Irene at Large

Review: The background of this story is the battle of Maiwand near Sanbur Afghanistan. The date is July 1880, England and Russia are in conflict over this wasteland. Two men meet in a remote section of the mountains. One of these men is code named “Tiger” the other “Cobra”. Tiger is a native, Cobra a British agent who speaks the language and in disguise is indistinguishable from a native. Cobra leaves the meeting and reports to Lieutenant Hector Maclaine commanding an artillery battery at Maiwand. Cobra is struck down from behind as he leaves the meeting with Maclaine. What followed is history. Another valley being used to mass the Ayub’s army intersected the valley that the British were following. The British were hit from the flank and badly defeated. Tiger had failed to warn Cobra of the intersecting valley. After the British defeat both Stanhope and Maclaine were both taker prisoner. Maclaine was murdered before the British army liberated the prison camp. Stanhope (Cobra) wandered into the Hindu Kush after his release.

Nine years later Watson is at 221B Baker street thinking about his war experiences. Irene Adler is living in Paris with her husband, Godfrey Norton and her trusted friend and secretary Penelope Huxleigh (Nell). Irene has kept a few jewels; her best is a 25-carat diamond from the zone. She has also kept a ruby brooch, a gift from the King of Bohemia.

In Paris a bearded Oriental man is following Irene and Nell. The man approaches Nell, calls her by name Then passes out. Nell does not recognize him. Irene and Nell take the man to Irene’s rooms where they discover the man is a Caucasian and has a large puncture wound in his upper right arm. The man is comatose. Nell is staying with him at night but she still does not know him. When the man recovers he identifies himself as Emerson Stanhope of Grosvenor Square. Nell had been his governess when he was a young boy. Emerson Stanhope was Cobra. A bullet is fired into the bedroom barely missing Stanhope. There was no sound. It was an airgun.

Stanhope is worried that doctor who treated him at Maiwand may be in danger. He hasn’t seen the doctor since the battle but he remembers his name was Watson. Irene believes she may know where to start looking for Dr. Watson. The next morning Stanhope’s bedroom is empty. The only sign of him is a metal for gallantry, which he left on the table.

Reports indicate that Stanhope may be in the Montmartre District of Paris. It is a rough multiethnic section that Stanhope could live in and not be noticed. Montmartre is an artist. Irene wants to question some of the local artists. Irene wants to question some of the locals; artists use their eyes. Nell finds a painting with a picture of Stanhope and buys it to show around to local people. Finally locating his rooming house they find a dead man in his room wearing Indian clothing. There is a dead cobra on the floor. The dead man is not Emerson Quentin Stanhope.

Irene, Godfrey and Nell attend a soirée where Irene gives a concert and meets Captain Sylvester Morgan Who presents the Empress of Russia with a polar bear pelt. Morgan tells Nell that he wishes Irene would surrender the Cobra to him. Irene believes Morgan is the man called Tiger in Afghanistan.

Nell and Godfrey leave immediately for London to see Dr. Watson. Watson at this time is a married man living with Mary Morstan over his Paddington medical practice. Godfrey and Nell are watching 221b Baker Street. A man fitting the description of Captain Morgan has been in London asking about Emerson. What has Emerson Stanhope been involved in and why is it so important now?

Nell and Godfrey call at Watson’s Paddington practice but the doctor is out. Mary Morstan lets them wait in Watson’s office. While waiting Nell read Watson’s handwritten draft of A Scandal in Bohemia. Under Watson’s desk they discover the body of a five-foot dead cobra. When Watson returns, he remembers treating Stanhope during the battle but never learned his name.

Captain Morgan is Colonel Sebastian Moran, who sold out and was working for the Russians. Moran is now believed to be behind the theft of the Naval Treaty. The stage is set for the clash of two implacable foes. Somebody has to die. Will it be Quentin Stanhope or Colonel Sebastian Moran? What will happen to Irene and Nell who are now too deeply involved to back out?

Reviewed by: Roger F Kellogg F.I.A., Originally appeared in The Gaslight Gazette