WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:08.279 The Adventure of the Yellow Face. In publishing these short sketches, 2 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:12.480 based upon the numerous cases in which my companion's singular 3 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:16.079 gifts have made us the listeners to and eventually the 4 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:20.399 actors in some strange drama, it is only natural that 5 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:24.320 I should dwell rather upon his successes than upon his failures. 6 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:27.960 And this not so much for the sake of his reputation. 7 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:31.640 For indeed, it was when he was at his wits 8 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:35.640 end that his energy and his versatility were most admirable. 9 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:39.759 But because where he failed, it happened too often that 10 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:43.399 no one else succeeded, and that the tale was left 11 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:48.200 forever without a conclusion. Now and again, however, it chanced 12 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.560 that even when he aired, the truth was still discovered. 13 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:55.880 I have noted of some half dozen cases of the kind. 14 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:00.799 The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual and that which I 15 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:03.640 am about to recount are the two which present the 16 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:10.159 strongest features of interest Sherlock Holmes was a man who 17 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:15.599 seldom took exercise For exercise's sake. Few men were capable 18 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:19.599 of greater muscular effort, and he was undoubtedly one of 19 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.400 the finest boxers of his weight that I have ever seen. 20 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:27.120 But he looked upon aimless bodily exertion as a waste 21 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:30.959 of energy, and he seldom bestirred himself, save when there 22 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:35.040 was some professional object to be served. Then he was 23 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:40.439 absolutely untiring and indefatigable. That he should have kept himself 24 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:44.760 in training under such circumstances is remarkable. But his diet 25 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:48.519 was usually of the spairest, and his habits were simple 26 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:52.799 to the verge of austerity. Save for the occasional use 27 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:56.719 of cocaine. He had no vices, and he only turned 28 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.480 to the drug as a protest against the monotony of 29 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:05.640 existence when cases were scanty and the papers uninteresting. One 30 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:09.120 day in early spring, he had so far relaxed as 31 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:11.000 to go for a walk with me in the park, 32 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:14.680 where the first faint shoots of green were breaking out 33 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:17.840 upon the elms, and the sticky spear heads of the 34 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:22.039 chestnuts were just beginning to burst into their fivefold leaves. 35 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:26.199 For two hours we rambled about together in silence, for 36 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:29.039 the most part, as befits two men who know each 37 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:32.919 other intimately. It was nearly five before we were back 38 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:36.439 in Baker Street once more. Big pardon, sir, said our 39 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:39.639 page boy as he opened the door. There's been a 40 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:44.400 gentleman here asking for you, sir. Holmes glanced reproachfully at me. 41 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:50.199 So much for afternoon, Walks said, he has this gentleman gone? Then, yes, sir, 42 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:53.639 didn't you ask him in? Yes, sir, he came in. 43 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:57.400 How long did he wait? Half an hour? Sir? He 44 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:00.159 was a very restless gentleman, sir, a walk in and 45 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:02.439 a stamp in all the time he was here. I 46 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.759 was waiting outside the door, sir, and I could hear him. 47 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:07.439 At last, he outs into the passage and he cries, 48 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:10.199 is that man never going to come? Those were his 49 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:13.360 very words, Sir. You'll only need to wait a little longer, 50 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:15.599 says I. That I'll wait in the open air, for 51 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:18.960 I feel half choked, says he. I'll be back before long. 52 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:21.919 And with that he ups and he outs, and all 53 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:24.840 I could say wouldn't hold him back. Well, well you 54 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:28.120 did your best, said Holmes as we walked into our room. 55 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:32.080 It's very annoying, though, Watson. I was badly in need 56 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.080 of a case, and this looks from the man's impatience 57 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:39.400 as if it were of importance. Hello, that's not your 58 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:42.919 pipe on the table. He must have left his behind him, 59 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:45.800 And I sold briar with a good long stem of 60 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:50.400 what the tobacconists call amber. I wonder how many real 61 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:54.560 amber mouthpieces there are in London. Some people think that 62 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:58.439 a fly in it is a sign. Well, he must 63 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:00.759 have been disturbed in his mind to leave a pipe 64 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.680 behind him, which he evidently values highly. Now do you 65 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:08.120 know that he values it highly? I asked, Well, I 66 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.439 should put the original cast of the pipe at seven 67 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:13.639 and sixpence. Now it has, you see, been twice mended, 68 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:16.279 once in the wooden stem and once in the amber. 69 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:20.439 Each of these men's done, as you observe, with silver bands, 70 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:24.160 must have cost more than the pipe did originally. The 71 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:26.920 man must value the pipe highly when he prefers to 72 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:29.560 patch it up rather than buy a new one with 73 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.839 the same money. Anything else I asked for. Holmes was 74 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:36.800 turning the pipe about in his hand and staring at 75 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:40.920 it in his peculiar, pensive way. He held it up 76 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:44.279 and tapped on it with his long, thin forefinger, as 77 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:48.560 a professor might who was lecturing on a bone. Pipes 78 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:54.240 are occasionally of extraordinary interest, said he. Nothing has more individuality, 79 00:04:54.920 --> 00:05:00.399 save perhaps watches and ootlaces. The indications here, however, are 80 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.879 neither very marked nor very important. The owner is obviously 81 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.800 a muscular man, left handed, with an excellent set of teeth, 82 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:12.959 careless in his habits, and with no need to practice economy. 83 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:17.639 My friend threw out the information in a very offhand way, 84 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:20.959 but I saw that he cocked his eye at mate 85 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:24.120 to see if I had followed his reasoning. You think 86 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.480 that a man must be well to do if he 87 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:30.759 smokes a seven shilling pipe, said I. This is Grosvenor 88 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:35.279 mixture at eightpence an ounce. Holmes answered, knocking a little 89 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:38.480 out on his palm, as he might get an excellent 90 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:41.480 smoke for half the price. He has no need to 91 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:45.439 practice economy, and the other points. He has been in 92 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:48.839 the habit of lighting his pipe at lamps and gas jets. 93 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:52.360 You can see that it is quite charred, all down 94 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:55.439 one side. Of course, a match could not have done that. 95 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:58.639 Why should a man hold a match to the side 96 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:01.600 of his pipe, But you cannot light it at a 97 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:05.600 lamp without getting the bowl charred, and it is all 98 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:07.879 on the right side of the pipe. From that I 99 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:11.199 gather that he is a left handed man. You hold 100 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:13.720 your own pipe to the lamp, and see how naturally 101 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:17.199 you being right handed, hold the left side to the flame. 102 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:19.879 You might do it once the other way, but not 103 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:24.519 as a constancy. This has always been held. So then 104 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:28.079 he has bitten through his amber. It takes a muscular, 105 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:30.839 energetic fellow, and one with a good set of teeth 106 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:33.759 to do that. But if I am not mistaken, I 107 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:36.319 hear him upon the stairs, so we shall have something 108 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:40.319 more interesting than his pipe to study. An instant later 109 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:43.959 our door opened and a tall young man entered the room. 110 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:47.360 He was well but quietly dressed in a dark gray suit, 111 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:51.240 and carried a brown wide awake in his hand. I 112 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:53.920 should have put him at about thirty, though he was 113 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.800 really some years older. I beg your pardon, said he, 114 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:01.839 with some embarrassment. I supose I should have knocked. Yes, 115 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.160 of course I should have knocked. The fact is I 116 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:06.240 am a little upset, and you must put it all 117 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:09.560 down to that. He passed his hand over his forehead 118 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.879 like a man who is half dazed, and then fell 119 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.160 rather than sat down upon a chair. I can see 120 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:18.199 that you have not slept for a night or two, 121 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:22.600 said Holmes, in his easy genial way that tries a 122 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:26.240 man's nerves more than work, and more even than pleasure. 123 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.360 May I ask how I can help you. I wanted 124 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.319 your advice, sir. I don't know what to do, and 125 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:36.079 my whole life seems to have gone to pieces. You 126 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:40.160 wish to employ me as a consulting detective, not that 127 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:43.959 only I want your opinion as a judicious man, as 128 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.079 a man of the world. I want to know what 129 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.959 I ought to do next. I hope to God you'll 130 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.519 be able to tell me. He spoke in little, sharp, 131 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:56.079 jerky outbursts, and it seemed to me that to speak 132 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:58.920 at all was very painful to him, and that his 133 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:03.759 will all through who was overriding his inclinations. It's a 134 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:07.600 very delicate thing, said he. One does not like to 135 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:11.600 speak of one's domestic affairs to strangers. It seems dreadful 136 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:14.040 to discuss the conduct of one's wife with two men 137 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:16.600 whom I've never seen before. It's horrible to have to 138 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.079 do it. But I've got to the end of my tether, 139 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:22.759 and I must have advice. My dear mister Grant Monroe, 140 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:27.920 began Holmes, our visitor sprang from his chair what he cried. 141 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.759 You know my name if you wish to preserve your incognito, 142 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.120 said Holmes, smiling, I would suggest that you've cease to 143 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:38.039 write your name upon the lining of your hat, or 144 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.960 else that you turn the crown towards the person whom 145 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.840 you are addressing. I was about to say that my 146 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.200 friend and I have listened to a good many strange 147 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:49.159 secrets in this room, that we have had the good 148 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:53.120 fortune to bring peace to many troubled souls. I trust 149 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:55.720 that we may do as much for you might. I 150 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:58.720 beg you, as time may prove to be of importance, 151 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.679 to furnish me with the facts of your case without 152 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:06.320 further delay. Our visitor again passed his hand over his forehead, 153 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:10.879 as if he found it bitterly hard. From every gesture 154 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:13.320 and expression I could see that he was a reserved, 155 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:17.039 self contained man with a dash of pride in his nature, 156 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:22.559 more likely to hide his wounds than to expose them. Then, suddenly, 157 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:26.480 with a fierce gesture of his closed hand, like one 158 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:31.000 who throws reserve to the winds, he began the facts 159 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:35.600 are these, mister Holmes, said he. I am a married man, 160 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:40.480 and have been so for three years. During that time, 161 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:42.840 my wife and I have loved each other as fondly 162 00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:46.000 and lived as happily as any two that ever were joined, 163 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:49.200 we have not had a difference, not one in thought 164 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:55.200 or word or deed. And now since last Monday, there 165 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:59.039 has suddenly sprung up a barrier between us, and I 166 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:01.320 find that there is some in her life and in 167 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:04.000 her thought of which I know as little as if 168 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:06.559 she were the woman who brushes by me in the street. 169 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:12.240 We are estranged, and I want to know why. Now. 170 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:14.440 There is one thing that I want to impress upon 171 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:18.600 you before I go any further, mister Holmes, Effie loves me. 172 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:21.840 Don't let there be any mistake about that. She loves 173 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:24.200 me with her whole heart and soul, and never more 174 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:28.000 than now I know it, I feel it. I don't 175 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:30.399 want to argue about that. A man can tell easily 176 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:34.799 enough when a woman loves him. But there's this secret 177 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.519 between us, and we can never be the same until 178 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:41.679 it is cleared. Kindly, let me have the facts, mister Monroe, 179 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:45.919 said Holmes, with some impatience. I'll tell you what I 180 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:48.840 know about Fi's history. She was a widow when I 181 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:54.279 met her first, though quite young, only twenty five. Her 182 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:58.200 name then was missus Hebron. She went out to America 183 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:00.799 when she was young and lived in the town of Atlanta, 184 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:04.440 where she married this Hebron, who was a lawyer with 185 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:08.360 a good practice. They had one child. The yellow fever 186 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:11.960 broke out badly in the place, and both husband and 187 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:15.639 child died of it. I have seen his death certificate. 188 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:19.039 This sickened her of America, and she came back to 189 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:22.919 live with a maiden aunt at Pinner in Middlesex. I 190 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.720 may mention that her husband had left her comfortably off, 191 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:29.200 and that she had a capital of about four five 192 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:32.519 hundred pounds, which had been so well invested by him 193 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:36.120 that it returned an average of seven percent. She had 194 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:38.879 only been six months at Pinner when I met her. 195 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.399 We fell in love with each other, and we married 196 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:46.240 a few weeks afterwards. I am a hop merchant myself, 197 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:49.159 and as I have an income of seven or eight hundred, 198 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:52.879 we found ourselves comfortably off and took a nice eighty 199 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.519 pound a year villa at Norbury. Our little place was 200 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:59.960 very countrified, considering that it is so close to tak 201 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:03.679 We had an inn and two houses a little above us, 202 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.960 and a single cottage at the other side of the 203 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:09.120 field which faces us. And except those there were no 204 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:12.759 houses until you got half way to the station. My 205 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:16.080 business took me into town at certain seasons, but in 206 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:19.159 summer I had less to do. And then in our 207 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:21.720 country home, my wife and I were just as happy 208 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:24.360 as could be wished. I tell you that there never 209 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.600 was a shadow between us until this accursed affair began. 210 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:30.799 There's one thing I ought to tell you before I 211 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.360 go further. When we married, my wife made over all 212 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:38.039 her property to me, rather against my will, for I 213 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.679 saw how awkward it would be if my business affairs 214 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:43.519 went wrong. However, she would have it so, and it 215 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:49.559 was done well. About six months ago she came to me, Jack, 216 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:53.080 said she. When you took my money, you said that 217 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:55.159 if ever I wanted any I was to ask you 218 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.200 for it, certainly, said I. It's all your own, Well, 219 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:03.080 said she, I want a hundred pounds. I was a 220 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:06.759 bit staggered at this, for I had imagined it was 221 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:09.039 simply a new dress or something of the kind that 222 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:12.919 she was after. What on earth for, I asked, Oh, 223 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.240 said she in her playful way. You said that you 224 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:20.159 were only my banker, and bankers never ask questions. You know, 225 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.039 if you really mean it, of course you shall have 226 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:25.840 the money, said I, Oh, yes, I really mean it. 227 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.360 And you won't tell me what you want it for 228 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:33.440 some day perhaps, but not just at present. Jack, So 229 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:36.279 I had to be content with that, though it was 230 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.639 the first time that there had ever been any secret 231 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:41.600 between us. I gave her a check and I never 232 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:44.960 thought any more of the matter. It may have nothing 233 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.000 to do with what came afterwards, but I thought it'd 234 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:52.000 only right to mention it. Well. I told you just 235 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:54.639 now that there is a cottage not far from our house. 236 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.600 There is just a field between us, but to reach 237 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:00.519 it you have to go along the road and then 238 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:04.080 turned down a lane. Just beyond it is a nice 239 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:07.399 little grove of Scotch firs, and I used to be 240 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:10.759 very fond of strolling down there, for trees are always 241 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:14.919 a neighborly kind of things. The cottage had been standing 242 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:18.000 empty this eight months, and it was a pity, for 243 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:20.799 it was a pretty two storied place, with an old 244 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:24.519 fashioned porch and honeysuckle about it. I have stood many 245 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:26.759 a time and thought what a neat little homestead it 246 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:30.200 would make. Well. Last Monday evening, I was taking a 247 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:32.960 stroll down that way when I met an empty van 248 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:36.240 coming up the lane and saw a pile of carpets 249 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.480 and things lying about on the grass plot beside the porch, 250 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:43.000 it was clear that the cottage had at last been let. 251 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.360 I walked past it and wondered what sort of folk 252 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:48.679 they were who had come to live so near us. 253 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:52.399 And as I looked, I suddenly became aware that a 254 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:56.480 face was watching me out of one of the upper windows. 255 00:14:57.159 --> 00:15:00.000 I don't know what there was about that face, mister Holmes, 256 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:03.720 but it seemed to send a chill right down my back. 257 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:07.159 I was some little way off so that I could 258 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:10.399 not make out the features. There was something unnatural and 259 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:14.080 inhuman about the face. That was the impression that I had, 260 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:17.879 and I moved quickly forwards to get a nearer view 261 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.759 of the person who was watching me. But as I 262 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:24.480 did so, the face suddenly disappeared, so suddenly that it 263 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:26.799 seemed to have been plucked away into the darkness of 264 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.919 the room. I stood for five minutes, thinking the business 265 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:35.240 over and trying to analyze my impressions. I could not 266 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:37.240 tell if the face were that of a man or 267 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:40.200 a woman, it had been too far from me for that. 268 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:45.120 But its color was what had impressed me most. It 269 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:49.759 was of a livid, chalky white, and with something set 270 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:54.240 and rigid about it, which was shockingly unnatural. So disturbed 271 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.480 was I that I determined to see a little more 272 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.759 of the new inmates of the cottage. I approached a 273 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:03.360 knocked at the door, which was instantly opened by a tall, 274 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:07.360 gaunt woman with a harsh, forbidding face. What may you 275 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:11.080 be wanting, she asked, in a northern accent. I am 276 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:14.679 your neighbor over yonder, said I, nodding towards my house. 277 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:18.120 I see that you have only just moved in, so 278 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:20.080 I thought that if I could be of any help 279 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:23.200 to you in any way. I we'll just ask you 280 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:25.919 when we want, ye, said she, and shut the door 281 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:30.840 in my face. Annoyed at the churlish rebuff, I turned 282 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:34.279 my back and walked home. All evening, though I tried 283 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:37.000 to think of other things, my mind would still turn 284 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.759 to the apparition at the window and the rudeness of 285 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:43.200 the woman. I determined to say nothing about the former 286 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:46.360 to my wife, for she is a nervous, highly strung woman, 287 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:49.080 and I had no wish that she would share the 288 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:53.799 unpleasant impression which had been produced upon myself. I remarked 289 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:56.919 to her, however, before I fell asleep, that the cottage 290 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:01.600 was now occupied to which she returned no rep I 291 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:05.599 am usually an extremely sound sleeper. It has been a 292 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:08.440 standing jest in the family that nothing could ever wake 293 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.480 me during the night. Whether it may have been the 294 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:14.920 slight excitement produced by my little adventure or not, I 295 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.839 know not, but I slept much more lightly than usual. 296 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:21.400 Half in my dreams, I was dimly conscious that something 297 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:24.839 was going on in the room, and gradually became aware 298 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:27.960 that my wife had dressed herself and was slipping on 299 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:32.000 her mantle and bonnet. My lips were parted to murmur 300 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:35.000 out some sleepy words of surprise or remonstrance at this 301 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:39.440 untimely preparation, when suddenly my half opened eyes fell upon 302 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:44.519 her face, illuminated by the candlelight, and astonishment held me dumb. 303 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:48.240 She wore an expression such as I had never seen before, 304 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:51.640 such as I should have thought her incapable of, assuming 305 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:56.359 she was deadly pale and breathing fast, glancing furtively towards 306 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:59.160 the bed as she fastened her mantle to see if 307 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:03.079 she had disturbed me. Then, thinking that I was still asleep, 308 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:07.759 she slipped noiselessly from the room, and an instant later 309 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:10.839 I heard a sharp creaking which could only come from 310 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:14.119 the hinges of the front door. I sat up in 311 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:17.759 bed and rapped my knuckles against the rail to make 312 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:21.200 certain that I was truly awake. Then I took my 313 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.480 watch from under the pillow. It was three in the morning. 314 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:28.480 What on this earth could my wife be doing out 315 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:32.079 on the country road at three in the morning. I 316 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:34.680 had sat for about twenty minutes, turning the thing over 317 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:37.880 in my mind and trying to find some possible explanation. 318 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:42.240 The more I thought, the more extraordinary and inexplicable did 319 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:45.880 it appear. I was still puzzling over it when I 320 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:49.799 heard the door gently close again and her footsteps coming 321 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:53.640 up the stairs. Where in the world have you been, Effie, 322 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:57.599 I asked? As she entered. She gave a violent start 323 00:18:57.640 --> 00:19:01.039 and a kind of gasping cry when I spoke, And 324 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:04.279 that cry and start troubled me more than all the rest. 325 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:09.680 There was something indescribably guilty about them. My wife had 326 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:12.960 always been a woman of a frank, open nature, and 327 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:15.119 it gave me a chill to see her slinking into 328 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:18.039 her own room and crying out and wincing. When her 329 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:22.119 own husband spoke to her, you awake, Jack, She cried 330 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:25.000 with a nervous laugh. Why I thought that nothing could 331 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:28.960 awake you? Where have you been? I asked more sternly. 332 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:33.079 I don't wonder that you are surprised, said she, and 333 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:35.519 I could see that her fingers were trembling as she 334 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:39.079 undid the fastenings of her mantle. Why I never remember 335 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:41.960 having done such a thing in my life before. The 336 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:44.119 fact is that I felt as though I were choking 337 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:47.240 and had a perfect longing for a breath of fresh air. 338 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:50.359 I really think I should have fainted if I had 339 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.920 not gone out. I stood at the door for a 340 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:57.640 few minutes, and now I am quite myself again. All 341 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:59.680 the time that she was telling me this story, she 342 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:02.759 never once looked in my direction, and her voice was 343 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:06.839 quite unlike her usual tones. It was evident to me 344 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:10.640 that she was saying what was false. I said nothing 345 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:14.519 in reply, but turned my face to the wall, sick 346 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:18.240 at heart, with my mind filled with a thousand venomous 347 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:21.920 doubts and suspicions. What was it that my wife was 348 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:26.160 concealing from me? Where had she been during that strange expedition? 349 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:29.640 I felt that I should have no peace until I knew, 350 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:32.880 And yet I shrank from asking her again after once 351 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:35.960 she had told me what was false. All the rest 352 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.519 of the night I tossed and tumbled, framing theory after theory, 353 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:44.240 each more unlikely than the last. I should have gone 354 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:47.319 to the city that day, but I was too disturbed 355 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:49.319 in my mind to be able to pay attention to 356 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:53.400 business matters. My wife seemed to be as upset as myself, 357 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.720 and I could see from the little questioning glances which 358 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:59.400 she kept shooting at me that she understood that I 359 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:02.839 disbelieve her statement, and that she was at her wits 360 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:07.640 end what to do. We hardly exchanged a word during breakfast, 361 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:10.680 and immediately afterwards I went out for a walk that 362 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:13.319 I might think the matter out in the fresh morning air. 363 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:17.319 I went as far as the Crystal Palace, spent an 364 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:20.519 hour in the grounds, and was back in Norbury by 365 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:24.440 one o'clock. It happened that my way took me past 366 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:27.079 the cottage, and I stopped for an instant to look 367 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:29.400 at the windows and to see if I could catch 368 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:31.519 a glimpse of the strange face which had looked out 369 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:34.279 at me on the day before. As I stood there, 370 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:38.119 imagine my surprise, mister Holmes, when the door suddenly opened 371 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:42.359 and my wife walked out. I was struck dumb with 372 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:46.119 astonishment at the sight of her, But my emotions were 373 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:49.279 nothing to those which showed themselves upon her face. When 374 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:52.480 our eyes met, she seemed for an instant to wish 375 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:56.480 to shrink back inside the house again, and then, seeing 376 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:00.160 how useless all concealment must be, she came forward with 377 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:04.079 a very white face and frightened eyes which belied the 378 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:07.799 smile upon her lips. Ah, Jack, she said, I have 379 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.480 just been in to see if I can be of 380 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:13.119 any assistance to our new neighbors. Why do you look 381 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:16.319 at me like that? Jack? You're not angry with me, 382 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:20.720 so said I. This is where you went during the night. 383 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:24.759 What do you mean, she cried, you came here. I 384 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:27.200 am sure of it. Who are these people that you 385 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:30.160 should visit them at such an hour? I have not 386 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:33.119 been here before. How can you tell me what you 387 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:36.799 know is false? I cried? Your very voice changes as 388 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:40.160 you speak. When have I ever had a secret from you? 389 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:43.559 I shall enter that cottage and I shall probe the 390 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:46.279 matter to the bottom. No, No, Jack, for God's sake, 391 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:51.319 she gasped in uncontrollable emotion. Then, as I approached the door, 392 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:54.920 she seized my sleeve and pulled me back with convulsive strength. 393 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:58.400 I implore you not to do this, Jack, she cried, 394 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:01.599 I swear that I will tell you everything someday, but 395 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:04.000 nothing but misery can come of it if you enter 396 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:07.599 that cottage. Then, as I tried to shake her off, 397 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:10.960 she clung to me in a frenzy of entreaty. Trust me, Jack, 398 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:15.279 she cried, Trust me only this once. You will never 399 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:17.920 have cause to regret it. You know that I would 400 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:20.079 not have a secret from you if it were not 401 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:23.519