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Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 2 - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Audiobooks

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Way of thieves, and how they could get rid of
• 0:02
  Speaker 1: what they stole. I knew that he would be true
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: to me, for I knew one or two things about him.
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: So I made up my mind to go right on
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my confidence.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: He would show me how to turn the stone into money,
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: but how to get to him in safety. I thought
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: of the agonies I had gone through, and coming from
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: the hotel, I might at any moment be seized and searched,
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: and there would be the stone in my waistcoat pocket.
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: I was leaning against the wall at the time and
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: looking at the geese which were waddling about round my feet,
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: and suddenly an idea came into my head which showed
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: me how I could beat the best detective that ever lived.
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: My sister had told me some weeks before that I
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: might have the pick of her geese for a Christmas present,
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: and I knew that she was always as good as
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: her word. I could take my goose now, and in
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: a little shed in the yard, and behind this I
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: drove one of the birds, a fine, big one, white
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: with a barred tail. I caught it and prising its
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: bill open. I thrust the stone down its throat as
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: far as my finger could reach. The bird gave a gulp,
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: and I felt the stone pass along its gullet and
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: down into its crop. But the creature flapped and struggled,
• 1:09
  Speaker 1: and out came my sister to know what was the matter.
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: As I turned to speak to her, the brute broke
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: loose and fluttered off among the others. Whatever were you
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: doing with that bird, Jim, says she, well, said I.
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: You said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: was feeling which was the fattest, Oh, says she. We've
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: set yours aside for you, Jem's bird. We call it.
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty six
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: of them, which makes one for you and one for us,
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: and two dozen for the market. Thank you, Maggie, says I.
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: But if it's all the same to you, I'd rather
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: have that one I was handling just now. The other
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: is a good three pounds heavier, said she, And we've
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: fattened it expressly for you. Never mind, I'll have the other,
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: and I'll take it now, said I. Oh, just as
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: you like, said she. A little huffed, Which is it
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: you want, then, that white one with the barred tail
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: right in the middle of the flock. Oh, very well,
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: kill it and take it with you. Well, I did
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: what she had said, mister Holmes, and I carried the
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: bird all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: what I had done, for he was a man that
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: it was easy to tell a thing like that too.
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: He laughed until he choked, and we got a knife
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: and opened the goose. My heart turned to water, for
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: there was no sign of the stone, and I knew
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird,
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: rushed back to my sisters, and hurried into the backyard.
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: There was not a bird to be seen there. Where
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: are they all, Maggie, I cried, gone to the dealer's Jim,
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: which dealers Breckinridge of Covent Garden. But was there another
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: with a barred taale? I asked, the same as the
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: one I chose. Yes, Jim, there were two barred tailed ones,
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: and I could never tell them apart. Well, then, of
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: course I saw it all, and I ran off as
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: hard as my feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge.
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: But he had sold the lot at once, and not
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: one word would he tell me as to where they
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: had gone. You hurt him yourselves to night. Well, he
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: has always answered me like that. My sister thinks that
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: I am going mad. Sometimes I think that I am
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: myself and now, and now I am myself a branded thief,
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: without ever having touched the wealth for which I sold
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: my character. God help me, God help me. He burst
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: into convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands.
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: breathing and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes's finger
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: tips upon the edge of the table. Then my friend
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: rose and threw open the door. Get out, said he,
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: what sir, Oh Heaven bless you. No more words? Get out,
• 3:43
  Speaker 1: And no more words were needed. There was a rush,
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: a clatter upon the stairs, the bang of a door,
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: and the crisp rattle of running footfalls from the street.
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: After all, Watson said Holmes, reaching up his hand for
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: his clay pipe. I am not retained by the police
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: to supply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger, it
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: would be another thing. But this fellow will not appear
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: against him, and the case must collapse. I suppose that
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: I am commuting a felony, but it is just possible
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: go wrong again. He is too terribly frightened. Send him
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: to Gale now, and you make him a gale bird
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: for life. Besides, it's the season of forgiveness. Chance has
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem,
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: and its solution is its own reward. If you will
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: have the goodness to touch the bell, doctor, we will
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: begin another investigation, in which also a.
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: Bird will be the chief feature.
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: End of the adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.
• 4:40
  Speaker 3: The adventure of the noble bachelor the Lord Saint Simon,
• 4:47
  Speaker 3: Marriage and its curious termination have long ceased to be
• 4:50
  Speaker 3: a subject of interest in those exalted circles in which
• 4:53
  Speaker 3: the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have eclipsed it, and
• 4:59
  Speaker 3: they are more piquant. Details have drawn the gossips away
• 5:01
  Speaker 3: from this four year old drama. As I have reason
• 5:05
  Speaker 3: to believe, however, that the full facts have never been
• 5:08
  Speaker 3: revealed to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock
• 5:11
  Speaker 3: Holmes had a considerable share in clearing the matter up,
• 5:15
  Speaker 3: I feel that no memoir of him would be complete
• 5:17
  Speaker 3: without some little sketch of this remarkable episode. It was
• 5:22
  Speaker 3: a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days
• 5:25
  Speaker 3: when I was still sharing rooms with homes in Baker Street,
• 5:28
  Speaker 3: that he came home from an afternoon stroll to find
• 5:30
  Speaker 3: a letter on the table waiting for him. I had
• 5:34
  Speaker 3: remained indoors all day, for the weather had taken a
• 5:37
  Speaker 3: sudden turn to rain with high autumnal winds, and the
• 5:41
  Speaker 3: Jazail bullet, which I had brought back in one of
• 5:43
  Speaker 3: my limbs as a relic of my Afghan campaign, throbbed
• 5:46
  Speaker 3: with dull persistence. With my body in one easy chair
• 5:50
  Speaker 3: and my legs upon another, I had surrounded myself with
• 5:53
  Speaker 3: a cloud of newspapers, until at last, saturated with the
• 5:57
  Speaker 3: news of the day, I tossed them all aside and
• 5:59
  Speaker 3: lay leads, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the
• 6:03
  Speaker 3: envelope upon the table, and wondering lazily who my friend's
• 6:08
  Speaker 3: noble correspondent could be. Here is a very fashionable epistle,
• 6:13
  Speaker 3: I remarked, as he entered. Your morning letters, if I
• 6:16
  Speaker 3: remember right, were from a fishmonger and a tide waiter. Yes,
• 6:20
  Speaker 3: my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety, he answered,
• 6:24
  Speaker 3: smiling and the humbler are usually more interesting. This looks
• 6:28
  Speaker 3: like one of those unwelcome social summonses which call upon
• 6:32
  Speaker 3: a man either to be bored or to lie. He
• 6:35
  Speaker 3: broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Oh come,
• 6:40
  Speaker 3: it may prove to be something of interest after all.
• 6:44
  Speaker 3: Not social, then, no, distinctly professional, and from a noble client,
• 6:49
  Speaker 3: one of the highest in England. My dear fellow, I
• 6:52
  Speaker 3: congratulate you. I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the
• 6:57
  Speaker 3: status of my client is a matter of less moment
• 7:00
  Speaker 3: to me than the interest of his case. It is
• 7:03
  Speaker 3: just possible, however, that that also may not be wanting
• 7:06
  Speaker 3: in this new investigation. You have been reading the papers
• 7:09
  Speaker 3: diligently of late, have you not? It looks like it,
• 7:13
  Speaker 3: said I, ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the corner.
• 7:17
  Speaker 3: I have had nothing else to do. It is fortunate
• 7:21
  Speaker 3: for you will perhaps be able to post me up.
• 7:23
  Speaker 3: I read nothing except the criminal news and the Agony column.
• 7:27
  Speaker 3: The latter is always instructive. But if you have followed
• 7:30
  Speaker 3: recent events so closely, you must have read about Lord
• 7:33
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon and his wedding. Oh, yes, with the deepest interest.
• 7:38
  Speaker 3: That is well. The letter which I hold in my
• 7:41
  Speaker 3: hand is from Lord Saint Simon. I will read it
• 7:44
  Speaker 3: to you, and in return you must turn over these
• 7:46
  Speaker 3: papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter.
• 7:50
  Speaker 3: This is what he says, My dear mister Sherlock Holmes,
• 7:55
  Speaker 3: Lord Backwater tells me that I may place implicit reliance
• 7:58
  Speaker 3: upon your judgment and dis asgression. I have determined therefore
• 8:03
  Speaker 3: to call upon you and to consult you in reference
• 8:05
  Speaker 3: to the very painful event which has occurred in connection
• 8:08
  Speaker 3: with my wedding. Mister Lestrade of Scotland Yard is acting
• 8:12
  Speaker 3: already in the matter, but he assures me that he
• 8:15
  Speaker 3: sees no objection to your co operation, and that he
• 8:18
  Speaker 3: even thinks that it might be of some assistance. I
• 8:21
  Speaker 3: will call at four o'clock in the afternoon, and should
• 8:24
  Speaker 3: you have any other engagement at that time, I hope
• 8:26
  Speaker 3: that you will postpone it, as this is a matter
• 8:29
  Speaker 3: of paramount importance, Yours faithfully, Saint Simon. It is dated
• 8:34
  Speaker 3: from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, and the
• 8:38
  Speaker 3: noble Lord has had the misfortune to get a smear
• 8:40
  Speaker 3: of ink upon the outer side of his right little finger,
• 8:43
  Speaker 3: remarked Holmes, as he folded up the epistle. He says
• 8:47
  Speaker 3: four o'clock. It is three now he will be here
• 8:50
  Speaker 3: in an hour. Then I have just time, with your assistance,
• 8:54
  Speaker 3: to get clear upon the subject. Turn over those papers
• 8:57
  Speaker 3: and arrange the extracts in their order of time, while
• 9:00
  Speaker 3: I take a glance as to who our client is.
• 9:03
  Speaker 3: He picked a red covered volume from a line of
• 9:05
  Speaker 3: books of reference beside the mantelpiece. Here he is, said
• 9:09
  Speaker 3: he sitting down and flattening it out upon his knee.
• 9:12
  Speaker 3: Lord Robert Walsingham, the vie Saint Simon, second son of
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: the Duke of Balmoral, hum arms azure three cowtrops in
• 9:23
  Speaker 3: chief over a Fesst Sable. Born in eighteen forty six.
• 9:28
  Speaker 3: He's forty one years of age, which is mature for marriage.
• 9:31
  Speaker 3: Was under Secretary for the Colonies in a late administration
• 9:35
  Speaker 3: the Duke. His father was at one time Secretary for
• 9:38
  Speaker 3: foreign affairs. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent and
• 9:42
  Speaker 3: tutor on the distaff side. Ha, well, there is nothing
• 9:46
  Speaker 3: very instructive in all this. I think that I must
• 9:48
  Speaker 3: turn to you Watson for something more solid. I have
• 9:52
  Speaker 3: very little difficulty in finding what I want, said I.
• 9:55
  Speaker 3: For the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck
• 9:58
  Speaker 3: me as remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however,
• 10:01
  Speaker 3: as I knew that you had an inquiry on hand,
• 10:04
  Speaker 3: and that you disliked the intrusion of other matters. Oh,
• 10:07
  Speaker 3: you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square furniture van.
• 10:11
  Speaker 3: That is quite cleared up now, though indeed it was
• 10:14
  Speaker 3: obvious from the first Pray give me the results of
• 10:17
  Speaker 3: your newspaper selections. Here is the first notice which I
• 10:21
  Speaker 3: can find. It is in the personal column of the
• 10:23
  Speaker 3: Morning Post and dates as you see some weeks back.
• 10:27
  Speaker 3: A marriage has been arranged, it says, and will, if
• 10:31
  Speaker 3: rumor is correct, very shortly take place between Lord Robert
• 10:34
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmorle, and
• 10:38
  Speaker 3: Miss Hattie Duran, the only daughter of Aloysius Duran, Esquire
• 10:42
  Speaker 3: of San Francisco, California.
• 10:44
  Speaker 2: U s A.
• 10:45
  Speaker 3: That is all terse and to the point, remarked Holmes,
• 10:50
  Speaker 3: stretching his long, thin legs towards the fire. There was
• 10:54
  Speaker 3: a paragraph amplifying this in one of the Society papers
• 10:57
  Speaker 3: of the same week. Ah here it is there will
• 11:00
  Speaker 3: soon be a call for protection in the marriage market,
• 11:03
  Speaker 3: for the present free trade principle appears to tell heavily
• 11:06
  Speaker 3: against our home product. One by one, the management of
• 11:10
  Speaker 3: the noble houses of Great Britain is passing into the
• 11:13
  Speaker 3: hands of our fair cousins from across the Atlantic. An
• 11:16
  Speaker 3: important addition has been made during the last week to
• 11:19
  Speaker 3: the list of the prizes which have been borne away
• 11:21
  Speaker 3: by these charming invaders. Lord Saint Simon, who has shown
• 11:25
  Speaker 3: himself for over twenty years proof against the little God's arrows,
• 11:29
  Speaker 3: has now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hattie Durand,
• 11:34
  Speaker 3: the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Durand, whose
• 11:38
  Speaker 3: graceful figure and striking face attracted much attention at the
• 11:42
  Speaker 3: Westbury House festivities, is an only child, and it is
• 11:46
  Speaker 3: currently reported that her dowry will run to considerably over
• 11:49
  Speaker 3: the six figures, with expectancies for the future. As it
• 11:53
  Speaker 3: is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has
• 11:56
  Speaker 3: been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years,
• 11:59
  Speaker 3: and as Lord Saint Simon has no property of his
• 12:02
  Speaker 3: own save the small estate of Birchmoor. It is obvious
• 12:06
  Speaker 3: that the Californian heiress is not the only gainer by
• 12:09
  Speaker 3: an alliance which will enable her to make the easy
• 12:12
  Speaker 3: and common transition from a Republican lady to a British peeress.
• 12:17
  Speaker 3: Anything else, asked Holmes, yawning, Oh, yes, plenty. Then there
• 12:22
  Speaker 3: is another note in the morning Post to say that
• 12:25
  Speaker 3: the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it
• 12:28
  Speaker 3: would be at Saint George's Hanover Square, that only a
• 12:31
  Speaker 3: half a dozen intimate friends would be invited, and that
• 12:34
  Speaker 3: the party would return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate,
• 12:38
  Speaker 3: which has been taken by mister Aloysius Duran. Two days later,
• 12:42
  Speaker 3: that is, on Wednesday last, there is a curt announcement
• 12:45
  Speaker 3: that the wedding had taken place and that the honeymoon
• 12:48
  Speaker 3: would be passed at Lord Blackwater's place near Petersfield. Those
• 12:52
  Speaker 3: are all the notices which appeared before the disappearance of
• 12:55
  Speaker 3: the bride, before the What asked Holmes with a start
• 12:59
  Speaker 3: the vanishing of the lady? When did she vanish? Then
• 13:02
  Speaker 3: at the wedding breakfast? Indeed, this is more interesting that
• 13:07
  Speaker 3: it promised to be quite dramatic. In fact, yes, it
• 13:11
  Speaker 3: struck me as being a little out of the common.
• 13:14
  Speaker 3: They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the honeymoon.
• 13:18
  Speaker 3: But I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt
• 13:21
  Speaker 3: as this pray. Let me have the details. I warn
• 13:25
  Speaker 3: you that they are very incomplete. Perhaps we may make
• 13:28
  Speaker 3: them less. So, such as they are, they are set
• 13:31
  Speaker 3: forth in a single article of a morning paper of yesterday,
• 13:35
  Speaker 3: which I will read to you. It is headed singular
• 13:38
  Speaker 3: occurrence at a fashionable wedding. The family of Lord Robert
• 13:43
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon has been thrown into the greatest consternation by
• 13:46
  Speaker 3: the strange and painful episodes which have taken place in
• 13:49
  Speaker 3: connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as shortly announced in
• 13:53
  Speaker 3: the papers of yesterday, occurred on the previous morning. But
• 13:57
  Speaker 3: it is only now that it has been possible to
• 13:59
  Speaker 3: confirm them. The strange rumors which have been so persistently
• 14:02
  Speaker 3: floating about in spite of the attempts of the friends
• 14:06
  Speaker 3: to hush the matter up, So much public attention has
• 14:08
  Speaker 3: now been drawn to it that no good purpose can
• 14:11
  Speaker 3: be served by affecting to disregard what is a common
• 14:14
  Speaker 3: subject for conversation. The ceremony, which was performed at Saint
• 14:19
  Speaker 3: George's Hanover Square, was a very quiet one, no one
• 14:22
  Speaker 3: being present save the father of the bride, Mister Aloysius Duran,
• 14:26
  Speaker 3: the Duchess of Balmoral, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace, and Lady Clara,
• 14:31
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon, the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom,
• 14:35
  Speaker 3: and Lady Alicia Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to
• 14:39
  Speaker 3: the house of mister Alowisius Duran at Lancaster Gate, where
• 14:43
  Speaker 3: breakfast had been prepared. It appears that some little trouble
• 14:47
  Speaker 3: was caused by a woman, whose name has not been ascertained,
• 14:51
  Speaker 3: who endeavored to force her way into the house after
• 14:53
  Speaker 3: the bridal party, alleging that she had some claim upon
• 14:56
  Speaker 3: Lord Saint Simon. It was only after a painful, af
• 15:00
  Speaker 3: a prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler
• 15:02
  Speaker 3: and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the
• 15:05
  Speaker 3: house before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast
• 15:09
  Speaker 3: with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition
• 15:12
  Speaker 3: and retired to her room, her prolonged absence having caused
• 15:16
  Speaker 3: some comment. Her father followed her, but learned from her
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: maid that she had only come up to her chamber
• 15:22
  Speaker 3: for an instant caught up an ulster and bonnet, and
• 15:25
  Speaker 3: hurried down to the passage. One of the footmen declared
• 15:28
  Speaker 3: that he had seen a lady leave the house thus appareled,
• 15:31
  Speaker 3: but had refused to credit that it was his mistress,
• 15:34
  Speaker 3: believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that
• 15:37
  Speaker 3: his daughter had disappeared, mister allowishus Duran, in conjunction with
• 15:41
  Speaker 3: the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with the police,
• 15:46
  Speaker 3: and very energetic inquiries are being made which will probably
• 15:49
  Speaker 3: result in a speedy clearing up of this very singular business.
• 15:54
  Speaker 3: Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing had
• 15:56
  Speaker 3: transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There
• 16:00
  Speaker 3: are rumors of foul play in the matter, and it
• 16:03
  Speaker 3: is said that the police have caused the arress of
• 16:05
  Speaker 3: the woman who had caused the original disturbance, in the
• 16:08
  Speaker 3: belief that from jealousy or some other motive, she may
• 16:11
  Speaker 3: have been concerned in the strange disappearance of the bride.
• 16:15
  Speaker 3: And is that all only one little item in another
• 16:18
  Speaker 3: of the morning papers, But it is a suggestive one,
• 16:21
  Speaker 3: and it is that Miss Flora Millar, the lady who
• 16:25
  Speaker 3: had caused the disturbance, has actually been arrested. It appears
• 16:29
  Speaker 3: that she was formerly a danseuse at the Allegro, and
• 16:33
  Speaker 3: that she has known the bridegroom for some years. There
• 16:36
  Speaker 3: are no further particulars, and the whole case is in
• 16:38
  Speaker 3: your hands now so far as it has been set
• 16:41
  Speaker 3: forth in the public press. And an exceedingly interesting case
• 16:44
  Speaker 3: it appears to be. I would not have missed it
• 16:47
  Speaker 3: for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Watson,
• 16:50
  Speaker 3: and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four,
• 16:52
  Speaker 3: I have no doubt that this will prove to be
• 16:54
  Speaker 3: our noble client. Do not dream of going, Watson, for
• 16:57
  Speaker 3: I very much prefer having a witness, if only as
• 17:00
  Speaker 3: a check to my own memory. Lord Robert Saint Simon
• 17:04
  Speaker 3: announced our page boy, throwing open the door. A gentleman entered,
• 17:08
  Speaker 3: with a pleasant cultured face, high nosed and pale, with
• 17:12
  Speaker 3: something perhaps of petulance about the mouth, and with the steady,
• 17:15
  Speaker 3: well opened eye of a man whose pleasant lot it
• 17:18
  Speaker 3: had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His
• 17:21
  Speaker 3: manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an
• 17:24
  Speaker 3: undue impression of age, for he had a slight forward
• 17:27
  Speaker 3: stoop and a little bend of the knees as he walked.
• 17:30
  Speaker 3: His hair, too, as he swept off his very curly
• 17:33
  Speaker 3: brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin upon
• 17:36
  Speaker 3: the top. As to his dress, it was careful to
• 17:39
  Speaker 3: the verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock coat,
• 17:43
  Speaker 3: white waistcoat, yellow gloves, patent leather shoes, and light colored gaiters.
• 17:49
  Speaker 3: He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from
• 17:52
  Speaker 3: left to right, and swinging in his right hand the
• 17:54
  Speaker 3: cord which held his golden eye glasses. Good day, Lord
• 17:58
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon, said Holmes, rising and bowing. Pray, take the
• 18:02
  Speaker 3: basket chair. This is my friend and colleague, doctor Watson.
• 18:06
  Speaker 3: Draw up a little to the fire, and we will
• 18:08
  Speaker 3: talk this matter over. A most painful matter to me,
• 18:11
  Speaker 3: as you can most readily imagine, mister Holmes, I have
• 18:14
  Speaker 3: been cut to the quick. I understand that you have
• 18:17
  Speaker 3: already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though
• 18:21
  Speaker 3: I presume that they were hardly from the same class
• 18:23
  Speaker 3: of society. No I am descending. I beg pardon my
• 18:29
  Speaker 3: last client of the sort was a king. Oh really,
• 18:32
  Speaker 3: I had no idea, and which king? The King of Scandinavia?
• 18:37
  Speaker 3: What had he lost his wife? You can understand, said
• 18:41
  Speaker 3: Holmes suavely, that I extend to the affairs of my
• 18:44
  Speaker 3: other clients the same secrecy which I promised you in yours.
• 18:49
  Speaker 3: Of course, Very right, very right. I am sure I
• 18:51
  Speaker 3: beg pardon as to my own case. I am ready
• 18:54
  Speaker 3: to give you any information which may assist you in
• 18:57
  Speaker 3: forming an opinion.
• 18:58
  Speaker 2: Thank you.
• 18:59
  Speaker 3: I have already learned all that is in the public prints.
• 19:02
  Speaker 3: Nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct.
• 19:05
  Speaker 3: This article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride.
• 19:10
  Speaker 3: Lord Saint Simon glanced over it. Yes, it is correct
• 19:13
  Speaker 3: as far as it goes, but it needs a great
• 19:16
  Speaker 3: deal of supplementing before any one could offer an opinion.
• 19:19
  Speaker 3: I think that I may arrive at my facts most
• 19:22
  Speaker 3: directly by questioning you, pray do so? When did you
• 19:26
  Speaker 3: first meet miss Hattie Durant in San Francisco a year ago?
• 19:31
  Speaker 3: You were traveling in the States. Yes, did you become
• 19:35
  Speaker 3: engaged then?
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: No?
• 19:37
  Speaker 3: But you were on a friendly footing. I was amused
• 19:41
  Speaker 3: by her society, and she could see that.
• 19:43
  Speaker 2: I was amused.
• 19:45
  Speaker 3: Her father is very rich. He is said to be
• 19:48
  Speaker 3: the richest man on the Pacific slope. And how did
• 19:51
  Speaker 3: he make his money in mining? He had nothing a
• 19:54
  Speaker 3: few years ago that he struck gold, invested it and
• 19:57
  Speaker 3: came up by leaps and bounds. Now, what is your
• 20:01
  Speaker 3: own impression as to the young ladies your wife's character.
• 20:06
  Speaker 3: The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared
• 20:09
  Speaker 3: down into the fire. You see, mister Holmes said he.
• 20:13
  Speaker 3: My wife was twenty before her father became a rich man.
• 20:17
  Speaker 3: During that time she ran free in a mining camp
• 20:20
  Speaker 3: and wandered through woods or mountains, so that her education
• 20:23
  Speaker 3: has come from nature rather than from the schoolmaster. She
• 20:27
  Speaker 3: is what we call in England a tomboy with a
• 20:30
  Speaker 3: strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of traditions.
• 20:35
  Speaker 3: She is impetuous, volcanic. I was about to say, she
• 20:39
  Speaker 3: is swift in making up her mind and fearless in
• 20:41
  Speaker 3: carrying out her resolutions. On the other hand, I would
• 20:45
  Speaker 3: not have given her the name which I have the
• 20:47
  Speaker 3: honor to bear. He gave a little stately cough, had
• 20:51
  Speaker 3: I not thought her to be at bottom a noble woman.
• 20:54
  Speaker 3: I believe that she is capable of heroic self sacrifice,
• 20:58
  Speaker 3: and that anything dishonorable would be repugnant to her. Have
• 21:02
  Speaker 3: you her photograph? I brought this with me. He opened
• 21:06
  Speaker 3: a locket and showed us the full face of a
• 21:08
  Speaker 3: very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an
• 21:11
  Speaker 3: ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full
• 21:14
  Speaker 3: effect of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes,
• 21:18
  Speaker 3: and the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it.
• 21:23
  Speaker 3: Then he closed the locket and handed it back to
• 21:25
  Speaker 3: Lord Saint Simon. The young lady came to London then,
• 21:28
  Speaker 3: and you renewed your acquaintance. Yes, her father brought her
• 21:32
  Speaker 3: over for this last London season. I met her several times,
• 21:36
  Speaker 3: became engaged to her, and have now married her. She
• 21:40
  Speaker 3: brought I understand a considerable dowry, a fair dowry, not
• 21:45
  Speaker 3: more than as usual in my family. And this, of
• 21:49
  Speaker 3: course remains to you, since the marriage is a fee accomplie.
• 21:53
  Speaker 3: I really have made no inquiries on the subject. Very
• 21:57
  Speaker 3: naturally not did you see mister Rand the day before
• 22:00
  Speaker 3: the wedding? Yes, was she in good spirits? Never better?
• 22:05
  Speaker 3: She kept talking of what we should do in our
• 22:07
  Speaker 3: future lives. Indeed, that is very interesting. And on the
• 22:12
  Speaker 3: morning of the wedding she was as bright as possible,
• 22:15
  Speaker 3: at least until after the ceremony. And did you observe
• 22:18
  Speaker 3: any change in her then? Well, to tell the truth,
• 22:22
  Speaker 3: I saw then the first signs that I had ever
• 22:24
  Speaker 3: seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident, however,
• 22:28
  Speaker 3: was too trivial to relate, and can have no possible
• 22:31
  Speaker 3: bearing upon the case. Pray, let us have it for
• 22:34
  Speaker 3: all that, Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet
• 22:38
  Speaker 3: as we went towards the vestry. She was passing the
• 22:41
  Speaker 3: front pew at the time, and it fell over into
• 22:43
  Speaker 3: the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the gentleman
• 22:46
  Speaker 3: in the pew handed it up to her again, and
• 22:48
  Speaker 3: it did not appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet,
• 22:51
  Speaker 3: when I spoke to her of the matter, she answered
• 22:54
  Speaker 3: me abruptly, and in the carriage on our way home,
• 22:57
  Speaker 3: she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling Indeed, you say
• 23:03
  Speaker 3: that there was a gentleman in the pew some of
• 23:05
  Speaker 3: the general public were present, then, oh, yes, it is
• 23:09
  Speaker 3: impossible to exclude them when the church is open. This
• 23:13
  Speaker 3: gentleman was not one of your wife's friends. No, no,
• 23:16
  Speaker 3: I call him a gentleman by courtesy. But he was
• 23:19
  Speaker 3: quite a common looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance.
• 23:23
  Speaker 3: But really, I think that we are wandering rather far
• 23:25
  Speaker 3: from the point. Lady Saint Simon then returned from the
• 23:28
  Speaker 3: wedding in a less cheerful frame of mind than she
• 23:31
  Speaker 3: had gone to it. What did she do on re
• 23:33
  Speaker 3: entering her father's house. I saw her in conversation with
• 23:37
  Speaker 3: her maid. And who is her maid? Alice is her name.
• 23:42
  Speaker 3: She is an American and came from California with her
• 23:45
  Speaker 3: a confidential servant. A little too much so it seemed
• 23:49
  Speaker 3: to me that her mistress allowed her to take great liberties. Still,
• 23:52
  Speaker 3: of course, and America they look upon these things in
• 23:55
  Speaker 3: a different way. How long did she speak to this Alice? Oh,
• 24:00
  Speaker 3: a few minutes. I had something else to think of.
• 24:03
  Speaker 3: You did not overhear what they said? Lady Saint Simon
• 24:07
  Speaker 3: said something about jumping a claim. She was accustomed to
• 24:11
  Speaker 3: use slang of that kind. I have no idea what
• 24:14
  Speaker 3: she meant. American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what
• 24:19
  Speaker 3: did your wife do. When she finished speaking to her maid,
• 24:22
  Speaker 3: she walked into the breakfast room on your arm, no alone.
• 24:27
  Speaker 3: She was very independent in little matters like that. Then
• 24:30
  Speaker 3: after we had sat down for ten minutes or so,
• 24:33
  Speaker 3: she rose hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left
• 24:36
  Speaker 3: the room. She never came back. But this made Alice,
• 24:40
  Speaker 3: as I understand the poses, that she went to her room,
• 24:43
  Speaker 3: covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on
• 24:47
  Speaker 3: a bonnet, and went out quite so. And she was
• 24:50
  Speaker 3: afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in company with Flora Millar,
• 24:54
  Speaker 3: a woman who is now in custody, and who had
• 24:56
  Speaker 3: already made a disturbance at mister Durand's house that morning. Ah, yes,
• 25:01
  Speaker 3: I should like a few particulars as to this young
• 25:04
  Speaker 3: lady and your relations to her. Lord Saint Simon shrugged
• 25:08
  Speaker 3: his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. We have been on
• 25:12
  Speaker 3: her friendly footing for some years, I may say, on
• 25:15
  Speaker 3: a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro.
• 25:19
  Speaker 3: I have not treated her ungenerously, and she had no
• 25:22
  Speaker 3: just cause of complaint against me. But you know what
• 25:24
  Speaker 3: women are, mister Holmes. Flora was a dear little thing,
• 25:28
  Speaker 3: but exceedingly hot headed and devotedly attached to me. She
• 25:32
  Speaker 3: wrote me dreadful letters when she heard that I was
• 25:34
  Speaker 3: about to be married, and to tell the truth, the
• 25:37
  Speaker 3: reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was
• 25:40
  Speaker 3: that I feared lest there might be a scandal in
• 25:42
  Speaker 3: the church. She came to mister Durand's door just after
• 25:45
  Speaker 3: we returned, and she endeavored to push her way in,
• 25:49
  Speaker 3: uttering very abusive expressions towards my wife, and even threatening her.
• 25:53
  Speaker 3: But I had foreseen the possibility of something of the sort,
• 25:56
  Speaker 3: and I had two police fellows there in private clothes,
• 25:59
  Speaker 3: who soon pushed her out again. She was quiet when
• 26:03
  Speaker 3: she saw that there was no good in making a row.
• 26:06
  Speaker 3: Did your wife hear all this? No, thank goodness, she
• 26:09
  Speaker 3: did not, and she was seen walking with this very
• 26:12
  Speaker 3: woman afterwards. Yes, that is what mister Lestrade of Scotland
• 26:16
  Speaker 3: Yard looks upon as so serious. It is taught that
• 26:19
  Speaker 3: Flora decloyed my wife out and laid some terrible trap
• 26:22
  Speaker 3: for her. Well, it is a possible supposition, you think
• 26:27
  Speaker 3: so too, I did not say a probable one, But
• 26:30
  Speaker 3: you do not yourself look upon this as likely. I
• 26:33
  Speaker 3: do not think Flora would hurt a fly. Still, jealousy
• 26:38
  Speaker 3: is a strange transformer of characters. Pray, what is your
• 26:41
  Speaker 3: own theory as to what took place? Well, really, I
• 26:45
  Speaker 3: came to seek a theory, not a propound one. I
• 26:48
  Speaker 3: have given you all the facts since you ask me. However,
• 26:51
  Speaker 3: I may say that it has occurred to me as
• 26:53
  Speaker 3: possible that the excitement of this affair, the consciousness that
• 26:57
  Speaker 3: she had made so immense a social stride, had the
• 26:59
  Speaker 3: effect of causing some little nervous disturbance in my wife,
• 27:03
  Speaker 3: In short, that she had become suddenly deranged. Well, really,
• 27:08
  Speaker 3: when I consider that she has turned her back, I
• 27:10
  Speaker 3: will not say upon me, but upon so much that
• 27:14
  Speaker 3: many have aspired you without success, I can hardly explain
• 27:17
  Speaker 3: it in any other fashion. Well, certainly that is also
• 27:20
  Speaker 3: a conceivable hypothesis, said Holmes, smiling. And now, Lord Saint Simon,
• 27:26
  Speaker 3: I think that I have nearly all my data. May
• 27:29
  Speaker 3: I ask whether you were seated at the breakfast table
• 27:31
  Speaker 3: so that you could see out of the window. We
• 27:34
  Speaker 3: could see the other side of the road and the park.
• 27:37
  Speaker 3: Quite so, then, I do not think that I need
• 27:39
  Speaker 3: to detain you longer. I shall communicate with you should
• 27:43
  Speaker 3: you be fortunate enough to solve this problem, said our client, rising,
• 27:48
  Speaker 3: I have solved it. Eh, What was that? I say
• 27:52
  Speaker 3: that I have solved it? Where then is my wife?
• 27:55
  Speaker 3: That is a detail that I shall speedily supply, Lord
• 27:59
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon, and shook his head. I am afraid that
• 28:02
  Speaker 3: it will take wiser heads than yours or mine, he remarked,
• 28:06
  Speaker 3: and bowing in a stately old fashioned manner, he departed.
• 28:10
  Speaker 3: It is very good of Lord Saint Simon to honor
• 28:12
  Speaker 3: my head by putting it on a level with his own,
• 28:15
  Speaker 3: said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. I think that I shall have
• 28:18
  Speaker 3: a whisky and soda and a cigar after all this
• 28:21
  Speaker 3: cross questioning. I had formed my conclusion as to the
• 28:24
  Speaker 3: case before our client came into the room. My dear Holmes,
• 28:29
  Speaker 3: I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as
• 28:32
  Speaker 3: I remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole
• 28:36
  Speaker 3: examination served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial
• 28:40
  Speaker 3: evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a
• 28:43
  Speaker 3: trout in the milk, to quote Sir Rose example. But
• 28:47
  Speaker 3: I have heard all that you have heard, without, however,
• 28:50
  Speaker 3: the knowledge of pre existing cases, which serves me so well.
• 28:54
  Speaker 3: There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some years back,
• 28:58
  Speaker 3: and something on very much the same line at Munich
• 29:00
  Speaker 3: the year after the Franco Prussian War. It is one
• 29:03
  Speaker 3: of these cases. But hullo, here is lestrade, Good afternoon, lestrade.
• 29:08
  Speaker 3: You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and
• 29:11
  Speaker 3: there are cigars.
• 29:12
  Speaker 2: In the box.
• 29:13
  Speaker 3: The official detective was attired in a pea jacket and cravat,
• 29:16
  Speaker 3: which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried
• 29:20
  Speaker 3: a black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting,
• 29:23
  Speaker 3: he seated himself and lit the cigar which had been
• 29:25
  Speaker 3: offered to him. What's up, then, asked Holmes, with a
• 29:29
  Speaker 3: twinkle in his eye. You look dissatisfied, and I feel dissatisfied.
• 29:34
  Speaker 3: It is this infernal Saint Simon marriage case. I can
• 29:37
  Speaker 3: make neither head nor tail of the business. Really, you
• 29:40
  Speaker 3: surprise me. Who ever heard of such a mixed affair?
• 29:44
  Speaker 3: Every clue seems to slip through my fingers. I've been
• 29:47
  Speaker 3: at work upon it all day, and very wet. It
• 29:50
  Speaker 3: seems to have made you, said Holmes, laying his hand
• 29:53
  Speaker 3: upon the arm of the pea jacket. Yes, I've been
• 29:55
  Speaker 3: dragging the serpentine in Heaven's name, what for search of
• 30:00
  Speaker 3: the body of lady Saint Simon Sherlock Holmbs leaned back
• 30:04
  Speaker 3: in his chair and laughed heartily. Have you dragged the
• 30:06
  Speaker 3: basin of Trafagar's square fountain?
• 30:08
  Speaker 2: He asked? Why?
• 30:10
  Speaker 3: What do you mean? Because you have just as good
• 30:12
  Speaker 3: a chance of finding this lady in the one as
• 30:15
  Speaker 3: in the other. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion.
• 30:20
  Speaker 3: I suppose you know all about it, he snarled, Well,
• 30:23
  Speaker 3: I have only just heard the facts, but my mind
• 30:26
  Speaker 3: is made up. Oh indeed, then you think that the
• 30:29
  Speaker 3: serpentine plays no part in the matter, I think it
• 30:33
  Speaker 3: very unlikely. Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it
• 30:37
  Speaker 3: is that we found this in it. He opened his
• 30:40
  Speaker 3: bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the floor a
• 30:42
  Speaker 3: wedding dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin shoes,
• 30:46
  Speaker 3: and a bride's wreath and veil, all discolored and soaked
• 30:49
  Speaker 3: in water. There, said he, putting a new wedding ring
• 30:53
  Speaker 3: upon the top of the pile. There is a little
• 30:55
  Speaker 3: nut for you to crack, Master Holmes. Oh indeed, said
• 30:59
  Speaker 3: my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. You dragged
• 31:02
  Speaker 3: them from the serpentine. No, they were found floating near
• 31:05
  Speaker 3: the margin by a park keeper. They have been identified
• 31:08
  Speaker 3: as her clothes, and it seemed to me that if
• 31:10
  Speaker 3: the clothes were there, the body would not be far off.
• 31:14
  Speaker 3: By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to
• 31:17
  Speaker 3: be found in the neighborhood of his wardrobe. And pray,
• 31:20
  Speaker 3: what did you hope to arrive at through this at
• 31:23
  Speaker 3: some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance? I am
• 31:27
  Speaker 3: afraid that you will find it difficult, are you indeed?
• 31:30
  Speaker 2: Now?
• 31:31
  Speaker 3: Cried Lestrade with some bitterness. I am afraid, Holmes, that
• 31:35
  Speaker 3: you are not very practical with your deductions and your inferences.
• 31:38
  Speaker 3: You have made two blunders in as many minutes. This
• 31:41
  Speaker 3: dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar. And how in the
• 31:46
  Speaker 3: dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card case.
• 31:48
  Speaker 3: In the card case is a note. And here is
• 31:51
  Speaker 3: the very note. He slapped it down upon the table
• 31:54
  Speaker 3: in front of him. Listen to this. You will see
• 31:57
  Speaker 3: me when all is ready, come at once f h M. Now,
• 32:01
  Speaker 3: my theory all along has been that Lady Saint Simon
• 32:03
  Speaker 3: was decoyed away by Flora Millar, and that she with
• 32:06
  Speaker 3: confederates no doubt, was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed
• 32:11
  Speaker 3: with her initials, is the very note which was no
• 32:13
  Speaker 3: doubt quietly slipped into her hand at the door, and
• 32:16
  Speaker 3: which lured her within their reach. Very good, Lestrade, said Holmes, laughing,
• 32:21
  Speaker 3: you really are very fine. Indeed, let me see it.
• 32:25
  Speaker 3: He took up the paper in a listless way, but
• 32:27
  Speaker 3: his attention instantly became riveted, and he gave a little
• 32:30
  Speaker 3: cry of satisfaction. This is indeed important, said he. Ha,
• 32:35
  Speaker 3: you find it so extremely so I congratulate you warmly.
• 32:39
  Speaker 3: Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. Why,
• 32:43
  Speaker 3: he shrieked, you're looking at the wrong side. On the contrary,
• 32:47
  Speaker 3: this is the right side, the right side.
• 32:50
  Speaker 2: You're mad.
• 32:51
  Speaker 3: Here is the note written in pencil. Over here, and
• 32:54
  Speaker 3: over here is what appears to be the fragment of
• 32:56
  Speaker 3: a hotel bill, which interests me deeply. There's nothing in it.
• 33:00
  Speaker 3: I looked at it before, said Lestrade. October fourth, Rooms
• 33:05
  Speaker 3: eight shillings, breakfast two shillings sixpence, cocktail one shilling, Lunch
• 33:10
  Speaker 3: two shillings sixpence, glass sherry eightpence. I see nothing in that,
• 33:17
  Speaker 3: very likely not. It is most important all the same
• 33:21
  Speaker 3: as to the note. It is important also, or at
• 33:23
  Speaker 3: least the initials are.
• 33:25
  Speaker 4: So.
• 33:25
  Speaker 3: I congratulate you again. I've wasted time enough, said Lestrade, rising.
• 33:30
  Speaker 3: I believe in hard work and not in sitting by
• 33:32
  Speaker 3: the fire spinning fine theories. Good day, mister Holmes, and
• 33:35
  Speaker 3: we shall see which gets to the bottom of the matter. First,
• 33:39
  Speaker 3: he gathered up the garments, thrust them into the bag,
• 33:41
  Speaker 3: and made for the door. Just one hint to you, Lestrade,
• 33:44
  Speaker 3: drawled Holmes, before his rival vanished. I will tell you
• 33:48
  Speaker 3: the true solution of the matter, Lady, Saint Simon is
• 33:51
  Speaker 3: a myth. There is not, and there never has been
• 33:54
  Speaker 3: any such person. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then
• 33:59
  Speaker 3: he turned to me, tapped his forehead three times, shook
• 34:02
  Speaker 3: his head solemnly, and hurried away. He had hardly shut
• 34:06
  Speaker 3: the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on
• 34:08
  Speaker 3: his overcoat. There is something in what the fellow says
• 34:11
  Speaker 3: about outdoor work, he remarked. So I think Watson, that
• 34:14
  Speaker 3: I must leave you to your papers for a little.
• 34:18
  Speaker 3: It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me
• 34:21
  Speaker 3: but I had no time to be lonely, for within
• 34:23
  Speaker 3: an hour there arrived a confectioner's man with a very
• 34:26
  Speaker 3: large flat box. This he unpacked with the help of
• 34:29
  Speaker 3: a youth whom he had brought with him, and presently,
• 34:32
  Speaker 3: to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean little cold
• 34:35
  Speaker 3: supper began to be laid out upon our humble lodging house, Mahogany.
• 34:40
  Speaker 3: There were a couple of brace of cold woodcock, a pheasant,
• 34:43
  Speaker 3: a patte defago, a pie, with a group of ancient
• 34:46
  Speaker 3: and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, my
• 34:50
  Speaker 3: two visitors vanished away, like the genie of the Arabian Nights,
• 34:54
  Speaker 3: with no explanations save that the things had been paid
• 34:57
  Speaker 3: for and were ordered to this address. Just before nine o'clock,
• 35:01
  Speaker 3: Sherlock holmb stepped briskly into the room. His features were
• 35:04
  Speaker 3: gravely set, but there was a light in his eye
• 35:07
  Speaker 3: which made me think that he had not been disappointed
• 35:10
  Speaker 3: in his conclusions. They have laid the supper, then, he said,
• 35:14
  Speaker 3: rubbing his hands. You seem to expect company they have
• 35:18
  Speaker 3: laid for five Yes, I fancy we may have some
• 35:21
  Speaker 3: company dropping in, said he I am surprised that Lord
• 35:24
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon has not already arrived.
• 35:27
  Speaker 5: Ha.
• 35:27
  Speaker 3: I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs.
• 35:31
  Speaker 3: It was indeed, our visitor of the afternoon who came
• 35:34
  Speaker 3: bustling in, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and
• 35:38
  Speaker 3: with a very perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. My
• 35:42
  Speaker 3: messenger reached you, then asked Holmes, Yes, and I confess
• 35:46
  Speaker 3: that the content startled me beyond measure. Have you good
• 35:49
  Speaker 3: authority for what you say? The best possible? Lord Saint
• 35:53
  Speaker 3: Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over
• 35:56
  Speaker 3: his forehead. What will the Duke say, he murmured, when
• 36:00
  Speaker 3: he hears that one of the family has been subjected
• 36:02
  Speaker 3: to such humiliation? It is the purest accident. I cannot
• 36:07
  Speaker 3: allow that there is any humiliation. Ah, you look on
• 36:12
  Speaker 3: these things from another standpoint. I fail to see that
• 36:15
  Speaker 3: any one is to blame. I can hardly see how
• 36:18
  Speaker 3: the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method
• 36:21
  Speaker 3: of doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother,
• 36:25
  Speaker 3: she had no one to advise her at such a crisis.
• 36:28
  Speaker 3: It was a slight, Sir, a public slight, said Lord
• 36:31
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon, tapping his fingers upon the table. You must
• 36:35
  Speaker 3: make allowance for this poor girl placed in so unpresented
• 36:38
  Speaker 3: that a position. I will make no allowance. I am
• 36:41
  Speaker 3: very angry, indeed, and I have been shamefully used. I
• 36:45
  Speaker 3: think that I heard a ring, said Holmes. Yes, there
• 36:48
  Speaker 3: are steps on the landing. If I cannot persuade you
• 36:51
  Speaker 3: to take a lenient view of the matter, Lord Saint Simon,
• 36:54
  Speaker 3: I have brought an advocate here who may be more successful.
• 36:57
  Speaker 3: He opened the door and ushered in a lady in gentlemen,
• 37:00
  Speaker 3: Lord Saint Simon said, he allow me to introduce you
• 37:04
  Speaker 3: to mister and missus Francis hay Moulton. The lady, I
• 37:07
  Speaker 3: think you have already met. At the sight of these newcomers,
• 37:11
  Speaker 3: our client sprung from his seat and stood very erect,
• 37:14
  Speaker 3: with his eyes cast down and his hand thrust into
• 37:17
  Speaker 3: the breast of his frock coat, a picture of offended dignity.
• 37:21
  Speaker 3: The lady had taken a quick step forward and held
• 37:24
  Speaker 3: out her hand to him, but he still refused to
• 37:26
  Speaker 3: raise his eyes. It was as well for his resolution, perhaps,
• 37:30
  Speaker 3: for her pleading face was one which it was hard
• 37:32
  Speaker 3: to resist. You are angry, Robert said she, Well, I
• 37:37
  Speaker 3: guess you have every cause to be pray. Make no
• 37:40
  Speaker 3: apology to me, said Lord Saint Simon bitterly. Oh, yes,
• 37:45
  Speaker 3: I know that I have treated you real bad and
• 37:47
  Speaker 3: that I should have spoken to you before I went.
• 37:50
  Speaker 3: But I was kind of rattled, and from the time
• 37:52
  Speaker 3: when I saw Frank Here again, I just didn't know
• 37:55
  Speaker 3: what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I
• 37:57
  Speaker 3: didn't fall down and do a faint right there before
• 38:00
  Speaker 3: the altar. Perhaps, missus Moulton, you would like my friend
• 38:03
  Speaker 3: and me to leave the room while you explained this matter,
• 38:07
  Speaker 3: if I may give an opinion, remarked the strange gentleman.
• 38:11
  Speaker 3: We've had just a little too much secrecy over this
• 38:13
  Speaker 3: business already. For my part, I should like all Europe
• 38:16
  Speaker 3: and America to hear the rights of it. He was
• 38:19
  Speaker 3: a small, wiry, sunburnt man, clean shaven, with a sharp
• 38:23
  Speaker 3: face and alert manner. Then I'll tell our story right away,
• 38:27
  Speaker 3: said the lady. Frank Here and I met in eighty
• 38:30
  Speaker 3: four in mc guire's camp near the Rockies, where Pile
• 38:33
  Speaker 3: was working a claim. We were engaged to each other,
• 38:36
  Speaker 3: Frank and I, but then one day father struck a
• 38:38
  Speaker 3: rich pocket and made a pile, while poor Frank there
• 38:41
  Speaker 3: had a claim that petered out and came to nothing.
• 38:44
  Speaker 3: The richer Pa grew, the poorer was Frank. So at
• 38:47
  Speaker 3: last Paw wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer,
• 38:50
  Speaker 3: and he took me away to Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw
• 38:53
  Speaker 3: up his hand, though, so he followed me there and
• 38:56
  Speaker 3: he saw me without Pa knowing anything about it. It
• 38:59
  Speaker 3: would have only made him mad to know, so we
• 39:01
  Speaker 3: just fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that
• 39:04
  Speaker 3: he would go and make his pile too, and never
• 39:07
  Speaker 3: come back to claim me until he had as much
• 39:09
  Speaker 3: as Paw. So then I promised to wait for him
• 39:12
  Speaker 3: to the end of time, and pledged myself not to
• 39:14
  Speaker 3: marry anyone else while he lived. Why shouldn't we be
• 39:18
  Speaker 3: married right away, then said he, And then I will
• 39:20
  Speaker 3: feel sure of you, and I won't claim to be
• 39:22
  Speaker 3: your husband till I come back. Well, we talked it over,
• 39:26
  Speaker 3: and he had fixed it all up so nicely, with
• 39:28
  Speaker 3: a clergyman already in waiting, that we just did it
• 39:31
  Speaker 3: right there. And then Frank went off to seek his fortune,
• 39:33
  Speaker 3: and I went back to Pa. The next I heard
• 39:36
  Speaker 3: of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then
• 39:39
  Speaker 3: he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of
• 39:42
  Speaker 3: him from New Mexico. After that came a long newspaper
• 39:45
  Speaker 3: story about how a miner's camp had been attacked by
• 39:48
  Speaker 3: Apache Indians, and there was my Frank's name among the killed.
• 39:52
  Speaker 3: I fainted dead away, and I was very sick for months.
• 39:55
  Speaker 3: After PA thought I had a decline and took me
• 39:58
  Speaker 3: to have the doctor's in Frisco. Not a word of
• 40:01
  Speaker 3: news came for a year, and more so that I
• 40:03
  Speaker 3: never doubted that Frank was really dead. Then Lord Saint
• 40:07
  Speaker 3: Simon came to Frisco and we came to London and
• 40:09
  Speaker 3: a marriage was arranged, and PA was very pleased. But
• 40:13
  Speaker 3: I felt all the time that no man on this
• 40:16
  Speaker 3: earth would ever take the place in my heart that
• 40:18
  Speaker 3: had been given to my poor Frank. Still, if I
• 40:22
  Speaker 3: had married Lord Saint Simon, of course I'd have done
• 40:25
  Speaker 3: my duty by him. We can't command our love, but
• 40:28
  Speaker 3: we can our actions. I went to the altar with
• 40:30
  Speaker 3: him with the intention to make him just as good
• 40:32
  Speaker 3: a wife as it was in me to be. But
• 40:35
  Speaker 3: you may imagine what I felt when just As I
• 40:38
  Speaker 3: came to the altar rails, I glanced back and saw
• 40:41
  Speaker 3: Frank standing and looking at me out of the first pew.
• 40:44
  Speaker 3: I thought it was his ghost at first, but when
• 40:46
  Speaker 3: I looked again there he was still, with a kind
• 40:49
  Speaker 3: of question in his eyes, as if to ask me
• 40:51
  Speaker 3: whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder.
• 40:55
  Speaker 3: I didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round,
• 40:58
  Speaker 3: and the words of the clergyman were just like the
• 41:00
  Speaker 3: of a bee in my ear. I didn't know what
• 41:02
  Speaker 3: to do. Should I stop the service and make a
• 41:04
  Speaker 3: scene in the church. I glanced at him again, and
• 41:07
  Speaker 3: he seemed to know what I was thinking, for he
• 41:09
  Speaker 3: raised his finger to his lips to tell me to
• 41:12
  Speaker 3: be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece
• 41:15
  Speaker 3: of paper, and I knew that he was writing me
• 41:17
  Speaker 3: a note. As I passed his pew on the way out,
• 41:20
  Speaker 3: I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped
• 41:22
  Speaker 3: the note into my hand. When he returned me the flowers,
• 41:25
  Speaker 3: it was only a line asking me to join him.
• 41:28
  Speaker 3: When he made the sign to me to do so.
• 41:30
  Speaker 3: Of course, I never doubted for a moment that my
• 41:32
  Speaker 3: first duty was now to him, and I determined to
• 41:35
  Speaker 3: do just whatever he might direct. When I got back,
• 41:38
  Speaker 3: I told my maid, who had known him in California
• 41:41
  Speaker 3: and had always been his friend. I ordered her to
• 41:43
  Speaker 3: say nothing, but to get a few things packed and
• 41:46
  Speaker 3: my ulster ready. I know I ought to have spoken
• 41:49
  Speaker 3: to Lord Saint Simon, but it was dreadful, hard before
• 41:51
  Speaker 3: his mother and all those great people. I just made
• 41:54
  Speaker 3: up my mind to run away and explain afterwards. I
• 41:57
  Speaker 3: hadn't been at the table ten minutes before I saw
• 41:59
  Speaker 3: Frank the window at the other side of the road.
• 42:02
  Speaker 3: He beckoned to me and then began walking into the park.
• 42:05
  Speaker 3: I slipped out, put on my things and followed him.
• 42:08
  Speaker 3: Some woman came talking something or other about Lord Saint
• 42:11
  Speaker 3: Simon to me, seemed to me from the little I heard,
• 42:13
  Speaker 3: as if he had a little secret of his own
• 42:16
  Speaker 3: before marriage also. But I managed to get away from
• 42:19
  Speaker 3: her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab
• 42:22
  Speaker 3: together and away we drove to some lodgings he had
• 42:24
  Speaker 3: taken in Gordon Square, And that was my true wedding.
• 42:27
  Speaker 3: After all those years of waiting. Frank had been a
• 42:30
  Speaker 3: prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, come to Fisco, found
• 42:34
  Speaker 3: that I had given him up for dead, and had
• 42:36
  Speaker 3: gone to England, followed me there, and had come upon
• 42:39
  Speaker 3: me at last on the very morning of my second wedding.
• 42:42
  Speaker 3: I saw it in a paper, explained the American. It
• 42:45
  Speaker 3: gave the name and the church, but not where the
• 42:47
  Speaker 3: lady lived. Then we had a talk as to what
• 42:50
  Speaker 3: we should do, and Frank was all for openness, but
• 42:53
  Speaker 3: I was so ashamed of it all that I felt
• 42:55
  Speaker 3: as if I should like to vanish away and never
• 42:57
  Speaker 3: see any of them again, just sending a line to Pa,
• 43:00
  Speaker 3: perhaps to show him that I was alive. It was
• 43:03
  Speaker 3: awful to me to think of all those lords and
• 43:05
  Speaker 3: ladies sitting round that breakfast table and waiting for me
• 43:08
  Speaker 3: to come back. So Frank took my wedding clothes and
• 43:11
  Speaker 3: things and made a bundle of them so that I
• 43:13
  Speaker 3: should not be traced, and dropped them away somewhere where
• 43:16
  Speaker 3: no one could find them. It is likely that we
• 43:18
  Speaker 3: should have gone on to Paris tomorrow, only that this
• 43:21
  Speaker 3: good gentleman, mister Holmes came round to us this evening,
• 43:25
  Speaker 3: though how he found us is more than I can think,
• 43:27
  Speaker 3: and he showed us very clearly and kindly that I
• 43:29
  Speaker 3: was wrong, and that Frank was right, and that we
• 43:32
  Speaker 3: should be put in ourselves in the wrong if we
• 43:35
  Speaker 3: were so secret. Then he offered to give us a
• 43:37
  Speaker 3: chance of talking to Lord Saint Simon alone, and so
• 43:40
  Speaker 3: we came right away around to his rooms at once. Now, Robert,
• 43:44
  Speaker 3: you have heard it all, and I am very sorry
• 43:46
  Speaker 3: if I have given you pain. And I hope that
• 43:48
  Speaker 3: you do not think very meanly of me. Lord Saint
• 43:51
  Speaker 3: Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but
• 43:55
  Speaker 3: had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip
• 43:57
  Speaker 3: to this long narrative. Excuse me, he said, but it
• 44:02
  Speaker 3: is not my custom to discuss my most intimate personal
• 44:05
  Speaker 3: affairs in this public manner. Then you won't forgive me,
• 44:09
  Speaker 3: You won't shake hands before I go? Oh, certainly, if
• 44:13
  Speaker 3: it would give you any pleasure, He put out his
• 44:15
  Speaker 3: hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him.
• 44:19
  Speaker 3: I had hoped, suggested Holmes, that you would have joined
• 44:22
  Speaker 3: us in a friendly supper. I think that there you
• 44:25
  Speaker 3: ask a little too much, responded his lordship. I may
• 44:28
  Speaker 3: be forced to acquiesce in these recent developments, but I
• 44:32
  Speaker 3: can hardly be expected to make merry over them. I
• 44:35
  Speaker 3: think that, with your permission, I will now wish you
• 44:37
  Speaker 3: all a very good night. He included us all in
• 44:40
  Speaker 3: a sweeping bow and stalked out of the room. Then
• 44:44
  Speaker 3: I trust that you at least will honor me with
• 44:45
  Speaker 3: your company, said Sherlock Holmes. It is always a joy
• 44:49
  Speaker 3: to meet an American, mister Moulton, for I am one
• 44:51
  Speaker 3: of those who believe that the folly of a monarch
• 44:53
  Speaker 3: and the blundering of a minister in far gone years
• 44:57
  Speaker 3: will not prevent our children from being some day citizens
• 45:00
  Speaker 3: of the same worldwide country under a flag which shall
• 45:03
  Speaker 3: be a quartering of the Union jack with the stars
• 45:05
  Speaker 3: and stripes. The case has been an interesting one, remarked Holmes,
• 45:11
  Speaker 3: when our visitors had left us, because it serves to
• 45:14
  Speaker 3: show very clearly how simple the explanation may be of
• 45:17
  Speaker 3: an affair which, at first sight seems to be almost inexplicable.
• 45:21
  Speaker 3: Nothing could be more natural than the sequence of events
• 45:24
  Speaker 3: as narrated by this lady, and nothing stranger than the result,
• 45:28
  Speaker 3: when viewed, for instance, by mister Lestrade of Scotland Yard
• 45:32
  Speaker 3: you were not yourself at fault at all. Then, from
• 45:35
  Speaker 3: the first two facts were very obvious to me, the
• 45:39
  Speaker 3: one that the lady had been quite willing to undergo
• 45:41
  Speaker 3: the wedding ceremony, the other that she had repented of
• 45:44
  Speaker 3: it within a few minutes of returning home. Obviously something
• 45:48
  Speaker 3: had occurred during the morning, then, to cause her to
• 45:51
  Speaker 3: change her mind. What could that something be? She could
• 45:54
  Speaker 3: not have spoken to any one when she was out,
• 45:56
  Speaker 3: for she had been in the company of the bridegroom
• 45:59
  Speaker 3: at she seen some one, then, if she had, it
• 46:02
  Speaker 3: must be some one from America, because she had spent
• 46:04
  Speaker 3: so short a time in this country that she could
• 46:07
  Speaker 3: hardly have allowed any one to acquire so deep an
• 46:09
  Speaker 3: influence over her that the mere sight of him would
• 46:12
  Speaker 3: induce her to change her plans so completely. You see,
• 46:16
  Speaker 3: we have already arrived by a process of exclusion. Had
• 46:20
  Speaker 3: the idea that she might have seen an American, then
• 46:23
  Speaker 3: who could this American be? And why should he possess
• 46:26
  Speaker 3: so much influence over her? It might be a lover,
• 46:29
  Speaker 3: It might be a husband. Her young womanhood had I
• 46:32
  Speaker 3: knew been spent in rough scenes and under strange conditions,
• 46:37
  Speaker 3: so far I had got before I ever heard Lord
• 46:40
  Speaker 3: Saint Simon's narrative when he told us of a man
• 46:43
  Speaker 3: in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner,
• 46:46
  Speaker 3: of so transparent a device for obtaining a note as
• 46:49
  Speaker 3: the dropping of a bouquet, of her resort to her
• 46:52
  Speaker 3: confidential maid, and of her very significant allusion to claim jumping,
• 46:56
  Speaker 3: which in miners parlance means taking possession of that which
• 47:00
  Speaker 3: another person has a prior claim too. The whole situation
• 47:03
  Speaker 3: became absolutely clear. She had gone off with a man,
• 47:06
  Speaker 3: and the man was either a lover or was a
• 47:08
  Speaker 3: previous husband, the chances being in favor of the latter.
• 47:13
  Speaker 3: And how in the world did you find them? It
• 47:15
  Speaker 3: might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held information in
• 47:18
  Speaker 3: his hands, the value of which he did not himself know.
• 47:22
  Speaker 3: The initials were, of course of the highest importance. But
• 47:25
  Speaker 3: more valuable still was it to know that within a
• 47:28
  Speaker 3: week he had settled his bill at one of the
• 47:30
  Speaker 3: most select London hotels. How did you deduce the select
• 47:35
  Speaker 3: by the select prices? Eight shillings for a bed and
• 47:38
  Speaker 3: eightpence for a glass of sherry pointed to one of
• 47:41
  Speaker 3: the most expensive hotels. There are not many in London
• 47:44
  Speaker 3: which charge at that rate. In the second one, which
• 47:47
  Speaker 3: I visited in Northumberton Avenue. I learned by an inspection
• 47:51
  Speaker 3: of the book, that Francis h. Multon, an American gentleman,
• 47:55
  Speaker 3: had left only the day before, and on looking over
• 47:58
  Speaker 3: the entries against him, I came out upon the very
• 48:00
  Speaker 3: items which I had seen in the duplicate bill. His
• 48:03
  Speaker 3: letters were to be forwarded to two twenty six Gordon Square.
• 48:07
  Speaker 3: So thither I traveled, and being fortunate enough to find
• 48:10
  Speaker 3: the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them
• 48:12
  Speaker 3: some parental advice, and to point out to them that
• 48:15
  Speaker 3: it would be better in every way that they should
• 48:17
  Speaker 3: make their position a little clearer, both to the general
• 48:20
  Speaker 3: public and to Lord Saint Simon. In particular. I invited
• 48:24
  Speaker 3: them to meet him here, and as you see, I
• 48:26
  Speaker 3: made him keep the appointment, but with no very good result.
• 48:30
  Speaker 3: I remarked, his conduct was certainly not very gracious, Ah Watson,
• 48:35
  Speaker 3: said Holmes, smiling. Perhaps you would not be very gracious either, if,
• 48:39
  Speaker 3: after all the trouble of wooing and wedding you found
• 48:42
  Speaker 3: yourself deprived in an instant of a wife and of fortune.
• 48:46
  Speaker 3: I think that we may judge Lord Saint Simon very mercifully,
• 48:50
  Speaker 3: and thank our stars that we are never likely to
• 48:52
  Speaker 3: find ourselves in the same position. Draw up your chair
• 48:56
  Speaker 3: and hand me my violin. For the only problem we
• 48:59
  Speaker 3: have still to say is how to while away these
• 49:02
  Speaker 3: bleak autumnal evenings. End of chapter ten The Adventures of
• 49:07
  Speaker 3: the Noble.
• 49:08
  Speaker 6: Bachelor, The Adventure of the Speckled Band. On glancing over
• 49:13
  Speaker 6: my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have,
• 49:15
  Speaker 6: during the last eight years studied the methods of my
• 49:18
  Speaker 6: friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a
• 49:23
  Speaker 6: large number merely strange, but no uncommonplace for working as
• 49:28
  Speaker 6: he did rather for the love of his art than
• 49:30
  Speaker 6: for the acquirement of wealth. He refused to associate himself
• 49:34
  Speaker 6: with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual
• 49:38
  Speaker 6: and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however,
• 49:43
  Speaker 6: I cannot recall any which presented more singular features than
• 49:46
  Speaker 6: that which was associated with the well known Surrey family
• 49:50
  Speaker 6: of the Roylots of Stoke, Moran. The events in question
• 49:54
  Speaker 6: occurred in the early days of my association with Holmes,
• 49:57
  Speaker 6: when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker's Street.
• 50:01
  Speaker 6: It is possible that I might have placed them upon
• 50:03
  Speaker 6: record before but a promise of secrecy was made at
• 50:07
  Speaker 6: the time, from which I have only been free during
• 50:09
  Speaker 6: the month by the untimely death of the lady to
• 50:12
  Speaker 6: whom the pledge was given. It is perhaps as well
• 50:15
  Speaker 6: that the facts should now come to light, for I
• 50:18
  Speaker 6: have reasons to know that there are widespread rumors as
• 50:20
  Speaker 6: to the death of doctor grimesby Roylet, which tend to
• 50:23
  Speaker 6: make the matter even more terrible than the truth. It
• 50:28
  Speaker 6: was early in April in the year eighty three, that
• 50:30
  Speaker 6: I woke one morning to find Sherlock Holmes standing fully
• 50:34
  Speaker 6: dressed by the side of my bed. He was a
• 50:37
  Speaker 6: late riser as a rule, and as the clock on
• 50:39
  Speaker 6: the mantel piece showed me that it was only a
• 50:41
  Speaker 6: quarter past seven, I blinked up at him in some
• 50:44
  Speaker 6: surprise and perhaps just a little resentment, for I was
• 50:48
  Speaker 6: myself regular in my habits. Very sorry to knock you up,
• 50:52
  Speaker 6: Watson said he, but it's the common lot this morning.
• 50:55
  Speaker 6: Missus Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me,
• 50:59
  Speaker 6: and I on you. What is it then? A fire? No,
• 51:03
  Speaker 6: a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived
• 51:06
  Speaker 6: in a considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me.
• 51:10
  Speaker 6: She is waiting now in the sitting room. Now, when
• 51:13
  Speaker 6: young ladies wander about the metropolis at this hour of
• 51:16
  Speaker 6: the morning and knock sleepy people up out of their beds,
• 51:19
  Speaker 6: I presume that it is something very pressing which they
• 51:21
  Speaker 6: have to communicate. Should it prove to be an interesting case,
• 51:24
  Speaker 6: you would, I am sure, wish to follow it from
• 51:26
  Speaker 6: the outset. I thought, at any rate that I should
• 51:29
  Speaker 6: call you and give you the chance, My dear fellow,
• 51:32
  Speaker 6: I would not miss it for anything. I had no
• 51:35
  Speaker 6: keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations,
• 51:40
  Speaker 6: and in admiring the rapid deductions, as swift as intuition,
• 51:43
  Speaker 6: and yet always founded on a logical basis with which
• 51:47
  Speaker 6: he unraveled the problems which were submitted to him. I
• 51:50
  Speaker 6: rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a
• 51:52
  Speaker 6: few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting room.
• 51:56
  Speaker 6: A lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had
• 51:59
  Speaker 6: been sitting in the window, rose as we entered. Good morning, madam,
• 52:04
  Speaker 6: said Holmes cheerily. My name is Sherlock Holmes. This is
• 52:08
  Speaker 6: my intimate friend and associate Doctor Watson, before whom you
• 52:12
  Speaker 6: can speak as freely as before myself. Ah. I am
• 52:15
  Speaker 6: glad to see that missus Hudson has had the good
• 52:17
  Speaker 6: sense to light the fire. Pray, draw up to it,
• 52:20
  Speaker 6: and I shall order you a cup of hot coffee,
• 52:22
  Speaker 6: for I observe that you are tivering. It is not cold,
• 52:26
  Speaker 6: which makes me shiver, said the woman, in a low voice,
• 52:29
  Speaker 6: changing her seat, as requested. What then it is fear,
• 52:35
  Speaker 6: mister Holmes, it is terror. She raised her veil as
• 52:39
  Speaker 6: she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed
• 52:42
  Speaker 6: in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all drawn
• 52:45
  Speaker 6: and gray, with restless, frightened eyes like those of some
• 52:48
  Speaker 6: hunted animal. Her features and figure were those of a
• 52:51
  Speaker 6: woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with premature gray,
• 52:55
  Speaker 6: and her expression was weary and haggard. Sherlock Holmes ran
• 53:00
  Speaker 6: her over with one of his quick, all comprehensive glances.
• 53:04
  Speaker 6: You must not fear, said he soothingly, bending forward and
• 53:07
  Speaker 6: patting her forearm. We shall soon set matters right. I
• 53:10
  Speaker 6: have no doubt you have come in by train this morning.
• 53:13
  Speaker 6: I see you know me then, no, But I observed
• 53:17
  Speaker 6: the second half of a return ticket in the palm
• 53:19
  Speaker 6: of your left glove. You must have started early, and
• 53:22
  Speaker 6: yet you had a good drive in a dog cart
• 53:24
  Speaker 6: along heavy roads before you reach the station. The lady
• 53:28
  Speaker 6: gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my companion.
• 53:33
  Speaker 6: There's no mystery, my dear madam, said he smiling. The
• 53:37
  Speaker 6: left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in
• 53:39
  Speaker 6: no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh.
• 53:43
  Speaker 6: There is no vehicle save a dog cart which throws
• 53:46
  Speaker 6: up mud in that way, and then only when you
• 53:48
  Speaker 6: sit on the left hand side of the driver. Whatever
• 53:52
  Speaker 6: your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct, said she.
• 53:56
  Speaker 6: I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at twenty past,
• 54:00
  Speaker 6: and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir,
• 54:03
  Speaker 6: I can stand this strain no longer. I shall go
• 54:05
  Speaker 6: mad if it continues. I have no one to turn to,
• 54:09
  Speaker 6: none save only one who cares for me, and he,
• 54:11
  Speaker 6: poor fellow, can be of little aid. I heard of you,
• 54:15
  Speaker 6: mister Holmes. I have heard of you from Missus Farintosh,
• 54:18
  Speaker 6: whom you helped in the hour of her sore need.
• 54:21
  Speaker 6: It was from her that I had your address. Oh, sir,
• 54:24
  Speaker 6: do you not think that you could help me too,
• 54:26
  Speaker 6: and at least throw a little light through the dense
• 54:29
  Speaker 6: darkness which surrounds me. At present, it is out of
• 54:32
  Speaker 6: my power to reward you for your services. But in
• 54:35
  Speaker 6: a month or six weeks I shall be married, with
• 54:37
  Speaker 6: the control of my own income, and then at least
• 54:40
  Speaker 6: you shall not find me ungrateful. Holmes turned to his
• 54:43
  Speaker 6: desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small case book,
• 54:47
  Speaker 6: which he consulted. Farentoge said, he ah, yes, I recall
• 54:52
  Speaker 6: the case. It was concerned with an opal Tiera. I
• 54:55
  Speaker 6: think it was before your time.
• 54:57
  Speaker 2: Watson.
• 54:58
  Speaker 6: I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy
• 55:00
  Speaker 6: to devote the same care to your case as I
• 55:02
  Speaker 6: did to that of your friend. As to reward, my
• 55:05
  Speaker 6: profession is its own reward. But you are at liberty
• 55:08
  Speaker 6: to defray whatever expenses I may be put to at
• 55:11
  Speaker 6: the time which suits you best. And now I beg
• 55:13
  Speaker 6: that you will lay before us everything that may help
• 55:15
  Speaker 6: us in forming an opinion on the matter. Alas, replied
• 55:19
  Speaker 6: our visitor, the very horror of my situation lies in
• 55:23
  Speaker 6: the fact that my fears are so vague, and my
• 55:25
  Speaker 6: suspicions depend so entirely upon small points which might seem
• 55:30
  Speaker 6: trivial to another, that even he to whom of all others,
• 55:33
  Speaker 6: I have a right to look for help and advice,
• 55:36
  Speaker 6: looks upon all that I tell him about it as
• 55:38
  Speaker 6: the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so,
• 55:42
  Speaker 6: but I can read it from his soothing answers and
• 55:44
  Speaker 6: averted eyes. But I have heard, mister Holmes, that you
• 55:48
  Speaker 6: can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart.
• 55:52
  Speaker 6: You may advise me how to walk amid the dangers
• 55:54
  Speaker 6: which encompass me. I am all attention, madam. My name
• 56:01
  Speaker 6: is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather,
• 56:04
  Speaker 6: who is the last survivor of one of the oldest
• 56:07
  Speaker 6: Saxon families in England, the Roylots of Stoke, Moran, on
• 56:10
  Speaker 6: the western border of Surrey. Holmes nodded his head. The
• 56:15
  Speaker 6: name is familiar to me, said he. The family was
• 56:20
  Speaker 6: at one time the richest in England, and the estates
• 56:23
  Speaker 6: extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north and
• 56:25
  Speaker 6: Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four
• 56:29
  Speaker 6: successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and
• 56:33
  Speaker 6: the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in
• 56:36
  Speaker 6: the days of the regency. Nothing was left save a
• 56:40
  Speaker 6: few acres of ground and the two hundred year old house,
• 56:43
  Speaker 6: which is itself crushed under a heavy mortgage. The last
• 56:47
  Speaker 6: squire dragged out his existence there, living the horrible life
• 56:51
  Speaker 6: of an aristocratic pauper. But his only son, my stepfather,
• 56:56
  Speaker 6: seeing that he must adapt himself in the new conditions,
• 56:59
  Speaker 6: obtained in advance from a relative which enabled him to
• 57:02
  Speaker 6: take a medical degree, and went out to Calcutta, where,
• 57:06
  Speaker 6: by his professional skill and force of character, he established
• 57:09
  Speaker 6: a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused
• 57:13
  Speaker 6: by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house,
• 57:16
  Speaker 6: he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped
• 57:19
  Speaker 6: a capital sentence. As it was, he suffered a long
• 57:22
  Speaker 6: term of imprisonment, and afterwards returned to England a morose
• 57:26
  Speaker 6: and disappointed man. When doctor Roylett was in India, he
• 57:31
  Speaker 6: married my mother, Missus Stoner, the young widow of Major
• 57:35
  Speaker 6: General Stoner of the Bengal Artillery. My sister Julia and
• 57:39
  Speaker 6: I were twins, and we were only two years old
• 57:41
  Speaker 6: at the time of my mother's remarriage. She had a
• 57:44
  Speaker 6: considerable sum of money, not less than one thousand pounds
• 57:48
  Speaker 6: a year, and this she bequeathed to doctor Roylett entirely
• 57:51
  Speaker 6: while we resided with him, with a provision that a
• 57:54
  Speaker 6: certain annual sum should be allowed to each of us
• 57:56
  Speaker 6: in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return
• 58:00
  Speaker 6: to England, my mother died. She was killed eight years
• 58:03
  Speaker 6: ago in a railway accident near Crewe. Doctor Roylett then
• 58:07
  Speaker 6: abandoned his attempts to establish himself in practice in London
• 58:10
  Speaker 6: and took us to live with him in the old
• 58:12
  Speaker 6: ancestral house at Stoke, Moran. The money which my mother
• 58:16
  Speaker 6: had left was enough for all our wants, and there
• 58:19
  Speaker 6: seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. But a
• 58:23
  Speaker 6: terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Instead
• 58:27
  Speaker 6: of making friends and exchanging visits with our neighbors, who
• 58:30
  Speaker 6: had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylot of
• 58:33
  Speaker 6: Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut
• 58:36
  Speaker 6: himself up in his house and seldom came out, save
• 58:39
  Speaker 6: to indulge in ferocious quarrels with whoever might cross his path.
• 58:43
  Speaker 6: Violence of temper approaching to Mania has been hereditary in
• 58:48
  Speaker 6: the men of the family, and in my stepfather's case
• 58:50
  Speaker 6: it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence
• 58:54
  Speaker 6: in the tropics. A series of disgraceful brawls took place,
• 58:59
  Speaker 6: two of which ended in the police court, until at
• 59:01
  Speaker 6: last he became the terror of the village, and the
• 59:04
  Speaker 6: folks would fly at his approach, for he is a
• 59:07
  Speaker 6: man of immense strength and absolutely uncontrollable. In his anger.
• 59:13
  Speaker 6: Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet
• 59:16
  Speaker 6: into a stream. And it was only by paying over
• 59:19
  Speaker 6: all the money which I could gather together, that I
• 59:21
  Speaker 6: was able to avert another public exposure. He had no
• 59:25
  Speaker 6: friends at all save the wandering gypsies, and he would
• 59:28
  Speaker 6: give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few acres
• 59:31
  Speaker 6: of bramble covered land which represent the family estate, and
• 59:35
  Speaker 6: would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, wandering
• 59:39
  Speaker 6: away with them, sometimes for weeks on end. He has
• 59:43
  Speaker 6: a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over
• 59:46
  Speaker 6: to him by a correspondent, and he has at this
• 59:49
  Speaker 6: moment a cheetah and a baboon, which wander freely over
• 59:52
  Speaker 6: his grounds and are feared by the villagers almost as
• 59:55
  Speaker 6: much as their master. You can imagine from what I
• 59:59
  Speaker 6: say that my poor sister Julia and I had no
• 1:00:02
  Speaker 6: great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with us,
• 1:00:05
  Speaker 6: and for a long time we did all the work
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 6: of the house. She was but thirty at the time
• 1:00:10
  Speaker 6: of her death, and yet her hair had already begun
• 1:00:13
  Speaker 6: to whiten, even as mine has. Your sister is dead. Then,
• 1:00:18
  Speaker 6: she died just two years ago, and it is of
• 1:00:21
  Speaker 6: her death that I wish to speak to you. You
• 1:00:24
  Speaker 6: can understand that living the life which I have described,
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 6: we were little likely to see any one of our
• 1:00:29
  Speaker 6: own age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my
• 1:00:34
  Speaker 6: mother's maiden sister, Miss Honoria Westvale, who lives near Harrow,
• 1:00:38
  Speaker 6: and we were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at
• 1:00:41
  Speaker 6: this lady's house. Julia went there at Christmas two years
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 6: ago and met there a half pay major of Marines,
• 1:00:47
  Speaker 6: to whom she became engaged. My stepfather learned of the
• 1:00:51
  Speaker 6: engagement when my sister returned, and offered no objection to
• 1:00:54
  Speaker 6: the marriage. But within a fortnight of the day which
• 1:00:57
  Speaker 6: had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event which
• 1:01:00
  Speaker 6: has deprived me of my only companion, Sherlock Holmes, had
• 1:01:05
  Speaker 6: been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed
• 1:01:07
  Speaker 6: and his head sunk in a cushion. But he half
• 1:01:10
  Speaker 6: opened his lids now and glanced across at his visitor.
• 1:01:14
  Speaker 6: Pray be precise as to details, said he. It is
• 1:01:19
  Speaker 6: easy for me to be so, for every event of
• 1:01:21
  Speaker 6: that dreadful time is seared into my memory. The manor
• 1:01:25
  Speaker 6: house is, as I have already said, very old, and
• 1:01:28
  Speaker 6: only one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms in this
• 1:01:31
  Speaker 6: wing are on the ground floor, the sitting rooms being
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 6: in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms,
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 6: the first is doctor Roylant's, the second my sister's, and
• 1:01:42
  Speaker 6: the third my own. There is no communication between them,
• 1:01:46
  Speaker 6: but they all open out into the same corridor. Do
• 1:01:49
  Speaker 6: I make myself plain perfectly?
• 1:01:52
  Speaker 2: So?
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 6: The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn.
• 1:01:57
  Speaker 6: That fatal night, Doctor Roylot had gone to his room early,
• 1:02:01
  Speaker 6: though we knew that he had not retired to rest,
• 1:02:03
  Speaker 6: for my sister was troubled by the smell of the
• 1:02:05
  Speaker 6: strong Indian cigars which it was his custom to smoke.
• 1:02:09
  Speaker 6: She left her room therefore, and came into mine, where
• 1:02:12
  Speaker 6: she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding.
• 1:02:17
  Speaker 6: At eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she
• 1:02:19
  Speaker 6: paused at the door and looked back. Tell me, Helen,
• 1:02:23
  Speaker 6: said she, have you ever heard any one whistle in
• 1:02:26
  Speaker 6: the dead of the night, Never, said I. I suppose
• 1:02:31
  Speaker 6: that you could not possibly whistle yourself in your sleep?
• 1:02:35
  Speaker 6: Certainly not. But why, because during the last few nights
• 1:02:40
  Speaker 6: I have always, about three in the morning, heard a low,
• 1:02:44
  Speaker 6: clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and it has
• 1:02:47
  Speaker 6: awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from, perhaps
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 6: from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 6: that I would just ask you whether you'd heard it. No,
• 1:02:57
  Speaker 6: I have not. It must be those wretched gyps and
• 1:03:00
  Speaker 6: the plantation, very likely. And yet if it were on
• 1:03:04
  Speaker 6: the lawn, I wondered that you did not hear it? Also, Ah,
• 1:03:08
  Speaker 6: but I sleep more heavily than you. Well, it is
• 1:03:11
  Speaker 6: of no great consequence at any rate. She smiled back
• 1:03:15
  Speaker 6: at me, closed my door, and a few moments later
• 1:03:17
  Speaker 6: I heard her key turn in the lock. Indeed, said Holmes,
• 1:03:21
  Speaker 6: was it your custom always to lock yourselves in at night? Always?
• 1:03:27
  Speaker 6: And why? I think that I mentioned to you that
• 1:03:30
  Speaker 6: the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon. We had
• 1:03:33
  Speaker 6: no feeling of security unless our doors were locked. Quite so,
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 6: pray proceed with your statement. I could not sleep that night.
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 6: A vague feeling of impending misfortune impressed me. My sister
• 1:03:47
  Speaker 6: and I you will recollect, were twins. And you know
• 1:03:50
  Speaker 6: how subtle are the links which bind two souls which
• 1:03:53
  Speaker 6: are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The
• 1:03:57
  Speaker 6: wind was howling outside, and the rain was beating, splashing
• 1:04:00
  Speaker 6: against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale,
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 6: there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman.
• 1:04:09
  Speaker 6: I knew that it was my sister's voice. I sprang
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 6: from my bed, wrapped a shawl around me, and rushed
• 1:04:14
  Speaker 6: into the corridor. As I opened my door, I seemed
• 1:04:17
  Speaker 6: to hear a low whistle such as my sister described,
• 1:04:21
  Speaker 6: and a few moments later a clanging sound, as if
• 1:04:24
  Speaker 6: a massive metal had fallen. As I ran down the passage,
• 1:04:28
  Speaker 6: my sister's door was unlocked and revolved slowly upon its hinges.
• 1:04:33
  Speaker 6: I stared at it, horror stricken, not knowing what was
• 1:04:36
  Speaker 6: about to issue from it. By the light of the
• 1:04:39
  Speaker 6: corridor lamp, I saw my sister appear at the opening,
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 6: her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for help,
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 6: her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of
• 1:04:48
  Speaker 6: a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms
• 1:04:52
  Speaker 6: round her, but at that moment her knees seemed to
• 1:04:54
  Speaker 6: give way, and she fell to the ground. She writhed
• 1:04:57
  Speaker 6: as one who is in terrible pain, and her her
• 1:05:00
  Speaker 6: limbs were dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she
• 1:05:04
  Speaker 6: had not recognized me, but as I bent over her,
• 1:05:07
  Speaker 6: she suddenly shrieked in a voice which I shall never forget. Oh,
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 6: my God, Helen. It was the band, the speckled band.
• 1:05:16
  Speaker 6: There was something else which she would fain have said,
• 1:05:19
  Speaker 6: and she stabbed with her finger in the air in
• 1:05:20
  Speaker 6: the direction of the doctor's room. But a fresh convulsion
• 1:05:24
  Speaker 6: seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling
• 1:05:27
  Speaker 6: loudly from my stepfather, and I met him hastening from
• 1:05:30
  Speaker 6: his room in his dressing gown. When he reached my
• 1:05:33
  Speaker 6: sister's side, she was unconscious, and though he poured brandy
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 6: down her throat and sent for medical aid from the village,
• 1:05:39
  Speaker 6: all efforts were in vain for she slowly sank and
• 1:05:42
  Speaker 6: died without having recovered her consciousness. Such was the dreadful
• 1:05:47
  Speaker 6: end of my beloved sister. One moment said Holmes, are
• 1:05:52
  Speaker 6: you sure about this whistle and metallic sound? Could you
• 1:05:55
  Speaker 6: swear to it? That was what the country coroner asked
• 1:05:58
  Speaker 6: me at the enquiry. It is my strong impression that
• 1:06:01
  Speaker 6: I heard it, And yet among the crash of the
• 1:06:03
  Speaker 6: gale and the creaking of an old house, I may
• 1:06:05
  Speaker 6: possibly have been deceived. Was your sister dressed? No, she
• 1:06:11
  Speaker 6: was in her night dress. In her right hand was
• 1:06:13
  Speaker 6: found the charred stump of a match, and in her
• 1:06:16
  Speaker 6: left a match box, showing that she had struck a
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 6: light and looked about her when the alarm took place.
• 1:06:22
  Speaker 6: That is important and what conclusions did the coroner come to.
• 1:06:27
  Speaker 6: He investigated the case with great care, for doctor Roylott's
• 1:06:31
  Speaker 6: conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 6: was unable to find any satisfactory cause of death. My
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 6: evidence showed that the door had been fastened upon the
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 6: inner side, and the windows were blocked by old fashioned
• 1:06:43
  Speaker 6: shutters with broad iron bars, which were secured every night.
• 1:06:47
  Speaker 6: The walls were carefully sounded and were shown to be
• 1:06:50
  Speaker 6: quite solid all round, and the flooring was also thoroughly examined,
• 1:06:54
  Speaker 6: with the same result. The chimney is wide, but it
• 1:06:57
  Speaker 6: is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, therefore,
• 1:07:01
  Speaker 6: that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Besides,
• 1:07:05
  Speaker 6: there were no marks of any violence upon her. How
• 1:07:08
  Speaker 6: about poison? The doctors examined her for it, but without success.
• 1:07:14
  Speaker 6: What do you think this unfortunate lady died of?
• 1:07:16
  Speaker 4: Then?
• 1:07:18
  Speaker 6: It is my belief that she died of pure fear
• 1:07:20
  Speaker 6: and nervous shock. Though what it was that frightened her
• 1:07:23
  Speaker 6: I cannot imagine. Were there gypsies in the plantation at
• 1:07:27
  Speaker 6: the time, Yes, there are nearly always some there. Ah,
• 1:07:31
  Speaker 6: And what did you gather from this allusion to a band?
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 6: A speckled band? Sometimes I have thought that it was
• 1:07:39
  Speaker 6: merely the wild talk of delirium. Sometimes that it may
• 1:07:42
  Speaker 6: have referred to some band of people, perhaps to those
• 1:07:45
  Speaker 6: very gypsies in the plantation. I do not know whether
• 1:07:49
  Speaker 6: the spotted handkerchief which so many of them wear over
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 6: their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used.
• 1:07:56
  Speaker 6: Holmes shook his head like a man who is far
• 1:07:58
  Speaker 6: from being satisfied. These are very deep waters, said he pray,
• 1:08:03
  Speaker 6: go on with your narrative. Two years have passed since then,
• 1:08:08
  Speaker 6: and my life has been until lately lonelier than ever.
• 1:08:12
  Speaker 6: A month ago, however, a dear friend whom I have
• 1:08:14
  Speaker 6: known for many years has done me the honor to
• 1:08:17
  Speaker 6: ask my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage, Percy Armitage,
• 1:08:22
  Speaker 6: the second son of mister Armitage of Cranewater, near Reading.
• 1:08:26
  Speaker 6: My stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and
• 1:08:29
  Speaker 6: we are to be married in the course of the spring.
• 1:08:32
  Speaker 6: Two days ago some repairs were started in the west
• 1:08:34
  Speaker 6: wing of the building, and my bedroom wall has been pierced,
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 6: so that I have had to move into the chamber
• 1:08:40
  Speaker 6: in which my sister died, and to sleep in the
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 6: very bed in which she slept. Imagine then, my thrill
• 1:08:47
  Speaker 6: of terror when last night, as I lay awake, thinking
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 6: over her terrible fate, I suddenly heard in the silence
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 6: of the night the low whistle, which had been the
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 6: herald of her own death. I sprang up in the lamp,
• 1:09:00
  Speaker 6: but nothing's to be seen in the room. I was
• 1:09:03
  Speaker 6: too shaken to go to bed again, however, so I dressed,
• 1:09:06
  Speaker 6: and as soon as it was daylight. I slipped down,
• 1:09:08
  Speaker 6: got a dog cart at the Crown Inn, which is opposite,
• 1:09:11
  Speaker 6: and drove to leatherhead From whence I have come on
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 6: this morning with the one object of seeing you and
• 1:09:16
  Speaker 6: asking your advice. You've done wisely, said my friend. But
• 1:09:21
  Speaker 6: have you told me all? Yes, all, miss Roylott, you
• 1:09:26
  Speaker 6: have not. You are screening your stepfather. Why what do
• 1:09:30
  Speaker 6: you mean for answer? Holmes pushed back the frill of
• 1:09:34
  Speaker 6: black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our
• 1:09:37
  Speaker 6: visitor's knee. Five little livid spots, the marks of four
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 6: fingers and a thumb were printed upon the white wrist.
• 1:09:46
  Speaker 6: You have been cruelly used, said Holmes. The lady colored
• 1:09:51
  Speaker 6: deeply and covered over her injured wrist. He is a
• 1:09:54
  Speaker 6: hard man, she said, and perhaps he hardly knows his
• 1:09:57
  Speaker 6: own strength. There was a long silence, during which Holmes
• 1:10:03
  Speaker 6: leaned his chin upon his hands and stared into the
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 6: crackling fire. This is a very deep business, he said,
• 1:10:09
  Speaker 6: at last, There are a thousand details which I should
• 1:10:12
  Speaker 6: desire to know before I decide upon our course of action.
• 1:10:16
  Speaker 6: Yet we have not a moment to lose if we
• 1:10:18
  Speaker 6: were to come to Stoke. Moran to day. Would it
• 1:10:21
  Speaker 6: be possible for us to see over these rooms without
• 1:10:23
  Speaker 6: the knowledge of your stepfather. As it happens, he spoke
• 1:10:27
  Speaker 6: of coming into town to day upon some most important business.
• 1:10:31
  Speaker 6: It is probable that he will be away all day,
• 1:10:33
  Speaker 6: and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 6: have a housekeeper now, but she's old and foolish, and
• 1:10:38
  Speaker 6: I could easily get her out of the way. Excellent,
• 1:10:42
  Speaker 6: you are not averse to this trip, Watson? By no means,
• 1:10:46
  Speaker 6: then we shall both come. What are you going to
• 1:10:48
  Speaker 6: do yourself?
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 2: I have one or.
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 6: Two things which I would wish to do now that
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 6: I am in town. But I shall return by the
• 1:10:55
  Speaker 6: twelve o'clock train, so as to be there in time
• 1:10:57
  Speaker 6: for your coming, and you may expect us early in
• 1:11:01
  Speaker 6: the afternoon. I have myself some small business matters to
• 1:11:05
  Speaker 6: attend to. Will you not wait in breakfast? No, I
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 6: must go. My heart is lightened already since I have
• 1:11:11
  Speaker 6: confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to
• 1:11:14
  Speaker 6: seeing you again this afternoon. She dropped her thick black
• 1:11:17
  Speaker 6: veil over her face and glided from the room. And
• 1:11:21
  Speaker 6: what do you think of it all? Watson asked Sherlock.
• 1:11:23
  Speaker 6: Holmes leaning back in his chair, seems to me to
• 1:11:27
  Speaker 6: be a dark and sinister business. Dark enough and sinister enough. Yet,
• 1:11:33
  Speaker 6: if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring
• 1:11:36
  Speaker 6: and walls are sound, and that the door, window and
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 6: chimney are impassable, then her sister must undoubtedly have been
• 1:11:42
  Speaker 6: alone when she met her mysterious end. What becomes then,
• 1:11:46
  Speaker 6: of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the very peculiar
• 1:11:50
  Speaker 6: words of the dying woman? I cannot think when you
• 1:11:54
  Speaker 6: combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 6: a band of gypsies who are on intimate terms with
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 6: this old doctor, the fact that we have every reason
• 1:12:03
  Speaker 6: to believe that the doctor has an interest in preventing
• 1:12:05
  Speaker 6: his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying allusion to a band, and finally,
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 6: the fact that miss Helen Stoner heard a metallic clang
• 1:12:12
  Speaker 6: which might have been caused by one of those metal
• 1:12:15
  Speaker 6: bars that secured the shutters falling back into its place.
• 1:12:19
  Speaker 6: I think that there is good ground to think that
• 1:12:20
  Speaker 6: the mystery may be cleared along those lines. But what
• 1:12:24
  Speaker 6: then did the gypsies do? I cannot imagine. I see
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 6: many objections to any such theory, and so do I.
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 6: It is for precisely that reason that we are going
• 1:12:34
  Speaker 6: to stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether
• 1:12:37
  Speaker 6: the objections are fatal, or if they may be explained away.
• 1:12:41
  Speaker 6: But what in the name of the devil? The ejaculation
• 1:12:44
  Speaker 6: had been drawn from my companion by the fact that
• 1:12:47
  Speaker 6: our door had suddenly been dashed open, and that a
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 6: huge man had framed himself in the aperture. His costume
• 1:12:54
  Speaker 6: was a peculiar mixture of the professional and the agricultural,
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 6: having a black top hat, a long frock coat, and
• 1:13:01
  Speaker 6: a pair of high gaiters, with a hunting crop swinging
• 1:13:03
  Speaker 6: in his hand. So tall was he that his hat
• 1:13:06
  Speaker 6: actually brushed the gross bar of the doorway, and his
• 1:13:09
  Speaker 6: breadth seemed to span it across from side to side.
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 6: A large face, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 6: with the sun and marked with every evil passion, was
• 1:13:18
  Speaker 6: turned from one to the other of us, while his
• 1:13:21
  Speaker 6: deep set, bile shot eyes and his high, thin, fleshless
• 1:13:24
  Speaker 6: nose gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old
• 1:13:28
  Speaker 6: bird of prey. Which of you is? Holmes asked this apparition.
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 6: My name sir, But you have the advantage of me,
• 1:13:37
  Speaker 6: said my companion quietly. I am Doctor grimesby Roylot of Stoke, Moran.
• 1:13:43
  Speaker 6: Indeed doctor, said Holmes, blandly. Pray take a seat. I
• 1:13:47
  Speaker 6: will do nothing of the kind. My step daughter has
• 1:13:50
  Speaker 6: been here. I have traced her. What has she been
• 1:13:52
  Speaker 6: saying to you? It is a little cold for the
• 1:13:55
  Speaker 6: time of year, said Holmes. What has she been saying
• 1:13:59
  Speaker 6: to you? Screamed the old man furiously. But I have
• 1:14:02
  Speaker 6: heard that the crocuses promise well, continued my companion, imperturbably.
• 1:14:07
  Speaker 6: Ha you put me off, do you, said our new visitor,
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 6: taking a step forward and shaking his hunting crop. I
• 1:14:13
  Speaker 6: know you, you scoundrel. I have heard of you before.
• 1:14:16
  Speaker 6: You are Holmes the meddler, My friend, smiled Holmes, the
• 1:14:21
  Speaker 6: busy body. His smile broadened, Holmes the Scotland yard jack
• 1:14:26
  Speaker 6: in office. Holmes chuckled heartily. Your conversation is most entertaining,
• 1:14:31
  Speaker 6: said he. When you go out, close the door, for
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 6: there is a decided draft. I will go when I've
• 1:14:37
  Speaker 6: said my say, don't you dare meddle with my affairs.
• 1:14:40
  Speaker 6: I know that miss Stoner has been here. I trace
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 6: her I am a dangerous man to fall foul of.
• 1:14:45
  Speaker 6: See here, he stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker, and
• 1:14:49
  Speaker 6: bent it into a curve with his huge brown hands.
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 6: See that you keep yourself out of my grip, he snarled,
• 1:14:56
  Speaker 6: and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace, he strode
• 1:14:59
  Speaker 6: out of the room. He seems a very amiable person,
• 1:15:03
  Speaker 6: said Holmes, laughing. I am not quite so bulky. But
• 1:15:07
  Speaker 6: if he had remained, I might have shown him that
• 1:15:09
  Speaker 6: my grip was not much more feeble than his own.
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 6: As he spoke, he picked up the steel poker and
• 1:15:14
  Speaker 6: with a sudden effort, straightened it out again. Fancy his
• 1:15:18
  Speaker 6: having the insolence to confound me with the official detective force.
• 1:15:22
  Speaker 6: This incident gives zess to our investigation, however, and I
• 1:15:25
  Speaker 6: only trust that our little friend will not suffer from
• 1:15:28
  Speaker 6: her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson,
• 1:15:32
  Speaker 6: we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk down
• 1:15:34
  Speaker 6: to Doctor's Commons, where I hope to get some dato
• 1:15:37
  Speaker 6: which may help us in this matter. It was nearly
• 1:15:41
  Speaker 6: one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion. He
• 1:15:44
  Speaker 6: held in his hands a sheet of blue paper scrolled
• 1:15:47
  Speaker 6: over with notes and figures. I have seen the will
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 6: of the deceased wife, said he to determine its exact meaning.
• 1:15:54
  Speaker 6: I have been obliged to work out the present prices
• 1:15:56
  Speaker 6: of the investments with which it is concerned. The total,
• 1:15:59
  Speaker 6: in which at the time of the wife's death was
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 6: little short of eleven hundred pounds, is now, through the
• 1:16:05
  Speaker 6: fall in agricultural prices, not more than seven hundred and
• 1:16:08
  Speaker 6: fifty pounds. Each daughter can claim an income of two
• 1:16:11
  Speaker 6: hundred and fifty pounds in case of marriage. It is
• 1:16:14
  Speaker 6: evident therefore, that if both girls have married, this beauty
• 1:16:17
  Speaker 6: would have had a mere pittance, while even one of
• 1:16:19
  Speaker 6: them would cripple him to a very serious extent. My
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 6: morning's work has not been wasted, since it has proved
• 1:16:25
  Speaker 6: that he has the very strongest motives for standing in
• 1:16:28
  Speaker 6: the way of anything of that sort. And now, Watson,
• 1:16:31
  Speaker 6: this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old
• 1:16:34
  Speaker 6: man is aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs.
• 1:16:37
  Speaker 6: So if you are ready, we shall call a cab
• 1:16:39
  Speaker 6: and drive to Waterloo. I should be very much obliged
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 6: if you would slip your revolver into your pocket. An
• 1:16:45
  Speaker 6: Ely's number two is an excellent argument with gentlemen who
• 1:16:48
  Speaker 6: can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 6: brush ore, I think all that we need. At Waterloo,
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 6: we were fortunate in catching a train for Leatherhead, where
• 1:16:58
  Speaker 6: we hired a trap at the st in and drove
• 1:17:01
  Speaker 6: for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes.
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 6: It was a perfect day, with a bright sun and
• 1:17:06
  Speaker 6: a few fleecy clouds in the heavens. The trees and
• 1:17:09
  Speaker 6: wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots,
• 1:17:13
  Speaker 6: and the air was full of the pleasant smell of
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 6: the moist earth. To me, at least, there was a
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 6: strange contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and
• 1:17:21
  Speaker 6: this sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion
• 1:17:26
  Speaker 6: sat in front of the trap, his arms folded, his
• 1:17:28
  Speaker 6: hat pulled down over his eyes, and his chin sunk
• 1:17:31
  Speaker 6: upon his breast, buried in the deepest thought. Suddenly, however,
• 1:17:35
  Speaker 6: he started, tapped me on the shoulder and pointed over
• 1:17:38
  Speaker 6: the meadows. Look there, said he, a heavily timbered park
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 6: stretched up in a gentle slope, thickening into a grove
• 1:17:46
  Speaker 6: at the highest point. From amid the branches there jutted
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 6: out the gray gables and high roof tree of a
• 1:17:51
  Speaker 6: very old mansion. Stoke Moran said he yes, sir, that
• 1:17:56
  Speaker 6: be the house of doctor grimesby Roylot, remarked the driver.
• 1:18:00
  Speaker 6: There is some building going on there, said Holmes. That
• 1:18:03
  Speaker 6: is where we are going. There's the village, said the driver,
• 1:18:07
  Speaker 6: pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance to the left.
• 1:18:10
  Speaker 6: But if you want to get to the house, you'll
• 1:18:12
  Speaker 6: find it shorter to get over this stile. And so
• 1:18:15
  Speaker 6: by the footpath over the fields there it is where
• 1:18:18
  Speaker 6: the lady is walking. And the lady I fancy is
• 1:18:21
  Speaker 6: miss Stoner, observed Holmes, shading his eyes. Yes, I think
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 6: we had better do as you suggest. We got off,
• 1:18:29
  Speaker 6: paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its
• 1:18:32
  Speaker 6: way to Leatherhead. I thought it is well, said Holmes,
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 6: as we climbed the stile, that this fellow should think
• 1:18:37
  Speaker 6: we had come here as architects or on some definite business.
• 1:18:41
  Speaker 6: It may stop his gossip. Good afternoon, miss Stoner. You
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 6: see that we have been as good as our word.
• 1:18:47
  Speaker 6: Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet
• 1:18:50
  Speaker 6: us with a face which spoke her joy. I have
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 6: been waiting so eagerly for you, she cried, shaking hands
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 6: with us warmly. All has turned out splendidly. Doctor Roylt
• 1:19:00
  Speaker 6: has gone to town, and it is unlikely that he
• 1:19:02
  Speaker 6: will be back before evening. We have had the pleasure
• 1:19:05
  Speaker 6: of making the doctor's acquaintance, said Holmes, and in a
• 1:19:09
  Speaker 6: few words he sketched out what had occurred. Miss Stoner
• 1:19:12
  Speaker 6: turned white to the lips as she listened. Good Heavens,
• 1:19:16
  Speaker 6: she cried, he has followed me. Then, so it appears
• 1:19:21
  Speaker 6: he is so cunning that I never know when I
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 6: am safe from him. What will he say when he returns?
• 1:19:27
  Speaker 6: He must guard himself, for he may find that there
• 1:19:29
  Speaker 6: is some one more cunning than himself upon his track.
• 1:19:33
  Speaker 6: You must lock yourself up from him to night. If
• 1:19:35
  Speaker 6: he is violent, we shall take you away to your
• 1:19:37
  Speaker 6: aunt's at Harrow. Now we must make the best use
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 6: of our time, so kindly take us at once to
• 1:19:42
  Speaker 6: the rooms which we are to examine. The building was
• 1:19:46
  Speaker 6: of gray like and blotched stone, with a high central
• 1:19:49
  Speaker 6: portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab,
• 1:19:52
  Speaker 6: thrown out on each side in one of those wings,
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 6: the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while
• 1:19:58
  Speaker 6: the roof was partly ca gave in a picture of ruin.
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 6: The central portion was in little better repair, but the
• 1:20:05
  Speaker 6: right hand block was comparatively modern, and the blinds in
• 1:20:09
  Speaker 6: the windows, with the blue smoke curling up from the chimneys,
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 6: showed that this was where the family resided. Some scaffolding
• 1:20:15
  Speaker 6: had been erected against the end wall, and the stone
• 1:20:18
  Speaker 6: work had been broken into, but there were no signs
• 1:20:21
  Speaker 6: of any workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes
• 1:20:24
  Speaker 6: walked slowly up and down the ill trimmed lawn and
• 1:20:28
  Speaker 6: examined with deep attention the outsides of the windows. This,
• 1:20:32
  Speaker 6: I take it belongs to the room in which you
• 1:20:34
  Speaker 6: used to sleep, the center one to your sisters, and
• 1:20:37
  Speaker 6: the one next to the main building to doctor Roylet's chamber.
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 6: Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle room,
• 1:20:45
  Speaker 6: pending the alterations. As I understand by the way, there
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 6: does not seem to be any very pressing need for
• 1:20:51
  Speaker 6: repairs at that end of the wall. There were none.
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 6: I believe that it was an excuse to move me
• 1:20:57
  Speaker 6: from my room. Ah that is suggest now on the
• 1:21:01
  Speaker 6: other side of this narrow wing runs the corridor from
• 1:21:04
  Speaker 6: which these three rooms open. There are windows in it,
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 6: of course, yes, but very small ones, too narrow for
• 1:21:10
  Speaker 6: any one to pass through. As you both locked your
• 1:21:14
  Speaker 6: doors at night, your rooms were unapproachable from that side. Now,
• 1:21:17
  Speaker 6: would you have the kindness to go into your room
• 1:21:19
  Speaker 6: and bar your shutters? Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes,
• 1:21:23
  Speaker 6: after a careful examination through the open window, endeavored in
• 1:21:27
  Speaker 6: every way to force a shutter open, but without success.
• 1:21:30
  Speaker 6: There was no slit through which a knife could be
• 1:21:32
  Speaker 6: passed to raise the bar. Then, with his lens he
• 1:21:35
  Speaker 6: tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built
• 1:21:38
  Speaker 6: firmly into the massive masonry. Hum said, he scratching his
• 1:21:42
  Speaker 6: chin in some perplexity. My theory certainly presents some difficulties.
• 1:21:46
  Speaker 6: No one could pass these shutters if they were bolted. Well,
• 1:21:50
  Speaker 6: we shall see if the inside throws any light upon
• 1:21:52
  Speaker 6: the matter. A small side door led into the whitewashed
• 1:21:57
  Speaker 6: corridor from which the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to
• 1:22:01
  Speaker 6: examine the third chamber, so we passed at once to
• 1:22:04
  Speaker 6: the second, that in which miss Stoner was now sleeping,
• 1:22:07
  Speaker 6: and in which her sister had met with her fate.
• 1:22:10
  Speaker 6: It was a homely little room with a low ceiling
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 6: and a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country houses.
• 1:22:17
  Speaker 6: A brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow,
• 1:22:20
  Speaker 6: white counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing table on
• 1:22:24
  Speaker 6: the left hand side of the window. These articles, with
• 1:22:27
  Speaker 6: two small wicker work chairs, made up all the furniture
• 1:22:30
  Speaker 6: in the room save for a square of wilton carpet
• 1:22:33
  Speaker 6: in the center. The boards round and the paneling of
• 1:22:36
  Speaker 6: the walls were of brown, worm eaten oak, so old
• 1:22:39
  Speaker 6: and discolored that it may have dated from the original
• 1:22:42
  Speaker 6: building of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs
• 1:22:45
  Speaker 6: into a corner and sat silent while his eyes traveled
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 6: round and round and up and down, taking in every
• 1:22:51
  Speaker 6: detail of the apartment. Where does that bell communicate with
• 1:22:55
  Speaker 6: he asked at last, pointing to a thick bell rope
• 1:22:58
  Speaker 6: which hung down beside the bed, the tassel actually lying
• 1:23:01
  Speaker 6: upon the pillow. It goes to the housekeeper's room. It
• 1:23:06
  Speaker 6: looked newer than the other things. Yes, it was only
• 1:23:09
  Speaker 6: put there a couple of years ago. Your sister asked
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 6: for it, I suppose, No, I never heard of her
• 1:23:15
  Speaker 6: using it. We used always to get what we wanted
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 6: for ourselves. Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice
• 1:23:22
  Speaker 6: a bell pull there. You will excuse me for a
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 6: few minutes while I satisfy myself as to this floor.
• 1:23:29
  Speaker 6: He threw himself down upon his face, with his lens
• 1:23:31
  Speaker 6: in his hand, and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining
• 1:23:35
  Speaker 6: minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the
• 1:23:38
  Speaker 6: same with the woodwork with which the chamber was paneled. Finally,
• 1:23:42
  Speaker 6: he walked over to the bed and spent some time
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 6: in staring at it, and in running his eye up
• 1:23:47
  Speaker 6: and down the wall. Finally, he took the bell rope
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 6: in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Why
• 1:23:54
  Speaker 6: it's a dummy, said he won't it ring. No, it
• 1:23:58
  Speaker 6: is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting.
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 6: You can see now that it is fastened to a
• 1:24:03
  Speaker 6: hook just above where the little opening for the ventilator is.
• 1:24:08
  Speaker 6: How very absurd I never noticed that before, very strange,
• 1:24:13
  Speaker 6: muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. There are one or
• 1:24:16
  Speaker 6: two singular points about this room. For example, what a
• 1:24:20
  Speaker 6: fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into
• 1:24:22
  Speaker 6: another room when with the same trouble he might have
• 1:24:25
  Speaker 6: communicated with the outside air. That is also quite modern,
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 6: said the lady, done about the same time as the
• 1:24:33
  Speaker 6: bell rope, remarked Holmes. Yes, there were several little changes
• 1:24:37
  Speaker 6: carried out about that time. They seem to have been
• 1:24:41
  Speaker 6: of a most interesting character. Dummy bell ropes and ventilators
• 1:24:45
  Speaker 6: which do not ventilate. With your permission, Miss Stoner, we
• 1:24:48
  Speaker 6: shall now carry our researches into the inner apartment. Doctor
• 1:24:52
  Speaker 6: Grimesby Roylet's chamber was larger than that of his step daughter,
• 1:24:56
  Speaker 6: but was as plainly furnished. A camp bed, a small
• 1:24:59
  Speaker 6: wo shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character,
• 1:25:03
  Speaker 6: an arm chair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair
• 1:25:06
  Speaker 6: against the wall, a round table, and a large iron
• 1:25:09
  Speaker 6: safe were the principal things which met the eye. Holmes
• 1:25:13
  Speaker 6: walked slowly round and examined each and all of them
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 6: with the keenest interest. What's in ear, he asked, tapping
• 1:25:20
  Speaker 6: the safe. My stepfather's business papers. Oh you have seen
• 1:25:24
  Speaker 6: inside then, only once, some years ago. I remember that
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 6: it was full of papers. There isn't a cat in it,
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 6: for example, No, what a strange idea. Well, look at this,
• 1:25:38
  Speaker 6: he took up a small saucer of milk, which stood
• 1:25:41
  Speaker 6: on the top of it. No, we don't keep a cat,
• 1:25:44
  Speaker 6: but there is a cheetah and a baboon ah. Yes,
• 1:25:47
  Speaker 6: of course, Well a cheetah is just a big cat.
• 1:25:50
  Speaker 6: And yet a saucer of milk does not go very
• 1:25:52
  Speaker 6: far and satisfying its wants. I dare say there is
• 1:25:55
  Speaker 6: one point which I should wish to determine. He squatted
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 6: down in front of the wooden chair and examined the
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 6: seat of it with the greatest attention. Thank you, that
• 1:26:04
  Speaker 6: is quite settled, said he, rising and putting his lens
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 6: in his pocket. Hullo, here is something interesting. The object
• 1:26:12
  Speaker 6: which had caught his eye was a small dog lash
• 1:26:14
  Speaker 6: hung on one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was
• 1:26:17
  Speaker 6: curled upon itself and tied so as to make a
• 1:26:20
  Speaker 6: loop of whipcord. What do you make of that, Watson?
• 1:26:24
  Speaker 6: It's a common enough lash, but I don't know why
• 1:26:27
  Speaker 6: it should be tied. That is not quite so common,
• 1:26:30
  Speaker 6: is it, ah me. It's a wicked world, and when
• 1:26:33
  Speaker 6: a clever man turns his brains to crime, it is
• 1:26:35
  Speaker 6: the worst of all. I think that I have seen
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 6: enough now, Miss Stoner, and with your permission, we shall
• 1:26:40
  Speaker 6: walk out upon the lawn. I have never seen my
• 1:26:44
  Speaker 6: friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as
• 1:26:46
  Speaker 6: it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation.
• 1:26:50
  Speaker 6: We had walked several times up and down the lawn,
• 1:26:52
  Speaker 6: neither Miss Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon
• 1:26:55
  Speaker 6: his thoughts before he roused himself from his reverie. It
• 1:26:59
  Speaker 6: is very essential, Miss Stoner, said he that you should
• 1:27:02
  Speaker 6: absolutely follow my advice in every respect. I shall most
• 1:27:06
  Speaker 6: certainly do so. The matter is too serious for any hesitation.
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 6: Your life may depend upon your compliance. I assure you
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 6: that I am in your hands. In the first place,
• 1:27:18
  Speaker 6: Both my friend and I must spend the night in
• 1:27:20
  Speaker 6: your room. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him
• 1:27:24
  Speaker 6: in astonishment. Yes, it must be so. Let me explain.
• 1:27:28
  Speaker 6: I believe that that is the village in over there. Yes,
• 1:27:31
  Speaker 6: that is the crown. Very good, your windows would be
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 6: visible from there. Certainly, you must confine yourself to your
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 6: room on pretense of a headache when your stepfather comes back. Then,
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 6: when you hear him retire for the night, you must
• 1:27:45
  Speaker 6: open the shutters of your window. Undo the hasp. Put
• 1:27:48
  Speaker 6: your lamp there as a signal to us, and then
• 1:27:51
  Speaker 6: withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want
• 1:27:54
  Speaker 6: into the room which you used to occupy. I have
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 6: no doubt that, in spite of the repairs, you could
• 1:27:59
  Speaker 6: manage there for one night. Oh, yes, easily. The rest
• 1:28:03
  Speaker 6: you will leave in our hands. But what will you do.
• 1:28:07
  Speaker 6: We shall spend the night in your room, and we
• 1:28:09
  Speaker 6: shall investigate the cause of this noise which has disturbed you.
• 1:28:13
  Speaker 6: I believe, mister Holmes, that you have already made up
• 1:28:16
  Speaker 6: your mind, said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 6: companion's sleeve. Perhaps I have, And for pity's sake, tell
• 1:28:24
  Speaker 6: me what was the cause of my sister's death. I
• 1:28:27
  Speaker 6: should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak. You
• 1:28:31
  Speaker 6: can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct.
• 1:28:34
  Speaker 6: And if she died from some sudden fright, No, I
• 1:28:37
  Speaker 6: do not think so. I think that there was probably
• 1:28:40
  Speaker 6: some more tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must
• 1:28:43
  Speaker 6: leave you, for if doctor Roylot returned and saw us,
• 1:28:46
  Speaker 6: our journey would be in vain. Good Bye, and be brave,
• 1:28:50
  Speaker 6: for if you will do what I have told you,
• 1:28:51
  Speaker 6: you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away
• 1:28:54
  Speaker 6: the dangers that threaten you. Sherlock Holmes and I had
• 1:28:58
  Speaker 6: no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and sitting room at
• 1:29:01
  Speaker 6: the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 6: from our window we could command a view of the
• 1:29:06
  Speaker 6: avenue gate and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 6: Manor House. At dusk we saw Doctor grimesby roylot drive past,
• 1:29:14
  Speaker 6: his huge form looming up beside the little figure of
• 1:29:16
  Speaker 6: the lad who drove him. The boy had some slight
• 1:29:19
  Speaker 6: difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard
• 1:29:23
  Speaker 6: the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the
• 1:29:26
  Speaker 6: fury with which he shook his clenched fists at him.
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 6: The trap drove on, and a few minutes later we
• 1:29:32
  Speaker 6: saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as
• 1:29:35
  Speaker 6: the lamp was lit in one of the sitting rooms.
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 6: Do you know, Watson, said Holmes, as we sat together
• 1:29:41
  Speaker 6: in the gathering darkness. I have really some scruples as
• 1:29:44
  Speaker 6: to taking you tonight. There is a distinct element of danger.
• 1:29:48
  Speaker 6: Can I be of assistance your presence might be invaluable?
• 1:29:53
  Speaker 6: Then I shall certainly come. It is very kind of
• 1:29:56
  Speaker 6: you you speak of danger, you have evident seen more
• 1:30:00
  Speaker 6: in these rooms than was visible to me. No, but
• 1:30:04
  Speaker 6: I fancy that I may have deduced a little more.
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 6: I imagine that you saw all that I did. I
• 1:30:10
  Speaker 6: saw nothing remarkable save the bell rope. And what purpose
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 6: that could answer, I confess, is more than I can imagine.
• 1:30:17
  Speaker 6: You saw the ventilator too, Yes, but I do not
• 1:30:20
  Speaker 6: think it is such a very unusual thing to have
• 1:30:23
  Speaker 6: a small opening between two rooms. It was so small
• 1:30:26
  Speaker 6: that a rat could hardly pass through. I knew that
• 1:30:29
  Speaker 6: we should find a ventilator before ever we came to
• 1:30:31
  Speaker 6: Stoke Moran, My dear Holmes, Oh, yes, I did you
• 1:30:36
  Speaker 6: remember in her statement she said that her sister could
• 1:30:39
  Speaker 6: smell doctor Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that suggested at
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 6: once that there must be a communication between the two rooms.
• 1:30:46
  Speaker 6: It could only be a small one, or it would
• 1:30:48
  Speaker 6: have been remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced
• 1:30:51
  Speaker 6: a ventilator. But what harm can there be in that?
• 1:30:55
  Speaker 6: While there is at least a curious coincidence of dates,
• 1:30:58
  Speaker 6: a ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a
• 1:31:01
  Speaker 6: lady who sleeps in the bed dies. Does not that
• 1:31:04
  Speaker 6: strike you? I cannot as yet see any connection. Did
• 1:31:09
  Speaker 6: you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?
• 1:31:12
  Speaker 2: No?
• 1:31:14
  Speaker 6: It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see
• 1:31:17
  Speaker 6: a bed fastened like that before? I cannot say that
• 1:31:20
  Speaker 6: I have. The lady could not move her bed. It
• 1:31:23
  Speaker 6: must always be in the same relative position to the
• 1:31:26
  Speaker 6: ventilator and to the rope, or so we may call it,
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 6: since it was clearly never meant for a bell pull, Holmes,
• 1:31:33
  Speaker 6: I cried, I seem to see, dimling, what you are
• 1:31:35
  Speaker 6: hinting at. We are only just in time to prevent
• 1:31:38
  Speaker 6: some subtle and horrible crime. Subtle enough and horrible enough.
• 1:31:43
  Speaker 6: When a doctor goes wrong, he is the first of criminals.
• 1:31:46
  Speaker 6: He has nerve, and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard
• 1:31:49
  Speaker 6: were among the heads of their profession. This man strikes
• 1:31:52
  Speaker 6: even deeper. But I think, Watson, that we shall be
• 1:31:54
  Speaker 6: able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors
• 1:31:57
  Speaker 6: enough before the night is over. For goodness sake, let
• 1:31:59
  Speaker 6: us have a quiet pipe and turn our minds for
• 1:32:02
  Speaker 6: a few hours to something more cheerful. About nine o'clock
• 1:32:07
  Speaker 6: the light among the trees was extinguished, and all was
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 6: dark in the direction of the manor house. Two hours
• 1:32:13
  Speaker 6: passed slowly away, and then suddenly, just at the stroke
• 1:32:17
  Speaker 6: of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in
• 1:32:20
  Speaker 6: front of us. That is our signal, said Holmes, springing
• 1:32:23
  Speaker 6: to his feet. It comes from the middle window. As
• 1:32:27
  Speaker 6: we passed out, he exchanged a few words with the landlord,
• 1:32:31
  Speaker 6: explaining that we were going on a late visit to
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 6: an acquaintance, and that it was possible that we might
• 1:32:36
  Speaker 6: spend the night there. A moment later we were out
• 1:32:39
  Speaker 6: on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in our faces,
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 6: and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through
• 1:32:44
  Speaker 6: the gloom to guide us on our somber errand there
• 1:32:48
  Speaker 6: was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breeches
• 1:32:52
  Speaker 6: gaped in the old park wall. Making our way among
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 6: the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were
• 1:32:58
  Speaker 6: about to enter through the window, when out from a
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 6: clump of laurel bushes, there darted what seemed to be
• 1:33:03
  Speaker 6: a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself upon the
• 1:33:06
  Speaker 6: grass with writhing limbs, and then ran swiftly across the
• 1:33:09
  Speaker 6: lawn into the darkness. My God, I whispered, did you
• 1:33:13
  Speaker 6: see it?
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 2: Holmes?
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 6: Was for the moment as startled as I. His hand
• 1:33:18
  Speaker 6: closed like a vice upon my wrist in his agitation.
• 1:33:22
  Speaker 6: Then he broke into a low laugh and put his
• 1:33:24
  Speaker 6: lips to my ear. It is a nice household, he murmured.
• 1:33:28
  Speaker 6: That is the baboon. I had forgotten the strange pets
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 6: which the doctor affected. There was a cheetah too, Perhaps
• 1:33:36
  Speaker 6: we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment.
• 1:33:39
  Speaker 6: I confess that I felt easier in my mind when,
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 6: after following Holmes's example and slipping off my shoes, I
• 1:33:45
  Speaker 6: found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the shutters,
• 1:33:50
  Speaker 6: moved the lamp on to the table, and cast his
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 6: eyes round the room. All was as we had seen
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 6: it in the daytime. Then, creeping up to me and
• 1:33:59
  Speaker 6: making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered into my
• 1:34:02
  Speaker 6: ear again, so gently that it was all that I
• 1:34:04
  Speaker 6: could do to distinguish the words. The least sound would
• 1:34:07
  Speaker 6: be fatal to our plans. I nodded to show that
• 1:34:12
  Speaker 6: I had heard. We must sit without light. He would
• 1:34:15
  Speaker 6: see it through the ventilator. I nodded again, Do not
• 1:34:20
  Speaker 6: go asleep. Your very life may depend upon it. Have
• 1:34:24
  Speaker 6: your pistol ready in case we should need it. I
• 1:34:26
  Speaker 6: will sit on the side of the bed, and you
• 1:34:28
  Speaker 6: in that chair. I took out my revolver and laid
• 1:34:33
  Speaker 6: it on the corner of the table. Holmes had brought
• 1:34:36
  Speaker 6: up a long, thin cane, and this he placed upon
• 1:34:39
  Speaker 6: the bed Beside him. By it he laid the box
• 1:34:42
  Speaker 6: of matches and the stump of a candle. Then he
• 1:34:45
  Speaker 6: turned down the lamp, and we were left in darkness.
• 1:34:50
  Speaker 6: How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil. I could
• 1:34:53
  Speaker 6: not hear a sound, not even the drawing of a breath,
• 1:34:57
  Speaker 6: and yet I knew that my companion sat open eyed
• 1:35:00
  Speaker 6: within a few feet of me, in the same state
• 1:35:02
  Speaker 6: of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters
• 1:35:06
  Speaker 6: cut off the least ray of light, and we waited
• 1:35:09
  Speaker 6: in absolute darkness. From outside came the occasional cry of
• 1:35:13
  Speaker 6: a night bird, and once at our very window, a
• 1:35:16
  Speaker 6: long drawn catlike wine, which told us that the cheetah
• 1:35:20
  Speaker 6: was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the
• 1:35:23
  Speaker 6: deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every
• 1:35:26
  Speaker 6: quarter of an hour. How long they seemed those quarters
• 1:35:30
  Speaker 6: twelve struck and one and two and three, and still
• 1:35:34
  Speaker 6: we sat, waiting silently for whatever might befall. Suddenly there
• 1:35:38
  Speaker 6: was a momentary gleam of a light up in the
• 1:35:41
  Speaker 6: direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was succeeded
• 1:35:45
  Speaker 6: by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal.
• 1:35:49
  Speaker 6: Someone in the next room had lit a dark lantern.
• 1:35:52
  Speaker 6: I heard a gentle sound of movement, and then all
• 1:35:55
  Speaker 6: was silent once more, though the smell grew stronger. For
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 6: half an hour I sat with sis straining ears. Then
• 1:36:02
  Speaker 6: suddenly another sound became audible, a very gentle, soothing sound,
• 1:36:07
  Speaker 6: like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually
• 1:36:10
  Speaker 6: from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes
• 1:36:13
  Speaker 6: sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously
• 1:36:17
  Speaker 6: with his cane at the bell pole. Do you see it, Watson,
• 1:36:20
  Speaker 6: he yelled, do you see it? But I saw nothing.
• 1:36:24
  Speaker 6: At the moment when Holmes struck the light, I heard
• 1:36:26
  Speaker 6: a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into
• 1:36:29
  Speaker 6: my weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell
• 1:36:32
  Speaker 6: what it was at which my friend lashed so savagely.
• 1:36:36
  Speaker 6: I could, however, see that his face was deadly pale
• 1:36:38
  Speaker 6: and filled with horror and loathing. He had ceased to
• 1:36:42
  Speaker 6: strike and was gazing up at the ventilator, when suddenly
• 1:36:44
  Speaker 6: there broke from the silence of the night the most
• 1:36:47
  Speaker 6: horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up,
• 1:36:51
  Speaker 6: louder and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear
• 1:36:54
  Speaker 6: and anger, all mingled in one dreadful shriek. They say
• 1:36:58
  Speaker 6: that away down in the village, and even in the
• 1:37:00
  Speaker 6: distant parsonage, that cry raised the sleepers from their beds,
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 6: struck cold to our hearts. And I stood gazing at
• 1:37:08
  Speaker 6: Holmes and he at me, until the last echoes of
• 1:37:11
  Speaker 6: it had died away into the silence from which it rose.
• 1:37:15
  Speaker 6: What can it mean, I gasped. It means that it
• 1:37:19
  Speaker 6: is all over, Holmes answered, and perhaps after all it
• 1:37:23
  Speaker 6: is for the best. Take your pistol and we will
• 1:37:25
  Speaker 6: enter doctor Roylott's room. With a grave face, he lit
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 6: the lamp and led the way down the corridor. Twice.
• 1:37:33
  Speaker 6: He struck at the chamber door without any reply from within.
• 1:37:36
  Speaker 6: Then he turned the handle and entered. I at his
• 1:37:39
  Speaker 6: heels with the cocked pistol in my hand.
• 1:37:43
  Speaker 2: It was a.
• 1:37:44
  Speaker 6: Singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood
• 1:37:48
  Speaker 6: a dark lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a
• 1:37:51
  Speaker 6: brilliant beam of light upon the iron safe, the door
• 1:37:54
  Speaker 6: of which was Ajar. Beside this table, on the wooden
• 1:37:58
  Speaker 6: chair sat Doctor grimesby Roe, clad in a long gray
• 1:38:01
  Speaker 6: dressing gown, his bare ankles protruding beneath, and his feet
• 1:38:05
  Speaker 6: thrust into red heel less turkish slippers. Across his lap
• 1:38:09
  Speaker 6: lay the short stalk with the long lash, which we
• 1:38:12
  Speaker 6: had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward,
• 1:38:15
  Speaker 6: and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare
• 1:38:18
  Speaker 6: at the corner of the ceiling. Round his brow, he
• 1:38:21
  Speaker 6: had a peculiar yellow band with brownish speckles, which seemed
• 1:38:25
  Speaker 6: to be bound tightly round his head. As we entered,
• 1:38:29
  Speaker 6: he made neither sound nor motion. The band, the speckled band,
• 1:38:35
  Speaker 6: whispered Holmes. I took a step forward. In an instant,
• 1:38:40
  Speaker 6: his strange headgear began to move, and there reared itself
• 1:38:44
  Speaker 6: from among his hair, the squat, diamond shaped head and
• 1:38:47
  Speaker 6: puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. It is a swamp adder,
• 1:38:52
  Speaker 6: cried Holmes, the deadliest snake in India. He has died
• 1:38:55
  Speaker 6: within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence does in truth
• 1:38:59
  Speaker 6: recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the
• 1:39:02
  Speaker 6: pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this
• 1:39:05
  Speaker 6: creature back into its den, and we can then remove
• 1:39:07
  Speaker 6: miss Stoner to some place of shelter and let the
• 1:39:10
  Speaker 6: county police know what has happened. As he spoke, he
• 1:39:14
  Speaker 6: drew the dog whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and,
• 1:39:17
  Speaker 6: throwing the noose round the reptile's neck, he drew it
• 1:39:19
  Speaker 6: from its horrid perch, and, carrying it at arm's length,
• 1:39:23
  Speaker 6: threw it into the iron safe, which he closed upon it.
• 1:39:27
  Speaker 6: Such are the true facts of the death of doctor
• 1:39:29
  Speaker 6: grimesby Roylot of Stoke, Miran. It is not necessary that
• 1:39:33
  Speaker 6: I should prolong a narrative which has already run too
• 1:39:35
  Speaker 6: great a length, by telling how we broke the sad
• 1:39:38
  Speaker 6: news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed her by
• 1:39:41
  Speaker 6: the morning train to the care of her good aunt
• 1:39:43
  Speaker 6: at Harrow, of how the slow process of official enquiry
• 1:39:46
  Speaker 6: came to the conclusion that the doctor met his fate
• 1:39:49
  Speaker 6: while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet. The little which
• 1:39:53
  Speaker 6: I had yet to learn of the case was told
• 1:39:54
  Speaker 6: me by Sherlock Holmes as we traveled back the next day.
• 1:39:58
  Speaker 6: I had said, he come to to an entirely erroneous conclusion,
• 1:40:01
  Speaker 6: which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is
• 1:40:05
  Speaker 6: to reason from insufficient data. The presence of the gypsies
• 1:40:08
  Speaker 6: and the use of the word band, which was used
• 1:40:10
  Speaker 6: by the poor girl, no doubt, to explain the appearance
• 1:40:13
  Speaker 6: which she had caught a hurried glimpse of by the
• 1:40:15
  Speaker 6: light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon
• 1:40:18
  Speaker 6: an entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit
• 1:40:21
  Speaker 6: that I instantly reconsidered my position, when, however, it became
• 1:40:25
  Speaker 6: clear to me that whatever danger threatened an occupant of
• 1:40:27
  Speaker 6: the room could not come either from the window or
• 1:40:30
  Speaker 6: the door. My attention was speedily drawn, as I have
• 1:40:33
  Speaker 6: already remarked to you, to this ventilator and to the
• 1:40:36
  Speaker 6: bell rope which hung down to the bed. The discovery
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 6: that this was a dummy, and that the bed was
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 6: clamped to the floor instantly gave rise to the suspicion
• 1:40:45
  Speaker 6: that the rope was there as a bridge for something
• 1:40:47
  Speaker 6: passing through the hole and coming to the bed. The
• 1:40:50
  Speaker 6: idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when
• 1:40:53
  Speaker 6: I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was
• 1:40:56
  Speaker 6: furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt
• 1:40:58
  Speaker 6: that I was probably on the right track. The idea
• 1:41:02
  Speaker 6: of using a form of poison which could not possibly
• 1:41:04
  Speaker 6: be discovered by any chemical test was just such a
• 1:41:07
  Speaker 6: one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man
• 1:41:10
  Speaker 6: who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which
• 1:41:13
  Speaker 6: such a poison would take effect would also, from his
• 1:41:15
  Speaker 6: point of view, be an advantage. It would be a
• 1:41:18
  Speaker 6: sharp eyed coroner, indeed, who could distinguish the two little
• 1:41:21
  Speaker 6: dark punctures which would show where the poison fangs had
• 1:41:23
  Speaker 6: done their work. Then I thought of the whistle. Of course,
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 6: he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed
• 1:41:30
  Speaker 6: it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by
• 1:41:33
  Speaker 6: use of the milk which we saw to return to
• 1:41:35
  Speaker 6: him when summoned. He would put it through this ventilator
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 6: at the hour that he thought best, with the certainty
• 1:41:41
  Speaker 6: that it would crawl down the rope and land on
• 1:41:43
  Speaker 6: the bed. It might or might not bite the occupant.
• 1:41:46
  Speaker 6: Perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but
• 1:41:49
  Speaker 6: sooner or later she must fall a victim. I had
• 1:41:53
  Speaker 6: come to these conclusions before I had ever entered his room.
• 1:41:56
  Speaker 6: An inspection of his chair showed me that he had
• 1:41:58
  Speaker 6: been in the habit of stand on it, which of
• 1:42:01
  Speaker 6: course would be necessary in order that he should reach
• 1:42:03
  Speaker 6: the ventilator. The sight of the safe, the saucer of milk,
• 1:42:07
  Speaker 6: and the loop of whipcord were enough to finally dispel
• 1:42:09
  Speaker 6: any doubts which may have remained. The metallic clang heard
• 1:42:13
  Speaker 6: by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather hastily
• 1:42:16
  Speaker 6: closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant.
• 1:42:19
  Speaker 6: Having once made up my mind, you know the steps
• 1:42:21
  Speaker 6: which I took in order to put the matter.
• 1:42:23
  Speaker 2: To the proof.
• 1:42:24
  Speaker 6: I heard the creature hiss, as I have no doubt
• 1:42:26
  Speaker 6: that you did also, and I instantly lit the light
• 1:42:29
  Speaker 6: and attacked it, with the result of driving it through
• 1:42:32
  Speaker 6: the ventilator, and also with the result of causing it
• 1:42:36
  Speaker 6: to turn upon its master. At the other side. Some
• 1:42:39
  Speaker 6: of the blows of my cane came home and roused
• 1:42:41
  Speaker 6: its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first
• 1:42:44
  Speaker 6: person it saw. In this way, I am no doubt
• 1:42:47
  Speaker 6: indirectly responsible for doctor grimesby Brolett's death, and I cannot
• 1:42:51
  Speaker 6: say it is likely to weigh very heavily upon my conscience.
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 6: End the Adventure of the Speckled Band.
• 1:42:59
  Speaker 2: The Boss gumb Valley Mystery. We were seated at breakfast
• 1:43:05
  Speaker 2: one morning, my wife and I when the maid brought
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 2: in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran
• 1:43:10
  Speaker 2: in this way, have you a couple of days to spare?
• 1:43:14
  Speaker 2: Have just been wired for from the west of England
• 1:43:16
  Speaker 2: in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Shall be glad if
• 1:43:20
  Speaker 2: you will come with me air in scenery perfect leave
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 2: Paddington by the eleven fifteen. What do you say, dear,
• 1:43:28
  Speaker 2: said my wife, looking across at me. Will you go?
• 1:43:33
  Speaker 2: I really don't know what to say. I have a
• 1:43:36
  Speaker 2: fairly long list at present. Oh An Struther would do
• 1:43:40
  Speaker 2: your work for you. You have been looking a little
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 2: pale lately. I think that the change would do you good.
• 1:43:45
  Speaker 2: And you are always so interested in mister Sherlock Holmes's cases.
• 1:43:50
  Speaker 2: I should be ungrateful if I were not seeing what
• 1:43:53
  Speaker 2: I gained through one of them. I answered, But if
• 1:43:56
  Speaker 2: I am to go, I must pack at once, for
• 1:43:58
  Speaker 2: I have only half an hour. My experience of camp
• 1:44:02
  Speaker 2: life in Afghanistan had at least had the effect of
• 1:44:06
  Speaker 2: making me a prompt and ready traveler. My wants were
• 1:44:09
  Speaker 2: few and simple, so that in less than the time stated,
• 1:44:12
  Speaker 2: I was in a cab with my valise, rattling away
• 1:44:16
  Speaker 2: to paddingson station Sherlock Holmes was pacing up and down
• 1:44:19
  Speaker 2: the platform, his tall, gaunt figure made even gaunter and
• 1:44:23
  Speaker 2: taller by his long gray traveling cloak and close fitting
• 1:44:26
  Speaker 2: cloth cap. It is really very good of you to come, Watson,
• 1:44:30
  Speaker 2: said he. It makes a considerable difference to me having
• 1:44:34
  Speaker 2: someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely. Local
• 1:44:37
  Speaker 2: aid is always either worthless or else biased. If you
• 1:44:41
  Speaker 2: will keep the two corner seats, I shall get the tickets.
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 2: We had the carriage to ourselves, save for an immense
• 1:44:47
  Speaker 2: litter of papers, which Holmes had brought with him. Among
• 1:44:50
  Speaker 2: these he rummaged and read, with intervals of note taking
• 1:44:53
  Speaker 2: and of meditation, until we were past reading. Then he
• 1:44:56
  Speaker 2: suddenly rolled them all into a gigantic ball and tossed
• 1:44:59
  Speaker 2: them up on to the Have you heard anything of
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 2: the case, he asked, Not a word. I have not
• 1:45:05
  Speaker 2: seen a paper for some days. The London Press has
• 1:45:09
  Speaker 2: not had very full accounts. I have just been looking
• 1:45:12
  Speaker 2: through all the recent papers in order to master the particular.
• 1:45:15
  Speaker 2: It seems, from what I gather, to be one of
• 1:45:17
  Speaker 2: those simple cases which are so extremely difficult. That sounds
• 1:45:22
  Speaker 2: a little paradoxical, but it is profoundly true. Singularity is
• 1:45:26
  Speaker 2: almost invariably a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a
• 1:45:30
  Speaker 2: crime is, the more difficult it is to bring it home.
• 1:45:33
  Speaker 2: In this case, however, they have established a very serious
• 1:45:35
  Speaker 2: case against the son of the murdered man. It is
• 1:45:40
  Speaker 2: a murder, then, well it is conjectured to be so.
• 1:45:43
  Speaker 2: I shall take nothing for granted until I have the
• 1:45:45
  Speaker 2: opportunity of looking personally into it. I will explain the
• 1:45:49
  Speaker 2: state of things to you as far as I have
• 1:45:50
  Speaker 2: been able to understand it, in a very few words.
• 1:45:54
  Speaker 2: Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from
• 1:45:57
  Speaker 2: ross and Herefordshire. Largest landed proprietor in that part is
• 1:46:02
  Speaker 2: a mister John Turner, who made his money in Australia
• 1:46:06
  Speaker 2: and returned some years ago to the old country. One
• 1:46:09
  Speaker 2: of the farms which he held, that of Heatherly, was
• 1:46:12
  Speaker 2: lent to mister Charles McCarthy who was also an ex Australian.
• 1:46:17
  Speaker 2: The men had known each other in the colonies, so
• 1:46:19
  Speaker 2: that it was not unnatural that when they came to
• 1:46:22
  Speaker 2: settle down, that they should do so as near each
• 1:46:25
  Speaker 2: other as possible. Turner was apparently the richer man, so
• 1:46:28
  Speaker 2: McCarthy became his tenant, but still remained, it seems, upon
• 1:46:32
  Speaker 2: terms of perfect equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy
• 1:46:36
  Speaker 2: had one son, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had
• 1:46:39
  Speaker 2: an only daughter of the same age, but neither of
• 1:46:41
  Speaker 2: them had wives living. They appeared to have avoided the
• 1:46:44
  Speaker 2: society of the neighboring English families and to have led
• 1:46:47
  Speaker 2: retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of sport
• 1:46:50
  Speaker 2: and were frequently seen at the race meetings of the neighborhood.
• 1:46:54
  Speaker 2: McCarthy kept two servants, a man and girl. Turner had
• 1:46:58
  Speaker 2: a considerable household, some half dozen in the least. That
• 1:47:02
  Speaker 2: is as much as I have been able to gather
• 1:47:03
  Speaker 2: about the families. Now for the facts. On June third,
• 1:47:08
  Speaker 2: that is Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Hatherley
• 1:47:12
  Speaker 2: about three in the afternoon and walked down to the
• 1:47:14
  Speaker 2: Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the
• 1:47:17
  Speaker 2: spreading out of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley.
• 1:47:21
  Speaker 2: He had been out with his serving man in the
• 1:47:23
  Speaker 2: morning at ross and he had told the man that
• 1:47:25
  Speaker 2: he must hurry, as he had an appointment of importance
• 1:47:28
  Speaker 2: to keep it free. From that appointment. He never came
• 1:47:31
  Speaker 2: back alive. From Hatherley Farmhouse to the Boscombe Pool as
• 1:47:36
  Speaker 2: a quarter of a mile, and two people saw him
• 1:47:38
  Speaker 2: as he passed over this ground. One was an old
• 1:47:41
  Speaker 2: woman whose name is not mentioned, and the other was
• 1:47:44
  Speaker 2: William Crowder, a gamekeeper in the employ of mister Turner.
• 1:47:48
  Speaker 2: Both these witnesses deposed that mister McCarthy was walking alone.
• 1:47:52
  Speaker 2: The gamekeeper adds that within a few minutes of his
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 2: seeing mister McCarthy pass he had seen his son, mister
• 1:47:58
  Speaker 2: James McCarthy, going the same way with a gun under
• 1:48:02
  Speaker 2: his arm. To the best of his belief, the father
• 1:48:04
  Speaker 2: was actually in sight at the time and the son
• 1:48:07
  Speaker 2: was following him. He thought no more of the matter
• 1:48:09
  Speaker 2: until he heard in the evening of the tragedy that
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 2: had occurred. The two McCarthys were seen after the time
• 1:48:16
  Speaker 2: when William Crowder, the gamekeeper, lost sight of them. The
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 2: Boscombe Pool is thickly wooded round, with just a fringe
• 1:48:22
  Speaker 2: of grass and of reeds round the edge. A girl
• 1:48:25
  Speaker 2: of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the
• 1:48:28
  Speaker 2: lodge keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one
• 1:48:31
  Speaker 2: of the woods picking flowers. She states that while she
• 1:48:34
  Speaker 2: was there she saw at the border of the wooden
• 1:48:36
  Speaker 2: close by the lake, mister McCarthy and his son, and
• 1:48:39
  Speaker 2: that they appeared to be having a violent quarrel. She
• 1:48:43
  Speaker 2: heard mister McCarthy the elder, using very strong language to
• 1:48:46
  Speaker 2: his son, and she saw the latter raise up his
• 1:48:49
  Speaker 2: hand as if to strike his father. She was so
• 1:48:51
  Speaker 2: frightened by their violence that she ran away and told
• 1:48:54
  Speaker 2: her mother when she reached home, that she had left
• 1:48:56
  Speaker 2: the two McCarthy's quarreling near Boscombe Pool, and that she
• 1:49:00
  Speaker 2: was afraid that they were going to fight. She had
• 1:49:03
  Speaker 2: hardly said the words when young mister McCarthy came running
• 1:49:06
  Speaker 2: up to the lodge to say that he had found
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 2: his father dead in the wood and to ask for
• 1:49:10
  Speaker 2: the help of the lodge keeper. He was much excited,
• 1:49:13
  Speaker 2: without either his gun or his hat, and his right
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 2: hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood.
• 1:49:20
  Speaker 2: On following him, they found the dead body stretched out
• 1:49:22
  Speaker 2: upon the grasp side the pool. The head had been
• 1:49:25
  Speaker 2: beaten in by repeated blows of some heavy and blunt weapon.
• 1:49:29
  Speaker 2: The injuries were such as might very well have been
• 1:49:31
  Speaker 2: inflicted by the butt end of his son's gun, which
• 1:49:34
  Speaker 2: was found lying on the grass within a few paces
• 1:49:37
  Speaker 2: of the body. Under these circumstances, the young man was
• 1:49:40
  Speaker 2: instantly arrested, and a verdict of wilful murder having been
• 1:49:44
  Speaker 2: returned at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday
• 1:49:47
  Speaker 2: brought before the Magistrates at Ross, who have referred the
• 1:49:50
  Speaker 2: case to the next sizes. Those are the main facts
• 1:49:54
  Speaker 2: of the case as they came out before the coroner
• 1:49:56
  Speaker 2: and the police court. I could hardly image a more
• 1:50:00
  Speaker 2: damning case. I remarked. If ever circumstantial evidence pointed to
• 1:50:05
  Speaker 2: a criminal, it does so here. Circumstantial evidence is a
• 1:50:10
  Speaker 2: very tricky thing, answered Holmes thoughtfully. It may seem to
• 1:50:15
  Speaker 2: point very straight to one thing, but if you shift
• 1:50:18
  Speaker 2: your own point of view a little, you may find
• 1:50:21
  Speaker 2: it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different.
• 1:50:26
  Speaker 2: It must be confess, however, that the case looks exceedingly
• 1:50:30
  Speaker 2: grave against the young man. It is very possible that
• 1:50:33
  Speaker 2: he is indeed the culbrit There are several people in
• 1:50:36
  Speaker 2: the neighborhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the daughter
• 1:50:39
  Speaker 2: of the neighboring landowner, who believe in his innocence, and
• 1:50:43
  Speaker 2: who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect in connection
• 1:50:47
  Speaker 2: with the study in Scarlet, to work out the case
• 1:50:50
  Speaker 2: in his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the
• 1:50:54
  Speaker 2: case to me, and hence it is that two middle
• 1:50:57
  Speaker 2: aged gentlemen are flying westward at fifty miles an hour
• 1:51:00
  Speaker 2: instead of quietly digesting their breakfasts at home. I am afraid,
• 1:51:06
  Speaker 2: said I, that the facts are so obvious that you
• 1:51:09
  Speaker 2: will find little credit to be gained out of this case.
• 1:51:13
  Speaker 2: There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact, he answered, laughing. Besides,
• 1:51:18
  Speaker 2: we may chance to hit upon some other obvious facts
• 1:51:22
  Speaker 2: which may have been by no means obvious to mister Lestrade.
• 1:51:26
  Speaker 2: You know me too well to think that I am
• 1:51:27
  Speaker 2: boasting when I say that I shall either confirm or
• 1:51:30
  Speaker 2: destroy his theory by means which he is quite incapable
• 1:51:34
  Speaker 2: of employing, or even of understanding. To take the first
• 1:51:38
  Speaker 2: example to hand, I very clearly perceive that in your
• 1:51:41
  Speaker 2: bedroom the window is upon the right hand side. And
• 1:51:44
  Speaker 2: yet I question whether mister Lestrade would have noticed even
• 1:51:47
  Speaker 2: so self evident a thing as that. How on earth,
• 1:51:52
  Speaker 2: my dear fellow, I know you well, I know the
• 1:51:54
  Speaker 2: military neatness which characterizes you. You shave every morning, and
• 1:51:59
  Speaker 2: in this sea you shave by the sunlight. But since
• 1:52:02
  Speaker 2: your shaving is less and less complete as we get
• 1:52:05
  Speaker 2: farther back on the left side, and until it becomes
• 1:52:07
  Speaker 2: positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the jaw,
• 1:52:11
  Speaker 2: it is surely very clear that that side is less
• 1:52:14
  Speaker 2: illuminated than the other. I could not imagine a man
• 1:52:17
  Speaker 2: of your habits looking at himself in an equal light
• 1:52:19
  Speaker 2: in being satisfied with such a result. I only quote
• 1:52:22
  Speaker 2: this is a trivial example of observation and inference. Therein
• 1:52:26
  Speaker 2: lies my metier, and it is just possible that it
• 1:52:29
  Speaker 2: may be of some service in the investigation which lies
• 1:52:32
  Speaker 2: before us. There are one or two minor points which
• 1:52:34
  Speaker 2: are brought out in the inquest in which are worth considering.
• 1:52:38
  Speaker 2: What are they? It appears that his arrest did not
• 1:52:43
  Speaker 2: take place at once, but after the return to Hattley Farm.
• 1:52:46
  Speaker 2: On the Inspector of Constabulary informing him that he was
• 1:52:49
  Speaker 2: a prisoner, he remarked that he was not surprised to
• 1:52:51
  Speaker 2: hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts.
• 1:52:55
  Speaker 2: This observation of his had the natural effect of removing
• 1:52:58
  Speaker 2: any traces of doubt which might have remained in the
• 1:53:01
  Speaker 2: minds of the coroner's jury. It was a confession I ejaculated, no,
• 1:53:07
  Speaker 2: for it was followed by a protestation of innocence. Coming
• 1:53:10
  Speaker 2: on top of such a damning series of events, it
• 1:53:13
  Speaker 2: was at the least a most suspicious remark. On the contrary,
• 1:53:18
  Speaker 2: said Holmes, it is the brightest rift which I can
• 1:53:20
  Speaker 2: at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be,
• 1:53:24
  Speaker 2: he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not
• 1:53:27
  Speaker 2: to see that the circumstances were very black against him.
• 1:53:31
  Speaker 2: Had he appeared surprised at his own arrest or feigned
• 1:53:34
  Speaker 2: indignation at it, I should have looked upon it as
• 1:53:37
  Speaker 2: highly suspicious, because such surprise or anger would not be
• 1:53:40
  Speaker 2: natural under the circumstances, and yet might appear to be
• 1:53:44
  Speaker 2: the best policy to a scheming man. His frank acceptance
• 1:53:48
  Speaker 2: of the situation marks him as either an innocent man,
• 1:53:51
  Speaker 2: or else as a man of considerable self restraint and firmness.
• 1:53:55
  Speaker 2: As to his remark about his deserts, it was also
• 1:53:57
  Speaker 2: not unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the
• 1:54:00
  Speaker 2: of his father, and that there is no doubt that
• 1:54:03
  Speaker 2: he had that very day so far forgotten his filial
• 1:54:06
  Speaker 2: duty as to bandy words with him, and even according
• 1:54:09
  Speaker 2: to the little girl, whose evidence is so important, to
• 1:54:12
  Speaker 2: raise his hand as if to strike him. The self
• 1:54:15
  Speaker 2: reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark appear
• 1:54:18
  Speaker 2: to me to be the signs of a healthy mind,
• 1:54:20
  Speaker 2: rather than of a guilty one. I shook my head.
• 1:54:26
  Speaker 2: Many men have been hanged on far slighter evidence, I remarked.
• 1:54:31
  Speaker 2: So they have, and many men have been wrongfully hanged.
• 1:54:37
  Speaker 2: What is the young man's own account of the matter.
• 1:54:41
  Speaker 2: It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his support,
• 1:54:44
  Speaker 2: as though there are one or two points in it
• 1:54:46
  Speaker 2: which are suggestive. You will find it here and may
• 1:54:48
  Speaker 2: read it for yourself. He picked out from his bundle
• 1:54:53
  Speaker 2: a copy of the local Herefordshire paper, and having turned
• 1:54:56
  Speaker 2: down the sheet, he pointed out the paragraph in which
• 1:54:58
  Speaker 2: the unfortunate young man had given his own statement of
• 1:55:01
  Speaker 2: what had occurred. I settled myself down in the corner
• 1:55:04
  Speaker 2: of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran
• 1:55:07
  Speaker 2: in this way. Mister James McCarthy, the only son of
• 1:55:12
  Speaker 2: the deceased, was then called and gave evidence as follows.
• 1:55:16
  Speaker 2: I had been away from home for three days at Bristol,
• 1:55:19
  Speaker 2: and had only just returned upon the morning of last
• 1:55:22
  Speaker 2: Monday the third. My father was absent from home at
• 1:55:25
  Speaker 2: the time of my arrival, and I was informed by
• 1:55:27
  Speaker 2: the maid that he had driven over to Ross with
• 1:55:29
  Speaker 2: John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after my return, I heard
• 1:55:32
  Speaker 2: the wheels of his trap in the yard, and looking
• 1:55:35
  Speaker 2: out of my window, I saw him get out and
• 1:55:37
  Speaker 2: walk rapidly out of the yard, though I was not
• 1:55:40
  Speaker 2: aware in which direction he was going. I then took
• 1:55:43
  Speaker 2: my gun and strolled out in the direction of the
• 1:55:45
  Speaker 2: Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Warren,
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 2: which is upon the other side. On my way, I
• 1:55:51
  Speaker 2: saw William Crowder, the gamekeeper, as he had stated in
• 1:55:54
  Speaker 2: his evidence, but he is mistaken in thinking that I
• 1:55:57
  Speaker 2: was following my father. I had no idea that he
• 1:56:00
  Speaker 2: was in front of me when about a hundred yards
• 1:56:03
  Speaker 2: from the pool, I heard a cry of COOOI, which
• 1:56:05
  Speaker 2: is an unusual signal between my father and myself. I
• 1:56:10
  Speaker 2: then hurried forward and found him standing by the pool.
• 1:56:14
  Speaker 2: He appeared to be much surprised at seeing me, and
• 1:56:16
  Speaker 2: asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A
• 1:56:19
  Speaker 2: conversation ensued which led to high words and almost blows.
• 1:56:23
  Speaker 2: For my father was a man of a very violent temper.
• 1:56:26
  Speaker 2: Seeing that his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him
• 1:56:29
  Speaker 2: and returned towards Hatherly Farm. I had not gone more
• 1:56:33
  Speaker 2: than one hundred fifty yards, however, when I heard a
• 1:56:35
  Speaker 2: hideous outcry behind me, which caused me to run back again.
• 1:56:39
  Speaker 2: I found my father expiring upon the ground, with his
• 1:56:41
  Speaker 2: head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him
• 1:56:45
  Speaker 2: in my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt
• 1:56:49
  Speaker 2: beside him for some minutes, and then made my way
• 1:56:52
  Speaker 2: to mister Turner's lodge keeper his house, being the nearest
• 1:56:54
  Speaker 2: to ask for assistance. I saw no one near my
• 1:56:57
  Speaker 2: father when I returned, and I have no idea how
• 1:57:00
  Speaker 2: he came by his injuries. He was not a popular man,
• 1:57:03
  Speaker 2: being somewhat cold and forbidding in his manners, But he had,
• 1:57:07
  Speaker 2: as far as I know, no active enemies. I know
• 1:57:10
  Speaker 2: nothing further of the matter, the Coroner. Did your father
• 1:57:14
  Speaker 2: make any statement to you before he died? Witness? He
• 1:57:18
  Speaker 2: mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some
• 1:57:21
  Speaker 2: allusion to a rat, the Coroner. What did you understand
• 1:57:25
  Speaker 2: by that? Witness? It conveyed no meaning to me. I
• 1:57:29
  Speaker 2: thought that he was delirious. The Coroner. What was the
• 1:57:33
  Speaker 2: point upon which in your father had this final quarrel? Witness,
• 1:57:38
  Speaker 2: I should prefer not to answer, the Coroner. I am
• 1:57:42
  Speaker 2: afraid that I must press it. Witness, it is really
• 1:57:46
  Speaker 2: impossible for me to tell you. I can assure you
• 1:57:48
  Speaker 2: that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy
• 1:57:50
  Speaker 2: which followed. The Coroner. That is for the court to decide.
• 1:57:54
  Speaker 2: I need not point out to you that your refusal
• 1:57:57
  Speaker 2: to answer will prejudice your case considerably in any future
• 1:58:00
  Speaker 2: proceedings which may arise, Witness. I still must refuse the Coroner.
• 1:58:07
  Speaker 2: I understand that the cry of kui was a common
• 1:58:10
  Speaker 2: signal between you and your father, Witness, it was the Coroner.
• 1:58:16
  Speaker 2: How was it then that he uttered it before he
• 1:58:18
  Speaker 2: saw you, and before he even knew that you would
• 1:58:20
  Speaker 2: return from Bristol. Witness with considerable confusion. I do not know,
• 1:58:27
  Speaker 2: a juryman. Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions
• 1:58:31
  Speaker 2: when you returned on hearing the cry and found your
• 1:58:33
  Speaker 2: father fatally injured? Witness nothing definite? The coroner, What do
• 1:58:39
  Speaker 2: you mean, Witness. I was so disturbed and excited as
• 1:58:43
  Speaker 2: I rushed out into the open that I could think
• 1:58:45
  Speaker 2: of nothing except my father. Yes, I have a vague
• 1:58:48
  Speaker 2: impression that as I ran forward, something lay upon the
• 1:58:52
  Speaker 2: ground to the left of me. It seemed to be
• 1:58:54
  Speaker 2: something gray in color, a coat of some sort, or
• 1:58:57
  Speaker 2: a plaid perhaps. When I rose from my father, I
• 1:59:00
  Speaker 2: looked round for it, but it was gone. Do you
• 1:59:04
  Speaker 2: mean that it had disappeared before you went to help? Yes,
• 1:59:07
  Speaker 2: it was gone. You cannot say what it was. No,
• 1:59:10
  Speaker 2: I had a feeling something was there. How far from
• 1:59:14
  Speaker 2: the body a dozen yards or so, and how far
• 1:59:17
  Speaker 2: from the edge of the wood about the same. Then,
• 1:59:20
  Speaker 2: if it was removed, it was while you were within
• 1:59:23
  Speaker 2: a dozen yards of it, Yes, but with my back
• 1:59:26
  Speaker 2: towards it. This concluded the examination of the witness. I see,
• 1:59:33
  Speaker 2: said I as I glanced down the column that the coroner,
• 1:59:36
  Speaker 2: in his concluding remarks, was rather severe upon young McCarthy.
• 1:59:40
  Speaker 2: He calls attention, and with reason to the discrepancy about
• 1:59:43
  Speaker 2: his father having signaled to him before seeing him, and
• 1:59:46
  Speaker 2: also to his refusal to give details of his conversation
• 1:59:48
  Speaker 2: with his father, and his singular account of his father's
• 1:59:51
  Speaker 2: dying words. They are all, as he remarks, very much
• 1:59:54
  Speaker 2: against the son. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched
• 1:59:59
  Speaker 2: him out upon the cushion's seat. Both you and the
• 2:00:03
  Speaker 2: coronor have been at some paines, said he to single
• 2:00:06
  Speaker 2: out the very strongest points in the young man's favor.
• 2:00:10
  Speaker 2: Don't you see that you alternately give him credit for
• 2:00:12
  Speaker 2: having too much imagination and too little too little if
• 2:00:16
  Speaker 2: he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would
• 2:00:18
  Speaker 2: give him the sympathy of the jury, too much, if
• 2:00:21
  Speaker 2: he evolved from his own inner consciousness anything so utree
• 2:00:25
  Speaker 2: as a dying reference to a rat and the incident
• 2:00:28
  Speaker 2: of the vanishing cloth. No, sir, I shall approach this
• 2:00:32
  Speaker 2: case from the point of view that what this young
• 2:00:34
  Speaker 2: man says is true, and we shall see whither that
• 2:00:37
  Speaker 2: hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket, Petrarch,
• 2:00:41
  Speaker 2: and not another word shall I say of this case
• 2:00:43
  Speaker 2: until we are on the scene of action. We lunch
• 2:00:46
  Speaker 2: at Swindon, and I see that we shall be there
• 2:00:49
  Speaker 2: in twenty minutes. It was nearly four o'clock when we,
• 2:00:53
  Speaker 2: at last, after passing through the beautiful Stroud Valley and
• 2:00:57
  Speaker 2: over the broad gleaming Severn, found ourselves elves at the
• 2:01:00
  Speaker 2: pretty little country town of Ross. A lean ferret like man,
• 2:01:04
  Speaker 2: furtive and sly looking, was waiting for us upon the platform.
• 2:01:07
  Speaker 2: In spite of the light brown dustcoat and leather leggings
• 2:01:10
  Speaker 2: which he wore in deference to his rustic surroundings, I
• 2:01:13
  Speaker 2: had no difficulty in recognizing Lestrade of Scotland. Yard. With him,
• 2:01:18
  Speaker 2: we drove to the Hereford Arms, where a room had
• 2:01:20
  Speaker 2: already been engaged for us. I have ordered a carriage,
• 2:01:24
  Speaker 2: said Lestrade, as we sat over a cup of tea.
• 2:01:27
  Speaker 2: I knew your energetic nature and that you would not
• 2:01:29
  Speaker 2: be happy until you had been on the scene of
• 2:01:31
  Speaker 2: the crime. It was very nice and complimentary of you,
• 2:01:35
  Speaker 2: Holmes answered, it is entirely a question of barometric pressure.
• 2:01:40
  Speaker 2: Lestrade looked startled. I do not quite follow, he said,
• 2:01:45
  Speaker 2: how is the glass twenty nine. I see no wind
• 2:01:48
  Speaker 2: and not a cloud in the sky. I have a
• 2:01:51
  Speaker 2: case full of cigarettes here which needs smoking, and sofa
• 2:01:53
  Speaker 2: is very much superior to the usual country hotel abomination.
• 2:01:57
  Speaker 2: I do not think that it is probable that I
• 2:01:59
  Speaker 2: shall used the carriage to night, Lustrade laughed indulgently. You
• 2:02:05
  Speaker 2: have no doubt already formed your conclusions from the newspapers,
• 2:02:08
  Speaker 2: he said. The case is as plain as a pikestaff,
• 2:02:12
  Speaker 2: and the more one goes into it, the plainer it becomes. Still.
• 2:02:15
  Speaker 2: Of course, one can't refuse a lady in such a
• 2:02:18
  Speaker 2: very positive one too. She has heard of you and
• 2:02:20
  Speaker 2: would have your opinion, though I repeatedly told her that
• 2:02:24
  Speaker 2: there was nothing which you could do which I had
• 2:02:26
  Speaker 2: not already done. Why, bless my soul, here is her
• 2:02:28
  Speaker 2: carriage at the door. He had hardly spoken before there
• 2:02:32
  Speaker 2: rushed into the room one of the most lovely young
• 2:02:34
  Speaker 2: women that I have ever seen in my life, her
• 2:02:36
  Speaker 2: violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon
• 2:02:39
  Speaker 2: her cheeks. All thought of her natural reserve lost in
• 2:02:42
  Speaker 2: her overpowering excitement and concern. Oh, mister Sherlock Holmes, she cried,
• 2:02:48
  Speaker 2: glancing from one to the other of us, and finally,
• 2:02:51
  Speaker 2: with a woman's quick intuition, fastening upon my companion. I
• 2:02:55
  Speaker 2: am so glad that you have come. I have driven
• 2:02:57
  Speaker 2: down to tell you so I know that Change didn't
• 2:03:00
  Speaker 2: do it. I know it, and I want you to
• 2:03:02
  Speaker 2: start upon your work knowing it too. Never let yourself
• 2:03:05
  Speaker 2: doubt upon that point. We have known each other since
• 2:03:07
  Speaker 2: we were little children, and I know his faults as
• 2:03:10
  Speaker 2: no one else does. But he is too tender hearted
• 2:03:13
  Speaker 2: to hurt a fly. Such a charge is absurd to
• 2:03:16
  Speaker 2: anyone who really knows him. I hope we may clear him,
• 2:03:19
  Speaker 2: Miss Turner, said, Sherlock Holmes. You may rely upon my
• 2:03:23
  Speaker 2: doing all that I can. But you have read the evidence.
• 2:03:26
  Speaker 2: You have formed some conclusion. Do you not see some loophole,
• 2:03:30
  Speaker 2: some flaw? Do you not yourself think that he is innocent?
• 2:03:35
  Speaker 2: I think that it is very probable. There now, she cried,
• 2:03:39
  Speaker 2: throwing back her head and looking defiantly at Lestrade. You
• 2:03:42
  Speaker 2: hear he gives me hopes. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. I
• 2:03:47
  Speaker 2: am afraid that my colleague has been a little quick
• 2:03:50
  Speaker 2: informing his conclusions, he said, But he is right. Oh,
• 2:03:56
  Speaker 2: I know that he is right. James never did it.
• 2:03:58
  Speaker 2: And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure
• 2:04:01
  Speaker 2: that the reason why he would not speak about it
• 2:04:03
  Speaker 2: to the coroner is because I was concerned in it.
• 2:04:06
  Speaker 2: In what way? Asked Holmes, It is no time for
• 2:04:10
  Speaker 2: me to hide anything. James and his father had many
• 2:04:13
  Speaker 2: disagreements about me. Mister McCarthy was very anxious that there
• 2:04:16
  Speaker 2: should be a marriage between us. James and I have
• 2:04:19
  Speaker 2: always loved each other as brother and sister. But of
• 2:04:22
  Speaker 2: course he is young and has seen very little of
• 2:04:24
  Speaker 2: life yet, and and well, naturally he did not wish
• 2:04:28
  Speaker 2: to do anything like that yet. So there were quarrels,
• 2:04:31
  Speaker 2: and this, I am sure was one of them. And
• 2:04:34
  Speaker 2: your father, asked Holmes, Was he in favor of such
• 2:04:38
  Speaker 2: a union? No, he was averse to it. Also, no
• 2:04:41
  Speaker 2: one but mister McCarthy was in favor of it. A
• 2:04:44
  Speaker 2: quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Holmes
• 2:04:47
  Speaker 2: shot one of his keen questioning glances at her. Thank
• 2:04:51
  Speaker 2: you for this information, said he. May I see your
• 2:04:54
  Speaker 2: father if I call to morrow. I am afraid the
• 2:04:57
  Speaker 2: doctor won't allow it. The doctor, yes, have you not heard?
• 2:05:03
  Speaker 2: Poor father has never been strong For years back but
• 2:05:05
  Speaker 2: this has broken him down completely. He is taken to
• 2:05:08
  Speaker 2: his bed, and doctor Willows says that he is a
• 2:05:10
  Speaker 2: wreck and that his nervous system is shattered. Mister mc
• 2:05:13
  Speaker 2: carthy was the only man alive who had known Dad
• 2:05:16
  Speaker 2: in the old days in Victoria. Ha, in Victoria. That
• 2:05:20
  Speaker 2: is important. Yes, at the mines, quite so, at the
• 2:05:23
  Speaker 2: gold mines, where as I understand mister Turner made his money. Yes, certainly,
• 2:05:29
  Speaker 2: Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance
• 2:05:32
  Speaker 2: to me. You will tell me if you have any
• 2:05:34
  Speaker 2: news tomorrow. No doubt you will go to the prison
• 2:05:37
  Speaker 2: to see James. Oh. If you do, mister Holmes, do
• 2:05:39
  Speaker 2: tell him that I know him to be innocent. I will,
• 2:05:43
  Speaker 2: miss Turner. I must go home now, for Dad is
• 2:05:46
  Speaker 2: very ill and he misses me, So if I leave him,
• 2:05:49
  Speaker 2: good bye, and God help you in your undertaking. She
• 2:05:52
  Speaker 2: hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered,
• 2:05:55
  Speaker 2: and we heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off
• 2:05:57
  Speaker 2: down the street. I am s a shamed of you, Holmes,
• 2:06:01
  Speaker 2: said Lestrade with dignity, after a few minutes silence. Why
• 2:06:04
  Speaker 2: should you raise up hopes which you are bound to disappoint?
• 2:06:07
  Speaker 2: I am not over tender of heart, but I call
• 2:06:09
  Speaker 2: it cruel. I think that I see my way to clearing.
• 2:06:13
  Speaker 2: James McCarthy said, Holmes, have you in order to see
• 2:06:17
  Speaker 2: him in prison? Yes, but only for you and me.
• 2:06:21
  Speaker 2: Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We
• 2:06:25
  Speaker 2: have still time to take a train to Hereford and
• 2:06:27
  Speaker 2: see them tonight. Ample, then let us do so, watsonn
• 2:06:31
  Speaker 2: I fear that you will find it very slow, but
• 2:06:33
  Speaker 2: I shall only be away a couple of hours. I
• 2:06:37
  Speaker 2: walked down to the station with them, and then wandered
• 2:06:39
  Speaker 2: through the streets of the little town, finally returning to
• 2:06:42
  Speaker 2: the hotel, where I lay upon the sofa and tried
• 2:06:44
  Speaker 2: to interest myself in a yellow backed novel. The puny
• 2:06:47
  Speaker 2: plot of the story was so thin, however, when compared
• 2:06:50
  Speaker 2: to the deep mystery through which we were groping, and
• 2:06:53
  Speaker 2: I found my attention wander so continually from the action,
• 2:06:56
  Speaker 2: to the fact that I at last flung it across
• 2:06:58
  Speaker 2: the room and gave myself up entirely to a consideration
• 2:07:01
  Speaker 2: of the events of the day. Supposing that this unhappy
• 2:07:04
  Speaker 2: young man's story were absolutely truth, and what hellish thing,
• 2:07:09
  Speaker 2: what absolutely unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between
• 2:07:13
  Speaker 2: the time when he parted from his father and the
• 2:07:15
  Speaker 2: moment when drawn back by his screams, he rushed into
• 2:07:19
  Speaker 2: the glade. It was something terrible and deadly. What could
• 2:07:23
  Speaker 2: it be? Might not the nature of the injuries reveal
• 2:07:27
  Speaker 2: something to my medical instincts. I rang the bell and
• 2:07:30
  Speaker 2: called for the weekly country paper, which contained a verbatim
• 2:07:33
  Speaker 2: account of the inquest. In the surgeon's deposition, it was
• 2:07:36
  Speaker 2: stated that the posterior third of the left parietal bone
• 2:07:39
  Speaker 2: and left half of the occipital bone had been shattered
• 2:07:42
  Speaker 2: by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked
• 2:07:45
  Speaker 2: the spot upon my own head. Clearly, such a blow
• 2:07:48
  Speaker 2: must have been struck from behind. That was to some
• 2:07:51
  Speaker 2: extent in favor of the accused, as when seen quarreling,
• 2:07:54
  Speaker 2: he was face to face with his father. Still it
• 2:07:56
  Speaker 2: did not go for very much, for the older man
• 2:07:59
  Speaker 2: might have turned his back before the blow fell. Still
• 2:08:02
  Speaker 2: it might be worth while to call Holmes' attention to it.
• 2:08:05
  Speaker 2: Then there was the peculiar dying reference to a rat.
• 2:08:08
  Speaker 2: What could that mean? It could not be delirium, a
• 2:08:11
  Speaker 2: man dying from a sudden load as not commonly become delirious. No,
• 2:08:15
  Speaker 2: it was more likely to be an attempt to explain
• 2:08:18
  Speaker 2: how he met his fate. But what could it indicate?
• 2:08:22
  Speaker 2: I cuddled my brains to find some possible explanation, and
• 2:08:25
  Speaker 2: then the incident of the gray cloth seen by young MacCarthy.
• 2:08:29
  Speaker 2: If that were true, the murderer must have dropped some
• 2:08:32
  Speaker 2: part of his dress, presumably his overcoat, in his flight,
• 2:08:35
  Speaker 2: and must have had the hardihood to return and to
• 2:08:38
  Speaker 2: carry it away at the instant when the sun was
• 2:08:40
  Speaker 2: kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off.
• 2:08:43
  Speaker 2: What a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was.
• 2:08:46
  Speaker 2: I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, And yet I
• 2:08:49
  Speaker 2: had so much faith in Sherlock Holmes's insight that I
• 2:08:52
  Speaker 2: could not lose hope as long as every fresh fact
• 2:08:55
  Speaker 2: seemed to strengthen his conviction of young MacCarthy's innocence. It
• 2:09:01
  Speaker 2: was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone,
• 2:09:05
  Speaker 2: for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. The
• 2:09:10
  Speaker 2: glass still keeps very high, he remarked, as he sat down.
• 2:09:14
  Speaker 2: It is of importance that it should not rain before
• 2:09:17
  Speaker 2: we are able to go over the ground. On the
• 2:09:20
  Speaker 2: other hand, a man should be at his very best
• 2:09:21
  Speaker 2: and keenness for such a nice work as that, and
• 2:09:23
  Speaker 2: I did not wish to do it when fagged by
• 2:09:25
  Speaker 2: a long journey. I have seen young MacCarthy, and what
• 2:09:29
  Speaker 2: did you learn from him? Nothing? Could he throw no light,
• 2:09:34
  Speaker 2: none at all. I was inclined to think at one
• 2:09:37
  Speaker 2: time that he knew who had done it and was
• 2:09:39
  Speaker 2: screening him or her. But I am convinced now that
• 2:09:42
  Speaker 2: he is as puzzled as every one else. He is
• 2:09:45
  Speaker 2: not a very quick witted youth, though comely to look at,
• 2:09:48
  Speaker 2: and I should think sound at heart. I cannot admire
• 2:09:51
  Speaker 2: his taste, I remarked. If it is indeed a fact
• 2:09:54
  Speaker 2: that he was averse to a marriage with so charming
• 2:09:57
  Speaker 2: a young lady as this mis turner Ah, thereby hangs
• 2:10:02
  Speaker 2: a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, insanely in
• 2:10:06
  Speaker 2: love with her, But some two years ago, when he
• 2:10:08
  Speaker 2: was only a lad, and before he really knew her,
• 2:10:11
  Speaker 2: for she had been away five years at a boarding school.
• 2:10:14
  Speaker 2: What does the idiot do but get into the clutches
• 2:10:17
  Speaker 2: of a bar maid in Bristol and marry her at
• 2:10:19
  Speaker 2: a registry office no one knows a word of the matter,
• 2:10:22
  Speaker 2: but you can imagine how Madnegot must be to him
• 2:10:25
  Speaker 2: to be upbraided for not doing what he would give
• 2:10:27
  Speaker 2: his very eyes to do, but which he knows to
• 2:10:30
  Speaker 2: be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort
• 2:10:33
  Speaker 2: which made him throw his hands up into the air
• 2:10:35
  Speaker 2: when his father, at their last interview, was goading him
• 2:10:38
  Speaker 2: on to propose to Miss Turner. On the other hand,
• 2:10:40
  Speaker 2: he had no means of supporting himself, and his father,
• 2:10:43
  Speaker 2: who was by all accounts a very hard man, would
• 2:10:46
  Speaker 2: have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth.
• 2:10:49
  Speaker 2: It was with his bar made wife that he had
• 2:10:51
  Speaker 2: spent the last three days in Bristol, and his father
• 2:10:54
  Speaker 2: did not know where he was. Mark that point, it
• 2:10:56
  Speaker 2: is of importance good has come out of evil, however,
• 2:11:00
  Speaker 2: for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is
• 2:11:03
  Speaker 2: in serious trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown
• 2:11:06
  Speaker 2: him over utterly, and has written to him to say
• 2:11:08
  Speaker 2: that she has a husband already in the Bermuda dockyard,
• 2:11:11
  Speaker 2: so that there is really no tie between them. I
• 2:11:14
  Speaker 2: think that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy, for
• 2:11:17
  Speaker 2: all that he has suffered. But if he is innocent,
• 2:11:21
  Speaker 2: who has done it? Ah? Who? I would call your
• 2:11:25
  Speaker 2: attention very particularly to two points. One is that the
• 2:11:29
  Speaker 2: murdered man had an appointment with someone at the pool,
• 2:11:31
  Speaker 2: and that someone could not have been his son, for
• 2:11:34
  Speaker 2: his son was away and he did not know when
• 2:11:36
  Speaker 2: he would return. The second is that the murdered man
• 2:11:40
  Speaker 2: was her to cry cooie before he knew that his
• 2:11:42
  Speaker 2: son had returned. Those are the crucial points upon which
• 2:11:47
  Speaker 2: the case depends. And now let us talk about George Meredith,
• 2:11:52
  Speaker 2: if you please, and we shall leave all minor matters
• 2:11:55
  Speaker 2: until tomorrow. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold,
• 2:12:00
  Speaker 2: and the morning broke bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock
• 2:12:03
  Speaker 2: Less Strade called for us with the carriage, and we
• 2:12:06
  Speaker 2: set off for Hazily Farm in the Boscombe Pool. Very
• 2:12:12
  Speaker 2: serious news this morning, the Strade observed. It is said
• 2:12:15
  Speaker 2: that mister Turner of the whole is so ill that
• 2:12:17
  Speaker 2: his life is despaired. Of an elderly man, I presume,
• 2:12:21
  Speaker 2: said Holmes, about sixty. But his constitution has been shattered
• 2:12:26
  Speaker 2: by his life abroad, and he has been in failing
• 2:12:28
  Speaker 2: health for some time. This business has had a very
• 2:12:31
  Speaker 2: bad effect upon him. He was an old friend of macarthy's,
• 2:12:34
  Speaker 2: and I may add a great benefactor to him, for
• 2:12:36
  Speaker 2: I have learned that he gave him heavily farm rent free. Indeed,
• 2:12:41
  Speaker 2: that is interesting, said Holmes. Oh, yes, in a hundred
• 2:12:45
  Speaker 2: other ways he has helped him. Everybody about here speaks
• 2:12:48
  Speaker 2: of his kindness to him. Really, does it not strike
• 2:12:52
  Speaker 2: you as a little singular that this MacCarthy, who appears
• 2:12:55
  Speaker 2: to have had little of his own, and to have
• 2:12:57
  Speaker 2: been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of
• 2:13:01
  Speaker 2: marrying his son to turn his daughter, who is presumably
• 2:13:03
  Speaker 2: heiress to the estate, and that in such a very
• 2:13:06
  Speaker 2: cockxure manner, as if it were merely a case of proposal,
• 2:13:09
  Speaker 2: and all else would follow. It is the more strange
• 2:13:12
  Speaker 2: since we know that Turner himself was averse to the idea.
• 2:13:15
  Speaker 2: The daughter told us as much, do you not deduce
• 2:13:17
  Speaker 2: something from that? We have got to the deduce's and
• 2:13:23
  Speaker 2: the inferences, said Lestrade, winking at me. I find it
• 2:13:26
  Speaker 2: hard enough to tackle facts, Holmes was out flying away
• 2:13:29
  Speaker 2: after theories and fancies. You are right, said Holmes, demurely.
• 2:13:33
  Speaker 2: You do find it very hard to tackle the facts. Anyhow,
• 2:13:37
  Speaker 2: I have grasped one fact which you seem to find
• 2:13:40
  Speaker 2: it difficult to get hold of, replied Lestrade with some warmth,
• 2:13:44
  Speaker 2: and that is that MacCarthy senior met his death from
• 2:13:47
  Speaker 2: MacCarthy junior, and that all theories still the contrary are
• 2:13:50
  Speaker 2: the merest moonshine. Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog,
• 2:13:56
  Speaker 2: said Holmes, laughing. But I am very much mistaken if
• 2:13:59
  Speaker 2: this is not happily farm upon the left, Yes, that
• 2:14:03
  Speaker 2: is it. It was a widespread, comfortable looking building, two storied,
• 2:14:07
  Speaker 2: slate roofed, with great yellow blotches of lichen upon the
• 2:14:10
  Speaker 2: gray walls. The drawn blinds and smokeless chimneys, however, gave
• 2:14:14
  Speaker 2: it a stricken look, as though the weight of this
• 2:14:17
  Speaker 2: horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the
• 2:14:20
  Speaker 2: door when the maid, at Holmes's request, showed us the
• 2:14:23
  Speaker 2: boots which our master wore at the time of his death,
• 2:14:26
  Speaker 2: and also a pair of the suns, though not the
• 2:14:28
  Speaker 2: pair which he had then had. Having measured these very
• 2:14:31
  Speaker 2: carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes desire to
• 2:14:34
  Speaker 2: be led to the courtyard, from which we all followed
• 2:14:37
  Speaker 2: the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Sherlock Holmes
• 2:14:41
  Speaker 2: was transformed when he was hot. Upon such a scent
• 2:14:43
  Speaker 2: as this, men who had only known the quiet thinker
• 2:14:46
  Speaker 2: and logician of Baker Street would have failed to recognize him.
• 2:14:50
  Speaker 2: His face flushed and darkened, his brows were drawn into
• 2:14:53
  Speaker 2: two hard black lines, while his eyes shone out from
• 2:14:56
  Speaker 2: beneath them with a steely glitter. His face was bent downward,
• 2:15:00
  Speaker 2: his shoulders bowed, his lips compressed, and the veins stood
• 2:15:03
  Speaker 2: out like whipcord in his long, sinewy neck. His nostrils
• 2:15:07
  Speaker 2: seemed to dilate with a purely animal lust for the chase,
• 2:15:10
  Speaker 2: and his mind was so absolutely concentrated upon the matter
• 2:15:13
  Speaker 2: before him that a question or remark fell unheeded upon
• 2:15:16
  Speaker 2: his ears, or at the most only provoked a quick,
• 2:15:19
  Speaker 2: impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his
• 2:15:23
  Speaker 2: way along the track, which ran through the meadows and
• 2:15:26
  Speaker 2: so by way of the woods to the Boscombe Pool.
• 2:15:30
  Speaker 2: It was damp, marshy ground, as is all that district,
• 2:15:33
  Speaker 2: and there were marks of many feet both upon the
• 2:15:36
  Speaker 2: path and amid the short grass which bounded it on
• 2:15:38
  Speaker 2: either side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead,
• 2:15:43
  Speaker 2: and once he made quite a little detour into the
• 2:15:45
  Speaker 2: meadow lestrade, and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent
• 2:15:49
  Speaker 2: and contemptuous, while I watched my friend with the interest
• 2:15:52
  Speaker 2: which sprang from the conviction that every one of his
• 2:15:55
  Speaker 2: actions was directed towards a definite end. The Boscombe Poohoo,
• 2:16:00
  Speaker 2: which is a little reed girt sheet of water some
• 2:16:02
  Speaker 2: fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the
• 2:16:06
  Speaker 2: Heatherly farm and the private park of the wealthy mister Turner,
• 2:16:09
  Speaker 2: above the woods which lined it. Upon the farther side
• 2:16:12
  Speaker 2: we could see the red jutting pinnacles which marked the
• 2:16:14
  Speaker 2: site of the rich land owner's dwelling. On the Heatherly
• 2:16:18
  Speaker 2: side of the pool, the woods grew very thick, and
• 2:16:20
  Speaker 2: there was a narrow belt of sodden grass twenty paces
• 2:16:23
  Speaker 2: across between the edge of the trees and the reeds
• 2:16:25
  Speaker 2: which lined the lake. The straite showed us the exact
• 2:16:29
  Speaker 2: spot at which the body had been found, and indeed,
• 2:16:31
  Speaker 2: so moist was the ground that I could plainly see
• 2:16:33
  Speaker 2: the traces which had been left by the fall of
• 2:16:36
  Speaker 2: the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by
• 2:16:39
  Speaker 2: his eager face and peering eyes, very many other things
• 2:16:42
  Speaker 2: were to be read upon the trampled grass. He ran
• 2:16:44
  Speaker 2: round like a dog who was picking up a scent,
• 2:16:46
  Speaker 2: and then turned upon my companion. What did you go
• 2:16:51
  Speaker 2: into the pool for, he asked. I fished about with
• 2:16:55
  Speaker 2: a rake. I thought there might be some weapon or
• 2:16:59
  Speaker 2: other traits. But on earth, Oh, tut, tut, I have
• 2:17:02
  Speaker 2: no time. That left foot of yours with it inward
• 2:17:04
  Speaker 2: twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it.
• 2:17:06
  Speaker 2: And their advantages among the wreaths. Oh, how simple it
• 2:17:09
  Speaker 2: would have all been had I been here before they
• 2:17:11
  Speaker 2: came like a herd of buffalo and wallowed all over it.
• 2:17:14
  Speaker 2: Here is where the party with the lodge keeper came,
• 2:17:16
  Speaker 2: and they have covered all tracks for six or eight
• 2:17:18
  Speaker 2: feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks
• 2:17:21
  Speaker 2: of the same feet. He drew out a lens and
• 2:17:24
  Speaker 2: lay down upon his waterproof to have a better view,
• 2:17:26
  Speaker 2: talking all the time rather to himself than to us.
• 2:17:29
  Speaker 2: These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he was walking, and
• 2:17:32
  Speaker 2: once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are deeply
• 2:17:34
  Speaker 2: marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his story.
• 2:17:38
  Speaker 2: He ran when he saw his father on the ground.
• 2:17:41
  Speaker 2: Then here are the father's feet, as he paced up
• 2:17:44
  Speaker 2: and down. What is this? Then? It is the butt
• 2:17:47
  Speaker 2: end of the gun. As the son stood listening in this, ha, ha,
• 2:17:50
  Speaker 2: what have we here? Tiptoes tiptoes square to quite unusual boots.
• 2:17:55
  Speaker 2: They come, they go, they come again. Of course I
• 2:18:00
  Speaker 2: was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?
• 2:18:04
  Speaker 2: He ran up and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track,
• 2:18:07
  Speaker 2: until we were well within the edge of the wood
• 2:18:09
  Speaker 2: and under the shadow of a great beach, the largest
• 2:18:11
  Speaker 2: tree in the neighborhood. Holmes traced his way to the
• 2:18:15
  Speaker 2: farther side of this and lay down once more, upon
• 2:18:17
  Speaker 2: his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a
• 2:18:20
  Speaker 2: long time he remained there, turning over the leaves and
• 2:18:22
  Speaker 2: dried sticks, gathering up what seemed to me to be
• 2:18:25
  Speaker 2: dust into an envelope, and examining with his lens not
• 2:18:28
  Speaker 2: only the ground, but even the bark of the tree.
• 2:18:30
  Speaker 2: As far as he could reach, A jagged stone was
• 2:18:33
  Speaker 2: lying among the moss, and this he also carefully examined
• 2:18:36
  Speaker 2: and retained. Then he followed a pathway through the wood
• 2:18:40
  Speaker 2: until he came to the high road, where all traces
• 2:18:42
  Speaker 2: were lost. It has been a case of considerable interest,
• 2:18:47
  Speaker 2: he remarked, returning to his natural manner. I fancy that
• 2:18:51
  Speaker 2: this gray house on the right must be the lodge.
• 2:18:53
  Speaker 2: I think that I will go in and have a
• 2:18:55
  Speaker 2: word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having
• 2:18:58
  Speaker 2: done that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You
• 2:19:00
  Speaker 2: may walk to the cab, and I shall be with you. Presently,
• 2:19:05
  Speaker 2: it was about ten minutes before we've regained our cab
• 2:19:07
  Speaker 2: and drove back into Wroths. Holmes still carrying with him
• 2:19:10
  Speaker 2: the stone which he had picked up in the wood.
• 2:19:13
  Speaker 2: This may interest you, lestrade, he remarked, holding it out.
• 2:19:16
  Speaker 2: The murder was done with it. I see no marks,
• 2:19:20
  Speaker 2: there are none. How do you know? Then? The grass
• 2:19:25
  Speaker 2: was growing under it. It had only lain there a
• 2:19:27
  Speaker 2: few days. There was no sign of a place whence
• 2:19:30
  Speaker 2: it had been taken. It corresponds with the injuries. There
• 2:19:32
  Speaker 2: is no sign of any other weapon, and the murderer
• 2:19:36
  Speaker 2: is a tall man, left handed, limps with the right leg,
• 2:19:40
  Speaker 2: where's thick soled shooting boots, and a gray cloak, smokes
• 2:19:43
  Speaker 2: Indian cigars, uses a cigar holder, and clarries a blunt
• 2:19:47
  Speaker 2: penknife in his pocket. There are several other indications, but
• 2:19:50
  Speaker 2: these may be enough to aid us in our search.
• 2:19:53
  Speaker 2: The Strade laughed. I am afraid that I am still
• 2:19:57
  Speaker 2: a skeptic, he said. Fairies are all very well, but
• 2:20:00
  Speaker 2: we have to deal with a hard headed British jury.
• 2:20:04
  Speaker 2: Nou Vent, answered Holmes, calmly, you work your own method
• 2:20:08
  Speaker 2: and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon,
• 2:20:11
  Speaker 2: and shall probably return to London by the evening train,
• 2:20:13
  Speaker 2: and leave your case unfinished. No finished, but the mystery
• 2:20:19
  Speaker 2: it is solved. Who is the criminal? Then the gentleman
• 2:20:22
  Speaker 2: I describe? But who is he? Surely it would not
• 2:20:27
  Speaker 2: be difficult to find out? If this is not such
• 2:20:29
  Speaker 2: a populous neighborhood. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. I am a
• 2:20:34
  Speaker 2: practical man, he said, and I really cannot undertake to
• 2:20:38
  Speaker 2: go about the country looking for a left handed gentleman
• 2:20:41
  Speaker 2: with a game leg. I should become the laughing stock
• 2:20:43
  Speaker 2: of Scotland. Yard all right, said Holmes quietly. I have
• 2:20:49
  Speaker 2: given you the chance. Here are your lodgings. Good bye.
• 2:20:51
  Speaker 2: I shall drop your line before I leave. Having left
• 2:20:55
  Speaker 2: Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where
• 2:20:58
  Speaker 2: we found lunch upon the table. Home was silent and
• 2:21:01
  Speaker 2: buried in thought, with a pain expression upon his face,
• 2:21:04
  Speaker 2: as one who finds himself in a perplexing position. Look here, Watson,
• 2:21:09
  Speaker 2: he said, when the cloth was cleared, just sit down
• 2:21:12
  Speaker 2: in this chair and let me preach to you for
• 2:21:13
  Speaker 2: a little. I don't know quite what to do, and
• 2:21:16
  Speaker 2: I should value your advice. Light a cigar and let
• 2:21:19
  Speaker 2: me expound. Pray do so well. Now, in considering this case,
• 2:21:24
  Speaker 2: there are two points about young McCarthy's narrative which struck
• 2:21:27
  Speaker 2: us both instantly, although they impressed me in his favor
• 2:21:31
  Speaker 2: and you against him. One was the fact that his
• 2:21:34
  Speaker 2: father should, according to his account, cry coui before seeing him.
• 2:21:38
  Speaker 2: The other was his singular, dying reference to a rat.
• 2:21:41
  Speaker 2: He mumbled several words, you understand, but that was all
• 2:21:44
  Speaker 2: that caught the son's ear. Now from this double point,
• 2:21:48
  Speaker 2: our research must commence, and we will begin it by
• 2:21:51
  Speaker 2: presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true. What
• 2:21:56
  Speaker 2: of this coui, then, well, obviously could not have been
• 2:22:01
  Speaker 2: meant for the sun. The sun, as far as he knew,
• 2:22:03
  Speaker 2: was in Bristol. It was mere chance that he was
• 2:22:06
  Speaker 2: within earshot. The coui was meant to attract the attention
• 2:22:09
  Speaker 2: of whoever it was that he had the appointment with.
• 2:22:12
  Speaker 2: But coui is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which
• 2:22:16
  Speaker 2: is used between Australians. There was a strong presumption that
• 2:22:20
  Speaker 2: the person whom MacCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe
• 2:22:23
  Speaker 2: Pool was someone who had been in Australia. What of
• 2:22:28
  Speaker 2: the rat? Then, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from
• 2:22:31
  Speaker 2: his pocket and flattened it out on the table. This
• 2:22:34
  Speaker 2: is a map of the colony of Victoria, he said,
• 2:22:37
  Speaker 2: I wired to Bristol for it last night. He put
• 2:22:41
  Speaker 2: his hand over part of the map. What do you read?
• 2:22:44
  Speaker 2: A rat? I read? And now he raised his hand. Balarat.
• 2:22:52
  Speaker 2: Quite so, that was the word the man uttered, and
• 2:22:55
  Speaker 2: of which his son only caught the last two syllables.
• 2:22:58
  Speaker 2: He was trying to utter the name of his murderer,
• 2:23:02
  Speaker 2: So and so of Ballarat. Tis wonderful, I exclaimed, It
• 2:23:09
  Speaker 2: is obvious, And now you see I had narrowed the
• 2:23:11
  Speaker 2: field down considerably. The possession of a gray garment was
• 2:23:14
  Speaker 2: a third point, which, granting the Sun's statement to be correct,
• 2:23:17
  Speaker 2: was a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness,
• 2:23:21
  Speaker 2: to the definite conception of an Australian from Ballarat with
• 2:23:24
  Speaker 2: a gray cloak, certainly, and one who was at home
• 2:23:27
  Speaker 2: in the district, For the pool can only be approached
• 2:23:30
  Speaker 2: by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could
• 2:23:33
  Speaker 2: hardly wander. Quite so then comes our expedition of to day.
• 2:23:38
  Speaker 2: By an examination of the ground, I gained the trifling
• 2:23:40
  Speaker 2: details which I gave to that imbecile astrade as to
• 2:23:43
  Speaker 2: the personality of the criminal. But how did you gain them?
• 2:23:48
  Speaker 2: You know my method? It is founded upon the observation
• 2:23:51
  Speaker 2: of trifles. His height, I might know that you might
• 2:23:54
  Speaker 2: roughly judge from the length of his stride. His boots, too,
• 2:23:57
  Speaker 2: might be told from their traces. Yes, they were peculiar boots.
• 2:24:01
  Speaker 2: But his lameness, the impression of his right foot was
• 2:24:04
  Speaker 2: always less distinct than his left. He put less weight
• 2:24:07
  Speaker 2: upon it. Why because he limped he was lame, But
• 2:24:10
  Speaker 2: his left handedness. You were yourself struck by the nature
• 2:24:14
  Speaker 2: of the injury. As recorded by the surgeon at the inquest,
• 2:24:17
  Speaker 2: the blow was struck from immediately behind it, yet was
• 2:24:20
  Speaker 2: upon the left side. Now, how can that be unless
• 2:24:23
  Speaker 2: it were by a left handed man. He had stood
• 2:24:26
  Speaker 2: behind that tree during the interview between the father and
• 2:24:28
  Speaker 2: son he had even smoked. There, I found the ash
• 2:24:32
  Speaker 2: of a cigar, which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes
• 2:24:35
  Speaker 2: enables me to pronounce as an Indian cigar. I have,
• 2:24:38
  Speaker 2: as you know, devoted some attention to this, and written
• 2:24:40
  Speaker 2: a little monograph on the ashes of one hundred and
• 2:24:42
  Speaker 2: forty different varieties of pipe cigar and cigarette tobacco. Having
• 2:24:46
  Speaker 2: found the ash, I then looked round and discovered the
• 2:24:48
  Speaker 2: stump among the moss where he had tossed it. It
• 2:24:51
  Speaker 2: was an Indian cigar of the variety which are rolled
• 2:24:53
  Speaker 2: in Rottendam, and the cigar holder I could see that
• 2:24:57
  Speaker 2: the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he
• 2:24:59
  Speaker 2: used to the tip had been cut off, not bitten off.
• 2:25:02
  Speaker 2: But the cut was not a clean one, so I
• 2:25:04
  Speaker 2: deduced a blunt penknife. Holmes, I said, you have drawn
• 2:25:09
  Speaker 2: a net round this man from which he cannot escape,
• 2:25:12
  Speaker 2: and you have saved an innocent human life, as truly
• 2:25:15
  Speaker 2: as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him.
• 2:25:17
  Speaker 2: I see the direction in which all this points the
• 2:25:20
  Speaker 2: culprit is mister John Turner, cried the hotel waiter, opening
• 2:25:24
  Speaker 2: the door of our sitting room and uttering in a
• 2:25:26
  Speaker 2: visitor The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure.
• 2:25:33
  Speaker 2: His slow limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance
• 2:25:36
  Speaker 2: of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep lined, craggy features
• 2:25:40
  Speaker 2: and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of
• 2:25:42
  Speaker 2: unusual strength of body and of character. His tangled beard,
• 2:25:46
  Speaker 2: grizzled hair, and outstanding drooping eyebrows combined to give an
• 2:25:50
  Speaker 2: air of dignity and power to his appearance. But his
• 2:25:53
  Speaker 2: face was of an ashen white, while his lips and
• 2:25:56
  Speaker 2: the corners of his nostrils were tinged with a shade
• 2:25:58
  Speaker 2: of blue. It was clear to me at a glance
• 2:26:01
  Speaker 2: that he was in the grip of some deadly and
• 2:26:03
  Speaker 2: chronic disease. Pray, sit down on the sofa, said Holmes gently.
• 2:26:09
  Speaker 2: You had my note, Yes, the lodge keeper brought it up.
• 2:26:13
  Speaker 2: You said that you wished to see me here to
• 2:26:15
  Speaker 2: avoid scandal. I thought people would talk if I went
• 2:26:19
  Speaker 2: to the hall. And why did you wish to see me?
• 2:26:23
  Speaker 2: He looked across at my companion with despair in his
• 2:26:26
  Speaker 2: weary eyes, as though his question was already answered. Yes,
• 2:26:31
  Speaker 2: said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. It
• 2:26:35
  Speaker 2: is so, I know all about McCarthy. The old man
• 2:26:40
  Speaker 2: sank his face in his hands. God help me, he cried.
• 2:26:46
  Speaker 2: But I would not have let the young man come
• 2:26:48
  Speaker 2: to harm. I give you my word that I would
• 2:26:51
  Speaker 2: have spoken out if it went again to him at
• 2:26:53
  Speaker 2: the assizes. I am glad to hear you say so,
• 2:26:57
  Speaker 2: said Holmes gravely. I would have spoken now had it
• 2:27:01
  Speaker 2: not been for my dear girl. It would break her heart.
• 2:27:04
  Speaker 2: It will break her heart when she hears that I
• 2:27:07
  Speaker 2: am arrested. It may not come to that, said Holmes.
• 2:27:12
  Speaker 2: What I am no official agent. I understand that it
• 2:27:17
  Speaker 2: was your daughter who required my presence here, and I
• 2:27:20
  Speaker 2: am acting in her interests. Young MacCarthy must be got off. However,
• 2:27:27
  Speaker 2: I am a dying man, said old Turner. I have
• 2:27:30
  Speaker 2: had diabetes for years. My doctor says it is a
• 2:27:34
  Speaker 2: question whether I shall live a month. Yet I would
• 2:27:37
  Speaker 2: rather die under my own roof than in a jail.
• 2:27:42
  Speaker 2: Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his
• 2:27:45
  Speaker 2: pen in his hand and a bundle of paper before him.
• 2:27:49
  Speaker 2: Just tell us the truth, he said. I shall jot
• 2:27:53
  Speaker 2: down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson here
• 2:27:56
  Speaker 2: can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at
• 2:27:59
  Speaker 2: the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you
• 2:28:03
  Speaker 2: that I shall not use it unless it is absolutely needed.
• 2:28:09
  Speaker 2: It's as well said the old man. It's a question
• 2:28:12
  Speaker 2: whether I shall live to the assizes. So it matters
• 2:28:15
  Speaker 2: little to me, but I should wish to spare Alice
• 2:28:17
  Speaker 2: the shock. And now I will make the thing clear
• 2:28:20
  Speaker 2: to you. It has been a long time in the acting,
• 2:28:24
  Speaker 2: but it will not take me long to tell you
• 2:28:27
  Speaker 2: didn't know this dead man McCarthy. He was a devil incarnate.
• 2:28:32
  Speaker 2: I tell you that God keep you out of the
• 2:28:35
  Speaker 2: clutches of such a man as he. His grip has
• 2:28:38
  Speaker 2: been upon me these twenty years, and he has blessed
• 2:28:41
  Speaker 2: my life. I'll tell you first how I came to
• 2:28:44
  Speaker 2: be in his power. It was in the early sixties
• 2:28:49
  Speaker 2: at the Diggings. I was a young chap then, hot
• 2:28:51
  Speaker 2: blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at anything
• 2:28:55
  Speaker 2: I got among bad companions. Took to drink, had no
• 2:28:58
  Speaker 2: luck with my claim, took to the bush, and then
• 2:29:01
  Speaker 2: a word became what you would call over here a
• 2:29:03
  Speaker 2: highway rubber. There were six of us, and we had
• 2:29:06
  Speaker 2: a wild free life of it, sticking up a station
• 2:29:09
  Speaker 2: from time to time, or stopping the wagons on the
• 2:29:13
  Speaker 2: road to the diggings. Black Jack of Ballarat was the
• 2:29:16
  Speaker 2: name I went under, and our party is still remembered
• 2:29:20
  Speaker 2: in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. One day a
• 2:29:25
  Speaker 2: gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and we
• 2:29:29
  Speaker 2: lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were
• 2:29:31
  Speaker 2: six troopers and six of us, so it was a
• 2:29:33
  Speaker 2: close thing, but we emptied four of their saddles. At
• 2:29:36
  Speaker 2: the first volley. Three of our boys were killed. However,
• 2:29:39
  Speaker 2: before we got the swag, I put my pistol to
• 2:29:42
  Speaker 2: the head of the wagon driver, who was this very
• 2:29:44
  Speaker 2: man McCarthy. I wished to the Lord that I had
• 2:29:48
  Speaker 2: shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw
• 2:29:50
  Speaker 2: his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though
• 2:29:53
  Speaker 2: to remember every feature. We got away with the gold,
• 2:29:57
  Speaker 2: became wealthy men, and made our way over to England
• 2:30:00
  Speaker 2: without being suspected. There I parted from my old pals
• 2:30:03
  Speaker 2: and determined to settle down to a quiet and respectable life.
• 2:30:08
  Speaker 2: I bought this estate which chanced to be in the market,
• 2:30:11
  Speaker 2: and I set myself to do a little good with
• 2:30:13
  Speaker 2: my money to make up for the way in which
• 2:30:15
  Speaker 2: I had earned it. I married too, and though my
• 2:30:19
  Speaker 2: wife died young, she left me my dear little Alice,
• 2:30:23
  Speaker 2: even when she was just a baby. Her wee hand
• 2:30:26
  Speaker 2: seemed to lead me down the right path as nothing
• 2:30:29
  Speaker 2: else had ever done. In a word, I turned over
• 2:30:32
  Speaker 2: a new leaf and did my best to make up
• 2:30:34
  Speaker 2: for the past. All was going well when MacCarthy laid
• 2:30:37
  Speaker 2: his grip upon me. I had gone up to town
• 2:30:40
  Speaker 2: about an investment, and I met him in Regent Street
• 2:30:43
  Speaker 2: with hardly a coat to his back or a boot
• 2:30:45
  Speaker 2: to his foot. Here we are, Jack, says he, touching
• 2:30:49
  Speaker 2: me on the arm. We'll be as good as a
• 2:30:52
  Speaker 2: family to you. There's two of us, me and my son,
• 2:30:56
  Speaker 2: and you can have the keeping of us if you don't.
• 2:30:59
  Speaker 2: It's a fine, law abiding country is England, and there's
• 2:31:03
  Speaker 2: always a policeman. When within hail well down they came
• 2:31:08
  Speaker 2: to the West Country, there was no shaking them off,
• 2:31:12
  Speaker 2: and there they have lived rent free on my best
• 2:31:14
  Speaker 2: land ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace,
• 2:31:17
  Speaker 2: no forgetfulness. Turned where I would, there was his cunning,
• 2:31:21
  Speaker 2: grinning face at my elbow. It grew worse as Alice
• 2:31:25
  Speaker 2: grew up, for he soon saw I was more afraid
• 2:31:28
  Speaker 2: of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever
• 2:31:31
  Speaker 2: he wanted he must have, and whatever it was I
• 2:31:34
  Speaker 2: gave him without question, land, money, houses, until at last
• 2:31:39
  Speaker 2: he asked a thing which I could not give. He
• 2:31:42
  Speaker 2: asked for alice. His son, you see, had grown up,
• 2:31:47
  Speaker 2: and so had my girl, and as I was known
• 2:31:51
  Speaker 2: to be in weak health, it seemed to find stroke
• 2:31:53
  Speaker 2: to him that his lad should step into the whole property.
• 2:31:56
  Speaker 2: But there I was firm. I would not have his
• 2:32:00
  Speaker 2: cursed stalk mixed with mine. Not that I had any
• 2:32:04
  Speaker 2: dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him,
• 2:32:06
  Speaker 2: and that was enough. I stood firm. MacCarthy threatened, I
• 2:32:10
  Speaker 2: braved him to do his worst. We were to meet
• 2:32:13
  Speaker 2: at the pool midway between our houses to talk it over.
• 2:32:17
  Speaker 2: When I went down there, I found him talking with
• 2:32:19
  Speaker 2: his son. So I smoked a cigar and waited behind
• 2:32:21
  Speaker 2: a tree until he should be alone. But as I
• 2:32:24
  Speaker 2: listened to his talk, all that was black and bitter
• 2:32:27
  Speaker 2: in me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his
• 2:32:31
  Speaker 2: son to marry my daughter, with his little regard for
• 2:32:33
  Speaker 2: what she might think, as if she were a slut
• 2:32:35
  Speaker 2: from off the streets. It drove me mad to think
• 2:32:39
  Speaker 2: that I and all that I held most dear should
• 2:32:42
  Speaker 2: be in the power of such a man as this,
• 2:32:44
  Speaker 2: could I not snap the bond. I was already a
• 2:32:47
  Speaker 2: dying and desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly
• 2:32:51
  Speaker 2: strong of limb. I knew that my own fate was sealed.
• 2:32:55
  Speaker 2: But my memory and my girl both could be saved
• 2:32:58
  Speaker 2: if I could but silence that foul tongue. I did it,
• 2:33:02
  Speaker 2: mister Holmes. I would do it again, deeply as I
• 2:33:06
  Speaker 2: have sinned. I have led a life of martyrdom to
• 2:33:09
  Speaker 2: atone for it. But that my girl should be entangled
• 2:33:12
  Speaker 2: in the same meshes which held me was more than
• 2:33:15
  Speaker 2: I could suffer. I struck him down with no more
• 2:33:19
  Speaker 2: compunction than if he had been some foul and venomous beast.
• 2:33:23
  Speaker 2: His cry brought back his son, but I had gained
• 2:33:27
  Speaker 2: the cover of the wood, though I was forced to
• 2:33:30
  Speaker 2: go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped
• 2:33:32
  Speaker 2: in my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of
• 2:33:36
  Speaker 2: all that occurred. Well, it is not for me to judge, you,
• 2:33:43
  Speaker 2: said Holmes, as the old man signed the statement which
• 2:33:46
  Speaker 2: had been drawn out. I pray that we may never
• 2:33:48
  Speaker 2: be exposed to such a temptation. I pray not, sir,
• 2:33:53
  Speaker 2: And what do you intend to do in view of
• 2:33:57
  Speaker 2: your health? Nothing? You are yourself aware that you will
• 2:34:01
  Speaker 2: soon have to answer for your deed a higher court
• 2:34:03
  Speaker 2: than the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if
• 2:34:07
  Speaker 2: McCarthy is condemned, I shall be forced to use it.
• 2:34:10
  Speaker 2: If not, it shall never be seen by mortal eye.
• 2:34:13
  Speaker 2: And your secret, whether you be alive or dead, shall
• 2:34:16
  Speaker 2: be safe with us. Farewell, then, said the old man, solemnly.
• 2:34:23
  Speaker 2: Your own deathbeds, when they come, will be the easier
• 2:34:27
  Speaker 2: for the thought of the peace which you have given
• 2:34:29
  Speaker 2: to mine. Tottering and shaking in all his giant frame,
• 2:34:34
  Speaker 2: he stumbled slowly from the room. God help us, said Holmes,
• 2:34:40
  Speaker 2: after a long silence. Why does fate play such tricks
• 2:34:44
  Speaker 2: with poor helpless worms? I never hear of such a
• 2:34:48
  Speaker 2: case as this, that I do not think of Baxter's
• 2:34:50
  Speaker 2: words and say, there but for the grace of God,
• 2:34:54
  Speaker 2: go Sherlock Holmes. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes
• 2:35:00
  Speaker 2: on the strength of a number of objections which had
• 2:35:02
  Speaker 2: been drawn out by Holmes and submitted to the defending council.
• 2:35:06
  Speaker 2: Old Turner lived for seven months after our interview. But
• 2:35:09
  Speaker 2: he is now dead, and there is every prospect that
• 2:35:12
  Speaker 2: the son and daughter may come to live happily together
• 2:35:15
  Speaker 2: in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their past.
• 2:35:20
  Speaker 6: The five Orange Pips. When I glance over my notes
• 2:35:24
  Speaker 6: and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years
• 2:35:27
  Speaker 6: eighty two and ninety, I am faced by so many
• 2:35:30
  Speaker 6: which present strange and interesting features that it is no
• 2:35:34
  Speaker 6: easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however,
• 2:35:38
  Speaker 6: have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have
• 2:35:41
  Speaker 6: not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my
• 2:35:44
  Speaker 6: friend possessed in so high a degree, and which it
• 2:35:48
  Speaker 6: is the object of these papers to illustrate. Some too
• 2:35:51
  Speaker 6: have baffled his analytical skill, and would be as narratives
• 2:35:54
  Speaker 6: beginning without an ending, while others have been but partially
• 2:35:58
  Speaker 6: cleared up, and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture
• 2:36:02
  Speaker 6: and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was
• 2:36:06
  Speaker 6: so dear to him. There is, however, one of these last,
• 2:36:09
  Speaker 6: which was so remarkable in its details and so startling
• 2:36:12
  Speaker 6: in its results, that I am tempted to give some
• 2:36:14
  Speaker 6: account of it, in spite of the fact that there
• 2:36:17
  Speaker 6: are points in connection with it which have never been
• 2:36:20
  Speaker 6: and probably never will be entirely cleared up. The year
• 2:36:25
  Speaker 6: eighty seven furnished us with a long series of cases
• 2:36:28
  Speaker 6: of greater or less interest, of which I retain the
• 2:36:31
  Speaker 6: records among my headings. Under this one twelve months I
• 2:36:35
  Speaker 6: find an account of the adventurer of the Paradol Chamber
• 2:36:38
  Speaker 6: of the Amateur Mendicant Society, who held a luxurious club
• 2:36:42
  Speaker 6: in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse, of the
• 2:36:44
  Speaker 6: facts connected with the loss of the British bark Sophie Anderson,
• 2:36:48
  Speaker 6: of the singular adventures of the Greis Pattersons in the
• 2:36:51
  Speaker 6: Island of Ufa, and finally of the Camberwell poisoning case.
• 2:36:56
  Speaker 6: In the latter, as may be remembered, Sherlock Holmes was able,
• 2:36:59
  Speaker 6: by one winding up the dead Man's watch, to prove
• 2:37:02
  Speaker 6: that it had been wound up two hours before, and
• 2:37:05
  Speaker 6: that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time,
• 2:37:08
  Speaker 6: a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing
• 2:37:11
  Speaker 6: up the case. All these I may sketch out at
• 2:37:14
  Speaker 6: some future date, but none of them present such singular
• 2:37:17
  Speaker 6: features as the strange train of circumstances which I have
• 2:37:21
  Speaker 6: now taken up my pen to describe. It was in
• 2:37:24
  Speaker 6: the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had
• 2:37:28
  Speaker 6: set in with exceptional violence. All day. The wind had
• 2:37:31
  Speaker 6: screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so
• 2:37:34
  Speaker 6: that even here in the heart of great hand made London,
• 2:37:38
  Speaker 6: we were forced to raise our minds for the instant
• 2:37:40
  Speaker 6: from the routine of life, and to recognize the presence
• 2:37:43
  Speaker 6: of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through
• 2:37:47
  Speaker 6: the bars of his civilization, like untamed beasts in a cage.
• 2:37:52
  Speaker 6: As evening drew in, the storm grew higher and louder,
• 2:37:55
  Speaker 6: and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in
• 2:37:57
  Speaker 6: the chimney shot. Holmes sat moodily at one side of
• 2:38:02
  Speaker 6: the fireplace, cross indexing his records of crime, while I
• 2:38:06
  Speaker 6: at the other, was deep in one of Clark Russell's
• 2:38:08
  Speaker 6: fine sea stories, until the howl of the gale from
• 2:38:11
  Speaker 6: without seemed to blend with the text, and the splash
• 2:38:15
  Speaker 6: of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash
• 2:38:17
  Speaker 6: of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit
• 2:38:20
  Speaker 6: to her mother's, and for a few days I was
• 2:38:22
  Speaker 6: a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Street. Why,
• 2:38:28
  Speaker 6: said I, glancing up at my companion. That was surely
• 2:38:31
  Speaker 6: the bell Who could come up to night? Some friend
• 2:38:34
  Speaker 6: of yours? Perhaps, except yourself? I have none? He answered,
• 2:38:39
  Speaker 6: I do not encourage visitors a client. Then, if so
• 2:38:43
  Speaker 6: it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a
• 2:38:46
  Speaker 6: man out on such a day and at such an hour.
• 2:38:49
  Speaker 6: But I take it that it is more likely to
• 2:38:52
  Speaker 6: be some crony of the landlady's Sherlock Holmes was wrong
• 2:38:56
  Speaker 6: in his conjecture, however, for there came a step in
• 2:38:59
  Speaker 6: the passage, and a tap at the door. He stretched
• 2:39:02
  Speaker 6: out his long arm to turn the lamp away from
• 2:39:04
  Speaker 6: himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer
• 2:39:07
  Speaker 6: must sit. Come in, said he. The man who entered
• 2:39:12
  Speaker 6: was young, some two and twenty at the outside, well
• 2:39:16
  Speaker 6: groomed and trimly clad, with something of refinement and delicacy
• 2:39:19
  Speaker 6: in his bearing. The streaming umbrella which he held in
• 2:39:23
  Speaker 6: his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the
• 2:39:26
  Speaker 6: fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him,
• 2:39:29
  Speaker 6: anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could
• 2:39:32
  Speaker 6: see that his face was pale and his eyes heavy,
• 2:39:34
  Speaker 6: like those of a man who is weighed down with
• 2:39:36
  Speaker 6: some great anxiety. I owe you an apology, he said,
• 2:39:40
  Speaker 6: raising his golden pontene to his eyes. I trust that
• 2:39:44
  Speaker 6: I am not intruding. I fear that I have brought
• 2:39:47
  Speaker 6: some traces of the storm and rain into your snug chamber.
• 2:39:51
  Speaker 6: Give me your coat and umbrella, said Holmes. They may
• 2:39:53
  Speaker 6: rest here on the hook and will be dry presently.
• 2:39:56
  Speaker 6: You have come up from the southwest. I see, yes,
• 2:39:59
  Speaker 6: from that clay and chalk mixture which I see upon
• 2:40:03
  Speaker 6: your toe caps is quite distinctive. I have come for
• 2:40:07
  Speaker 6: advice that is easily got, and help that is not
• 2:40:13
  Speaker 6: always so easy. I have heard of you, mister Holmes.
• 2:40:17
  Speaker 6: I heard from Major Preendergast how you saved him in
• 2:40:20
  Speaker 6: the Tankerville Club scandal. Ah. Of course he was wrongfully
• 2:40:23
  Speaker 6: accused of cheating at cards. He said that you could
• 2:40:27
  Speaker 6: solve anything. He said too much, that you are never beaten.
• 2:40:33
  Speaker 6: I have been beaten four times, three times by men
• 2:40:36
  Speaker 6: and once by a woman. But what is that compared
• 2:40:39
  Speaker 6: with the number of your successes. It is true that
• 2:40:43
  Speaker 6: I have been generally successful, then you may be so
• 2:40:47
  Speaker 6: with me. I beg that you will draw up your
• 2:40:50
  Speaker 6: chair to the fire and favor me with some details
• 2:40:53
  Speaker 6: as to your case. It is no ordinary one, None
• 2:40:57
  Speaker 6: of those which come to me are. I am the
• 2:40:59
  Speaker 6: last court of appeal. And yet I question, sir, whether,
• 2:41:04
  Speaker 6: in all your experience you have ever listened to a
• 2:41:06
  Speaker 6: more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those which
• 2:41:10
  Speaker 6: have happened in my own family. You fill me with interest,
• 2:41:14
  Speaker 6: said Holmes. Pray, give us the essential facts from the commencement,
• 2:41:18
  Speaker 6: and I can afterwards question you as to those details
• 2:41:21
  Speaker 6: which seem to me to be most important. The young
• 2:41:24
  Speaker 6: man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet
• 2:41:27
  Speaker 6: out toward the blaze. My name, said, he is John Openshaw.
• 2:41:31
  Speaker 6: But my own affairs have, as far as I can understand,
• 2:41:34
  Speaker 6: little to do with this awful business. It is a
• 2:41:37
  Speaker 6: hereditary matter. So in order to give you an idea
• 2:41:40
  Speaker 6: of the facts, I must go back to the commencement
• 2:41:43
  Speaker 6: of the affair. You must know that my grandfather had
• 2:41:47
  Speaker 6: two sons, my uncle Elias and my father Joseph. My
• 2:41:51
  Speaker 6: father had a small factory at Coventry, which he enlarged.
• 2:41:54
  Speaker 6: At the time of the invention of bicycling. Here was
• 2:41:57
  Speaker 6: a patentee of the open shore, unbreakable a tire, and
• 2:42:01
  Speaker 6: his business met with such success that he was able
• 2:42:03
  Speaker 6: to sell it and to retire upon a handsome competence.
• 2:42:07
  Speaker 6: My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a
• 2:42:10
  Speaker 6: young man and became a painter in Florida, where he
• 2:42:14
  Speaker 6: was reported to have done very well. At the time
• 2:42:17
  Speaker 6: of the war, he fought in Jackson's army and afterwards
• 2:42:20
  Speaker 6: under hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When
• 2:42:23
  Speaker 6: Lee laid down his arms, my uncle returned to his plantation,
• 2:42:26
  Speaker 6: where he remained for three or four years. About eighteen
• 2:42:30
  Speaker 6: sixty nine or eighteen seventy he came back to Europe
• 2:42:33
  Speaker 6: and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. He
• 2:42:37
  Speaker 6: had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and
• 2:42:40
  Speaker 6: his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the
• 2:42:42
  Speaker 6: Negroes and his dislike of the Republican policy in extending
• 2:42:46
  Speaker 6: the franchise to them.
• 2:42:48
  Speaker 2: He was a.
• 2:42:49
  Speaker 6: Singular man, fierce and quick tempered, very foul mouthed when
• 2:42:53
  Speaker 6: he was angry, and of a most retiring disposition. During
• 2:42:56
  Speaker 6: all the years that he lived at Horsham, I doubt
• 2:42:59
  Speaker 6: if he ever set foot in the town. He had
• 2:43:01
  Speaker 6: a garden and two or three fields round his house,
• 2:43:04
  Speaker 6: and there he would take his exercise, though very often
• 2:43:07
  Speaker 6: for weeks on end he would never leave his room.
• 2:43:10
  Speaker 6: He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very heavily,
• 2:43:13
  Speaker 6: but he would see no society and did not want
• 2:43:16
  Speaker 6: any friends, not even his own brother. He didn't mind me,
• 2:43:21
  Speaker 6: in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at
• 2:43:23
  Speaker 6: the time when he saw me first, I was a
• 2:43:25
  Speaker 6: youngster of twelve or so. This would be in the
• 2:43:28
  Speaker 6: year eighteen seventy eight, after he had been eight or
• 2:43:31
  Speaker 6: nine years in England. He begged my father to let
• 2:43:34
  Speaker 6: me live with him, and he was very kind to
• 2:43:36
  Speaker 6: me in his way. When he was sober. He used
• 2:43:39
  Speaker 6: to be fond of playing backgammon and drafts with me,
• 2:43:42
  Speaker 6: and he would make me his representative both with the
• 2:43:45
  Speaker 6: servants and with the trade people, so that by the
• 2:43:47
  Speaker 6: time I was sixteen, I was quite master of the house.
• 2:43:50
  Speaker 6: I kept all the keys and could go where I
• 2:43:53
  Speaker 6: liked and do what I liked, so long as I
• 2:43:55
  Speaker 6: did not disturb him. In his privacy. There was one
• 2:43:58
  Speaker 6: singular exception, how however, for he had a single room,
• 2:44:02
  Speaker 6: a lumber room up among the attics, which was invariably locked,
• 2:44:06
  Speaker 6: and which he would never permit either me or any
• 2:44:08
  Speaker 6: one else to enter. With a boy's curiosity, I have
• 2:44:12
  Speaker 6: peeped through the keyhole, but I was never able to
• 2:44:14
  Speaker 6: see more than such a collection of old trunks and
• 2:44:17
  Speaker 6: bundles as would be expected in such a room. One day,
• 2:44:21
  Speaker 6: it was March of eighteen eighty three, a letter with
• 2:44:24
  Speaker 6: a foreign stamp lay upon the table in front of
• 2:44:26
  Speaker 6: the colonel's plate. It was not a common thing for
• 2:44:29
  Speaker 6: him to receive letters, for his bills were all paid
• 2:44:32
  Speaker 6: in ready money, and he had no friends of any
• 2:44:34
  Speaker 6: sort from India, said he, as he took it up.
• 2:44:38
  Speaker 6: Pond a cherry postmark. What can this be? Opening it hurriedly,
• 2:44:42
  Speaker 6: out there jumped five little dried orange pips, which pattered
• 2:44:46
  Speaker 6: down upon his plate. I began to laugh at this,
• 2:44:50
  Speaker 6: but the laugh was struck from my lips at the
• 2:44:52
  Speaker 6: sight of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes
• 2:44:55
  Speaker 6: were protruding, his skin the color of putty, and he
• 2:44:58
  Speaker 6: glared at the envelope which he still held in his
• 2:45:00
  Speaker 6: trembling hand. Kay k kay, he shrieked. And then, my god,
• 2:45:05
  Speaker 6: my god, my sins have overtaken me.
• 2:45:08
  Speaker 2: What is it?
• 2:45:09
  Speaker 6: Uncle? I cried death, said he, and rising from the table,
• 2:45:13
  Speaker 6: he retired to his room, leaving me palpitating with horror.
• 2:45:17
  Speaker 6: I took up the envelope and saw scrolled in red
• 2:45:20
  Speaker 6: ink upon the inner flap, just above the gum, the
• 2:45:23
  Speaker 6: letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else save
• 2:45:27
  Speaker 6: the five dried pips. What could be the reason of
• 2:45:30
  Speaker 6: his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast table, and as
• 2:45:35
  Speaker 6: I ascended the stair I met him coming down with
• 2:45:37
  Speaker 6: an old rusty key which must have belonged to the
• 2:45:40
  Speaker 6: attic in one hand, and a small brass box like
• 2:45:43
  Speaker 6: a cash box in the other. They may do what
• 2:45:45
  Speaker 6: they like, but I'll checkmate them, still, said he, with
• 2:45:48
  Speaker 6: an oath. Tell Mary that I shall want a fire
• 2:45:51
  Speaker 6: in my room to day and send down to Fordham
• 2:45:53
  Speaker 6: the Horsham lawyer. I did as he ordered, and when
• 2:45:57
  Speaker 6: the lawyer arrived, I was asked to step up to
• 2:45:59
  Speaker 6: the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the
• 2:46:03
  Speaker 6: grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes as
• 2:46:06
  Speaker 6: of burned paper. While the brass box stood open, an
• 2:46:09
  Speaker 6: empty beside it. As I glanced at the box, I
• 2:46:12
  Speaker 6: noticed with a start that upon the lid was printed
• 2:46:14
  Speaker 6: the treble quet which I had read in the morning.
• 2:46:17
  Speaker 6: Upon the envelope. I wish you, John, said my uncle,
• 2:46:20
  Speaker 6: to witness my will. I leave my estate with all
• 2:46:23
  Speaker 6: its advantages and all its disadvantages, to my brother, your father.
• 2:46:28
  Speaker 6: Whence it will no doubt descend to you if you
• 2:46:31
  Speaker 6: can enjoy it in peace, well and good. If you
• 2:46:34
  Speaker 6: find you cannot take my advice, my boy, and leave
• 2:46:37
  Speaker 6: it to your deadliest enemy, I am sorry to give
• 2:46:39
  Speaker 6: you such a two edged thing, but I can't say
• 2:46:42
  Speaker 6: what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the
• 2:46:45
  Speaker 6: paper where mister Fordham shows you. I signed the paper
• 2:46:49
  Speaker 6: as directed, and the lawyer took it away with him.
• 2:46:53
  Speaker 6: The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest
• 2:46:56
  Speaker 6: impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned
• 2:46:59
  Speaker 6: it every way in my mind without being able to
• 2:47:01
  Speaker 6: make anything of it. Yet I could not shake off
• 2:47:04
  Speaker 6: the vague feeling of dread which it left behind. Though
• 2:47:07
  Speaker 6: the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed, and
• 2:47:10
  Speaker 6: nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives.
• 2:47:14
  Speaker 6: I could see a change in my uncle. However, he
• 2:47:16
  Speaker 6: drank more than ever, and he was less inclined for
• 2:47:19
  Speaker 6: any sort of society. Most of his time he would
• 2:47:22
  Speaker 6: spend in his room with the door locked upon me inside.
• 2:47:26
  Speaker 6: But sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy,
• 2:47:30
  Speaker 6: and would burst out of the house and tear about
• 2:47:32
  Speaker 6: the garden with a revolver in his hand, screaming out
• 2:47:35
  Speaker 6: that he was afraid of no man, and that he
• 2:47:37
  Speaker 6: was not to be cooped up like a sheep in
• 2:47:39
  Speaker 6: a pen by man or devil. When these hot fits
• 2:47:43
  Speaker 6: were over, however, he would rush tumultuously in at the door,
• 2:47:47
  Speaker 6: and lock and bar it behind him, like a man
• 2:47:49
  Speaker 6: who can brazen it out no longer against the terror
• 2:47:52
  Speaker 6: which lies at the root of his soul. At such
• 2:47:55
  Speaker 6: times I have seen his face, even on a cold day,
• 2:47:58
  Speaker 6: glisten with moisture, as the it were new raised from
• 2:48:01
  Speaker 6: a basin. Well, to come to an end of the matter,
• 2:48:04
  Speaker 6: mister Holmes, and not to abuse your patience, There came
• 2:48:07
  Speaker 6: a night when he made one of those drunken sallies
• 2:48:09
  Speaker 6: from which he never came back. We found him when
• 2:48:12
  Speaker 6: we went to search for him, face downward in a
• 2:48:15
  Speaker 6: little green, scummed pool which lay at the foot of
• 2:48:17
  Speaker 6: the garden. There was no sign of any violence, and
• 2:48:21
  Speaker 6: the water was but two feet deep, so that the jury,
• 2:48:24
  Speaker 6: having regard to his known eccentricity, brought in a verdict
• 2:48:28
  Speaker 6: of suicide. But I, who knew how he winced from
• 2:48:31
  Speaker 6: the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade
• 2:48:34
  Speaker 6: myself that he had gone out of his way to
• 2:48:36
  Speaker 6: meet it. The matter passed, however, and my father entered
• 2:48:40
  Speaker 6: into possession of the estate and of some fourteen thousand
• 2:48:43
  Speaker 6: pounds which lay to his credit at the bank. One moment,
• 2:48:47
  Speaker 6: Holmes interposed, your statement is, I foresee, one of the
• 2:48:51
  Speaker 6: most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me
• 2:48:54
  Speaker 6: have the date of the reception by your uncle of
• 2:48:56
  Speaker 6: the letter and the date of his supposed suicide. The
• 2:49:00
  Speaker 6: letter arrived on March tenth, eighteen eighty three. His death
• 2:49:04
  Speaker 6: was seven weeks later, upon the night of May second.
• 2:49:08
  Speaker 6: Thank you pray procept. When my father took over the
• 2:49:12
  Speaker 6: Horsham property, he, at my request, made a careful examination
• 2:49:16
  Speaker 6: of the attic, which had been always locked up. We
• 2:49:19
  Speaker 6: found the brass box there, although its contents had been destroyed.
• 2:49:24
  Speaker 6: On the inside of the cover was a paper label
• 2:49:26
  Speaker 6: with the initials of K K K repeated upon it,
• 2:49:29
  Speaker 6: and letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register written beneath these,
• 2:49:34
  Speaker 6: we presume indicated the nature of the papers which had
• 2:49:36
  Speaker 6: been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was
• 2:49:40
  Speaker 6: nothing of much importance in the attic, save a great
• 2:49:43
  Speaker 6: many scattered papers and note books bearing upon my uncle's
• 2:49:46
  Speaker 6: life in America. Some of them were of the war
• 2:49:49
  Speaker 6: time and showed that he had done his duty well
• 2:49:52
  Speaker 6: and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Others
• 2:49:55
  Speaker 6: were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern States,
• 2:49:59
  Speaker 6: and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had evidently
• 2:50:03
  Speaker 6: taken a strong part in opposing the carpet bag politicians
• 2:50:06
  Speaker 6: who had been sent down from the North Well. It
• 2:50:09
  Speaker 6: was the beginning of eighty four when my father came
• 2:50:11
  Speaker 6: to live at Horseham, and all went as well as
• 2:50:14
  Speaker 6: possible until the January of eighty five. On the fourth
• 2:50:18
  Speaker 6: day after the new year, I heard my father give
• 2:50:21
  Speaker 6: a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at
• 2:50:23
  Speaker 6: the breakfast table. There he was sitting with a newly
• 2:50:27
  Speaker 6: opened envelope in one hand, and five dried orange pips
• 2:50:30
  Speaker 6: in the outstretched palm of the other one. He had
• 2:50:33
  Speaker 6: always laughed at what he called my cock and bull
• 2:50:36
  Speaker 6: story about the colonel, but he looked very scared and
• 2:50:39
  Speaker 6: puzzled now that the same thing had come upon him.
• 2:50:42
  Speaker 6: Why what on earth does this mean? John, he stammered,
• 2:50:46
  Speaker 6: My heart had turned to lead. It is k K K,
• 2:50:50
  Speaker 6: said I. He looked inside the envelope. So it is,
• 2:50:54
  Speaker 6: he cried. Here are the very letters, But what is
• 2:50:57
  Speaker 6: this written above them? Put the papers on the sun dial,
• 2:51:01
  Speaker 6: I read, peeping over his shoulder. What papers? What sun dial?
• 2:51:05
  Speaker 6: He asked, The sun dial in the garden. There is
• 2:51:08
  Speaker 6: no other, said I. But the papers must be those
• 2:51:11
  Speaker 6: that are destroyed. Pooh, said he, gripping hard at his courage.
• 2:51:15
  Speaker 6: We are in a civilized land here, and we can't
• 2:51:18
  Speaker 6: have tomfoolery of this kind. Where does the thing come
• 2:51:21
  Speaker 6: from from? Dundee, I answered, glancing at the post mark.
• 2:51:27
  Speaker 6: Some preposterous practical joke, said he. What have I to
• 2:51:30
  Speaker 6: do with sun dials and papers? I shall take no
• 2:51:33
  Speaker 6: notice of such nonsense. I should certainly speak to the police,
• 2:51:37
  Speaker 6: I said, and be laughed at for my pains. Nothing
• 2:51:40
  Speaker 6: of the sort, then let me do so. No, I
• 2:51:44
  Speaker 6: forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such nonsense.
• 2:51:48
  Speaker 6: It was in vain to argue with him, for he
• 2:51:50
  Speaker 6: was a very obstinate man. I went about, however, with
• 2:51:54
  Speaker 6: a heart which was full of forebodings. On the third
• 2:51:57
  Speaker 6: day after the coming of the letter, my father went
• 2:52:00
  Speaker 6: from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody,
• 2:52:03
  Speaker 6: who is in the command of one of the forts
• 2:52:05
  Speaker 6: upon portsdown Hill. I was glad that he should go,
• 2:52:09
  Speaker 6: for it seemed to me that he was further from
• 2:52:11
  Speaker 6: danger when he was away from home. In that, however,
• 2:52:14
  Speaker 6: I was in error. Upon the second day of his absence,
• 2:52:17
  Speaker 6: I received a telegram from the Major imploring me to
• 2:52:20
  Speaker 6: come at once. My father had fallen over one of
• 2:52:23
  Speaker 6: the deep chalk pits which abound in the neighborhood, and
• 2:52:26
  Speaker 6: was lying senseless with a shattered skull. I hurried to him,
• 2:52:31
  Speaker 6: but he passed away without ever having recovered his consciousness.
• 2:52:35
  Speaker 6: He had, as it appears, been returning from Fareham in
• 2:52:37
  Speaker 6: the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him
• 2:52:40
  Speaker 6: and the chalk pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation
• 2:52:44
  Speaker 6: in bringing in a verdict of death from accidental causes. Carefully,
• 2:52:48
  Speaker 6: as I examined every fact connected with his death, I
• 2:52:51
  Speaker 6: was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea
• 2:52:54
  Speaker 6: of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks,
• 2:52:58
  Speaker 6: no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon
• 2:53:01
  Speaker 6: the roads. And yet I need not tell you that
• 2:53:04
  Speaker 6: my mind was far from at ease, and that I
• 2:53:06
  Speaker 6: was well nigh certain that some foul plot had been
• 2:53:09
  Speaker 6: woven around him. In this sinister way I came into
• 2:53:12
  Speaker 6: my inheritance. You will ask me why I did not
• 2:53:15
  Speaker 6: dispose of it. I answer because I was well convinced
• 2:53:19
  Speaker 6: that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an
• 2:53:22
  Speaker 6: incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would
• 2:53:25
  Speaker 6: be as pressing in one house as in another. It
• 2:53:29
  Speaker 6: was in January of eighty five that my poor father
• 2:53:31
  Speaker 6: met his end, and two years and eight months had
• 2:53:33
  Speaker 6: elapsed since then. During that time I have lived happily
• 2:53:37
  Speaker 6: at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that this
• 2:53:40
  Speaker 6: curse had passed away from the family, and that it
• 2:53:42
  Speaker 6: had ended with the last generation. I had begun to
• 2:53:45
  Speaker 6: take comfort too soon. However, yesterday morning the blow fell
• 2:53:49
  Speaker 6: in the very shape in which it had come upon
• 2:53:51
  Speaker 6: my father. The young man took from his waistcoat a
• 2:53:55
  Speaker 6: crumpled envelope, and turning to the table, he shook out
• 2:53:59
  Speaker 6: upon it five little dried orange pips. This is the envelope,
• 2:54:03
  Speaker 6: he continued. The postmark is London Eastern Division. Within are
• 2:54:08
  Speaker 6: the very words which were upon my father's last message,
• 2:54:11
  Speaker 6: K K K, And then put the papers on the
• 2:54:14
  Speaker 6: sun dial. What have you done, asked Holmes. Nothing, nothing
• 2:54:21
  Speaker 6: to tell the truth. He sank his face into his
• 2:54:24
  Speaker 6: thin white hands. I have felt helpless. I have felt
• 2:54:28
  Speaker 6: like one of those poor rabbits when the snake is
• 2:54:30
  Speaker 6: riding toward it. I seem to be in the grasp
• 2:54:33
  Speaker 6: of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no
• 2:54:37
  Speaker 6: precautions can guard against. Tut tut, cried Sherlock Holmes. You
• 2:54:41
  Speaker 6: must act, man, or you are lost. Nothing but energy
• 2:54:44
  Speaker 6: can save you. This is no time for despair. I
• 2:54:48
  Speaker 6: have seen the police. Ah, but then listen to my
• 2:54:52
  Speaker 6: story with a smile. I am convinced that the inspector
• 2:54:55
  Speaker 6: has formed the opinion that the letters were all practical jokes,
• 2:54:59
  Speaker 6: and that the death of my relations were really accidents.
• 2:55:02
  Speaker 6: As the jury stated, and were not to be connected
• 2:55:04
  Speaker 6: with the warnings. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air.
• 2:55:09
  Speaker 6: Incredible imbecility, he cried. They have, however, allowed me a
• 2:55:13
  Speaker 6: policeman who may remain in the house with me. Has
• 2:55:17
  Speaker 6: he come with you to night?
• 2:55:19
  Speaker 2: No?
• 2:55:19
  Speaker 6: His orders were to stay in the house again, Holmes
• 2:55:23
  Speaker 6: raved in the air. Why did you come to me,
• 2:55:26
  Speaker 6: he cried, And above all, why did you not come
• 2:55:28
  Speaker 6: at once? I did not know. It was only to
• 2:55:32
  Speaker 6: day that I spoke to Major Prendergast about my troubles,
• 2:55:35
  Speaker 6: and was advised by him to come to you. It
• 2:55:38
  Speaker 6: is really two days since you have had the letter.
• 2:55:41
  Speaker 6: We should have acted before this. You have no further evidence,
• 2:55:44
  Speaker 6: I suppose, than that which you have placed before us,
• 2:55:47
  Speaker 6: no suggestive detail which might help us. There is one thing,
• 2:55:51
  Speaker 6: said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat pocket, and
• 2:55:55
  Speaker 6: drawing out a piece of discolored blue tinted paper, he
• 2:55:58
  Speaker 6: laid it out upon the table. I have some remembrance,
• 2:56:02
  Speaker 6: said he, that on the day when my uncle burned
• 2:56:05
  Speaker 6: the papers, I observed that the small, unburned margins which
• 2:56:08
  Speaker 6: lay amid the ashes were of this particular color. I
• 2:56:12
  Speaker 6: found this single sheet upon the floor of his room,
• 2:56:14
  Speaker 6: and I am inclined to think that it may be
• 2:56:17
  Speaker 6: one of the papers which has perhaps fluttered out from
• 2:56:19
  Speaker 6: among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction.
• 2:56:23
  Speaker 6: Beyond the mention of pips, I do not see that
• 2:56:26
  Speaker 6: it helps us much. I think myself that it is
• 2:56:29
  Speaker 6: a page from some private diary. The writing is undoubtedly
• 2:56:32
  Speaker 6: my uncle's. Holmes moved the lamp and we both bent
• 2:56:37
  Speaker 6: over the sheet of paper, which showed by its ragged
• 2:56:39
  Speaker 6: edge that it had indeed been torn from a book.
• 2:56:43
  Speaker 6: It was headed March eighteen sixty nine, and beneath were
• 2:56:46
  Speaker 6: the following enigmatical notices. Fourth Hudson came same old platform.
• 2:56:53
  Speaker 6: Seventh set the pips on Macauley, Paramour, and John Swain
• 2:56:56
  Speaker 6: of Saint Augustine ninth Polly cleared, tenth, John Swain cleared twelfth,
• 2:57:04
  Speaker 6: visited Parmour or well, thank you, said Holmes, folding up
• 2:57:09
  Speaker 6: the paper and returning it to our visitor. And now
• 2:57:12
  Speaker 6: you must, on no account lose another instant. We cannot
• 2:57:15
  Speaker 6: spare time even to discuss what you have told me.
• 2:57:18
  Speaker 6: You must get home instantly and act. What shall I do?
• 2:57:24
  Speaker 6: There is but one thing to do. It must be
• 2:57:26
  Speaker 6: done at once. You must put this piece of paper
• 2:57:29
  Speaker 6: which you have shown us into the brass box which
• 2:57:31
  Speaker 6: you have described. You must also put in a note
• 2:57:34
  Speaker 6: to say that all the other papers were burned by
• 2:57:37
  Speaker 6: your uncle, and that this is the only one which remains.
• 2:57:40
  Speaker 6: You must assert that in such words as will carry
• 2:57:43
  Speaker 6: conviction with them. Having done this, you must at once
• 2:57:46
  Speaker 6: put the box out upon the sun dial as directed.
• 2:57:49
  Speaker 6: Do you understand entirely? Do not think of revenge or
• 2:57:55
  Speaker 6: anything of that sort at present. I think that we
• 2:57:58
  Speaker 6: may gain that by means of the law. But we
• 2:58:00
  Speaker 6: have our web to weave, while theirs is already woven.
• 2:58:04
  Speaker 6: The first consideration is to remove the pressing danger which
• 2:58:07
  Speaker 6: threatens you. The second is to clear up the mystery
• 2:58:10
  Speaker 6: and to punish the guilty parties. I thank you, said
• 2:58:14
  Speaker 6: the young man, rising and pulling on his overcoat. You
• 2:58:17
  Speaker 6: have given me fresh life and hope. I shall certainly
• 2:58:20
  Speaker 6: do as you advise, Do not lose an instant, and
• 2:58:23
  Speaker 6: above all, take care of yourself in the meanwhile, For
• 2:58:26
  Speaker 6: I do not think that there can be a doubt
• 2:58:28
  Speaker 6: that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger.
• 2:58:31
  Speaker 6: How do you go back? By train for Waterloo. It
• 2:58:36
  Speaker 6: is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so
• 2:58:38
  Speaker 6: I trust that you may be in safety. And yet
• 2:58:41
  Speaker 6: you cannot guard yourself too closely. I am armed. That
• 2:58:45
  Speaker 6: is well. To morrow I shall set to work upon
• 2:58:48
  Speaker 6: your case. I shall see you at Horshamen. No, your
• 2:58:52
  Speaker 6: secret lies in London. It is there that I shall
• 2:58:55
  Speaker 6: seek it. Then I shall call upon you in a day,
• 2:58:59
  Speaker 6: or in two days, with news as to the box
• 2:59:01
  Speaker 6: and the papers. I shall take your advice in every particular.
• 2:59:05
  Speaker 6: He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside,
• 2:59:08
  Speaker 6: the wind still screamed, and the rain splashed and pattered
• 2:59:11
  Speaker 6: against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have
• 2:59:15
  Speaker 6: come to us from amid the mad elements, blown in
• 2:59:18
  Speaker 6: upon us like a sheet of seaweed in a gale,
• 2:59:20
  Speaker 6: and now to have been reabsorbed by them once more.
• 2:59:25
  Speaker 6: Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his
• 2:59:27
  Speaker 6: head sunk forward and his eyes bent upon the red
• 2:59:31
  Speaker 6: glow of the fire. Then he lit his pipe, and,
• 2:59:34
  Speaker 6: leaning back in his chair, he watched the blue smoke
• 2:59:36
  Speaker 6: rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling.
• 2:59:41
  Speaker 6: I think Watson, he remarked at last, that of all
• 2:59:44
  Speaker 6: our cases we have had none more fantastic than this,
• 2:59:48
  Speaker 6: save perhaps the sign of four well, yes, save perhaps that.
• 2:59:52
  Speaker 6: And yet this John Openshaw seems to me to be
• 2:59:55
  Speaker 6: walking amid even greater perils than did the Shoultos. But
• 2:59:59
  Speaker 6: have I asked, formed any definite conception as to what
• 3:00:03
  Speaker 6: these perils are? There can be no question as to
• 3:00:07
  Speaker 6: their nature? He answered, Then what are they? Who is
• 3:00:10
  Speaker 6: this K K K? And why does he pursue this
• 3:00:13
  Speaker 6: unhappy family? Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his
• 3:00:18
  Speaker 6: elbows upon the arms of his chair with his finger
• 3:00:20
  Speaker 6: tips together. The ideal reasoner, he remarked, would, when he
• 3:00:25
  Speaker 6: had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings,
• 3:00:28
  Speaker 6: deduce from it not only all the chain of events
• 3:00:31
  Speaker 6: which led up to it, but also all the results
• 3:00:33
  Speaker 6: which would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe
• 3:00:37
  Speaker 6: a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone,
• 3:00:40
  Speaker 6: so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in
• 3:00:44
  Speaker 6: a series of incidents should be able to accurately state
• 3:00:47
  Speaker 6: all the other ones, both before and after. We have
• 3:00:52
  Speaker 6: not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can
• 3:00:55
  Speaker 6: attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which
• 3:00:58
  Speaker 6: have baffled all those who have sought a solution by
• 3:01:01
  Speaker 6: the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however,
• 3:01:04
  Speaker 6: to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner
• 3:01:07
  Speaker 6: should be able to utilize all the facts which have
• 3:01:10
  Speaker 6: come to his knowledge. And this in itself implies, as
• 3:01:13
  Speaker 6: you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which,
• 3:01:17
  Speaker 6: even in these days of free education and encyclopedias, is
• 3:01:21
  Speaker 6: a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so impossible, however,
• 3:01:25
  Speaker 6: that a man should possess all knowledge which is likely
• 3:01:28
  Speaker 6: to be useful to him in his work. And this
• 3:01:31
  Speaker 6: I have endeavored in my case to do. If I
• 3:01:34
  Speaker 6: remember rightly, you, on one occasion in the early days
• 3:01:37
  Speaker 6: of our friendship, defined my limits in a very precise fashion. Yes,
• 3:01:43
  Speaker 6: I answered, laughing. It was a singular document. Philosophy, astronomy,
• 3:01:47
  Speaker 6: and politics were marked at zero. I remember botany variable, geology,
• 3:01:52
  Speaker 6: profound as regards the mud stains from any region within
• 3:01:55
  Speaker 6: fifty miles of town, Chemistry, eccentric anatomy, unsystematic, sensational literature,
• 3:02:01
  Speaker 6: and crime records, unique violin player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer and
• 3:02:05
  Speaker 6: self poisoner. By cocaine and tobacco, those I think were
• 3:02:08
  Speaker 6: the main points of my analysis. Holmes grinned at the
• 3:02:12
  Speaker 6: last item. Well, he said, I say now, as I
• 3:02:15
  Speaker 6: said then, that a man should keep his little brain
• 3:02:18
  Speaker 6: attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely
• 3:02:21
  Speaker 6: to use, and the rest he can put away in
• 3:02:23
  Speaker 6: the lumber room of his library, where he can get
• 3:02:26
  Speaker 6: at it if he wants it. Now, for such a
• 3:02:28
  Speaker 6: case as the one which has been submitted to us
• 3:02:30
  Speaker 6: to night, we need certainly to muster all our resources.
• 3:02:34
  Speaker 6: Kindly hand me down the letter K of the American Encyclopedia,
• 3:02:38
  Speaker 6: which stands upon the shelf beside you. Thank you. Now,
• 3:02:41
  Speaker 6: let us consider the situation and see what may be
• 3:02:44
  Speaker 6: deduced from it. In the first place, we may start
• 3:02:48
  Speaker 6: with a strong presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very
• 3:02:51
  Speaker 6: strong reason for leaving America. Men at his time of
• 3:02:55
  Speaker 6: life do not change all their habits and exchange willingly
• 3:02:58
  Speaker 6: the charming climate of flow for the lonely life of
• 3:03:01
  Speaker 6: an English provincial town. His extreme love of solitude in
• 3:03:05
  Speaker 6: England suggests the idea that he was in fear of
• 3:03:08
  Speaker 6: something or someone. So we may assume as a working
• 3:03:11
  Speaker 6: hypothesis that it was fear of someone or something which
• 3:03:14
  Speaker 6: drove him from America. As to what it was he feared,
• 3:03:19
  Speaker 6: we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters
• 3:03:22
  Speaker 6: which were received by himself and his successors. Did you
• 3:03:26
  Speaker 6: remark the postmarks of those letters? The first was from Pondicherry,
• 3:03:31
  Speaker 6: the second from Dundee, and the third from London from
• 3:03:35
  Speaker 6: East London? What do you deduce from that? They are
• 3:03:39
  Speaker 6: all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship. Excellent,
• 3:03:44
  Speaker 6: We have already a clue. There can be no doubt
• 3:03:47
  Speaker 6: that the probability, the strong probability, is that the writer
• 3:03:50
  Speaker 6: was on board of a ship. And now let us
• 3:03:53
  Speaker 6: consider another point. In the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks
• 3:03:57
  Speaker 6: elapsed between the threat and its fulfillment. In Dundee it
• 3:04:01
  Speaker 6: was only some three or four days. Does that suggest
• 3:04:05
  Speaker 6: anything a greater distance to travel? But the letter also
• 3:04:10
  Speaker 6: had a greater distance to come. Then I do not
• 3:04:13
  Speaker 6: see the point. There is at least a presumption that
• 3:04:17
  Speaker 6: the vessel in which the man or men are is
• 3:04:19
  Speaker 6: a sailing ship. It looks as if they always send
• 3:04:22
  Speaker 6: their singular warning or token before them when starting upon
• 3:04:26
  Speaker 6: their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the
• 3:04:29
  Speaker 6: sign when it came from Dundee. If they had come
• 3:04:32
  Speaker 6: from Pondicherry in a steamer, they would have arrived almost
• 3:04:35
  Speaker 6: as soon as their letter. But as a matter of fact,
• 3:04:38
  Speaker 6: seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seven weeks represented
• 3:04:42
  Speaker 6: the difference between the mail boat which brought the letter
• 3:04:45
  Speaker 6: and the sailing vessel which brought the writer. It is possible,
• 3:04:49
  Speaker 6: more than that, it is probable. And now you see
• 3:04:52
  Speaker 6: the deadly urgency of this new case, and why I
• 3:04:55
  Speaker 6: urged young Openshaw to caution. The blow has always fallen
• 3:04:59
  Speaker 6: at the end of the time which it would take
• 3:05:01
  Speaker 6: the senders to travel the distance. But this one comes
• 3:05:04
  Speaker 6: from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay. Good God,
• 3:05:08
  Speaker 6: I cried, what can it mean, this relentless persecution. The
• 3:05:13
  Speaker 6: papers which Openshore carried are obviously of vital importance to
• 3:05:17
  Speaker 6: the person or persons in the sailing ship. I think
• 3:05:21
  Speaker 6: that it is quite clear that there must be more
• 3:05:23
  Speaker 6: than one of them. A single man could not have
• 3:05:25
  Speaker 6: carried out two deaths in such a way as to
• 3:05:27
  Speaker 6: deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in it,
• 3:05:31
  Speaker 6: and they must have been men of resource and determination.
• 3:05:34
  Speaker 6: Their papers they mean to have be the holder of
• 3:05:37
  Speaker 6: them who it may. In this way you see, k
• 3:05:40
  Speaker 6: k k ceases to be the initials of an individual
• 3:05:43
  Speaker 6: and becomes the badge of a society. But of what society?
• 3:05:49
  Speaker 6: Have you never, said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sinking
• 3:05:53
  Speaker 6: his voice. Have you never heard of the ku klux Klan? I?
• 3:05:59
  Speaker 6: Never have Holmes turned over the leaves of the book
• 3:06:03
  Speaker 6: upon his knee. Here it is said he presently ku
• 3:06:07
  Speaker 6: klux Klan, A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to
• 3:06:11
  Speaker 6: the sound produced by caking arrival. This terrible secret society
• 3:06:16
  Speaker 6: was formed by some ex Confederate soldiers in the Southern
• 3:06:19
  Speaker 6: States after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local
• 3:06:22
  Speaker 6: branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Louisiana,
• 3:06:27
  Speaker 6: the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was used for
• 3:06:31
  Speaker 6: political purposes, principally for the terrorizing of the Negro voters
• 3:06:36
  Speaker 6: and the murdering and driving from the country of those
• 3:06:39
  Speaker 6: who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually
• 3:06:42
  Speaker 6: preceded by a warning sent to the marked man. In
• 3:06:45
  Speaker 6: some fantastic but generally recognized shape a sprig of oak
• 3:06:50
  Speaker 6: leaves in some parts, melonseeds, or orange pips in others.
• 3:06:54
  Speaker 6: On receiving this, the victim might either openly abjure his
• 3:06:58
  Speaker 6: former ways, or might fly from the country. If he
• 3:07:01
  Speaker 6: braved the matter out, death would unfailingly come upon him,
• 3:07:05
  Speaker 6: and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner. So perfect
• 3:07:10
  Speaker 6: was the organization of the society, and so systematic its methods,
• 3:07:14
  Speaker 6: that there is hardly a case upon record where any
• 3:07:17
  Speaker 6: man succeeded in braving it with impunity, or in which
• 3:07:21
  Speaker 6: any of its outrages were traced home to the perpetrators.
• 3:07:24
  Speaker 6: For some years the organization flourished, in spite of the
• 3:07:28
  Speaker 6: efforts of the United States government and of the better
• 3:07:31
  Speaker 6: classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the
• 3:07:34
  Speaker 6: year eighteen sixty nine, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although
• 3:07:39
  Speaker 6: there have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since
• 3:07:41
  Speaker 6: that date. You will observe, said Holmes, laying down the volume,
• 3:07:47
  Speaker 6: that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident
• 3:07:50
  Speaker 6: with the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers.
• 3:07:54
  Speaker 6: It may well have been cause and effect. It is
• 3:07:57
  Speaker 6: no wonder that he and his family have some of
• 3:07:59
  Speaker 6: the more implacable spirits upon their track. You can understand
• 3:08:03
  Speaker 6: that this register and diary may implicate some of the
• 3:08:06
  Speaker 6: first men in the South, and that there may be
• 3:08:09
  Speaker 6: many who will not sleep easy at night until it
• 3:08:11
  Speaker 6: is recovered. Then the page we have seen is such
• 3:08:16
  Speaker 6: as we might expect it ran. If I remember right
• 3:08:19
  Speaker 6: sent the pips to A, B and C, that is,
• 3:08:23
  Speaker 6: sent the Society's warning to them. Then there are successive
• 3:08:27
  Speaker 6: entries that A and B cleared or left the country,
• 3:08:31
  Speaker 6: and finally that C was visited with I fear a
• 3:08:34
  Speaker 6: sinister result for C. Well, I think, doctor, that we
• 3:08:38
  Speaker 6: may let some light into this dark place, and I
• 3:08:40
  Speaker 6: believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the
• 3:08:43
  Speaker 6: meantime is to do what I have told him. There
• 3:08:46
  Speaker 6: is nothing more to be said or to be done tonight.
• 3:08:49
  Speaker 6: So hand me over my violin, and let us try
• 3:08:52
  Speaker 6: to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and
• 3:08:54
  Speaker 6: the still more miserable ways of our fellow men. It
• 3:09:00
  Speaker 6: had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining
• 3:09:02
  Speaker 6: with a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs
• 3:09:05
  Speaker 6: over the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast
• 3:09:08
  Speaker 6: when I came down. You will excuse me for not
• 3:09:11
  Speaker 6: waiting for you, said he. I have, I foresee a
• 3:09:14
  Speaker 6: very busy day before me in looking into this case
• 3:09:17
  Speaker 6: of young Openshaws. What steps will you take? I asked,
• 3:09:22
  Speaker 6: It will very much depend upon the results of my
• 3:09:24
  Speaker 6: first enquiries. I may have to go down to Horsham.
• 3:09:27
  Speaker 6: After all, you will not go there first, No, I
• 3:09:31
  Speaker 6: shall commence with the city. Just ring the bell and
• 3:09:34
  Speaker 6: the maid will bring you up your coffee. As I waited,
• 3:09:38
  Speaker 6: I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and glanced
• 3:09:41
  Speaker 6: my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which
• 3:09:44
  Speaker 6: sent a chill to my heart. Holmes, I cried, you
• 3:09:48
  Speaker 6: are too late, ah, said he, laying down his cup.
• 3:09:52
  Speaker 6: I feared as much. How is it done? He spoke calmly,
• 3:09:57
  Speaker 6: but I could see that he was deeply moved. My
• 3:10:00
  Speaker 6: eye caught the name of Openshaw and the heading Tragedy
• 3:10:03
  Speaker 6: near Waterloo Bridge. Here is the account. Between nine and
• 3:10:07
  Speaker 6: ten last night, police Constable Cook of the h Division,
• 3:10:11
  Speaker 6: on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help
• 3:10:14
  Speaker 6: and a splash in the water. The night, however, was
• 3:10:17
  Speaker 6: extremely dark and stormy, so that, in spite of the
• 3:10:20
  Speaker 6: help of several passers by, it was quite impossible to
• 3:10:24
  Speaker 6: effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was given, and by
• 3:10:28
  Speaker 6: the aid of the water police, the body was eventually recovered.
• 3:10:32
  Speaker 6: It proved to be that of a young gentleman, whose name,
• 3:10:35
  Speaker 6: as it appears from an envelope which was found in
• 3:10:37
  Speaker 6: his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham.
• 3:10:42
  Speaker 6: It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down
• 3:10:45
  Speaker 6: to catch the last train from Waterloo station, and that
• 3:10:48
  Speaker 6: in his haste and the extreme darkness, he missed his
• 3:10:51
  Speaker 6: path and walked over the edge of one of the
• 3:10:53
  Speaker 6: small landing places for river steamboats. The body exhibited no
• 3:10:58
  Speaker 6: traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that
• 3:11:00
  Speaker 6: the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident,
• 3:11:04
  Speaker 6: which should have the effect of calling the attention of
• 3:11:06
  Speaker 6: the authorities to the condition of the river side landing stages.
• 3:11:11
  Speaker 6: We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed
• 3:11:14
  Speaker 6: and shaken than I had ever seen him. That hurts
• 3:11:18
  Speaker 6: my pride, Watson, he said, at last, It is a
• 3:11:22
  Speaker 6: petty feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It
• 3:11:25
  Speaker 6: becomes a personal matter with me now, and if God
• 3:11:27
  Speaker 6: sends me health, I shall set my hands upon this gang,
• 3:11:31
  Speaker 6: that he should come to me for help, and that
• 3:11:33
  Speaker 6: I should send him away to his death. He sprang
• 3:11:36
  Speaker 6: from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation,
• 3:11:40
  Speaker 6: with a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous
• 3:11:43
  Speaker 6: clasping and unclasping of his long, thin hands. They must
• 3:11:48
  Speaker 6: be cunning devils, he exclaimed at last. How could they
• 3:11:51
  Speaker 6: have decoyed him down there? The embankment is not on
• 3:11:54
  Speaker 6: the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt,
• 3:11:57
  Speaker 6: was too crowded, even on such a night for their purpose. Well, Watson,
• 3:12:01
  Speaker 6: we shall see who will win in the long run.
• 3:12:04
  Speaker 6: I am going out now to the police. No, I
• 3:12:08
  Speaker 6: shall be my own police. When I have spun the web,
• 3:12:10
  Speaker 6: they may take the flies. But not before. All day
• 3:12:14
  Speaker 6: I was engaged in my professional work, and it was
• 3:12:17
  Speaker 6: late in the evening before I returned to Baker Street.
• 3:12:20
  Speaker 6: Sherlock Holmes had not come back yet. It was nearly
• 3:12:23
  Speaker 6: ten o'clock before he entered. Looking pale and worn, he
• 3:12:27
  Speaker 6: walked up to the sideboard, and, tearing a piece from
• 3:12:30
  Speaker 6: the loaf. He devoured it voraciously, washing it down with
• 3:12:33
  Speaker 6: a long draft of water. You are hungry, I remarked, starving.
• 3:12:38
  Speaker 6: It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since breakfast,
• 3:12:42
  Speaker 6: nothing not a bite. I had no time to think
• 3:12:46
  Speaker 6: about it. And how have you succeeded? Well, you have
• 3:12:51
  Speaker 6: a clue. I have them in the hollow of my hand.
• 3:12:55
  Speaker 6: Young Openshaw shall not long remain unavenged. Why Watson let
• 3:12:59
  Speaker 6: us put their own devilish trade mark upon them? It
• 3:13:02
  Speaker 6: is well thought of.
• 3:13:03
  Speaker 2: What do you mean?
• 3:13:06
  Speaker 6: He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it
• 3:13:08
  Speaker 6: to pieces, he squeezed out the pips upon the table.
• 3:13:11
  Speaker 6: Of these, he took five and thrust them into an envelope.
• 3:13:15
  Speaker 6: On the inside of the flap, he wrote s H
• 3:13:17
  Speaker 6: for j O. Then he sealed it and addressed it
• 3:13:21
  Speaker 6: to Captain James Calhoun bark lone Star Savannah, Georgia. That
• 3:13:26
  Speaker 6: will await him when he enters port, said he chuckling.
• 3:13:30
  Speaker 6: It may give him a sleepless night. He will find
• 3:13:32
  Speaker 6: it as sure a precursor of his fate as Openshaw
• 3:13:35
  Speaker 6: did before him. And who is this, Captain Calhoun, the
• 3:13:40
  Speaker 6: leader of the gang? I shall have the others. But
• 3:13:42
  Speaker 6: he first, how did you trace it? Then he took
• 3:13:46
  Speaker 6: a large sheet of paper from his pocket or covered
• 3:13:49
  Speaker 6: with dates and names. I have spent the whole day,
• 3:13:53
  Speaker 6: said he over Lloyd's registers and files of the old
• 3:13:56
  Speaker 6: papers following the future career of every vessel which touched
• 3:13:59
  Speaker 6: at Pondicherry in January and February in eighty three, there
• 3:14:03
  Speaker 6: were thirty six ships of fair tonnage which reported there
• 3:14:07
  Speaker 6: during those months. Of these, one, the Lone Star, instantly
• 3:14:11
  Speaker 6: attracted my attention, since although it was reported as having
• 3:14:14
  Speaker 6: cleared from London, the name is that which is given
• 3:14:17
  Speaker 6: to one of the states of the Union, Texas. I
• 3:14:20
  Speaker 6: think I was not and am not sure of which,
• 3:14:23
  Speaker 6: but I know that the ship must have an American origin.
• 3:14:27
  Speaker 6: What Then I searched the Dundee records, and when I
• 3:14:31
  Speaker 6: found that the bark Lone Star was there in January
• 3:14:33
  Speaker 6: of eighty five, my suspicion became a certainty. I then
• 3:14:37
  Speaker 6: inquired as to the vessels which lay at present in
• 3:14:40
  Speaker 6: the port of London. Yes, the Lone Star had arrived
• 3:14:44
  Speaker 6: here last week. I went down to the Albert Dock
• 3:14:47
  Speaker 6: and found that she had been taken down the river
• 3:14:49
  Speaker 6: by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah.
• 3:14:53
  Speaker 6: I wired to Gravesend and learned that she had passed
• 3:14:55
  Speaker 6: some time ago. And as the wind is easterly, I
• 3:14:58
  Speaker 6: have no doubt that she has now past the goodwinds,
• 3:15:01
  Speaker 6: and not very far from the Isle of Wight. What
• 3:15:04
  Speaker 6: will you do, then, oh, I have my hand upon him.
• 3:15:08
  Speaker 6: He and the two mates are, as I learned, the
• 3:15:10
  Speaker 6: only native born Americans in the ship. The others are
• 3:15:14
  Speaker 6: Finns and Germans. I know also that they were all
• 3:15:16
  Speaker 6: three away from the ship last night. I had it
• 3:15:19
  Speaker 6: from the stevedor who has been loading their cargo. By
• 3:15:22
  Speaker 6: the time that their sailing ship reaches Savannah, the mail
• 3:15:25
  Speaker 6: boat will have carried this letter, and the cable will
• 3:15:28
  Speaker 6: have informed the police of Savannah that these three gentlemen
• 3:15:31
  Speaker 6: are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder. There
• 3:15:35
  Speaker 6: is a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans,
• 3:15:38
  Speaker 6: and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive
• 3:15:41
  Speaker 6: the orange pips which would show them that another as
• 3:15:44
  Speaker 6: cunning and as resolute as themselves was upon their track.
• 3:15:48
  Speaker 6: Very long and very severe were the equinoctial gales that year.
• 3:15:52
  Speaker 6: We waited long for news of the Lone Star of Savannah,
• 3:15:55
  Speaker 6: but none ever reached us. We did at last hear
• 3:15:58
  Speaker 6: that somewhere far out in the in the Atlantic, a
• 3:16:01
  Speaker 6: shattered stern post of a boat was seen swinging in
• 3:16:03
  Speaker 6: the trough of a wave, with the letters L S
• 3:16:06
  Speaker 6: carved upon it. And that is all we shall ever
• 3:16:09
  Speaker 6: know of the fate of the lone Star. End of
• 3:16:13
  Speaker 6: the five Orange pips.
• 3:16:15
  Speaker 5: The man with the twisted lip. Isa Whitney, brother of
• 3:16:22
  Speaker 5: the late Elias Whitney, d d. Principle of the Theological
• 3:16:27
  Speaker 5: College of Saint George's, was much addicted to opium. The
• 3:16:32
  Speaker 5: habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish
• 3:16:36
  Speaker 5: freak when he was at college, for having read de
• 3:16:39
  Speaker 5: Quincy's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched
• 3:16:43
  Speaker 5: his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the
• 3:16:46
  Speaker 5: same effects. He found, as so many more have done,
• 3:16:50
  Speaker 5: that the practice is easier to attain than to get
• 3:16:52
  Speaker 5: rid of. And for many years he continued to be
• 3:16:55
  Speaker 5: a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror
• 3:16:58
  Speaker 5: and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see
• 3:17:02
  Speaker 5: him now with yellow pasty face, drooping lids, and pin
• 3:17:07
  Speaker 5: point pupils, all huddled in a chair. The wreck and
• 3:17:11
  Speaker 5: ruin of a noble man. One night, it was in
• 3:17:15
  Speaker 5: June eighty nine, there came a ring to my bell
• 3:17:19
  Speaker 5: about the hour when a man gives his first yawn
• 3:17:21
  Speaker 5: and glances at the clock. I sat up in my chair,
• 3:17:24
  Speaker 5: and my wife laid her needlework down in her lap
• 3:17:27
  Speaker 5: and made a little face of disappointment. A patient said,
• 3:17:31
  Speaker 5: she you'll have to go out. I groaned, for I
• 3:17:35
  Speaker 5: was newly come back from a weary day. We heard
• 3:17:39
  Speaker 5: the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick
• 3:17:42
  Speaker 5: steps upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and
• 3:17:46
  Speaker 5: a lady clad in some dark colored stuff with a
• 3:17:49
  Speaker 5: black veil, entered the room. You will excuse me, calling
• 3:17:53
  Speaker 5: so late, she began, and then, suddenly losing her self control,
• 3:17:57
  Speaker 5: she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck,
• 3:18:00
  Speaker 5: and sobbed upon her shoulder. Oh I'm in such trouble,
• 3:18:04
  Speaker 5: she cried. I do so want a little help. Why,
• 3:18:07
  Speaker 5: said my wife, pulling up her veil. It is Kate Whitney.
• 3:18:10
  Speaker 5: How you startled me?
• 3:18:11
  Speaker 6: Kate.
• 3:18:12
  Speaker 5: I had not an idea who you were when you
• 3:18:13
  Speaker 5: came in. I didn't know what to do, so I
• 3:18:16
  Speaker 5: came straight to you. That was always the way folk
• 3:18:21
  Speaker 5: who were in grief came to my wife like birds
• 3:18:24
  Speaker 5: to a lighthouse. It was very sweet of you to come. Now.
• 3:18:28
  Speaker 5: You must have some wine and water and sit here
• 3:18:30
  Speaker 5: comfortably and tell us all about it. Or should you
• 3:18:33
  Speaker 5: rather that I sent James off to bed. Oh no, no,
• 3:18:36
  Speaker 5: I want the doctor's advice and help too. It's about Isa.
• 3:18:40
  Speaker 5: He has not been home for two days. I'm so
• 3:18:43
  Speaker 5: frightened about him. It was not the first time that
• 3:18:46
  Speaker 5: she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble, to
• 3:18:49
  Speaker 5: me as a doctor, to my wife as an old
• 3:18:51
  Speaker 5: friend and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by
• 3:18:55
  Speaker 5: such words as we could find. Did she know where
• 3:18:57
  Speaker 5: her husband was? Was it possible that we could bring
• 3:19:00
  Speaker 5: him back to her? It seems that it was. She
• 3:19:04
  Speaker 5: had the surest information that of late. He had when
• 3:19:06
  Speaker 5: the fit was on him, made use of an opium
• 3:19:09
  Speaker 5: den in the farthest east of the city. Hitherto, his
• 3:19:12
  Speaker 5: orgies had always been confined to one day, and he'd
• 3:19:14
  Speaker 5: come back twitching and shattered in the evening. But now
• 3:19:18
  Speaker 5: the spell had been upon him eight and forty hours,
• 3:19:21
  Speaker 5: and he lay there, doubtless among the dregs of the docks,
• 3:19:24
  Speaker 5: breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects. There
• 3:19:28
  Speaker 5: he was to be found, She was sure of it,
• 3:19:30
  Speaker 5: at the bar of Gold in Upper Swandam Lane. But
• 3:19:34
  Speaker 5: what was she to do? How could she, a young
• 3:19:37
  Speaker 5: and timid woman, make her way into such a place
• 3:19:39
  Speaker 5: and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who
• 3:19:41
  Speaker 5: surrounded him. There was the case, and of course there
• 3:19:46
  Speaker 5: was but one way out of it. Might I not
• 3:19:48
  Speaker 5: escort her to this place? And then, as a second thought,
• 3:19:52
  Speaker 5: why should she come at all? I was as a
• 3:19:55
  Speaker 5: Whitney's medical adviser, and as such I had influence over him.
• 3:19:59
  Speaker 5: I could manage it better if I were alone. I
• 3:20:01
  Speaker 5: promised her on my word that I would send her
• 3:20:03
  Speaker 5: home in a cab within two hours if he were
• 3:20:06
  Speaker 5: indeed at the address which she had given me. And
• 3:20:08
  Speaker 5: so in ten minutes I had left my arm chair
• 3:20:10
  Speaker 5: and cheery sitting room behind me, and was speeding eastward
• 3:20:13
  Speaker 5: in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed
• 3:20:16
  Speaker 5: to me at the time, though the future only could
• 3:20:18
  Speaker 5: show how strange it was to be. But there was
• 3:20:22
  Speaker 5: no great difficulty in the first stage of my adventure.
• 3:20:25
  Speaker 5: Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the
• 3:20:28
  Speaker 5: high wharves which line the north side of the river
• 3:20:30
  Speaker 5: to the east of London Bridge, between a slop shop
• 3:20:33
  Speaker 5: and a gin shop. Approached by a steep flight of
• 3:20:36
  Speaker 5: steps leading down to a black gap, like the mouth
• 3:20:39
  Speaker 5: of a cave. I found the den of which I
• 3:20:42
  Speaker 5: was in search. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed
• 3:20:45
  Speaker 5: down the steps, worn hollow in the center by the
• 3:20:48
  Speaker 5: ceaseless tread of drunken feet, and by the light of
• 3:20:51
  Speaker 5: a flickering oil lamp above the door. I found the
• 3:20:53
  Speaker 5: latch and made my way into a long, low room,
• 3:20:57
  Speaker 5: thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced
• 3:21:00
  Speaker 5: with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship.
• 3:21:05
  Speaker 5: Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of
• 3:21:07
  Speaker 5: bodies lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees,
• 3:21:13
  Speaker 5: heads thrown back, and chins pointing upward. With here and
• 3:21:17
  Speaker 5: there a dark, lackluster eye turned upon the newcomer. Out
• 3:21:21
  Speaker 5: of the black shadows, there glimmered little red circles of light,
• 3:21:25
  Speaker 5: now bright, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or
• 3:21:29
  Speaker 5: waned in the bowls of the metal pipes. The most
• 3:21:32
  Speaker 5: lay silent, but some muttered to themselves, and others talked
• 3:21:36
  Speaker 5: together in a strange, low, monotonous voice, their conversation coming
• 3:21:40
  Speaker 5: in gushes and then suddenly tailing off into silence, each
• 3:21:44
  Speaker 5: mumbling out his own thoughts and paying little heed to
• 3:21:47
  Speaker 5: the words of his neighbor. At the farther end was
• 3:21:50
  Speaker 5: a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside which on a
• 3:21:54
  Speaker 5: three legged wooden stool, there sat a tall, thin old man,
• 3:21:57
  Speaker 5: with his jaw resting upon his two fists and his
• 3:22:00
  Speaker 5: elbows upon his knees, staring into the fire. As I entered,
• 3:22:05
  Speaker 5: a sallow malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe
• 3:22:08
  Speaker 5: for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me
• 3:22:10
  Speaker 5: to an empty berth, Thank you, I have not come
• 3:22:14
  Speaker 5: to stay, said I. There is a friend of mine here,
• 3:22:17
  Speaker 5: mister Isa Whidney, and I wished to speak with him.
• 3:22:21
  Speaker 5: There was a movement and an exclamation from my right,
• 3:22:24
  Speaker 5: and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard
• 3:22:27
  Speaker 5: and unkempt, staring out at me. My god, it's Watson,
• 3:22:32
  Speaker 5: said he He was in a pitiable state of reaction,
• 3:22:35
  Speaker 5: with every nerve in a twitter. I say, Watson, what
• 3:22:38
  Speaker 5: o'clock is it? Nearly eleven of what day of Friday?
• 3:22:43
  Speaker 5: June nineteenth? Good heavens, I thought it was Wednesday. It
• 3:22:48
  Speaker 5: is Wednesday. What do you want to frighten a chap for?
• 3:22:51
  Speaker 5: He sank his face unto his arms and began to
• 3:22:53
  Speaker 5: sob in a high treble key. I tell you that
• 3:22:57
  Speaker 5: it is a Friday.
• 3:22:58
  Speaker 2: Man.
• 3:22:58
  Speaker 5: Your wife has been waiting this two day for you.
• 3:23:00
  Speaker 5: You should be ashamed of yourself. So I am. But
• 3:23:04
  Speaker 5: you've got mixed Watson, for I've only been here a
• 3:23:06
  Speaker 5: few hours. Three pipes, four pipes, I forget how many.
• 3:23:10
  Speaker 5: But I'll go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate,
• 3:23:13
  Speaker 5: poor little Kate. Give me your hand. Have you a cab? Yes,
• 3:23:18
  Speaker 5: I have one waiting. Then I shall go in it.
• 3:23:21
  Speaker 5: But I must owe something. Find what I owe? Watson?
• 3:23:24
  Speaker 5: I am all off color. I can do nothing for myself.
• 3:23:28
  Speaker 5: I walked down the narrow passage between the double row
• 3:23:31
  Speaker 5: of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile,
• 3:23:34
  Speaker 5: stupefying fumes of the drug and looking about for the manager.
• 3:23:38
  Speaker 5: As I passed the tall man who sat by the brazier,
• 3:23:40
  Speaker 5: I felt a sudden pluck at my skirt, and a
• 3:23:42
  Speaker 5: low voice whispered, walk past me, and then look back
• 3:23:46
  Speaker 5: at me. The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear.
• 3:23:51
  Speaker 5: I glanced down. They could only have come from the
• 3:23:53
  Speaker 5: old man at my side. And yet he sat now
• 3:23:56
  Speaker 5: as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age,
• 3:24:00
  Speaker 5: an opium pipe dangling down from between his knees as
• 3:24:03
  Speaker 5: though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his fingers.
• 3:24:07
  Speaker 5: I took two steps forward and looked back. It took
• 3:24:10
  Speaker 5: all my self control to prevent me from breaking out
• 3:24:12
  Speaker 5: into a cry of astonishment. He turned his back so
• 3:24:15
  Speaker 5: that none could see him, but I his form had
• 3:24:17
  Speaker 5: filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had
• 3:24:20
  Speaker 5: regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and
• 3:24:23
  Speaker 5: grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes.
• 3:24:27
  Speaker 5: He made a slight motion to me to approach him,
• 3:24:29
  Speaker 5: and instantly as he turned his face half round to
• 3:24:32
  Speaker 5: the company, once more subsided into a doddering, loose lipped senility, Holmes.
• 3:24:38
  Speaker 5: I whispered, what on earth are you doing in this den?
• 3:24:42
  Speaker 5: As low as you can? He answered, I have excellent ears.
• 3:24:46
  Speaker 5: If you would have the great kindness to get rid
• 3:24:48
  Speaker 5: of that sawtish friend of yours, I should be exceedingly
• 3:24:51
  Speaker 5: glad to have a little talk with you. I have
• 3:24:55
  Speaker 5: a cab outside, then pray send him home.
• 3:24:58
  Speaker 2: In it.
• 3:24:58
  Speaker 5: You may safely trust him, for he appears to be
• 3:25:01
  Speaker 5: too limp to get into any mischief. I should recommend
• 3:25:04
  Speaker 5: you also to send a note by the cabman to
• 3:25:06
  Speaker 5: your wife to say that you have thrown in your
• 3:25:08
  Speaker 5: lot with me. If you will wait outside, I shall
• 3:25:11
  Speaker 5: be with you in five minutes. It was difficult to
• 3:25:16
  Speaker 5: refuse any of Sherlock Holmbs's requests, for they were always
• 3:25:19
  Speaker 5: so exceedingly definite and put forward with such a quiet
• 3:25:22
  Speaker 5: air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney was
• 3:25:26
  Speaker 5: once confined in the cab, my mission was practically accomplished,
• 3:25:29
  Speaker 5: and for the rest I could not wish anything better
• 3:25:31
  Speaker 5: than to be associated with my friend in one of
• 3:25:34
  Speaker 5: those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence.
• 3:25:38
  Speaker 5: In a few minutes, I had written my note, paid
• 3:25:40
  Speaker 5: Whitney's bill, led him out to the cab, and seen
• 3:25:43
  Speaker 5: him driven through the darkness. In a very short time,
• 3:25:46
  Speaker 5: a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and
• 3:25:48
  Speaker 5: I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes for
• 3:25:51
  Speaker 5: two streets. He shuffled along with a bend back and
• 3:25:54
  Speaker 5: an uncertain foot. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself
• 3:25:59
  Speaker 5: out and burst into a hearty fit of laughter. I suppose,
• 3:26:02
  Speaker 5: Watson said he that you imagine that I have added
• 3:26:05
  Speaker 5: opium smoking to cocaine injections and all the other little
• 3:26:09
  Speaker 5: weaknesses on which you have favored me with your medical views.
• 3:26:13
  Speaker 5: I was certainly surprised to find you there, but not
• 3:26:17
  Speaker 5: more so than I to find you. I came to
• 3:26:20
  Speaker 5: find a friend, and I to find an enemy, an enemy, yes,
• 3:26:27
  Speaker 5: one of my natural enemies, or shall I say my
• 3:26:31
  Speaker 5: natural prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of
• 3:26:34
  Speaker 5: a very remarkable inquiry, and I have hoped to find
• 3:26:37
  Speaker 5: a clue in the incoherent ramblings of these sots, as
• 3:26:40
  Speaker 5: I have done before.
• 3:26:41
  Speaker 4: Now.
• 3:26:42
  Speaker 5: Had I been recognized in that den, my life would
• 3:26:44
  Speaker 5: not have been worth an hour's purchase, for I have
• 3:26:46
  Speaker 5: used it before now for my own purposes, and that
• 3:26:49
  Speaker 5: rascally lascar who runs it has sworn to have vengeance
• 3:26:51
  Speaker 5: upon me. There is a trap door at the back
• 3:26:54
  Speaker 5: of that building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which
• 3:26:56
  Speaker 5: could tell some strange tales of what has passed through
• 3:26:59
  Speaker 5: it upon the moonless nights. What you do not mean, bodies,
• 3:27:04
  Speaker 5: ay bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we
• 3:27:08
  Speaker 5: had a thousand pounds of every poor devil who had
• 3:27:10
  Speaker 5: been done to death in that den. It is the
• 3:27:12
  Speaker 5: vilest murder trap on the whole river side. And I
• 3:27:15
  Speaker 5: fear that Neville Saint Clair has entered it, never to
• 3:27:18
  Speaker 5: leave it more. But our trap should be here. He
• 3:27:22
  Speaker 5: put his two forefingers between his teeth and whistled shrilly,
• 3:27:25
  Speaker 5: a signal, which was answered by a similar whistle from
• 3:27:28
  Speaker 5: the distance, followed shortly by the rattle of wheels and
• 3:27:31
  Speaker 5: the clink of horses hoofts. Now, Watson, said Holmes, as
• 3:27:36
  Speaker 5: a tall dog cart dashed up through the gloom, throwing
• 3:27:39
  Speaker 5: out two golden tunnels of yellow light from its side. Lands.
• 3:27:42
  Speaker 5: You'll come with me, won't you? If I can be
• 3:27:45
  Speaker 5: of use. Oh, A trusty comrade is always of use,
• 3:27:50
  Speaker 5: and a chronicler still more so. My room at the
• 3:27:53
  Speaker 5: Cedars is a double bedded one the Cedars. Yes, that
• 3:27:58
  Speaker 5: is mister Saint Clair's house. I am staying there while
• 3:28:01
  Speaker 5: I conduct the inquiry. Where is it then, near Lee
• 3:28:05
  Speaker 5: in Kent? We have a seven mile drive before us.
• 3:28:09
  Speaker 5: But I am all in the dark. Of course you are.
• 3:28:12
  Speaker 5: You'll know all about it presently. Jump up here, all right, John,
• 3:28:15
  Speaker 5: we shall not need you. Here's half a crown. Look
• 3:28:18
  Speaker 5: out for me tomorrow about eleven. Give her her head
• 3:28:21
  Speaker 5: so long. Then he flicked the horse with his whip,
• 3:28:25
  Speaker 5: and we dashed away through the endless succession of somber
• 3:28:28
  Speaker 5: and deserted streets, which widened gradually until we were flying
• 3:28:32
  Speaker 5: across a broad, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing
• 3:28:36
  Speaker 5: sluggishly beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks
• 3:28:40
  Speaker 5: and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular
• 3:28:44
  Speaker 5: footfall of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of
• 3:28:47
  Speaker 5: some belated party of revelers. A dull rack was drifting
• 3:28:52
  Speaker 5: slowly across the sky, and a star or two twinkled
• 3:28:55
  Speaker 5: dimly here and there through the rifts of the clouds.
• 3:28:58
  Speaker 5: Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his
• 3:29:01
  Speaker 5: breast and the air of a man who is lost
• 3:29:04
  Speaker 5: in thought. While I sat beside him, curious to learn
• 3:29:07
  Speaker 5: what this new quest might be, which seemed to tax
• 3:29:09
  Speaker 5: his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in
• 3:29:12
  Speaker 5: upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several
• 3:29:16
  Speaker 5: miles and were beginning to get to the fringe of
• 3:29:18
  Speaker 5: the belt of suburban villas when he shook himself, shrugged
• 3:29:21
  Speaker 5: his shoulders, and lit up his pipe, with the air
• 3:29:23
  Speaker 5: of a man who has satisfied himself that he is
• 3:29:26
  Speaker 5: acting for the best. You have a grand gift of silence,
• 3:29:30
  Speaker 5: Watson said he. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion.
• 3:29:35
  Speaker 5: Upon my word, it is a great thing for me
• 3:29:37
  Speaker 5: to have some one to talk to, for my own
• 3:29:39
  Speaker 5: thoughts are not over pleasant. I was wondering what I
• 3:29:42
  Speaker 5: should say to this dear little woman to night when
• 3:29:44
  Speaker 5: she meets me at the door. You forget that I
• 3:29:47
  Speaker 5: know nothing about it. I shall just have time to
• 3:29:51
  Speaker 5: tell you the facts of the case before we get
• 3:29:52
  Speaker 5: to lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet somehow I
• 3:29:56
  Speaker 5: can get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread,
• 3:29:59
  Speaker 5: no doubt, I can't get the end of it into
• 3:30:01
  Speaker 5: my hand. Now I'll state the case clearly and concisely
• 3:30:04
  Speaker 5: to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a spark
• 3:30:07
  Speaker 5: where all is dark to me. Proceed then, some years
• 3:30:12
  Speaker 5: ago to be definite. In May eighteen eighty four, there
• 3:30:17
  Speaker 5: came to Lee a gentleman Neville, Saint Clair by name,
• 3:30:20
  Speaker 5: who appeared to have plenty of money. He took a
• 3:30:23
  Speaker 5: large villa, laid out the grounds very nicely, and lived
• 3:30:26
  Speaker 5: generally in good style. By degrees. He made friends in
• 3:30:30
  Speaker 5: the neighborhood, and in eighteen eighty seven he married the
• 3:30:33
  Speaker 5: daughter of a local brewer, by whom he now has
• 3:30:36
  Speaker 5: two children. He had no occupation, but was interested in
• 3:30:39
  Speaker 5: several companies, and went into town as a rule in
• 3:30:42
  Speaker 5: the morning, returning by the five fourteen from Cannon Street
• 3:30:45
  Speaker 5: every night. Mister Saint Clair is now thirty seven years
• 3:30:49
  Speaker 5: of age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband,
• 3:30:52
  Speaker 5: a very affectionate father, and a man who's popular with
• 3:30:56
  Speaker 5: all who know him. I may add that his whole
• 3:30:58
  Speaker 5: debts at the present moment, as for as we've been
• 3:31:00
  Speaker 5: able to ascertain, amount to eighty eight pounds ten shillings,
• 3:31:04
  Speaker 5: while he has two hundred twenty pounds standing to his
• 3:31:07
  Speaker 5: credit in the Capitol and County's bank. There is no reason,
• 3:31:10
  Speaker 5: therefore to think that money troubles have been weighing upon
• 3:31:12
  Speaker 5: his mind. Last Monday, mister Neville Saint Clair went into
• 3:31:16
  Speaker 5: town rather earlier than usual, remarking before he started that
• 3:31:19
  Speaker 5: he had two important commissions to perform, and that he
• 3:31:22
  Speaker 5: would bring his little boy home a box of bricks. Now,
• 3:31:26
  Speaker 5: by the merest chance, his wife received a telegram upon
• 3:31:29
  Speaker 5: this same Monday, very shortly after his departure, to the
• 3:31:32
  Speaker 5: effect that a small parcel of considerable value, which she
• 3:31:36
  Speaker 5: had been expecting, was waiting for her the offices of
• 3:31:38
  Speaker 5: the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up
• 3:31:42
  Speaker 5: in your London, you will know that the office of
• 3:31:44
  Speaker 5: the company is in Fresno Street, which branches out of
• 3:31:47
  Speaker 5: upper Swandam Lane, where you found me. To night. Missus
• 3:31:50
  Speaker 5: Saint Clair had her lunch, started for the city, did
• 3:31:53
  Speaker 5: some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, got her packet,
• 3:31:57
  Speaker 5: and found herself at exactly four thirty five walking through
• 3:32:01
  Speaker 5: Swandham Lane on her way back to the station. Have
• 3:32:03
  Speaker 5: you followed me so far? It is very clear if
• 3:32:08
  Speaker 5: you remember Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and missus
• 3:32:12
  Speaker 5: Saint Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of
• 3:32:15
  Speaker 5: seeing a cab, as she did not like the neighborhood
• 3:32:17
  Speaker 5: in which she found herself. While she was walking in
• 3:32:20
  Speaker 5: this way down Swandham Lane, she suddenly heard an ejaculation
• 3:32:23
  Speaker 5: or cry, and was struck cold to see her husband
• 3:32:26
  Speaker 5: looking down at her, and as it seemed to her,
• 3:32:29
  Speaker 5: beckoning to her from a second floor window. The window
• 3:32:32
  Speaker 5: was open, and she distinctly saw his face, which she
• 3:32:35
  Speaker 5: describes as being terribly agitated. He waved his hands frantically
• 3:32:39
  Speaker 5: to her, and then vanished from the window, so suddenly
• 3:32:42
  Speaker 5: that it seemed to her that he had been plucked
• 3:32:44
  Speaker 5: back by some irresistible force from behind. One singular point
• 3:32:49
  Speaker 5: which struck her quite feminine eye was that, although he
• 3:32:52
  Speaker 5: wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town in,
• 3:32:55
  Speaker 5: he had on neither collar nor necktie. Convinced that something
• 3:33:00
  Speaker 5: was amiss with him, she rushed down the steps, for
• 3:33:02
  Speaker 5: the house was none other than the opium den in
• 3:33:05
  Speaker 5: which you found me to night, and running through the
• 3:33:07
  Speaker 5: front room, she attempted to ascend the stairs, which led
• 3:33:09
  Speaker 5: to the first floor at the foot of the stairs, however,
• 3:33:12
  Speaker 5: she met this Lascar scoundrel of whom I have spoken,
• 3:33:15
  Speaker 5: who thrust her back, and, aided by a Dane who
• 3:33:18
  Speaker 5: acts as assistant, there pushed her out into the street.
• 3:33:22
  Speaker 5: Filled with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed
• 3:33:25
  Speaker 5: down the lane, and, by rare good fortune, met in
• 3:33:28
  Speaker 5: Fresno Street a number of constables with an inspector, all
• 3:33:31
  Speaker 5: on their way to their beat. The inspector and two
• 3:33:34
  Speaker 5: men accompanied her back, and in spite of the continued
• 3:33:37
  Speaker 5: resistance of the proprietor, they made their way up to
• 3:33:39
  Speaker 5: the room in which mister Saint Clair had last been seen.
• 3:33:43
  Speaker 5: There was no sign of him there. In fact, in
• 3:33:45
  Speaker 5: the whole of that floor, there was no one to
• 3:33:47
  Speaker 5: be seen save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who
• 3:33:51
  Speaker 5: it seems made his home there. Both he and the
• 3:33:54
  Speaker 5: Lascar stoutly swore that no one else had been in
• 3:33:57
  Speaker 5: the front room during the afternoon. So was their denial
• 3:34:01
  Speaker 5: that the inspector was staggered and had almost come to
• 3:34:03
  Speaker 5: believe that Missus Sinclair had been deluded, when with a cry,
• 3:34:07
  Speaker 5: she sprang in a small deal box which lay upon
• 3:34:09
  Speaker 5: the table and tore the lid from it. Out there
• 3:34:12
  Speaker 5: fell a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy
• 3:34:16
  Speaker 5: which she had promised to bring home. This discovery and
• 3:34:20
  Speaker 5: the evident confusion which the cripple showed, made the inspector
• 3:34:23
  Speaker 5: realize that the matter was serious. The rooms were carefully examined,
• 3:34:27
  Speaker 5: and results all pointed to an abominable crime. The front
• 3:34:31
  Speaker 5: room was plainly furnished as a sitting room, and led
• 3:34:34
  Speaker 5: into a small bedroom which looked out upon the back
• 3:34:36
  Speaker 5: of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the
• 3:34:39
  Speaker 5: bedroom window is a narrow strip which is dry at
• 3:34:42
  Speaker 5: low tide, but is covered at high tide with at
• 3:34:45
  Speaker 5: least four and a half feet of water. The bedroom
• 3:34:47
  Speaker 5: window was a broad one and opened from below. On examination,
• 3:34:52
  Speaker 5: chaces of blood were to be seen upon the window sill,
• 3:34:55
  Speaker 5: and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor
• 3:34:58
  Speaker 5: of the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the
• 3:35:01
  Speaker 5: front room were all the clothes of mister Neville Saint Clair,
• 3:35:05
  Speaker 5: with the exception of his coat, his boots, his socks,
• 3:35:09
  Speaker 5: his hat, and his watch all were there. There were
• 3:35:13
  Speaker 5: no signs of violence upon any of these garments, and
• 3:35:16
  Speaker 5: there were no other traces of mister Neville Saint Clair
• 3:35:20
  Speaker 5: out of the window. He must apparently have gone for
• 3:35:22
  Speaker 5: no other excit could be discovered, and the ominous blood
• 3:35:25
  Speaker 5: stains upon the sill gave little promise that he could
• 3:35:28
  Speaker 5: save himself by swimming, for the tide was at its
• 3:35:31
  Speaker 5: very highest at the moment of the tragedy. And now,
• 3:35:35
  Speaker 5: as to the villains, who seemed to be immediately implicated
• 3:35:37
  Speaker 5: in the matter, the Lascar was known to be a
• 3:35:39
  Speaker 5: man of the vilest antecedents. But as by Missus Saint
• 3:35:43
  Speaker 5: Clair's story, he was known to have been at the
• 3:35:45
  Speaker 5: foot of the stair within a very few seconds of
• 3:35:47
  Speaker 5: her husband's appearance at the window, he could hardly have
• 3:35:50
  Speaker 5: been more than an accessory to the crime. His defense
• 3:35:53
  Speaker 5: was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he
• 3:35:56
  Speaker 5: had no knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone,
• 3:35:59
  Speaker 5: his lodger, and that he could not account in any
• 3:36:01
  Speaker 5: way for the presence of the missing gentleman's clothes. So
• 3:36:05
  Speaker 5: much for the Lescar manager, Now for this sinister cripple,
• 3:36:09
  Speaker 5: who lives upon the second floor of the Opium Den,
• 3:36:12
  Speaker 5: and who was certainly the last human being whose eyes
• 3:36:15
  Speaker 5: rested upon Neville, Saint Clair. His name is Hugh Boone,
• 3:36:20
  Speaker 5: and his hideous face is one which is familiar to
• 3:36:22
  Speaker 5: every man who goes much to the city. He is
• 3:36:25
  Speaker 5: a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police regulations,
• 3:36:29
  Speaker 5: he pretends to a small trade in wax festas. Some
• 3:36:33
  Speaker 5: little distance down thread Needle Street, upon the left hand side,
• 3:36:37
  Speaker 5: there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle
• 3:36:40
  Speaker 5: in the wall. Here. It is that this creature takes
• 3:36:42
  Speaker 5: his daily seat cross legged, with his tiny stock of
• 3:36:46
  Speaker 5: matches on his lap. And as he is a piteous spectacle,
• 3:36:49
  Speaker 5: a small rain of charity descends into the greasy leather
• 3:36:52
  Speaker 5: cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I have
• 3:36:56
  Speaker 5: watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought
• 3:36:59
  Speaker 5: of making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised
• 3:37:03
  Speaker 5: at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time.
• 3:37:06
  Speaker 5: His appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one
• 3:37:08
  Speaker 5: can pass him without observing him. A shock of orange chair,
• 3:37:12
  Speaker 5: a pale face disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by
• 3:37:16
  Speaker 5: its contraction has turned up the outer edges of his
• 3:37:19
  Speaker 5: upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a pair of very penetrating,
• 3:37:23
  Speaker 5: dark eyes, which present a singular contrast to the color
• 3:37:27
  Speaker 5: of his hair, all mark him out from amid the
• 3:37:29
  Speaker 5: common crowd of mendicants. And so too does his wit,
• 3:37:33
  Speaker 5: for he is ever ready with a reply to any
• 3:37:35
  Speaker 5: piece of chaff which may be thrown at him by
• 3:37:36
  Speaker 5: the passers by. This is the man whom we now
• 3:37:39
  Speaker 5: learned to have been the lodger at the Opium den,
• 3:37:42
  Speaker 5: and to have been the last man to see the
• 3:37:43
  Speaker 5: gentleman of whom we are in quest. But a cripple,
• 3:37:48
  Speaker 5: said I What could he have done single handed against
• 3:37:50
  Speaker 5: a man in the prime of life. He is a
• 3:37:53
  Speaker 5: cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp,
• 3:37:56
  Speaker 5: but in other respects he appears to be a powerful
• 3:37:58
  Speaker 5: and well nurtured man. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson,
• 3:38:03
  Speaker 5: that weakness in one limb is often compensated for by
• 3:38:06
  Speaker 5: exceptional strength and the others. Pray continue your narrative. Missus
• 3:38:12
  Speaker 5: Sinclair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon
• 3:38:14
  Speaker 5: the window, and she was escorted home in a cab
• 3:38:17
  Speaker 5: by the police, as her presence could be of no
• 3:38:20
  Speaker 5: help to them in their investigations. Inspector Barton who had
• 3:38:23
  Speaker 5: charge of the case, made a very careful examination of
• 3:38:26
  Speaker 5: the premises, but without finding anything which threw any light
• 3:38:29
  Speaker 5: upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not
• 3:38:32
  Speaker 5: a resting boone instantly, as he was allowed some few
• 3:38:35
  Speaker 5: minutes during which he might have communicated with his friend
• 3:38:38
  Speaker 5: the lescar. But this fault was soon remedied, and he
• 3:38:41
  Speaker 5: was seized and searched without anything being found which could
• 3:38:44
  Speaker 5: incriminate him. Their word is true. Some blood stains upon
• 3:38:48
  Speaker 5: his right shirt sleeve, but he pointed to his ring finger,
• 3:38:51
  Speaker 5: which had been cut near the nail, and explained that
• 3:38:54
  Speaker 5: the bleeding came from there, adding that he had been
• 3:38:57
  Speaker 5: to the window not long before, and that the stains
• 3:38:59
  Speaker 5: which had been observed there came doubtless from the same source.
• 3:39:03
  Speaker 5: He denied strenuously having ever seen mister Neville Saint Clair,
• 3:39:07
  Speaker 5: and swore that the presence of the clothes in his
• 3:39:09
  Speaker 5: room was as much a mystery to him as to
• 3:39:12
  Speaker 5: the police. As to missus Saint Clair's assertion that she
• 3:39:15
  Speaker 5: had actually seen her husband at the window, he declared
• 3:39:18
  Speaker 5: that she must have been either mad or dreaming. He
• 3:39:21
  Speaker 5: was removed, loudly protesting to the police station, while the
• 3:39:25
  Speaker 5: inspector remained upon the premises in the hope that the
• 3:39:28
  Speaker 5: ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. And it did,
• 3:39:33
  Speaker 5: though they hardly found upon the mud bank what they
• 3:39:35
  Speaker 5: had feared to find. It was Nevill Saint Clair's coat,
• 3:39:39
  Speaker 5: and not Neville Saint Clair, which lay uncovered as the
• 3:39:42
  Speaker 5: tide receded. And what do you think they found in
• 3:39:45
  Speaker 5: the pockets? I cannot imagine. No, I don't think you
• 3:39:50
  Speaker 5: would guess. Every pocket stuffed with pennies and half pennies
• 3:39:55
  Speaker 5: four hundred twenty one pennies and two hundred seventy halfpennies.
• 3:40:00
  Speaker 5: It was no wonder that it had not been swept
• 3:40:01
  Speaker 5: away by the tide. But a human body is a
• 3:40:04
  Speaker 5: different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the wharf
• 3:40:07
  Speaker 5: and the house. It seemed likely enough that the weighted
• 3:40:10
  Speaker 5: coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked
• 3:40:13
  Speaker 5: away into the river. But I understand that all the
• 3:40:17
  Speaker 5: other clothes were found in the room. Would the body
• 3:40:20
  Speaker 5: be dressed in a coat alone, No, sir, But the
• 3:40:24
  Speaker 5: facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose that this man's
• 3:40:28
  Speaker 5: boone had thrust Nevill Saint Clair through the window. There's
• 3:40:31
  Speaker 5: no human eye which could have seen the deed. What
• 3:40:33
  Speaker 5: would he do then? It would of course instantly strike
• 3:40:36
  Speaker 5: him that he must get rid of the tell tale garments.
• 3:40:39
  Speaker 5: He would seize the coat then and be in the
• 3:40:41
  Speaker 5: act of throwing it out when it would occur to
• 3:40:43
  Speaker 5: him that it would swim and not sink. He has
• 3:40:46
  Speaker 5: little time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when
• 3:40:49
  Speaker 5: the wife tried to force her way up, and perhaps
• 3:40:51
  Speaker 5: he's already heard from his lascar confederate that the police
• 3:40:54
  Speaker 5: are hurrying up the street. There's not an instant to
• 3:40:57
  Speaker 5: be lost. He rushes to some secret horse where he
• 3:41:00
  Speaker 5: has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he stuffs
• 3:41:03
  Speaker 5: all the coins upon which he can lay his hands
• 3:41:05
  Speaker 5: into the pockets to make sure of the coats sinking.
• 3:41:07
  Speaker 5: He throws it out, and would have done the same
• 3:41:09
  Speaker 5: thing with the other garments, had not he heard the
• 3:41:12
  Speaker 5: rush of steps below, and only just had time to
• 3:41:15
  Speaker 5: close the window when the police appeared. It certainly sounds feasible. Well,
• 3:41:21
  Speaker 5: we will take it as a working hypothesis for want
• 3:41:23
  Speaker 5: of a better boone. As I have told you, was
• 3:41:26
  Speaker 5: arrested and taken to the station. But it could not
• 3:41:29
  Speaker 5: be shown that there had ever before been anything against him.
• 3:41:32
  Speaker 5: He had for years been known as the professional beggar,
• 3:41:35
  Speaker 5: but his life appeared to have been a very quiet
• 3:41:37
  Speaker 5: and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and
• 3:41:41
  Speaker 5: the questions which have to be solved, what Neville Saint
• 3:41:44
  Speaker 5: Clair was doing in the Opium Den, what happened to
• 3:41:47
  Speaker 5: him when there, where is he now? And what Hugh
• 3:41:51
  Speaker 5: Boone had to do with his disappearance are all as
• 3:41:53
  Speaker 5: far from a solution as ever. I confess that I
• 3:41:57
  Speaker 5: cannot recall any case within my experience which looked at
• 3:42:00
  Speaker 5: the first glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties.
• 3:42:06
  Speaker 5: While chrlock Combe had been detailing this singular series of events,
• 3:42:10
  Speaker 5: we have been whirling through the outskirts of the great
• 3:42:12
  Speaker 5: town until the last straggling houses had been left behind,
• 3:42:16
  Speaker 5: and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either
• 3:42:18
  Speaker 5: side of us. Just as he finished, however, we drove
• 3:42:21
  Speaker 5: through two scattered villages where a few lights still glimmered
• 3:42:25
  Speaker 5: in the windows. We are on the outskirts of Lee,
• 3:42:29
  Speaker 5: said my companion. We have touched on three English counties
• 3:42:32
  Speaker 5: in our short drive, starting in Middlesex, passing over an
• 3:42:36
  Speaker 5: angle of Surrey and ending in Kent. See that light
• 3:42:40
  Speaker 5: among the trees, that is the cedars, and beside that
• 3:42:44
  Speaker 5: lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already I
• 3:42:47
  Speaker 5: have little doubt caught the clink of our horses feet.
• 3:42:52
  Speaker 5: But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?
• 3:42:54
  Speaker 5: I asked, because there are many inquiries which must be
• 3:42:58
  Speaker 5: made out here. Missus Saint Clair has most kindly put
• 3:43:02
  Speaker 5: two rooms at my disposal, and you may rest assured
• 3:43:04
  Speaker 5: that she will have nothing but a welcome for my
• 3:43:06
  Speaker 5: friend and colleague. I hate to meet her Watson, when
• 3:43:10
  Speaker 5: I have no news of her husband. Here we are
• 3:43:13
  Speaker 5: woa there whoa. We had pulled up in front of
• 3:43:17
  Speaker 5: a large villa which stood within its own grounds. A
• 3:43:20
  Speaker 5: stable boy had run out to the horse's head, and
• 3:43:23
  Speaker 5: springing down, I followed Holmes up the small winding gravel
• 3:43:27
  Speaker 5: drive which led to the house. As we approached, the
• 3:43:30
  Speaker 5: door flew open, and a little blond woman stood in
• 3:43:33
  Speaker 5: the opening, clad in some sort of light musoline de sois,
• 3:43:36
  Speaker 5: with a touch of fluffy pink chiffon at her neck
• 3:43:39
  Speaker 5: and wrists. She stood with her figure outlined against the
• 3:43:42
  Speaker 5: flood of light. One hand upon the door, one half
• 3:43:46
  Speaker 5: raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head
• 3:43:49
  Speaker 5: and face protruded with eager eyes and parted lips. A
• 3:43:53
  Speaker 5: standing question, well, she cried, well, and then see that
• 3:44:00
  Speaker 5: there were two of us. She gave a cry of hope,
• 3:44:02
  Speaker 5: which sank into a groan as she saw that my
• 3:44:04
  Speaker 5: companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. No good news, none,
• 3:44:11
  Speaker 5: no bad no, thank God for that. But come in.
• 3:44:16
  Speaker 5: You must be weary, for you have had a long day.
• 3:44:19
  Speaker 5: This is my friend, doctor Watson. He's been of most
• 3:44:23
  Speaker 5: vital use to me in several of my cases, and
• 3:44:25
  Speaker 5: a lucky chance has made it possible for me to
• 3:44:27
  Speaker 5: bring him out and associate him with this investigation. I
• 3:44:31
  Speaker 5: am delighted to see you, said she pressing my hand warmly.
• 3:44:35
  Speaker 5: You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be
• 3:44:38
  Speaker 5: wanting in our arrangements when you consider the blow which
• 3:44:41
  Speaker 5: has come so suddenly upon us. My dear madam said,
• 3:44:45
  Speaker 5: I I am an old campaigner, and if I were not,
• 3:44:48
  Speaker 5: I can very well see that no apology is needed.
• 3:44:51
  Speaker 5: If I can be of any assistance, either to you
• 3:44:53
  Speaker 5: or to my friend here, I shall be indeed happy
• 3:44:58
  Speaker 5: now mister Sherlock Holmes, said the lady, as we entered
• 3:45:01
  Speaker 5: a well lit dining room, upon the table of which
• 3:45:04
  Speaker 5: a cold supper had been laid out. I should very
• 3:45:07
  Speaker 5: much like to ask you one or two plain questions,
• 3:45:09
  Speaker 5: to which I beg that you will give a plain answer. Certainly, madam,
• 3:45:15
  Speaker 5: do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical
• 3:45:18
  Speaker 5: nor given to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real,
• 3:45:21
  Speaker 5: real opinion. Upon what point in your heart of hearts
• 3:45:27
  Speaker 5: do you think that Neville is alive? She La Combe
• 3:45:31
  Speaker 5: seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Frankly now, she repeated,
• 3:45:37
  Speaker 5: standing upon the rug and looking keenly down at him
• 3:45:40
  Speaker 5: as he leaned back in a basket chair. Frankly, then, Madam,
• 3:45:45
  Speaker 5: I do not you think that he is dead? I
• 3:45:49
  Speaker 5: do murdered? I don't say that. Perhaps, and on what
• 3:45:55
  Speaker 5: day did he meet his death? On Monday? Then perhaps,
• 3:46:00
  Speaker 5: mister Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how
• 3:46:03
  Speaker 5: it is that I have received a letter from him
• 3:46:05
  Speaker 5: to day. Sherlock Holmbs sprang out of his chair as
• 3:46:09
  Speaker 5: if he had been galvanized. What he roared yes to day?
• 3:46:14
  Speaker 5: She stood, smiling holding up a little slip of paper
• 3:46:17
  Speaker 5: in the air. May I see it? Certainly? He snatched
• 3:46:22
  Speaker 5: it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out
• 3:46:25
  Speaker 5: upon the table. He drew over the lamp and examined
• 3:46:27
  Speaker 5: it intently. I had left my chair and was gazing
• 3:46:30
  Speaker 5: at it over his shoulder. The envelope was a very
• 3:46:33
  Speaker 5: coarse one, and was stamped with the graves end postmark,
• 3:46:37
  Speaker 5: and with the date of that very day, or rather
• 3:46:39
  Speaker 5: of the day before, for it was considerably after midnight.
• 3:46:43
  Speaker 5: Coarse writing, murmured Holmes. Surely this is not your husband's writing, madam. No,
• 3:46:50
  Speaker 5: but the enclosure is. I perceive also that whoever addressed
• 3:46:54
  Speaker 5: the envelope had to go and inquire as to the address.
• 3:46:58
  Speaker 5: How can you tell that the name you see is
• 3:47:01
  Speaker 5: in perfectly black ink, which has dried itself. The rest
• 3:47:05
  Speaker 5: is of the grayish color, which shows that blotting paper
• 3:47:09
  Speaker 5: has been used. If it had been written straight off
• 3:47:11
  Speaker 5: and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade.
• 3:47:15
  Speaker 5: This man has written the name, and there has then
• 3:47:17
  Speaker 5: been a pause before he wrote the address, which can
• 3:47:20
  Speaker 5: only mean that he was not familiar with it. It is,
• 3:47:23
  Speaker 5: of course a trifle, but there is nothing so important
• 3:47:26
  Speaker 5: as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha, there's
• 3:47:29
  Speaker 5: been an enclosure here. Yes, there was a ring, his
• 3:47:34
  Speaker 5: signet ring. And you are sure that this is your
• 3:47:37
  Speaker 5: husband's hand, one of his hands, one his hand when
• 3:47:43
  Speaker 5: he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual writing.
• 3:47:46
  Speaker 5: And yet I know it well, dearest, Do not be frightened.
• 3:47:52
  Speaker 5: All will come well. There is a huge error, which
• 3:47:56
  Speaker 5: it may take some little time to rectify. Wait in patience.
• 3:48:01
  Speaker 5: Nevill written in pencil upon the fly leaf of a
• 3:48:06
  Speaker 5: book octavo size, no water mark. Hum post it to
• 3:48:11
  Speaker 5: day in graves End by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha,
• 3:48:16
  Speaker 5: and the flap has been gummed. If I am not
• 3:48:19
  Speaker 5: very much in error by a person who had been
• 3:48:22
  Speaker 5: chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is
• 3:48:25
  Speaker 5: your husband's hand, Madam none. Neville wrote those words, and
• 3:48:31
  Speaker 5: they were posted to day at graves End. Well, missus,
• 3:48:36
  Speaker 5: Saint Clair. The clouds lighten, though I should not venture
• 3:48:40
  Speaker 5: to say that the danger is over. But he must
• 3:48:43
  Speaker 5: be alive, mister Holmes. Unless this is a clever forgery
• 3:48:47
  Speaker 5: to put us on the wrong scent. The ring, after all,
• 3:48:50
  Speaker 5: proves nothing. It may have been taken from him. No, No,
• 3:48:55
  Speaker 5: it is it is his very own writing. Very well.
• 3:49:00
  Speaker 5: It may, however, have been written on Monday and only
• 3:49:03
  Speaker 5: post it to day. That is possible, if so much
• 3:49:09
  Speaker 5: may have happened between Oh, but you must not discourage me,
• 3:49:13
  Speaker 5: mister Holmes. I know that all is well with him.
• 3:49:16
  Speaker 5: There is so keen a sympathy between us that I
• 3:49:19
  Speaker 5: should know if evil came upon him. On the very
• 3:49:21
  Speaker 5: day that I saw him last, he cut himself in
• 3:49:24
  Speaker 5: the bedroom, and yet I, in the dining room rushed
• 3:49:26
  Speaker 5: upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that something had happened.
• 3:49:31
  Speaker 5: Do you think that I would respond to such a
• 3:49:32
  Speaker 5: trifle and yet be ignorant of his death. I have
• 3:49:37
  Speaker 5: seen too much not to know that the impression of
• 3:49:39
  Speaker 5: a woman may be more valuable than the conclusion of
• 3:49:43
  Speaker 5: an analytical reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have
• 3:49:47
  Speaker 5: a very strong piece of evidence to corroborate your view.
• 3:49:50
  Speaker 5: But if your husband is alive and able to write letters,
• 3:49:54
  Speaker 5: why should he remain away from you? I cannot imagine.
• 3:49:58
  Speaker 5: It is unthinkable. And on Monday he made no remarks
• 3:50:03
  Speaker 5: before leaving you. No, and you were surprised to see
• 3:50:09
  Speaker 5: him in Swandham Lane very much so was the window open, Yes,
• 3:50:17
  Speaker 5: then he might have called to you. He might he only,
• 3:50:21
  Speaker 5: as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry. Yes, it called
• 3:50:26
  Speaker 5: for help. You thought, yes, he waved his hands, But
• 3:50:31
  Speaker 5: it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at
• 3:50:35
  Speaker 5: the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw
• 3:50:37
  Speaker 5: up his hands. It is possible. And you thought he
• 3:50:41
  Speaker 5: was pulled back he disappeared so suddenly he might have
• 3:50:46
  Speaker 5: leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the room. No,
• 3:50:50
  Speaker 5: but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and
• 3:50:53
  Speaker 5: the lescar was at the foot of the stairs. Quite so.
• 3:50:58
  Speaker 5: Your husband, as far as you could see, had his
• 3:51:01
  Speaker 5: ordinary clothes on, but without his collar or tie. I
• 3:51:05
  Speaker 5: distinctly saw his bare throat. Had he ever spoken of
• 3:51:09
  Speaker 5: Swandham Lane? Never had he ever showed any signs of
• 3:51:14
  Speaker 5: having taken an opium? Never? Thank you missus, Saint Clair.
• 3:51:20
  Speaker 5: Those are the principal points about which I wished to
• 3:51:23
  Speaker 5: be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little supper
• 3:51:28
  Speaker 5: and then retire, for we may have a very busy
• 3:51:31
  Speaker 5: day tomorrow. A large and comfortable double bedded room had
• 3:51:36
  Speaker 5: been placed at our disposal and I was quickly between
• 3:51:39
  Speaker 5: the sheets, for I was weary after my night of adventure.
• 3:51:42
  Speaker 5: Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, who, when he had
• 3:51:45
  Speaker 5: an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for days
• 3:51:48
  Speaker 5: and even for a week without rest, turning it over,
• 3:51:52
  Speaker 5: rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view,
• 3:51:55
  Speaker 5: until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that
• 3:51:58
  Speaker 5: his data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me
• 3:52:02
  Speaker 5: that he was now preparing for an all night sitting.
• 3:52:04
  Speaker 5: He took off his coat and waistcoat, put on a
• 3:52:07
  Speaker 5: large blue dressing gown, and then wandered about the room,
• 3:52:10
  Speaker 5: collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the sofa
• 3:52:14
  Speaker 5: and arm chairs. With these he constructed a sort of
• 3:52:17
  Speaker 5: Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross legged, with
• 3:52:21
  Speaker 5: an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches
• 3:52:24
  Speaker 5: laid out in front of him. In the dim light
• 3:52:26
  Speaker 5: of the lamp, I saw him sitting there, an old
• 3:52:29
  Speaker 5: briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon
• 3:52:34
  Speaker 5: the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up
• 3:52:37
  Speaker 5: from him, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his
• 3:52:42
  Speaker 5: strong set aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped
• 3:52:47
  Speaker 5: off to sleep, And so he sat when a sudden
• 3:52:49
  Speaker 5: ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the
• 3:52:52
  Speaker 5: summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still
• 3:52:56
  Speaker 5: between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the
• 3:53:00
  Speaker 5: room was full of a dense tobacco hays. But nothing
• 3:53:03
  Speaker 5: remained of the heap of shag which I had seen
• 3:53:05
  Speaker 5: upon the previous night. Awake Watson, he asked, yes, game
• 3:53:12
  Speaker 5: for a morning drive. Certainly, then dress. No one is
• 3:53:16
  Speaker 5: stirring yet, but I know where the stable boy sleeps,
• 3:53:19
  Speaker 5: and we shall soon have the trap out. He chuckled
• 3:53:22
  Speaker 5: to himself. As he spoke. His eyes twinkled, and he
• 3:53:25
  Speaker 5: seemed a different man to the somber thinker of the
• 3:53:28
  Speaker 5: previous night. As I dressed, I glanced at my watch.
• 3:53:32
  Speaker 5: It was no wonder that no one was stirring. It
• 3:53:34
  Speaker 5: was twenty five minutes past four. I'd hardly finish when
• 3:53:37
  Speaker 5: Holmes returned with the news that the boy was putting
• 3:53:40
  Speaker 5: in the horse. I want to test a little theory
• 3:53:43
  Speaker 5: of mine, said he, pulling on his boots. I think, Watson,
• 3:53:47
  Speaker 5: that you are now standing in the presence of one
• 3:53:49
  Speaker 5: of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve to
• 3:53:53
  Speaker 5: be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think
• 3:53:56
  Speaker 5: I have the key of the affair now. And where
• 3:53:59
  Speaker 5: is it? I asked, smiling in the bathroom, he answered,
• 3:54:04
  Speaker 5: Oh yes, I am not joking, he continued, seeing my
• 3:54:07
  Speaker 5: look of incredulity, I have just been there, and I
• 3:54:10
  Speaker 5: have taken it out, and I have got it in
• 3:54:12
  Speaker 5: this gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall
• 3:54:15
  Speaker 5: see whether it will not fit the lock. We made
• 3:54:19
  Speaker 5: our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into
• 3:54:22
  Speaker 5: the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse
• 3:54:26
  Speaker 5: and trap, with the half clad stable boy waiting at
• 3:54:29
  Speaker 5: the head. We both sprang in and away we dashed
• 3:54:32
  Speaker 5: down the London road. A few country carts were stirring,
• 3:54:36
  Speaker 5: bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but the lines of
• 3:54:39
  Speaker 5: villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as
• 3:54:42
  Speaker 5: some city in a dream. It has been in some
• 3:54:46
  Speaker 5: points a singular case, said Holmes, flicking the horse on
• 3:54:50
  Speaker 5: into a gallop. I confess that I have been as
• 3:54:53
  Speaker 5: blind as a mole. But it is better to learn
• 3:54:55
  Speaker 5: wisdom late than never to learn it at all. The
• 3:55:00
  Speaker 5: earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily from their
• 3:55:03
  Speaker 5: windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey side.
• 3:55:07
  Speaker 5: Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road, we crossed over the river,
• 3:55:10
  Speaker 5: and dashing up Wellington Street, wheeled sharply to the right
• 3:55:13
  Speaker 5: and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well
• 3:55:17
  Speaker 5: known to the force, and the two constables at the
• 3:55:19
  Speaker 5: door saluted him. One of them held the horse's head
• 3:55:22
  Speaker 5: while the other led us in. Who's on duty? Asked Holmes.
• 3:55:27
  Speaker 5: Inspector brad Street. Sir, ah, brad Street, how are you?
• 3:55:32
  Speaker 5: A tall stout official had come down the stone flagged
• 3:55:35
  Speaker 5: passage in a peaked cap and frogged jacket. I wish
• 3:55:39
  Speaker 5: to have a quiet word with you, brad Street. Certainly,
• 3:55:42
  Speaker 5: mister Holmes, step into my room.
• 3:55:44
  Speaker 2: Here.
• 3:55:45
  Speaker 5: It was a small office like room with a huge
• 3:55:48
  Speaker 5: ledger upon the table and a telephone projecting from the wall.
• 3:55:52
  Speaker 5: The inspector sat down at his desk. What can I
• 3:55:55
  Speaker 5: do for you, mister Holmes? I called about that beggarman Boone,
• 3:56:00
  Speaker 5: the one who was charged with being concerned in the
• 3:56:02
  Speaker 5: disappearance of mister Neville Saint Clair of Lee. Yes he
• 3:56:07
  Speaker 5: was brought up and remanded for further inquiries. So I
• 3:56:10
  Speaker 5: heard you have him here in the cells. Is he quiet? Oh,
• 3:56:16
  Speaker 5: he gives no trouble. But he's a dirty scoundrel. Dirty. Yes.
• 3:56:22
  Speaker 5: It's all we can do to make him wash his hands,
• 3:56:24
  Speaker 5: and his face is as black as a tinker's well.
• 3:56:27
  Speaker 5: And once his case has been settled, he will have
• 3:56:29
  Speaker 5: a regular prison bath. And I think if you saw him,
• 3:56:32
  Speaker 5: you would agree with me that he needed it. I
• 3:56:35
  Speaker 5: should like to see him very much, would you. That's
• 3:56:38
  Speaker 5: easily done. Come this way, you can leave your bag. No,
• 3:56:43
  Speaker 5: I think that I'll take it very good. Come this
• 3:56:46
  Speaker 5: way if you please. He let us down a passage, opened,
• 3:56:50
  Speaker 5: a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and brought
• 3:56:54
  Speaker 5: us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors
• 3:56:56
  Speaker 5: on each side. The third on the right is his,
• 3:57:00
  Speaker 5: said the inspector. Here it is. He quietly shot back
• 3:57:03
  Speaker 5: a panel in the upper part of the door and
• 3:57:05
  Speaker 5: glanced through. He's asleep, said he. You can see him
• 3:57:10
  Speaker 5: very well. We both put our eyes to the grating.
• 3:57:14
  Speaker 5: The prisoner lay with his face towards us, in a
• 3:57:17
  Speaker 5: very deep sleep, breathing slowly and heavily. He was a
• 3:57:21
  Speaker 5: middle sized man, coarsely clad, as became his calling, with
• 3:57:25
  Speaker 5: a colored shirt protruding through the rent in his tattered coat.
• 3:57:28
  Speaker 5: He was, as the inspector had said, extremely dirty, but
• 3:57:32
  Speaker 5: the grime which covered his face could not conceal its
• 3:57:34
  Speaker 5: repulsive ugliness. A broad wheel from an old scar ran
• 3:57:38
  Speaker 5: right across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction,
• 3:57:42
  Speaker 5: had turned up one side of the upper lip, so
• 3:57:44
  Speaker 5: that three teeth were exposed in a perpetual snarl. A
• 3:57:48
  Speaker 5: shock of very bright red hair grew low over his
• 3:57:51
  Speaker 5: eyes and forehead. He's a beauty, isn't he, said the inspector.
• 3:57:56
  Speaker 5: He certainly needs a wash, remarked Holmes. I had an
• 3:58:00
  Speaker 5: idea that he might, and I took the liberty of
• 3:58:02
  Speaker 5: bringing the tools with me. He opened the gladstone bag
• 3:58:05
  Speaker 5: as he spoke, and took out, to my astonishment, a
• 3:58:08
  Speaker 5: very large bath sponge. He eh, you're a funny one,
• 3:58:13
  Speaker 5: chuckled the inspector. Now, if you will have the great
• 3:58:16
  Speaker 5: goodness to open that door very quietly, we will soon
• 3:58:20
  Speaker 5: make him cut a much more respectable figure. Well, I
• 3:58:24
  Speaker 5: don't know why not, said the inspector. He doesn't look
• 3:58:27
  Speaker 5: a credit to the bow Street cells, does he. He
• 3:58:30
  Speaker 5: slipped his key into the lock, and we all very
• 3:58:32
  Speaker 5: quietly entered the cell. The sleeper half turned and then
• 3:58:36
  Speaker 5: settled down once more into a deep slumber. Holmes stooped
• 3:58:40
  Speaker 5: to the water jug, moistened his sponge, and then rubbed
• 3:58:43
  Speaker 5: it twice vigorously across and down the prisoner's face. Let
• 3:58:48
  Speaker 5: me introduce you, he shouted to mister Neville, Saint Clair
• 3:58:52
  Speaker 5: of Lee in the County of Kent. Never in my
• 3:58:56
  Speaker 5: life have I seen such a sight. The man's face
• 3:58:59
  Speaker 5: pealed off under the sponge, like the bark from a tree.
• 3:59:03
  Speaker 5: Gone was the coarse brown tint. Gone too was the
• 3:59:06
  Speaker 5: horrid scar which had seemed at a cross, and the
• 3:59:09
  Speaker 5: twisted lip which had given the repulsive sneer to the face.
• 3:59:13
  Speaker 5: A twitch brought away the tangled red hair, And there,
• 3:59:16
  Speaker 5: sitting up in his bed was a pale, sad faced,
• 3:59:20
  Speaker 5: refined looking man, black haired and smooth skinned, rubbing his
• 3:59:24
  Speaker 5: eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Then, suddenly
• 3:59:28
  Speaker 5: realizing the exposure, he broke into a scream and threw
• 3:59:31
  Speaker 5: himself down with his face to the pillow. Great Heavens
• 3:59:35
  Speaker 5: cried the inspector. It is indeed the missing man. I
• 3:59:38
  Speaker 5: know him from the photograph. The prisoner turned with the
• 3:59:42
  Speaker 5: reckless air of a man who abandons himself to his destiny.
• 3:59:46
  Speaker 5: Be it so, said he, and pray what am I
• 3:59:50
  Speaker 5: charged with with making away with mister Nevills. Oh? Come,
• 3:59:55
  Speaker 5: you can't be charged with that unless they make a
• 3:59:57
  Speaker 5: case of attempted suicide of it, said the inspect there
• 4:00:00
  Speaker 5: with a grin. Well, I have been twenty seven years
• 4:00:03
  Speaker 5: in the force, but this really takes the cake. If
• 4:00:07
  Speaker 5: I am mister Neville Saint Clair, then it is obvious
• 4:00:09
  Speaker 5: that no crime has been committed, and that therefore I
• 4:00:12
  Speaker 5: am illegally detained. No crime, but a very great error
• 4:00:17
  Speaker 5: has been committed, said Holmes. You would have done better
• 4:00:21
  Speaker 5: to have trusted your wife. It was not the wife,
• 4:00:24
  Speaker 5: it was the children, groaned the prisoner. God help me,
• 4:00:28
  Speaker 5: I would not have them ashamed of their father. My God,
• 4:00:31
  Speaker 5: what an exposure. What can I do? Chla Holmbe sat
• 4:00:35
  Speaker 5: down beside him on the couch and patted him kindly
• 4:00:38
  Speaker 5: on the shoulder. If you leave it to a court
• 4:00:41
  Speaker 5: of law to clear the matter up, said he. Of course,
• 4:00:44
  Speaker 5: you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, if
• 4:00:48
  Speaker 5: you convince the police authorities that there is no possible
• 4:00:50
  Speaker 5: case against you, I do not know that there is
• 4:00:52
  Speaker 5: any reason that the details should find their way into
• 4:00:55
  Speaker 5: the papers. Inspector Bradstreet, would, I am sure, make notes
• 4:00:59
  Speaker 5: upon any thing which you might tell us, and submit
• 4:01:02
  Speaker 5: it to the proper authorities. The case would then never
• 4:01:05
  Speaker 5: go into court at all. God bless you, cried the
• 4:01:09
  Speaker 5: prisoner Passionately, I would have endured imprisonment, i even execution,
• 4:01:14
  Speaker 5: rather than have left my miserable secret as a family
• 4:01:17
  Speaker 5: blot to my children. You are the first to have
• 4:01:20
  Speaker 5: ever heard my story. My father was a schoolmaster in Chesterfield,
• 4:01:24
  Speaker 5: where I received an excellent education. I traveled in my youth,
• 4:01:28
  Speaker 5: took to the stage, and finally became a reporter on
• 4:01:31
  Speaker 5: an evening paper in London. One day, my editor wished
• 4:01:35
  Speaker 5: to have a series of articles upon begging and the Metropolis,
• 4:01:38
  Speaker 5: and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point
• 4:01:41
  Speaker 5: from which all my adventures started. It was only by
• 4:01:44
  Speaker 5: trying begging as an amateur that I could get the
• 4:01:46
  Speaker 5: facts upon which to base my articles. When an actor,
• 4:01:49
  Speaker 5: I had of course learned all the secrets of making
• 4:01:52
  Speaker 5: up and had been famous in the green room for
• 4:01:54
  Speaker 5: my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I
• 4:01:58
  Speaker 5: painted my face, and to make myself of as pitiable
• 4:02:00
  Speaker 5: as possible, I made a good scar and fixed one
• 4:02:03
  Speaker 5: side of my lip in a twist by the aid
• 4:02:05
  Speaker 5: of a small slip of flesh colored plaster. Then with
• 4:02:09
  Speaker 5: a red head of hair and an appropriate dress, I
• 4:02:11
  Speaker 5: took my station in the business part of the city,
• 4:02:14
  Speaker 5: ostensibly as a match seller, but really as a beggar.
• 4:02:17
  Speaker 5: For seven hours I applied my trade, and when I
• 4:02:20
  Speaker 5: returned home in the evening, I found to my surprise
• 4:02:22
  Speaker 5: that I had received no less than twenty six shillings
• 4:02:25
  Speaker 5: and fourpence. I wrote my articles and thought little more
• 4:02:29
  Speaker 5: of the matter until some time later I backed a
• 4:02:32
  Speaker 5: bill for a friend and had a writ served upon
• 4:02:34
  Speaker 5: me for twenty five pounds. I was at my WIT's
• 4:02:37
  Speaker 5: end where to get the money, but a sudden idea
• 4:02:39
  Speaker 5: came to me. I begged a fortnight's grace from the creditor,
• 4:02:43
  Speaker 5: asked for a holiday from my employers, and spent the
• 4:02:46
  Speaker 5: time in begging in the city under my disguise. In
• 4:02:49
  Speaker 5: ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Well,
• 4:02:53
  Speaker 5: you can imagine how hard it was to settle down
• 4:02:55
  Speaker 5: to arduous work at two pounds a week, when I
• 4:02:57
  Speaker 5: knew that I could earn as much in a day
• 4:02:59
  Speaker 5: by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my
• 4:03:02
  Speaker 5: cap on the ground, and sitting still. It was a
• 4:03:05
  Speaker 5: long fight between my pride and the money, but the
• 4:03:08
  Speaker 5: dollars won at last, and I threw up reporting and
• 4:03:11
  Speaker 5: sat day after day in the corner which I had
• 4:03:13
  Speaker 5: first chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling
• 4:03:17
  Speaker 5: my pockets with coppers. Only one man knew my secret.
• 4:03:21
  Speaker 5: He was the keeper of a low den in which
• 4:03:23
  Speaker 5: I used to lodge in Swandham Lane, where I could
• 4:03:25
  Speaker 5: every morning emerge as a squalid beggar, and in the
• 4:03:28
  Speaker 5: evenings transform myself into a well dressed man about town.
• 4:03:32
  Speaker 5: This fellow, a Lescar, was well paid by me for
• 4:03:35
  Speaker 5: his rooms, so that I knew that my secret was
• 4:03:37
  Speaker 5: safe in his possession. Well, very soon I found that
• 4:03:41
  Speaker 5: I was saving considerable sums of money. I do not
• 4:03:44
  Speaker 5: mean that any beggar in the streets of London could
• 4:03:46
  Speaker 5: earn seven hundred pounds a year, which is less than
• 4:03:49
  Speaker 5: my average takings. But I had exceptional advantages in my
• 4:03:53
  Speaker 5: power of making up, and also in a facility of repartee,
• 4:03:56
  Speaker 5: which improved my practice and made me quite a recognized
• 4:03:59
  Speaker 5: character in the city. All day a stream of pennies
• 4:04:03
  Speaker 5: varied by silver, poured in upon me, and it was
• 4:04:06
  Speaker 5: a very bad day in which I failed to take
• 4:04:08
  Speaker 5: two pounds. As I grew richer, I grew more ambitious,
• 4:04:12
  Speaker 5: took a house in the country, and eventually married without
• 4:04:15
  Speaker 5: anyone having a suspicion as to my real occupation. My
• 4:04:18
  Speaker 5: dear wife knew that I had business in the city.
• 4:04:21
  Speaker 5: She little knew what. Last Monday. I had finished for
• 4:04:25
  Speaker 5: the day and was dressing in my room above the
• 4:04:27
  Speaker 5: Opium den when I looked out of my window and saw,
• 4:04:30
  Speaker 5: to my horror and astonishment that my wife was standing
• 4:04:33
  Speaker 5: in the street with her eyes fixed full upon me.
• 4:04:36
  Speaker 5: I gave a cry of surprise, threw up my arms
• 4:04:39
  Speaker 5: to cover my face, and rushing to my confidant, though
• 4:04:41
  Speaker 5: a scar entreated him to prevent any one from coming
• 4:04:44
  Speaker 5: up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I
• 4:04:47
  Speaker 5: knew that she could not ascend. Swiftly, I threw off
• 4:04:50
  Speaker 5: my clothes, pulled on those of a beggar and put
• 4:04:53
  Speaker 5: on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's eye could
• 4:04:56
  Speaker 5: not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it occurred
• 4:05:00
  Speaker 5: to me that there might be a search in the room,
• 4:05:02
  Speaker 5: and that the clothes might betray me. I threw open
• 4:05:04
  Speaker 5: the window, reopening by my violence a small cut which
• 4:05:07
  Speaker 5: I had inflicted upon myself in the bedroom that morning.
• 4:05:10
  Speaker 5: Then I seized my coat, which was waited by the coppers,
• 4:05:13
  Speaker 5: which I had just transferred to it from the leather
• 4:05:15
  Speaker 5: bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it
• 4:05:19
  Speaker 5: out of the window and it disappeared into the Thames.
• 4:05:22
  Speaker 5: The other clothes would have followed, but at that moment
• 4:05:24
  Speaker 5: there was a rush of constables up the stair, and
• 4:05:26
  Speaker 5: a few minutes after I found rather I confessed to
• 4:05:29
  Speaker 5: my relief that instead of being identified as mister Neville
• 4:05:32
  Speaker 5: Saint Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. I do
• 4:05:36
  Speaker 5: not know that there is anything else for me to explain.
• 4:05:39
  Speaker 5: I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible,
• 4:05:42
  Speaker 5: and hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that
• 4:05:45
  Speaker 5: my wife would be terribly anxious, I slipped off my
• 4:05:48
  Speaker 5: ring and confided it to the scar at a moment
• 4:05:51
  Speaker 5: when no constable was watching me, together with a hurried
• 4:05:54
  Speaker 5: scrawl telling her that she had no cause to fear.
• 4:05:58
  Speaker 5: That note only reached her yes ester day, said Holmes.
• 4:06:02
  Speaker 5: Good God, what a week she must have spent. The
• 4:06:05
  Speaker 5: police have watched this lascar, said Inspector Bradstreet, and I
• 4:06:09
  Speaker 5: can quite understand that he might find it difficult to
• 4:06:11
  Speaker 5: post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed to some sailor
• 4:06:15
  Speaker 5: customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days.
• 4:06:19
  Speaker 5: That was it, said Holmes, nodding approvingly. I have no
• 4:06:23
  Speaker 5: doubt of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?
• 4:06:27
  Speaker 5: Many times? But what was a fine to me? It
• 4:06:30
  Speaker 5: must stop here, however, said Bradstreet. If the police are
• 4:06:33
  Speaker 5: to hush this thing up, there must be no more
• 4:06:35
  Speaker 5: of Hugh Boone. I have sworn it by the most
• 4:06:39
  Speaker 5: solemn oaths which a man can take. In that case,
• 4:06:43
  Speaker 5: I think that it is probable that no further steps
• 4:06:45
  Speaker 5: may be taken. But if you are found again, then
• 4:06:48
  Speaker 5: all must come out. I am sure, mister Holmes, that
• 4:06:51
  Speaker 5: we are very much indebted to you for having cleared
• 4:06:53
  Speaker 5: the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach
• 4:06:56
  Speaker 5: your results. I reached this one, my friend, by sitting
• 4:07:01
  Speaker 5: upon five pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson,
• 4:07:07
  Speaker 5: that if we drive to Baker Street, we shall just
• 4:07:09
  Speaker 5: be in time for breakfast.
• 4:07:12
  Speaker 4: The red headed league. I had called upon my friend
• 4:07:18
  Speaker 4: mister Sherlock Holmes one day in the autumn of last year,
• 4:07:22
  Speaker 4: and found him in deep conversation with a very stout,
• 4:07:25
  Speaker 4: florid faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair, with an
• 4:07:31
  Speaker 4: apology for my intrusion. I was about to withdraw when
• 4:07:34
  Speaker 4: Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the
• 4:07:38
  Speaker 4: door behind me. You could not possibly have come at
• 4:07:42
  Speaker 4: a better time, my dear Watson, he said cordially. I
• 4:07:47
  Speaker 4: was afraid that you were engaged. So I am very
• 4:07:50
  Speaker 4: much so then I can wait in the next room.
• 4:07:55
  Speaker 4: Not at all, this gentleman, mister Wilson, has been my
• 4:07:58
  Speaker 4: partner and helper in any of my most successful cases,
• 4:08:02
  Speaker 4: and I have no doubt that he will be of
• 4:08:04
  Speaker 4: the utmost use to me in yours. Also. The stout
• 4:08:09
  Speaker 4: gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob
• 4:08:11
  Speaker 4: of greeting with a quick little questioning glance from his small,
• 4:08:15
  Speaker 4: fat encircled eyes. Try the settee, said Holmes, relapsing into
• 4:08:21
  Speaker 4: his arm chair and putting his finger tips together, as
• 4:08:24
  Speaker 4: was his custom when in judicial moods. I know, my
• 4:08:28
  Speaker 4: dear Watson, that you share my love of all that
• 4:08:31
  Speaker 4: is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of
• 4:08:34
  Speaker 4: every day life. You have shown your relish for it
• 4:08:38
  Speaker 4: by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle. And
• 4:08:42
  Speaker 4: if you will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish
• 4:08:46
  Speaker 4: so many of my own little adventures, your cases have
• 4:08:50
  Speaker 4: indeed been of the greatest interest to me, I observed.
• 4:08:56
  Speaker 4: You will remember that I remarked the other day, just
• 4:08:58
  Speaker 4: before we went into the very simple problem presented by
• 4:09:01
  Speaker 4: Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations,
• 4:09:06
  Speaker 4: we must go to life itself, which is always far
• 4:09:08
  Speaker 4: more daring than any effort of the imagination, A proposition
• 4:09:13
  Speaker 4: which I took the liberty of doubting you did, doctor,
• 4:09:18
  Speaker 4: But none the less, you must come round to my view,
• 4:09:21
  Speaker 4: for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact
• 4:09:24
  Speaker 4: on you until your reason breaks down under them and
• 4:09:27
  Speaker 4: acknowledges me to be right now. Mister Jabez Wilson here
• 4:09:33
  Speaker 4: has been good enough to call upon me this morning
• 4:09:35
  Speaker 4: and to begin a narrative which promises to be one
• 4:09:38
  Speaker 4: of the most singular which I have listened to for
• 4:09:41
  Speaker 4: some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest
• 4:09:45
  Speaker 4: and most unique things are very often connected not with
• 4:09:48
  Speaker 4: the larger but with the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed,
• 4:09:53
  Speaker 4: where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime
• 4:09:55
  Speaker 4: has been committed, as far as I have heard it
• 4:09:59
  Speaker 4: is it is impossible for me to say whether the
• 4:10:01
  Speaker 4: present case is an instance of crime or not. But
• 4:10:05
  Speaker 4: the course of events is certainly among the most singular
• 4:10:08
  Speaker 4: that I have ever listened to. Perhaps, mister Wilson, you
• 4:10:12
  Speaker 4: would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I
• 4:10:16
  Speaker 4: ask you not merely because my friend doctor Watson has
• 4:10:19
  Speaker 4: not heard the opening part, but also because the peculiar
• 4:10:23
  Speaker 4: nature of the story makes me anxious to have every
• 4:10:25
  Speaker 4: possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I
• 4:10:29
  Speaker 4: have heard some slight indication in the course of events,
• 4:10:33
  Speaker 4: I am able to guide myself by the thousands of
• 4:10:35
  Speaker 4: other similar cases which occur to my memory. In the
• 4:10:39
  Speaker 4: present instance, I am forced to admit that the facts are,
• 4:10:43
  Speaker 4: to the best of my belief unique. The portly client
• 4:10:47
  Speaker 4: puffed at his chest with an appearance of some little pride,
• 4:10:51
  Speaker 4: and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside
• 4:10:54
  Speaker 4: pocket of his greatcoat as he glanced down the advertisement
• 4:10:58
  Speaker 4: column with his head through loust forward, and the paper
• 4:11:01
  Speaker 4: flattened out upon his knee. I took a good look
• 4:11:04
  Speaker 4: at the man, and endeavored, after the fashion of my companion,
• 4:11:08
  Speaker 4: to read the indications which might be presented by his
• 4:11:11
  Speaker 4: dress or appearance. I did not gain very much. However,
• 4:11:16
  Speaker 4: by my inspection, our visitor bore every mark of being
• 4:11:20
  Speaker 4: an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He
• 4:11:27
  Speaker 4: wore rather baggy gray shepherd's check trousers, a not over
• 4:11:32
  Speaker 4: clean black frock coat unbuttoned in the front, and a
• 4:11:35
  Speaker 4: drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain and a
• 4:11:39
  Speaker 4: square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament.
• 4:11:44
  Speaker 4: A frayed top hat and a faded brown overcoat with
• 4:11:47
  Speaker 4: a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether,
• 4:11:53
  Speaker 4: look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the
• 4:11:56
  Speaker 4: man save his blazing red head and the expression of
• 4:11:59
  Speaker 4: a stream chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes's
• 4:12:06
  Speaker 4: quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his
• 4:12:09
  Speaker 4: head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances.
• 4:12:14
  Speaker 4: Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time
• 4:12:18
  Speaker 4: done manual labor, that he takes snuff, that he is
• 4:12:21
  Speaker 4: a freemason, that he has been in China, and that
• 4:12:25
  Speaker 4: he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I
• 4:12:28
  Speaker 4: can deduce nothing else. Mister jobs. Wilson started up in
• 4:12:32
  Speaker 4: his chair with his forefinger upon the paper, but his
• 4:12:35
  Speaker 4: eyes upon my companion. How in the name of good
• 4:12:40
  Speaker 4: fortune did you know all that, mister Holmes, he asked,
• 4:12:44
  Speaker 4: How did you know, for example, that I did manual labor.
• 4:12:47
  Speaker 4: It's as true as gospel, for I began as a
• 4:12:50
  Speaker 4: ship's carpenter. Your hands, my dear sir, your right hand
• 4:12:55
  Speaker 4: is quite a size larger than your left. You have
• 4:12:57
  Speaker 4: worked with it, and the muscles are more developed. Well.
• 4:13:02
  Speaker 4: The snuff, then, and the freemasonry. I won't insult your
• 4:13:07
  Speaker 4: intelligence by telling you how I read that, especially as
• 4:13:11
  Speaker 4: rather against the strict rules of your order, you use
• 4:13:15
  Speaker 4: an arc and compass breastpin Ah, of course I forgot that.
• 4:13:20
  Speaker 4: But the writing what else can be indicated by that
• 4:13:25
  Speaker 4: right cuff so very shiny for five inches, and the
• 4:13:28
  Speaker 4: left one with the smooth patch near the elbow where
• 4:13:31
  Speaker 4: you rested upon the desk. Well, but China. The fish
• 4:13:38
  Speaker 4: that you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could
• 4:13:41
  Speaker 4: only have been done in China. I have made a
• 4:13:43
  Speaker 4: small study of tattoo marks, and have even contributed to
• 4:13:47
  Speaker 4: the literature of the subject. That trick of staining the
• 4:13:50
  Speaker 4: fish's scales of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China.
• 4:13:55
  Speaker 4: When in addition I see a Chinese coin hanging from
• 4:13:59
  Speaker 4: your watch chain, the matter becomes even more simple. Mister job,
• 4:14:04
  Speaker 4: as Wilson laughed heavily, Well, I never said he. I
• 4:14:09
  Speaker 4: thought at first that you had done something clever, But
• 4:14:12
  Speaker 4: I see that there was nothing in it. After all,
• 4:14:16
  Speaker 4: I begin to think, Watson, said Holmes, that I make
• 4:14:19
  Speaker 4: a mistake in explaining omne ignotum pro magnifico, you know,
• 4:14:24
  Speaker 4: and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will
• 4:14:28
  Speaker 4: suffer shipwreck. If I am so candid. Can you not
• 4:14:31
  Speaker 4: find the advertisement? Mister Wilson. Yes, I have got it now,
• 4:14:37
  Speaker 4: he answered, with his thick red finger planted half way
• 4:14:40
  Speaker 4: down the column. Here it is, this is what began
• 4:14:43
  Speaker 4: at all. You just read it for yourself, sir. I
• 4:14:48
  Speaker 4: took the paper from him and read as follows to
• 4:14:53
  Speaker 4: the Red Headed League. On account of the bequest of
• 4:14:57
  Speaker 4: the late Ezekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USSA, there is
• 4:15:02
  Speaker 4: now another vacancy open which entitles a member of the
• 4:15:05
  Speaker 4: League to a salary of four pounds a week for
• 4:15:09
  Speaker 4: purely nominal services. All Red Headed men who are sound
• 4:15:13
  Speaker 4: in body and mind and above the age of twenty
• 4:15:16
  Speaker 4: one years are eligible. Apply in person on Monday at
• 4:15:20
  Speaker 4: eleven o'clock to Duncan Ross at the offices of the League,
• 4:15:24
  Speaker 4: seven Popes Court, Fleet Street. What on earth does this mean?
• 4:15:30
  Speaker 4: I ejaculated after I had twice read over the extraordinary announcement.
• 4:15:35
  Speaker 4: Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his
• 4:15:39
  Speaker 4: habit when in high spirits. It is a little off
• 4:15:43
  Speaker 4: the beaten track, isn't it, said he? And now mister Wilson,
• 4:15:47
  Speaker 4: off you go at scratch and tell us all about yourself,
• 4:15:50
  Speaker 4: your household and the effect which this advertisement had upon
• 4:15:54
  Speaker 4: your fortunes. You will first make a note doctor of
• 4:15:58
  Speaker 4: the paper and the date. It is the Morning Chronicle
• 4:16:03
  Speaker 4: of April twenty seventh, eighteen ninety, just two months ago.
• 4:16:09
  Speaker 4: Very good, now, mister Wilson, Well, it is just as
• 4:16:14
  Speaker 4: I have been telling you, mister Sherlock Holmes said job
• 4:16:17
  Speaker 4: as Wilson mopping his forehead. I have a small pawnbroker's
• 4:16:21
  Speaker 4: business at Coburg Square near the city. It's not a
• 4:16:25
  Speaker 4: very large affair, and of late years it has not
• 4:16:28
  Speaker 4: done more than just give me a living. I used
• 4:16:31
  Speaker 4: to be able to keep two assistants, but now I
• 4:16:34
  Speaker 4: only keep one, and I would have a job to
• 4:16:36
  Speaker 4: pay him, but that he is willing to come for
• 4:16:39
  Speaker 4: half wages so as to learn the business. What is
• 4:16:43
  Speaker 4: the name of this obliging youth, asked Sherlock Holmes. His
• 4:16:48
  Speaker 4: name is Vincent Spalding, and he's not such a youth either.
• 4:16:52
  Speaker 4: It's hard to say his age. I should not wish
• 4:16:55
  Speaker 4: a smarter assistant, mister Holmes, and I know very well
• 4:16:58
  Speaker 4: that he could better himself and earn twice what I
• 4:17:00
  Speaker 4: am able to give him. But after all, if he
• 4:17:04
  Speaker 4: is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head.
• 4:17:08
  Speaker 4: Why indeed, you seem most fortunate in having an employee
• 4:17:12
  Speaker 4: who comes under the full market price. It is not
• 4:17:15
  Speaker 4: a common experience among employers in this age. I don't
• 4:17:19
  Speaker 4: know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement.
• 4:17:24
  Speaker 4: Oh he has his faults too, said mister Wilson. Never
• 4:17:28
  Speaker 4: was such a fellow for photography, snapping away with a
• 4:17:32
  Speaker 4: camera when he ought to be improving his mind, and
• 4:17:35
  Speaker 4: then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into
• 4:17:37
  Speaker 4: its hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault.
• 4:17:41
  Speaker 4: But on the whole he's a good worker. There's no
• 4:17:44
  Speaker 4: vice in him. He is still with you, I presume, yes, sir.
• 4:17:49
  Speaker 4: He and a girl of fourteen who does a bit
• 4:17:51
  Speaker 4: of simple cooking and keeps the place clean. That's all
• 4:17:54
  Speaker 4: I have in the house, for I am a widower
• 4:17:57
  Speaker 4: and never had any family. We live very quietly, sir,
• 4:18:01
  Speaker 4: the three of us, and we keep a roof over
• 4:18:03
  Speaker 4: our heads and pay our debts if we do nothing more.
• 4:18:08
  Speaker 4: The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spalding.
• 4:18:12
  Speaker 4: He came down into the office just this day, eight
• 4:18:14
  Speaker 4: weeks with this very paper in his hand, and he says,
• 4:18:19
  Speaker 4: I wish to the Lord mister Wilson that I was
• 4:18:21
  Speaker 4: a red headed man.
• 4:18:23
  Speaker 2: Why is that?
• 4:18:24
  Speaker 4: I asks, Why? Says he? Here's another vacancy on the
• 4:18:29
  Speaker 4: League of the Red Headed Men. It's worth quite a
• 4:18:32
  Speaker 4: little fortune to any man who gets it. And I
• 4:18:34
  Speaker 4: understand that there are more vacancies than there are men,
• 4:18:38
  Speaker 4: so that the trustees are at their wits end what
• 4:18:40
  Speaker 4: to do with the money. If my hair would only
• 4:18:44
  Speaker 4: change color, here's a nice little crib all ready for
• 4:18:46
  Speaker 4: me to step into.
• 4:18:49
  Speaker 2: Why what is it? Then? I asked?
• 4:18:51
  Speaker 4: You See, mister Holmes, I am a very stay at
• 4:18:54
  Speaker 4: home man, and as my business came to me instead
• 4:18:57
  Speaker 4: of my having to go to it, I was often
• 4:18:59
  Speaker 4: three weeks on end without putting my foot over the
• 4:19:01
  Speaker 4: door mat. In that way, I didn't know much of
• 4:19:04
  Speaker 4: what was going on outside, and I was always glad
• 4:19:07
  Speaker 4: of a bit of news. Have you never heard of
• 4:19:12
  Speaker 4: the League of the Red Headed Men? He asked, with
• 4:19:14
  Speaker 4: his eyes open. Never, Why I wonder at that.
• 4:19:20
  Speaker 2: For you are.
• 4:19:20
  Speaker 4: Eligible yourself for one of the vacancies. And what are
• 4:19:25
  Speaker 4: they worth? I asked, Oh, merely a couple of hundred
• 4:19:29
  Speaker 4: a year. But the work is slight and it need
• 4:19:31
  Speaker 4: not interfere very much with one's other occupations. Well, you
• 4:19:36
  Speaker 4: can easily think that that made me prick up my ears,
• 4:19:38
  Speaker 4: for the business has not been over good for some years,
• 4:19:42
  Speaker 4: and an extra couple of hundred would have been very handy.
• 4:19:46
  Speaker 4: Tell me all about it, said I, Well, said he,
• 4:19:50
  Speaker 4: showing me the advertisement. You can see for yourself that
• 4:19:54
  Speaker 4: the league has a vacancy, and there is the address
• 4:19:57
  Speaker 4: where you should apply for particulars. Fin far as I
• 4:20:00
  Speaker 4: can make out, the league was founded by an American millionaire,
• 4:20:04
  Speaker 4: Ezekiah Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He
• 4:20:08
  Speaker 4: was himself red headed, and he had a great sympathy
• 4:20:11
  Speaker 4: for all red headed men. So when he died, it
• 4:20:14
  Speaker 4: was found that he had left his enormous fortune in
• 4:20:16
  Speaker 4: the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest
• 4:20:20
  Speaker 4: to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair
• 4:20:23
  Speaker 4: is of that color. From all I hear it is
• 4:20:26
  Speaker 4: splendid pay and very little to do. But said I,
• 4:20:33
  Speaker 4: there would be millions of red headed men who would apply.
• 4:20:37
  Speaker 4: Not so many as you might think, he answered, you see,
• 4:20:40
  Speaker 4: it is really confined to Londoners and to grown men.
• 4:20:44
  Speaker 4: This American had started from London when he was young,
• 4:20:47
  Speaker 4: and he wanted to do the old town a good turn.
• 4:20:50
  Speaker 4: Then again I have heard it is no use your
• 4:20:52
  Speaker 4: applying if your hair is light red or dark red,
• 4:20:56
  Speaker 4: or anything but real, bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if
• 4:21:02
  Speaker 4: you cared to apply, mister Wilson, you would just walk in.
• 4:21:06
  Speaker 4: But perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to
• 4:21:08
  Speaker 4: put yourself out of the way for the sake of
• 4:21:10
  Speaker 4: a few hundred pounds. Now it is a fact, gentlemen,
• 4:21:15
  Speaker 4: as you may see for yourselves, that my hair is
• 4:21:17
  Speaker 4: of a very full and rich tint. So that it
• 4:21:20
  Speaker 4: seemed to me that if there was to be any
• 4:21:22
  Speaker 4: competition in the matter, I stood as good a chance
• 4:21:24
  Speaker 4: as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Spalding
• 4:21:29
  Speaker 4: seemed to know so much about it that I thought
• 4:21:31
  Speaker 4: he might prove useful. So I just ordered him to
• 4:21:33
  Speaker 4: put up the shutters for the day and to come
• 4:21:36
  Speaker 4: right away with me. He was very willing to have
• 4:21:40
  Speaker 4: a holiday, so we shut the business up and started
• 4:21:42
  Speaker 4: off for the address that was given us in the advertisement.
• 4:21:47
  Speaker 4: I never hope to see such a sight as that. Again,
• 4:21:50
  Speaker 4: mister Holmes, from North, south, East and west. Every man
• 4:21:55
  Speaker 4: who had a shade of red in his hair had
• 4:21:57
  Speaker 4: tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Fleet Street
• 4:22:01
  Speaker 4: was choked with red headed folk, and Pope's Court looked
• 4:22:05
  Speaker 4: like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought
• 4:22:09
  Speaker 4: there were so many in the whole country as were
• 4:22:11
  Speaker 4: brought together by that single advertisement, every shade of color.
• 4:22:16
  Speaker 4: They were straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish setter, liver clay.
• 4:22:22
  Speaker 4: But as Spalding said, there were not many who had
• 4:22:25
  Speaker 4: the real vivid, flame colored tint. When I saw how
• 4:22:31
  Speaker 4: many were waiting, I would have given it up in despair,
• 4:22:34
  Speaker 4: But Spalding would not hear of it. How he did
• 4:22:37
  Speaker 4: it I could not imagine. But he pushed and pulled
• 4:22:40
  Speaker 4: and butted until he got me through the crowd and
• 4:22:43
  Speaker 4: right up to the steps which led to the office.
• 4:22:47
  Speaker 4: There was a double stream upon the stair, some going
• 4:22:50
  Speaker 4: up in hope and in some coming back dejected. But
• 4:22:53
  Speaker 4: we wedged in as well as we could, and soon
• 4:22:56
  Speaker 4: found ourselves in the office. York's evpurience has been a
• 4:23:00
  Speaker 4: most entertaining one, remarked Holmes as his client paused and
• 4:23:05
  Speaker 4: refreshed his memory with a huge pinch of snuff. Pray
• 4:23:09
  Speaker 4: continue your very interesting statement. There was nothing in the
• 4:23:14
  Speaker 4: office but a couple of wooden chairs and a deal table,
• 4:23:18
  Speaker 4: behind which sat a small man with a head that
• 4:23:21
  Speaker 4: was even redder than mine. He said a few words
• 4:23:24
  Speaker 4: to each candidate as he came up, and then he
• 4:23:27
  Speaker 4: always managed to find some fault in them which would
• 4:23:30
  Speaker 4: disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem to be
• 4:23:34
  Speaker 4: such a very easy matter after all. However, when our
• 4:23:38
  Speaker 4: turn came, the little man was much more favorable to
• 4:23:40
  Speaker 4: me than to any of the others, and he closed
• 4:23:43
  Speaker 4: the door as we entered, so that he might have
• 4:23:45
  Speaker 4: a private word with us. This is mister job, as Wilson, said,
• 4:23:50
  Speaker 4: my assistant, and he is willing to fill a vacancy
• 4:23:53
  Speaker 4: in the league, and he is admirably suited for it.
• 4:23:59
  Speaker 4: The other answered, he has every requirement. I cannot recall
• 4:24:03
  Speaker 4: when I have seen anything so fine. He took a
• 4:24:06
  Speaker 4: step backward, cocked his head on one side, and gazed
• 4:24:10
  Speaker 4: at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly
• 4:24:14
  Speaker 4: he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly
• 4:24:19
  Speaker 4: on my success. It would be injustice to hesitate, said
• 4:24:25
  Speaker 4: he you will, however, I am sure excuse me for
• 4:24:28
  Speaker 4: taking an obvious precaution. With that, he seized my hair
• 4:24:32
  Speaker 4: in both his hands and tugged until I yelled with
• 4:24:35
  Speaker 4: the pain. There is water in your eyes, said he
• 4:24:39
  Speaker 4: as he released me. I perceive that all is as
• 4:24:43
  Speaker 4: it should be, but we have to be careful, for
• 4:24:46
  Speaker 4: we have twice been deceived by wigs and once by paint.
• 4:24:50
  Speaker 4: I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which would
• 4:24:53
  Speaker 4: disgust you with human nature. He stepped over to the
• 4:24:57
  Speaker 4: window and shouted through it at the top of his
• 4:24:59
  Speaker 4: voice that the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment
• 4:25:04
  Speaker 4: came up from below, and the folk all trooped away
• 4:25:07
  Speaker 4: in different directions, until there was not a red head
• 4:25:10
  Speaker 4: to be seen except my own and that of the manager.
• 4:25:15
  Speaker 4: My name, said, He is mister Duncan Ross, and I
• 4:25:19
  Speaker 4: am myself one of the pensioners upon the fund left
• 4:25:22
  Speaker 4: by our noble benefactor. Are you a married man, mister Wilson,
• 4:25:26
  Speaker 4: have you a family? I answered that I had not.
• 4:25:31
  Speaker 4: His face fell immediately. Dear me, he said, gravely, that
• 4:25:35
  Speaker 4: is very serious. Indeed, I am sorry to hear you
• 4:25:38
  Speaker 4: say that the fund was, of course for the propagation
• 4:25:43
  Speaker 4: and spread of the redheads, as well as for their maintenance.
• 4:25:46
  Speaker 4: It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a bachelor.
• 4:25:50
  Speaker 4: My face lengthened at this, mister Holmes, for I thought
• 4:25:54
  Speaker 4: that I was not to have the vacancy after all.
• 4:25:56
  Speaker 4: But after thinking it over for a few minutes, he
• 4:25:59
  Speaker 4: said that it would be all right in the case
• 4:26:02
  Speaker 4: of another, said he. The objection might be fatal, but
• 4:26:05
  Speaker 4: we must stretch a point in favor of a man
• 4:26:08
  Speaker 4: with such a head of hair as yours. When shall
• 4:26:11
  Speaker 4: you be able to enter upon your new duties? Well,
• 4:26:15
  Speaker 4: it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,
• 4:26:18
  Speaker 4: said I. Oh, never mind about that, mister Wilson, said
• 4:26:22
  Speaker 4: Vincent Spalding, I should be able to look after that
• 4:26:25
  Speaker 4: for you. What would be the hours, I asked, ten
• 4:26:31
  Speaker 4: to two. Now, a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of
• 4:26:36
  Speaker 4: an evening, mister Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which
• 4:26:41
  Speaker 4: is just before pay day, So it would suit me
• 4:26:43
  Speaker 4: very well to earn a little in the mornings. Besides,
• 4:26:46
  Speaker 4: I knew that my assistant was a good man, and
• 4:26:49
  Speaker 4: that he would see to anything that turned up. That
• 4:26:53
  Speaker 4: would suit me very well, said I, and the pay
• 4:26:57
  Speaker 4: is four pounds a week, and the work is purely nominal.
• 4:27:03
  Speaker 4: What do you call purely nominal? Well, you have to
• 4:27:07
  Speaker 4: be in the office, or at least in the building
• 4:27:09
  Speaker 4: the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole
• 4:27:12
  Speaker 4: position forever. The will is very clear upon that point.
• 4:27:16
  Speaker 4: You don't comply with the conditions if you budge from
• 4:27:19
  Speaker 4: the office during that time. It's only four hours a day,
• 4:27:24
  Speaker 4: and I should not think of leaving.
• 4:27:25
  Speaker 2: Said I.
• 4:27:27
  Speaker 4: No excuse will avail, said mister duncan Ross neither sickness,
• 4:27:32
  Speaker 4: nor business nor anything else. There you must stay or
• 4:27:36
  Speaker 4: you lose your billet. And the work is to copy
• 4:27:41
  Speaker 4: out the Encyclopedia Britannica. There is the first volume of
• 4:27:45
  Speaker 4: it in that press. You must find your own ink,
• 4:27:48
  Speaker 4: pens and blotting paper, but we provide this table and chair.
• 4:27:52
  Speaker 4: Will you be ready tomorrow? Certainly? I answered, Then good bye,
• 4:28:00
  Speaker 4: mister Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you once more
• 4:28:03
  Speaker 4: on the important position which you have been fortunate enough
• 4:28:06
  Speaker 4: to gain. He bowed me out of the room, and
• 4:28:10
  Speaker 4: I went home with my assistant, hardly knowing what to
• 4:28:13
  Speaker 4: say or do. I was so pleased at my own
• 4:28:16
  Speaker 4: good fortune. Well, I thought over the matter all day,
• 4:28:21
  Speaker 4: and by evening I was in low spirits again, for
• 4:28:24
  Speaker 4: I had quite persuaded myself that the whole affair must
• 4:28:27
  Speaker 4: be some great hoax or fraud. Though what its object
• 4:28:31
  Speaker 4: might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past
• 4:28:35
  Speaker 4: belief that anyone could make such a will, or that
• 4:28:38
  Speaker 4: they would pay such a sum for doing anything so
• 4:28:41
  Speaker 4: simple as copying out the Encyclopedia Britannica. Vincent Spawling did
• 4:28:46
  Speaker 4: what he could to cheer me up, but by bedtime
• 4:28:49
  Speaker 4: I had reasoned myself out of the whole thing. However,
• 4:28:52
  Speaker 4: in the morning I determined to have a look at
• 4:28:55
  Speaker 4: it anyhow so I bought a penny bottle of ink,
• 4:28:59
  Speaker 4: and with a quill pen and seven sheets of foolscap paper,
• 4:29:02
  Speaker 4: I started off for Pope's court. Well, to my surprise
• 4:29:07
  Speaker 4: and delight, everything was as right as possible. The table
• 4:29:11
  Speaker 4: was set out ready for me, and mister duncan Ross
• 4:29:14
  Speaker 4: was there to see that I got fairly to work.
• 4:29:17
  Speaker 4: He started me off upon the letter A, and then
• 4:29:20
  Speaker 4: he left me, but he would drop in from time
• 4:29:22
  Speaker 4: to time to see that all was right with me.
• 4:29:25
  Speaker 4: At two o'clock, he bade me good day, complimented me
• 4:29:29
  Speaker 4: upon the amount that I had written, and locked the
• 4:29:31
  Speaker 4: door of the office after me. This went on day
• 4:29:36
  Speaker 4: after day, mister Holmes, and on Saturday the manager came
• 4:29:39
  Speaker 4: in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my week's work.
• 4:29:44
  Speaker 4: It was the same next week, and the same the
• 4:29:46
  Speaker 4: week after. Every morning I was there at ten, and
• 4:29:50
  Speaker 4: every afternoon I left at two. By degrees, mister Duncan
• 4:29:54
  Speaker 4: Ross took to coming in only once of a morning,
• 4:29:57
  Speaker 4: and then after a time he did not come in
• 4:29:59
  Speaker 4: at all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave
• 4:30:02
  Speaker 4: the room for an instant, for I was not sure
• 4:30:05
  Speaker 4: when he might come. And the billet was such a
• 4:30:07
  Speaker 4: good one and suited me so well that I would
• 4:30:10
  Speaker 4: not risk the loss of it. Eight weeks passed away
• 4:30:15
  Speaker 4: like this, and I had written about abbots and archery,
• 4:30:19
  Speaker 4: and armor, and architecture and attica, and hoped with diligence
• 4:30:24
  Speaker 4: that I might get on to the bees before very long.
• 4:30:27
  Speaker 4: It cost me something in fool's cap, and I had
• 4:30:30
  Speaker 4: pretty nearly filled a shelf with my writings, and then
• 4:30:34
  Speaker 4: suddenly the whole business came to an end, to an end, yes, sir,
• 4:30:41
  Speaker 4: and no later than this morning. I went to my
• 4:30:44
  Speaker 4: work as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was
• 4:30:47
  Speaker 4: shut and locked with a little square of cardboard hammered
• 4:30:50
  Speaker 4: on to the middle of the panel with attack. Here
• 4:30:53
  Speaker 4: it is, and you can read for yourself. He held
• 4:30:58
  Speaker 4: up a piece of white cardboard about the size of
• 4:31:00
  Speaker 4: a sheet of note paper. It read in this fashion,
• 4:31:05
  Speaker 4: the Red Headed League is dissolved. October ninth, eighteen ninety
• 4:31:12
  Speaker 4: Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the
• 4:31:16
  Speaker 4: rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the
• 4:31:19
  Speaker 4: affair so completely overtopped every other consideration that we both
• 4:31:23
  Speaker 4: burst out into a roar of laughter. I cannot see
• 4:31:27
  Speaker 4: that there is anything very funny, cried our client, flushing
• 4:31:31
  Speaker 4: up to the roots of his flaming head. If you
• 4:31:34
  Speaker 4: can do nothing better than laugh at me, I can
• 4:31:36
  Speaker 4: go elsewhere. No, no, cried Holmes, shoving him back into
• 4:31:41
  Speaker 4: the chair from which he had half risen. I really
• 4:31:44
  Speaker 4: wouldn't miss your case for the world. It is most
• 4:31:47
  Speaker 4: refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you will excuse my
• 4:31:51
  Speaker 4: saying so, something just a little funny about it. Pray
• 4:31:55
  Speaker 4: what steps did you take when you found the card
• 4:31:57
  Speaker 4: upon the door? I was staggered, Sir, I did not
• 4:32:02
  Speaker 4: know what to do. Then I called at the offices round,
• 4:32:05
  Speaker 4: but none of them seemed to know anything about it.
• 4:32:08
  Speaker 4: Finally I went to the landlord, who is an accountant
• 4:32:11
  Speaker 4: living on the ground floor, and I asked him if
• 4:32:14
  Speaker 4: he could tell me what had become of the red
• 4:32:16
  Speaker 4: headed league. He said that he had never heard of
• 4:32:19
  Speaker 4: any such body. Then I asked him who mister Duncan
• 4:32:23
  Speaker 4: Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Well,
• 4:32:29
  Speaker 4: said I, the gentleman at number four, what the red
• 4:32:34
  Speaker 4: headed man?
• 4:32:35
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 4:32:37
  Speaker 4: Oh, said he. His name was William Morris. He was
• 4:32:40
  Speaker 4: a solicitor and was using my room as a temporary
• 4:32:43
  Speaker 4: convenience until his new premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.
• 4:32:48
  Speaker 4: Where could I find him?
• 4:32:51
  Speaker 2: Oh?
• 4:32:51
  Speaker 4: At his new offices. He did tell me the address, yes,
• 4:32:54
  Speaker 4: seventeen King Edward Street, near Saint Paul's. I started off
• 4:32:59
  Speaker 4: miss mister Holmes, But when I got to that address,
• 4:33:02
  Speaker 4: it was a manufactory of artificial knee caps, and no
• 4:33:06
  Speaker 4: one in it had ever heard of either mister William
• 4:33:08
  Speaker 4: Morris or mister Duncan Ross. And what did you do, then,
• 4:33:14
  Speaker 4: asked Holmes. I went home to Saxe Coburg Square, and
• 4:33:19
  Speaker 4: I took the advice of my assistant, but he could
• 4:33:22
  Speaker 4: not help me in any way. He could only say
• 4:33:24
  Speaker 4: that if I waited, I should hear by post. But
• 4:33:27
  Speaker 4: that was not quite good enough, mister Holmes. I did
• 4:33:29
  Speaker 4: not wish to lose such a place without a struggle.
• 4:33:32
  Speaker 4: So as I had heard that you were good enough
• 4:33:34
  Speaker 4: to give advice to poor folk who were in need
• 4:33:37
  Speaker 4: of it, I came right away to you, and you
• 4:33:41
  Speaker 4: did very wisely.
• 4:33:43
  Speaker 2: Said Holmes.
• 4:33:44
  Speaker 4: Your case is an exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall
• 4:33:47
  Speaker 4: be happy to look into it. From what you have
• 4:33:50
  Speaker 4: told me, I think that it is possible that graver
• 4:33:53
  Speaker 4: issues hang from it than might, at first sight appear
• 4:33:58
  Speaker 4: grave enough, said mister job As Wilson. Why I have
• 4:34:02
  Speaker 4: lost four pounds a week? As far as you are
• 4:34:07
  Speaker 4: personally concerned, remarked Holmes, I do not see that you
• 4:34:11
  Speaker 4: have any grievance against this extraordinary league. On the contrary,
• 4:34:15
  Speaker 4: you are, as I understand, richer by some thirty pounds,
• 4:34:19
  Speaker 4: to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have
• 4:34:22
  Speaker 4: gained on every subject which comes under the letter A.
• 4:34:25
  Speaker 4: You have lost nothing by them, no, sir, But I
• 4:34:29
  Speaker 4: want to find out about them and who they are,
• 4:34:31
  Speaker 4: and what their object was in playing this prank. If
• 4:34:34
  Speaker 4: it was a prank upon me, it was a pretty
• 4:34:37
  Speaker 4: expensive joke for them, for it cost them two and
• 4:34:40
  Speaker 4: thirty pounds. We shall endeavor to clear up these.
• 4:34:45
  Speaker 2: Points for you.
• 4:34:46
  Speaker 4: And first, one or two questions, mister Wilson, this assistant
• 4:34:50
  Speaker 4: of yours who first called your attention to the advertisement?
• 4:34:53
  Speaker 4: How long had he been with you? About a month? Then?
• 4:34:59
  Speaker 4: How did he come in answer to an advertisement? Was
• 4:35:04
  Speaker 4: he the only applicant?
• 4:35:06
  Speaker 3: No?
• 4:35:06
  Speaker 4: I had a dozen? Why did you pick him? Because
• 4:35:11
  Speaker 4: he was handy and would come cheap at half wages?
• 4:35:16
  Speaker 2: In fact? Yes, what is he like?
• 4:35:21
  Speaker 4: This? Vincent Spaulding? Small stout, built, very quick in his ways,
• 4:35:29
  Speaker 4: no hair on his face, though he's not short of thirty,
• 4:35:32
  Speaker 4: has a white splash of acid upon his forehead. Holmes
• 4:35:37
  Speaker 4: sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. I thought
• 4:35:42
  Speaker 4: as much, said he. Have you ever observed that his
• 4:35:45
  Speaker 4: ears are pierced for ear rings? Yes, sir, he told
• 4:35:50
  Speaker 4: me that a gipsy had done it for him.
• 4:35:52
  Speaker 2: When he was a lad.
• 4:35:54
  Speaker 4: Hum, said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought, he is
• 4:36:00
  Speaker 4: still with you. Oh, yes, sir, I have only just
• 4:36:03
  Speaker 4: left him. And has your business been attended to in
• 4:36:07
  Speaker 4: your absence. Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very
• 4:36:12
  Speaker 4: much to do of a morning. That will do, mister Wilson,
• 4:36:17
  Speaker 4: I shall be happy to give you an opinion upon
• 4:36:19
  Speaker 4: the subject in the course of a day or two.
• 4:36:22
  Speaker 4: To day is Saturday, and I hope that by Monday
• 4:36:25
  Speaker 4: we may come to a conclusion. Well, Watson, said Holmes,
• 4:36:30
  Speaker 4: when our visitor had left us, What do you make
• 4:36:33
  Speaker 4: of it all? I make nothing of it, I answered, frankly.
• 4:36:38
  Speaker 4: It is a most mysterious business. As a rule, said Holmes,
• 4:36:45
  Speaker 4: the more bizarre a thing is, the less mysterious it
• 4:36:48
  Speaker 4: proves to be. It is your commonplace featureless crimes, which
• 4:36:53
  Speaker 4: are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the
• 4:36:57
  Speaker 4: most difficult to identify. But I'm must be prompt over
• 4:37:01
  Speaker 4: this matter. What are you going to do? Then? I
• 4:37:04
  Speaker 4: asked to smoke? He answered, it is quite a three
• 4:37:10
  Speaker 4: pipe problem, and I beg that you won't speak to
• 4:37:13
  Speaker 4: me for fifty minutes. He curled himself up in his chair,
• 4:37:18
  Speaker 4: with his thin knees drawn up to his hawk like nose,
• 4:37:22
  Speaker 4: and there he sat with his eyes closed and his
• 4:37:25
  Speaker 4: black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some
• 4:37:28
  Speaker 4: strange bird. I had come to the conclusion that he
• 4:37:33
  Speaker 4: had dropped asleep, and indeed was nodding myself, when he
• 4:37:36
  Speaker 4: suddenly sprang out of his chair with the gesture of
• 4:37:39
  Speaker 4: a man who has made up his mind, and put
• 4:37:41
  Speaker 4: his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Sarasate plays at the
• 4:37:46
  Speaker 4: Saint James Hall this afternoon. He remarked, what do you think, Watson,
• 4:37:50
  Speaker 4: Could your patience spare you for a few hours. I
• 4:37:55
  Speaker 4: have nothing to do to day. My practice is never
• 4:37:58
  Speaker 4: very absorbing. Then put on your hat and come. I
• 4:38:02
  Speaker 4: am going through the city first, and we can have
• 4:38:04
  Speaker 4: some lunch on the way. I observe that there is
• 4:38:07
  Speaker 4: a good deal of German music on the program, which
• 4:38:10
  Speaker 4: is rather more to my taste than Italian or French.
• 4:38:13
  Speaker 4: It is introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along.
• 4:38:19
  Speaker 4: We traveled by the underground as far as Aldersgate, and
• 4:38:22
  Speaker 4: a short walk took us to Saxe Coburg Square, the
• 4:38:26
  Speaker 4: scene of the singular story which we had listened to
• 4:38:29
  Speaker 4: in the morning. It was a poky, little shabby, genteel
• 4:38:33
  Speaker 4: place where four lines of dingy two storied brick houses
• 4:38:38
  Speaker 4: looked out into a small railed in enclosure, where a
• 4:38:42
  Speaker 4: lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded
• 4:38:45
  Speaker 4: laurel bushes made a hard fight against a smoke laden
• 4:38:48
  Speaker 4: and uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board
• 4:38:54
  Speaker 4: with job as Wilson in white letters. Upon a corner
• 4:38:58
  Speaker 4: house announced the place where our red headed client carried
• 4:39:02
  Speaker 4: on his business. Sherlock Holmes stepped in front of it
• 4:39:06
  Speaker 4: with his head on one side, and looked it all over,
• 4:39:10
  Speaker 4: with his eyes shining brightly between puckered lids. Then he
• 4:39:15
  Speaker 4: walked slowly up the street and then down again to
• 4:39:19
  Speaker 4: the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally he
• 4:39:23
  Speaker 4: returned to the pawnbrokers, and, having thumped vigorously upon the
• 4:39:27
  Speaker 4: pavement with his stick two or three times, he went
• 4:39:30
  Speaker 4: up to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened
• 4:39:35
  Speaker 4: by a bright looking, clean shaven young fellow who asked
• 4:39:38
  Speaker 4: him to step in. Thank you, said Holmes, I only
• 4:39:43
  Speaker 4: wished to ask you how you would go from here
• 4:39:45
  Speaker 4: to the strand third right, fourth left, answered the assistant
• 4:39:51
  Speaker 4: promptly closing the door. Smart fellow that observed Holmes as
• 4:39:57
  Speaker 4: we walked away. He is, in my judge, the fourth
• 4:40:01
  Speaker 4: smartest man in London, and for daring, I am not
• 4:40:05
  Speaker 4: sure that he has not a claim to be third.
• 4:40:07
  Speaker 4: I have known something of him before, evidently, said I,
• 4:40:13
  Speaker 4: Mister Wilson's assistant counts for a good deal in this
• 4:40:16
  Speaker 4: mystery of the red headed League. I am sure that
• 4:40:19
  Speaker 4: you inquired your way merely in order that you might
• 4:40:21
  Speaker 4: see him, not him? What then, the knees of his trousers?
• 4:40:31
  Speaker 4: And what did you see what I expected to see?
• 4:40:37
  Speaker 4: Why did you beat the pavement? My dear doctor, This
• 4:40:41
  Speaker 4: is a time for observation, not for talk. We are
• 4:40:45
  Speaker 4: spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe
• 4:40:49
  Speaker 4: Coburg Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie
• 4:40:52
  Speaker 4: behind it. The road in which we found ourselves as
• 4:40:57
  Speaker 4: we turned round the corner from the retired Saxe Coburg
• 4:41:00
  Speaker 4: Square presented as great a contrast to it as the
• 4:41:05
  Speaker 4: front of a picture does.
• 4:41:06
  Speaker 2: To the back.
• 4:41:08
  Speaker 4: It was one of the main arteries which conveyed the
• 4:41:10
  Speaker 4: traffic of the city to the north and west. The
• 4:41:14
  Speaker 4: roadway was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing
• 4:41:17
  Speaker 4: in a double tide inward and outward, while the footpaths
• 4:41:21
  Speaker 4: were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians. It was
• 4:41:26
  Speaker 4: difficult to realize, as we looked at the line of
• 4:41:29
  Speaker 4: fine shops and stately business premises, that they really abutted
• 4:41:33
  Speaker 4: on the other side, upon the faded and stagnant square
• 4:41:36
  Speaker 4: which we had just quitted. Let me see, said Holmes,
• 4:41:41
  Speaker 4: standing at the corner and glancing along the line. I
• 4:41:45
  Speaker 4: should like just to remember the order of the houses here.
• 4:41:48
  Speaker 4: It is a hobby of mine to have an exact
• 4:41:50
  Speaker 4: knowledge of London. There is Mortimer's, the Tobacconist, the little
• 4:41:55
  Speaker 4: newspaper shop, the Cobourg branch of the City and Suburban Bank,
• 4:42:00
  Speaker 4: the vegetarian restaurant, and mac Farland's carriage building depot that
• 4:42:05
  Speaker 4: carries us right on to the other block. And now, doctor,
• 4:42:09
  Speaker 4: we've done our work, so it's time we had some play,
• 4:42:13
  Speaker 4: a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off
• 4:42:16
  Speaker 4: to vile in Land, where all is sweetness and delicacy
• 4:42:20
  Speaker 4: and harmony, and there are no red headed clients to
• 4:42:24
  Speaker 4: vex us with their conundrums. My friend was an enthusiastic musician,
• 4:42:30
  Speaker 4: being himself not only a very capable performer, but a
• 4:42:33
  Speaker 4: composer of no ordinary merit. All the afternoon he sat
• 4:42:38
  Speaker 4: in the stalls, wrapped in the most perfect happiness, gently
• 4:42:43
  Speaker 4: waving his long, thin fingers in time to the music,
• 4:42:46
  Speaker 4: while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes
• 4:42:50
  Speaker 4: were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth hound, Holmes
• 4:42:54
  Speaker 4: the relentless, keen witted, ready handed criminal agent, as it
• 4:42:58
  Speaker 4: was possible to conceal in his singular character, the dual
• 4:43:05
  Speaker 4: nature alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and astuteness represented,
• 4:43:11
  Speaker 4: as I have often thought, the reaction against the poetic
• 4:43:15
  Speaker 4: and contemplative mood which occasionally predominated in him. The swing
• 4:43:21
  Speaker 4: of his nature took him from extreme languor to devouring energy.
• 4:43:25
  Speaker 4: And as I knew well, he was never so truly
• 4:43:28
  Speaker 4: formidable as when for days on end he had been
• 4:43:31
  Speaker 4: lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his black
• 4:43:35
  Speaker 4: letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the
• 4:43:39
  Speaker 4: chase would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant
• 4:43:43
  Speaker 4: reasoning power would rise to the level of intuition. Until
• 4:43:47
  Speaker 4: those who were unacquainted with his methods would look askance
• 4:43:50
  Speaker 4: at him, as on a man whose knowledge was not
• 4:43:52
  Speaker 4: that of other mortals. When I saw him that afternoon,
• 4:43:57
  Speaker 4: so enwrapped in the music at Saint James's Hall, I
• 4:44:00
  Speaker 4: felt that an evil time might be coming upon those
• 4:44:03
  Speaker 4: whom he had set himself to hunt down. You want
• 4:44:08
  Speaker 4: to go home, no doubt, doctor, he remarked, as we emerged. Yes,
• 4:44:14
  Speaker 4: it would be as well, and I have some business
• 4:44:18
  Speaker 4: to do which will take some hours. This business at
• 4:44:21
  Speaker 4: Coburg Square is serious. Why serious? A considerable crime is
• 4:44:29
  Speaker 4: in contemplation. I have every reason to believe that we
• 4:44:32
  Speaker 4: shall be in time to stop it. But to day
• 4:44:35
  Speaker 4: being Saturday, rather complicates matters. I shall want your help
• 4:44:39
  Speaker 4: to night. At what time ten will be early enough.
• 4:44:46
  Speaker 4: I shall be at Baker Street at ten very well,
• 4:44:50
  Speaker 4: And I say, doctor, there may be some little danger,
• 4:44:54
  Speaker 4: so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket. He
• 4:44:59
  Speaker 4: waved his hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in
• 4:45:02
  Speaker 4: an instant among the crowd. I trust that I am
• 4:45:07
  Speaker 4: not more dense than my neighbors. But I was always
• 4:45:10
  Speaker 4: oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my
• 4:45:13
  Speaker 4: dealings with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he
• 4:45:18
  Speaker 4: had heard. I had seen what he had seen, and
• 4:45:22
  Speaker 4: yet from his words it was evident that he saw
• 4:45:25
  Speaker 4: clearly not only what had happened, but what was about
• 4:45:29
  Speaker 4: to happen. While to me the whole business was still
• 4:45:32
  Speaker 4: confused and grotesque. As I drove home to my house
• 4:45:37
  Speaker 4: in Kensington, I thought over it all, from the extraordinary
• 4:45:41
  Speaker 4: story of the red headed copier of the Encyclopedia, down
• 4:45:45
  Speaker 4: to the visit at Saxe Coburg Square and the ominous
• 4:45:49
  Speaker 4: words with which he had parted from me. What was
• 4:45:53
  Speaker 4: this nocturnal expedition and why should I go? Armed? Where
• 4:45:58
  Speaker 4: were we going and what were we to do? I
• 4:46:01
  Speaker 4: had the hint from Holmes that this smooth faced pawnbroker's
• 4:46:05
  Speaker 4: assistant was a formidable man, a man who might play
• 4:46:09
  Speaker 4: a deep game. I tried to puzzle it out, but
• 4:46:12
  Speaker 4: gave up in despair and set the matter aside until
• 4:46:15
  Speaker 4: night should bring an explanation. It was a quarter past
• 4:46:20
  Speaker 4: nine when I started from home and made my way
• 4:46:23
  Speaker 4: across the park and so through Oxford Street to Baker Street.
• 4:46:28
  Speaker 4: Two Hansoms were standing at the door, and as I
• 4:46:31
  Speaker 4: entered the passage, I heard the sound of voices from above.
• 4:46:35
  Speaker 4: On entering his room, I found Holmes in animated conversation
• 4:46:39
  Speaker 4: with two men, one of whom I recognized as Peter Jones,
• 4:46:43
  Speaker 4: the official police agent, while the other was a long, thin,
• 4:46:47
  Speaker 4: sad faced man with a very shiny hat and an
• 4:46:51
  Speaker 4: oppressively respectable frock coat. Ha Our party is complete, said Holmes,
• 4:46:57
  Speaker 4: buttoning up his pea jacket and taking his heavy hunting
• 4:47:01
  Speaker 4: crop from the rack. Watson, I think you know mister
• 4:47:05
  Speaker 4: Jones of Scotland Yard. Let me introduce you to mister Merriwether,
• 4:47:09
  Speaker 4: who is to be our companion into night's adventure. We're
• 4:47:14
  Speaker 4: hunting in couples again, doctor. You see, said Jones in
• 4:47:17
  Speaker 4: his consequential way. Our friend here is a wonderful man
• 4:47:22
  Speaker 4: for starting a chase. All he wants is an old
• 4:47:24
  Speaker 4: dog to help him do the running down. I hope
• 4:47:29
  Speaker 4: a wild goose may not prove to be the end
• 4:47:31
  Speaker 4: of our chase, observed mister Merriweather gloomily. You may place
• 4:47:37
  Speaker 4: considerable confidence in mister Holmes, Sir, said the police agent loftily.
• 4:47:43
  Speaker 4: He has his own little methods which are if he
• 4:47:46
  Speaker 4: won't mind my saying so just a little too theoretical
• 4:47:50
  Speaker 4: and fantastic. But he has the makings of a detective
• 4:47:53
  Speaker 4: in him. It is not too much to say that
• 4:47:55
  Speaker 4: once or twice, as in that business of the sholto
• 4:47:59
  Speaker 4: murder and the ag treasure, he has been more nearly
• 4:48:02
  Speaker 4: correct than the official force. Oh, if you say so,
• 4:48:07
  Speaker 4: mister Jones, it is all right, said the stranger, with deference. Still,
• 4:48:14
  Speaker 4: I confess that I miss my rubber. It is the
• 4:48:17
  Speaker 4: first Saturday night for seven and twenty years that I
• 4:48:21
  Speaker 4: have not had my rubber. I think you will find,
• 4:48:24
  Speaker 4: said Sherlock Holmes, that you will play for a higher
• 4:48:28
  Speaker 4: stake to night than you have ever done yet, and
• 4:48:31
  Speaker 4: that the play will be more exciting for you, mister Merriwether.
• 4:48:35
  Speaker 4: The stake will be some thirty thousand pounds, and for you, Jones,
• 4:48:40
  Speaker 4: it will be the man upon whom you wish to
• 4:48:42
  Speaker 4: lay your hands, John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher and forger.
• 4:48:48
  Speaker 4: He's a young man, mister Merriwether, but he is at
• 4:48:50
  Speaker 4: the head of his profession, and I would rather have
• 4:48:53
  Speaker 4: my bracelets on him than on any criminal in London.
• 4:48:57
  Speaker 4: He is a remarkable man, is young John Clay. His
• 4:49:00
  Speaker 4: grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been
• 4:49:04
  Speaker 4: to Eden and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as
• 4:49:07
  Speaker 4: his fingers, and though we meet signs of him at
• 4:49:10
  Speaker 4: every turn, we never know where to find the man himself.
• 4:49:15
  Speaker 4: He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week and be
• 4:49:18
  Speaker 4: raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next.
• 4:49:22
  Speaker 4: I've been on his track for years and have never
• 4:49:25
  Speaker 4: set eyes on him yet. I hope that I may
• 4:49:29
  Speaker 4: have the pleasure of introducing you tonight. I've had one
• 4:49:32
  Speaker 4: or two little turns also with mister John Clay, and
• 4:49:35
  Speaker 4: I agree with you that he is at the head
• 4:49:37
  Speaker 4: of his profession. It is past ten, however, and quite
• 4:49:42
  Speaker 4: time that we started. If you two will take the
• 4:49:44
  Speaker 4: first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the second.
• 4:49:49
  Speaker 4: Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive
• 4:49:53
  Speaker 4: and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which
• 4:49:56
  Speaker 4: he had heard in the afternoon. We rattled through an
• 4:50:00
  Speaker 4: endless labyrinth of gas lit streets until we emerged into
• 4:50:04
  Speaker 4: Farrington Street. We are close there now, my friend remarked.
• 4:50:09
  Speaker 4: This fellow Merriweather is a bank director and personally interested
• 4:50:13
  Speaker 4: in the matter, I thought it as well to have
• 4:50:16
  Speaker 4: Jones with us. Also, he is not a bad fellow.
• 4:50:19
  Speaker 4: Though an absolute imbecile in his profession, he has one
• 4:50:24
  Speaker 4: positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and
• 4:50:27
  Speaker 4: as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws
• 4:50:30
  Speaker 4: upon any one. Here we are, and they are waiting
• 4:50:34
  Speaker 4: for us. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in
• 4:50:40
  Speaker 4: which we had found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs
• 4:50:43
  Speaker 4: were dismissed, and following the guidance of mister Merriweather, we
• 4:50:48
  Speaker 4: passed down a narrow passage and through a side door
• 4:50:51
  Speaker 4: which he opened for us. Within there was a small
• 4:50:55
  Speaker 4: corridor which ended in a very massive iron grate. This
• 4:50:59
  Speaker 4: also was opened and led down a flight of winding
• 4:51:02
  Speaker 4: stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gait. Mister Merriweather
• 4:51:09
  Speaker 4: stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us down
• 4:51:12
  Speaker 4: a dark, earth smelling passage, And so after opening a
• 4:51:16
  Speaker 4: third door into a huge vault or cellar, which was
• 4:51:20
  Speaker 4: piled all round with crates and massive boxes. You are
• 4:51:25
  Speaker 4: not very vulnerable from above, Holmes remarked, as he held
• 4:51:29
  Speaker 4: up the lantern and gazed about him. Nor from below,
• 4:51:34
  Speaker 4: said mister Merriwether, striking his stick upon the flags which
• 4:51:37
  Speaker 4: lined the floor. Why dear me, it sounds quite hollow,
• 4:51:41
  Speaker 4: he remarked, looking up in surprise. I must really ask
• 4:51:47
  Speaker 4: you to be a little more quiet, said Holmes, severely.
• 4:51:51
  Speaker 4: You have already imperiled the whole success of our expedition.
• 4:51:55
  Speaker 4: Might I beg that you would have the goodness to
• 4:51:57
  Speaker 4: sit down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?
• 4:52:02
  Speaker 4: The solemn mister Merriweather perched himself upon a crate, with
• 4:52:06
  Speaker 4: a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell
• 4:52:10
  Speaker 4: upon his knees upon the floor, and with the lantern
• 4:52:14
  Speaker 4: and a magnifying lens, began to examine minutely the cracks
• 4:52:18
  Speaker 4: between the stones. A few seconds sufficed to satisfy him,
• 4:52:24
  Speaker 4: for he sprang to his feet again and put his
• 4:52:26
  Speaker 4: glass in his pocket. We have at least an hour
• 4:52:31
  Speaker 4: before us, he remarked, for they can hardly take any
• 4:52:34
  Speaker 4: steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Then
• 4:52:38
  Speaker 4: they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they
• 4:52:40
  Speaker 4: do their work, the longer time they will have for
• 4:52:42
  Speaker 4: their escape. We are at present, doctor, as no doubt
• 4:52:47
  Speaker 4: you have divined in the cellar of the City branch
• 4:52:50
  Speaker 4: of one of the principal London banks. Mister Meriwether is
• 4:52:55
  Speaker 4: the chairman of directors, and he will explain to you
• 4:52:58
  Speaker 4: that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of
• 4:53:01
  Speaker 4: London should take a considerable interest in this cellar.
• 4:53:04
  Speaker 2: At present.
• 4:53:07
  Speaker 4: It is our French gold, whispered the director. We have
• 4:53:11
  Speaker 4: had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon
• 4:53:14
  Speaker 4: it your French gold. Yes, we had occasion some months
• 4:53:20
  Speaker 4: ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed for that purpose
• 4:53:24
  Speaker 4: thirty thousand napoleons from the Bank of France. It has
• 4:53:28
  Speaker 4: become known that we have never had an occasion to
• 4:53:31
  Speaker 4: unpack the money, and that it is still lying in
• 4:53:33
  Speaker 4: our cellar. The crate upon which I sit contains two
• 4:53:37
  Speaker 4: thousand napoleons packed between layers of lead foil. Our reserve
• 4:53:44
  Speaker 4: of bullion is much larger at present than is usually
• 4:53:47
  Speaker 4: kept in a single branch office. And the directors have
• 4:53:50
  Speaker 4: had misgivings upon the subject, which were very well justified,
• 4:53:55
  Speaker 4: observed Holmes. And now it is time that we arranged
• 4:54:00
  Speaker 4: our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters
• 4:54:03
  Speaker 4: will come to a head. In the meantime, mister Merriwether,
• 4:54:07
  Speaker 4: we must put the screen over that dark lantern and
• 4:54:12
  Speaker 4: sit in the dark. I am afraid so. I had
• 4:54:16
  Speaker 4: brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and I
• 4:54:19
  Speaker 4: thought that as we were a party, carey, you might
• 4:54:22
  Speaker 4: have your rubber after all. But I see that the
• 4:54:25
  Speaker 4: enemy's preparations have gone so far that we cannot risk
• 4:54:28
  Speaker 4: the presence of a light. And first of all, we
• 4:54:31
  Speaker 4: must choose our positions. These are daring men, and though
• 4:54:35
  Speaker 4: we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do
• 4:54:38
  Speaker 4: us some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand
• 4:54:41
  Speaker 4: behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those then,
• 4:54:46
  Speaker 4: when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly.
• 4:54:50
  Speaker 4: If they fire, Watson have no compunction about shooting them down.
• 4:54:55
  Speaker 4: I placed my revolver cocked upon the top of the
• 4:54:58
  Speaker 4: wooden case behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide
• 4:55:02
  Speaker 4: across the front of his lantern and left us in
• 4:55:05
  Speaker 4: pitch darkness, such an absolute darkness as I have never
• 4:55:09
  Speaker 4: before experienced. The smell of hot metal remained to assure
• 4:55:14
  Speaker 4: us that the light was still there, ready to flash
• 4:55:17
  Speaker 4: out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves
• 4:55:22
  Speaker 4: worked up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something
• 4:55:25
  Speaker 4: depressing and subduing in the sudden gloom and in the cold,
• 4:55:29
  Speaker 4: dank air of the vault. They have but one retreat,
• 4:55:34
  Speaker 4: whispered Holmes. That is back through the house into Saxe
• 4:55:38
  Speaker 4: Coburg Square. I hope that you have done what I
• 4:55:41
  Speaker 4: asked you, Jones. I have an inspector and two officers
• 4:55:46
  Speaker 4: waiting at the front door. Then we have stopped all
• 4:55:49
  Speaker 4: the holes, and now we must be silent and wait.
• 4:55:54
  Speaker 4: What a time it seemed from comparing notes afterwards, it
• 4:55:58
  Speaker 4: was but an hour and a quarter. Yet it appeared
• 4:56:01
  Speaker 4: to me that the night must have almost gone, and
• 4:56:04
  Speaker 4: the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs were weary
• 4:56:08
  Speaker 4: and stiff, for I feared to change my position. Yet
• 4:56:11
  Speaker 4: my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension,
• 4:56:15
  Speaker 4: and my hearing was so acute that I could not
• 4:56:17
  Speaker 4: only hear the gentle breathing of my companions, but I
• 4:56:21
  Speaker 4: could distinguish the deeper, heavier in breath of the bulky
• 4:56:24
  Speaker 4: Jones from the thin sighing note of the bank director.
• 4:56:29
  Speaker 4: From my position, I could look over the case in
• 4:56:32
  Speaker 4: the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the
• 4:56:36
  Speaker 4: glint of a light. At first it was but a
• 4:56:40
  Speaker 4: lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then it lengthened out
• 4:56:45
  Speaker 4: until it became a yellow line, And then, without any
• 4:56:48
  Speaker 4: warning or sound, a gash seemed to open, and a
• 4:56:52
  Speaker 4: hand appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about
• 4:56:58
  Speaker 4: in the center of the little area of life. For
• 4:57:02
  Speaker 4: a minute or more, the hand, with its writhing fingers,
• 4:57:06
  Speaker 4: protruded out of the floor. Then it was withdrawn as
• 4:57:09
  Speaker 4: suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again, save
• 4:57:13
  Speaker 4: the single lurid spark, which marked a chink between the stones.
• 4:57:18
  Speaker 4: Its disappearance, however, was but momentary, with a rending, tearing sound,
• 4:57:23
  Speaker 4: one of the broad white stones turned over upon its
• 4:57:26
  Speaker 4: side and left a square, gaping hole through which streamed
• 4:57:31
  Speaker 4: the light of a lantern.
• 4:57:34
  Speaker 2: Over the edge.
• 4:57:35
  Speaker 4: There peeped a clean cut, boyish face which looked keenly
• 4:57:39
  Speaker 4: about it, and then, with a hand on either side
• 4:57:42
  Speaker 4: of the aperture, drew itself shoulder high and waist high,
• 4:57:46
  Speaker 4: until one knee rested upon the edge. In another instant,
• 4:57:51
  Speaker 4: he stood at the side of the hole and was
• 4:57:53
  Speaker 4: hauling after him a companion lithe and small like himself,
• 4:57:57
  Speaker 4: with a pale face and a shock of very red hair.
• 4:58:01
  Speaker 4: It's all clear, he whispered, Have you the chisel and
• 4:58:05
  Speaker 4: the bags, Great Scott, jump, Archie jump, and I'll swing
• 4:58:09
  Speaker 4: for it, Sherlock. Holmes had sprung out and seized the
• 4:58:13
  Speaker 4: intruder by the collar. The other dived down the hole,
• 4:58:16
  Speaker 4: and I heard the sound of rending cloth as Jones
• 4:58:19
  Speaker 4: clutched at his skirts. The light flashed upon the barrel
• 4:58:22
  Speaker 4: of a revolver, but Holmes's hunting crop came down on
• 4:58:25
  Speaker 4: the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone floor.
• 4:58:31
  Speaker 4: It's no use, John Clay, said Holmes, blandly, you have
• 4:58:36
  Speaker 4: no chance at all. So I see the other answered
• 4:58:41
  Speaker 4: with the utmost coolness. I fancy that my pal is
• 4:58:45
  Speaker 4: all right, though I see you have got his coat tails.
• 4:58:50
  Speaker 4: There are three men waiting for him at the door,
• 4:58:53
  Speaker 4: said Holmes. Oh, indeed, you seem to have done the
• 4:58:57
  Speaker 4: thing very completely. I must compliment you, and I you,
• 4:59:02
  Speaker 4: Holmes answered, Your red headed idea was very new and effective.
• 4:59:08
  Speaker 4: You will see your pal again presently, said Jones. He
• 4:59:11
  Speaker 4: is quicker at climbing down holes than I am just
• 4:59:14
  Speaker 4: hold out while I fix the derbies. I beg that
• 4:59:18
  Speaker 4: you will not touch me with your filthy hands, remarked
• 4:59:22
  Speaker 4: our prisoner, as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. You
• 4:59:26
  Speaker 4: may not be aware that I have royal blood in
• 4:59:28
  Speaker 4: my veins. Have the goodness also when you address me,
• 4:59:31
  Speaker 4: always to say sir and please all right, said Jones,
• 4:59:37
  Speaker 4: with a stare and a stinger. Well, will you please,
• 4:59:40
  Speaker 4: sir march upstairs where we can get a cab to
• 4:59:44
  Speaker 4: carry your highness to the police station. That is better,
• 4:59:49
  Speaker 4: said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to
• 4:59:54
  Speaker 4: the three of us and walked quietly off in the
• 4:59:56
  Speaker 4: custody of the detective. Really, mister Holmes, said mister Merriwether,
• 5:00:03
  Speaker 4: as we followed them from the cellar. I do not
• 5:00:06
  Speaker 4: know how the bank can thank you or repay you.
• 5:00:09
  Speaker 4: There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated
• 5:00:12
  Speaker 4: in the most complete manner one of the most determined
• 5:00:15
  Speaker 4: attempts at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience.
• 5:00:23
  Speaker 4: I have had one or two little scores of my
• 5:00:25
  Speaker 4: own to settle with, mister John Clay, said Holmes. I
• 5:00:29
  Speaker 4: have been at some small expense over this matter, which
• 5:00:33
  Speaker 4: I shall expect the bank to refund. But beyond that
• 5:00:36
  Speaker 4: I am amply repaid by having had an experience which
• 5:00:39
  Speaker 4: is in many ways unique, and by hearing the very
• 5:00:43
  Speaker 4: remarkable narrative of the red Headed League. You see Watson,
• 5:00:48
  Speaker 4: he explained in the early hours of the morning, as
• 5:00:51
  Speaker 4: we sat over a glass of whiskey and soda in
• 5:00:53
  Speaker 4: Baker Street, it was perfectly obvious from the first that
• 5:00:58
  Speaker 4: the only possible object of this rather fantastic business for
• 5:01:01
  Speaker 4: the advertisement of the league and the copying of the encyclopedia,
• 5:01:06
  Speaker 4: must be to get this not over bright pawnbroker out
• 5:01:09
  Speaker 4: of the way for a number of hours every day.
• 5:01:13
  Speaker 4: It was a curious way of managing it, but really
• 5:01:15
  Speaker 4: it would be difficult to suggest a better The method was,
• 5:01:20
  Speaker 4: no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the color
• 5:01:23
  Speaker 4: of his accomplice's hair. The four pounds a week was
• 5:01:27
  Speaker 4: a lure which must draw him, and what was it
• 5:01:30
  Speaker 4: to them who were playing for thousands? They put in
• 5:01:33
  Speaker 4: the advertisement. One rogue has the temporary office, the other
• 5:01:38
  Speaker 4: rogue incites the man to apply for it, and together
• 5:01:41
  Speaker 4: they managed to secure his absence every morning in the week.
• 5:01:47
  Speaker 4: From the time that I heard of the assistant having
• 5:01:49
  Speaker 4: come for half wages, it was obvious to me that
• 5:01:52
  Speaker 4: he had some strong motive for securing the situation. But
• 5:01:57
  Speaker 4: how could you guess what the motive was us Had
• 5:02:01
  Speaker 4: there been a woman in the house, I should have
• 5:02:03
  Speaker 4: suspected a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of
• 5:02:08
  Speaker 4: the question. The man's business was a small one, and
• 5:02:12
  Speaker 4: there was nothing in his house which could account for
• 5:02:14
  Speaker 4: such elaborate preparations and such an expenditure as they were at.
• 5:02:20
  Speaker 4: It must then be something out of the house.
• 5:02:23
  Speaker 2: What could it be?
• 5:02:25
  Speaker 4: I thought of the assistant's fondness for photography and his
• 5:02:29
  Speaker 4: trick of vanishing into the cellar. The cellar, there was
• 5:02:33
  Speaker 4: the end of this tangled clue. Then I made inquiries
• 5:02:37
  Speaker 4: as to this mysterious assistant, and found that I had
• 5:02:40
  Speaker 4: to deal with one of the coolest and most daring
• 5:02:43
  Speaker 4: criminals in London. He was doing something in the cellar,
• 5:02:48
  Speaker 4: something which took many hours a day for months on end.
• 5:02:51
  Speaker 4: What could it be? Once more, I could think of
• 5:02:54
  Speaker 4: nothing save that he was running a tunnel to some
• 5:02:57
  Speaker 4: other building. So far I had got when we went
• 5:03:03
  Speaker 4: to visit the scene of action. I surprised you by
• 5:03:06
  Speaker 4: beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was ascertaining
• 5:03:10
  Speaker 4: whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. It
• 5:03:14
  Speaker 4: was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and
• 5:03:17
  Speaker 4: as I hoped, the assistant answered it. We have had
• 5:03:21
  Speaker 4: some skirmishes, but we had never set eyes upon each
• 5:03:23
  Speaker 4: other before. I hardly looked.
• 5:03:26
  Speaker 2: At his face.
• 5:03:27
  Speaker 4: His knees were what I wished to see. You must
• 5:03:31
  Speaker 4: yourself have remarked how worn, wrinkled and stained they were.
• 5:03:36
  Speaker 4: They spoke of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining
• 5:03:40
  Speaker 4: point was what they were burrowing for. I walked round
• 5:03:44
  Speaker 4: the corner, saw the City and Suburban Bank abutted on
• 5:03:47
  Speaker 4: our friend's premises, and felt that I had solved my problem.
• 5:03:53
  Speaker 4: When you drove home after the concert, I called upon
• 5:03:55
  Speaker 4: Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank directors,
• 5:03:59
  Speaker 4: with the result that you have seen, And how could
• 5:04:03
  Speaker 4: you tell that they would make their attempt to night?
• 5:04:05
  Speaker 4: I asked, Well, when they closed their league offices, that
• 5:04:10
  Speaker 4: was a sign that they cared no longer about mister
• 5:04:13
  Speaker 4: Jabez Wilson's presence. In other words, that they had completed
• 5:04:17
  Speaker 4: their tunnel. But it was essential that they should use
• 5:04:21
  Speaker 4: it soon, as it might be discovered or the bullion
• 5:04:25
  Speaker 4: might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than any
• 5:04:29
  Speaker 4: other day, as it would give them two days for
• 5:04:31
  Speaker 4: their escape. For all these reasons, I expected them to
• 5:04:35
  Speaker 4: come to night. You reasoned it out beautifully, I exclaimed,
• 5:04:41
  Speaker 4: in unfeigned admiration. It is so long a chain, and
• 5:04:46
  Speaker 4: yet every link rings true. It saved me from anui,
• 5:04:52
  Speaker 4: he answered, yawning. Alas I already feel it closing in
• 5:04:56
  Speaker 4: upon me. My life is spent in one long effort
• 5:05:00
  Speaker 4: to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little problems
• 5:05:05
  Speaker 4: help me to do so, and you are a benefactor
• 5:05:09
  Speaker 4: of the race, said I. He shrugged his shoulders. Well, perhaps,
• 5:05:16
  Speaker 4: after all, it is of some little use, he remarked.
• 5:05:22
  Speaker 4: Lome Syrien Louve setout, as Gustave Flaubert wrote, to your
• 5:05:28
  Speaker 4: sand