WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.120 --> 00:00:08.560 The Adventure of the Golden Passnay, When I look at 2 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:12.720 the three massive manuscript volumes which contain our work for 3 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:16.559 the year eighteen ninety four, I confess that it is 4 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:20.199 very difficult for me, out of such a wealth of material, 5 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:25.079 to select the cases which are most interesting in themselves 6 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:28.480 and at the same time most conducive to a display 7 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:32.159 of those peculiar powers for which my friend was famous. 8 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:36.280 As I turn over the pages, I see my notes 9 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:40.039 upon the repulsive story of the Red Leech and the 10 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:44.159 terrible death of Crosby the Banker. Here also I find 11 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:48.399 an account of the Adulton tragedy and the singular contents 12 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:53.280 of the ancient British barrow. The famous smith Mortimer's succession 13 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:57.039 case comes also within this period, and so does the 14 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:01.840 tracking and arrest of Huay the Boulevard Assassin, an exploit 15 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.719 which won for homes, an autograph letter of thanks from 16 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:08.560 the French President, and the Order of the Legion of Honor. 17 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:12.640 Each of these would furnish a narrative, but on the 18 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:15.599 whole I am of opinion that none of them unite 19 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:19.200 so many singular points of interest as the episode of 20 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:24.640 Yoxley Old Place, which includes not only the lamentable death 21 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:29.480 of young Willoughby Smith, but also those subsequent developments which 22 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:32.480 threw so curious a light upon the causes of the crime. 23 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:38.640 It was a wild, tempestuous night towards the close of November. 24 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:43.079 Holmes and I sat together in silence all the evening. 25 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:48.159 He engaged with a powerful lens, deciphering the remains of 26 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:52.640 the original inscription upon a palimpsest eye deep in a 27 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:58.280 recent treatise upon surgery. Outside, the wind howled down Baker Street, 28 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:03.120 while the rain beat feat against the windows. It was 29 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:06.640 strange there in the very depths of the town, with 30 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:09.639 ten miles of man's handiwork on every side of us, 31 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:13.439 to feel the iron grip of nature, bound to be 32 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:17.520 conscious that to the huge elemental forces, all London was 33 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.759 no more than the mole hills that dot the fields. 34 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.000 I walked to the window and looked out on the 35 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:29.159 deserted street. The occasional lamps gleamed on the expanse of 36 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:34.039 muddy road and shining pavement. A single cab was splashing 37 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:38.719 its way from the Oxford Street end. Well, Watson, it's 38 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:40.800 as well we have not to turn out to night, 39 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:45.719 said Holmes, laying aside his lens and rolling up the palimpsest. 40 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.879 I've done enough for one sitting. It is trying work 41 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:53.080 for the eyes. So far as I can make out, 42 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:56.919 it is nothing more exciting than an abbey's accounts dating 43 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:01.240 from the second half of the fifteenth century. Hello, Hello, Hello, 44 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:05.319 what's this? Amid the droning of the wind, there had 45 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:08.439 come the stamping of a horse's hoofs, and the long 46 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:11.360 grind of a wheel as it rasped against the curb. 47 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.039 The cab which I had seen, had pulled up at 48 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:19.240 our door. What can he want? I ejaculated as a 49 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:23.919 man stepped out of it. Want he wants us, and we, 50 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:28.840 my poor Watson, want overcoats and cravats and goloshes and 51 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:31.719 every aid that man ever invented to fight the weather. 52 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:36.039 Wait a bit, though, there's the cab off again. There's hope. 53 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.599 Yet he'd have kept it if he had wanted us 54 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:41.800 to come. Run down, my dear fellow and open the door, 55 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:47.000 for all virtuous folk have been long in bed. When 56 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:49.879 the light of the hall lamp fell upon our midnight visitor, 57 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:54.159 I had no difficulty in recognizing him. It was young 58 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:58.879 Stanley Hopkins, a promising detective, in whose career Homes had 59 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:02.719 several times shown a very practical interest. Is he in? 60 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:06.879 He asked eagerly. Come up, my dear sir, said Holmes's 61 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:10.599 voice from above. I hope you have no designs upon 62 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:15.080 us on such a night as this. The detective mounted 63 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:19.319 the stairs, and our lamp gleamed upon his shining waterproof. 64 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:22.639 I helped him out of it, while Holmes knocked a 65 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:26.240 blaze out of the logs in the grate. Now, my 66 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:30.079 dear Hopkins, draw up and warm your toes, said he. 67 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:33.920 Here's a cigar, and the doctor has a prescription containing 68 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:37.279 hot water and a lemon, which is good medicine on 69 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:41.079 a night like this. It must be something important which 70 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:44.439 has brought you out in such a gale. It is indeed, 71 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:47.399 mister Holmes, I've had a bustling afternoon. I promise you. 72 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:50.519 Did you see anything of the Yoxley case in the 73 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:54.600 latest editions. I've seen nothing later than the fifteenth century 74 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:58.360 to day. Well, it was only a paragraph, and all 75 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:02.000 wrong at that, so you've not missed anything. I haven't 76 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:05.480 let the grass grow under my feet. It's down in Kent, 77 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.120 seven miles from Chatham and three from the railway line 78 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:12.800 I was wired for at three fifteen, reached Yoxley Old 79 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:16.720 Place at five conducted my investigation was back at Charing 80 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:19.959 Cross by the last train, and straight to you by cab, 81 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.360 which means I suppose that you are not quite clear 82 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:26.439 about your case. It means that I can make neither 83 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:29.160 head nor tail of it. So far as I can see, 84 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.399 it is just as tangled a business as ever I handled. 85 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:35.160 And yet at first it seemed so simple that one 86 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:38.680 couldn't go wrong. There's no motive, mister Holmes. That's what 87 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.439 bothers me. I can't put my hand on a motive. 88 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:46.040 He's a man dead, there's no denying that. But so 89 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:48.360 far as I can see, no reason on earth why 90 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:52.319 any one should wish him harm. Holmes lit his cigar 91 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.800 and leaned back in his chair. Let us hear about it, 92 00:05:55.959 --> 00:06:00.600 said he. I've got my facts pretty clear, said Stanley Hopkins. 93 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:03.680 All I want now is to know what they all mean. 94 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:07.680 The story, so far as I can make it out, 95 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:12.639 is like this. Some years ago this country house, Yoxley 96 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.879 Old Place, was taken by an elderly man who gave 97 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:21.360 the name of Professor Korham. He was an invalid keeping 98 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.000 his bed half the time and the other half hobbling 99 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:27.279 round the house with a stick or being pushed about 100 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:30.920 the grounds by the gardener in a bath chair. He 101 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:33.519 was well liked by the few neighbors who called upon him, 102 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:36.199 and he has the reputation down there of being a 103 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:40.319 very learned man. His household used to consist of an 104 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:45.639 elderly housekeeper, Missus Marker, and of a maid, Susan Tarlton. 105 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:50.120 They have both been with him since his arrival, and 106 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:54.240 they seem to be women of excellent character. The professor 107 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:57.240 is writing a learned book, and he found it necessary 108 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:00.839 about a year ago to engage a secretary. The first 109 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:04.199 two that he tried were not success it, but the third, 110 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:07.800 mister Willoughby Smith, a very young man straight from university, 111 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:12.480 seems to have been just what his employer wanted. His 112 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:15.839 work consisted in writing all the morning to the Professor's dictation, 113 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:19.920 and he usually spent the evening in hunting up references 114 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:24.480 and passages which bore upon the next day's work. This 115 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:28.040 Willoughby Smith has nothing against him, either as a boy 116 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:31.959 at Uppingham or as a young man at Cambridge. I 117 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:35.279 have seen his testimonials and from the first. He was 118 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:39.399 a decent, quiet, hard working fellow, with no weak spot 119 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:42.800 in him at all. And yet this is the lad 120 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:46.040 who has met his death this morning in the Professor's study, 121 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:52.199 under circumstances which can point only to murder. The wind 122 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:56.759 howled and screamed at the windows. Holmes and I drew 123 00:07:56.839 --> 00:08:00.600 closer to the fire, while the young inspectors slowly and 124 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:06.720 point by point developed his singular narrative. If you were 125 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:09.680 to search all England said he, I don't suppose you 126 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:13.399 could find a household more self contained or freer from 127 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:18.360 outside influences. Whole weeks would pass and not one of 128 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:22.399 them go past the garden gate. The professor was buried 129 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.199 in his work and existed for nothing else. Young Smith 130 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:29.600 knew nobody in the neighborhood, and lived very much as 131 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:32.960 his employer did. The two women had nothing to take 132 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.759 them from the house. Mortimer, the gardener who wheels the 133 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:41.279 bath chair, is an army pensioner, an old crimean man 134 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:44.919 of excellent character. He does not live in the house, 135 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:47.879 but in a three roomed cottage at the other end 136 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:51.600 of the garden. Those are the only people that you 137 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:55.320 would find within the grounds of Yoxley. Old place at 138 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:57.519 the same time. The gate of the garden is a 139 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:01.639 hundred yards from the main London to Cham road. It 140 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:04.600 opens with a latch and there is nothing to prevent 141 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:09.159 any one from walking in. Now I will give you 142 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:12.600 the evidence of Susan Tarlton, who was the only person 143 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:15.759 who can say anything positive about the matter. It was 144 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.720 in the forenoon between eleven and twelve. She was engaged 145 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.600 at the moment in hanging some curtains in the upstairs 146 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.679 front bedroom. Professor Korham was still in bed, for when 147 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:30.240 the weather is bad he seldom rises before midday. The 148 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:32.679 housekeeper was busied with some work in the back of 149 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:37.080 the house. Willoughby Smith had been in his bedroom, which 150 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:40.240 he uses as a sitting room, but the maid heard 151 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:43.200 him at that moment pass along the passage and descend 152 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:47.159 to the study immediately below her. She did not see him, 153 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:50.000 but she says that she could not be mistaken in 154 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:54.120 his quick, firm tread. She did not hear the study 155 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:57.120 door close, but a minute or so later there was 156 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:01.159 a dreadful cry in the room below. It was a wild, 157 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:06.039 hoarse scream, so strange and unnatural that it might have 158 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.440 come either from a man or a woman. At the 159 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.279 same instant, there was a heavy thud which shook the 160 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:16.960 old house, and then all was silent. The maid stood 161 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:20.480 petrified for a moment, and then, recovering her courage, she 162 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:25.039 ran downstairs. The study door was shut, and she opened it. 163 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:29.120 Inside young mister Willoughby Smith was stretched upon the floor. 164 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:33.799 At first she could see no injury, but as she 165 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:36.919 tried to raise him, she saw that blood was pouring 166 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:40.480 from the under side of his neck. It was pierced 167 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:43.639 by a very small, but very deep wound which had 168 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:48.759 divided the carotid artery. The instrument with which the injury 169 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:53.120 had been inflicted lay upon the carpet beside him. It 170 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:55.759 was one of those small sealing wax knives to be 171 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:59.960 found on old fashioned writing tables, with an ivory handle 172 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:04.120 and a stiff blade. It was part of the fittings 173 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:08.360 of the professor's own desk. At first, the maid thought 174 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:12.240 that young Smith was already dead, but on pouring some 175 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.000 water from the caraffe over his forehead, he opened his 176 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:19.840 eyes for an instant. The professor he murmured it was she. 177 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:23.759 The maid is prepared to swear that those were the 178 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:28.840 exact words. He tried desperately to say something else, and 179 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:32.320 he held his right hand up in the air. Then 180 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:36.120 he fell back dead. In the meantime, the housekeeper had 181 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.600 also arrived upon the scene, but she was just too 182 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.759 late to catch the young man's dying words. Leaving Susan 183 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.279 with the body, she hurried to the professor's room. He 184 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:50.679 was sitting up in bed, horribly agitated, for he had 185 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.879 heard enough to convince him that something terrible had occurred. 186 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:58.399 Missus Marker is prepared to swear that the Professor was 187 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:02.039 still in his night clothes, and indeed it was impossible 188 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:04.960 for him to dress without the help of Mortimer, whose 189 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:09.240 orders were to come at twelve o'clock. The professor declares 190 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.279 that he heard the distant cry, but that he knows 191 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:15.919 nothing more. He can give no explanation of the young 192 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:22.200 man's last words. The professor it was she, but imagines 193 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:25.879 that they were the outcome of delirium. He believes that 194 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.159 Willoughby Smith had not an enemy in the world, and 195 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:33.480 can give no reason for the crime. His first action 196 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:36.440 was to send Mortimer, the gardener for the local police. 197 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:41.480 A little later, the Chief Constable sent for me. Nothing 198 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:44.440 was moved before I got there, and strict orders were 199 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:47.120 given that no one should walk upon the paths leading 200 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.639 to the house. It was a splendid chance of putting 201 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:54.679 your theories into practice, mister Sherlock Holmes. There was really 202 00:12:54.720 --> 00:13:00.840 nothing wanting except, mister Sherlock Holmes, said my companion, with 203 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:04.559 a somewhat bitter smile. Well, let us hear about it. 204 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.320 What sort of a job did you make of it? 205 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.879 I must ask you, first, mister Holmes, to glance at 206 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:13.000 this rough plan, which will give you a general idea 207 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:16.600 of the position of the professor's study and the various 208 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:19.679 points of the case. It will help you in following 209 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:24.679 my investigation. He unfolded the rough chart and he laid 210 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:29.240 it across Holmes's knee. I rose, and, standing behind Holmes, 211 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:33.600 studied it over his shoulder. It is very rough, of course, 212 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:35.840 and it only deals with the points which seem to 213 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.759 me to be essential. All the rest you will see 214 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:43.360 later for yourself. Now, first of all, presuming that the 215 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.120 assassin entered the house, how did he or she come in? 216 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.879 Undoubtedly by the garden path and the back door, from 217 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:55.679 which there is direct access to the study. Any other 218 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:59.919 way would have been exceedingly complicated. The escape must have 219 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:03.159 also been made along that line. For of the two 220 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:06.399 other exits from the room, one was blocked by Susan 221 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:09.799 as she ran downstairs, and the other leads straight to 222 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:14.200 the professor's bedroom. I therefore directed my attention at once 223 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:18.120 to the garden path, which was saturated with recent rain 224 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:23.480 and would certainly show any footmarks. My examination showed me 225 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:26.320 that I was dealing with a cautious and expert criminal. 226 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:30.600 No footmarks were to be found on the path. There 227 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:33.159 could be no question, however, that some one had passed 228 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:36.559 along the grass border which lines the path, and that 229 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:39.080 he had done so in order to avoid leaving a track. 230 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:42.120 I could not find anything in the nature of a 231 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:45.720 distinct impression, but the grass was trodden down, and some 232 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:49.799 one had undoubtedly passed. It could only have been the murderer, 233 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:52.519 since neither the gardener nor any one else had been 234 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:56.000 there that morning, and the rain had only begun during 235 00:14:56.039 --> 00:15:00.159 the night. One moment said Holmes, where does this math 236 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:04.519 lead to to the road? How long is it? A 237 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:07.840 hundred yards or so? At the point where the path 238 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:13.120 passes through the gate, you could surely pick up the tracks. Unfortunately, 239 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:16.679 the path was tiled at that point well on the 240 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:22.639 road itself. No, it was all trodden into maya tut tut. Well, 241 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:25.919 then these tracks upon the grass, were they coming or going? 242 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:30.960 It was impossible to say. There was never any outline. 243 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:34.440 A large foot or a small you could not distinguish. 244 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:38.879 Holmes gave an ejaculation of impatience. It has been pouring 245 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:42.399 rain and blowing a hurrican ever since, said he. It 246 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:46.440 will be harder to read now than that palimpsest. Well, well, 247 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:49.759 it can't be helped. What did you do, Hopkins, after 248 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:52.679 you had made certain that you had made certain of nothing? 249 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:56.919 I think I made certain of a good deal, mister Holmes. 250 00:15:57.440 --> 00:16:00.399 I knew that someone had entered the house cautiously from without. 251 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:05.360 I next examined the corridor. It is lined with coconut matting, 252 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:09.679 and had taken no impression of any kind. This brought 253 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:13.720 me into the study itself. It is a scantily furnished room. 254 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:16.519 The main article is a large writing table with a 255 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:21.039 fixed bureau. This bureau consists of a double column of 256 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:26.000 drawers with a central small cupboard between them. The drawers 257 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:30.200 were open, the cupboard locked. The draws, it seems, were 258 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:33.480 always open, and nothing of value was kept in them. 259 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:36.679 There were some papers of importance in the cupboard, but 260 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:39.000 there were no signs that this had been tampered with, 261 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:43.840 and the professor assures me that nothing was missing. It 262 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:48.320 is certain that no robbery has been committed. I come 263 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:51.600 now to the body of the young man. It was 264 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:54.320 found near the bureau and just to the left of it, 265 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.639 as marked upon that chart. The stab was on the 266 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:02.440 right side of the neck and from behind forward, so 267 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:05.480 that it is almost impossible that it could have been 268 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:11.559 self inflicted, unless he fell upon the knife, said Holmes, exactly. 269 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:15.079 The idea crossed my mind. But we found the knife 270 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:19.240 some feet away from the body, so that seems impossible. Then, 271 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:22.400 of course there are the man's own dying words. And 272 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:25.519 finally there was this very important piece of evidence, which 273 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:30.079 was found clasped in the dead man's right hand. From 274 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.880 his pocket, Stanley Hopkins drew a small paper packet. He 275 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.920 unfolded it and disclosed a golden pans neigh with two 276 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:41.000 broken ends of black silk cord dangling from the end 277 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:45.759 of it. Willoughby Smith had excellent sight, he added, there 278 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:48.400 can be no question that this was snatched from the 279 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:53.559 face or the person of the assassin. Sherlock Holmes took 280 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:56.640 the glasses into his hand and examined them with the 281 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:00.400 utmost attention and interest. He held them on his nose, 282 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.640 endeavored to read through them, went to the window and 283 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:06.680 stared up the street with them, looked at the most 284 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:09.240 minutely in the full light of the lamp, and finally, 285 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:12.680 with a chuckle, seated himself at the table and wrote 286 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.279 a few lines upon a sheet of paper, which she 287 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:19.519 tossed across to Stanley Hopkins. That's the best I can 288 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.680 do for you, said he. It may prove to be 289 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:27.079 of some use. The astonished detective read the note aloud. 290 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:32.119 It ran as follows. Wanted a woman of good address, 291 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:36.119 attired like a lady. She has a remarkably thick nose, 292 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:38.720 with eyes which are set close upon either side of it. 293 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:44.960 She has a puckered forehead, appearing expression, and probably rounded shoulders. 294 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:48.480 There are indications that she has had recourse to an 295 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:52.920 optician at least twice during the last few months. As 296 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.559 her glasses are of remarkable strength, and as opticians are 297 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:59.839 not very numerous, there should be no difficulty in tracing. 298 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:05.599 Holmes smiled at the astonishment of Hopkins, which must have 299 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:10.839 been reflected upon my features. Surely my deductions are simplicity itself, 300 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:14.599 said he. It would be difficult to name any articles 301 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:17.440 which afford a finer field for inference than a pair 302 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:22.359 of glasses, especially so remarkable a pair as these, that 303 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:25.319 they belong to a woman. I infer from their delicacy, 304 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:28.119 and also, of course from the last words of the 305 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.839 dying man as to her being a person of refinement 306 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:35.400 and well dressed. They are, as you perceive, handsomely mounted 307 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:39.119 in solid gold, and it is inconceivable that any one 308 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:43.359 who wore such glasses could be slatternly. In other respects, 309 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.920 you will find that the clips are too wide for 310 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:49.519 your nose, showing that the lady's nose was very broad 311 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:53.039 at the base. This sort of nose is usually a 312 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:56.920 short and coarse one. But there is a sufficient number 313 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.799 of exceptions to prevent me from being dogmatic or from 314 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:05.200 insisting upon this point in my description. My own face 315 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:07.160 is a narrow one, and yet I find that I 316 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:10.799 cannot get my eyes into the center, nor near the center, 317 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:14.720 of these glasses. Therefore, the lady's eyes are set very 318 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:18.599 near to the sides of the nose. You will perceive, Watson, 319 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:23.480 that the glasses are concave and of unusual strength. A 320 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:26.880 lady whose vision has been so extremely contracted all her 321 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:30.839 life is sure to have the physical characteristics of such vision, 322 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:36.680 which are seen in the forehead, the eyelids, and the shoulders. Yes, 323 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:41.720 I said, I can follow each of your arguments. I confess, however, 324 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:44.880 that I am unable to understand how you arrive at 325 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:49.160 the double visit to the optician. Holmes took the glasses 326 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:52.279 in his hand. You will perceive he said that the 327 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:55.079 clips are lined with tiny bands of cork to soften 328 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:58.880 the pressure upon the nose. One of these is discolored 329 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:03.079 and worn to some light extent, but the other is new. 330 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:08.160 Evidently one has fallen off and been replaced. I should 331 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:10.359 judge that the older of them has not been there 332 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:15.279 more than a few months. They exactly correspond. So I 333 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.160 gather that the lady went back to the same establishment 334 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:22.680 for the second by George. It's marvelous, cried Hopkins, in 335 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:26.480 an ecstasy of admiration to think that I had all 336 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.920 that evidence in my hand and never knew it. I 337 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:33.200 had intended, however, to go the round of the London opticians. 338 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:36.880 Of course, you would meanwhile have you anything more to 339 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:40.839 tell us about the case. Nothing, mister Holmes. I think 340 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:43.880 that you know as much as I do now, probably more. 341 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:47.960 We have had inquiries made as to any stranger seen 342 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.880 on the country roads or at the railway station. We 343 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:55.720 have heard of none. What beats me is the utter 344 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:59.519 want of all object in the crime, not a ghost 345 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:03.680 of a motive. Can anyone suggest ah there? I am 346 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:06.559 not in a position to help you, but I suppose 347 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:09.359 you want us to come out to morrow. If it 348 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.440 is not asking too much, mister Holmes, There's a train 349 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:14.960 from charing Cross to Chatham at six in the morning, 350 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:18.000 and we should be at Yoxley Old Place between eight 351 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:22.039 and nine. Then we shall take it. Your case has 352 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:25.160 certainly some features of great interest, and I shall be 353 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:29.279 delighted to look into it. Well, it's nearly one and 354 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:32.279 we had best get a few hours sleep. I dare 355 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:34.279 say you can manage all right on the sofa in 356 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:38.279 front of the fire. I'll light my spirit lamp and 357 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:44.599 give you a cup of coffee before we start. The 358 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:48.319 gale had blown itself out next day, but it was 359 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:52.160 a bitter morning. When we started upon our journey. We 360 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:55.559 saw the cold winter sun rise over the dreary marshes 361 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:58.680 of the Thames and the long, sullen reaches of the river, 362 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:02.039 which I shall i'll ever associate with our pursuit of 363 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:05.480 the Anderman Islander in the earlier days of our career. 364 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:09.200 After a long and weary journey, we are lighted at 365 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:13.440 a small station some miles from Chatham. While a horse 366 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.559 was being put into a trap at the local inn, 367 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:19.240 we snatched a hurried breakfast, and so we were all 368 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:22.160 ready for business when we at last arrived at Yoxley 369 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:28.519 Old Place. A constable met us at the garden gate. Well, Wilson, 370 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:33.400 any news, no, sir, nothing, no reports of any stranger scene, 371 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:36.680 no sir. Down at the station. They are certain that 372 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:40.599 no stranger either came or went yesterday. Have you had 373 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:45.000 inquiries made at inns and lodgings, Yes, sir, there is 374 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.200 no one that we cannot account for. Well, it's only 375 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:52.440 a reasonable walk to Chatham. Anyone might stay there or 376 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:56.240 take a train without being observed. This is the garden 377 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:59.160 path of which I spoke, mister Holmes. I'll pledge my 378 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.519 word there was no mark on it yesterday. On which 379 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:05.440 side were the marks on the grass? This side, sir, 380 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:08.240 This narrow margin of grass between the path and the 381 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:11.759 flower bed. I can't see the traces now, but they 382 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.200 were clear to me. Then. Yes, yes, someone has passed along, 383 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:19.599 said Holmes, stooping over the grass border. Our lady must 384 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:23.240 have picked her steps carefully, must she not, since on 385 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:25.720 the one side she would leave a track on the path, 386 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:29.319 and on the other an even clearer one on the 387 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:32.920 soft bed. Yes, sir, she must have been a cool hand. 388 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:38.359 I saw an intent look pass over Holmes's face. You 389 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:42.039 say that she must have come back this way, Yes, sir, 390 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:46.359 There is no other on this strip of grass, certainly, 391 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:54.119 mister Holmes, Hm, it was a very remarkable performance. Very remarkable. Well, 392 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:57.079 I think we have exhausted the path. Let us go farther. 393 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:01.000 This garden door is usually a kept open. I suppose 394 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:04.680 then this visitor had nothing to do but to walk in, 395 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:08.799 the idea of murder was not in her mind, or 396 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:11.400 she would have provided herself with some sort of weapon 397 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:14.880 instead of having to pick this knife off the writing table. 398 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:19.359 She advanced along this corridor, leaving no traces upon the 399 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:24.440 cocoanut matting. Then she found herself in this study. How 400 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:27.519 long was she there? We have no means of judging, 401 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:31.400