Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 40 Adventure History (18)
"He's sure to pay attention to the papers. It's a bad enough loss for a man who isn't well off. He obviously thought he had done something wrong with the broken glass, and saw Podson approaching him, so He was so flustered that he just ran away and lost other things. He must be very upset afterwards, regretting that he should not have lost the goose. Besides, his name is on the newspaper, and everyone who knows him will remind him to read the newspaper. Podson, You send this to the advertising agency, and it must be published in today's evening paper."

"Sir, in what newspaper?"

"Oh, in any paper you can think of, The Globe, The Star, The Pall Mall, St. James's, The Evening News, The Echo."

"Well, sir, what about this jewel?"

"Oh, let me keep it first, thank you. Oh, by the way, don't forget to buy a goose when you come back. I must give the gentleman one to replace the one your family is eating."

After Podson left, Holmes carefully observed the jewel. "It is unique! You see, it is so radiant! But it is the source of crime - there is no jewel that is not like this. They are the devil's most effective bait. A bloody crime hides on almost every side of the larger and older gemstone. This gemstone was found less than 20 years ago on the coast of Xiamen, China. Its peculiarity is that it Has all the characteristics of a ruby, but is azure rather than bright red. Although it was born recently, it has had a rough time. The forty grams of crystalline carbon has been responsible for two murders: one is disfigured by sulfuric acid; Suicide, and several robberies later. No one expected such a lovely ornament to become a supplier of criminals to gallows and prison. I should lock it in a safe and write to tell Countess, we have found her jewel."

"So John Horner is not guilty?"

"I'm not sure."

"Well, do you think Henry Buck has anything to do with it?"

"Henry Buck is innocent, I think. It wouldn't occur to him that this goose is worth more than a golden goose. In any case, as soon as the missing person is answered, the situation will become clear."

"What else is there to do before then?"

"Nothing."

"Then, I'll deal with my job first. I'll come at 06:30 tonight. I'd like to know the result."

"Nice to see you again. I have supper at seven and may have a woodcock. By the way, in light of recent events, I may ask Mrs. Hudson to examine the crop of that woodcock, too. "

I was delayed a bit by a patient, and it was past 06:30 when I came to Baker Street again.Walking into the apartment, I found a tall man standing outside the house.The door opened just as I reached it, and we were led together into Holmes' room.

"If I'm not mistaken, you are Mr. Henry Barker, right?" Holmes stood up and quickly received the guests with an amiable expression. "Sit down, Mr. Barker. It's close to the fire and warm. It's cold to-night. It seems your blood circulation is not as good as it is in summer. Oh, Watson, you have come just in time. Mr. Barker, is this hat yours?"

"Yes, sir, indeed mine."

He is tall, with big arms and round waist, a big head, a broad face, and a brown beard that is thin and slightly gray.The nose and cheeks were very rosy, and there was a slight trembling when he stretched out his hands. These features confirmed Holmes' guess.His faded black overcoat was fully buttoned and turned up at the collar, and his slender wrists protruded from the sleeves.There's no such thing as shirts and cuffs on the wrists.He spoke intermittently and carefully, as if he were a literati down on his luck.

Holmes said: "These things have been kept here for several days. I have been hoping to find your address in the newspaper. Why don't you publish the missing item notice?"

The guest looked distressed, smiled and said, "I'm poor now, not as rich as before, and I think those robbers have already taken them away, so I don't want to waste my money."

"You're right, but the goose, we had to eat it."

"Have you eaten?" The guest was so excited that he almost stood up.

"Yes, I think that if you don't do that, the goose will no longer be edible. But I think the goose on the sideboard is about the same size as yours. It must be delicious and should compensate you."

"Oh, of course." Mr. Barker let out a long sigh of relief.

"Of course, we still have the feathers, feet, crop, etc. of your goose. It is your own goose after all, if you wish..."

The man suddenly laughed and said, "It's useless for me to ask for these things. Shouldn't it be used as a souvenir of that adventure? Sir, if you agree, I think I'm quite satisfied with the one on your sideboard. "

Holmes cast a quick glance at me, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, here's your hat, and the goose," he said. "Can you tell me where you got that goose? I'm very interested in poultry, and I've rarely seen one as big as yours." Good goose."

"Of course, sir." He tucked the lost property under his arm and stood up. "I spend most of my day gambling a little money at the Alfa Inn near the museum. This year, that kind shop called Wendigate Sponsored a goose watching club. Because a lot of wine money was spent there every week, so before Christmas, the club gave each of us a goose. As for what happened afterwards, you already know. You see, no matter Neither my age nor my position do me well in such a Scotch bonnet. You have served me well, thank you very much, sir." He bowed deeply to us with dignity, and departed cheerfully.

"The matter of Henry Buck is settled," said Holmes, closing the door. "He is evidently ignorant of the matter. Oh, Watson, are you hungry?"

"Not very hungry."

"Then how about we change dinner to supper? Now we should seize the opportunity and follow the clues to investigate."

"Okay, I agree."

It was a cold night, we put on coats, scarves, and wrapped ourselves tightly.Outside the house, the endless night sky is full of stars, and the pedestrians exhaling mist are like many pistols shooting, spewing out white smoke.We strode through Physician's Quarter, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and then across Wigmore Street to Oxford Street, and in less than a quarter of an hour we were at the Alfa Inn near the museum.It's fairly small and is on the corner of a street that goes into Holborn.We went in and ordered two beers from the ruddy innkeeper in his clean white apron.

"If your beer is as good as your geese, it will be the best beer," said Holmes.

"My goose?" The innkeeper looked rather surprised.

"Yes, I was talking to one of your members, Mr. Henry Barker, half an hour ago."

"Oh, I see. But those geese are not ours!"

"Oh? Whose is that?"

"Bought it from a salesman in Calvert."

"Is that so? I know some of them. Which one do you mean?"

"It's called Blake Ridge."

"Oh, I don't know the man. I wish you good health and prosperity. Good-bye!"

We left the hotel and were plunged into the cold wind again. "Go to Blakelyzzi now," he said, buttoning his coat. "Remember, Watson, that although we have only one goose at one end of the trail, at the other we shall pull out a goose." Someone who will be sentenced to at least seven years in prison. Our investigation may well confirm his crime. In any case, we have some clues that may have been overlooked by the police. go!"

We walked down Holborn Street, turned into Ender Street, and then through the winding ghettos until we came to Calvert Market.In the middle of a bunch of large stalls adjoining each other, we found the booth with a sign that said Blake Ridge.The stall owner has a thin face, a long face, and a neat beard. He is closing the stall with a young man.

"Good evening, it is very cold to-night!" said Holmes.

The owner nodded at us and looked at us both suspiciously.

"It seems that the geese are all sold out," said Holmes, pointing to the empty marble counter.

"I can sell you five hundred geese tomorrow morning."

"That's no use."

"Well, there's some left over at that lit stand."

"Oh, someone introduced me to you."

"Who?"

"The owner of the Alpha Hotel."

"Oh, I did send him twenty-four geese."

"Where did you get them, those geese are really good."

I didn't expect this question to annoy the stall owner.

With his head held high, he put his hands on his waist and asked, "Sir, what exactly do you want? Please speak up if you have something to say."

"I didn't beat around the bush. I just wanted to know who sold you the goose you sold to the Alpha Hotel?"

"Oh, that's right, but I'm sorry, I don't want to tell you."

"Actually, the matter is very simple. I don't know why you lost your temper because of such a trivial matter?"

"Lost tantrums? Come to think of it, if you're constantly questioned, you'll throw tantrums too. I pay, you supply, and the business is clear. Why keep asking 'where's the goose'? 'Who did you sell them to', 'What did you trade the goose for', boring or not?Could it be that the goose is a treasure of gold and silver? "

"I have nothing to do with anyone else who has asked you, sir," said Holmes indifferently. "If you don't want to tell me, the bet is over. That's all I have to say, but I will continue to insist that I am in the poultry industry." Breeding opinion. I bet five pounds on the question. I bet the goose we had was farm raised."

"Ha ha, then you've lost five pounds, because he was indeed bred in the city," said the shopkeeper.

"No way?"

"I am sure."

"It's not like that."

"You know more about poultry than I do? Let me tell you, I have worked with them since I was an apprentice. To tell you the truth, all the geese sent to Alpha Hotel are raised in the city."

"How do you prove that what you said is true?"

"Well, do you dare to bet?"

"Then you must lose, and I am sure of my conclusions. Nevertheless, I will offer you a pound, just to save you from being so obstinate in the future."

The shopkeeper couldn't help laughing, and said, "Give me the ledger, Peel."

The boy brought a small account book and a large account book with a cover covered in oil.Put them under the chandelier. "Hey, Mr. Self-righteous," said the shopkeeper, "I said the geese were all sold out, but I didn't think there was a £[-] left! Look at this little ledger."

"What's written on it?"

"The names of all the shippers who provide the goods are on this. You know? Yes, all the countrymen are recorded on this page. The number after the name represents the page number of the account, which means that their account is recorded on that page. Look! That one is written in red ink, and it's full of the names of people in the city. Hey, please look at the third one, and read it out!"

Holmes read: "Mrs. Okoshock, 117, Polyxton Road—page 29."

"Okay, now you look at the ledger."

According to his instructions, Holmes turned to one of the pages. "Here, Mrs. Okoshock, Egg and Poultry Supplier, 117 Polyxton Road."

"When was the last accounting?"

"22nd December, 24 geese, seven shillings and sixpence."

"Yes, that's it. You can read the following."

"Sold to the Wendygate of the Alpha Hotel for twelve shillings."

"What else do you have to say now?"

Sherlock Holmes feigned an expression of chagrin, took out a pound from his pocket, threw it on the marble counter, and walked away with an incomprehensibly complicated expression.Not far away, he stopped under a street lamp and laughed happily.

"When you run into one of these bearded men who aren't going to tell you the secret, you just bet him it'll work," said he. Sir, I didn't expect our investigation to be over so quickly. Now there is only one question: whether to go to Mrs. Okoshock's tonight or tomorrow. But according to the rude shopkeeper, it seems that we are not the only ones who are inquiring about this matter, so we must..."

His words were interrupted by a loud quarrel from the stall just now.We followed the sound, and saw a small, wicked-eyed man standing under the dim light. Blakely, the shopkeeper, was standing at the door, shaking his fist viciously at the man.

"You're as annoying as your geese!" he roared. "I hope you go to heaven together, and if you dare to say something out of the blue again, don't blame me for letting the dog bite you. You have the guts." Just call Mrs. Okoshock, and I'll give her the answer in person, what does this have to do with you, you didn't sell me the goose!"

"Yes, but there is one of my gooses in there!" said the short man with a sad face.

"Then you'll go to Mrs. Okoshock."

"But she asked me to ask you for it."

"Ah? Why don't you ask the King of Prussia for it? It has nothing to do with me, it's okay, I'm so annoying, you get the hell out of me right away!" The shopkeeper walked forward viciously, and the dwarf quickly disappeared in fright. In the dark night.

"Ah, it looks like we needn't go to Polyxton Road," murmured Holmes. "Come with me, and see what we find out of the fellow." The crowd wandering around it, we took a few steps to catch up with the dwarf.Holmes patted him on the shoulder, and he turned hastily in terror.Under the gas lamp, I saw his face was pale, without a trace of blood.

"What are you doing? Who are you?" he said tremblingly.

"Excuse me," said Holmes, "but I overheard your conversation with the shopkeeper. Perhaps I can help you."

"Who are you? How do you know this?"

"I am Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what others do not."

"But, how much do you know about this?"

"Excuse me, I know the whole story. The goose you were looking for was sold by Mrs. Okoshock of Polikston Road to a peddler named Blake Ridge, who was later resold to Mr. Wendigate of the Alpha Hotel, and from him to his club, of which Mr. Henry Barker happens to be a member."

"Sir, I finally found you!" said the short man, stretching out his trembling hand. "I don't know how to explain it to you. I'm so interested in this matter."

Holmes called a passing carriage. "Since this is the case, let's have a serious discussion in a better place. This cold and windy downtown is not a place to talk. Before we leave, I would like to know your name."

The dwarf froze for a moment, looked aside and said, "My name is John Robinson."

"No, I want your real name," said Holmes. "It seems inappropriate to use a pseudonym for business."

The stranger's face immediately turned from white to red. "Well, my name is James Ryder," he said.

"That's right, the foreman of the 'World Hotel', please get in the car! Soon I will tell you everything you want to know." The man stayed there, looking back and forth between us in a daze, with worries and fears in his eyes. Hopefully, this is the expression of someone who is not at all sure of his fate.He got into the carriage, and everyone was speechless all the way, but it was obvious that this guy was nervous.His hands clenched for a while, then loosened for a while, and he was still panting.Half an hour later we were back at our house in Baker Street.

"Home!" said Holmes cheerfully, as we entered the house. "The warmth of the fire is very comforting in such cold weather. Are you cold, Mr. Ryder? Before dealing with that matter, allow me Put on your slippers first. Oh, come on, you really want to know about those geese?"

"Yes, sir."

"Exactly, you want to know about a certain goose. The white one with the black stripe on its tail."

Ryder shuddered, as if shocked by electricity. "Oh, sir! Do you know where this goose is?"

"Yes, it came to me."

"here?"

"Yes, it is indeed an extraordinary goose. I am not surprised that you take such great interest in it. After the goose died, it laid an egg - a rare, luxurious and brilliant blue egg in the world , I have hidden it in the safe."

Our new companion rose suddenly, clutching the mantelpiece with his right hand.Holmes opened the safe, took out the gem and held it up high. Ryder looked at the shining gem with a long face.Obviously, he didn't know whether to claim it or not.

"The play is over, Ryder," said Holmes. "Please stand still, or you will fall over the stove. Help him to a chair, Watson, he is too timid, and give him some brandy. All right. Yes, it’s better now, he’s really too thin!”

After a while, he straightened up unsteadily again, and soon, he almost fell down again.The brandy brought a little blush to his cheeks.He forced himself to sit down again, looking at his condemnor with panic in his eyes.

"We have found out all the details of this case, and the evidence is in hand, so I am not going to ask you any more. But I need you to add some small details in order to fully clarify the case. Ryder, you have heard of the Countess of Mogo sapphire?"

He stammered: "Catherine Cusack told me."

"Oh, you mean the maid of the Countess. Yes, this easy-to-get wealth is very attractive to you! But before you, many people who are better than you have already failed, and your method is still I don't think so. You know that Horner, the plumber, has a history of burglary, so you decided to frame him. What did you do? You and your accomplice, Cusack, in the Countess' room You messed with him, screwed something up, and lured him into the room to fix it. Then you pretended to leave, and sneaked in again to pry open the jewelry box and stole the gem. Then you yelled theft, causing the poor plumbing The worker was arrested, and then you..."

Ryder plopped on the ground, hugged Holmes' feet and begged: "Sir, for God's sake, and my elderly parents, please forgive me. If they know about me, they will be heartbroken. I used to I have never done anything bad, and I will definitely change it in the future. I swear, I am willing to swear in front of the Bible, please don’t tell the court about this. Please!”

"Go back to your chair," reprimanded Holmes, "and now you are thinking of kowtowing. How did you not think of poor Horner, who was innocently brought to court for this matter?"

(End of this chapter)