“I then went to my safe, withdrew the money and drew a receipt. When we had it witnessed, we concluded the transaction. He looked delighted as though he had gotten the deal of the century and quickly left before I could change my mind. For my own part I couldn't tell you how delighted I was with myself; So much so that I took the violin home and spent the next few hours in front of the fire just staring at this thing of beauty that had probably been owned by France’s greatest hero. I couldn’t wait to go to Mr Hill's shop the next day, once verified I wouldn’t settle for just £4000. I wouldn’t just accept his first offer. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I can’t tell you the excitement I felt that evening.”
My friend chuckled “And then when you went to the address in Brunton Street to find it wasn’t there.”
“Yes, Mr. Holmes, how did you know”
Holmes replied “It is my business to have an exact knowledge of London and I know all of the shops in the West End, certainly enough to know that there is no antiques shop under the ownership of a Mr. Percy Hill.”
Monsieur Jonquet looked dismayed “Then what am I to do now?”
My friend looked sternly at him “ You must learn a valuable lesson in life about greed. If something appears too good to be true, then it is. As for your money, it is gone. We will catch the men that duped you and when we do our fee will be a dinner at your fine restaurant at your expense. You however will at least have the pleasure of knowing these men face jail time and you will appear as a witness to their trial.”
The little man said “I agree Mr. Holmes, but one thing I cannot see is how you knew all the facts about those men.”
I agreed with Monsieur Jonquet but having known my friend for many years I knew if he explained how he knew it would be simplicity itself and the illusion of magic would dissipate. How Holmes could see what others didn’t ever cease to work its wonder on me; For people seeing it for the first time it appeared like witchcraft.
Holmes replied “Don’t worry how I knew, the important thing for you is that I do.” And with those words Monsieur Jonquet was swiftly ushered out of the room and downstairs by Holmes.
I had many questions I wanted to ask of my friend but I knew his habits of old. When he resumed his chair, he tucked his legs beneath him and silently proceeded to pack his pipe, it was a sure sign that he meant to meditate silently and reach a solution to a case I couldn’t even grasp the beginning of.
To keep my mind from dwelling on the matter I reached for my favourite Clark Russell novel and quickly became absorbed in it. I must have fallen asleep as when I awoke Holmes was gone and I saw that Mrs. Hudson had left a plate of cold meats for me on the dining table.
I didn’t see Sherlock for the next three days, but breakfast on the forth morning brought to Baker Street both Holmes and a welcome visitor in the shape of our friend, the rising figure of Scotland Yard, Inspector Stanley Hopkins who was indebted to Holmes for helping solve a few of his cases and, in turn always kept him abreast of any developments or interesting cases at the Yard.
I took the opportunity to congratulate Hopkins on his exploits in taking down Ezekiel Gotlieb and his young gang of pickpockets that had plagued the fashionable West End for many months and who’s capture I had read about in the newspapers.
Hopkins replied, “Thank you Dr. Watson, but I couldn’t have done it without a little additional assistance.” As he said this he had looked up at Holmes. I then turned inquiringly to my friend but he merely smiled and changed the subject.
“Now Hopkins, I require some assistance from the Yard. I would be most grateful if you could arrange for constables from each station from Lands End to Dover to call at each and every musical instrument maker and enquire if they have supplied an order of replica Stradivarius Violins to either a very fat or thin gentleman in the past six months. I myself have visited every maker in London these past three days to no success.”
Hopkins replied “Of course. But to what end Mr. Holmes?”
Holmes went on to explain about the curious case of Monsieur Jonquet and I used this opportunity to finally ask “By the way, how did you know one was fat and one thin, Holmes?”
Holmes smiled and said, “You remember a few months ago I said crime was like a tide washing towards our shore. Well thanks to news agencies we will find the same stories printed in London as we would in far flung places like Glasgow or Cardiff. I had been reading of a series of similar crimes perpetrated by two con men along the seaside towns of the south coast and I knew that when the summer season was over, we would see this pair spring up in London.”
“You astound me Holmes,” I gasped. “So you were expecting them?” My friend replied, “Yes and they will strike again soon whilst the iron is hot; But remember these are clever men who will be on their guard with the wary senses of gazelles. However our advantages are that they do not know we are on their trail and also we know their modus operandi; that is French Restaurants.”