Sherlock Holmes: Analyzing the Mystery of the Blue Carbuncle
The Case of the Hat and the Goose: Key Questions Answered
Initial Inquiries
Was the hat connected with an important crime?
No, initially it was an intellectual problem, but it later became connected to a crime.
Why did Holmes think the hat was interesting?
Because with the hat, he could discover the identity of both the hat's owner and the goose.
Who was Peterson?
A commissionaire (a person in uniform who stands outside public buildings or hotels to welcome people).
Who attacked Henry Becker?
Some attackers assaulted him.
Why did the man carrying the goose run away when he saw Peterson?
When he saw Peterson in his commissionaire uniform, he thought Peterson was a policeman.
Peterson knew the man's name was Henry Becker; why didn't he return the goose and the hat?
Because in London, there are hundreds of men named Henry Becker.
Why did Peterson bring Holmes the goose and the hat?
Because Peterson knew that Holmes was interested in even the smallest problems.
How was Holmes going to find out more about the identity of the man who lost the hat and goose?
He discovered more information directly from examining the hat.
Vocabulary Enrichment
- Commissionaire: A person in a uniform who stands outside public buildings or hotels to welcome people.
- Knocked off: Pushed his hat off with force.
- Hat securer: A band that holds the hat on the head.
- Dusty: Covered with dust.
- Foresight: Careful planning for the future.
- Unfit: In bad physical condition because he does not exercise very much.
- Sweat: The liquid that comes out of the skin when you are hot.
- Shiny: Bright, reflecting light.
- Carbuncle: A precious stone; generally it is red, but here it is blue, which makes it especially valuable.
- Pence: Coins (the plural of penny).
- Stallholder: Person who owns a table in an outdoor market.
- Grate: The metal frame in a fireplace.
- Thieves: People who steal things; who take things that are not theirs.
- Swallow: Send something from your mouth to your stomach.
- Forgiveness: Pardon; mercy.
- Reward: Prize; payment.
- Beak: The goose's bill.
Holmes's Deductions from the Hat
Tell me some of the things Sherlock Holmes discovered by examining Henry Becker's hat carefully:
Holmes deduced the following:
- The man was very intellectual.
- Three years ago, he had quite a lot of money, but recently he has had money problems.
- He probably drinks too much, which is likely why his wife has stopped loving him.
- He is totally unfit (in poor physical condition).
- He is middle-aged and has grey hair.
Why did Peterson come back to see Holmes?
Because Peterson's wife found a blue carbuncle inside the goose's stomach.