1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,960 Section 11 of the Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,680 Conan Doyle. This Librivox recording is in 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,120 the public domain, Read by Thomas Copeland. 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:15,960 Story 11 The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place Sherlock 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,200 Holmes had been bending for a long time over a low power 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,120 microscope. Now he straightened himself up 7 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,240 and looked round at me in triumph. 8 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,480 It is glue, Watson said he Unquestionably it is glue. 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,479 Have a look at these scattered objects in the field. 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,040 I stooped to the eyepiece and focused for my vision. 11 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,520 Those hairs are threads from a tweed coat. 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,200 The irregular grey masses are dust. 13 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,360 There are epithelial scales on the left. 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,320 Those brown blobs in the centre are undoubtedly glue. 15 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:54,440 Well, I said, laughing, I am prepared to take your word for 16 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,200 it. Does anything depend upon it? 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,880 It is a very fine demonstration, he answered. 18 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,440 In the Saint Pancras case, you may remember that a cap was 19 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,480 found beside the dead policeman. The accused man denies that it 20 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,520 is his, but he is a picture frame maker who habitually 21 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,640 handles glue. Is it one of your cases? 22 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,480 No, my friend Maryvale of the Yard asked me to look into the 23 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,920 case. Since I ran down that corner. 24 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,360 By the zinc and copper filings in the seam of his cuff, they 25 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,200 have begun to realise the importance of the microscope. 26 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:32,760 He looked impatiently at his watch. 27 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,160 I had a new client calling, but he is overdue. 28 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:40,200 And by the way, Watson, you know something of racing. 29 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,240 I ought to. I'd pay for it with about half 30 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,160 of my wound pension. Then I'll make you my handy 31 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,040 guide to the turf. What about Sir Robert Norbertan, 32 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,480 does the name recall anything? Well, I should say so. 33 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,880 He lives at Shoskam Old Place and I know it well for my summer 34 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:03,480 quarters were down there once. Norberton nearly came within 35 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,040 your province once. How was that? 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,280 It was when he horse whipped Sam Brewer, the well known Curzon 37 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,800 St. money lender on Newmarket Heath. 38 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,200 He nearly killed the man. Ah, he sounds interesting. 39 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,560 Does he often indulge in that way? 40 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,360 Well, he has the name of being a dangerous man. 41 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,320 He is about the most daredevil rider in England, second in the 42 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,880 Grand National a few years back. He is one of those men who have 43 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,480 overshot their true generation. He should have been a buck in 44 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,040 the days of the Regency, a boxer, an athlete, a plunger on 45 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,280 the turf, a lover of Fair ladies, and by all account, so 46 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,400 far down Queer St. that he may never find his way back again. 47 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,720 Capital Watson. A thumbnail sketch. 48 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,960 I seem to know the man now. Can you give me some idea of 49 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,960 Shoscombe Old Place? Only that it is in the centre of 50 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,400 Shoscombe Park and that the famous Shoscombe Stud and 51 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,840 training quarters are to be found there, and the head 52 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,000 trainer, said Holmes is John Mason. 53 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,800 You need not look surprised at my knowledge, Watson, for this 54 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:10,760 is a letter from him which I am unfolding. 55 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,240 But let us have some more about Shoscombe. 56 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,600 I seem to have struck a rich vein. 57 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,360 There are the Shoscombe spaniels, said I. 58 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,520 You hear of them at every dog show. 59 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,120 The most exclusive breed in England. 60 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,920 They are the special pride of the lady of Shoscombe. 61 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,800 Old place, Sir Robert Norbertan's wife. 62 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,720 I presume Sir Robert has never married. 63 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,920 And just as well, I think, considering his prospects, he 64 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,960 lives with his widowed sister, Lady Beatrice Fulder. 65 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,920 You mean that she lives with him? 66 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,560 No, No. The place belonged to her late 67 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,600 husband. Sir James Norberton has no claim 68 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,760 on it at all. It is only a life interest, and 69 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,400 reverts to her husband's brother. 70 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,760 In the meantime she draws the rents every year, and Brother 71 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,760 Robert, I suppose, spends the said rents. 72 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:04,200 That is about the size of it. He is a devil of a fellow, and 73 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,360 must lead her our most uneasy life yet. 74 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,000 I have heard that she is devoted to him. 75 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:14,120 But what is amiss at Shoscombe? Ah, that is just what I want to 76 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,640 know, and here, I expect, is the man who can tell us. 77 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,680 The door had opened and the page had shown in a tall, clean 78 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,120 shaven man, with the firm, austere expression which is only 79 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,920 seen upon those who have to control horses or boys, Mr. John 80 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,440 Mason had many of both under his sway, and he looked equal to the 81 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,000 task. He bowed with cold self 82 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,640 possession and seated himself upon the chair to which Holmes 83 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:43,240 had waved him. You had my note, Mr. Holmes? 84 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,720 Yes, but it explained nothing. It was too delicate a thing for 85 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,760 me to put the details on paper, and too complicated. 86 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,880 It was only face to face. I could do it. 87 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,640 Well, we are at your disposal. First of all, Mr. Holmes, I 88 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,760 think that my employer, Sir Robert, has gone mad. 89 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,640 Holmes raised his eyebrows. This is Baker Street, not Harley 90 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,480 Street, said he. But why do you say so? 91 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:13,240 Well, Sir, when a man does one queer thing or two queer things, 92 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,400 there may be a meaning to it. But when everything he does is 93 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:20,040 queer, then you begin to wonder. I believe Shoscombe Prince and 94 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,400 the Derby have turned his brain. That is a colt. 95 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,440 You are running the best in England, Mr. Holmes. 96 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,800 I should know if anyone does. Now, I'll be plain with you, for 97 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,480 I know you are a gentleman of honour and that it won't go 98 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,000 beyond the room. Sir Robert has got to win this 99 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,760 Derby. He's up to the neck and it's his 100 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,560 last chance. Everything he could raise or 101 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,720 borrow is on the horse and at fine odds too. 102 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,720 You can get 40s now, but it was nearer the 100 when he began to 103 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,720 back him. But how is that if the horses so 104 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,640 good? The public don't know how good 105 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,360 he is. Sir Robert has been too clever 106 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,440 for the touts. He has the Prince's half brother 107 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,040 out for spins. You can't tell him apart, but 108 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,320 there are two lengths in a furlong between them. 109 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,840 When it comes to a gallop he thinks of nothing but the horse 110 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:13,480 and the race. His whole life is on it. 111 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,600 He is holding off the Jews till then. 112 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,440 If the Prince fails him he is done. 113 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,840 It seems a rather desperate gamble. 114 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,400 But where does the madness come in? 115 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,240 Well, first of all, you won't have to look at him. 116 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,160 I don't believe he sleeps at night. 117 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,600 He is down at the stables at all hours. 118 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,080 His eyes are wild. It has all been too much for his 119 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,360 nerves. Then there is his conduct to 120 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,240 Lady Beatrice. Ah, what is that? 121 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,320 They have always been the best of friends. 122 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,720 They had the same tastes, the two of them, and she loved the 123 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,320 horses as much as he did. Every day at the same hour she 124 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,320 would drive down to see them, and above all, she loved the 125 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,640 Prince. He would prick up his ears when 126 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,520 he heard the wheels on the gravel, and he would trot out 127 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,840 each morning to the carriage to get his lump of sugar. 128 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,440 But that's all over now. Why? 129 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,960 Well, she seems to have lost all interest in the horses. 130 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,280 For a week now she has driven past the stables with never so 131 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,640 much as good morning. You think there has been a 132 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,720 quarrel? And a bitter, savage, spiteful 133 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,800 quarrel at that. Why else would he give away a 134 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,120 pet spaniel that she loved as if he were her child? 135 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,880 He gave it away a few days ago to old Barnes. 136 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,480 What keeps the green dragon 3 miles off at Crandall? 137 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:38,000 That certainly did seem strange. Of course, with her weak heart 138 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,000 and dropsy, one couldn't expect that she could get about with 139 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,560 him. But he spent two hours every 140 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,160 evening in a room. He might well do what he could, 141 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,360 for she has been a rare good friend to him. 142 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,960 But that's all over, too. He never goes nearer, and she 143 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:59,000 takes it to heart. She is brooding and sulky and 144 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,200 drinking, Mr. Holmes, drinking like a fish. 145 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,360 Did she drink before this estrangement? 146 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,720 Well, she took her glass, but now it is often a whole bottle 147 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:12,960 of an evening. So Stevens the Butler told me. 148 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,000 It's all changed, Mr. Holmes, and there is something damned 149 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:21,120 rotten about it. But then again, what is Master 150 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,920 doing down at the old church crypt at night, and who is the 151 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,680 man that meets him there? Holmes rubbed his hands. 152 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,880 Go on, Mr. Mason, you get more and more interesting. 153 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:39,000 It was the Butler who saw him go 12:00 at night and raining hard. 154 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,039 So next night I was up at the house, and sure enough, Master 155 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:46,240 was off again. Stevens and I went after him, 156 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,720 but it was jumpy work, for it would have been a bad job if he 157 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,520 had seen us. He's a terrible man with his 158 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,800 fists if he gets started, and no respecter of persons. 159 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,960 So we were shy of getting too near, but we marked him down all 160 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:02,680 right. It was the haunted crypt that he 161 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:05,760 was making for, and there was a man waiting for him there. 162 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:11,640 What is this haunted crypt? Well, Sir, there is an old 163 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,280 ruined Chapel in the park. It is so old that nobody could 164 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,520 fix its date, and under it there's a crypt which has a bad 165 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,880 name among us. It's a dark, damp, lonely place 166 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,520 by day, but there are few in that county that would have the 167 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:30,160 nerve to go near it at night. But the master's not afraid. 168 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,600 He never feared anything in his life. 169 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,480 But what is he doing there in the night time? 170 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,680 Wait a bit, said Holmes. You say there is another man 171 00:09:40,680 --> 00:09:42,680 there. It must be one of your own 172 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:45,880 stable men or someone from the house. 173 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,600 Surely you have only to spot who it is and question him. 174 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,640 There's no one I know. How can you say that? 175 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,360 Because I have seen him, Mr. Holmes. 176 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:01,160 It was on that second night Sir Robert turned and passed us, me 177 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,720 and Stephens quaking in the bushes like 2 Bunny rabbits, for 178 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,840 there was a bit of moon that night but we could hear the 179 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,160 other moving about behind. We were not afraid of him so we 180 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,880 up when Mr. Robert was gone and pretended we were just having a 181 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,720 walk like in the moonlight, and so we came right on him, as 182 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:24,280 casual and innocent as you please Hollow mate, who may you 183 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,680 be, says I. I guess he had not heard his 184 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:30,800 coming, so he looked over his shoulder with a face as if he 185 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,720 had seen the devil coming out of hell. 186 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,480 He let out a yell, and away he went, as hard as he could lick 187 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,760 it in the darkness. He could run, I'll give him 188 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,200 that. In a minute he was out of sight 189 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,360 and hearing, and who he was or what he was, we never found. 190 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,080 But you saw him clearly in the moonlight. 191 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,840 Yes, I would swear to his yellow face a a mean dog, I should say. 192 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,880 What could he have in common with Sir Robert? 193 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,440 Holmes sat for some time lost in thought. 194 00:11:00,680 --> 00:11:03,120 Who keeps Lady Beatrice folder company? 195 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,760 He asked at last. Oh, there is her maid, Carrie 196 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,080 Evans. She has been with her this five 197 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,800 years and is no doubt devoted. Mr. Mason shuffled 198 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,880 uncomfortably. She's devoted enough, he 199 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,880 answered at last. But I won't say to whom. 200 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,120 Ah, said Holmes, I can't tell tales out of school. 201 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,640 I quite understand Mr. Mason. Of course, the situation is 202 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,760 clear enough. From Doctor Watson's description 203 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,240 of Sir Robert, I can realise that no woman is safe from him. 204 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,400 Don't you think the quarrel between brother and sister may 205 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:43,120 lie there? Well, the scandal has been 206 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,040 pretty clear for a long time, but she may not have seen it 207 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,800 before. Let us suppose that she has 208 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,000 suddenly found it out. She wants to get rid of the 209 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,520 woman. Her brother will not permit it. 210 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,520 The invalid, with her weak heart and inability to get about, has 211 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:04,120 no means of enforcing her will. The hated maid is still tied to 212 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,120 her. The lady refuses to speak, 213 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:12,040 sulks, takes to drink. Sir Robert, in his anger, takes 214 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:16,160 her pet spaniel away from her. Does not all this hang together? 215 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:23,360 Well, it might do, so far as it goes, exactly as far as it goes. 216 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,720 How would all that bear upon the visits by night to the old 217 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,240 crypt? We can't fit that into our plot. 218 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,480 No, Sir. And there is something more that 219 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,800 I can't fit in. Why should Sir Robert want to 220 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,600 dig up a dead body? Holmes sat up abruptly. 221 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,080 We only found it out yesterday, after I had written to you 222 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:47,880 yesterday. Sir Robert had gone to London, 223 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,280 so Stevens and I went down to the crypt. 224 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:55,400 It was all in order, Sir, except that in one corner was a bit of 225 00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:59,520 a human body. You informed the police, I 226 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,400 suppose? Our visitors smiled grimly. 227 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,520 Well, Sir, I think it would hardly interest them. 228 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,800 It was just the head and a few bones of a mummy. 229 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:14,720 It may have been 1000 years old, but it wasn't there before that, 230 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,680 I'll swear. And so will Stevens. 231 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,080 It had been stowed away in a corner and covered over with a 232 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,560 board. But that corner had always been 233 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:25,640 empty before. What did you do with it? 234 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,400 Well, we just left it there and that was wise. 235 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:31,960 You say Sir Robert was away yesterday. 236 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,760 Has he returned? We expect him back today. 237 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,760 When did Sir Robert give away his sister's dog? 238 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:45,160 It was just a week ago today. The creature was howling outside 239 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,960 the old well house, and Sir Robert was in one of his 240 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,320 tantrums that morning. He caught it up, and I thought 241 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,280 he would have killed it. Then he gave it to Sandy Bain, 242 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:58,040 the jockey, and told him to take the dog to Old Barns at the 243 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,880 Green Dragon, for he never wished to see it again. 244 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,760 Holmes sat for some time in silent thought. 245 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,320 He had lit the oldest and foulest of his pipes. 246 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:13,680 I am not clear yet what you want me to do in this matter, Mr. 247 00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:17,440 Mason, he said at last. Can't you make it more definite? 248 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,280 Perhaps this will make it more definite, Mr. Holmes, said. 249 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,880 Our visitor. He took a paper from his pocket, 250 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,720 and, unwrapping it carefully, he exposed A charred fragment of 251 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,320 bone. Holmes examined it with 252 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,640 interest. Where did you get it? 253 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,920 There is a central heating furnace in the cellar under Lady 254 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,600 Beatrice's room. It's been off for some time, but 255 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,360 Sir Robert complained of cold and had it on again. 256 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,200 Harvey runs it. He's one of my lads. 257 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,840 This very morning he came to me with this, which he found raking 258 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,480 out the cinders. He didn't like the look of it, 259 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,600 Nor do I, said Holmes. What do you make of it, Watson? 260 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,480 It was burned to a black cinder, but there could be no question 261 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,560 as to its anatomical significance. 262 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,040 It's the upper condyle of a human femur. 263 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,520 Said I. Exactly. 264 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,880 Holmes had become very serious. When does this lad tend to the 265 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,000 furnace? He makes it up every evening and 266 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,400 then leaves it. Then anyone could visit it 267 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,600 during the night. Yes, Sir. 268 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:28,240 Can you enter it from outside? There is one door. 269 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,320 From outside there is another which leads up by a stair to the 270 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:34,240 passage in which Lady Beatrice's room is situated. 271 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,200 These are deep waters, Mr. Mason. 272 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:41,440 Deep and rather dirty. You say that Sir Robert was not 273 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,680 at home last night? No, Sir. 274 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,200 Then whoever was burning bones, it was not he. 275 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,800 That's true, Sir. What is the name of that inn you 276 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,200 spoke of? The Green Dragon is there good 277 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,120 fishing in that part of Berkshire? 278 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,480 The honest trainer showed very clearly upon his face that he 279 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:07,200 was convinced that yet another lunatic had come into his Harris 280 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,400 life. Well, Sir, I've heard there are 281 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,120 trout in the Millstream and Pike in the whole lake. 282 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,640 That's good enough. Watson and I are famous 283 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,160 fishermen, are we not? Watson? 284 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,400 You may address us in future at the Green Dragon. 285 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,560 We should reach it tonight. I need not say that we don't 286 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,400 want to see you, Mr. Mason, but a note will reach us, and no 287 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,160 doubt I could find you if I want you. 288 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:35,000 When we have gone a little farther into the matter I will 289 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,680 let you have a considered opinion. 290 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,640 Thus it was that on a bright May evening Holmes and I found 291 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,120 ourselves alone in a first class carriage and bound for the 292 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,720 little halt on demand station of Shoscombe. 293 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,440 The rack above us was covered with a formidable litter of 294 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,600 rods, reels and baskets. On reaching our destination, a 295 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,840 short drive took us to an old fashioned Tavern, where our 296 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:04,319 sporting host, Josiah Barnes, entered eagerly into our plans 297 00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:07,040 for the extirpation of the fish of the neighborhood. 298 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,480 What about the Hall Lake and the chance of a Pike? 299 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,079 Said Holmes, The face of the innkeeper clouded. 300 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,960 That wouldn't do, Sir. You might chance to find 301 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,079 yourself in the lake before you were through. 302 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,119 How's that then? It's Sir Robert, Sir. 303 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,000 He's terrible jealous of touts. If you 2 strangers were as near 304 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,080 as training quarters as that, he'd be after you as sure as 305 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:35,880 fate. He ain't takin no chances, Sir. 306 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,000 Robert ain't. I've heard he has a horse 307 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,720 entered for the Derby. Yes, and a good colt too. 308 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,680 He carries all our money for the race and all Sir Roberts into 309 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:50,120 the bargain. And by the way, he looked at us 310 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:53,560 with thoughtful eyes. I suppose you ain't on the turf 311 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,160 yourselves? No, indeed. 312 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,680 Just two weary Londoners who badly need some good Berkshire 313 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,120 hare. Well, you are in the right place 314 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:05,920 for that. There's a deal of it lying 315 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,040 about. But mind what I have told you 316 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,600 about Sir Robert. He's the sort that strikes 1st 317 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,080 and speaks afterwards. Keep clear of the park. 318 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,400 Surely, Mr. Barnes, We certainly shall. 319 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,520 By the way, that was our most beautiful spaniel that was 320 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,720 whining in the hall. Now I should say it was. 321 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,160 That was the real Shas cum breed. 322 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,840 There ain't a better in England. I'm a dog fancier myself, said 323 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,920 Holmes. Now, if it is a fair question, 324 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,080 what would a prized dog like that cost? 325 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,600 more than I could pay, Sir. It was Sir Robert himself who 326 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,760 gave me this one. That's why I have to keep it on 327 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,240 a lead. It would be off to the hall in a 328 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:54,960 jiffy if I gave it its head. We're getting some cards in our 329 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,080 hand, Watson, said Holmes, when the landlord had left us. 330 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:04,080 It is not an easy one to play, but we may see our way in a day 331 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,160 or two. By the way, Sir Robert is still 332 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,600 in London. I hear we might perhaps enter 333 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:14,360 the sacred domain tonight without fear of bodily assault. 334 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,080 There are one or two points on which I should like reassurance. 335 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,760 Have you any theory, Holmes? Only this, Watson, that 336 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:26,440 something happened a week or so ago which has cut deep into the 337 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,680 life of the Shoscombe household. What is that? 338 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,400 Something? We can only guess at it from its 339 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,920 effects. They seem to be of a curiously 340 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,320 mixed character. But that should surely help us. 341 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,920 It is only the colourless, uneventful case which is 342 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,120 hopeless. Let us consider our data. 343 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:49,000 The brother no longer visits the beloved invalid sister. 344 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:53,840 He gives away her favorite dog, her dog Watson. 345 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:55,680 Does that suggest nothing to you? 346 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,400 Nothing but the brother's spite? Well, it might be so. 347 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,200 Or, well, there is an alternative. 348 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,360 Now to continue our review of the situation. 349 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:09,600 From the time that the quarrel, if there is a quarrel, began, 350 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:14,760 the lady keeps to her room, alters her habits, is not seen 351 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,840 save when she drives out with her maid, refuses to stop at the 352 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:23,160 stables to greet her favorite horse, and apparently takes to 353 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,760 drink. That covers the case, does it 354 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,280 not? Save for the business in the 355 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,240 crypt. That is another line of thought. 356 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,760 There are two, and I beg you will not tangle them. 357 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:39,960 Line A, which concerns Lady Beatrice, has a vaguely sinister 358 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,280 flavour, has it not? I can make nothing of it. 359 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,320 Well, now, let us take up Line B, which concerns Sir Robert. 360 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:51,720 He is mad keen upon winning the Derby. 361 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:56,600 He is in the hands of the Jews, and may at any moment be sold up 362 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,120 and his racing stables seized by his creditors. 363 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:01,800 He is a daring and desperate man. 364 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,400 He derives his income from his sister. 365 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,600 His sister's maid is his willing tool. 366 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,440 So far we seem to be on fairly safe ground, do we not? 367 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,080 But the crypt? Ah, yes, the crypt. 368 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,920 Let us suppose, Watson, It is merely A scandalous supposition, 369 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,920 a hypothesis put forward for argument. 370 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,160 Say that Sir Robert has done away with his sister. 371 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,800 My dear Holmes, it is out of the question. 372 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,800 Very possibly, Watson. Sir Robert is a man of an 373 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:36,160 honourable stock, but you do occasionally find a carrion crow 374 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:40,040 among the eagles. Let us for a moment argue upon 375 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,280 this supposition. He could not fly the country 376 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,040 until he had realised his fortune, and that fortune could 377 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:51,120 only be realised by bringing off this coup with Shoscombe Prince. 378 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,840 Therefore he has still to stand his ground. 379 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,400 To do this he would have to dispose of the body of his 380 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,400 victim, and he would also have to find a substitute who would 381 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:06,200 impersonate her. With the maid as his confidante. 382 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:10,000 That would not be impossible. The woman's body might be 383 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,240 conveyed to the crypt, which is a place so seldom visited, and 384 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,840 it might be secretly destroyed at night in the furnace, leaving 385 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,760 behind it such evidence as we have already seen. 386 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:26,560 What Sayer to that, Watson? Well, it is all possible, if you 387 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,960 grant the original monstrous supposition. 388 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,560 I think that there is a small experiment which we may try to 389 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,760 Morrow Watson, in order to throw some light on the matter. 390 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:41,200 Meanwhile, if we mean to keep up our characters, I suggest that 391 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:45,320 we have our host in for a glass of his own wine, and hold some 392 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,480 high converse upon eels and dace, which seems to be the 393 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,440 straight road to his affections. We may chance to come upon some 394 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,480 useful local gossip in the process. 395 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:01,240 In the morning Holmes discovered that we had come without our 396 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,280 spoon bait for Jack, which absolved us from fishing for the 397 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,280 day. About 11:00 we started for a 398 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:11,880 walk and he obtained leave to take the black spaniel with us. 399 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:17,040 This is the place, said he, as we came to two high park gates 400 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,400 with heralded Griffins towering above them. 401 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:23,520 About mid-day, Mr. Barnes informs me, the old lady takes a 402 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,360 drive and the carriage must slow down while the gates are opened. 403 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:32,000 When it comes through and before it gathers speed, I want you, 404 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,680 Watson, to stop the coachman with some question. 405 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:38,480 Never mind me, I shall stand behind this holly Bush and see 406 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,880 what I can see. It was not a long vigil. 407 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:46,560 Within 1/4 of an hour we saw the big open yellow barouche coming 408 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:50,160 down the Long Ave. with two splendid high stepping dray 409 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:54,240 carriage horses in the shafts. Holmes crouched behind his Bush 410 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,760 with the dog. I stood unconcernedly swinging a 411 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,400 cane in the roadway. A keeper ran out and the gates 412 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,200 swung open. The carriage had slowed to a 413 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,160 walk and it was able to get a good look at the occupants. 414 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,920 A highly coloured young woman with flaxen hair and impudent 415 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,080 eyes sat on the left. At her right was an elderly 416 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,720 person with rounded back and a huddle of shawls about her face 417 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,360 and shoulders which proclaimed the invalid. 418 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,760 When the horses reached the High Road, I held up my hand with an 419 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,160 authoritative gesture, and as the coachman pulled up, I 420 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:31,320 inquired if Sir Robert was at Shoskemo Place. 421 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,160 At the same moment Holmes stepped out and released the 422 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,480 spaniel. With a joyous cry. 423 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,600 It dashed forward to the carriage and sprang upon the 424 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,400 step. Then in a moment, its eager 425 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,840 greeting changed to furious rage, and it snapped at the 426 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:51,200 black skirt above it. Drive on, drive on, shrieked A 427 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,280 harsh voice. The coachman lashed the horses 428 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,560 and we were left standing in the roadway. 429 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,400 Well, Watson, that's done it, said Holmes as he fastened the 430 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,640 lead to the neck of the excited spaniel. 431 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,680 He thought it was his mistress and he found it was a stranger. 432 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,800 Dogs don't make mistakes, but it was the voice of a man. 433 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,920 I cried exactly. We have added one card to our 434 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,880 hand Watson, but it needs careful playing all the same. 435 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:26,120 My companion seemed to have no further plans for the day and we 436 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:29,280 did actually use our fishing tackle in the Mill Stream, with 437 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,160 the result that we had a dish of trout for our supper. 438 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,760 It was only after that meal that Holmes showed signs of renewed 439 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:39,320 activity once more. We found ourselves upon the same 440 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:42,440 Rd. as in the morning, which led us to the park gates. 441 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,560 A tall, dark figure was awaiting us there, who proved to be our 442 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:49,160 London acquaintance, Mr. John Mason, the trainer. 443 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:51,760 Good evening, gentlemen, said he. 444 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:55,680 I got your note, Mr. Holmes. Sir Robert has not returned yet, 445 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,160 but I hear that he is expected tonight. 446 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:01,560 How far is this crypt from the house? 447 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,600 Asked Holmes. A good quarter of a mile. 448 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,600 Then I think we can disregard him altogether. 449 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,320 I can't afford to do that, Mister Holmes. 450 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:13,960 The moment he arrives he will want to see me to get the latest 451 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,880 news of Shoscombe Prince. I see. 452 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,320 In that case we must work without you, Mr. Mason. 453 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:22,960 You can show us the crypt and then leave us. 454 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,880 It was pitch dark and without a moon, but Mason LED us over the 455 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,400 grasslands until a dark mass loomed up in front of us, which 456 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,800 proved to be the ancient Chapel. We entered the broken gap which 457 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,560 was once the porch, and our guide, stumbling among heaps of 458 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:43,320 loose masonry, picked his way to the corner of the building where 459 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,480 a steep stair LED down into the crypt. 460 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:50,320 Striking a match, he illuminated the melancholy place, dismal and 461 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,680 evil spelling, with ancient crumbling walls of rough hewn 462 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:58,080 stone and piles of coffins, some of lead and some of stone, 463 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:02,240 extending upon one side right up to the arched and groin roof, 464 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,800 which lost itself in the shadows above our heads. 465 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,640 Holmes had lit his Lantern, which shot a tiny tunnel of 466 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,200 vivid yellow light upon the mournful scene. 467 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:15,320 Its rays were reflected back from the coffin plates, many of 468 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,840 them adorned with the griffon and coronet of this old family 469 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,080 which carried its honours even to the gate of Death. 470 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,440 You spoke of some bones, Mr. Mason. 471 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,440 Could you show them before you go? 472 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:32,120 They're here in this corner. The trainer strode across and 473 00:27:32,120 --> 00:27:35,160 then stood in silent surprise as our light was turned upon the 474 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,840 place. They're gone, said he. 475 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,040 So I expected, said Holmes, chuckling. 476 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,360 I fancy the ashes of them might even now be found in that oven 477 00:27:45,360 --> 00:27:47,520 which has already consumed a part. 478 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:52,480 But why in the world would anyone want to burn the bones of 479 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,440 a man who has been dead for 1000 years? 480 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,560 Asked John Mason. That is what we are here to find 481 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:03,440 out, said Holmes. It may mean a long search and we 482 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,360 need not detain you. I fancy that we shall get our 483 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:10,920 solution before mourning. When John Mason had left us, 484 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,360 Holmes set to work making a very careful examination of the 485 00:28:14,360 --> 00:28:17,760 graves, ranging from a very ancient one, which appeared to 486 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:22,040 be Saxon in the centre, through a long line of Norman Hugos and 487 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:26,240 Odos until we reached the Sir William and Sir Denis folder of 488 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:29,840 the 18th century. It was an hour or more before 489 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:33,280 Holmes came to a leaden coffin standing on end before the 490 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,400 entrance to the vault. I heard his little cry of 491 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:40,160 satisfaction, and was aware from his hurried but purposeful 492 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,520 movements that he had reached a goal. 493 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,800 With his lens he was eagerly examining the edges of the heavy 494 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:49,640 lid. Then he drew from his pocket a 495 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:54,080 short jemmy, a box opener, which he thrust into a chink, levering 496 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:57,480 back the whole front, which seemed to be secured by only a 497 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,080 couple of clamps. There was a rending, tearing 498 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:05,440 sound as it gave way, but it had hardly hinged back and partly 499 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:09,600 revealed the contents before we had an unforeseen interruption. 500 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,040 Someone was walking in the Chapel above. 501 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,080 It was the firm, rapid step of one who came with a definite 502 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,280 purpose, and knew well the ground upon which he walked. 503 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,800 A light streamed down the stairs, and an instant later the 504 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,680 man who bore it was framed in the Gothic archway. 505 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:32,280 He was a terrible figure, huge in stature and fierce in manner. 506 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:37,120 A large, stable Lantern, which he held in front of him, shone 507 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:41,000 upwards upon a strong, heavily mustached face and angry eyes 508 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,360 which glared round him into every recess of the vault, 509 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:48,800 finally fixing themselves with a deadly stare upon my companion 510 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:52,320 and myself. Who the devil are you? 511 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,760 He thundered. And what are you doing upon my 512 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,240 property? Then, as Holmes returned no 513 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:02,520 answer, he took a couple of steps forward and raised a heavy 514 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,400 stick which he carried. Do you hear me? 515 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:07,400 He cried. Who are you? 516 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:11,600 What are you doing here? His cudgel quivered in the air, 517 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,760 but instead of shrinking, Holmes advanced to meet him. 518 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:20,800 I I also have a question to ask you Sir Robert, he said in his 519 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:26,800 sternest tone. Who is this and what is it doing 520 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,080 here? He turned and tore open the 521 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:33,360 coffin lid behind him. In the glare of the Lantern I 522 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:37,520 saw a body swathed in a sheet from head to foot with dreadful 523 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:41,880 witch like features, all nose and chin projecting at 1 end. 524 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:45,680 The dim glazed eyes staring from a discoloured and crumbling 525 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,600 face. The baronet had staggered back 526 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:52,560 with a cry and supported himself against a stone sarcophagus. 527 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:57,840 How came you to know of this? He cried, and then with some 528 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:01,920 return of his truculent manner. What business is it of yours? 529 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:05,240 My name is Sherlock Holmes, said my companion. 530 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:09,720 Possibly it is familiar to you. In any case, my business is that 531 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:12,560 of every other good citizen to uphold the law. 532 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:17,480 It seems to me that you have much to answer for, Sir. 533 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:21,080 Robert glared for a moment, but Holmes's quiet voice and cool, 534 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:25,560 assured manner had their effect. For God, Mr. Holmes, it's all 535 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,520 right, said he. Appearances are against me, I'll 536 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:30,840 admit, but I could act no otherwise. 537 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:35,600 I should be happy to think so that I fear your explanations 538 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,960 must be for the police. Sir Robert shrugged his broad 539 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,640 shoulders. Well, if it must be, it must 540 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,600 come up to the house, and you can judge for yourself how the 541 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:49,040 matter stands. Quarter of an hour later we 542 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:52,280 found ourselves in what I judge from the lines of polished 543 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:55,640 barrels behind glass covers, to be the gun room of the old 544 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:58,160 house. It was comfortably furnished. 545 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:00,920 And here Sir Robert left us for a few moments. 546 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:05,000 When he returned he had two companions with him, the one the 547 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,760 Florida young woman whom we had seen in the carriage, the other 548 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:12,560 a small rat faced man with a disagreeably furtive manner. 549 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:16,840 These two wore an appearance of utter bewilderment which showed 550 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:20,000 that the baronet had not yet had time to explain to them the turn 551 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:24,320 events had taken. There, said Sir Robert with a 552 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,120 wave of his hand, are Mr. and Missus Norlett. 553 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:31,320 Missus Norlett, under her maiden name of Evans, has for some 554 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:33,760 years been my sister's confidential maid. 555 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:38,040 I have brought them here because I feel that my best course is to 556 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:41,360 explain the true position to you, and they are the two people 557 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:43,760 upon earth who can substantiate what I say. 558 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,040 Is this necessary, Sir Robert? Have you thought what you are 559 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:49,760 doing? Cried the woman. 560 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:55,280 As to me, I entirely disclaim all responsibility, said her 561 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:57,960 husband. Sir Robert gave him a glance of 562 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,440 contempt. I will take all responsibility, 563 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:05,360 said he. Now, Mr. Holmes, listen to a 564 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:09,080 plain statement of the facts. You have clearly gone pretty 565 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,400 deeply into my affairs, or I should not have found you where 566 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:15,240 I did. Therefore you know already, in 567 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,960 all probability, that I am running a dark horse for the 568 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:21,360 Derby, and that everything depends upon my success. 569 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:26,720 If I win, all is easy. If I lose, well, I dare not 570 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:30,480 think of that. I understand the position, said 571 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:33,360 Holmes. I am dependent upon my sister 572 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,920 Lady Beatrice for everything, but it is well known that her 573 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:39,960 interest in the estate is for her own life only. 574 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:43,760 For myself, I am deeply in the hands of the Jews. 575 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:47,640 I have always known that if my sister were to die, my creditors 576 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:50,360 would be on to my estate like a flock of vultures. 577 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,520 Everything would be seized, my stables, my horses, everything. 578 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:59,160 Well, Mr. Holmes, my sister did die just a week ago. 579 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:04,480 And you told no one. What could I do? 580 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:08,760 Absolute ruin faced me. If I could stave things off for 581 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:12,080 three weeks, all would be well. Her maid's husband. 582 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:15,520 This man here is an actor. It came into our heads. 583 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,960 It came into my head that he could for that short period, 584 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:22,520 personate my sister. It was but a case of appearing 585 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:26,000 daily in the carriage, for no one need enter her room save a 586 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,199 maid. It was not difficult to arrange. 587 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,560 My sister died of the dropsy which had long afflicted her. 588 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:36,040 That will be for a coroner to decide. 589 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:39,840 Her doctor would certify that for months her symptoms had 590 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:43,520 threatened such an end. Well, what did you do? 591 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:48,400 The body could not remain there on the first night. 592 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:52,600 Naulit and I carried it out to the old well house, which is now 593 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:55,320 never used. We were followed, however, by 594 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:58,440 her pet spaniel, which yapped continually at the door. 595 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:01,080 So I felt some safer place was needed. 596 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:04,560 I got rid of the spaniel and we carried the body to the crypt of 597 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:07,280 the church. There was no indignity or 598 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:10,080 irreverence. Mr. Holmes, I do not feel that I 599 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,920 have wronged the dead. Your conduct seems to me 600 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:17,720 inexcusable, Sir Robert. The baronet shook his head 601 00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:21,520 impatiently. It is easy to preach, said he. 602 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:24,720 Perhaps you would have felt differently if you had been in 603 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:29,280 my position. 1 cannot see all one's hopes and all one's plans 604 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:32,920 shattered at the last moment, and make no effort to save them. 605 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:37,160 It seemed to me that it would be no unworthy resting place if we 606 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:40,160 put her for the time in one of the coffins of her husband's 607 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,760 ancestors, lying in what is still consecrated ground. 608 00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:49,360 We opened such a coffin, removed the contents, and placed her as 609 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:52,440 you have seen her. As to the old relics which we 610 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:55,520 took out, we could not leave them on the floor of the crypt. 611 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:59,560 Naulit and I removed them, and he descended at night and burned 612 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:03,720 them in that central furnace. There is my story, Mr. Holmes, 613 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:07,160 though how you forced my hand so that I have to tell it is more 614 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:11,200 than I can say. Holmes sat for some time, lost 615 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:14,840 in thought. There is one flaw in your 616 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:19,040 narrative, Sir Robert, he said. At last your bets on the race, 617 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:22,440 and therefore your hopes for the future, would hold good. 618 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:27,440 Even if your creditors seized your estate, the horse would be 619 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:30,680 part of the estate. Or do they care for my bets? 620 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:33,560 As likely as not they would not run him at all. 621 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:38,480 My chief creditor is unhappily my most bitter enemy, a rascally 622 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:42,520 fellow, Sam Brewer, whom I was once compelled to horse whip on 623 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:45,320 Newmarket Heath. Do you suppose that he would try 624 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:49,280 to save me? Well, Sir Robert, said Holmes 625 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:52,320 rising, this matter must of course, be referred to the 626 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,000 police. It was my duty to bring the 627 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:57,760 facts to light, and there I must leave it. 628 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:02,600 As to the morality or decency of your conduct, it is not for me 629 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:06,120 to express an opinion. It is nearly midnight Watson, 630 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:09,760 and I think we may make our way back to our humble abode. 631 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:16,720 It is generally known now that this singular episode ended upon 632 00:37:16,720 --> 00:37:19,680 a happier note than Sir Robert's actions deserved. 633 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:24,960 Shroscombe Prince did win the Derby, the sporting owner did 634 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:30,080 net 80,000 lbs in bets and the creditors did hold their hand 635 00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:33,840 until the race was over when they were paid in full and 636 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:37,240 enough was left to re establish Sir Robert in a fair position in 637 00:37:37,240 --> 00:37:40,240 life. Both police and coroner took a 638 00:37:40,240 --> 00:37:44,160 lenient view of the transaction and beyond a mild censure for 639 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:48,640 the delay in registering the ladies to cease, the lucky owner 640 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:52,280 got away scathless from this strange incident in a career 641 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:56,840 which has now outlived its shadows and promises to end in 642 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:02,160 an honoured old age. End of the adventure of 643 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:03,640 Shoscombe Old Place.