🕵️‍♂️The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Chapter 7: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle💎  #detectivefiction  #arthurconandoyle  #classicmystery - video Dailymotion

Storytime Classics

🕵️‍♂️The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Chapter 7: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle💎  #detectivefiction  #arthurconandoyle  #classicmystery   Welcome to Storytime Classics! In this video, we present The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, the seventh story from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published in 1892. This is a unique Christmas-themed mystery that showcases Sherlock Holmes at his finest, blending humor, wit, and holiday spirit. When a stolen gem, the famous blue carbuncle, is found in a Christmas goose, Holmes embarks on a journey to uncover the mystery behind this peculiar incident.   Although this is Part 7 of our audiobook series, viewers can watch The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle as a standalone story. You can also check out the earlier stories, such as A Scandal in Bohemia and The Man with the Twisted Lip, available on our Dailymotion and YouTube channel!   📚 About The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle:  The case begins when a lost hat and a goose are brought to Holmes by Peterson, a commissionaire. What initially seems like a trivial incident soon escalates into a serious investigation when a valuable blue carbuncle, recently stolen from a hotel, is discovered inside the goose. As Holmes traces the bird’s origins, he unravels a tangled web of chance encounters, theft, and mistaken identity. Ultimately, Holmes not only solves the mystery but delivers an unexpected and compassionate resolution, showing a softer side to his character.   ✨ Trivia and Interesting Facts:  The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is set during the Christmas season, making it one of the few Sherlock Holmes stories to incorporate a holiday theme.  First published in The Strand Magazine in January 1892, it has since become one of the most beloved and frequently adapted Sherlock Holmes tales.  This story showcases Holmes' ability to draw conclusions from seemingly trivial details, such as the type of hat worn by the owner of the goose.  The blue carbuncle itself is based on the real-life fascination with rare and exotic gemstones, which were often at the center of high-society scandals during the Victorian era.  The story has been adapted for radio, television, and stage productions, with many versions emphasizing its Christmas setting and themes of forgiveness and second chances.   Credits: an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez  Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org).   #sherlockholmes  #TheBlueCarbuncle #detectivefiction  #arthurconandoyle  #classicmystery  #audiobook  #ChristmasMystery #victorianmystery  #crimefiction  #storytimeclassics  #sherlockholmesaudiobook  #fullaudiobook  #literaryclassics

Transcript

00:00The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

00:03The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

00:06I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas,

00:11with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season.

00:14He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing gown,

00:17a pipe rack within his reach upon the right,

00:20and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand.

00:25Beside the couch was a wooden chair,

00:27and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard-felt hat,

00:32much the worse for wear, and cracked in several places.

00:36A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair

00:39suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the purpose of examination.

00:44You are engaged, said I.

00:46Perhaps I interrupt you?

00:47Not at all.

00:48I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my results.

00:52The matter is a perfectly trivial one-inch.

00:54He jerked his thumb in the direction of the old hat,

00:57but there are points in connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest

01:01and even of instruction.

01:03I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his crackling fire,

01:08for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows were thick with the ice crystals.

01:13I suppose, I remarked, that, homely as it looks,

01:17this thing has some deadly story linked onto it,

01:20that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of some mystery

01:24and the punishment of some crime.

01:26No, no.

01:27No crime, said Sherlock Holmes, laughing.

01:30Only one of those whimsical little incidents which will happen

01:32when you have four million human beings

01:35all jostling each other within the space of a few square miles.

01:39Amid the action and reaction of so dense a swarm of humanity,

01:43every possible combination of events may be expected to take place,

01:47and many a little problem will be presented which may be striking and bizarre

01:51without being criminal.

01:53We have already had experience of such.

01:55So much so, I remarked,

01:57that of the last six cases which I have added to my notes,

02:01three have been entirely free of any legal crime.

02:04Precisely.

02:05You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler papers,

02:08to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland,

02:11and to the adventure of the man with the twisted lip.

02:13Well, I have no doubt that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category.

02:19You know Peterson, the commissionaire?

02:22Yes.

02:22It is to him that this trophy belongs.

02:25It is his hat.

02:26No, no.

02:27He found it.

02:28Its owner is unknown.

02:30I beg that you will look upon it not as a battered billycock,

02:33but as an intellectual problem.

02:35And first as to how it came here.

02:37It arrived upon Christmas morning in company with a good fat goose,

02:41which is, I have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's fire.

02:46The facts are these.

02:47About four o'clock on Christmas morning,

02:50Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow,

02:53was returning from some small jollification

02:55and was making his way homeward down Tottenham Court Road.

02:59In front of him he saw, in the gaslight,

03:01a talish man walking with a slight stagger

03:04and carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder.

03:08As he reached the corner of Goode Street,

03:10a row broke out between the stranger and a little knot of roughs.

03:15One of the latter knocked off the man's hat,

03:17on which he raised a stick to defend himself

03:19and, swinging it over his head,

03:22smashed the shop window behind him.

03:24Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his assailants.

03:28But the man, shocked at having broken the window

03:30and seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him,

03:34dropped his goose, took to his heels,

03:37and vanished amid the labyrinth of small streets

03:40which lie at the back of Tottenham Court Road.

03:42The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Peterson,

03:45so that he was left in possession of the field of battle,

03:48and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this battered hat

03:52and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose,

03:55which surely he restored to their owner?

03:57My dear fellow, there lies the problem.

03:59It is true that, for Mrs. Henry Baker,

04:02was printed upon a small card which was tied to the bird's left leg.

04:06And it is also true that the initials HB

04:09are legible upon the lining of this hat.

04:11But as there are some thousands of bakers

04:13and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in this city of ours,

04:16it is not easy to restore lost property to any one of them.

04:20What, then, did Peterson do?

04:22He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning,

04:26knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me.

04:30The goose we retained until this morning,

04:32when there were signs that, in spite of the slight frost,

04:36it would be well that it should be eaten without unnecessary delay.

04:40Its finder has carried it off, therefore,

04:42to fulfill the ultimate destiny of a goose,

04:45while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman

04:48who lost his Christmas dinner.

04:51Did he not advertise?

04:52No.

04:53Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?

04:56Only as much as we can deduce.

04:58From his hat.

05:00Precisely.

05:00But you were joking.

05:02What can you gather from this old, battered felt?

05:05Here is my lens.

05:06You know my methods.

05:08What can you gather yourself

05:09as to the individuality of the man

05:11who has worn this article?

05:13I took the tattered object in my hands

05:15and turned it over rather ruefully.

05:18It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round shape,

05:22hard and much the worse for wear.

05:24The lining had been of red silk,

05:26but was a good deal discolored.

05:28There was no maker's name,

05:30but, as Holmes had remarked,

05:32the initials HB were scrawled upon one side.

05:36It was pierced in the brim for a hat securer,

05:38but the elastic was missing.

05:40For the rest, it was cracked, exceedingly dusty,

05:44and spotted in several places,

05:46although there seemed to have been some attempt

05:47to hide the discolored patches by smearing them with ink.

05:50I can see nothing, said I, handing it back to my friend.

05:55On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything.

05:58You fail, however, to reason from what you see.

06:02You are too timid in drawing your inferences.

06:05Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat.

06:08He picked it up and gazed at it

06:10in the peculiar introspective fashion

06:12which was characteristic of him.

06:14It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,

06:16he remarked.

06:18And yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct,

06:21and a few others which represent

06:22at least a strong balance of probability.

06:25That the man was highly intellectual

06:26is of course obvious upon the face of it,

06:29and also that he was fairly well-to-do

06:31within the last three years,

06:33although he has now fallen upon evil days.

06:36He had foresight,

06:37but has less now than formerly,

06:39pointing to a moral retrogression,

06:42which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes,

06:44seems to indicate some evil influence,

06:47probably drink at work upon him.

06:49This may account also for the obvious fact

06:51that his wife has ceased to love him.

06:53My dear Holmes,

06:55he has, however,

06:56retained some degree of self-respect.

06:59He continued,

07:00disregarding my remonstrance.

07:02He is a man who leads a sedentary life,

07:05goes out little,

07:06is out of training entirely,

07:08is middle-aged,

07:09has grizzled hair

07:09which he has cut within the last few days,

07:12and which he anoints with lime cream.

07:14These are the more patent facts

07:15which are to be deduced from his hat.

07:17Also, by the way,

07:19that it is extremely improbable

07:21that he has gas laid on in his house.

07:23You are certainly joking, Holmes.

07:25Not in the least.

07:27Is it possible that even now,

07:29when I give you these results,

07:30you are unable to see how they are attained?

07:33I have no doubt that I am very stupid,

07:36but I must confess that I am unable to follow you.

07:39For example,

07:39How did you deduce that this man was intellectual?

07:43For answer,

07:44Holmes clapped the hat upon his head.

07:46It came right over the forehead

07:47and settled upon the bridge of his nose.

07:50It is a question of cubic capacity,

07:53said he.

07:53A man with so large a brain

07:55must have something in it.

07:56The decline of his fortunes, then?

07:59This hat is three years old.

08:01These flat brims curled at the edge

08:03came in then.

08:04It is a hat of the very best quality.

08:06Look at the band of ribbed silk

08:08and the excellent lining.

08:10If this man could afford to buy

08:11so expensive a hat three years ago

08:14and has had no hat since,

08:16then he has assuredly gone down in the world.

08:19Well, that is clear enough, certainly.

08:21But how about the foresight

08:22and the moral retrogression?

08:25Sherlock Holmes laughed.

08:26Here is the foresight,

08:28said he putting his finger

08:29upon the little disc and loop

08:30of the hat securer.

08:32They are never sold upon hats.

08:33If this man ordered one,

08:36it is a sign of a certain amount of foresight,

08:38since he went out of his way

08:40to take this precaution against the wind.

08:42But since we see that he has broken the elastic

08:44and has not troubled to replace it,

08:47it is obvious that he has less foresight

08:49now than formerly,

08:50which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature.

08:53On the other hand,

08:55he has endeavored to conceal

08:56some of these stains upon the felt

08:57by doping them with ink,

08:59which is a sign that he has not entirely

09:01lost his self-respect.

09:02Your reasoning is certainly plausible.

09:06The further points,

09:07that he is middle-aged,

09:08that his hair is grizzled,

09:09that it has been recently cut,

09:11and that he uses lime cream,

09:13are all to be gathered

09:14from a close examination

09:15of the lower part of the lining.

09:17The lens discloses a large number of hair ends,

09:20clean cut by the scissors of the barber.

09:23They all appear to be adhesive,

09:25and there is a distinct odor of lime cream.

09:27This dust,

09:28you will observe,

09:29is not the gritty,

09:30gray dust of the street,

09:32but the fluffy brown dust of the house,

09:34showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time,

09:37while the marks of moisture upon the inside

09:40are proof positive that the wearer perspired very freely,

09:43and could therefore hardly be in the best of training.

09:47But his wife,

09:48you said that she had ceased to love him.

09:50This hat has not been brushed for weeks.

09:53When I see you,

09:54my dear Watson,

09:55with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat,

09:58and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state,

10:01I shall fear that you also have been unfortunate enough

10:03to lose your wife's affection.

10:05But he might be a bachelor.

10:07Nay,

10:07he was bringing home the goose

10:09as a peace offering to his wife.

10:11Remember the card upon the bird's leg.

10:13You have an answer to everything.

10:15But how on earth do you deduce

10:17that the gas is not laid on in his house?

10:20One tallow stain,

10:21or even two,

10:22might come by chance.

10:23But when I see no less than five,

10:25I think that there can be little doubt

10:27that the individual must be brought

10:28into frequent contact with burning tallow.

10:31Walks upstairs at night,

10:32probably with his hat in one hand,

10:34and a guttering candle in the other.

10:36Anyhow,

10:37he never got tallow stains from a gas jet.

10:39Are you satisfied?

10:41Well,

10:41it is very ingenious,

10:43said I laughing.

10:44But since,

10:45as you said just now,

10:46there has been no crime committed,

10:48and no harm done save the loss of a goose,

10:51all this seems to be rather a waste of energy.

10:54Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply,

10:56when the door flew open,

10:58and Peterson,

10:59the commissionaire,

11:00rushed into the apartment with flushed cheeks

11:02and the face of a man who was dazed with astonishment.

11:05The goose,

11:06Mr. Holmes.

11:07The goose,

11:08sir,

11:08he gasped.

11:09Eh,

11:09what of it then?

11:10Has it returned to life,

11:12and flapped off through the kitchen window?

11:14Holmes twisted himself round upon the sofa

11:17to get a fairer view

11:18of the man's excited face.

11:21See here,

11:21sir,

11:22see what my wife found in its crop.

11:24He held out his hand

11:25and displayed upon the center of the palm

11:27a brilliantly scintillating blue stone,

11:31rather smaller than a bean in size,

11:33but of such purity and radiance

11:35that it twinkled like an electric point

11:37in the dark hollow of his hand.

11:39Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle.

11:41By Jove,

11:42Peterson,

11:43said he,

11:43this is treasure trove indeed.

11:45I suppose you know what you have got.

11:47A diamond,

11:48sir?

11:48A precious stone.

11:50It cuts in a glass,

11:51as though it were putty.

11:52It's more than a precious stone.

11:54It is the precious stone,

11:56not the countess of Morker's blue carbuncle.

11:59I ejaculate it.

12:01Precisely so.

12:02I ought to know its size and shape,

12:04seeing that I have read the advertisement about it

12:06in the Times every day lately.

12:08It is absolutely unique,

12:10and its value can only be conjectured.

12:13But the reward offered of £1,000

12:15is certainly not within a twentieth part of the market price.

12:19A thousand pounds!

12:21Great lord of mercy!

12:23The commissionaire plumped down into a chair

12:25and stared from one to the other of us.

12:27That is the reward,

12:29and I have reason to know

12:30that there are sentimental considerations in the background

12:33which would induce the countess to part with half her fortune

12:35if she could but recover the gem.

12:38It was lost, if I remember her right,

12:40at the Hotel Cosmopolitan,

12:41I remarked.

12:43Precisely so,

12:44on December 22nd,

12:45just five days ago,

12:47John Horner,

12:48a plumber,

12:49was accused of having abstracted it

12:51from the ladies' jewel case.

12:53The evidence against him

12:54was so strong

12:55that the case has been referred to the assizes.

12:57I have some account of the matter here.

12:59I believe,

13:00he rummaged amid his newspapers,

13:02glancing over the dates,

13:04until at last he smoothed one out,

13:06doubled it over,

13:07and read the following paragraph.

13:10Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery

13:12John Horner,

13:1326,

13:14plumber,

13:15was brought up upon the charge

13:16of having upon the 22nd iced tea,

13:19abstracted from the jewel case

13:20of the countess of Moorcar,

13:22the valuable gem

13:23known as the blue carbuncle.

13:25James Ryder,

13:27upper attendant at the hotel,

13:28gave his evidence to the effect

13:30that he had shown Horner up

13:31to the dressing room

13:32of the countess of Moorcar

13:33upon the day of the robbery,

13:34in order that he might solder

13:36the second bar of the grate,

13:38which was loose.

13:39He had remained with Horner

13:40some little time,

13:41but had finally been called away.

13:43On returning,

13:44he found that Horner had disappeared,

13:46that the bureau had been forced open,

13:48and that the small Morocco casket

13:50in which,

13:51as it afterwards transpired,

13:53the countess was accustomed

13:54to keep her jewel,

13:55was lying empty

13:56upon the dressing table.

13:57Ryder instantly gave the alarm,

14:00and Horner was arrested

14:01the same evening.

14:02But the stone could not be found

14:04either upon his person

14:05or in his rooms.

14:07Catherine Cusack,

14:08made to the countess,

14:09deposed to having heard Ryder's

14:11cry of dismay

14:12on discovering the robbery,

14:13and to having rushed into the room,

14:15where she found matters

14:16as described by the last witness.

14:19Inspector Bradstreet,

14:20B Division,

14:21gave evidence

14:22as to the arrest of Horner,

14:24who struggled frantically

14:25and protested his innocence

14:27in the strongest terms.

14:29Evidence of a previous conviction

14:30for robbery,

14:32having been given

14:32against the prisoner.

14:34The magistrate refused

14:35to deal summarily

14:36with the offense,

14:37but referred it

14:38to the assizes.

14:40Horner,

14:40who had shown signs

14:41of intense emotion

14:42during the proceedings,

14:44fainted away

14:45at the conclusion

14:45and was carried out of court.

14:47Um,

14:48so much for the police court,

14:50said Holmes thoughtfully,

14:52tossing aside the paper.

14:53The question for us now

14:54to solve

14:55is the sequence of events

14:56leading from a rifled jewel case

14:58at one end

15:00to the crop of a goose

15:01in Tottenham Court Road

15:02at the other.

15:03You see,

15:04Watson,

15:05our little deductions

15:06have suddenly assumed

15:07a much more important

15:08and less innocent aspect.

15:11Here is the stone.

15:12The stone came from the goose,

15:14and the goose came

15:15from Mr. Henry Baker,

15:16the gentleman with the bad hat,

15:18and all the other characteristics

15:19with which I have bored you.

15:21So now we must set ourselves

15:22very seriously

15:23to finding this gentleman

15:25and ascertaining

15:26what part he has played

15:27in this little mystery.

15:28To do this,

15:30we must try

15:30the simplest means first,

15:32and these lie undoubtedly

15:33in an advertisement

15:34in all the evening papers.

15:36If this fail,

15:38I shall have recourse

15:39to other methods.

15:40What will you say?

15:41Give me a pencil

15:42and that slip of paper.

15:44Now then,

15:45found at the corner

15:45of Gouge Street,

15:47a goose

15:47and a black felt hat.

15:49Mr. Henry Baker

15:50can have the same

15:51by applying

15:52at 6.30 this evening

15:53at 221B,

15:55Baker Street.

15:56That is clear

15:57and concise.

15:58Very.

15:59But will he see it?

16:00Well,

16:01he is sure to keep

16:02an eye on the papers,

16:03since,

16:03to a poor man,

16:05the loss was a heavy one.

16:06He was clearly

16:07so scared

16:08by his mischance

16:09and breaking the window

16:10and by the approach

16:11of Peterson

16:12that he thought

16:12of nothing but flight.

16:14But since then,

16:14he must have bitterly

16:15regretted the impulse

16:16which caused him

16:17to drop his bird.

16:18Then,

16:19again,

16:19the introduction

16:20of his name

16:21will cause him

16:21to see it,

16:22for everyone who knows him

16:23will direct his attention

16:24to it.

16:25Here you are,

16:26Peterson,

16:27run down to the advertising agency

16:28and have this put

16:29in the evening papers.

16:31In which,

16:32sir?

16:32Oh,

16:33in the Globe,

16:34Star,

16:35Paul Mall,

16:35St. James's Gazette,

16:37Evening News,

16:38Standard,

16:38Echo,

16:39and any others

16:39that occur to you.

16:41Very well,

16:41sir.

16:42And this stone?

16:43Ah,

16:44yes,

16:44I shall keep the stone.

16:47And I say,

16:48Peterson,

16:49just buy a goose

16:50on your way back

16:51and leave it here with me,

16:52for we must have one

16:53to give to this gentleman

16:54in place of the one

16:55which your family

16:56is now devouring.

16:57When the commissionaire

16:58had gone,

16:59Holmes took up the stone

17:00and held it

17:01against the light.

17:02It's a bonny thing,

17:04said he,

17:04to see how it glints

17:05and sparkles.

17:06Of course,

17:07it is a nucleus

17:08and focus of crime.

17:10Every good stone is.

17:11They are the devil's pet baits.

17:13In the larger

17:14and older jewels,

17:15every facet

17:17may stand

17:17for a bloody deed.

17:19This stone

17:20is not yet

17:21twenty years old.

17:22It was found

17:22in the banks

17:23of the Ammui River

17:24in southern China

17:25and is remarkable

17:26in having

17:27every characteristic

17:28of the carbuncle,

17:29save that it is blue

17:30in shade

17:31instead of ruby red.

17:33In spite of its youth,

17:35it is already

17:35a sinister history.

17:37There have been

17:37two murders

17:38of vitriol throwing,

17:39a suicide,

17:40and several robberies

17:41brought about

17:42for the sake

17:42of this forty grain weight

17:44of crystallized charcoal.

17:46Who would think

17:46that so pretty a toy

17:47would be a purveyor

17:48to the gallows

17:49and the prison?

17:50I'll lock it up

17:51in my strong box now

17:52and drop a line

17:53to the countess

17:54to say that we have it.

17:55Do you think

17:56that this man Horner

17:57is innocent?

17:58I cannot tell.

17:59Well,

18:00then,

18:01do you imagine

18:01that this other one,

18:03Henry Baker,

18:03had anything to do

18:04with the matter?

18:05It is,

18:05I think,

18:06much more likely

18:07that Henry Baker

18:08is an absolutely

18:09innocent man

18:10who had no idea

18:11that the bird

18:12which he was carrying

18:13was of considerably

18:14more value

18:15than if it were

18:15made of solid gold.

18:17That,

18:17however,

18:18I shall determine

18:19by a very simple test

18:20if we have an answer

18:21to our advertisement.

18:23And you can do

18:23nothing until then?

18:25Nothing.

18:26In that case,

18:27I shall continue

18:28my professional round.

18:29But I shall come back

18:30in the evening

18:31at the hour

18:31you have mentioned,

18:32for I should like

18:33to see the solution

18:34of so tangled a business.

18:36Very glad to see you.

18:38I dine at seven.

18:39There is a woodcock,

18:40I believe.

18:41By the way,

18:42in view of recent occurrences,

18:44perhaps I ought to ask

18:45Mrs. Hudson

18:46to examine its crop.

18:48I had been delayed

18:48at a case,

18:50and it was a little

18:50after half past six

18:52when I found myself

18:53in Baker Street

18:54once more.

18:55As I approached the house,

18:56I saw a tall man

18:57in a scotch bonnet

18:58with a coat

18:59which was buttoned up

19:00to his chin

19:00waiting outside

19:02in the bright semicircle

19:03which was thrown

19:04from the fan light.

19:05Just as I arrived,

19:06the door was opened,

19:07and we were shown up

19:08together to home's room.

19:10Mr. Henry Baker,

19:11I believe,

19:12said he,

19:13rising from his armchair

19:14and greeting his visitor

19:16with the easy air

19:17of geniality

19:18which he could

19:19so readily assume.

19:20Pray take this chair

19:21by the fire,

19:22Mr. Baker.

19:23It is a cold night,

19:25and I observe

19:25that your circulation

19:26is more adapted

19:27for summer

19:28than for winter.

19:29Ah, Watson,

19:30you have just come

19:31at the right time.

19:32Is that your hat,

19:32Mr. Baker?

19:33Yes, sir.

19:34That is undoubtedly

19:35my hat.

19:36He was a large man

19:37with rounded shoulders,

19:39a massive head,

19:40and a broad,

19:41intelligent face,

19:43sloping down

19:43to a pointed beard

19:44of grizzled brown.

19:46A touch of red

19:47in nose and cheeks,

19:48with a slight tremor

19:50of his extended hand,

19:51recalled home's

19:52surmise

19:53as to his habits.

19:54His rusty black

19:55frock coat

19:56was buttoned

19:56right up in front,

19:58with the collar

19:58turned up,

19:59and his lank wrist

20:00protruded from his sleeves

20:01without a sign

20:02of cuff or shirt.

20:03He spoke in a slow,

20:05staccato fashion,

20:06choosing his words

20:07with care,

20:08and gave the impression

20:09generally of a man

20:10of learning and letters

20:11who had had ill usage

20:12at the hands of fortune.

20:14We have retained

20:15these things

20:15for some days,

20:17said Holmes,

20:18because we expected

20:18to see an advertisement

20:20from you giving your address.

20:22I am at a loss

20:22to know now

20:23why you did not advertise.

20:25Our visitor

20:26gave a rather

20:27shamefaced laugh.

20:29Shillings have not

20:29been so plentiful

20:30with me

20:31as they once were,

20:32he remarked.

20:33I had no doubt

20:34that the gang of roughs

20:35who assaulted me

20:36had carried off

20:36both my hat

20:37and the bird.

20:38I did not care

20:39to spend more money

20:40in a hopeless attempt

20:41at recovering them.

20:42Very naturally,

20:44By the way,

20:45about the bird,

20:46we were compelled

20:46to eat it.

20:47To eat it!

20:48Our visitor half

20:49rose from his chair

20:51in his excitement.

20:52Yes,

20:53it would have been

20:53of no use to anyone

20:54had we not done so.

20:56But I presume

20:57that this other goose

20:58upon the sideboard,

20:59which is about

21:00the same weight

21:01and perfectly fresh,

21:03will answer your purpose

21:04equally well.

21:05Oh!

21:06Certainly,

21:07certainly,

21:08answered Mr. Baker

21:08with a sigh of relief.

21:10Of course,

21:11we still have the feathers,

21:12legs,

21:12crop,

21:13and so on

21:13of your own bird,

21:14so if you wish.

21:15The man burst

21:16into a hearty laugh.

21:18They might be useful

21:19to me as relics

21:20of my adventure,

21:21said he,

21:22but beyond that

21:22I can hardly see

21:24what use the

21:24disjective membra

21:25of my late acquaintance

21:27are going to be to me.

21:28No, sir,

21:29I think that,

21:30with your permission,

21:31I will confine

21:32my attentions

21:33to the excellent bird

21:34which I perceive

21:35upon the sideboard.

21:36Sherlock Holmes

21:37glanced sharply

21:38across at me

21:39with a slight shrug

21:40of his shoulders.

21:42There is your hat,

21:43then,

21:43and there your bird,

21:44said he.

21:45By the way,

21:46would it bore you

21:47to tell me

21:47where you got

21:48the other one from?

21:49I am somewhat

21:49of a foul fancier,

21:51and I have seldom

21:52seen a better-grown goose.

21:54Certainly,

21:54sir,

21:55said Baker,

21:56who had risen

21:56and tucked

21:57his newly gained

21:58property under his arm.

22:00There are a few

22:00of us who frequent

22:01the Alpha Inn

22:02near the museum.

22:04We are to be found

22:04in the museum itself

22:05during the day,

22:06you understand.

22:07This year,

22:08our good host,

22:09Wendigat by name,

22:10instituted a goose club

22:12by which,

22:13on consideration

22:13of some few pence

22:15every week,

22:16we were each

22:17to receive a bird

22:18at Christmas.

22:19My pence were duly paid,

22:21and the rest

22:21is familiar to you.

22:23I am much indebted

22:24to you,

22:25sir,

22:25for a scotch bonnet

22:26is fitted neither

22:27to my years

22:28nor my gravity.

22:29With a comical

22:30pomposity of manner,

22:32he bowed solemnly

22:33to both of us

22:34and strode off

22:35upon his way.

22:36So much for Mr. Henry Baker,

22:38said Holmes

22:39when he had closed

22:40the door behind him.

22:41It is quite certain

22:42that he knows

22:43nothing whatever

22:44about the matter.

22:45Are you hungry, Watson?

22:47Not particularly.

22:48Then I suggest

22:49that we turn our dinner

22:50into a supper

22:50and follow up this clue

22:52while it is still hot.

22:54By all means,

22:55it was a bitter night,

22:56so we drew on our ulsters

22:57and wrapped cravats

22:58about our throats.

23:00Outside,

23:01the stars were shining

23:02coldly in a cloudless sky,

23:04and the breath of the passers

23:05but it blew out

23:06in the smoke

23:07like so many pistol shots.

23:09Our footfalls rang out

23:10crisply and loudly

23:11as we swung

23:12through the doctor's quarter,

23:14Wimpole Street,

23:15Harley Street,

23:16and so through

23:17Wigmore Street

23:18into Oxford Street.

23:19In a quarter of an hour,

23:21we were in Bloomsbury

23:22at the Alpha Inn,

23:23which is a small public house

23:24at the corner

23:25of one of the streets

23:26which runs down

23:26into Holborn.

23:27Holmes pushed open

23:28the door of the private bar

23:29and ordered two glasses

23:31of beer

23:31from the ruddy-faced,

23:33white-apron landlord.

23:34Your beer should be excellent

23:36if it is as good

23:36as your geese,

23:37said he.

23:38My geese!

23:40The man seemed surprised.

23:42Yes.

23:43I was speaking

23:43only half an hour ago

23:44to Mr. Henry Baker,

23:46who was a member

23:47of your goose club.

23:48Ah!

23:49Yes, I see.

23:50But you see, sir,

23:51them's not our geese.

23:53Indeed.

23:54Whose then?

23:55Well,

23:55I got the two dozen

23:56from a salesman

23:57in Covent Garden.

23:58Indeed?

23:59I know some of them.

24:00Which was it?

24:01Breckinridge is his name.

24:03Ah!

24:03I don't know him.

24:05Well,

24:05here's your good health landlord

24:07and prosperity

24:08to your house.

24:09Good night.

24:10Now for Mr. Breckinridge.

24:12He continued,

24:13buttoning up his coat

24:14as we came out

24:15into the frosty air.

24:16Remember,

24:18Watson,

24:18that though we have

24:19so homely a thing

24:20as a goose

24:20at one end of this chain,

24:22we have at the other

24:23a man who will certainly

24:24get seven years

24:25penal servitude

24:26unless we can establish

24:27his innocence.

24:28It is possible

24:29that our inquiry may

24:30but confirm his guilt.

24:32But in any case,

24:34we have a line

24:34of investigation

24:35which has been missed

24:36by the police

24:37and which a singular chance

24:38is placed in our hands.

24:40Let us follow it out

24:41to the bitter end.

24:42Faces to the south

24:43then in quick march,

24:45we passed across Holborn

24:46down in Dell Street

24:47and so through

24:48a zigzag of slums

24:50to Covent Garden Market.

24:51One of the largest stalls

24:52bore the name

24:53of Breckinridge upon it

24:54and the proprietor,

24:56a horsey-looking man

24:57with a sharp face

24:58and trimmed side whiskers

25:00was helping a boy

25:01to put up the shutters.

25:02Good evening.

25:03It's a cold night,

25:04said Holmes.

25:05The salesman nodded

25:06and shot a questioning glance

25:08at my companion.

25:09Sold out of geese,

25:11I see,

25:12continued Holmes,

25:13pointing at the bare slabs

25:15of marble.

25:16Let you have

25:16five hundred tomorrow morning.

25:18That's no good.

25:19Well,

25:19there is some on the stall

25:20with the gas flare.

25:22Ah,

25:22but I was recommended

25:23to you.

25:24Who buy?

25:25The landlord

25:25of the Alpha.

25:27Oh yes,

25:27I sent him a couple

25:28of dozen.

25:29Fine birds they were too.

25:30Now where did you

25:31get them from?

25:32To my surprise,

25:33the question provoked

25:34a burst of anger

25:35from the salesman.

25:36Now then,

25:37mister,

25:38said he,

25:38with his head cocked

25:39and his arms akimbo.

25:41What are you driving at?

25:42Let's have it straight now.

25:44It is straight enough.

25:45I should like to know

25:46who sold you the geese

25:47which you supplied

25:48to the Alpha.

25:49Well then,

25:50I shan't tell you.

25:51So now?

25:53Oh,

25:53it is a matter

25:54of no importance.

25:56But I don't know

25:56why you should be

25:57so warm

25:58over such a trifle.

25:59Warm?

26:00You'd be as warm,

26:02maybe,

26:02if you were as pestered

26:03as I am.

26:04When I pay good money

26:05for a good article,

26:06there should be

26:07an end of the business.

26:09But it's,

26:09where are the geese?

26:10And who did you

26:11sell the geese to?

26:12And what will you

26:12take for the geese?

26:14One would think

26:14they were the only

26:15geese in the world.

26:17To hear the fuss

26:18that is made over them.

26:19Well,

26:20I have no connection

26:21with any other people

26:22who have been

26:22making inquiries,

26:23said Holmes carelessly.

26:25If you won't tell us

26:26the bed is off,

26:27that is all.

26:28But I'm always ready

26:28to back my opinion

26:29on a matter of fowls.

26:31And I have a fiver on it

26:32that the bird I ate

26:33is country bread.

26:34Well then,

26:35you've lost your fiver

26:36for it's town bread,

26:38snapped the salesman.

26:39It's nothing of the kind.

26:41I say it is.

26:42I don't believe it.

26:43Do you think you know

26:44more about fowls than I,

26:46who have handled them

26:46ever since I was a nipper?

26:48I tell you,

26:49all those birds

26:50that went to the alpha

26:51were town bread.

26:52You'll never persuade me

26:53to believe that.

26:55Will you bet then?

26:56It's merely taking your money

26:57for I know

26:58that I am right.

26:59But I'll have a sovereign

27:00on with you,

27:01just to teach you

27:02not to be obstinate.

27:03The salesman

27:04chuckled grimly.

27:05Bring me the books,

27:06Bill,

27:07said he.

27:07The small boy

27:08brought round

27:09a small thin volume

27:10and a great greasy

27:11backed one,

27:13laying them out together

27:14beneath the hanging lamp.

27:15Now then,

27:16Mr. Cockshare,

27:17said the salesman.

27:18I thought that I was

27:19out of geese,

27:20but before I finish

27:21you'll find that there is

27:22still one left in my shop.

27:24You see this little book?

27:25Well,

27:26that's the list of the folk

27:27from whom I buy.

27:29Juicy?

27:29Well,

27:30then here on this page

27:31are the country folk

27:32and the numbers

27:33after their names

27:34are where their accounts

27:34are in the big ledger.

27:36Now then,

27:37you see this other page

27:38in red ink?

27:39Well,

27:39that is a list

27:40of my town suppliers.

27:42Now look at that third name.

27:43Just read it out to me.

27:45Mrs. Oakeshott,

27:46117,

27:47Brixton Road,

27:48249,

27:49Red Homes.

27:51Quite so.

27:52Now turn that up

27:53in the ledger.

27:54Homes turned

27:54to the page indicated.

27:56Here you are,

27:56Mrs. Oakeshott,

27:58117,

27:59Brixton Road,

28:00Egg and Poultry Supplier.

28:02Now then,

28:03what's the last entry?

28:04December 22nd,

28:0624 geese at sevens.

28:08Sixty.

28:09Quite so.

28:10There you are.

28:12And underneath.

28:13Sold to Mr. Windigate

28:14of the Alpha.

28:15At twelves.

28:17What have you to say now?

28:18Sherlock Holmes

28:19looked deeply chagrined.

28:21He drew a sovereign

28:22from his pocket

28:23and threw it down

28:24upon the slab,

28:25turning away

28:26with the air of a man

28:27whose disgust

28:28is too deep for words.

28:30A few yards off,

28:31he stopped under a lamppost

28:32and laughed

28:33in the hearty,

28:34noiseless fashion

28:35which was peculiar to him.

28:37When you see a man

28:38with whiskers of that cut

28:39and the pink

28:40un-protruding

28:41out of his pocket,

28:42you can always draw him

28:43by a bet,

28:44said he.

28:45I dare say

28:46that if I had put

28:46100 pound down

28:48in front of him,

28:49that man would not

28:50have given me

28:50such complete information

28:52as was drawn from him

28:53by the idea

28:54that he was doing me

28:54on a wager.

28:55Well, Watson,

28:57we are,

28:58I fancy,

28:59nearing the end

29:00of our quest,

29:01and the only point

29:01which remains

29:02to be determined

29:03is whether we should

29:03go on to this

29:04Mrs. Oakeshot tonight,

29:06or whether we should

29:07reserve it for tomorrow.

29:08It is clear

29:08from what that surly fellow

29:10said that there are

29:11others besides ourselves

29:12who are anxious

29:13about the matter,

29:14and I should.

29:15His remarks

29:15were suddenly cut short

29:17by a loud hubbub

29:18which broke out

29:19from the stall

29:19which we had just left.

29:21Turning round,

29:22we saw a little

29:23rat-faced fellow

29:24standing in the center

29:25of the circle

29:26of yellow light

29:27which was thrown

29:28by the swinging lamp,

29:29while Breckenridge,

29:30the salesman,

29:31framed in the door

29:32of his stall,

29:33was shaking his fists

29:34fiercely at the

29:35cringing figure.

29:36I've had enough

29:37of you and your geese,

29:39he shouted.

29:40I wish you were all

29:41at the devil together.

29:42If you come pestering me

29:43any more with your silly talk,

29:45I'll set the dog at you.

29:46You bring Mrs. Oakeshot here,

29:48and I'll answer her,

29:49but what have you

29:50to do with it?

29:51Did I buy the geese

29:51off you?

29:52No,

29:53but one of them

29:54was mine all the same,

29:56whined the little man.

29:57Well then,

29:58ask Mrs. Oakeshot for it.

30:00She told me to ask you.

30:01Well,

30:02you can ask the king

30:02of Prusia

30:03for all I care.

30:05I've had enough of it.

30:06Get out of this.

30:07He rushed fiercely forward,

30:09and the inquirer

30:10flitted away

30:11into the darkness.

30:13Huh,

30:13this may save us

30:14a visit to Brixton Road,

30:16whispered Holmes.

30:17Come with me,

30:18and we will see

30:19what is to be made

30:20of this fellow.

30:21Striding through

30:22the scattered knots

30:23of people

30:23who lounged

30:24round the flaring stalls,

30:26my companion

30:27speedily overtook

30:28the little man

30:29and touched him

30:30upon the shoulder.

30:31He sprang round,

30:32and I could see

30:33in the gaslight

30:34that every vestige

30:35of color

30:35had been driven

30:36from his face.

30:37Who are you then?

30:38What do you want?

30:39He asked

30:40in a quavering voice.

30:42You will excuse me,

30:43said Holmes blandly,

30:45but I could not help

30:45overhearing the questions

30:47which you put

30:47to the salesman

30:48just now.

30:49I think that I could

30:50be of assistance

30:50to you.

30:51You?

30:52Who are you?

30:53How could you know

30:53anything of the matter?

30:55My name is Sherlock Holmes.

30:57It is my business

30:57to know what other

30:58people don't know,

31:00but you can know

31:00nothing of this?

31:02Excuse me,

31:03I know everything of it.

31:04You are endeavoring

31:05to trace some geese

31:06which were sold

31:07by Mrs. Oakshot

31:08of Brixton Road

31:09to a salesman

31:10named Breckenridge,

31:12by him in turn

31:13to Mr. Windigate

31:14of the Alpha

31:15and by him

31:16to his club

31:17of which Mr. Henry Baker

31:18is a member.

31:19Oh, sir,

31:20you are the very man

31:21whom I have longed to meet,

31:23cried the little fellow

31:24with outstretched hands

31:25and quivering fingers.

31:27I can hardly explain

31:28to you how interested

31:29I am in this matter.

31:31Sherlock Holmes

31:31hailed a four-wheeler

31:33which was passing.

31:34In that case,

31:35we had better discuss it

31:36in a cozy room

31:37rather than in this

31:38windswept marketplace,

31:39said he.

31:40But pray tell me

31:41before we go farther,

31:43who it is

31:44that I have the pleasure

31:45of assisting.

31:46The man hesitated

31:47for an instant.

31:48My name is John Robinson,

31:50he answered

31:50with a sidelong glance.

31:52No, no,

31:53the real name,

31:54said Holmes sweetly.

31:56It is always awkward

31:57doing business

31:57with an alias,

31:59a flush spraying

32:00to the white cheeks

32:01of the stranger.

32:02Well then,

32:03said he,

32:04my real name

32:05is James Ryder.

32:06Precisely so.

32:07Head attendant

32:08at the Hotel Cosmopolitan.

32:10Pray step into the cab,

32:11and I shall soon

32:13be able to tell you

32:13everything which you

32:14would wish to know.

32:15The little man

32:16stood glancing

32:17from one to the other

32:18of us with half-frightened,

32:20half-hopeful eyes

32:21as one who is not sure

32:22whether he is on the verge

32:23of a windfall

32:24or of a catastrophe.

32:26Then he stepped

32:26into the cab,

32:28and in half an hour

32:28we were back

32:29in the sitting room

32:30at Baker Street.

32:31Nothing had been said

32:32during our drive,

32:33but the high,

32:34thin breathing

32:35of our new companion

32:36and the claspings

32:38and unclaspings

32:39of his hands

32:40spoke of the nervous

32:41tension within him.

32:42Here we are,

32:43said Holmes cheerily

32:44as we filed into the room.

32:46The fire looks

32:47very seasonable

32:48in this weather.

32:49You look cold,

32:50Mr. Ryder.

32:51Pray take the basket chair.

32:53I will just put on

32:53my slippers

32:54before we settle

32:55this little matter

32:56of yours.

32:57Now then,

32:58you want to know

32:58what became

32:59of those geese?

33:00Yes, sir,

33:01or rather,

33:02I fancy

33:02of that goose.

33:04It was one bird

33:05I imagine

33:06in which you were interested.

33:07White with a black bar

33:08across the tail.

33:10Ryder quivered

33:10with emotion.

33:12Oh, sir,

33:13he cried.

33:14Can you tell me

33:14where it went to?

33:15It came here.

33:16Here?

33:17Yes,

33:18and a most remarkable

33:19bird it proved.

33:20I don't wonder

33:21that you should

33:21take an interest in it.

33:23It laid an egg

33:23after it was dead.

33:25The bonniest,

33:26brightest little blue egg

33:27that ever was seen.

33:28I have it here

33:29in my museum.

33:30Our visitor

33:31staggered to his feet

33:32and clutched

33:33the mantelpiece

33:33with his right hand.

33:35Holmes unlocked

33:36his strongbox

33:37and held up

33:37the blue carbuncle,

33:39which shone out

33:39like a star

33:40with a cold,

33:41brilliant,

33:42many-pointed radiance.

33:44Ryder stood glaring

33:45with a drawn face,

33:46uncertain whether

33:47to claim

33:48or to disown it.

33:49The game's up,

33:50Ryder,

33:51said Holmes quietly.

33:52Hold up, man,

33:53or you'll be

33:54into the fire.

33:55Give him an arm

33:55back in his chair,

33:56Watson.

33:57He's not got blood

33:58enough to go in

33:59for felony

33:59with impunity.

34:01Give him a dash

34:01of brandy.

34:02So,

34:03now he looks

34:03a little more human.

34:05What a shrimp

34:05it is,

34:06to be sure.

34:07For a moment

34:07he had staggered

34:08and nearly fallen,

34:09but the brandy

34:10brought a tinge

34:11of color

34:12into his cheeks,

34:13and he sat staring

34:14with frightened eyes

34:15at his accuser.

34:16I have almost

34:17every link

34:18in my hands

34:18and all the proofs

34:20which I could

34:20possibly need,

34:21so there is little

34:22which you need

34:22tell me.

34:23Still,

34:24that little may

34:24as well be cleared

34:25up to make

34:26the case complete.

34:27You had heard,

34:28Ryder,

34:29of this blue stone

34:30of the Countess

34:31of Morkers.

34:32It was Catherine Cusack

34:33who told me of it,

34:34said he in a crackling voice.

34:36I see.

34:37Her ladyship's waiting

34:38maid.

34:39Well,

34:39the temptation

34:40of sudden wealth

34:41so easily acquired

34:42was too much for you,

34:44as it has been

34:45for better men

34:45before you.

34:47But you were not

34:47very scrupulous

34:48in the means you used.

34:50It seems to me,

34:51Ryder,

34:51that there is the making

34:52of a very pretty

34:53villain in you.

34:55You knew that this man,

34:56Horner,

34:56the plumber,

34:57had been concerned

34:58in some such matter

34:59before,

35:00and that suspicion

35:01would rest the more

35:01readily upon him.

35:03What did you do,

35:03then?

35:04You made some small job

35:05in my lady's room,

35:07you and your

35:07confederate Cusack,

35:09and you managed

35:09that he should be

35:10the man sent for.

35:11Then,

35:12when he had left,

35:13you rifled the jewel case,

35:15raised the alarm,

35:16and had this

35:17unfortunate man arrested.

35:19You then,

35:20Ryder threw himself

35:21down suddenly

35:22upon the rug

35:22and clutched

35:23at my companion's knees.

35:25For God's sake,

35:26have mercy,

35:27he shrieked.

35:28Think of my father,

35:30of my mother.

35:31It would break their hearts.

35:32I never went wrong before.

35:34I never will again.

35:36I swear it.

35:37I'll swear it on a Bible.

35:38Oh,

35:39don't bring it into court.

35:40For Christ's sake,

35:41don't.

35:42Get back into your chair,

35:43said Holmes sternly.

35:45It is very well

35:46to cringe

35:47and crawl now.

35:48But you thought

35:49little enough

35:50of this poor Horner

35:51in the dock

35:51for a crime

35:52of which he knew nothing.

35:53I will fly,

35:54Mr. Holmes.

35:55I will leave

35:55the country, sir.

35:56Then the charge

35:57against him

35:58will break down.

35:59Hum,

36:00we will talk about that.

36:01And now let us hear

36:02a true account

36:03of the next act.

36:05How came the stone

36:06into the goose?

36:07And how came the goose

36:08into the open market?

36:09Tell us the truth.

36:11For there lies

36:12your only hope

36:13of safety.

36:14Ryder passed his tongue

36:16over his parched lips.

36:17I will tell you

36:18it just as it happened,

36:19sir,

36:20said he.

36:21When Horner

36:21had been arrested,

36:22it seemed to me

36:23that it would be best

36:24for me to get away

36:25with the stone

36:25at once.

36:26For I did not know

36:27at what moment

36:28the police might not

36:29take it into their heads

36:30to search me

36:31in my room.

36:32There was no place

36:33about the hotel

36:33where it would be safe.

36:35I went out,

36:36as if on some commission,

36:38and I made

36:39for my sister's house.

36:40She had married

36:41a man named Oakshot

36:42and lived in Brixton Road,

36:44where she fattened

36:45fowls for the market.

36:46All the way there,

36:47every man I met

36:48seemed to me

36:49to be a policeman

36:50or a detective.

36:51And,

36:52for all that it was

36:52a cold night,

36:53the sweat was pouring

36:54down my face

36:55before I came

36:56to the Brixton Road.

36:57My sister asked me

36:58what was the matter

36:59and why I was so pale,

37:01but I told her

37:01that I had been upset

37:02by the jewel robbery

37:04at the hotel.

37:05Then I went into

37:05the backyard

37:06and smoked a pipe

37:07and wondered

37:08what it would be

37:08best to do.

37:10I had a friend

37:10once called Maudsley

37:11who went to the bad

37:13and has just been

37:14serving his time

37:14in Pennville.

37:15One day,

37:16he had met me

37:17and fell on to talk

37:18about the ways

37:18of thieves

37:19and how they could

37:20get rid of what

37:21they stole.

37:22I knew that he

37:22would be true to me,

37:23for I knew

37:24one or two things

37:25about him.

37:26So I made up my mind

37:27to go right on

37:28to Kilburn,

37:28where he lived,

37:30and take him

37:30into my confidence.

37:32He would show me

37:32how to turn the stone

37:33into money,

37:34but how to get

37:34to him in safety.

37:36I thought of the

37:36agonies I had gone

37:37through in coming

37:38from the hotel.

37:39I might at any moment

37:40be seized and searched

37:42and there would be

37:43the stone in my

37:44waistcoat pocket.

37:45I was leaning

37:46against the wall

37:46at the time

37:47and looking at the geese

37:48which were waddling

37:49about round my feet

37:50and suddenly an idea

37:51came into my head

37:53which showed me

37:53how I could beat

37:54the best detective

37:55that ever lived.

37:56My sister had told me

37:57some weeks before

37:58that I might have

37:59the pick of her geese

38:00for a Christmas present

38:01and I knew that she

38:02was always as good

38:03as her word.

38:04I would take my goose

38:05now and in it I would

38:06carry my stone

38:07to Kilburn.

38:08There was a little

38:09shed in the yard

38:09and behind this I

38:11drove one of the birds,

38:12a fine big one

38:13white with a barred tail.

38:14I caught it

38:15and prying its bill open

38:17I thrust the stone

38:18down its throat

38:19as far as my finger

38:20could reach.

38:21The bird gave a gulp

38:22and I felt the stone

38:24pass along its gullet

38:25and down into its crop.

38:27But the creature

38:28flapped and struggled

38:29and out came my sister

38:31to know what was the matter.

38:32As I turned to speak

38:33to her the brute

38:34broke loose

38:35and fluttered off

38:36among the others.

38:37Whatever were you doing

38:38with that bird, Jim?

38:39says she.

38:40Well, said I,

38:42you said you'd give me

38:43one for Christmas

38:43and I was feeling

38:45which was the fattest.

38:46Oh, says she,

38:48we've set yours aside

38:49for you,

38:50Jim's bird we call it.

38:51It's the big white

38:52one over yonder.

38:54There's twenty-six of them,

38:55which makes one for you

38:56and one for us

38:57and two dozen

38:59for the market.

39:00Thank you, Maggie,

39:01says I.

39:02But if it is all

39:02the same to you,

39:03I'd rather have that

39:04one I was handling

39:05just now.

39:06The other is a good

39:07three pound heavier,

39:09said she,

39:10and we fattened it

39:10expressly for you.

39:12Never mind,

39:13I'll have the other

39:14and I'll take it now,

39:15said I.

39:16Oh, just as you like,

39:18said she a little huffed.

39:20Which is it you want then?

39:21That white one

39:22with the barred tail,

39:23right in the middle

39:23of the flock.

39:24Oh, very well.

39:26Kill it and take it

39:26with you.

39:27Well, I did what she said,

39:29Mr. Holmes,

39:30and I carried the bird

39:31all the way to Kilburn.

39:33I told my pal

39:33what I had done,

39:35for he was a man

39:35that it was easy

39:36to tell a thing

39:37like that to.

39:38He laughed

39:38until he choked,

39:40and we got a knife

39:40and opened the goose.

39:42My heart turned to water,

39:44for there was no sign

39:45of the stone,

39:46and I knew

39:47that some terrible mistake

39:48had occurred.

39:49I left the bird,

39:50rushed back to my sister's,

39:52and hurried

39:53into the backyard.

39:54There was not a bird

39:55to be seen there.

39:56Where are they all,

39:57Maggie?

39:57I cried.

39:58Gone to the dealers,

39:59Jim.

40:00Which dealers?

40:02Breckenridge,

40:02of Covent Garden.

40:03But was there another

40:04with a barred tail?

40:05I asked,

40:06the same as the one

40:07I chose?

40:08Yes, Jim.

40:09There were two

40:10barred-tailed ones,

40:11and I could never

40:12tell them apart.

40:13Well, then,

40:14of course I saw it all,

40:16and I ran off

40:17as hard as my feet

40:18would carry me

40:19to this man Breckenridge.

40:20But he had sold

40:21the lot at once,

40:22and not one word

40:23would he tell me

40:24as to where they had gone.

40:25You heard him

40:26yourselves tonight.

40:27Well,

40:27he has always

40:28answered me like that.

40:29My sister thinks

40:30that I am going mad.

40:32Sometimes I think

40:32that I am myself.

40:34And now,

40:35and now I am myself

40:36a branded thief,

40:38without ever having

40:39touched the wealth

40:40for which I sold

40:40my character.

40:41God help me.

40:42God help me.

40:44He burst into

40:44convulsive sobbing,

40:46with his face

40:46buried in his hands.

40:48There was a long silence,

40:50broken only by

40:51his heavy breathing,

40:52and by the measured

40:53tapping of Sherlock Holmes

40:54fingertips upon the edge

40:56of the table.

40:56Then my friend rose,

40:58and threw open the door.

41:00Get out,

41:00said he.

41:01What, sir?

41:02Oh,

41:03heaven bless you.

41:04No more words.

41:05Get out.

41:06And no more words

41:07were needed.

41:08There was a rush,

41:09a clatter upon the stairs,

41:11the bang of a door,

41:13and the crisp rattle

41:14of running footfalls

41:15from the street.

41:16After all,

41:17Watson,

41:18said Holmes,

41:19reaching up his hand

41:20for his clay pipe,

41:21I am not retained

41:22by the police

41:23to supply their deficiencies.

41:24If Horner were in danger,

41:26it would be another thing.

41:27But this fellow

41:28will not appear against him,

41:30and the case must collapse.

41:32I suppose that I am

41:33commuting a felony,

41:34but it is just possible

41:35that I am saving a soul.

41:37This fellow will not

41:38go wrong again.

41:39He is too terribly frightened.

41:41Send him to jail now,

41:43and you make him

41:43a jailbird for life.

41:45Besides,

41:46it is the season

41:47of forgiveness.

41:48Chance has put in our way

41:50a most singular

41:51and whimsical problem,

41:53and its solution

41:53is its own reward.

41:55If you will have the goodness

41:56to touch the bell,

41:58doctor,

41:58we will begin

41:59another investigation,

42:01in which

42:01also a bird

42:03will be the chief feature.

42:04Hence the weather.

42:22.

42:23.

42:27.

42:29.

42:31.

42:32.

🕵️‍♂️The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Chapter 7: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle💎 #detectivefiction #arthurconandoyle #classicmystery

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