Chapter 3
I Sprang
I sprang into the room for Mrs. Rodenthurst began to faint at that very moment. I caught her just before she toppled into Mrs. Quill who was carrying a silver tray with the tea service upon it.
"Well done, Colonel!" Watson cried.
I helped Mrs. Rodenhurst to the sofa. Mrs. Quill poured her a cuppa.
"Will that be one lump or two, madmae?"Mrs. Quill asked.
"Two, please, ma'am. And a spot of milk."
"Splendid." Mrs. Quill prepared the tea and handed it to Mrs. Rodenhurst. Mrs. Rodenthurst took a sip of the tea.
"Oh, that is good."
"Thank you, Mrs. Quill," said Watson. "The Colonel and I will manage from here."
Mrs. Quill turned her nose to the ceiling and softly 'harrumphed' her way out of the room.
"Now then, madame," Watson said matter-of-factly. "You were about to tell us of some monstrosity you witnessed."
"Oh, Dr. Watson! If I hadn't seen it with me own two eyes, I would not have come here."
"Seen what?"
"The abduction of me husband Albert of course!"
Watson tented his front paws. "I see."
"You saw it too?" Mrs. Rodenthurst cried.
Watson shook his head. "No, ma'am. That is merely an expression. An acknowledgment of your statement."
"Oh, I see," Mrs. Rodenthurst said before lapsing into a fit of giggles. "I see! I see!"
"Are you all right, Mrs. Rodenthurst?"
"Oh, pardon me, gentlemen. It's the sugar. Does it to me every time." She set down her tea cup. "Where was I?"
"Your husband had been abducted," Watson said.
"Yes! Right from his seat by the hearth at the Sugar and Plum."
"That's what? Some sort of inn or tavern?"
"Oh, the Sugar and Plum, it ain't no tavern. They serve only respectable beverages."
"Like tea and coffee and perhaps milk?"
"Mr. Rodenthurst says that's up to the customer. He always has his coffee with a boost of Jamaican syrup. Says it clears his head."
Watson turned to me. "I see."
Mrs. Rondenthurst giggled once more.
"You say your husband was sitting near the hearth when he disappeared?" I asked this hoping to focus our guest on why she was there.
"Yes! Of course! That's why I'm here! My poor Albert! Abducted right before my eyes!"
"How was your husband abducted, Mrs. Rodenthurst?" Watson asked.
"Well, sir, it was a bit wonky. I had some of Albert's Jamaican syrup drink. My vision was a bit blurry. All I know is he was singing along with the lady on the stage one moment, and in the next he was being pulled up the chimney."
"Pulled up the chimney?"
"Crazy, ain't it?"
"Now why would someone want to abduct your husband?"
"That's what I was hoping you could tell me! And I'll tell you something else. Albert ain' t the first to go missing. Men all over Leedscrack have been disappearing for days!"
"Were these other men also at the Sugar and Plumb?"
"Might have been. A lot of them disappeared while working the fields. Oh, Dr. Watson! Can you help me find my Albert?"
Like Mrs. Rodenthurst, I awaited Watson's response.
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