June 13, 1900: Holmes recovered the Black Pearl of the Borgias from the sixth bust of Napoleon. [SIXN]
(Source: A Day by Day Chronology of Mr. Sherlock Holmes According to Zeisler and Christ, compiled by William S Dorn, BSI)
Quote from Canon:
Holmes took a paper from his pocket and laid a ten-pound note upon the table.
“You will kindly sign that paper, Mr. Sandeford, in the presence of these witnesses. It is simply to say that you transfer every possible right that you ever had in the bust to me. I am a methodical man, you see, and you never know what turn events might take afterwards. Thank you, Mr. Sandeford; here is your money, and I wish you a very good-evening.”
When our visitor had disappeared Sherlock Holmes’s movements were such as to rivet our attention. He began by taking a clean white cloth from a drawer and laying it over the table. Then he placed his newly acquired bust in the centre of the cloth. Finally he picked up his hunting-crop and struck Napoleon a sharp blow on the top of the head. The figure broke into fragments, and Holmes bent eagerly over the shattered remains. Next instant, with a loud shout of triumph, he held up one splinter, in which a round, dark object was fixed like a plum in a pudding.
“Gentlemen,” he cried, “let me introduce you to the famous black pearl of the Borgias!”
Chips says: We presume Holmes turned the pearl back to the authorities. What he do with the reward? Should he have shared?
Chips asks if Holmes should have shared the reward for the black pearl. I ask, in turn, with whom?
Surely not with the police, who were sure that the smashing of the busts were the work of a monomaniac. Surely not with the non-existent detectives who weren’t even looking for the pearl any more.
Holmes might make some small recompense to those whose busts were smashed, perhaps the cost of those busts, but he bought the bust — and its contents — containing the pearl, so owed nothing there.
If Holmes shared at all, it was with his good friend and helper, Dr. Watson. No doubt a celebratory dinner was in order, or perhaps even another treat or two.