not some
seasonal malady but is one that I have engineered and control. At
present, it is only serious for the old and the very young but it
is within my power to kill large sections of the population. Unless
the government deposits the sum of one million pounds into an
account of which I shall provide the details, the gravest of
consequences will ensue. If you agree to my terms, place an
advertisement in the personal column of ‘The Times’ with the words,
“Mr J. Bull agrees and wishes to settle his debt." If I have not
heard from you within seven days, then as proof of my willingness
to carry out my threat, ask your officials to pay close attention
to the health of the population in the town of Truro, in Cornwall.”
The letter was unsigned.
I was so taken aback that I said nothing for
a few moments and then blurted out, “But… but this is blackmail, at
a national level!”
“Quite so.” said Mycroft. “We have already
had reports of unexpected and unexplained deaths from all over the
country. What do you make of it, Sherlock?”
Holmes was now very quiet and had withdrawn
to his favorite fireside chair. He was sitting with his knees drawn
up to his chest and his fingers steepled against his lips. His eyes
seemed almost glazed as he stared into the distance. After a few
moments he spoke. “This is a work of untold wickedness.”
“But is the scoundrel to be believed?” I
shouted.
Holmes turned towards me and calmly said,
“This horror will undoubtedly happen if the government does not pay
or unless we find him first. What intelligence do you have from the
government, Mycroft?”
Mycroft's complexion had turned ashen on
hearing Sherlock's opinion. “The cabinet met three days ago and
decided that this was a hoax.”
Holmes leapt
from his chair, his face growin g scarlet
with anger, crying, “Stupid! How can the leaders of our country be
so stupid? People will die as a direct result of this decision.
What about Truro?”
Mycroft looked extremely uncomfortable and
said, quietly, “So far there have been twenty deaths and the number
being admitted to hospital is growing by the day.”
I was aghast! “Twenty dead? Good lord! What
were their symptoms?”
Mycroft turned to me and spoke again,
quietly, “From what I have been told, they looked pale, suffered
from acute abdominal pain, sweating and difficulty in breathing.
Most of the fatalities died within four hours of falling ill."
“My God! What evil are we dealing with here?"
I gasped.
Mycroft now turned to Holmes. “We have
suppressed the news of the deaths for the moment but word is sure
to leak out and lead to panic. Will you take the case, Sherlock?
The Prime Minister is holding an emergency cabinet meeting this
evening and I am on my way to report back to him. What shall I tell
him?”
“Say that I will take the case and he is to
place the advertisement in ‘The Times’.”
“But...but this is defeat!” I shouted, rising
from my chair.
Holmes waged his finger at me, his voice was
firm in reply. “Not so, Watson. It means life to some poor devils
and it gives us some breathing space. Quickly, Mycroft. Return to
Downing Street. Watson and I have work to do." Mycroft nodded,
collected his coat and cape and left at speed.
Holmes now began to pace in front of the
fire. “There are clues here, Watson. I just have to think. Take a
look at the letter, let me have your thoughts." Holmes handed me
the envelope with the letter inside and I followed the procedure
that I had seen Holmes carry out. I must admit that, to my eyes at
least, it seemed a very ordinary envelope and contents. “What can
you deduce from that, Watson?”
I looked again at the envelope. “I can see
that it was posted in Chiswick on the 19th of November. It seems a
very ordinary envelope that was sealed with wax but with no imprint
on the seal. The paper of the letter seems very ordinary too. The
writing is in black ink from quite a strong hand that leans to the
right.
seasonal malady but is one that I have engineered and control. At
present, it is only serious for the old and the very young but it
is within my power to kill large sections of the population. Unless
the government deposits the sum of one million pounds into an
account of which I shall provide the details, the gravest of
consequences will ensue. If you agree to my terms, place an
advertisement in the personal column of ‘The Times’ with the words,
“Mr J. Bull agrees and wishes to settle his debt." If I have not
heard from you within seven days, then as proof of my willingness
to carry out my threat, ask your officials to pay close attention
to the health of the population in the town of Truro, in Cornwall.”
The letter was unsigned.
I was so taken aback that I said nothing for
a few moments and then blurted out, “But… but this is blackmail, at
a national level!”
“Quite so.” said Mycroft. “We have already
had reports of unexpected and unexplained deaths from all over the
country. What do you make of it, Sherlock?”
Holmes was now very quiet and had withdrawn
to his favorite fireside chair. He was sitting with his knees drawn
up to his chest and his fingers steepled against his lips. His eyes
seemed almost glazed as he stared into the distance. After a few
moments he spoke. “This is a work of untold wickedness.”
“But is the scoundrel to be believed?” I
shouted.
Holmes turned towards me and calmly said,
“This horror will undoubtedly happen if the government does not pay
or unless we find him first. What intelligence do you have from the
government, Mycroft?”
Mycroft's complexion had turned ashen on
hearing Sherlock's opinion. “The cabinet met three days ago and
decided that this was a hoax.”
Holmes leapt
from his chair, his face growin g scarlet
with anger, crying, “Stupid! How can the leaders of our country be
so stupid? People will die as a direct result of this decision.
What about Truro?”
Mycroft looked extremely uncomfortable and
said, quietly, “So far there have been twenty deaths and the number
being admitted to hospital is growing by the day.”
I was aghast! “Twenty dead? Good lord! What
were their symptoms?”
Mycroft turned to me and spoke again,
quietly, “From what I have been told, they looked pale, suffered
from acute abdominal pain, sweating and difficulty in breathing.
Most of the fatalities died within four hours of falling ill."
“My God! What evil are we dealing with here?"
I gasped.
Mycroft now turned to Holmes. “We have
suppressed the news of the deaths for the moment but word is sure
to leak out and lead to panic. Will you take the case, Sherlock?
The Prime Minister is holding an emergency cabinet meeting this
evening and I am on my way to report back to him. What shall I tell
him?”
“Say that I will take the case and he is to
place the advertisement in ‘The Times’.”
“But...but this is defeat!” I shouted, rising
from my chair.
Holmes waged his finger at me, his voice was
firm in reply. “Not so, Watson. It means life to some poor devils
and it gives us some breathing space. Quickly, Mycroft. Return to
Downing Street. Watson and I have work to do." Mycroft nodded,
collected his coat and cape and left at speed.
Holmes now began to pace in front of the
fire. “There are clues here, Watson. I just have to think. Take a
look at the letter, let me have your thoughts." Holmes handed me
the envelope with the letter inside and I followed the procedure
that I had seen Holmes carry out. I must admit that, to my eyes at
least, it seemed a very ordinary envelope and contents. “What can
you deduce from that, Watson?”
I looked again at the envelope. “I can see
that it was posted in Chiswick on the 19th of November. It seems a
very ordinary envelope that was sealed with wax but with no imprint
on the seal. The paper of the letter seems very ordinary too. The
writing is in black ink from quite a strong hand that leans to the
right.
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