Sherlock Holmes - The Missing Three Quarter

0:00I'm caught up in the game. My attention is on every play and every whistle, but what I'm missing is a signal coming from my kidneys. That signal isn't like a rest whistle. It's more of a silent SOS which could be warning me of an increased risk for events like heart attack or stroke. And a way I can catch that signal? A simple urine test called UACR. If you have Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about the UACR test. Text the SOS. Visit the textbsos.com to learn more. From London, we present The Missing 3 Quarter. A play for radio by Michael Hardwick based on the short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

1:07The Missing 3 Quarter. Things had indeed been very slow with us. I had learned to read such periods of inaction. When I knew by experience that Sherlock Holmes' brain was so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave it without material upon which to work. But yours, I had gradually weaned him from that drug manor which had certain wants to check his remarkable career, but I was well aware that the fiend was not dead but only sleeping. Therefore, I blessed the hour on a gloomy February morning some seven or eight years ago that a telegram arrived at Baker Street with an inigmatic message to break a dangerous calm which brought more peril to my friend than all the storms of his tempestuous life. And it says, please await me. A terrible misfortune, right wing, free quarter missing, indispensable tomorrow. Signed over. Let me see.

2:07Let me see. Hmm. Stren, first mark him dispatched 1036. I don't know about the telegram, we're shortly developed by the sender. I've been down to Scotland Yard, Mr. Holmes. He's taken a Stanley Hopkins advice with account to see you. He said so far as he could see the case was more in your line than that of the regular police. Then placed it down, Mr. Overtonman, tell Miss Slowly and Quarte exactly what it is that has occurred as high you desire. That I should help you. This is where Mr. Holmes. I'm the skipper of the Cambridge 15 and God for his storm is our best man. Mother, if they offspring. Yesterday we all came out and we settled at Benvis' private hotel. The tentacle I went round and saw with all the fellows had gone to roost. This morning the porter comes to me in a great state of agitation. Mr. Overton, sir. Good. Every man, what an earthen man. This was the storm, sir. He's gone, God. This room's empty. He's basically not been slept in.

3:08I don't follow you. I think he's here. Oh, yes, there's still in his room, but he went off last night, sir. He's in towards a strand with another fellow. I see him go. What other fellow? Ruffling chap with a beard. He called him and an open Mr. Stren. I took it up to him. I thought he was going to faint after he's ready. Yes, it fell back in his chairs if he'd been pullax. I'll give a drink of water. Then he said it was all right and he'd come down the earth where the fellow was. Then that a few words. And also that went towards the strand. I was running there, worst. And what did you do when you heard this, Mr. Overton? I wired the cameras to find out if anything had been heard of him there. Could he have got back the camera? Yes, there's a late thing, but no one has seen him. Incredible. Just before the bastard in that. What did you do next, then? I wired Lord Mount James. Quite a Lord Mount James. God please, Lord, Lord Mount James. This is nearest relative. His uncle, I believe. Indeed. Well, this first new light upon the matter, Lord Mount James is one of the richest men in England. So I heard. God please be there, and the old boys nearly ate it.

4:10Cramful of God, too. His name could talk his billiard to you. He's not called for further. He's an absolute miser. Have you heard from Lord Mount James? No. Well, I have a clear day, and I shall be happy to look into the matter. Now, let us step round together to this hotel and see if the portrait is for any fresh light upon things. Can you describe the man with a beard for me? Well, he was about 50. On a gentleman, but not a working man, if you see what I mean, sir. What steep would you say this bearded man was in? Car, excited? No, he's very pale. Very pale, indeed. And though I did notice, when I gave him the note to take up, he then was shaking something terrible. Did you take any other message from Mr. Staunton? Yes, sir. Telegram. Ah, what time was it? About six. I took it to him in his room. Were you present by the opening? I waited while he went to the answer. Did you take the reply? No, sir. He said, all right, porter. I'll take this myself. What did he write to you there?

5:11A penzer. Have you, by any chance, prepared of telegraphic forms on which he wrote this name? Yes, sir. Here they are, sir. Good. They haven't been used since. Thank you. Now then, if I hold this form up to the window. Hmm. See anything? It's a pity he didn't write in pencil. I rejoice to proceed, though, that he wrote it for the double-pointed quill pen. And I can hardly doubt that we will find some impression upon his blocking paper. I think the time has come for us to visit our missing gentleman's room. Yes. I can see it. This is what they're looking for. Hold it up to one minute, sir. Oh, that's unnecessary, sir. The paper is still in the reversal. Give the message. You see? Stand by us for God's sake. So these six words are the tail end of the telegram which God's response and dispatch for few hours before he disappears. Stand by us for God's sake. Sound pretty different with him? Hmm. Evidently, he saw a formidable danger approaching from which someone else could protect him.

6:15Us. It says stand by us. Yes, Watson. So another person was involved. Man was a bear. Then what is the connection between God's response and the bearded man? And what is the third source from which they sought help against that pressing danger? Well, all we have to find is to whom the telegram was addressed? Exactly, my dear Watson. Your affection, though profound, had already crossed my mind. But I dare say it may have come to your notice that if you walk into a post office and demand to see the counter-foil of another man's message, there may be some disinformation on the path of the officials to apply to. Oh, definitely. I mean, while I should like in your presence, Mr. Overton, to go through those papers which have been left upon the table. Certainly. The letters and bills, mostly. No, nothing here. By the way, I suppose your friend was a healthy young fellow. Nothing of this with him. Songs of Bell.

7:16Perhaps he was not so strong as you suppose. With your essence, I will put upon the two of these papers in my pocket in case they should bear upon our future inquiries. One moment. One moment. Who are you, sir? And by what might you touch this gentleman's papers? I am a private detective and I'm endeavouring to explain his disappearance. No, you are. Are you? And who are you stuck? Did you hear? This gentleman, Mr. Stanton's friend, was referred to by Spartan Diard. And who are you, sir? I'm Sir Overton, sir. And it was you who sent me a telegram. My name is Lord, my James. I came home as quickly as the base water bus would bring me. Yes, sir. You have been stuck to that detective. Yes, sir. And are you prepared to beat the costs? I have no doubt, sir. My friend Godfrey, when we find him, will be prepared to do that. That if he's never found it, he'll answer me that. That is, no doubt his family will.

8:16They're not even of the sort, sir. They don't look to me for a penny. No, not a penny. I am all the family that this young man has got. And I tell you that I am not responsible. You understand that Mr. Detective? I quite understand your position. That has you don't quite understand mine. Godfrey's thoughts that appears to have been a poor man. If he's been kidnapped, it could not have been for anything which he himself possesses. The fame of your wealth has got a broad Lord, my James. And it is entirely possible that a gang of thieves has secured your nephew in order to gain from him some information at your houses, your habits, and your treasure. They've given so much an idea. There I never thought of such a winner. I'm working human roads that are out in the world. But Godfrey is a fine lad, a staunch lad. Nothing would induce him to give his old uncle away. And I'll have the brick moved over to the bank receiving him.

9:16And in the meantime, Mr. Detective will bring him safely back. If there's nowhere for money, then there's so far there's a five hour walk. Even the killer goes, you can always look to me. A good day to you, young man. Get yourself a one. Well, Mr. Holmes, what's next? I'm afraid we must leave you now, Mr. Irvity. Sean here, from you, before the match. I'm sorry, I very much doubt it. There's still like anyway, thank you, doctor. Good morning. Now, isn't that anything we can do about that telegram home? It's worth trying, Martin. Of course, for the warrant, we could demand to see the counterfoil, but we've not reached that stage yet. I don't suppose there's a number of cases, and so busy a place as a post office, yet spent to it. Can I help yourself?

10:16Oh, I'm so sorry to talk with you. There's some small mistake about a telegram I sent yesterday. I've had no answer, and I very much peered, but I'm not supposed to put my name in the end. Could you tell me this, sir? What time was it, sir? A little after six. And who was it, too? The last words in it were for God's sake. I need the answers to getting no answers. So have that legacy. Ah, here it is. Oh, there is no name at the end. Then that, of course, accounts for making you no answer. Oh, well, good morning, miss, and nearly thanks for having relieved my mind. Good morning. Well, Holmes, we progress. This idea was to be progressed.

11:16I had certain different schemes to getting a glimpse of that telegram, but I could hardly have to see the very first time. And what have you gained? Get it, get it. What have I gained? A starting point for our investigation. Based at 8.02? There you go. I've gained this costation. We have a journey then. Yes, I think we must run down the same bridge together. Dr. Leslie Armstrong? I have heard your names, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. I am also aware of your profession, one of which I by no means a tool. In that, I'll tell you what find yourself in agreement for that big criminal in the conflict. And then I introduce my friend, Dr. Watson. How do you do, sir? Of course, I am delighted to meet one of the heads of our Mr. Holmes. So far as your efforts are directly towards the suppression of crime, they must help the support of every reasonable member of the country. So I cannot doubt that the official machinery is endless suppression of the purpose.

12:18Where your calling is more open to criticism, is when you apply into the secrets of private individuals, when you rake up a family matters, which are better hidden. And when, incidentally, you wish the time of being one more busy with yourself. No doubt, Dr.. But I may tell you that if we are doing the reverse of what you very just did, then, that when, delivering to prevent public exposure of private matters, which must follow when once the case is in the hands of the official police, I have come to ask you about Mr. Godfrey's form. What about him? You know him, do you not? He is an intimate friend of mine. You are aware that he has disappeared? Indeed. He left his hotel last night. He has not been heard of since. No doubt, she will return. Tomorrow is the vastest of football, ma'am. I have no sympathy with these childish games. The young man's fate interests me deeply since I know him and like him. The football match does not come within my horizon at all. I came your sympathy, then, in my investigation, Mr. Staunton's fate. Do you know where he is?

13:18Certainly not. Was Mr. Staunton a healthy man? Absolutely. Did you ever know him ill? No. Then perhaps you will explain this receded bill for 13 Ginnes paid by Mr. Godfrey Staunton last month to Dr. Leslie Armstrong's Cambridge. I picked it up from among the papers on his desk. I do not feel there is any reason why I should render an explanation to you, Mr. Holmes. Very well. If you prefer public explanation, it must come sooner or later. You would really be wise as it takes me into your complete confidence. I know nothing about it. Did you hear from Mr. Staunton in London? Certainly not. Yeah, me. Yeah, me. The first office again. A massage and telegram is dispatched to you from London by Godfrey Staunton at 16 years to the evening. And yet you will not have it. I will certainly go down to the office here and register a complaint. I will trouble you to walk out of my house, sir. And you can tell your employer, Lord, my James, that I do not wish to have anything to do,

14:20either with him or with his acres. Dr. Leslie Armstrong is certainly a man of energy, wasn't he? Hmm. I have not seen a man who, if he turned his talents that way, was more calculated to fill the gap left by the illustrious Moriarty. This is what happens now. Oh, my poor boss. But if you would engage a room in that little inn just opposite Armstrong's house, I may have time to make a few inquiries. Holmes, where have you been all this time? Oh, here and there, here and there. Ah, what's this? It's been seen up. Carried in a pair of graves outside the doctor's door. It's been out three hours. Stubbed in a half past six and guaranteed that again. That gives a radius of 10 or 12 miles. And he does it once or sometimes twice a day. Not only on your lower doctor interactions. Ah, but Armstrong is not really a doctor in fact.

15:21He's a lecturer and consultant. Why then does he make these long journeys? And who is it that he visits? Well, how about trying his church for me? My dear Watson. Can you doubt that I have already done that? I don't know whether it came from his own innate disability or from the promptings of his master, but he was rude enough to set a dog at me. All that I have learned, I got from a friend that made it in the yard of our own inn. If he would tell me a doctor's habit from his daily journeys, while he was speaking the doctor's carriage came round the door. So far then, excellent Watson. You're scintillating this evening. The idea did cross my mind. There is, as you may have observed, the bicycle stopped next to our inn. Oh, yes. Into this I rushed, engaged the bicycle and was able to get started before the carriage was out of sight. And he had got well out on the country road, but not somewhat mortifying incident occurred. The carriage stopped. The doctor, unlike it, walked swift the deck where I had also halted. And told me in an excellent, sardonic fashion that he feared the road was narrow,

16:24and that he hoped his carriage could not impede the passage of my bicycle. Confunded cheek. Oh, nothing could have been more abnormal than his way of putting it. I once rode past the carriage and went on for a few miles. Then I halted in a convenient pace to see if it would pass me. There was no sign of it. Gone off on a side road? Evidently. You can keep those restaurants in his homes? I'll spare it. And if he knows, then it'll be our own fault if we cannot manage to know all of that. Nope. I shall not be satisfied until I've made the map clear. I thought she had good you made a pen upon what the morning will bring. More coffee, Holmes? No, thank you, Martin. I've had a note from the doctor. Oh, yeah. Listen to this. Sir, I can assure you that you are wasting your time in dogging my movements. No spying upon me can, in any way, help Mr. Rodriguez-Conson.

17:25And I'm convinced that the best service you can do to that gentleman is to return at once to London and to report to your employer that you are unable to place him. Yours faithfully, Leslie Armstrong. That man has the cheek of the devil. An unspoken honest antagonist is the doctor? Oh, well. He excites my curiosity. I just really know more before I leave him. I said it carries his door now. Huh? There he is, stepping into it. Yes. You can't see how well I win, don't I? Holmes, maybe I try my luck on the bicycle. Oh, no, no, no, no. My dear, what's with all respect to your natural act? You mean I do not think that you're quite a match for the worthy doctor? No, no. I think that possibly I can attain I end by some independent explorations by it. Are you not going to leave me twiddling my thumbs in this place again? Are you hanging? I'm afraid so. Oh, but dash it. But I hope to bring death a more favorable report to you before nightfall. Very well, Holmes, I only hope you do.

18:27A blank day, I'm afraid what? A blank day. Oh, I don't know much. Where have you been? I haven't got the doctor's general direction. I visited all the villages upon that side of Cambridge. That covered some ground I can tell you. Chesterton, Eastern, Water Beach, Oakings and... Oh, what are you doing? Comparing notes for publicans and other local news agencies? Nothing. Or by the way, is there a telegram for me? Oh, yes. Ah. I opened this. I didn't understand it though. It says I'm asked for pompier from Jeremy Jixson. The Trinity College. Me and any of you? Oh. This is clear enough. It's for my friend, Oberton, in answer to my question for me. I just send random notes to Mr. Jeremy Jixson, and then I have no doubt that I'll luck with her. Oh, by the way, the news of the match? Oh, yes, yes. The local paper has an excellent economy's last edition.

19:27Oxford won by a girl and two trials. One hearing of it? I'll just read you the last sentence. The defeat of the light blues may be entirely attributed to the unfortunate absences of the cracking international God for his tauntum, whose one to spell is every instance of the game. Then I offend Oberton's for burdens have been justified. Personally, I'm in agreement with Dr. Armstrong, and football does not come within my horizon. More is the pity for you, whoa. I didn't read. Let us follow the example of the footballers and take another day night in bed. I perceive that tomorrow may be an eventful day. Holmes, where have you been this time? And what are you doing with that hypodermic syringe? Don't tell me you... Down, down, down, down, down my dear fella. There's no course for alarm. It is of the instrument of evil upon this occasion. On this syringe, I base all my hopes. I've just returned from the small scouting expedition

20:27and everything is favourable. Each of our breakfast spots, and for I propose to get upon Dr. Armstrong's trail today, and once on it, I will not stop for rest or food until I run into his butter. And that cancee best carry our breakfast with us. He's making an early stop. The carriage is at the door already. Never mind. Let him go. He'll be clever as he can drive what I cannot follow him. Or when you've finished, come downstairs with me. And I'll introduce you to a detective who is a very imminent specialist in the worst of lies before us. What's wrong? Well, let me introduce you to Pop. Who won't be surprised at the local drag hounds? No, very great flyer. His bill will show. But a staunch hand on a scent. Well, Pop, you may not be fast. But I expect you to be too fast for a couple of middle-aged London gentlemen. So I'll just like the liberty of passing this lever leash to your collar.

21:27Now buy it. Come along and show what you can do. He'll run us off our legs this race. What have you done, Holmes? I've fed there and then rubbed the bike, but useful on the occasion. I walked into the abducted jihad this morning, and shot my syringe full of aniseido for the hangry with his carriage. The backhand will follow aniseido from here in the John the Ghost. Oh, he's turning off into this lane. What? Holmes, it goes back almost in the direction of the town. Oh, the cunning rascal. This is how he gave it to slip the other night. This day tour has been entirely for our benefit, then. No wonder my enquiries among these villages led to nothing. I'd very much like to know the reason for all this elaborate deception. This should be the village of Carrington to the right of us. Right, Joseph. Here's the broom coming around the corner. Pick what you wish for. We're done. Here's the view.

22:28That was under your thing. Did you get a glimpse of Armstrong? Yes, I did. It's Sunkone's aniseido's dress, I'll say. I fear there is some dark ending to our quest. Come, Pompi. Oh, he's making for the cottage in the field. Now we shall see what we shall see. Listen, what's fair? The doctor is coming there, Holmes. That settled it. We must see what it means before he comes. Oh, you. Are you Mr. Godforsk, don't you? Yes. As I am. But you're too late.

23:28She's then. You can see for yourselves. She was very beautiful. Very young. Consumption, Holmes. Without a doubt. We did our best to keep it from everyone. Once a whisper gets about. So, gentlemen, you have attained your end. You have certainly chosen a delicate moment for your intuition. I am not drawn in the presence of death, but I can assure you that if I were a young woman. Here's me, Dr. Armstrong. I think we are a little at cross-purposes.

24:30If you could step into the next room with us, we might each be able to give some light to the other from this miserable affair. Very well. Where is it? I wish you to understand in the first place that I am not employed by Lord Mount James, and that my sympathies in this matter are entirely against that noble. When a man is lost, it is my duty to ascertain his fate, but having done so the matter in, so far as I'm concerned. If, as I imagine, there is no breach of the law in this matter, you can absolutely depend upon my discretion and my cooperation in keeping the facts out of the papers. Mr. Holmes, you are a good fellow. I hadn't touched you.

25:30And my apologies to you, too, sir. Not at all, Dr. Armstrong. I got a girl. Godfors Stanton married his dance lady's daughter. She was good. She was beautiful and intelligent. No man need be ashamed of such a wife. But Godfors was the heir to this cremd old nobleman, and he was setting that the news would have meant the end to his inheritance. I did all I could to help him to keep things straight. Thanks to this little cottage in his own discretion, Godfors has, up to now, is succeeded. There came the terrible blow of this video that killed us. The poor boy had to pretend to play this match, but he could not get out of it without explanations, which would expose the secrets. He sent me a wire imploring me to do all I could. This was the telegram, which you appear to have seen.

26:31I did not tell him how urgent the danger was, but I sent the truth to the girl's father. And he very enthusiastically communicated to Godfors. The result was that he came straight away and was remained kneeling at the end of her bed until this morning, death put an end to her sufferings. That is all, Mr. Holmes. I'm sure that I can rely upon your discretion and that of your friend. Yes, yes, indeed, sir. Come, Watson. Let us deal now away. That was The Missing Free Quarter by Michael Hardwick, based on the short story by Sir Arthur Conan Royal. Sherlock Holmes was date by Carlson Holmes.