WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:07.000 A case of identity, my dear fellow, said Sherlock Holmes, 2 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:09.519 as we sat on either side of the fire in 3 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:13.519 his lodgings at Baker Street. Life is infinitely stranger than 4 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:17.079 anything which the mind of man could invent. We would 5 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:19.839 not dare to conceive the things which are really mere 6 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.440 commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that 7 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:27.120 window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently 8 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:29.960 remove the roofs, and peep in at the queer things 9 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:33.320 which are going on, the strange coincidences, the plannings, the 10 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:37.719 cross purposes, the wonderful chains of events working through generations 11 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.840 and leading to the most utray results. It would make 12 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:45.520 all fiction, with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions, most stale 13 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:49.039 and unprofitable. And yet I am not convinced of it, 14 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:52.079 I answered. The cases which come to light in the 15 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:55.280 papers are, as a rule bald enough and vulgar enough. 16 00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:58.719 We have in our police reports realism pushed to its 17 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:01.920 extreme limits. And yet the result is it must be 18 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:07.799 confessed neither fascinating nor artistic. A certain selection and discretion 19 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.840 must be used in producing a realistic effect. Remarked Holmes, 20 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:15.879 This is wanting in the police report, where more stress 21 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:19.239 is laid perhaps upon the platitudes of the magistrate, than 22 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.760 upon the details, which, to an observer contained the vital 23 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:26.079 essence of the whole matter depend upon it. There is 24 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:30.439 nothing so unnatural as the commonplace. I smiled and shook 25 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:34.239 my head. I can quite understand you thinking, so I said. 26 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.319 Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser and helper 27 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.680 to everybody who is absolutely puzzled throughout three continents, you 28 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:45.560 are brought in contact with all that is strange and bizarre. 29 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:49.400 But here I picked up the morning paper from the ground. 30 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:52.719 Let us put it to a practical test. Here is 31 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:56.680 the first heading upon which I come, A husband's cruelty 32 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.959 to his wife. There is half a column of print, 33 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.439 but I know without reading it that it is all 34 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:06.200 perfectly familiar to me. There is, of course the other woman, 35 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:10.439 the drink, the push, the blow, the bruise, the sympathetic 36 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:14.879 sister or landlady. The crudest of writers could invent nothing 37 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:19.639 more crude. Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for 38 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:23.000 your argument, said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his 39 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:26.759 eye down it. This is the Dundas separation case. And 40 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:30.120 as it happens, I was engaged in clearing up some 41 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:34.520 small points in connection with it. The husband was a teetotaler. 42 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:38.800 There was no other woman, and the conduct complained of 43 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:41.360 was that he had drifted into the habit of winding 44 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:44.360 up every meal by taking out his false teeth and 45 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:47.280 hurling them at his wife, which you will allow is 46 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.840 not an action likely to occur to the imagination of 47 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:53.879 the average story teller. Take a pinch of snuff, doctor, 48 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:57.479 and acknowledge that I have scored over you in your example. 49 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:01.400 He held out his snuff box of old gold with 50 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.759 a great amethyst in the center of the lid. Its 51 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:07.599 splendor was in such contrast to his homely ways and 52 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:10.919 simple life that I could not help commenting upon it, 53 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:14.520 Ah said he. I forgot that I had not seen 54 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:17.039 you for some weeks. It is a little souvenir from 55 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:20.280 the King of Bohemia, in return for my assistance in 56 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:24.159 the case of the irene Adler papers and the ring, 57 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:28.520 I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon 58 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:31.840 his finger. It was from the reigning family of Holland. 59 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:34.159 Though the matter in which I served them was of 60 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:37.240 such delicacy that I cannot confide it even to you 61 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:40.039 who have been good enough to chronicle one or two 62 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.240 of my little problems. And have you any on hand 63 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.159 just now? I asked, with interest, some ten or twelve, 64 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:50.080 but none which presents any feature of interest. They are 65 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:54.439 important to understand without being interesting. Indeed, I have found 66 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:57.000 that it is usually in important matters that there is 67 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:59.960 a field for observation and for the quick analysis of course, 68 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:02.960 saws and effect, which gives the charm to an investigation. 69 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:06.520 The larger crimes are apt to be the simpler, for 70 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:08.639 the bigger the crime, the more obvious. As a rule 71 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:11.840 is the motive. In these cases. Save for one rather 72 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:14.599 intricate matter, which has been referred to me from Marseilles, 73 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:18.079 there is nothing which presents any features of interest. It 74 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:21.040 is possible, however, that I may have something better before 75 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:23.639 very many minutes are over, for this is one of 76 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:27.399 my clients, or I am much mistaken. He had risen 77 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.079 from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds, 78 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:34.879 gazing down into the dull, neutral tinted London street. Looking 79 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:37.480 over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite 80 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:40.160 there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa 81 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.480 round her neck and a large curling red feather in 82 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.639 a broad brimmed hat, which was tilted in a coquettish 83 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:51.079 Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear. From under this 84 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:54.519 great panoply, she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion 85 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:58.439 at our windows, while her body oscillated backwards and forwards, 86 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:02.360 and her fingers fidgeted with with her glove buttons. Suddenly, 87 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.120 with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, 88 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:07.800 she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp 89 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:11.759 clang of the bell. I have seen those symptoms before, 90 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.279 said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire. Oscillation upon 91 00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:21.000 the pavement always means an affair duqueur. She would like advice, 92 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:23.439 but is not sure that the matter is not too 93 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:27.680 delicate for communication. And yet even here we may discriminate. 94 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.040 When a woman has been seriously wronged by a man, 95 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:33.920 she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom is a 96 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:38.040 broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there 97 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:40.480 is a love matter, but that the maiden is not 98 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.399 so much angry as perplexed or grieved. But here she 99 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:48.160 comes in person to resolve our doubts. As he spoke, 100 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:49.839 there was a tap at the door, and the boy 101 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:53.279 in buttons entered to announce miss Mary Sutherland, while the 102 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:56.759 lady herself loomed behind his small black figure, like a 103 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:01.920 full sailed merchantman behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes 104 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:04.959 welcomed her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, 105 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:08.160 and having closed the door and bowed her into an 106 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:10.680 arm chair, he looked over her in the minute and 107 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:14.800 yet abstracted fashion which was peculiar to him. Do you 108 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:18.240 not find? He said, that, with your short sight it 109 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:21.000 is a little trying to do so much type writing. 110 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:24.360 I did at first, she answered, but now I know 111 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:28.240 where the letters are without looking. Then, suddenly realizing the 112 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:31.560 full purport of his words, she gave a violent start 113 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:34.519 and looked up with fear and astonishment upon her broad, 114 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:39.639 good humored face. You've heard about me, mister Olmes, she cried. Else, 115 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:43.560 how could you know all that? Never mind, said Holmes, laughing, 116 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.439 it is my business to know things. Perhaps I have 117 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:49.680 trained myself to see what others overlook. If not, why 118 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.720 should you come to consult me. I came to see you, sir, 119 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:55.480 because I heard of you from missus Etheridge, whose husband 120 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:57.480 you found so easy. When the police, and every one 121 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.600 had given him up for dead. Oh, mister us, I 122 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.439 wish you would do as much for me. I'm not rich, 123 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.720 but still I have a hundred a year in my 124 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.319 own right beside the little that I make by the machine, 125 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:10.360 and I would give it all to know what has 126 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:14.000 become of mister Hosma Angel. Why did you come away 127 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:17.040 to consult me in such a hurry, asked Sherlock Holmes, 128 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:21.279 with his finger tips together and his eyes to the ceiling. Again, 129 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:24.160 A startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of 130 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:27.399 Miss Mary Sutherland. Yes, I did bang out of the house, 131 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:30.000 she said, for it made me angry to see the 132 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:32.800 easy way in which mister Windybank, that is my father, 133 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:35.600 took it all. He would not go to the police, 134 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.759 and he would not go to you, and so at last, 135 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.920 as he would do nothing and kept on saying that 136 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:44.360 there was no arm done. It made me mad, and 137 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:46.600 I just on with me things and came right away 138 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:50.879 to you. Your father, said Holmes, your step father, surely, 139 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:54.240 since the name is different, Yes, my stepfather I call 140 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:56.879 him father, though it sounds funny too, for he is 141 00:07:56.920 --> 00:08:00.759 only five years and two months older than myself, and 142 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.560 your mother is alive. Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. 143 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:07.439 I wasn't best pleased mister Romes when she married again 144 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:10.279 so soon after father's death, and a man who was 145 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:14.959 nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father was a plumber 146 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:17.360 in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy 147 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:20.639 business behind em, which mother carried on with mister Hardy 148 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:24.000 the foreman. But when mister Windybank came he made us 149 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:27.319 sell the business, for he was very superior, being a 150 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:31.560 traveler in wines. They got four thousand, seven hundred for 151 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.559 the good will and interest, which wasn't near as much 152 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:36.279 as father could have got if he had been alive. 153 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.120 I had expected to see Sherlock Holmb's impatient under this 154 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:44.240 rambling and inconsequential narrative, but on the contrary, he had 155 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:49.799 listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Your own little income, 156 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:52.879 he asked, does it come out of the business. Oh no, sir, 157 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:55.200 it is quite separate and was left me by my 158 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:58.759 uncle ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand. Stock 159 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:02.759 paying four and a half two thousand, five hundred pounds 160 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:05.320 was the amount. But I can only touch the interest. 161 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:10.279 You interest me extremely, said Holmes. And since you draw 162 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:13.159 so large a summers a hundred a year with what 163 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.480 you earn into the bargain, you no doubt travel a 164 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:19.039 little and indulge yourself in every way. I believe that 165 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.639 a single lady can get on very nicely upon an 166 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:25.000 income of about sixty pounds. I could do with much 167 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:27.679 less than that, mister Holmes. But you understand that as 168 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:29.240 long as I live at home, I don't wish to 169 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:31.399 be a burden to them, and so they have the 170 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:33.519 use of the money just while I'm staying with them. 171 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.080 Of course, that is only just for the time. Mister 172 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:39.879 Windybank draws my interest every quarter and pays it over 173 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:42.600 to mother. And I find that I can do pretty 174 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:45.720 well with what I earn at type writing. It brings 175 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:48.600 me towppence a sheet, and I can often do from 176 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:52.480 fifteen to twenty sheets a day. You have made your 177 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:55.559 position very clear to me, said Holmes. This is my friend, 178 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.600 doctor Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as 179 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:02.639 before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your connection 180 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:07.320 with mister Hosma. Angel A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, 181 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:10.519 and she picked nervously at the fringe of her jacket. 182 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:14.120 I met him first at the gas fitter's ball. She 183 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:18.159 said they used to send Father tickets when he was alive, 184 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:21.679 and then afterwards they remembered us and sent them to mother. 185 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:26.120 Mister Windybank did not wish us to go. He never 186 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:29.240 did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite 187 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.120 mad if I wanted so much as to join a 188 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:34.720 Sunday school treat. But this time I was set on going, 189 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:37.399 and I would go. For what right had he to prevent? 190 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:40.120 He said the folk were not fit for us to 191 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:43.559 know when all father's friends were to be there. And 192 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:46.200 he said that I had nothing fit to wear when 193 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.799 I had my purple plush, that I had never so 194 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:52.519 much as taken out of the drawer. At last, when 195 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:55.480 nothing else would do, he went off to France upon 196 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.600 the business of the firm. But we went, Mother and 197 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:01.279 I with mister Hardy, who used to be foreman, And 198 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:05.200 it was there I met mister Hosma. Angel I suppose, 199 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:08.399 said Holmes, that when mister Windybank came back from France, 200 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.480 he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball. 201 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:15.360 Oh well, he was very good about it. He laughed, 202 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.039 I remembered and shrugged his shoulders and said, there was 203 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:20.879 no use denying anything to a woman, for she would 204 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:25.320 have her way. I see, then, at the gas fitter's ball, 205 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:30.440 you met, as I understand, a gentleman called mister Hosmer Angel. Yes, sir, 206 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.679 I met him that night, and he called next day 207 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.360 to ask if we had got home all safe. And 208 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.120 after that we met him, that is to say, mister Holmes. 209 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.279 I met him twice for walks. But after that Father 210 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.159 came back again, and mister Hosma Angel could not come 211 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:47.519 to the house any more. No, Well, you know, Father 212 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:50.279 didn't like anything of the sort. He wouldn't have any 213 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.519 visitors if he could help it. And he used to 214 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:54.440 say that a woman should be happy in her own 215 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:57.360 family circle. But then, as I used to say to mother, 216 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:00.120 or woman wants her own circle to begin with, and 217 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.639 I had not got mine yet. But how about mister 218 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:08.039 Hosmer Angel. Did he make no attempt to see you? Well? 219 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:10.679 Father was going off to France again in a week, 220 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:13.480 and Hosma wrote and said it would be safer and 221 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:15.759 better not to see each other until he had gone. 222 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:18.519 We could write in the meantime and he used to 223 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:21.360 write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, 224 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.440 so there was no need for father to know. Were 225 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:27.159 you engaged to the gentleman at this time? Oh, yes, 226 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:29.480 mister Holmes, we were engaged after the first walk that 227 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:33.679 we took. Mister Angel was a cashier in an office 228 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.759 in Leadenhall Street. And what office. That's the worst of it, 229 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:41.080 mister Holmes. I don't know where did he live? Then 230 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:45.960 he slept on the premises, and you don't know his address, no, 231 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:49.639 except that it was leaden All Street. Where did you 232 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:52.639 address your letters? Then to the leaden All Street post 233 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:55.960 Office to be left till called for. He said that 234 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.600 if they were sent to the office, he would be 235 00:12:57.720 --> 00:13:00.559 chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from 236 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:04.639 a lady. So I offered to typewrite them like he 237 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:07.360 did his, but he wouldn't have that, for he said 238 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.639 that when I wrote them they seemed to come from me, 239 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:12.559 but when they were typewritten, he always felt that the 240 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.159 machine had come between us. That will just show you 241 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:18.240 how fond he was of me, mister Holmes, and the 242 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:21.639 little things that he would think of. It is most suggestive, 243 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.879 said Holmes. It has long been an axiom of mine 244 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:28.759 that the little things are infinitely the most important. Can 245 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:32.000 you remember any other little things about mister Hosmer Angel. 246 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:35.240 He was a very shy man, mister Holmes, He would 247 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:38.000 rather walk with me in the evening than in the daylight, 248 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.120 for he said that he hated to be conspicuous, very 249 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:46.240 retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his voice was gentle. 250 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:49.879 It had the quinsy and swollen glands when he was young, 251 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:52.279 he told me, and it had left him with a 252 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:57.039 weak throat and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He 253 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:59.799 was always well dressed, very neat and plain, but his 254 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.759 eyes eyes were weak, just as mine are, and he 255 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:08.039 wore tinted glasses against the glare. Well, and what happened 256 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:13.120 when mister Windibank, your stepfather returned to France. Mister Hosmer 257 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:15.799 Angel came to the house again and proposed that we 258 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:19.360 should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful 259 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.679 earnest and made me swear with my hands on the 260 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:25.519 testament that whatever happened, I would always be true to him. 261 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:28.000 Mother said he was quite right to make me swear, 262 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:30.960 and that it was a sign of his passion Mother 263 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:33.200 was all in his favor from the first and was 264 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:36.320 even fonder of him than I was. Then, when they 265 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:38.759 talked of marrying within the week, I began to ask 266 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:42.320 about Father, but they both said never to mind about Father, 267 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.480 but just to tell him afterwards, and Mother said she 268 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:47.320 would make it all right with him. I didn't quite 269 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:50.720 like that, mister Holmes. It seemed funny that I should 270 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:52.879 ask his leave, as he was only a few years 271 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:55.559 older than me. But I didn't want to do anything 272 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:59.000 on the sly, so I wrote to Father at Bordeaux, 273 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.360 where the company has its French offices. But the letter 274 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.559 came back to me on the very morning of the wedding. 275 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:08.279 It missed him, then, yes, sir, for he had started 276 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:12.399 to England just before it arrived. Huh, that was unfortunate. 277 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.840 Your wedding was arranged then for the Friday. Was it 278 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:19.000 to be in church, Yes, sir, but very quietly. It 279 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:21.600 was to be at Saint Saviours, near King's Cross, and 280 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.799 we were to have breakfast afterwards at the Saint Pancras hotel. 281 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:27.679 Ozma came for us in a hansom, but as there 282 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:30.000 were two of us, he put us both into it 283 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:33.159 and stepped himself into a four wheeler, which happened to 284 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.679 be the only other cab in the street. We got 285 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:38.600 to the church first, and when the four wheeler drove up, 286 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:42.639 we waited for him to step out, but he never did, 287 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:46.480 And when the cabman got down from the box and looked, 288 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:51.360 there was no one there. The cabman said he could 289 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.159 not imagine what had become of him, for he had 290 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:57.639 seen him get in with his own eyes. That was 291 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:00.480 last Friday, mister olmeson I have never seen nor heard 292 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:03.200 anything since to throw any light upon what became of him. 293 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:07.519 It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated, 294 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:10.720 said Holmes. Oh no, sir, he was too good and 295 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:13.440 kind to leave me. So why all the morning he 296 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:16.120 was saying to me that whatever happened I was to 297 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:19.879 be true, and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred 298 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:22.039 to separate us, I was always to remember that I 299 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:24.600 was pledged to him, and that he would claim his 300 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:28.480 pledge sooner or later. It seemed strange talk for a 301 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:32.080 wedding morning, But what has happened since gives a meaning 302 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:37.000 to it. Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is then, 303 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:41.080 that some unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him. Yes, sir, 304 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.759 I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he 305 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:47.159 would not have talked so. And then I think that 306 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:50.840 what he foresaw happened, But you have no notion as 307 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:54.080 to what it could have been. None. One more question? 308 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:58.159 How did your mother take the matter? She was angry 309 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.679 and said that I was never to speak of the 310 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:04.920 matter again. And your father did you tell him? Yes? 311 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:07.359 And he seemed to think with me that something had happened, 312 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:10.599 and that I should hear of Hosma again, as he said, 313 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:13.000 what interest could any one have in bringing me to 314 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:16.480 the doors of the church and then leave in me? Now, 315 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.880 if he had borrowed my money, or if he had 316 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:21.440 married me and got my money settled on him, there 317 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:24.799 might have been some reason. But Ozma was very independent 318 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:28.640 about money and would never look at a shilling of mine. 319 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.720 And yet what could have happened? And why could he 320 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.640 not write? Oh? It drives me quite mad to think 321 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:36.599 of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night. 322 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:40.039 She pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and 323 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:43.640 began to sob heavily into it. I shall glance into 324 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:46.839 the case for you, said Holmes, rising and I have 325 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:50.599 no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let 326 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.640 the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and 327 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:56.200 do not let your mind dwell upon it. Further, above all, 328 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:59.599 try to let mister Hosma Angel vanish from your memory 329 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.079 as he has done from your life. Then you don't 330 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:06.559 think I'll see him again? I fear not. Then what 331 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:09.559 has happened to him? You will leave that question in 332 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:13.200 my hands. I should like an accurate description of him, 333 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:16.359 and any letters of his which you can spare. I 334 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:19.960 advertised for him in last Saturday's chronicle. She said, here 335 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:23.079 is the slip, and here are four letters from him. 336 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:27.960 Thank you, and your address thirty one line Place, Camberwell, 337 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:32.680 mister Angel's address you never had. I understand. Where is 338 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:36.640 your father's place of business? He travels for Westhouse and Marbank, 339 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:41.599 the Great Claret importers of Fenchurch Street. Thank you. You 340 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:44.359 have made your statement very clearly. You will leave the 341 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.039 papers here and remember the advice which I have given you. 342 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:51.400 Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do 343 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:55.039 not allow it to affect your life. You are very kind, 344 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.920 mister Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be 345 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:01.319 true to Hosma he shall find ready when he comes back. 346 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.519 For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there 347 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:09.240 was something noble in the simple faith of our visitor 348 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:13.640 which compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of 349 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:17.039 papers upon the table and went her way, with a 350 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:21.519 promise to come again whenever she might be summoned. Sherlock 351 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:24.680 Holmes sat silent for a few minutes, with his fingertips 352 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:28.279 still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, 353 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:32.000 and his gaze directed upwards to the ceiling. Then he 354 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:35.000 took down from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, 355 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:38.359 which was to him as a counselor, and having lit it, 356 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.160 he leaned back in his chair, with the thick blue 357 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:43.960 cloud wreath spinning up from him, and a look of 358 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:49.920 infinite languor in his face. Quite an interesting study that maiden, 359 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:54.759 he observed. I found her more interesting than her little problem, 360 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:57.880 which by the way, is rather a trite one. You 361 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.759 will find parallel cases if you consult my index in 362 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:04.599 andover in seventy seven, and there was something of the 363 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:09.480 sort at the Hague last year old, as is the idea. However, 364 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:12.200 there were one or two details which were new to me, 365 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:17.160 But the maiden herself was most instructive. You appeared to 366 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:20.160 read a good deal upon her, which was quite invisible 367 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:25.200 to me, I remarked, not invisible but unnoticed. Watson, you 368 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:27.680 did not know where to look, and so you missed 369 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:30.960 all that was important. I can never bring you to 370 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:35.960 realize the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumb nails, 371 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:39.440 or the great issues that may hang from a bootlace. 372 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:44.160 Now what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe 373 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:48.279 it well. She had a slate colored, broad brimmed straw 374 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:53.079 hat with a feather of a brickish red. Her jacket 375 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.720 was black, with black beads sewn upon it and a 376 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:59.279 fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her dress was brown, 377 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:03.039 rather darker than coffee color, with a little purple plush 378 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:06.480 at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were grayish and 379 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:11.079 were worn through at the right forefinger. Her bootside didn't observe. 380 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:14.839 She had small, round hanging gold ear rings, and a 381 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:18.960 general air of being fairly well to do in a vulgar, comfortable, 382 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:24.200 easy going way. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hand softly together 383 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:28.079 and chuckled upon my word Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. 384 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:31.119 You have really done very well. Indeed, it is true 385 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:34.039 that you have missed everything of importance, but you have 386 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:36.440 hit upon the method, and you have a quick eye 387 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:40.200 for color. Never trust to general impressions, my boy, but 388 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:44.440 concentrate yourself upon details. My first glance is always at 389 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:48.200 a woman's sleeve. In a man, it is perhaps better 390 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:52.519 first to take the knee of the trouser. As you observe, 391 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:55.160 this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a 392 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:59.480 most useful material for showing traces. The double line a 393 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.440 little above the wrist, where the typewrightest presses against the 394 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:06.839 table was beautifully defined. The sewing machine of the hand 395 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:10.000 type leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, 396 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.680 and on the side of it farthest from the thumb, 397 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:16.000 instead of being right across the broadest part. As this was, 398 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:19.680 I then glanced at her face, and, observing the dint 399 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.839 of a pal's nez at either side of her nose, 400 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:25.640 I ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which 401 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:29.720