WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:04.839 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in 2 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:09.320 the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please 3 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:17.399 visit LibriVox dot org. Recorded by Julian Jamison. The Adventures 4 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:24.079 of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Adventure six 5 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:31.879 The Man with the Twisted lip. Isa Whitney, brother of 6 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:36.679 the late Elias Whitney, d d. Principle of the Theological 7 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:41.759 College of Saint George's, was much addicted to opium. The 8 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:45.719 habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish 9 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:48.560 freak when he was at college, for having read de 10 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:52.560 Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched 11 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.560 his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the 12 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:59.240 same effects. He found, as so many more have done, 13 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:01.880 that the practice is easier to attain than to get 14 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:04.519 rid of, And for many years he continued to be 15 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:07.840 a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror 16 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:11.280 and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see 17 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:16.319 him now, with yellow pasty face, drooping lids, and pin 18 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:20.439 point pupils, all huddled in a chair. The wreck and 19 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:24.680 ruin of a noble man. One night, it was in 20 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:27.959 June eighty nine, there came a ring to my bell, 21 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:30.719 about the hour when a man gives his first yawn 22 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:33.959 and glances at the clock. I sat up in my chair, 23 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:36.519 and my wife laid her needlework down in her lap 24 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:40.840 and made a little face of disappointment. A patient said, 25 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:44.599 she you'll have to go out. I groaned, for I 26 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:48.480 was newly come back from a weary day. We heard 27 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.120 the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick 28 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:55.319 steps upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and 29 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:58.640 a lady clad in some dark colored stuff with a 30 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:02.879 black veil entered the room. You will excuse me, calling 31 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:06.959 so late, she began, and then, suddenly losing her self control, 32 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:09.960 she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck, 33 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:13.400 and sobbed upon her shoulder. Oh I'm in such trouble, 34 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:16.800 she cried. I do so want a little help. Why, 35 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:20.080 said my wife, pulling up her veil. It is Kate Whitney. 36 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:22.479 How you startled me? Kate. I had not an idea 37 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.240 who you were when you came in. I didn't know 38 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:28.319 what to do, so I came straight to you. That 39 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:31.599 was always the way folk who were in grief, came 40 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.520 to my wife like birds to a lighthouse. It was 41 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:37.919 very sweet of you to come. Now. You must have 42 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:40.759 some wine and water and sit here comfortably and tell 43 00:02:40.840 --> 00:02:43.120 us all about it. Or should you rather that I 44 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:46.439 sent James off to bed. Oh no, no, I want 45 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:49.879 the doctor's advice and help too. It's about Isa. He 46 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:52.919 has not been home for two days. I'm so frightened 47 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:55.879 about him. It was not the first time that she 48 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:58.560 had spoken to us of her husband's trouble, to me 49 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.159 as a doctor, to my life, as an old friend 50 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:04.800 and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such 51 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:07.159 words as we could find. Did she know where her 52 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:09.879 husband was? Was it possible that we could bring him 53 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:13.599 back to her? It seems that it was. She had 54 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:16.159 the surest information that of late he had when the 55 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:18.560 fit was on him, made use of an opium den 56 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:21.680 in the farthest east of the city. Hitherto, his orgies 57 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.280 had always been confined to one day, and he'd come 58 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:28.039 back twitching and shattered in the evening. But now the 59 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.800 spell had been upon him eight and forty hours, and 60 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:33.840 he lay there, doubtless among the dregs of the docks, 61 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:37.960 breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects. There 62 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:39.800 he was to be found. She was sure of it 63 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:43.879 at the bar of Gold in Upper Swandham Lane. But 64 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:46.400 what was she to do? How could she, a young 65 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.840 and timid woman, make her way into such a place 66 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:51.199 and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who 67 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:55.400 surrounded him? There was the case, and of course there 68 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:58.039 was but one way out of it. Might I not 69 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.479 escort her to this place? And then, as a second thought, 70 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.840 why should she come at all? I was Asa Whitney's 71 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:07.960 medical adviser, and as such I had influence over him. 72 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:10.840 I could manage it better if I were alone. I 73 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:12.879 promised her on my word that I would send him 74 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:15.319 home in a cab within two hours if he were 75 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:17.800 indeed at the address which she had given me. And 76 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:19.920 so in ten minutes I had left my arm chair 77 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.240 and cheery sitting room behind me, and was speeding eastward 78 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:25.759 in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed 79 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:28.199 to me at the time, though the future only could 80 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.480 show how strange it was to be. But there was 81 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:33.920 no great difficulty in the first stage of my adventure. 82 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:37.560 Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the 83 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.000 high wharves which line the north side of the river 84 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:43.240 to the east of London Bridge, between a slop shop 85 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:46.160 and a gin shop. Approached by a steep flight of 86 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:49.079 steps leading down to a black gap, like the mouth 87 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.399 of a cave, I found the den of which I 88 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:54.759 was in search. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed 89 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:57.360 down the steps, worn hollow in the center by the 90 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:00.600 ceaseless tread of drunken feet. By the light of a 91 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:03.560 flickering oil lamp above the door, I found the latch 92 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:07.000 and made my way into a long, low room, thick 93 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:10.319 and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced with 94 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:14.800 wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship. Through 95 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:17.480 the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies 96 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:23.360 lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads 97 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:26.639 thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there 98 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:31.040 a dark, lackluster eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of 99 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:34.160 the black shadows, there glimmered little red circles of light, 100 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:38.279 now bright, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or 101 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:41.519 waned in the bowls of the metal pipes. The most 102 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:45.639 lay silent, but some muttered to themselves, and others talked 103 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:50.040 together in a strange, low monotonous voice, their conversation coming 104 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:54.120 in gushes and then suddenly tailing off into silence, each 105 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:57.240 mumbling out his own thoughts and paying little heed to 106 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:00.120 the words of his neighbor. At the farther end was 107 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.399 a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside which on a 108 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.720 three legged wooden stool, there sat a tall, thin old man, 109 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:09.959 with his jaw resting upon his two fists and his 110 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:14.720 elbows upon his knees, staring into the fire. As I entered, 111 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:17.680 a sallow malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe 112 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:20.160 for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me 113 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:23.800 to an empty berth. Thank you, I have not come 114 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:26.959 to stay, said I. There is a friend of mine here, 115 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.000 mister Isa Whitney, and I wished to speak with him. 116 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.240 There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, 117 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:36.800 and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard 118 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:41.360 and unkempt, staring out at me. My god, it's Watson, 119 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:44.439 said he. He was in a pitiable state of reaction, 120 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:47.720 with every nerve in a twitter I say, Watson, what 121 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:52.839 o'clock is it? Nearly eleven of what day of Friday? 122 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:57.319 June nineteenth? Good heavens, I thought it was Wednesday. It 123 00:06:57.399 --> 00:06:59.480 is Wednesday. What do you want to frighten a chap 124 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.800 for he sank his face unto his arms and began 125 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:06.279 to sob in a high treble key. I tell you 126 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:08.959 that it is Friday. Man, your wife has been waiting 127 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:11.439 this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself, 128 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.439 so I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I've 129 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:18.399 only been here a few hours. Three pipes, four pipes, 130 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:20.839 I forget how many. But I'll go home with you. 131 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:25.040 I wouldn't frighten Kate, Poor little Kate. Give me your hand. 132 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:29.279 Have you a cab? Yes? I have one waiting. Then 133 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.759 I shall go in it. But I must owe something. 134 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.920 Find what I owe? Watson? I am all off color. 135 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:38.839 I can do nothing for myself. I walked down the 136 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:42.000 narrow passage between the double row of sleepers, holding my 137 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:45.160 breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, 138 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:48.199 and looking about for the manager. As I passed the 139 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.319 tall man who sat by the brazier, I felt a 140 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:52.759 sudden pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered, 141 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:57.800 walk past me, and then look back at me. The 142 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:01.360 words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I glanced down. 143 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:03.759 They could only have come from the old man at 144 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.759 my side. And yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, 145 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:11.000 very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe 146 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.519 dangling down from between his knees as though it had 147 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:16.959 dropped in sheer lassitude from his fingers. I took two 148 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:20.079 steps forward and looked back. It took all my self 149 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:22.160 control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry 150 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.079 of astonishment. He turned his back so that none could 151 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:27.839 see him but I. His form had filled out, his 152 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:30.639 wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire, 153 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:33.720 And there, sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise, 154 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:37.360 was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He made a slight 155 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.919 motion to me to approach him, and instantly as he 156 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.360 turned his face half round to the company, once more 157 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:48.320 subsided into a doddering, loose lipped sinility. Holmes. I whispered, 158 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:52.039 what on earth are you doing in this den? As 159 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:55.559 low as you can, he answered, I have excellent ears. 160 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:58.159 If you would have the great kindness to get rid 161 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:01.279 of that sawtish friend of yours. I should be exceedingly 162 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:04.279 glad to have a little talk with you. I have 163 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:08.320 a cab outside, then pray send him home innut you 164 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:11.000 may safely trust him, for he appears to be too 165 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:13.720 limp to get into any mischief. I should recommend you 166 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:15.679 also to send a note by the cabman to your 167 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:18.000 wife to say that you have thrown in your lot 168 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:21.120 with me. If you will wait outside, I shall be 169 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:25.720 with you in five minutes. It was difficult to refuse 170 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.399 any of Schlockolmbe's requests, for they were always so exceedingly 171 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:33.120 definite and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery. 172 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:36.440 I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in 173 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.559 the cab, my mission was practically accomplished, and for the 174 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.440 rest I could not wish anything better than to be 175 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:44.799 associated with my friend in one of those singular adventures 176 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:48.000 which were the normal condition of his existence. In a 177 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:50.519 few minutes, I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, 178 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:53.159 led him out to the cab, and seen him driven 179 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:55.919 through the darkness. In a very short time, a decrepit 180 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:58.399 figure had emerged from the opium den and I was 181 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:01.879 walking down the street with schrlock comb umes for two streets. 182 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:05.919 He shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot, Then, 183 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:09.240 glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and burst into 184 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:13.120 a hearty fit of laughter. I suppose, Watson said he 185 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:15.960 that you imagine that I have added opium smoking to 186 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:19.519 cocaine injections, and all the other little weaknesses on which 187 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:23.320 you have favored me with your medical views. I was 188 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:26.840 certainly surprised to find you there, but not more so 189 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:30.919 than I to find you. I came to find a friend, 190 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:37.000 and I to find an enemy, an enemy, yes, one 191 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:42.960 of my natural enemies, or shall I say my natural prey. Briefly, Watson, 192 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:45.480 I am in the midst of a very remarkable inquiry, 193 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.279 and I have hoped to find a clue in the 194 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.879 incoherent ramblings of these sots, as I have done before. Now. 195 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.519 Had I been recognized in that den, my life would 196 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:55.679 not have been worth an hour's purchase, for I have 197 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.320 used it before now for my own purposes, and the 198 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.240 rascally lascar who runs it has sworn to have vengeance 199 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:03.360 upon me. There is a trap door at the back 200 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:06.159 of that building, near the corner of Paul's wharf, which 201 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:08.759 could tell some strange tales of what has passed through 202 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:15.799 it upon the moonless nights. What you do not mean bodies? Aye, bodies, Watson. 203 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.120 We should be rich men if we had a thousand 204 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:20.360 pounds for every poor devil who had been done to 205 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:23.320 death in that den. It is the vilest murder trap 206 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.639 on the whole river side. And I fear that nevill 207 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:28.399 Saint Clair has entered it, never to leave it more. 208 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:32.200 But our trap should be here. He put his two 209 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:36.000 forefingers between his teeth and whistled shrilly, a signal, which 210 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:38.720 was answered by a similar whistle from the distance, followed 211 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:41.039 shortly by the rattle of wheels and the clink of 212 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:46.159 horses hoofs now. Watson, said Holmes, as a tall dog 213 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:49.399 cart dashed up through the gloom, throwing out two golden 214 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:52.720 tunnels of yellow light from its side lanterns. You'll come 215 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:56.679 with me, won't you? If I can be of use? Oh, 216 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:59.919 A trusty comrade is always of use, and a crown 217 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:03.600 still more so. My room at the Cedars is a 218 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:08.639 double bedded one the Cedars. Yes, that is mister Saint 219 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.799 Clair's house. I am staying there while I conduct the inquiry. 220 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:16.120 Where is it? Then? Near Lee in Kent? We have 221 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:19.039 a seven mile drive before us. But I am all 222 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:21.919 in the dark. Of course you are. You'll know all 223 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:25.279 about it presently. Jump up here, all right, John, We 224 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.919 shall not need you. Here's half a crown. Look out 225 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:31.480 for me tomorrow about eleven. Give her her head so long. 226 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.600 Then he flicked the horse with his whip, and we 227 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:38.519 dashed away through the endless succession of somber and deserted streets, 228 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:42.399 which widened gradually until we were flying across a broad, 229 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:46.679 balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly beneath us. 230 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:51.159 Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and mortar, its 231 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:54.879 silence broken only by the heavy regular footfall of the policeman, 232 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:58.879 or the songs and shouts of some belated party of revelers. 233 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:03.080 A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and 234 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.879 a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through 235 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:09.879 the rifts of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with 236 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:12.559 his head sunk upon his breast, and the air of 237 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:15.159 a man who is lost in thought. While I sat 238 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:18.000 beside him curious to learn what this new quest might be, 239 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:21.399 which seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet 240 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.639 afraid to break in upon the current of his thoughts. 241 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:26.840 We had driven several miles and were beginning to get 242 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.279 to the fringe of the belt of suburban villas when 243 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:32.320 he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up his 244 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.399 pipe with the air of a man who is satisfied 245 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:38.360 himself that he is acting for the best. You have 246 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:42.159 a grand gift of silence, Watson said he. It makes 247 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:45.639 you quite invaluable as a companion. Upon my word, it 248 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:47.159 is a great thing for me to have some one 249 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:50.120 to talk to, for my own thoughts are not over pleasant. 250 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.399 I was wondering what I should say to this dear 251 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:54.600 little woman to night when she meets me at the door. 252 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:59.559 You forget that I know nothing about it. I shall 253 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:01.440 just time to tell you the facts of the case 254 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.720 before we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and 255 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:07.960 yet somehow I can get nothing to go upon. There's 256 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:10.000 plenty of thread, no doubt, but I can't get the 257 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:12.840 end of it into my hand. Now I'll state the 258 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:15.840 case clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you 259 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:18.120 can see a spark where all is dark to me. 260 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:24.440 Proceed then, some years ago to be definite. In May 261 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:28.200 eighteen eighty four there came to Lee a gentleman Neville, 262 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:31.639 Saint Clair by name, who appeared to have plenty of money. 263 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:35.320 He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very nicely, 264 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:39.039 and lived generally in good style. By degrees. He made 265 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:42.120 friends in the neighborhood, and in eighteen eighty seven he 266 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.879 married the daughter of a local brewer, by whom he 267 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.639 now has two children. He had no occupation, but was 268 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:51.200 interested in several companies, and went into town as a 269 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:54.279 rule in the morning, returning by the five fourteen from 270 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.879 Cannon Street every night. Mister Saint Clair is now thirty 271 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.919 seven years of age, is a man of temperate habits, 272 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.399 a good husband, a very affectionate father, and a man 273 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:07.440 who's popular with all who know him. I may add 274 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:09.399 that his whole debts at the present moment, as far 275 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:12.000 as we have been able to ascertain, amount to eighty 276 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:15.440 eight pounds ten shillings, while he has two hundred twenty 277 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.679 pounds standing to his credit in the Capitol and County's bank. 278 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:21.120 There is no reason therefore to think that money troubles 279 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:24.919 have been weighing upon his mind. Last Monday, mister Neville 280 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:28.360 Saint Clair went into town rather earlier than usual, remarking 281 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.759 before he started that he had two important commissions to perform, 282 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:33.679 and that he would bring his little boy home a 283 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:37.399 box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife 284 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:40.799 received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after 285 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:43.519 his departure, to the effect that a small parcel of 286 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:47.240 considerable value, which she had been expecting, was waiting for 287 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:50.759 her the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if 288 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:52.679 you are well up in your London, you will know 289 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:55.200 that the office of the company is in Fresno Street, 290 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:58.519 which branches out of upper Swandham Lane, where you found me. 291 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:02.159 To night, Missus Saint Clair had her lunch, started for 292 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:05.600 the city, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, 293 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:09.000 got her packet, and found herself at exactly four thirty 294 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.799 five walking through Swandham Lane on her way back to 295 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:15.559 the station. Have you followed me so far? It is 296 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:20.919 very clear if you remember. Monday was an exceedingly hot day, 297 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:24.240 and Missus Saint Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the 298 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:26.480 hope of seeing a cab, as she did not like 299 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:29.240 the neighborhood in which she found herself. While she was 300 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:31.919 walking in this way down Swandham Lane, she suddenly heard 301 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:35.120 an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see 302 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:38.039 her husband looking down at her, and, as it seemed 303 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:40.840 to her, beckoning to her from a second floor window. 304 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:44.080 The window was open, and she distinctly saw his face, 305 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:48.080 which she describes as being terribly agitated. He waved his 306 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:51.039 hands frantically to her, and then vanished from the window 307 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.159 so suddenly that it seemed to her that he had 308 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:57.720 been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. One 309 00:16:57.799 --> 00:17:01.440 singular point which struck her quite feminine I was that 310 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:04.039 although he wore some dark coat, such as he had 311 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:07.880 started to town in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. 312 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.400 Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down 313 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.319 the steps, for the house was none other than the 314 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:16.079 opium den in which you found me to night, and 315 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.680 running through the front room, she attempted to ascend the stairs, 316 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.960 which led to the first floor. At the foot of 317 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.799 the stairs, however, she met this less scar scoundrel of 318 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.880 whom I have spoken, who thrust her back, and, aided 319 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:30.160 by a Dane who acts as assistant there, pushed her 320 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:33.400 out into the street. Filled with the most maddening doubts 321 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:36.160 and fears, she rushed down the lane, and by rare 322 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.720 good fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of constables 323 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:42.039 with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. 324 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:45.559 The inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in 325 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:48.440 spite of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made 326 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.319 their way up to the room in which mister Saint 327 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:53.200 Clair had last been seen. There was no sign of 328 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:56.000 him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor, 329 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.319 there was no one to be seen save a crippled 330 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:02.000 wretch of hideous aspect, who it seems made his home there. 331 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.079 Both he and the lascar stoutly swore that no one 332 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:08.160 else had been in the front room during the afternoon. 333 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.960 So determined was their denial that the inspector was staggered 334 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:14.440 and had almost come to believe that missus Sinclair had 335 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:17.200 been deluded, when with a cry, she sprang at a 336 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:19.599 small deal box which lay upon the table, and tore 337 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:22.720 the lid from it. Out there fell a cascade of 338 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:26.440 children's bricks. It was the toy which he had promised 339 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:30.839 to bring home. This discovery and the evident confusion which 340 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:33.519 the cripple showed, made the inspector realize that the matter 341 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:37.599 was serious. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all 342 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:41.319 pointed to an abominable crime. The front room was plainly 343 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.960 furnished as a sitting room, and led into a small 344 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:46.359 bedroom which looked out upon the back of one of 345 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:49.680 the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom window is 346 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:53.079 a narrow strip which is dry and low tide, but 347 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:54.960 is covered at high tide with at least four and 348 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:57.799 a half feet of water. The bedroom window was a 349 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:02.119 broad one and opened from below. On examination, traces of 350 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.559 blood were to be seen upon the window sill, and 351 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:07.559 several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of 352 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:10.799 the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front 353 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:13.920 room were all the clothes of mister Neville Saint Clair, 354 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:18.200 with the exception of his coat, his boots, his socks, 355 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:22.680 his hat, and his watch all were there. There were 356 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:25.640 no signs of violence upon any of these garments, and 357 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:28.039 there were no other traces of mister Neville Saint Clair 358 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:31.680 out of the window. He must apparently have gone for 359 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:34.799 no other exit could be discovered, and the ominous blood 360 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:37.680 stains upon the sill gave little promise that he could 361 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:40.480 save himself by swimming, for the tide was at its 362 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:44.359 very highest at the moment of the tragedy. And now, 363 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.920 as to the villains who seemed to be immediately implicated 364 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:49.319 in the matter, the Lascar was known to be a 365 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:52.519 man of the violest antecedents. But as by Missus Saint 366 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.480 Clair's story, he was known to have been at the 367 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.599 foot of the stair within a very few seconds of 368 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:59.359 her husband's appearance at the window, he could hardly have 369 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:02.680 been more than an accessory to the crime. His defense 370 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:05.720 was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he 371 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:08.440 had no knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, 372 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:11.160 his lodger, and that he could not account in any 373 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:14.960 way for the presence of the missing gentleman's clothes. So 374 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:19.200 much for the Lascar manager, Now for this sinister cripple 375 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.759 who lives upon the second floor of the Opium den, 376 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:24.480 and who was certainly the last human being whose eyes 377 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:29.119 rested upon Neville Saint Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, 378 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:32.200 and his hideous face is one which is familiar to 379 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:34.839 every man who goes much to the city. He is 380 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:38.559 a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police regulations, 381 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:42.599 he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas some 382 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:46.319 little distance down thread Needle Street, upon the left hand side, 383 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:49.519 there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle 384 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:52.240 in the wall. Here it is that this creature takes 385 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.279 his daily seat, cross legged, with his tiny stock of 386 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:58.640 matches on his lap. And as he is a piteous spectacle, 387 00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:02.039 a small rain of charity descends into the greasy leather 388 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:06.200 cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I have 389 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:09.200 watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought 390 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:12.480 of making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised 391 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:14.799 at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. 392 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:18.039 His appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one 393 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:21.519 can pass him without observing him. A shock of orange hair, 394 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:26.039 a pale face disfigured by a horrible scar which, by 395 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:28.720 its contraction has turned up the outer edges of his 396 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:32.240 upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a pair of very 397 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:36.200 penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular contrast to the 398 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:39.079 color of his hair, all mark him out from amid 399 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:42.200 the common crowd of mendicants, and so too does his wit, 400 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:44.359 for he is ever ready with a reply to any 401 00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:46.200