[00:01.61] Chapter 3, a goose chase.
[00:05.48] In 15 minutes, we were at the Alpha Inn, a small public house in Bloomsbury.
[00:14.13] Holmes pushed open the door of the saloon bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord.
[00:23.80] Is your beer as good as your geese?
[00:26.48] he asked.
[00:30.80] The landlord looked surprised.
[00:33.69] My geese?
[00:36.34] he exclaimed.
[00:37.75] Yes, I was speaking only half an hour ago to a Mr. Henry Baker.
[00:45.94] He was one of your goose club members.
[00:50.10] Ah, I see.
[00:52.56] But them is not our geese.
[00:55.54] I get some from the market in Covent Garden.
[01:01.07] Holmes nodded.
[01:03.78] I see.
[01:06.89] Who is your man there?
[01:09.73] I always goes to Brekenridge.
[01:13.55] Would you be thinking of joining the goose club, sir?
[01:17.45] Thank you, no, said Holmes.
[01:21.30] He sipped the beer appreciatively.
[01:25.70] Your good health, landlord.
[01:29.72] We drank our beer and set out once again.
[01:33.72] This time, we walked south and at last came to Covent Garden Market.
[01:40.45] One of the largest stalls had the name Brekenridge on it.
[01:46.25] Holmes walked up to a horsey-faced man with trimmed side whiskers, who seemed to be the owner.
[01:54.55] Sold out of geese, I see, said Holmes.
[02:00.10] You can get some from over there, the man replied, pointing to another stall.
[02:08.27] I was told you sold the best.
[02:11.60] Who by?
[02:14.36] The landlord of the Alpha.
[02:18.74] I sent him two dozen, it's true.
[02:24.68] And where did you get them from?
[02:27.91] asked Holmes.
[02:30.61] To our surprise, the question seemed to anger the man.
[02:37.38] Now then, mister, he said with his hands on his hips, what are you getting at?
[02:44.90] Let's have it straight.
[02:47.89] It is straight enough.
[02:50.40] I should like to know who sold you the geese which you sold to the Alpha.
[02:57.87] Well, I sha'n't tell you.
[03:03.67] Holmes sighed, as if the matter was not important.
[03:10.04] I wonder that you should be upset over such a small thing.
[03:14.70] Upset?
[03:17.31] You would be upset if you had been pestered as I am, people asking, where are the geese?
[03:25.91] and who did you sell the geese to?
[03:29.60] I'm sick of it.
[03:33.74] Holmes smiled.
[03:36.96] Well, I have nothing to do with any of those people, but I have a bet on that those geese were country bread geese.
[03:49.14] The man looked sideways at Holmes.
[03:52.58] Well, you will lose your money, he said.
[03:57.13] They are town bread.
[04:01.36] It cannot be, said Holmes.
[04:06.31] You cannot fool me about such birds.
[04:11.69] Do you think you know more about them than I do?
[04:15.70] I have handled fowls since I was a nipper.
[04:22.24] Nonsense, said Holmes.
[04:26.55] You are confused, that's all.
[04:31.62] Will you bet with me then?
[04:34.34] asked the man.
[04:36.73] I'll put a sovereign on it, said Holmes.
[04:42.49] But how can you prove it?
[04:46.67] The man chuckled.
[04:49.66] Bring me the books, Bill.
[04:54.80] A small boy brought a thin black book.
[04:59.36] The man opened it.
[05:01.94] Now, Mr. Noel, let us see.
[05:08.60] Here, we have all the records of what is bought and sold.
[05:14.79] He ran his finger down the page.
[05:17.91] Perhaps you would read what it says there, sir.
[05:25.14] He pointed at an entry in the book.
[05:27.61] Mrs. Oakshot, 117 Brixton Road, read Holmes.
[05:36.05] And on the page facing, said the man with a smile, December 22nd, 24 geese at seven shillings and sixpence.
[05:52.18] And next to that, sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha at 12 shillings.
[06:04.31] What have you to say now?
[06:07.55] asked the man with a smile of triumph.
[06:13.24] Holmes shook his head and pulled a sovereign from his pocket.
[06:18.53] He turned away as if he was too disappointed to speak.
[06:23.98] We had walked a few yards when he stopped and winked at me.
[06:29.88] I know a betting man when I see one, he said.
[06:39.25] And are we going to Brixton Road now?
[06:42.25] I asked.
[06:44.70] It was getting late and very cold.
[06:48.64] I knew, however, that if Holmes was on the trail, nothing would stop him.
[06:58.83] Holmes was about to answer when there was a noise from the stall.
[07:03.91] Brekenridge was waving his arms in the air and shouting at a small man with a sharp, pointed face.
[07:12.83] If you come pestering me anymore, I will set the dog on you.
[07:18.57] You bring Mrs. Oakshot here and I'll answer her.
[07:23.44] What have you to do with it?
[07:25.69] Did I buy the geese off you?
[07:30.38] No, but one of them was mine all the same, the man whined.
[07:38.08] Well, ask Mrs. Oakshot for it.
[07:42.76] She told me to ask you.
[07:46.80] Well, you can ask the King of Russia for it for all I care.
[07:52.05] Get out of here.
[07:57.36] This may save us a trip to Brixton Road, said Holmes.
[08:04.79] Let us see what we can make of this fellow.
[08:10.20] He hurried after the man who had asked the questions.
[08:16.93] Excuse me, said Holmes.
[08:23.85] I heard you asking the salesman about geese.
[08:28.15] I think I may be able to help you.
[08:32.89] How can you know anything about it?
[08:36.75] the man said suspiciously.
[08:39.87] My name is Sherlock Holmes, and it is my business to know what other people do not know.
[08:49.59] You are trying to track down some geese sold by Mrs. Oakshot.
[08:55.99] Those geese were sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha in.
[09:03.98] Mr. Henry Baker is a member of that goose club.
[09:09.72] The man stretched out his hand.
[09:14.86] You are the man I have longed to meet, he said.
[09:21.97] Indeed, said Holmes.
[09:25.72] Then we had better discuss it in a warm room, not here in the street.
[09:33.25] He stopped a cab and we all got in.
[09:37.50] May I know your name?
[09:41.61] Uh, John Robinson, said the man with a sideways glance.
[09:49.80] No, no, said Holmes sweetly.
[09:54.43] Your real name.
[09:58.95] It is always hard doing business with an alias.
[10:08.16] The man's white face went red for a moment.
[10:11.85] James Ryder, he said.
[10:19.65] Exactly, said Holmes.
[10:24.53] Porter at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, I believe.
[10:33.54] Nothing more was said during the journey to Baker Street.
[10:38.23] Ryder looked as if he did not know what to make of things.
[10:43.35] Was this a stroke of good luck or bad?