Free Sherlock Holmes and the Boulevard Assassin by John Hall Page A

danger in his attending that meeting, a danger which I think the head of the gang would avoid it he could – this fellow Constantine evidently takes a pride in laughing at danger, as he takes a pride in bending others to his will – ’
    ‘You almost had me fooled,’ I interrupted.
    He laughed. ‘I thought it as well to show some reluctance at first,’ said he. ‘That would have been in character, I fancy. And besides, if he thinks we are afraid of him, he will not be quite so suspicious. But you were asking about his position in the gang. It is always possible that he is the leader, but I think it improbable. No, I do not think he is the ultimate head. I fancy that I can see this Constantine as occupying a position similar to that held by Colonel Moran. He is perhaps the chief of staff, responsible to the true leader for the day-to-day business of the organization, for recruiting new members – like ourselves! You heard him boasting – he has evidently been dishonest from a youth, or he would not, as he says, have progressed so rapidly.’
    ‘You think Moriarty had connections here that long ago, then? Why, it must have been thirty years ago – perhaps forty – that this Constantine started on his upward – or downward – path!’
    ‘I think not,’ said Holmes. ‘I rather think Constantine was already a pretty fair villain when Moriarty – or the other man, the head of the gang – found him. You see once again an instance of what I might call the “Moriarty method” – that is exactly as it was with Colonel Moran, who was already a villain of the deepest dye when Moriarty recruited him. Despite what the natural philosophers would say, in the criminal fraternity like does not repel, but attracts, like. This Constantine was obviously a good catch for the gang – director of a private bank, but with some flaws in his character – and, by the way, his being now the governor of a bank might mean that it was he who suggested the attempt upon the Bank of France, although I am certain that he himself was not in the group which made that attempt.’ He leaned forward and stared at me. ‘One thing I did take very seriously, and that was his threat to kill us if there were the slightest grounds for suspicion. You will recall that Moriarty, too, knew only one penalty for treachery, or suspected treachery – death! Yes, my boy, we are truly past the point of no return.’ He stood up, and strolled to the window. ‘I wonder what sort of cravat Georges will buy me?’
    ‘And I wonder just what Constantine has in mind for us.’ And I stared into space, unable to think about anything else but our fate.

 
    SIX
     
    Georges was as good as his word. He returned in less than two hours, bearing a couple of large parcels, which he set down on a little table, before bowing gravely to us, and leaving the room. I noticed that this time he did not bother to lock the door.
    ‘Just like your tenth birthday!’ said I, nodding towards the door as I spoke.
    Holmes quickly inclined his head, to show that he knew the door was unlocked, then just as quickly shook it, to let me know that we were to stay in the room.
    I opened the parcels, and we examined Georges’ purchases. I could not really fault his choice. The garments he had provided were good quality, but not so expensive as to attract attention. My own outfit was a touch more conservative than the garb I had sported up to now, but was still somewhat louder than I would have cared to wear in Baker Street. When once I had changed, I looked like a middle-class clerk who had just been paid a modest bonus; that, or a businessman slightly, but not significantly, down on his luck. My sole regret was that Georges had not brought us new boots. The ones I had picked to wear on this adventure were respectable enough, though an old pair, and very down at heel – but I could have wished that Georges had brought replacements for Holmes’s two-coloured monstrosities. As it was, and