June 12, 2025 • 35 mins
Today's Mystery: England's greatest detective is called in to recover the Moonstone.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 9, 1948
Originating from Chicago
Starring: Sherman Marks as Gabriel Betterridge; Arthur Sedgewick as Sergeant Cuff; Charles Mountain as Franklin Blake; Geraldine Kaye as Rachel Verinder; Alma Fox; Jane Elliot; Ruth Shane; Minion Shriver; Sidney Breese; Les Spears
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Give us a call at 208-991-4783
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Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 9, 1948
Originating from Chicago
Starring: Sherman Marks as Gabriel Betterridge; Arthur Sedgewick as Sergeant Cuff; Charles Mountain as Franklin Blake; Geraldine Kaye as Rachel Verinder; Alma Fox; Jane Elliot; Ruth Shane; Minion Shriver; Sidney Breese; Les Spears
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Rick, Patreon supporter since March 2020
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you the second episode of World's Great
Novels adaptation of The Moonstone. But first, I do want
to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow
(00:51):
us using your favorite podcast software. I do want to
encourage you to check out my wife's business, a Sheerer
clips as dot com slash a Shira. There you'll find
a wide variety of different hair clips, hairpins, and headbands
to suit a wide variety of different styles and taste.
(01:13):
That's at Lyla Rose l l l A Rose dot
com Slasher Shira s h Ira. Well Now from April ninth,
nineteen forty eight, here is World's Great Novels with part
two of The Moonstone.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
The World's Great Novels. In the middle of the nineteenth century,
Wilkie Cullins, along with his famous contemporary Charles Dickens, exercised
a strong influence on the literature of his day. His
(01:55):
most famous work, The Moonstone, is still regarded as a
classic in de active fiction. For Wilkie Collins was one
of the very first to develop the technique of mystifying
the reader by deaf manipulation of situation and effect. The
National Broadcasting Company presents the second episode in its three
part dramatization of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, another in
(02:18):
a series.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Of books that Live the World's Great Novels. When first
I saw the moonstone, that legendary and fabulous diamond glittering
(02:39):
at the throat of my young ladyme is Rachel Berenda,
in whose home I had for many years performed the
duties of majordomo. I said to myself, Abriel Preterich, here
is a duel tainted by centuries of evarice and violence,
but still on that featful moaning of which I now
tell I was hardly prepared for what I heard from upstairs.
(03:02):
It was my daughter Penelope. She came flying down the
stairway after me.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Heaven's sakes, come upstairs right away. The diamond is gone.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Were you out of your mind?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
It's gone gone, and nobody knows how.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Oh, come up and see. Yes is the one girl, Father,
You're head faster, that is young miss. Everyone was go ahead, girl.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
See see the drawer. The Indian Cabinet is pulled all
the way out. I myself. So miss Rachel put the
diamond hinto that drawer last night? Let me see. Yes,
the draw is empty, Miss Rachel. Wasn't I here last
night when you put the diamond away?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Miss Rachel? Is this true?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
The diamond is gone?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
But miss Rachel, Lady Verner, I'm glad you've come.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
I heard a scream. What is it?
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
The drawer, Yes, my lady, it is empty.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
I mustpeak to Rachel. Where is she?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
She's retired to her bedroom. She's locked herself in.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
I must speak with her immediately, Rachel, Rachel, let me in.
It's mother, Rachel.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
It's gone.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Mon stone gone. What are you talking about, Gabriel, moonstone gone, yes,
mister Abel, right gone, Yes, mister Blake, it's true.
Speaker 6 (04:41):
What's true?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
The moonstone has been stolen.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
That Gabriel, my dear fellow. That's impossible. It's right over
here in the.
Speaker 6 (04:51):
Why it's gone? And Julia, where's Rachel? I must see her.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
I'm sorry, but the loss of the moonstone has quite
stunned her. She shrieks in the strangest manner from speaking
of it even to me. But Julia, it's impossible for
you to see her for the present.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
From the very beginning, it was obvious that Superintendent Seagrave,
our local police chief, was not the man to conduct
an investigation on so serious a matter as the disappearance
of the Moonstone, and he was very quickly replaced, at
the request of Franklin Lake by England's most celebrated detective,
Sergeant Cuff. The sergeant was a lean, elderly man with
(05:40):
a face as sharp as a hatchet. The skin of
it is yellow and withered as an autumn leaf. He
hunted men, and he loved roses, oh yes, And frequently,
when preoccupied he whistled his favorite song, the Last Rose
of Summer. In the days that followed, I was to
hear him whistle his tune many a time. And now
(06:00):
the Sergeant Cuff stood by the engine cabinet, his steely,
light gray eyes seeming to miss no detail.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
He turned to me and spoke, this, you say, is
the sitting room?
Speaker 8 (06:12):
Yes, sir, nothing has been disturbed here since the disappearance.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Of the Moonstone. Oh nothing, sir, I hope, So yeah,
what's it?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I beg your pardon?
Speaker 8 (06:27):
This This small paintsmere beneath the lock on the door,
the door was recently painted.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yes, sir, it was, sir, by mister Franklin Blake, with
the help of Miss Rachel Vender. Mister Blake loves to
indulge his fancy's decorative painting is one of them.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
So it is it is. I would like to talk
to mister Blake easy about Yes, sir, yes, I bring
you are mister Franklin Blake. Yes I am. I am,
(07:05):
Sergeant Cuff. How do you do?
Speaker 8 (07:07):
Can you tell me about this door you painted? I
believe you were assisted by miss Velinder, that's correct. When
did you finish painting the door?
Speaker 7 (07:15):
Oh about three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, and the moonstone
disappeared that night.
Speaker 8 (07:21):
Yes, that would be two days ago, mister Blake. Can
you tell me how long you protect the paint on
that door to dry?
Speaker 7 (07:29):
I can tell you exactly, a Sergeant Cuff. You see,
I prepared the mixture, a mixture I call a vehicle,
and poured it into the paint, which caused the paint
to dry in twelve hours.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
Twelve hours, you say, twelve hours? Sergeant.
Speaker 8 (07:42):
Let us reckon back mister Blake. At three on Wednesday afternoon,
that bit of painting was completed right.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
The vehicle dried it in twelve.
Speaker 8 (07:50):
Hours, that is to say, by three o'clock on Thursday morning.
Does anyone here know just what caused that small paint
smear beneath the lu.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Oh well Superintendent Seegrave, the police officer who has retired
from the case. He said one of the women's servants
petticoats had smeared it when they came in this room
to be examined by himself.
Speaker 8 (08:13):
A servant's petticoat is not responsible for the paint smear
because when the superintendent conducted his investigation, that paint was
already eight hours dry. My thanks to you, mister Blake.
It's quite in the cards that you have put the
clue in our hands.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Well, oh, Sergeant, this is missus Rachel Verinder.
Speaker 9 (08:35):
Did you say, sergeant, that this man here has put
the clue into your hands?
Speaker 6 (08:40):
I should say, Miss Verinder, that mister Franklin Blake.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
Has possibly put the clue into our hands. And now
I should like to ask a question. Observe this smear
on the painting of your door. Do you know when
it was done or who did it?
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Will you follow a young lady's advice?
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Sergeant I shall be glad to hear it. Mister, then do.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Your duty by yourself and don't allow this man here,
mister Franklin Blake, to help you.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
That is my advice, Sergeant.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
Hm.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
Mister Verinder appears to be out of tempo over the
loss of her diamond. The moonstone, is, I know, a
most valuable jewel. Natural enough, naturally enough.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
She appears to hold me responsible for the loss of
the moonstone.
Speaker 6 (09:29):
Well, so you must remember a young lady's tongue is
a privileged member.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
So it seems well, tell me, sergeant, are you prepared
to say who has tolen the moonstone?
Speaker 6 (09:39):
I am not. Perhaps later on?
Speaker 7 (09:41):
Then not even then, does the sergeant mean he will
never discover the identity of the person who stole the moonstone?
I mean this, mister Blake, nobody has stolen the moonstone.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Then Sergeant Cuff asked to speak to my lady. I
found Lady Verinder in her own sitting room and explained
the sergeant's wishes. To my surprise, she displayed great reluctance
to see him, saying that her nerve seemed a little
shaken and that there was something in Sergeant Cuff that
she recoiled from She said she had a presentiment that
he was bringing trouble and misery with him, But she
(10:24):
rallied and said she would see him, though she insisted
I remain in the room with him. Well, when I
ushered the sergeant into her sitting room, I declare she
turned a shade paler at the sight of him.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Lady Verinder, Sergeant Cuff, I speak to you only because
my Steward Gabriel betteredge urges me. What have you to say?
Speaker 8 (10:44):
I have already formed an opinion on this case, Lady Verinder,
I beg your Ladyship's permission to keep it to myself
for the present.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
Very well, two things are certain. One, the moonstone is
missing out of the drawer.
Speaker 8 (10:59):
Of the Indian cabinet. Two, the marks from the smear
on the painted door were surely caused by a dress
which brushed against it. And therefore, before we go a
step further, we must discover the dress itself.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
And I presume such a discovery would imply the discovery
of the thief.
Speaker 8 (11:17):
Your pardon, my lady, I have not said the moonstone
is stolen. I merely say it is missing. That is
why I wish to find the paint stained dress.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
How do you propose to do so.
Speaker 8 (11:29):
By examining the washing book, which lists the household laundry.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
A missing article of dress might indeed be significant.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
Very well, Gabriel, kindly bring for Rosanna and have her
fetch the washing book. Yes, Sergeant Cuff, My good servants,
who have been with me for years have already had
their boxes and rooms searched by that other officer, that seagrave.
I cannot and will knock and it them to be
insulted a second time. Keep that in mind, sergeant.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
I shall dame you rang for me, mister Betrick.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Yes, Rosanna, bring the washing book, the washing book, yes, yes, yes,
if you please, my girl.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
Oh yes, sir.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
I hesitate to trouble your ladyship again, but I must
ask one last question.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
You are sure it will be the last, Sergeant.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
Your housemaid was just here. I believe her name is
Rosanna's pierman. Has she been in your employment as long
as the other servants?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Why do you ask? The sergeant appeared not to notice
my lady's question. Instead, his lips puckered into a whistle
as his keen eyes rolled the room. I was overtaken
by a mountain, feeling as though I were watching a
bloodhound running swiftly behind his elusive cory. Then Rosanna returned
(12:56):
with the washing book.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Yeah, here's the book.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Thank you, Rosanna. Here you are, sergeant, thank you.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
Yes, Rosanna, you may go.
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Thank you, my lady. Oh, thank you.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Sergeant Cuff. A moment ago you asked how long Rosanna
had been employed in my household. Why did you.
Speaker 8 (13:15):
Ask, because, Lady Venanda, the last time I saw miss
Rosanna's peerman, she was in prison for theft.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
H pity that Sergeant Cuff was right. Although Rosanna had
indeed served determined prison. My good sweet mistress was determined
that the poor girl with the crippled shoulder should have
a better chance in life, and so had given her employment.
Then Miss Rachel reappeared and refused permission to have a
(13:46):
wardrobe examined in the search for the Princemere dress. After
she had again locked her self in her room, I
had glanced deprehensively at Sergeant Cuff.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Hey, Gabriel, yes, sergeant, come out to the garden. We'll
have a look at the rosies. Life, Gabriel can be
most strange. Man's ambition can be a simple one.
Speaker 8 (14:14):
Yet so easily denied. I have always wanted to be
a gardener. Yet here I am a detective.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
Well, hello, what is it? Such?
Speaker 8 (14:26):
I thought it wasna spearman hiding back. There have a
hidy clumpish shoppery.
Speaker 6 (14:29):
Oh, poor creature.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I'm not surprised, my daughter of Penelopus, is that Rosanna
has recently conceived an attachment from mister Blake, who often
walks in this part of the garden for the epsid
suits of fancy to have a look at him.
Speaker 8 (14:42):
Falling in love with the gentleman and mister Franklin. Blake's
manner and appearance doesn't seem to me to be the
maddest part of her conduct by any means.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
That noise, someone's coming through the shrubbery.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Oh it's mister Blake.
Speaker 6 (14:55):
Oh there you are.
Speaker 7 (14:58):
I'm glad I found the two of you together, Say Gabriel,
Yissa did one of the trades. When yesterday met Rosanna
on the path from Shivering Sand to pre single Town, I.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
Forgot what's it? Why? Yes?
Speaker 7 (15:10):
And at that time she was supposed to have been
ill in her room.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
Isn't that right, Gabriel?
Speaker 3 (15:15):
So she said yesterday.
Speaker 7 (15:17):
Obviously her attack of illness was merely a blind to
deceive us. She had some guilty reason, the secret leg
going to town, the paint stained dresses, address of hers.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yes, it's my belief.
Speaker 7 (15:28):
Rosanna Spearman has stoleed on the moonstone.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Didn't Lady Verinder know of this? Not just yet, mister Blake.
Speaker 7 (15:34):
I must say, Sergeant, the workings of a policeman's mind
are too mysterious for me.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
Then, sir, let me enlighten you.
Speaker 8 (15:42):
If you went to inform Lady Verinder what you know
about Rosanna, she would only tell her daughter.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
It's richual am I to understand? You forbid me?
Speaker 8 (15:49):
Yes, you take it upon yourself to devoulge vital information
to Lady venandor anyone else without my leave, I will
throw up the case very well, Sarchelton. Well, and now, Gabriel,
I have a request to make of you.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh yes, what is it?
Speaker 8 (16:07):
Zach, show me the way to Shivering sand Beach. Shivering
you say yes to look at the path Rosanna Spearman
took yesterday when she said she was in her room.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Even a man is resolute to Sergeant Cuff could scarcely
repressed the shadow which seized him when he caught his
first glimpse of shivering sand scum slime shone faintly here
and there on the quicksand, and far out beyond could
be seen the rhythmic heave of the ocean. Sergeant Cuff spoke, is.
Speaker 8 (16:43):
You're sea shore here considered a fine specimen of marine landscape?
Speaker 6 (16:47):
Gabriel, Yes, sir, it is, sir.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
I'm looking at it from my point of view. I
never saw a marine landscape I had mine. Unless oh,
a treacherous place, Gabriel. No sign of anyone having been
along here yesterday. Perhaps we better walk a bit.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 8 (17:06):
Eh how does the fishing village bear from where we
are now?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Well, sir, they call it cobs Hole, and it is
due south in the direction we're walking.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
Can we get to cobs Hole now that it's low
water on the beach, Yes, sir, Well, then, if you'll
excuse my suggesting it, we'll step out briskly.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
We had walked, i should say, a couple of hundred
yards toward cobs Hole when SuDS and Cuffs suddenly went
down on his knees on the beach. Tall appearances seized
with a sudden frenzy for seeing his prayers.
Speaker 8 (17:38):
There's something that we said for your marine landscape after all, yeah, Gabriel,
on a woman's footsteps.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yes, and leading directly to the village.
Speaker 8 (17:46):
Rosanna Spearman, I imagine has friends at cobs Hole.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Oh, yes, sir, of course, where they fisherfolk by the
name of Yelland she's quite friendly with her daughter, who
is afflicted with the misshapen foot and known as limping Lucy.
Speaker 8 (17:58):
Sir, Then, Gabriel, I think we must drop in on
the Yell.
Speaker 9 (18:04):
Sure you won't have another top of the Dutch gin,
mister cuff, No, thank you, mister, We say any friend
of Rosanna's is a friend of ours.
Speaker 6 (18:14):
I do feel quite sorry for her. She'll never get
on in her present place. My advice to her would
be to leave it.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
True, bless your heart alive, sir. She is going to
leave it.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Oh, surely, missus yelling you must be mistaken.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Mistaken.
Speaker 9 (18:30):
Why only an hour ago she bought some things from
me that she wanted for cleveling, And only last evening
she came here and said, poor dear, I want to
write a letter to a friend, and I can't do
it for the peeping and prying at the house. And
then she went upstairs and wrote the letter in Nucy's room.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
But who she wrote it to I'll never know.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
H Eh, excuse me, sir, but isn't it about time
we took our leave? Oh? Oh, what way?
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Then in our wait just a moment, No, oh, this
this pile of rubbish?
Speaker 5 (19:06):
Ah, here it is?
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Wait this in your hands, sir?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Why? Why it's a dog chain and the heavy one
of that is.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Quite out of the ordinary.
Speaker 9 (19:16):
I gave two of them just like this to Rosanna.
I asked her why she wanted them, and she said
they'll go around my tin box quite nicely.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
You see, I had already given her a tin box,
so you.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
Gave her a tin box and chain ropes cheaper?
Speaker 5 (19:32):
I said, chain is better, said she.
Speaker 9 (19:36):
Now I ask you, mister Cuff, what would she be
wanting with such heavy chains?
Speaker 8 (19:40):
Thank you, missus, yolland we've bothered you enough many thanks
and good.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
Night, Oh good night, sir.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I could scarcely credit my senses. Hasanna preparing to steal
away from mouse? We changed a tin box m Upon
returning home, we were met with a new sensation, which
came from Lady Velender herself.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Sergeant Cuff, I am obliged to inform you that my daughter,
Miss Rachel, intends to stay with her aunt. This is
able White a frizzing hole. She has arranged to leave
early tomorrow morning.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
May I ask your ladyship when Miss Vender first thought
of going.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
To her aunt about an hour ago.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
I had no claim to control Miss Rachel's actions.
Speaker 8 (20:25):
All I can ask is that your daughter put off
her departure, if possible, until later in the day. I
must go to Frizzing Hall myself tomorrow morning to investigate
the matter of the three Indians now in prison.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
There. I shall be back by two o'clock, if not before.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
Is if Miss Benndar can be kept here until about
that time, it is imperative that I say two words
to her unexpectedly before she goes.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
That night, no sleep came to banish the thoughts which
braged my mind. But like a man racing chalk marks
from the slate, as fast as I rubbed out one riddle,
another made its appearance. First the strange behavior Franklin Blake,
second the mysterious maneuverings of Rosanna Spearmen, and last the
(21:23):
sudden disclosure that Miss Rachel was to leave for a
visit with her aunt at Frizzing all Ah. Finally, the
long night gave way to morning when I witnessed a
sharp encounter between Sergeant Cuff and mister Franklin Brake.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
Well, what do you want, mister Blake? Be pleased to remember?
Speaker 8 (21:43):
I am an officer of the law, acting under the
sanction of the Mistress of the house.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
It would seem to me the worthy sergeant uses his
authority something in the manner of a man wielding a bludgeon.
Speaker 8 (21:53):
No matter, under these circumstances, is it or is it
not your duty to assist me with any special information
you may happen to possess.
Speaker 7 (22:02):
I possess no special information.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
You would deny that one of the female servants spoke
to you privately, Sir last night.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
I have nothing to say.
Speaker 8 (22:12):
You needn't be afraid of harming the girl, mister Blake.
On the contrary, I recommend you to honor me with
your confidence if you feel any interest in Rosanna Spearman.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
I take no interest whatever in Rosanna Spearman.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
No sooner had Sergeant Cuff set off a friezing hole.
When my daughter Penelope informed me that Rosanna Spearman was
now in a state of extreme melancholy. Having overheard mister
Blake's disavowal of her to Sergeant Cuff, I yielded to
Penelope's persuasion and would offer to see what I could
do to raise the spirits of the sensitive girl. Yes,
(22:56):
mister Beatrix, cheered up, Prousanna. I'm sure mister Blake intended
you no disrespect when he told Sargeant Coffee took no
interest in you. He merely lost his patience with the sergeant.
Speaker 10 (23:10):
Mister Franklin Blake is very kind and considerate. Please to
thank you, and now I must get on with my sweeteps.
Oh come, come, my girl, this is not like yourself.
You have something on your mind. Now I'm your friend.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Make a clean breast of it, Rosanna, Come, come, make
a clean breast of it. Yes, I'll make a clean
breast of it. To Lady Verinder, to mister Blake. Then yes,
to mister Blake, Rosanna, why not take my advice and
speak to Lady Verinder, who has always been kind to you.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
No, I have a better way of relieving my mind
than that.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
What is it, Rosanna?
Speaker 6 (23:52):
What is it?
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Girl? Please?
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Let me go on with my work.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Cleannna, Oh, why must you be like rest?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Leave me alone alone? The poor girl ran from me,
and then Miss Rachel was about to leave the house.
Sergeant Cuff returned from Frizzing Hall. He healed me at
the front door.
Speaker 8 (24:18):
I've seen the three Indians. They will be set free
next Wednesday. Although there isn't a doubt in my mind
that they came to steal the moonstone. I can tell
you one thing, Gabriel, we haven't heard the last of
those three jugglers.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
If we don't find the moonstone, they.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Will well did anything else turn upside?
Speaker 8 (24:38):
I learned what Rosanna bought when she slipped away to
freezing all that Thursday.
Speaker 6 (24:42):
What's that?
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Why, sir? That would be Miss Rachel leaving in her carriage.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
Cartman, What is it you want, Sergeant? Before you go,
Miss Rachel, one word, be quick about it.
Speaker 8 (24:57):
I can't presume to stop you for visiting your art.
I can only venture to say that you're leaving us
as things now stand, put an obstacle in the way
of my recovering your moonstone. Please understand that, now go
or stay drive off.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I had hardly recovered from my disappointment at Miss Rachel's
abrupt departure. When the special Officer detailed to keep an
eye on Rosanna's spayman reported he had lost trek of her.
I informed Sergeant Kuff of this and of my conversation
with Rosanna a short time before. Without a word, it turned,
dashed out of the house and set off in the
(25:40):
direction of Shivering Sand. I sent our little Irish serving
boy along with him, and when within the half hour
the boy returned asking for one of Rosanna's boots, I
had a premonition. I knew even before I knew. Running
as fast as I could, I myself carried Rosanna's shoe
(26:01):
to Shivering Sand. The clouds gathered black on the horizon
as though they knew, and a hard driving rain came
pelting down. The tide is running in the angry sea
returned the thunder above. I looked at the south spit
a ledge of rock which rises high above the quicksand,
and on it stood a black, solitary figure, sagean cop.
(26:25):
I hurried to him. He pointed to a footprint of
the sand. Then, without a word, he took Rosanna's shoe
from my trembling hand and knelt to fit the boot
within the footmark.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
It fits no paramage. Rosanna made this footprint and the other.
You see the direction in.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Which they point Aye, They pointed straight to the ledge
of rock, and they offul dropped below into the quicksand Eh,
I can't see er. Yes, it's mister Yellen, the fisherman.
How you phone the last?
Speaker 6 (27:01):
No, only these footprints. Ah, Then the poor girl is done.
Speaker 8 (27:06):
Mister Arran an hour ago before the tide came in.
How much water would there be.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Below this rock one hour ago now to enough to
drown a kitten?
Speaker 8 (27:15):
Do you think there's any chance of finding her when
the tide ebbs again?
Speaker 6 (27:18):
None? What does sand get?
Speaker 3 (27:21):
The sand keeps forever, Rosanna's fiam and diad. She had
taken her own life through but she had been driven
to it, Yes, driven by the evilness of the yellow diamond,
the Moonstone. From the very moment. Miss Rachel received the
(27:45):
Moonstone as a legacy from my uncle, the notorious John Hencastle.
Its curse hung over all our heads and now.
Speaker 6 (27:55):
Teath.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
A Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is one of the world's
great novels, brought to you each week by the NBC
University of the Air. Listen next week to the third
episode of this four part radio version of The Moonstone,
and remember that your local public library can be a
constant source of information and entertainment. To add to your
(28:37):
enjoyment of this series, we recommend the Handbook of the
World's Great Novels, which you may obtain by sending twenty
five cents to World's Great Novels Post Office Box, thirty
Station JAY, New York, twenty seven, New York. It's post
office box thirty Station J, New York, twenty seven. The
(29:03):
Moonstone is adapted for radio by Robert Saxon. The music
was composed by Amol Souderstrom, and the orchestra was directed
by Bernard Berkwist. The entire production was under the direction
of Homer Heck. Sherman Marx is featured as Gabriel Betteridge
and Arthur Sedgwick as Sergeant Kupp. Rachel was played by
Geraldine Kay, Lady Barnder by Almah Platts, Rosanna by Ruth Shames,
(29:27):
Penelope by Jane Elliott, and missus Yollan by Mignon Shriver.
Franklin Blake is played by Charles Mountain, Godfrey, Abel White
by Sidney Breeze, and mister Yallen by Les Spears.
Speaker 6 (29:38):
This is John Conrad. This program comes to you from.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Chicago and is a presentation of the National Broadcasting Company
and its affiliated independent stations with Spring officially here. Many
(30:02):
people are taking to the woods for picnics and steak fries,
thereby increasing the dangers of forest fires. Don't be a
potential firebug. Prevent fires by following these four simple rules.
Crush out cigarettes, break matches in two after using drown
all campfires thoroughly, and find out the law before using fire.
(30:27):
This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Welcome back. This really brought to my mind how much
I enjoyed Sergeant Cough when I read The Moonstone so
many years ago. He's wonderfully realized here by Arthur Sedgwick,
and I was just so delighted by the performance. Sergeant
Cuffs a figure no one talks about when you think
(30:59):
about important detectives, and there can be some good reason
for that as we see the plot play out, But nevertheless,
you really see the sorts of traits and characteristics and
approach to investigation in him that have been borrowed consciously
or unconsciously by so many later authors and have helped
(31:20):
define so many detectives. And again this just does bring
home the importance and influence of the Moonstone informing this
genre that we love and celebrate here every day. Well,
now we turn to listener comments and feedback, and we
have a comment on our listener survey from San Diego, California.
(31:43):
Listener rits love the show. Please if you can have
a few episodes of the Whistler. Thank you well, thank
you so much. I appreciate the comment. Most episodes of
the Whistler don't really fit with the Great Detectives podcasts
since they're more sort of mystery prime drama sort of
(32:04):
stories rather than detective stories that have a true detective.
We did feature one episode on this podcast all the
way back during our Jackweb Centennial week in April of
twenty twenty, back on episode three to one oh four
(32:25):
s so around sixteen hundred episodes or so ago, give
or take. We have actually featured quite a few episodes
of the Whistler on The Amazing World of Radio, including
the very first episode, which was an episode of the
Whistler from Chicago. But we had a Whistler New Year's Special,
(32:47):
a Whistler Christmas Special, another Whistler special that tied into
the Amazing World of Radio Checkweb Centennial series, and then
we had an entire mini series that we did several
years back where our Spring series was recently unearthed episodes
(33:12):
of the Whistler that hadn't been in circulation, although I
think this was back in twenty twenty one now, so
not all that recent these days. But those are the
times we've shared the Whistler, and in addition, we have
done them for various app extras, and we did do
one for our Patreon extras with Betty Lugerson a few
(33:33):
months back. I enjoy The Whistler, but it's one of
those things where I don't think I could do it
every week. I just find that if I listen to
it too much, it's one of those shows that does
mess with my moods a bit.
Speaker 6 (33:46):
If you want to.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
Hear a lot more Whistler, then I would encourage you
to check out Andrew Ryne's Mystery a podcast otnetcast dot
com slash Mystery where he has many many more episodes
of the Whistl are posted. Thanks so much, appreciate the comment,
and now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter
(34:08):
of the day, and I want to go ahead and
thank Rich. Rich has been one of our Patreon supporters
since March twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast at the
Shawmus level of four dollars or more per month. Thanks
so much for your support, Rich, and that will do
it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow
us using your favorite podcast software. And if you are
(34:30):
enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to lock the video,
subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell. We'll
be back next Thursday with episode three of the Moonstone.
But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly.
Speaker 11 (34:47):
Johnny Dollarware, So you ensured two million worth of diamond
marbles over the phone.
Speaker 6 (34:52):
I did.
Speaker 11 (34:52):
And you say you weren't naive a look a remote
launch an eccentric old man some expensive bobbles.
Speaker 6 (35:00):
I am a tarker. Get at him.
Speaker 12 (35:01):
You haven't listened to me, Johnny. You've missed the point entirely.
I wouldn't care to be left the diamonds lying out
on a front doorstep. I ensured those diamonds solely against
theft by persons or things unknown on this earth. That's
the exact wording of the policy.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
And now they're gone. Yes, Saul, someone took them. Prove
it what.
Speaker 12 (35:23):
Someone and not something.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime,
send your comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives from
Boise Alohol. This is your host, Adam graham Son and Off.
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you the second episode of World's Great
Novels adaptation of The Moonstone. But first, I do want
to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow
(00:51):
us using your favorite podcast software. I do want to
encourage you to check out my wife's business, a Sheerer
clips as dot com slash a Shira. There you'll find
a wide variety of different hair clips, hairpins, and headbands
to suit a wide variety of different styles and taste.
(01:13):
That's at Lyla Rose l l l A Rose dot
com Slasher Shira s h Ira. Well Now from April ninth,
nineteen forty eight, here is World's Great Novels with part
two of The Moonstone.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
The World's Great Novels. In the middle of the nineteenth century,
Wilkie Cullins, along with his famous contemporary Charles Dickens, exercised
a strong influence on the literature of his day. His
(01:55):
most famous work, The Moonstone, is still regarded as a
classic in de active fiction. For Wilkie Collins was one
of the very first to develop the technique of mystifying
the reader by deaf manipulation of situation and effect. The
National Broadcasting Company presents the second episode in its three
part dramatization of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, another in
(02:18):
a series.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Of books that Live the World's Great Novels. When first
I saw the moonstone, that legendary and fabulous diamond glittering
(02:39):
at the throat of my young ladyme is Rachel Berenda,
in whose home I had for many years performed the
duties of majordomo. I said to myself, Abriel Preterich, here
is a duel tainted by centuries of evarice and violence,
but still on that featful moaning of which I now
tell I was hardly prepared for what I heard from upstairs.
(03:02):
It was my daughter Penelope. She came flying down the
stairway after me.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Heaven's sakes, come upstairs right away. The diamond is gone.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Were you out of your mind?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
It's gone gone, and nobody knows how.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Oh, come up and see. Yes is the one girl, Father,
You're head faster, that is young miss. Everyone was go ahead, girl.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
See see the drawer. The Indian Cabinet is pulled all
the way out. I myself. So miss Rachel put the
diamond hinto that drawer last night? Let me see. Yes,
the draw is empty, Miss Rachel. Wasn't I here last
night when you put the diamond away?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Miss Rachel? Is this true?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
The diamond is gone?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
But miss Rachel, Lady Verner, I'm glad you've come.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
I heard a scream. What is it?
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
The drawer, Yes, my lady, it is empty.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
I mustpeak to Rachel. Where is she?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
She's retired to her bedroom. She's locked herself in.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
I must speak with her immediately, Rachel, Rachel, let me in.
It's mother, Rachel.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
It's gone.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Mon stone gone. What are you talking about, Gabriel, moonstone gone, yes,
mister Abel, right gone, Yes, mister Blake, it's true.
Speaker 6 (04:41):
What's true?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
The moonstone has been stolen.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
That Gabriel, my dear fellow. That's impossible. It's right over
here in the.
Speaker 6 (04:51):
Why it's gone? And Julia, where's Rachel? I must see her.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
I'm sorry, but the loss of the moonstone has quite
stunned her. She shrieks in the strangest manner from speaking
of it even to me. But Julia, it's impossible for
you to see her for the present.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
From the very beginning, it was obvious that Superintendent Seagrave,
our local police chief, was not the man to conduct
an investigation on so serious a matter as the disappearance
of the Moonstone, and he was very quickly replaced, at
the request of Franklin Lake by England's most celebrated detective,
Sergeant Cuff. The sergeant was a lean, elderly man with
(05:40):
a face as sharp as a hatchet. The skin of
it is yellow and withered as an autumn leaf. He
hunted men, and he loved roses, oh yes, And frequently,
when preoccupied he whistled his favorite song, the Last Rose
of Summer. In the days that followed, I was to
hear him whistle his tune many a time. And now
(06:00):
the Sergeant Cuff stood by the engine cabinet, his steely,
light gray eyes seeming to miss no detail.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
He turned to me and spoke, this, you say, is
the sitting room?
Speaker 8 (06:12):
Yes, sir, nothing has been disturbed here since the disappearance.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Of the Moonstone. Oh nothing, sir, I hope, So yeah,
what's it?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I beg your pardon?
Speaker 8 (06:27):
This This small paintsmere beneath the lock on the door,
the door was recently painted.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yes, sir, it was, sir, by mister Franklin Blake, with
the help of Miss Rachel Vender. Mister Blake loves to
indulge his fancy's decorative painting is one of them.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
So it is it is. I would like to talk
to mister Blake easy about Yes, sir, yes, I bring
you are mister Franklin Blake. Yes I am. I am,
(07:05):
Sergeant Cuff. How do you do?
Speaker 8 (07:07):
Can you tell me about this door you painted? I
believe you were assisted by miss Velinder, that's correct. When
did you finish painting the door?
Speaker 7 (07:15):
Oh about three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, and the moonstone
disappeared that night.
Speaker 8 (07:21):
Yes, that would be two days ago, mister Blake. Can
you tell me how long you protect the paint on
that door to dry?
Speaker 7 (07:29):
I can tell you exactly, a Sergeant Cuff. You see,
I prepared the mixture, a mixture I call a vehicle,
and poured it into the paint, which caused the paint
to dry in twelve hours.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
Twelve hours, you say, twelve hours? Sergeant.
Speaker 8 (07:42):
Let us reckon back mister Blake. At three on Wednesday afternoon,
that bit of painting was completed right.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
The vehicle dried it in twelve.
Speaker 8 (07:50):
Hours, that is to say, by three o'clock on Thursday morning.
Does anyone here know just what caused that small paint
smear beneath the lu.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Oh well Superintendent Seegrave, the police officer who has retired
from the case. He said one of the women's servants
petticoats had smeared it when they came in this room
to be examined by himself.
Speaker 8 (08:13):
A servant's petticoat is not responsible for the paint smear
because when the superintendent conducted his investigation, that paint was
already eight hours dry. My thanks to you, mister Blake.
It's quite in the cards that you have put the
clue in our hands.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Well, oh, Sergeant, this is missus Rachel Verinder.
Speaker 9 (08:35):
Did you say, sergeant, that this man here has put
the clue into your hands?
Speaker 6 (08:40):
I should say, Miss Verinder, that mister Franklin Blake.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
Has possibly put the clue into our hands. And now
I should like to ask a question. Observe this smear
on the painting of your door. Do you know when
it was done or who did it?
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Will you follow a young lady's advice?
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Sergeant I shall be glad to hear it. Mister, then do.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Your duty by yourself and don't allow this man here,
mister Franklin Blake, to help you.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
That is my advice, Sergeant.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
Hm.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
Mister Verinder appears to be out of tempo over the
loss of her diamond. The moonstone, is, I know, a
most valuable jewel. Natural enough, naturally enough.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
She appears to hold me responsible for the loss of
the moonstone.
Speaker 6 (09:29):
Well, so you must remember a young lady's tongue is
a privileged member.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
So it seems well, tell me, sergeant, are you prepared
to say who has tolen the moonstone?
Speaker 6 (09:39):
I am not. Perhaps later on?
Speaker 7 (09:41):
Then not even then, does the sergeant mean he will
never discover the identity of the person who stole the moonstone?
I mean this, mister Blake, nobody has stolen the moonstone.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Then Sergeant Cuff asked to speak to my lady. I
found Lady Verinder in her own sitting room and explained
the sergeant's wishes. To my surprise, she displayed great reluctance
to see him, saying that her nerve seemed a little
shaken and that there was something in Sergeant Cuff that
she recoiled from She said she had a presentiment that
he was bringing trouble and misery with him, But she
(10:24):
rallied and said she would see him, though she insisted
I remain in the room with him. Well, when I
ushered the sergeant into her sitting room, I declare she
turned a shade paler at the sight of him.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Lady Verinder, Sergeant Cuff, I speak to you only because
my Steward Gabriel betteredge urges me. What have you to say?
Speaker 8 (10:44):
I have already formed an opinion on this case, Lady Verinder,
I beg your Ladyship's permission to keep it to myself
for the present.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
Very well, two things are certain. One, the moonstone is
missing out of the drawer.
Speaker 8 (10:59):
Of the Indian cabinet. Two, the marks from the smear
on the painted door were surely caused by a dress
which brushed against it. And therefore, before we go a
step further, we must discover the dress itself.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
And I presume such a discovery would imply the discovery
of the thief.
Speaker 8 (11:17):
Your pardon, my lady, I have not said the moonstone
is stolen. I merely say it is missing. That is
why I wish to find the paint stained dress.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
How do you propose to do so.
Speaker 8 (11:29):
By examining the washing book, which lists the household laundry.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
A missing article of dress might indeed be significant.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
Very well, Gabriel, kindly bring for Rosanna and have her
fetch the washing book. Yes, Sergeant Cuff, My good servants,
who have been with me for years have already had
their boxes and rooms searched by that other officer, that seagrave.
I cannot and will knock and it them to be
insulted a second time. Keep that in mind, sergeant.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
I shall dame you rang for me, mister Betrick.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Yes, Rosanna, bring the washing book, the washing book, yes, yes, yes,
if you please, my girl.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
Oh yes, sir.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
I hesitate to trouble your ladyship again, but I must
ask one last question.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
You are sure it will be the last, Sergeant.
Speaker 8 (12:23):
Your housemaid was just here. I believe her name is
Rosanna's pierman. Has she been in your employment as long
as the other servants?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Why do you ask? The sergeant appeared not to notice
my lady's question. Instead, his lips puckered into a whistle
as his keen eyes rolled the room. I was overtaken
by a mountain, feeling as though I were watching a
bloodhound running swiftly behind his elusive cory. Then Rosanna returned
(12:56):
with the washing book.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Yeah, here's the book.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Thank you, Rosanna. Here you are, sergeant, thank you.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
Yes, Rosanna, you may go.
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Thank you, my lady. Oh, thank you.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Sergeant Cuff. A moment ago you asked how long Rosanna
had been employed in my household. Why did you.
Speaker 8 (13:15):
Ask, because, Lady Venanda, the last time I saw miss
Rosanna's peerman, she was in prison for theft.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
H pity that Sergeant Cuff was right. Although Rosanna had
indeed served determined prison. My good sweet mistress was determined
that the poor girl with the crippled shoulder should have
a better chance in life, and so had given her employment.
Then Miss Rachel reappeared and refused permission to have a
(13:46):
wardrobe examined in the search for the Princemere dress. After
she had again locked her self in her room, I
had glanced deprehensively at Sergeant Cuff.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
Hey, Gabriel, yes, sergeant, come out to the garden. We'll
have a look at the rosies. Life, Gabriel can be
most strange. Man's ambition can be a simple one.
Speaker 8 (14:14):
Yet so easily denied. I have always wanted to be
a gardener. Yet here I am a detective.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
Well, hello, what is it? Such?
Speaker 8 (14:26):
I thought it wasna spearman hiding back. There have a
hidy clumpish shoppery.
Speaker 6 (14:29):
Oh, poor creature.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I'm not surprised, my daughter of Penelopus, is that Rosanna
has recently conceived an attachment from mister Blake, who often
walks in this part of the garden for the epsid
suits of fancy to have a look at him.
Speaker 8 (14:42):
Falling in love with the gentleman and mister Franklin. Blake's
manner and appearance doesn't seem to me to be the
maddest part of her conduct by any means.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
That noise, someone's coming through the shrubbery.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Oh it's mister Blake.
Speaker 6 (14:55):
Oh there you are.
Speaker 7 (14:58):
I'm glad I found the two of you together, Say Gabriel,
Yissa did one of the trades. When yesterday met Rosanna
on the path from Shivering Sand to pre single Town, I.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
Forgot what's it? Why? Yes?
Speaker 7 (15:10):
And at that time she was supposed to have been
ill in her room.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
Isn't that right, Gabriel?
Speaker 3 (15:15):
So she said yesterday.
Speaker 7 (15:17):
Obviously her attack of illness was merely a blind to
deceive us. She had some guilty reason, the secret leg
going to town, the paint stained dresses, address of hers.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yes, it's my belief.
Speaker 7 (15:28):
Rosanna Spearman has stoleed on the moonstone.
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Didn't Lady Verinder know of this? Not just yet, mister Blake.
Speaker 7 (15:34):
I must say, Sergeant, the workings of a policeman's mind
are too mysterious for me.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
Then, sir, let me enlighten you.
Speaker 8 (15:42):
If you went to inform Lady Verinder what you know
about Rosanna, she would only tell her daughter.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
It's richual am I to understand? You forbid me?
Speaker 8 (15:49):
Yes, you take it upon yourself to devoulge vital information
to Lady venandor anyone else without my leave, I will
throw up the case very well, Sarchelton. Well, and now, Gabriel,
I have a request to make of you.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh yes, what is it?
Speaker 8 (16:07):
Zach, show me the way to Shivering sand Beach. Shivering
you say yes to look at the path Rosanna Spearman
took yesterday when she said she was in her room.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Even a man is resolute to Sergeant Cuff could scarcely
repressed the shadow which seized him when he caught his
first glimpse of shivering sand scum slime shone faintly here
and there on the quicksand, and far out beyond could
be seen the rhythmic heave of the ocean. Sergeant Cuff spoke, is.
Speaker 8 (16:43):
You're sea shore here considered a fine specimen of marine landscape?
Speaker 6 (16:47):
Gabriel, Yes, sir, it is, sir.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
I'm looking at it from my point of view. I
never saw a marine landscape I had mine. Unless oh,
a treacherous place, Gabriel. No sign of anyone having been
along here yesterday. Perhaps we better walk a bit.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 8 (17:06):
Eh how does the fishing village bear from where we
are now?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Well, sir, they call it cobs Hole, and it is
due south in the direction we're walking.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
Can we get to cobs Hole now that it's low
water on the beach, Yes, sir, Well, then, if you'll
excuse my suggesting it, we'll step out briskly.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
We had walked, i should say, a couple of hundred
yards toward cobs Hole when SuDS and Cuffs suddenly went
down on his knees on the beach. Tall appearances seized
with a sudden frenzy for seeing his prayers.
Speaker 8 (17:38):
There's something that we said for your marine landscape after all, yeah, Gabriel,
on a woman's footsteps.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yes, and leading directly to the village.
Speaker 8 (17:46):
Rosanna Spearman, I imagine has friends at cobs Hole.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Oh, yes, sir, of course, where they fisherfolk by the
name of Yelland she's quite friendly with her daughter, who
is afflicted with the misshapen foot and known as limping Lucy.
Speaker 8 (17:58):
Sir, Then, Gabriel, I think we must drop in on
the Yell.
Speaker 9 (18:04):
Sure you won't have another top of the Dutch gin,
mister cuff, No, thank you, mister, We say any friend
of Rosanna's is a friend of ours.
Speaker 6 (18:14):
I do feel quite sorry for her. She'll never get
on in her present place. My advice to her would
be to leave it.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
True, bless your heart alive, sir. She is going to
leave it.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Oh, surely, missus yelling you must be mistaken.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Mistaken.
Speaker 9 (18:30):
Why only an hour ago she bought some things from
me that she wanted for cleveling, And only last evening
she came here and said, poor dear, I want to
write a letter to a friend, and I can't do
it for the peeping and prying at the house. And
then she went upstairs and wrote the letter in Nucy's room.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
But who she wrote it to I'll never know.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
H Eh, excuse me, sir, but isn't it about time
we took our leave? Oh? Oh, what way?
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Then in our wait just a moment, No, oh, this
this pile of rubbish?
Speaker 5 (19:06):
Ah, here it is?
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Wait this in your hands, sir?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Why? Why it's a dog chain and the heavy one
of that is.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Quite out of the ordinary.
Speaker 9 (19:16):
I gave two of them just like this to Rosanna.
I asked her why she wanted them, and she said
they'll go around my tin box quite nicely.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
You see, I had already given her a tin box,
so you.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
Gave her a tin box and chain ropes cheaper?
Speaker 5 (19:32):
I said, chain is better, said she.
Speaker 9 (19:36):
Now I ask you, mister Cuff, what would she be
wanting with such heavy chains?
Speaker 8 (19:40):
Thank you, missus, yolland we've bothered you enough many thanks
and good.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
Night, Oh good night, sir.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I could scarcely credit my senses. Hasanna preparing to steal
away from mouse? We changed a tin box m Upon
returning home, we were met with a new sensation, which
came from Lady Velender herself.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Sergeant Cuff, I am obliged to inform you that my daughter,
Miss Rachel, intends to stay with her aunt. This is
able White a frizzing hole. She has arranged to leave
early tomorrow morning.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
May I ask your ladyship when Miss Vender first thought
of going.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
To her aunt about an hour ago.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
I had no claim to control Miss Rachel's actions.
Speaker 8 (20:25):
All I can ask is that your daughter put off
her departure, if possible, until later in the day. I
must go to Frizzing Hall myself tomorrow morning to investigate
the matter of the three Indians now in prison.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
There. I shall be back by two o'clock, if not before.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
Is if Miss Benndar can be kept here until about
that time, it is imperative that I say two words
to her unexpectedly before she goes.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
That night, no sleep came to banish the thoughts which
braged my mind. But like a man racing chalk marks
from the slate, as fast as I rubbed out one riddle,
another made its appearance. First the strange behavior Franklin Blake,
second the mysterious maneuverings of Rosanna Spearmen, and last the
(21:23):
sudden disclosure that Miss Rachel was to leave for a
visit with her aunt at Frizzing all Ah. Finally, the
long night gave way to morning when I witnessed a
sharp encounter between Sergeant Cuff and mister Franklin Brake.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
Well, what do you want, mister Blake? Be pleased to remember?
Speaker 8 (21:43):
I am an officer of the law, acting under the
sanction of the Mistress of the house.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
It would seem to me the worthy sergeant uses his
authority something in the manner of a man wielding a bludgeon.
Speaker 8 (21:53):
No matter, under these circumstances, is it or is it
not your duty to assist me with any special information
you may happen to possess.
Speaker 7 (22:02):
I possess no special information.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
You would deny that one of the female servants spoke
to you privately, Sir last night.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
I have nothing to say.
Speaker 8 (22:12):
You needn't be afraid of harming the girl, mister Blake.
On the contrary, I recommend you to honor me with
your confidence if you feel any interest in Rosanna Spearman.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
I take no interest whatever in Rosanna Spearman.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
No sooner had Sergeant Cuff set off a friezing hole.
When my daughter Penelope informed me that Rosanna Spearman was
now in a state of extreme melancholy. Having overheard mister
Blake's disavowal of her to Sergeant Cuff, I yielded to
Penelope's persuasion and would offer to see what I could
do to raise the spirits of the sensitive girl. Yes,
(22:56):
mister Beatrix, cheered up, Prousanna. I'm sure mister Blake intended
you no disrespect when he told Sargeant Coffee took no
interest in you. He merely lost his patience with the sergeant.
Speaker 10 (23:10):
Mister Franklin Blake is very kind and considerate. Please to
thank you, and now I must get on with my sweeteps.
Oh come, come, my girl, this is not like yourself.
You have something on your mind. Now I'm your friend.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Make a clean breast of it, Rosanna, Come, come, make
a clean breast of it. Yes, I'll make a clean
breast of it. To Lady Verinder, to mister Blake. Then yes,
to mister Blake, Rosanna, why not take my advice and
speak to Lady Verinder, who has always been kind to you.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
No, I have a better way of relieving my mind
than that.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
What is it, Rosanna?
Speaker 6 (23:52):
What is it?
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Girl? Please?
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Let me go on with my work.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Cleannna, Oh, why must you be like rest?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Leave me alone alone? The poor girl ran from me,
and then Miss Rachel was about to leave the house.
Sergeant Cuff returned from Frizzing Hall. He healed me at
the front door.
Speaker 8 (24:18):
I've seen the three Indians. They will be set free
next Wednesday. Although there isn't a doubt in my mind
that they came to steal the moonstone. I can tell
you one thing, Gabriel, we haven't heard the last of
those three jugglers.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
If we don't find the moonstone, they.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Will well did anything else turn upside?
Speaker 8 (24:38):
I learned what Rosanna bought when she slipped away to
freezing all that Thursday.
Speaker 6 (24:42):
What's that?
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Why, sir? That would be Miss Rachel leaving in her carriage.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
Cartman, What is it you want, Sergeant? Before you go,
Miss Rachel, one word, be quick about it.
Speaker 8 (24:57):
I can't presume to stop you for visiting your art.
I can only venture to say that you're leaving us
as things now stand, put an obstacle in the way
of my recovering your moonstone. Please understand that, now go
or stay drive off.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I had hardly recovered from my disappointment at Miss Rachel's
abrupt departure. When the special Officer detailed to keep an
eye on Rosanna's spayman reported he had lost trek of her.
I informed Sergeant Kuff of this and of my conversation
with Rosanna a short time before. Without a word, it turned,
dashed out of the house and set off in the
(25:40):
direction of Shivering Sand. I sent our little Irish serving
boy along with him, and when within the half hour
the boy returned asking for one of Rosanna's boots, I
had a premonition. I knew even before I knew. Running
as fast as I could, I myself carried Rosanna's shoe
(26:01):
to Shivering Sand. The clouds gathered black on the horizon
as though they knew, and a hard driving rain came
pelting down. The tide is running in the angry sea
returned the thunder above. I looked at the south spit
a ledge of rock which rises high above the quicksand,
and on it stood a black, solitary figure, sagean cop.
(26:25):
I hurried to him. He pointed to a footprint of
the sand. Then, without a word, he took Rosanna's shoe
from my trembling hand and knelt to fit the boot
within the footmark.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
It fits no paramage. Rosanna made this footprint and the other.
You see the direction in.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Which they point Aye, They pointed straight to the ledge
of rock, and they offul dropped below into the quicksand Eh,
I can't see er. Yes, it's mister Yellen, the fisherman.
How you phone the last?
Speaker 6 (27:01):
No, only these footprints. Ah, Then the poor girl is done.
Speaker 8 (27:06):
Mister Arran an hour ago before the tide came in.
How much water would there be.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Below this rock one hour ago now to enough to
drown a kitten?
Speaker 8 (27:15):
Do you think there's any chance of finding her when
the tide ebbs again?
Speaker 6 (27:18):
None? What does sand get?
Speaker 3 (27:21):
The sand keeps forever, Rosanna's fiam and diad. She had
taken her own life through but she had been driven
to it, Yes, driven by the evilness of the yellow diamond,
the Moonstone. From the very moment. Miss Rachel received the
(27:45):
Moonstone as a legacy from my uncle, the notorious John Hencastle.
Its curse hung over all our heads and now.
Speaker 6 (27:55):
Teath.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
A Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is one of the world's
great novels, brought to you each week by the NBC
University of the Air. Listen next week to the third
episode of this four part radio version of The Moonstone,
and remember that your local public library can be a
constant source of information and entertainment. To add to your
(28:37):
enjoyment of this series, we recommend the Handbook of the
World's Great Novels, which you may obtain by sending twenty
five cents to World's Great Novels Post Office Box, thirty
Station JAY, New York, twenty seven, New York. It's post
office box thirty Station J, New York, twenty seven. The
(29:03):
Moonstone is adapted for radio by Robert Saxon. The music
was composed by Amol Souderstrom, and the orchestra was directed
by Bernard Berkwist. The entire production was under the direction
of Homer Heck. Sherman Marx is featured as Gabriel Betteridge
and Arthur Sedgwick as Sergeant Kupp. Rachel was played by
Geraldine Kay, Lady Barnder by Almah Platts, Rosanna by Ruth Shames,
(29:27):
Penelope by Jane Elliott, and missus Yollan by Mignon Shriver.
Franklin Blake is played by Charles Mountain, Godfrey, Abel White
by Sidney Breeze, and mister Yallen by Les Spears.
Speaker 6 (29:38):
This is John Conrad. This program comes to you from.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Chicago and is a presentation of the National Broadcasting Company
and its affiliated independent stations with Spring officially here. Many
(30:02):
people are taking to the woods for picnics and steak fries,
thereby increasing the dangers of forest fires. Don't be a
potential firebug. Prevent fires by following these four simple rules.
Crush out cigarettes, break matches in two after using drown
all campfires thoroughly, and find out the law before using fire.
(30:27):
This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Welcome back. This really brought to my mind how much
I enjoyed Sergeant Cough when I read The Moonstone so
many years ago. He's wonderfully realized here by Arthur Sedgwick,
and I was just so delighted by the performance. Sergeant
Cuffs a figure no one talks about when you think
(30:59):
about important detectives, and there can be some good reason
for that as we see the plot play out, But nevertheless,
you really see the sorts of traits and characteristics and
approach to investigation in him that have been borrowed consciously
or unconsciously by so many later authors and have helped
(31:20):
define so many detectives. And again this just does bring
home the importance and influence of the Moonstone informing this
genre that we love and celebrate here every day. Well,
now we turn to listener comments and feedback, and we
have a comment on our listener survey from San Diego, California.
(31:43):
Listener rits love the show. Please if you can have
a few episodes of the Whistler. Thank you well, thank
you so much. I appreciate the comment. Most episodes of
the Whistler don't really fit with the Great Detectives podcasts
since they're more sort of mystery prime drama sort of
(32:04):
stories rather than detective stories that have a true detective.
We did feature one episode on this podcast all the
way back during our Jackweb Centennial week in April of
twenty twenty, back on episode three to one oh four
(32:25):
s so around sixteen hundred episodes or so ago, give
or take. We have actually featured quite a few episodes
of the Whistler on The Amazing World of Radio, including
the very first episode, which was an episode of the
Whistler from Chicago. But we had a Whistler New Year's Special,
(32:47):
a Whistler Christmas Special, another Whistler special that tied into
the Amazing World of Radio Checkweb Centennial series, and then
we had an entire mini series that we did several
years back where our Spring series was recently unearthed episodes
(33:12):
of the Whistler that hadn't been in circulation, although I
think this was back in twenty twenty one now, so
not all that recent these days. But those are the
times we've shared the Whistler, and in addition, we have
done them for various app extras, and we did do
one for our Patreon extras with Betty Lugerson a few
(33:33):
months back. I enjoy The Whistler, but it's one of
those things where I don't think I could do it
every week. I just find that if I listen to
it too much, it's one of those shows that does
mess with my moods a bit.
Speaker 6 (33:46):
If you want to.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
Hear a lot more Whistler, then I would encourage you
to check out Andrew Ryne's Mystery a podcast otnetcast dot
com slash Mystery where he has many many more episodes
of the Whistl are posted. Thanks so much, appreciate the comment,
and now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter
(34:08):
of the day, and I want to go ahead and
thank Rich. Rich has been one of our Patreon supporters
since March twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast at the
Shawmus level of four dollars or more per month. Thanks
so much for your support, Rich, and that will do
it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow
us using your favorite podcast software. And if you are
(34:30):
enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to lock the video,
subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell. We'll
be back next Thursday with episode three of the Moonstone.
But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly.
Speaker 11 (34:47):
Johnny Dollarware, So you ensured two million worth of diamond
marbles over the phone.
Speaker 6 (34:52):
I did.
Speaker 11 (34:52):
And you say you weren't naive a look a remote
launch an eccentric old man some expensive bobbles.
Speaker 6 (35:00):
I am a tarker. Get at him.
Speaker 12 (35:01):
You haven't listened to me, Johnny. You've missed the point entirely.
I wouldn't care to be left the diamonds lying out
on a front doorstep. I ensured those diamonds solely against
theft by persons or things unknown on this earth. That's
the exact wording of the policy.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
And now they're gone. Yes, Saul, someone took them. Prove
it what.
Speaker 12 (35:23):
Someone and not something.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime,
send your comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives from
Boise Alohol. This is your host, Adam graham Son and Off.
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