The Case of the Cursed Corpse, Chapter the First

"What?" Holmes and Watson chorused in unison.

"Yes, that's right," said Mycroft with a smug look on his face. He tried to hide it, but he wasn't that good of an actor.

"I will give you the particulars—Mrs. Leboux had finished making dinner, and had the children wash up while she called their father. Not finding him in the house, she looked in his 'tinkering shed', as it was called. He kept a workbench and his tools and was often found reading in this outbuilding. She naturally thought that she might find him there. She found the shed empty, however. As she was turning away from the shed, she saw something on the ground. As she approached it, she saw that it was the prone figure of her husband. His head was caved in by a terrible blow, and he was obviously dead. Her screams alerted a nearby constable, among others. Her sister, who lived a few doors down and had come out to see what the matter was, took the children to her house for a while. About then, the lady fainted, and was taken back inside her house to recover on the couch. After she awoke and had time to collect herself, she asked that you should look into this affair."

"Why me?"

"Before he was struck down, Mr. Leboux mentioned to his wife that if anything were to happen to him, he wanted you to look into it. He did not say why, except that he knew that you were both clever and compassionate because you helped his aunt in her hour of need."

"Why would this matter to you?"

"All right, the murdered man was a high-ranking member of Parliament. We tend to treat these cases with a bit more-"

"Indulgence, perhaps? Well, I had better tell you that I will take the case before you go into an apoplectic fit. What arrangements have been made as to where we will stay and how we get there?"

"Mrs. Porter, the murdered man's sister-in-law, insists that you stay with her, her husband, and two children."

"Children?"asked Holmes.

"Yes, brother mine. They are people who are older than infants, and younger than adults," Mycroft added helpfully.

"I know what they are. How many are there, and how old are they?"

"There are only two. Victoria is six years old, and William is five years of age. They are both outgoing children, and I think you'll like them."

"As your rooms are taken care of, I am arranging for a carriage to transport you there. There is a carriage out front to take you and the doctor back to Baker Street. Please pack for a two-week stay. I will get back to you as to when the carriage

is to pick you up."

Mycroft stood, signaling that the interview was at an end. Holmes strode out, and the doctor shook Mycroft's hand before he ran to catch up with Holmes. Holmes was standing in the hall with Hodgkins, who conducted them back the way they had come.

Their driver was waiting for them in the large room, and he held the door for them. They got to the carriage, and were given the usual "Watch your heads, gents."

After a few minutes of silence, Watson turned to Holmes. "What do you think of this case, Holmes?"

"I don't know. I cannot theorize without facts. That would be a disservice to myself, as well as my client. But it does not sound as if it would be uninteresting."

"I have noticed that anything involving children has the propensity to get very interesting." remarked Watson with a smile.

"I'll see if Anstruther can take my patients for the next two weeks."

Silence reigned in the carriage. They arrived at their destination, and their driver jumped down from his box and opened the door for them. "Mind your heads and watch your step. G'night, gents."

Holmes fumbled for his keys, and Watson handed him his set. Holmes opened the door to reveal Mrs. Hudson sitting on the steps. She held Holmes' keys out to him. "You left them in the door again. Now come on in and have a decent meal while you have time to enjoy it. Go wash up, and I'll bring up your dinner."

Watson took one sniff, and his stomach reminded him how hungry he was.

He loved it when Mrs. Hudson made lamb chops, it had such a wonderful aroma-

Holmes and Watson exchanged glances, and broke into a race up the steps. Watson won. As he opened the door, he spied a telegram on the table. It was from Mycroft, telling them both that the carriage would be there to pick them up at 12.30 the next day.

Just then Mrs. Hudson entered with a large tray that she put upon the table. She then began to arrange the dishes and cutlery. She put out lamb chops, potatoes, green beans and biscuits. "I see you have found the telegram. All right. I'll be back for the dishes. I hope you both enjoy this."

She left, and they did enjoy the meal. After they had put the important business of eating behind them, they headed for their pipes and favorite chairs. They had only been seated for a moment when Mrs. Hudson came back for the dishes. She had a tray with her. It had a bottle of sherry and three glasses on it. She filled all three, and turned to the two men. "I thought that it would be appropriate to raise a glass to another

case well done, and another one beginning."