[00:01.50]Chapter one.
[00:03.47]A goose and a bowler hat.
[00:07.67]I called on my friend Sherlock Holmes soon after Christmas.
[00:13.38]He greeted me warmly, and we sat by his cheery fire.
[00:18.86]It was frosty outside, and I was glad of the warmth.
[00:24.21]As we sat down, he pointed to an old bowler hat.
[00:30.90]An interesting trophy, Watson.
[00:36.67]To you, Holmes, I am sure it is.
[00:41.58]It was found by Peterson, the commissionaire.
[00:49.20]I knew Peterson, he wore an official uniform, and acted as doorkeeper for the block of apartments in which Holmes lived.
[01:00.09]Holmes went on.
[01:03.86]Peterson was going home late one night when he noticed a tall man in front of him carrying a goose.
[01:13.56]No doubt for the Christmas meal.
[01:17.87]As he reached the corner of Good Street, he bumped into some rough types coming in the opposite direction.
[01:27.50]They were drunk, and for some reason a fight looked about to start.
[01:34.60]The man raised his walking stick to defend himself and smashed a pain of glass behind him.
[01:44.68]At this point, Peterson came along, and the roughs ran off.
[01:52.08]In the dark, his uniform probably made him look like a policeman.
[01:59.03]The tall man ran off too, perhaps thinking that he would be in trouble for breaking the window.
[02:07.61]Anyway, in the upset, he left behind the goose and the hat, which Peterson brought to me.
[02:17.53]He knows how I like even a small mystery.
[02:23.85]So the poor fellow lost his Christmas dinner.
[02:30.79]It would seem so.
[02:35.62]Inside the hat, there was a label with the name Mr. Henry Baker.
[02:46.88]But there are hundreds of people with that name in London.
[02:52.65]I told Peterson to take the goose himself, but I retained the hat.
[03:01.89]Holmes offered it to me.
[03:05.23]See what you can deduce from it, he said.
[03:12.74]I looked at the battered object.
[03:17.17]The red silk lining was now dirty, and though holes had been made for a hat securer, the elastic was missing.
[03:29.15]The hat was very dusty, and there were patches where the black had faded.
[03:35.69]Some of these had been smeared with ink.
[03:42.48]I can deduce nothing, I said.
[03:48.69]Holmes took the hat and gazed at it in the peculiar fashion which I had seen so many times before.
[03:57.77]He then said,
[04:00.47]The owner used to be well off, but is no more.
[04:07.15]He used to think ahead, but is now more careless.
[04:13.36]He is not very fit, probably middle-aged, and his house does not have gas.
[04:22.26]Oh, and he has gray hair, recently cut, on which he puts lime cream.
[04:30.96]I doubt that his wife cares for him as much as she used to.
[04:38.71]Heavens, Holmes, how can you know all that?
[04:43.82]I cried.
[04:45.98]This hat is three years old.
[04:50.38]These flat brims slightly curled were in fashion then.
[04:56.52]It is of good quality.
[04:59.57]Look at the lining.
[05:03.25]So, he bought an expensive hat three years ago, but now it is old.
[05:13.56]But he still wears it, I said.
[05:18.34]Exactly.
[05:21.43]So perhaps he has fallen on hard times.
[05:29.27]He used to take more care than he does now.
[05:34.77]See the marks for the hat securer?
[05:39.55]The elastic is now broken, and he has not replaced it.
[05:46.61]He has become careless.
[05:52.04]However, the ink marks show that he still makes some effort, as he is trying to hide the fade marks on the outside.
[06:04.72]And the other details?
[06:07.34]I asked.
[06:10.95]If you look closely, you will see the small gray hair ends showing a recent haircut, and you will catch the smell of lime cream.
[06:23.73]There are marks of moisture, almost certainly sweat.
[06:29.55]I deduce that someone who perspires so much is not fit.
[06:39.09]But his wife, you said?
[06:43.86]Ah, yes, just a guess, Watson.
[06:51.88]The hat has not been brushed for weeks.
[06:57.76]What loving wife would allow her husband to go out like that?
[07:04.81]When I see you in such a hat, I shall know that your wife no longer cares for you.
[07:12.93]I smiled.
[07:15.41]Well, perhaps.
[07:20.25]But what about the gas, or lack of it?
[07:28.21]There are a number of tallow stains on the hat.
[07:32.91]This chap uses candles rather than gas light.
[07:39.25]I was amused by Holmes's deductions.
[07:44.95]Very interesting, Holmes.
[07:48.92]What a pity no crime has been committed.
[07:54.66]As if on queue, the door burst open.
[07:59.30]It was Peterson.
[08:02.99]Mr. Holmes, the goose, sir, he gasped.
[08:12.00]Has it come to life and flown away?
[08:16.14]Asked Holmes.
[08:19.57]See here, sir, see what my wife found in its crop.
[08:27.51]He held out his hand.
[08:29.82]There in his palm was a jewel, a blue stone that shone like a little light.
[08:38.62]By Jove, exclaimed Holmes.
[08:43.84]It is the blue carbuncle.
[08:48.79]Not the Countess of Morker's jewel?
[08:52.65]I cried.
[08:54.71]The one stolen from the Hotel Cosmopolitan?
[09:01.21]Exactly that, said Holmes.
[09:07.05]Just a few days ago, John Horner, a plumber, is accused of the crime.
[09:17.99]He picked up a newspaper and shortly found what he was seeking.
[09:24.58]According to the news reports, Horner was asked to come and do some minor work in the Countess of Morker's dressing room.
[09:38.31]James Ryder, a porter, brought him to the room to do the work, but was then called away for a while.
[09:49.39]When he came back, he found that the bureau had been forced.
[09:57.37]The jewel case was open, and it was empty.
[10:02.82]Ryder gave the alarm, and that evening, Horner was arrested.
[10:11.70]What did he have to say?
[10:14.61]I asked.
[10:17.28]He said he was innocent.
[10:22.89]However, he has a previous conviction for robbery, and he will stand trial next month.
[10:33.20]The jewel, however, was not found.
[10:42.04]Until now?
[10:44.44]Indeed, Watson.
[10:47.73]Now, let us think how far we have got with this little mystery.
[10:54.98]Here is the jewel.
[10:58.33]The jewel came from the goose, and the goose came from a Mr. Henry Baker.
[11:09.76]So, we must find Mr. Baker, the owner of the hat.
[11:17.97]I nodded.
[11:21.63]The easiest way may be to place an advertisement.
[11:29.76]He turned to Peterson.
[11:33.38]I wonder if you would be so kind.
[11:38.50]Holmes spent a few moments drafting a short advert.
[11:44.40]This will do.
[11:47.33]Found at the corner of Good Street, a goose and a black bowler hat.
[11:57.79]Mr. Henry Baker may have both by applying at 6:30 tomorrow at 221B Baker Street.