‘No, not at all, old fellow. This little notion of mine has done nothing to improve my understanding of the case, so therefore I can now extinguish the flame that you find so troublesome. For me to explain the reasons for all of this might, however, take some little time.’ Holmes kept his promise, only to replace those fumes with some from his darkest old shag.
‘My practice is somewhat slack at present, so therefore I have all the time that you might need to expand upon this problem. I assume that there is a case at the root of this experiment?’ I asked whilst preparing a pipe of my own.
‘Your assumption is correct and, if I know my friend Watson and his penchant for such things, it will prove to be a case that will ultimately find pride of place amongst the crowning jewels of your collection. What do you know of Isadora Persano?’ Holmes asked of me as I took to my seat opposite his own.
‘Unless I am very much mistaken, he is a highly respected journalist who has long specialized in affairs of international intrigue,’ I replied.
‘Anything more?’ Holmes prompted.
‘I believe that he freelances, because I remember reading reports from him in both the Daily Telegraph and The Times However nothing has been received from him for some time now and he is feared lost somewhere in Central America, as I recall.’
‘Excellent, Watson! Evidently there is much to be gained from residing over the premises of a quiet practice, for you are certainly well read and your knowledge is accurate, albeit incomplete. I could also add to your fountain of understanding the fact that he is as well known, within the confines of certain clandestine circles, as being one of the last duellists in Europe. Furthermore and to complete your pocket biography of the man, you should also know that he has not disappeared in Central America as was at first supposed. He is to be found within these shores, but, sadly, he has also been diagnosed as insane!’
Before I was able to question him further, Holmes called down to Mrs Hudson for some tea and Chelsea buns. He ushered me into my old chair, before a cheery fire and relit his pipe from a small glowing coal. From the very moment that the last crumb had been devoured and the weary landlady had been unceremoniously ushered from the room, Holmes’s countenance assumed a more intense aspect and I was certain that his attention was now to be firmly focused upon the unfortunate journalist.
‘I should begin by informing you of how I came to be in possession of a sample of a worm, deemed by the authorities to be hitherto unknown to science.
‘An old acquaintance of mine, Hubbert Greene, who is currently employed as a valet at Browne’s Hotel, came upon Persano, apparently in a state of torment, as he sat at his desk in one of the more discreet suites that Browne’s has to offer.
‘Greene had been obliged to use his pass key because Persano had not ventured from his room for two full days and Greene wished to allay his misgivings without creating a furore. Upon gaining access to Persano’s suite the vision that confronted him caused Greene to collapse into a chair, where he remained dumbstruck for at least thirty-five minutes. After that he was able to gather his thoughts once more.
‘Watson, you must understand that this is a man who once served with the Fusiliers, and is therefore not usually troubled by an over-sensitive disposition. But he was deeply affected by the sight of a strong, intelligent and sophisticated man of the world sitting at his desk, rocking himself back and forth whilst mumbling incoherently into his own saliva.
‘In silence and with stealth, Greene stole towards the tormented guest in an attempt to make sense of the ramblings that he was murmuring, but in vain. He then followed the intense gaze of Persano’s reddened eyes and soon recognized the object of his unremitting glare. Amongst the clutter of spilled food and crumpled paper, all that remained of incomplete letters and abandoned articles, nestled a half-opened wooden matchbox. Therein lay the subject of the very same experiments that you have found so abhorrent today.’
‘I presume that the intention behind your experiments was to establish why a man should be driven to insanity by so innocuous-looking a creature?’ I asked.
‘Of course, although I also wished to discover why the authorities categorized it as “unknown to science”. I completed part of my task in the library at the Natural History Museum. Here I was able to establish that in the rituals of various indigenous peoples of Central America there is a form of punishment, performed on those persons found guilty of acts of infidelity, which involves the insertion of a large worm into the ear of the victim. When threatened, these creatures excrete a poisonous fluid that often induces a lingering, painful death. However, this outcome is by no means inevitable, but anyone who survives is rendered permanently insane! Rather suggestive, wouldn’t you say?’
‘Good heavens, Holmes! It is more than suggestive; surely you have the full and definitive explanation. The authorities who, I presume, retained a portion of the worm for their own investigation, obviously did not delve into the matter as vigorously as you did yourself, before dismissing the creature as unknown. Furthermore, we know that Persano’s last reports came from the very region where the worm ritual is performed. What further confirmation do you require?’
‘Watson, I am sorry to have bored you with so mundane a topic. There is surely no good reason for delving further into this affair.’ Holmes turned his head sharply away and crossed his arms in a display of feigned indignation.
‘Well, I certainly apologize for having belittled your redoubtable efforts, yet there does seem to be little point in your continuing,’ I responded.
‘Indeed, until you come to realize that my experiments here,’ he spread his arms expansively towards his apparatus, ‘have proved, beyond a doubt, that the worm in Persano’s matchbox does not contain the toxin in question. That it hails from the Americas is certain, although in point of fact it is as harmless as any that you might find in your garden!’
I mumbled an embarrassed apology, relit my pipe and then asked: ‘Might I, therefore, humbly enquire as to the eventual fate of the unfortunate Persano?’
‘I suppose there is little point in your retaining an intelligent interest in the case unless I acquaint you with all the relevant, known facts that I possess,’ Holmes responded mischievously.
‘I am fortunate in that Greene was able to remove a portion of the worm for my perusal, prior to the hotel management gaining access to the room. Obviously, this has allowed me to conduct my own enquiries independently of the authorities. Their investigation, as you might imagine, was somewhat less thorough than my own. To their credit, the police did remove the worm for examination, although the outcome of this was as I have previously described. As for the unfortunate Persano, well, he was unceremoniously bundled off to the nearest sanatorium where, I am certain, he will languish for the rest of his days,’ Holmes concluded sadly.
‘Save for the intervention of the greatest living champion of injustice!’ I announced, determined to change my friend’s attitude. Holmes smiled fondly, upon hearing this and immediately strode over to the doorway, from where he called down to Mrs Hudson asking her to engage a cab.
‘I do not suppose that your practice can spare you for a further few hours this afternoon while I acquaint myself with the events leading to Persano’s reappearance in London?’ Holmes asked, knowing full well what my reply would be.
‘I am in no doubt that it can and I would be glad and honoured to accompany you upon your quest,’ I responded.
‘Excellent! Then you should be delighted to know that I have arranged an interview with the last person to have seen Persano before he was incommoded. I refer to the recently widowed Doña Dolores de Cassales, who is at present residing at Le Meridien. By a happy coincidence this establishment is, as I am certain you already know, but a stone’s throw away from Browne’s. But we must hurry. This lady will not be kept waiting and our interview has been arranged to take place in fifteen minutes’ time!’