‘I make it my business to follow everything of importance in London, Lady Eleanor.’
‘You must not sleep, then. But returning to my question, how could you have read that I had just now been to visit the school?’ she asked. ‘The papers do sometimes follow me – as they do you – but not by the minute.’
‘It was written on your gloves.’
‘My gloves?’ She held an exquisite pair of pale lavender leather gloves in her left hand.
‘The ink stain on your glove, there,’ said Holmes.
Barely discernible was a small stain on one of the index fingers.
‘You are far too meticulous in your habillement to have left the house with a stained glove, therefore you did some writing elsewhere,’ said Holmes. ‘Normally, one removes gloves to write, but you left yours on, presumably because you were in an environment where you did not wish to sully your hands. I cannot imagine you engaging the type of barrister or accountant where you would feel the need, but paperwork at the school might have required your attention, and in that undoubtedly less pristine atmosphere you chose to leave them on.’
‘I could have done so while shopping. Written a cheque, perchance,’ said the lady, who seemed amused rather than offended by Holmes’s showy display.
‘I warrant you do not do your own shopping, save for very particular establishments, a dressmaker perhaps. And there not only would you have an account, but you would have removed your gloves.’
She laughed. It was a beautiful, silvery sound. ‘Well, you are entirely correct, Mr Holmes, and I am even more convinced that it is the right thing to consult you!’
Holmes smiled at the lady.
‘It is fascinating,’ she continued, ‘that Mr Zanders of the Gazette seems to attribute your powers, which he declares are waning, to nefarious means. I personally think your past results tell quite a different story. Is it jealousy, perhaps, or does the man hold something against you?’
Holmes’s smile faded.
‘That is an astute observation indeed, madam. I once took this journalist to task for a gross indiscretion. But please, let us turn to the reason for your visit. How can we help you?’
‘An incident occurred at my school and I require your advice, as well as your assistance.’
‘Please lay your problem before us.’
‘There has been an attack on one of my star pupils, a young woman named Judith. She was rescued from the streets three years ago and in that short time has proven herself highly intelligent, having quickly acquired remarkable fluency in reading, figures, and household organization. I did not know it at the time, but she speaks French, as her mother was French. Although it is French of the streets, she has sought to remedy that, and her colloquial English, with success.’
‘Good. This attack, Lady Eleanor? What happened?’
‘Judith was attacked in her bed last night as she slept.’
‘Attacked!’ I cried.
Holmes frowned. ‘Details, if you please?’
‘Judith, as one of our senior and most accomplished students, has earned a room to herself. It was about two in the morning … early this morning … when an intruder entered this room, pulled back the covers, grasped her hand, and attempted to sever one of her fingers with a knife.’
‘My God!’ I exclaimed.
‘Which finger?’ asked Holmes.
‘Er … I am not sure. The middle? The ring?’
‘It matters. And madam, you are sure? Which hand and which finger?’
‘The left, I think. Ring finger. But those are not the salient points.’
‘I will determine that. What else?’
‘The assailant was masked, hooded. She did not see the man.’
‘Is she sure it was a man?’
‘Yes. She struck him and he cried out.’
‘I see. You said “attempted”. I trust he was not successful?’ asked Holmes, leaning forward in his chair with that keen expression of a hound on a scent.
‘She screamed. Her attacker fled, dropping the knife as he ran.’
‘The wound. Deep? Superficial?’
‘Just a shallow cut. Almost a scratch. But very upsetting.’
‘May I see the knife?’ Holmes held out his hand.
She started again. ‘How did you know I brought it to you?’
‘Lady Eleanor, please. No games. I can see the outline of it in your silk reticule. You are clearly not used to subterfuge, nor violence. Is it bloody, have you wrapped it? If so, you will have removed evidence.’
She paused, and her eyes filled with tears. ‘Oh, Mr Holmes,’ said she. ‘This is a most trying experience.’ She then withdrew the knife, holding it with distaste with only one finger and her thumb. It was wrapped in a cloth napkin.
‘Ah,’ said Holmes, examining it. ‘It has been wiped clean. That is unfortunate.’
It was an ordinary kitchen knife. Not distinguishable in any way except for small bloodstains on the blade. Holmes held it to a light on the table next to him, picked up a lens and examined the plain, flat handle and then the blade. He ran his finger along the edge.
‘Dull. No fingerprints are left. This tells us nothing,’ said Holmes. ‘Might it have come from the kitchen at the school?’
‘I do not know,’ said the lady. ‘I am not familiar with their utensils.’
Holmes continued to examine the knife, then he tossed it on a side table.
‘I presume you want me to trace this assailant?’
‘What I would like, Mr Holmes, is protection for dear Judith. She is my prize pupil. This has upset her greatly, and this catastrophe will delay my placing her until her wound heals. Most of my girls can only aspire to be parlour-maids or maids of all work. But Judith will be my first to graduate to a position of governess.’
‘Impressive,’ I said, imagining this tale of rags to respectability.
‘I thought it was merely a scratch,’ said Holmes. ‘Her wound?’
‘Perhaps I have not described it correctly. It is a small cut. But it is bandaged against infection.’
‘Good,’ said I, thinking that few people took such things seriously enough. Holmes shifted in impatience.
The lady continued. ‘I would very much like you to come to the school and to lie in wait for this assailant, Mr Holmes. I feel certain he will try again.’
‘Dr Watson perhaps could assist. Is there an empty room nearby where he could wait?’
I was surprised at this but said nothing.
‘No, it must be in her room. And you, sir. Alone. There is not enough space for you both in the room with Judith.’
‘Why do you not remove the girl to a place of safety?’ Holmes asked. ‘Perhaps lodge her in your own home until this villain is apprehended?’
‘Oh, no! I – I could not do that. My staff would be – oh no! But the assailant would not likely return, then, would he? I ask you again, sir. Please come and wait in her room with her.’
I had a sudden thought of our escapade back in ’83, protecting the gentle Helen Stoner, a young woman