"Well, here we are again at the end of another successful case.
The Jellyfish got a new house and my old friend Hermit Crab got his dream home--a genuine chambered nautilus shell!
My next case is one of the most complex and dangerous of all--in which I came up against that arch-villain Boss Octopus for the first time--I call it: "The Case of the Purloined Pearl".
Constable Crab
...
"It's a HOUSE! An EMPTY HOUSE!! And WHAT a HOUSE!!! A genuine Chambered Nautilus!!!!"
"But..." I began...
"No 'BUTS'!!!" Exclaimed Hermit! "I've waited all my life for a house like this! THIS is MY HOUSE and I'm moving in RIGHT NOW!
And he did!
...
"Fine for YOU--you--you JELLYFISH! But what am I going to do for a house? AND for me that is highly important, because Hermit crabs ALWAYS have houses!! And (sob) I DON'T!!"
"Cheer up, old friend." I said, "Every cloud has a silver lining--perhaps..."
"Oh, I know you are trying top cheer me up," said Hermit, "but I just know I'll NEVER find another sweet little house like--like..."
"What's the matter?" I asked--because suddenly Hermit had a VERY strange look in his eye.
"It's just that I thought I saw--over there in the sand by those big stones--a--a..."
...
"But WHY would a jellyfish even WANT a house?" Hermit Crab asked.
"I KNOW it is unusual" retorted the jellyfish, "But I am tired of just floating around! Owning my own house gives me a feeling of dignity and prestige! AND as you well know--it offers great protection from the predators of the deep! Finally I can relax and enjoy life without worrying about being eaten! I expect lots of jellyfish will start looking for new homes soon!"
...
"SO, Jellyfish!" I demanded when we were face to face with the creature, "Where do you think you are going with Hermit Crab's House?"
"Who's house?" asked the Jellyfish.
"MY house!" Hermit blurted. "My own cozy little whelk shell HOUSE!"
"Your house? MY house!" Jellyfish replied indignantly. "Surely you are familiar with The Law of the Sea: 'If you HAVE it, it's YOURS!' and I HAVE IT! So it's MY house!"
I looked at the sad expression on my old friend's face.
"I'm afraid the jellyfish is in the right." I said.
...
Hermit and I made haste to overtake the moving house and soon cought up with it.
But we were not prepared for what we found!
Incredibly, INSIDE Hermit Crab's "empty" whelk shell house--was--a--a--JELLYFISH!
Jellyfish simply NEVER enter empty whelk shells--and they MOST certainly NEVER walk away with one---carrying it on their back like a hermit crab carries its house!
...
