September 26, 2025 • 25 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Original and Immortal Stories of Sir Arthur Colan Doyle
dramatized Daniel with Sir Ralph Richardson as Doctor Watson and
Sir John Gielgud in the role of Sherlock Holme.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I shall never forget.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
That April morning when I asher be is Helen Stoner
into our city room. She's the most attractive young lady,
dressed in black when heavenly veiled and appeared much districted.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's not the cold to make this ship, mister Holmes
fhear terror. I can stand this train no longer. I
should go mad if it continues. I no want to
turn to Even my fiance believes in my imagination, must have.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Fear will soon set matters to write. So I no
doubt my name is Helen Stoner.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
When I'm living with my step father, who is the
last survivor one of the oldest families in England, the
Royal ut of Stoke, Moran on the western border of.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Study, the name is familiar to me in them. The
family used to be very rich.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Now there is nothing left say the few acres and
an old house crushed under a heavy mortgage.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Eight years ago, when my mother died was your mother
a wealthy woman.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
She had a fortune of some thousand pounds a year,
which she bequeathed to doctor Roylet entirely so long as
we resided with him, with the provision that a certain
annual son should be allowed to both Julia and myself
if either it us should marry.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
But tell me, did doctor Roylot continue to practice after
your return to England.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
No?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Not.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
After the death of my mother.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
He took my sister and me to live with him
at Stoke, Moran, and for a time we were quite
happy together.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
But a terrible change began to come over our stepfather.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
He shut himself up and came up to indulge in
violent quarrels with his neighbors. He's ended by becoming literally
feared in the village. He has no friends at all
but the wandering bands of gypsies he allows to camp.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
In his grounds.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
He's a collector of strange animals. He has an Indian
cheetah and a baboon which wander freely over the estate,
and was feared by the villagers almost.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
As much as he is.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
No servant would stay with us. We had to do
all the work of the house. He could imagine what
it was like for my sister me and when she died.
Though she was only thirty, Julia's hair had begun to
turn white.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Even his mind had.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Nor sister bar just two years ago, soon after she
has become engaged to be married, only a fortnight before
the wedding, she died in terrible secnten.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Did your stepfather offer any objection I married. No, he
didn't appear to.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
The circumstances of your sister's death. It please be precise
at the detail.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It's easy to be so, for every event of that
dreadful time is feared into my memory. As I said,
the manor house is very old, and only one wing
is now use. The bedrooms in this wing are on
the ground floor, first my stepfather's, then my sisters and
then mine. There's no communication between them, but they open
(03:29):
on the same carri door and look out out of
the same lawn. That night, Doctor Roylost, my stepfather.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Had gone to his room early, but was not yet.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Asleep, for my sister was troubled by the strong smell.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Of his Indian cigar. She left her room and came
into mine.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Where she sat chatting about her coming wedding. Well, Helena,
how are you getting back to bed?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
He must be asleep by now, my way. Have you
ever heard a strange whistle in the dead of night?
A whistle? No?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Why did?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
The last few nights about three in the morning, I've
been wakened by a low, clear whistle. I haven't heard it,
But then I sleep more heavily than you do, boy,
and it's of no consequence.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Good night. I couldn't sleep that night. I'd locked my
door after Julia left and heard her love hers too.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
We always locked our doors for fear of the cheetah
and a baboon that were left out.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Every night in the grounds. I remember that it was
a wild night.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
The wind was hounding outside in the rain and bitting
against the window.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I heard a terrible premonition of evil.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And suddenly, through the storm I knew my sister would screamed.
I sprang from my bed, wrapped ashore around me, and
rushed into the corner door. As I opened my door,
I heard.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
A distant whistle.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
A whistle, and a clanging sound, as if a massive metal.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Had fallen somewhere.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
As I land towards it my sister's doors, I knocked
as slowly swung open the light of the lamp. I
saw her standing there, her face danced with terror, her
hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Tong thro and Nil gave way and she fell to
the ground.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
She only screamed the one thing before she died in
my arms. It was the band, the stickled band.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
It seems that Julius Turner's death was carefully investigated by
the local coroner. The doctor Rylett's conduct had been notorious
in the conte and foul player was suspected, but no
satisfactory explanation of the tragedy was ever found. The doctor
had been asleep in his room, the scream had waited him.
(06:11):
Julia's room had been locked on the inside, the windows
heavily shuttered, the chimney was barred by iron staples.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
It was certain that Julia Stoner had been quite alone
when she had met her end. There was nothing to
indicate how she had met it.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
There were no marks of violence on the body, and
the doctors could find no evidence of poison.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It's my belief that she.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Died of sheer terror and nervous shock.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Though what it was to frighten I cannot imagine were
any gypsies camping in the plantation at the.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Time, Yes, there had nearly always come there.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
And what did you gather from her illusionment to the
speckled dam?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Sometimes I've thought it was merely delirium. Sometimes I wonder
if it might have referred to some band of people,
perhaps those very gypsies in the plantation with their spotted
handkerchiefs on their heads.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
He's a very deep water, as Miss Stone up, please
go on.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Two years have passed since then, and until lately my
life has been lonelier than ever. A month ago, however,
I became engaged to be married to a mister Armitage,
a neighbor arising, a very dear friend. I feared my
stepfather might offer objections, but he has made no difficulties,
(07:32):
and we are to be married later this spring.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah. Two days ago some repairs were started in the
west wing, so.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That I've had to move out of my own room
into the room next door, the room which.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
My sister died. Last night, I lay awake, thinking of
her terrible faith.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I suddenly heard, in the silence of the night that
same low whistle.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Though her room was locked and there appeared to be
nothing wrong, when she sprang out of bed and lit
her lamp and then Stona, being too.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Enrified to go back to bed. As soon as it
was light, she caught an early morning claim to London that.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Comes straight round to ask the advice of Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
You were done very widely. So are you sure you've
told me everything? Yes?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Everything? I think you are still shielding your stepfather, Miss Stone,
isn't at the mark of his grip there on your wrist.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
He's a hard man. Perhaps he hardly knows his own strength.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
This is a very deep business, and from what you've
told me, there may not be a moment to lose
if we were to come down to Stoke more than today.
Would it be possible to see over the bedrooms without
the knowledge of your stepfather?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
He told me last night he was coming to London
for the day.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
There should be now under this turkey excellent and we
shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I have one or two things to attend to in
town that I shall be home shortly afternoon, and.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
You may expect us earlier this afternoon, Miss Turner.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Goodbye for the present.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
We discussed many possible theories. After Miss Turner had left,
we were in the midst of our deliberations when we
received another visitor, Which of.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
You is Holmes my name's but you have the advantage
of me.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I am doctor Grimes de roy lift stonewareun.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
My stepdaughter has been here. What has she been saying
to you? It is a little cold at the time
of the year. What has she been saying to you?
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I have heard that the crocuses promised very well die
you'll put me off to you.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I know Miss Conor has been to see you, but
don't show there medline by your pairs. I'm a dangerous
man to fall our love.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
See that you kick us up out of micro Ah like.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
This poker, I'll.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
An amiable person bending our poker almost doub observed.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
I am not quite so bulky.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
But if he remained, I might have shown him that
my grip was not much more feeble than his own. There,
I think that's just about stake again. You know, idea,
what this little incident gives a news as to our investigations.
We shall certainly see what we can find. That's take more.
(10:49):
This afternoon, Good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Miss Sterner. You said to have.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Been as good as our work have been waiting for you.
Now we must make the best use of our time,
So kindly take us at once to the room of
the other Weeksamin. The building was of gray nitching blocked stone,
(11:12):
with a high central portion and two curving wounds like
the paws of a crab thrown out on each side.
The central block and the east wing were empty and
in poor repair. The lines to the windows and blue
smoke curving up from the kidneys showed that part of
the west wing in which the sanity resided some scaffold
(11:34):
egmond being erected against the end wall, and the stone
work had been broken into it, but there was no work.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
When about Homes examined the.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Outsides of the three bedroom windows with the closest attendance.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
This I think he belonged to the room in which
you used to sleep.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
The center one is your sister's room, and the one
next to the main building is doctor Roylot's. Yes, but
I'm hitting in the middle one, of course, tending the
alterations as I understand right away, But it will seemed
to be in a pressing.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Need for affairs to that end wall there were none.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
I believe that it was an excuse to move me
from my own room into my sister's ah.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
That is suggestive. Well, these windows and shutters are quite firm.
No one could possibly get in this way if they
were firmly bolted on the inside. We shall have to
see if the rooms themselves sow any light on this matter.
A small side door leading to the whitewashed corridor from
which the three bedrooms opened, Holdens passed once into the
(12:33):
room in which Helen's shoneer was now sleeping in the
middle one of the three, the bedroom in which.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Her sister had met her death.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
It was a whole little room, played in a furnished
Holden's eyes traveled.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Round and round, up and down, taking in every detail.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
What did that bell communicate with the housekeeper room? It
looks newer than the other thing. Yes, it was put
in a.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Couple of years ago, just before night. Can't think why
she certainly never used it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Indeed, for such a nice long bell pull that it convenient.
I should have thought. Potastol hangs down to the very pillow.
Let me see why it's a dummy, won't you bring No,
not even attached to a wire.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
You can see it's.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Fastened to a hook up there just above them. It's
opening the ventilator.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Okay, it's surd I never edited before, very schange.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
What fool of the builder would open the ventilator into
the next room when you might have made it through
the outer wall into the fresh air.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
So that's also quite modern. It was done about the
same time as the billop. There were several little changes
cutted out about that.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Time, shortly before your sister's death. Why yes, we moved
into the bedroom next door, the room of doctor Robert.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
It was larger than his stepdaughters, but just as train.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
They furnished a camp bed, an armchair, a plain wooden
chair against the wall, a round the table, and a
large iron safe with the principal things which.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Met their eye.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Once again, Holmes examined them all with accused interest.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
In one corner of the day he found a small
dog lash naughty so as to make a loop of
the whipcorn. Oh, this is interesting. What do you make
of that?
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Watson is common enough, flash, I don't see why it
should be tied into a loop. And that's not quite
so common as it, Miss Sterner, What does your stepfather
keep in the safe?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Here? His Disney papers oh, you've seen inside them only
once some years ago. It was full of papers. Then
there wasn't a cat in it by any chance. No,
what's this change idea?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Well then why the saucer of milk standing.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
On the top of it?
Speaker 3 (14:50):
And no, we don't keep a cat. But as I
told you that the chee turned to the blue ah.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Yes of all, well, a cheetah is just a big
cat and yet a also, no, it doesn't go very far.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
As satisfied, I dare say. Now, just one more point,
let me examine this wooden chair.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Very interesting, And now, miss Stern, I want you to
do listen carefully and follow my advice and avory respect.
I assure you that I'm in your hands as to
hold your life may depend on it. The matter is
too serious for any hesitation in the first place. Then
doctor Watson and I must spend the night.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Here in your room. Let's have a guest door. Oh no,
let me explain, my dear Watson.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
You must turn him at retire to your room on
pretense for the headache. When your stepfather comes back. When
you hear him retire for the night into this next doorroom.
You must open the shutters of your window. Undo the
hasp put your lamp.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
There as a signal to was you shall see it
from other day in the bellach.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Then go back.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Into your old room.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Despite the return, will start Purdy to work for one night.
Oh yes, of course, we shall spend the night in
the middle room, and then we shall be able to
investigate the cause of this noise, which is sty statue.
Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging rooms
(16:20):
at the village, in from which we could command a
view of the inhabited wing of Stoke.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Modern mana house.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
At dusk we saw doctor Grime's bay Roolet drive past,
lashing his horse. The trap turned into the Nana drive,
and in a few moments we saw sudden light spring
up among the trees as the lamp was lit in
one of the sitting rooms.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
You know what's night?
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Come scruples about taking you tonight as a distinctive element
of danger.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Can I be of the system your presence might be invaluable?
Then I'll certainly come. But you speak of danger. You
obviously seem more these rooms and was visible to me.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
No, But I fancy I may have deduced a little more.
I imagine that you saw all I did. I saw
nothing remarkable save the devil world. But what purf you
saw the ventilator too, Yes, there's nothing very unusual about that.
There's a just a curious coincidence in dates. A ventilator
is made, a cord is hunging, and a lady who
(17:23):
sleeps in the bed below dies.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Does that not strike You can't as yet see any connection.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Did you observe anything very peculiar about the bed? No,
it was clamped to the floor so that they must
always be in the same position relative to the ventilator
and the bell rope hose.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I seem to see dimay once you're driving at it.
We're only just in time to prevent some subtle and
horrible crime.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yes, what's the nighting? We shall have harders enough before
the night robe.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished,
and all was dark in the manor house.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Two hours passed slowly away, and then suddenly a single
bright light shone out from the darkness of the west wind.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Let her single. It comes from the middle window. Come on.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
There was a little difficulty in entering the grounds through
a hole in the park wall. We crossed the lawn,
and we came to the open window, when out of
a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to
be a hugeous and disported child, which threw itself on
the grass with writhing limb, and then ran swiftly into
(18:40):
the darkness.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Why heavens you know, did you see that? Homes here?
A nice household? That was the baboon quick quickened through
the windows before we visited by the cheetahs.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
We silently climbed inside, closing the shutters and moving the
lamp on to the table. Holmes cast his eyes round
the room. All was as we had seen.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
It that afternoon. We would sit without a light. You
can see it through the ventilator. Yes, don't fall asleep,
you're very light.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Way to bend uponnet at y'll dissed already in case
you should need it.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I took out my revolver, and I laid it on
the corner of the table. Omes I bought a long
staining cane with him, which he laid on the bed
beside him. Next to it, he placed a box of
matches in a candle. Then he turned out the lamp.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
And we were left in utter darkness.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
How shall I ever forget that dreadful LIBI From outside
came the occasional.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Cry of a bird of the night, and once at
our very window a long.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Drawn catlike wine, which told us that the cheetah was
indeed at liberty.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Twelve o'clock struck one o'clock, two o'clock three. Still we
sat waiting silently for that the night before.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Suddenly there was a great gleam of light on the ventilator.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
It vanished immediately burning the smell of burning oil.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
He the nkel some on the next room lit a
dark cleft. I heard a gentle sound of movement. Then
for half an hour the skilenk.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Again one points another sound, a very gentle seal, even
sound like that of a small jet of scheme eskinkling
from a kettle.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
You see it, not see it?
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Fighting a match hold clip from the day was lighting
pure and say kay a the bell pull as the
match glad. I had a n clear second whittle in
the groom. I could still not see what Homes was
at tackle.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
He so fancy.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
All I could see he was for horror, unble loathing
on his tale grown page.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
That's scream. It was horrible what can it mean?
Speaker 1 (21:19):
It means not? From the door over, take your pip
flum coming me in doctor Roylot's room. In doctor rolet room,
he was a strange and terrible sight of mad eyes.
On the table stood the dark ramthem with a shutter
half open, playing a brilliant beam of light upon the
iron safe, the door of which was a guard beside
(21:39):
his table's pet. Doctor grindsby Roylet, having a long breaking down.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
His chin was copped upwards and his.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Eyes were fixed in a bulletful.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Rigid stare. At the corner of the ceiling. About his brow,
he had a peculiar yellow gun with.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Brownish stickles, which seemed to be bound tightly round head.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Damn what means the speckled dam The speckled damn around
the head of the dead man was.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
A snake, a dead year snake in India, an adder,
a formbadder and dust and Brown's ball.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Violet I dyed ten seconds after that stake had bitten.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Their violence does includively coil upon the violin, and the
schema falls into the pit that he digs from another
there a sust this creature back into them as he
stroke home. Drew the dog with swiftly from the dead
man's lap, and throwing the knotted loot round the reptile's neck,
(22:46):
drew it from its horrid perch, and threw.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
It into your hand.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
See so now, my dear fellow, we can remove the
stn out of some tape of shelter and let the
country police know what was happening.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Back in our room. Was Baker Street that evening phone
his linking type and filled in a field the gap.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
I had come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, which shows
my dear watching how dangerous it over is.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
The reasons and insufficient.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Data, the presence of the gypsies, and the use of
the word banned. That poor girl Julia obviously adils the
snake as she struck a match. Well, there was decision
to put me on an entirely wrong scent.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I only corrected my mistake, and.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
I saw how impossible it was to enter the room
either by the door or the window. The bell rope,
the ventilator and the camp there then gave rise to
the suspicion.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
But the ropes were there.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
As a bridge for something passing.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Through the hole and coming down to the base. The
idea of the snake instantly occurred to me, for as.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
He knew or lady the doctor had his own sply
of strange pets.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
From India, and the whistle and the klang, the whistle
of the.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Doctor's signal to recall the snake before the morning light
could reveal it to the victim. After all, once it
had come down the bill robe, it might or might
not have bitten the victim. But two or later the
doctor used it would. I had come to these conclusions
before I entered this room.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
You seem to reduce something with in the wooden chair
before you had.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
To stand on that brief the ventinator, the forcer of loop,
the loop of foot cord, the iron safe, but enough
to be spelling it doubts that might have remained the
metallic pang. I suppose with the doctor sutting in the
snake in the safe again exactly, and not the window
shutter being.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Replaced as at first I had supposed.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
The blurred of my cane of court drove the group
back to the ventilator and the large distemper it was
adle to buy the first person afore so, in a
way I must be responsible for doctor Roylott's death.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
But I cannot say it. I waited the heavenly on
my conscience.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
A draw up your chair to the far, my dear fellow,
and be so good as to hand me my violin.
The only problem we have to solve now, my dear Watson,
is how to while away these rather chimney apron evening.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, based on the original stories
(25:23):
of Sir ARTHURH. Colin Doyle, have been dramatized a new
with original music composed by Sydney Bought. Sir Ralph Witchardson
played the part of doctor Watson and Sir John Gilderd
that of Sherlock Holmes. A program was produced by Harry
Alan Towers.
The Original and Immortal Stories of Sir Arthur Colan Doyle
dramatized Daniel with Sir Ralph Richardson as Doctor Watson and
Sir John Gielgud in the role of Sherlock Holme.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I shall never forget.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
That April morning when I asher be is Helen Stoner
into our city room. She's the most attractive young lady,
dressed in black when heavenly veiled and appeared much districted.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's not the cold to make this ship, mister Holmes
fhear terror. I can stand this train no longer. I
should go mad if it continues. I no want to
turn to Even my fiance believes in my imagination, must have.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Fear will soon set matters to write. So I no
doubt my name is Helen Stoner.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
When I'm living with my step father, who is the
last survivor one of the oldest families in England, the
Royal ut of Stoke, Moran on the western border of.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Study, the name is familiar to me in them. The
family used to be very rich.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Now there is nothing left say the few acres and
an old house crushed under a heavy mortgage.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Eight years ago, when my mother died was your mother
a wealthy woman.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
She had a fortune of some thousand pounds a year,
which she bequeathed to doctor Roylet entirely so long as
we resided with him, with the provision that a certain
annual son should be allowed to both Julia and myself
if either it us should marry.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
But tell me, did doctor Roylot continue to practice after
your return to England.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
No?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Not.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
After the death of my mother.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
He took my sister and me to live with him
at Stoke, Moran, and for a time we were quite
happy together.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
But a terrible change began to come over our stepfather.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
He shut himself up and came up to indulge in
violent quarrels with his neighbors. He's ended by becoming literally
feared in the village. He has no friends at all
but the wandering bands of gypsies he allows to camp.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
In his grounds.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
He's a collector of strange animals. He has an Indian
cheetah and a baboon which wander freely over the estate,
and was feared by the villagers almost.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
As much as he is.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
No servant would stay with us. We had to do
all the work of the house. He could imagine what
it was like for my sister me and when she died.
Though she was only thirty, Julia's hair had begun to
turn white.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Even his mind had.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Nor sister bar just two years ago, soon after she
has become engaged to be married, only a fortnight before
the wedding, she died in terrible secnten.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Did your stepfather offer any objection I married. No, he
didn't appear to.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
The circumstances of your sister's death. It please be precise
at the detail.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It's easy to be so, for every event of that
dreadful time is feared into my memory. As I said,
the manor house is very old, and only one wing
is now use. The bedrooms in this wing are on
the ground floor, first my stepfather's, then my sisters and
then mine. There's no communication between them, but they open
(03:29):
on the same carri door and look out out of
the same lawn. That night, Doctor Roylost, my stepfather.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Had gone to his room early, but was not yet.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Asleep, for my sister was troubled by the strong smell.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Of his Indian cigar. She left her room and came
into mine.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Where she sat chatting about her coming wedding. Well, Helena,
how are you getting back to bed?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
He must be asleep by now, my way. Have you
ever heard a strange whistle in the dead of night?
A whistle? No?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Why did?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
The last few nights about three in the morning, I've
been wakened by a low, clear whistle. I haven't heard it,
But then I sleep more heavily than you do, boy,
and it's of no consequence.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Good night. I couldn't sleep that night. I'd locked my
door after Julia left and heard her love hers too.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
We always locked our doors for fear of the cheetah
and a baboon that were left out.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Every night in the grounds. I remember that it was
a wild night.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
The wind was hounding outside in the rain and bitting
against the window.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
I heard a terrible premonition of evil.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And suddenly, through the storm I knew my sister would screamed.
I sprang from my bed, wrapped ashore around me, and
rushed into the corner door. As I opened my door,
I heard.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
A distant whistle.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
A whistle, and a clanging sound, as if a massive metal.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Had fallen somewhere.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
As I land towards it my sister's doors, I knocked
as slowly swung open the light of the lamp. I
saw her standing there, her face danced with terror, her
hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Tong thro and Nil gave way and she fell to
the ground.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
She only screamed the one thing before she died in
my arms. It was the band, the stickled band.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
It seems that Julius Turner's death was carefully investigated by
the local coroner. The doctor Rylett's conduct had been notorious
in the conte and foul player was suspected, but no
satisfactory explanation of the tragedy was ever found. The doctor
had been asleep in his room, the scream had waited him.
(06:11):
Julia's room had been locked on the inside, the windows
heavily shuttered, the chimney was barred by iron staples.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
It was certain that Julia Stoner had been quite alone
when she had met her end. There was nothing to
indicate how she had met it.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
There were no marks of violence on the body, and
the doctors could find no evidence of poison.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It's my belief that she.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Died of sheer terror and nervous shock.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Though what it was to frighten I cannot imagine were
any gypsies camping in the plantation at the.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Time, Yes, there had nearly always come there.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
And what did you gather from her illusionment to the
speckled dam?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Sometimes I've thought it was merely delirium. Sometimes I wonder
if it might have referred to some band of people,
perhaps those very gypsies in the plantation with their spotted
handkerchiefs on their heads.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
He's a very deep water, as Miss Stone up, please
go on.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Two years have passed since then, and until lately my
life has been lonelier than ever. A month ago, however,
I became engaged to be married to a mister Armitage,
a neighbor arising, a very dear friend. I feared my
stepfather might offer objections, but he has made no difficulties,
(07:32):
and we are to be married later this spring.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah. Two days ago some repairs were started in the
west wing, so.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That I've had to move out of my own room
into the room next door, the room which.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
My sister died. Last night, I lay awake, thinking of
her terrible faith.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I suddenly heard, in the silence of the night that
same low whistle.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Though her room was locked and there appeared to be
nothing wrong, when she sprang out of bed and lit
her lamp and then Stona, being too.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Enrified to go back to bed. As soon as it
was light, she caught an early morning claim to London that.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Comes straight round to ask the advice of Sherlock Holmes.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
You were done very widely. So are you sure you've
told me everything? Yes?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Everything? I think you are still shielding your stepfather, Miss Stone,
isn't at the mark of his grip there on your wrist.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
He's a hard man. Perhaps he hardly knows his own strength.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
This is a very deep business, and from what you've
told me, there may not be a moment to lose
if we were to come down to Stoke more than today.
Would it be possible to see over the bedrooms without
the knowledge of your stepfather?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
He told me last night he was coming to London
for the day.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
There should be now under this turkey excellent and we
shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I have one or two things to attend to in
town that I shall be home shortly afternoon, and.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
You may expect us earlier this afternoon, Miss Turner.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Goodbye for the present.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
We discussed many possible theories. After Miss Turner had left,
we were in the midst of our deliberations when we
received another visitor, Which of.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
You is Holmes my name's but you have the advantage
of me.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I am doctor Grimes de roy lift stonewareun.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
My stepdaughter has been here. What has she been saying
to you? It is a little cold at the time
of the year. What has she been saying to you?
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I have heard that the crocuses promised very well die
you'll put me off to you.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I know Miss Conor has been to see you, but
don't show there medline by your pairs. I'm a dangerous
man to fall our love.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
See that you kick us up out of micro Ah like.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
This poker, I'll.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
An amiable person bending our poker almost doub observed.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
I am not quite so bulky.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
But if he remained, I might have shown him that
my grip was not much more feeble than his own. There,
I think that's just about stake again. You know, idea,
what this little incident gives a news as to our investigations.
We shall certainly see what we can find. That's take more.
(10:49):
This afternoon, Good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Miss Sterner. You said to have.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Been as good as our work have been waiting for you.
Now we must make the best use of our time,
So kindly take us at once to the room of
the other Weeksamin. The building was of gray nitching blocked stone,
(11:12):
with a high central portion and two curving wounds like
the paws of a crab thrown out on each side.
The central block and the east wing were empty and
in poor repair. The lines to the windows and blue
smoke curving up from the kidneys showed that part of
the west wing in which the sanity resided some scaffold
(11:34):
egmond being erected against the end wall, and the stone
work had been broken into it, but there was no work.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
When about Homes examined the.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Outsides of the three bedroom windows with the closest attendance.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
This I think he belonged to the room in which
you used to sleep.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
The center one is your sister's room, and the one
next to the main building is doctor Roylot's. Yes, but
I'm hitting in the middle one, of course, tending the
alterations as I understand right away, But it will seemed
to be in a pressing.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Need for affairs to that end wall there were none.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
I believe that it was an excuse to move me
from my own room into my sister's ah.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
That is suggestive. Well, these windows and shutters are quite firm.
No one could possibly get in this way if they
were firmly bolted on the inside. We shall have to
see if the rooms themselves sow any light on this matter.
A small side door leading to the whitewashed corridor from
which the three bedrooms opened, Holdens passed once into the
(12:33):
room in which Helen's shoneer was now sleeping in the
middle one of the three, the bedroom in which.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Her sister had met her death.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
It was a whole little room, played in a furnished
Holden's eyes traveled.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Round and round, up and down, taking in every detail.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
What did that bell communicate with the housekeeper room? It
looks newer than the other thing. Yes, it was put
in a.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Couple of years ago, just before night. Can't think why
she certainly never used it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Indeed, for such a nice long bell pull that it convenient.
I should have thought. Potastol hangs down to the very pillow.
Let me see why it's a dummy, won't you bring No,
not even attached to a wire.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
You can see it's.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Fastened to a hook up there just above them. It's
opening the ventilator.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Okay, it's surd I never edited before, very schange.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
What fool of the builder would open the ventilator into
the next room when you might have made it through
the outer wall into the fresh air.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
So that's also quite modern. It was done about the
same time as the billop. There were several little changes
cutted out about that.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Time, shortly before your sister's death. Why yes, we moved
into the bedroom next door, the room of doctor Robert.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
It was larger than his stepdaughters, but just as train.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
They furnished a camp bed, an armchair, a plain wooden
chair against the wall, a round the table, and a
large iron safe with the principal things which.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Met their eye.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Once again, Holmes examined them all with accused interest.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
In one corner of the day he found a small
dog lash naughty so as to make a loop of
the whipcorn. Oh, this is interesting. What do you make
of that?
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Watson is common enough, flash, I don't see why it
should be tied into a loop. And that's not quite
so common as it, Miss Sterner, What does your stepfather
keep in the safe?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Here? His Disney papers oh, you've seen inside them only
once some years ago. It was full of papers. Then
there wasn't a cat in it by any chance. No,
what's this change idea?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Well then why the saucer of milk standing.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
On the top of it?
Speaker 3 (14:50):
And no, we don't keep a cat. But as I
told you that the chee turned to the blue ah.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Yes of all, well, a cheetah is just a big
cat and yet a also, no, it doesn't go very far.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
As satisfied, I dare say. Now, just one more point,
let me examine this wooden chair.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Very interesting, And now, miss Stern, I want you to
do listen carefully and follow my advice and avory respect.
I assure you that I'm in your hands as to
hold your life may depend on it. The matter is
too serious for any hesitation in the first place. Then
doctor Watson and I must spend the night.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Here in your room. Let's have a guest door. Oh no,
let me explain, my dear Watson.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
You must turn him at retire to your room on
pretense for the headache. When your stepfather comes back. When
you hear him retire for the night into this next doorroom.
You must open the shutters of your window. Undo the
hasp put your lamp.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
There as a signal to was you shall see it
from other day in the bellach.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Then go back.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Into your old room.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Despite the return, will start Purdy to work for one night.
Oh yes, of course, we shall spend the night in
the middle room, and then we shall be able to
investigate the cause of this noise, which is sty statue.
Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging rooms
(16:20):
at the village, in from which we could command a
view of the inhabited wing of Stoke.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Modern mana house.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
At dusk we saw doctor Grime's bay Roolet drive past,
lashing his horse. The trap turned into the Nana drive,
and in a few moments we saw sudden light spring
up among the trees as the lamp was lit in
one of the sitting rooms.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
You know what's night?
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Come scruples about taking you tonight as a distinctive element
of danger.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Can I be of the system your presence might be invaluable?
Then I'll certainly come. But you speak of danger. You
obviously seem more these rooms and was visible to me.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
No, But I fancy I may have deduced a little more.
I imagine that you saw all I did. I saw
nothing remarkable save the devil world. But what purf you
saw the ventilator too, Yes, there's nothing very unusual about that.
There's a just a curious coincidence in dates. A ventilator
is made, a cord is hunging, and a lady who
(17:23):
sleeps in the bed below dies.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Does that not strike You can't as yet see any connection.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Did you observe anything very peculiar about the bed? No,
it was clamped to the floor so that they must
always be in the same position relative to the ventilator
and the bell rope hose.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I seem to see dimay once you're driving at it.
We're only just in time to prevent some subtle and
horrible crime.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yes, what's the nighting? We shall have harders enough before
the night robe.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished,
and all was dark in the manor house.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Two hours passed slowly away, and then suddenly a single
bright light shone out from the darkness of the west wind.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Let her single. It comes from the middle window. Come on.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
There was a little difficulty in entering the grounds through
a hole in the park wall. We crossed the lawn,
and we came to the open window, when out of
a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to
be a hugeous and disported child, which threw itself on
the grass with writhing limb, and then ran swiftly into
(18:40):
the darkness.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Why heavens you know, did you see that? Homes here?
A nice household? That was the baboon quick quickened through
the windows before we visited by the cheetahs.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
We silently climbed inside, closing the shutters and moving the
lamp on to the table. Holmes cast his eyes round
the room. All was as we had seen.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
It that afternoon. We would sit without a light. You
can see it through the ventilator. Yes, don't fall asleep,
you're very light.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Way to bend uponnet at y'll dissed already in case
you should need it.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I took out my revolver, and I laid it on
the corner of the table. Omes I bought a long
staining cane with him, which he laid on the bed
beside him. Next to it, he placed a box of
matches in a candle. Then he turned out the lamp.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
And we were left in utter darkness.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
How shall I ever forget that dreadful LIBI From outside
came the occasional.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Cry of a bird of the night, and once at
our very window a long.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Drawn catlike wine, which told us that the cheetah was
indeed at liberty.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Twelve o'clock struck one o'clock, two o'clock three. Still we
sat waiting silently for that the night before.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Suddenly there was a great gleam of light on the ventilator.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
It vanished immediately burning the smell of burning oil.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
He the nkel some on the next room lit a
dark cleft. I heard a gentle sound of movement. Then
for half an hour the skilenk.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Again one points another sound, a very gentle seal, even
sound like that of a small jet of scheme eskinkling
from a kettle.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
You see it, not see it?
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Fighting a match hold clip from the day was lighting
pure and say kay a the bell pull as the
match glad. I had a n clear second whittle in
the groom. I could still not see what Homes was
at tackle.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
He so fancy.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
All I could see he was for horror, unble loathing
on his tale grown page.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
That's scream. It was horrible what can it mean?
Speaker 1 (21:19):
It means not? From the door over, take your pip
flum coming me in doctor Roylot's room. In doctor rolet room,
he was a strange and terrible sight of mad eyes.
On the table stood the dark ramthem with a shutter
half open, playing a brilliant beam of light upon the
iron safe, the door of which was a guard beside
(21:39):
his table's pet. Doctor grindsby Roylet, having a long breaking down.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
His chin was copped upwards and his.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Eyes were fixed in a bulletful.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Rigid stare. At the corner of the ceiling. About his brow,
he had a peculiar yellow gun with.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Brownish stickles, which seemed to be bound tightly round head.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Damn what means the speckled dam The speckled damn around
the head of the dead man was.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
A snake, a dead year snake in India, an adder,
a formbadder and dust and Brown's ball.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Violet I dyed ten seconds after that stake had bitten.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Their violence does includively coil upon the violin, and the
schema falls into the pit that he digs from another
there a sust this creature back into them as he
stroke home. Drew the dog with swiftly from the dead
man's lap, and throwing the knotted loot round the reptile's neck,
(22:46):
drew it from its horrid perch, and threw.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
It into your hand.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
See so now, my dear fellow, we can remove the
stn out of some tape of shelter and let the
country police know what was happening.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Back in our room. Was Baker Street that evening phone
his linking type and filled in a field the gap.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
I had come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, which shows
my dear watching how dangerous it over is.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
The reasons and insufficient.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Data, the presence of the gypsies, and the use of
the word banned. That poor girl Julia obviously adils the
snake as she struck a match. Well, there was decision
to put me on an entirely wrong scent.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I only corrected my mistake, and.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
I saw how impossible it was to enter the room
either by the door or the window. The bell rope,
the ventilator and the camp there then gave rise to
the suspicion.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
But the ropes were there.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
As a bridge for something passing.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Through the hole and coming down to the base. The
idea of the snake instantly occurred to me, for as.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
He knew or lady the doctor had his own sply
of strange pets.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
From India, and the whistle and the klang, the whistle
of the.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Doctor's signal to recall the snake before the morning light
could reveal it to the victim. After all, once it
had come down the bill robe, it might or might
not have bitten the victim. But two or later the
doctor used it would. I had come to these conclusions
before I entered this room.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
You seem to reduce something with in the wooden chair
before you had.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
To stand on that brief the ventinator, the forcer of loop,
the loop of foot cord, the iron safe, but enough
to be spelling it doubts that might have remained the
metallic pang. I suppose with the doctor sutting in the
snake in the safe again exactly, and not the window
shutter being.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Replaced as at first I had supposed.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
The blurred of my cane of court drove the group
back to the ventilator and the large distemper it was
adle to buy the first person afore so, in a
way I must be responsible for doctor Roylott's death.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
But I cannot say it. I waited the heavenly on
my conscience.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
A draw up your chair to the far, my dear fellow,
and be so good as to hand me my violin.
The only problem we have to solve now, my dear Watson,
is how to while away these rather chimney apron evening.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, based on the original stories
(25:23):
of Sir ARTHURH. Colin Doyle, have been dramatized a new
with original music composed by Sydney Bought. Sir Ralph Witchardson
played the part of doctor Watson and Sir John Gilderd
that of Sherlock Holmes. A program was produced by Harry
Alan Towers.
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