WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:08.199 The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place. Sherlock Holmes had been 2 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:11.919 bending for a long time over a low power microscope. 3 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:16.719 Now he straightened himself up and looked round at me 4 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:21.320 in triumph. It is glue, Watson said he unquestionably, it 5 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:24.640 is glue. Have a look at these scattered objects in 6 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:29.480 the field. I stooped to the eyepiece and focused my vision. 7 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:34.880 Those hairs are threads from a tweed coat. The irregular 8 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:39.520 gray masses are dust. There are epithelial scales on the left. 9 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:45.119 Those brown blobs in the center are undoubtedly glue, well, 10 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:48.079 I said, laughing. I am prepared to take your word 11 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:52.159 for it. Does anything depend upon it? It is a 12 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:56.200 very fine demonstration, he answered. In the Saint Pancra's case, 13 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:59.039 you may remember that a cap was found beside the 14 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:03.560 dead policeman. The accused man denies that it is his, 15 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:10.400 but he is a picture frame maker who habitually handles glue. 16 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:15.079 Is it one of your cases? No, My friend Mery 17 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:17.879 Vale of the Yard asked me to look into the case. 18 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:21.640 Since I ran down that coiner by the zinc and 19 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:24.920 copper filings in the seam of his cuff, they have 20 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:29.200 begun to realize the importance of the microscope. He looked 21 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:32.680 impatiently at his watch. I had a new client calling, 22 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:36.879 but he is overdue by the way, Watson, you know 23 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.959 something of racing, I ought to. I pay for it 24 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:45.200 with about half my wound pension. Then I'll make you 25 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:50.680 my handy guide to the turf. What about Sir Robert Norbertson? 26 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:55.560 Does the name recall anything? Well, I should say so. 27 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:59.879 He lives at Shoscombe Old Place, and I know it well, 28 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:04.680 for my summer quarters were down there once. Norburton nearly 29 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:08.560 came within your province once. How was that? It was 30 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:12.719 when he horsewhipped Sam Brewer, the well known Curzon Street 31 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:18.120 money lender, our Newmarket heath. He nearly killed the man. Ah, 32 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:23.319 he sounds interesting. Does he often indulge in that way? Well? 33 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:27.840 He has the name of being a dangerous man. He 34 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:32.319 is about the most dare devil rider in England, second 35 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:35.560 in the Grand National a few years back. He is 36 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.919 one of those men who have overshot their true generation. 37 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:41.879 He should have been a buck in the days of 38 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:46.800 the regency, a boxer, an athlete, a plunger on the turf, 39 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:51.719 a lover of fair ladies, and by all account so 40 00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:55.360 far down Queer Street that he may never find his 41 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:01.000 way back again. Capital Watson a thumbnail sketch. Wh I 42 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:04.360 seem to know the man? Now? Can you give me 43 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:08.240 some idea of Shoscombe Old Place? Only that it is 44 00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:11.439 in the center of Shoscombe Park, and that the famous 45 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:15.039 Shoscombe stud and training quarters are to be found there. 46 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:20.319 And a head trainer, said Holmes, is John Mason. You 47 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.599 need not look surprised at my knowledge, Watson, for this 48 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:27.080 is a letter from him which I am unfolding. But 49 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.319 let us have some more about Shoscombe. I seem to 50 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:35.199 have struck a rich vein. There are the Shoscombe Spaniels, 51 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:38.680 said I. You hear of them at every dog show, 52 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:43.719 the most exclusive breed in England. They are the special 53 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.960 pride of the lady of Shoscombe Old Place, Sir Robert 54 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:53.520 Norberton's wife. I presume Sir Robert has never married, just 55 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:57.639 as well, I think, considering his prospects, he lives with 56 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:02.919 his widowed sister, Lady Beatrice Folder. You mean that she 57 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:07.159 lives with him? No, No, the place belonged to her 58 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:11.960 late husband, Sir James Norburton has no claim on it 59 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:15.919 at all. It is only a life interest and reverts 60 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:20.759 to her husband's brother. Meantime, she draws the rents every year, 61 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:26.879 and brother Robert, I suppose, spends the said rents. That 62 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:29.879 is about the size of it. He's a devil of 63 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:32.639 a fellow and must lead her a most uneasy life. 64 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:37.279 Yet I've heard that she is devoted to him. But 65 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:41.240 what is amiss at Shoscombe? Ah, that is just what 66 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:45.319 I want to know. And here I expect is the 67 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:49.920 man who can tell us. The door had opened and 68 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:52.959 the page had shown in a tall, clean shaven man 69 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:57.519 with the firm, austere expression which is only seen upon 70 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:03.079 those who have to control horses or boys. Mister John 71 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:07.040 Mason had many of both under his sway, and he 72 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:12.120 looked equal to the task. He bowed with cold self possession, 73 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:15.800 and seated himself upon the chair to which Holmes had 74 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:20.920 waived him. You had my note, mister Holmes, Yes, but 75 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.399 it explained nothing. It was too delicate a thing for 76 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:28.680 me to put the details on paper, and too complicated 77 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:32.680 it was only face to face I could do it. Well, 78 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:36.000 we are at your disposal. First of all, mister Holmes, 79 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:40.240 I think that my employer, Sir Robert has gone mad. 80 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:46.759 Holmes raised his eyebrows. This is Baker Street, not Harley Street, 81 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:51.040 said he. But why should you say so? Well, sir? 82 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:54.560 When a man does one queer thing, or two queer things, 83 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:57.720 there may be a meaning to it. But when everything 84 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:01.959 he does is queer, then you again to wonder. I 85 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:06.199 believe Shaskan Prince and the Derby have turned his brain. 86 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.839 That is a colt. You are running the best in England, 87 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:15.600 mister Holmes. I should know if anyone does now, I'll 88 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.279 be playing with you, for I know you a gentleman 89 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.319 of honor, and that it won't go beyond the room. 90 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:24.839 So Robert has got to win this derby. He's up 91 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:28.120 to the neck and it's his last chance. Everything he 92 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.959 could raise or borrow is on the horse, and a 93 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:35.240 fine odds too. You can get forties now, But it 94 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:38.040 was nearer the hundred when he began to back him. 95 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:41.399 But how is that if the horse is so good? 96 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:45.399 The public don't know how good he is, Sir. Robert 97 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:49.000 has been too clever for the Taubts. He has the 98 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:52.879 Prince's half brother out for spins. You can't tell him apart. 99 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.879 But there are two lengths in a furlong between them. 100 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:59.720 When it comes to a gallop, he thinks of nothing 101 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:02.319 but the horse and the race. His whole life is 102 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:06.160 on it. He's holding off the jews till then, if 103 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:10.000 the Prince fails him, he is done. It seems a 104 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:15.839 rather desperate gambol. But where does the madness come in? Well, 105 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.480 first of all, you have only to look at him. 106 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.959 I don't believe he sleeps at night. He's down at 107 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:27.040 the stables at all hours. His eyes are wild. It 108 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:30.600 has all been too much for his nerves. Then there 109 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:34.000 is his conduct to Lady Beatrice. Ah, what is that? 110 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:37.279 They've always been the best of friends. They had the 111 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:40.480 same tastes, the two of them. And she loved the 112 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:44.079 horses as much as he did. Every day, at the 113 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:47.279 same hour she would drive down to see them. And 114 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:51.120 above all, she loved the Prince. He would prick up 115 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:53.519 his ears when he heard the wheels on the gravel, 116 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:56.360 and he would trot out each morning to the carriage 117 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:59.600 to get his lump of sugar. But that's all over now, 118 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:04.800 Why well, she seems to have lost all interest in 119 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:08.319 the horses. For a week now she has driven past 120 00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:10.639 the stables with never so much as a good morning. 121 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:15.399 You think there has been a quarrel and a bitter, savage, 122 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:19.279 spiteful quarrel at that? Why else would he give away 123 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:22.439 her pet spaniel that she loved as if he were 124 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:25.399 her child? He gave it a few days ago to 125 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:29.000 old Barnes. What keeps the green dragon three miles off 126 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:34.480 at Crendall? That certainly did seem strange. Of course, with 127 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:38.000 her weak heart and dropsy, one couldn't expect that she 128 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:41.720 could get about with him. But he spent two hours 129 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.080 every evening in her room. He might well do what 130 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:47.919 he could, for she has been a rare good friend 131 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:51.320 to him. But that's all over too. He never goes nearer, 132 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:55.639 and she takes it to heart. She is brooding and 133 00:08:55.720 --> 00:09:00.960 sulky and drinking, mister Halms, drinking like a fish. Did 134 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:06.639 she drink before this estrangement? Wow? She took her glass, 135 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:09.159 but now it is off and a whole bottle of 136 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:14.000 an evening? So Stephen's the butler told me. It's all changed, 137 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:17.440 mister Holmes, and there is something damned rotten about it. 138 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.000 But then again, what is master doing down at the 139 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:24.159 old church crypt at night? And who is the man 140 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:28.200 that meets him there Holmes rubbed his hands. Go on, 141 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:32.519 mister Mason, you get more and more interesting. It was 142 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:35.639 the butler who saw him go twelve o'clock at night 143 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:38.679 and raining hard. So next night I was up at 144 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:42.559 the house and sure enough Master was off again. Stevens 145 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:45.399 and I went after him. But it was jumpy work, 146 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.679 for it would have been a bad job if he 147 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:51.080 had seen us. He's a terrible man with his fists 148 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:55.440 if he gets started, and no respect for persons. So 149 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.360 we were shy of getting too near, but we marked 150 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.879 him down all right. It was the haunted crypt that 151 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:05.600 he was making for, and there was a man waiting 152 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:09.960 for him there. What is this haunted crypt? Well, sir, 153 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:14.159 there is an old, ruined chapel in the park. It 154 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.840 is so old that nobody could fix its date, and 155 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.279 under it there's a crypt which has a bad name 156 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.080 among us. It's a dark, damp, lonely place by day, 157 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:26.440 but there are few in that county that would have 158 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:29.960 the nerve to go near it at night. The Master's 159 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:35.080 not afraid. He never feared anything in his life. But 160 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:38.320 what is he doing there in the night time? Wait 161 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:42.840 a bit, said Holmes. You say there is another man there. 162 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:47.360 It must be one of your own stablemen or someone 163 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:50.919 from the house. Surely you have only to spot who 164 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:54.240 it is and question him. It is no one I know. 165 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:58.440 How can you say that? Because I have seen him, 166 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:02.879 mister Halmes. It was on that second night. So Robert 167 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:06.600 turned and passed us, Me and Stevens quaking in the 168 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.879 bushes like two bunny rabbits. But there was a bit 169 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:12.720 of moon that night, but we could hear the other 170 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:17.279 moving about behind. We were not afraid of him. So 171 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:20.320 we up when Sir Robert was gone, and pretended we 172 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.639 were just having a walk like in the moonlight. And 173 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:26.879 so we came right on him as casual and innocent 174 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:32.960 as you please. Hello, mate, who may you be? Says I. 175 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:35.720 I guess he had not heard us coming. So he 176 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.200 looked over his shoulder with a face as if he 177 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:41.240 had seen the devil coming out of hell. He let 178 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.559 out her yell, and away he went, as hard as 179 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:46.519 he could lick it in the darkness he could run. 180 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.480 I'll give him that. In a minute he was out 181 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:52.799 of sight and hearing. And who he was or what 182 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:57.840 he was, we never found. But you saw him clearly 183 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:02.159 in the moonlight. Yes, I would swear to his yellow face, 184 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:06.159 the mean dark I should say, what could he have 185 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:10.360 in common with Sir Robert? Holmes sat for some time, 186 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:16.879 lost in thought. Who keeps Lady Beatrice folder company? He asked? 187 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:22.720 At last? There is a maid, Carrie Evans. She's been 188 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:26.879 with her this five years and is no doubt devoted. 189 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:35.039 Mister Mason shuffled uncomfortably. She's devoted enough, he answered at last. 190 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:41.039 But I won't say to whom, Ah said Holmes. I 191 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:45.320 can't tell tales out of school. I quite understand, mister Mason. 192 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:50.440 Of course, the situation is clear enough. From Dr Watson's 193 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:53.799 description of Sir Robert, I can realize that no woman 194 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:57.960 is safe from him. Don't you think the quarrel between 195 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.240 brother and sister may lie there? Well? The scandal has 196 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:05.600 been pretty clear for a long time, but she may 197 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:09.360 not have seen it before. Let us suppose that she 198 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:12.919 has suddenly found it out. She wants to get rid 199 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:17.759 of the woman. Her brother will not permit it. The invalid, 200 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:21.720 with her weak heart and inability to get about, has 201 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:25.960 no means of enforcing her will. The hated maid is 202 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:30.720 still tied to her. The lady refuses to speak, Sulks 203 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:34.840 takes to drink Sir Robert, in his anger, takes her 204 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:40.960 pet spaniel away from her. Does not all this hang together? Well? Im, 205 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:45.720 I do, so far as it goes, exactly as far 206 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:49.559 as it goes. How would all that bear upon the 207 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:53.840 visits by night to the old crypt? We can't fit 208 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:57.919 that into our plot, no, sir. And there is something 209 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:02.799 more that I can't fit in. Why should Sir Robert 210 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:08.080 want to dig up a dead body? Holmes sat up abruptly. 211 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:12.399 We only found it out yesterday after I had written 212 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:16.000 to you. Yesterday, Sir Robert had gone to London. So 213 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:20.080 Stephens and I went down to the crypt. It was 214 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:23.080 all in order, sir, except that in one corner was 215 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.879 a bit of a human body. You informed the police, 216 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:32.600 I suppose our visitor smiled grimly. Well, sir, I think 217 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:36.120 it would hardly interest them. It was just a head 218 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:39.519 and a few bones of a mummy. It may have 219 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:43.519 been a thousand years old, but it wasn't there before that, 220 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:47.960 I'll swear, and so will Stephens. It had been stowed 221 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.679 away in a corner and covered over with a board, 222 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:55.720 but that corner had always been empty before. What did 223 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:59.440 you do with it? Wow? We just left it there? 224 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:05.159 That was wise. You say Sir Robert was away yesterday. 225 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:08.600 As he returned, will you expect him back to day? 226 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:14.039 When did Sir Robert give away his sister's dog? It 227 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:17.279 was just a week ago to day. The creature was 228 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:21.159 howling outside the old well House, and Sir Robert was 229 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:24.879 in one of his tantrums that morning. He caught it up, 230 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.600 and I thought he would have killed it. Then he 231 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.360 gave it to Sandy Baine, the jockey, and told him 232 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:34.080 to take the dog to Old Barnes at the Green Dragon, 233 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:38.840 for he never wished to see it again. Holmes sat 234 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:42.600 for some time in silent thought. He had lit the 235 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:47.679 oldest and foulest of his pipes. I am not clear 236 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:50.559 yet what you want me to do in this matter, 237 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:54.679 mister Mason, he said, at last, can't you make it 238 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:59.960 more definite? Perhaps this will make it more definite, mister Holmes, 239 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:04.360 said our visitor. He took a paper from his pocket, and, 240 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:09.960 unwrapping it carefully, he exposed a charred fragment of bone. 241 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.240 Holmes examined it with interest. Where did you get it? 242 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.600 There is a central heating furnace in the cellar under 243 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:21.559 Lady Beatrice's room. It's been off for some time, but 244 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:25.080 Sir Robert complained of cold and had it on again. 245 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:29.919 Harvey runs it. He's one of my lads. This very 246 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:32.919 morning he came to me with this, which he found 247 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:36.279 raking out the cinders. He didn't like the look of it, 248 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:40.720 nor do I said Holmes, what do you make of it? Watson? 249 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:45.639 It was burned to a black cinder, but there could 250 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:50.440 be no question as to its anatomical significance. It's the 251 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:57.080 upper condile of a human, Femur said, I exactly. Holmes 252 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:01.480 had become very serious. When does the lad tend to 253 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:05.279 the furnace? He makes it up every evening and then 254 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:10.720 leaves it. Then anyone could visit it during the night, Yes, sir, 255 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:15.559 can you enter it from outside? There is one door 256 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:19.559 from outside. There is another which leads up by a 257 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:23.640 stair to the passage in which Lady Beatrice's room is situated. 258 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:29.119 These are deep waters, mister Mason, deep and rather dirty. 259 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:34.519 You say that Sir Robert was not at home last night, No, sir, 260 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:40.480 then whoever was burning bones? It was not? He asked, true, sir, 261 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:43.920 What is the name of that inn you spoke of? 262 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:49.000 The Green Dragon? Is there good fishing in that part 263 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:53.799 of Berkshire. The honest trainer showed very clearly upon his 264 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:57.880 face that he was convinced that yet another lunatic had 265 00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:02.759 come into his harassed life. Well, sir, I've heard they're 266 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:06.319 a trait in the mill stream and pike in the 267 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:12.480 Hall Lake. That's good enough. Watson and I are famous fishermen, 268 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:16.240 are we not. Watson, you may address us in future 269 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:20.720 at the Green Dragon. We should reach it tonight. I 270 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:23.200 need not say that we don't want to see you, 271 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:27.440 mister Mason, but a note will reach us, and no 272 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:31.160 doubt I could find you if I want you. When 273 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.599 we have gone a little farther into the matter, I 274 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:38.240 will let you have a considered opinion. Thus it was 275 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:41.440 that on a bright May evening, Holmes and I found 276 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:45.680 ourselves alone in a first class carriage and bound for 277 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:51.200 the little halt on demand station of Shoscombe. The wrack 278 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:55.000 above us was covered with a formidable litter of rods, 279 00:18:55.400 --> 00:19:01.680 reels and baskets. On reaching our destination, a short drive 280 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:06.480 took us to an old fashioned tavern, where a sporting host, 281 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:11.480 Josiah Barnes, entered eagerly into our plans for the extirpation 282 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:15.039 of the fish of the neighborhood. What about the Hall 283 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:19.799 Lake and the chance of a pike, said Holmes, the 284 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:24.319 face of the innkeeper clouded. That wouldn't do, sir. You 285 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:27.200 might chance to find yourself in the lake before you 286 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:32.319 were through. How's that? Then? It's Sir Robert. Sir, he's 287 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:35.799 terrible jealous of touts. If you two strangers were as 288 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:39.720 near his training quarters as that, it'd be after you. 289 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:43.400 Sure as fate. He ain't taking no chances, sir, robat 290 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:48.160 ain't I've heard he has a horse entered for the Derby, Yes, 291 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:52.440 and a good colt too. He carries all our money 292 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:55.200 for the race, and all Sir Roberts into the bargain. 293 00:19:55.680 --> 00:20:00.319 By the way he looked at us with thoughtful eyes, Bose, 294 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:04.960 you ain't on the turf yourselves, No, indeed, just two 295 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:10.440 weary Londoners who badly need some good baksha air. Well 296 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:13.200 you're in the right place for that. There's a deal 297 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:16.440 of it lying about. But mind what I've told you 298 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:19.640 about Sir Robert. He's the sort that strikes first and 299 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:24.240 speaks afterwards. Keep clear of the park, surely, mister Barnes, 300 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:27.839 we certainly shall. By the way, that was a most 301 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:31.640 beautiful spaniel that was whining in the hall, I should 302 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:36.160 say it was that was the real Shoskum breed. There 303 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:40.559 ain't a better in England. I am a dog fancier myself, 304 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:45.000 said Holmes. Now, if it is a fair question, what 305 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.440 would a prize dog like that cost more than I 306 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:51.480 could pay her? It was Sir Robert himself who gave 307 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:54.319 me this one. That's why I have to keep it 308 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:56.680 on a lead. It would be after the hall in 309 00:20:56.759 --> 00:21:00.319 a jiffy if I gave it its head. We are 310 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:04.079 getting some cards in our hand, Watson, said Holmes, when 311 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.279 the landlord had left us. It's not an easy one 312 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:09.319 to play, but we may see our way in a 313 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:12.880 day or two. By the way, Sir Robert is still 314 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:17.160 in London, I hear we might perhaps enter the sacred 315 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:21.799 domain to night without fear of bodily assault. There are 316 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:24.519 one or two points on which I should like reassurance. 317 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:29.640 Have you any theory homes only this, Watson, that something 318 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:32.720 happened a week or so ago which has cut deep 319 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:36.920 into the life of the Shoscombe household. What is that something? 320 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:41.440 We can only guess at it from its effects. They 321 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:45.359 seem to be of a curiously mixed character. But that 322 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:50.279 should surely help us. It is only the colorless, uneventful 323 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:56.000 case which is hopeless. Let us consider our data. The 324 00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:01.200 brother no longer visits the beloved, invalid sister. He gives 325 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:07.039 away her favorite dog, her dog Watson. Does that suggest 326 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:12.519 nothing to you? Nothing but the brother's spite? Well it 327 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:18.240 might be so, or well there is an alternative. Now 328 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:22.039 to continue our review of the situation from the time 329 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:26.200 that the quarrel, if there is a quarrel began. The 330 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:30.279 lady keeps her room, alters her habits, is not seen 331 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:34.079 save when she drives out with her maid, refuses to 332 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:37.839 stop at the stables to greet her favorite horse, and 333 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:42.119 apparently takes to drink that covers the case. Does it 334 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:46.480 not save for the business in the crypt? That is 335 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:50.680 another line of thought? There are two, and I beg 336 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:55.839 you will not tangle them. Line A, which concerns Lady Beatrice, 337 00:22:56.519 --> 00:23:01.599 has a vaguely sinister flavor, has it not? I can 338 00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:04.799 make nothing of it. Well, now let us take up 339 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:10.640 line B, which concerns Sir Robert. He is mad keen 340 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:14.480 upon winning the derby. He is in the hands of 341 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:18.039 the Jews and may at any moment be sold up 342 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:22.880 and his racing stables seized by his creditors. He is 343 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:27.319 a daring and desperate man. He derives his income from 344 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:33.160 his sister. His sister's maid is his willing tool. So 345 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:35.880 far we seem to be on fairly safe ground, do 346 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:40.119 we not, But the crypt ah yes, the crypt let 347 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:44.759 us suppose, Watson, it is merely a scandalous supposition, a 348 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:50.680 hypothesis put forward for argument's sake, that Sir Robert has 349 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:54.279 done away with his sister. My dear Holmes, it is 350 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:58.160 out of the question, very possibly, Watson. Sir Robert is 351 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:02.079 a man of an honorable stock. But you do occasionally 352 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:06.680 find a carrion crow among the eagles. Let us, for 353 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:10.839 a moment argue upon this supposition. He could not fly 354 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:14.839 the country until he had realized his fortune, and that 355 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:19.119 fortune could only be realized by bringing off this coup 356 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:24.920 with Shoscombe Prince. Therefore, he has still to stand his ground. 357 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:27.880 To do this, he would have to dispose of the 358 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:30.839 body of his victim, and he would also have to 359 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:35.160 find a substitute who would impersonate her, with the maid 360 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:40.319 as his confidante. That would not be impossible. The woman's 361 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:44.000 body might be conveyed to the crypt, which is a 362 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:48.880 place so seldom visited, and it might be secretly destroyed 363 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:52.759 at night in the furnace, leaving behind it such evidence 364 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:58.880 as we have already seen. What say you to that Watson, Well, 365 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.920 it is all possible if you grant the original monstrous supposition. 366 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:08.960 I think that there is a small experiment which we 367 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:12.160 may try to morrow Watson, in order to throw some 368 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:17.079 light on the matter. Meanwhile, if we mean to keep 369 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:21.240 up our characters, I suggest that we have our host 370 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:24.519 in for a glass of his own wine and hold 371 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:29.559 some high converse upon eels and dace, which seems to 372 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:33.519 be the straight road to his affections. We may chance 373 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:37.440 to come upon some useful local gossip in the process. 374 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:42.799 In the morning, Holmes discovered that we had come without 375 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:47.559 our spoon bait for jack, which absolved us from fishing 376 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:51.759 for the day. About eleven o'clock we started for a walk, 377 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:55.920 and he obtained leave to take the black spaniel with us. 378 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:59.720 This is the place, said he, as we came to 379 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:05.519 two high park gates with heraldic griffins towering above them. 380 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:10.359 About midday, mister Barnes informs me the old lady takes 381 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:13.359 a drive, and the carriage must slow down while the 382 00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:17.519 gates are opened when it comes through, and before it 383 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:21.640 gathers speed. I want you, Watson, to stop the coachman 384 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:26.039 with some question. Never mind me. I shall stand behind 385 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:30.200 this holly bush and see what I can see. It 386 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:33.880 was not a long vigil. Within a quarter of an 387 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:37.440 hour we saw the big open yellow barouche coming down 388 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:42.240 the long avenue with two splendid, high stepping gray carriage 389 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:47.039 horses in the shafts. Holmes crouched behind his bush with 390 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:52.759 the dog. I stood unconcernedly swinging a cane in the roadway. 391 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:57.920 A keeper ran out and the gates swung open. The 392 00:26:58.039 --> 00:27:02.000 carriage had slowed to a war and I was able 393 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:05.400 to get a good look at the occupants. A highly 394 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:10.079 colored young woman with flaxen hair and impudent eyes sat 395 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:14.400 on the left. At her right was an elderly person 396 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:18.079 with rounded back and a huddle of shawls about her 397 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:23.480 face and shoulders, which proclaimed the invalid. When the horses 398 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:26.759 reached the high road, I held up my hand with 399 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:31.880 an authoritative gesture, and as the coachman pulled up, I 400 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.319 inquired if Sir Robert was at shoscum old place. At 401 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:39.799