WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.439 Chapter four of the Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir 2 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:07.000 Arthur Conan Doyle. The Slebrivox recording is in the public domain. 3 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:16.079 Chapter four, Sir Henry Baskerville. Our breakfast table was cleared early, 4 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:19.719 and Holmes waited in his dressing gown for the promised interview. 5 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:23.920 Our clients were punctual to their appointment, for the clock 6 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:26.760 had just struck ten when doctor Mortimer was shown up, 7 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:31.120 followed by the young baronet. The latter was a small, alert, 8 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:35.240 dark eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily built, 9 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:39.719 with thick black eyebrows and a strong, pugnacious face. He 10 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.520 wore a ruddy tinted tweed suit and had the weather 11 00:00:42.520 --> 00:00:44.880 beaten appearance of one who has spent most of his 12 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.880 time in the open air. And yet there was something 13 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:50.719 in his steady eye, in the quiet assurance of his bearing, 14 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:56.520 which indicated the gentleman. This is Sir Henry Baskerville, said 15 00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:01.520 doctor Mortimer. Why yes, said he. And the strange thing is, 16 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:04.359 mister Sherlock Holmes, that if my friend here had not 17 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:07.599 proposed coming round you this morning, I should have come 18 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:11.040 on my own account. I understand that you think out 19 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:14.200 little puzzles, and I have had one this morning which 20 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:18.760 once more thinking out than I am able to give it. Pray, 21 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:21.879 take a seat, Sir Henry. Do I understand you to 22 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:25.200 say that you have yourself had some remarkable experience since 23 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:30.079 you arrived in London. Nothing of much importance, mister Holmes, 24 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:33.519 only a joke, as like as not. It was this letter, 25 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:36.319 if you can call it, a letter, which reached me 26 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.400 this morning. He laid an envelope upon the table, and 27 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:43.560 we all bent over it. It was of common quality, 28 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:49.000 grayish in color. The address Sir Henry Baskerville, Northumberland Hotel 29 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:54.040 was printed in rough characters, the post mark Charing Cross, 30 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:58.480 and the date of posting the preceding evening. Who knew 31 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:01.799 that you were going to the Northumberland Hotel, asked Holmes, 32 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:06.359 glancing keenly across at our visitor. No one could have known. 33 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:11.560 We only decided after I met doctor Mortimer. But doctor 34 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:16.120 Mortimer was no doubt already stopping there. No, I had 35 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:20.280 been staying with a friend, said the doctor. There was 36 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.400 no possible indication that we intended to go to this hotel. 37 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:28.759 Hum someone seems to be very deeply interested in your 38 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:32.479 movements out of the envelope, he took a half sheet 39 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:36.639 of foolscap paper folded into four This he opened and 40 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:40.120 spread flat upon the table. Across the middle of it 41 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:43.240 a single sentence had been formed by the expedient of 42 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:48.439 pasting printed words upon it. It ran, as you value 43 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:51.800 your life or your reason? Keep away from the moor. 44 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:57.360 The word more only was printed in ink. Now, said 45 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:01.000 Sir Henry Baskerville. Perhaps you'll te tell me, mister Holmes, 46 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:04.199 what in thunder is the meaning of that? And who 47 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:07.439 it is that takes so much interest in my affairs? 48 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:11.039 What do you make of it? Dr Mortimer? You must 49 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:16.199 allow that there is nothing supernatural about this at any rate, No, sir, 50 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:19.199 but it might very well come from someone who was 51 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:24.599 convinced that the business is supernatural. What business? Asked Sir 52 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:28.319 Henry Sharply. It seems to me that all you gentlemen 53 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.400 know a great deal more than I do about my 54 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:34.599 own affairs. You shall share our knowledge before you leave 55 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:38.759 this room, Sir Henry, I promise you that, said Sherlock Holmes. 56 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:42.639 We will confine ourselves for the present, with your permission, 57 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:46.840 to this very interesting document, which must have been put 58 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:52.039 together and posted yesterday evening. Have you yesterday's Times, Watson? 59 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:56.120 It is here in the corner. Might I trouble you 60 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:00.240 for it? The inside page, please, with the leading articles. 61 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.719 He glanced swiftly over it, running his eyes up and 62 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:08.080 down the columns capital article this on free trade. Permit 63 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:11.439 me to give you an extract from it. You may 64 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:14.680 be cajoled into imagining that your own special trade or 65 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:17.759 your own industry will be encouraged by a protective tariff. 66 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:21.040 But it stands the reason that such legislation must, in 67 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:24.240 the long run, keep away wealth from the country, diminish 68 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:27.439 the value of our imports, and lower the general conditions 69 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:31.160 of life in this island. What do you think of that? Watson, 70 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:35.120 cried Holmes in high glee, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction. 71 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:40.519 Don't you think that is an admirable sentiment? Doctor Mortimer 72 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.839 looked at Holmes with an air of professional interest, and 73 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:47.120 Sir Henry Baskerville turned a pair of puzzled dark eyes 74 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:51.920 upon me. I don't know much about the tariff and 75 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:55.360 things of that kind, said he, but it seems to 76 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.399 me we've got a bit of the trail so far 77 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:02.959 as that note is concerned. On the contrary, I think 78 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:07.000 we are particularly hot upon the trail. Sir Henry, Watson 79 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:09.759 here knows more about my methods than you do. But 80 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:12.519 I fear that even he has not quite grasped the 81 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:16.800 significance of this sentence. No, I confess that I see 82 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:21.120 no connection. And yet, my dear Watson, there is so 83 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.800 very close a connection that the one is extracted out 84 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:30.439 of the other. You your your life, reason value, keep 85 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:34.439 away from there? Don't you see? Now? Whence these words 86 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:39.800 have been taken by thunder? You're right? Well, if that 87 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:44.800 isn't smart, cried Sir Henry. If any possible doubt remained, 88 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:48.319 it is settled by the fact that keep away and 89 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:53.279 from thee are cut out in one piece. Well, now, 90 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:58.959 so it is, really, mister Holmes, this exceeds anything which 91 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.399 I could have imagined, said doctor Mortimer, gazing at my 92 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:06.160 friend in amazement. I could understand any one saying that 93 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:08.759 the words were from a newspaper, but that you should 94 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:11.360 name which and add that it came from the leading 95 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:14.720 article is really one of the most remarkable things which 96 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:20.399 I have ever known. How did you do it? I presume, doctor, 97 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:22.839 that you could tell the skull of a negro from 98 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:28.800 that of an Esquimaux, most certainly. But how because that 99 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:32.879 is my special hobby. The differences are obvious, the supra 100 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:37.439 orbital crest, the facial angle, the maxillary curve, the But 101 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:42.680 this is my special hobby, and the differences are equally obvious. 102 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:46.720 There is as much difference to my eyes between the 103 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:50.759 leaded bourgeois type of a Times article and the slovenly 104 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:54.079 print of an evening halfpenny paper as they could be 105 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:58.360 between your Negro and your Eskimaux. The detection of types 106 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:00.920 is one of the most elementary brand of knowledge to 107 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:04.720 the special expert in crime. Though I confess that once, 108 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:08.040 when I was very young, I confused the Leeds Mercury 109 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:11.759 with the Western Morning News. But a Times Leader is 110 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:15.079 entirely distinctive, and these words could have been taken from 111 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:19.160 nothing else, as it was done yesterday. The strong probability 112 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:22.959 was that we should find the words in yesterday's issue. 113 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.000 So far as I can follow you, then, mister Holmes, 114 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:30.600 said Sir Henry Baskerville. Someone cut out this message with 115 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:35.800 the scissors. Nail scissors, said Holmes. You can see that 116 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:39.040 it was a very short bladed scissors, since the cutter 117 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:43.680 had to take two snips over keep away. That is so. 118 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:47.120 Some one then cut out the message with a pair 119 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:52.839 of short bladed scissors pasted it with paste gum, said Holmes, 120 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:56.480 with gum on to the paper. But I want to 121 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:00.920 know why the word more should have been written because 122 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.319 he could not find it in print. The other words 123 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.959 were all simple and might be found in any issue, 124 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:12.120 but more would be less common. Why, of course, that 125 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:16.439 would explain it. Have you read anything else in this message, 126 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:21.160 mister Holmes? There are one or two indications, and yet 127 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:24.279 the utmost pains have been taken to remove all clues. 128 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:29.920 The address, you observe is printed in rough characters, but 129 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:32.840 the Times is a paper which is seldom found in 130 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:36.759 any hands but those of the highly educated. We may 131 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:40.039 take it therefore, that the letter was composed by an 132 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.919 educated man who wished to pose as an uneducated one, 133 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:47.399 and his effort to conceal his own writing suggests that 134 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.480 the writing might be known, or come to be known 135 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:54.240 by you. Again, you will observe that the words are 136 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:57.639 not gummed on in an accurate line, but that some 137 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:01.360 are much higher than others. Life, for example, is quite 138 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:05.159 out of its proper place. That may point to carelessness. 139 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:09.320 Or it may point to agitation and hurry upon the 140 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.720 part of the cutter. On the whole, I incline to 141 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:16.399 the latter you, since the matter was evidently important, and 142 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:19.080 it is unlikely that the composer of such a letter 143 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:22.879 would be careless if he were in a hurry, it 144 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.000 opens up the interesting question why he should be in 145 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:29.279 a hurry, since any letter posted up to early morning 146 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:31.960 would reach Sir Henry before he would leave his hotel. 147 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:38.720 Did the composer fear and interruption? And from whom we 148 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:41.279 are coming now? Rather into the region of guess work, 149 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:46.080 said doctor Mortimer, say, rather into the region where we 150 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:50.919 balance probabilities and choose the most likely It is the 151 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:54.279 scientific use of the imagination. But we have always some 152 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:59.360 material basis on which to start our speculation. Now you 153 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:02.200 would call it guess no doubt. But I am almost 154 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:04.720 certain that this address has been written in a hotel. 155 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:09.279 How in a world can you say that? If you 156 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.440 examine it carefully, you will see that both the pen 157 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:16.080 and the ink have given the writer trouble. The pen 158 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.200 has spluttered twice in a single word, and has run 159 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:22.600 dry three times in a short address, showing that there 160 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.600 was very little ink in the bottle. Now, a private 161 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:28.960 pen or ink bottle is seldom allowed to be in 162 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:32.360 such a state, and the combination of the two must 163 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:35.559 be quite rare. But you know the hotel ink and 164 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:39.840 the hotel pen, where it is rare to get anything else. Yes, 165 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:42.480 I have very little hesitation in saying that, could we 166 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:45.720 examine the waste paper baskets of the hotels round Charing 167 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:49.279 Cross until we found the remains of the mutilated Times leader, 168 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:52.639 we could lay our hands straight upon the person who 169 00:10:52.720 --> 00:11:00.440 sent this singular message. Hullo, hullo, what's this? He was 170 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.840 carefully examining the fool's cap upon which the words were pasted, 171 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:09.720 holding it only an inch or two from his eyes. Well, nothing, 172 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:13.000 said he throwing it down. It is a blank half 173 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.639 sheet of paper, without even a water mark upon it. 174 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:18.279 I think we have drawn as much as we can 175 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:22.240 from this curious letter. And now, sir Henry, has anything 176 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.240 else of interest happened to you since you have been 177 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:29.879 in London? Why no, mister Holmes, I think not. You 178 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:33.639 have not observed any one follow or watch you. I 179 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:35.519 seem to have walked right into the thick of a 180 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:39.960 dime novel, said our visitor. Why in thunder. Should anyone 181 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:44.039 follow or watch me? We are coming to that you 182 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:46.120 have nothing else to report to us before we go 183 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:50.440 into this matter. Well, it depends upon what you think 184 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:55.120 worth reporting. I think anything out of the ordinary routine 185 00:11:55.120 --> 00:12:00.720 of life well worth reporting. Sir Henry smiled. I don't 186 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:03.279 know much of British life yet, for I have spent 187 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:05.679 nearly all my time in the States and in Canada. 188 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:08.480 But I hope that to lose one of your boots 189 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:11.639 is not part of the ordinary routine of life over here. 190 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:16.639 You have lost one of your boots, my dear sir, 191 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:20.799 cried doctor Mortimer. It is only mislaid. You will find 192 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:23.480 it when you return to the hotel. What is the 193 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:27.720 use of troubling mister Holmes with trifles of this kind? Well, 194 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:33.320 he asked me for anything outside the extraordinary, exactly, said Holmes. 195 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:37.759 However foolish the incident may seem. You have lost one 196 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:42.720 of your boots, you say, well, mislaid it. Anyhow, I 197 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:45.799 put them both outside my door last night, and there 198 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:48.080 was any one in the morning. I could get no 199 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:51.080 sense out of the chap who cleans them. The worst 200 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.120 of it is that I only bought the pair last 201 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:56.320 night in the strand, and I have never had them on. 202 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:00.879 If you have never worn them, why did you put 203 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:04.639 them out to be cleaned. They were tan boots and 204 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:09.200 had never been varnished. That was why I put them out. Then, 205 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:12.360 I understand that on your arrival in London yesterday you 206 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:15.159 went out at once and bought a pair of boots. 207 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:18.879 I did a great deal of shopping. Doctor Mortimer here 208 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:21.320 went round with me. You see, if I am to 209 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:24.240 be squire down there, I must dress the part. And 210 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:26.240 it may be that I have got a little careless 211 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:30.039 in my ways out west. Among other things, I bought 212 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:33.919 these brown boots, gave six dollars for them, and had 213 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:36.279 one stolen before ever I had them on my feet. 214 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:41.720 It seems a singularly useless thing to steal, said Sherlock Holmes. 215 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:45.399 I confess that I shared Dr Mortimer's belief that it 216 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:47.960 will not be long before the missing boot is found. 217 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:53.559 And now, gentlemen, said the baronet with decision. It seems 218 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:55.759 to me that I have spoken quite enough about the 219 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:58.639 little that I know. It is time that you kept 220 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:01.360 your promise and gave me a full account of what 221 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:05.720 we are all driving at your request. Is a very 222 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:10.679 reasonable one, Holmes answered Dr Mortimer, I think you could 223 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:13.159 not do better than to tell your story as you 224 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:18.799 told it to us. Thus, encouraged, our scientific friend, drew 225 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:21.960 his papers from his pocket and presented the whole case, 226 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.240 as he had done upon the morning before. Sir Henry 227 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:28.960 Baskerville listened with the deepest attention and with an occasional 228 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:33.840 exclamation of surprise. Well, I seem to have come into 229 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:37.559 an inheritance with a vengeance, said he, when the long 230 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:41.240 narrative was finished. Of course, I've heard of the hound 231 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:44.720 ever since I was in the nursery. It's the pet 232 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:47.919 story of the family, though I never thought of taking 233 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:52.240 it seriously before. But as to my uncle's death, well, 234 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.080 it all seems boiling up in my head and I 235 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:58.320 can't get it clear. Yet. You don't seem quite to 236 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.120 have made up your mind whether it's a case for 237 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:05.639 a policeman or a clergyman precisely. And now there's this 238 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.600 affair of the letter to me at the hotel. I 239 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:12.879 suppose that fits into its place. It seems to show 240 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:14.919 that some one knows more than we do about what 241 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:19.320 goes on upon the moor, said doctor Mortimer, and also 242 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:23.320 said Holmes that someone is not ill disposed towards you, 243 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:28.000 since they warn you of danger, or it may be 244 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:33.120 that they wish, for their own purposes to scare me away. Well, 245 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:37.919 of course that is possible. Also, I am very much 246 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:40.639 indebted to you, doctor Mortimer, for introducing me to a 247 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:45.919 problem which presents several interesting alternatives. But the practical point 248 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.919 which we now have to decide, Sir Henry, is whether 249 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:51.120 it is or is not advisable for you to go 250 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:56.320 to Baskerville Hall. Why should I not go? There seems 251 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:59.960 to be danger? Do you mean danger from this family 252 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:04.879 fiend or do you mean danger from human beings? Well, 253 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:09.399 that is what we have to find out. Whichever it is. 254 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.080 My answer is fixed. There is no devil in hell, 255 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:16.080 mister Holmes, and there is no man upon earth who 256 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:18.000 can prevent me from going to the home of my 257 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:20.919 own people. And you may take that to be my 258 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:25.799 final answer. His dark brows knitted and his face flushed 259 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:29.279 to a dusky red as he spoke. It was evident 260 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:32.240 that the fiery temper of the Baskervilles was not extinct 261 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:37.600 in this Their last representative, meanwhile, said he I have 262 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.320 hardly had time to think over all that you've told me, 263 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.799 it's a big thing for a man to have to 264 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:46.919 understand and to decide at one sitting. I should like 265 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:49.120 to have a quiet hour by myself to make up 266 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:53.120 my mind. Now, look here, mister Holmes, it's half past 267 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:55.639 eleven now, and I am going back right away to 268 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:00.159 my hotel. Suppose you and your friend doctor Watson come 269 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.080 round and lunch with us at two. I'll be able 270 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:05.960 to tell you more clearly then how this thing strikes me. 271 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:12.200 Is that convenient to you, Watson perfectly? Then you may 272 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:17.240 expect us. Shall I have a cab called I'd prefer 273 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:22.200 to walk, for this affair has flurried me. Rather, I'll 274 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:26.279 join you in walk with pleasure, said his companion. Then 275 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.720 we meet again at two o'clock, Revoir, and good morning. 276 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:33.519 We heard the steps of our visitors descend the stair 277 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.279 and the bang of the front door. In an instant, 278 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:40.319 Holmes had changed from the languid dreamer to the man 279 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:43.960 of action. Your hat and boots, Watson quick, not a 280 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:47.000 moment to lose. He rushed into his room in his 281 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.559 dressing gown and was back again in a few seconds 282 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.559 in a frock coat. We hurried together down the stairs 283 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.640 and into the street. Dr Mortimer and Baskerville were still 284 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:59.240 visible about two hundred yards ahead of us, in the 285 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:03.319 direction of Oxford Street. Shall I run and stop them? 286 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:07.119 Not for the world, my dear Watson. I am perfectly 287 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.960 satisfied with your company, if you will tolerate mine. Our 288 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:13.680 friends are wise, for it is certainly a very fine 289 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:17.240 morning for a walk. He quickened his pace until we 290 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:21.759 had decreased the distance, which divided us by about half. Then, 291 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:26.160 still keeping a hundred yards behind, we followed into Oxford 292 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:31.319 Street and sowed down Regent Street. Once our friend stopped 293 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:34.799 and stared into a shop window, upon which Holmes did 294 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:38.359 the same. An instant afterwards, he gave a little cry 295 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:41.920 of satisfaction, and, following the direction of his eager eyes, 296 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:44.920 I saw that a handsome cab with a man inside, 297 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.160 which had halted on the other side of the street, 298 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:52.079 was now proceeding slowly onward. Again. There's our man, Watson. 299 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:55.720 Come along. We'll have a good look at him, even 300 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:59.240 if we can do no more. At that instant I 301 00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:01.759 was aware of a bushy black beard, and a pair 302 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:04.839 of piercing eyes turned upon us through the side window 303 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:08.279 of the cab. Instantly, the trap door at the top 304 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:11.680 flew up. Something was screamed to the driver, and the 305 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:15.880 cab flew madly off down Regent Street. Holmes looked eagerly 306 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:18.559 around for another, but no empty one was in sight. 307 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:21.920 Then he dashed in wild pursuit amid the stream of 308 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:25.920 the traffic. But the start was too great, and already 309 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:30.680 the cab was out of sight. There now, said Holmes bitterly, 310 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:33.599 as he emerged, panting and white with vexation from the 311 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:37.440 tide of vehicles. Was ever such bad luck? And such 312 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:42.160 bad management? Too? Watson, Watson, if you're an honest man, 313 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:45.519 you will record this also and set it against my successes. 314 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:53.000 Who was the man? I have not an idea A spy? Well, 315 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.440 it was evident from what we have heard that Baskerville 316 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:58.400 has been very closely shadowed by some one since he 317 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:01.400 has been in town. How else could it be known 318 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:04.200 so quickly that it was the Northumberland Hotel which he 319 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:07.799 had chosen. If they had followed him the first day, 320 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:10.279 I argued that they would follow him also the second. 321 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:13.480 You may have observed that I twice strolled over to 322 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:17.640 the window while doctor Mortimer was reading his legend. Yes, 323 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:21.559 I remember I was looking out for loiterers in the street, 324 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:25.640 but I saw none. We are dealing with a clever man, Watson. 325 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:29.079 This matter cuts very deep, and though I have not 326 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.640 finally made up my mind whether it is a benevolent 327 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:34.400 or a malevolent agency which is in touch with us, 328 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:39.640 I am conscious always of power and design. When our 329 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.119 friends left, I at once followed them, in the hopes 330 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:46.119 of marking down their invisible attendant. So wily was he 331 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.319 that he had not trusted himself upon foot, but he 332 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.960 had availed himself of a cab, so that he could 333 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:56.799 loiter behind or dash past them, and so escape their notice. 334 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:59.759 His method had the additional advantage that, as they were 335 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:02.359 to take a cab, he was all ready to follow them. 336 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:07.000 It has, however, one obvious disadvantage. It puts him in 337 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:11.880 the power of the cabman. Exactly what a pity we 338 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:16.680 didn't get the number, My dear Watson, clumsy as I 339 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:20.119 have been, you surely do not seriously imagine that I 340 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:24.559 neglected to get the number. No. Two seven zero four 341 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.240 is our man. But that is no use to us. 342 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:30.440 For the moment I failed to see how you could 343 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:33.960 have done more. On observing the cab, I should have 344 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:39.000 instantly turned and walked in the other direction. I should, then, 345 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.880 at my leisure, have hired a second cab and followed 346 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:46.240 the first at a respectful distance, or better still, have 347 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:50.279 driven to the Northumberland Hotel and waited there. When our 348 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:53.519 unknown had followed Baskerville home, we should have had the 349 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:57.279 opportunity of playing his own game upon himself and seeing 350 00:21:57.319 --> 00:22:01.799 where he made. For as it is by an indiscreet eagerness, 351 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:05.319 which was taken advantage of with extraordinary quickness and energy 352 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:09.240 by our opponent, we have betrayed ourselves and lost our man. 353 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:14.599 We had been sauntering slowly down Regent Street during this conversation, 354 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.279 and Doctor Mortimer with his companion, had long vanished in 355 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:22.079 front of us. There is no object in our following them, 356 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:26.200 said Holmes. The shadow has departed and will not return. 357 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:29.200 We must see what further cards we have in our 358 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:32.440 hands and play them with decision. Could you swear to 359 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:35.799 that man's face within the cab? I could swear only 360 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:39.359 to the beard, and so could I, from which I 361 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:42.319 gather that in all probability it was a false one. 362 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:46.039 A clever man upon so delicate an errand has no 363 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:49.680 use for a beard save to conceal his features. Come 364 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:52.920 in here, Watson. He turned into one of the district 365 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:57.880 messenger offices, where he was warmly greeted by the manager. Ah, Wilson, 366 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:00.640 I see you have not forgotten the life case in 367 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:03.960 which I had the good fortune to help you. Now, sir, 368 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:07.240 indeed I have not you save my good name and 369 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:12.279 perhaps my life, My dear fellow, you exaggerate. I have 370 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:15.119 some recollection, Wilson, that you had among your boys a 371 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:21.079 lad named Cartwright, who showed some ability during the investigation. Yes, sir, 372 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:24.519 he is still with us. Could you ring him up? 373 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:27.759 Thank you, and I shall be glad to have change 374 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:31.440 of this five pound note. A lad of fourteen with 375 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:34.599 a bright, keen face had obeyed the summons of the manager. 376 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:38.880 He stood now gazing with great reverence at the famous detective. 377 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:45.519 Let me have the hotel directory, said Holmes. Thank you. Now, Cartwright. 378 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:50.920 There are the names of twenty three hotels here, all 379 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:54.920 in the immediate neighborhood of Charing Cross, do you see, Yes, sir, 380 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.319 you will visit each one of these in turn. Yes, sir, 381 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:03.680 you will begin in each case by giving the outside 382 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:08.759 porter one shilling. Here are twenty three shillings yes, sir. 383 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.720 You will tell him that you want to see the 384 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:15.200 waste paper of yesterday. You will say that an important 385 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:18.319 telegram has miscarried and that you are looking for it. 386 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:22.640 You understand, yes, sir, But what you are really looking 387 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:25.359 for is the center page of the Times with some 388 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.759 holes cut in it with scissors. Here is a copy 389 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:32.680 of the Times. It is this page. You could easily 390 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:36.680 recognize it, could you not, yes, sir. In each case 391 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:39.559 the outside porter will send for the hall porter, to 392 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:42.920 whom also you will give a shilling. Here are twenty 393 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:47.000 three shillings. You will then learn, in possibly twenty cases 394 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:49.559 out of the twenty three, that the waste of the 395 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:53.559 day before has been burned or removed. In the three 396 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.920 other cases, you will be shown a heap of paper, 397 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.680 and you will look for this page of the Times 398 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:02.559 among it. The odds are enormously against your finding it. 399 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:06.960 There are ten shillings over. In case of emergencies, let 400 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:10.000 me have a report by wire at Baker Street before evening, 401 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:14.000