Sherlock Holmes in New York Page #6

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Buonasera, Signorina.

Che piacere.

I once had the great honour of

appearing on the same bill

with your most most esteemed father.

My name is Sherlock Holmes,

and if you value your life and freedom

you'll invite me to your room at once.

Where is the boy?

Show him to me.

How did you know?

There's no time for that,

Mademoiselle.

Where is he?

Scott?

Scott?

Scott!

Scott?

He's drugged.

A few grains of laudanum,

that is all, Monsieur.

And only when I must go out.

I would not harm the boy.

You have most assuredly

harmed his mother.

What brought you to take part

in this outrage?

I had no choice, Monsieur.

Three days ago, a man came to me.

Charles Nickers,

a tumbler with the Twickenham Toffs.

I had the distinct honour of arresting his

brother, Bill, in London a fortnight ago.

The Twickenham Toffs have long

been a part of Moriarty's organisation.

And what did this Charles Nickers

say to you?

He said that

unless I did as I was bidden

my brother, Anatole, in Paris

would be murdered.

I see.

And what were your orders

in addition to persuading young Scott

to take part in a prank

against his governess?

I was to bring him here.

And then engage a room

facing the street.

Originally, my room was in the rear.

Then I was to call the opera

and say I was ill.

Then, twice a day I must inform

Mr Nickers that the boy is here

and no-one has enquired after him.

Inform? In what way?

Each day at eleven,

and again at seven,

he comes across the street and watches.

I walk to the window

and open the curtain and nod.

And that is all.

Which means it's almost time

for him to be there now.

Mademoiselle,

you have received Moriarty's

instructions now you will hear mine.

When Charles Nickers arrives

you will give him the proper signal

as you have been told to do,

and you will continue to do so

twice a day until I relieve you

of the responsibility.

If you do as I say, you will emerge

from this dismal matter unharmed,

as will your brother.

Fail me in any respect,

and you will held accountable for

the death of Scott Adler.

Oh, Mon dieu!

Yes, if I were French I would

have said the same thing myself.

See if he's there.

Well?

- Yes.

Then give the proper signal!

He has gone.

Good.

Here is my key. I am in room seventeen

It's three doors down from you,

across the corridor.

Go and unlock the door.

When the way is clear,

give the signal.

Now.

Back to your room, Mademoiselle.

And remember, do exactly as I told you.

The boy's life depends on it.

Yes, yes, of course,

I will obey you utterly.

Do.

There you are, my lad.

You'll have a bruise or two

to show for your adventure.

But they'll soon disappear under

your mother's kisses.

This is not an albergo for attori,

it is a pen for pigs.

Prepare my bill at once,

and send someone up for my luggage.

I will not share my room with bugs!

The Hotel Algonquino.

Woah!

Go ahead, quickly.

Mr Holmes and Dr Watson's

luggage from the hotel.

Come and give me a hand with it.

Good heavens, what's this about?

I said I got Dr Watson and Mr Holmes'

luggage from the hotel, like you ordered.

I need some help

getting it into the house.

Heller, help the man in

with the luggage, please.

Yes, madam.

What've they brought the

luggage here for, anyway?

I'm sure we'll find out very soon,

Watson.

It's mine all right.

Good heavens, it's empty.

Look here, my good man...

There's a large trunk on the back

of the carriage, Watson.

Holmes!

As soon as Heller and I have it

halfway across the pavement,

so it's blocking the view

of the chap across the street,

I want you to get into

the carriage as fast as you can,

lie on the floor, and under no

circumstances allow yourself to be seen.

Remember, do exactly as I say.

Come on, Heller.

Er, careful, pull it with two hands.

Now, Dr Watson.

Bring your end round.

Close the door.

Scott!

Is he all right?

He's as fit as a fiddle, he's just

feeling the effects of a sleeping draught.

How did I get here?

Where's Nicole?

Oh, it's all right my darling.

Irene, there's no time to explain.

Under no circumstances must you leave

this house or allow the lad to be seen.

Until I give the word,

matters still remain grave.

Of course

- Come on, Heller.

Open the door.

Here you are,

my man, here's something for your pains.

Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you very much.

Scott, my darling boy.

Who was that man?

Tell Moriarty Holmes and Watson

have moved into the Adler house.

Yah!

By George, you're right, Holmes.

Not a sign of anyone watching us.

I assumed as much.

We are not beaten yet, Watson.

Not by a long chalk.

Er, what's our next move, Holmes?

Well, what time is it?

Er...

- Ah, never mind!

Ah, almost ten and I have not dined,

lunched and, if my memory is correct,

we didn't even breakfast.

I suggest we make up for that lapse in

the Algonquin's most excellent restaurant.

And, after that, we can look up Inspector

Lafferty as soon as possible.

Hear, hear. All I've had today was tea

at Miss Adler's after our cab ride.

Holmes,

over here tea comes in pouches.

Thank you.

I take it this combination is different

from the one that unlocks the main doors?

It is, sir.

How many people

know these combinations?

Only the six employees of the Exchange

and myself.

And, I might add, the tumblers are

changed every three months.

Admirable, if, in this case, futile.

Is this the only way to

reach the vault?

Up until six days ago it was.

What sort of lift is this?

Drum and cable. Works from above.

And how far do we descend?

One hundred and fifty feet.

At what rate of speed?

Two hundred feet per minute.

We appear to have arrived.

Yes, so we have.

I presume this combination

also differs from its fellows

and is changed

every ninety days as well?

Correct, sir.

And now, Mr Holmes,

I'm gonna ask you to see for yourself

what I can only describe as

the most dismal sight the world

has ever seen.

Extraordinary!

They had to cut through over two feet

of rock and concrete.

The noise must have been deafening.

Since they've been working on the subway

you could set off dynamite

and no-one would hear it.

It's a condition that doubtless

was taken advantage of.

Two pieces of bullion

were left behind you say. Where?

Ah, one in the tunnel there.

One fifty feet

south of the main excavation.

Well, that makes it clear enough,

doesn't it Holmes?

They made off in that direction

with their boodle.

One would immediately accept that

conclusion, I quite agree with you.

I should like to take

a closer look at the vaults now.

How many pieces of actual gold

were stored here?

Just prior to the theft,

these vaults held

eighteen million pounds of gold,

consisting of 360,000

fifty-pound blocks.

Each block valued at $28,000.

360,000 blocks of gold removed

from here and no-one noticed it.

If we weren't standing here looking

at these vaults I'd say it was impossible.

Yes, I should say so, too.

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