Who would ever associate crime with those dear old homesteads.
They always tell me with a certain horror.
It's my belief, Watson, that the lowest and violest allies in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin, and.
Does the smiling of beautiful country side.
No man knew the hidden face of crime better than my friend Sherlock Holmes. My name is doctor Watson, and it was my privilege to share the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
I will tell you about the case of the Copper Beeches. It began, as so often with a letter.
It made Holmes want to laugh at first, but soon he was to take it seriously, and you will.
See why in just a moment.
Well, it looks as though I've touched bottom a life too this note I had this morning, asked my zero point identity.
Yeah, read it you, amister Holmes.
I'm very anxious, consultuous to whether I should or should not accept the situation which.
Has been offered to me as governors.
I should call it help us ten tomorrow if I do look inconvenience you yours faithfully.
Violet Hunter.
You know the young middy fuck not who's written yesterday, and it's help us ten now, yes, and I have no doubt that, but our doubt forbid it, so will be resolved for her.
And as I'm much mistaken this question, you will excuse my problem you my hopes to home.
I should be happy to do anything I can to save You're miss Hunter, pray taken ity. This is my friend and colleague, doctor Watson.
How do you do?
How do you think?
Doctor Watson?
M M Well, Home.
I think I should explain that I have had a very strange experience, and if I have no parents or.
Relatives of any thought from whom I.
Could ask advice, I thought that perhap you would be kind enough to tell me what I should do.
A strange experience.
I have been a governess for five years.
But my employer recently took an appointment abroad and I found myself.
Without a situation.
I advertised and I answered advertisements, but I had no success. Then the little money I'd saved began to run short. I was at my wit then what to do? There is a well known agency for governesses in the West End called Westways, and I used to call there about once a week. The manager, Miss Stpah sits in her own little office, and the.
Ladies who are seeking employment wait in an ante room.
They're shown in one by one, and Miss Stopah consults her ledgers and sees whether she has anything to suit them well. When I cause law, I think I was shown into the office as.
Usual, But I found that Miss Soper was not a lot.
Ah.
This one will do.
I could not ask for anything better, Miss.
Soper, capital, capital, Sit down, Miss hunter Pie, this isn't the rule castle.
Thank you.
You are looking for a situation miss.
Yes, sir as governors, Yes sir?
And what sory do you ask?
In my last place with Colonel since Monroe, I had four pounds a mass.
Oh, come come, sweating ranks sweating.
How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with such attraction?
An accomplishment?
My accomplishment will may be less than your emergine A little French, a little German muses and.
Drawing is all pract beside the question. The point is have you the bearing and department of the ladies?
There? It is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are not fitted for.
The rearing of a child who may some day play.
A considerable part in the history of the country.
But if you have wether, then how could any dethman ask you to condescend to accept anything under free figures?
Your salary with me, madam, would commence at a hundred pounds a year.
It is also my custom to advance to my young ladies half their salary beforehand, so they may.
Meet any little expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.
May I ask where you live, sir, perhapsha charming rural place at the Copper Beaches, five miles on the far side of Winchester.
It's the dearest old country house. And my duty, sir, a one child, one dear little romper, just six years.
Though my soul duty then are to take charge of a single child.
Oh no, no, not for soul, not for soul.
My dear young lady, your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would suggest, to obey any little commands, provided always that they were such as a lady might with propriety obey, and which I or my wife might skid.
Your wives, I should be happy to make that solf useful. Of course.
Quite so, we are faddy people, you know, faddy that's kind hearted in dress.
Now, for example, if you were asked to.
Wear any dress which we might give you, you would not object to our little swim, or to sit here.
Or sit there that would not be offensive to.
You, no, or to cut your long hair quite short before you came to us.
My hair, oh loosh, not my hair. So I'm saying that is quite impossible.
Well, I'm afraid it's quite essential.
There's a little fancy of my wife's and ladies fancies, you know, Madam.
A lady's fancies must be consulted.
And so you wouldn't cut your hair. Mister I really could not very well.
And okay, Miss Sober, I had best inspect a few more of your young ladies.
Very well, mister.
Lucason, Miss Hunter, do you desire your men to be kept upon our books if you please? Wellgary, it seems rather useless than to refuse them as excellent offered in discussion. You can hardly expected to exert ourselves to find.
Another opening for you. Good day, Miss Hunter, yest come along now well, mister Holmes.
When I got back to my lodgings and found little enough in the cupboard and two or three.
Bills on the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a foolish thing. After all, if these people.
Helped change said, they were at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Ready to governesses in England are getting one hundred a years?
Besides, what use would my hair to me?
By the day after next I had almost overcome my price, be far as to go back to the agency when I received this letter from the gentleman himself, and miss has.
Time to give me your dress.
And they're write from the Copper beaches to ask you whether you have reconsidered your decisions.
And my wife has been.
Much affected by my description of you.
It is very anxious that you should come.
We are willing to give one hundred and twenty ft the years so as a recompense for any little inconvenience, which are fair made. Course, they're not very exactly how fall, and your duties with the child are very light. As regards your hair, you have no doubt the kidding, But I am afraid the times remain.
Firm upon this point.
To meet you with the dark time. That is the letter I have just received.
Mister Holmes, And my mind is made doubt that I will accept.
But I thought that before.
Taking the final step, I should like to submit the whole matter to your consideration.
I confess it is not the situation which I should like to see a sister of mind apply for Carle mean Lo. I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps the hunter has formed some opinion.
Well, mister Newcastle seemed the kind man. Is it not possible that his wife is a lunatic and that, for fear she should be taken to an asylum he humored her to prevent an outbreak?
Does matters stand? That is the most probable solution. But in any case, it doesn't seem to be a very nice household for a young ladies.
But the money, mister Holmes, the money ta is too good.
That's what makes me uneasy. There must be some strong reason for our for you one hundred and twenty pounds when they could have that big for forty.
I feel that too, so I thought if I told you the circumstances, you would understand afterwards, if I wanted your help, I should feel so much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of.
Me, or you may carry that feeling away with you.
I assure you that your little problem promises to be the most interesting that has.
Come my way for some months now. If you should find.
Yourself in doubt or danger, what dangered you for.
Seem it would cease to be a danger if we could define it.
Oh well, now.
That I have spoken to you, I shall write to mister Willcastle, sacrifice my poor hair to night and start for.
Winchester tomorrow, and don't forget at any time.
Day or night a telegram would bring me down here.
You listen to this, well, do it be at Black Span Hotel, Winchester midday tomorrow. Do come at my wits end? Hunter, So it's taken out just a fortnight to find she needs my help again.
When I look up between the worlds, will you come with me?
I wish to capital. Then I suggest we turn in at once. We shall need to be at our.
Best of the more much further to.
Girl, God, good Heaven, who never associate crime with those dear old.
Homestage They always still need with a certain horror.
It's my belief, Watson, founded upon experience.
I may add that the.
Lowest and violest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin. Whom does the smiling of beautiful country side a find.
For the reason is today obvious.
The pressure of public opinion can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no alley so vile that the scream of a torture child doesn't forget some sympathy and indignation among the neighbors, and one word of complaint concept the whole machinery of justice game O cool.
But look at these lonely houses, each in its own field.
They're fill for the most part of poor England.
But who know little of the law, link of the deeds of hellish clause, with the hidden wickedness which may go on year in, year out in such places.
And none the wiser had this lady.
Who appeals to us for help constate in Winchester, I should.
Never have had a fear for her.
Now it's the five miles of country between thas to differ.
Still, if she can come into winters of the meters, she has a freedom.
Where so hen with the mess she just no explanation. I have devised seven separate explanations. Each of them would.
Cover the texts as far as we know them. But which of them is correct can only be determined by the fresh information.
That we shall know i'd find waiting for us at the next one.
Ah, there's the dog el.
I thought you'd leave the summon to town this morning. Dot he little knew for what curpose?
They let us have everything in its due order? This hunter.
Well, in the first place, I must say that I have met on the whole no actual ill treatment for mister and Missus Roecastle. But I'm not easy in my mind about them. I can't understand them. What can you not understand the reason for their conduct? But you shall have it just as its occurred when I came down, mister Lucastle met me here and drove.
Me in his dog cart to copper Peature. Yes, I was introduced that evening to his wife and child.
I gather that mister and Missus Roucastle have been married about seven years.
He was a widower, and his only child by his.
First wife was a daughter who is now in Philadelphia. As she couldn't have been less than twenty, I can quite imagine that her physician must have been uncomfortable.
With her father's young new wife.
Yes, Indeed, as for Missus.
Rocastle, I now know that there was no truth in our conjecture in your rooms at Baker Street.
She is not mad.
I found her to be a near nonentity. It's colorless in mind that she is in features.
Her husband is kind to us, but she seems to have some secret sorrow.
Oh.
The one unpleasant thing about the house which struck me at once was the appearance and manner of the two servants, A man and his wife.
Tolla said he called is a rough, uncouth man with a perpetual smell of drink. His wife is tall and song and very sour.
And that's the entire household. Yes, oh, except for Carlo Carlor.
Mister Wilcastle introduced me to hear him on my first evening.
There can't be frightened. He's well tied up. It's only Carlo, my mastiff that I call him mine. But really, old Toller is the only one who can do anything with him.
We feed him once a day, and not too much then, so.
He's always keen as mustard. So I lets him loose every.
Night, and heaven helped the trespasser he lays his fangs into. Oh and for goodness sake, miss Hunter, don't you ever on any.
Pretexts that you've put over the threshold at night.
It is as much as your life is worth if you do.
But it's direct warning and no idle one identity, the famous Hunter.
Continue your narrative.
For two days after my arrival, my life was very quiet. On the third, missus luc also came down just after breakfast and whispered in.
Her husband bears.
Ah, yes to be.
Sure, and miss Hunter, and my wife reminds me to say how much we are obliged to you for falling in with our winds so far as to cut your hair.
And the effect is charming, My dear, It is nice of you.
To say so, I assure you.
It has not attracted the tiniest diota from your appearance.
And now we shall see how a change of dress will become you. If you will kind of go up to your room, you will find one laid out ready on your bed.
It belongs to my dear daughter Alice, who's now in Philadelphia.
It will bet you very well.
Charming, simply charming might have been made to measure Ada a perfect fit.
I was surprised to see how well it's duty perfect.
And now miss Hunter's be good enough to take the chair over there, the one with its back to the center window.
Ah splendid, Oh my dear, let us stay and talk with miss Hunter for a little while. And they stayed there talking for about an hour.
Mister Holmes, mister Rucastle told some extremely funny stories, so funny that I laughed till I was tired. The odd thing was, though, that missus Rucarstal never.
So much has smiled at them.
Then her husband suddenly remarked that I might change my breath and go about my daily duty.
Well, two days later, the same thing happened.
When he had had me laughing helplessly at his stories for a while, my employer handed me a novel, moved my chair.
Straight with one side, and asked me to read to him. I read for about ten minutes, and then suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to.
Stop and go and change my dress. I hope, mister homie, you don't find my story too protracted.
I'm glad of the full details, whether they seemed to you to be relevant.
Or not, but I shall try not to miss anything of importance. You can imagine how curious I became as to the meaning of this extraordinary performance. For one thing, I noticed that they were always very careful to turn my face away from the window. Ah, I became consumed with a desire to see what was going.
On behind my back.
Then, as happy thought seized me, my hand mirror had been broken, and I concealed a small piece of the glass in my handkerchief. Cause on the next occasion, in the midst of the laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes and was.
Able, with a little management to see all that.
There was behind it was there was a man standing outside in the Southampton road.
He was small and he had a bild.
There were several others, but this one appeared to be looking earnestly in my direction. However, when I loaded my handkerchief, I found missus Roulcastle's eyes also fixed on me. She said nothing, but I'm convinced that she knew I had a mirror in my hand.
She rose at once. Yes, So, my dear, there's an impersonal fellow out on the verse, stearing up at Miss Hunter.
Really, a friend of Miss Hunter said.
I I know no one in these partser oh dear me, how.
Very impertinent day timely turned around.
And weigh him away like this.
Surely it would be better to take you notice, No, no, we should have him writing here always exactly.
The kindly turned around, Miss Hunter and motioned him to go away. Very well, Is that all you have to tell us, be Hunter?
Almost all, mister Holmes.
I had noticed that one wing of the Copper Beeches appeared to be quite uninhabited.
Oh when I.
Saw Tom come from there yesterday and forget to take the key out of the partition door, I slipped in quickly enough. I found a little passage with three doors in a line. Two of them would open, the central one was closed and filled.
With an iron bar and peddler bar. My nerves failed me.
Suddenly I've turned and ran straightened to the arms of mister Wook.
So it was you, then, I'm so frightened.
And what has frightened you, my dear young lady.
It's so brittly steal in there, it's so lonely and eerie.
Only that Why what do you mean?
Why do you imagine I locked the door to this wing?
I'm sure I don't know, sir.
It's to keep out people who have no business here? Do you see now?
What? I'm sure? If I had no.
Then you know now?
And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again, I'll throw you to the mast if remember that, miss.
After that, I suppose I could have fled the house, But I must confess my curiosity.
Remained as strong as my fears.
By the time I had sent you a wire, Mister Holmes, I felt much easier. I had no difficulty getting leave to come here this morning, but I must get.
That by free. Mister and Missus Roelecastle are going on a visit early this evening, and I had to look after the child.
That is well, what about Toller and his wife?
I heard his wife telling Missus Roelcastle that he's drunk himself into incapability.
She can do nothing with him before.
Now he's little seller with a good strong love.
Yes the wine cellar.
Do you think he could perform one more feat?
I will try, Doctor Watson, and I will be at the couple beaches by seven o'clock.
The rucastles will be out by them. Yes, yes, and Taller should still be incapable. Not only remains Missus Toller. If you could send her into the sealars on Errand and then turn the key on her, you would facilitate matters immensely.
I will do it excellent, wasn't yes him?
I trust you have your revolver.
All there's only one feasible explanation for this business, and it's clear that they're dealing with a very cunning man, very well than this Hunter.
We shall meet you at the cop of Eaches at seven o'clock.
Have you managed it?
Yes?
Let missus taller something to be let out. Tala is snowing on the kitchen, nud Here are his keys?
Well done?
Doout lead the way and we shall soon see the end of this black business.
This is the last one.
One of these keys must set the last. There's no sound from inside. I trust they're not too late. Ah, this is the one.
No one here roale Castle has guessed miss Hunter's intentions and carried his victim off.
But how through that skylight?
We call? Soon find out how you it it? Yes, yes, I can just see.
The end of the letter against thee But I tell you he's a clever.
Dangerous man.
Whom's someone's coming, Watson, have your pistol ready for.
So I've caught you have I villain? Where's your daughter?
It is for me to ask you that you thieves, spies and paeves.
Fore you run by power. I'll serve you.
He comes to the door, revolver, we'd better get downstairs and close the door.
M hm.
Great, Heaven's.
Quickly, wasn't doing the dish?
That proves my.
Hm? Well, Ruegcastle will live with Denry.
Then let us hear what missus Tuller has to tell us.
It's clear to me that she knows more about this matter than anyone else.
I don't say before now if we've got out of that Feller. Oh, missus Chitty, I didn't know what you was planning, and I told you you're wasting your time?
How could I know?
Pray, Missus Tyler, let us hear it. There are several points on which I must confess.
I'm still in the bar well.
She was never happy at home, wasn't miss Alice? After he married again, you.
Were referred of rucastle daughter.
Yes, sir, she wasn't happy, but Sims never got real bad for her till she took up with mister Fowler.
Mister Fowler the sea.
Sharing gentleman mister Friend's house, and Rucastle objected.
To the association.
It wasn't just that, sir, You see, Miss Allis had a lot of money, of her own by her mother's will, and there seems to be a chance for her husband coming forward. Mister Rucastle wanted her to sign a paper giving him control of the.
Money whether she married or not. When she wouldn't, he kept at her so much that she talked about running away.
Ah, then I think I can deduce all that remains. Roucastle, I presumed took to this system of imprisonment.
Yes, sir, do you mean.
That Alice never went to Philadelphia?
Mister Rucastle kept her locked up in that room.
Yes, and had the ingenious idea of bringing you down from London to impersonator to give the watching mister Fowler the impression that she no longer wished.
To encourage her. The laugh dow on these occasions was to convey the appearance that you remained.
In good spirits and was under no compulsion of restract.
But then where is Alice now?
I presume mister Fowler, being as persevering as a good seamen, should be succeeded by certain arguments in convincing that.
Lady that her interests were the same as his.
Mister Fowler was a very kind spighten three hundred gentlemen.
And in this way he managed that your good man should have no want to drink, and that the ladder should be ready at the moment when your master had gone us he suspected something and came back like us. He was too late for his daughter, the sponsons and the hunter. Here comes a lady.
I presume it to be missus Rucastle.
Our locusts stand by now is rather a questionable one. I think we'd better make our way back to Winchester and say goodbye to the Copper Beaches. The Case of the Copper Beaches was one of the stories of Sherlock Holmes.
By for Arthur.
My name is Norman Shelley. My friend Carlcolm Hobbs played Sherlock.
Holmes, and I was Doctor Watson.
The script for this.
BBC production from London was by Michael Harvey.
I look forward to the pleasure of your company again, soul for more of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.