Rune raised a hairless eyebrow. “One does not trifle with magic,” said he. “But see this.” And he snapped his right forefinger and thumb, drawing flame between them, from which he lighted his cigar.

“That is a music-hall trick,” said Will. “I have seen Dan Leno do that.”

Rune smiled as he sucked upon his cigar and then blew hurriedly on his flaming finger and thumb.

“So who is treating us to this meal tonight?” Will asked.

“A very close friend.” Rune puffed cigar smoke and spoke through it. “We were fellows at Oxford together. He seeks success in a different field to myself. He is a man obsessed with logic. I have however helped him out in the past with one or two matters which have proved to be beyond the scope of his logic”

“So, who is he?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” Rune raised his left hand. “Aha, I sense his approach.”

Hugo Rune arose from his IKEA-looking chair and turned to greet the arrival of a tall, slender gentleman in an immaculately tailored evening suit. He carried a fashionable bag of the Gladstone persuasion.

“William,” said Hugo Rune to Will. “Allow me to introduce you to my very good friend, Mr Sherlock Holmes.”

Will climbed from his chair to shake the hand of the world’s most famous fictional detective. Will’s jaw had dropped and his eyes were somewhat wide. It couldn’t actually be true, could it?

“Mr Starling,” said Mr Sherlock Holmes. “I perceive that you have recently been to—”

“China,” Will managed to blurt.

“The toilet,” said Holmes. “Your fly is still unbuttoned.”

Will hastened to rebutton his fly.

“I have heard much of you,” said Sherlock Holmes. “Hugo informs me that you are a young man of almost infinite capabilities.”

“He does?” Will glanced at Rune, who put his finger to his lips.

“That you are indeed the fellow I seek,” continued Holmes.

“Really?” said Will. “I don’t think I quite—”

“A pleasure to see you once again, Shirley.” Rune offered his hand and Holmes shook it. The manner of the handshake was significant. Its significance was lost upon Will.

“It’s Sherlock, in public, if you don’t mind.” Holmes glanced the Logos of the Aeon up and down. “I observe that you have gained precisely fifteen and a half pounds since last we met. The travelling life evidently agrees with you.”

Rune perused the great detective. “And you, I see, have lost a little weight,” he said. “I trust that you have not raised your dosage above a seven per cent solution.”

“Idleness does not agree with me, as well you know. And by the by, your tailor called in upon me at Baker Street, last week. He asked that he be remembered to you and also that I convey his bill directly into your hands.”

“Which you certainly will not do,” said Rune.

“We are gentlemen both. And brothers under The Arch. Might I test a glass of that questionable champagne?”

“Sit yourself down and do so.”

Holmes sat down and so did Rune and so too then did Will. Further champagne was poured and tasted, and commented upon unfavourably, and then a conversation ensued between Holmes and Rune, which Will listened to, but for the most part failed to comprehend.

The conversation was of that special variety which only exists between close and intimate friends. Where a mere word or phrase conjures mutual memories, raising either laughter or sadness. Mostly laughter upon this occasion.

Will watched and listened and shook his head.

It was Sherlock Holmes. The real Sherlock Holmes. He looked exactly as he did in the Sidney Paget illustrations, which had clearly been drawn from life. Will had read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories. He’d downloaded digital files of their original publications in the Strand magazine, from the copies held in the British Library. These files were in his palm-top. Will’s palm-top was in Will’s pocket.

Will wondered what Holmes might think if Will were to show him these downloaded files. Records of cases that Holmes had yet to be called upon to solve.

It was an interesting thought and one full of intriguing possibilities.

“So, Hugo,” said Sherlock Holmes. “I regret that I will not be able to join you for supper, so let us address ourselves to the business at hand. You have recommended your magical son to me as the fellow I seek. Are you absolutely certain that he is up to the challenge?”

Rune nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely,” he said.

“What is all this?” Will asked.

“It is simple enough,” said Holmes. “I would take on the case myself. In fact, I feel confident that I could solve it without even leaving the fireside of my sitting room at Baker Street. However, I am somewhat pressed by another urgent matter, which necessitates a trip to Dartmoor.”

“Ah,” said Will. “I know—” But then he held his tongue.

“You know?” asked Holmes.

“Nothing,” said Will. “So what is this case that you would like Mr Rune and myself to look into?”

“Not Mr Rune and yourself. Simply yourself.”

“But I—”

“Listen to the gentleman,” said Rune. “You seek to find things out, do you not?”

Will nodded.

“Then this is your opportunity. Pray continue, Shirley.”

“Sherlock,” said Holmes. “You must understand, Mr Starling,” he continued, “that I am building a reputation for myself as a consulting detective. The world’s only consulting detective. To do this it is necessary that I solve all the cases that are presented to me. But I have recently been inundated with requests for my assistance. Mostly these are trifling matters that can be speedily dealt with. But there are many of them. Too many. Hugo here has assisted me before. He is, as you must know, a man of considerable insight and intuition. And generosity.”

Will raised his eyebrows to this intelligence.

“Hugo informs me that you possess certain skills and that I can trust you to deal with this particular matter.”

“Yes, but,” said Will.

Holmes turned to Rune. “I am having my doubts,” said he.

“All will be well,” said Hugo Rune, making a breezy gesture before sucking once more upon his cigar. “The lad is shy. He is overwhelmed at meeting you.”

“That’s certainly true,” said Will.

“But if anyone can deal with this case, I guarantee that this someone is William Starling. I know these things. Trust me. I’m a magician.”

“Then I shall trust you,” said Holmes. “The reward is—”

“Let us not speak of rewards,” said Rune.

“As you please,” said Holmes.

“Well, not here,” Rune’s voice was now a whisper. “In private, later on.”

“Quite so.”

“What is this?” Will asked.

“Nothing,” said Rune. “So, you have the file with you?”

“I do.” Holmes took up his Gladstone bag, opened it and produced a buff-coloured envelope, which he handed to Rune. “My reputation depends upon this,” he said. “We understand each other, don’t we?”

“We do,” said Rune. “Brother upon The Square,” and he made a certain sign.

“Then, good.” Holmes rose from his chair. Rune rose with him and the two shook hands once more. The significance of the unorthodox handshake was not quite so lost upon Will this time.

“I look forward to hearing from you once you have solved the case,” said Mr Holmes, now shaking Will by the hand. “Enjoy your supper, charge it to my account. And so farewell.”

And with that he departed into the fashionable crowd and was gone.

“Nice chap,” said Hugo Rune, reseating himself.

“Nice chap?” Will slumped down and stared at Hugo Rune. “What did you tell him about me? What is all this about?”

“Calm yourself,” said Rune. “It is simplicity itself. We require funds.”

“We?” said Will.

“We,” said Rune. “In order to do what must be done. You wish to return to your own time, do you not?”

“I do,” said Will.

“And when we have achieved our goal. Which is to rid the world of an evil presence.”