Happily accepting the replacement bird, Baker declines to take away the original bird's entrails, convincing Holmes that he knew nothing about the gem. When Baker appears in response to advertisements that Holmes places in the London newspapers, Holmes offers him a new goose. Holmes closely studies the hat and its condition, deducing Henry Baker's age, social standing, intellect, and domestic status. Peterson returns excited, carrying the stolen gem, and reports that he found it in the goose's crop. Peterson takes the goose home for dinner, and Holmes keeps the hat to study as an intellectual exercise. Although the goose bears a tag with the name Henry Baker, there is little hope of finding an owner with such a common name. Both had been dropped in the street during a scuffle.

In Baker Street, Watson finds Holmes contemplating a battered old hat brought to him by Peterson, a commissionaire, who seeks Holmes's help in returning the hat to its rightful owner, along with a Christmas goose.

The police arrest John Horner, a plumber with a criminal record who was in Countess's room repairing a fireplace grate. Plot Īs London prepares for Christmas, newspapers report the theft of a near-priceless gemstone, the 'Blue Carbuncle', from the hotel suite of the Countess of Morcar. It was first published in The Strand Magazine in January 1892. ' The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' is one of 56 short Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the seventh story of twelve in the collection The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Peterson shows Holmes and Watson the surprising item found inside the goose, 1892 illustration by Sidney Paget

The adventure of the blue carbuncle