Without A Clue Page #3

I can see coming here was a mistake.

Excellent deduction, Watson.

Keep up the good work.

Ah, gentlemen! And what can I do for you?

A mystery to be solved?

You might say that.

There's a little matter of a gambling debt.

And the mystery is why you ain't paid it.

Gentlemen, you are dealing

with Sherlock Holmes.

A man of honour and character

beyond reproach.

There he is.

That's the bloke who pinched my bum.

Pardon me Pardon me

Excuse me, love.

Didn't I say seven o'clock?

Forgive me for being late, gentlemen.

Is Mr. Holmes with you?

Ah, well, um...actually, Lord Smithwick,

a short time ago I received a wire from Holmes

instructing me to take down the details and

begin the investigation without him, as it were.

What?!

Believe it or not,

I am every bit Holmes's equal as a detective.

Doctor Watson!

I happen to know

that you recently recovered from an illness,

that you smoke a pipe,

probably rosewood,

and you spent time in China...

- Doctor, this is no time for parlour games.

- I'm not playing parlour games.

Doctor, this is a matter for professionals.

- You've got to help me

- Holmes, you're back.

So good to see you.

My, this is a clever disguise!

A drunken lout. lt's very realistic.

There's two men.

This woman said I pinched her...

She said I pinched her bum.

(Banging)

Gentlemen, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Ah, Lestrade.

Its good to see the department's

letting you out at night again.

Lord Smithwick.

Trouble at the Exchequer?

Well, to be honest, it...

Wait. How did you know?

The same way that I can tell

you've recently recovered from an illness,

smoke a pipe, probably rosewood,

and have spent some time in...China.

Amazing!

Thank you.

Lord Smithwick, before we start,

perhaps a little sherry?

I wish we could,

but the matter which brings me here

involves the fate of the entire Empire.

I see. Perhaps a whisky, then?

(Watson clears his throat)

Perhaps later.

Why don't you tell me the details

and omit nothing?

Watson, pay close attention.

- Do you know what these are?

- I do.

- So do l.

- The plates for the Bank of England's ?5 notes.

- Undoubtedly.

- Or very good imitations.

- Precisely.

- Exactly.

Indeed. Well, now, that's cleared that up.

How about that whisky?

- May l?

- Oh, I suppose so.

Er, Inspector...

Just two nights ago,

these clever forgeries were exchanged

for the genuine plates.

The real plates

are in the hands of some foreign power.

Or someone even more treacherous.

The kingdom could find itself awash

in counterfeit notes.

And I don't have to tell YOU

what that would mean.

Yes, you do.

Oh, er, it would mean, quite simply,

economic ruin for England.

Nobody would know which ?5 notes were real

and which weren't.

Gentlemen, I accept this case.

My fee will be ?500.

Payable in ?10 notes.

- Good evening.

- Yes, good night.

We can all rest a little easier now, lnspector.

- Yes.

- Drive on, my good man.

LESTRADE:
I don't suppose

it would make any difference

if I said I have grave doubts about Mr. Holmes.

SMITHWICK:
I must confess, I feel a bit prouder

knowing Sherlock Holmes is British.

Do you suppose he took the case, Professor?

Watson?

My dear boy, how could he resist?

This is working out so very well.

Drive on.

Gentlemen, I am here.

SMITHWICK:
Mr. Holmes at last

Welcome to Her Majesty's Royal Mint

This is one of my long-time employees, Mr...

- Hadlers, sir.

- Oh, Hadlers, yes.

Inspector Lestrade was inquiring

about the vaults

Its my guess that it's an inside job

by someone with a key.

YOU have that key, don't you, Hadlers?

Me, sir? No.

lnspector, please.

Mr. Holmes will take over now.

That's quite all right, Lord Smithwick.

As a matter of fact, Lestrade,

you can be of some help.

- Of course.

- Hold my coat.

Its hot in here.

So this is where the printing plates are kept?

Er, yes, sir.

Yes. Very interesting ind...

No harm done.

Tell me, how many people

have access to this vault?

Three persons only - myself,

the Commissioner for Seals and Engravings,

and the Printing Supervisor Peter Giles.

I should like to speak to this...third person.

He didn't turn up for work this morning,

Your Lordship.

We've already done some checking on Giles,

Your Lordship.

He is a widower with one child named Lesley.

I've seen her once or twice myself, sir.

A very pretty girl...in an unusual sort of way.

- Pretty?

- Oh, yes, sir. Quite.

Watson, make a note of that.

Though Mr. Giles himself

seemed slightly uncomfortable

when I complimented him on her appearance.

SMITHWICK:
No no no

Surely you can't believe

that Peter Giles was involved?

Why, the man's worked here for over 30 years.

And he was very religious, too.

Wouldn't you say so, er....?

Hadlers. Oh, yes, sir.

He was always quoting from the Psalms.

The Psalms? One of my favourite books.

The Bible, wasn't it?

I suppose you'll want to speak

to this Peter Giles, Holmes?

Actually, I've never been one

for religious talks myself.

On the other hand,

no leads must be overlooked.

And you can rest assured, Your Lordship,

we shall be investigating the daughter as well.

I must be going.

Come here!

You ninny! What are you doing over there?

Amazing fellow, really.

All right, now go. Go!

Open this door.

Giles, open the door. lt's Sherlock Holmes.

Stand back, Watson. I'll break it down.

Whoa, boy!

Half a tick, Mr. Holmes.

You can't go

walking into someone's residence,

poking about their personal possessions,

disturbing their privacy.

That's for Scotland Yard.

Hello? Anybody home?

Giles?

Nobody home.

- Inspector, you're treading on the mail.

- Sorry. Get those.

Nice tidy little place. Oh, a French postcard.

Really? I knew a chap

who collected these once.

He had this wonderful one

of two women and a... Oh!

Its just a picture of the Eiffel Tower.

- Quite a bit of correspondence there, Doctor.

- I'd say Giles hadn't been home for days.

- Anything of interest in that card, Mr. Holmes?

- It says, Having a gay time here

but need a holiday. Will see you on Monday.

L.

Now, I wonder who that can be.

L. Is that an old friend? A secret lover?

Its my guess it's his daughter Lesley.

I'll wager you're right, Inspector.

That's right. Let him deduce everything.

When Lestrade returns,

go about your sleuthing routine.

- The full treatment?

- Whatever it takes to keep him occupied.

Well, it would appear

as if Mr. Giles has taken himself a holiday.

I expected no less.

if you'll allow me.

- Very interesting up here Watson

- Excuse me.

Yes.

My word!

Don't touch that!

There may be fingerprints.

The Book of Psalms.

Ah, as I anticipated.

The Bible.

All starting to fit together rather neatly,

I'd say.

Ah-ha!

Stay with me Lestrade

Investigating crime calls for

the searching out of patterns

Now, take the patterns in this carpet.

Rosettes,

and what appears to be cherubs, isn't it?

ls that a cherub? Yes, a cherub.

Dr Watson.

What have you there?

Oh, this.

Er, I... I just found this in the fireplace.

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