My Dearest Holmes by Rohase Piercy

have given me the clue. What a blind fool I was not to think of it immediately! Pass me the reference book.'
    Meekly I extracted the bulky volume from its place on Holmes' bookshelf and handed it to him. I watched him as he sat perched on the edge of his chair, balancing the book on his knees, hunched over it in a hungry attitude like a bird of prey ready to swoop and devour. He turned the pages swiftly, until he froze suddenly, drawing in his breath in a low hiss of excitement.
    Well?' I asked impatiently.
    He raised his eyebrows and surveyed me long and searchingly.
    'Watson,' he said, 'tell me truthfully, has it ever occurred to you that I may be past my prime? Is it possible, do you think, that I am losing my grip? That I could be experiencing softening of the brain?'
    'Never, Holmes!' I cried loyally, much amazed. 'Unless,' I added cunningly, after a moment's thought, 'it could be that your indulgence in the cocaine habit has had a dulling effect upon--'
    'Never mind, Watson,' he interrupted with a dismissive gesture. 'Let us stick to the point. If my suspicions are correct, this is a most extraordinary--however, it is always a mistake to theorise in advance of the evidence. One thing is certain, however, Watson. We are looking for a woman who calls herself the Queen Bee.'
    For a moment, I wondered whether he might not really be experiencing softening of the brain after all. I stared at him in a questioning manner. He chuckled, and tapped with his long finger at the open page on his knee.
    'The Queen Bee, my dear Watson, is an adventuress of doubtful reputation whom it has not yet been my privilege to encounter, but whose details I thought it worthwhile to enter here, having heard her mentioned in several interesting contexts in the course of my career. She is known to be of good family, though they have long since ceased to recognise her, and she does not use the family name. She appears to have several questionable sources of income, and to operate with what I gather to be considerable charm and flair, in the circles to which the French give the interesting designation of the demi-monde. She takes the greatest pleasure in bringing the wealthy and respectable to account for their past misdeeds; no doubt her past treatment at the hands of respectable society has something to do with that. She is known to reside in South London.
    'That she is the blackmailer of Lord Robert Carstairs is entirely plausible. In fact it is more than plausible; it is certain.'
    I walked across to the sideboard and absent-mindedly poured myself a second whisky and soda.
    'I have never heard of her,' I said thoughtfully.
    'I would hardly expect you to have heard of her. You do not move in the right circles, my dear Watson.'
    I gave a short, harsh laugh which caused my friend to raise his eyebrows. 'At any rate,' I said, taking a hasty gulp from my glass, 'I would be surprised if Miss D'Arcy has not heard of her.'
    Holmes leaned back and surveyed me coolly.
    'How your thoughts do run on that young lady,' he remarked drily. 'She seems to have quite a hold over you. I hope that you have not taken her too far into your confidence.'
    'Don't be ridiculous, Holmes,' I said, blushing hotly. Something in his tone made me feel uneasy.
    He continued to regard me from his chair. 'Well, well,' he said at last, 'I shall investigate the activities of the Queen Bee tomorrow. And I think, Watson, that it would be better not to approach Miss D'Arcy at this stage. In fact, I would strongly advise complete discretion where that lady is concerned.
    'It really is most gratifying,' he continued, rising and sauntering slowly across to the sideboard, 'to have such an opportunity to investigate the activities of a person who has hitherto remained in the wings, as it were, in every drama in which I have participated so far. Most gratifying,' he repeated, crossing to the mantelpiece, glass in hand, to refill his pipe. 'And most thought-provoking.'
    I could see that he was