The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 28 (1/2)
”Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?”
”I cannot tell”
”Well, then, do you i to do with the matter?”
”It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an absolutely innocentwas of considerably old That, however, I shall determine by a very simple test if we have an answer to our advertise until then?”
”Nothing”
”In that case I shall continueat the hour you have led 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 seht Just as I arrived the door was opened, and ere shown up together to Hol froeniality 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 sumht time Is that your hat, Mr Baker?”
”Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly e man with rounded shoulders, adown 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 fron of cuff or shi+rt He spoke in a slow staccato fashi+on, choosing his words with care, and gave the i 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 advertise your address I am at a loss to knohy you did not advertise”
Our visitor gave a rather shas have not been so plentiful with ang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off both my hat and the bird I did not care to spendthem”
”Very naturally By the way, about the bird, ere 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 presuoose upon the sideboard, which is about the saht 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 ht be useful to me as relics of my adventure,” said he, ”but beyond that I can hardly see what use the disjectato 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 Hol of his shoulders
”There is your hat, then, and there your bird,” said he ”By the ould it bore you to tell ot the other one from? I am sorown goose”