Read Online Sherlock Holmes and the Chinese Junk Affair and Other Stories by Roy Templeman - Free Book Online
Book: Sherlock Holmes and the Chinese Junk Affair and Other Stories by Roy Templeman
Read Free Book Online
Authors: Roy Templeman
Ads: Link
having completed his tour, stopped, turned around and faced Holmes, as if to indicate he had observed it thoroughly and awaited the next act of the play to unfold.
Holmes was at his best, dramatic and precise in his address. ‘Gentlemen, you will observe the craft, which is known by the rivermen as a pontoon or lighter. It is used by workmen when painting or chipping rust from the sides of ships or carrying out repairs.
‘You will observe it is newly built and is sporting a coat of black paint; for this is no pleasure craft, but is destined to a life of work and misuse. You will also observe that only by taking the roof off the building and lifting it out with a crane, can it be got out of the building, the windows and doors being far too small to allow exit.
‘Listen also and you will hear the hum of the generators which, as we stand here at this very moment, are actually energising the vessel.’
We all listened and, true enough, the hum of the generators could be heard from somewhere in the building. Holmes continued, enjoying, I could see, every moment.
‘Now, gentlemen, the energising process is about over and it is dangerous to be present when it actually transposes.’ Holmes paused and looked at his watch. ‘I have chosen an out of the way site on the Thames for the vessel to be transposed to and, if you will follow me, a short drive will take us to that place.’
Holmes again consulted his watch. ‘Let us not delay, gentlemen. My calculation of the time required to transpose the vessel may be slightly incorrect.’
We hurried through the doorway with as much dignity as we could muster. I could not be but dismayed at the danger in which he had put the Prime Minister and all of us. But then, Holmes cared little for his own safety and assumed others were of the same opinion.
During the short drive in the four-wheeler I concluded that Holmes, with the help of Rodger Hardy by means of letter and wire to America, had put on this demonstration to prove to the Prime Minister and Cabinet members that the transposing of solids was possible, and the terms demanded by Rodger Hardy, one million pounds and the envelopes containing the secret plans to be distributed far and wide, only to be opened in the event of war, would have to be accepted.
The risk that Rodger Hardy would not make the same deal with foreign powers would have to be taken. But after all, Rodger was British, his mother American, and despite his family’s poor treatment in the past by an ungenerous government, Holmes must have felt sure he would do the honourable thing.
My thoughts were brought to a sudden end when the coach stopped. We had arrived at the rear of some old wooden warehouses by the side of the Thames. It was a well-chosen site; not a soul appeared to be about.
We alighted and the hefty policemen stationed themselves around so as to block off any casual intruders and, of course, were still completely unaware of the purpose of the visit.
We followed Holmes along a cobbled pathway by the side of the wooden warehouse and, turning the corner, looked down to see the lighter, pontoon, whatever you care to call it, tied up at the bottom of a flight of old stone steps. The slap, slap, slap of gentle waves were the only sounds which broke the silence.
We were initially shocked, amazed and not a little disturbed just as Sir Simon had been on that night at Halam Hall. ‘My God!’ and ‘Incredible!’ were just a few of the exclamations voiced. There was a feeling of fright and alarm amongst us. We didn’t understand the means by which it had been transposed. It was unnatural. We were witnessing the birth of a new era.
The coming of the railways had ruined the canal trade: could this discovery herald the end of the railways, even ships, if the process could be made to operate over greater distances?
I confess I looked at the little vessel with anxious eyes. I was near the Prime Minister and overheard him say to Holmes, ‘I don’t like
Holmes was at his best, dramatic and precise in his address. ‘Gentlemen, you will observe the craft, which is known by the rivermen as a pontoon or lighter. It is used by workmen when painting or chipping rust from the sides of ships or carrying out repairs.
‘You will observe it is newly built and is sporting a coat of black paint; for this is no pleasure craft, but is destined to a life of work and misuse. You will also observe that only by taking the roof off the building and lifting it out with a crane, can it be got out of the building, the windows and doors being far too small to allow exit.
‘Listen also and you will hear the hum of the generators which, as we stand here at this very moment, are actually energising the vessel.’
We all listened and, true enough, the hum of the generators could be heard from somewhere in the building. Holmes continued, enjoying, I could see, every moment.
‘Now, gentlemen, the energising process is about over and it is dangerous to be present when it actually transposes.’ Holmes paused and looked at his watch. ‘I have chosen an out of the way site on the Thames for the vessel to be transposed to and, if you will follow me, a short drive will take us to that place.’
Holmes again consulted his watch. ‘Let us not delay, gentlemen. My calculation of the time required to transpose the vessel may be slightly incorrect.’
We hurried through the doorway with as much dignity as we could muster. I could not be but dismayed at the danger in which he had put the Prime Minister and all of us. But then, Holmes cared little for his own safety and assumed others were of the same opinion.
During the short drive in the four-wheeler I concluded that Holmes, with the help of Rodger Hardy by means of letter and wire to America, had put on this demonstration to prove to the Prime Minister and Cabinet members that the transposing of solids was possible, and the terms demanded by Rodger Hardy, one million pounds and the envelopes containing the secret plans to be distributed far and wide, only to be opened in the event of war, would have to be accepted.
The risk that Rodger Hardy would not make the same deal with foreign powers would have to be taken. But after all, Rodger was British, his mother American, and despite his family’s poor treatment in the past by an ungenerous government, Holmes must have felt sure he would do the honourable thing.
My thoughts were brought to a sudden end when the coach stopped. We had arrived at the rear of some old wooden warehouses by the side of the Thames. It was a well-chosen site; not a soul appeared to be about.
We alighted and the hefty policemen stationed themselves around so as to block off any casual intruders and, of course, were still completely unaware of the purpose of the visit.
We followed Holmes along a cobbled pathway by the side of the wooden warehouse and, turning the corner, looked down to see the lighter, pontoon, whatever you care to call it, tied up at the bottom of a flight of old stone steps. The slap, slap, slap of gentle waves were the only sounds which broke the silence.
We were initially shocked, amazed and not a little disturbed just as Sir Simon had been on that night at Halam Hall. ‘My God!’ and ‘Incredible!’ were just a few of the exclamations voiced. There was a feeling of fright and alarm amongst us. We didn’t understand the means by which it had been transposed. It was unnatural. We were witnessing the birth of a new era.
The coming of the railways had ruined the canal trade: could this discovery herald the end of the railways, even ships, if the process could be made to operate over greater distances?
I confess I looked at the little vessel with anxious eyes. I was near the Prime Minister and overheard him say to Holmes, ‘I don’t like
Similar Books
