Yes, sir.
Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in which
you were interested white, with a black bar across the tail.
Ryder quivered with emotion. Oh, sir, he cried, can you tell me
where it went to?
It came here.
Here?
Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don t wonder that you
should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was dead the
bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. I have it here
in my museum.
Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece with his
right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up the blue
carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, brilliant,
many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a drawn face, uncertain
whether to claim or to disown it.
The game s up, Ryder, said Holmes quietly. Hold up, man, or you ll
be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Watson. He s not
got blood enough to go in for felony with impunity. Give him a dash of
brandy. So! Now he looks a little more human. What a shrimp it is, to
be sure!
For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy brought
a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring with frightened
eyes at his accuser.
I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I could
possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Still, that
little may as well be cleared up to make the case complete. You had
heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Countess of Morcar s?
It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it, said he in a crackling
voice.
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