paths with a mutual respect, and I felt that their chiding of each other, on occasion, was simply a family characteristic adopted in their childhood.
'Dear me,' said Mycroft, his watery blue eyes absorbing my unusual appearance. 'What has Sherlock got you involved in now? Can it be that you have abandoned the role of biographer and are apprenticed to the mummer's trade?'
'My involvement is not what concerns me at the moment but rather that of your brother,' I replied, somewhat testily. Handing him the message from Sherlock Holmes, I began to divest myself of my disguise with some relief. When the statesman had concluded his reading, I had the infernal hump off my back and was extracting the statue from it.
'And this is the focal point of Sherlock's latest escapade,' he commented, surveying the golden roc. 'A piece of considerable value. Well, I shall accede to Sherlock's request and place the statue in safety here.
From your unusual garb I must assume that there is considerably more to the story than just this art object.'
'Indeed there is. This Golden Bird has excited the interest of two of the most powerful criminal organizations in London. It is my feeling that your brother is in considerable danger, since it surely is now known that the statue has come into his hands.'
Mycroft shifted his corpulent figure and nodded with resignation. 'With his usual aplomb, Sherlock is, no doubt, completely ignoring the possibility of personal danger. To his credit, I will admit that the cloak of invincibility, which he seems to consider himself enveloped in, has served him well.'
'To this point,' I interjected, 'but there are matters here as yet unknown and the players on the stage of this drama wield frightening power.'
Evidently, the concern in my manner communicated itself and for the first time since the Bruce-Partington affair, Mycroft Holmes abandoned his Buddalike calmness.
'So, Basil Selkirk is involved.'
I was startled, having forgotten momentarily that the elder Holmes was reputed to have greater powers of deduction than his brother.
'Elementary,' he continued. 'With an art object, Selkirk's interest is a foregone conclusion. Since the shadowy financier is of concern to Her Majesty's government, I can instigate some official moves. What would you have?'
His innocence did not hoodwink me. Were his brother endangered, I knew Mycroft Holmes would employ the powers at his command even if he had to invent a reason. However, his subterfuge paralleled my interests and I was glad to humor it. I chose to confide in the espionage expert without feeling a tinge of disloyalty to my intimate friend, since his brother could well learn whatever facts I had and in short order too.
'Holmes has been after this art object for some time. MacDonald of the Yard is privy to the case since homicide plays a part in it. Basil Selkirk employed the Dowson gang to secure the Bird and has now placed it in the hands of your brother.'
'And Chu San Fu is after it?'
'Why, you know all about the affair,' I stated with some heat.
'I know that if a sinister criminal organization is in pursuit of this statue, it would have to be the inscrutable Chinaman. Art objects are seldom the target of smash and grabbers or the pedestrian criminal. Besides, the involvement of Selkirk clued me. The fiancier and the supposed Oriental importer have been rivals for years.'
'I'm sure Baker Street is under observation by minions of the Oriental. MacDonald is aware of this and has men on duty in the area.'
'Then we shall see that the diligent inspector gets no interference from the Commissioner.'
'Holmes also has his Irregulars involved and, for all I know, detachments of that shadowland army that seems to be at his beck and call.' I made this statement in a tentative tone, trusting that the acute statesman would divine my plea, which he, naturally, did.
'But something a little more is needed, in your opinion,' he said, with a dry smile. 'I agree. If Sherlock has rallied his forces, he is treating the affair with the utmost gravity and it behooves us to do as well. Fortunately, a gentleman of my acquaintance is but recently returned from foreign lands. I shall suggest that he might find this affair and Sherlock's involvement of interest. Does that satisfy you, my good Watson?'
Indeed it did. I well knew the frighteningly efficient person that Mycroft Holmes was referring to and made my way back to Baker Street minus my disguise with a much lighter heart. A knight had been added to the complex chessboard, and he was not only positioned on our side but very much dedicated to the interests of my friend, Sherlock Holmes.
15
Holmes Plans Our Defense
161
Upon my return to 221B, I was heartened by the obvious expression of relief upon Holmes's face. Clad in his dressing gown, he was sawing aimlessly on his violin. Seated close to one of our windows facing on Baker Street, it occurred to me that the sound of music must have been audible without, especially since the window was partially open and the room quite cold because of it.
Holmes laid aside his violin, standing and crossing before the window several times as he spoke to me. It was as though he were performing and the aperture was the proscenium arch of his theatre. While Holmes frequently used his musical moments as a spur to deep thought, the reappearance of the violin suggested a. stratagem on his part.
'My dear Watson, I'm delighted to see that your performance was acceptable. Soon we shall have you on the bill at the Tivoli.'
I must confess that I swelled with pride as I related my meeting with Mycroft Holmes, though I did not reveal the latter part of our conversation.
'Excellent! Excellent! Now we are assured of the safety of the art object. During your absence, there have been things stirring here as well. A cable from Berlin notifies us that our client, Vasil D'Anglas, plans to come to England.'
This news fell on very welcome ears. 'How fortunate! With D'Anglas on the scene, we can give him the Golden Bird and be done with the matter,' I exclaimed.
Holmes regarded me with his head half-cocked to one side and a slight smile on his keen face.
'I am reminded once more of the remark of Basil Selkirk. 'This matter has a way to go yet or I miss my guess.' '
As I began to remonstrate, Holmes picked up his violin and with a warning gesture struck some authoritative notes, moving toward the window as he did so. Most of the time, his violin periods consisted of aimless wandering with no musical progression, though they were not unpleasant to the ear. But now he was obviously playing the introductory notes to a composition. Coming to a pause, he activated the gramophone, which I had not noted until this moment. The instrument began playing a lively air. Holmes made a dumb show of playing his violin as he moved past the window easily visible from without and then retreated from public view to rejoin me.
Placing his musical instrument in its case, he regarded me with an expression of sly satisfaction.
'It is my thought, Watson, that the Oriental ear is not closely attuned to the violin. Our observers without will not note the difference between my technique and that of Sarasate. At least, we hope not.'
I must have exhibited my frequent expression of bafflement since he laughed softly and jogged my mind with the quicksilver of his own.
'Nothing is more reassuring to a watcher than to have the subject of their scrutiny in full view. The next best thing being a sound that indicates what he is involved in. Now we can devote ourselves in matters of importance while presenting a placid picture to the outside world. Certain allies have been busy and we now know for a fact that chambers across from us have been taken over by a supposed Russian gentleman who has had a number of Chinese visitors. You will be reassured to know that two of MacDonald's men are consuming enormous quantities of tea in Parkinson's down the street, at a table which has a clear view of our outer portal. Elements of that singular organization known as the Irregulars under the leadership of that grimy little rascal, Wiggins, are covering our back area.'
