diff --git a/engines/sherlock/fixed_text.h b/engines/sherlock/fixed_text.h
index 6542301b2a7..40444f40527 100644
--- a/engines/sherlock/fixed_text.h
+++ b/engines/sherlock/fixed_text.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public:
 	/**
 	 * Gets text
 	 */
-	virtual const Common::String getText(int fixedTextId) = 0;
+	virtual const char *getText(int fixedTextId) = 0;
 
 	/**
 	 * Get action message
diff --git a/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.cpp b/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.cpp
index c81896c913f..465940ce459 100644
--- a/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.cpp
+++ b/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.cpp
@@ -359,8 +359,8 @@ ScalpelFixedText::ScalpelFixedText(SherlockEngine *vm) : FixedText(vm) {
 	_curLanguageEntry = curLanguageEntry;
 }
 
-const Common::String ScalpelFixedText::getText(int fixedTextId) {
-	return Common::String(_curLanguageEntry->fixedTextArray[fixedTextId]);
+const char *ScalpelFixedText::getText(int fixedTextId) {
+	return _curLanguageEntry->fixedTextArray[fixedTextId];
 }
 
 const Common::String ScalpelFixedText::getActionMessage(FixedTextActionId actionId, int messageIndex) {
diff --git a/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.h b/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.h
index 499fe81cd56..eae86b8f274 100644
--- a/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.h
+++ b/engines/sherlock/scalpel/scalpel_fixed_text.h
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public:
 	/**
 	 * Gets text
 	 */
-	virtual const Common::String getText(int fixedTextId);
+	virtual const char *getText(int fixedTextId);
 
 	/**
 	 * Get action message
diff --git a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.cpp b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.cpp
index 1a40c704ee7..2be41c8e4ab 100644
--- a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.cpp
+++ b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.cpp
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ static const char *const FIXED_TEXT_ENGLISH[] = {
 TattooFixedText::TattooFixedText(SherlockEngine *vm) : FixedText(vm) {
 }
 
-const Common::String TattooFixedText::getText(int fixedTextId) {
-	return Common::String(FIXED_TEXT_ENGLISH[fixedTextId]);
+const char *TattooFixedText::getText(int fixedTextId) {
+	return FIXED_TEXT_ENGLISH[fixedTextId];
 }
 
 const Common::String TattooFixedText::getActionMessage(FixedTextActionId actionId, int messageIndex) {
diff --git a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.h b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.h
index 06f6d765d96..a73f1a5326a 100644
--- a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.h
+++ b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/tattoo_fixed_text.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public:
 	/**
 	 * Gets text
 	 */
-	virtual const Common::String getText(int fixedTextId);
+	virtual const char *getText(int fixedTextId);
 
 	/**
 	 * Get action message
diff --git a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_inventory.cpp b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_inventory.cpp
index 3d43dbe90fb..3274552f5e3 100644
--- a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_inventory.cpp
+++ b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_inventory.cpp
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ void WidgetInventory::handleEvents() {
 				}
 
 				if (!found)
-					ui.putMessage("%s", FIXED(NoEffect).c_str());
+					ui.putMessage("%s", FIXED(NoEffect));
 			}
 		} else if ((_outsideMenu && !_bounds.contains(mousePos)) || ui._keyState.keycode == Common::KEYCODE_ESCAPE) {
 			// Want to close the window (clicked outside of it). So close the window and return to Standard 
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ void WidgetInventory::handleEvents() {
 						}
 					}
 					if (!found)
-						ui.putMessage("%s",FIXED(NoEffect).c_str());
+						ui.putMessage("%s", FIXED(NoEffect));
 
 				} else {
 					// See if they right clicked on an item
diff --git a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_talk.cpp b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_talk.cpp
index 2e2e3cf0757..6a3fd4575d1 100644
--- a/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_talk.cpp
+++ b/engines/sherlock/tattoo/widget_talk.cpp
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ void WidgetTalk::handleEvents() {
 
 						if (select == -1) {
 							talk.freeTalkVars();
-							ui.putMessage("%s", FIXED(NothingToSay).c_str());
+							ui.putMessage("%s", FIXED(NothingToSay));
 							return;
 						}