The Return of Sherlock Holmes (TV Series)

The Second Stain (1986)

Jeremy Brett: Sherlock Holmes

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dr. John Watson : [reading from a newspaper]  Murder in Westminster... crime of a mysterious character... Eduardo Lucas, unmarried, 34, well-known in society circles on account of his charming personality... valet out for the evening...

  Sherlock Holmes : [interrupting]  They always are!

  Dr. John Watson : [still reading]  ... elderly housekeeper... sleeps at the top of the house... heard nothing...

  Sherlock Holmes : [interrupting]  They never do!

• Dr. John Watson : [Remarking about Lady Trelawney Hope]  I say, what a really remarkable and beautiful woman!

  Sherlock Holmes : Mmmm... the fair sex is your department, Watson.

• Sherlock Holmes : Watson, the police have arrested the valet, Lestrade has been put in charge of the case, he's buzzing round like a bluebottle.

  Dr. John Watson : I've gotten to know him well, would it help if I spoke to him?

  Sherlock Holmes : No, no, this is a case where the law is as dangerous as the criminals are, we must be patient and wait.

• Sherlock Holmes : The motives of women are so inscrutable. I mean, how can you build on such a quicksand? Their most trivial action may mean volumes or their most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a hairpin or a curling tong!

• Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : In brief, Mr Holmes, a document has been stolen from my private dispatch box, and when I discovered my loss, which was at eight o'clock this morning I at once informed the Prime Minister. It was at his suggestion that we should come to you.

  Sherlock Holmes : You have informed the police?

  Lord Bellinger : No sir, we have not done so. Nor is it possible that we should do so, to inform the police, must in the long run mean to inform the public. And that is what we particularly desire to avoid.

  Sherlock Holmes : Why sir?

  Lord Bellinger : Because the document in question is of such immense importance, that its publication might easily, I might also say probably lead to European complications of the utmost moment. Unless its recovery is attended with the utmost secrecy, then it may as well not be recovered at all, for all that is aimed by those who have taken it is that its contents should be generally known.

• Sherlock Holmes : What time did you dine?

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : Seven-thirty.

  Sherlock Holmes : How long before you went to bed?

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : My wife had gone to the theatre and I had waited up for her, it was eleven-thirty before we went to our rooms.

  Sherlock Holmes : So for four hours the dispatch box had lain unguarded?

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : Mr Holmes, no-one is permitted to go into that room, save the housemaid in the morning and my valet during the rest of the day.

  [Sherlock reacts] 

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : They are both trusty servants who have been with us for many years. Besides, neither of them could've known there was anything more valuable than the normal departmental papers in my box.

  Sherlock Holmes : Surely your wife knew?

  Lord Bellinger : Mr Holmes, I have long known how high is Mr Hope's sense of duty, I'm convinced in a case of this importance, it would rise superior to the most intimate domestic ties.

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : You do me more than justice, Prime Minister. Until this morning I have never breathed one word to my wife upon this matter.

  Sherlock Holmes : Who is there in England who did know of the existence of this letter?

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : Each member of the Cabinet was informed yesterday, but the pledge of secrecy that attends every Cabinet meeting was increased by the solemn warning given by the Prime Minister.

  [Stamps foot] 

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : God! To think that within a few hours I myself should've lost it. Besides the members of the Cabinet there are two, possibly three departmental officials who know of the letter, no-one else in England, I assure you.

  Sherlock Holmes : But abroad?

  Rt. Honourable Trelawney Hope : I believe that nobody abroad has seen it except the man who wrote it, I'm well convinced that his Ministers that usual channels have *not* been employed in this case.

• Sherlock Holmes : MacPherson, did you move the carpet?

  Constable MacPherson : No sir, I only straightened it out. You see, she had fell on it, and the polished floor being slippery...

  Inspector Lestrade : Let that be a lesson to you, Constable, that you can't deceive me! No doubt you thought your breach of duty would never be discovered, yet a mere glance at that carpet was enough to convince me that that someone had been admitted to this room.

• Sherlock Holmes : The situation is desperate... but not hopeless.

• Sherlock Holmes : Should I bring this to a successful conclusion, it will certainly represent the crowning glory of my career!

• Lord Bellinger : Come! There's more in this than meets the eye!

  Sherlock Holmes : Ah, Prime Minister, we too have our diplomatic secrets.