Sherlock Holmes Read Online Free Page A

delicate matter, the
reason for the extra security was not made clear to either the
museum staff or the Special Branch officers. Tea was served to them
by a Chinese fellow who had but recently been employed as a
temporary cleaner on the evening shift. Apparently, he often made
tea for the staff."
    Holmes could no longer hold in
his anger. He sprang from his chair, yelling, "This is
unbelievable, Mycroft! I suppose this fellow drugged the tea?"
    Mycroft sat with his head
somewhat bowed and, in a low, clipped voice said, "So it would
seem."
    Holmes began to pace. I was
concerned for my friend but he shrugged off my arm as I tried to
calm him. "I can hear no more of this save to ask whether the night
watchmen are recovered sufficiently to be questioned?"
    Mycroft nodded. "I have
assembled them and they are waiting in the staff canteen. The
constable outside will show you the way."
    Holmes didn't even look at
Mycroft. He simply strode out and was collected by the constable
who, by his pale complexion, had heard all!
     
    We walked briskly to an area
tucked away in the recesses of the museum marked, 'Staff Only'. The
constable led us to a door bearing the word, 'Canteen'. Holmes
thanked him, asking him to wait outside.
    The room was painted that rather
unpleasant cream colour with sombre brown highlights, so common in
public buildings. As we entered the canteen, we could see six men
sitting at a long refectory table. All were clearly suffering from
the effects of some kind of intoxication. On seeing us, they tried,
as best they could, to sit upright. The senior night watchman
stood, a little unsteadily, I have to say, introducing himself a
Stanley Cox. Holmes waved him to sit down and pulled a chair
towards the centre of the group.
    "So, Mr Cox. Tell me what
happened last night." Holmes’ tone was business-like but held no
hint of the venom he had used on Mycroft.
    Mr Cox scratched his head.
"Well, it was like this, sir. Me and the lads have got into the
habit of gathering together at 8 o'clock for a cup of tea and a
natter...only for ten minutes, like. The first night those two
plain clothes coppers stayed outside, on duty, but last night, we
invited 'em in for a brew....we did keep the door open though!"
    Holmes replied, with more than a
little sarcasm, "Perhaps you rely too much on burglars who announce
themselves by playing a trumpet"
    Mr Cox looked very sheepish.
"No, sir. We knows it was wrong but we thought there was no harm in
it, it was barely dark."
    Holmes nodded. "When you came in
for tea, the Chinaman brought it to you?"
    "Yes, sir, he's the
cleaner."
    Holmes thought for a second.
"Was it his job to make the tea?"
    "No, sir. He has only been with
us for about a week or so. He was taken on about the same time as
the Chinese exhibition was announced. The museum expected to have
more visitors and more visitors means more cleaning so they took on
some temporary staff."
    Holmes nodded. "Go on."
    "Well, sir. The evening cleaning
shift ain't the best of shifts. Nobody wants to work in the evening
but he didn't seem to mind. He didn't speak much English but he
made it clear that he was happy to make the tea for us and, to be
honest, we enjoyed being waited on."
    Holmes turned to see if I was
taking notes and saw that I was.
    "So, last night, you all
assembled at 8 p.m. and the Chinaman served the tea and everything
seemed normal?"
    Mr Cox thought for a moment.
"Yes, sir....the Chinaman did seem to get the jitters though. I
think it was because he had been clumsy and dropped one of the
mugs." Mr Cox turned and spoke to his colleague. "It was your
favourite mug too, wasn't it, Jim?"
    One of the night watchmen
nodded.
    "He'd had it years, he had. Jim
didn't want to drink out of anything else but the Chinaman fussed
and fetched him a new one from the store cupboard, special like.
Anyway, I drank my tea and after a few minutes I felt a bit odd,
sleepy like and the next thing I knew I was waking up here with a
bad head."
    Holmes