Who is the curly-headed man who’s come out ‘Fernbank Cottage’, hidden away in the Dendringham woods? And why did Angharad lead them all here? Read on…
“BARKBARKBARKBARK!” went Angharad, hopping up and down.
“Great Scott!” said Mr Holmes, staring wide eyed in amazement. Dot didn’t know what to say!
“BARKBARKBARKBARKBARK!” went Wizzie, backing away with his tail going so fast it was a blur.
“A Cavalier King Charles! And a Welsh Terrier! My favourites!” said the curly-headed man, with a big beaming smile.
He reached down behind him and, as if by magic, produced what looked like some very tasty morsels and threw them out to the two barking dogs.
They obviously were tasty morsels because the barking stopped and the snacking started!
“Anything for food!” said Mr Mouse, poking his nose out from his hiding place. (Look who’s talking!)
“Now then!” said the curly-headed man, He put both his hands on the edge of the trapdoor frame, pushed down and as if he was on a spring, jumped through the trapdoor out onto the grassy bank.
He was an even stranger sight, now they could see all of him. He wore a suit made out of what looked like grass, a big golden bow tie, and thick heavy boots covered in straps and buckles. His pockets were bulging, as if they were full of stuff.
“It’s very good to see you all!” he said, walking towards Mr Homes with his hand held out. “We’re lucky to have the great detective here to try to solve our ghostly problems – I know Sir Charles is fearfully worried, especially for the ladies’ sake. Welcome, Mr Sherlock Holmes!”
And before Mr Holmes could draw breath to reply, he seized the detective’s hand and shook it up and down. Then he turned to Dot.
“And you must be young Dorothea” he smiled, bowing low like someone meeting the Queen. “How delightful! How delightful!”
Mr Holmes cleared his throat. Dot could tell he didn’t feel in control of the situation, and didn’t like that feeling one bit!
“And who, sir” he enquired “have I the honour of meeting? Apart of course from knowing you are a scientist and inventor?”
“Ah, I do apologize” said the curly-headed man, blushing so that his cheeks, already a bright red, turned even redder. “You see I feel I know you so well, with all the stories of your adventures in the ‘Strand’ magazine – most stimulating and exciting! – that I assume you must know me. A familiar event in your life as England’s premier investigator, I am quite sure!”
“This guy could talk for England, no kidding!” muttered Mr Mouse in Dot’s ear.
“Still, I - ” the curly headed man went on. But then he suddenly stopped, and a look of complete puzzlement crossed his face.
“How in the name of the great Galileo did you know that I am an inventor?” he asked.
Mr Holmes smiled. He obviously felt back in control. “Quite simple” he said, talking out his funny curved pipe and putting it in his mouth (yeucchhh thought Dot again.) “It’s simply a matter of observation. I noticed that you have three screwdrivers in your jacket pocket” (he did) “and a scrap of paper with some calculations upon it halfway out of your top pocket” (it was.) “Furthermore your hands are stained with a chemical” (they were – Dot hadn’t seen it before) “which suggests experimentation in the laboratory of some kind. Finally, there is a strong smell of the chemical hydrogen sulphide – often known as “the rotten egg smell” - emerging from your cottage, now the window is open wide.”
“Well I could have told him that” said Angharad, rubbing her shiny black nose on the ground and looking up again with some twigs and leaves sticking to her beard.
“And me! Pooey pooey!” gasped Wiz. It was true – Dot could smell it now too!
“Good Lord!” said the curly headed man, shaking his head in amazement as Mr Holmes, smiling, lit his pipe with lots of puffing and blowing. “No wonder they call you – ”
BANG! CRASH! BANGBANGBANG!
