WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:09.919 The Adventure of the Dancing Men. Holmes had been seated 2 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:13.560 for some hours in silence, with his long, thin back 3 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:17.280 curved over a chemical vessel in which he was brewing 4 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:22.960 a particularly malodorous product. His head was sunk upon his breast, 5 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:25.839 and he looked, from my point of view, like a strange, 6 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.679 lank bird with a dull gray plumage and a black 7 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:34.719 top knot so, Watson said he suddenly, you do not 8 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:39.359 propose to invest in South African securities. I gave a 9 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:44.679 start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes's curious faculties, 10 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:49.679 this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was utterly inexplicable. 11 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:53.159 How on earth do you know that, I asked. He 12 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.240 wheeled round upon his stool, with a steaming test tube 13 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:59.079 in his hand and a gleam of amusement in his 14 00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:04.519 deep set eyes. Now, Watson, confess yourself utterly taken, Aback 15 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:08.439 said he, I am. I ought to make you sign 16 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:12.480 a paper to that effect. Why, because in five minutes 17 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:15.200 you will say that it is all so absurdly simple. 18 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:18.000 I am sure that I shall say nothing of the kind. 19 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:22.319 You see, my dear Watson. He propped his test tube 20 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:25.000 in the rack, and began to lecture with the air 21 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:28.640 of a professor addressing his class. It is not really 22 00:01:28.680 --> 00:01:33.000 difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon 23 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:37.439 its predecessor, and each simple in itself. If after doing so, 24 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:41.200 one simply knocks out all the central inferences and presents 25 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.239 one's audience with the starting point and the conclusion, one 26 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:48.840 may produce a startling, though possibly a meretricious effect. Now 27 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:51.680 it was not really difficult. Buy an inspection of the 28 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.200 groove between your left forefinger and thumb to feel sure 29 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:58.400 that you did not propose to invest your small capital 30 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:04.040 in the gold fields. I see no connection. Very likely not, 31 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:07.079 but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here 32 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:11.280 are the missing links of the very simple chain. One 33 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:14.159 you have chalk between your left finger and thumb when 34 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:17.360 you returned from the club last night. Two you put 35 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:20.280 chalk there when you play billiards to steady the queue. 36 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:24.520 Three you never play billiards except with Thurston. Four you 37 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:27.280 told me four weeks ago that Thurston had an option 38 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.599 on some South African property which would expire in a month, 39 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:34.360 and which he desired you to share with him. Five 40 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:36.520 your check book is locked in my drawer, and you 41 00:02:36.599 --> 00:02:39.400 have not asked for the key six. You do not 42 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:44.560 propose to invest your money in this manner. How absurdly simple, 43 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:49.039 I cried, Quite so, said he, a little nettled. Every 44 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:52.599 problem becomes very childish when once it is explained to you. 45 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:56.840 Here is an unexplained one. See what you can make 46 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:00.360 of that, friend, Watson. He tossed a sheet of paper 47 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.039 upon the table and turned once more to his chemical analysis. 48 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:10.120 I looked with amazement at the absurd hieroglyphics upon the paper. Why, Holmes, 49 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:14.240 it's a child's drawing, I cried, Oh that's your idea. 50 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:18.080 What else should it be? That is what mister Hilton 51 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.599 Cubit of riding Thorpe, Manor Norfolk, is very anxious to 52 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.520 know this little conundrum. Came by the first post, and 53 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:28.599 he was to follow by the next train. There's a 54 00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:31.039 ring at the bell, Watson, I should not be very 55 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:34.680 much surprised if this were he. A heavy step was 56 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.800 heard upon the stairs, and an instant later there entered 57 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:41.599 a tall, ruddy, clean shaven gentleman, whose clear eyes and 58 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.400 florid cheeks told of a life led far from the 59 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:47.639 fogs of Baker Street. He seemed to bring a whiff 60 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.039 of his strong, fresh bracing East Coast air with him 61 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:54.159 as he entered. Having shaken hands with each of us, 62 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:57.039 he was about to sit down when his eye rested 63 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:00.360 upon the paper with the curious markings, which I had 64 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:04.479 just examined and left upon the table. Well, mister Holmes, 65 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.159 what you make of these? He cried. They told me 66 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:09.919 that you were fond of queer mysteries, and I don't 67 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:12.520 think you can find a queerer one than that. I 68 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:14.800 sent the paper on ahead so that you might have 69 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:17.920 time to study it before I came. It is certainly 70 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.839 rather a curious production, said Holmes. At first sight, it 71 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:25.959 would appear to be some childish prank. It consists of 72 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:29.279 a number of absurd little figures dancing across the paper 73 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:32.480 on which they are drawn. Why should you attribute any 74 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:36.959 importance to so grotesque an object? I never should, mister Holmes, 75 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:39.720 But my wife does. It is frightening her to death. 76 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.800 She says nothing, but I can see the terror in 77 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:45.439 her eyes. That's why I want to sift the matter 78 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:48.959 to the bottom. Holmes held up the paper so that 79 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:52.600 the sunlight shone full upon it. It was a page 80 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:56.279 torn from a note book. The markings were done in pencil. 81 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:00.199 Holmes examined it for some time, and then folding it 82 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:03.720 carefully up, he placed it in his pocket book. This 83 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:07.160 promises to be a most interesting and unusual case, he said. 84 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:10.560 You gave me a few particulars in your letter, mister 85 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:13.600 Hilton cubit, but I should be very much obliged if 86 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:16.199 you would kindly go over it all again for the 87 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:19.800 benefit of my friend doctor Watson. I'm not much of 88 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:24.680 a story teller, said our visitor, nervously, clasping and unclasping 89 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:27.879 his great strong hands. You'll ask me anything that I 90 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:31.040 don't make clear. I'll begin at the time of my 91 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:34.560 marriage last year. But I want to say first of 92 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:37.000 all that though I'm not a rich man, my people 93 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:39.879 have been at riding Thorpe for a matter of five centuries, 94 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.600 and there is no better known family in the county 95 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.920 of Norfolk. Last year I came up to London for 96 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.480 the jubilee, and I stopped at a boarding house in 97 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:53.160 Russell Square because Parker, the vicar of our parish, was 98 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:56.879 staying in it. There was an American young lady there. 99 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:01.879 Patrick was the name Elsie Patrick. In some way we 100 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:05.439 became friends until before my month was up. I was 101 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.399 as much in love as man could be. We were 102 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:11.959 quietly married at a registry office, and we returned to 103 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:16.439 Norfolk a wedded couple. You'll think it very mad, mister Holmes, 104 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:18.959 that a man of a good old family should marry 105 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:21.920 a wife in this fashion, knowing nothing of her past 106 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:25.240 or of her people. But if you saw her and 107 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:30.079 knew her, it would help you to understand. She was 108 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:32.720 very straight about it was, Elsie. I can't say that 109 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.079 she did not give me every chance of getting out 110 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.360 of it if I wished to do so. I have 111 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:41.680 had some very disagreeable associations in my life, said she. 112 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:45.360 I wish to forget all about them. I would rather 113 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:48.600 never allude to the past, for it is very painful 114 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.240 to me. If you take me, Hilton, you will take 115 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:53.879 a woman who has nothing that she need be personally 116 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.920 ashamed of. But you will have to be content with 117 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:00.000 my word for it, and to allow me to be silent, 118 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.360 and as to all that passed up to the time 119 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:06.360 when I became yours. If these conditions are too hard, 120 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.759 then go back to Norfolk and leave me to the 121 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:13.160 lonely life in which you found me. It was only 122 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.600 the day before our wedding that she said those very 123 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:18.639 words to me. I'd told her that I was content 124 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:21.399 to take her on her own terms, and I have 125 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:26.120 been as good as my word. Well. We've been married 126 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.680 now for a year, and very happy we have been. 127 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:31.680 But about a month ago, at the end of June, 128 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:35.959 I saw for the first time signs of trouble. One day, 129 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:39.360 my wife received a letter from America. I saw the 130 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:43.759 American stamp. She turned deadly white, read the letter and 131 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:47.600 threw it into the fire. She made no allusion to 132 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:50.480 it afterwards, and I made none. For a promise is 133 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:53.680 a promise. But she has never known an easy hour. 134 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:56.959 From that moment. There is always a look of fear 135 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:59.800 upon her face, a look as if she were waiting 136 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:04.240 and expecting she would do better to trust me, she 137 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:07.639 would find that I was her best friend. But until 138 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:09.959 she speaks, I can say nothing. Mind you, she is 139 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.439 a truthful woman, mister Holmes, and whatever trouble there may 140 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:15.839 have been in her past life, it has been no 141 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:19.839 fault of hers. I'm only a simple Norfolk squire, but 142 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.000 there is not a man in England who ranks his 143 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:25.519 family honor more highly than I do. She knows it well, 144 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:29.160 and she knew it well before she married me. She 145 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:34.919 would never bring any stain upon it. Of that, I'm sure. Well. 146 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:37.320 Now I come to the queer part of my story. 147 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.879 About a week ago. It was the Tuesday of last 148 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:43.559 week I found on one of the window sills a 149 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:47.759 number of absurd little dancing figures like those upon the paper. 150 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:52.080 They were scrawled with chalk. I thought it was the 151 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:55.399 stable boy who had drawn them, but the lad swore 152 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:58.759 he knew nothing about it. Anyway, They had come there 153 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:02.039 during the night. I had them washed out, and I 154 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:06.080 only mentioned the matter to my wife afterwards. To my surprise, 155 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:09.159 she took it very seriously and begged me if any 156 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:12.080 more came to let her see them. None did come 157 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:14.600 for a week, and then yesterday morning I found this 158 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:18.519 paper lying on the sun dial in the garden. I 159 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:21.159 showed it to Elsie, and down she dropped in a 160 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:24.799 dead faint. Since then she has looked like a woman 161 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:29.440 in a dream, half dazed and with terror always lurking 162 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:31.519 in her eyes. It was then that I wrote and 163 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:34.279 sent the paper to you, mister Holmes. It was not 164 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:36.320 a thing that I could take to the police, for 165 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:39.360 they would have laughed at me, But you will tell 166 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:42.120 me what to do. I am not a rich man, 167 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:45.360 but if there is any danger threatening my little woman, 168 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:50.039 I would spend my last copper to shield her. He 169 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.759 was a fine creature, this man of the old English soil, simple, 170 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:58.000 straight and gentle, with his great, earnest blue eyes and broad, 171 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:01.919 comely face. Love for his wife and his trust in 172 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:05.799 her shone in his features. Holmes had listened to his 173 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:09.279 story with the utmost attention, and now he sat for 174 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:13.919 some time in silent thought. Don't you think, mister Cubit? 175 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:17.240 Said he at last, that your best plan would be 176 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.039 to make a direct appeal to your wife and to 177 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:23.639 ask her to share her secret with you. Hilton Cubit 178 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:27.519 shook his massive head. A promise is a promise, mister Holmes. 179 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:31.200 If Elsie wished to tell me, she would, If not, 180 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:34.200 it is not for me to force her confidence. But 181 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.919 I am justified in taking my own line, and I 182 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:40.720 will then I will help you with all my heart. 183 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:43.360 In the first place, have you heard of any strangers 184 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:47.399 being seen in your neighborhood? No, I presume that it 185 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:50.679 is a very quiet place. Any fresh face would cause 186 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:54.919 comment in the immediate neighborhood. Yes, but we have several 187 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:58.679 small watering places not very far away, and the farmers 188 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:03.759 take in lodgers. These hieroglyphics have evidently a meaning. If 189 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.679 it is a purely arbitrary one, it may be impossible 190 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:09.320 for us to solve it. If, on the other hand, 191 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:12.039 it is systematic, I have no doubt that we shall 192 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:15.519 get to the bottom of it. But this particular sample 193 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.279 is so short that I can do nothing, and the 194 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.039 facts which you have brought me are so indefinite that 195 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:25.000 we have no basis for an investigation. I would suggest 196 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.639 that you return to Norfolk, that you keep a keen 197 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.480 look out, and that you take an exact copy of 198 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:34.480 any fresh dancing men which may appear. It is a 199 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:37.200 thousand pities that we have not a reproduction of those 200 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:40.600 which were done in chalk upon the window sill. Make 201 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:44.519 a discreet inquiry. Also as to any strangers in the neighborhood. 202 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:47.919 When you have collected some fresh evidence, come to me again. 203 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:51.039 That is the best advice which I can give you, 204 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:55.399 mister Hilton Cubit. If there are any pressing fresh developments, 205 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:57.799 I shall be always ready to run down and see 206 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:02.759 you in your Norfolk home. The interview left Sherlock Holmes 207 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.720 very thoughtful, and several times in the next few days 208 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.240 I saw him take his slip of paper from his 209 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:12.159 note book and look long and earnestly at the curious 210 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:16.600 figures inscribed upon it. He made no allusion to the affair, however, 211 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:21.000 until one afternoon, a fortnight or so later, I was 212 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:24.240 going out when he called me back. You had better 213 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:27.759 stay here, Watson. Why because I had a wire from 214 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:30.759 Hilton Cubit this morning. You remember Hilton Cubit, of the 215 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:34.519 dancing men. He was to reach Liverpool Street at one twenty. 216 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.879 He may be here at any moment. I gather from 217 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:40.919 his wire that there have been some new incidents of importance. 218 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.519 We had not long to wait for our Norfolk squire 219 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:47.000 came straight from the station as fast as a hansom 220 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:50.240 could bring him. He was looking worried and depressed, with 221 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:54.720 tired eyes and a lined forehead. It's getting on my nerves, 222 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.679 this business, mister Holmes, said he as he sank like 223 00:12:57.720 --> 00:13:01.120 a wearied man into an arm chair. It's bad enough 224 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.440 to feel that you are surrounded by unseen, unknown folk 225 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:07.159 who have some kind of design upon you. But when 226 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:09.440 in addition to that you know that it is just 227 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:12.840 killing your wife by inches, then it becomes as much 228 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:16.679 as flesh and blood can endure. She's wearing away under it, 229 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:22.559 just wearing away before my eyes. Has she said anything yet, No, 230 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:25.799 mister Holmes, she has not. And yet there have been 231 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:28.440 times when the poor girl has wanted to speak, and 232 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:31.559 yet could not quite bring herself to take the plunge. 233 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:33.639 I have tried to help her, but I dare say 234 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.759 I did it clumsily and scared her from it. She 235 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:40.320 has spoken about my old family and our reputation in 236 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:43.960 the county, and our pride in our unsullied honor. And 237 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:47.039 I always felt it was leading to the point, but 238 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:50.759 somehow it turned off before we got there. But you 239 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:54.080 have found out something for yourself, a good deal, mister Holmes. 240 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:57.960 I have several fresh dancing men pictures for you to examine. 241 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.360 And what is more important, I have seen the fellow 242 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:04.840 what the mount who draws them. Yes, I saw him 243 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.960 at his work, but I will tell you everything in order. 244 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.759 When I got back after my visit to you, the 245 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:14.399 very first thing I saw next morning was a fresh 246 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:17.759 crop of dancing men. They had been drawn in chalk 247 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:20.720 upon the black wooden door of the tool house, which 248 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.879 stands beside the lawn in full view of the front windows. 249 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:28.440 I took an exact copy, and here it is. He 250 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:32.720 unfolded a paper and laid it upon the table. Here 251 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:36.639 is a copy of the hieroglyphics. Excellent, said Holmes. Excellent, 252 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:40.120 the prey continue. When I had taken the copy, I 253 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:43.480 rubbed out the marks. But two mornings later a fresh 254 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:46.960 inscription had appeared. I have a copy of it here. 255 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:52.519 Holmes rubbed his hands and chuckled with delight. Our material 256 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:57.120 is rapidly accumulating, said he. Three days later a message 257 00:14:57.159 --> 00:15:00.440 was left, scrawled upon paper and placed under a pebble 258 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:04.080 upon the sun dial. Here it is. The characters are 259 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:06.440 as you see, exactly the same as the last one. 260 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:10.360 After that, I determined to lie in wait, so I 261 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:13.399 got out my revolver and I sat up in my study, 262 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:17.399 which overlooks the lawn and garden. About two in the morning, 263 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:20.240 I was seated by the window, all being dark save 264 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:23.919 for the moonlight outside, when I heard steps behind me, 265 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:27.480 and there was my wife in her dressing gown. She 266 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.679 implored me to come to bed. I told her frankly 267 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.759 that I wished to see who it was who played 268 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:36.720 such absurd tricks upon us. She answered that it was 269 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:40.360 some senseless, practical joke, and that I should not take 270 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:43.879 any notice of it. If it really annoys you, Hilton, 271 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:46.840 we might go and travel, you and I, and so 272 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.679 avoid this nuisance. What be driven out of our own 273 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.720 house by a practical joker, said I? Why we should 274 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:56.679 have the whole county laughing at us. Well, come to bed, 275 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:00.679 said she, and we can discuss it in the morning. Suddenly, 276 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:03.879 as she spoke, I saw her white face grow whiter 277 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:07.759 yet in the moonlight, and her hand tightened upon my shoulder. 278 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.600 Something was moving in the shadow of the tool house. 279 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:15.279 I saw a dark, creeping figure which crawled round the 280 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:19.320 corner and squatted in front of the door, seizing my pistol. 281 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.200 I was rushing out when my wife threw her arms 282 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:25.679 round me and held me with convulsive strength. I tried 283 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:28.440 to throw her off, but she clung to me most desperately. 284 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.600 At last I got clear, But by the time I 285 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:34.120 had opened the door and reached the house, the creature 286 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:37.360 was gone. He had left a trace of his presence, however, 287 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.279 for there on the door was the very same arrangement 288 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:44.360 of dancing men, which had already twice appeared, and which 289 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:47.879 I have copied on that paper. There was no sign 290 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:50.480 of the fellow anywhere, though I ran all over the grounds. 291 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.799 And yet the amazing thing is that he must have 292 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.919 been there all the time, for when I examined the 293 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:59.720 door again in the morning, he had scrawled some more 294 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:02.480 of his pictures under the line which I had already seen. 295 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:06.960 Have you that fresh drawing? Yes, it's very short, but 296 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:10.799 I made a copy of it, and here it is again. 297 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:14.599 He produced a paper on which the new dance appeared. 298 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.519 Tell me, said Holmes, and I could see by his 299 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:21.559 eyes that he was much excited. Was this a mere 300 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:24.680 addition to the first? Or did it appear to be 301 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:30.279 entirely separate? It was on a different panel of the door. Excellent, 302 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:33.559 This is far the most important of all for our purpose. 303 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:38.480 It fills me with hopes. Now, mister Hilton cubit, please 304 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:43.079 continue your most interesting statement. I have nothing more to say, 305 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:46.640 mister Holmes, except that I was angry with my wife 306 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:49.319 that night for having held me back when I might 307 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:53.519 have caught the skulking rascal. She said that she feared 308 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:56.960 that I might come to harm for an instant. It 309 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.599 had crossed my mind that perhaps what she really feared 310 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.960 was that he might come to harm. For I could 311 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.920 not doubt that she knew who this man was and 312 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:09.640 what he meant by these strange signals. But there is 313 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.799 a tone in my wife's voice, mister Holmes, and a 314 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.480 look in her eyes which forbid doubt. And I am 315 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.440 sure that it was indeed my own safety that was 316 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:22.599 in her mind. There's the whole case, and now I 317 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.559 want your advice as to what I ought to do. 318 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:28.119 My own inclination is to put half a dozen of 319 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.039 my farm lads in the shrubbery, and when this fellow 320 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:33.880 comes again, to give him such a hiding that he 321 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:37.480 will leave us in peace for the future. I fear 322 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.480 it is too deep a case for such simple remedies, 323 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:45.319 said Holmes. How long can you stay in London? I 324 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:48.559 must go back to day. I would not leave my 325 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:51.640 wife alone all night for anything. She is very nervous 326 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.920 and beg me to come back. I dare say, you're right, 327 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:58.400 But if you could have stopped, I might possibly have 328 00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:01.960 been able to return with you in a day. Meanwhile, 329 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.319 you will leave me these papers, and I think it 330 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:06.200 is very likely that I shall be able to pay 331 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:09.200 you a visit shortly, and to throw some light upon 332 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:14.839 your case. Sherlock Holmes preserved his calm, professional manner until 333 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:18.039 our visitor had left us, although it was easy for me, 334 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:20.680 who knew him so well, to see that he was 335 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:26.119 profoundly excited. The moment that Hilton Cubit's broad back had 336 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:29.599 disappeared through the door, my comrade rushed to the table, 337 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:32.880 laid out all the slips of paper containing dancing men 338 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.200 in front of him, and threw himself into an intricate 339 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:40.440 and elaborate calculation. For two hours, I watched him as 340 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:43.559 he covered sheet after sheet of paper with figures and letters, 341 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:47.240 so completely absorbed in his task that he had evidently 342 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:51.599 forgotten my presence. Sometimes he was making progress and whistled 343 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:55.160 and sang at his work. Sometimes he was puzzled and 344 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:57.799 would sit for long spells with a furrowed brow and 345 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:01.319 a vacant eye. Finally he sprang from his chair with 346 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:04.440 a cry of satisfaction, and walked up and down the room, 347 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:08.359 rubbing his hands together. Then he wrote a long telegram 348 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:11.680 upon a cable form. If my answer to this is 349 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:14.599 as I hope you will have a very pretty case 350 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:18.240 to add to your collection. Watson said he, I expect 351 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:20.200 that we shall be able to go down to Norfolk 352 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:23.519 tomorrow and to take our friend some very definite news 353 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:28.519 as to the secret of his annoyance. I confess that 354 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:31.839 I was filled with curiosity, but I was aware that 355 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:34.640 Holmes liked to make his disclosures at his own time 356 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:37.839 and in his own way. So I waited until it 357 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:41.960 should suit him to take me into his confidence. But 358 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:44.680 there was a delay in that answering telegram, and two 359 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:48.319 days of impatience followed, during which Holmes pricked up his 360 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:51.920 ears at every ring of the bell. On the evening 361 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.839 of the second there came a letter from Hilton Cubid. 362 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:59.000 All was quiet with him, save that a long inscription 363 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:02.240 had appeared that morning upon the pedestal of the sun dial. 364 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:06.519 He enclosed a copy of it, which is here reproduced. 365 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:11.240 Holmes bent over this grotesque freeze for some minutes, and 366 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.319 then suddenly sprang to his feet with an exclamation of 367 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:20.240 surprise and dismay. His face was haggard with anxiety. We 368 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:23.440 have let this affair go far enough, said he is 369 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:26.720 there a train to North Walsham to night. I turned 370 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:30.920 up the timetable the last had just gone. Then we 371 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:33.400 shall breakfast early and take the very first in the morning, 372 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:38.400 said Holmes. Our presence is most urgently needed. Ah here 373 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:42.279 is our expected cablegram one moment, Missus Hudson, there may 374 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:46.160 be an answer. No, that is quite as I expected. 375 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:49.559 This message makes it even more essential that we should 376 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:52.119 not lose an hour in letting Hilton cubit know how 377 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:55.599 matters stand. For it is a singular and a dangerous 378 00:21:55.599 --> 00:22:01.480 web in which our simple Norfolk squire is entangled. So 379 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:04.920 indeed it proved. And as I come to the dark 380 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.240 conclusion of a story which had seemed to me to 381 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:11.279 be only childish and bizarre, I experience once again the 382 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:15.279 dismay and horror with which I was filled. Would that 383 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:18.920 I had some brighter ending to communicate to my readers. 384 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:22.599 But these are the chronicles of fact, and I must 385 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:26.039 follow to their dark crisis. The strange chain of events 386 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:30.039 which for some days made Riding Thorpe Manor a household 387 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:34.440 word through the length and breadth of England. We had 388 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:37.599 hardly alighted at North Walsham and mentioned the name of 389 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:42.039 our destination. When the station master hurried towards us, I 390 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:45.400 suppose that you are the detectives from London, said he. 391 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:49.759 A look of annoyance passed over Holmes's face. What makes 392 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:53.440 you think such a thing, because Inspector Martin from Norwich 393 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:56.599 has just passed through. But maybe you are the surgeons. 394 00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:00.440 She is not dead, or wasn't by last accounts. You 395 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.200 may be in time to savor. Yet, though it be 396 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:08.559 for the gallows, Holmes's brow was dark with anxiety. We 397 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:11.720 are going to riding forpe Manor, said he. But we 398 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:14.640 have heard nothing of what has passed there. It's a 399 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:19.039 terrible business, said the station master. They are shot, both 400 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:22.359 mister Hilton Cubit and his wife. She shot him and 401 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:26.240