Young Sherlock Holmes_ Red Leech - Andrew Lane [41]
Sherlock raised a placating hand and backed away, the way one probably would with a wild animal. Virginia, he told himself, and not for the first time, was probably the most complicated person he’d ever met.
‘What news of the Great Eastern?’ Crowe was asking Mycroft.
‘As the coded message indicated, she left this morning from a pier near here, bound for New York. I have checked the passenger manifest, but can find no names which mean anything to us. One passenger failed to turn up – I can only presume that was the unfortunate Mr Gilfillan, who even now resides in the care of the Farnham police. I will have him transferred to the Metropolitan Police later today. It will make it easier for any investigation to take place.’
‘Don’t be too harsh on the man,’ Crowe said lightly. ‘Remember, he ain’t been convicted of anything yet.’
Mycroft raised an eyebrow, but did not respond. Instead he turned to Sherlock. He put one hand on Sherlock’s shoulder and with the other hand pointed towards the SS Scotia. ‘Launched six years ago, built and operated by the Cunard Line, here in England,’ he explained. ‘She is three hundred and seventy-nine feet long and weighs three thousand nine hundred tons. Her captain’s name is Judkins, and he is Cunard’s most trusted operative. She carries three hundred passengers, as well as cargo, and burns one hundred and sixty-four tons of coal a day. She can make the trip from Southampton to New York in eight days and a handful of hours. Imagine that – one week and you will be in the Americas. In the days of the pioneers, first settling that majestic country, the trip would have taken months.’
‘Have you ever been to America, Mycroft?’ Sherlock asked.
A shudder ran through his brother’s large frame. ‘Southampton is foreign territory as far as I am concerned,’ he said. America might just as well be the Arctic’
Mycroft turned back to Crowe. ‘Your luggage will already be on its way to your cabins,’ he said. ‘I have, after some thought, reserved three berths in two cabins. One is for you and Sherlock to share. The other is for Virginia, but I understand she will be sharing with another female traveller. I have not been able to ascertain the name of this traveller, as the decision apparently rests with the ship’s purser, but you can be assured that any woman travelling First Class will be of gentle breeding.’
‘I’m sure Virginia can manage,’ Crowe said. He seemed awkward.
‘One other thing,’ Mycroft went on. ‘I have taken the precaution of reserving seats for the three of you at the first dinner. I am told, by people who know these things, that the seats you get at the first dinner determine your social position for the rest of the voyage. The best seats are those nearest the Captain, nearest the doors in case of seasickness and furthest from the engines. I know the journey is only eight days, but you may as well be as comfortable as possible during that time.’ He shuddered again. ‘I cannot say I envy you. These days, the journey from my lodgings to my office and my office to my Club is enough to exhaust me. I cannot conceive of any force which could move me from that routine.’
Crowe smiled. ‘You may be surprised, Mr Holmes, at what disturbs us from our orbits. It may be the simplest thing. I suspect you too may discover the joys of foreign travel.’
‘God forfend,’ Mycroft said.
And then it was time to go. Sherlock stuck out his hand. Mycroft did the same. They shook, soberly, like gentlemen meeting in the street.
‘Be safe,’ Mycroft said, ‘and do what Mr Crowe tells you. Your presence on this trip is important – we may not know how important for some time, but I remind you that only you can identify these rogue Americans. At the very least, they are criminals and political refugees who should be taken into custody and tried for their crimes. At most, there is some plot afoot that needs to be scotched, lest the fragile political situation in America be affected for the worse. And, for heaven’s sake, enjoy yourself.