December 24: "A masquerade ball" (from W. Y. Traveller)
"Well, I've done it," said Holmes merrily as removed his coat and tossed a masquerade mask haphazardly in the direction of his desk.
Watson looked up from the book he was reading. "You cornered Moriarty's agent?"
"Indeed," Holmes replied, carefully removing false facial hair. "Her keen observational skills made it a bit of a challenge."
"Ah, hence the graying beard," said Watson. "Playing the respectable older gentleman, then?"
"I feared even that would not be enough," Holmes replied. "I played the respectable older gentleman with two left feet. She had no idea it was me until she let slip the information I needed."
"That must have been quite the challenge!" Watson chuckled.
"Not so, old fellow," Holmes replied with a grin. "I simply imitated your style."
Watson replied with hearty swat to his friend's shoulder with The Times.