All language subtitles for Rivals of Sherlock Holmes s02e09 The Moabite Cypher.eng

[grand horn music]

[crowd cheering]

[proud music]

[crowd cheering]

[horse whinnying]

[package crinkling]

He ran straight up,
the horse went up,

come down right on top of
him, I couldn't help myself.

Why were you running away?

Get up.

Give me a hand.

All right now, come on.

Bloody hell.

Mr. Soames, I think he's dead.

All right, all right, all right.

Here son, you, yeah.

- Know Middlesex Hospital?
- Yeah.

Run round there and
fetch me a doctor.

And tell them to hurry,
it's urgent, now go on.

Can I help?

Good morning, Badger.

Good morning, sir,
Dr. Jervis, isn't it?

That's right,
what's the problem?

Oh, thank god, Doctor.

Could you examine
this person, sir?

- I think he's dead.
- Can I be of any help?

I don't wish to be rude, sir,

but I would rather Dr.
Jervis examine him.

It is rather important.

My dear inspector,
I taught Dr. Jervis

everything he knows.

My name is John Thorndyke,
I'm a doctor of medicine,

I'm also a fellow of the
Royal College of Surgeons

and a professor at
the London Hospital,

emeritus professor of St.
Bartholomew's Hospital,

medical counsel and
sometime examiner

of the Royal
College of Surgeons.

Now, if you'll kindly keep back

and allow me to
conclude my examination.

Please try to keep
the crowd away.

- Constable.
- Sir.

Shut those doors, will you?

All right, back you
go here, please.

- [crowd murmuring]
- Come on, out you go.

Heart attack?

More likely internal
hemorrhaging, I expect.

He's as dead as Nebuchadnezzar.

I think you can safely
take my word for that.

- Who is he?
- I don't know, sir.

I saw him in the crowd,
though he looked suspicious.

Perhaps we might look
through his pockets, hmm?

Oh no, what's that?

[Badger] Oh, don't
touch that, sir.

[Thorndyke] Why not?

Provided I can be
extremely careful

if you think it might
be used as evidence.

- No, it's not that, stand away.
- [Thorndyke] Stand away?

I have every reason to believe
that that parcel contains a bomb.

[suspenseful music]

[Narrator] In Edwardian times,

there lived many detectives.

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes.

[gong clanging]

[suspenseful music]

[Badger] Well, I'm not
absolutely certain, sir.

Here, Constable, get some help,

get the shop, take the
Marylebone waterway.

There's an ambulance
up the street.

Well you see, sir, with
today being a special day,

the visit of the
Russian Grand Duke,

be careful with that, sir.

Inspector, I assure you, I
am being extremely careful.

What made you suspect this poor
fellow was up to something?

Well, I was explaining,
if you will allow me, sir.

We've had special
instructions today

to watch out for anarchists
because of the visit.

Well, I saw this
fellow in the crowd

carrying that thing there.

I made towards him, but,
uh, well he made off.

And you thought he might
be going to throw it

- at the carriage, eh?
- That's right, sir.

Anyway, I gave chase,
and all the time he kept looking over his shoulder at me,

obviously terrified.

Which confirmed your view

that he might be
up to something?

Correct, sir.

Well, suddenly he
burst through the crowd

on the other side of
the road and ran across,

but on the way, he
went straight in front

of the constable
here, on his horse.

Well, the horse shied,
went up in the air,

kicked this lad, and,
uh, now he's dead.

Hmm, well, let us
examine this thing

more carefully, shall we?

From my observations so far,

I see it is a
loosely-wrapped parcel.

Now, if it does contain a bomb,
it does not explode on impact,

otherwise it would have
exploded when it fell.

Nor is there a cord
or a pull of any sort

which might activate a fuse.

It is, however, rather fragile,

there is a dent here on
the side where it fell.

There's also a gooey liquid
which smells of oil or fat.

Now let us remove
the outer layer.

[paper crinkling]

Don't you think you should
let the inspector do that?

Oh, very well.

If you both insist on treating
me like a child, catch.

By God, sir, I don't think much

of your friend's sense of humor.

We might all have been killed.

Jervis, doctors do not
cavort on the ground.

And you, sir, please treat me
as if I had some intelligence.

Do you mind, Inspector?

When I removed the outer layer,
the smell became evident,

and I realized, gentlemen,

a pork pie.

Inspector, would
you be kind enough?

Thank you.

Now Jervis, would
you please hand me

a scalpel from your bag.

We shall examine
this more closely

and see whether this
pie contains anything

more lethal than sausage meat.

If this is really
just a pie, sir,

then what on Earth was
he running away for?

That, Inspector, is
a very good question.

I'm quite certain that
he had something to hide,

but the question is what?

[sniffing] Mm, this pie
does smell delicious.

What a pity it's been
all over the floor.

And don't you think, Inspector,

that whilst the gourmet in
Dr. Thorndyke is preeminent,

you might perhaps
search the body

for some clue as
to his identity?

Yes, sir, I quite agree.

Perhaps, gentlemen,
you would be kind enough to accompany me.

Hmm.

Thank you, Jervis.

[coins clinking]

Do be methodical, man.

Lay the contents of each
pocket into separate piles.

Then afterwards, if you want to,

you'll know which
pocket they came from.

Well, there's nothing here

that immediately tells
us who he is, sir.

See what he's got in
his inside pockets.

I must say, it doesn't
look like a foreigner,

Foreigner?

Anarchists, sir, foreigners.

Yes, London's full
of them these days.

No, there's nothing here.

What's this?

I think it's a letter,
this might be him.

Adolf Schonberg, 213
Greek Street, Soho.

So he was a foreigner after all.

- May I see that inspector?
- Yes, sir.

Sealed, but not stamped.

If it's his, why
hasn't he opened it?

Perhaps he left home in a hurry

just after he'd arrived, sir.

But in that case it
would have a stamp on it,

or a postage due.

I sometimes have hopes for
your, Jervis. [chuckling]

Also, as the inspector says,
he doesn't look foreign.

No, I think it's more likely

he was about to deliver
this to Mr. Schonberg.

Is there nothing else
there to identify him?

[Badger] No, nothing, sir.

Shall we open it?

No, I'm afraid we don't
have that right, sir.

At least, not at the moment.

No, I'm afraid the
Inspector's right.

This may well legally
belong to someone else.

Yes, I suppose I could send
somebody around to Soho.

Why don't you
deliver it yourself?

It's not very far and
the procession's over.

In fact, uh, we may go with you.

- What do you say, Jervis?
- Well.

Yes, Inspector, we
shall assist you.

[metal grinding]

[hooves clomping]

[door knocker thumping]

[door knocker thumping]

Does Adolph Schonberg live here?

Schonberg?

No, no Schonberg, no.

Oh, Schonberg, yes I know.

He lives on the third floor.

I've seen him a short
while ago go upstairs.

The third floor, back.

Yes, thank you, let us go up.

[Jervis] Thank you.

[door knocking]

Well?

Mr. Adolph Schonberg?

Well?

Well, what about him?

I wish to have a
few words with him.

Then what the deuce did you
come banging on my door for?

Doesn't he live here?

No, first floor front.

Pardon me, but, uh,

what does this Mr.
Schonberg look like?

Look like?

He's a bloomin' Polish Sheeny,

with a carroty beard
and gold gig-lamps.

Oh damn, well that's
the fellow who just left.

Precisely.

[footsteps plodding]

Inspector.

Ah, Mr. James, what're
you doing here?

Have you seen a bloke with
a red beard round about?

Yes, yes, a couple
of minutes ago.

Seemed in a hell of a hurry,
damn near knocked me down.

- Went off like a lamplighter,
you won't catch him now. - Blast it.

Oh, uh, Dr. Thorndyke, this
is Mr. James of the Chronicle.

Don't say to word to him
unless you want it printed.

He's no respectable person.

I heard you were
mixed up in some tiff

up in Oxford Street, Inspector.

The mortuary attendant
told me you were here.

- What's it all about?
- Nothing I would tell you.

Now, that was Schonberg
beyond a doubt, in which case,

I consider myself justified
in opening the letter.

What in creation is this?

It isn't short-hand,
what the deuce is it?

What do you make of it, Doctor?

Hmm, not very much, I'm afraid.

I'd take it to be
a form of Hebrew.

[Badger] Yes, well Hebrew
isn't like that, sir.

That's just a jumble.

This is a very old form known,

if my memory serves
me, as Moabite.

[Badger] Moabite?

Yes, an ancient language.

You'd be much better to take
it to the British Museum

and submit it to the keeper

of the Phoenician
antiquities for translation.

[Badger] We'll see
what can make of it

ourselves first, sir.

But thanks for your advice
all the same, Doctor.

Now, Mr. James, I can't
give you any information

for the present, you'd
best apply to the morgue. Will you excuse me?

Thank you very much,
gentlemen, good day to you.

Good day.

Dr. Thorndyke?

Yes?

Might I have your views?

Oh, I'm afraid I have
very little to add.

But the letter.

You seem to know more about
that than the inspector.

Did I not understand you to say

that the writing was strange?

No, not so much the writing,

it was more a cipher, really.

The paper itself is common,
cream-laid note paper,

such as is normally used.

And the ink itself was
ordinary Chinese writing ink

such as is used by draftsmen,
those are the facts.

And until I have further
sight of the letter,

I'm afraid they don't
get us very far.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

Jervis, I do feel that,
if you're quite ready,

we should return
to the laboratory.

Mr. Jervis, have
you anything to add?

Uh, Dr. Jervis.

No, I'm not even sure I
understand what the facts are.

[birds singing]

Good afternoon, John.

Oh hello there, Jervis.

You've finished
your lecture, then?

Yes.

I say, when does cook return
from visiting her brothers?

I'm getting very bored of
our eating out every day.

I'm afraid Mrs. Hobbs won't
be back until Saturday,

it's another three days.

One of my pupils tells me

that we're in the
papers this morning.

Hmm?

Oh yes, yes, yes,
in the Chronicle.

It's over there on the table.

The column is marked
Death of Anarchist.

It's a little low down
there, I've marked it.

Oh yes.

"During yesterday's procession

in honor of the
Russian Grand Duke,

a dead anarchist,
found on his person,

written in a private shorthand,"

I say, listen to this.

"In this intricate
and important case,

the police have
wisely," mark that,

"wisely secured the assistance
of Dr. John Thorndyke,

to whose acute intellect
and vast experience

the portentous
cryptogram will doubtless

soon deliver up its secret."

Well, that's very gratifying,
if a little exaggerated.

[doorbell ringing]

You're not expecting
anyone, are you?

No.

Whoever it is, I hope
he doesn't require tea.

- [Jervis] Good afternoon.
- [Miller] Good afternoon, sir.

May I have with Dr. Thorndyke?

[Jervis] Yes, do come this way.

It's Superintendent
Miller, isn't it?

- Yes, sir.
- I'm sure.

Mr. Miller.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, this is
Superintendent Miller,

Scotland Yard, you'll
forgive the intrusion,

but it's about this
business of the cipher.

I wonder if I might
ask your advice?

Superintendent, how
nice to see you.

I once gave evidence in a case
you handled very expertly.

Vanderbilt, remember?

Sit down, please.

I wasn't sure you'd remember it.

Well, it's about a
certain death yesterday,

and a letter that
seems to be relevant.

The thought is that
the anarchists are in some way involved.

And, in view of the present
political situation,

plus the visit of
the Grand Duke,

we are taking the
case most seriously.

Oh, um, I'm in charge
of a special section

dealing with political matters.

Oh, and how can I be of help?

Well, I'd like you
to have another look

at the letter, sir.

I understand the cipher
was familiar to you.

Only very vaguely,

but I may be able to throw some
light on it. Do you have it?

Um, no sir, that is
a photograph of it.

We couldn't make head nor
tail of it at the Yard,

so Inspector Badger took it
along to the British Museum.

Oh?

You see, sir, we are capable

of taking other
people's suggestion.

[Thorndyke chuckling]

Well, they referred us to
a Professor Popplebaum,

- and he still has the original.
- Oh, he's a great man.

He's the world's greatest
living paleographer.

I should've though
of him myself.

Did he express any opinion?

Well, provisionally, yes.

After a brief examination,
it was, after all,

quite late last evening
when we went to him,

he found it translates into
a number of Hebrew words,

and this is a hectograph
copy of his findings.

[Jervis] Might I see that?

Yes, certainly.

Better still, why not put
this under the epidiascope,

draw the blinds, and
then we can have a look

at them together
and discuss them.

[Miller] Oh I see, sir,
that James has made

quite a lot of this in
the Chronicle this morning.

Reporters are a nuisance.

[Thorndyke] Oh I don't
know, Superintendent.

He seemed to think that
you'd be round to consult me,

and that wasn't
far from the mark.

About that, sir,
I would be grateful

if you'd treat this
conversation as unofficial.

I'm not yet in a position
to come to you formally.

I see.

If whoever is behind
this is an anarchist,

it'd be awkward if
it should induce him

to leave a few trifling mementos

in the form of nitro compounds

on our staircase
or in the cellars.

Beg your pardon, sir?

A bomb, Superintendent,
a real one.

Oh, well I can tell you,

this business has got the
Yard in a mighty foment.

This country's whole
relationship with Russia

could be in jeopardy.

Hmm, well let's see
the letter first.

[Jervis] Do you think
it's some sort of code?

Oh probably, there'd
be no need otherwise

to use the form
known as Moabite.

From the few words
I know, I expect

that when we see Professor
Popplebaum's translation,

it'll prove to be a mere farrago
of unintelligible nonsense.

But we shall see,
change please, Jervis.

[Jervis] Lies, city, woe,

well, this isn't very promising.

[Thorndyke] Hmm, what's
the Professor's theory?

Well, his theory, sir,
provisionally of course,

is that the words
need to be rearranged

before they make sense.

Surely that would be
a very transparent device.

Oh, there's a certain
childlike simplicity about it

that is very, very
attractive, but unlikely.

No, whoever did this
would, I am sure,

have made it more complex.

Is that all you're
able to tell me, sir?

For the moment, yes.

Perhaps until you're able
to come to me officially.

In the meantime, I
have a theory of my own

which I shall test if
the occasion arises.

- May I keep these copies?
- Oh certainly.

And please sir, give this matter
your most urgent attention.

If, as I believe, the Anarchists
are at the back of this,

it is imperative that
we decipher this code

as quickly as possible.

You can reach me at all times.

- Goodbye, Professor.
- Goodbye, Superintendent.

- Dr. Jervis.
- I'll see you to the door,

Superintendent.

[Miller] Oh thank you, sir.

Oh, I am most sorry.

No, not at all,
I was just going.

May I come in?

[Jervis] I beg your pardon?

- Have you an appointment?
- No, I'm afraid not,

but I would be most grateful
if you could receive me,

as I have very important
business which I would like to,

- Dr. Thorndyke?
- Yes?

- My name is Barton, Alfred
Barton, you must be Dr. Jervis. - Yes.

I'm so glad to find you
both together here at home,

as I have somewhat urgent
professional business.

You won't know me,

though I know you both
by sight of course.

I've come to ask if one of
you, or better still both,

could come with me
tonight to see my brother.

Well, uh, not without
an appointment.

Sir, what I have to impart

is too urgent for
an appointment.

I've come on a matter
of life and death.

[suspenseful music]

The circumstances are, in my
opinion, highly suspicious,

and I shall lay them before you,

in strictest
confidence, of course.

Oh, of course, yes.

Here.

My brother has recently
married for the second time.

His age is 55 and
that of his wife, 26.

And the marriage has been,
well I must say, not a success.

Oh.

Thank you.

Do please go on.

During the last fortnight,
my brother has been attacked

by a mysterious
and extremely painful

infection of the stomach,

to which his doctor seemed
unable to give a name,

and it has so far resisted
all attempts at treatment.

Day by day, the pain
and distress increases,

and I feel that unless
something decisive is done,

the end cannot be far off.

Is the pain worse after food?

That's just it.

I see what is in your mind,
and it has been on mine too.

So much so that I've
tried repeatedly

to obtain samples of the
food that he is taking.

And this morning, I succeeded.

When I called, he was taking
his breakfast of arrowroot,

which he complained
had a gritty taste,

said by his wife to
be due to the sugar.

I managed to convey a
portion of the arrowroot

which he had left into this,

and I should be greatly
obliged if you could examine it

and tell me if it contains
anything that it should not.

Hmm.

But why have you
brought this to me?

Surely this is a matter
for his own doctor

or for the local police.

Oh, I've been to them both.

And in fact, they both
said that were I able

to obtain a sample of
the food he is taking,

they would put the
matter into the hands

of the public analyst,
but time is most important.

My fear, sir, is that
my brother will be dead

before the results are known.

And so, knowing the reputation

of both yourself and Dr. Jervis,

I have come straight to you.

May I add that
money is no object.

I see.

Very well, let's go
into the laboratory

and conduct some tests.

Thank you.

Jervis, would you pass
me a slide, please?

Yes.

Do you want a cover as well?

No, that'll do, thank you.

In fact, you could set me up
a Marsh's apparatus, please.

Yes.

[bottles clinking]

Hmm, rather as I expected.

[Barton] Is it arsenic?

Too soon to tell,
but let me see.

[water trickling]

Hmm.

[Barton] Well, Doctor,
what do you think?

I observe a number of
crystalline particles in this

that have the appearance
of arsenious acid.

[Barton] Are you certain?

No, but the matter's
easily tested.

Is the Marsh's apparatus
ready yet, Jervis?

[Jervis] Yes.

[glass clinking]

If I do find arsenic
in the sample,

what do you want
me to do about it?

I want you to come with
me to see my brother.

Surely I could give you a note
to give to his own doctor.

No, no, I want you to
come, to put a stop at once

to this dreadful business.

You must remember that it is
a matter of life and death.

I beg you not to refuse.

Hmm, well first let us
see what the test proves.

[liquid bubbling]

[Barton] What will
this tell us, Doctor?

[Thorndyke] This?

Nothing.

This is merely the preparation.

Tile please, Jervis.

Now, if you're right, this
tile will change color.

Well, that's pretty conclusive.

Arsenic?

It would appear so, but
let's conduct the final test.

Thank you, Jervis.

Well, what do you say?

Rather dramatic, what?

I fear that I was right.

The sample you brought us
certainly contains arsenic.

Then you must come
with me at once

to help my brother in
his dreadful peril.

I beg you, Doctor Thorndyke,
for mercy's sake, don't refuse.

Before we decide, I must
confer with my colleague

to see what arrangements
we have for this evening.

Would you be kind enough to wait

in the study for a
moment, if you may?

Oh yes, of course.

For mercy's sake, Doctor.

What do you think?

Well, we must go, I suppose.

It certainly seems as though

his poor brother
is in some danger.

Well, perhaps we should go.

All right, it's decided then?

I'm surprised that
you wanted to confer.

You know as well as I that
we've kept this evening free

in order to dine together.

Dear Jervis, you know how
highly I value your opinion.

Also, I must say, our Mr. Barton
does somewhat intrigue me.

Let us go, as he says,
for mercy's sake.

Well, Mr. Barton, we have
decided to accompany you.

Oh thank you.

By the way, you
haven't yet told us

where your brother lives.

Rexford, Rexford in Essex.

It's an out-of-the-way
little place,

but if we catch the 7:15
from Liverpool Street,

we should there in
an hour and a half.

Ah, and as to
the return journey,

you know the times of
the trains, I suppose.

- I'll make sure you don't
miss your train back. - Good.

Well, if we leave
now and call a cab,

we should just miss the
London evening theater rush.

There's no need.
I felt so sure that out of your kindness

you would accompany me that
I ordered my cab to remain.

It's waiting downstairs now.

My goodness, Mr. Barton,

you really have
thought of everything.

Jervis, if you'd be kind
enough to collect our coats,

I shall see you in a moment.

Yes, of course.

By the way, I do feel
I should warn you

that from the amount of arsenic
I detected in that sample,

there may be some danger.

I shall see you downstairs.

This should be an
interesting experience.

[steam hissing]

If he doesn't hurry,
he'll miss the train.

You realize, of course,
that we don't have

a precise address
for his brother.

Tell me, what do you think
of this fellow Barton?

Oh, that's very
difficult to say.

Poor fellow's in such a
state about his brother

that I doubt we've
seen the man himself.

He does seem very agitated.

Oh, there you are.

What a struggle.

Terrible scrum for baskets.

You wouldn't think there were
so many people traveling.

Of course, there are
very few on this train.

We were getting the most anxious
in case you should miss it.

We don't have an address
for your brother.

There's no need.
I've ordered the cab to meet us at Rexford

and take us straight there.

[train whistling]

Well, what could be better?

Food for the journey and
a carriage to ourselves.

I don't suppose you managed
to get any wine, did you?

I did, I did.

- Lovely.
- And I have no doubt that,

for poor Mr. Barton's
brother's misfortune,

we should find him the
most excellent company.

I shall do my best.

Now, how about a bite?

[train rattling]

It's slowing down yet again.

It's seven minutes
behind time as it is.

It really is too bad,

this train's going to
be confoundedly late.

A few minutes more or less
are not of much consequence.

Oh, of course not, but still.

Aggravating thing is we're
only just outside Brixton.

I should have thought
to bring a few journals

to pass the time.

Oh my dear fellow, have mine.

I've finished with them.

Perhaps we could get out
now and walk to the station.

I don't think so.
I haven't got the right kind of boots on for marching

- up and down railway lines.
- [train whistle blowing]

Oh thank heavens, I
think we're moving.

[engine chugging]

[Station Attendant] Call
Rexford, this is Rexford.

Rexford!

So little time,
I fear for my brother.

Now, watch the
step down, Doctor.

There we are, Rexford.

That's it, follow me, gentlemen.

[Station Attendant]
All stations to Newmarket!

This is Rexford!

[Barton sighing]

Blast.

The damn fellow's pushed off.

May not have arrived yet.

[train whistle blowing]

[train clanking]

Look, I think I'll go
and check in the station,

they may have seen
a cabby about.

I do apologize, I won't be long.

[Jervis sighing]

Well, this is a pretty penny.

The meal wasn't all that good,

and we should get frozen
stiff if we stay here long.

Mm, the wine was terrible too.

I sometimes think if the
railways can't do it properly,

they shouldn't do it at all.

[train chugging]

I think we have more
urgent things to attend to.

Follow me, Jervis.

[cane knocking]

Where to, sir?
You'll have to hurry, the train's in,

and she'll be leaving
in just a moment.

Have you seen a man
going past here just now,

he probably asked
you about a cab?

There ain't been nobody
asked me anything, sir.

Oh, you must be the gentlemen

who just come up
off the down line.

I'm sorry sir, I can't help you.

Perhaps your friend's
gone to have a look

over the other side, he's
just gone over the bridge.

Thank you.

Barton is about to
give us the slip.

What do you mean?
There may be another exit over there?

Maybe, but he won't be using it.

There he goes.

Something tells me
this is the last train

out of here this evening,

and somebody means to
leave us stranded here.

Run.

[train whistle blowing]

[train rattling]

Really, Dr. Jervis,
is it too much to ask

to return in a
first-class compartment?

I thought we were
lucky to get on,

let alone worry about protocol.

Shan't even get
a refund on our tickets.

We haven't got any tickets.

It was a joke.

Well in that case, perhaps
you would like to explain

this little comedy.

My pleasure.

That is, if you think it
needs any explanation.

I mean, you can hardly
have forgotten Mr. James's

flattering account of
the Greek Street incident

in this morning's Chronicle.

You mean that it has some
connection to this affair?

Unless I'm very
much mistaken, yes.

I think Mr. James very
clearly gave the impression

that the mysterious document
was in my possession.

When I read that, I realized
I must be on the lookout

for some attempt to
make its recovery.

Although I must say, I hadn't
expected such promptness.

So that moment
Mr. Barton turned up,

without credentials
or appointment,

I viewed him with
some suspicion,

and that suspicion deepened

- when he, uh,
- [train whistle blowing]

when he asked us to go
and see his brother.

Both to go and see his brother,

who, by the way, almost
certainly does not exist.

And the suspicion
deepened still further

when I saw how much arsenic

there was in that
sample he showed us.

Why, you saw it yourself.

There's enough arsenic there
to have killed all three of us.

Now if Mr. Barton's brother
had really eaten that,

he'd've been dead before
Barton ever got to us.

By Jove, you're right, I
hadn't thought of it that way.

You worry me sometimes, Jervis.

The way you give way
to mental indolence.

You have had all the facts
that I just described.

Now you must examine
those facts separately,

and then collectively,

and then in relation
to their circumstances.

Don't attempt to suck my brain,

when you've an excellent
brain of your own to suck.

I always assume that
you know more than I do.

Uh, well, in this
case, uh, yes I do.

You see, when you were
downstairs getting the coats,

I stayed behind long
enough to look up Bradshaw,

and I discovered that the last
train left Rexford for London

ten minutes after we
were due to arrive.

And that was why he
was getting so agitated

when it looked
like we were late.

Mm, mm, it was all a ruse to
keep us stranded in Rexford.

And leave our chambers vacant?

Mm.

Mr. Barton thought
that he would be able

to ransack them at his leisure.

But why did you do it if
you knew it was a device?

Oh Jervis, you know me.

I just can't miss an
interesting experience.

I must say one thing
I found most amusing

is the fact that
I'm certain Mr. Barton

has no idea that we're
on this train with him.

You don't think he spotted us?

No.

No, he learnt that
nobody got on the train

from the platform,
and in any case,

the fact that our train
was late in arriving,

and that he had such
a rush to catch this one,

will mean that he thinks

that we couldn't
possibly have made it.

[papers rustling]

Well, Mr. Barton, this
won't cure your brother.

What are you doing here?

You should be in Rexford.

Oh yes, the last train. Your
motives were rather obvious,

but thank you for
the free dinner.

My god, what a mess.

What are you after?

Oh, it'll soon clear up,

and I think it's pretty obvious
now what Mr. Barton's after.

Right Jervis, call
the police, please.

I think not, Dr. Jervis.

And you sir, away from
that door if you please.

[Thorndyke] Oh my dear fellow,

you surely can't mean to add
violence to lies and theft.

I warn you, I am
very determined.

- I want the letter which
is in your possession. - Letter?

I think he means the one that
was taken from the dead man.

Really I don't
have it, I'm sorry.

I don't believe you, I read
about it in the Chronicle.

- Now give it to me.
- Now why don't you put that thing away

and let's sit down and
discuss your problem?

Be intelligent.

Thorndyke, he means it.

Rubbish, he wouldn't dare

shoot me in my own
house, come on.

[gun banging]

[Jervis gasping]

By god, you've done for him.

[suspenseful music]

How is he?

[Jervis] Not too bad.

The bullet passed through the
fleshy part of the upper arm.

- He's coming round.
- [Thorndyke groaning]

Steady, John.

What happened?

You were shot.

Oh yes, I, I remember.

Did you get his gun?

No, this is Superintendent
Miller, I sent for him.

Oh.

You really should see a doctor.

It's been years since I
did rudimentary medicine.

By Jove, Jervis,
that fellow shot me.

- Did he get away?
- I'm afraid so.

Having had a go at you,

I really didn't think
to argue with him.

Blast the fellow.

[groaning] I've
a devil of a headache.

When I rang the police,
I was lucky enough to get Superintendent Miller.

He was in his office waiting
for Professor Popplebaum.

It appears that the professor

has had second thoughts
about the letter.

Really?

I wonder if his ideas
agree with mine.

What is your idea, sir?

Superintendent, not yet.

Mustn't steal the
professor's thunder,

after all, he is the expert.

I've left word for
him to come on here,

so I hope that's all right.

Oh certainly, yes.

- Here.
- Oh, thank you Jer, ouch!

Ah, it'll be painful
for a day or two.

Yes, thank you Jervis.

I wonder if that fellow
got away with anything.

Well I haven't really looked,

but as far as I can tell, no.

- Have a look around, Badger.
- [doorbell ringing]

Oh Jervis, answer that
please, would you?

You haven't touched
anything, sir?

Well, I've sorted
things round a bit.

Oh pity.

I don't think he'd
have taken anything.

I understand the villain

was the man I bumped into
earlier this morning.

What was he after, sir?

Yes, well, he led us a dance
with a cock-and-bull story

about a brother whom
he said was dying.

Unfortunately for him,

his method was so obvious
as to be unbelievable.

It was all a ruse to get
us away from our apartment

so that he could burgle it.

[Miller] And you surprised him?

Yes, yes, he told me it was
the letter that he was after.

- Ah, here's the expert.
- [speaking in foreign language]

Very impressed by
all I've heard.

No, I'm afraid you have
the wrong man, sir.

I expected you to look older.

You see, so much experience
shines through all your eyes.

No sir, this is
the man you want.

Oh good gracious, do forgive me.

Such a stupid mistake.

Always like that, rush in,
get it wrong, no offense.

[chuckling] Not at all.

This is Superintendent
Miller of Scotland Yard,

no, here.

- Professor.
- Hello.

And Inspector Badger.

Yes,

I've seen you before,
I never forget a face.

Yes, we met just
a few hours ago, sir.

Professor, your findings?

Ah yes, yes.

[papers rustling]

May I read it?

- May I read it to you?
- Please.

I have only the one copy.

"The document, that is,
the letter, is in a form of

Hebrew, of course it is, yes,

and is written the
well-known inscription

of Mesha, king of Moab.

Now, who the devil's he?

It's where the word
Moabite comes from.

Yes, the words
themselves mean nothing,

but by interpolating
some of our words,

I have obtained a
series of sentences.

Though I'm afraid the
meaning is not very clear.

Oh.

Well Professor, if you'd
like to read them to us,

perhaps we can help.

Er, here is my analysis
and full rendering.

"Woe to the bloody city!

- It is full of," what?
- Um, excuse me a moment.

Jervis, would you be kind enough

to look in the bureau over there

and see if you can
find the professor's

original translation of words,

if you can find
it among the mess.

I have another copy here, sir.

[Thorndyke] Oh good.

Thank you, sir.

Now Jervis, would
you just read off

the first few words, please?

Yes, of course.

- "Woe, city, lies, robbery."
- Thank you.

Now Professor, would you begin
to read your translation,

and Jervis, perhaps you would
read the words as they occur.

Oh yes, of course.

First rate.

Ready.

"Woe to the bloody city."

Woe.

- City.
- "It is full,

- it is full of lies."
- Lies.

- "And robbery."
- Robbery.

- "The prey departeth not."
- Prey.

- Noise, whip.
- "The noise of the whip

and the noise of the
rattling of the wheels

- and the prancing horses."
- Wheel, horse.

- "The jumping chariots."
- Chariots.

- "A day of darkness."
- Darkness.

- "And of gloominess."
- Gloominess.

- "A day of clouds."
- Clouds.

- "And of thick darkness."
- Darkness.

- Morning.
- "As the morning,

- spreads upon the mountains."
- Mountain.

"A great people,

- and a strong."
- Strong.

"A fire

- devours before them."
- Devours, them.

"And behind them,
a flame burneth."

Flame.

Oh Professor, congratulations.

Excellent, that really
is superb scholarship.

Now, if I recall,
that's from the writings

of one of the Moabite prophets.

Perfectly true, I'm
most thrilled by it.

- [laughing] Yes.
- Forgive my saying so,

but it is more
than three quarters

supplied by the professor.

Exactly, it's all professor
and no cryptogram.

No, no, no, the
reading is correct, as far as it goes, that is.

You mean to say, sir,
that that balderdash

is the real meaning
of the thing?

Oh no, I didn't say that.

The professor has accurately
translated the words,

but unfortunately
that is nothing

to do with what
Barton was after.

But he wanted the letter.

Yes.

- But this isn't it?
- No.

[Miller] Well, I'm dashed
if it isn't all beyond me.

I agree, I'm completely foxed.

Superintendent, I think
this is most important.

Do you have the original
letter? I should like to see it.

I think the professor has it.

[paper rustling]

No, no, that is another
photographed copy,

similar to the one that
you, Miller, showed to me.

I must see the original.

Sorry.

This is it.

Thank you.

Gentlemen, we've been
foolishly wasting our time.

If you'll excuse me, I'll
conduct a small experiment.

Superintendent, I promise to
try not to harm this letter.

Jervis, would you be kind
enough to give everyone a drink?

Do you mind, Inspector?

Superintendent?

Sherry, sir.

Inspector?

[Badger] Sherry for me too, sir.

Professor.

Sherry, no, no thank you.

Although, I must say, your
friend has gone too far.

I worked very hard
on this affair.

If he thinks he can do better,

at least he should try to
be a little more polite, hm?

Goodnight.

No, I can find my own way out,

I'm used to solving riddles.

[door banging]

Oh dear.

Oh well, er, we must
forgive Thorndyke,

he has suffered today.

What do you think sir? Is this
man, Barton, an anarchist?

Yes, I'm fairly certain of it.

And I can't help feeling
that the professor's answer

is not the right one,
whatever it means.

Well, it is possible

that his solution
may form the cipher,

that the phrases do have some
pre-arranged significance.

But would it not be best to wait

and hear what my
colleague has to say?

Well, let's hope he doesn't
put the whole thing under the microscope

and then tell us
who made the paper

and what the ink is composed of.

Otherwise, we shall just
be back where we started.

Superintendent, are you
prepared to make this

an official consultation?

Well, I was originally briefed

only to consult you about the
professor's translation, but,

yes sir, certainly, we may
consider this to be official.

My theory turned
out to be correct.

This is a joke, sir.

You are fooling me.

Not at all, that is
the genuine solution.

But it's impossible.

Here, Badger, listen to this.

"The Piccadilly stuff
is up the chimney,

416 Wardour Street,
second floor back.

It was hid because
old Barton's greedy.

Barton is a traitor."

Well, why not put it to the
test and look up the chimney?

Excuse me, sir.

Forgive me, Superintendent,
but you look like a man

who's lost a sovereign
and found sixpence.

Well, that's just it, sir,
rather the other way around.

You know about the
Piccadilly job, sir?

Some time last month?

Yes sir, about a quarter
of a million pounds

of jewelry stolen.

And you think this is it?

Well, it sounds like it, sir.

But you realize it rules out
Barton being an anarchist.

Sadly, yes.

Oh come now, Superintendent,

if you manage to recover a
quarter of a million pound,

it must be some consolation.

What's that about
Barton being a traitor?

Oh, probably means
some of the gang

thought they were
gonna be cheated, sir.

Well, seems fairly
certain that the fellow

who was killed by the horse
was trying to warn the others.

How did you solve that?

How, at the moment,
is irrelevant.

Inspector.

Jervis. Would you be kind
enough to call a cab?

No need, sir, I have a police
hansom round the corner.

Hello.

Schonberg, what
are you doing here?

Police came looking for
me, so I had to scarper.

You've got to give me
some money, Barton,

I'm gonna make a run for it.

I come here 'cause it's the
only place I could think of,

and give up some money.

You're a fool.

The police had no idea about us

until that idiot friend of yours

made a run for it and
got himself killed.

Charlie?

The police did for Charlie?

- You hadn't heard?
- No, why, should I?

I'd heard that
Charlie wasn't pleased

with the way that
things were going,

and was trying to
stir up trouble.

I'd also heard that you
were in it with him.

You know me, Barton, I'm loyal.

I shouldn't want to
be part of a bust up.

Just give me my
share, I'll get out.

I can't give you your share,
there isn't any money yet.

- Why not?
- Because we can't sell the jewels until it's safe.

- We'll get a better price then.
- I've got to have some money.

I haven't got any.

You're hanging onto it,
Charlie said as much.

Now you listen to me carefully.

You'll get your money
when I am ready.

[footsteps plodding]

Into the bedroom, quickly.

Quick!

Right, Barton,
you're under arrest.

Constable.

See who's through there, Badger.

- Dr. Jervis, would you be so
kind as to guard the door? - I'd be delighted.

It's Adolph Schonberg, sir,
the one the letter was addressed to.

And we have caught
the elusive Mr. Barton.

Well, Superintendent,
perhaps we should read

Mr. Schonberg his letter.

After all, it was
addressed to him.

Right, sir.

"The Piccadilly stuff
is up the chimney.

It was hid because
old Barton's greedy.

Barton is a traitor."

Have a look, Badger.

Well Professor, I
really am most grateful.

Not quite what I had in mind,

but a quarter of a million
pounds is something.

So Barton, shooting
Professor Thorndyke,

and all that rubbish
about your brother

was simply in order to
get back a secret letter

saying you were trying to
cheat the rest of the gang.

You're a fool.

And wrap those up again, please.

Stay there.

I suppose you know what this is.

Do as he says, Superintendent.

[Barton] Oh, you
understand, Dr. Thorndyke.

It's a hand grenade, am I right?

Yes sir, it is.

Read that.

Thank you.

"The road to freedom,
throw off your shackles.

Don't be ground under the
heels of the ruling classes.

The only way to happiness is
to overthrow the government.

Words have failed, now
is the time for action.

Kill the aggressors, learn to
live, become an anarchist."

I guessed as much.

I thought you might.

I was confident
the Moabite cipher

was enough to fool most people,

but when I heard
you were involved, I

That's why I had to get
that paper away from you.

This lot were nothing.

They were just tools to
enable me to get money

for the funds to
buy guns and bombs,

and these.

Of course, this
is only a sample.

Just think how many I could buy

for a quarter of
a million pounds.

And I robbed the rich to do it.

He was onto you, you're a
real traitor against the king!

That's right.

Now.

[pin clinking]

The jewels, Inspector,
if you please.

Thank you.

And Dr. Jervis, the
door if you will.

Gentlemen.

- You won't kill the king!
- [book clattering]

[Badger] Chuck it, sir.

[glass smashing]

[grenade banging]

Handcuffs, Inspector.

I am sorry, sir.

If I'd known it was
going to be like this,

I'd never have asked
you to join us.

Dr. Jervis, please
tell your friend

to give up his hobby
of handling bombs

as though they
were cricket balls.

Oh really, Superintendent.

What a lot of fuss over nothing.

The only excitement was the
intellectual one of the cipher.

Perhaps you'd like to
know how it was done.

I have been up all night,

but I cannot connect
your solution

with any of the characters.

Would you do me the great favor

of enlightening me
as to your methods,

and save me further
sleepless nights?

You may rely on my discretion.

You were working from one
of the photographed copies.

Of course, one tries never to
tamper with the real thing.

It's a question of training.

Then your night's work can
only have been quite fruitless.

The photographed copy was
quite useless of the purpose.

As Burton knew,
only the original

could reveal the secret
of a Moabite cipher.

Let me show you, gentlemen.

If you observe, this
letter is written

on common, cream-laid
note paper,

which, as you know,
has no watermark.

Yes, yes, I know the same.

Mm hmm, and that the ink used
is indelible Chinese ink,

commonly known as stick ink.

Yes, yes, but it's
inscriptions that interest us,

not the paper and the ink.

Precisely, and that is
where you were wrong.

It is the ink that
first interested me

when I observed this
letter three days ago.

Why should anyone go to this
troublesome method of writing,

when good, ordinary
writing ink was available?

What advantage has this kind
of ink over ordinary ink?

It is quite unaffected
by being made wet.

Good.

For some reason, this
letter was likely

to be subjected to the wet.

So I was able to
put it to the test.

I rolled up the letter, as so.

[Badger] Is that
the original, sir?

Oh yes, and then I put it
into this tumbler of water.

Jervis, light please.

And Inspector, would you be
kind enough to draw the blinds?

Thank you, Jervis.

And there, gentlemen,
is the message.

The message was scratched
onto the surface

of the cream-laid
paper when it was wet.

When the paper dries,
the message disappears,

only to become visible again

by the addition of water.

A sort of artificial
palimpsest in effect.

[Jervis] Even better
than invisible ink.

You will no doubt find
that the cryptogram

was supplied by Barton.

He no doubt supplied
members of the gang

copies of this
instead of blank paper

to use for secret
communications.

So the object of the Moabite
writing was, as Barton said,

solely to draw attention
from the paper itself.

Precisely.

It's so simple, it
was almost elementary.

[suspenseful music]

[uplifting music]

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