Sherlock Holmes Investigates. The Pink Jewel Conundrum

By Philip van Wulven

In this 7,400 word story, Holmes and Watson investigate the disappearance of a jewel from the library of the Mayor of Portsmouth.
A 'locked room' mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Philip van Wulven
• Release date: Dec 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465962799

Philip van Wulven

Phil van Wulven was born in Africa, in a family who changed houses and schools, as well as countries, quite often. Landlords, Headmasters, and governments prefer you to leave places as you found them, he discovered. He has lived in Canada for quite a while now, where he is busy growing roots. He hates rejection almost as much as dejection.He likes trees, birds, sunsets, and all that, and is getting used to the idea that seeing a sunrise doesn’t mean he is on the way to work.He likes to read, write, drink beer, and fix stuff.

Book preview

Sherlock Holmes Investigates;

The Pink Jewel Conundrum.

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011 Philip van Wulven

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Holmes and I stood near the gates of the Portsmouth Naval dockyard and watched the crowd of spectators stream steadily by, out onto the city streets. All were in a most convivial mood. Some discussed, with considerable animation, the sight of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who had just performed the christening ceremony for the new-launched Naval ship, The Royal Arthur, while others were more concerned with weighing the relative merits of various nearby taverns.

We intended to depart in the horseless steam carriage when the boiler had sufficient pressure built up, and the crowds had dispersed somewhat. The promise of sixpence had found several willing sailors to stoke the fire and bring coal and water to replenish the supplies aboard, so we had but to wait another half an hour before we could leave.

A man, by appearance some sort of municipal official, came up to us, and said, Gentlemen, I have a note for Mr Sherlock Holmes. Is that you, sir? Mayor Pink asked me to find you and make sure to wait for a reply, sir.

Holmes said, I am Sherlock Holmes, quite correct.

He took the note from the envelope, read it, and then said, We are invited to extend our visit to Portsmouth, Watson. Mr Pink has a matter of some importance to discuss with us, he says.

I said, "I fear we must defer the