1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:05,160 The story of a disappearance and an appearance by m R James. The letters 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,400 which I will now publish were sent to me recently by a person who knows 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,199 me to be interested in ghost stories. There is no doubt about their authenticity. 4 00:00:12,679 --> 00:00:15,080 The paper on which they are written, the ink, and the whole 5 00:00:15,119 --> 00:00:19,679 external aspect put their date beyond the reach of question. The only point which 6 00:00:19,719 --> 00:00:22,839 they do not make clear is the identity of the writer. He signs with 7 00:00:22,879 --> 00:00:26,359 initials only, and as none of the envelopes of the letters are preserved, 8 00:00:26,399 --> 00:00:30,359 the surname of his correspondent, obviously a married brother, is as obscure as 9 00:00:30,399 --> 00:00:34,799 his own. No further preliminary explanation is needed. I think luckily the first 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,840 letter supplies all that could be expected. Letter one, Great Chrissol, December 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,759 twenty second, eighteen thirty seven. My dear Robert, it is with great 12 00:00:43,759 --> 00:00:46,920 regret for the enjoyment I am losing, and for a reason which you will 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,240 deplore equally with myself, that I write to inform you that I am unable 14 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,280 to join your circle for this Christmas. But you will agree with me that 15 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,719 this is unavoidable when I say that I have within these few hours received a 16 00:00:56,799 --> 00:01:00,359 letter from Miss Hunt at b to the effect of Uncle Henry has suddenly mysteriously 17 00:01:00,399 --> 00:01:03,599 disappeared, and begging me to go down there immediately and join the search that 18 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,359 is being made for him. Little as I or you, either I think, 19 00:01:07,439 --> 00:01:11,079 have ever seen of Uncle, I naturally feel that this is not a 20 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,680 request that can be regarded lightly. And accordingly I propose to go to be 21 00:01:14,799 --> 00:01:18,079 by this afternoon's mail, reaching it in the late evening. I shall not 22 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,719 go to the rectory, but put up at the King's Head, and to 23 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,840 which you may address the letter. I enclose a small draft, which you 24 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,920 will please make use of for the benefit of the young people. I shall 25 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,799 write to you daily, supposing me to be tamed more than a single day 26 00:01:29,799 --> 00:01:33,120 what goes on, and you may be sure should the business be cleared up 27 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,000 in time to permit of my coming to the manor after all I shall present 28 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,159 myself. I have but a few minutes at disposal, with cordial greetings to 29 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,680 you all and many regrets, believe me, your affectionate bro w R. 30 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:48,280 Letter two, King's Head, December twenty third thirty seven, My dear Robert. 31 00:01:48,719 --> 00:01:51,359 In the first place, there is as yet no news of Uncle H. 32 00:01:51,439 --> 00:01:53,239 And I think you may finally dismiss any idea. I won't say hope 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,120 that I might after all turn up for exmus. However, my thoughts will 34 00:01:57,159 --> 00:02:00,879 be with you, and you have mess wishes for a really festive day. 35 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,760 Mind that none of my nephews or nieces expend any fraction of their guineas on 36 00:02:04,799 --> 00:02:07,319 a present for me. Since I got here, I have been blaming myself 37 00:02:07,319 --> 00:02:10,919 for taking this affair of Uncle H too easily. From what people here say, 38 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,639 I gather that there is very little hope that he can still be alive. 39 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,039 But whether it is accident or design that carried him off, I cannot 40 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:22,599 judge. The facts are these. On Friday the nineteenth, he went as 41 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,439 usual shortly before five o'clock to read evening prayers of the church, and when 42 00:02:25,439 --> 00:02:29,240 they were over, the clerk brought him a message in response to which he 43 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,159 set up to pay a visit to a sick person in an outlying cottage the 44 00:02:31,199 --> 00:02:35,800 better part of two miles away. He paid the visit and started on his 45 00:02:35,879 --> 00:02:38,280 return journey about half past six. This is the last that is known of 46 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,680 him. The people here are very much grieved at is loss. He had 47 00:02:42,719 --> 00:02:45,560 been here many years, as you know. Though as you also know, 48 00:02:45,719 --> 00:02:47,439 he was not the most genial of men, and had more than a little 49 00:02:47,479 --> 00:02:52,120 of the Martinette in his composition. He seems to have been active in good 50 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,400 works and unsparing of trouble to himself. Poor Missus Hunt, who has been 51 00:02:55,439 --> 00:02:59,919 his housekeeper ever since she left Woodley, is quite overcome. It seems like 52 00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:02,240 of the world to her. I'm glad that I did not entertain the idea 53 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,319 of taking quarters at the rectory, and I have declined several kind of the 54 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,360 offers of hospitality from people in this place, preferring as I do, to 55 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,960 be independent and find myself very comfortable here. You will, of course, 56 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,639 wish to know what has been done in the way of inquiry and search. 57 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:20,639 First, nothing was to be expected from investigation at the Rectory, and to 58 00:03:20,719 --> 00:03:23,680 be brief, nothing has transpired. I asked missus Hunt, as others had 59 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:29,280 done before, whether there was either any unfavorable symptom in her master, such 60 00:03:29,319 --> 00:03:32,159 as might important and a sudden stroke or attack of illness, or whether he 61 00:03:32,199 --> 00:03:36,759 had ever had any reason to apprehend such a thing. But both she and 62 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,199 his medical man were clear that this was not the case. He was quite 63 00:03:39,199 --> 00:03:43,560 in his usual health. In the second place, naturally, ponds and streams 64 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,960 have been dragged, and fields in the neighborhood which he has known to have 65 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,439 visited last have been searched without result. I have myself talked to the parish 66 00:03:50,439 --> 00:03:53,319 clerk, and more important, have been to the house where he paid visit. 67 00:03:53,039 --> 00:03:57,080 There can be no question of any foul play on these people's parts. 68 00:03:57,319 --> 00:04:00,560 One man in the house is ill in bed and very weak. The wife 69 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,159 and children, of course, could do nothing themselves. Nor is they the 70 00:04:02,159 --> 00:04:05,520 shadow of probability that they, or any of them, should have agreed to 71 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,319 decoy poor uncle h Out in the order that he might be attacked on the 72 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,360 way back. They had told what they knew to several other inquirers already, 73 00:04:13,439 --> 00:04:16,439 but the woman repeated it to me. The rector was looking just as usual. 74 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,519 He wasn't very long with the sick man. He ain't, she said, 75 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,199 like someone has a gift in prayer. But there if we was all 76 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,680 that way, however would the chapel people get their living. He left some 77 00:04:27,759 --> 00:04:30,639 money when he went away, and one of the children saw him cross the 78 00:04:30,639 --> 00:04:32,759 style into the next field. He was dressed as he always was, wore 79 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,759 his bands. I gather he is nearly the last man remaining who does so 80 00:04:36,079 --> 00:04:41,000 at any rate in this district. You see, I am putting down everything. 81 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,800 The fact is that I have nothing else to do, having brought no 82 00:04:43,879 --> 00:04:46,439 business papers with me, and moreover, it serves to clear my own mind 83 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,839 and may suggest points which have been overlooked. So I shall continue to write 84 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:54,160 all that passes, even to conversation. If need be. You may read 85 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,000 or not as you please, but pray keep the letters. I have another 86 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,920 reason for writing so fully, but it is not a very tangible one. 87 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,160 You may ask if I have made myself any search in the fields near the 88 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,720 cottage something A good deal has been done by others, as I mentioned, 89 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:10,120 But I hope to go over the ground tomorrow. Bow Street has now been 90 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,120 informed and will send down by tonight's coach, but I do not think they 91 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,000 will make much of the job. There is no snow which might have helped 92 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,040 us. The fields are all grass. Of course, I was on the 93 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:23,120 kivive for any indication to day, both going and returning, but there was 94 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,519 a thick mist on the way back, and I was not in trim for 95 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,480 wandering any unknown pastures, especially on an evening when bushes looked like men and 96 00:05:29,519 --> 00:05:31,879 a cow lowing in the distance might have been the last trump. I assure 97 00:05:31,879 --> 00:05:34,600 you, if Uncle Henry had stepped out from among the trees in a little 98 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:39,279 copse which borders the path at one place, carrying his head under his arm, 99 00:05:39,319 --> 00:05:42,560 I should have been very little more uncomfortable than I was, to tell 100 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,680 you the truth. I rather was expecting something of the kind. But I 101 00:05:45,759 --> 00:05:49,319 must drop my pen for the moment mister Lucas the curate is announced. Later, 102 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,800 mister Lucas has been and gone, and there is not much beyond the 103 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,079 decencies of ordinary sentiment to be got from him. I can see that he 104 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,560 has given up any idea that the Rector can be alive, and that, 105 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,360 so far as he can be, is truly sorry. I can also discern 106 00:06:02,439 --> 00:06:05,839 that, even in a more emotional person than mister Lucas, Uncle Henry was 107 00:06:05,879 --> 00:06:11,720 not likely to inspire strong attachment. Besides mister Lucas, I have another visitor 108 00:06:11,759 --> 00:06:15,319 in the shape of my bonoclass, mine host of the King's head, who 109 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,519 came to see whether I had everything I wished, and who really requires the 110 00:06:17,519 --> 00:06:20,680 pen of a boss to do him justice. He was very solemn and weighty 111 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,439 at first. Well, sir, he said, I suppose we must bow 112 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,040 our head beneath the blow, as to my poor wife used to say, 113 00:06:27,439 --> 00:06:30,279 so far as I can gather, there's been neither hide nor yet hair of 114 00:06:30,319 --> 00:06:32,759 our late respected incumbent sent it out as yet not that he was what the 115 00:06:32,759 --> 00:06:36,480 scripture terms as a hairy man in any sense of the word. I said 116 00:06:36,519 --> 00:06:40,639 as well as I could that I suppose not, but could not help in 117 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,360 aiding that I heard he was sometimes a little difficult to deal with. Mister 118 00:06:44,399 --> 00:06:46,120 Bowman looked at me sharply for a moment, and then passed in a flash 119 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:50,560 from solemn sympathy to impassioned declamation. When I think he said, of the 120 00:06:50,639 --> 00:06:54,959 language, that man see fit to employ me here in his parlor over no 121 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,560 more of a matter than a cask of beer. Such a thing, as 122 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,680 I told him, might happen any day of the week to a man with 123 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,759 a fiance. Though as it turned out, he was quite under a mistake, 124 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,240 and that I knew at the time only that I was shocked to hear 125 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:09,160 him. I couldn't lay my tongue to the right expression. He stopped abruptly 126 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:12,399 and i'd be with some embarrassment. I only said, dear me, I'm 127 00:07:12,399 --> 00:07:15,720 sorry to hear that you've had any little differences. I suppose my uncle will 128 00:07:15,759 --> 00:07:18,279 be a good deal missed in the parish. Mister Bogan drew a long breath. 129 00:07:18,519 --> 00:07:21,360 Ah, yes, he said, your uncle. You'll understand me when 130 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,800 I say that. For the moment it hit sliped my remembrance that he was 131 00:07:24,839 --> 00:07:27,879 a relative and natural enough, I must say, as it should for you 132 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,199 bearing any resemblance to him. The notion of any such thing is clean ridiculous. 133 00:07:32,519 --> 00:07:34,879 All the same, had I have borded my mind, you'd be among 134 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,519 the first to feel, I'm sure, as it should have stained my lips, 135 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,120 or rather, I should not have distained my lips with no such reflections. 136 00:07:42,519 --> 00:07:45,199 I assured him that I quite understood, and was going to have asked 137 00:07:45,199 --> 00:07:47,519 for some further questions, but he called away to see after some business. 138 00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:50,000 By the way, you need not take it in your head that he had 139 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:55,360 anything to fear from the inquiry into poor uncle Henry's disappearance. Though no doubt 140 00:07:55,399 --> 00:07:58,079 in the watches of the night it will occur to him that I think he 141 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,160 has I may expect to expl nations tomorrow I must close this letter. It 142 00:08:01,199 --> 00:08:05,600 has to go by the late Coach letter three December twenty fifth thirty seven. 143 00:08:07,519 --> 00:08:09,800 My dear Robert, this is a curious letter to be writing on Christmas Day, 144 00:08:09,879 --> 00:08:13,120 and yet after all there is nothing much in it, or there may 145 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:18,000 be. You shall be the judge at least nothing decisive. The Bow Street 146 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,079 men practically say they have no clue. The length of time and the weather 147 00:08:20,079 --> 00:08:24,240 conditions have made all tracks so faint as to be useless. Nothing that belonged 148 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,199 to the dead man. I'm afraid no other world will do has been picked 149 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,639 up. As I expected. Mister Bauman was an easy in his mind this 150 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,600 morning. Quite early I heard him holding forth in the distinct voice. Purposely 151 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,519 so, I thought to the Bow Street officers in the bar, as to 152 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,679 the loss of the town has sustained in their rector, and as to the 153 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,080 necessity of leaving no stone unturned. He was very great on this phrase, 154 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,679 in order to come at the truth. I suspect him of being an orator 155 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,840 of repute at convivial meetings. When I was at breakfast, he came to 156 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:54,559 wait on me and took an opportunity when handing a muffin to say, in 157 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:58,720 a low tone, I hope, sir, that you recognize my feelings towards 158 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,120 your relative is not actually by any taint of what you may call malignity. 159 00:09:01,639 --> 00:09:05,039 You can leave the room, Eliza. I will see the gentleman as only 160 00:09:05,039 --> 00:09:07,080 requires, with my own hands. I ask your pardon, sir. But 161 00:09:07,159 --> 00:09:11,120 you must be well aware a man is not always a master of himself. 162 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,240 And when that man has been hurt in his mind by the application of expressions 163 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,120 which I will go so far as to say, had not ought to have 164 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,080 been made use of, his voice was rising this whole time, and his 165 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:24,320 face growing better. No, sir, an here, if you will permit 166 00:09:24,399 --> 00:09:26,960 of it, I should like to explain to you, in very few words, 167 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,200 the exact state of the bone contention this cask, I might make more 168 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,200 truly call it a furkin of beer. I felt it was time to interpose, 169 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,480 and I said that I did not see that it would help us very 170 00:09:35,519 --> 00:09:39,799 much to go into that matter in detail. Mister Bowman acquiesced and resumed more 171 00:09:39,799 --> 00:09:43,039 calmly. Well, sir, I bow to your ruling, And as you 172 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,840 say, be it here or be it there, It don't contribute a great 173 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,080 deal, perhaps to the present question. All I wish to you is to 174 00:09:50,159 --> 00:09:54,159 understand is that I am prepared, as you are to yourself, to lend 175 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,919 every hand to the business we have before us, and as I took the 176 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:01,159 opportunity to say much to the author not three quarters of an hour ago, 177 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:05,279 to leave no stone unturned, as may throw even a spark of light on 178 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:09,519 this painful matter. In fact, mister Bowman did accompany us on our exploration, 179 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,799 but though I am sure his genuine wish was to be helpful, I 180 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:16,080 am afraid he did not contribute to the serious side of it. He appeared 181 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,240 to be under the impression that we were likely to meet either Uncle Henry or 182 00:10:18,279 --> 00:10:22,879 the person responsible for his disappearance, walking around the fields, and did a 183 00:10:22,879 --> 00:10:24,960 great deal of shading his eyes with his hand and calling our attention, but 184 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,919 pointing with his stick to the distant cattle and laborers. He had several long 185 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,240 conversations with old women whom we met, and was very strict and severe in 186 00:10:33,279 --> 00:10:37,039 his manner, but on each occasion returned to our party saying, well, 187 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,879 I find she didn't seem to have no connection with that sad affair. I 188 00:10:39,919 --> 00:10:43,200 think you may take it from me, sir, that there is little or 189 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,519 no light to be looked on from that quarter, not without she's keeping something 190 00:10:46,759 --> 00:10:50,960 back intentionally. We gained no appreciable results. As I told you at starting, 191 00:10:50,039 --> 00:10:52,480 the Bowman Street had left the town. Whether for London or not, 192 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:56,919 I am not sure. This evening I had company in the shape of a 193 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,559 bagman, a smartish fellow. He knew what was going on forward, but 194 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,440 though he had not been on the roads for some days about here, he 195 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,360 had nothing to tell of suspicious characters, tramps, wandering sailors or gypsies. 196 00:11:07,919 --> 00:11:11,320 He was very full of Capital Punch and Judy's show, and he had seen 197 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,679 the same day at you. And he asked if he had been hearing yet, 198 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,240 and advised me by no means to miss it if he does come, 199 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,120 the best punch and the best Toby dog, he said he had ever come 200 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:24,360 across. Toby dogs, you know, are the last new thing in shows. 201 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,639 I have only seen one myself, but before long all the men will 202 00:11:26,639 --> 00:11:30,679 have them. Now, why will you want to know? Do I trouble 203 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:33,399 write this all of you? I am obliged to do so because it has 204 00:11:33,399 --> 00:11:37,440 something to do with another absurd trifle, as you will inevitably say in which 205 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,320 my present state of rather unquiet fancy nothing more, perhaps I have to put 206 00:11:41,399 --> 00:11:43,159 down. It is a dream, sir, which I am going to record, 207 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,159 and I must say it is one of the oddest I've ever had. 208 00:11:46,879 --> 00:11:50,440 Is there anything in it beyond what the bagman's talk and Uncle Henry's disappearance could 209 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,360 have suggested you? I repeat, shall judge, I am not in sufficient 210 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,320 cool and judicial frame to do so. It began with what I can only 211 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,600 describe as a pulling the side of curtains, and I found myself seated in 212 00:12:01,639 --> 00:12:05,720 a place I don't know whether indoors or out. There were people, only 213 00:12:05,759 --> 00:12:09,600 a few on either side of me, but I did not recognize them, 214 00:12:09,799 --> 00:12:13,679 or indeed think much about them. They never spoke, but so far as 215 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,480 I remember, we were all grave and pale faced and looked fixedly before them. 216 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,240 Facing me, there was a punch and judy show, perhaps rather larger 217 00:12:20,279 --> 00:12:24,799 than the ordinary ones, painted with black figures on reddish yellow ground behind it, 218 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,559 and on each side was only darkness, but in front there was a 219 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:33,240 sufficiency of light. I was strung up to a high degree of expectation and 220 00:12:33,279 --> 00:12:37,720 listened every moment to hear the pan pipes and the routu to it. Instead 221 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,919 of that, there came suddenly an enormous I can use no other word, 222 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,159 an enormous, single toll of a bell. I don't know from how far 223 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:48,559 off somewhere behind the little curtain flew up and the drama began. I believe 224 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:52,399 someone once tried to rewrite Punch as a series tragedy. But whoever he may 225 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,679 have been, this performance would have suited him exactly. There was something satanic 226 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,919 about the hero. He varied his methods of attack. For some of his 227 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,480 victims, he lay in wait to see his horrible face. It was yellowish 228 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,480 white, I may remark, peering round the wings. That made me think 229 00:13:05,519 --> 00:13:09,399 of a vampire in Fossili's foul sketch. To others, he was polite and 230 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:15,200 carneying, particularly to the unfortunate alien, who can only say, shallabalda? 231 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,639 Though what Punch said I could never catch. But with all of them I 232 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,399 came to dread the moment of death. The crack of the stick on their 233 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:24,759 skulls, which in ordinary ways delights me, here had a crushing sound, 234 00:13:24,799 --> 00:13:28,039 as if the bone was giving way, and the victims quivered and kicked as 235 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:31,879 they lay the baby it sounds more ridiculous as I go on. The baby 236 00:13:31,919 --> 00:13:35,360 I am sure was alive, Punch wrung its neck, and if the choke 237 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,440 or squeak which it gave were not real, I know nothing of reality. 238 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,000 The stage got perceptibly darker as each crime was consummated, and at last there 239 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,320 was one murder, which was done quite in the dark, so that I 240 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,039 could see nothing of the victim. But it took some time to effect. 241 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,240 It was accompanied by hard breathing and horrid muffled sounds. After it, Punch 242 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,240 came out and sat on the footboard and fanned himself and looked at his shoes, 243 00:13:54,279 --> 00:13:58,399 which were bloody, and hung his head on one side and sniggered in 244 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,840 so deadly a fashion that I saw some of those beside me cover their face, 245 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,200 and I would have gladly done the same. But in the meantime the 246 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,480 scene behind Punch was clearing and showed not the usual house front, but something 247 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,600 more ambitious, a grove of trees on the gentle slope of a hill, 248 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,799 with a very natural, in fact, I should say, real moonshining on 249 00:14:15,919 --> 00:14:18,600 it. Over this there rose slowly an object which I soon perceived to be 250 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:22,440 a human figure. Was something peculiar about the head what I was unable to 251 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,679 at first see. It did not stand on its feet, but began creeping 252 00:14:26,759 --> 00:14:30,759 or dragging itself across the middle distance towards Punch, who still sat back to 253 00:14:30,799 --> 00:14:33,320 it. And by this time, I may remark, though it did not 254 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,720 occur to me at the moment that all pretense of this being a puppet show 255 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,919 had vanished. Punch was still Punch, it is true, but unlike the 256 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:43,879 others, it was in some sense a live creature, and both themselves moved 257 00:14:43,919 --> 00:14:46,279 at their own will. When I next glanced at him, he was sitting 258 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:50,320 in malignant reflection. But in another instant something seemed to attract his attention, 259 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,200 and he first sat up sharply, and then turned round and evidently caught sight 260 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,279 of the person that was approaching him, and was in fact now very near. 261 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,759 Then indeed, he his unmistakable signs of terror. Catching up his stick, 262 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,799 he rushed towards the wood, only just eluding the arm of his pursuer, 263 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:09,759 which was suddenly flung out to intercept him. It was with a revulsion 264 00:15:09,799 --> 00:15:13,120 which I cannot easily express, that I now saw more or less clearly what 265 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,080 this pursuer looked like he was a sturdy figure clad in black, and as 266 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,639 I thought, wearing bands. His head was covered with a whitish bag. 267 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,960 The chase which now began lasted I do not know how long, and now 268 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,840 among the trees now along the slope of the field, sometimes both figures disappearing 269 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,759 wholly for a few seconds, and only some uncertain sounds letting one know that 270 00:15:31,799 --> 00:15:35,559 they were still afoot at length. There came a moment when Punch, evidently 271 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,039 exhausted, staggered in from the left and threw himself down amongst the trees. 272 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,919 His pursuer was not long after him, and came looking uncertainly from side to 273 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,960 side. Then, catching sight of the figure on the ground, he too 274 00:15:46,039 --> 00:15:48,600 threw himself down. His back was turned to the audience, with a swift 275 00:15:48,639 --> 00:15:52,799 motion, twitched the covering from his head, and thrust his face into that 276 00:15:52,879 --> 00:15:56,759 of Punch. Everything on the instant grew dark. There was one loud, 277 00:15:56,919 --> 00:16:00,200 long, shuddering scream, and I awoke to fire myself, looking straight into 278 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,440 the face of What in all the world do you think but a large owl 279 00:16:03,679 --> 00:16:07,320 which was seated on my windowsill, immediately opposite my bed foot, holding up 280 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:11,000 its wings like two shrouded arms. I caught the fierce glance of its yellow 281 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,200 eyes, and then it was gone. I heard the single enormous bell again, 282 00:16:15,399 --> 00:16:17,679 very likely, as you are saying to yourself, the church clock, 283 00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:21,039 but I do not think so. And then I was brought awake. All 284 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,360 this, I may say, happened within the last half hour. There's no 285 00:16:23,399 --> 00:16:26,480 probability of my getting to sleep again. So I got up, put on 286 00:16:26,519 --> 00:16:30,360 clothes enough to keep me warm, and I'm riding this rigam roll in the 287 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,840 first hours of Christmas Day. Have I left out anything? Yes, there 288 00:16:33,879 --> 00:16:36,440 was no Toby Dog, and the names over the front of the punch and 289 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,200 Judy booth were Kidman and Gallop, which were certainly not what the bagman told 290 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,120 me to look out for. By this time, I feel a little more 291 00:16:42,159 --> 00:16:47,320 as if I could sleep. So this shall be sealed and Wayford letter four 292 00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:51,960 December twenty sixth thirty seven, My dear Robert, all is over. The 293 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,960 body has been found. I do not make excuses for not having sent off 294 00:16:56,039 --> 00:16:59,600 my news by last night's mail, for the simple reason that I was incapable 295 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,960 of putting pen to paper. The events that attended the discovery bewildered me so 296 00:17:03,079 --> 00:17:07,200 completely that I needed what I could get of a night's rest to enable me 297 00:17:07,279 --> 00:17:10,480 to face the situation at all. Now I can give you my journal of 298 00:17:10,519 --> 00:17:12,880 the day, certainly the strangest Christmas Day that I ever spent, or am 299 00:17:14,039 --> 00:17:18,440 likely to spend. The first incident was not very serious. Mister Bowman had, 300 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,279 I think, been keeping Christmas Eve and was little inclined to be captuous. 301 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:25,160 But at least he was not on foot very early, and to judge 302 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,039 from what I could hear, neither men nor maids could do anything to please 303 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:32,000 him. The latter were certainly reduced to tears. Nor am I sure that 304 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,119 mister Bowman succeeded in preserving a manly composure at any rate. When I came 305 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,720 downstairs, it was in a broken voice that he wished me the compliments of 306 00:17:38,759 --> 00:17:41,440 the season, And a little later on, when he paid his visit of 307 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,279 ceremony at breakfast, he was far from cheerful, even by ronic, I 308 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:49,039 might say, in his outlook on life. I don't know, he said, 309 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,039 if you think with me, sir, but every Christmas as comes round 310 00:17:52,039 --> 00:17:56,400 the world seems a horrible thing to me. Why I take an example now 311 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,640 from what lays under my own eye. There's my servant, Eliza, been 312 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,920 with me now going on fifteen years. I thought I could have placed my 313 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:07,119 confidance in Eliza. And yet this very morning, Christmas morning too, of 314 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,640 all the blessed days in the year, with bells are ringing and all like 315 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:12,960 that. I say, this very morning, had it not been so providence 316 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,759 watching over us, that girl would have put in d I may go as 317 00:18:15,799 --> 00:18:19,359 far to say, had put the cheese on your breakfast table? He saw 318 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,920 I was about to speak, and waved his hand at me. It is 319 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:25,640 all very well for you to say, yes, mister Bowman, you took 320 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,160 away the cheese and locked it up in the cupboard, which I did, 321 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,079 and have the key here, or if not, the actual cue went very 322 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,240 much about the same size. That is true enough, sir. But what 323 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:37,039 do you think is the effect of that action on me? Well, it's 324 00:18:37,039 --> 00:18:40,440 no exaggeration for me to say that the ground is cut from under my feet. 325 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:42,599 And yet when I say as much to Eliza, not nasty, mind 326 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,240 you, but just firm like. What was my return? Oh? She 327 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,759 says, well, she says there was no bones broke. I suppose, 328 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,640 well, sir, it hurt me, that's all I can say it hurt 329 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,720 me. I don't like to think of it now. There was an ominous 330 00:18:55,759 --> 00:18:59,079 pause here in which I ventured to say something like yes, very trying. 331 00:19:00,079 --> 00:19:03,920 Then asked at what hour the church service was to be eleven o'clock. Mister 332 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,000 Bowman said, with a heavy sigh, Ah, you won't have no such 333 00:19:07,039 --> 00:19:10,240 discourse from for mister Lucas as to what you would have done from our late 334 00:19:10,279 --> 00:19:12,599 rector. Him and me may have had our little differences, and did do 335 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:17,920 More's the pity. I could see that a powerful effort was needed to keep 336 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,000 him off the vexed question of the cask of beer. But he made it. 337 00:19:21,559 --> 00:19:23,799 But I will say this that a better preacher nor yet want to stand 338 00:19:23,839 --> 00:19:26,799 faster by his rights, or what he considered to be his rights. However, 339 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,400 that is not the question for now, I, for one, never 340 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,599 set under. Some might say was he an eloquent man? And to that 341 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:37,440 my answer would be, well, there you've a better right, perhaps to 342 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,559 speak of your own uncle than what I have. Others might ask did he 343 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:42,960 keep a hold of his congregation? And there I should reply that depends. 344 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,519 But as I say, yes, Eliza, my girl, I'm coming eleven 345 00:19:47,559 --> 00:19:51,720 o'clock sir, and you inquire for King's head pew. I believe Eliza had 346 00:19:51,759 --> 00:19:55,119 been very near the door, and shall consider it in my veil. The 347 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:59,319 next episode was church. I felt mister Lucas had a difficult task in doing 348 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,759 justice to the Chris Smith's sentiments and also to the feeling of disquiet and regret, 349 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,519 which whatever mister Bowman might say, was clearly prevalent. I do not 350 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,119 think he rose to the occasion. I was uncomfortable. The organ wolved, 351 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:15,359 you know what I mean. The wind died twice in the Christmas Hymn, 352 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,279 and the tenor bell, I suppose, owing to some negligence on the part 353 00:20:18,279 --> 00:20:21,920 of the ringers, kept sounding faintly about once in a minute during the sermon. 354 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:23,640 The clerk sent a man up to see it, but he seemed unable 355 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,839 to do much. I was glad when it was over. There was an 356 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,720 odd incident too, before the service. I went in rather early and came 357 00:20:30,799 --> 00:20:34,160 upon two men carrying a parish beer back to its place under the tower. 358 00:20:34,559 --> 00:20:37,160 From what I overheard them saying, it appeared that it had been put out 359 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:41,680 by a mistake by someone who was not there. I also saw the clerk 360 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,920 busy folding up a moth eaten velvet. Paul, not a sight for Christmas 361 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,400 Day. I dined soon after this, and then, feeling disinclined to go 362 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,960 out, took my seat by the fire in the parlor with the last number 363 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,200 of pickwick, which I had been saving up for some days. I thought 364 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,039 I could be sure of keeping awake over this, but I turned out as 365 00:20:57,039 --> 00:21:00,960 bad as our friend's smith, I suppose. So it was half past two 366 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,640 when I was rousing by a piercing whistle and the laughing talking voices outside in 367 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,000 the marketplace. It was a punch and duty. I had no doubt that 368 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,799 the one the bagman had seen at w I was half delighted, half not 369 00:21:11,319 --> 00:21:15,319 the latter, because my unpleasant dream came back to me so vividly. But 370 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,839 anyhow, I determined to see it through, and I sent Eliza out with 371 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,799 a crown piece to the performers, and a requested they would face my window 372 00:21:21,839 --> 00:21:25,319 if they could manage it. The show was a very smart new one. 373 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,279 The names of the proper teers I need hardly tell you were Italian, Forresta 374 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:33,119 and Cawpiggy the Toby dog was there, as I had been led to expect 375 00:21:33,799 --> 00:21:36,839 all be turned out and did not obstruct my view, for I was at 376 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:40,640 the large first floor window and not ten yards away. The play began on 377 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:44,359 the stroke of a quarter to three by the church clock. Certainly it was 378 00:21:44,519 --> 00:21:47,920 very good, and I was soon relieved to find that the disgust my dream 379 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,960 had given me for punches onslaughts on his ill starred visitors was only transient. 380 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,519 I laughed the demise of the turncock, the foreigner, and the beetle, 381 00:21:55,559 --> 00:21:59,039 and even the baby. The only drawback was the Toby Dog was developing a 382 00:21:59,079 --> 00:22:03,160 tendency to how in the wrong place something has occurred, I suppose to upset 383 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:07,160 him, and something considerable, for I forgot exactly at what point he gave 384 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,680 the most lamentable cry, and left off the footboard and shot away from the 385 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,240 marketplace down a side street. There was a stage weight, but only a 386 00:22:15,279 --> 00:22:18,319 brief one. I suppose the men decided that it was no good going after 387 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,119 him, and that he was likely to turn up again at night. We 388 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,920 went on, punched out faithfully with Judy, and in fact with all comers. 389 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,519 And then it came the moment when the gallows was erected, and the 390 00:22:26,559 --> 00:22:32,240 greatest scene with mister Ketch was to be enacted. It was now that something 391 00:22:32,319 --> 00:22:34,839 happened of which I can certainly not yet see. The import Fully, you 392 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,279 have witnessed an execution and know what the criminal's head looks like with the cap 393 00:22:38,319 --> 00:22:41,759 on. If you are like me, you never wish to think of it 394 00:22:41,799 --> 00:22:45,279 again, and I do not willingly remind you of it. It was just 395 00:22:45,319 --> 00:22:48,440 such a hot as that that I, from my somewhat higher posts, saw 396 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,759 inside of the show box, but at first the audience did not see it. 397 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,160 I expected it to emerge into their view, but instead of that, 398 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:59,680 there slowly rose for a few seconds and uncovered face which the expression of terror 399 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,359 upon it, of which I have never imagined the like. It seemed as 400 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,759 if the man, whoever he was, was being forcibly lifted with his arms 401 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:11,039 somehow pinioned or held back towards the little gibbot on stage. I could just 402 00:23:11,079 --> 00:23:14,559 see the nightcapped head behind him. And then there was a cry and a 403 00:23:14,599 --> 00:23:18,200 crash. The whole show box fell over backwards. Kicking legs were seen amongst 404 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,519 the ruins, and then two figures, as some said I can only answer 405 00:23:21,559 --> 00:23:25,559 for one, were visible running at top speed across the square and disappearing into 406 00:23:25,599 --> 00:23:29,359 the lanes which leads to the fields. Of course, everybody gave chase. 407 00:23:29,759 --> 00:23:32,960 I followed, but the pace was killing, and very few were in Literally 408 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:37,480 at the death. It happened in the chalkpit. The man went over the 409 00:23:37,559 --> 00:23:41,319 edge quite blindly and broke his neck. They searched everywhere for the other until 410 00:23:41,319 --> 00:23:44,640 it occurred to me to ask whether he had ever left the marketplace. At 411 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,680 first everyone was sure that he had, but when we came back to look, 412 00:23:47,799 --> 00:23:51,559 he was there under the show box, dead too. But in the 413 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:55,119 chalkpit it was that poor Uncle Henry's body was found with a sack over the 414 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,519 head, throat horribly mangled. It was peeked in the corner of the sack 415 00:23:57,559 --> 00:24:02,200 sticking out of the soil that attracted attention. I cannot bring myself to write 416 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:06,039 in greater detail. I forgot to say. The men's real names were Kidman 417 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:07,839 and Gallop. I felt sure that I have heard them, but no one 418 00:24:07,839 --> 00:24:11,519 else here seems to know anything about them. I am coming to you as 419 00:24:11,519 --> 00:24:15,640 soon as I can after the funeral. I must tell you when we meet 420 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,599 what I think of it all, and of the story of a disappearance and 421 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,359 an appearance by m R James,