‘It was terrible! Are they still here...could they still be around?’
‘No, madam. You are quite safe,’ Holmes said in a gentle and reassuring voice. ‘The door was open and we found you here.’
‘Are you hurt?’ I asked. I poured some brandy from my flask, and pressed the glass to her lips.
‘No, no, I am not hurt. Just a trifle shaken. Who were those people?’
‘We do not yet know,’ said Holmes. ‘You say “they”. How many of them were there?’
‘I am not really sure. There might have been only one. But I had the impression there were two. I was asleep, when suddenly I felt a man’s hand over my eyes and a cloth — that cloth — being stuffed into my mouth. They tied me up. There is little I can tell you beyond that.’
‘Did they speak? Could you tell us anything about their voices, or what they said?’
‘No, not really. Just a few simple phrases. Shortly after I was bound, I heard the words “got it”. Then, a few minutes later I heard someone say “sawdust”. I suppose that is how I gained the impression that there were two of them. The voices sounded different. But they did not sound at all familiar.’
‘“Sawdust”? What do you make of that?’
Holmes closed the door to Miss Norton’s cabin, revealing a small telescope-like device attached to the wood, about half-way down the door. The intruders, in their haste, had forgotten to take it with them.
‘A clever optical device.’ Holmes put his eye to the metallic object, then motioned for me to do the same. ‘You’ll notice, Watson, that the optical system allows you to see most of Miss Norton’s cabin. The opening on the other side of the door is so small, there is little likelihood that she could have spotted it.’
Holmes returned to the dowager, who was being comforted by Miss Norton. ‘Madam, I must ask you again, did you see or hear anything else that might help us to identify the intruders? This is of the utmost importance.’
The dowager put her shaking fingertips to her forehead, considering the question. At this moment, Holmes’s eyes widened and he reached forward to draw her hand towards him.
‘Look at this, Watson. Blood, around her fingers...and a strand of black hair caught on her fingernail... Madam, did you by any chance scratch the man who took hold of you?’
She reached out for a moment, as if re-enacting the ordeal, and then exclaimed, ‘Yes, yes I did! I scratched his face...right around the eyes! And I remember something else. He had a beard...maybe a moustache too.’
‘Excellent!’ Holmes said. ‘Madam, you have been a great help.’
‘This narrows it down considerably,’ I said. ‘How many black-haired, bearded men are there on board with a scratched face? Of course, it is a huge ship. We cannot very well examine the face of every bearded man on board. And what if he shaves off his beard?’
‘It’s not as bad as you think, old fellow. Did you notice the black smudges on the carpet? There were some in Miss Norton’s cabin too. That’s coal dust. I suggest we begin our work in the area of the engine room.’
‘Yes, Commodore, I believe you are right,’ I said. ‘But do you have any thoughts as to who the second man may be? And what about the word
‘Yes, very singular indeed.’
Holmes and I walked into Miss Norton’s cabin while Miss Norton stayed with the old woman. Holmes pulled his glass from his pocket and took a closer look at the large red lettering.
‘Interesting that they should use this word. What do you make of it, Watson? Do you suppose someone on board is aware of my identity?’
‘I think it is highly likely. Why else would they use a word with such a clear attachment to one of your cases?’
My readers may remember the case I called
‘Revenge?’ said Holmes. ‘Revenge against whom? Against Miss Norton? Against the British government? Against me?’
‘Moriarty!’ I exclaimed. ‘Perhaps Colonel Moriarty is seeking revenge for the death of his brother.’
‘That is certainly a possibility. It is also possible that someone is trying to convince us that Moriarty stole the plans. After all, what kind of thief chooses to advertise his identity by leaving such a clue?’
‘When we find the man with a scratched face, perhaps we will obtain some answers.’
‘Well, we must find him soon, Watson. The
THE MORNING OF FRIDAY 12 APRIL 1912
‘Gentlemen, Miss Norton, I recognize the importance of these plans and the limited time you have to recover them. But please understand that I cannot have the passengers on this ship disturbed. You must conduct your investigation quietly, and involve as few people as possible.’
The captain, after many years in authority, had developed the ability to give orders in a diplomatic way. At sea, business leaders, government officials – any passenger on the ship – fell under his command. Yet, despite his tactful approach, he left no doubt that his orders must be obeyed.
‘But of course, Captain,’ said Holmes. ‘Rest assured, I have handled cases of far greater delicacy. Your passengers will not be disturbed.’
The four of us were walking casually along the boat deck towards the wireless room. Miss Norton had not yet sent a message to her superiors, announcing the loss of the plans. Despite the sunshine and the fresh, crisp sea air, she looked pale. This, her first major assignment, appeared to be heading towards a disastrous conclusion.
In the wireless room, both Phillips and Bride were hard at work – Phillips clicking away at the wireless key and Bride taking down messages.
‘Phillips, when you’ve finished that message, Miss Norton has an important message that must go out immediately,’ said the captain.
Phillips half nodded as he transmitted the final words printed on the sheet before him. Then he turned his chair and looked up at Miss Norton with a smile.
‘Miss Norton, what can I do for you?’ Phillips seemed disappointed when Miss Norton did not return his smile. In fact, she was most business-like.
‘I have a message to be delivered to a Mr Holmes at the Diogenes Club in London. I have written down the particulars.’ She handed Phillips a wireless form, on which she had written a brief message in pencil. Phillips looked at the message, glanced at the captain, and then returned his attention to Miss Norton.
‘Yes, madam. Right away.’
Phillips was about to send the message, but he was interrupted by the imposing voice of the commodore. ‘One moment, Mr Phillips. Do you mind if I ask you a question?’
‘Go ahead, sir.’
‘Since last night, have you been asked to transmit any messages that you would judge to be unusual?’
Phillips chuckled. ‘Funny that you should ask that, sir. Bride and I had a laugh over this one. It came in early this morning.’
Phillips flipped through sent messages he had spiked, and ripped one from the centre.
‘Here it is.’ Phillips, a gregarious young man, clearly enjoyed this opportunity to entertain visitors. ‘Listen to this, it doesn’t make any sense: “Have met the Hot Russian Honey Bear and am ready to talk business. If I am detained, meet me on board by the pipe organ in the smoking room”.’
‘Pipe organ in the smoking room! That’s nonsense!’ said the captain. ‘There’s no pipe organ on this ship. There is no organ of any kind in any of the smoking rooms.’
‘Pray, may I see that message?’ said Holmes.
Holmes examined the wireless form carefully, first reading it in detail, then observing the paper more closely through his glass.
‘There is little I can tell from this,’ he said. ‘No handwriting, all typed. Good firm key strokes... possibly a man, but I am not sure. The addressee is a Mr Basil, for pick-up at the Marconi office in New York.’
