Chapter 1: What is the setting and premise of 'Shoscombe Old Place'?
Cabbage! Cabbage!
Capital, my dear Watson, let us return to our humble abode.
221B Baker Street, please, Cabbage.
From London, we present Shoscombe Old Place by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adapted radio by Michael Hardwick. With Carlton Hobbs as Sherlock Holmes and Norman Shelley as Dr. Watson. You know something of racing, don't you, Watson? I ought to. I pay for it with about half my womb pension. Then I'll make you my handy guide to the turf. Does the name Sir Robert Norberton recall anything?
I should say so. He lives at Shoscombe Old Place. My summer quarters were down there one day. But you know, Norberton nearly came within your province once. Oh? How was that? It was when he horse-whipped Sam Brewer, the Curzon Street moneylender on Newmarket Heath. Nearly killed him.
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Chapter 2: Who are the main characters introduced in the story?
He sounds interesting. Does he often indulge in that way? He has the name of being a dangerous man. One of those fellows who overshot that true generation. He should have been a Regency buck. A great eye for the ladies. Boxer, athlete, and about the most daredevil rider in the country. Came second in the Grand National a few years back.
They say that what he's lost on the turf has got him so far down queer street that he may never find his way back again. Capital, Watson. An admirable thumbnail sketch. Now, can you give me some idea of Shoscombe Old Place? Well, only that it's in the middle of Shoscombe Park in Berkshire. The Shoscombe stud and training quarters are there. And the head trainer is John Mason.
You didn't look so surprised, my dear Watson. He was due here some minutes ago. But do let us have some more about Shoscombe. I seem to have struck a rich raid. Well, of the Shoscombe's panels, you hear of them at every dog show. They're the special pride of the lady of Froscombe Old Place. Sir Robert Norbiton's wife? No, no, no. He's never married.
Just as well, I think, considering his prospect. He lives with his widowed sister, Lady Beatrice Polder. Matter of fact, the place belonged to her late husband. Norbiton has no claim on it at all. When she dies, it reverts to her husband's brother. So she only has a life interest in it. That's right. She draws the rents and Norbiton spends them. Still, I've heard that she's devoted to him...
But what's amiss at Shoscombe, Holmes? Ah, that's just what I want to know. And here, I expect, is the man who can tell us. Mr. Mason, sir. Ah, Mr. Mason. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson. How do you do, sir?
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Chapter 3: What mystery surrounds Sir Robert Norberton's behavior?
How do you do?
You had my note, Mr. Holmes? Yes, but it explained nothing. Oh, it was too delicate a thing to put the details on paper. Too complicated. Well, here we are, at your disposal. Oh, do sit down. Thank you, sir. Thank you.
Well, first of all, Mr. Holmes, I think my employer, Sir Robert Norbert, has gone mad.
This is Baker Street, Mr. Mason, not Harley Street.
But why do you say that?
Well, sir, when a man does one odd thing or two odd things, there may be a meaning to it. But when everything he does is odd, then you begin to wonder. I reckon the Shoscombe Prince and the Derby have turned his brain between them. Holmes, Shoscombe Prince is a coach that Robert has entered. He's the best in England, and I should know if anyone does.
But I'll be plain with you gentlemen now, because I know this won't go beyond the room. Sir Robert has got to win this derby. He's up to his neck. It's his last chance. Everything he can raise or borrow is on that horse.
And at fine odds, too. Yes, but how's that, Mr. Mason? Is the horse as good as that? Well, the public don't know how good he is, Dr. Watson. Sir Robert's too clever for the Turks.
He has the prince's heart, by the way, for spins. They can't tell him apart. But there are two lengths and a furlong between them when it comes to a gallop. No, sir. His whole life is on the prince.
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Chapter 4: What clues indicate a conflict between Sir Robert and Lady Beatrice?
In what way? Well, they've always been the best of friends. She loves the horses as much as he does.
When he heard her coming, he trot out to the carriage for his lump of sugar every time. But that's all over now. Why? Well, she seems to have lost all interest. For a week now, she's just driven past the stables well so much as a good morning.
Do you think there's been a quarrel?
Oh, a bitter quarrel, if you ask me, sir.
Why else would he give away her pet spaniel? Her spaniel? Oh, she loved it as if it were her child.
But he gave it away a few days ago to old Barnes, what keeps the green dragon down at Crandall.
Strange indeed.
Of course, but with her weak heart and dropsy, she couldn't get about with Sir Robert, but
Used to spend a couple of hours with her in her room every evening. That's all over, too. He never goes near her. She takes it to heart, sir. It's all changed, Mr. Holmes. Everything's changed. And something going on, mark my words. There's something more, then? Aye, that there is, sir. Night after night, the master sneaks off down to the crypt of the old church. Church?
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Chapter 5: How does Holmes deduce the significance of the crypt?
But we went after him. We waited behind a bush... and saw him go inside the crypt.
Does this jumpy work all right, Fred? Could be a bad jump for us if he spots us.
There's no respecter of persons when he gets started. Still, I mean to see this out. Well, you can't see much from here. I think we can go inside and take a look. Oh, not in your life. It is for sure. Not much we can do then except follow him home again. You never know He might be carrying something to give us some idea. Hey, watch out. He's coming out now. Well, keep down then.
You'll come past these bushes. All right. Well, his hands were empty. So where does that get us? I don't know. We could take a look inside. Now he's gone. Inside? Oh. I don't know, John. Come on, man, come on. The master can go in there. I reckon we can. Well... Why not rest easy till we get to the bottom of this? Wait out here for me, if you like. No, I'll come. Well, there's no one here.
No one or nothing. All right, next there. We can be getting bit. Hey, what's that over there? Huh? Where?
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Chapter 6: What evidence is found that raises suspicion about Sir Robert?
Here. Oh, that's funny. It's bones. Bones. And there's color. Oh, it is, too. You've been down here before, Fred. Once or twice. In daylight, no? I was here some time back when Master sent Higgins to see those gypsies weren't camping out in the place. And these weren't here then. Are you sure? Certain. Sure. Maybe it's... You don't reckon... No, no. They're all bones, these.
What, be hundreds of years old? Where do they come from? Boy, should anyone drag them out and leave them lying around like this. This beats me, Fred. It beats me. And beat both of us it did, Mr. Holmes. You left the bones where they were? Aye, lying in a corner with a bit of old board over them. Now, Mr. Holmes, take a look at this. A piece of the bones? No, sir, not them.
This was a day or two later. There's a heating furnace under Lady Beatrice's room. It had been off for some time, but Sir Robert started complaining about the cold, so we started up again. And the other morning, when one of the boys was raking out the cinders, he found this bone. You can see it's been burnt. What do you make of this, Watson? Well, it's human, all right.
The upper condyle of a human femur. Exactly. Mr. Mason, could anyone who wanted to visit the furnace? Aye, sir.
There's a door from outside and there's another to a stair from a passage where Lady Beatrice's room is.
Was Sir Robert at home on the night before the boy found his bones?
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Chapter 7: What is the shocking revelation about Lady Beatrice's fate?
No, sir, he wasn't. He'd gone off to London. Then whoever was burning bones, it was not he. That's true, sir. Now, these are deep waters indeed. Deep and rather dirty. Have you anything more to tell me? No, sir. I think, sir, That's about all of it. A few questions, then. When did Sir Robert give away his sister's dog? Just a week ago today, sir. It was howling outside the old warehouse.
Sir Robert was in one of his tantrums that day. He caught it up. I thought he would have killed it. But he gave it to one of the jockeys and said to take it to old Barnes at the Green Dragon. He said he never wanted to see it again. Thank you. Now, who keeps Lady Beatrice Folder company most of the time? Well, there's her maid, Carrie... She's been with her about five years.
And is no doubt devoted to her mistress? Well, she's devoted enough, but I'd rather not say who to. Uh-huh. Well, I can't tell tales of that sort, sir. I quite understand. From Dr. Watson's description of Sir Robert, I can realize that no woman is safe from him. Don't you think the quarrel between brother and sister may lie there? Well, the scandal's been pretty clear for a long time.
Yes, but she may not have seen it before. However, this guess accounts for charred bones and these mysterious visits to the crypt.
Is there good fishing in that part of Berkshire?
Fishing, sir? Fishing, Mr. Mason. Well, there are tracks in the middle stream and pike in the old lake. That's good enough. Watson and I are famous fishermen. Are we not, Watson?
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Chapter 8: How does the story conclude with Holmes' final deductions?
Well, uh... Precisely. In fact, you may address us in future at the Green Dragon, I think you said it was called, Mr. Mason?
We should reach it tonight. And he'd hardly say that we'd better not be seen with you down there. But a note will reach us if you want us.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Barnes. My friend and I are very comfortable indeed. Very comfortable. But tell me, what do you think about the Hall Lake and the chance of a fight?
The Hall? Oh, no. Oh, that wouldn't do it to alter. Why, how's that? Well, you might chance to find yourselves in the lake before you're done. Where follow you? Well, it's Sir Robert Norburton, sir. He's terrible jealous at doubts. Ouch! Oh, I beg pardon, sir, but if you two strangers were as near as training quarters as that he'd be after, you sure as right.
He ain't taking no chances, Sir Robert, mate.
I think I did hear that he has a... Horse entered for the derby?
Ah, and a good colt it is and all. He's carrying all our money, and Sir Robert's too. Oh, but, by the way, gentlemen, begging your pardon, that is, I suppose you ain't on the turf yourselves? Oh, no, indeed. Just two weary Londoners who've bedded ease and good box of air. Well, you're in the right place for that. There's a good deal of it lying about.
But mind what I said about what strikes first and speaks after. Very certainly so, Mr. Barnes. Well, thank you, gentlemen. Oh, Mr. Barnes, I wanted to ask you, what breed is that beautiful spaniel I saw in the passage just now? Why, sir, that's the real shuffling breed. There ain't a better in England than that.
Really? I'm quite a dog fancier myself.
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