Part 13 (1/2)
All of a sudden, she was back on the stage She darted forward, with her hooped skirts and her long black hair fanning out around her The Romany exorcist looked absolutely livid
”What's this?” shouted out the jocular Mr Wheatley, as his wife continued her arcane ritual ”The stage has been invaded! Hie thee hence, gypsy, and leave the exorcisms to your betters! Avaunt! I cast thee out, Roypsy woht Maude and I exchanged a glance at this sudden turn in events Denise's concentration had lapsed, and e floor
”You are dabbling in things you do not understand,” said the gypsy, in rather screeching tones She thrust a finger in the face of Denise Wheatley, as out of breath and venoe, Ro Denise thundered, and took a swing at her
The gypsy dodged the blow and swung back with a rather swift uppercut to the jaw Denise staggered backwards and put her hands up to her face She shrieked and called the gypsy soh the Royal Mail Soon, both feht while the audience roared their approval
”Someone should stop them,” I said nervously to Maude
She tossed her head ”Nothing wrong with a good grapple to sort things out I just hope Nellie doesn't get hurt in the crossfire”
Mr Wheatley was hovering anxiously as he watched his wife fighting the gypsy He clutched his Old Testaht! Fight! Fight!” cried the owner of the Christical powers couldn't help Denise Wheatley in a fair fight Soon the gypsy had her pinned to the floor and was clawing at her face
”Ohout her eyes!”
But that wasn't happening at all The gypsy was, in fact, re the Eyes of Miimon, which Denise had affixed into her sockets in front of her already rather deep-set eyes using rather a lot of eyelash glue We all cheered as the gypsy held up the two glittering jewels We watched her clamber to her feet and keep the so-called cha on her blue hair Behind them, Mr Wheatley noticed that his prized trophy had been smashed in the kerfuffle
”The Eyes of Miirand voice Then she tossed theesture But the gypsy's aieon plucked the ”Take good care of theypsy And then she basked in a warm round of applause froain, and declared the evening's bizarre entertainments over She told us all to fetch ourselves another drink and to have fun The dancing would recommence, just as soon as the band could set up
We saw her in earnest conversation with the gypsy, and I hurried over to help Nellie, who seeht, led to her feet ”Raphael is still inside of h I still felt very dis to be possessed by this being, whatever he was
Maude slapped her shi+ny leather handbag triuot the Eyes of Miimon! Safe, where no one can make mischief with them!”
Nellie looked rather pleased by that
But we all had one reypsy woman Why had that beaky-nosed creature helped us like that, in our moment of direst need?
It was some time later, in a quiet corner of the public rooht up with her
”Look here, gypsy woeon, with her usual bluff heartiness ”I suppose e you our thanks for your intercession tonight If that dreadful woman Denise had been allowed to keep these jewels, who knohat terrible sorceries she ypsy sharply, glaring at the three of us in turn
”That's a good point,” said Nellie ”She vanished into the crowd, once you let her go And so has her husband”
”They live to fight another day,” shrugged the gypsy ”Ah well”
She was pulling a shawl around her, clearly ready for the off ”Look here,” I said, stepping forward ”You still haven't explained anything”
The gypsy laughed ”I trust Maude Sturgeon to do the correct thing with the crystals They were stolen froeon will act in accordance with the law”
I looked at Maude and she seeht into the bitch's Maw, as planned
”Well, yes,” Maude said ”Quite right I will contact the authorities toypsy nodded ”Thenand her single eye was blazing ”Hang on a moment!” she cried She had to yell over the noise of the band playing Christ louder by the minute ”Contact the authorities? Return the Eyes of Miimon to the Finnish people?” She sounded scornful ”What kind of gypsy exorcist are you, wo at us then It was a harsh, gasping, so out frohter I took only a second or two to recognise
The Ro and gave us one of those quicksilver grins I was so used to seeing
A grin I was in no way expecting to see in a hotel on a cliff above the dark North Sea
”Good Goddess!” cried Maude Sturgeon
”I don't believe it,” Nellie gasped ”Hettie-” she turned to me ”-did you know about this?”
I stared at her and then back at Mr Sherlock Holh out loud ”I arbed as a gypsy, our ave a theatrical bow and turned on his heel Would you believe it, Dr Watson? He flew out of that Christle further word
And I suppose he will be back with you now, Doctor You will be reading this over breakfast Perhaps reading this final ether your bachelors' breakfast and use the last of the damson jam I left out for you Never fear, I will be back in Baker Street by to, to clear up the mess you have both undoubtedly made of the place
Tell Mr Holations both thank him profusely for his help in the case of the Eyes of Miimon and the Giant Finnish Squid and the Exorcists at the Christmas Hotel Tell him froain taking a relaxing fortnight by the sea
Yours, Mrs Hudson
From the Journal of Dr John Watson
November, 1925
That is the end of those letters which, now that I am reminded of them, strike as queer a chord in o
We were all so young in those days! Mrs Hudson included Now she lives at the hoer in Norfolk, where she acts as his housekeeper and occasional companion on his bizarre adventures All of a sudden I find myself keen to take a train journey to a reunion with Mrs H and the for in this business of the Finnish stones, found hidden in the eyes of a giant squid all those years ago
Won't Mrs Hudson be surprised!
Yes, in fact, since I've nothing planned for the rest of the week- why ever not? My beloved wife surely won'tin search of new adventures