I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season... Embark upon the Adventure of the Blue Carb Uncle! Find the complete text at online-literature.com

Synopsis by Jim Hoy:

• PETERSON, a commissionaire
• HENRY BAKER, frequenter of the Alpha Inn, who lost his hat and goose.
• COUNTESS OF MORCAR, from whom the blue carbuncle was stolen while she was staying at the Hotel Cosmopolitan
• JOHN HORNER, a plumber, now an honest tradesman but with a past conviction for stealing. Accused of stealing the carbuncle.
• JAMES RYDER, a senior attendant at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
• CATHERINE CUSACK, maid of the countess and friend of Ryder.
• INSPECTOR BRADSTREET of the yard who arrested Homer.
• WINDIGATE, proprietor of the Alpha Inn.
• BRECKINRIDGE, a poultry dealer with a shop in Covent Garden. He sold the goose to Windigate.
• MRS. OAKSHOTT, sister of Ryder. She fattened geese and sold them to Breckenridge.
• JOHN ROBINSON, an alias used by Ryder in a futile attempt to deceive Holmes.

SUMMARY

Watson is married. He stops in to see Holmes 2 days after Christmas and finds him examining a felt hat which was given to him by Peterson. Late Christmas eve, Peterson was walking home. He saw Baker approaching from the opposite direction carrying a goose. Baker was assaulted by a band of ruffians and in defending himself with his walking stick, broke a shop window. This frightened both Baker and the thugs who fled. Peterson retrieved Baker's goose and hat and brought them to Holmes. Holmes kept the hat to examine it and Peterson took the goose home to cook it.

When Peterson's wife was dressing the goose, she found the blue carbuncle in its craw. Peterson brought the stone to Holmes. Holmes traced the stone from Baker to Windigate to Breckinridge to OakshotT and discovered the following plot.

Cusack told Ryder about the stone. Ryder arranged to have Horner come and fix a minor problem in the Countess' room. After he left, Ryder took the stone and went to visit his sister. Ryder was sure that Horner would be charged with the theft because of his past record. He forced the stone down the goose to avoid being discovered in possession of it, but then retrieved the wrong goose from the flock and so the stone and goose went to market.

After confessing, Ryder was allowed to go free by Holmes and the stone was returned to the countess.

OTHER ADVENTURES MENTIONED

• The attempt to recover the Irene Adler papers.
• The singular case of Mary Sutherland
• The man with the twisted lip.

DISGUISES
None

UNUSUAL DEDUCTIONS & bits

• Holmes deduces a man's entire character by examining his hat.
• Official Abbreviation: BLUE
• The Adventure Of The Blue Carbuncle was first published in the Strand Magazine, January 1892