As she spoke, I recalled the moment with total clarity. If one can have a vision of a ‘vision’, then that is what I experienced. Then Alicia’s tone changed and she looked from one of us to the other in obvious distress. “It was then I realised that in some way you, Mr. Holmes, were involved in all this. Oh, not as part of whatever devilish scheme this man ‘Moxton’ …” She almost spat the word — “is hatching but in some complex, interwoven way I don’t begin to understand. This man is obsessed with you. You are the only subject on which I have seen him less than icily calm. On the way back from Inverness he could talk of nothing else. Even the abominable Steel, who hangs on his every word, was losing his patience by the time we reached London.”
“Tell us about Steel,” Holmes prompted. “From your tone I take it that there is little love lost between you?”
“That, I’m afraid, is the whole point,” Alicia replied. “My arrival was clearly something he had not anticipated but as the weeks went by, he began to see how he could use my presence to advantage. I am not a vain woman, gentlemen, as my sex are apt to be. On the other hand, I know I am not unattractive.”
She did not pause for comment and inwardly I blessed her for it.
“To cut a long story short, I detect that my ‘guardian’—for I know not what else to call him — has decided that I would be a fit consort for Mr. Steel and has taken every occasion to throw us together on social occasions. You asked me to tell you about Steel …” She paused, as if what she was about to say would take an extra effort.
“Steel is Moxton’s creature, Mr. Holmes, nothing more or less. Perhaps his Trojan Horse would be a more fitting description. What Moxton wants said but not attributed Steel says for him. He is present for most of these clandestine meetings and when he leaves at the end of the day, he struts out of there like a bantam cock. If Moxton could appoint him Prime Minister tomorrow, I believe that’s precisely what he would do.”
“And I believe that’s precisely what he intends to try to do …” Holmes interjected. He then proceeded to fill in for Alicia most of the gaps between her story and what we had ourselves deduced of Moriarty’s schemes. Frankly, I was surprised that he confided so much in someone he had met so recently but I have never known my friend to err in judgement on such matters. As he spoke I watched Alicia Creighton’s face open like a morning flower and the sight was every bit as beautiful, as her premonitions began to make sense at last.
“But Mr. Holmes,” she whispered, when he had delineated recent events with his usual precision, “this monster must be stopped at all costs. What can I do to help?”
“You have helped by coming here in the first place,” my friend replied, “and you can help still further by returning there for a little while longer, while we gather the evidence we need to bring this man to book. And that, as you may surmise, will be no easy task. Moriarty is far too clever to soil his own hands and there is the further complication that he is now ostensibly an American citizen. One wrong move and the authorities will find themselves cocooned in diplomatic red tape. No, Alicia, at this moment you are our best and perhaps our last hope.”
“But Holmes,” I expostulated, “knowing what we now do, you can’t ask this young lady to put herself into further danger. Now that Moriarty suspects.”
“He may suspect, old fellow, but I fancy he is more preoccupied with his master plan and, besides, in some small but significant way, Alicia is now part of it. Can’t you see the Clarion trumpeting the doings of this glamorous first couple, once he has succeeded in placing Steel in the position of ultimate power? No, for the next few days at least we need her in the heart of the enemy camp — as your old Army friends would call it — gathering whatever intelligence she can of what Moriarty intends.”
“You mean — a spy?”
For the first time I saw the playful schoolgirl inside the grown woman.
“Something of the sort,” Holmes replied with a smile, “but I beg you most earnestly to take the utmost precautions. This man is more dangerous than you can possibly imagine. Your life will mean nothing to him, if he feels it poses the slightest threat to his plans. Watson or I will manage to keep in contact with you and, if you are in any doubt, call the nearest police constable for assistance. I will have Inspector Lestrade alert his men. One other thing, Alicia …”
“Yes, Mr. Holmes?”
“I think it is highly likely that you were followed here today. Whatever you do, when you leave, do not appear furtive or nervous in any way and, if your so-called guardian should challenge you, you simply came here to confirm our invitation to this evening’s party.” With that he rose and shook her firmly by the hand. “You are a brave woman and together the three of us will prevail.”
I followed Holmes’s example and tried to communicate through the subtle pressure of my hand on her how much I admired her spirit. Was it my imagination or was the pressure returned?
A few moments later the sound of the outer door closing signalled her departure. We resumed our chairs and sat in silence for a moment before I found my voice. “A woman of spirit, eh, Holmes?”
“Indeed,” he replied. “I can only think of one other who compares.”
A pause and then he caught my eye. “Under normal circumstances, old fellow, I would feel it my bounden duty to lecture you on the need to regard the client as strictly an objective element in the greater puzzle. I should probably elaborate on the danger an emotional involvement posed to proper reasoning, go on to warn you of the particular dangers posed by the female of the species and end by telling you how the most charming woman I ever encountered was taken to the scaffold for poisoning three small children for their insurance money … However, under the circumstances I see all too clearly before me, I shall refrain …”
Then, after another moment’s thought, he picked up his pistol and weighed it thoughtfully in his hand. “So now we have another reason to bring this business to a speedy conclusion.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The house in Chester Square was illuminated like a stage set as the hansom dropped me at the front door that evening. And indeed, the press of people in their various costumes streaming in through the elegant front doors had all the appearance of a pantomime curtain call.
I saw numerous ‘Alices’, complete with long blonde hair and I reflected that the town’s wigmakers must have been doing a roaring trade all day to cope with the demand. I was not as familiar with Carroll’s book as Holmes clearly was but I could recognise several March Hares, White Rabbits and Duchesses with pig babies, a good sprinkling of Mad Hatters, Kings and Queens of Hearts as well as various other ambulant playing cards. I myself, having never had much of a taste for making more of a fool of myself in public than I can help, had settled for what I hoped was a fairly discreet Red King. With Mrs. Hudson’s aid I had swathed myself in some red material she had found in one of her many bottom drawers, kept for who knows what eventual purpose. A cardboard crown from a local fancy dress emporium and an old assegai some Army friend had left me completed my wardrobe. To say that I felt foolish would be putting it mildly. Just as Mrs. Hudson had put the finishing touches to this rather outré ensemble, Holmes had emerged from his bedroom still wearing his old dressing gown. Seeing the expression on my face, he raised a placatory hand.
“I know what you’re thinking, old fellow, but I shall be there, you have my word on it. However, something has just come up which requires my attention and, since it is imperative that we observe this evening’s events most carefully, I would consider it a great personal favour if you would precede me …”