The Earle Street Affair For an old campaigner like myself, a chance meeting with a former comrade can

often be somewhat strained. London, after all, is far removed from Afghanistan and friendships forged in the heat of battle do not always transfer with ease to civilian life. However, when I encountered Corporal Henry Tunston unexpectedly at the Criterion Bar the strong rapport that had formed between us during our short time together in the Berkshires was immediately regained, and the evening passed most convivially. Perhaps, too convivially, in fact, for I admittedly awoke the next morning feeling rather the worse for wear. In my bleary state I had the vague impression that it was the slamming of a door that had woken me, and sure enough as I came to I could hear the noise of people rushing frantically to and fro downstairs. I checked my watch and was surprised to find that it was only a quarter past seven. Whatever had got into Mrs Hudson, or whoever else it may have been that was bustling about so boisterously at such an hour, I could not fathom, but I was determined to continue my rest. As I turned over once more, however, I heard the distinct sound of footsteps ascending the stairs. The step was all too familiar and I had a vague feeling that I would not be getting back to sleep that morning. I closed my eyes regretfully and, sure enough, I soon heard my door being swept open as someone entered. I remained as I was for a while, pretending to myself that if I lay still my visitor would soon depart and leave me in peace. Come Watson, you cannot feign sleep, spoke a voice that seemed abnormally loud to my delicate hearing. I turned slowly onto my back again and reluctantly opened my eyes. Holmes face was smiling down at me. Your breathing was rather irregular for someone supposedly in the depths of unconsciousness. He said. I groaned and pulled myself up onto my pillows. What the devil is going on? The smile faded from Holmes lips. Dress and come downstairs as quickly as you can. He said quietly, We have visitors. With that he turned on his heel and left the room. Something about his tone had alarmed me and I hurriedly did as he ordered. I rushed down the stairs and as I neared the door to our sitting room I heard a decidedly anxious voice issuing from within. But I tell you I had nothing to do with it! I burst into the room and there, pacing distractedly back and forth upon the bearskin rug, was none other than Henry Tunston. It was not, however, the same Henry Tunston with whom I had spent such an enjoyable few hours the previous evening. All trace of the military neatness and bearing that I was accustomed to was gone. His clothes were noticeably dusty and creased and his collar was undone, whilst his necktie hung loosely about his neck. While he paced he gesticulated wildly and was becoming red in the face with his exertion. Nothing I tell you! He repeated savagely, brandishing a finger in the direction of the sallow, rat-faced man who was leaning on our mantelpiece. I immediately recognized Lestrade of Scotland Yard. Tunston! I cried, What on Earth I got no further however. Upon hearing my voice the unfortunate gentleman spun round and leapt upon me with a heartfelt cry of:

Watson! Thank God! For Heavens sake man, vouch for me. Whatever has happened? I ejaculated. Well It is quite simple really, stated Holmes, interrupting the Inspector. There was a familiar twinkle in his eye and I realised with some chagrin that he, at least, was enjoying the situation, Lestrade here has taken it upon himself to arrest this gentleman on suspicion of breaking into a private residence. Im innocent I tell you! Tunston shouted, turning angrily upon my friend. Calm yourself, my dear fellow, said Holmes soothingly, I did not say that I thought him justified in doing so. The Inspector advanced towards him. Now look here Mr. Holmes, I had every right to do so. Mr. Tunston was caught fleeing the scene of a crime. Indeed, replied Holmes, while I looked wildly from one to the other, However, you tell me that a burglary had occurred. The place was ransacked! Well then, do you not think it somewhat odd that the supposed perpetrator was caught fleeing empty-handed. An undoubted oddity! Tunston exclaimed bitterly. Inspector, said I, I served with Henry Tunston during the Afghan campaign and I cannot emphasise enough that he is a man of the utmost honour and integrity. Thank you Watson, said Henry, You see Inspector, the good Doctor here can vouch for my character. That may be continued Lestrade, However, can he vouch for your whereabouts last night? I most certainly can. I met Tunston at the Criterion Bar yesterday evening. We had a drink and then went to eat at my club. At the end of the evening I walked back with him as far as the Criterion once more to take the air a little, and then took a cab back to Baker Street. And what time was this? Well, I I hesitated, painfully aware of the fact that the events of the latter part of the evening were still somewhat blurred. Watson returned here at half past ten, prompted Holmes. Yes, now I remember. Lestrade eyed me suspiciously. The cab ride cannot have taken more than a quarter of an hour, therefore they must have parted company at around 10.15. My friend stated decisively. Lestrade turned to Tunston. You were discovered leaving the premises in Earle Street at 10.55. Thats forty minutes unaccounted for! Then let him account for them! exclaimed Holmes, Sit down Mr. Tunston and recount as clearly as possible what occurred after you left Watson last night. Leave no detail unmentioned, however insignificant it may seem. Gladly, Mr. Holmes, replied Tunston, composing himself, If what I have heard about you is true, I am in the best possible company for telling my story. Holmes gave a reassuring nod and indicated to me that I should take notes. It was a rather unnecessary gesture. In spite of all the confusion, my instincts had recognized what could be the commencement of another case, and I was ready with notebook in hand. I believe it was, as Mr. Holmes has surmised, around 10.15 when I left Watson

outside the Criterion. began Tunston, It was still a pleasant evening and I was not at all tired so I decided to start out on foot up Shaftesbury Avenue towards my lodgings. I was just remarking how unusually quiet it seemed along there when, as I was passing the entrance to Earle Street on my right, I heard a faint crashing sound from the building closest to the main thoroughfare. I would not, perhaps, have taken much notice of it, had it not come at the precise moment when I had been considering how quiet it had been. As I turned in to Earle Street At this point Holmes leaned forward and held up a questioning finger. You observed no one in the street? Not a soul. Were the lights on in any of the windows? There were, I think, lights in a few houses further down the street, but none closer. Certainly not in the house next the one from whence the sound came. Holmes frowned. Why did you mark that particularly? Im not sure I No, yes of course, I remember. I noticed that several of the windows were boarded up. The house must have been empty. Hhmm Carry on. Well, as I entered the street I heard another noise, even fainter this time, which I thought to be the sound of glass smashing. I was sure that something was amiss. I crept quietly to the door and tried it. It was unlocked. The lock was not, however, broken? interjected Holmes. No, no obvious violence had been used. I went into the hallway. I thought at first that I should call out and merely check if everything was all right, but some instinct told me not to. All was dark and I had to almost feel my way along the corridor. I was beginning to think that I had imagined everything and that the occupant of the house had simply forgotten to bolt his door and was at that very moment asleep upstairs, completely unaware that I was creeping into his house like some common criminal Lestrade gave a derisive snort and both Holmes and I threw a disapproving look in his direction. when I suddenly heard more noises. Drawers were being opened, and then I could hear the sound of papers being thrown about and frantic footsteps. I edged closer and saw a light pass swiftly across a crack in a doorway to my right. I was now convinced that I had stumbled in upon a break-in in progress. My first thought was to creep back outside and attempt to raise the alarm. One moment! cried Lestrade imperiously, You appear to alter your story at will Mr. Tunston. When you tried to explain yourself to me earlier you made no mention of your attempting to raise the alarm. That, Inspector, retorted Tunston angrily, is because I made no such attempt! I said that that was my first thought. However, Watson here will tell you Mr. Holmes, that I saw my fair share of action in Afghanistan and am not a man to shy away from danger. Another snort from the policeman. I steeled myself for action and burst into the room. continued Tunston excitedly. The colour had risen again to his cheeks and there was a light in his eyes that spoke to me of a man who had momentarily forgotten his predicament and was simply enjoying reliving the thrill of the chase. There in front of me was a rather rough-looking, bearded man. Height? snapped Holmes. A light had begun to shine in his eyes also, which he fixed

intently upon Tunston, leaning forward eagerly in his chair. I dont believe he was much taller than myself. An inch or so possibly. When I first saw him he was bent over a table which stood just in front of the door, so it was difficult to judge. And features? Here Tunston faltered. I cannot tell you much Mr. Holmes, aside from that he had a dark beard. The only light, you understand came from the lamp he held in his hand. Lamp, you say? Yes. The light I had seen came from an oil-lamp that he was carrying. He wore a cloth cap pulled low over his eyes and the light fell at such an angle that much of his face was in shadow. You say he was rough-looking, said Lestrade, How exactly? Well, his clothing appeared quite shabby. Dirty? Not particularly, but old and ill-fitting. Although the Inspector appeared satisfied with this answer, Holmes evidently was not. You specifically remarked that they were ill-fitting? Yes, its an odd thing for one to notice I know, replied Tunston sheepishly, There I am about to apprehend what could be a dangerous criminal, and all I can think of is how his trousers dont fit him. His trousers? asked Holmes with a seriousness that was almost comical. Yes, laughed Tunston clearly bemused by my friends persistent interest, The jacket too, though the trousers in particular seemed far too long for him. What did the man do when you entered? He stood up and quickly turned to face me. Surely you got a look at his face then? asked Lestrade confusedly. Of course not Inspector, said Holmes impatiently, the man held the lamp thrust out in front of him to see who had entered the room, thereby temporarily blinding Mr. Tunston. Exactly, continued Tunston, somewhat taken aback, And a temporary blinding Was all the time needed for the man to knock you unconscious. finished Holmes. Precisely But how did you know? You have rubbed that exact same spot four times since you entered this room, Holmes replied indicating an area on the right-hand side of his head, And your being unconscious explains perfectly why you did not leave the house for what I would approximate to be a further twenty-five minutes. Henry Tunston gave an admiring smile. You certainly live up to your reputation Mr. Holmes. Is it troubling you? I asked, going over to examine his wound. It aches rather, he replied unconcernedly, but its not unbearable. Although there was some bruising, the blow had evidently not been too significant as the skin remained unbroken. The mark appears to be almost triangular in shape, wouldnt you say Watson? Holmes had also got up and was peering interestedly over my shoulder. I havent a clue what it was he hit me with. Tunston remarked, catching on to Holmes train of thought, When I came to he was gone. I picked myself up and stumbled out of the house to see if there was any sign of him in the street, but I didnt get very far as I ran out

the front door and straight into the arms of a waiting Constable. Haynes, interjected Lestrade, a most competent fellow. He observed the open door when he came past on his rounds and went to investigate. He took one look inside and in view of Mr. Tunstons suspicious behaviour This time it was Henrys turn to give a snort of disbelief, he arrested him on the spot. Yes, well it is just a pity he had not observed anything sooner, said Holmes, dryly. From your somewhat dishevelled appearance Mr. Tunston, I assume that you then spent the night in a police cell. Indeed said he, and damned uncomfortable it was too. I tried to explain myself to the Constable, but he was having nothing of it and was insistent that I remain at the police station until an Inspector arrived in the morning. I arrived early this morning and took over the investigation, explained Lestrade, I must point out that Mr. Tunston did not make things look any better for himself by his reticence to explain his actions in any great detail. Well, I had talked myself hoarse to this Haynes fellow, replied Tunston exasperatedly, and got no response so I decided that, having given the Inspector only a brief explanation, I should simply insist upon his contacting Watson as soon as possible. I wouldnt normally have brought a suspect out with me like this, of course, Lestrade remarked, however, as it was you, Doctor, who he had appealed to, I thought it easier and perfectly justified to bring him to you directly, thus saving us invaluable time. Efficiency you know, Mr Holmes, efficiency! Holmes gave a rather strained smile. We are grateful to you for doing so. Have you carried out an investigation of the house yet? Some of my men are on their way there now. Holmes expression became even more strained and I assumed he was envisaging the effect which the presence of Scotland Yards finest would have upon any potential evidence left at the scene.