The Adventure of the The Adventure of the BlueBlue CarbuncleCarbuncle

A Sherlock Holmes MysteryA Sherlock Holmes Mystery

• Initials H B on the inside• 3 year old style – yet can’t

afford a new one• Tallow stains – has no gas

lights at home• Ink used to cover damage –

retains some self-respect• Hairs and the smell of lime-oil

- a recent visit to the barber• Covered in house dust –

owner does not go out much• Sweat stains inside – owner

out of condition• Broken hat-securer – owner

was formerly careful but not so now

• Lack of cleanliness also suggests his wife no longer cares what he goes out like

The HatThe Hat

Card attached to the bird’s leg reading:“For Mrs. Henry Baker”

The gooseThe goose

•Present owner – Countess of Morcar•Alexandrite (blue)•Stolen recently•Found by Peterson in the goose’s crop

The Blue CarbuncleThe Blue Carbuncle

Physical evidence

Witnesses

Henry Baker

Inspector Peterson

James Ryder

Breckinridge the Butcher

John Horner

The SolutionThe Solution• Ryder confesses

– Decided to steal the gem– Put the blame on Horner as he had already been convicted previously – Stuck the gem down the throat of one of the geese in his sister’s herd– Mixed up the bird with another which had a black bar on its tail

• Holmes traces the sequence of events– The birds go to Breckinridge who sells them to the Alpha Inn– Henry Baker unknowingly buys the very goose that has swallowed the

gem– He is attacked by ruffians in the street and runs away when Petersen

intervenes as he accidently breaks a window in trying to defend himself, leaving his hat and goose behind

– Petersen leaves the hat with Holmes and cooks the goose for himself, finding the Blue Carbuncle inside

– Holmes sends Ryder away, believing it is better for him than to end up in prison

– ‘My work is its own reward’

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle in words and pictures

Holmes looks at the hat with Watson

Inspector Peterson chases the men away

Inspector Peterson finds the blue jewel in the goose

Mr Henry Baker collects his hat and a new goose

Holmes talks to the butcher

James Ryder says he stole the blue jewel and hid it in the goose