1
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:05,320
Speaker 1: The man with the twisted lip. Isa Whitney, brother of

2
00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:10,960
the late Elias Whitney, d d. Principal of the Theological

3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,199
College of Saint George's, was much addicted to opium. The

4
00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,039
habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish

5
00:00:19,039 --> 00:00:22,199
freak when he was at college, for having read de

6
00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,760
Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched

7
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,120
his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the

8
00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:34,439
same effects. He found, as so many more have done,

9
00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,399
that the practice is easier to attain than to get

10
00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,320
rid of, And for many years he continued to be

11
00:00:40,359 --> 00:00:43,759
a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror

12
00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,679
and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see

13
00:00:47,719 --> 00:00:53,439
him now, with yellow pasty face, drooping lids, and pinpoint pupils,

14
00:00:53,719 --> 00:00:56,719
all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of

15
00:00:56,759 --> 00:01:02,200
a noble man. One night, it was in June eighty nine,

16
00:01:02,719 --> 00:01:05,239
there came a ring to my bell, about the hour

17
00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,000
when a man gives his first yawn and glances at

18
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,000
the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my

19
00:01:11,079 --> 00:01:14,200
wife laid her needlework down in her lap, and made

20
00:01:14,239 --> 00:01:19,599
a little face of disappointment. A patient said she you'll

21
00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,280
have to go out. I groaned, for I was newly

22
00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:30,040
come back from a weary day. We heard the door open,

23
00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,719
a few hurried words, and then quick steps upon the linoleum.

24
00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,040
Our own door flew open, and a lady clad in

25
00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,000
some dark colored stuff with a black veil, entered the room.

26
00:01:44,799 --> 00:01:48,879
You will excuse my calling so late, she began, and then,

27
00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:53,439
suddenly loosing her self control, she ran forward, threw her

28
00:01:53,519 --> 00:01:57,519
arms about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder.

29
00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,480
Oh I'm in such trouble, she cried. I do so

30
00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:08,080
want a little help. Why, said my wife, pulling up

31
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,479
her veil. It is Kate Whitney. How you startled me? Kate,

32
00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,960
I had not an idea who you were when you

33
00:02:16,039 --> 00:02:20,360
came in. I didn't know what to do, so I

34
00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:24,439
came straight to you. That was always the way folk

35
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,240
who were in grief came to my wife like birds

36
00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:33,479
to a lighthouse. It was very sweet of you to come. Now.

37
00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,039
You must have some wine and water and sit here

38
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,520
comfortably and tell us all about it. Or should you

39
00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:44,319
rather that? I sent James off to bed. Oh no, no,

40
00:02:44,759 --> 00:02:48,759
I want the doctor's advice. And help too. It's about Isa.

41
00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,879
He has not been home for two days. I am

42
00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,280
so frightened about him. It was not the first time

43
00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,840
that she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble,

44
00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,479
to me as a doctor, to my life, as an

45
00:03:00,479 --> 00:03:05,120
old friend and school companion. We soothed and comforted her

46
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,960
by such words as we could find. Did she know

47
00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,400
where her husband was? Was it possible that we could

48
00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,439
bring him back to her? It seems that it was.

49
00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,759
She had the surest information that of late he had,

50
00:03:21,199 --> 00:03:23,599
when the fit was on him, made use of an

51
00:03:23,599 --> 00:03:28,280
opium den in the farthest east of the city. Hitherto

52
00:03:28,599 --> 00:03:31,840
his orgies had always been confined to one day, and

53
00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,400
he had come back twitching and shattered in the evening.

54
00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,599
But now the spell had been upon him eight and

55
00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:43,680
forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the dregs

56
00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,960
of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off

57
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,639
the effects. There he was to be found, she was

58
00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,639
sure of it, at the bar of Gold in Upper

59
00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,319
Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could she,

60
00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,919
a young and timid woman, make her way into such

61
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,199
a place and pluck her husband out from among the

62
00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:11,199
ruffians who surrounded him. There was the case, and of

63
00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,520
course there was but one way out of it. Might

64
00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:18,000
I not escort her to this place? And then, as

65
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,360
a second thought, why should she come at all? I

66
00:04:21,519 --> 00:04:25,319
was I a Whitney's medical adviser, and as such I

67
00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,720
had influence over him. I could manage it better if

68
00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,120
I were alone. I promised her on my word that

69
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,720
I would send him home in a cab within two

70
00:04:34,759 --> 00:04:37,879
hours if he were indeed at the address which he

71
00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,800
had given me. And so in ten minutes I had

72
00:04:41,879 --> 00:04:44,959
left my arm chair and cheery sitting room behind me,

73
00:04:45,439 --> 00:04:48,879
and was speeding eastward in a hansom on a strange errand,

74
00:04:49,319 --> 00:04:51,519
as it seemed to me at the time, though the

75
00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,319
future only could show how strange it was to be.

76
00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,480
But there was no great difficulty in the first stage

77
00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,240
of my adventure. Upper Swandham Lane is a vile alley

78
00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,519
lurking behind the high wharves which lined the north side

79
00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,439
of the river to the east of London Bridge, between

80
00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,920
a slop shop and a gin shop. Approached by a

81
00:05:13,199 --> 00:05:17,160
steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap

82
00:05:17,399 --> 00:05:19,639
like the mouth of a cave. I found the den

83
00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,360
of which I was in search. Ordering my cab to wait,

84
00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,839
I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the center

85
00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,519
by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet, and by the

86
00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,360
light of a flickering oil lamp above the door. I

87
00:05:33,439 --> 00:05:36,199
found the latch and made my way into a long,

88
00:05:36,319 --> 00:05:40,399
low room, thick and heavy with a brown opium smoke,

89
00:05:40,879 --> 00:05:44,639
and terraced with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an

90
00:05:44,639 --> 00:05:49,160
emigrant ship. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a

91
00:05:49,199 --> 00:05:54,480
glimpse of bodies lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders,

92
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:59,319
bent knees, heads thrown back, and chins pointed upward, with

93
00:05:59,399 --> 00:06:03,759
here and there a dark, lackluster eye turned upon the newcomer.

94
00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,360
Out of the black shadows, there glimmered little red circles

95
00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,519
of light, now bright, now faint, as the burning poison

96
00:06:12,639 --> 00:06:15,959
waxed or waned. In the bowls of the metal pipes.

97
00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,519
The most lay silent, but some muttered to themselves, and

98
00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,920
others talked together in a strange, low, monotonous voice, their

99
00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:30,639
conversation coming in gushes and then suddenly tailing off into silence,

100
00:06:31,199 --> 00:06:34,360
each mumbling about his own thoughts and paying little heed

101
00:06:34,439 --> 00:06:37,120
to the words of his neighbour. At the farther end

102
00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,160
was a small brasure of burning charcoal, beside which on

103
00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,560
a three legged wooden stool, there sat a tall, thin

104
00:06:44,879 --> 00:06:48,800
old man, with his jaw resting upon two fists and

105
00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:53,759
his elbows upon his knees, staring into the fire. As

106
00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:57,519
I entered, a sallow melee attendant had hurried up with

107
00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,920
a pipe for me at a supply of the drug,

108
00:07:00,439 --> 00:07:04,800
beckoning me to an empty berth. Thank you, I have

109
00:07:04,959 --> 00:07:07,920
not come to stay, said I. There is a friend

110
00:07:07,959 --> 00:07:11,600
of mine here, mister Isa Whitney, and I wished to

111
00:07:11,639 --> 00:07:15,279
speak to him. There was a movement and an exclamation

112
00:07:15,399 --> 00:07:19,439
from my right, and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale,

113
00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:25,560
haggard and unkempt, staring out at me. My god, it's Watson,

114
00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,959
said he. He was in a pitiable state of reaction,

115
00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,040
with every nerve and a twitter. I say, Watson, what

116
00:07:33,279 --> 00:07:39,600
o'clock is it? Nearly eleven of what day of Friday,

117
00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,600
June nineteenth? Good heavens, I thought it was Wednesday. It

118
00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,600
is Wednesday. What do you want to frighten? A chap for?

119
00:07:48,439 --> 00:07:50,879
He sank his face on to his arms and began

120
00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,399
to sob in a high trouble key. I tell you

121
00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:58,079
that it is Friday. Man. Your wife has been waiting

122
00:07:58,399 --> 00:08:01,759
this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself,

123
00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:07,199
so I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I

124
00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:10,959
have only been here a few hours. Three pipes, four pipes,

125
00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,879
I forget how many. But I'll go home with you.

126
00:08:14,519 --> 00:08:18,600
I wouldn't frighten Kate, poor little Kate. Give me your hand.

127
00:08:19,079 --> 00:08:24,800
Have you a cab, yes, I have one waiting. Then

128
00:08:24,839 --> 00:08:27,759
I shall go in it. But I must owe something.

129
00:08:28,519 --> 00:08:31,480
Find what I owe, Watson, I am all off color.

130
00:08:31,879 --> 00:08:36,840
I can do nothing for myself. I walked down the

131
00:08:36,919 --> 00:08:40,320
narrow passage between the double row of sleepers, holding my

132
00:08:40,399 --> 00:08:44,240
breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug,

133
00:08:44,879 --> 00:08:48,519
and looking about for the manager. As I passed the

134
00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:50,879
tall man who sat by the brazier, I felt a

135
00:08:50,919 --> 00:08:54,840
sudden pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered

136
00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,399
walk past me, and then look back at me. The

137
00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:03,440
words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I glanced down.

138
00:09:04,039 --> 00:09:07,080
They could only have come from the old man at

139
00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,720
my side, And yet he sat now as absorbed as ever,

140
00:09:11,799 --> 00:09:15,879
very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe

141
00:09:16,039 --> 00:09:19,720
dangling down from between his knees as though it had

142
00:09:19,799 --> 00:09:24,519
dropped in sheer lassitude from his fingers. I took two

143
00:09:24,519 --> 00:09:28,360
steps forward and looked back. It took all my self

144
00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:31,159
control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry

145
00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,000
of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none

146
00:09:35,039 --> 00:09:38,919
could see him, but I His form had filled out,

147
00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:42,720
his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire,

148
00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,759
And there, sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise,

149
00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:51,159
was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He made a slight

150
00:09:51,279 --> 00:09:54,559
motion to me to approach him, and instantly as he

151
00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,799
turned his face half round to the company, once more

152
00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:04,399
subsided into a doddering, loose lipped senility. Holmes, I whispered,

153
00:10:04,639 --> 00:10:09,080
what on earth are you doing in this den? As

154
00:10:09,159 --> 00:10:13,440
low as you can, he answered, I have excellent ears.

155
00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,600
If you would have the great kindness to get rid

156
00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,039
of that Sottish friend of yours, I should be exceedingly

157
00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:24,000
glad to have a little talk with you. I have

158
00:10:24,039 --> 00:10:28,240
a cab outside, then pray send him home in it.

159
00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,000
You may safely trust him, for he appears to be

160
00:10:32,159 --> 00:10:36,559
too limp to get into any mischief. I should recommend

161
00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,919
you also to send a note by the cabman to

162
00:10:40,039 --> 00:10:42,879
your wife to say that you have thrown in your

163
00:10:42,919 --> 00:10:46,480
lot with me. If you will wait outside, I shall

164
00:10:46,519 --> 00:10:51,759
be with you in five minutes. It was difficult to

165
00:10:51,799 --> 00:10:56,240
refuse any of Sherlock Holmes's requests, for they were always

166
00:10:56,279 --> 00:11:00,519
so exceedingly definite, and put forward with such a quiet

167
00:11:00,519 --> 00:11:05,200
air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney was

168
00:11:05,279 --> 00:11:09,639
once confined in the cab, my mission was practically accomplished,

169
00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,799
and for the rest I could not wish anything better

170
00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,360
than to be associated with my friend in one of

171
00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,440
those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence.

172
00:11:20,399 --> 00:11:22,919
In a few minutes, I had written my note, paid

173
00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,679
Whitney's bill, led him out to the cab, and seen

174
00:11:26,759 --> 00:11:31,200
him driven through the darkness. In a very short time,

175
00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,879
a decrepit figure had emerged from the Opium den, and

176
00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,679
I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes for

177
00:11:38,759 --> 00:11:41,799
two streets. He shuffled along with a bent back and

178
00:11:42,159 --> 00:11:47,639
an uncertain foot. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself

179
00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:52,480
out and burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Ha ha,

180
00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,240
I suppose Watson said he that you imagine that I

181
00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:01,279
have added opium smoking to cocaine injudtions, and all the

182
00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:04,120
other little weaknesses on which you have favored me with

183
00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,279
your medical views. I was certainly surprised to find you there,

184
00:12:10,919 --> 00:12:15,679
but not more so than I to find you. I

185
00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,799
came to find a friend, and I to find an enemy,

186
00:12:21,799 --> 00:12:26,639
an enemy, yes, one of my natural enemies, or shall

187
00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:30,840
I say my natural prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in

188
00:12:30,879 --> 00:12:34,519
the midst of a very remarkable inquiry, and I have

189
00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,840
hoped to find a clue in the incoherent ramblings of

190
00:12:37,919 --> 00:12:42,240
these sots, as I have done before. Now. Had I

191
00:12:42,279 --> 00:12:45,440
been recognized in that den, my life would not have

192
00:12:45,519 --> 00:12:48,600
been worth an hour's purchase, for I have used it

193
00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:53,279
before now for my own purposes, and the rascally lascard

194
00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,399
who runs it has sworn to have vengeance upon me.

195
00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,960
There is a trap door at the back of that bill,

196
00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,919
near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some

197
00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:08,240
strange tales of what has passed through it upon the

198
00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:17,440
moonless nights. What you do not mean, bodies, ay bodies, Watson.

199
00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,000
We should be rich men if we had one thousand

200
00:13:21,039 --> 00:13:23,559
pounds for every poor devil who has been done to

201
00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:27,320
death in that den. It is the vilest murder trap

202
00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,200
on the whole river side. And I fear that nevill

203
00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,279
Saint Clair has entered it, never to leave it more.

204
00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,480
But our trap should be here. He put his two

205
00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,960
forefingers between his teeth and whistled shrilly, a signal, which

206
00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,559
was answered by a similar whistle from the distance, followed

207
00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,399
shortly by the rattle of wheels and the clink of

208
00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:54,000
horses hoofs now. Watson, said Holmes, as a tall dog

209
00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,600
cart dashed up through the gloom, throwing out two golden

210
00:13:57,639 --> 00:14:01,480
tunnels of yellow light from its side. Length entered. You'll

211
00:14:01,519 --> 00:14:06,919
come with me, won't you? If I can be of use? Oh,

212
00:14:07,039 --> 00:14:10,480
A trusty comrade is always of use, and a chronicler

213
00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,559
still more so. My room at the Cedars is a

214
00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:19,759
double bedded one the Cedars. Yes, that is mister Saint

215
00:14:19,759 --> 00:14:23,159
Clair's house. I am staying there while I conduct the inquiry.

216
00:14:24,519 --> 00:14:29,240
Where is it then? Near Lee in Kent? We have

217
00:14:29,279 --> 00:14:34,000
a seven mile drive before us. But I am all

218
00:14:34,039 --> 00:14:38,159
in the dark. Of course you are. You'll know about

219
00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:42,799
it presently. Jump up here, all right, John, We shall

220
00:14:42,799 --> 00:14:45,759
not need you. Here's half a crown. Look out for

221
00:14:45,879 --> 00:14:49,919
me tomorrow about eleven. Give her her head so long.

222
00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,279
Then he flicked the horse with his whip, and we

223
00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:57,120
dashed away through the endless succession of somber and deserted streets,

224
00:14:57,279 --> 00:15:00,440
which widened gradually until we were flying across a broad,

225
00:15:00,639 --> 00:15:04,960
balustrated bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly beneath us.

226
00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:11,120
Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and mortar, its

227
00:15:11,159 --> 00:15:15,519
silence broken only by the heavy regular footfall of the policeman,

228
00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,080
or the songs and shouts of some belated party of revelers.

229
00:15:20,039 --> 00:15:23,360
A dull rack was drifting slowly across the sky, and

230
00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,080
a star or two twinkle dimly here and there through

231
00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:31,200
the wrists of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with

232
00:15:31,279 --> 00:15:34,039
his head sunk upon his breast, and the air of

233
00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,879
a man who was lost in thought, while I sat

234
00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,879
beside him, curious to learn what his new quest might be,

235
00:15:41,279 --> 00:15:44,440
which seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet

236
00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,039
afraid to break in upon the current of his thoughts.

237
00:15:48,159 --> 00:15:51,039
We had driven several miles and were beginning to get

238
00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,399
to the fringe of the belt of suburban villas when

239
00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,519
He shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up his

240
00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,799
pipe with the air of a man who was satisfied

241
00:15:59,879 --> 00:16:05,559
him that he is acting for the best. You have

242
00:16:05,799 --> 00:16:10,440
a grand gift of silence, Watson said he. It makes

243
00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:14,399
you quite invaluable as a companion. Upon my word, it

244
00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:16,440
is a great thing for me to have some one

245
00:16:16,559 --> 00:16:19,720
to talk to for my own thoughts are not over pleasant.

246
00:16:20,159 --> 00:16:22,720
I was wondering what I should say to this dear

247
00:16:22,799 --> 00:16:25,399
little woman to night when she meets me at the door.

248
00:16:28,039 --> 00:16:32,000
You forget that I know nothing about it. I shall

249
00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,000
just have time to tell you the facts of the

250
00:16:34,039 --> 00:16:38,120
case before we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple,

251
00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,360
and yet somehow I can get nothing to go upon.

252
00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,159
There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I can't get

253
00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,879
the end of it into my hand. Now outstate the

254
00:16:48,919 --> 00:16:52,480
case clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you

255
00:16:52,519 --> 00:16:55,279
can see a spark where all is dark to me.

256
00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:02,639
Proceed then, some years ago to be definite. In May

257
00:17:02,919 --> 00:17:07,039
eighteen eighty four, there came to Lee a gentleman Neville,

258
00:17:07,039 --> 00:17:10,279
Saint Clair by name, who appeared to have plenty of money.

259
00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:15,960
He took a large villa laid out the grounds very nicely,

260
00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:20,119
and lived generally in good style. By degrees. He made

261
00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,839
friends in the neighborhood, and in eighteen eighty seven he

262
00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,799
married the daughter of a local brewer, by whom he

263
00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:31,160
now has two children. He had no occupation, but was

264
00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,440
interested in several companies, and went into town as a

265
00:17:34,519 --> 00:17:38,359
rule in the morning, returning by the five fourteen from

266
00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:43,920
Cannon Street every night. Mister Saint Clair is now thirty

267
00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,279
seven years of age, is a man of temperate habits,

268
00:17:47,559 --> 00:17:50,920
a good husband, a very affectionate father, and a man

269
00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,400
who is popular with all who know him. I may

270
00:17:54,519 --> 00:17:58,200
add that his whole debts at the present moment, as

271
00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,319
far as we have been able to asker, amount to

272
00:18:01,519 --> 00:18:05,720
eighty eight pounds ten shillings, while he has two hundred

273
00:18:05,759 --> 00:18:08,720
and twenty pounds standing to his credit in the Capitol

274
00:18:08,799 --> 00:18:13,240
and County's bank. There is no reason therefore to think

275
00:18:13,279 --> 00:18:18,880
that money troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Last Monday,

276
00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:23,039
mister nevill Saint Clair went into town rather earlier than usual,

277
00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,200
remarking before he started that he had two important commissions

278
00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,920
to perform, and that he would bring his little boy

279
00:18:30,319 --> 00:18:35,720
home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance,

280
00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,599
his wife received a telegram upon the same Monday, very

281
00:18:39,599 --> 00:18:42,960
shortly after his departure, to the effect that a small

282
00:18:43,039 --> 00:18:47,480
parcel of considerable value, which she had been expecting, was

283
00:18:47,519 --> 00:18:52,519
waiting for her at the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now,

284
00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,839
if you are well up in your London, you will

285
00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,240
know that the office of the company is in Fresno Street,

286
00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,759
which branches out of upper Swandham Lane, where you found me.

287
00:19:04,079 --> 00:19:08,640
To night, Missus Saint Clair had her lunch, started for

288
00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,480
the city, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office,

289
00:19:12,839 --> 00:19:16,720
got her packet, and found herself at exactly four thirty

290
00:19:16,759 --> 00:19:19,759
five walking through Swandham Lane on her way back to

291
00:19:19,839 --> 00:19:25,000
the station. Have you followed me so far? It is

292
00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:31,119
very clear if you remember. Monday was an exceedingly hot day,

293
00:19:31,519 --> 00:19:35,480
and Missus Saint Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the

294
00:19:35,519 --> 00:19:38,680
hope of seeing a cab, as she did not like

295
00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,240
the neighborhood in which she found herself. While she was

296
00:19:42,319 --> 00:19:45,720
walking in this way down Swandham Lane, she suddenly heard

297
00:19:45,759 --> 00:19:49,720
an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see

298
00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,880
her husband looking down at her, and as it seemed

299
00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,279
to her, beckoning to her from a second floor window.

300
00:19:57,799 --> 00:20:01,359
The window was open, and she di thinkly saw his face,

301
00:20:01,599 --> 00:20:05,519
which she describes as being terribly agitated. He waved his

302
00:20:05,599 --> 00:20:09,119
hand frantically to her, and then vanished from the window

303
00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,079
so suddenly that it seemed to her that he had

304
00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:16,119
been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. One

305
00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:20,440
singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that

306
00:20:20,519 --> 00:20:23,880
although he wore some dark coat, such as he had

307
00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:28,480
started to town in, he had on neither collar nor necktie.

308
00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,519
Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down

309
00:20:33,559 --> 00:20:36,200
the steps, for the house was none other than the

310
00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,839
opium den in which you found me to night, and

311
00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,119
running through the front room, she attempted to ascend the stairs,

312
00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,400
which led to the first floor. At the foot of

313
00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,920
the stairs, however, she met this less scark scoundrel of

314
00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,640
whom I have spoken, who thrust her back, and, aided

315
00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,279
by a Dane who acts as assistant, there pushed her

316
00:20:58,279 --> 00:21:02,759
out into the street. Filled with the most maddening doubts

317
00:21:02,759 --> 00:21:05,759
and fears, she rushed down the lane, and by rare

318
00:21:05,799 --> 00:21:09,559
good fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of constables

319
00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:13,160
with an inspector, all on their way to their beat.

320
00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,799
The inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in

321
00:21:16,839 --> 00:21:20,359
spite of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made

322
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,920
their way to the room in which mister Saint Clair

323
00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,680
had last been seen. There was no sign of him there,

324
00:21:27,519 --> 00:21:30,480
in fact, in the whole of that floor, and there

325
00:21:30,559 --> 00:21:33,039
was no one to be found save a crippled wretch

326
00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:37,160
of hideous aspect, who it seems made his home there.

327
00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,960
Both he and the lascar stoutly swore that no one

328
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,720
else had been in the front room during the afternoon.

329
00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:49,319
So determined was their denial that the inspector was staggered

330
00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,319
and had almost come to believe that missus Saint Clair

331
00:21:52,599 --> 00:21:56,039
had been deluded, when with a cry, she sprang at

332
00:21:56,079 --> 00:21:58,799
a small deal box which lay upon the table, and

333
00:21:58,839 --> 00:22:02,160
tore the lid from it. Out there fell a cascade

334
00:22:02,279 --> 00:22:06,000
of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had

335
00:22:06,039 --> 00:22:13,079
promised to bring home. This discovery and the evident confusion

336
00:22:13,319 --> 00:22:16,599
which the cripple showed, made the inspector realize that the

337
00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:21,240
matter was serious. The rooms were carefully examined, and results

338
00:22:21,279 --> 00:22:25,720
all pointed to an abominable crime. The front room was

339
00:22:25,799 --> 00:22:28,920
plainly furnished as a sitting room, and led into a

340
00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,799
small bedroom which looked out upon the back of one

341
00:22:31,799 --> 00:22:35,720
of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom window

342
00:22:36,279 --> 00:22:39,759
is a narrow strip which is dry at low tide,

343
00:22:39,839 --> 00:22:42,279
but is covered at high tide with at least four

344
00:22:42,319 --> 00:22:45,519
and a half feet of water. The bedroom window was

345
00:22:45,559 --> 00:22:50,519
a broad one and opened from below. On examination, traces

346
00:22:50,519 --> 00:22:53,240
of blood were to be seen upon the window sill,

347
00:22:53,519 --> 00:22:56,880
and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor

348
00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:01,119
of the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the

349
00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,519
front room were all the clothes of mister Neville Saint Clair,

350
00:23:04,799 --> 00:23:09,240
with the exception of his coat, his boots, his socks,

351
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:13,359
his hat, and his watch all were there. There were

352
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,720
no signs of violence upon any of these garments, and

353
00:23:16,799 --> 00:23:19,799
there were no other traces of mister Neville Saint Clair

354
00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,839
out of the window. He must apparently have gone, for

355
00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,559
no other exit could be discovered, and the ominous blood

356
00:23:27,599 --> 00:23:31,039
stains upon the sill gave little promise that he could

357
00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,200
save himself by swimming, for the tide was at its

358
00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,680
very highest at the moment of the tragedy. And now,

359
00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,039
as the villains who seemed to be immediately implicated in

360
00:23:41,079 --> 00:23:45,200
the matter. The lascar was known to be a man

361
00:23:45,319 --> 00:23:50,599
of the violess antecedents, but as by Missus Saint Clair's story,

362
00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:52,720
he was known to have been at the foot of

363
00:23:52,759 --> 00:23:55,839
the stair within a very few seconds of her husband's

364
00:23:55,839 --> 00:23:58,920
appearance at the window, he could hardly have been more

365
00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,640
than an accessory to the crime. His defense was one

366
00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,400
of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no

367
00:24:06,599 --> 00:24:09,839
knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger,

368
00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,680
and that he could not account in any way for

369
00:24:12,759 --> 00:24:16,480
the presence of the missing gentleman's clothes. So much for

370
00:24:16,599 --> 00:24:21,920
the lescar manager, now for the sinister cripple who lives

371
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,640
upon the second floor of the Opium Den, and who

372
00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,079
was certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon

373
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,519
Neville Saint Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his

374
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,960
hideous face is one which is familiar to every man

375
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,799
who goes much to the city. He is a professional beggar,

376
00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,119
though in order to avoid the police regulations, he pretends

377
00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:49,720
to a small trade in wax vestas. Some little distance

378
00:24:49,799 --> 00:24:53,839
down Threadneedle Street, upon the left hand side, there is,

379
00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:57,039
as you may have remarked a small angle in the wall.

380
00:24:58,039 --> 00:25:01,079
Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat,

381
00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,759
cross legged, with his tiny stalk of matches on his lap,

382
00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:09,440
And as he is a piteous spectacle, a small rain

383
00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,279
of charity descends into the greasy leather cap which lies

384
00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:17,039
upon the pavement beside him. I have watched the fellow

385
00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:20,559
more than once before ever I thought of making his

386
00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,519
professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised at the harvests

387
00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,720
which he has reaped in a short time. His appearance,

388
00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,880
you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass

389
00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:36,559
him without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a

390
00:25:36,559 --> 00:25:40,640
pale face disfigured by a horrible scar which, by its

391
00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,799
contraction has turned up the outer edge of his upper lip,

392
00:25:45,519 --> 00:25:49,880
a bulldog chin, and a pair of very penetrating dark eyes,

393
00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,680
which present a singular contrast to the color of his hair,

394
00:25:54,319 --> 00:25:57,720
all mark him out from amid the common crowd of mendicants.

395
00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,480
And so too does his wit, for he is ever

396
00:26:01,599 --> 00:26:04,559
ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which

397
00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:08,319
may be thrown at him by the passers by. This

398
00:26:08,519 --> 00:26:11,079
is the man whom we now learn to have been

399
00:26:11,079 --> 00:26:14,000
the lodger at the opium den and to have been

400
00:26:14,039 --> 00:26:16,440
the last man to see the gentleman of whom we

401
00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:22,839
are in quest. But a cripple, said I What could

402
00:26:22,839 --> 00:26:25,720
he have done single handed against a man in the

403
00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:30,359
prime of life. He is a cripple in the sense

404
00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,279
that he walks with a limp, but in other respects

405
00:26:33,599 --> 00:26:36,400
he appears to be a powerful and well nurtured man.

406
00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:41,079
Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that weakness

407
00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:45,240
in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional strength

408
00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:52,119
in the others. Pray continue your narrative, Missus. Saint Clair

409
00:26:52,559 --> 00:26:55,160
had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the window,

410
00:26:55,599 --> 00:26:58,200
and she was escorted home in a cab by the police,

411
00:26:58,599 --> 00:27:00,880
as her presence could be of no help to them

412
00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:06,200
in their investigations. Inspector Borton, who had charge of the case,

413
00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:10,160
made a very careful examination of the premises, but without

414
00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:14,720
finding anything which threw any light upon the matter. One

415
00:27:14,799 --> 00:27:19,480
mistake had been made in not arresting Boone instantly, as

416
00:27:19,519 --> 00:27:22,920
he was allowed some few minutes during which he might

417
00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:27,119
have communicated with his friend the Lascar. But this fault

418
00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:30,440
was soon remedied and he was seized and searched without

419
00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:36,039
anything being found which could incriminate him. There were, it

420
00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:39,400
is true, some blood stains upon his right shirt sleeve,

421
00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,440
but he pointed to his ring finger, which had been

422
00:27:42,519 --> 00:27:46,279
cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came

423
00:27:46,319 --> 00:27:49,200
from there, adding that he had been to the window

424
00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,079
not long before, and that the stains which had been

425
00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:57,000
observed there came doubtless from the same source. He denied

426
00:27:57,039 --> 00:28:01,359
strenuously having ever seen mister Nevilson Claire, and swore that

427
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,400
the presence of the clothes in his room was as

428
00:28:04,519 --> 00:28:08,720
much a mystery to him as to the police. As

429
00:28:08,759 --> 00:28:12,240
to Missus Saint Clair's assertion that she had actually seen

430
00:28:12,279 --> 00:28:15,039
her husband at the window, he declared that she must

431
00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:20,359
have been either mad or dreaming. He was removed, loudly

432
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,119
protesting to the police station, while the inspector remained upon

433
00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:27,000
the premises in the hope that the ebbing tide might

434
00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:32,079
afford some fresh clue. And it did, though they hardly

435
00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:35,680
found upon the mud bank what they had feared to find.

436
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,920
It was Nevill Saint Clair's coat, and not Neville Saint Clair,

437
00:28:41,119 --> 00:28:44,519
which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And what do

438
00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:50,200
you think they found in the pockets I cannot imagine. No,

439
00:28:50,519 --> 00:28:55,119
I don't think you would guess every pocket stuffed with

440
00:28:55,279 --> 00:29:00,119
pennies and halfpennies four hundred and twenty one pennies and

441
00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:04,599
two hundred and seventy halfpennies. It was no wonder that

442
00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,599
it had not been swept away by the tide. But

443
00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:11,000
a human body is a different matter. There is a

444
00:29:11,079 --> 00:29:14,720
fierce eddy between the wharf and the house. It seemed

445
00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:18,440
likely enough that the weighted coat had remained when the

446
00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:24,000
stripped body had been sucked away into the river. But

447
00:29:24,079 --> 00:29:26,480
I understand that all the other clothes were found in

448
00:29:26,519 --> 00:29:32,440
the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone, No, sir,

449
00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:37,640
But the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose that

450
00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,200
this man Boone had thrust Neville Saint Clair through the window.

451
00:29:41,599 --> 00:29:44,319
There is no human eye which could have seen the deed.

452
00:29:45,039 --> 00:29:48,839
What would he do then? It would of course instantly

453
00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:51,079
strike him that he must get rid of the tell

454
00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:55,079
tale garments. He would seize the coat then, and be

455
00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,640
in the act of throwing it out when it would

456
00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:02,839
occur to him that it would swim and not sink.

457
00:30:03,079 --> 00:30:05,680
He has little time, for he has heard the scuffle

458
00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,519
downstairs when the wife tried to force her way up,

459
00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:12,839
and perhaps he has already heard from his Lasgar confederate

460
00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:16,799
that the police are hurrying up the street. There is

461
00:30:16,839 --> 00:30:19,720
not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some

462
00:30:19,799 --> 00:30:24,039
secret horde where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary,

463
00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:27,200
and he stuffs all the coins upon which he can

464
00:30:27,279 --> 00:30:30,319
lay his hands into the pockets to make sure of

465
00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,200
the coats sinking. He throws it out, and would have

466
00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,720
done the same with the other garments had he not

467
00:30:36,839 --> 00:30:39,559
heard the rush of steps below, and only just had

468
00:30:39,599 --> 00:30:44,119
time to close the window when the police appeared. It

469
00:30:44,279 --> 00:30:49,759
certainly sounds feasible. Well, we will take it as a

470
00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:54,240
working hypothesis for want of a better boone. As I

471
00:30:54,279 --> 00:30:57,519
have told you, was arrested and taken to the station,

472
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,240
But it could not be shown that there had ever

473
00:31:00,279 --> 00:31:04,200
before been anything against him. He had for years been

474
00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,400
known as a professional beggar, but his life appeared to

475
00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:12,000
have been a very quiet and innocent one. There the

476
00:31:12,039 --> 00:31:15,559
matter stands at present, and the questions which have to

477
00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,599
be solved, what Neville Saint Clair was doing in the

478
00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:22,440
Opium den, what happened to him when there? Where is

479
00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,519
he now? And what Hugh Boon has to do with

480
00:31:25,599 --> 00:31:29,920
his disappearance are all as far from a solution as ever.

481
00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,799
I confess that I cannot recall any case within my

482
00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:37,920
experience which looked at the first glance so simple and

483
00:31:38,039 --> 00:31:43,160
yet which presented such difficulties. While Sherlock Holmes had been

484
00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:47,079
detailing this singular series of events, we had been whirling

485
00:31:47,119 --> 00:31:50,000
through the outskirts of the great town until the last

486
00:31:50,359 --> 00:31:53,960
straggling houses had been left behind, and we rattled along

487
00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:58,839
with a country hedge upon either side of us. Just

488
00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:03,039
as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered villages

489
00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:07,599
where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. We

490
00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:11,079
are on the outskirts of Lee, said my companion. We

491
00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:14,359
have touched on three English counties in our short drive,

492
00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,960
starting in Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and

493
00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:23,359
ending in Kent. See that light among the trees, that

494
00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:26,799
is the cedars, and beside that lamp sits a woman

495
00:32:26,839 --> 00:32:30,799
whose anxious ears have already, I have little doubt caught

496
00:32:30,799 --> 00:32:35,839
the clink of our horses feet. But why are you

497
00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:40,839
not conducting the case from Baker Street, I asked? Because

498
00:32:41,039 --> 00:32:44,279
there are many inquiries which must be made out here.

499
00:32:44,799 --> 00:32:47,839
Missus Saint Clair has most kindly put two rooms at

500
00:32:47,839 --> 00:32:51,279
my disposal, and you may rest assured that she will

501
00:32:51,319 --> 00:32:54,200
have nothing but a welcome for my friend and colleague.

502
00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,200
I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have no

503
00:32:57,359 --> 00:33:02,079
news of her husband. Here we are, Woa there, Woa.

504
00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,000
We had pulled up in front of a large villa

505
00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:09,000
which stood within its own grounds. A stable boy had

506
00:33:09,079 --> 00:33:12,359
run out to the horse's head, and springing down, I

507
00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:16,119
followed Holmes up the small winding gravel drive which led

508
00:33:16,119 --> 00:33:19,920
to the house. As we approached, the door flew open,

509
00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,839
and a little blond woman stood in the opening, clad

510
00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:27,440
in some sort of light mussoline des soult, with a

511
00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,720
touch of fluffy pink chiffon at her neck and wrists.

512
00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,920
She stood with her figure outlined against the flood of light,

513
00:33:36,519 --> 00:33:39,960
one hand upon the door, one half raised in her eagerness,

514
00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:44,279
her body slightly bent, her head and face protruded with

515
00:33:44,359 --> 00:33:50,279
eager eyes and parted lips. A standing question well, she

516
00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:54,920
cried well, and then seeing that there were two of us,

517
00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:57,599
she gave a cry of hope, which sank into a

518
00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,319
groan as she saw that my companion should took his

519
00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:06,920
head and shrugged his shoulders. No good news, none, no

520
00:34:07,079 --> 00:34:12,440
bad no, thank God for that. But come in. You

521
00:34:12,519 --> 00:34:15,480
must be weary, for you have had a long day.

522
00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,840
This is my friend, doctor Watson. He has been of

523
00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:22,639
most vital use to me in several of my cases,

524
00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,360
and a lucky chance has made it possible for me

525
00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,719
to bring him out and associate him with his investigation.

526
00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:33,800
I am delighted to see you, said she, pressing my

527
00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:37,960
hand warmly. You will, I am sure, forgive anything that

528
00:34:38,079 --> 00:34:41,360
may be wanting in our arrangements when you consider the

529
00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:46,239
blow which has come so suddenly upon us. My dear

530
00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:50,039
madam said I. I am an old campaigner, and if

531
00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:52,920
I were not, I can very well see that no

532
00:34:53,039 --> 00:34:56,119
apology is needed. If I can be of any assistance,

533
00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:58,920
either to you or to my friend here, I shall

534
00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:05,320
be indeed happy. Now, mister Sherlock Holmes, said the lady,

535
00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,480
as we entered a well lit dining room, upon the

536
00:35:08,519 --> 00:35:11,239
table of which a cold supper had been laid out.

537
00:35:11,639 --> 00:35:14,159
I should very much like to ask you one or

538
00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:18,039
two plain questions, to which I beg that you will

539
00:35:18,079 --> 00:35:23,199
give a plain answer. Certainly, madam, do not trouble about

540
00:35:23,199 --> 00:35:26,519
my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given to fainting.

541
00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:32,519
I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion. Upon

542
00:35:32,559 --> 00:35:36,840
what point in your heart of hearts do you think

543
00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:41,840
that Neville is alive? Sherlock Holms seemed to be embarrassed

544
00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:46,960
by the question. Frankly now, she repeated, standing upon the

545
00:35:47,039 --> 00:35:50,000
rug and looking keenly down at him as he leaned

546
00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:55,199
back in a basket chair. Frankly, then, Madam, I do

547
00:35:55,280 --> 00:36:01,679
not you think that he is dead? I do murdered.

548
00:36:03,079 --> 00:36:07,000
I don't say that. Perhaps, And on what day did

549
00:36:07,039 --> 00:36:13,079
he meet his death? On Monday? Then perhaps, mister Holmes,

550
00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,360
you will be good enough to explain how it is

551
00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,360
that I have received a letter from him to day.

552
00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,800
Sherlock Holm sprang out of his chair, as if he

553
00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:30,320
had been galvanized what he roared? Yes to day? She stood, smiling,

554
00:36:30,639 --> 00:36:32,679
holding up a little slip of paper in the air.

555
00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:38,559
May I see it? Certainly? He snatched it from her

556
00:36:38,679 --> 00:36:41,480
in his eagerness, and smoothing it out upon the table.

557
00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:45,400
He drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I

558
00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:47,760
had left my chair and was gazing at it over

559
00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:51,719
his shoulder. The envelope was a very coarse one, and

560
00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:55,480
was stamped with the Gravesend postmark, and with the date

561
00:36:55,559 --> 00:36:58,320
of that very day, or rather of the day before,

562
00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:04,239
for it was considerably after midnight. Coarse writing, murmured Holmes.

563
00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:08,920
Surely this is not your husband's writing, Madam. No, but

564
00:37:09,039 --> 00:37:14,079
the enclosure is. I perceive also that whoever addressed the

565
00:37:14,199 --> 00:37:17,840
envelope had to go and inquire as to the address.

566
00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:22,519
How can you tell that the name you see is

567
00:37:22,639 --> 00:37:26,679
in perfectly black ink, which has dried itself. The rest

568
00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:30,239
is of the grayish color, which shows that blotting paper

569
00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:33,920
has been used. If it had been written straight off

570
00:37:34,199 --> 00:37:39,800
and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade.

571
00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:43,679
This man has written the name, and there has then

572
00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:46,719
been a pause before he wrote the address, which can

573
00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,880
only mean that he was not familiar with it. It is,

574
00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:53,480
of course a trifle, but there is nothing so important

575
00:37:53,679 --> 00:37:58,840
as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha. There

576
00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:04,119
has been an enclosed here. Yes, there was a ring,

577
00:38:04,559 --> 00:38:09,360
his signet ring. And you are sure that this is

578
00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:16,519
your husband's hand, one of his hands, one his hand

579
00:38:16,679 --> 00:38:20,840
when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual writing,

580
00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:25,280
And yet I know it well, dearest, Do not be frightened.

581
00:38:25,639 --> 00:38:29,320
All will come well. There is a huge error which

582
00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:33,119
it may take some little time to rectify. Wait in patience.

583
00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:37,119
Neville written in pencil upon the fly leaf of a

584
00:38:37,159 --> 00:38:42,719
book octavo size, no water mark, hum posted to day

585
00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:45,920
in her Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb ha,

586
00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:49,199
and the flap has been gummed. If I am not

587
00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:52,079
very much in error, by a person who had been

588
00:38:52,159 --> 00:38:55,719
chewing tobacco, And you have no doubt that it is

589
00:38:55,760 --> 00:39:02,440
your husband's hand, madam none. Neville wrote those words, and

590
00:39:02,519 --> 00:39:06,400
they were posted to day at Gravesend. Well, missus Saint Clair.

591
00:39:06,679 --> 00:39:09,920
The clouds lightened, though I should not venture to say

592
00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:14,239
that the danger is over. But he must be alive,

593
00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:17,880
mister Holmes, unless this is a clever forgery to put

594
00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:22,119
us on the wrong scent. The ring, after all, proves nothing.

595
00:39:22,599 --> 00:39:27,320
It may have been taken from him, No, no, it

596
00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:33,119
is it is his very own writing. Very well. It may, however,

597
00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:37,599
been written on Monday and only posted to day. That

598
00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:44,320
is possible, if so much may have happened between. Oh,

599
00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:47,880
you must not discourage me, mister Holmes. I know that

600
00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:50,760
all is well with him. There is so keen a

601
00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:54,119
sympathy between us, that I should know if evil came

602
00:39:54,239 --> 00:39:58,280
upon him. On the very day that I saw him last,

603
00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:01,199
he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I, in

604
00:40:01,239 --> 00:40:05,559
the dining room rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty

605
00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:08,880
that something had happened. Do you think that I would

606
00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:11,760
respond to such a trifle and yet be ignorant of

607
00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:16,119
his death. I have seen too much not to know

608
00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:19,159
that the impression of a woman may be more valuable

609
00:40:19,199 --> 00:40:22,639
than the conclusion of an analytical reasoner. And in this

610
00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:25,679
letter you certainly have a very strong piece of evidence

611
00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:29,519
to corroborate your view. But if your husband is alive

612
00:40:29,599 --> 00:40:32,719
and able to write letters, why should he remain away

613
00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:38,840
from you? I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable. And on

614
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:43,800
Monday he made no remarks before leaving you. No, and

615
00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:47,679
you were surprised to see him in Swandham Lane very

616
00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:53,400
much so was the window open? Yes, then he might

617
00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:58,519
have called to you. He might he only, as I understood,

618
00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:04,599
gave an inartic it cry, Yes, a call for help.

619
00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:10,679
You thought, Yes, he waved his hands, but it might

620
00:41:10,719 --> 00:41:14,960
have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the unexpected

621
00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:17,199
sight of you might cause him to throw up his

622
00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:22,639
hands it is possible, and you thought he was pulled back,

623
00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:28,159
he disappeared so suddenly he might have leapt back. You

624
00:41:28,239 --> 00:41:31,599
did not see any one else in the room. No,

625
00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:35,400
but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and

626
00:41:35,639 --> 00:41:37,800
the last car was at the foot of the stairs.

627
00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:42,159
Quite so, your husband, as far as you could see,

628
00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:47,079
had his ordinary clothes on, but without his collar or tie.

629
00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:52,599
I distinctly saw his bare throat. Had he ever spoken

630
00:41:52,639 --> 00:41:58,239
of Swandham Lane? Never had he ever shown any signs

631
00:41:58,280 --> 00:42:04,239
of having taken opium? Never? Thank you missus Saint Clair.

632
00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:07,800
Those are the principal points about which I wish to

633
00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:11,400
be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little supper

634
00:42:11,599 --> 00:42:14,599
and then retire, for we may have a very busy

635
00:42:14,679 --> 00:42:20,840
day tomorrow. A large and comfortable double bedded room had

636
00:42:20,840 --> 00:42:23,960
been placed at our disposal, and I was quickly between

637
00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:27,360
the sheets, for I was weary after my night of adventure.

638
00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:32,480
Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, who, when he had

639
00:42:32,639 --> 00:42:36,039
an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for days

640
00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:39,599
and even for a week without rest, turning it over,

641
00:42:40,039 --> 00:42:43,519
rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view,

642
00:42:43,639 --> 00:42:47,519
until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that

643
00:42:47,599 --> 00:42:52,159
his data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me

644
00:42:52,519 --> 00:42:54,880
that he was now preparing for an all night sitting.

645
00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,039
He took off his coat and waistcoat and put on

646
00:42:59,199 --> 00:43:03,360
a large blo dressing gown, and then wandered about the room,

647
00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:06,519
collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the sofa

648
00:43:06,599 --> 00:43:11,159
and arm chairs. With these he constructed a sort of

649
00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:15,360
Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross legged, with

650
00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:18,719
an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches

651
00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:21,400
laid out in front of him. In the dim light

652
00:43:21,480 --> 00:43:24,119
of the lamp, I saw him sitting there, and old

653
00:43:24,119 --> 00:43:28,519
briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon

654
00:43:28,519 --> 00:43:31,599
the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up

655
00:43:31,639 --> 00:43:35,960
from him, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his

656
00:43:36,039 --> 00:43:41,280
strong set aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped

657
00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:44,119
off to sleep, And so he sat when a sudden

658
00:43:44,199 --> 00:43:48,440
ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found these

659
00:43:48,480 --> 00:43:52,840
summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still

660
00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:57,000
between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the

661
00:43:57,079 --> 00:44:00,960
room was full of a dense tobacco haze. But nothing

662
00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:03,679
remained of the heap of shagg which I had seen

663
00:44:03,880 --> 00:44:11,400
upon the previous night. Awake Watson, he asked, yes, game

664
00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:16,599
for a morning drive? Certainly, then dress. No one is

665
00:44:16,599 --> 00:44:19,800
stirring yet, but I know where the stable boy sleeps,

666
00:44:20,039 --> 00:44:23,239
and we shall soon have the trap out. He chuckled

667
00:44:23,239 --> 00:44:26,239
to himself. As he spoke. His eyes twinkled, and he

668
00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:29,280
seemed a different man to the somber thinker of the

669
00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:34,199
previous night. As I dressed, I glanced at my watch.

670
00:44:35,119 --> 00:44:37,760
It was no wonder that no one was stirring. It

671
00:44:37,880 --> 00:44:42,079
was twenty five minutes past four. I had hardly finished

672
00:44:42,159 --> 00:44:44,679
when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was

673
00:44:44,760 --> 00:44:48,880
putting in the horse. I want to test a little

674
00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:54,039
theory of mine, said he, pulling on his boots. I think, Watson,

675
00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:56,719
that you are now standing in the presence of one

676
00:44:56,800 --> 00:45:00,639
of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve to

677
00:45:00,679 --> 00:45:04,000
be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think

678
00:45:04,039 --> 00:45:08,039
I have the key of the affair now. And where

679
00:45:08,119 --> 00:45:14,800
is it? I asked, smiling in the bathroom, he answered, oh, yes,

680
00:45:14,920 --> 00:45:19,199
I am not joking, he continued, seeing my look of incredulity,

681
00:45:20,159 --> 00:45:22,880
I have just been there and I have taken it out,

682
00:45:23,039 --> 00:45:27,039
and I have got it in this gladstone bag. Come on,

683
00:45:27,159 --> 00:45:29,639
my boy, and we shall see whether it will not

684
00:45:29,719 --> 00:45:35,119
fit the lock. We made our way downstairs as quietly

685
00:45:35,159 --> 00:45:40,400
as possible, and out into the bright morning sunshine. In

686
00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:43,920
the road stood our horse and trap, with a half

687
00:45:43,960 --> 00:45:47,519
clad stable boy waiting at the head. We both sprang

688
00:45:47,599 --> 00:45:51,559
in and away we dashed down the London Road. A

689
00:45:51,599 --> 00:45:55,960
few country carts were stirring bearing in vegetables to the metropolis,

690
00:45:56,639 --> 00:45:59,159
but the lines of villas on either side were as

691
00:45:59,199 --> 00:46:03,679
silent and lifeless as some city in a dream. It

692
00:46:03,719 --> 00:46:07,440
has been in some points a singular case, said Holmes,

693
00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:11,039
flicking the horse on into a gallop. I confess that

694
00:46:11,159 --> 00:46:13,679
I have been as blind as a mole. But it

695
00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:16,599
is better to learn wisdom late than never to learn

696
00:46:16,599 --> 00:46:22,559
it at all. In town, the earliest risers were just

697
00:46:22,639 --> 00:46:26,000
beginning to look sleepily from their windows as we drove

698
00:46:26,320 --> 00:46:30,079
through the streets of the Surrey side. Passing down the

699
00:46:30,199 --> 00:46:34,159
Waterloo Bridge Road, we crossed over the river, and, dashing

700
00:46:34,239 --> 00:46:37,320
up Wellington Street, wheeled sharply to the right and found

701
00:46:37,320 --> 00:46:41,199
ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well known to

702
00:46:41,199 --> 00:46:45,079
the force, and the two constables at the door saluted him.

703
00:46:45,719 --> 00:46:47,679
One of them held the horse's head while the other

704
00:46:47,760 --> 00:46:53,119
led us in. Who is on duty? Asked Holmes. Inspect

705
00:46:53,199 --> 00:46:57,800
bread Street, sir Ah bred Street, how are you? A

706
00:46:57,880 --> 00:47:01,360
tall stout official had come down the stun flagged passage

707
00:47:01,440 --> 00:47:05,480
and a peaked cap and frogged jacket. I wish to

708
00:47:05,519 --> 00:47:09,440
have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet. Certainly, mister Holmes,

709
00:47:09,840 --> 00:47:13,679
step into my room. Here. It was a small office

710
00:47:13,760 --> 00:47:16,400
like room with a huge letter upon the table and

711
00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:20,000
a telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down

712
00:47:20,039 --> 00:47:23,280
at his desk. What can I do for you, mister Holmes?

713
00:47:24,039 --> 00:47:26,920
I called about that beggarman Boone, the one who was

714
00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:30,320
charged with being concerned in the disappearance of mister Neville

715
00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:33,920
Saint Clair of Lee. Yes, he was brought up and

716
00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:38,599
remanded for further inquiries. So I heard you have him

717
00:47:38,599 --> 00:47:44,079
here in the cells. Is he quiet? Oh? He gives

718
00:47:44,079 --> 00:47:49,440
no trouble, but he is a dirty scoundrel dirty. Yes.

719
00:47:49,440 --> 00:47:51,159
It is all we can do to make him wash

720
00:47:51,199 --> 00:47:53,400
his hands, and his face is as black as a

721
00:47:53,480 --> 00:47:57,639
tanker's well. Once his case has been settled, he will

722
00:47:57,679 --> 00:48:01,039
have a regular prison bath. And I think if you

723
00:48:01,079 --> 00:48:03,840
saw him you would agree with me that he needed it.

724
00:48:05,800 --> 00:48:09,599
I should like to see him very much, would you.

725
00:48:10,519 --> 00:48:14,679
That is easily done. Come this way you can leave

726
00:48:14,679 --> 00:48:20,199
your bag. No, I think that I'll take it very good.

727
00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:24,679
Come this way if you please. He let us down

728
00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:29,159
a passage opened, a barred door, passed down a winding stair,

729
00:48:29,400 --> 00:48:33,000
and brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line

730
00:48:33,039 --> 00:48:36,519
of doors on each side. The third on the right

731
00:48:36,679 --> 00:48:40,960
is his, said the inspector. Here it is. He quietly

732
00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:42,880
shot back a panel in the upward part of the

733
00:48:42,920 --> 00:48:47,559
door and glanced through. He is asleep, said he. You

734
00:48:47,559 --> 00:48:51,599
can see him very well. We both put our eyes

735
00:48:51,639 --> 00:48:55,039
to the grating. The prisoner lay with his face towards us,

736
00:48:55,360 --> 00:48:59,679
in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and heavily. He

737
00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:03,599
was a middle sized man, coarsely clad, as became his calling,

738
00:49:04,039 --> 00:49:06,679
with a colored shirt protruding through the rent and his

739
00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:11,760
tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely dirty,

740
00:49:12,159 --> 00:49:14,719
but the grime which covered his face could not conceal

741
00:49:14,760 --> 00:49:18,840
its repulsive ugliness. A broad wheel from an old scar

742
00:49:19,039 --> 00:49:22,719
ran right across it from eye to chin, and by

743
00:49:22,840 --> 00:49:25,719
its contraction, had turned up one side of the upper lip,

744
00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:29,039
so that three teeth were exposed in a perpetual snarl.

745
00:49:29,679 --> 00:49:32,480
A shock of very bright red hair grew low over

746
00:49:32,559 --> 00:49:36,880
his eyes and forehead. He's a beauty, isn't he, said

747
00:49:36,880 --> 00:49:42,039
the inspector. He certainly needs a wash, remarked Holmes. I

748
00:49:42,079 --> 00:49:44,280
had an idea that he might, and I took the

749
00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:48,599
liberty of bringing the tools with me. He opened the

750
00:49:48,639 --> 00:49:52,480
gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my astonishment,

751
00:49:52,760 --> 00:49:58,239
a very large bath sponge. He you are a funny one,

752
00:49:58,440 --> 00:50:01,840
chuckled the inspector. Now, if you will have the great

753
00:50:01,880 --> 00:50:05,199
goodness to open that door very quietly, we will soon

754
00:50:05,320 --> 00:50:10,840
make him cut a much more respectable figure. Well, I

755
00:50:10,960 --> 00:50:14,519
don't know why not, said the inspector. He doesn't look

756
00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:18,199
a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he. He

757
00:50:18,239 --> 00:50:20,480
slipped his key into the lock, and we all very

758
00:50:20,519 --> 00:50:24,639
quietly entered the cell. The sleeper half turned and then

759
00:50:24,679 --> 00:50:29,199
settled down once more into a deep slumber. Holmes stooped

760
00:50:29,320 --> 00:50:32,920
to the water jug, moistened his sponge, and then rubbed

761
00:50:32,920 --> 00:50:38,159
it twice vigorously across and down the prisoner's face. Let

762
00:50:38,159 --> 00:50:41,480
me introduce you, he shouted to mister Neville, Saint Clair

763
00:50:41,679 --> 00:50:46,280
of Lee and the County of Kent. Never in my

764
00:50:46,400 --> 00:50:49,599
life have I seen such a sight. The man's face

765
00:50:49,800 --> 00:50:52,920
peeled off under the sponge, like the bark from a tree.

766
00:50:53,519 --> 00:50:56,840
Gone was the coarse brown tent. Gone too was a

767
00:50:56,920 --> 00:51:01,519
horrid scar which had seemed across the twisted lip, which

768
00:51:01,559 --> 00:51:04,880
had given the repulsive sneer to the face. A twitch

769
00:51:05,079 --> 00:51:08,719
brought away the tangled red hair, and there, setting up

770
00:51:08,760 --> 00:51:12,800
in his bed was a pale, sad faced, refined looking man,

771
00:51:13,199 --> 00:51:16,920
black haired and smooth skinned, rubbing his eyes and staring

772
00:51:17,000 --> 00:51:21,400
about him with sleepy bewilderment. Then, suddenly realizing the exposure,

773
00:51:21,719 --> 00:51:24,199
he broke into a scream and threw himself down with

774
00:51:24,280 --> 00:51:29,559
his face to the pillow. Great Heavens, cried the inspector.

775
00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:32,880
It is indeed the missing man. I know him from

776
00:51:32,880 --> 00:51:36,440
the photograph. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of

777
00:51:36,440 --> 00:51:40,519
a man who abandons himself to his destiny. Be it so,

778
00:51:41,159 --> 00:51:44,920
said he, and pray what I am charged with with

779
00:51:45,039 --> 00:51:48,960
making away with mister Neville Saint Oh, come, you can't

780
00:51:48,960 --> 00:51:51,280
be charged with that unless they make a case of

781
00:51:51,320 --> 00:51:54,960
attempted suicide of it, said the inspector with a grin. Well,

782
00:51:55,159 --> 00:51:58,159
I have been twenty seven years in the force, but

783
00:51:58,239 --> 00:52:03,639
this really takes the cake. If I am mister Neville

784
00:52:03,679 --> 00:52:06,360
Saint Clair, then it is obvious that no crime has

785
00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:12,119
been committed, and that therefore I am illegally detained. No crime,

786
00:52:12,480 --> 00:52:15,440
but a very great error has been committed, said Holmes.

787
00:52:15,800 --> 00:52:18,159
You would have done better to have trusted your wife.

788
00:52:19,440 --> 00:52:22,599
It was not the wife, it was the children, grunned

789
00:52:22,599 --> 00:52:25,320
the prisoner. God help me, I would not have them

790
00:52:25,320 --> 00:52:28,639
ashamed of their father. My God, what an exposure. What

791
00:52:28,719 --> 00:52:33,239
can I do? Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on

792
00:52:33,280 --> 00:52:37,159
the couch and patted him kindly on the shoulder. If

793
00:52:37,159 --> 00:52:39,199
you leave it to the court of law to clear

794
00:52:39,239 --> 00:52:42,440
the matter up, said he. Of course, you can hardly

795
00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:46,519
avoid publicity. On the other hand, if you convince the

796
00:52:46,559 --> 00:52:49,440
police authorities that there is no possible case against you.

797
00:52:49,800 --> 00:52:52,239
I do not know that there is any reason that

798
00:52:52,280 --> 00:52:57,519
the details should find their way into the papers, Inspector Bradstreet,

799
00:52:57,639 --> 00:53:00,960
would I am sure, make notes upon anything which you

800
00:53:01,039 --> 00:53:03,920
might tell us, and submit it to the proper authorities.

801
00:53:04,519 --> 00:53:07,199
The case would then never go into court at all.

802
00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:12,800
God bless you, cried the prisoner Passionately, I would have

803
00:53:13,159 --> 00:53:17,440
endured imprisonment, i even execution, rather than have left my

804
00:53:17,599 --> 00:53:20,840
miserable secret as a family block to my children. You

805
00:53:20,920 --> 00:53:24,280
are the first who have ever heard my story. My

806
00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:27,559
father was a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an

807
00:53:27,599 --> 00:53:31,719
excellent education. I traveled in my youth, took to the stage,

808
00:53:32,000 --> 00:53:35,280
and finally became a reporter of an evening paper in London.

809
00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:38,519
One day, my editor wished to have a series of

810
00:53:38,800 --> 00:53:42,559
articles upon begging in the Metropolis, and I volunteered to

811
00:53:42,559 --> 00:53:45,679
supply them. There was the point from which all my

812
00:53:45,719 --> 00:53:49,400
adventures started. It was only by trying begging as an

813
00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:52,400
amateur that I could get the facts upon which to

814
00:53:52,440 --> 00:53:56,079
base my articles. When an actor, I had of course

815
00:53:56,199 --> 00:53:58,800
learned all the secrets of making up, and had been

816
00:53:58,880 --> 00:54:02,239
famous in the green room for my skill. I took

817
00:54:02,280 --> 00:54:05,800
advantage now of my attainments. I painted my face, and

818
00:54:05,880 --> 00:54:09,119
to make myself as pitiable as possible, I made a

819
00:54:09,159 --> 00:54:12,280
good scar and fixed one side of my lip in

820
00:54:12,360 --> 00:54:15,039
a twist by the aid of a small slip of

821
00:54:15,239 --> 00:54:19,440
flesh colored plaster. Then, with a red head of hair

822
00:54:19,639 --> 00:54:22,800
and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the

823
00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:26,039
business part of the city, ostensibly as a match seller,

824
00:54:26,280 --> 00:54:29,960
but really as a beggar. For seven hours I pollied

825
00:54:30,039 --> 00:54:32,679
my trade, and when I returned home in the evening,

826
00:54:32,880 --> 00:54:35,199
I found to my surprise that I had received no

827
00:54:35,360 --> 00:54:39,880
less than twenty six shillings four d. I wrote my

828
00:54:40,000 --> 00:54:43,800
articles and thought little more of the matter until some

829
00:54:43,960 --> 00:54:46,760
time later I backed a bill for a friend and

830
00:54:47,159 --> 00:54:49,760
had a writ served upon me for twenty five pounds.

831
00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:52,840
I was at my wits end where to get the money,

832
00:54:53,159 --> 00:54:56,079
but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a

833
00:54:56,119 --> 00:54:59,559
fortnight's grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from

834
00:54:59,559 --> 00:55:02,320
my employerlawyers, and spent the time in begging in the

835
00:55:02,320 --> 00:55:05,920
city under my disguise. In ten days I had the

836
00:55:05,960 --> 00:55:10,039
money and had paid the debt. Well you can imagine

837
00:55:10,039 --> 00:55:12,400
how hard it was to settle down to arduous work

838
00:55:12,480 --> 00:55:14,800
at two pounds a week, when I knew that I

839
00:55:14,840 --> 00:55:17,679
could earn as much in a day by smearing my

840
00:55:17,760 --> 00:55:20,760
face with a little paint, laying my cap on the ground,

841
00:55:20,840 --> 00:55:24,519
and sitting still. It was a long fight between my

842
00:55:24,679 --> 00:55:28,039
pride and the money, but the dollars won at last,

843
00:55:28,400 --> 00:55:31,079
and I threw up, reporting, and sat day after day

844
00:55:31,199 --> 00:55:35,320
in the corner which I had first chosen, inspiring pity

845
00:55:35,519 --> 00:55:38,960
by my ghastly face, and filling my pockets with coppers.

846
00:55:39,320 --> 00:55:42,320
Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper

847
00:55:42,360 --> 00:55:44,400
of a low den in which I used to lodge

848
00:55:44,440 --> 00:55:47,679
in Swandham Lane, where I could every morning emerge as

849
00:55:47,719 --> 00:55:51,760
a squalid beggar, and in the evenings transform myself into

850
00:55:51,800 --> 00:55:56,800
a well dressed man about town. This fellow Alascar, was

851
00:55:56,920 --> 00:55:59,599
well paid by me for his rooms, so that I

852
00:55:59,679 --> 00:56:03,760
knew that my secret was safe in his possession. Well,

853
00:56:04,039 --> 00:56:07,239
very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums

854
00:56:07,280 --> 00:56:10,079
of money. I do not mean that any beggar in

855
00:56:10,119 --> 00:56:13,119
the streets of London could earn seven hundred pounds a year,

856
00:56:13,599 --> 00:56:16,880
which is less than my average takings. But I had

857
00:56:16,960 --> 00:56:21,000
exceptional advantages in my power of making up, and also

858
00:56:21,079 --> 00:56:25,159
in a facility of repartee, which improved by practice and

859
00:56:25,280 --> 00:56:29,400
made me quite a recognized character in the city. All

860
00:56:29,480 --> 00:56:33,079
day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in

861
00:56:33,360 --> 00:56:36,119
upon me, and it was a very bad day in

862
00:56:36,159 --> 00:56:39,280
which I failed to take two pounds. As I grew richer,

863
00:56:39,519 --> 00:56:42,800
I grew more ambitious took a house in the country,

864
00:56:42,840 --> 00:56:46,880
and eventually married without any one having a suspicion as

865
00:56:46,920 --> 00:56:50,519
to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I

866
00:56:50,559 --> 00:56:56,199
had business in the city, she little knew what. Last Monday,

867
00:56:56,400 --> 00:56:58,559
I had finished for the day and was dressing in

868
00:56:58,599 --> 00:57:01,440
my room above the opium den when I looked out

869
00:57:01,440 --> 00:57:05,320
my window and saw, to my horror and astonishment, that

870
00:57:05,440 --> 00:57:08,119
my wife was standing in the street with her eyes

871
00:57:08,159 --> 00:57:11,400
fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of surprise,

872
00:57:11,880 --> 00:57:14,920
threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing

873
00:57:14,960 --> 00:57:18,760
to my confidant the Lascar, entreated him to prevent any

874
00:57:18,800 --> 00:57:22,639
one from coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs,

875
00:57:22,880 --> 00:57:26,880
but I knew that she could not ascend Swiftly. I

876
00:57:26,920 --> 00:57:29,760
threw off my clothes, pulled on those of a beggar,

877
00:57:30,119 --> 00:57:33,440
and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's

878
00:57:33,480 --> 00:57:37,119
eyes could not pierce so completely at disguise. But then

879
00:57:37,119 --> 00:57:39,719
it occurred to me that there might be a search

880
00:57:39,719 --> 00:57:42,400
in the room, and that the clothes might betray me.

881
00:57:43,239 --> 00:57:46,480
I threw open the window, reopening by my violence a

882
00:57:46,519 --> 00:57:49,440
small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the

883
00:57:49,440 --> 00:57:54,000
bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat which was

884
00:57:54,119 --> 00:57:57,079
waited by the coppers, which I had just transferred to

885
00:57:57,199 --> 00:57:59,880
it from the leather bag in which I carried my take.

886
00:58:00,920 --> 00:58:03,639
I hurled it out of the window and it disappeared

887
00:58:03,639 --> 00:58:07,280
into the Thames. The other clothes would have followed, but

888
00:58:07,360 --> 00:58:10,199
at that moment there was a rush of constables up

889
00:58:10,199 --> 00:58:13,519
the stair, and a few minutes after I found rather

890
00:58:13,760 --> 00:58:16,920
I confess to my relief that instead of being identified

891
00:58:16,920 --> 00:58:20,639
as mister Neville Saint Clair, I was arrested as his murderer.

892
00:58:21,360 --> 00:58:23,400
I do not know that there is anything else for

893
00:58:23,480 --> 00:58:26,760
me to explain. I was determined to preserve my disguise

894
00:58:26,800 --> 00:58:29,760
as long as possible, and hence my preference for a

895
00:58:29,800 --> 00:58:33,920
dirty face. Knowing that my wife would be terribly anxious,

896
00:58:34,199 --> 00:58:36,920
I slipped off my ring and confided it to the

897
00:58:37,000 --> 00:58:40,360
Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me,

898
00:58:41,119 --> 00:58:44,159
together with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had

899
00:58:44,159 --> 00:58:48,039
no cause to fear. The note only reached her yesterday,

900
00:58:48,360 --> 00:58:52,079
said Holmes. Good God, what a week she must have spent.

901
00:58:55,119 --> 00:58:59,320
The police have watched this, Lascar, said Inspector Bradstreet, and

902
00:58:59,400 --> 00:59:01,920
I can quite understand that he might find it difficult

903
00:59:01,960 --> 00:59:05,719
to post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to

904
00:59:05,719 --> 00:59:08,480
some sailor customer of his, who forgot all about it

905
00:59:08,559 --> 00:59:13,760
for some days. That was it, said Holmes, nodding approvingly.

906
00:59:14,039 --> 00:59:16,960
I have no doubt of it. But have you never

907
00:59:17,079 --> 00:59:22,119
been prosecuted for becking? Many times? But what was a

908
00:59:22,199 --> 00:59:27,719
fine to me? It must stop here, however, said Broadstreet.

909
00:59:27,960 --> 00:59:30,400
If the police are to hush this thing up, there

910
00:59:30,480 --> 00:59:35,239
must be no more of Hugh Boone. I have sworn

911
00:59:35,280 --> 00:59:38,159
it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take.

912
00:59:39,599 --> 00:59:42,159
In that case, I think that it is probable that

913
00:59:42,280 --> 00:59:45,239
no further steps may be taken. But if you are

914
00:59:45,239 --> 00:59:48,719
found again, then all must come out. I am sure,

915
00:59:48,840 --> 00:59:52,119
mister Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you

916
00:59:52,320 --> 00:59:55,199
for having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew

917
00:59:55,199 --> 01:00:00,320
how you reach your results. I reached this one, said

918
01:00:00,320 --> 01:00:04,000
my friend, by sitting upon five pillows and consuming an

919
01:00:04,000 --> 01:00:07,960
ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if we drive

920
01:00:08,079 --> 01:00:15,960
to Baker Street, we shall just be in time for breakfast.

921
01:00:16,840 --> 01:00:20,599
And of the Man with a Twisted Lip by Sir

922
01:00:20,719 --> 01:00:21,960
Arthur Conan Doyle