"Good. Since we have all of the afternoon yawning ahead of us before we meet up again with Signor Grizzuti, I thought we might take lunch at a caffé near here and then see something of the city." I flipped through one of the brochures for inspiration. "How about Signor Paganini's violin? It is housed in the Palazzo Municipale. That might be of interest to you."

He snorted derisively. "My dear Russell, unless they can raise Signor Paganini himself from the grave to play it, what would be the point? I do know what a violin looks like."

"Holmes."

He stuffed his pipe with more vigour than was called for. "Oh very well, Russell. We shall view the wretched instrument."

"Maybe if we tell them who you are, they might let you play it," I said blithely.

He raised a disdainful eyebrow at me as he lit his pipe.