Chapter Nine

“Look who we have here, come to see us,” I proudly announced.

“I’m sorry,” Lydia said, “I am disturbing your meal.”

“Nonsense, Lydia,” Beatrice said, “Have you eaten? If not, pull up a chair and join us. If you have eaten, pull up a chair and join us anyway!”

Lydia did so and we all engaged in a slight re-distribution of the food on our plates, to enable her to have a portion approximately equal to all of us although I rapidly came to the conclusion that rather more had left my plate than anybody else’s!

Lydia was extremely garrulous on subject of her one woman show, understandably so for it was an undeniable reason for feeling proud. The show had become a great success, the first of many I felt for this talented young woman.

“There are just the two more shows left and they are both sold out completely, there will not even be standing room.”

“That’s wonderful, Lydia,” I enthused warmly, “but it will mean that we will not be able to see the show for ourselves and I was looking forward very much to seeing it, as we all were.”

“Sorry, Doctor Watson, I had not thought of that.”

“You are a victim of your own success, young lady,” said Holmes and I caught the merest tone of chastisement in his tone. “Perhaps you should split whatever monies you earn with the ghost of Mary Anning.”

Lydia shifted somewhat nervously in her seat and picked at her food absent-mindedly. “I am glad to say it has not affected sales adversely.”

“No, indeed, rather the reverse. Fortunate don’t you think or do you have no views on that aspect of the matter?” Holmes asked.

“Really, Holmes,” I remonstrated, “Lydia has come to see us to share her good news and friendship with us, not to be interrogated over matters she has no control over.”

Holmes nodded curtly, but with no word of apology and the conversation passed on to other subjects, subjects as diverse as bees, photography, the American Civil War, the works of Charles Dickens and the history of coal production.

After we had finished eating and the dishes had been cleared away we were all able to relax with the exception of Lydia who had a show to do that evening.

“Where did you get the idea for the show, Lydia?” asked Beatrice.

“Oh, it just came to me while I was watching a similar sort of show in London. It was a one man production on the life of Sir Francis Drake told through rhyme, words and song. I thought, ‘I could do that!’ and started mapping the show out that very evening.”

“Did you gain work that was plentiful enough for you during your time in London?” I asked.

“Yes, I was very fortunate and managed to get work in the legitimate theatres so to speak and also in the music halls doing monologues and recitals. Hard work, but enormously good for my stagecraft. I worked with a very famous quick-change artist who taught me the tricks of his trade which have come in very handy in my show.”

“Leonardo Fregoli?” asked Holmes.

“Yes, the best in the world,” she replied.

“So I believe,” rejoined Holmes, displaying a hitherto unknown knowledge of the varieties.

“If you like, because you are likely to miss the show, I can give you an idea of how it all works here and now. Obviously there will be lots I have to take out and there are no props or changes of costume so you will have to rely on your imagination.”

“Thank you Lydia, that would be just perfect,” I said.

We moved the table and chairs to one side of the room and tried to create as much space as we could for Lydia’s impromptu performance. We gathered ourselves together in a semi-circle and Lydia was centre stage and ready to begin.

“I am well known throughout the whole of Europe,” she announced and proceeded to take us on a magical journey through the life of Mary Anning. Characters from all walks of life came to life, scientists for instance such as, Henry De La Beche, William Buckland, Louis Agassiz and even King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. Each of these was played to perfection by Lydia who inhabited each of these individuals and became them. We had the story of Mary’s life from when she was born in poverty until when she died, also in poverty. All the highs and lows were there, the discoveries, the friendship with the Philpot sisters of Lyme, the deaths of her father and mother and her beloved dog, Tray.

We laughed and we cried at the magic that Lydia was displaying, at the emotions that she brought to the surface so ably. Her facial expressions and her physical dexterity were a joy to behold. All this was in the name of entertainment, but even so Lydia opened up Mary Anning’s life for all to see and wonder at and gave a great insight into an exceptional person’s life.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the celebrated Mary Anning.” With that, the celebrated Miss Lydia Hutchings concluded her mesmerising performance. We stood as one and applauded. Lydia curtsied with a flourish and prepared to take her leave for another performance was due before the evening’s paying customers. As she said her goodbyes and walked into the hall, I heard Sherlock Holmes say, softly to her as she passed him.

“It has to stop, Lydia, it really must.”

Lydia locked her brown eyes on to Holmes’s unblinking grey ones. There followed an almost imperceptible nod.

“You are right. Consider it stopped, Mr Holmes.”

“Thank you, Lydia.”

There was no time to question Holmes about this exchange for as Lydia left the house, Joe Street entered it.

“Good evening, folks, I am the bearer of glad tidings, John is fully conscious and talking. I haven’t questioned him about the attack, not while Beth was with him, but I have sent her home now and I thought you, Mr Holmes, may wish to question him.”

“By all means, Sergeant as long as our twin medicos grant me their permission to do so.”

“That is easily decided, Holmes, I will come back up to Jacobs’s with you, if Beatrice has no objections.”

“No of course not John, but please try not to be late, I am sure the Royal Lion can manage without your custom for one evening!”

My boots had become once more a source of great entertainment for Angel whose mouth and teeth seemed to become highly excited in my presence. As much as I was pleased to see she displayed a fine set of molars I was not overly keen that she test them on any part of my attire or indeed me.

“Uncle John,” said Elizabeth, “perhaps you would care to take Angel for a walk at the same time, as you are going out anyway?”

“I fear not, Elizabeth, the responsibility would be too great. What if I were to lose her?”

“Well, honestly now, is that likely?” retorted Elizabeth.

“I assure you, not only is it likely, but entirely probable!”

I made my escape in the company of Holmes and Street for the very short walk to Jacobs’s house in Monmouth Street. I fervently wished that John Legg would be able to tell us who had assaulted him and armed with that information we could set about apprehending him.

Constable Legg certainly looked a lot brighter and indeed healthier than he had just a few hours previously. Colour had returned to his cheeks and he was able to give us a smile of welcome.

“I have always said that Lyme is an exciting place to be, but maybe this is stretching things too far,” he joked.

“What of the incident, can you recall anything about your attacker?” asked Holmes.

“Very little, Mr Holmes. I remember clearly approaching the rear porch, but the events after that are a bit of a blur I’m afraid. I did get the impression that the man, if it was a man, that attacked me was tall, I recall a shadow leaning over me which gave me that impression.”

“Anything else you recall could be useful; the merest intimation would be uniformly helpful.”

“No, there is nothing other than feeling a blow on the head and from then on I did not feel anything at all. I just found myself in a world of dreams, weird, fractured and vivid. Wait, though, I seem to recall a strange, overpowering scent, does that sound odd?”

“No, not at all for we know that our man favours ‘Parisienne’ cologne, strongly so in fact, perhaps it may serve to camouflage a distinctive body odour,” Holmes replied.

“What is our next step?” asked Legg.

“Your next step is simple,” I interjected, “all you have to do is rest and do as the doctor orders.”

“That is exactly what Beth said to me the very moment I opened my eyes.”

“Unless you want to feel the wrath of Miss Markey, Dr Jacobs and me, then that is precisely what you will do!”

“And that’s a direct order from your sergeant too,” added Street.

“Yes sir!” and he sank back further onto the pillow. We left the man to his sleep and prescribed rest.

“We appear to be no further forward, Holmes,” I ventured.

“We do have the information now that we didn’t have before, that our man is tall,” Holmes replied.

“I must admit, I cannot see how this is information that we can act on and remember it was only Legg’s impression.”

“I concede to you that it not the most singular clue we could have uncovered, but it is a clue all the same. What news from Inspector Baker, Sergeant?”

“I expect we will see him in the morning, Mr Holmes.”

“Excellent, we will confer tomorrow then if I am not murdered in my bed!”

“You will be safe, Holmes, you have the navy there to protect you and I believe the Royal Lion management decided long ago that guests being murdered in their beds was somewhat of a hindrance to their continued success,” I said, drily, “and if that is not comfort enough then please allow me to escort you to the hotel once more.”

“Thank you, Watson, but please do not fall foul of Mrs Watson by so doing. At my time of life I do not desire to be a material witness in the divorce courts!”

“Very droll, Holmes.”

Lyme regis news

Prayers have been said at St Michaels Church for the continuing recovery of John Legg. Inspector Baker from Bridport has arrived to take over the investigation. Our advice to the inspector is to seek out Sherlock Holmes at the earliest opportunity. Sergeant Street has called for calm and vigilance.

There have been yet more calls for the creation of a children’s boat pond. This is another thorny problem which seems to vex our town council with some councillors even debating the need for such a facility and questioning why children should be favoured this way. Our view is that it is a very fine idea and the council should stop dragging its heels and provide this boat pond before the fashion for such activities is replaced by something else.

‘The Trials Of Mary Anning’ has now ended its run and we take this opportunity to wish Miss Lydia Hutchings continued success in her career, but....come back soon, Lydia!