Speaker 1: And how to return to the avenging Blade, the attempted
Speaker 1: murder and the Equestrian statue.
Speaker 2: Doctor Watson.
Speaker 3: Yes, it's the famous statue of Charles the First stands
Speaker 3: in Charing Cross, which, as you know, is often called
Speaker 3: the center of London.
Speaker 4: Charing Cross.
Speaker 1: Isn't that the open space to the south of the
Speaker 1: Falcon Square, doctor Watson.
Speaker 4: Correct, mister Harris. But to begin at the beginning.
Speaker 3: It is one of those clear red days in late
Speaker 3: January which now and then surprised the city of London.
Speaker 3: The sky was a brilliant blue, and the light powdery
Speaker 3: fall of snow reflected the dazzling sunlight outside.
Speaker 4: Holmes was lounging.
Speaker 3: On the sofa in a brilliant purple dressing gown, his
Speaker 3: pipe rack within his reach, ashes scattered on the floor,
Speaker 3: and the couple morning papers littering the room in all directions,
Speaker 3: My dear Holmes, no one could accuse you of being
Speaker 3: a tidy man.
Speaker 2: Only in my head, Watson. My brain houses what is
Speaker 2: probably the most accurate and complete collection of information in
Speaker 2: all of England, if not in the entire world, and
Speaker 2: it's all in meticulous and precise order. Conceit not at
Speaker 2: all Watson, merely accuracy. But of what use are my
Speaker 2: unequal mental abilities? For months there's been no crime worthy
Speaker 2: of my attention, no case with any originality, any imagination.
Speaker 3: Or wouldn't say that you found the shop of Bagdad's
Speaker 3: missing emerald. You outwitted the band of nihilists who were
Speaker 3: threatening to blow up both houses of Parliament.
Speaker 2: Commonplace strictly routine investigations.
Speaker 4: Oh there's up on door bell. Maybe it's a case.
Speaker 2: Look out of the window, Watson, see who's on the doorstep.
Speaker 2: That's a good chap.
Speaker 4: Pity, wouldn't bestir yourself? Now? Then? Tallish man dressed in
Speaker 4: Highland regalia, bonnet, gilts even various Scottish dirt is stocky.
Speaker 2: Hmm, rather drafty attire for a day like this. By
Speaker 2: the way, Watson, what day is it?
Speaker 4: Wednesday?
Speaker 5: Of course?
Speaker 2: I mean what day of the month.
Speaker 4: Let me see, thirtieth I believe, well near least according
Speaker 4: to the time as it is.
Speaker 2: Yes, I think we may grant that that is one
Speaker 2: subject on which the Times is fairly accurate. The thirtieth
Speaker 2: of January. Of course, it's the anniversary of the beheading
Speaker 2: of Charles the First, So that's why he's done his kilts.
Speaker 3: Missus hudsony is slow answering the door this morning.
Speaker 4: He's looking up here, read Scott Holmes. It's the Duke
Speaker 4: of Buckinghurst.
Speaker 2: I suspected as much heaven.
Speaker 4: Say, don't just sit there. Homes have been a tidy
Speaker 4: and tidy of this clutter. Oh what sort of an
Speaker 4: impression you expect him makes?
Speaker 2: Sprawl there in the midst of all this mess, My
Speaker 2: dear Watson, if his lordship has a case sufficiently important
Speaker 2: to warrant my attention, he'll be in no mood to
Speaker 2: notice trifles. If not, I'm not interested in his lordship.
Speaker 2: I'm not impressed by titles, Watson. They're so apt to
Speaker 2: due to the chance of heredity, like red hair or
Speaker 2: a Roman nose.
Speaker 3: At least you might stake me your collar. Oh, come in,
Speaker 3: our Lord Buckinghurst. This is an honor.
Speaker 4: Won't you sit down? Thank you? No, no, no, no, not
Speaker 4: bad chair.
Speaker 3: I think you'll find this one more comfitable. May I
Speaker 3: relieve you of your Bonnard? Would you like to talk
Speaker 3: of Brandy Watson? If you'll stop playing the palpitating hostess.
Speaker 3: Lord Buckinghurst might like to explain why he's called to
Speaker 3: consult me.
Speaker 6: Thank you, mister Holmes. It's all so fantastic. I really
Speaker 6: don't know where to begin. If I had received this
Speaker 6: note at any other time, I had to put it
Speaker 6: down to some poor, demented halfwit. Persons in my position,
Speaker 6: mister Holmes, are unfortunately the recipients of a great many
Speaker 6: curious communications, everything from begging letters to blackmail.
Speaker 2: There's nothing fantastic about blackmail in your position, Lord Buckinghurst. Consequently,
Speaker 2: that is not the gist of the letter that brought
Speaker 2: you here, Good Lord.
Speaker 6: No, it's so will it's incredible. I hardly know how
Speaker 6: to describe it.
Speaker 2: Suppose you allow me to view the letter and judge
Speaker 2: for myself.
Speaker 6: That would be the most sensible procedure. I suppose here
Speaker 6: you are, mister Holmes.
Speaker 2: Hmm, paper an excellent quality, an educated script, half English,
Speaker 2: half Continental. Notice the final essays Watson.
Speaker 3: Eh, well, yes, we're to blaze it with the essays.
Speaker 3: What does it say?
Speaker 2: You must pardon my friend's lack of restraint, Lord Buckinghurst.
Speaker 2: He will never realize that the writing, paper and general
Speaker 2: appearance of the letter often give me more information about
Speaker 2: the sender than the contents of the message.
Speaker 6: I think you will agree that the contents of this
Speaker 6: letter is of no small interests mister Holmes.
Speaker 2: Yes, let's see to the late Duke of Buckinghurst.
Speaker 7: Hmm.
Speaker 2: Interesting they wear the blade of the Martyr King.
Speaker 4: Brief that bewildering eharlt not.
Speaker 2: Entirely, Lord Buckinghurst, you are, if I am not mistaken,
Speaker 2: descended from the Duke of Buckinghurst, who is the favorite
Speaker 2: and boon companion of the ill fated Charles.
Speaker 6: The Third correct, mister Holmes, as the eldest of my family.
Speaker 6: It thus evolves upon me to attend the memorial services
Speaker 6: which are held every thirtieth of January by the Royal
Speaker 6: Martyr Society, and place a commemorative wreath on the pedestal of.
Speaker 2: The statue designed if I am not mistaken by Grinling Gibbons.
Speaker 6: Really, I had no idea. It's not so old as
Speaker 6: the statue.
Speaker 2: I believe that the pedestal I mean quite tell me,
Speaker 2: Lord Buckinghurst. Does this expression the blade of the Martyr
Speaker 2: King have any particular significance to you?
Speaker 4: Ay?
Speaker 6: Yes and no. I presume it refers to the ancient
Speaker 6: superstition which concerns the sword in the statue's hand, which
Speaker 6: is It seems that after the monarchy was restored, Charles
Speaker 6: the Second witnessed the execution of Thomas Harrison and the
Speaker 6: other regicides at Charing Cross. After the bloody event was
Speaker 6: over and his predecessor had been avenged, he made a
Speaker 6: proclamation to his followers, you have.
Speaker 8: Witnessed the fate which befalls those who dare to turn
Speaker 8: against the Crown, And so that you shall be reminded thereof,
Speaker 8: I hereby decree that on this spot shall be erected
Speaker 8: the statue of my martyred ancestor Charles, and to his
Speaker 8: hand shall be restored the sword which he carried at
Speaker 8: Marsden Moor and Naseby, and which was taken from him
Speaker 8: by the Scottish friends who foully betrayed him to his enemies.
Speaker 8: If any man dare henceforth to plot against the Crown,
Speaker 8: let him beware. That's all.
Speaker 6: They say, mister Holmes, that when a traitor to the
Speaker 6: crown approaches the statue, the sword trembles and cries out
Speaker 6: for a vengeance.
Speaker 2: How is that supposed to affect you, Lord Buckinghurs.
Speaker 3: Unless if I know, and yet someone obviously wants you
Speaker 3: to believe that if you attend this sentimentute a day,
Speaker 3: there will be a catastrophe of some sort, as you
Speaker 3: might not just saying word you have a bad cold
Speaker 3: and can't attend. As a medical man, I'd be more
Speaker 3: than glad to vouch for your indisposition.
Speaker 6: Never, whoever wrote that note doesn't know me very well.
Speaker 6: If he thinks he can scare me off by any
Speaker 6: such hocus pocus, or.
Speaker 2: He may know you very well, Tell me not, Buckinghurst.
Speaker 2: If you should be incapacitated on any of these occasions,
Speaker 2: who would be called on to place the wreef on
Speaker 2: the pedestal?
Speaker 8: My heir?
Speaker 4: Of course, you have a son hold enough to represent you.
Speaker 6: No, doctor Watson. I allude to my brother James. I
Speaker 6: am a bachelor and have no children. If anything should
Speaker 6: happen to me, my brother inherits the title.
Speaker 2: By any chance, Lord Buckinghurst. Was your brother educated in France?
Speaker 6: Why yes, mister Holmes, he attended the Sorbonne. It was
Speaker 6: while he was studying in Paris that he met Claire,
Speaker 6: his wife. Oh, I see what you're driving at. You
Speaker 6: think James may have written that note hoping to keep
Speaker 6: me at home, So he would have the lime light
Speaker 6: in to day's celebration. No, in the first place, my
Speaker 6: brother knows me too well for that, And in the
Speaker 6: second place, he is insufferably shy. He'd die of stage
Speaker 6: right if he had to make a public appearance of
Speaker 6: any sort.
Speaker 2: But he will attend the ceremony.
Speaker 6: Oh yes, mister Holmes. The entire family will be there.
Speaker 2: HM should be a rather color affair. What do you
Speaker 2: say were your company? Lord Buckinghurst? Watson with pleasure?
Speaker 4: And I promise you, sir, that whatever the danger is
Speaker 4: that threatens you, you'll be quite safe with Sherlock Holmes along.
Speaker 6: Don't be fatuous. Why do you think I dropped in
Speaker 6: this morning? But we'd be better be getting along. The
Speaker 6: program begins in half an hour.
Speaker 2: There's no hurry. We have plenty of time for a
Speaker 2: stirrup camp Scotch, I believe would be appropriate to the occasion.
Speaker 6: I take my advice and drink it meat. Those breezes
Speaker 6: round Cherring Cross a very brash this time of year.
Speaker 4: Shall I get the bottle herds?
Speaker 2: No, Watson, I'll do the honors. You might fetch my greatcoat, however,
Speaker 2: and your service revolver.
Speaker 9: That's a good chap Right.
Speaker 2: I don't know whether you know it, Lord Buckinghurst, but
Speaker 2: the Statue of Charles the First you are about to
Speaker 2: decorate as a rather ironic history. Really, it was cast
Speaker 2: in sixteen thirty three by Hubert L. Cur a pupil
Speaker 2: of Giovanni Bologna, that had not yet been erected when
Speaker 2: the Civil War broke out and the First Charles was
Speaker 2: deposed and beheaded. It was subsequently sold by Parliament to
Speaker 2: a brazier for the name of Rivet.
Speaker 4: Rivet appropriate cognial minails.
Speaker 2: Only to rupt Watson. Mister Rivett was ordered to melt
Speaker 2: the statue down.
Speaker 4: Rang vandalism less the trouble with people always wanted to
Speaker 4: destroy someone else's handywork.
Speaker 2: Calm yourself once, and remember the statue does stand in
Speaker 2: Charing Cross today.
Speaker 4: The old man Rivet didn't destroy this anything.
Speaker 2: He announced that he'd done just that, and for years
Speaker 2: he made a tidy living out of selling fragments of
Speaker 2: metal as souvenirs to both cavaliers and roundheads. However, when
Speaker 2: the restoration came along, he sold the statue back to
Speaker 2: the government at a neat profit. It was subsequently erected
Speaker 2: on the spot where it now stands the old scoundrel.
Speaker 4: I say, Old bucking Hurst, you look a bit glassy eyed.
Speaker 4: Don't you feel that it's hit that for effect?
Speaker 2: I do feel a bit squeamish still the motion.
Speaker 6: That's a handsome cab. Never had it affect me this
Speaker 6: way before.
Speaker 2: Old Tyke. When they're there, just turning into Trafougar Square.
Speaker 3: Yes, look, Holmes, there's the statue up ahead. Quite a
Speaker 3: group of people gathered around, lots of wearing kilts, and
Speaker 3: there are bagpipers. I do enjoy a highland air on
Speaker 3: the doodle sack.
Speaker 10: You know.
Speaker 2: Here we are, Lord Buckinghurst. Good, get me out of here.
Speaker 11: You all right?
Speaker 6: When I get my feet on terra firma.
Speaker 4: Oh there you are, Robert. We thought you would never
Speaker 4: get here.
Speaker 12: They'd been waiting nearly half an hour to begin the ceremony.
Speaker 12: The pipers have brown themselves practically out of break.
Speaker 2: Keeping the crowd entertain.
Speaker 6: Sorry, Claire, my dear, may I present mister Sherlock Holmes
Speaker 6: and doctor Watson. Gentlemen. This is my brother James and
Speaker 6: his wife.
Speaker 4: How do you do?
Speaker 2: How do you do?
Speaker 12: This is mister Sherlock Holmes, the detective. Quite delightfully excited.
Speaker 12: But Robert, why a detective at a time like this?
Speaker 12: Just a precaution, precaution, precausion against what? Do not tell
Speaker 12: me there is something of which my brother in law,
Speaker 12: the Indomitable Duke of Buckinghurst, is afraid.
Speaker 8: You do look a bit wonky, Robert, Is there anything
Speaker 8: wrong affected?
Speaker 6: I do feel that traful under the weather. There that
Speaker 6: fin and haady a head for breakfast must have upset me.
Speaker 4: James.
Speaker 6: If I should have to retire suddenly, you take over
Speaker 6: When it comes time to place the wreath.
Speaker 8: Oh but I I couldn't.
Speaker 2: I I couldn't really why not?
Speaker 4: Everyone would be looking at me.
Speaker 10: I wouldn't know.
Speaker 4: What to do.
Speaker 2: You don't do anything but carry the wreaths, escorted on
Speaker 2: either side by bagpipers playing a dirt. When you reach
Speaker 2: the statue, you place the wreath at its feet. The
Speaker 2: pipers break into a Scottish battle song. It's all there
Speaker 2: is to it, my right Lord Buckinghurst, that's all James.
Speaker 12: No, I can't let him do it. James is just
Speaker 12: out of a sick bed. He would have to remove
Speaker 12: his overcoat and in those kilts, in his icy wind.
Speaker 2: It would probably kill him the wind, Lady Claire.
Speaker 4: I say, look, the ceremony is nearly ready to begin.
Speaker 4: The Minister's about to read the benediction.
Speaker 6: You'll have to excuse me.
Speaker 4: Robert.
Speaker 8: You can't leave now.
Speaker 4: I have two jeams.
Speaker 6: I think I'm going to be sick.
Speaker 2: I'm going to be sick.
Speaker 4: Ose what did you put in that scott you gave
Speaker 4: to Lord Buckinghurst?
Speaker 2: Here come the bagpipers with a wreath. Well, Lord Buckinghurst
Speaker 2: hasn't come back. Looks as though you'd have to carry on,
Speaker 2: Sir James.
Speaker 8: Oh dear dear, I I do wish Robert would come back.
Speaker 4: I'm not at all good.
Speaker 12: At this sort of thing, James, that forbid you to
Speaker 12: do it? You can't think of your overcoat. Let someone
Speaker 12: else place the wreath. Let mister Holmes do it.
Speaker 2: Thank you, madam. But it's an honor to which I'm
Speaker 2: afraid I cannot. As spire. My ancestors were mostly roundheads,
Speaker 2: you know. I'm afraid King Charles wouldn't approve. I wouldn't
Speaker 2: want to come within striking distance of that famous sword.
Speaker 12: You are joking such an amusing.
Speaker 8: Man, am I Oh dear, yes, they've noticed Robert is missing.
Speaker 4: They're bringing the wreath to me.
Speaker 8: Here, somebody hold my coach.
Speaker 2: Sorry, madam, you know the expression no less oblige carry on,
Speaker 2: Sir Jane.
Speaker 8: Yes, I I suppose I shall have to, Oh dear,
Speaker 8: I wish I'd stayed in bed jeans.
Speaker 10: You woo, you idiot.
Speaker 3: Not a very impressive figure the Cadet branch of the
Speaker 3: House of buckinghast.
Speaker 2: No man with knock knee should wear kilts in public. Still,
Speaker 2: there are all kinds of courage.
Speaker 3: Watson James. He's reached the statue. He's he's needing to
Speaker 3: place the wreath.
Speaker 2: Watson quick and your revolver. Yes, but what I don't
Speaker 2: like the angle of the statue sword over his head?
Speaker 4: Hose Have you'd taken leave of your senses?
Speaker 2: You know when they start to play the battle cry? Yes,
Speaker 2: the pipers are filling their lungs.
Speaker 10: Did they go right, Jail James.
Speaker 4: Look the sword is falling you, Lord Holmes, the sword
Speaker 4: you hid it in mid air. You've broken into bits.
Speaker 2: I prevented it from impaling Sir James's body.
Speaker 12: No, this is too much, ex kids you he's lying
Speaker 12: on the ground.
Speaker 2: He's dead. Calm yourself, madame, Your husband's only fainted. The
Speaker 2: sword missed him completely. Watson, you're going revived, Sir James.
Speaker 2: I'll attend to her ladyship here very well now, Madam.
Speaker 2: No what, mister Holmes, why did you attempt to kill
Speaker 2: your husband's brother. You knew the vibrations of the wild
Speaker 2: Stuart battle cry and the bagpipes would dislodge the loosened
Speaker 2: sword in the statue's hand. You knew it, But a
Speaker 2: pierced the back of anyone kneling below. You screamed to
Speaker 2: warn your husband before the sword fell.
Speaker 12: Ha shemess you you are almost as clever as people
Speaker 12: say you are. I will not bother to deny your accusations.
Speaker 5: Why should I?
Speaker 9: There's nothing you can prove.
Speaker 12: What have I to be afraid of.
Speaker 2: The man you hired to loosen the sword in the
Speaker 2: statue's hand. With my sources of information, it shouldn't take
Speaker 2: me more than twenty four hours to find him. With
Speaker 2: my powers of persuasion, it shouldn't take me more than
Speaker 2: twenty four minutes to make him talk.
Speaker 12: What is that expression they teach the children in his country?
Speaker 12: Mister Lees, do not count the chickens until they are hatched.
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Speaker 1: but it takes real manufacturing genius to produce really fine
Speaker 1: clothes that not only look far above, but are far
Speaker 1: above the modest price you pay for them. That's why
Speaker 1: we say, try on at clipper Craft tomorrow. It'll be
Speaker 1: hard to believe you're getting so very much for so
Speaker 1: very little, such exportailoring, smart styling, and superb long wearing fatrics.
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Speaker 11: add their names to Clippercraft and Your Suit, top Coat
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Speaker 11: eighth and sixty seven Liberty Street, Sacks thirty fourth Broadway
Speaker 11: at thirty fourth In Brooklyn, Abraham and Strauss in Newark,
Speaker 11: New Jersey Boulevard Men's Shop, Presley, Newarck. And in Jamaica,
Speaker 11: the B and B Clothes Shop, one sixty four o
Speaker 11: eight Jamaica Avenue.
Speaker 1: And our back to Sherlock Holmes and doctor Watson. We
Speaker 1: find them standing in the dim light of a street
Speaker 1: lamp which marks the entrance to a crooked lane, and
Speaker 1: soho large flakes of falling snow intensify the expectant silence
Speaker 1: of the winter night.
Speaker 3: How much longer do we have to wait out here
Speaker 3: in this confounded snow homes.
Speaker 4: It's after midnight.
Speaker 2: We shall wait here, Watson, until the Lady Claire arrives
Speaker 2: to pay a visit to the artisan who loosened the
Speaker 2: sword for her. See, I was better than my promise.
Speaker 2: I tracked him down in less than twenty four hours.
Speaker 4: What makes you so sure she'll come?
Speaker 2: She must, Watson, As long as Andre Bogarde is alive.
Speaker 2: He's affreat to her safety.
Speaker 4: You think she'll try to finish him off.
Speaker 2: My dear Watson. A woman who's capable of attempting to
Speaker 2: murder her husband's brother so that he may inherit is
Speaker 2: capable of anything.
Speaker 4: Whom, sir, when did you first suspect the Dixon?
Speaker 2: From the beginning, the letter of warning had to be
Speaker 2: written either by James or his wife. They were the
Speaker 2: only two who'd benefit by the death of Lord Buckinghurst.
Speaker 2: They were the only two who knew him well enough
Speaker 2: to know the effect the letter would be bound to
Speaker 2: have on him. You mean he'd attend the ceremony, come
Speaker 2: hell or high warder exactly. James didn't duck when the
Speaker 2: bagpipes bursted that violent squalling. Claire, however, screamed to warn him.
Speaker 2: Hence she was the guilty party. Kwied, Here comes afore wheeler. Yes,
Speaker 2: it's turning down this anyway, down behind these barrels.
Speaker 5: Watson, it's stopped in front of Bigod's shop.
Speaker 4: I see she is. She's not getting out.
Speaker 7: No, she's seen Andrea's shadow on the blind. Yes, she's
Speaker 7: lowering the cab window. A woman's hand comes out of
Speaker 7: the window, it's holding a revolver.
Speaker 2: Very well, Lestrade, you have your proof. You may come
Speaker 2: down from the driver's seat and arrest the lady Shrilla Coles. Yes,
Speaker 2: better use handcuffs on her. Lestrade. By the way, madam,
Speaker 2: this should teach you never, when on a secret mission,
Speaker 2: never take the first cab that presents itself. Never know
Speaker 2: who the coachman is. Oh, and thank you so much
Speaker 2: for your display of marksmanship. I think it I swayed
Speaker 2: Andrea to tell us all we wish to know.
Speaker 12: Oh no, I never miss It is too late for
Speaker 12: Andrea to tell anyone.
Speaker 2: So sorry to disillusion you, but it wasn't Andrea's head.
Speaker 2: Your bullet hit what merely a cleverly arranged silhouette of
Speaker 2: the man. I cut it out of cardboard myself only
Speaker 2: an hour ago. You see, Lady Claire, I have artistic
Speaker 2: blood in my veins. Or didn't you know?
Speaker 12: I think you are the devil himself?
Speaker 4: No, Madam, only his second cousin.
Speaker 2: All right, Ristard may take it away.