teunc.org Stories
Holmes
Sherlock
 
Where Did the Stone Come From?
 

"Hum! So much for the police-court", said Holmes, thoughtfully tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel case at one end to the crop of a Balrog on Moria Court-road at the other. You see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the Silmaril; the Silmaril came from the Balrog, and the Balrog was slaughtered by Gandalf, the gentleman with the tall pointed blue hat and all the other appurtenances implying that he is in possession of supernatural powers and great wisdom. So now we must set ourselves very  seriously to finding this gentleman, and ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie undoubtedly in a advertisement in all the evening papers."
  "What will you say?"
  "Give me a pencil, and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the corner of Anfalas-street, a goose and a tall pointed blue hat. Mr Gandalf can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at 221B, Baker-street.' That is clear and concise."
  "Very. But will he see it?"
  "Oh, without a doubt. When he slaughtered that poor innocent Balrog and roasted it for his fiendish Hobbit friends, in his glee at preparing black soup out of its giblet he dropped his hat at the place of the murderous and cannibalistic feast. And he will be specially interested in retrieving this palladium for his head, Watson. There will be a most particular reason for it."
  "What is that?"
  "He forgot, in his gluttonous frenzy, that giblet soup can only be made out of birds, that is to say, out of winged creatures. Once his horrendous mistake has become manifest to him he will desire most fervently to retrieve at least something out of the debacle, such as his wizard's hat. I think you will agree that the poor man should be extended some kind of consolation, little though he deserves to be counted among the Wise after this."

Öjevind Lång
 

teunc.org Stories
More Holmes:
The Hanging Man ] Interpreting the Tracks ] The Cardboard Box ] The Incredible Jumping Man ] How Did He Get It Back? ] What Does the "F" Stand For? ] Why the Bodies Never Were Found ] [ Where Did the Stone Come From? ] The Adventure of the Disappearing Troll ] The Pointy-eared League ] The Lamedon Vampire ] A Question of Ownership ] Yellow Faces ] The Case of the Over-sized Hobbit ] The Discovery ] The Crock of Gold ] The Adventure of Fëanor's Old Place ] The Flame of Udûn ] The Heiress ] The Adventure of the Curious Balrog ] South Weathertop ] At the "Admiral Falastur" ] The Adventure of the Unwanted Immigrant ] The Final Problem ]