صفحة 354 من 657

"It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the

geese which you supplied to the Alpha."

"Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!"

"Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you

should be so warm over such a trifle."

"Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am.

When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end

of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you

sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One

would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the

fuss that is made over them."

"Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been

making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us

the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my

opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the

bird I ate is country bred."

"Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped

the salesman.

"It's nothing of the kind."

"I say it is."