Mr. Ferdinand's Fate

Chapter 6: Who Killed Mr. Ferdinand?

 

Emerson continued: "It would have taken Holmes a week to figure that out."

 

*

 

Some forty-five minutes later, Emerson had assembled all most significantly interested parties--Lord Dumphries, Lady Dumphries, Lady Helen, and Lady Margaret--in the broken-down shed that sat at the farthest reach of the Dumphries ancestral estate. As Constable Eddings stood near the door, presumably to prevent any escapes, Emerson, having gathered methodically and tediously all the evidence of absence his precise heart could ever have wished for, put both his index fingers to his auburn lips, gazed penetratingly at all one-by-one, and said, "I think we're nearly done here."

"Emerson," cried Constable Eddings, "we've barely begun!"

Emerson laughed fruitily and said, "I make jokes."

"So who murdered Mr. Ferdinand?"

"Isn't it plain? The gypsy. I said as much on the train."

Lord Dumphries interjected, "How do you know?"

"First. Process of elimination. Second. Character screening. Third. Intuition. What else does one need?"

"Evidence."

"Oh, that. How 1890 of you. The evidence will come, in its own time. Have no fear!"

Lady Helen stood and hotly said, "I suppose we can all go now".

"Don't you want to stay to see us accuse the gypsy?"

"Stop calling him that! He's Roma!"

Lady Dumphries laughed. "Helen, he's not Italian in the least. I'm sure you've heard of him. He's named Neil, and he's from Lancashire."

Lady Helen shook her head briskly. "What was I just saying?"

Emerson said, "You appear to have--or appeared to have--an idea that our gypsy was a member of the Romani ethnic group--not Roman, as Lady Dumphries appears to interpret. Where did you get this odd idea?"

"I don't know. I can't even recall saying such a thing. Did I really say that? Of course I know Neil. He mended my boots."

Emerson waved off this kerfuffle airily. "Let us leave this issue where it is, at least for the moment, shall we? Constable Eddings, please go forth and apprehend the murdering miscreant so justice may be served. Let me tell you that Neil and Mr. Ferdinand had a dispute concerning both money and love. Mr. Ferdinand had fallen in love with a certain belle de nuit who was under contract to gypsy Neil. Mr. Ferdinand spent all his money on the lady, and came to be in the debt of gypsy Neil. So, as is the way of all things, there was a struggle, and a murder, and a mutilation. Happens every day."