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“ I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain . I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible , and hence my preference for a dirty face . Knowing that my wife would be terribly anxious , I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me , together with a hurried scrawl , telling her that she had no cause to fear . ” “ That note only reached her yesterday , ” said Holmes . “ Good God ! What a week she must have spent ! ” “ The police have watched this Lascar , ” said Inspector Bradstreet , “ and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to post a letter unobserved . Probably he handed it to some sailor customer of his , who forgot all about it for some days . ” “ That was it , ” said Holmes , nodding approvingly ; “ I have no doubt of it . But have you never been prosecuted for begging ? ” “ Many times ; but what was a fine to me ? ” “ It must stop here , however , ” said Bradstreet . “ If the police are to hush this thing up , there must be no more of Hugh Boone . ” “ I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take . ” “ In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps may be taken . But if you are found again , then all must come out . I am sure , Mr . Holmes , that we are very much indebted to you for having cleared the matter up . I wish I knew how you reach your results . ” “ I reached this one , ” said my friend , “ by sitting upon five pillows and consuming an ounce of shag . I think , Watson , that if we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast . ” VII . THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE 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 . He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing - gown , a pipe - rack within his reach upon the right , and a pile of crumpled morning papers , evidently newly studied , near at hand . Beside the couch was a wooden chair , and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard - felt hat , much the worse for wear , and cracked in several places . A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the purpose of examination . “ You are engaged , ” said I ; “ perhaps I interrupt you . ” “ Not at all . I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my results . The matter is a perfectly trivial one ” — he jerked his thumb in the direction of the old hat — “ but there are points in connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and even of instruction . ”
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