Prompt from W. Y. Traveller - Beginnings
"Did you read the story in the Strand this morning, George? By some doctor, Warton or Batson, something like that. Not bad, I thought."
"I saw it, can't say I thought much of it. This Mr Sherlock Holmes…is he meant to be real?"
"Just a character, I'm sure. But I wouldn't mind reading some more about him."
"There's a man who may be able to help you. He's my grandmother's cousin's friend's lodger, and he helped me out back when Frank was looking for those letters - you remember."
"Can he really help me? He's not police or anything?"
"No, dearest, he's not police. He's where to go when the police won't help. His name's Mr Sherlock Holmes."
"Alice, why was the name in the paper this morning familiar? Mr Sherlock Homes, I'm sure I've heard that name before."
"Wasn't he the one in that story, Teddy? The one the doctor fellow wrote?"
"Ah, of course. Must have been a lick of truth to it, if the papers have got anything right!"
"Sherlock Holmes, you say? Yes, I've heard of him. But for something like this? We need to remain…discreet."
"Believe me, sir, if you want to find the thief, Mr Holmes is the man you need. He'll understand the delicacy of the situation."
"Very well. Fetch Mr Holmes - use the unmarked carriage."
"Look, Betsy, another Mr Holmes story! Mammy can read it to us at bedtime."
"Aww, Johnny, d'we have to wait so long? I want to hear it now!"
"You know I can't read as well as Mammy, Bets. How about we look at the pictures instead?"
"I'll take only the best on this one. Warton, get me Mr Holmes."
"Mr Holmes is not taking any new clients at the moment, sir. He has no room for new cases."
"I'll go see him myself, then! I said I'd only have the best, and that's exactly what I'll get!"
"Little did we know, my dear Watson, how popular our little services would become!"
"You mean you could not follow the trail of logic?"
"Ha! The return of your pawky sense of humour, I see. But come, Watson, and let us see if we can live up to the legend you have created."