captain, you might want to ask whether any first-class passengers reported a pair of shoes missing recently.’

‘I will do that, Commodore. Meanwhile, Mr Strickley, you are restricted to quarters until we reach New York. You will be informed of your next destination then. Any more questions, Commodore?’

‘Thank you, not for the moment. Perhaps some time in his quarters will encourage him to tell us who hired him. It would be a shame for him to spend all that time in prison by himself. And I fear the judge will not feel generous towards an uncooperative robber who ties up elderly women.’

‘You have no proof. I am innocent.’

‘Good day, Mr Strickley,’ Holmes replied.

As Holmes opened the door to invite the two seamen back into the captain’s cabin, we saw Bishop outside, chatting with the two men. For just a moment, he and Strickley exchanged glances. Then Bishop, after tipping his hat to us, continued towards the wheelhouse.

T
HE
A
FTERNOON OF
F
RIDAY
12 A
PRIL
1912

A
fter leaving the captain’s cabin, Holmes, Miss Norton and I parted company to begin our separate investigations. My decision to take a walk around the boat deck proved to be a good one. I soon saw Von Stern and his wife approaching, walking arm in arm. The deck was filled with passengers enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. The starboard side of the ship, shielded somewhat from the brisk sea breezes, was by far the most popular.

‘Good afternoon, Doctor,’ said Von Stern. ‘I see that you had the same idea we did. The sea air is quite invigorating, don’t you agree?’

‘Indeed, it makes me wonder why I continue to live in London. I suppose I have become used to the smell of fog and burning coal.’

‘There are many advantages to city living... Elisabeth and I were hoping to use the gymnasium, but it is open to children only from one to three o’clock. So we decided to stretch our legs on deck instead. We have the squash-rackets court reserved for half past three.’

‘Hans, why don’t you invite Doctor Watson to play?’ said the baroness. ‘I will go to the gymnasium instead.’

‘A pleasure, I am sure, Baroness,’ I replied. ‘But I do not have a racket or the proper clothing on board.’

‘Everything you need is available in the changing room... So, it is settled. It is after three o’clock now. We will walk down together. On the way, we will stop at the inquiry desk and purchase tickets to the Turkish bath. I find it most refreshing.’

‘Hans, isn’t there another matter that you would like to mention to the doctor?’ asked the baroness.

‘Ah, yes,’ said Von Stern. ‘Doctor, we have received another anonymous note. This was slipped under our cabin door this morning.’

Von Stern handed me a folded piece of paper. Like the first note, the message was constructed from magazine type. Again, Baroness Von Stern’s name was printed by hand, in pencil, along with a sum of money:

‘Baroness Von Stern — The sum required to avoid scandal is 10,000 marks. You will be contacted.’

‘What do you think about that, Doctor?’ asked the baron.

‘Well, like the first note, the words that are printed in pencil appear to have been written by a woman. And I will have to inspect the note more carefully, but the other words and letters may have been clipped from the
Strand Magazine
...’

A woman! Are you telling me that a woman has been threatening my wife?’

‘It does appear to be the case, either alone or with an accomplice.’

‘Very interesting. And have you come to any other conclusions?’

‘None. As I said before, I am not a detective. All I can suggest is that you either report this to the captain, or wait until the blackmailer attempts to contact you. We might then be able to learn more.’

‘Very well, we will wait,’ said Von Stern, again illustrating a seeming unwillingness to consult the ship’s authorities.

‘I must say, Baron Von Stern, you appear to be taking this much
more calmly than you did when we first met.’

‘As I mentioned before, Doctor, my wife has nothing to hide. I can only assume that this is nothing more than a vicious prank. But I would very much like to know who is behind it.’

‘I am very curious about that myself, and why someone would want to pursue Baroness Von Stern with an empty blackmail threat.’

‘We will find that out, Herr Doctor. In the meantime, I suggest that we make our way down to the squash-rackets court. Elisabeth, will you manage?’

‘Of course,
Liebchen.
I will be in the gymnasium. I will see you in our cabin before dinner.’ Baroness Von Stern kissed her husband on the cheek and walked along the deck towards the gymnasium.

‘And now, Herr Doctor, I hope you are a competitive man. As you will find out, one of my greatest joys in life is the thrill of victory.’

At half past three we were on the floor of the
Titanic
’s squash court. I must confess, my skills at that sport are somewhat limited. For many years, I had depended on morning or evening walks as my main means of exercise. But several years ago, when my growing waistline became a hindrance, young Wiggins invited me to try squash rackets — a game at which he had become quite accomplished. Wiggins and I began playing together once a week, and I soon found others at the club who were willing to share a court with a novice. Over time, by competing against keen players, my own skill at squash rackets increased. If Von Stern was as good on the court as he claimed, I had little hope of winning. Still, I was confident I could play a respectable game.

For the benefit of readers who are not familiar with the sport, squash rackets is played by batting a rubber ball against a wall in an enclosed court.
Titanic
’s squash-rackets court was located on the lower deck in the centre of the ship, just forward of the foremost boiler room. It extended two decks high, with a length of thirty feet and a width of
twenty feet. There is a gallery for spectators at the aft end of the court at the middle deck level. That afternoon, a man and woman were looking down, I suspect more interested in the court itself, than the two players.

‘Herr Doctor,’ said Von Stern. ‘I assume you play by the polite English rule that requires a player, upon hitting the ball, to back away, in order to give his opponent a free view of the ball?’