The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Part 3 of 24
The Sleepy Bookshelf
Elizabeth reads the first half of 'The Red-Headed League' from Sherlock Holmes, detailing Mr. Jabez Wilson's strange experience with a myste
Key takeaways
- Holmes deduces personal details about Mr. Wilson through keen observation, showcasing his forensic reasoning.
Main topics
- Sherlock Holmes' deductive reasoning
Notable quotes
For strange effects and extraordinary combinations, we must go to life itself, which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination.
Conclusion
Holmes begins to unravel the mystery behind the Red-Headed League, sus
Transcript preview
Speaker 3 (0:00) Hello everyone. Before we begin tonight, I have an exciting new announcement to share with you. Since starting The Sleepy Bookshelf in 2021, we have been looking for new ways to help you sleep. Because we know how much you all love our Jane Austen seasons, I'm pleased to introduce The Sleepy Bookshelf, Just Jane, where we will read Austen's entire catalogue, one novel at a time. New episodes will release every Monday and Wednesday, so click the link at the bottom of the show notes to subscribe and follow along with the first season, Mansfield Park. I hope to see you there, to put down your worries from the day and pick up a good Jane Austen book. Speaker 3 (0:53) Before we get started tonight, I wanted to let you in on a little secret. For the best sleep, there's nothing better than the Sleepy Bookshelf's premium feed. You'll have ad-free access to the entire catalogue, so you don't have to listen to things like this. Plus, exclusive bonus stories in between our longer books. Follow the link in the show notes to learn more, and start your seven-day free trial tonight. Speaker 3 (1:31) Hello, it's Elizabeth, and I'm excited to share with you the newest show from Slumber Studios. It's called Sleepy History, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Intriguing stories, people, mysteries and events from history, delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. Speaker 3 (1:55) Explore the legend of El Dorado. See what life was like for the Roman gladiators. Uncover the myths and mysteries of Stonehenge. You'll find interesting but relaxing episodes like these on Sleepy History and the same great production quality you've come to know and love from The Sleepy Bookshelf. So check it out. And perhaps you'll have another way to get a good night's rest. Just search Sleepy History in your preferred podcast player. Good evening, and welcome to the Sleepy Bookshelf, where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good book. I'm your host, Elizabeth, and it's lovely to have you here with me. This evening we'll be continuing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. But before we do... Speaker 3 (3:02) Let's take a moment to take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth to calm your body and mind and put the day behind you once more. In and out. Lovely. Speaker 3 (3:31) Last time, Holmes had disguised himself and spent the morning watching Irene Adler's home, only to become unexpectedly involved in her hurried wedding to the lawyer, Godfrey Norton. Later, with Watson's help, he had staged a disturbance outside Briony Lodge and pretended to be injured so that Irene would take him inside. Speaker 3 (4:03) Watson had then thrown a smoke rocket through the window and raised the alarm of fire, causing Irene instinctively to reveal the hiding place of the photograph Holmes had been seeking. Holmes had planned to return with the King the following morning, but Irene had already understood his deception. Speaker 3 (4:31) Disguised as a young man, she had followed Holmes back to Baker Street before leaving England with her new husband. She had left behind a letter explaining that she no longer intended to interfere with the King's marriage and had kept the compromising photograph only for her own protection. Holmes had been impressed by the way Irene had outwitted him. and instead of accepting the king's valuable ring as payment, had asked to keep her photograph as a reminder of the woman who had beaten him at his own game. Tonight we begin our next story, The Red-Headed League. So just lie back and relax as I turn to the next pages of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Speaker 3 (5:48) The Red-Headed League. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year, and found him deep in conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman, with fiery red hair. Speaker 3 (6:12) With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me. You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson, he said cordially. I was afraid that you were engaged. So I am. Very much so. Then I can wait in the next room. Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small, fat, encircled eyes. Speaker 3 (7:11) Try the settee, said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and putting his fingers together, as was his custom when in judicial moods. I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle and, if you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures. Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me, I observed. Speaker 3 (7:54) You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations, we must go to life itself, which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination, a proposition which I took the liberty of doubting. You did, Doctor. But nonetheless, you must come round to my view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to be right. Now, Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me this morning and to begin a narrative which promises to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some time. You've heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very often connected not with the larger, but with the smaller crimes. And occasionally, indeed, where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I've heard, it is impossible for me to say whether the present case is an instance of crime or not. but the course of events is certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to recommend your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance, I am forced to admit that the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique. Speaker 3 (10:05) The portly client puffed out his chest, with an appearance of some little pride, and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward in the paper, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor bore every mark of being an average, commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous and slow. Speaker 3 (10:59) He wore rather baggy grey shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock coat, unbuttoned in the front, and a