Disclaimer: I do nt own any of the characters to do with Sherlock Holmes, all credit to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Three
The manor was dark and a musty smell hung in the air. There were floorboards loose and the plaster from the ceiling was crumbling. She let the way into the back room. It looked like a lounge but it was poorly decorated. There was a broken fireplace with a shattered mirror above it, two ripped armchairs, a small round table with a photo of a very smartly dressed man on it and then there were tattered curtains party covering two smashed glass doors.
"This is where I was sat," Miss Murmour told us, "When those ruffians broke in. That's the window they smashed."
"Why is there so much other damage?" I inquired.
"The storm did most of it but it has been like that for some time. We only moved back, you see, about two months ago from France where we had been living since the wedding four years ago."
"I see," said Holmes, "I take it this is your late husband?" he asked, picking up the photo f the man.
"Yes, it is," tears choked Miss Murmour's voice, "This house was left to him from his Grandfather. He always hated it. We wanted to come back and fix it then sell it. With the money, he wanted to open a business rather than being a secretary. He wanted to advance in the world but 'flu took him before he had…had the chance!" Miss Murmour choked on even more tears but prevented them falling.
"Still, I am British…I carry on…"
"Evidently…" murmured Holmes under his breath.
Above us, there seemed to be heavy footsteps coming from the room above us. Holmes' eyes darted up to the ceiling.
"Rats," Miss Murmour said, almost immediately. Her eyes were almost as sharp as Holmes'. "We've had quite a few since we came back. I'll go up and check."
"No, no! I will," Holmes argued. "You are in delicate condition, Miss Murmour,"
"Please, Mr. Holmes. This is my house. I shall go and get rid of them." And she swept out of the room and up a battered old spiral staircase that had seen its better days.
"Rats! I bet by best deerstalker there aren't any upstairs. Rats!" Holmes scoffed.
I chuckled under my breath, not wanting to interrupt this serious situation.
Hey reader! Thanks for reading chapter 3! A short chapter, but sweet (I hope!). Please review and tell me what you think of the story so far! :)