Part 20 (1/2)
”And the key, deputy aht easily take it?”
”It is kept in an unlocked drawer in the bureau,” it replied, gesturing to the adjacent sitting roo tentacle
”How many members of staff would have access to the key?”
”Just four: two of my own people, and the two humans ork in the embassy”
”If you would kindly surateful”
The Martian shuffled from the room Seconds later Holmes declared, ”Hullo, what's this?”
In three strides he had crossed to the hich stood open six inches He lifted it further and peered out I joined hiravelled forecourt beloas in excess of forty feet, and no convenient drainpipe, wisteria or the like, clad the wall to provide suitable access
Holmes stood back and contemplated the wall below the sill
I sahat attracted his attention-a gouge in the wallpaper four inches beneath the sill, and an abrasion on the paint of the ork itself
”But what could it be?” I asked
”If the aht, and an intruder ar, Watson? Then again, there ht be an entirely innocent explanation for the marks”
I examined the wall more closely, and when I turned fro into his breast pocket, which he had presumably taken from the bedside table There was an expression on his face which I have beheld lint in his eye that betokened the fact that he had garnered what he considered to be a significant clue
Before I could question him, however, the deputy aathered and await you next door, Mr Holmes,” it said
”And you have been in the e?” Holentleman by the name of Herbert, a sallow man in his late forties with expressive, ular recapitulation of the physiology of his es and a stocky, barrel-like torso
”And your position in the eht call it a scientific advisor to the ambassador and his staff I liaise between the Martian scientists and engineers who visit our world with their wonders, and their opposite nuh-pitched voice, with not a little trace of cockney in the vowels
”And you trained at?”
”The Royal College of Science, under none other than the great Professor Huxley hiins, Herbert, you have acquitted yourself remarkably well”
”Not too badly, if I say so myself - for the son of a draper,” Herbert said
My friend cleared his throat ”Now, to thein the e directed towards the ambassador?”
Herbert shook his head ”None whatsoever, sir The ambassador is - was - well liked, by both Martians and huine who ht have done this”
”Are you aware of the political factions that exist ast the Martians? We well know that there was political strife, not to say animosity, between certain nations before their arrival here”
The scientific liaison officer shook his head ”I know of certain political differences between the Martians, yes, but I was not aware that such differences existed between the ambassador and his staff, or any other Martians who had dealings with him on Earth”
”Very well Noe coht Gruvlax-Xenxa-Schmee last saw the ambassador at eleven o'clock, at which time the ambassador repaired to his bedchamber and locked the door It is my estimation that the ambassador died at soh I ady Nohere were you between these hours?”
”I have a room in the basement of the embassy, sir I retired at nine, where I wrote for two hours before going to bed”
”You keep a diary?”
Herbert s of what I write finds favour with publishers' current tastes Too fantastical,” he finished
Holmes murmured his condolences ”Perhaps what is needed in these fantastic times is a little more social realism,” said he, then returned to the ht, as usual It was then that Gruvlax-Xenxa-Sch news”
Holers splayed on the table-top before him, then looked up at Herbert ”And I take it that you knohere the spare key to the ambassador's bedchamber is kept?”
”Yes, sir In the bureau in this very room”
”To which you have access?”
Herbert nodded ”Yes, sir”
”That will be all, Mr Wells Will you be kind enough to send in Miss West?”
Herbert opened the co door to beloveliness, a wouessed to be in her midtwenties, raven-haired, pale-skinned and serious I noted that I was not alone in observing what passed between theripped each other's hands and uttered whatwords, before Miss West smiled bravely and strode with exceptional deportment into the room
She seated herself at the table ”Mr Holmes, Mr Watson; it is an honour indeed to meet at last such illustrious upholders of the judiciary I have followed your exploits with considerable interest, gentlemen”
Holmes smiled thinly ”In which case you will have no objections to aiding our enquiries?”
The slightest frown marred, for a second, the perfection of her alabaster forehead ”Of course not, Mr Holmes”
The interview that folloas the swiftest I have ever seen my friend conduct It seemed barely two minutes from when Miss West entered the room to the time she swept out
”If you could inform me of the position you hold in the embassy, Miss West, and the duration you have been here?”
She regarded Hol ”I am - was - employed as the private secretary to Yerkell-Jheer-Carral, the late Martian ambassador, and I have held the position for a little over six months”
”And your duties entailed?”