Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
"And you can do nothing until then?" `
` `
` "Nothing." `
` `
` "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall `
` come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I `
` should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." `
` `
` "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I `
` believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I `
` ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." `
` `
` I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past `
` six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I `
` approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a `
` coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the `
` bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I `
` arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to `
` Holmes' room. `
` `
` "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair `
` and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he `
` could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. `
` Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is `
` more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have `
` just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." `
` `
` He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a `
` broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of `
` grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight `
` tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his `
` habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in `
` front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded `
` from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a `
` slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the `
` impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had `
` ill-usage at the hands of fortune. `
` `
` "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, `
` "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your `
` address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." `
` `
` Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not `
` been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had `
` no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off `
` both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a `
` hopeless attempt at recovering them." `
` `
` "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to `
` eat it." `
` `
` "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his `
` excitement. `
` `
` "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. `
` But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is `
` about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your `
` purpose equally well?" `
` `
` "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of `
` relief. `
` `
` "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of `
` your own bird, so if you wish--" `
` `
` The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as `
` relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly `
` see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are `
` going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I `
` will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive `
` upon the sideboard." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug `
` of his shoulders. `
` `
` "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the `
` way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one `
` from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a `
` better grown goose." `
` `
` "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly `
` gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who `
` frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in `
` the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our `
` good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, `
` on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to `
` receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the `
` rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a `
` Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With `
` a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and `
` strode off upon his way. `
` `
` "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the `
` door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing `
` whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" `
` `
` "Not particularly." `
` `
` "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow `
` up this clue while it is still hot." `
` `
` "By all means." `
` `
` It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped `
` cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly `
` in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out `
` into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out `
` crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, `
` Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into `
` Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at `
` the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one `
` of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open `
` the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from `
` the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. `
` `
` "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," `
` said he. `
` `
` "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. `
` `
` "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, `
` who was a member of your goose club." `
` `
` "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." `
` `
` "Indeed! Whose, then?" `
` `
` "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." `
` `
` "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" `
` `
` "Breckinridge is his name." `
` `
` "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, `
` and prosperity to your house. Good-night." `
` `
` "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat `
` as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though `
` we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we `
` have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal `
` servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible `
` that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we `
` have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, `
` and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us `
` follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and `
` quick march!" `
` `
` We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a `
` zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest `
` stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor `
` a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was `
` helping a boy to put up the shutters. `
` `
` "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. `
` `
` The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my `
` companion. `
` `
` "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the `
` bare slabs of marble. `
` `
` "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." `
` `
` "That's no good." `
` `
` "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." `
` `
` "Ah, but I was recommended to you." `
` `
` "Who by?" `
` `
` "The landlord of the Alpha." `
` `
` "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." `
` `
` "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" `
` `
` To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the `
` salesman. `
` `
` "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms `
` akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." `
` `
` "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the `
` geese which you supplied to the Alpha." `
` `
` "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" `
` `
` "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you `
` should be so warm over such a trifle." `
` `
` "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. `
` When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end `
` of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you `
` sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One `
` would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the `
` fuss that is made over them." `
` `
` "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been `
`
` `
` "Nothing." `
` `
` "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall `
` come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I `
` should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." `
` `
` "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I `
` believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I `
` ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." `
` `
` I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past `
` six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I `
` approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a `
` coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the `
` bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I `
` arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to `
` Holmes' room. `
` `
` "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair `
` and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he `
` could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. `
` Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is `
` more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have `
` just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." `
` `
` He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a `
` broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of `
` grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight `
` tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his `
` habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in `
` front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded `
` from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a `
` slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the `
` impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had `
` ill-usage at the hands of fortune. `
` `
` "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, `
` "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your `
` address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." `
` `
` Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not `
` been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had `
` no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off `
` both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a `
` hopeless attempt at recovering them." `
` `
` "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to `
` eat it." `
` `
` "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his `
` excitement. `
` `
` "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. `
` But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is `
` about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your `
` purpose equally well?" `
` `
` "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of `
` relief. `
` `
` "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of `
` your own bird, so if you wish--" `
` `
` The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as `
` relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly `
` see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are `
` going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I `
` will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive `
` upon the sideboard." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug `
` of his shoulders. `
` `
` "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the `
` way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one `
` from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a `
` better grown goose." `
` `
` "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly `
` gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who `
` frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in `
` the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our `
` good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, `
` on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to `
` receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the `
` rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a `
` Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With `
` a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and `
` strode off upon his way. `
` `
` "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the `
` door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing `
` whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" `
` `
` "Not particularly." `
` `
` "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow `
` up this clue while it is still hot." `
` `
` "By all means." `
` `
` It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped `
` cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly `
` in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out `
` into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out `
` crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, `
` Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into `
` Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at `
` the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one `
` of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open `
` the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from `
` the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. `
` `
` "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," `
` said he. `
` `
` "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. `
` `
` "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, `
` who was a member of your goose club." `
` `
` "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." `
` `
` "Indeed! Whose, then?" `
` `
` "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." `
` `
` "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" `
` `
` "Breckinridge is his name." `
` `
` "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, `
` and prosperity to your house. Good-night." `
` `
` "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat `
` as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though `
` we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we `
` have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal `
` servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible `
` that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we `
` have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, `
` and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us `
` follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and `
` quick march!" `
` `
` We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a `
` zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest `
` stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor `
` a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was `
` helping a boy to put up the shutters. `
` `
` "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. `
` `
` The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my `
` companion. `
` `
` "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the `
` bare slabs of marble. `
` `
` "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." `
` `
` "That's no good." `
` `
` "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." `
` `
` "Ah, but I was recommended to you." `
` `
` "Who by?" `
` `
` "The landlord of the Alpha." `
` `
` "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." `
` `
` "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" `
` `
` To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the `
` salesman. `
` `
` "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms `
` akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." `
` `
` "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the `
` geese which you supplied to the Alpha." `
` `
` "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" `
` `
` "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you `
` should be so warm over such a trifle." `
` `
` "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. `
` When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end `
` of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you `
` sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One `
` would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the `
` fuss that is made over them." `
` `
` "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been `
`