Chapter 1: What is the premise of The Blanched Soldier?
From London, we present The Blanche Soldier, a play for radio by Michael Hardwick, based on the short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Blanche Soldier.
For a long time, my friend Watson has worried me to write down an experience of my own. I have often had occasion to point out to him how superficial are his own accounts, and to accuse him of pandering to popular taste, instead of confining himself rigidly to facts and figures. Try it yourself, Holmes, he's retorted.
And, yes, I'm compelled to admit, I do begin to realize that the matter must be presented in an interesting way. I find from my notebook that it was just at that time, January 1903, soon after the conclusion of the Boer War, that I had a visit from a certain Mr. James M. Dodd.
It is my habit to sit with my back to the window and to place my visitors in the opposite chair where the light falls full upon them. Mr. James M. Dodd seemed somewhat at a loss how to begin the interview, so I gave him some of my conclusions. From South Africa, sir, I perceive. Oh, why, yes, sir. Imperial yeomanry, I fancy. Exactly. The middle sex, no doubt. Mr. Holmes, you are a wizard.
When a gentleman of virile appearance enters my room with such a tan upon his face as an English son could never give, and with his handkerchief in his sleeve instead of in his pocket, it is not difficult to place him. You wear a short beard which shows that you are not a regular. You have the cut of a riding man.
As to Middlesex, your card has already shown me that you are a stockbroker from Frog Morton Street.
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Chapter 2: What personal experience does Watson share with Holmes?
What other regiment could you have chosen? You see everything. I see no more than you, but I have trained myself to notice what I see. However, Mr. Dodd, it was not to discuss the science of observation that you called upon me this morning. What has been happening at Tuxbury Old Park? Mr. Holmes, I... How? My dear sir, there is no mystery. Your letter came with that heading.
As you fixed this appointment in very pressing terms, it was clear that something sudden and important had occurred during your visit there. Yes, indeed. But a good deal has happened since that letter was written. If Colonel Emsworth hadn't kicked me out, I'd... Kicked you out? Perhaps, Mr. Todd, you'll explain what you're talking about.
I got into the way of supposing that you knew everything without being told. But I will give you the facts, and I hope you will be able to tell me what they mean. Then pray proceed. Colonel Emsworth was the Crimean VC, you know. Oh, yes, yes. Well, when I joined up in 1901, young Godfrey, his only son, joined the same squadron.
Well, we formed the kind of friendship you can only make when you both live the same life and share the same joys and sorrows. We took the rough and the smooth together through a year of fighting. Then, outside Pretoria, he was wounded in the shoulder. I got one letter from the hospital at Cape Town and one from Southampton. Since then, not a word. Not one word, Mr. Holmes, for six months or more.
And he was my closest pal. And what then? When the war was over and we all got back
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Chapter 3: Who is Mr. James M. Dodd and why does he seek Holmes' help?
I wrote to his father and asked where Godfrey was. No answer. I waited a bit and wrote again. This time I had a reply, short and gruff. Godfrey had gone on a voyage round the world, and it wasn't likely that he'd be back for a year. Well, Mr. Holmes, I wasn't satisfied. The whole thing seemed so damned unnatural. I wasn't like him to drop a pal in such a manner. What did you do?
Well, my own affairs took quite a time to straighten out, so I haven't been able to do anything about it till this week. My first move was to go down to his home, Tuxbury Old Park. I had to walk five miles from the station, and it was nearly dark when I got there.
But at any rate, when I told the old butler my business, he went away, and then came back and showed me straight into Colonel Emsworth's study. Well, sir, I should be interested to know the reasons for this visit. I explained to you in my letter, sir. I knew Godfrey in Africa. Yes, yes, I know that. Of course, we've only your word for it. Oh, I have his letters to me in my pocket.
Kindly let me see them.
Hmm.
We were the closest of friends, sir. Is it not natural that I should wonder at his sudden silence and wish to know what has become of him? I have some recollection, sir, that I had already explained that in replying to your letters. He's gone upon a voyage around the world.
His health was in a poor way after his African experiences, and I was of the opinion that complete rest and change were needed. Kindly pass that explanation on to any other friends who may be interested in the matter.
Certainly.
But perhaps you would have the goodness to let me have the name of the steamer and the shipping line. I have no doubt I shall be able to get a letter through to him. Many people, Mr. Dodd, would take offense at your infernal pertinacity. They would consider this insistence to have reached the point of damned impudence. Then you must put it down to my real love for your son.
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Chapter 4: What mysterious events are happening at Tuxbury Old Park?
You say he was. Look here. What is all this mystery about? What has become of Godfrey Emsworth? I don't know what you mean, sir. Ask the master about Master Godfrey. It's not for me to interfere. Let go of me, please, sir. Now, listen to me, Ralph. You're going to answer one question before you leave this room if I have to hold you all night. Is Godfrey Emsworth dead? I wish he was, sir.
I wish to God he was. Well, after that, there seemed to be only one interpretation, Mr. Holmes. My poor friend had evidently become involved in something criminal, or at the least something disreputable, that had touched the family honour. His stern old father had sent me away for fear of some scandal coming to light. Well, that was what I thought just then.
Your problem presents some very unusual features, Mr. Dodd. Please continue. Well, after Butler had gone... I must have stood there pondering all this for some time. Then something made me look up. And there was Godfrey Emsworth. In the room? No, he was outside the window. It was a ground floor room. I'd left the curtains open. And there he was, looking at me through the glass.
He was deadly pale. I'd never seen a man so white. I reckon ghosts may look like that. But his eyes met mine. And they were the eyes of a living man. Did he give any sign? When he saw me looking at him, he sprang back into the darkness. Mr. Holmes, there was something shocking about that man. It wasn't just that ghastly face. It was something... something slinking and furtive. Something guilty.
It left a feeling of... of horror in my mind. I assume, however, that when a man has been soldiering a year or two with Brother Boers, his playmate, he keeps his nerve and acts quickly. Exactly. I got very hardly bashed before I was out of that window. I ran down the garden path in the way I thought he might have gone. It seemed to me that something was moving ahead of me.
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Chapter 5: What is the significance of Colonel Emsworth in the story?
I called his name. It was no use. When I got to the end of the path, there were several others branching in different directions to some outhouses. But as I stood there hesitating, I distinctly heard the sound of a closing door. It wasn't behind me in the house. It was somewhere ahead in the darkness. I knew then, Mr. Holmes, that what I'd seen was no vision.
Well then, Mr. Dodd, what else did you do? There was nothing more I could do. I spent an uneasy night trying to find some theory to cover the facts. Well, next day I found the colonel rather more conciliatory. His wife remarked that there were some places of interest in the neighborhood, and I saw an opening to ask her that I might stay there one more night. Somewhat grudgingly, he agreed.
Which gave you a clear day in which to make your observations. Yes. I felt I must explore the garden and see what I could find. There were several small outhouses, but at the end of the garden there was a detached building of some size. It was heavily curtained. I wondered if this could have been the place the sound of that shutting door had come from.
I approached in a careless fashion, restoring agency, and as I did so, a small bearded man in a black coat and a bowler hat came out of the door. He locked it after him. Then he looked at me with some surprise.
Good day, sir.
Good day. Are you a visitor here? Yes, I am. My name is Dodd, James M. Dodd. I see. I'm an old army chum of Mr. Godfrey Emsworth's. I came hoping to see him. What a pity that he should be away on his travels. He would have been pleased to see you, no doubt, Mr. Dodd. His travels? Exactly. Well, good day to you, sir.
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Chapter 6: Why is Godfrey Emsworth's absence concerning to his friends?
No doubt you will resume your visit at some more propitious time. Good day, sir. He passed on. When I turned, I observed that he was standing watching me, half concealed by some laurels at the far end of the gardens. So I strolled back to the house and waited for night.
As soon as everyone had retired and everything was dark and quiet, I slipped out of my window and made my way as silently as possible to the mysterious lodge. The curtains were still drawn, but now there were shutters up as well. Even so, there was some light coming through at one place. I found I could see inside the room. I saw the little man I'd seen that morning.
He was smoking a pipe and reading a paper. I tried to see more of the room... But just then, so you've become a spy, have you? Kindly follow me back to the house, sir. There's a train to London at 8.30 in the morning. Sir, if I may only... The matter will not bear discussion. You've made a most damnable intrusion into the privacy of our family. You were here as a guest, and you've become a spy.
I've nothing more to say, sir, save that I have no wish ever to see you again. Very well, Colonel Hemsworth. I mean, I've seen your son, and I'm convinced that for some reason of your own you are concealing him from the world. I've no idea what your motives are in cutting him off in this fashion, but I'm sure he's no longer a free agent.
And I warn you, Colonel, that until I'm assured of the safety of the well-being of my friend, I shall never desist in my efforts to get to the bottom of this mystery. However, he didn't attack me, Mr. Holmes. But there was nothing for it but to take the appointed train after writing first to ask you to see me. Mr. Dodd, the servants... Now, how many were there in the house?
Well, to the best of my belief, there were only the old butler and his wife. The family seemed to live in the simplest fashion. There was no servant then in the detached house? None. Unless the little man with the beard acted as such. He seemed to be quite a superior person. You mentioned seeing him sitting by the fire reading a paper. What paper was it? Well, can that matter?
It could be most essential. Well, it took no notice. Possibly you observed whether it was a broadleaf paper... Or of that smaller type which one associates with weeklies? Since you mention it, it wasn't very large. Very well. Now, had you any indication that food was conveyed from the one house to the other?
Well, I did see old Ralph carrying a basket down the garden walk and going in the direction of this house. Did you make any local inquiries? Yes, I did. I spoke to the stationmaster and the innkeeper. I simply asked if they knew anything of my old comrade, Godfrey Emsworth. Both of them assured me that he'd gone for a voyage around the world. You said nothing of your suspicions. Nothing.
Yet you said that you had seen your friend's face quite clearly at the window. So clearly that you're sure of his identity? I have no doubt about it whatever. The lamplight shone full upon him. It couldn't have been someone resembling him. No, no, no. It was he. But you say he was changed. Only in colour. His face was... I'm trying to describe it. It was a... of a fish-belly whiteness.
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Chapter 7: What shocking revelation does Mr. Dodd experience about Godfrey?
As this case was first presented to me, there were three possible explanations of the seclusion or incarceration of this gentleman in and out of his father's mansion. There was the possibility that he was in hiding for a crime, or that he was mad and they wished to avoid an asylum, or that he had some disease which caused his segregation. I could think of no other adequate explanations.
The criminal solution would not bear inspection. No unsolved crime had been reported from this district. If it were some crime not yet discovered, then clearly it would be to the family's interest to send the delinquent abroad rather than keep him concealed at home. Insanity was more plausible. What's that? The presence of the second person in the outhouse suggested a keeper.
The fact that he locked the door when he came out strengthened the supposition. On the other hand, this constraint could not be severe, or the young man could not have got loose to have a look at his friend. You will remember, Mr. Dodd, that I felt round for points. Such as asking me about the paper Mr. Kent had been reading. You were being optimistic there, Mr. Holmes.
Had it been a medical paper, it would have helped me. It is not illegal to keep a lunatic upon private premises so long as there is a qualified person in attendance and the authorities have been notified. Then why all this desperate desire for secrecy? So you had no theory to fit the facts again.
There remained a third possibility.
Rare and unlikely as it was, everything seemed to fit into it. Leprosy is not uncommon in South Africa. Bleaching of the skin is a common result of the disease. By some extraordinary chance, this youth might have contracted it. His people would be placed in a very dreadful position since they would desire to save him from segregation. Great secrecy would be needed
But he could be allowed some freedom after dark. A devoted medical man, if sufficiently paid, would easily be found to take care of him. You thought this case was the strongest of the three, in fact? So strong that I determined to act as if it were actually proved. When I arrived here, I noticed that the gloves worn by Ralph, who carried the meals, were strongly impregnated with disinfectant.
My last doubts were removed. A single word showed you, sir, that your secret was discovered. Yes, yes, I see it now. But tell me, sir, why did you write it down instead of saying it? That was to prove to you that my discretion was to be trusted. I thought as much. Ah, here is the date. Well, sir, let us know the worst. It is often my lot to bring ill tidings and seldom good.
This occasion is the more welcome, Colonel Emsworth. It is not leprosy.
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