Holmes reached under the bed and pulled out a small paper wrapped parcel. He unwrapped a painting and softly whistled.
It was a very small painting of a young woman doing needlework. The work appeared of some age and quite unknown to me. “What is it Holmes?” I asked
“It is a copy of the Lacemaker by the Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer,” said my friend. “As you know I have an Artistic side to my family and have a knowledge of the works of great artists, indeed i saw this very painting exhibited in the Louvre when visiting Paris.”
Sherlock Holmes then chuckled to himself. “Alfie and Sam really are quite the most ingenious pair. I shall miss further pitting my wits against them.”
When we got back to Baker street Holmes explained more about Vermeer, “Johannes Vermeer was a great Dutch artist of the 17th century, the Dutch Golden age. He was virtually forgotten until Art Historians Gustavus Fredrich Waagen and Theophile Thore-Burgers published an essay detailing his works just 30 years ago. It reinvigorated an appetite for his works which are now much valued and sought after.”
At their trial just over a month later, Samuel Turner and Alfred Jones both received seven years each and Hopkins was as good as his word, ensuring the pair served their time together at Pentonville Prison.
As for Holmes, he was quite taken by his little painting and hung it on the wall on his side of the fireplace. Moreover when Inspector Lestrade would pay us a visit I would always see him wince at the sight of it, as it served as a reminder to the adulation that had once again been poured upon Inspector Hopkins after the story of his capture of the conmen, to which the story had become a newspaper sensation.
Sherlock Holmes' part in the case as usual had been kept as quiet as possible at his own request, and needless to say, Holmes and I enjoyed a fine belated meal at Monsieur Jonquet’s restaurant.