Приключения Шерлока Холмса / The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (сборник)

“Certainly, sir,” said Baker, who had stood up and taken his restored property under his arm. “There are a few of us who frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum – we work in the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our good host, Windigate by name, organised a goose club, by which, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the rest is familiar to you. I am so grateful to you, sir.” He bowed to both of us in a comical manner and left.

“So much for Mr. Henry Baker,” said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him. “It is quite certain that he knows nothing about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?”

“Not really.”

“Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow up this clue while it is still hot.”

“Certainly.”

Exercises

Comprehension

1. Answer the questions. Find the quotations that prove your opinion.

1) How does Henry Baker’s erudition reveal itself in his manner of speaking?

2) Did he give the detective any useful information?

3) Is the way Sherlock Holmes carries out an inquiry scientific or artistic?

4) What part does Watson play in the communication with the people who are connected with the case?

5) How does Holmes see the events related to the crime? Explain his idea of chain.

6) What image of precious gems does Holmes create? Does he himself value them?

Grammar

2. Note the use of the articles in the phrase given below. What meaning does each of them convey? Suggest your translation.

“It’s more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone.”

3. Fill in the gaps with the correct forms of the verbs. Use the Past Simple and Past Perfect tenses to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Dr. Watson… (come) to visit his friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas. They… (discuss) the two objects commissionaire Peterson… (find). Holmes… (already/examine) the old hat and… (suggest) Watson doing the same. He also… (tell) him about the destiny of the other trophy – a white goose. He… (retain) the bird as long as he could, but the owner…. (not/advertise). Suddenly Peterson, whose family… (eat) the goose… (rush) into the room. He… (be) astonished because his wife… (discover) a precious stone inside the bird’s crop. The case therefore… (become) less innocent, and Holmes… (decide) to find the man who… (lose) the mysterious goose.

4. Continue retelling the story using the Past Simple and Past Perfect tenses in sentences of your own.

5. Study the way the advertisement is written.

Found at the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. Henry Baker can have these things by applying at 6:30 this evening at 221B, Baker Street.

Writing

6. Imagine Henry Baker had finally spent his money and advertised. How would his advertisement look like?

Vocabulary

7. Complete the carbuncle dossier using the lexis from the chapter.

Speaking

8. Try to sell any precious stone (think of its features). Talk the client into buying it. Use the words given below in your speech.

Facet, to glint, to sparkle, market price, jewel-case, shape, size, pure, radiant, treasure, shiny, brilliantly, to twinkle, unique, grain