Part 32 (1/2)
”Now then, Mrs H, what can I do for you today?” Herbert the fisher was as broad as he was tall, ruddy of complexion and smelled perpetually of his stock in trade Mrs Hudson wondered how his wife put up with it ”Bit of cod? Hake? Soht be in theher ever-present carpet bag
Herbert rubbed his broad chin ”White-spotted char? Now there's a fish Not seen that for a while Shockingly expensive, that is Your Mr Holht call a sophisticated palate?”
”He likes his luxuries, now and again,” she said ”So you don't have any, as a rule?”
Herbert shook his head ”To be honest, not had anyone offer me any, nor ask for it On account of the cost, like Have you tried up Covent Garden?”
Herbert was the sixth fishate, and every time it was the same answer Not a piece of white-spotted char to be had, nor had there been for soed to buy one froate just yesterday Or so he said
”Covent Garden?” asked Mrs Hudson
”Oh, aye, there's a very posh little place up there, does all kinds of fish you won't get here in Billingsgate Very snooty For the la-di-dah folk Now, are you sure I can't tempt you with a piece of this hake?”
The shop in Covent Garden was indeed very la-di-dah It went by the naoods and dried e, olives and big beef to nose who presided over the clean, bright counter regarded Mrs Hudson so bell over the door
”Do you sell white-spotted char?” asked Mrs Hudson pleasantly The woman waved her hand at the display of fish upon a bed of crushed ice ”We do How many would you like?”
Mrs Hudson looked at the prices and blanched Perhaps Mr Jacobs wasn't as destitute as Mr Hol fish at these prices She said, ”Did you sell one to a chap yesterday? Party by the name of Jacobs?”
”I couldn't say who I sold theular clientele, but we have many, many customers Why would you want to know?”
Mrs Hudsonin the street Why would Jacobs have travelled to Covent Garden for a piece of overpriced fish? The daylight was fading and she decided she'd better get back to Baker Street before the gentleh just around the corner were the offices of White Horse Transport and Travel, the operators of the passenger line which had taken Lady Morris to Paris and back
Mrs Hudson presented herself at the travel desk and murmured to the clerk, ”I do hope you can help I work for Lady Morris and well, she's had a lot on her plate recently Youlanced from side to side ”Terrible business, yes How can I help you?”
”Just for the purposes of organising her bills as I said, the Lady has been er manifests for the outward and return journeys It's for extra payments to the staff who attended her”
”Of course,” said the clerk, nodding, and swiftly located the documents ”Do tell Lady Morris that all at White Horse wish her the speediest of recoveries fro for a cab to take her back to Baker Street, Mrs Hudson inspected the ht Now she had just to hope that one of those Baker Street Irregulars was hanging around up to no good in Marylebone
”I ht have been a tadher lost property,” said Watson
”I suppose that's the upper classes for you,” said Holmes ”Find it difficult to show their eood la into his dish ”Dashed good”
”Very wared Mrs Hudson as her tenants ate a hearty dinner ”However all that business got ood recipe for white-spotted char so you cart around all the ti”
”A mystery we shall never solve, Watson!” declared Hol bread into his stew
”I did find it, but” said Mrs Hudson, and paused
Hol to Billingsgate but there wasn't any white-spotted char at all Hadn't been for soate More likely to get it in the posh shops up at Covent Garden, such as Highfield's”
”I know it,” nodded Holmes ”For those with very expensive tastes and the wallets to match” He paused ”But Lestrade said Jacobs had told the police he purchased the fish at Billingsgate”
Watson harru like that?”
”Because he has so, and began to clear the plates so she could bring out the pudding She had laid out the spotted dick when the doorbell sounded ”I'll attend to it,” she said
A ed little sca like wet fish, into the dining rooulars!” exclaiyour ears to the ground on the hunt for titbits of nefarious deeds and dark doings?”
The boy said nothing until Mrs Hudson pinched hi Like you said” He held out two sheets of cru? Like I said?” Holmes frowned
Another pinch from Mrs Hudson ”Ow! Earlier today, sir You asked lanced at Mrs Hudson ”Oh yes, the White Star I mean the White Horse”
”Must have been while you were cogitating, Holmes,” said Watson
Holer manifests? I don't recall Great Scott, Watson! These are from the journeys Lady Morris took to the Continent, and her return trip And dashed if Melvin Jacobs isn't listed as part of her itinerary! He's only Lady Morris's blasted footman!”
Holmes tossed the boy a sixpence and Mrs Hudson hurried the scareat detective had already solved the mystery
”Jacobs stole the jehile he was in Paris with his employer, and at the docks had them inserted into a fish that he knew must be bound for Covent Garden, for fear all the servants would be searched following the discovery of the crime! Then he went to purchase the exact fish-which he had marked with a cross-to obtain his stolen booty”
”damned clever footman,” observed Watson
”The crie necessity is the mother of invention, Watson We must away to Lestrade, and have him apprehend the villain immediately”
”You really are quite re hisit on the re
”But why,” wondered Mrs Hudson, ”should Jacobs then hand the gems in hione, leaving her question hanging there above the dirty dishes, dishes that were not about to wash the a Sunday the next day, Mrs Hudson only worked theand had the rest of the day to herself She prepared a hearty breakfast for Mr Holently enquired over the kippers if Inspector Lestrade had successfully apprehended the villain
”He did indeed,” said Holmes ”He has yet to confess to the criainst hih,” said Watson, inspecting the bottom of his teacup ”Turns out that not only was he not destitute, he is not a Jew Nor does he live in Aldgate”