The Warning, Chapter the Fourteenth.
About three quarters of an hour later, Dr. Palmer came back to the sitting-room to bid me good night.
"How is he?"
"Well, his back seems to be improving. The infection, although uncomfortable, is no longer life-threatening. Now I need to ask you something., Mr. Holmes. If this woman wants to know how the doctor is, what do I tell her?"
"Tell her that infection has set in, and that his condition is grave."
"And what method were you to use in dispatching the good doctor?"
"She never did say specifically, but she said that it had to look natural, and that she'd leave the rest in my capable hands."
"I see. Oh, your family--they have not been bothered?"
"No, they have been kept in the dark, and are blissfully unaware."
Holmes was itching to know how Dr. Palmer knew Wiggins, but he thought he had better ask about it another time.
"Then let me detain you no longer. Good night, Dr. Palmer."
"Good night, sir."
Holmes rang for tea and asked Mrs. Hudson to join him at the table. As soon as she had poured out and sat down, he began to outline the plan he had discussed with Lestrade. When he was done, he said "Mrs. Hudson, thank you for letting us hold this affair here. Lestrade is going to provide the coffin, and I am to pick up the flowers tomorrow."
"And what," asked Mrs. Hudson, "am I to do?"
"Dress appropriately and be convincing. I suggest that we get a good night's sleep in preparation for our big day tomorrow."
As Holmes rose, she grasped his hand for a moment to get his attention. "Thank you for letting me know about this, Mr. Holmes. I really appreciate it, and I'll do whatever I can to help. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some baking to do. This DOES have to be convincing, you know."
With a grin, she left Holmes to his own thoughts.
Holmes smiled as the door closed. This had been easier than he had hoped it would. He yawned and headed for his bedroom. There was a lot to do tomorrow, and rest sounded like a good idea.
He was awakened by a crash and the slamming of the front door. It had a distinctive KERTHUNKETA to it. He grabbed his robe from the chair by the door, and ran toward the landing, pulling it on as he went. When he reached the landing, he froze for a moment. Nothing could have prepared him for what met his eyes.
Mrs. Hudson lay sprawled at the bottom of the stairs. Her upturned face was befouled by a muddy bootprint.
Holmes ran back upstairs to get Watson. He thundered up to Watson's door and was not too surprised to find it ajar. What did surprise him was the empty bed with a note on the pillow. He picked it up with trembling hands and read:
" Mr. Holmes
If you want to see Dr. Watson again, come alone and unarmed to the Rossburn Mausoleum at midnight tonight. If you do not, you might not like what you find tomorrow morning. You will not be given another chance, so choose wisely."
It was signed 'P. Moriarty'.