Transcript of Sherlock Holmes - The Rediscovered Railway Mysteries and Other Stories
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00:00 Sherlock Holmes the rediscovered railway 00:03 mysteries and other stories by John 00:06 Taylor read by Benedict Cumberbatch 00:11 [Music] 00:15 an inscrutable masquerade in a draw in 00:25 the Bureau of an upstairs room of my 00:28 current home there is a locked cedar 00:30 wood box which I inherited as a youth 00:33 from my grandfather this is one might 00:36 say my box of secrets when I was young 00:40 it contained the treasures of boyhood a 00:42 catapult a lump of beeswax the carapace 00:45 of a crab for many years since it has 00:48 been the repository of an archive 00:50 admittedly a ragged and disordered 00:53 archive a collection of notes and 00:55 scribblings concerning some of the many 00:57 cases of my lifelong friend the 01:00 consulting detective Sherlock Holmes 01:03 which for one reason or another I never 01:06 took the trouble to write into proper 01:07 reports having had recently a little 01:10 time on my hands I reopened this box of 01:13 yellowing notebooks and it seemed to me 01:15 that several of the cases given the 01:16 ocean of time between those events and 01:19 the present day would now bear telling 01:22 and I begin by chronicling an adventure 01:25 which I may have dismissed for several 01:27 reasons not because it lacked baffling 01:29 and intriguing elements on the contrary 01:31 but mostly I think because it was for me 01:34 personally such a dizzying and 01:36 distressing experience it was a 01:40 Wednesday evening in July at the end of 01:42 a day of street jacketing heat and I sat 01:45 next to the open window of our parlour 01:48 at Baker Street drinking in the air and 01:50 hoping for the liberating ripple of a 01:52 breeze the newspaper on my lap reported
01:56 the release from police custody of a 01:58 known criminal 01:59 Tobias organ arrested some days 02:02 previously for the murder of max 02:04 Zimmerman a moneylender shot through the 02:07 head in his small apartment in Wardour 02:09 Street in the end there'd been 02:11 insufficient evidence to charge organ 02:13 with murder even though the police 02:15 clearly thought him capable 02:17 strangely enough I had once met orgone 02:21 myself he had come to me as a patient 02:23 suffering as I recall from a severe 02:25 lesion to the lower back which he 02:27 maintained had been caused by a fall 02:29 against a metal stanchion but which I 02:32 had little doubt was in fact a stab 02:34 wound my diagnosis was supported I 02:36 believe by his barely veiled threat that 02:39 I should under no circumstances make 02:41 known his injury to anyone else 02:43 he had an unforgettable menacing way 02:47 with him and I had felt immense relief 02:49 when he left my surgery I'd be looking 02:53 forward to discussing the organ case 02:54 with Holmes who would certainly have 02:57 some views on the subject but when he 02:59 finally appeared for dinner he was 03:01 irritable and uncommunicative and from 03:03 these symptoms 03:04 I guessed him to be in the process of 03:06 some taxing mental work all the same I 03:09 had no wish to sit out the meal in 03:10 silence stifling weather to be out in 03:13 about Holmes 03:14 I said peppering a slice of beef indeed 03:18 Watson and equally stifling to be in he 03:21 busied himself with cutting into a 03:23 potato after a while I said I've not 03:26 seen you today I presume you were
03:27 somewhere on business yes Watson I was 03:31 another pause the chink of cutlery 03:35 somewhere local somewhere very local 03:38 Watson I'd expect you'd like to know 03:40 where but I have no wish to be intrusive 03:42 in the basement I've been all day in the 03:45 basement of our house and since your 03:47 desire not to be intrusive is clearly 03:49 struggling against your overwhelming 03:50 curiosity to know I will tell you why I 03:53 was there and he paused and smiled in 03:57 the full confidence that you will not 03:59 breathe a word to a soul about it 04:01 bye Holmes of course not and on the 04:04 understanding that if I do tell you you 04:06 will not be able to leave this house 04:07 until my work is complete what 04:10 I put down almost dropped my knife and 04:13 fork 04:14 we don't mean not leave at all that's 04:17 precisely what I mean so it may be that 04:20 you would prefer to forgo my secret 04:22 rather than consent to becoming a 04:23 prisoner here for what might be several 04:25 days hopelessly intrigued 04:29 I gave no thought to the discomfort of 04:31 being shut indoors in this sultry heat 04:32 no thought to the boredom not even any 04:35 thought to the fact that I had 04:36 appointments in my diary I am prepared 04:39 to abide by your request Holmes 04:41 he stood up from the table his meal 04:44 unfinished and went across to the hearth 04:46 to retrieve his pipe in tobacco pouch as 04:49 he filled his pipe and lit it he sank 04:51 into his armchair I believe you have 04:53 been preoccupied with the case of Tobias 04:55 organ Watson yes it has been on my mind 04:59 how do twice left the newspaper open at 05:01 that page the moneylender Zimmerman a
05:04 legitimate businessman with a wife and 05:06 young children was murdered with an army 05:08 rifle the police have many reasons for 05:11 believing Tobias organ to be guilty of 05:12 the crime of one of these is that he 05:14 owns an army rifle organ have cost a 05:17 nice that his firearm is the murder 05:18 weapon 05:19 well yes I said one would expect he 05:21 would but suppose said Holmes suppose 05:25 there was a science which could with 05:27 certainty tie a bullet to the gun which 05:30 fired now that would be marvelous I said 05:34 but there isn't is there well Watson let 05:36 us say that such a science is seminal it 05:39 is exactly this problem which I am 05:41 wrestling with at present in the 05:42 basement of the house I've set up a 05:44 laboratory of sorts down there where I 05:46 can conduct some experiments progress is 05:48 promising and if the results are as I 05:50 expect they will certainly send Tobias 05:52 organ to the gallows but organ is an 05:55 utterly ruthless villain undoubtedly 05:57 guilty of a number of murders but 05:59 devious enough always to pawn them off 06:00 on others if he were to gain even an 06:03 inkling of my work we would be in the 06:06 utmost danger but I can see that you 06:09 would be in danger Holmes but how might 06:12 I be as I say what's an organ is 06:14 ruthless to get at any enemy his 06:16 favorite trick is to abduct someone 06:18 close to his adversary often with I'm 06:21 afraid horrific consequences 06:24 you know too much now and since I'm not 06:26 prepared to put you at risk in that way 06:28 I feel you must sit it out in these 06:30 apartments 06:31 you must not answer the door you must
06:33 stay away from the windows no visitors 06:34 you must lead the life of a prisoner 06:37 until such time as this matter is 06:39 settled well I said it might be good for 06:42 me I have a medical paper to write in 06:44 the period of confinement might induce 06:46 me to keep my nose to my studies 06:48 excellent Watson I'm sure your sacrifice 06:51 will not be in vain I really did not see 06:55 myself sacrificing very much at all 06:57 I spent the evening canceling all 06:59 appointments of the following week and 07:00 went to bed rather looking forward to a 07:02 few days of fruitful incarceration the 07:07 morning found me in a hopeful mood in 07:09 what appeared to be an empty house 07:11 Holmes I presumed had already descended 07:13 to his basement laboratory our landlady 07:16 in mrs. Hudson had left me a pleasant 07:18 cold breakfast an indication that she 07:21 herself had had to leave the house early 07:23 the day while already warm and bright 07:25 had not yet begun to turn oppressive the 07:28 clock over the half ticked slowly as I 07:31 settled down to my books experiencing 07:33 for the first time since my student is 07:35 some of the quiet ecstasy of study by 07:40 midday the room had become hot my 07:43 concentration meandered and thirst 07:45 plagued me I wandered downstairs to mrs. 07:48 Hudson's apartment and found her still 07:50 absent so I proceeded down to the 07:52 basement to ask Holmes whether he knew 07:54 what arrangements had been made for 07:55 lunch the door to the basement was shut 07:58 and when I tried the handle I found it 08:00 to be locked from within I could hear 08:03 the occasional crack of what sounded 08:04 like a gun being fired and the grind of 08:07 metal on metal like ball bearings
08:09 rolling round an iron ball Holmes are 08:12 you there Watson what are you doing here 08:15 I'm in the process of an investigation 08:18 indeed yes I'm trying to find out what's 08:21 happening about luncheon we'd have to 08:24 prepare something for yourself he called 08:25 back 08:26 I'm afraid I've sent mrs. Hudson away I 08:28 cannot risk the lives of innocent people 08:30 and Watson be so good as to keep away 08:32 from the basement confine yourself to 08:35 our own rooms and to the kitchen there's 08:37 a good 08:38 very well Holmes but yes I really would 08:41 very much like a newspaper I'm afraid he 08:44 was too without neither of us can take 08:46 the chance of leaving here until this 08:48 business is complete now please let me 08:50 get on I trundled to the kitchen I 08:54 managed to find myself some bread and 08:56 cheese which I took back upstairs our 08:58 rooms were now very hot and since I was 09:01 forbidden to sit near the window I ate 09:03 my luncheon over my books dropping 09:05 crumbs into the creases of Grey's 09:07 Anatomy and beginning to feel Restless 09:10 after lunch I managed to force myself to 09:13 a little more work but by 3 o'clock had 09:16 fallen asleep in the armchair I woke to 09:19 hear the sounds of evening traffic 09:22 moving along Baker Street I listened 09:25 with something like envy to the busy 09:26 hubbub of those who were free to come 09:29 and go who had families to return to and 09:32 simple feasts awaiting them at convivial 09:35 tables my lot seemed bleak 09:38 by comparison Holmes did not emerge from 09:41 his infernal basement and mrs. Hudson 09:44 did not appear with an evening meal I 09:46 cannot recall how the rest of the
09:48 evening passed the heat absorbed during 09:51 the day by London's pavements now 09:53 radiated back to thicken the evening air 09:55 the world outside of which I had no news 09:59 became gradually silent and I hungry and 10:02 disconsolate went finally to bed 10:06 the next morning after a makeshift 10:08 breakfast I got down to some work and 10:11 was well into the argument of the paper 10:13 I was writing when I began to realize 10:15 that the room was again beginning to 10:17 become airless and oven-like determined 10:20 not to succumb to lethargy as I had the 10:22 previous afternoon I decided that 10:25 despite Holmes's strict embargo on going 10:27 near the window I simply must have some 10:30 air as I raised the sash I saw a cab 10:34 approaching along Baker Street and 10:35 stopping directly beneath the window the 10:39 passenger who stepped out was Nikolas 10:41 Cartwright an old University friend now 10:44 writing for The Times I hadn't seen him 10:47 for a couple of months and he seemed 10:48 about to pay a surprise visit desperate 10:51 as I was for company I could not forget 10:54 the promise I had made to Holmes to 10:55 admit no visitors the doorbell rang my 11:00 first idea was to wait for Cartwright to 11:02 give up and go away but there quickly 11:04 came a second ring and with it a call 11:06 from the street through the now open 11:08 window Watson a note of anxiety in his 11:12 voice suggesting that all was not well 11:16 Cartwright was a good friend I did not 11:20 see how I could linger there pretending 11:21 to be deaf when he might be in need of 11:23 my help 11:24 I dashed down the stairs and opened the 11:27 front door Watson so pleased to have 11:30 found you
11:31 the statements immediately struck me as 11:33 odd as did Cartwright's whole demeanor 11:36 but mindful of the proximity of Holmes 11:38 in his makeshift laboratory I whispered 11:41 Nicole chap or things are going on come 11:44 up as quietly as you can I'll explain 11:46 there a sudden sharp crack issued from 11:49 the depths of the house and I hoped that 11:50 preoccupied as he was Holmes would have 11:53 no inkling of the presence of my visitor 11:55 as we entered the parlor and shut the 11:58 door Cartwright said Watson I've been 12:01 worried about you I didn't even know if 12:03 I'd find you here 12:04 worried yes the story in The Gazette 12:08 regarding yourself and mr. Holmes did 12:10 you know it was in the papers Cartwright 12:13 I haven't the least idea what you're 12:16 talking about and as for newspapers I 12:17 haven't seen one in day 12:19 yeah he tossed me the paper open at 12:21 about the third or fourth page and I 12:22 read the following headline an 12:24 accompanying article Sherlock Holmes and 12:27 dr. Watson part company after several 12:31 years of celebrated collaboration the 12:33 eminent consulting detective mr. 12:35 Sherlock Holmes and his medical 12:36 companion dr. John Watson have 12:39 terminated their professional 12:40 partnership and it seems similar tennis 12:42 Lee ended their personal friendship mr. 12:46 Holmes said that while he continued to 12:48 hold dr. Watson in high esteem and to 12:50 regard him as a man of exceptional honor 12:52 and professional competence 12:53 circumstances upon which he could not 12:55 and would not elaborate had made it 12:57 expedient for them to go their separate 12:59 ways there was no comment from dr.
13:02 Watson I stood for a moment holding the 13:06 newspaper and averting my gaze from 13:07 Cartwright who had written this it 13:11 Holmes know about it was there some 13:14 truth in it was Holmes his exile to the 13:17 basement a way of keeping me at bay 13:18 while he found alternative lodgings 13:20 this is today's Gazette yes Watson I see 13:25 you knew nothing about this am i 13:27 speaking to you as a friend Cartwright 13:29 or as a journalist 13:30 well I suppose unfortunately as a friend 13:33 John I say unfortunately because this is 13:36 clearly a damn good story but if you 13:38 wish to talk to me off the record so be 13:40 it off the record then I know nothing of 13:44 this and I don't know whether Holmes has 13:46 had a hand in it he's conducting some 13:48 very secret business at present and 13:50 possibly it's connected to that that's 13:52 all I can tell you I'm afraid one thing 13:56 does baffle me Cartwright said how did 13:58 the Gazette get the story without us 14:00 getting it - anyway I won't make 14:02 anything of this John until you give me 14:04 the go-ahead but I hope if there does 14:07 turn out to be an exclusive you'll be 14:10 the one to get it I said thank you 14:12 Nicholas I saw him down the stairs and 14:15 closed the front door behind him finding 14:17 myself relieved that he had gone I had 14:20 no idea that I would be seeing him again 14:22 soon under even more peculiar 14:24 circumstances but determined that now I 14:28 must confront 14:29 with this business I knocked on the door 14:32 of the basement Holmes a long silence 14:38 Holmes we must speak not now Watson 14:43 Holmes there's something I must discuss 14:45 with you urgently something in the
14:47 newspaper there was a scuffling in the 14:50 basement door opened newspaper how did 14:54 you get a newspaper 14:56 Cartwright called he'd seen an article 14:59 yes Holmes interrupted yes the article I 15:03 daresay you would appreciate an 15:05 explanation give me half an hour a 15:09 little later we sat opposite one another 15:12 in our sitting-room 15:13 the evening was still closed and 15:16 oppressive the newspaper article said 15:19 Holmes was an unfortunate necessity I 15:22 hope it is not caused you too much 15:24 embarrassment Watson and when this 15:26 business is finished all will be 15:28 rectified why I said report us as having 15:32 quarrel bear with me Watson I beg of you 15:35 as you know I have tried to keep my work 15:38 here secret but how certain can one be 15:40 of that the police are involved in these 15:43 matters and are aware of my experiments 15:45 and who knows whether some junior or 15:47 even senior member of the force is not 15:49 in league with that utterly ruthless 15:51 villain now having been alerted to that 15:55 newspaper report might it not be the 15:57 case that Tobias organ would assume that 15:58 you were no longer in London at any rate 16:01 he would certainly be likely to assume 16:03 you were no longer sharing these 16:05 premises with me 16:06 you gave the story to the Gazette to 16:09 protect me yes Watson that was my 16:12 purpose I just wish that you consulted 16:16 me first you were not supposed even to 16:19 know about it Watson and if you had not 16:22 had a visit from Cartwright you would 16:23 never have seen the article it was 16:26 unfortunate that he came when he did it 16:29 was the article that brought him yes a
16:32 miscalculation on my part now it is late 16:35 work to do tomorrow and I must insist on 16:38 extracting from you another guarantee 16:39 what's that Holmes that you will not 16:42 under any circumstances interrupt my 16:45 work again so very delicate in a 16:47 disturbance at an inopportune moment 16:49 could ruin everything is that clear not 16:51 under any circumstance that night I lay 16:57 awake in the muggy heat the bedclothes 16:59 pulled back and grieved for what I 17:01 calculated to be the death of my 17:03 reputation at least I imagined that's 17:06 how the world would see it or at least 17:08 that portion of the world that reads the 17:10 London Gazette Holmes and Watson have 17:13 parted company but there is no comment 17:16 from Watson only a nobly worded 17:18 valediction from the great detective 17:21 such bitter thoughts polluted my 17:24 Restless waking and tormented my 17:27 subsequent dreams and added to all this 17:30 their lair since that things were still 17:33 not clear that something crucial 17:36 remained unspoken I woke early but 17:40 exhausted without going near the window 17:44 I took in what I could of the wakening 17:46 day the street was quiet I dressed 17:51 slowly and descended to the kitchen to 17:53 find something to eat the rattles and 17:56 sharp cracks of Holmes's experiments had 17:58 already come to life below in the 18:00 basement I wondered whether he had even 18:02 bothered to go to bed 18:04 I was making a pot of tea when the 18:06 doorbell sounded the noises from the 18:10 cellar did not pause so I assumed that 18:12 Holmes had not heard the bell I could 18:15 see nothing off the front of the house 18:16 from the kitchen but after I had taken a
18:18 few steps up into the lobby it became 18:21 clear by means of a side window that the 18:23 visitor was once again 18:25 Nicholas Cartwright I went to the door 18:27 and admitted him Cartwright what's going 18:32 on Watson what do you mean I mean what 18:35 game is being played here Cartwright 18:38 I've no idea what you're referring to 18:40 you better come up he was I could tell 18:43 steaming with anger though I had no idea 18:45 what I could have done to arouse it he 18:47 would not sit he stood with his arms 18:49 behind his back a man preparing to 18:52 deliver an accusation you told me you 18:56 were inescapably confined to this house 18:58 yes Cartwright and so I have been this 19:01 is the third day excluding yesterday 19:03 night you mean no I was here yesterday 19:07 night two tossing and turning and my 19:09 better than thought of my ruined 19:11 reputation 19:12 Watson see here yesterday you prevailed 19:15 upon my friendship by confiding in me 19:16 matters which as a journalist I 19:18 considered more than worthy of 19:19 publication had I known that you were 19:22 deceiving me Cartwright you have my word 19:24 I was not deceiving you I've not left 19:27 this house since Monday afternoon so you 19:30 have a twin brother no I do not then 19:34 please explain to me who was the man 19:36 outside the restaurant at Marylebone 19:38 station at five past midnight I take it 19:41 he resembled me more than resembled I do 19:45 hope you're being truthful with me 19:47 Watson 19:49 I can see that his suspicions were not a 19:51 made I even began to wonder whether my 19:54 Restless period of waking the previous 19:55 night had itself been a dream and
19:57 whether I had been sleepwalking such 20:00 things are possible I know and the heat 20:02 my fatigue in the events of the last 20:04 days had left me so baffled that in that 20:06 moment of confusion I could not entirely 20:09 rule it out what happened he said was 20:13 that I was walking through the station 20:15 concourse when I spotted you by the wall 20:16 of the restaurant which by then was 20:18 closed talking to a man in a brown felt 20:20 hat I would have approved you but when I 20:24 caught your eye you cut me as dead as if 20:27 you didn't know me and I assumed your 20:29 conversation was of some importance the 20:32 more I thought about it the more I 20:34 thought it was a poor way to treat a 20:36 good friend suddenly the fog in my brain 20:40 gave way to Anna rific clarity I knew 20:44 that I must rid myself of Cartwright at 20:46 once thank you for telling me this I 20:49 said it is of the utmost importance but 20:53 Nikolas and I pray you won't take this 20:56 amiss I must ask you to leave to leave 21:00 please this is a fearfully serious 21:04 business 21:04 there is real danger you're not just 21:08 trying to get me out of the way Watson 21:09 that's exactly what I'm trying to do 21:11 Cartwright but for a very good reason 21:14 believe me you will have your story very 21:19 well John very well 21:22 at the front door he patted me amiably 21:24 on the shoulder I shut the door on him 21:27 and leaned against the wall 21:29 trying to get my thoughts in order 21:31 Holmes had instructed me not under any 21:34 circumstances to trouble him again yet 21:37 this situation was possibly critical if 21:40 Tobias organ had hired some impersonated 21:42 look and sound so like me that even
21:45 can't write who had known me for years 21:47 could be convinced then Holmes might 21:50 also be deceived and then what power 21:54 they would have in their hands if I 21:57 could not speak to Holmes I could at 21:59 least alert him by other means I ran up 22:02 the stairs with the idea of writing a 22:04 note which I could slip under the 22:05 basement door but as I reached our rooms 22:09 I heard a cry from the street without 22:12 thinking I ran to the parlor window a 22:14 hundred yards southwards along Baker 22:16 Street 22:17 three men were struggling two of them 22:19 were bundling the third man into a cab 22:21 against his will it was caught right I 22:25 dashed down the stairs and ran into the 22:27 street the driver of the cab had already 22:29 whipped up the horse and moved off at a 22:31 lick but I gave chase fury and outrage 22:33 fueling my progress I pursued them for a 22:36 good half a mile until eventually they 22:37 are paced me and I stood gasping for 22:40 breath outside st. Vincent's church i 22:43 sat on the pavement I needed Holmes's 22:47 help the transgression of a broken 22:50 promise was a trivial things surely in 22:53 the context of this appalling incident I 22:56 would go to him immediately aware that 23:00 in the haste of my pursuit I'd left the 23:03 front door of the house open a new 23:06 anxiety overcame me clearly this kidnap 23:09 was the work of organs ruffians and who 23:11 was to say that they would not take 23:12 advantage of an open door I trotted as 23:15 briskly as I could back to Baker Street 23:17 but the door was no longer open and on 23:22 such a close and windless day I thought 23:24 it unlikely it had been closed by a 23:26 draught the horrible thought occurred to
23:29 me that someone may have already got in 23:32 and then everything seemed to tumble 23:36 into place 23:37 Cartwright subduction had been intended 23:40 to draw me out of the house so that the 23:41 man masquerading as myself could gain 23:43 entry homes would be unaware of this he 23:47 would eventually open the door of the 23:49 basement to his assailant and believing 23:51 it was myself he was admitting would 23:53 offer the easiest of targets I had left 23:56 the house without a key but I knew there 23:58 was a possibility of access via the rear 24:00 of the terrace this entailed my knocking 24:03 of the door of our neighbor mrs. Harbin 24:06 an elderly amiable woman who seemed 24:09 happy to allow me access to the rear of 24:11 the building 24:12 here I was obliged to scale a wall to 24:15 the yard outside the back of our own 24:17 dingy basement the front room being that 24:20 which Holmes had taken for his makeshift 24:21 laboratory there was no light within I 24:25 opened the door with infinite slowness 24:28 the noise of Holmes's experiments 24:31 seemed to have stopped the door that 24:34 connected this room to the front half of 24:36 the basement was six or seven short 24:38 paces away but it was too dark to see 24:41 whether the bare floorboards were liable 24:43 to move and groan when I trod upon them 24:45 I tested each step before lowering my 24:49 weight and moved with the floating 24:51 motion of a rather overweight pantomime 24:54 artist one two three then there was 24:59 movement behind me a hand was clamped 25:01 across my mouth and an arm locked around 25:03 my throat the grip was expert I could 25:05 not breathe or move the hot breath of my 25:08 assailant in my ear whispered naka de no
25:12 quiet I'm gonna release you and you turn 25:15 around slowly and face me you must not 25:17 make a sound 25:19 cap and if you understand I reached up 25:23 to the hand around my throat 25:25 and obediently I tapped it the arm 25:27 released me and as quietly as I could I 25:29 took a deep draught of air turning as I 25:31 did so the straight Shh yes doctor 25:34 wasn't expecting you here or rather in a 25:38 sense I was but since you are just about 25:40 to arrive I wasn't expecting you to come 25:42 in the back way as well the policeman 25:44 smirk that is a little conundrum when 25:47 you explained to me I began what an 25:49 earth you mean doctor he said glad yuria 25:53 though sir an additional pair of ears up 25:56 close to the door now and listen it 25:58 won't be long it was indeed less than a 26:01 minute before we heard the door from the 26:03 front of the house opening into the 26:04 laboratory and the arrival of what 26:06 sounded like two men the door was closed 26:09 with a thump and a gruff voice said so 26:13 this is he yes this is where he's 26:16 working there was something familiar 26:18 about that second voice and he won't be 26:21 back for a while no half an hour I 26:23 should think at that moment with a shock 26:26 I recognized the other voice it was my 26:28 own I turned to Lestrade again but he 26:32 just put his finger to his lips and 26:33 indicated that I should continue to 26:35 listen so what's the plan then asked the 26:39 gruff voice within to match the bullet 26:41 that killed maximum moon with the ones 26:43 from your gun said my voice the police 26:47 no you killed him but they need homes to 26:49 provide them with evidence that will 26:51 convince a jury evidently I thought the
26:55 gruff character is Tobias organ 26:58 I heard him pace about then spit noisily 27:01 Zimmerman's not the first one I've 27:03 topped and I've never got me yet they 27:06 say you only got four pounds ten 27:09 shillings from him never you mind why I 27:11 go anyway I never killed him just for 27:14 the money I killed him because he gave 27:16 me a bad look he gave me a bad look now 27:20 gave him 27:21 headache a bullet right between the eyes 27:25 now I still with this little problem 27:29 suddenly there was a tumultuous crash as 27:32 if one of the walls had fallen in and we 27:34 go doctor said lestrade he pushed the 27:37 door hard and we rushed into the 27:38 laboratory where organ had kicked 27:40 Holmes's equipment flying in all 27:41 directions aware to my amazement I saw 27:44 that he was now being attacked by myself 27:46 a perfect duplicate of me cracked him a 27:50 right hook then a left hook and then 27:51 filled him with a blow to the side of 27:53 the head organ hit the floor like a sack 27:56 of cabbages Lestrade was on him in a 27:58 flash cuffing organs arms behind his 28:01 back the strayed blew his whistle and 28:02 then proceeded to arrest him as I stood 28:06 back to get a better look at my other 28:08 self the duplicate doctor put a hand to 28:11 his own face wrenched at his upper brow 28:14 and pulled and stretched until he had 28:16 removed his entire face revealing 28:20 beneath the peeling mask the flaming 28:23 eyes of Sherlock Holmes the next moment 28:27 Lestrade's officers came bursting 28:29 through the basement door and Tobias 28:32 organ was dragged away 28:36 the heat of the day had given way at 28:39 last to a pleasant evening mrs. Hudson
28:43 had returned to the house and provided 28:44 homes and myself with an excellent 28:46 evening meal 28:47 now we sat with our Bradley's and Holmes 28:51 with his pipe at the open window where a 28:53 gentle breeze lifted the curtains and 28:56 refreshed the parlour as you will have 29:00 deduced Holmes was saying by way of 29:02 explaining it all to me the object of 29:04 the masquerade was to lure organs 29:06 somewhere where we could extract a 29:08 confession from him by subterfuge but 29:10 your ballistics experiments I said would 29:14 they not have been enough to convicted 29:16 me it is a science only in the 29:18 imagination Holmes said and there one 29:21 day I'm certain it will be more than 29:23 that 29:23 that is much more work to do than I 29:26 could accomplish in a fortnight but 29:28 Lestrade and I agree that if orgone 29:30 believed himself to be at risk from my 29:32 experiments he would wish to destroy 29:34 them what on earth were you doing in 29:36 their homes if the thing was a complete 29:37 hoax I'm afraid I did deceive you a 29:40 little I was not in there all the time 29:42 the mechanism of an old railway clock 29:45 and a device employing elastic and a 29:47 drum skin were intended to give the ear 29:49 the impression of ongoing industry well 29:52 it certainly deceived me I said but was 29:56 it really necessary for me to be 29:58 incarcerated for the duration 30:00 I'm afraid so my friend if organ through 30:03 one of his spies had got wind that there 30:05 were two Watson's the trick would not 30:07 have worked what's more it was necessary 30:10 for him to believe that you and I had 30:12 quarreled and therefore that the good
30:14 dr. Watson might be in the market for a 30:16 bit of betrayal unfortunately your 30:19 friend Cartwright saw me meeting organs 30:22 accomplice at malliband station and 30:23 almost at the cat out of the bag it was 30:26 necessary for us to put him somewhere 30:28 safe Lestrade's men kindly subjected him 30:31 to a temporary and very comfortable 30:33 period of kidnap it was you who had him 30:36 dragged away yes I had not calculated 30:39 that you would follow him of course or 30:41 that you would be locked out and find 30:42 yourself clambering in through the back 30:43 but it turned out well you will make an 30:47 additional witness for the prosecution 30:49 do you think they'll convict him oh yes 30:52 Watson his confession today was as clear 30:55 as a bell 30:55 Tobias organ will hang as for you my 31:00 friend I have given you a terrible time 31:02 and as a reward I'm going to take you to 31:05 the Opera tonight yes tonight Gilbert 31:09 and Sullivan The Mikado 31:11 but Holmes my memory is you don't much 31:14 like Gilbert and Sullivan no Watson but 31:17 you do and besides I have to confess to 31:21 having a soft spot for the Lord High 31:24 executioner 31:35 the conundrum of coach 30 on an October 31:43 morning when rains streamed from the 31:46 black clouds that swept above our Baker 31:48 Street lodgings I found my friend 31:51 Sherlock Holmes in a similarly overcast 31:53 mood he had not had a case in weeks not 31:57 at least what he called a decent case 31:59 and he had been huffing and puffing 32:02 about the house for two days it was with 32:05 some relief to both of us 32:07 therefore that we heard the slurring 32:09 approach of a cab in the street outside
32:11 and both moved eagerly to the window the 32:14 hansom did indeed stop directly beside 32:16 our door and after a moment a large and 32:19 finely dressed middle-aged gentleman 32:21 emerged into the downpour paid his fare 32:24 and rang our doorbell Holmes was smiling 32:28 now what could make a rich American so 32:31 distressed Watson that he would compel 32:34 mell here to us from Paddington an 32:37 American I said drawn irresistibly as 32:40 usual into Holmes's tantalizing games 32:42 certainly and I think a formidable 32:45 character and you wish to tell me how 32:48 you deduce all that Holmes I deduce his 32:52 distress and his nationality from the 32:54 fact that he just tried to pay the 32:55 cabbie in American dollars before 32:56 recalling which pocket held his pounds 32:59 sterling as for his coming from 33:01 Paddington that was the easiest of all 33:03 but the driver of the hansom is Henry 33:05 brown and surprised you do not recognize 33:07 him who always works from the Paddington 33:10 rank as ever Watson I apologize for the 33:12 banality of these observations but you 33:14 did ask by now there were footsteps on 33:18 the stairs as mrs. Hudson escorted the 33:20 visitor to our apartment while I 33:22 inwardly delighted to note that my 33:24 friend had returned to his amiable best 33:26 in anticipation of a new challenge I 33:29 find myself praying that it would be a 33:31 challenge worthy of his powers and his 33:33 pent-up energies no sooner had the door 33:36 opened than the huge Rotonda figure of 33:39 our visitor bright in a cream suit burst 33:43 into the room like an actor onto a stage 33:45 determined to establish his character 33:47 instantly mr. hounds boomed the American 33:51 voices both his arms swept forward to
33:53 grasp my right hand 33:55 Benedict Masterson what a great 33:58 privilege to meet you delighted but I am 34:02 dr. John Watson I replied 34:05 this is mr. Sherlock Holmes with equally 34:09 booming apologies he bowed charmingly to 34:12 me and turned to my friend ah yes now I 34:16 see unmistakable unmistakable the 34:21 impression given was that he had found 34:23 the first Sherlock Holmes of his 34:25 acquaintance a little short of his 34:26 expectations mr. Holmes I wish to ask 34:30 you to act for me in a business both 34:32 mysterious and distressing you had 34:36 better sit down mr. Masterson said 34:38 Holmes and tell us everything and having 34:42 settled his cream covered bulk into an 34:45 armchair and accepted a cigar which he 34:47 continued to puff anxiously as he spoke 34:49 the American told us his story I am a 34:53 dealer in gold 34:56 gentlemen gold has been my life my 35:00 father owned small mines in Nevada which 35:03 gave us a comfortable living in my turn 35:05 through judicious trading I've made 35:08 these assets yield a fortune I came to 35:11 London last week because your own Bank 35:13 of England had made an order for a 35:15 substantial quantity of gold bars to 35:18 boost its reserves the bullion was 35:21 shipped in a Bristol Harbor and 35:23 transferred yesterday onto a chartered 35:26 London train for transfer to the bank I 35:28 have been in London doing the paperwork 35:31 of which there is let me assure you no 35:35 small amount 35:36 and I went to Paddington this morning to 35:39 meet the consignment the train was there 35:42 the gold was not I see said Holmes 35:47 stolen undoubtedly how much were talking
35:52 four or five Millions 35:55 mr. Holmes that's a large loss is the 35:58 gold in short indeed it is but you know 36:01 insurance companies mr. Holmes they are 36:04 ever suspicious and the circumstances of 36:07 the Gold's disappearance are to say the 36:09 least rather strange the details mr. 36:12 Masterson said my friend if you please 36:15 well continued Masterson tapping a thick 36:19 cylinder of ash into the ash tray I had 36:22 asked a commissioner special an 36:24 overnight train and also insisted that 36:27 it be discreet not armored or escorted 36:31 or in any way having the appearance of 36:34 especially secured conveyance I was 36:37 offered the charter of a passenger train 36:39 which returns empty from Bristol to 36:41 London once a week and which railway man 36:44 jokingly call the bad luck special not 36:47 because anything has ever happened to it 36:49 but because it normally consists of 13 36:52 empty passenger coaches as indeed it did 36:56 on this occasion I insisted that the 36:59 gold be packed in steel containers each 37:02 locked with a unique key you will 37:05 appreciate the gold itself gentlemen is 37:08 a weighty metal so each box contained 37:11 only as many bars as would enable the 37:13 containers to be carried in order to 37:16 prevent the possibility of them being 37:18 removed from the moving train I ensured 37:21 that while it was small enough to go 37:23 through the open carriage door they were 37:25 too large to pass through the windows 37:28 even with the windows slit down to their 37:30 largest aperture 37:32 I then arrange for the doors of the 37:34 bullion carriage to be locked from the 37:36 outside so they could not be open until 37:38 the train reached London the train was
37:41 empty then apart from the driver and 37:43 fahman of the locomotive no mr. Holmes 37:46 it is railway practice for all trains to 37:49 have a guard a practice I was very happy 37:52 to comply with since it meant my 37:53 consignment would have an overseer 37:55 throughout its journey and to this end 37:57 all the steel cases were loaded into the 38:00 last coach of the Train coach 13 where 38:04 the guard could keep a constant watch on 38:06 them the man employed for the job was a 38:09 mr. Lyons mr. John Lyons amateur and 38:14 trusted employee of the Railway Company 38:16 here's strangely mr. Matheson stopped 38:19 and smiled I 38:21 I enquired whether he had ever worked on 38:25 the French railways guard Lyons dizzy 38:29 guard de Leon Holmes smiled politely and 38:34 nodded forgive me gentlemen I could 38:37 never resist a pun to continue the train 38:41 left Bristol at 3:00 this morning as 38:43 scheduled 38:44 but when it arrived at Paddington at 38:46 6:00 the steel boxes of gold were gone 38:49 mr. Holmes this was an impossible 38:53 robbery the train stopped only once for 38:56 a minute or so to take on water hardly 38:59 time to unload a single box of bullying 39:01 let alone a hundred of the darn things 39:03 weighing in at a hundred and fifty 39:06 pounds of peace and the God asked Holmes 39:09 Lyons claim that he fell asleep some way 39:12 to the journey awoke to find the 39:14 bullying disappeared he's being held at 39:16 Paddington along with the driver and 39:18 engineer but all ardently protests their 39:21 innocence and with regard to other 39:23 suspects can you think of anyone in your 39:25 organization who might feel inclined to 39:27 take advantage of you Masterson pinched
39:29 his lips and looked embarrassed well if 39:32 I may confide something to you in the 39:34 strictest confidence 39:36 my estranged wife Laura still has shares 39:41 in the company she believes that she 39:43 should have more 39:44 there is some bitterness in this regard 39:49 however I know Laura well enough to 39:51 doubt that she is a thief 39:53 my friend simply said Thank You mr. 39:56 Masterson I will certainly take the case 39:58 on would you be so good as to wire 40:00 Bristol and inform them that dr. Watson 40:02 and I are on our way I will sir you mean 40:06 to go there today indeed yes as soon as 40:09 I have made a checkol - at Paddington 40:11 Station 40:11 well I surely thank you I can think of 40:15 no better hands in which to leave the 40:16 case of the bad luck special than those 40:19 of mr. sheerluck holmes holmes did not 40:25 smile i never leave anything to chance 40:28 mr. Masterson perspicacity and reason 40:31 are the tools I employ forgive me mr. 40:34 Holmes as I say I am fairly attracted to 40:38 puns we will keep you in touch Holmes 40:41 said with all developments within half 40:46 an hour we were at Paddington but before 40:48 boarding the Bristol train Holmes wish 40:50 to make certain that the so called bad 40:51 luck special was secured the train had 40:55 been shunted into a siding and we were 40:57 relieved to find the police 40:58 responsibility for the case had fallen 41:00 to inspector Stanley Hopkins a young but 41:03 ambitious detective with whom Holmes and 41:05 myself had had numerous dealings in the 41:07 past hearing that we were being engaged 41:10 by mr. Benedict Masterson the inspector 41:12 agreed to watch over the Train and make
41:14 sure it remained undisturbed until our 41:16 return to London it was still raining 41:19 when we arrived at Bristol where we met 41:22 the station foreman George Willits an 41:25 amiable man in his 50s who gave the 41:27 comforting impression of having been in 41:29 his job for a lifetime and knowing the 41:31 whole business inside out 41:33 Willets had been on duty the previous 41:35 night and took us directly to the goods 41:38 platform from which the bullion train 41:39 had left though he did his best to be of 41:42 assistance 41:43 he looked painfully weary I apologize 41:47 you gents for my appearance he said but 41:51 I was on night shift last night seeing 41:52 out the special was just about to go off 41:55 when the message came from London about 41:57 the theft 41:58 I've not yet been owned Abed we won't 42:02 keep you long will its home said I 42:04 understand you were here when the 42:06 bullion boxes were being loaded 42:08 I was sir supervise them myself watched 42:12 him being lifted in the guards carriage 42:14 at this very spot before I sent the 42:16 signal to bring in the rest of the Train 42:18 the guards copse was not connected to 42:20 the train while it was loaded that's 42:22 right sir the rest of the train was 42:24 shunted out of the siding and then 42:26 coupled up just before she would you to 42:27 leave and who brought her in Tommy 42:30 Marriott the engineer and his farm and 42:32 Pat McGlinchey old hands not quite so 42:36 much of fixtures myself mr. ohms but 42:38 they've been around the best part of 10 42:40 years they're sound men good now if 42:44 you'll bear with me a little longer 42:45 Willits I'd like to ask you a little
42:47 more about the gold itself how many men 42:49 were involved in loading the carriage 42:51 well sir 20-some operation took 4 men 42:56 load each box to inside the carriage to 42:58 outside damn heavy things if you'll 43:01 excuse me sir 43:02 over a hundred weight apiece and Dan 43:04 awkward squeezing him through their 43:05 narrow doors it was a hell of a job and 43:07 how long would you say the whole 43:09 business took was about half past 43:11 midnight when they started at about a 43:13 quarter before 2 by the time they 43:14 finished so almost 80 minutes and after 43:19 it was loaded was there any delay before 43:21 departure no sir the rest of the train 43:23 as I say was reversed in from the 43:25 Soylent John Lyons the guard got aboard 43:28 and the door of the guards coach was 43:30 locked from without sir as per our 43:31 instructions one final question will its 43:34 if I may I'm informed the train stopped 43:37 on route yes sir she was scheduled to 43:39 hold up for a minute or so at Swindon to 43:41 take on war it stopped for no longer 43:43 than that and at no other time no sir 43:47 the signalman would know for sure she 43:48 been held over for more than a minute 43:50 and that's already being checked Holmes 43:52 seemed to pause for a moment while he 43:55 considered all this information and then 43:58 he said well it's I'm most grateful for 44:00 your detailed and I have no doubt 44:02 accurate recollections now if you will 44:04 excuse us dr. Watson and I will take the 44:07 next train back to London 44:08 and leave you to go home and get some 44:10 sleep inspector Hopkins was at 44:15 Paddington when we arrived and Holmes 44:17 immediately requested that he arranged
44:19 for us to speak to the rail women who 44:21 had commandeered the bad luck special on 44:23 the previous night Marriott and 44:25 McGlinchey the engineer and farmen and 44:27 the guard Lyons in a dark office of the 44:32 rail women's quarters on one of the 44:34 grimmer outer platforms of Paddington 44:36 Station 44:37 the three men sat disconsolately on 44:40 rickety wooden chairs it occurred to me 44:43 that they had by now being detained in 44:45 this dismal place for several hours and 44:48 when Holmes and I were introduced to 44:50 Lyons he barely had the energy to not to 44:53 us but he did speak his words almost 44:56 drowned in the muffler which half 44:58 covered his mouth I dare say you think 45:02 me a thief mr. Holmes from what you have 45:05 heard 45:05 I'm not sir but why I have done is 45:09 derelict my duty so maybe our deserve 45:12 what's coming I want to assure you mr. 45:15 Lyons Holmes said that my intention here 45:17 is to uncover the truth and uncover it I 45:20 will if you are as you say innocent of 45:23 any crime you'll have nothing to fear 45:25 from the law but tell me how you think 45:27 you failed in your duty but I will meant 45:29 to keep me on the shipment sir weren't 45:31 on but I fell asleep it's not something 45:34 I make a habit of but this time I did 45:35 and woke to find the bullion gone a 45:38 nightmare sir I suppose I should have 45:41 stopped the Train with a pull cord but I 45:43 was in a bit of a daze how long do you 45:46 think you slept I thought about that sir 45:48 I remember us passing through the 45:50 Whitehorse Valley just before Swindon 45:53 and when I woke up we were about ten 45:56 miles out of it and passed the lamzy
45:58 water tower Holmes looked towards the 46:00 farm in McGlinchey a plump man with rich 46:04 black curls when you stopped to fill the 46:06 tank did you notice anything odd no sir 46:09 it was a dark night and there were no 46:12 lights they received the fire from the 46:13 boiler he couldn't see 20 feet beyond 46:15 the Train 46:17 Holmes turn back to lions I would like 46:20 you to describe to me the events of 46:21 yesterday evening well sir oh I wasn't 46:24 you to start my shift until 1:00 in the 46:26 morning so around about twelve I had a 46:28 brown ale in the railway man's canteen 46:30 and collected some sandwiches and a can 46:32 of tea for the journey just tea and 46:34 sandwiches 46:35 yes sir and a piece of seed cake if 46:38 that's not too much detail there is no 46:42 such thing as too much detail please 46:45 continue with your story well at about 46:48 half-past one I made my way over to the 46:49 goods platform they just finished 46:52 loading the bullion in of the end 46:53 carriage and the other part the Train 46:55 had been brought in and coupled up a 46:57 gentleman in his suit gave us final 46:59 instructions to the engineering farm and 47:01 Tommy and Pat here he said the train was 47:03 cleared to London with just the one 47:05 brief water stop which was under no 47:07 circumstances to take more than three 47:09 minutes and if there should be an 47:11 emergency they won't leave the cab at 47:14 that point they locked me in with the 47:15 gold in at exactly 2:00 a.m. we were on 47:18 our way about a half hour after I had me 47:22 sandwiches and a few sweets of tea they 47:24 were a clear night and I sat by one of 47:26 the windows and watched the stars
47:27 contented with everything so that's when 47:30 I must have dozed and well what happened 47:34 after that you know Thank You lines 47:37 said Holmes then he turned to young 47:40 inspector Hopkins with a new fierce 47:42 gleam in his eye if we may Hopkins I 47:45 should now like to inspect the Train 47:48 we made our way along the track to the 47:51 engine sheds and after checking the 47:52 locomotive searched through each of the 47:54 13 coaches whose number I carefully 47:57 counted myself until we arrived at the 48:00 last the guards coach in which the gold 48:02 had been transported now I have been 48:06 assured Holmes said to Hawkins that the 48:09 doors of this coach were locked from the 48:10 outside for the duration of the journey 48:13 yes mr. Holmes yet it was possible to 48:17 move along the train through the coaches 48:18 via the connecting doors yes and what 48:21 are the other coaches I checked them 48:24 that outer doors were all locked too but 48:26 it would have been impossible any way 48:28 for the thieves to have moved the 48:29 containers along the train to jettison 48:30 them from another carriage the boxes of 48:32 gold were too big to pass through the 48:34 connecting doors all that had been 48:36 carefully calculated but is it quite 48:39 certain I ventured that the boxes could 48:41 not have been opened and the gold 48:43 removed baha by bar quite certain said 48:46 Hopkins not without the original keys 48:49 they were unique to each box 48:52 besides Watson said Holmes if the boxes 48:55 had been open here then with or without 48:57 the gold they would still surely be here 48:59 now speaking of which Hopkins the 49:02 carriage is just as it was found when 49:04 the doors were first opened this morning
49:06 as I said mr. Holmes 49:07 nothing's been touched Holmes took an 49:10 initial sweeping glance around the 49:12 carriage interior then stooped to pick 49:14 something up from the floor this brown 49:17 paper I presumed the wrapping for the 49:20 guard Lyons's sandwiches yes this is can 49:23 of tea yes curious that he had a can of 49:29 tea no no curious that a man under 49:33 stress should be so painstakingly tidy I 49:36 don't understand sir never mind 49:39 what do you make of this Hopkins Holmes 49:42 had picked up from the corner a loop of 49:45 scarlet fabric silken and ruffled 49:49 I don't know mr. domes I was completely 49:52 baffled by it it seems to be a small 49:55 decorative item of some sort from a 49:57 lady's wardrobe a hair tie I should 50:00 think I said how might it have got here 50:04 I don't know doctor I'm sure but I 50:07 suppose it's theoretically possible that 50:09 someone might have concealed herself in 50:11 another carriage Holmes had put the 50:14 object to his nose there is a perfume to 50:17 it he said but thinked as though it had 50:20 not been worn for some time could it 50:24 belong to the thief 50:26 I asked tentatively possibly said Holmes 50:30 though I think that might have been a 50:32 thief too many he stooped to replace the 50:35 scarlet fabric on the floor of the 50:37 carriage I think we are close to a 50:39 conclusion 50:40 Watson Hopkins I should like to talk to 50:44 the guard lions again and to the driver 50:46 and his farmen please make sure that 50:48 there is at least one other police 50:49 officer present and we must be sure to 50:52 invite mr. Benedict Masterson to our 50:54 little de Namur since she's been kind
50:57 enough to pay the fee for this 50:58 investigation by the time Masterson 51:02 arrived the clock was approaching 9:00 51:03 and we sat in the old mess room bathed 51:06 in dingy yellow Gaslight the rain 51:09 rattled ceaselessly on the roof and 51:11 windows and when we were all assembled 51:14 the three weary rail women along with 51:17 Benedict Masterson inspector Hopkins a 51:19 junior officer and Holmes and myself the 51:23 gathering became hushed and expectant 51:27 Masterson said well this has certainly 51:31 been a baffling business mr. Holmes but 51:34 I assume we're here because you've 51:35 picked up some clues along the way you 51:38 are certainly a man equal to his 51:40 reputation sir 51:41 the inspector mentioned a red silk 51:44 trinket of some sort yes Holmes said he 51:48 produced the item from his pocket this 51:51 piece of perfumed fabric the clear 51:54 message is that someone was concealed in 51:56 the carriage with the bullion 51:58 I see and moreover i could' that the 52:02 concealed person was probably female 52:05 Masterson appeared a little seekin 52:08 female you say if I may said Holmes we 52:15 will return to that later mr. Lyons let 52:19 us revert for the present to the subject 52:21 of your sandwiches my sandwiches again 52:24 sir indeed the sandwiches you took on 52:29 board the train last night together with 52:30 the seed cake in the can of cold tea you 52:33 say you at them just before you fell 52:35 asleep yes sir 52:37 you ate the sandwiches and the cake you 52:39 dozed off you woke up again and the gold 52:42 was gone yes sir that's how it happened 52:46 and when you came around and realized 52:48 the gold had gone you say it was like a
52:50 nightmare yes mr. Rance you were very 52:54 agitated certainly was too agitated I 52:58 expect to sweep the floor of the 53:00 carriage tomorrow sir 53:02 I presume you did not sweep the floor of 53:05 the carriage at that point in that 53:06 disturbed state no sir I didn't with 53:10 respect sir that's not my job quite I 53:13 wouldn't expect you to which makes it 53:15 very difficult to explain why when I 53:17 examined the guards coach this afternoon 53:19 I found out a single crumb on the floor 53:21 now can anyone here tell me how it's 53:24 possible to eat several sandwiches and a 53:26 slice of seed cake without dropping a 53:28 single crumb or come to that a single 53:32 seed I promise you sir what I said about 53:35 my supper was true I'll remember exactly 53:37 what I brought and exactly what I ate I 53:39 have no doubt of that mr. Lyons then 53:43 what sir 53:44 my point is merely that you are 53:46 obviously not in coach 13 when you ate 53:49 the sandwiches 53:51 on my honor mr. Holmes I swear I was oh 53:54 you were in a canid certainly but you 53:57 were not in the carriage in which your 53:59 savage rapper was found the coach where 54:01 you ate your supper the coach with the 54:04 bullion never made it to London mr. 54:09 Holmes 54:09 this is confusing began masterson Holmes 54:15 interrupted on the contrary mr. 54:17 Masterson it's very clear the coach 54:19 containing the gold was uncoupled from 54:21 the train when it stopped for water run 54:24 into a siding by those awaiting it and 54:26 unloaded of its cargo at their leisure 54:28 during the night it was a perfectly dark 54:30 night there was no moon so the rail
54:33 women as mr. McLintock ear has recently 54:36 confirmed could from the water pump see 54:38 nothing of what was going on at the back 54:40 of the train but mr. Holmes said 54:43 inspector Hopkins the bad luck special 54:46 has 13 coaches everyone knows that and 54:49 you will no doubt yourself a noted that 54:51 we passed there exactly 13 coaches in 54:54 our inspection of the train this 54:55 afternoon oh it has 13 coaches now of 54:58 course inspector Holmes said and it only 55:02 struck me after we had left Bristol and 55:04 its pleasant stationmaster Willits that 55:07 he had described to us in detail his 55:08 whole engagement with the loading of the 55:10 gold and the departure of the train 55:12 without once mentioning that he counted 55:14 the coaches before the train left the 55:16 fact is he didn't count them he didn't 55:20 think he needed to the bad luck special 55:23 had always consisted of 13 coaches he 55:26 wasn't to know that your accomplices at 55:28 Bristol had added an additional coach to 55:31 the train before it was attached to the 55:33 coach carrying the boxes a coach with 55:36 its seats stripped out to make it 55:38 practically identical to the bullion car 55:40 on that one night the bad luck special 55:44 had not 13 but 14 carriages when the 55:48 train stopped to acquire water it 55:50 simultaneously shed a coach and it very 55:53 nearly he continued turning back to 55:56 Lyons shared a guard - you're a very 56:00 fortunate man 56:02 I don't feel fortunate sir your good 56:06 fortune is that you are still alive and 56:08 that in turn is because you are 56:10 fortunate enough to fall asleep imagine 56:13 if you had not the train stops the 56:16 thieves uncouple the rear coach with
56:18 yourself inside it as soon as you see 56:20 them you become a risk to them there's 56:22 no telling what they might have done 56:23 what I believe actually happened was 56:26 that as they were releasing the carriage 56:27 from the Train someone noticed that you 56:29 were asleep inside they took the 56:31 opportunity to move you into the next 56:33 coach along with your tea can and 56:35 sandwich wrappings you may be thankful 56:38 you did not wake at that moment 56:41 Masterson wore an expression of 56:44 amazement I am full of admiration mr. 56:51 Holmes but at the same time I feel 56:55 somewhat desolated this clearly means 56:58 that someone in my organization has 57:01 betrayed me which brings me back to the 57:04 ring of scarlet silk discovered in the 57:06 carriage certainly an intriguing 57:08 adornment to the problem said Holmes it 57:12 could indeed signify the presence of a 57:14 woman but there is the mystery I said of 57:17 how she got there or what she might have 57:19 done I think however said Holmes that is 57:24 a mystery with a simple solution at this 57:27 point Masterson appeared rather 57:29 tragically stricken you're thinking yes 57:33 said Holmes you're thinking that my 57:37 estranged wife flora dear God that 57:42 foolish woman oh come along mr. 57:45 Masterson you know full well your wife 57:47 had nothing to do with it there was no 57:49 one aboard the train saved the three men 57:50 here driver engineer and guard and none 57:53 of them had anything to do with the 57:54 robbery the three rail women looked at 57:56 one another as though they had suddenly 57:58 had revealed to them their entitlement 58:00 to a joint fortune as for the thieves 58:02 said Holmes they are to be located
58:06 somewhere nursing a hoard of bullion a 58:08 part of course from their pay master who 58:10 is sitting here with us 58:13 is that not so mr. Masterson 58:16 Masterson baluster and steamed he was 58:20 outraged this was absurd how dare you 58:24 sir what evidence have you for such an 58:27 outrageous suggestion I had misgivings 58:29 from the beginning I could not 58:31 understand why you came to me so quickly 58:33 after the theft had been discovered when 58:35 you had so much else to deal with I see 58:38 now that you were pains to demonstrate 58:40 to the insurance company that you were 58:42 doing all in your power to recover the 58:44 bullion because of course if you could 58:46 have both the gold and the insurance 58:48 money you would have considerably 58:51 augmented your fortune but worse still 58:54 what your partners in crime would have 58:56 done to mr. Lyons had he not had the 58:59 good sense to fall asleep on the job 59:01 hardly bears thinking about you were 59:04 prepared not just to steal but to be an 59:08 accessory to murder this is speculation 59:11 mr. Holmes this would not stand up in 59:13 court you should be looking for another 59:15 felon what about that red silk ring oh 59:19 yes you've been very subtle about that 59:21 mr. Masterson suggesting your wife's 59:24 name one moment and the next assuring me 59:26 that she could not possibly be 59:28 implicated I doubt whether you thought 59:30 she would be but you certainly sought to 59:32 throw me off the scent 59:34 what was that item if not a red herring 59:37 and is that not for those who like to 59:39 play games with words another way to say 59:42 a red heading what fun you no doubt plan 59:47 to have with that joke mr. Masterson and
59:49 you got away with this business now it 59:52 seems the joke is on you that was one 59:56 pun mr. Masterson which you would indeed 59:59 have done better to have resisted 60:03 but whether justice was fully done is a 60:06 moot point in expectation of reducing 60:09 his own sentence masters and eventually 60:11 it divulged the names of his accomplices 60:13 and led police to the embezzle to 60:16 bullion and although he was committed to 60:18 prison for several years it was clear 60:21 that once his sentence was served he 60:23 would continue the life of a wealthy man 60:26 I can't understand I said to Holmes a 60:29 couple of evenings later why you seem so 60:32 damnably happy a man is never more 60:36 content Watson he said then when doing 60:39 well what his nature has fitted him to 60:41 do and which thought will you pass me 60:44 the tobacco pouch I think we should 60:47 indulge ourselves in a brace of good 60:49 pipe 61:05 [Music] 61:10 the Trinity vicarage larceny one fine 61:20 spring morning Sherlock Holmes and I 61:23 received into our rooms a portly 61:25 gentleman in a purple dress that at 61:28 least is how it momentarily appeared to 61:30 me as I glanced up from the Daily 61:32 Chronicle at the open door the purple 61:35 gentlemen it transpired was the right 61:38 reverend the Lord Bishop of Kent an old 61:41 acquaintance of Holmes and he had 61:44 brought with him as so many of our 61:45 visitors due a problem that was clearly 61:48 causing him some agitation mollified a 61:52 little by coffee and a cigar bishop 61:55 sprigs needed no prompting to divulge 61:57 his story the number of my problem 62:00 gentleman is an unfortunate young priest
62:03 a young man of promise and talent very 62:07 popular with his parishioners who has 62:09 inadvertently got himself into deep 62:11 Porter intriguing said Holmes you may 62:16 recall the clergyman continued the 62:18 Trinity Church in the Kent village of 62:20 hatching ham was last year in the news 62:22 because of an exceptional discovery of 62:26 course I said a silver chalice of 62:29 considerable worth was discovered in the 62:31 crypt yes dr. Watson a magnificent 62:35 medieval relic the so called 62:38 hatching comb Grail weighing some twenty 62:40 two pounds with my approval it was sold 62:43 to the British Museum with the idea that 62:45 a good portion of the proceeds would go 62:47 towards restoring hatch income church 62:50 the Reverend Kingsley pending the 62:52 beginning of the building work had 62:53 locked the money up in the church crypt 62:55 it was stolen yesterday Holmes you can 63:01 imagine what an outcry they'd be if this 63:03 found its way into the papers it would 63:05 be bad for Kingsley and the hatching 63:08 from parish and goodness of Lemnos water 63:10 would do for the reputation of the 63:11 church at any cost the money must be 63:14 recovered and the thief put away 63:17 and I mean any cost homes 63:21 let us not concern ourselves with fees 63:23 just yet home said are there any clues 63:27 at all as to who might be responsible 63:29 for this theft I'm not sure about clues 63:32 replied the clergyman Kingsley did make 63:35 some sort of an attempted to discover 63:36 the identity of the villain by chasing 63:38 him over the fields after the theft but 63:40 I'm afraid he didn't get very far 63:41 I think we had better meet the young 63:44 Reverend said Holmes as soon as is
63:47 practical Watson would you be at liberty 63:49 to accompany me to hatching him for a 63:50 few days I'm utterly indebted to you 63:54 both said the bishop 63:55 I dare say while you're in hatching him 63:58 we could put you up at the trinity 63:59 church rectory 64:00 oh there's the jolly bulldog if you'd 64:03 prefer and AH said Holmes that jolly 64:07 bulldog now that sounds like just my 64:10 kind of animal we journeyed to hatching 64:14 him the next morning and established 64:16 ourselves at the cosy but crumbling 64:18 hostility that was the jolly Bulldog our 64:22 landlord was a bluff man called stocky 64:24 taller by inches than Holmes and 64:26 compelled to stoop to avoid the beams 64:29 resumed ceiling as he lumbered about in 64:31 heavy boots serving his customers he 64:34 grudgingly provided us with a late snack 64:36 of bread and some rather tough cold 64:39 meats complaining that if everyone chose 64:41 to be fed at half past 2:00 in the 64:42 afternoon they would have to invent a 64:44 new word for the mule taken between 64:45 luncheon and dinner 64:47 leftovers said Holmes to me in push Lee 64:50 and at a level which I am sure Starkey 64:52 was meant to overhear might be that word 64:55 the publican growled ominously 64:58 as he left us and I leaned over to 65:01 Holmes and whispered there is surely an 65:03 example of how a little power may go to 65:05 the head of a man and make him too big 65:07 for his boots 65:08 I was thinking rather said Holmes from 65:12 the way he comes about this place that 65:14 his boots are rather too big for him 65:17 I saw the two gentlemen on a nearby 65:19 tables smile at this remark I sunday
65:23 galatta notice of Starkey said one of 65:25 them amiably he's just as tiresome with 65:28 all the customers 65:29 the gentleman introduced himself as John 65:31 captain and his companion as Matthew 65:34 Winslow although neither Holmes nor 65:36 myself disclosed the details of our 65:39 mission to hatching him 65:40 it seems they knew we were expected and 65:42 it turned out that both gentlemen were 65:44 members of the parish committee and were 65:46 fully apprised of the theft though they 65:49 were quick to assert that it was not yet 65:51 public knowledge I hope you will be 65:53 successful 65:54 said hapten in bringing this thief to 65:57 book we are fond of our vigor and he has 66:01 been a deeply troubled young man since 66:03 it happened the Reverend Kingsley's 66:07 house was accessed from hatching him 66:09 Lane by a short stone path a few steps 66:13 beyond the vicarage stood the church 66:15 with on the west side a moderate sized 66:18 graveyard on the other side with its own 66:21 access to the lane and shaded by a 66:23 handful of fruit trees stood cherry 66:25 cottage which were later discovered to 66:28 be the residence of the Virgin and his 66:30 wife 66:31 the Reverend Kingsley was a man in his 66:34 early thirties small in stature but of 66:37 good looks his clerical dress the 66:39 quintessence of meekness while clearly 66:43 stricken by his predicament he remained 66:45 calm and articulate and did his best to 66:48 make us welcome in a pleasantly 66:49 appointed parlour whose deep colored 66:51 thick pile carpet and embroidered 66:53 cushions evidenced a delicate sense of 66:56 taste it's a relief to see you gentlemen
66:59 he said the bishop told me all about you 67:02 about your many successes in solving 67:05 complex cases the problem as you know is 67:09 that while we saw the thief escape we 67:11 were unable to establish his identity 67:13 however there are one or two factors 67:15 which though they seemed a Paik to my 67:17 own consideration might prove 67:19 illuminating under your own if I might 67:23 show you I would be most grateful mr. 67:25 Kingsley Holmes said first though I see 67:29 that you have recently held a meeting in 67:30 this 67:31 I presumed that apart from the three 67:33 other gentlemen present the fourth was 67:35 yourself you keep the side chairs in 67:37 another room I take it Lord how did you 67:41 know all that oh it's a simple matter 67:43 the carpet beside the window has 67:45 indentations of four chairs and 67:47 therefore I presume for four people but 67:50 there are no chairs in the room whose 67:51 feet would match well yes you are of 67:55 course quite correct said Kingsley with 67:57 a broad smile the parish committee 67:59 convened here just yesterday as as we do 68:01 each week yesterday was the day I broke 68:04 the news that the Grail money had been 68:06 stolen and I hope that that news will 68:08 remain privy to the committee members 68:10 until such time as the thief is caught 68:11 but the vicar paused and Holmes said 68:15 please go on mr. Kingsley but continued 68:19 the young clergyman the gentleman on the 68:22 parish committee are the same three who 68:23 sat here two weeks ago when I revealed 68:27 that the money for the Grail was in the 68:29 crypt of the church only they and I knew 68:33 of the fact you see so I can no longer 68:36 be as confident as before that they are
68:37 all honest men which is the most 68:40 unfortunate thing it was all in cash I 68:43 presume home said yes mr. Holmes I kept 68:47 cash so that I could employ local men to 68:49 restore the church and pay them by the 68:51 day I have little time to run to the 68:53 bank and make a withdrawal every time a 68:54 man finishes plastering the wall the 68:56 money was under lock and key yes there 69:00 is a safe in the crypt where the church 69:01 is small treasures have always been 69:03 subpoenaed and the Crypt itself is 69:06 locked yes it can be entered either from 69:09 within the church or by a door leading 69:10 from the churchyard and both those doors 69:13 are locked at night mr. Holmes I do hope 69:17 you can help me with this I don't know 69:20 how my flock will ever forgive me if 69:21 that money is not returned 69:23 then perhaps if you can bear to go over 69:26 it all again you would be so kind as to 69:28 tell dr. Watson and myself the 69:30 circumstances of the robbery yes of 69:33 course two weeks ago looking out of this 69:36 window on a Monday morning at about 69:38 11:00 69:39 I saw a man I'm fairly certain it was a 69:43 man standing at the lychgate and looking 69:45 over into the church and I would not 69:47 have given this a moment's thought 69:48 except that he wore a hat with an 69:50 unusually wide brim and had it pulled so 69:53 low over his eyes and his conner so high 69:56 that one could not distinguish his 69:58 features as I say I cannot even be 70:01 certain it was not a woman except for 70:04 his way of moving I watched him for a 70:07 good ten minutes before he turned and 70:08 strode back along the lane towards the 70:10 village that same afternoon this time
70:13 from an upstairs window I saw him again 70:15 but now further along the lane standing 70:18 under a tree and once again seeming to 70:21 study the church and its grounds his 70:24 contrived anonymity naturally put me on 70:27 my guard in the evening after those 70:30 first two sightings I was sitting in 70:33 that very chair dr. Watson which you are 70:35 currently occupying when a thought hit 70:37 me like a bolt of lightning I thought 70:40 which you no doubt will be surprised had 70:42 not occurred to me earlier that this 70:44 stranger might have designs on the money 70:46 in the crypt 70:47 after this alarming epiphany I spoke to 70:52 my verges Sam manners and his wife may 70:54 who keep house for me they live in 70:56 cherry cottage which as you will have 70:58 seen stands on the lane beside the 70:59 church's lychgate there's a short cut 71:02 from their back door to this house which 71:04 they employ when they wished to see me I 71:06 mentioned that because as I think he 71:08 will agree it bears upon the matter I 71:11 asked them to report to me if this 71:14 sinister figure or anyone else unknown 71:16 to them appeared in the vicinity of the 71:18 church and indeed it seems as if the man 71:22 in that hat had begun to watch my 71:24 whereabouts because first may manners 71:26 then her husband reported to me that 71:28 they had indeed seen the man in the 71:31 I began to feel that an attempt on the 71:34 money was imminent I resolved then to 71:37 remain in the vicarage all the church 71:39 grounds until I was certain that the 71:40 threat had passed I instructed mr. and 71:43 mrs. manners that if they saw the 71:45 stranger again they were to take the 71:46 shortcut to my house and inform me
71:48 immediately 71:49 but they were under no circumstances to 71:51 approach him and now we come to the day 71:54 of the theft 71:55 Sam manners was whitewashing the walls 71:57 of the church at this point Holmes stood 72:01 up I think it would be as well mr. 72:03 Kingsley to acquaint ourselves with the 72:05 geography of the church and its grounds 72:07 might be continued outside a rapturous 72:12 afternoon of sunshine and birdsong 72:15 greeted us as we left the vicarage and 72:17 walked out into the churchyard where the 72:19 Reverend Kingsley commenced our guided 72:21 tour I immediately began to loquacious 72:25 on a mental map of hatching and village 72:27 and its surrounding areas a practice I 72:29 learned in my military days and which 72:31 has served me well in civilian life I 72:33 could see in my mind the large oblong of 72:35 farmland about two miles across with 72:39 hatching and village and the church 72:40 almost at opposite corners this 72:43 substantial area of land was surrounded 72:46 on all four sides by public roads mr. 72:50 Kingsley took us through the grounds on 72:51 a grassy path which ran along the side 72:53 of the church up against the gravestones 72:55 of the churchyard this is the wall of 72:58 the church 72:59 Sam manners was painting that morning 73:00 said the vicar he worked for a couple of 73:03 hours and at twelve o'clock I sent him 73:04 off to his cottage for his regular 73:06 midday meal I went back into the 73:08 vicarage and took up a book after about 73:11 twenty minutes there was a knock at the 73:13 back door mrs. manners was in a frantic 73:15 state she and Sam just seemed the man in 73:18 the white brimmed hat going into the
73:20 church hat I told her to return 73:22 immediately and to tell Sam to meet me 73:24 here at the crypt door and I came here 73:26 directly to find myself staring at a 73:28 spectacular mess he pointed to a flight 73:32 of four steps just off the path leading 73:34 to a door low down in the half painted 73:37 church wall 73:38 the door to the Crypt he said from which 73:41 the thief must have made his exit and 73:43 not expecting to encounter a paint 73:45 bucket presumably kicked it flying in 73:47 his haste to escape a residual expanse 73:51 of powdery white still damp in places 73:53 stained the flagstones at the bottom of 73:56 the steps 73:57 Sam was with me within seconds continued 74:00 the vicar we could see nobody but we 74:03 soon guessed which way he'd gone if 74:05 you'll follow me gentlemen the vicar led 74:08 us a little further along the grassy 74:10 path to where the churchyard ended in a 74:12 wooden fence said in the fence was a 74:15 style leading onto a footpath that said 74:19 the vicar was his escape route beyond 74:22 the style the ragged footpath traversed 74:24 the meadow through weeds and rough 74:26 grasses stretching away into the 74:29 distance along this narrow track could 74:32 be seen intermittent blobs of white and 74:35 I suppose the presumption would be said 74:38 Holmes that the trail of white paint 74:40 marks are the fleeing man's footsteps 74:43 yes exactly 74:44 obviously our man escaped across the 74:46 field to Harding Lane mr. Holmes my 74:49 companion nodded he stopped at the style 74:51 there are two white hand prints here he 74:54 said a right hand and a left hand the 74:58 fella was in some haste as indeed one
75:00 would expect Holmes crossed the style 75:03 athletically and walked a little way 75:05 into the field bending down he examined 75:08 one of the white marks then plucked up a 75:10 handful of grass and returned to us 75:12 Thank You mr. Kingsley I think I've seen 75:15 all I need to hear is there anything 75:16 else you think might help us yes said 75:19 the vicar enthusiastically back at the 75:22 house Holmes requested that Sam manners 75:26 and his wife join us in the vicarage and 75:28 a little afterwards in mr. Kingsley's 75:30 kitchen mrs. manners set herself to the 75:33 task of making us all tea while Holmes 75:35 paced the stone floor slowly 75:38 i sat at the kitchen table with the 75:41 vicar and Sam manners 75:42 a ruddy man in his early 40s whom Holmes 75:46 was now addressing so mr. manners you 75:48 were the only person to have caught a 75:50 glimpse of the man in the Hat on the day 75:52 of the robbery I believe so sir I was at 75:55 the window taking my lunch I saw this 75:57 fellow and the bigger looking up and 75:59 down the line a few times as if to check 76:01 all was clear then entered the 76:03 churchyard straight away are set to miss 76:06 his manners to go by the back door and 76:08 tell the vicar and you yourself waited 76:11 in the cottage until mrs. manners 76:13 returned I did sir for how long 76:16 not more than two minutes she told me 76:18 the vicar wanted me to meet him out by 76:20 the church I dashed right out and found 76:23 the Reverend Kingsley waiting for you 76:25 yes sir and the door to the Crypt wide 76:28 open whitewash everywhere hmm the Crypt 76:31 door had been locked before he went to 76:33 lunch though yes mr. Holmes always was 76:36 and that was when you noticed the trail
76:38 of pink exactly sir and set off to 76:40 follow it 76:41 you must have only been a short way 76:43 behind the thief must have been sir but 76:46 he moved like the wind 76:47 we was across that meadow in less than 76:49 five minutes it's good for furlongs and 76:53 never caught up to him but what we found 76:55 at the opposite side clinched it here 76:58 mr. Kingsley interrupted Sam means this 77:01 he said and produced from a draw a 77:04 wide-brimmed black velvet hat 77:06 inexpensively made and in shape rather 77:09 resembling the sort of thing one sees 77:10 worn by picadors in pictures of 77:12 bullfights Holmes took the hat and 77:15 turned it around in his hands it was me 77:18 found it sir said manners I was running 77:21 a bit ahead of the Reverend open to 77:23 catch up with our faith and as soon as I 77:25 was over the stile I saw it in the grass 77:27 by the road just where I suppose it had 77:29 fallen from his head well said Holmes 77:33 well I cannot see yet how that will help 77:35 us with your permission I shall take it 77:37 away with me of course said the vicar 77:40 we'll leave you then but by way of that 77:43 path across the fields I'd rather like 77:45 to follow the route taken by our 77:47 escaping felon 77:48 and so it was that we made our farewells 77:51 and set out from the church out across 77:52 the wide meadow towards Harding Lane 77:55 although it had been a week since the 77:58 church thief had fled there remained a 78:01 clear trail of white footprints across 78:04 the entire width of the field 78:06 the path ended at another style which 78:10 gave onto the shaded narrowness of 78:12 harding lane we calculated that to
78:15 return to hatching a village we could go 78:17 in either direction around the perimeter 78:19 of the meadow 78:20 we took the route west along the pinch 78:22 home road rather than going east and 78:24 back via the church as we walked my 78:27 companion looked repeatedly this way and 78:29 that into the fields at the roadside the 78:32 patches of scrubland and the bushes and 78:34 trees if you note anything you must let 78:37 me know Watson and I agreed that I would 78:40 but the fields lay bright and innocent 78:42 in the late afternoon air and the trees 78:45 were populated only by birds jubilantly 78:48 enjoying the sunshine then as we crossed 78:52 a bridge over a gurgling stream Holmes 78:54 stopped halfway there's something there 78:57 do you see he pointed to the bank of the 79:00 stream above which a Hawthorn overhung 79:03 the rushing water something that bush a 79:06 pair of some things unless I'm mistaken 79:08 we clambered over the balustrade of the 79:12 little bridge and dropped onto the bank 79:14 side the Hawthorn was thick and even at 79:17 close quarters my eyes were at pains to 79:18 penetrate into its depths Holmes using a 79:22 fallen branch the thickness of his arm 79:24 smashed his way into the bush his soft 79:27 cry of triumph told me he had found 79:30 something and he reached in and 79:31 retrieved in one hand a large pair of 79:35 leather boots what do you think Watson 79:38 is this or is this not the footwear of 79:41 our thief they're certainly large those 79:44 of a very big man I should say and that 79:47 a white marks on the soles should we see 79:50 how they fit those prints on the church 79:52 meadow I think we can assume that much 79:55 Watson but what would induce the villain 79:57 to jettison his boots here perhaps I
80:00 said he thought he was still being 80:02 chased and knew that if he were caught 80:04 wearing them he would be recognized 80:05 straight away equally suspicious if he'd 80:08 been found with no boots at all said 80:10 Holmes though I suppose he may have 80:12 carried a spare pair of shoes with him 80:14 Watson it is fairly clear to me the 80:16 thief is a local man 80:18 why and less he feared to be recognized 80:21 would he indulge in such an elaborate 80:22 disguise let us go back to the Jolly 80:26 bulldog that after all is where the 80:30 locals like to congregate in fact on our 80:34 return to the inn we found John Hampton 80:36 and Matthew Winslow the parish committee 80:38 men we had met earlier having returned 80:40 to or perhaps never having left the same 80:43 table as we sat down Holmes place beside 80:47 him on the floorboards the pair of boots 80:49 we had found in the hedgerow causing the 80:51 two gentlemen to look at them 80:53 inquisitively when Starkey the landlord 80:56 arrived to service the first thing he 80:58 said was your boats gentlemen not ours 81:02 said Holmes we found them in a bush in 81:04 Harding Lane strange what some folks 81:07 will throw away said the publican they 81:11 looks in prime order to me hardly been 81:14 worn 81:14 Holmes replied and then he asked with 81:17 these boots fit you mr. Starkey and 81:19 seeing our companions on the nearby 81:21 table watching he added or either of you 81:24 gentlemen not me sir Starkey replied 81:27 rather more amiably than I had expected 81:30 I never boots look whitey but my feet 81:33 and sebade because you might think it's 81:36 just I'm subject to blisters would you 81:38 find big boots help your blisters I
81:41 asked my experience of patients 81:44 suffering with that condition telling me 81:45 the opposite no sir to start blisters I 81:49 need to put on three pairs of thick hose 81:51 so always gets my boots well over my 81:54 proper foot size then rather 81:56 sardonically he said thank you though 81:59 for asking sir mr. Hampton on the next 82:03 table asked you might be asked evil 82:05 stuff what's your interest in boots 82:08 Holmes said it's an investigation we are 82:12 conducting in which boots have well some 82:15 scientific significance 82:18 then to me he whispered as our neighbor 82:20 turned away with a disbelieving grimace 82:23 it's as I thought Watson we have our 82:26 culprit 82:28 Stocki no not stocky one of these and I 82:34 indicated with my thumb the two men from 82:36 the bearish committee now Watson who 82:39 then these boots Watson do you observe 82:41 nothing untoward about them no not at 82:44 all 82:44 the prattle he knew there of a large 82:46 size apart from that they are 82:48 undistinguished on the contrary my 82:51 friend I would say they were 82:53 distinguished by a lack of pink I beg 82:56 your pardon 82:56 I mean Watson that there are white marks 82:59 on the soles to be sure but tell me prey 83:01 how a man with his hands covered in 83:02 whitewash could have unlaced and removed 83:04 his boots without leaving marks on the 83:06 laces I don't know I said but it would 83:09 be a singular coincidence if someone 83:11 completely innocent had jettisoned a 83:13 pair of boots with paint on the soles 83:15 there is no coincidence home said these 83:19 boots were undoubtedly left here by the
83:21 thief but not in the way we were 83:23 intended to believe are you suggesting 83:25 that you know who the thief is the thief 83:28 Watson is the Reverend Kingsley himself 83:32 how could it be hoped there was no time 83:35 for him to escape across that meadow and 83:37 return to the vicarage in time to meet 83:39 Sam manners outside the church how could 83:42 a man chase himself across a meadow as 83:44 you know Watson we are due to meet the 83:46 bishop this evening at Trinity vicarage 83:48 so let us finish our meal I will explain 83:52 everything there 83:55 we had promised the bishop an intra 83:57 meeting at the vicarage to advise him of 83:59 our progress in the case which no doubt 84:02 to the clergyman expected to be only 84:04 moderate this soon after our previous 84:06 meeting but we had hardly settled to our 84:09 Shetty and mr. Kingsley's comfortable 84:10 parlour then Holmes declared 84:12 dramatically you will no doubt be 84:14 delighted to know gentlemen that dr. 84:16 Watson and I have solved the case I did 84:19 not think it my business to confess that 84:21 after my previous conversation with 84:22 Holmes I was as much in the dark as 84:24 anyone but I sat quietly sipping my 84:27 Shelly while I watched my friend open 84:29 the bag we had brought from the inn and 84:31 removed the two large white stained 84:33 boots we had found beside the stream the 84:36 Bishop's eyes widened I have to say he 84:40 looked incredulous mr. Kingsley too wore 84:43 a skeptical smirk and raised his 84:46 eyebrows please tell us mr. Holmes what 84:49 you think you have found dr. Watson and 84:53 I found these Holmes explained in a 84:55 bramble bush in Harding Lane big boots 84:58 suggested we were seeking a big man yet
85:01 the footprints told us his stride was 85:04 short it was our landlord at the jolly 85:06 Bulldog who enabled me to understand the 85:08 dichotomy he is a man who buys bigger 85:11 boots than his foot size in order to 85:12 accommodate extra socks our villain 85:15 however bought his bigger boots in order 85:17 to accommodate another pair of shoes 85:18 leaving the footprints of a bigger man 85:21 than he is himself is that not so mr. 85:25 Kingsley 85:27 the young vicar I thought at the time if 85:30 he was guilty of anything was heroically 85:33 cool about it he betrayed nothing but 85:37 genteel surprised are you suggesting 85:40 that I was the thief mr. Holmes Holmes 85:44 said the bishop gravely from what I 85:48 understand mr. Kingsley and his Verger 85:51 practically managed to catch up with the 85:53 thief on that fateful day what an earth 85:56 do you think is the evidence for this 85:58 assertion my lord Holmes said 86:01 confidently mr. Kingsley wished to 86:04 embezzle the money raised by the sale of 86:05 the hatching him Grail and decided to 86:07 construct a piece of theatre which would 86:09 deceive investigators he not only 86:11 invented the spectral man in the large 86:13 brimmed hat he also on several occasions 86:16 paraded in the Hat in the high-collared 86:18 coat and ensured that mr. and mrs. 86:21 manners caught a glimpse of him on the 86:23 day of the theft having sent Sam manners 86:25 to lunch he came back here to the 86:27 vicarage assumed the disguise showed 86:30 himself at the cottage window where 86:31 manners was eating and proceeded into 86:34 the churchyard dashing back to the 86:36 vicarage again he slipped out of his 86:38 cloak and hat and waited for mrs.
86:40 manners knock on the door he told mrs. 86:42 manners to summon her husband and 86:44 rendezvous with him outside the crypt 86:47 door and then what said mr. Kingsley 86:50 insolent with fury I put on these boots 86:53 unlock the church went down to the Crypt 86:56 took the money escaped the church jumped 86:59 the style and ran across a mile of the 87:01 field then dashed a mile back took off 87:02 the boots and waited calmly for Sam to 87:04 arrive where upon I went chasing off 87:06 across the field again that would indeed 87:10 have been ingenious to do in two minutes 87:13 what an athlete could not do in 20 yes 87:17 indeed 87:17 the question as my friend dr. Watson has 87:20 clarified is precisely how may a man 87:23 chase himself across a meadow 87:25 and the answer asked the bishop no one 87:30 will ever know at what points you took 87:31 the money mr. Kingsley as the key holder 87:34 you are free to do it at your leisure 87:36 and for all one knows it may never have 87:39 been in the crypt safe in the first 87:40 place certainly there was no need for 87:42 you to waste time on it on the day we 87:45 are discussing you wished to ensure 87:47 there was just enough time with mr. 87:49 manners at lunch for you to get to the 87:51 crypt door and kick over the white wash 87:52 bucket and of course you had given mr. 87:55 manners the task of whitewashing that 87:57 particular part of the church wall 87:58 simply to ensure that there would be a 88:00 bucket there to be upturned that was all 88:04 you needed to do because and here is the 88:07 thing you had made the footprints across 88:10 the field on the night before you had 88:14 also I have no doubt planted the boots 88:16 in the hedgerow on the same occasion
88:18 making sure they had plenty of white 88:19 paint on the soles foolishly you forgot 88:23 the dauber little on the shoelaces at 88:27 this point The Vicar dropped into a 88:29 chair as though all resistance had 88:32 suddenly fled him and I believe that his 88:35 Holmes proceeded we all realized that he 88:38 was now approaching a devastating 88:40 conclusion at some hour of that night 88:43 mr. Kingsley having splashed so much 88:45 whitewash on the underside of the boots 88:47 that your hands were gloved with pinked 88:48 you planted your white printed trail 88:51 along the footpath across the meadow to 88:53 harding Lane afterwards who dropped the 88:56 wide-brimmed hat by the stile and 88:58 jettisoned the boots in a bush further 89:00 along Harding Lane the trail of prints 89:03 was therefore neatly in place for the 89:05 deception next morning and I dare say 89:06 you were solicitous to keep mr. manners 89:09 away from the style where he might 89:10 prematurely stumble upon your if I may 89:13 so miss nimit handiwork 89:16 but one moment said the bishop if mr. 89:20 Kingsley had dropped the Hat the night 89:22 before how could he have been wearing it 89:25 that morning well of course that's 89:27 simple said Holmes there were two hats 89:31 and finally there was the question of 89:35 the keys what question was that Holmes I 89:37 asked I don't recollect any mention of 89:40 keys precisely there was a distinct 89:43 absence of any such mention why because 89:47 a key would have been needed to enter 89:49 the Crypt and mr. Kingsley thought it 89:50 better not to raise the tricky matter of 89:53 how such an intruder might have got hold 89:55 of one the pale-faced and slumped figure 89:59 of mr. Kingsley indicated his utter
90:02 defeat the bishop clearly needed no 90:06 further convincing the money Kingsley he 90:10 said have you spent it The Vicar looked 90:14 bitter I'm a gambler bishop and the 90:18 truth is that over the years I have 90:20 burdened myself with appalling debt I 90:22 started to use the church money bit by 90:25 bit I meant to return it one day when I 90:27 had a big win but money runs through my 90:31 hands like water there's little of it 90:34 left then it's a matter for the police 90:37 the bishop said and we must find a new 90:40 vicar for hatching them I feel that you 90:44 mr. Kingsley will for many years be the 90:47 incumbent for much India parish 91:00 [Music] 91:04 the 10:59 assassin it is now well known 91:15 that the investigations of my friend and 91:17 companion Sherlock Holmes which I have 91:19 had the privilege to document over the 91:21 years represent only a small portion of 91:25 his life's work many other cases have 91:28 fallen into the obscure well of history 91:31 but nothing departs this world without 91:34 leaving some trace or memory and now and 91:37 then an old story rears its head so it 91:41 was with the events of the stove II 91:43 murder a letter came to Holmes one 91:47 morning at our Baker Street apartment 91:48 from Samuel carpenter an elderly 91:51 publican at the horse in colours ha 91:53 story in the Kent village of Stowe V 91:56 several years previously Samuel 91:58 carpenter had been a witness at the 92:00 trial of Arthur weeks a local villain 92:03 accused of intimidation abduction 92:06 blackmail and grievous bodily harm 92:08 Holmes had been involved in helping 92:10 police on the case with footprint 92:12 evidence and us had come to meet the
92:14 amiable publican I suppose we never 92:18 expected to visit the quiet settlement 92:20 of Stowe V ever again but the letter 92:22 contained a clear and urgent summons 92:26 dear mr. Hobbs you did say when we made 92:29 off how Wells four years ago that if 92:32 ever there should be a day when I had 92:33 need of your assistance I was to write 92:36 to you immediately I'm afraid sir that 92:40 day has come 92:41 a terrible set of events has clouded my 92:43 life and I am quite at a loss 92:46 Arthur weeks that ruthless villain you 92:49 helped put away died in jail a few 92:52 months ago 92:53 ever since then his son Henry has been 92:56 making our lives a misery I found my dog 93:00 catcher shot dead in the field and twice 93:04 a dead Fox in our water tank started 93:08 getting letters threatening to burn down 93:10 the in telling me I should one day wait 93:12 in vain for my wife to come home 93:14 terrible things but all written 93:17 anonymous then they brazenly come and 93:20 drink Utley in as innocent as you like 93:22 well last week our son Jack code weeks 93:26 straight there in front of all my 93:28 customers that he'd gone too far and 93:31 he'd better prepare himself for some 93:33 serious consequences which he had not 93:36 done it two days afterwards weeks was 93:39 found shot through the head and my jack 93:42 has now been arrested as a murderer 93:45 there's anything you may be able to do 93:47 mr. Holmes please come immediately I 93:51 knew that Holmes had taken strongly to 93:54 the publican so it was hardly a surprise 93:57 to me when he asked as his his way 93:58 whether I had any pressing engagements 94:01 over the next few days and when I said
94:03 no instructed me to pack immediately an 94:06 overnight bag within an hour we were 94:08 aboard a Kent bound train in Stowe V 94:13 village we took rooms at the horse in 94:15 colors and as soon as we were settled in 94:17 sat with our landlord at a table in the 94:20 bar where a large fire battled the chill 94:23 in the air Holmes said now mr. carpenter 94:28 the first thing you must do if I'm to 94:30 help you is to answer my questions 94:32 honestly and accurately that I will do 94:35 mr. Holmes your Jack made a threat to 94:38 Henry weeks here in this bar yes sir and 94:41 two days later weeks was found dead dead 94:45 with a shot through his head just 94:47 outside the village where Nightingale 94:48 Lane crosses the London railway line and 94:50 his horse tied up nearby and they came 94:53 to arrest Jack when that very night but 94:57 Jack wasn't here of course wasn't here 95:00 Jack can have killed him mr. Holmes 95:03 Jack was already aboard the London train 95:05 when weeks was killed it was off to buy 95:08 himself a suit for his wedding I took 95:11 him to stow the station myself that a 95:13 evening to catch the 10:59 there weren't 95:16 a moment when Jack left my sight I 95:18 watched him get on that train and waved 95:20 him off as it left but the police didn't 95:23 seem to think that counts for anything 95:25 soon as he got back here next day they 95:27 carted him off and he's now under lock 95:29 and key inmates in jail 95:31 well mr. carpenter said Holmes I accept 95:34 unequivocally that what you are telling 95:36 me is the truth but my sense is that 95:38 this is going to be a very convoluted 95:40 business and I must impress on you the 95:42 need to be patient when carpenter had 95:45 returned to serving his customers I said
95:47 quietly to Holmes surely if what the old 95:50 chap says is true the police have no 95:52 case we must have had a hundred enemies 95:55 hungry for his blood with far weaker 95:58 alibis than Jack carpenter perhaps so 96:01 said Holmes but I fear the word of a 96:04 father in defense of a son is unlikely 96:05 to be regarded in court as compelling 96:07 evidence especially when the police have 96:09 their minds made up in advance Watson 96:12 I've a suspicion that things may get a 96:14 lot more obscure before they become 96:16 clearer let's make good use of the 96:19 afternoon by acquainting ourselves with 96:20 the details of Henry weeks unfortunate 96:23 end 96:25 our escort to the scene of the crime was 96:28 a local policeman sergeant Barry a man 96:31 of stubborn practicality whose uniform 96:34 one suspected must have been artfully 96:35 augmented to accommodate the spectacular 96:38 rotonda T of his belly he clearly felt 96:42 he had better things to do than to 96:44 accompany a consulting detective to the 96:46 scene of a crime when the culprit was 96:48 already halfway to the gallows walking 96:52 from Stowe V village we arrived at a 96:54 spot about 30 yards from a level 96:55 crossing where the main London railway 96:58 line traversed Nightingale Lane dark 97:01 Hill crossing coops found air 97:04 sergeant Barry said bluntly six feet 97:07 from the fence victims are still tied to 97:09 the fence caused a death single bullet 97:11 entering just--are he put a plump finger 97:14 in the centre of his brow weapon a gun 97:18 said the policeman insolently I am aware 97:22 said Holmes clearly irritated that if a 97:25 man is killed with a bullet then the 97:26 probable source of the missile is a
97:28 firearm what I want to know is whether 97:29 the weapon has been found or if not 97:31 whether anyone has deduced the type of 97:34 gun from the type of bullet no gun found 97:37 said Betty as for the bullet far as I 97:41 know it's still at the end of a short 97:43 tunnel into his skull and the horse and 97:46 I think we can pin it on the horse there 97:49 the policeman said with a smirk sergeant 97:53 Barry Holmes was a threatening Lee 97:55 patient are you able to assist me in 97:57 this investigation or would it be more 97:59 convenient to you if I were to apply to 98:01 my acquaintances at the yard to find me 98:04 an alternative guide the policeman 98:07 looked suddenly chastened just my joke 98:10 miss drowns yes I can take you to the 98:14 horse sir 98:15 and to the body we saw the horse first 98:19 it had been stapled with the police 98:21 horses in a yard in the village at all 98:23 brown's stallion with rather frightened 98:26 eyes when young it must have been a 98:28 formidable creature now it looked ragged 98:31 from a lifetime of hard riding Holmes 98:34 looked it over carefully the animal was 98:37 skittish seemingly distressed and tried 98:39 to pull away when Holmes held its bridle 98:41 to examine its head 98:43 I watched rather nervously as my friend 98:45 entered the stable bay and walked round 98:47 the animal which threatened to jostle 98:49 him against the walls then when he 98:52 reached the front of the creature again 98:53 Holmes said there's a mark here a sharp 98:57 wound can you see on the right fore leg 99:00 just above the fetlock joint was a 99:03 slender but quite noticeable asian 99:05 apparently caused fairly recently Holmes 99:09 turned to belly again this mark here
99:12 when the horse was found I believe so 99:15 good well since we seem to be in the 99:18 business of investigating wounds today 99:20 you'd better show us the way to the 99:21 morgue incidentally sergeant how well do 99:24 you know the accused man fairly well 99:27 replied the policeman do you know 99:29 whether he has friends acquaintances 99:31 perhaps of some intimacy well not really 99:34 that I know of sir it was always at his 99:37 father's public house and they were ever 99:40 a close lock I meani sergeant belli 99:42 stopped he became instantly animated and 99:45 businesslike a gleam came into his eyes 99:48 and he said look there's the Moultrie 99:51 mr. Holmes just after the church led to 99:54 it if I may just thought of something 99:55 rather urgent I've got to do and very 99:58 briskly almost running he disappeared 100:01 back towards the village 100:03 strange I said to Holmes what do you 100:07 think that was about I think said Holmes 100:10 that I've put an idea into his head I 100:13 only hope it doesn't complicate matters 100:16 it transpired that a post-mortem on the 100:19 dead man had been commissioned but that 100:21 the police pathologist had only arrived 100:23 from London that morning possibly on the 100:26 same train as Holmes and myself I knew 100:29 professor Yardley a little through my 100:31 connection with st. Mary's Hospital in 100:33 Paddington and he was quite amenable to 100:35 my assisting him with the matter in hand 100:37 he was a conscientious practitioner and 100:40 while the cause of death seemed evident 100:42 he thoroughly inspected the 100:44 externalities of the corpse before 100:45 opening it 100:46 the head wound was a clean almost 100:49 star-shaped hole glutted with dried
100:51 blood 100:52 there was no wound on the back of the 100:54 head and it was apparent that the bullet 100:56 had not exited the body notwithstanding 101:00 that there was no weapon at the scene 101:02 Holmes said suicide seems out of the 101:04 question wouldn't you say that a no 101:06 powder burns to the skin and besides the 101:08 wound is probably too small for a close 101:10 shot I'd say the missile came from some 101:13 distance the bullet had it turned out 101:16 penetrated the brow and lodged deep in 101:17 the parietal lobe of the brain but as 101:20 Holmes had suggested the hole in the 101:22 skull was small and there was not the 101:24 dramatic shattering of bone one might 101:26 have expected from a close shot suicide 101:29 professor Yardley concurred was not a 101:31 possibility we are certainly looking for 101:34 a murderer then I commented to Holmes as 101:36 we wandered back towards Dovie well 101:39 somebody killed Henry weeks for certain 101:41 Watson but I have to confess that at 101:44 this moment I have no idea who it was 101:47 you don't think we might be wrong about 101:49 Jack carpenter after all 101:51 I do hope not Watson it would be an 101:54 appalling tragedy but then I suppose for 101:57 one poor soul or another murder always 101:59 is 102:00 I had hoped that our next port of call 102:04 would be the horse in colors for an icy 102:06 wind had blown up and I was ready for a 102:08 glass of beer and the comfort of the 102:11 Inns blazing logs but Holmes walked her 102:14 straight to Stowe V station where he 102:16 said we must make an important call i 102:18 steeled myself against the increasing 102:20 cold as the last light faded from the 102:23 sky the stationmaster at Stowe V was
102:27 Milton Fraser a man dressed to give the 102:29 impression of order and precision his 102:32 cap fitting perfectly the balding sphere 102:34 of a small meat head and a fine silver 102:37 pocket watch peeping from his waistcoat 102:39 pocket Holmes whose own knowledge of the 102:42 country's railways is second to none one 102:45 his confidence easily I wish to ask you 102:48 mr. Fraser 102:49 he said about yesterday evening there is 102:52 a late train to London I believe the 102:55 10:59 sir it was on time it was as it 103:00 generally is not much traffic of the 103:01 tracks said that hour and do recall 103:04 whether any passengers boarded the train 103:06 at Stowe v of course I do sir young jet 103:08 carpenter just him yes sir 103:12 his father saw him aboard I watched the 103:14 train pull away myself and that is 103:16 nowhere anyone could have left the train 103:17 after that well not here in the station 103:19 no not without my seeing him not in the 103:22 station no I suppose it might be 103:25 possible for someone to alight at the 103:26 crossing the level crossing yes sir the 103:30 10:59 always stops a dark hill crossing 103:32 for a few minutes safety precaution sir 103:34 thorny bridge over the Stowers 103:35 considered unsafe for two trains until 103:37 they finish the repairs 103:38 so the 10:59 up train must wait until 103:40 the 11:04 down has come through and this 103:43 happens every night can't recollect when 103:46 it last didn't sir lastly mr. Fraser can 103:49 you recall which part of the train mr. 103:51 carpenter boarded second compartment of 103:53 the third carriage sir I'm quite sure of 103:54 that Thank You mr. Fraser 103:56 you've been more helpful than you know 104:00 I suppose we now have to consider I said
104:04 to my companion back of the horse in 104:05 colors as I stared into the flames of 104:08 the fire that Jack carpenters shot Henry 104:11 weeks from the stationary train he must 104:14 consider it certainly yet I think it 104:16 rather unlikely 104:18 how would Carpenter have known his 104:20 intended target was going to be waiting 104:21 there at the crossing then what is the 104:24 significance of the stopping train has 104:26 it any and beginning to think it has but 104:29 I must confess to being currently unsure 104:31 in what way well let's eat and then 104:36 sleep on it I said but at that moment 104:38 our cozy evening was horribly 104:41 interrupted a young woman hair 104:43 disheveled came screaming into the bar 104:45 mr. carpenter mr. carpenter the elderly 104:49 landlord came rushing him from the 104:51 kitchen what is it Sarah 104:53 it's Beth Miller they've taken her in 104:56 who's taken her the police that sergeant 104:59 Berry's arrested her says he found a gun 105:02 what's this cried Holmes who is Beth 105:04 Miller Beth is my son Jack's betrothed 105:08 carpenter said their wedding is fixed 105:11 for next month Beth's a good and honest 105:14 young woman and gentle as a lamb 105:16 I'll see that blasted policeman Holmes 105:19 barred his way and put a hand on his 105:21 shoulder if I'm to help you mr. 105:23 carpenter he said staring hard into the 105:25 man's wild eyes believe me when I say 105:27 that it will not serve our purposes to 105:29 be too precipitous dr. Watson and I will 105:31 go straight to the police station and 105:33 find out what's happening I beg of you 105:35 to do nothing before you hear from us 105:38 having received carpenters assurances we 105:41 made our way out of stove II to the
105:42 police station a thick-walled stone 105:45 building halfway along to the next 105:47 village once a brewery it now had the 105:50 grim air of a medieval law it would not 105:53 be exaggerating to say that my friend 105:55 and I received a cool welcome from 105:57 sergeant belli 105:58 whose domain this appeared to be yes sir 106:02 I do have a young woman in custody here 106:05 and I can confirm that she has been 106:07 charged on suspicion of murder and can 106:10 you tell me said Holmes 106:12 how she is supposed to have committed 106:14 this crime well obviously sir we don't 106:17 know all the details yet but with a bit 106:19 of imagination an intelligent person 106:21 might construe that she had lured mr. 106:23 weeks the nightingale Lane on some shall 106:26 we say enticing pretext lain in wait for 106:30 him and dispatched him with the bullets 106:32 as he tethered his horse and said Holmes 106:35 would this same intelligent person 106:38 construe that Jack carpenter had a part 106:41 in this well yes sir that person 106:44 assuming he was using his faculties 106:47 would conclude that quite obviously Jack 106:50 carpenter was an accessory before the 106:52 fact 106:52 and therefore equally culpable Thank You 106:56 sergeant Holmes said for simplifying 106:59 what I in my sluggishness of mind had 107:02 considered a mystifying problem might it 107:05 be possible for us to see the prisoner 107:07 now I'm sorry sir I couldn't permit that 107:11 should it wait until I have received 107:14 authority from my good friend 107:15 superintendent Wales at the yard 107:18 the policeman licked his lips pretended 107:21 to consult a piece of paper on his desk 107:23 and said well as you say you are a
107:27 friend of the superintendent sir I'm 107:30 sure 107:30 five minutes wouldn't hurt 107:33 we were shown to a cavernous room where 107:35 rusted iron remnants of the brew house 107:37 remained bolted to the walls and ceiling 107:40 the large skylight had been set with 107:43 bars and there were no other windows a 107:45 pretty dark haired girl of no more than 107:48 20 years sat at a wooden table she 107:52 reacted to us with suspicion as we were 107:54 admitted but no sooner had the constable 107:56 left us alone with her and no doubt 107:58 largely in desperation she confided in 108:01 us readily miss Miller we have a limited 108:04 amount of time Holmes said to her and 108:07 you must tell us everything you can 108:08 about this business yes sir I'll try I 108:12 think I may have done something foolish 108:14 sir foolish I think I were the first to 108:18 find the body sir you see 108:19 well now said Holmes I had certainly not 108:23 guessed that I plan to see my jack on to 108:26 the London train she continued but we 108:28 was out back at a farm delivering a calf 108:30 and a new I was likely to miss him the 108:32 Train usually stops by dark Hill 108:34 crossing so I thought if I cut a long 108:36 night and golang I might be able to wave 108:39 him off but when I got there the train 108:41 was already disappearing across the 108:43 bridge then stone's throw from the track 108:47 I saw a horse tired up to the fence and 108:51 something on the road beside it when I 108:54 got up close I saw who it was Henry 108:57 weeks covered in blood and next to him 109:00 the gun and you picked up the gun I 109:04 asked yes sir 109:06 why why did he not go directly to the 109:09 police well so because I recognized the
109:11 gun I meant to hide it somewhere it were 109:15 Jack's gun you see I failed to conceal 109:19 my shot Jack's gun 109:22 so you took the gun home said because 109:25 you thought chat carpenter might have 109:27 killed weeks yes sir that was my fear 109:31 even though Jack was on the train I 109:33 didn't know how long weeks had lain 109:36 there certs it's a lonely place and he 109:39 might have been there for hours so that 109:41 didn't look good for Jack departing as 109:43 he did with the very same evening I 109:45 weren't sure of nothing mr. Owens except 109:48 that Jack was likely to get the blame 109:50 everyone knowing about the venom between 109:52 him and the week's family and what home 109:55 said did you do with Jack's gun wrapped 109:58 it in Marshall Sunnat on the shoulder 110:01 and took it home to hide it I was 110:04 unlucky on the way I pass sergeant 110:06 barrier I think he must afterwards have 110:09 puzzled over my strange burden for he 110:12 cain't day to search the cottage and 110:14 that's when I was arrested but Holmes I 110:17 said if the murder weapon was beside the 110:19 body doesn't that at least establish 110:22 Jack's 110:23 innocence unfortunately not Watson the 110:26 assumption we had made was that the 110:28 murder occurred while Jack was on the 110:30 train if it happened well before that I 110:32 fear that either he or miss Miller here 110:34 remained the primer facie suspects but I 110:37 didn't kill Henry weeks sir I swear to 110:40 God I don't believe you did miss Miller 110:43 but we have to convince the police of 110:45 that be hopeful but as we walked back 110:49 along the lane that evening towards 110:51 Stowe V and the horse in colours Holmes 110:54 seemed somewhat less certain I have
110:57 little to go on at this moment except 110:58 instinct Watson I do not feel that Jack 111:01 carpenter killed Henry weeks and I feel 111:04 even more strongly that that young woman 111:06 did not do it either but feelings I'm 111:09 afraid are not evidence let's hurry back 111:11 to the inn and hope the bar is still 111:12 available to us then we could make an 111:14 assessment of these matters in comfort 111:17 the inn was closed customers when we 111:19 arrived but mr. carpenter hastily 111:22 provided us with a bottle of whiskey and 111:23 some bread and cheese the fire was still 111:27 glowing bright and I sat there for a 111:29 good hour while my friend went away to 111:31 ask some questions of 111:33 oops eventually he returned and 111:36 reclaimed his seat beside the fire can 111:40 we number the suspects in this case 111:41 Watson well apart from Jack carpenter 111:45 and the girl Beth Miller 111:46 I said dropping my voice I suppose 111:49 Jack's father our landlord is another 111:52 possibility yes and since we know he saw 111:56 jack off onto the train either he or his 111:58 son would have needed to commit the 111:59 murder sometime earlier but how early 112:02 I've just spoken to him at length he 112:05 assures me and I believe him that there 112:07 are plenty of people prepared to swear 112:09 that both he and Jack were here all 112:11 afternoon and Beth spent the day at farm 112:13 work even so if the police go ahead and 112:17 prosecute a case against one or all of 112:19 them there's a strong chance a jury 112:21 might find them guilty based purely on 112:24 the assumption that they would at some 112:25 time have had the opportunity we are not 112:28 out of the woods yet Watson I see what 112:31 you mean our inquiries seemed to have
112:33 stalled rather I refilled our glasses 112:37 from the whiskey bottle and Holmes 112:38 puffed as his pipe and suddenly he said 112:42 the secret is on that train Watson I'm 112:45 sure that's where it is what time is it 112:47 20 minutes to 11 come along we might 112:50 just get there before it leaves it was 112:54 an old cart that transported us 112:56 posthaste along the Holden muddy lanes 112:58 of Stowe V so that we arrived at the 113:00 station splattered and not a little 113:02 shaken we were however in good time to 113:05 meet the 10:59 and fortunately for us 113:08 the stationmaster mr. Milton Fraser was 113:10 again on duty despite his obvious 113:13 respect for my friend however he became 113:15 instantly resistant on hearing Holmes's 113:18 request no sir I'm afraid I most 113:21 definitely cannot hold up the 10:59 113:23 London train mr. Fraser 113:26 this is no flippant request an innocent 113:29 young woman will spend tonight locked in 113:31 a dungeon as will her fiance unless I am 113:33 able to complete certain essential 113:35 inquiries I ask only for 10 minutes 113:38 mr. ohms my reputation may be a small 113:42 thing by the world's standards but it is 113:45 very important to me 10 minutes is a 113:47 long time to delay a train but if I can 113:50 guarantee you that this will not affect 113:53 your reputation can you really do that 113:55 sir mr. Fraser you have my word on it a 113:59 long thoughtful pause then very well mr. 114:04 Holmes I'll do as you ask when two 114:09 minutes later the great black locomotive 114:12 hauled its clanking carriages into the 114:14 station mr. Milton Fraser went straight 114:17 to the footplate and had words with the 114:19 engineer a wave to Holmes and myself who 114:23 were some way along the platform told us
114:25 all was clear and we boarded the train 114:28 Holmes went directly to the second 114:31 compartment of the third carriage which 114:34 contained just one late passenger an 114:36 elderly gentleman sitting beside what I 114:38 saw immediately to be the medical bag of 114:40 a general practitioner if I may 114:43 interrupt your peace and quiet sir whom 114:45 said and having outlined his reasons 114:47 asked were you aboard this train last 114:50 night I was said the older man I take 114:54 this train pretty well every night I am 114:56 a medical man with a practice in Newbury 114:58 and a home in London were you in this 115:01 same compartment last night the elderly 115:04 physician daft creature of habit sir 115:08 same compartment every night and do you 115:11 recollect the young man who I believe 115:13 got onto the train at this station 115:15 yesterday do is a matter of fact he sat 115:19 there right opposite me by the window 115:21 present young man good now sir the train 115:25 stopped at dark Hill crossing a little 115:27 way up the line do you recall anything 115:28 unusual about that stops there pretty 115:32 well every night but 115:33 well do remember something as a matter 115:37 of fact the train whistled as it usually 115:40 does to see if the down train is close 115:43 enough to respond at just that moment I 115:46 remarked a small flash of light outside 115:49 the Train like the Sun reflecting off 115:51 brass and the young man said Holmes what 115:56 was his response he seemed as puzzled as 115:59 I was he said he knew the area and 116:01 couldn't imagine what it would be thank 116:04 you doctor said Holmes he led me briskly 116:07 from the Train 116:08 we have just three of our 10 minutes 116:11 left before the train leaves Watson but
116:13 I think it might just be enough mr. 116:16 Fraser was waiting for us on the 116:18 platform all done sir at one final 116:22 request mr. Fraser are these the same 116:25 carriages and in the same order as made 116:28 up the train last night yes sir that 116:31 doesn't change much then I'll need to 116:34 get onto the line to check the other 116:35 side of the train I don't know mr. owns 116:37 the down train is due you'll be at too 116:39 much risk I shall be quick without 116:42 further discussion he re-entered the 116:44 Train crossed the compartment opened the 116:46 further door and dropped onto the down 116:47 line beyond at almost precisely that 116:50 moment we heard a whistle and Fraser 116:52 said by golly dr. Watson that's the down 116:55 train crossing the bridge I waited for a 116:57 half minute but when I heard the rumble 116:59 of the approaching train I could 117:00 restrain myself no longer Holmes 117:03 I called get a move on for God's sake 117:05 but the last words of my sentence were 117:08 drowned by the roar of a locomotive 117:09 thundering into the station and hissing 117:12 to a halt next to the 10:59 I saw what I 117:16 thought it happened I could see that 117:19 Holmes had not regained the empty 117:21 compartment for a terrible moment I 117:23 hovered in a cloud of anxiety then his 117:27 head appeared between the bottom of the 117:29 train and the platform edge he had 117:33 ducked under the stationary train to 117:35 avoid the incoming Express Holmes are 117:38 you all right more than all right Watson 117:41 he said as he clambered back onto the 117:44 platform especially as I believe I can 117:47 now name our murderer he turned to the 117:50 rather shaken stationmaster the Train 117:53 may leave mr Fraser but there are
117:55 conditions I see there are no facilities 117:58 for uncoupling a carriage here in Stowe 118:00 V correct sir there are no sidings here 118:03 then I must ask you to travel to London 118:06 with the Train and to ensure on arrival 118:08 that the carriage in which the physician 118:10 gentleman is travelling is impounded at 118:12 Paddington 118:13 good lord mr. Holmes is the doctor a 118:17 suspect 118:18 no mr. Fraser but one might say the 118:22 carriage is 118:24 despite his misgivings the stationmaster 118:27 was heroically compliant and directly he 118:30 had arranged for a message to be sent to 118:32 his own family he boarded the 10:59 118:34 which had now for one night only become 118:37 the 1125 and the train pulled out of the 118:41 station on its way to London well Holmes 118:45 I probably don't need to tell you I said 118:48 that I am completely baffled you can be 118:53 forgiven for that Watson it has been a 118:55 puzzling business but you do intend to 118:58 explain to me how a train carriage could 119:00 be a suspect in a murder case I will 119:02 explain everything when we get back to 119:04 the horse in colours but first I must 119:06 ensure that Beth Miller is released from 119:08 that appalling prison and spends tonight 119:10 in her own bed 119:12 it was long past midnight when we sat 119:15 again in the comfort of the inn though I 119:19 had not been present when Holmes had put 119:21 his theory before sergeant berry at the 119:23 makeshift jail he had clearly made a 119:26 convincing argument because Beth Miller 119:28 had been immediately released and sat 119:30 with us now at the rough-hewn table 119:33 where Samuel carpenter bubbling with the 119:35 turn-in fortune was proving very liberal
119:38 with his best ale so who was it mr. ohms 119:43 who was the murderer well that's not a 119:47 simpler question to answer as you might 119:49 think said Holmes the simple answer is 119:52 that Henry weeks was the murderer 119:55 do you mean it was suicide I said well 119:59 Watson whatever we call it there is no 120:02 doubt that when Henry weeks fired the 120:04 gun it was to murder Jack Cavender 120:08 around the table mr. carpenter 120:10 death Miller and I all wearing similar 120:13 baffled expressions sat staring at 120:16 Holmes waiting for him to elucidate 120:19 Henry weeks Holmes said went to the spot 120:23 with the intention of killing young jack 120:25 he knew the train would stop there and 120:28 he meant to get a shot at his victim 120:29 through the carriage window things 120:31 seemed to be going well for him Jack 120:34 Carpenter was sitting on the stove a 120:36 side of the Train so weeks would have 120:38 had a good view of him from the lane 120:39 here is what I believe happened weeks 120:43 took aim but at the very moment he was 120:45 about to squeeze the trigger the train 120:47 blew its whistle my guess is that the 120:51 horse reared up and kicked the butt of 120:54 the gun hence that wound on the beasts 120:57 fore leg the gun went off AHA said I 121:02 that flash of light the physician on the 121:04 train mentioned precisely the sound of 121:07 the shot was probably drowned by the 121:08 noise of the Train the gun barrel now 121:11 tilted down its aim sent low the bullet 121:14 hit the wheel bogie of the carriage the 121:16 mark on the metalwork is what I was so 121:18 keen to check this evening and ricochet 121:21 back to strike Henry weeks so the train 121:25 wheel was the killer I said as I say one 121:29 could impute the train or the bullet or
121:31 even the horse as accessories for all 121:33 were material in the death but the fact 121:36 of the matter is that Henry weeks in a 121:38 rather elegant example of poetic justice 121:42 inadvertently murdered himself whose and 121:47 I took the first train back to London 121:48 the following morning passing on our way 121:51 out of stove e station the sight of 121:53 weeks is lonely death 121:56 put you onto it homes I asked I suppose 122:00 you could say Watson that human goodness 122:02 put me onto it not deduction then Samuel 122:07 carpenter his son Jack Beth Miller good 122:10 people Watson 122:12 we were if my instinct about them was 122:14 correct distinctly short of homicidal 122:16 candidates then you'll recollect the 122:19 nature of weeks's head wound clearly not 122:22 suicide as you noted yourself because of 122:24 the shallow nature of the wound but was 122:27 it a deep enough lesion to have been 122:28 caused by a direct hit at close range 122:30 that said we wondering about whether the 122:33 bullet might have rebounded my 122:36 examination of the Train confirmed it 122:38 though quite right about the wound I 122:41 daresay it didn't kill him outright a 122:43 poor man probably lay there for some 122:46 wild bleeding to death in the cold well 122:50 said Holmes 122:51 perhaps that bleak hour may have given 122:54 him time to reconsider the error of his 122:56 ways 122:57 [Music] 123:01 Sherlock Holmes the rediscovered railway 123:04 mysteries and other stories was written 123:07 by John Taylor and read by Benedict 123:09 Cumberbatch it was produced by fiction 123:12 Factory and is published by BBC 123:14 audiobooks
123:24 [Music] 123:26 when I was young it contained the 123:28 treasures of boyhood a catapult a lump 123:30 of beeswax the carapace of a crab for 123:34 many years since it has been the 123:35 repository of an archive admittedly a 123:38 ragged and distant was quiet I dressed 123:43 slowly and descended to the kitchen to 123:45 find something to eat the rattles and 123:48 sharp cracks of Holmes's experiments had 123:50 already come to life below in the 123:52 basement and I wondered whether he had 123:54 even bothered to go to bed I was making 123:57 a pot of tea when the doorbell sounded 124:00 the noises from the cellar did not pause 124:03 so I assumed that Holmes had not heard 124:05 the Bell I could see nothing off the 124:08 front of the house from the kitchen but 124:10 after I had taken a few steps up into 124:12 the lobby it became clear by means of a 124:14 side window that the visitor was once 124:16 again Nicholas Cartwright I went to the 124:19 door and admitted him Cartwright what's 124:23 going on Watson what do you mean I mean 124:27 what game is being played here 124:29 Cartwright 124:30 I've no idea what you're referring to 124:32 you better come up he was I could tell 124:35 steaming with anger though I had no idea 124:38 what I could have done to arouse it he 124:40 would not sit he stood with his arms 124:42 behind his back a man preparing to 124:44 deliver an accusation you told me you 124:48 were inescapably confined to this house 124:50 yes Cartwright and so I have been this 124:53 is the third day excluding yesterday 124:56 night you mean no I was here yesterday 124:59 night to tossing and turning and my 125:01 better than thought of my ruined 125:03 reputation
125:04 Watson see here yesterday you prevailed 125:07 upon my friendship by confiding in me 125:09 matters which as a journalist I 125:10 considered more than worthy of 125:11 publication had I known that you were 125:14 deceiving me Cartwright you have my word 125:16 I was not deceiving you I've not left 125:19 this house since Monday afternoon so you 125:23 have a twin brother no I do not then 125:27 please explain to me who was the man 125:28 outside the restaurant at Marylebone 125:30 station at five past midnight I take it 125:33 here is 125:34 me more than resembled I do hope you're 125:38 being truthful with me Watson 125:41 I can see that his suspicions were not 125:43 and they'd I even began to wonder 125:45 whether my Restless period of waking the 125:47 previous night had itself been a dream 125:49 and whether I had been sleepwalking such 125:52 things are possible I know and the heat 125:54 my fatigue in the events of the last 125:56 days had left me so baffled that in that 125:59 moment of confusion I could not entirely 126:01 rule it out what happened he said was 126:05 that I was walking through the station 126:07 concourse when I spotted you by the wall 126:09 of the restaurant which by then was 126:10 closed talking to a man in a brown felt 126:13 hat I would have approved you but when I 126:16 caught your eye you cut me as dead as if 126:19 you didn't know me and I assumed your 126:21 conversation was of some importance the 126:24 more I thought about it the more I 126:26 thought it was a poor way to treat a 126:28 good friend suddenly the fog in my brain 126:33 gave way to Anna rific clarity I knew 126:36 that I must rid myself of Cartwright at 126:38 once thank you for telling me this I 126:42 said it is of the utmost importance but
126:45 Nikolas and I pray you won't take this 126:48 amiss 126:48 I must ask you to leave to leave please 126:53 this is a fearfully serious business 126:56 there is real danger you're not just 127:00 trying to get me out of the way Watson 127:01 that's exactly what I'm trying to do 127:04 Cartwright but for a very good reason 127:06 believe me you will have your story very 127:11 well John very well 127:14 at the front door he patted me amiably 127:17 on the shoulder I shut the door on him 127:19 and leaned against the wall 127:21 trying to get my thoughts in order 127:23 Holmes had instructed me not under any 127:26 circumstances to trouble him again yet 127:29 this situation was possibly critical if 127:32 Tobias organ had hired some impersonated 127:35 look and sound so like me that even 127:37 Cartwright who had known me for years 127:39 could be convinced then Holmes might 127:42 also be deceived and then what power 127:46 they would have in their hands if I 127:49 could not speak to Holmes I could at 127:51 least alert him by other means I ran up 127:54 the stairs with the idea of writing a 127:56 note which I could sit under the 127:58 basement door but as I reached our rooms 128:01 I heard a cry from the street without 128:04 thinking I ran to the parlor window a 128:06 hundred yards southwards along Baker 128:08 Street 128:09 three men were struggling two of them 128:11 were bundling the third man into a cab 128:13 against his will 128:15 it was Cartwright I dashed down the 128:18 stairs and ran into the street the 128:20 driver of the cab had already whipped up 128:22 the horse and moved off at a lick but I 128:23 gave chase fury and outrage fueling my
128:26 progress I pursued them for a good half 128:28 a mile until eventually they are paced 128:30 me and I stood gasping for breath 128:32 outside st. Vincent's church i sat on 128:37 the pavement I needed Holmes's help the 128:41 transgression of a broken promise was a 128:43 trivial things surely in the context of 128:46 this appalling incident I would go to 128:49 him immediately aware that in the haste 128:54 of my pursuit I'd left the front door of 128:56 the house open a new anxiety over kingly 129:00 clearly this kidnap was the work of 129:02 organs ruffians and who was to say that 129:04 they would not take advantage of an open 129:06 door I trotted as briskly as I could 129:08 back to Baker Street but the door was no 129:12 longer open and on such a close and 129:15 windless day I thought it unlikely it 129:17 had been closed by a draught the 129:20 horrible thought occurred to me that 129:21 someone may have already got in 129:25 and then everything seemed to tumble 129:28 into place 129:29 Cartwright subduction had been intended 129:32 to draw me out of the house so that the 129:33 man masquerading as myself could gain 129:36 entry homes would be unaware of this he 129:40 would eventually open the door of the 129:41 basement to his assailant and believing 129:43 it was myself he was admitting would 129:45 offer the easiest of targets I had left 129:48 the house without a key but I knew there 129:50 was a possibility of access via the rear 129:52 of the terrace this entailed my knocking 129:56 of the door of our neighbor mrs. Harbin 129:58 an elderly amiable woman who seemed 130:01 happy to allow me access to the rear of 130:03 the building 130:04 here I was obliged to scale a wall to 130:07 the yard outside the back of our own
130:09 dingy basement the front room being that 130:12 which Holmes had taken for his makeshift 130:14 laboratory there was no light within I 130:17 opened the door with infinite slowness 130:20 the noise of Holmes's experiments seemed 130:23 to have stopped the door that connected 130:27 this room to the front half of the 130:28 basement was six or seven short paces 130:31 away but it was too dark to see whether 130:33 the bare floorboards were liable to move 130:36 and groan when I trod upon them 130:38 I tested each step before lowering my 130:41 weight and moved with the floating 130:43 motion of a rather overweight pantomime 130:46 artist one two three then there was 130:52 movement behind me a hand was clamped 130:54 across my mouth and an arm locked around 130:55 my throat the grip was expert I could 130:57 not breathe or move the hot breath of my 131:00 assailant in my ear whispered doctor 131:04 then a prior I'm gonna release you and 131:06 you will turn around slowly and face me 131:08 you must not make a sound tap and if you 131:13 understand I reached up to the hand 131:16 around my throat and obediently I tapped 131:18 it the arm released me and as quietly as 131:21 I could I took a deep draught of air 131:23 turning as I did so the strait Shh yes 131:26 doctor wasn't expecting you here or 131:29 rather in a sense I was but since you 131:31 are just about to arrive I wasn't 131:33 expecting you to come in the back way as 131:35 well the policeman smirk that is a 131:38 little conundrum when you explained to 131:40 me I began what an earth you mean he 131:44 said glad you're here though sir an 131:47 additional pair of ears up close to the 131:49 door now and listen it won't be long it 131:52 was indeed less than a minute before we 131:54 heard the door from the front of the
131:55 house opening into the laboratory and 131:57 the arrival of what sounded like two men 132:00 the door was closed with a thump and a 132:03 gruff voice said so this is he yes this 132:07 is where he's working there was 132:09 something familiar about that second 132:11 voice and he won't be back for a while 132:14 no half an hour I should think at that 132:18 moment with a shock I recognized the 132:19 other voice it was my own I turned to 132:22 Lestrade again but he just put his 132:24 finger to his lips and indicated that I 132:27 should continue to listen so what's the 132:29 plan then asked the gruff voice with him 132:32 to match the bullet that killed maximum 132:35 with the ones from your gun said my 132:37 voice the police no you killed him but 132:40 they need homes to provide them with 132:42 evidence that will convince a jury 132:44 evidently I thought the gruff character 132:48 is Tobias organ I heard him pace about 132:51 then spit noisily Zimmerman's not the 132:55 first while I've topped and I've never 132:57 got me yet they say you only got four 133:00 pounds ten shillings from him 133:03 you mine Wacha anyway I never killed him 133:06 just for the money 133:07 I killed him because he gave me a bad 133:09 look he gave me a bad look I gave him a 133:13 bad headache a bullet right between the 133:17 eyes now I still with this little 133:20 problem suddenly there was a tumultuous 133:23 crash as if one of the walls had fallen 133:26 in and we go doctor said lestrade he 133:29 pushed the door harder we rushed into 133:30 the laboratory where organ had kicked 133:32 Holmes's equipment flying in all 133:33 directions aware to my amazement I saw 133:36 that he was now being attacked by myself 133:39 a perfect duplicate of me cracked him a
133:42 right hook then a left hook and then 133:44 felled him with a blow to the side of 133:46 the head organ hit the floor like a sack 133:48 of cabbages Lestrade was on him in a 133:51 flash cuffing organs arms behind his 133:53 back the strayed blew his whistle and 133:55 then proceeded to arrest him as I stood 133:58 back to get a better look at my other 134:00 self the duplicate doctor put a hand to 134:03 his own face wrenched at his upper brow 134:06 and pulled and stretched until he had 134:08 removed his entire face revealing 134:12 beneath the peeling mask the flaming 134:15 eyes of Sherlock Holmes the next moment 134:19 Lestrade's officers came bursting 134:22 through the basement door and Tobias 134:24 organ was dragged away 134:28 the heat of the day had given way at 134:31 last to a pleasant evening mrs. Hudson 134:35 had returned to the house and provided 134:36 homes and myself with an excellent 134:38 evening meal 134:39 now we sat with our brandies and Holmes 134:43 with his pipe at the open window where a 134:46 gentle breeze lifted the curtains and 134:48 refreshed the parlour as you will have 134:52 deduced Holmes were saying by way of 134:54 explaining it all to me the object of 134:56 the masquerade was to lure organs 134:58 somewhere where we could extract a 135:00 confession from him by subterfuge but 135:02 your ballistics experiments I said would 135:06 they not have been enough to convict him 135:08 it is a science only in the imagination 135:11 Holmes said and then one day I'm certain 135:14 it will be more than that that is much 135:17 more work to do than I could accomplish 135:19 in a fortnight but Lestrade and I agree 135:21 that if orgone believed himself to be at 135:23 risk from my experiments he would wish
135:25 to destroy them what on earth were you 135:28 doing in their homes if the thing was a 135:29 complete hoax I'm afraid I did deceive 135:32 you a little I was not in there all the 135:34 time the mechanism of an old railway 135:37 clock and a device employing elastic and 135:39 a drum skin were intended to give the 135:41 ear the impression of ongoing industry 135:44 well it certainly deceived me I said but 135:48 was it really necessary for me to be 135:50 incarcerated for the duration 135:52 I'm afraid so my friend if organ through 135:55 one of his spies had got wind that there 135:57 were two Watson's the trick would not 135:59 have worked what's more it was necessary 136:02 for him to believe that you and I had 136:04 quarreled and therefore that the good 136:06 dr. Watson might be in the market for a 136:09 bit of betrayal unfortunately your 136:12 friend Cartwright saw me meeting organs 136:14 accomplice at malliband station and 136:15 almost at the cat out of the bag it was 136:18 necessary for us to put him somewhere 136:20 safe 136:21 Lestrade's men kindly subjected him to a 136:24 temporary and very comfortable period of 136:26 kidnap it was you who hadn't dragged 136:28 away yes I had not calculated that you 136:31 would follow him of course or that you 136:33 would be locked out and find yourself 136:34 clambering in through the back but it 136:37 turned out well you will make an 136:39 additional witness for the prosecution 136:42 do you think they'll convict him oh yes 136:44 Watson his confession today was as clear 136:47 as a bell 136:47 Tobias organ will hang as for you my 136:52 friend I have given you a terrible time 136:54 it as a reward I'm going to take you to 136:57 the Opera tonight yes tonight Gilbert
137:01 and Sullivan The Mikado but Holmes my 137:04 memory is you don't much like Gilbert 137:07 and Sullivan no Watson but you do and 137:10 besides I have to confess to having a 137:14 soft spot for the Lord High executioner 137:27 the conundrum of coach 30 on an October 137:35 morning when rains streamed from the 137:38 black clouds that swept above our Baker 137:40 Street lodgings I found my friend 137:43 Sherlock Holmes in a similarly overcast 137:45 mood he had not had a case in weeks not 137:49 at least what he called a decent case 137:51 and he had been huffing and puffing 137:54 about the house for two days it was with 137:57 some relief to both of us 137:59 therefore that we heard the slowing 138:01 approach of a cab in the street outside 138:03 and both moved eagerly to the window the 138:06 hansom did indeed stop directly beside 138:08 our door and after a moment a large and 138:11 finely dressed middle-aged gentleman 138:13 emerged into the downpour paid his fare 138:16 and rang our doorbell Holmes was smiling 138:20 now what could make a rich American so 138:23 distressed Watson that he would compel 138:26 Mel here to us from Paddington an 138:29 American I said drawn irresistibly as 138:32 usual into Holmes's tantalizing games 138:35 certainly and I think a formidable 138:37 character and you wish to tell me how 138:41 you deduce all that Holmes I deduce his 138:44 distress and his nationality from the 138:46 fact that he just tried to pay the 138:47 cabbie in American dollars before 138:49 recalling which pocket held his pounds 138:51 sterling as for his coming from 138:53 Paddington that was the easiest of all 138:55 but the driver of the hansom is Henry 138:57 Brown I'm surprised you do not recognize 139:00 him who always works from the Paddington
139:02 rank as ever Watson I apologize for the 139:04 banality of these observations but you 139:06 did ask by now there were footsteps on 139:10 the stairs as mrs. Hudson escorted the 139:12 visitor to our apartment while I 139:15 inwardly delighted to note that my 139:17 friend had returned to his amiable best 139:19 in anticipation of a new challenge I 139:21 find myself praying that it would be a 139:23 challenge worthy of his powers and his 139:26 pent up energies no sooner had the door 139:29 opened than the huge rat under of our 139:32 visitor bright in a cream suit burst 139:35 into the room like an actor onto a stage 139:37 determined to establish his character 139:39 instantly mr. Holmes boomed the American 139:44 voices both his arms swept forward to 139:46 grasp my right hand 139:47 Benedict Masterson what a great 139:50 privilege to meet you delighted but I am 139:54 dr. John Watson I replied 139:57 this is mr. Sherlock Holmes with equally 140:01 booming apologies he bowed charmingly to 140:04 me and turned to my friend ah yes now I 140:08 see unmistakable unmistakable the 140:14 impression given was that he had found 140:15 the first Sherlock Holmes of his 140:17 acquaintance a little short of his 140:19 expectations mr. Holmes I wish to ask 140:23 you to act for me in a business both 140:24 mysterious and distressing you had 140:28 better sit down mr. Masterson said 140:30 Holmes and tell us everything and having 140:34 settled his cream covered bulk into an 140:37 armchair and accepted a cigar which he 140:39 continued to puff anxiously as he spoke 140:41 the American told us his story I am a 140:45 dealer in gold 140:48 gentlemen gold has been my life my 140:52 father owned small mines in Nevada which
140:55 gave us a comfortable living in my turn 140:57 through judicious trading I've made 141:00 these assets yield a fortune I came to 141:03 London last week because your own Bank 141:05 of England had made an order for a 141:07 substantial quantity of gold bars to 141:10 boost its reserves the bullion was 141:13 shipped in a Bristol Harbor and 141:15 transferred yesterday onto a chartered 141:18 London train for 141:19 transfer to the bank I have been in 141:22 London doing the paperwork of which 141:25 there is let me assure you no small how 141:28 it's possible to eat several sandwiches 141:30 and a slice of seed cake without 141:32 dropping a single crumb or come to that 141:35 a single seed our promise you've said 141:38 what I said about my supper was true 141:40 I'll remember exactly what I brought and 141:42 exactly what I ate I have no doubt of 141:45 that mr. Lyons then what sir 141:48 my point is merely that you are 141:50 obviously not in coach 13 when you ate 141:54 the sandwiches on my honor mr. Holmes I 141:57 swear I was oh you were in a carriage 142:00 certainly but you were not in the 142:02 carriage in which your sandwich wrapper 142:03 was found the coach where you ate your 142:06 supper the coach with the bullion never 142:10 made it to London mr. Holmes this is 142:16 confusing 142:17 began masterson Holmes interrupted on 142:20 the contrary mr. Masterson it's very 142:22 clear the coach containing the gold was 142:25 uncoupled from the train when it stopped 142:27 for water run into a siding by those 142:29 awaiting it and unloaded of its cargo at 142:31 their leisure during the night it was a 142:34 perfectly dark night there was no moon 142:36 so the railwayman as mr. McLintock ear
142:39 has recently confirmed could from the 142:42 water pump see nothing of what was going 142:44 on at the back of the train but mr. 142:47 Holmes said inspector Hopkins the bad 142:50 luck special has 13 coaches everyone 142:53 knows that and you will no doubt 142:54 yourself and noted that we passed there 142:56 exactly 13 coaches in our inspection of 142:59 the train this afternoon oh it has 13 143:02 coaches now of course inspector Holmes 143:04 said and it only struck me after we had 143:07 left Bristol and its pleasant 143:09 stationmaster Willits that he had 143:11 described to us in detail his whole 143:13 engagement with the loading of the gold 143:14 and the departure of the train without 143:16 once mentioning that he counted the 143:18 coaches before the train left 143:21 the fact is he didn't count them he 143:24 didn't think he needed to the bad luck 143:27 special had always consisted of 13 143:29 coaches he wasn't to know that your 143:31 accomplices at Bristol had added an 143:34 additional coach to the train before it 143:36 was attached to the coach carrying the 143:38 boxes a coach with its seats stripped 143:41 out to make it practically identical to 143:44 the bullion car on that one night the 143:47 bad luck special had not 13 but 14 143:50 carriages when the train stopped to 143:53 acquire water it simultaneously shed a 143:56 coach and it very nearly he continued 143:59 turning back to Lyons shared a guard 144:03 you're a very fortunate man Lyons 144:06 I don't feel fortunate sir your good 144:10 fortune is that you are still alive and 144:12 that in turn is because you were 144:14 fortunate enough to fall asleep imagine 144:17 if you had not the train stops the 144:20 thieves uncouple the rear coach with
144:22 yourself inside it as soon as you see 144:24 them you become a risk to them there's 144:26 no telling what they might have done 144:27 what I believe actually happened was 144:30 that as they were releasing the carriage 144:31 from the Train someone noticed that you 144:33 were asleep inside they took the 144:36 opportunity to move you into the next 144:37 coach along with your tea can and 144:39 sandwich wrappings you may be thankful 144:42 you did not wake at that moment 144:45 masterson war an expression of amazement 144:49 I am full of admiration mr. Holmes but 144:57 at the same time I feel somewhat 145:00 desolated this clearly means that 145:03 someone in my organization has betrayed 145:06 me 145:06 which brings me back to the ring of 145:09 scarlet silk discovered in the carriage 145:11 certainly an intriguing adornment to the 145:13 problem said Holmes it could indeed 145:16 signify the presence of a woman but 145:20 there is the mystery I said of how she 145:22 got there or what she might have done I 145:24 think however said Holmes that is a 145:28 mystery with a simple solution at this 145:31 point Masterson appeared rather 145:33 tragically stricken you're thinking yes 145:37 said Holmes you're thinking that my 145:41 estranged wife Laura dear God that 145:46 foolish woman oh come along mr. 145:49 Masterson you know full well your wife 145:51 had nothing to do with it there was no 145:53 one aboard the train save the three men 145:55 here driver engineer and guard and none 145:57 of them had anything to do with the 145:58 robbery the three rail women looked at 146:01 one another as that they had suddenly 146:02 had revealed to them their entitlement 146:04 to a joint fortune as for the thieves
146:07 said Holmes they are to be located 146:10 somewhere nursing a hoard of bullion a 146:12 part of course from their pay master who 146:14 is sitting here with us is that not so 146:18 mr. Masterson Masterson blasted and 146:22 steamed he was outraged this was absurd 146:26 how dare you sir what evidence have you 146:30 for such an outrageous suggestion I had 146:33 misgivings from the beginning I could 146:35 not understand why you came to me so 146:37 quickly after the theft had been 146:39 discovered when you had so much else to 146:41 deal with I see now that you were pains 146:43 to demonstrate to the insurance company 146:45 that you were doing all in your power to 146:47 recover the bullion because of course if 146:49 you could have both the gold and the 146:52 insurance money you would have 146:54 considerably augmented your 146:57 but were still what your partners in 147:00 crime would have done to mr. Lyons had 147:03 he not had the good sense to fall asleep 147:04 on the job 147:05 hardly bears thinking about you were 147:08 prepared not just to steal but to be an 147:12 accessory to murder this is speculation 147:15 mr. Holmes this would not stand up in 147:17 court you should be looking for another 147:19 felon what about that red silk ring oh 147:23 yes you've been very subtle about that 147:25 mr. Masterson suggesting your wife's 147:28 name one moment and the next assuring me 147:31 that she could not possibly be 147:32 implicated I doubt whether you thought 147:34 she would be but you certainly sought to 147:36 throw me off the scent 147:38 what was that item if not a red herring 147:41 and is that not for those who like to 147:44 play games with words another way to say 147:46 a red heading what fun you no doubt plan
147:51 to have with that joke mr. Masterson and 147:53 you got away with this business now it 147:56 seems the joke is on you that was one 148:00 pun mr. Masterson which you would indeed 148:04 have done better to have resisted 148:07 but whether justice was fully done is a 148:10 moot point in expectation of reducing 148:13 his own sentence masters and eventually 148:15 divulged the names of his accomplices 148:17 and led police to the embezzled bullion 148:20 and although he was committed to prison 148:23 for several years it was clear that once 148:26 his sentence was served he would 148:27 continue the life of a wealthy man I 148:31 can't understand I said to Holmes a 148:34 couple of evenings later why you seem so 148:36 damnably happy a man is never more 148:40 content Watson he said then when doing 148:43 well what his nature has fitted him to 148:46 do and which thought will you pass me 148:49 the tobacco pouch I think we should 148:51 indulge ourselves in a brace of good 148:53 pipes 149:10 [Music] 149:14 the Trinity vicarage larceny one fine 149:24 spring morning Sherlock Holmes and I 149:27 received into our rooms of portly 149:29 gentleman in a purple dress that at 149:32 least is how it momentarily appeared to 149:34 me as I glanced up from the Daily 149:36 Chronicle at the open door the purple 149:39 gentlemen it transpired was the right 149:42 reverend the Lord Bishop of Kent an old 149:45 acquaintance of Holmes and he had 149:48 brought with him as so many of our 149:50 visitors do a problem that was clearly 149:52 causing him some agitation mollified a 149:56 little by coffee and a cigar bishop 149:59 sprigs needed no prompting to divulge 150:01 his story the nub of my problem
150:04 gentlemen is an unfortunate young priest 150:08 a young man of promise and talent very 150:11 popular with his parishioners who has 150:13 inadvertently got himself into deep 150:15 Porter intriguing said Holmes you may 150:20 recall the clergyman continued the 150:22 Trinity Church in the Kent village of 150:24 hatching ham was last year in the news 150:27 because of an exceptional discovery of 150:30 course I said a silver chalice of 150:33 considerable worth was discovered in the 150:36 crypt yes dr. Watson a magnificent 150:39 medieval relic the so-called hatching 150:42 comb Grail weighing some twenty two 150:45 pounds with my approval it was sold to 150:47 the British Museum with the idea that a 150:50 good portion of the proceeds would go 150:51 towards restoring Hetch income church 150:54 the Reverend Kingsley pending the 150:56 beginning of the building work had 150:58 locked the money up in the church crypt 151:00 it was stolen yesterday Holmes you can 151:05 imagine what an outcry they'd be if this 151:07 found its way into the papers it would 151:09 be bad for Kingsley and the hatching 151:12 from parish and goodness at limnos water 151:14 would do for the reputation of the 151:15 church at any cost the money must be 151:19 able to covered and the thief put away 151:21 and I mean any cost homes 151:25 let us not concern ourselves with fees 151:27 just yet Holmes said are there any clues 151:31 at all as to who might be responsible 151:33 for this theft I'm not sure about Clues 151:36 replied the clergyman Kingsley did make 151:39 some sort of an attempted to discover 151:40 the identity of the villain by chasing 151:42 him over the fields after the theft but 151:44 I'm afraid he didn't get very far I 151:46 think we had better meet the young
151:48 Reverend said Holmes as soon as is 151:51 practical Watson would you be at liberty 151:53 to accompany me to hatching him for a 151:55 few days I'm utterly indebted to you 151:58 both said the bishop 152:00 I dare say while your will in hatching 152:02 ham we could put you up at the Trinity 152:03 church rectory oh there's the jolly 152:06 Bulldog if you'd prefer an inn ah said 152:10 Holmes 152:10 the Jolly bulldog now that sounds like 152:13 just my kind of animal we journeyed to 152:18 hatching him the next morning and 152:19 established ourselves at the cozy but 152:21 crumbling hostility that was the jolly 152:24 Bulldog our landlord was a bluff man 152:27 called stocky taller by inches than 152:30 Holmes and compelled to stoop to avoid 152:32 the beams resume ceiling as he lumbered 152:35 about in heavy boots serving his 152:37 customers he grudgingly provided us with 152:40 a late snack of bread and some rather 152:42 tough cold meats 152:44 complaining that if everyone chose to be 152:45 fed at half past 2:00 in the afternoon 152:47 they would have to invent a new word for 152:48 the meal taken between luncheon and 152:50 dinner 152:51 leftovers said Holmes to me initially 152:54 and at a level which I am sure Starkey 152:56 was meant to overhear might be that word 153:00 the publican growled ominously 153:02 as he left us and I leaned over to 153:05 Holmes and whispered there is surely an 153:08 example of how a little power may go to 153:10 the head of a man and make him too big 153:12 for his boots 153:13 I was thinking rather said Holmes from 153:16 the way he clumps about this place that 153:18 his boots are rather too big for him
153:21 I saw the two gentlemen on a nearby 153:23 tables smile at this remark I sunday 153:27 galatta notice of Starkey said one of 153:29 them may merely he's just as tiresome 153:32 with all the customers the gentlemen 153:34 introduced himself as John captain and 153:36 his companion as Matthew Winslow 153:39 although neither Holmes nor myself 153:41 disclosed the details of our mission to 153:43 hatching him it seems they knew we were 153:45 expected and it turned out that both 153:47 gentlemen were members of the parish 153:49 committee and were fully apprised of the 153:52 theft though they were quick to assert 153:54 that it was not yet public knowledge I 153:56 hope you will be successful 153:59 said Hampton in bringing this thief to 154:01 book we are fond of our vigor and he has 154:05 been a deeply troubled young man since 154:07 it happened the Reverend Kingsley's 154:11 house was accessed from hatching him 154:13 Lane by a short stone path a few steps 154:17 beyond the vicarage stood the church 154:20 with on the west side a moderate-sized 154:22 graveyard on the other side with its own 154:25 access to the lane and shaded by a 154:27 handful of fruit trees stood cherry 154:30 cottage which were later discovered to 154:32 be the residence of the Verger and his 154:34 wife 154:35 the Reverend Kingsley was a man in his 154:38 early thirties small in stature but of 154:41 good looks his clerical dress the 154:44 quintessence of neatness while clearly 154:47 stricken by his predicament he remained 154:49 calm and articulate and did his best to 154:52 make us welcome in a pleasantly 154:53 appointed parlour whose deep colored 154:55 thick pile carpet and embroidered 154:57 cushions evidenced a delicate sense of
155:00 taste it's a relief to see you gentlemen 155:03 he said the bishop 155:05 told me all about you about your many 155:08 successes in solving complex cases the 155:11 problem as you know is that while we saw 155:14 the thief escape we were unable to 155:16 establish his identity however there are 155:18 one or two factors which though they 155:20 seemed a peck to my own consideration 155:22 might prove illuminating under your own 155:25 if I might show you I would be most 155:29 grateful mr. Kingsley 155:30 Holmes said first though I see that you 155:33 have recently held a meeting and 155:34 charming room I presume that apart from 155:37 the three other gentlemen present the 155:38 fourth was yourself you keep the side 155:41 chairs in another room I take it Lord 155:44 how did you know all that oh it's a 155:47 simple matter the carpet beside the 155:49 window has indentations of four chairs 155:50 and therefore I presume for four people 155:53 but there are no chairs in the room 155:55 whose feet would match well yes you are 155:58 of course quite correct said Kingsley 156:01 with a broad smile the parish committee 156:03 convened here just yesterday as as we do 156:05 each week yesterday was the day I broke 156:08 the news that the Grail money had been 156:10 stolen and I hope that that news will 156:12 remain privy to the committee members 156:14 until such time as the thief is caught 156:16 but the vicar paused and home said 156:19 please go on mr. Kingsley but continued 156:24 the young clergyman the gentleman on the 156:26 parish committee are the same three who 156:28 sat here two weeks ago when I revealed 156:31 that the money for the Grail was in the 156:33 crypt of the church only they and I knew 156:37 of the fact you see so I can no longer
156:40 be as confident as before that they are 156:42 all honest men which is the most 156:44 unfortunate thing it was all in cash I 156:47 presume 156:48 home said yes mr. Holmes I kept cash so 156:52 that I could employ local men to restore 156:54 the church and pay them by the day I 156:55 have little time to run to the bank and 156:57 make a withdrawal every time a man 156:58 finishes plastering the wall the money 157:01 was under lock and key yes there is a 157:04 safe in the crypt where the church is 157:06 small treasures have always been 157:07 secreted and the Crypt itself is locked 157:10 yes it can be entered either from within 157:13 the church or by a door leading from the 157:15 churchyard and both those doors are 157:17 locked at night mr. Holmes I do hope you 157:22 can help me with this I don't know how 157:24 my flock will ever forgive me if that 157:26 money is not returned 157:28 then perhaps if you can bear to go over 157:30 it all again you would be so kind as to 157:32 tell dr. Watson and myself the 157:34 circumstances of the robbery yes of 157:37 course two weeks ago looking out of this 157:40 window on a Monday morning at about 157:42 11:00 157:43 I saw a man I'm fairly certain it was a 157:47 man standing at the lychgate and looking 157:49 over into the church and I would not 157:51 have given this a moment's thought 157:53 except that he wore a hat with an 157:55 unusually wide brim and had it pulled so 157:57 low over his eyes and his conner so high 158:00 that one could not distinguish his 158:02 features as I say I cannot even be 158:05 certain it was not a woman except for 158:08 his way of moving I watched him for a 158:11 good ten minutes before he turned and
158:13 strode back along the lane towards the 158:14 village that same afternoon 158:17 this time from an upstairs window I saw 158:19 him again but now further along the lane 158:22 standing under a tree and once again 158:24 seeming to study the church and its 158:27 grounds his contrived anonymity 158:30 naturally put me on my guard in the 158:33 evening after those first two sightings 158:35 I was sitting in that very chair dr. 158:38 Watson which you are currently occupying 158:40 when a thought hit me like a bolt of 158:42 lightning I thought which you no doubt 158:45 will be surprised had not occurred to me 158:46 earlier that this stranger might have 158:49 designs on the money in the crypt 158:52 after this alarming epiphany I spoke to 158:56 my verges Sam manners and his wife may 158:58 who keep house for me they live in 159:00 cherry cottage which as you will have 159:02 seen stands on the lane beside the 159:04 churches litigate there's a shortcut 159:06 from there back door to this house which 159:08 they employ when they wished to see me I 159:10 mentioned that because as I think he 159:12 would agree it bears upon the matter 159:14 I asked Sherlock Holmes the rediscovered 159:19 railway mysteries and other stories by 159:21 John Taylor read by Benedict Cumberbatch 159:28 [Music] 159:32 an inscrutable masquerade in a draw in 159:41 the Bureau of an upstairs room of my 159:44 current home there is a locked cedar 159:46 wood box which I inherited as a youth 159:49 from my grandfather this is one might 159:53 say my box of secrets when I was young 159:56 it contained the treasures of boyhood a 159:58 catapult a lump of beeswax the carapace 160:01 of a crab for many years since it has 160:04 been the repository of an archive
160:06 admittedly a ragged and disordered 160:09 archive a collection of notes and 160:12 scribblings concerning some of the many 160:13 cases of my lifelong friend the 160:16 consulting detective Sherlock Holmes 160:19 which for one reason or another I never 160:22 took the trouble to write into proper 160:24 reports having had recently a little 160:27 time on my hands I reopened this box of 160:29 yellowing notebooks and it seemed to me 160:31 that several of the cases given the 160:33 ocean of time between those events and 160:35 the present day would now bear telling 160:38 and I begin by chronicling an adventure 160:41 which I may have dismissed for several 160:43 reasons not because it lacked baffling 160:45 and intriguing elements on the contrary 160:47 but mostly I think because it was for me 160:50 personally such a dizzying and 160:52 distressing experience it was a 160:56 Wednesday evening in July at the end of 160:58 a day of street jacketing heat and I sat 161:02 next to the open window of our parlour 161:04 at Baker Street drinking in the air and 161:06 hoping for the liberating ripple of a 161:08 breeze the newspaper on my lap reported 161:12 the release from police custody of a 161:14 known criminal 161:15 Tobias organ arrested some days 161:18 previously for the murder of max 161:20 Zimmerman a moneylender shot through the 161:23 head in his small apartment in Wardour 161:25 Street in the end there'd been 161:27 insufficient evidence to charge organ 161:29 with murder even though the police 161:31 clearly thought him culpable strangely 161:35 enough I had once met organ myself he 161:38 had come to me as a patient suffering as 161:40 I recall from a severe lesion to the 161:42 lower back which he maintained had been
161:44 caused by a fall against a metal 161:46 stanchion but which I had little doubt 161:49 was in fact a stab wound my diagnosis 161:52 was supported I believe by his barely 161:54 veiled threat that I should under no 161:56 circumstances make known his injury to 161:58 anyone else 161:59 he had an unforgettable menacing way 162:03 with him 162:04 and I had felt immense relief when he 162:06 left my surgery I'd been looking forward 162:09 to discussing the organ case with Holmes 162:11 who would certainly have some views on 162:14 the subject but when he finally appeared 162:16 for dinner he was irritable and 162:17 uncommunicative and from these symptoms 162:20 I guessed him to be in the process of 162:22 some taxing mental work all the same I 162:25 had no wish to sit out the meal in 162:27 silence 162:28 stifling weather to be out in about 162:30 Holmes 162:31 I said peppering a slice of beef indeed 162:34 Watson and equally stifling to be in he 162:37 busied himself with cutting into a 162:39 potato after a while I said I've not 162:42 seen you today I presume you were 162:43 somewhere on business yes Watson I was 162:47 another pause the chink of cutlery 162:51 somewhere local somewhere very local 162:54 Watson I'd expect you'd like to know 162:56 where but I have no wish to be intrusive 162:59 in the basement 163:00 I've been all day in the basement of our 163:02 house and since your desire not to be 163:04 intrusive is clearly struggling against 163:06 your overwhelming curiosity to know I 163:08 will tell you why I was there and he 163:11 paused and smiled in the full confidence 163:14 that you will not be the word to a soul
163:17 about it my Holmes of course not and on 163:20 the understanding that if I do tell you 163:22 you will not be able to leave this house 163:24 until my work is complete what I put 163:27 down 163:27 almost dropped my knife and fork we 163:30 don't mean not leave at all that's 163:33 precisely what I mean 163:34 so it may be that you would prefer to 163:37 forgo my secret rather than consent to 163:39 becoming a prisoner here for what might 163:41 be several days hopelessly intrigued 163:45 I gave no thought to the discomfort of 163:47 being shut indoors in this sultry heat 163:49 no thought to the boredom not even any 163:51 thought to the fact that I had 163:52 appointments in my diary 163:54 I'm prepared to abide by your request 163:57 Holmes 163:58 he stood up from the table his meal 164:00 unfinished and went across to the hearth 164:02 to retrieve his pipe in tobacco pouch as 164:04 he filled his pipe and lit it he sank 164:07 into his armchair I believe you have 164:10 been preoccupied with the case of Tobias 164:11 organ Watson yes it has been on my mind 164:15 how you twice left the newspaper open at 164:17 that page the moneylender Zimmerman a 164:20 legitimate businessman with a wife and 164:22 young children was murdered with an army 164:24 rifle the police have many reasons for 164:27 believing Tobias organ to be guilty of 164:28 the crime of one of these is that he 164:30 owns an army rifle organ have cost a 164:33 nice that his firearm is the murder 164:35 weapon 164:35 well yes I said one would expect he 164:38 would but suppose said Holmes suppose 164:41 there was a science which could with 164:44 certainty tie a bullet to the gun which
164:46 fired now that would be marvelous I said 164:50 but there isn't is there well Watson let 164:52 us say that such a science is seminal it 164:55 is exactly this problem which I am 164:57 wrestling with at present in the 164:58 basement of the house I've set up a 165:00 laboratory sorts down there where I can 165:02 conduct some experiments progress is 165:05 promising and if the results are as I 165:06 expect they will certainly send Tobias 165:09 organ to the gallows but organ is an 165:11 utterly ruthless villain undoubtedly 165:14 guilty of a number of murders but 165:15 devious enough always to pawn them off 165:17 on others if he would again even an 165:19 inkling of my work we would be in the 165:22 utmost danger but I can see that you 165:25 would be in danger Holmes but how might 165:28 I be as I say what's an organ is 165:30 ruthless to get at any enemy his 165:33 favorite trick is to abduct someone 165:35 close to his adversary often with I'm 165:38 afraid horrific consequences you know 165:41 too much now and since I'm not prepared 165:43 to put you at risk in that way I fear 165:45 you must sit it out in these apartments 165:47 you must not answer the door you must 165:49 stay away from the windows no visitors 165:50 you must lead the life of a prisoner 165:53 until such time as this matter is 165:55 settled well I said it might be good for 165:59 me I have a medical paper to write in 166:01 the period of confinement might induce 166:02 me to keep my nose to my studies 166:05 excellent Watson I'm sure your sacrifice 166:08 will not be in vain I really did not see 166:10 myself sacrificing very much at a wall I 166:13 spent the evening canceling all 166:15 appointments for the following week and 166:16 went to bed rather looking forward to a
166:18 few days of fruitful incarceration the 166:23 morning found me in a hopeful mood in 166:26 what appeared to be an empty house 166:27 Holmes I presumed had already descended 166:30 to his basement laboratory our landlady 166:32 in mrs. Hudson had left me a pleasant 166:34 cold breakfast an indication that she 166:37 herself had had to leave the house early 166:39 the day while already warm and bright 166:42 had not yet begun to turn oppressive the 166:44 clock over the half ticked slowly as I 166:47 settled down to my books experiencing 166:50 for the first time since my student 166:51 years some of the quiet ecstasy of study 166:55 by midday the room had become hot my 166:59 concentration meandered and thirst 167:01 plagued me I wandered downstairs to mrs. 167:05 Hudson's apartment and found her still 167:06 absent so I proceeded down to the 167:08 basement to ask Holmes whether he knew 167:10 what arrangements had been made for 167:12 lunch the door to the basement was shut 167:14 and when I tried the handle I found it 167:16 to be locked from within I could hear 167:19 the occasional crack of what sounded 167:20 like a gun being fired and the grind of 167:23 metal on metal like ball bearings 167:25 rolling round an iron ball Holmes you 167:29 there Watson what are you doing here I'm 167:32 in the process of an investigation 167:34 indeed yes I'm trying to find out what's 167:37 happening about luncheon but have to 167:40 prepare something for yourself he called 167:42 back I'm afraid I've sent mrs. Hudson 167:44 away I cannot risk the lives of innocent 167:46 people and Watson be so good as to keep 167:48 away from the basement confine yourself 167:51 to our own rooms and to the kitchen 167:53 there's a good fellow 167:54 very well Holmes but yes I really would
167:58 very much like a newspaper I'm afraid 168:01 you must do without neither of us can 168:03 take the chance of leaving here until 168:04 this business is complete now please let 168:06 me get on I trundled to the kitchen 168:10 and managed to find myself some bread 168:12 and cheese which I took back upstairs 168:14 our rooms were now very hot and since I 168:17 was forbidden to sit near the window I 168:19 ate my luncheon over my books dropping 168:21 crumbs into the creases of Grey's 168:23 Anatomy and beginning to feel Restless 168:26 after lunch I managed to force myself to 168:29 a little more work but by three o'clock 168:31 had fallen asleep in the armchair I woke 168:35 to hear the sounds of evening traffic 168:38 moving along Baker Street I listened 168:41 with something like envy to the busy 168:43 hubbub of those who were free to come 168:45 and go who had families to return to and 168:48 simple feasts awaiting them at convivial 168:51 tables my lot seemed bleak 168:55 by comparison Holmes did not emerge from 168:57 his infernal basement and mrs. Hudson 169:00 did not appear with an evening meal I 169:02 cannot recall how the rest of the 169:05 evening passed the heat absorbed during 169:07 the day by London's pavements now 169:09 radiated back to thicken the evening air 169:11 the world outside of which I had no news 169:15 became gradually silent and I hungry and 169:19 disconsolate went finally to bed the 169:23 next morning after a makeshift breakfast 169:25 I got down to some work and was well 169:28 into the argument of the paper I was 169:29 writing when I began to realize that the 169:32 room was again beginning to become 169:33 airless and oven-like 169:35 determined not to succumb to lethargy as 169:38 I had the previous afternoon I decided
169:40 that despite Holmes's strict embargo on 169:43 going near the window I simply must have 169:46 some air as I raised the sash I saw a 169:50 cab approaching along Baker Street and 169:52 stopping directly beneath the window the 169:55 passenger who stepped out was Nikolas 169:57 Cartwright an old University friend now 170:00 writing for The Times I hadn't seen him 170:03 for a couple of months and he seemed 170:05 about to pay a surprise visit desperate 170:07 as I was for company I could not forget 170:10 the promise I had made to Holmes to 170:11 admit no visitors the doorbell rang 170:15 my first idea was to wait for Cartwright 170:18 to give up and go away 170:19 but there quickly came a second ring and 170:22 with it a call from the street through 170:23 the now open window Watson a note of 170:28 anxiety in his voice suggesting that all 170:30 was not well Cartwright was a good 170:34 friend but it doesn't see how I could 170:37 linger there pretending to be deaf when 170:38 he might be in need of my help I dashed 170:41 down the stairs and opened the front 170:43 door Watson so pleased to have found you 170:47 the statement immediately struck me as 170:50 odd as did cut Wright's whole demeanor 170:52 but mindful of the proximity of Holmes 170:54 in his makeshift laboratory I whispered 170:57 Nicole chap what things are going on 171:00 come up as quietly as you can I'll 171:01 explain there a sudden sharp crack 171:04 issued from the depths of the house and 171:06 I hoped that preoccupied as he was 171:08 Holmes would have no inkling of the 171:10 presence of my visitor as we entered the 171:13 parlor and shut the door Cartwright said 171:16 Watson I've been worried about you I 171:18 didn't even know if I'd find you here 171:20 worried yes the story in The Gazette
171:24 regarding yourself and mr. Holmes did 171:26 you know it was in the papers Cartwright 171:29 I haven't the least idea what you're 171:32 talking about and as for newspapers I 171:33 haven't seen one in days here he tossed 171:36 me the paper open at about the third or 171:38 fourth page and I read the following 171:39 headline an accompanying article 171:41 Sherlock Holmes and dr. Watson part 171:44 company after several years of 171:48 celebrated collaboration the eminent 171:49 consulting detective mr. Sherlock Holmes 171:52 and his medical companion dr. John 171:53 Watson have terminated their 171:56 professional partnership and it seems 171:58 similar tennis Lee ended their personal 172:00 friendship 172:02 mr. Holmes said that while he continued 172:04 to hold dr. Watson in high esteem and to 172:06 regard him as a man of exceptional honor 172:08 and professional competence 172:09 circumstances upon which he could not 172:11 and would not elaborate had made it 172:13 expedient for them to give their 172:14 separate ways there was no comment from 172:18 dr. Watson I stood for a moment holding 172:22 the newspaper and averting my gaze from 172:24 Cartwright who had written this did 172:27 Holmes know about it was there some 172:30 truth in it was Holmes's exile to the 172:33 basement a way of keeping me at bay 172:34 while he found alternative lodgings 172:36 this is today's Gazette yes Watson I see 172:41 you knew nothing about this am i 172:43 speaking to you as a friend Cartwright 172:45 or as a journalist well I suppose 172:48 unfortunately as a friend John I say 172:51 unfortunately because this is clearly a 172:52 damn good story but if you wish to talk 172:55 to me off the record so be it off the
172:58 record then I know nothing of this and I 173:02 don't know whether Holmes has had a hand 173:03 in it he's conducting some very secret 173:05 business at present and possibly it's 173:07 connected to that that's all I can tell 173:09 you I'm afraid one thing does baffle me 173:13 Cartwright said how did the Gazette get 173:15 the story without us getting it - anyway 173:18 I won't make anything of this John until 173:19 you give me the go-ahead but I hope if 173:22 there does turn out to be an exclusive 173:25 you'll be the one to get it I said thank 173:28 you Nicholas I saw him down the stairs 173:31 and closed the front door behind him 173:32 finding myself relieved that he had gone 173:35 I had no idea that I would be singing 173:38 him again soon under even more peculiar 173:40 circumstances but determined that now I 173:44 must confront Holmes with this business 173:46 I knocked on the door of the basement 173:49 Holmes 173:52 a long silence ohms we must speak not 173:58 now Watson Holmes there's something I 174:01 must discuss with you urgently something 174:04 in the newspaper there was a scuffling 174:06 in the basement door opened newspaper 174:09 how did you get a newspaper 174:12 Cartwright called he'd seen an article 174:15 yes Holmes interrupted yes the article I 174:19 daresay you would appreciate an 174:21 explanation give me half an hour a 174:26 little later we sat opposite one another 174:28 in our sitting-room the evening was 174:31 still closed and oppressive the 174:33 newspaper article said Holmes was an 174:36 unfortunate necessity I hope it has not 174:40 caused you too much embarrassment Watson 174:42 and when this business is finished all 174:44 will be rectified why I said report us 174:47 as having quarreled bear with me Watson
174:50 I beg of you as you know I have tried to 174:53 keep my work here secret but how certain 174:56 can one be of that the police are 174:58 involved in these matters and are aware 175:00 of my experiments and who knows whether 175:02 some junior or even senior member of the 175:05 force is not in league with that utterly 175:07 ruthless villain now having been alerted 175:10 to that newspaper report might it not be 175:13 the case that Tobias organ would assume 175:15 that you were no longer in London at any 175:17 rate he would certainly be likely to 175:19 assume you were no longer sharing these 175:21 premises with me 175:23 you gave the story to the Gazette to 175:25 protect me yes Watson that was my 175:28 purpose I just wish that you'd consulted 175:32 me first you were not supposed even to 175:35 know about it Watson and if you had not 175:38 had a visit from Cartwright you would 175:40 never have seen the article it was 175:42 unfortunate that he came when he did it 175:45 was the article that brought him yes a 175:48 miscalculation on my part now it is late 175:51 work to do tomorrow and I must insist on 175:54 extracting from you another guarantee 175:56 what's that Holmes that you will not 175:59 under any circumstances interrupt my 176:01 work again so very delicate in a 176:04 disturbance at an inopportune moment 176:05 could ruin everything is that clear not 176:07 under any circumstance 176:11 that night I lay awake in the muggy heat 176:14 the bedclothes pulled back and grieved 176:16 for what I calculated to be the death of 176:19 my reputation at least I imagined that's 176:22 how the world would see it or at least 176:24 that portion of the world that reads the 176:26 London Gazette Holmes and Watson have 176:29 parted company but there is no comment
176:32 from Watson only a nobly worded 176:35 valediction from the great detective 176:37 such bitter thoughts polluted my 176:41 Restless waking and tormented my 176:43 subsequent dreams and added to all this 176:47 their lair since that things were still 176:49 not clear that something crucial 176:52 remained unspoken I woke early but 176:57 exhausted without going near the window 177:00 I took in what I could of the wakening 177:02 day the street to them to report to me 177:05 if this sinister figure or anyone else 177:08 unknown to them appeared in the vicinity 177:10 of the church and indeed it seems as if 177:14 the man in that hat had begun to watch 177:16 my whereabouts because first may manners 177:18 then her husband reported to me that 177:20 they had indeed seen the man in the Hat 177:23 I began to feel that an attempt on the 177:26 money was imminent I resolved then to 177:29 remain in the vicarage all the church 177:31 grounds until I was certain that the 177:32 threat had passed I instructed mr. and 177:35 mrs. manners that if they saw the 177:37 stranger again they were to take the 177:38 shortcut to my house and inform me 177:40 immediately but they were under no 177:42 circumstances to approach him and now we 177:45 come to the day of the theft 177:47 Sam manners was whitewashing the walls 177:50 of the church at this point Holmes stood 177:53 up I think it would be as well mr. 177:55 Kingsley to acquaint ourselves with the 177:57 geography of the church and its grounds 177:59 might be continued outside a rapturous 178:05 afternoon of sunshine and birdsong 178:07 greeted us as we left the vicarage and 178:09 walked out into the churchyard where the 178:11 Reverend Kingsley commenced our guided 178:14 tour I immediately began to loquacious
178:17 on a mental map of hatching and village 178:19 and its surrounding areas a practice I 178:21 learned in my military days and which 178:23 has served me 178:23 well in civilian life I could see in my 178:26 mind the large oblong of farmland about 178:29 two miles across with hatching and 178:31 village and the church almost at 178:33 opposite corners this substantial area 178:36 of land was surrounded on all four sides 178:39 by public roads mr. Kingsley took us 178:43 through the grounds on a grassy path 178:44 which ran along the side of the church 178:46 up against the gravestones of the 178:48 churchyard this is the wall of the 178:50 church 178:51 Sam manners was painting that morning 178:52 said the vicar he worked for a couple of 178:55 hours and a 12 o'clock I sent him off to 178:57 his cottage for his regular midday meal 178:59 I went back into the vicarage and took 179:01 up a book after about 20 minutes there 179:04 was a knock at the back door mrs. 179:07 manners was in a frantic State she and 179:09 Sam just seemed the man in the white 179:10 brimmed hat going into the church at I 179:13 told her to return immediately and to 179:15 tell Sam to meet me here at the crypto 179:17 and I came here directly to find myself 179:19 staring at a spectacular mess he pointed 179:24 to a flight of four steps just off the 179:26 path leading to a door low down in the 179:28 half painted church wall the door to the 179:32 Crypt he said from which the thief must 179:34 have made his exit and not expecting to 179:36 encounter a paint bucket presumably 179:38 kicked it flying in his haste to escape 179:40 a residual expanse of powdery white 179:44 still damp in places stained the 179:46 flagstones at the bottom of the steps
179:49 Sam was with me within seconds continued 179:52 the vicar 179:53 we could see nobody but we soon guessed 179:56 which way he'd gone if you'll follow me 179:58 gentlemen 179:59 the vicar led us a little further along 180:01 the grassy path to where the churchyard 180:03 ended in a wooden fence sit in the fence 180:06 was a style leading onto a footpath that 180:10 said the vicar was his escape route 180:13 beyond the style the ragged footpath 180:16 traversed the meadow through weeds and 180:18 rough grasses stretching away into the 180:21 distance along this narrow track could 180:24 be seen intermittent blobs of white 180:27 and I suppose the presumption would be 180:29 said Holmes that the trail of white 180:32 paint marks are the fleeing man's 180:34 footsteps yes exactly 180:36 obviously our man escaped across the 180:38 field to Harding Lane mr. Holmes my 180:41 companion nodded he stopped at the style 180:44 there are two white hand prints here he 180:47 said a right hand and a left hand the 180:50 fella was in some haste is indeed one 180:52 would expect Holmes crossed the style 180:55 athletically and walked a little way 180:57 into the field bending down he examined 181:00 one of the white marks then plucked up a 181:02 handful of grass and returned to us 181:04 Thank You mr. Kingsley I think I've seen 181:07 all I need to hear is there anything 181:08 else you think might help us yes said 181:12 the vicar enthusiastically back at the 181:14 house 181:15 Holmes requested that Sam manners and 181:18 his wife join us in the vicarage and a 181:21 little afterwards in mr. Kingsley's 181:23 kitchen mrs. manners set herself to the 181:26 task of making us all tea while Holmes
181:28 paced the stone floor slowly i sat at 181:32 the kitchen table with the vicar and Sam 181:34 manners a ruddy man in his early 40s 181:37 whom Holmes was in our dressing 181:39 so mr. manners you were the only person 181:41 to have caught a glimpse of the man in 181:43 the Hat on the day of the robbery I 181:45 believe so sir I was at the window 181:47 taking my lunch I saw this fellow in the 181:50 big air looking up and down the line a 181:52 few times as if to check all was clear 181:54 then entered the churchyard straight 181:57 away I said to miss his manners to go by 181:59 the back door and tell the vicar and you 182:02 yourself waited in the cottage until 182:04 mrs. manners returned I did sir 182:07 for how long not more than two minutes 182:10 she told me the vicar wanted me to meet 182:12 him out by the church I dashed right out 182:14 and found the Reverend Kingsley waiting 182:17 for you yes sir and the door to the 182:20 Crypt wide open whitewash everywhere hmm 182:23 the Crypt door had been locked before he 182:25 went to lunch though yes mr. Holmes 182:27 always was and that was when you noticed 182:30 the trail of pink exactly sir and set 182:32 off to follow it you must have only been 182:34 a short way behind the thief 182:37 mr. bean sir but he moved like the wind 182:39 we was across that meadow in less than 182:41 five minutes it's good for furlongs and 182:45 never caught up to him but what we found 182:47 at the opposite side clinched it here 182:50 mr. Kingsley interrupted Sam means this 182:53 he said and produced from a draw a 182:56 wide-brimmed black velvet hat 182:58 inexpensively made and in shape rather 183:01 resembling the sort of thing one sees 183:03 worn by picadors in pictures of 183:05 bullfights Holmes took the Hat and
183:07 turned it around in his hands it was me 183:10 found it sir said manners I was running 183:13 a bit ahead of the Reverend open to 183:15 catch up with our thief and as soon as I 183:17 was over the stile I saw it in the grass 183:19 by the road just where I suppose it had 183:22 fallen from his head well said Holmes 183:25 while I cannot see yet how that will 183:27 help us with your permission I shall 183:29 take it away with me of course said the 183:32 vicar we'll leave you then but by way of 183:35 that path across the fields I'd rather 183:37 like to follow the route taken by our 183:39 escaping felon and so it was that we 183:42 made our farewells and set out from the 183:44 churchyard across the wide meadow 183:46 towards Harding Lane although it had 183:49 been a week since the church thief had 183:51 fled there remained a clear trail of 183:54 white footprints across the entire width 183:57 of the field 183:59 the path ended at another style which 184:02 gave onto the shaded narrowness of 184:04 harding lane we calculated that to 184:07 return to hatching a village we could go 184:09 in either direction around the perimeter 184:11 of the meadow 184:12 we took the route west along the pinch 184:14 home road rather than going east and 184:16 back via the church as we walked my 184:20 companion looked repeatedly this way and 184:22 that into the fields at the roadside the 184:24 patches of scrubland and the bushes and 184:26 trees if you note anything you must let 184:29 me know Watson and I agreed that I would 184:32 but the fields lay bright and innocent 184:35 in the late afternoon air and the trees 184:37 were populated only by birds jubilantly 184:40 enjoying the sunshine then as we cross 184:44 the bridge over a gurgling stream Holmes
184:46 stopped halfway there's something there 184:49 do you see he pointed to the bank of the 184:52 stream above which a Hawthorn overhung 184:55 the rushing water something that bush a 184:58 pair of somethings unless I'm mistaken 185:01 we clambered over the balustrade of the 185:04 little bridge and dropped onto the bank 185:06 side the Hawthorn was thick and even at 185:09 close quarters my eyes were at pains to 185:11 penetrate into its depths Holmes using a 185:14 fallen branch the thickness of his arm 185:16 smashed his way into the bush his soft 185:19 cry of triumph told me he had found 185:22 something and he reached in and 185:24 retrieved in one hand a large pair of 185:27 leather boots what do you think Watson 185:31 is this or is this not the footwear of 185:33 our thief they're certainly large those 185:36 of a very big man I should say and there 185:39 are white marks on the soles should we 185:42 see how they fit those prints on the 185:44 church meadow I think we can assume that 185:46 Matt Watson but what would induce the 185:49 villain to jettison his boots here 185:51 perhaps I said he thought he was still 185:54 being chased and knew that if he were 185:56 caught wearing them he would be 185:57 recognized straight away equally 185:59 suspicious if he'd been found with no 186:01 boots at all said 186:03 though I suppose he may have carried a 186:05 spare pair of shoes with him Watson it 186:06 is fairly clear to me the thief is a 186:09 local man why unless he feared to be 186:12 recognized 186:13 would he indulge in such an elaborate 186:15 disguise let us go back to the jolly 186:18 bulldog that after all is where the 186:22 locals like to congregate in fact on our 186:26 return to the inn we found John Hampton
186:29 and Matthew Winslow the parish committee 186:31 men we had met earlier having returned 186:33 to or perhaps never having left the same 186:36 table as we sat down Holmes place beside 186:39 him on the floorboards the pair of boots 186:41 we had found in the hedgerow causing the 186:43 two gentlemen to look at them 186:45 inquisitively when Starkey the landlord 186:48 arrived to service the first thing he 186:50 said was your boats gentlemen not ours 186:54 said Holmes we found them in a bush in 186:56 Harding Lane strange what some folks who 187:00 throw away said the publican they looks 187:03 in prime order to me hardly been worn 187:06 Holmes replied and then he asked with 187:09 these boots fit you mr. Starkey and 187:11 seeing our companions on the nearby 187:13 table watching he added or either of you 187:16 gentlemen not me sir 187:19 Starkey replied rather more amiably than 187:21 I had expected I know my boots look 187:24 quite Ebert my feet and sabenpe as you 187:26 might think it's just I'm sorry at the 187:29 blisters could you find big boots help 187:33 your blisters I asked my experience of 187:36 patients suffering with that condition 187:37 telling me the opposite no sir to start 187:41 blisters I need to put on three pairs of 187:43 thick hose so always gets my boots well 187:45 over my proper foot size then rather 187:49 sardonically he said thank you though 187:51 for asking sir mr. Hampton on the next 187:55 table asked you might be asked evil 187:58 stuff what's your interest in boots 188:00 Holmes said it's an investigation we are 188:04 conducting in which boots have well some 188:07 scientific significance 188:10 then to me he whispered as our neighbor 188:12 turned away with a disbelieving grimace 188:15 it's as I thought Watson we have our
188:19 culprit 188:20 stocky no.not stocky one of these and I 188:26 indicated with my thumb the two men from 188:28 the parish committee Oh Watson who then 188:31 these boots Watson do you observe 188:33 nothing untoward about them no not at 188:36 all 188:36 the patting he knew there are a large 188:39 size apart from that they are 188:40 undistinguished on the contrary my 188:43 friend I would say they were 188:45 distinguished by a lack of pink I beg 188:48 your pardon 188:48 I mean Watson that there are white marks 188:51 on the soles to be sure but tell me pray 188:53 hammer man with his hands covered in 188:55 whitewash could have unlaced and removed 188:56 his boots without leaving marks on the 188:58 laces I don't know I said but it would 189:01 be a singular coincidence if someone 189:03 completely innocent had jettisoned a 189:06 pair of boots with paint on the soles 189:08 there is no coincidence home said these 189:11 boots were undoubtedly left here by the 189:13 thief but not in the way we were 189:15 intended to believe are you suggesting 189:17 that you know who the thief is the thief 189:21 Watson is the Reverend Kingsley himself 189:24 how could it be hoped there was no time 189:28 for him to escape across that meadow and 189:30 return to the vicarage in time to meet 189:31 Sam manners outside the church 189:33 how can a man chase himself across a 189:35 meadow as you know Watson we are due to 189:38 meet the bishop this evening at Trinity 189:40 vicarage so let us finish our meal I 189:43 will explain everything there 189:47 we had promised the bishop an intra 189:49 meeting at the vicarage to advise him of 189:51 our progress in the case which no doubt
189:54 to the clergyman expected to be only 189:56 moderate this soon after our previous 189:58 meeting but we had hardly settled to our 190:01 Shetty and mr. Kingsley's comfortable 190:03 parlour then Holmes declared 190:04 dramatically you will no doubt be 190:06 delighted to know gentlemen that dr. 190:08 Watson and I have solved the case I did 190:11 not think it my business to confess that 190:13 after my previous conversation with 190:15 Holmes I was as much in the dark as 190:17 anyone but I sat quietly sipping my 190:19 Shelly while I watched my friend open 190:21 the bag we had brought from the inn and 190:23 removed the two large white stained 190:26 boots we had found beside the stream the 190:29 Bishop's eyes widened I have to say he 190:32 looked incredulous mr. Kingsley too wore 190:36 a skeptical smirk and raised his 190:38 eyebrows please tell us mr. Holmes what 190:42 you think you have found dr. Watson and 190:45 I found these Holmes explained in a 190:47 bramble bush in Harding laying big boots 190:50 suggested we were seeking a big man yet 190:53 the footprints told us his stride was 190:56 short it was our landlord at the jolly 190:59 Bulldog who enabled me to understand the 191:00 dichotomy he is a man who buys bigger 191:03 boots than his foot size in order to 191:04 accommodate extra socks our villain 191:07 however bought his bigger boots in order 191:09 to accommodate another pair of shoes 191:11 leaving the footprints of a bigger man 191:13 than he is himself is that not so mr. 191:18 Kingsley 191:19 the young vicar I thought at the time if 191:22 he was guilty of anything was heroically 191:26 cool about it he betrayed nothing but 191:29 genteel surprised are you suggesting 191:33 that I was the thief mr. Holmes Holmes
191:37 said the bishop gravely from what I 191:40 understand mr. Kingsley and his Verger 191:43 practically managed to catch up with the 191:45 thief on that fateful day what an earth 191:48 do you think is the evidence for this 191:50 assertion my lord Holmes said 191:53 confidently mr. Kingsley wished to 191:56 embezzle the money raised by the sale of 191:58 the hatching ham Grail and decided to 192:00 construct a piece of theatre which would 192:01 deceive investigators he not only 192:03 invented the spectral man in the large 192:05 brimmed hat he also on several occasions 192:08 paraded in the Hat in the high-collared 192:11 coat and ensured that mr. and mrs. 192:13 manners caught a glimpse of him on the 192:15 day of the theft having sent Sam manners 192:17 to lunch he came back here to the 192:19 vicarage assumed the disguise showed 192:22 himself at the cottage window where 192:23 manners was eating and proceeded into 192:26 the churchyard dashing back to the 192:29 vicarage again he slipped out of his 192:30 cloak and hat and waited for mrs. 192:32 manners knock on the door he told mrs. 192:35 manners to summon her husband and 192:36 rendezvous with him outside the crypt 192:39 door and then what said mr. Kingsley 192:42 insolent with fury I put on these boots 192:45 unlocked the church went down to the 192:48 Crypt took the money escaped the church 192:50 jumped the style and ran across a mile 192:52 of the field then dashed a mile back 192:54 took off the boots and waited calmly for 192:56 Sam to arrive where upon I went chasing 192:58 off across the field again that would 193:02 indeed have been ingenious to do in two 193:05 minutes what an athlete could not do in 193:07 20 yes indeed 193:10 the question as my friend dr. Watson has
193:12 clarified is precisely how may a man 193:15 chase himself across a meadow 193:18 and the answer asked the bishop no one 193:22 will ever know what points you took the 193:24 money mr. Kingsley as the key holder you 193:27 are free to do it at your leisure and 193:28 for all one knows it may never have been 193:31 in the crypt safe in the first place 193:33 certainly there was no need for you to 193:35 waste time on it on the day we are 193:37 discussing you wished to ensure there 193:40 was just enough time with mr. manners at 193:42 lunch for you to get to the crypt door 193:43 and kick over the white wash bucket and 193:45 of course you had given mr. manners the 193:48 task of whitewashing that particular 193:49 part of the church wall simply to ensure 193:52 that there would be a bucket there to be 193:53 upturned 193:54 that was all you needed to do because 193:57 and here is the thing you had made the 194:01 footprints across the field on the night 194:04 before you had also I have no doubt 194:08 planted the boots in the hedgerow on the 194:09 same occasion making sure they had 194:11 plenty of white paint on the soles 194:12 foolishly you forgot the dauber little 194:16 on the shoelaces at this point The Vicar 194:20 dropped into a chair as though all 194:23 resistance had suddenly fled him and I 194:26 believe that his Holmes proceeded we all 194:30 realized that he was now approaching a 194:32 devastating conclusion at some out of 194:34 that night mr. Kingsley having splashed 194:37 so much whitewash on the underside of 194:39 the boots that your hands were gloved 194:40 with pink you planted your white printed 194:43 trail along the footpath across the 194:45 meadow to harding Lane afterwards who 194:48 dropped the wide-brimmed hat by the
194:49 stile and jettisoned the boots in a 194:51 bushel amount and I went to Paddington 194:54 this morning to meet the consignment the 194:57 train was there the gold was not I see 195:02 said Holmes stolen undoubtedly how much 195:07 were talking four or five Millions mr. 195:12 Holmes that's a large loss is the gold 195:14 insured indeed it is but you know 195:17 insurance companies mr. Holmes they are 195:20 ever suspicious and the circumstances of 195:23 the Gold's disappearance are to say the 195:25 least rather strange 195:27 the details mr. Masterson said my friend 195:30 if you please 195:31 well continued Masterson tapping a thick 195:35 cylinder of ash into the ashtray 195:38 I had asked a commissioners special an 195:40 overnight train and also insisted that 195:43 it be discrete not armored or escorted 195:47 or in any way having the appearance of a 195:50 specially secured conveyance I was 195:54 offered the charter of a passenger train 195:56 which returns empty from Bristol to 195:57 London once a week and which railway man 196:00 jokingly call the bad luck special not 196:03 because anything has ever happened to it 196:06 but because it normally consists of 13 196:08 empty passenger coaches as a deed it did 196:12 on this occasion I insisted that the 196:15 gold be packed in steel containers each 196:18 locked with a unique key you will 196:21 appreciate the goal itself gentlemen is 196:24 a weighty metal so each box contained 196:27 only as many bars as would enable the 196:29 containers to be carried in order to 196:32 prevent the possibility of them being 196:34 removed from the moving train I ensured 196:37 that while it was small enough to go 196:39 through the open carriage door they were 196:41 too large to pass through the windows
196:44 even with the windows slit down to their 196:46 largest aperture I then arranged for the 196:50 doors of the bullion carriage to be 196:51 locked from the outside so they could 196:53 not be open until the train reached 196:55 London the train was empty then apart 196:58 from the driver and fahman of the 197:00 locomotive no mr. Holmes 197:02 it is railway practice for all trains to 197:05 have a guard a practice I was very happy 197:08 to comply with since it meant my 197:09 consignment would have an overseer 197:11 throughout its journey and to this end 197:13 all the steel cases were loaded into the 197:16 last coach of the Train 197:18 coach 13 where the guard could keep a 197:21 constant watch on them the man employed 197:24 for the job was a mr. Lyons mr. John 197:28 Lyons 197:29 amateur and trusted employee of the 197:31 Railway Company 197:33 here's strangely mr. Matheson stopped 197:36 and smiled I I inquired whether he had 197:41 ever worked on the French Railways guard 197:43 Lyons dizzy guard DeLeon Holmes smiled 197:50 politely and noted forgive me gentlemen 197:53 I could never resist a pun to continue 197:56 the train left Bristol at 3:00 this 197:58 morning as scheduled but when it arrived 198:01 at Paddington at 6:00 the steel boxes of 198:04 gold were gone mr. Holmes this was an 198:08 impossible robbery the train stopped 198:11 only once for a minute or so to take on 198:14 water hardly time to unload a single box 198:17 of bullion let alone a hundred of the 198:19 darn things weighing in at a hundred and 198:21 fifty pounds of peace and the god asked 198:25 Holmes Lyons claimed that he fell asleep 198:28 some way into the journey awoke to find 198:30 the bullying disappeared he's being held
198:32 at Paddington along with the driver and 198:34 engineer but all ardently protests their 198:37 innocence and with regard to other 198:39 suspects can you think of anyone in your 198:41 organization who might feel inclined to 198:43 take advantage of you Masterson pinched 198:45 his lips and looked embarrassed well if 198:49 I may confide something to you in the 198:50 strictest confidence my estranged wife 198:55 Laura still has shares in the company 198:58 she believes that she should have more 199:00 there is some bitterness in this regard 199:05 however I know Laura well enough to 199:07 doubt that she is a thief 199:09 my friend simply said Thank You mr. 199:12 Masterson I will certainly take the case 199:14 on would you be so good as to wire 199:16 Bristol and inform them that dr. Watson 199:19 and I are on our way I will sir 199:21 you mean to go there today indeed yes as 199:25 soon as I have made a check or two at 199:26 Paddington Station 199:27 well I surely thank you I can think of 199:31 no better hands in which to leave the 199:33 case of the bad lock special than those 199:35 of mr. sheerluck holmes 199:39 Holmes did not smile I never leave 199:43 anything to chance 199:44 mr. Masterson perspicacity and reason 199:47 are the tools I employ forgive me mr. 199:50 Holmes as I say I am fairly attracted to 199:54 puns we will keep you in touch Holmes 199:57 said with all developments within half 200:02 an hour we were at Paddington but before 200:04 boarding the Bristol train Holmes wished 200:06 to make certain that the so called bad 200:08 luck special was secured the train had 200:11 been shunted into a siding and we were 200:13 relieved to find the police 200:14 responsibility for the case had fallen
200:16 to inspector Stanley Hopkins a young but 200:19 ambitious detective with whom Holmes and 200:22 myself had had numerous dealings in the 200:23 past hearing that we were being engaged 200:26 by mr. Benedict Masterson the inspector 200:29 agreed to watch over the train and make 200:30 sure it remained undisturbed until our 200:32 return to London it was still raining 200:35 when we arrived at Bristol where we met 200:38 the station foreman George Willits 200:41 an amiable man in his fifties who gave 200:43 the comforting impression of having been 200:45 in his job for a lifetime and knowing 200:47 the whole business inside out Willets 200:50 had been on duty the previous night and 200:52 took us directly to the goods platform 200:54 from which the bullion train had left 200:56 though he did his best to be of 200:58 assistance 200:59 he looked painfully weary I apologize 201:03 you gents for my appearance he said but 201:07 I was on night shift last night seen out 201:09 the special was just about to go off 201:11 when the message came from London about 201:13 the theft so I've not yet been on the 201:16 bed we won't keep you long 201:18 will its Holmes said I understand you 201:22 were here when the bullion boxes were 201:23 being loaded 201:24 I was sir supervise them myself watch 201:28 them being lifted in the guards carriage 201:30 at this very spot before I sent the 201:32 signal to bring in the rest of the train 201:34 the guards copse was not connected to 201:36 the train while it was loaded that's 201:38 right sir rest of the train was shunted 201:41 out of the siding and coupled up just 201:43 before she would you to leave and who 201:45 brought her in Tommy Marriott the 201:47 engineer and his farm and Pat McGlinchey
201:49 old hands not quite so much of 201:53 myself mr. ohms but they've been around 201:55 the best part of 10 years they're sound 201:58 men good 201:59 now if you'll bear with me a little 202:01 longer will it's I'd like to ask you a 202:03 little more about the gold itself how 202:05 many men were involved in loading the 202:07 carriage well sir 20-some operation took 202:11 four men load each box to inside the 202:14 carriage to outside damn heavy things if 202:17 you'll excuse me sir 202:18 over a hundred weight apiece and damn 202:20 awkward squeezing him through them 202:22 narrow doors it was a hell of a job and 202:24 how long would you say the whole 202:25 business took but about half past 202:27 midnight when they started and about a 202:29 quarter before 2:00 by the time they 202:31 finished so almost eighty minutes and 202:34 after it was loaded was there any delay 202:37 before departure no sir the rest of the 202:39 train as I say was reversed in from the 202:41 Soylent John Lyons the guard got aboard 202:44 and the door the guards coach was locked 202:46 from without sir as per our instructions 202:48 one final question will its if I may I'm 202:52 informed the train stopped enroute yes 202:54 sir she was scheduled to hold up for a 202:56 minute or so at Swindon to take on water 202:58 it stopped for no longer than that and 203:00 at no other time no sir the signalman 203:04 would know for sure she been held over 203:05 for more than a minute and that's 203:06 already been checked Holmes seemed to 203:10 pause for a moment while he considered 203:12 all this information and that he said 203:14 well it's I'm most grateful for your 203:16 detailed and I have no doubt accurate 203:19 recollections now if you will excuse us
203:21 dr. Watson and I will take the next 203:23 train back to London and leave you to go 203:26 home and get some sleep 203:29 inspector Hopkins was at Paddington when 203:32 we arrived and Holmes immediately 203:34 requested that he arranged for us to 203:36 speak to the rail women who had 203:38 commandeered the bad luck special on the 203:40 previous night Marriott and McGlinchey 203:42 the engineer and farmen and the guard 203:44 Lyons in a dark office of the rail 203:48 women's quarters on one of the grimmer 203:51 outer platforms of Paddington Station 203:53 the three men sat disconsolately on 203:56 rickety wooden chairs it occurred to me 203:59 that they had by now being detained in 204:01 this dismal place for several hours and 204:04 when Holmes and I were introduced to 204:06 Lyons he barely had the energy to not to 204:09 us but he did speak his words almost 204:13 drowned in the muffler which half 204:15 covered his mouth I daresay you think me 204:18 a thief mr. Rome's 204:20 from what you're a bird I'm not sir but 204:23 why I have done is derelict majubi so 204:27 maybe our deserve what's coming I want 204:30 to assure you mr. Lyons Holmes said that 204:33 my intention here is to uncover the 204:35 truth and uncover it I will if you are 204:38 as you say innocent of any crime you 204:40 will have nothing to fear from the law 204:41 but tell me how you think you failed in 204:44 your duty but I were meant to keep me on 204:46 the shipment sir weren't I but I fell 204:48 asleep it's not something I make a habit 204:50 of but this time I did and woke to find 204:53 the bullying gone a nightmare sir I 204:56 suppose I should have stopped the train 204:58 with a pull cord but I was in a bit of a 205:00 daze how long do you think you slept I
205:03 thought about that sir I remember us 205:06 passing through the White Horse Valley 205:08 just before Swindon and when I woke up 205:11 we were about ten miles out of it and 205:13 passed the lamzy water tower Holmes 205:15 looked towards the farm again she a 205:18 plump man with rich black curls when you 205:22 stopped to fill the tank did you notice 205:23 anything odd no sir it was a dark night 205:27 and there are no lights they received 205:29 the fire from the boiler he couldn't see 205:31 20 feet beyond the Train 205:33 Holmes turn back two lines I would like 205:36 you to describe to me the events of 205:37 yesterday evening well sir I wasn't you 205:41 to start my shift until 1:00 in the 205:42 morning so around about 12:00 I had a 205:44 brown ale in the row wayman's canteen 205:46 and collected some sandwiches and a can 205:48 of tea for the journey just tea and 205:50 sandwiches 205:51 yes sir and a piece of seed cake if 205:55 that's not too much detail there is no 205:58 such thing as too much detail please 206:01 continue with your story well at about 206:04 half-past one I made my way over to the 206:06 goods platform they just finished 206:08 loading the bullion entity Anchorage and 206:10 the other part the train had been 206:11 brought in and coupled up a gentleman in 206:14 his suit gave us final instructions to 206:16 the engineering farm and Tommy and Pat 206:18 here he said the train was cleared to 206:20 London with just the one brief water 206:22 stop which was under no circumstances to 206:25 take more than three minutes and if 206:27 there should be an emergency they won't 206:28 leave the cab at that point they locked 206:31 me in with the gold in at exactly 2:00 206:33 a.m. we were on our way about a half
206:36 hour after I had me sandwiches and a few 206:39 sweets of tea they were a clear night 206:41 and I was sat by one of the windows and 206:42 watched the stars 206:44 contented with everything so that's when 206:46 I must have dozed and well what happened 206:50 after that you know Thank You lions said 206:54 Holmes then he turned to young inspector 206:57 Hopkins with a new fierce gleam in his 206:59 eye if we may Hopkins I should now like 207:02 to inspect the train we made our way 207:06 along the track to the engine sheds and 207:08 after checking the locomotive searched 207:10 through each of the 13 coaches whose 207:12 number I carefully counted myself until 207:15 we arrived at the last the guards coach 207:17 in which the gold had been transported 207:20 now I have been assured Holmes said to 207:24 Hopkins that the doors of this coach 207:26 were locked from the outside for the 207:27 duration of the journey yes mr. Holmes 207:31 yet it was possible to move along the 207:33 train through the coaches via the 207:35 connecting doors yes and what are the 207:38 other coaches I checked them that outer 207:41 doors were all locked too but it would 207:43 have been impossible any way for the 207:44 thieves to have moved the containers 207:45 along the train to 207:46 from another carriage the boxes of gold 207:49 were too big to pass through the 207:50 connecting doors all that had been 207:52 carefully calculated but is it quite 207:55 certain I ventured that the boxes could 207:57 not have been opened and the gold 207:59 removed bar by bar quite certain said 208:02 Hopkins not without the original keys 208:05 they were unique to each box 208:08 besides Watson said Holmes if the boxes 208:11 had been open here then with or without
208:13 the gold they would still surely be here 208:15 now speaking of which Hopkins the 208:18 carriage is just as it was found when 208:21 the doors were first opened this morning 208:22 as I said mr. Holmes 208:24 nothing's been touched Holmes took an 208:27 initial sweeping glance around the 208:28 carriage interior then stooped to pick 208:31 something up from the floor this brown 208:33 paper I presumed the wrapping for the 208:36 guard Lyons's savages yes this is County 208:40 yes curious that he had a can of tea no 208:46 no curious that a man under stress 208:50 should be so painstakingly tidy I don't 208:53 understand sir never mind what do you 208:56 make of this 208:57 Hopkins Holmes had picked up from the 209:00 corner a loop of scarlet fabric silken 209:03 and ruffled I don't know mr. Holmes I 209:07 was completely baffled by it it seems to 209:11 be a small decorative item of some sort 209:13 from a lady's wardrobe a hair tie I 209:16 should think I said how might it have 209:19 got here I don't know doctor I'm sure 209:22 but I suppose it's theoretically 209:24 possible that someone might have 209:26 concealed herself in another carriage 209:28 Holmes had put the object to his nose 209:31 there is a perfume to it he said but 209:35 faint as though it had not been warm for 209:37 some time 209:39 could it belong to the thief I asked 209:43 tentatively possibly said Holmes though 209:46 I think that might have been a thief too 209:49 many he stooped to replace the scarlet 209:52 fabric on the floor of the carriage I 209:54 think we are close to a conclusion 209:56 Watson Hopkins I should like to talk to 210:00 the guard lions again and to the driver 210:02 and his farmen please make sure that
210:04 there is at least one other police 210:06 officer present and we must be sure to 210:08 invite mr. Benedict Masterson to our 210:10 little de Namur since she's been kind 210:13 enough to pay the fee for this 210:14 investigation by the time Masterson 210:18 arrived the clock was approaching 9:00 210:20 and we sat in the old mess room bathed 210:22 in dingy yellow Gaslight the rain 210:25 rattled ceaselessly on the roof and 210:28 windows and when we were all assembled 210:30 the three weary rail women along with 210:33 Benedict Masterson inspector Hopkins a 210:36 junior officer and Holmes and myself the 210:39 gathering became hushed and expectant 210:43 Masterson said well this has certainly 210:47 been a baffling business mr. Holmes but 210:50 I assume we're here because you've 210:51 picked up some clues along the way you 210:54 are certainly a man equal to his 210:56 reputation sir 210:57 the inspector mentioned a red silk 211:00 trinket of some sort 211:02 yes Holmes said he produced the item 211:06 from his pocket 211:06 this piece of perfumed fabric the clear 211:10 message is that someone was concealed in 211:12 the carriage with the bullion I see and 211:15 moreover i could' that the concealed 211:18 person was probably female Masterson 211:22 appeared a little shaken female you say 211:26 [Music] 211:28 if I'm a said Holmes we will return to 211:32 that later mr. Lyons 211:35 let us revert for the present to the 211:37 subject of your sandwiches my sandwiches 211:40 again sir indeed the sandwiches you took 211:45 on board the train last night together 211:46 with the seed cake in the can of cold 211:48 tea you say you at them just before you
211:51 fell asleep 211:52 yes sir you ate the sandwiches and the 211:55 cake you dozed off you woke up again and 211:58 the gold was gone yes sir that's how it 212:02 happened and when you came around and 212:04 realized the gold had gone you say it 212:06 was like a nightmare 212:08 yes mr. Holmes you were very agitated 212:11 certainly was too agitated I expect to 212:15 sweep the floor of the carriage tomorrow 212:17 sir 212:18 I presume you did not sweep the floor of 212:21 the carriage at that point in that 212:22 disturbed state no sir I didn't 212:26 with respect sir that's not my job quite 212:29 I wouldn't expect you to which makes it 212:31 very difficult to explain why when I 212:33 examined the guards coach this afternoon 212:35 I found not a single crumb on the floor 212:38 now can anyone here tell me