The Case of the Vindictive Spirit, Chapter the Twenty-First
Holmes and Watson were tied two chairs in the smuggler's den that they had left moments ago.
"Exactly what did you find out?" asked Herm.
"Well, we found out what your boss is like. He thinks he's the bee's knees. He isn't giving you nearly as much as you are worth for all you do for him, is he?"
Herm looked at the detective suspiciously. "What are you sayin'?"
"Merely that if you were in my employ, I would do better than that for you," said Holmes.
Herm sat down by the detective. "And just what would you do differently, mate?"
"Well, for one thing, I would not disrespect you like that. And for another, I would pay you better."
"Oi, Sherm, are you hearin' this?"
"Aye, Herm. Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin',"came the reply. " If the jobs are still open, we'll take 'em."
"Are you still of a mind to hire my brother and I?" Herm asked Holmes.
"Yes, but first you have to let us up,"said Holmes. " Then we can talk."
"Yes, yes, sorry about that."
"It is all right, you were only protecting your interests. Perfectly understandable, eh,Watson?"
"Oh, of course."
"So what is this job?"asked Sherm.
"Well, I'm the bloke from London who was sent down here to sniff around. What I want you to do is to do what you always do for the Professor and then come and tell me or Watson here. Is that satisfactory?"
"Yes, it is. I think we're gonna like this. What is our pay gonna be?"Sherm seemed to be the spokesman for the two brothers.
"What are you being paid now?" asked the detective.
"A pound a week,"said Sherm.
" I would not feel right unless I paid you at least three pounds each," sniffed the detective. "What do you think, Watson?"
"I think that sounds fair, Holmes."
"Blimy, Sherm, that does sound nice. What do you say?" asked Herm.
"It suits me fine. When do we start?"
"Tomorrow," said Holmes. "Since it is late, we will say" goodnight to you gentlemen. Remember, say nothing about us, and tell us everything about Prof. White. Goodnight, gentlemen."
Holmes and Watson ascended the staircase back to Watson's room listening to Herm and Sherm chorusing "Good night."
When the trapdoor clanged shut, Holmes and Watson exchanged a long look, and promptly dissolved into twin paroxysms of silent laughter. When they finished laughing, Holmes stated smugly, " It seems that years of studying the nascent trends of the socio-economic factors among the working class in our society has finally paid off."
Watson stared at him for a moment. "Stuff and nonsense, Holmes. If they weren't sick to the teeth of how they were being treated, we would still be tied up down there, and you know it!"
"I know, I know, old man. But it sounds so much better my way," Holmes laughed. Watson chuckled. He was glad to see Holmes have a bit of genuine merriment. They were more frequent now than they had been. He really approved of the change, even if he did feel the need to check on Gladstone more often.
He was startled from his musings by Holmes smacking his fist into the opposite hand. "It won't do, Watson. It just will not do. I refuse to admit the fact that we searched the smuggler's den, and found nothing. Watson, do you know what the odds would be of us finding NOTHING? Not even a scrap of paper? It can only mean one thing—we need to look again."
"Holmes, why don't you just ask Herm or Sherm? I am sure that they would tell you. I think they like you," chuckled Watson, ducking a pillow.
"Oh, yes. I really don't trust either one of them as far as I can throw them. You see the effect some kind words and some money had on them? Don't trust them with anything you wouldn't say to the Professor. They are probably going to play both ends against each other."
"Ah, did I hear my name? Couldn't sleep? Me neither." Professor White strode into the room.