Sherlock Holmes in Russia

‘Returning to Russia, he saw me,’ the countess continued. ‘At the time we were living on his estate. He was always affectionate towards me, was very satisfied with the progress I made in my studies, and at times examined me himself. But he never let me leave his side. This time he stayed a year in Russia, and I became very attached to him. Once, it was at the end of summer, he came to me pale and full of anxiety. ‘Irra,’ he said to me, ‘there’s a madman in the vicinity. He attacks people, bites and kills them. That’s why you mustn’t leave the house without me. I forbid it.’ I was terribly frightened. After that we always stayed together, even going out in the garden. Nurse told me that Father was afraid for me. He hired four watchmen and guard dogs were chained in the yard. Nurse told me he frequently got up at night and went round the estate with a gun. Once, as evening was approaching, I wanted to pick some fresh roses. I went to look for Father, but not finding him, decided I’d go by myself. I put on a kerchief and went out through the yard and into the garden. I don’t know what made me do this, probably because I was frightened by the count’s warning, but I didn’t open the gate straight away. So first I peeked through a chink in the fence. And there, behind a shrub, was a human head. I screamed and ran back without so much as a look at the face of the man in hiding. Hearing my outcry, the count rushed out of the stables. I told him what had happened. He went for his gun and, as if crazed, rushed into the garden. I hid in my room, frightened to death. He didn’t find anyone and came back very upset and angry. For a whole hour he upbraided the watchmen, and the very same day hired four more and armed them. That evening he told me that we were leaving. He collected his personal belongings and papers himself, and ordered me to pack only three dresses, six changes of underwear and my favourite knick-knacks. Till the very last minute, none of the staff knew we were leaving. At eleven he ordered the best troika to be harnessed to the largest carriage and spare horses to be tied to the back.’

The countess paused and asked for a drink. With the agility of a young man, Sherlock Holmes jumped from his armchair and poured a glass of very good wine with water.

‘Thank you,’ said the countess, taking the glass.

She drank a little and smiled sadly, ‘I hope I’m not boring you.’

‘On the contrary,’ Sherlock Holmes exclaimed with animation. ‘It is utterly romantic and intrigues me more and more. If I were a writer, I would turn it into a novel. It would create a sensation.’

‘In that case, I shall go on,’ said the countess sadly.

V

‘And so, by eleven o’clock that night, all was ready,’ the countess began again. ‘But first, the count called together all the watchmen. He ordered them to make a circle around the estate and move out in a radius. Half a kilometre away, they were to fire a shot.