I know absolutely nothing of magic trick but It's is Houdini's birthday after all so I thought I would throw something together. And does Watson's introduction remind you of that guy in A Knight's Tale?

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to announce that on this night and this night only, you have the joy, no, the privilege! Of seeing what no other audience has seen before. No other is as talented as this magician and you will all be amazed and astounded! Let us all give applause to the great, the brilliant, the fantastical of mind….Sherlock Holmes!"

I applauded with the rest of the Irregulars and joined Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson in the back of the room who were snickering at my overplayed announcement for tonight's simple performance. The Irregulars paid little attention to us though as the curtain Mrs. Hudson had fastened from one of her quilts and hung across the ceiling was parted to reveal the great detective Sherlock Holmes.

He was bowing and waving to the small crowd as if it had been the London Theater. Taking a final last bow, he suddenly pulled a bouquet out of his sleeve and graciously handed it to a blushing Mrs. Hudson.

Making hushing motions with his hands, he drew his captivated audience closer as he began to whisper. "Tonight, my dear audience, we have a special treat. A trick learned in faraway lands only to come and rest here at the humble abode of 221b."

Holmes began to shuffle a deck of cards he had pulled from out of his pocket. After he had set it to his liking, he called a member of the Irregulars up to pick a card and to show it to the audience.

The card was a three of spades and the audience all 'ohed' appreciatively.

"Now, using my deductive powers," Holmes said, pressing his fingers to his temples in an attempt to summon up the image in his brain, "I will deduce the card in your hand. The card you are holding, is an ace of spades, is it not?"

"No," the Irregular said in an offended tone.

"Five of hearts?

"Nope,"

"Nine of diamonds?"

"Wrong again, you sure you're a magician?" the Irregular asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Of course I am!" Holmes had broken out in a cold sweat. "My powers just don't like to be pressured like this! It is obviously a Jack of clubs."

By this time, the rest of the audience had begun to giggle.

"Try three of spades." The Irregular said sarcastically before sitting down and folding his arms with a stern expression.

"Of course, of course! Three of spades." Holmes panted. "I was just about to guess, I mean deduce that one next. It takes a while for my deductive methods to get working, you see, they don't like being called upon in such trivial matters such as this. I'm sure I could get it right the next time."

"Perhaps we should save that for next time." I said going to the front of the stage in attempt to calm the crowd which was beginning to grumble. "Mrs. Hudson made scones and I'm sure she will let you have one."

The great detective and his magic tricks were all forgotten in an instant as the rowdy crowd jumped to their feet and pounded down the stairs.

It wasn't until the room was empty that Holmes fell wearily into his chair with a sigh. "Let's not try that again." He said. "I greatly underestimated what it took to perform such paltry parlor tricks."

"I see what you mean." I said, pulling a card from my back pocket. "And by the way, was this the card you were looking for?"

I had to run downstairs and hide in the kitchen with the happily munching Irregulars to prevent Holmes from strangling me.

It was the last night the name, "Sherlock Holmes, great magician" was ever mentioned in the house.