Sherlock Holmes in Russia

The three of us set to sorting out the goods Bakhtadian had delivered. The chests contained boots marked army quartermaster issue and underwear for junior ranks. Holmes assigned everything the exact factory prices and this, and the agreed percentage, was paid to Bakhtadian.

Bakhtadian promised to deliver another lot the same night, but not before four o’clock, and left. We changed swiftly into our previous workmen’s clothes and sped to the station.

XII

We carried dark cloaks with us. The station was empty. The next train was due to leave in two hours and a quarter. We decided not to waste that much time, so we returned.

First we went to where Bakhtadian lived. But it was dark there, too, so we walked up and down the streets of the little village. It was in total darkness. The little village slept the sleep of the dead. At its edge we were near the Red Cross storehouse and were about to turn back, when we suddenly heard voices.

‘It’s Bakhtadian,’ Holmes whispered. ‘For heaven’s sake, take care. Follow me!’

He bent low and crept to the pile of goods belonging to the Red Cross, covered with tarpaulin. Soon enough, we saw the silhouettes of three men, amongst whom I recognized that of Bakhtadian. We crept nearer, ducked under the tarpaulin and began to listen. ‘You don’t have much to sell, have you?’ Bakhtadian was asking quietly.

‘As far as we are concerned, we have army quartermasters as part of us, which means we can let you have quite a lot,’ said another voice. ‘Everything you take, we can show as having been forwarded but destroyed during the retreat. We’ve come to an agreement over this with most army quartermasters. But you have to take the stuff as soon as possible, before the commission checking on remainder quantities gets to work.’

‘So where do we get the stuff from?’

‘Partly here, partly in Harbin.’

‘What have you got?’

‘Mainly tinned goods, canvas, leather of all sorts, ready-made boots, oats, barley, flour—’

‘And where do we discuss prices?’

‘See me. I arrived today and I’m staying with the quartermaster.’

‘Very well, but how do you aim to bring the cargo from Harbin?’

‘Oh, don’t worry about that. We live in harmony with the railways and share everything.’

‘Very well, I’ll see you tomorrow morning,’ said Bakhtadian.

And evidently now turning to the third man, he said, ‘And how about you?’

‘The same as with them,’ the third voice answered. ‘There’s a lot you can buy from us in the Red Cross, sugar, underwear, wine, cloth, tobacco, tinned goods—’

‘Where can they be picked up?’

‘Also here, then in Goon Ju Lin, Harbin.’

‘No fear of discovery?’

‘No fear. We’re dealing with people who won’t talk.’ He proceeded to name names, which Holmes quickly wrote down under the light of a concealed torch.

‘So how did you find me?’

‘Ivan Nikolayevitch recommended you to me.’

‘Yes, I was the one who told Trudin,’ a third voice confirmed.

‘Hmmm,’ lowed Bakhtadian. ‘Come to Ivan Nikolayevitch tomorrow morning, agree on a price and then start moving the stuff.’

‘Done!’

We heard all three depart while continuing their conversation. We left our hiding place and began to return, but Holmes didn’t go to the station. ‘I have to ascertain one or two things,’ he said, ‘so, tonight, you’re on your own.’ We shook hands and he vanished.

XIII

The following day at about noon Holmes came home excited and happy.

He said not a word, but seized a sheet of paper, dashed off a telegram and rushed off to the telegraph office.

‘Well, my dear Watson,’ he said, when he returned half an hour later, ‘now I’ve got them all firmly in my hands. In three days time, all the stolen goods will be freighted from everywhere.’

‘You’ve seen something?’ I asked.