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Section 7. 
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, 

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Volume 1. 
This is a Librivox recording. 

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All Librivox recordings are in 
the public domain. 

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For more information or to 
volunteer, please visit 

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librivox.org. 
Recording by David Lewis 

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Richardson. 
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, 

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Volume 1. 
The Horse of the Invisible by 

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William Hope Hodgson Part 1 When
I reached 427, Cheney walked 

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Chelsea. 
I found Kornacki sitting alone 

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as I came into the room. 
He rose with a perceptively 

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stiff movement and extended his 
left hand. 

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His face seemed to be badly 
scarred and bruised, and his 

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right hand was bandaged. 
He shook hands and offered me 

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his paper, which I refused. 
Then he passed me a handful of 

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photographs and returned to his 
reading. 

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Now. 
That is just. 

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Kornacki. 
Not a word had come from him, 

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and not a question from me. 
He would tell us all about it 

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later. 
I spent about half an hour 

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looking at the photographs, 
which were chiefly snapped some 

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by flashlight, of an 
extraordinarily pretty girl, 

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though in some of the 
photographs it was wonderful 

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that her prettiness was so 
evident. 

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For so frightened and startled 
was her expression that it was 

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difficult not to believe that 
she had been photographed in the

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presence of some imminent and 
overwhelming danger. 

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The bulk of the photographs were
of interiors, of different rooms

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and passages, and in everyone 
the girl might be seen either 

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full length in the distance or 
closer, with perhaps only a hand

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or arm or portion of the head or
dress included in the 

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photograph. 
All of these had evidently been 

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taken with some definite aim. 
They did not have for its first 

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purpose the picturing of the 
girl, but obviously of her 

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surroundings, and they made me 
very curious, as you can 

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imagine. 
Near the bottom of the pile, 

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however, I came across something
definitely extraordinary. 

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It was a photograph of the girl 
standing abrupt and clear in the

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great blaze of a flashlight, as 
was plain to be seen. 

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Her face was turned a little 
upward, as if she had been 

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frightened suddenly by some 
noise, and directly above her, 

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as though half formed and coming
down out of the shadows, was the

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shape of a single enormous hoof.
I examined this photograph for a

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long time without understanding 
it. 

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More than that, it had probably 
to do with some queer case in 

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which Kornacki was interested. 
When Jessup, Arkwright, and 

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Taylor came in, Kornacki quietly
held out his hand for the 

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photographs, which I returned in
the same spirit, and afterwards 

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we all went in to dinner. 
When we had spent a quiet but 

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profitable hour at the table, we
pulled our chairs round and made

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ourselves snug, and Kornacki 
began. 

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I've been N, he said, speaking 
slowly and painfully between 

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puffs at his pipe up to Hiskins 
of East Lancashire. 

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It has been a pretty strange 
business all round, as I fancy 

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chaps who will think when I have
finished. 

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I knew before I went something 
about the horse story, as I've 

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heard it called, but I never 
thought of it as coming my way. 

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Somehow. 
Also, I know now that I never 

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considered it seriously, in 
spite of my rule always to keep 

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an open mind. 
Funny creatures, we humans. 

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Well, I got a wire asking for an
appointment, which of course 

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told me that there was some 
trouble. 

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On the date I fixed, old Captain
Hiskins himself came up to see 

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me. 
He told me a great many new 

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details about the horse story, 
though naturally I'd always 

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known the main points and 
understood that if the first 

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child were a girl, that girl 
would be haunted by the horse 

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during her courtship. 
It is, as you can see, an 

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extraordinary story, and though 
I have always known about it, 

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I've never thought it to be 
anything more than an old time 

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legend. 
As I've already hinted. 

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You see, for seven generations 
the Hiskins family have had men 

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children for their first born, 
and even the Hiskins themselves 

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have long considered the tale to
be little more than a myth. 

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To come to the present, the 
eldest child of the reigning 

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family is a girl, and she has 
been often teased and warned in 

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jest by her friends and 
relations that she is the first 

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girl to be the eldest for seven 
generations, and that she would 

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have to keep her men friends at 
arm's length or go into a 

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nunnery if she hoped to escape 
the haunting. 

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And this, I think, shows us how 
thoroughly the tale has grown to

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be considered as nothing worthy 
of the least serious thought. 

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Don't you think so? 
Two months ago Miss Hiskins 

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became engaged to Beaumont, a 
young naval officer, and on the 

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evening of the very day of the 
engagement, before it was even 

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formally announced, a most 
extraordinary thing happened 

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which resulted in Captain 
Hisskins making the appointment 

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and my ultimately going down to 
their place to look into the 

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thing. 
From the old family records and 

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papers that were trusted to me, 
I found that there could be no 

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possible doubt that prior to 
something like 150 years ago 

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there were some very 
extraordinary and disagreeable 

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coincidences to put the thing in
the least emotional way. 

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In the whole of the two 
centuries prior to that date 

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there were five first born girls
out of a total of 7 generations 

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of the family. 
Each of these girls grew up to 

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maidenhood and each became 
engaged and each one died during

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the period of engagement, 2 by 
suicide, one by falling from a 

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window and one from a broken 
heart, presumably heart failure 

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owing to sudden shock through 
fright. 

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The 5th girl was killed 1 
evening in the park round the 

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house. 
But just how? 

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There seemed to be no exact 
knowledge, only that there was 

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an impression that she'd been 
kicked by a horse. 

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She was dead when found. 
Now you see, all of these deaths

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might be attributed in a way, 
even the suicides, to natural 

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causes. 
I mean, it's distinct from 

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supernatural, you see. 
Yet in every case the maidens 

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had undoubtedly suffered some 
extraordinary and terrifying 

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experiences during their various
courtships. 

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For in all of the records that 
was mentioned, either of the 

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neighing of an unseen horse or 
of the sounds of an invisible 

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horse galloping, as well as many
other peculiar and quite 

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inexplicable manifestations. 
You begin to understand, though,

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I think, just how extraordinary 
a business it was. 

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And I was asked to look into I 
gathered from the records that 

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the haunting of the girls was so
constant and horrible that two 

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of the girls lovers fairly ran 
away from their ladyloves. 

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And I think it was this, more 
than anything else, that made me

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feel that there had been 
something more in it than a mere

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succession of uncomfortable 
coincidences. 

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I got a hold of these facts 
before I'd been many hours in 

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the house, and after this I went
pretty carefully into the 

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details of the things that had 
happened on the night of Miss 

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Hiskin's engagement to Beaumont.
It seems that as the two of them

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were going through the big lower
corridor just after dusk, and 

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before the lamps had been 
lighted, there had been a sudden

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horrible neighing in the 
corridor close to them. 

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Immediately afterwards Beaumont 
received a tremendous blow or 

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kick, which broke his right 
forearm. 

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Then the rest of the family came
running to know what was wrong 

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and the servants lights were 
brought in the corridor and 

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afterwards the whole house 
searched, but nothing unusual 

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was found. 
You can imagine the excitement 

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in the house and the half 
incredulous, half believing talk

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about the old legend. 
Later on, in the middle of the 

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night the old captain was 
awakened by the sound of a great

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horse galloping round and round 
the house. 

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Several times after this, both 
Beaumont and the girl said that 

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they had heard the sounds of 
hooves near to them after dusk 

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in several of the rooms and 
corridors. 

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Three nights later, Beaumont was
awakened by a strange naying in 

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the night time, seeming to come 
from the direction of his 

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sweetheart's bedroom. 
He ran. 

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Hurriedly for her. 
Father and the two of them raced

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to her room. 
They found her awake and I'll 

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was sheer terror, having been 
awakened by the naying seemingly

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close to her bed. 
The night before I arrived there

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had been a fresh happening, and 
they were all in a frightfully 

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nervy state, as you can imagine.
I spent most of the first day, 

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as I have hinted, in getting 
hold of details, but after 

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dinner I slacked off and played 
billiards all the evening with 

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Beaumont and Miss Hiskins. 
We stopped about 10:00 and had 

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coffee, and I got Beaumont to 
give me full particulars about 

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the thing that had happened the 
night before. 

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He and Miss Hiskins had been 
sitting quietly on her aunt's 

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boudoir whilst the old lady 
chaperoned them behind a book. 

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It was grain dusk, and the lamp 
was at her end of the table. 

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The rest of the house was not 
yet lit, as the evening had come

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earlier than usual. 
Well, it seems that the door 

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into the hall was open, and 
suddenly the girl said, SH, 

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what's that? 
They both listened, and then 

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Beaumont heard it, the sound of 
a horse outside the front door. 

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Your father, he suggested, but 
she reminded him that her father

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was not riding. 
Of course they were both ready 

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to feel queer, as you can 
suppose, but Beaumont made an 

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effort to shake this off and 
went into the hall to see 

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whether anyone was at the 
entrance. 

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It was pretty dark in the hall, 
and he could see the glass 

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panels of the inner draught door
clear cut in the darkness of the

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hall. 
He walked over to the glass and 

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looked through into the drive 
beyond, but there was nothing 

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insight. 
He felt nervous and puzzled and 

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opened the inner door and went 
out onto the carriage circle 

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almost directly afterwards. 
The great old Door. 

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Swung to with a crash. 
Behind him he told me that he'd 

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had a sudden awful feeling of 
having been trapped in some way.

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This is how he put it. 
He whirled round and gripped the

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door handle, but something 
seemed to be holding it with a 

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vast grip on the other side. 
Then, before it could be fixed 

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in his mind that this was so, he
was able to turn the handle and 

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open the door. 
He paused a moment in the 

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doorway and peered into the 
hall, for he had hardly steadied

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his mind sufficiently to know 
whether he was really frightened

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or not. 
Then he heard his sweetheart 

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blow him a kiss out of the 
greyness of the big unlit hall, 

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and he knew that she had 
followed him from the boudoir. 

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He blew her a kiss back and 
stepped inside the doorway, 

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meaning to go to her. 
And then suddenly, in a flash of

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sickening knowledge, he knew 
that it was not his sweetheart 

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who had blown him that kiss. 
He knew that something was 

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trying to tempt him alone into 
the darkness, and that the girl 

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had never left the boudoir. 
He jumped back, and in the same 

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instant of time he heard the 
kiss again nearer to him. 

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He called out at the top of his 
voice. 

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Mary, stay in the boudoir. 
Don't move out of the boudoir 

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until I come to you. 
He heard a call, something in 

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reply from the boudoir, and then
he had struck a clump of a dozen

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or so matches and was holding 
them above his head and looking 

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round the hall. 
There was no one in it, but even

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as the matches burned out, there
came the sounds of a great horse

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galloping down the empty drive. 
Now, you see, both he and the 

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girl had heard the sounds of the
horse galloping, but when I 

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questioned more closely, I found
that the aunt had heard nothing,

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though it is true she is a bit 
deaf, and she was further back 

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in the room. 
Of course, both he and Miss 

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Hiskins had been in an extremely
nervous state and ready to hear 

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anything. 
The door might have been slammed

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by a sudden puff of wind, owing 
to some inner door being opened,

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and As for the grip on the 
handle, that may have been 

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nothing more than the snake 
catching. 

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With regard to the kisses and 
the sounds of the horse 

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galloping, I pointed out that 
these might have seemed ordinary

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enough sounds if they had been 
only cool enough to reason. 

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As I told him, and as he knew, 
the sounds of a horse galloping 

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carry a long way on the wind, so
that what he had heard might 

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have been nothing more than a 
horse being ridden some distance

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away. 
And As for the kiss, plenty of 

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quiet noises, The rustle of a 
paper or a leaf have a somewhat 

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similar sound, especially if one
is in an overstrung condition 

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and imagining things. 
I was preaching this little 

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sermon on common sense versus 
hysteria as we put out the 

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lights and left the billiard 
room, but neither Beaumont nor 

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Miss Hiskins would agree that 
there had been any fancy on 

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00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,840
their parts. 
We had come out of the billiard 

225
00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,240
room by this and were going 
along the passage, and I was 

226
00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:56,680
still doing my best to make both
of them see the ordinary, 

227
00:12:56,680 --> 00:13:00,400
commonplace possibilities of the
happening, when what killed my 

228
00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:04,880
pig, as the saying goes, was the
sound of a hoof in the dark 

229
00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:10,160
billiard room we had just left. 
I felt the creep come on me in a

230
00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,000
flash, up my spine and over the 
back of my head. 

231
00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,160
Miss Hiskins whooped like a 
child with whooping cough and 

232
00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,920
ran up the passage giving little
gasping screams. 

233
00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,840
Beaumont, however, ripped around
on his heels and jumped back a 

234
00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,840
couple of yards. 
I gave back a bit too, as you 

235
00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:31,040
can understand. 
There it is, he said in a low, 

236
00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,480
breathless voice. 
Perhaps you'll believe me now. 

237
00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,800
There's certainly something, I 
whispered back, and never taking

238
00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,000
my gaze off the closed door of 
the billiard room. 

239
00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,480
Hush, he muttered. 
There it is again. 

240
00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,360
There was a sound like a great 
horse pacing round and round the

241
00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:51,240
billiard room with slow, 
deliberate steps. 

242
00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:56,720
A horrible cold fried took me so
that it seemed impossible to 

243
00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,840
take a full breath. 
You know the feeling, and then I

244
00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:01,760
know we must have walked 
backwards, for we found 

245
00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,200
ourselves suddenly at the 
opening of the long passage. 

246
00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:08,680
We stopped there and listened. 
The sounds went on steadily, 

247
00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:12,480
with a horrible sort of 
deliberateness, as if the brute 

248
00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:16,280
were taking a sort of malicious 
gusto in walking about all over 

249
00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:17,920
the room in which we had just 
been. 

250
00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:24,240
Do you understand what I mean? 
Then there was a pause and a 

251
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,680
long time of absolute quiet, 
except for an excited whispering

252
00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,640
from some of the people down in 
the big hall. 

253
00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,520
The sound came plainly up the 
wide stairway. 

254
00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,080
I fancy they were gathered round
Miss Hiskins with some notion of

255
00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,320
protecting her, I should think. 
Beaumont and I stood there at 

256
00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,400
the end of the passage for about
5 minutes listening for any 

257
00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:48,520
noise in the billiard room. 
Then I realised what a horrible 

258
00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,120
funk I was in and I said to him,
I'm going to see what's in 

259
00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,240
there, so am I, he answered. 
He was pretty white, but he had.

260
00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,680
Heaps of pluck. 
I told him to wait a minute and 

261
00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,200
I made a dash into my bedroom 
and got my camera and 

262
00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,920
flashlight. 
I slipped my revolver into my 

263
00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,040
right hand pocket and a knuckle 
dust drove my left fist where it

264
00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,040
was ready and yet would not stop
me from being able to work my 

265
00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,800
flashlight. 
Then I ran back to Beaumont. 

266
00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,240
He held out his right hand to 
show me that he had his pistol, 

267
00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,640
and I nodded, but whispered to 
him not to be too quick to 

268
00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,600
shoot, as there might be some 
silly practical joking at work. 

269
00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,360
After all. 
He had got a lamp from a bracket

270
00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,880
in the upper hall which he was 
holding in the crook of his 

271
00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,040
damaged arm, so that we had a 
good light. 

272
00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:35,200
Then we went down the passage 
towards the billiard room, and 

273
00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,720
you can imagine that we were a 
pretty nervous couple. 

274
00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,880
All this time there had not been
a sound, but abruptly, when we 

275
00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,360
were within a couple of yards of
the door, we heard the sudden 

276
00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,320
clumping of a hoof on the solid 
parquet floor of the billiard 

277
00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,840
room. 
In the instant afterward it 

278
00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:54,920
seemed to me that the whole 
place shook beneath the 

279
00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,800
ponderous hoof falls of some 
huge thing coming towards the 

280
00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,640
door. 
Both Beaumont and I gave back a 

281
00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,000
pace or two, and then realized 
and hung on to our carriage, as 

282
00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,720
he might say, and waited. 
The great tread came right up to

283
00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:16,200
the door and then stopped, and 
there was an instant of absolute

284
00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:21,680
silence, except that, so far as 
I was concerned, the pulse of my

285
00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,000
throat and temples almost 
deafened me. 

286
00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,960
I dare say we waited quite half 
a minute, and then came the 

287
00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,400
further restless clumping of a 
great hoof. 

288
00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,920
Immediately afterward the sound 
came right on, as if some 

289
00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,760
invisible thing passed through 
the closed door and the passage,

290
00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,720
and I know that I spread myself 
stiff against the wall. 

291
00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,600
The clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk 
of the great hoof falls passed 

292
00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:49,160
right between us, and slowly and
with deadly deliberateness down 

293
00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,920
the passage. 
I heard them through a haze of 

294
00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,640
blood beats in my ears and 
temples, and my body 

295
00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,480
extraordinarily rigid and 
pringling and breathless. 

296
00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,360
I stood for a little time like 
this, my head turned so that I 

297
00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:06,280
should see up the passage. 
I was conscious only that there 

298
00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,280
was a hideous danger abroad. 
Do you understand? 

299
00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,040
And then suddenly my pluck came 
back to me. 

300
00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,319
I was aware that the noise of 
the hoof beats sounded near the 

301
00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:19,359
other end of the passage. 
I twisted quickly and got my 

302
00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,560
camera to bear and snapped the 
flashlight. 

303
00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,000
Immediately afterward Beaumont 
let fly a storm of shots down 

304
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,119
the passage and began to run, 
shouting. 

305
00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:31,240
It's after Mary, run, run. 
He rushed down the passage, and 

306
00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,200
I after him, and we came out on 
the main landing and heard the 

307
00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,760
sound of a hoof on the stairs. 
And after that nothing. 

308
00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:43,480
And from thence onwards nothing.
Down below us in the big hall I 

309
00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,320
could see a number of the 
household round Miss Hiskins who

310
00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,000
seemed to have fainted, and 
there were several of the 

311
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,680
servants clumped together a 
little way off, staring up at 

312
00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,400
the main landing, and no one 
saying a single word. 

313
00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,280
And about some 20 steps up the 
stairs was old Captain Hiskins 

314
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,840
with a drawn sword in his hand, 
where he had halted just below 

315
00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,040
the last hoof sound. 
I think I never saw anything 

316
00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,120
finer than that old man standing
there between his daughter and 

317
00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:11,800
that infernal thing. 
I dare say you can understand 

318
00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:15,120
the queer feeling of horror I 
had at passing that place on the

319
00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:16,840
stairs where the sounds had 
ceased. 

320
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,400
It was as if the monster was 
still standing there, invisible,

321
00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,960
And the peculiar thing was that 
we never heard another sound of 

322
00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,120
the hoof either. 
Up. 

323
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:29,240
Or down the stairs, after they 
had taken Miss Hiskins to her 

324
00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,560
room. 
I sent word that I should follow

325
00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:35,160
so soon as they were ready for 
me, and presently when a message

326
00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:38,280
came to tell me that I could 
come anytime, I asked a father 

327
00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,160
to give me a hand with my 
instrument box, and between us 

328
00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:42,960
we carried it into the girl's 
bedroom. 

329
00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,520
I had the bed pulled well out 
into the middle of the room, 

330
00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,200
after which I erected the 
electric pentangle round the 

331
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,800
bed. 
Then I directed that lamps 

332
00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,960
should be placed round the room,
but that on no account must any 

333
00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,840
light be made within the 
pentangle, neither must anyone 

334
00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,120
pass in or out. 
The girl's mother I had placed 

335
00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:06,200
within the pentangle, and 
directed that her maid should 

336
00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,160
sit without ready to carry any 
message, so as to make sure that

337
00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,120
Missus Hiskins did not have to 
leave the pentangle. 

338
00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,960
I suggested also that the girl's
father should stay the night in 

339
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,280
the room, and that he had better
be armed. 

340
00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:22,960
When I left the room I found 
Beaumont waiting outside the 

341
00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:25,280
door in a miserable state of 
anxiety. 

342
00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,800
I told him what I had done, and 
explained to him that Miss 

343
00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:33,400
Hiskins was probably perfectly 
safe within the protection, but 

344
00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,760
that, in addition to her father 
remaining the knight in the 

345
00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,480
room, I intended to stand guard 
at the door. 

346
00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,080
I told him that I should like 
him to keep me company, for I 

347
00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,920
knew that he could never sleep, 
and I should not be sorry to 

348
00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,720
have a companion. 
Also, I wanted to have him under

349
00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,760
my own observation, for there 
was no doubt but that he was 

350
00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:52,800
actually in greater danger than 
the girl. 

351
00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,680
At least that was my opinion, 
and still is, as I think he will

352
00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,240
agree. 
Later I asked him whether he 

353
00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,720
would object to my drawing a 
pentangle around him for the 

354
00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,440
night, and got him to agree, but
I saw that he did not know 

355
00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,760
whether to be superstitious 
about it or to regard it more as

356
00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:12,360
a piece of foolish mumming. 
But he took it seriously enough 

357
00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:15,080
when I gave him some particulars
about the Black Veil case. 

358
00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:18,560
When young Elster died, you 
remember, he said it was a piece

359
00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,720
of silly superstition, and 
stayed outside. 

360
00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,680
Poor devil. 
As it chanced, the night passed 

361
00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:28,200
quietly enough until a little 
while before dawn, when we both 

362
00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,000
heard the sounds of a great 
horse galloping round and round 

363
00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,440
the house, just as Captain 
Hiskins had described it. 

364
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,960
You can imagine how queer it 
made me feel, and directly 

365
00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,800
afterward I heard someone stare 
within the room. 

366
00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:45,200
I knocked at the door, for I was
uneasy, and the captain came. 

367
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,680
I asked whether everything was 
right, to which he replied yes, 

368
00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,800
and immediately asked whether I 
had heard the sounds of the 

369
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,840
galloping, so that I knew he had
heard them also. 

370
00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,960
I suggested that it might be 
well to leave the bedroom door 

371
00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:03,560
open a little until the dawn 
came in, as there was certainly 

372
00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,080
something abroad, and this was 
done, and he went back into the 

373
00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,480
room to be near to his wife and 
daughter. 

374
00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,960
I had better say here that I was
doubtful whether there was any 

375
00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,320
value in the defence about Miss 
Hiskins. 

376
00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:18,800
For. 
What I termed the personal 

377
00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:23,280
sounds of the manifestation were
so extraordinarily material that

378
00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,920
I was inclined to parallel the 
case with that of Hartford's, 

379
00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,960
where the hand of the child kept
materializing within the 

380
00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:33,280
pentangle and patting the floor.
As you all remember, that was a 

381
00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:36,760
hideous business, yet as it 
chanced, nothing further 

382
00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,440
happened, and so soon as 
daylight had fully come we all 

383
00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,880
went off to bed. 
Beaumont knocked me up about 

384
00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,800
midday, and I went down and made
breakfast into lunch. 

385
00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,280
Miss Hiskins was there, and 
seemed in very fair spirits, 

386
00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,920
considering she told me that I 
had made her feel almost safe 

387
00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,160
for the first time in days, and 
she told me also that her 

388
00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,760
cousin, Harry Pascott was coming
down from London, and she knew 

389
00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:01,880
that he would do anything to 
help fight the ghost. 

390
00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,400
After that she and Beaumont went
into the grounds to have a 

391
00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,200
little time together. 
I had a walk in the grounds 

392
00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:12,160
myself, and went round the 
house, but saw no traces of hoof

393
00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,240
marks, and after that I spent 
the rest of the day making an 

394
00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,120
examination of the house, but 
found nothing. 

395
00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,360
I made an end of my search 
before dark, and went to my room

396
00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:25,600
to dress for dinner. 
When I got down the cousin had 

397
00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,760
just arrived, and I found him 
one of the nicest men I've met 

398
00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,280
for a long time. 
I chap with a tremendous amount 

399
00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,160
of pluck, and the particular 
kind of man I like to have with 

400
00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,440
me in a bad case like the one I 
was on. 

401
00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:39,880
I could see that what puzzled 
him most was our belief in the 

402
00:22:40,120 --> 00:22:43,760
genuineness of the haunting, and
I found myself almost wanting 

403
00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,600
something to happen just to show
him how true it was. 

404
00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:51,160
As it chanced, something did 
happen with a vengeance. 

405
00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,040
Beaumont and Miss Hiskins had 
gone out for a stroll in the 

406
00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,000
dusk, and Captain Hiskins asked 
me to come into his study. 

407
00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,080
For a short chat. 
While Pasket went upstairs with 

408
00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,440
his traps, for he had no man 
with him, I had a long 

409
00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,120
conversation with the old 
captain, in which I pointed out 

410
00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:10,280
that the haunting had evidently 
no particular connection with 

411
00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,840
the house, but only with the 
girl herself, and that the 

412
00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,520
sooner she was married the 
better, as it would give 

413
00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:18,960
Beaumont a right to be with her 
at all times. 

414
00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:23,040
And further than this, it might 
be that the manifestations would

415
00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,560
cease if the marriage were 
actually performed. 

416
00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,680
The old man nodded agreement to 
this, especially to the first 

417
00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:33,040
part, and reminded me that three
of the girls who were said to 

418
00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:37,440
have been haunted had been sent 
away from the home and met their

419
00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,320
deaths whilst away. 
And then, in the midst of our 

420
00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,400
talk, there came a pretty 
frightening interruption, For 

421
00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,360
all at once the old Butler 
rushed into the room, most 

422
00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:50,960
extraordinarily pale. 
Miss Mary, Sir, Miss Mary, he 

423
00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,800
gasped out, using the old name. 
She's screaming out in the park,

424
00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:56,880
Sir, and they say they can hear 
the horse. 

425
00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,920
The captain made one dive for a 
rack of arms and snatched down 

426
00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,520
his old sword and ran out, 
drawing it as he ran. 

427
00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,080
I dashed out and up the stairs, 
snatched my camera flashlight 

428
00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:11,160
and a heavy revolver, gave one 
yell at Pascot's door, the horse

429
00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:15,200
and was down into the grounds. 
Out in the darkness there was a 

430
00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,920
confused shouting, and I caught 
the sounds of shooting away 

431
00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,240
among the scattered trees, and 
then from a patch of blackness 

432
00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,800
to my left, the burst suddenly 
an infernal gobbling sort of 

433
00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,000
neighing. 
Instantly I went round and 

434
00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,080
snapped off the flashlight. 
The great blare of the light 

435
00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,360
blazed out momentarily, showing 
me the leaves of a big tree 

436
00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:35,720
close at hand, quivering in the 
night breeze. 

437
00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,400
But there had been nothing else.
And then the tenfold blackness 

438
00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,560
came down upon me, and I heard 
Pasket shouting a little way 

439
00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,440
back to know whether I had seen 
anything. 

440
00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,800
The next instant he was beside 
me and I felt safer for his 

441
00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,720
company, for there was some 
incredible thing near to us, and

442
00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,280
I was momentarily blind because 
of the brightness of the 

443
00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,200
flashlight. 
What was it, What was it? 

444
00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:00,280
He kept repeating in an excited 
voice, and all the time I was 

445
00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,720
staring into the darkness and 
answering mechanically. 

446
00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:07,440
I don't know, I don't know. 
There was a burst of shouting 

447
00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,200
somewhere ahead, and then a 
shot. 

448
00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,360
We ran towards the sounds, 
yelling to the people not to 

449
00:25:12,360 --> 00:25:16,000
shoot, for in the darkness and 
panic there was this danger 

450
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,360
also. 
Then there came two of the 

451
00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:21,400
gamekeepers racing hard up the 
drive with lanterns and the 

452
00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:25,240
guns, and immediately afterwards
a row of lights dancing towards 

453
00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,800
us from the house, carried by 
some of the manservants. 

454
00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,120
As the lights came up I saw we 
had come close to Beaumont. 

455
00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,840
He was standing over Miss 
Hiskins, and he had his revolver

456
00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,120
in his right hand. 
Then I saw his face, and there 

457
00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:41,200
was a great wound across his 
forehead. 

458
00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,160
By him was the Captain, turning 
his naked sword this way and 

459
00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,560
that and peering into the 
darkness, and a little behind 

460
00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:51,760
him stood the old Butler, a 
battle axe from one of the arm 

461
00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:55,840
stands in the hall in his hands.
Yet there was nothing strange to

462
00:25:55,840 --> 00:26:00,000
be seen anywhere. 
We got the girl into the house 

463
00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,360
and left her with her mother and
Beaumont, whilst a groom rode 

464
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:06,840
for a doctor, and then the rest 
of us, with four other keepers, 

465
00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,480
all armed with guns and carrying
lanterns, searched round the 

466
00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:15,600
Home Park, but we found nothing.
When we got back we found the 

467
00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,280
doctor had been he had bound up 
Beaumont's wound, which luckily 

468
00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,520
was not deep, and ordered Miss 
Hiskins straight to bed. 

469
00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,640
I went upstairs with the captain
and found Beaumont on God 

470
00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:30,360
outside the girl's door. 
I asked him how he felt, and 

471
00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:33,240
then so soon as they were ready 
for US, Captain Hiskins and I 

472
00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,480
went into the bedroom and fixed 
the pentangle again round the 

473
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,040
bed. 
They had already got lamps about

474
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,440
the room, and after I had set 
the same order of watching as on

475
00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:46,160
the previous night, I joined 
Beaumont outside of the door. 

476
00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,920
Oscott had come up while I had 
been in the bedroom, and between

477
00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,560
us we got some idea from 
Beaumont as to what had happened

478
00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,080
out in the park. 
It seems that they were coming 

479
00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:59,960
home after their stroll from the
direction of the West Lodge, 

480
00:26:59,960 --> 00:27:04,040
when suddenly Miss Hiskin said 
hush and came to a standstill. 

481
00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,600
He stopped and listened, but 
heard nothing for a little. 

482
00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,440
Then he caught it, the sound of 
a horse, seemingly a long way 

483
00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,000
off, galloping towards them over
the grass. 

484
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,880
He told the girl that it was 
nothing and started to hurry her

485
00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,880
towards the house. 
But she was not deceived of 

486
00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,640
course. 
In less than a minute they heard

487
00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,400
it quite close to them in the 
dock, and they began to run. 

488
00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,440
Then Miss Hiskins caught her 
foot and fell. 

489
00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,000
She began to scream and that is 
what the Butler heard. 

490
00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,160
As Beaumont lifted the girl he 
heard the hoofs come thudding 

491
00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,480
right at him. 
He stood over her and fired all 

492
00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:39,680
5 chambers of his revolver. 
At the sounds he told us that he

493
00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,720
was sure he saw something that 
looked like an enormous horse's 

494
00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:46,240
head right upon him in the light
of the last flash of his pistol.

495
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:50,320
Immediately afterwards he was 
struck A tremendous blow which 

496
00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,600
knocked him down, and then the 
captain, the Butler, came 

497
00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,400
running up shouting, and the 
rest of course we knew. 

498
00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,720
About 10:00 the Butler brought 
us up a tray, for which I was 

499
00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:03,440
very glad, as the night before I
got rather hungry. 

500
00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,400
I warned Beaumont, however, to 
be very particular, not to drink

501
00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,720
any spirits, and I also made him
give me his pipe and matches. 

502
00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,400
At midnight I drew a pentangle 
round him and pasket, and I sat 

503
00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,720
one on each side of him, but 
outside of the pentangle, for I 

504
00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,840
had No Fear that there would be 
any manifestation against anyone

505
00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:26,280
except Beaumont or Miss Hiskins.
After that we kept pretty quiet.

506
00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,440
The passage was lit by a big 
lamp at each end and so that we 

507
00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,280
had plenty of light. 
And we were all armed, Beaumont 

508
00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,840
and I with revolvers and pasket 
with a shotgun. 

509
00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:39,520
In addition to my weapon, I had 
my camera and flashlight. 

510
00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:43,200
Now and again we talked in 
whispers, and twice the captain 

511
00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,640
came out of the bedroom to have 
a word with us about how passe 

512
00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,720
won. 
We had all grown very silent, 

513
00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:52,600
and suddenly about 20 minutes 
later I held up my hand 

514
00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,160
silently, for there seemed to me
to be a sound of galloping out 

515
00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:59,000
in the night. 
I knocked on the bedroom door 

516
00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:03,120
for the Captain to open it, and 
when he came I whispered to him 

517
00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:04,720
that we thought we heard the 
horse. 

518
00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:08,200
For some time we stayed 
listening, and both Pasket and 

519
00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,240
the Captain thought they had 
heard it, but now I was not so 

520
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,640
sure. 
Neither was Beaumont, yet. 

521
00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,840
Afterwards I thought I heard it 
again. 

522
00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,200
I told Captain Hiskins I thought
he had better go back into the 

523
00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:22,240
bedroom and leave the door a 
little open, and this he did, 

524
00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:25,880
but from that time onward we 
heard nothing, and presently the

525
00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,120
dawn came in and we all went 
very thankfully to bed. 

526
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,280
When I was called at lunchtime I
had a little surprise, for 

527
00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:36,560
Captain Hiskins told me that 
they had held a family council 

528
00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,040
and had decided to take my 
advice and have the marriage 

529
00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,040
without a day's more delay than 
possible. 

530
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,160
Beaumont was already on his way 
to London to get a special 

531
00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,160
license, and they hoped to have 
the wedding the next day. 

532
00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,000
This pleased me, for it seemed 
the sanest thing to be done in 

533
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:56,320
the extraordinary circumstances,
and meanwhile I should continue 

534
00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,400
my investigations. 
But until the marriage was 

535
00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:03,200
accomplished my chief thought 
was to keep Miss Hiskins near to

536
00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,040
me. 
End of the Horse of the 

537
00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:10,400
Invisible, by William Hope 
Hodgson, Part 1. 

538
00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:15,680
Recording by David Lewis 
Richardson, Lancashire, England.

539
00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,720
Section 8. 
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, 

540
00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,000
Volume 1. 
This is a Librivox recording. 

541
00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,840
All Librivox recordings are in 
the public domain. 

542
00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:40,360
For more information or to 
volunteer, please visit 

543
00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:44,760
librivox.org. 
Recording by David Lewis 

544
00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,760
Richardson. 
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, 

545
00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:51,040
Volume 1. 
The Horse of the Invisible by 

546
00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:57,560
William Hope Hodgson, Part 2. 
After lunch, I thought I would 

547
00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:01,280
take a few experimental 
photographs of Miss Hiskins and 

548
00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:04,800
her surroundings. 
Sometimes the camera sees things

549
00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:08,000
that would seem very strange to 
the normal human eyesight. 

550
00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:11,600
You see what I mean? 
With this intention, and partly 

551
00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,080
to make an excuse to keep her in
my company as much as possible, 

552
00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,800
I asked Miss Hiskins to join me 
in my experiments. 

553
00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:23,240
She seemed glad to do this, and 
I spent several hours with her 

554
00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:27,040
wandering all over the house 
from room to room, and whenever 

555
00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,200
the impulse came I took the 
flashlight off her and the room 

556
00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,680
or corridor in which we chanced 
to be at the moment. 

557
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:36,960
After we had gone right through 
the house in this fashion, I 

558
00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:39,640
asked her whether she felt 
sufficiently brave to repeat the

559
00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:43,560
experiments in the Cellars. 
She said yes, and so I rooted 

560
00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:47,040
out Captain Hiskins and Pascot, 
for I was not going to take her 

561
00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:51,120
down even into what you might 
call artificial darkness without

562
00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:56,440
help and companionship at hand. 
When we were ready, we went down

563
00:31:56,440 --> 00:32:00,480
into the wine cellar, Captain 
Hiskins carrying a shotgun and 

564
00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,720
Pasket, A specially prepared 
background and a Lantern. 

565
00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,760
I got the girl to stand in the 
middle of the cellar while 

566
00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,080
Pasket and the Captain held out 
the background behind her. 

567
00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,920
Then I fired off the flashlight 
and we went into the next 

568
00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:17,240
cellar, where we repeated the 
experiment. 

569
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:22,320
Then in the third cellar, A 
tremendous pitch dark place, 

570
00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:26,680
something extraordinary and 
horrible manifested itself. 

571
00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,880
I had stationed Miss Hiskins in 
the centre of the place, with 

572
00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,120
her father and Pasket holding 
the background as before. 

573
00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,440
When all was ready, and just as 
I pressed the trigger of the 

574
00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:42,680
flash, there came in the cellar 
that dreadful gobbling naying 

575
00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:44,320
that I had heard out in the 
park. 

576
00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,320
It seemed to come from somewhere
above the girl, and in the glare

577
00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,640
of the sudden light I saw that 
she was staring tensely upward 

578
00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:56,880
at no visible thing. 
And then in the succeeding 

579
00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,840
comparative darkness, I was 
shouting to the Captain and 

580
00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:02,880
Pasket to run Miss Hiskins out 
into the daylight. 

581
00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:07,240
This was done instantly, and I 
shut and locked the door 

582
00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:11,920
afterwards, making the 1st and 
the 8th signs of the SAR Ma 

583
00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:15,480
ritual opposite to each post and
connecting them across the 

584
00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:19,440
threshold with a triple line. 
In the meanwhile Pasket and 

585
00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,960
Captain Hiskins carried the girl
to her mother and left her there

586
00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:27,120
in 1/2 fainting condition, 
whilst I stayed on guard outside

587
00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:30,720
of the cellar door, feeling 
pretty horrible, for I knew that

588
00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:34,640
there was some disgusting thing 
inside, and along with this 

589
00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:37,680
feeling there was a sense of 
half ashamedness. 

590
00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:41,480
Rather miserable, you know, 
because I had exposed Miss 

591
00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:45,440
Hiskins to this danger. 
I had got the Captain's shotgun,

592
00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:48,760
and when he and Pasket came down
again they were each carrying 

593
00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:52,280
guns and lanterns. 
I could not possibly tell you 

594
00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:55,240
the utter relief of spirit and 
body that came to me when I 

595
00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,840
heard them coming, but just try 
to imagine what it was like 

596
00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:00,600
standing outside of that cellar,
Can you? 

597
00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:04,880
I remember noticing just before 
I went to unlock the door, a 

598
00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:09,239
white and ghastly pasket looked,
and the old captain was grey 

599
00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:12,280
looking, and I wondered whether 
my face was like theirs. 

600
00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:16,159
And this, you know, had its own 
distinct effect on my nerves, 

601
00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:18,960
for it seemed to bring the 
beastliness of the thing bashed 

602
00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:22,679
down on me in a fresh way. 
I know it was only sheer 

603
00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:26,080
willpower that carried me up to 
the door and made me turn the 

604
00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:29,199
key. 
I paused 1 little moment and 

605
00:34:29,639 --> 00:34:33,400
then with a nervy jerk sent the 
door wide open and held my 

606
00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:36,719
Lantern over my head. 
Pasket and the captain came one 

607
00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:41,080
inch side of me and held up 
their lanterns, but the place 

608
00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:46,000
was absolutely empty. 
Of course, I did not trust to a 

609
00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:49,360
casual look of this kind, but 
spent several hours with the 

610
00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:52,600
help of the two others in 
sounding every square foot of 

611
00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:58,120
the floor, ceiling and walls. 
Yet in the end I had to admit 

612
00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:00,720
that the place was absolutely 
normal. 

613
00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:05,400
And so in the end we came away 
none the wiser. 

614
00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:09,480
But I sealed the door and 
outside, opposite each door 

615
00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:13,760
post, I made the first and last 
signs of the SAR Ma ritual, 

616
00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,680
joining them as before with a 
triple line. 

617
00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,800
Can you imagine what it was like
searching that cellar? 

618
00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:25,960
When we got upstairs I inquired 
very anxiously how Miss Hiskins 

619
00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:29,800
was, and the girl came out 
herself to tell me that she was 

620
00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:33,160
all right, and that I was not to
trouble about her or blame 

621
00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:35,840
myself as I told her I had been 
doing. 

622
00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:40,640
I felt happier then and went off
to dress for dinner, and after 

623
00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,920
that was done with Pascot and I 
went off to one of the bathrooms

624
00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,360
to develop the negatives that I 
had been taking. 

625
00:35:46,720 --> 00:35:50,680
Yet none of the plates had 
anything to tell me until we 

626
00:35:50,680 --> 00:35:53,040
came to the one that was taken 
in the cellar. 

627
00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:57,160
Pascot was developing, and I had
taken a batch of the fixed 

628
00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,720
plates out into the lamplight to
examine them. 

629
00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:02,880
I had just gone carefully 
through the lot when I heard a 

630
00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:05,840
shout from Pascot, and when I 
ran to him he was looking at her

631
00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:09,440
partly developed negative, which
he was holding up to the red 

632
00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:12,240
lamp. 
It showed the girl plainly 

633
00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:16,360
looking upwards as I had seen 
her, but the thing that 

634
00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:21,720
astonished me was the shadow of 
an enormous hoof right above 

635
00:36:21,720 --> 00:36:25,440
her, as if it were coming down 
upon her out of the shadows. 

636
00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:29,880
And you know I had run her bang 
into that danger, and that was 

637
00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:31,760
the thought that was chief in my
mind. 

638
00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:36,240
As soon as the developing was 
complete, I fixed the plate and 

639
00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:38,400
examined it carefully in a good 
light. 

640
00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:40,960
There was no doubt about it at 
all. 

641
00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:44,640
A thing above Miss Hiskin's was 
an enormous shadowy hoof. 

642
00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:49,440
Yet I was no nearer to coming to
any definite knowledge, and the 

643
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,560
only thing I could do was to 
warn Pasket to say nothing about

644
00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,640
it to the girl, for it would 
only increase her fright. 

645
00:36:56,240 --> 00:36:58,600
But I showed the thing to her 
father, for I considered it 

646
00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:03,120
right that he should know. 
That night we took the same 

647
00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:06,320
precautions for Miss Hiskin's 
safety as on the two previous 

648
00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,160
nights, and Pasket kept me 
company. 

649
00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,960
Yet the dawn came in without 
anything unusual having 

650
00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:17,800
happened, and I went off to bed.
When I got down to lunch I 

651
00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:21,080
learnt that Beaumont had wired 
to say that he would be in soon 

652
00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:24,200
after four also. 
That message had been sent to 

653
00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:28,160
the Rector, and it was generally
plain that the ladies of the 

654
00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:30,480
house were in a tremendous 
fluster. 

655
00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:34,520
Beaumont's train was late, and 
he did not get home until 5:00, 

656
00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:38,280
but even then the rector had not
put in an appearance, and the 

657
00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:41,000
Butler came in to say that the 
coachman had returned without 

658
00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:45,600
him, as he had been called away 
unexpectedly twice more during 

659
00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,560
the evening. 
The carriage was sent down, but 

660
00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:52,680
the clergyman had not returned, 
and we had to delay the marriage

661
00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:56,920
until the next day. 
That night I arranged the 

662
00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:01,360
defence round the girl's bed, 
and the captain and his wife sat

663
00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:04,800
up with her as before. 
Beaumont, as I expected, 

664
00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:09,280
insisted on keeping watch with 
me, and he seemed in a curiously

665
00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,160
frightened mood, not for 
himself, you know, but for Miss 

666
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:15,360
Hiskins. 
He had a horrible feeling, He 

667
00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:19,120
told me, that there would be a 
final dreadful attempt on his 

668
00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:24,000
sweetheart that night. 
This, of course, I told him, was

669
00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:27,440
nothing but nerves. 
Yet really it made me feel very 

670
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:31,600
anxious, for I've seen too much 
not to know that under such 

671
00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:36,200
circumstances A premonitory 
conviction of impending danger 

672
00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:40,240
is not necessarily to be put 
down entirely to nerves. 

673
00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:45,040
In fact, Beaumont was so simply 
and earnestly convinced that the

674
00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:48,200
night would bring some 
extraordinary manifestation, 

675
00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:52,280
that I got past it to rig up a 
long cord from the wire of the 

676
00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:58,240
Butler's bell to come along the 
passage handy to the Butler 

677
00:38:58,240 --> 00:39:00,120
himself. 
I gave directions not to 

678
00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,000
Andreas, and to give the same 
order to two of the footmen. 

679
00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:06,800
If I rang, he was to come 
instantly with the footmen 

680
00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:10,240
carrying lanterns, and the 
lanterns were to be kept ready 

681
00:39:10,240 --> 00:39:13,600
lit all night. 
If for any reason the bell did 

682
00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:17,120
not ring, and I blew my whistle,
he was to take that as a signal 

683
00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:20,880
in the place of the bell. 
After I had arranged all these 

684
00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:25,480
minor details, I drew a pentacle
about Beaumont, and warned him 

685
00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:29,160
very particularly to stay within
it whatever happened. 

686
00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:32,880
And when this was done, there 
was nothing to do but wait and 

687
00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:37,160
pray that the night would go as 
quietly as the night before. 

688
00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:42,720
We scarcely talked at all, and 
by about 1:00 AM we were all 

689
00:39:42,720 --> 00:39:47,520
very tense and nervous, so that 
at last Pasket got up and began 

690
00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:50,360
to walk up and down the corridor
to steady himself a bit. 

691
00:39:51,240 --> 00:39:54,440
Presently I slipped off my pumps
and joined him, and we walked up

692
00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:56,920
and down, whispering 
occasionally for something over 

693
00:39:56,920 --> 00:40:00,640
an hour, until in turning I 
caught my foot in the bell cord 

694
00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:04,960
and went down on my face, but 
without hurting myself or making

695
00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,120
a noise. 
When I got up, Pasket nudged me.

696
00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:10,960
Did you notice that the bell 
never rang? 

697
00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:14,280
He whispered. 
Jove, I said you're right. 

698
00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:17,760
Wait a minute, he answered. 
I'll bet it's only a kink 

699
00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:20,960
somewhere in the cord. 
He left his gun and slipped 

700
00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:24,480
along the passage, and taking 
the top lamp, tiptoed away into 

701
00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:27,680
the house, carrying Beaumont's 
revolver ready in his right 

702
00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:30,720
hand. 
He was a plucky chap, as I think

703
00:40:30,720 --> 00:40:34,480
you will admit. 
Suddenly Beaumont motioned to me

704
00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:38,480
for absolute quiet. 
Directly afterwards I heard the 

705
00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:43,320
thing for which he listened, a 
sound of a horse galloping out 

706
00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:47,480
in the night. 
I think that I may say I fairly 

707
00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:50,120
shivered. 
The sound died away and left a 

708
00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:53,040
horrible, desolate, eerie 
feeling in the air. 

709
00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:55,440
You know. 
I put my hand out to the bell 

710
00:40:55,440 --> 00:40:57,640
cord, hoping that pasket had got
it clear. 

711
00:40:58,240 --> 00:41:02,560
Then I waited, glancing before 
and behind. 

712
00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:08,440
Perhaps 2 minutes passed, full 
of what seemed like an almost 

713
00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:13,160
unearthly quiet, and then 
suddenly down the corridor at 

714
00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:17,000
the lighted end, the sound of 
the clumping of a great hoof and

715
00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:20,960
instantly the lamp was thrown 
down with a tremendous crash and

716
00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:24,960
we were in the dark. 
I tugged hard on the cord and 

717
00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:27,560
blew the whistle. 
Then I raised my snapshot and 

718
00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:31,000
fired the flashlight. 
The corridor blazed into 

719
00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:32,880
brilliant light, but there was 
nothing. 

720
00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:35,520
And then the darkness fell like 
Thunder. 

721
00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:39,240
I heard the captain at the 
bedroom door and shouted to him 

722
00:41:39,240 --> 00:41:43,160
to bring out a lamp quick, but 
instead something started to 

723
00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:45,880
kick the door, and I heard the 
captain shouting within the 

724
00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:48,080
bedroom, and then the screaming 
of a woman. 

725
00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:51,360
I had a sudden horrible fear 
that the monster had got into 

726
00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:54,640
the bedroom, but in the same 
instant from up the corridor 

727
00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:57,640
there came abruptly the vile 
gobbling neighing that we had 

728
00:41:57,640 --> 00:42:01,560
heard in the park in the cellar.
I blew the whistle again and 

729
00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:04,000
groped blindly for the bell 
cord, shouting to Beaumont to 

730
00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:05,880
stay in the pentacle. 
Whatever happened. 

731
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:08,840
I yelled again to the captain to
bring out the lamp, and there 

732
00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:11,000
came a smashing sound against 
the bedroom door. 

733
00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,240
Then I had my matches in my hand
to get some light before that 

734
00:42:14,240 --> 00:42:16,600
incredible unseen monster was 
upon us. 

735
00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:20,560
The match scraped on the box and
flared up dully, and in the same

736
00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:23,560
instant I heard a faint sound 
behind me. 

737
00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:26,880
I whipped round in a kind of mad
terror and saw something in the 

738
00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:30,480
light of the match, a monstrous 
horse head close to Beaumont. 

739
00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:33,280
Lookout Beaumont. 
I shouted in a sort of scream. 

740
00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:36,520
It's behind you. 
The match went out abruptly and 

741
00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:39,680
instantly there came the huge 
bang of Pasket's double barrel, 

742
00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:43,000
both barrels at once fired 
effidently single handed by 

743
00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,240
Beaumont, close to my ear, as it
seemed. 

744
00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:48,800
I caught a momentary glimpse of 
the great head in the flash, and

745
00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:52,920
of an enormous hoof amid the 
Belcher fire and smoke seeming 

746
00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:56,120
to be descending upon Beaumont 
in the same instant. 

747
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,840
I fired 3 chambers my revolver. 
There was the sound of a dull 

748
00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:03,240
blow, and then that horrible 
gobbling knee broke out close to

749
00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:05,160
me. 
I fired twice at the sound. 

750
00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:08,920
Immediately afterwards something
struck me and I was knocked 

751
00:43:08,920 --> 00:43:10,880
backwards. 
I got to my knees and shouted 

752
00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:12,960
for help. 
At the top of my voice I heard 

753
00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:15,760
the woman screaming behind the 
closed door of the bedroom and 

754
00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:18,720
was dully aware that the door 
was being smashed from the 

755
00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:21,000
inside. 
And directly afterwards I knew 

756
00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:23,680
that Beaumont was struggling 
with some hideous thing near to 

757
00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,040
me. 
For an instant I held back, 

758
00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:30,800
stupidly paralysed with funk, 
and then blindly and in a sort 

759
00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:34,960
of rigid chill of goose flesh, I
went to help him, shouting his 

760
00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:37,240
name. 
I can tell you I did not feel 

761
00:43:37,240 --> 00:43:40,120
much of A hero. 
There came a little choking 

762
00:43:40,120 --> 00:43:43,200
scream out of the darkness, and 
at that I jumped forward into 

763
00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:46,040
the dark. 
I gripped a vast furry ear. 

764
00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:49,640
Then something stuck me, another
great blow, knocking me sick. 

765
00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:52,800
I hit back, weak and blind, and 
gripped with the other hand at 

766
00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:56,400
the incredible thing. 
Abruptly I was dimly aware of a 

767
00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:59,720
tremendous crash behind me and a
great burst of light. 

768
00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:03,040
There were other lights in the 
passage, and a noise of feet and

769
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:05,480
shouting. 
My hand grips were torn from the

770
00:44:05,480 --> 00:44:08,000
thing they held. 
I shut my eyes stupidly and 

771
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:11,320
heard a loud yell above me, and 
then a heavy blow, like a 

772
00:44:11,320 --> 00:44:15,000
butcher chopping meat, and 
something fell upon me. 

773
00:44:16,920 --> 00:44:20,600
I was helped to my knees by the 
captain and the Butler. 

774
00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:25,240
On the floor lay an enormous 
horse head, out of which 

775
00:44:25,240 --> 00:44:28,040
protruded a man's trunk and 
legs. 

776
00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:31,800
On the wrists were fixed great 
hoofs. 

777
00:44:32,720 --> 00:44:36,880
It was the monster. 
The captain cut something with 

778
00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:40,480
the sword that he held in his 
hand, and stooped and lifted off

779
00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:42,360
the mask, for that is what it 
was. 

780
00:44:43,800 --> 00:44:46,600
I saw the face then of the man 
who had worn it. 

781
00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:52,240
It was Pasquet. 
He had a bad wound across the 

782
00:44:52,240 --> 00:44:55,200
forehead where the captain's 
sword had hit through the mask. 

783
00:44:56,320 --> 00:44:59,640
I looked bewilderedly from him 
to Beaumont, who was sitting up,

784
00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:02,320
leaning against the wall of the 
corridor. 

785
00:45:03,440 --> 00:45:10,040
Then I stirred at Pascot again. 
By Jove, I said at last, and 

786
00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:13,600
then I was quiet, for I was so 
ashamed for the man. 

787
00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:18,200
You can understand, can't you? 
And he was opening his eyes, 

788
00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:21,880
and, you know I had grown so to 
like the man. 

789
00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:26,760
And then, you know, just as 
Pascot was getting back his wits

790
00:45:26,760 --> 00:45:29,160
and looking from one to the 
other of us and beginning to 

791
00:45:29,160 --> 00:45:33,120
remember, there happened a 
strange and incredible thing. 

792
00:45:33,120 --> 00:45:35,840
For from the end of the corridor
the sound had suddenly the 

793
00:45:35,840 --> 00:45:39,080
clamping of a great hoof. 
I looked that way, and then 

794
00:45:39,080 --> 00:45:43,320
instantly at Pascot, and saw 
horrible fear in his face and 

795
00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:46,480
eyes. 
He wrenched himself round weakly

796
00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:50,080
and stared in mad terror up the 
corridor to where the sound had 

797
00:45:50,080 --> 00:45:54,400
been, and the rest of us 
stirred, all in a frozen group. 

798
00:45:55,640 --> 00:45:58,600
I remember hearing vaguely half 
sobs and whispers from Miss 

799
00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:02,760
Hiskin's bedroom, all the while 
that I stirred frightenedly up 

800
00:46:02,760 --> 00:46:07,400
the corridor. 
The silence lasted several 

801
00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:11,120
seconds, and then abruptly there
came again the clumping of the 

802
00:46:11,120 --> 00:46:16,000
great hoof away up at the end of
the corridor, and immediately 

803
00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:20,000
afterward the clunk, clunk, 
clunk, clunk of mighty hooves 

804
00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:22,040
coming down the passage towards 
us. 

805
00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:26,360
Even then, you know, most of us 
thought it was some mechanism of

806
00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:30,200
Pasket still at work, and we 
were in the queerest mixture of 

807
00:46:30,200 --> 00:46:33,880
fright and doubt. 
I think everyone looked at 

808
00:46:33,880 --> 00:46:37,240
Pasket, and suddenly the Captain
shouted out. 

809
00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:40,240
Stop this damn fooling at once. 
Haven't you done enough? 

810
00:46:40,840 --> 00:46:44,040
For my part, you know, I was 
frightened, for I had a sense 

811
00:46:44,040 --> 00:46:45,920
that there was something 
horrible and wrong. 

812
00:46:46,920 --> 00:46:49,160
And then Pasket managed to gasp 
out. 

813
00:46:49,880 --> 00:46:53,200
It's not me, my God, it's not 
me, my God, it's not me. 

814
00:46:53,840 --> 00:46:56,160
And then, you know, it seemed to
come home to everyone in an 

815
00:46:56,160 --> 00:46:59,200
instant that there was really 
some dreadful thing coming down 

816
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:01,440
the passage. 
There was a mad rush up the 

817
00:47:01,440 --> 00:47:04,560
passage, and even all Captain 
Hiskins gave back with the 

818
00:47:04,560 --> 00:47:08,160
Butler and the footman. 
Beaumont fainted outright, as I 

819
00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:10,800
found afterwards, for he had 
been badly mauled. 

820
00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:14,720
I just flattened back against 
the wall, kneeling, as I was too

821
00:47:14,720 --> 00:47:18,320
stupid and dazed even to run, 
and almost in the same instant 

822
00:47:18,320 --> 00:47:21,600
the pondering hoof falls sounded
close to me, and seeming to 

823
00:47:21,600 --> 00:47:23,560
shake the solid floor as they 
passed. 

824
00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:28,480
Abruptly the great sound ceased,
and I knew in a sort of sick 

825
00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:31,480
fashion that the thing had 
halted opposite to the open door

826
00:47:31,920 --> 00:47:35,960
of the girl's bedroom. 
And then, you know, I was aware 

827
00:47:35,960 --> 00:47:39,200
that Pasket was standing rocking
in the doorway with his arm 

828
00:47:39,200 --> 00:47:42,320
spread across so as to fill the 
doorway with his body. 

829
00:47:43,280 --> 00:47:46,800
Pasket showed extraordinarily 
pale, and the blood was running 

830
00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:48,960
down his face from the wound in 
his forehead. 

831
00:47:49,880 --> 00:47:52,160
And then I noticed that he 
seemed to be looking at 

832
00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:56,560
something in the passage with a 
peculiar, desperate fixed gaze. 

833
00:47:57,640 --> 00:47:59,760
But there was really nothing to 
be seen. 

834
00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:04,880
And suddenly the clunk, clunk, 
clunk, clunk recommenced and 

835
00:48:04,880 --> 00:48:08,560
passed onward down the passage, 
and in the same moment Pasket 

836
00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:11,440
pitched forward out of the 
doorway onto his face. 

837
00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:14,640
There were shouts from the 
huddle of men down the passage, 

838
00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:17,200
and the two footmen and the 
Butler simply ran carrying the 

839
00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:19,840
lanterns. 
But the captain went against the

840
00:48:19,840 --> 00:48:22,760
sidewall with his back and put 
the lamp he was carrying over 

841
00:48:22,760 --> 00:48:25,960
his head. 
The dull tread of the horse went

842
00:48:25,960 --> 00:48:30,120
past him and left him unharmed. 
And I heard the monstrous hoof 

843
00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:34,400
falls going away and away 
through the quiet house, and 

844
00:48:34,400 --> 00:48:40,840
after that a dead silence. 
Then the captain moved and came 

845
00:48:40,840 --> 00:48:46,360
towards us, very slowly and 
shaky, with an extraordinarily 

846
00:48:46,360 --> 00:48:49,600
grey face. 
I crept towards Pasket, and the 

847
00:48:49,600 --> 00:48:52,760
Captain came to help me. 
We turned him over, and you 

848
00:48:52,760 --> 00:48:55,960
know, I knew in a moment that he
was dead. 

849
00:48:56,640 --> 00:48:59,160
But you can imagine what a 
feeling it sent through me. 

850
00:49:00,160 --> 00:49:03,440
I looked at the captain and 
suddenly he said that. 

851
00:49:03,800 --> 00:49:06,360
That. 
That I know he's trying to tell 

852
00:49:06,360 --> 00:49:10,200
me that Pasket had stood between
his daughter and whatever it was

853
00:49:10,200 --> 00:49:14,080
that had gone down the passage. 
I stood up and steadied him, 

854
00:49:14,080 --> 00:49:16,320
though I was not very steady 
myself. 

855
00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:19,960
And suddenly his face began to 
work and he went down on his 

856
00:49:19,960 --> 00:49:24,600
knees by Pasket and cried like 
some shaken child. 

857
00:49:25,080 --> 00:49:27,680
And then, you know, I knew that 
the women were in the doorway of

858
00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:32,440
the bedroom and I turned away 
and left him to them whilst I 

859
00:49:32,440 --> 00:49:36,080
went over to Beaumont. 
That is practically the whole 

860
00:49:36,080 --> 00:49:39,280
story, and the only thing that 
is left to me is to try to 

861
00:49:39,280 --> 00:49:41,920
explain some of the puzzling 
parts here and there. 

862
00:49:42,240 --> 00:49:45,000
Perhaps you have seen that 
Pasket was in love with Miss 

863
00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:48,040
Hiskins, and this fact is the 
key to a good deal. 

864
00:49:48,040 --> 00:49:52,040
That was extraordinary. 
He was doubtless responsible for

865
00:49:52,040 --> 00:49:55,800
some portions of the haunting, 
in fact, I think for nearly 

866
00:49:55,800 --> 00:49:58,920
everything. 
But you know I can prove 

867
00:49:58,920 --> 00:50:02,960
nothing, and what I have to tell
you is chiefly the result of 

868
00:50:02,960 --> 00:50:06,280
deduction. 
In the 1st place, it is obvious 

869
00:50:06,280 --> 00:50:10,400
that Pascett's intention was to 
frighten Beaumont away, and when

870
00:50:10,400 --> 00:50:13,160
he found that he could not do 
this, I think he grew so 

871
00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:16,160
desperate that he really 
intended to kill him. 

872
00:50:16,520 --> 00:50:19,760
I hate to say this, but the 
facts force me to think so. 

873
00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:23,800
It is quite certain that Pascett
was the person who broke 

874
00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:26,600
Beaumont's arm. 
He knew all the details of the 

875
00:50:26,600 --> 00:50:30,000
so-called horse legend and got 
the idea to work upon the old 

876
00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:33,760
story for his own end. 
He evidently had some method of 

877
00:50:33,760 --> 00:50:36,840
slipping in and out of the house
properly through one of the many

878
00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:40,200
French windows, or possibly had 
a key to one or two of the 

879
00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:43,120
garden doors, and when he was 
supposed to be away he was 

880
00:50:43,120 --> 00:50:46,440
really coming down on the quiet 
and hiding somewhere in the 

881
00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:49,440
neighborhood. 
The incident of the kiss in the 

882
00:50:49,440 --> 00:50:52,600
dark hall I put down to sheer 
nervous imaginings on the part 

883
00:50:52,600 --> 00:50:57,360
of Beaumont and Miss Hiskins. 
Yet I must say that the sound of

884
00:50:57,360 --> 00:51:00,000
the horse outside of the front 
door is a little difficult to 

885
00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:03,440
explain away. 
But I am still inclined to keep 

886
00:51:03,440 --> 00:51:06,840
to my first idea on this point, 
that there was nothing really 

887
00:51:06,840 --> 00:51:10,800
unnatural about it. 
The hoof sounds in the billiard 

888
00:51:10,800 --> 00:51:14,200
room and down the passage were 
done by Pascot from the floor 

889
00:51:14,200 --> 00:51:17,960
below, by pomping against the 
panelled ceiling with a block of

890
00:51:17,960 --> 00:51:19,960
wood tied to one of the window 
hooks. 

891
00:51:20,440 --> 00:51:23,440
I proved this by an examination 
which showed the dints in the 

892
00:51:23,440 --> 00:51:25,520
woodwork. 
The sounds of the horse 

893
00:51:25,520 --> 00:51:28,640
galloping round the house was 
also done by Pascot, who must 

894
00:51:28,640 --> 00:51:32,000
have had a horse tied up in the 
plantation near by, unless 

895
00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:35,920
indeed he made the sounds 
himself, but I do not see how he

896
00:51:35,920 --> 00:51:38,240
could have gone fast enough to 
produce the illusion. 

897
00:51:38,240 --> 00:51:41,800
You see, the gobbling neighing 
in the park was a ventriloquial 

898
00:51:41,800 --> 00:51:45,440
achievement on the part of 
Pascot, and the attack out there

899
00:51:45,440 --> 00:51:49,920
on Beaumont was also by him, so 
that when I thought he was in 

900
00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:53,600
the bedroom he must have been 
outside all the time and joined 

901
00:51:53,600 --> 00:51:55,520
me after I ran out of the front 
door. 

902
00:51:55,760 --> 00:51:58,960
This is probable. 
I mean that pasket was a cause, 

903
00:51:59,120 --> 00:52:01,960
for if it had been something 
more serious he would certainly 

904
00:52:01,960 --> 00:52:05,200
have given up his foolishness 
knowing that there was no longer

905
00:52:05,200 --> 00:52:08,640
any need for it. 
I cannot imagine how he escaped 

906
00:52:08,640 --> 00:52:12,440
being shot, both then and in the
last mad action of which I have 

907
00:52:12,440 --> 00:52:15,520
just told you. 
He was enormously without fear 

908
00:52:15,520 --> 00:52:19,200
of any kind for himself. 
As you can see, the time when 

909
00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:22,240
Pasket was with us, when we 
thought we heard the horse 

910
00:52:22,240 --> 00:52:25,240
galloping round the house, we 
must have been deceived. 

911
00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:29,200
No one was very sure, except, of
course, Pasket, who would 

912
00:52:29,200 --> 00:52:32,560
naturally encourage the belief. 
The neighing in the. 

913
00:52:32,560 --> 00:52:35,520
Cellar is where I consider. 
There came the first suspicion 

914
00:52:35,520 --> 00:52:38,560
into Pasket's mind that there 
was something more at work than 

915
00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:42,240
his sham haunting. 
The neighing was done by him in 

916
00:52:42,240 --> 00:52:44,160
the same way that he did it in 
the park. 

917
00:52:44,760 --> 00:52:48,160
When I remember how ghastly he 
looked, I feel sure that the 

918
00:52:48,160 --> 00:52:51,720
sounds must have had some 
infernal quality added to them 

919
00:52:51,720 --> 00:52:53,240
which frightened the man 
himself. 

920
00:52:53,600 --> 00:52:56,440
Yet later he would persuade 
himself that he had been getting

921
00:52:56,440 --> 00:52:59,080
fanciful. 
Of course, I must not forget 

922
00:52:59,080 --> 00:53:02,840
that the effect upon Miss 
Hiskins must have made him feel 

923
00:53:03,000 --> 00:53:06,080
pretty miserable. 
Then about the clergyman being 

924
00:53:06,080 --> 00:53:08,320
called away. 
We found afterwards that it was 

925
00:53:08,360 --> 00:53:12,520
a bogus errand, or rather call, 
and it is obvious that Pascat 

926
00:53:12,520 --> 00:53:15,920
was at the bottom of this, so as
to get a few more hours in which

927
00:53:15,920 --> 00:53:19,480
to achieve his end. 
And what that was a very little 

928
00:53:19,480 --> 00:53:23,240
imagination will show you, for 
he had found that Beaumont would

929
00:53:23,240 --> 00:53:25,480
not be frightened away. 
See what I mean? 

930
00:53:26,320 --> 00:53:29,360
Then there is no doubt at all 
that Pascat left the cord to the

931
00:53:29,360 --> 00:53:33,360
Butler's bell in a tangle, or 
hitched somewhere, so as to give

932
00:53:33,360 --> 00:53:36,400
him an excuse to slip away 
naturally to clear it. 

933
00:53:36,720 --> 00:53:39,640
This also gave him the 
opportunity to remove one of the

934
00:53:39,640 --> 00:53:42,880
passage lamps. 
Then he had only to smash the 

935
00:53:42,880 --> 00:53:46,240
other, and the passage was in 
utter darkness for him to make 

936
00:53:46,240 --> 00:53:49,120
the attempt on Beaumont. 
In the same way. 

937
00:53:49,120 --> 00:53:52,160
It was he who locked the door of
the bedroom and took the key. 

938
00:53:52,160 --> 00:53:55,560
It was in his pocket. 
This prevented the Captain from 

939
00:53:55,560 --> 00:53:59,560
bringing a light and coming to 
the rescue, but Captain Hiskins 

940
00:53:59,560 --> 00:54:02,680
broke down the door with the 
heavy Fender curb and it was his

941
00:54:02,680 --> 00:54:05,520
smashing the door that it 
sounded so confusing and 

942
00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:07,560
frightening in the darkness of 
the passage. 

943
00:54:08,320 --> 00:54:11,720
The photograph of the monstrous 
hoof above Miss Hiskins in the 

944
00:54:11,720 --> 00:54:15,040
cellar is one of the things that
I am less sure about. 

945
00:54:15,640 --> 00:54:18,760
It might have been faked by 
Pasket whilst I was out of the 

946
00:54:18,760 --> 00:54:21,760
room, and this would have been 
easy enough to anyone who knew 

947
00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:26,160
how, but you know, it does not 
look like a fake yet. 

948
00:54:26,160 --> 00:54:30,280
There is as much evidence of 
probability that it was faked as

949
00:54:30,280 --> 00:54:34,120
against, and The thing is too 
vague for an examination to help

950
00:54:34,120 --> 00:54:37,960
to a definite decision, as so 
that I will express no opinion 

951
00:54:37,960 --> 00:54:41,560
one way or the other. 
It is certainly a horrible 

952
00:54:41,560 --> 00:54:46,000
photograph. 
And now I come to that last 

953
00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:49,040
dreadful thing. 
There has been no further 

954
00:54:49,040 --> 00:54:52,520
manifestation of anything 
abnormal, so that there is an 

955
00:54:52,520 --> 00:54:55,280
extraordinary uncertainty in my 
conclusions. 

956
00:54:55,920 --> 00:54:59,920
If we had not heard those last 
sounds, and if Parsgat had not 

957
00:54:59,920 --> 00:55:03,600
shown that enormous sense of 
fear, the whole of this case 

958
00:55:03,600 --> 00:55:06,240
could be explained away in the 
way in which I have shown. 

959
00:55:06,880 --> 00:55:10,640
And in fact, as you have seen, I
am of the opinion that almost 

960
00:55:10,680 --> 00:55:14,440
all of it can be cleared up. 
But I see no way of going past 

961
00:55:14,440 --> 00:55:18,640
the thing we heard at the last 
and the fear that Pasket showed 

962
00:55:19,240 --> 00:55:22,280
his death. 
No, that proves nothing. 

963
00:55:23,040 --> 00:55:26,840
At the inquest it was described 
somewhat untechnically as due to

964
00:55:26,840 --> 00:55:29,320
heart spasm. 
This is normal enough, and 

965
00:55:29,320 --> 00:55:32,160
leaves us quite in the dark as 
to whether he died because he 

966
00:55:32,160 --> 00:55:34,760
stood between the girl and some 
incredible monster. 

967
00:55:35,440 --> 00:55:38,760
The look on Pasket's face and 
the thing he called out when he 

968
00:55:38,760 --> 00:55:41,720
heard the great hoof sounds 
coming down the passage, seemed 

969
00:55:41,720 --> 00:55:45,560
to show that he had the sudden 
realisation of what before then 

970
00:55:45,560 --> 00:55:48,840
may have been nothing more than 
a horrible suspicion, and his 

971
00:55:48,840 --> 00:55:51,960
fear and appreciation of some 
tremendous danger approaching 

972
00:55:51,960 --> 00:55:54,760
was probably more keenly real 
even than mine. 

973
00:55:55,880 --> 00:55:59,880
And then he did the one fine 
great thing, and the 'cause I 

974
00:55:59,880 --> 00:56:02,880
said what caused it. 
Kornacki shook his head. 

975
00:56:03,080 --> 00:56:06,080
God knows. 
He answered with a peculiar 

976
00:56:06,080 --> 00:56:09,920
sincere reverence. 
If that thing was what it seemed

977
00:56:09,920 --> 00:56:13,240
to be, 1 might suggest an 
explanation which would not 

978
00:56:13,240 --> 00:56:17,320
offend one's reasons, but which 
may be utterly wrong. 

979
00:56:18,080 --> 00:56:21,360
Yet I have thought, though it 
would take a long lecture on 

980
00:56:21,360 --> 00:56:25,120
thought induction to get you to 
appreciate my reasons that 

981
00:56:25,120 --> 00:56:29,680
Pasket had produced what I might
term a kind of induced haunting,

982
00:56:29,960 --> 00:56:33,720
a kind of induced simulation of 
his mental conceptions due to 

983
00:56:33,720 --> 00:56:35,720
his desperate thoughts and 
broodings. 

984
00:56:36,440 --> 00:56:39,120
It is impossible to make it 
clearer in a few words. 

985
00:56:39,880 --> 00:56:44,320
But the old. 
Story, I said, why may not there

986
00:56:44,440 --> 00:56:47,880
have been something in that? 
There may have been something in

987
00:56:47,880 --> 00:56:52,280
it, said Kornacki quietly. 
But I do not think it had 

988
00:56:52,280 --> 00:56:54,880
anything to do with this. 
I have not clearly thought out 

989
00:56:54,880 --> 00:56:59,440
my reasons yet, but later I may 
be able to tell you why I think 

990
00:56:59,440 --> 00:57:01,040
so. 
And the marriage? 

991
00:57:01,040 --> 00:57:03,440
And the cellar. 
Was there anything, founder 

992
00:57:03,600 --> 00:57:06,680
asked Taylor. 
Yes, the marriage was performed 

993
00:57:06,680 --> 00:57:10,160
that day in spite of the 
tragedy, Karnaki told us. 

994
00:57:10,560 --> 00:57:13,680
It was the wisest thing to do, 
considering the things that I 

995
00:57:13,680 --> 00:57:17,400
cannot explain. 
Yes, I had the floor of that big

996
00:57:17,400 --> 00:57:20,360
cellar up, for I had a feeling I
might find something there to 

997
00:57:20,360 --> 00:57:22,840
give me some light, but there 
was nothing. 

998
00:57:23,000 --> 00:57:25,400
You know. 
The whole thing is tremendous 

999
00:57:25,400 --> 00:57:28,560
and extraordinary. 
I shall never forget the look on

1000
00:57:28,560 --> 00:57:34,080
Pasket's face and afterwards the
disgusting sounds of those great

1001
00:57:34,080 --> 00:57:36,720
hoofs going away through the 
quiet house. 

1002
00:57:37,280 --> 00:57:40,360
Garneke stood up. 
Out you go, he said in a 

1003
00:57:40,360 --> 00:57:43,800
friendly fashion, using the 
recognised formula. 

1004
00:57:44,320 --> 00:57:47,160
And we went. 
Presently out into the quiet of 

1005
00:57:47,160 --> 00:57:51,720
the Embankment and so to our 
homes. 

1006
00:57:53,760 --> 00:57:56,920
End of the Horse of the 
Invisible by William Hope 

1007
00:57:56,920 --> 00:58:01,840
Hodgson, Part 2 recording by 
David Lewis Richardson, 

1008
00:58:02,280 --> 00:58:13,170
Lancashire, England. 
Section 9 of the Rivals of 

1009
00:58:13,170 --> 00:58:17,840
Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1. 
This is a Librivox recording. 

1010
00:58:18,240 --> 00:58:21,320
All Librivox recordings are in 
the public domain. 

1011
00:58:21,720 --> 00:58:25,120
For more information or to 
volunteer, please visit 

1012
00:58:25,320 --> 00:58:31,960
librivox.org. 
Recording by William Tomko, The 

1013
00:58:31,960 --> 00:58:34,560
Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, 
volume 1. 

1014
00:58:34,960 --> 00:58:39,200
The Case of the Mirror of 
Portugal by Arthur Morrison, 

1015
00:58:40,120 --> 00:58:46,200
Part 1 One. 
Whether or not this case has an 

1016
00:58:46,200 --> 00:58:48,880
historical interest is a matter 
of conjecture. 

1017
00:58:49,400 --> 00:58:53,000
If it has none, then the title I
have given it is a misnomer. 

1018
00:58:54,000 --> 00:58:57,560
But I think the conjecture that 
some historical interest 

1019
00:58:57,560 --> 00:59:01,680
attaches to it is by no means an
empty one, and all that can be 

1020
00:59:01,680 --> 00:59:04,800
urged against it is the common, 
though not always declared 

1021
00:59:04,800 --> 00:59:07,640
error. 
That romance expired 50 years at

1022
00:59:07,640 --> 00:59:12,960
least ago, and history with it. 
This makes it seem improbable 

1023
00:59:13,000 --> 00:59:16,560
that the answer to an unsolved 
Riddle of a century since should

1024
00:59:16,560 --> 00:59:19,960
be found to day in an inquiry 
agent's dingy office in Bedford 

1025
00:59:19,960 --> 00:59:21,280
St. 
Covent Garden. 

1026
00:59:22,000 --> 00:59:25,160
Whether or not it has so been 
found, the reader may judge for 

1027
00:59:25,160 --> 00:59:28,920
himself, though the evidence 
stops far short of actual proof 

1028
00:59:28,920 --> 00:59:32,760
of the identity of the Mirror of
Portugal with the Stone 

1029
00:59:32,760 --> 00:59:34,840
wherewith this case was 
concerned. 

1030
00:59:35,760 --> 00:59:38,000
But first, as to the mirror of 
Portugal. 

1031
00:59:38,360 --> 00:59:41,200
This was a diamond of much and 
ancient fame. 

1032
00:59:41,520 --> 00:59:44,960
It was of Indian origin, and it 
had lain in the possession of 

1033
00:59:44,960 --> 00:59:48,440
the royal family of Portugal in 
the time of Portugal's ancient 

1034
00:59:48,440 --> 00:59:51,760
splendor. 
But 300 years ago, after the 

1035
00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:55,560
extinction of the early line of 
succession, the diamond, with 

1036
00:59:55,600 --> 00:59:59,840
other jewels, fell into the 
possession of Don Antonio, one 

1037
00:59:59,840 --> 01:00:03,200
of the half dozen pretenders who
were then scrambling for the 

1038
01:00:03,200 --> 01:00:06,520
throne. 
Don Antonio, badly in want of 

1039
01:00:06,520 --> 01:00:10,240
money, deposited the stone in 
pledge with Queen Elizabeth of 

1040
01:00:10,240 --> 01:00:14,560
England, and never redeemed it. 
Thus it took its place as one of

1041
01:00:14,560 --> 01:00:19,040
the English crown jewels, and so
remained till the overthrow and 

1042
01:00:19,040 --> 01:00:24,240
death of Charles the First. 
Queen Henrietta then carried it 

1043
01:00:24,240 --> 01:00:28,360
with her to France, and there, 
to obtain money to satisfy her 

1044
01:00:28,360 --> 01:00:32,080
creditors, she sold it to the 
great Cardinal Mazarin. 

1045
01:00:33,000 --> 01:00:37,440
He bequeathed it at his death to
the French crown, and among the 

1046
01:00:37,440 --> 01:00:40,920
crown jewels of France it once 
more found a temporary abiding 

1047
01:00:40,920 --> 01:00:43,440
place. 
But once more it brought 

1048
01:00:43,440 --> 01:00:46,120
disaster with it in the shape of
a revolution. 

1049
01:00:46,520 --> 01:00:50,120
And again a king lost his head 
at the executioner's hands. 

1050
01:00:50,720 --> 01:00:55,960
And in the riot and confusion of
the great Revolution of 1792, 

1051
01:00:56,440 --> 01:00:59,920
the mirror of Portugal, with 
other jewels, vanished utterly. 

1052
01:01:00,640 --> 01:01:03,640
Where it went to and who took 
it, nobody ever knew. 

1053
01:01:04,120 --> 01:01:06,680
The mirror of Portugal 
disappeared as suddenly and 

1054
01:01:06,680 --> 01:01:10,640
effectually as though fused to 
vapor by electric combustion. 

1055
01:01:11,560 --> 01:01:15,320
So much for the famous mirror. 
Whether or not its history is 

1056
01:01:15,320 --> 01:01:18,680
germane to the narrative which 
follows, probably nobody will 

1057
01:01:18,680 --> 01:01:22,280
ever certainly know. 
But that Dorrington considered 

1058
01:01:22,280 --> 01:01:25,840
that it was his notes on the 
case abundantly testify. 

1059
01:01:26,600 --> 01:01:29,280
For some days before 
Dorrington's attention was in 

1060
01:01:29,280 --> 01:01:32,520
any way given to this matter, a 
poorly dressed and not 

1061
01:01:32,520 --> 01:01:35,760
altogether prepossessing 
Frenchman had been haunting the 

1062
01:01:35,760 --> 01:01:39,720
staircase and tapping at the 
office door, unsuccessfully 

1063
01:01:39,720 --> 01:01:42,960
attempting an interview with 
Dorrington, who happened to be 

1064
01:01:42,960 --> 01:01:48,000
out or busy whenever he called. 
The man never asked for Hicks, 

1065
01:01:48,040 --> 01:01:50,840
Dorrington's partner, but this 
was very natural. 

1066
01:01:51,240 --> 01:01:55,120
In the 1st place, it was always 
Dorrington who met all strangers

1067
01:01:55,320 --> 01:01:59,760
and conducted all negotiations, 
and in the second, Dorrington 

1068
01:01:59,760 --> 01:02:03,360
had just lately, in a case of 
regarding a secret society in 

1069
01:02:03,360 --> 01:02:08,040
Soho, made his name much known 
and respected, not to say 

1070
01:02:08,040 --> 01:02:11,000
feared, in the foreign colony of
that quarter. 

1071
01:02:11,760 --> 01:02:14,920
Wherefore it was likely that a 
man who bore evidence of 

1072
01:02:14,920 --> 01:02:17,920
residence in that neighborhood 
should come with the name of 

1073
01:02:18,000 --> 01:02:22,400
Dorrington on his tongue. 
The weather was cold, but the 

1074
01:02:22,400 --> 01:02:25,840
man's clothes were thin and 
threadbare, and he had no 

1075
01:02:25,840 --> 01:02:28,960
overcoat. 
His face was of a broad, low 

1076
01:02:28,960 --> 01:02:33,080
type, coarse in feature and 
small in forehead, and he wore 

1077
01:02:33,080 --> 01:02:36,440
the baggy black linen peaked cap
familiar on the heads of men of 

1078
01:02:36,440 --> 01:02:41,720
his class in parts of Paris. 
He had called unsuccessfully, as

1079
01:02:41,720 --> 01:02:45,880
I have said, sometimes once, 
sometimes more frequently, on 

1080
01:02:45,880 --> 01:02:49,920
each of three or four days 
before he succeeded in seeing 

1081
01:02:49,920 --> 01:02:53,440
Dorrington. 
At last, however, he intercepted

1082
01:02:53,440 --> 01:02:57,000
him on the stairs as Dorrington 
arrived at about 11:00 in the 

1083
01:02:57,000 --> 01:03:01,240
morning. 
Pardon, Monsieur, he said, 

1084
01:03:01,440 --> 01:03:03,440
laying his finger on 
Dorrington's arm. 

1085
01:03:03,840 --> 01:03:10,320
It is Monsieur Dorrington not 
well, suppose it is, what then? 

1086
01:03:10,960 --> 01:03:14,080
Dorrington never admitted his 
identity to a stranger without 

1087
01:03:14,080 --> 01:03:20,320
first seeing good 'cause I have 
business, very great business, 

1088
01:03:20,760 --> 01:03:24,520
business of a large profit for 
you, if you please to take it. 

1089
01:03:25,120 --> 01:03:28,480
Where shall I tell it? 
Come in here. 

1090
01:03:28,600 --> 01:03:31,600
Dorrington replied, leading the 
way to his private room. 

1091
01:03:32,040 --> 01:03:35,440
The man did not look like a 
wealthy client, but that 

1092
01:03:35,440 --> 01:03:38,480
signified nothing. 
Dorrington had made profitable 

1093
01:03:38,480 --> 01:03:42,480
strokes after introductions even
less promising, the man 

1094
01:03:42,480 --> 01:03:44,680
followed. 
Dorrington pulled off his cap 

1095
01:03:44,720 --> 01:03:47,080
and sat in the chair Dorrington 
pointed at. 

1096
01:03:47,920 --> 01:03:49,720
In the 1st place. 
Said Dorrington. 

1097
01:03:49,800 --> 01:03:55,120
What's your name? 
Ah, yes, but before all that I 

1098
01:03:55,120 --> 01:03:58,360
tell is for ourselves alone, is 
it not? 

1099
01:03:58,800 --> 01:04:03,440
It is all in confidence, eh? 
Yes, yes, of course. 

1100
01:04:03,800 --> 01:04:06,480
Dorrington answered with 
virtuous impatience. 

1101
01:04:06,920 --> 01:04:09,680
Whatever is said in this room is
regarded as strictly 

1102
01:04:09,680 --> 01:04:12,240
confidential. 
What's your name? 

1103
01:04:13,080 --> 01:04:19,000
Jacques Bouvier, living at Lidl,
Norham Street, Soho. 

1104
01:04:19,920 --> 01:04:21,800
And now the business you speak 
of. 

1105
01:04:22,480 --> 01:04:26,520
The business is this My cousin 
Leon Bouvier. 

1106
01:04:26,760 --> 01:04:32,480
He is coquin of Rascal. 
Very likely he has a great 

1107
01:04:32,480 --> 01:04:35,000
jewel. 
It is, I have no doubt, a 

1108
01:04:35,000 --> 01:04:38,440
diamond of great value. 
It is not his. 

1109
01:04:38,880 --> 01:04:42,400
There is no right of him to it. 
It should be mine. 

1110
01:04:43,440 --> 01:04:46,760
If you get it for me, one 
quarter of it in money shall be 

1111
01:04:46,760 --> 01:04:52,480
yours, and it is of great value.
Where does your cousin live? 

1112
01:04:53,160 --> 01:04:57,320
What is he? 
Beck Street, Soho. 

1113
01:04:57,560 --> 01:05:03,440
He has a shop, a cafe, Cafe de 
bon Comrade, and he give me not 

1114
01:05:03,440 --> 01:05:08,320
a crust if I starve. 
It scarcely seemed likely that 

1115
01:05:08,320 --> 01:05:11,960
the keeper of a little foreign 
cafe in a back street of Soho 

1116
01:05:12,240 --> 01:05:15,440
would be possessed of a jewel 
1/4 of whose value would be 

1117
01:05:15,440 --> 01:05:18,840
prize enough to tempt Dorrington
to take a new case up. 

1118
01:05:19,440 --> 01:05:21,720
But Dorrington bore with the man
a little longer. 

1119
01:05:22,560 --> 01:05:25,400
What is this jewel you talk of? 
He asked. 

1120
01:05:25,680 --> 01:05:28,440
And if you don't know enough 
about it to be quite sure 

1121
01:05:28,440 --> 01:05:32,080
whether it is a diamond or not, 
what do you know? 

1122
01:05:32,960 --> 01:05:37,280
Listen, the stone I have never 
seen, but that it is a diamond 

1123
01:05:37,360 --> 01:05:41,320
makes probable. 
What else so much value. 

1124
01:05:41,560 --> 01:05:44,920
And it is much value that gives 
my cousin so great care and 

1125
01:05:44,920 --> 01:05:48,560
trouble. 
Cauchon, listen, I relate to 

1126
01:05:48,560 --> 01:05:51,240
you. 
My father, he was charcoal 

1127
01:05:51,240 --> 01:05:54,200
burner at Bonnouille department 
of Sen. 

1128
01:05:54,840 --> 01:05:58,680
My uncle, the father of my 
cousin also was charcoal burner.

1129
01:05:59,280 --> 01:06:03,760
The grandfather charcoal burner 
also, and his father and his 

1130
01:06:03,760 --> 01:06:07,440
grandfather before him, all 
burners of charcoal at 

1131
01:06:07,480 --> 01:06:12,640
Bonnouille now perceive. 
The father of my grandfather was

1132
01:06:12,640 --> 01:06:16,400
of the great revolution, a young
man, great among those who 

1133
01:06:16,400 --> 01:06:21,240
stormed the Bastille, the 
Tularees, the Otel de Ville, 

1134
01:06:21,520 --> 01:06:26,640
brave and a leader. 
Now when palaces were burnt and 

1135
01:06:26,640 --> 01:06:30,120
heads were falling, there was 
naturally much confusion. 

1136
01:06:30,680 --> 01:06:33,320
Things were lost, things of 
large value. 

1137
01:06:33,960 --> 01:06:37,080
What more natural? 
While so many were losing the 

1138
01:06:37,080 --> 01:06:40,440
head from the shoulders, it was 
not strange that some should 

1139
01:06:40,440 --> 01:06:44,080
lose jewels from the neck. 
And when these things were lost,

1140
01:06:44,200 --> 01:06:47,120
who might have a greater right 
to keep them than the young men 

1141
01:06:47,120 --> 01:06:51,840
of the Revolution, the brave and
the leaders, they who did the 

1142
01:06:51,840 --> 01:06:54,360
work? 
If you mean that your 

1143
01:06:54,360 --> 01:06:57,520
respectable great grandfather 
stole something, you needn't 

1144
01:06:57,520 --> 01:06:59,840
explain it any more, Dorrington 
said. 

1145
01:07:00,080 --> 01:07:04,720
I quite understand. 
I do not say stoll, when there 

1146
01:07:04,720 --> 01:07:08,640
is a great revolution, a thing 
is anybody's, but it would not 

1147
01:07:08,640 --> 01:07:12,160
be convenient to tell of it at 
the time, for the new government

1148
01:07:12,160 --> 01:07:14,280
might believe everything to be 
its own. 

1149
01:07:15,240 --> 01:07:18,560
These things I do not know. 
You will understand. 

1150
01:07:18,920 --> 01:07:21,640
I suggest an explanation that 
that is all. 

1151
01:07:22,800 --> 01:07:26,120
After the great revolution, my 
great grandfather lives alone 

1152
01:07:26,120 --> 01:07:29,480
and quiet, and burns the 
charcoal as before. 

1153
01:07:30,160 --> 01:07:32,760
Why? 
The jewel is too great to sell 

1154
01:07:32,760 --> 01:07:36,400
so soon, so he gives it to his 
son and dies. 

1155
01:07:36,880 --> 01:07:41,400
He also my grandfather, still 
burns the charcoal again. 

1156
01:07:41,440 --> 01:07:44,800
Why? 
Because, as I believe, he is too

1157
01:07:44,800 --> 01:07:48,680
poor, too common a man to go 
about openly to sell so great a 

1158
01:07:48,680 --> 01:07:54,240
stone, more he loves the stone, 
For with that he is always rich.

1159
01:07:54,760 --> 01:07:58,600
And so he burns his charcoal and
lives contented, as his father 

1160
01:07:58,600 --> 01:08:01,880
had done. 
And he is rich and nobody knows 

1161
01:08:01,880 --> 01:08:03,640
it. 
What then? 

1162
01:08:04,080 --> 01:08:07,760
He has two sons. 
When he dies, which son does he 

1163
01:08:07,760 --> 01:08:11,200
leave the stone to? 
Each one says it is for himself.

1164
01:08:11,560 --> 01:08:14,720
That is natural. 
I say it was for my father. 

1165
01:08:15,040 --> 01:08:18,840
But however that may make 
itself, my father dies suddenly.

1166
01:08:19,279 --> 01:08:22,600
He falls in a pit by accident, 
says his brother. 

1167
01:08:23,240 --> 01:08:27,960
Not by accident, says my mother.
And soon after she dies too. 

1168
01:08:28,720 --> 01:08:31,200
By accident too, perhaps, you 
ask? 

1169
01:08:31,600 --> 01:08:34,479
Oh yes, by accident too, no 
doubt. 

1170
01:08:35,120 --> 01:08:39,880
The man laughed disagreeably. 
So I am left alone, a little boy

1171
01:08:40,040 --> 01:08:43,640
to burn charcoal. 
When I am a bigger boy, there 

1172
01:08:43,640 --> 01:08:46,920
comes the Great War, and the 
Prussians besiege Paris. 

1173
01:08:47,520 --> 01:08:52,399
My uncle, he burning charcoal no
more, goes at night and takes 

1174
01:08:52,399 --> 01:08:55,880
things from the dead Prussians. 
Perhaps they are not always 

1175
01:08:55,880 --> 01:08:59,439
quite dead when he finds them. 
Perhaps he makes them so. 

1176
01:08:59,920 --> 01:09:02,760
Be that as it will. 
The Prussians take him one dark 

1177
01:09:02,760 --> 01:09:08,120
night and they stand him against
a garden wall, and pif PAF they 

1178
01:09:08,120 --> 01:09:11,200
shoot him. 
That is all of my uncle. 

1179
01:09:11,960 --> 01:09:15,279
But he dies a rich man and 
nobody knows. 

1180
01:09:16,040 --> 01:09:19,160
What does his wife do? 
She has the jewel and she has a 

1181
01:09:19,160 --> 01:09:22,200
little money that has been got 
from the dead Prussians. 

1182
01:09:22,680 --> 01:09:26,399
So when the war is over, she 
comes to London with my cousin, 

1183
01:09:26,800 --> 01:09:32,080
the bad Lyon, and she has the 
cafe, Cafe de bon Comrade. 

1184
01:09:32,600 --> 01:09:37,160
And Lyon grows up and his mother
dies, and he has the cafe, and 

1185
01:09:37,160 --> 01:09:42,160
with the jewel is a rich man, 
nobody knowing, nobody but me. 

1186
01:09:42,760 --> 01:09:46,720
But figure to yourself, shall I 
burn charcoal and starve 

1187
01:09:46,720 --> 01:09:50,160
Headbone Wheel with a rich 
cousin in London, rich with a 

1188
01:09:50,160 --> 01:09:53,240
diamond that should be mine? 
Not so. 

1189
01:09:53,880 --> 01:09:58,760
I come over and Lyon, at first 
he lets me wait at the cafe. 

1190
01:09:59,360 --> 01:10:02,960
But I do not want that. 
There is the stone and I can 

1191
01:10:02,960 --> 01:10:07,960
never see it, never find it. 
So one day Lyon finds me looking

1192
01:10:07,960 --> 01:10:11,160
in a box and shoot. 
Out I go. 

1193
01:10:11,800 --> 01:10:15,520
I tell Lyon that I will share 
the jewel with him, or I will 

1194
01:10:15,520 --> 01:10:17,920
tell the police. 
He laughs at me. 

1195
01:10:18,320 --> 01:10:21,400
There is no jewel, he says. 
I am mad. 

1196
01:10:22,200 --> 01:10:25,440
I do not tell the police, for 
that is to lose it altogether. 

1197
01:10:25,720 --> 01:10:28,840
But I come here and ioffer you 
one quarter of the diamond. 

1198
01:10:29,080 --> 01:10:32,840
If you shall get it. 
Steal it for you, eh? 

1199
01:10:33,520 --> 01:10:35,600
Jacques Bouvier shrugged his 
shoulders. 

1200
01:10:36,400 --> 01:10:38,560
The word is as you please, he 
said. 

1201
01:10:38,880 --> 01:10:43,120
The jewel is not his, and if 
there is delay it will be gone 

1202
01:10:43,480 --> 01:10:45,720
already. 
He goes each day to hat and 

1203
01:10:45,720 --> 01:10:49,400
garden, leaving his wife to keep
the Cafe de Buon comrade. 

1204
01:10:49,960 --> 01:10:53,440
Perhaps he is selling the jewel 
to day, who can tell? 

1205
01:10:53,960 --> 01:10:57,360
So that it will be well that you
begin at once. 

1206
01:10:58,320 --> 01:11:01,000
Very well. 
My fee in advance will be 20 

1207
01:11:01,000 --> 01:11:05,200
Guineas. 
What, dear, I have no money, I 

1208
01:11:05,200 --> 01:11:07,720
tell you. 
Get the diamond, and there is 

1209
01:11:07,720 --> 01:11:10,520
one quarter, 25 per cent for 
you. 

1210
01:11:11,720 --> 01:11:15,040
But what guarantee do you give 
that this story of yours isn't 

1211
01:11:15,040 --> 01:11:17,520
all a hoax? 
Can you expect me to take 

1212
01:11:17,520 --> 01:11:20,120
everything on trust and work for
nothing? 

1213
01:11:21,280 --> 01:11:23,720
The man rose and waved his arms 
excitedly. 

1214
01:11:24,240 --> 01:11:28,160
It is true, I say, he exclaimed.
It is a fortune. 

1215
01:11:28,360 --> 01:11:30,600
There is much for you, and it 
will pay. 

1216
01:11:31,160 --> 01:11:33,680
I have no money, or you should 
have some. 

1217
01:11:34,080 --> 01:11:36,960
What can I do? 
You will lose the chance if you 

1218
01:11:36,960 --> 01:11:40,440
are foolish. 
It rather seems to me, my 

1219
01:11:40,440 --> 01:11:43,360
friend, that I shall be foolish 
to give valuable time to 

1220
01:11:43,360 --> 01:11:45,840
gratifying your cock and bull 
fancies. 

1221
01:11:46,320 --> 01:11:48,760
See here now. 
I'm a man of business and my 

1222
01:11:48,760 --> 01:11:54,000
time is fully occupied. 
You come here and waste half an 

1223
01:11:54,000 --> 01:11:57,880
hour or more of it with a long 
rigmarole about some valuable 

1224
01:11:57,880 --> 01:12:01,360
article that you say yourself 
you have never seen, and you 

1225
01:12:01,360 --> 01:12:03,800
don't even know whether it is a 
diamond or not. 

1226
01:12:04,720 --> 01:12:08,520
You wander at large over family 
traditions which you may believe

1227
01:12:08,520 --> 01:12:12,400
yourself or may not. 
You have no money and you offer 

1228
01:12:12,400 --> 01:12:15,240
no fee as a guarantee of your 
bona fides. 

1229
01:12:15,680 --> 01:12:19,280
And the sum of The thing is that
you ask me to go and commit a 

1230
01:12:19,280 --> 01:12:23,680
theft to purloin an article you 
can't even describe, and then to

1231
01:12:23,680 --> 01:12:28,440
give you 3/4 of the proceeds. 
No, my man, you have made a 

1232
01:12:28,440 --> 01:12:30,880
mistake. 
You must go away from here at 

1233
01:12:30,880 --> 01:12:33,080
once. 
And if I find you hanging about 

1234
01:12:33,080 --> 01:12:37,200
my door again, I shall have you 
taken away very summarily. 

1235
01:12:38,000 --> 01:12:43,960
Do you understand? 
Now go away, Mon dieu, but I 

1236
01:12:43,960 --> 01:12:47,160
have no more time to waste. 
Dorrington answered, opening the

1237
01:12:47,160 --> 01:12:51,520
door and pointing to the stairs.
If you stay here any longer, 

1238
01:12:51,600 --> 01:12:55,960
you'll get into trouble. 
Jacques Bouvier walked out, 

1239
01:12:56,080 --> 01:12:58,480
muttering and agitating his 
hands. 

1240
01:12:59,080 --> 01:13:01,880
At the top stair. 
He turned and, almost too angry 

1241
01:13:01,880 --> 01:13:06,640
for words, burst out. 
Sir, you are a very big fool. 

1242
01:13:07,040 --> 01:13:10,160
A fool. 
But Dorrington slammed the door.

1243
01:13:11,960 --> 01:13:15,080
He determined, however, if he 
could find a little time to 

1244
01:13:15,080 --> 01:13:18,960
learn a little more of Leon 
Bouvier, perhaps to put a man to

1245
01:13:18,960 --> 01:13:23,120
watch at the Cafe de Bonne 
Comrade, that the keeper of this

1246
01:13:23,120 --> 01:13:26,520
place in Soho should go 
regularly to Hat and garden. 

1247
01:13:26,840 --> 01:13:30,880
The diamond market was curious, 
and Dorrington had met and 

1248
01:13:30,880 --> 01:13:35,240
analyzed too many extraordinary 
romances to put aside unexamined

1249
01:13:35,400 --> 01:13:38,440
Jacques Bouvier's seemingly 
improbable story. 

1250
01:13:39,280 --> 01:13:43,320
But having heard all the man had
to say, it had clearly been his 

1251
01:13:43,320 --> 01:13:46,280
policy to get rid of him in the 
way he had done. 

1252
01:13:47,120 --> 01:13:50,120
Dorrington was quite ready to 
steal a diamond or anything else

1253
01:13:50,120 --> 01:13:54,000
of value if it could be done 
quite safely, but he was no such

1254
01:13:54,000 --> 01:13:58,440
fool as to give 3/4 of his 
plunder or any of it to somebody

1255
01:13:58,440 --> 01:14:02,040
else. 
So that the politic plan was to 

1256
01:14:02,040 --> 01:14:06,000
send Jacques Bouvier away with 
the impression that his story 

1257
01:14:06,000 --> 01:14:11,440
was altogether Pooh poohed and 
was to be forgotten. 2 

1258
01:14:12,040 --> 01:14:15,440
Dorrington left his office late 
that day, and the evening being 

1259
01:14:15,440 --> 01:14:19,280
clear though dark, he walked 
toward Conduit Street by way of 

1260
01:14:19,280 --> 01:14:21,720
Soho. 
He thought to take a glance at 

1261
01:14:21,720 --> 01:14:25,840
the Cafe de Bon Comrade on his 
way without being observed. 

1262
01:14:26,160 --> 01:14:28,840
Should Jacques Bouvier be in the
vicinity? 

1263
01:14:29,760 --> 01:14:34,120
Beck Street, Soho was a short 
and narrow St. lying east and 

1264
01:14:34,120 --> 01:14:37,640
West, and joining two of the 
largest streets that stretched 

1265
01:14:37,640 --> 01:14:39,760
North and South across the 
district. 

1266
01:14:40,440 --> 01:14:43,760
It was even A trifle dirtier 
than these by streets in that 

1267
01:14:43,760 --> 01:14:48,560
quarter are won't to be. 
The Cafe de bon Camarade was a 

1268
01:14:48,560 --> 01:14:51,760
little green painted shop, the 
window whereof was backed by 

1269
01:14:51,760 --> 01:14:55,520
muslin curtains, while upon the 
window itself appeared in 

1270
01:14:55,520 --> 01:14:59,520
Florida painted letters the 
words Cuisine Francaise. 

1271
01:15:00,400 --> 01:15:03,280
It was the only shop in the 
street, with the exception of a 

1272
01:15:03,280 --> 01:15:07,440
small coal and firewood shed at 
1 end, the other buildings 

1273
01:15:07,440 --> 01:15:10,880
consisting of the side wall of a
factory, now closed for the 

1274
01:15:10,880 --> 01:15:13,000
night, and a few tenement 
houses. 

1275
01:15:13,920 --> 01:15:17,600
An alley entrance, apparently 
the gate of a stable yard, stood

1276
01:15:17,600 --> 01:15:21,520
next the cafe. 
As Dorrington walked by the 

1277
01:15:21,520 --> 01:15:25,640
steamy window he was startled to
hear his own name and some part 

1278
01:15:25,640 --> 01:15:29,640
of his office address spoken in 
excited tones somewhere in this 

1279
01:15:29,640 --> 01:15:33,840
dark alley entrance. 
And suddenly a man, rather well 

1280
01:15:33,840 --> 01:15:38,000
dressed and cramming A damaged 
tall hat on his head as he went,

1281
01:15:38,320 --> 01:15:41,080
darted from the entrance and ran
in the direction from which 

1282
01:15:41,080 --> 01:15:45,160
Dorrington had come. 
A stoutly built Frenchwoman, 

1283
01:15:45,320 --> 01:15:48,040
carrying on her face every 
indication of extreme 

1284
01:15:48,040 --> 01:15:52,120
excitement, watched him from the
gateway, and Dorrington made no 

1285
01:15:52,120 --> 01:15:54,800
doubt that it was in her voice 
that he had heard his name 

1286
01:15:54,800 --> 01:15:57,760
mentioned. 
He walked briskly to the end of 

1287
01:15:57,760 --> 01:16:01,640
the Short St. turned at the end,
and hurried round the block of 

1288
01:16:01,640 --> 01:16:04,440
houses in hoped to catch another
side of the man. 

1289
01:16:05,040 --> 01:16:10,040
Presently he saw him running in 
Old Compton St. and making in 

1290
01:16:10,040 --> 01:16:11,960
the direction of Charing Cross 
Rd. 

1291
01:16:12,720 --> 01:16:14,880
Dorrington mended his pace and 
followed. 

1292
01:16:15,320 --> 01:16:19,280
The man emerged where Shaftsbury
Ave. meets Charing Cross Road, 

1293
01:16:19,480 --> 01:16:23,520
and as he crossed hesitated once
or twice, as though he thought 

1294
01:16:23,520 --> 01:16:27,320
of hailing a cab, but decided 
rather to trust his own legs. 

1295
01:16:27,960 --> 01:16:32,000
He hastened through the byways, 
through Saint Martin's Lane, and

1296
01:16:32,000 --> 01:16:35,760
Dorrington now perceived that 
one side and half the back of 

1297
01:16:35,760 --> 01:16:37,840
his coat was dripping with wet 
mud. 

1298
01:16:38,680 --> 01:16:42,120
Also, it was plain, as 
Dorrington had suspected, that 

1299
01:16:42,120 --> 01:16:45,640
his destination was Dorrington's
own office in Bedford St. 

1300
01:16:46,440 --> 01:16:50,000
So the follower broke into a 
trot, and at last came upon the 

1301
01:16:50,000 --> 01:16:54,520
muddy man, wrenching at the bell
and pounding at the closed door 

1302
01:16:54,520 --> 01:16:58,840
of the house in Bedford St. just
as the housekeeper began to turn

1303
01:16:58,840 --> 01:17:01,800
the lock. 
Monsieur Dorrington. 

1304
01:17:02,040 --> 01:17:06,160
Monsieur Darlington, The man 
exclaimed excitedly as the door 

1305
01:17:06,160 --> 01:17:10,040
was opened. 
He's gone home long ago, the 

1306
01:17:10,040 --> 01:17:13,000
caretaker growled. 
You might have known that. 

1307
01:17:13,440 --> 01:17:16,360
Oh, here he is, though. 
Good evening, Sir. 

1308
01:17:17,320 --> 01:17:21,000
I am Mr. Dorrington, the inquiry
agent said politely. 

1309
01:17:21,480 --> 01:17:26,400
Can I do anything for you? 
Ah, yes, it is important at 

1310
01:17:26,400 --> 01:17:28,200
once. 
I am robbed. 

1311
01:17:29,120 --> 01:17:31,920
Just step upstairs, then, and 
tell me about it. 

1312
01:17:32,960 --> 01:17:35,760
Dorrington had but begun to 
light the gas in his office when

1313
01:17:35,760 --> 01:17:39,000
his visitor broke out. 
I am robbed, Monsieur 

1314
01:17:39,000 --> 01:17:42,520
Dorrington. 
Robbed by my cousin Coquia. 

1315
01:17:43,120 --> 01:17:46,520
Robbed of everything. 
Robbed, I tell you. 

1316
01:17:47,200 --> 01:17:50,160
He seemed astonished to find the
other so little excited by the 

1317
01:17:50,160 --> 01:17:52,760
intelligence. 
Let me take your coat. 

1318
01:17:52,800 --> 01:17:56,200
Dorrington said calmly. 
You've had a downer in the mud, 

1319
01:17:56,280 --> 01:17:58,960
I see. 
Why, what's this? 

1320
01:17:59,360 --> 01:18:02,000
He smelt the collar as he went 
toward a hat peg. 

1321
01:18:02,600 --> 01:18:06,200
Chloroform. 
Ah, yes, it is that Rascal 

1322
01:18:06,280 --> 01:18:09,080
Jacques. 
I will tell you this evening. 

1323
01:18:09,080 --> 01:18:13,480
I go into the gateway next my 
house, Cafe de Bon Comorade, to 

1324
01:18:13,480 --> 01:18:16,520
enter. 
By the side door and path a 

1325
01:18:16,520 --> 01:18:19,200
shawl is flinging across my face
from behind. 

1326
01:18:19,640 --> 01:18:22,840
It is pulled tight. 
There is a knee in my back. 

1327
01:18:23,240 --> 01:18:25,080
I can catch nothing with my 
hand. 

1328
01:18:25,440 --> 01:18:29,760
It smell all hot in my throat. 
I choke and I fall over. 

1329
01:18:30,120 --> 01:18:33,680
There is no more. 
I wake up and I see my wife and 

1330
01:18:33,680 --> 01:18:37,920
she take me into the house. 
I am all muddy and tired but I 

1331
01:18:37,920 --> 01:18:40,120
feel and I have lost my 
property. 

1332
01:18:40,320 --> 01:18:44,240
It is a diamond and my cousin 
Jacques, he has done it. 

1333
01:18:45,440 --> 01:18:47,440
Are you sure of that? 
Sure. 

1334
01:18:47,640 --> 01:18:51,080
Oh yes, it is certain, I tell 
you certain. 

1335
01:18:51,880 --> 01:18:55,800
Then why not inform the police? 
The visitor was clearly taken 

1336
01:18:55,800 --> 01:18:58,960
aback by this question. 
He faltered and looked 

1337
01:18:58,960 --> 01:19:00,840
searchingly in Dorrington's 
face. 

1338
01:19:01,680 --> 01:19:04,360
That is not always the 
convenient way, he said. 

1339
01:19:04,680 --> 01:19:08,840
I would rather that you do it. 
It is a diamond that I want not 

1340
01:19:08,840 --> 01:19:11,600
to punish my cousin, thief that 
he is. 

1341
01:19:12,800 --> 01:19:16,560
Dorrington mended a quill with 
ostentatious care, saying 

1342
01:19:16,560 --> 01:19:20,480
encouragingly as he did so. 
I can quite understand that you 

1343
01:19:20,480 --> 01:19:23,600
may not wish to prosecute your 
cousin, only to recover the 

1344
01:19:23,600 --> 01:19:27,320
diamond you speak of. 
Also, I can quite understand 

1345
01:19:27,520 --> 01:19:31,160
that there may be reasons, 
family reasons perhaps, perhaps 

1346
01:19:31,160 --> 01:19:34,360
others, which may render it 
inadvisable to make even the 

1347
01:19:34,360 --> 01:19:38,720
existence of the jewel known 
more than absolutely necessary. 

1348
01:19:39,400 --> 01:19:41,960
For instance, there may be other
claimants. 

1349
01:19:42,240 --> 01:19:46,040
Monsieur Leon Bouviere, the 
visitor started. 

1350
01:19:46,520 --> 01:19:48,480
You know my name? 
Then he asked. 

1351
01:19:48,720 --> 01:19:52,400
How is that? 
Dorrington smiled the smile of a

1352
01:19:52,400 --> 01:19:55,440
sphinx. 
Monsieur Bouvier, he said. 

1353
01:19:55,720 --> 01:19:57,800
It is my trade to know 
everything. 

1354
01:19:58,160 --> 01:20:01,360
Everything. 
He put the pen down and gazed 

1355
01:20:01,360 --> 01:20:05,200
whimsically at the other. 
My agents are everywhere. 

1356
01:20:05,800 --> 01:20:08,560
You talk of the secret agent of 
the Russian police. 

1357
01:20:08,960 --> 01:20:11,680
They are nothing. 
It is my trade to know all 

1358
01:20:11,680 --> 01:20:15,720
things, for instance. 
Dorrington unlocked a drawer and

1359
01:20:15,720 --> 01:20:19,200
produced a book. 
It was but an office diary and, 

1360
01:20:19,200 --> 01:20:22,440
turning its pages, went on. 
Let me see. 

1361
01:20:22,800 --> 01:20:25,520
B. 
It is my trade, for instance, to

1362
01:20:25,520 --> 01:20:29,160
know about the Cafe de bon 
Camarade, established by the 

1363
01:20:29,160 --> 01:20:32,760
late Madame Bouvier, now 
unhappily deceased. 

1364
01:20:33,280 --> 01:20:37,240
It is my trait to know of Madame
Bouvier at Bonnweil, where the 

1365
01:20:37,240 --> 01:20:41,200
charcoal was burnt, and where 
Madame Bouvier was unfortunately

1366
01:20:41,200 --> 01:20:45,000
left a widow at the time of the 
siege of Paris, because of some 

1367
01:20:45,040 --> 01:20:48,720
lamentable misunderstanding of 
her husband's with a file of 

1368
01:20:48,800 --> 01:20:51,000
Prussian soldiers by an orchard 
wall. 

1369
01:20:51,760 --> 01:20:55,680
It is my trade, moreover, to 
know something of the sad death 

1370
01:20:55,720 --> 01:20:59,440
of that husband's brother in a 
pit, and of the later death of 

1371
01:20:59,440 --> 01:21:04,200
his widow. 
Oh, yes, more turning a page 

1372
01:21:04,200 --> 01:21:07,200
attentively, as though following
detailed notes. 

1373
01:21:07,600 --> 01:21:10,480
It is my trade to know of a 
little quarrel between those 

1374
01:21:10,480 --> 01:21:14,640
brothers, and might even have 
been about a diamond, just such 

1375
01:21:14,640 --> 01:21:18,480
a diamond as you have come about
to night, and of jewels missed 

1376
01:21:18,480 --> 01:21:21,760
from the Tulleries in the great 
Revolution 100 years ago. 

1377
01:21:22,600 --> 01:21:25,520
He shut the book with a bang and
returned it to its place. 

1378
01:21:26,240 --> 01:21:29,400
And there are other things too 
many to talk about. 

1379
01:21:29,560 --> 01:21:33,520
He said, crossing his legs and 
smiling calmly at the Frenchman.

1380
01:21:34,560 --> 01:21:38,200
During this long pretence at 
reading, Beauvier had slid 

1381
01:21:38,240 --> 01:21:42,000
farther and farther forward on 
his chair till he sat on the 

1382
01:21:42,040 --> 01:21:45,840
edge, his eyes staring wide and 
his chin dropped. 

1383
01:21:46,400 --> 01:21:49,240
He had been pale when he 
arrived, but now he was of a 

1384
01:21:49,240 --> 01:21:52,200
leaden grey. 
He said not a word. 

1385
01:21:52,880 --> 01:21:56,880
Dorrington laughed lightly. 
Come, he said, I see you are 

1386
01:21:56,880 --> 01:21:59,920
astonished. 
Very likely very few of the 

1387
01:21:59,920 --> 01:22:03,400
people and families whose 
dossiers we have here. 

1388
01:22:03,680 --> 01:22:06,360
He waved his hand. 
Generally about the room are 

1389
01:22:06,360 --> 01:22:10,440
aware of what we know, but we 
don't make a song of it, I 

1390
01:22:10,440 --> 01:22:13,480
assure you, unless it is for the
benefit of clients. 

1391
01:22:14,000 --> 01:22:18,200
A client's affairs are sacred, 
of course, and our resources are

1392
01:22:18,200 --> 01:22:22,120
at his disposal. 
Do I understand that you become 

1393
01:22:22,160 --> 01:22:25,880
a client? 
Bouvier sat a little farther 

1394
01:22:25,880 --> 01:22:27,880
back on his chair and closed his
mouth. 

1395
01:22:27,880 --> 01:22:32,280
Ah, yes. 
He answered at length with an 

1396
01:22:32,280 --> 01:22:34,760
effort, moistening his lips as 
he spoke. 

1397
01:22:35,240 --> 01:22:39,800
That is why I come. 
Ah, now we shall understand each

1398
01:22:39,800 --> 01:22:44,520
other, Dorrington replied 
genially, opening an ink pot and

1399
01:22:44,520 --> 01:22:48,160
clearing his blotting pad. 
We're not connected with the 

1400
01:22:48,160 --> 01:22:52,600
police here or anything of that 
sort, and except so far as we 

1401
01:22:52,600 --> 01:22:55,920
can help them, we leave our 
client's affairs alone. 

1402
01:22:56,640 --> 01:22:59,680
You wish to be a client, and you
wish me to recover your lost 

1403
01:22:59,680 --> 01:23:02,840
diamond. 
Very well, that is business. 

1404
01:23:03,440 --> 01:23:07,360
The first thing is the usual fee
in advance. 20 Guineas. 

1405
01:23:07,840 --> 01:23:11,720
Will you write a check? 
Bouvier had recovered some of 

1406
01:23:11,720 --> 01:23:14,080
his self possession, and he 
hesitated. 

1407
01:23:14,640 --> 01:23:19,000
It is a large fee, he said. 
Large nonsense. 

1408
01:23:19,240 --> 01:23:22,320
It is the sort of fee that might
easily be swallowed up in half a

1409
01:23:22,320 --> 01:23:25,840
day's expenses. 
And besides a rich diamond 

1410
01:23:25,840 --> 01:23:29,600
merchant like yourself. 
Bouvier looked up quickly. 

1411
01:23:30,240 --> 01:23:33,800
Diamond merchant, he said. 
I do not understand. 

1412
01:23:34,040 --> 01:23:37,240
I have lost my diamond. 
There was but one. 

1413
01:23:38,240 --> 01:23:41,080
And yet you go to Hatton Garden 
every day. 

1414
01:23:41,880 --> 01:23:44,720
What? 
Cried Bouvier, letting his hand 

1415
01:23:44,720 --> 01:23:49,120
fall from the table. 
You know that too, of course. 

1416
01:23:49,520 --> 01:23:53,000
Dorrington laughed easily. 
It is my trade, I tell you. 

1417
01:23:53,640 --> 01:23:58,000
But write the cheque. 
Bouvier produced a crumpled and 

1418
01:23:58,000 --> 01:24:02,560
dirty cheque book and complied 
with many pauses, looking up 

1419
01:24:02,560 --> 01:24:05,240
dazedly from time to time into 
Dorrington's face. 

1420
01:24:06,280 --> 01:24:10,160
Now, said Dorrington, tell me 
where you kept your diamond and 

1421
01:24:10,160 --> 01:24:14,000
all about it. 
It was in an old little wooden 

1422
01:24:14,000 --> 01:24:19,720
box, so Bouvier, not yet quite 
master of himself, sketched an 

1423
01:24:19,720 --> 01:24:23,560
oblong of something less than 3 
inches long by two broad. 

1424
01:24:24,280 --> 01:24:28,240
The box was old and black. 
My grandfather may have made it,

1425
01:24:28,320 --> 01:24:31,840
or his father. 
The lid fitted very tight and 

1426
01:24:31,840 --> 01:24:35,360
the inside was packed with fine 
charcoal powder with a diamond 

1427
01:24:35,360 --> 01:24:37,600
resting in it. 
The diamond. 

1428
01:24:37,880 --> 01:24:43,480
Oh, it was great like that. 
So he made another sketch, 

1429
01:24:43,800 --> 01:24:48,440
roughly square an inch and a 
quarter across, but it looked 

1430
01:24:48,480 --> 01:24:52,440
even much greater still. 
So bright, so wonderful. 

1431
01:24:53,080 --> 01:24:56,280
It is easy to understand that my
grandfather did not sell it. 

1432
01:24:56,760 --> 01:25:00,720
Beside the danger, it is so 
beautiful a thing, and it is 

1433
01:25:00,720 --> 01:25:04,360
such great riches all in one 
little box. 

1434
01:25:05,200 --> 01:25:09,080
Why should not a poor charcoal 
burner be rich in secret, and 

1435
01:25:09,080 --> 01:25:12,280
look at his diamond and get all 
the few things he wants by 

1436
01:25:12,280 --> 01:25:16,440
burning his charcoal? 
And there was the danger, but 

1437
01:25:16,440 --> 01:25:20,520
that is long ago. 
I am a man of beezness, and I 

1438
01:25:20,520 --> 01:25:25,840
desire to sell it and be rich. 
And that Jacques, he has stolen 

1439
01:25:25,840 --> 01:25:28,600
it. 
Let us keep to the point. 

1440
01:25:28,840 --> 01:25:32,680
The diamond was in a box. 
Well, where was the box? 

1441
01:25:33,480 --> 01:25:38,320
On the outside of the box there 
were notches so and so round the

1442
01:25:38,320 --> 01:25:40,440
box. 
At each place there was a tight 

1443
01:25:40,480 --> 01:25:43,840
strong silk cord that is 2 
cords. 

1444
01:25:44,240 --> 01:25:48,960
The cords were round my neck 
under my shirt so and the box 

1445
01:25:48,960 --> 01:25:53,080
was under my arm just as a boy 
carries A satchel, but high up 

1446
01:25:53,400 --> 01:25:57,720
in the armpit where I could feel
it at all times to night. 

1447
01:25:57,840 --> 01:26:01,360
When I come to myself, my collar
was broken at the stud. 

1448
01:26:01,440 --> 01:26:04,800
See, the cords were cut and all 
was gone. 

1449
01:26:06,120 --> 01:26:08,120
You say your cousin Jacques had 
done this. 

1450
01:26:08,440 --> 01:26:11,480
How do you know? 
Ah, but who else? 

1451
01:26:11,720 --> 01:26:14,880
Who else could know? 
And he has always tried to steal

1452
01:26:14,880 --> 01:26:17,040
it. 
At first I let him wait at the 

1453
01:26:17,040 --> 01:26:20,360
Cafe de Bon, Comrade. 
What does he do? 

1454
01:26:20,720 --> 01:26:24,680
He pries about my house and 
opens drawers, and I catch him 

1455
01:26:24,680 --> 01:26:29,560
at last looking in a box, and I 
turn him out and he calls me a 

1456
01:26:29,560 --> 01:26:32,480
thief. 
Sak, he goes. 

1457
01:26:32,680 --> 01:26:37,960
I have no more of him, and so he
does this very well. 

1458
01:26:38,200 --> 01:26:42,000
Write down his name and address 
on this piece of paper, and your

1459
01:26:42,000 --> 01:26:44,160
own. 
Bouvier did so. 

1460
01:26:44,520 --> 01:26:47,560
And now tell me what you have 
been doing at Hatton Garden. 

1461
01:26:48,320 --> 01:26:50,600
Well, it was a very great 
diamond. 

1462
01:26:50,880 --> 01:26:53,720
I could not go to the first man 
and show it to sell. 

1463
01:26:54,040 --> 01:26:57,720
I must make myself known. 
It never struck you to get the 

1464
01:26:57,720 --> 01:27:03,320
stone cut in two, did it, eh? 
What Nom de chien? 

1465
01:27:03,520 --> 01:27:07,680
No, he struck his knee with his 
hand, fool. 

1466
01:27:08,000 --> 01:27:11,880
Why did I not think of that? 
But still he grew more 

1467
01:27:11,880 --> 01:27:14,440
thoughtful. 
I should have to show it to get 

1468
01:27:14,440 --> 01:27:18,400
it cut, and I did not know where
to go, and the value would have 

1469
01:27:18,400 --> 01:27:22,360
been less just so. 
But it's the regular thing to 

1470
01:27:22,360 --> 01:27:25,360
do, I may tell you in cases like
this. 

1471
01:27:25,840 --> 01:27:28,600
But go on about hat and garden, 
you know. 

1472
01:27:29,360 --> 01:27:32,480
I thought that I must make 
myself known among the merchants

1473
01:27:32,480 --> 01:27:36,800
of diamonds, and then perhaps I 
should learn the ways and one 

1474
01:27:36,800 --> 01:27:40,880
day be able to sell. 
As it was, I knew nothing, 

1475
01:27:41,200 --> 01:27:44,920
nothing at all. 
I waited and I saved money in 

1476
01:27:44,920 --> 01:27:48,320
the Cafe. 
Then when I could do it, I 

1477
01:27:48,320 --> 01:27:51,600
dressed well and went and bought
some diamonds of a dealer. 

1478
01:27:51,920 --> 01:27:55,320
Very little diamonds, a little 
tray fool for 20 lbs. 

1479
01:27:55,560 --> 01:27:58,760
And I tried to sell them again, 
but I have paid too much. 

1480
01:27:59,040 --> 01:28:03,720
I can only sell for £15. 
Then I buy more and sell them 

1481
01:28:03,760 --> 01:28:07,000
for what I give. 
Then I take an office in hat and

1482
01:28:07,000 --> 01:28:09,560
garden. 
That is, I share a room with a 

1483
01:28:09,560 --> 01:28:12,720
dealer and there is a partition 
between our desks. 

1484
01:28:13,400 --> 01:28:17,560
My wife attends the cafe. 
I go to Hatton Garden to buy and

1485
01:28:17,560 --> 01:28:20,720
sell. 
It loses me money, but I must 

1486
01:28:20,720 --> 01:28:22,800
lose till I can sell the great 
diamond. 

1487
01:28:23,360 --> 01:28:27,480
I get to know the dealers more 
and more, and then to night as I

1488
01:28:27,480 --> 01:28:30,160
go home. 
He finished with an expressive 

1489
01:28:30,160 --> 01:28:34,760
shrug and a wave of the hand. 
Yes, yes, I think I see, 

1490
01:28:34,760 --> 01:28:37,760
Dorrington said. 
As to the diamond again. 

1491
01:28:38,080 --> 01:28:40,800
It doesn't happen to be a blue 
diamond, does it? 

1492
01:28:41,440 --> 01:28:47,200
No pure white perfect? 
Dorrington had asked, because 

1493
01:28:47,200 --> 01:28:50,320
two especially famous diamonds 
disappeared from among the 

1494
01:28:50,320 --> 01:28:54,840
French crown jewels at the time 
of the great Revolution. 1 Blue,

1495
01:28:55,040 --> 01:28:58,720
the greatest coloured diamond 
ever known, and the other the 

1496
01:28:58,720 --> 01:29:02,720
mirror of Portugal. 
Beauvier's reply made it plain 

1497
01:29:02,720 --> 01:29:05,840
that it was certainly not the 
first which he had just lost. 

1498
01:29:06,600 --> 01:29:10,600
Come, Dorrington said, I will 
call and inspect the scene of 

1499
01:29:10,600 --> 01:29:13,840
your disaster. 
I haven't dined yet, and it must

1500
01:29:13,840 --> 01:29:17,960
be well past 9:00 now. 
They returned to Beck St. 

1501
01:29:18,280 --> 01:29:21,200
There were gates at the dark 
entry by the side of the Cafe de

1502
01:29:21,200 --> 01:29:25,800
Bonne, comrade, but they were 
never shut, Bouvier explained. 

1503
01:29:26,200 --> 01:29:29,320
Dorrington had them shut now, 
however, and a Lantern was 

1504
01:29:29,320 --> 01:29:31,680
produced. 
The paving was of rough 

1505
01:29:31,680 --> 01:29:36,760
cobblestones deep in mud. 
Do many people come down here in

1506
01:29:36,760 --> 01:29:39,280
the course of an evening? 
Dorrington asked. 

1507
01:29:40,000 --> 01:29:43,320
Never anybody but myself. 
Very well. 

1508
01:29:43,560 --> 01:29:48,320
Stand away at your side door. 
Bouvier and his wife stood 

1509
01:29:48,440 --> 01:29:51,800
huddled and staring on the 
threshold of the side door, 

1510
01:29:51,920 --> 01:29:54,800
while Dorrington, with the 
Lantern, explored the muddy 

1511
01:29:54,800 --> 01:29:57,720
cobblestones. 
The pieces of a broken bottle 

1512
01:29:57,720 --> 01:30:01,080
lay in a little heap, and a cork
lay a yard away from them. 

1513
01:30:01,920 --> 01:30:04,720
Dorrington smelt the cork, and 
then collected together the 

1514
01:30:04,720 --> 01:30:07,480
broken glass. 
There were but four or five 

1515
01:30:07,480 --> 01:30:12,160
pieces from the little heap. 
Another piece of glass lay by 

1516
01:30:12,160 --> 01:30:16,080
itself a little way off, and 
this also Dorrington took up, 

1517
01:30:16,320 --> 01:30:20,080
scrutinizing it narrowly. 
Then each reversed the whole 

1518
01:30:20,080 --> 01:30:24,680
passage, carefully stepping from
bare stone to bare stone, and 

1519
01:30:24,680 --> 01:30:26,640
skimming the ground with the 
Lantern. 

1520
01:30:27,600 --> 01:30:31,240
The mud lay confused and 
trackless in most places, though

1521
01:30:31,240 --> 01:30:34,160
the place where Bouvier had been
lying was indicated by an 

1522
01:30:34,160 --> 01:30:38,000
appearance of sweeping, caused 
no doubt by his wife dragging 

1523
01:30:38,000 --> 01:30:41,880
him to his feet. 
Only one other thing beside the 

1524
01:30:41,880 --> 01:30:45,960
glass and cork did Dorrington 
carry away as evidence, and that

1525
01:30:45,960 --> 01:30:49,640
the Bouviers knew nothing of 
Ford, was the remembrance of the

1526
01:30:49,640 --> 01:30:54,200
mark of a sharp, small boot heel
in more than one patch of mud 

1527
01:30:54,200 --> 01:30:58,240
between the stones. 
Will you object, Madame Bouvier?

1528
01:30:58,400 --> 01:31:00,720
He asked, as he handed back the 
Lantern. 

1529
01:31:00,920 --> 01:31:03,520
To show me the shoes you wore 
when you found your husband 

1530
01:31:03,560 --> 01:31:07,240
lying out here. 
Madame Bouvier had no objection 

1531
01:31:07,240 --> 01:31:09,640
at all. 
They were which she was then 

1532
01:31:09,640 --> 01:31:13,280
wearing and had worn all day. 
She lifted her foot and 

1533
01:31:13,280 --> 01:31:16,000
exhibited one. 
There was no need for a second 

1534
01:31:16,000 --> 01:31:18,680
glance. 
It was a loose, easy cashmere 

1535
01:31:18,680 --> 01:31:22,800
boot, with spring sides and 
heels cut down flat for indoor 

1536
01:31:22,800 --> 01:31:28,280
comfort, and this was at what 
time it was between 7:00 and 

1537
01:31:28,280 --> 01:31:30,960
8:00. 
Both agreed, though they 

1538
01:31:31,000 --> 01:31:35,120
differed a little as to the 
exact time Bouvier had recovered

1539
01:31:35,120 --> 01:31:38,800
when his wife raised him, had 
entered the house with her at 

1540
01:31:38,800 --> 01:31:42,160
once, discovered his loss, and 
immediately, on his wife's 

1541
01:31:42,160 --> 01:31:45,880
advice, set out to find 
Dorrington, whose name the woman

1542
01:31:45,880 --> 01:31:49,080
had heard spoken of frequently 
among the visitors to the cafe 

1543
01:31:49,320 --> 01:31:53,160
in connection with the affair of
the secret society already 

1544
01:31:53,160 --> 01:31:56,200
alluded to. 
He had felt certain that 

1545
01:31:56,200 --> 01:31:59,400
Dorrington would not be at his 
office, but trusted to be 

1546
01:31:59,400 --> 01:32:02,400
directed. 
Where to find him now? 

1547
01:32:02,720 --> 01:32:06,120
Dorrington asked of Bouviere. 
The woman had been called away. 

1548
01:32:06,480 --> 01:32:08,240
Tell me some more about your 
cousin. 

1549
01:32:08,840 --> 01:32:13,280
Where does he live? 
In Little Norham St. the 3rd 

1550
01:32:13,280 --> 01:32:16,840
house from this end on the right
side and the back room at the 

1551
01:32:16,840 --> 01:32:19,200
top. 
That is, unless he has moved 

1552
01:32:19,200 --> 01:32:23,040
just lately. 
Has he been ill recently? 

1553
01:32:23,760 --> 01:32:28,480
I'll Bouvier considered. 
Not that I can say no. 

1554
01:32:28,760 --> 01:32:31,120
I have never heard of Jacques 
being I'll. 

1555
01:32:31,960 --> 01:32:36,040
It seemed to strike him as an 
incongruous and new idea. 

1556
01:32:36,600 --> 01:32:38,560
Nothing has made him I'll all 
his life. 

1557
01:32:38,880 --> 01:32:41,920
He is too good in constitution, 
I think. 

1558
01:32:43,040 --> 01:32:46,080
Does he wear spectacles? 
Spectacles. 

1559
01:32:46,480 --> 01:32:50,480
May No, never. 
Why should he wear spectacles? 

1560
01:32:50,720 --> 01:32:54,040
His eyes are good as mine. 
Very well. 

1561
01:32:54,320 --> 01:32:57,800
Now attend to Morrow. 
You must not go to Hatton 

1562
01:32:57,800 --> 01:32:59,800
Garden. 
I will go for you. 

1563
01:33:00,280 --> 01:33:03,360
If you see your cousin Jacques. 
You must say nothing. 

1564
01:33:03,720 --> 01:33:06,600
Take no notice. 
Let everything proceed as though

1565
01:33:06,600 --> 01:33:09,520
nothing had happened. 
Leave all to me. 

1566
01:33:10,080 --> 01:33:12,080
Give me your address at Hatton 
Garden. 

1567
01:33:13,040 --> 01:33:14,880
But what is it you must do 
there? 

1568
01:33:15,760 --> 01:33:20,000
That is my business. 
I do my business in my own way. 

1569
01:33:20,520 --> 01:33:24,720
Still, I will give you a hint. 
Where is it that diamonds are 

1570
01:33:24,720 --> 01:33:27,680
sold? 
In hat and garden, as you so 

1571
01:33:27,680 --> 01:33:30,400
well know, as I expect your 
cousin knows. 

1572
01:33:30,400 --> 01:33:34,200
If he has been watching you, 
then where will your cousin go 

1573
01:33:34,200 --> 01:33:37,240
to sell it? 
Hat and garden, of course. 

1574
01:33:37,600 --> 01:33:40,200
Never mind what I shall do there
to intercept it. 

1575
01:33:40,840 --> 01:33:44,520
I am to be your new partner, you
understand, bringing money into 

1576
01:33:44,520 --> 01:33:47,720
the business. 
You must be ill and stay at home

1577
01:33:47,720 --> 01:33:51,120
till you hear from me. 
Go now and write me a letter of 

1578
01:33:51,120 --> 01:33:55,000
introduction to the man who 
shares the office with you, or I

1579
01:33:55,000 --> 01:33:57,960
shall write it if you like, and 
you shall sign it. 

1580
01:33:58,520 --> 01:34:03,400
What sort of a man is he? 
Very quiet, a tall man, perhaps 

1581
01:34:03,400 --> 01:34:08,200
English, but perhaps not Ever 
buy or sell diamonds with him? 

1582
01:34:09,160 --> 01:34:13,520
Once only it was the first time.
That is how I learned of the 

1583
01:34:13,520 --> 01:34:17,280
half office to let. 
The letter was written, and 

1584
01:34:17,280 --> 01:34:19,720
Dorrington stuffed it carelessly
into his pocket. 

1585
01:34:20,600 --> 01:34:23,960
Mr. Hammer is the name, is it? 
He said. 

1586
01:34:24,520 --> 01:34:26,480
I fancy I have met him 
somewhere. 

1587
01:34:26,920 --> 01:34:31,520
He is short sighted, isn't he? 
Oh, yes, he is short sighted 

1588
01:34:31,760 --> 01:34:35,520
with Ponce Ney. 
Not very well lately. 

1589
01:34:36,000 --> 01:34:39,600
No, I think not. 
He takes medicine in the office.

1590
01:34:40,000 --> 01:34:43,480
But you will be careful, eh? 
He must not know. 

1591
01:34:44,440 --> 01:34:47,560
Do you think so? 
Perhaps I may tell him, though. 

1592
01:34:48,200 --> 01:34:50,600
Tell him still. 
No. 

1593
01:34:50,840 --> 01:34:53,320
You must not tell people. 
No. 

1594
01:34:54,160 --> 01:34:57,320
Shall I throw the whole case 
over and keep your deposit fee? 

1595
01:34:57,840 --> 01:34:59,680
No. 
No, not that. 

1596
01:34:59,840 --> 01:35:01,880
But it is foolish to tell to 
people. 

1597
01:35:02,840 --> 01:35:06,080
I am to judge what is foolish 
and what wise. 

1598
01:35:06,080 --> 01:35:08,480
Monsieur Bouvier. 
Good evening. 

1599
01:35:09,240 --> 01:35:11,040
Good evening, Monsieur 
Dorrington. 

1600
01:35:11,360 --> 01:35:14,120
Good evening. 
Bouvier followed him out of the 

1601
01:35:14,120 --> 01:35:16,680
gate. 
And will you tell me, do you 

1602
01:35:16,680 --> 01:35:18,680
think there is a way to get the 
diamond? 

1603
01:35:19,040 --> 01:35:23,960
Have you any plan? 
Oh yes, Monsieur Bouvier, I have

1604
01:35:23,960 --> 01:35:27,160
a plan. 
But as I have said, that is my 

1605
01:35:27,160 --> 01:35:30,200
business. 
It may be a successful plan or 

1606
01:35:30,200 --> 01:35:37,280
it may not, that we shall see. 
And and the dossier, the notes 

1607
01:35:37,280 --> 01:35:40,280
that you so marvellously have 
written out in the book you 

1608
01:35:40,280 --> 01:35:43,920
read, when this business is 
over, you will destroy them, eh?

1609
01:35:44,440 --> 01:35:48,160
You will not leave a clue. 
The notes that I have in my 

1610
01:35:48,160 --> 01:35:51,440
books, answered Dorrington 
without relaxing a muscle of his

1611
01:35:51,440 --> 01:35:56,520
face, are my property for my own
purposes, and were mine before 

1612
01:35:56,520 --> 01:35:59,840
you came to me. 
Those relating to you are a mere

1613
01:35:59,840 --> 01:36:03,280
item in thousands. 
So long as you behave well, 

1614
01:36:03,280 --> 01:36:06,000
Monsieur Bouvier, they will not 
harm you. 

1615
01:36:06,760 --> 01:36:10,480
And as I said, the confidences 
of a client are sacred to 

1616
01:36:10,480 --> 01:36:15,520
Dorrington and Hicks, but as to 
keeping them, certainly I shall.

1617
01:36:15,840 --> 01:36:20,680
Once more good evening. 
Even the Stony faced Dorrington 

1618
01:36:20,680 --> 01:36:24,920
could not repress a smile and 
something very like a chuckle as

1619
01:36:24,920 --> 01:36:28,320
he turned the end of the street 
and struck out across Golden 

1620
01:36:28,320 --> 01:36:31,160
Square towards his rooms in 
Conduit St. 

1621
01:36:32,000 --> 01:36:35,560
The simple Frenchman, only half 
a rogue, even less than half, 

1622
01:36:35,880 --> 01:36:40,200
was now bamboozled and put aside
as effectually as his cousin had

1623
01:36:40,200 --> 01:36:42,840
been. 
Certainly there was a diamond, 

1624
01:36:42,960 --> 01:36:47,280
and an immense one, if only the 
Bouvier tradition were true, 

1625
01:36:47,720 --> 01:36:51,200
Probably the famous mirror of 
Portugal, and nothing stood 

1626
01:36:51,200 --> 01:36:54,960
between Dorrington and absolute 
possession of that diamond but 

1627
01:36:54,960 --> 01:36:59,440
an ordinary sort of case, such 
as he dealt with every day, and 

1628
01:36:59,440 --> 01:37:02,640
he had made Bouvier pay a fee 
for the privilege of putting him

1629
01:37:02,640 --> 01:37:06,640
completely on the track of it. 
Dorrington smiled again. 

1630
01:37:07,720 --> 01:37:10,920
His dinner was spoiled by 
waiting, but he troubled little 

1631
01:37:10,920 --> 01:37:13,440
of that. 
He spread before him and 

1632
01:37:13,440 --> 01:37:16,800
examined again the pieces of 
glass and the cork. 

1633
01:37:17,400 --> 01:37:21,840
The bottle had been a druggist's
ordinary flat bottle, graduated 

1634
01:37:21,840 --> 01:37:25,920
with dose Marks and altogether 7
inches high or thereabout. 

1635
01:37:26,560 --> 01:37:30,280
It had without a doubt contained
the chloroform wherewith Leon 

1636
01:37:30,280 --> 01:37:34,160
Bouvier had been assaulted. 
As Dorrington had judged from 

1637
01:37:34,160 --> 01:37:37,880
the smell of the cork, the fact 
of the bottle being corked 

1638
01:37:38,080 --> 01:37:41,240
showed that the chloroform had 
not been bought all at once, 

1639
01:37:41,600 --> 01:37:44,480
since in that case it would have
been put up in a Stoppard 

1640
01:37:44,480 --> 01:37:46,880
bottle. 
More probably it had been 

1641
01:37:46,960 --> 01:37:50,520
procured in very small 
quantities, ostensibly for 

1642
01:37:50,520 --> 01:37:54,840
toothache or something of that 
kind, at different druggists, 

1643
01:37:54,880 --> 01:37:58,400
and put together in this larger 
bottle, which had originally 

1644
01:37:58,400 --> 01:38:01,320
been used for something else. 
The bottle had been 

1645
01:38:01,320 --> 01:38:05,240
distinguished by a label, the 
usual white label affixed by the

1646
01:38:05,240 --> 01:38:08,880
druggist with directions as to 
taking the medicine, and this 

1647
01:38:08,880 --> 01:38:12,720
label had been scraped off all 
except a small piece at the 

1648
01:38:12,720 --> 01:38:17,000
bottom edge by the right hand 
side, whereon might be just 

1649
01:38:17,000 --> 01:38:20,200
distinguished the greater part 
of the letters NE. 

1650
01:38:21,680 --> 01:38:24,480
The piece of glass that had lain
a little way apart from the 

1651
01:38:24,480 --> 01:38:27,920
bottle was not a part of it as a
casual observer might have 

1652
01:38:27,920 --> 01:38:31,120
supposed. 
It was a fragment of a concave 

1653
01:38:31,120 --> 01:38:34,360
lens with a channel ground in 
the edge. 

1654
01:38:36,520 --> 01:38:41,880
End of the Case of the Mirror of
Portugal by Arthur Morrison, 

1655
01:38:42,360 --> 01:38:46,480
Part 1 recording by William 
Tomko. 

1656
01:38:57,360 --> 01:39:01,560
Section 10 of the Rivals of 
Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1. 

1657
01:39:02,160 --> 01:39:06,240
This is a Librivox recording. 
All Librivox recordings are in 

1658
01:39:06,240 --> 01:39:09,200
the public domain. 
For more information or to 

1659
01:39:09,200 --> 01:39:12,560
volunteer, please visit 
librivox.org. 

1660
01:39:13,600 --> 01:39:16,160
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, 
Volume 1. 

1661
01:39:16,720 --> 01:39:20,520
The Case of the Mirror of 
Portugal by Arthur Morrison, 

1662
01:39:20,920 --> 01:39:24,000
Part 2 at 10. 
Precisely next morning, as 

1663
01:39:24,040 --> 01:39:27,520
usual, Mr. Ludwig Hammer mounted
the stairs of the house at 

1664
01:39:27,520 --> 01:39:30,440
Hatton Garden, wherein he rented
half room as office. 

1665
01:39:31,000 --> 01:39:34,640
He was a tall, fair man, wearing
thick convex pensiones. 

1666
01:39:35,360 --> 01:39:38,360
He spoke English like a native, 
and indeed he called himself an 

1667
01:39:38,360 --> 01:39:41,400
Englishman, though there were 
those who doubted the criticism 

1668
01:39:41,400 --> 01:39:44,280
of his name. 
Scarce had he entered his office

1669
01:39:44,320 --> 01:39:48,200
when Dorrington followed him. 
The room had never been a very 

1670
01:39:48,200 --> 01:39:51,560
large one, and now a partition 
divided it in two, leaving a 

1671
01:39:51,560 --> 01:39:53,520
passage at one side only by the 
window. 

1672
01:39:54,280 --> 01:39:57,280
On each side of this partition 
stood a small pedestal table, a 

1673
01:39:57,280 --> 01:40:00,840
couple of chairs, a copying 
press, and the other articles 

1674
01:40:00,840 --> 01:40:02,760
usual in meagerly finished 
office. 

1675
01:40:03,400 --> 01:40:06,480
Dorrington strode past Bouvier's
half of the room and came upon 

1676
01:40:06,480 --> 01:40:08,400
Hammer as he was hanging his 
coat on a peg. 

1677
01:40:09,040 --> 01:40:11,720
The letter of introduction had 
been burnt, since Dorrington had

1678
01:40:11,720 --> 01:40:14,520
only asked for it in order to 
get Hammer's name and the hat 

1679
01:40:14,520 --> 01:40:17,040
and garden address without 
betraying Bouvier the fact that 

1680
01:40:17,040 --> 01:40:18,760
he did not already know all 
about it. 

1681
01:40:19,920 --> 01:40:22,200
Good morning, Mr. Hammer, said 
Dorrington loudly. 

1682
01:40:22,520 --> 01:40:25,800
Sorry to see you're not well. 
He pointed familiarly with his 

1683
01:40:25,800 --> 01:40:28,240
stick at a range of medicine 
bottles on a metal piece. 

1684
01:40:28,760 --> 01:40:31,440
But it's very trying weather, of
course you've been suffering 

1685
01:40:31,440 --> 01:40:34,600
from toothache, I believe. 
Hammer seemed at first disposed 

1686
01:40:34,600 --> 01:40:37,520
to resent the loudness and 
familiarity of this speech, but 

1687
01:40:37,520 --> 01:40:40,000
at the reference to toothache he
started suddenly and said his 

1688
01:40:40,000 --> 01:40:41,880
lips. 
Chloroform's a capital thing for

1689
01:40:41,880 --> 01:40:43,840
toothache, Mr. Hammer, and for 
other things. 

1690
01:40:44,400 --> 01:40:46,960
I'm not in your line of business
myself, but I believe it has 

1691
01:40:46,960 --> 01:40:48,360
even been used in the diamond 
trade. 

1692
01:40:48,880 --> 01:40:51,360
What do you mean? 
Asked Hammer, flushing angrily. 

1693
01:40:51,720 --> 01:40:53,840
Mean. 
Why, bless me. 

1694
01:40:54,200 --> 01:40:57,400
Nothing more than I said. 
By the way, I'm afraid you 

1695
01:40:57,400 --> 01:40:59,160
dropped one of your medicine 
bottles last night. 

1696
01:40:59,880 --> 01:41:02,320
I've brought it back, though I'm
afraid it's past repair. 

1697
01:41:02,640 --> 01:41:05,160
It's a good job you didn't quite
clear the label off before you 

1698
01:41:05,160 --> 01:41:07,880
took it out with you, else I 
might have had a difficulty. 

1699
01:41:09,000 --> 01:41:10,680
Dorrington placed the fragments 
on the table. 

1700
01:41:11,400 --> 01:41:14,760
You see, you've just left the 
1st letter of EC in the druggist

1701
01:41:14,760 --> 01:41:18,120
address, and the last N of 
Hatton Garden just before. 

1702
01:41:18,720 --> 01:41:21,520
There doesn't happen to be any 
other garden in EC District that

1703
01:41:21,520 --> 01:41:25,080
I know of, nor does the name of 
any other thoroughfare end in N.

1704
01:41:25,520 --> 01:41:28,680
They are mostly streets or lanes
or courts, you see, And there 

1705
01:41:28,680 --> 01:41:31,880
seems to be only one druggist in
Hampton Garden Capital Fellow, 

1706
01:41:31,880 --> 01:41:34,920
no doubt the one whose name and 
address I observe on those 

1707
01:41:34,920 --> 01:41:37,520
models. 
On the mantelpiece, Doringson 

1708
01:41:37,520 --> 01:41:40,440
stood with his foot on a chair 
and tapped his knee carelessly 

1709
01:41:40,440 --> 01:41:42,600
with his Dick. 
Hammer dropped into the other 

1710
01:41:42,600 --> 01:41:45,760
chair and regarded him with a 
frown, though his face was pale.

1711
01:41:46,440 --> 01:41:48,160
Presently. 
He said in a strained voice. 

1712
01:41:48,600 --> 01:41:52,280
Well, yes, there is something 
else, Mr. Hammer, as you appear 

1713
01:41:52,280 --> 01:41:55,040
to suggest. 
I see you're wearing a new pair 

1714
01:41:55,040 --> 01:41:57,880
of glasses this morning. 
Hey, you broke the others last 

1715
01:41:57,880 --> 01:42:00,040
night, but I brought the piece 
you left behind. 

1716
01:42:00,400 --> 01:42:03,320
He gathered up the broken bottle
and held up the piece of concave

1717
01:42:03,320 --> 01:42:06,040
lens. 
I think, after all, it's really 

1718
01:42:06,040 --> 01:42:07,680
best to use a cord with 
Pinsonez. 

1719
01:42:08,000 --> 01:42:10,960
It's awkward, and it catches in 
things, I know, but it saves A 

1720
01:42:10,960 --> 01:42:13,600
breakage, and you're liable to 
get the glasses knocked off, you

1721
01:42:13,600 --> 01:42:17,560
know, in certain circumstances. 
Hammer sprang to his feet with a

1722
01:42:17,560 --> 01:42:20,720
snarl, slammed the door, locked 
it, and turned on Dorrington. 

1723
01:42:21,400 --> 01:42:23,760
But now Dorrington had a 
revolver in his hand, though his

1724
01:42:23,760 --> 01:42:27,520
manner was as genial as ever. 
Yes, yes, he said best to shut 

1725
01:42:27,520 --> 01:42:28,320
the door. 
Of course. 

1726
01:42:28,480 --> 01:42:31,000
People listen, don't they? 
But sit down again. 

1727
01:42:31,400 --> 01:42:34,440
I'm not anxious to hurt you, and
as you will perceive, you're 

1728
01:42:34,440 --> 01:42:37,800
quite unable to hurt me. 
What I chiefly came to say is 

1729
01:42:37,800 --> 01:42:43,080
this last evening my client, Mr.
Leon Beauvier, of this office 

1730
01:42:43,320 --> 01:42:46,440
and Cafe de Bon Comrades, was 
attacked, and the passenger 

1731
01:42:46,440 --> 01:42:49,240
joining his house, by a man who 
was waiting for him with a 

1732
01:42:49,240 --> 01:42:51,440
woman. 
Was it really Missus Hammer? 

1733
01:42:51,840 --> 01:42:55,840
But there I won't ask. 
Keeping watch, he was robbed of 

1734
01:42:55,840 --> 01:42:59,280
a small old wooden box 
containing charcoal and a 

1735
01:42:59,280 --> 01:43:03,040
diamond. 
My name is Dorrington, firm of 

1736
01:43:03,040 --> 01:43:05,280
Dorrington and Hicks, which you 
may have heard of. 

1737
01:43:06,000 --> 01:43:08,800
That's my card. 
I've come to take away that 

1738
01:43:08,800 --> 01:43:11,960
diamond. 
Hammer was pale and angry, but 

1739
01:43:11,960 --> 01:43:14,040
in his way was almost as common 
as Dorrington. 

1740
01:43:14,640 --> 01:43:16,240
He put down the card without 
looking at it. 

1741
01:43:17,080 --> 01:43:19,840
I don't understand you, he said.
How do you know I've got it? 

1742
01:43:20,360 --> 01:43:23,360
Come, come, Mr. Hammer, 
Dorrington replied, rubbing the 

1743
01:43:23,360 --> 01:43:25,000
barrel off the revolver on his 
knee. 

1744
01:43:25,360 --> 01:43:28,840
That's hardly worthy of you. 
You're a man of business with a 

1745
01:43:28,840 --> 01:43:31,680
head on your shoulders, the sort
of man I like doing business 

1746
01:43:31,680 --> 01:43:34,040
with. 
In fact, men like ourselves need

1747
01:43:34,040 --> 01:43:36,280
A trifle. 
I've shown you most of the cards

1748
01:43:36,280 --> 01:43:38,160
I hold, though not all, I assure
you. 

1749
01:43:38,720 --> 01:43:41,280
I'll tell you if you like, all 
about your little tour around 

1750
01:43:41,280 --> 01:43:43,880
the druggist with a convenient 
toothache, all about the 

1751
01:43:43,880 --> 01:43:46,400
evenings on which you watch 
Bouvier home, and so on. 

1752
01:43:47,080 --> 01:43:50,520
But really, need we as men of 
the world descend in such 

1753
01:43:50,560 --> 01:43:54,560
peddling detail? 
Well, suppose I have got it, and

1754
01:43:54,560 --> 01:43:55,800
suppose I refuse to give it to 
you. 

1755
01:43:56,040 --> 01:43:58,200
What then? 
What then? 

1756
01:43:58,760 --> 01:44:00,520
But why should we talk of 
unpleasant thing? 

1757
01:44:00,600 --> 01:44:03,840
You won't refuse, you know. 
Do you mean you'd get it out of 

1758
01:44:03,840 --> 01:44:06,600
me by helping that pistol? 
Well, said Dorrington, 

1759
01:44:06,600 --> 01:44:08,960
deliberately. 
The pistol was noisy and it 

1760
01:44:08,960 --> 01:44:12,080
makes a mess and all that, but 
it's a useful thing, and I might

1761
01:44:12,080 --> 01:44:14,440
do it with that, you know, under
certain circumstances. 

1762
01:44:14,920 --> 01:44:17,640
But I wasn't thinking of it. 
There's a much less troublesome 

1763
01:44:17,640 --> 01:44:22,000
way which you're a slower man 
than I took you for, Miss 

1764
01:44:22,000 --> 01:44:23,880
Tanner. 
Or perhaps you haven't quite 

1765
01:44:23,880 --> 01:44:26,800
appreciated me yet. 
If I were to go to that window 

1766
01:44:26,800 --> 01:44:29,880
and call the police, what with 
the little bits of evidence in 

1767
01:44:29,880 --> 01:44:32,600
my pocket and the other little 
bits that the druggist who sold 

1768
01:44:32,600 --> 01:44:35,200
the chloroform would give you, 
and the other bits in reserve 

1769
01:44:35,360 --> 01:44:38,200
that I prefer not to talk about 
just now, There would be rather 

1770
01:44:38,200 --> 01:44:40,880
an awkwardly complete case of 
robbery with violence, wouldn't 

1771
01:44:40,880 --> 01:44:42,280
there? 
And you'd have to lose the 

1772
01:44:42,280 --> 01:44:44,760
diamond, after all, to say 
nothing of the little rest in 

1773
01:44:44,760 --> 01:44:48,440
jail and gender ruination. 
That sounds very well. 

1774
01:44:48,520 --> 01:44:52,040
But what about your client? 
Come now, you call me a man of 

1775
01:44:52,040 --> 01:44:54,920
the world, and I am one. 
How will your client account for

1776
01:44:54,920 --> 01:44:57,440
the possession of a diamond 
worth £80,000 or so? 

1777
01:44:57,560 --> 01:45:00,120
He doesn't seem a millionaire. 
The police would want to know 

1778
01:45:00,120 --> 01:45:02,400
about him as well as about me, 
if you were such a fool as to 

1779
01:45:02,400 --> 01:45:05,320
bring them in. 
Where did he steal it, eh? 

1780
01:45:06,560 --> 01:45:08,920
Dorrington smiled and bowed to 
the question. 

1781
01:45:09,440 --> 01:45:12,200
That's a very good card to play,
Mr. Hammer, he said. 

1782
01:45:12,760 --> 01:45:15,920
A capital card, really. 
To a superficial observer it 

1783
01:45:15,920 --> 01:45:19,200
might look like winning the 
trick, but I think I can trump 

1784
01:45:19,200 --> 01:45:20,920
it. 
He bent further forward and 

1785
01:45:20,920 --> 01:45:22,320
tapped the table with the pistol
barrel. 

1786
01:45:22,800 --> 01:45:24,800
Suppose I don't care 1 solitary 
dump. 

1787
01:45:24,800 --> 01:45:27,920
What becomes of my client? 
Suppose I don't care whether he 

1788
01:45:27,920 --> 01:45:31,400
goes to jail or stays out of it.
In short, suppose I prefer my 

1789
01:45:31,400 --> 01:45:35,880
own interests to his. 
Oh, Hammer cried. 

1790
01:45:35,920 --> 01:45:38,440
I begin to understand. 
You want to grab the diamond for

1791
01:45:38,440 --> 01:45:41,080
yourself, then? 
I haven't said anything of the 

1792
01:45:41,080 --> 01:45:43,240
kind, Mr. Hammer, Dorrington 
replied squabbly. 

1793
01:45:43,800 --> 01:45:46,560
I have simply demanded the 
diamond which you stole last 

1794
01:45:46,560 --> 01:45:48,560
night, and I have mentioned an 
alternative. 

1795
01:45:49,280 --> 01:45:51,440
Oh, yes, yes, but we understand 
one another. 

1796
01:45:51,600 --> 01:45:53,680
Come, we'll arrange this. 
How much do you want? 

1797
01:45:54,800 --> 01:45:56,200
Dorrington stared at him 
sternly. 

1798
01:45:56,520 --> 01:46:00,640
I, I beg your pardon, he said. 
But I don't understand. 

1799
01:46:01,040 --> 01:46:05,240
I want the diamond you stole, 
but come now, we'll divide. 

1800
01:46:05,600 --> 01:46:07,440
Buvier had no right to it, and 
he's out. 

1801
01:46:07,760 --> 01:46:10,960
You and I perhaps have a much 
right to it legally, but it's 

1802
01:46:10,960 --> 01:46:12,960
between US, and we're both in 
the same position. 

1803
01:46:14,000 --> 01:46:16,440
Pardon me, Dorrington replied 
silkily. 

1804
01:46:16,840 --> 01:46:19,960
But there you mistake. 
We are not in the same position 

1805
01:46:19,960 --> 01:46:23,080
by a long way. 
You are liable to an instant 

1806
01:46:23,080 --> 01:46:26,920
criminal prosecution. 
I have simply come authorized by

1807
01:46:26,920 --> 01:46:30,480
my client, who bears all 
responsibility, to demand a 

1808
01:46:30,520 --> 01:46:32,720
piece of property which you have
stolen. 

1809
01:46:33,120 --> 01:46:35,320
That is the difference between 
our positions, Mr. Hammer. 

1810
01:46:35,760 --> 01:46:37,720
Come now. 
A policeman is standing just 

1811
01:46:37,720 --> 01:46:39,960
opposite. 
Shall I open the window and call

1812
01:46:39,960 --> 01:46:45,520
him, or do you give in? 
No, I give in, I suppose. 

1813
01:46:45,760 --> 01:46:48,840
Hammer groaned. 
But you're a deal too hard. 

1814
01:46:49,320 --> 01:46:51,480
A man of your ability shouldn't 
be so mean. 

1815
01:46:52,760 --> 01:46:55,480
That's right and reasonable. 
Dorrington answered briskly. 

1816
01:46:55,840 --> 01:46:58,400
The wise man is the man who 
knows when he is beaten and 

1817
01:46:58,400 --> 01:47:01,000
saves further trouble. 
You may not find me so mean 

1818
01:47:01,000 --> 01:47:03,240
after all, but I must have a 
stone first. 

1819
01:47:03,720 --> 01:47:06,040
I hold the Trump's, and I'm not 
going to let the other player 

1820
01:47:06,040 --> 01:47:07,720
make conditions. 
Where's the diamond? 

1821
01:47:08,520 --> 01:47:09,480
It isn't here. 
It's at home. 

1822
01:47:09,480 --> 01:47:11,880
You'll have to get it out of 
Missus Hammer. 

1823
01:47:12,080 --> 01:47:15,800
Shall I go and wire to her? 
No, no, said Dorrington. 

1824
01:47:15,800 --> 01:47:18,520
That's not the way. 
We'll just go together and take 

1825
01:47:18,520 --> 01:47:21,240
Missus Hammer by surprise. 
I think I mustn't let you out of

1826
01:47:21,240 --> 01:47:23,880
sight, you know. 
Come, we'll get a handsome. 

1827
01:47:24,080 --> 01:47:26,800
Is it far? 
Bass Burl, St. 

1828
01:47:26,800 --> 01:47:29,880
Pimlico, you'll find Missus 
Hammer has a temper of her own. 

1829
01:47:30,600 --> 01:47:32,800
Well, well, we all have our 
failings. 

1830
01:47:33,040 --> 01:47:36,240
But before we start now, observe
for a moment. 

1831
01:47:36,240 --> 01:47:37,440
Dorrington was stirring, 
menacing. 

1832
01:47:37,880 --> 01:47:41,080
You wriggled a little at first, 
but that was quite natural. 

1833
01:47:41,320 --> 01:47:44,240
Now you've given in, and at the 
first sign of another wiggle I 

1834
01:47:44,240 --> 01:47:48,600
stop at once and for all 
understand no tricks now. 

1835
01:47:50,760 --> 01:47:52,280
They entered A hansom at the 
door. 

1836
01:47:52,920 --> 01:47:55,640
Hammer was Moody and silent at 
first, but under the influence 

1837
01:47:55,640 --> 01:47:58,360
of Dorrington's great talk he 
opened out after a while. 

1838
01:47:58,960 --> 01:48:01,880
Well, he said, you're far the 
cleverest of the three, no 

1839
01:48:01,880 --> 01:48:04,320
doubt, and perhaps in that way 
you deserve to win. 

1840
01:48:04,760 --> 01:48:07,440
It's mighty smart of you to come
in like this and push Bouvier on

1841
01:48:07,440 --> 01:48:09,920
one side and me on the other, 
and both of us helpless. 

1842
01:48:10,560 --> 01:48:12,680
But it's rough on me after 
having all the trouble. 

1843
01:48:13,640 --> 01:48:16,000
Don't be a bad loser, man, 
Dorrington answered. 

1844
01:48:16,440 --> 01:48:18,640
You might have had a deal more 
trouble and a deal more 

1845
01:48:18,640 --> 01:48:21,680
roughness too, I assure you. 
Oh, yes, I might. 

1846
01:48:21,880 --> 01:48:23,640
I'm not grumbling. 
But there's one thing that's 

1847
01:48:23,640 --> 01:48:26,560
puzzled me all along. 
Where did Bouvier get that stone

1848
01:48:26,560 --> 01:48:28,560
from? 
He inherited it. 

1849
01:48:29,200 --> 01:48:31,480
It's the most important of the 
family jewels, I assure you. 

1850
01:48:32,120 --> 01:48:35,200
Oh, Skittles, I might have known
you wouldn't tell me even if you

1851
01:48:35,200 --> 01:48:37,840
knew yourself. 
But I should like to know what 

1852
01:48:37,840 --> 01:48:40,680
sort of a duffer must it have 
been that let Bouvier do him for

1853
01:48:40,680 --> 01:48:43,440
that big stone? 
Bouvier of all men in the world,

1854
01:48:43,920 --> 01:48:47,320
why he was a record flat 
himself, couldn't tell a diamond

1855
01:48:47,320 --> 01:48:50,360
from a glass marble, I should 
think, why he used to buy 

1856
01:48:50,360 --> 01:48:52,760
peddling little trays of rotters
in the garden at twice their 

1857
01:48:52,760 --> 01:48:55,600
value, and then he'd sell them 
for what he could get. 

1858
01:48:55,840 --> 01:48:58,800
I know very well he wasn't going
on systematically dropping money

1859
01:48:58,800 --> 01:49:02,200
like that for no reason at all. 
He had some axe to grind that 

1860
01:49:02,200 --> 01:49:06,240
was blame, and after a while he 
got asking timid questions as to

1861
01:49:06,240 --> 01:49:08,840
the sale of big diamonds and how
it was done and who bought them 

1862
01:49:08,840 --> 01:49:11,560
and all that. 
That put me on it at once. 

1863
01:49:12,120 --> 01:49:14,480
All they're buying and selling 
at a loss was a blind. 

1864
01:49:14,800 --> 01:49:17,520
He wanted to get into the trade 
to sell stolen diamonds, that 

1865
01:49:17,520 --> 01:49:20,880
was clear, and there was some 
value in them too, else he 

1866
01:49:20,880 --> 01:49:23,320
couldn't afford to waste months 
of time and lose money every day

1867
01:49:23,320 --> 01:49:25,800
over it. 
So I kept my eye on him. 

1868
01:49:26,400 --> 01:49:29,080
I noticed when he put his 
overcoat on and thought I wasn't

1869
01:49:29,080 --> 01:49:31,360
looking, he would settle a 
string of some sort round his 

1870
01:49:31,360 --> 01:49:34,920
neck under her shirt collar and 
feel to pack up something close 

1871
01:49:34,920 --> 01:49:37,920
under his armpit. 
Then I walked him home and saw 

1872
01:49:37,920 --> 01:49:40,720
the sort of shanty he lived in. 
I mentioned those things to 

1873
01:49:40,720 --> 01:49:44,000
Missus H, and she was naturally 
indignant at the idea of a chap 

1874
01:49:44,000 --> 01:49:47,800
like Bouvier having something 
valuable in a dishonest way, and

1875
01:49:47,800 --> 01:49:51,080
agreed with me that if possible,
it ought to be cut from him, if 

1876
01:49:51,120 --> 01:49:54,520
only in the interest of virtue. 
Hammer laughed cheerily. 

1877
01:49:55,040 --> 01:49:57,480
So, at any rate, we determined 
to get a look at whatever was 

1878
01:49:57,480 --> 01:50:00,320
hanging around his neck, and we 
made the arrangements you know 

1879
01:50:00,320 --> 01:50:02,320
about. 
It seemed to me that Bouvier was

1880
01:50:02,320 --> 01:50:05,440
pretty sure to lose it before 
long, one way or another, if it 

1881
01:50:05,440 --> 01:50:08,360
had any value at all, to judge 
by the way it was done in other 

1882
01:50:08,360 --> 01:50:10,880
matters. 
But I assure you I nearly fell 

1883
01:50:10,880 --> 01:50:13,040
down like Bouvier himself when I
saw what it was. 

1884
01:50:13,480 --> 01:50:16,160
No wonder who left the bottle 
behind where I dropped it after 

1885
01:50:16,160 --> 01:50:19,520
soaking the shawl. 
I wonder I didn't leave the 

1886
01:50:19,520 --> 01:50:21,520
shawl itself, and my hat and 
everything. 

1887
01:50:21,920 --> 01:50:23,600
I assure you we set up half last
night. 

1888
01:50:23,600 --> 01:50:27,040
Looking at that wonderful stone.
No doubt I shall have a good 

1889
01:50:27,040 --> 01:50:30,640
look at it myself, I assure you.
Here is Bessington St. which is 

1890
01:50:30,640 --> 01:50:32,720
the number. 
They alighted and entered a 

1891
01:50:32,720 --> 01:50:34,440
house rather smaller than those 
about it. 

1892
01:50:35,200 --> 01:50:38,120
Ask Missus Hammer to come here, 
said Hammer gloomily to the 

1893
01:50:38,120 --> 01:50:41,240
servant. 
The men sat in the drawing room.

1894
01:50:41,880 --> 01:50:43,960
Presently Missus Hammer entered 
A shortage. 

1895
01:50:43,960 --> 01:50:49,360
Sharp, keen eyed woman of 45. 
This is Mr. Dorrington, said 

1896
01:50:49,360 --> 01:50:52,160
Hammer of Dorrington and Hicks, 
private detectives. 

1897
01:50:52,600 --> 01:50:54,320
He wants us to give him that 
diamond. 

1898
01:50:55,400 --> 01:50:57,920
The little woman gave a sort of 
involuntary bounce and 

1899
01:50:57,920 --> 01:50:59,600
exclaimed. 
What diamond? 

1900
01:50:59,600 --> 01:51:03,240
What do you mean? 
Oh, it's no good, Maria Hammer 

1901
01:51:03,240 --> 01:51:06,040
answered dopefully. 
I've tried it every way myself. 

1902
01:51:06,800 --> 01:51:10,640
1 Comfort is we're safe as long 
as we give it up here. 

1903
01:51:10,920 --> 01:51:14,000
He had to turn to Dorrington. 
Show her some of your evidence. 

1904
01:51:14,120 --> 01:51:16,600
That'll convince her very 
politely. 

1905
01:51:16,600 --> 01:51:19,240
Dorrington brought forth with 
full explanations the cork and 

1906
01:51:19,240 --> 01:51:22,440
the broken glass, while Missus 
Hammer, biting hard at her thin 

1907
01:51:22,440 --> 01:51:25,800
lips, grew shinier and redder in
the face every moment, and her 

1908
01:51:25,800 --> 01:51:29,440
hard Gray eyes flashed fury. 
And you let this man? 

1909
01:51:29,440 --> 01:51:31,400
She burst out to her husband 
when Dorrington had finished. 

1910
01:51:31,600 --> 01:51:33,920
You will let this man leave your
office with those things in his 

1911
01:51:33,920 --> 01:51:36,800
possession, after we'd shown 
them to you, and you as big as 

1912
01:51:36,800 --> 01:51:40,560
he is, and bigger. 
Coward, my dear, you don't 

1913
01:51:40,560 --> 01:51:42,120
appreciate Mr. Dorrington's 
forethought. 

1914
01:51:42,120 --> 01:51:44,960
Hang it, I made preparations for
the very line of action you 

1915
01:51:44,960 --> 01:51:46,480
recommend. 
But he was ready. 

1916
01:51:46,800 --> 01:51:49,400
He brought out a very well kept 
revolver, and he has it in his 

1917
01:51:49,400 --> 01:51:52,800
pocket now. 
Missus Hammer only glared 

1918
01:51:53,000 --> 01:51:56,080
speechless with anger. 
You might just get Mr. 

1919
01:51:56,080 --> 01:51:59,400
Dorrington a whiskey and soda. 
Maria Hammer pursued with a 

1920
01:51:59,400 --> 01:52:01,280
slight lift to the eyebrows, 
which he did not intend 

1921
01:52:01,280 --> 01:52:03,680
Dorrington to see. 
The woman was on her feet in a 

1922
01:52:03,680 --> 01:52:05,960
moment. 
Thank you. 

1923
01:52:05,960 --> 01:52:07,640
No, interposed Dorrington, 
rising. 

1924
01:52:07,640 --> 01:52:10,760
Also, I won't trouble you, I'd 
rather not drink anything just 

1925
01:52:10,760 --> 01:52:14,120
now, and although I fear I may 
appear rude, I can't allow 

1926
01:52:14,160 --> 01:52:17,560
either of you to leave the room.
In short, he added, I must stay 

1927
01:52:17,560 --> 01:52:19,360
with you both till I get the 
diamond. 

1928
01:52:20,560 --> 01:52:23,800
And this man Bouvier as Missus 
Hammer, what is his right to the

1929
01:52:23,800 --> 01:52:27,360
stone, really? 
I don't feel confident to offer 

1930
01:52:27,360 --> 01:52:29,600
an opinion, do you know? 
Dorrington answered sweetly. 

1931
01:52:29,880 --> 01:52:33,040
To tell the truth, Monsieur 
Bouvier doesn't interest me very

1932
01:52:33,040 --> 01:52:36,280
much. 
No, go Maria route, Hammer, I've

1933
01:52:36,280 --> 01:52:38,760
tried it all. 
The fact is, we've got to give 

1934
01:52:38,760 --> 01:52:41,760
Dorman a diamond. 
If we don't, he'll just call on 

1935
01:52:41,760 --> 01:52:43,840
the police. 
Then we should lose diamonds and

1936
01:52:43,840 --> 01:52:46,560
everything else too. 
He doesn't care what becomes a 

1937
01:52:46,560 --> 01:52:48,800
Bouvier. 
He's got us, that's what it is. 

1938
01:52:49,200 --> 01:52:51,240
He won't even bargain to give us
a share. 

1939
01:52:52,080 --> 01:52:55,520
Missus Hammer looked quickly up.
Oh, but that's nonsense, she 

1940
01:52:55,520 --> 01:52:58,200
said. 
We've got the thing we ought at 

1941
01:52:58,200 --> 01:53:01,480
least to say haves. 
Her sharp eyes searched 

1942
01:53:01,480 --> 01:53:03,800
Dorrington's face, but there was
no encouragement in it. 

1943
01:53:04,480 --> 01:53:06,880
I'm sorry to disappoint a lady, 
he said. 

1944
01:53:07,280 --> 01:53:10,760
But this time it is my business 
to impose terms, not to submit 

1945
01:53:10,760 --> 01:53:12,680
to them. 
Come the diamond. 

1946
01:53:13,320 --> 01:53:16,760
Well, you'll give us something, 
surely, the woman cried. 

1947
01:53:17,160 --> 01:53:19,520
Nothing is sure, Madam, except 
that you will give me that 

1948
01:53:19,520 --> 01:53:21,600
diamond or face a policeman in 5
minutes. 

1949
01:53:22,800 --> 01:53:24,240
The woman realized your 
helplessness. 

1950
01:53:25,320 --> 01:53:28,680
Well, she said much good man, do
you? 

1951
01:53:29,120 --> 01:53:31,800
You'll have to come and get it. 
I'm hitting it somewhere else. 

1952
01:53:31,880 --> 01:53:35,960
I'll go and get my hat again, 
Dorrington interposed. 

1953
01:53:36,400 --> 01:53:38,720
I think we'll send your servant 
for the hat, he said, reaching 

1954
01:53:38,720 --> 01:53:40,880
for the bell rope. 
I'll come wherever you like, but

1955
01:53:40,880 --> 01:53:43,280
I shall not leave you to the 
Sapphira Settled, I promise you.

1956
01:53:43,720 --> 01:53:46,920
And as I reminded your husband a
little time ago, you'll find 

1957
01:53:46,920 --> 01:53:50,320
tricks come expensive. 
The servant brought Missus 

1958
01:53:50,320 --> 01:53:53,280
Hammer's hat and cloak, and that
Lady put them on, her eyes 

1959
01:53:53,280 --> 01:53:55,960
ablaze with anger. 
Dorrington made the pair walk 

1960
01:53:55,960 --> 01:53:58,480
before him to the front door and
follow him into the street. 

1961
01:53:59,000 --> 01:54:01,080
Now, he said, Where is this 
place? 

1962
01:54:01,200 --> 01:54:04,680
Remember, no tricks. 
Missus Hammer turned towards 

1963
01:54:04,680 --> 01:54:07,000
Vauxhall Bridge. 
It's just over by Upper 

1964
01:54:07,000 --> 01:54:09,160
Kennington Lane, she said. 
Not far. 

1965
01:54:09,720 --> 01:54:12,440
She paced out before Dorrington 
and Hammer, following, the 

1966
01:54:12,440 --> 01:54:14,920
former affable and business 
like, the latter apparently a 

1967
01:54:14,920 --> 01:54:17,520
little puzzled when they came 
about the middle of the bridge. 

1968
01:54:17,640 --> 01:54:20,840
The woman turned suddenly. 
Come, Mr. Dorrington, she said 

1969
01:54:20,840 --> 01:54:22,760
in a more subdued voice than she
had used yet. 

1970
01:54:23,080 --> 01:54:25,520
I give in. 
It's no use trying to shake you 

1971
01:54:25,520 --> 01:54:27,480
off. 
I can see I have the diamond 

1972
01:54:27,480 --> 01:54:30,920
with me here. 
She put a little black wooden 

1973
01:54:30,920 --> 01:54:33,760
box in his hand. 
He made to open the lid, which 

1974
01:54:33,760 --> 01:54:36,000
fitted tightly. 
At that moment the woman, 

1975
01:54:36,320 --> 01:54:39,320
pulling her other hand free from
under her cloak, flung away over

1976
01:54:39,320 --> 01:54:41,680
the parapet something that's 
shown like 50 points of electric

1977
01:54:41,680 --> 01:54:43,320
light. 
There it goes. 

1978
01:54:43,600 --> 01:54:45,480
She screamed aloud, pointing 
with her finger. 

1979
01:54:45,680 --> 01:54:47,440
There's your diamond, you dirty 
thief. 

1980
01:54:47,440 --> 01:54:50,000
You bully. 
Go after it now, you spy. 

1981
01:54:51,000 --> 01:54:53,960
The great diamond made a curve 
of glitter and disappeared into 

1982
01:54:53,960 --> 01:54:57,480
the river. 
For the moment Dorrington lost 

1983
01:54:57,480 --> 01:54:59,760
his cool temper. 
He sees the woman by the arm. 

1984
01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:01,840
Do you know what you've done, 
you Wildcat? 

1985
01:55:02,040 --> 01:55:04,160
He exclaimed. 
Yes I do. 

1986
01:55:04,400 --> 01:55:07,040
The woman screamed, almost 
foaming with passion while boys 

1987
01:55:07,040 --> 01:55:09,440
began to collect, though there 
had been but a few people on the

1988
01:55:09,440 --> 01:55:11,600
bridge. 
Yes I do, and now you can do 

1989
01:55:11,600 --> 01:55:13,520
what you please, you thief, you 
bully. 

1990
01:55:14,240 --> 01:55:15,840
Dorrington was calm again in a 
moment. 

1991
01:55:16,120 --> 01:55:18,320
He shrugged his shoulders and 
turned away. 

1992
01:55:18,760 --> 01:55:21,920
Hammer was frightened. 
He came at Dorrington side and 

1993
01:55:21,920 --> 01:55:24,320
faltered. 
I, I told you she had a temper. 

1994
01:55:24,320 --> 01:55:27,560
What will you do? 
Dorrington forced to laugh. 

1995
01:55:27,920 --> 01:55:30,200
Oh nothing, He said. 
What can I do? 

1996
01:55:30,560 --> 01:55:33,000
Locking you up now wouldn't 
fetch the Diamondback, and 

1997
01:55:33,000 --> 01:55:35,480
besides, I'm not sure that 
Missus Hammer won't attend to 

1998
01:55:35,480 --> 01:55:36,840
your punishment faithfully 
enough. 

1999
01:55:37,320 --> 01:55:40,640
And he walked briskly away. 
What did you do? 

2000
01:55:40,640 --> 01:55:43,440
Bill asked one boy of another. 
Why didn't you see? 

2001
01:55:43,440 --> 01:55:45,320
She chucked. 
That man's watch in the river. 

2002
01:55:45,840 --> 01:55:48,200
God, that wasn't a watch, 
interrupted the third. 

2003
01:55:48,400 --> 01:55:50,160
It was a little glass Tumblr. 
I see it. 

2004
01:55:52,840 --> 01:55:55,920
Have you got my diamond? 
Asked the agonized Leon Beauvier

2005
01:55:56,120 --> 01:56:00,080
of Dorrington a day later. 
No, I have not, Dorrington 

2006
01:56:00,080 --> 01:56:02,720
replied dryly. 
Nor has your cousin Jacques. 

2007
01:56:03,240 --> 01:56:07,000
But I know where it is, and you 
can get it as easily as I, Mon 

2008
01:56:07,000 --> 01:56:08,480
Dieu. 
Where? 

2009
01:56:09,120 --> 01:56:12,280
At the bottom of the River 
Thames, Exactly In the centre 

2010
01:56:12,400 --> 01:56:14,080
rather to the right of Vauxhall 
Bridge. 

2011
01:56:14,160 --> 01:56:18,000
Looking from this side. 
I expect it will be rediscovered

2012
01:56:18,200 --> 01:56:21,000
in some future age, when the bed
of the Thames is a diamond 

2013
01:56:21,000 --> 01:56:24,440
field. 
The rest of Bouvier's savings 

2014
01:56:24,640 --> 01:56:27,680
went in the purchase of a boat, 
and in this with a pail on a 

2015
01:56:27,680 --> 01:56:29,880
long rope. 
He was very busy for some time 

2016
01:56:29,880 --> 01:56:33,320
afterwards, but he only got a 
great deal of mud into his boat.

2017
01:56:35,320 --> 01:56:38,520
End of the Case of the Mirror of
Portugal by Arthur Morrison, 

2018
01:56:39,880 --> 01:56:49,120
recording by Todd. 
Section 11 of the Rivals of 

2019
01:56:49,120 --> 01:56:52,800
Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1. 
This is a Libri Vox recording. 

2020
01:56:53,280 --> 01:56:55,400
All Libri Vox recordings are in 
the public domain. 

2021
01:56:55,920 --> 01:56:58,240
For more information or to 
volunteer, please visit 

2022
01:56:58,240 --> 01:57:02,600
liveryvox.org. 
Recording by Omar Dutray The 

2023
01:57:02,600 --> 01:57:07,240
Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, 
Volume 1 Madam Sarah by Lt. 

2024
01:57:07,240 --> 01:57:13,360
Meath and Robert Ustech Part 1 
Everyone in trade and the good 

2025
01:57:13,360 --> 01:57:17,040
many who are not have heard of 
Warner's agency, the Solvency 

2026
01:57:17,040 --> 01:57:19,000
Enquiry Agency for all British 
Trade. 

2027
01:57:19,920 --> 01:57:22,480
Its business is to know the 
financial condition of all 

2028
01:57:22,480 --> 01:57:26,800
wholesale and retail farms, from
Rothschilds to the smallest 

2029
01:57:26,800 --> 01:57:28,200
switched off shop in 
Whitechapel. 

2030
01:57:28,920 --> 01:57:32,520
I did not say that every form 
figures on its books, but by 

2031
01:57:32,520 --> 01:57:36,200
methods of secret enquiry it can
discover the status of any form 

2032
01:57:36,200 --> 01:57:39,080
or individual. 
It is the great safeguard to 

2033
01:57:39,080 --> 01:57:42,760
British trade and prevents much 
fraudulent dealing of this 

2034
01:57:42,760 --> 01:57:45,200
agency. 
I Dixon Juice was appointed 

2035
01:57:45,200 --> 01:57:48,760
manager in 1890. 
Since then I have met queer 

2036
01:57:48,760 --> 01:57:51,680
people and seen strange sights 
for man. 

2037
01:57:51,680 --> 01:57:53,760
Do curious things for money in 
this world. 

2038
01:57:54,880 --> 01:57:58,640
It so happened that in June, 
1899, my business took me to 

2039
01:57:58,640 --> 01:58:01,120
Madeira on an inquiry of some 
importance. 

2040
01:58:01,920 --> 01:58:05,640
I left the island on the 14th of
the month by the Norham Castle 

2041
01:58:05,880 --> 01:58:08,880
for Southampton. 
I embarked after dinner. 

2042
01:58:09,440 --> 01:58:12,200
It was a lovely night, and the 
strains of the band in the 

2043
01:58:12,200 --> 01:58:15,520
public gardens of Funkel came 
floating across the star 

2044
01:58:15,520 --> 01:58:17,920
powdered Bay through the warm 
balmy air. 

2045
01:58:18,800 --> 01:58:22,120
Then the engine belts rang to 
full speed ahead, and flinging A

2046
01:58:22,120 --> 01:58:25,160
farewell to the fairest island 
on earth, I turned to the 

2047
01:58:25,160 --> 01:58:27,600
smoking room in order to light 
my chair route. 

2048
01:58:28,560 --> 01:58:32,280
Do you want a match, Sir? 
The voice came from a slender 

2049
01:58:32,280 --> 01:58:34,720
young looking man who stood near
that of rail. 

2050
01:58:35,200 --> 01:58:37,960
Before I could reply he had 
struck one and held it out to 

2051
01:58:37,960 --> 01:58:41,440
me. 
Excuse me, he said as he tossed 

2052
01:58:41,440 --> 01:58:44,040
it overboard. 
But surely I'm addressing Mr. 

2053
01:58:44,040 --> 01:58:47,880
Dicks and Drews. 
You are, Sir, I said, glancing 

2054
01:58:47,880 --> 01:58:51,040
keenly back at him. 
But do you have the advantage of

2055
01:58:51,040 --> 01:58:52,920
me? 
Don't you know me? 

2056
01:58:53,200 --> 01:58:56,000
He responded. 
Jack Sell by Hayward's house, 

2057
01:58:56,000 --> 01:58:59,360
Harrow, 1879 by Job. 
So it is. 

2058
01:58:59,640 --> 01:59:02,560
I cried. 
Our hands met in a warm clasp, 

2059
01:59:02,720 --> 01:59:05,800
and a moment later I found 
myself sitting close to my old 

2060
01:59:05,800 --> 01:59:09,880
friend who had fegged for me in 
the bygone days, and whom I had 

2061
01:59:09,880 --> 01:59:13,360
not seen from the moment when I 
said goodbye to the hill in the 

2062
01:59:13,360 --> 01:59:16,040
Gray midst of a December morning
20 years ago. 

2063
01:59:16,560 --> 01:59:19,960
He was a boy of 1410, but 
nevertheless I recognized him. 

2064
01:59:20,600 --> 01:59:23,760
His face was bronched and good 
looking, his features refined. 

2065
01:59:24,640 --> 01:59:28,200
As a boy, Salvi had been noted 
for his grace, his well shaped 

2066
01:59:28,200 --> 01:59:31,720
head, his clean cut features. 
These characteristics still were

2067
01:59:31,720 --> 01:59:35,480
heels, and although he was now 
slightly past his first youth, 

2068
01:59:35,760 --> 01:59:39,200
he was decidedly handsome. 
He gave me a quick sketch of his

2069
01:59:39,200 --> 01:59:42,640
history. 
My father left me plenty of 

2070
01:59:42,640 --> 01:59:46,640
money, he said, and the Meadows,
our old family place, is now 

2071
01:59:46,640 --> 01:59:48,920
mine. 
I have a taste for Natural 

2072
01:59:48,920 --> 01:59:51,160
History. 
That taste took me two years ago

2073
01:59:51,160 --> 01:59:54,440
to South America. 
I have had my share of strange 

2074
01:59:54,440 --> 01:59:57,760
adventures and have collected 
valuable specimens and trophies.

2075
01:59:58,400 --> 02:00:02,160
I am now on my way home from 
Para on the Amazon, having come 

2076
02:00:02,160 --> 02:00:05,520
by a boot belt to Madeira and 
changed air to the castle line. 

2077
02:00:06,320 --> 02:00:10,040
Not do I always talk about 
myself, he added, bringing his 

2078
02:00:10,040 --> 02:00:12,000
deck chair a little nearer to 
mine. 

2079
02:00:12,440 --> 02:00:13,880
What about your history, old 
chair? 

2080
02:00:14,400 --> 02:00:17,800
Are you settled down with a wife
and kiddies of your own, or is 

2081
02:00:17,800 --> 02:00:19,600
that dream of your school days 
fulfilled? 

2082
02:00:20,240 --> 02:00:22,680
And are you the owner of the 
best private laboratory in 

2083
02:00:22,680 --> 02:00:26,160
London? 
As to the laboratory, I said 

2084
02:00:26,200 --> 02:00:28,160
with a smile. 
You must come and see it. 

2085
02:00:28,640 --> 02:00:30,600
For the rest, I am unmarried. 
Are you? 

2086
02:00:31,400 --> 02:00:34,520
I was married the day before I 
left Para, and my wife is on 

2087
02:00:34,520 --> 02:00:37,280
board with me. 
Capital, I answered. 

2088
02:00:37,680 --> 02:00:40,200
Let me hear all about it. 
You shall. 

2089
02:00:40,640 --> 02:00:43,240
Her maiden name was Dallas. 
Beatrice Dallas. 

2090
02:00:43,600 --> 02:00:46,880
She is just 20 now. 
Her father was an Englishman and

2091
02:00:46,880 --> 02:00:49,480
her mother is Penyard. 
Neither parent is leaving. 

2092
02:00:50,080 --> 02:00:53,160
She has an elder sister edit 
nearly 30 years of age, 

2093
02:00:53,280 --> 02:00:55,280
unmarried, who is on board with 
us. 

2094
02:00:55,960 --> 02:00:58,480
There is also a. 
Stepbrother considerably older 

2095
02:00:58,480 --> 02:00:59,960
than either. 
Edit's obiatrice. 

2096
02:01:00,800 --> 02:01:04,200
I met my wife last year in Para 
and at once fell in love. 

2097
02:01:05,040 --> 02:01:08,240
I'm the happiest man on earth. 
It goes without saying that I 

2098
02:01:08,240 --> 02:01:11,080
think how beautiful. 
And she is also very well loved.

2099
02:01:12,040 --> 02:01:13,800
The story of her wealth is a 
curious one. 

2100
02:01:14,640 --> 02:01:17,320
Her uncle, on the mother's side 
was an extremely wealthy 

2101
02:01:17,320 --> 02:01:20,520
Spaniard, who made an enormous 
fortune in Brazil out of 

2102
02:01:20,520 --> 02:01:24,600
diamonds and minerals. 
He owns several mines, but it is

2103
02:01:24,600 --> 02:01:26,720
supposed that his wealth stormed
his brain. 

2104
02:01:27,240 --> 02:01:29,520
At any rate, it seems to have 
done so. 

2105
02:01:29,640 --> 02:01:33,400
As far as the disposal of his 
money went, he divided the 

2106
02:01:33,400 --> 02:01:36,040
yearly profits and interest 
between his nephew and his two 

2107
02:01:36,040 --> 02:01:39,800
nieces, but declared that the 
property itself should never be 

2108
02:01:39,800 --> 02:01:42,720
split up. 
He has left the whole of it to 

2109
02:01:42,720 --> 02:01:45,280
that one of the three who should
survive the others. 

2110
02:01:45,840 --> 02:01:48,480
A perfectly insane arrangement, 
but not, I believe, 

2111
02:01:48,840 --> 02:01:52,440
unprecedented in Brazil. 
Very insane. 

2112
02:01:52,600 --> 02:01:56,560
I killed what was he worth? 
Over 2 million sterlings. 

2113
02:01:56,760 --> 02:01:58,400
By Jove. 
I cried. 

2114
02:01:58,520 --> 02:02:00,960
What a sum. 
But what about the hub brother? 

2115
02:02:01,800 --> 02:02:05,080
He must be over 40 years of age 
and is evidently a bad lot. 

2116
02:02:05,640 --> 02:02:08,560
I have never seen him. 
His sisters won't speak to him 

2117
02:02:08,680 --> 02:02:11,800
or have anything to do with him.
I understand that he is a great 

2118
02:02:11,800 --> 02:02:14,320
gambler. 
I am father told that he is at 

2119
02:02:14,320 --> 02:02:17,320
present in England, and as there
are certain technicalities to be

2120
02:02:17,320 --> 02:02:20,160
gone through before the girls 
can fully enjoy their incomes, 

2121
02:02:20,520 --> 02:02:23,680
one of the first things I must 
do when I get home is to find 

2122
02:02:23,680 --> 02:02:26,320
him out. 
He has to sign certain papers, 

2123
02:02:26,720 --> 02:02:29,440
for we shan't be able to put 
things straight until we get his

2124
02:02:29,440 --> 02:02:32,440
whereabouts. 
Some time ago my wife and I did 

2125
02:02:32,440 --> 02:02:34,920
thought that he was ill, but 
dead or alive. 

2126
02:02:35,160 --> 02:02:38,120
We must know all about him, and 
as quickly as possible. 

2127
02:02:39,520 --> 02:02:41,560
I made no answer and he 
continued. 

2128
02:02:42,560 --> 02:02:45,040
I'll introduce you to my wife 
and sister-in-law tomorrow. 

2129
02:02:45,760 --> 02:02:48,680
Beatrice is quite a child 
compared to Edit, who acts 

2130
02:02:48,680 --> 02:02:50,320
towards her almost like a 
mother. 

2131
02:02:50,960 --> 02:02:54,600
B is a little beauty, so fresh 
and round and young looking, but

2132
02:02:54,600 --> 02:02:58,360
Edit is handsome too, although I
sometimes think C is as vain as 

2133
02:02:58,360 --> 02:03:01,040
a Peacock. 
By the way, Drews, This brings 

2134
02:03:01,040 --> 02:03:04,400
me to another part of my story. 
The sisters have an acquaintance

2135
02:03:04,400 --> 02:03:07,080
on board, one of the most 
remarkable women I have ever 

2136
02:03:07,080 --> 02:03:09,440
met. 
She goes by the name of Madam 

2137
02:03:09,440 --> 02:03:13,760
Sarah, and knows London well. 
In fact, she confesses to having

2138
02:03:13,760 --> 02:03:16,040
a shop in the Strand. 
What she has been doing in 

2139
02:03:16,040 --> 02:03:19,400
Brazil I do not know, for she 
keeps all her affairs strictly 

2140
02:03:19,400 --> 02:03:21,720
private. 
But you will be amazed when I 

2141
02:03:21,720 --> 02:03:26,600
tell you what her calling is. 
What I asked A professional 

2142
02:03:26,600 --> 02:03:29,000
beautifier. 
She claims the privilege of 

2143
02:03:29,000 --> 02:03:31,040
restoring it to those who 
consult her. 

2144
02:03:31,760 --> 02:03:34,800
She also declares that she can 
make quite ugly people handsome.

2145
02:03:35,480 --> 02:03:37,720
There is no doubt that she is 
very clever. 

2146
02:03:38,400 --> 02:03:41,240
She knows a little bit of 
everything, and has wonderful 

2147
02:03:41,240 --> 02:03:43,720
recipes with regard to 
medicines, surgery and 

2148
02:03:43,720 --> 02:03:46,680
dentistry. 
She is a most lovely woman 

2149
02:03:46,680 --> 02:03:50,440
herself, very fair, with blue 
eyes, an innocent childlike 

2150
02:03:50,440 --> 02:03:53,120
manner, and quantities of 
rippling gold hair. 

2151
02:03:53,960 --> 02:03:57,040
She openly confesses that she is
very much older than she 

2152
02:03:57,040 --> 02:03:59,920
appears. 
She looks about 5 and 20. 

2153
02:04:00,280 --> 02:04:03,800
She seems to have travelled all 
over the world, and says that by

2154
02:04:03,800 --> 02:04:07,760
birth sees a mixture of Indian 
and Italian, her father having 

2155
02:04:07,760 --> 02:04:09,720
been Italian and her mother 
Indian. 

2156
02:04:10,800 --> 02:04:13,800
Accompanying her is an Arab, a 
handsome, picturesque sort of 

2157
02:04:13,800 --> 02:04:17,360
fellow, who gives her the most 
absolute devotion, and she is 

2158
02:04:17,360 --> 02:04:20,120
also bringing back to England, 
to Brazilians from Para. 

2159
02:04:20,840 --> 02:04:24,440
This woman deals in all sorts of
curious secrets, but principally

2160
02:04:24,440 --> 02:04:27,640
in cosmetics. 
Her shop in the Strand could, I 

2161
02:04:27,640 --> 02:04:29,880
fancy, tell many a strange 
history. 

2162
02:04:30,560 --> 02:04:33,720
Her clients go to her there, and
she does what is necessary for 

2163
02:04:33,720 --> 02:04:36,160
them. 
It is a fact that she 

2164
02:04:36,160 --> 02:04:39,560
occasionally performs small 
surgical operations and there is

2165
02:04:39,560 --> 02:04:42,000
not a dentist in London who can 
vie with her. 

2166
02:04:42,640 --> 02:04:45,680
She confesses, quite naively 
that she holds some secrets for 

2167
02:04:45,680 --> 02:04:48,240
making false dates. 
Clinging to the ballot that no 

2168
02:04:48,240 --> 02:04:51,760
one knows of. 
Adid Dallas is devoted to her. 

2169
02:04:52,200 --> 02:04:55,360
In fact, her adoration amounts 
to Ida Latre. 

2170
02:04:56,520 --> 02:04:58,560
You'll give a very brilliant 
account of this omen. 

2171
02:04:58,800 --> 02:05:01,040
I said you must introduce me 
tomorrow. 

2172
02:05:01,720 --> 02:05:04,440
I will, Aunt her, Jack with a 
smile. 

2173
02:05:05,200 --> 02:05:06,720
I should like your opinion of 
her. 

2174
02:05:07,160 --> 02:05:08,360
I'm right. 
Glad I have met you. 

2175
02:05:08,360 --> 02:05:10,320
Truce. 
It is like old times. 

2176
02:05:10,640 --> 02:05:13,800
When I get to London, I mean to 
put up at my townhouse in Eton 

2177
02:05:13,800 --> 02:05:15,640
Square for the remainder of the 
season. 

2178
02:05:16,160 --> 02:05:18,720
The meadows shall be 
refurnished, and B and I will 

2179
02:05:18,720 --> 02:05:20,640
take up our quarters sometime in
August. 

2180
02:05:21,120 --> 02:05:24,560
Then you must come and see us. 
But I'm afraid before I give 

2181
02:05:24,560 --> 02:05:27,400
myself up to mere pleasure, I 
must find that precocious 

2182
02:05:27,400 --> 02:05:29,520
brother-in-law, Henry Joakim 
Silva. 

2183
02:05:30,360 --> 02:05:33,000
If you have any difficulty 
applied to me, I said. 

2184
02:05:33,480 --> 02:05:37,000
I can put at your disposal, in 
an unofficial way of course. 

2185
02:05:37,160 --> 02:05:39,880
As in, so would find almost any 
man in England dead or. 

2186
02:05:39,880 --> 02:05:43,040
Alive. 
I then proceeded to give sell by

2187
02:05:43,120 --> 02:05:44,640
a short account of my own 
business. 

2188
02:05:45,320 --> 02:05:47,920
Thanks, he said presently that 
is capital. 

2189
02:05:48,400 --> 02:05:52,440
You are the very man we want. 
The next morning after breakfast

2190
02:05:52,680 --> 02:05:54,840
Jack introduced me to his wife 
and sister-in-law. 

2191
02:05:55,520 --> 02:05:58,800
They were both foreign looking 
but very handsome and the wife 

2192
02:05:58,800 --> 02:06:01,720
in particular had a graceful and
uncommon appearance. 

2193
02:06:02,640 --> 02:06:05,440
We had been chatting about 5 
minutes when I saw coming down 

2194
02:06:05,440 --> 02:06:09,000
the deck a slight, rather small 
woman wearing a big sun hat. 

2195
02:06:09,920 --> 02:06:12,640
Ah, Madam, cried Selby, here you
were. 

2196
02:06:13,000 --> 02:06:15,840
I had the luck to meet an old 
friend on board, Mr. Dicks and 

2197
02:06:15,840 --> 02:06:18,520
Jews, and I have been telling 
him all about you. 

2198
02:06:19,160 --> 02:06:20,680
I should like you to know each 
other. 

2199
02:06:21,320 --> 02:06:24,040
Jews. 
This lady is Madam Sarah, of 

2200
02:06:24,040 --> 02:06:26,800
whom I have spoken to you, Mr. 
Dicks and Jews. 

2201
02:06:26,920 --> 02:06:30,320
Madam Sarah. 
She bowed gracefully and then 

2202
02:06:30,320 --> 02:06:33,520
looked at me honestly. 
I had seldom seen a more lovely 

2203
02:06:33,520 --> 02:06:37,000
omen by her side. 
Both Missus Selby and her sister

2204
02:06:37,080 --> 02:06:38,960
seemed to fade into 
insignificance. 

2205
02:06:39,600 --> 02:06:43,200
Her complexion was almost 
dazingly fair, her face refined 

2206
02:06:43,200 --> 02:06:47,000
in expression, her eyes 
penetrating, clever, and yet 

2207
02:06:47,000 --> 02:06:49,000
with the innocent, frank age of 
a child. 

2208
02:06:49,600 --> 02:06:52,600
Her dress was very simple. 
She looked altogether like a 

2209
02:06:52,600 --> 02:06:56,720
young, fresh and natural girl. 
As we sat chatting lightly and 

2210
02:06:56,720 --> 02:07:00,120
about commonplace topics, I 
instinctively felt that she took

2211
02:07:00,120 --> 02:07:03,680
an interest in me even greater 
than might be expected upon an 

2212
02:07:03,680 --> 02:07:07,320
ordinary introduction. 
By slow degrees she so taunt a 

2213
02:07:07,320 --> 02:07:11,000
conversation as to leave Selby 
and his wife and sister out, and

2214
02:07:11,000 --> 02:07:14,400
then as they moved away, she 
came a little nearer and said in

2215
02:07:14,400 --> 02:07:19,320
a low voice, I'm very glad we 
have met, and yet how odd this 

2216
02:07:19,320 --> 02:07:21,720
meeting is. 
Was it really accidental? 

2217
02:07:22,760 --> 02:07:24,600
I do not understand you, I 
answered. 

2218
02:07:25,160 --> 02:07:27,880
I know who you are, she said 
lightly. 

2219
02:07:28,280 --> 02:07:30,280
You are the manager of Warner's 
agency. 

2220
02:07:30,760 --> 02:07:33,520
Its business is to know the 
private affairs of those people 

2221
02:07:33,680 --> 02:07:35,520
who would rather keep their own 
secrets. 

2222
02:07:36,200 --> 02:07:39,280
Now, Mr. Drews, I am going to be
absolutely frank with you. 

2223
02:07:39,960 --> 02:07:44,040
I own a small shop in the 
Strand, A perfumery shop, and 

2224
02:07:44,040 --> 02:07:46,760
behind those innocent looking 
doors I conduct the business 

2225
02:07:46,960 --> 02:07:48,680
which brings me in gold of the 
real. 

2226
02:07:49,360 --> 02:07:52,280
Have you, Mr. Drews, any 
objection to my continuing to 

2227
02:07:52,280 --> 02:07:54,640
make a livelihood in perfectly 
innocent ways? 

2228
02:07:55,880 --> 02:07:57,360
None. 
Whatever, I answered. 

2229
02:07:57,640 --> 02:07:59,560
You puzzle me by alluding to the
subject. 

2230
02:08:00,400 --> 02:08:03,400
I want you to pay my shop a 
visit when you come to London. 

2231
02:08:04,160 --> 02:08:05,960
I have been away for three or 
four months. 

2232
02:08:06,520 --> 02:08:09,720
I do wonders for my clients, and
they pay me largely for my 

2233
02:08:09,720 --> 02:08:12,400
services. 
I hold some perfectly innocent 

2234
02:08:12,400 --> 02:08:14,840
secrets, which I cannot confide 
to anybody. 

2235
02:08:15,640 --> 02:08:19,000
I have obtained them partly from
the Indians, and partly from the

2236
02:08:19,000 --> 02:08:22,200
natives of Brazil. 
I have lately been in Para to 

2237
02:08:22,200 --> 02:08:25,560
inquire into certain methods by 
which my trade can be improved. 

2238
02:08:26,520 --> 02:08:29,640
And your trade is? 
I said, looking at her with 

2239
02:08:29,640 --> 02:08:34,240
amusement and some surprise. 
I'm a beautifier, she said 

2240
02:08:34,240 --> 02:08:36,400
lightly. 
She looked at me with a smile. 

2241
02:08:36,880 --> 02:08:39,920
You don't want me yet, Mr. 
Druce, but the time may come 

2242
02:08:40,280 --> 02:08:43,160
when even you will wish to keep 
back the informative's ears. 

2243
02:08:43,720 --> 02:08:45,600
In the meantime, can you guess 
my age? 

2244
02:08:46,640 --> 02:08:48,560
I will not hajjard a guess, I 
answered. 

2245
02:08:49,160 --> 02:08:51,520
And I'll not tell you. 
Let it remain a secret. 

2246
02:08:51,920 --> 02:08:54,640
Meanwhile, understand that my 
calling is quite an open one, 

2247
02:08:55,120 --> 02:08:58,200
and I do hold secrets. 
I should advise her, Mr. Drews, 

2248
02:08:58,400 --> 02:09:01,040
even in your professional 
capacity, not to interfere with 

2249
02:09:01,040 --> 02:09:04,200
them. 
The childlike expression faded 

2250
02:09:04,200 --> 02:09:06,240
from her face as she uttered the
last words. 

2251
02:09:06,720 --> 02:09:08,960
There seemed to ring a sort of 
challenge in her tone. 

2252
02:09:09,640 --> 02:09:12,200
She turned away after a few 
moments and they rejoined my 

2253
02:09:12,200 --> 02:09:14,880
friends. 
You have been making 

2254
02:09:14,880 --> 02:09:18,320
acquaintance with Madam Sarah, 
Mr. Drews, said Missus Selby, 

2255
02:09:18,720 --> 02:09:21,800
don't you think she is lovely? 
She is one of the most beautiful

2256
02:09:21,800 --> 02:09:23,880
women I have ever seen, I 
answered. 

2257
02:09:24,320 --> 02:09:26,160
But there seems to be a mystery 
about her. 

2258
02:09:26,560 --> 02:09:29,760
Oh, indeed there is, said Eddie 
Dallas gravely. 

2259
02:09:30,280 --> 02:09:32,240
She asked me if I could guess 
her age. 

2260
02:09:32,480 --> 02:09:35,520
I continued. 
I did not try, but surely she 

2261
02:09:35,520 --> 02:09:39,600
cannot be more than 5 and 20. 
No one knows her age, said 

2262
02:09:39,600 --> 02:09:42,400
Missus Selby. 
But I'll tell you a curious fact

2263
02:09:42,560 --> 02:09:44,360
which perhaps you will not 
believe. 

2264
02:09:45,080 --> 02:09:47,800
She was bridesmaid at my 
mother's wedding 30 years ago. 

2265
02:09:48,320 --> 02:09:51,480
She declares that she never 
changes and has No Fear of old 

2266
02:09:51,480 --> 02:09:54,000
age. 
You mean that seriously? 

2267
02:09:54,200 --> 02:09:56,400
I cried. 
But surely it is impossible. 

2268
02:09:57,080 --> 02:10:00,080
Her name is on the register, and
my mother knew her well. 

2269
02:10:00,480 --> 02:10:03,880
She was mysterious then, and I 
think my mother got into her 

2270
02:10:03,880 --> 02:10:05,920
power, but of that I am not 
certain. 

2271
02:10:06,440 --> 02:10:09,400
Anyhow, Aditya, and I adore her 
turn to Eddie. 

2272
02:10:10,600 --> 02:10:12,880
She laid her hand affectionately
on her sister's arm. 

2273
02:10:13,600 --> 02:10:17,120
Adi Dallas did not speak, but 
her face was scare ward of the 

2274
02:10:17,120 --> 02:10:18,720
time. 
She said slowly. 

2275
02:10:19,560 --> 02:10:24,160
Madam Sarah is uncanny and 
terrible days, perhaps no 

2276
02:10:24,160 --> 02:10:27,320
business imaginable, not even a 
lawyer's, that engender 

2277
02:10:27,320 --> 02:10:30,840
suspicions more than mine. 
I hate all mysteries, both in 

2278
02:10:30,840 --> 02:10:33,640
persons and things. 
Mysteries are my natural 

2279
02:10:33,640 --> 02:10:36,440
enemies. 
I felt now that this woman was a

2280
02:10:36,440 --> 02:10:39,400
distinct mystery. 
That she was interested in me I 

2281
02:10:39,400 --> 02:10:42,520
did not doubt, perhaps because 
she was afraid of me. 

2282
02:10:43,400 --> 02:10:45,600
The rest of the voyage passed 
pleasantly enough. 

2283
02:10:46,080 --> 02:10:49,320
The more I saw Missus Selvi and 
her sister, the more I liked 

2284
02:10:49,320 --> 02:10:51,320
them. 
They were quite simple and 

2285
02:10:51,320 --> 02:10:54,120
straightforward. 
I felt sure that they were both 

2286
02:10:54,120 --> 02:10:58,160
as good as gold. 
We parted at Waterloo, Jack and 

2287
02:10:58,160 --> 02:11:01,880
his wife and her sister going to
Jack's house in Eton Square and 

2288
02:11:01,880 --> 02:11:03,600
I returning to my quarters in 
St. 

2289
02:11:03,600 --> 02:11:06,520
John's Wood. 
I had a house there with a long 

2290
02:11:06,520 --> 02:11:09,760
garden, at the bottom of which 
was my laboratory, the 

2291
02:11:09,760 --> 02:11:13,080
laboratory that was the pride of
my life, it being, I fondly 

2292
02:11:13,080 --> 02:11:15,800
considered, the best private 
laboratory in London. 

2293
02:11:16,480 --> 02:11:19,280
There I spent all my spare time 
making experiments and trying 

2294
02:11:19,280 --> 02:11:22,240
this chemical combination and 
the other living in hopes of 

2295
02:11:22,240 --> 02:11:25,600
doing great things someday. 
For one assigency was not to be 

2296
02:11:25,600 --> 02:11:28,880
the end of my career. 
Nevertheless, it interested me 

2297
02:11:28,880 --> 02:11:32,080
thoroughly and I was not sorry 
to get back to my commercial 

2298
02:11:32,080 --> 02:11:35,760
conundrums. 
The next day, just before I 

2299
02:11:35,760 --> 02:11:38,400
started to go to my place of 
business, Jack Selby was 

2300
02:11:38,400 --> 02:11:41,480
announced. 
I want you to help me, he said. 

2301
02:11:42,000 --> 02:11:44,360
I have been already trying in a 
sort of general way to get 

2302
02:11:44,360 --> 02:11:47,000
information about my 
brother-in-law, but all in vain.

2303
02:11:47,560 --> 02:11:50,240
There is no such person in any 
of the directories. 

2304
02:11:50,880 --> 02:11:52,720
Can you put me on the road to 
discovery? 

2305
02:11:53,440 --> 02:11:55,840
I said. 
I could and would if you would 

2306
02:11:55,840 --> 02:11:59,200
leave the matter in my hands. 
With pleasure, he replied. 

2307
02:11:59,480 --> 02:12:03,000
You see how we are fixed up. 
Neither edits nor be can get any

2308
02:12:03,000 --> 02:12:05,440
money with regularly until the 
man is found. 

2309
02:12:05,960 --> 02:12:07,840
I cannot imagine why he hides 
himself. 

2310
02:12:08,920 --> 02:12:11,360
I will insert advertisements in 
the personal columns of the 

2311
02:12:11,360 --> 02:12:14,920
newspapers, I said, and request 
anyone who can give information 

2312
02:12:14,920 --> 02:12:16,680
to communicate with me at my 
office. 

2313
02:12:17,320 --> 02:12:20,800
I'll also give instructions to 
all the branches of my farm, as 

2314
02:12:20,800 --> 02:12:24,000
well as to my head assistance in
London, to keep their eyes open 

2315
02:12:24,000 --> 02:12:26,920
for any news. 
You may be quite certain that in

2316
02:12:26,920 --> 02:12:29,080
a week or two we shall know all 
about him. 

2317
02:12:30,360 --> 02:12:33,280
Salvaya cheered at this 
proposal, and having begged of 

2318
02:12:33,280 --> 02:12:36,640
me to call upon his wife and her
sister as soon as possible, took

2319
02:12:36,640 --> 02:12:39,160
his leave. 
On that very day. 

2320
02:12:39,160 --> 02:12:41,880
Advertisements were drawn up and
sent to several newspapers and 

2321
02:12:41,880 --> 02:12:44,840
inquiry agents, but week after 
week passed without the 

2322
02:12:44,840 --> 02:12:47,920
slightest result. 
Salvay got very fidgety at the 

2323
02:12:47,920 --> 02:12:50,360
delay. 
He was never happy except in my 

2324
02:12:50,360 --> 02:12:53,800
presence, and insisted on my 
coming whenever I had time to 

2325
02:12:53,800 --> 02:12:57,120
his house. 
I was glad to do so, for I took 

2326
02:12:57,120 --> 02:13:00,320
an interest both in him and his 
belongings, and as to Madam 

2327
02:13:00,320 --> 02:13:02,600
Sarah, I could not get her out 
of my head. 

2328
02:13:03,040 --> 02:13:07,160
One day Missus Selby said to me,
Have you ever been to see Madam?

2329
02:13:08,080 --> 02:13:10,280
I know she would like to show 
you her sob and general 

2330
02:13:10,280 --> 02:13:13,000
surroundings. 
I did promise to call upon her, 

2331
02:13:13,200 --> 02:13:15,760
I answered, but I have not had 
time to do so yet. 

2332
02:13:16,400 --> 02:13:17,880
Will you come with me tomorrow 
morning? 

2333
02:13:18,000 --> 02:13:19,120
Asked? 
Added Dallas. 

2334
02:13:19,120 --> 02:13:22,040
Suddenly. 
She turned red as she spoke, and

2335
02:13:22,040 --> 02:13:24,920
the worried Ani's expression 
became more marked on her face. 

2336
02:13:25,520 --> 02:13:28,120
I had noticed for some time that
she had been looking both 

2337
02:13:28,120 --> 02:13:31,280
nervous and depressed. 
I had first observed this 

2338
02:13:31,280 --> 02:13:34,960
peculiarity about her on board 
the Norham Castle, but as time 

2339
02:13:34,960 --> 02:13:37,640
went on, instead of listening, 
it grew worse. 

2340
02:13:38,160 --> 02:13:40,480
Her face, for so young a woman, 
was haggard. 

2341
02:13:40,920 --> 02:13:44,320
She started at each sound, and 
Madam Sarah's name was never 

2342
02:13:44,320 --> 02:13:47,920
spoken in her presence without 
her avenging almost undue 

2343
02:13:47,920 --> 02:13:50,240
emotion. 
Will you come with me? 

2344
02:13:50,240 --> 02:13:54,640
She said with great agonies. 
I immediately promised, and the 

2345
02:13:54,640 --> 02:13:58,760
next day, about 11:00 added, 
Dallas and I found ourselves in 

2346
02:13:58,760 --> 02:14:01,040
a handsome driving to Madam 
Sarah Sharp. 

2347
02:14:01,960 --> 02:14:05,240
We reached it in a few minutes 
and found an unpretentious 

2348
02:14:05,240 --> 02:14:08,960
little place wedged in between a
Hoziers on one side and a cheap 

2349
02:14:08,960 --> 02:14:12,240
print Cellars on the other. 
In the windows of the shop were 

2350
02:14:12,240 --> 02:14:15,720
pyramids of perfume bottles with
scintillating facet stoppers 

2351
02:14:15,920 --> 02:14:19,360
tied with colored ribbons. 
We stepped out of the hansom and

2352
02:14:19,360 --> 02:14:22,520
went indoors. 
Inside the shop were a couple of

2353
02:14:22,520 --> 02:14:25,120
tapes which led to a door of 
solid mahogany. 

2354
02:14:26,200 --> 02:14:29,560
This is the entrance to her 
private house, said Eddie, and 

2355
02:14:29,560 --> 02:14:32,360
she pointed to a small brass 
plate on which was engraved the 

2356
02:14:32,360 --> 02:14:37,080
name Madam Sarah Perfumuels and 
it touched an electric bell and 

2357
02:14:37,080 --> 02:14:39,960
the door was immediately opened 
by a smartly dressed page boy. 

2358
02:14:40,520 --> 02:14:43,560
He looked at Miss Dallas as if 
he knew how very well, and said.

2359
02:14:44,080 --> 02:14:46,120
Madam is with him and is 
expecting you, miss. 

2360
02:14:46,760 --> 02:14:49,680
He ushered us both into a quiet 
looking room, soberly but 

2361
02:14:49,680 --> 02:14:52,560
handsomely furnished. 
He left us closing the door. 

2362
02:14:52,920 --> 02:14:55,840
And it's daunt to me. 
Do you know where we are? 

2363
02:14:56,200 --> 02:14:58,440
She asked. 
We are standing at present in a 

2364
02:14:58,440 --> 02:15:00,520
small room just behind Madam 
Sarah's Saab. 

2365
02:15:00,760 --> 02:15:02,640
I answered. 
Why are you so excited, Miss 

2366
02:15:02,640 --> 02:15:04,160
Dallas? 
What is the matter with you? 

2367
02:15:04,880 --> 02:15:07,840
We are on the threshold of a 
magician's Cape, she replied. 

2368
02:15:08,360 --> 02:15:11,240
We shall soon be face to face 
with the most marvellous woman 

2369
02:15:11,240 --> 02:15:15,040
in the whole of London. 
There is no one like her, and 

2370
02:15:15,040 --> 02:15:18,360
you fear her, I said, dropping 
my voice to a whisper. 

2371
02:15:19,200 --> 02:15:22,680
She started, stepped back, and 
its great difficulty recovered 

2372
02:15:22,680 --> 02:15:25,400
her composer. 
At that moment the page bar 

2373
02:15:25,400 --> 02:15:28,520
returned to contact us to a 
series of small waiting rooms, 

2374
02:15:28,840 --> 02:15:31,920
and we soon found ourselves in 
the presence of Madam herself. 

2375
02:15:32,640 --> 02:15:36,000
Ah, she said with a smile. 
This is delightful. 

2376
02:15:36,360 --> 02:15:39,480
You have kept your word at it, 
and I am greatly obliged to you.

2377
02:15:39,880 --> 02:15:43,000
I will now show Mr. Drews some 
of the mysteries of my train. 

2378
02:15:43,360 --> 02:15:46,960
But understand, Sir, she added, 
that I shall not tell you any of

2379
02:15:46,960 --> 02:15:49,240
my real secrets. 
Only as you would like to know 

2380
02:15:49,240 --> 02:15:50,720
something about me. 
You shall. 

2381
02:15:51,640 --> 02:15:53,560
How can you tell I should like 
to know about you? 

2382
02:15:53,960 --> 02:15:56,760
I asked. 
She gave me an honest glance, 

2383
02:15:56,800 --> 02:16:01,000
which somewhat astonished me, 
and then she said, Knowledge is 

2384
02:16:01,000 --> 02:16:03,080
power. 
Don't refuse what I am willing 

2385
02:16:03,080 --> 02:16:04,760
to give. 
Add it. 

2386
02:16:04,960 --> 02:16:07,920
You will not object to waiting 
here while I show Mr. Drews 

2387
02:16:07,920 --> 02:16:10,600
through the rooms. 
First observe this room, Mr. 

2388
02:16:10,600 --> 02:16:12,800
Drews. 
It is lighted only from the 

2389
02:16:12,800 --> 02:16:14,720
roof. 
When the door shuts it 

2390
02:16:14,720 --> 02:16:17,920
automatically locks itself, so 
that an intrusion from without 

2391
02:16:17,960 --> 02:16:21,200
is impossible. 
This is my sanctum sanctorum. 

2392
02:16:21,640 --> 02:16:24,360
A faint order of perfume 
pervades the room. 

2393
02:16:24,880 --> 02:16:27,480
This is a hot day, but the room 
itself is cool. 

2394
02:16:27,960 --> 02:16:31,000
What do you think of it all? 
I made no answer. 

2395
02:16:31,320 --> 02:16:34,320
She walked to the other end and 
motioned to me to accompany her.

2396
02:16:34,600 --> 02:16:37,959
There stood A polished oak 
square table on which lay an 

2397
02:16:37,959 --> 02:16:40,639
array of extraordinary looking 
articles and implements, 

2398
02:16:41,160 --> 02:16:44,879
Stoppard bottles full of strange
medicaments, meters, Palladium, 

2399
02:16:44,879 --> 02:16:49,240
concave brushes, sprays, 
sponges, delicate needle pointed

2400
02:16:49,240 --> 02:16:52,600
instruments of bright steel, 
tiny lancets and forceps. 

2401
02:16:53,200 --> 02:16:56,959
Facing this table was a chair 
like those used by dentists. 

2402
02:16:57,480 --> 02:17:00,440
Above the chair hung electric 
lights in powerful reflectors 

2403
02:17:00,719 --> 02:17:02,799
and lenses like bullseye 
lanterns. 

2404
02:17:03,480 --> 02:17:06,680
Another chair, supported on a 
glass pedestal was kept there, 

2405
02:17:07,120 --> 02:17:09,959
Madam Sarah informed me, for 
administering static 

2406
02:17:09,959 --> 02:17:12,600
electricity. 
There were dry cell batteries 

2407
02:17:12,799 --> 02:17:16,200
for the continuous currents and 
induction coils for faradic 

2408
02:17:16,200 --> 02:17:18,760
currents. 
There were also platinum needles

2409
02:17:18,879 --> 02:17:20,680
for burning out the roots of 
hares. 

2410
02:17:21,639 --> 02:17:25,559
Madam took me from this room 
into another where a steel, more

2411
02:17:25,559 --> 02:17:27,760
formidable area of instruments 
was to be found. 

2412
02:17:28,280 --> 02:17:31,400
Here were a wooden operating 
table and chloroform and eater 

2413
02:17:31,400 --> 02:17:34,000
apparatus. 
When I had looked at everything,

2414
02:17:34,120 --> 02:17:38,040
she turned to me. 
Now you know, she said, I'm a 

2415
02:17:38,040 --> 02:17:41,000
doctor, perhaps a quack. 
These are my secrets. 

2416
02:17:41,280 --> 02:17:43,240
By means of these I leave and 
flourish. 

2417
02:17:44,000 --> 02:17:47,000
She turned her back on me and 
walked into the other room with 

2418
02:17:47,000 --> 02:17:50,719
a light springy step or wilt. 
I did tell us, White as a ghost 

2419
02:17:50,879 --> 02:17:53,959
was waiting for us. 
You have done your duty, my 

2420
02:17:53,959 --> 02:17:57,559
child, said Madam, Mr. Truce has
seen just what I want him to 

2421
02:17:57,559 --> 02:17:59,799
see. 
I am very much obliged to you 

2422
02:17:59,799 --> 02:18:02,040
both. 
We shall meet tonight at Lady 

2423
02:18:02,040 --> 02:18:04,920
Farringdon's at home. 
Until then, farewell. 

2424
02:18:05,879 --> 02:18:08,440
When he got into the street and 
were driving back again to Eaton

2425
02:18:08,440 --> 02:18:12,400
Square, I turned to add it. 
Many things puzzle me about your

2426
02:18:12,400 --> 02:18:15,400
friend, I said, but perhaps none
more than this. 

2427
02:18:15,879 --> 02:18:18,680
By what possible means can a 
woman who owns to being the 

2428
02:18:18,680 --> 02:18:21,520
possessor of a shop obtain the 
entry to some of the best houses

2429
02:18:21,520 --> 02:18:24,120
in London? 
Why does society open her doors 

2430
02:18:24,120 --> 02:18:28,040
to this woman, Miss Dallas? 
I cannot quite tell you, was her

2431
02:18:28,040 --> 02:18:30,440
reply. 
I only know the fact that 

2432
02:18:30,440 --> 02:18:33,000
wherever she goes she is 
welcomed and treated with 

2433
02:18:33,000 --> 02:18:36,799
consideration, and wherever she 
fails to appear there is a 

2434
02:18:36,799 --> 02:18:38,799
universally expressed feeling of
regret. 

2435
02:18:39,840 --> 02:18:42,400
I had also been invited to Lady 
Farringdon's reception that 

2436
02:18:42,400 --> 02:18:45,840
evening, and I went there in a 
state of great curiosity. 

2437
02:18:46,480 --> 02:18:48,760
There was no doubt that Madam 
interested me. 

2438
02:18:49,200 --> 02:18:51,440
I was not sure of her beyond 
doubt. 

2439
02:18:51,559 --> 02:18:54,600
There was a mystery attached to 
her, and also, for some 

2440
02:18:54,600 --> 02:18:58,040
unaccountable reason, she wished
both to propitiate and defy me. 

2441
02:18:58,320 --> 02:19:02,200
Why was this? 
I arrived early and was standing

2442
02:19:02,200 --> 02:19:05,120
in the crush near the head of 
the staircase when Madam was 

2443
02:19:05,120 --> 02:19:07,799
announced. 
She wore the richest white satin

2444
02:19:07,799 --> 02:19:11,040
and quantities of diamonds. 
I saw her Hostess bend towards 

2445
02:19:11,040 --> 02:19:14,520
her and talk eagerly. 
I noticed Madam's reply and a 

2446
02:19:14,520 --> 02:19:17,000
pleased expression that crossed 
Lady Farragut's face. 

2447
02:19:17,719 --> 02:19:21,080
A few minutes later a man with a
foreign looking face and long 

2448
02:19:21,080 --> 02:19:23,320
beard sat down before the grand 
piano. 

2449
02:19:23,760 --> 02:19:26,639
He played a light prelude and 
Madam Sarah began to sing. 

2450
02:19:27,160 --> 02:19:30,120
Her voice was sweet and low with
an extraordinary path hose in 

2451
02:19:30,120 --> 02:19:32,040
it. 
It was the shot of voice that 

2452
02:19:32,040 --> 02:19:34,879
penetrates to the heart. 
There was an instant pause in 

2453
02:19:34,879 --> 02:19:37,760
the gay chatter. 
She sang amidst perfect silence 

2454
02:19:38,040 --> 02:19:40,799
and when the song had come to an
end, there followed a few roar 

2455
02:19:40,799 --> 02:19:43,320
of apluge. 
I was just timing to say 

2456
02:19:43,320 --> 02:19:46,480
something to my nearest neighbor
when I observed Eddie Tellers 

2457
02:19:46,799 --> 02:19:49,320
who was standing close by. 
Her eyes met mine. 

2458
02:19:49,600 --> 02:19:52,720
She laid her hand on my sleeve. 
The room is hot. 

2459
02:19:53,000 --> 02:19:55,120
She said, half panting as she 
spoke. 

2460
02:19:55,480 --> 02:19:57,800
Take Me Out on the balcony. 
I did so. 

2461
02:19:58,160 --> 02:20:00,200
The at most fear of the 
reception rooms was almost 

2462
02:20:00,200 --> 02:20:03,160
intolerable, but it was 
comparatively cool in the open 

2463
02:20:03,160 --> 02:20:05,560
air. 
I must not lose sight of her, 

2464
02:20:05,560 --> 02:20:07,800
she said suddenly. 
Of whom? 

2465
02:20:08,120 --> 02:20:11,240
I asked, somewhat astonished at 
her words of Sarah. 

2466
02:20:11,800 --> 02:20:14,360
She is there, I said. 
You can see her from where you 

2467
02:20:14,360 --> 02:20:16,480
stand. 
We happened to be alone. 

2468
02:20:16,640 --> 02:20:19,720
I came a little closer. 
Why are you afraid of her? 

2469
02:20:20,040 --> 02:20:22,440
I asked. 
Are you sure that we shall not 

2470
02:20:22,440 --> 02:20:25,920
be heard, Was her answer. 
She terrifies me, were her next 

2471
02:20:25,920 --> 02:20:28,120
words. 
I'll not betray your confidence,

2472
02:20:28,120 --> 02:20:29,800
Miss Dallas. 
Will you not trust me? 

2473
02:20:30,120 --> 02:20:31,920
You ought to give me a reason 
for your fears. 

2474
02:20:32,760 --> 02:20:34,280
I cannot. 
I dare not. 

2475
02:20:34,640 --> 02:20:36,160
I have said far too much 
already. 

2476
02:20:36,480 --> 02:20:39,240
Don't keep me, Mr. Druce. 
She must not find us together. 

2477
02:20:39,960 --> 02:20:42,680
As she spoke, she pushed her 
away through the crowd, and 

2478
02:20:42,680 --> 02:20:45,400
before I could stop her was 
standing by Madam Sarah's side. 

2479
02:20:47,360 --> 02:20:52,240
And of Madam Sarah by ultimate. 
And Robert Usterch, Part 1. 

2480
02:20:57,960 --> 02:21:01,760
Section 12 of the Arrivals of 
Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1. 

2481
02:21:02,120 --> 02:21:05,360
This is a Librivox recording. 
All Librivox recordings are in 

2482
02:21:05,360 --> 02:21:07,960
the public domain. 
For more information, not to 

2483
02:21:07,960 --> 02:21:10,520
volunteer, please visit 
librivox.org. 

2484
02:21:11,200 --> 02:21:16,160
Recording by 0123 The Arrivals 
of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1. 

2485
02:21:17,440 --> 02:21:22,920
Madam Sarah by Lt. 
Mead and Robert Ustedge, Part 2.

2486
02:21:24,760 --> 02:21:28,560
The reception in Portland Place 
was, I remember, on the 26th of 

2487
02:21:28,560 --> 02:21:32,000
July, 2 days later. 
The Selbys were to give their 

2488
02:21:32,000 --> 02:21:34,520
final at home before leaving for
the country. 

2489
02:21:35,200 --> 02:21:38,440
I was of course invited to be 
present, and Madam was also 

2490
02:21:38,440 --> 02:21:40,560
there. 
She had never been dressed more 

2491
02:21:40,560 --> 02:21:43,720
splendidly, nor had she ever 
before looked younger or more 

2492
02:21:43,720 --> 02:21:46,560
beautiful. 
Wherever she went, all eyes 

2493
02:21:46,560 --> 02:21:49,520
followed her. 
As a rule, her dress was simple,

2494
02:21:49,680 --> 02:21:53,280
almost like what a girl would 
wear, but to night Sichu's rich 

2495
02:21:53,280 --> 02:21:56,320
oriental stubs made of many 
colours and absolutely 

2496
02:21:56,320 --> 02:21:59,520
glittering with gems. 
Her golden hair was studded with

2497
02:21:59,520 --> 02:22:01,440
diamonds. 
Round her neck. 

2498
02:22:01,560 --> 02:22:03,520
She wore turquoise and diamonds 
mixed. 

2499
02:22:04,280 --> 02:22:07,440
There were many younger women in
the room, but none, the youngest

2500
02:22:07,440 --> 02:22:09,840
nor the fairest, had a chance 
beside Madam. 

2501
02:22:10,520 --> 02:22:13,760
It was not mere beauty of 
appearance, it was charm, charm 

2502
02:22:14,000 --> 02:22:18,280
which carries all before it. 
I saw Miss Stylus looking slim 

2503
02:22:18,280 --> 02:22:21,080
and tall and pale. 
Standing at a little distance. 

2504
02:22:21,480 --> 02:22:24,760
I made my way to her side. 
Before I had time to speak. 

2505
02:22:24,880 --> 02:22:27,560
She bent towards me. 
Is he not divine? 

2506
02:22:27,760 --> 02:22:30,000
She whispered. 
She bewilders and delights 

2507
02:22:30,000 --> 02:22:32,440
everyone. 
She is taking London by storm. 

2508
02:22:33,280 --> 02:22:35,680
Then you are not afraid of her 
tonight, I said. 

2509
02:22:36,360 --> 02:22:39,600
I fear how more than ever she 
has cast a spell over me. 

2510
02:22:39,800 --> 02:22:41,800
But listen, she is going to sing
again. 

2511
02:22:43,000 --> 02:22:45,040
I had not. 
Forgotten the song that Madam 

2512
02:22:45,040 --> 02:22:48,120
had given us at the faringdance 
and stood still to listen. 

2513
02:22:48,680 --> 02:22:50,360
There was a complete hush in the
room. 

2514
02:22:50,880 --> 02:22:54,200
Her voice floated over the heads
of the assembled guests in a 

2515
02:22:54,200 --> 02:22:58,280
dreamy Spanish song, and it told
me that it was a slumber song 

2516
02:22:58,640 --> 02:23:01,520
and that Madam boasted of her 
power of putting almost anyone 

2517
02:23:01,520 --> 02:23:04,280
to sleep who listened to her 
rendering of it. 

2518
02:23:05,080 --> 02:23:08,480
She has many patients who suffer
from insomnia, whispered the 

2519
02:23:08,480 --> 02:23:11,760
girl, and she generally cures 
them with dead song and dead 

2520
02:23:11,760 --> 02:23:13,720
alone. 
Ah, we must not talk. 

2521
02:23:13,800 --> 02:23:17,760
She will hear us. 
Before I could reply, Selby came

2522
02:23:17,760 --> 02:23:19,920
hurrying up. 
He had not noticed at it. 

2523
02:23:20,080 --> 02:23:23,520
He caught me by the arm. 
Come just for a minute into this

2524
02:23:23,520 --> 02:23:26,240
window, Dixon, he said. 
I must speak to you. 

2525
02:23:26,600 --> 02:23:29,400
I suppose you have no news which
regard my brother-in-law? 

2526
02:23:30,000 --> 02:23:33,240
Not a word I answered. 
To tell you the truth, I am 

2527
02:23:33,240 --> 02:23:35,160
getting terribly put out over 
the matter. 

2528
02:23:35,760 --> 02:23:39,040
We cannot settle any of our 
money affairs just because this 

2529
02:23:39,040 --> 02:23:42,120
man chooses to lose himself my 
wife's lawyers. 

2530
02:23:42,120 --> 02:23:44,880
Wired to Brazil yesterday. 
But even his bankers did not 

2531
02:23:44,880 --> 02:23:48,160
know anything about him. 
The whole thing is a question of

2532
02:23:48,160 --> 02:23:51,200
time, was my answer. 
When are you off to Hampshire? 

2533
02:23:51,600 --> 02:23:54,840
On Saturday. 
As Selva said the last words, he

2534
02:23:54,840 --> 02:23:57,040
looked around him. 
Then he dropped his voice. 

2535
02:23:57,920 --> 02:24:01,520
I want to say something else. 
The more I see he nodded towards

2536
02:24:01,520 --> 02:24:03,680
Madam Sarah, the less I like 
her. 

2537
02:24:04,040 --> 02:24:06,000
And it is getting into a very 
strange state. 

2538
02:24:06,360 --> 02:24:09,320
Have you not noticed it? 
And the worst of it is, my wife 

2539
02:24:09,320 --> 02:24:12,320
is also infected. 
I suppose it is the dodge of the

2540
02:24:12,320 --> 02:24:15,000
omens for patching people up and
making them beautiful. 

2541
02:24:15,720 --> 02:24:18,440
Doubtless the temptation is 
overpowering in the case of a 

2542
02:24:18,440 --> 02:24:20,640
plain omen. 
But Beatrice is beautiful 

2543
02:24:20,640 --> 02:24:23,080
herself and young. 
What can she have to do with 

2544
02:24:23,080 --> 02:24:27,240
cosmetics and complexion peals? 
You don't mean to tell me that 

2545
02:24:27,240 --> 02:24:29,720
your wife has consulted Madam 
Sarah as a doctor? 

2546
02:24:30,600 --> 02:24:34,360
Not exactly, but she has gone to
her about her teeth she complied

2547
02:24:34,360 --> 02:24:36,760
up to take lately. 
And Madam's dentistry is 

2548
02:24:36,760 --> 02:24:39,840
renowned, and it is constantly 
going to her for one thing or 

2549
02:24:39,840 --> 02:24:42,440
another. 
But then Edit is infatuated. 

2550
02:24:44,000 --> 02:24:46,880
As Jack said the last words, he 
went over to speak to someone 

2551
02:24:46,880 --> 02:24:49,920
else, and before I could leave 
the seclusion of the window, I 

2552
02:24:49,920 --> 02:24:53,160
perceived Edit Dallas and Madam 
Sarah in honest conversation 

2553
02:24:53,160 --> 02:24:55,440
together. 
I could not help overhearing the

2554
02:24:55,440 --> 02:24:58,080
falling words. 
Don't come to me tomorrow. 

2555
02:24:58,360 --> 02:25:00,080
Get into the country as soon as 
you can. 

2556
02:25:00,440 --> 02:25:02,280
It is far and away the best 
thing to do. 

2557
02:25:03,120 --> 02:25:06,840
As Madam spoke, sit down softly 
and caught my eyes, she bowed, 

2558
02:25:07,040 --> 02:25:10,200
and the peculiar look, the sort 
of challenge she had given me 

2559
02:25:10,200 --> 02:25:14,320
before, flashed over her face. 
It made me uncomfortable, and 

2560
02:25:14,320 --> 02:25:17,360
during the night that followed I
could not get it out of my head.

2561
02:25:17,880 --> 02:25:21,360
I remembered what Selby had said
with regard to his wife and her 

2562
02:25:21,360 --> 02:25:24,440
money affairs. 
Beyond doubt, he had married 

2563
02:25:24,440 --> 02:25:27,480
into mystery, a mystery that 
Madam knew all about. 

2564
02:25:28,080 --> 02:25:31,040
There was very big money 
interest, and strange things 

2565
02:25:31,040 --> 02:25:33,040
happen when millions are 
concerned. 

2566
02:25:33,960 --> 02:25:36,520
The next morning I had just 
reason and was sitting at 

2567
02:25:36,520 --> 02:25:38,720
breakfast when a note was handed
to me. 

2568
02:25:39,160 --> 02:25:42,120
It came by special messenger and
was marked urgent. 

2569
02:25:42,520 --> 02:25:45,120
I tore it open. 
These were its contents. 

2570
02:25:45,760 --> 02:25:48,440
My dear truce, a terrible blow 
has fallen on us. 

2571
02:25:48,680 --> 02:25:51,040
My sister-in-law added, was 
taken suddenly. 

2572
02:25:51,040 --> 02:25:54,360
I'll this morning at breakfast 
the nearest doctor was sent for,

2573
02:25:54,600 --> 02:25:57,240
but he could do nothing, as she 
died half an hour ago. 

2574
02:25:57,640 --> 02:26:00,760
Do come and see me, and if you 
know any very clever specialist,

2575
02:26:00,960 --> 02:26:03,600
bring him with you. 
My wife is utterly stunned by 

2576
02:26:03,600 --> 02:26:08,320
the shark yours Jack sell by. 
I read the note twice before I 

2577
02:26:08,320 --> 02:26:11,440
could realize what it meant. 
Then I rushed out and hailing 

2578
02:26:11,440 --> 02:26:13,400
the first hands of my men, said 
the man. 

2579
02:26:13,960 --> 02:26:18,720
Drive to #192 Victoria St. as 
quickly as you can here lived, 

2580
02:26:18,760 --> 02:26:21,840
asserted Mr. Eric Vandelier, an 
old friend of mine and the 

2581
02:26:21,840 --> 02:26:24,320
police surgeon for the 
Westminster district, which 

2582
02:26:24,320 --> 02:26:27,360
included Eaton Square. 
No shrouda or sharper fellow 

2583
02:26:27,360 --> 02:26:30,600
existed than Vandelier, and the 
present case was essentially in 

2584
02:26:30,600 --> 02:26:33,120
his province, both legally and 
professionally. 

2585
02:26:33,640 --> 02:26:36,560
He was not at his flat when I 
arrived, having already gone 

2586
02:26:36,560 --> 02:26:39,840
down to the court here. 
I accordingly hurried and was 

2587
02:26:39,840 --> 02:26:42,040
informed that he was in the 
Mortuary. 

2588
02:26:43,160 --> 02:26:46,080
For a man who, as it seemed to 
me, lived in a perpetual 

2589
02:26:46,080 --> 02:26:49,600
atmosphere of crime and violence
of that and coroner's courts, 

2590
02:26:49,800 --> 02:26:52,360
his habitual cheerfulness and 
brightness of manner were 

2591
02:26:52,360 --> 02:26:55,000
remarkable. 
Perhaps it was only the reaction

2592
02:26:55,000 --> 02:26:57,680
from his work, for he had the 
reputation of being one of the 

2593
02:26:57,680 --> 02:27:01,240
most astute experts of the day 
in medical jurisprudence and the

2594
02:27:01,240 --> 02:27:03,640
most skilled analyst in 
toxicological cases on the 

2595
02:27:03,640 --> 02:27:07,000
Metropolitan Police turf. 
Before I could send him word 

2596
02:27:07,160 --> 02:27:10,560
that I wanted to see him, I had 
the door back, and Wendelier 

2597
02:27:10,560 --> 02:27:13,440
came hurrying down the passage, 
putting on his coat as he rushed

2598
02:27:13,440 --> 02:27:15,320
along. 
Hello. 

2599
02:27:15,560 --> 02:27:17,720
He cried. 
I haven't seen you for ages. 

2600
02:27:17,720 --> 02:27:20,880
Do you want me? 
Yes, very urgently, I answered. 

2601
02:27:20,920 --> 02:27:24,000
Are you busy? 
Had over years, My dear Chair, I

2602
02:27:24,000 --> 02:27:26,480
cannot give you a moment now, 
but perhaps later on. 

2603
02:27:27,480 --> 02:27:28,960
What is it? 
You look excited. 

2604
02:27:29,680 --> 02:27:31,680
I have got to go to Eden Square 
like the wind. 

2605
02:27:31,800 --> 02:27:34,000
But come along if you like and 
tell me on the way. 

2606
02:27:34,480 --> 02:27:35,560
Capital. 
I cried. 

2607
02:27:36,040 --> 02:27:38,400
The thing has been reported. 
Then you are going to Mr. 

2608
02:27:38,400 --> 02:27:41,000
selby's #34A. 
Then I'm going with you. 

2609
02:27:41,000 --> 02:27:45,240
He looked at me in amazement. 
But the case has only just been 

2610
02:27:45,240 --> 02:27:47,440
reported. 
What can you possibly know about

2611
02:27:47,440 --> 02:27:48,960
it? 
Everything. 

2612
02:27:49,200 --> 02:27:51,880
Let us take this, handsome, and 
I'll tell you as we go along. 

2613
02:27:52,680 --> 02:27:55,480
As we drove to Eaton Square, I 
quickly explained the situation,

2614
02:27:55,720 --> 02:27:58,520
glancing now and then at 
Wendelier's bright, clean shaven

2615
02:27:58,520 --> 02:28:00,560
face. 
He was no longer airing 

2616
02:28:00,560 --> 02:28:03,960
Wendelier, the man in the latest
club story and a merry twinkle 

2617
02:28:03,960 --> 02:28:06,720
in his blue eyes. 
He was Vandalier the medical 

2618
02:28:06,720 --> 02:28:09,920
jurist with her face like a 
mask, his lower jaw slightly 

2619
02:28:09,920 --> 02:28:13,960
protruding and features were 
fixed touching promises to be 

2620
02:28:13,960 --> 02:28:16,640
serious. 
He replied as I finished, But I 

2621
02:28:16,640 --> 02:28:18,480
can do nothing until after the 
autopsy. 

2622
02:28:19,040 --> 02:28:21,360
Here we are and there is my man 
waiting for me. 

2623
02:28:21,680 --> 02:28:25,160
He has been smart. 
On the steps stood an official 

2624
02:28:25,160 --> 02:28:27,120
looking man in uniform was 
saluted. 

2625
02:28:27,720 --> 02:28:29,800
Coroner's officer, explained 
Vandalier. 

2626
02:28:30,480 --> 02:28:32,800
We entered the silent darkened 
house. 

2627
02:28:33,000 --> 02:28:36,160
Salvi was standing in the hall. 
He came to meet us. 

2628
02:28:36,480 --> 02:28:39,840
I introduced him to Vandelier, 
and he at once LED us into the 

2629
02:28:39,840 --> 02:28:43,400
dining room, where we found 
Doctor Osborne, whom Selby had 

2630
02:28:43,400 --> 02:28:46,440
called it when the alarm of 
edits illness had been first 

2631
02:28:46,440 --> 02:28:48,720
given. 
Doctor Osborne was a pale, 

2632
02:28:48,720 --> 02:28:52,280
undersized, very young man. 
His face expressed considerable 

2633
02:28:52,280 --> 02:28:54,880
alarm. 
Vandelia, however, managed to 

2634
02:28:54,880 --> 02:28:58,520
put him completely at his ease. 
I'll have a chat with you in a 

2635
02:28:58,520 --> 02:29:00,680
few minutes, Doctor Osborne, he 
said. 

2636
02:29:00,960 --> 02:29:03,080
But first I must get Mr. Selby's
report. 

2637
02:29:03,480 --> 02:29:05,160
Will you please? 
Tell me, Sir, exactly what 

2638
02:29:05,160 --> 02:29:07,760
occurred. 
Certainly, he answered. 

2639
02:29:08,280 --> 02:29:11,200
We had a reception here last 
night and my sister-in-law did 

2640
02:29:11,200 --> 02:29:13,000
not go to bed until early 
morning. 

2641
02:29:13,440 --> 02:29:16,480
She was in bad spirits, but 
otherwise in her usual health. 

2642
02:29:17,120 --> 02:29:20,720
My wife went into her room after
she was in bed and told me later

2643
02:29:20,720 --> 02:29:24,320
on that she had found edits in 
hysterics and could not get her 

2644
02:29:24,320 --> 02:29:27,680
to explain anything. 
We both talked about taking her 

2645
02:29:27,680 --> 02:29:31,120
to the country without delay. 
Indeed, our intention was to get

2646
02:29:31,120 --> 02:29:34,240
off this afternoon. 
Well, said Wandalier. 

2647
02:29:34,880 --> 02:29:38,720
We had breakfast about 9:30, and
Miss Dallas came down looking 

2648
02:29:38,720 --> 02:29:41,920
quite in her usual health and in
apparently good spirits. 

2649
02:29:42,480 --> 02:29:45,840
She ate it appetite, and as it 
happened, she and my wife were 

2650
02:29:45,840 --> 02:29:49,920
both helped from the same dish. 
The meal had nearly come to end 

2651
02:29:50,040 --> 02:29:52,840
when she jumped up from the 
table, uttered a sharp cry, 

2652
02:29:53,040 --> 02:29:56,600
turned very pale, pressed her 
hand to her side, and ran out of

2653
02:29:56,600 --> 02:29:59,080
the room. 
My wife immediately followed 

2654
02:29:59,080 --> 02:30:01,040
her. 
She came back again in a minute 

2655
02:30:01,040 --> 02:30:05,120
or two and said that Edith was 
in violent pain, and begged of 

2656
02:30:05,120 --> 02:30:08,920
me to stand for a doctor. 
Doctor Osborne leaves just round

2657
02:30:08,920 --> 02:30:11,360
the corner. 
He came at once, but she died 

2658
02:30:11,360 --> 02:30:13,160
almost immediately after his 
arrival. 

2659
02:30:13,880 --> 02:30:16,880
You were in the room. 
Asked the vandalier, turning to 

2660
02:30:16,880 --> 02:30:18,800
Osborne. 
Yes, he replied. 

2661
02:30:19,160 --> 02:30:21,880
She was conscious to the last 
moment and died suddenly. 

2662
02:30:22,600 --> 02:30:26,440
Did she tell you anything? 
No, except to assure me that she

2663
02:30:26,440 --> 02:30:29,120
had not eaten any food that day 
until she had come down to 

2664
02:30:29,120 --> 02:30:31,880
breakfast. 
After the death occurred, I sent

2665
02:30:31,880 --> 02:30:34,560
immediately to report the case, 
locked the door of the room 

2666
02:30:34,840 --> 02:30:37,880
where the poor girl's body is, 
and saw also that nobody touched

2667
02:30:37,880 --> 02:30:41,920
anything on this table. 
Vandelia rang the bell, and the 

2668
02:30:41,920 --> 02:30:44,560
servant appeared. 
He gave quick orders. 

2669
02:30:44,680 --> 02:30:47,320
The entire remains of the meal 
were collected and taken charge 

2670
02:30:47,320 --> 02:30:50,360
of, and then he and the 
coroner's officer went upstairs.

2671
02:30:51,280 --> 02:30:53,720
When we were alone, Selby sank 
into a chair. 

2672
02:30:54,080 --> 02:30:55,840
His face was quite drawn and 
haggard. 

2673
02:30:56,840 --> 02:30:59,480
It is the horrible suddenness of
the thing which is so appalling.

2674
02:30:59,680 --> 02:31:02,360
He cried. 
As to Beatrice, I don't believe 

2675
02:31:02,400 --> 02:31:05,960
she will ever be the same again.
She was deeply attached to Edit 

2676
02:31:06,400 --> 02:31:09,720
Edit was nearly 10 years her 
senior and always acted a part 

2677
02:31:09,720 --> 02:31:11,960
of mother to. 
Her this is a sad. 

2678
02:31:11,960 --> 02:31:14,640
Beginning to our life, I can 
scarcely think. 

2679
02:31:14,640 --> 02:31:19,120
Collectedly I remained with him 
a little longer, and then, as 

2680
02:31:19,120 --> 02:31:22,120
Vandelia did not return, went 
back to my own house. 

2681
02:31:22,720 --> 02:31:25,880
Dear, I could settle to nothing,
and when Wendelier rang me up on

2682
02:31:25,880 --> 02:31:29,240
the telephone about 6:00, I 
hurried off to his rooms. 

2683
02:31:29,840 --> 02:31:33,160
As soon as I arrived I saw that 
Salvi was with him, and the 

2684
02:31:33,160 --> 02:31:35,440
expression on both their faces 
told me the truth. 

2685
02:31:36,640 --> 02:31:38,920
This is a bad business, said 
Wendelier. 

2686
02:31:39,320 --> 02:31:41,400
Miss Dallas has died from 
swallowing poison. 

2687
02:31:42,040 --> 02:31:45,040
An exhaustive analysis and 
examination had been made, and a

2688
02:31:45,040 --> 02:31:48,480
powerful poison unknown to 
European toxicologists has been 

2689
02:31:48,480 --> 02:31:51,280
found. 
This is strange enough, but how 

2690
02:31:51,280 --> 02:31:53,040
it has been administered is a 
puzzle. 

2691
02:31:53,720 --> 02:31:57,280
I confess at the present moment 
we are all nonplussed. 

2692
02:31:58,000 --> 02:32:01,120
It certainly was not in the 
remains of the breakfast, and we

2693
02:32:01,120 --> 02:32:03,640
have hard dying evidence that 
she took nothing else. 

2694
02:32:04,080 --> 02:32:07,480
Now a poison with such appalling
potency would take effect 

2695
02:32:07,480 --> 02:32:10,520
quickly. 
It is evident that she was quite

2696
02:32:10,520 --> 02:32:13,600
well when she came to breakfast,
and that the poison began to 

2697
02:32:13,600 --> 02:32:15,200
walk towards the close of the 
meal. 

2698
02:32:15,800 --> 02:32:19,040
But how did she get it? 
This question, however, I shall 

2699
02:32:19,040 --> 02:32:21,760
deal with later on. 
The more immediate point is 

2700
02:32:21,760 --> 02:32:24,360
this. 
The situation is a serious one. 

2701
02:32:24,600 --> 02:32:27,720
In view of the monetary issues 
and the value of the lady's life

2702
02:32:28,840 --> 02:32:31,800
from the aspects of the case, 
her undoubted sanity, and her 

2703
02:32:31,800 --> 02:32:34,880
affection for her sister, we may
almost exclude the idea of 

2704
02:32:34,880 --> 02:32:37,360
suicide. 
We must therefore call it 

2705
02:32:37,360 --> 02:32:40,160
Mother. 
This harmless, innocent lady is 

2706
02:32:40,160 --> 02:32:43,240
struck down by the Hamburgen 
assassin, and with such devilish

2707
02:32:43,240 --> 02:32:45,760
cunning that no trace or clue is
left behind. 

2708
02:32:46,520 --> 02:32:49,400
For such an act there must have 
been some very powerful motive, 

2709
02:32:50,080 --> 02:32:53,160
and the person who designed and 
executed it must be a criminal, 

2710
02:32:53,160 --> 02:32:55,240
the highest order of scientific 
ability. 

2711
02:32:56,200 --> 02:32:59,120
Mr. Selby has been telling me 
the exact financial position of 

2712
02:32:59,120 --> 02:33:02,040
the poor lady and also of his 
own young wife. 

2713
02:33:02,800 --> 02:33:05,520
The absolute disappearance of 
the stepbrother, in view of his 

2714
02:33:05,520 --> 02:33:08,360
previous character, is in the 
highest degree strange. 

2715
02:33:08,640 --> 02:33:11,760
Knowing as you do that between 
him and the 2 million Starling 

2716
02:33:12,000 --> 02:33:14,240
there are still 2 lives. 
One is taken. 

2717
02:33:15,640 --> 02:33:19,080
A deadly sensation of cold 
seized me as Wendelier uttered 

2718
02:33:19,080 --> 02:33:21,360
these last words. 
I glanced at Selby. 

2719
02:33:21,840 --> 02:33:24,360
His face was colourless, and the
pupils of his eyes were 

2720
02:33:24,360 --> 02:33:27,680
contracted, as though he saw 
something which terrified him. 

2721
02:33:29,040 --> 02:33:32,160
What happened once may happen 
again, continued Vandelier. 

2722
02:33:32,520 --> 02:33:35,200
We are in the presence of a 
great mystery and a counsellor, 

2723
02:33:35,200 --> 02:33:38,360
Mr. Selby, to guard your wife 
with the utmost care. 

2724
02:33:39,880 --> 02:33:43,000
These words, falling from a man 
of Vandelier's position and 

2725
02:33:43,000 --> 02:33:46,440
authority on such matters, were 
sufficiently shocking for me to 

2726
02:33:46,440 --> 02:33:49,120
hear. 
But for Sell by to be given such

2727
02:33:49,120 --> 02:33:51,680
a solemn warning about his young
and beautiful and newly married 

2728
02:33:51,680 --> 02:33:54,960
wife, who was all the world to 
him, was terrible indeed. 

2729
02:33:55,520 --> 02:33:59,720
He leant his head on his hands. 
Mercy on us, he muttered. 

2730
02:34:00,160 --> 02:34:03,240
Is this a civil as country, 
where Dad can walk abroad like 

2731
02:34:03,240 --> 02:34:05,400
this, invisible, not to be 
avoided? 

2732
02:34:06,000 --> 02:34:08,160
Tell me, Mr. Vandalier, what I 
must do. 

2733
02:34:08,920 --> 02:34:12,720
You must be guided by me, said 
Vandalier, and believe me, there

2734
02:34:12,720 --> 02:34:15,840
is no witchcraft in the world. 
I shall place a detective in 

2735
02:34:15,840 --> 02:34:19,000
your household immediately. 
Don't be alarmed, he will come 

2736
02:34:19,000 --> 02:34:21,840
to you in plain clothes and will
simply act as a servant. 

2737
02:34:22,520 --> 02:34:25,400
Nevertheless, nothing can be 
done to your wife without his 

2738
02:34:25,400 --> 02:34:28,160
knowledge. 
As to Eudros, he continued, 

2739
02:34:28,240 --> 02:34:30,800
turning to me. 
The police are doing all they 

2740
02:34:30,800 --> 02:34:34,440
can to find this man, Silver, 
and I ask you to help them with 

2741
02:34:34,480 --> 02:34:36,800
your big urgency and to begin at
once. 

2742
02:34:37,280 --> 02:34:40,120
Leave your friend to me, where 
instantly if you hear the 

2743
02:34:40,120 --> 02:34:44,800
emails, you may rely on me. 
I said, and a moment later I had

2744
02:34:44,800 --> 02:34:47,480
left the room. 
As I walked rapidly down the 

2745
02:34:47,480 --> 02:34:50,600
street the thought of Madam 
Sarah, her shop and its 

2746
02:34:50,600 --> 02:34:53,560
mysterious background, its 
surgical instruments, its 

2747
02:34:53,560 --> 02:34:56,720
operating table, its inducts and
coils, came back to me. 

2748
02:34:57,120 --> 02:34:59,720
And yet what could Madam Sarah 
have to do with the present 

2749
02:34:59,720 --> 02:35:03,640
strange, inexplicable mystery? 
The thought had scarcely crossed

2750
02:35:03,640 --> 02:35:07,280
my mind before I heard a clatter
alongside the carb, and turning 

2751
02:35:07,280 --> 02:35:10,440
round I saw a smart, open 
carriage drawn by a pair of 

2752
02:35:10,440 --> 02:35:11,880
horses. 
Standing there. 

2753
02:35:12,360 --> 02:35:15,520
I also heard my own name. 
I turned bending out of the 

2754
02:35:15,520 --> 02:35:19,840
carriage was Madam Sarah. 
I saw you going by Mr. Drewes. 

2755
02:35:20,240 --> 02:35:23,000
I have only just heard the news 
about poor, added Dallas. 

2756
02:35:23,640 --> 02:35:27,000
I am terribly shocked and upset.
I have been to the house, but 

2757
02:35:27,000 --> 02:35:29,680
they would not admit me. 
Have you heard what was the 

2758
02:35:29,680 --> 02:35:32,680
cause of her debt? 
Madam's blue eyes filled with 

2759
02:35:32,680 --> 02:35:36,560
tears as she spoke. 
I am not at liberty to disclose 

2760
02:35:36,560 --> 02:35:38,440
what I have heard, Madam. 
I answered. 

2761
02:35:38,720 --> 02:35:40,720
Since I am officially connected 
with the airfare. 

2762
02:35:41,360 --> 02:35:42,360
Her eyes. 
Narrowed. 

2763
02:35:42,520 --> 02:35:45,120
The brimming tears dried as 
though by magic. 

2764
02:35:45,440 --> 02:35:49,080
Her glance became scornful. 
Thank you, she answered. 

2765
02:35:49,320 --> 02:35:51,840
Your reply tells me that she did
not die naturally. 

2766
02:35:52,160 --> 02:35:54,640
How very appalling. 
But I must not keep you. 

2767
02:35:55,000 --> 02:35:57,200
Can I drive you anywhere? 
No, thank you. 

2768
02:35:57,680 --> 02:35:59,680
Goodbye. 
Then she made a sign to the 

2769
02:35:59,680 --> 02:36:02,640
coachman, and as the careys 
rolled away, turned to look back

2770
02:36:02,640 --> 02:36:04,560
at me. 
Her face were the defined 

2771
02:36:04,560 --> 02:36:06,480
expression I had seen there more
than once. 

2772
02:36:06,880 --> 02:36:08,560
Could she be connected to the 
airfare? 

2773
02:36:09,000 --> 02:36:11,720
The taught came upon me with a 
violence that seemed almost 

2774
02:36:11,720 --> 02:36:16,520
conviction, yet I had no reason 
for it, none to find. 

2775
02:36:16,520 --> 02:36:19,360
Henry Joachim Silva was now my 
principal taught. 

2776
02:36:19,840 --> 02:36:21,600
Advertisements were widely 
circulated. 

2777
02:36:22,000 --> 02:36:24,720
My staff had instructions to 
make every possible inquiry, 

2778
02:36:25,000 --> 02:36:27,160
with large money rewards as 
incitements. 

2779
02:36:27,520 --> 02:36:31,040
The collateral branches of other
agencies throughout Brazil were 

2780
02:36:31,040 --> 02:36:34,520
communicated with by cable, and 
all the Scotland ear channels 

2781
02:36:34,520 --> 02:36:36,600
were used. 
Still there was no result. 

2782
02:36:37,080 --> 02:36:40,240
The newspapers took up the case.
There were paragraphs in most of

2783
02:36:40,240 --> 02:36:42,880
them with regard to the missing 
stepbrother and the mysterious 

2784
02:36:42,880 --> 02:36:45,800
death of Edith Dallas. 
Then someone got hold of the 

2785
02:36:45,800 --> 02:36:48,920
story of the will, and this was 
retailed with many editions for 

2786
02:36:48,920 --> 02:36:52,240
the benefit of the public. 
At the inquest the jury returned

2787
02:36:52,240 --> 02:36:55,960
the following verdict. 
We find that Miss Edith Dallas 

2788
02:36:56,040 --> 02:36:58,000
died from taking poison of 
unknown name. 

2789
02:36:58,400 --> 02:37:01,760
But by whom or how administered,
there is no evidence to say. 

2790
02:37:02,480 --> 02:37:05,680
This unsatisfactory state of 
things was destined to change 

2791
02:37:05,680 --> 02:37:09,240
quite suddenly. 
On the 6th of August, as I was 

2792
02:37:09,240 --> 02:37:12,560
seated in my office, a note was 
brought me by a private 

2793
02:37:12,560 --> 02:37:15,120
messenger. 
It ran as follows. 

2794
02:37:16,000 --> 02:37:20,400
Norfolk Hotel, Strand. 
Dear Sir, I have just arrived in

2795
02:37:20,400 --> 02:37:23,840
London from Brazil, and have 
seen your advertisements. 

2796
02:37:24,560 --> 02:37:28,160
I was about to insert 1 myself 
in order to find the whereabouts

2797
02:37:28,160 --> 02:37:31,760
of my sisters. 
I'm a great invalid and unable 

2798
02:37:31,760 --> 02:37:34,800
to leave my room. 
Can you come to see me at the 

2799
02:37:34,800 --> 02:37:38,680
earliest possible moment? 
Yours, Henry Joachim Silva. 

2800
02:37:40,360 --> 02:37:44,200
In uncontrollable excitement I 
hastily dispatched 2 telegrams, 

2801
02:37:44,800 --> 02:37:49,280
1 to sail by and the other to 
Vandelier, begging of them to be

2802
02:37:49,280 --> 02:37:52,120
with me without fail as soon as 
possible. 

2803
02:37:53,040 --> 02:37:55,800
So the man had never been in 
England at all. 

2804
02:37:56,440 --> 02:37:58,680
The situation was more 
bewildering than ever. 

2805
02:37:59,560 --> 02:38:03,680
One thing at least was probably 
I did tell us his death was not 

2806
02:38:03,680 --> 02:38:08,000
due to her stepbrother. 
Soon after 6:30 Selby arrived 

2807
02:38:08,520 --> 02:38:10,760
and Vandelia walked in 10 
minutes later. 

2808
02:38:11,440 --> 02:38:14,120
I told him what had occurred and
showed them the letter. 

2809
02:38:14,800 --> 02:38:18,080
In half an hour's time we 
reached the hotel and on stating

2810
02:38:18,080 --> 02:38:22,400
who I was we were shown into a 
room on the 1st floor by Silva's

2811
02:38:22,400 --> 02:38:26,320
private servant, resting in an 
armchair as were entered. 

2812
02:38:26,440 --> 02:38:29,080
Said the man. 
His face was terribly tin. 

2813
02:38:29,640 --> 02:38:32,760
The eyes and cheeks were so 
sunken that the face had almost 

2814
02:38:32,760 --> 02:38:36,440
the appearance of his skull. 
He made no effort to rise when 

2815
02:38:36,440 --> 02:38:40,080
we entered, and glanced from one
of us to the other with the 

2816
02:38:40,080 --> 02:38:44,080
utmost astonishment. 
I at once introduced myself and 

2817
02:38:44,080 --> 02:38:47,440
explained who we are. 
He then waved his hand for his 

2818
02:38:47,440 --> 02:38:50,720
man to retire. 
You have not heard the news, of 

2819
02:38:50,720 --> 02:38:52,440
course, Mr. Silva. 
I said. 

2820
02:38:53,000 --> 02:38:55,880
News what? 
He glanced up to me, and seemed 

2821
02:38:55,880 --> 02:38:59,200
to read something in my face. 
He started back in his chair. 

2822
02:39:00,200 --> 02:39:03,600
Good heavens, he replied. 
Do you allude to my sisters? 

2823
02:39:03,840 --> 02:39:07,880
Tell me quickly all their life. 
Your elder sister died on the 

2824
02:39:07,880 --> 02:39:11,240
29th of July. 
There is every reason to believe

2825
02:39:11,360 --> 02:39:13,160
her death was caused by foul 
play. 

2826
02:39:14,520 --> 02:39:17,680
As I uttered these words, the 
change that passed over his face

2827
02:39:17,680 --> 02:39:21,280
was fearful to witness. 
He did not speak but remained 

2828
02:39:21,280 --> 02:39:24,120
motionless. 
His claw like hands clutched the

2829
02:39:24,120 --> 02:39:28,040
arms of the chair, his eyes were
fixed and staring as though they

2830
02:39:28,040 --> 02:39:29,920
would start from their hollow 
sockets. 

2831
02:39:30,320 --> 02:39:32,160
The colour of his skin was like 
clay. 

2832
02:39:32,840 --> 02:39:36,680
I had sell by breed quickly 
behind me and Vandalia steeped 

2833
02:39:36,680 --> 02:39:39,280
towards the man and laid his 
hand on his shoulder. 

2834
02:39:40,320 --> 02:39:42,080
Tell us what you know of this 
matter. 

2835
02:39:42,560 --> 02:39:46,080
He said sharply, recovering 
himself with an effort. 

2836
02:39:46,280 --> 02:39:48,400
The invalid began in tremulous 
voice. 

2837
02:39:49,440 --> 02:39:51,880
Listen closely for you must act 
quickly. 

2838
02:39:52,360 --> 02:39:55,000
I'm indirectly responsible for 
this fearful thing. 

2839
02:39:55,720 --> 02:39:59,120
My life has been a wild and 
wasted one and now I am dying. 

2840
02:39:59,920 --> 02:40:03,520
The doctors tell me I cannot 
live a month for I have a large 

2841
02:40:03,520 --> 02:40:07,360
aneurysm of the heart. 18 months
ago I was in Rio. 

2842
02:40:08,120 --> 02:40:10,080
I was living fast and gambled 
happily. 

2843
02:40:10,800 --> 02:40:13,840
Among my fellow gamblers was a 
man much older than myself. 

2844
02:40:14,640 --> 02:40:18,440
His name was Jose Arangio. 
He was, if anything, a greater 

2845
02:40:18,440 --> 02:40:21,240
gambler than I. 
One night we played a low. 

2846
02:40:21,800 --> 02:40:24,320
The stakes ran high until they 
reached a big figure. 

2847
02:40:25,040 --> 02:40:28,560
By daylight I had lost to him 
nearly £200,000. 

2848
02:40:29,320 --> 02:40:32,480
Though I am a rich man in point 
of income, under my uncle's will

2849
02:40:32,920 --> 02:40:35,120
I could not pay a 20th part of 
that sum. 

2850
02:40:35,960 --> 02:40:39,120
This man knew my financial 
position, and in addition to a 

2851
02:40:39,120 --> 02:40:42,880
sum of £5000 paid down, I gave 
him a document. 

2852
02:40:43,840 --> 02:40:47,240
I must have been mad to do so. 
The document was this. 

2853
02:40:47,760 --> 02:40:50,960
It was duly witnessed and 
attested by a lawyer that in the

2854
02:40:50,960 --> 02:40:54,400
event of my surviving 2 Sisters 
and thus inheriting the whole of

2855
02:40:54,400 --> 02:40:57,720
my uncle's past wealth, half a 
million should go to Jose 

2856
02:40:57,720 --> 02:41:00,840
Arango. 
I felt I was breaking up at the 

2857
02:41:00,840 --> 02:41:04,520
time and the chances of my 
inheriting the money were small.

2858
02:41:05,240 --> 02:41:08,240
Immediately after the completion
of the document this man left 

2859
02:41:08,240 --> 02:41:10,680
Rio. 
I don't heard a great deal about

2860
02:41:10,680 --> 02:41:12,640
him that I had not previously 
known. 

2861
02:41:13,440 --> 02:41:16,280
He was a man of queerest 
antecedents, partly Indian, 

2862
02:41:16,360 --> 02:41:19,320
partly Italian. 
He had spent many years of his 

2863
02:41:19,320 --> 02:41:23,160
life amongst the Indians. 
I heard also that he was as 

2864
02:41:23,160 --> 02:41:26,840
cruel as he was clever, and 
possessed some wonderful secrets

2865
02:41:26,840 --> 02:41:28,440
of poisoning unknown to the 
West. 

2866
02:41:29,280 --> 02:41:30,920
I thought a great deal about 
this. 

2867
02:41:31,280 --> 02:41:33,920
For I knew. 
That by signing that document I 

2868
02:41:33,920 --> 02:41:36,560
had placed the lives of my two 
sisters between him and the 

2869
02:41:36,560 --> 02:41:40,520
fortune. 
I came to Para 6 weeks ago only 

2870
02:41:40,520 --> 02:41:44,000
to learn that one of my sisters 
was married and Dad both had 

2871
02:41:44,000 --> 02:41:48,320
gone to England. 
I'll as I was, I determined to 

2872
02:41:48,320 --> 02:41:50,200
follow them in order to warn 
them. 

2873
02:41:50,960 --> 02:41:53,640
I also wanted to arrange matters
with you, Mr. Selby. 

2874
02:41:54,520 --> 02:41:56,440
One moment, Sir, I broke in 
suddenly. 

2875
02:41:56,880 --> 02:42:00,400
Do you happen to be aware if 
this man, Jose Aranjo knew a 

2876
02:42:00,400 --> 02:42:05,480
woman calling herself Madam 
Sarah knew her cried Silver very

2877
02:42:05,480 --> 02:42:08,080
well indeed. 
And so for that matter, did I 

2878
02:42:08,920 --> 02:42:12,240
Aranjo and Madam Sarah were the 
best friends and constantly met.

2879
02:42:12,960 --> 02:42:15,960
She called herself a 
professional beautifier, was 

2880
02:42:15,960 --> 02:42:19,120
very handsome, and had secrets 
for the pursuing of a trade 

2881
02:42:19,240 --> 02:42:24,000
unknown even to arranger. 
Good heavens, I cried, and the 

2882
02:42:24,000 --> 02:42:27,080
omen is now in London. 
She returned here with Missus 

2883
02:42:27,080 --> 02:42:31,040
Selby and Miss Dallas, and it 
was very much influenced by her,

2884
02:42:31,200 --> 02:42:34,680
and was constantly with her. 
There is no doubt in my mind 

2885
02:42:34,680 --> 02:42:38,040
that she is guilty. 
I have suspected her for some 

2886
02:42:38,040 --> 02:42:39,840
time, but I could not find him. 
Motive. 

2887
02:42:40,680 --> 02:42:43,720
Now the motive appears. 
You surely can have her 

2888
02:42:43,720 --> 02:42:47,680
arrested. 
Vantalio made no reply. 

2889
02:42:47,840 --> 02:42:50,680
He gave me a strange look, and 
then he turned to sell by. 

2890
02:42:51,520 --> 02:42:53,760
Has your wife also consulted 
Madam Sarah? 

2891
02:42:54,000 --> 02:42:57,760
He asked sharply. 
Yes, she went to her once about 

2892
02:42:57,760 --> 02:43:00,840
her teeth, but has not been to 
the shop since at its death. 

2893
02:43:01,560 --> 02:43:04,520
I begged of her not to see the 
woman, and she promised me 

2894
02:43:04,520 --> 02:43:08,960
faithfully she would not do so. 
Has she any medicines or lotions

2895
02:43:08,960 --> 02:43:12,600
given to her by Madam Sarah? 
Does she follow any line of 

2896
02:43:12,600 --> 02:43:17,240
treatment advised by her? 
No, I'm certain on that point. 

2897
02:43:18,000 --> 02:43:20,440
Very well. 
I'll see your wife tonight. 

2898
02:43:20,560 --> 02:43:22,360
In order to ask her some 
questions. 

2899
02:43:22,920 --> 02:43:24,640
You must both leave town at 
once. 

2900
02:43:25,040 --> 02:43:26,880
Go to your country house and 
settle there. 

2901
02:43:27,640 --> 02:43:30,760
I'm quite serious when I say 
that Missus Selby is in the 

2902
02:43:30,760 --> 02:43:34,320
utmost possible danger until 
after the death of our brother. 

2903
02:43:34,960 --> 02:43:36,800
We must leave you now, Mr. 
Silva. 

2904
02:43:37,240 --> 02:43:39,720
All business affairs must wait 
for the present. 

2905
02:43:40,160 --> 02:43:43,800
It is absolutely necessary that 
Missus Selby should leave London

2906
02:43:43,800 --> 02:43:45,760
at once. 
Good night, Sir. 

2907
02:43:46,240 --> 02:43:48,960
I shall give myself the pleasure
of calling on you to Morrow 

2908
02:43:48,960 --> 02:43:52,520
morning. 
We took leave of the sick man as

2909
02:43:52,520 --> 02:43:55,000
soon as we got into the street. 
Vandelia, start. 

2910
02:43:56,160 --> 02:43:59,960
I must leave it to you, Selby. 
He said to judge how much of 

2911
02:43:59,960 --> 02:44:02,680
this matter you tell your wife. 
Why are you? 

2912
02:44:02,680 --> 02:44:05,640
I would explain everything. 
The time for immediate action 

2913
02:44:05,640 --> 02:44:08,440
has arrived, and she is a brave 
and sensible woman. 

2914
02:44:09,080 --> 02:44:11,920
From this moment you must watch 
all the foods and liquids that 

2915
02:44:11,920 --> 02:44:15,160
she takes. 
She must never be out of your 

2916
02:44:15,160 --> 02:44:17,640
sight, or out of the sight of 
some other trustworthy 

2917
02:44:17,640 --> 02:44:20,680
companion. 
I shall, of course, watch my 

2918
02:44:20,680 --> 02:44:24,280
wife myself, said Selby. 
But The thing is enough to drive

2919
02:44:24,280 --> 02:44:26,800
one mad. 
I will go with you to the 

2920
02:44:26,800 --> 02:44:32,120
country, Selby, I said suddenly.
Ah, cried Vandalier, that is the

2921
02:44:32,120 --> 02:44:34,960
best thing possible, and what I 
wanted to propose. 

2922
02:44:35,520 --> 02:44:39,200
Go, all of you, by an early 
train to Morrow, then I'll be 

2923
02:44:39,200 --> 02:44:41,040
off home at once to make 
arrangements. 

2924
02:44:41,280 --> 02:44:45,000
I said I will meet you, Selby, 
at Waterloo for the first train 

2925
02:44:45,000 --> 02:44:49,280
to Crownsmoor to Morrow. 
As I was turning away, Wendelia 

2926
02:44:49,280 --> 02:44:52,320
cocked my arm. 
I'm glad you are going with 

2927
02:44:52,320 --> 02:44:55,040
them, he said. 
I shall write to you to night 

2928
02:44:55,040 --> 02:44:57,760
reinstructions. 
Never be without a loaded 

2929
02:44:57,760 --> 02:44:59,400
revolver. 
Good night. 

2930
02:44:59,960 --> 02:45:03,960
By 6:15 the next morning Selby, 
his wife and I were in a 

2931
02:45:03,960 --> 02:45:07,360
reserved, locked force, plus 
compartment speeding rapidly 

2932
02:45:07,360 --> 02:45:10,000
West. 
The servants and Missus, Selva's

2933
02:45:10,000 --> 02:45:12,360
own special maid, were in a 
separate carriage. 

2934
02:45:13,200 --> 02:45:17,080
Selva's face showed signs of a 
sleepless night and presented A 

2935
02:45:17,080 --> 02:45:21,000
striking contrast to the fair, 
fresh face of the girl round 

2936
02:45:21,000 --> 02:45:24,320
whom this strange battle raged. 
Her husband had told her 

2937
02:45:24,320 --> 02:45:27,280
everything, and those still 
suffering terribly from the 

2938
02:45:27,280 --> 02:45:29,040
shock and grief of her sister's 
death. 

2939
02:45:29,520 --> 02:45:31,720
Her face was calm and full of 
repose. 

2940
02:45:33,000 --> 02:45:36,680
Her carriage was waiting for us 
at Cronsmoor, and by half night 

2941
02:45:36,880 --> 02:45:40,280
we arrived at the old home of 
the Salpies, nestling amid its 

2942
02:45:40,280 --> 02:45:43,280
oaks and alms. 
Everything was done to make the 

2943
02:45:43,280 --> 02:45:46,320
homecoming of the bride as 
cheerful as circumstances would 

2944
02:45:46,320 --> 02:45:48,880
pommet, but a gloom impossible 
to lift. 

2945
02:45:49,000 --> 02:45:52,960
Overshadowed self by himself, he
could scarcely ruse himself to 

2946
02:45:52,960 --> 02:45:54,840
take the slightest interest in 
anything. 

2947
02:45:56,120 --> 02:45:59,040
The following morning I received
a letter from Wandelier. 

2948
02:45:59,560 --> 02:46:02,680
It was very short, and once more
impressed on me the necessity of

2949
02:46:02,680 --> 02:46:05,280
caution. 
He said that two eminent 

2950
02:46:05,280 --> 02:46:08,480
physicians had examined Silver, 
and the verdict was dead. 

2951
02:46:08,480 --> 02:46:11,040
He could not leave a month until
his death. 

2952
02:46:11,200 --> 02:46:13,000
Precautions must be strictly 
abjured. 

2953
02:46:13,760 --> 02:46:17,240
The day was cloudless, and after
breakfast I was just starting 

2954
02:46:17,240 --> 02:46:20,360
out for a straw, when the Butler
brought me a telegram. 

2955
02:46:20,760 --> 02:46:24,400
I tore it open. 
It was from Vandalia, for I 

2956
02:46:24,400 --> 02:46:27,240
would all afford until I arrive.
I am coming down. 

2957
02:46:27,680 --> 02:46:30,440
While the words. 
I hurried into the study and 

2958
02:46:30,440 --> 02:46:33,360
gave it to sell by. 
He read it and looked up at me. 

2959
02:46:34,200 --> 02:46:37,440
Find out the first train and go 
and meet him, old chap, he said.

2960
02:46:37,760 --> 02:46:40,640
Let us hope that this means an 
end of the hideous airfare. 

2961
02:46:41,640 --> 02:46:43,960
I went into the hall and looked 
up the trains. 

2962
02:46:44,360 --> 02:46:47,000
The next arrived at Crownsmoor 
at 10:45. 

2963
02:46:47,720 --> 02:46:49,920
I then strolled round to the 
stables and ordered the 

2964
02:46:49,920 --> 02:46:52,840
carriage, after which I walked 
up and down on the drive. 

2965
02:46:53,480 --> 02:46:56,000
There was no doubt that 
something strange had happened. 

2966
02:46:56,440 --> 02:46:59,400
Wendelia coming down South 
suddenly must mean a final 

2967
02:46:59,400 --> 02:47:02,560
clearing up of the mystery. 
I had just turned round at the 

2968
02:47:02,560 --> 02:47:05,600
large gates to wait for the 
carriage when the sound of 

2969
02:47:05,600 --> 02:47:08,120
wheels and horses galloping 
struck on my ears. 

2970
02:47:08,720 --> 02:47:13,000
The gates were swung open, and 
Vandalia in an open fly, dashed 

2971
02:47:13,000 --> 02:47:15,600
through them. 
Before I could recover from my 

2972
02:47:15,600 --> 02:47:18,760
surprise he was out of the 
vehicle and at my side. 

2973
02:47:19,200 --> 02:47:21,520
He carried a small black bag in 
his hand. 

2974
02:47:22,560 --> 02:47:25,800
I came down by special train, he
said, speaking quickly. 

2975
02:47:26,320 --> 02:47:28,680
There is not a moment to lose. 
Come at once. 

2976
02:47:28,880 --> 02:47:31,680
He is Mrs. Sell by alright. 
What do you mean? 

2977
02:47:31,880 --> 02:47:33,560
I replied of. 
Course he is. 

2978
02:47:34,000 --> 02:47:35,560
Do you suppose that she is in 
danger? 

2979
02:47:36,240 --> 02:47:40,600
Sadly was his answer. 
Come, we dashed up to the house 

2980
02:47:40,600 --> 02:47:43,560
together. 
Selbai, who had hard our steps, 

2981
02:47:43,560 --> 02:47:46,840
came to meet us. 
Mr. Vandalier, he cried. 

2982
02:47:47,040 --> 02:47:48,840
What is it? 
How did you come? 

2983
02:47:49,600 --> 02:47:53,520
My special train, Mr. Selbai and
I want to see your wife at once.

2984
02:47:53,880 --> 02:47:56,600
It will be necessary to perform 
a very trifling operation. 

2985
02:47:57,280 --> 02:48:00,480
Operation, he exclaimed. 
Yes, at once. 

2986
02:48:01,040 --> 02:48:04,440
We made our way through the hall
and into the morning room, where

2987
02:48:04,440 --> 02:48:07,880
Missus Selby was busily engaged,
reading and answering letters. 

2988
02:48:08,480 --> 02:48:11,240
She started up when she saw 
Vandalia and uttered an 

2989
02:48:11,240 --> 02:48:13,760
exclamation of surprise. 
What has happened? 

2990
02:48:13,960 --> 02:48:17,120
She asked. 
Wendalia went up to her and took

2991
02:48:17,120 --> 02:48:20,960
her hand. 
Do not be alarmed, he said, for 

2992
02:48:20,960 --> 02:48:23,080
I have come to put all your 
fears to rest. 

2993
02:48:23,640 --> 02:48:26,560
Now please listen to me. 
When you visited Madam Sarah 

2994
02:48:26,560 --> 02:48:29,200
with your sister, did you go for
medical advice? 

2995
02:48:30,000 --> 02:48:33,360
The colour rushed into her face.
One of my teeth ached. 

2996
02:48:33,640 --> 02:48:36,040
She answered. 
I went to her about death. 

2997
02:48:36,440 --> 02:48:39,480
She is, as I suppose you know, a
most wonderful dentist. 

2998
02:48:39,960 --> 02:48:43,000
She examined her tooth, found 
that it required stopping, and 

2999
02:48:43,000 --> 02:48:45,760
got an assistant, a Brazilian I 
think, to do it. 

3000
02:48:46,680 --> 02:48:48,880
And your tooth has been 
comfortable ever since? 

3001
02:48:49,400 --> 02:48:52,040
Yes, quiet. 
She had one of had it stopped at

3002
02:48:52,040 --> 02:48:54,960
the same time. 
He'll kindly sit down and show 

3003
02:48:54,960 --> 02:48:57,440
me which was the tooth into 
which the stopping was put. 

3004
02:48:58,080 --> 02:49:01,080
She did so. 
This was the one, she said, 

3005
02:49:01,440 --> 02:49:03,680
pointing with her finger to one 
in the lower jaw. 

3006
02:49:04,160 --> 02:49:06,120
What do you mean? 
Is there anything wrong? 

3007
02:49:07,160 --> 02:49:09,960
Vandelio examined the tooth long
and carefully. 

3008
02:49:10,280 --> 02:49:13,160
There was a sudden rapid 
movement of his hand and a sharp

3009
02:49:13,160 --> 02:49:16,120
cry from Missus Selby. 
With the darkness of long 

3010
02:49:16,120 --> 02:49:19,360
practice and a powerful wrist, 
he had extracted the tooth with 

3011
02:49:19,360 --> 02:49:21,640
one ranch. 
The suddenness of the whole 

3012
02:49:21,640 --> 02:49:24,800
thing, startling as it was, was 
not so strange as his next 

3013
02:49:24,800 --> 02:49:26,600
movement. 
St. 

3014
02:49:26,600 --> 02:49:30,120
Missus Selby's made to her, he 
said, turning to her husband. 

3015
02:49:30,520 --> 02:49:32,600
Then come, both of you, into the
next room. 

3016
02:49:33,680 --> 02:49:36,640
Tomatoes summoned. 
Poor Missus Selby had sunk back 

3017
02:49:36,640 --> 02:49:38,840
in her chair, terrified and half
fainting. 

3018
02:49:39,360 --> 02:49:42,160
A moment later Selby joined us 
in the dining room. 

3019
02:49:43,480 --> 02:49:46,120
That's right, said Vandalier. 
Closed the door. 

3020
02:49:46,120 --> 02:49:48,600
Will you? 
He opened his black bag and 

3021
02:49:48,600 --> 02:49:52,000
brought out several instruments.
With 1 he removed the stopping 

3022
02:49:52,000 --> 02:49:55,200
from the tooth. 
It was quite soft and came away 

3023
02:49:55,200 --> 02:49:58,040
easily. 
Then from the back he produced a

3024
02:49:58,040 --> 02:50:00,800
small Guinea pig, which he 
requested me to hold. 

3025
02:50:01,360 --> 02:50:04,520
He pressed a sharp instrument 
into the tooth, and, opening the

3026
02:50:04,520 --> 02:50:07,280
mouth of the little animal, 
placed a point on the tongue. 

3027
02:50:08,520 --> 02:50:12,240
The effect was instantaneous. 
The little head fell on to one 

3028
02:50:12,240 --> 02:50:14,600
of my hands. 
The Guinea pig was dead. 

3029
02:50:15,080 --> 02:50:18,840
Vandelia was white as a sheath. 
He hurried up to sell by and 

3030
02:50:18,840 --> 02:50:22,920
wrung his hand. 
Thank Heaven, he said. 

3031
02:50:23,400 --> 02:50:25,480
I have been in time, but only 
just. 

3032
02:50:26,080 --> 02:50:29,120
Your wife is safe. 
This stopping would hardly have 

3033
02:50:29,120 --> 02:50:32,360
held another hour. 
I have been thinking all night 

3034
02:50:32,560 --> 02:50:36,000
over the mystery of your sister 
in law's death and over every 

3035
02:50:36,000 --> 02:50:39,560
minute detail of evidence as to 
how the poison could have been 

3036
02:50:39,560 --> 02:50:42,480
administered. 
Suddenly the coincidence of both

3037
02:50:42,480 --> 02:50:46,080
sisters having had their teeth 
stopped struck me as remarkable.

3038
02:50:46,760 --> 02:50:49,000
Like a flash, the solution came 
to me. 

3039
02:50:49,400 --> 02:50:51,320
The more I considered it, the 
more I. 

3040
02:50:51,320 --> 02:50:55,160
Felt that I was right. 
But by what find is cunning such

3041
02:50:55,160 --> 02:50:58,040
a scheme could have been 
conceived and executed is beyond

3042
02:50:58,040 --> 02:51:01,880
my power to explain. 
The poison is very like Hyosin, 

3043
02:51:02,040 --> 02:51:05,760
one of the worst toxic alkaloids
known, so violent in its deadly 

3044
02:51:05,760 --> 02:51:09,360
proportions that the amount that
would go into a toot would cause

3045
02:51:09,360 --> 02:51:12,840
almost instant death. 
It has been kept in by a gutta 

3046
02:51:12,840 --> 02:51:16,560
purchase topping certain to come
out within a month, probably 

3047
02:51:16,560 --> 02:51:19,760
earlier and most probably during
mestigation of food. 

3048
02:51:20,280 --> 02:51:22,160
The person would die either 
immediately. 

3049
02:51:22,240 --> 02:51:24,880
Or after a very. 
Few minutes and no one would 

3050
02:51:24,880 --> 02:51:27,600
connect a visit to the dentist 
with her death a month 

3051
02:51:27,600 --> 02:51:30,800
afterwards. 
What followed can be told in a 

3052
02:51:30,800 --> 02:51:33,640
very few words. 
Madam Sarah was arrested on 

3053
02:51:33,640 --> 02:51:35,920
suspicion. 
She appeared before the 

3054
02:51:35,920 --> 02:51:40,120
magistrate looking innocent and 
beautiful and managed during her

3055
02:51:40,120 --> 02:51:43,040
evidence completely to baffle 
that a cute individual. 

3056
02:51:43,400 --> 02:51:47,000
She denied nothing, but declared
that the poison must have been 

3057
02:51:47,000 --> 02:51:50,440
put into the tooth by one of the
two Brazilians whom she had 

3058
02:51:50,440 --> 02:51:53,120
lately engaged to help her with 
her dentistry. 

3059
02:51:53,640 --> 02:51:56,520
She had her suspicions with 
regard to these men soon 

3060
02:51:56,520 --> 02:51:58,520
afterwards, and had dismissed 
them. 

3061
02:51:59,040 --> 02:52:02,640
She believed that they were in 
the pay of Josa Ranger, but she 

3062
02:52:02,640 --> 02:52:04,240
could not tell anything for 
certain. 

3063
02:52:05,240 --> 02:52:08,720
Thus Madam escaped conviction. 
I was certain that she was 

3064
02:52:08,720 --> 02:52:11,000
guilty, but there was not a 
shadow of real. 

3065
02:52:11,000 --> 02:52:14,320
Proof. 
A month later, Silva died and 

3066
02:52:14,320 --> 02:52:16,280
Selby is now a double 
millionaire. 

3067
02:52:18,240 --> 02:52:23,080
And of Madame Sarah by Lt. 
Meat and Robert Ustedge, Part 2.