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Speaker 1: The clue of the silver spoons. When the card was

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brought in to me, I looked upon it with some misgiving,

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for I scented a commercial transaction. And although such cases

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are lucrative enough, nevertheless, I, Eugene Valmont, formerly high in

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the service of the French government, do not care to

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be connected with them. They usually pertained to sordid business

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affairs that present little that is of interest to a

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man who in his time has dealt with subtle questions

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of diplomacy upon which the welfare of nations sometimes turned.

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The name of Ben and Gibbs is familiar to every

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one connected, as it is with the much advertised pickles,

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whose glaring announcements in crude, crimson and green strike the

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eye everywhere in England and shock the artistic taste wherever

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seen me. I have never take them, and shall not

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so long as a French restaurant remains open in London,

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and I doubt not they are asked pronounced to the palette,

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as their advertisement is distressing to the eye. If then

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this gross pickle manufacturer expected me to track down those

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who were infringing upon the recipes for making his so

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called sauces chutneys and the like, he would find himself mistaken,

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for I was now in a position to pick and

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choose my cases, and a case of pickles did not

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allure me. Beware of imitations, said the advertisement, none genuine

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without the facsimile of the signature of Bentham Gibbs. Ah Well,

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not for me were either the pickles or the tracking

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of imitators. A forged check, yes, if you like. But

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the forged signature of mister Gibbs on a pickle bottle

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was not for me. Nevertheless, I said to armand show

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the gentleman in, and he did so. To my astonishment,

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There entered a young man, quite correctly dressed in dark

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flock coat, faultless waistcoat, and trousers that proclaimed the Bond

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street tailor. When he spoke, his voice and language with

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those of a gentleman, Monsieur Vlmont, he inquired, at your service,

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I replied, bowing and waving my hand as armand placed

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a chair for him, and withdrew I am a barrister

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with the chambers in the temple, began mister Gibbs. And

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for some days the matter has been troubling me, about

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which I have now come to seek your advice, your

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name having been suggested by a friend in whom I confided.

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Am I acquainted with him? I asked, I think not,

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replied mister Gibbs. He is also am barrassed then with

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the chambers in the same building as my own. Lionel

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Daker is his name? I never heard of him, very

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likely not. Nevertheless, he recommended you as a man who

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could keep his own counsel. And if you take up

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this case, I desired the utmost secrecy preserved, whatever may

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be the outcome. I bowed, but made no protestation. Secrecy

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is a matter of course with me. The Englishman paused

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for a few moments, as we expected further and assurances.

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Then he went on with no trace of disappointment on

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his countenance at not receiving them. On the night of

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the twenty third, I gave a little dinner to six

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friends of mine in my own rooms. I may say that,

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so far as I'm aware, they are all gentlemen of

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unimpeachable character. On the night of the dinner, I was

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detained later than I expected at a reception, and in

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driving to the temple, was still further delayed by a

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block of traffic. In the Piccadilly, so that when I

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arrived at my chambers there was barely time for me

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to dress and receive my guests. Many at Johnson had

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everything laid out ready for me in my dressing room,

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and as I passed through it, I hurriedly flung off

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the coat I was wearing and carelessly left it over

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the back of a chair in the dining room, where

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neither Johnson nor myself noticed it until my attention was

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called to it after the dinner was over and everyone

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was rather jolly with wine. This coat had an inside pocket.

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Usually any frock coat I wear at an afternoon reception

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has not an inside pocket, but I had been rather

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on the rush all day. My father is a manufacturer

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whose name may be familiar to you, and I am

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on the director's board of his company. On this occasion,

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I had to take a cab from the city to

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the reception I spoke of, and had not time to

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go and change in my rooms. Reception was somewhat bohemian affair,

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extremely interesting, of course, but not too particular as to costume,

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so I went as I was in. This inside pocket

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rested a thin package composed of two pieces of Pasteburn,

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and between them five twenty pound Bank of England notes,

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folded lengthways and held in place between the pastboats by

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an elastic rubber band. I had thrown the coat over

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the chair in such a way that the inside pockets

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was exposed, and the ends of the notes plainly recognizable.

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Over the coffee and cigars. One of my guests laughingly

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called my attention to what he termed my vulgar display

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of wealth, and Johnson, in some confusion at having neglected

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to put the coat over, now picked it up and

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took it to the reception room, where the wraps of

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my guests lay about promiscuously. He should, of course have

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placed it in my wardrobe, but he said afterwards he

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thought it belonged to the guest who had spoken. You see,

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he was in my dressing room when I threw my

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coat in the chair in making my way thither, and

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of course he had not noticed the coat in the

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hurry of arriving guests, otherwise he would have put it

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where it belonged. After every body had gone, Johnson came

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to me and said the coat was there, but the

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package was missing, nor has any trace of it been

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found since that night. The dinner was fetched in from outside.

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I suppose, yes, how many waiters served it?

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Speaker 2: Two there are men who have often been in my

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employ on similar occasions. But apart from that, they had

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left my chambers before the incident of the coat happened.

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Speaker 1: Neither of them went into the reception room. I take

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it now. I am certain that not even suspicion can

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attach to either of the waiters. Your man Johnson has

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been with me for years. He could have easily stolen

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much more than a hundred pounds if he had wished

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to do so. But I've never known him to take

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a penny that did not belong to him. Will you

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favor me with the names of your guests, mister Gibbs.

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Speaker 2: Viscount Stern sat at my right hand and at my left,

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Lord Templemore, Sir John Saint Clair next to him, and

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Angus mc keeller next to Saint Clair. After Viscount Stern

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was Lionel Dacer, and at his right Vincent Ennis.

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Speaker 1: On a sheet of paper, I had written the names

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of the guests and noted their places at the table.

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Which guests drew your attention to the money, Lionel Dacer,

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Is there a window looking out from the reception room.

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Two of them were they fastened on the night of

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the dinner party. I could not be sure Johnson would know.

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Very likely you are hinting at the possibility of a

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thief coming in through a reception room window while we

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were somewhat noisy over our wine. I think such a

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solution highly improbable. My rooms are on the third floor,

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and a thief would scarcely venture to make an entrance

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when he could not know. But there was a company

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being entertained. Besides this, the court was there but an

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hour or so, and it seems to me whoeverstold those

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notes knew where there were That sounds reasonable. I had

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to admit, have you spoken to anyone about your loss?

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To no one but Dhakker, who recommended me to see you? Oh? Yes?

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And to Johnson? Of course, I could not help noting

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that this was the fourth or fifth time Dhaker's name

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had come up during our conversation. Why to Dhaker, I asked, oh, well,

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you see, he occupies the chambers in the same building

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on the ground floor. He is a very good fellow

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and vea by way of being firm friends. Then it

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was he who had called her attention to the money,

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so I thought he should know the sequel. How did

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you take your news now that you call attention to

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the fact, He seemed slightly troubled. I should like to say, however,

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that you must not be misled by that. Lionel Dacker

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could no more steal than he could lie. Did he

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seem surprised when he mentioned the theft? Bentmin gave spaused

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a moment before replying, knitting his brows in thought. No,

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he said at last, And come to think of it,

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it almost appears as if he had been expecting my announcement.

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Doesn't that strike you as rather strange, mister Gibbs. Really,

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my mind is in such a world. I don't know

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what to think. But it's perfectly absurd to suspect Dhaker.

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If he knew the man, you would understand what I mean.

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He comes from an excellent family and he is Oh,

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he's Lionel Daker. And when you have said that, you

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have made any suspicion absurd. I suppose you had the

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rooms thoroughly searched. The packet didn't drop out and remain

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unnoticed in some corner. No, Johnson and myself examined every

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inch of the premises. Have you the numbers of the notes? Yes,

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I got them from the bank. Next morning payment was stopped,

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and so far not one of the fives has been presented.

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Of course, one or more may have been cashed at

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some show, but none have been offered to any banks.

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A twenty pound note is not accepted, thus scrutiny, So

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the chances are that the thief may have some difficulty

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in disposing them. As I told you, I don't mind

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the loss of money at all. It's the uncertainty, the

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uneasiness caused by the incident, which troubles me. You'll comprehend

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this when I say that, if you are good enough

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to interest yourself in this case, I shall be disappointed

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if your fee does not exceed the amount I have lost.

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Mister Gidgs rose as he said this, and I accompanied

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him to the door, assuring him that I should do

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my best to solve the mystery. Whether he's frank when

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pickles or not. I realized he was a polished and

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generous gentleman who estimated the services of a professional expert

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like myself at their true value. I shall not get

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details of my researchers during the following few days, because

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the trend of them must be gone over in a

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remarkable interview I had somewhat later, and there as little

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use in repeating myself, suffers it to say then, that

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an examination of the rooms and a close cross questioning

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of Johnson satisfied me that he and the other two

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waiters were innocent. I was also convinced that no thief

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made a space with the window, and I came to

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the conclusion that the notes was stolen by one of

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the guests. Further investigation convinced me that the thief was

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no other than Lionel Dacker, the only one of the

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six impressing need of money at that time. I had

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Dacker shadowed, and during one of his absences, made the

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acquaintances of his man Hopper, a surly impolite brute who

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accepted my golden sovereign quickly enough, but gave me little

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in exchange for it. But while I conversed with him,

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there arrived in the passage where we were talking together

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a large case of champagne, bearing one of the best

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known names in the trade, and branded as being of

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the vintage of seventy eight. Now I know that the

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product of Camelot Freres is not bought as cheaply as

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British beer. And I also had learned that the two

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short weeks before Lionel Dacer was at his wits end

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for money, yet he was still the same briefless barrister

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he had ever been. On the morning after my unsatisfactory

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conversation with his man Hopper, I was astonished to receive

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the following note written on a dainty correspondence card three

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and four vellum buildings in a temple e c. Mister

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Lionel Dacer presents his compliments to Monsieur Eugene Valmont, and

206
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would be obliged if Monsieur Walmont could make it convenient

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to call upon him in his chambers tomorrow morning at eleven.

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Had the man become aware that he was being shadowed,

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or did the surly servant inform him of the inquiries made?

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I was soon to know. I called punctually at eleven

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next morning, and was received with charming urbanity by mister

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Daker himself. The taciturn harper had evidently been sent away

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for the occasion. My dear Monsieur Valmont, I am delighted

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to meet you, said the young man with more effusiveness

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than I had ever noticed an Englishman before, although his

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very next words supplied an explanation that did not occur

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to me until afterwards as somewhat far fetched. I believe

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we are by way of being countrymen, and therefore all

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that the hour is early, I suppose you will allow

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me to offer you some of that bottled sunshine of

221
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the year seventy eight from la Belle France, to whose

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prosperity and honor we shall drink together for such a

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toast that any hour is propitious. And to my amazement,

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he brought forth from the case I had seen arrived

225
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two days before a bottle of that superb vintage. Now,

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said I to myself, it is going to be difficult

227
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to keep a clear head if the aroma of that

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nectar rises to the brain. But tempting as is the cup,

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I shall drink sparingly, and hope he may not be

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so judicious sensitive. I already experienced the charm of his personality,

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and will understood the friendship mister Ben and Gibbs felt

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for him. But I saw the trap spread before me.

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He expected, under the influence of champagne and courtesy to

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extract a promise from me which I find myself unable

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to give. Sir, you interest me by claiming kinship with France.

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I understood that you belonged to one of the oldest

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families of England. Ah, England, he cried, with an expressive

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gesture of outspreading hands. Truly parision in its significance. The

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trunk belongs to England, of course, But the route, Ah,

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00:16:32,639 --> 00:16:36,080
the route Monsieur Valmont penetrated the soil from which this

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00:16:36,279 --> 00:16:41,399
wine of God's has been drawn. Then filling my glass

242
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and his own, he cried to France, which my family

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left in the year ten sixty six. I could not

244
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help laughing at his fervent ejaculation. Ten sixty six. Ah,

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that's a long time, my row, mister Dhacker, in years, perhaps,

246
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in feelings. But a day my forefathers came over to steal,

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and Lord how well they accomplished it. They stole the

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whole country, something like a theft, say I, under that

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00:17:13,519 --> 00:17:17,440
prince of robbers, who well named the conqueror in our

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00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,759
secret hearts, we all admire a great thief, And if

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00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:23,799
not a great one, then an expert one who covers

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this track so perfectly that the hounds of justice are

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baffled and tempting to follow them. Now even you, Monsieur Walmont,

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I can see you are most generous of men, with

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a lively sympathy found to perfection only in France. Even

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00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:42,759
you must suffer a pang of regret when you lay

257
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a thief by the heels who has done his task deftly.

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I fear, mister Daker, you credit me with the magnanimity

259
00:17:51,839 --> 00:17:55,400
to which I dare not claim the criminal is a

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danger to society. True, true, you are in the right,

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Monsieur Valmont. Still admit there are cases that would touch

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00:18:04,519 --> 00:18:10,200
you tenderly. For example, a man ordinarily honest, a great deed,

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a sudden opportunity, he takes that of which another has abundance,

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and he nothing. What, then, Monsieur Valmont, is the man

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to be sent to perdition for a momentary weakness. His

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words astonished me.

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Speaker 2: Was I on the words of hearing a confession? It

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00:18:30,839 --> 00:18:32,079
almost amounted to that.

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Speaker 1: Already, mister Zacher, I said, I cannot enter into the

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subtleties you pursue. My duty is to find the criminal.

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You are in the right, Monsieur Valmont, and I am

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enchanted to find so sensible a head on French shoulders.

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Although you are a more recent arrival, if I may

274
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say so, than myself, you nevertheless already give utterances to

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the sense which do honor to England. It is your

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duty to hunt down the criminal. Very well in that

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I think I can aid you. So I've taken the

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liberty of requesting your attendance here this morning. Let me

279
00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,839
fill your glass again, mister Ormont. No more, I beg you,

280
00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:25,119
mister Tacker, what do you think the receiver is as

281
00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:30,480
bad as the thief. I was so taken aback at

282
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his remark that I suppose my face showed the amazement

283
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within me. But the young man merely laughed with the

284
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apparent free hearted enjoyment, thought some more wine in his

285
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own glass, and tossed it off. Not knowing what to say,

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I changed the trend of conversation. Mister Gibbs said that

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you have been kind enough to recommend me to his attention.

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May I ask how you came to hear of me? Ah,

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who not heard of the renowned Monsieur Valmont? And as

290
00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,119
he said this for the first time, there began to

291
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grow a suspicion in my mind that he was chaffing me,

292
00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,400
as it is called in England, a procedure which I

293
00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:18,319
cannot endure. Indeed, if this young man practiced it in

294
00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,519
my own country, he would find himself with the duel

295
00:20:21,839 --> 00:20:26,000
on his hands before he had gone far. However, the

296
00:20:26,079 --> 00:20:30,480
next instant his voice resumed his original fascination, and I

297
00:20:30,559 --> 00:20:36,000
listened to it as to some delicious malady. I have

298
00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:40,079
only to mention my cousin, Lady Gladys Dakker, and you

299
00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:43,160
will at once understand why I recommended you to my friend.

300
00:20:44,319 --> 00:20:47,799
The case of Lady Gladys, you will remember, required a

301
00:20:47,839 --> 00:20:50,920
delicate touch, which was not always to be had in

302
00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:55,359
this land of England, except when those who possessed the

303
00:20:55,400 --> 00:21:00,400
gift do us the honor to sojourn with us. I

304
00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,279
noticed that my glass was filled again, and as I

305
00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:07,200
bowed my acknowledgments to his compliment, I indulged in another

306
00:21:07,279 --> 00:21:11,559
sip of the delicious wine. And then I sighed, for

307
00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,200
I began to realize it was going to be difficult

308
00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,079
for me, in spite of my disclaimer, to tell this

309
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:23,400
man's friend he had stolen the money. All this time

310
00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:25,079
he had been sitting on the edge of the table

311
00:21:26,039 --> 00:21:30,079
while I occupied a chair at its end. He sat

312
00:21:30,079 --> 00:21:33,200
there in a careless fashion, swinging a foot to and fro.

313
00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,039
Now he sprang to the floor and drew up a chair,

314
00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,680
placing on the table a blank sheet of paper. Then

315
00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,599
he took from the mantel chief a packet of letters,

316
00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,599
and I was astonished to see they were held together

317
00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,960
by two bits of cardboard and a rubber band, similar

318
00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,240
to the combination that had held the folded bank notes.

319
00:21:56,279 --> 00:21:59,359
With great nonchalance, he slipped off the upper band, through

320
00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,359
it and the pear pieces of cardboard on the table

321
00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:07,720
before me, leaving the documents loose to his hand. Now,

322
00:22:07,759 --> 00:22:12,680
Monsieur Wilmot, he cried jauntily, you have been occupied for

323
00:22:12,759 --> 00:22:16,119
several days on this case, the case of my dear

324
00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,640
friend Bentham Gibbs, who is one of the best fellows

325
00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:24,119
in the world. He said the same of you, mister Daker.

326
00:22:25,839 --> 00:22:29,359
I am gratified to hear it. Would you mind letting

327
00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,759
me know to what point your researchers have led you.

328
00:22:34,319 --> 00:22:36,640
They have led me to a direction, rather than to

329
00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,119
a point, ah, in the direction of a man, of course,

330
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:47,519
certainly who is he? Will you pardon me if I

331
00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:52,160
decline to answer you at the present moment. That means

332
00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,400
you are not sure. It may mean, mister Dhaker, that

333
00:22:56,559 --> 00:22:59,440
I am employed by mister Gibbs and do not feel

334
00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,599
of the liberty to disclose to another the results of

335
00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:07,759
my quest without his permission. But mister Bent and Gibbs

336
00:23:07,799 --> 00:23:11,319
and I are entirely at one on this matter. Perhaps

337
00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:13,480
you are aware that I am the only person with

338
00:23:13,519 --> 00:23:18,200
whom he has discussed the case besides yourself. That is

339
00:23:18,279 --> 00:23:23,599
undoubtedly true, mister Dhaker. Still you see the difficulty of

340
00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:28,680
my position. Yes I do, and so shall I press

341
00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:32,519
you further? But I have also been interesting myself in

342
00:23:32,559 --> 00:23:36,400
a purely amateurish way. Of course, you would perhaps have

343
00:23:36,599 --> 00:23:41,640
no disint relation to learn whether my deductions agree with yours.

344
00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:44,839
Not in the least, I should be very glad to

345
00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:48,319
know the conclusion at which you have arrived. May I

346
00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:53,200
ask if you suspect anyone in particular? Yes? I do.

347
00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:59,400
Will you name him? Now? I shall copy the admirable

348
00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:03,319
reticence you yourself have shown, and now let us attack

349
00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:08,440
this mystery in a sane and business like manner. You

350
00:24:08,599 --> 00:24:12,759
have already examined the room. Well, here is a rough

351
00:24:12,799 --> 00:24:17,119
sketch of fit. There is the table in this corner,

352
00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,720
the chair on which the coat was flung. Here sat

353
00:24:20,799 --> 00:24:24,200
Gibbs at the head of the table. Those on the

354
00:24:24,279 --> 00:24:27,759
left hand side had their backs to the chair. I,

355
00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,759
being in the center of the right, saw the chair,

356
00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:36,720
the coat, and the notes, and called attention to them. Now,

357
00:24:36,759 --> 00:24:40,680
our first duty is to find a motive. If it

358
00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:45,880
were a murder, our motive might have been hatred, revenge, robbery,

359
00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,680
what you like. As it is simply the stealing of money,

360
00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,720
the man must have been either a born thief, or

361
00:24:53,799 --> 00:24:58,640
else some hitherto innocent person pressed a crime by great necessity.

362
00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,839
Do you agree with me, Monsieur le Mont, perfectly?

363
00:25:03,839 --> 00:25:08,200
Speaker 2: You follow exactly the line of my own reasoning very well.

364
00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,279
It is unlikely that a bond thief was one of

365
00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:12,519
mister Gibbs's guests.

366
00:25:13,079 --> 00:25:15,960
Speaker 1: Therefore we are reduced to look for a man under

367
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,960
the spur of necessity, a man who has had no

368
00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,359
money of his own, but must raise a certain amount,

369
00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,400
let us say, by a certain date, if you can

370
00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,960
find such a man in that company, do you not

371
00:25:31,079 --> 00:25:35,440
agree with me that he is likely to be the thief? Yes?

372
00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:42,039
I do. The little startup process of elimination. Out goes

373
00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:46,200
Viscount Stern, a man with twenty thousand acres of land,

374
00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:51,279
and nobody quite knows what income. I mark off the

375
00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:54,519
names of Lord temple Moore, one of his Majesty's judges,

376
00:25:55,079 --> 00:26:01,200
entirely above suspicion. Next Sir John Sinclair. He is also rich,

377
00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:06,240
but Vincent Ennis is still richer, so the pencil obliterates

378
00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:11,079
his name. Now we have Angus mckeller, an author of

379
00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,319
some note, as you're well aware, deriving a good income

380
00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:17,440
from his books and a better one from his place

381
00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:21,400
a Kenny Scott, So we may rub his name off

382
00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:26,359
our paper and our memory. How do my erags correspond

383
00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:33,359
with yours, Monsieur Valmont, They correspond exactly, mister Daker, I'm

384
00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:38,240
flattered to hear it. There remains one name untouched, mister

385
00:26:38,319 --> 00:26:43,799
Lionel Dacer, the descendant. As we have said of Roberts,

386
00:26:45,319 --> 00:26:49,839
I have not said so, mister Daker. Ah, My dear Walmont,

387
00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:54,119
the politeness of your country asserts itself. Let us not

388
00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:58,839
be deluded, but follow our inquiry wherever it leads. I

389
00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:03,119
suspect Lioneldacker, what do you know of his circumstances before

390
00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,880
the dinner of the twenty third. As I made no reply,

391
00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:12,079
he looked upon me with his frank, boyish face, illumined

392
00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:17,200
with a winning smile. You know nothing of his circumstances,

393
00:27:17,319 --> 00:27:21,680
he asked. It grieves me to state that I do.

394
00:27:23,039 --> 00:27:25,599
Mister Lionel Daker was penniless on the night of the

395
00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:31,599
dinner on the twenty third. Oh, don't exaggerate, Monsieur Valmont,

396
00:27:32,079 --> 00:27:36,480
cried Daker with a laugh. He had once expense two

397
00:27:36,559 --> 00:27:39,960
pennies and a half penny. How should you know he

398
00:27:40,039 --> 00:27:45,240
was penniless? I knew. He ordered a case of champagne

399
00:27:45,519 --> 00:27:49,759
from the London representative of Camelot Ferras, and was refused

400
00:27:49,839 --> 00:27:55,279
unless he paid the money down quite right. And then

401
00:27:55,279 --> 00:27:57,160
when you were talking to Harper, you saw the case

402
00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:02,160
of champagnare delivered. Excellent, excellent, Monsieur Lmont. But will a

403
00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,079
man steal think you to supply himself with an even

404
00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:09,200
so delicious of wine as this we have been tasting.

405
00:28:10,039 --> 00:28:12,880
And by the way, forgive my neglect, allow me to

406
00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:17,880
fill your glass, Monsieur Lemont, not another drop, if you

407
00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:22,799
will excuse me, mister Dhaker. Ah, Yes, champagne should not

408
00:28:22,839 --> 00:28:27,480
be mixed with evidence. When you have finished, perhaps what

409
00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:33,480
further proof have you? I have proof that mister Daker

410
00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:37,359
was threatened with bankruptcy if on the twenty fourth he

411
00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,079
did not pay a bill of seventy eight pounds that

412
00:28:40,119 --> 00:28:43,839
has long been outstanding. I have proof that this was

413
00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,559
paid not on the twenty fourth, but on the twenty sixth.

414
00:28:49,079 --> 00:28:52,039
Mister Daker had gone to the solicitor and assured him

415
00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,640
he would have given the money on that date, from

416
00:28:55,640 --> 00:29:00,839
whereupon he was given two days grace. Ah, well, he

417
00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,559
was entitled to three. You know in law, yes, dare

418
00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,480
Monsieur Walmont, you touch a fatal point. The threat of

419
00:29:08,519 --> 00:29:12,519
bankruptcy will drive a man in Dagger's position to almost

420
00:29:12,559 --> 00:29:18,039
any crime. Bankruptcy to embarrassed, spell's ruin. It means a

421
00:29:18,119 --> 00:29:21,519
courier blighted. It means a life ruined with little chance

422
00:29:21,559 --> 00:29:26,000
of resurrection. I see you grasp the supreme importance of

423
00:29:26,039 --> 00:29:29,839
that bit of evidence. The case of Champagne is as

424
00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,640
nothing compared with it. And this reminds me that in crisis,

425
00:29:34,119 --> 00:29:37,400
I shall take another sip with your permission. Sure you

426
00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:44,039
won't joy me, not at this juncture, mister Daker. I

427
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:49,920
envy your moderation. Here's the success of our search, Monsieur Walmont.

428
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:53,720
I felt sorry for the gay young fellow, and with

429
00:29:53,839 --> 00:29:59,319
smiling face he drank the champagne. Now, Monsieur, he went on,

430
00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,799
I am amazed to learn how much you have found out. Really,

431
00:30:04,519 --> 00:30:08,480
I think tradespeople, solicitors and all such should keep better

432
00:30:08,519 --> 00:30:13,000
guard on their tongues than they do. Nevertheless, these documents

433
00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,799
I have at my elbow, and which I expect would

434
00:30:15,799 --> 00:30:20,799
surprise you, are merely the letters and receipts. Here is

435
00:30:20,839 --> 00:30:24,400
a letter from the solicitor threatening me with bankruptcy. Here

436
00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,880
is his receipt, dated the twenty sixth. Here is the

437
00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,599
refusal of the wine merchant, and here is his receipt

438
00:30:31,599 --> 00:30:36,599
for that money. Here are the smaller builts liquidated with

439
00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:40,640
my pencil. We will add them up. Seventy eight pounds

440
00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:45,359
bulks lodge. We had the smaller items, and it totals

441
00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:50,119
ninety three pounds, seven shillings and a fourpence. It has

442
00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:54,559
now examined my purse. Here's a five pound note. There

443
00:30:54,599 --> 00:30:58,240
is a minted sovereign. Here is a twelve and sixpence

444
00:30:58,279 --> 00:31:03,759
in silver, two pence and coppers. Now the perse is empty.

445
00:31:04,599 --> 00:31:07,880
Let us add this to the amount on paper. Do

446
00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,000
my eyes deceive me? Or is the total exactly one

447
00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:18,119
hundred pounds? There is a stolen money accounted for. Pardon me,

448
00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:21,960
mister Dhaka, I said, there is still a sovereign on

449
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,640
the mantelpiece. Dakerd threw back his head and laughed with

450
00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,960
a great heartiness that I had yet known him to

451
00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:35,359
indulge in during our short acquaintance. By jove, he cried,

452
00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:39,960
you got me there. I've forgotten completely about that pound

453
00:31:40,039 --> 00:31:45,799
on the mantlepiece, which belongs to you. To me, possible

454
00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:49,960
it does, and cannot interfere in the least with one

455
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,839
hundred pound calculation. That is a sovereign you gave to

456
00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:58,279
my man Harper, who, believing me hard pressed, took it

457
00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:02,400
that I might have the enjoyment of it. Harper belongs

458
00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,119
to our family or the family belongs to him. I

459
00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:08,599
am not sure which you must have missed him in

460
00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:12,559
the differential bearings of a man servant in Paris. Yet

461
00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:16,240
he is true gold, like the sovereign you bestowed upon him,

462
00:32:16,759 --> 00:32:21,440
and he bestowed upon me. Now Here, monsieur, is the

463
00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,400
evidence of the theft, together with the rubber band and

464
00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:28,839
two pieces of cardboard. Ask my friend Gibbs to examine

465
00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:33,519
them minutely. They are all at your disposition, monsieur, and

466
00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,759
you would learn how much easier it is to deal

467
00:32:35,799 --> 00:32:38,839
with the master than with the servant when you wish information.

468
00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,200
All the gold you possess would not have wrung this

469
00:32:43,319 --> 00:32:47,160
incriminating document from the old harper. I had to send

470
00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:49,920
him away to day to the West End, fearing that

471
00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:52,720
in his brutal British way, he might have assaulted you

472
00:32:52,839 --> 00:32:57,839
if he had an inkling of your mission. Mister Daker

473
00:32:58,839 --> 00:33:04,759
said I slowly, you have thoroughly convinced me. I thought

474
00:33:04,759 --> 00:33:08,880
I would. He interrupted with a laugh, that you did

475
00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:13,599
not take the money. Oh, this is a change of wind.

476
00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:17,160
Surely many a man has been hanged through a chain

477
00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,960
of circumstantial evidence much weaker than which I have exhibited

478
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,319
to you. Do you see the subtlety of my action?

479
00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,039
Ninety nine persons in a hundred would say, no man

480
00:33:30,119 --> 00:33:32,759
could be such a fool to put Valmont on his track,

481
00:33:33,559 --> 00:33:38,400
and then please in Vrolmont's hand such striking evidence. But

482
00:33:38,519 --> 00:33:42,680
there comes in my craftiness. Of course, the rock you

483
00:33:42,759 --> 00:33:47,680
run up against will be Gift's incredulity. The first question

484
00:33:47,759 --> 00:33:51,079
he will ask you may be this, why not Dhacker

485
00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:55,119
come and borrow the money from me? Now there you

486
00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,720
have a certain weakness in your chain of evidence. I

487
00:33:58,759 --> 00:34:01,000
know perfectly well that Gives would lend me the money,

488
00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,920
and he knew perfectly well that if I were pressed

489
00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:09,760
to the wall, I should ask him. Mister Daker said,

490
00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:14,000
I you have been playing with me. I should resent

491
00:34:14,079 --> 00:34:17,199
that with most men. But whether it is your own

492
00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:21,239
genial manner, or the effect of this excellent champagne, or

493
00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:25,639
both together, I forgive you. But I am convinced of

494
00:34:25,679 --> 00:34:31,960
another thing. You know who took the money. I don't know,

495
00:34:32,079 --> 00:34:36,800
but I suspect. Will you tell me whom you suspect?

496
00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:40,800
That would not be fair. But I shall now take

497
00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:44,960
the liberty of filling your glass with champagne. I am

498
00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:51,079
your guest, mister Daker, admirably answered Monsieur, he replied, pouring

499
00:34:51,119 --> 00:34:54,760
out the wine. And now I shall give you the clue.

500
00:34:56,079 --> 00:34:59,039
Find out all about the story of the silver spoons.

501
00:35:01,119 --> 00:35:05,960
The story of the silver spoons? What silver spoons? Ah?

502
00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:09,480
That is the point. You step out of the temple

503
00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:12,840
into Fleet Street, seize by the shoulders the first man

504
00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,239
you meet, and ask him to tell you about the

505
00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:20,239
silver spoons. There are but two men and two spoons concerned.

506
00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:24,760
When you learn who those two men are, you will

507
00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:26,800
know that one of them did not take the money,

508
00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,920
and I give you my assurance that the other did.

509
00:35:32,199 --> 00:35:36,800
You speak in mystery, mister Daker, but certainly for I

510
00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:42,239
am speaking to Monsieur Eugene Valmont, I echo your words,

511
00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:47,360
Sir admirably answered. You put me on my metal, and

512
00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:51,559
I flatter myself that I see your kindly drift. You

513
00:35:51,639 --> 00:35:55,159
wish to solve the mystery of the stolen money. Sir,

514
00:35:55,800 --> 00:36:00,920
you do me honor, and I drink to your help yours, monsieur,

515
00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,039
said Lionel Dagger. And here is a further piece of

516
00:36:04,079 --> 00:36:08,000
information which my friend Gibbs would never have given you.

517
00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:11,840
When he told me the money was gone, I cried

518
00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:16,480
in anguish for impending bankruptcy. I wish to goodness I

519
00:36:16,599 --> 00:36:20,760
had it. Whereupon he immediately compelled me to accept his

520
00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:24,480
check for a hundred pounds, of which I, as I

521
00:36:24,519 --> 00:36:31,039
have shown you alas only six pounds, twelve and eightpence remains.

522
00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:35,000
On leaving mister Daker, I took a hansom to a

523
00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:39,000
cafe in Regent Street, which is a possible limitation of

524
00:36:39,039 --> 00:36:43,519
a similar places of refreshment in Paris. There, calling for

525
00:36:43,559 --> 00:36:46,360
a cup of black coffee, I sat down to think

526
00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:52,480
the clue of the silver spoons. He had laughingly suggested

527
00:36:53,039 --> 00:36:55,320
that I should take my shoulders the first man I

528
00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:58,400
meet and ask him what the story of the silver

529
00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:04,360
spoons was. This course naturally struck me as absurd. Nevertheless,

530
00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:09,559
it contained a hint. I must ask somebody, they're the

531
00:37:09,639 --> 00:37:13,199
right person to tell me the tale of the silver spoons.

532
00:37:16,199 --> 00:37:19,159
Under the influence of the black coffee, I reasoned it

533
00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:23,239
out in this way. On the night of the twenty third,

534
00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:26,960
some one of the six guests there present stole her

535
00:37:27,039 --> 00:37:31,519
hundred pounds. Bardaka had said that one of the actors

536
00:37:31,519 --> 00:37:36,440
in the silverspoon episode was the actual thief. That person

537
00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:40,159
then must have been one of mister Gibbs's guests at

538
00:37:40,199 --> 00:37:44,119
the dinner of the twenty third. Probably two of the

539
00:37:44,199 --> 00:37:49,400
guests were the participators in the Silverspoon comedy. But be

540
00:37:49,639 --> 00:37:52,880
that as it may followed that one at least of

541
00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:56,400
the men around mister Gibbs's table knew the episode of

542
00:37:56,400 --> 00:38:03,400
the silverspoons. Perhaps Benam Gibbs himself was cognisant of it.

543
00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:06,760
It followed, therefore, that the easiest plan was to question

544
00:38:07,119 --> 00:38:09,320
each of the men who partook up that dinner.

545
00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:14,800
Speaker 2: Yet, if only one knew about the spoons, that one

546
00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:18,119
must also have some idea that these spoons formed the

547
00:38:18,159 --> 00:38:21,159
clue which attached him to the crime of the twenty third,

548
00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:25,079
in which case he was little likely to divulge what

549
00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:26,760
he knew to an entire stranger.

550
00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:31,800
Speaker 1: Of course, I might go to Dhaker himself and demand

551
00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:34,599
the story of the silverspoons, but this would be a

552
00:38:34,599 --> 00:38:37,760
confession of failure on my part, and I rather dreaded

553
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,280
Lionel Daker's hearty laughter when I admitted that the mystery

554
00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:45,119
was too much for me. Besides this, I was very

555
00:38:45,159 --> 00:38:47,719
well aware of the young man's kindly intentions towards me.

556
00:38:49,199 --> 00:38:52,480
He wished me to unravel the coil myself, and so

557
00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,840
I determined not to go to him except as a

558
00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:02,280
last resource. I resolved to begin with mister Gibbs, and,

559
00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:05,800
finishing my coffee, got again into a hansom and drove

560
00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:09,320
back to the temple. I found mister Gibbs in his room,

561
00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:13,039
and after greeting me, his first inquiry was about the case.

562
00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:19,840
How are you getting on, he asked. I think I'm

563
00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:23,800
getting on fairly well, I replied, and expect to finish

564
00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:26,559
in a day or two, if you will kindly tell

565
00:39:26,599 --> 00:39:31,400
me the story of the silver spoons. The silver spoons,

566
00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:38,199
he echoed, quite evidently not understanding me. There happened an

567
00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:41,760
incident in which two men were engaged, and this incident

568
00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:45,400
related to a pair of silver spoons. I want to

569
00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:50,840
get the particulars of that. I haven't the slightest idea

570
00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:55,960
what you're talking about, replied Gibbs, thoroughly bibled it. You

571
00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:58,719
will have to be more definite. I fear if you

572
00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:03,159
are to get any help from me, I cannot be

573
00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:06,679
more definite, because I've already told you all. I know

574
00:40:09,199 --> 00:40:14,199
what bearing has all this on our case. I was

575
00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:17,920
informed that if I got hold of the clued silver spoons,

576
00:40:18,039 --> 00:40:20,159
I should be in a fair way of setting our case.

577
00:40:21,760 --> 00:40:28,440
Who told you that, mister Lionel Dacker? Oh does Daker

578
00:40:28,559 --> 00:40:33,760
refer to his own conjuring? I don't know. I'm sure

579
00:40:34,639 --> 00:40:38,519
what was his conjuring? A very clever trick he did

580
00:40:38,519 --> 00:40:42,679
one night at dinner here about two months ago, had

581
00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:48,039
anything to do with silver spoons. Well, it was silver spoons,

582
00:40:48,079 --> 00:40:51,440
or silver forks, or something of that kind. I had

583
00:40:51,599 --> 00:40:56,000
entirely forgotten the incident so far as I recollect. At

584
00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,159
the moment there was a slight of hand man of

585
00:40:59,239 --> 00:41:02,239
great expert meess in one of the music halls, and

586
00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:06,039
the talk turned upon him. Then Dhaka said that the

587
00:41:06,079 --> 00:41:09,440
tricks he did were easy, and holding up a spoon

588
00:41:09,519 --> 00:41:12,639
or a fork, I don't remember which, he asserted his

589
00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:16,119
ability to make it disappear before our eyes, to be

590
00:41:16,159 --> 00:41:19,639
found afterwards in the clothing of some one there present.

591
00:41:21,239 --> 00:41:23,880
Several offered to make him a bet that he could

592
00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:26,960
do nothing of that kind, but he said he would

593
00:41:27,039 --> 00:41:32,719
bet with no one but Innes, who sat opposite him. Innes,

594
00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:36,199
with some reluctance, accepted the bet, and then Dhaka, with

595
00:41:36,320 --> 00:41:40,679
a great show of those usual conjurerous gesticulations, spread forth

596
00:41:40,719 --> 00:41:44,159
his empty hands and said we should find the spoon

597
00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:49,039
in Innoc's pocket, And there, sure enough it was. It

598
00:41:49,159 --> 00:41:51,719
was a clever trick, but we were never able to

599
00:41:51,719 --> 00:41:56,719
get him to repeat it. Thank you very much, mister Gibbs.

600
00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:01,920
I think I see daylight now. If you do, you

601
00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:06,440
are cleverer than I. By a long chalk, cried Benon Gibbs.

602
00:42:06,679 --> 00:42:11,599
As I took my departure, I went directly downstairs and

603
00:42:11,679 --> 00:42:15,480
knocked at mister Daker's door once more. He opened the

604
00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:21,440
door himself, and his man had not yet having returned. Ah, monsieur,

605
00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:25,440
he cried back, already, you don't mean to tell me

606
00:42:25,519 --> 00:42:27,679
you have so soon got to the bottom of the

607
00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:33,559
silver spoon entanglement. I think I have, mister Daker. You

608
00:42:33,639 --> 00:42:38,079
were sitting at dinner opposite mister Vincent Innes. You saw

609
00:42:38,199 --> 00:42:42,440
him conceal a silver spoon in his pocket. You probably

610
00:42:42,519 --> 00:42:45,159
waited for some time to understand what he meant by this.

611
00:42:46,119 --> 00:42:48,239
As he did not return the spoon to its place,

612
00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:52,039
you proposed a conjuring trick, made the bet with him,

613
00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:58,760
and thus the spoon was returned to the table. Excellent, excellent, monsieur.

614
00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:03,079
That was very nearly what occurred, except that I acted

615
00:43:03,119 --> 00:43:07,880
at once. I had had had experiences with mister Vincent

616
00:43:07,880 --> 00:43:11,679
inn As before. Never did he come to these rooms

617
00:43:12,159 --> 00:43:16,079
without my missing some trinket after he was gone. I'm

618
00:43:16,119 --> 00:43:18,880
not a man of many possessions, while mister Innes is

619
00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:22,719
a very rich person, and so if anything is taken,

620
00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:25,960
I have little difficulty in coming to a knowledge of

621
00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:31,159
my loss. Of course, I never mentioned these disappearances to him.

622
00:43:31,920 --> 00:43:34,880
They were all trivial, as I have said, and so

623
00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:37,599
far as the silver spoon was concerned, it was of

624
00:43:37,639 --> 00:43:41,719
no great value either. But I thought the bet and

625
00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:43,880
the recovery of the spoon would teach him a lesson.

626
00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:48,840
It apparently had not done so. On the night of

627
00:43:48,840 --> 00:43:51,840
the twenty third, he sat at my right hand, as

628
00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:54,119
you will see by consulting a diagram of the table

629
00:43:54,159 --> 00:43:57,760
and the guests. I asked him a question twice, to

630
00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:01,280
which he did not reply, and looking at him, I

631
00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:05,239
was toartled by the expression in his eyes. They were

632
00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:08,880
fixed on a distant corner of the room, and following

633
00:44:08,920 --> 00:44:12,519
his gaze, I saw that he was looking at with

634
00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:18,480
such hypnotizing concentration. So absorbed was he in contemplation of

635
00:44:18,519 --> 00:44:23,679
the packet there so plainly exposed, that he seemed entirely

636
00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:28,079
oblivious to what was going around him. I aroused him

637
00:44:28,079 --> 00:44:30,960
from his trans by jocularly calling Gibbs's attention to the

638
00:44:30,960 --> 00:44:34,360
display of money. I expected, in this way to save

639
00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:40,000
Innes from committing the act which he seemingly did commit. Imagine, then,

640
00:44:40,039 --> 00:44:42,760
the dilemma in which I was placed when mister Gibbs

641
00:44:43,039 --> 00:44:45,960
confided to me the morning after what had occurred the

642
00:44:46,039 --> 00:44:50,840
night before. I was positive that Inness had taken the money,

643
00:44:51,199 --> 00:44:54,159
yet I possessed no proof of it. I could not

644
00:44:54,239 --> 00:44:58,920
tell Gibbs, and I dare not speak to Innes. Of course, Monsieur,

645
00:44:59,519 --> 00:45:01,320
you do not need to be told that Innes is

646
00:45:01,360 --> 00:45:03,920
not a thief in the ordinary sense of the word.

647
00:45:04,519 --> 00:45:07,719
He has no need to steal, and yet apparently cannot

648
00:45:07,719 --> 00:45:12,079
help himself doing so. I am sure that no attempt

649
00:45:12,119 --> 00:45:15,400
has been made to pass those notes. They are doubtless

650
00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:20,719
in his home at Kensington at this present moment. He is,

651
00:45:20,760 --> 00:45:24,880
in fact a kleptomaniac or a maniac of some sort.

652
00:45:26,159 --> 00:45:29,280
And now, Monsieur Vermont, was my hint regarding the silver

653
00:45:29,360 --> 00:45:34,239
spoons of any value to you? Of the most infinite value,

654
00:45:34,280 --> 00:45:39,559
mister Dhacker, And let me make another suggestion. I leave

655
00:45:39,599 --> 00:45:43,400
it entirely to your bravery, a bravery which I confess

656
00:45:43,559 --> 00:45:47,280
I do not myself possess. Will you take a hansom

657
00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:51,840
drive to mister Innes's house in the Cromwell Road, confront

658
00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:54,920
him quietly and ask him for the return of the packet.

659
00:45:56,320 --> 00:45:59,559
I'm anxious to know what will happen if he has

660
00:45:59,639 --> 00:46:02,400
it to you, as I expect he will, then you

661
00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:07,760
must tell missus Gibbs the whole story. Mister Daker, your

662
00:46:07,760 --> 00:46:11,199
suggestion shall be immediately acted upon, and I thank you

663
00:46:11,239 --> 00:46:16,199
for your compliment to my courage. I found that mister

664
00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:21,440
Innes inhabited a very grand house. After a time he

665
00:46:21,599 --> 00:46:24,519
entered the study on the ground floor to which I

666
00:46:24,599 --> 00:46:28,440
had been conducted. He held my card in his hand

667
00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:33,280
and was looking at it with some surprise. I think

668
00:46:33,400 --> 00:46:35,840
I have not the pleasure of knowing you, mister Walmont,

669
00:46:36,519 --> 00:46:41,440
he said, courteously enough. No, I have called on a

670
00:46:41,480 --> 00:46:45,960
matter of business. I was once investigative for the French government,

671
00:46:46,519 --> 00:46:51,679
and now I am doing private detective work here in London. Ah,

672
00:46:52,239 --> 00:46:55,760
and how is that supposed to interest me? I have

673
00:46:55,880 --> 00:46:59,679
nothing that I wish investigated. I did not send for

674
00:46:59,719 --> 00:47:04,320
you to I no, mister Innes. I merely took the

675
00:47:04,360 --> 00:47:07,400
liberty of calling to ask you to let me have

676
00:47:07,440 --> 00:47:10,039
the package you took out of mister Benton Gibbs's frock

677
00:47:10,199 --> 00:47:15,360
coat pocket on the night of the twenty third. He

678
00:47:15,480 --> 00:47:21,679
wishes it returned, does he? Yes? Mister Innnies calmly went

679
00:47:21,719 --> 00:47:25,079
to a desk which he unlocked and opened, displaying a

680
00:47:25,199 --> 00:47:29,480
veritable museum of trinkets of one sort and another. Pulling

681
00:47:29,480 --> 00:47:32,320
out a small drawer, he took from it the packet

682
00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:37,679
containing five twenty pound notes. Apparently it had never been undone.

683
00:47:39,119 --> 00:47:43,760
With a smile, he handed it to me. You will

684
00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:47,239
make my apologies mister Gibbs for not returning it before.

685
00:47:48,280 --> 00:47:53,079
Tell him I have been unusually busy of late. I

686
00:47:53,119 --> 00:47:55,800
shall not fail to do so, said I with a bow.

687
00:47:57,440 --> 00:48:02,079
Thank you so much. Good morning, monsieur Aunt, good morning,

688
00:48:02,079 --> 00:48:06,639
mister Innes. And so I returned the packet to mister

689
00:48:06,719 --> 00:48:09,719
Bent and Gibbs, who pulled the notes from between their

690
00:48:09,719 --> 00:48:16,039
pasteboard protection and begged me to accept them. The end

691
00:48:16,440 --> 00:48:19,480
of The Clew of Silver Spoons by Robert Barr