Part 21 (1/2)
”I understand that none other than the Martian ambassador himself, a certain Yerkell-Jheer-Carral, was a frequent visitor to your establishht, Mr Holo, and I right miss him I do The ambassador was a bit of a character, you see”
My friend considered her words and stroked his chin with a long forefinger ”That is interesting, and informative,” he murmured to himself ”Now, could you tellthe ambassador at the Martian eirls out into the city? I protect irls, I do”
”I am sure you do, Madam Rochelle,” said Holmes ”I wonder if you can recall, when the ambassador visited your establishment, if he exhibited a preference for a certain type of lady?”
Madaht about that ”He liked 'em dark, Mr Holmes No blondes for the ambassador Dark and sultry was how he liked his wimmen”
Holain that we did not care to avail ourselves of the pleasures of her establish confines of Mada spring air of the Strand Holmes made a beeline for a Communications Kiosk - yet another wonder for which we had to thank the Martians - on the corner of the Strand and Northumberland Avenue ”Excuse ular frame into the kiosk
He stepped out minutes later and explained, ”I contacted Mr Wells and Miss West, and arranged to meet them, in secrecy, on Hampstead Heath at six” He crossed the pave soon after to hail a passing taxi
”And now?” I asked as we climbed aboard
”To the Martian e through the streets of the capital
An underling Martian showed us into the embassy and suht again examine the ambassador's bedchamber, and Gruvlax-Xenxa-Schmee escorted us up the stairs to the penthouse suite
Holmes hurried over to the bed while I remained on the threshold with the deputy, stopped infrom the corpse Holmes, for his part, seemed not to notice the aroh the late ambassador's inert tentacles
”Aha!” he said at last, and turned on me a look of triumph
Gruvlax-Xenxa-Schave vent to a series of oesophageal belches which the box at its ht enquire as to how the investigation proceeds?”
”I am happy to inform you that the case is solved,” Holle of dead li across the counterpane ”My initial examination of the corpse failed to locate the iood reason that it was concealed beneath the ambassador's foreliing at the stench, joined thele of tentacles and beheld, gripped in a suckered pseudopod, a bloodstained letter-knife
The Martian spoke ”Are you saying, Mr Holations led me, in due course, to an established by those of little self-restraint It is my painful duty to inform you that the ambassador was a frequent visitor to this establishment, where he developed a predilection for human ladies of a certain type”
Before me, Gruvlax-Xenxa-Schmee appeared to slump ”I are of his weakness,” it said, ”and more than once attempted to reason with His Excellency, to no avail”
”It is my opinion,” said Holmes, ”that remorse overcame the auilt at his unfaithfulness to his ulf between Mars and Earth - he took his own life”
The deputy aic affair, Mr Holmes”
We took our leave, and, as we hurried across the square towards the taxi rank, I said doubtfully, ”Suicide? But hoas it that you didn't find the letter-knife when you first examined the corpse?”
”All will be revealed in time, Watson Have patience” He opened the rear door of the taxi and slipped inside ”To Hampstead Heath,” he told the driver
We came to the crest of the hill and stood in silence, all London spread before us The sun was setting, and a roseate light bathed the capital I made out familiar landmarks, St Paul's and Nelson's Column, and more recent additions to the city's skyline: the spaceyard in Streatham constructed by the Martians, and the stanchioned air-port for the new flying machines over at Ber tripods, stilled now after the activity of the day, hooded and slightly sinister Soon, when the sun went down, they would begin their curiouslyof which was still a uessed, Watson, that in the last years of the nineteenth century, our world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than, and yet as uessed that, in tiulfs of space and settle our planet? If that first invasion had succeeded, if the ht off the invaders as successfully as any army, then life on Earth would now be under the yoke of terrible oppressors Give thanks that a second, more altruistic Martian nation folloorked to cure the ht a new, technological age to our planet And yet, Watson”
”And yet?”
”And yet, the Martians are an invading aresse, and they bring with thenorance, and evil”
He paused, his aquiline face plunged in melancholy introspection for a space, and then he roused himself and pointed ”Look, Watson, down by that oak Mr Wells and Miss West, holding hands like the lovers they are Shall we join them?”
We made our way down the incline and hs Both looked suspicious, West's beautiful visage drawn and even paler than usual
Wells stepped forward ”You said you had news?” he began
”The case is resolved,” said Holmes ”We located the weapon”
At this Wells flinched ”Located?” he echoed
”It was concealed beneath the aled limbs,” Holmes explained
Miss West stared at him ”But isn't it curious that you did not find the knife when you first exahtest,” replied Holmes, ”for the knife was not in situ when I first made my examination”
”What?” I cried
”Then how?” Wells began
”I placed it there just one hour ago, when I entered the ahast at , Holmes?” I expostulated ”Why but that means the ambassador cannot have taken his own life!”
Holmes smiled, and turned to Mr Wells and Miss West ”That is correct, is it not? Would you care to explain?”
Miss West opened her mouth, quite shocked ”Why, I have no idea what you mean”
”Come, my dear I am quite aware of the ambassador's predilections, shall we say?”
At this, Miss West broke down and sobbed Wells eained her composure, looked Holo, upon my appointment as the as known I was revolted, of course, though I ell aware of the the tastes of some of his kind The ambassador, for all his status, was not exe insistence he proceeded to press hiht he asked me into his room, ostensibly to dictate a last letter However” She sobbed, biting her knuckle ”Oh, it was horrible, horrible! His strength, his ghastly, overwhel”