Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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A pair of pince-nez. They were found in the dead man's right hand. There can be no question that he snatched them from the face of the assassin. May I see them, please? Huh? May I tell you anything, Holmes? Inspector, you have your notebook, of course. Please take it out and write as I dictate. Wanted. A woman of good address, attired like a lady. She has a remarkably thick nose.
She has a puckered forehead, appearing expression, and probably rounded shoulders. By George's marks. It's incredible. The great mind of my friend Sherlock Holmes never ceased to amaze me.
My name is Watson, Dr. Watson, and I was privileged to share the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Now, let me locate the exact page. And I will tell you about the case of the Golden Parsnay. A moment, please.
I think that of all the cases which fill three massive volumes containing our work for the year 1894, the case which is the most conducive to a display of those peculiar powers which my friend Holmes was famous was that of the Golden Parsnay. Well, Holmes, here's Inspector Stanley Hopkins to see you.
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Chapter 2: What is the significance of the pince-nez in the story?
Ah, Hopkins, come in, my dear sir. Evening, Mr. Holmes. It must be something important that has brought you out in such a gale. It is indeed, Mr. Holmes. Did you see anything of the... the Yoxley case in the latest editions? I've seen nothing later than the 15th century today. Let us hear about it.
Some years ago, this country house, Yoxley Old Place, was taken by an elderly man named Professor Coram. He was an invalid, keeping to his bed half the time. He has the reputation down there of being a very learned man. He found it necessary about a year ago to engage a secretary.
The first two that he tried were not successes, but the third, Mr Willoughby Smith, was a very young man straight from university. He seemed to be just what his employer wanted. I've seen his testimonials. From the first, he was a decent, quiet, hard-working fellow. Nothing against him at all. And yet, this is the lad who has met his death this morning in the professor's study. His death?
I take it you're going to tell us he's been murdered. The circumstances can point only to that. I see. Well, you'd better tell us a little more about the household to begin with. If you were to search all England, I don't suppose you'd find a household more self-contained. or free from outside influences. The professor was buried in his work. Young Smith knew nobody in the neighbourhood.
And the two women had nothing to take them from the house, although the garden gate is only a hundred yards from the main London to Chatham Road. Just a moment, these two women, who are they? Well, there's an elderly housekeeper, Mrs. Marker, and a maid, Susan Tarleton. I see. This Susan Tarleton was the only person who could say anything positive about the matter.
Between 11 and 12... I was hanging some curtains in the upstairs front bedroom, sir.
Where was the professor at this time?
Oh, Professor Coram was still in bed when the weather's bad, he hardly ever gets up before midday. Well, sir, I heard Mr. Willoughby Smith pass along the passage and go down to the study just below where I was working. A minute or so later, there was a dreadful cry. Then nothing, just silence.
What did you do?
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Chapter 3: How does the Yoxley case unfold in the narrative?
Thank you. Very handsome. Solid gold. I'll just try them on. Oh, dear me. Extraordinary. Did they tell you anything, Holmes? A great deal. Inspector, you have your notebook, of course. Yes. Then pray take it out and write as I dictate. Very well, Mr. Holmes. I'm ready. Write down, wanted. A woman of good address, attired like a lady.
She has a remarkably thick nose with eyes which are set close upon either side of it. She has a puckered forehead, appearing expression, and probably rounded shoulders. There are indications that she has had recourse to an optician at least twice. During the last few months.
Yes, her glasses are of remarkable strength, and as opticians are not very numerous, there should be no difficulty in tracing her. My George is marvellous. It's incredible. But meanwhile, have you anything more to tell us about the case? Nothing, Stones. I think you know as much as I do now. Probably more. He seems such a... such a pointless crime. That's what beats me.
No one has suggested a ghost of a motive. I suppose you can't, Mr. Holmes. Ah, there I'm not in a position to help you. But I suppose you want us to come out tomorrow. If it's not asking too much. There's a train from Charing Cross to Chatham at six in the morning. We should be at Yoxley Old Place between eight and nine.
Chapter 4: What are the details surrounding Willoughby Smith's death?
Then we shall take it.
Well, it's nearly one now, and we'd best get a few hours sleep.
Why not stay here, Inspector? I dare say you can manage on the sofa in front of the fire.
Oh, now, that's a very good idea. And I'll light my spirit lamp and give you a cup of coffee before we start.
Oh, no! Yes, it's bitter, all right, Doctor. Yes, anyway, the wind has copped. That's for a leaf. Morning, sir. Morning. Any news?
No, sir, nothing. No reports of any strangers seen about? No, sir. I've just been asking again at the railway station. Have you inquired of the inns and lodgings? There's no one who can't be accounted for, sir. Well, it's only a reasonable walk to Chatham. Anyone could stay there without being noticed. You're all right, Kelly, wasn't it? Very good, sir.
This is the, uh, the garden's path, I suppose. Ah, yes, I see. Hmm. Someone has passed along here.
Hmm.
Hmm.
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Chapter 5: Who are the key characters involved in the investigation?
It was a very remarkable performance. Very remarkable. Well, I think we've exhausted the path. Let us now go indoors to the scene of the crime. The position is this. The garden door is usually kept open so the lady had nothing to do but walk in. The idea of murder was not in her mind. Or she'd have provided herself with a weapon instead of having to pick up the knife from this writing table here.
She came along the corridor leaving no traces upon the coconut matting. Then she found herself in this study. What does she do? She goes over to the writing table. What for? Not for anything in the drawers, for nothing is missing. No. It was for something in this bureau. No? What's this scratch beside the keyhole? Why didn't you tell me of this, Hopkins?
I noticed it, Mr. Holmes, but you always find scratches around a keyhole. Watson, just give Mrs. Marker a shot, will you? This scratch is recent, Hopkins. Quite recent. See how the brass shines where it's cut? Look through my lens. Yes, I see what you mean. An old scratch would be the same color as the surface.
Yes, sir? Here's Mrs. Marker.
Oh, Mrs. Marker. Did you dust this bureau yesterday morning?
Yes, sir.
Did you notice this scratch?
Where, sir? Here. Oh, no, that wasn't there yesterday, I'm sure of that.
Ah. Who has the key of this bureau?
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Chapter 6: What evidence leads to the conclusion of the murder?
Here? When? This instant. You are joking, surely, Mr. Sherlock Holmes? Professor Coram, what your motives are, or what exact part you play in this strange business, I'm not yet able to say. In a few minutes, I shall probably hear it from your own lips. Meanwhile, I will reconstruct what is past so that you may know the information which I still require. As you wish.
Yesterday, a lady entered your study with the intention of possessing herself of certain documents from your bureau. She had a key of her own. You gave me an opportunity of examining yours, and I do not find on it that slight discoloration which the scratch would have produced. You were not an accessory, therefore, and she evidently came without your knowledge to rob you.
This is most interesting and instructive. But surely, having traced this lady so far, you could also say what has become of her. I will endeavor to do so. In the first place, she was seized by your secretary and stabbed him in order to escape. This catastrophe I am inclined to regard as an unhappy accident Horrified by what she had done, she rushed wildly away from the sea.
Unfortunately, she had lost her glasses and the scuffle, and as she was extremely short-sighted, she was really helpless without them. She ran down a corridor, which she imagined to be that by which she'd come. Both were lines of coconut netting, and too late, realized that she had taken the wrong one. She couldn't go back. She must go on. She pushed open a door and found herself in your room.
Oh, very fine, Mr. Holmes. But there is one little flaw in a splendid theory. I was myself in my room. I am aware of that, Professor Coram. And you mean to say that I could lie in bed and not be aware that a woman had entered my room? I never said so. You were aware of it. You recognized her. You aided her to escape. You are mad, mad. I helped her to escape. Where is she now?
She is there, behind that bookcase in the corner.
You are right. You are quite right. I am here.
I arrest you in the Queen's name for the murder of Willoughby Smith.
And I warn you that anything... Yes, sir, I am your prisoner.
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Chapter 7: How does Holmes deduce the identity of the murderer?
I could hear everything, and I know that you have learned the truth. It was I who killed that young man. Then you realize... But you are right, you, sir, who say that it was an accident. I did not even know that I had a knife in my hand. In my despair, I snatched the nearest thing from the table and struck at him to make him let me go.
I am sure that is the proof. She best sit down a moment, Holmes.
She looks ill.
Oh, thank you. I have only a little time here, and I must tell you the whole truth.
Here, now, don't you take this chair. Thank you.
I am this man's wife. He is not an Englishman. He is a Russian. I will not tell you his name. The Lord bless you. I wonder why you cling so hard to that wretched life of yours again. It has brought no good to anyone, least of all yourself.
Pray let us hear what you have to say.
I was a foolish girl when I married this old man in Russia. We were reformers, revolutionaries. Then came a time of trouble. A police officer was killed. And in all of the cities, all night... And earn a great reward. My husband betrayed his companions and me with the... Among our comrades. There was one, Alexei, who was noble, unselfish, loving. Everything my husband was not. He hated violence.
He was forever writing to dissuade me from it. My husband found the letters which would have saved that man and me from Siberia. He hid them. So we were convicted. I was released not long ago, but... Alexei is still a convict in the salt mine. Think of that, you old villain. And I could have killed you in this room, but I spared you. You were always a noble woman.
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