Chapter 8 – Mycroft takes the bait

 

Sitting back in our armchairs, we enjoyed a pipe of tobacco. Holmes had his head in a copy of The Police Gazette and the occasional snort and chortle from him proved to me that he read it purely for amusement rather than as a source of information! For my part, I picked up my copy of The Lancet for late March and began to read the final section of a most informative paper detailing the results of a trial of open-air treatment of tuberculosis.

After perhaps half an hour, the sound of a Hansom drawing up in the street below and a familiar tread on the stairs announced the arrival of Mycroft Holmes. Without even knocking, Mycroft swept in, depositing his hat and coat on the back of our chaise longue and nodding a greeting in my direction. “I take it, Sherlock, that your telegram was intended as some crude form of bait designed to entice me here?”

Holmes smiled, saying, “Clearly it had the desired effect.”

Mycroft’s response was to say, “A simple invitation to Baker Street for a glass of Sherry might have sufficed.”

Holmes rose from his chair. “Possibly, as I am aware that you have no great liking for it.”

Mycroft nodded, adding, “My point, exactly!”

I put down The Lancet and regarded the two brothers. Over the years I had become used to this intellectual, fraternal fencing. The cutting comment, the parry and riposte; each brother trying to score a point against the other. I now regarded it as commonplace.

Holmes returned to his chair and invited Mycroft to sit. Picking up his pipe, Holmes drew steadily upon it and began to explain the happenings of the previous few days, saying, “There was a good reason for the content of the telegram Mycroft…”

Over the next half hour I could see the furrows on Mycroft’s brow deepen as he recognised the potential for disaster. It was when Mycroft was shown the tracing paper seized during the raid on the Fenians that he asked, “Do you think that this attack is imminent?”

Holmes’ face was grim. “I believe that they will waste no time. Their operation has been put at risk both by the raid by Special Branch and the death of Mihail Konsulov… and, they have lost one of their ‘mules’. It is indeed fortunate that we have been able to link the death of Catherine Ward to O’Leary. He is a very cautious man and has left no incriminating map of where they are to strike. The lines on the tracing paper are meaningless without the corresponding map.”

Understanding struck me like a thunderbolt! “Of course, the tracing paper… it is a template… no, an overlay!”

Holmes drew upon his pipe and blew out a thin stream of blue smoke before saying, “There is something more. I believe that the figure 8 on the tracing paper may be particularly significant… but I require confirmation from you Mycroft. The House of Commons in Westminster is not sitting… but what are the Prime Minister’s engagements for the 8th of April?”

On hearing this, I spluttered, “But…but that is tomorrow!”

I looked towards Mycroft, his complexion now looked almost grey. Mycroft stood and reached for his hat and coat, saying, “He is to have a full cabinet meeting at 3p.m. at10 Downing Street with the heads of the Metropolitan Police and The Special Irish Branch. I must return to Whitehall, Sherlock. This cannot be allowed to happen.”

Holmes was seen to remove his pipe from his mouth and hold up a cautionary hand. “Do not be too hasty Mycroft, this needs some careful thought. If the Fenians get even an inkling of our suspicions, they will disappear. Were they to strike again, it would be without us knowing their hand. Many more innocent lives would undoubtedly be lost.”

Mycroft paused, sensing that his brother had more to say. Sitting again, he asked, “What do you propose, Sherlock?”

Holmes had moved to the edge of his seat, his eyes now bright, burning like coals. “As I understand it Mycroft, The London Hydraulic Power Company does not have the monopoly on underground workings in Westminster. There are, I believe, discreet underground passageways that link important government and, perhaps, even Royal buildings. These passageways are, I would imagine, invisible on any commercial map.”

I sat intrigued and looked at Mycroft who now seemed to be somewhat uncomfortable in his seat. Shuffling more than a little, Mycroft nodded. “That may well be the case, Sherlock. I am not at liberty to say more… but how might they be useful in the present situation?”

Holmes was clearly enjoying the intellectual aspect of devising his plan but, I believe, he was taking an equal amount of pleasure from seeing his brother’s obvious discomfort!

Holmes continued, “I suggest that you tell only the Prime Minister and the two senior police officers of our suspicions. As a sensible precaution, the moment the Cabinet is fully assembled and the front door is closed, 10 Downing Street is to be evacuated through the passageways beneath. It is logical to assume that an attack would occur at a time when the Cabinet meeting was well underway so as to inflict maximum casualties. This works in our favour and would allow time for the evacuation.”

Holmes paused and then slammed his fist down upon the arm of his chair. “We must not let these villains slip through our grasp, Mycroft. They must be stopped! I intend to visit The London Hydraulic Power Company early tomorrow morning and determine the location from which they intend to strike.”

Mycroft nodded, saying, “I will go directly to Downing Street. Expect a telegram within the hour.” With that, Mycroft swept from our rooms.

True to his word, barely an hour later, Mrs Hudson appeared with her tray that contained two cups of tea and a government telegram. Holmes opened it and laughed aloud. “Listen to this, Watson: ‘The P.M. looks forward to seeing you on the 9th. He hopes you will join him for a glass of sherry.’ Hah! It seems Mycroft has succeeded!”

Holmes and I sat a little longer. The mirth from reading Mycroft’s telegram had dispersed and matters had indeed become more serious. Holmes leant towards me, saying, “Once we have had sight of the plans and obtained the information we need, Watson, there will be some considerable personal danger in what lies ahead.”

I was grateful for, and a little touched by, Holmes’ concern for my safety. I rose and turned to go to my room, saying, “Where you lead, Holmes, I shall follow. Have no fear, my service revolver will be cleaned and loaded before I retire.” Holmes smiled and nodded and I left him to his thoughts.