Читать книгу Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #19 - Arthur Conan Doyle - Страница 6

ASK MRS HUDSON

by (Mrs) Martha Hudson

Dear Mrs Hudson,

I wonder which cases of Mr Holmes interested you the most?

Armand Cassenweiler

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Dear Mr Cassenweiler,

There is only one and that is because I was involved. “His Last Bow” is one of the few stories not written by Dr Watson, for he was living elsewhere when it happened. Mr Holmes invited him to write it, but the good doctor declined, suggesting, instead, his literary agent, Arthur Conan Doyle (later knighted). The case concerned a spy, German, I think, though my memory is not quite as keen as it used to be. I am certain that it also involved Mr Holmes’s brother Mycroft, but at a distance. Well, I am not acquainted with all of the details and Mr Holmes says that Mycroft prefers it that way.

There was one other similar case that called upon myself and Mr Holmes, but I can say little about it, for it was recorded by an American by the name of Manly Wade Wellman. Its title, I believe, is “The Man Who Was Not Dead,” or something like that.

Sincerely,

Mrs (Martha) Hudson

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Dear Mrs Hudson,

May I inquire how well you know Dr Watson’s agent Conan Doyle?

Lady Braxton

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Dear Lady Braxton,

I am honoured to reply to your question regarding Dr Doyle! (Yes, he shares Dr Watson’s profession—actually, both of them, for he is also an author, and a cracking good one, if I may say so.)

There are two aspects to my answer: the personal one, and the literary reply.

Personally, I have frequently gone out of my way to make resplendent dinners for Dr Doyle—more than I can remember!—and on these festive occasions, I have seen Mr Holmes eat ever so much more than he usually does, which is ever so seldom. Both doctors are accomplished story-tellers and they vie to better the other, but it always comes down to a draw each time. Dr Watson always regales us with Holmes tales he has not yet written up (sometimes Mr Holmes glowers at him, but he never tries to prevent him from continuing). Dr Doyle has told us many tales about a French military officer named Gérard, which pleases Mr Holmes, for Brigadier G, as he calls him, was one of his relatives. For that reason, Dr Doyle does not speak about Dr Edward Challenger, also related to Mr Holmes. It seems the professor’s most famous adventure, in which he actually brought to London a living pterodactyl (!!!), intimately involved Mr Holmes, who adopted the disguise of Lord John Roxton (for details, consult our editor Mr Kaye’s collection The Game is Afoot).

Concerning the literature by Dr Doyle that I have read—and enjoyed—there is his excellent semi-historical novel, The White Company. I’ve also perused with great interest two of the doctor’s shorter works, The Lost Special and The Man with the Watches, but I never allude to either if Mr Holmes might hear, for he is anonymously involved in each case as a letter-writer to one or two (I forget) London newspapers. The problem is that in at least one of these adventures, his theory, though plausible, was … I hesitate to say it … wrong.

Mrs (Martha) Hudson

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Dear Mrs Hudson,

I am a plain and simple bar-keep in Soho, but I am totally devoted to reading about Mr Holmes. I enjoy your columns very much, and especially revel over the recipes that you usually share with we readers; I have prepared several and have always relished the results!

My question concerns the fact that you often share main course recipes, and sometimes one involving vegetables; desserts, too. But I have never seen any formulae for mixed drinks. Perhaps that is because Mr Holmes and Dr Watson prefer wine and beer?

A Whiskey Worshipper

* * * *

My Dear Whiskey Worshipper,

I am ever so glad that you asked this! It is true that both of my illustrious tenants favour various sorts of wine as well as ale, beer, bitters, lager, porter, stout, what-have-you. But I do confess that I like an occasional mixed drink. These were a bit uncommon in past years, but they became one of the best contributions that we were given by our neighbours, especially the Americans and the French.

In this issue of Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, and in the next two such numbers, I shall confine myself to stronger alcoholic concoctions.

Yr Fellow Whiskey (and Whisky) Worshipper,

Mrs (Martha) Hudson

* * * *

Dear Mrs Hudson

I am afraid my question is indelicate—but I have heard rumours that Mr Holmes may be the father of that stupendously over-weight New York investigator Nero Wolfe.

Professor Jason Rickman, a genealogist

* * * *

Dear Professor,

I have been asked this before, but I chose to ignore such queries. But at last I got up the courage to ask Mr Holmes. He was, I am relieved to report, not at all offended. He merely laughed and shook his head. However, the look on Dr Watson’s face showed deep disapproval. Therefore, when I could address him without his room-mate being aware of it, I tried to solicit an answer from him, but—albeit regretfully—he shook his head.

“Mrs H,” said he, “I should like to oblige you, but I am constrained not to discuss this—”

“By Mr Holmes?!”

“Oh, no! Not at all! The difficulty stems from a New York City attorney who represents Mr Wolfe.”

Well, my dear Professor Rickman, you see that I have no answer to give you. And I do regret it, if only for my own unjustifiable curiosity.

Mrs (Martha) Hudson

* * * *

Now, as promised, here are a few of the drink recipes that I personally like and sometimes serve to personal guests visiting me at Baker Street.

CONGRESSIONAL COCKTAIL

There are few mixed drinks that employ scotch, which generally does not mix well. But here is an exception to the rule.

2 jiggers of blended scotch (3 ounces)

1 ounce of dry vermouth

1 teaspoon of Absinthe (Pernod may be substituted)

1 lemon peel

1. Blend all three with ice and stir.

2. Place lemon peel into the drink.

* * * *

METALLIC TWIST

3 tablespoons of beef bouillon

1 ounce of Bombay gin

2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Worcestershire sauce, to taste

¼ teaspoon of salt

black pepper, to taste

2 droplets of Tabasco

1. Shake everything together.

2. Pour into a whisky glass.

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KILTED WONDER

1 teaspoon of Drambuie

1 teaspoon of vermouth

3 tablespoons of Polish vodka

1. Mix with ice.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass.

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