On the morning after Christmas, a commissionaire named Peterson finds a battered hat and a goose in the street after witnessing a scuffle involving a man carrying the goose. The man flees, leaving behind the hat and the bird. Peterson brings both items to Sherlock Holmes, who deduces various details about the hat's owner, a man named Henry Baker, based on its condition and characteristics. The hat has initials "H.B." and a card tied to the goose indicates it belongs to "Mrs. Henry Baker." Holmes learns that the goose is not just any bird; it contains a valuable blue carbuncle, a diamond that was stolen from the Countess of Morcar. The stone was lost during a robbery at the Hotel Cosmopolitan, where a plumber named John Horner was accused of the theft. Holmes decides to place an advertisement in the evening papers to find Baker and return his property. Baker arrives at Baker Street, unaware of the goose's true value. He is relieved to receive a replacement goose, as the original has been eaten. Holmes, however, is more interested in the mystery surrounding the stolen diamond. He and Watson investigate further, leading them to a poultry dealer named Breckinridge, who sold the geese to the Alpha Inn. During their inquiry, they encounter a nervous man named James Ryder, who is revealed to be the hotel attendant involved in the robbery. Ryder confesses to having stolen the diamond and hiding it in a goose, but he lost track of it when the bird was sold. He pleads for mercy, fearing for his family's reaction if he is prosecuted. Holmes, recognizing the potential for redemption, decides not to turn Ryder in, believing that the fear of punishment will deter him from future wrongdoing. He concludes that the case, while whimsical, has provided its own resolution without the need for legal repercussions. The story ends with Holmes reflecting on the nature of crime and forgiveness during the holiday season.
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1892 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime