1
00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:07,639
The tin box. If I were
you, Perkins, said mister Booth one

2
00:00:07,719 --> 00:00:11,839
evening in the smoking room, I
should take care what I was about with

3
00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:20,839
that little widow. You mean,
Missus Williams, I inquired, Oh is

4
00:00:20,879 --> 00:00:26,280
that her name? Remarked my friend, carelessly refilling his pipe with deliberation.

5
00:00:28,399 --> 00:00:35,399
Why you know it is, I
returned rather sharply. I have a bad

6
00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:40,840
memory for names, said mister Booth, with a slight shrug. You seem

7
00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:47,880
to be getting quite intimate. I
am decently civil to her, I replied

8
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:55,280
significantly, and I have avoided her. Yes, that's quite true, said

9
00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:03,240
mister Booth, smiling. Perhaps I
instinctively share mister Weller Senior's antipathy to widows.

10
00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:11,560
Anyhow, I don't like the face
of this one. I was astonished

11
00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:17,239
and rather disturbed at this. I
had great confidence in my friend's judgment.

12
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:23,079
But when I recalled to mind the
refined and delicate features, the soft,

13
00:01:23,159 --> 00:01:27,239
trustful brown eyes, the gentle voice, and the timid, shrinking manner of

14
00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:33,879
the unfortunate lady he referred to,
I was filled with indignation at his cynical

15
00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:40,879
attitude. Missus Williams had resided at
Elvira House for about a week or ten

16
00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:46,239
days with her only child, a
pretty little girl of five years old,

17
00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,680
and owing to the accident of being
placed next to her at the dinner table,

18
00:01:52,599 --> 00:01:57,280
I had struck up an acquaintance with
her, for she was neither remarkably

19
00:01:57,319 --> 00:02:04,439
good looking nor particular young, and
my predilection was rather due to sympathy and

20
00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:12,199
good nature than to admiration for her
personal charms. Besides, she was apparently

21
00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:17,000
the last person to quote attention for
her. Whole thoughts seemed centered upon her

22
00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:24,599
child, whom she evidently adored.
I fancy she maneuvered a little to get

23
00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:29,560
put next to you at the table, said mister Booth, watching me quietly.

24
00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:35,759
You wouldn't say that if you knew
her better, I retorted hotly.

25
00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:45,039
You think it was an accident,
Well, perhaps, said my companion in

26
00:02:45,039 --> 00:02:52,960
his enigmatical way. I'm sure of
it, I said emphatically. Missus Nicks

27
00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:59,599
arranged it all right, old fellow. It is no concern of mine,

28
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:05,360
said mister Booth, good humoredly.
Only I shouldn't lend her any more money

29
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,680
if I were you, How do
you know I have done so? I

30
00:03:09,759 --> 00:03:15,080
inquired, brandoning. You asked me
to change your check the other day.

31
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:22,280
It is a mere guess. But
putting two and two together, you happen

32
00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:27,479
to be ripe. For once,
I interrupted with some vexation. I lent

33
00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,800
her ten pounds till her dividends fall
due on Tuesday next. I suppose you

34
00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:39,080
are going to suggest that the money
is lost. It depends upon her circumstances,

35
00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:46,599
he replied, nodding his head.
Well do you know anything about her?

36
00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:53,800
Come Booth, out with it,
I exclaimed, irritably. I how

37
00:03:53,840 --> 00:04:00,479
should, I said, he raising
his eyebrows. I have that I seen

38
00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:08,039
her before in my life. She's
the widow of mister John Williams, who

39
00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:14,199
died about two years ago. He
lived at Gateshead and was a wholesale tobacconist.

40
00:04:15,719 --> 00:04:19,319
He left everything to her by his
will. I explained, to show

41
00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:25,879
that I was not wholly ignorant of
the lady's affairs. How do you know,

42
00:04:26,399 --> 00:04:31,360
inquired mister Booth. She showed me
a probate, I replied, I

43
00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:38,199
didn't ask her, but when she
requested me to accommodate her with that trifle

44
00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:46,319
of her money, she volunteered to
explain how she was situated. I see,

45
00:04:46,519 --> 00:04:53,959
observed mister Booth, apparently impressed.
Unfortunately, the poor lady was left

46
00:04:54,079 --> 00:04:58,720
very badly off. I went on, mollified by the change in my friend's

47
00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:03,160
manner, which was now more sympathetic, And that is what now brings her

48
00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:09,759
up to town. She has a
fixed belief that her husband, who seems

49
00:05:09,759 --> 00:05:15,759
to have been somewhat eccentric in his
later days, deposited some money or securities

50
00:05:15,879 --> 00:05:21,839
at some bank in London or elsewhere. Has she any clue, inquired mister

51
00:05:21,879 --> 00:05:29,000
Booth, manifestly interested, Not that
I know of. She is very reticent,

52
00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:34,639
I replied. She hasn't asked for
your assistance. Then said my friend,

53
00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:40,360
no, of course I should be
pleased to help if I could,

54
00:05:40,879 --> 00:05:46,319
I said, with a touch of
defiance in my tone. Mister Booth did

55
00:05:46,319 --> 00:05:50,120
not gainsay me this time. Either
he was tired of the subject, or

56
00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:57,519
else he perceived that I rather resented
his interference. At all events, he

57
00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,879
relapsed into one of his silent mood
woods in which he was wont to indulge,

58
00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:08,120
and sat puffing at his pipe with
his eyes fixed on the fire for

59
00:06:08,199 --> 00:06:14,680
the remainder of the evening, without
joining in general conversation, which presently ensued

60
00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:20,360
as the other guests strolled in.
I was annoyed with him, because I

61
00:06:20,439 --> 00:06:27,680
thought his opinion of poor little missus
Williams was unreasonably prejudiced and very unjust.

62
00:06:28,759 --> 00:06:33,439
Nevertheless, his warning was not quite
thrown away upon me, for I determined

63
00:06:33,519 --> 00:06:40,240
to observe her with closer attention.
The only result of this, however,

64
00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:46,680
was to convince me more firmly than
ever of her absolute good faith. Though

65
00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,600
I confess that I began to realize
that her refinement of speech and manner was

66
00:06:51,720 --> 00:07:00,079
partly assumed. In unguarded moments,
she occasionally dropped an aspirate, and when

67
00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,839
she grew a little excited in speaking
of her efforts to trace her husband's missing

68
00:07:04,959 --> 00:07:11,600
estate, she sometimes made use of
expressions which were suggestive of a humble origin.

69
00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:18,759
But these slight solecisms were hardly perceptible, and of course a defective education

70
00:07:19,199 --> 00:07:26,360
is at most a misfortune for the
rest. She continued to interest me greatly,

71
00:07:27,079 --> 00:07:31,160
and when punctually on the appointed day
she repaid me the ten pounds with

72
00:07:31,319 --> 00:07:39,639
many fervent expressions of gratitude. I
could not forbear exulting over my friend.

73
00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,879
That is all right, he said
laughingly on hearing the news. But looked

74
00:07:44,879 --> 00:07:48,079
a little shamefaced, as I thought, you needn't tell her. I gave

75
00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:56,800
you a friendly warning. Of course
not, I replied indignantly. Any news

76
00:07:56,839 --> 00:08:03,600
about her husband's property, he asked
carelessly. None. She has looked up

77
00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:09,920
all his London friends and done everything
she can, I answered. Why doesn't

78
00:08:09,959 --> 00:08:15,759
she advertise in the newspapers. She
did so more than a year ago,

79
00:08:15,839 --> 00:08:20,600
in the Times and other journals.
Have you anything to suggest, I inquired

80
00:08:20,759 --> 00:08:28,319
anxiously. No, don't, for
goodness sake, my dear fellow ask me

81
00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:33,080
to mix myself up in the lady's
affairs, he said, with more temper

82
00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,000
than he usually displayed. I would
rather you didn't even tell her. You

83
00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:45,559
have consulted me about them. I
promised this more readily because I suddenly remembered

84
00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:50,080
having once suggested to Missus Williams that
she should ask the advice of a friend

85
00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:56,799
of mine, having mister Booth in
my mind in her difficulty, and had

86
00:08:56,879 --> 00:09:03,960
been met by a decided and emphatic
refusal. The incident had made no impression

87
00:09:03,039 --> 00:09:07,879
on me at the time, by
the idea now occurred to me that perhaps

88
00:09:07,919 --> 00:09:15,360
Missus Williams had guessed whom I referred
to and had been moved by resentment at

89
00:09:15,399 --> 00:09:22,960
the marked coldness which mister Booth always
displayed towards her. I had assured him

90
00:09:22,039 --> 00:09:28,120
quite truthfully that missus Williams had never
asked me to assist her in her search,

91
00:09:28,039 --> 00:09:33,960
nor had I foreseen that she would
do so. But a few mornings

92
00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:39,000
afterwards, the youth who did the
valeting of the male portion of the establishment,

93
00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:43,960
entered my room while I was shaving, with an urgent message from the

94
00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:48,399
lady that she was waiting for me
in the drawing room and would be obliged

95
00:09:48,519 --> 00:09:52,879
if I would descend there as soon
as possible. I found the little widow

96
00:09:52,919 --> 00:09:58,639
looking very pale and excited, with
an open letter in her hand, which

97
00:09:58,639 --> 00:10:05,200
had arrived by the earth directly I
appeared. She flourished triumphantly a slip of

98
00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:11,759
blue paper, exclaiming, eagerly see
mister Perkins, what I have received this

99
00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:16,759
morning. My sister, who is
taking charge of my house at Gateshead,

100
00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:22,320
founded between the leaves of a book, Boswell's Life of Johnson, which she

101
00:10:22,399 --> 00:10:28,679
took out quite by chance from the
bookcase in the dining room. My poor

102
00:10:28,759 --> 00:10:33,919
husband was devoted to that work and
was constantly reading it during his illness.

103
00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:39,480
I am not much of a reader
myself, and if hadn't been for my

104
00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:46,519
sister, the paper might have remained
undiscovered for years. While Missus Williams was

105
00:10:46,519 --> 00:10:52,919
thus breathlessly explaining, I glanced at
the document, which was a form of

106
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:58,440
receipt or acknowledgment from Messrs Drake Crump
and Company, bankers of Fleet Street,

107
00:11:00,279 --> 00:11:03,919
for a tin box deposited with them
by her husband for safe custody on a

108
00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:11,559
specified date. I congratulate you,
I replied, thinking how attractive she looked

109
00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:18,639
in her excitement. It is indeed
a fortunate discovery. I knew it.

110
00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:24,120
I was sure he had done something
of the kind, exclaimed Missus Williams joyfully,

111
00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:31,000
but he was very secretive about his
affairs. Lately it became quite a

112
00:11:31,039 --> 00:11:35,279
mania with him. I shouldn't be
surprised to find the box contains property of

113
00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:43,120
great value. The receipt I see
is dated about six months before your husband

114
00:11:43,159 --> 00:11:48,519
died. I observed, Yes,
we were up in town then, staying

115
00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:56,320
in lodgings in Edward Square, Kensington, replied Missus Williams reflectively. I brought

116
00:11:56,399 --> 00:12:00,320
him to see a physician, though
nobody suspected at the time. I am

117
00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:05,279
the serious nature of his symptoms.
He used frequently to go out alone.

118
00:12:05,519 --> 00:12:11,000
And I suppose he got the box
from his broker's or from some lawyer.

119
00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:18,559
Anyhow, he deposited it with Drake
Crumpet Company. There is no doubt about

120
00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:24,519
that, I remarked, feeling quite
carried away by the widow's satisfaction. I

121
00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:31,639
suppose you will call upon them and
claim it at once. Yes, unless

122
00:12:33,279 --> 00:12:37,519
I really feel quite ashamed to ask
such a favor of you, mister Perkins.

123
00:12:37,399 --> 00:12:41,600
But I was going to say,
unless you would mind calling upon them

124
00:12:41,639 --> 00:12:48,200
in the first instance. The fact
is my little girl is not very well

125
00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:54,879
to day, and besides, this
delightful surprise has rather upset me. My

126
00:12:54,039 --> 00:12:58,679
head ached dreadfully, said Missus Williams, putting her white hand to her brow,

127
00:13:00,039 --> 00:13:05,960
but smiling bravely. Oh, I
shall be very pleased, I answered

128
00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:11,360
readily. You had better give me
the probate of your husband's bill. The

129
00:13:11,399 --> 00:13:18,000
banker will probably want to see that. Certainly, I'll go and fetch it.

130
00:13:18,519 --> 00:13:22,320
I am so very obliged to you, mister Perkins, said the widow,

131
00:13:22,879 --> 00:13:30,240
grasping my hand as she left the
room. Our interview thus terminated.

132
00:13:31,399 --> 00:13:37,000
Missus Williams brought down the official parchment, and armed with this, I hastened

133
00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:43,039
after breakfast to call upon Messrs Drake
Crump and Company, feeling quite interested and

134
00:13:43,159 --> 00:13:48,440
excited about the affair. I did
not have an opportunity of telling mister Booth

135
00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:54,519
of my errand he was late for
breakfast. I remember that I was impatient

136
00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,799
to be off so as to look
in at the bank on my way to

137
00:13:58,879 --> 00:14:05,399
business. I merely mention this,
because, as will appear later, he

138
00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:13,320
afterwards blamed me for not having confided
in him at this juncture. The banking

139
00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:18,440
establishment of Messrs Drake, Crump and
Company was a small private concern which has

140
00:14:18,519 --> 00:14:24,799
long since been absorbed by one of
those big joint stock undertakings. In those

141
00:14:24,879 --> 00:14:30,679
days, its affairs were conducted in
a dingy old house with barred windows,

142
00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:37,200
but half way down Fleet Street in
a leisurely sleepy kind of way. The

143
00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:41,799
cashier's office was in the front room, the staff consisting of three or four

144
00:14:41,919 --> 00:14:48,480
elderly clerks, and on presenting my
card, I was ushered into a gloomy

145
00:14:48,519 --> 00:14:52,679
little apartment at the back, where
sat a quaint, white headed old gentleman

146
00:14:52,840 --> 00:15:01,360
in knee breeches who was evidently one
of the partners. Dear me, this

147
00:15:01,559 --> 00:15:07,960
is very strange, he exclaimed.
When I had explained my business, mister

148
00:15:07,039 --> 00:15:16,840
Williams is dead, is he well? Well, we were wondering. We

149
00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:22,440
haven't heard anything about him for a
long time. He has been dead for

150
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:28,159
more than two years, I replied, two years. Eh, let me

151
00:15:28,279 --> 00:15:35,159
see, he observed, as he
rang a handbell upon the table. Mister

152
00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:41,679
Jameson, he added, as a
clerk appeared. When did we last hear

153
00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:46,759
from John Williams. He has not
drawn on his account for upwards of two

154
00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:54,039
years. His past book is here, answered the clerk. Oh, then

155
00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:58,159
he had a current account as well, I exclaimed, A small one,

156
00:15:58,399 --> 00:16:03,919
yes, replied the old gentleman.
What is the balance, mister Jameson,

157
00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:11,399
About one hundred and thirty pounds,
said the clerk. You see the past

158
00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,159
book being here and the receipt for
the box, mislaid. His widow had

159
00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:22,039
no clue, I explained eagerly.
Quite so, quite so, and this

160
00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,919
is the probate of his will,
hey, said the old gentleman, taking

161
00:16:26,919 --> 00:16:32,720
it up and holding it close to
his nose. I wonder you didn't see

162
00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,399
the advertisements in the papers, I
remarked. His widow knew he had property

163
00:16:37,519 --> 00:16:47,759
somewhere, but and she advertised extraordinary
that that should have escaped us. We

164
00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,879
always keep a lookout, said the
old gentleman, glancing through the probate.

165
00:16:52,480 --> 00:17:00,440
When did the advertisements appear? I
cannot tell you the date, Missus Williams

166
00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:07,000
will I answered, And you are
a friend of the widow's, inquired the

167
00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:12,720
old gentleman, looking at me pretty
keenly over his spectacles. Yes, Hm,

168
00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:19,359
the probate seems all right. She
is the sole executrix, I see.

169
00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,720
Of course, if she wants to
withdraw the money and take away the

170
00:17:23,759 --> 00:17:30,519
box, she must attend in person. You can identify her, I suppose,

171
00:17:30,559 --> 00:17:37,759
and verify her signature. Certainly,
Hm, you are mister John Perkins

172
00:17:37,839 --> 00:17:42,799
of the Monarchy Insurance Office, he
said, scrutinizing my card. Who is

173
00:17:42,839 --> 00:17:51,119
your present manager, mister Middleton?
To be sure I have the pleasure of

174
00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:57,680
knowing him making my compliments, said
the old man quaintly. I will I

175
00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:03,079
suppose Missus Williams can raw on the
account and have access to the box when

176
00:18:03,079 --> 00:18:08,160
she chooses, I inquired, Hm, hmm, I see the testitur was

177
00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:12,559
described in his will as of Gateshead, said the old gentleman. Doubtfully,

178
00:18:15,079 --> 00:18:21,240
that isn't the address in our box. He lived there and his widow lives

179
00:18:21,279 --> 00:18:26,359
there still, I replied. Missus
Williams tells me at the date of that

180
00:18:26,519 --> 00:18:33,119
deposit receipt they were residing in lodgings
in Edward Square, Kensington. Quite right,

181
00:18:33,839 --> 00:18:37,640
that is the address be gave.
Well, sir, he added,

182
00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:42,599
replying to my former question, as
everything seems satisfactory, if you will leave

183
00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:48,880
the probate for registration and call here
with the lady any time after twelve o'clock

184
00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:56,599
tomorrow, the box can be given
up good morning. I was very pleased

185
00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:02,920
for Missus William's sake to find that
everything straightforward, and the fact of there

186
00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:07,720
being a substantial sum of money to
the dead man's credit, which the widow

187
00:19:07,799 --> 00:19:14,240
evidently knew nothing about, would I
thought be some compensation in case the contents

188
00:19:14,319 --> 00:19:19,720
of the box should turn out to
be less valuable than she anticipated. Later

189
00:19:19,759 --> 00:19:25,440
in the day, my chief,
mister Middleton surprised me by coming up to

190
00:19:25,519 --> 00:19:30,200
my desk at the office and saying, mister Perkins, I have just answered

191
00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:37,319
an inquiry about you, an inquiry, I exclaimed, rather startled. Yes

192
00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:44,279
from Messrs Drake Crump and Company of
Fleet Street. Have you some private business

193
00:19:44,279 --> 00:19:48,160
with them, he asked, curiously, and not of my own, Sir,

194
00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:55,039
A lady in whose affairs I am
interested. All right, mister Perkins,

195
00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,319
I don't wish to inquire details,
he said, smiling at my embarrassment.

196
00:20:00,319 --> 00:20:03,839
I was, of course pleased to
out for your respectability and integrity.

197
00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,960
Thank you, sir, I replied, secretly, annoyed at the banker's inquisitiveness,

198
00:20:12,079 --> 00:20:17,079
I now perceived that I had been
more service to missus Williams than I

199
00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:22,359
had anticipated, having unconsciously acted as
a sort of reference for her, and

200
00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:27,839
thereby saved her perhaps some little trouble
with regard to identification. This gave an

201
00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:33,519
additional zest to the pleasure of being
able to make such a satisfactory report to

202
00:20:33,559 --> 00:20:37,440
her on my return, and I
am bound to say that the widow was

203
00:20:37,559 --> 00:20:42,799
duly grateful. She overwhelmed me with
expressions of thanks, and was really disposed

204
00:20:42,799 --> 00:20:48,599
to exaggerate my small civility. I
wrote a letter at her request to Messrs

205
00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:53,359
Drake Crump and Company, fixing an
appointment with them for two o'clock on the

206
00:20:53,400 --> 00:21:00,119
following afternoon, and appending a specimen
of Missus Billiant's signature, and of course

207
00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:06,720
I rapidly agreed to accompany her.
When I told mister Booth all this,

208
00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,759
he manifested considerable irritation, which,
in my surprise, I was foolish enough

209
00:21:11,799 --> 00:21:17,920
to attribute to a sort of jealousy, since I could imagine no other possible

210
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:22,599
cause for his ill humor. What
the deuce do you want go meddling with

211
00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:29,400
this woman's affairs for Perkins, he
said, sharply. What harm have I

212
00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:36,519
done? I exclaimed, harm?
Hum that remains to be seen, he

213
00:21:36,559 --> 00:21:42,319
growled, puffing angrily at his pipe. I cannot understand your prejudice against this

214
00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:48,640
poor lady, I said, getting
angry in my turn, I take no

215
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:56,559
interest in her whatever, said mister
Booth. That's no reason why I shouldn't.

216
00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:03,880
I retorted, Oh, go your
own way. Only remember that I

217
00:22:03,039 --> 00:22:07,559
warned you, said mister Booth,
dismissing the subject with an impatient shrug.

218
00:22:10,559 --> 00:22:15,359
We might almost have quarreled, but
I was really more amused than angry that

219
00:22:15,519 --> 00:22:22,359
my friend soon recovered his temper.
Nothing more was said between us about Missus

220
00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:29,240
Williams, and I attached so little
importance to mister Booth's vague warnings that it

221
00:22:29,319 --> 00:22:34,319
never even occurred to me to cancel
the appointment I had made Accordingly. The

222
00:22:34,319 --> 00:22:38,440
next day, at two o'clock,
I was waiting for the widow at the

223
00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:44,960
door of Messrs Drake, Crump and
Company's bank, as arranged, and being

224
00:22:45,079 --> 00:22:48,400
rather pressed to get back to my
office, I began to grow impatient as

225
00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:55,880
she did not appear. Ten twenty
forty minutes passed without any sign of her,

226
00:22:56,839 --> 00:22:59,920
and I was on the point of
leaving, thinking the lady had made

227
00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:03,839
a mistake, when I suddenly espied
her on the opposite side of the way,

228
00:23:04,759 --> 00:23:11,079
coming up the street from the direction
of Saint Paul's. She looked pale

229
00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:15,799
and fatigued, and as I hastened
to her assistance, I saw her glance

230
00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:22,559
nervously over her shoulder at a slouching, white bearded, ragged old beggar man

231
00:23:22,599 --> 00:23:27,759
who appeared to be following her.
What is the matter? Has anything happened?

232
00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,200
I inquired? Oh no, I
lost my way, that's all,

233
00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:38,799
said Missus Williams, with a nervous
laugh. Has that fellow been annoying you?

234
00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,920
I asked, lowering my voice.
As the old beggar slunk by hurriedly.

235
00:23:45,799 --> 00:23:52,319
That man exclaimed Missus Williams, glancing
after him. Oh no, I

236
00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:59,000
hadn't noticed him. I gave her
my arm and escorted her across the crowded

237
00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:03,559
road into the back. In the
parlor. At the back we found old

238
00:24:03,559 --> 00:24:08,480
mister Crump awaiting us, and on
a side table was a good sized tin

239
00:24:08,599 --> 00:24:15,559
box with Missus Williams's name inscribed upon
it on a paper label. There it

240
00:24:15,599 --> 00:24:22,079
is, exclaimed the widow, as
her eyes sparkled. I remember it now.

241
00:24:23,039 --> 00:24:29,839
I always wondered what became of it. Have you the key, madam,

242
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:34,359
inquired mister Crump, after greeting us
with the old fashioned courtesy and bowing

243
00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:41,119
very low to my companion. I
think so. At least I have one

244
00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,319
or two keys here which I haven't
been able to account for, said Missus

245
00:24:45,319 --> 00:24:51,039
Williams, producing her purse eagerly.
She selected one of the keys, and,

246
00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:56,920
crossing over to the box, succeeded
in opening it immediately. I only

247
00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,839
had a glimpse of the contents before
Missus Williams shut down the lid and relocked

248
00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:06,559
it, And as they were done
up in brown paper parcels or packages,

249
00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:14,240
I could form no idea of their
nature or value. I have prepared a

250
00:25:14,319 --> 00:25:17,759
check so that you can draw out
the money if you wish, said mister

251
00:25:17,799 --> 00:25:22,880
Crump. Thank you, replied Missus
Williams, seating herself at his desk and

252
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:30,240
affixing her signature to the draft.
Will you take it in cash, asked

253
00:25:30,279 --> 00:25:37,720
mister Crump. Yes, please in
notes and twenty pounds in gold, said

254
00:25:37,759 --> 00:25:42,160
the widow with a businesslike promptitude,
as she drew on her glove again.

255
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,759
Mister Crump summoned the cashier, to
whom he handed the draft with the necessary

256
00:25:49,799 --> 00:25:56,359
directions, to which I added a
request that the porter may be permitted to

257
00:25:56,400 --> 00:26:02,960
call a cab during the absence of
the Mister Crump observed in course of the

258
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,640
conversation, which naturally turned on the
late mister Williams eccentric conduct with regard to

259
00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:14,640
his property. By the way,
I have looked through the files of the

260
00:26:14,799 --> 00:26:21,559
Times for the advertisement, but I
couldn't find it. What advertisement, inquired

261
00:26:21,559 --> 00:26:27,000
Missus Williams. I understood from mister
Perkins that you had advertised in the papers

262
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:32,960
for information about your husband's missing estate, said mister Crump, looking at me.

263
00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:37,480
Oh, yes, so I did, answered the widow, coloring slightly.

264
00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:45,440
What was the date asked mister Crump. Really, I cannot at the

265
00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,920
moment recollect. I can send you
a copy of it when I get back,

266
00:26:49,519 --> 00:26:56,240
if it is of any moment,
said Missus Williams rather sharply. It

267
00:26:56,319 --> 00:27:00,160
is of no consequence, of course, replied the old gentleman, evidently perturbed

268
00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:06,319
at seeing that the lady showed signs
of resentment. I merely asked out of

269
00:27:06,319 --> 00:27:15,279
curiosity. Missus Williams appeared from her
manner to resent mister Crump's inquiry as insinuating

270
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:21,160
some doubt upon the accuracy of her
statement. But fortunately the return of the

271
00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:26,359
cashier with her money cost a welcome
diversion. While she was towing away the

272
00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,240
notes and gold in her purse,
the cashier looked at me and said,

273
00:27:32,799 --> 00:27:34,880
there is a cab at the door, Sir, shall I ask the porter

274
00:27:36,039 --> 00:27:41,920
to carry the box down. I
think I can manage it. It is

275
00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:47,480
not heavy, I replied, as
I have prepared to lift it. I

276
00:27:47,519 --> 00:27:51,920
had been thinking, mister Perkins,
said Missus Williams reflectively, while putting her

277
00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:56,319
purse away, that perhaps it would
be wiser to leave the box here for

278
00:27:56,359 --> 00:28:00,720
a day or two till I returned
to Gateshead. That is she added,

279
00:28:00,319 --> 00:28:06,160
turning to the old gentleman with her
pleasanter smile. If mister Crump will kindly

280
00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:11,400
allow me, you are welcome to
leave it, Madam, at your own

281
00:28:11,519 --> 00:28:17,400
risk, of course, replied mister
Crump, a little stiffly. You see,

282
00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:19,640
I have no where to keep it
while I am in town. The

283
00:28:19,759 --> 00:28:27,599
lady explained, it would be safer
here. It's a little irregular, as

284
00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:34,640
you are no longer a customer,
said mister Crump. But still, oh,

285
00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:38,759
but if I find I can afford
it, I shall probably come to

286
00:28:38,799 --> 00:28:44,240
live in London, and in that
case I should certainly keep my account here,

287
00:28:44,759 --> 00:28:49,680
interrupted Missus Williams. Graciously. In
any case, I am very pleased

288
00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:56,960
to oblige you, madam, said
the old gentleman more politely. Those surprised

289
00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:00,799
that Missus Williams was able to restrain
her curiosity about the contents of the box,

290
00:29:02,599 --> 00:29:07,519
it was obvious that her suggestion was
prudent, and therefore we left the

291
00:29:07,559 --> 00:29:11,680
box in charge of the bank.
Mister Crump bowed us out of his room

292
00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:17,880
very civilly, and the porter ushered
us to the street door, in front

293
00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:22,240
of which was a four wheeled cab. Just as we reached it. The

294
00:29:22,319 --> 00:29:29,039
old gray haired beggar man, whom
I had noticed before, rushed forward and

295
00:29:29,119 --> 00:29:36,400
obscusely turned the handle. Missus Williams
sprang lightly into the vehicle, and again,

296
00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:42,960
I thought, she glanced nervously at
the caging old rascal. Here you

297
00:29:44,079 --> 00:29:48,319
be off, my man, I
said to him, sharply, No,

298
00:29:48,319 --> 00:29:52,319
no, here, my poor fellow. Is something for you, said Missus

299
00:29:52,359 --> 00:29:56,400
Williams, And before I could prevent
her, she put her hand over my

300
00:29:56,519 --> 00:30:03,240
shoulder and gave the beggar a sixpence. You shouldn't be so foolish, I

301
00:30:03,279 --> 00:30:08,240
said, laughingly, as the old
man shuffled off with his price. Think

302
00:30:08,279 --> 00:30:14,799
of my good luck, mister Perkins, laughed the widow. I gave the

303
00:30:14,799 --> 00:30:21,000
cabman the address of Elvira House and
lifted my hat to Missus Williams from the

304
00:30:21,039 --> 00:30:26,880
payment as she drove away, little
imagining that she would have left London before

305
00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:30,559
I returned in the evening. But
so it happened, for when I reached

306
00:30:30,599 --> 00:30:36,119
Elvira House at the end of the
day, I learned that the widow had

307
00:30:36,119 --> 00:30:41,240
received a telegram an hour or so
previously, summoning her to bath on the

308
00:30:41,279 --> 00:30:48,359
account of the illness of her mother. She left many kind messages for you,

309
00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,920
added missus Nicks. When she gave
me the information, she said she

310
00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,559
would write to you in the course
of a day or two. She was

311
00:30:56,680 --> 00:31:03,200
dreadfully upset, poor thing at the
sad news. I did not even know

312
00:31:03,319 --> 00:31:08,119
she had a mother living. I
remarked, you were the only person she

313
00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:15,920
confided in, said missus Nicks playfully. I suppose the little girl has gone

314
00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:22,440
too, I observed, a trifle
abashed. Yes, a sweet child.

315
00:31:22,799 --> 00:31:27,160
Everyone is so sorry to lose them. Missus Williams was a universal favorite,

316
00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:33,880
said missus Nicks. This was evidently
the case, to judge from the expressions

317
00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:38,880
of regret which were uttered at the
dinner table when her departure became generally known.

318
00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:45,720
We had rather a reduced company that
evening, there being several wakened places.

319
00:31:45,599 --> 00:31:49,920
The Major had gone to attend some
races at York, whither mister Booth

320
00:31:51,079 --> 00:31:55,839
was understood to have accompanied him,
and two or three of our guests were

321
00:31:55,920 --> 00:32:00,359
dining out. I was surprised to
hear of my friend having yielded to the

322
00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:06,559
Major's persuasions, for when the latter
had brought the subject of the expedition in

323
00:32:06,599 --> 00:32:10,440
the smoking room, on the previous
evening. Mister Booth had flatly refused the

324
00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:17,400
invitation, but horse racing was a
form of sport which seemed to possess extraordinary

325
00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:23,240
attractions for him, and I supposed
he had been partly influenced by desire to

326
00:32:23,319 --> 00:32:29,839
keep his companion out of mischief.
I must confess that I felt a little

327
00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:36,079
depressed at the widow's unexpected absence.
It was quite untrue that I admired her,

328
00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:43,440
but her confidences had heightened my platonic
regard, and her personality undoubtedly attracted

329
00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:49,519
me. I therefore awaited the promised
letter with some impatience, and she was

330
00:32:49,559 --> 00:32:52,960
good enough not to leave me long
into spense, for by the next evening's

331
00:32:52,960 --> 00:33:00,400
post I received from her the following
epistle, dated from Lower Pulteney Street Bath.

332
00:33:00,839 --> 00:33:06,640
My dear mister Perkins, alas,
my poor dear mother is dying,

333
00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:13,599
so shocking and so totally unexpected.
Of course I must remain by her side

334
00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:15,839
till the end, and she may
yet linger for some weeks. The doctor

335
00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:22,000
says. I hope missus snext gave
you my message. I can never thank

336
00:33:22,039 --> 00:33:27,599
you sufficiently for all your kindness,
dear mister Perkins. And yet I have

337
00:33:27,799 --> 00:33:31,880
a further favor to ask a few
You know what sick people are. I

338
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:37,319
told my dear mother, who is
perfectly conscious about the box at the bank.

339
00:33:37,559 --> 00:33:43,000
Nothing will satisfy her but to know
what it contains, as she is

340
00:33:43,119 --> 00:33:46,720
anxious to be assured that my little
girl and I are sufficiently provided for.

341
00:33:49,079 --> 00:33:52,400
How I regret that I did not
examine the contents that day at the bank.

342
00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:59,160
And now what am I to do. I dare not leave my poor

343
00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:05,039
mother even for an hour. I
wonder whether you would undertake a journey here

344
00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:09,239
and bring the box with you.
I know it is too much to ask,

345
00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:14,599
yet I have ventured to write to
the bank to say that you might

346
00:34:14,679 --> 00:34:20,119
call. I am sure your kind
heart will prompt you to do this if

347
00:34:20,159 --> 00:34:25,039
you possibly can. You are most
faithfully and sincerely, dear mister Perkins,

348
00:34:25,519 --> 00:34:34,679
Amelia Williams. I was rather startled
by this request, and yet well in

349
00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:40,639
short, I decided to comply with
it. I wonder at myself now most

350
00:34:40,639 --> 00:34:47,960
of us have experienced similar astonishment at
past foolish actions. My chief objection at

351
00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:52,760
the time was that I could not
very well get away from the office.

352
00:34:52,519 --> 00:34:58,480
However, on consulting a railway timetable. I found that Bath was a much

353
00:34:58,519 --> 00:35:02,599
more accessible place than I had imagined. A half day holiday would be all

354
00:35:02,679 --> 00:35:07,199
that had acquired, for I could
travel down there and return the same evening.

355
00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:13,719
The next day was a Saturday,
so that all the indulgence I need

356
00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:17,400
ask of my employers was a singular
in order that I might get to the

357
00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:23,760
bank before two o'clock to obtain the
box. I therefore wrote immediately to Missus

358
00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:30,000
Williams to say that I would travel
down by train which left Paddington at three

359
00:35:30,039 --> 00:35:35,440
o'clock, arriving at Bath at five
fifteen, and that I should return by

360
00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:39,760
express, which would bring me back
to town about nine. I had no

361
00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:45,960
reason for remaining at Bath, and
I thought I might accomplish my journey before

362
00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:51,519
mister Booth came back. I think
I must have had this vague idea of

363
00:35:51,639 --> 00:35:54,960
keeping my trip a secret, both
from him and from the other guests,

364
00:35:55,320 --> 00:36:00,599
for I was a little sensitive about
remarks which had been made about my attention

365
00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:06,199
to the widow. I duly carried
out my program. The box was handed

366
00:36:06,199 --> 00:36:09,559
over to me at the bank without
the slightest demur in consequence of a letter

367
00:36:09,599 --> 00:36:15,960
they had received from Missus Williams and
I arrived at bath punctually at the time

368
00:36:15,079 --> 00:36:21,360
named. I hired a fly and
drove straight to the widow's address in Lower

369
00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:25,639
Pulteney Street. But the servant who
opened the door said, to my surprise

370
00:36:27,119 --> 00:36:30,800
that the lady was out, and
handed me a brief penciled note from her,

371
00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:36,559
saying that she had been called away
unexpectedly, owing to her mother's condition,

372
00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:42,000
and asking me to leave the box. The poor old lady is not

373
00:36:42,079 --> 00:36:45,599
in the house, then, I
remarked, casually, what old lady,

374
00:36:45,679 --> 00:36:52,840
Sir inquired the girl, opening her
eyes. Missus Williams's mother. Do you

375
00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:58,199
know where she lives? No,
Sir, I don't never heard her mention

376
00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:02,920
she had a mother here in,
Sir, added the girl. But Missus

377
00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:07,719
Williams is in constant attendance upon her
mother, who is dying, I exclaimed.

378
00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:14,000
Missus Williams has hardly left the house
since she has been here, Sir,

379
00:37:14,559 --> 00:37:19,679
said the girl, evidently struck by
my surprise. She and her little

380
00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:22,800
girl went for a drive in a
fly about an hour ago. I don't

381
00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:27,960
know where they went to, she
said. If a gentleman came and left

382
00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:32,039
the tin box, I was to
take great care of it. Did Missus

383
00:37:32,039 --> 00:37:36,920
Williams say when she would return?
I inquired, with an uneasy feeling.

384
00:37:37,679 --> 00:37:42,800
She said I was to have tea
ready at six o'clock. Sir replied the

385
00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:46,239
girl, glancing back at the clock. I will come in and wait,

386
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:52,480
I said, with sudden resolution.
As I stepped inside the hall. The

387
00:37:52,559 --> 00:37:58,920
servant, whose good faith was manifest
ushered me into a neat parlor and then

388
00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:04,800
left me after again as of rating
in answer to pressing inquiries, that Missus

389
00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:10,480
Williams was certainly not in attendance on
an invalid Indeed, it was impossible to

390
00:38:10,559 --> 00:38:15,960
doubt from the girl's detailed account of
the widow's movement since her arrival in Bath

391
00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:22,719
that the story of the Dying Mother
was a complete fiction. I felt very

392
00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:28,840
much like a person who has unexpectedly
received a doush of cold water. At

393
00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:32,639
first sight, it seemed as though
the story had been merely a device to

394
00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:37,760
work upon my feelings in order to
induce me to bring the box down to

395
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:45,519
Bath. Even so, however,
it was extraordinary behavior on Missus Williams's part

396
00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:52,039
to absent herself just at the hour
of my arrival. She had evidently counted

397
00:38:52,119 --> 00:38:55,679
upon my leaving the box and returning
at once to London as I had planned.

398
00:38:58,119 --> 00:39:01,639
But why this sudden reluctance to meet
me, to say nothing of the

399
00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:09,920
ungrateful discourtesy. I grimly resolved to
await an explanation, And when I recalled

400
00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:15,679
at mine that Missus Williams had given
the alleged illness of her mother as an

401
00:39:15,679 --> 00:39:22,760
excuse for hurried departure from Elvira House, my mystification increased. The repeated warnings

402
00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:29,360
of mister Booth rose unpleasantly to my
mind, and I had worked myself into

403
00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:34,760
a state of mingled indignation and resentment. When a ring at the street door

404
00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:42,280
bell announced, as I imagined the
return of Missus Williams, I awaited her

405
00:39:42,599 --> 00:39:47,239
with a considerable trepidation, for I
felt that my position was both painful and

406
00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:54,480
embarrassing. I heard servants respond to
the summons, and the next moment the

407
00:39:54,559 --> 00:40:00,400
room door was thrown open, and
who should walk in but mister Booth.

408
00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:09,000
I started and stared at him as
though I had seen a ghost, while

409
00:40:09,039 --> 00:40:16,159
he seemed equally surprised at seeing me. Though he recovered himself quickly. He

410
00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:22,280
glanced at the box on the table, and his eyes twinkled. HULLO.

411
00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:29,239
I thought you were at York,
I gasped, And I thought you were

412
00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:34,840
in London, he said, smiling
at my astonishment. I am waiting to

413
00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:40,239
see missus Williams, I explained.
She is a very clever little woman,

414
00:40:40,639 --> 00:40:45,840
he said emphatically. You came by
the five fifteen train. I suppose with

415
00:40:46,079 --> 00:40:52,920
that. Yes, while she to
put me off the scent seeks to lead

416
00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:58,760
me a wild goose chaise so as
to leave the coast clear, he added,

417
00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:02,119
nodding his head. I've found a
note from her asking me to leave

418
00:41:02,159 --> 00:41:07,519
the box, I said, resentfully. Yes, she didn't mean to be

419
00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:14,000
impolite to you, said mister Boots, slyly. The fact is she has

420
00:41:14,039 --> 00:41:17,440
been so closely shadowed that, if
she had stayed at home for you,

421
00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:22,920
your arrival with the box would have
been noticed. I suspected a trick,

422
00:41:22,559 --> 00:41:28,239
though I must own that my calling
here in her absence was nothing short of

423
00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:35,599
an inspiration, he added, with
great satisfaction. Perhaps you will kindly explain

424
00:41:35,679 --> 00:41:39,199
it all, I exclaimed, with
a show of indignation, which was intended

425
00:41:39,239 --> 00:41:46,440
to disguise my increasing confusion. Not
now, he said, coolly, taking

426
00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:51,880
possession of the box. Unless you
want an awkward scene with the woman,

427
00:41:52,159 --> 00:41:57,039
which might end in my having to
call in the police. In that case,

428
00:41:57,119 --> 00:42:01,320
my friend, you would figure somewhat
unpleas presently before the public as an

429
00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:08,159
innocent accomplice in an awkward affair.
We had better clear out before she returns.

430
00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:15,440
But the box belongs to missus Williams, I exclaimed, horrified. Well

431
00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:22,440
it does, and it doesn't.
I'll explain going along. Meanwhile, possession

432
00:42:22,599 --> 00:42:28,079
is nine points of the law,
he said, putting the box under his

433
00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:31,960
arm and moving to the door.
I was scared by the suggestion of a

434
00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:38,159
public scandal, and I had complete
faith in my friend. I therefore put

435
00:42:38,199 --> 00:42:44,079
on my hat and followed him and
by rushing through the streets until we met

436
00:42:44,119 --> 00:42:47,280
a fly, which drove us at
full speed to the station. We just

437
00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:53,159
contrived to catch the six point five
train back to Torown as it was beginning

438
00:42:53,199 --> 00:43:00,000
to move away. Well, I
inquired eagerly, as soon as I had

439
00:43:00,119 --> 00:43:06,480
recovered my breath. We had,
fortunately and quite my chance, secured an

440
00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:12,519
empty first class compartment. Mister Booth
was leaning back with an air of calm

441
00:43:12,639 --> 00:43:20,400
triumph, lighting a cigar while his
feet resting on the tin box missus Williams,

442
00:43:20,719 --> 00:43:25,719
he said quietly, is the wife
of an accomplished forger and swell mobsman,

443
00:43:27,719 --> 00:43:34,440
who is at present undergoing the felicity
of fourteen years penal servitude. The

444
00:43:34,599 --> 00:43:40,559
wife, I gasped, Yes,
his real name is Bolton, but he

445
00:43:40,639 --> 00:43:47,760
called himself Williams, among other aliases
in that name. He opened an account

446
00:43:49,079 --> 00:43:54,320
at the Drake's Bank and deposited the
box a few months before he was arrested.

447
00:43:57,480 --> 00:44:01,800
It was her husband's property, then, I exclaimed, slightly relieved,

448
00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:10,079
It contains the proceeds of a very
ingenious robbery in Hatton Garden. He was

449
00:44:10,159 --> 00:44:15,239
known to have hidden a good bit
away somewhere, but he kept his mouth

450
00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:21,320
shut and the police were nonplussed.
So was his clever little wife, whose

451
00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:27,800
ingenuity and pluck I can't help admiring. Didn't he tell her? I inquired?

452
00:44:28,199 --> 00:44:34,960
Interested in spite of my unenviable feelings, Yes, But she couldn't get

453
00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:38,119
it at all. It was lodged
at the bank in the name of Williams

454
00:44:38,159 --> 00:44:44,760
for safety, and she dared not
claim it. But she bided her time,

455
00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:49,719
and at length she heard of the
death of mister John Williams at Gateshead,

456
00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:55,559
which showed her husband's prudence in having
adopted a common name. Of course,

457
00:44:57,079 --> 00:45:02,440
this was her opportunity. The death
man, A complete stranger was made

458
00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:08,239
to represent the actual depositor, and
Missus Williams pretended to be the widow.

459
00:45:10,760 --> 00:45:15,320
How did she get hold of the
probate of another man's will? I asked,

460
00:45:16,840 --> 00:45:22,000
Probably bribe the clerk of the solicitor
who had custody of it. You

461
00:45:22,119 --> 00:45:29,239
see, probates are no good when
once an estate is wound up. This

462
00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:36,360
one was probably kicking about the office
and wouldn't be missed. What of the

463
00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:43,679
real Missus Williams of Gateshead? She
is dead and the advertisements said to have

464
00:45:43,719 --> 00:45:50,519
been inserted in the papers all a
lie. That are no advertisements, My

465
00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:54,840
dear fellow, She made you serve
her purpose, beautifully, laughed mister Booth.

466
00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:01,960
It was very unfriendly not to have
given me a hint, I exclaimed,

467
00:46:02,079 --> 00:46:09,719
furiously indignant, My dear Perkins,
didn't I warn you over and over

468
00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:17,599
again? Yes, but you didn't
tell me what you knew, Because at

469
00:46:17,639 --> 00:46:24,639
first I knew absolutely nothing. I
simply mistrusted her from some kind of instinct.

470
00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:30,400
But when you told me the woman's
story, I went round to Scotland

471
00:46:30,440 --> 00:46:35,519
Yard, where I have a friend, said mister Booth, delicately, flicking

472
00:46:35,599 --> 00:46:39,800
the ash from his cigar with his
little finger, and was shown some photographs.

473
00:46:40,599 --> 00:46:45,079
That same evening you told me you
had been to the bank on her

474
00:46:45,119 --> 00:46:52,559
behalf. You may remember that I
was annoyed with you even then. You

475
00:46:52,679 --> 00:46:59,440
might have been more explicit, I
replied, angrily. Well, the fact

476
00:46:59,519 --> 00:47:05,239
is, my perkins, as you
had already committed yourself, I couldn't resist

477
00:47:05,239 --> 00:47:10,360
the temptation of undertaking this little coup. You played into my hands, as

478
00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:15,199
it were. But there is no
harm done, he added, laughing at

479
00:47:15,199 --> 00:47:22,159
my discomfiture. It is entirely a
private venture of my own, carried out

480
00:47:22,199 --> 00:47:28,159
single handed. Why didn't she take
the box away from the bank that day,

481
00:47:28,639 --> 00:47:34,119
I inquired, after a sulky silence, Because she discovered she was being

482
00:47:34,159 --> 00:47:39,320
watched, replied mister Booth, with
imperturbable good humor. Do you remembered an

483
00:47:39,360 --> 00:47:45,840
old gray bearded man. Yes,
she spotted him, and that sent her

484
00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:52,719
out of London, you followed,
I suppose, yes. I knew she

485
00:47:52,719 --> 00:47:58,320
would contrive to get the box send
down to her. I thought she would

486
00:47:58,320 --> 00:48:04,400
probably have it brought down one of
the bank's messengers. I never thought she

487
00:48:04,519 --> 00:48:12,199
would have the cheek to Mister Booth
checked himself abruptly, evidently out of consideration

488
00:48:12,400 --> 00:48:16,960
for my feelings. Then, after
puffing at his cigar for a few moments,

489
00:48:17,719 --> 00:48:23,800
he added, in a conciliatory tone, you mustn't mind, my dear

490
00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:31,280
fellow. Only two people besides yourself
will ever have even a suspicion of how

491
00:48:31,400 --> 00:48:37,320
it has all come about. I
shan't tell, and you may be sure

492
00:48:37,639 --> 00:48:46,719
she won't. You forget the graybearded
man, I groaned despondently. True,

493
00:48:47,360 --> 00:48:52,639
yes, I forgot him, said
mister Boot, smiling, But I'll answer

494
00:48:52,840 --> 00:49:00,239
for his discretion as I would for
my own. I wouldn't have it happen

495
00:49:00,360 --> 00:49:06,679
for a thousand pounds, I exclaimed
in deep dejection. After we had traveled

496
00:49:06,679 --> 00:49:12,920
for twenty miles in complete silence,
mister Booth looked at me for a few

497
00:49:12,960 --> 00:49:17,559
moments with a friendly concern. Then
he leant forward and touched me lightly on

498
00:49:17,599 --> 00:49:24,960
the arm. My dear fellow,
since it has happened, I can offer

499
00:49:25,039 --> 00:49:32,880
you with half the sum you mention
as compensation. What do you mean The

500
00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:37,159
owner of the property in this box
will no doubt be glad to pay me

501
00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:44,920
five hundred pounds as a reward.
I am sufficiently repaid by the satisfaction of

502
00:49:45,039 --> 00:49:51,199
having accomplished a very neat job entirely
off my own bat. As a matter

503
00:49:51,239 --> 00:49:57,360
of fact, I owe my success
entirely to you. Thanks. No,

504
00:49:58,159 --> 00:50:02,400
I am no detective, I interrupted, more rudely. I dare say than

505
00:50:02,440 --> 00:50:07,639
I was conscious of. At least, let me offer you a little memento

506
00:50:07,880 --> 00:50:13,079
to hang on your watch chain,
he said, wincing at the rebuff,

507
00:50:13,360 --> 00:50:17,320
but not the least resenting it.
He produced, as he spoke, from

508
00:50:17,400 --> 00:50:23,880
his pocket a sixpenny piece and handed
it to me. What is this,

509
00:50:24,239 --> 00:50:30,840
I asked, the identical coin which
the fair widow bestowed upon the gray bearded

510
00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:37,480
man. He replied, How did
you come by it? Then, I

511
00:50:37,559 --> 00:50:45,599
asked, But mister Booth only smiled, and I then recollected how he had

512
00:50:45,639 --> 00:50:51,920
boasted that he had managed his part
of the business single handed. I have

513
00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:58,000
only to add that though my friend
always declared that the widow did not entertain

514
00:50:58,119 --> 00:51:02,119
the least suspicion of his identity,
she never came to Elbira House again,

515
00:51:04,639 --> 00:51:09,000
nor even wrote a line of remonstrance
or inquiry to me. And as I

516
00:51:09,119 --> 00:51:15,360
have heard nothing whatever from that day
to this, I conclude she made no

517
00:51:15,480 --> 00:51:23,960
complaint but accepted philosophically her bitter disappointment, probably considering herself lucky to have escaped

518
00:51:24,239 --> 00:51:31,599
worse consequences. The End of the
Tin Box by Herbert Keane