Shirley and Major Harston
A telegram from Lady Hester awaits Shirley at the checkpoint in Alexandria. It is delivered to him while he is waiting for Major Harston.
DEAREST SHIRLEY COMMA EXPECT TO BE CLEARED OF ANY INVOLVEMENT IN ELLIPSOID INCIDENT STOP SCOTLAND YARD TRACKING ADDISON STOP DO NOT REPEAT DO NOT CONCERN YOURSELF WITH MY WAGER STOP BEG YOU TO CONTINUE WITH ALL POSSIBLE SPEED STOP CHECK TIMES EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY STOP GODSPEED STOP LADY H END
Shirley barely has time to read the telegram before he is conducted into Major Harston’s office. It is immaculate, except for the pile of handkerchiefs (apparently used) on the corner of the desk. Harston sneezes repeatedly and gestures Shirley towards an open ledger on a side table. Next to it is a stack of brass tokens.
“Please excuse me, Mr. Addam. I should ask you to shake hands, only I have no wish to spread this miserable contagion.”
“G-d bless you, Major Harston,” says Shirley to the most violent sneeze. “I hope this is nothing serious.” He signs the book and puts a token in his vest pocket. “Pray forgive my importunity, but have you a copy of the last few days’ London Times? Normally I would not be so concerned, but as you know, my patron and I have been rather prominently featured in those pages lately.”
“I have been saving them in the library; you are welcome to peruse them at your leisure. You are aware of the—” Several sneezes erupt midsentence, and Harston blows his nose with a noise that would do a bull elephant in heat proud. “Excuse me… of the suspicions surrounding one Mr. Addison? He was last seen in Switzerland, I believe. Other than that—well, before I can continue, we must settle another matter.”
“I am certain that it is no surprise to you that Scotland Yard has taken a great deal of interest in the Grand Ellipse generally, and you specifically, Mr. Addam. I am also certain that you would not be surprised to learn that I have been in touch with the Yard regarding your imminent arrival. The detectives have been in York, investigating, for nearly a week now.”
“I see,” says Shirley evenly. “I will of course cooperate with the Yard in any way I can.”
Major Harston looks immensely relieved at Shirley’s statement. “Excellent!” Another sneezing fit. “Knew we could count on you.” More sneezing, and another ear-splitting use of the handkerchief, which then joins its sodden fellows on the corner of the desk.
“Here’s what we propose—Scotland Yard has asked me to convince you to go on about the Grand Ellipse as if nothing has happened.” He holds up a hand, forestalling any response that Shirley might make. “I know you’ll likely want to go back to York immediately, defend Lady Hester, and all that, but Scotland Yard reckons this Addison blighter will come after you, or another Ellipsoid, soon enough. I have been authorized to deputize you as an assistant operative. Completely up to you of course, and no one would blame you if you turned it down. Dangerous work, eh what?” An impressively long chain of sneezes interrupts the Major’s recruiting speech.
Shirley blinks in surprise (and, truth be told, relief) before
collecting himself to answer. “Well, that is—somewhat unexpected, Major. I had rather thought the Yard would clap me in irons on suspicion of collusion. My patron’s ill-advised wager, and all that.”
Harston is caught between laughing and sneezing, and ends up doing both at once, with predictably uncomfortable results. His eyes are watering as he speaks. “My dear Mr. Addam, you underestimate yourself. The Yard’s investigations are nothing if not thorough, and I daresay that the entirety of York’s judiciary expects Diogenes to arrive at your door any day now. Even Judge Remington, with whom you have had more than one… professional disagreement. True, Lady Davies’s wager was ill-advised, but never criminal. No, Mr. Addam, I—and the Yard—believe that is indeed as she said to the Times; she merely wished to show her support for her protege. Oh, and by the by, your landlady thinks it’s long past time you met a nice girl and settled down to raise a family, even if it means she’d lose a tenant who always pays the rent on time.”
Shirley is taken by an explosive fit of coughing that would do Major Harston himself credit. “Good Lord!” he exclaims at last, reaching for his handkerchief to wipe his eyes. “I shall have to change my rooms.” Major Harston laughs along with Shirley, secure in the knowledge that he has, indeed, gotten the joke… whatever it was.
Shirley rubs his chin thoughtfully. “I have no positive objection to the arrangement you have put forward, you understand. Indeed, I see its merits. Of the Ellipsoids, I seem to have caused our Mr. Addison most difficulty; I am therefore his natural target, the likeliest to encounter him. I should certainly not like to put another Ellipsoid in that position; as you say, it is not a safe one.
“I fear the Yard has rather overestimated me, however. You will think the less of me, no doubt, Major Harston, but the truth is I’ve not so much as fired a gun in my life. I daresay I should be quite unable to take Addison into custody even were I to find him. Can the Yard possibly find me useful?”
“Forgive my directness, Mr. Addam, but I believe the Yard intends to use you as bait. You made such an offer to Her Majesty’s Representative in Malta, did you not? Are you willing to stand by that offer now?”
Shirley meets Harston’s eyes directly. “I did make that offer to Keating, Major Harston, and I stand by it without hesitation. Have you specific instructions for me?”
“The Yard wishes you to continue on to Bahrain and Madras with all possible speed; for reasons I am not privy to, the detectives believe that Addison intends to make his next move in India. Other than that… I cannot say, other than to assure you that you will receive further instructions when the time is right.”
Harston sneezes again, and pulls a fresh handkerchief out of a desk drawer. “If you would like to join Dr. Byrd and her protegee for supper, please feel welcome. And of course, you may stay the night here; we’ve plenty of guest rooms. Unfortunately, I have a great deal of paperwork to catch up on, and cannot join you myself.”
“I accept your kind offer of dinner, but I rather think I should get on my way immediately afterward, if that is a feasible thing. I envision two obvious courses of action for Mr. Addison. He might indeed pursue me—but he might also pursue the foremost contenders. I should like to catch up with Lady Bonnet, if that is even possible.”
“Of course, Mr. Addam. Up and at them, eh? Though I believe you’ll find it rather easier to catch up withLady Bonnet; she was delayed two days as a result of a pirate attack on her way from Crete. Dreadful situation, I understand. Lucky to have escaped.”
“I should telegraph Lady Davies before I leave, though. Might I prevail upon you to take care of that for me? No hurry; tomorrow will be fine.”
“I shall be happy to do so, Mr. Addam. Simply leave your missive on the table,”— he gestures towards a small writing table in the corner—“and I shall have it sent first thing in the morning.” He sketches a bow in Shirley’s direction. “I shall commend you most highly to Scotland Yard in my next communique, Mr. Addam. You are a very resourceful young man, and I expect great things shall come to you in time. Oh, and before I forget, Mr. Michaels—the correspondent from the Times—should like to collect a statement of some sort from you. He’ll be ’round a bit later, I expect.”
“Oh, dear. I suppose I shall have to stay long enough for that. I
confess I am not enjoying the prospect. Ah, well, all part of the Grand
Ellipse, I suppose.”
Harston smiles, “The price of fame, Mr. Addam. Although I believe you shall find our Mr. Michaels a most agreeable chap.”
A sniffle, then more sneezing. “A very good evening to you, Mr. Addam.”
“And to you, Major Harston. I hope your cold soon eases.”
“Thank you Mr. Addam. I should not like to delay Dr. Byrd, but perhaps she can spare me a few moments. In the meantime, you may find the library two doors down, on the left.”
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