1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:05,599 Speaker 1: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 2 00:00:07,519 --> 00:00:10,480 I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the 3 00:00:10,519 --> 00:00:14,279 second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,079 the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the 5 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,000 sofa in a purple dressing gown, a pipe rack within 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,480 his reach upon the right, and a pile of crumpled 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:30,440 morning papers, evidently newly studied near at hand. Beside the 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,520 couch was a wooden chair, and on the angle of 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,640 the back hung a very seedy and disreputable, hard felt hat, 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,960 much the worse for wear and cracked in several places. 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,759 A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of 12 00:00:45,799 --> 00:00:49,280 the chair suggested that the hat had been suspended in 13 00:00:49,359 --> 00:00:53,840 this manner for the purpose of examination. You are engaged, 14 00:00:54,079 --> 00:00:58,640 said I, Perhaps I interrupt you not at all. I 15 00:00:58,679 --> 00:01:00,640 am glad to have a friend with whom I can 16 00:01:00,679 --> 00:01:04,680 discuss my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one. 17 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,879 He jerked his thumb in the direction of the old hat. 18 00:01:08,439 --> 00:01:11,280 But there are points in connection with it which are 19 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:16,439 not entirely devoid of interest and even of instruction. I 20 00:01:16,599 --> 00:01:20,400 seated myself in his arm chair and warmed my hands 21 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,640 before his crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, 22 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,760 and the windows were thick with the ice crystals, I suppose, 23 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,760 I remarked that only as it looks, this thing has 24 00:01:32,799 --> 00:01:36,400 some deadly story linked on to it, that it is 25 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,000 the clue which will guide you in the solution of 26 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,560 some mystery and the punishment of some crime. No, no, 27 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,840 no crime, said Sherlock Holmes, laughing, Only one of those 28 00:01:47,879 --> 00:01:51,560 whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have four 29 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,560 million human beings all jostling each other within the space 30 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,560 of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction 31 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:04,200 of so dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination 32 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,760 of events may be expected to take place, and many 33 00:02:07,799 --> 00:02:11,000 a little problem will be presented, which may be striking 34 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:16,080 and bizarre without being criminal. We have already had experience 35 00:02:16,159 --> 00:02:20,000 of such. So much so I remarked that of the 36 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,599 last six cases which I have added to my notes, 37 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:29,479 three have been entirely free of any legal crime. Precisely 38 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,719 you allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler papers, 39 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,159 to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to 40 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,479 the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, 41 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,159 I have no doubt that this small matter will fall 42 00:02:44,159 --> 00:02:49,879 into the same innocent category. You know Peterson the Commissionaire. Yes, 43 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,680 it is to him that this trophy belongs. It is 44 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,719 his hat. No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. 45 00:03:00,479 --> 00:03:02,520 I beg that you will look upon it not as 46 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:07,439 a battered billycock, but as an intellectual problem. And first, 47 00:03:07,479 --> 00:03:10,960 as to how it came here. It arrived upon Christmas 48 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,000 morning in company with a good fat goose, which is 49 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,080 I have no doubt roasting at this moment in front 50 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,719 of Peterson's fire. The facts are these. About four o'clock 51 00:03:21,759 --> 00:03:25,240 on Christmas morning, Peterson, who as you know, is a 52 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:30,479 very honest fellow, was returning from some small jollification, and 53 00:03:30,759 --> 00:03:34,919 was making his way homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In 54 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,360 front of him he saw in the gas light a 55 00:03:37,439 --> 00:03:41,280 tallish man walking with a slight stagger and carrying a 56 00:03:41,319 --> 00:03:44,840 white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the 57 00:03:44,919 --> 00:03:48,280 corner of Good Street, a row broke out between this 58 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,560 stranger and a little knot of ruffs. One of the 59 00:03:51,639 --> 00:03:54,800 latter knocked off the man's hat, on which he raised 60 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,960 his stick to defend himself and swing it over his 61 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:02,400 head smashed the shop window behind. Peterson had rushed forward 62 00:04:02,479 --> 00:04:06,199 to protect the stranger from his assailants. But the man, 63 00:04:06,639 --> 00:04:10,080 shocked at having broken the window and seeing an official 64 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,719 looking person in uniform rushing towards him, dropped his goose, 65 00:04:14,199 --> 00:04:17,720 took to his heels, and vanished amid the labyrinth of 66 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,120 small Street which lie at the back of Tottenham Court Road. 67 00:04:21,759 --> 00:04:24,639 The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Peterson, 68 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,360 so that he was left in possession of the field 69 00:04:27,399 --> 00:04:30,759 of battle, and also of the spoils of victory in 70 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,079 the shape of this battered hat and a most unimpeachable 71 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,600 Christmas goose, which shortly he restored to their owner, My 72 00:04:38,759 --> 00:04:42,360 dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 73 00:04:42,639 --> 00:04:46,720 for missus Henry Baker was printed upon a small card 74 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,959 which was tied to the bird's left leg, and it 75 00:04:50,079 --> 00:04:54,519 is also true that the initials h B are legible 76 00:04:54,639 --> 00:04:57,839 upon the lining of this hat. But as there are 77 00:04:57,879 --> 00:05:01,959 some thousands of Bakers and some hundreds of Henry Bakers 78 00:05:01,959 --> 00:05:04,920 in this city of ours, it is not easy to 79 00:05:04,959 --> 00:05:09,160 restore lost property to any one of them. What then, 80 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,360 did Peterson do? He brought round both hat and goose 81 00:05:13,399 --> 00:05:17,000 to me on Christmas morning, knowing that even the smallest 82 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,319 problems are of interest to me. The goose we retained 83 00:05:20,399 --> 00:05:23,839 until this morning, when there were signs that in spite 84 00:05:23,879 --> 00:05:26,920 of the slight frost, it would be well that it 85 00:05:26,959 --> 00:05:31,680 should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried 86 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,600 it off, therefore to fulfill the ultimate destiny of a goose, 87 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,879 while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown 88 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:45,480 gentleman who lost his Christmas dinner? Did he not advertise no? Then? 89 00:05:45,519 --> 00:05:49,000 What clue could you have as to his identity? Only 90 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,600 as much as we can deduce from his hat precisely? 91 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,800 But you are joking? What can you gather from this old, 92 00:05:57,879 --> 00:06:03,120 battered felt here my lens, you know my methods. What 93 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,639 can you gather yourself as to the individuality of the 94 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,680 man who has worn this article? I took the tattered 95 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,040 object in my hands and turned it over rather ruefully. 96 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,160 It was a very ordinary black hat, of the usual 97 00:06:18,319 --> 00:06:22,759 round shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The 98 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,160 lining had been of red silk, but was a good 99 00:06:26,199 --> 00:06:30,839 deal discolored. There was no maker's name, but as Holmes 100 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:36,160 had remarked, the initials h b were scrawled upon one side. 101 00:06:36,759 --> 00:06:39,360 It was pierced in the brim for a hat secure, 102 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,959 but the elastic was missing. For the rest. It was cracked, 103 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:48,959 exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, although there seemed 104 00:06:48,959 --> 00:06:52,000 to have been some attempt to hide the discolored patches 105 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,600 by smearing them with ink. I can see nothing, said I, 106 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,480 handing it back to my friend. On the contrary, Watson, 107 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,839 you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from 108 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:09,639 what you see. You are too timid in drawing your inferences. Then, pray, 109 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,160 tell me what is it that you can infer from 110 00:07:12,199 --> 00:07:15,319 this hat? He picked it up and gazed at it 111 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,800 in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him. 112 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,639 It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been, 113 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,480 he remarked. And yet there are a few inferences which 114 00:07:27,519 --> 00:07:31,480 are very distinct, and a few others which represent at 115 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,360 least a strong balance of probability. That the man was 116 00:07:35,439 --> 00:07:39,120 highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, 117 00:07:39,439 --> 00:07:42,360 and also that he was fairly well to do within 118 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,000 the last three years, although he has now fallen upon 119 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:51,360 evil days. He had foresight, but has less now than formerly. 120 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,680 Pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the 121 00:07:55,759 --> 00:08:00,000 decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, 122 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:04,439 probably drink at work upon him. This may account also 123 00:08:04,639 --> 00:08:07,680 for the obvious fact that his wife has ceased to 124 00:08:07,759 --> 00:08:13,199 love him. My dear Holmes, he has, however, retained some 125 00:08:13,279 --> 00:08:18,800 degree of self respect, he continued, disregarding my remonstrance. He 126 00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:22,519 is a man who leads a sedentary life, goes out little, 127 00:08:23,199 --> 00:08:27,800 is out of training, entirely, is middle aged, has grizzled hair, 128 00:08:27,959 --> 00:08:30,639 which he has had cut within the last few days, 129 00:08:31,199 --> 00:08:34,960 and which he anoints with lime cream. These are the 130 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,039 more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. 131 00:08:38,919 --> 00:08:42,679 Also by the way that it is extremely improbable, but 132 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,559 he has gas laid on in his house. You are 133 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:51,759 certainly joking, Holmes. Not in the least is it possible that, 134 00:08:51,879 --> 00:08:55,480 even now, when I give you these results, you are 135 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:59,159 unable to see how they are attained. I have no 136 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,799 doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess 137 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,000 that I am unable to follow you. For example, how 138 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:11,480 did you deduce that this man was intellectual? For answer, 139 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,000 Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right 140 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,039 over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. 141 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,120 It is a question of cubic capacity, said he. A 142 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,440 man with so large a brain must have something in 143 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:31,080 it the decline of his fortunes. Then this hat is 144 00:09:31,159 --> 00:09:34,840 three years old. These flat brims, curled at the edge 145 00:09:34,919 --> 00:09:37,960 came in. Then it is a hat of the very 146 00:09:38,039 --> 00:09:41,279 best quality. Look at the band of ribbed silk and 147 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,960 the excellent lining. If this man could afford to buy 148 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,440 so expensive a hat three years ago and has had 149 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,279 no hat since then, he has assuredly gone down in 150 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:57,080 the world. Well, that is clear enough, certainly, But how 151 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:02,200 about the foresight and the moral retrogress? Sherlock Holmes laughed. 152 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,799 Here is the foresight, said he, putting his finger upon 153 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,200 the little disk and loop of the hat. Securer, They 154 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,799 are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, 155 00:10:12,879 --> 00:10:15,559 it is a sign of a certain amount of foresight, 156 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,320 since he went out of his way to take this 157 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:23,080 precaution against the wind. But since we see that he 158 00:10:23,159 --> 00:10:27,039 has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace it, 159 00:10:27,039 --> 00:10:30,679 it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, 160 00:10:31,279 --> 00:10:35,159 which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On 161 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,559 the other hand. He has endeavored to conceal some of 162 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:42,320 these stains upon the felt by daubing them with ink, 163 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,840 which is a sign that he has not entirely lost 164 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:51,440 his self respect. Your reasoning is certainly plausible. The further 165 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,720 points that he is middle aged, that his hair is grizzled, 166 00:10:55,159 --> 00:10:57,720 that it has been recently cut, and that he uses 167 00:10:57,799 --> 00:11:01,120 lime cream are all to be gathered from a close 168 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:05,159 examination of the lower part of the lining. The lenbs 169 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,919 discloses a large number of hair ends, clean cut by 170 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,080 the scissors of the barber. They all appear to be adhesive, 171 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,480 and there is a distinct odor of lime cream. This 172 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:19,200 dust you will observe is not the gritty gray dust 173 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,679 of the street, but the fluffy brown dust of the house, 174 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,720 showing that it has been hung up indoors most of 175 00:11:25,759 --> 00:11:29,200 the time, while the marks of moisture upon the inside 176 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,919 are proof positive that the wearer perspired very freely and 177 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,440 could therefore hardly be in the best of training. But 178 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,080 his wife, you said that she had ceased to love him. 179 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:44,679 This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I 180 00:11:44,759 --> 00:11:48,360 see you, my dear Watson, with a week's accumulation of 181 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,039 dust upon your hat and when your wife allows you 182 00:11:52,159 --> 00:11:55,480 to go out in such a state, I shall fear 183 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:59,320 that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your 184 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:04,039 wife's effect. But he might be a bachelor. Nay, he 185 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,960 was bringing home the goose as a peace offering to 186 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,000 his wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg. You 187 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,159 have an answer to everything. But how on earth do 188 00:12:14,279 --> 00:12:17,240 you deduce that the gas is not laid on in 189 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:22,600 his house? One tallow stain or even two might come 190 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,039 by chance, But when I see no less than five, 191 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,320 I think that there can be little doubt that the 192 00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:34,080 individual must be brought into frequent contact with burning tallow 193 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,320 walks up stairs at night, probably with his hat in 194 00:12:38,399 --> 00:12:42,840 one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, 195 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:48,360 he never got tallestains from a gas jet. Are you satisfied? Well, 196 00:12:48,399 --> 00:12:52,200 it is very ingenious, said I, laughing. But since you 197 00:12:52,399 --> 00:12:56,440 said just now there has been no crime committed and 198 00:12:56,519 --> 00:12:59,879 no harm done, save the loss of a goose, all 199 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,559 this seems to be rather a waste of energy. Sherlock 200 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,600 Holmes had opened his mouth to reply when the door 201 00:13:06,639 --> 00:13:11,000 flew open, and Peterson, the Commissionaire, rushed into the apartment 202 00:13:11,039 --> 00:13:13,559 with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who 203 00:13:13,639 --> 00:13:18,399 is dazed with astonishment. The goose, mister Holmes, the goose, sir, 204 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:23,679 He gasped, Eh, what of it? Then, as it returned 205 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,440 to life and flapped off through the kitchen window, Holmes 206 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,759 twisted himself round about the sofa to get a fairer 207 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:35,320 view of the man's excited face. See here, sir, see 208 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,240 what my wife found in its crop. He held out 209 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,000 his hand and displayed upon the center of the palm 210 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,759 a brilliantly scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean 211 00:13:45,879 --> 00:13:49,519 in size, but of such purity and radiance that it 212 00:13:49,639 --> 00:13:53,120 twinkled like an electric point in the dark hollow of 213 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,960 his hand. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle by 214 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:02,399 Joe Peterson said he this is treasure trove. Indeed, I 215 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,600 suppose you know what you have got? A diamond, sir, 216 00:14:06,279 --> 00:14:10,080 A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though it 217 00:14:10,159 --> 00:14:14,559 were putty. It's more than a precious stone. It is 218 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:19,080 the precious stone, not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle. 219 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:24,720 I ejaculated precisely, so I ought to know its size 220 00:14:24,759 --> 00:14:28,039 and shape, seeing that I have read the advertisement about 221 00:14:28,039 --> 00:14:32,519 it in the Times every day lately. It is absolutely unique, 222 00:14:32,919 --> 00:14:36,679 and its value can only be conjectured. But the reward 223 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,360 offered of one thousand pounds is certainly not within a 224 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:45,159 twentieth part of the market price a thousand pounds, Great 225 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,879 Lord of Mercy, the Commissionaire plumped down into a chair 226 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,360 and stared from one to the other of us. That 227 00:14:52,679 --> 00:14:55,840 is the reward, And I have reason to know that 228 00:14:55,919 --> 00:14:59,840 there are sentimental considerations in the background which would induce 229 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:03,120 them Countess to part with half her fortune if she 230 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,679 could but recover the gem it was lost. If I 231 00:15:06,759 --> 00:15:12,159 remember aright at the Hotel Cosmopolitan, I remarked precisely so. 232 00:15:12,799 --> 00:15:17,600 On December twenty second, just five days ago, John Horner, 233 00:15:17,759 --> 00:15:20,879 a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the 234 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,039 lady's jewel case. The evidence against him was so strong 235 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,919 that the case has been referred to the Assaus. I 236 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,039 have some account of the matter here. I believe he 237 00:15:32,159 --> 00:15:35,720 rummaged amid his newspapers, glancing over the dates, until at 238 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,320 last he smoothed one out, doubled it over, and read 239 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:46,519 the following paragraph. Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel robbery. John Horner, twenty 240 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,039 six plumber was brought up upon the charge of having, 241 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,360 upon the twenty second instant, abstracted from the jewel case 242 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,639 of the Countess of Morcar the valuable gem known as 243 00:15:58,679 --> 00:16:03,919 the blue Carbuncle. James Rider, up attendant at the hotel, 244 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,320 gave his evidence to the effect that he had shown 245 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:09,879 Horner up to the dressing room of the Countess of 246 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,879 Morcar upon the day of the robbery, in order that 247 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,919 he might solder the second bar of the grate, which 248 00:16:17,039 --> 00:16:20,480 was loose. He had remained with Horner some little time, 249 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,480 but had finally been called away. On returning, he found 250 00:16:24,559 --> 00:16:28,440 that Horner had disappeared, that the bureau had been forced open, 251 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,879 and that the small Morocco casket, in which, as it 252 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:36,720 afterwards transpired, the Countess was accustomed to keeper jewel, was 253 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:41,919 lying empty upon the dressing table. Rider instantly gave the alarm, 254 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,519 and Horner was arrested the same evening, but the stone 255 00:16:45,559 --> 00:16:48,960 could not be found either upon his person or in 256 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:54,000 his rooms. Catherine Cusack made to the Countess deposed to 257 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,840 having heard Rider's cry of dismay on discovering the robbery, 258 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,480 and to having rushed into the gloom where she found 259 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:06,680 matters as described by the last witness, Inspector Bradstreet b 260 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,880 Division gave evidence as to the arrest of Horner, who 261 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:15,759 struggled frantically and protested his innocence in the strongest terms, 262 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:20,319 evidence of a previous conviction for robbery having been given 263 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:25,039 against the prisoner. The magistrate refused to deal summarily with 264 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:29,079 the offense, but referred it to the assas. Horner, who 265 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:33,839 had shown signs of intense emotion during the proceedings, fainted 266 00:17:33,839 --> 00:17:37,279 away at the conclusion and was carried out of court. 267 00:17:38,039 --> 00:17:42,240 Hum So much for the police court, said Holmes, thoughtfully, 268 00:17:42,599 --> 00:17:46,440 tossing aside the paper. The question for us now to 269 00:17:46,559 --> 00:17:50,359 solve is the sequence of events leading from a rifled 270 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,519 jewel case at one end to the crop of a 271 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,640 goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You see, Watson, 272 00:17:57,799 --> 00:18:01,920 our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much more important 273 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:07,160 and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone. The stone 274 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,160 came from the goose, and the goose came from mister 275 00:18:10,279 --> 00:18:14,039 Henry Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all 276 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,920 the other characteristics with which I have bored you. So 277 00:18:18,079 --> 00:18:22,079 now we must set ourselves very seriously to finding this 278 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:26,000 gentleman and ascertaining what part he has played in this 279 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:30,440 little mystery. To do this, we must try the simplest 280 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:35,640 means first, and these lie undoubtedly in an advertisement in 281 00:18:35,799 --> 00:18:39,960 all the evening papers. If this fail, I shall have 282 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:43,920 recourse to other methods. What will you say, give me 283 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,119 a pencil and that slip of paper now then found 284 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,880 at the corner of Good Street, a goose and a 285 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:55,359 black felt hat. Mister Henry Baker can have the same 286 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:59,319 by applying at six thirty this evening at two twenty 287 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:04,000 one B Baker Street. That is clear and concise. Very 288 00:19:04,519 --> 00:19:07,240 but will he see it well? He is sure to 289 00:19:07,319 --> 00:19:09,759 keep an eye on the papers, since to a poor 290 00:19:09,799 --> 00:19:13,640 man the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly 291 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:17,480 so scared by his mischance in breaking the window and 292 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,640 by the approach of Peterson, that he thought of nothing 293 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,960 but flight. But since then he must have bitterly regretted 294 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,759 the impulse which caused him to drop his bird. Then again, 295 00:19:28,839 --> 00:19:31,440 the introduction of his name will cause him to see it, 296 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,920 for every one who knows him will direct his attention 297 00:19:35,039 --> 00:19:38,440 to it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the 298 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:42,039 advertising agency and have this put in the evening papers, 299 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:47,559 in which Sir Oh in the Globe Star, Pall Mall, 300 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:53,400 Saint James Evening News, Standard Echo, and any others that occur. 301 00:19:53,519 --> 00:19:58,759 To you very well, sir, and this stone. Ah yes, 302 00:19:59,279 --> 00:20:03,680 I shall keep the stone, thank you. And I say Peterson, 303 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,200 just buy a goose on your way back and leave 304 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,119 it here with me, for we must have one to 305 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,240 give to this gentleman in place of the one which 306 00:20:13,279 --> 00:20:17,799 your family is now devouring. When the Commissionaire had gone, 307 00:20:18,319 --> 00:20:21,359 Holmes took up the stone and held it against the light. 308 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:26,039 It's a bonny thing, said he. Just see how it 309 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,160 glints and sparkles. Of course, it is a nucleus and 310 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:35,559 focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the 311 00:20:35,599 --> 00:20:40,599 devil's pet baits. In the larger and older jewels, every 312 00:20:40,759 --> 00:20:44,759 facet may stand for a bloody deed. This stone is 313 00:20:44,839 --> 00:20:47,960 not yet twenty years old. It was found in the 314 00:20:48,039 --> 00:20:52,240 banks of the Amoy River in southern China, and is 315 00:20:52,319 --> 00:20:57,799 remarkable in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that 316 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:02,799 it is blue in shade instead of ruby red. In 317 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,880 spite of its youth, it has already a sinister history. 318 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,960 There have been two murders, a victreal throwing, a suicide, 319 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,519 and several robberies brought about for the sake of this 320 00:21:15,759 --> 00:21:20,880 forty grain weight of crystalized charcoal. Who would think that 321 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,240 so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the 322 00:21:24,279 --> 00:21:27,119 gallows and the prison. I'll lock it up in my 323 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,680 strong box now and drop a line to the Countess 324 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,559 to say that we have it. Do you think that 325 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:38,960 this man Horner is innocent? I cannot tell. Well, then 326 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,559 do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had 327 00:21:42,599 --> 00:21:45,920 anything to do with the matter. It is I think 328 00:21:46,039 --> 00:21:50,519 much more likely that Henry Baker is an absolutely innocent 329 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,759 man who had no idea that the bird which he 330 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:57,799 was carrying was of considerably more value than if it 331 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:02,400 were made of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine 332 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,240 by a very simple test, if we have an answer 333 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:10,680 to our advertisement, and you can do nothing until then nothing. 334 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:15,519 In that case, I shall continue my professional round. But 335 00:22:15,599 --> 00:22:17,960 I shall come back in the evening at the hour 336 00:22:18,079 --> 00:22:21,039 you have mentioned, for I should like to see the 337 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:25,559 solution of so tangled a business. Very glad to see you, 338 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:30,240 I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I believe, 339 00:22:30,799 --> 00:22:33,880 by the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I 340 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:37,599 ought to ask missus Hudson to examine its crop. I 341 00:22:37,799 --> 00:22:40,400 had been delayed at a case, and it was a 342 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,839 little after half past six when I found myself in 343 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,799 Baker Street once more. As I approached the house, I 344 00:22:47,839 --> 00:22:51,000 saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a 345 00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:55,200 coat which was buttoned up to his chin, waiting outside 346 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,680 in the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fan light. 347 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,640 Just as I the door was opened and we were 348 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:07,960 shown up together to Holmes's room. Mister Henry Baker, I believe, 349 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,960 said he, rising from his arm chair and greeting his 350 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,920 visitor with the easy air of geniality which he could 351 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,599 so readily assume. Pray, take this chair by the fire, 352 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,480 mister Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe 353 00:23:23,599 --> 00:23:26,920 that your circulation is more adapted for summer than for winter. 354 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:31,200 Ah Watson, you have just come at the right time. 355 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,720 Is that your hat, mister Baker, Yes, sir, that is 356 00:23:35,839 --> 00:23:40,759 undoubtedly my hat. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, 357 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:46,079 a massive head, and a broad, intelligent face sloping down 358 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,599 to a pointed beard of grizzled brow, a touch of 359 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,079 red in nose and cheeks, with a slight tremor of 360 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:57,839 his extended hand recalled Holmes's surmise as to his habits. 361 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,680 His rusty black frock coat was buttoned right up in front, 362 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:06,039 with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded 363 00:24:06,079 --> 00:24:08,839 from his sleeves without a sign of kaff or shirt. 364 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:13,480 He spoke in a slow, staccato fashion, choosing his words 365 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:17,279 with care, and gave the impression generally of a man 366 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:21,119 of learning and letters who had had ill usage at 367 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,799 the hands of fortune. We have retained these things for 368 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,640 some days, said Holmes, because we expected to see an 369 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,720 advertisement from you giving your address. I am at a 370 00:24:32,799 --> 00:24:37,240 loss to know why you did not advertise. Our visitor 371 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,759 gave a rather shamefaced laugh. Shillings have not been so 372 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:46,359 plentiful with me as they once were, he remarked. I 373 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,519 had no doubt that the gang of ruffs who assaulted 374 00:24:49,559 --> 00:24:53,160 me had carried off both my hat and the bird. 375 00:24:54,079 --> 00:24:56,839 I did not care to spend more money in a 376 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:01,920 hopeless attempt at recovering them. Very naturally, by the way, 377 00:25:02,079 --> 00:25:06,480 about the bird, we were compelled to eat it. To 378 00:25:06,599 --> 00:25:09,920 eat it, our visitor half rose from his chair in 379 00:25:10,039 --> 00:25:13,759 his excitement. Yes, it would have been of no use 380 00:25:13,839 --> 00:25:16,599 to any one had we not done so. But I 381 00:25:16,839 --> 00:25:20,599 presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is 382 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,680 about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your 383 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:31,119 purpose equally well. Oh, certainly certainly, answered mister Baker, with 384 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,359 a sigh of relief. Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, 385 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,039 crop and so on of your own bird. So if 386 00:25:38,079 --> 00:25:41,519 you wish, the man burst into a hearty laugh, they 387 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,880 might be useful to me as relics of my adventure, 388 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:49,079 said he. But beyond that, I can hardly see what 389 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,720 use the disjective member of my late acquaintance are going 390 00:25:53,839 --> 00:25:57,039 to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with 391 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,799 your permission, I will confine my attack ncience to the 392 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:05,640 excellent bird which I perceive upon the sideboard. Sherlock Holmes 393 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,880 glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of 394 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:13,119 his shoulders. There is your hat, then, and there your bird, 395 00:26:13,319 --> 00:26:17,079 said he. By the way, would it bore you to 396 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:19,839 tell me where you got the other one from? I 397 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:23,519 am somewhat of a foul fancier, and I have seldom 398 00:26:23,599 --> 00:26:28,400 seen a better grown goose. Certainly, sir, said Baker, who 399 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,680 had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm. 400 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,920 There are a few of us who frequent the Alpha 401 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,079 Inn near the museum. We are to be found in 402 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,759 the museum itself during the day. You understand. This year, 403 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,599 our good host Windegot by name, instituted a goose club, 404 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,960 by which, on consideration of some few pence every week, 405 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:54,960 we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. My 406 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,799 pence were duly paid, and the rest is familiar to you. 407 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,559 I am much indebted to you. A Scotch bonnet is 408 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:07,000 fitted neither to my years nor my gravity. With a 409 00:27:07,039 --> 00:27:11,000 comical pomposity of manner, he bowed solemnly to both of us, 410 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,279 and strode off upon his way. So much for mister 411 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,680 Henry Baker, said Holmes, when he had closed the door 412 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:22,680 behind him. It is quite certain that he knows nothing 413 00:27:22,799 --> 00:27:29,480 whatsoever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson, not particularly? Then? 414 00:27:29,559 --> 00:27:32,440 I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper 415 00:27:32,799 --> 00:27:36,480 and follow up this clue while it is still hot. 416 00:27:36,799 --> 00:27:40,440 By all means, it was a bitter night, so we 417 00:27:40,559 --> 00:27:45,480 drew on our ulsters and rapped cravats about her throats. Outside, 418 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:49,720 the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and 419 00:27:49,799 --> 00:27:52,519 the breath of the passers by blew out into smoke, 420 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:57,279 like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply 421 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:02,559 and loudly as we swung through the quarter Wimpole Street, 422 00:28:02,599 --> 00:28:06,920 Harley Street, and so threw Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. 423 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,319 In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury 424 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:13,640 at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public house 425 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,039 at the corner of one of the streets which runs 426 00:28:16,079 --> 00:28:19,680 down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door of the 427 00:28:19,759 --> 00:28:23,160 private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the 428 00:28:23,279 --> 00:28:27,960 ruddy faced, white aproned landlord. Your beer should be excellent 429 00:28:28,079 --> 00:28:30,880 if it is as good as your geese, said he 430 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:37,319 my geese. The man seemed surprised. Yes, I was speaking 431 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,720 only half an hour ago to mister Henry Baker, who 432 00:28:40,799 --> 00:28:45,039 was a member of your Goose club. Ah, yes, I see, 433 00:28:45,279 --> 00:28:51,759 but you see, sir, them's not our geese. Indeed, who's then? Well? 434 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:55,279 I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden. 435 00:28:55,880 --> 00:29:01,480 Indeed I know some of them. Which was it Breckinridge 436 00:29:01,839 --> 00:29:06,880 is his name? Ah? I don't know him. Well, here's 437 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:10,960 your good health, landlord, and prosperity to your house. Good 438 00:29:11,039 --> 00:29:16,440 night now for Breckinridge he continued, buttoning up his coat 439 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:20,759 as we came out in the frosty air. Remember, Watson, 440 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,880 that though we have so homely a thing as a goose, 441 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,599 at one end of this chain, we have at the 442 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,079 other a man who will certainly get seven years penal 443 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:35,880 servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible 444 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:40,359 that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt. But in 445 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,680 any case we have a line of investigation which has 446 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:47,440 been missed by the police, and which a singular chance 447 00:29:47,519 --> 00:29:50,440 has placed in our hands. Let us follow it out 448 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,759 to the bitter end faces to the south. Then, and 449 00:29:54,079 --> 00:30:00,039 quick march we passed across Holborn, down Endal Street, and 450 00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:03,680 so through a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. 451 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,319 One of the largest stalls bore the name of Breckinridge 452 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:11,319 upon it, and the proprietor, a horsey looking man with 453 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:15,200 a sharp face and trim side whiskers, was helping a 454 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,680 boy to put up the shutters. Good evening, it's a 455 00:30:18,759 --> 00:30:23,119 cold night, said Holmes. The salesman nodded and shot a 456 00:30:23,279 --> 00:30:27,960 questioning glance at my companion. Sold out of geese, I see, 457 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:32,200 continued Holmes, pointing at the bare slabs of marble. Let 458 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:36,920 you have five hundred tomorrow morning. That's no good. Well, 459 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:41,200 there are some on the stall with the gas flare. Ah, 460 00:30:41,279 --> 00:30:45,839 but I was recommended to you who by the landlord 461 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,799 of the Alpha. Oh, yes, I sent him a couple 462 00:30:49,799 --> 00:30:53,920 of dozen fine birds. They were too Now where did 463 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:57,799 you get them from? To my surprise, the question provoked 464 00:30:57,799 --> 00:31:01,599 a burst of anger from the salesman. Now, then, mister 465 00:31:02,079 --> 00:31:05,039 said he, with his head cocked in his arms, A kimbal. 466 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:08,839 What are you driving at? Let's have it straight now 467 00:31:09,839 --> 00:31:12,920 it is strait enough. I should like to know who 468 00:31:13,119 --> 00:31:16,920 sold you the geese which you supplied to the Alpha. Well, 469 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:21,400 then I shan't tell you so now, oh, it is 470 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:25,039 a matter of no importance. But I don't know why 471 00:31:25,079 --> 00:31:28,319 you should be so warm over such a trifle. Warm 472 00:31:28,839 --> 00:31:32,319 you'd be as warm maybe if you were as pestered 473 00:31:32,359 --> 00:31:35,119 as I am. When I pay good money for a 474 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,359 good article, there should be an end of the business. 475 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,759 But it's where are the geese? And who did you 476 00:31:41,799 --> 00:31:44,359 sell the geese to? And what will you take for 477 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,720 the geese? One would think they were the only geese 478 00:31:47,759 --> 00:31:50,000 in the world. To hear the fuss that has made 479 00:31:50,039 --> 00:31:53,599 over them. Well, I have no connection with any other 480 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:58,079 people who have been making inquiries, said Holmes carelessly. If 481 00:31:58,119 --> 00:32:00,720 you won't tell us, the bet is off, that is all. 482 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:04,119 But I'm always ready to back my onion on a 483 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,200 matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it 484 00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:10,680 that the bird I ate is country bread. Well, then 485 00:32:10,759 --> 00:32:14,720 you've lost your fiver, for it's town bread, snapped the salesman. 486 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:19,240 It's nothing of the kind I say it is. I 487 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,799 don't believe it. Do you think you know more about 488 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,839 fowls than I, who have handled them ever since I 489 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,079 was a nipper. I tell you all those birds that 490 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,920 went to the Alpha were town bred. You'll never persuade 491 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:36,440 me to believe that, will you. Bet? Then it's merely 492 00:32:36,519 --> 00:32:38,920 taking your money, for I know that I am right. 493 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:42,160 But I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to 494 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:46,240 teach you not to be obstinate. The salesman chuckled grimly. 495 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:50,079 Bring me the book's bill, said he. The small boy 496 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,680 brought round a small, thin volume and a great greasy 497 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:58,559 backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging lamp. Now, then, 498 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:02,440 mister Cockshaw, said salesman, I thought that I was out 499 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,559 of geese. But before I finish, you'll find that there 500 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:08,400 is still one left in my shop. You see this 501 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:12,400 little book, well, that's the list of the folk from 502 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,799 whom I buy, do you see? Well, then here on 503 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,359 this page are the country folk, and the numbers after 504 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,880 their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. 505 00:33:23,319 --> 00:33:25,920 Now then you see this other page in red ink, 506 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,759 Well that is a list of my town suppliers. Now 507 00:33:29,799 --> 00:33:32,440 look at that third name. Just read it to me, 508 00:33:33,039 --> 00:33:37,279 missus Oakshot one mon seven Brixton Road, two for nine, 509 00:33:37,599 --> 00:33:41,279 Red Holmes. Quite so, now turn that up in the ledger. 510 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:46,039 Holmes turned to the page indicated here you are, missus 511 00:33:46,039 --> 00:33:51,160 Oakshot one one seven Brixton Road, Egg and Poultry supplier. 512 00:33:51,759 --> 00:33:56,720 Now then what's the last entry? December twenty second, twenty 513 00:33:56,759 --> 00:34:01,759 four geese at seven shilling sixpence. Quite so, there you are, 514 00:34:02,119 --> 00:34:06,400 and underneath so to mister Windiket of the Alpha at 515 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:10,519 twelve shillings. What have you to say now? Sherlock Holmes 516 00:34:10,559 --> 00:34:14,519 looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from his pocket 517 00:34:14,639 --> 00:34:17,920 and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with 518 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,760 the air of a man whose disgust is too deep 519 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:24,639 for words. A few yards off he stopped under a 520 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:28,199 lamp post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless fashion which 521 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:31,400 was peculiar to him. Would you see a man with 522 00:34:31,519 --> 00:34:35,199 whiskers of that cut and the pinkin protruding out of 523 00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:38,400 his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet, 524 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:41,440 said he. I dare say that if I had put 525 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,840 one hundred pounds down in front of him, that man 526 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:48,519 would not have given me such complete information as was 527 00:34:48,599 --> 00:34:51,440 drawn from him by the idea that he was doing 528 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:55,559 me on a wager. Well, Watson, we are I fancy 529 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:59,159 nearing the end of our quest, and the only point 530 00:34:59,199 --> 00:35:02,599 which remains to be determined is whether we should go 531 00:35:02,679 --> 00:35:05,679 on to this missus oakshot to night, or whether we 532 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:09,079 should reserve it for tomorrow. It is clear from what 533 00:35:09,159 --> 00:35:12,719 that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves 534 00:35:13,039 --> 00:35:16,920 who are anxious about the matter, and I should His 535 00:35:17,079 --> 00:35:21,079 remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which 536 00:35:21,119 --> 00:35:24,360 broke out from the stall which we had just left. 537 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:28,039 Turning round, we saw a little rat faced fellow standing 538 00:35:28,079 --> 00:35:30,519 in the center of the circle of yellow light which 539 00:35:30,639 --> 00:35:34,920 was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Breckinridge, the salesman 540 00:35:35,079 --> 00:35:37,519 framed in the door of his stall, was shaking his 541 00:35:37,679 --> 00:35:42,000 fists fiercely at the cringing figure. I've had enough of 542 00:35:42,079 --> 00:35:45,559 you and your geese, he shouted. I wish you were 543 00:35:45,639 --> 00:35:48,880 all at the Devil's together. If you come pestering me 544 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:52,039 any more with your silly talk, I'll set the dog 545 00:35:52,119 --> 00:35:55,639 at you. You bring Missus Oakshot here and I'll answer her. 546 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,000 But what have you to do with it? Did I 547 00:35:58,039 --> 00:36:00,920 buy the geese off you? No, but one of them 548 00:36:01,039 --> 00:36:04,119 was mine all the same, whined the little man. Well, 549 00:36:04,199 --> 00:36:07,320 then ask Missus Oakshot for it. She told me to 550 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,360 ask you. Well, you can ask the King of Prussia 551 00:36:10,519 --> 00:36:13,960 for all I care. I've had enough of it. Get 552 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:17,639 out of this, he rushed fiercely forward, and the inquirer 553 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:22,119 flitted away into the darkness. Ha, this may save us 554 00:36:22,159 --> 00:36:26,000 a visit to Brixton Road, whispered Holmes. Come with me 555 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:28,639 and we will see what is to be made of 556 00:36:28,679 --> 00:36:32,559 this fellow. Striding through the scattered knots of people who 557 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:37,639 lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the 558 00:36:37,679 --> 00:36:41,480 little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang round, 559 00:36:41,519 --> 00:36:44,199 and I could see in the gas light that every 560 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:47,599 vestige of color had been driven from his face. Who 561 00:36:47,599 --> 00:36:50,039 are you then? What do you want? He asked in 562 00:36:50,079 --> 00:36:54,480 a quavering voice. You will excuse me, said Holmes blandly, 563 00:36:55,079 --> 00:36:58,000 But I could not help overhearing the questions which you 564 00:36:58,119 --> 00:37:01,119 put to the salesman. Just now, I think that I 565 00:37:01,199 --> 00:37:04,920 could be of assistance to you. You. Who are you? 566 00:37:05,679 --> 00:37:08,840 How could you know anything of the matter. My name 567 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:12,480 is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what 568 00:37:12,639 --> 00:37:15,760 other people don't know. But you can know nothing of this. 569 00:37:16,719 --> 00:37:20,920 Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavoring 570 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:24,519 to trace some geese which were sold by missus Oakshot 571 00:37:24,559 --> 00:37:28,960 of Brixton Road to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him 572 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,360 in turn to mister Windegott of the Alpha, and by 573 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:35,800 him to his club, of which mister Henry Baker is 574 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:39,199 a member. Oh, sir, you are the very man whom 575 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:41,719 I have longed to meet, cried the little fellow, with 576 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:46,159 outstretched hands and quivering fingers. I can hardly explain to 577 00:37:46,199 --> 00:37:49,880 you how interested I am in the matter. Sherlock Holmes 578 00:37:50,159 --> 00:37:53,519 hailed a four wheeler which was passing. In that case, 579 00:37:53,639 --> 00:37:56,880 we had better discuss it in a cozy room rather 580 00:37:57,000 --> 00:38:00,679 than in this wind swept market place, said he. But 581 00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:03,880 pray tell me before we go farther. Who is it 582 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:07,639 that I have the pleasure of assisting? The man hesitated 583 00:38:07,679 --> 00:38:12,039 for an instant. My name is John Robinson, he answered, 584 00:38:12,079 --> 00:38:16,039 with a sidelong glance. No, No, the real name, said 585 00:38:16,079 --> 00:38:20,519 Holmes sweetly. It is always awkward doing business with an alias. 586 00:38:21,079 --> 00:38:24,519 A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. Well, 587 00:38:24,559 --> 00:38:29,840 then he said, my real name is James Rider. Precisely so, 588 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:35,159 head attendant at the hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray, step into the cab, 589 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:37,760 and I shall soon be able to tell you everything 590 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,960 which you would wish to know. The little man stood 591 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:44,320 glancing from one to the other office with half frightened, 592 00:38:44,719 --> 00:38:48,480 half hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure whether 593 00:38:48,519 --> 00:38:50,960 he is on the verge of a windfall or of 594 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:55,119 a catastrophe. Then he stepped into the cab, and in 595 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:57,679 half an hour we were back in the sitting room 596 00:38:57,719 --> 00:39:01,679 at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during our drive 597 00:39:02,159 --> 00:39:05,840 but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and 598 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:10,079 the claspings and unclaspings of his hands spoke of the 599 00:39:10,159 --> 00:39:14,039 nervous tension within him. Here we are, said Holmes cheerily, 600 00:39:14,079 --> 00:39:17,440 as we filed into the room. The fire looks very 601 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:21,800 seasonable in this weather. You're a cold, mister, Rider. Pray 602 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:25,039 take the basket chair. I will just put on my 603 00:39:25,119 --> 00:39:28,599 slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, 604 00:39:28,639 --> 00:39:32,960 then you want to know what became of those geefe yes, sir, 605 00:39:34,159 --> 00:39:37,880 or rather I fancy of that goose. It was one 606 00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:41,559 bird I imagine in which you were interested, white with 607 00:39:41,679 --> 00:39:46,639 a black bar across the tail. Rider quivered with emotion. Oh, sir, 608 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:49,079 he cried, Can you tell me where it went to? 609 00:39:49,599 --> 00:39:53,800 It came here here, Yes, and a most remarkable bird, 610 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:56,800 it proved. I don't wonder that you should take an 611 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:59,800 interest in it. It laid an egg after It was 612 00:40:01,039 --> 00:40:04,920 the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. 613 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:09,599 I have it here in my museum. Our visitor staggered 614 00:40:09,599 --> 00:40:12,599 to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece with his right hand. 615 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:17,400 Holmes unlocked his strong box and held up the blue carbuncle, 616 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:20,920 which shone out like a star with a cold, brilliant, 617 00:40:21,039 --> 00:40:25,440 many pointed radiance. Rider stood glaring with a drawn face, 618 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:29,280 uncertain whether to claim it or to disown it. The 619 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:33,760 game's up, rider, said Holmes quietly. Hold up, man, or 620 00:40:33,920 --> 00:40:36,880 you'll be into the fire. Give him an arm back 621 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:40,280 into his chair, Watson, he's not got blood enough to 622 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:43,639 go in for felony with impunity. Give him a dash 623 00:40:43,679 --> 00:40:47,840 of brandy, so now he looks a little more human. 624 00:40:48,559 --> 00:40:51,559 What a shrimp it is, to be sure. For a 625 00:40:51,599 --> 00:40:55,079 moment he had staggered and nearly fallen. But the brandy 626 00:40:55,159 --> 00:40:58,320 brought a tinge of color into his cheeks, and he 627 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:02,039 sat staring with frightened eyes at his accuser. I have 628 00:41:02,119 --> 00:41:05,760 almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs 629 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:09,360 which I could possibly need, so there is little which 630 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:12,800 you need. Tell me still, that little may as well 631 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:16,679 be cleared up to make the case complete. You had heard, Wrider, 632 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:20,599 of this blue stone of the Countess of Morcar's. It 633 00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:23,159 was Catherine Cusack who told me of it, said he, 634 00:41:23,239 --> 00:41:28,280 in a crackling voice. I see her Ladyship's waiting maid. Well, 635 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,800 the temptation of sudden welt so easily acquired, was too 636 00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:34,599 much for you, as it has been for better men 637 00:41:34,679 --> 00:41:38,079 before you. But you were not very scrupulous in the 638 00:41:38,159 --> 00:41:42,000 means you used. It seems to me Rider, that there 639 00:41:42,079 --> 00:41:45,719 is the making of a very pretty villain in you. 640 00:41:45,719 --> 00:41:49,159 You knew that this man Horner the plumber, had been 641 00:41:49,239 --> 00:41:53,519 concerned in some such matter before, and that suspicion would 642 00:41:53,559 --> 00:41:56,920 rest the more readily upon him. What did you do? Then? 643 00:41:57,639 --> 00:42:01,159 You made some small job in my lady's room, you 644 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:05,760 and your confederate Cusack, and you manage that he should 645 00:42:05,760 --> 00:42:09,159 be the man sent for. Then when he had left, 646 00:42:09,400 --> 00:42:13,199 you rifled the jewel case, raised the alarm, and had 647 00:42:13,199 --> 00:42:17,599 this unfortunate man arrested you. Then Rider threw himself down 648 00:42:17,719 --> 00:42:21,719 suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my companion's knees. Oh, 649 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:25,239 for heaven's sake, have mercy, he shrinked. Think of my father, 650 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:28,960 my mother. It would break their hearts. I never went 651 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:32,840 wrong before, I never will again. I swear it. I 652 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:36,280 swear it on a bible. Oh don't bring me into court, 653 00:42:36,559 --> 00:42:40,599 for heaven's sake, don't get back into your chair, said 654 00:42:40,599 --> 00:42:44,440 Holmes sternly. It is very well to cringe and crawl now, 655 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:47,760 But you thought little enough of this poor Horner in 656 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:50,079 the dock, for a crime of which he knew nothing. 657 00:42:50,599 --> 00:42:53,400 I will fly mister Holmes, I will leave the country, sir, 658 00:42:53,719 --> 00:42:57,559 then the charge against him will break down. Hum. We 659 00:42:57,639 --> 00:43:00,639 will talk about that. And now I'll let us hear 660 00:43:00,679 --> 00:43:03,880 a true account of the next act. How came the 661 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:07,320 stone into the goose, and how came the goose into 662 00:43:07,320 --> 00:43:10,960 the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies 663 00:43:11,039 --> 00:43:14,719 your only hope of safety. Rider passed his tongue over 664 00:43:14,800 --> 00:43:17,760 his part's lips. I will tell you it just as 665 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:21,800 it happened, sir, said he. When Horner had been arrested, 666 00:43:22,079 --> 00:43:24,039 it seemed to me that it would be best for 667 00:43:24,119 --> 00:43:27,159 me to get away with the stone at once, for 668 00:43:27,199 --> 00:43:29,760 I did not know at what moment the police might 669 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:32,480 take it into their heads to search me and my room. 670 00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:34,920 There was no place about the hotel where it would 671 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:37,960 be safe. I went out, as if on some commission, 672 00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:41,480 and I made for my sister's house. She had married 673 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:45,119 a man named Oakshot and lived in Brixton Road, where 674 00:43:45,159 --> 00:43:48,400 she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there, 675 00:43:48,519 --> 00:43:50,400 every man I met seemed to me to be a 676 00:43:50,440 --> 00:43:53,559 policeman or a detective. And for all that it was 677 00:43:53,599 --> 00:43:56,599 a cold night, the sweat was pouring down my face. 678 00:43:56,679 --> 00:43:59,920 Before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked 679 00:44:00,199 --> 00:44:02,840 what was the matter and why I was so pale, 680 00:44:03,239 --> 00:44:05,280 but I told her that I had been upset by 681 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:08,320 the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went into 682 00:44:08,320 --> 00:44:10,679 the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what 683 00:44:10,760 --> 00:44:14,159 it would be best to do. I had a friend 684 00:44:14,199 --> 00:44:17,719 once called Maudsley, who went to the bad and had 685 00:44:17,880 --> 00:44:21,360 just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he 686 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:23,960 had met me and fell into talk about the ways 687 00:44:23,960 --> 00:44:26,400 of thieves and how they could get rid of what 688 00:44:26,480 --> 00:44:29,639 they stole. I knew that he would be true to me, 689 00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:33,079 for I knew one or two things about him. So 690 00:44:33,199 --> 00:44:35,719 I made up my mind to go right on to Kilburn, 691 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:39,480 where he lived, and take him into my confidence. He 692 00:44:39,480 --> 00:44:41,800 would show me how to turn the stone into money, 693 00:44:42,239 --> 00:44:44,840 but how to get to him in safety. I thought 694 00:44:44,840 --> 00:44:47,079 of the agonies I had gone through in coming from 695 00:44:47,119 --> 00:44:50,840 the hotel. I might at any moment be seized and searched, 696 00:44:51,199 --> 00:44:53,719 and there would be the stone in my waistcoat pocket. 697 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:56,800 I was leaning against the wall at the time and 698 00:44:56,880 --> 00:45:00,440 looking at the geese which were waddling about round my feet, 699 00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:03,639 and suddenly an idea came into my head which showed 700 00:45:03,639 --> 00:45:06,559 me how I could beat the best detective that ever lived. 701 00:45:07,079 --> 00:45:09,800 My sister had told me some weeks before that I 702 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:12,519 might have the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, 703 00:45:13,159 --> 00:45:15,039 and I knew that she was always as good as 704 00:45:15,039 --> 00:45:18,440 her word. I would take my goose now, and in 705 00:45:18,559 --> 00:45:21,599 it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was 706 00:45:21,639 --> 00:45:24,280 a little shed in the yard, and behind this I 707 00:45:24,440 --> 00:45:27,679 drove one of the birds, a fine, big one, white 708 00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:30,840 with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its 709 00:45:30,840 --> 00:45:33,800 bill open, I thrust the stone down its throat as 710 00:45:33,880 --> 00:45:37,000 far as my finger could reach. The bird gave a gulp, 711 00:45:37,039 --> 00:45:39,480 and I felt the stone pass along in its gullet 712 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:43,320 and down into its crop. But the creature flapped and struggled, 713 00:45:43,559 --> 00:45:46,079 and out came my sister to know what was the matter. 714 00:45:46,920 --> 00:45:49,400 As I turned to speak to her, the brute broke 715 00:45:49,519 --> 00:45:52,639 loose and fluttered off among the others. Whatever were you 716 00:45:52,719 --> 00:45:56,400 doing with that bird, jam said she, Well said I 717 00:45:56,960 --> 00:45:59,719 you said you'd give me one for Christmas, And I 718 00:45:59,880 --> 00:46:04,719 was feeling which was the fattest, Oh, said she. We've 719 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:08,559 set yours aside for you. Jim's bird. We call it. 720 00:46:08,559 --> 00:46:12,079 It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty six 721 00:46:12,159 --> 00:46:14,599 of them, which makes one for you and one for us, 722 00:46:14,679 --> 00:46:18,400 and two dozen for the market. Thank you, Maggie, says I. 723 00:46:18,880 --> 00:46:21,039 But if it is all the same to you, I'd 724 00:46:21,119 --> 00:46:24,039 rather have that one I was handling just now. The 725 00:46:24,159 --> 00:46:27,400 other is a good three pound heavier, said she, and 726 00:46:27,519 --> 00:46:31,280 we fattened it expressly for you. Never mind, I'll take 727 00:46:31,320 --> 00:46:34,480 the other, and i'll take it now, said I. Oh, 728 00:46:34,719 --> 00:46:38,039 just as you like, said she a little huffed. Which 729 00:46:38,079 --> 00:46:40,679 is it you want, then, that white one with the 730 00:46:40,719 --> 00:46:43,960 barred tail right in the middle of the flock, Oh, 731 00:46:44,079 --> 00:46:47,519 very well, kill it and take it with you. Well. 732 00:46:47,559 --> 00:46:49,880 I did what she said, mister Holmes, and I carried 733 00:46:49,880 --> 00:46:52,480 the bird all the way to Kilburn. I told my 734 00:46:52,599 --> 00:46:54,800 pal what I had done, for he was a man 735 00:46:54,840 --> 00:46:57,199 that it was easy to tell a thing like that too. 736 00:46:57,960 --> 00:47:00,519 He laughed until he choked, and we got a knife 737 00:47:00,559 --> 00:47:03,320 and opened the goose. My heart turned to water, for 738 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:06,400 there was no sign of the stone, and I knew 739 00:47:06,559 --> 00:47:10,320 that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, 740 00:47:10,719 --> 00:47:13,880 rushed back to my sister's and hurried into the back yard. 741 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:17,199 There was not a bird to be seen there. Oh, 742 00:47:17,239 --> 00:47:20,440 where are they all? Maggie, I cried, gone to the 743 00:47:20,480 --> 00:47:26,880 dealers jam which dealers a Breckinridge of Covent Garden. But 744 00:47:27,119 --> 00:47:29,480 was there another with a barred tale? I asked, the 745 00:47:29,559 --> 00:47:32,559 same as the one I chose. Yes, jem, there were 746 00:47:32,679 --> 00:47:37,039 two barred tailed ones, and I could never tell them apart. Well, then, 747 00:47:37,119 --> 00:47:39,599 of course I saw it all, and I ran off 748 00:47:39,639 --> 00:47:41,639 as hard as my feet would carry me to this 749 00:47:41,800 --> 00:47:45,039 man Breckinridge. But he had sold the lot at once, 750 00:47:45,079 --> 00:47:47,119 and not one word would he tell me as to 751 00:47:47,199 --> 00:47:50,400 where they had gone. You heard him yourselves to night. 752 00:47:51,039 --> 00:47:54,039 Well he has always answered me like that. My sister 753 00:47:54,159 --> 00:47:56,960 thinks that I am going mad. Sometimes I think that 754 00:47:57,079 --> 00:48:01,360 I am myself and thal and and now I'm myself 755 00:48:01,400 --> 00:48:04,119 a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for 756 00:48:04,280 --> 00:48:08,639 which I sold my character. Heaven help me, Heaven help me. 757 00:48:09,400 --> 00:48:12,840 He burst into convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in 758 00:48:12,920 --> 00:48:16,719 his hands. There was a long silence, broken only by 759 00:48:16,719 --> 00:48:20,280 his heavy breathing and by the measured tapping of Sherlock 760 00:48:20,320 --> 00:48:23,320 Holmes's finger tips upon the edge of the table. Then 761 00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:26,480 my friend rose and threw open the door. Get out, 762 00:48:26,760 --> 00:48:31,639 said he, what, sir, Oh, Heaven bless you no more words, 763 00:48:31,800 --> 00:48:35,440 get out, and no more words were needed. There was 764 00:48:35,480 --> 00:48:38,559 a rush, a clatter upon the stairs, the bang of 765 00:48:38,599 --> 00:48:42,280 a door, and the crisp rattle of running footfalls from 766 00:48:42,280 --> 00:48:46,679 the street. After all, Watson said Holmes, reaching up his 767 00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:49,960 hand for his clay pipe. I am not retained by 768 00:48:49,960 --> 00:48:54,320 the police to supply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger, 769 00:48:54,519 --> 00:48:57,199 it would be another thing. But this fellow will not 770 00:48:57,280 --> 00:49:01,400 appear against him, and the case must collapse. I suppose 771 00:49:01,480 --> 00:49:04,960 that I am commuting a felony, but it is just 772 00:49:05,119 --> 00:49:08,920 possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will 773 00:49:08,920 --> 00:49:13,000 not go wrong again. He is too terribly frightened. Send 774 00:49:13,119 --> 00:49:15,639 him to jail now, and you make him a jail 775 00:49:15,679 --> 00:49:19,840 bird for life. Besides, it is the season of forgiveness. 776 00:49:20,599 --> 00:49:23,360 Chance has put in our way a most singular and 777 00:49:23,440 --> 00:49:28,519 whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If 778 00:49:28,559 --> 00:49:30,920 you will have the goodness to touch the bell, doctor, 779 00:49:31,559 --> 00:49:35,519 we will begin another investigation, in which also a bird 780 00:49:35,760 --> 00:49:39,960 will be the chief feature. And of the Adventure of 781 00:49:40,039 --> 00:49:43,199 the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle