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02:51Thank you, George.
02:54From the point of view of the criminal expert,
02:58London has become a singularly uninteresting city.
03:02Well, I hardly think you find many decent citizens to agree with you.
03:06Well, well, well, one must not be selfish.
03:09The community is the gainer and no one the loser,
03:12save the poor unfortunate specialist whose occupation was gone.
03:22The last few months haven't been totally uneventful, surely.
03:30As the case of the papers of ex-president Murillo.
03:36The most shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland.
03:40It very nearly cost us both our lives.
03:43Both of them great success.
03:46I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes is not at home.
03:48If I fail to see him now, it will be too late.
03:51But I'm sorry, I cannot help you.
03:53But it is a matter of the utmost urgency.
03:55I have already told you, young man.
03:57Mr. Holmes!
03:59Well, I must see you.
04:01I told the young man you weren't here, but he wouldn't listen.
04:04Well, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
04:05But I'm nearly out of my mind.
04:07I am the unhappy John Hector Macfarlane.
04:20Now, tell us quietly and slowly who you are and what it is that you want.
04:27You mentioned your name just now as if I should recognize it,
04:29but I can assure you beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor,
04:32a solicitor and a Freemason and an asthmatic.
04:35I know nothing about you, whatever.
04:42Your untidy clothes,
04:44sheaf of legal papers,
04:45watch chain,
04:46and your somewhat irregular breathing.
04:50Why, yes, Mr. Holmes.
04:52I am all these things.
04:54And in addition,
04:56I am at this moment the most unfortunate man in London.
05:01Have you not read your newspaper?
05:02Not yet.
05:03Then, if you would allow me.
05:13At about 12 o'clock last night, an incident occurred at Lower Norwood which points it is feared to a
05:19serious crime.
05:20A small timber yard caught fire at the back of a house belonging to Mr. Jonas Oldacre, a builder.
05:27A surprise was expressed at Mr. Oldacre's absence,
05:31and it became apparent that he had disappeared.
05:34An examination of his room revealed a safe which was open,
05:40signs of a murderous struggle,
05:42and a heavy walking stick with stains of blood upon the handle.
05:47As we all I ask is that you don't abandon me.
05:51A man has followed me from London Bridge Station.
05:53If they arrest me before I finish my story,
05:56make them give me time so that I may tell you the whole truth.
05:59I could go to jail happy if I knew that you were outside working for me.
06:03Avest you? This is really most gratifying.
06:05On what charge do you expect to be arrested?
06:09Upon the charge of murdering Mr. Jonas Oldacre of Lower Norwood.
06:15Dear me.
06:21As we go to press sensational developments have been reported.
06:27Charred remains have been found among the ashes of the fire
06:31and the police theory is that the victim was clubbed to death
06:35and the body ignited.
06:39It is known that Mr. Oldacre received a visitor last night
06:43and the stick has been identified as belonging to that person,
06:47a young London solicitor by the name of John Hector McFarlane.
06:57May I ask why you are still at liberty Mr. McFarlane?
07:02As there seems to be enough evidence to justify your arrest.
07:07I live with my mother at Torrington Lodge in Blackheath.
07:10But last night, having late business with Mr. Oldacre,
07:13I stayed at an hotel in Norwood.
07:19Mr. Holmes,
07:21I knew nothing of this affair
07:23until I was on the train to my office this morning
07:26and read what you have just heard.
07:29I saw at once the terrible danger of my position
07:32and hurried to put the case in your hands.
07:34I saw you in the front of my house.
08:05Mr. John Hector McFarlane yes I arrest you for the willful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre of Lower
08:14Norwood oh no but just one moment Mr. in half an hour more or less can make little difference to
08:18you and this young gentleman was about to give us an account of this very interesting affair
08:21which might aid us in clearing it up there'll be no difficulty in clearing it up thank you
08:26Mr. Holmes nevertheless I mean with your permission I would be much interested in hearing his account
08:33well Mr. Holmes there's no denying that you have been of use to the force once or twice in the
08:40past
08:40but I must insist all I ask is that you should hear and recognize the absolute truth give you half
08:52an hour
09:06thank you Lestrade
09:10we must warn you that what you say now will appear in evidence against you
09:17pray continue
09:21I must first explain
09:23that I knew nothing of Mr. Jonas Oldacre although his name was familiar to me
09:30many years ago my parents were acquainted with him but well they drifted apart
09:37and so it came as a complete surprise when yesterday afternoon at about three o'clock
09:43he walked into my office in the city
09:48Mr. Oldacre good afternoon I'm Mr. McFarlane
09:52would you care to come?
09:58please uh won't you sit down
10:07how can I help you?
10:16this is a draft of my will
10:20I want you Mr. McFarlane to cast it into proper legal shape
10:26I shall sit here while you do so
10:35you can understand my astonishment Mr. Holmes
10:38when I found that with some minor reservations
10:42his entire estate had been left to me
10:46but I
10:48I simply don't understand
10:50oh well then let me explain
10:54I'm a bachelor Mr. McFarlane with few relatives
10:58and none who deserve my consideration
11:00well that may well be so
11:02let me finish
11:04I beg your pardon
11:07for many years now I have withdrawn from my business
11:10I was a builder
11:12and though I say it myself an extremely successful one
11:15successful enough to have gained considerable wealth
11:19and thus live out my life in complete if solitary comfort
11:30many years ago I knew your mother
11:35knew her and hoped to marry her
11:37then she met and married your father
11:42I have no idea
11:43well then why should you?
11:47three months ago I read of your father's death
11:50in the daily telegraph
11:52and my mind was turned to your mother
11:54and to the son who might very well have been my own
12:01this is my way of securing your future
12:05I know that whatever I leave will be in worthy hands
12:10what can I say?
12:12but thank you
12:14there are a few documents I think you should see
12:16building leases, title deeds, mortgages and so on
12:24well now my mind's made up
12:25I shan't rest easy until the whole thing's settled
12:27yes of course
12:28I beg you to come to my house tonight
12:30what shall we say?
12:31er, nine o'clock?
12:33why yes
12:33you'll of course bring the finalised will
12:35and then we can settle a matter once and for all
12:37yes of course
12:38thank you my lord
12:41oh, er, one last thing
12:43not a word of this to your dear mother
12:45until everything is settled
12:47I wanted to be a little surprise for her
12:49little I...
12:50you, you promise?
12:52you have my word
13:13I left in good time for my appointment
13:15but had difficulty in finding the house
13:18so that it was nearly half past before I reached it
13:23good evening
13:24I have an appointment with Mr. Oldacre
13:27Mr. McFarlane?
13:28yes, that's right
13:36it was not the warmest of receptions
13:38and the house itself
13:40had a peculiar
13:42unloved feeling
13:50no
13:50sorry if you keep your waiting, my boy
13:51not at all, sir
13:52I'm a little late, I'm afraid
13:54ah, you brought the papers
13:55yes, indeed
13:55excellent
13:58the bedroom was on the ground floor
14:01where there was a large safe
14:02of the firm
14:06eh
14:11er, bring the rest of those papers, my boy
14:15er, bring the rest of those papers
14:15my boy
14:31Now, to business.
14:59All done?
15:00Yes, sir. All done.
15:02Just seen the time, my boy. You must get home.
15:04Oh, thank you. I had a stick with me.
15:08Ah, I wonder where she put it.
15:09Rather a heavy walking stick. It belonged to my father.
15:12Never mind. I'll take good care of it until we meet again.
15:14After all, I shall be seeing a great deal of you now, I hope.
15:17Indeed you shall, sir.
15:21I left him there.
15:24The safe was open.
15:25And the documents were on his desk.
15:28It was too late to go back to Blackheath,
15:30and so I spent the night at an hotel in Norwood.
15:34I knew nothing more of this horrible affair until this morning.
15:45Do you have the original draft of the will that Eldaker brought you?
15:51Why, yes. I have it here.
15:58May I retain this for 24 hours, Inspector?
16:02If it would amuse you.
16:05Well, anything more you'd like to ask, Mr. Holmes?
16:09Not until I've been to Blackheath.
16:12You mean Norwood?
16:13No doubt that is what I must admit.
16:17Now, Mr. McFarlane.
16:18My constable's at the door.
16:20There's a four-wheeler waiting.
16:32Good morning.
16:32Good morning, gentlemen.
16:33Good morning.
16:37Good morning.
16:46Good morning.
17:11I'm going to put it in a little bit, so I'm going to put it in a little bit.
17:30there are certain points about this document are there not Watson?
17:41well I can read the first two lines and these in the middle of the second page and one or
17:47two at
17:47the end I mean they're as clear as print but the writing in between is very bad and
17:52there are several places where I can't read it at all what do you make of that what do you
17:58make of it
18:00that it was written on a train the good writing represents stations the bad writing movement and
18:10the very bad writing passing over the points a scientific expert would pronounce at once that
18:16it was drawn up on a suburban line since nowhere save in the immediate vicinity of a great city could
18:22there be so quick a succession of points granting that his whole journey was occupied in drawing up
18:31the will then the train must have been an express stopping only once between Norwood and London
18:39bridge yes but it's curious is it not that a man should draw up so important to document in so
18:47haphazard a fashion it suggests that he thought it was going to be of no practical importance
18:55well he drew up his death warrant at the same time
19:05this case is not clear to me
19:10come Watson
19:18where are we going Norwood?
19:19no. like he
19:22how
19:44my son's the gentlest creature on god's earth
19:48It's inconceivable he could even contemplate such a terrible crime.
19:54He didn't even know the man, Mr. Holmes.
19:58But you did, Mrs. McFarlane.
20:12Years ago, I'd forgotten that he ever existed.
20:23I tried to forget.
20:25It's impossible to quite forget a man like Jonas Oldacre.
20:32Yes, I knew him well.
20:35At one time we were engaged to be married.
20:44Thank heaven I had the sense to turn away from him and marry a better, if poorer man.
20:52Oh, please.
20:53Please.
21:01Your husband died recently?
21:09He was a kind man.
21:12A gentle man.
21:15He was everything Jonas Oldacre was not.
21:18And yet at one time you were prepared to marry him.
21:24I said that I knew him well.
21:27But the more I knew of him, the more I came to realize
21:31I knew him not at all.
21:35He would change suddenly.
21:37Suddenly, what I saw frighten me.
21:43There was a dark side to his character, Mr. Holmes.
21:48A desire to cause pain.
22:10My own photograph.
22:13It was my first present to him.
22:18Good heavens.
22:21That was how it was returned to me on my wedding day.
22:25Together with a vile note urging a curse upon my house and
22:29saying he'd never forgive me.
22:32And yet he does seem to have forgiven you.
22:35After all, to leave his entire estate to your son.
22:38Neither my son nor I want anything from that wicked man, dead or alive.
22:42I'm Mrs. McFarlane.
22:46The fact remains that the will was made.
22:54I simply can't understand it.
23:00Why?
23:02Have you ever spoken of Oldacre to your son?
23:05I mean, perhaps told him what you've just told me now.
23:09No, never.
23:11Never?
23:19He found the photograph.
23:27My husband tried to make light of it, but
23:30he insisted.
23:32My husband told him something of the truth.
23:36That's all.
23:38And, uh, the boy was...
23:41disturbed?
23:43Disturbed?
23:44He was upset, naturally.
23:46You see, Mrs. McFarlane, what the police might say is...
23:52But if he had heard of Oldacre's behavior toward you,
23:56it would predispose him toward hatred and violence.
23:59And so their case against him would be considerably strengthened.
24:04no.
24:06There is a God in heaven, Mr. Holmes,
24:09and that same God who's punished that wicked man will show in his own good time.
24:13My son's hands are guiltless of his blood.
24:18Come on, please!
24:31Wait here, please!
24:40Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson,
24:44we're just clearing up.
24:47The will as promised.
24:49Uh, look.
24:55Buttons.
24:57Trouser buttons.
24:59No doubt you brought your glass with you.
25:02The name is Hyams.
25:06According to Mrs. Lexington, the housekeeper,
25:08Hyams was the name of Mr. Oldacre's tailor.
25:13Presumably the organic remains
25:15have been removed to the laboratory.
25:18They have, doctor.
25:19Though they'll be of little use, I suspect.
25:21Poor devil was no more than bone and cinder.
25:24How very convenient for the murderer.
25:27Not, I might venture, for Mr. Oldacre.
25:29Nevertheless, inspector, bone and cinder.
25:33Thank heavens he was wearing his trousers.
25:42The stick belongs to the accused. He's never denied it.
25:46He says that he could not find it when he came to leave the house.
25:49He says, Mr. Holmes, says.
25:54My experts made out footmarks of both men on the carpet.
26:03And too much subsequent traffic to make any examination on my part worthwhile.
26:08Two sets of footmarks, Mr. Holmes.
26:10None of any third person.
26:14Another trick for your side.
26:17I suppose all these papers are from the same.
26:19Correct.
26:20And nothing, absolutely nothing has been removed?
26:23Nothing whatsoever.
26:24We have opened one or two, as you can see, to check the contents.
26:29May I check them?
26:30By all means.
26:33I myself have business at the yard.
26:37Oh, and I would like to see the housekeeper.
26:39What is her name?
26:39Mrs. Lexington?
26:41She'll add nothing more to what you already know.
26:46Nevertheless.
26:48I'll send her in.
26:57Could it be that for once Lestrade is on the right track?
27:03All my instincts are one way and all the facts are the other.
27:13You wish to see me, sir?
27:15Yes, Mrs. Lexington.
27:17This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson.
27:20Um, do sit down.
27:23I'll stand, if I may.
27:25This room has no comfort for me.
27:33You let young Mr. McFarlane into this house at 9.30?
27:37Yes.
27:38And I wish that my hand had withered before I'd done so.
27:42And you retired to bed at?
27:4420 minutes past 11.
27:4920 past 11.
27:5120 past 11.
27:53And you heard nothing?
27:55My room is at the far end of the house.
27:57I heard nothing until the fire alarm sounded.
28:00And it was then,
28:01only then that I realized my poor master had been murdered.
28:07Mrs. Lexington, to your knowledge,
28:10did your master have any enemies?
28:13Every man has his enemies.
28:16And a businessman like Mr. Oldacre?
28:18More than most, perhaps?
28:20He was a well-respected gentleman who kept himself very much to himself.
28:28Do you know anything about these papers?
28:30I know nothing of Mr. Oldacre's private affairs.
28:33The buttons that the police found in the fire.
28:36My master had three suits made by Mr. Hyams.
28:39Two were still in that wardrobe there,
28:41and the third he was wearing that night.
28:43Thank you, Mrs. Lexington.
28:44You have been most cooperative.
28:56What do you make of her?
28:59Titus waxed, if you ask me.
29:01But then perhaps that's her usual manner.
29:04It's all wrong.
29:06I feel it in my bones.
29:09Something...
29:13Something...
29:14has not come out.
29:16Now that woman knows it.
29:20Holmes, would you like me to have a look at these papers?
29:26Well, a man's bank account can tell us as much as his diary.
29:31Correct.
29:34Thank you, Watson.
29:50It's all right, Constable. I'm just stretching my legs.
29:52I'll watch them.
29:54I'll watch them.
30:22I'll watch them.
30:24I'll watch them.
30:32I'll go...
30:39I'll try some crap and come.
30:40I'll try some crap.
30:40I'll try some crap.
30:40I can't do that.
30:52I'll try some crap.
30:52Now that we will lose.
31:42Ah, constable.
31:48Are you a local man?
31:49Born and bred, sir. Not half a mile from here.
31:51Excellent.
31:56And perhaps you could offer me some local knowledge.
31:58I'll do my best, sir. I'll most certainly do my best.
32:16I'll do it straight away.
32:21Lestrade did say that no documents have been removed.
32:24Yes, that's what I thought.
32:26You found something.
32:27No, it's what I haven't found that interests me.
32:29There are certain cross-references to various deeds,
32:32valuable deeds, none of which I can find.
32:40But one thing is clear.
32:43Oldacre was hardly in the affluent circumstances
32:46we have been led to believe.
32:47His bank account was practically empty,
32:49largely because he had made several large payments
32:51in the past year to a certain Mr. Cornelius.
32:57Young McFarlane would have inherited nothing.
33:00This is of interest.
33:01Why should a retired builder have such large transactions
33:05with a Mr. Cornelius?
33:07Well, let's take our cab
33:09and see what we can find out from his city bank.
33:13You coming?
33:14I'll stay here for a while.
33:17Norwood Station.
33:31So you're not going back to London with your friend, then?
33:34No.
33:35Not yet, anyway.
33:36I do hope my presence doesn't inconvenience you.
33:41By the way, I should warn you,
33:42I found an undesirable lurking about by the gates.
33:46I saw him off...
33:47A tramp, Mrs. Lexington, a gentleman of the road.
33:51They'll get nothing here.
33:55You don't believe in supporting our less fortunate brethren?
33:59I work.
34:00So can they.
34:02Quite so.
34:03...
34:09...
34:18...
34:59I'm on my way to Folkestone.
35:05I've done enough walking, I have half eyes a place and must stay put.
35:16I used to meet a friend of mine here, or you might know him, he's a seafaring man.
35:26I, I know him, she had my billet for the last four nights he does, and off he goes without
35:37even a word.
35:40You take my tip.
35:42Stay clear of him, he's a liar.
35:49He didn't strike me as such.
35:52He goes up to that big house he does, and comes back here and tells some yarn about
35:59them putting out with open hands and telling him to come back tomorrow and they're giving
36:06some grab and some cast offs for him.
36:10And how's that lying?
36:14Because, my friend, I'd already paid my court and nearly got the law on my back for my
36:22insolence.
36:33Perhaps he told him a pleasing tale.
36:39Are you saying that a drunken sailor has more to offer than a sergeant in the 22nd?
36:48No.
36:49No.
36:50No.
36:52He's a liar.
36:56He says, whatever I get, she says, I'll share with you shipmate, he says.
37:07Off he goes.
37:11Not a sight of him since.
37:14He's in, he says, he's on my Pi.
37:17He's wearing it.
37:42He's wearing it.
37:42He's wearing it.
38:39You must permit yourself some food. You must eat.
38:45At present, I cannot afford energy and nerve force for digestion.
38:52Well, you must if you intend to pursue this case.
38:56I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our client.
39:03Which will certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard.
39:08There's a telegram.
39:23Important fresh evidence to hand.
39:26And Macfarlane's guilt definitely established advise you to abandon case Lestrade.
39:34It is Lestrade's little cock-a-doodle of victory.
39:51There is Lestrade.
40:10Let's have some breakfast.
40:16and then go out together and see what we can do.
40:23I feel as if I shall need your company
40:26and moral support today.
40:40Ah, Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson.
40:44I think you'll acknowledge that we're just a little in front of you this time.
40:52Step this way, if you please, gentlemen.
40:55And I'm sure I can convince you that it was John McFarlane who committed this crime.
41:02I don't like being wrong any more than the rest of us do.
41:05Still, a man can't always expect to have it his own way.
41:10Can he, Dr. Watson?
41:23This is where the housekeeper left McFarlane's hat and stick.
41:27And this is also where he would have come to collect his hat
41:29after the crime was committed.
41:32Now look at this.
41:35A thumb mark.
41:37So I observe.
41:38A thumb mark in blood.
41:40You are aware that no two thumb marks are alike.
41:43I have heard something of the kind.
41:45I have heard something of the kind of a thumb mark.
42:01Identical.
42:03And that was taken from McFarlane this morning.
42:08Definitely the same thumb mark.
42:10And that is final.
42:13Quite final.
42:16Who made this discovery?
42:19It was Mrs. Lexington here who drew my constable's attention to it.
42:24And I suppose there is no doubt that the mark was there yesterday.
42:28Well, of course, McFarlane could have crept out of jail in the middle of the night
42:32just to strengthen the evidence against himself.
42:37Have you any objection if I take a stroll upstairs?
42:41No, none at all.
42:43There's nothing up there, though.
43:06Thanks for watching.
43:07Cheers.
43:07Cheers.
43:13Cheers.
43:17Cheers.
43:25Cheers.
44:00Sorry, things look so bad, Holmes.
44:04But there is a serious flaw in this new evidence.
44:09What's that?
44:13That thumbprint was not there when I examined the hall yesterday.
44:31Inspector Lestrade.
44:34I cannot help thinking your evidence is incomplete.
44:38What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?
44:40Only that there is an important witness that you have not yet seen.
44:43You can produce this witness, can you?
44:46I think I can.
44:48Well, let him do so.
44:49I'll do my best.
44:52How many constables have you?
44:54Three within call.
44:56Excellent.
44:57I assume that they are able-bodied large men with powerful voices.
45:02No doubt that they are, yeah.
45:07In the outhouse, there is a quantity of straw.
45:10I would like two bundles brought in.
45:12Straw?
45:17And, uh, two buckets of water.
45:20Water?
45:21Ask them to bring it to the top landing, will you?
45:34The straw.
45:35Into the fireplace.
45:36A little bit in front.
45:37Two buckets of water to that side, please.
45:42Mr. Holmes!
45:44I don't know whether you're playing a game with us,
45:46but surely you could tell us without all this tomfoolery.
45:49I can assure you, Lestrade,
45:50I have an excellent reason for everything that I do.
45:52Watson, would you put a match to that straw?
45:55And, constable, will you sprinkle it with water?
46:20Now, we must see if we can find this witness for you, Lestrade.
46:24All right.
46:26Gentlemen.
46:33Would you please join me in the call of fire?
46:37One, two, three.
46:38Fire!
46:39Fire!
46:40We can do better than that.
46:42Full voice.
46:43And together.
46:45Fire!
46:47Fire!
46:47Fire!
47:00Fire!
47:01Fire!
47:03Fire!
47:04Constable, a bucket of water on that straw.
47:07Lestrade, allow me to present you with your missing principal witness,
47:11Mr. Jonas Oldacre.
47:14What's this, then?
47:16What have you been doing all this time?
47:19I've done no harm.
47:21No harm?
47:22You've only done your best to get an innocent man hanged.
47:26Listen, if it wasn't for this gentleman standing here,
47:28I'm not sure you wouldn't have succeeded.
47:31Take him!
47:34Let us see where this rat has been lurking.
47:43Ah, you see the advantage of being a builder.
47:46He was able to fix up his own little hiding place without any confederate.
47:50Save for that precious housekeeper of his,
47:52whom I should lose no time in adding to your bag, inspector.
47:55And these are the missing papers, no doubt.
47:59No doubt whatsoever.
48:01Constable, find the housekeeper.
48:03How did you know about that place, Mr. Holmes?
48:05When I compared the proportions of this room with those of the room below,
48:10I deduced that this fireplace wall was false.
48:14Oldacre clearly had a great deal of nerve,
48:17but not enough, I fancied, till I quiet before an alarm of fire.
48:28But how in the world did you know that he was in the house at all?
48:30The thumbmark Lestrade.
48:32When I examined the hall yesterday, it was clear.
48:34Therefore, it must have been put there during the night.
48:36But how?
48:39After Macfarlane had examined the papers that night,
48:42he resealed them.
48:43To do so, he used his thumb upon the wax.
48:48Brooding in that den of his,
48:49it suddenly struck, Oldacre,
48:51what use he could make of that thumbprint.
48:54Smearing the wax with a little blood,
48:57he made what appeared to be
48:58absolutely damning evidence against Macfarlane.
49:04But what was the object of his deception?
49:06Ah, well, you see, Inspector,
49:08in order to swindle his creditors who were pressing him,
49:12Oldacre emptied his bank account
49:14by paying out several large sums to a certain Mr. Cornelius.
49:17Now, I have no doubt that Messrs Oldacre and Cornelius
49:20are one and the same person,
49:21the object being
49:23to change his name,
49:25draw on the money,
49:26and then vanish.
49:28We see before us a very deep, malicious,
49:31and vindictive man.
49:33Did you know that he was once refused
49:35by Macfarlane's mother?
49:37All his life, he has longed for vengeance.
49:40If you could give the impression
49:42that he was murdered
49:43by the only child of his former sweetheart,
49:45what more bitter revenge?
49:47I would never have allowed any real harm
49:50to befall poor Mr. Macfarlane, I assure you.
49:52That's for the jury to decide.
49:55You're charging me for a joke?
49:58It's nothing more than a practical joke.
50:00It's nothing less than murder.
50:02The body in the fire.
50:07But whose body was it?
50:09An old sailor, Lestrade,
50:11who had fallen upon hard times.
50:13When I examined the ashes
50:15of that fire,
50:18I discovered that your experts
50:20had missed this.
50:24It is a tooth
50:26of the great white shark.
50:29And you see that it has been lightly carved.
50:32It is typical of the work
50:33carried out by seamen.
50:36This isn't evidence enough
50:38to show who died in the fire.
50:43I know for certain
50:44that on Monday,
50:45the day before the murder,
50:46a tramp called at this house.
50:50Yet when I questioned the housekeeper,
50:52she assured me
50:53that no such tramp
50:54would ever be welcomed.
50:56Not only was his reception welcoming,
50:59but the man received
51:00some of Oldacre's clothing.
51:04Yesterday,
51:04near the front gate,
51:06I found the calling card
51:07that he left,
51:08a coded sign
51:09advising his fellow travelers
51:11of a charitable welcome.
51:13And last night,
51:15with the help
51:15of your local constable,
51:17I talked
51:18to one of these fellow travelers
51:20who said
51:21that the unfortunate seamen
51:22had been asked
51:23to call back
51:23the following day
51:24with the assurance
51:25of further hospitality.
51:30And so,
51:31the next morning,
51:33wearing his new clothes,
51:35or at least
51:35his new trousers,
51:37he returned.
51:40and was never seen again.
51:42You've saved
51:43an innocent man's life,
51:45Mr. Holmes.
51:46You've also saved me
51:48some embarrassment.
51:50Ah, my good chap.
51:53You will find
51:53that your reputation
51:54has been enormously enhanced.
51:55Just make a few alterations
51:57to that report
51:57which you are writing.
51:59They will understand
52:00how hard it is
52:01to throw dust
52:01in the eyes
52:02of Inspector Lestrade.
52:04You don't want
52:05your name to appear.
52:10Not at all.
52:14His work
52:15is its own reward.
52:18I'll see you
52:19hang for this.
52:21That privilege
52:22must surely be mine.
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