The Stolen White Elephant (long ver.)

He picks up a candle and walks down into the basement of the building. Sixty detectives always sleep here, and a group of them are playing cards when we come into the room. I follow him as he walks quickly to the far end of the basement. It is dark and frightening and there is a very bad smell. I feel sick and want to go back. Suddenly Inspector Blunt falls over a large object shouting as he falls: "Hurry for the police force! Here is your elephant!" Someone carries me to the office above, where I come to my senses once more. The complete detective force arrives and the celebrations begin. Reporters arrive and detectives open bottles of champagne and shake hands and talk enthusiasticaly. Naturally the chief is the hero and his happiness is complete. I am happy for him although now I am a homeless beggar, my elephant is dead, and I have no job. Many people congratulate the chief and many detectives say, "Look at him, the king of the force; there isn't anything that he can't find."

 White elephant means a thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it have may cost a lot of money. I was wondering about why the chief or the detectives won praise. Because the white elephant was dead and it found at basement of detectives. Did they find and hide the white elephant and also kill it?  I searched a lot about this book and read some interpretation, but I couldn't understand this story well. However, I was happy alittle because I could know white elephant means. If I didn't read this book, I couldn't that meaning ever after. (Misaki)