Young Sherlock Holmes_ Death Cloud - Andrew Lane [50]
The rest of the journey back to Farnham was conducted in silence.
CHAPTER NINE
‘You disappoint me, boy.’
Sherrinford Holmes was sitting at the massive oak desk in his study, Amyus Crowe stood behind his left shoulder and Mrs Eglantine stood behind his right shoulder, her black clothes blending so well with the shadows that only her face and hands were visible. What with Uncle Sherrinford’s long white beard and the various different Hebrew, Greek, Latin and English Bibles that were stacked all over his desk it was, Sherlock reflected, like being disciplined by God, with two avenging angels standing behind his throne, an effect spoilt only by the fact that Uncle Sherrinford was wearing his dressing gown over his suit.
Sherlock’s face burned with shame and with anger. He wanted to protest that he’d done what he did for the best reasons, but one look at his uncle’s face told him that arguing wouldn’t help. ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ he said after a long moment passed and he realized that his uncle was awaiting a response. ‘I won’t do it again.’
‘Your father – my brother – entrusted you into my care, with an understanding that I would continue with your moral education and prevent you from falling into bad company or bad ways. I am mortified to find that I have failed in both of those tasks.’
Another long pause. Sherlock felt under pressure to say that he was sorry again, but he had a feeling that repeating himself would be taken as a sign that he was being cheeky. ‘I know that I shouldn’t have gone all the way into Guildford by myself,’ he said eventually.
‘That is the least of your trespasses,’ Uncle Sherrinford pronounced. ‘This very morning you crept out of this house before the sun was up like a common criminal—’
‘His bed wasn’t even slept in,’ Mrs Eglantine interrupted. ‘He must have left before midnight.’
Sherlock could feel his shoulders trembling with the effort of keeping his anger in check. He knew that she was lying – he had slept, for a few hours, and had left just before dawn – but he couldn’t contradict her despite a burning desire to tell the truth. She was trying to get him deeper into trouble, and arguing with her would just be taken as defiance, and punished appropriately.
‘I will write to your brother,’ Sherrinford continued, ‘telling him that the trust I placed in you has been betrayed. And you will not be allowed to leave this house for the next week.’
‘If I may,’ Amyus Crowe drawled from behind Sherrinford, ‘I’d like to say a word or two on the boy’s behalf.’ He reached into his dazzlingly white jacket and removed an envelope. ‘The letter which the boy brought back from the eminent Professor Winchcombe has calmed fears of an outbreak of bubonic plague in the area. Taking that sample of pollen to be identified shows evidence of a strong will, an independent turn of mind and a reluctance to take things on trust – all attributes that should be encouraged, I would say.’
‘Are you suggesting that the boy should escape punishment, Mr Crowe?’ Mrs Eglantine asked in a silky voice.
‘Not at all,’ Crowe rejoined. ‘I would suggest that rather than ban him from leavin’ the house entirely, you make it so that the only time he can leave is with me. That way I can continue to uphold the agreement I made with his brother.’
Sherrinford Holmes considered for a moment, stroking his beard with his right hand. Then, ‘Very well,’ he pronounced. ‘We will effect a compromise. You are confined to this house for the rest of this day and the next. Following that, you will stay in this house at all times except when you are being tutored by Mr Crowe. When in the house you are to stay in your room except for mealtimes.’ His lips twitched. ‘Although I will allow you to take any books you wish from my library