WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.560 --> 00:00:08.800 A Magpie audio production, The Adventure of the Missing three Quarter. 2 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:17.239 We were fairly accustomed to receive weird telegrams at Baker Street, 3 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:21.440 but I have a particular recollection of one which reached 4 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.879 us on a gloomy February morning some seven or eight 5 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.239 years ago, and gave mister Sherlock Holmes a puzzled quarter 6 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:33.880 of an hour. It was addressed to him and ran, thus, 7 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.640 please await me terrible misfortune right wing three quarter, missing 8 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:45.560 indispensable Tomorrow Overton strand postmark and dispatched ten thirty six, 9 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:49.600 said Holmes, reading it over and over. Mister Overton was 10 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:53.759 evidently considerably excited when he scent it, and somewhat incoherent 11 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:57.320 in consequence. Well, well he will be here, I dare say, 12 00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.719 by the time I have looked through the times, and 13 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:02.920 then we shall know all about it. Even the most 14 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:08.519 insignificant problem would be welcome. In these stagnant days. Things 15 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:11.400 had indeed been very slow with us, and I had 16 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:15.120 learned to dread such periods of inaction, For I knew 17 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.159 by experience that my companion's brain was so abnormally active 18 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:22.760 that it was dangerous to leave it without material upon 19 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:26.920 which to work. For years I had gradually weaned him 20 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:29.920 from that drug mania which had threatened once to check 21 00:01:29.959 --> 00:01:34.760 his remarkable career. Now I knew that under ordinary conditions 22 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:39.040 he no longer craved for this artificial stimulus. But I 23 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:42.920 was well aware that the fiend was not dead but sleeping, 24 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.159 And I have known that the sleep was a light one, 25 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.799 and the waking near when in periods of idleness I 26 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:53.920 have seen the drawn look upon Holmes's ascetic face and 27 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:58.959 the brooding of his deep set and inscrutable eyes. Therefore 28 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:02.920 I blessed this mister Overton, whoever he might be, since 29 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:05.879 he had come with his enigmatic message to break that 30 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:09.560 dangerous calm which brought more peril to my friend than 31 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:15.120 all the storms of his tempestuous life. As we had expected, 32 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:18.800 the telegram was soon followed by its sender, and the 33 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:23.120 card of mister Cyril Overton, Trinity College, Cambridge announced the 34 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:28.159 arrival our an enormous young man, sixteen stone of solid 35 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:32.159 bone and muscle, who spanned the doorway with his broad shoulders, 36 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.479 and looked from one of us to the other with 37 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:40.439 a comely face which was haggard with anxiety. Mister Sherlock Holmes, 38 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:45.800 my companion bowed. I've been down to Scotland Yard, mister Holmes. 39 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.680 I saw Inspector Stanley Hopkins. He advised me to come 40 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.639 to see you. He said the case, so far as 41 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:55.159 he could see, was more in your line than in 42 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.520 that of the regular police. Pray, sit down and tell 43 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:02.479 me what is the matter. It's awful, mister Holmes, simply awful. 44 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:06.800 I wonder my hair isn't gray. Godfrey Staunton you've heard 45 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.439 of him, of course, he's simply the hinge that the 46 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:12.599 whole team turns on. I'd rather spare two from the 47 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:16.360 pack and have Godfrey from my three quarter line. Whether 48 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.240 it's passing or tackling or dribbling. There's no one to 49 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:21.520 touch him. And then he's got the head and can 50 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:25.520 hold us all together. What am I to do? That's 51 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:29.960 what I ask you, mister Holmes. There's more house first reserved. 52 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.120 But he is trained as a half and he always 53 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:34.560 edges right in on the scrum instead of keeping out 54 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:37.520 on the touch line. He's a fine place kick, it's true, 55 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:40.000 but then he has no judgment and he can't sprint 56 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:43.360 for nuts. Why Morton or Johnson the Oxford Flyers could 57 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:47.280 romp round him. Stevenson is fast enough, but he couldn't 58 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:49.599 drop from the twenty five line, and a three quarter 59 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:51.919 who can't punt or drop isn't worth a place for 60 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:55.719 pace alone. No, mister Holmes, we are done unless you 61 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:59.599 can help me to find Godfrey Staunton. My friend had 62 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:02.800 listened the mused surprise to this long speech, which was 63 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:07.080 poured forth with extraordinary vigor and earnestness, every point being 64 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:09.800 driven home by the slapping of a brawny hand upon 65 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:14.319 the speaker's knee. When our visitor was silent, Holmes stretched 66 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:16.920 out his hand and took down letter s of his 67 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:21.160 commonplace book, for once he dug in vain into that 68 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:25.839 mine of varied information. There is Arthur H. Staunton, the 69 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:29.879 rising young forger, said he. And there was Henry Staunton, 70 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.879 whom I helped to hang. But Godfrey Staunton is a 71 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.759 new name to me. It was our visitor's turn to 72 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:41.720 look surprised. Why, mister Holmes, I thought you knew things, 73 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:44.680 said he. I suppose then, if you have never heard 74 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:50.079 of Godfrey Staunton, you don't know Cyril Overton either. Holmes 75 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:54.519 shook his head, good humoredly. Great Scott cried the athlete. 76 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:58.360 Why I was first reserved for England against Wales and 77 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:01.360 I've skippered the Varsity or this year. But that's nothing. 78 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:04.360 I didn't think there was a soul in England who 79 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:08.000 didn't know Godfrey Staunton, the crack three quarter Cambridge, Blackheath 80 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:13.120 and five internationals. Good lord, mister Holmes, where have you lived? 81 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:18.879 Holmes laughed at the young giant's naive astonishment. You live 82 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:21.839 in a different world to me, mister Overton, a sweeter 83 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:27.079 and healthier one. My ramification stretch out into many sections 84 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:30.600 of society, but never, I am happy to say, into 85 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:36.000 amateur sport, which is the best and soundest thing in England. However, 86 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.399 your unexpected visit this morning shows me that even in 87 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:42.839 that world of fresh air and fair play, there may 88 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:45.839 be work for me to do. So now, my good sir, 89 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.120 I beg you to sit down and to tell me, 90 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:52.600 slowly and quietly, exactly what it is that has occurred, 91 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:56.600 and how you desire that I should help you. Young 92 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:59.439 Overton's face assumed the bothered look of the man who 93 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:02.720 is more a custom to using his muscles than his wits, 94 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:07.319 but by degrees with many repetitions and obscurities which I 95 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:10.920 may omit from his narrative. He laid his strange story 96 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:17.040 before us. It's this way, mister Holmes, as I have said, 97 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:20.720 I am the skipper of the rugged ty Mark Cambridge Varsity, 98 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:25.959 and Godfrey Staunton is my best man. Tomorrow we play Oxford. 99 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:30.199 Yesterday we all came up and we settled at Bentley's 100 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:34.160 private hotel. At ten o'clock. I went round and saw 101 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:36.920 that all the fellows had gone to roost. For I 102 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:39.879 believe in strict training and plenty of sleep to keep 103 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:42.439 a team fit. I had a word or two with 104 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.879 Godfrey before he turned in. He seemed to me to 105 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:48.839 be pale and bothered. I asked him what was the matter. 106 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:52.759 He said he was all right, just a touch of headache. 107 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.439 I bade him good night and left him. Half an 108 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.759 hour later, the porter tells me that a rough looking 109 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.959 man with a beard called with a note for Godfrey. 110 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:04.879 He had not gone to bed, and the note was 111 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.480 taken to his room. Godfrey read it and fell back 112 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:11.240 in a chair as if it had been polaxed. The 113 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:13.800 porter was so scared that he was going to fetch me, 114 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:17.319 but Godfrey stopped him. Had a drink of water and 115 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:20.800 pulled himself together. Then he went downstairs, said a few 116 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:22.920 words to the man who was waiting in the hall, 117 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.480 and the two of them went off together. The last 118 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:28.800 that the porter saw of them, they were almost running 119 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:32.120 down the street in the direction of the Strand this 120 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:35.040 morning Godfrey's room was empty, his bed had never been 121 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:37.920 slept in, and his things were all just as I 122 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.759 had seen them the night before. He had gone off 123 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.920 at a moment's notice with this stranger, and no word 124 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:47.120 has come from him since. I don't believe he will 125 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.879 ever come back. He was a sportsman, was Godfrey down 126 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:54.079 to his marrow? And he wouldn't have stopped his training 127 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.480 and let in his skipper if it were not for 128 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:00.279 some cause that was too strong for him. No, as 129 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:02.920 if he were gone for good and we should never 130 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:07.720 see him again. Sherlock Holmes listened with the deepest attention 131 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:12.199 to this singular narrative. What did you do, he asked. 132 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:15.560 I wired to Cambridge to learn if anything had been 133 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:19.600 heard of him there. I have had an answer. No 134 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:24.480 one has seen him. Could he have got back to Cambridge? Yes, 135 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:28.120 there is a late train quarter past eleven, But so 136 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:31.160 far as you can ascertain he did not take it. No, 137 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:34.240 he has not been seen. What did you do next? 138 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:38.960 I wired to Lord mount James. Why to Lord mount James. 139 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.200 Godfrey is an orphan and Lord mount James is his 140 00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:48.399 nearest relative, his uncle. I believe indeed this throws new 141 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:51.559 light upon the matter. Lord mount James is one of 142 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:55.200 the richest men in England, so I've heard Godfrey say, 143 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:59.759 and your friend was closely related. Yes, he was his heir. 144 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.559 And the old boy is nearly eighty cram full of 145 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:05.639 gout too. They say he could chalk his billiard cue 146 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:09.200 with his knuckles. He never allowed Godfrey a shilling in 147 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:12.320 his life, for he is an absolute miser. But it 148 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:16.080 will all come to him right enough, have you heard 149 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:21.399 from Lord mount James. No, what motive could your friend 150 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:25.399 have in going to Lord Mount James. Well, something was 151 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:28.080 worrying him the night before, and if it was to 152 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:30.600 do with money, it is possible that he would make 153 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:33.279 for his nearest relative, who had so much of it, 154 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.080 though from all I have heard, he would not have 155 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:39.360 much chance of getting it. Godfrey was not fond of 156 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:41.720 the old man. He would not go if he could 157 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:45.840 help it. Well, we can soon determine that if your 158 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:49.080 friend was going to his relative, Lord Mount James, you 159 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:51.639 have then to explain the visit of this rough looking 160 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:55.279 fellow at so late an hour, and the agitation that 161 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:59.480 was caused by his coming. Cyril Overton pressed his hands 162 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:04.519 to his head. I can make nothing of it, said he. Well, well, 163 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:07.559 I have a clear day, and I shall be happy 164 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:11.080 to look into the matter, said Holmes, I should strongly 165 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:14.200 recommend you to make your preparations for your match without 166 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.559 reference to this young gentleman. It must, as you say, 167 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:21.240 have been an overpowering necessity which tore him away in 168 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:24.279 such a fashion, and the same necessity is likely to 169 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:27.759 hold him away. Let us step round together to the 170 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:30.679 hotel and see if the porter can throw any fresh 171 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:35.240 light upon the matter. Sherlock Holmes was a past master 172 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:38.159 in the art of putting a humble witness at his ease, 173 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.440 and very soon in the privacy of Godfrey Taunton's abandoned room, 174 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.559 he had extracted all that the porter had to tell. 175 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:49.159 The visitor of the night before was not a gentleman, 176 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:52.600 neither was he a working man. He was simply what 177 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.120 the porter described as a medium looking chap, a man 178 00:10:56.120 --> 00:11:00.840 of fifty beard grizzled, pale face, quietly dressed. He seemed 179 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:05.360 himself to be agitated. The porter had observed his hand 180 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:09.320 trembling when he had held out the note. Godfrey Staunton 181 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.000 had crammed the note into his pocket. Staunton had not 182 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:16.000 shaken hands with the man in the hall. They had 183 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:19.039 exchanged a few sentences, of which the porter had only 184 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:24.200 distinguished the one word time. Then they had hurried off 185 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:28.120 in the manner described. It was just half past ten 186 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:32.039 by the hall clock. Let me see, said Holmes, seating 187 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:35.559 himself on Staunton's bed. You are the day porter, are 188 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.879 you not, Yes, sir, I'll go off duty at eleven. 189 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:43.080 The night porter saw nothing, I suppose, no, sir. One 190 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:45.200 the at a party came in late, no one else. 191 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:49.639 Were you on duty all day yesterday? Yes, sir. Did 192 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:53.879 you take any messages to mister Staunton, Yes, sir, one telegram. Ah, 193 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:58.279 that's interesting. What a clock was this? About six? Where 194 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:02.240 was mister s Thornton when he received here in his room? 195 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:04.759 Were you present when he opened it? Yes, sir. I 196 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:08.399 waited to see if there was an answer. Well was there, yes, sir? 197 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:11.519 He wrote an answer? Did you take it now? He 198 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:15.399 took it himself, but he wrote it in your presence. Yes, sir, 199 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.200 I was standing by the door, and he with his 200 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:20.679 back turned at that table. When he had written it, 201 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.519 he said, or our porter, I will tight list myself. 202 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:28.279 What did he write it with a pencer? Was the 203 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:31.360 telegraphic form one of these on the table? Yes, sir, 204 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:35.960 it was the top one. Holmes rose. Taking the forms, 205 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.000 he carried them over to the window and carefully examined 206 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:42.320 that which was uppermost. It is a pity he did 207 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:45.080 not write in pencil, said he, throwing them down again, 208 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.159 with a shrug of disappointment. As you have no doubt, 209 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:52.919 frequently observed Watson, the impression usually goes through a fact 210 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:56.799 which has dissolved many a happy marriage. However, I can 211 00:12:56.840 --> 00:13:00.960 find no trace here. I rejoice, however, to perceive that 212 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:04.240 he wrote with a broad pointed quill pen. And I 213 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:07.200 can hardly doubt that we will find some impression upon 214 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:11.559 this blotting pad. Ah, yes, surely this is the very thing. 215 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:14.919 He tore off a strip of the blotting paper and 216 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:20.000 turned towards us a hieroglyphic cyril. Overton was much excited. 217 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:24.360 Hold it to the glass. He cried, That is unnecessary, 218 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:27.399 said Holmes. The paper is thin and the reverse will 219 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:31.200 give the message. Here it is. He turned it over 220 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:36.679 and we read stand by us for God's sake. So 221 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.960 that is the tale end of the telegram which god 222 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.759 Pristaunton dispatched within a few hours of his disappearance. There 223 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:47.000 are at least six words of the message which have 224 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:51.320 escaped us. But what remains stand by us for God's 225 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:55.399 sake proves that this young man saw a formidable danger 226 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:58.519 which approached him, and from which some one else could 227 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:05.080 protect him us mark you, another person was involved. Who 228 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:08.320 should it be but the pale faced, bearded man, who 229 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:12.240 seemed himself in so nervous a state. What then, is 230 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:16.080 the connection between Godfrey Staunton and the bearded man? And 231 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.559 what is the third source from which each of them 232 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:24.000 sought for help against pressing danger? Our inquiry has already 233 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:27.919 narrowed down to that we have only to find to 234 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:33.279 whom that telegram is addressed. I suggested exactly, my dear Watson. 235 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:37.960 Your reflection, though profound and already crossed my mind. But 236 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.919 I dare say it may have come to your notice 237 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.919 that if you walk into a post office and demand 238 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:45.960 to see the counterfoil of another man's message. There may 239 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.919 be some disinclination on the part of the officials to 240 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:54.120 oblige you. There is so much red tape in these matters. However, 241 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:57.000 I have no doubt that with a little delicacy and finesse, 242 00:14:57.080 --> 00:15:00.399 the end may be attained. Meanwhile, I should like, in 243 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:03.480 your presence, mister Overton, to go through these papers which 244 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:07.399 have been left upon the table. There were a number 245 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:10.639 of letters, bills, and note books which Holmes turned over 246 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:14.919 and examined with quick, nervous fingers and darting, penetrating eyes. 247 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:19.679 Nothing here, he said at last, By the way, I 248 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:22.840 suppose your friend was a healthy young fellow. Nothing amiss 249 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:26.799 with him, sound as a bell. Have you ever known him? Ill? 250 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:30.120 Not a day. He has been laid up with a hack, 251 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:32.879 and once he slipped his knee cap, but that was nothing. 252 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:36.919 Perhaps he was not so strong as you suppose. I 253 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:40.519 should think he may have had some secret trouble with 254 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:42.840 your assent. I will put one or two of these 255 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:46.039 papers in my pocket in case they should bear upon 256 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:52.360 our future inquiry. One moment, one moment, cried a querulous voice, 257 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:55.600 and we looked up to find a queer little old man, 258 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.360 jerking and twitching in the doorway. He was dressed in 259 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:04.039 rusty blue, with a very broad brimmed top hat and 260 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:08.279 a loose white necktie, the whole effect being that of 261 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:13.840 a very rustic parson, or of an undertaker's mute. Yet, 262 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:17.080 in spite of his shabby and even absurd appearance, his 263 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:21.120 voice had a sharp crackle and his manner a quick intensity, 264 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:24.840 which commanded attention, Who are you, sir? And by what 265 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:28.759 right do you touch this gentleman's papers? He asked, I 266 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:31.679 am a private detective and I am endeavoring to explain 267 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.879 his disappearance. Oh you are are you? And who instructed you? Eh? 268 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:39.120 This gentleman, mister Staunton's friend was referred to me by 269 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:44.480 Scotland Yard. Who are you, sir? I am Cyril Overton. 270 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:48.080 Then it is you who sent me a telegram. My 271 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.080 name is Lord mount James. I came round as quickly 272 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.480 as the Bayswater bus would bring me. So you have 273 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:57.360 instructed a detective, you sir, and you are prepared to 274 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:59.840 meet the cost. I have no doubt sir that my 275 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:02.759 and Godfrey, when we find him, will be prepared to 276 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:05.799 do that. But if he is never found a answer 277 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:09.519 me that in that case, no doubt, He's firmly nothing 278 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:13.759 of the sort, Sir screamed the little man. Don't look 279 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:16.039 to me for a penny, not a penny. You understand that, 280 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.279 mister detective. I am all the family that this young 281 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.960 man has got, and I tell you that I am 282 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:24.559 not responsible. If he has any expectations. It is due 283 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:27.000 to the fact that I have never wasted money, and 284 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.000 I do not propose to begin to do so. Now. 285 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:32.960 As to those papers with which you are making so free, 286 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.039 I may tell you that in case there should be 287 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:37.599 anything of any value among them, you will be held 288 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:41.559 strictly to account for what you do with them. Very good, sir, 289 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.000 said Sherlock Holmes. May I ask, in the meanwhile whether 290 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:48.519 you have yourself any theory to account for this young 291 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:52.079 man's disappearance. No, Sir, I have not. He is big 292 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.000 enough and old enough to look after himself, and if 293 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.160 he is so foolish as to lose himself, I entirely 294 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:02.880 refuse to accept the responsibility of hunting for him. I 295 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:07.240 quite understand your position, said Holmes, with a mischievous twinkle 296 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:12.440 in his eyes. Perhaps you don't quite understand mine. Godfrey 297 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.279 Staunton appears to have been a poor man. If he 298 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:17.799 has been kidnapped, it could not have been for anything 299 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:22.039 which he himself possesses. The fame of your wealth has 300 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:26.519 gone abroad, Lord Mount James, and it is entirely possible 301 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:30.240 that a gang of thieves have secured your nephew in 302 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:33.279 order to gain from him some information as to your house, 303 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:38.160 your habits, and your treasure. The face of our unpleasant 304 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:42.000 little visitor turned as white as his neckcloth. Heaven sir, 305 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.599 what an idea. I never thought of such villainy. What 306 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:48.200 in human rogues there are in the world. But Godfrey 307 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:51.359 is a fine lad, a staunch lad. Nothing would induce 308 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.880 him to give his old uncle away. I'll have the 309 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:57.200 plate moved over to the bank this evening. In the meantime, 310 00:18:57.240 --> 00:19:01.079 spare no pains, mister detective. I beg you to leave 311 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:04.680 no stone unturned to bring him safely back. As to money, well, 312 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:08.480 so far as a fiver or even a tenor goes, 313 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:13.720 you can always look to me. Even in his chastened 314 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:16.640 frame of mind, the noble miser could give us no 315 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:19.759 information which could help us, for he knew little of 316 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:24.359 the private life of his nephew. Our only clue lay 317 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:27.799 in the truncated telegram, and with a copy of this 318 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:30.960 in his hand, Holmes set forth to find a second 319 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:35.880 link for his chain. We had shaken off Lord mount James, 320 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.400 and Overton had gone to consult with the other members 321 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:42.759 of his team over the misfortune which had befallen them. 322 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.920 There was a telegraph office at a short distance from 323 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:52.240 the hotel we halted outside it. It's worth trying, Watson, 324 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:55.880 said Holmes. Of course, with a warrant we could demand 325 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:58.920 to see the counterfoils, but we have not reached that 326 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:02.839 stage yet. I don't suppose they remember faces in so 327 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:07.680 busy a place. Let us venture it. I am sorry 328 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.519 to trouble you, said he in his blandest manner, to 329 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:13.920 the young woman behind the grating. There is some small 330 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:17.400 mistake about a telegram I sent yesterday. I have had 331 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:19.880 no answer, and I very much fear that I must 332 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:22.920 have omitted to put my name at the end. Could 333 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:26.240 you tell me if this was so? The young woman 334 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:30.440 turned over a sheaf of counterfoils. What a clock was it? 335 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:34.119 She asked? A little after six? Home? Was it two? 336 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:38.200 Holmes put his finger to his lips and glanced at me. 337 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:43.000 The last words in it were for God's sake, he 338 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:47.359 whispered confidentially. I am very anxious at getting no answer. 339 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:52.319 The young woman separated one of the forms. This is it. 340 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:55.240 There is no name, said she, smoothing it out upon 341 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:58.839 the counter. Then that, of course accounts for my getting 342 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:02.839 no answer, said her homes dear me, how very stupid 343 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:06.400 of me to be sure. Good morning, miss, and many 344 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:11.000 thanks for having relieved my mind. He chuckled and rubbed 345 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:14.960 his hands. When we found ourselves in the street once more, well, 346 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:19.519 I asked, We progress, my dear Watson, We progress. I 347 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:22.880 had seven different schemes for getting a glimpse of that telegram, 348 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:26.319 but I could hardly hope to succeed the very first time. 349 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:31.640 And what have you gained? A starting point for our investigation? 350 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:37.000 He hailed a cab King's Cross Station, said he we 351 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:40.160 have a journey. Then, yes, I think we must run 352 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:43.680 down to Cambridge together. All the indications seemed to me 353 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:48.799 to point in that direction. Tell me, I asked, as 354 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:52.440 we rattled up Gray's Inn Road. Have you any suspicion 355 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:55.759 yet as to the cause of the disappearance? I don't 356 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.319 think that among all our cases, I have known one 357 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:01.920 where the motives are more obscure. Surely you don't really 358 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:04.279 imagine that he may be kidnapped in order to give 359 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:08.680 information against his wealthy uncle. I confess, my dear Watson, 360 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.680 that that does not appeal to me as a very 361 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:15.079 probable explanation. It struck me, however, as being the one 362 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:19.480 which was most likely to interest that exceedingly unpleasant old person. 363 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:25.079 It certainly did that. But what are your alternatives? I 364 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:28.759 could mention several. You must admit that it is curious 365 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:32.000 and suggestive that this incident should occur on the eve 366 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:35.880 of this important match, and should involve the only man 367 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:39.400 whose presence seems essential to the success of the side. 368 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:43.599 It may, of course be a coincidence, but it is interesting. 369 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:48.240 Amateur sport is free from betting, but a good deal 370 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:51.319 of outside betting goes on among the public, and it 371 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:53.880 is possible that it might be worth someone's while to 372 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:56.720 get at a player, as the ruffians of the turf 373 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:00.319 get at a race horse. There is one explaining nation. 374 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:04.519 A second, very obvious one is that this young man 375 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:07.880 really is the heir of a great property. However modest 376 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:10.759 his means may at present be, and it is not 377 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:13.599 impossible that a plot to hold him for ransom might 378 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:17.640 be concocted. These theories take no account of the telegram. 379 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:21.640 Quite true, Watson, the telegram still remains the only solid 380 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:24.119 thing with which we have to deal, and we must 381 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:28.039 not permit our attention to wander away from it. It 382 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:30.559 is to gain light upon the purpose of this telegram 383 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:34.359 that we are now upon our way to Cambridge. The 384 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:38.279 path of our investigation is at present obscure, but I 385 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.920 shall be very much surprised if before evening we have 386 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:47.279 not cleared it up or made a considerable advance along it. 387 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:50.960 It was already dark when we reached the old University city. 388 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:54.319 Holmes took a cab at the station and ordered the 389 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:57.160 man to drive to the house of doctor Leslie Armstrong. 390 00:23:58.279 --> 00:24:00.640 A few minutes later we had stopped at a large 391 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:04.960 mansion in the busiest thoroughfare. We were shown in, and 392 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:07.920 after a long wait, were at last admitted into the 393 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:11.920 consulting room, where we found the doctor seated behind his table. 394 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.880 It argues the degree in which I had lost touch 395 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:19.079 with my profession that the name of Leslie Armstrong was 396 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:22.440 unknown to me. Now I am aware that he is 397 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:24.880 not only one of the heads of the medical school 398 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:29.359 of the university, but a thinker of European reputation in 399 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:33.519 more than one branch of science. Yet even without knowing 400 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:36.960 his brilliant record, one could not fail to be impressed 401 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:40.839