9:00 Christopher Cutler, ironmonger. 10:00 Antoine Mose-Calle, usher. 11:00 John Edwards, tailor. 12:00 Daisy Crastin, baker.

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The body had been moved to Scotland Yard, but the floor was covered in papers and books. On the desk there were more papers, an overturned cup of tea and inkwell, and the appointment s book.

1 The body had been moved to Scotland Yard, but the floor was covered in papers and books. On the desk there were more papers, an overturned cup of tea and inkwell, and the appointment s book. Holmes focused on it; the appointments scheduled for Monday occupied the last few lines: 9:00 Christopher Cutler, ironmonger. 10:00 Antoine Mose-Calle, usher. 11:00 John Edwards, tailor. 12:00 Daisy Crastin, baker. No subsequent appointments had been noted. Amongst the last pages we found a sum of money in banknotes. X.1

2 Sherlock Holmes spoke for a few minutes with the group of kids he called The Baker Street Irregulars and once they had scattered with a few coins in their pockets, my friend filled me in on what they had told him: We are lucky, one of the Irregulars sells matches near to the doctor s surgery and he clearly remembers Bont s visitors from yesterday morning. What do you think of that? As you know, I m the one who instilled in them the benefits of detailed observation and look at them now: they could give lessons to all the detectives of Scotland Yard... Anyway, write this down: there were three visitors; the first, a man who smoked a pipe; the second, a man wearing a hat who walked with a limp; and the third was also a man, he had a goatee and was carrying a briefcase. He doesn t remember seeing any women. He also told me that Doctor Bont was a regular at the Rose & Crown pub and that Daisy Crastin often strolls in Hyde Park with a mauve parasol. Interesting don t you think? Once again, I did not know how to respond. X.2

Due to this we were able to find out, without needing to get the police to accompany us, that John Bont

3 Holmes went straight to the director s office, he knew the director personally from a previous case for which the gentleman was most grateful. Due to this we were able to find out, without needing to get the police to accompany us, that John Bont had withdrawn cash continuously in recent months. He also disclosed that Christopher Cutler had recently requested an unusually large loan for someone in his position. X.3

4 Madeleine Craig was due to start working at the museum as a receptionist on Wednesday of that week. Her future colleagues confirmed that on Monday she had spent the day at the museum with her brother. We were also told that Madeleine herself had explained that she had left her former job due to the fact that there had been fewer patients and her employer had not managed to give her her past few pay packages. X.4

While examining the corpse of the doctor in the morgue, which

Inspector Lestrade informed us that according to the forensics at

Madeleine Craig was sticking strictly to her statement.

poison in a pot of tea or any other food the previous week,

We know for sure that her relationship with the doctor was far

And the fact that she called the police is meaningless: she

Maybe, said Holmes turning to Lestrade with Bont s clothes in his

5 While examining the corpse of the doctor in the morgue, which presented with traces of foam around the mouth and some bruises, Inspector Lestrade informed us that according to the forensics at Scotland Yard, Bont had died of poisoning on Monday morning and Madeleine Craig was sticking strictly to her statement. She might have an alibi for Monday but she could have left the poison in a pot of tea or any other food the previous week, claimed Lestrade, justifying his reasons for not letting her go. We know for sure that her relationship with the doctor was far from good. And the fact that she called the police is meaningless: she probably did it to divert suspicion. Maybe, said Holmes turning to Lestrade with Bont s clothes in his hands. But then what do you say about this little red stain on the shirt that corresponds exactly with this fine puncture wound on the corpse s chest? Our friend Lestrade remained silent. X.5

6 Daisy Crastin, served us pleasantly from behind the counter. A mauve ribbon held her beautiful black hair from her face. Holmes, who knew me well, asked me to question her about Monday morning, which I did as soon as all the customers had left the premises. I had a doctor s appointment on Monday morning for a cold, but after the weekend I felt better and so I didn t go in the end. I spent the whole day working here, both the owner and the regulars can confirm that. Thank you very much Miss. We may have to return for further questioning. In the street, Holmes was finding it difficult to keep a straight face, but I did not care that he was amused at my expense: I never shared his general indifference to the female species. X.6

7 The only Edwards tailor s was across London in the east of the city, in the district of Greenwich. Don t you think that the doctor s in Hyde Park is rather far from here, I remarked to my friend, who remained silent. Upon entering the establishment we found a tall, stocky man standing behind the counter, he was about 25 years old and had blond hair and a thin beard. We re looking for Mr Edwards, owner of the tailor s, if you would be so kind, I asked. That would be me, gentlemen. What can I do for you? Is there no one else who works with you here? I insisted. My father died three years ago and since then, only my mother and I manage the business. The bell above the door told me that Holmes was leaving the establishment. X.7

Christopher Cutler had thick sideburns, an old-fashioned goatee and a prominent belly.

Passing as browsing customers, Holmes managed to get out of him that he was single, that business was not going very well and

My poor mother was very ill, I had to inject her with morphine daily, he explained.

8 Christopher Cutler had thick sideburns, an old-fashioned goatee and a prominent belly. A lit pipe rested on his desk and several hats, in my opinion inappropriate for his age, hung on a nearby coat stand. Passing as browsing customers, Holmes managed to get out of him that he was single, that business was not going very well and that his elderly mother, his only remaining family member, had died just a few months earlier. My poor mother was very ill, I had to inject her with morphine daily, he explained. The doctor who treated her has been murdered. Have you heard? I actually went on Monday morning to pay the bill for my mother s treatment. If I had only waited a day, I would have saved that money I had no doubt that the ironmonger was a pragmatic man. X.8

9 They were preparing for a concert and Antoine Mose- Callet, as head of the ushers, was frantically polishing everywhere. As we talked with him in the stalls, he did not stop playing with his large moustache which lay neatly on his shaven face. I twisted my ankle at the weekend and so I went to the doctor on Monday. He said it was not serious, but I haven t been able to rest it as I am always on my feet in this job and it hurts to walk. Fortunately, my wife and daughter take good care of me at home and in return I read them the mystery stories from The Strand Magazine, I am a subscriber, you know? X.9

10 It was getting late when we saw the dealer leaving the building where he had his business and his home, near Hyde Park. We introduced ourselves and he shook our hands and told us his name, even though we already knew it: Bartholomew Cross. But beyond that, and in spite of Holmes best efforts, he refused to talk about the past. I do not want to discuss what happened; the coroner said what he needed to say. I guess it s normal for colleagues in same the profession to cover for each other, he said, looking accusingly at me with tight-lips, which could be seen below his neat goatee. If I may, I would like to enjoy my walk in Hyde Park; I did this for twenty years with my wife and although now I have to do it alone, I will continue to do so while I can still walk. That said, he adjusted his bowler hat, waved and walked away, muttering unintelligibly. X.10

11 After inquiring in a few pharmacies in the area, we found one in Grosvenor Street where they had recently sold a particularly poisonous substance. The pharmacist said he remembered the customer was a man with a goatee. He was here yesterday morning, he told me it was for a plague of mice that he had in his house. I think when he left I saw him stop a passing carriage. I remember the gentleman well, not only because strychnine is a drug that we hardly sell, but also because he bought a full doctor s medical kit. A good sale! Holmes and I had enough experience with narcotics to know perfectly well that it is impossible for strychnine to be taken orally without being noticed due to its strong and bitter flavour. X.11

12 Silence! Except in the Stranger s Room, no talking was, under any circumstances, allowed between members in any of the rooms. X.12

Thanks to the Baker Street Irregulars we

able to help us: Yes, on Monday morning I

I asked him if he would like to put it in

13 Thanks to the Baker Street Irregulars we were able to talk to a driver who was able to help us: Yes, on Monday morning I picked up a man in a bowler hat at the pharmacy on Grosvenor Street. He was a thin, short man. He was carrying a briefcase that shone like new and which he was messing with during the ride to Park Lane, where I left him. I asked him if he would like to put it in the trunk, but he said it contained sensitive chemicals which he used for dying clothes. I remember the chap well because he seemed very nervous, he even dropped his money when he paid me. X.13

14 After a full-scale search amongst reams of newspapers, I found the news that I had remembered reading: about two months ago, John Bont had been accused of medical malpractice for the death of Mrs Rosaline Marie Cross, wife of the antiques dealer Bartholomew Cross, in the operating room. An article published shortly afterwards declared that he had been cleared of malpractice, and therefore the honourable doctor had been absolved of all culpability. Holmes walked over to my desk with a copy of The Times open at the last few pages. You see, Watson, he said casually, showing me a piece of news from the previous week regarding an incident at a betting shop: several men had been involved in a fight for unpaid debts and one of the names that was mentioned, without giving any more details, was that of Doctor Bont of Park Lane. X.14

15 The barman spoke to us openly about the deceased: He has always been a regular here, but lately he came almost daily and never left sober. He did not live too far away, just across Hyde Park, but he always needed a carriage to take him back home. Recently, his tips were not as generous as they had been previously. This last week he didn t have enough money to be able to take a carriage and so he left on foot, staggering through the park. X.15

16 Revenge for the death of his wife Rosaline Marie Cross. Bartholomew Cross (antiques dealer). Poisoned by an injection of strychnine. 1 How exactly did John Bont die? 2) Who was the culprit? 3) What was the motive? X.1 6

CLOWNING AROUND HAL AMES

CLOWNING AROUND HAL AMES Jerry loved the circus. He was always excited when the circus came to town. It was not a big circus, but it was always fun to see the animals, actors, and most of all, the clowns.