Free The Secret Notebooks of Sherlock Holmes by June Thomson Page A

for a fee, say, of half a crown. The writing paper is then taken to a “screever” and, before you ask what such a creatureis, Watson, allow me to explain. A “screever” is an educated person, a clerk perhaps or even a lawyer, who is down on his luck and, again for a fee, is willing to write references to order. They are also employed by professional “cadgers” to write begging letters or bogus testimonials. They can be found in certain taverns or lodging houses and their fees vary, I believe, between sixpence to five shillings, depending on the length and complexity of the false documents.
    ‘Should the references be taken up, the servant involved would have been paid an extra fee to intercept the letter before it reached its intended recipient so that the “screever” could write a reply in the referees’ names.
    ‘But that is by the way. What is significant about this aspect of the affair is Adams’ obvious knowledge of the ways by which such deceits can be practised, which suggests this is not the first time he has carried out such a fraud. That is why I wanted a description of Adams, as I have no doubt that would have been your next question,’ he concluded with a smile.
    That had indeed been my intention and I was astonished by my old friend’s apparent ability to read my very thoughts.
    ‘Do you think you may be able to bring him to account?’ I asked.
    ‘I sincerely hope so, my dear fellow. Adams is almost certainly not his real name but I have no doubt that he, like a snail, has left behind a slimy track by which wecan trace his past movements. That will be my first task on our return to London.’
    He set out on this assignment soon after we had returned to our Baker Street lodgings, pausing only for a hasty luncheon of black coffee and bread and cheese, before plunging off once more down the stairs on his way, I assumed, to carry out his intention of investigating Adams’ past.
    I was used to this precipitate behaviour on Holmes’ part and did not resent in the slightest the fact that he had not invited me to take part. Nevertheless, once he had gone and the flurry of his sudden exodus had died down, our sitting-room seemed so very quiet and empty that I, too, decided to look for a diversion elsewhere and, taking a hansom to my club, found Thurston 9 also alone and looking for company and so the two of us whiled away the afternoon playing billiards.
    It was quite late when Holmes returned, tired but with a triumphant air about him which told me that his researches into Adams’ past had proved fruitful.
    ‘We have him here !’ he cried exultantly, holding out the palm of his hand towards me before adding, ‘And tomorrow the trap will shut on him!’
    And with that his fingers snapped together to form a fist.
    We set off for Victoria the following morning to catch the same train we had caught the day before, but on this occasion we had company on the journey. As we walked down the platform towards a first class carriage, a middle-aged lady dressed in black and with a veil drawn down over her face approached us nervously.
    Holmes had apparently met her before because he immediately introduced her to me in a rather dramatic manner.
    ‘Watson, my dear fellow, I would like you to meet Miss Edith Cresswell or, to refer to her alter ego , Tisiphone, one of the Eumenides 10 who, if you recall your Greek mythology, hunted down and punished all those who had transgressed. Miss Cresswell has graciously agreed to perform the same service for us. Once we are on the train, I shall explain how I came to make her acquaintance and she will then repeat for your benefit what she knows about the unspeakable Adams.’
    Once we had settled into our carriage and the train had set off, Holmes began his account.
    ‘As you are aware, Watson, I already had very grave suspicions of Adams and strongly suspected that he intended to wheedle his way into Sir Reginald’s goodbooks and make himself so indispensible that he