RANSVESTIA

"If you haven't found a place to stay, might I offer the premises that Holmes and I shared on Baker Street? Holmes left them to my use, but I have never quite gotten up the heart to return to them. Holmes would surely approve of your using them while conducting such a worthy investigation. I'll send notice around to the landlady to expect you."

"Why, thank you, Doctor, I would greatly enjoy staying in the same rooms where the great Mr. Holmes pondered over his greatest cases."

Both Lady Olivia Hampton and Inspector Lestrade left in a cab and I made myself busy with my practice. Later in the week I received a letter from Olivia asking me to come around to Baker Street at 6 o'clock on Tuesday next. As I arrived at the old familiar door, I felt both a sudden pain and a warm glow. I slowly walked up the stairs which I had climbed so many times; exactly seventeen steps, how I remember when Holmes chastised me for failing to observe their number in all the years I had looked upon them.

"There are exactly seventeen steps, Watson," he had barked at me in that familiar somber baritone voice of his. "You have looked and seen, but not observed."

I knocked on the door as I had done so many thousands of times before. When it opened I was almost startled to see Olivia standing there rather than dear old Sherlock. Yet, somehow her haunting eyes seemed to quiet my uneasiness at her presence.

"Come in, Dr. Watson, I'll be ready in a moment."

As I waited, seated in the same chair which I had occupied on so many previous visits to this dwelling, my mind was flooded by count- less memories. It was much the same as I had last found it, except it was now somewhat softer, there were obvious signs of feminine touch where as austere bachelor had once lived. Even the aroma of Holmes' favorite pipe tobacco still seemed to fill the room almost as if he had been up all night pondering one of his many three pipe problems. On the mantle sat his old black clay pipe. Oh, the stories it could tell.

"Are you ready, Dr. Watson??" the young lady asked starting me back to reality.