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must set ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and
ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery。 To
do this； we must try the simplest means first； and these lie
undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers。 If
this fail； I shall have recourse to other methods。〃
〃What will you say？〃
〃Give me a pencil and that slip of paper。 Now； then：
〃Found at the corner of Goodge Street； a goose and a black
felt hat。 Mr。 Henry Baker can have the same by applying at
6：30 this evening at 221B； Baker Street。
That is clear and concise。〃
〃Very。 But will he see it？〃
〃Well； he is sure to keep an eye on the papers； since； to a
poor man； the loss was a heavy one。 He was clearly so scared by
his mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of
Peterson that he thought of nothing but flight； but since then he
must have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop
his bird。 Then； again； the introduction of his name will cause
him to see it； for everyone who knows him will direct his
attention to it。 Here you are； Peterson； run down to the
advertising agency and have this put in the evening papers。〃
〃In which； sir？〃
〃Oh； in the Globe； Star； Pall Mall； St。 James's； Evening News
Standard； Echo； and any others that occur to you。〃
〃Very well； sir。 And this 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； for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of the
one which your family is now devouring。〃
When the commissionaire had gone； Holmes took up the stone and
held it against the light。 〃It's a bonny thing；〃 said he。 〃Just
see how it glints and sparkles。 Of course it is a nucleus and
focus of crime。 Every good stone is。 They are the devil's pet
baits。 In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a
bloody deed。 This stone is not yet twenty years old。 It was
found in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is
remarkable in having every characteristic of the carbuncle； save
that it is blue in shade instead of ruby red。 In spite of its
youth； it has already a sinister history。 There have been two
murders； a vitriol…throwing； a suicide； and several robberies
brought about for the sake of this forty…grain weight of
crystallized charcoal。 Who would think that so pretty a toy would
be a purueyor to the gallows and the prison？ I'll lock it up in
my strong box now and drop a line to the Countess to say that we
have it。〃
〃Do you think that this man Horner is innocent？〃
〃I cannot tell。〃
〃Well； then； do you imagine that this other one； Henry Baker；
had anything to do with the matter？〃
〃It is； I think； much more likely that Henry Baker is an
absolutely innocent man； who had no idea that the bird which he
was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made
of solid gold。 That； however； I shall determine by a very simple
test if we have an answer to our advertisement。〃
〃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's 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's 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 Museumwe 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 cris