WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:07.040 The man with the twisted lip. Isa Whitney, brother of 2 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:11.839 the late Elias Whitney, d d. Principle of the Theological 3 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:16.879 College of Saint George's, was much addicted to opium. The 4 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:20.879 habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish 5 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:23.719 freak when he was at college, for having read de 6 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:27.719 Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched 7 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:30.719 his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the 8 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:34.399 same effects. He found, as so many more have done, 9 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.039 that the practice is easier to attain than to get 10 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:39.640 rid of, And for many years he continued to be 11 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:43.000 a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror 12 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:46.439 and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see 13 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:51.479 him now, with yellow pasty face, drooping lids, and pin 14 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:55.600 point pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and 15 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:59.719 ruin of a noble man. One night, it was in 16 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:03.119 June eighty nine, there came a ring to my bell, 17 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.879 about the hour when a man gives his first yawn 18 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:09.120 and glances at the clock. I sat up in my chair, 19 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:11.680 and my wife laid her needlework down in her lap, 20 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:16.000 and made a little face of disappointment. A patient said 21 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:19.760 she you'll have to go out. I groaned, for I 22 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.640 was newly come back from a weary day. We heard 23 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:27.280 the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick 24 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:30.480 steps upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and 25 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:33.799 a lady clad in some dark colored stuff with a 26 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:38.040 black veil, entered the room. You will excuse me calling 27 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:42.120 so late, she began, and then, suddenly losing her self control, 28 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:45.120 she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck, 29 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:48.560 and sobbed upon her shoulder. Oh I am in such trouble, 30 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:51.959 she cried. I do so want a little help. Why, 31 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:55.239 said my wife, pulling up her veil. It is Kate Whitney. 32 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:57.640 How you startled me? Kate, I had not an idea 33 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:00.400 who you were when you came in. I didn't know 34 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:03.480 what to do, so I came straight to you. That 35 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:06.719 was always the way folk who were in grief came 36 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:10.680 to my wife like birds to a lighthouse. It was 37 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.039 very sweet of you to come. Now. You must have 38 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.919 some wine and water and sit here comfortably and tell 39 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.280 us all about it. Or should you rather that? I 40 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.599 sent James off to bed. Oh no, no, I want 41 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.039 the doctor's advice. And help too. It's about Isa. He 42 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:28.039 has not been home for two days. I'm so frightened 43 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:31.039 about him. It was not the first time that she 44 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:33.719 had spoken to us of her husband's trouble, to me 45 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:36.319 as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend 46 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.960 and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such 47 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:42.319 words as we could find. Did she know where her 48 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:45.039 husband was? Was it possible that we could bring him 49 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.719 back to her? It seems that it was. She had 50 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:51.319 the surest information that of late he had when the 51 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:53.719 fit was on him, made use of an opium den 52 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:56.840 in the farthest east of the city. Hitherto his orgies 53 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:59.439 had always been confined to one day, and he'd come 54 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:03.199 back twitching and shattered in the evening. But now the 55 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.960 spell had been upon him eight and forty hours, and 56 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:09.000 he lay there, doubtless among the dregs of the docks, 57 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:13.120 breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects. There 58 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:14.879 he was to be found, she was sure of it, 59 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:19.000 at the bar of Gold in Upper Swandham Lane. But 60 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:21.560 what was she to do? How could she, a young 61 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:24.000 and timid woman, make her way into such a place 62 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:26.400 and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who 63 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:30.560 surrounded him. There was the case, and of course there 64 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.240 was but one way out of it. Might I not 65 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:36.639 escort her to this place? And then, as a second thought, 66 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.000 why should she come at all? I was Asa Whitney's 67 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:43.120 medical adviser, and as such I had influence over him. 68 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:46.000 I could manage it better if I were alone. I 69 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:48.039 promised her on my word that I would send him 70 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:50.479 home in a cab within two hours if he were 71 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:52.919 indeed at the address which she had given me, And 72 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:55.080 so in ten minutes I had left my arm chair 73 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.439 and cheery sitting room behind me, and was speeding eastward 74 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:00.919 in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed 75 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:03.360 to me at the time, though the future only could 76 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:06.639 show how strange it was to be. But there was 77 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.080 no great difficulty in the first stage of my adventure. 78 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:12.719 Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the 79 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:15.159 high wharves which line the north side of the river 80 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:18.399 to the east of London Bridge, between a slop shop 81 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:21.319 and a gin shop. Approached by a steep flight of 82 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.240 steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth 83 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:26.560 of a cave. I found the den of which I 84 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:29.920 was in search ordering my cab to wait, I passed 85 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:32.519 down the steps, worn hollow in the center by the 86 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:35.680 ceaseless tread of drunken feet, and by the light of 87 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:38.240 a flickering oil lamp above the door. I found the 88 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:41.480 latch and made my way into a long, low room, 89 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:45.360 thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced 90 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.560 with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship. 91 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.199 Through the gloom, one could dimly catch a glimpse of 92 00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:57.759 bodies lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, 93 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:01.600 heads thrown back, and chin pointing upward, with here and 94 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:06.120 there a dark, lackluster eye turned upon the newcomer. Out 95 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:09.319 of the black shadows, there glimmered little red circles of light, 96 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:13.839 now bright, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned. 97 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:17.519 In the bowls of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, 98 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:21.279 but some muttered to themselves, and others talked together in 99 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:25.800 a strange, low, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes 100 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:30.040 and then suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out 101 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:32.800 his own thoughts and paying little heed to the words 102 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:35.639 of his neighbor. At the farther end was a small 103 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:39.120 brazier of burning charcoal, beside which on a three legged 104 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.439 wooden stool, there sat a tall, thin old man, with 105 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:45.680 his jaw resting upon his two fists and his elbows 106 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:49.839 upon his knees, staring into the fire. As I entered, 107 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:52.800 a sallow malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe 108 00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:55.319 for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me 109 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:58.959 to an empty berth, thank you. I have not come 110 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.680 to stay. There is a friend of mine here, mister 111 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.160 Isa Whitney, and I wished to speak with him. There 112 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:08.759 was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and 113 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:12.720 peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard and unkempt, 114 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:17.800 staring out at me. My god, it's Watson, said he. 115 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:20.279 He was in a pitiable state of reaction, with every 116 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:23.680 nerve in a twitter. I say, Watson, what o'clock is it? 117 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:30.720 Nearly eleven of what day of Friday, June nineteenth? Good heavens, 118 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.680 I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What do 119 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:36.199 you want to frighten a chap for He sank his 120 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:38.759 face unto his arms and began to sob in a 121 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:42.759 high treble key. I tell you that it is Friday. Man. 122 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.199 Your wife has been waiting this two days for you. 123 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:48.879 You should be ashamed of yourself, so I am. But 124 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:51.160 you've got mixed, Watson, for I've only been here a 125 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:54.759 few hours. Three pipes, four pipes, I forget how many. 126 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:57.480 But I'll go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate, 127 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:00.839 poor little Kate. Give me your hand, and have you 128 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:04.800 a cab? Yes, I have one waiting. Then I shall 129 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.600 go in it. But I must owe something, find what 130 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:10.720 I owe, Watson. I am all off color. I can 131 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:14.759 do nothing for myself. I walked down the narrow passage 132 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.680 between the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to 133 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:20.839 keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, and 134 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:23.639 looking about for the manager. As I passed the tall 135 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:25.800 man who sat by the brazier, I felt a sudden 136 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.839 pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered walk 137 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:33.399 past me, and then look back at me. The words 138 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:37.199 fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I glanced down. They 139 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:39.399 could only have come from the old man at my side. 140 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:42.720 And yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, 141 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.839 very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down 142 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:49.160 from between his knees, as though it had dropped in 143 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:52.839 sheer lassitude from his fingers. I took two steps forward 144 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.720 and looked back. It took all my self control to 145 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:58.079 prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment. 146 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:00.600 He turned his back so that none could see him 147 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.879 but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, 148 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:07.079 the dull eyes had regained their fire, And there, sitting 149 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.759 by the fire and grinning at my surprise, was none 150 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:12.959 other than Sherlock Holmes. He made a slight motion to 151 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:15.480 me to approach him, and instantly as he turned his 152 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:18.759 face half round to the company, once more subsided into 153 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:24.360 a doddering, loose lipped senility. Holmes, I whispered, what on 154 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:27.600 earth are you doing in this den? As low as 155 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:31.480 you can, he answered, I have excellent ears. If you 156 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.639 would have the great kindness to get rid of that 157 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.000 sawtish friend of yours, I should be exceedingly glad to 158 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.399 have a little talk with you. I have a cab outside, 159 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:44.120 then pray send him home in it. You may safely 160 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.559 trust him, for he appears to be too limp to 161 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:49.279 get into any mischief. I should recommend you also to 162 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:51.679 send a note by the cabman to your wife to 163 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:53.559 say that you have thrown in your lot with me. 164 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:56.840 If you will wait outside, I shall be with you 165 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:01.159 in five minutes. It was difficult to refuse any of 166 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:05.200 Sherlock Holmbs's requests, for they were always so exceedingly definite 167 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:08.279 and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery. 168 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.600 I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in 169 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:14.720 the cab, my mission was practically accomplished, and for the 170 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.600 rest I could not wish anything better than to be 171 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:19.960 associated with my friend in one of those singular adventures 172 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:23.159 which were the normal condition of his existence. In a 173 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:25.679 few minutes, I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, 174 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.320 led him out to the cab, and seen him driven 175 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:31.080 through the darkness. In a very short time, a decrepit 176 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:33.559 figure had emerged from the opium den, and I was 177 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:37.039 walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes for two streets. 178 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:41.039 He shuffled along with a bend back and an uncertain foot. Then, 179 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.399 glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and burst into 180 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:48.279 a hearty fit of laughter. I suppose Watson said he 181 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:51.120 that you imagine that I have added opium smoking, to 182 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:54.679 cocaine injections, and all the other little weaknesses on which 183 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:58.480 you have favored me with your medical views. I was 184 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.960 certainly surprised to find you there, but not more so 185 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:05.639 than I to find you. I came to find a friend, 186 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:12.159 and I to find an enemy, an enemy, yes, one 187 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:18.120 of my natural enemies, or shall I say my natural prey? Briefly, Watson, 188 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.639 I am in the midst of a very remarkable inquiry, 189 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:22.440 and I have hoped to find a clue in the 190 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:26.039 incoherent ramblings of these sots, as I have done before. Now. 191 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.679 Had I been recognized in that den, my life would 192 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.840 not have been worth an hour's purchase. For I have 193 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.480 used it before now for my own purposes, and the 194 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:36.360 rascally lascar who runs it has sworn to have vengeance 195 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:38.519 upon me. There is a trap door at the back 196 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:41.320 of that building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which 197 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:43.919 could tell some strange tales of what has passed through 198 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:50.960 it upon the moonless nights. What you do not mean bodies? Aye, bodies, Watson. 199 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:53.279 We should be rich men if we had a thousand 200 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.480 pounds of every poor devil who had been done to 201 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.480 death in that den. It is the vilest murder trap 202 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.840 on the whole river side. And I fear that Neville 203 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.600 Saint Clair has entered it, never to leave it more. 204 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:07.360 But our trap should be here. He put his two 205 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:11.159 forefingers between his teeth and whistled shrilly, a signal, which 206 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:13.879 was answered by a similar whistle from the distance, followed 207 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:16.200 shortly by the rattle of wheels and the clink of 208 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:21.320 horses hoofs now. Watson, said Holmes, as a tall dog 209 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:24.559 cart dashed up through the gloom, throwing out two golden 210 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.879 tunnels of yellow light from its side. Lands. You'll come 211 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:31.879 with me, won't you? If I can be of use. Oh, 212 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.559 A trusty comrade is always of use, and a chronicler 213 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:38.759 still more so. My room at the Cedars is a 214 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:43.799 double bedded one the Cedars. Yes, that is mister Saint 215 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:46.960 Clair's house. I am staying there while I conduct the inquiry. 216 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:51.279 Where is it then, near Lee in Kent? We have 217 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:54.200 a seven mile drive before us. But I am all 218 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:57.080 in the dark. Of course you are. You'll know all 219 00:11:57.080 --> 00:12:00.440 about it presently. Jump up here, all right, John, we 220 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.080 shall not need you. Here's half a crown look out 221 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:06.639 for me. Tomorrow about eleven, give her her head so long. 222 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:09.759 Then he flicked the horse with his whip, and we 223 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:13.679 dashed away through the endless succession of somber and deserted streets, 224 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.559 which widened gradually until we were flying across a broad, 225 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:21.840 balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly beneath us. 226 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.320 Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and mortar, its 227 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:30.039 silence broken only by the heavy regular footfall of the policeman, 228 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:34.039 or the songs and shouts of some belated party of revelers. 229 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:38.240 A dull rack was drifting slowly across the sky, and 230 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:41.000 a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through 231 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:45.039 the rifts of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with 232 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:47.720 his head sunk upon his breast, and the air of 233 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:50.320 a man who is lost in thought, while I sat 234 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:53.159 beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be, 235 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:56.559 which seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet 236 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:58.799 afraid to break in upon the current of his thoughts. 237 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.000 We had driven several miles and were beginning to get 238 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.399 to the fringe of the belt of suburban villas when 239 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:07.480 he shook himself shrugged his shoulders and lit up his 240 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:09.519 pipe with the air of a man who is satisfied 241 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:13.519 himself that he is acting for the best. You have 242 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:17.320 a grand gift of silence, Watson said he. It makes 243 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.799 you quite invaluable as a companion. Upon my word, it 244 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.320 is a great thing for me to have some one 245 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:25.279 to talk to for my own thoughts are not over pleasant. 246 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:27.559 I was wondering what I should say to this dear 247 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:29.759 little woman to night when she meets me at the door. 248 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.720 You forget that I know nothing about it. I shall 249 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.320 just have time to tell you the facts of the 250 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:39.759 case before we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, 251 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:42.320 and yet somehow I can get nothing to go upon. 252 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:45.080 There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I can't get 253 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:47.879 the end of it into my hand. Now I'll state 254 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:50.919 the case clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe 255 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:53.279 you can see a spark where all is dark to me. 256 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:59.559 Proceed then, some years ago to be definite. In May 257 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:03.399 eighteen eighty four, there came to Lee a gentleman Neville, 258 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:06.799 Saint Clair by name, who appeared to have plenty of money. 259 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.480 He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very nicely, 260 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:14.200 and lived generally in good style. By degrees, he made 261 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:17.279 friends in the neighborhood, and in eighteen eighty seven he 262 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:20.039 married the daughter of a local brewer, by whom he 263 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:23.799 now has two children. He had no occupation, but was 264 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:26.360 interested in several companies, and went into town as a 265 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:29.440 rule in the morning, returning by the five fourteen from 266 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:33.039 Cannon Street every night. Mister Saint Clair is now thirty 267 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:36.080 seven years of age, is a man of temperate habits, 268 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:39.559 a good husband, a very affectionate father, and a man 269 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:42.559 who's popular with all who know him. I may add 270 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.559 that his whole debts at the present moment, as far 271 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:47.120 as we have been able to ascertain, amount to eighty 272 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:50.600 eight pounds ten shillings, while he has two hundred twenty 273 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:53.840 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and County's bank. 274 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:56.279 There is no reason, therefore to think that money troubles 275 00:14:56.279 --> 00:15:00.000 have been weighing upon his mind. Last Monday, mister Neville 276 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:03.519 Saint Clair went into town rather earlier than usual, remarking 277 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:06.600 before he started that he had two important commissions to perform, 278 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:08.840 and that he would bring his little boy home a 279 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:12.559 box of bricks. Now by the merest chance. His wife 280 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.960 received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after 281 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.679 his departure, to the effect that a small parcel of 282 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:22.399 considerable value, which she had been expecting, was waiting for 283 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:25.919 her the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if 284 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:27.840 you are well up in your London, you will know 285 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.360 that the office of the company is in Fresno Street, 286 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:33.720 which branches out of upper Swandham Lane, where you found me. 287 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:37.320 To night, Missus Saint Clair had her lunch, started for 288 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:40.720 the city, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, 289 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:44.159 got her packet, and found herself at exactly four thirty 290 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:46.960 five walking through Swandham Lane on her way back to 291 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:50.720 the station. Have you followed me so far? It is 292 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:56.080 very clear if you remember. Monday was an exceedingly hot day, 293 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.360 and Missus Saint Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the 294 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.639 hope of seeing it cab, as she did not like 295 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:04.399 the neighborhood in which she found herself. While she was 296 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:07.080 walking in this way down Swandham Lane, she suddenly heard 297 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:10.279 an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see 298 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:13.200 her husband looking down at her, and, as it seemed 299 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:16.000 to her beckoning to her from a second floor window. 300 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:19.240 The window was open, and she distinctly saw his face, 301 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:23.240 which she describes as being terribly agitated. He waved his 302 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.159 hands frantically to her, and then vanished from the window, 303 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.320 so suddenly that it seemed to her that he had 304 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:32.879 been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. One 305 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:36.600 singular point which struck her quite feminine eye was that, 306 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.159 although he wore some dark coat, such as he had 307 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:43.000 started to town in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. 308 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.559 Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down 309 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.480 the steps, for the house was none other than the 310 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.240 opium den in which you found me to night, and 311 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:53.840 running through the front room, she attempted to ascend the stairs, 312 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.120 which led to the first floor. At the foot of 313 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:58.960 the stairs, however, she met this less scar scoundrel of 314 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:02.039 whom I have spoken, who thrust her back, and, aided 315 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:05.319 by a Dane who acts as assistant, there pushed her 316 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:08.559 out into the street. Filled with the most maddening doubts 317 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.319 and fears, she rushed down the lane, and, by rare 318 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.839 good fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of constables 319 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:17.200 with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. 320 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:20.720 The inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in 321 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.599 spite of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made 322 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.480 their way up to the room in which mister Saint 323 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:28.359 Clair had last been seen. There was no sign of 324 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:31.119 him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor, 325 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:33.480 there was no one to be seen save a crippled 326 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:37.160 wretch of hideous aspect, who it seems made his home there. 327 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:41.240 Both he and the lascar stoutly swore that no one 328 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.319 else had been in the front room during the afternoon. 329 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:47.119 So determined was their denial that the Inspector was staggered 330 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.599 and had almost come to believe that missus Sinclair had 331 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:52.359 been deluded, when with a cry, she sprang at a 332 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:54.720 small deal box which lay upon the table, and tore 333 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:57.880 the lid from it. Out there fell a cascade of 334 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:01.599 children's bricks. It was a toy which he had promised 335 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:06.000 to bring home. This discovery and the evident confusion which 336 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.680 the cripple showed, made the inspector realize that the matter 337 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:12.759 was serious. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all 338 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:17.000 pointed to an abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished, 339 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:19.599 as a sitting room, and led into a small bedroom 340 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:22.200 which looked out upon the back of one of the wharves. 341 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:25.359 Between the wharf and the bedroom window is a narrow 342 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:28.759 strip which is dry and low tide, but is covered 343 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.400 at high tide with at least four and a half 344 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:33.519 feet of water. The bedroom window was a broad one 345 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:37.799 and opened from below. On examination, traces of blood were 346 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.640 to be seen upon the window sill, and several scattered 347 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:43.240 drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the bedroom. 348 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:46.720 Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were 349 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:49.839 all the clothes of mister Neville Saint Clair, with the 350 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:54.319 exception of his coat, his boots, his socks, his hat, 351 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:58.400 and his watch all were there. There were no signs 352 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:01.079 of violence upon any of these garments, and there were 353 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:04.839 no other traces of mister Neville Saint Clair out of 354 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.319 the window. He must apparently have gone for no other 355 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:10.559 excit could be discovered, and the ominous blood stains upon 356 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:13.480 the sill gave little promise that he could save himself 357 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:16.400 by swimming, for the tide was at its very highest 358 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:19.799 at the moment of the tragedy. And now as to 359 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:22.519 the villains, who seemed to be immediately implicated in the matter. 360 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.799 The Lascar was known to be a man of the 361 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:28.759 vilest antecedents, but as by Missus Saint Clair's story, he 362 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:30.039 was known to have been at the foot of the 363 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.720 stair within a very few seconds of her husband's appearance 364 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.160 at the window, he could hardly have been more than 365 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:38.279 an accessory to the crime. His defense was one of 366 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:41.759 absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no knowledge 367 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.119 as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and 368 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.720 that he could not account in any way for the 369 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:50.799 presence of the missing gentleman's clothes. So much for the 370 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:55.160 Lascar manager, now for this sinister cripple who lives upon 371 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:57.519 the second floor of the Opium Den, and who was 372 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:01.640 certainly the last human being whose eyes upon Neville Saint Clair. 373 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:05.839 His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is 374 00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:08.559 one which is familiar to every man who goes much 375 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.839 to the city. He is a professional beggar, though in 376 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:14.920 order to avoid the police regulations, he pretends to a 377 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:19.119 small trade in wax veestas. Some little distance down thread 378 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:22.559 Needle Street, upon the left hand side, there is, as 379 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:25.200 you may have remarked, a small angle in the wall. 380 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:28.200 Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, 381 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:31.640 cross legged, with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, 382 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.640 And as he is a piteous spectacle, a small rain 383 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:38.559 of charity descends into the greasy leather cap which lies 384 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:42.240 upon the pavement beside him. I have watched the fellow 385 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:44.880 more than once before ever I thought of making his 386 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.319 professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised at the harvest 387 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:51.200 which he has reaped in a short time. His appearance, 388 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:53.640 you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass 389 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:57.359 him without observing him. A shock of orange chair, a 390 00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:01.400 pale face disfigured by a horrible scar which, by its 391 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:04.559 contraction has turned up the outer edges of his upper lip, 392 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:08.799 a bulldog chin, and a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, 393 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:12.240 which present a singular contrast to the color of his hair, 394 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.759 all mark him out from amid the common crowd of mendicants. 395 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:18.279 And so too does his wit, for he is ever 396 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.359 ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which 397 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:23.160 may be thrown at him by the passers by. This 398 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.839 is the man whom we now learned to have been 399 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:27.319 the lodger at the Opium Den, and to have been 400 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:29.599 the last man to see the gentleman of whom we 401 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:34.000