Sherlock Holmes in Russia

Seeing that Alferakki and Smith Copton were heading in the direction of the Commercial Centre, he turned and swiftly made his way through a side street. Outside a handsome residence he rang the bell at the main entrance. The policeman on point duty rushed over and glared at his dirty bare feet, ‘Who are you?’

‘Quiet,’ was the answer. ‘Can’t you tell CID?’

Nevertheless, the policeman wanted to see some ID, and on being shown identification, calmed down. Holmes, of course, as soon as he had undertaken the job, had gone to the police and had been issued with the requisite documents.

In the meantime, a voice came from the other side of the door,

‘Who’s there?’

‘Sherlock Holmes, the detective,’ answered Holmes.

‘Who else?’

‘It’s me,’ said the policeman. ‘I’m on point duty here. Open up, Ivan, it’s OK.’

Ivan, the valet, evidently knew him well enough to recognize his voice and opened the door. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked, letting them in.

‘Is the director here, the director of the State Bank’s fair branch?’ asked Sherlock Holmes.

‘Yes. What’s happened?’ asked the valet anxiously.

‘So far nothing, but I need to see him on an important matter,’ Sherlock Holmes interrupted him sharply. ‘And if you go on trying to indulge your curiosity instead of announcing me, I’ll make sure you get the blame.’

The frightened valet asked Sherlock Holmes to wait in the sitting room and went off.

The bank director appeared a moment later. He’d been entertaining all night and was fully dressed. He was middle-aged, sturdily built. His hair was an iron grey and he wore a Vandyke. He looked thoroughly perplexed. Probably warned by the valet, he didn’t seem bothered to see a barefoot vagrant.

‘What’s the matter?’ he asked anxiously.

‘Does anyone else know I am here to see you?’ asked Sherlock Holmes.

‘No, nobody. This room is only for official visitors. But why are you here?’

‘Your bank is under threat. I am asking you to telephone and order two armed men to be sent there. You have to get hold of the cashier or whoever holds the keys to the strongroom and follow me. I’ll explain along the way.’

The director had his wits about him. He didn’t ask further questions, but picked up the telephone. Orders were swiftly given. The valet ordered a horse and carriage.

The director and Sherlock Holmes set off for the main entrance of the Commercial Centre of the fair. This entrance was shut to the public, because the office of the provincial governor, the offices of the State Bank and other government departments were on the top floor.

‘Did you take a revolver?’ asked Sherlock Holmes as the coach moved off.

‘Yes,’ said the director, ‘but you did promise to explain.’

‘With pleasure,’ answered Sherlock Holmes. ‘The matter is very simple. A temporary branch of the State Bank is opened for the fair and very large sums of money are kept in anticipation of the fair.’

‘Indeed,’ said the director.

‘Well, a couple of men decided to do something about it. Just under the floor of your premises there are two shops. A manu-facturer and Alferakki, ex-Terehoff.’

‘Indeed that is so,’ confirmed the director.

‘No doubt you have heard of the mysterious goings-on at Terehoff’s.’

‘Of course.’

‘It’s like this, then,’ said Sherlock Holmes. ‘Alferakki and his colleague needed that shop, because it is right under your storeroom and safe. I determined that as soon as I paid a visit to you. By means of trickery, they managed to get rid of Terehoff and to take his place. They’ve already knocked a hole just under the safe between their ceiling and your floor. According to my calculations, the break-in should take place today.’

‘Oh, my God!’ said the director.

‘That’s why our appearance at the bank must be carried out as quietly as possible,’ added Holmes.

The coach, by this time, had arrived near enough to the main entrance to the Commercial Centre. Sherlock Holmes ordered the coachman not to pull up, but to go a little further. They got off quietly and opened the door. Inside, they went up the stairs to the security guards. ‘There’s a major crime being planned here,’ the director addressed the head of security. ‘To prevent it, we need absolute quiet. One of you has to let me into the storeroom. As soon as you hear a whistle, bring the sentries with you. We’ll wait inside. The door must be shut but not locked.’

‘Yes, sir,’ bowed the officer.

The cashier, three policemen and Watson arrived, all summoned by telephone. ‘All our own people,’ said Holmes. ‘Everyone, take your shoes off. We must not be heard.’

The whole party entered the bank. The door to the storeroom was unlocked, the seal taken off the strongbox containing the money. The director was made to sign a receipt.

Holmes switched on the light. They were inside a small storeroom. The walls were of thick stone. Metal leaf was nailed down to cover the floor. In the middle of the room, a large metal trunk was fixed to the floor. It had a flap with a metal grill nailed over it.