Sherlock Holmes: Haunting of Sherlock Holmes 05/20/1946 (Rathbone & Bruce)

Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com. Petri Wine brings you... Basil Wathbone and the new Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Petri Family, the family that took time to bring you good wine, invite you to listen to Dr. Watson tell us another exciting adventure he shared with his old friend, that master detective, Sherlock Holmes. And say, if you'd like to try a new adventure in good eating, you just make sure that your dinner tomorrow night includes a bottle of Petri California Burgundy. Petri Burgundy is the ideal wine with any kind of meat or meat dish. A Petri Burgundy is a hearty red wine, just as rich in flavor as it is in color. It's the perfect companion to a thick juicy steak or a piping hot pot roast or a good hamburger. You know that Petri Burgundy has a happy faculty of turning a simple meal, like, say, a hamburger sandwich, into a feast. Believe me, here is a wine that's clear, fragrant, and delicious. A wine that you can serve to your friends proudly. Petri Burgundy. Remember the name Petri is the proudest name in the history of America's wines. And now let's join our good friend, Dr. Watson. I'm out here on the patio, Mr. Bartel. Well, I see you're making the most of a wonderful evening, Doctor. Oh, yes, my boy. It's a pleasure to sit out here on a summer's night with a good friend and a pipe, a bottle of wine. Help yourself to a glass and sit down. Thank you, sir. Already with the night's new Sherlock Holmes adventure, Doctor? Yes, and a strange story it is. It was in the autumn of 1899, Mr. Bartel, that I decided both as doctor and friend that Sherlock Holmes was in desperate need of a holiday. He'd really been overdoing it, huh? Oh, yes, my boy. It had been an unusually busy year, and at the time my story begins, homes were suffering from complete exhaustion. So, my boy, towards the end of October in that year, we found ourselves in the charming city of Kazanlak, capital of the small Balkan kingdom of Grozny. A few nights after our arrival, I remember Pavle Crosnodar, Grozny's minister of police, took us to hear the singing of a certain young Hungarian opera star, Miss Lily Rayner, who was then touring Europe. At our table was her fiancée, the charming young aristocrat, Prince Stefano. It was very easy to see as he sat there listening to the song that the boy was head over heels in love. It is a haunting melody that she sang, Mr. Bartel. I can almost hear it now. My dear daughter of Pia. You're a very lucky man, Prince Stefano. Your fiancée's voice matches her beauty. Oh, yes, Dr. Bartelsen. I consider myself the most fortunate man in Grozny. She has a magnificent voice. The finest singing I can recall since... Since when, Mr. Holmes? I was thinking of a prima donna of the Warsaw Opera, who attained considerable success in London. Miss Irene Adder. Oh, my George, yes. She was a criminal, one of the few that outwitted you, Holmes. Oh, that was a case that we've interested you, Mr. Crosnodar. I'm familiar with it, my dear doctor. You are unusually solemn tonight, Crosnodar. Have a glass of wine, and I will bring Lily to our table, and we will toast our happiness. I'm afraid I cannot drink to that toast, Prince Stefano. Why not? Oh, I know why. You, the notorious lady killer of Crosnodar, jealous. You're in love with Lily yourself. Prince Stefano, I have sad news for you. I have come here tonight, but for one purpose. To arrest your fiancée. You're joking. It is far from a joke. At my ministry, we have evidence, conclusive evidence, that Miss Lily Rayner is a spy. Spy? Good Lord. And the penalty for spying in Grosnia? Ah, that, my friend, is why I would drink no toast. In Grosnia, the penalty for espionage is death. Yes, I know, but Holmes, you must do something to save that girl. You can't just turn in for the night without trying to help her in some way. They might shoot her in the morning. Crosnodar is no fool. Since he's made the arrest, obviously, he has a watered-like case against the girl. Ah, I suppose so. Oh, one last pipe. You know, Holmes, I couldn't understand her fiancée's behavior. He didn't do a thing. He just stood there and let Crosnodar arrest the girl. What could he have done? Crosnodar is commissioner of police. There was no point in arguing with him until the evidence had been examined. I imagine the Prince will try and pull some political strings. After all, Grosnia... Yerin, come in. Who's this now? Oh, you wish to speak to me? Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I have come to talk to you about my baby. My name is Martha Greggat. Your baby? Mr. Holmes, doesn't he? Oh, my baby, she's 20 years old, and she has flux and hair done beautiful. Oh, that's entirely different matter. We'll be delighted to help you. Sit down, won't you? On whose behalf have you come to me? Poor Lily Raynor. Lily Raynor? Well, that's the girl who's arrested tonight. I am only her dresser. And yet I'm Martha Greggat. I'm her mother and father. I have toured Europe with her ever since she left Vienna. She sent you to me tonight, I suppose. Yes, Mr. Holmes. She said you would understand. What'd she mean by that? I wonder. She said that Mr. Holmes would take care that a talent like hers should not perish. Just because she had broken a few laws... In other words, she wishes me to establish her innocence in the same breath as she confesses her guilt. Now, I'm afraid I don't take that sort of plan. Good night, you. Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson... Mr. Nadeau? I am glad that you came to my office this morning. I can show you the proof of Miss Lily Raynor's guilt. As distinguished foreigners, I should like you to know that though the penalty for political crimes is swift and severe, we are most careful that the incriminating evidence is beyond question. You see these letters? Yeah. We found them soared into the bodies of Ergon. Oh, good gracious me. There are a series of highly dangerous letters from Yosset, the leader of the revolutionary party with whom she is obviously handing love. Here, you may examine them if you wish. Say it looks like Greek to me. My knowledge of the Groznian language is far from perfect, but these letters certainly seem to incriminate their owner, Jan Dalt. You will observe that the letters have followed her to each of the cities in which she has been singing. All of them ask questions as to the military garrisons and the chances of a successful revolution. She has been a dangerous spy. Yes, I can see that, sir, but even so, isn't the death penalty excessively severe, particularly for a woman? Dr. Watson, the Balkan states are a hotbed of European intrigue. Our penalties must be severe and we cannot make concessions to the sex of a culprit. Does M. Yosset, the writer of these letters, have you been able to find any trace of him? None. If only we could, but we have never even seen the man. However, we are fortunate to trap his assistant and apparently the lady of his choice. Lady of his choice, but she was engaged to Prince Stefano. Oh, undoubtedly a blind. In her home we found an unsigned love letter in English. It wasn't the same handwriting as these letters from Yosset. Are you satisfied, Watson? Well, I suppose... Obviously she's guilty. Well, there's no place for me in this affair, particularly when you consider that she made a virtual confession and sending her dress at him last night. I suppose you're right, but just the same. If you want to trap this man, Yosset, I should think you'd be wiser to hold the girls a hostage. It might bring him on the scene. He's afraid she'll talk. If you hang her, you'll never find him. Dr. Watson, in my country we found that prompt justice gets the best results. And for your edification, we do not hang in Grosnia. The death penalty is exacted at the hands of a firing squad. And when is the execution to take place? You have timed your visit well, my friends. Please, to step onto the balcony. I think that answers your question, Mr. Holm. Great Scott. Against the wall, blindfolded with a firing squad before her. It's Lillirena. Grosnia and justice indeed moves swiftly, Mr. Krasnodar. It has to, my friend. Captain! Mr. Kraspritam! Great heavens, I can't watch this. I don't care what she's done. I don't want to see it. Art! Art! Art! Art! Oh, well. Oh, she's come to the ground. Poor little thing. What an artist. How to see a woman executed even if she is a spy. May all traitors to Grosnia die as swiftly. But what a loss. Her beautiful voice. Yes, her beautiful voice. Shall we go in, gentlemen? In her homes, I can still see that poor girl she crumbled before the firing squad. So can I, old chap. That's her song you're playing, isn't it? Yes. The melody still haunts me. You blame me, don't you? Oh, blame you for what? For not preventing her death. Oh, of course I don't blame you, Holmes. The girl's guilty. Grosnia and law prescribes the death penalty for her crime. After all, what could you have done about it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And yet? And yet what? I wonder if she was right. I wonder if artistry such as hers isn't of greater value to humanity than spying in any cause. It's not much good worrying about that now, is it? The girl's dead and buried. What's the matter, Holmes? Did you hear that? I hear what? I swear that I heard the dead girl's voice. She was singing her song to my accompaniment. Oh, really? Your nurse must be in a very bad state, Holmes. Hearing voices indeed, you'd better turn in for the night. Perhaps it's a... I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I'd better turn in for the night. Perhaps it's a... what, it may be more my conscience than my nerves. I'll give you a sleeping draft, if you like. Oh, no, no, my dear Sheppie. I'm all right. It's funny, though. I could have sworn that... Oh, well... Play some more of that tune, will you, Holmes? Great heavens! You heard it this time, eh, Watson? Of course I did. It was her voice. There's no mistaking it. Holmes, I don't believe in ghosts, and yet I could swear... Listen... Good Lord. It is her... Shh! I beg you, my dear. Do not let them go and punish the kids. Do not let them go and punish the kids, ma'am. Who are you? Where are you? In the air about you. A vange in my death. Strike a match, Watson. Strike a match. Yes. Like the gas. Look, look, look, look, look. They're in the moonlight, moving past the window. It's the figure of that girl that was shot to death. A match, Watson. I'll go up the door. There. The gas is lighted. She's vanished, Holmes. The students at this door were standing in front of it. And there's no other exit from the room. Holmes, I don't like this. We're dabbling in the supernatural. Stop trembling, Watson. Whatever the explanation for this may be, one thing at least I find quite fascinating. And what's that? It's the first time in my career that I've ever had a ghost for a client. Dr. Watson will tell us the rest of his story in just a second. So I'm just going to tell you about a wine that adds the perfect finishing touch to a good meal. Petri California muscatel. With its sunshiney golden color and its full aroma, you just know Petri muscatel is going to taste good. And it really does. Ah, the flavor of big, plump muscat grapes picked when they're full to bursting with luscious juice. For the wine that everybody likes, serve Petri muscatel. You know it's good if it's Petri. Well, Dr. Watson, so you had a ghostly visitor calling on you at the hotel that night, huh? Yes, my boy. And I confess, I was so badly shaken by the experience that I hardly slept a wink all night. Well, the next morning, after an early breakfast, Holmes and I located the proprietor of our hotel and began to question him as to the history of the building. I've admired the architecture of this building ever since you, uh, ever since we came here. A house of this period would undoubtedly have been built with secret passages and staircases. I confess that I know of one secret staircase there. There may well be others indeed. And here's the one you know of. You wish to explore it, gentlemen? Oh, very much. My friend and I are most interested in such things. Follow me, please. This stairs lead to our wine cellars. Hmm. Thousands of feet have trapped up and down these steps. Only a select few know that behind this tapestry here, uh, behind this tapestry, gentlemen, is apparently a solid wall. But the wall is not solid. You have a match, perhaps. Oh, yes, of course. We keep a candle here in this niche for just such an occasion as this. So, please hold back tapestry, sir. Oh, I've got it. Thank you. Now, let me see. One, two, three, four. The fourth brick up from the stair. I press it so and... Look, Holmes! Great Scott, a section of the wall swinging up. Supposing a stairway behind it. Ingenious, dear gentlemen. Allow me to give you the candle. But, uh, aren't you going to lead the way? No, sir. I'm not going to lead the way, thank you. I've owned this hotel for 32 years, and yet I have never explored this stairway. Why, sir? Is it reputed to be haunted? Yes, it is supposed to be haunted. The candle, gentlemen. I'm much obliged to. Come on, Watson. I shall wait here. I don't think I care for this, Holmes. Quitefully dark in here. Stamp and moody, too. Look, Watson, look here. What is landing? Landing. Nothing but dust. Dust and cobwebs. A close-roar, chap. There's the faint imprint of a woman's heel here. Oh, my George's. Shoes that have gone both up and down these stairs in the last 24 hours. Exactly. And there's a reverse print over here. This, my dear chap, I think accounts for the appearance and disappearance of our visitor last night. Yes, but Holmes, it wasn't the singer Lily Rayner. Yet we saw her shot yesterday morning. Rubbish, Watson, rubbish. What have we to do with walking corpses? Come on, old fellow. Let's see where this stairway leads us to. No, but then what did we see if we didn't see a ghost last night? That, my dear chap, is what we have to find out. Mm-mm. Wait a minute. What's going on? It's an against-the-blank wall. That doesn't make sense. Yet the entrance to this stairway was an apparent blank wall tool, remember? Let's see if the same formula will do the same trick here. What was it? One, two, three, four. Four bricks up from the step. I press so and... Open, sir. We're all swinging back again. What do we see? Another tapestry. That seems very familiar. Well, I should say so. This hidden door leads into your very own bedroom house. Exactly, my dear chap. Now we know beyond doubt how the apparent ghost made her appearance last night. Don't you suppose it must have been someone impersonating the danger? That, my dear fellow, is a question that can only be answered by calling on her fiancee, Prince Stefano. Let's go over and see him at once, shall we? Prince Stefano, I'd just like to intrude upon your personal tragedy, but I must ask you a few questions. Ask your questions. Did your fiancee have a sister? A sister who may have resembled her? No. She had no living relatives at all, Mr. Holmes. Well, tell me this. Who inherits her estate, sir? Her dress, sir. A faithful old woman by the name of Marta Greger, who looked after her for some years. I see. Did Miss Rainer have an understudy? As a singer, she could have no understudy. She was in replace. You say she was a singer. Well, she also an actress. Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. Really? How very unusual for an opera singer. The first time I saw her was in Tosca. She was not another bearer now, but her performance was very promising one, considering her age. In my country, of course, she was not able to appear in anything but opera because she could not speak crossnain. She didn't speak crossnain? Now I have the answer. The answer? Yes. To this entire story, from the arrest of your fiancee to certain strange visitations at my hotel last night. What do you mean, Mr. Holmes? If you come to my hotel room tonight, my dear prince, I can safely promise to make the whole matter clear to you. And I dare go a little further. I think that I can even help you to find consolation in your bereavement. Ladies and gentlemen, I can see that you wonder why Dr. Watson and I have asked you to come here to our hotel tonight. As Minister of Police, I should be stupid if I did not realize that since you are other two guests, the Prince Stefano and Martha Gregor, the dead girl's dresser, that this meeting has some bearing on the execution of Miss Lily Rayner. I should prefer to say her murder. Ladies and gentlemen, if you please, I should like to make my own position in this matter quite clear. Two nights ago, you, mother, came to me on behalf of Miss Lily Rayner to solicit my aid. I convinced that she was guilty and refused that aid. Yesterday morning, she died before a firing squad. Last night, her ghost appeared to me here in this room and asked me to avenge her death. Her ghost? What nonsense are you talking? It would be no surprise to me if her poor murdered soul came back from the grave to ask for justice, sir. I saw her, my good woman, almost as clear as I see you all now. I agree with Krasnodar to talk of ghosts as beyond beliefs. Please let me finish. When I had this visitation last night, I decided to investigate the case thoroughly. I did so today, and I can assure you that Miss Rayner paid for a crime she did not commit. What grounds do you have for saying that, Mr. Horne? The letters that were supposedly written to her were in the Grosnian language, and yet today Prince Stefano informed me that she could not appear in the theatre here because she did not speak the language. Those letters were showed into her body's home. That's true, my dear fellow, and who was the only person who had the opportunity to do that? The same person who came to me two nights ago and succeeded in convincing me that Miss Rayner was guilty, her own dresser, and supposed friend. Are you suggesting that I... I'm suggesting that you inherited her estate on her death and that you would have lost that inheritance if she had married and had a family of her own. What do you have to say in answer to that, Martha? That I am among madmen. This talk of ghosts proves it. Very well then. Let the ghosts support my theories. Hand me the violin, will you? What's an old fellow? Oh, yes, of course. Thank you. And now, turn down the gas light. Right, sir. That's it, and listen. Yes. Yes. That's her voice. And that's her figure standing there in the moonlight, even though she's dead. Now what do you say, Martha? Aren't you responsible for her death? If a ghost can sing, I'm sure it can also talk. I did do it. The letters belong to me. I sacrificed my own baby for gold. May heaven have mercy on my soul. A confession in front of four witnesses. Why not take her away, Krasnodar? We'll testify later. I will. Come with me, Martha. I killed my own baby. I deserve to die. Shall I turn up the gas, Holmes? Ask Prince Stefano. No. Do not turn it up. I've seen and heard the ghost of my beloved when the lights were down. I'm not afraid. Please play her melody again, Mr. Holmes. Aren't you afraid, Prince Stefano? Why should I be afraid? Please, my beloved, your spirit I know can be no evil one. I love it as I loved you living. The pleasure of love lasts but an instant. Love's regrets last for a lifetime. This is now my lifetime, brightened by your gracious ghost. I'm sure this is a touching scene, but it's getting dreadfully mortal. All right, Miss Raynar, you may come from behind the tapestry now. Turn up the gas light. There's a good fellow. Right, your host. Prince Stefano, permit me to reintroduce you to your far from ghost le fiancé, Miss Lily Raynar. Lily! My beloved, you are not dead. No, I am not dead. Though I cannot see how Sherlock Holmes fathomed my secret. And there, my dear young lady, you're in exactly the same boat as I am. Surely the answer is obvious. You gave me the key yourself, Prince Stefano. My dear, but how, Mr. Holmes? When you informed me that Miss Raynar had once played the title role in Tosca. Tosca was that got to do with anything, huh? Consider the plot, Watson. A minister of police who is very susceptible to elitist charms arranges a false execution. Knowing Mr. Krasnodar's weakness, Miss Raynar, you prevailed upon him to do likewise. Well, then the whole execution was a piece of pandemime. The rifles must have contained blanks. I tried all fill on. What should have heightened my suspicion, Miss Raynar, was the fact that, at the moment of your appellant death, Mr. Krasnodar quoted a line from Tosca. He said, what an artist. I was not perceptive enough at the time to evaluate the remark correctly, I'm afraid. When the simulated execution took place, you were free, but assumed dead. But why should I interfere? Assume dead. But why should I indulge in such a trick, Mr. Holmes? You reasoned that, had you come to me directly, I might easily have turned you over as a fugitive from justice. When you decided to dramatize the situation and appear last night as an apparent ghost, you knew it would, at the very least, stimulate my curiosity. It would cause me to investigate the matter and possibly to learn the truth and clear you from suspicion. Yes, but Holmes, if she's innocent, how about the love letter in English, which was in the handwriting of Yossip, the revolutionary leader? Well, I can see only one explanation for that. You, Prince Stefano, are that mysterious revolutionary Yossip. Stefano! Oh no, no, that is not possible. Mr. Holmes, you're a visitor in my country, I do not suppose you will be staying here much longer. Stefano, all this muncture at the scene. Silence, Lily. Gentlemen, I hope for your own sake you will not be staying here much longer. Oh, I've been threatened by far more imposing adversaries than you, Prince Stefano. I suggest that you leave my room. It's none of my business dabbling in Grosnian political affairs, your secret is safe. In any case, I came to Grosnia for a holiday. Goodbye. Goodbye, Mr. Holmes. Well, my soul, if we were in London, you wouldn't behave in this offhand way. But we're in Grosnia, old chap, aren't we? Hemidavalin, will you? All right, here you are. You know what, I've only had professional dealings with two singers in my life. The first was Irene Adler, and she fooled me. Oh, so cleverly. And this singer tried to fool you and failed dismally. It seems to me the scores are not even. Oh, old chap, no. This one was none of her. Irene Adler will always be the woman. Oh, well, I think that's enough excitement for one day, don't you? After all, I am supposed to be taking a holiday. Doctor, that was a swell story. And I'll bet that you were a lot more interested in the beautiful Lily than your story tonight would have us believe. Well, of course I'm interested in a beautiful woman. But then what man is it? Check. But don't worry about me, Mr. Bartel. You know, being a family man, I just naturally associate a beautiful woman with a beautiful woman. I'm not a woman. You know, being a family man, I just naturally associate a beautiful woman and home. And that makes me think of hospitality. What do you mean by that? Well, according to you, I'm interested in home life. You, you're primarily interested in wine. Put us together and we're interested in... Wine in the home. Isn't that an important part of hospitality? That I admit. But remember, my interest in wine is entirely an interest in good wine. And I'm not a petri wine, to be exact, because I know all about petri wine. I know that the petri family has been making wine for generations. With the petri family, the growing of perfect sun-ripened grapes and the art of turning those grapes into fragrant, delicious wine is a heritage. It's a heritage handed down from father to son, from father to son. The results of those generations of wine making are evident in every drop of petri wine. The name Petri on a bottle of wine is more than a trademark. It's the personal assurance of the petri family that petri wine is always good wine. But you'll discover that for yourself. You'll learn that no matter what type wine you prefer, you'll like it better when it's a petri wine. Because Petri took time to bring you good wine. Well, Dr. Watson, what news Sherlock Holmes adventure do you have lined up for us next week? Next week, Mr. Bartell, I'm going to tell you a most unusual story in which Sherlock Holmes crossed swords with a famous Frenchman and proved that although the English have been called a nation of shopkeepers, that a murder did not always prove to be a good bargain. Tonight's Sherlock Holmes adventure was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher and was suggested by an incident in the Arthur Conan Doyle story, The Sussex Vampire. Music is by Dean Fossler. Mr. Rathbone appears through the courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and tonight Dr. Watson was played by Mr. Joe Kearns, who's substituted for Mr. Nigel Bruce. Mr. Bruce is scheduled to return to the program next week. The Petri Wine Company of San Francisco, California invites you to tune in again next week, same time, same station. Sherlock Holmes comes to you from our Hollywood studio. This is Harry Bartell saying good night for the Petri family. For a solid hour of exciting mystery dramas, listen every Monday on most of these same stations at 8 o'clock to Monday. For more information, visit our website at www.sherlockholmes.com This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.