WEBVTT 1 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:11.679 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in 2 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.560 the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please 3 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:20.359 visit LibriVox dot org. That's lbriv ox dot org. The 4 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:25.280 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Adventure 5 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:32.679 IE A Scandal in Bohemia, Sections one through three. Section one. 6 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:38.039 To Sherlock Holmes, she is always the woman. I have 7 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:42.600 seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In 8 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:47.479 her eyes, she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. 9 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:52.000 It was not that he felt any emotion akin to 10 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:57.920 love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly 11 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:04.760 were abhorrent to his cold, precise, but admirably balanced mind. 12 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:09.719 He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and 13 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:14.400 observing machine that the world has seen. But as a 14 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:18.079 lover he would have placed himself in a false position. 15 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:22.840 He never spoke of the softer passions, save with the 16 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:27.359 gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer, 17 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:32.920 excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and actions, 18 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:37.719 but for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into 19 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:43.480 his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce 20 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:47.840 a distracting factor which might throw a doubt on all 21 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:53.319 his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a 22 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:58.040 crack in one of his own high power lenses would 23 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:02.799 not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a 24 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.760 nature such as his. And yet there was but one 25 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:10.680 woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, 26 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:16.520 of dubious and questionable memory. I have seen little of 27 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.719 Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other. 28 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:25.919 My own complete happiness and the home centered interests which 29 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:30.199 rise up around the man who first finds himself master 30 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:36.520 of his own establishment, were sufficient to absorb all my attentions. 31 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:41.120 While Holmes, who loathed every form of society with his 32 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:47.319 whole bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker Street, 33 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:53.080 buried among his old books, and altering from weak tweak 34 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:59.080 between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug and 35 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:03.560 the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, 36 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:08.000 as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and 37 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:14.560 occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in 38 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:19.680 following out these clues and clearing up those mysteries which 39 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:25.039 had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From 40 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:29.840 time to time I heard some vague account of his doings, 41 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:32.879 of his summons to Odessa in the case of the 42 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:37.599 trip off murder, of his clearing up of the singular 43 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:43.840 tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Tricomalae, and finally of 44 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:49.719 the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully 45 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:54.719 for the reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of 46 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:59.000 his activity, however, which I merely shared with all the 47 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:02.759 readers of the day daily press, I knew little of 48 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:08.240 my former friend and companion. One night, it was on 49 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:13.000 the twentieth of March eighteen eighty eight. I was returning 50 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:16.279 from a journey to a patient, for I had now 51 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:20.639 returned to civil practice. When my way led me through 52 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:25.399 Baker Street. As I passed the well remembered door which 53 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:29.839 must always be associated in my mind with my woeing 54 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:34.480 and with the dark incidents of the Stoty Scarlet, I 55 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:38.120 was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again 56 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:42.360 and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. 57 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:47.680 His rooms were brilliantly lit, and even as I looked up, 58 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.920 I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice in a 59 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:59.920 dark silhouette against the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, 60 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:05.079 with his head sunk upon his chest and his hands 61 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:09.000 clasped behind him. To me, who knew his every mood 62 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:13.519 and habit, his attitude and manner told their own story. 63 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:17.319 He was at work again. He had risen out of 64 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:21.160 his drug created dreams, and was hot upon the scent 65 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:25.040 of some new problem. I rang the bell and was 66 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:28.959 shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in 67 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:34.439 part my own. His manner was not effusive, it seldom was, 68 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:38.319 but he was glad I think to see me, With 69 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:42.240 hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eye. He 70 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:47.000 waved me an arm chair, threw across his case of cigars, 71 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:51.920 and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. 72 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:55.959 Then he stood before the fire and looked me over 73 00:05:56.279 --> 00:06:02.959 in his singular, introspective fashion. Wedlock suits you, He remarked, 74 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:07.480 I think, Watson, that you have put on seven and 75 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:12.839 a half pounds since I saw you seven. I answered, indeed, 76 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:16.639 I should have thought a little more, just a trifle more, 77 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:20.639 I fancy Watson, and in practice again I observed you 78 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:24.839 did not tell me that you intended to go into harness. 79 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.720 Then how do you know I see it? I deduce it? 80 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:32.000 How do I know that you have been getting yourself 81 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:35.720 very wet lately and that you have a most clumsy 82 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:40.600 and careless servant girl, My dear Holmes, said I, this 83 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:45.040 is too much. You would certainly have been burned had 84 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:47.800 you lived a few centuries ago. It is true that 85 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:51.160 I had a country walk on Thursday and came home 86 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:54.839 in a dreadful mess. But as I have changed my clothes, 87 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.639 I can't imagine how you deduce it. As to Mary Jane, 88 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:02.360 she is in creag rigible and my wife has given 89 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:06.319 her notice. But there again I felt to see how 90 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:10.240 you work it out. He chuckled to himself and rubbed 91 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:15.319 his long, nervous hands together. It is simplicity itself, said he. 92 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.639 My eyes tell me that on the inside of your 93 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:23.160 left shoe, just where the far light strikes it, the 94 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:29.279 leather is scourged by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they 95 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:33.560 have been caused by someone who has very careless scraped 96 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:37.399 around the edges of the souls in order to remove 97 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:42.959 crusted mud from it. Hence you see my double deduction 98 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.879 that you have been out in vile weather, and that 99 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:52.720 you have a particularly malignant boot slitting specimen of the 100 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:57.439 London slovee As to your practice, if a gentleman walks 101 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:02.399 into my room smelling of I adorn with a black 102 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:07.560 mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger and 103 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:11.319 a budge on the right side of his top hat 104 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:16.759 to show where he has secreted his stethoscope, I must 105 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:20.240 be dull. Indeed, if I did not pronounce him to 106 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:24.399 be an active member of the medical profession, I could 107 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:28.279 not help laughing at the ease with which he examined 108 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:33.519 his process of deduction. When I hear you give your reasons, 109 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:36.519 I remarked, the thing always appears to me to be 110 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.679 so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself. 111 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:46.120 Though at each successive instance of your reasoning, I am 112 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:50.519 baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe 113 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:53.240 that my eyes are as good as yours. Quite so, 114 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:58.080 he answered, lighting a cigarette and throwing himself down into 115 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:02.000 an armchair. You see, but you do not observe. The 116 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:06.279 distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the 117 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:10.279 steps which lead up from the hall to this room frequently, 118 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:14.799 how often, well, some hundreds of times. Then how many 119 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:19.480 are there? How many? I don't know. Quite so you 120 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:24.360 have not observed, and yet you have seen. That is 121 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:29.559 just my point. Now I know that there are seventeen steps, 122 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:34.480 because I have both seen and observed by the way. 123 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:38.639 Since you are interested in these little problems, and since 124 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:41.360 you have been good enough to chronicle one or two 125 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:45.919 of my trifling experiences, you may be interested in this. 126 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:50.039 He threw over a sheet of thick, pink tinted notepaper 127 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:54.960 which had been lying upon the table. It came by 128 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:59.159 the last post, said, He read it aloud. The note 129 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:04.799 was an dated and without either signature or address. There 130 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.039 will call upon you tonight at a quarter to eight o'clock, 131 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.200 it said, a gentleman who desires to consult you upon 132 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:18.799 a matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services 133 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:23.120 to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown 134 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:28.159 that you are one who may safely be trusted with 135 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:34.519 matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated. 136 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:39.279 This account of you will have from all quarters received, 137 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:43.759 but in your chamber then at that hour, and do 138 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:47.200 not take it amiss if your visitor wears a mask. 139 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:52.080 This is indeed a mystery, I remarked, what do you 140 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:55.600 imagine that? It means? I have no data yet. It 141 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:59.960 is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. 142 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:05.679 Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead 143 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:10.279 of theories to suit facts. But the note itself, what 144 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:13.720 do you deduce from it? I certainly examined the writing 145 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:17.000 and the paper upon which it was written. The man 146 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.879 who wrote it was presumably well to do, I remarked, 147 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:24.919 endeavoring to imitate my companion's process. Such paper could not 148 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:28.840 be bought under half a crown a packet. It is 149 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:35.000 peculiarly strong and stiff. Peculiar, that is the very word, 150 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:38.480 said Holmes. It is not an English paper at all. 151 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.759 Hold it up to the light. I did sew and 152 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:45.440 saw a large E with a small G, a P 153 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:49.840 and a large G with a small T woven into 154 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:54.360 the texture of the paper. What do you make of that? 155 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:58.879 Asked Holmes. The name of the maker, no doubt, or 156 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:02.879 his monogram rat not at all. The G with a 157 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:08.399 small T stands for Gesselchercht, which is German for company. 158 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:14.399 It is a customary contraction like our co P, of 159 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:19.519 course stands for paper. Now for the e g let 160 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:24.840 us glance at our continual gazetteer. He took down a 161 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:31.200 heavy brown volume from his shelves. You glow eglos. Here 162 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:36.240 we are Igoria. It is in a German speaking country, 163 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:43.279 in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad, remarkably as being the 164 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:48.559 scene of the death of Woenstein, and for its numerous 165 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.799 glass factories and paper mills. Ha ha, my boy, what 166 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:57.080 do you make of that? His eyes sparkled, and he 167 00:12:57.240 --> 00:13:01.120 sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette. 168 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:06.399 The paper was made in Bohemia, I said, precisely. And 169 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:09.679 the man who wrote the note is a German. Do 170 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:13.759 you know the particular contraction of the sentence? This account 171 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:17.960 of you we have from all quarters received. A Frenchman 172 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:20.840 or Russian could not have written that. It is the 173 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:28.080 German who is so uncounterrous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, 174 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:33.039 to discover what is wanted by this German who writes 175 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:37.840 upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing 176 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:41.159 his face. And here he comes, If I am not mistaken, 177 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:44.720 to resolve all our doubts. As he spoke, there's the 178 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:48.320 sharp sound of horses hoofs and the grating wheels against 179 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:51.159 the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. 180 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:56.159 Holmes whistled a pair by the sound, said he yes, 181 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:00.159 he continued, glancing out of the window, A nice little 182 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:04.480 bragman and a pair of beauties one hundred and fifty 183 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:08.679 guineas apiece. There's money in this case, Watson, if there 184 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:12.720 is nothing else, I think that I had better go, Holmes, 185 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:17.080 not a bit, doctor, Stay where you are. I am 186 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:22.679 lost without my boswell, and that promises to be interesting. 187 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:25.919 It would be a pity to miss it. But your 188 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:29.519 client never mind him. I may want your help, and 189 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:34.440 so may he. Here he comes, Sit down in that armchair, doctor, 190 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:39.440 and give us your best attention. A slow and heavy 191 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:43.720 step which had been heard upon the stairs and in 192 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:48.919 the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there was 193 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:55.720 a loud and authoritative step. Come in, said Holmes. A 194 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:59.159 man entered, who could hardly have been less than six 195 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:03.559 feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbers 196 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:09.600 of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness 197 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:14.399 which would in England be looked upon as a kin 198 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:21.000 to bad taste. Heavy bands of Astrakhan were slashed across 199 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:26.639 the sleeves and fronts of his double breasted coat, while 200 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:31.519 the deep blue coat which was thrown over his shoulders 201 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:36.000 was lined with flame colored silk and secured at the 202 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:41.840 neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming burial. 203 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:48.120 Boots which extended halfway up his calls, and which were 204 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:54.279 trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur completed the 205 00:15:54.360 --> 00:16:02.000 impression of barbaric opulence, which was suggested by the whole appearance. 206 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:07.120 He carried a broad brimmed hat in his hand, while 207 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:11.600 he wore across the upper part of his face, extending 208 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:15.559 down the past the cheek bones, a black vizard mask, 209 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:21.080 which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his 210 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:26.240 hand was still raised to it as he entered from 211 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:30.039 the lower part of the face. He appeared to be 212 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:35.320 a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip 213 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:42.559 and a long, straight chin, suggestive of resolution pushed to 214 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:46.720 the length of obstinacy. You had my note, he asked, 215 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:51.559 with a deep, harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. 216 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:55.279 I told you that I would call. He looked from 217 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:59.039 one to the other of us as. If uncertain which 218 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:03.399 to address, pray, take a seat, said Holmes. This is 219 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:08.039 my friend and calling doctor Watson, who is occasionally good 220 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:11.359 enough to help me in my cases, whom have I 221 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:15.000 the honor to address. You may address me as Count 222 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:20.599 von Cram, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand that this gentleman, 223 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:24.839 your friend, is a man of honor and discretion, whom 224 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:28.039 I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance. 225 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:31.200 If not, I should much prefer to communicate with you alone. 226 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:35.359 I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the 227 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:38.440 wrist and pushed me back into my chair. It is 228 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:43.559 both or none, said he. You may see before this gentleman, 229 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:48.400 anything which you may say to me. The Count shrugged 230 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:52.480 his broad shoulders. Then I must begin, said he, by 231 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:55.920 binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years. At 232 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:58.039 the end of that time, the matter will be of 233 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:01.559 no importance at present. It is too much to say 234 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:04.799 that it is of such weight it may have an 235 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:09.920 influence upon European history, I promise, said Holmes. And I 236 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:15.000 you may excuse this mask, counted our strange visitor. The 237 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:18.559 august person who employs me wishes his agent to be 238 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:22.160 unknown to you, and I may confess at once that 239 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:25.279 the title by which I have just called myself is 240 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:28.519 not exactly my own. I was aware of it, said 241 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:33.359 Holmes dryly. The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every 242 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:37.440 precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow 243 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:41.640 to be an immense scandal, and seriously compromise one of 244 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:46.920 the ranging families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter 245 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:51.960 implicates the great House of Armstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia. 246 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:56.039 I was also aware of that, murmured Holmes, setting himself 247 00:18:56.200 --> 00:19:01.039 down in his armchair, closing his eyes, all glanced with 248 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:07.160 some apparent surprise at the leugid, longing figure of the 249 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:12.400 man who had been, no doubt depicted to him as 250 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:18.400 the most insensitive reasoner, a most energetic agent in Europe. 251 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:24.039 Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his 252 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:29.240 gigantic client. If your majesty would condescend to state your case, 253 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:33.039 he remarked, I should be better able to advise you. 254 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:36.759 The man sprang from his chair and paced up and 255 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:41.839 down the room in uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture 256 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:46.880 of desperation, he tore the mask from his face and 257 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:49.799 hurled it upon the ground. You are right, he cried, 258 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:53.799 I am the king. Why should I attempt to conceal it? Why? Indeed, 259 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:59.240 murmured Holmes, your majesty had not spoken before I was 260 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:06.759 aware that I was addressing William Gotstrich Sigmund von Armstrom, 261 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:14.559 Grand Duke of castel Fraasine and hereditary King of Bohemia. 262 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:19.519 But you can understand, said our strange visitor, sitting down 263 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:24.240 once more, and passing his hand over his high white forehead. 264 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:28.680 You can understand that I am not accustomed to doing 265 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:31.880 such business in my own person, that I could not 266 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:36.839 confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. 267 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:42.599 I have come incognito from pregou from the purpose of 268 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:48.240 consulting you. Then pray consult, said Holmes, shutting his eyes 269 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:52.160 once more. The facts are briefly these. Some five years ago, 270 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:56.480 during a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance 271 00:20:56.599 --> 00:21:00.960 of the well known adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is 272 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:04.000 no doubt familiar to you. Kindly look her up in 273 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:08.960 my index, doctor, murmured Holmes, without opening his eyes. For 274 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:13.240 many years he had adopted a system of docking all 275 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:18.519 paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it was difficult 276 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:22.119 to name a subject or a person on which he 277 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:26.599 could not at once furnish information. In this case, I 278 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:32.720 found her biography sandwiched in between that of Hebrew Rabbi 279 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:38.960 and that of staff commander, who had written a monograph 280 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:42.880 upon the deep sea fishes. Let me see, said Holmes 281 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:46.960 hum born in New Jersey in the year in eighteen 282 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:54.599 fifty eight Contrito hum Let's Calm Prima Donna, Imperial Opera 283 00:21:54.839 --> 00:22:00.519 of Walsaw Yes retired from the operatic stage. Ha living 284 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:05.480 in London. Quite so, your majesty, as I understand, become 285 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:11.319 entangled with this young person, wrote her some comprising letters 286 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:16.359 and is now desirous of getting these letters back. Precisely so, 287 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:20.920 But how was there a secret marriage? None? No legal 288 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:25.480 papers or certificates none. Then I failed to follow your majesty. 289 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:30.759 If this young person should produce her letters from blackmailing 290 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:35.160 or other purposes, how is she to prove their authenticity? 291 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:41.599 There is writing po pooh, forgery, my private notepaper, stolen, 292 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:48.279 my own seal, imitated my photograph. But we were both 293 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.400 in the photograph. Oh dear, that is very bad. Your 294 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:59.839 Majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion. I was mad, insane. 295 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:05.680 You have compromised yourself seriously. I was only crown Prince 296 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:09.920 then I was young. I am but thirty. Now it 297 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:15.440 must be recovered. We have tried and failed. Your majesty 298 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:19.279 must pay. It must be bold. She will not sell stolen. 299 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:24.480 Then five attempts have been made, twice burglars in my pay, 300 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:29.079 ransacked her house once, we diverted her luggage when she 301 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:34.960 traveled twice she had been waylaid. There has been no result, 302 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:39.880 no sign of it, absolutely none, Holmes laughed. It is 303 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:44.119 quite a pretty little problem, said he, but a very 304 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:49.519 serious one to me, returned The King reproachfully, very indeed, 305 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:52.559 what does she propose to do with the photograph to 306 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.559 ruin me? But how I am about to be married? 307 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:02.200 So I have heard to Claudia Outlare von Saxe Montengun, 308 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:06.880 second daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You may know 309 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:11.119 that stract principles of her family, she is herself the 310 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:15.119 very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a doubt as 311 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:18.640 to my conduct would bring the matter to an end. 312 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:23.000 And Irene Attler threat inst to send him a photograph, 313 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:26.640 and she will do it. I know that she will 314 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:30.000 do it. You do not know her, but she has 315 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:32.599 a soul of steel. She has the face of the 316 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:35.799 most beautiful of woman and the mind of the most 317 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:39.920 resolute of men. Rather than I should marry another woman, 318 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:43.920 there are no lengths to which she would not go none. 319 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:47.119 You are sure that she has not sent it yet. 320 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:51.319 I am sure. And why because she has said that 321 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:53.920 she would send it on the day when the betrothal 322 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:58.960 was publicly proclaimed, That would be next Monday. Oh, then 323 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:01.640 we have three days yet, said Holmes with a own 324 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:05.599 That is very fortunate, as I have one or two 325 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:09.920 matters of importance to look into just at present, Your 326 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:13.559 majesty will of course stay in London for the present. 327 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:19.240 Suddenly you will find me at the long Ram under 328 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:23.160 the name of the Count von Kram. Then I shall 329 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:27.160 drop you a line to let you know how we progress. 330 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:33.039 Pray do so I shall be all anxiety. Then, as too, money, 331 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:38.119 you have carte blanche. Absolutely I tell you that I 332 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:41.839 would give one of the provinces of my kingdom to 333 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:46.839 have that photograph, and for the present expenses. The King 334 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:51.640 took a heavy chambos leather bag from under his cloak 335 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:54.880 and laid it on the table. There are three hundred 336 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:58.680 pounds in a gold and seven hundred in notes, he said. 337 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:02.279 Holmes gribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note 338 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:07.559 book and handed it to him. And Mademoiselle's address, he asked, 339 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:14.240 is Brawny Lodge, Supritim Avenue Saint John's wood Alms. Took 340 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:18.279 a note of it. What other question? Said? He was 341 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:23.880 to photograph a cabinet. It was then good night, your majesty, 342 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:27.640 and I trust that we shall soon have some good 343 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:32.839 news for you. And good night Wilson, he added, as 344 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:36.119 the wheels of the Royal Brogham rolled down the street. 345 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:40.319 If you will be good enough to call tomorrow afternoon 346 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:44.279 at three o'clock, I should like to chat this little 347 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:52.599 matter over with you. End of Section one, Section two. 348 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:56.880 At three o'clock precisely, I was at Baker Street, but 349 00:26:57.039 --> 00:27:01.200 Holmes had not yet returned. The Landley informed me that 350 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:04.960 he had left the house shortly after eight o'clock in 351 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:10.279 the morning. I sat down beside the fire, however, with 352 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:15.079 the intention of awaiting him, however long he might be. 353 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:20.960 I was already deeply interested in his inquiry. For though 354 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:26.000 it was surrounded by none of the grim and strange 355 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:30.519 features which were associated with the two crimes which I 356 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:35.200 have already recorded, still the nature of the case and 357 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:40.200 the exalted station of his client gave it a character 358 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:44.000 of its own. Indeed, apart from the nature of the 359 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:48.960 investigation which my friend had on hand, there was something 360 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:53.960 in his masterly grasp of a situation and his keen, 361 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:59.279 incisive reasoning, which made it a pleasure to me to 362 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:03.519 study his system of work and to follow the quick, 363 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:10.680 subtle methods by which he distinguished the most inextractable mysteries. 364 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:16.200 So accustomed was I to his invariable success, that the 365 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:21.519 very possibility of his felling had ceased to enter into 366 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:27.039 my head. It was close upon four before the door opened, 367 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:32.880 and a drunken looking groom, ill kept and sighed, whiskered 368 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:40.480 with an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. 369 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:46.000 Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in 370 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:50.200 the use of disguises, I had to look three times 371 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:53.599 before I was certain that it was indeed he. With 372 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:58.440 a nod, he vanished into the bedroom. Whence he emerged 373 00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:04.519 in five minutes, too suited and respectable as of old. 374 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:09.359 Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his 375 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:14.200 legs in front of the fire, and laughing heartily for 376 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:19.200 some minutes. Well really, he cried, and then he choked 377 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:22.640 and laughed again, until he was obliged to lie back, 378 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:26.119 limp and helpless in the chair. What is it? It's 379 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:29.559 quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess 380 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:33.720 how I employed my morning or what I ended by doing. 381 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:37.519 I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching 382 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:41.680 the habits, and perhaps the house of Miss Irene Adler 383 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:47.279 quite so. But the sequel was rather unusual. I will 384 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:50.759 tell you, however. I left the house a little after 385 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:55.319 eight o'clock this morning in the character of a groom 386 00:29:55.880 --> 00:30:01.960 out of walk. There is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry 387 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:06.920 among horsey men. But one of them, and you will 388 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:12.440 know all that there is snow. I soon found Broughtney Lodge. 389 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:17.880 It is a basieu villa with a garden at the back, 390 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:21.400 but built on it front right up to the road. 391 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:26.720 Two stories chup lock to the door, large sitting room 392 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:32.759 on the right side, well furnished with long windows almost 393 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:38.400 to the floor, and those prosperous English window fasteners which 394 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:43.799 a child could open behind. There was nothing remarkable save 395 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:47.839 the passage window could be yet reached from the top 396 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:53.000 of the cook hill. I walked round it and examined 397 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:57.480 it closely from every point of view, but without nothing 398 00:30:57.720 --> 00:31:02.119 anything else of interest. I then lodged down the street 399 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:06.359 and found, as I expected, that there was a news 400 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:10.319 in a lane which runs down by one wall of 401 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:14.759