The Secret Chronicles of Sherlock Holmes by June Thomson Page A

alone in a room, gloating over these treasures as if they were his own.
    At first Holmes’ inquiries had been general and had consisted of asking his well-to-do acquaintances, many of them former clients, if they had any knowledge of such an individual. There, however, he had drawn a blank. In addition, he searched the newspapers for any references to wealthy art collectors which he pasted into a new cuttings-book given over entirely to this subject, while his encyclopaedia of reference for the letter ‘M’ had several pages devoted exclusively to Millionaires.
    He also took to attending all the major sales at which family heirlooms were auctioned on the premise that, now that Vanderbilt and his yeggman were safely behind bars and the burglaries had consequently ceased, The Magpie might resort to legitimate means of acquiring those personal objets d’art which he might wish to add to his collection.
    It was all to no avail. The identity of The Magpie eluded him.
    There is a strong streak of obstinacy in Holmes’ nature. Like a bull-dog, once he has set his teeth into a problem, nothing will persuade him to let go. To my certain knowledge, he refused several important and potentially remunerative cases that summer, including a request from Lady Buttermere toinvestigate the curious nocturnal activities of one of her footmen, so engrossed was he in his own inquiries.
    It was in September ’95 when, having exhausted all other lines of investigation, Holmes finally resorted to a direct appeal, a stratagem which he had been reluctant to employ as he considered it might betray his hand and rouse the suspicions of his unidentified quarry.
    Consequently, he placed the following advertisement in The Times for the 9th of that month:
    Titled gentleman, who prefers to remain anonymous, is forced to sell certain valuable and important family heirlooms, including miniatures by Cooper and Cosway, eighteenth-century English enamelled snuff-boxes and jewelled vinaigrettes. No dealers. Private buyers only. Apply in strictest confidence to Mr P. Smith, * Poste Restante, St Martins-le-Grand.
    ‘That is all very well, Holmes,’ I said, laying down the newspaper after my old friend had pointed the advertisement out to me, ‘but, even supposing The Magpie replies, which you cannot guarantee, how will you know it is he?’
    ‘Oh, I have every confidence he will answer,’ Holmes replied nonchalantly. ‘I have deliberately chosen small but rare objects which The Magpie appears to prefer to larger items. I have gone to the trouble of writing to the victims of Vanderbilt and his yeggman and, from their answers, have compiled a list of the stolen objects which includes miniatures and snuff-boxes as well as jewellery caskets and other such personal items of particularly delicate workmanship. As for recognising our quarry, I am quite certain I shall have no difficulty in picking him out from among any other applicants. I know this man, Watson. I have, in a manner of speaking, lived with him for the past few months. Only let him write and I shall recognise hisspoor upon the paper as surely as if he had left his footprint on a patch of freshly dug soil.’
    ‘Then what of these valuable heirlooms?’ I persisted. ‘The Magpie will wish to examine them before he buys. How will you acquire enamelled snuff-boxes and miniatures, let alone jewelled vinaigrettes?’
    ‘My dear fellow, do you imagine that I have laid my trap without first making sure that I have the bait to hand? You have not met Viscount Bedminster, I believe? Then let me simply say that he is a former client of mine who had the unfortunate experience of becoming entangled with a lady of dubious reputation. As at the time he had no money to speak of but a career of great promise before him, I waived the fee. However, since then he has inherited not only the title but also a house in Knightsbridge replete with objets d’art, never publicly displayed. He has agreed to lend me certain