Sherlock Holmes and the King's Evil: And Other New Tales Featuring the World's Greatest Detective Read Online Free

sugar and condiments of some kind but nothing more. Very carefully, I touched my finger to the same deposit.
    “Before you go further, Watson, the word ‘aconite’ may give you second thoughts. Unless I am very much mistaken, the terms Indian aconite, or Aconitum ferox, or the so-called Bish poison would be a more accurate description here—to judge by the speed with which it affects the tongue. I believe there has been poison in this box, and it would hardly have been introduced without murder in mind. I tasted the minutest quantity but my lips and the tip of my tongue are still tingling and a little numb. Concealed in a bonbon, of course, it would have done its worst before there was any suspicion.”
    “And Lord Blagdon?”
    “For the moment, we shall say nothing. I lowever, in case we should require to verify his lordship’s account of Lord Alfred’s visit, I should like to take one more finger-print sample from the sill of the library window. I do not think our client has misled us but this case now takes on a graver complexion.”

3

    W e took the print from the library sill. By the time that we returned to the north drawing-room, it was occupied by the tall and stooping figure of Lord Blagdon who turned from the oriel window to greet us.
    “Well, Mr Holmes,” he said uneasily, “I see that you have been at work. To what conclusion have you come?”
    “To little more than I had already come,” said Holmes crisply. “In playing Schumann on the grand piano, your cousin left a perfect set of his finger-prints. Those prints also appear on the window sill of the library, corroborating your version of events.”
    “When I came to you, I was not aware that my version would require corroboration,” said Lord Blagdon reproachfully.
    “But you have it none the less, my lord,” Holmes replied, yielding no ground. “The same finger-prints appear on the Sèvres bonbonnière near the front of the cabinet. So far as we can establish at the moment, that was the object of Lord Arthur’s visit.”
    Lord Blagdon seemed genuinely taken aback.
    “What possible interest could he have in it? He certainly did not attempt to steal it. Indeed, I should have made him a present of it, if his heart was set upon the thing. It is not of great value, compared with the other pieces.”
    “I do not think he ever wanted to steal it. Perhaps, however, you would not mind giving me an account of its recent history.”
    Holmes had gained the initiative and Lord Blagdon now looked a little perplexed.
    “It has no recent history to speak of, Mr Holmes. It is only as a matter of convenience that it appears in the display. During her lifetime, it was the possession of our father’s cousin, Lady Clementina Beauchamp. Lady Clem, as we all called her. Like so many of our more distant family, she was never well off but we all cared for her as best we could. She had inherited a few items like the bonbon dish from our grandfather and she left them to us when she died.”
    “What did she leave to Lord Arthur?”
    Lord Blagdon raised his eyebrows.
    “To Lord Arthur? Why, nothing. She had no reason to. He had no expectations from her. It was my own side of the family from which she had received kindness. She was fond enough of my cousin, of course, as I have always believed he was of her. But then, Lady Clem was fond of everyone because it was in her nature. I do not think she and Lord Arthur were more closely acquainted.”
    “They were on visiting terms, however?”
    “Oh, to be sure, we all were. To what extent, in his case, I cannot say.”
    “When did Lady Beauchamp die?”
    The expression on Lord Blagdon’s face suggested that this line of questioning had gone on long enough but that he would indulge his hired detective a little more.
    “Almost exactly two months ago.”
    “And where was Lord Arthur then?”
    “Lord Arthur had been in Venice for a week or two with my wife’s brother. He was unable to return in time for the funeral.