《安澜老爷子的晚安故事》 -福尔摩斯探案集之蓝宝石案（下）
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可以搜索公号【璐璐的英文小酒馆】或者添加【luluxjg】咨询课程or加入社群，查看文稿和其他精彩内容哦~ We went out again into the frosty air. “Now for Mr. Breckinridge,” Holmes said as he buttoned his coat. We zigzagged through the back streets. Soon we were in the Covent Garden market. We saw the name Breckinridge on one of the largest stalls. The owner had a long, sharp face. He and a small boy were just closing up. “Good evening. It’s a cold night,” said Holmes. “You are sold out of geese, I see.” “I can let you have five hundred geese in the morning,” the man replied. “That won’t do,” said Holmes. “I want the same kind of geese you sold to the Alpha Inn. They were fine birds. Where did you get them?” To my surprise, the question made Breckinridge angry. “Now then, mister,” he said. “What is all this about? I haven’t heard anything else all day. ‘Where did you get all the geese? Who did you sell the geese to?’ You would think they were the only geese in the world. People are making such a fuss about them.” “Well, I have nothing to do with the others who have been asking,” Holmes said. He sounded as if he did not care very much about it. “You won’t tell us. So we’ll have to cancel the bet. You see, I’ve bet five pounds those Alpha Inn geese were raised in the country.” “Then you will lose,” said Breckinridge. “Those geese were raised here in town.” “You’ll never make me believe that.” “Will you bet, then?” Breckinridge asked. “That would just be stealing your money,” answered Holmes. “But I’ll take you on.” Breckinridge laughed. He called the small boy to his side. “Bring me the books, Bill,” said he. “Now, then, Mr. Know-It-All,” he went on. “You see this little book? This is the list of folks from whom I buy. The numbers tell where to find them in the big book. See this page? It’s in black ink. Those are my country goose-raisers. See this list in red? Those are my town people. Now, look at that third name. Just read it to me.” Holmes read. “Mrs. Oakshott, 117 Brixton Road. Number 249.” “Quite so. Now look up that number in this big book.” Holmes turned a page. “Here you are. Mrs. Oakshott, 117 Brixton Road. Eggs and Birds.” “Now,” said Breckinridge. “What is the last thing it says there? ‘December twenty-second. Twenty-four geese. At seven and a half shillings. Sold to the Alpha Inn at twelve shillings.’ “Well? What do you say now?” Breckinridge asked.