Sherlock Holmes and the Discarded Cigarette (3 page)

Chapter 8

 

As it turns out there was another person in the audience of the St. James that evening that had more than a passing literary interest in the science fiction writings of Wells than either Holmes or I did. “Watson” Holmes said in a low voice as he leaned in my direction “You know it's not usually in my nature to give in to premonitions but I think we should have a word with author after, perhaps while he is occupied with autographing copies of his book.”

“What makes you think like this?” I questioned “I thought I saw the back of a familiar form two rows ahead of us” was Holmes answer “and if it is who I think it is I cannot help but think he is not here solely for the sake of literature”.

He then instructed me “When Mr. Wells is finished Watson, proceed from your seat to the foyer and secure a place in book signing queue for both of us before too many more people from the audience are ahead of us.” “While you are doing this I am going to see if the form I saw belongs to the man I think he might be.”

As H.G. Wells was taking his second curtain call to an almost standing ovation, I made my way quickly from the theater to the foyer to see that there were only a few people were lined up in the book signing queue for the author to arrive. As instructed I got into the queue, as I was waiting a gentleman two people ahead of me caught my attention.

Even from where I was standing I noticed right away he was half a head taller than myself; I thought him a bit on the thin side, he had dark sparse hair and was well dressed, which indicated to me that he might be gainfully employed. The one thing that kept my attention on him was an air of nervous energy that seemed to be about him. As if he had a burning question that required an immediate answer from the author.

The sound of approaching applause, which momentarily broke my concentration, indicated that Wells had entered the theater foyer After the author had seated himself at the desk and chair that the theater had been provided for him the book signing queue slowly began to move forward, I looked around and did not notice Holmes any where, so instead of introducing Holmes to the author as I had planned to I could only introduce myself and relate to Wells, I only hoped correctly was that Holmes had enjoyed the reading.

Before I knew it the man with the air of nervous energy about him was standing in front of H.G. Wells I was close enough to catch most to the conversation that passed between them. “Mr. Wells” the man started “I regret not having a copy of your book for you to autograph, but be assured I will be purchasing a copy first thing tomorrow. I do have one question for you though, is the time machine in your story a possibility?”

“Mr.” Wells paused while he waited to hear his questioner's last name “Druitt sir Montague John Druitt” was the questioners answer. “Mr. Druitt let me assure you that the machine in my book is a work of pure fiction and imagination only.”

“During the last part of the 19
th
century we have witnessed the invention of great marvels of technology but we do not at this time possess the knowledge or even the ability to create such a machine that could propel a man as far forward in time as I have suggested.”

When Druitt, no doubt a little disappointed at the answer he received and the person behind him departed it was my turn to speak to the author. I first introduced myself and then apologized for Holmes absence.

“I can assure you Mr. Wells if my friend were here he would compliment you on your story and in the manner it was written,” “When you see him next thank him for me” was Wells response then he continued “I must ask if you are the same Doctor Watson who writes for the Strand chronicling the cases of Mr. Sherlock Holmes.”

Surprised and a little bit flattered at the question I replied “Yes I am, although if my friend were present he would tell you that I relate them as exciting stories rather than as objective and detailed reports focusing on what Holmes regards as the pure “science”.

Then remembering my conversation with Holmes about the time machine earlier in the theater, I asked if Welles was free some after noon to meet with Holmes and myself to discuss his book in greater detail.

“The pleasure would be mine Doctor Watson” was Wells response to my request. Giving him a card with Holmes address on it I said my farewells and set off looking to see if I could locate Holmes in the now fairly crowded and bustling theater foyer After searching for a short time and having no luck in locating him I finally retrieved my coat and hat and made my way towards the well lit entrance of the theater and King Street in hopes of attracting a hansom cabbies attention for transport back to 221 B Baker Street.

Then as if by some magicians trick I suddenly heard my name in the night air “Watson!” and there was Holmes already seated in one waiting for me. “Holmes you never cease to surprise me.” I said as I climbed in. “Did you locate the person you were looking for?” I asked. “No” Holmes replied to my question “He must have melted into the large body of people who had gathered in the theater foyer after Mr. Well's performance.

“I trust although you were able to talk with the author for a few minutes?” “ Holmes queried. I told him I had and that I had invited Wells to Holmes room's tomorrow afternoon to talk more about his book.

As the hansom cab pulled away into the night I related “I must tell you that while I was waiting in the queue I saw a man who caught my attention and while he was talking to H.G. Wells I happen to overhear his name, it sounded some what familiar and I wondered if you might remember it” I said “The name of this man?” Holmes questioned “John Druitt” I replied

Holmes then asked me to give a physical description of Druitt, and it turned out to be the very man Holmes had been seeking earlier in the theater “ah yes Montague John Druitt,” Holmes closed his eyes to remember “originally from Dorset I believe, he was a graduate of Winchester College and an avid sportsman.

I believe Druitt was considered by many to be the number one suspect in the Jack the Ripper case. Interestingly enough, there was very little evidence with which to implicate his him. I also remember that he had been incarcerated for the theft of small to medium sized oil paintings and was also in the business of creating reasonably good forgeries of the stolen paintings to sell to less than discriminate buyers.”

Chapter 9

 

The next day proved to be far brighter for myself and Holmes in that the weather had much improved and in the much anticipated visit of a famous author. “Mr. Holmes, Doctor Watson a Mr. Wells is here to see you” came the familiar voice of Mrs. Hudson from the downstairs inside front entrance of the house.

“Send him up please Mrs. Hudson” Holmes raised his voice loud enough so that he did not have to immediately get up from the chair where he was seated. Shortly after the person who we had both seen on stage the night before came through the front door of Holmes rooms. Both Homes and I got up walked towards our visitor and welcomed him. “The pleasure is all mine gentlemen” Wells replied in return “it is an honor to be in the company of two famous persons as yourselves.”

While removing his coat and hat Wells complimented Holmes by saying “I feel as if I already know you Mr. Holmes from Doctor Watson's chronicles in the Strand” “Mr. Wells” Holmes countered “I must tell you that Watson does have a tendency to magnify the few skills and abilities I put to use when solving a case. Since I rarely if ever get to read his notes before he has them published I can only imagine that the account of both the crime and criminal are far more interesting on paper then they ever were while I was dealing with either.”

As all three of us sat down, Mrs. Hudson came in bearing a silver tray on it was a pot of freshly brewed tea, cups, saucers, spoons, cream and sugar. After tea was served all around Mrs. Hudson left the room and Holmes started “I must compliment on your performance at the St. James Theater the other night Mr. Wells, I would have done so in person but there was a gentlemen in the audience that I had wished to talk with.”

Holmes then asked Wells to give an outline of his story. Wells went on to tell Holmes about the inventor and his machine, where the inventor went in time and the consequences of his travels. “It would seem to be an awesome responsibility to own such a machine then” Holmes commented after. “A lot of good could be done with it as well as a lot of harm.”

Then again to assure himself as well as me Holmes commented to Wells almost as if a question “It is good to know that such a machine is purely a work of only fiction and imagination then.” With that observation Wells looked like he wanted to share some dark secret because he paused before answering “I have not been entirely truthful with my readers and both of you on that matter.”

Holmes interest was piqued with Wells surprising statement and while looking directly at him Holmes queried “How so?” Wells looking almost relieved to share his secret replied

“I have long thought that it might be possible, in theory at least to have a set of mechanical drawings that could again in theory describe how to build my time machine. Gentlemen the machine in my story is now one step beyond fiction, theory and imagination. I now own a set of mechanical drawings, that with the right materials, skills and abilities it could be built.”

As if some how to sort this out Holmes commented “Mr. Wells do you realize that if you were to reveal to any one on the high street what you have just shared with Dr. Watson and myself they would say that the venture is impossible and that you have temporarily taken leave of your senses.” Wells countered Holmes statement with “Mr. Holmes I have always believed that the only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.”

I had rarely seen Holmes at a loss for words no matter how shocking the revelation, but with Wells unexpected news and unshakable conviction this was one of those times. Holmes quickly recovered from the impact with two short questions

“Mr. Wells to assure myself I must ask you” Holmes started “first that the machine could (Holmes emphasized the word could) be built but cannot be built at this time and second that the mechanical drawings you speak of are safely under lock and key at all times?”

With a silent nod of his head Wells indicated yes to both questions. “There we have it then” Holmes stated with a sigh of relief in his voice “I would suggest that you do not share this particular part of your work with anyone. Then changing direction Holmes asked “Is there anyone other than you, Watson and myself that have any knowledge of these drawings?”

“No, Mr. Holmes and with the present state of affairs with my ex-wife she has no knowledge of the drawings much less where they are kept.” To end any further discussion of Wells marital state Holmes finished the conversation with “Well then all of London can rest assured that nobody will be going forward in time to see what the city might look like in say one hundred years time.”

Chapter 10

 

I would not have made any mention about the state of Wells marriage in 1891 to Isabel Mary Wells his cousin at all, but as events were about to unfold it would later play an important part in the case During his marriage to Isabel, Wells had liaisons with a number of women, including the American birth control activist Margaret Sanger but left Isabel in 1894 for one of his students, Amy Catherine Robbins, whom he married late in 1895.

From information gathered later it was said that the first Mrs. Wells had been less than pleased with these circumstances when she found out about the extra martial affairs her husband was carrying on while he was still married to her. The eventual revenge the first Mrs. Wells had planned against her husband would have ramifications that she could never have thought possible. Holmes would quote towards the end of this case “Hell hath no fury, like a women scorned.”

Of course this wasn't the first time Holmes and I encountered mechanical drawings or plans that could have great ramifications if they were to fall into the wrong hands.

There were the Bruce Partington plans. Holmes's brother Mycroft had come to London about some missing, secret submarine plans. Seven of the ten pages - three are still missing - were found with Arthur Cadogan West's body. He was a young clerk in a government office at Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, whose body was found next to the Underground tracks near Aldgate, his head crushed.

He had little money with him (although there appears to have been no robbery), theatre tickets, and curiously, no Underground ticket. The three missing pages by themselves could enable one of Britain's enemies to build a Bruce-Partington submarine.

Some of the last words Wells spoke to us that afternoon just before the end of his visit would in their own way be prophetic. Wells had not realized at the time of course that his first wife had through knowledge passed from a household maid who on at least two occasions seen him Wells, without his knowing place the large bundle of rolled mechanical drawings of the time machine into a sturdy metal strong box and then lock it.

When the maid had asked about the nature of contents of the strong box Wells had given her a rather dismissive answer saying only that they had only something to do with a story he was writing. The first Mrs. Wells with this knowledge now had her curiosity mixed with a possible way to seek revenge for the embarrassment and shame she felt that her husband had brought onto her.

When the tea pot was empty Wells rose from where he had been seated and said “Well gentlemen I must take my leave. I have return home and prepare for an extensive lecture tour I am about to embark on.”

Holmes momentarily sensing some unknown danger asked “Where is your lecture to take place and how long will you be away from London Mr. Wells?” “The East Midlands Mr. Holmes my first stop will be Northampton, and then on to Leicester, Nottingham then my last stop is in Derby.” “Travelling by rail between engagements I should think no more than about a week; it seems my books popularity has preceded its author.”Wells cheerily replied as he stood up to retrieve his coat and hat.

Holmes, to ease his feeling of foreboding then asked “I assume that the only key to the strong box containing the mechanical drawings of your time machine will be in your possession at all times?' Wells smiled as he pulled out his watch fob chain; there on the end of the chain was the only key that Wells assuredly knew about.