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The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as

relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly

see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are

going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I

will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive

upon the sideboard."

Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug

of his shoulders.

"There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the

way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one

from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a

better grown goose."