WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:10.080 Chapter four, Sir Henry Baskerville. Our breakfast table was cleared early, 2 00:00:10.199 --> 00:00:13.199 and Holmes waited in his dressing gown for the promised interview. 3 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:17.559 Our clients were punctual to their appointment, for the clerk 4 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:20.399 had just struck ten when Doctor Mortimer was shown up, 5 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.359 followed by the young baronet. The latter was a small, alert, 6 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:29.120 dark eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily built, 7 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:33.520 with thick black eyebrows and a strong, pugnacious face. He 8 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:37.079 wore a ruddy tinted tweed suit and had the weather 9 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:39.439 beaten appearance of one who spent most of his time 10 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:42.840 in the open air. And yet there was something in 11 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:46.240 his steady eye and the quiet assurance of his bearing, 12 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:53.000 which indicated the gentleman. This is Sir Henry Baskerville, said 13 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:58.560 doctor Mortimer. Why yes, said he. And the strange thing is, 14 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:01.679 mister Sherlock Holmes, that if my friend here had not 15 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:04.680 proposed coming round to you this morning, I should have 16 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.560 come on my own account. I understand that you think 17 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:10.599 out little puzzles, and I've had one this morning which, 18 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.799 once more thinking out than I am able to give it. Pray, 19 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:16.879 take a seat, Sir Henry do I understand you to 20 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.879 say that you have yourself had some remarkable experience since 21 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.640 you arrived in London. Nothing of much importance, mister Holmes, 22 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:27.599 Only a joke, as like as not. It was this letter, 23 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:29.840 if you can call it, a letter, which reached me 24 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:33.439 this morning. He laid an envelope on the table and 25 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:36.519 we all bent over it. It was of common quality, 26 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:41.680 grayish in color. The address Sir Henry Baskerville, Northumberland Hotel 27 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:46.359 was printed in rough characters, the post mark Charing Cross, 28 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:49.560 and the date of posting the preceding evening. Who knew 29 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:52.799 that you were going to the Northumberland Hotel, asked Holmes, 30 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.519 glancing keenly across at our visitor. No one could have known. 31 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.879 We only decided after I met doctor Mortimer. Doctor Mortimer 32 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:04.079 was no doubt already stopping there. No, I had been 33 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:07.840 staying with a friend, said the doctor. There was no 34 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:12.680 possible indication that we intended to go to this hotel. Hm, 35 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:16.919 someone seems to be very deeply interested in your movements. 36 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:19.599 Out of the envelope, he took a half sheet of 37 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:23.319 full scap paper folded into four This he opened and 38 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:26.680 spread flat upon the table across the middle of it, 39 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:29.520 a single sentence had been formed by the expedient of 40 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:33.719 pasting printed words upon it. It ran, as you value 41 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:37.240 your life or your reason, keep away from the more. 42 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:42.599 The word more only was printed in ink. Now, said 43 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:45.840 Sir Henry Baskerville. Perhaps you will tell me, mister Holmes, 44 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:48.639 what in thunder is the meaning of that? And who 45 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:51.639 it is that takes so much interest in my affairs? 46 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.800 What do you make fit, doctor Mortimer? You must allow 47 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:58.639 that there is nothing supernatural about this at any rate, No, sir, 48 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.879 but it might very well come from someone who was 49 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:05.199 convinced that the business is supernatural? What business? Asked Sir 50 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:08.159 Henry Sharply. It seems to me that all you gentlemen 51 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:10.120 know a great deal more than I do about my 52 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:13.479 own affairs. You shall share our knowledge before you leave 53 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:17.199 this room, Sir Henry, I promise you that, said Sherlock Holmes. 54 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:20.560 We will confine ourselves for the present, with your permission, 55 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:23.400 to this very interesting document, which must have been put 56 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:27.719 together and posted yesterday evening. Have you yesterday's Times, Watson? 57 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.439 It is here in the corner. Might I trouble you 58 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:33.639 for it? The inside page please, with the leading articles. 59 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.800 He glanced swiftly over it, running his eyes up and 60 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:41.360 down the columns capital article this on free trade. Permit 61 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:43.759 me to give you an extract from it. You may 62 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.759 be cajoled into imagining that your own special trade or 63 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:49.919 your own industry will be encouraged by a protective tariff. 64 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:53.199 But it stands to reason that such legislation must, in 65 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:56.639 the long run, keep away wealth from the country, diminish 66 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.680 the value of our imports, and lower the general conditions 67 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:03.000 of life in this island. What do you think of that? Watson, 68 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:07.400 cried Holmes in high glee, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction. 69 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.560 Don't you think that is an admirable sentiment? Doctor Mortimer 70 00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:14.599 looked at Holmes with an air of professional interest, and 71 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.680 Sir Henry Baskerville turned a pair of puzzled dark eyes 72 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:20.399 upon me. I don't know much about the tariff and 73 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.600 things of that kind, said he, but it seems to 74 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:26.040 me we've got a bit off the trail so far 75 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:29.120 as that note is concerned. On the contrary, I think 76 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:32.600 we are particularly hot upon the trail. Sir Henry Watson 77 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.439 here knows more about my methods than you do. But 78 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:37.920 I fear that even he has not quite grasped the 79 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:41.439 significance of this sentence. No, I confess that I see 80 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.480 no connection. And yet, my dear Watson, there is so 81 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:47.879 very close a connection that the one is extracted out 82 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:53.759 of the other. You your your life, reason value, keep away 83 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.680 from the don't you see? Now? Whence these words have 84 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:01.839 been taken by thunder? You're right? Well, if that isn't smart, 85 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.800 cried Sir Henry. If any possible doubt remained, it is 86 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:08.759 settled by the fact that keep away and from the 87 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:13.480 are cut out in one piece. Well, now, so it is, really, 88 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:16.759 mister Holmes, this exceeds anything which I could have imagined, 89 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:21.199 said doctor Mortimer, gazing at my friend in amazement. I 90 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:24.279 could understand anyone saying that the words were from a newspaper, 91 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.279 but that you should name which and add that it 92 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:29.959 came from the leading article. Is really one of the 93 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.879 most remarkable things which I have ever known. How did 94 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:35.839 you do it? I presume, doctor, that you could tell 95 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:38.680 the skull of a negro from that of an Esquimaux, 96 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:43.720 most certainly, But how because that is my special hobby. 97 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:47.720 The differences are obvious. These superorbital crest, the facial angle, 98 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:51.360 the maxillary curve the But this is my special hobby, 99 00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:55.040 and the differences are equally obvious. There is as much 100 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:58.160 difference to my eyes between the leading bourgeois type of 101 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:02.720 a Times article print of an evening Hapenny paper as 102 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:05.800 there could be between your Negro and your Esquimaux. The 103 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:08.480 detection of types is one of the most elementary branches 104 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:11.879 of knowledge to the special expert in crime. Though I 105 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:14.680 confess that once, when I was very young, I confused 106 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:18.079 the Leeds Mercury with the Western Morning News. But a 107 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:21.199 Times Leader is entirely distinctive, and these words could have 108 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:24.279 been taken from nothing else. As it was done yesterday. 109 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:26.959 The strong probability was that we should find the words 110 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:30.279 in yesterday's issue. So far as I can follow you, then, 111 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:34.720 mister Holmes, said Sir Henry Baskerville. Someone cut out this 112 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:39.040 message with the scissors nail scissors, said Holmes. You can 113 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:41.519 see that it was a very short bladed scissors, since 114 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:44.399 the cutter had to take two snips over keep away. 115 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.759 That is so. Someone then cut out the message with 116 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:52.439 a pair of short bladed scissors, pasted it with paste gum, 117 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:56.199 said Holmes. With gum auntwer the paper. But I want 118 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.439 to know why the word more should have been written 119 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.800 because he could not find it in print. The other 120 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:04.959 words were all simple and might be found in any issue, 121 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:08.240 but more would be less common. Why, of course, that 122 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:12.000 would explain it. Have you read anything else in this message, 123 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:15.079 mister Holmes, There are one or two indications, and yet 124 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:18.120 the utmost pains have been taken to remove all clues. 125 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:21.639 The address, you observe is printed in rough characters, but 126 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:23.759 the Times is a paper which is seldom found in 127 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:26.920 any hands but those of the highly educated. We may 128 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:29.560 take it therefore that the letter was composed by an 129 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:33.079 educated man who wished to pose as an uneducated one, 130 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:36.360 and his effort to conceal his own writing suggests that 131 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:39.199 that writing might be known or come to be known 132 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:42.759 by you. Again, you will observe that the words are 133 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:45.680 not gummed on in an accurate line, but that some 134 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:49.160 are much higher than others. Life, for example, is quite 135 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:52.240 out of its proper place. That may point to carelessness, 136 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:55.120 or it may point to agitation and hurry upon the 137 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:57.800 part of the cutter. On the whole I inclined to 138 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.879 the latter you, since the matter was evidently important, and 139 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:03.199 it is unlikely that the composer of such a letter 140 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:06.240 would be careless if he were in a hurry. It 141 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:08.600 opens up the interesting question why he should be in 142 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:11.680 a hurry, since any letter posted up to early morning 143 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:14.439 would reach Sir Henry before he would leave his hotel. 144 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:19.000 Did the composer fear an interruption? And from whom we 145 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:22.519 are coming now? Rather into the region of guesswork, said 146 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.600 Doctor Mortimer. Say, rather into the region where we balance 147 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.879 probabilities and choose the most likely It is the scientific 148 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.799 use of the imagination. But we have always some material 149 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:39.039 basis on which to start our speculation. Now you would 150 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:41.279 call it a guess, no doubt. But I am almost 151 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:44.480 certain that this address has been written in a hotel. 152 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.440 How in the world can you say that? If you 153 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:50.000 examine it carefully, you will see that both the pen 154 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:53.519 and the ink have given the writer trouble. The pen 155 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:56.200 has spluttered twice in a single word, and has run 156 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:59.120 dry three times in a short address, showing that there 157 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:01.960 was very little ink in the bottle. Now, a private 158 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.159 pen or ink bottle is seldom allowed to be in 159 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:06.960 such a state. The combination of the two must be 160 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:10.399 quite rare. But you know, the hotel ink and the 161 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:14.279 hotel pen where it is rare to get anything else. Yes, 162 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:17.000 I have very little hesitation in saying that, could we 163 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:20.039 examine the waste paper baskets of the hotels around Charing 164 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:23.759 Cross until we found the remains of the mutilated Times leader, 165 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:26.840 we could lay our hands straight upon the person who 166 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:31.799 sent this singular message, Hello, Hello? What's this? He was 167 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:35.240 carefully examining the foolscap upon which the words were pasted, 168 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:39.399 holding it an inch or two from his eyes. Well, nothing, 169 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:42.799 said he throwing it down. It is a blank half 170 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:45.200 sheet of paper without even a water mark upon it. 171 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:48.120 I think we have drawn as much as we can 172 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:52.240 from this curious letter. And now, Sir Henry, has anything 173 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:54.559 else of interest happened to you since you have been 174 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:58.519 in London? Why no, mister Holmes, I think not. You 175 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:02.200 have not observed anyone follow or watch you. I seem 176 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:04.600 to have walked right into the thick of a dime novel, 177 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:09.120 said our visitor. Why in thunder should anyone follow or 178 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:12.320 watch me? We are coming to that you have nothing 179 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.399 else to report to us before we go into this matter. Well, 180 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:19.120 it depends upon what you think worth reporting. I think 181 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:22.600 anything out of the ordinary routine of life well worth reporting, 182 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:27.000 Sir Henry smiled, I don't know much of British life yet, 183 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:29.279 for I have spent nearly all my time in the 184 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:32.480 States and in Canada. But I hope that to lose 185 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:35.440 one of your boots is not part of the ordinary 186 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:38.799 routine of life over here. You have lost one of 187 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:42.840 your boots, my dear sir, cried doctor Mortimer. It is 188 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.759 only mislaid. You will find it when you return to 189 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:48.639 the hotel. What is the use of traveling, mister Holmes 190 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.879 with trifles of this kind? Well, he asked me for 191 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:57.039 anything outside the ordinary routine, exactly, said Holmes. However foolish 192 00:10:57.039 --> 00:11:00.399 the incident may seem. You have lost one of your boots, 193 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:04.759 you say, well, mislaidd anyhow, I put them both outside 194 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:07.039 my door last night, and there was only one in 195 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.399 the morning. I could get no sense out of the 196 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:11.919 chap who cleans them. The worst of it is that 197 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:14.519 I only bought the pair last night in the strand, 198 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:17.559 and I've never had them on. If you have never 199 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:20.720 worn them, why did you put them out to be cleaned. 200 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:25.240 They were tan boots and had never been varnished. That 201 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:28.840 was why I put them out. Then I understand that 202 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:31.440 on your arrival in London yesterday you went out at 203 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:34.559 once and bought a pair of boots. I did a 204 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:38.120 good deal of shopping, Doctor Mortimer here went round with me. 205 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.679 You see, if I am to be squire down there, 206 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:44.639 I must dress the part. And it may be that 207 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:47.279 I've got a little careless in my ways out west. 208 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:51.279 Among other things, I bought these brown boots, gave six 209 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:54.639 dollars for them, and had once stolen before ever I 210 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:58.679 had them on my feet. It seems a singularly useless 211 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:02.320 thing to steal, said Sherlock Holmes. I confess that I 212 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:04.960 share doctor Mortimer's belief that it will not be long 213 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:09.039 before the missing boot is found. And now, gentlemen, said 214 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:12.080 the baronet with decision. It seems to me that I 215 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:14.559 have spoken quite enough about the little that I know. 216 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.639 It is time that you kept your promise and gave 217 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:19.960 me a full account of what we are all driving at. 218 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:25.039 Your request is a very reasonable one, Holmes answered doctor Mortimer. 219 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.320 I think you could not do better than to tell 220 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:30.960 your story as you told it to us. Thus, encouraged, 221 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:35.000 our scientific friend drew his papers from his pocket, Van 222 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:37.600 presented the whole case as he had done upon the 223 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:41.919 morning before. Sir Henry Baskerville listened with the deepest attention 224 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:46.559 and with an occasional exclamation of surprise. Well, I seem 225 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:49.799 to have come into an inheritance with a vengeance, said he, 226 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:53.360 when the long narrative was finished. Of course, I've heard 227 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:55.600 of the hound ever since I was in the nursery. 228 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:58.879 It's the pet story of the family, though I never 229 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:02.279 thought of taking it serious before. But as to my 230 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:05.960 uncle's health, well, it all seems boiling up in my 231 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.799 head and I can't get it clear yet. You don't 232 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:11.039 seem quite to have made up your mind whether it's 233 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:15.960 a case for a policeman or a clergyman. Precisely. Now 234 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.440 there's this affair of the letter to me at the hotel. 235 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:22.480 I suppose that fits into its place. It seems to 236 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:24.960 show that someone knows more than we do about what 237 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.759 goes on upon the moor, said doctor Mortimer, and also 238 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:32.559 said Holmes, that someone is not ill disposed towards you, 239 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:36.039 since they warn you of danger, or it may be 240 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:40.480 that they wish, for their own purposes to scare me away. Well, 241 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:43.720 of course that is possible. Also, I am very much 242 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:46.360 indebted to you, Doctor Mortimer for introducing me to a 243 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:50.840 problem which presents several interesting alternatives. But the practical point 244 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.679 which we now have to decide, Sir Henry, is whether 245 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:55.879 it is or is not advisable for you to go 246 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:59.639 to Baskerville Hall. Why should I not go there? Seems 247 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:03.279 to be Do you mean danger from this family fiend? 248 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:06.720 Or do you mean danger from human beings? Well, that 249 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:09.360 is what we have to find out. Whichever it is. 250 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.720 My answer is fixed. There is no devil in hell, 251 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:14.279 mister Holmes, and there is no man upon earth who 252 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:16.559 can prevent me from going to the home of my 253 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.240 own people. And you may take that to be my 254 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:23.559 final answer. His dark brows knitted and his face flushed 255 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:26.840 to a dusky red as he spoke. It was evident 256 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:30.200 that the fiery temper of the Baskervilles was not extinct 257 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:34.480 in this Their last representative, meanwhile, said he I have 258 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:36.600 hardly had time to think over all that you have 259 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:38.840 told me. It's a big thing for a man to 260 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.759 have to understand and to decide at one sitting. I 261 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:45.159 should like to have a quiet hour by myself to 262 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:48.279 make up my mind. Now look here, mister Holmes, it's 263 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:51.080 half past eleven. Now, and I'm going back right away 264 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:54.240 to my hotel. Suppose you and your friend doctor Watson 265 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.799 come round and lunch with us at two. I'll be 266 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.879 able to tell you more clearly then how this thing 267 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:03.639 strikes me. Is that convenient to you, Watson perfectly? Then 268 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.559 you may expect us. Shall I have a cab called 269 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:10.600 I'd prefer to walk, for this affair has flurried me. Rather, 270 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:15.080 I'll join you in a walk with pleasure, said his companion. 271 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:18.559 Then we meet again at two o'clock au Revoir, and 272 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:22.679 good morning. We heard the steps of our visitors descend 273 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:26.120 the stair and the bang of the front door. In 274 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:29.840 an instant, homes had changed from the languid dreamer to 275 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.639 the man of action. Your hat and boots, Watson quick, 276 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.759 not a moment to lose. He rushed into his room 277 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.679 in his dressing gown and was back again in a 278 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:40.799 few seconds in a frock coat. We hurried together down 279 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:44.639 the stairs and into the street. Doctor Mortimer and Baskerville 280 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.080 were still visible about two hundred yards ahead of us, 281 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.240 in the direction of Oxford Street. Shall I run on 282 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:52.639 and stop them? Not for the world, my dear Watson, 283 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.039 I am perfectly satisfied with your company, if you will 284 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:59.799 tolerate mine. Our friends are wise, for it is certainly 285 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.919 a very fine morning for a walk. He quickened his 286 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:06.120 pace until we had decreased the distance, which divided us 287 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:10.159 by about half. Then, still keeping one hundred yards behind, 288 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:13.440 we followed into Oxford Street, and so down Regent Street. 289 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:16.960 Once our friend stopped and stared into a shop window, 290 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:21.440 upon which Holmes did the same. An instant afterwards, he 291 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:25.240 gave a little cry of satisfaction, and following the direction 292 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:28.360 of his eager eyes, I saw that a handsome cab 293 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.600 with a man inside, which had halted on the other 294 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:34.080 side of the street, was now proceeding slowly onward. Again, 295 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:37.639 there's our man, Watson. Come along. We'll have a good 296 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.480 look at him if we can do no more. At 297 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.960 that instant I was aware of a bushy black beard, 298 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:46.000 and a pair of piercing eyes turned upon us through 299 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:49.480 the side window of the cab. Instantly, the trap door 300 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:52.679 at the top flew up. Something was screamed to the driver, 301 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:56.559 and the cab flew madly off down Regent Street. Holmes 302 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:59.279 looked eagerly round for another but no empty one was 303 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:02.919 in sight. Then he dashed in wild pursuit amid the 304 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.960 stream of the traffic, But the start was too great, 305 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:09.519 and already the cab was out of sight. There now, 306 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:13.000 said Holmes bitterly, as he emerged, panting and white with 307 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:16.960 vexation from the tide of vehicles. Was ever such bad 308 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:21.160 luck and such bad management too? Watson? Watson, if you 309 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.920 are an honest man, you will record this also and 310 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.759 set it against my successes. Who was the man? I 311 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:31.839 have not an idea a spy? Well, it was evident 312 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:34.759 from what we have heard that Baskerville has been very 313 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:37.559 closely shadowed by some one since he has been in town. 314 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:40.599 How else could it be known so quickly that it 315 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:43.680 was the Northumberland Hotel which he had chosen. If they 316 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:46.119 had followed him the first day, I argued that they 317 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:49.359 would follow him also the second. You may have observed 318 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:51.960 that I twice strolled over to the window while doctor 319 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.119 Mortimer was reading his legend. Yes, I remember I was 320 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:59.160 looking out for loiterers in the street, but I saw none. 321 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.599 We are dealing with a clever man, Watson. This matter 322 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:06.839 cuts very deep, and though I have not finally made 323 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:09.119 up my mind whether it is a benevolent or a 324 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:12.200 malevolent agency, which is in touch with us. I am 325 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:16.279 conscious always of power and design. When our friends left, 326 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.440 I at once followed them, in the hopes of marking 327 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:23.480 down their invisible attendant. So wily was he that he 328 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:26.640 had not trusted himself upon foot, but he had availed 329 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.599 himself of a cab, so that he could loiter behind 330 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:33.119 or dash past them, and so escape their notice. His 331 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.680 method had the additional advantage that if they were to 332 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:38.119 take a cab, he was all ready to follow them. 333 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:43.039 It has, however, one obvious disadvantage. It puts them in 334 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:47.079 the power of the cabman. Exactly what a pity we 335 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.119 did not get the number, my dear Watson. Clumsy as 336 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:53.559 I have been, you surely do not seriously imagine that 337 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:57.000 I neglected to get the number. Nowber two seven zero 338 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:00.400 four is our man. But that is no use to us. 339 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:02.880 For the moment I failed to see how you could 340 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:05.680 have done more. On observing the cab, I should have 341 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:09.079 instantly turned and walked in the other direction. I should, then, 342 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:11.880 at my leisure, have hired a second cab and followed 343 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:14.799 the first at a respectful distance, or better still, have 344 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:18.799 driven to the Northumberland Hotel and waited there. When our 345 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:21.920 unknown had followed Baskerville home, we should have had the 346 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:25.160 opportunity of playing his own game upon himself and seeing 347 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:29.400 where he made. For as it is by an indiscreet eagerness, 348 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:32.519 which was taken advantage of with extraordinary quickness and energy 349 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:37.359 by our opponent, we have betrayed ourselves and lost our man. 350 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:41.599 We had been sauntering slowly down Regent Street during this conversation, 351 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.559 and doctor Mortimer with his companion, had long vanished in 352 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:48.839 front of us. There is no object in our following them, 353 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:52.880 said Holmes. The shadow has departed and will not return. 354 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:56.200 We must see what further cards we have in our 355 00:19:56.279 --> 00:20:00.359 hands and play them with decision. Could you swear to 356 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:03.680 that man's face within the cab? I could swear only 357 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.559 to the beard, and so could I, from which I 358 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:09.720 gather that in all probability it was a false one. 359 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:13.319 A clever man upon so delicate an errand has no 360 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:17.119 use for a beard save to conceal his features. Come 361 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:20.319 in here, Watson. He turned into one of the district 362 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:23.759 messenger offices, where he was warmly greeted by the manager, 363 00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:27.039 Ah Wilson, I see you have not forgotten the little 364 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:29.960 case in which I had the good fortune to help you. No, sir, 365 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:33.200 indeed I have none. You saved my good name and 366 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:37.240 perhaps my life. My dear fellow, you exaggerate. I have 367 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:40.200 some recollection, Wilson, that you had among your boys, a 368 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:45.599 lad named Cartwright, who showed some ability during the investigation. Yes, sir, 369 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:47.880 he is still with us. Could you ring him up? 370 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:51.200 Thank you, and I should be glad to have change 371 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:54.680 of this five pound note. A lad of fourteen, with 372 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:58.200 a bright, keen face had obeyed the summons of the manager. 373 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:02.319 He stood now gazing with great reverence at the famous detective. 374 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:07.720 Let me have the hotel directory, said Holmes. Thank you now, Cartwright. 375 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:11.160 There are the names of twenty three hotels here, all 376 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:14.640 in the immediate neighborhood of Charing Cross, you see, Yes, sir, 377 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:17.680 you will visit each of these in turn. Yes, sir, 378 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:21.039 you will begin in each case by giving the outside 379 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:24.920 porter one shilling. Here are twenty three shillings. Yes, sir, 380 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:27.519 you will tell him that you want to see the 381 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:30.759 waste paper of yesterday. You will say that an important 382 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:33.680 telegram has miscarried and that you are looking for it. 383 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:37.720 You understand, yes, sir, But what you are really looking 384 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:40.960 for is the center page of the Times, with some 385 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:43.799 holes cut in it with scissors. Here is a copy 386 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:47.400 of the Times. It is this page. You could easily 387 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:50.880 recognize it, could you not, yes, sir. In each case, 388 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:53.359 the outside porter will send for the hall porter, to 389 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:56.000 whom you also will give a shilling. Here are twenty 390 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:59.920 three shillings. You will then learn, in possibly twenty cases 391 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.720 out of the twenty three, that the waste of the 392 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:05.119 day before has been burned or removed. In the three 393 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.279 other cases, you will be shown a heap of paper, 394 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:09.279 and you will look for this page of the Times 395 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:12.599 among it. The odds are enormously against your finding it. 396 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:16.839 There are ten shillings over. In case of emergencies, let 397 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:20.680 me have a report by wire at Baker Street before evening, 398 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:24.000 And now, Watson, it only remains for us to find 399 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.759 out by wire the identity of the cabman number two 400 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:29.960 seven zero four, and then we will drop into one 401 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.880 of the Bond Street picture galleries and fill in the 402 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:35.559 time until we are due at the hotel.