Free Sherlock Holmes and The Adventure of the Ruby Elephants by Christopher James Page B

have alerted the police to this disappearance?
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Why ever not? This sort of abrupt farewell feels rather ominous don’t you think?’
    â€˜I agree entirely,’ she said. ‘Then I received this.’
    You have been asking questions. Don’t. Our professional relationship is at an end. If you persist, or ask the police to track me down, I will not be responsible for the consequences. Ignatius.
    Holmes lay back in his chair.
    â€˜A strangely contradictory tone. What do we know of the man? Does he have a wide circle of friends? Does he travel? Has he made enemies?’
    Miss Braithwaite was silent.
    â€˜There is something more,’ she said. ‘At my last lesson, Ignatius asked me to marry him.’
    â€˜Well,’ said Holmes, joining the fingers of each hand and raising them to his lips. ‘There is our answer.’ Miss Braithwaite remained silent.
    â€˜How did he respond,’ my friend asked, ‘when you said no?’
    â€˜Well that’s just it. I didn’t say no.’
    Holmes and I rose to our feet.
    â€˜Then what’s the meaning of these notes?’ I spluttered.
    â€˜If I knew that, doctor,’ she said blushing, ‘I wouldn’t be here!’
    Holmes had already retrieved his hat and was putting on his coat.
    â€˜There’s a hansom on the other side of the road,’ said Holmes. ‘If we are quick we can catch it and be at Wimpole’s place in ten minutes.’
    We bundled out of the cab, but it was clear we had been pipped at the post. A burly, bearded constable was standing outside the property.
    Holmes peered at the man.
    â€˜Constable Rance, if I’m not mistaken,’ he said.
    â€˜Mr Holmes,’ he nodded.
    â€˜You’ve moved to day duty, I see.’
    â€˜It certainly appears that way, Mr Holmes,’ he muttered glancing up at the sky.
    â€˜And I said that you would never rise in the force,’ countered Holmes. ‘How wrong I was. Would you be so good as to let us in?’
    â€˜I’m afraid not, Mr Holmes. This case is under the supervision of Inspector Tobias Gregson of Scotland Yard and the area is strictly off limits.’
    â€˜Then would you be so good as to pass him this note?’
    Holmes pressed something into the constable’s hand.
    â€˜If this is bribery, sir, then you’ve picked the wrong man.’ He stared straight ahead.
    â€˜Bribery!’ laughed Holmes. ‘Constable Rance, you hold in your hand the solution perhaps, to the entire case. If Inspector Gregson discovers you have delayed the delivery of this piece of evidence, I can only think of the consequences for your career.’ Rance shifted uneasily.
    â€˜Perhaps if you were to wait here a moment,’ he said, ‘I shall see whether the inspector will admit you.’
    â€˜I am obliged,’ said Holmes.
    â€˜What did you give him?’ said Miss Braithwaite.
    â€˜Nothing more than my card,’ said Holmes.
    Presently Gregson appeared at the door, bounding with energy as ever, almost as tall as the doorway itself. The sun gleamed from his fair hair and his eyes twinkled with the thrill of a new case.
    â€˜Sherlock Holmes!’ he said, extending a hand. ‘You don’t waste a minute. You must be able to smell trouble from ten miles. Surely news has not yet reached the wire?’
    â€˜What news?’ enquired Holmes. Rance narrowed his eyes.
    â€˜The violin teacher,’ said Gregson. ‘Grisly, but it looks like a suicide to me.’
    Miss Braithwaite’s face drained of colour and she teetered. I caught her just before she made contact with the pavement.
    â€˜Splendid save, Watson,’ congratulated Holmes. ‘I can see why the University of London valued your fielding skills.’
    Leaving Miss Braithwaite in the care of Constable Rance, Holmes and I followed Gregson upstairs. We entered through a bright yellow door and found ourselves in a