[grand horn music] [crowd cheering] [proud music] [crowd cheering] [horse whinnying] [package crinkling] He ran straight up, the horse went up, come down right on top of him, I couldn't help myself.

Why were you running away?

Get up.

Give me a hand.

All right now, come on.

Bloody hell.

Mr. Soames, I think he's dead.

All right, all right, all right.

Here son, you, yeah.

-Know Middlesex Hospital?

-Yeah.

Run round there and fetch me a doctor.

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

Can I help?

Good morning, Badger.

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

That's right, what's the problem?

Oh, thank god, Doctor.

Could you examine this person, sir?

-I think he's dead.

-Can I be of any help?

I don't wish to be rude, sir, but I would rather Dr. Jervis examine him.

It is rather important.

My dear inspector, I taught Dr. Jervis everything he knows.

My name is John Thorndyke, I'm a doctor of medicine, I'm also a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a professor at the London Hospital, emeritus professor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, medical counsel and sometime examiner of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Now, if you'll kindly keep back and allow me to conclude my examination.

Please try to keep the crowd away.

-Constable.

-Sir.

Shut those doors, will you?

All right, back you go here, please.

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

Heart attack?

More likely internal hemorrhaging, I expect.

He's as dead as Nebuchadnezzar.

I think you can safely take my word for that.

-Who is he?

-I don't know, sir.

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

Perhaps we might look through his pockets, hmm?

Oh no, what's that?

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

[Thorndyke] Why not?

Provided I can be extremely careful if you think it might be used as evidence.

-No, it's not that, stand away.

-[Thorndyke] Stand away?

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

[suspenseful music] [Narrator] In Edwardian times, there lived many detectives.

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes.

[gong clanging] [suspenseful music] [Badger] Well, I'm not absolutely certain, sir.

Here, Constable, get some help, get the shop, take the Marylebone waterway.

There's an ambulance up the street.

Well you see, sir, with today being a special day, the visit of the Russian Grand Duke, be careful with that, sir.

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

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

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

We've had special instructions today to watch out for anarchists because of the visit.

Well, I saw this fellow in the crowd carrying that thing there.

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

And you thought he might be going to throw it -at the carriage, eh?

-That's right, sir.

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

Which confirmed your view that he might be up to something?

Correct, sir.

Well, suddenly he burst through the crowd on the other side of the road and ran across, but on the way, he went straight in front of the constable here, on his horse.

Well, the horse shied, went up in the air, kicked this lad, and, uh, now he's dead.

Hmm, well, let us examine this thing more carefully, shall we?

From my observations so far, I see it is a loosely-wrapped parcel.

Now, if it does contain a bomb, it does not explode on impact, otherwise it would have exploded when it fell.

Nor is there a cord or a pull of any sort which might activate a fuse.

It is, however, rather fragile, there is a dent here on the side where it fell.

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

Now let us remove the outer layer.

[paper crinkling] Don't you think you should let the inspector do that?

Oh, very well.

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

By God, sir, I don't think much of your friend's sense of humor.

We might all have been killed.

Jervis, doctors do not cavort on the ground.

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

Do you mind, Inspector?

When I removed the outer layer, the smell became evident, and I realized, gentlemen, a pork pie.

Inspector, would you be kind enough?

Thank you.

Now Jervis, would you please hand me a scalpel from your bag.

We shall examine this more closely and see whether this pie contains anything more lethal than sausage meat.

If this is really just a pie, sir, then what on Earth was he running away for?

That, Inspector, is a very good question.

I'm quite certain that he had something to hide, but the question is what?

[sniffing] Mm, this pie does smell delicious.

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

And don't you think, Inspector, that whilst the gourmet in Dr. Thorndyke is preeminent, you might perhaps search the body for some clue as to his identity?

Yes, sir, I quite agree.

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

Hmm.

Thank you, Jervis.

[coins clinking] Do be methodical, man.

Lay the contents of each pocket into separate piles.

Then afterwards, if you want to, you'll know which pocket they came from.

Well, there's nothing here that immediately tells us who he is, sir.

See what he's got in his inside pockets.

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

Anarchists, sir, foreigners.

Yes, London's full of them these days.

No, there's nothing here.

What's this?

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

Adolf Schonberg, 213 Greek Street, Soho.

So he was a foreigner after all.

-May I see that inspector?

-Yes, sir.

Sealed, but not stamped.

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

Perhaps he left home in a hurry just after he'd arrived, sir.

But in that case it would have a stamp on it, or a postage due.

I sometimes have hopes for your, Jervis.

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

No, I think it's more likely he was about to deliver this to Mr. Schonberg.

Is there nothing else there to identify him?

[Badger] No, nothing, sir.

Shall we open it?

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

At least, not at the moment.

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

This may well legally belong to someone else.

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

Why don't you deliver it yourself?

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

In fact, uh, we may go with you.

-What do you say, Jervis?

-Well.

Yes, Inspector, we shall assist you.

[metal grinding] [hooves clomping] [door knocker thumping] [door knocker thumping] Does Adolph Schonberg live here?

Schonberg?

No, no Schonberg, no.

Oh, Schonberg, yes I know.

He lives on the third floor.

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

The third floor, back.

Yes, thank you, let us go up.

[Jervis] Thank you.

[door knocking] Well?

Mr. Adolph Schonberg?

Well?

Well, what about him?

I wish to have a few words with him.

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

Doesn't he live here?

No, first floor front.

Pardon me, but, uh, what does this Mr. Schonberg look like?

Look like?

He's a bloomin' Polish Sheeny, with a carroty beard and gold gig-lamps.

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

Precisely.

[footsteps plodding] Inspector.

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

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

Yes, yes, a couple of minutes ago.

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

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

-Blast it.

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

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

He's no respectable person.

I heard you were mixed up in some tiff up in Oxford Street, Inspector.

The mortuary attendant told me you were here.

-What's it all about?

-Nothing I would tell you.

Now, that was Schonberg beyond a doubt, in which case, I consider myself justified in opening the letter.

What in creation is this?

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

What do you make of it, Doctor?

Hmm, not very much, I'm afraid.

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

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

That's just a jumble.

This is a very old form known, if my memory serves me, as Moabite.

[Badger] Moabite?

Yes, an ancient language.

You'd be much better to take it to the British Museum and submit it to the keeper of the Phoenician antiquities for translation.

[Badger] We'll see what can make of it ourselves first, sir.

But thanks for your advice all the same, Doctor.

Now, Mr. James, I can't give you any information for the present, you'd best apply to the morgue.

Will you excuse me?

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

Good day.

Dr. Thorndyke?

Yes?

Might I have your views?

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

But the letter.

You seem to know more about that than the inspector.

Did I not understand you to say that the writing was strange?

No, not so much the writing, it was more a cipher, really.

The paper itself is common, cream-laid note paper, such as is normally used.

And the ink itself was ordinary Chinese writing ink such as is used by draftsmen, those are the facts.

And until I have further sight of the letter, I'm afraid they don't get us very far.

Now, if you'll excuse me, Jervis, I do feel that, if you're quite ready, we should return to the laboratory.

Mr. Jervis, have you anything to add?

Uh, Dr. Jervis.

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

[birds singing] Good afternoon, John.

Oh hello there, Jervis.

You've finished your lecture, then?

Yes.

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

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

I'm afraid Mrs. Hobbs won't be back until Saturday, it's another three days.

One of my pupils tells me that we're in the papers this morning.

Hmm?

Oh yes, yes, yes, in the Chronicle.

It's over there on the table.

The column is marked Death of Anarchist.

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

Oh yes.

"During yesterday's procession in honor of the Russian Grand Duke, a dead anarchist, found on his person, written in a private shorthand," I say, listen to this.

"In this intricate and important case, the police have wisely," mark that, "wisely secured the assistance of Dr. John Thorndyke, to whose acute intellect and vast experience the portentous cryptogram will doubtless soon deliver up its secret."

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

[doorbell ringing] You're not expecting anyone, are you?

No.

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

-[Jervis] Good afternoon.

-[Miller] Good afternoon, sir.

May I have with Dr. Thorndyke?

[Jervis] Yes, do come this way.

It's Superintendent Miller, isn't it?

-Yes, sir.

-I'm sure.

Mr. Miller.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, this is Superintendent Miller, Scotland Yard, you'll forgive the intrusion, but it's about this business of the cipher.

I wonder if I might ask your advice?

Superintendent, how nice to see you.

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

Vanderbilt, remember?

Sit down, please.

I wasn't sure you'd remember it.

Well, it's about a certain death yesterday, and a letter that seems to be relevant.

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

And, in view of the present political situation, plus the visit of the Grand Duke, we are taking the case most seriously.

Oh, um, I'm in charge of a special section dealing with political matters.

Oh, and how can I be of help?

Well, I'd like you to have another look at the letter, sir.

I understand the cipher was familiar to you.

Only very vaguely, but I may be able to throw some light on it.

Do you have it?

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

We couldn't make head nor tail of it at the Yard, so Inspector Badger took it along to the British Museum.

Oh?

You see, sir, we are capable of taking other people's suggestion.

[Thorndyke chuckling] Well, they referred us to a Professor Popplebaum, -and he still has the original.

-Oh, he's a great man.

He's the world's greatest living paleographer.

I should've though of him myself.

Did he express any opinion?

Well, provisionally, yes.

After a brief examination, it was, after all, quite late last evening when we went to him, he found it translates into a number of Hebrew words, and this is a hectograph copy of his findings.

[Jervis] Might I see that?

Yes, certainly.

Better still, why not put this under the epidiascope, draw the blinds, and then we can have a look at them together and discuss them.

[Miller] Oh I see, sir, that James has made quite a lot of this in the Chronicle this morning.

Reporters are a nuisance.

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

He seemed to think that you'd be round to consult me, and that wasn't far from the mark.

About that, sir, I would be grateful if you'd treat this conversation as unofficial.

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

I see.

If whoever is behind this is an anarchist, it'd be awkward if it should induce him to leave a few trifling mementos in the form of nitro compounds on our staircase or in the cellars.

Beg your pardon, sir?

A bomb, Superintendent, a real one.

Oh, well I can tell you, this business has got the Yard in a mighty foment.

This country's whole relationship with Russia could be in jeopardy.

Hmm, well let's see the letter first.

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

Oh probably, there'd be no need otherwise to use the form known as Moabite.

From the few words I know, I expect that when we see Professor Popplebaum's translation, it'll prove to be a mere farrago of unintelligible nonsense.

But we shall see, change please, Jervis.

[Jervis] Lies, city, woe, well, this isn't very promising.

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

Well, his theory, sir, provisionally of course, is that the words need to be rearranged before they make sense.

Surely that would be a very transparent device.

Oh, there's a certain childlike simplicity about it that is very, very attractive, but unlikely.

No, whoever did this would, I am sure, have made it more complex.

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

For the moment, yes.

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

In the meantime, I have a theory of my own which I shall test if the occasion arises.

-May I keep these copies?

-Oh certainly.

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

If, as I believe, the Anarchists are at the back of this, it is imperative that we decipher this code as quickly as possible.

You can reach me at all times.

-Goodbye, Professor.

-Goodbye, Superintendent.

-Dr. Jervis.

-I'll see you to the door, Superintendent.

[Miller] Oh thank you, sir.

Oh, I am most sorry.

No, not at all, I was just going.

May I come in?

[Jervis] I beg your pardon?

-Have you an appointment?

-No, I'm afraid not, but I would be most grateful if you could receive me, as I have very important business which I would like to, -Dr. Thorndyke?

-Yes?

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

-Yes.

I'm so glad to find you both together here at home, as I have somewhat urgent professional business.

You won't know me, though I know you both by sight of course.

I've come to ask if one of you, or better still both, could come with me tonight to see my brother.

Well, uh, not without an appointment.

Sir, what I have to impart is too urgent for an appointment.

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

[suspenseful music] The circumstances are, in my opinion, highly suspicious, and I shall lay them before you, in strictest confidence, of course.

Oh, of course, yes.

Here.

My brother has recently married for the second time.

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

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

Oh.

Thank you.

Do please go on.

During the last fortnight, my brother has been attacked by a mysterious and extremely painful infection of the stomach, to which his doctor seemed unable to give a name, and it has so far resisted all attempts at treatment.

Day by day, the pain and distress increases, and I feel that unless something decisive is done, the end cannot be far off.

Is the pain worse after food?

That's just it.

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

So much so that I've tried repeatedly to obtain samples of the food that he is taking.

And this morning, I succeeded.

When I called, he was taking his breakfast of arrowroot, which he complained had a gritty taste, said by his wife to be due to the sugar.

I managed to convey a portion of the arrowroot which he had left into this, and I should be greatly obliged if you could examine it and tell me if it contains anything that it should not.

Hmm.

But why have you brought this to me?

Surely this is a matter for his own doctor or for the local police.

Oh, I've been to them both.

And in fact, they both said that were I able to obtain a sample of the food he is taking, they would put the matter into the hands of the public analyst, but time is most important.

My fear, sir, is that my brother will be dead before the results are known.

And so, knowing the reputation of both yourself and Dr. Jervis, I have come straight to you.

May I add that money is no object.

I see.

Very well, let's go into the laboratory and conduct some tests.

Thank you.

Jervis, would you pass me a slide, please?

Yes.

Do you want a cover as well?

No, that'll do, thank you.

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

Yes.

[bottles clinking] Hmm, rather as I expected.

[Barton] Is it arsenic?

Too soon to tell, but let me see.

[water trickling] Hmm.

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

I observe a number of crystalline particles in this that have the appearance of arsenious acid.

[Barton] Are you certain?

No, but the matter's easily tested.

Is the Marsh's apparatus ready yet, Jervis?

[Jervis] Yes.

[glass clinking] If I do find arsenic in the sample, what do you want me to do about it?

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

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

No, no, I want you to come, to put a stop at once to this dreadful business.

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

I beg you not to refuse.

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

[liquid bubbling] [Barton] What will this tell us, Doctor?

[Thorndyke] This?

Nothing.

This is merely the preparation.

Tile please, Jervis.

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

Well, that's pretty conclusive.

Arsenic?

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

Thank you, Jervis.

Well, what do you say?

Rather dramatic, what?

I fear that I was right.

The sample you brought us certainly contains arsenic.

Then you must come with me at once to help my brother in his dreadful peril.

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

Before we decide, I must confer with my colleague to see what arrangements we have for this evening.

Would you be kind enough to wait in the study for a moment, if you may?

Oh yes, of course.

For mercy's sake, Doctor.

What do you think?

Well, we must go, I suppose.

It certainly seems as though his poor brother is in some danger.

Well, perhaps we should go.

All right, it's decided then?

I'm surprised that you wanted to confer.

You know as well as I that we've kept this evening free in order to dine together.

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

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

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

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

Oh thank you.

By the way, you haven't yet told us where your brother lives.

Rexford, Rexford in Essex.

It's an out-of-the-way little place, but if we catch the 7:15 from Liverpool Street, we should there in an hour and a half.

Ah, and as to the return journey, you know the times of the trains, I suppose.

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

-Good.

Well, if we leave now and call a cab, we should just miss the London evening theater rush.

There's no need.

I felt so sure that out of your kindness you would accompany me that I ordered my cab to remain.

It's waiting downstairs now.

My goodness, Mr. Barton, you really have thought of everything.

Jervis, if you'd be kind enough to collect our coats, I shall see you in a moment.

Yes, of course.

By the way, I do feel I should warn you that from the amount of arsenic I detected in that sample, there may be some danger.

I shall see you downstairs.

This should be an interesting experience.

[steam hissing] If he doesn't hurry, he'll miss the train.

You realize, of course, that we don't have a precise address for his brother.

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

Oh, that's very difficult to say.

Poor fellow's in such a state about his brother that I doubt we've seen the man himself.

He does seem very agitated.

Oh, there you are.

What a struggle.

Terrible scrum for baskets.

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

Of course, there are very few on this train.

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

We don't have an address for your brother.

There's no need.

I've ordered the cab to meet us at Rexford and take us straight there.

[train whistling] Well, what could be better?

Food for the journey and a carriage to ourselves.

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

I did, I did.

-Lovely.

-And I have no doubt that, for poor Mr. Barton's brother's misfortune, we should find him the most excellent company.

I shall do my best.

Now, how about a bite?

[train rattling] It's slowing down yet again.

It's seven minutes behind time as it is.

It really is too bad, this train's going to be confoundedly late.

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

Oh, of course not, but still.

Aggravating thing is we're only just outside Brixton.

I should have thought to bring a few journals to pass the time.

Oh my dear fellow, have mine.

I've finished with them.

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

I don't think so.

I haven't got the right kind of boots on for marching -up and down railway lines.

-[train whistle blowing] Oh thank heavens, I think we're moving.

[engine chugging] [Station Attendant] Call Rexford, this is Rexford.

Rexford!

So little time, I fear for my brother.

Now, watch the step down, Doctor.

There we are, Rexford.

That's it, follow me, gentlemen.

[Station Attendant] All stations to Newmarket!

This is Rexford!

[Barton sighing] Blast.

The damn fellow's pushed off.

May not have arrived yet.

[train whistle blowing] [train clanking] Look, I think I'll go and check in the station, they may have seen a cabby about.

I do apologize, I won't be long.

[Jervis sighing] Well, this is a pretty penny.

The meal wasn't all that good, and we should get frozen stiff if we stay here long.

Mm, the wine was terrible too.

I sometimes think if the railways can't do it properly, they shouldn't do it at all.

[train chugging] I think we have more urgent things to attend to.

Follow me, Jervis.

[cane knocking] Where to, sir?

You'll have to hurry, the train's in, and she'll be leaving in just a moment.

Have you seen a man going past here just now, he probably asked you about a cab?

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

Oh, you must be the gentlemen who just come up off the down line.

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

Perhaps your friend's gone to have a look over the other side, he's just gone over the bridge.

Thank you.

Barton is about to give us the slip.

What do you mean?

There may be another exit over there?

Maybe, but he won't be using it.

There he goes.

Something tells me this is the last train out of here this evening, and somebody means to leave us stranded here.

Run.

[train whistle blowing] [train rattling] Really, Dr. Jervis, is it too much to ask to return in a first-class compartment?

I thought we were lucky to get on, let alone worry about protocol.

Shan't even get a refund on our tickets.

We haven't got any tickets.

It was a joke.

Well in that case, perhaps you would like to explain this little comedy.

My pleasure.

That is, if you think it needs any explanation.

I mean, you can hardly have forgotten Mr. James's flattering account of the Greek Street incident in this morning's Chronicle.

You mean that it has some connection to this affair?

Unless I'm very much mistaken, yes.

I think Mr. James very clearly gave the impression that the mysterious document was in my possession.

When I read that, I realized I must be on the lookout for some attempt to make its recovery.

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

So that moment Mr. Barton turned up, without credentials or appointment, I viewed him with some suspicion, and that suspicion deepened -when he, uh, -[train whistle blowing] when he asked us to go and see his brother.

Both to go and see his brother, who, by the way, almost certainly does not exist.

And the suspicion deepened still further when I saw how much arsenic there was in that sample he showed us.

Why, you saw it yourself.

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

Now if Mr. Barton's brother had really eaten that, he'd've been dead before Barton ever got to us.

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

You worry me sometimes, Jervis.

The way you give way to mental indolence.

You have had all the facts that I just described.

Now you must examine those facts separately, and then collectively, and then in relation to their circumstances.

Don't attempt to suck my brain, when you've an excellent brain of your own to suck.

I always assume that you know more than I do.

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

You see, when you were downstairs getting the coats, I stayed behind long enough to look up Bradshaw, and I discovered that the last train left Rexford for London ten minutes after we were due to arrive.

And that was why he was getting so agitated when it looked like we were late.

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

And leave our chambers vacant?

Mm.

Mr. Barton thought that he would be able to ransack them at his leisure.

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

Oh Jervis, you know me.

I just can't miss an interesting experience.

I must say one thing I found most amusing is the fact that I'm certain Mr. Barton has no idea that we're on this train with him.

You don't think he spotted us?

No.

No, he learnt that nobody got on the train from the platform, and in any case, the fact that our train was late in arriving, and that he had such a rush to catch this one, will mean that he thinks that we couldn't possibly have made it.

[papers rustling] Well, Mr. Barton, this won't cure your brother.

What are you doing here?

You should be in Rexford.

Oh yes, the last train.

Your motives were rather obvious, but thank you for the free dinner.

My god, what a mess.

What are you after?

Oh, it'll soon clear up, and I think it's pretty obvious now what Mr. Barton's after.

Right Jervis, call the police, please.

I think not, Dr. Jervis.

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

[Thorndyke] Oh my dear fellow, you surely can't mean to add violence to lies and theft.

I warn you, I am very determined.

-I want the letter which is in your possession.

-Letter?

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

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

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

-Now give it to me.

-Now why don't you put that thing away and let's sit down and discuss your problem?

Be intelligent.

Thorndyke, he means it.

Rubbish, he wouldn't dare shoot me in my own house, come on.

[gun banging] [Jervis gasping] By god, you've done for him.

[suspenseful music] How is he?

[Jervis] Not too bad.

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

-He's coming round.

-[Thorndyke groaning] Steady, John.

What happened?

You were shot.

Oh yes, I, I remember.

Did you get his gun?

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

Oh.

You really should see a doctor.

It's been years since I did rudimentary medicine.

By Jove, Jervis, that fellow shot me.

-Did he get away?

-I'm afraid so.

Having had a go at you, I really didn't think to argue with him.

Blast the fellow.

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

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

He was in his office waiting for Professor Popplebaum.

It appears that the professor has had second thoughts about the letter.

Really?

I wonder if his ideas agree with mine.

What is your idea, sir?

Superintendent, not yet.

Mustn't steal the professor's thunder, after all, he is the expert.

I've left word for him to come on here, so I hope that's all right.

Oh certainly, yes.

-Here.

-Oh, thank you Jer, ouch!

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

Yes, thank you Jervis.

I wonder if that fellow got away with anything.

Well I haven't really looked, but as far as I can tell, no.

-Have a look around, Badger.

-[doorbell ringing] Oh Jervis, answer that please, would you?

You haven't touched anything, sir?

Well, I've sorted things round a bit.

Oh pity.

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

I understand the villain was the man I bumped into earlier this morning.

What was he after, sir?

Yes, well, he led us a dance with a cock-and-bull story about a brother whom he said was dying.

Unfortunately for him, his method was so obvious as to be unbelievable.

It was all a ruse to get us away from our apartment so that he could burgle it.

[Miller] And you surprised him?

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

-Ah, here's the expert.

-[speaking in foreign language] Very impressed by all I've heard.

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

I expected you to look older.

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

No sir, this is the man you want.

Oh good gracious, do forgive me.

Such a stupid mistake.

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

[chuckling] Not at all.

This is Superintendent Miller of Scotland Yard, no, here.

-Professor.

-Hello.

And Inspector Badger.

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

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

Professor, your findings?

Ah yes, yes.

[papers rustling] May I read it?

-May I read it to you?

-Please.

I have only the one copy.

"The document, that is, the letter, is in a form of Hebrew, of course it is, yes, and is written the well-known inscription of Mesha, king of Moab.

Now, who the devil's he?

It's where the word Moabite comes from.

Yes, the words themselves mean nothing, but by interpolating some of our words, I have obtained a series of sentences.

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

Oh.

Well Professor, if you'd like to read them to us, perhaps we can help.

Er, here is my analysis and full rendering.

"Woe to the bloody city!

-It is full of," what?

-Um, excuse me a moment.

Jervis, would you be kind enough to look in the bureau over there and see if you can find the professor's original translation of words, if you can find it among the mess.

I have another copy here, sir.

[Thorndyke] Oh good.

Thank you, sir.

Now Jervis, would you just read off the first few words, please?

Yes, of course.

-"Woe, city, lies, robbery."

-Thank you.

Now Professor, would you begin to read your translation, and Jervis, perhaps you would read the words as they occur.

Oh yes, of course.

First rate.

Ready.

"Woe to the bloody city."

Woe.

-City.

-"It is full, -it is full of lies."

-Lies.

-"And robbery."

-Robbery.

-"The prey departeth not."

-Prey.

-Noise, whip.

-"The noise of the whip and the noise of the rattling of the wheels -and the prancing horses."

-Wheel, horse.

-"The jumping chariots."

-Chariots.

-"A day of darkness."

-Darkness.

-"And of gloominess."

-Gloominess.

-"A day of clouds."

-Clouds.

-"And of thick darkness."

-Darkness.

-Morning.

-"As the morning, -spreads upon the mountains."

-Mountain.

"A great people, -and a strong."

-Strong.

"A fire -devours before them."

-Devours, them.

"And behind them, a flame burneth."

Flame.

Oh Professor, congratulations.

Excellent, that really is superb scholarship.

Now, if I recall, that's from the writings of one of the Moabite prophets.

Perfectly true, I'm most thrilled by it.

-[laughing] Yes.

-Forgive my saying so, but it is more than three quarters supplied by the professor.

Exactly, it's all professor and no cryptogram.

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

You mean to say, sir, that that balderdash is the real meaning of the thing?

Oh no, I didn't say that.

The professor has accurately translated the words, but unfortunately that is nothing to do with what Barton was after.

But he wanted the letter.

Yes.

-But this isn't it?

-No.

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

I agree, I'm completely foxed.

Superintendent, I think this is most important.

Do you have the original letter?

I should like to see it.

I think the professor has it.

[paper rustling] No, no, that is another photographed copy, similar to the one that you, Miller, showed to me.

I must see the original.

Sorry.

This is it.

Thank you.

Gentlemen, we've been foolishly wasting our time.

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

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

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

Do you mind, Inspector?

Superintendent?

Sherry, sir.

Inspector?

[Badger] Sherry for me too, sir.

Professor.

Sherry, no, no thank you.

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

I worked very hard on this affair.

If he thinks he can do better, at least he should try to be a little more polite, hm?

Goodnight.

No, I can find my own way out, I'm used to solving riddles.

[door banging] Oh dear.

Oh well, er, we must forgive Thorndyke, he has suffered today.

What do you think sir?

Is this man, Barton, an anarchist?

Yes, I'm fairly certain of it.

And I can't help feeling that the professor's answer is not the right one, whatever it means.

Well, it is possible that his solution may form the cipher, that the phrases do have some pre-arranged significance.

But would it not be best to wait and hear what my colleague has to say?

Well, let's hope he doesn't put the whole thing under the microscope and then tell us who made the paper and what the ink is composed of.

Otherwise, we shall just be back where we started.

Superintendent, are you prepared to make this an official consultation?

Well, I was originally briefed only to consult you about the professor's translation, but, yes sir, certainly, we may consider this to be official.

My theory turned out to be correct.

This is a joke, sir.

You are fooling me.

Not at all, that is the genuine solution.

But it's impossible.

Here, Badger, listen to this.

"The Piccadilly stuff is up the chimney, 416 Wardour Street, second floor back.

It was hid because old Barton's greedy.

Barton is a traitor."

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

Excuse me, sir.

Forgive me, Superintendent, but you look like a man who's lost a sovereign and found sixpence.

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

You know about the Piccadilly job, sir?

Some time last month?

Yes sir, about a quarter of a million pounds of jewelry stolen.

And you think this is it?

Well, it sounds like it, sir.

But you realize it rules out Barton being an anarchist.

Sadly, yes.

Oh come now, Superintendent, if you manage to recover a quarter of a million pound, it must be some consolation.

What's that about Barton being a traitor?

Oh, probably means some of the gang thought they were gonna be cheated, sir.

Well, seems fairly certain that the fellow who was killed by the horse was trying to warn the others.

How did you solve that?

How, at the moment, is irrelevant.

Inspector.

Jervis.

Would you be kind enough to call a cab?

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

Hello.

Schonberg, what are you doing here?

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

You've got to give me some money, Barton, I'm gonna make a run for it.

I come here 'cause it's the only place I could think of, and give up some money.

You're a fool.

The police had no idea about us until that idiot friend of yours made a run for it and got himself killed.

Charlie?

The police did for Charlie?

-You hadn't heard?

-No, why, should I?

I'd heard that Charlie wasn't pleased with the way that things were going, and was trying to stir up trouble.

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

You know me, Barton, I'm loyal.

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

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

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

-Why not?

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

-We'll get a better price then.

-I've got to have some money.

I haven't got any.

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

Now you listen to me carefully.

You'll get your money when I am ready.

[footsteps plodding] Into the bedroom, quickly.

Quick!

Right, Barton, you're under arrest.

Constable.

See who's through there, Badger.

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

-I'd be delighted.

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

And we have caught the elusive Mr. Barton.

Well, Superintendent, perhaps we should read Mr. Schonberg his letter.

After all, it was addressed to him.

Right, sir.

"The Piccadilly stuff is up the chimney.

It was hid because old Barton's greedy.

Barton is a traitor."

Have a look, Badger.

Well Professor, I really am most grateful.

Not quite what I had in mind, but a quarter of a million pounds is something.

So Barton, shooting Professor Thorndyke, and all that rubbish about your brother was simply in order to get back a secret letter saying you were trying to cheat the rest of the gang.

You're a fool.

And wrap those up again, please.

Stay there.

I suppose you know what this is.

Do as he says, Superintendent.

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

It's a hand grenade, am I right?

Yes sir, it is.

Read that.

Thank you.

"The road to freedom, throw off your shackles.

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

The only way to happiness is to overthrow the government.

Words have failed, now is the time for action.

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

I guessed as much.

I thought you might.

I was confident the Moabite cipher was enough to fool most people, but when I heard you were involved, I That's why I had to get that paper away from you.

This lot were nothing.

They were just tools to enable me to get money for the funds to buy guns and bombs, and these.

Of course, this is only a sample.

Just think how many I could buy for a quarter of a million pounds.

And I robbed the rich to do it.

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

That's right.

Now.

[pin clinking] The jewels, Inspector, if you please.

Thank you.

And Dr. Jervis, the door if you will.

Gentlemen.

-You won't kill the king!

-[book clattering] [Badger] Chuck it, sir.

[glass smashing] [grenade banging] Handcuffs, Inspector.

I am sorry, sir.

If I'd known it was going to be like this, I'd never have asked you to join us.

Dr. Jervis, please tell your friend to give up his hobby of handling bombs as though they were cricket balls.

Oh really, Superintendent.

What a lot of fuss over nothing.

The only excitement was the intellectual one of the cipher.

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

I have been up all night, but I cannot connect your solution with any of the characters.

Would you do me the great favor of enlightening me as to your methods, and save me further sleepless nights?

You may rely on my discretion.

You were working from one of the photographed copies.

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

It's a question of training.

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

The photographed copy was quite useless of the purpose.

As Burton knew, only the original could reveal the secret of a Moabite cipher.

Let me show you, gentlemen.

If you observe, this letter is written on common, cream-laid note paper, which, as you know, has no watermark.

Yes, yes, I know the same.

Mm hmm, and that the ink used is indelible Chinese ink, commonly known as stick ink.

Yes, yes, but it's inscriptions that interest us, not the paper and the ink.

Precisely, and that is where you were wrong.

It is the ink that first interested me when I observed this letter three days ago.

Why should anyone go to this troublesome method of writing, when good, ordinary writing ink was available?

What advantage has this kind of ink over ordinary ink?

It is quite unaffected by being made wet.

Good.

For some reason, this letter was likely to be subjected to the wet.

So I was able to put it to the test.

I rolled up the letter, as so.

[Badger] Is that the original, sir?

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

Jervis, light please.

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

Thank you, Jervis.

And there, gentlemen, is the message.

The message was scratched onto the surface of the cream-laid paper when it was wet.

When the paper dries, the message disappears, only to become visible again by the addition of water.

A sort of artificial palimpsest in effect.

[Jervis] Even better than invisible ink.

You will no doubt find that the cryptogram was supplied by Barton.

He no doubt supplied members of the gang copies of this instead of blank paper to use for secret communications.

So the object of the Moabite writing was, as Barton said, solely to draw attention from the paper itself.

Precisely.

It's so simple, it was almost elementary.

[suspenseful music] [uplifting music]