No. 7 The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle
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who had shown signs of intense emotion during the proceedings, fainted away at_the conclusion and was carried out of court ."

" hum ! so_much for_the police- court," said Holmes thought- fully, tossing aside the paper ." the question for_us now to solve is_the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel- case at one end to_the crop of a goose in Tottenham court road at_the other . you_see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much more important and less innocent aspect . here_is_the stone; the stone came from_the goose, and_the goose came from Mr Henry baker, the gentleman with_the bad hat and all the other characteristics with_which I_have bored you . so now we_must set ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and ascertain- ing what part he has played in_this little mystery . to do_this, we_must try the simplest means first, and these lie undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers . if_this fail, I_shall_have recourse to other methods ."

" what_will you say ? "

" give_me a pencil and_that slip of paper . now, then:

' found at_the corner of Goodge street, a goose and a black felt hat .Mr Henry baker can_have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at 221B, baker street .'

that_is clear and concise ."

" very . but will he see it ? "

" well, he_is sure to_keep an eye on_the papers, since, to a poor man, the loss was a heavy one . he_was clearly so scared by his mischance in breaking the window and by_the approach of Peterson that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he_must_have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his bird . then, again, the introduction of_his name will cause him to_see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to_it . here you_are, Peterson, run down to_the advertis- ing agency and_have this put in_the evening papers ."

" in_which, sir ? "

"Oh, in_the globe, star, pall mall, St .James's, evening News standard, echo, and any others that occur to_you ."

" very_well, sir . and this stone ? "

"Ah, yes, I_shall keep the stone . thank_you . and, I_say, Peterson, just buy a goose on_your way back and leave it here with me, for we_must_have one to_give to_this gentleman in place of_the one which your family is now devouring ."

when_the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and held it against the light ." it's abonny thing," said he ." just see how it glints and sparkles . of_course_it_is a nucleus and focus of crime . every good stone is . they_are the devil's pet baits . in_the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a bloody deed . this stone is_not_yet twenty years old . it_was found in_the banks of_the Amoy river in southem china and_is remarkable in having every characteristic of_the carbuncle, save that_it_is blue in shade instead of ruby red . in_spite of_its youth, it has already a sinister history . there_have been two murders, a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about for_the sake of_this forty- grain weight of crystallized charcoal . who_would think that so pretty a toy would_be a purveyor to_the gallows and_the prison ? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and drop a line to_the countess to_say that we_have it ."

" do_you_think that_this man Horner is innocent ? "

" I_cannot tell ."

" well, then, do_you imagine that_this other one, Henry baker, had anything to_do with_the matter ? "

" it_is, i_think, much more likely that Henry baker is an absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that_the bird which he_was carrying was of considerably more value than if_it were made of solid gold . that, however, I_shall determine by a very simple test if_we_have an answer to our advertisement ."

" and you_can do nothing until then ? "

" nothing ."

" in_that case I_shall continue my professional round . but I_shall come back in_the evening at_the hour you_have mentioned, for i_should like to_see the solution of so tangled a business ."

" very glad_to_see you .I dine at seven . there_is awoodcock, I believe . by_the_way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I ought to ask Mrs Hudson to examine its crop ."

I had_been delayed at a case, and it_was a little after half- past six when I_found myself in baker street once more . as I approached the house I_saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a coat which_was buttoned up to_his chin waiting outside in_the bright semicircle which_was thrown from_the fanlight . just as l arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to Holmes's room .

" Mr Henry baker, I believe," said he, rising from_his armchair and greeting his visitor with_the easy air of geniality which he_could so readily assume ." pray take this chair by_the fire, Mr baker . it_is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is more adapted for summer than for winter .Ah, Watson, you_have just come at_the right time . is_that your hat, Mr baker ? "

" yes, sir, that_is undoubtedly my hat ."

he_was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of grizzled brown .a touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight tremor of_his extended hand, recalled Holmes's surmise as to_his habits . his rusty black frock- coat was buttoned right up in front, with_the collar turned up, and_his lank wrists protruded from_his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt . he spoke in a slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had ill- usage at_the hands of fortune .

" we_have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, " because we expected to_see an advertisement from_you giving your address . I_am at a loss to_know now why you_did_not advertise ."

our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh ." shillings have_not_been so plentiful with me as_they once were," he remarked ."I had no_doubt that_the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off both my hat and_the bird . I_did_not care to_spend more money in a hopeless attempt at recovering them ."

" very naturally . by_the_way, about_the bird, we were com- pelled to eat it ."

" to eat it ! " our visitor half rose from_his chair in_his excitement .

" yes, it would_have_been of no use to anyone had we not done so . but I presume that_this other goose upon_the sideboard, which_is about_the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your purpose equally well ? "

"Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr baker with a sigh of relief .

" of_course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of your own bird, so if_you_wish --"

the man burst into a hearty laugh ." they_might_be useful to_me as relics of_my adventure," said he, " but beyond that I_can hardly see what use the disjecta membra of_my late acquaintance are going to_be to_me . no, sir, i_think that, with your permis- sion, i_will confine my attentions to_the excellent bird which I perceive upon_the sideboard ."

Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of_his shoulders .

" there_is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he ." by_the_way, would it bore you to_tell me where you got the other one from ? I_am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I_have seldom seen a better grown goose ."

" certainly, sir," said baker, who had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm ." there_are a few of us who frequent the Alpha inn, near the museum -- we_are to_be found in_the museum itself during the day, you understand . this year our good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by_which, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas . my pence were duly paid, and_the rest is familiar to_you . I_am much indebted to_you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity ." with a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and strode off upon his way .

" so_much for_Mr Henry baker," said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him ." it_is quite certain that he_knows nothing whatever about_the_matter . are_you hungry, Watson ? "

" not particularly ."

" then I suggest_that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow up this clue while it_is still hot ."

" by all means ."

it_was a bitter night, so we drew on_our ulsters and wrapped cravats about our throats . outside, the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and_the breath of_the passers- by blew out into smoke like so_many pistol shots . our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly as_we swung through_the doctors' quarter, Wimpole street, Harley street, and so through Wigmore street into ox- Ford street . in a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at_the Alpha inn, which_is a small public- house at_the corner of one_of_the streets which runs down into Holborn .Holmes pushed open the door of_the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from_the ruddy- faced, white-aproned landlord .

" your beer should_be excellent if_it_is as good as_your geese," said he .

" my geese ! " the man seemed surprised .

" yes . i_was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr Henry baker, who was a member of your goose club ."

"Ah ! yes, I_see . but you_see, sir, them's not our geese ."

" indeed ! whose, then ? "

" well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent garden ."

" indeed ? I_know some_of_them . which_was it ? "

"Breckinridge is his name ."

"Ah ! I don't know him . well, here's your good health landlord, and prosperity to your house . good- night .

" now for_Mr Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat as_we came out into_the frosty air ." remember, Watson that though we_have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of_this chain, we_have at_the other a man who_will certainly get seven years' penal servitude unless we_can establish his inno- cence . it_is possible that_our inquiry may but confirm his guilt but, in any case, we_have a line of investigation which_has been missed by_the police, and which a singular chance has placed in_our hands . let_us follow it out to_the bitter end .Faces to_the south, then, and quick march ! "

we passed across Holborn, down Endell street, and so through a zigzag of slums to Covent garden market . one_of_the largest stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and_the proprietor ahorsy- looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was helping a boy to_put up the shutters .

" good- evening . it's a cold night," said Holmes .

the salesman nodded and shot aquestioning glance at my companion .

" sold out of geese, I_see," continued Holmes, pointing at_the bare slabs of marble .

" let you_have five hundred to- morrow morning ."

" that's no good ."

" well, there_are some on_the stall with_the gas- flare ."

"Ah, but i_was recommended to_you ."

" who by ? "

" the landlord of_the 'Alpha .' "

"Oh, yes; I_sent him a couple of dozen ."

" fine birds they were, too . now where did you get them from ? "

to my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from_the salesman .

" now, then, mister," said he, with_his head cocked and_his arms akimbo, " what_are you driving at ? let's have it straight, now ."

" it_is straight enough . i_should like to_know who sold you the geese which you supplied to_the Alpha ."

" well then, I shan't tell you . so now ! "

"Oh, it_is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you_should_be so warm over such a trifle ."

" warm ! you'd be as warm, maybe, if_you were as pestered as I_am . when I pay good money for a good article there should_be an end of_the business; but it's ' where are the geese ? ' and ' who did you sell the geese to ? ' and ' what_will you take for_the geese ? ' one would think they were the only geese in_the_world, to hear the fuss that_is made over them ."

" well, I_have no connection with any_other people who have_been making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly ." if_you won't tell us the bet is off, that_is all . but I'm always ready to back my opinion on a matter of fowls, and I_have afiver on_it that_the bird I ate is country bred ."

" well, then, you've lost your fiver, for_it's town bred," snapped the salesman .

" it's nothing of_the kind ."

" I_say it_is ."

"I don't believe it ."

"D' you_think you_know more about fowls than I, who_have handled them ever_since i_was a nipper ? I tell you, all those birds that went to_the Alpha were town bred ."

" you'll never persuade me to_believe that ."

" will_you bet, then ? "

" it's merely taking your money, for I_know that I_am right . but I'll have a sovereign on with_you, just to teach you not to_be obstinate ."

the salesman chuckled grimly ." bring me the books, bill," said he .

the small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging lamp .

" now then, Mr cocksure," said the salesman, " i_thought that i_was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that_there_is still one left in my shop . you_see this little book ? "

" well ? "

" that's the list of_the folk from whom I buy .D' you_see ? well, then, here on_this page are the country folk, and_the numbers after their names are where their accounts are in_the big ledger . now, then ! you_see this other page in red ink ? well, that_is a list of_my town suppliers . now, look at_that third name . just read it out to_me ."

" Mrs Oakshott, 117, Brixton road -- 249," read Holmes .

" quite so . now turn that up in_the ledger ."

Holmes turned to_the page indicated ." here you_are, ' Mrs Oakshott, 117, Brixton road, egg and poultry supplier ."

" now, then, what's the last entry ? "

" ' December 22d .Twenty-four geese at 7s .6d .' "

" quite so . there you_are . and underneath ? "

" ' sold to Mr Windigate of_the Alpha, at 12s .' "

" what have_you to_say now ? "

Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined . he drew asover- eign from_his pocket and threw it down upon_the slab, turning away with_the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words .a few yards off he stopped under a lamp- post and laughed in_the hearty, noiseless fashion which_was peculiar to him .

" when_you see a man with whiskers of_that cut and_the ' pink 'un' protruding out of_his pocket, you_can always draw him by

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