Dr. Watson

that a murder did not always prove to be a good bargain.

Good evening, Mr. Bartell.

Drop it, sir.

That's it.

That's right.

In England, it's known as Guy Fawkes Day.

Have you ever heard of it?

Yes, Mr. Bartell, it is.

And as Sherlock Holmes and I had a very unusual adventure on the 5th of November many years ago, it seems appropriate that I should tell you about it tonight.

Before I begin, I think it might help you to appreciate the true flavor of the story if I tell you a little about the origin and the customs of Guy Fawkes Day.

Well, my boy, on November 5th, 1605, exactly 340 years ago today, King James I was about to attend the opening of Parliament.

when a plot was discovered to blow up the House of Lords during the ceremony.

Yes, he was.

He was captured in a vault immediately below the House of Lords, a vault full of barrels of gunpowder.

Of course, he and his fellow conspirators were executed.

And ever since then, November the 5th has been known as Guy Fawkes Day.

Well, it's a great time for the youngsters, Mr. Bartell.

They black their faces along the streets, begging for pennies, and build bonfires in which to burn effigies of Guy Fawkes.

These effigies are life-sized dummies stuffed with straw and dressed in old clothes.

The children parade them in the streets, chanting rhymes.