From V Tsuion: Who is more likely to sing in the bath?


"Holmes, do you hear that?"

Holmes paused a moment where he sat with his chemicals. "I fear I was distracted. What did you hear?"

But at that moment, we both heard it, a tinny, warbling voice singing a popular drinking song. It was very faint, as if the owner were far away. Yet it did not appear to come from the direction of the window, as one might have expected from someone singing outside in the street, nor from the direction of the kitchen, which would imply Mrs. Hudson.

Holmes put down the test tube, head cocked to one side as he sought to track the sound. I put down my newspaper and did the same. The singing continued, and beneath it, I faintly heard the sound of splashing.

"What on Earth?" I said.

But Holmes' grey eyes gleamed with sudden understanding and amusement. "I do believe the singing comes from our nearest neighbors."

I stared at him in horror, the idea that Mrs. Edwards had taken up singing almost too horrible to contemplate. Then Holmes nodded at the tiny hole in our wall, and I understood as well.

"Ah, those neighbors," I said in an undertone, repressing a smile. "Surely not Basil?"

Before Holmes could respond, we distinctly heard a mouse-like voice belt out "God Save the Queen!" Followed by a — by mouse standards — resounding splash.

"It appears," Holmes said, echoing my thoughts and my amusement, "That your counterpart enjoys singing in the bath."