Another crash when I reached the landing caused me to nearly spill the sandwiches. I sighed, pushing the sitting room door open, wary of any objects that might come flying at my head.
"No, no, Watson. Block, thrust, parry. Like this."
Mr. Holmes was apparently trying to teach the doctor how to fence, judging from their positions.
"Try it again. Head, Watson – here now!"
The doctor had swatted him with – what were they using, umbrellas?
"That's an illegal move!"
"You're in the way, Holmes," he said, pointing the umbrella at me.
I just then saw the remains of the teapot under the table.
"Mr. Holmes! Doctor!"
My dismayed exasperation was suddenly overcome by a near-uncontrollable urge to laugh, as both of them dropped the umbrellas and backed away from me, scooting closer to each other, looking for all the world like two errant school-boys called up before the headmaster.
"Mrs. Hudson, I can explain –"
"I don't want to know, Doctor," I stated, "you may decide between yourselves who is going to pay for it."
And I left the room, shutting the door but standing there for a moment, listening.
"I told you we were going to break something!"
I smiled broadly. No need to tell them I never gave them any chinaware that I was not expecting to get broken.