Prompt from mrspencil: include the words…market, spirit, Persian slipper, knife grinder
"I have no interest in spirit tales, Watson," Holmes said as he pulled tobacco from the toe of his Persian slipper. "Not even on Christmas Eve."
"It is a classic of the season, Holmes," I protested, but he would not be swayed.
"There is enough of interest in this world without looking to the next, and the Christmas season brings out the most interesting parts of all. This very morning a man was murdered in a Christmas market." He tossed a paper in my direction, and I glanced at the marked article.
The man had been young, and although there had been plenty of witnesses to the stabbing, none could recognise the assailant on account of him wearing a bulky coat and a hat pulled low. The only clue, the article stated, was a knife grinder clutched tightly in the dead man's hand.
The bell rung, and Holmes rose to his feet, looking out the window. "It seems Gregson has taken on this case. Clear those papers off the other chair, would you, Watson? The inspector will be tired after his long walk."