Free The Secret Notebooks of Sherlock Holmes by June Thomson

missing, will they?’
    ‘I think not, Mr Holmes. They are kept out of sight at the back of the bottom drawer in Sir Reginald’s bureau and, as he never uses the study in the morning, he is not likely to notice they have gone. As soon as I return to the house, I shall replace them in the drawer.’
    ‘And the names and addresses of the referees?’
    ‘They are here, sir,’ Mrs Grafton replied, handing over a small sheet of paper. ‘I copied them from the correspondence which was also kept in Sir Reginald’s desk, in the top drawer in this particular case.’
    ‘Excellent!’ Holmes exclaimed, the compliment bringing a touch of colour to the good lady’s cheeks. ‘May I keep them?’
    ‘Pray do so, sir.’
    ‘May I ask what the Honourable Mrs Kelmore and Brigadier Charles Carraway had to say about Adams?’ Holmes enquired, glancing down at the piece of paper.
    ‘I did not dare to spend too much time reading their letters, Mr Holmes, let alone copying them out word for word. But I pride myself on having a good memory and can give you the gist of their contents. The Honourable Mrs Kelmore praised his honesty and loyalty, saying she was sorry that after four years, he had to leave her employ due to her own change of circumstances. The Brigadier, who acted asa character witness, stated he had known Adams for the past ten years and could highly recommend him to any prospective employer.’
    ‘One last question before you go, Mrs Grafton. You obviously know Adams well. May I have a description of the man?’
    Mrs Grafton seemed a little taken aback by this request, as I was, too. What possible purpose would it serve for Holmes to be told of Adams’ appearance? But, after a moment’s hesitation, she replied, ‘He is, I should say, five and forty or thereabouts; of medium height and build; clean-shaven; dark hair and eyes; always very smartly dressed. Quite handsome, too, I suppose,’ she added a little grudgingly. ‘At least, I’ve noticed the ladies seem impressed by him and I’m not referring to just the female servants.’
    ‘Any distinguishing marks? A mole, say? Or a scar?’
    ‘Well, now you come to mention it,’ Mrs Grafton said, looking a little flustered, ‘there is something odd about his ears. The lobes are very small, sir, compared to most people’s.’
    She seemed embarrassed at having noticed, let alone spoken of, such a tiny, intimate detail, and Holmes was quick to restore her peace of mind as he escorted her to the door.
    ‘Mrs Grafton,’ he said solemnly, ‘you would make an excellent private inquiry agent. Your powers of observation are quite outstanding. If, by the way, Dr Watson and I were ever to call at the Manor, you areto treat us as perfect strangers, you understand? I am sure with your undoubted talents you will manage that small deception with no trouble at all.’
    We ourselves left soon afterwards, the Reverend George Paget driving us back to Chichester in time to catch the 2.57 train to Victoria.
    The journey gave me the opportunity to put to Holmes several questions regarding the inquiry which until that moment I had not had the chance to ask him.
    ‘I am a little puzzled, Holmes …’ I began.
    ‘About what, my dear fellow?’
    ‘About Adams’ testimonials. How was it possible that two highly respectable people, an Honourable lady and a Brigadier, were ready to supply him with references? Maitland was suspicious of him the moment he met him. Did they not also have reservations themselves about his character?’
    ‘Oh, references are easily arranged!’ Holmes replied with a nonchalant air. ‘Adams or his accomplice acquired the sheets of headed writing paper from the referees’ residences.’
    ‘How?’ I broke in.
    ‘By buying them, of course, from the servants employed in the houses.’ Holmes sounded a little impatient at my obtuseness. ‘Any one of the servants, a housemaid or a footman, may be persuaded to part with a sheet of his employer’s stationery