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Speaker 1: The Moabite Cipher by R. Austin Freeman. A large and

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motley crowd lined the pavements of Oxford Street as Thorndyke

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and I made our way leisurely eastward. Floral decorations and

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drooping bunting announced one of those functions inaugurated from time

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to time by a benevolent government for the entertainment of

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fashionable loungers and the relief of distressed pickpockets. For a

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Russian grand Duke, who had torn himself away amidst valedictory

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explosions from a loving if two demonstrative people, was to

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pass Anon on his way to the Guildhall, and a

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British prince, heroically indiscreet was expected to occupy a seat

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in the ducal carriage near Raftbone Place. Thorndyke halted and

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drew my attention to a smart looking man who was

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lounging in a doorway, cigarette in hand. Our old friend,

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Inspector Badger, said Thorndyke. He seems mightily interested in that

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gentleman in the light overcoat. How d'ye do Badger? For

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at this moment the detective caught his eye and bowed

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who is your friend. That's what I'd like to know, Sir,

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replied the Inspector. I've been shadowing him for the last

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half hour, but I can make him out, though I

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believe I've seen him somewhere. He don't look like a foreigner,

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but he has something bulky in his pocket, so I

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must keep him in sight until the Duke is safely passed.

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I wish, he added gloomily, these beastly Russians would stop

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at home. They give us no end of trouble. Are

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you expecting any occurrences? Then asked Thorndyke. Bless you, Sir,

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exclaimed Badger. The whole root is lined with a plainclothesman.

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You see, it is known that several desperate characters followed

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the Duke to England, and there are a good many

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exiles living here who would like to have a wrap

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at him. Hallo, what's he up to now? The man

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in the light overcoat had suddenly caught the Inspector's too

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inquiring eye, and forthwith dived into the crowd at the

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edge of the pavement. In his haste, he trod heavily

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on the foot of a big, rough looking man by

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whom he was in a moment hustled out into the

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road with such violence that he fell, sprawling face downwards.

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It was an unlucky moment. A mounted constable was just

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then backing in upon the crowd, and before he could

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gather the meaning of the shout that arose from the bystanders,

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his horse had set down one hind hoofed firmly on

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the prostrate man's back. The inspector signaled to a constable,

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who forthwith made a way for us through the crowd.

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But even as we approached the injured man, he rose

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stiffly and looked round with a pale, vacant face. Are

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you hurt, Thorndyke asked gently, with an earnest look into

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the frightened, wondering eyes. No, sir, was the reply. Only

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I feel queer sinking just here. He laid a trembling

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hand on his chest, and Thorndyke, still eyeing him anxiously, said,

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in a low voice to the inspector cab or ambulance

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as quickly as you can. A cab was led round

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from Newman Street, and the injured man put into it. Thorndyke,

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Badger and I entered, and we drove off up Rathbone Place.

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As we proceeded, our patient's face grew more and more ashen,

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drawn and anxious. His breathing was shallow and uneven, and

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his teeth chattered slightly. The cab swung round into Good Street,

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and then suddenly, in the tinkling of an eye, there

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came a change. The eyelids and jaw relaxed, the eyes

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became filmy, and the whole form subsided into the corner

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in a shrunken heap, with the strange, gelatinous limpness of

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a body that is dead as a whole while its

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tissues are still alive. God save us the man, instead,

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exclaimed the inspector in a shocked voice, For even policemen

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have their feelings. He sat staring at the corpse as

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it nodded gently with the jolting of the cab until

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we drew up inside the courtyard of the Middlesex Hospital,

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when he got out briskly with suddenly renewed cheerfulness, to

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help the porter to place the body on the wheeled couch.

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Well we shall know who he is now, at any rate,

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said he, as we followed the couch to the casualty room.

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Thorndyke nodded unsympathetically. The medical instinct in him was, for

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the moment, stronger than the legal. The house surgeon leaned

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over the couch and made a rapid examination as he

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listened to our account of the incident. Then he straightened

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himself up and looked at Thorndyke. Internal hemorrhage, I expect,

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said he. At any rate, he's dead, poor beggar, as

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dead as nebukanezer Ah. Here comes the bobby. It's his

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affair now. A sergeant came into the room, breathing quickly,

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and looked in surprise from the corpse to the inspector.

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But the latter, without loss of time, proceeded to turn

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out the dead man's pockets, commencing with the bulky object

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which had first attracted his attention, which proved to be

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a brown paper parcel tied up with red tape. Poor

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pie begad, he exclaimed with a crestfallen air, as he

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cut the tape and opened the package. You had better

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go through his other pocket, sergeant. The small heap of

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odds and ends that resulted from this process tended with

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a single exception to throw a little light on the

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man's identity, the exception being a letter sealed but not stamped,

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addressed in an exceedingly illiterate hand to mister Adolph Schoenberg,

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two thirteen Greek Street. Soho he was going to leave

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it by hand, I expect, observed the inspector with a

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wistful glance at the sealed envelope. I think I'll take

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it round myself, and you had better come with me, sergeant.

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He slipped the letter into his poe, and, leaving the

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sergeant to take possession of the other effects, made his

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way out of the building. I suppose, doctor, said he

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as we crossed into Berner Street. You are not coming

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our way. Don't want to see mister Schoenburg. Thornburgh reflected

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for a moment, Well, it isn't very far and we

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may as well see the end of the incident. Yes,

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let's go together. Number two one three Greek Street was

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one of those houses that irresistibly suggested the observer the

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idea of a church organ, either jamb of the doorway

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being adorned with a row of brass bell handles corresponding

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to stop knobs. These, the sergeant examined with the air

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of an expert musician, and having as it were, gaged

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the capacity of the instrument, selected the middle knob on

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the right side and pulled it briskly, whereupon a first

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floor window was thrown up and a head protruded, but

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it afforded us a momentary glimpse only for having caught

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the sergeant's upturned eye. It retired with surprising precipitancy, and

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before we had time to speculate on the apparition, the

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street door was opened and a man emerged. He was

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about to close the door after him, when the inspector interposed,

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does mister Adolf Schoenburg live here? The newcomer, a very

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typical jew of the red haired type, surveyed us thoughtfully

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through his gold rimmed spectacles as he repeated the name Schoenburg. Schoenburg. Ah, yes,

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I know, he lives on the third floor. I saw

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him go up a short time ago, third floor back,

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and indicating the open door with a wave of the hand,

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he raised his hat and passed into the street. I

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suppose we had better go up, said the inspector, with

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a dubious glance at the row of bell poles. He

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accordingly started up the stairs, and we all followed in

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his wake. There were two doors at the back of

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the third floor, but as the one was open, displaying

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an unoccupied bedroom, the inspector rapped smartly on the other.

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It flew open almost immediately, and a fierce looking little

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man confronted us with a hostile stare. Well said he,

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mister Adolf Schoenburg, inquired the inspector, vell flat about him,

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snapped our new acquaintance. I wish to have a few

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words with him, said badger. Then vacta, do still come

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bangin at my door? For demanded the other. Why doesn't

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he live here? No first floor front, replied our friend,

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preparing to close the door. Pardon me, said Thorndyke. But

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what is mister Schoenburg like? I mean like, interrupted the resident.

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He's like a blooming signeye with a carroty beard and

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gold gig lamps. And having presented this impressionist sketch, he

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brought the interview to a definite close by slamming the

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door and turning the key with a wrathful exclamation. The

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inspector turned towards the stairs, down which the sergeant was

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already clattering in hot haste, and made his way back

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to the ground floor, followed as before by Thorndyke and me.

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On the doorstep, we found the sergeant breathlessly interrogating a

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smartly dressed youth whom I had seen a light from

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a hansom as we entered the house, and who now

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stood with a note book tucked under his arm, sharpening

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a pencil with deliberate care. Mister James saw him come out, sir,

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said the sergeant. He turned up towards the square. Did

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he seem to hurry, asked the inspector, Rather, replied the reporter.

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As soon as you were inside, he went off like

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a lamp lighter. You won't catch him. Now, we don't

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want to catch him, the detective rejoined, gruffly. Then, backing

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out of earshot of the eager pressman, he said, in

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a lower tone, that was mister Schoenberg, beyond a doubt,

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and it is clear that he has some reason for

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making himself scarce. So I shall consider myself justified. In

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opening that note, he suited the action to the word, and,

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having cut the envelope open with official neatness, drew out

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the enclosure. My hat, he exclaimed, as his eye fell

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upon the contents. What in creation is this? It isn't shorthand,

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but what the deuce is it? He handed the document

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to Thorndyke, who, having held it up to the light

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and felt the paper critically, proceeded to examine it with

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keen interest. It consisted of a single half sheet of

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thin note paper, both sides of which were covered with

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strange crabbed characters written with a brownish black ink in

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continuous lines, without any spaces to indicate the divisions into words.

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And but for the modern material which bore the writing,

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it i'd have been a portion of some ancient manuscript

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or forgotten codex. What do you make of it? Doctor,

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inquired the inspector anxiously, after a pause during which Thorndyke

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had scrutinized the strange writing with knitted brows. Not a

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great deal, replied Thorndyke. The character is the Moabide or Phoenician,

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primitive Semitic in fact, and reads from right to left.

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The language I take to be Hebrew at any rate

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I can find no Greek words, and I see here

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a group of letters which may form one of the

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few Hebrew words that I know. The word badim lies.

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But you had better get it deciphered by an expert.

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If it is Hebrew, said Badger. We can manage it

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all right. There are plenty of Jews at our disposal.

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You had better take that paper to the British Museum,

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said Thorndyke, and submitted to the Keeper of the Phoenician

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Antiquities for decipherment. Inspector Badger smiled a foxy smile as

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he deposited the paper in his pocket book. We'll see

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what we can make of it ourselves first, he said.

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But many thanks for your advice. All the same doctor, No,

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mister James, I can't give you any information just at present.

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You had better apply at the hospital. I suspect, said

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Thorndyke as we took our way homewards, that mister James

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has collected enough material for his purpose already. He must

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have followed us from the hospital, and I have no

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doubt that he has his report with full details mentally

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arranged at this moment, and I am not sure that

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he didn't get a peep at the mysterious paper in

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spite of the Inspector's precautions. By the way, I said,

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what do you make of the document? A cipher, most probably,

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he replied. It is written in the primitive Semitic alphabet, which,

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as you know, is practically identical with primitive Greek. It

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is written from right to left, like the Phoenician Hebrew

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and Moabite, as well as the earliest Greek inscriptions. The

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paper is common cream laid note paper, and the ink

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is ordinary indelible Chinese ink, such as is used by draftsmen.

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Those are the facts, and without further study of the

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document itself, they don't carry us very far. Why do

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you think it is a cipher rather than a document

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and straightforward Hebrew? Because it is obviously a secret message

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of some kind. Now, every educated Jew knows more or

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less Hebrew, and although he is able to read and

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write only the modern square Hebrew character, it is so

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easy to transpose one alphabet into another that the mere

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language would afford no security. Therefore, I expect that when

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the experts translate this document, the translation or transliteration will

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be a mere farrago of unintelligible nonsense. But we shall see.

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And meanwhile, the facts that we have offer several interesting

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suggestions which are well worth consideration. As for instance, now,

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my dear Jervis, said Thorndyke, shaking in a monitory forefinger

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at me. Don't I pray you give way to mental indolence.

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You have these few facts that I have mentioned, consider

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them separately and collectively and in their relation to the circumstances.

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Don't attempt to suck my brain when you have an

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excellent brain of your own to suck. On the following morning,

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the papers fully justified my colleague's opinion of mister James.

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All the events which had occurred, as well as a

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number that had not, were given in the fullest and

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most vivid detail, a length the reference being made to

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the paper found on the person of the dead anarchist

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and written in a private shorthand or cryptogram. The report

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concluded with the gratifying, though untrue statement that, in this

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intricate and important case, the police have wisely secured the

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assistance of doctor John Thorndyke, to whose acute intellect and

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vast experience, the portentous cryptogram will doubtless soon deliver up

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its secret. Very flattering, laughed Thorndyke, to whom I read

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the extract on his return from the hospital. But a

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little awkward of it should induce our friends to deposit

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a few trifling mementoes in the form of nitro compounds

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on our main staircase or in the cellars. By the way,

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I met Superintendent Miller on London Bridge. The cryptogram, as

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mister James calls it, has set Scotland Yard in a

241
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mighty ferment. Naturally, what have they done in the matter?

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They adopted my suggestion, after all, finding that they could

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make nothing of it themselves, and took it to the

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British Museum. The museum people referred them to Professor Poppelbaum,

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the great paleographer, to whom they accordingly submitted it. Does

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he express any opinion about it? Yes? Provisionally after a

247
00:13:03,879 --> 00:13:06,480
brief examination he found it to consist of a number

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of Hebrew words sandwich between apparently meaningless groups of letters.

249
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He furnished the Superintendent off hand with a translation of

250
00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,559
the words, and Miller forthwith struck off a number of

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hectograph copies of it, which he has distributed among the

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senior officials of his department, So that at present here

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Thorndyke gave event to a soft chuckle. Scotland Yard is

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engaged in a sort of missing word, or rather missing

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sense competition. Miller invited me to join in the sport,

256
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and to that end presented me with one of the

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hectograph copies on which to exercise my wits, together with

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a photograph of the document. And shall you, I asked,

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Not I, he replied, laughing. In the first place, I

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have not been formally consulted, and consequently am a passive,

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though interested spectator. In the second place, I have a

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theory of my own, which I shall test if the

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occasion arises. But if you would like to take part

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in the competition, I am authorized to show you the

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photograph and the translation will pass them on to you,

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and I wish you joy of them. He handed me

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the photograph in a sheet of paper that he had

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just taken from his pocket book, and watched me with

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grim amusement as I read out the first few lines. Woe, city, lies, robbery, prey, noise, whip,

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rattling wheel horse, chariot, day, darkness, gloominess, clouds, darkness, morning,

271
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mountain people strong, fire them flame. It doesn't look very

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promising at first sight, I remarked, what is the professor's theory?

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His theory, provisionally, of course, is that the words form

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the message and the groups of letters represent mere filled

275
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up spaces between the words. But surely, I protested, that

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would be a very transparent device. Thorndyke laughed. There is

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a childlike simplicity about it, said he. That is highly attractive,

278
00:14:47,879 --> 00:14:50,799
but discouraging. It is much more probable that the words

279
00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,039
are dummies and that the letters contain the message. Or again,

280
00:14:54,159 --> 00:14:57,200
the solution may lie in an entirely different direction. But listen,

281
00:14:57,399 --> 00:15:00,039
is that a cap coming here? It was it? I

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drew up opposite our chambers, and a few moments later

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a brisk step ascending the stairs heralded a smart rat

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tat at our door. Flinging open the ladder, I found

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myself confronted by a well dressed stranger, who, after a

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00:15:11,519 --> 00:15:14,840
quick glance at me, peered inquisitively over my shoulder into

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the room. I am relieved. Doctor Jervis said he to

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find you and doctor Thorndyke at home, as I have

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come on somewhat urgent professional business. My name, he continued

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entering in response to my invitation, is Barton. But you

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don't know me, though I know you both by sight.

292
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I have come to ask you if one of you,

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or better still, both could come to night and see

294
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my brother. That said Thorndyke, depends on the circumstances and

295
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on the whereabouts of your brother. The circumstances, said mister Barton,

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00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:48,320
are in my opinion, highly suspicious, and I will place

297
00:15:48,399 --> 00:15:52,279
them before you, of course, in strict confidence. Thorndyke nodded

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and indicated a chair. My brother, continued, mister Barton, taking

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the proffered seat, has recently married for the second time.

300
00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,639
His age is fifty five and that of his wife

301
00:16:02,679 --> 00:16:05,360
twenty six, and I may say that the marriage has

302
00:16:05,399 --> 00:16:09,120
been well, by no means a success. Now, within the

303
00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,840
last fortnight, my brother has been attacked by a mysterious

304
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and extremely painful affection of the stomach, to which his

305
00:16:14,759 --> 00:16:17,639
doctor seems unable to give a name. It has resisted

306
00:16:17,679 --> 00:16:21,360
all treatment hitherto. Day by day the pain and distress increase,

307
00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,559
and I feel that unless something decisive is done, the

308
00:16:24,759 --> 00:16:27,840
end cannot be far off. Is the pain worse after

309
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taking food, inquired Thorndyke. That's just it, exclaimed our visitor.

310
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I see what is in your mind, and it has

311
00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:36,559
been in mine too, so much though that I have

312
00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,120
tried repeatedly to obtain samples of the food that he

313
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,679
is taking, and this morning I succeeded. Here he took

314
00:16:42,679 --> 00:16:46,039
from his pocket a wide mouthed bottle, which, disengaging from

315
00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:49,080
its paper wrappings, he laid on the table when I called.

316
00:16:49,159 --> 00:16:51,919
He was taking his breakfast of arrowroot, which he complained

317
00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,519
had a gritty taste, supposed by his wife to be

318
00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,320
due to the sugar. Now I had provided myself with

319
00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,879
this bottle, and during the absence of his wife, I'm

320
00:17:00,039 --> 00:17:02,840
banished unobserved to convey a portion of the arrowroot that

321
00:17:02,879 --> 00:17:05,119
he had left into it. And I should be greatly

322
00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,720
obliged if you would examine it and tell me if

323
00:17:07,759 --> 00:17:10,960
this arrow rout contains anything that it should not. He

324
00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:13,599
pushed the bottle across to Thorndyke, who carried it to

325
00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,599
the window, and, extracting a small quantity of the contents

326
00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:19,559
with a glass rod, examined the pasty mass with the

327
00:17:19,559 --> 00:17:22,640
aid of a lens. Then, lifting the bell glass cover

328
00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,519
from the microscope which stood on its table by the window,

329
00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,559
he smeared a small quantity of the suspected matter onto

330
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a glass slip and placed it on the stage of

331
00:17:30,799 --> 00:17:34,160
the instrument. I observe a number of crystalline particles in this,

332
00:17:34,319 --> 00:17:37,200
he said, after a brief inspection, which have the appearance

333
00:17:37,279 --> 00:17:42,359
of arcinious acid. Ah, ejaculated mister Barton, just as I feared.

334
00:17:42,559 --> 00:17:46,279
But are you certain? No, replied Thorndyke. But the matter

335
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,079
is easily tested. He pressed the button of the bell

336
00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,039
that communicated with the laboratory, a summons that brought the

337
00:17:52,079 --> 00:17:56,160
laboratory assistance from his lair with characteristic promptitude. Will you

338
00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,839
please prepare a marsious apparatus, Polton, said Thorndyke. I have

339
00:18:00,039 --> 00:18:03,039
a couple ready, Sir, replied Pulton, then poured the acid

340
00:18:03,079 --> 00:18:04,960
into one and bring it to me with a tile.

341
00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,920
As his familiar vanished silently, Thorndyke turned to mister Barton,

342
00:18:09,279 --> 00:18:12,799
Supposing we find arsenic in this arrowroot, as we probably shall,

343
00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,319
what do you want us to do? I want you

344
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to come and see my brother, replied our client. Why

345
00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,200
not take a note from me to his doctor? No, no,

346
00:18:21,279 --> 00:18:23,400
I want you to come. I should like you both

347
00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,119
to come and put a stop at once to this

348
00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,480
dreadful business. Consider it is a matter of life and death.

349
00:18:28,599 --> 00:18:31,279
You won't refuse I beg you not to refuse me

350
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your help in these terrible circumstances, well said Thorndyke, as

351
00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,680
his assistant reappeared. Let us first see what the test

352
00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,799
has to tell us. Poulton advanced to the table, on

353
00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,960
which he deposited a small flask, the contents of which

354
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,240
were in a state of brisk effervescence, a bottle labeled

355
00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,400
calcium hypochlorite, and a white porcelain tile. The flask was

356
00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,960
fitted with a safety funnel and a glass tube drawn

357
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,720
out to a fine jet, to which Polton cautiously applied

358
00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,960
a lighted match. Instantly there sprang from the jet a tiny,

359
00:19:01,039 --> 00:19:04,559
pale violet flame. Thorndyke now took the tile and held

360
00:19:04,599 --> 00:19:07,240
it in the flame for several seconds, when the appearance

361
00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,160
of the surface remained unchanged save for the small circle

362
00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,400
of condensed moisture. His next proceeding was to thin the

363
00:19:13,519 --> 00:19:16,440
arrowroot with distilled water until it was quite fluid, and

364
00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,400
then pour a small quantity into the funnel. It ran

365
00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,279
slowly down the tube into the flask with the bubbling

366
00:19:22,319 --> 00:19:25,880
contents of which it became speedily mixed. Almost immediately a

367
00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,359
change began to appear in the character of the flame,

368
00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,880
which from a pale violet turned gradually to a sickly blue,

369
00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:34,640
while above it hung a faint cloud of white smoke.

370
00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:37,839
Once more, Thorndyke held the tile above the jet, but

371
00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,640
this time no sooner had the pallid flame touched the

372
00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,160
cold surface of the porcelain than there appeared on the

373
00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:48,279
latter a glistening black stain. That is pretty conclusive, observed Thorndyke,

374
00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,960
lifting the stopper out of the reagent bottle. But we

375
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,920
will apply the final test. He dropped a few drops

376
00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:57,000
of the hypochlorite solution onto the tile, and immediately the

377
00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:01,000
black stain faded away and vanished. I now answer your question,

378
00:20:01,079 --> 00:20:04,079
mister Barton, said he replacing the stopper as he turned

379
00:20:04,079 --> 00:20:06,960
to our client. The specimen that you brought us certainly

380
00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,960
contains arsenic and in very considerable quantities, then exclaimed mister Barton,

381
00:20:12,039 --> 00:20:14,000
starting from his chair, You will come and help me

382
00:20:14,039 --> 00:20:17,039
to rescue my brother from this dreadful pearl. Don't refuse me,

383
00:20:17,079 --> 00:20:21,200
doctor Thorndyke, for mercy's sake, don't refuse. Thorndyke reflected for

384
00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,279
a moment before we decide, said he we must see

385
00:20:24,279 --> 00:20:27,839
what engagements we have. With a quick, significant glance at me,

386
00:20:28,079 --> 00:20:31,599
he walked into the office, whither I followed in some bewilderment,

387
00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:33,960
for I knew that we had no engagements for the

388
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,680
evening now, Jervis, said Thorndyke, as he closed the office door.

389
00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,440
What are we to do? We must go, I suppose,

390
00:20:40,599 --> 00:20:43,799
I replied. It seems a pretty urgent case. It does.

391
00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,400
He agreed. Of course, the man may be telling the truth.

392
00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,759
After all, you don't think he is. Then, no, it

393
00:20:49,839 --> 00:20:52,400
is a plausible tale, but there is too much arsenic

394
00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,000
in that arrow root. Still I think I ought to go.

395
00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,920
It is an ordinary professional risk, but there is no

396
00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,880
reason why you should put your head into the noose.

397
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,680
Thank you, I said, somewhat huffily. I don't see what

398
00:21:03,839 --> 00:21:05,960
risk there is, but if any exists, I claim the

399
00:21:06,039 --> 00:21:08,839
right to share it. Very well, he answered, with a smile.

400
00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,960
We will both go. I think we can take care

401
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,000
of ourselves. He re entered the sitting room and announced

402
00:21:14,039 --> 00:21:16,960
his decision to mister Barton, whose relief and gratitude were

403
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,680
quite pathetic. But said Thorndyke, you have not yet told

404
00:21:20,759 --> 00:21:24,759
us where your brother lives. Rexford, was the reply. Rexford

405
00:21:24,839 --> 00:21:27,279
in Essex. It isn't out of the way place, but

406
00:21:27,319 --> 00:21:30,000
if we catch the seven fifteen from Liverpool Street, we

407
00:21:30,039 --> 00:21:32,519
shall be there in an hour and a half. And

408
00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,160
as to the return, you know the trains, I suppose,

409
00:21:35,759 --> 00:21:38,519
Oh yes, replied our client. I will see that you

410
00:21:38,559 --> 00:21:41,039
don't miss your train back. Then I will be with

411
00:21:41,079 --> 00:21:43,799
you in a minute, said Thorndyke, and taking the still

412
00:21:43,839 --> 00:21:47,200
bubbling flask, he retired to the laboratory. Whence he returned

413
00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:50,480
in a few minutes carrying his hat and overcoat. The

414
00:21:50,559 --> 00:21:53,079
cab which had brought our client was still waiting, and

415
00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:55,319
we were soon rattling through the streets toward the station,

416
00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,039
where we arrived in time to furnish ourselves with dinner

417
00:21:58,039 --> 00:22:01,640
baskets and select our compartment at leisure. During the early

418
00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,359
part of the journey, our companion was in excellent spirits.

419
00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,319
He despatched the cold fowl from the basket and quaffed

420
00:22:07,319 --> 00:22:10,039
the rather indifferent claret with as much relish as if

421
00:22:10,039 --> 00:22:12,039
he had not had a single relation in the world,

422
00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,319
And after dinner he became genial to the verge of hilarity.

423
00:22:15,839 --> 00:22:17,799
But as the time went on, there crept into his

424
00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:22,200
manner a certain anxious restlessness. He became silent and preoccupied,

425
00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,319
and several times furtively consulted his watch. The train is

426
00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,839
confoundedly late, he exclaimed, irritably, seven minutes behind time. Already

427
00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,119
a few minutes more or less are not of much consequence,

428
00:22:34,319 --> 00:22:38,079
said Thorndyke. No, of course not. But still, ah, thank Heaven,

429
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,680
here we are. He thrust his head out of the

430
00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,000
off side window and gazed eagerly down the line. Then,

431
00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:46,680
leaping to his feet, he bustled out onto the platform

432
00:22:46,759 --> 00:22:50,119
while the train was still moving. Even as we alighted,

433
00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,279
a warning bell rang furiously on the up platform, and

434
00:22:53,319 --> 00:22:55,880
as mister Barton hurried us through the empty booking office

435
00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,160
to the outside of the station, the rumble of the

436
00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,960
approaching train could be heard above the noise made by

437
00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,359
our own trade moving off. My courage does not seem

438
00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,720
to have arrived yet, exclaimed mister Barton, looking anxiously up

439
00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,160
the station approach. If you will wait here a moment,

440
00:23:10,279 --> 00:23:13,119
I will go and make inquiries. He darted back into

441
00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,119
the booking office and threw it onto the platform, just

442
00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:19,319
as the up train roared into the station. Thorndyke followed

443
00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,079
him with quick but stealthy steps, and, peering out of

444
00:23:22,079 --> 00:23:25,559
the booking office door, watched his proceedings. Then he turned

445
00:23:25,599 --> 00:23:29,160
and beckoned to me. There he goes, said he, pointing

446
00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,759
to an iron footbridge that spanned the line, And as

447
00:23:31,799 --> 00:23:34,839
I looked, I saw clearly defined against the dim night sky,

448
00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,880
a flying figure racing toward the upside. It was hardly

449
00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,400
two thirds across when the guard's whistle sang out its

450
00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:45,319
shrill warning. Quick Jervis exclaimed Thorndyke, She's off. He leaped

451
00:23:45,319 --> 00:23:48,559
down onto the line, whither I followed instantly, and crossing

452
00:23:48,599 --> 00:23:51,559
the rails, we clambered up together onto the footboard opposite

453
00:23:51,559 --> 00:23:55,480
an empty first class compartment. Thorndyke's magazine knife, containing among

454
00:23:55,519 --> 00:23:58,319
other implements, a railway key, was already in his hand.

455
00:23:58,799 --> 00:24:01,240
The door was speedily un locked, and as we entered,

456
00:24:01,279 --> 00:24:04,599
Thorndyke ran through and looked out onto the platform. Just

457
00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:06,680
in time, he exclaimed, he is in one of the

458
00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,880
forward compartments. He relocked the door, and, seating himself, proceeded

459
00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,839
to fill his pipe. And now said I, as the

460
00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,480
train moved out of the station, perhaps you will explain

461
00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:20,000
this little comedy with pleasure, he replied, if it needs

462
00:24:20,039 --> 00:24:23,440
any explanation. But you can hardly have forgotten mister James's

463
00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,119
flattering remarks in his report of the Greek Street incident,

464
00:24:26,319 --> 00:24:29,319
clearly giving the impression that the mysterious document was in

465
00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,039
my possession. When I read that, I knew I must

466
00:24:32,039 --> 00:24:34,160
look out for some attempt to recover it, though I

467
00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:38,119
hardly expected such promptness. Still, when mister Barton called without

468
00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,519
credentials or appointment, I viewed him with some suspicion. That

469
00:24:41,519 --> 00:24:44,119
suspicion deepened when he wanted us both to come. It

470
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,160
deepened further when I found an impossible quantity of arsenic

471
00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,839
in his sample, and it gave place to certainty when

472
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,359
having allowed him to select the trains by which we

473
00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,599
were to travel, I went up to the laboratory and

474
00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,960
examined the timetable for I then found that the last

475
00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,960
train for London left Rexford ten minutes after we were

476
00:25:01,039 --> 00:25:03,640
due to arrive. Obviously, this was a plan to get

477
00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,079
us both safely out of the way while he and

478
00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,400
some of his friends ransacked our chambers for the missing document.

479
00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:13,319
I see, and that accounts for his extraordinary anxiety at

480
00:25:13,319 --> 00:25:15,640
the lateness of the train. But why did you come

481
00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,319
if you knew it was a plant, my dear fellow,

482
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,319
said Thorndyke. I never miss an interesting experience if I

483
00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,319
can help it. There are possibilities in this too, don't

484
00:25:24,319 --> 00:25:27,160
you see? But supposing his friends have broken into our

485
00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,920
chambers already that contingency has been provided for. But I

486
00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,839
think they will wait for mister Barton and us. Our train,

487
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,599
being the last one up, stopped at every station and

488
00:25:37,759 --> 00:25:40,799
crawled slussfully in the intervals, so that it was past

489
00:25:40,839 --> 00:25:44,160
eleven o'clock when we reached Liverpool Street. Here we got

490
00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,720
out cautiously, and mingling with the crowd, followed the unconscious

491
00:25:47,759 --> 00:25:50,400
Barton up the platform, through the barrier, and out into

492
00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,519
the street. He seemed in no special hurry, for after

493
00:25:53,559 --> 00:25:55,759
pausing to light a cigar, he set off at an

494
00:25:55,799 --> 00:25:59,359
easy pace up New Broad Street. Thorndyke hailed a hansom, and,

495
00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,200
motioning me to enter, directed the cabman to drive to

496
00:26:02,279 --> 00:26:05,599
Clifford's Inn. Passage. Sit well back, said he. As we

497
00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,200
rattled away up New Broad Street. We shall be passing

498
00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:11,160
our gay deceiver presently. In fact, there he is a

499
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,799
living walking illustration of the folly of underrating the intelligence

500
00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:19,599
of one's adversary. At Clifford's in passage, we dismissed the cab, and,

501
00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,480
retiring into the shadow of the dark narrow alley, kept

502
00:26:22,519 --> 00:26:24,880
an eye on the gate of Inner Temple Lane. In

503
00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,559
about twenty minutes we observed our friend approaching on the

504
00:26:27,599 --> 00:26:30,480
south side of Fleet Street. He halted at the gate,

505
00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,079
plied the knocker, and after a brief parley with the

506
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,400
night porter, vanished through the wicket. We waited yet five

507
00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,839
minutes more, and then, having given him time to get

508
00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,640
clear of the entrance, we crossed the road. The porter

509
00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,440
looked at us with some surprise. There's a gentleman just

510
00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,400
gone down to your chambers, sir, said he. He told

511
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,880
me you were expecting him. Quite right, said Thorndyke, with

512
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,480
a dry smile. I was good night. We slunk down

513
00:26:54,519 --> 00:26:57,200
the lane, past the church and through the gloomy cloisters,

514
00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,000
giving a wide berth to all lamps and lighted entry,

515
00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:03,720
until emerging into paper buildings. We crossed at the darkest

516
00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,559
part to King's Bench Walk, where Thorndyke made straight for

517
00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,519
the chambers of our friend. Anstey, which were two doors

518
00:27:09,519 --> 00:27:12,359
above our own. Why are we coming here, I asked

519
00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,400
as we ascended the stairs, But the question needed no

520
00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,079
answer when we reached the landing, for through the open

521
00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,160
door of our friend's chambers, I could see in the

522
00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,880
darkened room ants Tea himself with two uniformed constables and

523
00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,519
a couple of plains clothes men. There has been no

524
00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,279
signal yet, sir, said one of the latter, whom I

525
00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:33,359
recognized as a detective sergeant of our division. No, said Thorndyke,

526
00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,720
but the m C has arrived. He came in five

527
00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:39,559
minutes before us, then exclaimed Anstey. The ball will open shortly,

528
00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,400
Ladies and gents. The boards are wax the fiddlers are

529
00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,640
tuning up and not quite so loud. If you please, sir,

530
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,160
said the sergeant, I think there is somebody coming up

531
00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,920
Crown Office Row. The ball had in fact opened. As

532
00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,799
we peered cautiously out of the open window, keeping well

533
00:27:54,839 --> 00:27:57,480
back in the darkened room, a stealthy figure crept out

534
00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,359
of the shadow, crossed the road, and stole noiselessly into

535
00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,599
the entry of Thorndyke's chambers. It was quickly followed by

536
00:28:03,599 --> 00:28:06,160
a second figure, and then by a third, in which

537
00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,640
I recognized our elusive client. Now listen for the signal,

538
00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:13,799
said Thorndyke. They won't waste time. Confound that clock. The

539
00:28:13,799 --> 00:28:16,680
soft voiced bell of the Inner Temple clock, mingling with

540
00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,279
the harsher tones of Saint Dunstan's and the law courts,

541
00:28:19,559 --> 00:28:22,240
slowly told out the hour of midnight. And as the

542
00:28:22,279 --> 00:28:27,319
last reverberations were dying away, some metallic object, apparently a coin, dropped,

543
00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:29,839
with a sharp clink onto the pavement under our window.

544
00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,440
At the sound, the watchers simultaneously sprang to their feet.

545
00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:37,519
You two go first, said the sergeant, addressing the uniformed men,

546
00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:41,359
who thereupon stole noiselessly in their rubber soled boots down

547
00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:44,160
the stone stairs and along the pavement. The rest of

548
00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,039
us followed with less attention to silence, and as we

549
00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,720
ran up to Thorndyke's chambers, we were aware of quick

550
00:28:49,759 --> 00:28:53,119
but stealthy footsteps on the stairs above. They've been at work,

551
00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:56,240
you see, whispered one of the constables, flashing his lantern

552
00:28:56,319 --> 00:28:58,640
onto the iron bound outer door of our sitting room,

553
00:28:58,799 --> 00:29:01,400
on which the marks of a large jemmy were plainly visible.

554
00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,880
The sergeant nodded grimly, and, bidding the constables to remain

555
00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,559
on the landing, led the way upwards. As we ascended,

556
00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,640
faint rustlings continued to be audible from above, and on

557
00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,200
the second floor landing we met a man descending briskly

558
00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,119
but without hurry from the third It was mister Barton,

559
00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:20,039
and I could not but admire the composure with which

560
00:29:20,039 --> 00:29:23,160
he passed the two detectives. But suddenly his glance fell

561
00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:26,720
on Thorndyke, and his composure vanished. With a wild stare

562
00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:29,920
of incredulous horror, he halted as if petrified. Then he

563
00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,000
broke away and raced furiously down the stairs, and after

564
00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:35,119
a moment, a muffled shout and the sound of a

565
00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:38,279
scuffle told us that he had received a check. On

566
00:29:38,319 --> 00:29:40,839
the next flight, we met two more men, who, more

567
00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:44,119
hurried and less self possessed, endeavored to push past, but

568
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,880
the sergeant barred the way. Why bless me, exclaimed the latter.

569
00:29:48,119 --> 00:29:51,960
It's Moky and isn't that Tom Harris. It's all right, sergeant,

570
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:55,559
said Mokey, plaintively, striving to escape from the officer's grip.

571
00:29:55,799 --> 00:29:58,559
We've come to the wrong house. That's all, the sergeant

572
00:29:58,559 --> 00:30:01,680
smiled indulgently. A I know, he replied, but you're always

573
00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,039
coming to the wrong house, smoky, and now you're just

574
00:30:04,079 --> 00:30:07,240
coming along with me to the right house. He slipped

575
00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,160
his hand inside his captive's coat and adroitly fished out

576
00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:14,160
a large folding gemmy, whereupon the discomfited burglar abandoned all

577
00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:17,720
further protest. On our return to the first floor, we

578
00:30:17,799 --> 00:30:21,000
found mister Barton sulkily awaiting us, handcuffed to one of

579
00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:25,359
the constables and watched by Polton with pensive disapproval. I

580
00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:28,079
needn't trouble you tonight, doctor, said the sergeant, as he

581
00:30:28,119 --> 00:30:31,039
marshaled his little troop of captors and captives. You'll hear

582
00:30:31,079 --> 00:30:34,240
from us in the morning. Good night, sir. The melancholy

583
00:30:34,279 --> 00:30:36,960
procession moved off down the stairs, and we retired to

584
00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,319
our chambers with anstey to smoke a last pipe. A

585
00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,519
capable man that Barton observed, Thorndyke ready plausible and ingenious,

586
00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,960
but spoilt by prolonged contact with fools. I wonder if

587
00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,440
the police will perceive the significance of this little affair.

588
00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:53,160
They'll be more acute than I am. If they do,

589
00:30:53,359 --> 00:30:57,279
said I naturally, interposed Anstey, who loved to cheek his

590
00:30:57,319 --> 00:31:01,119
revered senior, Because there isn't any It's all Thorndyke's bounce.

591
00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:04,640
He is really in deduce of a fog himself. However

592
00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:06,759
this may have been. The police were a good deal

593
00:31:06,799 --> 00:31:09,799
puzzled by the incident, for on the following morning we

594
00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:12,799
received a visit from no less a person than Superintendent

595
00:31:12,799 --> 00:31:16,640
Miller of Scotland Yard. This is a queer business, said he,

596
00:31:16,799 --> 00:31:19,480
coming to the point at once, this burglary. I mean,

597
00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:21,759
why should they want to crack your place right here

598
00:31:21,759 --> 00:31:24,319
in the temple too? You've got nothing of value here?

599
00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:27,200
Have you? No hard stuff as they call it? For instance,

600
00:31:27,759 --> 00:31:30,680
not so much as a silver teaspoon, replied Thorndyke, who

601
00:31:30,759 --> 00:31:34,279
had a conscientious objection to plate of all kinds. It's odd,

602
00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:38,200
said the Superintendent, deuced odd. When we got your note,

603
00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,440
we thought that anarchist idiots had mixed you up with

604
00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:43,400
the case. You saw the papers, I suppose, and wanted

605
00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,799
to go through your rooms for some reason. We thought

606
00:31:45,839 --> 00:31:48,000
we had our hands on the gang, instead of which

607
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,240
we find a party of common crooks that we're sick

608
00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,960
of the sight of I tell you, sir, it's annoying

609
00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:55,319
when you think you've hooked a salmon to bring up

610
00:31:55,359 --> 00:31:59,279
a blooming eel. It must be a great disappointment. Thorndyke agreed,

611
00:31:59,359 --> 00:32:03,799
suppressing smile, it is, said the detective. Not but what.

612
00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:06,920
We're glad enough to get these beggars, especially Halkett or Barton,

613
00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,039
as he calls himself, a mighty slippery customer. Is Halkett

614
00:32:10,079 --> 00:32:13,799
and mischievous too, But we're not wanting any disappointments. Just now,

615
00:32:14,039 --> 00:32:17,160
there was that big jewel job in Piccadilly Taplin and Horns.

616
00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:19,359
I don't mind telling you that we've not got a

617
00:32:19,359 --> 00:32:22,880
ghost of the clue. Then there's this anarchist affair. We're

618
00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:26,000
all in the dark there too. But what about the cipher,

619
00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,720
asked Thorndyke. Oh hang the cipher, exclaimed the detective irritably.

620
00:32:29,839 --> 00:32:33,039
This Professor Popelbaum may be a very learned man, but

621
00:32:33,079 --> 00:32:35,680
he doesn't help us much. He says. The document is

622
00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:38,720
in Hebrew and he has translated into double Dutch. Just

623
00:32:38,799 --> 00:32:41,480
listen to this. He dragged out of his pocket a

624
00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:44,240
bundle of papers, and, dabbing down a photograph of the

625
00:32:44,279 --> 00:32:48,039
document before Thorndyke commenced to read the professor's report. The

626
00:32:48,119 --> 00:32:50,160
document is written in the characters of the well known

627
00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,119
inscription of Mesha, king of Moab, who the devil's he

628
00:32:53,279 --> 00:32:57,119
never heard of him well known. Indeed, the language is Hebrew,

629
00:32:57,319 --> 00:32:59,519
and the words are separated by groups of letters, which

630
00:32:59,519 --> 00:33:03,160
are meanings and obviously introduced to mislead and confused the reader.

631
00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,400
The words themselves are not strictly consecutive, but by the

632
00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:10,000
interpolation of certain other words, a series of intelligible sentences

633
00:33:10,039 --> 00:33:12,400
as obtained, the meaning of which is not very clear,

634
00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,920
but is no doubt allegorical. The method of decipherment is

635
00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,160
shown in the accompanying tables and the full rendering suggested

636
00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,640
on the enclosed sheet. It is to be noted that

637
00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,240
the writer of this document was apparently quite unacquainted with

638
00:33:24,279 --> 00:33:27,119
the Hebrew language, as appears from the absence of any

639
00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:31,160
grammatical construction. That's the professor's purport, doctor, And here are

640
00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:33,319
the tables showing how he worked it out. It makes

641
00:33:33,319 --> 00:33:35,799
my head spin to look at him. He handed to

642
00:33:35,839 --> 00:33:39,279
Thorndyke a bundle of ruled sheets, which my colleague examined

643
00:33:39,279 --> 00:33:41,680
attentively for a while, and then passed on to me.

644
00:33:42,359 --> 00:33:45,279
This is very systematic and thorough, said he. But now

645
00:33:45,359 --> 00:33:47,599
let us see the final result at which he arrives.

646
00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,759
It may be all very systematic, growled the Superintendent, sorting

647
00:33:51,759 --> 00:33:53,960
at his papers. But I tell you, sir, it's all

648
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,400
bosh the latter word, he jerked out viciously as he

649
00:33:57,440 --> 00:33:59,640
slapped down on the table the final product of the

650
00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,200
professor labors there, he continued, that's what he calls the

651
00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:06,119
fool rendering, And I reckon, it'll make your hair curl.

652
00:34:06,359 --> 00:34:09,519
It might be a message from Bedlam. Thorndyke took up

653
00:34:09,559 --> 00:34:12,440
the first sheet, and as he compared the constructed renderings

654
00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,679
with the literal translation, the ghost of a smile stole

655
00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:19,760
across his usually immovable countenance. The meaning is certainly a

656
00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,559
little obscure, he observed, though the reconstruction is highly ingenious.

657
00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:26,800
And moreover, I think the professor is probably right, that

658
00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:29,400
is to say, the words which he has supplied are

659
00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,280
probably the omitted parts of the passages from which the

660
00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:35,880
words of the cryptogram were taken. What do you think, jervis?

661
00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:38,320
He handed me the two papers, of which one gave

662
00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:40,679
the actual words of the cryptogram, and the other a

663
00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:51,199
suggested reconstruction with omitted words supplied. The first read whip, noise, prey, robbery, lies, city, woe, horse,

664
00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:58,519
wheel rattling, darkness, day, chariot, mountain, mourning, darkness, cloud, gloominess,

665
00:34:58,679 --> 00:35:03,679
flame them, fire, strong people. Turning to the second paper,

666
00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:07,440
I read out the suggested rendering, woe to the bloody city.

667
00:35:07,679 --> 00:35:10,719
It is full of lies and robbery. The prey departeth

668
00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,199
not the noise of a whip, and the noise of

669
00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:15,880
the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses,

670
00:35:16,159 --> 00:35:19,199
and of the jumping chariots. A day of darkness and

671
00:35:19,199 --> 00:35:22,639
of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness.

672
00:35:22,679 --> 00:35:25,599
As the mornings spread upon the mountains, a great people

673
00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:29,599
and a strong A fire devoueth before them, and behind

674
00:35:29,639 --> 00:35:33,119
them a flame burneth. Here the first sheet ended, and

675
00:35:33,159 --> 00:35:35,840
as I laid it down, Thorndyke looked at me inquiringly.

676
00:35:37,039 --> 00:35:39,320
There is a good deal of reconstruction in proportion to

677
00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:42,920
the original matter, I objected. The professor has supplied more

678
00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:46,760
than three quarters of the final rendering exactly burst in

679
00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:51,039
the superintendent. It's all, Professor, and no cryptogram. Still, I

680
00:35:51,039 --> 00:35:53,719
think the reading is correct, said Thorndyke. As far as

681
00:35:53,719 --> 00:35:57,679
it goes, that is good, Lord, exclaimed the dismayed detective.

682
00:35:57,840 --> 00:35:59,599
Do you mean to tell me, sir, that all that

683
00:35:59,679 --> 00:36:01,599
ball our dash is the real meaning of the thing.

684
00:36:02,519 --> 00:36:05,199
I don't say that, replied Thorndyke. I say it is

685
00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:07,559
correct as far as it goes, but I doubt it's

686
00:36:07,599 --> 00:36:10,800
being the solution of the cryptogram. Have you been studying

687
00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:14,199
that photograph that I gave you, demanded Miller with sudden eagerness.

688
00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,119
I have looked at it, said Thorndyke evasively, but I

689
00:36:17,119 --> 00:36:19,119
should like to examine the original if you have it

690
00:36:19,159 --> 00:36:23,039
with you, I have, said the detective. Professor Popelbaum sent

691
00:36:23,079 --> 00:36:25,079
it back with a solution. You can have a look

692
00:36:25,119 --> 00:36:26,719
at it, though I can't leave it with you without

693
00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:30,000
special authority. He drew the document from his pocket book

694
00:36:30,039 --> 00:36:32,239
and handed it to Thorndyke, who took it over to

695
00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:35,559
the window and scrutinized it closely. From the window, he

696
00:36:35,639 --> 00:36:38,840
drifted into the adjacent office, closing the door after him,

697
00:36:39,079 --> 00:36:41,880
and presently the sound of a faint explosion told me

698
00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:45,440
that he had lighted the gas fire of course, said Miller,

699
00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:48,960
taking up the translation again, disgibricious, the sort of stuff

700
00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:51,599
you might expect from a parcel of crack brained anarchist.

701
00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:54,679
But it doesn't seem to mean anything, not to us,

702
00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:57,920
I agreed. But their phrases may have some prearranged significance.

703
00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:00,519
And then there are the letters between the words. It

704
00:37:00,599 --> 00:37:03,800
is possible that they may really form a cipher. I

705
00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:06,559
suggested that to the professor, said Miller, But he wouldn't

706
00:37:06,559 --> 00:37:08,800
hear of it. He is sure they are only dummies.

707
00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:12,559
I think he is probably mistaken, and so I fancy

708
00:37:12,679 --> 00:37:14,880
does my colleague. But we shall hear what he has

709
00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:17,360
to say presently. Oh I know what he will say,

710
00:37:17,599 --> 00:37:19,960
growled Miller. He will put the thing under the microscope

711
00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:21,719
and tell us who made the paper and what the

712
00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:23,960
ink is composed of, and then we shall be just

713
00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:28,239
where we are. The superintendent was evidently deeply depressed. We

714
00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:30,960
sat for some time pondering in silence on the vague

715
00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:35,199
sentences of the professor's translation, until at length thorndyke reappeared,

716
00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:38,199
holding the document in his hand. He laid it quietly

717
00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:41,159
on the table by the officer, and then inquired, is

718
00:37:41,199 --> 00:37:45,880
this an official consultation, certainly, replied Miller. I was authorized

719
00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,760
to consult your respecting the translation, but nothing was said

720
00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,760
about the original. Still, if you want it for further study,

721
00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:55,000
I will get it for you. No, thank you, said Thorndyke.

722
00:37:55,039 --> 00:37:57,239
I have finished with it. My theory turned out to

723
00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:01,239
be correct. Your theory, exclaimed the asuperre intended eagerly. Do

724
00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,679
you mean to say? And as you are consulting me officially,

725
00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,079
I may as well give you this. He held out

726
00:38:07,079 --> 00:38:09,400
a sheet of paper, which the detective took from him

727
00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:12,559
and began to read. What is this, he asked, looking

728
00:38:12,599 --> 00:38:14,800
up at Thorndyke with a puzzled frown. Where did it

729
00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:18,559
come from? It is the solution of the cryptogram, replied Thorndyke.

730
00:38:19,159 --> 00:38:21,639
The detective re read the contents of the paper, and,

731
00:38:21,719 --> 00:38:24,719
with the frown of perplexity deepening, once more, gazed at

732
00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:27,519
my colleague. This is a joke, sir, You are fooling me,

733
00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:31,400
he said, sulkily. Nothing of the kind, answered Thorndyke. That

734
00:38:31,559 --> 00:38:35,679
is the genuine solution. But it is impossible, exclaimed Miller.

735
00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:38,440
Just look at it, doctor Jervis. I took the paper

736
00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:40,639
from his hand, and as I glanced at it, I

737
00:38:40,679 --> 00:38:43,920
had no difficulty in understanding his surprise. It bore a

738
00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:48,039
short inscription in printed Roman capitals. Thus the pickerdilly stuff

739
00:38:48,039 --> 00:38:51,800
is up to Chimbley for sixteen Warder Street, second floor back.

740
00:38:52,079 --> 00:38:55,119
It was hid because of old Moki's Jewde Moki is

741
00:38:55,159 --> 00:38:58,239
a blighter, then that fellow wasn't an anarchist at all,

742
00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:01,679
I exclaimed, No, Miller, he was one of Moki's gang.

743
00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:04,320
We suspected Mochi of being mixed up with that job,

744
00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,559
but we couldn't fix it on him. By jove, he added,

745
00:39:07,599 --> 00:39:10,079
slapping his thigh. If this is right, and I can

746
00:39:10,159 --> 00:39:12,039
lay my hands on the loop, can you lend me

747
00:39:12,079 --> 00:39:14,719
a bag? Doctor, I'm off to Warder Street this very moment.

748
00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:17,760
We furnished him with an empty suit case, and from

749
00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:20,239
the window watched him making for Miter Court at a

750
00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:22,960
smart double. I wonder if he will find the booty,

751
00:39:23,039 --> 00:39:25,880
said Thorndyke. It just depends on whether the hiding place

752
00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,519
was known to more than one of the gang. Well,

753
00:39:28,559 --> 00:39:31,079
it has been a quaint case and instructive too. I

754
00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:33,800
suspect our friend Barton and the evasive Schoenberg were the

755
00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:37,480
collaborators who produced that curiosity of literature. May I ask

756
00:39:37,559 --> 00:39:40,079
how you deciphered the thing? I said, it didn't appear

757
00:39:40,119 --> 00:39:42,920
to take long. It didn't. It was merely a matter

758
00:39:42,960 --> 00:39:45,760
of testing a hypothesis. And you ought not to have

759
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:49,119
to ask that question, he added, with marked severity, seeing

760
00:39:49,159 --> 00:39:50,880
that you had what turned out to have been all

761
00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:53,960
the necessary facts two days ago. But I will prepare

762
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:58,199
a document and demonstrate to you tomorrow morning. So Miller

763
00:39:58,239 --> 00:40:01,000
was successful at his quest, said Thorndyke. As we smoked

764
00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,079
our morning pipes after breakfast, the entire swag, as he

765
00:40:04,119 --> 00:40:07,559
calls it, was up the chimbly undisturbed. He handed me

766
00:40:07,599 --> 00:40:09,559
a note which had been left with the empty suit

767
00:40:09,559 --> 00:40:12,679
case by a messenger shortly before, and I was about

768
00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:14,840
to read it when an agitated knock was heard at

769
00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:18,239
our door. The visitor, whom I admitted, was a rather

770
00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:22,079
haggard and disheveled, elderly gentleman, who, as he entered, peered

771
00:40:22,079 --> 00:40:25,360
inquisitively through his concave spectacles from one of us to

772
00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:28,679
the other. Allow me to introduce myself, gentlemen, he said,

773
00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:32,559
I am Professor Poppelbaum. Thorndyke bowed and offered a chair.

774
00:40:33,039 --> 00:40:37,400
I called. Yesterday afternoon, our visitor continued at Scotland Yard,

775
00:40:37,679 --> 00:40:39,960
where I heard of your remarkable decipherment and of the

776
00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:43,920
convincing proof of its correctness. Thereupon I borrowed the cryptogram

777
00:40:44,119 --> 00:40:46,440
and have spent the entire night in studying it. But

778
00:40:46,519 --> 00:40:49,159
I cannot connect your solution with any of the characters.

779
00:40:49,679 --> 00:40:51,599
I wonder if you would do me the great favor

780
00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,519
of enlightening me as to your method of decipherment, and

781
00:40:54,599 --> 00:40:57,480
so save me further sleepless nights. You may rely on

782
00:40:57,559 --> 00:41:01,239
my discretion. Have you the document with which you asked Thorndyke?

783
00:41:01,639 --> 00:41:04,239
The professor produced it from his pocket book and passed

784
00:41:04,239 --> 00:41:07,679
it to my colleague, You, observe, professor, said the latter,

785
00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:11,239
that this is a laid paper and has no water mark. Yes,

786
00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:14,000
I noticed that, and that the writing is an indelible

787
00:41:14,079 --> 00:41:17,800
Chinese ink. Yes, yes, said the savant impatiently. But it

788
00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:21,679
is the inscription that interests me, not the paper in ink, precisely,

789
00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,760
said Thorndyke. Now it was the ink that interested me

790
00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:28,000
when I caught a glimpse of the document three days ago. Why,

791
00:41:28,119 --> 00:41:31,679
I asked myself, should anyone use this troublesome medium. For

792
00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:34,320
this appears to be stick ink when good writing ink

793
00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:37,239
is to be had. What advantages has Chinese ink over

794
00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:40,480
writing ink? It has several advantages as a drawing ink,

795
00:41:40,760 --> 00:41:43,400
but for writing purposes it has only one. It is

796
00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:47,400
quite unaffected by wet. The obvious inference, then, was that

797
00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:50,440
this document was for some reason likely to be exposed

798
00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:54,159
to wet. But this inference instantly suggested another, which I

799
00:41:54,239 --> 00:41:57,880
was yesterday able to test. Thus he filled a tumbler

800
00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:00,639
with water, and, rolling up the document, dropped it in.

801
00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:03,360
Immediately there began to appear on it a new set

802
00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:06,880
of characters of a curious gray color. In a few seconds,

803
00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:09,519
Thorndyke lifted out the wet paper and held it up

804
00:42:09,559 --> 00:42:12,320
to the light. Now there was plainly visible an inscription

805
00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:15,960
in transparent lettering, like a very distinct water mark. It

806
00:42:16,079 --> 00:42:19,280
was printed in Roman capitals, written across the other writing,

807
00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:22,679
and read the pickerdilly stuff is up the chimbly four

808
00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:26,000
one sixth Warder Street, second floor back. It was hid

809
00:42:26,119 --> 00:42:29,480
because of old Moki's Jewde Moky is a blighter. The

810
00:42:29,519 --> 00:42:33,599
professor regarded the inscription with profound disfavor. How do you

811
00:42:33,679 --> 00:42:37,239
suppose this was done, he asked gloomily. I will show you,

812
00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:39,800
said Thorndyke. I have prepared a piece of paper to

813
00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:43,119
demonstrate the process to doctor Jervis. It is exceedingly simple.

814
00:42:44,079 --> 00:42:46,320
He fetched from the office a small plate of glass

815
00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,840
and a photographic dish, in which a piece of thin

816
00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:52,920
note paper was soaking in water. This paper, said Thorndyke,

817
00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:55,119
lifting it out and laying it on the glass, has

818
00:42:55,119 --> 00:42:57,840
been soaking all night and is now quite pulpy. He

819
00:42:57,920 --> 00:43:00,000
spread a dry sheet of paper over the wet one,

820
00:43:00,159 --> 00:43:02,679
and on the former wrote heavily with a hard pencil,

821
00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:05,920
Moky is a blighter. On lifting the upper sheet, the

822
00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,239
writing was seen to be transferred in a deep gray

823
00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:10,599
to the wet paper, and when the latter was held

824
00:43:10,639 --> 00:43:13,719
up to the light, the inscription stood out clear and transparent,

825
00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:17,239
as if written with oil. When this dries, said Thorndyke,

826
00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:20,599
the writing will completely disappear, but it will reappear whenever

827
00:43:20,599 --> 00:43:25,159
the paper is again wetted. The professor nodded. Very ingenious,

828
00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:28,400
said he A sort of artificial palump set in fact.

829
00:43:28,679 --> 00:43:31,079
But I do not understand how that illiterate man could

830
00:43:31,079 --> 00:43:34,280
have written in the difficult Moabite script. He did not,

831
00:43:34,559 --> 00:43:37,679
said Thorndyke. The cryptogram was probably written by one of

832
00:43:37,719 --> 00:43:40,760
the leaders of the gang, who no doubt supplied copies

833
00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:43,480
to the other members to use instead of blank paper

834
00:43:43,599 --> 00:43:47,320
for secret communications. The object of the Moabite writing was

835
00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:50,760
evidently to divert attention from the paper itself in case

836
00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:53,599
the communication fell into the wrong hands. And I must

837
00:43:53,639 --> 00:43:55,880
say it seems to have answered its purpose very well.

838
00:43:56,440 --> 00:44:01,039
The professor started, stung by the sudden recollection of his labors. Yes,

839
00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:04,360
he snorted, but I am a scholar, sir, not a policeman.

840
00:44:04,639 --> 00:44:07,800
Every man to his trade. He snatched up his hat

841
00:44:07,840 --> 00:44:10,000
and with a curt good morning, flung out of the

842
00:44:10,079 --> 00:44:14,679
room in dudgeon. Thorndyke laughed softly, Poor professor, he murmured,

843
00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:18,159
our playful friend Barton has much to answer for. And

844
00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:21,320
of the Moabite cipher by R. Austin Freeman