The Return of Sherlock Holmes: A Classic Crime Tale. Philip Harbottle

      BORGO PRESS BOOKS BY ERNEST DUDLEY

      Department of Spooks: Stories of Suspense and Mystery

      Dr. Morelle Investigates: Two Classic Crime Tales

      Dr. Morelle Meets Murder: Classic Crime Stories

      New Cases for Dr. Morelle: Classic Crime Stories

      The Return of Sherlock Holmes: A Classic Crime Tale

      COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

      Copyright © 1994 by Ernest Dudley

      Copyright © 2012 by Susan Dudley-Allen

      Published by Wildside Press LLC

      www.wildsidebooks.com

      DEDICATION

      For Susan

      CHAPTER ONE

      Cold autumn midday sunshine slanted into a room in Dr. Shlessinger’s London nursing home. It was a clinical-looking room, with white walls, centrally located French windows with net curtains, and plain-coloured curtains. It was furnished with a writing desk, table, and chairs. On one side was a door from the hall, and on the opposite wall was a half-open second door that led to the laboratory.

      Lady Frances Carfax lay in an easy chair. She was beautiful, but pale. Her eyes were closed, as if asleep. Through the laboratory doorway Cecilia Shlessinger could be seen as she worked in the laboratory. She was attractive in a rather cold way, thirtyish, and wearing a smart nurse’s uniform.

      Lady Frances suddenly woke up and cried out: “Oh—oh, my God! No—no! Nurse Cecilia!”

      At the anguished call Cecilia came hurrying out of laboratory. “All right, Lady Frances.…”

      “Quickly—quickly!”

      Cecilia reached Lady Frances’s side. “What is it?”

      Lady Frances was now fully awake. “I’ve had a terrible nightmare. I was being attacked by.…”

      The nurse took her hand, and sought to calm her. “You’re all right now. You’re quite safe.”

      Lady Frances gave a little shudder. “It was a man…a big man…he was dressed like…like.…” She shook her head. “He was going to kill me…yet he was smiling and friendly.”

      “No one is going to kill you,” Cecilia soothed.

      “But he was! While he was smiling, and he had on this…this black coat.…”

      The nurse smiled. “It was just a silly nightmare, I tell you. Now, just stay quiet—and I’ll bring you your medicine.”

      “He was a big man—and smiling—”

      “Yes, yes. Just you lie quiet.” Cecilia hurried back to the laboratory.

      Lady Frances called after her: “Is it more of that horrid medicine?”

      “No, no. This will be much nicer,” the nurse said reassuringly. “I promise you.”

      “You’re sure?” Lady Frances asked doubtfully.

      “Quite sure. My brother’s made it nicer to taste.” The nurse came out of laboratory with a small tray holding a medicine glass, a small jug of water and a medicine phial. She placed them on a table beside Lady Frances, who looked at the tray doubtfully.

      The nurse poured medicine into a glass, then after adding a little water, she handed it to Lady Frances.

      She took the glass somewhat reluctantly. “Are you sure it’s a nicer taste?”

      The nurse nodded. “I promise you it is.”

      Lady Frances drank the medicine and gave a little shudder. “Ugh! It’s horrible…horrible!”

      She returned the glass to Cecilia, who put it back on the tray, turned, and hurried with it to the laboratory.

      Lady Frances took a sweet from her handbag and quickly popped it into her mouth. “Even the sweet doesn’t take away the taste. I’m sure this new doctor my brother’s got for me won’t prescribe such horrid stuff.”

      Cecilia stood in the laboratory doorway, and stared at Lady Frances with a frozen expression. “No, Lady Frances,” she said tightly.

      Lady Frances looked up. Instantly the nurse’s expression changed. “What did you say his name is…Dr.—Dr Wilson?”

      “Watson,” Cecilia corrected.

      “Dr, Watson…that’s right! Well, I hope he’ll have something to say about my medicine.”

      At that moment, a grim-faced man entered from the hall. Dr. Shlessinger was a big man, wearing striped trousers with a black morning coat. As Lady Frances turned to look at him, his expression changed as he quickly adopted a benevolent ‘bedside’ attitude.

      He gave a quick nod to Cecilia, who closed the laboratory door behind her and waited.

      He came straight across the room where Lady Frances sat in her easy chair.

      “Good morning, Lady Frances,” he smiled expansively.

      “Oh, Doctor! The medicine’s horrible…,” Lady Frances complained. “Even worse than before!”

      Shlessinger glanced across to Cecilia. “You are serving our patient the correct dose, of course?”

      The nurse gave a little shrug. “Yes, I’m following your instructions precisely,” she answered formally. Then, with a curt nod to Lady Frances, she crossed the room and went out into the hall.

      Shlessinger turned to Lady Frances and looked at her reassuringly. “Now, Lady Frances, you wanted to see me. About…?”

      Lady Frances appeared to pull herself together. Reaching for her handbag, she took out a letter from it. She looked up at the doctor.

      “Your sister says this came by hand, last night,” she said briefly.

      Shlessinger nodded. “Yes, that’s so,” he assented.

      Lady Frances glanced down at the letter. She appeared deeply upset. “It’s from…from Philip Green. I’ve tried to read it, but I can’t believe what it says. Read it to me, please.” She handed letter to Shlessinger.

      “I’m sorry it has upset you so much,” the doctor murmured, taking the letter.

      Lady Frances dabbed at her eyes. “He says he doesn’t want to see me again.”

      “I’m sure he can’t mean that.”

      Lady Frances sniffed. “Read it for yourself.”

      “If you wish,” Shlessinger said, with every appearance of reluctance. He read the letter aloud:

      “‘My dear: If I have given you cause to believe I cherish feelings for you that are more than friendship’.…” He broke off as Lady Frances interjected:

      “We were engaged to be married.”

      Shlessinger paused respectfully for a moment, then continued reading:

      “‘I am deeply sorry. I feel it better for us both that we should not meet again. Before you receive this, I shall have gone away. Please forgive me. Philip Green’.”

      Lady Frances began to sob gently.

      “I can’t believe it, I won’t believe it.…”

      Shlessinger gave her a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure Mr. Green will realize he has made a dreadful mistake and will want to return to you.” He handed the letter back to Lady Frances, who agitatedly crumpled it in her hand.

      He paused, then added hesitantly: “There is a postscript that I…er…didn’t read.…”

      Lady Frances looked up sharply. “Postscript? What does it say?”

      “Really, I…er.…” Shlessinger spoke awkwardly. “I think it is only for your eyes, dear lady.”