Happy New Year

A very happy New Year to all our readers from Constable Crab,
Tanya, Tomasito and Maggie the Part-time Cat.

...

Farewell Rock Crabs

"It is still early in the day!" I said, "So lets get going NOW! Which way is the Slippery Slope?"

"Well, the Slippery Slope is near at hand--in fac' it starts to get slipperty just as soon as ya leave this nice pile o' stones where Auntie Agatha makes her home, but..."

"And a mighty fine home it is!" I agreed.

"But," continued Rocky, "but, M'Lord, I's sorry, but I can't go wit'cha."

"You mean--you mean-- I have to go on alone?" I asked, a little surprised--since the good rock crabs had been so generous and helpful to me in my quest so far.

"Ya'see Your Worship--I's Kinda..."

"My Nephoo Hemi Grapsus, Sir Knight, is King o' this Rockcrabby Land. An' as such, MUST sorrowfully stay wit' an' pertect his rock crabby folk and not go on quests--even those as serioous and important as yers doubtless is!"

"Say no more, my Dear Friends!" I said. "To each his duty! Just point me to the Slippery Slope and I will carry on!"

"Stout Heart, Yer Grace!" Rocky quietly whispered, as my two new--very helpful--rock crab friends led me to the edge of their stone pile home and the base of The Slippery Slope.

...

Directions

"This Ring-Bo-Ree is excellent!" I said. "It makes me feel energized, alert, ready and strong!"

" 'At's it exactly yer Grace!" Rocky replied--"Very tasty stuff it is! --an' now, Auntie, Wot about th' aforesaid BOX?"

"The Jumblies carried that 'ere Box o' Destiny with 'em t' the East." Auntie Agatha said, "--over th' Slippery Slope and through th' Dell o' Gloom-- an' 'tis not exackly sartain, but 'tis highly possable they stashed it finely under a tor in the middle of the Perplex Plain!"

" 'Under th' Tor in the Perplex Plain
An' 'there it ever shall remain
'Til the knightly Crab brings it home again!'

...as the old sayin' goes!" Rocky recited.

...

Ring-Bo-Ree

"I am surprised--and astonished!" I said to Rocky.

"I thought yer Honor would be!" Rocky said. "And now Le's git on with the business at han'--yer Lordship's QUEST fer that Box o' Destiny!"

"Auntie Agatha used t' tell me about 'at selfsame box when she told about that there Journey of the Jumblies--on account o' because THEY brought that BOX back HERE! Din't they Auntie?"

"THEY DEEDY DID! Yass they did!" Aunt Agatha interjected. "Less all si' down 'ere---share a drop o' that same tasty Ring-Bo-Ree as they brought back--- An' I'll tell you ALL about it!"

...

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS
from

Constable Crab

!!!!!!!!!

The Sieve

Hoooo!

There it was--something I had not believed I would ever see in this life: the Jumbalies' sea-going sieve--with the old tobacco-pipe mast and the pea-green ribbon sail--and even the crockery jar!

Like a fool I thought it was all just a nursery rhyme! But here it was!!

"A penny for yer Lordship's thoughts." Hemi or Rocky quietly said.

...

Hemi Grapsus III

As we followed the big lady rock crab through the crack, I whispered to my new friend: "Didn't you say your name was 'Rocky'?"

"Well, yes, yer Highness." He whispered back.

"But 'ats only what me friends calls me! My REAL name is Hemi Grapsus the Third. And I's a leftover from the old Sexdentatus fambly. Auntie Agatha calls me 'Hemi' fer short--but NOT fer long! Arr, harr!"

And we entered into a marvelous, great chamber!

...

Aunt Agatha

We quickly approached a jumble of huge stones--evidently Aunt Agatha's dwelling place--and we very soon came face to face with Rocky's large Aunt Agatha.

"Hoo! Auntie Agatha, dear!"

"Goodness me!" Exclaimed the big rock crab--"Can it be
my dear Nephoo, Hemi?!"

"The same, Auntie dear! An' I brought a new pal, ya might say--Sir Crabaine Hisself!"

I made a small bow to the huge rock crab.

"Any friend o' my dear Nephoo Hemi is a friend o' mine--as they say!"

"This 'ere crab is a knight what is on a quest, Auntie--an' I thinks you have some information what will help 'im."

"Always happy to help a knight in 'is questin'! --Come in, come in, my dears!"

And the big rock crab turned and went through a crack between the boulders.

...

Off to Meet Aunt Agatha

"Yes--it seems VERY serious." I admitted.

"And wot d'yer think to go lookin' fer, yer Lordship, if I may be so bold wit' a new acquaintance?"

"It seems to be no secret. I am seeking the Box of Destiny!"

"Arr! The Box of Destiny, issit? And WHERE is this aforesaid BOX?"

"That's just it! No one knows--least of all ME!"

"Arr!"

The Rock crab pondered a moment and then unexpectedly offered:

"I HAVE heard o' that BOX--'t was with the peculiar stuff the old Jumblies brought back from beyond the Torrible Zone as I remember it. And I knows whom can give yer more information on the subject, yer Grace!"

The rock crab grabbed my claw and hurried me down the beach.

"Yer gotta meet my dear old Auntie Agatha! Old Auntie Agatha was mighty tight wit' those Jumblies in the old days, yer Excellency!"

...

Rock Crab

"Oh, I'm sorry--uh--sir. I thought you were a rock."

"'At's all right, mate! Lottsa' people thinks 'at way, but achually, I's a Rock Crab---ya can call me Rocky."

"Ahhh. I've heard of folks like you--but you're the first Rock Crab I've ever met."

"But not the LAST, I dare say, Mate! And who might I have the pleasure of addressin'?"

"I'm Con--uh--Sir Crabaine!"

"Ah, yes--yer Highness! Arr. And what might ya' be doin' down here by the seashore, Yer Worship?"

"I am on a quest!"

"Arr! A Quest, issit? That be SERIOUS, Mate!"

...

Talking Rock?

I wandered back down to the beach.

Sir Crabaine!

Quest for the Box of Destiny?!

It was all very unexpected.

I had always thought of myself as a simple crab--just plain Constable Crab.

The thought of ME going on a knight's quest for King Arthur had NEVER, EVER crossed my mind--yet here I was--apparently--a knight errant on a mysterious quest!

I went down to the beach and flopped against a big rock near the water.

"Ouch!" said the rock, "Would you mind leaning a little more softly, please?"

...

Quest accepted

"I never expected to be chosen for anything so grand--of course I accept the quest." I said.

"Good!" Said Arthur and Merlin together. "You can start at once!"

"Which way do I go?" I asked.

"No one knows THAT either." Merlin sighed.

"You are absolutely on your own in this quest."

And--as I turned away and started for the door, I heard softly from the shadows behind me--"Fare well and good speed, Sir Crabaine."

...

Sir Crabaine's Quest

"The BOX of DESTINY?" I queried Merlin, "What--exactly--is THAT?"

"That is part of the problem." Merlin answered, "No one knows exactly WHAT it IS!"

"It seems to have disappeared entirely from the Jumblies' possessions and records. But The Box of Destiny is reputed not only to exist but to contain many secrets!"

"I myself have never seen it--but I KNOW it exists!"

"Well and good!" I answered--but WHY did you call ME to find this BOX? If that is indeed my quest."

"To FIND the Box of Destiny--open it--and deliver it's contents or message to King Arthur-- that IS your quest!

We called you because of an almost forgotten ancient prophecy which I heard in my youth--" said Merlin.

"A prophecy which said that 'only a crab of honor and duty can and will find and deliver the message from the Box of Destiny'."

"And YOU, Sir Crabaine, are hopefully that crab!"

...

The Box of Destiny

"Your quest." began Merlin quietly, "Your quest is one that probably only You can accomplish. This is why you were called to Camelot in the first place."

"Camelot!" I gasped.

"Of course, Camelot..." continued Merlin. "And you have, no doubt, heard of the famous voyage of discovery by The Jumblies"

"I remember something about them in a nursery rhyme, Sir--something about 'going to sea in a sieve', I believe?"

"Exactly!" said Merlin.

"What you do NOT know is that they brought something back from their voyage BESIDE the reported Stilton cheeses and the lovely monkey with lollipop paws---

---They brought back The Box of Destiny!"

...

visor view

"Ahem! Now about your QUEST..." Merlin began.

"Wait a minute, Sir!

I am sorry but I just cannot get used to this armor--and I can hardly SEE out of this helmet--don't you think I could get along just as well, or maybe even BETTER with my own armor?

I am so accustomed to it..."

"All right!" said Merlin, "I thought it might be fun to see a crab in armor--but, of course, the QUEST is the thing after all, isn't it?"

I quickly wriggled out of the clumsy armor!

...

Crab in Armor

"And NOW, Sir Crabaine--your QUEST!"

I looked through the narrow slit provided for my eyes and tried to get used to the extra weight and awkward hinges of my Knightly Armor.

I certainly was VERY interested in knowing what my QUEST was going to be--but the armor made it VERY difficult to concentrate.

The view through the slit in the visor was limited to say the least!

...

Crab in Armor

"And now, Sir Crabaine", Merlin spoke from the shadows--"I'll help you don your new KNIGHTLY ARMOR--and then we'll tell you what your QUEST will be!"

"But I already HAVE armor." I hurriedly replied. "In fact I LIVE in armor--and always have!"

"Well, yes, that is true!" said Merlin, "But we thought it would be FUN for you to try on something ELSE for a little change? Let me help you put it on--I had it made especially for YOU, you know!"

And before I knew it--I was completely suited in "Knightly Armor", as he called it.

...

Crab Dubbed Kinght

I felt three gentle taps of the great sword on my shell and the king said, "Rise, Sir Crabaine!"

That was all there was to it--but I felt a LOT bigger, stronger and better than I had ever felt before!

I felt ready for My Quest!!!

(Reminder: Tomasito's days off are Sunday and Monday every week.)

...

Arthur the King

Striding toward me was a handsome, confident, king-sized man with a dangerous-looking sword held carelessly in his right hand.

Could it really be King Arthur?

I knew he was supposed to return whenever his people really needed him--but here? Now? ME?

"Your honor," I said, "My name is Constable Crab, and..."

"We have need of you." Arthur politely but firmly interrupted. "We intend to knight you and send you on a difficult but very necessary mission--a quest-- if you will accept it."

I liked this man!

"Of course, Sire!" I said, to get immediately into the spirit of the thing. "Gladly will I help you!"

"Will you promise to serve and protect all creatures?" he asked.

"Absolutely! In fact, that's what I always do!" I replied.

"Then kneel please ." he said.

"O.K." I said, and did.

...

Sir Crabaine

Suddenly I was picked up and held--fairly gently--by a strong human hand!

"Ahhh--Here you are, Sir Crabaine--and right on time too!" spoke a surprisingly quiet but powerful voice.

"There must be some mistake, sir!" I hurriedly said, "My name is Constable Crab!"

"Oh? --So That is what YOU think! Ah, ha, ha! What strange ideas creatures have! Well, MY name is Merlin, and as you will soon find out--I am seldom wrong!"

"I really am--just Constable Crab! I have ALWAYS been Constable Crab!"

"Tut, tut!" Merlin scoffed, "Perhaps you HAVE been Constable Crab in the past--but here comes my friend and liege, Arthur Rex who is quite determined to knight you--if I understand the purpose of the great sword he is carrying. And THEN you will BE what you ARE--Sir Crabaine indeed!"

...

The Great Hall

I scuttled into the castle--and right into the Great Hall!

In the middle of the hall there was a big round table surrounded by large chairs.

This was obviously a meeting place for humans--BIG humans!

I had never been anywhere like it in my life--and I never suspected that it existed so close to my own home beach!

...

The Castle on the Cliff

There was a castle on the cliffs above the beach!

I had lived here all my life and somehow had not noticed that there was a castle and that there were cliffs overlooking the beach?!

Something funny was going on for sure--and I was going to find out WHAT right now!

I scuttled across the beach, up the cliff and into the castle---

WOW!!

The Mysterious Change

I woke up slowly.

I did not mean to really fall asleep but I had--now I needed to get up--there was work to be done!

But WHAT work?

---The sky was blue, the sun was warm, BUT something was different!

The rocks, the sand, the trees even the distant hills were NOT as they were when I dozed off!

Tomasito, 2008

...

Crab Dream

Constable Crab doses and sleeps in the nice warm sun.

And while he sleeps he dreams--and when Constable Crab dreams--he dreams BIG!

Read on to discover our favorite crab in King Arthur's Court--and the wonderful Box of Destiny!

Tomasito, 2008

...

Happy Thanksgiving

!Happy Thanksgiving!

May you experience today the peace and joy of the season!

Tomasito, 2008

...

NEW STORY BEGINS

Still--sunning myself on the beach is what I like best--and I am pretty GOOD at it too!

If I just let myself go--and snooze--and relax--and dream--well, what harm could THAT do?!

Besides, the sun is so warm and I am SOOOO sleepy!

Sooo sleeee.....

Tomasito, 2008

...

Case of Perloined Pearl END

And that brought to a successful conclusion the very difficult adventure I call "The Case of the Purloined Pearl".

Oh, how good it was to be back in the sunshine of my nice, quiet beach after such a rough-and-tumble struggle with the forces of badness!

But, of course, my life is not just sunning myself on the beach---and it was not long before I was involved up to my eyeballs in another case...!

...

Clam gets her Pearl

Clarence the Butler was delighted to see us--especially since I had in my claws the missing pearl. He showed us in and announced us to Madam Claire Clam who met us in her salon.

"Oh, Constable Crab. I am SO happy to see you and it is SUCH a relief to see my Plumbago Pearl! I'll NEVER let it out of my sight again!"

"It was an eel, The Electrician, who stole it from your house and took to his evil master, Boss Octopus--I managed to get it away from them--but they are both still on the loose--so please be careful.

"I will, OH, I WILL! I have several dogfish guards set all around my house now for protection! But how can I ever repay your wonderful skill and gallant kindness?"

"It is my duty and my pleasure to serve and protect the creatures of this district--I have merely done my job, and THAT is my reward!"

"Noble, noble Constable Crab!" she breathed, and Sandy and I left her with her Plumbago Pearl.

...

And scuttling just as hard and fast as I could I raced through the deep canyons and cliffs until I came into the shallower, brighter water near the shore. There I felt much safer so I slowed a bit until I finally reached the familiar beach--with the Plumbago Pearl gripped tightly in my claws.

"Constable! Constable Crab!" It was the cheerful cry of my young friend Sandy Sand Crab.

"Hello Sandy! I have returned--and WITH the pearl!"

"Where did you find it ?--How did you ever..." he began.

"I'll tell you the whole amazing adventure soon--but right now let's get the pearl back to its rightful owner: Claire Clam!"

And together we went straight back into the sea to Claire Clam's mansion.

...

Crab Grabs the Pearl

"SO I am a'common hoodlum' that is only fit to do your dirty work am I?" hissed The Electrician.

"You haven't got the imagination of a sea snail or the brains of a sea cucumber!" said Boss Octopus to his henchman--and to prove it to the world--the Plumbago Pearl is MINE--ALL MINE! Muaah! Hah! Ha!" and he laughed a maniacal laugh.

"Oh Yeah?" rejoined The Electrician, "How'd you like a taste of THAT!" and he threw a terrifying bolt of electricity at Boss Octopus.

"FOOL!" shouted Boss Octopus--"Do you think I am called Boss Octopus for NOTHING?" as he slid his strong, slimy tentacles around the eel--"I'll SQUEEZE you 'til you SQUEAK!" and he commenced to do just that.

Meanwhile, since they were so busy trying to electrocute and throttle each other--I simply grabbed the pearl and scuttled!

...

Flattering the Boss

I knew that Boss Octopus would have that most valuable pearl close by--and I soon saw it under his tentacles behind him. I ALSO knew that The Electrician and Boss Octopus--like all criminals--could not trust each other. I planned to get the pearl and get away by exploiting that lack of trust.

"I thought that it would be YOU who would have the pearl, Boss Octopus," I said, "because it is obvious that YOU are the brains of this outfit!"

"So TRUE!" Boss Octopus smiled. "I use common hoodlums like The Electrician here to perform my dirty work--but I am the one who lays out the plan and who reaps the reward!"

...

Eel Confronts Octopus

"I have the Plumbago Pearl, dear Eel?"

"Yeah! YOU GOT IT--'cause I GAVE IT TO YA'!"

"You mean the lovely pearl YOU gave to me is STOLEN? OH DEAR! Oh, Heaven's sakes and MY, MY!"

"AS IF YA DIN'T KNOW!! YOU sent me to SWIPE it for ya!"

"Eel--you fool! How would anyone KNOW I had the pearl if YOU didn't open your big, ugly MOUTH!?"

"Oh--so you want ME to take all the blame while YOU get the POIL?"

I had heard about enough of the argument. Now I knew who TOOK the pearl--and who HAD it! Now I just had to GET the pearl and get it back to it's rightful owner--Claire Clam!

...

Eel Confronts Octopus

"Why, hello there." Boss Octopus welcomed me in a suave, sophistocated voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure of YOUR company?"

"Dis here is Constable Crab." hissed The Electrician from behind me. "He come down to da urchins place lookin' fer da POIL!"

"Ahhh--the pearl, you say? The great Plumbago Pearl?"

Boss Octopus rubbed his tentacles together. "Surely not, my dear colleague Eel!"

"I'm tellin' ya da Truth and nothin but!" Hissed The Electrician.

"But WHY would Mr. Crab come to ME for the Famous pearl, dear Eel"

"'Cause YOU'RE the one what's GOT it!" The Electrician
shouted.

...

Boss Octopus

At last---in the gloomiest deep-sea cavern yet---I saw---as if waiting especially for me---BOSS OCTOPUS!

Tomasito, 2008


...

Down to Boss Octopus

And so we---myself followed closely by The Electrician ---headed down and away from the shallow vile neighborhoods of the urchins--and into the deep crevasses and caves of the sea bottom---deeper than I had ever gone before---into a dark and gloomy realm---the haunts of the baddest creatures of the sea---even the MOST BADDEST of ALL----BOSS OCTOPUS!!

...

The Electrician's Plans

"SO!" Hissed The Electrician. "Madam Claire Clam's Plumbago Poil, is it? YOU had better come wit' ME!"

"And where might we be going?" I asked--quite politely considering the circumstances.

"We--YOU and ME, pal--are going to see--BOSS OCTOPUS! HIMSELF, and NOT a MOVING PICTURE--Har! Har! Har!"

And right there The Electrician broke down with evil frenzied, wheezing laughter.

...

Eel's Question

"So, Mister Constable Crab or whatever you calls yourself--Whaddaya want wit ME??"

I had nothing to lose so I simply said: "I want to know what YOU know about the Plumbago Pearl!"

...

Crab Unmasked

I was momentarily dazed and when I came to I found that the electric eel's shock had totally destroyed my disguise--I was unmasked and completely surrounded by enemies!

"Well, well, well!" hissed The Electrician, "What have we here?!"

"It's da CONSTABLE CRAB!!" shouted several of the surprised urchins.

"I thought something fishy was goin' on!" rejoined The Electrician! "Ya said some 'friend' o' mine was a lookin' fer me--but I never laid eyes on DIS creep!!"

...

The Electrician Jolts

"I hear ya' lookin' fer me, Bub. That so?" The Electrician hissed, "Well HERE I AM!"

Then The Electrician simply touched the nose of my disguise and I was instantly stunned by a tremendous jolt of electricity!

...

The Electrician

I turned and saw, slithering up behind me, the biggest, ugliest, slimiest electric eel I had ever seen! The Electrician!

...

Meeting urchins

Deeper and deeper I went into the cave until I was completely surrounded by mean-looking spiny urchins.

No one said a word to me so I began a conversation with one of the largest, most evil looking of them.

"Hello, chum. I am looking for someone." I said--using the urchin accent I had learned in my youth.

"Oh yeah? Hey, boys, dis stranger is lookin' for somebody!" He replied. "An jist WHO might ya be lookin' fer, mate?"

"A old friend o' mine. A certain electric eel." I casually replied--they obviously had been fooled by my clever disguise.

"Only ONE eel is welcome around here, bud! Us urchins don't have no dealin's wit no electric eels!"

"That's the very eel I want." I said.

"He's the one we call 'The Electrician'. Heh! Heh!" choked the urchin with ugly laughter.

"Yeah. That's him!" I said, "How can I meet up wit' him?"

"Well, you in BIG luck, pal--'cause here he come right now! An' I hope you ready fer a real SHOCK! Heh! Heh! Heh!"

...

Urchin Cave

"Down into the sea I went--moving rapidly through the better neighborhoods and soon entering into the rougher places--those rocks and crevices inhabited by the toughest denizens of the deep.

Finally I cautiously approached the cave where I knew the baddest of the urchins hung out.

I felt sure my disguise would protect me--still I felt some trepidation. Perhaps the urchins were smarter than I thought...

...

Disguise

I had found a good disguise on the beach after a human party which I felt sure would completely fool the urchins.

I put it on--a perfect fit--and headed back into the sea-- asking Sandy to wait for me at the high tide mark.

...

After the EEL!

I had recently seen a strange electric eel hanging around the rocky cave where the Urchins lived--and I knew that I would have to go there to find out what he was up to--but I also knew that the urchins were a lawless type which had little respect for me --or anything else.

I realized that the only way I could get the information I needed was to go to the urchins cave in disguise!

I returned to the main salon of the mansion, said goodbye to Madam Clam and assured her that I was on the case and would retrieve her pearl if it was possible.

Then, attended by Sandy Sandcrab, I returned to the beach where I could assemble the disguise I needed.

...

Clarence Tells

We followed Clarence into the den.

As soon as we were there, Clarence turned and spoke.

"You will wish to know what I know about the missing pearl."

"Correct." I answered.

"Well, I must say, I don't know anything at all!"

"You summoned Madam Clam to breakfast..."

"As usual. Then I preceded her into the breakfast room and waited on her--also as usual."

"Was there anyone else in the house in the morning?"

"No. We were alone--also as usual. I served her second cup of coffee and then she left the room. I was clearing the breakfast things when she returned as white as a sheet to report to me that her beautiful pearl was gone!"

"And you had NOT left the breakfast room at the time."

"I NEVER do until the breakfast things are clear--that is one of my duties."

"And are you ABSOLUTELY SURE there was no one else about--remember well, because this is VERY important!"

"Yes. I am sure...WAIT a MOMENT! Now I remember! A workman--an electric eel--had come earlier to check the wiring! He COULD have entered the bedroom after we left!"

"AN ELECTRIC EEL! AHA! NOW we're GETTING SOMEWHERE!!" I said.

...

Clarence Returns

Just at this time Clarence returned with the tea.

"Clarence", said Madam Clam, "Constable Crab would like to speak to you privately about the Plumbago Pearl---Perhaps you could all go to the den? It is quite private..."

"Of course, Madam Clam, I understand perfectly." said Clarence putting the tea things down on a nearby table.

"If the gentlemen would please follow me?"

...

Madam Clam Remembers

Madam Clam pulled herself together, straightened up and took a deep breath.

"I know it is QUITE unusual for a CLAM to have a Pearl", she said, "But it was given to me by an admirer, Augustus Von Oyster, a few years ago--and it means SO MUCH to me!"

"And exactly WHEN did you LAST see the pearl?" I asked.

"This morning when I got up and came in for breakfast.
I touched it as I always did first thing in the morning, for good luck--and I am SURE it was right near my clam-bed when I left the room!"

"But..." I suggested.

"BUT," she continued, "When I came back in to dress to go out, it was GONE!"

"And had anyone been near it while you were at breakfast?"

"That's just it! There was no-one in the house but Clarence, the butler and myself! The maid was taking her day off and was not here!"

"Then perhaps I should talk to Clarence--alone." I said.

...

The Casebook of Constable Crab p40

"As soon as the butler had left the room Madam Clam broke down."

"Oh, Constable! I am so worried! My treasure, the Plumbago Pearl has been stolen! I don't know WHO took it or WHO I can trust!

I even suspect my poor Butler, Clarence, who has been with me for YEARS!

Please help me!"

"Of course, Dear Madam Clam." I assured her. "Just tell me what has happened and don't skip any details."

...

The Casebook of Constable Crab p39

"Of course, Constable. But first--you will have a nice cup of tea won't you?

Clarence, will you please fetch some tea for our guests?"

"At once, Madam." Clarence said and, with a slight bow, left the room .

...

The Casebook of Constable Crab p38

"We followed closely in Clarence's wake through the elaborate mansion and into the private study of Madam Claire Clam.

Madam Clam was seated, not behind her grand writing desk as I expected, but more casually in a comfortable chair. She was smiling, but seemed a little nervous and worried.

She invited us to sit in chairs obviously arranged for us facing hers and began speaking in a low but firm voice."

"Something very terrible has happened, I'm afraid, Constable. Sandy has no doubt told you that my great pearl, The Plumbago Pearl, is missing--gone--vanished!"

"I am distressed to hear it." I replied. "Please give me the details of your discovery and tell me how I can help you."

...