WEBVTT 01:11.112 --> 01:13.739 Mrs. Barclay, your tea. 01:15.492 --> 01:17.409 How could you do such a thing? 01:18.912 --> 01:19.953 Your tea, madam. 01:20.080 --> 01:22.623 I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. 01:24.667 --> 01:25.459 Your tea, madam. 01:25.543 --> 01:26.960 You betrayed him. 01:27.045 --> 01:27.795 Mrs. Penning 01:29.506 --> 01:33.300 What's happened, what is it, child? 01:33.426 --> 01:37.096 It's madam and the Colonel, something awful is going on and I can't open the door. 01:37.180 --> 01:38.305 Here, let me try. 01:42.811 --> 01:44.603 Stop him, both of you 01:45.146 --> 01:48.607 Mrs. Barclay. Mrs. Barclay, open the door. 02:14.425 --> 02:15.843 Mrs. Barclay, open the door. 02:17.470 --> 02:20.347 The door is locked on the inside as well, and there's no key. 02:21.307 --> 02:23.684 I'm going out for a doctor, and the police. 02:59.929 --> 03:03.223 There's quite a few of them when I sailed home wounded. 03:04.100 --> 03:08.395 Had a good record out in India, did wonders during the Mutiny. 03:09.189 --> 03:11.231 I'm sure you won't regret taking the case. 03:12.108 --> 03:13.358 Ah, sentry. 03:26.414 --> 03:28.373 Dr. John Watson, formerly medical officer 03:28.458 --> 03:30.876 attached to the Royal Berkshires. Now in civilian practice. 03:31.085 --> 03:34.421 Murphy, second in command, temporarily in charge of the Royal Mallows, 03:34.589 --> 03:37.591 following the, tragedy of our Colonel's death. 03:38.009 --> 03:39.426 And this will be Mr. Holmes? 03:40.428 --> 03:41.094 Please. 03:47.810 --> 03:49.603 It's good of you to come so swiftly. 03:50.855 --> 03:51.521 Not at all. 03:52.523 --> 03:54.942 I have explained to Holmes how concerned 03:55.109 --> 03:57.444 you must be about the possibility of a scandal. 03:58.780 --> 03:59.446 Thank you. 04:02.867 --> 04:05.285 The honor of the regiment is in my care. 04:07.038 --> 04:12.626 And yet, the newspapers report suggest that a scandal is inevitable. 04:12.961 --> 04:16.129 Surely not. I've done my utmost to make sure that reporters 04:16.297 --> 04:17.965 were kept as far away as possible. 04:18.132 --> 04:19.800 Exactly, and that is what has made them suspicious. 04:19.968 --> 04:22.970 They scent a mystery, that much is clear 04:23.054 --> 04:25.222 from the little they have been able to say. 04:26.808 --> 04:29.559 Surely, it would be wrong to repeat, 04:31.896 --> 04:33.480 to draw attention to... 04:34.899 --> 04:35.482 Quite. 04:39.988 --> 04:43.115 You see how much we need your help, Mr. Holmes. 04:49.289 --> 04:50.998 What do you say, Holmes? 04:51.457 --> 04:52.457 What can I say? 04:54.627 --> 04:56.837 Major Murphy, you have told me nothing. 04:58.172 --> 05:01.842 I have come down here after persuasion from my friend, to Aldershot, 05:02.135 --> 05:04.011 who has more interest in military matters than I. 05:05.596 --> 05:13.312 Now that I am here, please tell me the facts. 05:18.526 --> 05:20.027 The commanding officer of this regiment, 05:20.194 --> 05:22.988 Colonel James Barclay, was found dead in his villa 05:23.072 --> 05:25.032 at about 10 o'clock the night before last. 05:26.200 --> 05:30.370 The body was found by Private Bates, his batman, lying in the morning room. 05:31.039 --> 05:33.790 There was a ragged cut, two-inches long, on the back of his head, 05:33.875 --> 05:37.336 which had evidently been caused by a violent blow from a blunt instrument. 05:37.879 --> 05:43.675 And upon the floor by the body was a singular hand-carved wooden club. 05:48.306 --> 05:50.724 Also, stretched out on the sofa 05:50.808 --> 05:54.227 lying in a dead faint, was Nancy Bar - Mrs. Barclay. 05:56.397 --> 05:58.065 Please continue, Major Murphy. 06:02.278 --> 06:05.197 The servants had been alerted to the tragedy by the sounds of a quarrel 06:05.281 --> 06:07.074 between the Colonel and Mrs. Barclay. 06:07.950 --> 06:10.077 They tried to enter the morning room but found it locked. 06:10.244 --> 06:13.538 Bates had to go around by the garden and get in through the French windows. 06:13.664 --> 06:15.582 And now you suspect Mrs. Barclay? 06:16.667 --> 06:20.754 Yes. But she is quite incapable of such a dreadful act. 06:24.258 --> 06:27.094 I have been the late Colonel's second in command for a number of years. 06:27.261 --> 06:29.262 I've come to know Nancy Barclay well. 06:32.600 --> 06:33.517 Of course. 06:38.981 --> 06:42.901 Tell me about Colonel Barclay. Was he highly regarded by the men under his command? 06:44.112 --> 06:46.780 Considering his background, remarkably so. 06:47.115 --> 06:49.449 His background, why, was he ever disgraced? 06:50.576 --> 06:51.118 No, 06:52.120 --> 06:56.289 but it's not generally known outside that Jim Barclay began his career 06:56.457 --> 06:58.708 as a private soldier in the Mallows. 06:59.335 --> 07:00.293 Did he, indeed? 07:01.462 --> 07:04.297 From private soldier to commanding officer in the same regiment, 07:04.382 --> 07:05.799 that's a rare achievement. 07:07.427 --> 07:10.303 I was his gallantry in the Indian Mutiny that got him his commission, 07:10.930 --> 07:14.641 and then quite rapid promotion over the years, 07:16.394 --> 07:18.437 more rapid than mine, for instance. 07:19.897 --> 07:20.814 Impressive. 07:23.151 --> 07:26.069 And I suppose the unfortunate Mrs. Barclay is in custody? 07:26.487 --> 07:29.823 No, not exactly, no. 07:30.658 --> 07:32.492 She's in hospital, being looked after, 07:33.202 --> 07:35.579 with a police constable standing by. 07:38.958 --> 07:41.168 Nancy Barclay is a handsome woman now, 07:42.128 --> 07:46.173 but you should have seen her as a young girl in India, 30 years ago. 07:50.428 --> 07:52.137 She was a daughter of the regiment. 07:53.014 --> 07:57.434 Her father was the Regimental Sergeant Major, RSM Devoy, and 07:57.852 --> 08:01.480 therefore quite a formidable father-in-law for any soldier. 08:03.441 --> 08:05.525 I remember that all the men in my company 08:05.610 --> 08:08.361 thought her quite the prettiest girl in the garrison. 08:09.822 --> 08:12.199 As a junior officer I had little to do with her, 08:12.366 --> 08:15.952 but I was aware that she was a most charming, 08:16.037 --> 08:18.663 most vivacious and spirited girl. 08:26.756 --> 08:29.508 It was quite understandable 08:29.592 --> 08:33.553 that Barclay was not the only man in the regiment who sought her hand. 08:34.764 --> 08:37.641 But, in the end, he was the one she chose 08:45.566 --> 08:47.067 They were married at Bhurtee, 08:47.360 --> 08:50.529 not far from Cornpor a few months after the besieged garrison 08:50.613 --> 08:54.199 there was relieved by General Neill's column in the summer of 1858, 08:55.535 --> 08:57.661 Shortly after the marriage, 08:59.121 --> 09:02.707 Sergeant Barclay got his commission, as expected. 09:03.584 --> 09:05.877 It must have been difficult for the Barclays at first, 09:07.088 --> 09:09.005 NCO, promoted from the ranks, 09:09.423 --> 09:11.758 married to a regimental Sergeant Major's daughter? 09:12.635 --> 09:17.597 Yes, I believe there was some little social friction. 09:19.225 --> 09:23.103 But, Nancy carried it off with dignity and charm, 09:23.771 --> 09:25.939 and they gained acceptance in no time. 09:27.149 --> 09:29.067 Barclay's career flourished, 09:29.151 --> 09:31.778 and the regiment returned from India some five years ago. 09:33.155 --> 09:36.032 Barclay was then appointed to commanding officer. 09:37.785 --> 09:41.037 And the marriage continued to be a happy one? 09:42.039 --> 09:44.124 It appeared to be so. 09:45.376 --> 09:46.251 Appeared? 09:46.460 --> 09:50.964 Most people believe the marriage to have been a uniformly happy one. 09:53.301 --> 09:56.386 And what do you believe, Major Murphy? 09:57.597 --> 10:00.140 My position as second in command 10:00.349 --> 10:02.142 often took me to the Barclay's house. 10:03.227 --> 10:06.146 I saw a different side to the marriage, 10:07.773 --> 10:12.485 The truth is more important than loyalty to your late commander. 10:15.156 --> 10:17.949 One night I had been dining at the Barclays. 10:18.492 --> 10:19.826 It wasn't until I reached the end of the drive 10:19.994 --> 10:22.662 that I realized I'd left my cigar case in the dining room. 10:24.165 --> 10:27.167 I went back, the front door was still open. 10:28.669 --> 10:30.920 Jane, the maid, was in the hall. 10:32.256 --> 10:35.008 I'm glad you're still here, I left my cigar case on the table. 10:35.134 --> 10:37.302 I think the Colonel and Mrs. Barclay have gone to bed, sir. 10:38.846 --> 10:40.597 Oh, for goodness sake, James. 10:41.098 --> 10:43.475 Confess then, who is it, who? 10:44.185 --> 10:47.479 Let go of me, you're hurting me. 10:47.772 --> 10:49.356 Tell me you love me then, 10:49.482 --> 10:52.192 me and nobody else. Do you hear, do you hear me? 10:52.360 --> 10:55.528 Oh, would I have married you if I didn't? 10:56.072 --> 10:58.990 I don't know, sometimes I wonder. 11:06.832 --> 11:11.002 And this expression of jealousy occurred within seconds of you Major Murphy, 11:11.128 --> 11:12.462 leaving the Barclays' house. 11:13.130 --> 11:14.297 Tell me about the Colonel, 11:15.257 --> 11:17.300 was he a violent man in any way? 11:19.053 --> 11:19.844 On occasion. 11:21.097 --> 11:24.307 He could be most vindictive towards young subalterns. 11:25.559 --> 11:27.727 But he'd clawed his way to the top. 11:28.688 --> 11:30.480 You need to be ruthless to do that. 11:31.065 --> 11:33.733 Surely he didn't still feel out of place as an officer? 11:34.527 --> 11:35.652 No, I don't think so. 11:36.195 --> 11:39.364 But he was subject to a peculiar form of depression. 11:41.826 --> 11:44.911 The Queen. 11:54.880 --> 11:58.758 Sometimes when we were discussing old campaigns, 11:59.343 --> 12:02.595 the premier, the Mutiny, Afghan War, 12:04.098 --> 12:07.350 the smile would often be struck from his mouth 12:08.227 --> 12:10.937 as if by some invisible hand. 12:19.780 --> 12:22.282 Yes, long service in India can have that effect. 12:23.701 --> 12:25.577 I saw that when I was in the Berkshires. 12:26.162 --> 12:29.539 You mentioned a carved wooden club found by the body, 12:30.708 --> 12:33.293 one of the Colonel's Indian souvenirs? 12:34.295 --> 12:37.464 I believe the servants deny ever having seen this club before. 12:38.132 --> 12:42.427 Certainly I've never seen it on any of my visits. It was quite long 12:42.636 --> 12:46.306 And the police, I suppose, have retained it for examination? 12:46.515 --> 12:49.476 Yes. They believe it to be the murder weapon. 12:49.769 --> 12:51.436 Do they, indeed? 12:51.562 --> 12:55.148 I think we should begin by visiting the Barclays' house, 12:55.316 --> 12:58.943 unless, of course, it is possible to interview Mrs. Barclay? 12:59.570 --> 13:01.488 I'm afraid she's still unconscious. 13:03.991 --> 13:05.450 I thought as much. 13:11.665 --> 13:16.503 David, David. 13:27.890 --> 13:29.516 What a beautiful morning! 13:32.353 --> 13:35.688 Holmes, suppose Mrs. Barclay 13:35.856 --> 13:39.359 had a lover and the Colonel had found out? 13:40.319 --> 13:43.279 Major Murphy seems to have been rather close to her. 13:44.365 --> 13:48.201 You know, mild adultery has always been 13:48.369 --> 13:52.038 commonplace among officers and their wives serving in hot climates. 13:53.123 --> 13:56.042 Thank you, Watson, for educating me in military morality. 13:57.711 --> 14:00.839 If there had been anything between Major Murphy and Mrs. Barclay, 14:01.215 --> 14:03.967 would he have related the incident of his forgotten cigar case? 14:53.350 --> 14:57.228 It was about half past seven, sir, and I was waiting a table. 14:57.771 --> 15:01.691 Once a month, Mrs. Barclay spent the evening doing charity work in Aldershot. 15:39.229 --> 15:40.813 Where are you off to in such a hurry? 15:41.857 --> 15:45.151 Well, the distribution of old clothing starts at 8 o'clock, 15:46.320 --> 15:50.657 and I promised Ann Morrison. I'd be at the mission hall on time. 15:52.159 --> 15:54.410 Well, if you want to catch some filthy disease 15:54.536 --> 15:57.664 with a lot of flea ridden down and outs, I suppose that's your affair. 15:57.998 --> 16:01.000 I believe in putting back into life as much as one gets out of it. 16:03.337 --> 16:05.463 We've been fortunate with our lot, 16:08.968 --> 16:10.510 others haven't been so lucky. 16:14.181 --> 16:15.348 Don't be late back. 16:16.350 --> 16:17.350 Of course not. 16:31.115 --> 16:33.866 Mrs. Barclay must have returned about quarter past nine, sir. 16:35.119 --> 16:37.537 I was in the kitchen helping the cook with the dishes. 16:39.957 --> 16:42.542 There was thunder in the distance and I was just saying to Mrs. Penning 16:42.668 --> 16:45.461 that there was a storm brewing when the morning room bell rang, 16:46.755 --> 16:49.382 I came up here to find that Mrs. Barclay had returned. 16:51.051 --> 16:52.885 She was walking up and down this room, sir, 16:53.846 --> 16:56.723 very pale, upset. 17:03.856 --> 17:05.064 She looked awful, sir. 17:10.404 --> 17:11.320 You rang, madam? 17:13.115 --> 17:17.493 Yes, Jane, bring me some tea, will you? 17:18.370 --> 17:19.328 Of course, madam. 17:32.176 --> 17:34.052 Jane, is that you? 17:40.934 --> 17:41.559 Yes, sir. 17:42.978 --> 17:45.938 Did I hear Mrs. Barclay come in? 17:46.148 --> 17:47.607 Yes, sir, she's in the morning room. 17:49.818 --> 17:50.777 The morning room? 17:50.944 --> 17:52.945 Yes, sir. I'm just about to take her a pot of tea. 17:54.281 --> 17:59.535 Tea? What does she want tea for at this hour? 18:16.595 --> 18:20.139 And that, presumably, was the last time that anyone saw Colonel Barclay alive? 18:21.058 --> 18:21.766 Yes, sir. 18:25.145 --> 18:27.480 Can you think of any reason 18:27.606 --> 18:30.942 why your mistress came into this morning room 18:31.068 --> 18:33.986 at that time of night, when the fire was unlit? 18:34.696 --> 18:35.488 No, sir. 18:35.989 --> 18:38.616 Did she often make a point of purposely avoiding the Colonel? 18:42.579 --> 18:45.832 Had you ever heard them arguing before? 18:48.293 --> 18:50.086 Not to my knowledge, sir. 18:53.590 --> 18:56.926 When you returned from the kitchen with Mrs. Barclay's tea, 18:57.344 --> 18:58.636 you found the door locked, 18:59.346 --> 19:02.682 and you heard voices raised. Now, what exactly did you hear? 19:04.143 --> 19:05.518 They were arguing, sir. 19:08.897 --> 19:11.190 Mrs. Barclay called the Colonel a coward. 19:12.317 --> 19:15.194 She said you have ruined my life all these years. 19:16.697 --> 19:18.823 Mrs. Barclay shouted the name "David," 19:19.992 --> 19:21.200 she said it twice. 19:24.037 --> 19:25.163 David? 19:26.039 --> 19:26.998 Could you swear to that? 19:27.708 --> 19:29.375 I was perfectly clear, sir. 19:30.085 --> 19:32.003 But the Colonel's name was James. 19:33.630 --> 19:37.008 Have you ever heard, Mrs. Barclay refer to anyone called David? 19:37.467 --> 19:40.887 No, sir, I don't think she or the Colonel knew anyone by the name of David. 19:41.013 --> 19:43.514 And Major Murphy's Christian name is Patrick. 19:46.894 --> 19:50.563 Had they had any visitors recently by the name of David? 19:51.064 --> 19:52.356 I don't think so, sir. 19:54.276 --> 19:58.905 The club that was found by Colonel Barclay's body. 19:59.072 --> 20:00.239 Had you seen it before? 20:01.241 --> 20:05.578 No, sir. The Colonel had several trophies from India, but nothing like that club. 20:07.956 --> 20:10.249 Are you sure of that, Miss Stewart? 20:10.876 --> 20:13.753 Yes, sir. I don't know where it came from. 20:18.508 --> 20:19.592 Thank you, that is all. 20:23.597 --> 20:25.097 Oh, no, there is just one last thing. 20:26.642 --> 20:30.394 Major Murphy once left his cigar case here. Did you manage to find it? 20:30.938 --> 20:31.729 Yes, sir. 20:45.369 --> 20:47.620 The Colonel was lying down here, sir. 20:48.580 --> 20:49.914 With his head by the fender? 20:50.123 --> 20:50.790 Yes, sir. 20:52.209 --> 20:54.627 You can see the mark of the blood still. 20:57.089 --> 21:00.091 But the most frightening thing of all, sir, was his face. 21:00.759 --> 21:01.467 His face? 21:02.219 --> 21:07.223 When I rolled him over, I almost fainted away to look upon it. 21:08.100 --> 21:11.644 It was all contorted, screwed up 21:12.646 --> 21:15.982 with the most horrible look of fear and terror. 21:17.609 --> 21:20.987 As if he'd foreseen his own death? 21:23.699 --> 21:25.157 Quite possible, sir. 21:27.035 --> 21:27.910 Thank you, Bates. 21:31.623 --> 21:33.666 What apparition, what monster was it 21:34.668 --> 21:36.502 that could have frightened the Colonel so. 21:40.007 --> 21:42.300 Not Nancy Barclay, for sure. 21:44.386 --> 21:48.014 This door was locked shut, sir, and what's more, the key was missing. 21:51.643 --> 21:52.310 Missing? 21:52.853 --> 21:56.022 Yes, in the end we had to send for a locksmith to open it, 21:56.815 --> 21:58.524 You have made a thorough search for the key? 21:58.692 --> 22:00.026 We searched high and low. 22:00.527 --> 22:04.363 Mrs. Barclay hadn't got it. And it wasn't in the Colonel's pocket, sir. 22:04.906 --> 22:07.033 Thank you, Mrs. Penning. 22:12.914 --> 22:16.876 Watson, if the key was not in the door, 22:17.544 --> 22:20.546 and neither Mrs. Barclay nor the Colonel had it, then- 22:23.133 --> 22:26.218 Then there must have been a third person. 22:28.764 --> 22:29.722 Exactly. 22:33.852 --> 22:40.232 Who either entered or left 22:43.070 --> 22:44.195 through those windows. 22:51.370 --> 22:53.746 These are Bates' footprints. 22:59.002 --> 23:02.421 But these, are the footprints of someone else. 23:03.173 --> 23:07.051 Someone has recently crossed this lawn, 23:07.469 --> 23:09.095 the marks are just visible. 23:24.569 --> 23:27.780 He entered and left through those windows, Watson, 23:28.615 --> 23:30.241 we're on the right search. 23:37.874 --> 23:40.459 Watson, look at this. 23:41.962 --> 23:42.545 What is it? 23:42.671 --> 23:45.631 Our entrant had a somewhat unusual companion. 23:46.216 --> 23:48.092 It's a dog, isn't it, somebody's dog? 23:48.760 --> 23:50.803 Whoever heard of a dog running up a curtain. 23:52.013 --> 23:53.139 What about a cat then? 23:54.683 --> 23:57.309 These claw marks are not those of a cat, nor of a monkey, 23:57.477 --> 23:59.812 nor of any creature that we are familiar with. 24:00.480 --> 24:03.816 I would think from hind foot to forefoot 24:05.318 --> 24:10.322 at least 15 inches. Add to that the length of neck and head, 24:10.490 --> 24:13.325 you have a creature no less than two feet, 24:13.493 --> 24:17.246 more if there's a tail. The length of its stride is odd, 24:17.747 --> 24:22.168 it indicates a creature with a long back and short legs. 24:22.335 --> 24:23.919 Something like a stoat or a weasel? 24:24.754 --> 24:27.506 We also know that it is carnivorous. 24:28.091 --> 24:29.300 How can you tell that? 24:30.469 --> 24:32.678 Well you see what made it run up the curtain. 24:35.307 --> 24:36.182 The canary. 24:36.558 --> 24:37.516 Exactly. 24:38.852 --> 24:40.769 Then what was this beast? 24:49.321 --> 24:55.701 No, I can't, I cannot betray a friend, please don't ask me to. 25:12.469 --> 25:13.719 Miss Morrison, 25:16.097 --> 25:19.975 when Mrs. Barclay left her house to come here two nights ago, 25:21.228 --> 25:23.896 she was happy and content. 25:26.024 --> 25:28.526 When she returned two hours later, she was a changed woman. 25:28.652 --> 25:30.736 Now the police suspect her of murder. 25:34.783 --> 25:38.327 You owe it to your friend to clear her name. 25:38.537 --> 25:41.664 You must tell me what happened last night that so changed her. 25:44.543 --> 25:49.755 Very well, I shall break my promise of silence 25:49.923 --> 25:52.424 if what I can say can really help her. 25:53.260 --> 25:55.094 So there was something. 25:56.638 --> 25:58.097 It was most bizarre, 26:00.517 --> 26:05.187 I should explain that we come across all sorts of conditions of men here. 26:06.398 --> 26:10.776 Yet, the other night, I saw the most extraordinary creature I have ever seen. 26:13.113 --> 26:17.741 Not only had he a crooked back, but he was lame... 26:18.868 --> 26:21.036 and walked with his knees bent. 26:22.455 --> 26:24.790 His face was darkly tanned, 26:25.375 --> 26:27.918 crinkled and puckered like a withered apple. 26:28.461 --> 26:31.297 I thought to myself that truly there are some of us on this earth 26:31.464 --> 26:34.258 who are burdened with more than their fair share of misfortune. 26:36.761 --> 26:42.474 This vision was made more unusual by the oriental garb the man was wearing. 26:48.315 --> 26:54.612 I pointed this person out to Nancy as someone especially deserving of help. 26:59.492 --> 27:02.161 Nancy had indeed been in good spirits that evening, 27:02.996 --> 27:07.291 and I saw her go towards the man and ask him if he needed assistance. 27:12.005 --> 27:14.465 It was now that a change came over Nancy. 27:16.134 --> 27:18.927 She had begun a conversation with the man when suddenly 27:19.638 --> 27:21.472 all the colour drained from her face. 27:22.349 --> 27:24.433 She looked as though she had seen a ghost. 27:25.685 --> 27:28.937 The man, too, seemed to be strangely affected by the sight of her. 27:29.064 --> 27:32.274 And I saw him gesticulating wildly. 27:33.360 --> 27:36.528 Well, Nancy and the man went to a quiet corner of the hall 27:37.447 --> 27:39.865 and they talked together or a few moments or so 27:40.116 --> 27:42.451 before I heard an angry shout from the man 27:42.577 --> 27:45.537 and saw him storm out, waving his fists in the air. 27:59.219 --> 28:00.552 Nancy, what is it? 28:02.222 --> 28:03.055 Are you all right? 28:04.849 --> 28:06.642 Who was that poor creature? 28:07.894 --> 28:11.522 It's an old acquaintance of mine fallen on hard times. 28:13.566 --> 28:17.486 Promise me, Annie, you won't say anything about this to anyone, promise me. 28:18.405 --> 28:21.407 Of course, I promise, if you so wish. 28:26.996 --> 28:28.872 And the identity of this man? 28:30.709 --> 28:32.418 I thought you might ask me that. 28:33.712 --> 28:36.922 Well, after this terrible happening, Nancy left. 28:37.674 --> 28:40.759 I naturally made a few inquiries among some of the regulars 28:41.302 --> 28:46.098 such an unusual looking creature has of course attracted attention. 28:47.142 --> 28:50.561 It appears he is an old soldier recently back from India, 28:51.146 --> 28:53.939 and no one knows anything else about his background 28:54.065 --> 28:57.234 except that he makes a living by entertaining the troops, 28:58.361 --> 29:01.029 conjuring tricks, that kind of thing. 29:04.451 --> 29:06.618 And did you tell the police about him? 29:09.330 --> 29:10.748 Of course not, 29:13.251 --> 29:16.462 a promise is a promise. 29:17.213 --> 29:18.213 Yes, of course. 29:19.966 --> 29:20.966 Thank you, Miss Morrison. 30:55.770 --> 30:58.897 That is our intruder's four-footed companion. 30:59.732 --> 31:01.066 It's a mongoose. 31:02.235 --> 31:03.735 I think we've found our man. 31:15.707 --> 31:18.917 Mr. Henry Wood, I believe, late of India. May I have a word? 31:19.043 --> 31:19.835 What about? 31:20.169 --> 31:23.422 A little matter of Colonel James Barclay's death. 31:57.081 --> 32:00.959 She's innocent, you can take my word for it. 32:01.210 --> 32:02.294 Then you are guilty. 32:02.462 --> 32:05.964 No, I am not guilty. 32:06.799 --> 32:09.801 Then who struck the Colonel down? 32:09.969 --> 32:15.098 It was a just Providence that killed him, his own guilty conscience. 32:16.100 --> 32:17.643 I think you'd better explain. 32:17.852 --> 32:23.231 My God, if I had smashed his head in as it was in my heart to do, 32:23.358 --> 32:25.442 he would have got only what he deserved from me. 32:29.155 --> 32:33.158 No, I never laid a hand on him, 32:34.077 --> 32:36.286 I was spared the trouble. 32:40.667 --> 32:42.960 I'll tell you my story. 32:44.963 --> 32:49.174 There is no cause for me to be ashamed of it. 32:57.684 --> 33:02.354 You see me now with my back like a camel, 33:02.647 --> 33:04.189 my ribs all awry, 33:06.526 --> 33:09.778 but there was a time when Corporal Henry Wood 33:09.904 --> 33:12.990 was the smartest man in the Royal Mallows. 33:14.826 --> 33:18.036 You were in the same regiment as Colonel Barclay? 33:19.789 --> 33:26.837 Oh, yes, but he was Sergeant Jim Barclay then. 33:28.339 --> 33:29.715 We were in the same company, 33:32.218 --> 33:34.886 and we had something else in common, 33:37.890 --> 33:40.058 we were both in love 33:41.394 --> 33:45.731 with the same woman, Nancy Devoy. 33:46.983 --> 33:49.234 Who was the daughter of the Regimental Sergeant Major. 33:54.782 --> 33:57.075 There were two men who loved her, 33:59.704 --> 34:00.245 but 34:03.041 --> 34:06.752 only one whom she loved, 34:14.761 --> 34:15.427 She... 34:16.804 --> 34:23.602 you'll laugh when you look at this poor thing huddled in front of the fire 34:25.438 --> 34:35.781 and hear me say that it was for my good looks that Nancy 34:36.741 --> 34:38.116 loved me. 34:55.343 --> 34:58.762 I was the one she loved all along. 35:00.056 --> 35:03.975 But although I had her heart, her father didn't approve of me. 35:09.398 --> 35:12.442 I was a harum-scarum, reckless sort of lad, 35:12.819 --> 35:16.154 but I was always honest and plain dealing as well. 35:20.159 --> 35:24.454 Oh, Nancy's father wanted her to marry Barclay. 35:25.790 --> 35:29.751 He was careful to keep out of trouble, always did the right thing. 35:33.840 --> 35:37.759 Not like me who took Nancy to places her father didn't like. 35:38.845 --> 35:44.808 Besides, Barclay had had an education, he was already marked for the sword-belt. 35:45.226 --> 35:50.188 RSM Devoy naturally thought Barclay the better match for his daughter. 35:55.361 --> 35:57.612 But she remained true to me, 35:58.656 --> 36:01.158 and we would have married had it not been for the Mutiny. 36:02.160 --> 36:05.036 Why did Nancy Devoy not marry the man she loved? 36:07.665 --> 36:11.042 It was monsoon time in 1857, 36:11.502 --> 36:14.045 when the Sepoys rose up against the British. 36:15.715 --> 36:18.216 The regiment was shut up in Bhurtee. 36:20.219 --> 36:25.390 There were 10,000 rebels round us, pinning us down like terriers round a rat cage. 36:26.976 --> 36:28.727 We'd run short of food and ammunition, 36:29.395 --> 36:33.023 we had to communicate with General Neill's column that was moving up-country. 36:34.275 --> 36:36.359 It was our only chance to get help. 36:42.450 --> 36:45.202 Our company commander had asked for a volunteer, 36:45.536 --> 36:49.247 a fit, strong soldier to slip out of the garrison at dead of night 36:49.457 --> 36:52.542 and make contact with the relief column out on the plain beyond. 36:53.252 --> 36:55.587 Like a fool, I volunteered. 36:56.756 --> 37:00.884 It was a dangerous mission all right, there were a 1,000 lives in peril. 37:02.220 --> 37:05.013 But I was thinking of only one of them... 37:18.653 --> 37:22.030 Nancy Devoy, the woman I loved, 37:22.365 --> 37:25.742 and the finest girl that ever had the breath of life between her lips. 37:27.078 --> 37:30.789 Saying goodbye to her was the hardest thing. 37:36.796 --> 37:39.714 As we exchanged mementos, I never thought that 37:39.840 --> 37:42.425 I was saying goodbye to her for 30 years. 37:45.763 --> 37:47.806 It was my rival for Nancy's hand 37:47.974 --> 37:50.809 who saw me off on my journey through the enemy lines that night, 37:51.352 --> 37:52.978 Sergeant Barclay. 37:53.688 --> 37:56.648 He said he knew the lie of the land around the garrison better than any other. 37:57.316 --> 37:59.401 While I volunteered to make the journey, 37:59.610 --> 38:04.155 Jim Barclay volunteered to advise me on the best route to take. 38:12.290 --> 38:14.332 So, just after then, 38:14.792 --> 38:17.919 while my comrades gave me covering fire, I set off. 38:24.093 --> 38:27.846 Barclay had told me to follow a stream which would lead to a gully. 38:28.180 --> 38:30.432 This, he said, was the safest way downhill. 38:31.642 --> 38:35.103 His directions were perfect, and soon I was wading through icy water 38:35.229 --> 38:38.106 that only the day before had been snow in the Himalayas. 38:47.616 --> 38:50.869 I could see the lights and fires in the rebels' camp 38:51.203 --> 38:54.205 but I kept wading down, out of sight of their sentry posts. 38:54.957 --> 38:56.875 I came to the gully and thought I was safe. 39:03.799 --> 39:06.718 But then it happened, I was attacked. 39:07.219 --> 39:11.514 Something hard cracked down on my head and everything spun around. 39:15.436 --> 39:19.064 When I came to, I was trussed up like a chicken 39:19.482 --> 39:20.899 and hanging from a tree. 39:21.692 --> 39:25.028 My arms felt as though they were being wrenched out of their sockets. 39:26.781 --> 39:28.406 I didn't mind the pain, 39:29.325 --> 39:32.243 but I was sick at heart for having failed in my mission. 39:33.037 --> 39:35.997 What would be the fate of those I had been trying to save? 39:47.093 --> 39:52.389 But the biggest blow came as I listened to what I could understand of a rebels' talk. 39:53.265 --> 39:57.394 I heard enough to realize that I had been betrayed. 39:57.520 --> 40:00.688 The very man who had shown me the way to take had betrayed me to the enemy, 40:01.273 --> 40:05.777 Barclay had got rid of me to make sure he could have my girl. 40:13.828 --> 40:17.414 Now, you know what James Barclay was capable of. 40:22.294 --> 40:29.300 Well, it turned out that General Neill's column was already on its way to relieve Bhurtee. 40:30.469 --> 40:34.305 The rebels retreated, they dragged me away with them. 40:36.434 --> 40:41.896 I was tortured. I tried to escape, I was tortured again. 40:45.943 --> 40:50.155 It was to be many a long year before I saw another white face. 40:56.454 --> 40:59.747 My captors fled north, further into the hills, 41:00.124 --> 41:02.500 and used me as a sort of slave. 41:03.043 --> 41:07.338 I was treated worse than a dog and they damn near broke every bone in my body. 41:09.758 --> 41:12.427 Sometimes I'd wish they'd just killed me, 41:13.179 --> 41:16.681 but my thoughts of hatred and loathing for the man who destroyed my life 41:16.849 --> 41:20.977 kept me going. I dreamed of revenge on Barclay. 41:36.869 --> 41:41.289 One day some Afghan tribesmen murdered the rebels that held me prisoner. 41:42.041 --> 41:46.211 They left me for dead, too. But by a miracle, I still lived. 41:54.929 --> 41:58.139 So, I had my revenge on my torturers, 41:59.016 --> 42:01.476 but Barclay was beyond my grasp. 42:02.561 --> 42:03.645 And what of Nancy. 42:04.563 --> 42:07.023 I had no means of knowing whether she was alive or dead. 42:12.196 --> 42:16.241 I wandered back to the Punjab, and lived among the natives, 42:16.617 --> 42:20.828 picking up a living by the conjuring tricks I'd learned from the street magicians. 42:21.914 --> 42:27.752 What use was it for me, a wretched cripple, to get passage back by ship to England 42:28.087 --> 42:30.588 and make myself known to my old comrades in the regiment? 42:32.299 --> 42:36.594 Even my desire to have my revenge on Jim Barclay didn't make me go. 42:38.097 --> 42:41.432 You know why? I'll tell you straight. 42:42.476 --> 42:46.396 I preferred my Nancy and my old pals in the Royal Mallows 42:46.605 --> 42:50.525 to go on believing that Harry Wood died a hero's death 42:51.110 --> 42:56.781 with a straight back, than see him crawling about the world 42:57.366 --> 43:01.119 more like a chimpanzee than a human being. 43:04.999 --> 43:06.082 But you did return, 43:06.750 --> 43:09.794 and to Aldershot where your old regiment was stationed, why? 43:10.713 --> 43:13.923 I just wanted to see the old country once more before I died. 43:15.259 --> 43:19.929 I saved what I could and eventually I got a ship. 43:28.731 --> 43:32.984 I didn't know the regiment was stationed here in Aldershot, 43:33.444 --> 43:35.320 I just wanted to be where there were soldiers. 43:36.488 --> 43:40.158 I could earn my keep going around the canteens doing my tricks to entertain them. 43:43.829 --> 43:46.164 I no longer wanted to kill Barclay, 43:47.625 --> 43:51.794 the fires of revenge had burned low over the years... 43:56.258 --> 43:57.008 until 44:00.346 --> 44:02.847 I saw her. 44:13.067 --> 44:15.276 I thought I'd better get some English tongs, 44:15.611 --> 44:19.530 I looked comical enough without wearing these foreign clothes the whole time. 44:20.699 --> 44:23.868 At first, I was more interested in finding a thick overcoat 44:24.036 --> 44:26.371 than looking at the charity ladies who were doling them out. 44:27.539 --> 44:32.168 Then one of them came over, 44:33.671 --> 44:36.464 I recognized her at once. 44:38.092 --> 44:39.884 She'd hardly changed, 44:41.387 --> 44:43.054 still beautiful. 44:44.431 --> 44:49.143 What's more amazing is she... she seemed to know me. 44:51.814 --> 44:55.066 Good evening, can I help you? Have you been able to find anything that... 45:01.865 --> 45:03.074 I'm sorry, I thought I... 45:05.411 --> 45:10.665 Nancy, it is me, Harry. 45:11.625 --> 45:12.709 Don't be afraid. 45:15.170 --> 45:18.089 I thought you had been dead these 30 years. 45:19.425 --> 45:20.717 I have been... 45:23.095 --> 45:27.765 I thought I would never see you again. 45:38.569 --> 45:41.195 We spoke for a moment or two together. 45:42.448 --> 45:44.282 I told her some of my story. 45:46.952 --> 45:51.205 I should have spared telling her that her husband was a traitor but it all came 45:52.124 --> 45:55.084 pouring out of me, 30 years of hate. 46:00.424 --> 46:03.468 She was so effected by what I said, 46:05.387 --> 46:09.474 I couldn't stand it, I went outside, 46:12.686 --> 46:17.273 then I saw her come out of the mission and I followed her home. 46:18.817 --> 46:23.154 I saw her go into the house, a light came on. 46:25.824 --> 46:30.077 I saw her sitting in a chair. 46:34.333 --> 46:38.169 And then he came into the room. 46:39.922 --> 46:42.590 James, I have to talk to you. Why are you locking that door. 46:42.716 --> 46:45.635 Don't be back late, I said, don't be back late, didn't I? 46:46.053 --> 46:49.514 You've been with someone. You have been with someone. 46:51.517 --> 46:52.475 Who is it? 46:55.896 --> 46:57.688 You've ruined my life. 46:58.357 --> 47:02.527 All these years, all these years. 47:03.862 --> 47:07.448 Oh, how could you do such a thing, it was evil. 47:08.116 --> 47:11.202 Now, I hate you, I hate you. I hate you, I hate you. 47:12.746 --> 47:17.375 To see him lay a hand on her made me mad with anger. 47:17.793 --> 47:19.335 My feelings overcame me. 47:20.170 --> 47:23.381 David. David, you betrayed him. 47:23.882 --> 47:24.966 It's not true. 47:25.092 --> 47:27.552 But he's alive, I tell you I've seen him. 47:28.887 --> 47:31.389 You're lying, you're mad. 47:44.069 --> 47:47.738 He looked as I have never seen a man look. 47:48.240 --> 47:52.076 I read death on his face as plain as anything. 47:53.287 --> 47:57.248 The bare sight of me was like a bullet through his guilty heart. 48:02.337 --> 48:06.257 Mrs. Barclay, Mrs. Barclay, open the door. 48:06.925 --> 48:11.762 He smashed onto the fender. He was dead before he fell. 48:29.698 --> 48:33.284 Mrs. Barclay, Mrs. Barclay, open the door. 48:45.505 --> 48:49.467 I took the key to the door from Nancy's hand, intending to open it and get help, 48:50.761 --> 48:53.471 I thought I'd better get away or things might look black against me. 48:53.972 --> 48:56.265 In haste, I thrust the key into my pocket 48:56.642 --> 49:00.144 whilst I was chasing Teddy who'd escaped from his box and run up a curtain. 49:00.437 --> 49:01.103 Teddy. 49:08.695 --> 49:11.822 So, the Colonel died before he struck his head on the fender? 49:12.491 --> 49:15.493 An apoplectic fit, brought on by shock. 49:16.411 --> 49:21.999 Mr. Wood, provided the coroner reaches the same conclusion, Mrs. Barclay... 49:22.668 --> 49:23.501 Nancy. 49:27.506 --> 49:28.422 Will be free. 49:31.093 --> 49:33.844 I trust you would have no objection to repeating your story to the police, 49:34.012 --> 49:35.179 should the need arise? 49:39.726 --> 49:40.810 Mr. Holmes, 49:42.729 --> 49:44.021 how is Nancy? 49:45.691 --> 49:46.691 She's in hospital. 49:48.026 --> 49:50.361 I understand in time she should make a complete recovery. 49:51.613 --> 49:53.030 Thank God. 50:22.269 --> 50:25.980 Oh, Annie, how lovely to see you. 50:26.898 --> 50:28.566 Yes, I'm much better. 50:33.739 --> 50:37.199 Holmes, there's just one thing I don't understand. 50:37.617 --> 50:39.744 If the Colonel's name was James, 50:40.996 --> 50:46.167 and Wood was called either Henry or Harry, then who the deuce was David? 50:46.752 --> 50:49.211 My dear Watson, that name David should have told me the whole story 50:49.337 --> 50:51.088 had I been the ideal reasoner, 50:51.590 --> 50:55.092 which you are so fond of depicting but alas, my powers of deduction failed me. 50:55.927 --> 51:01.432 You see, David, in this case, was evidently used as a term of reproach. 51:03.018 --> 51:04.018 Reproach? 51:05.937 --> 51:09.398 Don't you remember how King David sent Uriah the Hittite 51:09.900 --> 51:14.111 into the forefront of the battle to die so that he might steal his woman, Bathsheba? 51:17.449 --> 51:20.785 I think you will find the story in the first or second book of Samuel. 51:22.287 --> 51:24.080 My old testament is a little rusty. 51:34.633 --> 51:35.966 You're quite right, Holmes, 51:36.885 --> 51:40.971 II Samuel, 11:14-17. 51:42.182 --> 51:43.641 You appear to have looked it up yourself, 51:45.685 --> 51:47.812 since we returned home from Aldershot. 51:51.983 --> 51:53.109 How did you know? 51:56.488 --> 52:00.116 You used this bill for our meal at Waterloo as a bookmarker, did you not? 52:00.283 --> 52:01.826 Excellent, Watson. 52:03.995 --> 52:06.122 Elementary, my dear Holmes.