Podcast Summary: Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

Episode: The Adventure of the Crooked Man – Part Two

Host/Narrator: Hugh Bonneville (as Sherlock Holmes)
Production: NOISER
Date: February 26, 2026

Overview

This episode concludes "The Adventure of the Crooked Man," following Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they unravel the mysterious death of Colonel James Barclay. The investigation pivots on a shocking encounter from the Colonel’s past, cryptic animal tracks, and a long-buried secret, ultimately revealing both the mechanism and motive behind the tragedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Clues at the Scene and the Unusual Animal

• Holmes observes animal footprints that are neither dog, cat, nor monkey, but likely “some creature of the weasel and stoat tribe… larger than any of these that I have seen.”
• Holmes reconstructs the animal's movement, deducing its desire to reach a canary and surmising it is carnivorous and arboreal.
  • Memorable quote (Holmes): “Did you ever hear of a dog running up a curtain? ... But it is not the print of a monkey.” (02:39)
• The presence of both a man’s footprints and an exotic animal at the crime scene deepens the puzzle.

Shift in Mrs. Barclay's Attitude and Miss Morrison's Testimony (04:36–13:17)

• Mrs. Barclay returned home visibly agitated, implying a crucial event transpired during her walk with Miss Morrison.
• Holmes interviews Miss Morrison, whose revelations bridge missing links in the case:
  • Mrs. Barclay encountered a deformed man who called her "Nancy." The encounter left her pale and trembling, and she handled the situation civilly before asking Miss Morrison to keep it secret.
  • Quote (Miss Morrison): “I thought you had been dead this 30 years, Henry, said she in a shaking voice.” (08:50)
• Holmes reasons that the encounter transformed Mrs. Barclay’s feelings toward her husband and seeks out the mysterious man.

Identification of Henry Wood (13:17–15:49)

• Holmes tracks down the man, Henry Wood: “by trade a conjurer and performer” with a strange animal companion.
• The animal, carried in a box, unnerves his landlady who describes it as something she has never seen; it is central to one of Wood’s “tricks.”

The Confrontation and Full Confession (15:52–25:27)

• Holmes and Watson confront Henry Wood, pressing him on Barclay’s death and Mrs. Barclay’s innocence.
• Wood recounts his tragic history:
  • Once Corporal Henry Wood, he was betrayed by Barclay (Nancy's husband and Wood’s rival for her affection) during the Indian Mutiny, leading to years of suffering, captivity, and eventual disfigurement.
  • Upon returning to England, Wood sought no revenge or reunion until nostalgia and homesickness led him to Aldershot, where the fateful meeting occurred.
• During the final confrontation with Colonel Barclay:
  • Barclay dies of apoplexy (a stroke), induced by the shock of seeing Henry Wood, whom he had betrayed decades before.
  • The exotic animal “Teddy”—revealed to be a mongoose or “ichneumon”—caused some of the confusion at the scene.
  • Quote (Henry Wood): “If his own guilty conscience had not struck him down, it is likely enough that I might have had his blood upon my soul.” (16:49)

Resolution and Moral Reflections (25:27–27:36)

• Holmes considers further action unnecessary if Mrs. Barclay avoids prosecution: “...there is no object in raking up this scandal against a dead man.” (25:37)
• The case is dismissed at the inquest: “The medical evidence showed conclusively that death was due to apoplexy.” (26:13)
• As they leave Aldershot, Holmes references the biblical “David and Bathsheba” story, highlighting the theme of betrayal and condemnation.
  • Quote (Holmes): “It was evidently a term of reproach... You remember the Small Affair of Uriah and Bathsheba? My biblical knowledge is a trifle rusty, I fear, but you will find the story in the first or second of Samuel.” (27:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• Exotic Animal Deduction
  “It had five well marked footpads, an indication of long nails... Might be nearly as large as a dessert spoon.” – Holmes (02:11)
• Miss Morrison's Startling Narrative
  “My God, it’s Nancy.” – Henry Wood upon seeing Mrs. Barclay (09:08)
  “She tried to speak boldly, but she was still deadly pale and could hardly get her words out for the trembling of her lips.” – Miss Morrison (09:26)
• Henry Wood on Justice and Forgiveness
  “It was a just providence that killed him. But mind you this, that if I had knocked his brains out as it was in my heart to do, he would have had no more than his due from my hands...” – Henry Wood (16:49)
• Reveal of Teddy, the Mongoose
  “In an instant, out there slipped a beautiful reddish brown creature, thin and lithe, with the legs of a stoat, a long thin nose and a pair of the finest red eyes...” – Holmes (24:50)
  “Some call them that and some call them ichneumon…Teddy is amazing quick on cobras.” – Henry Wood (25:06)
• Holmes on Scandal and Dead Men
  “But if not, there is no object in raking up this scandal against a dead man.” – Holmes (25:37)
• Biblical Allusion as Final Clue
  “That one word, my dear Watson, should have told me the whole story… You remember the Small Affair of Uriah and Bathsheba?” – Holmes (27:07)

Important Timestamps

• Opening recap and animal deduction: 01:04 – 04:36
• Mrs. Barclay's change of heart & Watson’s reasoning: 04:36 – 08:09
• Miss Morrison’s critical statement: 08:09 – 13:17
• Locating Henry Wood: 13:17 – 15:49
• Henry Wood’s confession and the Indian mutiny backstory: 15:52 – 23:13
• Confrontation and aftermath at the scene: 23:13 – 25:33
• Inquest and Holmes’ biblical insight: 26:11 – 27:36

Tone and Style

The narrative is rich, atmospheric, and suspenseful, blending deductive reasoning with human drama. Hugh Bonneville’s narration is calm, precise, and evocative, in character as Holmes, and brings emotional resonance to the climactic confession and resolution.

For Listeners New to the Episode

This is a classic Holmes mystery, solved through astute observation, psychological insight, and moral depth. The episode reveals how secrets and betrayals from decades past can resurface with tragic consequences—and how Holmes’ compassion tempers his pursuit of justice.

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