Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "Yes,itwouldhavebeenofnousetoanyonehadwenotdoneso. ButIpresumethatthisothergooseuponthesideboard,whichisaboutthesameweightandperfectlyfresh,willansweryourpurposeequallywell?" 

           "Oh,certainly,certainly,"answeredMr.Bakerwithasighofrelief. 

           "Ofcourse,westillhavethefeathers,legs,crop,andsoonofyourownbird,soifyouwish—" 

           Themanburstintoaheartylaugh. "Theymightbeusefultomeasrelicsofmyadventure,"saidhe,"butbeyondthatIcanhardlyseewhatusethedisjectamembraofmylateacquaintancearegoingtobetome. No,sir,Ithinkthat,withyourpermission,IwillconfinemyattentionstotheexcellentbirdwhichIperceiveuponthesideboard." 

           SherlockHolmesglancedsharplyacrossatmewithaslightshrugofhisshoulders. 

           "Thereisyourhat,then,andthereyourbird,"saidhe. "Bytheway,woulditboreyoutotellmewhereyougottheotheronefrom? Iamsomewhatofafowlfancier,andIhaveseldomseenabettergrowngoose." 

           "Certainly,sir,"saidBaker,whohadrisenandtuckedhisnewlygainedpropertyunderhisarm. "ThereareafewofuswhofrequenttheAlphaInn,neartheMuseum—wearetobefoundintheMuseumitselfduringtheday,youunderstand. Thisyearourgoodhost,Windigatebyname,institutedagooseclub,bywhich,onconsiderationofsomefewpenceeveryweek,wewereeachtoreceiveabirdatChristmas. Mypenceweredulypaid,andtherestisfamiliartoyou. Iammuchindebtedtoyou,sir,foraScotchbonnetisfittedneithertomyyearsnormygravity." Withacomicalpomposityofmannerhebowedsolemnlytobothofusandstrodeoffuponhisway.