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Old Time Detectives

Sherlock Holmes - The Baconian Cipher

24 Mar 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What adventure does Dr. Watson recount in this episode?

0.503 - 27.034 Harry Bartell

Petri Wine brings you Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petri family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invites you to listen to Dr. Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, that master detective, Sherlock Holmes. And I want to ask you something.

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27.706 - 47.694 Harry Bartell

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.

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48.475 - 61.429 Harry Bartell

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.

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Chapter 2: Who is the French detective mentioned in the story?

61.909 - 85.995 Harry Bartell

Don't buy one, buy two. But remember, always buy Petri. Because Petri wine is always good wine. Well, I'm sure Dr. Watson's ready for us. Let's go in and join him, shall we?

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86.785 - 91.212 Doris Favisham

Good evening, Mr. Bartell.

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91.332 - 94.257 Dr. John Watson

Evening, doctor.

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94.277 - 97.843 Harry Bartell

The dogs seem very pleased with themselves tonight. Did they have a good day?

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98.143 - 116.692 Dr. John Watson

Yes, the three of us did, my boy. Go on, run off out in the patio. 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. So their day was complete.

116.812 - 121.138 Harry Bartell

I'll have to join you on one of your afternoon strolls, Doctor. You and the dog seem to have so much fun.

121.218 - 127.506 Dr. John Watson

Oh, I'll be glad of your company, Mr. Bartell. Well, draw up your usual churn. I'll get on with tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure.

127.786 - 131.551 Harry Bartell

From the hint you gave us last week, I guess a Frenchman played a prominent part in the story?

131.571 - 150.468 Dr. John Watson

Yes, indeed he did, Mr. Bartell. His name was Francois Navillard. and he was a detective of some note in his own country. By the time my story begins, it was in 1889 to be exact, Livia had come over to London to discuss with Holmes the difficulties of translating some of his monographs into the French language.

Chapter 3: What is the significance of the Baconian cipher in the mystery?

161.45 - 186.267 Dr. John Watson

Oh, he did. Well, of course, he didn't admit the fact, 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. Mrs. 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...

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186.55 - 198.436 Dr. John Watson

to knock on what once had been my own living room door. Come in. Come in. Oh, hello, Holmes. Oh, I beg your pardon.

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198.456 - 201.944 Sherlock Holmes

I didn't know you were... Watson, my dear fellow. How very nice to see you again.

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201.964 - 203.147 Dr. John Watson

It's great to see you, Holmes.

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203.167 - 211.355 Sherlock Holmes

I... I'm sorry I interrupted you. No. I didn't know that you had company. Not at all, my dear fellow. We're delighted, aren't we, Léviat? Léviat. Watson, this is Monsieur Léviat.

211.375 - 212.877 Dr. John Watson

How do you do, sir? How do you do?

212.897 - 219.086 Monsieur Léviat

Enchanté, monsieur. I have often wished to meet the so charming Dr. Watson. Holmes has told me a great deal about you.

219.106 - 227.779 Sherlock Holmes

Oh, it's very nice of you, sir. Ah, very. It suits you, Watson. You look splendid, old fellow. Gained a little weight, haven't you? Oh, yes. A few pounds, I mean. Come, sir. Sit down, won't you?

229.193 - 233.28 Dr. John Watson

Are you sure that I'm not interrupting you in some important discussion?

Chapter 4: How does Holmes decipher the coded message?

242.956 - 247.684 Sherlock Holmes

Monsieur, the VI is convinced that the English criminal is a very dull dog indeed.

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247.764 - 253.22 Dr. John Watson

Well, we've met some far from dull ones in our time. Are you sure, Monsieur Léviat?

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253.661 - 256.404 Monsieur Léviat

Ah, the exceptions rather than the rule, I fear, Monsieur Doctor.

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256.645 - 258.227 Sherlock Holmes

You're stubborn, aren't you, Léviat?

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258.267 - 276.592 Monsieur Léviat

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. Ah, there you would find opponents really worthy of your steel. What can happen to interest you in this land of grey frogs, boiled potatoes, and pots of tea?

276.612 - 280.003 Dr. John Watson

Excuse me for my sauce, monsieur. You're not very flattering.

280.063 - 283.09 Monsieur Léviat

Oh, I meant no offense, my friend.

283.19 - 294.438 Dr. John Watson

Well, you say that the English criminal is dull. Perhaps if you were to read a published story of mine called A Study in Scarlet, you'd think differently. It tells of a very exciting adventure that Holmes and I had.

294.899 - 303.456 Monsieur Léviat

I have read it, my friend. You have? An extremely gripping story, but surely you will admit that the crime was essentially of American origin. He's right, Watson.

Chapter 5: What clues lead Holmes to suspect foul play?

344.831 - 347.474 Sherlock Holmes

Today's column seems rather uninspired, I'm afraid.

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347.494 - 348.376 Monsieur Léviat

May I examine it?

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348.396 - 349.617 Sherlock Holmes

Of course. Here you are. Merci. Merci.

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350.677 - 373.068 Monsieur Léviat

Um, if the lady who helped my little boy across the road at the corner of Threadwell Street and High Auburn last Wednesday at four will get in touch with Box 845, she will learn of something to her advantage. Help me can be more colorful than that in Paris, my friend. I think we can do better than that, too. Yeah, look at this, William.

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373.088 - 389.849 Dr. John Watson

The printer must have been half asleep when he set up the type for this advertisement. Will any gentleman interested in discussing cryptography and cipher writing please communicate with BoxXQL696 the time?

390.249 - 410.158 Monsieur Léviat

Oh, I fail 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.

410.198 - 416.608 Sherlock Holmes

And when it occurs in a paper noted for its excellence in typesetting, one realizes that this is no mistake.

416.648 - 417.329 Monsieur Léviat

What do you mean, Holmes?

417.609 - 419.472 Sherlock Holmes

This is undoubtedly a code message.

Chapter 6: What revelations occur during the confrontation at the Elms?

470.73 - 480.333 Sherlock Holmes

Elms. Help. Quilter. Elms. Per. There it is, yes. Penge. Help Quilter Elms Penge. Help Quilter Elms Penge.

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480.353 - 488.321 Dr. John Watson

What does that mean? Presumably there's a man named Quilter who lives at a house called the Elms... in the village of Penge, needs help.

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488.341 - 504.184 Monsieur Léviat

Ah, I see it now. A helpless victim, help prisoner. He smuggles out this message 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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504.585 - 510.373 Dr. John Watson

Et voilà. Monsieur Villa, you seem ready to grant that adventure can exist in London, after all.

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510.874 - 532.33 Sherlock Holmes

The advantage, my dear Watson, of a more mercurial temperament than we Englishmen possess. Well, the VR, what about it? Shall we set off for Penge and rescue the ingenious Mr. Quilter from whatever dire fate awaits him in the Elms? I'm all in patience. Splendid. Watson, I suppose you're too busy to join us. Too busy? Well, I'm in your practice, and I'm sure that you have patience to attend to.

532.35 - 547.479 Dr. John Watson

As a matter of fact, I have two further visits to make today. 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 blazes with a... I'm coming with you, Holmes, if you want me.

547.579 - 550.382 Sherlock Holmes

Bravo, Watson. Then grab your hat and coat. The game's afoot.

559.133 - 559.373

THE END

566.423 - 572.175 Monsieur Léviat

Here you are, gents. The Helms pen. Nice afternoon for a drive, wasn't it? Afraid it'll cost you 15 bob, though.

Chapter 7: How does Holmes solve the mystery of Mr. Quilter?

574.54 - 578.609 Sherlock Holmes

Thank you, Governor.

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578.629 - 590.529 Dr. John Watson

Top of the evening to you, gents. Ah, so... This is the elms, eh? Quite a bit of land for such a modest neighborhood.

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590.589 - 596.297 Monsieur Léviat

To call it the elms seems remarkably inapropos. I cannot see an elm tree in sight.

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596.838 - 606.713 Sherlock Holmes

So you see, Olivier, the English have more imagination than you give them credit for. Are you just going to walk up to the front door and knock, Holmes? Why not? The direct approach is often the most satisfactory.

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607.253 - 612.959 Monsieur Léviat

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.

613.1 - 624.359 Sherlock Holmes

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 throw... Oh.

624.379 - 626.784 Dr. John Watson

It's Scott. The vulva shots.

626.804 - 641.491 Sherlock Holmes

They came from the house. Ah, we are too late. Mr. 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 Vicente.

641.511 - 646.759 Monsieur Léviat

Mon Dieu, you mean that violence and sudden death are so common that they do not attract even the passing interest?

Chapter 8: What are the implications of the case's resolution for the characters?

697.221 - 706.416 Sherlock Holmes

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. My name is Doris Favisham.

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707.097 - 708.38 Jeffrey

Come in, won't you?

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708.56 - 710.403 Dr. John Watson

Miss Favisham, I suppose it is.

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710.763 - 713.007 Jeffrey

Yes, doctor. It's Miss Favisham.

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713.027 - 719.805 Dr. John Watson

We heard three revolver shots as we were walking up the driveway. They... Gave us quite a start.

719.865 - 723.992 Monsieur Léviat

Yes, mademoiselle. We were afraid that we might have arrived at the time of tragedy. Yes, indeed.

724.032 - 731.445 Jeffrey

Tragedy? Oh, my hobby is revolver shooting. I was doing some target practice in the back garden as you arrived.

731.485 - 737.214 Sherlock Holmes

Revolver shooting, Miss Savage. Very interesting. I flatter myself that I'm something of a marksman myself. Oh, really?

737.795 - 740.194 Jeffrey

Well, perhaps we can have a match. Won't you sit down?

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