WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.559 The Moabite Cipher by R. Austin Freeman. A large and 2 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:07.839 motley crowd lined the pavements of Oxford Street as Thorndyke 3 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:11.279 and I made our way leisurely eastward. Floral decorations and 4 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:14.800 drooping bunting announced one of those functions inaugurated from time 5 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:18.000 to time by a benevolent government for the entertainment of 6 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:22.120 fashionable loungers and the relief of distressed pickpockets. For a 7 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:26.079 Russian grand Duke, who had torn himself away amidst valedictory 8 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:29.800 explosions from a loving if two demonstrative people, was to 9 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:32.399 pass Anon on his way to the Guildhall, and a 10 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:36.560 British prince, heroically indiscreet was expected to occupy a seat 11 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:40.600 in the ducal carriage near Raftbone Place. Thorndyke halted and 12 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:43.079 drew my attention to a smart looking man who was 13 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:46.520 lounging in a doorway, cigarette in hand. Our old friend, 14 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:50.280 Inspector Badger, said Thorndyke. He seems mightily interested in that 15 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:53.840 gentleman in the light overcoat. How d'ye do Badger? For 16 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:56.520 at this moment the detective caught his eye and bowed 17 00:00:56.759 --> 00:00:59.399 who is your friend. That's what I'd like to know, Sir, 18 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:02.479 replied the Inspector. I've been shadowing him for the last 19 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:04.799 half hour, but I can make him out, though I 20 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:07.840 believe I've seen him somewhere. He don't look like a foreigner, 21 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:10.280 but he has something bulky in his pocket, so I 22 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:12.879 must keep him in sight until the Duke is safely passed. 23 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:16.959 I wish, he added gloomily, these beastly Russians would stop 24 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.799 at home. They give us no end of trouble. Are 25 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:23.480 you expecting any occurrences? Then asked Thorndyke. Bless you, Sir, 26 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:26.840 exclaimed Badger. The whole root is lined with a plainclothesman. 27 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:29.840 You see, it is known that several desperate characters followed 28 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:31.920 the Duke to England, and there are a good many 29 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:33.959 exiles living here who would like to have a wrap 30 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:37.040 at him. Hallo, what's he up to now? The man 31 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:39.719 in the light overcoat had suddenly caught the Inspector's too 32 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:42.879 inquiring eye, and forthwith dived into the crowd at the 33 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.680 edge of the pavement. In his haste, he trod heavily 34 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:48.000 on the foot of a big, rough looking man by 35 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:50.079 whom he was in a moment hustled out into the 36 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:53.400 road with such violence that he fell, sprawling face downwards. 37 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:57.120 It was an unlucky moment. A mounted constable was just 38 00:01:57.159 --> 00:01:59.719 then backing in upon the crowd, and before he could 39 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.400 gather the meaning of the shout that arose from the bystanders, 40 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:05.280 his horse had set down one hind hoofed firmly on 41 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:09.159 the prostrate man's back. The inspector signaled to a constable, 42 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:11.560 who forthwith made a way for us through the crowd. 43 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:14.439 But even as we approached the injured man, he rose 44 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.800 stiffly and looked round with a pale, vacant face. Are 45 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.879 you hurt, Thorndyke asked gently, with an earnest look into 46 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:24.719 the frightened, wondering eyes. No, sir, was the reply. Only 47 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:29.439 I feel queer sinking just here. He laid a trembling 48 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:33.560 hand on his chest, and Thorndyke, still eyeing him anxiously, said, 49 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.840 in a low voice to the inspector cab or ambulance 50 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:39.719 as quickly as you can. A cab was led round 51 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:43.159 from Newman Street, and the injured man put into it. Thorndyke, 52 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:46.800 Badger and I entered, and we drove off up Rathbone Place. 53 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.240 As we proceeded, our patient's face grew more and more ashen, 54 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:54.319 drawn and anxious. His breathing was shallow and uneven, and 55 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:58.360 his teeth chattered slightly. The cab swung round into Good Street, 56 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:01.000 and then suddenly, in the tinkling of an eye, there 57 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:04.759 came a change. The eyelids and jaw relaxed, the eyes 58 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:08.120 became filmy, and the whole form subsided into the corner 59 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:11.479 in a shrunken heap, with the strange, gelatinous limpness of 60 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:13.800 a body that is dead as a whole while its 61 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:17.319 tissues are still alive. God save us the man, instead, 62 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:21.080 exclaimed the inspector in a shocked voice, For even policemen 63 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:24.360 have their feelings. He sat staring at the corpse as 64 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.000 it nodded gently with the jolting of the cab until 65 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.759 we drew up inside the courtyard of the Middlesex Hospital, 66 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.280 when he got out briskly with suddenly renewed cheerfulness, to 67 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:35.919 help the porter to place the body on the wheeled couch. 68 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:38.840 Well we shall know who he is now, at any rate, 69 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:41.919 said he, as we followed the couch to the casualty room. 70 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:46.039 Thorndyke nodded unsympathetically. The medical instinct in him was, for 71 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:49.520 the moment, stronger than the legal. The house surgeon leaned 72 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:52.000 over the couch and made a rapid examination as he 73 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:54.639 listened to our account of the incident. Then he straightened 74 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:58.520 himself up and looked at Thorndyke. Internal hemorrhage, I expect, 75 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:01.479 said he. At any rate, he's dead, poor beggar, as 76 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:04.680 dead as nebukanezer Ah. Here comes the bobby. It's his 77 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:08.639 affair now. A sergeant came into the room, breathing quickly, 78 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:11.520 and looked in surprise from the corpse to the inspector. 79 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:15.000 But the latter, without loss of time, proceeded to turn 80 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:18.040 out the dead man's pockets, commencing with the bulky object 81 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.800 which had first attracted his attention, which proved to be 82 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:24.079 a brown paper parcel tied up with red tape. Poor 83 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:27.680 pie begad, he exclaimed with a crestfallen air, as he 84 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:30.040 cut the tape and opened the package. You had better 85 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.920 go through his other pocket, sergeant. The small heap of 86 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:35.839 odds and ends that resulted from this process tended with 87 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:38.160 a single exception to throw a little light on the 88 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:42.240 man's identity, the exception being a letter sealed but not stamped, 89 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:46.360 addressed in an exceedingly illiterate hand to mister Adolph Schoenberg, 90 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:50.199 two thirteen Greek Street. Soho he was going to leave 91 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:52.839 it by hand, I expect, observed the inspector with a 92 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:55.720 wistful glance at the sealed envelope. I think I'll take 93 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:58.160 it round myself, and you had better come with me, sergeant. 94 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:00.959 He slipped the letter into his poe, and, leaving the 95 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:03.720 sergeant to take possession of the other effects, made his 96 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:07.120 way out of the building. I suppose, doctor, said he 97 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:09.879 as we crossed into Berner Street. You are not coming 98 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:14.120 our way. Don't want to see mister Schoenburg. Thornburgh reflected 99 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:16.720 for a moment, Well, it isn't very far and we 100 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:18.879 may as well see the end of the incident. Yes, 101 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:22.959 let's go together. Number two one three Greek Street was 102 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.240 one of those houses that irresistibly suggested the observer the 103 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.199 idea of a church organ, either jamb of the doorway 104 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:32.399 being adorned with a row of brass bell handles corresponding 105 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:35.480 to stop knobs. These, the sergeant examined with the air 106 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:38.480 of an expert musician, and having as it were, gaged 107 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:41.319 the capacity of the instrument, selected the middle knob on 108 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.439 the right side and pulled it briskly, whereupon a first 109 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:47.519 floor window was thrown up and a head protruded, but 110 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:50.839 it afforded us a momentary glimpse only for having caught 111 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:55.160 the sergeant's upturned eye. It retired with surprising precipitancy, and 112 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:57.759 before we had time to speculate on the apparition, the 113 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:00.519 street door was opened and a man emerged. He was 114 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:03.680 about to close the door after him, when the inspector interposed, 115 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:07.920 does mister Adolf Schoenburg live here? The newcomer, a very 116 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:10.959 typical jew of the red haired type, surveyed us thoughtfully 117 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:16.720 through his gold rimmed spectacles as he repeated the name Schoenburg. Schoenburg. Ah, yes, 118 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:19.439 I know, he lives on the third floor. I saw 119 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:22.120 him go up a short time ago, third floor back, 120 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.000 and indicating the open door with a wave of the hand, 121 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.000 he raised his hat and passed into the street. I 122 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:30.759 suppose we had better go up, said the inspector, with 123 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:33.519 a dubious glance at the row of bell poles. He 124 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.519 accordingly started up the stairs, and we all followed in 125 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.399 his wake. There were two doors at the back of 126 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.160 the third floor, but as the one was open, displaying 127 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.639 an unoccupied bedroom, the inspector rapped smartly on the other. 128 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:48.879 It flew open almost immediately, and a fierce looking little 129 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:52.439 man confronted us with a hostile stare. Well said he, 130 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:57.000 mister Adolf Schoenburg, inquired the inspector, vell flat about him, 131 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:00.000 snapped our new acquaintance. I wish to have a few 132 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.879 words with him, said badger. Then vacta, do still come 133 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:06.439 bangin at my door? For demanded the other. Why doesn't 134 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:10.160 he live here? No first floor front, replied our friend, 135 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:14.040 preparing to close the door. Pardon me, said Thorndyke. But 136 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:18.439 what is mister Schoenburg like? I mean like, interrupted the resident. 137 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:20.839 He's like a blooming signeye with a carroty beard and 138 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:24.480 gold gig lamps. And having presented this impressionist sketch, he 139 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:27.199 brought the interview to a definite close by slamming the 140 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:30.639 door and turning the key with a wrathful exclamation. The 141 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:33.519 inspector turned towards the stairs, down which the sergeant was 142 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:36.399 already clattering in hot haste, and made his way back 143 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:39.759 to the ground floor, followed as before by Thorndyke and me. 144 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.519 On the doorstep, we found the sergeant breathlessly interrogating a 145 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:46.120 smartly dressed youth whom I had seen a light from 146 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:48.480 a hansom as we entered the house, and who now 147 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:51.120 stood with a note book tucked under his arm, sharpening 148 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:55.120 a pencil with deliberate care. Mister James saw him come out, sir, 149 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:58.199 said the sergeant. He turned up towards the square. Did 150 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:02.519 he seem to hurry, asked the inspector, Rather, replied the reporter. 151 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:04.680 As soon as you were inside, he went off like 152 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:07.800 a lamp lighter. You won't catch him. Now, we don't 153 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:11.439 want to catch him, the detective rejoined, gruffly. Then, backing 154 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:13.879 out of earshot of the eager pressman, he said, in 155 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:16.920 a lower tone, that was mister Schoenberg, beyond a doubt, 156 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:18.759 and it is clear that he has some reason for 157 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:22.240 making himself scarce. So I shall consider myself justified. In 158 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:25.360 opening that note, he suited the action to the word, and, 159 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:28.240 having cut the envelope open with official neatness, drew out 160 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.800 the enclosure. My hat, he exclaimed, as his eye fell 161 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:35.600 upon the contents. What in creation is this? It isn't shorthand, 162 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:38.360 but what the deuce is it? He handed the document 163 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.639 to Thorndyke, who, having held it up to the light 164 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:43.440 and felt the paper critically, proceeded to examine it with 165 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:46.480 keen interest. It consisted of a single half sheet of 166 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:48.960 thin note paper, both sides of which were covered with 167 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:52.440 strange crabbed characters written with a brownish black ink in 168 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:56.559 continuous lines, without any spaces to indicate the divisions into words. 169 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.519 And but for the modern material which bore the writing, 170 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:02.080 it i'd have been a portion of some ancient manuscript 171 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:05.320 or forgotten codex. What do you make of it? Doctor, 172 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:09.440 inquired the inspector anxiously, after a pause during which Thorndyke 173 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:13.039 had scrutinized the strange writing with knitted brows. Not a 174 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:17.240 great deal, replied Thorndyke. The character is the Moabide or Phoenician, 175 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.399 primitive Semitic in fact, and reads from right to left. 176 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:23.320 The language I take to be Hebrew at any rate 177 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:25.519 I can find no Greek words, and I see here 178 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:27.960 a group of letters which may form one of the 179 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.480 few Hebrew words that I know. The word badim lies. 180 00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:34.200 But you had better get it deciphered by an expert. 181 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.720 If it is Hebrew, said Badger. We can manage it 182 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:40.039 all right. There are plenty of Jews at our disposal. 183 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:42.799 You had better take that paper to the British Museum, 184 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:45.799 said Thorndyke, and submitted to the Keeper of the Phoenician 185 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:50.399 Antiquities for decipherment. Inspector Badger smiled a foxy smile as 186 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:53.080 he deposited the paper in his pocket book. We'll see 187 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:55.480 what we can make of it ourselves first, he said. 188 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:58.240 But many thanks for your advice. All the same doctor, No, 189 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.120 mister James, I can't give you any information just at present. 190 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:04.679 You had better apply at the hospital. I suspect, said 191 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:07.720 Thorndyke as we took our way homewards, that mister James 192 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:11.440 has collected enough material for his purpose already. He must 193 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:13.600 have followed us from the hospital, and I have no 194 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.720 doubt that he has his report with full details mentally 195 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:19.440 arranged at this moment, and I am not sure that 196 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:21.559 he didn't get a peep at the mysterious paper in 197 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:25.120 spite of the Inspector's precautions. By the way, I said, 198 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:28.440 what do you make of the document? A cipher, most probably, 199 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:32.200 he replied. It is written in the primitive Semitic alphabet, which, 200 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.840 as you know, is practically identical with primitive Greek. It 201 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.440 is written from right to left, like the Phoenician Hebrew 202 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.360 and Moabite, as well as the earliest Greek inscriptions. The 203 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:44.799 paper is common cream laid note paper, and the ink 204 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:48.399 is ordinary indelible Chinese ink, such as is used by draftsmen. 205 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:51.279 Those are the facts, and without further study of the 206 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:54.679 document itself, they don't carry us very far. Why do 207 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:56.799 you think it is a cipher rather than a document 208 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:00.440 and straightforward Hebrew? Because it is obviously a secret message 209 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:03.360 of some kind. Now, every educated Jew knows more or 210 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:05.639 less Hebrew, and although he is able to read and 211 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:08.519 write only the modern square Hebrew character, it is so 212 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:11.600 easy to transpose one alphabet into another that the mere 213 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:15.720 language would afford no security. Therefore, I expect that when 214 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:19.480 the experts translate this document, the translation or transliteration will 215 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:23.519 be a mere farrago of unintelligible nonsense. But we shall see. 216 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.759 And meanwhile, the facts that we have offer several interesting 217 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:31.639 suggestions which are well worth consideration. As for instance, now, 218 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:35.320 my dear Jervis, said Thorndyke, shaking in a monitory forefinger 219 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:38.200 at me. Don't I pray you give way to mental indolence. 220 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.200 You have these few facts that I have mentioned, consider 221 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:44.960 them separately and collectively and in their relation to the circumstances. 222 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:47.039 Don't attempt to suck my brain when you have an 223 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:50.279 excellent brain of your own to suck. On the following morning, 224 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:53.480 the papers fully justified my colleague's opinion of mister James. 225 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:55.840 All the events which had occurred, as well as a 226 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:58.399 number that had not, were given in the fullest and 227 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:01.200 most vivid detail, a length the reference being made to 228 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:03.840 the paper found on the person of the dead anarchist 229 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:07.759 and written in a private shorthand or cryptogram. The report 230 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.639 concluded with the gratifying, though untrue statement that, in this 231 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:14.639 intricate and important case, the police have wisely secured the 232 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:18.000 assistance of doctor John Thorndyke, to whose acute intellect and 233 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:21.879 vast experience, the portentous cryptogram will doubtless soon deliver up 234 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:25.720 its secret. Very flattering, laughed Thorndyke, to whom I read 235 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:28.240 the extract on his return from the hospital. But a 236 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.480 little awkward of it should induce our friends to deposit 237 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:33.440 a few trifling mementoes in the form of nitro compounds 238 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:36.399 on our main staircase or in the cellars. By the way, 239 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:40.120 I met Superintendent Miller on London Bridge. The cryptogram, as 240 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:42.720 mister James calls it, has set Scotland Yard in a 241 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:46.000 mighty ferment. Naturally, what have they done in the matter? 242 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.639 They adopted my suggestion, after all, finding that they could 243 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:51.879 make nothing of it themselves, and took it to the 244 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:55.840 British Museum. The museum people referred them to Professor Poppelbaum, 245 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.679 the great paleographer, to whom they accordingly submitted it. Does 246 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:03.879 he express any opinion about it? Yes? Provisionally after a 247 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:06.480 brief examination he found it to consist of a number 248 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:10.440 of Hebrew words sandwich between apparently meaningless groups of letters. 249 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:13.679 He furnished the Superintendent off hand with a translation of 250 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.559 the words, and Miller forthwith struck off a number of 251 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.360 hectograph copies of it, which he has distributed among the 252 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:22.879 senior officials of his department, So that at present here 253 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:26.200 Thorndyke gave event to a soft chuckle. Scotland Yard is 254 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:28.879 engaged in a sort of missing word, or rather missing 255 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.360 sense competition. Miller invited me to join in the sport, 256 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:34.279 and to that end presented me with one of the 257 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:37.720 hectograph copies on which to exercise my wits, together with 258 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:41.279 a photograph of the document. And shall you, I asked, 259 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:44.440 Not I, he replied, laughing. In the first place, I 260 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:48.080 have not been formally consulted, and consequently am a passive, 261 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:51.360 though interested spectator. In the second place, I have a 262 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:53.399 theory of my own, which I shall test if the 263 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:55.960 occasion arises. But if you would like to take part 264 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.120 in the competition, I am authorized to show you the 265 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:01.039 photograph and the translation will pass them on to you, 266 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:03.519 and I wish you joy of them. He handed me 267 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:05.480 the photograph in a sheet of paper that he had 268 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:07.919 just taken from his pocket book, and watched me with 269 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:15.240 grim amusement as I read out the first few lines. Woe, city, lies, robbery, prey, noise, whip, 270 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:21.639 rattling wheel horse, chariot, day, darkness, gloominess, clouds, darkness, morning, 271 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:26.720 mountain people strong, fire them flame. It doesn't look very 272 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:30.039 promising at first sight, I remarked, what is the professor's theory? 273 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.240 His theory, provisionally, of course, is that the words form 274 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.840 the message and the groups of letters represent mere filled 275 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:39.919 up spaces between the words. But surely, I protested, that 276 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:44.080 would be a very transparent device. Thorndyke laughed. There is 277 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:47.679 a childlike simplicity about it, said he. That is highly attractive, 278 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.799 but discouraging. It is much more probable that the words 279 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:54.039 are dummies and that the letters contain the message. Or again, 280 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:57.200 the solution may lie in an entirely different direction. But listen, 281 00:14:57.399 --> 00:15:00.039 is that a cap coming here? It was it? I 282 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:02.720 drew up opposite our chambers, and a few moments later 283 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:05.679 a brisk step ascending the stairs heralded a smart rat 284 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:08.480 tat at our door. Flinging open the ladder, I found 285 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.480 myself confronted by a well dressed stranger, who, after a 286 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:14.840 quick glance at me, peered inquisitively over my shoulder into 287 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:19.000 the room. I am relieved. Doctor Jervis said he to 288 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:21.600 find you and doctor Thorndyke at home, as I have 289 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:25.759 come on somewhat urgent professional business. My name, he continued 290 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:29.080 entering in response to my invitation, is Barton. But you 291 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:31.399 don't know me, though I know you both by sight. 292 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:33.720 I have come to ask you if one of you, 293 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:36.399 or better still, both could come to night and see 294 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:40.799 my brother. That said Thorndyke, depends on the circumstances and 295 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:45.159 on the whereabouts of your brother. The circumstances, said mister Barton, 296 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.320 are in my opinion, highly suspicious, and I will place 297 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:52.279 them before you, of course, in strict confidence. Thorndyke nodded 298 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:56.639 and indicated a chair. My brother, continued, mister Barton, taking 299 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.639 the proffered seat, has recently married for the second time. 300 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.639 His age is fifty five and that of his wife 301 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:05.360 twenty six, and I may say that the marriage has 302 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:09.120 been well, by no means a success. Now, within the 303 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.840 last fortnight, my brother has been attacked by a mysterious 304 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.679 and extremely painful affection of the stomach, to which his 305 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:17.639 doctor seems unable to give a name. It has resisted 306 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:21.360 all treatment hitherto. Day by day the pain and distress increase, 307 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:24.559 and I feel that unless something decisive is done, the 308 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:27.840 end cannot be far off. Is the pain worse after 309 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:32.159 taking food, inquired Thorndyke. That's just it, exclaimed our visitor. 310 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.320 I see what is in your mind, and it has 311 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:36.559 been in mine too, so much though that I have 312 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:39.120 tried repeatedly to obtain samples of the food that he 313 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:42.679 is taking, and this morning I succeeded. Here he took 314 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:46.039 from his pocket a wide mouthed bottle, which, disengaging from 315 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:49.080 its paper wrappings, he laid on the table when I called. 316 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:51.919 He was taking his breakfast of arrowroot, which he complained 317 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:54.519 had a gritty taste, supposed by his wife to be 318 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:57.320 due to the sugar. Now I had provided myself with 319 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.879 this bottle, and during the absence of his wife, I'm 320 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:02.840 banished unobserved to convey a portion of the arrowroot that 321 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:05.119 he had left into it. And I should be greatly 322 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:07.720 obliged if you would examine it and tell me if 323 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:10.960 this arrow rout contains anything that it should not. He 324 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.599 pushed the bottle across to Thorndyke, who carried it to 325 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.599 the window, and, extracting a small quantity of the contents 326 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:19.559 with a glass rod, examined the pasty mass with the 327 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:22.640 aid of a lens. Then, lifting the bell glass cover 328 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.519 from the microscope which stood on its table by the window, 329 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:28.559 he smeared a small quantity of the suspected matter onto 330 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:30.759 a glass slip and placed it on the stage of 331 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:34.160 the instrument. I observe a number of crystalline particles in this, 332 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.200 he said, after a brief inspection, which have the appearance 333 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:42.359 of arcinious acid. Ah, ejaculated mister Barton, just as I feared. 334 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:46.279 But are you certain? No, replied Thorndyke. But the matter 335 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:49.079 is easily tested. He pressed the button of the bell 336 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:52.039 that communicated with the laboratory, a summons that brought the 337 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:56.160 laboratory assistance from his lair with characteristic promptitude. Will you 338 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:59.839 please prepare a marsious apparatus, Polton, said Thorndyke. I have 339 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:03.039 a couple ready, Sir, replied Pulton, then poured the acid 340 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:04.960 into one and bring it to me with a tile. 341 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.920 As his familiar vanished silently, Thorndyke turned to mister Barton, 342 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:12.799 Supposing we find arsenic in this arrowroot, as we probably shall, 343 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.319 what do you want us to do? I want you 344 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:18.240 to come and see my brother, replied our client. Why 345 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:21.200 not take a note from me to his doctor? No, no, 346 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:23.400 I want you to come. I should like you both 347 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:25.119 to come and put a stop at once to this 348 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.480 dreadful business. Consider it is a matter of life and death. 349 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:31.279 You won't refuse I beg you not to refuse me 350 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:35.680 your help in these terrible circumstances, well said Thorndyke, as 351 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:38.680 his assistant reappeared. Let us first see what the test 352 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.799 has to tell us. Poulton advanced to the table, on 353 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:44.960 which he deposited a small flask, the contents of which 354 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:48.240 were in a state of brisk effervescence, a bottle labeled 355 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:52.400 calcium hypochlorite, and a white porcelain tile. The flask was 356 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:54.960 fitted with a safety funnel and a glass tube drawn 357 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:57.720 out to a fine jet, to which Polton cautiously applied 358 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:00.960 a lighted match. Instantly there sprang from the jet a tiny, 359 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:04.559 pale violet flame. Thorndyke now took the tile and held 360 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:07.240 it in the flame for several seconds, when the appearance 361 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:10.160 of the surface remained unchanged save for the small circle 362 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:13.400 of condensed moisture. His next proceeding was to thin the 363 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:16.440 arrowroot with distilled water until it was quite fluid, and 364 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:19.400 then pour a small quantity into the funnel. It ran 365 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.279 slowly down the tube into the flask with the bubbling 366 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:25.880 contents of which it became speedily mixed. Almost immediately a 367 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:28.359 change began to appear in the character of the flame, 368 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:31.880 which from a pale violet turned gradually to a sickly blue, 369 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.640 while above it hung a faint cloud of white smoke. 370 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:37.839 Once more, Thorndyke held the tile above the jet, but 371 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:40.640 this time no sooner had the pallid flame touched the 372 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:43.160 cold surface of the porcelain than there appeared on the 373 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:48.279 latter a glistening black stain. That is pretty conclusive, observed Thorndyke, 374 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:50.960 lifting the stopper out of the reagent bottle. But we 375 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.920 will apply the final test. He dropped a few drops 376 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:57.000 of the hypochlorite solution onto the tile, and immediately the 377 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:01.000 black stain faded away and vanished. I now answer your question, 378 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:04.079 mister Barton, said he replacing the stopper as he turned 379 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:06.960 to our client. The specimen that you brought us certainly 380 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:11.960 contains arsenic and in very considerable quantities, then exclaimed mister Barton, 381 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:14.000 starting from his chair, You will come and help me 382 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:17.039 to rescue my brother from this dreadful pearl. Don't refuse me, 383 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:21.200 doctor Thorndyke, for mercy's sake, don't refuse. Thorndyke reflected for 384 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:24.279 a moment before we decide, said he we must see 385 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:27.839 what engagements we have. With a quick, significant glance at me, 386 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:31.599 he walked into the office, whither I followed in some bewilderment, 387 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.960 for I knew that we had no engagements for the 388 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:37.680 evening now, Jervis, said Thorndyke, as he closed the office door. 389 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:40.440 What are we to do? We must go, I suppose, 390 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:43.799 I replied. It seems a pretty urgent case. It does. 391 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:46.400 He agreed. Of course, the man may be telling the truth. 392 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:49.759 After all, you don't think he is. Then, no, it 393 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:52.400 is a plausible tale, but there is too much arsenic 394 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:55.000 in that arrow root. Still I think I ought to go. 395 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.920 It is an ordinary professional risk, but there is no 396 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.880 reason why you should put your head into the noose. 397 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:03.680 Thank you, I said, somewhat huffily. I don't see what 398 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:05.960 risk there is, but if any exists, I claim the 399 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:08.839 right to share it. Very well, he answered, with a smile. 400 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.960 We will both go. I think we can take care 401 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:14.000