Original subtitles

One Tuesday morning in autumn, at precisely half -past eight, Sherlock

received a mysterious message that two men of great public distinction would be

visiting Baker Street in their private capacity and under circumstances of

complete secrecy.

Holmes, they're here.

In brief, Mr. Holmes, a document has been stolen from my private dispatch

And when I discovered my loss, which was at 8 o 'clock this morning, I at once

informed the Prime Minister.

It was of his suggestion that we both come to you.

You have informed the police?

No, sir, we have not done so. Nor is it possible that we should do so.

To inform the police must, in the long run, mean to inform the public.

That is what we particularly desire to avoid.

And why, sir?

Because the document in question is of such immense importance that its

publication might very easily, I might almost say probably, lead to European

complications of the utmost moment.

Unless its recovery is attended by the utmost secrecy, then it may as well not

be recovered at all. For all that is aimed at by those who have taken it is

its contents should be generally known.

Do sit down.

Now, Mr Trelawney Hope, I would be much obliged if you would tell me the exact

circumstances under which this document disappeared.

As Secretary of State for European Affairs, I received the letter six days

It was a letter from a foreign potentate, you understand.

It was of such importance that I never left it in my safe, but I have taken it

each evening from my office back to my house in Whitehall Terrace and kept it

my bedroom, locked in my dispatch box.

And you're sure that it was there last night?

Yes, I'm quite certain of that fact. I actually opened the dispatch box whilst

was dressing for dinner, and I saw the letter inside.

It then remained upon my bedside table.

Both my wife and I are light sleepers and are prepared to swear that no one

could have entered the room during the night, and yet this morning, the paper

gone.

What time did you die?

7 .30.

How long was it before you went to bed?

My wife had gone to the theatre. I had waited up for her. It was 11 .30 before

we went to our room.

So, for four hours, the dispatch box had lain unguarded.

Mr. Holmes, no one is ever permitted to enter that room, save the housemaid in

the morning and my valet during the rest of the day.

They are both trusty servants who have been with us for many years.

Besides... Neither of them could have possibly known that there was anything

more valuable than the ordinary departmental papers in my box.

Surely your wife knew?

Mr. Holmes, I've long known how high is Mr. Hope's sense of public duty.

I'm convinced that in a case of this importance, it would rise superior to

most intimate domestic ties.

You do me no more than justice, Prime Minister.

Until this morning, I have never breathed one word to my wife upon this

Well, who is that in England who did know of the existence of this letter?

Each member of the Cabinet was informed of it yesterday, but the pledge of

secrecy which attends every Cabinet meeting was increased by the solemn

given by the Prime Minister.

God!

To think that within a few hours I myself should have lost it.

Besides the members of the cabinet, there are two, possibly three,

officials who know the letter. No one else in England, I assure you.

But abroad?

I believe that no one abroad has seen the letter except the man who wrote it.

am well convinced that his ministers, that the usual official channels, have

been employed in this case.

Now, sir, I must ask you more particularly what this document is.

And why its disappearance should have such momentous consequences.

Mr. Holmes, the envelope is a long, thin one of pale blue color. There is a seal

of red wax stamped with a crouching lion.

It is addressed in large, bold handwriting.

Interesting, and indeed essential, as these details are. My inquiries must go

more to the root of things.

What was the letter?

It is a state secret of the utmost importance, which we cannot tell you.

nor do I see that it is necessary.

If by the powers which you are said to possess you can find such an envelope as

I have described with its enclosure, then you will have deserved well of your

country and earned any reward which it is within our power to bestow.

Gentlemen, you are two of the most busy men in the country.

And in my own small way, I have a good many calls upon me.

I regret exceedingly that I am unable to help you in this matter.

And any continuation of this interview would be a waste of time.

I am not accustomed, sir.

Hey, Mr. Holmes.

We must accept your terms.

No doubt you are right, and it is unreasonable for us to expect you to act

unless you have our full confidence.

I agree with you, Prime Minister.

Then I will tell you, relying entirely upon your honor and that of your

colleague, Dr. Watson, I must appeal to your patriotism also, for I cannot

imagine a greater misfortune for this country than that this affair...

He should come out.

You are safely trusted.

The

letter,

then, is from a certain foreign potentate who has been ruffled by some

colonial developments of this country.

It is written hurriedly and upon his own responsibility entirely.

At the same time, it is couched in so unfortunate a manner that this

would undoubtedly lead to the most dangerous feeling in this country. There

would be such firm answer that I do not hesitate to say that within a week of

the publication of this letter, this country would be involved in a great

And it is this letter which may well mean the expenditure of a thousand

pounds and the lives...

There were 100 ,000 men.

Have you informed the defender?

A cipher telegraph has been dispatched.

Perhaps he desires the publication of the letter.

No, Doctor, we have strong reason to believe that he already understands that

has acted in an indiscreet and hot -headed manner. It would be a far

blow to him and his country than to us if this letter were to come out.

This is so. Whose interest is it that the letter should come out? Why should

anyone desire to steal it and to publish it?

There, Doctor Watson, you take me into the realms of high international

politics.

But if you consider the European situation...

will have no difficulty in perceiving the motive.

The whole of Europe is an armed camp.

Great Britain holds the scales.

If Britain were driven into war with one confederacy, it would assure the

supremacy of the other, whether they were joined in the war or not.

So it is the enemies of this potentate who want to secure and publish this

letter so as to make a breach between his country and ours?

Yes, sir.

And to whom would the document be sent if it fell into the wrong hands?

To any of the great chancellors of Europe.

It is probably speeding its way there at this present instant as fast as steam

can take it.

It is your misfortune, my dear fellow.

No one can blame you.

There's no precaution which you've neglected.

But now, Mr. Holmes, you are in full possession of the fact.

What call do you recommend?

You think that if this document is not recovered...

There will be war?

I think it is very probable.

Then, sir, prepare for war.

That is a hard saying, Mr. Holmes.

Consider the facts.

There seems no doubt this document was taken between half past seven and half

past eleven yesterday evening, so where can it be, sir?

No one has any reason to retain it.

It has been passed from hand to hand rapidly.

To those who need it and who will pay well for it. What chance do we have to

overtake it or even trace it? It is beyond our reach.

What you say is perfectly logical, Mr. Holmes. I feel that the matter is indeed

out of our hands.

Meanwhile, hope.

We cannot ignore all our other duties on account of this one misfortune.

And should there be any fresh developments during the day, we will

with you. And you no doubt will let us know the results of your own inquiries.

Thank you.

The situation is desperate, but not hopeless.

There are only three men capable of playing so bold a game, Oberstein, La

Roffia, and Eduardo Lucas.

Even now, if we could be sure which one of them has taken it, it is just

possible that it does not pass out of their hands.

It's a question of money with these fellows, isn't it?

We have the British Treasury behind us.

Oh, it's on the market. I'll buy it.

If it means another penny on the income tax.

Come in.

Excuse me, Mr Holmes. Mrs Hudson, what is it?

Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope.

Show her in.

Has my husband been here, Mr Holmes?

Yes, he has been here. Mr Holmes, I implore you not to tell him I came here.

Your lady puts me in a very delicate position.

I beg of you to sit down and tell me what it is you desire.

But I cannot make you any unconditional promise.

Gentlemen, I will speak frankly to you in the hope that it will induce you to

speak frankly in return.

There is complete confidence between my husband and myself.

In all matters except one, that one is politics. On this his lips are sealed.

tells me nothing.

Now, I am aware that there was a most deplorable occurrence in our house last

night. I know that a paper has disappeared, but because the matter is

my husband refuses to take me into his complete confidence.

Now, it is essential, essential, I say, that I should thoroughly understand it.

You are the only people, say these politicians, who know the true facts.

At least I presume you do.

You presume correctly, madam.

I beg you, then, tell me exactly what has happened and what it may lead to.

Tell me all, Mr Holmes.

Let no regard for my husband's interests keep you silent, for I assure you that

his interests, if he would only see it, will be best served by taking me into

his complete confidence.

What was this paper which was stolen?

Madam, what you ask me is really impossible.

You must see that this is so.

I mean, if your husband thinks fit to keep you in the dark over this matter,

it for me, who has only learned the true facts under the pledge of professional

secrecy, to tell what he has withheld?

Is it not unfair to ask?

It is he who you must ask. I have asked him.

I come to you as a last resort.

But without you telling me anything definite, You may do me a great service

you would enlighten me on one point. What is it, madam?

Is my husband's political career likely to suffer through this incident?

Well, let me say that if it is not put right, it may have a very unfortunate

effect.

One more question, Mr. Holmes.

From an expression which my husband dropped in the first shock of the

I understood the terrible public consequences might arise from the loss

document. If you said so, I cannot deny it.

Of what nature are they?

There again.

You ask me more than I can possibly answer.

Then I will waste no more of your time.

I... Cannot blame you, Mr. Holmes, for refusing to speak more freely.

And you on your side will not, I'm sure, think the worst of me because I desire

to share my husband's anxieties, even against his will.

Once more, I beg you will say nothing of my visit.

really remarkable and beautiful woman.

The fair sex is your department, Watson.

What did she really want?

Surely her own statement was clear, and her anxiety very natural.

Think of her appearance, Watson, her manner, her suppressed excitement, her

recklessness, her tenacity in asking questions.

Remember, she is the youngest daughter of the Duke of Belminster and comes in a

cast that does not lightly show emotion.

She was certainly much moved.

And you observed, of course, how she maneuvered to have her back to the

She did not wish us to read her expression too closely.

Yes, she chose that chair and the whole room. And yet the motives of women are

so inscrutable.

I mean, how could you build on such a quicksand?

Their most trivial action may mean volumes, or their most extraordinary

may depend upon a hairpin or a curling -tongue.

Good morning, Watson. You off, then?

Eduardo Lucas? Yes.

Of Godolphin Street?

Yes. You'll not see him.

Why not?

He was murdered in his house last night.

Murder

in

Westminster. A crime of a mysterious character. Eduardo Lucas, unmarried, 34,

well -known in society, circles on account of his charming personality.

valet out for the evening. They always are. Elderly housekeeper sleeps at the

top of the house, heard nothing. They never do.

Just before midnight, police constable Barrett saw a door ajar, found Lucas's

woman in the door, and Lucas stabbed to the heart.

Russian military dagger.

Robbery does not appear to be the motive.

Valuable collection untouched.

What do you make of this one? Well, it's an amazing coincidence.

Good evening.

Here is one of the three men we have named as possible actors in this drama.

And it meets a violent end during the very hours we know that drama is

The odds are enormously against it being a coincidence.

The two events are connected.

It is for us to find the connection.

By now, the police must know all. No, not at all.

They know all they see.

At Godolphin Street, they know and shall know nothing, Whitehall Terry.

Only we know of both events and can trace the relation between them.

It is with the late Eduardo Lucas that the solution to our problem lies.

But it is a capital mistake to theorize in advance of the facts.

Do you stay here, my good Watson?

I will join you when I am able.

What?

They've arrested the valet. The trade has been put in charge of the case. He's

buzzing around like a blue bot. I've got to know him rather well. Would it help

if I spoke to him? No. No, it would not.

The case with the law is as dangerous to us as the criminals are.

We must be patient and wait.

Breakfast, Mr. Holmes. No, no, no. Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. I don't want to. I

don't know. You'll fade away at this rate.

I say, Holmes!

They've found the murderer.

Or rather, murderess. Indeed.

There's a wire from Paris.

Apparently, Lucas was leading a double life.

He had a creole wife in France where he called himself Henri Fournet.

The woman was reported to the police yesterday by a servant. He is quite

A mania of a dangerous and permanent fool.

Poor woman. But listen to this.

The same woman was seen in the neighbourhood of Godolphin Street on the

the murder and later made an emotional scene at Charing Cross Station.

What do you think of that?

Oh, my dear Watson, you are so long -suffering.

If I've told you nothing over these last few days, it's because there is nothing

to tell.

Even now, this report from Paris doesn't help us much.

Well, surely it's final as regards Lucas's death.

A man's death is a mere incident, a trivial episode in comparison with our

task. which is to trace the document and save a European catastrophe.

Now, if the letter were loose... No, it cannot be loose.

But if it isn't loose, where can it be?

Who has it? Why is it held back?

Well, if Lestrade found it among Lucas's papers, he's not such a fool as to

announce it.

He would inform the chief commissioner.

The chief commissioner would inform the Home Secretary, and he in turn the Prime

Minister. No, it's not among Lucas's papers.

But why is it held back?

That is the question which beats in my brain like a hammer.

Was it a mere coincidence that Lucas should meet his death on the night when

letter disappeared?

Did it ever reach him?

Has this mad wife of his taken it with her to Paris? If so, is it in her house

in Paris?

Should I go to Paris?

That would alert the French police that every man's hand is against us.

And yet... The interest of Degas comes.

You know, should I bring this to a successful conclusion, it will certainly

represent the crowning glory of my career.

Thank you.

There you go, God. Thank you.

Help, help.

Mr. Holmes!

Dr. Watson!

Help, help.

You've, uh, you've no doubt been following the Lucas case?

Lucas? Lucas.

Ah, yes, the name does seem familiar to me.

Hey, Eduardo, Lucas!

Found murdered last Tuesday night at his house in Godolphin Street.

Rather a distinguished gentleman.

Student of international politics and a remarkable linguist, so they say.

I've been in charge of the case, matter of fact.

Not an easy task by any means. Some delicate problems, you understand.

But, with the aid of our French friends, I've been able to bring the case to a

satisfactory conclusion.

All the loose ends tied up.

Oh, we've got it.

Clear as if we'd seen it.

Congratulations, Lestrade. Another feather in your cap.

Thank you. Yes, you do.

Oh, before you go, Mr. Holmes, it's a mere trifle, but the sort of thing

taken interest in.

Queer, you know, what you might call freakish.

It has nothing to do with the main fact. Can't have on the face of it.

What is it, then?

Well, if you gentlemen could come down to Godolphin Street, I think I could

explain it better on the spot.

For a few minutes, perhaps?

Oh, good. It's only just around the corner.

Thank you, Cubby.

Keep the change.

Here

it

all is.

Now, the woman must have knocked on the door.

After she saw the valet had gone out. Surprise visit, no doubt.

Lucas let her in. He couldn't keep her on the street, could he, his own wife?

She was probably screaming at him, being French.

Saying how she'd traced him and reproaching him and so on. Anyway, they

here and one thing led to another.

And with the daggers being so handy, the end came soon.

It didn't happen in an instant, though, for these chairs were swept over to the

wall and he had this one in his hand as if he'd been trying to hold her off with

it. Now tell me about this trifle.

Well, you know, in crimes of this sort, we keep things in their position.

Nothing is moved. Officers in charge day and night. I'm always very particular

on that point. Oh, yes, you're meticulous in your investigations,

Well, this morning we thought we could tidy up a bit.

Post -mortem over, all the evidence at hand, investigation complete.

However, this carpet.

As you can see, it's not been fastened down, it's just been laid there. Now, we

had occasion to raise it.

And we found... Yes?

You'll never guess in a hundred years what we did find, Mr. Holmes.

Now, you see this stain?

A good deal of blood must have soaked through, must it not?

Oh. Undoubtedly it must.

Then you'll be surprised to hear that there is no stain on the woodwork to

correspond.

No stain?

But there must be.

So you would say.

Fact remains.

But the underside is

as stained as the upper.

It must have left a mark.

Now I will show you the explanation.

There is a second stain, but it does not correspond with this one.

Dr. Watson, will you take that side of the carpet?

Now we will move round in an anti -clockwise direction.

What I want to know is, Mr. Holmes, Who shifted the carpet?

And why?

Mr. Traid, who was on duty the day after the murder?

The day after?

McFernan. He's out there now.

Take my advice. Examine him carefully.

I'll get him.

Don't do it before us.

We'll wait here.

Tell him you know someone has been here.

Press him.

Tell him a full confession is his only chance of forgiveness.

Exactly as I tell you. But, George, if he knows, I'll have it out of him.

All my years in the force.

And another thing.

In here, Constable.

Macpherson.

How's the family?

Very well, thank you, sir.

Well, come on out with it. Let these gentlemen hear of your inconceivable

conduct.

Well, I meant no harm, sir, I'm sure.

This young woman came to the door answering an advertisement about

It mistook the house, she said.

Well, we got talking, sir. You know how it is.

It's a bit lonely when you're out there on duty all day.

What happened, McPherson?

Well, sir, we got talking about the crime. She had read about it in the

she said, and wanted to see what it was done. So I saw no harm in letting her

have a wee keek.

She got just about in the door there.

Spotted that mark in the carpet, and down she dropped on the floor and lay

dead. No wonder.

Go on, Macbeth.

Well, sir, I was away around at the ivy plant for some brandy, and by the time I

had brought it back, the young woman had... Well, she wasn't here any more.

She had recovered and was off.

Ashamed of herself, as luck is not, and dared to not face me.

Macpherson, did you move the carpet?

No, sir, I only straightened it out.

You see, she'd fell on it, and the polished floor being slippery. Let that

lesson to you, constable, that you can't deceive me.

No doubt you thought your breach of duty would never be discovered.

Yet to me a glance at that carpet was enough to convince me that someone had

been admitted to this room.

Luck of you, my man, that nothing's missing.

Otherwise you'd find yourself in Queer Street.

Adeloo.

Watson, what are we doing here? We have work elsewhere.

Not unfailing your cap, Miss Gray. Oh, thank you, Mr. Holmes.

Good Lord, Mr.

Holmes. Hey!

Have you solved it?

Hardly, Watson, hardly.

Two gentlemen wish to speak to you, milady.

They do not have an appointment.

Who are they, Bates?

Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr.

Watson, milady.

Very well. You may show them in.

Very well, milady.

Mr.

Holmes and Dr.

Watson, milady.

Mr. Holmes, this is surely most unfair and ungenerous on your part.

I have desired, as I have explained, to keep my visit to you a secret, and yet

you compromise me by coming here and so showing there are business relations

between us. Unfortunately, madam, I have no possible alternative.

I've been commissioned to recover an immensely important document.

I must ask you, therefore, to be kind enough to place it in my hands.

You insult me, Mr. Holmes. Do not ring, Lady Hilda.

If you work with me, I can arrange everything.

If you work against me, I must expose you.

You're trying to frighten me.

It's not a very manly thing, Mr. Holmes, to come here and browbeat a woman.

You say you have something to tell me. Very well, I give you five minutes.

One is enough.

I know of your visit to Eduardo Lucas, of your giving him this letter, of your

ingenious return to the room on the evening after the murder, and of the

in which you took this letter from his hiding place under the carpet.

I have kept this because I thought it might be useful.

The policeman recognized you.

Once again, Mr. Holmes, I tell you you're under some absurd illusion.

Oh, I am so sorry, Lady Hilda. I have done my best.

But I see that I'm in vain.

Ah, is Mr. Trelawney Hope at home? He'll be back at half past twelve, sir.

Then we have a quarter of an hour.

We will wait here.

Spare me, Mr. Holmes, spare me.

For heaven's sake, don't tell him.

I love him so. I would not bring one shadow on his life, and this I know

break his noble heart. We have not an instant to lose. Where is the letter?

Here it is.

With the heaven I'd never seen it.

And the dispatch, what?

With my husband. Wherever he goes, he takes it with him.

We have only a few minutes left.

Lady Hilda, I'm going far to screen you.

In return, you'll spend the time telling me frankly the real meaning of this

extraordinary affair.

It was on the afternoon of that day.

That terrible day.

The day Eduardo Lucas was murdered?

Yes.

I was just going out to pay some calls when a confidential note arrived for me.

It was from Lucas, asking me to visit him urgently, as he had important and

private information for my ears alone.

He had obtained, in some way, a letter of mine, Mr Holmes, an indiscreet

letter written before my marriage.

Foolish letter, the letter of an impulsive, loving girl. I meant no harm,

husband would have thought it criminal.

Had he read that letter, his confidence would have been forever destroyed.

It's years since I wrote it, I thought the whole matter was forgotten.

No doubt you remember the content very well.

Very sprightly, I must say.

Very sprightly. You make a charming correspondence. What do you want with

Mr. Lucas?

May I have my letter back, please?

Of course you may, Lady Hilda.

But this is a very valuable piece of paper. Would you not agree?

I'm sure if it was laid before your husband, he would hardly fail to

the contents.

You're a blackmailer.

A businessman, Lady Hilda.

This is purely a business transaction on my side. I can assure you I wish no ill

to you or your husband.

How much money do you want for that letter, Mr. Lucas?

Let's not speak of money, madam. My business is not so simple as that.

Well, the matter is an easy one.

Every evening, when your husband returns from his ministry, he brings with him

his private dispatch box.

Is that not so?

Yes.

When he comes home tonight, this box will contain a long blue envelope sealed

a red box with a crouching lion stamped on it.

Bring me that long blue envelope with its contents.

And I will return you this.

But...

My husband.

No harm will come to him, I can assure you.

Put yourselves in my position.

What was I to do?

Take your husband into your confidence. I could not, Dr. Watson, I could not.

On the one side seemed certain ruin.

On the other, terrible as it seemed to take my husband's paper, in a matter of

politics, I could not understand it.

while in a matter of love and trust it was only too clear to me.

I did it, Mr. Holmes.

I did it.

I invented a story about going to the theatre.

I knew it! I knew it!

So it's you, you little bitch! Marianne, what are you doing here?

Marianne! You know you can't leave the hospital! I'm his wife! Marianne, that's

enough! I told you not to touch me! Don't touch me!

You're going to stop!

I have enough! I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

The next morning, I realised I'd only exchanged one trouble for another.

I followed my husband to Baker Street and then came to you myself in order to

understand the full enormity of the offence.

I alone in the world knew where the paper was hidden.

My whole mind was turned to the one thought of getting it back.

What I did.

Here he is now.

Any news, Mr Holmes, any news?

I have some hope.

This is a matter of politics, my dear. We shall not be long.

The Prime Minister is lunching with us. May he share your hopes? He has nerves

of steel, and yet I know that he's hardly slept since this terrible event.

Mr. Holmes has some news for us, sir.

Ah.

What have you to report, Mr. Holmes?

Purely negative, as yet.

I've made inquiries at every point where it might be.

And I'm sure there's no danger to be apprehended.

That's not enough, Mr. Holmes.

We cannot live on this volcano. We must have something definite.

I have high hopes of getting the letter back.

That is why I'm here.

The more I think of it, the more I am convinced that the letter has never left

this house. But why should anybody take it in order to keep it in this house?

I'm not convinced that anybody has taken it. Mr. Holmes, this joking is very ill

-timed. You have my assurance it was taken.

Have you examined the box carefully since last Tuesday morning?

No, not thoroughly. I did not consider it necessary.

You could conceivably have overlooked the letter. That is impossible, sir. I

have heard of such things happening.

You have other papers in the... Yes, all my confidential papers. It could have

got mixed with that. It was on the top. The box could have been shaken. I had

everything out. It's easily settled.

Let's go and look.

This is a farcical waste of time.

Still.

Nothing else will satisfy you. It shall be done.

Here are all my confidential papers, as you can see.

It's a letter from Lord Merrill.

Report from Sir Charles Hardy.

Memorandum from Belgrade. That's the one we were discussing this morning.

Note on the Russo -German grain taxes.

Letter from Madrid.

Note from Lord Flowers.

This is it.

And the letter is intact.

Remarkable. This is inconceivable.

Impossible, Mr. Holmes.

Hilda!

How did you know it was here?

Because I knew it was nowhere else.

I cannot believe my eyes.

Hilda, we have found the letter.

I know it is difficult for you to understand, but it is the most wonderful

It's quite extraordinary.

I went through every paper in here. I checked and I rechecked.

It's incomprehensible that I should have overlooked it in this manner.

But there's more in this than meets the eye.

Our Prime Minister, we too have our diplomatic secrets.