Sherlock Holmes and the Chinese Junk Affair and Other Stories Read Online Free Page B

one envelope is bound to be dispatched within days of the outbreak of hostilities, even if some are overlooked and arrive late or not at all. The holders of the envelopes do not of course realise the value of the contents.’
    Holmes asked, ‘What is the reason Rodger gives for this elaborate exchange system?’
    Sir Simon replied, ‘Rodger is against the discovery being used for commercial gain. He says the railways, canals and road transport carriers would suffer. Thousands of people would be thrown out of work. Women and children would starve. But by using this method he avoids the commercial use of the discovery, whilst making it available in time of crisis such as war, when it would prove invaluable.’
    Holmes nodded and remarked, ‘This, however, is contrary to the purpose of leaving his colleagues in China; it was to exploit the invention.’
    ‘I agree, but during the long sea voyage he had time to think about it and decided that it would be of little merit or purpose to become the richest man in the world, if he also became the most hated.’
    Holmes agreed. ‘So the nub of the situation is, should the discovery be genuine, Her Majesty’s Government has only Rodger’s word that he has not sold it on the same basis to other foreign powers and, in the event of war, Britain would have no advantage over them?’
    Sir Simon agreed. He looked tired now and despondent. The worry of the situation once again upsetting him.
    Holmes stroked his chin, stretched himself and said, ‘So I and Dr Watson are to do what the learned men refuse to do, state categorically that it is either a huge confidence trick, or a world-shattering discovery which could topple Empires?’
    Sir Simon sat upright, as though to show he was again alert and ready to meet Holmes on his own terms. ‘That is exactly correct, Mr Holmes. The Prime Minister, the Cabinet members privy to this matter, and your brother Mycroft, concluded that if any person could answer that question, it is undoubtedly yourself.’
    He was silent for a few moments. ‘Frankly I have no doubts that it is genuine. No power on earth, except that explained by Rodger Hardy to me that weekend, would have been able to have achieved what I saw happen. We look upon you as our only hope in finding out the truth. Will you take it on?’
    ‘You put a lot of onus on our shoulders, do they not, Dr Watson? But we shall do what we can.’ Sir Simon ushered us out and a few minutes later we met with the Prime Minister again.
    The Prime Minister’s eyes held those of Holmes. I felt he was looking both for acceptance of the case by Holmes and also, perhaps, some sign of hope that it might be resolved. I glanced at Holmes and felt as he spoke to the Prime Minister that he seemed, for once, to have reservations about this particular case.
    However, he accepted it and promised to pursue it with the utmost vigour, but I now detected a distinct lacking of his usual joy and pleasure at solving what always seemed the unsolvable. It was a great responsibility they had thrust upon his shoulders, and Holmes was well aware of it.
    For the rest of the day, Holmes sat by the fire at 221B Baker Street, referring to scientific books and lapsing into long periods of thinking. I didn’t speak to him, not wishing to disturb his train of thought, but got on with my letter writing and pottering about.
    I looked out of the window. The unusual Spring fog was clearing and within an hour the sun was beginning to break through.
    ‘You realise, Watson,’ said Holmes, at last breaking his long silence, ‘that if we accept the fact that the Chinese junk did indeed transpose through the air within the space of two hours, then we must accept this electrical “transposition” explanation. No other power on earth by the laws of physics as we know them today is capable of achieving this. You can see from the photographs taken that day of the junk on the Thames, that she is large, heavy, and built to be almost