In this episode, we delve into the intriguing world of classic radio shows, starting with a discussion on the impact of "The Avengers" radio series in South Africa, a country that lacked a national television service until 1976. We explore how the series, which was a sensation in Britain and America, managed to gain some exposure in South Africa through film rentals. The conversation then shifts to the classic "Sherlock Holmes" radio series, featuring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, as we are invited to join Dr. Watson for another thrilling adventure with the master detective, Sherlock Holmes.
The episode unfolds with Dr. Watson recounting a mysterious case involving a coded message in the agony column of a newspaper, leading Holmes and Watson to a sinister plot involving impersonation and attempted murder. The story takes us through a series of deductions and discoveries, highlighting Holmes' unmatched detective skills and the clever use of cryptography to solve the case. As the mystery unravels, listeners are treated to a captivating tale of deception and intrigue, showcasing the timeless appeal of Sherlock Holmes' adventures.
(00:04) The Avengers in South Africa
(00:54) Introduction to Sherlock Holmes
(02:19) A Visit to Baker Street
(03:37) The French Detective's Challenge
(06:00) The Agony Column Mystery
(10:16) Journey to The Elms
(13:01) Meeting Mr. Quilter
(16:13) Holmes' Realization
(18:11) The Search for Mr. Quilter
(21:29) The Pistol Match
(24:00) The Truth Revealed
(26:24) Conclusion and Transition to Gregory Hood
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
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Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio
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Other shows we have for you to enjoy at myclassicradio.net. The Avengers was most certainly not a household name in South Africa prior to the radio series. With no national television service until 1976, the mechanism simply was not present in the country to show television programs to mass audiences. While many other countries reveled in the filmed adventures of John Steed and Company, South Africa was not equipped to join in the fun. The series took Britain by storm and made a major impression in the American markets, being that greatest of rarities, a British series given a network transmission slot. However, as a film series, rather than a videotaped one, the avengers was able to gain a modicum of exposure in South Africa through film rentals.
Come and listen at myclassicradio.net.
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Petri wine brings you Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petrie family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invite you to listen to doctor Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, that master detective, Sherlock Holmes. And I want to ask you something. You know, every now and then, I've told you about the good old American custom of serving a glass of sherry before dinner, particularly Petri California sherry. And I wonder if you've tried that Petri sherry. Really a glass of Petri sherry is the best beginning a good meal ever had.
Petri sherry is clear, fragrant and truly delicious. It's a wonderful wine whose flavor is the essence of luscious sun ripened grapes and Petri makes two kinds of sherry wine, a regular sherry and Petri pale dry. If you don't know which you prefer, try them both. Don't buy one, buy two, but remember always buy Petri because Petri wine is always good wine. Well, I'm sure doctor Watson's ready for us. Let's go in and join him. Shall we? Good evening, mister Bartell. Evening, doctor. Quiet Willie. Quiet Martin. Quiet Martin. The dogs seem very pleased with themselves tonight. Did they have a good day? Yes. The three of us did my boy. They go on one off one off out in the patio.
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I took a seven iron and some old golf balls on the beach this afternoon. I improved my game, I think, and the dogs had a great time chasing the golf balls. On the way home, the little rascals had a furious battle with an elderly pelican,
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so their day was complete. I'll have to join you on one of your afternoon strolls, doctor. You and the dog seem to have so much fun. Oh, I'll be glad you're company, mister Bartel. Well, drop your usual churn. I'll get on with tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure. From the hints you gave us last week, I guess a Frenchman played a prominent part in the story. Yes, indeed he did, mister Bartel. His name was Francois
[00:03:05] Unknown:
LaVia. He was a detective of some note in his own country. The time my story begins, it was in 1889 to be exact. That Lear had come over to London to discuss with Holmes the difficulties of translating some of his monographs into the French language. At this particular time, I was in the early days of my marriage, mister Barthel. And this fact combined with a busy practice meant that I saw very little of my old friend. He must have missed you, doctor. Oh, indeed, he is. Well, of course he admit the fact but, but, to get on with my story. One cloudless June afternoon, I found myself in the neighborhood of Baker Street and I couldn't resist paying a visit to Holmes.
Missus Hudson was out but, having retained my old latchkey I let myself in and mounted the familiar stairs. It gave me a strange feeling as I raised my hand to knock on what once had been my own living room door. Come in. Oh, hello, Holmes. Oh, I I beg your pardon. I didn't know you. What, sir, my dear fellow?
[00:04:11] Unknown:
How very nice to see you. It's great to see you, Holmes. I I'm sorry I interrupted you. I No. I didn't know that you had company. Not at all, my dear fellow. We're delighted, uncle Le Villard. Hello, sir. What's it? This is, mr. Le viad. How you do, sir? How you do? Enchante monsieur. I often wished to meet the so charming doctor Watson. Holmes has told me a great deal about you. Oh, that's nice of you, sir. Oh, that is suit you, Watson. You're a splendid old fellow. Gained a little weight, haven't you? Yes. A few pounds, I believe. Come, sir. Sit down, won't you?
[00:04:39] Unknown:
You sure that I'm not interrupting you in some important discussion? Oh, no. No. No. No, monsieur doctor. We were having a good natured argument on the relative abilities of of the French criminal compared to the English. Oh, interesting. You must lend me your support, Watson. Monsieur Lavee, I was convinced that the English criminal is a very dull dog indeed. Well, we've met some far from dull ones in our time. I assure you, monsieur Lavere. Ah, the exceptions rather than the rule I fear, monsieur doctor. You're stubborn, aren't you, Lavere? Believe me, my dear friend, that I will yield to no one in my admiration of your knowledge and skill. That is why I wish I could persuade you to practice in Paris. There you would find opponents really worthy of your skill. What can happen to interest you in this land of grape frogs, boiled potatoes, and pots of tea? I'm not.
[00:05:32] Unknown:
No offense, advance, my friend. Will you say that the English criminal is dull? Perhaps if you were to read a published story of mine called a a study in scarlet, you'd think differently. It tells a very exciting adventure that Holmes and I had. I have read it, my friend. Oh, ho. An extremely gripping story but surely you will admit that the crime was essentially of a.
[00:05:52] Unknown:
He's right, Watson. He's perfectly right, dear me. What can I do to vindicate the dishonor of the London criminal? Let me see. Oh, yes. Yes. Of course. A copy of today's Times. That's fine. I shall introduce you to a section known as the agony column. Where is it now? Oh, yes. Here we are. This should convince you of the color and variety of English life. Diagonally column.
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It sounds most painful. What is it, by? A personal column is liable to contain anything from a lover's frantic appeal to his lady love to a ransom loan. In my profession, I've frequently found it an invaluable
[00:06:27] Unknown:
medium for contacting the underworld. Uh-huh. Yes. Now, here we are. You hear something? Dear me. Oh, dear. No. Today's column seems rather uninspired, I'm afraid. May I examine it? Of course. Here you are.
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If the lady who helped my little boy across the road at the corner of Treadwell Street and Highoburn last Wednesday at four, will get in touch with box eight four five, she will learn of something to her advantage.
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We can be more colorful than that in Paris, my friends. Yes, I think we can do better than that too. Yeah. Look at this, William. Printer must have been half asleep when he set up the type for this advertisement.
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Will any gentleman interested in discussing cryptography and cipher writing, please communicate with BoxXQL696
[00:07:19] Unknown:
the time. Well, I I failed to find this message any more stirring than the preceding one. You notice the execrable printing, don't you? Indeed I do. It is all mixed up. The first word will starts with a capital w and a capital I. The second word any starts with a small a and then has a capital n and y. It is a shocking example of typography. And when it occurs in a paper noted for its excellence in typesetting, one realizes that, this is no mistake. What do you mean, This is undoubtedly a code message. Oh, come now, my friend. I defy you to make a mystery out of a punter's negligence. I accept
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bilateral cipher depends upon the use of two sizes of type. If we group the letters in units of five, the arrangements of small and capital letters within the group should give us the message. Now let's see. Two capitals followed by three small gives us the letter h, then two capitals, one small, two more that gives us e h I still think you are trying to make an adventure out of a mere printing accident. No mere printing accident could so readily fall into one of the great traditional ciphers. Now let's see. This message reads h e l help, q too small, a q u I quilter, help quilter.
L l too small and large.
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Elms. Help quilter. Elms there it is. Yes. Pench. Help quilter. Elms pench. Help quilter. Elms pench.
[00:08:50] Unknown:
What does that mean? Presumably that a man named Quilter who lives at a house called The Elms
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in the village of Penge needs help. Ah, I see it now. A helpless victim helped prisoner. He smuggles out this message as a as a harmless personnel, with strict instructions that it be printed on this art form. He knows that the amateurs of cryptography to whom it is addressed will decipher this call for help.
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Monsieur Villas, you seem ready to grant that adventure can exist in London after all.
[00:09:21] Unknown:
The advantage, my dear Watson, of a more mercurial temperament than we Englishmen possess. Well, Le Vian, what about it? So we set off for Penge and rescue the injunious mister Quilter from whatever dire fate awaits him in the elms? I'm all in patience.
[00:09:35] Unknown:
Splendid. Watson,
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I suppose you are too busy to join us. Too busy? Well, I mean, your practice, I'm sure that you have patience today. Oh, yes, of course, as a matter of fact, I have two further visits to make today.
[00:09:45] Unknown:
One to a peppery old miser who has gout and the other to a wealthy society woman who has acute attack of hypochondria, hypochondria, they call it. But to places where they've been to home both for a month. I'm coming with you, Holmes, if you want me. Bravo, Watson. Then grab your hat and coat. The game's afoot. Here you are, gents. The Helmspin. Nice afternoon for a drive, wasn't it? Afraid it'll cost you 15 bobs, though. There's a sovereign for you. You can keep the chain. Stormy. Thank you, governor. Top of the evening to you, gents.
So this is The Elms. Quite a bit of land for such a modest neighborhood.
[00:10:41] Unknown:
To call it The Elms seem remarkably. I cannot see an elm tree in sight. So you see, Le Vienne, the English have poor imagination than you give him credit for. Were you just gonna walk up to the front door and knock home? Why not? The direct approach is often the most satisfactory.
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Oh, you disappoint me. I had hoped that perhaps you would adopt one of the disguises in which you are so adept, I am told. Well, since it's unlikely that these people know me by sight, that's hardly necessary, is it? However, I trust that this little problem may reward you with some colorful highlights before we're through.
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Great. Scott, revolver shots.
[00:11:17] Unknown:
They came from the house. We are too late. Mister Quilter has been murdered. No. I think not. You will observe that the next door neighbor to the Elms was mowing his front lawn as we drove up. He is still engaged in the same occupation. Obviously, revolver shots attract little attention this my sympathy. Come on, you mean that violence and sudden death are so common that they do not attract even the passing interest? Uh-uh, no even the British are not as phlegmatic as that. Then what is the answer to those shots? Some member of this household is addicted to pistol practice. And the fact that a shooting target is nailed to the back of that fence over there would further support the theory. Well, that's rather ominous in my opinion. Well, hear me out the front door. Let's
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keep our wits about us anyway. Are you carrying a revolver, Doctor. Watson? No. No stethoscope, I'm afraid. I was prepared for sickness when I left the house today and not for crime. I too am unarmed. How about you, miss Holmes? Only a magnifying
[00:12:11] Unknown:
glass, I'm afraid. Hardly a very lethal weapon. Yes? My friends and I were calling on, miss Quilter.
[00:12:18] Unknown:
Oh,
[00:12:19] Unknown:
Who are you? My name is Sherlock Holmes and these are my friends, doctor Watson and Musil Le Viard. Hi. How are you, madam? How are you doing? Is mister Quilter expected? I don't know. We, read his advertisement in the agony column of the Times today and came down here at once. Are you, a relation of his? I'm his niece. Oh. My name is Doris Faversham.
[00:12:37] Unknown:
Come in, won't you?
[00:12:38] Unknown:
Miss Faversham, I suppose it is. Yes, doctor. It's miss Faversham. We, had three revolver shots as we were walking up the driveway. They
[00:12:48] Unknown:
gave us quite a start. Yes, mademoiselle. We were afraid that we might have arrived at the time of tragedy. Yes, indeed. Tragedy?
[00:12:56] Unknown:
Oh, my hobby is revolver shooting. I was doing some target practice in the back garden as you arrived. Revolver shooting, miss Abigail. Very interesting. I'm proud of myself that I'm something of a marksman myself. Oh, really? Well, perhaps we can have a match. Won't you sit down? Your challenge intrigues me, miss Fevishore, but, before I accept it, I should like to see mister Quilter. Well, uncle George is paralyzed, you know. Oh, well. He spends all his time in a wheelchair. And that is all sure he'll see you. Well, at least you can ask him, can't you miss Faversham? It is his custom at this time of the day to take a little nap. Perhaps tomorrow Doris. Doris. He's still awake. Who's here? Yes, uncle.
Some men have come to see you, uncle. Bring him in. Bring him in. Fother me, gentlemen. Uncle, this is Mr Sherlock Holmes, doctor Watson and mister,
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mister Le Villard.
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And mister Le Villard. And how do you, sir? How do you do? Sherlock Holmes,
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Took you long enough to decipher my message and get here, didn't it? Your brother's a much faster worker, isn't he? Oh, what makes you say that, mister Quilter? Receive this telegram from you at 11:00 this morning and read it for yourself.
[00:14:06] Unknown:
Well,
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what to say, sir? Suggest you consult my brother, Sherlock, and it's it's signed Mycroft Holmes. Yes, mister Quota, my. My brother is a much faster worker or shall we say that he suffers from the unfortunate habit of early rising.
[00:14:20] Unknown:
He undoubtedly read the agony column three hours before I did today. Don't know about that but I've been expecting you all day. I imagine you know why I inserted that advertisement. Well, I had the impression that, you were under some form of restraint, that, you were in need of a rescue party as it were. Rubbish. My advertisement was a piece of subtle bait. The only person that could decipher the message would obviously be someone who knew the Baconian cipher. Very logical deduction, mister Poulter. You see, I'm convinced as any sensible man should be that the so called Shakespearean plays were written by Sir Francis Bacon. Oh, I see. But I felt that it needed a clever man to approve the fact. Mhmm. I was sure that anyone who was able to decipher my message was the man I needed. And what did it take, mister Holmes, to do the job? I'm a rich man. Name your fee. Do you mean to say that you're inveigle, mister Holmes, down here just to do some research on the origin of Shakespeare's work? Oh, you needn't look so shocked, doctor Watson. My uncle has offered to pay him a handsome fee. Well, what do you say, mister Sherlock Holmes? An interesting subject for research. I'll concede that Ignatius, Donnelli and others have proved almost beyond doubt that William
[00:15:23] Unknown:
plays but I greatly doubt that Lord Bacon did. I may devote my leisure in later years to some investigation on the subject but in the meanwhile, mister Groton, I'm afraid I'm much too busy to undertake such an assignment. Please yourself. Show the gentleman now, Doris. Goodbye, sir. Have a good day, sir.
[00:15:43] Unknown:
Too bad. You had this long drive down here for nothing, Joe. Yes. I well, I quite agree on it. It would seem to me that your uncle has a distinct talent for practical joking, mademoiselle.
[00:15:53] Unknown:
Uncle. Oh, uncle never made a joke in his life.
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Mr. Holmes, now that you're here, perhaps you like to indulge in a little shooting match. Thank you, miss Fadisham. But, as I told your uncle, I'm a busy man. Good evening to you.
[00:16:07] Unknown:
Goodbye, gentlemen. Goodbye. Holmes,
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old fellow, you're you're losing your touch. You'd never made a blunder like this if I'd still been with you.
[00:16:20] Unknown:
It is comforting for an aspiring detective like myself to know that the great Sherlock Holmes is fallible.
[00:16:27] Unknown:
Then am I to assume that I must continue the case alone? What do you mean continue the case? There isn't there isn't one. Fultz is in no danger. He's in desperate danger. What? I'm only afraid I may be too late to save him. But we have just spoken to the man. Oh, no. Did neither of you notice the traces of fresh loam on the boots of that supposedly paralyzed man? Gentlemen, I fear the agony column has led
[00:16:57] Unknown:
us to murder. You'll hear the rest of Doctor. Watson's story in just a second. Time enough for me to mention that any meal is a better meal when it's served with a Petri dinner wine. If you're having chicken or fish use Petri California Sauternes. Petri Sauternes is a subtle delicately flavored white wine that looks and tastes like captured sunshine. If you're having a roast or chops or any kind of meat or meat dish, then by all means, serve Petri California Burgundy. Petri Burgundy is a hearty full flavored red wine. One of the most delicious red wines you ever poured from a bottle. Why not get a bottle of each? Petri Burgundy and Petri Sauternes.
Then no matter what you have for dinner, you'll surely have the right wine, a Petri wine.
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Well doctor, why did you have to break off your story there? Well, I had to break it off somewhere, mister Bartel and that seemed to be the most exciting spot. It certainly was. I was convinced that the great Sherlock Holmes had been fooled for once. What happened next? Well, I need this to remark we did not get into a cab and go back to London but let me pick up the story at the same place that I broke it off. As Holmes said
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Gentlemen, I fear the agony column has led us to murder. Murder? There was fresh earth on the soles of his boots, you say? Distinct traces.
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Proving that the man in the wheelchair was not paralyzed. And that man whoever he is was impersonating Quilter to put us off the track. And the real Quilter may have been killed. I'm afraid so.
[00:18:28] Unknown:
Let's stop here for a moment, shall we, while we make our plans. This hedge will hide us from the house in case they're watching from the windows. Now, this isn't a hard picture to reconstruct. There undoubtedly is or was a paralyzed Baconian scholar named Quilter. He managed to smuggle out that ingenious plea for help but Mycroft's unfortunate telegram gave the game away. Mhmm. I see it now. The people in there holding him prisoner forced him to reveal what he has done. What they may have done to him, heaven alone knows. One of the criminals guessing from the telegram that I might appear on the case posed as the crippled quilter. What's our next move, ho? Remember that singularly unattractive young lady skilled with the revolver? We must search the grounds as unobtrusive
[00:19:10] Unknown:
doctor. The search for signs of the freshly turned earth of a grave.
[00:19:27] Unknown:
Well, we didn't find any traces of the poor devil's corpse. Thank heavens. No.
[00:19:32] Unknown:
A great disappointment. Jeremy, you're very bloodthirsty to be young. Hello. Look at the old fella trimming the hedge over there. Must be the gardener. Let's have a chat then, shall we? May be able to give us some information.
[00:19:43] Unknown:
Good evening to you. Evening to you, gentlemen. Really? You work for Mr. Quilter? That I do, sir. That I do. Yeah. Very fine work too. I've seldom seen a better kept garden. I thank you, sir. I do pride myself in my work. I wonder if you can help me. Be glad to if I can, sir. Sir, did you see a telegraph boy deliver a message here this morning? That I did, sir. The boy came here about 10:00 this morning. Always equip in the front edge at the time. And, you've been working here ever since? Yes, sir. Brought my lunch with me today and ate it in the garden. Has anyone entered or left the house since that telegram was delivered? No, sir. No one except yourselves. I see. I see. I suppose you occasionally run errands for mister Quitter? Not much these days, sir. The poor old gentleman keeps his chair in the house pretty much all the time, sir. I did run a message for him yesterday. Oh, you did? Where to? Well, sir, I was pruning the rose bushes under his study windows. When the window opens and his hand comes out with a message, he told me to take it to the village office at the Times and to tell him to print it just the way it was. He looked kind of worried when he gave me the message, and he he whispered to me just as if he was afraid in his own house. I'm much obliged to you. Here's 5 shillings for your trouble. Oh, thank you, sir. Much obliged to you, I'm sure. Good evening. Good evening to you, gentlemen.
[00:20:56] Unknown:
So that server message was smuggled out. And no one has come to the house or left it since that telegram was alive. Of Alcazar or his body must still be inside that house. We are going to search the house? Yes, we are. But we're not armed as they certainly are. They probably won't even let us in. Yes, they will. We have a an infallible key to entry, a woman's vanity. Come on.
[00:21:29] Unknown:
Oh, so you came back. I thought you wouldn't be able to resist my challenge to a pistol match, mister Holmes. Exactly, miss Babisham.
[00:21:37] Unknown:
We had difficulty in finding a cab and decided to take a train back to London. There was an hour's wait, so I well, I thought I'd accept your challenge. Good. Come in.
[00:21:47] Unknown:
We'll go into the back garden. Thank you. Don't talk loudly. I think uncle's asleep in the next room. Don't bring anybody in here, Doris. I want a seat. Alright, uncle. This way, gentlemen. If your uncle wants a seat, seems a funny sort of al alibi. Oh, well, he's used to that doctor. Here we are. This is the 50 yard range, mister Holmes. Three shots. Best aggregate score wins. Homest you wanna bet.
[00:22:19] Unknown:
You name mistake. Name mistakes, miss Faversham. A sovereign? Certainly. You, take the first three shots. Very well.
[00:22:27] Unknown:
And just check that it's loaded. K? Six bullets. Alright. Here I go.
[00:22:41] Unknown:
Bravo, miss Fabisham. Friendly
[00:22:43] Unknown:
and two winners. I can do better. Your turn, mister Holmes. Doris, who are these men? Friends of mine. I'll introduce you in a minute, Jeffrey. We're in the middle of a match at the moment.
[00:22:56] Unknown:
Your turn, mister Holmes. The revolver, please. Here you are. Thank you.
[00:23:01] Unknown:
You, you're sure you know how to handle a revolver.
[00:23:04] Unknown:
Quite sure. Thanks. And why are you pointing it at me? Because I want you to raise your hands above your head. You too, whatever your name is. Doris, who are these men? Pull up your hands. I shan't hesitate to shoot, I assure you. Come on. That's it. What in heaven's name do you think you're up to? Finding out what became of the real Mr. Quilter. Search the man, Watson. Search your homes. PR. Go into the house. Will you even search him? Oh, yes, but of course. Hello. This man had a revolver on his hip. Keep him covered with it. Here it stands for you. Now, sir, who are you? From your resemblance to the man in the wheelchair that we saw earlier, I should say that you're a member of the same family. We are both relatives, mr Quilter. That's right. My name's Davies. I'm from the Australian branch of the family. Yes.
And doubtless you stood to inherit his estate in the event of Quilter's death. You moved in on this defenseless old man, terrorized him, lived off him and finally found it necessary to destroy him.
[00:23:55] Unknown:
You're talking absolute right. If you're showing the truth and you know it, I can tell by your expressions. No back into the house both of you. Come on and keep your hands raised.
[00:24:03] Unknown:
All right. That's it. Come on. Lead the way into the study. The man posing as mister Coulter is still there. We heard him call out as we came in. Yes. We might as well confront the three of them together.
[00:24:17] Unknown:
Yes. He's still seated in the chair, though he seems to be asleep. Here.
[00:24:23] Unknown:
Did you find anything?
[00:24:25] Unknown:
Another trace of the missing men, missus Holmes. Nevis,
[00:24:29] Unknown:
what did you do with mister Quilter? I didn't do anything with him. Of course not. He's sitting there in that chair. Oh, it's no good lying to us. We know that that man's an impostor. This is a fantastic
[00:24:39] Unknown:
situation. Nobody has left this house since the telegram arrived and nobody has come to it yet mister Quilter has vanished. Good lord. How can he sleep through all this talk? You think he'd been drugged? We are idiots. You are unquestionably the most promising detective in France and some people have been kind enough to grant me a similar status in England and yet my old friend Watson has just solved the case. Oh, well, nothing is
[00:25:03] Unknown:
too happy to what solved it? Well, how,
[00:25:06] Unknown:
how? Listen to the breathing of that man in the chair. He's been drugged. There sits the real mr. Quota, the persecuted victim who sent a cipher message for help. The man we spoke to earlier. Was you, Mr. Davies, impersonating Quilter. After you'd received us, you took off your disguise, adopted an Australian accent and then hid your drug victim by placing him in his own wheelchair knowing that would be the last place we'd look for him. And they would have kept him here until we had gone and then murdered him. What a devilish plot. Well, what have you got to save yourselves? It was Jeffrey's idea, not mine. I didn't have anything to do with it. That's a dirty lie. You were in this as much as I am. Oh, this is splendid. Simply splendid. Please continue the argument. It'll make interesting evidence in court. You can't take us into court. Of course, he can't. What's the charge? Quota's still alive as me. When mister Quota revives under doctor Watson's ministrations, you will be charged, I have no doubt, with attempted murder, abduction, sequestration, duress, and probably several other counts.
Monsieur Villard, if you will find us a cab, we'll take these miscreants to Scotland Yard. Our work is done.
[00:26:25] Unknown:
Well, doctor, that was a fine story. I've
[00:26:28] Unknown:
what are you fidgeting for? Fidgeting? Well, I'm expecting a guest. I thought I heard him just out of the the front door. A guest?
[00:26:36] Unknown:
Now you're being as mysterious as mister Holmes. Oh, not quite. You see, I
[00:26:41] Unknown:
come in.
[00:26:42] Unknown:
Doctor Watson, how are you all dressed? Gregory, my boy, it's great to see you again. Mister Bartell,
[00:26:48] Unknown:
meet my friend, Mr Gregory Hood. Not the Gregory Hood. Mr Bartell, I like the way you say that. Yes, Mr Bartell, this is the Gregory Hood. Mr Bartell, if you listen to Doctor Watson, he'll lead you to believe I'm much more important than I am. I'm quite a simple person really. I'm kind to dogs, just love little children and always help old ladies cross the street. I also know how to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together. Yes. And unlike my old friend Holmes,
[00:27:14] Unknown:
you pretend to know very little about criminals and crime and yet you're one of America's outstanding criminologists. So I've heard. A hobby, Mr. Bartell, a hobby. My real business is importing headquarters, San Francisco.
[00:27:26] Unknown:
Need any old masters? Perhaps I can sell you a nice piece of jade or, would you rather have a bit of old Balinese sculpture? Oh, wait a minute. This is all a little too fast for me. Yes. You will learn that Gregory is a little too fast for everybody.
[00:27:37] Unknown:
But mister Bartell, I'm sure you'll get to know mister Hode a good deal better. You see, as I've told you, I've always wanted to take a trip back to England and now I have a chance to do so. But doctor, won't I see you again? What about our story? Oh, I shall be back in the fall, but meanwhile, I've asked mister Gregory Hood to get together with you at this time every week and tell you some of his experiences. Which, of course, makes me feel very important. Mister Hood, as you know, has been involved in many famous cases dealing in crime. His importing business and his hobby criminology are a strange combination.
I learned that he keeps a diary of these cases and it's a fascinating book. The case book of Gregory Hood.
[00:28:20] Unknown:
The case book of Gregory Hood. Sounds intriguing. Intriguing? It certainly is. Thank you. Well then I can tell all our friends. Be sure to listen next week at the same time and every Monday night through the summer to the Casebook of Gregory
[00:28:40] Unknown:
Hood.
[00:28:48] Unknown:
Tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher and was suggested by an incident in sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story, the sign of four. Music is by Dean Foster. Mister Ratbone appears through the courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, mister Bruce through the courtesy of Universal Pictures, where they are now starring in the Sherlock Holmes series. The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studio. This is Harry Bartel saying good night for the Petrie family.
This is the mutual broadcasting system.
[00:29:37] Unknown:
There's no community like a Cenex community, and that's why every Cenex store is so proud to serve theirs by supporting local athletic teams, promoting the arts, and making sure each store is a place its neighbors can find what they need, catch up with their friends, and stay connected. It's also why we give back, helping to make the wonderful places we call home the best they can be. Your local Cenex doesn't just work in your town, it lives there. The store next door, powered locally at Cenex.
Other shows we have for you to enjoy at myclassicradio.net. The Avengers was most certainly not a household name in South Africa prior to the radio series. With no national television service until 1976, the mechanism simply was not present in the country to show television programs to mass audiences. While many other countries reveled in the filmed adventures of John Steed and Company, South Africa was not equipped to join in the fun. The series took Britain by storm and made a major impression in the American markets, being that greatest of rarities, a British series given a network transmission slot. However, as a film series, rather than a videotaped one, the avengers was able to gain a modicum of exposure in South Africa through film rentals.
Come and listen at myclassicradio.net.
[00:00:50] Unknown:
Petri wine brings you Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petrie family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invite you to listen to doctor Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, that master detective, Sherlock Holmes. And I want to ask you something. You know, every now and then, I've told you about the good old American custom of serving a glass of sherry before dinner, particularly Petri California sherry. And I wonder if you've tried that Petri sherry. Really a glass of Petri sherry is the best beginning a good meal ever had.
Petri sherry is clear, fragrant and truly delicious. It's a wonderful wine whose flavor is the essence of luscious sun ripened grapes and Petri makes two kinds of sherry wine, a regular sherry and Petri pale dry. If you don't know which you prefer, try them both. Don't buy one, buy two, but remember always buy Petri because Petri wine is always good wine. Well, I'm sure doctor Watson's ready for us. Let's go in and join him. Shall we? Good evening, mister Bartell. Evening, doctor. Quiet Willie. Quiet Martin. Quiet Martin. The dogs seem very pleased with themselves tonight. Did they have a good day? Yes. The three of us did my boy. They go on one off one off out in the patio.
[00:02:32] Unknown:
I took a seven iron and some old golf balls on the beach this afternoon. I improved my game, I think, and the dogs had a great time chasing the golf balls. On the way home, the little rascals had a furious battle with an elderly pelican,
[00:02:45] Unknown:
so their day was complete. I'll have to join you on one of your afternoon strolls, doctor. You and the dog seem to have so much fun. Oh, I'll be glad you're company, mister Bartel. Well, drop your usual churn. I'll get on with tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure. From the hints you gave us last week, I guess a Frenchman played a prominent part in the story. Yes, indeed he did, mister Bartel. His name was Francois
[00:03:05] Unknown:
LaVia. He was a detective of some note in his own country. The time my story begins, it was in 1889 to be exact. That Lear had come over to London to discuss with Holmes the difficulties of translating some of his monographs into the French language. At this particular time, I was in the early days of my marriage, mister Barthel. And this fact combined with a busy practice meant that I saw very little of my old friend. He must have missed you, doctor. Oh, indeed, he is. Well, of course he admit the fact but, but, to get on with my story. One cloudless June afternoon, I found myself in the neighborhood of Baker Street and I couldn't resist paying a visit to Holmes.
Missus Hudson was out but, having retained my old latchkey I let myself in and mounted the familiar stairs. It gave me a strange feeling as I raised my hand to knock on what once had been my own living room door. Come in. Oh, hello, Holmes. Oh, I I beg your pardon. I didn't know you. What, sir, my dear fellow?
[00:04:11] Unknown:
How very nice to see you. It's great to see you, Holmes. I I'm sorry I interrupted you. I No. I didn't know that you had company. Not at all, my dear fellow. We're delighted, uncle Le Villard. Hello, sir. What's it? This is, mr. Le viad. How you do, sir? How you do? Enchante monsieur. I often wished to meet the so charming doctor Watson. Holmes has told me a great deal about you. Oh, that's nice of you, sir. Oh, that is suit you, Watson. You're a splendid old fellow. Gained a little weight, haven't you? Yes. A few pounds, I believe. Come, sir. Sit down, won't you?
[00:04:39] Unknown:
You sure that I'm not interrupting you in some important discussion? Oh, no. No. No. No, monsieur doctor. We were having a good natured argument on the relative abilities of of the French criminal compared to the English. Oh, interesting. You must lend me your support, Watson. Monsieur Lavee, I was convinced that the English criminal is a very dull dog indeed. Well, we've met some far from dull ones in our time. I assure you, monsieur Lavere. Ah, the exceptions rather than the rule I fear, monsieur doctor. You're stubborn, aren't you, Lavere? Believe me, my dear friend, that I will yield to no one in my admiration of your knowledge and skill. That is why I wish I could persuade you to practice in Paris. There you would find opponents really worthy of your skill. What can happen to interest you in this land of grape frogs, boiled potatoes, and pots of tea? I'm not.
[00:05:32] Unknown:
No offense, advance, my friend. Will you say that the English criminal is dull? Perhaps if you were to read a published story of mine called a a study in scarlet, you'd think differently. It tells a very exciting adventure that Holmes and I had. I have read it, my friend. Oh, ho. An extremely gripping story but surely you will admit that the crime was essentially of a.
[00:05:52] Unknown:
He's right, Watson. He's perfectly right, dear me. What can I do to vindicate the dishonor of the London criminal? Let me see. Oh, yes. Yes. Of course. A copy of today's Times. That's fine. I shall introduce you to a section known as the agony column. Where is it now? Oh, yes. Here we are. This should convince you of the color and variety of English life. Diagonally column.
[00:06:15] Unknown:
It sounds most painful. What is it, by? A personal column is liable to contain anything from a lover's frantic appeal to his lady love to a ransom loan. In my profession, I've frequently found it an invaluable
[00:06:27] Unknown:
medium for contacting the underworld. Uh-huh. Yes. Now, here we are. You hear something? Dear me. Oh, dear. No. Today's column seems rather uninspired, I'm afraid. May I examine it? Of course. Here you are.
[00:06:42] Unknown:
If the lady who helped my little boy across the road at the corner of Treadwell Street and Highoburn last Wednesday at four, will get in touch with box eight four five, she will learn of something to her advantage.
[00:06:57] Unknown:
We can be more colorful than that in Paris, my friends. Yes, I think we can do better than that too. Yeah. Look at this, William. Printer must have been half asleep when he set up the type for this advertisement.
[00:07:07] Unknown:
Will any gentleman interested in discussing cryptography and cipher writing, please communicate with BoxXQL696
[00:07:19] Unknown:
the time. Well, I I failed to find this message any more stirring than the preceding one. You notice the execrable printing, don't you? Indeed I do. It is all mixed up. The first word will starts with a capital w and a capital I. The second word any starts with a small a and then has a capital n and y. It is a shocking example of typography. And when it occurs in a paper noted for its excellence in typesetting, one realizes that, this is no mistake. What do you mean, This is undoubtedly a code message. Oh, come now, my friend. I defy you to make a mystery out of a punter's negligence. I accept
[00:07:59] Unknown:
bilateral cipher depends upon the use of two sizes of type. If we group the letters in units of five, the arrangements of small and capital letters within the group should give us the message. Now let's see. Two capitals followed by three small gives us the letter h, then two capitals, one small, two more that gives us e h I still think you are trying to make an adventure out of a mere printing accident. No mere printing accident could so readily fall into one of the great traditional ciphers. Now let's see. This message reads h e l help, q too small, a q u I quilter, help quilter.
L l too small and large.
[00:08:41] Unknown:
Elms. Help quilter. Elms there it is. Yes. Pench. Help quilter. Elms pench. Help quilter. Elms pench.
[00:08:50] Unknown:
What does that mean? Presumably that a man named Quilter who lives at a house called The Elms
[00:08:55] Unknown:
in the village of Penge needs help. Ah, I see it now. A helpless victim helped prisoner. He smuggles out this message as a as a harmless personnel, with strict instructions that it be printed on this art form. He knows that the amateurs of cryptography to whom it is addressed will decipher this call for help.
[00:09:15] Unknown:
Monsieur Villas, you seem ready to grant that adventure can exist in London after all.
[00:09:21] Unknown:
The advantage, my dear Watson, of a more mercurial temperament than we Englishmen possess. Well, Le Vian, what about it? So we set off for Penge and rescue the injunious mister Quilter from whatever dire fate awaits him in the elms? I'm all in patience.
[00:09:35] Unknown:
Splendid. Watson,
[00:09:36] Unknown:
I suppose you are too busy to join us. Too busy? Well, I mean, your practice, I'm sure that you have patience today. Oh, yes, of course, as a matter of fact, I have two further visits to make today.
[00:09:45] Unknown:
One to a peppery old miser who has gout and the other to a wealthy society woman who has acute attack of hypochondria, hypochondria, they call it. But to places where they've been to home both for a month. I'm coming with you, Holmes, if you want me. Bravo, Watson. Then grab your hat and coat. The game's afoot. Here you are, gents. The Helmspin. Nice afternoon for a drive, wasn't it? Afraid it'll cost you 15 bobs, though. There's a sovereign for you. You can keep the chain. Stormy. Thank you, governor. Top of the evening to you, gents.
So this is The Elms. Quite a bit of land for such a modest neighborhood.
[00:10:41] Unknown:
To call it The Elms seem remarkably. I cannot see an elm tree in sight. So you see, Le Vienne, the English have poor imagination than you give him credit for. Were you just gonna walk up to the front door and knock home? Why not? The direct approach is often the most satisfactory.
[00:10:57] Unknown:
Oh, you disappoint me. I had hoped that perhaps you would adopt one of the disguises in which you are so adept, I am told. Well, since it's unlikely that these people know me by sight, that's hardly necessary, is it? However, I trust that this little problem may reward you with some colorful highlights before we're through.
[00:11:14] Unknown:
Great. Scott, revolver shots.
[00:11:17] Unknown:
They came from the house. We are too late. Mister Quilter has been murdered. No. I think not. You will observe that the next door neighbor to the Elms was mowing his front lawn as we drove up. He is still engaged in the same occupation. Obviously, revolver shots attract little attention this my sympathy. Come on, you mean that violence and sudden death are so common that they do not attract even the passing interest? Uh-uh, no even the British are not as phlegmatic as that. Then what is the answer to those shots? Some member of this household is addicted to pistol practice. And the fact that a shooting target is nailed to the back of that fence over there would further support the theory. Well, that's rather ominous in my opinion. Well, hear me out the front door. Let's
[00:11:56] Unknown:
keep our wits about us anyway. Are you carrying a revolver, Doctor. Watson? No. No stethoscope, I'm afraid. I was prepared for sickness when I left the house today and not for crime. I too am unarmed. How about you, miss Holmes? Only a magnifying
[00:12:11] Unknown:
glass, I'm afraid. Hardly a very lethal weapon. Yes? My friends and I were calling on, miss Quilter.
[00:12:18] Unknown:
Oh,
[00:12:19] Unknown:
Who are you? My name is Sherlock Holmes and these are my friends, doctor Watson and Musil Le Viard. Hi. How are you, madam? How are you doing? Is mister Quilter expected? I don't know. We, read his advertisement in the agony column of the Times today and came down here at once. Are you, a relation of his? I'm his niece. Oh. My name is Doris Faversham.
[00:12:37] Unknown:
Come in, won't you?
[00:12:38] Unknown:
Miss Faversham, I suppose it is. Yes, doctor. It's miss Faversham. We, had three revolver shots as we were walking up the driveway. They
[00:12:48] Unknown:
gave us quite a start. Yes, mademoiselle. We were afraid that we might have arrived at the time of tragedy. Yes, indeed. Tragedy?
[00:12:56] Unknown:
Oh, my hobby is revolver shooting. I was doing some target practice in the back garden as you arrived. Revolver shooting, miss Abigail. Very interesting. I'm proud of myself that I'm something of a marksman myself. Oh, really? Well, perhaps we can have a match. Won't you sit down? Your challenge intrigues me, miss Fevishore, but, before I accept it, I should like to see mister Quilter. Well, uncle George is paralyzed, you know. Oh, well. He spends all his time in a wheelchair. And that is all sure he'll see you. Well, at least you can ask him, can't you miss Faversham? It is his custom at this time of the day to take a little nap. Perhaps tomorrow Doris. Doris. He's still awake. Who's here? Yes, uncle.
Some men have come to see you, uncle. Bring him in. Bring him in. Fother me, gentlemen. Uncle, this is Mr Sherlock Holmes, doctor Watson and mister,
[00:13:48] Unknown:
mister Le Villard.
[00:13:49] Unknown:
And mister Le Villard. And how do you, sir? How do you do? Sherlock Holmes,
[00:13:53] Unknown:
Took you long enough to decipher my message and get here, didn't it? Your brother's a much faster worker, isn't he? Oh, what makes you say that, mister Quilter? Receive this telegram from you at 11:00 this morning and read it for yourself.
[00:14:06] Unknown:
Well,
[00:14:07] Unknown:
what to say, sir? Suggest you consult my brother, Sherlock, and it's it's signed Mycroft Holmes. Yes, mister Quota, my. My brother is a much faster worker or shall we say that he suffers from the unfortunate habit of early rising.
[00:14:20] Unknown:
He undoubtedly read the agony column three hours before I did today. Don't know about that but I've been expecting you all day. I imagine you know why I inserted that advertisement. Well, I had the impression that, you were under some form of restraint, that, you were in need of a rescue party as it were. Rubbish. My advertisement was a piece of subtle bait. The only person that could decipher the message would obviously be someone who knew the Baconian cipher. Very logical deduction, mister Poulter. You see, I'm convinced as any sensible man should be that the so called Shakespearean plays were written by Sir Francis Bacon. Oh, I see. But I felt that it needed a clever man to approve the fact. Mhmm. I was sure that anyone who was able to decipher my message was the man I needed. And what did it take, mister Holmes, to do the job? I'm a rich man. Name your fee. Do you mean to say that you're inveigle, mister Holmes, down here just to do some research on the origin of Shakespeare's work? Oh, you needn't look so shocked, doctor Watson. My uncle has offered to pay him a handsome fee. Well, what do you say, mister Sherlock Holmes? An interesting subject for research. I'll concede that Ignatius, Donnelli and others have proved almost beyond doubt that William
[00:15:23] Unknown:
plays but I greatly doubt that Lord Bacon did. I may devote my leisure in later years to some investigation on the subject but in the meanwhile, mister Groton, I'm afraid I'm much too busy to undertake such an assignment. Please yourself. Show the gentleman now, Doris. Goodbye, sir. Have a good day, sir.
[00:15:43] Unknown:
Too bad. You had this long drive down here for nothing, Joe. Yes. I well, I quite agree on it. It would seem to me that your uncle has a distinct talent for practical joking, mademoiselle.
[00:15:53] Unknown:
Uncle. Oh, uncle never made a joke in his life.
[00:15:57] Unknown:
Mr. Holmes, now that you're here, perhaps you like to indulge in a little shooting match. Thank you, miss Fadisham. But, as I told your uncle, I'm a busy man. Good evening to you.
[00:16:07] Unknown:
Goodbye, gentlemen. Goodbye. Holmes,
[00:16:13] Unknown:
old fellow, you're you're losing your touch. You'd never made a blunder like this if I'd still been with you.
[00:16:20] Unknown:
It is comforting for an aspiring detective like myself to know that the great Sherlock Holmes is fallible.
[00:16:27] Unknown:
Then am I to assume that I must continue the case alone? What do you mean continue the case? There isn't there isn't one. Fultz is in no danger. He's in desperate danger. What? I'm only afraid I may be too late to save him. But we have just spoken to the man. Oh, no. Did neither of you notice the traces of fresh loam on the boots of that supposedly paralyzed man? Gentlemen, I fear the agony column has led
[00:16:57] Unknown:
us to murder. You'll hear the rest of Doctor. Watson's story in just a second. Time enough for me to mention that any meal is a better meal when it's served with a Petri dinner wine. If you're having chicken or fish use Petri California Sauternes. Petri Sauternes is a subtle delicately flavored white wine that looks and tastes like captured sunshine. If you're having a roast or chops or any kind of meat or meat dish, then by all means, serve Petri California Burgundy. Petri Burgundy is a hearty full flavored red wine. One of the most delicious red wines you ever poured from a bottle. Why not get a bottle of each? Petri Burgundy and Petri Sauternes.
Then no matter what you have for dinner, you'll surely have the right wine, a Petri wine.
[00:17:48] Unknown:
Well doctor, why did you have to break off your story there? Well, I had to break it off somewhere, mister Bartel and that seemed to be the most exciting spot. It certainly was. I was convinced that the great Sherlock Holmes had been fooled for once. What happened next? Well, I need this to remark we did not get into a cab and go back to London but let me pick up the story at the same place that I broke it off. As Holmes said
[00:18:12] Unknown:
Gentlemen, I fear the agony column has led us to murder. Murder? There was fresh earth on the soles of his boots, you say? Distinct traces.
[00:18:19] Unknown:
Proving that the man in the wheelchair was not paralyzed. And that man whoever he is was impersonating Quilter to put us off the track. And the real Quilter may have been killed. I'm afraid so.
[00:18:28] Unknown:
Let's stop here for a moment, shall we, while we make our plans. This hedge will hide us from the house in case they're watching from the windows. Now, this isn't a hard picture to reconstruct. There undoubtedly is or was a paralyzed Baconian scholar named Quilter. He managed to smuggle out that ingenious plea for help but Mycroft's unfortunate telegram gave the game away. Mhmm. I see it now. The people in there holding him prisoner forced him to reveal what he has done. What they may have done to him, heaven alone knows. One of the criminals guessing from the telegram that I might appear on the case posed as the crippled quilter. What's our next move, ho? Remember that singularly unattractive young lady skilled with the revolver? We must search the grounds as unobtrusive
[00:19:10] Unknown:
doctor. The search for signs of the freshly turned earth of a grave.
[00:19:27] Unknown:
Well, we didn't find any traces of the poor devil's corpse. Thank heavens. No.
[00:19:32] Unknown:
A great disappointment. Jeremy, you're very bloodthirsty to be young. Hello. Look at the old fella trimming the hedge over there. Must be the gardener. Let's have a chat then, shall we? May be able to give us some information.
[00:19:43] Unknown:
Good evening to you. Evening to you, gentlemen. Really? You work for Mr. Quilter? That I do, sir. That I do. Yeah. Very fine work too. I've seldom seen a better kept garden. I thank you, sir. I do pride myself in my work. I wonder if you can help me. Be glad to if I can, sir. Sir, did you see a telegraph boy deliver a message here this morning? That I did, sir. The boy came here about 10:00 this morning. Always equip in the front edge at the time. And, you've been working here ever since? Yes, sir. Brought my lunch with me today and ate it in the garden. Has anyone entered or left the house since that telegram was delivered? No, sir. No one except yourselves. I see. I see. I suppose you occasionally run errands for mister Quitter? Not much these days, sir. The poor old gentleman keeps his chair in the house pretty much all the time, sir. I did run a message for him yesterday. Oh, you did? Where to? Well, sir, I was pruning the rose bushes under his study windows. When the window opens and his hand comes out with a message, he told me to take it to the village office at the Times and to tell him to print it just the way it was. He looked kind of worried when he gave me the message, and he he whispered to me just as if he was afraid in his own house. I'm much obliged to you. Here's 5 shillings for your trouble. Oh, thank you, sir. Much obliged to you, I'm sure. Good evening. Good evening to you, gentlemen.
[00:20:56] Unknown:
So that server message was smuggled out. And no one has come to the house or left it since that telegram was alive. Of Alcazar or his body must still be inside that house. We are going to search the house? Yes, we are. But we're not armed as they certainly are. They probably won't even let us in. Yes, they will. We have a an infallible key to entry, a woman's vanity. Come on.
[00:21:29] Unknown:
Oh, so you came back. I thought you wouldn't be able to resist my challenge to a pistol match, mister Holmes. Exactly, miss Babisham.
[00:21:37] Unknown:
We had difficulty in finding a cab and decided to take a train back to London. There was an hour's wait, so I well, I thought I'd accept your challenge. Good. Come in.
[00:21:47] Unknown:
We'll go into the back garden. Thank you. Don't talk loudly. I think uncle's asleep in the next room. Don't bring anybody in here, Doris. I want a seat. Alright, uncle. This way, gentlemen. If your uncle wants a seat, seems a funny sort of al alibi. Oh, well, he's used to that doctor. Here we are. This is the 50 yard range, mister Holmes. Three shots. Best aggregate score wins. Homest you wanna bet.
[00:22:19] Unknown:
You name mistake. Name mistakes, miss Faversham. A sovereign? Certainly. You, take the first three shots. Very well.
[00:22:27] Unknown:
And just check that it's loaded. K? Six bullets. Alright. Here I go.
[00:22:41] Unknown:
Bravo, miss Fabisham. Friendly
[00:22:43] Unknown:
and two winners. I can do better. Your turn, mister Holmes. Doris, who are these men? Friends of mine. I'll introduce you in a minute, Jeffrey. We're in the middle of a match at the moment.
[00:22:56] Unknown:
Your turn, mister Holmes. The revolver, please. Here you are. Thank you.
[00:23:01] Unknown:
You, you're sure you know how to handle a revolver.
[00:23:04] Unknown:
Quite sure. Thanks. And why are you pointing it at me? Because I want you to raise your hands above your head. You too, whatever your name is. Doris, who are these men? Pull up your hands. I shan't hesitate to shoot, I assure you. Come on. That's it. What in heaven's name do you think you're up to? Finding out what became of the real Mr. Quilter. Search the man, Watson. Search your homes. PR. Go into the house. Will you even search him? Oh, yes, but of course. Hello. This man had a revolver on his hip. Keep him covered with it. Here it stands for you. Now, sir, who are you? From your resemblance to the man in the wheelchair that we saw earlier, I should say that you're a member of the same family. We are both relatives, mr Quilter. That's right. My name's Davies. I'm from the Australian branch of the family. Yes.
And doubtless you stood to inherit his estate in the event of Quilter's death. You moved in on this defenseless old man, terrorized him, lived off him and finally found it necessary to destroy him.
[00:23:55] Unknown:
You're talking absolute right. If you're showing the truth and you know it, I can tell by your expressions. No back into the house both of you. Come on and keep your hands raised.
[00:24:03] Unknown:
All right. That's it. Come on. Lead the way into the study. The man posing as mister Coulter is still there. We heard him call out as we came in. Yes. We might as well confront the three of them together.
[00:24:17] Unknown:
Yes. He's still seated in the chair, though he seems to be asleep. Here.
[00:24:23] Unknown:
Did you find anything?
[00:24:25] Unknown:
Another trace of the missing men, missus Holmes. Nevis,
[00:24:29] Unknown:
what did you do with mister Quilter? I didn't do anything with him. Of course not. He's sitting there in that chair. Oh, it's no good lying to us. We know that that man's an impostor. This is a fantastic
[00:24:39] Unknown:
situation. Nobody has left this house since the telegram arrived and nobody has come to it yet mister Quilter has vanished. Good lord. How can he sleep through all this talk? You think he'd been drugged? We are idiots. You are unquestionably the most promising detective in France and some people have been kind enough to grant me a similar status in England and yet my old friend Watson has just solved the case. Oh, well, nothing is
[00:25:03] Unknown:
too happy to what solved it? Well, how,
[00:25:06] Unknown:
how? Listen to the breathing of that man in the chair. He's been drugged. There sits the real mr. Quota, the persecuted victim who sent a cipher message for help. The man we spoke to earlier. Was you, Mr. Davies, impersonating Quilter. After you'd received us, you took off your disguise, adopted an Australian accent and then hid your drug victim by placing him in his own wheelchair knowing that would be the last place we'd look for him. And they would have kept him here until we had gone and then murdered him. What a devilish plot. Well, what have you got to save yourselves? It was Jeffrey's idea, not mine. I didn't have anything to do with it. That's a dirty lie. You were in this as much as I am. Oh, this is splendid. Simply splendid. Please continue the argument. It'll make interesting evidence in court. You can't take us into court. Of course, he can't. What's the charge? Quota's still alive as me. When mister Quota revives under doctor Watson's ministrations, you will be charged, I have no doubt, with attempted murder, abduction, sequestration, duress, and probably several other counts.
Monsieur Villard, if you will find us a cab, we'll take these miscreants to Scotland Yard. Our work is done.
[00:26:25] Unknown:
Well, doctor, that was a fine story. I've
[00:26:28] Unknown:
what are you fidgeting for? Fidgeting? Well, I'm expecting a guest. I thought I heard him just out of the the front door. A guest?
[00:26:36] Unknown:
Now you're being as mysterious as mister Holmes. Oh, not quite. You see, I
[00:26:41] Unknown:
come in.
[00:26:42] Unknown:
Doctor Watson, how are you all dressed? Gregory, my boy, it's great to see you again. Mister Bartell,
[00:26:48] Unknown:
meet my friend, Mr Gregory Hood. Not the Gregory Hood. Mr Bartell, I like the way you say that. Yes, Mr Bartell, this is the Gregory Hood. Mr Bartell, if you listen to Doctor Watson, he'll lead you to believe I'm much more important than I am. I'm quite a simple person really. I'm kind to dogs, just love little children and always help old ladies cross the street. I also know how to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together. Yes. And unlike my old friend Holmes,
[00:27:14] Unknown:
you pretend to know very little about criminals and crime and yet you're one of America's outstanding criminologists. So I've heard. A hobby, Mr. Bartell, a hobby. My real business is importing headquarters, San Francisco.
[00:27:26] Unknown:
Need any old masters? Perhaps I can sell you a nice piece of jade or, would you rather have a bit of old Balinese sculpture? Oh, wait a minute. This is all a little too fast for me. Yes. You will learn that Gregory is a little too fast for everybody.
[00:27:37] Unknown:
But mister Bartell, I'm sure you'll get to know mister Hode a good deal better. You see, as I've told you, I've always wanted to take a trip back to England and now I have a chance to do so. But doctor, won't I see you again? What about our story? Oh, I shall be back in the fall, but meanwhile, I've asked mister Gregory Hood to get together with you at this time every week and tell you some of his experiences. Which, of course, makes me feel very important. Mister Hood, as you know, has been involved in many famous cases dealing in crime. His importing business and his hobby criminology are a strange combination.
I learned that he keeps a diary of these cases and it's a fascinating book. The case book of Gregory Hood.
[00:28:20] Unknown:
The case book of Gregory Hood. Sounds intriguing. Intriguing? It certainly is. Thank you. Well then I can tell all our friends. Be sure to listen next week at the same time and every Monday night through the summer to the Casebook of Gregory
[00:28:40] Unknown:
Hood.
[00:28:48] Unknown:
Tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher and was suggested by an incident in sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story, the sign of four. Music is by Dean Foster. Mister Ratbone appears through the courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, mister Bruce through the courtesy of Universal Pictures, where they are now starring in the Sherlock Holmes series. The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studio. This is Harry Bartel saying good night for the Petrie family.
This is the mutual broadcasting system.
[00:29:37] Unknown:
There's no community like a Cenex community, and that's why every Cenex store is so proud to serve theirs by supporting local athletic teams, promoting the arts, and making sure each store is a place its neighbors can find what they need, catch up with their friends, and stay connected. It's also why we give back, helping to make the wonderful places we call home the best they can be. Your local Cenex doesn't just work in your town, it lives there. The store next door, powered locally at Cenex.
The Avengers in South Africa
Introduction to Sherlock Holmes
A Visit to Baker Street
The French Detective's Challenge
The Agony Column Mystery
Journey to The Elms
Meeting Mr. Quilter
Holmes' Realization
The Search for Mr. Quilter
The Pistol Match
The Truth Revealed
Conclusion and Transition to Gregory Hood
