him again. You say his name is Strickley?’
‘Yah, Ed Strickley. He’s workin’ today. Number 4 boiler room, I think.’
‘Well, Mr Hardwood, it has been a pleasure meeting you. Beforethe Doctor and I leave, why don’t you have another sip of that brandy. Very good, is it not?’
Hardwood took another generous swallow from the flask and returned it to Holmes. ‘Indeed it is, Commodore. Life to a tired working man. Much appreciated.’
After receiving hearty handshakes from Mr Hardwood, Holmes and I moved on two compartments to No. 4 boiler room. It did not take us long to find our man.
‘Mr Strickley?’ said Holmes. ‘I am Commodore Winter and this is Doctor Watson. The chief engineer was giving us a tour of the engine rooms, and he asked Doctor Watson to take a look at those scratches of yours. He is afraid they might become infected.’
Strickley was a big man, about six feet, six inches tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. His hands clenched the handle of his shovel, which he held level with his waist.
‘What you talkin’ about? I ain’t been near Bell since before I got these scratches early this morning.’
‘One of your fellow shipmates told him about them,’ I interjected. ‘Apparently he was quite concerned about your health.’
‘Well, I don’t need a doctor. I cleaned it up myself. I get cuts like this all the time, and none of them killed me yet. Just fell into some metal, that’s all.’
‘You know, there was an elderly woman in first class who said she scratched an intruder in her cabin last night, someone with a beard like yours,’ Holmes said, glaring into the man’s frightened eyes. I kept my eyes on the shovel, ready to fend off any attack against Holmes or myself.
‘Well, I wasn’t nowhere near first class, and old ladies cannot see in the dark!’
‘Who said anything about it being dark?’ said Holmes.
‘If you want to make any charges, go take it up with your friend,Bell! Meanwhile, stay out of my way!’ With that, Strickley stormed through a doorway towards the forward end of the ship.
Holmes and I were the centre of attention, as we stood among the stokers, who had lost all interest in shovelling coal. ‘Well, Holmes,’ I said quietly, ‘it appears that Mr Strickley is a very likely suspect.’
‘Yes, I think I will ask the captain to arrange a meeting with our excitable stoker under more friendly conditions. Unless he is prepared to jump ship, there is nowhere he can hide.’
Chapter Eleven
L UNCHTIME ON F RIDAY 12 A PRIL 1912
‘M ost satisfactory, Miss Norton, most satisfactory.’
These words of support from Holmes did a world of good for our young companion. For the first time since the plans were stolen, I saw her smile. The colour was returning to her face, and her enthusiasm for finding our adversaries, and the plans, was renewed.
The three of us were sitting in the restaurant enjoying a splendid lunch. Or, should I say, I was enjoying this fine meal. I had finished my grilled mutton chops and was encouraging the last of my peas on to my fork. Holmes, during the entire meal, had been sitting back in his chair, listening intently to Miss Norton. Neither of them had touched their food.
The restaurant was not even half full. It was a little late for lunch, and most of the passengers had already finished their meals and gone on to other leisurely pursuits. Several tables away, Mr and Mrs Futrelle were having a quiet lunch together.
‘I’m very glad that you found my report useful, Mr Holmes.’ She cut into her meat for the first time. ‘But you and Doctor Watson deservethe prize for the most progress. When will we have the opportunity to speak to Mr Strickley?’
‘I have informed the captain of our encounter this morning, and he will notify us when our secretive stoker is available for questioning. But do not underrate the information you have gathered. Strickley is just a pawn in this game. You have supplied some interesting new
‘Yah, Ed Strickley. He’s workin’ today. Number 4 boiler room, I think.’
‘Well, Mr Hardwood, it has been a pleasure meeting you. Beforethe Doctor and I leave, why don’t you have another sip of that brandy. Very good, is it not?’
Hardwood took another generous swallow from the flask and returned it to Holmes. ‘Indeed it is, Commodore. Life to a tired working man. Much appreciated.’
After receiving hearty handshakes from Mr Hardwood, Holmes and I moved on two compartments to No. 4 boiler room. It did not take us long to find our man.
‘Mr Strickley?’ said Holmes. ‘I am Commodore Winter and this is Doctor Watson. The chief engineer was giving us a tour of the engine rooms, and he asked Doctor Watson to take a look at those scratches of yours. He is afraid they might become infected.’
Strickley was a big man, about six feet, six inches tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. His hands clenched the handle of his shovel, which he held level with his waist.
‘What you talkin’ about? I ain’t been near Bell since before I got these scratches early this morning.’
‘One of your fellow shipmates told him about them,’ I interjected. ‘Apparently he was quite concerned about your health.’
‘Well, I don’t need a doctor. I cleaned it up myself. I get cuts like this all the time, and none of them killed me yet. Just fell into some metal, that’s all.’
‘You know, there was an elderly woman in first class who said she scratched an intruder in her cabin last night, someone with a beard like yours,’ Holmes said, glaring into the man’s frightened eyes. I kept my eyes on the shovel, ready to fend off any attack against Holmes or myself.
‘Well, I wasn’t nowhere near first class, and old ladies cannot see in the dark!’
‘Who said anything about it being dark?’ said Holmes.
‘If you want to make any charges, go take it up with your friend,Bell! Meanwhile, stay out of my way!’ With that, Strickley stormed through a doorway towards the forward end of the ship.
Holmes and I were the centre of attention, as we stood among the stokers, who had lost all interest in shovelling coal. ‘Well, Holmes,’ I said quietly, ‘it appears that Mr Strickley is a very likely suspect.’
‘Yes, I think I will ask the captain to arrange a meeting with our excitable stoker under more friendly conditions. Unless he is prepared to jump ship, there is nowhere he can hide.’
Chapter Eleven
L UNCHTIME ON F RIDAY 12 A PRIL 1912
‘M ost satisfactory, Miss Norton, most satisfactory.’
These words of support from Holmes did a world of good for our young companion. For the first time since the plans were stolen, I saw her smile. The colour was returning to her face, and her enthusiasm for finding our adversaries, and the plans, was renewed.
The three of us were sitting in the restaurant enjoying a splendid lunch. Or, should I say, I was enjoying this fine meal. I had finished my grilled mutton chops and was encouraging the last of my peas on to my fork. Holmes, during the entire meal, had been sitting back in his chair, listening intently to Miss Norton. Neither of them had touched their food.
The restaurant was not even half full. It was a little late for lunch, and most of the passengers had already finished their meals and gone on to other leisurely pursuits. Several tables away, Mr and Mrs Futrelle were having a quiet lunch together.
‘I’m very glad that you found my report useful, Mr Holmes.’ She cut into her meat for the first time. ‘But you and Doctor Watson deservethe prize for the most progress. When will we have the opportunity to speak to Mr Strickley?’
‘I have informed the captain of our encounter this morning, and he will notify us when our secretive stoker is available for questioning. But do not underrate the information you have gathered. Strickley is just a pawn in this game. You have supplied some interesting new
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