Death in Ecstasy by Ngaio Marsh

Oldtuberadio

Death in Ecstasy is a detective novel by Ngaio Marsh, the fourth to feature her series detective, Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard. It was first published in 1936. When lovely Cara Quayne drops to the floor dead after drinking the ritual wine at the House of the Sacred Flame, she was having a religious experience of a sort unsuspected by the other initiates. Discovering how the fatal prussic acid got into the wine is but one of the perplexing riddles that confronts Scotland Yard's Inspector Roderick Alleyn, when he is called upon to discover who poisoned this wealthy cult member.  A dramatisation by John Tidyman of the novel was broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Night Theatre in September 1969, with Peter Howell as Alleyn and Gary Watson as Nigel Bathgate.  Do you enjoy the variety on Oldtuberadio? Like, Share and Subscribe to be notified of our new shows #radio #crime #thriller #drama To Support this channel please visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/oldtuberadio https://ko-fi.com/oldtuberadio98 https://www.patreon.com/oldtuberadio https://locals.com/Oldtuberadio

Transcript

00:00:00Now, on Radio 4, it's time for Saturday Night Theatre.

00:00:13Now the door is open, now burns the flame of ecstasy.

00:00:18Turn with me, your father, into the oneness of the spirit.

00:00:22Let go your hold on earth, ecstasy yours.

00:00:26Now you, our chosen vessel, must drink of the flaming cup.

00:00:32I am one, and I am all.

00:00:35Joy, joy.

00:00:38I give you the wine of ecstasy, and may it bring you joy and bother and insult.

00:00:42Give me.

00:00:44Joy, joy.

00:00:48Drink.

00:00:56My friends, my friends, our beloved sister is now in ecstasy.

00:01:04She's not.

00:01:06She's not, I've just asked her, she's dead.

00:01:09Kara Queen is dead.

00:01:11Death in ecstasy, by Nioh Marsh, adapted for radio by John Tideman, with Peter Howell as Chief Detective Inspector Elaine, and Gary Watson as Nigel Bathgate.

00:01:31Death in ecstasy.

00:01:33I am afraid there's no doubt about it, Father Garnett.

00:01:36The lady is dead.

00:01:37But, Dr. Kesley...

00:01:38Oh, I told you she was dead.

00:01:40I told you.

00:01:41I touched her.

00:01:42Be quiet this way.

00:01:43This is terrible, terrible.

00:01:45I think the sort of thing could happen in the house of the sacred flame, on the very steps of the holy altar.

00:01:50Oh, it's terrible.

00:01:50Father Garnett, I really do think you should get rid of the rest of the congregation.

00:01:54I think you should.

00:01:54You should tell them to go.

00:01:55Wait a minute.

00:01:58But...

00:01:58I'd just like to ask you, Doctor, whether this lady died naturally.

00:02:01Well, I wouldn't have time to establish the fact of death.

00:02:04As to its cause...

00:02:05Have you any doubts as to the cause of death?

00:02:06What do you mean, and who are you, anyway?

00:02:09I just happen to be in the congregation.

00:02:11But how?

00:02:12This is a private sect.

00:02:13There is a guard on the door.

00:02:14He has strict orders not to admit strangers.

00:02:17Let's just say the guard lowered his guard and I slipped in out of the range.

00:02:20Monsters!

00:02:20Look, I'm sorry to be here and I'm sorry to interfere,

00:02:23but I'd just like to say that if there's any suspicion of unnatural death, then I believe no one...

00:02:26Unnatural death?

00:02:28How do you get that idea?

00:02:29Well, I'd say the manner of the lady's death.

00:02:32The mouth, the eyes.

00:02:33I may be wrong, but if there's any doubt, then I don't think any of the principal participants...

00:02:37That's to say, all of you in the vestry here, the six some...

00:02:40Initiates, we were seven...

00:02:43Yes, the six of you, and the two young...

00:02:45Oh, do you mean Lionel and me, we're...

00:02:46Yes, we're acolytes.

00:02:47We help Father Garnett.

00:02:48We third, yes.

00:02:49Yes, well, all of you.

00:02:50And Father Garnett, of course, I think you should stay.

00:02:52I think you're right.

00:02:53But, Doctor...

00:02:53No, I'm afraid I must agree with this young man.

00:02:56But, Doctor...

00:02:56You can dismiss those out there.

00:02:58The door guard keeps a list of those attending, and should there be any need for witnesses...

00:03:01Witnesses?

00:03:02Not allowed to leave?

00:03:03Unnatural causes?

00:03:04What is all this?

00:03:05Morris, be quiet!

00:03:06No, no, I won't, Jane.

00:03:07That woman had no business to be here.

00:03:09She had no right to the cup.

00:03:10She was evil.

00:03:11I know, Father Garnett, I know!

00:03:12Shut up, Pringle!

00:03:13I remember where you are!

00:03:14We know, God, I was unhappy and unpopular, but really, Mr. Pringle, there's only a curtain

00:03:19dividing us from those in the temple over there.

00:03:22We don't want them to hear us do it.

00:03:24We can soon, Ramada, then.

00:03:26Come, Lionel.

00:03:26Yes, Father.

00:03:27Claude.

00:03:28Yes, Father.

00:03:28Draw the curtain, support me to the pulpit.

00:03:30We will bless and dismiss the flock.

00:03:33Excuse me whilst I return to my people.

00:03:35Yes, Father.

00:03:37Now, lead the way.

00:03:38Yes, Father.

00:03:40Oh, isn't he marvelous.

00:03:43Well, Doctor, what is it?

00:03:44Poison?

00:03:44It looks like it.

00:03:45I'm afraid.

00:03:46Death was instantaneous.

00:03:48We must inform the police.

00:03:49Is there a telephone?

00:03:49Yes, there's one through there in part of Garnett's rooms.

00:03:52His rooms?

00:03:52Yes, he lives here, behind the altar.

00:03:54Then shall I make the call?

00:03:55Well, I happen to know a man at the yard.

00:03:56It might be easier.

00:03:57Yes, by all means.

00:03:58But slip out quietly.

00:03:59We don't want to alarm anyone any further.

00:04:01Right you are, Doctor.

00:04:02Will he be all right, Doctor?

00:04:04I'm so worried about him.

00:04:06Who?

00:04:06Oh, my father, Garnett, of course.

00:04:09The shock, the strain, this awful thing.

00:04:14I'm sure you'll never be himself again.

00:04:17And, sir, my people, I ask you to believe that the choice, the rushing powers of endless

00:04:22space, has fallen on our beloved sister in Exeter, Carla Quain.

00:04:28Meditate upon the word, Unita.

00:04:31Strengthen your souls to the power of the word.

00:04:36Oh, hello.

00:04:37Could I have a word with Chief Detective Inspector Alain, please?

00:04:40Speaking.

00:04:41Oh, it's you.

00:04:41You're in, then?

00:04:42Of course.

00:04:43It's Nigel Barthgate speaking.

00:04:44I know.

00:04:45What's the matter?

00:04:46Well, I'm speaking from the House of the Sacred Flame in Knocklatch's Row, not far from

00:04:51my flat.

00:04:51My division, yes.

00:04:52A woman died here about ten minutes ago.

00:04:54I think you'd better come.

00:04:55It's all very suspicious.

00:04:56You tried to say it's murder.

00:04:57Why should I know?

00:04:58Why did you ring the yard?

00:05:00Well, I thought you'd prefer the personal touch.

00:05:02And you thought I would be so disapproving of you writing the thing up for one of your

00:05:05beastly newspapers?

00:05:06How did you guess?

00:05:07All right.

00:05:07I'll be around in a few moments.

00:05:09Oh, and Barthgate.

00:05:10Yes?

00:05:10Keep calm.

00:05:11I'm calm enough.

00:05:12But you should see the converted on the other side of that door.

00:05:14They're a pretty rum lot, I can tell you.

00:05:16And Barthgate.

00:05:17Yes?

00:05:17Keep your ears open.

00:05:18There's a good fellow.

00:05:19Goodbye.

00:05:20Goodbye.

00:05:22Keep your ears open.

00:05:23Cheek.

00:05:24He's kept the congregation quiet.

00:05:26He's kept us quiet.

00:05:27What are we to believe of our precious father?

00:05:30What are you talking about?

00:05:30Oh, you know well enough, Mrs. Camder.

00:05:32You'd have taken Cara's place if you could have.

00:05:35It's not his fault.

00:05:36It's yours.

00:05:36Now, Marry, I...

00:05:37No, Jenny, I will say it.

00:05:38It's all such a farce.

00:05:40But whatever's behind it, I know it's retribution.

00:05:44I know, I know, I know.

00:05:49Extremely unusual sort of church, I must say.

00:05:51Yes, I think the whole thing rose something to early German and Scandinavian cults.

00:05:56Well, whatever it is, I don't like it.

00:05:57It's a beastly place, and I can't think what brought you into it, Barthgate.

00:06:00I told you I was bored and saw the sign outside swinging in the rain.

00:06:03I suppose I came in search of adventure.

00:06:05I suppose that with your habitual naivety, you consider that you found it.

00:06:09Ah, Inspector Fox.

00:06:10I take it you've got all the details of the immediate witnesses?

00:06:13Yes, sir.

00:06:14And the doorkeeper was good enough to provide a list of those in the congregation.

00:06:17Good.

00:06:18And you've asked these how many?

00:06:19Nine people, sir.

00:06:20You've asked them to wait?

00:06:21Yes, sir.

00:06:22In the vestry, if that's what they call it here.

00:06:24They're a rum crowd, sir.

00:06:25They'd need to be to get involved in a place like this.

00:06:28Is it murder?

00:06:29The lady died of a good strong dose of cyanide, yes.

00:06:32We've got to wait for the autopsy, of course.

00:06:34But our divisional surgeon, Cassie, has backed up your opinions, Dr. Casbeck.

00:06:38He also agrees that you did all you could under the circumstances.

00:06:40I would have tried artificial respiration and so on, but she was dead before I got to her.

00:06:45Only took a matter of seconds.

00:06:46The first thing I noticed was the characteristic odor.

00:06:49That chalice thing stinks of it.

00:06:51Bailey's going over for fingerprints, sir.

00:06:52It's not much help if they all handled it.

00:06:54Oh, yes.

00:06:54They've passed it round all right.

00:06:56I suppose it must have been the climax of the ceremony when Miss Quain got it.

00:06:59A silver jug holding the wine was handed in turn to each of them and each poured a little

00:07:03into the cup.

00:07:04The priest gave it to her.

00:07:05She drank and fell down, dead.

00:07:08We've looked at the silver jug and there doesn't seem to be anything odd about it.

00:07:10Still, we'll have the wine in it analysed.

00:07:12But let's get a clear picture of the routine.

00:07:16As I understand it, Miss Quain was the chosen vessel and she stood in the middle while the

00:07:20others knelt round her.

00:07:21Garnet gave the cup to one of the acolytes.

00:07:23Yes, Claude.

00:07:25Then this Claude person passed his hand over the cup and up jumped a flame, a drop of methylated

00:07:30spirits fat.

00:07:30I suppose, sir.

00:07:32Then the cup was passed from hand to hand by the kneeling circle of six and each took the

00:07:36jug from pretty boy Claude and poured some wine into the cup.

00:07:40Yes, the idea is that the initiates all symbolise some sort of dare take.

00:07:44So the cup went round the circle and when he got to the last person, what happened?

00:07:47He handed it back to the priest.

00:07:49Oh, it was a man, was it?

00:07:50Yes, Mr. Ogden, the American gentleman.

00:07:52Then the priest, Garnet, handed the cup to Miss Quain and she drank it.

00:07:56Yes, she drank it for a thing.

00:07:59I suppose there's no chance that Miss Quain herself could have dropped anything into

00:08:02the cup.

00:08:02Oh, no, I'm sure of it.

00:08:04She held the cup by the stem with both hands.

00:08:06It looked so odd that I remember it distinctly.

00:08:07Yes, Mr. Baskett's quite right.

00:08:09Tell me, how is a man like you connected with all this, Dr. Kazrak?

00:08:13Well, I'm not a member of the sect or anything.

00:08:15I'm just an onlooker, if you like.

00:08:18Garnet's doctrines amused and intrigued me.

00:08:21So did the man himself.

00:08:23He has some strange sort of hold over people.

00:08:28Hypnotism, perhaps.

00:08:29Where did the money come from?

00:08:30It looks a pretty expensive sort of set-up.

00:08:33Subscriptions, I suppose.

00:08:35Also donations and legacies.

00:08:37Ogden will be able to tell you.

00:08:38He's Grand Warden or something, and I believe he looks after the practical side of things.

00:08:42And the service tonight, was that ritual a very frequent sort of event?

00:08:45Oh, no, that's the star turn.

00:08:47It's only held once a month, and the chosen vessel has to do a month's intensive instruction

00:08:51and meditation with the priest.

00:08:52So Cara Quain spent her last month on earth largely in Mr. Garnet's company.

00:08:56I imagine, sir.

00:08:57That altogether envy her.

00:08:58Well, Dr. Kasvick, you've been most helpful, and I won't keep you any longer.

00:09:03You'll be subpoenaed for the inquest, of course.

00:09:05Of course.

00:09:06Well, it looks like being an interesting case, Inspector.

00:09:09Yes, but I don't like the look of it, I must confess.

00:09:11But then we policemen are always supposed to say that, aren't we?

00:09:14Yes, and you always do.

00:09:15Well, good night, Dr. Kasvick.

00:09:17There's a constable on duty at the door, but he's been told to let you out.

00:09:20Good.

00:09:20Well, good night, Mr. Bathgate, and thank you for your sensible assistance.

00:09:24Think nothing of it, Doctor.

00:09:25All part of the job.

00:09:26Good night, Inspector.

00:09:27Um, what about me?

00:09:30Will your tame constable at the door let me go?

00:09:32If you want to.

00:09:33Oh, but you don't want to do.

00:09:34No.

00:09:35Then stay.

00:09:36You can take notes, but no releasing the story until I give you the go-ahead.

00:09:39Okay.

00:09:40What next?

00:09:41What do you think?

00:09:42We recapitulate?

00:09:43Later.

00:09:43We interview the witnesses?

00:09:45Precisely.

00:09:45You've got the list, Fox?

00:09:46Yes, sir, it is.

00:09:48Uh-huh.

00:09:49I know we're in a place of worship, Fox, but let the first be first.

00:09:52Father Garnet?

00:09:53I prefer to call him Mr. Garnet.

00:09:55Yes, Fox, bring in the priest.

00:09:57Let's see if he's got anything to confess.

00:09:58Pretty good, sir.

00:10:00What are your impressions, Bart, get of the names on this list?

00:10:02Ah, they'll be telling.

00:10:03Well, then tell.

00:10:05Well, you know what I think about the two acolytes, Lionel and Claude.

00:10:09You see, from Fox's notes, that Lionel is a dancer in a Western show, and Claude is a lady's hairdresser.

00:10:14It's very much in character.

00:10:15They also share the same address.

00:10:17Hot House Plants, the pair of them.

00:10:19Yes.

00:10:20Mrs. Candor.

00:10:22Not so candid as her name would suggest.

00:10:24Not quite as grand as she'd like to appear.

00:10:27Mr. Ogden seems like the original cliched American.

00:10:30A sort of middle-aged gentleman who beams from the advertising pages of transatlantic periodicals.

00:10:34A bit too good to be true, perhaps.

00:10:37Then there's Janie Jenkins.

00:10:39Well, I think she should be taken with Maurice Pringle.

00:10:41I don't know if they're engaged, but they might be.

00:10:44She seems worried about him somehow.

00:10:46What do you mean?

00:10:47Well, she seems afraid that he might break out suddenly and do something, say something wild.

00:10:52He's a bit odd.

00:10:53Excitable.

00:10:54Not like Miss Wade.

00:10:56Though I suspect she's not quite the little old spinster she appears to be.

00:10:59Quite waspish at times.

00:11:01And she's Raoul Honoré Christophe Girond de Ravine.

00:11:04French.

00:11:04So it would seem.

00:11:05A quiet gentleman.

00:11:07Something of a collector, I believe.

00:11:09Closely connected with the deceased.

00:11:10At least possibly an affair.

00:11:13And who does that leave us with?

00:11:14Number one.

00:11:15Ah, yes.

00:11:16And Father Garnett is certainly interested in number one.

00:11:19He's clever.

00:11:20Clever, but bogus.

00:11:22And as the Bard says, he speaks not like a man of God's making.

00:11:25There you go, Paul.

00:11:26The Paul, my office, happened.

00:11:29Inspector.

00:11:30Chief Detective Inspector Alain.

00:11:32Ah, Alain.

00:11:34Stay with us, Fox.

00:11:35Mr. Bathgate may need some help with his shorthand.

00:11:37Very good, sir.

00:11:37What unseen power has struck down this dear soul in the very moment of spiritual ecstasy?

00:11:43Cyanide of potassium, we think.

00:11:46But that's a poison.

00:11:47One of the deadliest.

00:11:48Then you mean that murder has been done?

00:11:51Now, that'll be for a jury to decide.

00:11:52There'll be an inquest, of course.

00:11:53In the meantime, there are one or two questions that I should like to ask you.

00:11:56I needn't remind you that you are not obliged to answer them.

00:11:59I simply wish to do my duty.

00:12:00Excellent.

00:12:02How long has the deceased been a member of your congregation?

00:12:05She first came about 18 months ago, and has since been a regular attendant, finally

00:12:10attaining the highest rank.

00:12:12Of chosen vessel?

00:12:13Precisely.

00:12:15While she was preparing for this, you saw a great deal of Miss Quain.

00:12:19Was she in any way depressed or troubled about anything?

00:12:22On the contrary.

00:12:23She was in a state of tranquillity and joy.

00:12:26No worries about money?

00:12:27No.

00:12:28She was what the world calls rich.

00:12:31What do you call it?

00:12:33I should call her rich, too, Inspector.

00:12:35Any unhappy love affair that you know of?

00:12:38Carrie Quain was not concerned with a lot of love.

00:12:40She was on the threshold of a new spiritual life.

00:12:43And she's now crossed that threshold.

00:12:45Mr. Garnett, do you know anything that can throw any light on this matter?

00:12:48Nothing.

00:12:49Nothing I can think of, that is.

00:12:52Don't think me impersonal, but how do you support this place?

00:12:55By subscriptions?

00:12:56My people welcome as a privilege the right to share in the hospitality of the sacred place.

00:13:01You mean they pay the running expenses?

00:13:03Yes.

00:13:03Was Miss Quain a generous supporter?

00:13:05She was.

00:13:07Where did the wine you use in the ceremony come from?

00:13:09Harrods.

00:13:10It is an invalid pour.

00:13:11And do you yourself decant it?

00:13:13I mean, pour it into that silver flagon?

00:13:15This evening, the acolyte made preparation.

00:13:17Ah, which acolyte?

00:13:18Pour.

00:13:20Having filled the flagon, he makes ready the goblin.

00:13:23You mean he places methylated spirits in the cup?

00:13:26In tabloid form.

00:13:28It is necessary, but quite holy.

00:13:31It has been blessed at the altar.

00:13:33Naturally.

00:13:34And how is the flame made to appear as you pass your hands over the cup?

00:13:37I, uh, I employ a little capsule.

00:13:40Really?

00:13:41What does it contain?

00:13:41I believe the substance is known as zinc, uh, ethan.

00:13:45Very ingenious.

00:13:46You turn away for a moment as you use it, perhaps.

00:13:48That is so.

00:13:49Well, it all seems quite clear now.

00:13:51One more question.

00:13:53Has that your knowledge ever been any form of poison kept on these premises?

00:13:56No, definitely not.

00:13:58Well, thank you very much.

00:13:59I greatly appreciate your courtesy in answering so readily.

00:14:02There is just one other thing I must ask of you.

00:14:05Oh?

00:14:05I trust you have no objection to being searched.

00:14:07It's pure routine, but something to which I must ask all of you to subject yourselves.

00:14:11No, uh, no.

00:14:12I have no objections.

00:14:14Good.

00:14:14And afterwards, you will no doubt be glad to change into less ceremonial dress.

00:14:18Afterwards, I shall avail myself of the opportunity to devote myself to meditation.

00:14:24In that way, in all humility, I believe I may be able to flow to you and help you in your task.

00:14:32You are a very, very receptive festival.

00:14:34Only to facts, Mr. Garnett.

00:14:36I receive facts as a spider does fly.

00:14:40And I'm afraid that I thought so absolutely ghastly,

00:14:42I just had to ask your nice officer if I could come on ahead of the others.

00:14:46What upset you, Mr. Wheatley?

00:14:47Oh, you can call me Claude.

00:14:48Lionel, I believe, in his own Christian name.

00:14:51Got so much more appalled.

00:14:52What upset you, Mr. Wheatley?

00:14:53Oh, that appalling old woman.

00:14:55Who do you mean?

00:14:56Why, the candor female.

00:14:58What did she say?

00:14:59She accused me.

00:15:00Of what?

00:15:00Of doing something to the wine.

00:15:02Of killing Carla.

00:15:03And did you?

00:15:03Of course not.

00:15:05Oh, Carla was a marvellous person.

00:15:07So simpatico.

00:15:09Not like that jealous old cat.

00:15:10Mrs. Cundell.

00:15:11Oh, yes, she's jealous of everyone.

00:15:13Especially when Father Garnett takes the slightest notice of anybody else.

00:15:16She hated Carla.

00:15:18Because she and Mr. Garnett saw so much of each other during the last month.

00:15:21Oh, before that even.

00:15:22Uh-huh.

00:15:24You were serving the wine tonight?

00:15:25Yes.

00:15:26When you got it from Mr. Garnett's room, was it uncorked?

00:15:28Uncorked.

00:15:29Oh, no.

00:15:29It's always a fresh bottle.

00:15:31And apart from a methylated tablet, you didn't put anything into the goblet?

00:15:34No.

00:15:35And the flagon, when you decanted it, did you put anything else in the wine?

00:15:39Well, I didn't put any poison in it.

00:15:42That's what you're hinting.

00:15:43What else did you put in?

00:15:45Oh, just something from a little bottle Father Garnett keeps in his cupboard.

00:15:48It has a ceremonial significance.

00:15:50It's always done.

00:15:51Have you any idea what it is?

00:15:53No, no idea.

00:15:54I see.

00:15:55Did you notice Miss Quayne at all when she took the cup?

00:15:57Oh, my God, yes.

00:15:58It was appalling.

00:16:00You see, I thought she was in blessed ecstasy.

00:16:02Well, I mean, she was up to the time she took the cup.

00:16:04But then, oh, she's insightful.

00:16:07She gave a gasp, made a horrible face, dropped the cup and fell down with a terrible sort of jerking.

00:16:12Oh, it made me feel quite sick.

00:16:13Your friend Claude Weakley's already been made sick just by telling the story.

00:16:16Oh, Claude's always so sensitive.

00:16:18Now, tell me, Mr. Smith.

00:16:19Oh, Lionel, Claude and I always believe in using Christian names.

00:16:23It's got so much more rapport.

00:16:24Tell me, Mr. Smith, did you notice any unusual sort of smell when the wine had been poured?

00:16:29Smell?

00:16:30Smell?

00:16:31Unusual smell.

00:16:32Well, I wouldn't, would I?

00:16:33You see, I'm sensing.

00:16:34What?

00:16:35Selling my sensor.

00:16:37Don't you think our incense is rather divine, Inspector?

00:16:40Father Garnett gets it specially from India.

00:16:42It's sweet.

00:16:43Almond blossom.

00:16:44Almond.

00:16:45Damn.

00:16:46Don't you like it?

00:16:47Very nice.

00:16:47Very useful.

00:16:49Well, thank you, Mr. Smith.

00:16:51I think your friend Claude is waiting for you, so after you've been searched, you can take him home.

00:16:55Search?

00:16:56Yes, by the constable over there.

00:16:57Oh, I told the young one.

00:16:59Yes.

00:17:00Do you mind?

00:17:00No, of course not.

00:17:02I don't mind at all.

00:17:04I don't in the least mind telling what I think.

00:17:07I think Cara's death was a judgment.

00:17:09A judgment, Mrs. Kander?

00:17:10But what had she done to deserve such a terrible punishment?

00:17:13Cara was a very, very passionate sort of woman.

00:17:17I know that Father Garnett is above all that kind of thing, but, well, in my opinion, Cara was a dreadfully oversexed.

00:17:24She was a very beautiful woman, I believe.

00:17:27Well, I could never see it.

00:17:28Monsieur de Ravine went silly over her, but then you know what these foreigners are like.

00:17:32Anyway, Cara doesn't look so pretty now.

00:17:35No, Mrs. Kander, she doesn't.

00:17:36But then death by poisoning isn't altogether a pretty thing.

00:17:39Oh, that was a beastly thing for me to say.

00:17:43It's just that I'm so upset.

00:17:46Poor, poor Cara.

00:17:48I don't know how I'm going to get over this.

00:17:51I'm so sensitive, you see.

00:17:54But you, Inspector Lillian, you've been so very kind.

00:17:58And I always thought police methods would be rather fun.

00:18:02Well, I suppose I must congratulate myself on sitting right next to the works for an inside survey of British investigation methods.

00:18:08This isn't a game, Mr. Ogden.

00:18:09Somebody has died.

00:18:10You mean murder?

00:18:11Why didn't you say so?

00:18:12We must wait for the inquest before I can say that quite categorically.

00:18:15Well, if it is murder, and the trail's not just all that easy, and, oh, hell, we're men of the world, Chief.

00:18:20I've got all the dollars.

00:18:21Mr. Ogden, I suggest we ignore what I believe you are suggesting.

00:18:24Only trying to help.

00:18:25You would help us most by answering our questions.

00:18:26Now tell me, did you notice an unusual smell during the ceremony?

00:18:30Oh, I can't say I did.

00:18:32Ah.

00:18:33Mr. Ogden, you were the last of the six initiates to handle the cup before it was passed back to the priest.

00:18:38That's correct.

00:18:39And he then handed it to Miss Quayne, who drank it and...

00:18:42And we know what followed, Chief.

00:18:44Yes.

00:18:46I take it you're a businessman, Mr. Ogden.

00:18:48I have certain mining interests.

00:18:49You're also an officer of this sect.

00:18:51That's all the warden.

00:18:53I've worked out for the business side of things since this foundation.

00:18:55I helped found it, if you like, about two years ago.

00:18:59I met Father Grant on the boat coming over to England, and he impressed me right away.

00:19:02By the time we reached Thampton, we've mapped out a scheme for this church,

00:19:05and within six months, we were drawing congregations of about 300 souls.

00:19:09And the money, the financial support, where did that come from?

00:19:12Well, I dipped in five grand, I'm proud to say.

00:19:14And the father pulled in the rest with his high-voltage oratory.

00:19:18But who were the really big subscribers?

00:19:20Well, the ravine checked in at a pretty high level.

00:19:22But Dagmar Kandor and poor Kara came out tops with a thousand pounds each.

00:19:26They seemed somehow ambitious to carry off the generosity stakes.

00:19:30But Kara took a long leap ahead last month.

00:19:32Oh, how's that?

00:19:33She deposited 5,000 sterling in bearer bonds in the safe back there beyond the altar.

00:19:37They had to wait there until five grand is raised among the rest of us,

00:19:41and then to form a building of fund for a new church.

00:19:43Very generous of her.

00:19:44He was a very generous and very lovely person.

00:19:46I understand that Monsieur de Ravine thought so, too.

00:19:48Oh, he was crazy about that, crazy.

00:19:50Yet I gather the initiates were supposed to be a cut above mere earthly love.

00:19:54Yes, well, I guess de Ravine is not altogether cast off the shackles of the body.

00:19:59But get this.

00:20:00Kara was not interested.

00:20:02No, sir.

00:20:03It was the inner mysteries of the spirit that her soul was yearning after.

00:20:06The inner mysteries.

00:20:09We always talk about the inner mysteries of the spirit and so on.

00:20:12It must sound pretty bogus to you, Inspector.

00:20:14Just a trifle, Miss Jenkins, I must confess.

00:20:16But there is something in it, you know.

00:20:19At least I thought so.

00:20:20Thought?

00:20:21No, I'm not so sure.

00:20:23Because of what's just happened?

00:20:24No.

00:20:25Oh, all this has shown us up in a pretty unattractive light, of course,

00:20:28but it's just...

00:20:30Well, just I've got my doubts about it.

00:20:32In fact, have had my doubts for some time.

00:20:34How long have you been coming here?

00:20:36About six months.

00:20:37Morris first brought me.

00:20:39Mr. Brindle?

00:20:40Yes, we're engaged, you see.

00:20:42Morris was so keen on it.

00:20:43He could talk of nothing else.

00:20:45He's awfully highly strung and, well, sort of vulnerable, so I thought...

00:20:49You thought you'd keep an eye on him, Miss Jenkins?

00:20:51Mm-hmm.

00:20:53I'd like you to tell me something that mightn't be easy to answer.

00:20:56Oh?

00:20:57Before I arrived, I gather Mr. Brindle said that Mr. Garnett was keeping everyone quiet,

00:21:01that Mrs. Campbell would gladly have taken Miss Quayne's place,

00:21:04and that he, your fiancé, knew something which he had to tell.

00:21:09Now, what did he mean by all that?

00:21:11I don't know what you're talking about.

00:21:12Mr. Bathgate heard him, and the others claimed to have heard him as well.

00:21:15Whatever he meant, it has nothing to do with this dreadful thing.

00:21:17I'm sure of it.

00:21:18I can't say that, Miss Jenkins.

00:21:20Whatever was in that cup poisoned an innocent woman.

00:21:24Now, you must surely see that the interrelationship of all of you is vitally important.

00:21:30Is there any one person who can say what has their bearing on the case?

00:21:33A guilty person, you mean?

00:21:34I do, if one exists.

00:21:38All I can say is that Morris Hero worshipped Father Garnett.

00:21:41The father seemed to have some sort of hold over him,

00:21:44a hold over his imagination.

00:21:45While some of the women, Cara and Mrs. Cander, for instance,

00:21:50seemed so blatantly doting,

00:21:53Morris became suspicious that something rather,

00:21:55well, rather worldly was going on in the background.

00:21:58He meant that Mrs. Cander was jealous of Miss Quayne,

00:22:01and that Garnett had kept it quiet.

00:22:02Yes, but don't think he meant that Mrs. Cander was so jealous that she,

00:22:06she, oh, please don't think that.

00:22:08I shall keep an open mind, Miss Jenkins, I promise you.

00:22:11After you've been searched, you'll be free to go.

00:22:13We'll call a taxi for you, if you like.

00:22:15No, I'd rather wait until you see Morris, if you don't mind, Inspector.

00:22:19You tell him I'm waiting for him, won't you?

00:22:21He'll only worry otherwise.

00:22:22And your fiancée said you're not to worry, Mr. Pringle.

00:22:25She'll wait for you.

00:22:25Poor Janey.

00:22:27Mr. Pringle, what do you mean by retribution?

00:22:29What do you mean?

00:22:29You said earlier that Miss Quayne's death was retribution.

00:22:33You also said that Mr. Garnett was keeping something quiet,

00:22:35and that you knew something which you would tell to the world.

00:22:37That's my affair, I refuse to answer.

00:22:39Very good.

00:22:40Fox, will you tell Miss Jenkins that Mr. Pringle doesn't wish to make a statement at the moment,

00:22:44and there's no need for her to wait and see that she gets that taxi?

00:22:46Very good, sir.

00:22:47What do you mean I'm taking her home?

00:22:48I'm afraid I shall have to ask you to stay a little longer, Mr. Pringle.

00:22:51Officials!

00:22:53You win.

00:22:54Well, forget about the taxi, Fox.

00:22:56Very good, sir.

00:22:57Do you know anything about psychology, Mr. Pringle?

00:22:59Why?

00:23:00What are your views on crowd psychology, for instance?

00:23:03What do you think happens when people come under the sway of, shall we say, a magnetic preacher?

00:23:07What happens to them?

00:23:09They become his slaves.

00:23:10Will you describe this congregation as Mr. Garnett's slave?

00:23:12If you must know, yes.

00:23:14Yes, yes, yes.

00:23:15You say that very strongly.

00:23:16Of course I do.

00:23:17Oh, for heaven's sake, Inspector, you're a detective, aren't you?

00:23:19You must have noticed.

00:23:20Look at my eyes.

00:23:21Yes, I have noticed, but I wanted you to tell me yourself that you were in the habit of taking drugs.

00:23:25Is this Mr. Garnett's doing?

00:23:27No.

00:23:27I mean, somebody gets them for him.

00:23:29And he gave me a special cigarette, quite mild, really.

00:23:33He said it helped to make one receptive.

00:23:34And it does.

00:23:35And it does.

00:23:36Only...

00:23:37Only...

00:23:38Only now it's more than mild cigarettes, isn't it?

00:23:40Stop it.

00:23:40Isn't it?

00:23:41Stop it.

00:23:41Janey doesn't know.

00:23:42Please don't kill her.

00:23:43Please.

00:23:44I won't if I can help you.

00:23:46What about the other initiatives?

00:23:48Well, Cara Quayne had begun.

00:23:49The candor was on it.

00:23:51That's all.

00:23:51Did you meet here together in Garnett's rooms and smoke your cigarettes?

00:23:54At first.

00:23:54Then Mrs. Cander and Cara came at separate times.

00:23:57Then, when Cara was making her preparations for Chosen Vessels, she came alone.

00:24:01I see.

00:24:02No, you don't.

00:24:03You don't see at all.

00:24:04You don't know.

00:24:05Only I know.

00:24:06I saw them.

00:24:08One afternoon, about three weeks ago, I came in to see him.

00:24:12There was no one here in the church.

00:24:14I went to his rooms, opened the door, and there they were.

00:24:18Father Garnett and the Chosen Vessel.

00:24:20God, God.

00:24:22So that is what you meant by retribution.

00:24:24Have you quite finished, Inspector?

00:24:26Yes, Miss Jenkins, quite finished.

00:24:27You may both go home now.

00:24:29Maurice.

00:24:30Maurice, darling, let's go.

00:24:31Let me alone, Janie.

00:24:32But, darling, I want you to take me home.

00:24:35Yes, yes, of course.

00:24:36I'm sorry.

00:24:37There we are.

00:24:38Take my arm.

00:24:38All right.

00:24:40All right.

00:24:41Now.

00:24:42Inspector Alley, I could murder you for this.

00:24:44No, my child.

00:24:44Don't talk like that.

00:24:45Please.

00:24:46She was murdered, Mr. Inspector.

00:24:49Whatever the inquest may say, I, Raul Honoré Christophe Jérôme de Ravigne, know that.

00:24:56My car was murdered.

00:24:57You say my car.

00:24:58Am I to understand between you and Miss Quaid?

00:25:00Yes, I adore her.

00:25:02Many times I asked her to do me the honor of becoming my wife, but she was too devoted

00:25:07to religious life.

00:25:08She was indifferent towards me.

00:25:11You are religious yourself, though.

00:25:12Otherwise, you wouldn't be here.

00:25:13True.

00:25:14This church, its ceremonial, it intrigues me.

00:25:18Besides, I find one must have a faith.

00:25:20It is not in my temperament to be an atheist.

00:25:23When did you first attend services here?

00:25:25Two years ago.

00:25:26I was one of the first to come here.

00:25:27I even gave a subscription to help the needs of the church.

00:25:30Oh, not a large amount.

00:25:31I'm not a rich man, you understand.

00:25:33Oh, I collect this on that objet d'art painting, what my small resources permit.

00:25:38I envy you.

00:25:38Tell me, did Miss Quaid have no relations in England?

00:25:41There must be someone.

00:25:42No, nobody.

00:25:43Cara was an author.

00:25:44She was educated on the continent.

00:25:46In fact, it was in France that I first met her at the house of some friends.

00:25:50And a lie, it was I who introduced her to the ceremony here.

00:25:53So, apart from her house, sir, there is no one you can think of with whom we should get in touch?

00:25:57Well, there is a notary.

00:26:00Her solicitor?

00:26:00Yes.

00:26:01Now, his name.

00:26:03His name?

00:26:04It was Ratz.

00:26:06Ratz something.

00:26:07Ah, bon!

00:26:08That is it.

00:26:09Ratz is bon.

00:26:09You know him?

00:26:10I know of him, certainly.

00:26:12As to the disposition of her estate, Monsieur D'Avina, have you any idea as to how Miss Quaid intended leaving things?

00:26:17We did not talk of these matters.

00:26:18No, I do know this church will be a beneficiary, apart from the 5,000 pounds in bonds already reposed in the safe here.

00:26:26Cara told me once that she had altered her will for that purpose.

00:26:29It was then I heard of this Monsieur Ratz's book.

00:26:31Look, Monsieur D'Avina, you said earlier that you were convinced that Miss Quaid had been murdered.

00:26:34Yes.

00:26:34But there is another possibility, an unlikely one, I confess.

00:26:38Suicide?

00:26:38Ah, no.

00:26:39I was sick.

00:26:40Why should your Cara wish to die?

00:26:42She was beautiful, happy, in the prime of her life, and she was loved.

00:26:46And she was not poor.

00:26:47As you say, she was not poor.

00:26:50I don't know, Inspector.

00:26:51Rich people are not always to be envied.

00:26:54And Cara was rich.

00:26:56Of course, she was generous, too.

00:26:57Very generous.

00:26:58But she was not popular.

00:27:00And why was she not popular, do you think?

00:27:02Well, I think there was a certain amount of jealousy.

00:27:05On whose part?

00:27:06Ah, if I give you names, you might get suspicious and think all sorts of things.

00:27:10Jealousy is not invariably followed by homicide, Miss Wilt.

00:27:13Precisely.

00:27:13That's just what I've been saying.

00:27:15Mrs. Kander tells me that Miss Quaid didn't have a very striking personality.

00:27:19Oh, that's not true.

00:27:20And it's very naughty of Dagmar to speak like that.

00:27:22It's not so Father Garnett gave her any encouragement.

00:27:26He's too noble and too pure even to guess.

00:27:29To guess what, Miss Wilt?

00:27:30Oh, no, I...

00:27:30To guess what?

00:27:32Well, I don't believe what they say.

00:27:35Dagmar Kander is very wicked to speak the way she does.

00:27:37Where was Mrs. Kander kneeling when you passed the cup to each other during the ceremony?

00:27:41She was first.

00:27:43And she passed the chalice to Monsieur de Ravigne.

00:27:45Was there anything unusual in the way she handled the cup?

00:27:47Oh, no, not really.

00:27:49She poured in rather a lot of wine and was a little bit careless.

00:27:52She left a trickle on the rim, I noticed,

00:27:55because Monsieur wiped it away with a spotless pocket handkerchief.

00:27:59He passed the cup to you and you...

00:28:01I passed it to Mr. Pringle.

00:28:03I almost had to hold it for him.

00:28:05He was shaking so much.

00:28:07Janie was next to him and she simply had to take it from him or you'd have dropped it.

00:28:11Then Miss Jenkins passed the cup to Mr. Ogden and he returned it to the priest.

00:28:14Yes, and he gave it to Cara, who drank the wine.

00:28:18She was in ecstasy.

00:28:20For a moment I thought she was going to dance.

00:28:23Don?

00:28:23Oh, yes, it happened before, you know.

00:28:26Oh.

00:28:27Well, I don't think I need to keep you any longer, Miss Wade.

00:28:29There's just one other thing I must ask you.

00:28:31Yes?

00:28:31That's if you wouldn't mind being searched.

00:28:33I'm afraid it's necessary.

00:28:34Oh, then I can go.

00:28:35Naturally.

00:28:36Good.

00:28:37You see, Inspector, I've had something on my mind all evening.

00:28:40Oh?

00:28:40I can't remember whether or not I turned the electric heater off at home.

00:28:44It could be very dangerous.

00:28:45Well, you will soon find out, Miss Wade.

00:28:47Yes.

00:28:48Good night, Inspector.

00:28:50And thank you for being so very, very courteous.

00:28:53Good night, Miss Wade.

00:28:54Good night.

00:28:56Phew.

00:28:56As you say, Bathgate.

00:28:58Phew.

00:28:59Well, that's the lot.

00:29:01The most unsavory case.

00:29:03Murder most foul.

00:29:04And this one is most foul.

00:29:06Excuse me, sir.

00:29:07Yes, what is it, Fox?

00:29:08I think Bailey has found what you were looking for.

00:29:10None of the personal searches revealed anything.

00:29:12Where was it?

00:29:13Up in the chancel.

00:29:14It had been ground into the carpet by someone's heel.

00:29:16Let's see.

00:29:17It's in this little box.

00:29:19Ah, yes.

00:29:21Yes, that's it, sure enough.

00:29:22Well done, Brofax.

00:29:24What is it?

00:29:24Cigarette paper.

00:29:25Doubled over and gummed into a tiny tube.

00:29:27But it's red.

00:29:28Is it drenched in someone's light blood?

00:29:30It's been dyed with red ink, I should think.

00:29:32It smells.

00:29:32It's wet.

00:29:33It's a clue.

00:29:34It's definitely a clue.

00:29:35If it's wet, do you mean it's only just been dipped in red ink?

00:29:38Oh.

00:29:39Oh, wait.

00:29:40Wait a bit.

00:29:41Watch our little bud unfolding.

00:29:42It's wet with wine.

00:29:43Four marks for fully flowering.

00:29:45You mean the murderer dropped the paper into the cupboard?

00:29:47Just that.

00:29:48Purposely?

00:29:48Well, if he wanted to murder somebody, it is unlikely that he would have done it accidentally.

00:29:52Yes.

00:29:54Not so difficult as it sounds.

00:29:55The murderer drops the paper in and the powder falls out.

00:29:58A bit risky, sir.

00:29:59I mean, the paper wouldn't float.

00:30:01Any of the others could see it floating.

00:30:03How would the murderer know it would be safe?

00:30:05It's risky, but not impossible.

00:30:06As Mr. Barthgate told us, there's only the one torch alight.

00:30:09Where they were kneeling, they'd be very much in the shadow.

00:30:11Remember, they hold the cup fairly high.

00:30:13Now, I'd like you to actually look into it.

00:30:16Well, Sam, you're right, Fox.

00:30:17How would the murderer know it would be safe?

00:30:19Now, I think that's the crux of the whole case.

00:30:22The murderer is taking a risk, unless...

00:30:25Yes, I'm asked.

00:30:26No, it's pure conjecture.

00:30:28When the analyst finds traces of cyanide, then we can start talking.

00:30:32Meanwhile, I'd like to have a look at Mr. Garnet's little bottle.

00:30:35What?

00:30:35Oh, you're up to the invalid port, I might have guessed.

00:30:38Give me an ass, Fox.

00:30:39Give me a little bottle of magic that Claude added to the wine to make them all more receptive.

00:30:45What is Garnet's fuck?

00:30:46Well, he returned to his little dwelling behind the altar, as he called it.

00:30:51He said he wished to meditate.

00:30:52Well, he'll have a nasty joke when we suddenly appear to him.

00:30:56Hallelujah.

00:30:58Glory, glory.

00:31:00Hallelujah.

00:31:02Glory.

00:31:03You have exceeded your duty, Chief.

00:31:11Exceeded your duty.

00:31:12Never mind.

00:31:13Can't we say Bo get together now?

00:31:16Bo?

00:31:17Yeah, that's the way Ogden talks when he talks.

00:31:20Oh, yes, Mr. Garnet.

00:31:21Let's get together the river.

00:31:23The beautiful, beautiful river.

00:31:25I ran a revivalist joint down in Michigan.

00:31:27Oh, way, way back.

00:31:28It was swell.

00:31:29Was Mr. Ogden with you in Michigan?

00:31:31Yeah, why, he thinks I'm the sand flyer's goddess.

00:31:35He's saturated in holy simplicity.

00:31:37When did you meet Mr. Ogden?

00:31:39Because in Atlantic.

00:31:40He's all right.

00:31:41Saturated in simplicity.

00:31:43So it would appear.

00:31:44Listen, Chief, you got me all wrong.

00:31:45I never do the thing, little carer.

00:31:47Is it likely?

00:31:48No, sir.

00:31:49No, sir.

00:31:49Everything's likely.

00:31:50Be quiet, sir.

00:31:51Look, if we get together, I'll talk.

00:31:54What with?

00:31:55The stuff that speaks all languages.

00:31:59Was it worth for you to lay off this up?

00:32:01What's it worth to you?

00:32:02Oh, it's your squeak.

00:32:04You're bluffing.

00:32:04You haven't got two pennies to rub together.

00:32:06I got stacks of it.

00:32:08Stacks of it.

00:32:09Stacks of it.

00:32:10So you say.

00:32:11So I say.

00:32:12And what I say, so I say.

00:32:13If you don't believe me,

00:32:16the keys look for yourself.

00:32:18Thanks, I will.

00:32:19And where do I look?

00:32:20Well, the boxing desk.

00:32:22It's not already that safe.

00:32:25Safe's best.

00:32:26Safe, safe, safe.

00:32:31He's out for the counter.

00:32:33What did you do?

00:32:33Uh-huh.

00:32:35No, sir.

00:32:36You don't, the gentleman.

00:32:38All right, he's nearly tight.

00:32:39Filled with the spirit.

00:32:40His own spirit.

00:32:41But he's only drunk one glass of brandy

00:32:42whilst we've been here.

00:32:43I saw him pour it.

00:32:44He was perfectly all right when we came in.

00:32:45This.

00:32:46And what's that?

00:32:46A little bottle of magic

00:32:47that Master Claude doctored the wine with.

00:32:49And what is it?

00:32:50Proof spirit over proof of Lagsma.

00:32:52Pure alcohol?

00:32:53Something of the sort.

00:32:54Have to be analysed.

00:32:54Of course, it seems to work, though.

00:32:56Garnett just turned away

00:32:57and I slipped into his drink,

00:32:58which fortunately he knocked back at one gulp.

00:33:00Hence the instant effect.

00:33:01Why, you beastly old borgias.

00:33:03Stop talking, Baskier.

00:33:04Can't you see I'm detecting?

00:33:05What's out of the back, Fox?

00:33:06Just Garnett's bedroom and the usual offices.

00:33:08And the back door?

00:33:09Oh, it's a bit odd.

00:33:11Before you, Mickey Finn, the father there,

00:33:13he said it was always locked.

00:33:14Invariable, was the word he used.

00:33:17World said it was open.

00:33:18Funny.

00:33:18Very funny.

00:33:19Now, you go through the waistcoat basket

00:33:20and the ashtrays and grate and so on.

00:33:22I'll tackle the desk with these keys

00:33:24garnets so kindly provided.

00:33:26What would you like me to do?

00:33:27Why don't you lug the guts into the neighbour room?

00:33:29What, put this old fraud to bed?

00:33:30That's it.

00:33:30You can manage, can you?

00:33:32Fox and I have work on hand.

00:33:33Very well.

00:33:35Fireman's lift for you, you horrid, heavy old man.

00:33:39From its fair and unballooned breast may violets spring.

00:33:42Pinks and roses more like.

00:33:44The bedroom's like a whore's boudoir.

00:33:46We wouldn't know, would we, Fox?

00:33:48You don't want me to undress the unpleasant old blob, do you?

00:33:51No, just cover him up and leave him there to breathe.

00:33:53Ah, now this is interesting.

00:33:55Find something?

00:33:56Possibly.

00:33:57Two tall bits of paper in the grate.

00:33:59Badly charred.

00:34:01Writing in green pencil.

00:34:02Block capitals.

00:34:04Pretty hard to decipher.

00:34:05Say, have I missed something?

00:34:06Do I smell a clue?

00:34:07Sir, this is to warn...

00:34:10blank, blank, blank...

00:34:12with Mrs. C...

00:34:14A...

00:34:15Mrs. Candor.

00:34:16It could equally well be Miss Cara.

00:34:18The middle bit of the miss or missus is torn.

00:34:20Ah, that's all there is on this fragment.

00:34:22The other bit's even less communicative.

00:34:24Put the bits away tenderly, Fox, and let's brood over it.

00:34:27What has the chief inspector found?

00:34:28Just letters.

00:34:29Do you see?

00:34:30Odious.

00:34:30From women?

00:34:31All of them.

00:34:32Any from the deceased, sir?

00:34:34Quite a few.

00:34:35They're all a mixture of mystical gibberish and hysterical adulation.

00:34:38Look at this one.

00:34:39Pages of the stuff.

00:34:40Look.

00:34:41This must have been the one she sent with the bonds that Ogden mentioned.

00:34:45With this she will find a parcel.

00:34:47It contains the bonds I spoke of.

00:34:49Five thousand pounds.

00:34:51Oh, hateful to speak of money, but...

00:34:53Well spoken, Fox.

00:34:54The bonds.

00:34:56Ogden said they should be in the safe, so let us see.

00:35:02Bank book.

00:35:04Check from Mr. Ogden.

00:35:06Twenty pounds.

00:35:07I guess the money out of the gentleman beats me.

00:35:09Extraordinary, isn't he?

00:35:10But he does.

00:35:10He does.

00:35:11Ah, this brown paper package looks more like it.

00:35:17To the Reverend Father Jasper Garnett in Miss Quayne's hand.

00:35:20Well, aren't you going to open it?

00:35:21Of course.

00:35:22Good heavens.

00:35:26Well?

00:35:28I wish Mr. Garnett were not so sound asleep.

00:35:30Why?

00:35:31I'd like him to have a look at this.

00:35:33Christ!

00:35:34But it's all cut-up bits of newspaper.

00:35:37Yes, it is.

00:35:38So you've got the motive.

00:35:39Possibly, possibly.

00:35:40Garnett has pinched the bonds.

00:35:41Ah, don't jump to conclusions.

00:35:42Somebody's pinched them.

00:35:43We'd better get fingerprints on this lot, Fox.

00:35:45Very good, sir.

00:35:46Can I have copy on all this?

00:35:48It'll be front-page stuff.

00:35:49I'm eyewitness to a murder.

00:35:50All right, it's your story, but no mention of the bearer bonds, and I'd like to see the

00:35:53rest of it before you send it in.

00:35:55There's something else, sir.

00:35:56Yes, Fox?

00:35:56What is it?

00:35:57This.

00:35:58I found it in the cigarette box on the sideboard.

00:36:01Looks like the page from a pocket diary.

00:36:03Today's day and date on the top of the page.

00:36:05But see what's written on it.

00:36:07Must see you.

00:36:08Terrible discovery.

00:36:09After service tonight.

00:36:11Written in pencils.

00:36:11Miss Quain's handwriting.

00:36:12That's certain.

00:36:13Fox, did you notice whether there was a small diary among the deceased's effects?

00:36:16Yes, sir.

00:36:16In her handbag.

00:36:17Let's have a look at it, then.

00:36:18Yes, sir.

00:36:19It looks as if Miss Quain had found out about the missing bonds and wanted to have it out with

00:36:22the reverend gentleman tonight.

00:36:23How would she have found out?

00:36:24Well, maybe she came in earlier this afternoon when old Garnet was out, found the safe door

00:36:29open, and had a peep inside.

00:36:30Maybe, but it sounds a bit careless of him to have left the safe open, don't you think?

00:36:34Yes, there is the diary.

00:36:36Today's page has been torn out.

00:36:38Looks as though she tore it today as well.

00:36:41The diary's scribbling up to the present date.

00:36:43However, I don't think Mr. Garnet has read that note.

00:36:46No, sir?

00:36:47No, if he has, then I don't think he's a murderer.

00:36:50Why not?

00:36:50Because he'd have destroyed it.

00:36:51I don't think he knew it was there.

00:36:53That could follow, sir.

00:36:54There were only Turkish cigarettes in that particular box, and there are no corresponding

00:36:58buttons anywhere around.

00:37:00So the box probably hasn't even been opened good.

00:37:02Anything else, Fox?

00:37:04I don't think so, sir.

00:37:05The place has been gone over very thoroughly.

00:37:07Then we'd better pack up here for tonight.

00:37:08You've got all the bits and pieces for the lab, the safety list, anyway.

00:37:10Yes, sir.

00:37:11Now, you'd better put all that stuff back in the safe and lock it up.

00:37:14I'll hang on to the keys for the time being.

00:37:15Quite sure, sir.

00:37:17Let's see if we can tell from Mr. Garnet's books.

00:37:19He's got enough of them.

00:37:20You know, that's one of the best things I ever got from Cambridge, learning about a chap from

00:37:23his books.

00:37:23Cambridge?

00:37:24Oh, that accounts for it.

00:37:25Accounts for what?

00:37:26Your style, Barkley.

00:37:27Your style.

00:37:27And yours smacks entirely of the other place.

00:37:29I'm glad you've made it, sir.

00:37:30How could anyone fail to?

00:37:31The grape and thorn together bind my brows.

00:37:34Delight and torment is my double me.

00:37:37You see?

00:37:37Now, that's a sample of Jasper Garnet's style from this slim volume of verses.

00:37:41Huh?

00:37:42Entitled Eros on Calvary and Other Poems.

00:37:45How inexpressibly beastly.

00:37:46Yes, isn't it?

00:37:47The Koran, spiritual experiences of her pack here, from Bolton to Hitler, the soul of

00:37:51the Lotus, Barney Kama Sutra.

00:37:53That's a point.

00:37:54I wonder if, like certain eminent Victorians, the more salacious stuff lies concealed behind

00:37:58the works on theology.

00:37:59I believe Thackeray...

00:38:01You're right, Barthekit.

00:38:02You're right.

00:38:04Let's have a look.

00:38:06Here we are.

00:38:08Several dusty volumes covered in the tell-tale brown paper.

00:38:12Oh, yes.

00:38:13A nasty secret horde.

00:38:15Petronius, sir.

00:38:15Yes, very nasty.

00:38:17Hey, let's have a look.

00:38:18Odd.

00:38:19What is?

00:38:20This one.

00:38:21Doesn't fit.

00:38:22Abley's Curiosity of Chemistry, published in New York, 1865, by Gazzop and Huffman.

00:38:26Let me see.

00:38:28There.

00:38:29But do that again, Barthekit.

00:38:31Do what again?

00:38:32Close the book and let it just fall open as you did then.

00:38:34Very well.

00:38:35There.

00:38:36You see?

00:38:36The same page, damn it.

00:38:38But I didn't...

00:38:38Well, look at the heading.

00:38:39A simple but little-known method of making sodium cyanide.

00:38:42You see that, Fox?

00:38:43I heard, sir.

00:38:44Seems a bit of a coincidence, doesn't it, sir?

00:38:45I wonder if coincidence is quite the right word.

00:38:47Hey, you must listen to this.

00:38:48It says here that you can make sodium cyanide from woolen washing soda by heating them up

00:38:52in a retort or something.

00:38:53It goes on.

00:38:54It is perhaps a fortunate circumstance that this simple recipe is not generally known.

00:38:58The tyro is advised to avoid the experiment as it is attended by a certain amount of danger,

00:39:02so deadly as the poison dust produced.

00:39:04Quad-iraptim and stendom, I'd have thought.

00:39:06Well, don't leap to any conclusions now, Barthegate.

00:39:08Well, I hope to find these books.

00:39:10I suggested...

00:39:10Even so, it doesn't give you the right to conjecture.

00:39:13Well, you do it all the time.

00:39:14Only would I forget myself.

00:39:15Facts, facts are what kind.

00:39:17And to return to facts, Fox.

00:39:19Sir, can you see anything odd about these books?

00:39:22Well, the chemical book is a newer brown paper cover than the others have here.

00:39:27And the others are stained.

00:39:29And they smell, too.

00:39:32You can't quite place the smell, though it's definitely familiar.

00:39:35Take the cover off, Curiosities.

00:39:39Ah, no stain on the red binding either.

00:39:41Well, there we are.

00:39:42You'd better have this gone over the fingerprints, too, Fox.

00:39:45But, Alain, this is the most important thing we've found so far.

00:39:48I mean, if the pathologist definitely finds cyanide,

00:39:50and it's gone, it has this book.

00:39:52I know, I know.

00:39:53Extraordinarily careless of him to leave it there, don't you think?

00:39:55I mean, he could surely have hidden his recipe book better than that.

00:39:57And the same thing goes for the note.

00:39:59But you said he never found that.

00:40:01Well, if that's so, why did he think it necessary to kill her?

00:40:03Well, Miss Queen may have run up or something.

00:40:06She may, but wouldn't she have mentioned it in her note if she had?

00:40:08Possibly.

00:40:09Look, Barthegate, they all had the opportunity to commit the note, eh?

00:40:11But some had a better opportunity than others.

00:40:13For instance, Garnet.

00:40:14And they could all have had a motive.

00:40:16Yes, that's true.

00:40:17Jealousy, passion, religious media.

00:40:19Oh, come on, it's bedtime.

00:40:20You're even leading me into conjecture.

00:40:22What do we do about him, sir?

00:40:23About who?

00:40:24A sleeping parson.

00:40:25We leave him.

00:40:26Oh, we can't.

00:40:26Don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow.

00:40:27I can't wait to see him open the surprise packet in the safe.

00:40:31Nor can I.

00:40:32I can, can't I?

00:40:33What?

00:40:33See him open it.

00:40:34If you're on your own, very good and very quiet.

00:40:36What time?

00:40:38Well, I don't particularly want to confront him when he's suffering from the remorseful hangover I'm bound to have given him.

00:40:43No, we'll start the day by going to Miss Queen's house.

00:40:46We?

00:40:46Naturally, I include you.

00:40:48Meet me at the Chateau Cane de Mamata à Bonheur.

00:40:52It's all very French, isn't it?

00:40:54All this guilt in Louis Cairns.

00:40:55I must say the pictures look a bit out of place.

00:40:57Impressionist.

00:40:58It's also French, remember?

00:40:59Genuine?

00:40:59I presume, sir.

00:41:00Must be worth a small fortune.

00:41:01For somebody.

00:41:03Done any good sleuthing since I saw you last night?

00:41:05A few reports from the specialists, most of them blank.

00:41:07Just routine stuff.

00:41:09I'm told it's the routine stuff that pays off in the end.

00:41:11Then they told you true, Barth Kitt, they told you true.

00:41:13What about here?

00:41:14Well, it's a large establishment, as you see.

00:41:16The servants haven't come up with anything of interest.

00:41:18There's just the housekeeper and the chauffeur left.

00:41:20You mean you've actually been interviewing before I got here?

00:41:22Well, I said I'd start up Bonheur, and that means early.

00:41:25But what about clues?

00:41:26Surely there must be something.

00:41:28Nothing spectacular.

00:41:29A lot of letters from Derevine.

00:41:31Letters of the heart.

00:41:32May I?

00:41:32No, you may not.

00:41:33You've seen quite enough already.

00:41:36Besides, is there any one that has any bearing on the case?

00:41:38Oh, yes.

00:41:39He warns her off her role as chosen vessel

00:41:41and implies that she is risking her life

00:41:43if she goes through with it.

00:41:45Does that imply that he'd take her life

00:41:47if she did carry on with the game?

00:41:48He doesn't say that.

00:41:49He asked her to destroy the letter

00:41:50and all the others he wrote,

00:41:51but she was a woman and, of course, didn't.

00:41:54Suspicious.

00:41:55Then there's the blotter on her desk.

00:41:56There's always the blotting pad.

00:41:58They'll be facetious.

00:41:58What do you detectives will do

00:41:59when we all use ballpoints?

00:42:00I can't imagine.

00:42:02Did you hold it up to a mirror

00:42:03and read a full confession?

00:42:04Or was it in code?

00:42:05It was in French.

00:42:05A letter, several pages, smudged and unreadable.

00:42:09And an address.

00:42:10But, of course, you could read that.

00:42:11Actually, no.

00:42:13We could make out one or two words there,

00:42:14and by comparing these with Miss Quain's address book,

00:42:16we deduced that she'd written

00:42:18to a certain contest of basang.

00:42:20Deduction?

00:42:20Oh, just elementary stuff, my dear Barclay.

00:42:23And?

00:42:24That's it.

00:42:24Fox and his many men

00:42:25are now going through the place

00:42:26with a fine tooth comb.

00:42:27Oh, where is that woman?

00:42:29Who?

00:42:30The housekeeper.

00:42:31I kept it till last

00:42:31because they said she'd be in a state of shock

00:42:33as a result of her mistress's death.

00:42:35The old family retainer type, by all accounts.

00:42:38Ah, this must be she.

00:42:40Now, look, Barclay,

00:42:40you sit down that winged chair over there.

00:42:42With a bit of luck, she won't see you.

00:42:43What?

00:42:43We don't want to alarm the lady unnecessarily.

00:42:45Well, really.

00:42:46Come in.

00:42:48Sir?

00:42:50Oh, I'm sorry about all this,

00:42:51but I'm afraid it's necessary.

00:42:52I quite understand.

00:42:54How are you feeling?

00:42:55Recovered, thank you.

00:42:56I put my trust in the Lord.

00:42:58Very wise.

00:42:59Oh, do sit down.

00:43:01Now, you are Miss Edith Hebborn,

00:43:03I'm right?

00:43:03Yes, sir.

00:43:04And how long have you been with Miss Quayne?

00:43:06Nearly all her life.

00:43:08She was just three months old

00:43:09when I first took her.

00:43:10I became her nanny.

00:43:11And when she grew up?

00:43:12I became her housekeeper.

00:43:14Tell me about her childhood,

00:43:16her family.

00:43:17Her father, Colonel Quayne,

00:43:19died in India before she was born.

00:43:20The mistress had turned to England

00:43:22and died within a year.

00:43:23A tragic beginning.

00:43:24And a tragic end, sir.

00:43:26Yes.

00:43:26What happened to you and the baby?

00:43:28We went to France

00:43:29and stayed with the mistress's aunt.

00:43:31She died when Miss Quayne was 17.

00:43:32And then?

00:43:33We went to live in Paris.

00:43:34Miss Quayne liked it.

00:43:35She had friends there.

00:43:36And was Monsieur de Ravine

00:43:38one of these friends?

00:43:39He was.

00:43:40Did you think he is a suitable friendship?

00:43:43I did, until recently.

00:43:45Why did you change your opinion?

00:43:47It was after we came to London.

00:43:48Monsieur de Ravine came over soon afterwards.

00:43:51He said that London appealed to him,

00:43:52though we knew it was Miss Quayne

00:43:54that did the appealing.

00:43:55And then it changed.

00:43:57How?

00:43:57It was that newfangled religion that did it.

00:44:00Religion.

00:44:00A lot of wicked clack trap.

00:44:02The house of the sacred plan.

00:44:03Sacred?

00:44:04Heathen humbug.

00:44:05It changed Miss Cara, too.

00:44:06Changed her whole nature.

00:44:07I'll never forgive him

00:44:08for introducing her to that place.

00:44:10Although I'm strictly chapel myself,

00:44:12I brought her up as a good Anglican.

00:44:13It's what her parents would have wished.

00:44:15Quite right of you, Nanny.

00:44:16Oh, I'm so sorry.

00:44:18Well, don't worry, sir.

00:44:20I've always been, Nanny.

00:44:22Ever since she could talk.

00:44:24I'm sure you have.

00:44:25You see, there was nothing I could do.

00:44:28I just had to stand by

00:44:29and watch her turn her back on the Lord

00:44:31and go down the way of damnation.

00:44:33And when she said she was to become a chosen leader,

00:44:35I wished...

00:44:36I wished...

00:44:38I almost wished she'd died

00:44:40when she was an innocent child.

00:44:42That's rather a hard thing to say, Nanny.

00:44:44Well, I feel hard

00:44:44when I think of my poor lamb

00:44:45cut off in the midst of a silly wickedness

00:44:48with heathen words on her lips.

00:44:50And that going's on there.

00:44:51She thought I didn't know, but I knew.

00:44:53I knew.

00:44:54How did you know?

00:44:55I heard things when they came here.

00:44:56Oh, that Mrs. Kander.

00:44:58She was the worst.

00:44:58But she doesn't come here anymore.

00:45:00Oh, why?

00:45:01She and the mister said words about a month ago.

00:45:03Accusations about Mr. Garnett.

00:45:05Jealous she was.

00:45:06And Mr. Garnett himself?

00:45:07Oh, him?

00:45:09He's a limb of Satan

00:45:10speaking from the heart of hell's hottest fire.

00:45:12Yes.

00:45:13What did Miss Quayne do yesterday

00:45:15before the ceremony?

00:45:17Well, the morning she spent in what was called meditation.

00:45:19Then she asked for the car at two o'clock

00:45:21and Wilson took her to the church.

00:45:23She was back by three.

00:45:24She seemed very upset when she got home

00:45:26and went straight to her room.

00:45:27One other question.

00:45:28What did you do last evening

00:45:29when Miss Quayne was out?

00:45:32I went for a walk.

00:45:35In all that rain?

00:45:37I'd wanted to go to chapel later,

00:45:40but I was that worried

00:45:41I followed her up to the hall.

00:45:43I think I meant to stand up for the Lord

00:45:45in the midst of his enemies.

00:45:46And when you got there?

00:45:47The door was shut.

00:45:49But I couldn't rest till I knew if...

00:45:52Well, if she was actually going through with it,

00:45:54I walked around the block to the back of the building.

00:45:56There was a door.

00:45:57It was slightly open.

00:45:59So?

00:45:59So I...

00:46:00So you walked in?

00:46:01Yes.

00:46:02I felt I had to.

00:46:04What did you see there?

00:46:05Them kneeling and chanting.

00:46:07Possessed they were.

00:46:09There were torches and pagan music.

00:46:11Worse than the followers of Baal.

00:46:12They were lost in darkness.

00:46:14I wanted to cry out.

00:46:16I wanted to,

00:46:17but I couldn't find my voice.

00:46:19Something broke in me.

00:46:21I had to go.

00:46:22But did you actually see Miss Quayne take the cup?

00:46:25No.

00:46:26I was spared that.

00:46:28But she wasn't, was she?

00:46:30She wasn't spared.

00:46:31But she could have been, couldn't she?

00:46:34When did you write to Mr. Garner to warn him off, Miss Quayne?

00:46:37You know that.

00:46:38Yes.

00:46:39Last Friday.

00:46:40We should have got it on Saturday.

00:46:42And you went to the hall partly to see if he'd taken heed of your warning.

00:46:46Yes.

00:46:47Well, I think that'll be all.

00:46:49Thank you, Nanny.

00:46:51Thank you, sir.

00:46:51I feel,

00:46:55I feel as if it was all my fault.

00:46:59Poor, lost soul.

00:47:01God sits in judgment, Nanny.

00:47:03And I'm sure that he will judge wisely and happily.

00:47:07I hope so.

00:47:12So we can account for the torn note in the grate.

00:47:16What about that for an attack of religious burper?

00:47:18It's healthier than the other kind.

00:47:20And she sounded like someone I once heard at Speaker's Corner.

00:47:22Fire, brimstone, and certain death.

00:47:24Death, maybe, but not murder.

00:47:26What makes you so sure?

00:47:27Remember the Sixth Commandment, thou shalt not kill.

00:47:29She'd never break that.

00:47:30It's a pity Father Garner and his flock don't hold to that as well.

00:47:33It's a pity everybody doesn't.

00:47:34Enough of moralizing, there's work to be done.

00:47:37I must have a word with the chauffeur and then on to her solicitor, old Rattisbon.

00:47:40Right.

00:47:41Wrong.

00:47:41What?

00:47:41Rattisbon is very correct and would not appreciate your company.

00:47:45Oh.

00:47:46But he's a nice old Dickensian fussbot.

00:47:48Even though at times he does give me the idea he's a good actor, slightly overdoing his part.

00:47:52I can guess what has brought you, Chief Inspector.

00:47:56I suppose there's no doubt about it being a case of homicide?

00:48:00None, I'm afraid, Mr. Rattisbon.

00:48:02It's a bizarre case.

00:48:04Bizarre?

00:48:04It's most regrettable.

00:48:06Have Miss Quayne's affairs always been in your hands, sir?

00:48:08Oh, yes, yes.

00:48:10Colonel Quayne, her father, old family client.

00:48:13Charming fellow.

00:48:13And how do you see Miss Quayne recently?

00:48:15Five weeks ago tomorrow.

00:48:16In fact, she came in order to change the terms of her will.

00:48:19I imagined as much.

00:48:20Can you tell me anything about that?

00:48:21Anything relevant, that is?

00:48:23It's extremely distasteful to discuss the client's affairs.

00:48:27But in this case, necessary.

00:48:30Well, I can care.

00:48:31So I shall lay the whole matter before you.

00:48:33She informed me she wished to draw up a new will, but the terms she proposed astounded me.

00:48:38Astounded me.

00:48:39The previous will had been a very proper and sensible disposition of her considerable fortune.

00:48:43Several large sums to various charities, annuities to her servants, various legacies.

00:48:48The residuary legatee was a third cousin in France, a relation to her mother, a boy whom she had never seen.

00:48:53It was all perfectly proper.

00:48:54And the new will?

00:48:55Oh, dear.

00:48:56Oh, dear, dear.

00:48:57This is really very painful.

00:48:59Well, she wished to increase the annuity to a former nanny.

00:49:02A household, its contents, she wished to leave to Monsieur de Ravine.

00:49:05But then, then, there was a considerable legacy to Father Jasper Garnett.

00:49:11And the rest of her very considerable fortune, every penny of it, she would leave to the

00:49:17house of the sacred flame, making Father Garnett the sole trustee.

00:49:21Yes, Mr. Rattesman, I appreciate your concern.

00:49:24I was horrified.

00:49:25Horrified.

00:49:27So I made inquiries about Father Garnett, and what I discovered did not reassure me.

00:49:31In fact, I overstepped the limits of legal propriety by repeatedly urging her to reconsider.

00:49:36But she refused.

00:49:38She simply would not listen to reason.

00:49:41She was most excitable, intolerant of any suggestion.

00:49:44If I wouldn't draw up her will for her, she said, she would get a form from the stationers

00:49:49and fill it in herself.

00:49:50I see.

00:49:52So I complied, but with a very heavy heart instead.

00:49:54Now, there was obviously no more that you could do, sir.

00:49:56The religious organization would become more than wealthy, and Mr. Garnett would be a fairly

00:50:01rich man.

00:50:02Damn it.

00:50:02Forgive my intrusion, but is it your personal opinion that events will enable him to enjoy

00:50:07his game?

00:50:08He'll need every penny before I've done with him.

00:50:10A very cryptic answer.

00:50:12Yours was a very leading question.

00:50:14I agree, and not entirely proper.

00:50:16That was my reply.

00:50:18Tell me, is there no chance of contesting the will?

00:50:21I mean, suppose, for instance, Garnett had been giving her drugs.

00:50:24If you find any evidence to that effect, I would be most grateful if you would call on me

00:50:28again.

00:50:29Certainly.

00:50:30Well, I won't take up any more of your valuable time, and I myself have an appointment with

00:50:33Mr. Garnett and his initiates.

00:50:35The suspects in the case?

00:50:37I suppose you could call them that.

00:50:39Well, for the sake of my client, may I wish you luck.

00:50:42I hope you catch Father Garnett by the heels.

00:50:44At the moment, I'm rather more interested in catching the look on his face when he opens

00:50:48a certain package.

00:50:51Robbed!

00:50:51I've been robbed!

00:50:53Oh, yeah?

00:50:54The man's a good guy.

00:50:55Is that so?

00:50:56You must think they're pretty simple, Father Garnett.

00:50:58I'm afraid I don't quite follow.

00:50:59Has the money disappeared?

00:51:00Do you mean, no, Miss Wade.

00:51:01It's just disguised yourself as the evening newspaper.

00:51:04But who has done this?

00:51:05I swear I never touched the face.

00:51:07Nor did I.

00:51:07Which of you has done this thing?

00:51:09I suggest, Father, that you yourself are best situated to answer that question.

00:51:12You have always kept the keys since poor Cara made her gift.

00:51:15How dare you suggest such a thing, Monsieur de Ravine?

00:51:17How dare you?

00:51:18I hate my client.

00:51:19Look at him, Janey.

00:51:20Look, all of you.

00:51:21To the pure.

00:51:22All things are pure.

00:51:23Morrie.

00:51:23Just a minute.

00:51:24Mr. Prank.

00:51:25Forgive us, Inspector.

00:51:27We forget ourselves.

00:51:28Since no one is prepared to volunteer any positive information about the missing bonds,

00:51:32I have another exhibit I wish to bring to your notice.

00:51:35The book, if you please, Fox.

00:51:36Very awesome.

00:51:37Now, does anybody know anything about this?

00:51:40What is it, Miss Jenkins?

00:51:41I can't see.

00:51:42It's Abelie's Curiosities of Chemistry.

00:51:44Hey, why?

00:51:46Yes, Miss Ogden?

00:51:47Why, nothing, Chief, except I'm curious to know where you located that book.

00:51:51Does anybody else know anything about this book?

00:51:53Yes, I do.

00:51:54Well, Mr. Garnett?

00:51:55This volume appeared in my shelf some weeks ago.

00:51:57It is not mine.

00:51:59And I do not know whence it came.

00:52:01When did you first discover it?

00:52:02I do not remember.

00:52:03It was there three weeks ago, wasn't it, Lionel?

00:52:05Yes, Claude, it was.

00:52:06How do you know it?

00:52:07Because I saw it.

00:52:07We both saw it.

00:52:08But it was at the back of the shelf behind some other books.

00:52:10I know.

00:52:10I put them there myself a week before I found it.

00:52:12A marvelous book.

00:52:13Oh, marvelous books.

00:52:15Oh, we've made them all.

00:52:16And did you read this one?

00:52:17Oh, no, it looked too boring.

00:52:18Ever so dull.

00:52:19I don't understand.

00:52:20Why is such a fuss being made about this book?

00:52:22Because it is a treatise on poisons.

00:52:24Kara was poisoned.

00:52:26Find the owner of that book and there's the murderer.

00:52:27Not necessarily, Mr. Pringle, but it would help us in our investigations.

00:52:31Well, any offers?

00:52:34Then on to the next item, Fox.

00:52:36Item?

00:52:37One cigarette box.

00:52:38Benares were.

00:52:39Containing cigarettes.

00:52:41Toki.

00:52:42Put it on the table, Fox.

00:52:44This is your property, Mr. Garnett?

00:52:46Uh, yes.

00:52:47Will you open it?

00:52:48What's this, a conjuring trick?

00:52:49I'm not a magician, don't you agree, Mr. Garnett?

00:52:52But this note is hers.

00:52:54Her handwriting.

00:52:55Read out the message, Fox.

00:52:57Must see you.

00:52:58Terrible discovery.

00:53:00After service.

00:53:01When was this put here?

00:53:02Yesterday afternoon, between two and three o'clock.

00:53:06You haven't seen the note before?

00:53:07No.

00:53:08And you didn't see Miss Quain when she called?

00:53:10No.

00:53:10Father Garnett was my guest to lunch yesterday.

00:53:13He left me shortly before.

00:53:14Did any of you see Miss Quain here yesterday?

00:53:16Oh, yes, I did.

00:53:18About a quarter to three.

00:53:20I was here doing my meditation.

00:53:22Why did you say nothing of this before, Miss Quain?

00:53:24Because you didn't ask me.

00:53:26Well, ladies and gentlemen, I don't think there's any need for me to keep you any longer.

00:53:29Dear, the meeting is adjourned.

00:53:31With your permission, Inspector, I will leave my people in a short prayer.

00:53:35We'll pray for the power of light to enlighten your dark corners.

00:53:39If there are one or two dark corners, I must confess any help will be welcome.

00:53:42Then come, dear people.

00:53:43Yes, Father.

00:53:45You must wait, Jamie.

00:53:47Yes, Maurice, if only to show solidarity.

00:53:49Miss Quain, would you mind staying behind for a moment?

00:53:51There are just one or two things I wish to clear up.

00:53:53Certainly.

00:53:54Inspector.

00:53:55Later, Mr. Ogden, later.

00:53:56Oh, well.

00:53:58Good all.

00:53:58It really was very naughty of you to conceal information, Miss Quain.

00:54:04I wasn't doing that, was I?

00:54:06Now, tell us what you can.

00:54:07Well, you know, Inspector, I've been thinking if the bonds were stolen, perhaps they were stolen yesterday afternoon.

00:54:14And perhaps that's what Carla meant when she said she would tell Father Garnett about it.

00:54:18You heard her say that?

00:54:19Yesterday afternoon, when I was meditating.

00:54:23I overheard her.

00:54:24She was in the Father's room, and the door must have been opened.

00:54:27Who was she talking to?

00:54:28Oh, I couldn't hear.

00:54:29The other person was mumbling.

00:54:31But Cara, Cara was shouting.

00:54:33She was very distracted when she came out.

00:54:37I didn't notice her go in, you see.

00:54:39I must have arrived after her.

00:54:41And she left at 2.45, you said.

00:54:42That's right.

00:54:43Can you repeat exactly what you overheard Miss Quain say?

00:54:46Uh, she said, um, I don't believe you're speaking the truth, and I shall tell Father Garnett what you've done.

00:54:54Couldn't have been the father to whom she was speaking, or she wouldn't have said that, would she?

00:54:58Miss Wade, have you mentioned this to anyone else?

00:54:59Uh, no, I don't think so.

00:55:01Then I implore you not to.

00:55:03Do you understand?

00:55:04Really, I can't say that I do.

00:55:06Miss Wade, to please a poor policeman.

00:55:08Please promise.

00:55:10Very well, I promise.

00:55:12I must say, it's a pity a gentleman like you has come down to this sort of work.

00:55:19You have what my dear Mama would have called...

00:55:22Oh, sorry.

00:55:23It's all right, Miss Drogden.

00:55:24Miss Wade was just going.

00:55:25You have to tell me some other time what your dear Mama said.

00:55:27Fox, will you see Miss Wade gets a taxi?

00:55:30But I don't want one.

00:55:31Yes, you do, Miss Wade.

00:55:32I'll see you out.

00:55:33I've forgotten all about you, Bartgate.

00:55:35We also serve you now.

00:55:36Besides, you tell me to promise to keep quiet.

00:55:38I see you keep that promise.

00:55:39It's anything to oblige a poor policeman.

00:55:41Why all sudden politeness?

00:55:43I want to have a word with Miss Jenkins.

00:55:44Well, I promise not to tell Angela just to oblige a poor newspaper man.

00:55:49Thank you, Miss Wade.

00:55:51Good afternoon, Inspector.

00:55:52And I'm sorry to have got it all so confused.

00:55:55Not at all.

00:55:56You were very helpful.

00:56:00Why is she?

00:56:01What?

00:56:01Helpful.

00:56:02No, no, she was hopelessly muddled.

00:56:03Still, we have to humor her.

00:56:04Well, you don't have to humor me.

00:56:07Do you know why I want a word with you?

00:56:08Well, I imagine you want to own up.

00:56:10So what do you mean?

00:56:11A compression?

00:56:12No, just to the book on chemistry.

00:56:14We'd have found out sooner or later.

00:56:16How'd you guess it was mine?

00:56:17Well, we know you're something of an engineer by profession,

00:56:20and then the book is an American publication.

00:56:23Well, you're right.

00:56:24But you know, I didn't miss it from my shelves until last night.

00:56:27I looked for it to check up on something after Kyra had been poisoned,

00:56:30and the book was gone.

00:56:31When did you see it last?

00:56:33The party I gave four weeks ago.

00:56:34I showed it to Ravine since he collects old books,

00:56:36but he didn't seem that interested.

00:56:37And that was the last time?

00:56:38Well, it might have been there when young Claude came to collect some books Garns had lent me.

00:56:42Books in brown paper covers?

00:56:44Why, yes.

00:56:45Classics.

00:56:46Boy, what classics.

00:56:47And your book, did it have a paper cover?

00:56:50It didn't need one, did it?

00:56:51Not a book on chemistry.

00:56:53No, it stood there in its honest red binding.

00:56:56And you saw it when Claude came?

00:56:58I think so, but I just can't remember for sure.

00:57:00Mr. Ogden, why did you suggest just now that Mr. Garnett had taken those bombs?

00:57:05I'm not saying anything.

00:57:06Well, that's up to you.

00:57:08Just how many of you are there in all this with Garnett?

00:57:11I'm not in on any homicide racket with anyone.

00:57:13I'll get that straight.

00:57:14Now, there are more rackets than murder, you know.

00:57:16This is what you're aiming at.

00:57:17Merritt, you're essentially a businessman,

00:57:18a one who would like to see a more tangible return of your money

00:57:21than a dose of spiritual uplift.

00:57:23Maybe.

00:57:24In short, I want to know how you stand as regards the finances of this affair.

00:57:27What makes you think I look upon this as a business venture?

00:57:29I think you're a shrewd man, Mr. Ogden.

00:57:31All right.

00:57:32Well, Garnett and I are both in this on a percentage basis.

00:57:35Were there any other shareholders?

00:57:37Only to ravine.

00:57:38He chipped in to the tune of 500 pounds.

00:57:40How did it work?

00:57:41Like any other company.

00:57:43I'm the biggest shareholder.

00:57:45Garnett has paid a salary and draws 20% of the profits.

00:57:48By the way, did you know Mr. Garnett is a fellow countryman of yours?

00:57:50Never.

00:57:51In a sense, he took me to himself.

00:57:52And he piled up one more to his total.

00:57:55And I suppose you don't know about the drugs either.

00:57:57What's that?

00:57:58You trying to say that he's peddling dope?

00:57:59To the best of my belief, yes.

00:58:01Now, look, Chief, as God's my witness, I would never have touched this concern if...

00:58:05Oh, heck, what's the...

00:58:07The innocent are perfectly safe as long as they stick to the truth, Mr. Ogden.

00:58:10I'm sure it'll come out what the Australians call Jake a little.

00:58:13I wouldn't know what the Australians say.

00:58:15I've never been down under.

00:58:17Have any of the others?

00:58:18Garnett, for instance?

00:58:19I wouldn't know.

00:58:21Well, let's hope you find your man.

00:58:22Oh, you can trust us, Mr. Ogden.

00:58:24The British police are probably the most trustable in the world.

00:58:27So I've heard.

00:58:28Well, thank you.

00:58:30Inspector Fox and I must leave you now.

00:58:32I'm afraid we have to get back to the yard.

00:58:33Even we have our office work to do.

00:58:35I'm afraid the in-tray's got a bit overloaded in the last 24 hours, sir.

00:58:43Well, unload it then, Brad Fox.

00:58:45A long report from the fingerprint people, but it all adds up to a blank.

00:58:49Then there's this letter from Mr. Rattisbon, the solicitor, sent round by special messenger.

00:58:54Had as much sealing max on it as Magna Carta.

00:58:56That's it.

00:58:58Ah.

00:58:59Ah.

00:59:00Would you believe it?

00:59:02Yes, sir.

00:59:03In this case, anything.

00:59:03Rattisbon writes that after we called, he opened his post and in it discovered a letter

00:59:08from Miss Quain enclosing a new will.

00:59:11She must have written it after her turn from the hall.

00:59:13She even put the time on top of the form at 3.30 p.m.

00:59:16What were the changes, sir?

00:59:17The legacies to her staff at the Ravine are the same, but she's changed the legacy to the

00:59:22sect, the lion's share.

00:59:23In fact, everything, everything goes to Father Garnett himself.

00:59:26But why?

00:59:28In her letter to Rattisbon, she said she'd made a terrible discovery that Garnett was the

00:59:32victim of an unholy plot, and that she would come round and explain.

00:59:35Which she never did.

00:59:36So it looks as if the interview Cara Quain had that afternoon at a quarter to three led

00:59:41directly to the alteration of her will.

00:59:44And that whoever was discovered there doing something terrible, taking the bonds perhaps,

00:59:49decided there and then that he had to kill her?

00:59:50Not necessarily.

00:59:51Besides, it would take more than a few hours to prepare the poison.

00:59:55That's if they followed the book.

00:59:56But the motive?

00:59:57Oh, I think it was to keep Miss Quain quiet or whatever.

01:00:00I think her death was premeditated.

01:00:04What other exact ones in store?

01:00:06The report from the labs on the blotting paper on Miss Quain's desk.

01:00:10And?

01:00:10They can't make it out.

01:00:11We'll wire to the contest to Barsak to see if she's kept that letter.

01:00:14I hope to God she has.

01:00:15And we'll wire New York to check on Ogden and Garnett.

01:00:18And we'll also wire Australia.

01:00:20Oh, why would that be, sir?

01:00:21Oh, just a hunch.

01:00:23Here.

01:00:24There's the analyst's report on the cigarettes found in Garnett's room.

01:00:27Oh?

01:00:28The Turkish ones on the top were innocent enough.

01:00:31But those underneath were all ducks.

01:00:32So we've got him on that count at least.

01:00:34Shall we take Mr. Garnett?

01:00:35Oh, no, Fox.

01:00:36We'll let the bird flap his wings for a while.

01:00:38Who knows where he may yet lead us?

01:00:40Apart from an odd divisional bunk, the only other thing is the pathologist's report.

01:00:44Poisoning by sodium cyanide.

01:00:45As we thought.

01:00:47Look, Fox, have you got Miss Abley with you?

01:00:49Sir?

01:00:50The chemical recipe book.

01:00:51Oh, yes, sir.

01:00:51Here we are, sir.

01:00:52Now, how does it beat them to do it?

01:00:54Equal weight of wool and dry washing soda and iron filings.

01:00:58Cook red hot for three to four hours.

01:01:00Cool.

01:01:01Add water and boil for several more hours.

01:01:03And it goes on.

01:01:05Rail three, which is stuff.

01:01:06You really must want to kill someone very badly to go through all that.

01:01:09But it could be done without laboratory equipment.

01:01:12Good point, Fox.

01:01:12A house-to-house campaign is indicated.

01:01:14Mr. Bathgate shall help us do it.

01:01:17Well, you'll make him work for the privileges we're allowing him.

01:01:21Hello?

01:01:25If you're not alone, say hello, darling.

01:01:28Hello, darling.

01:01:29That's right.

01:01:30Now, answer simply and lovingly.

01:01:32Is Miss Jenkins with you?

01:01:34Yes, and Pringle.

01:01:35Look, pretend I'm Angela and answer who is Pringle.

01:01:38Oh, he's just a friend, darling.

01:01:40And Miss Jenkins.

01:01:41I know.

01:01:42Now, there's no need to be jealous, Angela, my love.

01:01:44They're engaged, just like us.

01:01:45Now, listen.

01:01:46Have you all got friendly?

01:01:47Of course we have.

01:01:48Good.

01:01:48Now, can you get yourself invited to either or both of their flats?

01:01:52But, darling, I did all that ages ago.

01:01:54You mean you already have been to their flats?

01:01:56Don't be silly, Angela, my sweet.

01:01:58I'm not a fast worker.

01:01:59We're all going to a show, then on to dinner.

01:02:01But first, I've got to take Mr. Pringle and Miss Jenkins back to their places to change.

01:02:06Well, see, they both ask you in.

01:02:08Oh, that goes without saying, my sweet.

01:02:10Why don't you join us?

01:02:11Where are you?

01:02:12At the yard.

01:02:13Yarborough?

01:02:13Long distance, a very expensive call.

01:02:16Is there anything I can do for you in London?

01:02:18Now, listen carefully.

01:02:19When you get to their flats, I want you to keep your eyes open.

01:02:23Naturally, darling.

01:02:24But must it be pink, my sweet?

01:02:25Now, don't be too clever, Bartgate.

01:02:27Pay attention.

01:02:28When you're there, I want you to observe certain things.

01:02:30Now, this is what I want you to look out for.

01:02:34It's a nice place, Miss Jenkins.

01:02:36A bit cramped, I'm afraid.

01:02:38Did Morris help you to a drink?

01:02:39Of course I did.

01:02:40Will you have one?

01:02:41No, thanks, Morris.

01:02:42I'm all ready.

01:02:42And very attractive you look, too.

01:02:44If you don't mind my saying so, Mr. Pringle.

01:02:46You can say what you like.

01:02:47I'm going to have another drink.

01:02:48Do you think I could have another one, too?

01:02:50Oh, of course.

01:02:50I'd like ice in it this time, if there is any.

01:02:53Yes, in the kitchen.

01:02:54I'll get you some.

01:02:54No, don't bother.

01:02:55I'll get it.

01:02:55You know, other people's kitchens fascinate me.

01:02:57I'm just nosy.

01:02:58But it's no trouble.

01:02:59No, I insist, it's through here, isn't it?

01:03:01Yes.

01:03:02You shouldn't have any more, darling.

01:03:04The cigarettes are bad enough.

01:03:05Don't drink too much as well.

01:03:06Oh, for God's sake, don't start nagging.

01:03:08It's just that I'm afraid you'll say something.

01:03:10About Sunday afternoon?

01:03:11Yes, partly.

01:03:13We must stick to what we've said.

01:03:15That's my pigeon, but can I trust you?

01:03:17Of course you can.

01:03:18You know that.

01:03:19But you must give up those filthy cigarettes.

01:03:20Shut up, Janie.

01:03:21I will, I will, but not yet.

01:03:23Shh.

01:03:23You'll hear you.

01:03:24As the man of the Titanic said, I asked for ice, but this is ridiculous.

01:03:28Your refrigerator seems somewhat overproductive.

01:03:31Yes, I'm afraid it is.

01:03:32You don't seem quite so well provided for in the cookery department.

01:03:35No, I eat out most of the time.

01:03:37Just boil the odd egg or two on a gas ring out there.

01:03:40That's fairly sensible.

01:03:40I'd always eat out if I could.

01:03:42What about you, Mr. Pringle?

01:03:44Oh, Morris leads a lazy life.

01:03:46He has one of those overheated service flats, all the food sent up from the restaurant.

01:03:50He doesn't even have a kitchen.

01:03:51That's very wise.

01:03:52I say, is that the time?

01:03:54If we're going to make the theatre before curtain up, we really should knock our drinks

01:03:57back and get over to Mr. Pringle's place so that he can get changed.

01:03:59I don't want to change.

01:04:01Morris!

01:04:02Where I'm taking you for dinner, they're pretty formal.

01:04:04I mean, you'd even put on a black tie if you don't want to, but you must wear some sort

01:04:07of tie, I'm afraid.

01:04:08That is something upon which they insist.

01:04:13I'm glad you insisted on Morris' coming back here to change.

01:04:16He's got so slipshod lately.

01:04:20You know why he is as he is, I suppose?

01:04:22Yes, I think so.

01:04:24It's not only cigarettes now.

01:04:26It's got worse than that.

01:04:27He's taking the stuff in the bedroom now.

01:04:29I know he is.

01:04:30When he comes back, you'll see.

01:04:32He's like a stranger.

01:04:33How did it start?

01:04:35Father Garnett is responsible.

01:04:37But Morris is innocent of all this.

01:04:39Kara's death.

01:04:40I know he's innocent.

01:04:41How can you be so sure?

01:04:43He knows something which he won't tell.

01:04:47He made me promise not to tell anyone either.

01:04:49Then break your promise.

01:04:50I can't.

01:04:51Not even to help Morris?

01:04:52He needs help.

01:04:54I know.

01:04:54Also, he himself could be in danger.

01:04:56Surely the police don't suspect him?

01:04:58I wasn't thinking of the police.

01:05:01Do you remember the Unicorn Theatre case?

01:05:03Vaguely.

01:05:03There was a man in there who knew something he wouldn't tell.

01:05:06He was killed.

01:05:07Yes, I see.

01:05:08So, for his own safety, I think Morris should tell.

01:05:11But he won't tell.

01:05:12He'll never tell.

01:05:13Then you must.

01:05:16All right.

01:05:17But quickly, in case he comes back.

01:05:20That afternoon, the day of the murder, Morris went back to the House of the Sacred Flame.

01:05:24But you said he was with you all day.

01:05:25He told me to say that.

01:05:27He wasn't.

01:05:28I mean, he was until after lunch.

01:05:30Then we had a row.

01:05:32A dreadful row.

01:05:34About the drugs and so on.

01:05:35I told him about Kara.

01:05:37That she was taking them.

01:05:38That she and Father Garnett.

01:05:40What they were.

01:05:41What they did.

01:05:41He was angry.

01:05:43Furious.

01:05:44He said he'd go right away and get some more of the stuff.

01:05:46A big shot of it.

01:05:48And he went.

01:05:49I couldn't stop him.

01:05:50What time was all this?

01:05:52Oh, he left my flat about half past two.

01:05:54And when did he come back?

01:05:56Early evening.

01:05:57He came to pick me up to go to the service.

01:05:59He behaved as though nothing had happened.

01:06:01Oh, you should have told all this to Inspector Alain a lot earlier.

01:06:04It would have saved the police a great deal of trouble.

01:06:05And made trouble for Morris.

01:06:07Oh, you don't know what he can be like.

01:06:09He frightens me sometimes.

01:06:11I'm frightened now.

01:06:12Now that you tell me?

01:06:13Yes.

01:06:14Oh, he did never know.

01:06:15Inspector Alain is very human and very discreet.

01:06:18Then you'll tell him?

01:06:19Of course.

01:06:20It's what you wanted, isn't it?

01:06:22Well, isn't it?

01:06:23Well, you two.

01:06:24What have you both been burbling about while I was getting dressed?

01:06:28About you, good-looking.

01:06:29Well, we must put a stop to all that, mustn't we?

01:06:31I'll stop it with a kiss.

01:06:34Now, don't be silly, darling.

01:06:37Sorry, Janie.

01:06:38I lost my head.

01:06:39I sometimes do lose my head, you know.

01:06:41Come on now, Morris.

01:06:42We mustn't be late for Mr. Barthgate's party.

01:06:44Party!

01:06:44Yes, I feel like a party.

01:06:46An all-night party.

01:06:47Just theatre and dinner, I'm afraid.

01:06:49I don't think we should make it too late.

01:06:51After all, it's the inquest tomorrow morning.

01:06:52The inquest?

01:06:54Yes, I'd quite forgotten.

01:06:56What'll happen, Mr. Barthgate?

01:06:57Oh, I expect there'll be a quick show and then an adjournment.

01:07:00An adjournment?

01:07:01For what?

01:07:02For Chief Detective Inspector Alain to earn his wages, of course.

01:07:07A very satisfactory result, Foxkin.

01:07:09I wish all coroners could be as quick and understanding as that one.

01:07:12We certainly haven't to work for our money this time, sir.

01:07:14You've been doing all the hard slogs since the inquest, Fox.

01:07:16I've merely been sitting back here at my desk, musing and trying to fit the facts together.

01:07:20What new facts are there?

01:07:22Well, Sergeant Bailey and I visited Miss Wade's apartment.

01:07:26More of a room, really.

01:07:27Sort of private hotel.

01:07:28All meals taken in the restaurant.

01:07:30Then we went to Lionel and Claude's flat.

01:07:35Studio, I think you would call it.

01:07:37There's a sort of gallery where they sleep.

01:07:38No bathroom or kitchen of their own, either.

01:07:41They share these with two other gentlemen who have a flat on the ground floor.

01:07:44Sergeant Bailey had some pretty strong comments about it all, I can tell you.

01:07:48We are more tolerant, aren't we, Fox?

01:07:49Oh, yes, sir.

01:07:50And Mrs. Camber?

01:07:51Well, she lived in a sort of hothouse.

01:07:54Plants and radiators everywhere.

01:07:56Terrible gurgling they make.

01:07:58A woman, Rita, said she's half dopey most of the time.

01:08:02She said that Mrs. Camber's cat had a better sense of decency than its mistress.

01:08:06A very jealous lady, Fox.

01:08:07Beware of jealousy.

01:08:08It's often a very strong motive, sir.

01:08:10There's gain.

01:08:11Yes, sir.

01:08:11And that brings me to Monsieur de Ravigne.

01:08:14The leading statement, Fox.

01:08:15What leads you to that?

01:08:16Well, I've got the impression, sir, from visiting the Monsieur's flat, that his circumstances were,

01:08:21well, how can one best put it, somewhat straightened.

01:08:24Well, I didn't feel there was any shortage of money there, Fox.

01:08:26It depends what you're used to, doesn't it, sir?

01:08:28The Monsieur lives in quite a grand style.

01:08:31I just thought that he was perhaps finding it difficult to carry on living in that style to which he felt he was accustomed.

01:08:36What gave you that impression?

01:08:38Oh, Fox, dear Valpine Fox, are you being out on your own detecting again?

01:08:42Well, one can't help noticing things, sir.

01:08:45The staff supported my conclusions.

01:08:47The staff?

01:08:47Oh, yes.

01:08:48It's a large flat, a mansion flat, centrally aged throughout.

01:08:52Ravigne's got a butler and his wife who live in the kitchen wing.

01:08:55The master never goes out there, apparently.

01:08:57Very old-fashioned in his ways.

01:08:59There's a maid who lives in and a daily woman who cleans.

01:09:02I see what you mean about the staff.

01:09:03If he's hard up, then Cara's legacy will be extremely useful.

01:09:07Her pictures alone will fetch a pretty penny in the sale room.

01:09:10I don't think he'll sell them, sir.

01:09:11No?

01:09:12No, sir.

01:09:13He said he will keep them as a memento of his poor Cara.

01:09:16You saw him then?

01:09:17Yes, sir.

01:09:18He, well, received me in his study.

01:09:20So he knew the terms of Miss Quayne's will, that he was a principal beneficiary?

01:09:23Yes, but he was, I think, talking about the earlier will, not the one she wrote up that afternoon.

01:09:27Well, I bet the same from his point of view.

01:09:28What else did you learn?

01:09:29That Miss Quayne's friend, the Countess de Barsac, is his sister.

01:09:34Oh.

01:09:34And that she's in a private hospital in the south of France and can't be disturbed.

01:09:37Yes, I know that.

01:09:38But my friends at the Charité are probably disturbing her at this very moment.

01:09:41I'm waiting for their telegram.

01:09:42He also remembered seeing the chemistry book that night at Ogden's party.

01:09:47Garnett saw it there, too, he says.

01:09:49He spilled some whiskey near it and picked the book up.

01:09:51Ogden then came over and asked its value.

01:09:53Whiskey, whiskey.

01:09:54The smell, sir.

01:09:55The familiar smell.

01:09:56Well, it might be familiar to you, Brough Fox.

01:09:58What are you talking about?

01:09:59Those are the books.

01:10:00The priest's dirty books.

01:10:01That's what they smelled of.

01:10:02Whiskey.

01:10:03You always had a good nose, Fox.

01:10:04Thank you, sir.

01:10:05And I think you're on the right scent.

01:10:07I think so, too, sir.

01:10:07Enough of self-congratulations.

01:10:09Who else have we to visit?

01:10:11Well, Mr. Barcay is dealt very creditably with Miss Jenkins and Mr. Pringle.

01:10:14Yes, I must get the tooth out of that young man, if only for his own good.

01:10:17But just leave the American, gentlemen.

01:10:19There was no reply from his flat when I went round earlier.

01:10:22Then we'll both call in on Mr. Ogden on my way to see young Pringle.

01:10:25Well, I want to survey the scene of that party where the beastly chemistry book made its first public appearance.

01:10:31Perhaps you gentlemen would like to wait in the sitting room until Mr. Ogden gets back.

01:10:35It shouldn't be long.

01:10:36Thank you, Miss...

01:10:37Elsie.

01:10:38Everyone calls me Elsie.

01:10:40I'm sure they do.

01:10:41Uh, Fox.

01:10:42Uh, yes.

01:10:43Uh, Elsie.

01:10:44Could you tell me where the, um, bathroom is?

01:10:47If it's the lavatory you want, it's down the corridor just past the kitchen.

01:10:50Don't worry.

01:10:51I'll find it.

01:10:52You look after Mr. Ogden, do you?

01:10:54Yes, I does for him and cooks when he's in.

01:10:56He's a very easy gentleman.

01:10:58But this is an old-fashioned fat and there's lots of hard work.

01:11:01I've been the coals up and down is the worst of it.

01:11:04And the dust it makes.

01:11:05I know an open fire is nice and friendly, but it makes a lot of work.

01:11:09I've got a nice electric eater myself down in the basement where I live with my mother.

01:11:14My dad, when he was alive, owned the whole house and we lived in it all.

01:11:18But then the neighbourhood went up in the world, so Mum and I went down.

01:11:21Yes.

01:11:22Elsie, I wonder if you can help us.

01:11:24You see, my friend and I are policemen.

01:11:26Is it the murder?

01:11:27The murder at that church where Mr. Ogden goes?

01:11:30It's nothing quite as dramatic as that, I'm afraid.

01:11:32Oh.

01:11:32We're looking for a valuable book that Mr. Ogden has lost.

01:11:35Do you remember it?

01:11:36It's a big red book.

01:11:37Yes, it used to be on that shelf.

01:11:39But I haven't seen it for some time.

01:11:41Since when?

01:11:42Oh, I couldn't say, sir.

01:11:44Do you remember that night about three or four weeks ago when there was a big party here?

01:11:47Yes, my mother and I helped.

01:11:49Was it here then?

01:11:50I think so.

01:11:52But no, the next day it had gone.

01:11:55Oh, yes, I remember now.

01:11:57I did the tidying up and I dusted extra special because Mum and I were off on our holiday the next day.

01:12:02And Mr. Ogden was to do for himself.

01:12:04There was a gap on the shelf, so I thought the book had been left to someone.

01:12:08And do you remember five books in brown paper covers?

01:12:11Oh, yes.

01:12:13Not very nice books for what I could make out.

01:12:15They were piled on the side there.

01:12:17On the night of the party, someone spilled some drink near them.

01:12:20A French gentleman, I think.

01:12:22The mark's still there.

01:12:23And what happened to them?

01:12:24Some time later, after we got back from our gate, that soft youth from the church came for them.

01:12:30Six of them there were.

01:12:31Six books?

01:12:32Yes, I know, because they just fitted into his briefcase.

01:12:35I see.

01:12:35Didn't look as though he had the strength to carry them all, poor thing.

01:12:39Oh, you found it all right, did you, Sergeant?

01:12:41Detective Inspector, I'll say.

01:12:42Oh, I'm sorry.

01:12:44It's all modern cons, thank you, Miss.

01:12:45It is, Martin, you know.

01:12:47At least the kitchen is.

01:12:49I know, I went in there first.

01:12:50Oh?

01:12:50By mistake.

01:12:51Very up-to-date saucepans and all that.

01:12:54Phyrex, though, the pots are.

01:12:55Sort of glass.

01:12:57I'm afraid of breaking one of them.

01:12:58Oh, heaven knows it's hard enough.

01:13:01Do you know Mr. Ogden managed to smash one whilst I was on holiday?

01:13:05He got a new one and hoped I wouldn't notice it.

01:13:07Well, I've never mentioned it.

01:13:09You know what men are.

01:13:11I expected he would be embarrassed.

01:13:13He's been so clumsy.

01:13:14He even ruined the poker.

01:13:16Looked as though someone had chewed it.

01:13:18You would have thought it possible.

01:13:20No, men need looking after.

01:13:22That's what my mum always says.

01:13:24Oh, would she be living with me, not offering you a cup of tea?

01:13:27Would you like...

01:13:27No, thank you, Elsie.

01:13:28We won't wait any longer for Mr. Ogden.

01:13:30Inspector Fox has to go and talk to Claude Wheatley,

01:13:33the boy who collected those books back from here.

01:13:35Haven't you, Fox?

01:13:36Sure? Oh, oh, yes.

01:13:37And I have to go and have a few words with an even more unfortunate young man.

01:13:40You've been very helpful, Elsie.

01:13:42I am sorry about the tea.

01:13:43I really am.

01:13:45You won't mention it to my mother if you see her, will you?

01:13:49Who told you all this?

01:13:50I want to know who told you.

01:13:51We found out, Mr. Pringle.

01:13:53After all, we are supposed to be detectives.

01:13:55Detectives?

01:13:55You know quite well that we can arrest you on the grounds of receiving prohibited drugs.

01:13:58If it comes to that,

01:13:59what will you then do about your supplies of heroin?

01:14:02It's a lie.

01:14:02The facts are here, Pringle, in your flat.

01:14:06You need treatment and we can help you.

01:14:08But first, you must help us.

01:14:11What do you want to know?

01:14:12You went to Father Garnett's room that Sunday afternoon,

01:14:14as Eddie Carter Quayne.

01:14:15At the precise time when you were there,

01:14:17she was overheard having a row with somebody.

01:14:19Now, she said,

01:14:20I shall tell Father Garnett what you have done.

01:14:23To whom did she say that?

01:14:24It wasn't to me.

01:14:25Then you did overhear it?

01:14:27Yes.

01:14:27Was it to Mr. La Ravine?

01:14:29I won't tell you.

01:14:29To Mr. Ogden, now?

01:14:30I won't tell you.

01:14:31You had gone there to get more heroin.

01:14:32No comment.

01:14:33Is it Mr. Garnett who supplies you with the drugs?

01:14:35Garnett didn't kill Miss Quayne, I can tell you that much,

01:14:37and neither did I.

01:14:38But you made me an accessory before the fact,

01:14:40and if you've taken Miss Jenkins into your confidence,

01:14:42you've made her an accessory after them.

01:14:44You are both liable to arrest.

01:14:46Look, Jane has got nothing to do with it.

01:14:48That'll be for a court of law, sir, won't it?

01:14:50Unless you tell me the truth.

01:14:52Well?

01:14:52Well, all right, I'll help you.

01:14:56You went to Garnett's to collect some more of your filthy drug.

01:14:59It was kept in the bedroom.

01:15:00Whilst you were there, someone came into the sitting room from the hall.

01:15:03They opened the safe.

01:15:04You saw them, but were afraid to come out.

01:15:06And then Cara Quayne came in and caught whoever it was red-handed with the bond.

01:15:10They had a row.

01:15:11She left, and you tiptoed out through the back door, leaving it unlocked.

01:15:15Now, why didn't you tackle the intruder?

01:15:17It was either because it was someone to whom you were deeply attached,

01:15:20or someone who had a very strong hold over you.

01:15:24Of course, it's possible you no longer have either a sense of responsibility

01:15:27or any human feelings left whatsoever.

01:15:29I have.

01:15:29I tell you, I have.

01:15:31I do have feelings.

01:15:32Then prove it.

01:15:33Who are you trying to protect?

01:15:34Look, give me...

01:15:35Give me time.

01:15:37Time.

01:15:37I must think things out.

01:15:39I'll give you until tomorrow.

01:15:39And Pringle.

01:15:40What?

01:15:41You won't try anything silly, will you?

01:15:43It won't do anyone any good.

01:15:45You do understand, don't you?

01:15:48Well, is everything all right?

01:15:51Are all the suspects there in Al Garnet's room?

01:15:53Yes, we'll just give them a moment to settle down.

01:15:56Fox, sir, is the eavesdropper fixed?

01:15:59Yes, sir.

01:15:59Eavesdropper?

01:16:00What do you mean?

01:16:01We've installed a microphone in Garnet's room with a small loudspeaker over there.

01:16:05So you've bugged the Reverend Father, going a bit far, isn't it?

01:16:08It was like a dramatic close to my cases.

01:16:10It casts a spurious but acceptable glamour over the more squalid aspects of my profession.

01:16:15I must remember that.

01:16:16You wrote it about my solution of the O'Callaghan case, remember?

01:16:19Now, gentlemen, we...

01:16:20Shh.

01:16:20I think we should be quiet, sir.

01:16:21Be quiet, Barthgates.

01:16:22It's the voice of America.

01:16:24Loud, clear, and too good to be clear.

01:16:26Bye, Barthgates.

01:16:27Yes, thank you.

01:16:28Right.

01:16:29Now, we thought this should be a regular meeting in order to sort out one or two things in the light of recent events.

01:16:33I cannot really say the necessity...

01:16:35No, you wouldn't.

01:16:36The house will take a flame as well as being a church.

01:16:39It's also a business concern.

01:16:40And I would like to see it wound up in a business-like manner.

01:16:43Business concern?

01:16:44Wound up?

01:16:44That's right.

01:16:45I'm the largest shareholder, and I want to pull out.

01:16:48But at this end, my law has drawn up this document, of which you each have a copy, on the table.

01:16:52But it's a lot.

01:16:53You can't do this.

01:16:54No, Mr. Uncle, you can't.

01:16:55Well, I can.

01:16:56And it's all quite legal.

01:16:57Well...

01:16:57The properties of this outfit belong to me, Ravine, and Garnet, in that order.

01:17:00And the bonds?

01:17:01They're also the property of the principal shareholders?

01:17:03That will be so, but the bonds are not here.

01:17:05They've been lifted, haven't they, Mr. Garnet?

01:17:07And do you think whoever took those bonds also murdered my poor Karen?

01:17:12Indeed I do.

01:17:12And those richie cops think so, too.

01:17:14But I do.

01:17:14It's you.

01:17:15Don't you?

01:17:16Oh, don't you, Father Garnet?

01:17:18Who had my book on poison to him in his shell?

01:17:20Who had control of the safe keys?

01:17:22Who kidded Karen to leaving the fortune?

01:17:23Good luck.

01:17:24Shut up.

01:17:25Not to the temple, not to me.

01:17:27How the blazes do you know that?

01:17:28You know it, too.

01:17:30I told you.

01:17:31But she did leave you personally a large sum of money as well.

01:17:33Yes, she did.

01:17:35And M. de Ravine as well.

01:17:36She left him her house.

01:17:37I do not wish to discuss that.

01:17:39He wouldn't.

01:17:40Shh, shh, shh.

01:17:40But Mr. Ogden, you seem to make out his tongue.

01:17:43Argument against this priest?

01:17:44Father Garnet, a murderer.

01:17:46Oh, this is nonsense.

01:17:47Oh, this is a fact.

01:17:48Listen, you girl.

01:17:49Shut up.

01:17:50No, I'm not.

01:17:51Right, that's how you get, Crash.

01:17:52Come on, all of you.

01:17:53All of you, let go.

01:17:55I know what happened that Sunday afternoon.

01:17:58What are you talking about, Pringle?

01:17:59You're a dope.

01:17:59Nothing.

01:18:00For about the first time in six months, I'm not under the influence of drugs.

01:18:04And let's make no bones about it.

01:18:05Half of us are soaked in the stuff.

01:18:07Dagmar, Cara, me, pretty Tweedledum and little Tweedledee.

01:18:10Oh, really?

01:18:11It's a lie.

01:18:11It's true.

01:18:13Father Garnet dishes out the stuff and we take it.

01:18:15He gets it via Paris from an agent here in London.

01:18:18He doesn't know who the agent is, but I do.

01:18:20Is all this really necessary?

01:18:22Yes, it is.

01:18:25You see, I came here that Sunday afternoon.

01:18:27I was in the bedroom when I heard the safe door open.

01:18:30I looked through and saw who it was.

01:18:32It was...

01:18:33Shut up!

01:18:33No!

01:18:34Shut up!

01:18:34If you don't shut up yourself, I'll make you...

01:18:36Yeah, you and who else?

01:18:37Me.

01:18:37Why, you...

01:18:38You can't escape, Mr. Ogden.

01:18:40The building is surrounded.

01:18:41You're under arrest.

01:18:41You can't do this.

01:18:42I'm an American citizen.

01:18:43Are you?

01:18:43What do you mean?

01:18:44It's not what the Australian police tell me.

01:18:46Who is S.J. Samuels?

01:18:47Convicted two years for the sale of prohibited drugs.

01:18:49Never heard of him.

01:18:50I was born in Michigan.

01:18:51Then Australia may congratulate herself.

01:18:53Have him taken away, Fox.

01:18:54Yes, sir.

01:18:54I demand to see my attorney.

01:18:55You haven't heard the last from me.

01:18:56Of course we haven't.

01:18:57I look forward to hearing a lot more when you're in the witness box.

01:19:00The charge is, of course, murder.

01:19:02So much for your accusations against the innocent, Mr. Ogden.

01:19:05I wouldn't be too pleased with yourself if I were you, Garnett.

01:19:08You're under arrest, too.

01:19:09No.

01:19:10Quiet, I'd like you to be quiet.

01:19:12Why?

01:19:13The sale and distribution of prohibited drugs is also a serious charge,

01:19:16and that is precisely what we're charging you with,

01:19:18even though you may be an American citizen.

01:19:20This is a conspirator.

01:19:21This man whom I have taken to my bosom is a viper.

01:19:25Oh, can it.

01:19:26Now, take them away, Bertrand, and they make me sick.

01:19:28Come on, gentlemen.

01:19:29There's a nice black man waiting out.

01:19:30I'm sorry about the interruption, Mr. Pringle,

01:19:35but Mr. Ogden was carrying a gun,

01:19:36and we thought you ought to be allowed to finish your story.

01:19:39Oh, Morris.

01:19:39Let Mr. Pringle continue, Miss Jenkins.

01:19:42Well, Cara came in and asked Ogden

01:19:44what he was doing with the bonds from the safe.

01:19:46He didn't answer, but spoke quite calmly about the drugs.

01:19:50He said he owned the whole racket,

01:19:52and that if she did anything or said anything,

01:19:53he would stop the supplies.

01:19:54She was hooked, and he knew it.

01:19:57So was I.

01:19:58I was in the same boat, you see.

01:20:00If I told anyone, I wouldn't be able to get any supplies either.

01:20:03He had us both.

01:20:04He could have killed you too.

01:20:06You've been very brave and very helpful.

01:20:07We'll see you get treatment.

01:20:10Now, all of you,

01:20:12I think you should return to your homes.

01:20:14We'll be in touch, I'm afraid,

01:20:15as the court will need to call you as witnesses.

01:20:16In the meantime,

01:20:18I suggest that you put this place and all its associations

01:20:20right out of your mind.

01:20:21Oh, nonsense, officer.

01:20:23I shall continue to attend the ceremonies.

01:20:25I'm afraid there will be no ceremonies.

01:20:28No ceremonies.

01:20:30What shall I do?

01:20:31I'm sorry, Miss Wade.

01:20:33Now, come along, Annestine.

01:20:35I'll see you home.

01:20:36Oh, yes, Dagmar.

01:20:38Good night, officer.

01:20:39Now, come along.

01:20:40Take my arm.

01:20:41Thank you, Inspector.

01:20:42And I'm sure my car would like to thank you as well.

01:20:44I am, sir.

01:20:45I shall always blame myself.

01:20:47I introduced her to this place.

01:20:48I am responsible.

01:20:49No, monsieur.

01:20:50Only one man is responsible for your car's death,

01:20:53and he will be made to pay for it.

01:20:54But before heaven,

01:20:55I am the guilty one.

01:20:56I will always feel it.

01:20:58Good night.

01:20:59Morris and I will see you home, Raoul.

01:21:01Won't we?

01:21:02Yes, darling.

01:21:03If you say so.

01:21:04Good night, then.

01:21:05Good night.

01:21:07Well.

01:21:09Oh.

01:21:09Well, what do you two want?

01:21:11Oh, we just wanted to say

01:21:12how simply marvelous we think you've been.

01:21:14Yes, wonderful.

01:21:15Oh, Mr. Ogden.

01:21:17So vulgar.

01:21:17Well, I can't say

01:21:18that I exactly encourage her, Your Worship.

01:21:20But we do.

01:21:20Oh, yes, we do.

01:21:21You don't think we could have a photograph?

01:21:23Well, you'll have to cut one out

01:21:24of Mr. Bathgate's beastly newspaper.

01:21:25Oh, but to make you look so awful.

01:21:27I really am rather awful.

01:21:28But Mr. Bathgate will see

01:21:29what his press photographer can do,

01:21:31won't you, Bathgate?

01:21:31Vanity of vanity.

01:21:32And I know one preacher

01:21:33who's not going to say that for some time.

01:21:35Good night, the pair of you.

01:21:36Good night, Inspector.

01:21:38Well.

01:21:39So?

01:21:40After the storm...

01:21:42Come the calm revelations.

01:21:43I feared as much.

01:21:45What do you want to know?

01:21:45Everything I don't know already.

01:21:47What made you first suspect Ogden?

01:21:49His position.

01:21:50His what?

01:21:51His placing when the cup was handed round.

01:21:53He was the last person to handle it

01:21:54before he was returned to the priest

01:21:55and Cara drank it.

01:21:56Would have been too risky

01:21:57for any of the others

01:21:58to have dropped the poison in the chalice.

01:22:00Well, Ogden took a risk as well.

01:22:01Yes, and it nearly came off.

01:22:04Then there was an extremely intelligent remark

01:22:06that you made that Sunday evening.

01:22:07Oh, which one was that?

01:22:09Well, you said that Ogden's Americanese

01:22:10was too good to be true,

01:22:11and it was.

01:22:12Well, you said Goodo.

01:22:13I smelt a rat

01:22:14and I followed up a hunch.

01:22:15Oh, cliche.

01:22:16Thy name is Ali.

01:22:17Well, yes, it is a question of style.

01:22:19You see, Goodo is essentially Australian,

01:22:21and Ogden's style

01:22:22was altogether much too large.

01:22:24I suspected he was acting a part,

01:22:26and my cable to Australia

01:22:27proved me correct.

01:22:28What about the book?

01:22:29Well, Ogden planted it

01:22:30by giving it to Master Claude

01:22:32along with the pornographic classics.

01:22:33I thought at the time

01:22:34it was a bit too obvious

01:22:36for Garnet to have left it lying around.

01:22:37That's it.

01:22:38He'd done the murder.

01:22:40I think that Ogden got the idea

01:22:42of trying to pin the blame

01:22:43on the priest that night at the party

01:22:44when Ravine accidentally

01:22:46drew attention to the poison book.

01:22:48Likewise,

01:22:48the disappearance of the Bonds.

01:22:50Only Garnet kept the key.

01:22:52He didn't know that Ogden

01:22:53had already had an impression made of it,

01:22:55and so the evidence

01:22:55would naturally be against him.

01:22:57Then the Bonds

01:22:58weren't the real motive.

01:22:59They were only part of it.

01:23:01Ogden was in

01:23:01for a far bigger stake

01:23:02than 5,000 pounds.

01:23:04He knew that Cara

01:23:05was leaving almost

01:23:06her entire fortune

01:23:07to the sacred flame limited,

01:23:09and he was the biggest shareholder.

01:23:10There was a lot of money.

01:23:12I think the idea was born

01:23:14as soon as he knew

01:23:14about the changed will,

01:23:15and Cara's discovery of him

01:23:17with the Bonds

01:23:17clinched matters for last Sunday.

01:23:19And most of that's

01:23:20dangerous conjecture.

01:23:22What other facts are there?

01:23:23Well,

01:23:24only Garnet or Ogden

01:23:25could have concocted

01:23:26a local brew of cyanide

01:23:27at their own homes.

01:23:28If you discount

01:23:29Miss Jenkins

01:23:30and her gas ring,

01:23:31none of the others

01:23:31had access to her kitchen.

01:23:33Elsie pointed out

01:23:34Ogden's broken cooking pot

01:23:35and noticed

01:23:36the chewed-up poker.

01:23:37Poker?

01:23:38That's where he got

01:23:38his iron filing.

01:23:40Oh.

01:23:40I mean,

01:23:40he wouldn't have wanted

01:23:41to have gone to the chemist.

01:23:42We could too easily

01:23:43check on a thing like that.

01:23:44Yeah.

01:23:45Then there's the letter

01:23:45Cara wrote to her friend

01:23:47the contest of Barsak.

01:23:48You got it?

01:23:48Well, I haven't,

01:23:49but the French police have.

01:23:51Because the contest

01:23:51was in hospital,

01:23:52she didn't open the letter.

01:23:54It's as good as tell

01:23:55the whole story

01:23:56about Ogden and the Bonds

01:23:57and threatening

01:23:58to stop the supply

01:23:58of drugs.

01:24:00All in all,

01:24:01it's a pretty straightforward case.

01:24:02Ha, it might seem so now,

01:24:04but it didn't at the beginning.

01:24:05It's gone its legacy.

01:24:07Will he still get

01:24:08all Miss Quayne's fortune?

01:24:09Not if Mr. Rattesman

01:24:10can help it.

01:24:10I suspect a remote French cousin

01:24:12might find himself

01:24:13a very wealthy young man.

01:24:14Let's hope so.

01:24:15Garnet's the nastiest sample

01:24:16of the two,

01:24:17in my opinion.

01:24:18Maybe,

01:24:18but at least he stopped

01:24:19short of murder.

01:24:20Yeah.

01:24:21What'll happen to this place?

01:24:23The House of the Sacred Flame?

01:24:25This?

01:24:26Oh, it'll close.

01:24:27But there'll be other places

01:24:28like it before long.

01:24:31Tonight,

01:24:31we slam the door

01:24:32on this particular bit

01:24:33of Hocus Pocus.

01:24:34if you can be sure

01:24:35that tomorrow

01:24:36somebody else

01:24:37will start a new

01:24:38quack sideshow

01:24:40for the credulous.

01:24:44Death and Ecstasy

01:24:45by Nioh Marsh

01:24:46was adapted for radio

01:24:47by John Tideman.

01:24:49Peter Howell

01:24:49played the part

01:24:50of Chief Detective Inspector

01:24:51Elaine

01:24:51and Gary Watson

01:24:53that...

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