B9E2 - The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Book 9, Part 1, Episode 2

B9E2 - The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Book 9, Part 1, Episode 2 Title: The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes Overview: The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes is the final set of twelve (out of a total of fifty-six) Sherlock Holmes short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first published in the Strand Magazine between October 1921 and April 1927. In the United States, two of the short stories from The Case-Book, "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger" and "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place", are the last two Sherlock Holmes works by Doyle to enter the public domain on 1 January 2023, the year after the 95th anniversary of the stories' publication. The copyrights expired in 1980 in the United Kingdom and Canada. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes collection currently consists of 10 episodes née 8 chapters: B9E0 - Preface, B9E1 - The Adventure of the Illustrious Client - Part 1, B9E2 - The Adventure of the Illustrious Client - Part 2, B9E3 - The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier, B9E4 - The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone, B9E5 - The Adventure of the Three Gables, B9E6 - The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, B9E7 - The Adventure of the Three Garridebs, B9E8 - The Problem of Thor Bridge - Part 1, B9E9 - The Problem of Thor Bridge - Part 2, and B9E10 - The Adventure of the Creeping Man. Narration is pending for episodes née chapters 9 - 12 which have recently entered the public domain and are currently unavailable to listen to, but are included as placeholders here for completeness' sake until the recordings are available to be added to this collection: B9E11 - The Adventure of the Lion's Mane, B9E12 - The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger, B9E13 - The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place, and B9E14 - The Adventure of the Retired Colourman. Please note Racial Language particularly in "The Adventure of the Three Gables" includes explicit content and language which, though normal for the time it was written, is now regarded as highly unacceptable racial slurs, and anyone who finds this too offensive may wish to omit this story. Published: 1927 Series: Sherlock Holmes Complete Audiobook Collection, Sherlock Holmes #9 Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Genre: Detective, Detective Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Novel, Mystery, Detective Novel, Crime Fiction Episode: The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Book 9, Part 1, Episode 2 Part: 1 of 2 Length Part: 4:24:25 Book: 9 Length Book: 7:15:22 Episodes: 2 of 10 Length Episode: 30:22 Predecessor: His Last Bow Narrator: Ruth Golding Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: sherlock, holmes, sherlock holmes, detective, mystery, suspense, deduction, logic, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #sherlock #holmes #sherlockholmes #detective #mystery #suspense #deduction #logic #SirArthurConanDoyle Credits: All Legamus! Recordings are in the Public Domain No Copyright CC0 1.0 Universal License. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Ruth Golding.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Section 2 of the casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Sir.
Arthur Conan Doyle. This ligaments recording may be
distributed and adapted freely for any purpose.
The adventure of the illustriousclient part 2.
I think I stood stunned for somemoments.
Then. I have a confused recollection

(00:22):
of snatching at a paper of the remonstrance of the man whom I
had not paid. And finally of standing in the
doorway of a chemist shop. While I turned up the Fateful
paragraph, This was how it ran. We learn with regret that mr.
Sherlock Holmes, The well-known private detective was the victim

(00:43):
this morning of a murderous assault.
Which has left him in a precarious position.
There are no exact details to hand.
But the event seems to have occurred about 12:00 in Regent
Street outside the cafe. Royal the attack was made by two
men armed with sticks and mr. Holmes, was beaten about the

(01:04):
head and body receiving injuries, which the doctors
described, as most serious. He was carried to Charing.
Cross hospital and afterwards insisted upon being taken to his
room. In Baker Street.
The miscreants who attacked him appear to have been respectably
dressed, men, who escaped from the bystanders by passing

(01:24):
through the cafe Royal, and out into Glasshouse Street behind
it. No doubt.
They belonged to that criminal fraternity, which has so often
had occasion to bewail the activity and Ingenuity of the
injured, man. I need not say that my eyes had
hardly glanced over the paragraph before I had sprung

(01:45):
into a handsome and was on my way to Baker Street.
I found solicit oakeshott the famous surgeon in the hall and
his broom waiting at the curb. No, immediate danger was his
report to lacerated scalp woundsand some considerable bruises.
Several stitches have been necessary.

(02:06):
Morphine has been injected and quiet is essential, but an
interview of a few minutes wouldnot be absolutely forbidden.
With this permission, I stole into the darkened room.
The sufferer was wide awake and I heard my name in a horse.
Whisperer. The blind was 3/4 done but one
Ray of sunlight, slanted throughand struck the bandaged head of

(02:28):
the injured man. A crimson patch had soaked
through the white linen compris.I sat beside him and bent my
head. All right.
Watson don't look so scared. He muttered in a very weak.
Voice. It's not as bad as it seems.

(02:48):
Thank God for that. I'm a bit of a single Sue
expert. As you know, I took most of them
on my God. It was the second man.
That was too much for me. What can I do?
Haunt? Of course, it was that damned
fellow who set them on I'll go and thrash, the hide of him.

(03:09):
If you give the word good old Watson.
No, we couldn't do nothing there.
Unless the police laser hands onthe men, but the getaway had
been well, prepared. We may be sure of that.
Wait, a little, I have my plans.The first thing is to exaggerate

(03:34):
my injuries. They'll come to you for news of
what it on thick Watson lucky. If I lived.
We got a concussion delirium. What you like?
You can't overdo it. That's alessi oakeshott.
Oh, he's all right. He's all see the west side of

(03:57):
me. I look after that.
Anything else. Yes.
Tell should mold Johnson to get that girl out of the way.
Those Beauties will be after her.
Now. They know, of course that she
was with me. Me in the case.
If they dared to do me in it is not likely, they will neglect

(04:20):
her. That is urgent.
Do it tonight. I'll go.
Now anything more. Put my pipe on the table and the
tobacco slipper, right? Come in each morning, and we
will plan our campaign. I arranged with Johnson that

(04:42):
evening to take, miss winter to a quiet suburb and see that she
lay low, until the danger was past.
For six days, the public were under the impression that Holmes
was at the door of death. The bulletins were very grave
and there were Sinister paragraphs in the papers.

(05:02):
My continual visit to assured me, that it was not so bad as
that his worried Constitution and his determined will were
working wonders. He was recovering fast and I had
suspicions at times that he was really finding himself faster
than he pretends. Even to me, there was a curious

(05:23):
secretive streak in the man, which led to many dramatic
effects, but left even his closest friend guessing as to
what his exact plans might be. He pushed to an extreme.
The Axiom that the only save plotter was he, who plotted
alone? I was near a him than anyone

(05:43):
else. And yet, I was always conscious
of the gap between On the seventh day, the stitches were
taken out in spite of which there was a report of erysipelas
in the evening papers. The same evening papers had an
announcement, which I was bound sick or well to carry to my

(06:04):
friend. It was simply that among the
passengers on the Cunard boat. Ruritania starting from
Liverpool. On Friday, was the baron
adelbert gruner, who had some important Financial business to
settle? All in the States before his
impending wedding to miss Violette de merville, only
daughter of etcetera, Etc. Holmes listened to the news with

(06:29):
a cold concentrated look upon his pale face, which told me
that it hit him hard. Friday.
He cried. Only three.
Clear days. I believe the Rascal wants to
put himself out of dangers way, but he won't Watson by the Lord.
Harry won't now Watson. I want you to do something for

(06:53):
me. I am here to be used homes.
Well, then spend the next 24 hours in an intensive study of
Chinese pottery. He gave no explanations, and I
asked for none by long experience.
I had learned the wisdom of obedience.
But when I had left his room, I walked down Baker, Street

(07:16):
revolving, in my head. How on Earth I was to carry out?
So strange, an order. Finally, I drove to the London
Library and st. James's Square, put the matter
to my friend, Lomax the sub, librarian, and departed, to my
rooms with a goodly volume, under my arm.
It is said that the Barrister who crams up a case with such

(07:39):
care that he can examine an expert witness upon the Monday
has forgotten all his forced knowledge before the Saturday.
Certainly. I should not like now to pose as
an authority upon Ceramics and yet, to all that evening, and
all that night, with a short interval, for rest, and all next
morning. I was sucking in knowledge and

(08:00):
committing names to memory. There.
I learned of the Hallmarks of the great artists decorators of
the mystery of cyclical dates, the marks of the hongwu and the
beauties of the young low, the writings of Tang Yin and the
glories of the Primitive period of the song and the Yuan, I was

(08:21):
charged with all this information, when I called upon
Holmes next evening. He was out of bed.
Now though, you would not have guessed it from the published
reports and he sat His much bandaged head resting upon his
hand, in the depths of his favorite armchair, High homes.
I said if one believed the papers you are dying.

(08:44):
That said, he is the very impression which I intended to
convey and now Watson have you learned your lessons?
At least I have tried to good. You could keep up an intelligent
conversation on the The subject,I believe I could, then hand me

(09:07):
that little box from the mantelpiece.
He opened the lid and took out asmall object.
Most carefully wrapped in some fine Eastern silk this, he
unfolded and disclosed, a delicate little saucer of the
most beautiful deep blue color. It needs careful handling

(09:29):
Watson. This is the real.
She'll Pottery of the Ming Dynasty.
No finer piece, ever passed through Christie's, a complete
set of this would be worth a king's Ransom.
In fact, it is doubtful. If there is a complete set
outside, the Imperial Palace of picking the sight of this would

(09:52):
drive a real connoisseur wild. What am I to do with it?
Holmes, handed me a card upon which was printed.
Dr. Hill Barton, 369, Halfmoon street.
That is your name for the evening Watson.
You will call upon Baron gruner.I know something of his habits

(10:18):
and at 8:30, he would probably be disengaged a note will tell
him in advance that you are about to call.
And you will say that you are bringing.
Him a specimen of an absolutely unique set of Ming China.
You may as well be a medical mansince that is a part which you

(10:40):
could play without duplicity. You are a collector.
This set has come your way. You have heard of the Barons
interest in the subject and you are not averse to selling at a
price. What, price?
Well asked, what's you would certainly fall down badly?

(11:00):
If you did not know the value ofyour own words.
This saucer was got for me by Sir, James and comes.
I understand from the collectionof his client.
You will not exaggerate if you say that, it could hardly be
matched in the world. I could perhaps suggest that the

(11:21):
set should be valued by an expert.
Excellent Watson, you will scintillate to do suggest
Christie or sutherby, your delicacy prevents.
You're putting a price for yourself.
But if he won't see me, oh, yes,he will see you.

(11:43):
He has the collection. Many are in its most acute form
and especially This subject on, which he is an acknowledged
Authority, sit down Watson, and I will dictate the letter.
No answer needed. You will merely say that you're
coming. And why?
It was an admirable document short courteous and stimulating

(12:07):
to the Curiosity of The Connoisseur.
A district messenger was duly dispatched with it on the same
evening with the pressure sorcerer in my hand and the card
of dr. Hill Barton, in my pocket.
I set off on my own adventure. The beautiful house in Grand
indicated that Baron gruner was our surge Ames had said a man of

(12:29):
considerable wealth, a long winding drive, with banks of
rare shrubs on either side opened out into a great,
graveled Square adorned with statues.
The place had been built by a South African gold King in the
days of the great boom, and the long low house with the turret
at the corners though. An architectural nightmare was

(12:52):
imposing. In its size and solidity, a
butler, who would have adorned abench of Bishops showed me in
and handed me over to a plush Cloud footman, who ushered me
into the Barons presence. He was standing at the open
front of a great case, which stood between the windows and
which contained part of his Chinese collection.

(13:14):
He turned, as I entered with a small brand fires in his hand.
Paste it down. Doctor said he, I was looking
over my own treasures and wondering whether I could really
afford to add to them. This little Tang specimen which
dates from the seventh century would probably interest you.

(13:37):
I am sure you never saw final workmanship or richer glazed.
Have you the Ming saucer with you offered you spoke?
I carefully unpacked it and handed it to him.
He seated himself at his desk, pulled over the lamp for it was
growing dark and set himself to examine it.

(14:00):
As he did, so the yellow light beat upon his own features, and
I was able to study them at my ears.
He was certainly a remarkably handsome man.
His European reputation for beauty was fully deserved in
figure. He was not more than of
middle-sized, but was built upongraceful and active lines.

(14:23):
His face was swarthy almost Oriental with large dark
languorous eyes, which might easily hold an irresistible
Fascination for women. His hair and Moustache were
raven black, the latter short, pointed and carefully.
Waxed his features were regular and pleasing.

(14:45):
Save only his straight thin-lipped mouth.
If Ever I saw a murder as mouth.It.
Was there a cruel. Hard gash.
In the face. Compressed inexorable and
terrible. He was ill-advised to train his
mustache away from it for, it was Nature's danger, signal set,

(15:06):
as a warning to his victims. His voice was engaging and his
manners. Perfect in age.
I should have put him at little over 30, though.
His record afterwards showed that he was 42.
Very fine, very fine. Indeed.
He said at last and you say you have a set of six to correspond.

(15:32):
What puzzles me is that I shouldnot have heard of such
magnificent specimens. I only know of one in England to
match this and it is certainly not likely to be in the market.
Would it be Indiscreet if I wereto ask?
Ask your doctor. He'll Barson how you obtained
is. Does it really matter?

(15:56):
I asked with us careless and areas I could muster, you can see
that the piece is genuine. And as to the value, I am
content to take an expert's valuation.
They are a mysterious said, he was a quick suspicious, flash of
his dark eyes in dealing with objects of such a value of, are

(16:18):
naturally, wishes to know all about the transaction.
That the pieces genuine is certain.
I have no doubts at all about that.
But suppose I am bond to take every possibility into account,
that it should pull the afterwards that you had.

(16:39):
No right to sell. I would guarantee you against
any claim of the sort. That of course, would open up
the question as to what your guarantee was worth.
My Bankers would answer that quite so and yet the whole

(17:00):
transaction strikes me as hot unusual, you can do business or
not said, I within different. I have given you the first offer
As I understood that you are a connoisseur, but I shall have no
difficulty in other quarters. Who told you I was a
connoisseur? I was aware that you had written

(17:21):
a book upon the subject. Have you hide the book?
Nah, GM me. This becomes more and more
difficult for me to understand you are a connoisseur and
collector with a very valuable piece in your collection and yet
you have never troubled to consult the one book which would

(17:43):
have told you of the real meaning.
And value of what you held. How do you explain that?
I'm a very busy man. I'm a doctor in practice.
That is no answer. If a man has a hobby, he follows
it up. Whatever his other Pursuits.
Maybe you said in your note thatyou are a connoisseur.

(18:06):
So I am might I ask you a few questions to test you.
I am obliged to tell you doctor.If you are indeed a doctor that
the incident becomes more and more suspicious.
I would ask you what do you knowof the emperor Shamu?

(18:29):
And how do you associate him with the show?
So in the inara? Tammy, does that puzzle?
You tell me a little about the non hand weighed in a city and
its place in the history of Ceramics.
I sprang from my chair and simulated anger.
This is intolerable sir. Said, I I came here to do you a

(18:53):
favor and not to be examined as if I were a Schoolboy.
My knowledge on this subject maybe second only to your own, but
I certainly shall not answer questions which have Putting so
offensive away. He looked at me steadily.
The languor had gone from his eyes.
They suddenly glared. There was a gleam of teeth from

(19:15):
between those cruel lips. But if the game you are here as
a spy, you are an MSI of homes. This is a take that you are
playing upon me. The fellow is dying.
I hear. So he sent his tools to keep
watch upon me. You've made your vein here
without leave. And by God, you may find Harder

(19:36):
to get out than to get in. He had sprung to his feet and I
stepped back. Bracing myself for an attack,
for the man was beside himself with rage.
He may have suspected me from the first certainly, this
cross-examination had shown him the truth, but it was clear that
I could not hope to deceive him.He dived his hand into a side

(19:59):
draw and rummaged furiously. Then something struck upon his
here for. He stood, listening intently.
Ah, He cried ah, and dashed intothe room behind him.
Two steps took me to the open door and my mind will ever carry
a clear picture of the scene within the window leading out to

(20:19):
the Garden was wide open beside it looking like some terrible.
Ghost, his head Girt with bloodybandages, his face drawn, and
white, stood Sherlock, Holmes. The next instant.
He was through the Gap and I heard the crash of his body
along. Laurel bushes outside with a
howl of Rage, the Master of the House, rushed after him to the

(20:42):
open window and then it was donein an instant.
And yet, I clearly saw it an arma woman's arm shot out from
among the leaves. At the same instant the baron
uttered, a horrible cry, a yell,which will always ring in my
memory. He clapped his two hands to his

(21:04):
face and rushed around the room.I'm beating his head horribly
against the walls. Then he fell upon the carpet
rolling and writhing, while Scream After scream, resounded
through the house or daughter for God's sake.
Water was his cry. I seized a corrupt from a side

(21:24):
table and rushed to his Aid at the same moment.
The Buckler and several footman ran in from the hall.
I remember that one of them fainted as I note by the injured
man and turned that awful face to the I took the lamp.
The vitriol was eating into it everywhere and dripping from the
ears. And the chin one.

(21:45):
I was already Whited glazed. The other was red and inflamed
the features, which I had admired, a few minutes before
when I like some beautiful painting of a, which the artist
has passed away wet and fouls sponge.
They were blurred discolored. Inhuman, terrible.

(22:10):
In a few words, I explained exactly what had occurred so far
as the vitriol attack was concerned.
Some had climbed through the window and others had rushed out
onto the lawn, but it was dark and it had begun to rain between
his screams, the victim, raged and raved against the Avenger.
It was Kitty's into he cried that She-Devil, she shall pay.

(22:39):
A for it. She shall pay.
Oh God. In heaven.
Is pain is more than I can bear.I bathed his face in oil, put
Cotton wadding On The Raw surfaces and administered.
A hypodermic of Mafia. All suspicion of me, had passed
from his mind in the presence ofthis shock.

(23:01):
And he clung to my hands as if Imight have the power even yet to
clear those dead fish eyes, which blazed up at me.
I could have wept over the ruin had, I not remembered very
clearly the vile life, which hadled up to so hideous, a change.
It was loathesome to feel the pouring of his burning hands.

(23:25):
And I was relieved, when his family surgeon closely followed
by a specialist, came to relieveme of my charge, an inspector of
police had also arrived. And to him.
I handed my real card. It would have been useless as
well as foolish to do. Otherwise for.
I was nearly as well known by sight at the yard as Holmes

(23:46):
himself. Then I left that house of gloom
and Terror within an hour. I was at Baker Street.
Holmes was seated in his familiar chair, looking very
pale and exhausted apart from his injuries.
Even his iron nerves had been shocked by the events of the

(24:07):
evening and he listened with horror to my account of the
Barons transformation, the wagesof sin, Watson, the wages of sin
said he sooner or later, it willalways come God knows there was
sin enough. He added taking up a brand

(24:29):
volume from the table. Here is the book.
The Woman talked of if this willnot break off the marriage,
nothing ever could, but it will Watson.
It must? No, self-respecting woman.
Could stand it. It is his love diary or his

(24:52):
lust, diary. Call it what you will.
The moment the woman told us of it.
I realized what a tremendous weapon was there if we could,
but lay our hands on it. I said nothing at the time to
indicate my thoughts for this woman might have given it away.

(25:12):
But I brooded over it. Then this assault upon me, gave
me the chance of letting the baron think that no precautions,
need to be taken against me. That was all to the good, I
would have waited a little longer, but his visit to America
forced my hand. He would never have left.

(25:36):
So compromising a document behind him.
Therefore, we had to act at onceburglary at night.
Is impossible. He takes precautions, but there
was a chance in the evening if Icould only be sure that his
attention was engaged. That was where you and your blue

(25:57):
sorcerer came in, but I had to be sure of the position of the
book and I knew I had only a fewminutes in which to act for my
time was limited by your knowledge of Chinese Pottery.
Therefore. I gathered the girl up at the
last moment. How could I guess what the

(26:17):
little packet was that. She carried so carefully under
her cloak, I saw. Thought she had come all
together on my business, but it seems she has some of her own.
He guessed. I came from you.
I feared, he would, but you heldhim in play.

(26:41):
Just long enough for me to get the book though.
Not long enough for an unobserved escape.
Ah, so James, I am very glad youhave come our courtly friend had
appeared in answer to a previoussummons.
He listened with the deepest attention to Holmes's account of

(27:03):
what had Cat, yo, have done wonders wonders.
He cried when he had heard the narrative.
But if these injuries are as terrible as dr.
Watson describes, then. Surely our purpose of thwarting.
The marriage is sufficiently gain.
Without the use of this horriblebook Holmes shook his head.

(27:28):
Women of the de merville type, do not act like that.
She would love him the more as adisfigured martyr.
No. No, it is his moral side, not
his physical, which we have to destroy that book will bring her
back to Earth and I know nothingelse.

(27:51):
That could it is in his own writing.
She cannot get past it. So James carried away, both it
and the precious saucer. As I was myself overdue, I went
done with him into the street. A Brougham was waiting for him.

(28:13):
He sprang in gave A hurried ordered to The cockaded Coachman
and drove swiftly away. He flung his Overcoat half out
of the window to cover. The armorial bearings upon the
panel, but I had seen them in the glare of our fanlight.
Nonetheless. I gasped with surprise.
Then I turned back and descendedthe Two homes is room.

(28:37):
I have found out who our client is.
I cried bursting, with my great news.
Why homes? It is?
It is a loyal friend. And a chivalrous gentleman said,
Holmes holding up a restraining hand, let that now and forever
be enough for us. I do not know how the

(29:00):
incriminating book was used. So James may have managed it or
it is more probable that. So delicate task was entrusted
to the young lady's father. The effect at any rate was all
that could be desired three dayslater appeared a paragraph in
the morning post to say that themarriage between Baron adelbert

(29:22):
gruner and Miss Violette de merville would not take place.
The same paper had the first police court hearing of the
proceedings against Miss Kitty winter on the grave charge of
vitriol throwing such extenuating circumstances.
Came out in the trial that the sentences will be remembered was

(29:44):
the lowest it was possible for such an offense.
Sherlock Holmes was threatened with a prosecution for burglary,
but when an object is good and aclient is sufficiently Yes, even
the rigid, British law becomes human and elastic.
My friend has not yet stood in the dark.

(30:08):
End of the adventure of the illustrious client.
End of the adventure of the illustrious client.