Foreign Sherlock – Indeed!

Disclaimer: All characters the likes of Holmes, Watson etc are entirely the copyright of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his estate and of those who have made any such re-productions of his work.

AN: The piece is written in first person narrative, as if 'taken' from Watson's diary.

Chapter 1: The Foreign Holmes

The year was 1882, William Ewert Gladstone had only two years since secured his second term in office as British Prime Minister – Holmes and I as always sat, Holmes contemplating something, his own distinctive manner and I read the papers. It had only been a year since me and Holmes had moved into 221B Baker Street, but it felt and was home now. The news was fundamentally concerned with the bombing of Alexandria by the Navy, there was mention of the 'Kilmainham' Treaty and something about Home Rule Legislation, but, regardless of the possible significance of such a tale, an interesting story caught the glimpse of my winking eye and I was quite sure that Holmes had noticed it also. Simplistically it read that a foreign dignitary of some description (the core content of the article was vague at best) had gone missing, and one of his fellow countrymen was being sent to investigate, but that the Foreign Office would certainly like the assistance of one of its own men in this case. Such an example of misadministration and lack of professionalism on behalf of the British would do no good, in particular since things like the Indian Mutiny and such; it became strange business.

"Dastardly business this Holmes, this disappearance of some foreign dignitary, don't you think?" I questioned Holmes, foolishly, as always he was ahead of me, but he responded nonetheless in his general candid style.

"Yes, quite, Watson, but the article is vague, more to the matter, the dignitary in question is the counterpart to Lord Redesdale Jnr and is thus of much more importance than any of the other stories in that paper"

"For the life of me Holmes, I don't half see the purpose of such a remark" I said in response, placing such importance on this matter seemed folly ridden to me, but alas, that was Mr. Holmes.

"Let me explain, dear Watson, it is of late that this nation of ours has properly received the dignitaries of this far-off land, notwithstanding of course the historical meetings, but none of that, and well, if a dignitary of theirs is missing, presumed dead then that would highly likely strain relations and well the empire would not want that, trade is at the heart of this empire, Watson, at its very core. Do you get me now Mr. Watson?"

"I am beginning to see where you are going with this Holmes, but if I may ask was the dignitary, some Far Eastern chap?"

"Quite right, Watson, a Japanese chap, I said he was the counterpart to Lord Redesdale Jnr whose father I may add in 1868 saw some gruesome acts by the Japanese, this business of ritual suicide I believe, though I must admit, I quite admire them for their strictness Watson, quite I do."

"Personally I think it is bizarrely gross – completely gross" I added, my truthful feelings on this matter, how inhumane to cut oneself open for the sake of supposed honour, by Jove it surpasses me.

"Ah, well Watson, that is your inclining nature, to them it is a matter of life or death, quite literally so, but the chap in question is unnamed, you understand for legal and political reasoning, but his follower however sees it quite fit for the knowledge of his name to be fully acquirable if someone so wishes it - and I wished it, his name is Kondo Isami, for what I hear he lodges near Baker Street, with an interpreter, who also happens to lodge him, a she I believe, quite unusual really, but exceptions are made I guess".

"What a strange name Holmes, Kondo Isami, utterly different, will be quite easy to recognise him I suppose"

"Yes, quite easy Watson, and the name is not strange Watson, simply cultural, put it this way, when a scientist or a doctor such as yourself takes a patient and does tests upon him in your manner and another fellow of equal profession does similar tests but in different methods, both yielding the same accurate and validated results, do you by instinct call that other mans methods, strange or simply different, the latter I would hope and thus it is the same, there names probably mean the same as ours, but in a different dialect, see Watson, just different thinking that's all." He added this with quite the logical precision in his mind, it was obvious from this facial expressions.

"This Isami fellow Holmes, what does he look like?" I said to Holmes, hoping to get this dastardly business completed, knowing from Holmes' demeanour that he would take up the task.

"Isami they say is a short man, some 5.3, but stocky, well kept, and carries himself with a peculiar uprightness, he has sternness of chin and posture, and like most people of his class and nation wears his hair in a peculiar fashion, the top of it, nigh the pate Watson, is shaved, the rest, is tied up into a top-knot and doubled-over. The colour – black of course, his eyes, squinted eyes, but nonetheless perceptive, discerning eyes, perspicuous fellow is the word about, I've even heard him being called the Foreign Holmes – quite some business this"

"I see, quite the recognisable gentleman then Holmes"

"Yes!" Holmes said in his elongated manner "recognisable indeed, they call themselves gentlemen-warriors Watson, would be quite the one to watch out for, next Watson, before you ask, where to now, is to the Foreign Office to see our Lord Granville, to let him know that we have taken up this case of theirs" Holmes added these remarks as he lit up his pipe, some cogitating, of sorts only Holmes' mind will ever know was taking place, but, I was inclined to go with Holmes and feared that my medical services may be required in this matter"

"Come Watson! We have little time and things are afoot, to the Foreign Office"

"Y…yes Holmes" I said startled somewhat by his quickness"