WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:08.560 The adventure of the illustrious client. It can't hurt now, 2 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:12.400 was Sherlock Holmes's comment when for the tenth time in 3 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.800 as many years I asked his leave to reveal the 4 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:20.320 following narrative. So it was that, at last I obtained 5 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:24.000 permission to put on record what was, in some ways 6 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:30.079 the supreme moment of my friend's career. Both Holmes and 7 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:33.840 I had a weakness for the Turkish bath. It was 8 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.600 over a smoke in the pleasant lassitude of the drying 9 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:41.920 room that I have found him less reticent and more 10 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.560 human than anywhere else. On the upper floor of the 11 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:52.479 Northumberland Avenue Establishment, there is an isolated corner where two 12 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:56.719 couches lie side by side, and it was on these 13 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:01.159 that we lay upon September third, nineteen hundred and two, 14 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:06.680 the day when my narrative begins. I had asked him 15 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:10.359 whether anything was stirring, and for answer he had shot 16 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:13.280 his long, thin, nervous arm out of the sheets which 17 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:18.079 enveloped him, and had drawn an envelope from the inside 18 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:22.239 pocket of the coat which hung beside him. It may 19 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:26.519 be some fussy, self important fool. It may be a 20 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:30.239 matter of life or death, said he as he handed 21 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:34.280 me the note. I know no more than this message 22 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.959 tells me. It was from the Carlton Club and dated 23 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:44.120 the evening before. This is what I read. Sir James 24 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:48.439 Damery presents his compliments to mister Sherlock Holmes and will 25 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.159 call upon him at four thirty tomorrow. Sir James begs 26 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:54.359 to say that the matter upon which he desires to 27 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:58.120 consult mister Holmes is very delicate and also very important. 28 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:02.760 He trusts, therefore, that mister Holmes will make every effort 29 00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:06.239 to grant this interview, and that he will confirm it 30 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.960 over the telephone to the Carlton Club. I need not 31 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:13.919 say that I have confirmed it, Watson, said Holmes, as 32 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:17.439 I returned the paper. Do you know anything of this man, 33 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:21.120 day Marie, only that this man is a household word 34 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:24.800 in society. Well, I can tell you a little more 35 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:29.879 than that. He has rather a reputation for arranging delicate 36 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:32.560 matters which are to be kept out of the papers. 37 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:37.560 You may remember his negotiations with Sir George Lewis over 38 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:41.000 the Hamrford Will case. He is a man of the 39 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:45.120 world with a natural turn for diplomacy. I am bound, 40 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:47.759 therefore to hope that it is not a false scent, 41 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:52.039 and that he has some real need for our assistance. 42 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:56.840 Our well, if you will be so good, Watson, I 43 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:00.960 shall be honored. Then you have the hour four thirty. 44 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:05.960 Until then we can put the matter out of our heads. 45 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.319 I was living in my own rooms in Queen Anne 46 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.400 Street at the time, but I was round at Baker 47 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:16.280 Street before the time named sharp to the half hour 48 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:21.479 Colonel Sir James Damery was announced. It is hardly necessary 49 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:25.400 to describe him, for many will remember that large, bluff 50 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:29.599 honest personality, that broad, clean shaven face, and above all 51 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:36.120 that pleasant, mellow voice. Frankness shone from his gray Irish eyes, 52 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:41.520 and good humor played round his mobile, smiling lips, his 53 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:46.719 lucent top hat, his dark frock coat. Indeed, every detail 54 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:50.479 from the pearl pin and the black satin cravat to 55 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:54.439 the lavender spats over the varnished shoes spoke of the 56 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:59.240 meticulous care in dress for which he was famous. The big, 57 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:05.680 mass full aristocrat dominated the little room. Of course, I 58 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.919 was prepared to find doctor Watson, he remarked, with a 59 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:13.319 courteous bow. His collaboration may be very necessary, for we 60 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.279 are dealing on this occasion. Mister Holmes. With a man 61 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:20.079 to whom violence is familiar and who will literally stick 62 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:23.199 at nothing, I should say that there is no more 63 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:27.480 dangerous man in Europe. I have had several opponents to 64 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:32.000 whom that flattering term has been applied, said Holmes, with 65 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:36.680 a smile. Don't you smoke? Then you will excuse me 66 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:39.800 if I liked my pipe. If your man is more 67 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:43.759 dangerous than the late Professor Moriarty, or than the living 68 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:49.920 Colonel Sebastian Moran, then he is indeed worth meeting. May 69 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:54.279 I ask his name? Have you ever heard of Baron Gruener? 70 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:59.639 You mean the Austrian murderer Colonel DAMERI threw up his 71 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:02.959 kid gloved hands with a laugh. There is no getting 72 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:07.639 past you, mister Holmes. Wonderful so you have already sized 73 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.560 him up as a murderer. It is my business to 74 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:15.000 follow the details of continental crime. Who could possibly have 75 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:18.519 read what happened at Prague and have any doubts as 76 00:05:18.519 --> 00:05:22.680 to the man's guilt. It was a purely technical legal 77 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:27.759 point and the suspicious death of a witness that saved him. 78 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:31.560 I am as sure that he killed his wife when 79 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:35.600 the so called accident happened in the splugen pass as 80 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:39.120 if I had seen him do it. I knew also 81 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:42.519 that he had come to England and had a presentiment 82 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:46.240 that sooner or later he would find me some work 83 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:49.839 to do. Well, what has Baron Gruner been up to? 84 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.160 I presume it is not this old tragedy which has 85 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:57.000 come up again. No, it is more serious than that. 86 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:02.519 To revenge crime is important, but to prevent it is 87 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:05.399 more so. It is a terrible thing, mister Holmes, to 88 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:11.360 see a dreadful event, an atrocious situation preparing itself before 89 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:16.399 your eyes, to clearly understand whither it will lead, and 90 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.959 yet to be utterly unable to avert it. Can a 91 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:24.560 human being be placed in a more trying position? Perhaps not? 92 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:28.759 Then you will sympathize with the client in whose interests 93 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:32.759 I am acting. I did not understand that you were 94 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:38.680 merely an intermediary. Who is the principle, mister Holmes. I 95 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:42.519 must beg you not to press that question. It is 96 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.680 important that I should be able to assure him that 97 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:49.000 his honored name has been in no way dragged into 98 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:53.319 the matter. His motives are to the last degree honorable 99 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:58.600 and chivalrous, But he prefers to remain unknown I need 100 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:02.199 not say that your fees will be assured, and that 101 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:06.720 you will be given a perfectly free hand. Surely the 102 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:11.639 actual name of your client is immaterial. I am sorry, 103 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:16.120 said Holmes. I am accustomed to have mystery at one 104 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:19.560 end of my cases, but to have it at both 105 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:24.600 ends is too confusing. I fear, Sir James, that I 106 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:30.800 must decline to act. Our visitor was greatly disturbed. His large, 107 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:35.519 sensitive face was darkened with emotion and disappointment. You hardly 108 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:39.319 realize the effect of your own action, mister Holmes, said 109 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.839 he you place me in a most serious dilemma. For 110 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:46.600 I am perfectly certain that you would be proud to 111 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:49.720 take over the case if I could give you the facts, 112 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:53.120 And yet a promise forbids me from revealing them all. 113 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.560 May I at least lay all that I can before 114 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.680 you by all means, sir, so long as it is 115 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:05.000 understood that I commit myself to nothing that is understood 116 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:08.279 in the first place. You have no doubt heard of 117 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:14.199 General de Meyerville, de Meyerville of kuiber fame. Yes, I 118 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:21.759 have heard of him. He has a daughter, Violet de Mayreville, young, rich, beautiful, accomplished, 119 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:26.720 a wonder woman in every way. It is this daughter, 120 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:31.439 this lovely, innocent girl, whom we are endeavoring to save 121 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:35.679 from the clutches of a fiend. Baron Gruner has some 122 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:39.279 hold over her. Then, the strongest of all holds where 123 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:43.519 a woman is concerned, the hold of love. The fellow is, 124 00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:47.879 as you may have heard, extraordinarily handsome, with a most 125 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:53.200 fascinating manner, a gentle voice, and that air of romance 126 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:58.039 and mystery which means so much to a woman. He 127 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:00.840 is said to have the whole sex at his mercy, 128 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.639 and to have made ample use of the fact. But 129 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.120 how came such a man to meet a lady of 130 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:11.080 the standing of Misviolet de Merville. It was on a 131 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:17.240 Mediterranean yachting voyage. The company, though select paid their own passages. 132 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:21.360 No doubt, the promoters hardly realized the baron's true character 133 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:26.399 until it was too late. The villain attached himself to 134 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:29.960 the lady, and with such effect that he has completely 135 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:33.679 and absolutely won her heart. To say that she loves 136 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:38.080 him hardly expresses it. She dots upon him. She is 137 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:42.360 obsessed by him. Outside of him. There is nothing on earth. 138 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:46.519 She will not hear one word against him. Everything has 139 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:49.240 been done to cure her of her madness, but in 140 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:53.120 vain to sum up, she proposes to marry him next month. 141 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.879 As she is of age and has a will of iron, 142 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:00.759 it is hard to know how to prevent her. Does 143 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:05.080 she know about the Austrian episode. The cunning devil has 144 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:08.440 told her every unsavory public scandal of his past life, 145 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.399 but always in such a way as to make himself 146 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:15.960 out to be an innocent martyr. She absolutely accepts his 147 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:19.720 version and will listen to no other. Dear me, but 148 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.399 surely you have inadvertently let out the name of your client. 149 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:28.879 It is no doubt General de Merville, our visitor, fidgeted 150 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:31.759 in his chair. I could deceive you by saying so, 151 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:36.080 mister Holmes, but it would not be true. De Maareville 152 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:40.399 is a broken man. The strong soldier has been utterly 153 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:44.039 demoralized by this incident. He has lost the nerve which 154 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:47.120 never failed him on the battlefield, and has become a weak, 155 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:51.799 doddering old man, utterly incapable of contending with a brilliant, 156 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:57.000 forceful rascal like this Austrian. My client, however, is an 157 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:00.159 old friend, one who has known the general intimately for 158 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:04.000 many years, and taken a paternal interest in this young girl, 159 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:08.320 since she wore short frocks. He cannot see this tragedy 160 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:12.519 consummated without some attempt to stop it. There is nothing 161 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:15.879 in which Scotland Yard can act. It was his own 162 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:19.120 suggestion that you should be called in, but it was, 163 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:22.440 as I have said, on the express stipulation that he 164 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:26.120 should not be personally involved in the matter. I have 165 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:29.399 no doubt, mister Holmes, with your great powers, you could 166 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:33.200 easily trace my client back through me, but I must 167 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.759 ask you, as a point of honor, to refrain from 168 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:40.600 doing so, and not to break in. Upon his incognito, 169 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:46.519 Holmes gave a whimsical smile. I think I may safely 170 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:51.360 promise that said he, I may add that your problem 171 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.480 interests me and that I shall be prepared to look 172 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.159 into it. How shall I keep in touch with you? 173 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:01.679 The Carlton Club will find me, but in case of 174 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:05.559 emergency there is a private telephone call XX three to one. 175 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:10.120 Holmes noted it down and sat still smiling, with the 176 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:15.000 open memorandum book upon his knee. The Baron's present address 177 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:20.080 please Vernon Lodge, near Kingston. It is a large house. 178 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:24.240 He has been fortunate in some rather shady speculations, and 179 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:27.639 is a rich man, which naturally makes him a more 180 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:33.159 dangerous antagonist. Is he at home at present? Yes, Apart 181 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:35.279 from what you have told me, can you give me 182 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:39.240 any further information about the man? He has expensive tastes. 183 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:42.799 He is a horse founcier. For a short time he 184 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:46.679 played polo at Hurlingham, but then this Prague affair got 185 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.480 noised about and he had to leave. He collects books 186 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.759 and pictures. He is a man with a considerable artistic 187 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:57.559 side to his nature. He is I believe, a recognized 188 00:12:57.559 --> 00:13:01.399 authority upon Chinese pottery, and has written a book upon 189 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:06.440 the subject. A complex mind, said Holmes. All great criminals 190 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:12.480 have that. My old friend Charlie Pease was a violin virtuoso. 191 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:18.320 Wainwright was no mean artist. I could quote many more. Well, 192 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:21.240 Sir James, you will inform your client that I am 193 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:25.799 turning my mind upon Baron Gruner. I can say no more. 194 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:30.200 I have some sources of information of my own, and 195 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:33.559 I dare say we may find some means of opening 196 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:38.159 the matter up. When our visitor had left us, Holmes 197 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:41.519 sat so long in deep thought that it seemed to 198 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:45.360 me that he had forgotten my presence at last. However, 199 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:49.440 he came briskly back to earth Well Watson any views, 200 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:52.519 he asked, I should think you had better see the 201 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:56.240 young lady herself, my dear Watson. If a poor old 202 00:13:56.279 --> 00:14:00.639 broken father cannot move her, how shall I a stranger prevail? 203 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:04.559 And yet there is something in the suggestion if all 204 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:07.399 else fails. But I think we must begin from a 205 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:11.960 different angle. I rather fancy that Shinwell Johnson might be 206 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.639 a help. I have not had occasion to mention Shinwell 207 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:20.519 Johnson in these memoirs because I have seldom drawn my 208 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:25.320 cases from the latter phases of my friend's career. During 209 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:30.440 the first years of the century he became a valuable assistant. Johnson, 210 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:34.039 I grieved to say, made his name first as a 211 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:39.679 very dangerous villain, and served two terms at Parkhurst. Finally 212 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:44.480 he repented and allied himself to Holmes, acting as his 213 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:48.440 agent in the huge criminal underworld of London and obtaining 214 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:52.720 information which often proved to be of vital importance. Had 215 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:56.080 Johnson been a knark of the police, he would soon 216 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:59.399 have been exposed. But as he dealt with cases which 217 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:03.120 never came down directly into the courts, his activities were 218 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:07.320 never realized by his companions. With the glamour of his 219 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:11.440 two convictions upon him, he had the entree of every nightclub, 220 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:15.200 doss house and gambling den in the town, and his 221 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:19.360 quick observation and active brain made him an ideal agent 222 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:23.919 for gaining information. It was to him that Sherlock Holmes 223 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:27.840 now proposed to turn. It was not possible for me 224 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:31.840 to follow the immediate steps taken by my friend, for 225 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:35.399 I had some pressing professional business of my own. But 226 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:38.840 I met him by appointment that evening at Simpson's, where 227 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.360 sitting at a small table in the front window, and 228 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:45.440 looking down at the rushing stream of life in the strand, 229 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:49.559 he told me something of what had passed. Johnson is 230 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.159 on the prowl, said he. He may pick up some 231 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:57.480 garbage in the darker recesses of the underworld. For it 232 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:01.639 is down there, amid the black rooms of crime, that 233 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.679 we must hunt for this man's secrets. But if the 234 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:09.399 lady will not accept what is already known, why should 235 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:13.159 any fresh discovery of yours turn her from her purpose? 236 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:18.799 Who knows, watson Woman's heart and mind are insoluble puzzles 237 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:24.759 to the male? Murder might be condoned or explained, and 238 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:30.360 yet some smaller offense might rankle. Baron Gruener remarked to me. 239 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:33.559 He remarked to you, Oh, to be sure I had 240 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:36.720 not told you of my plans. Well, Watson, I love 241 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:39.679 to come to close grips with my man. I like 242 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:43.159 to meet him, I to eye and read for myself 243 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:46.480 the stuff that he is made of. When I had 244 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.879 given Johnson his instructions, I took a cab out to 245 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.399 Kingston and found a baron in a most affable mood. 246 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.759 Did he recognize you? There was no difficulty about that, 247 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:02.879 for I simply sent in my card. He is an 248 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:09.519 excellent antagonist, cool as ice, silky voiced and soothing as 249 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:13.759 one of your fashionable consultants, and poisonous as a cobra. 250 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:19.359 He has breeding in him, a real aristocrat of crime, 251 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:25.640 with a superficial suggestion of afternoon tea and all the 252 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:30.319 cruelty of the grave behind it. Yes, I am glad 253 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:34.319 to have had my attention called to Baron Adelbert Gruner. 254 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:39.039 You say he was affable, a purring cat who thinks 255 00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:44.440 he sees prospective mice. Some people's affability is more deadly 256 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:51.039 than the violence of coarser souls. His greeting was characteristic. 257 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:55.039 I rather thought I should see you sooner or later. 258 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:00.000 Mister Holmes said he, you have been engaged, no doubt 259 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:06.079 by General de Merville, to endeavor to stop my marriage 260 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:09.240 with his daughter Violet. That is so, is it not? 261 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:14.759 I acquiesced? My dear man, said he. You will only 262 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:19.359 ruin your own well deserved reputation. It is not a 263 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:23.680 case in which you can possibly succeed. You will have 264 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:30.799 barn work, to say nothing of incurring some danger. Let 265 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.359 me very strongly advise you to draw off at once. 266 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.960 It is curious, I answered, but that was the very 267 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:43.680 advice which I had intended to give you. I have 268 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.759 a respect for your brains, Baron, and the little which 269 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:51.519 I have seen of your personality has not lessened it. 270 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:55.240 Let me put it to you, as man to man. 271 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:57.920 No one wants to break up your past and make 272 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:03.519 you unduly uncomfortable. It is over and you are now 273 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:07.720 in smooth waters. But if you persist in this marriage, 274 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:10.720 you will raise up a swarm of powerful enemies who 275 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:14.519 will never leave you alone until they have made England 276 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:18.200 too hot to hold you. Is the game worth it? 277 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:22.079 Surely you would be wiser if you left the lady alone. 278 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:25.319 It would not be pleasant for you if these facts 279 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:29.319 of your past were brought to her. Notice. The baron 280 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:34.039 has little waxed tips of hair under his nose, like 281 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:39.079 the short antennae of an insect. These quivered with amusement 282 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:43.359 as he listened, and he finally broke into a gentle chuckle. 283 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:49.400 Excuse my amusement, mister Holmes, said he, but it is 284 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.160 really funny to see you trying to play a hand 285 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.480 with no cards in it. I don't think any one 286 00:19:56.519 --> 00:20:00.400 could do it better, but it is rather pathetic all 287 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:04.640 the same. Not a color card there, mister Holmes, nothing 288 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:08.960 but the smallest of the small so you think so, 289 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:13.119 I know. Let me make the thing clear to you, 290 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.440 for my own hand is so strong that I can 291 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.480 afford to show it. I have been fortunate enough to 292 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:24.640 win the entire affection of this lady. This was given 293 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:27.200 to me in spite of the fact that I told 294 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.920 her very clearly of all the unhappy incidents in my 295 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:35.480 past life. I also told her that certain wicked and 296 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:38.960 designing persons I hope you recognize yourself, would come to 297 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:43.279 her and tell her these things. And I warned her 298 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:49.359 how to treat them. You have heard of post hypnotic suggestion, 299 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:53.319 mister Holmes, well you will see how it works, for 300 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:58.279 a man of personality can use hypnotism without any vulgar 301 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:05.200 passes orlery. So she is ready for you, and I 302 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:08.279 have no doubt would give you an appointment, for she 303 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:12.720 is quite amenable to her father's will to save. Only 304 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:17.119 in the one little matter, will Watson. There seemed to 305 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:19.720 be no more to say, so I took my leave 306 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:24.680 with as much cold dignity as I could summon. But 307 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:27.599 as I had my hand on the door handle, he 308 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:32.480 stopped me by the way. Mister Holmes said he did 309 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.720 you know Le Brune, the French agent? Yes, said I 310 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:41.960 do you know what befell him? I heard that he 311 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:47.039 was beaten by some apaches in the Montmartre district and 312 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:53.480 crippled for life. Quite true, mister Holmes. By a curious coincidence, 313 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:57.920 he had been inquiring into my affairs only a week before. 314 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:02.880 Don't do it, mister Holmes, It's not a lucky thing 315 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:08.559 to do. Several have found that out. My last word 316 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:12.599 to you is go your own way and let me 317 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:17.519 go mine. Goodbye. So there you are, Watson, You are 318 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:21.640 up to date. Now the fellow seems dangerous, mighty dangerous. 319 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:26.599 I disregard the blusterer, but this is the sort of 320 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.519 man who says rather less than he means. Must you interfere? 321 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:34.319 Does it really matter if he marries the girl? Considering 322 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.519 that he undoubtedly murdered his last wife? I should say 323 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:42.519 it mattered very much. Besides the client, well, well, we 324 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:46.200 need not discuss that. When you have finished your coffee, 325 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:49.000 you had best come home with me, for the blithe 326 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:53.480 Shinwell will be there with his report. We found him, 327 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:58.519 sure enough, a huge, coarse, red faced, scorbutic man, with 328 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:01.519 a pair of vivid black eyes, which were the only 329 00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:06.519 external sign of the very cunning mind within. It seems 330 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:11.119 that he had dived down into what was peculiarly his kingdom, 331 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.319 And beside him on the settee was a brand which 332 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:17.920 he had brought up, in the shape of a slim, 333 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:23.559 flamelike young woman with a pale, intense face, youthful and 334 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:27.319 yet so worn with sin and sorrow that one read 335 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:32.160 the terrible years which had left their leprous mark upon her. 336 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:37.039 This is miss Kitty Winter, said Shinwell Johnson, waving his 337 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:40.880 fat hand as an introduction, or she don't know. Well, 338 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.559 now she'll speak for herself. Put my aunt right on 339 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:46.799 a mister Olmes. Within an hour of your message, I'm 340 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:51.279 easy to find, said the young woman Hell London. Guess 341 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:56.119 me every time. Same addressed for Porky Shinwell, we're old mates, Porky, 342 00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:58.880 you and I. But by cripes, there is another who 343 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.920 ought to be down in a lower hell than we 344 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:03.759 if there was any justice in the world. That is 345 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:07.440 the man you are after, mister Elmes. Holmes smiled. I 346 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:10.519 gather we have your good wishes, Miss Winter. If I 347 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:13.000 can help to put him where he belongs, I'm yours 348 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:17.440 to the rattle, said our visitor, with fierce energy. There 349 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:20.960 was an intensity of hatred in her white set face 350 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:24.799 and her blazing eyes, such as woman seldom and man 351 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:29.319 never can attain. You needn't go into my past, mister Elmes. 352 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:34.039 That's neither I nor there. But what I am. Adelbert 353 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:38.279 Gruner made me if I could pull him down. She 354 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:41.960 clutched frantically with her hands into the air. Oh, if 355 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:45.000 I could only pull him into the pit where he 356 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.759 has pushed so many You know how the matter stands, 357 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:52.160 Poor Ki Shinwell, has been telling me he's after some 358 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:55.279 other poor fool and wants to marry her this time. 359 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:58.960 You want to stop it, Well, surely you know enough 360 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:02.039 about this devil to prevent any decent girl in her 361 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:04.559 senses wanting to be in the same parish with him. 362 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:08.200 She is not in her senses. She is madly in love. 363 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:12.039 She has been told all about him. She cares nothing 364 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:15.640 told about the murder. Yes, my lord, she must have 365 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:19.240 a nerve. She puts them all down as slanders. Couldn't 366 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:22.440 you lay proofs before her silly eyes? Well? Can you 367 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:25.759 help us do so? Ain't I approved myself? If I 368 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:28.240 stood before her and told her how he used me? 369 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:32.400 Would you do this? Would I? Would? I? Not? Well, 370 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:36.000 it might be worth trying. But he has told her 371 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:39.400 most of his sins and had pardon from her, and 372 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:43.480 I understand she will not reopen the question. I'll lay 373 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:46.920 He didn't tell her all, said, Miss Winter. I caught 374 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:49.680 a glimpse of one or two murders besides the one 375 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:52.200 that made such a fuss. He would speak of some 376 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:55.279 one in his velvet way, and then look at me 377 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:58.839 with a steady eye and say he died within a month. 378 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:03.160 It wasn't either, but I took little notice. You see, 379 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:05.880 I loved him myself at that time. Whatever he did 380 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:09.920 went with me, same as with this poor fool. There 381 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:13.119 was just one thing that shook me. Yes, by cripes, 382 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:15.960 if it had not been for his poisonous lying tongue 383 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:19.839 that explains and soothes, I'd have left him that very night. 384 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:25.000 It's a book. He has a brown leather book with 385 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:28.440 a lock and his arms in gold on the outside. 386 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:31.839 I think he was a bit drunk that night, or 387 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:34.640 he would not have shown it to me. What was it? Then? 388 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:39.559 I tell you, mister Olmes, this man collects women and 389 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:43.319 takes a pride in his collection, as some men collect 390 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:52.640 moss or butterflies. He had it all in that book, snapshot, photographs, names, details, 391 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:56.240 everything about them. There was a beastly book, a book 392 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:59.039 no man, even if he had come from the gutter, 393 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:03.920 could have put together. But it was Adelbert Groooner's book 394 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:09.480 all the same souls. I have ruined he could have 395 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:13.279 put that on the outside if he had been so minded. However, 396 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.680 that's neither in or there. For the book would not 397 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:18.400 serve you, And if it would, you can't get it. 398 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:21.039 Where is it? How can I tell you where it 399 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:23.960 is now. It's more than a year since I left him. 400 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:27.440 I know where he kept it. Then he's a precise, 401 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:30.640