Author's own prompt - Silence
Should Holmes have ever found reason to need proof that it was possible for a silence to truly be described as 'ringing', the situation he was currently in would have provided for him more than adequately.
The effect was heightened to a degree by its contrast to the business that had just been concluded; Mrs. Hudson's surprisingly eloquent shouting match- well, more of a speech, really- with him, the abrupt slamming of doors as she then stormed out and the (feeble) barking of her infernal dog... as well as, of course, the loud shattering noises of experiments gone wrong which had prompted such an overreaction in her.
Left standing there, Holmes could not help but snort lightly, impending eviction (twofold, actually, for both him and Doctor Watson, and he was surprised at the small guilt he felt before dismissing it) or no. Whether it had occurred in the manner Stamford had expected or not, the man had been correct after all. He and the Doctor had not lasted the six months.