I could not immediately find an answer that adequately expressed my deep forebodings, and in a moment Holmes went on. “It has long been my practice, as you know, to bend the law for special cases. If I could do so for Von Herder, how much more for the man who has, more than anyone else, saved London? In fact, I should like to reassure the Count that, insofar as the matter rests with me, he and his kind will be subjected to no probing and no publicity.”
“To reassure him? But how are we to communicate with this man at all?”
“Your gallantry does you credit, Watson. I myself heard enough from Madam Harker, and saw enough, to convince me that you cannot be ignorant of her status vis-a-vis the Count. But to use that road would show a certain lack of artistry on our part, and perhaps a certain indelicacy as well. We must be subtle, Watson... I think some statement to the effect that vampires are unheard of in English criminal practice, worked into one of your little tales—the tale in this case made up out of whole cloth—would serve the purpose admirably. What would you say to something like The Sussex Vampire as a title?”
“I would say that any story involving Sherlock Holmes, the art of ratiocination, and vampires, cannot fail to appear more than a little preposterous.”
“Oh, I quite agree, Watson, I quite agree. But then, my dear Watson, so does life.”
THE END
About The Author
Fred Saberhagen is widely published in many areas of speculative fiction. He is best known for his Berserker, Swords, and Dracula series. Less known is his foray into mythology with Books of the Gods. Fred also wrote a number of non-series fantasy and science fiction novels and a great number of short stories. For more information on Fred visit his website www.fredsaberhagen.com.
The print edition of Holmes-Dracula File was re-released in July, 2010, by Tor Books and is available from Amazon and other booksellers.
Fred partnered Holmes and Dracula in another novel, Séance For A Vampire, released by Titan Books as part of the series: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Séance is available from Titan in both print and e-format.
Fred’s Dracula series consists of ten novels and two short stories.
The Dracula Tape
The Holmes Dracula File
An Old Friend of the Family
Thorn
Dominion
A Matter of Taste (direct sequel to An Old Friend of the Family)
A Question of Time
Seance for a Vampire
A Sharpness on the Neck
A Coldness in the Blood
Short Stoires: Box Number 50 (Can be found in Dracula in London) and
From the Tree of Time (Can be found in Gaslight Arcanum)
