Mr Holmes has brought Sir Charles back from being hypnotized after his nasty fit – his attack of the 'd'Auberley Choleric. While the master of Dendringham Hall was hypnotized, Mr Holmes made a suggestion to him – which looks like bringing a happy ending to the troubled times at the Hall. But we STILL don't know for sure who's been making all the spooky goings-on happen, with the ghost rider, the howlings and the mystery footprints. Are we about to find out?
“Mr 'OLMES!”
The sound made Dot jump - it seemed to be coming from nowhere. But then, a panel in the wall to their right opened, just the same as the one that Crabbings had opened when he left them to go back to the servants' quarters, and a head popped out.
It was a funny head – the hair stood up off it in a kind of spiky, punky way, and there was a large back smudge on its nose.
But it also had a cheeky grin on it, and red hair and freckles, which made Dot feel the way she always did when she saw another redhead – like she had an instant friend!
“Ah, Bradshaw!” said Mr Holmes excitedly. “Have you got them?”
“Right 'ere sir!” said Bradshaw. He came through the door – but when he saw Dot he stopped and looked a bit worried. He was holding something behind his back. Dot couldn't see what it was. Not yet anyway!
“Is she… ” he began.
“Oh yes!” said Mr Holmes. “She's working with us too!”
Cheek, thought Dot! I'm meant to be Mr Holmes' assistant!
“In fact” Mr Holmes went on “she's Britain's very first girl detective!”
Dot felt a warm glow. That's better, she thought!
“Urrr” said Bradshaw. Typical boy - he didn't seem too impressed with the idea. Then he turned back to Mr Holmes. “Well, anyway, here they are sir!”
And from behind his back he brought out a pair of shiny, button-up black boots.
Laetitia Langton's boots!
“Excellent!” said the detective. “Well done, Bradshaw!”
Stepping nearer one of the dim lights that ran all along the wall of the main corridor, he brought his funny old magnifying glass out of his coat pocket and took the boots from Bradshaw.
He turned the boots over and peered at the sole and heel of each one through the magnifying glass, muttering away to himself.
Bradshaw looked at Dot and winked. “He's a caution, in't he?” he whispered – not that Mr Holmes would have heard him, he was so busy looking at every inch of the underside of Laetitia's boots. “Bit of a lark helping out the great detective, eh? Cook's read me all his stories in that 'Strand' magazine she takes reglar. What a daredevil he is!”
“Can't you re…” said Dot, and then stopped. She had nearly forgotten that lots of people couldn't read in the Victorian times – especially if they'd had to go out to work to help their families when they were small, and never got to school.
As Nan Com was always saying there were people who couldn't read now but that was for different reasons. Nearly everyone could learn at school these days if they wanted to, and if their mums and dads helped too. Back then, lots of children never had a chance.
“Splendid!” said Mr Holmes suddenly. “Just as I expected!” He put his magnifying glass away and took out a small silver penknife and a small envelope from his pocket. Very carefully, he shaved off some tiny patches of grey sticky stuff from the soles and heels of each boot, and slipped them into the envelope.
Then he handed the boots back to Bradshaw.
“Good work, my lad!” he said. “Here's a sovereign for your trouble!”
“Cor, thanks Mr 'olmes!” said Bradshaw. Then, to Dot's amazement, he put the big silver coin between his front teeth and bit it. Yikes she thought, bet Bruce our dentist wouldn't like that!
Suddenly, from down the passageway, there came the sound of Lady Sarah and Sir Charles talking – it looked like they were coming out of the study to go up to bed.
“Quick!” hissed Bradshaw. “Down 'ere!”
But the door was stuck!
