The Spider Web (A Sherlock Holmes Uncovered Tale Book 4)

by Steven Ehrman

  Sir John was smiling broadly and Irene Stuart was beaming as well. As no one else spoke the silence grew, until an irritated Sir John spoke. “Well, can no one else congratulate my bride and I? Robert, you are uncharacteristically quiet.”

  “I am sorry, uncle,” said Robert, as he stumbled to his feet. “Of course, I congratulate you both.”

  He walked over to the couple and shook hands with his uncle, and kissed Irene Stuart chastely on the cheek.

  “I was merely surprised by the announcement,” he continued. “I must say, uncle, that you held this romance close to the vest. I did not realize there was a serious attachment between the two of you.”

  “For once you speak for me, Robert,” said George, as he too stood from the table. “Of course, we all wish you much happiness, though I confess I am a bit taken aback by the suddenness of the announcement. But no matter, I am delighted at your obvious happiness.”

  Irene Stuart spoke for the first time since the couple had entered the room. “Thank you all for your kind words of welcome,” she said, in a lilting and pleasing voice. “I know this seems sudden to everyone, but John and I,” she took his hand in hers, “have felt our love growing these past months, and when he asked for my hand in marriage, it was a dream come true. Thank you all again. I believe that I may cry.”

  The lady was as good as her words, and she was soon weeping happily into a handkerchief supplied by her groom to be.

  “And what say you, Agatha?” asked Sir John of his sister. “Have you no sage wisdom to give us?”

  “Well, as they say, there’s no fool like an old fool, John,” she rasped, in an acid tone. “I cannot believe you waited until your sixth decade to demonstrate to the world your foolishness.”

  “Now, Agatha, that is uncalled for,” protested Sir John. “This is not a foolish decision of an old man because I am neither old, nor foolish.”

  He stuck his chin and his chest out as he spoke, which was a characteristic I had noticed in Percy.

  “I suppose I am to be turned out of this home when you begin producing your heirs,” said Agatha.

  “Well…we…I say we haven’t discussed children yet, Agatha,” her brother stammered. “We’ve only been engaged for twenty minutes.”

  “Come now, John. Any man who marries a woman decades younger than him,” Sir John winced visibly at her words, “is going to have children. I ask again, I am to have a home? And what of these children?”

  She swept her hand out to indicate the cousins, save Percy I noticed, and I saw all eyes turn to Sir John.

  “Agatha,” he said wearily, “I will provide as always. Of course, should we have children, there will need to be some rethinking of old plans.”

  “I see,” said Agatha quietly. “I suddenly feel quite tired. Jane, will you see me to my room?”

  Jane Grafton hurried to her aunt’s side and took her arm as she arose. They left the dining room together and it occurred to me that Miss Hardwick looked as if she aged appreciably in the past few minutes. Her sturdy quick step was gone, and was replaced by the faltering gait of a decrepit old woman.

  Sir John quickly took his place at the head of the table and seated Irene Stuart beside him. They began to partake in the food and the awkwardness of the aunt’s exit began to ebb.

  Presently, I found the eyes of Sir John upon me.

  “I believe in my excitement that an introduction has been missed,” he said. “Percy, please do the honors.”

  “Oh course, uncle,” said Percy, with a rueful grin. “I am afraid that I quite forgot to make you acquainted with my friend. Uncle, may I present my friend, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes, may I present, Sir John Hardwick.”

  “My pleasure to meet you, my boy,” said Sir John heartily.

  “Indeed, the pleasure is mine, Sir John,” I returned.

  “Well, I welcome you to this house. Percy,” he said looking at my friend, “I am glad of your return, as well. I miss my secretary. Irene, of course, has been very helpful with my book, but you are better with the books, eh what.”

  Sir John laughed out loud at his small joke and the rest of the table joined in, with somewhat less enthusiasm than he.

  “In seriousness though, Percy, following our meal I would like to speak with you about some business matters. And, of course, I want to get to know Mr. Holmes a bit better. I understand that you are a chemist.”

  “I have interests in many areas, Sir John,” said I. “Do you dabble in chemistry yourself, sir?”

  “Dabble is the very word, sir,” he said. “I am a bit of an inventor and a tinkerer these days. I have a laboratory on the grounds that I use for making all sorts of things. I tried doing it in the house, but Agatha complained of the smells, so I had a small building constructed for just that purpose.”

  The reintroduction of Agatha Hardwick into the air caused a pall to fall over the room momentarily. The day was saved by Robert Hardwick, who had regained himself enough that his suave voice began to fill the room with amusing anecdotes and stories. The tension was soon quite forgotten, and the meal was finished in an amiable manner.

  The two male cousins, Robert and George, made known their intentions of retiring to the smoking room and asked their uncle if he wished to join them. He demurred and the invitation was extended to include Percy and myself. Before we could respond Sir John chimed in.

  “I need to speak with Percy, as I have said, and I want to know a bit more about Mr. Holmes, so I fear they will not be able to join you either.”

  “As you wish, uncle,” said the dutiful George. “If we may be excused then.”

  “I have one more announcement to make,” said Sir John, as he drew Irene Stuart to his side. “Our formal announcement of our engagement is to be made in a fortnight, and at that time, I intend to present the Spider Diamond necklace to my bride to be as a betrothal gift.”

  “I cannot think of a better betrothal gift,” said Robert. “What of you, George? Can you think of a better gift?”

  “It is a fine gift to a beautiful bride,” said George evenly.

  Irene Stuart was blushing deeply, “You have all been so kind,” she said. “I just know we will all be very happy together in this house.”

  On that pronouncement the couple began to exit the room.

  “Meet me in the music room in ten minutes, Percy,” called out Sir John over his shoulder. “And bring Mr. Holmes along.”

  The couple disappeared from the dining room. Robert and George left together a few minutes afterwards and for once they were not arguing with each other. The stunning dual announcements had seemed to drive the differences between them underground.

  Moments after their departure, Percy took the seat next to me and clapped me on the shoulder.

  “I must say, Holmes, that you have witnessed far more drama that I would have given this old house credit for,” he said with a grin. “The last time I was here the Stuart girl had just began working for my uncle. Who could have foreseen this event?”

  “Any woman could have, Percy,” said a voice from the door.

  I looked up and saw that Jane Grafton had rejoined us.

  “Aunt Agatha and I were both expecting something along these lines,” she continued, as she sat down at the table. “With you at university, you have been blissfully ignorant of the happenings here.”

  “How is the old girl?” asked Percy. “I hope she has not taken ill.”

  “Aunt Agatha ill?” said Jane. “She will outlive us all, mark me. No, she is merely planning her next step.”

  “What next step?” asked Percy. “The man is a knight of the realm and he has made his decision. Surely there is nothing left to do.”

  Jane gave my friend a pitying look.

  “You have much to learn in life, Percy. There is always something to be done.”

  “I don’t see how this changes anything all that much,” he protested.

  “That is because you are not in line for an inheritance,” said Jane Grafton harshly.
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br />   The words stung Percy and I saw pain flash across his face.

  “I am sorry to hurt you, dear Percy,” she said more softly. “But the fact is, that Aunt Agatha is correct. Should Uncle John and his new bride have issue, those children will surely inherit. My goodness, he is already giving the Spider Diamond to her. We have all lived as if we were already wealthy for too long to stare poverty in the face now.”

  “Surely, that is an exaggeration, Jane. Look at how Sir John has taken me in. He is generous to a fault.”

  “Dear Percy, you simply cannot see it. Hasn’t Uncle John made it clear to you that you are not to expect any inheritance from him?”

  “Well, yes, he has said as much,” Percy admitted. “But that is only right as you and Robert and George are much closer relatives than I. Blood will tell.”

  “Exactly, my dear ass. Now we are the closest relatives, but when he and Irene have children they will be the closest relatives, and there is no way that old bargains will stand in that case.”

  “Yes, I suppose that must be true,” said Percy slowly. “But surely you will be taken care of. He would at least be certain to do that.”

  “No doubt,” she said, with a slight sneer. “Pensioned off like a faithful servant. Yes, it will be just like that.”

  Dark emotion flushed in Jane Grafton’s face and she suddenly arose and hurried from the room, leaving Percy and I staring at her disappearing figure.

  “As I said, Holmes. More drama than I thought possible. Well, I believe we should make for the music room. My uncle did command it, and Caesar must be obeyed.”

  With a smile and a laugh, we both arose and exited the dining room.

  Chapter Five

  The walk to the music room took us through a brightly lit conservatory, then through the immense library of the home, and finally to our destination. We entered and found that we had beaten our host to our appointment. I resolved to examine the room as we waited.

  Although it was called the music room, I saw no evidence that it was used as such. At one time it must have surely served that purpose and the name remained as testament of its former glory. There were several windows facing to the east and to the north, along with a large desk and several sofas and chairs. There were several tasteful paintings adorning one wall. However, the most notable feature of the room was the presence of a large collection of medieval weapons. Percy explained that Sir John was an avid collector of weaponry from that era.

  I could well believe it, as the walls were festooned with every manner of maces, war clubs, lances, shields, and swords. If the pieces were genuine, which I did not doubt, the collection was as impressive as I had ever seen.

  “For how long has Sir John been building this array of weapons?” I asked.

  “For longer than I have been here, Holmes,” Percy replied. “Now remember, I am a relatively new arrival myself, but upon my introduction to the household, two years ago, the collection was already complete, I believe. Oh, perhaps he has added an item or two, but in point of fact, I wouldn’t have noticed.”

  “More’s the pity,” I said. “Lack of observation is not something to blithely dismiss. Rather, it is a skill you should cultivate. Surely, this war club is not of ancient manufacture.”

  I was pointing towards a wooden club with iron bands in the center of the wall.

  “Oh, do not get uncle started on the collection,” Percy said, with a sigh. “He is quite long winded on the subject, I assure you.”

  I agreed to abide by Percy’s wishes and we began to talk of the trip down from the city. Just at that moment, Sir John walked briskly through the door. “I see that you are both here. That is well. I am a man that admires promptness. What was that I heard you say about observation, Mr. Holmes?”

  “Only, Sir John, that it is a very useful skill that can inform us upon the world in which we live.”

  “Well, this is a room in which I spend much time. Of what does the room tell you through observation?” asked Sir John.

  “Observation is only one half of the equation, Sir John. It must be combined with deduction in order to come to conclusions.”

  “Very prettily stated, my boy, but come now, you are stalling. Percy has written to me about your gift for knowing what others do not. Pray tell me something you deduce from this room. I am a man that loves riddling and solving riddles.”

  “Very well, sir,” I said. “But mind you I have only given the room a cursory examination, so any deductions will be cursory as well.

  “Of course, of course,” said Sir John, with a wink at Percy.

  “Well, first off I can assert that the staff here at the manor is a quite efficient one, and that they are well treated,” I stated.

  “The staff is one of the best and, of course, the room is quite clean,” said Percy.

  “Not simply clean,” I returned, “the room has been thoroughly dusted, and not just surface areas. I moved the rug in front of the desk slightly and I saw that even it had been lifted and the floor underneath dusted. There is also no dust under the sofas. I can clearly see that from here. It is only an efficient staff that thoroughly dusts, and only one that is well treated that even includes areas that cannot be easily seen.”

  “Well, that is all true enough, Mr. Holmes,” said Sir John. “The staff is well treated here. The wages I pay are a premium, and I am rewarded by their loyalty and efficiency. What else?”

  “There are windows facing west and north, yet the drapes on the north side of the room are opened far more often than the others.”

  “Why, that is correct, Mr. Holmes,” cried Sir John. “I am often in the room in the evening and the late sun can be quite blinding, so I am in the habit of only opening the drapes from the northern exposure. Many days the drapes facing west are not opened at all. How did you manage to know that?”

  “There is a sofa in front of the windows facing west, as well as the windows facing north. The sofas are of an identical type, with the same color upholstery. The one in front of the north windows has seen the color fade to a noticeable degree, certainly in comparison to its mate in front of the western window. Thus, the sun has shone more often on the sofa in front of the northern windows. That would mean those drapes are open more often.”

  “Why, this is absolutely marvelous,” said Sir John, with great joy. “Percy, I thought you were exaggerating the gifts of your friend, and now I see that you have been niggardly in your praise, if anything.”

  Percy smiled at his uncle. “I warned you he was a remarkable man, uncle,” he said. “The professors at university do not know what to do with him.”

  “I am beyond intrigued, Mr. Holmes. What can you tell about me, strictly from observation and deduction?”

  “Not a great deal, I assure you, sir,” said I. “But if pressed, I would say that you are left handed, you require reading glasses, and you do not like to be without them, and finally that you normally wear a hat outside, yet you did not today.”

  “All true, young man,” said Sir John. “I am left handed and I detest being without my glasses. It is a deuced nuisance, and I could not find my hat this morning before Irene and I left for our ride. Of course, you saw earlier that I did not have one on, but I will be hung if I can tell how you knew it was not my usual pattern. How can you tell these things, sir?”

  “They are mere trifles, Sir John,” I replied. “The inkwell on your desk is always set by the hand that writes. As it is on the left side of the desk, it is a testament to your being left-handed. As to my deduction about your reading glasses, and your dislike of being caught without them, that is easily explained. I noted that there is a pair of bifocal glasses on your desk, and yet you also have a pair of the same glasses in your vest pocket. This means one of two things. Either you are absentminded and constantly lose your glasses, or that you dislike being caught without them. As you do not have the reputation, or demeanor, of an absentminded man, the other explanation must be correct.”

  “It is simplicity itself
, when you spell it out, but what of the hat?”

  “Ah, the hat,” I said. “Upon your return I noticed that you had been sunburned on your ride.”

  “That only tells you I did not wear a hat today. How could you know that I was normally in the habit of riding with one?”

  “We were told upon on arrival that not only were you and Miss Stuart riding, but also that it had been your routine to go riding for the past month. Now the past month has been quite sunny. A man who never wore a hat, and went riding every day, would have a deep tan by now, and would not be sunburned. A man who rode every day and always wore a hat would not be tanned or sunburned. With that in mind, the deduction that you normally wear a hat and went without today, was a simple one.”

  As I finished, Sir John and Percy were smiling broadly. The older man then looked at me and said. “I am almost afraid to ask, young man, but is there anything else that you have deduced from the room?”

  “Only,” I began, “that there is something hidden behind that painting on the wall.”

  I pointed at a seascape adorning the far wall, and saw that Sit John had a look of frozen fear upon his face.

  “What….what’s that you say?” he stammered.

  “The frame is sticking out at least one eighth of an inch farther than the painting next to it. You observe that they have the same ornate frame? There must be a reason that one frame extends farther out than the other, thus I deduce something is being hidden by the painting.”

  “Uncle, what is wrong?” cried Percy.

  The blood seemed to have withdrawn from the older man’s face, and he looked as though he might faint. I helped the gentlemen to a sofa and Percy ran to a sideboard, and soon returned with a bottle of brandy and a glass. I was rubbing the wrists of the gentleman, trying to prevent him from completely swooning. Percy thrust a snifter of brandy into his hands, and he managed to drink it down in a single swallow. The color gradually began to return to his complexion. In a few more minutes, he was himself again.

  “Please, tell me, Mr. Holmes,” he fairly croaked. “Just how did you know about the picture?”