Sherlock Holmes in Russia

I

‘Surely you notice, my dear Watson, that revolutionary times in Russia affected townspeople and citizens of the Russian Empire generally much more so than those who, up until such times, kept out of the limelight and emerged to show themselves only with the greatest care.’

‘Surely that was to be expected,’ I replied. ‘The turmoil that accompanies revolution invariably deflects conservative elements. In their drive to quell revolution, these elements fail to see the mass of riff-raff who live by theft, robbery, burglary, blackmail and suchlike shady means.’

The conversation between us took place as we sat on a bench along the Tversky Boulevard, where Holmes and I had gone out for some fresh air.

‘When I look at the chronicle of current events set out in the local press, I am simply amazed at the sheer number of daring and impertinent robberies systematically carried out in Moscow. You would think that, having regard to the improved strength of the investigation department instituted with the first revolutionary outbursts, it would be possible to cope with ordinary crime! But it looks as if the opposite is the case.’

While he was saying all this, Holmes drew Kabbalistic symbols in the sand with his cane, while pensively looking up at the investigation department, directly opposite which we sat.

‘I think that the reason is clear,’ I said, ‘if we take into account that at one time all the efforts of the investigation department were solely directed at ferreting out revolutionary organizations, catching terrorists and looking for forbidden literature. Until the revolution got under way, revolutionary organizations were so conspiratorial that catching them was more difficult than catching criminals.’

‘But in the revolutionary period,’ Sherlock Holmes interrupted me, ‘the revolutionary organizations showed their cards far too openly, they operated nearly in the open, as a result of which agents of the security service were able to infiltrate them and this error they haven’t been able to correct even now. It goes without saying that investigations into political affairs require little or no effort these days, but concentrating mostly on political investigation leads to the worst elements in society not being under scrutiny any more. Just look, burglaries in Moscow amaze with their unusual and systematic effrontery. Often they are carried out in the town centre in broad daylight and it is only in rare cases that the police are able to solve these crimes quickly.’

It was a hot day. Strollers filled the boulevard. Dust rose all around us. Neither Holmes nor I liked crowds, preferring more quiet places for our strolls. Which is why, when the boulevard became crowded, we exchanged glances and, understanding each other without words, rose from our bench. Exchanging conversational trivia, we were about to make our way towards Strastniy Boulevard, when we were overtaken by a crowd of drunken hooligans. We sought refuge in a cab.

‘There’s no getting away from them,’ said Sherlock Holmes angrily. ‘In general, my dear Watson, if we were to compare Russia with England, there is much to marvel at. You wouldn’t encounter a tenth of the number of beggars in London as you would here, even though the number of unemployed in London is several times greater than in Moscow.’

Saying this, he drew a cigar out of its case and threw himself back in his seat. ‘When a city or a government isn’t sufficiently concerned with the grey mass of people and is only interested in preserving the interests of the bureaucracy and the capitalist class, that’s what always happens. The grey mass, driven in on itself, sinks like a stone in water.’

In the meantime, our ghastly cabriolet with its metal wheels stopped outside the Moscow Grand Hotel. We settled with the unprepossessing driver and went to our room.

The first thing that we saw, as we came in, was a sealed envelope placed conspicuously in such a way that we could not miss it.

‘I can already anticipate something new,’ said Sherlock Holmes, opening and reading it.

‘Maxim Vasilyevitch Kliukin, publisher and book store proprietor, invites you, Watson, and me – to see him on an urgent matter,’ he added as he finished reading the letter and placed it back on the table.

‘And you, of course, are off to see him instantly.’

‘But, of course. After all, we haven’t done much this month and it wouldn’t go amiss to give ourselves a little shake-up. Let’s have a leisurely lunch and then make our way along Mohovaya Street, where he owns a store.’

We changed, went down to the restaurant, chose a table and ordered lunch.

II

At about five in the afternoon we came out on to the square where the Duma stands, turned into Tversky Boulevard, turned into Mohovaya Street and went in the direction of the university.

‘I think I can just about imagine what they’ll tell me when we get there,’ Holmes said as we walked along. ‘If you have read the news in the Moscow papers, you must have seen accounts of a whole number of robberies from major publishers during the last year. Kliukin’s publishing house, as well as his book store, are amongst the biggest in Moscow both as regards the number of publications as well as the variety on sale.’

‘He probably got taken for quite a lot,’ I interrupted, ‘but it seems strange that he decided to come to us.’

Sherlock Holmes shrugged, ‘In order for you not to be surprised, and to understand the reason, you have only to remember our conversation on Tversky Boulevard.’

Without much trouble, we found Benkendorff House in which Kliukin’s store was situated. We asked whether we could see the owner, to which the shop assistant pointed at a lean, darkhaired, middle-aged man sitting at a desk. The desk stood beside one of the display windows and was piled high with papers. We approached him.

‘I had the honour of receiving from you today a letter addressed to me at the Moscow Grand Hotel,’ said Sherlock Holmes with a bow.

The publisher immediately realized who we are. He shook us by the hand, asked us to wait a few moments and went into a back room.

‘My son will be here in a minute and I would ask you to wait for his arrival,’ he said when he returned. ‘This is not the place to talk about such matters. With your permission, we will adjourn elsewhere, where you will be told in detail everything concerning my request for your presence.’

Holmes bowed silently. Only a couple of minutes passed and a young man, wearing a school uniform, walked in and Maxim Vasilyevitch Kliukin handed him a set of keys, meanwhile asking us to follow.

We followed Kliukin for a couple of hundred steps along Mohovaya Street and found ourselves at the Peterhof tavern. Up the stairs we went and along a corridor with private rooms along it. We passed several doors and entered one of the larger rooms in which, to our great surprise, a fairly large number of people were already waiting. Several rose to meet us when we came in, and Mr Kliukin introduced us.

I don’t remember all their surnames, but I did remember Messrs Yefimoff, Karbasnikoff, Suvorin and others. All those present were either publishers or the owners of major book stores.

After the initial polite exchanges, Sherlock Holmes asked Mr Kliukin to come to the point without further ado.

‘This is what it is all about,’ Maxim Vasilyevitch Kliukin began. ‘I speak at the request and on behalf of all those present. We are ten publishers and store owners from which a considerable number of books have vanished this past year. We have searched and searched for them but, so far, to no avail. I accidentally heard of your presence in Moscow and decided to tempt fortune, to ask you for help.’

‘I am at your service,’ said Holmes.

‘You see,’ said Kliukin, ‘as I have already said, we have no direct evidence against anyone. Nevertheless, owing to certain considerations, we are led to suspect certain minor bookstore proprietors who are buying up goods stolen from us. So far, it is unclear to us who carried out the robberies and how, but we are able to give you the names of ten people who, we think, merit special attention.’

‘You will let me write down their names?’ asked Holmes and took out a notebook.

‘Of course,’ said Kliukin. He dictated the names of bookstores in various parts of town with their precise addresses.

‘And this is all you have for me?’ asked Holmes.

‘Alas, yes,’ said the publisher.

‘Another question.’

‘I am listening.’

‘Do you sell your books in complete form, i.e. including bindings?’

‘Of course, it would be strange if that were not the case,’ said the publisher in surprise.

We discussed a few more trivial details and, having carefully written down the addresses of the stores that had been robbed, we bade the company farewell and left the restaurant.

III

For the rest of the day and evening Holmes worked his way with painstaking care through a reference book, occasionally going downstairs to use the telephone. At the same time he called for a courier and told him to order notepaper with the heading ‘Ivan Ivanovitch Sergeyev, Publisher,’ and this was to be done as a matter of urgency.

Early the next morning the notepaper was delivered by the printer. Again, Holmes got to work on the telephone.

At the same time, I had to find out from all the publishers we had met the previous day what exactly they published and which books were principally stocked in their warehouses during the period of the robberies. A few hours of work and we had quite a list before us.

‘And now, Watson, we can get down to some real work,’ said Sherlock Holmes with a determined air.

Sitting down to our desk, we divided between us those book stores which the publishers had indicated as under suspicion.

We had four shops each. We each kept a copy of the list.

It is necessary to note that, at the request of Sherlock Holmes, the publishers who had been robbed were asked to give precise figures as to which books and what quantities had been ordered by those under suspicion. None of the figures was considerable. Each had ordered between one and three copies.

‘Remember, my dear Watson,’ said Sherlock Holmes, ‘we will have to visit all the shops and ask for precisely those books which have vanished at the same time. It goes without saying that, in every case, we will ask for a higher number of copies than those the firm ordered.’

I fully comprehended Holmes’s thinking. Indeed, this was the only way of coming across any trace.

At the same time, an error was possible and I couldn’t refrain from putting it before Holmes. ‘It might very well be that, despite the absence of the goods we ask for, the firm would tell us to wait a few minutes while they send a messenger to fetch them from the requisite publisher.’

‘Of course,’ answered Holmes, ‘your presupposition is more than possible. But we can always telephone the publisher and ask whether a messenger came, who sent him and how many copies he took.’

‘You are absolutely right!’ I had to agree.

‘So, let’s not waste any further time,’ said Holmes, reaching for his hat.

A few minutes later we had left our hotel and each set out on his route. We had to hurry. The day was slowly drawing to a close and the stores were going to shut in a couple of hours.

Having been to four stores, I returned tired and bad-tempered, with nothing to show for my efforts. In all four I got either a direct refusal or I was offered a lesser quantity than I had asked for, though I was told that if I cared to wait, my order would be filled in no time at all.

Moreover, the book store owners, when I told them that I was opening my own business, assured me that if they were to get the book from the very same publishers I would have to go to myself, I wouldn’t be a kopeck worse off. The reason was that they were old customers, were given a sizable discount and they would pass the books on to me leaving for themselves a very small profit. But I’d be getting the books for the same price I’d have to pay the publisher. No matter how cunningly I tried, I could find nothing suspicious that could cast any light on the offer. Upset by my lack of success, I returned to my hotel room, took off my coat and lay down on the couch awaiting Holmes.

Darkness fell.

Sherlock Holmes returned at about eight. He came in with a bold step and from the look on his face I immediately saw that he was satisfied with his excursion.

‘A man’s eyes and face reflect his inner state,’ he said, looking at me with a smile, ‘and, hence, I am certain that you are angry at your lack of success.’

He hung his coat up and turned to me, ‘But that’s how it always is, dear Watson, we look for some item in ten places. It doesn’t mean it is in all of them at one and the same time. It has to be somewhere in a single place, and if two or three people were to go in different directions, one of them will certainly find what has been lost, unless, of course, someone has moved it somewhere else.’

‘From what you say, I conclude that your excursion has been, in any case, more successful,’ I said, feeling better. ‘No, really, Holmes, you’re lucky. Luck, real luck, dogs your footsteps whichever way you go. I really get to feel jealous, just thinking of your successes. Now, then, isn’t it just chance that on this occasion I got the four stores which had nothing suspicious.’

Holmes shrugged indifferently, ‘In solving crimes, blind chance often plays a leading role.’

IV

‘And, so, my dear Holmes, I hope that you will share with me the results of today’s labours,’ I said.

‘With pleasure, dear Doctor,’ he answered, sitting down in an armchair and stretching his long legs as was his usual habit.

‘Fediukoff’s store, which I went to first, proved to be without suspicion,’ he began. ‘But the second, belonging to a certain Nikanoroff, somewhat did confirm my suspicions There, I found some books I was after, and although the quantity I asked for happened to be considerably higher than their purchase from the publisher, nonetheless, I was handed the quantity I asked for. But most interesting was the fact that several copies were not bound and still in loose-leaf. Imagine my joy! Needless to say, not a single publisher would deliver for sale in such a form. And how could one explain that this sort of goods is being kept in a store, except that it wasn’t bought directly from a publisher. To put it bluntly, the book in question must have been obtained directly from the printer and binder, who stole it page by page. I asked Nikanoroff how come the book was not bound. He became embarrassed, said the books had been delivered in a hurry, and offered me a considerable discount. I hope he is now in my grasp, and tomorrow we’ll investigate him properly.’

‘Is he young?’ I asked.

‘Well, no,’ answered Sherlock Holmes. ‘I’d say, forty, and from his outward appearance, not someone I’d like to meet at night in a secluded place.’

‘What about the other stores?’

‘The fourth, belonging to a Semionoff, made me think all was not in order. The books are all bound, but they are in suspicious quantities, though, of course, that should not be enough to cast suspicion. Semionoff could very well argue that he bought the books from different publishers accidentally, not suspecting them to be stolen. Any accusation would fall apart.’

V

It was still quite early when Holmes woke me next morning. Opening my eyes, I was quite surprised to see an unfamiliar man with red hair and a thick red beard, wearing greasy, high boots and a red calico shirt showing from under his waistcoat.

‘What do you want?’ I asked, for some reason taking him for a labourer from outside.

The big chap fell about laughing.

‘Oh, damn!’ I exclaimed, recognizing my friend from his laugh. ‘By God, Holmes, you disguise yourself so well every time, the best detective wouldn’t know you.’

‘Yes, it happens to be one of my chief attributes,’ he said merrily, tugging a greasy black cap over his red wig. ‘I’m off this very minute on certain business and I’ll be back in a few hours. While I am away, will you find yourself an appropriate costume, well, at least one like mine. You’ll be more comfortable in it.’

He nodded and was gone. I began to dress. After breakfast I set off for Suhareff Tower and soon acquired all that was necessary.

Two hours later I was completely ready. I changed into my new costume, ordered a cold buffet with wine, and waited for Holmes. I didn’t have to wait long. Holmes returned at about ten.

‘Now isn’t this a treat!’ he said, looking at the table which had been set. ‘On my way home, I was thinking of a mid-morning snack. We’d best fortify ourselves as we might not be able to do so for some considerable time.’

We had a leisurely breakfast-cum-lunch while Holmes expounded on what he had been up to.

‘Yes, my dear Watson, you may compliment me on the wide circle of acquaintances amongst street bookstalls which I have made today. And getting to know the porter of the building in which Nikanoroff has his bookstore didn’t get in the way of progress, either. And just imagine what I discovered!’

‘Well?’

‘Nikanoroff is not Nikanoroff at all. He is actually Gabriel Voropayeff. The book store is registered in Nikanoroff’s name, but he is unknown to the smaller stallholders and is never seen there, not as Nikanoroff. Gabriel Voropayeff, the boss, is the chap I had the pleasure of dealing with yesterday and he is nicknamed Gavriushka. I gather, from hints dropped by others, that he is a somewhat shadowy figure. Luckily, there is a third-rate tavern opposite his premises and from it we’ll be able to observe who comes and goes in and out of it.’

He fell silent and set about polishing off the roast beef. Having eaten, we left the hotel, with the suspicious eyes of grand-looking porters and door-keepers examining us from head to toe.

VI

‘Perhaps I am mistaken, but I thought your absence was overlong,’ I said as we strode along.

‘Yes, I did stop off at a few more places,’ he answered. ‘I hope you won’t think it strange that as of today I am the assistant to the warehouseman of the publisher Dmitry Panfilovitch Yefimoff.’

‘Whatever for?’ I asked in surprise.

‘I had to do it to familiarize myself with his employees. Besides that, I was able to drop in on Kliukin, Karbasnikoff and other publishers who had suffered losses. I may now proudly say that I can easily recognize each of their employees.’

Thus, talking shop, we got as far as the book store outside which a black-and-white sign proclaimed: NIKANOROFF BOOKS. We crossed the road into an unclean, third-rate tavern, took a table by the window and ordered tea. Three hours passed in utter boredom and I cannot remember a single day of my life when I drank so much tea.

Although Sherlock Holmes did appear totally at ease, I could see that he never dropped his eyes from the place across the road, examining with a close eye everyone who went in or out. We were going out of our minds from sheer boredom and finally left.

Not being familiar with the employees of the publishers who had been robbed, I couldn’t tell whether any of them were the ones who had been to Nikanoroff. However, since Holmes was making little notes from time to time, he had probably found familiar acquaintances amongst the visitors.

Having left the tavern, we strolled about for an hour or so, returned to our observation post and again got to drinking tea. Sometimes, I still wonder how I managed to survive all that tea.

Little by little, darkness fell. At seven o’clock precisely the shops began to close down. An athletic-looking, dark-haired man with the face of a gangster appeared on the threshold of Nikanoroff’s shop. Two employees appeared with him and the three began to put up shutters over windows and doors.

‘Quite the sympathetic looker, not so?’ Sherlock Holmes whispered ironically, indicating the athletic, dark-haired man with a nod of his head.

‘I take it, from your previous account, that this is undoubtedly the owner of the store,’ I said.

‘Spot on! This is Gavriushka Voropayeff, whom we are yet certain to be dealing with,’ answered Holmes.

Having locked up, Gavriushka stroked his beard as if he had all the time in the world and, having said something to his salesmen, made his leisurely way towards the tavern. I saw Holmes’s eyes light up when the man came in. Fortunately for us, he sat down at an adjoining table and asked for tea. Some twenty minutes later, a middle-aged, crafty-looking man walked in. He looked round, saw our man, approached and greeted him, and sat down beside him.

‘Well, then?’ asked Gavriushka out of the side of his mouth.

‘All right, everything’s OK,’ was the answer.

‘Look out, Fomka, see that you take care. You know for yourself, there’s new measures being undertaken. See that nothing comes out.’

The new arrival waved his hand cheerfully as if he did not have a care in the world, ‘They got the wrong ’uns!’

Gavriushka Voropayeff grinned smugly.

They were so near that we could hear every word, even when they lowered their voices to a whisper. For a while they fell silent.

‘I’m off to Petersburg tomorrow,’ Gavriushka Voropayeff said at last. ‘You tell the lads to get together in three days time. We’ll meet in the same tavern, in the back room.’

‘Done!’ answered Fomka. ‘Is something going on in Petersburg?’

‘I don’t just go for no reason. I’m simply tearing myself apart. Have to get to Petersburg and Nijni and Kharkoff. I am being summoned from all over.’

‘That’s it, you see. It is having a business that covers the whole of Russia,’ said Fomka smugly.

‘I’ll manage,’ answered Gavriushka.

They chatted for a few more minutes and left. We settled our bill and went after them. Out in the street, we saw that Voropayeff had said goodbye to Fomka, after which they parted ways.

‘That chappie will have to be watched,’ said Holmes, nodding his head in Fomka’s direction.

We followed him at a distance. This time it was a longish journey. Fomka must have been a man very careful with his money. He didn’t even take a tram, and we had to follow him as far as Marina Grove.

Fixing the house he had gone into, we halted for a minute and then, as if by accident, came up to the gates. Holmes asked me to wait, vanishing into the courtyard. He returned a few minutes later, making a sign for me to follow. We met around the corner.

‘Well, have you found anything out?’ I asked.

‘Of course,’ answered Holmes. ‘That ten-kopeck coin I slipped the yard man must’ve had magical properties. Actually, I suspect Fomka upset him in some way, since he cursed him up and down behind his back. Fomka’s real name is Ivan Vihliayeff, but amongst the riff-raff he is known as Fomka Nikishkin. The yard man reckons he was in jug thrice and reckons it won’t be long before he goes in again.’

We walked silently for some time. Holmes was deep in thought. ‘My dear Watson,’ he said at last, ‘you’ll have to go to Petersburg.’

‘If it is absolutely necessary,’ I answered, ‘of course, I’ll go.’

‘And you have committed Gavriushka Voropayeff’s face to memory?’

‘Oh, yes!’

‘In that case, you’ll have to keep him under observation tomorrow and then travel with him, but I do beg of you not to let him slip out of your hands.’

‘I think you can depend on me,’ I answered. ‘Long practice with you has taught me a thing or two and if all that is required is to follow a man, I should be able to carry out such an assignment successfully.’

We caught a cab and returned to our hotel. That evening we dropped in on Dmitry Panfilovitch Yefimoff.

‘Do you believe in intuition?’ Holmes asked him.

‘Not really,’ answered the publisher.

Holmes shrugged, ‘Pity! But I do, and in my personal experience, there have often been occasions when my intuition has proved correct. Take now, for example. I have a feeling that tonight you will be robbed. I suggest you join us in setting up an ambush.’

‘If necessary,’ muttered Dmitry Panfilovitch Yefimoff.

‘Right-o! It’s late and all your employees are fast asleep, so we won’t be noticed. Take a torch with you.’

Dmitry Panfilovitch disappeared and was soon back suitably dressed with a torch in his hand. Within a few minutes we were entering Bahrushin House, where his storehouse was situated. He began to undo the locks.

‘Oho!’ exclaimed Holmes, ‘Five locks! Unlikely the thief will come this way. A better assumption would be that he is going to come through a passageway from a cellar next door.’

We entered and secured five locks after which Holmes lit a lamp and got to work. He meticulously examined all four walls.

‘The cellar from the house opposite goes under Kozitsky Alley,’ explained Yefimoff. ‘My cellar is a couple of yards short of that.’

‘That’s very important,’ said Holmes, approaching the wall.

His attention increased. But no matter which way he turned, no matter how many chinks he looked into, he found nothing. An hour of this, and Sherlock Holmes had to admit defeat. His efforts had been in vain.

‘There must be a way, of that I am certain,’ he muttered. ‘But it is done too well. Well, there’s no other way. We’ll have to sit it out. The thief will show us where his burrow lies.’

And he began to indicate our places to us. As for himself, he placed himself along the side wall where the passageway was most likely to be found. Yefimoff was hidden by the door behind bundles of goods. I was placed in the middle. The hours crept by wearily, but, at last, a dull sound came to our ears. We froze and held our breath.

And this is when something happened that even Sherlock Holmes did not expect. The door lock clicked. Then a second, and a third, and a fourth and a fifth … and the door opened.

In the doorway of the dark warehouse, Fomka’s figure appeared in outline. He looked round carefully and made a few steps forward, holding a large bunch of keys in his hand.

I looked at Holmes. He sat there hunched, like a cat waiting for a mouse, ready to spring.

Fomka advanced slowly in the direction of Yefimoff. And suddenly the unexpected happened and totally upset our calculations. The appearance of the thug must have frightened Yefimoff. And instead of calmly waiting, he suddenly sprang back like a madman and, at the top of his voice, yelled, ‘Stop thief!’

Fomka sprang towards the door. Holmes flew out of his spot like an arrow, but it was already too late. Fomka was through the door, slamming it shut after him, while Holmes, unable to stop in time, careened into it forehead first.

By the time we made it to the street, Fomka was far away. We heard him jabber something as he was caught in a leash by which a student was leading a dog, saw how he stumbled head over heels, as did the dog, but that only delayed him for a moment. Ignoring the student’s curses, he was up and away and soon was hidden from view. Willy-nilly, we had to return.

‘And you just had to start howling,’ Holmes said with reproach directed at Yefimoff, who, in the meantime, had come to and joined in the chase.

‘It’s all right for you to talk,’ was the answer. ‘This is the sort of thing that you’re used to, while it’s a first time for me.’

There was nothing to be done. The red-headed thug had vanished and after a few exchanges we went home.

VII

We spent the whole of the following morning taking turns in the tavern opposite Gavriushka Voropayeff’s bookstore ostensibly owned by Nikanoroff. It was my turn when, through the window, I saw Gavriushka emerging. He spent a long time haggling with the cabbie and they were finally off.

I was after him and soon we were at the Nikolayevsk Railway Station. It was twenty minutes before the next train to Petersburg. I saw Gavriushka Voropayeff in the queue for third-class tickets and got an errand-boy to get me a ticket also.

The journey to Petersburg passed quickly enough and because I was travelling second class, I hardly saw Gavriushka. But then, at Tver, I was fortunate enough to see him go to the telegraph office and, standing behind him on the pretext, that I, too, was sending a telegram, I read his over his shoulder as he was so short. It was addressed to Panova’s Book Store in Petersburg, personally to an employee named Seriogin. The text was short and to the point: ARRIVING THIS MORNING. MEET ME.

The telegram was a real find. Now, at least, I had some sort of key. Arriving in Petersburg, a fairly well-dressed young man approached Gavriushka Voropayeff on the platform. They greeted each other, spoke and made their way to the exit.

I left my case with its change of clothes in the station baggage room and followed them at some distance. At Liteiniy Prospect they turned right and soon we were over the Neva River. After some zig-zagging along the narrow alleys of the Viborg bank, Seriogin and Gavriushka went into a small tavern, whose customers must have been mostly cab drivers as there was a large cab station next door.

I waited five minutes and followed them in. There was no vacant table next to them, so I had to occupy another that was one removed.

Gavriushka and Seriogin were, evidently, deeply involved in their own conversation and though they kept their voices low, from time to time some words reached me. They were haggling. The greedy Gavriushka would raise his voice quite considerably whenever money was mentioned.

‘No, fellow, I simply can’t. You know yourself how things are. Isn’t a quarter enough! You can check every penny on me, but that’s all I have. All that’d be left for me would be ten roubles for a return ticket and a cheap meal,’ he said heatedly.

But Seriogin wouldn’t give in, ‘As you wish, but I won’t settle for anything less than fifty,’ he said firmly.

‘Then feel free to go to anyone else,’ said Gavriushka angrily.

Seriogin shrugged, ‘Well, then, so we will. You’re not the only game in town. There’s plenty more,’ he said nastily.

They lowered their voices and renewed their haggling. Gavriushka haggled with such emotion that perspiration began to run down his face. But it appeared that he wasn’t getting his way. As their argument became more heated, their voices rose and became more and more hoarse.

Gavriushka became completely transformed. His face grew scarlet. His greedy eyes shone as if he were mad and his fingers convulsed into fists. ‘Just you wait then,’ he shouted, unable to contain himself any longer.

Seriogin looked at him and jeered, ‘Let’s see – who of us will wait and whom it’ll suit best is still to be seen, but I’ll say it’ll be the worse for you,’ he said and laughed in Gavriushka’s face.

‘So that’s how you intend to carry on,’ shouted Gavriushka, leaping out of his chair. And before the onlookers, who had begun to be interested in their quarrel, could react, he picked up a saucer from the table and let fly at Seriogin with it. If Seriogin hadn’t managed to duck, the saucer would have smashed into his face. But it had been thrown with such force that it hit the opposite wall and with a ring fell to pieces on the floor.

Seriogin, in turn, seized a cup of tea and threw the contents into Gavriushka’s face. ‘Freshen up with that and calm down, because I can smash all this china over your blasted head,’ he said, looking at the panic-stricken Gavriushka, now wiping his scalded face with a table serviette.

The hot shower, it seemed, had its intended effect on Gavriushka. He threw a series of curses at his friend and sat down again, curtly dismissing the waiter who had appeared, saying to him, ‘What are you doing here! Go about your own business! We have our own to look after and we know each other well enough. Don’t bother us.’

The brief outburst also seemed to have an effect on Seriogin. Both began to give ground and before long I noticed that they shook hands in the friendliest manner.

‘So, thirty-five,’ said Gavriushka

‘I’ll be bringing the stuff to the station in four hours,’ said Seriogin, ‘and then that’ll be that.’

Their haggling over, they ordered vodka and bits and pieces to eat and began to speak so softly I could no longer follow what they were saying.

Not wishing to arouse their suspicions, I left and walked my way to the railway station, where I waited for them to appear. There was still plenty of time to dine.

Soon Gavriushka appeared. An hour or so later he was followed by Seriogin in a cab with two sizable baskets. Gavriushka took the baskets and counted out thirty-five roubles. Judging by the expression on his face, he parted with the money only very reluctantly.

Seriogin left, while the thrifty Gavriushka, sitting on one of the baskets, patiently waited for a train. As soon as the train arrived, Gavriushka began to lug his cargo into the coach. Not one to spend so much as ten kopecks on a porter, he carried them in himself, perspiring from the effort, having also spent a good five minutes in a heated argument with the conductor who hadn’t wanted to let him on board with such large-sized baskets.

Eventually the matter was settled and Gavriushka, heaving and blowing, managed to accommodate his cargo on shelves above the seats. I lost him on the way to Moscow, as we travelled in separate coaches.

Before departing from Petersburg, I managed to send Holmes a telegram and he met me in Moscow. I described briefly for him everything I had seen and heard, and asked, shouldn’t we be watching Gavriushka further.

‘Oh, no, there’s no point,’ answered Holmes. ‘It goes without saying that he will take his goods to the bookstore, and we’re better off dropping in on him in an hour’s time, when he will be going through what he has brought with him.’

We hired a cab and drove back to our hotel, chatting and asking each other about the results of our endeavours during the last few days. Just as I had expected, Holmes had wasted no time during my two-day absence.

‘My dear Watson, it would appear we are dealing with a fairly large and well-organized gang, operating under Gavriushka’s leadership in major centres throughout the whole of Russia with the criminal, Fomka Nikishkin, graciously contributing to the success of the enterprise. They are meeting today and I have already taken steps by which I can enter into their conspiracy.’

‘How did you do it?’ I asked.

‘Very simply,’ said Holmes with a smile. ‘Once you find one end of the thread that, in itself, is enough to unravel the entire ball of thread. On this occasion I undertook a very simple action. As you know, at least temporarily I am assistant warehouse manager at Mr Kliukin’s place. That day, when we sat in the tavern opposite Gavriushka Voropayeff’s place, I saw one of Kliukin’s employees going in for some reason. I made inquiries, only to discover he hadn’t been sent by anyone. This was enough for me to conclude that this employee must be on the best of terms with Gavriushka. Two days’ work in the warehouse and I uncovered the fact that this chap, Ivan Buroff by name, also helps out packing cargo dispatched to the provinces. It was no problem for me to get to know him. An evening in his company in Zvereff’s Tavern in Kozitzky Alley and we were fast friends.’

‘You are, indeed, a wizard,’ I exclaimed, listening to Holmes’s account. ‘And what did your friendship lead to, then?’

‘First of all, we both got drunk, well, he more than I. He seemed to see in me a pack leader, and when I finally hinted that it would be mutually profitable to collaborate, he saw the point immediately. Finally, he showed his cards. He said he regretted I hadn’t appeared earlier. He found it difficult to work on his own, but he assured me that working with him, what with me as an assistant warehouse manager, could lead to us both making quite a lot of money. On the third day of our acquaintanceship, we managed to drag away a hundred books, which we temporarily placed in a room I had set aside in the warehouse.’

‘So far I am with you,’ I exclaimed. ‘But what about the conference?’

Holmes laughed merrily.

‘You have to understand that I am now, so to speak, one of the gang, having been inducted by working for it and, of course, having full right to attend general meetings of this all-Russia enterprise.’

‘Have you, at least, spoken to Kliukin?’

‘Of course, though mind you, he hadn’t even noticed the thieving that took place. He has so many books piled up in his warehouse that they cannot be properly sorted out and the only way to solve the crime is by a thorough stock-taking in the bookshop and warehouse. And that only takes place once a year.’

‘What time is the conference?’

‘At nine in the evening.’

At the hotel, we went up to our room and I lay down to rest. However short the journey, nevertheless it had tired me out and it was with considerable relief that I slept for a couple of hours on my soft bed.

VIII

I woke from my nap to find Sherlock Holmes out. With nothing to do, I began to read the papers, which took up the rest of the day and part of the evening. Holmes returned that evening at ten, somewhat depressed and dissatisfied with something.

‘You look as if all is not well,’ I asked, ‘is that so?’

‘Indeed, the day has not been much of a success,’ he answered.

‘Perhaps you didn’t get to the meeting of conspirators?’

‘I got to it, all right, except that Gavriushka turned out to be much more cautious than I anticipated,’ Sherlock Holmes began. ‘He noticed my presence at once, and although he was somewhat reassured when Buroff announced that I had already taken part in their work, despite that he had me leave on the grounds that I was insufficiently known to him.’

For some minutes, Holmes paced up and down the room, deep in thought.

‘We’ll have to see Kliukin today. I want a sudden, unexpected inventory carried out. If he agrees, I shall also go to the criminal investigation department and ask for Gavriushka’s and Semionoff’s premises to be searched. Would you like to come with me, Watson?’

‘With pleasure,’ I answered.

Wasting no time, we dressed, stopped a cab and instructed the driver to take us to Vagankovsk Alley, where Kliukin lived. He was home and immediately took us through to his office and shut the door. Holmes gave him the results of his surveillance in a few words and asked whether he would like to turn to the investigation department with a request to make a sudden search of the shops belonging to Gavriushka Voropayeff and Semionoff.

‘And so, I await only your consent to carry out a search,’ said Holmes.

For some minutes Kliukin was deep in thought. ‘All right,’ he said at last. ‘If you consider it necessary, so be it.’

‘And I may make the request to the head of the criminal investigation department in your name?’

‘Of course.’

On this, the business part of our conversation ended and we turned to other matters. We stayed till half past eleven and returned to the hotel. That night Holmes didn’t sleep in the hotel and when I asked where he intended to stay the night, he said, ‘Shared lodgings. Perhaps I’ll learn something new and interesting from Buroff.’

I only saw him at two on the afternoon of the next day.

‘Well, my dear Watson,’ he said, entering our hotel room, ‘on this occasion we didn’t err.’

‘What happened?’ I asked, knowing perfectly well that a man like Holmes wasn’t likely to waste a night and half a day in vain.

‘I had a good time with Buroff in the tavern,’ answered Holmes.

‘And you found something out?’

‘Not all that much. Yesterday’s meeting was quite stormy. Gavriushka is very tight when it comes to money and he was nearly beaten up because of it. By the way, Fomka Nikishkin did land him one in the face. I suspect Fomka somewhat lords it over him.’

‘And what were they talking about?’ I asked.

‘Much as what I had assumed. First of all, Gavriushka explained to his suppliers which goods were most likely to move quickly and asked them to be good enough to devote their attention towards acquiring just these goods. Next he proceeded to pay off some and asked that employees of publishers not yet in his hands should be invited to join the operation. At the end, there was the usual wrangling over money. Gavriushka wanted to lower his payments, but was nearly beaten up so he gave way. He got so upset that he went off and got drunk with Buroff and some other fellow. The trio got to meet some young lady, who lifted a hundred roubles out of his pocket.’

As if remembering something very humorous, Holmes burst out laughing.

‘What on earth are you laughing at?’ I asked in surprise.

‘This is just the sort of thing that so clearly characterizes someone,’ Holmes said cheerfully. ‘Here is a man, Watson, who watches every penny, and from whom a hundred roubles is stolen. He only noticed the loss of the money after he got home with Buroff. It was a scene worthy of a great play. Imagine a man in the grip of such a state of rage that he forgot the presence of his lawfully wedded wife. “I’ll show her,” he yelled so loudly that he could be heard in every room. “I’ll see the police get on to her. She stole a hundred roubles!” And he kept on yelling he’d have the police on her.

‘So far his wife couldn’t understand what was going on, so she asked, “Who stole what?”

‘“What do you mean ‘who’? That woman I visited.”

‘It was so funny, my dear Watson! Here he was, hopping up and down in sheer rage, and unaware he was letting on to his wife what he had been up to!’

Now suddenly Holmes became serious, adding, ‘And, then, today, together with various ranks of the investigative police, we carried out a search of his and Semionoff’s business premises.’

‘And did you find anything?’

‘Of course. Nine thousand roubles worth of goods. Kliukin was able to recognize some six thousand roubles worth that belonged to him. But Gavriushka Voropayeff remains untouched. The shop is in Nikanoroff’s name and he’s not in Moscow. We have to have weightier evidence before Gavriushka can be charged.’

He fell silent for a minute and then went on, ‘Watson, if you were only to see the hatred with which he looked at Maxim Vasilyevitch Kliukin when the latter entered accompanied by members of the investigation department. I am sure that glance bodes ill and he will try to be avenged.’

‘Undoubtedly,’ I agreed.

‘Which is why we cannot let him out of our sight for a single moment.’

‘You are suggesting—?’

‘We have to take our places at our observation point without delay.’

‘I’m ready,’ I said.

‘In that case, let’s change.’ With these words, Holmes opened his suitcase, took out two well-worn suits and handed one to me saying, ‘The wigs and make-up are in the travelling bag.’

Within a few minutes not even our closest acquaintances would have recognized us. Wearing untidy black wigs and in well-worn clothes, we looked like a couple of roughnecks. The difficulty was to get out of the hotel without attracting the suspicions of the staff. This was not easy. We looked far from presentable, and the presence of a couple of such ill-dressed men wouldn’t pass unnoticed at the Moscow Grand.

But Holmes rose to the occasion. Included in his wardrobe were a couple of perfectly respectable overcoats and two English felt hats. Once we put them on, we looked fairly respectable. We hid a couple of fairly filthy peaked caps in our pockets and left our hotel room. But even so, we attracted the suspicions of the senior porter. ‘Where are you coming from?’ he accosted us roughly.

‘Number forty-three,’ said Holmes quickly. ‘From that British subject, Holmes.’

Such an answer, so boldly pronounced, evidently satisfied the man. He probably knew Holmes’s true profession and, deciding we were working for him in some capacity, let us pass.

In a quiet alleyway we changed our hats, substituting them for our torn caps and rubbed a little dirt into our coats. And now we could go to the tavern which was our observation post. At about five in the afternoon we were in place.

IX

Sitting by the window, we fixed our gaze on the window of the bookstore opposite. Gavriushka appeared at the window several times and looked as if he was anxious about something. We drank tea for the sake of appearance, while carrying on a desultory conversation.

Seven o’clock. No sooner had the hand of my watch reached seven than the tavern door opened and Fomka came in. He looked gloomy and sullen. He ordered tea and took a seat with his back to us in the most distant corner.

A few minutes later, we saw Gavriushka and two employees leave the shop and begin to lock up. This done, he cast a suspicious look round, said something to the other two, and made his way quickly into the tavern. He saw Fomka in his corner at once and went straight to him. Then, having made sure they were not under observation, he bent towards Fomka, whispered something in his ear and, quickly leaving the tavern, was lost outside amidst the crowd.

Fomka waited a few minutes, settled his bill and also left. We followed him at once.

At the Strastniy Monastery, Fomka jumped aboard a tram car going to the Ustinsk Bridge. We hailed a cab and instructed him to follow. At Yauza, Fomka jumped off and went into one of the cheap taverns along the banks of this smelly little river.

‘We’d better wait for him here,’ said Holmes. ‘Our appearance is bound to raise his suspicion.’

In the meantime, darkness was falling and we had to get nearer the tavern not to lose sight of Fomka when he emerged. Nine struck from a clock tower. A little while later and Gavriushka’s familiar figure appeared outside the entrance of the tavern. He looked round carefully, went in and a minute later emerged, accompanied by Fomka.

They turned right along the river bank. Luckily for us, there was no street lighting here, so we moved silently after them. Several hundred steps on, we found ourselves in a silent, deserted locality. The figures of Gavriushka and Fomka were now hardly discernable in front of us. They finally stopped and began to descend quietly down to the river.

‘Crawl!’ Holmes whispered.

We stretched out on the ground and, like snakes, followed for some twenty-five paces. The darkness helped us.

Gavriushka was talking to Fomka about something or other, but all we could hear were snatches of what he was saying: ‘Tomorrow … the damned fellow won’t get away … get nearer … Peterhof … you’ll counterfeit Yefimoff’s….’ From time to time he snarled in fury. He raved.

Fomka’s replies, delivered in a cold tone of voice, were short and sharp. ‘So, tomorrow at the Peterhof at three,’ we heard.

Then they dropped their voices again and we only heard the end of their conversation. ‘Everyone scattered … well, that’s to the good … let them look for witnesses if they can.’

There was more whispering about something and then they climbed up to the river bank again.

X

‘And so, my dear Watson, till tomorrow. At three in the afternoon we will most probably see something interesting at the Peterhof restaurant.’

Our adversaries had vanished and we followed them no further. Returning back to town, we made our way directly to Kliukin.

‘You’ve probably come with something new,’ he greeted us.

‘I don’t wish to anticipate events,’ answered Holmes with a smile, ‘and only came to ask you about one or two things.’

‘I’m listening.’

‘Tomorrow you will very likely receive, in one form or another, something connected with the Peterhof restaurant. Regardless of whoever speaks or writes to you about it, please be on your guard and do nothing and go nowhere without letting me know beforehand.’

‘Is that all?’ Kliukin asked with a smile.

‘So far, yes. Regarding Gavriushka and Semionoff, I suggest that you immediately give instructions that any goods dispatched by them to any destination will be intercepted along the way.’

‘I’ve already done that,’ answered Kliukin.

‘That’s excellent! It will only confirm the evidence against them, not that it is likely any more evidence will be necessary after tomorrow.’

We chatted for a while, bade him goodbye and returned to our hotel. The senior porter, having already seen us in our get-up, let us through.

Back in our hotel room, Homes changed into decent-looking clothes and suggested I do the same. Puzzled, I did as I was told and we were soon ready.

Again we emerged from our hotel, called a cab and Holmes instructed him to take us to the Peterhof restaurant.

It was already after midnight and the place was full. We just about managed to get a table. We ordered a light supper, but I could see from the look in Holmes’s eyes that he wasn’t interested in it. Other things were on his mind.

Half an hour later and I detected Gavriushka flash by through the door leading to the private rooms. Holmes immediately went in pursuit, but was back a minute later, sat down calmly and said quietly, ‘Now they won’t get away.’

The restaurant was preparing to close down and, nothing having happened, we went out with the other diners. Gavriushka and Fomka emerged with us. We saw them hail a cab and go off quickly.

Holmes went back, rang the restaurant bell and whispered something to the porter who opened the door and admitted us. Holmes put a ten-rouble note in the porter’s hand and we followed him along the corridor into one of the private rooms. Holmes switched on the electric light and began to examine the floor and walls. This took him half an hour. He proceeded to thank the porter, took me by the arm and we returned home where we fell fast asleep.

XI

At one in the afternoon there was a knock on the door of our hotel room. It was a messenger with a letter. Holmes opened it and read, ‘I received an invitation from Yefimoff to present myself at the Peterhof restaurant at three this afternoon. I am informing you as requested. Kliukin.’

We threw our coats on, ran out and jumped into the first available cab, which took us to Mohovaya Street.

‘I have no idea what this is about,’ said Kliukin, meeting us with a smile.

‘You’ll know soon enough,’ answered Sherlock Holmes, ‘but let me warn you, be careful entering the private room … don’t step into it right away.’

‘Is this some sort of hoax or are you trying to mystify me?’ exclaimed Kliukin in surprise.

‘Whatever it is, you’ll soon be thanking me,’ Holmes answered solemnly. ‘And I hope your wife will also be very grateful.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘You don’t have to yet.’

Holmes looked at his watch and said it was time to make for the restaurant, adding that Kliukin had to go in a separate cab and not to show by so much as the slightest sign that we were following him. So that’s what we did.

Some twenty minutes later, Kliukin’s cab deposited him at the restaurant and we followed closely behind as if we were total strangers.

‘The name is Kliukin. Which private dining-room is my invitation for?’

‘Let me show you,’ said the porter.

Kliukin followed him and we followed Kliukin as if we were chance strangers.

‘Here you are,’ said the porter, indicating one of the doors along the corridor, and left.

Kliukin opened the door, stepped over the threshold and stopped in utter perplexity. Gavriushka and Fomka seized him by his hands and tried to slam the door shut.

But this was not to be. Like an enraged beast, Sherlock Holmes threw himself forward. Gavriushka and Fomka froze from the unforeseen interruption and let go of Kliukin’s hand.

Holmes threw himself at Gavriushka, gave him a mighty thump to the head, then seized his shoulders and pushed him in the direction of the divan. And now imagine my own surprise. Gavriushka vanished through an aperture that opened in the floor.

Holmes didn’t give Fomka a chance to recover from his surprise at this turn of events. We bound his hands and legs and only then Holmes yelled, ‘Police! Call the police!’

A quarter of an hour later the restaurant was full of policemen of every rank and sort as well as agents of the criminal investigation department, all of them warned in advance by Holmes.

Holmes led everyone to the open trapdoor and said, ‘The villain has fallen into the snare which he prepared last night for Maxim Vasilyevitch Kliukin. This is what I learnt from the porter. He and Fomka locked themselves up all day in this private dining-room. Sawing through the floor boards wasn’t much of a problem. Having completed their work, they fastened the trapdoor in place, waxed the slits and, of course, ordered that the room should not be let to anyone else. Gavriushka handed out a good ten roubles in bribes. In the space under the floor boards was where they would have strangled you. I can only wonder at the depth of hatred that could bring a young fellow like that to plan such a horrible revenge. Fortunately, I followed him and was able to discover his work, otherwise, Maxim Vasilyevitch, things would have been the worse for you. I congratulate you on your deliverance from the hands of these villains. I look forward to meeting you later this evening, but in the meantime, I trust you will permit me to take my leave. My task is not yet completed. I have yet to make certain other arrangements concerning finding more of your stolen goods in the provinces.’ He then turned to the police. ‘As for those two fellows, gentlemen, you’ll have to hold on to them and to hold on to them tightly. One of them already has half a dozen crimes he has escaped answering for and, of course, it is unlikely he will escape this time.’

He shook hands with Kliukin standing there completely taken aback and we both left.