"Your reasoning is certainly plausible "

"The further points, that middle-aged, that his hair is grizzled, that recently cut, he uses lime- cream, are all gathered from close examination lower part lining The lens discloses large number of hair-ends, clean cut scissors barber They all appear adhesive, and distinct odour of lime-cream This dust, observe, the gritty, gray dust street but the fluffy brown dust house, showing that hung up indoors most time, while the marks of moisture inside are proof positive wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be best of training "

"But his wife -- you said that she had ceased to love him "

"This hat brushed for weeks When you, my dear Watson, with week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and when your wife allows you out state, fear that you also unfortunate enough to lose your wife's affection "

"But bachelor "

"Nay, bringing home the goose as peace-offering wife Remember the card bird's leg "

" an answer to everything But how on earth deduce gas laid on house ? "

"One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when no five, that there little doubt individual brought into frequent contact with burning tallow -- walks upstairs at night probably hat in one hand and guttering candle other Anyhow, he never got tallow-stains from gasjet satisfied ? "

"Well, very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, said just now, no crime committed, and no harm done save the loss of goose, all this rather waste of energy "

Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, door flew open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed apartment with flushed cheeks face of man dazed with astonishment

"The goose, Mr Holmes ! The goose, sir ! " he gasped

"Eh ? What of it, then ? Has it returned to life and flapped off kitchen window ? " Holmes twisted himself round sofa fairer view man's excited face

"See here, sir ! See what my wife found in its crop ! " He held out his hand and displayed centre palm brilliantly scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than bean in size, but purity and radiance twinkled like an electric point dark hollow hand

Sherlock Holmes sat up with whistle "By Jove, Peterson ! " said he, " treasure trove indeed I suppose what got ? "

"A diamond, sir ? precious stone It cuts into glass it were putty "

"It's more than precious stone precious stone "

"Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle ! " I ejaculated

"Precisely so l ought its size and shape, seeing that read the advertisement Times every day lately absolutely unique, and its value can only be conjec- tured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly not within twentieth part market price "

"A thousand pounds ! Great Lord of mercy ! " The commis- sionaire plumped down into chair and stared from one other of us

" reward, and reason sentimental considerations background which would in- duce the Countess to part with half her fortune if but recover the gem "

" lost, if I remember aright, Hotel Cosmopoli- tan," I remarked

"Precisely so, on December 22d, just five John Horner, plumber, was accused of having abstracted it lady's jewel-case The evidence against him was so strong case referred Assizes some account matter here, I believe " He rummaged amid his newspapers, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph:

"Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery John Horner, 26, plumber, was brought up charge of having 22d inst , abstracted jewel-case Countess of Morcar the valuable gem known blue carbuncle James Ryder, upper-attendant hotel, gave his evidence effect that he had shown Horner dressing-room Countess of Morcar day robbery he might solder the second bar grate, loose He had remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been called away On returning, that Horner had disappeared, bureau forced open, and small morocco casket , as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was accustomed her jewel, was lying empty dressing-table Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was arrested the same evening; but the stone found either upon his person or rooms Catherine Cusack, maid Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on discovering the robbery, and to having rushed room, where she found matters as described last witness Inspector Bradstreet, B divi- sion, gave evidence arrest of Horner, who strug- gled frantically, and protested his innocence strongest terms Evidence of previous conviction for robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate refused to deal summarily offence, but referred it Assizes Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion during the proceedings, fainted away conclusion and was carried out of court "

"Hum ! police-court," said Holmes thought- fully, tossing aside the paper "The question now to solve sequence of events leading from rifled jewel-case at one end crop of goose in Tottenham Court Road other , Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed much more important and less innocent aspect stone; the stone came goose, goose came from Mr Henry Baker, the gentleman bad hat and all the other characteristics bored you So now set ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and ascertain- ing what part he has played little mystery To , try the simplest means first, and these lie undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers fail, recourse to other methods "

" you say ? "

" pencil slip of paper Now, then:

'Found corner of Goodge Street, goose and black felt hat Mr Henry Baker the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at 221B, Baker Street '

clear and concise "

"Very But will he see it ? "

"Well, sure an eye papers, since, to poor man, the loss was heavy one clearly so scared by his mischance in breaking the window and approach of Peterson that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his bird Then, again, the introduction name will cause him it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention Here , Peterson, run down advertis- ing agency this put evening papers "

" , sir ? "

"Oh, Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St James's, Evening News Standard, Echo, and any others that occur "

" , sir And this stone ? "

"Ah, yes, keep the stone And, , Peterson, just buy goose way back and leave it here with me, for one gentleman in place one which your family is now devouring "