The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 29 (1/2)
”Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen”
”Fine birds they were, too Nohere did you get them froer from the salesman
”Now, then, mister,” said he, with his head cocked and his arht, now”
”It is straight enough I should like to knoho sold you the geese which you supplied to the Alpha”
”Well then, I shan't tell you So now!”
”Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't knohy you should be so warm over such a trifle”
”Warm! You'd be as warood ood article there should be an end of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the fuss that is made over them”
”Well, I have no connection with any other people who have beeninquiries,” said Holmes carelessly ”If you won't tell us the bet is off, that is all But I'm always ready to back my opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the bird I ate is country bred”
”Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred,” snapped the sales of the kind”
”I say it is”
”I don't believe it”
”D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that went to the Alpha were town bred”
”You'll never persuade me to believe that”
”Will you bet, then?”
”It's ht But I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be obstinate”
The sales ht round a s the lamp
”Now then, Mr cocksure,” said the saleseese, but before I finish you'll find that there is still one left in my shop You see this little book?”
”Well?”
”That's the list of the folk froe are the country folk, and the numbers after their naer
Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a list of my town suppliers Now, look at that third name Just read it out to me”
”Mrs Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249,” read Holer”
Hole indicated ”Here you are, 'Mrs
Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier'”
”Now, then, what's the last entry?”