Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Section eleven of the Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in the
public domain. Read by Thomas Copeland, Story eleven, The Adventure
of Shoscombe Old Place. Sherlock Holmes had been bending for
a long time over a low power microscope. Now he
straightened himself up and looked round at me in triumph.
(00:24):
It is glue, Watson said he unquestionably, it is glue.
I have a look at these scattered objects in the field.
I stooped to the eye piece and focused for my vision.
Those hairs are threads from a tweed coat. The irregular
gray masses or dust. There are epithelial scales on the left.
(00:45):
Those brown blobs in the center are undoubtedly glue, well,
I said, laughing. I am prepared to take your word
for it. Does anything depend upon it? It is a
very fine demonstration, he answered. In the Saint Pancra's case,
you may remember that a cap was found beside the
dead policeman. The accused man denies that it is his,
(01:09):
but he is a picture frame maker who habitually handles glue.
Is it one of your cases? No, my friend, Maryvale
of the yard asked me to look into the case.
Since I ran down that corner by the zinc and
copper filings in the seam of his cuff, they have
begun to realize the importance of the microscope. He looked
(01:31):
impatiently at his watch. I had a new client calling,
but he is overdue. By the way, Watson, you know
something of racing, I ought to. I pay for it
with about half of my wound pension. Then I'll make
you my handy guide to the turf. What about Sir
Robert Norriton? Does the name recall anything? Well, I should
(01:54):
say so. He lives at Shoscombe Old Place and I
know it well, for my summers were down there once.
Norburton nearly came within your province once. How is that?
It was when he horsewhipped Sam Brewer, the well known
Curzon Street money lender on Newmarket Heath. He nearly killed
the man. Ah, he sounds interesting. Does he often indulge
(02:18):
in that way? Well? He has the name of being
a dangerous man. He is about the most Dare devil
rider in England, second in the Grand National a few
years back. He is one of those men who have
overshot their true generation. He should have been a buck
in the days of the regency, a boxer, an athlete,
a plunger on the turf, a lover of fair ladies,
(02:40):
and by all account, so far down Queer Street, that
he may never find his way back again. Capital Watson
a thumbnail sketch. I seem to know the man. Now.
Can you give me some idea of Shoscombe Old Place?
Only that it is in the center of Shoscombe Park,
and that the famous Shoscombe stud and Training corps are
(03:00):
to be found there. And the head trainer, said Holmes,
is John Mason. You need not look surprised at my knowledge, Watson,
for this is a letter from him which I am unfolding.
But let us have some more about Shoscombe. I seem
to have struck a rich vein. There are the Shoscombe Spaniels,
said I. You hear of them at every dog show,
(03:22):
the most exclusive breed in England. They are the special
pride of the lady of Shoscombe Old Place, Sir Robert
Norberton's wife. I presume Sir Robert has never married, and
just as well, I think, considering his prospects, he lives
with his widowed sister, Lady Beatrice Falder. You mean that
she lives with him? No? No, the place belonged to
(03:44):
her late husband, Sir James Norberton has no claim on
it at all. It is only a life interest and
reverts to her husband's brother. Meantime, she draws the rents
every year, and brother Robert, I suppose, spends the said rents.
That is about the size of it. He is a
devil of a fellow and must lead her our most
(04:05):
uneasy life. Yet I have heard that she is devoted
to him. But what is amiss at Choscombe? Ah, that
is just what I want to know. And here I
expect is the man who can tell us. The door
had opened, and the page had shown in a tall,
clean shaven man with the firm, austere expression which is
only seen upon those who have to control horses or boys.
(04:29):
Mister John Mason had many of both under his sway,
and he looked equal to the task. He bowed with
cold self possession, and seated himself upon the chair to
which Holmes had waived him. You had my note, mister Holmes, Yes,
but it explained nothing. It was too delicate a thing
for me to put the details on paper and too complicated.
(04:51):
It was only face to face I could do it. Well,
we are at your disposal. First of all, mister Holmes,
I think that my employer, Sir Robert, has gone mad.
Holmes raised his eyebrows. This is Baker Street, not Harley Street,
said he. But why do you say so? Well, sir,
When a man does one queer thing or two queer things,
(05:13):
there may be a meaning to it. But when everything
he does is queer, then you begin to wonder. I
believe Shoscombe, Prince and the Darby have turned his brain.
That is a colt. You are running the best in England,
mister Holmes. I should know if any one does now,
I'll be plain with you, for I know you are
a gentleman of honor, and that it won't go beyond
(05:33):
the room. Sir Robert has got to win this derby.
He's up to the neck and it's his last chance.
Everything he could raise or borrow is on the horse,
and at fine odds too. You can get forties now,
but it was nearer the hundred when he began to
back him. But how is that if the horse is
so good? The public don't know how good he is,
(05:56):
Sir Robert has been too clever for the touts. He
as the Prince's half brother. Out for spins. You can't
tell him apart, but there are two lengths in a
furlong between them. When it comes to a gallop, he
thinks of nothing but the horse and the race. His
whole life is on it. He is holding off the
jews till then if the Prince fails him, he is done.
(06:19):
It seems a rather desperate gamble. But where does the
madness come in. Well, first of all, you'll have to
look at him. I don't believe he sleeps at night.
He is down at the stables at all hours. His
eyes are wild. It has all been too much for
his nerves. Then there is his conduct to Lady Beatrice. Ah,
(06:40):
what is that? They have always been the best of friends.
They have the same tastes, the two of them. And
she loved the horses as much as he did. Every day,
at the same hour she would drive down to see them.
And above all she loved the Prince. He would prick
up his ears when he heard the wheels on the gravel,
and he would trot out each morning to the carriage
(07:00):
to get his lump of sugar. But that's all over now.
Why well, she seems to have lost all interest in
the horses. For a week now she has driven past
the stables with never so much as good morning. You
think there has been a quarrel and a bitter, savage,
spiteful quarrel at that. Why else would he give away
(07:22):
a pet spaniel that she loved us if he were
a child. He gave it away a few days ago
to old Barnes. What keeps the green dragon? Three miles
off at Crendall? That certainly did seem strange. Of course,
with her weak heart and dropsy, one couldn't expect that
she could get about with him. But he spent two
(07:42):
hours every evening in her room. He might well do
what he could, for she has been a rare good
friend to him. But that's all over too. He never
goes nearer, and she takes it to heart. She is
brooding and sulky and drinking mister Home, drinking like a fish.
(08:03):
Did she drink before this estrangement? Well she took her glass,
but now it is often a whole bottle of an evening.
So Stevens, the butler told me, it's all changed mister Holmes,
and there is something damned rotten about it. But then again,
what is Master doing down at the old church crypt
at night? And who is the man that meets him there?
(08:27):
Holmes rubbed his hands. Go on, mister Mason, you get
more and more interesting. It was the butler who saw
him go twelve o'clock at night and raining hard. So
next night I was up at the house and sure
enough Master was off again. Stevens and I went after him.
But it was jumpy work, for it would have been
(08:48):
a bad job if he had seen us. He's a
terrible man with his fists if he gets started, and
no respector of persons, so we were shy of getting
too near, but we marked him down all right. It
was the haunted crypt that he was making for, and
there was a man waiting for him there. What is
this haunted crypt? Well, sir, there is an old, ruined
(09:12):
chapel in the park. It is so old that nobody
could fix its date, and under it there's a crypt
which is a bad name among us. It's a dark, damp,
lonely place by day, but there are few in that
county that would have the nerve to go near it
at night. But the Master's not afraid. He never feared
anything in his life. But what is he doing there
(09:35):
in the night time? Wait a bit, said Holmes. You
say there is another man there. It must be one
of your own stable men, or some one from the house.
Surely you have only to spot who it is and
question him. It's no one I know. How can you
say that? Because I have seen him, mister Holmes. It
(09:57):
was on that second night Sir Robert turned pasted us,
Me and Stevens quaking in the bushes like two bunny rabbits.
For there was a bit of moon that night, but
we could hear the other moving about behind. We were
not afraid of him, So we up when mister Robert
was gone, and pretended we were just having a walk
like in the moonlight. And so we came right on
(10:19):
him as casual and innocent as you please. Hullo, mate,
who may you be? Says I? I guess he had
not heard his coming. So he looked over his shoulder
with a face as if he had seen the devil
coming out of hell. He let out a yell, and
away he went as hard as he could lick it
in the darkness. He could run I'll give him that.
(10:40):
In a minute he was out of sight and hearing.
And who he was or what he was, we never found.
But you saw him clearly in the moonlight. Yes, I
would swear to his yellow face a mean dog. I
should say, what could he have in common with Sir Robert?
Holmes sat for some time, lost in thought. Who keeps
(11:01):
lady Beatrice folder company? He asked? At last? There is
her maid, Carrie Evans. She has been with her this
five years and is no doubt devoted. Mister Mason shuffled uncomfortably.
She's devoted enough, he answered at last. But I won't
say to whom, Ah said Holmes. I can't tell tales
(11:24):
out of school. I quite understand, mister Mason. Of course,
the situation is clear enough from doctor Watson's description of
Sir Robert. I can realize that no woman is safe
from him. Don't you think the quarrel between brother and
sister may lie there? Well? The scandal has been pretty
clear for a long time, but she may not have
(11:46):
seen it before. Let us suppose that she has suddenly
found it out. She wants to get rid of the woman.
Her brother will not permit it. The invalid with her
weak heart and inability to get about, has no means
of enforcing her will. The hated maid is still tied
to her. The lady refuses to speak, Sulks, takes to drink.
(12:09):
Sir Robert, in his anger, takes her pet spaniel away
from her. Does not all this hang together? Well, it
might do so far as it goes, exactly as far
as it goes. How would all that bear upon the
visits by night to the old crypt. We can't fit
that into our plot, no, sir. And there is something
(12:34):
more that I can't fit in. Why should Sir Robert
want to dig up a dead body? Holmes sat up abruptly.
We only found it out yesterday after I had written
to you. Yesterday, Sir Robert had gone to London, so
Stephens and I went down to the crypt. It was
all in order, sir, except that in one corner was
(12:54):
a bit of a human body. You informed the police,
I suppose our visitor smiled grimly. Well, Sir, I think
it would hardly interest them. It was just the head
and a few bones of a mummy. It may have
been a thousand years old, but it wasn't there before that.
(13:14):
I'll swear and so will Stevens. It had been stowed
away in a corner and covered over with a board,
but that corner had always been empty before. What did
you do with it? Well, we just left it there.
That was wise, you say, Sir Robert was away yesterday.
As he returned, we expect him back to day. When
(13:37):
did Sir Robert give away his sister's dog? It was
just a week ago to day. The creature was howling
outside the old well house, and Sir Robert was in
one of his tantrums that morning. He caught it up,
and I thought he would have killed it. Then he
gave it to Sandy Bay, the jockey, and told him
to take the dog to Old Barnes at the Green Dragon,
(13:59):
for he never wish to see it again. Holmes sat
for some time in silent thought. He had lit the
oldest and foulest of his pipes. I am not clear
yet what you want me to do in this matter,
mister Mason, he said, at last, can't you make it
more definite? Perhaps this will make it more definite, mister Elmes,
(14:22):
said our visitor. He took a paper from his pocket, and,
unwrapping it carefully, he exposed a charred fragment of bone.
Holmes examined it with interest. Where did you get it?
There is a central heating furnace in the cellar under
Lady Beatrice's room. It's been off for some time, but
Sir Robert complained of cold and had it on again.
(14:44):
Harvey runs it. He's one of my lads. This very
morning he came to me with this, which he found
raking out the cinders. He didn't like the look of it,
nor do I said Holmes, What do you make of it? Watson?
It was burned to al black cinder, but there could
be no question as to its anatomical significance. It's the
(15:05):
upper condyle of a human Femur, said I exactly. Holmes
had become very serious. When does this lad tend to
the furnace? He makes it up every evening and then
leaves it. Then any one could visit it during the night, Yes, sir,
Can you enter it from outside? There is one door
(15:28):
from outside. There is another which leads up by a
stair to the passage in which Lady Beatrice's room is situated.
These are deep waters, mister Mason, deep and rather dirty.
You say that Sir Robert was not at home last night, no, sir.
Then whoever was burning bones? It was not he, that's true, sir.
(15:51):
What is the name of that inn you spoke of?
The Green Dragon? Is there good fishing in that part
of Berkshire? The honest trainer showed very clearly upon his
face that he was convinced that yet another lunatic had
come into his Harris life. Well, sir, I've heard there
are trout in the mill stream and pike in the
(16:12):
Hall Lake. That's good enough. Watson and I are famous fishermen,
are we not. Watson? You may address us in future
at the Green Dragon. We should reach it to night.
I need not say that we don't want to see you,
mister Mason, but a note will reach us, and no
doubt I could find you if I want you. When
we have gone a little farther into the matter, I
(16:34):
will let you have a considered opinion. Thus it was
that on a bright May evening, Holmes and I found
ourselves alone in a first class carriage and bound for
the little halt on demand station of Shoscombe. The rack
above us was covered with a formidable litter of rods,
reels and baskets. On reaching our destination. A short drive
(16:57):
took us to an old fashioned tavern, whereas courting host
Josiah Barnes entered eagerly into our plans for the extirpation
of the fish of the neighborhood. What about the Hall
Lake and the chance of a pike, said Holmes, The
face of the innkeeper clouded. That wouldn't do, sir. You
(17:17):
might chance to find yourself in the lake before you
were through. How's that? Then? It's Sir Roberts. Sir, he's
terrible jealous of touts. If you two strangers were as
near as training quarters as that, he'd be after you.
Sure as fate. He ain't taken no chances, Sir Robert, ain't.
I've heard he has a horse entered for the Derby, Yes,
(17:41):
and a good colt too. He carries all our money
for the race, and all, Sir Roberts into the bargain.
By the way he looked at us with thoughtful eyes,
I suppose you ain't on the turf yourselves. No, indeed,
just two weary Londoners who badly need some good Berkshire air. Well,
(18:01):
you are in the right place for that. There's a
deal of it. Lyin a boat. But mind what I
have told you about Sir Robert. He's the sort that
strikes first and speaks afterwards. Keep clear of the park, surely,
mister Barnes, we certainly shall. By the way, that was
a most beautiful spaniel that was whining in the hall.
(18:25):
I should say it was. That was the real Chascumbride.
There ain't a better in England. I'm a dog fancier myself,
said Holmes. Now, if it is a fair question, what
would a prize dog like that cost more than I
could pay? Sir? It was Sir Robert himself who gave
me this one. That's why I have to keep it
(18:47):
on a lead. It would be off to the hall
in a jiffy if I gave it its head. We
are getting some cards in our hand, Watson, said Holmes,
when the landlord had left us. It is not an
easy one to play, but we may see our way
in a day or two. By the way, Sir Robert
is still in London. I hear we might perhaps enter
(19:10):
the sacred domain to night without fear of bodily assault.
There are one or two points on which I should
like reassurance. Have you any theory homes only this, Watson,
that something happened a week or so ago which has
cut deep into the life of the Shoscombe household. Wood.
Is that something? We can only guess at it from
(19:32):
its effects. They seem to be of a curiously mixed character.
But that should surely help us. It is only the colorless,
uneventful case which is hopeless. Let us consider our data.
The brother no longer visits the beloved, invalid sister. He
gives away her favorite dog, her dog, Watson. Does that
(19:54):
suggest nothing to you, nothing but the brother's spite? Well
it might be so, or well there is an alternative.
Now to continue our review of the situation. From the
time that the quarrel, If there is a quarrel began,
the lady keeps to her room, alters her habits, is
not seen save when she drives out with her maid,
(20:17):
refuses to stop at the stables to greet her favorite horse,
and apparently takes to drink that covers the case. Does
it not save for the business in the crypt? That
is another line of thought. There are two, and I
beg you will not tangle them. Line A which concerns
Lady Beatrice has a vaguely sinister flavor, has it not?
(20:42):
I can make nothing of it. Well, now let us
take up line B, which concerns Sir Robert. He is
mad keen upon winning the derby. He is in the
hands of the Jews, and may at any moment be
sold up and his racing stables seized by his creditors.
He is a daring and desperate man. He derives his
(21:03):
income from his sister. His sister's maid is his willing tool.
So far we seem to be on fairly safe ground,
do we not, But the crypt ah, yes, the crypt
Let us suppose, Watson, it is merely a scandalous supposition,
a hypothesis put forward for argument. Say that Sir Robert
has done away with his sister. Why, dear Holmes, it
(21:26):
is out of the question, very possibly, Watson, Sir Robert
is a man of an honorable stock. But you do
occasionally find a carrion crow among the eagles. Let us
for a moment argue upon this supposition. He could not
fly the country until he had realized his fortune, and
that fortune could only be realized by bringing off this
(21:49):
coup with Shoscombe Prince. Therefore, he has still to stand
his ground to do this he would have to dispose
of the body of his victim, and he would also
have to find a substitute who would impersonate her with
the maid is his confidante. That would not be impossible.
The woman's body might be conveyed to the crypt, which
(22:11):
is a place so seldom visited, and it might be
secretly destroyed at night in the furnace, leaving behind it
such evidence as we have already seen. What say you
to that Watson, Well, it is all possible if you
grant the original monstrous supposition. I think that there is
a small experiment which we may try to morrow Watson,
(22:34):
in order to throw some light on the matter. Meanwhile,
if we mean to keep up our characters, I suggest
that we have our host in for a glass of
his own wine and hold some high converse upon eels
and dace, which seems to be the straight road to
his affections. We may chance to come upon some useful
local gossip in the process. In the morning, Holmes discovered
(22:59):
that we had come without our spoon bait for Jack,
which absolved us from fishing for the day. About eleven
o'clock we started for a walk, and he obtained leave
to take the black spaniel with us. This is the place,
said he, as we came to two high park gates
with heraldic griffins towering above them. About midday, mister Barnes
(23:21):
informs me the old lady takes a drive and the
carriage must slow down while the gates are opened when
it comes through, and before it gathers speed. I want you, Watson,
to stop the coachman with some question. Never mind me.
I shall stand behind this holly bush and see what
I can see. It was not a long vigil. Within
(23:43):
a quarter of an hour we saw the big open
yellow barouche coming down the long avenue with two splendid,
high stepping gray carriage horses in the shafts. Holmes crouched
behind his bush with the dog. I stood unconcernedly swinging
a cane in the roadway. A keep ran out and
the gates swung open. The carriage had slowed to a walk,
(24:04):
and it was able to get a good look at
the occupants. A highly colored young woman with flaxen hair
and impudent eyes sat on the left. At her right
was an elderly person with rounded back and a huddle
of shawls about her face, and shoulders, which proclaimed the invalid.
When the horses reached the high road, I held up
my hand with an authoritative gesture, and as the coachman
(24:27):
pulled up, I inquired if Sir Robert was at Shoscomol Place.
At the same moment, Holmes stepped out and released the
spaniel with a joyous cry. It dashed forward to the
carriage and sprang upon the step. Then in a moment,
its eager greeting changed to furious rage, and it snapped
at the black skirt above it. Drive on, drive On,
(24:50):
shrieked a harsh voice. The coachman lashed the horses and
we were left standing in the roadway. Well, Watson, that's done, it,
said Holmes, as he fastened the lead to the neck
of the excited spaniel. He thought it was his mistress,
and he found it was a stranger. Dogs don't make mistakes,
(25:11):
but it was the voice of a man. I cried, exactly.
We have added one card to our hand, Watson, but
it needs careful playing. All the same, my companion seemed
to have no further plans for the day, and we
did actually use our fishing tackle in the mill stream,
with the result that we had a dishured trout for
(25:31):
our supper. It was only after that meal that homes
showed signs of renewed activity. Once more, we found ourselves
upon the same road as in the morning, which led
us to the park gates. A tall, dark figure was
awaiting us there who proved to be our London acquaintance,
mister John Mason, the trainer. Good evening gentlemen, said he
(25:51):
I got your note, mister Holmes. Sir Robert has not
returned yet, but I hear that he is expected to night.
How far is this crypt from the house, asked Holmes.
A good quarter of a mile. Then I think we
can disregard him altogether. I can't afford to do that,
mister Holmes. The moment he arrives he will want to
(26:12):
see me to get the latest news of Shoscombe Prince.
I see. In that case, we must work without you.
Mister Mason. You can show us the crypt and then
leave us. It was pitch dark and without a moon,
but Mason led us over the grass lands until a
dark mass loomed up in front of us, which proved
to be the ancient chapel. We entered the broken gap,
(26:35):
which was once the porch, and our guide, stumbling among
heaps of loose masonry, picked his way to the corner
of the building, where a steep stair led down into
the crypt. Striking a match, he illuminated the melancholy place,
dismal and evil, spelling with ancient crumbling walls of rough
hewn stone, and piles of coffins, some of lead and
(26:57):
some of stone, extending upon one side right up to
the arched and groined roof, which lost itself in the
shadows above our heads. Holmes had lit his lantern, which
shot a tiny tunnel of vivid yellow light upon the
mournful scene. Its rays were reflected back from the coffin plates,
many of them adorned with the griffon and coronet of
(27:17):
this old family, which carried its honors even to the
gate of death. You spoke of some bones, mister Mason,
Could you show them before you go? They are here
in this corner. The trainer strode across, and then stood
in silent surprise as our light was turned upon the place.
They're gone, said he, So I expected, said Holmes, chuckling.
(27:41):
I fancy the ashes of them might even now be
found in that oven which has already consumed a part.
But why in the world would any one want to
burn the bones of a man who has been dead
for a thousand years, asked John Mason. That is what
we are here to find out, said Holmes. It may
mean a long search, and we need not detain you.
(28:04):
I fancy that we shall get our solution before morning.
When John Mason had left us, Holmes set to work
making a very careful examination of the graves, ranging from
a very ancient one which appeared to be Saxon in
the center, through a long line of Norman Hugo's and Odo's,
until we reached the Sir William and Sir Denis Falder
(28:26):
of the eighteenth century. It was an hour or more
before Holmes came to a leaden coffin standing on end
before the entrance to the vault. I heard his little
cry of satisfaction, and was aware from his hurried but
purposeful movements that he had reached to goal. With his lens.
He was eagerly examining the edges of the heavy lid.
(28:48):
Then he drew from his pocket a short gemmy, a
box opener, which he thrust into a chink, levering back
the whole front which seemed to be secured by only
a couple of clamps. There was a tearing sound as
it gave way, but it had hardly hinged back and
partly revealed the contents before we had an unforeseen interruption.
(29:10):
Some one was walking in the chapel above. It was
the firm, rapid step of one who came with a
definite purpose and knew well the ground upon which he walked.
A light streamed down the stairs, and an instant later
the man who bore it was framed in the gothic archway.
He was a terrible figure, huge in stature and fierce
(29:31):
in manner. A large stable lantern, which he held in
front of him, shone upwards upon a strong, heavily mustached
face and angry eyes which glared round him into every
recess of the vault, finally fixing themselves with a deadly
stare upon my companion and myself. Oh the devil are you?
(29:52):
He thundered? And what are you doing upon my property? Then,
as Holmes returned no answer, he took a couple of
steps forward and raised a heavy stick which he carried.
Do you hear me? He cried? Who are you? What
are you doing here? His cudgel quivered in the air,
but instead of shrinking, Holmes advanced to meet him. I
(30:17):
also have a question to ask you, sir Robert, he said,
in his sternest tone. Who is this and what is
it doing here? He turned and tore open the coffin
lid behind him. In the glare of the lantern, I
saw a body swathed in a sheet from head to foot,
with dreadful, witch like features, all nose and chin projecting
(30:41):
at one end, the dim glazed eyes staring from a
discolored and crumbling face. The baronet had staggered back with
a cry and supported himself against a stone sarcophagus. How
came you to know of this? He cried? And then,
with some return of his truculent manner, What business is
it of yours? My name is Sherlock Holmes, said my companion.
(31:05):
Possibly it is familiar to you. In any case, my
business is that of every other good citizen to uphold
the law. It seems to me that you have much
to answer for. Sir Robert glared for a moment, but
Holmes's quiet voice and cool, assured manner had their effect.
For God, mister Holmes, it's all right, said he. Appearances
(31:27):
are against me. I'll admit, but I could act no otherwise.
I should be happy to think so. But I fear
your explanations must be for the police. Sir Robert shrugged
his broad shoulders. Well, if it must be, it must
come up to the house, and you can judge for
yourself how the matter stands. Quarter of an hour later
(31:48):
we found ourselves in what I judge from the lines
of polished barrels behind glass covers to be the gun
room of the old house. It was comfortably furnished, and
here Sir Robert left us for a few moments. When
he returned, he had two companions with him, the one
the florid young woman whom we had seen in the carriage,
the other a small, rat faced man with a disagreeably
(32:11):
furtive manner. These two wore an appearance of utter bewilderment,
which showed that the Baronet had not yet had time
to explain to them the turn events had taken. There,
said Sir Robert, with the wave of his hand, are
mister and Missus Norlett. Missus Norlett, under her maiden name
of Evans, has for some years been my sister's confidential maid.
(32:34):
I have brought them here because I feel that my
best course is to explain the true position to you,
and they are the two people upon earth who can
substantiate what I say. Is this necessary, Sir Robert, have
you thought what you were doing? Cried the woman. As
to me, I entirely disclaim all responsibility, said her husband.
(32:56):
Sir Robert gave him a glance of contempt. I will
take all responsibility, said he. Now, mister Holmes, listen to
a plain statement of the facts. You have clearly gone
pretty deeply into my affairs, or I should not have
found you where I did. Therefore, you know already in
all probability that I am running a dark horse for
(33:17):
the derby, and that everything depends upon my success. If
I win, all is easy. If I lose, well, I
dare not think of that. I understand the position, said Holmes.
I am dependent upon my sister, Lady Beatrice, for everything,
but it is well known that her interest in the
estate is for her own life. Only for myself, I
(33:41):
am deeply in the hands of the Jews. I have
always known that if my sister were to die, my
creditors would be unto my estate like a flock of vultures.
Everything would be seized, my stables, my horses, everything. Well,
mister Holmes, my sister did die just a week ago,
and you told no one what could I do? Absolute
(34:05):
ruin faced me. If I could stave things off for
three weeks, all would be well. Her maid's husband, this
man here is an actor. It came into our heads.
It came into my head that he could for that
short period personate my sister. It was but a case
of appearing daily in the carriage. For no one need
enter her room save a maid. It was not difficult
(34:28):
to arrange. My sister died of the dropsy which had
long afflicted her. That will be for a coroner to decide.
Her doctor would certify that for months her symptoms had
threatened such an end. Well, what did you do? The
body could not remain there. On the first night, nor
(34:48):
Let and I carried it out to the old well house,
which is now never used. We were followed, however, by
her pet spaniel, which yapped continually at the door, so
I felt some safe place was needed. I got rid
of the spaniel and we carried the body to the
crypt of the church. There was no indignity or irreverence.
Mister Holmes, I do not feel that I have wronged
(35:10):
the dead. Your conduct seems to me inexcusable. Sir Robert
the Baronet shook his head impatiently. It is easy to preach,
said he. Perhaps you would have felt differently if you
had been in my position. One cannot see all one's hopes,
at all one's plans shattered at the last moment, and
(35:31):
make no effort to save them. It seemed to me
that it would be no unworthy resting place if we
put her for the time in one of the coffins
of her husband's ancestors, lying in what is still consecrated ground.
We opened such a coffin, removed the contents, and placed
her as you have seen her. As to the old
(35:51):
relics which we took out, we could not leave them
on the floor of the crypt. Gnolet and I removed them,
and he descended at night and burned them in the
central furnace. There is my story, mister Holmes, though how
you forced my hand so that I have to tell
it is more than I can say. Holmes sat for
some time lost in thought. There is one flaw in
(36:14):
your narrative Sir Robert, he said, at last your bets
on the race, and therefore your hopes for the future
would hold good. Even if your creditors seized your estate,
the horse would be part of the estate. Or do
they care for my bets? As likely as not they
would not run him at all. My chief creditor is
(36:35):
unhappily my most bitter enemy, a rascally fellow, Sam Brewer,
whom I was once compelled to horsewhip on new Market Heath.
Do you suppose that he would try to save me? Well,
Sir Robert, said Holmes, rising, This matter must of course
be referred to the police. It was my duty to
bring the facts to light, and there I must leave it.
(36:58):
As to the morality or decency of your conduct, it
is not for me to express an opinion. It is
nearly midnight, Watson, and I think we may make our
way back to our humble abode. It is generally known
now that this singular episode ended upon a happier note
than Sir Robert's actions deserved. Shoscombe Prince did win the derby,
(37:23):
the sporting owner did net eighty thousand pounds in bets,
and the creditors did hold their hand until the race
was over, when they were paid in full and enough
was left to re establish the Robert in a fair
position in life. Both police and coroner took a lenient
view of the transaction, and, beyond a mild censure for
(37:44):
the delay in registering the lady's decease, the lucky owner
got away scathless from this strange incident in a career
which has now outlived its shadows and promises to end
in an honored old age end of the Adventure of
Shoscombe Old Place