WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:08.679 The man with the twisted lip. Isa Whitney, brother of 2 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:13.119 the late Elias Whitney d d. Principle of the Theological 3 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:18.440 College of Saint George's, was much addicted to opium. The 4 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:23.000 habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish 5 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:26.760 freak when he was at college, for having read de 6 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:31.359 Quince's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched 7 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:35.320 his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the 8 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:39.920 same effects. He found, as so many more have done, 9 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:42.960 that the practice is easier to attain than to get 10 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.159 rid of, And for many years he continued to be 11 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:50.039 a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror 12 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:54.280 and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see 13 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:59.079 him now, with yellow pasty face, drooping lids, and pinpoint pupils, 14 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:02.960 all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of 15 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:07.760 a noble man. One night, it was in June eighty nine, 16 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.400 there came a ring to my bell, about the hour 17 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.439 when a man gives his first yawn and glances at 18 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.719 the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my 19 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:21.000 wife laid her needlework down in her lap, and made 20 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:25.879 a little face of disappointment, a patient said she you'll 21 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:29.480 have to go out. I groaned, for I was newly 22 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:33.359 come back from a weary day. We heard the door open, 23 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:38.319 a few hurried words, and then quick steps upon the linoleum. 24 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:41.439 Our own door flew open, and a lady clad in 25 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:44.840 some dark colored stuff with a black veil, entered the room. 26 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:49.480 You will excuse my calling so late, she began, and then, 27 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:53.040 suddenly losing her self control, she ran forward, through her 28 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:56.200 arms about my wife's neck and sobbed upon her shoulder. 29 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.519 Oh I'm in such trouble, she cried. I do so 30 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:04.120 want a little help. Why, said my wife, pulling up 31 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:07.359 her veil. It is Kate Whitney. How you startled me? Kate, 32 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:09.960 I had not an idea who you were when you 33 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.560 came in. I didn't know what to do, so I 34 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:16.599 came straight to you. That was always the way folk 35 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:19.120 who were in grief came to my wife like birds 36 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:23.120 to a lighthouse. It was very sweet of you to come. Now. 37 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:25.080 You must have some wine and water and sit here 38 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:28.000 comfortably and tell us all about it. Or should you 39 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:31.080 rather that? I sent James off to bed. Oh no, no, 40 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:34.599 I want the doctor's advice and help. Too. It's about is, sir. 41 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:37.639 He has not been home for two days. I'm so 42 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:40.919 frightened about him. It was not the first time that 43 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:43.919 she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble, to 44 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.400 me as a doctor, to my wife as an old 45 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:50.560 friend and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by 46 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:53.560 such words as we could find. Did she know where 47 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.240 her husband was? Was it possible that we could bring 48 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:01.439 him back to her? It seemed that it was. She 49 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.520 had the surest information that of late he had when 50 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:06.960 the fit was on him, made use of an opium 51 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:10.639 den in the furthest east of the city. Hitherto his 52 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:14.120 orgies had always been confined to one day, and he 53 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:17.080 had come back twitching and shattered in the evening. But 54 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:20.080 now the spell had been upon him eight and forty hours, 55 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:23.919 and he lay there, doubtless among the dregs of the docks, 56 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:28.280 breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects. There 57 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:30.000 he was to be found, she was sure of it, 58 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:34.680 at the bar of Gold in Upper Swandam Lane. But 59 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.000 what was she to do? How could she, a young 60 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:39.599 and timid woman, make her way into such a place 61 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:42.319 and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who 62 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:45.719 surrounded him. There was the case, and of course there 63 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:48.520 was but one way out of it. Might I not 64 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:52.599 escort her to this place? And then, as a second thought, 65 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:55.439 why should she come at all? I was I a 66 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:59.360 Whitney's medical adviser, and such I had influence over him. 67 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:04.840 I could manage it better if I were alone. I 68 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:07.000 promised her on my word that I would send him 69 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:09.719 home in a cab within two hours if he were 70 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:12.639 indeed at the address which she had given me. And 71 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:14.639 so in ten minutes I had left my arm chair 72 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.399 and cheery sitting room behind me, and was speeding eastward 73 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:20.839 in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed 74 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:24.120 to me at the time, though the future only could 75 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:28.120 show how strange it was to be. But there was 76 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:31.040 no great difficulty in the first stage of my adventure. 77 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:35.720 Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the 78 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:38.600 high wharves which line the north side of the river 79 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:42.480 to the east of London Bridge, between a slop shop 80 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:45.879 and a gin shop. Approached by a steep flight of 81 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:48.600 steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth 82 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:51.199 of a cave. I found the den of which I 83 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:55.160 was in search ordering my cab to wait, I passed 84 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:57.879 down the steps, worn hollow in the center by the 85 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:01.160 ceaseless tread of drunken feet, and by the light of 86 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:03.600 a flickering oil lamp above the door. I found the 87 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:06.680 latch and made my way into a long, low room, 88 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:11.360 thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced 89 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.160 with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship. 90 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:18.800 Through the gloom, one could dimly catch a glimpse of 91 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:24.680 bodies lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, 92 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:28.639 heads thrown back, and chins pointed upwards. With here and 93 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:31.920 there a dark, lackluster eye turned upon the new comer. 94 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:36.079 Out of the black shadows, there glimmered little red circles 95 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:41.120 of light, now bright, now faint, as the burning poison 96 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:44.000 waxed or waned. In the bowls of the metal pipes. 97 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:48.399 The most lay silent, but some muttered to themselves, and 98 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:52.680 others talked together in a strange, low, monotonous voice, their 99 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:57.040 conversation coming in gushes and then suddenly tailing off into silence, 100 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:00.879 each mumbling out his own thoughts and paying little heed 101 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:04.240 to the words of his neighbor. At the further end 102 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:07.839 was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside which on 103 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:10.720 a three legged wooden stool, there sat a tall, thin 104 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:14.800 old man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists 105 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.839 and his elbows upon his knees, staring into the fire. 106 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:24.360 As I entered, a sallow malay attendant had hurried up 107 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:27.079 with a pipe for me and a supply of the drug, 108 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:30.519 beckoning me to an empty berth. Thank you, I have 109 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:33.279 not come to stay, said I. There is a friend 110 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:35.680 of mine here, mister Isa Whitney, and I wished to 111 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:39.399 speak with him. There was a movement and an exclamation 112 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:43.560 from my right, and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, 113 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:47.759 haggard and unkempt, staring out at me. My god, it's Watson, 114 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:51.199 said he. He was in a pitiable state of reaction, 115 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:54.480 with every nerve in a twitter. I say, Watson, what 116 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:58.680 o'clock is it? Nearly eleven of what day of Friday? 117 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:02.800 June nineteenth? Good heavens, I thought it was Wednesday. It 118 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.959 is Wednesday. What do you want to frighten? A chap for? 119 00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:09.120 He sank his face unto his arms and began to 120 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:12.319 sob in a high treble key. I tell you that 121 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:14.759 it is Friday. Man. Your wife has been waiting this 122 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:17.800 two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself, 123 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.759 so I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I 124 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:24.800 have only been here a few hours. Three pipes, four pipes, 125 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:27.040 I forget how many. But I'll go home with you. 126 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:31.279 I wouldn't frighten Kate, poor little Kate. Give me your hand. 127 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.720 Have your cab, yes, I have one waiting. Then I 128 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:37.600 shall go in it. But I must owe something, Find 129 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.160 what I owe, Watson, I am off color. I can 130 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:45.000 do nothing for myself. I walked down the narrow passage 131 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:47.639 between the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to 132 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:50.600 keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, and 133 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:54.160 looking about for the manager. As I passed the tall 134 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.879 man who sat by the brazier, I felt a sudden 135 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:00.639 pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered passed me, 136 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.759 and then looked back at me. The words fell quite 137 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:08.319 distinctly upon my ear. I glanced down. They could only 138 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.800 have come from the very old man at my side, 139 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.199 And yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, 140 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:18.160 very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down 141 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:21.120 from between his knees as though it had dropped in 142 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:25.319 sheer lassitude from his fingers. I took two steps forward 143 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:28.319 and looked back. It took all my self control to 144 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:31.079 prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment. 145 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:33.879 He had turned his back so that none could see 146 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.360 him but eye. His form had filled out, his wrinkles 147 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.440 were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire, And there, 148 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.120 sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise, was 149 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:46.600 none other than Sherlock Holmes. He made a slight motion 150 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:49.080 to me to approach him, and instantly as he turned 151 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:52.440 his face half round to the company, once more subsided 152 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:57.000 into a doddering, loose lipped sinility. Holmes, I whispered, what 153 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:59.799 on earth are you doing in this den? As low 154 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:04.279 as you can, he answered, I have excellent ears. If 155 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:06.200 you would have great kindness to get rid of that 156 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.360 Scottish friend of yours, I should be exceedingly glad to 157 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:12.720 have a little talk with you. I have a cab outside, 158 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:16.279 then pray send him home in it. You may safely 159 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:18.360 trust him, for he appears to be too limp to 160 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:21.600 get into any mischief. I should recommend you also send 161 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:23.960 a note by the cabman to your wife to say 162 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.919 that you have thrown in your lot with me. If 163 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:28.799 you will wait outside, I shall be with you in 164 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:33.279 five minutes. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock 165 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:37.720 Holmes's requests, for they were always so exceedingly definite, and 166 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:42.000 put forward with such an air of mastery. I felt, however, 167 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:45.039 that when Whitney was once confined in the cab, my 168 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:48.679 mission was practically accomplished, and for the rest I could 169 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:51.639 not wish anything better than to be associated with my 170 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:54.759 friend in one of those singular adventures which were the 171 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:59.320 normal condition of his existence. In a few minutes, I 172 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:02.399 had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him out 173 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.039 to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. 174 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:08.440 In a very short time, a decrepit figure had emerged 175 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:10.799 from the opium den, and I was walking down the 176 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:15.480 street with Sherlock Holmes. For two streets. He shuffled along 177 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:19.639 with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Then, glancing 178 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:23.120 quickly round, he straightened himself and burst into a hearty 179 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:26.759 fit of laughter. I suppose Watson said he that you 180 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:30.360 imagine that I have added opium smoking, to cocaine injections, 181 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:32.639 and all the other little weaknesses on which you have 182 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:36.759 favored me with your medical views. I was certainly surprised 183 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:39.200 to find you there, but not more so than I 184 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:42.480 to find you. I came to find a friend, and 185 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:46.080 I to find an enemy, an enemy, yes, one of 186 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:51.360 my natural enemies, or shall I say my natural prey. Briefly, Watson, 187 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:53.919 I am in the midst of a very remarkable inquiry, 188 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.879 and I have hoped to find a clue in the 189 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.759 incoherent ramblings of these sots, as I have done before. Now. 190 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:04.000 Had I been recognized in that den, my life would 191 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.240 not have been worth an hour's purchase. For I have 192 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:09.120 used it before now for my own purposes, and the 193 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:12.600 rascally lascar who runs it has sworn vengeance upon me. 194 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:16.519 There is a trap door at the back of that building, 195 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:19.240 near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some 196 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:22.200 strange tales of what has passed through it upon the 197 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:28.399 moonless nights. What you do not mean bodies? Ay bodies, Watson. 198 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.840 We should be rich men if we had a thousand 199 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:33.080 pounds for every poor devil who has been done to 200 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:36.120 death in that den. It is the vilest murder trap 201 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.320 on the whole river side, and I fear Nevell Sinclair 202 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:42.600 has entered it never to leave it more. But our 203 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:46.559 trap should be here. He put his two forefingers between 204 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:50.120 his teeth and whistled shrilly, a signal which was answered 205 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:53.159 by a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by 206 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:57.399 the rattle of wheels and the clink of horses hoofs now. Watson, 207 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:00.559 said Holmes, as a dog cart dashed up through the loom, 208 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:03.519 throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from its 209 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:06.960 side lanterns. You'll come with me, won't you? If I 210 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.080 can be of use? Oh, A trusty comrade is always 211 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.919 of use, and a chronicler still more so. My room 212 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:18.679 at the Cedars is a double bedded one the Cedars. Yes, 213 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:22.440 that is mister Sinclair's house. I am staying there while 214 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:27.039 I conduct the inquiry. Where is it then? Near Lee 215 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:30.320 in Kent? We have a seven mile drive before us. 216 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:32.679 But I'm all in the dark, of course you are. 217 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:36.559 You'll know all about it presently. Jump up here, all right, John, 218 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:39.440 We shall not need you. Here's half a crown look 219 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:42.519 out for me tomorrow about eleven give her her head 220 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:46.279 so long. Then he flicked the horse with his whip, 221 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:49.120 and we dashed away through the endless succession of somber 222 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:53.120 and deserted streets, which widened gradually until we were flying 223 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:57.200 across a broad balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing 224 00:12:57.240 --> 00:13:01.519 sluggishly beneath us. Beyond and lay another broad wilderness of 225 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:04.600 bricks and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, 226 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:08.039 regular footfall of the policeman, of the songs and shouts 227 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:11.840 of some belated party of revelers. A dull rack was 228 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.000 drifting slowly across the sky, and a star or two 229 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:18.159 twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the clouds. 230 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:21.519 Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his breast, 231 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:24.279 and the air of a man who is lost in thought, 232 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:27.600 while I sat beside him, curious to learn what this 233 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:30.360 new quest might be, which seemed to tax his powers 234 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:33.879 so sorely, and yet afraid to break in upon the 235 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:38.360 current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles and 236 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.639 were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt 237 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:44.679 of suburban villas when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, 238 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.919 and lit up his pipe with the air of a 239 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:49.519 man who has satisfied himself that he is acting for 240 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:53.440 the best. You have a grand gift of silence, Watson 241 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:57.559 said he. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion. 242 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.600 Upon my word, it is a great thing for me 243 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:01.519 to have. I want to talk to for my own 244 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:04.919 thoughts are not over pleasant. I was wondering what I 245 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:07.279 should say to this dear little woman to night when 246 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:10.200 she meets me at the door. You forget that I 247 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:13.080 know nothing about it. I shall just have time to 248 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.960 tell you the facts of the case before we get 249 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:18.879 to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet somehow I 250 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.159 can get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, 251 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.759 no doubt, but I can't get the end of it 252 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:28.240 in my hand. Now I'll state the case clearly and 253 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:31.080 concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you may see a 254 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.639 spark where all is dark to me. Proceed then, some 255 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:38.639 years ago to be definite. In May eighteen eighty four, 256 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:42.399 there came to Lee a gentleman, Neville Sinclair by name, 257 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:45.480 who appeared to have plenty of money. He took a 258 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:48.600 large villa, laid out the grounds very nicely, and lived 259 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:52.600 generally in good style by degrees. He made friends in 260 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.320 the neighborhood, and in eighteen eighty seven he married the 261 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:58.440 daughter of a local brewer, by whom he has now 262 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:03.279 had two children. He had no occupation, but was interested 263 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.480 in several companies, and went into town as a rule 264 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:09.759 in the morning, returning by the five fourteen from Cannon 265 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:13.919 Street every night. Mister Sinclair is now thirty seven years 266 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:17.080 of age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, 267 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:20.360 a very affectionate father, and a man who is popular 268 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:23.279 with all who know him. I may add that his 269 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:25.960 whole debts at the present moment, as far as we 270 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:28.720 have been able to ascertain, amount to eighty eight pounds 271 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:32.039 ten shillings, while he has two hundred and twenty pounds 272 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:35.480 standing to his credit in the Capital and County's Bank. 273 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:39.399 There is no reason therefore to think that money troubles 274 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:43.639 have been weighing upon his mind. Last Monday, mister Nevill 275 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:48.200 Sinclair went into town rather earlier than usual, remarking before 276 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:51.320 he started that he had two important commissions to perform, 277 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:53.840 and that he would bring his little boy home a 278 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:57.440 box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife 279 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:00.559 received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after 280 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:03.480 his departure, to the effect that a small parcel of 281 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.879 considerable value, which she had been expecting, was waiting for 282 00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:11.000 her at the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, 283 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:13.120 if you are well up in your London, you will 284 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:15.759 note that the office of the company is in Frisno Street, 285 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:20.039 which branches out of upper Swandam Lane, where you found 286 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:24.240 me tonight. Missus Sinclair had her lunch, started for the city, 287 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:27.799 did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, got her packet, 288 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:31.200 and found herself exactly at four thirty five walking through 289 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:33.960 Swandam Lane on the way back to the station. Have 290 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:37.639 you followed me so far? It is very clear if 291 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.840 you remember. Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Missus 292 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:44.679 Sinclair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing 293 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:47.639 a cab. She did not like the neighborhood in which 294 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:50.799 she found herself. While she walked in this way down 295 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:55.679 Swandam Lane, she suddenly heard an ejaculation or cry, and 296 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:59.320 was struck cold to see her husband looking down at her, and, 297 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:02.159 as it seemed to her, beckoning to her from a 298 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:06.200 second floor window. The window was open, and she distinctly 299 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:09.960 saw his face, which she describes as being terribly agitated. 300 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:13.680 He waved his hands frantically to her, and then vanished 301 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:16.319 from the window, so suddenly that it seemed to her 302 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:19.400 that he had been plucked back by some irresistible force 303 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:23.640 from behind. One singular point which struck her quick feminine 304 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:27.000 eye was that, although he wore some dark coat, such 305 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.720 as he had started to town in, he had on 306 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:34.519 neither collar nor necktie. Convinced that something was amiss with him, 307 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:37.599 she rushed down the steps, for the house was none 308 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:39.680 other than the opium den in which you found me 309 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:43.200 to night, and running through the front room, she attempted 310 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.559 to ascend the stairs, which led to the first floor. 311 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:49.000 At the foot of the stairs, however, she met this 312 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:52.720 Lascar scoundrel of whom I have spoken, who thrust her back, and, 313 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:56.680 aided by a Dane who acts as assistant, there pushed 314 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:00.000 her out into the street. Filled with the most madness, 315 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.440 in doubts and fears, she rushed down the lane, and, 316 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:05.480 by rare good fortune, met in Fresno Street a number 317 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:08.839 of constables with an inspector, all on their way to 318 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:12.799 their beat. The inspector and two men accompanied her back, 319 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:16.279 and in spite of the continued resistance of the proprietor, 320 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:18.880 they made their way to the room in which mister 321 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:22.440 Sinclair had last been seen. There was no sign of 322 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:26.119 him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor, 323 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.640 there was no one to be found save a crippled 324 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:32.079 wretch of hideous aspect, who it seems made his home there. 325 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.400 Both he and the laskar stoutly swore that no one 326 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.079 else had been in the front room during that afternoon. 327 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.440 So determined was their denial that the inspector was staggered 328 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:45.799 and had almost come to believe that missus Sinclair had 329 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:48.839 been deluded, when with a cry, she sprang at a 330 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:52.000 small deal box which lay upon the table, and tore 331 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:55.759 the lid from it. Out there fell a cascade of 332 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:59.359 children's bricks. It was the toy which he had promised 333 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:03.400 to bring home. This discovery and the evident confusion which 334 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.839 the cripple showed, made the inspector realize that the matter 335 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:11.160 was serious. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all 336 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:15.160 pointed to an abominable crime. The front room was plainly 337 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:18.680 furnished as a sitting room and led into a small bedroom, 338 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:21.480 which looked out upon the back of one of the wharves. 339 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:24.880 Between the wharf and the bedroom window is a narrow 340 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:28.799 strip which is dry at low tide, but is covered 341 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:30.720 at high tide with at least four and a half 342 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:34.200 feet of water. The bedroom window was a broad one 343 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:38.559 and open from below. On examination, traces of blood were 344 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:41.640 to be seen upon the window sill, and several scattered 345 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:44.799 drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the bedroom. 346 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.720 Thrust away behind the curtain in the front room were 347 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:51.400 all the clothes of mister Nevil Sinclair, with the exception 348 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:54.720 of his coat, his boots, his socks, his hat, and 349 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:58.279 his watch all were there. There were no signs of 350 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:01.039 violence upon any of these garments, and there were no 351 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:05.119 other traces of mister Nevill Sinclair out of the window. 352 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:07.720 He must apparently have gone, for no other exit could 353 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:11.440 be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon the sill gave 354 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:14.440 little promise that he could save himself by swimming, for 355 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:17.039 the tide was at its very highest the moment of 356 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:21.200 the tragedy. And now, as to the villains, who seemed 357 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:25.119 to be immediately implicated in the matter, the Lascar was 358 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:28.079 known to be a man of the vilest antecetents. But 359 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.799 as by Missus Sinclair's story, he was known to have 360 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:32.559 been at the foot of the stairs within a few 361 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:35.599 seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could 362 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:38.319 hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. 363 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:43.319 His defense was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested 364 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:45.599 that he had no knowledge as to the doings of 365 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:49.559 Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he could not account 366 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:52.519 in any way for the presence of the missing gentleman's clothes. 367 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.880 So much for the Lascar manager, now for the sinister 368 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:01.000 cripple who lives upon the second floor of the Opium Den, 369 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:03.799 and who was certainly the last human being whose eyes 370 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:08.440 rested upon Nevel Sinclair. His name is Hugh Boone, and 371 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:11.319 his hideous face is one which is familiar to every 372 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:14.480 man who goes much to the city. He is a 373 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:18.240 professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police regulations, 374 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:21.960 he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some 375 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:25.359 little distance down thread Needle Street, upon the left hand side, 376 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:28.759 there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle 377 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:32.279 in the wall. Here. It is that the creature takes 378 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:35.319 his daily seat, cross legged with his tiny stock of 379 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:39.079 matches on his lap, and as he is a piteous spectacle, 380 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:42.279 a small rain of charity descends into the greasy leather 381 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:46.119 cap which lies upon the pavement before him. I have 382 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:49.240 watched this fellow more than once before ever I thought 383 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:53.079 of making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised 384 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:55.559 at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. 385 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:58.960 His appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one 386 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:02.000 can pass him with us out observing him. A shock 387 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:05.119 of orange hair, a pale face disfigured by a horrible 388 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:08.160 scar which, by its contraction has turned up the outer 389 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:11.599 edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a 390 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:15.680 pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular 391 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.720 contrast to the color of his hair, all mark him 392 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:22.440 out from amid the common crowd of mendicants. And so 393 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:25.559 too does his wit, for he is ever ready with 394 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:27.839 a reply to any piece of chaff which may be 395 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:30.960 thrown at him by the passers by. This is the 396 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.200 man whom we now learned to have been the lodger 397 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:36.039 at the Opium Den, and to have been the last 398 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:38.039 man to have seen the gentleman of whom we are 399 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:42.039 in quest but a cripple, said I What could he 400 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:45.039 have done single handed against a man in the prime 401 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:47.920