Title: A Question of Ownership
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 1,077 words
Summary: The possessor of a treasure may not be the rightful owner

We had been invited to a reception hosted by Colonel Westerham and his wife, newly returned from India.  Neither of us had been keen to go, but Holmes was curious to meet the man who seemed to have taken a certain set of London by storm.  He sensed that there was something untoward about the man, and pressed me to go with him, and give him my impressions as a former military man.

We arrived late, and Holmes apologised for being unavoidable delayed on matters of great importance.  Our host was not immediately present, but the hostess greeted us cordially.  She was wearing an impressive double row of pearls, and, as a brooch, a tiny statue which I would have expected to find in a native temple.

Shortly afterwards, Colonel Westerham made his presence known.  “Ah,” he said, “I see you are admiring what I like to think of as my treasures.  Beautiful, aren’t they?”

I said something suitable about the pearls.

“And what do you think of my lovely brooch?” Mrs Westerham simpered.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen anything quite like it,” Holmes said.

“I thought it rather striking,” Westerham said.  “Rather too good for its setting, so I brought it home with me.”

“Indeed.”  Holmes looked at me, and I fear my face showed only too clearly what I was thinking.  “I’m so sorry that we can’t stay longer.  I’m afraid matters of state are calling.”

“Oh, Mr Holmes, perhaps you’ll return for tea one day,” Mrs Westerham said.  “And Dr Watson, of course.”

“Perhaps.” 

We departed, Holmes taking a final look around the room as we did so.

***

The following morning, I was surprised to see Inspector Lestrade already in conference with Holmes when I came downstairs.  At the same moment, Mrs Hudson came in, carrying the breakfast tray with sufficient food for three.

“I hope you don’t feel I’m intruding, Doctor,” Lestrade said.

“Not at all,” I answered with a smile.  “I am only too pleased to see you have a chance to eat on such a busy morning.”

He laughed.  “Your deductions are becoming almost as good as Holmes’.”

“I hardly think so.  But you wouldn’t be here at this hour unless there was an urgent matter, and that would mean you had already been at work for some time, with no opportunity for refreshment.”

Holmes gave a bark of laughter.  “You see, Lestrade, it is possible if you would but observe to make these deductions.  It seems, Watson, that there was a burglary at the Westerhams’ last night.”

“Was much taken?”

“The pearl necklace, that brooch you singularly failed to admire, and a trifling sum of money.  I have told Lestrade that I have certain theories I would like to test, and so, after breakfast we shall be going there.”

We were admitted to the house by the butler, who we had seen the night before.  Holmes started to question him, but was interrupted by Westerham who said, “No need to talk to Jones, I can tell you all you need to know.”

“Thank you,” Holmes replied.  “But I have my own methods, which I intend to employ.  I am sure for the present Mr Jones can provide me with all the information I need.”

“If you insist,” the colonel snorted.  “You can find me in my study if you need me.”

Jones conducted us to the room where the previous evening’s reception had been held. 

Holmes prowled around, before saying, “You know, Watson, for such a cold day, I’m surprised no-one has yet lit a fire in here.”  He poked about in the fire before exclaiming, “Yes, it is as I had thought.”  He went out in the hallway and requested Jones arrange for a fire to be lit.

Shortly afterwards, a young maid came in and looked nervously at Holmes.  “You’d like the fire lit in here, sir?”

“I would,” Holmes replied.  “You look uncertain.  What is your name?”

“Fanny, sir.  Fanny Jones.”

“And your father is the butler.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Your mother?”

“She’s dead, sir.”

“She was an Indian?”

“Yes, sir.”

Holmes nodded.  “Now, I’d like you to light the fire.  But first, I want you to rake amongst the ashes, and exclaim, in a loud voice, ‘Oh, good heavens,’ or something like that.  Can you do that?”

She looked surprised, but said, “Yes, sir.”

Fanny did as she had been instructed.  Holmes nodded to me when she said, “Oh, good heavens!” and I hurried across to the fireplace.  Fanny pointed out the pearls, resting in the grate, hidden by the ashes.  I knelt down and she and I collected a good number of pearls.

“Thank you, Fanny,” Holmes said.  “Leave the fire for now.  Dr Watson and I will go and see Colonel Westerham and tell him the good news.”

We knocked on the study door and were gruffly admitted.  Holmes handed over the pearls, which Westerham counted and declared they were all present.

“And the brooch?” Holmes asked.

“A trinket, nothing more.  Not worth worrying about.”

As we departed Holmes had a final word with Jones.  “I presume Fanny has told you the pearls have been found?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then I am sure no more will be said on the matter.”

“I’m delighted to hear it, sir.”

We caught a cab back to Baker Street, and, although I was keen to learn more, Holmes insisted I wait until we were once more in our rooms.  There he told me what he had learned from Jones and then his deduction as to what had happened.  Jones, the butler, had returned from India on the death of his wife, bringing his daughter with him.  On the journey home he had encountered the Westerhams and been offered a job, which he had accepted.  He had recognised the tiny statue and was unhappy that Mrs Westerham was wearing it as a personal ornament – Holmes had seen his expression the night before.  There had also been two Indian dignitaries at the reception, and it seemed likely that one of them engaged Jones’ assistance to remove the statue, so that it could be returned to its proper place.  The pearl necklace had been taken to distract attention from the statue, but, as we had seen, was never removed from the house.

“What will you tell Lestrade?” I asked.

“I shall simply tell him that the treasure has been returned to its rightful owner and just not define who that owner is.”