An Incredibly Strange Story

An Incredibly Strange Story - Part One

It was a quiet evening in late summer, only two days after our unpleasant adventure with the notorious master blackmailer. We had opened the windows to let in the soft breeze, which was carrying various more or less pleasant odours into our living room, together with the noises from the street: the clacking of hooves, the creaking of carriages, and the occasional horn of an automobile. The fire was crackling quietly in its grate, and I tried to concentrate on my newspaper, which I had failed to read in the morning, due to an emergency call from a patient in Whitechapel. However, my mind constantly went astray, cruising around the recent incidents and the images and ideas they had brought about.

What struck me most was the fact that Holmes had so ruthlessly abused the maiden's trustfulness, and that he had even gone as far as to propose marriage. He had toyed with her, ruthlessly using his charms, of which he was thoroughly aware, and finally he had dropped her in a most impolite manner. The girl would have had the right to sue him, and what is more, supposing that Aggie had in fact asked for more than a kiss or two, I was convinced that he would not have been able to fulfil her expectations. I found myself smiling in spite of the seriousness of the situation, at the mere thought of it, and I wondered how my esteemed friend and partner would have wound himself out of such a delicate situation. I had by then learned to cherish him as a devoted friend, as well as a skilled lover, and yet, I could not believe that he would have been able to cope with Aggie's advances, should she have chosen to apply them. Moreover, I could hardly imagine him being in bed with a woman.

"On the contrary," Holmes' voice suddenly rang out without warning. I almost dropped my newspaper, finding my secret thoughts thus blatantly answered without me asking for it, nor uttering them aloud.

"On the contrary what?" I ventured, prepared to once more brace myself for my friend's infallible deduction skills.

"But my dear fellow," he said, sucking his pipe while a smirk played around his lips. "I would certainly have been able to rise to the occasion."

I almost jumped to the ceiling when I heard him say so. "How on earth could you know that?" I ejaculated. "This is impossible, Holmes. I was merely thinking..."

"Why, my dear Watson," replied he, thus interrupting me. "So, I was right and you did think about dear Aggie." He emptied his pipe over the fire, knocked it softly on the grate and took his time to stuff it anew and light it, which seemed to employ all his concentration during the next minutes. Only then did he continue to speak, while I was staring at him, at a complete loss of words, and still hardly able to grasp the fact that he had, once more, actually read my mind.

"Yes," Holmes said, supporting himself against the chimneypiece and smiling at me like a schoolboy. "Of course I would. And, pray, why should I not?"

I shook my head in disbelief, even though I had to admit that he, the way he was standing there and smiling at me, was one sight for sore eyes, and presently transmitted the air of an experienced seducer. But I knew better than to be betrayed by his acting skills. I also knew that he had never had any kind of lover before me, and I rather doubted that he would ever get involved with one of the fairer sex. This I told him, whereupon he laughed.

"My dear Watson," Holmes exclaimed once more. "I would indeed be perfectly able to cope with whatever situation might unfold itself to me, including a lady, should the need arise. Pray do not be mistaken by my personal preferences. These would not count, I can assure you, under professional circumstances."

Now I had to put my newspaper aside, lest I chanced to accidentally throw it into the fire. This was outrageous. The world greatest detective, and the world's only consulting detective, who was a self-declared if not hater, then at least utter denier of the fair sex, would certainly not be able to engage in what I would call the most natural pastime in the world. I shook my head vehemently. "Nay," I said. "And I can only repeat: You would not be up to it. My word."

"Your word?" Holmes repeated. "It is a bet, then."

I felt my face grow hot, but I could not possibly retreat from such an offer. "A bet it is then," I said, extending my hand. He shook it heartily, laughing once more.

"My dear friend," he then said, smiling mischievously. "It will be a pleasure." He looked into the fire, then added, as if he had second thoughts about his own audacity. "I must leave the choice of the lady to you, though. I hope you will not disappoint me."

To be continued...