Lines Flashcards
you are engaged Holmes, perhaps I interrupt you
not at all watson, i am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one, but there are points in connection with it that are not entirely devoid of interest or even of instruction
solve some mystery and provide punishment of some crime
no no, no crime. only one of those whimsical little incidents which happen when you have four million human beings all jostling each other within the space of a few square miles. many a little problem will be presented which may be striking and bizzare without being criminal.
free of any legal crime
precisely I have no doubt that this small matter will fall into the same category. You know peterson the comissionare?
would this be his hat?
No no he found it. Its owner is unknown .It arrived here upon christmas morning in company with a good fat goose, which is I have no doubt roasting at this moment in front of peterson’s fire. the facts are these, about 4 oclock on christmas morning, peterson who as you know is a very honest fellow was returning from some small jollification and making his way homeward. In front of him he saw in the gaslight a tallish man carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the corner of Goodge Street a row broke out between the stranger and some roughs. One of them knocked off the man’s hat and he raised his stick to defend himself, smashing a shop window behind him. Outnumbered he dropped his goose, took to his heels and vanished into a labyrinth of small streets. Peterson returned with this tattered hat and a most unimpeachable christmas goose
surely returned to its owner
my dear fellow, there lies the problem. it is true that “for mrs. Henry baker was printed upon a small card tied to the birds leg, but there are thousands of bakers and hundreds of henry bakers in this city of ours.
what then did peterson do?
he brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, knowing even the smallest problem is of interest to me. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs it should be eaten immediately, the finder took it off to fulfill the destiny of the goose, while I retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who lost his christmas dinner
then what can you infer
the man is an intellectual, and was well-to-do though he has now fallen on evil days. There is some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that his wife has ceased to love him
astounding
leads a sedentary life, goes out a little, is middle aged, grizzled hair cut within the last few days. Also it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid on his house
if i remember all right
exactly, on december 22nd, john horner, a plumber, was accused of abstracting it from the lady’s jewel case, the evidence is seen as overwhelming. So much for the police court. The question for us now to solve is the sequence of events leading from the jewel case to the crop of a goose in Tottenham court road. You see watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much more important and less innocent aspect. the stone came from Mr. henry baker, the gentleman with the bad hat. we must find Mr baker and ascertain what part he has played in our little mystery. Simplest means first, we advertise. Should that fail, I should have recourse to other methods. “found at the corner of Goodge street, a goose and a black felt hat, Mr. Henry baker can have same by applying at 6:30 this evening at 221B baker st.
clear and concise.
but will he see it?
everyone he knows will direct his attention to it, here you are peterson run this down to the evening papers
and the 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. We must have one to go in place of the one your family is now devouring
Just see how it glints and sparkles…..
and what about henry baker
I think watson that henry baker had no idea that the bird he was carrying was of considerably more value than had it been made of solid gold
goodbye watson I must continue my professional round but I’ll be back at the time mentioned to untangle the tangle.
Good evening watson, I have met our henry baker at the door, pray take the chair by the fire Mr. Baker. Is this your hat sir?
let’s have it straight or move on the two of you
see hear fellow I should like to know who sold you the geese which you sold to the alpha
what is it i don’t know?
you are endeavoring to trace some geese sold by mrs. oakshot of brixton road to a salesman named breckinridge sold in turn to Mr. windgate of the alpha, and by him to his club of which mr. henry baker is a member
how interested I am in the matter
in that case, we best discuss it in a cozy room, rather than this windswept marketplace. but pray tell me before we go further, who is it I have the pleasure of assisting?
