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Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety

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The Sign of the Four Chapter 7

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The Episode of the Barrel

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The police had brought a cab with them, and in this I escorted Miss Mauston back to her

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home.

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After the angelic fashion of women, she had born trouble with a calm face as long as there

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was someone weaker than herself to support, and I found her bright and placid by the side

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of the frightened housekeeper.

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In the cab, however, she first turned faint and then burst into a passion of weeping.

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So sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night.

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She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey.

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She little guessed the struggle within my breast, or the effort of self-estraint which held

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me back.

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My sympathies and my love went out to her, even as my hand had in the garden.

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I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet

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brave nature as had one day of strange experiences.

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Yet, there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips.

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She was weak and helpless, shaken in nerve and mind.

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It was to take her at a disadvantage to a true love upon her at such a time.

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Worse still, she was rich.

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If Holmes' research was successful, she would be in aeros.

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Was it fair?

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Was it honourable?

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That a half-paste surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance it brought

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about.

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Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker?

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I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind.

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This agrar-trasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us.

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It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs. Cessal Forresters.

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The servants had retired hours ago, but Mrs. Forrester had been so interested by the strange

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message which Miss Morston had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return.

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She opened the door herself, a middle-aged, graceful woman, and it gave me joy to see how

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tenderly her arm stole round the others' waist and how motherly was the voice in which

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she greases her.

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She was clearly no mere paid dependent, but an honoured friend.

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I was introduced and Mrs. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell about the adventures.

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I explained, however, the importance of my errand and promised faithfully to call and report

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any progress which we might make with the case.

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As we drove away, I stole the glance back and I still seemed to see that little group on

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the step, the two graceful, clinging figures, the half-open door, the hall-light shining through

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the stained glass.

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The barometer and the bright stair-runs, it was seizing to catch even that passing glimpse

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of a tranquil English home in the midst of the wild, dark business which had absorbed

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this.

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And the more I thought of what had happened, the wilder and dark-ric groom.

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I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent

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gaslit streets.

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There was the original problem that at least was pretty clear now.

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The death of Captain Morston, the sending of the pearls, the advertisement, the letter,

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we had had light upon all those events.

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They had only led us, however, to a deeper and far more tragic mystery.

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The Indian treasure, the curious plan found among Morston's baggaged, the strange scene

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at Major Shultzo's death, the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the

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murder of the discoverer, the very singular accompaniments to the crime, the footsteps,

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the remarkable weapons, the word upon the card, corresponding with those upon Captain

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Morston's chart.

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Here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-large

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might weld a spare of ever finding the clue.

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Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two-story brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambert.

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I had to knock for some time at number three before I could make my impression.

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At last, however, there was a glint of a candle behind the blind, and a face looked out

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at the upper window.

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Get one new drunken vagabones set to face.

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If you kick up any more row, I'll open the kennels and let out 43 dogs upon you.

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If you'll let one out, it's just what I have come for, said I.

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I want to get one yellow voice, so help me gracious.

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I have a wiper in the bag and I'll drop it in you in your head if you don't hook it.

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But I want a dog I cried.

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I won't be argued with shouted Mr. Sherman, now stand clear for when I say three, down goes

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the wiper.

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Mr. Sherlock Holmes I began.

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But the words had a most magical effect.

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For the window instantly slammed down, and with a minute the door was unbothered and open.

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Mr. Sherman was a lanky, lean old man with stooping shoulders, a stringy neck and a blooty-tinted

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glasses.

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A friend of Mr. Sherlock is always welcome, said he.

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Step in, sir.

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Keep clear of the badger for he bites.

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Ah, naughty naughty.

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Would you take a nip at the gentleman?

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Yes, to a stoke which trust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of a cage.

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Don't mind that, sir.

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It's only a slow one.

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It ain't got no fangs, so I give it the run of the room, for it keeps the beetles down.

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You must not mind me being just a little short with you at first, for I'm guided by the

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children, and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up.

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What was it, Mr. Sherlock Holmes wanted, sir?

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He wanted a dog of yours.

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Ah, that would be Toby.

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Yes, Toby was the name.

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Toby lives at number seven on the left here.

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Toby lives at number seven on the left.

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He moved slowly with his candle, among the queer animal family which had gathered around

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him.

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In the uncertain, shadowy light, I could see dimly that there were glancing, glimmering

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eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner.

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Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn founds who lazily shifted their weight

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from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers.

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Toby proved to be an ugly, long head, lot-peared creature, half-spaniel and half-lurcher, with

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a very clumsy, waddling gate.

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It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar with which the old naturalist handed

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to me and, having thus sealed in an alliance, it followed me to the camp and made no difficulties

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about accompanying me.

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It had just struck three on the palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pondakary

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Lodge.

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The ex-price fighter, McMurdo, had, I found, been arrested as an accessory, and both he and

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Mr. Shulton had been marched off to the station.

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Two constables guarded the narrow gate, but they allowed me to pass with a dog on my mentioning

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the detective's name.

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Holmes was standing on the doorstep with his hands in his pocket smoking his pipe.

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"Ah, you have in there," said he.

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"Good dog, then?"

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Athelny Jones has gone.

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We have had an immense display of energy since you left.

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He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus, but the gatekeeper, the housekeeper, and the Indian

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servant.

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We have the place to ourselves.

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For a sergeant upstairs, leave the dog here and come up.

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We tied Toby to the hall table and reassended the stairs.

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The room was, as he had left it, saved that his sheet had been draped over the central

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figure.

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A weary looking police sergeant reclined in the corner.

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"Lend me your bullseye, sergeant," said my companion, "now tie this bit of card around

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my neck, so as to hang it in front of me.

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Thank you."

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Now, I must kick off my boots and stockings.

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Just you carry them down with you, Watson.

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I am going to do a little climbing and dip my handkerchief into the creasod.

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That will do.

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Now come up onto the garret with me for a moment.

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We clambered up through the hole.

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Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust.

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"I wish he particularly to notice these footprints," he said.

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"Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?"

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"They belong," I said, "to a child or a small woman."

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"A part from their size, though, is there nothing else?"

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"They appear to be much as other foot-parks."

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Not at all look here.

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This is the print of a right foot in the dust.

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Now I make one with my naked foot beside it.

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What is the chief difference?"

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"Your toes are all cramped together.

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The other print has each toe distinctly divided."

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"Quite so. That is the point. Bear that in mind. Now.

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Would you kindly step over to the flat window and smell the edge of the woodwork?

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I shall stay here as I have this handkerchief in my hand."

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I did as he directed, and was instantly conscious of a strong, tary smell.

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That is where he put his foot in getting out.

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If you can trace him, I should think that Tobool have no difficulty.

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Now rundown stairs, loose the dog, and look out for blonding.

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By the time that I had got out into the grounds, Sherlock Holmes was on the roof, and I

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could see him like an enormous glowworm crawling very slowly along the edge.

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I lost sight of him behind the stack of chimneys, but he presently reappeared and then vanished

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once more upon the open side.

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When I made my way around there, I found him seated at one of the corner eaves.

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"That you, Watson?" he cried. "Yes. This is the place.

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What does that black thing down there?"

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"A water barrel?"

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"Top on it?"

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"Yes."

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"No sign of a ladder?"

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"No."

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"Can't found the fellow. It's a most breakneck place.

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I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up.

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The water pipe feels pretty firm. Here goes anyhow."

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There was a scuffling of feet, and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the

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wall.

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Then, with a light spring he came on to the barrel, and from there to the earth.

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"It was easy to follow him," he said, drawing up on his stockings and boots.

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The walls were loosened the whole way along, and in his hurry he dropped this.

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It confirms my diagnostics as your doctor expresses it.

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The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of coloured grasses,

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and with a few tawny beads strung around it.

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In shape and size, it was not unlike a cigarette case.

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A half a dozen spines of dark wood, sharp at one end and rounded at the other.

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Like that which had stuck, Bartholomew Shalton.

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"They are hellish things," said he, "look out that you don't prick yourself.

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I'm delighted to have them. For the chances are that they are all he has."

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"There is the less fear of you and me finding one in our skin before long."

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I would soon face a martini bullet myself.

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"Are the game for a six mile treacher Watson?"

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"Certainly I answered. Your leg will stand it. Oh yes."

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"Here you are, doggy, good old boy Toby. Smell it. Toby smell it."

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He pushed the crease out hankergy thunder the dog's nose.

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While the creature stood with its fluffy legs separated, and with an almost comical

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cock to its head, like a corner sir sniffing the bouquet of a famous vintage.

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Homes, then through the hankergy to a distance, fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar,

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and led him to the foot of the water barrel.

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The creature instantly broke into a succession of high, tremulous yelps, and with his nose

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on the ground and his tail in the air pated off upon the trailer to pace, which strained

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his leash and kept us at the top of our speed.

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The east had been gradually whitening, and we could now see some distance in the cold

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grey light.

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The square, massive house, with its black empty windows and high bare walls, towered up

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sad and full-orned behind us.

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Through a course, led right across the grounds, in and out among the trenches and the pits,

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which they had been scarred with.

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The whole place, with its scattered dirty heaps and ill-grown shrubs, had a hill-blighted

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ill-oamened look which harmonised with a black tragedy, which hung over it.

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On reaching the boundary wall, Toby ran along, whining eagerly, underneath its shadow.

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And stopped finally at a corner screened by a young beach, where there were two walls

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joined.

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Several bricks had been loosened, and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon

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the lower side, as though they had frequently been used as a ladder.

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Holmes clamped up, and taking the dog from me he dropped it over and upon the other side.

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As the print of the wooden legs hand he remarked, as I mounted up beside him.

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You see the slight smudger blood upon the white plaster.

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What a lucky thing is that we've had no very heavy rain since yesterday.

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The scent will lie upon the road in spite of over eight and twenty hours start.

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I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which

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had passed along the London road in the interval.

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My fears were soon appeased however, Toby never hesitated or swerved, but what alled

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on in his peculiar rolling fashion?

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Clearly, the pungent smell of creasote rose high above all the contending sense.

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"Do not imagine," said Holmes, "that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere

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chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemical.

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I have knowledge now which would enable me to trace them in many different ways.

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This however is the radius and, since fortune has put it into our hands, I should be culpable

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if I neglected it.

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It has, however, prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which

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it is at one time promised to be.

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There might have been some credit to be gained out of it, but for this too palpable clue.

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There is credit and to spare," said I, "I assure you, Holmes, that I marvel at the means

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by which you obtain your results in this case.

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Even more than I did in the Jefferson Hope murder.

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The thing seems to me to be deeper and more inexplicable.

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Now, for example, could you describe for such confidence the wooden-legged man?"

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"Fuck, my dear boy.

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It was simplicity itself.

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I don't wish to be theatrical.

231
00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,200
But it is all patent and number-board."

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Two officers, who were in command of a convict guard, lean an important secret as to bury

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treasure.

234
00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:18,360
A map is drawn from them, binding-wishmen named Jonathan Small.

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00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:24,560
You remember that we saw the name upon the chart and Captain Morston's possession?

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00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:31,920
He had it signed on behalf of himself and his associates, the sign of the "as he somewhat

237
00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,040
dramatically called it."

238
00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:40,160
Aided by this chart, the officers, or one of them, gets the treasure and brings it to England,

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00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:45,560
leaving, we will suppose, some condition under which he received it, unfulfilled.

240
00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:51,800
"Now, then, why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself?"

241
00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:57,600
The obvious answer is, the chart is dated at a time when Morston was brought into close

242
00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,400
association with convicts.

243
00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:06,800
Jonathan Small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were themselves convicts

244
00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:08,800
and could not get away.

245
00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,360
"But that is mere speculation," said I.

246
00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:14,640
"It is more than that.

247
00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:22,000
It is the only hypothesis which covers the facts, let us see how it fits in with the sequel."

248
00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:27,520
Major Shalton remains at peace for some years, happy in the possession of his treasure.

249
00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:32,800
Then, he receives a letter from India, which gives him a great fright.

250
00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:33,800
What was that?

251
00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:39,400
A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free.

252
00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:40,400
Or had escaped.

253
00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,280
That is much more likely.

254
00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:46,640
But he would have known what their term of imprisonment was.

255
00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,480
It would not have been a surprise to him.

256
00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,240
What does he do then?

257
00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:56,960
He guards himself against a wooden-legged man, a white man mark you, for he mistakes a

258
00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:01,400
white tradesman for him and actually fires a pistol at him.

259
00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,560
Now, only one white man's name is on the chart.

260
00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,240
The others are Hindus and Mohamedans.

261
00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:10,920
There is no other white man.

262
00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:16,960
Therefore, we must say with confidence that the wooden-legged man is identical with Jonathan

263
00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:17,960
Small.

264
00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:22,240
Does the reasoning strike you as being faulty?

265
00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,480
No, it is clear and concise.

266
00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:31,880
Well, now, let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small.

267
00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,240
Let us look at it from his point of view.

268
00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:40,880
He comes to England with a double idea of regaining what he would consider by his rights.

269
00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:45,720
And of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him.

270
00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:52,000
He found out where Shaltou lived and very possibly he established communications with someone

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inside the house.

272
00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:59,760
There is the butler, the whole row, whom we have not met.

273
00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:04,200
Mrs. Bernstein gives him far from a good character.

274
00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:09,920
Small could not find out, however, where the treasure was hid, for no one could ever

275
00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:10,920
knew.

276
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:15,240
Save the major and one faithful servant who had died.

277
00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,560
Suddenly, Small learns that the major is on his deathbed.

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In a frenzy, less the secret of the treasure die with him, he runs a gauntlet of the guards,

279
00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:30,760
makes his way to the dying man's window, and is only deterred from entering by the presence

280
00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,240
of his two sons.

281
00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:39,000
Mad with hate, however, against the dead man, he enters the room that night.

282
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Such is his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure,

283
00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:52,240
and finally leaves a memento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card.

284
00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:58,280
He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major, he would leave some such

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00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:05,000
record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder, but from the point of view

286
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:11,320
of the four associates, something in the nature of an act of justice.

287
00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:17,040
Wimzacal embassar conceits of this kind of common are enough in the annals of crime, and

288
00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,680
usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal.

289
00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,640
Do you follow all this?

290
00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:24,640
Very clearly.

291
00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:29,360
Now, what could Jonathan Small do?

292
00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:35,120
He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure.

293
00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:39,760
Possibly, he leaves England and only comes back at intervals.

294
00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:45,840
Then comes the discovery of the Garrett, and he is instantly informed of it.

295
00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:49,960
We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household.

296
00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:56,160
Jonathan, with his wooden leg, is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Batholomew

297
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Shultay.

298
00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:04,120
He takes with him, however, a rather curious associate who gets over this difficulty, but

299
00:23:04,120 --> 00:23:06,880
dips his naked foot in the creasod.

300
00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:12,840
Wimzacal comes Toby and a six-mile limp for a half pay officer with a damaged ten-doer

301
00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,000
killings.

302
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:20,400
But it was the associate and not Jonathan who committed the crime.

303
00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:21,560
Quite so.

304
00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:26,320
And rather to Jonathan's disgust, to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into

305
00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:27,320
the room.

306
00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:32,040
He bore no grudge against Batholomew Shultay, and would have preferred it if he could have

307
00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,720
simply bound and gagged him.

308
00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,000
He did not wish to put his head in the altar.

309
00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:43,640
There was no help for it, however, the savage instincts of his companion had broken out, and

310
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the poison had done its work.

311
00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:52,080
So Jonathan Small left his record, lowered the treasure box to the ground and followed it

312
00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,360
himself.

313
00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:58,160
There was the train of events as far as I can decipher them.

314
00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:03,960
Of course, as to his personal appearance, he must be middle-aged and must be sunburned

315
00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:08,600
after serving time in such an oven as the adamans.

316
00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:15,320
His height is readily calculated from the length of his stride, and we know that he is bearded.

317
00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:20,920
His hareness was the one point which impressed itself upon Thaddeus Shulto when he saw him

318
00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:22,560
at the window.

319
00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,960
I don't know that there is anything else.

320
00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:26,960
The associate?

321
00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:28,960
Ah, well.

322
00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:34,400
There is no great mystery in that, but you will know all about it soon enough.

323
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:37,040
How sweet the morning air is.

324
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:43,520
See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather with some giant flamingo.

325
00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:48,960
Now, the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London Cloudbank.

326
00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,840
It shines on a good many folk, but on none.

327
00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:57,920
I dare bet, who are we on a stranger errand than you and I?

328
00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:03,240
How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great

329
00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,160
elemental forces of nature.

330
00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,320
Are you well up in your jump hall?

331
00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:10,320
Fairly so.

332
00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:13,840
I worked back to him through Carlisle.

333
00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,560
That was like following the brook to the parent late.

334
00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,960
He makes one curious but profound remark.

335
00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:26,080
It is that the chief proof of a man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own

336
00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:27,480
smallness.

337
00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:34,800
It argues, you see, a power of comparison and the appreciation with is in itself a proof

338
00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,280
of nobility.

339
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,280
There is so much food for thought in Richter.

340
00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,560
You have not a pistol, have you?

341
00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,800
I have my stick.

342
00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:50,120
It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair.

343
00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:56,880
Jonathan, I shall leave to you, but if the other turns nasty, I shall shoot him dead.

344
00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:02,040
He took out his revolver as he spoke and having loaded two of the chambers, he put it back

345
00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,880
into his right hand pocket of his jacket.

346
00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:11,440
We had, during this time, been following the guidance of Toby, down the half-rueral

347
00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,640
villa-lined road which led to the metropolis.

348
00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:20,920
Now however, we were beginning to come among the continuous streets where labourers and

349
00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:26,480
dockmen were already a stir and the slattonly women were taking down shutters and brushing

350
00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:28,560
doorsteps.

351
00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:34,360
At the square, topped corner public houses, businesses were just beginning and ruff-looking

352
00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:40,560
men were emerging, rubbing their sleeves across their beards after the morning wet.

353
00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:45,920
And ranged dogs, saunted up and stared, wonderingly as we passed.

354
00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:51,640
But our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left, but trotted onwards

355
00:26:51,640 --> 00:27:00,200
with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager wine which spoke of a hot scent.

356
00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:06,960
We had traversed Stratham, Brixton, Canberwell, and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane,

357
00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:11,520
running born away through the side streets to the east of the oval.

358
00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:17,720
The men who we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road with the idea probably

359
00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,520
of escaping observation.

360
00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:25,920
They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side street would serve their turn.

361
00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:30,760
At the foot of Kennington Lane, they had edged away to the left through Bonn Street and

362
00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:37,680
Mile Street, where the latter streets turned into night's place, Toby ceased to advance,

363
00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:43,120
but began to run backwards and forwards with one ear cocked in the other drooping.

364
00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:47,320
The very picture of Canine in decision.

365
00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:53,000
Then he waddled round in circles, looked up to us from time to time as if to ask for sympathy

366
00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,680
in his embarrassment.

367
00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,520
What's the juice as a matter with the dog growl homes?

368
00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:03,400
They surely would not take a cab or go off in a balloon.

369
00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:06,080
Perhaps they stood here for some time I suggested.

370
00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:11,840
"Ah, it's alright, he's off again," said my companion in a tone of relief.

371
00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:17,560
He was indeed off, but after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind and darted

372
00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:23,240
away with an energy and determination, such as he had not shown yet.

373
00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,360
The scent appeared to be much hotter than before.

374
00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:31,480
He had not even put his nose on the ground, but tugged at his leash and tried to break into

375
00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:32,480
a run.

376
00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:38,080
I could see by the clean and home's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of the

377
00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,080
journey.

378
00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:48,080
Of course, now we ran down nine elms until we came to Brodenick and Nelson's large Timberyard,

379
00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:51,200
just past the white eagle to heaven.

380
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:55,880
Here the dog, frantic with excitement, turned down through the side gate into the

381
00:28:55,880 --> 00:29:00,360
enclosure, where the soys were already at work.

382
00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:06,600
On the dog race, through sawdust and shavings, down and alley, round a passage between two

383
00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:14,000
woodpiles and finally, with a triumphant yelp sprang upon a large barrel which still stood

384
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,120
upon the hand trolley, on which it had been bored.

385
00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:23,840
With lollring tongue and blinking eyes, Toby stood upon the cask, looking from one to

386
00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,560
the other for some sign of appreciation.

387
00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:33,000
The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid,

388
00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:37,800
and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creosote.

389
00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:43,680
Sherlock homes and I look plankly at each other, then burst simultaneously into uncontrolled

390
00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:44,840
fits of laughter.

391
00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:54,840