WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:09.759 The adventure of the Reigate Squire. It was some time 2 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:13.320 before the health of my friend mister Sherlock Holmes recovered 3 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:16.039 from the strain caused by his immense exertions in the 4 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:20.480 spring of eighty seven. The whole question of the Netherlands 5 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:25.280 Sumatra Company and of the colossal schemes of Baron mopetwe 6 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:29.280 are too recent in the minds of the public, and 7 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:33.280 too intimately concerned with politics and finance to be a 8 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:38.479 fitting subject for this series of sketches. It led, however, 9 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:42.079 in an indirect fashion, to a singular and complex problem, 10 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:46.200 which gave my friend an opportunity of demonstrating the value 11 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:49.119 of a fresh weapon among the many with which he 12 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:55.600 waged his lifelong battle against crime. On referring to my notes, 13 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:57.759 I see that it was on the fourteenth of April 14 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:02.280 that I received a telegram from from Lyons which informed 15 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:05.599 me that Holmes was lying ill in the Hotel Dulan. 16 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:10.439 Within twenty four hours I was in his sickroom and 17 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:13.040 was relieved to find that there was nothing formidable in 18 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:18.000 his symptoms. His iron constitution, however, had broken down under 19 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:21.280 the strain of an investigation which had extended over two 20 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:25.120 months during which period he had never worked less than 21 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.040 fifteen hours a day and had more than once, as 22 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.280 he assured me, kept to his task for five days 23 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:36.519 at a stretch. The triumphant issue of his labors could 24 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:39.840 not save him from reaction. After so terrible an exertion, 25 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:43.439 and at a time when Europe was ringing with his name, 26 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:48.439 and when his room was literally ankle deep with congratulatory telegrams, 27 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.480 I found him a prey to the blackest depression. Even 28 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:55.840 the knowledge that he had succeeded where the police of 29 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:59.560 three countries had failed, and that he had outmaneuvered at 30 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:03.280 every pot and the most accomplished swindler in Europe were 31 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:08.599 insufficient to rouse him from his nervous prostration. Three days 32 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:11.800 later we were back in Baker Street together, but it 33 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:14.120 was evident that my friend would be much the better 34 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:17.120 for a change, and the thought of a week of 35 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:21.039 springtime in the country was full of attractions to me. Also, 36 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:25.039 my old friend, Colonel Hayter, who would come under my 37 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:29.000 professional care in Afghanistan, had now taken a house near 38 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:32.639 Reigate in Surrey, and had frequently asked me to come 39 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:36.159 down to him upon a visit. On the last occasion 40 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:38.479 he had remarked that if my friend would only come 41 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.639 with me, he would be glad to extend his hospitality 42 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:46.479 to him. Also, a little diplomacy was needed, But when 43 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:50.439 Holmes understood that the establishment was a bachelor one and 44 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:53.199 that he would be allowed the fullest freedom, he fell 45 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:56.039 in with my plans, And a week after our return 46 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:00.479 from Lyon we were under the colonel's roof. Was a 47 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:03.039 fine old soldier who had seen much of the world, 48 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:06.400 and he soon found, as I had expected, that Holmes 49 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:10.560 and he had plenty in common. On the evening of 50 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:13.639 our arrival, we were sitting in the colonel's gun room 51 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:18.080 after dinner. Holmes stretched upon the sofa while Hayter and 52 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:22.000 I looked over his little armory of firearms by the way, 53 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.759 said he suddenly, I'll take one of these pistols upstairs 54 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:28.879 with me in case we have an alarm. An alarm, 55 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:32.719 said I. Yes, we've had a scare in this part lately. 56 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:37.240 Old Acton, who is one of our county magnets, had 57 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.439 his house broken into last Monday. No great damage done, 58 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:44.919 but the fellows are still at large. No clue, asked Holmes, 59 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:48.120 cocking his eye at the colonel manne as yet, But 60 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.680 the affair is a petty one, one of our little 61 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:54.280 country crimes, which must seem too small for your attention, 62 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:59.520 mister Holmes, after this great international affair. Holmes waved away 63 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:03.080 the compliment, though his smile showed that it had pleased him. 64 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:07.520 Was there any feature of interest? I fancy not. The 65 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:11.240 thieves ransacked the library and got very little for their pains. 66 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:14.960 The whole place was turned upside down, draws burst open, 67 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:18.680 and presses round sacked, with the result that an odd 68 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:23.839 volume of Pope's homer, two plated candlesticks, an ivory letter weight, 69 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:27.560 a small oak barometer, and a ball of twine are 70 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:32.519 all that have vanished. What an extraordinary assortment, I exclaimed. Oh, 71 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:35.360 the fellows evidently grabbed hold of anything they could get. 72 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:40.000 Holmes grunted from the sofa. The county police ought to 73 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:43.439 make something of that, said he. Why it is surely 74 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:47.959 obvious that, but I held up a warning finger. You 75 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:50.519 are here for a rest, my dear fellow. For Heaven's sake, 76 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:53.360 don't get started on a new problem when your nerves 77 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:57.560 are all in shreds. Holmes shrugged his shoulders with a 78 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:01.319 glance of comic resignation. Towards the Colonel, and the talk 79 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:06.600 drifted away into less dangerous channels. It was destined, however, 80 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:10.560 that all my professional caution should be wasted, for next morning. 81 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:13.480 The problem obtruded itself upon us in such a way 82 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:17.120 that it was impossible to ignore it, and our country 83 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:20.319 visit took a turn which neither of us could have anticipated. 84 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:24.240 We were at breakfast when the colonel's butler rushed in 85 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:28.000 with all his propriety shaken out of him. Have you 86 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:31.879 heard the new sir? He gasped at the Cunningham, Sir, Burglary, 87 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:35.399 cried the Colonel with his coffee cup in mid air murder. 88 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.879 The colonel whistled, pie jove, said he who's killed? Then? 89 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:43.959 The j p or his son? Neither, Sir. It was William, 90 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:47.920 the coachman, shot through the heart, Sir, and never spoke again. 91 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.480 Who shot him? Then? The burglar? Sir? He was off 92 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:54.480 like a shot and got clean away. It just broke 93 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:57.040 in at the pantry window when William came on him 94 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:00.439 and met his end in saving his master's property. What 95 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:05.000 time it was last night, sir? Somewhere about twelve ah. 96 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:09.079 Then we'll step over presently, said the Colonel, coolly settling 97 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:13.199 down to his breakfast again. It's a baddish business, he added, 98 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:17.040 when the butler had gone. He's our leading squire about 99 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:20.079 here is old Cunningham, and a very decent fellow too. 100 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.079 He'll be cut up over this, for the man has 101 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:25.639 been in his service for years and was a good servant. 102 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:30.079 It's evidently the same villains who broke into Acton's and 103 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:35.600 stole that very singular collection, said Holmes, thoughtfully, precisely hum 104 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:39.720 it may prove the simplest matter in the world, but 105 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:42.879 all the same, at first glance, this is just a 106 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:47.040 little curious, is it not. A gang of burglars acting 107 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:50.319 in the country might be expected to vary the scene 108 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:53.959 of their operations, and not to crack two cribs in 109 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:57.319 the same district within a few days. When you spoke 110 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:00.680 last night of taking precautions, I remember that passed through 111 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:03.240 my mind that this was probably the last parish in 112 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:06.079 England to which the thief or thieves would be likely 113 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:09.160 to turn their attention, Which shows that I still have 114 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:13.720 much to learn. I fancy it some local practitioner, said 115 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:17.839 the colonel. In that case, of course, Acton's and Cunningham's 116 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.600 are just the places he would go for, since they 117 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:24.519 are far the largest about here and richest. Well they 118 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:27.519 ought to be, but they've had a law suit for 119 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:29.839 some years which has sucked the blood out of both 120 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:33.199 of them. I fancy old Acton has some claim on 121 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:36.800 half Cunningham's estate, and the lawyers have been at it 122 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:40.560 with both hands. If it's a local villain, there should 123 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.600 not be much difficulty in running him down, said Holmes 124 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:49.319 with a yawn. All right, Watson, I don't intend to meddle, Inspector, Forester, Sir, 125 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:54.199 said the butler, throwing open the door. The official, a smart, 126 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.800 keen faced young fellow, stepped into the room. Good morning, Colonel, 127 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:00.839 said he. I hope I don't intrude, but we hear 128 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.279 that mister Holmes of Baker Street is here. The colonel 129 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.800 waved his hand towards my friend, and the inspector bowed. 130 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:10.720 We thought that perhaps you would care to step across, 131 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:14.920 mister Holmes. The fates are against you, Watson said, he laughing. 132 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:17.800 We were chatting about the matter when you came in, Inspector. 133 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:21.519 Perhaps you can let us have a few details. As 134 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:24.439 he leaned back in his chair in the familiar attitude, 135 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.839 I knew that the case was hopeless. We had no 136 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:30.920 clue in the acton affair, but here we have plenty 137 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:33.200 to go on, and there's no doubt it is the 138 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:37.840 same party. In each case. The man was seen, Ah, yes, sir, 139 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:41.120 but he was off like a deer. After the shot 140 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:45.360 that killed poor William Kerwan was fired. Mister Cunningham saw 141 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:49.480 him from the bedroom window, and mister Alick Cunningham saw 142 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.559 him from the back passage. It was a quarter to 143 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:56.039 twelve when the alarm broke out. Mister Cunningham had just 144 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:59.159 got into bed and mister Alick was smoking a pipe 145 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.840 in his dressing gown. They both heard William the coachman 146 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.600 calling for help, and mister Alick he ran down to 147 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:08.960 see what was the matter. The back door was open, 148 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.960 and as he came to the foot of the stairs 149 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:15.279 he saw two men wrestling together outside. One of them 150 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:19.080 fired a shot, the other dropped, and the murderer rushed 151 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:23.399 across the garden and over the hedge. Mister Cunningham, looking 152 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:25.679 out of his bedroom window, saw the fellow as he 153 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.639 gained the road, but lost sight of him at once. 154 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:31.799 Mister Alick stopped to see if he could help the 155 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:36.080 dying man, and so the villain got clean away. Beyond 156 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:38.480 the fact that he was a middle sized man and 157 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:41.639 dressed in some dark stuff, we have no personal clue, 158 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:45.759 but we are making energetic inquiries, and if he is 159 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:49.080 a stranger, we shall soon find him out. What was 160 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:53.440 this William doing there? Did he say anything before he died? 161 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:57.440 Not a word? He lives at the lodge with his mother, 162 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.200 and as he was a very faithful fellow, we imagine 163 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:03.080 that he walked up to the house with the intention 164 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:06.200 of seeing that all was right there. Of course, these 165 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:09.440 act and business has put everyone on their guard. The 166 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.759 robber must have just burst open the door. The lock 167 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:16.960 has been forced when William came upon him. Did William 168 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:20.639 say anything to his mother before going out? She is 169 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:23.440 very old and deaf, and we can get no information 170 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:27.519 from her. The shock has made her half witted, but 171 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:30.840 I understand that she was never very bright. There is 172 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:36.120 one very important circumstance, however. Look at this. He took 173 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:38.960 a small piece of torn paper from a notebook and 174 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:42.799 spread it out upon his knee. This was found between 175 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:46.279 the finger and thumb of the dead man. It appears 176 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:49.759 to be a fragment torn from a larger sheet. You 177 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:53.000 will observe that the hour mentioned upon it is the 178 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.200 very time at which the poor fellow met his fate. 179 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:58.320 You see that his murderer might have torn the rest 180 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.279 of the sheet from him, or he might have taken 181 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:05.559 this fragment from the murderer. It reads almost as though 182 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:09.360 it was an appointment. Holmes took up the scrap of paper, 183 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:14.200 a facsimile of which is here reproduced at quarter to twelve. 184 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:20.919 Learn what may be presuming that is an appointment, continued 185 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:24.600 the inspector. It is of course a conceivable theory that 186 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:28.480 this William Kerwin, although he had the reputation of being 187 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:32.080 an honest man, may have been in league with the thief. 188 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:36.039 He may have met him there, may even have helped 189 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:38.240 him to break in the door, and then they may 190 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:42.799 have fallen out between themselves. This writing is of extraordinary interest, 191 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:46.600 said Holmes, who had been examining it with intense concentration. 192 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:51.159 These are much deeper waters than I have thought. He 193 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:54.720 sank his head upon his hands, while the inspector smiled 194 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.080 at the effect which his case had had upon the 195 00:11:57.080 --> 00:12:03.320 famous London specialist. Your life, remark, said Holmes, presently, as 196 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:06.879 to the possibility of there being an understanding between the 197 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:10.399 burglar and the servant, and this being a note of 198 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:14.240 appointment from one to the other is an ingenious and 199 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:19.519 not entirely an impossible supposition. But this writing opens up. 200 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:23.919 He sank his head into his hands again, and remained 201 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:27.759 for some minutes in the deepest thought. When he raised 202 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.080 his face, I was surprised to see that his cheek 203 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:33.960 was tinged with color, and his eyes as bright as 204 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.519 before his illness. He sprang to his feet with all 205 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:41.320 his old energy. I'll tell you what, said he I 206 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:43.799 should like to have a quiet little glance into the 207 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:47.279 details of this case. There is something in it which 208 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:52.039 fascinates me extremely. If you will permit me, Colonel, I 209 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.960 will leave my friend Watson and you and I will 210 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.440 step round with the inspector to test the truth of 211 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.279 one or two little fancies of mine. I will be 212 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:04.159 with you again in half an hour. An hour and 213 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:09.320 a half had elapsed before the inspector returned alone. Mister 214 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:11.799 Holmes is walking up and down in the field outside, 215 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:15.360 said he. He wants us all four to go up 216 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:19.559 to the house together to mister Cunningham's. Yes, sir, what 217 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:24.480 for the inspector shrugged his shoulders. I don't quite know, sir. 218 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:28.200 Between ourselves, I think mister Holmes has not quite got 219 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:32.080 over his illness yet. He's been behaving very queerly, and 220 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:35.679 he is very much excited. I don't think you need 221 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:39.240 alarm yourself, said I. I have usually found that there 222 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:43.000 was method in his madness. Some folk might say there 223 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:47.320 was madness in his method, muttered the inspector. But he's 224 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:49.799 all on fire to start, Colonel, so we had best 225 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:54.159 go out, if you're ready. We found homes pacing up 226 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:57.279 and down in the field, his chin sunk upon his breast, 227 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:01.440 and his hands thrust into his trouser pocket. The matter 228 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:05.399 grows in interest, said he Watson. Your country trip has 229 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:09.559 been a distinct success. I have had a charming morning. 230 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.399 You have been up to the scene of the crime, 231 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:16.159 I understand, said the Colonel. Yes, the inspector and I 232 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:20.559 have made quite a little reconnaissance together. Any success. Well, 233 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:23.960 we have seen some very interesting things. I'll tell you 234 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.559 what we did as we walk. First of all, we 235 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:30.840 saw the body of this unfortunate man. He certainly died 236 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:35.440 from a revolver wound, as reported. Had you doubted it, then, oh, 237 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:38.759 it is as well to test everything. Our inspection was 238 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:42.279 not wasted. We then had an interview with mister Cunningham 239 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:44.679 and his son, who were able to point out the 240 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:47.600 exact spot where the murderer had broken through the garden 241 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:51.600 hedge in his flight. That was of great interest. Naturally, 242 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.000 then we had a look at this poor fellow's mother. 243 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:58.879 We could get no information from her, however, as she 244 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:02.279 is very old and and feeble. And what is the 245 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:06.159 result of your investigations the conviction that the crime is 246 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:09.720 a very peculiar one. Perhaps our visit now may do 247 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:13.320 something to make it less obscure. I think that we 248 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:16.440 are both agreed, Inspector, that the fragment of paper in 249 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:19.559 the dead man's hand, bearing as it does the very 250 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:22.960 hour of his death written upon it, is of extreme importance. 251 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:26.399 It should give a clue, mister Holmes. It does give 252 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:29.600 a clue whoever wrote that note was the man who 253 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:32.559 brought William Kerwin out of his bed at that hour? 254 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:35.879 But where is the rest of that sheet of paper? 255 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:39.240 I examined the ground carefully in the hope of finding it, 256 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.200 said the inspector. It was torn out of the dead 257 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:46.000 man's hand. Why was someone so anxious to get possession 258 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:49.879 of it because it incriminated him, and what would he 259 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:53.399 do with it? Thrust it into his pocket, most likely, 260 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:56.639 never noticing that a corner of it had been left 261 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.720 in the grip of the corpse. If we could get 262 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.360 the rest of that sheet, it is obvious that we 263 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:06.279 should have gone a long way towards solving the mystery. Yes, 264 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.679 but how can we get at the criminal's pocket before 265 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:12.120 we catch the criminal? Well, well, it was worth thinking over. 266 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:17.080 Then there is another obvious point. The note was sent 267 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:20.120 to William. The man who wrote it could not have 268 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:22.919 taken it otherwise, of course he might have delivered his 269 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:26.480 own message by word of mouth. Who brought the note then? 270 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:30.960 Or did it come through the post? I have made inquiries, 271 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:34.120 said the inspector. William received a letter by the afternoon 272 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:39.519 post yesterday. The envelope was destroyed by him. Excellent, cried Holmes, 273 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:43.000 clapping the inspector on the back. You've seen the postman. 274 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:46.639 It is a pleasure to work with you. Well, here 275 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:49.200 is the lodge, and if you will come up, colonel, 276 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:52.519 I will show you the scene of the crime. We 277 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:55.519 passed the pretty cottage where the murdered man had lived, 278 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.840 and walked up an oak lined avenue to the fine 279 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:02.720 old Queen Anne house, which bears the date of Malplaquey 280 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:06.839 upon the lintel of the door. Holmes and the inspector 281 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.720 led us round it until we came to the side gate, 282 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:12.960 which is separated by a stretch of garden from the 283 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:16.799 hedge which lines the road. A constable was standing at 284 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:21.000 the kitchen door. Throw the door open, officer, said Holmes. 285 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:24.519 Now it was on those stairs that young mister Cunningham 286 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:28.119 stood and saw the two men struggling just where we are. 287 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:31.519 Old mister Cunningham was at that window, the second on 288 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:34.599 the left, and he saw the fellow get away just 289 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:37.799 to the left of that bush. So did the sun. 290 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:40.599 They are both sure of it on account of the bush. 291 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:45.279 Then mister Alick ran out and knelt beside the wounded man. 292 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:48.640 The ground is very hard, you see, and there are 293 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:52.119 no marks to guide us. As he spoke, two men 294 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.720 came down the garden path from round the angle of 295 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:58.400 the house. The one was an elderly man with a strong, 296 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:02.839 deep lined, heavy eyed the other a dashing young fellow, 297 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:07.319 whose bright, smiling expression and showy dress were in strange 298 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:10.960 contrast with the business which had brought us there still 299 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:14.160 at it, then, said he to Holmes. I thought you 300 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:17.319 Londoners were never at fault. You don't seem to be 301 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:20.880 so very quick after all. Ah, you must give us 302 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:24.400 a little time, said Holmes. Good humoredly, you'll want it, 303 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:28.279 said young Alec Cunningham. Why I don't see that we 304 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:32.880 have any clue at all. There's only one, answered the inspector. 305 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:36.599 We thought that if we could only find good heavens, 306 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:40.440 mister Holmes, what is the matter. My poor friend's face 307 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:45.519 had suddenly assumed the most dreadful expression, His eyes rolled upwards, 308 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:49.000 his features writhed in agony, and with a suppressed groan, 309 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:53.000 he dropped on his face upon the ground, Horrified at 310 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:56.319 the suddenness and severity of the attack. We carried him 311 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.119 into the kitchen, where he lay back in a large 312 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:03.799 chair and breathed heavily for some minutes. Finally, with a 313 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:08.680 shamefaced apology for his weakness, he rose once more. Watson 314 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:11.200 would tell you that I have only just recovered from 315 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:14.720 a severe illness, he explained, I am liable to these 316 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:19.359 sudden nervous attacks. Shall I send you home in my trap? 317 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:24.160 Asked old Cunningham. Well, since I'm here. There is one 318 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:26.880 point on which I should like to feel sure we 319 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:30.960 can very easily verify it. What is it? Well, it 320 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:33.720 seems to me that it is just possible that the 321 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:37.680 arrival of this poor fellow William was not before, but 322 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:41.599 after the entrance of the burglar into the house. You 323 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:44.440 appear to take it for granted that although the door 324 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:49.000 was forced, the robber never got in. I fancy that 325 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:53.680 is quite obvious, said mister Cunningham, gravely. Why my son 326 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:56.680 Alec had not yet gone to bed, and he would 327 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.759 certainly have heard any one moving about. Where was his 328 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:03.960 sitt I was sitting smoking in my dressing room. Which 329 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:08.000 window is that? The last on the left next my father's? 330 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:13.519 Both your lamps were lit. Of course, undoubtedly there are 331 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:17.680 some very singular points here, said Holmes, smiling. Is it 332 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:21.599 not extraordinary that a burglar, and a burglar who had 333 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:26.200 had some previous experience, should deliberately break into a house 334 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:28.920 at a time when he could see from the lights 335 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:32.720 that two of the family were still afoot He must 336 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:36.359 have been a cool hound. Well, of course, if the 337 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.920 case were not an odd one, we should not have 338 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:42.720 been driven to ask you for an explanation said mister Alick. 339 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:45.599 But as to your idea that the man had robbed 340 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:48.519 the house before William tackled him, I think it a 341 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:52.559 most absurd notion. Shouldn't we have found the place disarranged 342 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:56.759 and missed the things which he had taken. It depends 343 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:00.599 on what the things were, said Holmes. You must remember 344 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.960 that we are dealing with a burglar who is a 345 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:06.680 very peculiar fellow, and who appears to work on lines 346 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.680 of his own. Look, for example at the queer lot 347 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:12.160 of things which he took from Acton's What was it 348 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:15.599 a ball of string, a letter weight, and I don't 349 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:19.200 know what other odds and ends. Well, we are quite 350 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:23.119 in your hands, mister Holmes, said Old Cunningham. Anything which 351 00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:26.319 you or the inspector may suggest will most certainly be done. 352 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:29.559 In the first place, said Holmes, I should like you 353 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:34.359 to offer a reward, coming from yourself, for the officials 354 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:36.519 may take a little time before they would agree upon 355 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:39.799 the sum, and these things cannot be done too promptly. 356 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:43.039 I have jotted down the form here if you would 357 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:46.599 not mind signing it. Fifty pounds was quite enough. I 358 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:50.559 thought I would willingly give five hundred, said the J. P. 359 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:53.680 Taking the slip of paper and the pencil which Holmes 360 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:57.440 handed to him. This is not quite correct, however, he added, 361 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:02.119 glancing over the document. I wrote it rather hurriedly. You see, 362 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:05.279 you begin whereas at about a quarter to one on 363 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:08.839 Tuesday morning an attempt was made, and so on it 364 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.799 was at a quarter to twelve. As a matter of fact, 365 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:15.720 I was pained at the mistake, for I knew how 366 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.279 keenly Holmes would feel any slip of the kind. It 367 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:23.200 was his speciality to be accurate as to fact. But 368 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:26.480 his recent illness had shaken him, and this one little 369 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:29.200 incident was enough to show me that he was still 370 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:33.240 far from being himself. He was obviously embarrassed for an 371 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:37.920 instant while the inspector raised his eyebrows and Alec Cunningham 372 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:42.359 burst into a laugh. The old gentleman corrected the mistake, however, 373 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:45.880 and handed the paper back to Holmes. Get it printed 374 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:49.039 as soon as possible. He said, I think your idea 375 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:52.480 is an excellent one. Holmes put the slip of paper 376 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:56.279 carefully away in his pocket book, and now said he 377 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:59.359 it would really be a good thing that we should 378 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:02.559 all go over the house together and make certain that 379 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:06.640 this rather erratic burglar did not, after all, carry anything 380 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:10.960 away with him. Before entering, Holmes made an examination of 381 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:14.680 the door which had been forced. It was evident that 382 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:18.240 a chisel or strong knife had been thrust in and 383 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:21.440 the lock forced back with it. We could see the 384 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.640 marks in the wood where it had been pushed in. 385 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:28.079 You don't use bars, then, he asked, We have never 386 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:32.799 found it necessary. You don't keep a dog, yes, but 387 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:35.039 he is chained on the other side of the house. 388 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:40.920 When do the servants go to bed about ten? I 389 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:46.039 understand that William was usually in bed also at that hour. Yes, 390 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:50.079 it is singular that on this particular night he should 391 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:53.039 have been up. Now I should be very glad if 392 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:55.240 you would have the kindness to show us over the house, 393 00:23:55.319 --> 00:24:00.640 mister Cunningham. A stone flagged passage with the kitchens branching 394 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:04.079 away from it, led by a wooden staircase directly to 395 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:07.400 the first floor of the house. It came out upon 396 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:11.880 the landing opposite to a second, more ornamental stair which 397 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:15.799 led up from the front hall. Out of this landing 398 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:19.559 opened the drawing room and several bedrooms, including those of 399 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:24.359 mister Cunningham and his son. Holmes walked slowly taking keen 400 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:28.119 note of the architecture of the house. I could tell 401 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:30.119