Holmes (standing): ...And so you see that my discovery of the dessicated remains of an African Honey Bee within the ceremonial horn which they were wont to commence their repast with the blowing thereof proves conclusively that the entire North West and Central Railway Dining Club acted together.
Watson (sitting): Good Lord! Not Major Hatherly-Stephens as well?
Holmes: I'm afraid so, Watson.
Watson: But... dash it all! The man's a member of the MCC!
Holmes: Even so. In fact it was the Major himself who obtained the bee specimens through the numerous contacts he made and retained during his time in The Dark Continent as agent of the West Reading Shipping Line.
Watson: My word! But what could have caused him to throw in his lot with such a set of people?
Holmes: Ha! A "set" indeed: two knights, a bishop, numerous pawns and perhaps Mrs. Wiggleswade might be cast in the role of queen! A more disparate group one would be hard pressed to find: a band brought together solely by their passion for the culinary arts as expressed in the dining carriages of moving trains.
Watson: Well, from the size of it I suppose we're only lucky there wasn't an entire hive inside the horn!
Holmes: Nonsense my dear doctor! The horn is of normal size: it's apparant immensity is a simple trick of perspective.
Watson: Why, so it is! And there was I worrying that it would crush my knee-caps!
Holmes: Your patellas are quite safe old chap and your fears groundless - as ever it seems that you see but don't observe. For instance from your colourful language I observe and deduce that you have not even noticed that Mrs Hudson is sitting with us here in this very chamber.
Watson: She is? Great Scott, so she is! Hullo, Mrs Hudson.
Mrs Hudson: Hello Dr. Watson.
Watson: But why are you here Mrs. Hudson, and not safely back in Baker Street?
Mrs. Hudson: Mr Holmes wired me this morning and asked me to come along to help him out with a small matter. Now, Mr Holmes?
Holmes: Not yet, Mrs Hudson. Now, Watson, since our case is concluded and boredom is sure to descend once more, would you be so good as to pass me my pipe?
Watson: Your pipe? Not the needle?
Holmes: MY pipe, Watson. I am, as you well know, a keen amateur chemist and in response to your repeated warnings and admonitions concerning the recreational use of cocaine I have endeavoured, and I might be so bold as to say succeeded in producing a crystaline form of the drug, the rocks of which may be smoked in any common pipe rather than injected, thus removing any deleterious effects.
Watson: By the Power of Greyskull! Is there no end to your talents, Holmes? The world will thank you for this!
Holmes: Perhaps, though I am, as you well know, indifferent to the accolades of the public.
Mrs Hudson: Now, Mr Holmes?
Holmes: Not quite yet, Mrs Hudson. By the way, Watson, I assume that the details of so singular a case are likely to make it into the pages of The Strand Magazine in one of those tales with which you entertain the readership thereof.
Watson: Indeed it will - if I am any judge I should think it will prove to be one of the most popular stories yet.
Holmes: And have you thought of a title yet?
Watson: It's a difficult one to sum up in a phrase, but I was considering "The Case of the Horn-Bee Train Set"
Mrs Hudson: Now, Mr Holmes?
Holmes: Now, Mrs Hudson.
Mrs Hudson:
*Ahem* Boom boom... tish! - Was that all right, Mr Holmes?
Holmes: Perfectly adequate, Mrs. Hudson.
Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change? ~~ Oddball