Sherlock's Sisters

someday his frauds might be discovered or he might be made a bankrupt. This was his little nest-egg, and his death in Paris before his fraud was discovered prevented him making use of them. Mrs Hannaford evidently knew nothing of the hidden treasure, or she would speedily have removed it. But someone knew, and that someone put his knowledge to practical use the night that Mrs Hannaford was murdered. The man who got in at the front door that night, got in to relieve the bear of its valuable stuffing; he moved the bear to get at the aperture, and was behind it when Mrs Hannaford came in. The rest is easy to understand.’

‘But how did he get in at the front door?’

‘That’s what I have to find out. I am sure now that Flash George was in it. He was seen outside, and some of the notes that were concealed in the brown bear lamp have been traced to him. Who was Flash George’s accomplice we may discover tonight. I think I have an idea, and if that is correct we shall have the solution of the whole mystery before dawn tomorrow morning.’

‘Why do you think you will learn so much tonight?’

‘Because Flash George met a man two nights ago outside the Criterion. I was selling wax matches, and followed them up, pestering them. I heard George say to his companion, whom I had never seen with him before, “Tell him Hungerford Bridge, midnight, Wednesday. Tell him to bring the lot and I’ll cash up for them!”’

‘And you think the “him” – ?’

‘Is the man who rifled the brown bear and killed Mrs Hannaford.’

* * * * * *

At eleven o’clock that evening I met Dorcas Dene in Villiers Street. I knew what she would be like, otherwise her disguise would have completely baffled me. She was dressed as an Italian street musician, and was with a man who looked like an Italian organ-grinder.

Dorcas took my breath away by her first words.

‘Allow me to introduce you,’ she said, ‘to Mr Thomas Holmes. This is the gentleman who was Charles Drayson’s partner, and was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude over the partnership frauds.’

‘Yes,’ replied the organ-grinder in excellent English. ‘I suppose I deserved it for being a fool, but the villain was Drayson – he had all my money, and involved me in a fraud at the finish.’

‘I have told Mr Holmes the story of our discovery,’ said Dorcas. ‘I have been in communication with him ever since I discovered the notes were in circulation. He knew Drayson’s affairs, and he has given me some valuable information. He is with us tonight because he knew Mr Drayson’s former associates, and he may be able to identify the man who knew the secret of the house at Haverstock Hill.’

‘You think that is the man Flash George is to meet?’

‘I do. What else can “Tell him to bring the lot and I’ll cash up” mean but the rest of the banknotes?’

Shortly before twelve we got on to Hungerford Bridge – the narrow footway that runs across the Thames by the side of the railway.

I was to walk ahead and keep clear of the Italians until I heard a signal.

We crossed the bridge after that once or twice, I coming from one end and the Italians from the other, and passing each other about the centre.

At five minutes to midnight I saw Flash George come slowly along from the Middlesex side. The Italians were not far behind. A minute later an old man with a grey beard, and wearing an old Inverness cape, passed me, coming from the Surrey side. When he met Flash George the two stopped and leant over the parapet, apparently interested in the river. Suddenly I heard Dorcas’s signal. She began to sing the Italian song, ‘Santa Lucia’.

I had my instructions. I jostled up against the two men and begged their pardon.

Flash George turned fiercely round. At the same moment I seized the old man and shouted for help. The Italians came hastily up. Several foot passengers rushed to the scene and inquired what was the matter.

‘He was going to commit suicide,’ I cried. ‘He was just going to jump into the water.’

The old man was struggling in my grasp. The crowd were keeping back Flash George. They believed the old man was struggling to get free to throw himself into the water.

The Italian rushed up to me.

‘Ah, poor old man!’ he said. ‘Don’t let him get away!’

He gave a violent tug to the grey beard. It came off in his hands. Then with an oath he seized the supposed would-be suicide by the throat.

‘You infernal villain!’ he said.

‘Who is he?’ asked Dorcas.

‘Who is he!’ exclaimed Thomas Holmes, ‘why, the villain who brought me to ruin – my precious partner – Charles Drayson!’

As the words escaped from the supposed Italian’s lips, Charles Drayson gave a cry of terror, and leaping on to the parapet, plunged into the river.

Flash George turned to run, but was stopped by a policeman who had just come up.

Dorcas whispered something in the man’s ear, and the officer, thrusting his hand in the rascal’s pocket, drew out a bundle of banknotes.

A few minutes later the would-be suicide was brought ashore. He was still alive, but had injured himself terribly in his fall, and was taken to the hospital.

Before he died he was induced to confess that he had taken advantage of the Paris fire to disappear. He had flung his watch down in order that it might be found as evidence of his death. He had, previously to visiting the Rue Jean Goujon, received a letter at his hotel which told him pretty plainly the game was up, and he knew that at any moment a warrant might be issued against him. After reading his name amongst the victims, he lived as best he could abroad, but after some years, being in desperate straits, he determined to do a bold thing, return to London