1
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:06,160
Speaker 1: After midnight by Marta Neville. Good night, mister Lanin. Louise

2
00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,119
Willoughby extended her hand. We breakfast at nine, she said,

3
00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:12,320
I'll see you then. I hope you sleep well.

4
00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:13,359
Speaker 2: Thank you.

5
00:00:13,519 --> 00:00:16,640
Speaker 1: I'm sure I shall. She gathered the folds of an

6
00:00:16,679 --> 00:00:20,480
embroidered chiffon gown about her and slowly mounted the stairs.

7
00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,519
Lanin stood leaning against the null post and watched her ascend.

8
00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,600
As he turned away, he faced his host. The cold,

9
00:00:28,719 --> 00:00:31,800
metallic glitter in the older man's black eyes gave him

10
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:37,320
a strange, uncomfortable feeling. Well, said Willoughby, She's charming, Andrew.

11
00:00:37,399 --> 00:00:40,119
You should be proud of her. She's improved wonderfully in

12
00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,520
the three years since I saw her. A slow smile

13
00:00:43,679 --> 00:00:46,679
crept about the drawn lips of the physician. It did

14
00:00:46,759 --> 00:00:49,600
not extend to his eyes, but became lost in the

15
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,920
heavy mustache and van Dyke beard he wore. Lanin again shivered.

16
00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,159
The snaky glitter in his physician friend's eyes fascinated him.

17
00:00:58,479 --> 00:01:01,200
He wondered if it could be true that the woman

18
00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,159
who had just left him with purity written on every

19
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,879
curve and line of her could be the wanton thing.

20
00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,359
Her husband fancied that she had so forgotten herself and

21
00:01:10,439 --> 00:01:13,879
her social position as to stoop to an intrigue with

22
00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:18,959
her gardener. It seemed impossible of Louise Willoughby, Yet many

23
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,640
changes had taken place during the three years he had

24
00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,959
been abroad. He had not known her well before his departure.

25
00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,319
Perhaps he did not know her at all. Now, come

26
00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,560
up into my laboratory, Willoughby said.

27
00:01:30,599 --> 00:01:31,040
Speaker 2: Suddenly.

28
00:01:31,719 --> 00:01:34,400
Speaker 1: He closed the windows and switched off all the lights,

29
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,159
with the exception of one held in a bronze venus

30
00:01:37,239 --> 00:01:41,640
at the foot of the stairs. Andy Lennon said, as

31
00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,760
they entered the heavily odorous room, I'd rather you said

32
00:01:44,799 --> 00:01:47,840
nothing more about this to me. Some day you'll be

33
00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,760
sorry for having taken me into your confidence, and then

34
00:01:50,799 --> 00:01:54,040
our friendship will end. There are some things a man

35
00:01:54,079 --> 00:01:56,959
has no right to discuss with another. I don't need

36
00:01:56,959 --> 00:01:59,200
to remind you of that. This is one of them.

37
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,439
I've got to talk to someone or go mad. You

38
00:02:02,519 --> 00:02:05,799
think it's my imagination, You think I'm a jealous fool.

39
00:02:06,239 --> 00:02:09,479
I tell you I know from the day that man

40
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,240
came here, she's been different.

41
00:02:11,879 --> 00:02:12,879
Speaker 2: I've watched them.

42
00:02:13,159 --> 00:02:15,800
Speaker 1: I've seen his arm around her, I've heard him call

43
00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,280
her Louise. He broke and buried his head on his

44
00:02:19,439 --> 00:02:22,400
arms he had flung on the table before him. Lanin

45
00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,240
gripped his shoulder and shook him. Why don't you send

46
00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:30,479
him away? Willoughby raised his bloodshot eyes and admit defeat.

47
00:02:31,039 --> 00:02:33,560
Give him the pleasure of saying he was fired because

48
00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:37,439
Andrew Willoughby's wife fell in love with him, never besides.

49
00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,080
He sprang to his feet and paced the little room nervously,

50
00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,800
his long hands with their gnarled, crooked fingers stained with chemicals,

51
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:47,960
twitching and pulling at his coat.

52
00:02:47,719 --> 00:02:48,400
Speaker 2: As he walked.

53
00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:50,319
Speaker 1: How do I know she won't go with.

54
00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:51,479
Speaker 2: Him if I send him away?

55
00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,159
Speaker 1: Lanin remembered the brief glimpse he'd had of the gardener,

56
00:02:55,719 --> 00:02:58,919
A slim, tall fellow, little more than a boy, with

57
00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,800
close cropped dark a pale, almost ethereal face, a quiet,

58
00:03:03,879 --> 00:03:08,960
unassuming manner. How long has he been here? Allery six weeks?

59
00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,360
Willoughby hit the glass topped table nervously. As he did so,

60
00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,199
a tiny vial of amber colored liquid fell over, knocking

61
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,560
the stopper out of it. A pungent, sickish odor filled

62
00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,120
the room. The doctor gave a startled cry, flinging a

63
00:03:24,159 --> 00:03:27,680
small rubber blanket over the table. He lifted the vial gingerly.

64
00:03:28,319 --> 00:03:31,280
He placed the stopper back in it, carefully keeping it

65
00:03:31,319 --> 00:03:34,280
away from his face. Then he covered it with the rubber.

66
00:03:34,759 --> 00:03:38,280
He'd become ashen colored as though unable to speak. He

67
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,039
motioned to Lenin to throw up the windows. Damn careless

68
00:03:42,039 --> 00:03:45,159
of me, he muttered. A moment later, he placed the

69
00:03:45,199 --> 00:03:47,680
bottle high up in a cabinet above him. Then he

70
00:03:47,719 --> 00:03:50,919
locked the door of the chest. Damn careless. It's an

71
00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,479
experiment of buying, Arthur. Do you feel all right, Lennin

72
00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,520
laughed uneasily. I shouldn't care to remain in here along

73
00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,000
with that odor. It's hetty, to say the least. Willoughby

74
00:04:01,039 --> 00:04:03,879
poured some liquid from another bottle into a small glass

75
00:04:03,919 --> 00:04:06,319
and handed it to him. Then he took a draft

76
00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,840
of it himself. Drink this, it'll overcome the effects of

77
00:04:09,879 --> 00:04:14,039
the other. Suddenly he became tense. The glitter in his

78
00:04:14,159 --> 00:04:18,120
eyes became more pronounced. He seemed to be listening to something.

79
00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,360
The warm, soft air blowing through the window brought a

80
00:04:21,439 --> 00:04:23,959
hint of the distant sea and something else.

81
00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:25,519
Speaker 2: What is it?

82
00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:30,240
Speaker 1: Lenin gasped, The quivering of Willoughby's wide nostrils. The sudden

83
00:04:30,319 --> 00:04:34,720
snapping of the glass's stem intrigued him listen. A long

84
00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,680
sort of growl, then a long drawn howl from a

85
00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,360
dog someplace not far off, was all Lenin heard. There

86
00:04:41,399 --> 00:04:44,879
was another howl, then silence. The color came back to

87
00:04:44,959 --> 00:04:49,680
the physician's face. He smiled apologetically. Lenin stared at him

88
00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,800
in bewilderment. What is it, he asked again. I I

89
00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,160
thought I heard her come down the stairs. I was

90
00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,480
listening to hear if he met her. The man's tongue

91
00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,360
seemed to be thick. He spoke with difficulty. Buck up,

92
00:05:03,399 --> 00:05:06,800
old man, Buck up. Lanin gave him a reassuring slap

93
00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,680
on the shoulder, but at the same time he glanced

94
00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,639
apprehensively over his shoulder out of the window toward the

95
00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:16,480
gardens beyond. Again, the long, rumbling howl of the dog

96
00:05:16,639 --> 00:05:20,560
penetrated the night air. The older man suddenly lurched forward

97
00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,839
into a chair and began to sob in a broken

98
00:05:22,879 --> 00:05:26,439
hearted way. At that moment, Lannon fancied he saw a

99
00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,759
face at the open window, but before he could ascertain

100
00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,560
whether it was his imagination or not, it had vanished.

101
00:05:33,079 --> 00:05:35,199
But to him, it seemed he had seen a young,

102
00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:39,240
pale face with smoldering dark eyes and close cropped hair, who,

103
00:05:39,519 --> 00:05:41,199
he exclaimed, what's wrong with me?

104
00:05:42,319 --> 00:05:42,560
Speaker 2: Two?

105
00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,000
Speaker 1: The sudden clamor of a clock striking three startled him

106
00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:48,079
out of a sound sleep.

107
00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,720
Speaker 2: At least he thought it was the striking of the

108
00:05:50,759 --> 00:05:51,639
hour which did it.

109
00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,319
Speaker 1: But as he raised himself on one elbow in the darkness,

110
00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,079
the doubled beat of his heart, the damp chill of

111
00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,920
his flesh told him it was something else which had

112
00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:05,920
awakened him. Stealthy footsteps outside his room, the cautious opening

113
00:06:05,959 --> 00:06:08,959
and closing of a door down the hall, the rustle

114
00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,319
of garments as of someone moving in the corridor, were

115
00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,639
registered with dark significance on his brain. Poor old Andrew,

116
00:06:16,759 --> 00:06:19,439
he muttered. He sank back to his pillow, but he

117
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,319
could not sleep. Though his pulse became normal, he found

118
00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,000
himself striving to make out the objects in his room

119
00:06:26,639 --> 00:06:29,319
one by one. Out of the hazy gray of the blackness.

120
00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:33,160
They became outlined, invisible to his straining eyes in an

121
00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,600
irritating fashion. The drawn blind flapped forward and back with

122
00:06:36,639 --> 00:06:40,279
the wind which had arisen since nightfall. Unable to stand

123
00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,480
the sound of the flapping, he rose and went to

124
00:06:42,519 --> 00:06:46,240
the window to raise it. The moon was high, unobscured

125
00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,000
by any clouds, and shone down with the dazzling white brilliance,

126
00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,759
which made the grounds in surrounding territory almost as light

127
00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,680
as day. The long row of glass topped greenhouses gleamed

128
00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,920
as though covered with snow. In the distance, far beyond

129
00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,959
the high stone wall which enclosed doctor Willoughby's Long Island estate,

130
00:07:06,199 --> 00:07:09,399
shone the water near at hand. The wind whistled in

131
00:07:09,439 --> 00:07:13,160
a sing song manner through the trees. From the darkening

132
00:07:13,199 --> 00:07:17,399
shelter of the stone wall emerged two figures. The watching

133
00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,279
man knew instantly who they were, even before the moon outlined,

134
00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,120
the slender figure of Willoughby's wife and the broader silhouette

135
00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:25,800
of the gardener.

136
00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:26,360
Speaker 2: Allering.

137
00:07:27,279 --> 00:07:30,319
Speaker 1: A feeling of nauseus swept over him. He turned away

138
00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:33,199
from the window, crossing to his bed. He switched on

139
00:07:33,279 --> 00:07:36,120
a light just over it, determined to while away the

140
00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,360
time until daylight with a current magazine. But the face

141
00:07:39,399 --> 00:07:42,000
of the woman outside in the garden seemed to mock him.

142
00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:46,079
From the printed page. Her dark, shadow laden eyes seemed

143
00:07:46,079 --> 00:07:49,040
to plead with him. Between the lines of printing, as

144
00:07:49,079 --> 00:07:51,439
though she begged him not to judge her too harshly.

145
00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,920
The magazine slipped from his hand. He closed his eyes

146
00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,519
and lay inert. A moment later, the cry of someone

147
00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,199
in mortal agony penetrated the night air. Then a woman

148
00:08:03,279 --> 00:08:07,160
shrieked in terror. For a moment, Lannin lay panic stricken.

149
00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,439
Then springing out of bed, he snatched up a dressing

150
00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,480
gown and rushed into the hall. He came face to

151
00:08:13,519 --> 00:08:18,279
face with Willoughby. His host was pallid. Willoughby's hands trembled

152
00:08:18,319 --> 00:08:21,480
as he held a tattered silk gown about his emitiated figure.

153
00:08:22,199 --> 00:08:25,000
A moment later, another door down the hall was thrown open,

154
00:08:25,319 --> 00:08:29,199
and the corpulent, kimono clad housekeeper burst into their presence.

155
00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,320
You heard it, Willoughby cried in a harsh whisper, clutching

156
00:08:33,399 --> 00:08:37,200
Lannon's arm. His eyes were glassy, the lids swollen, as

157
00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,759
though from heavy sleep, and being suddenly awakened.

158
00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:41,159
Speaker 2: His chin shook.

159
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,679
Speaker 1: My god, my god, wailed the woman, trying to pull

160
00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:46,679
the kimono about her.

161
00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,840
Speaker 2: Ample bosom, what was it? Doctor? Did you hear it?

162
00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,360
Speaker 1: A woman screamed? Lanin said grimly. The cry came from

163
00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,559
some place near the greenhouses. Some one must be injured.

164
00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,360
I heard a man too, This from the butler who

165
00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,840
had joined them. Even partially clad, he retained some of

166
00:09:04,879 --> 00:09:08,200
the dignity of his position. Oh what do you suppose

167
00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:09,000
has happened?

168
00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,080
Speaker 2: Doctor? Dear? What do you think it is?

169
00:09:11,919 --> 00:09:15,360
Speaker 1: The housekeeper caught her master's arm and clung desperately to him.

170
00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,039
He did not seem to be conscious of her presence.

171
00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,600
He was looking into the lighted corridor below at his

172
00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:25,080
wife as she stumbled blindly through the outer door into

173
00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:30,399
the illuminated passageway. She was sobbing convulsively. She started to

174
00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,200
climb the stairs, slowly, dragging herself upward with an effort.

175
00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,559
Her shimmery evening gown was torn and draggled about her.

176
00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,279
Her face was gray, a death color, and her eyes

177
00:09:41,399 --> 00:09:45,360
terror stricken. At the head of the stairs, she collapsed

178
00:09:45,399 --> 00:09:48,600
in a heap. When Willoughby started to lift her, she

179
00:09:48,639 --> 00:09:51,960
gave a shuddering cry and warded off his touch. Her

180
00:09:52,039 --> 00:09:56,279
husband gave a sucking breath. He looked at Lannin missus.

181
00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,600
Willoughby cried, the latter, dropping on his knees beside her.

182
00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,799
So consciously he wondered what had become of the man

183
00:10:02,799 --> 00:10:04,960
who had been with her. If it were he who

184
00:10:05,039 --> 00:10:08,600
had given that cry of terrible torture, Missus Willoughby, what

185
00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,039
is it? What has happened? For a moment, her white

186
00:10:12,039 --> 00:10:16,399
lips quivered. I. I there's a dead man out there

187
00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,879
by the greenhouses. I I stumbled over him. I touched

188
00:10:19,919 --> 00:10:20,799
his cold face.

189
00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:23,279
Speaker 2: I a dead man. Yes.

190
00:10:24,159 --> 00:10:26,960
Speaker 1: She suddenly straightened and stared with a fixity into her

191
00:10:27,039 --> 00:10:31,399
husband's face. A strange expression came over her own. Then

192
00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,279
she allowed Lnin to assist her to rise, and in

193
00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,720
a quiet manner, though with obvious effort, she requested the

194
00:10:37,759 --> 00:10:41,480
butler to bring her some wine. A dead man, come,

195
00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,960
said Lnin, abruptly, his legal training coming to the foreground.

196
00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,600
She may be mistaken. The man may still be alive.

197
00:10:48,159 --> 00:10:52,240
He was cold, she answered. The little procession filed out

198
00:10:52,279 --> 00:10:56,240
toward the greenhouses, a motley, weird looking crowd in bath robes,

199
00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:00,879
smoking jackets and kimonos. Louise Willoughby walked with Lenin and

200
00:11:00,919 --> 00:11:04,679
her husband, her hand lightly rested on Lanin's all the way.

201
00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,799
He felt the nervous tremors that shook her. As they

202
00:11:07,879 --> 00:11:10,240
neared the spot, where she had discovered the dead man.

203
00:11:11,159 --> 00:11:14,320
Their lights in the greenhouse, Willoughby said, abruptly, I'll turn

204
00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,399
them on. He left them for a moment. Then the

205
00:11:17,399 --> 00:11:21,879
glass enclosure became illuminated. An exclamation of horror burst from

206
00:11:21,879 --> 00:11:25,000
the group. Missus Willoughby clung to Lenin's arm in a

207
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:29,480
feverish manner, huddled up chest and chin. Meeting laid the

208
00:11:29,519 --> 00:11:33,679
body of a man unquestionably dead. He was roughly dressed,

209
00:11:33,799 --> 00:11:36,720
his shoes in tatters, his bare feet showing through the

210
00:11:36,759 --> 00:11:40,440
gaping soles, while several days growth of beard added to

211
00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:44,360
the gruesomeness of his appearance. Long yellow teeth were bared

212
00:11:44,399 --> 00:11:49,039
in a distortion of agony. Bleary eyes stared upward. There

213
00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,039
was no sign of a wound, no indications of foul play,

214
00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:56,279
but the man had unquestionably died suddenly, any great torture.

215
00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,559
Evidently it had been his death cry they had heard.

216
00:12:00,399 --> 00:12:04,279
Willoughby knelt beside him. Then, after a second's examination, rose

217
00:12:04,279 --> 00:12:07,840
abruptly dead heart failure. I think, but it'll be best

218
00:12:07,879 --> 00:12:12,879
to notify the police. Know him, Lenin asked, No, he looks.

219
00:12:12,759 --> 00:12:13,279
Speaker 2: Like a hobo.

220
00:12:14,039 --> 00:12:17,240
Speaker 1: Are you going to leave him? Cried his wife, hysterically.

221
00:12:17,639 --> 00:12:19,759
It seems so awful to leave a dead man out

222
00:12:19,759 --> 00:12:21,080
here on the ground alone.

223
00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:22,240
Speaker 2: It's so heartless.

224
00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,600
Speaker 1: He can't be moved until the police arrived, Lenin answered Willoughby,

225
00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,200
take your wife inside. I'll stay here until they come

226
00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,919
and see that nothing happens. Louise Willoughby suddenly gave a

227
00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:36,399
cry of terror. The police. Must you call the police.

228
00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:37,440
Speaker 2: He's a tramp.

229
00:12:37,519 --> 00:12:40,519
Speaker 1: He died of heart failure. Don't call the police. It'll

230
00:12:40,519 --> 00:12:44,279
create a scandal. I couldn't stand that. Please, please do

231
00:12:44,399 --> 00:12:49,360
something else, my dear, my dear, remonstrated her husband quietly.

232
00:12:49,879 --> 00:12:53,159
This is very unfortunate. I'm sorry the poor devil chose

233
00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,799
to die here. But it may not be heart failure.

234
00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,399
You know, he may have been murdered.

235
00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:58,559
Speaker 2: Murdered.

236
00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,720
Speaker 1: She sobbed the word as though it burst from her

237
00:13:01,759 --> 00:13:07,039
against her will Willoughby ignored her exclamation. He continued suavely,

238
00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,840
as though he enjoyed her hysterical anguish. If the man

239
00:13:10,879 --> 00:13:13,080
has been murdered, and we placed an obstacle in the

240
00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,039
way of his murderer being apprehended, we will be putting

241
00:13:16,039 --> 00:13:19,879
ourselves liable for more than a scandal. She suddenly swayed.

242
00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:23,039
Willoughby placed his hand on her shoulder, but she turned

243
00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,919
on him an almost insane fury. Don't touch me, she cried,

244
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,600
don't you dare to touch me. The doctor shrugged his shoulders,

245
00:13:30,639 --> 00:13:34,000
turning quietly to his friend. You take her inside, Lenin,

246
00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,000
she's wrought up, no wonder, poor child. I'll remain here.

247
00:13:37,279 --> 00:13:41,960
Call headquarters please three. When they reached the house, the

248
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,519
woman dropped wearily into a great chair. The intense pain

249
00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,080
in her face, the tremulous quiver of her mouth caused

250
00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,879
a wave of pity to sweep over Lenin. Are you

251
00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:57,360
going to call the police? She whispered, I must. Her

252
00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,240
white hands gripped tighter. In spite of the things he

253
00:14:00,279 --> 00:14:03,519
had seen, Lanin again had a doubt as to her perfidy.

254
00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,440
Strangely enough, he now felt no sympathy for her husband.

255
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,360
He lifted the receiver from the hook. As he did so,

256
00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:16,360
she touched him. Mister Lannin, Yes, are you my friend?

257
00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:17,200
Speaker 2: Yes?

258
00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,879
Speaker 1: Why? Yes, of course, missus Willoughby, I mean really truly

259
00:14:22,039 --> 00:14:22,639
my friend?

260
00:14:22,759 --> 00:14:24,559
Speaker 2: Were his Andrews?

261
00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,679
Speaker 1: Yes, I trust I am a friend to you both,

262
00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:33,320
he evaded. She shook her head impatiently. You can't be that.

263
00:14:33,679 --> 00:14:36,679
Can't you see he hates me and I I loathe him.

264
00:14:36,759 --> 00:14:39,840
I despise him. Oh my god, how I hate him.

265
00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:45,039
And yet Missus Willoughby, I know I horrify you. She laughed,

266
00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,919
and began to pace the length of the room. If

267
00:14:48,039 --> 00:14:50,639
only I had someone I could turn to, someone to

268
00:14:50,679 --> 00:14:53,960
aid me, someone in all the world I could trust.

269
00:14:54,279 --> 00:14:56,919
You seem to be a good man, if only I dared,

270
00:14:57,639 --> 00:15:01,960
she paused abruptly. Then in a sudden do you think

271
00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,679
I'm a bad woman? Do you think what he thinks? Why,

272
00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,960
my dear lady, I see he's lied to you too,

273
00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:14,159
poisoned you against me as he has others. And she

274
00:15:14,279 --> 00:15:19,440
covered her face with her hands. I really I for once,

275
00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,639
he could not find words. Missus Willoughby, I saw you tonight,

276
00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:29,799
you saw me and her eyes opened wide and him

277
00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,440
as she said nothing. He turned from her and called

278
00:15:32,519 --> 00:15:35,639
up the police headquarters, making his request for their presence

279
00:15:35,679 --> 00:15:39,159
in a quiet, professional manner. When he hung up the receiver,

280
00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,399
he turned to her. Missus Willoughby, you found the body

281
00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,559
who was with you at the time. She did not reply.

282
00:15:46,039 --> 00:15:48,559
After waiting a moment for her to speak, he continued,

283
00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,679
you realize that the police will ask questions of you

284
00:15:51,799 --> 00:15:55,200
when they arrive. As a lawyer and your friend, I'm

285
00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,360
advising you to tell me everything before they come. I

286
00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:03,399
may make things easier for you. He'sier for me, She repeated, dully,

287
00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:08,799
I've done nothing, nothing wrong. I think it is murder,

288
00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,559
Lenin said slowly. She wet her dry lips with the

289
00:16:12,559 --> 00:16:15,919
tip of her tongue. Yes, it is murder. I know that,

290
00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:20,000
she whispered. How do you know, he said sharply.

291
00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:21,000
Speaker 2: She shivered.

292
00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:26,600
Speaker 1: I I she gave a little hysterical laugh, just as

293
00:16:26,639 --> 00:16:28,759
a woman intuitively knows many things.

294
00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:29,759
Speaker 2: Something here.

295
00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,480
Speaker 1: It tells me that it is. Did you know the man? No, No,

296
00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,360
of course not. I never saw him before. Didn't you

297
00:16:38,399 --> 00:16:41,840
hear what Andrew said? He's a tramp, a hobo. Probably

298
00:16:42,159 --> 00:16:46,320
probably Her voice trailed off, and her dark eyes widened.

299
00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:51,480
Probably what. Lenin leaned forward and laid his hand on hers.

300
00:16:51,879 --> 00:16:56,120
Her skin was damp and ice cold. Probably he he

301
00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,679
stopped in the grounds to sleep or for a drink

302
00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,679
of water. And mister Lnnin, I can't talk. I'm I'm

303
00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:07,319
you'll excuse me. I must go upstairs. I She rose unsteadily,

304
00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,200
and for a moment seemed about to faint. You can

305
00:17:10,279 --> 00:17:13,680
call me when the when they arrive, perhaps I'll feel better.

306
00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:17,440
Then he assisted her to the stairs, watched her slowly

307
00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,640
mount them, then turned back into the room, more puzzled

308
00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:24,079
than before. As he sank into a deep cushioned chair

309
00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:28,440
before the window, heavy satin draperies behind him were pushed aside.

310
00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,720
A young man wearing mud stained overalls and a dark

311
00:17:31,759 --> 00:17:35,160
blue shirt stepped into the room. He held one finger

312
00:17:35,279 --> 00:17:38,240
up to caution Linnin to silence, then motioned him to

313
00:17:38,319 --> 00:17:40,680
draw the blinds so that their figures could not be

314
00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:45,240
seen by the men outside who waited by the greenhouses. Well,

315
00:17:45,319 --> 00:17:49,160
said Lanin. The other slumped into a chair opposite to him.

316
00:17:49,559 --> 00:17:53,480
He suddenly seemed overcome and unable to speak. Lanin noted

317
00:17:53,519 --> 00:17:57,359
the way his hands trembled his nostrils quivered. After a

318
00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:02,720
moment's silence, the lawyer asked, you're the gardener, aren't you, Yes, sir.

319
00:18:03,319 --> 00:18:06,480
He leaned forward, almost touching Lanin. His eyes glowed in

320
00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:11,400
his eagerness. You sent for the police, yes. Lanin reached

321
00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,839
for a cigar and lighted it before he answered the boy.

322
00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,160
In that brief moment's survey of the gardener, he felt

323
00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:20,839
an instinctive liking for him. It might be murder, you know,

324
00:18:21,079 --> 00:18:25,079
he added, it was murder, mister Lannin. That poor fellow

325
00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,240
out there died the death that was intended for me.

326
00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:29,079
Speaker 2: What do you mean by that?

327
00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,880
Speaker 1: Lanin dropped his cigar and quickly rescued it from the carpet.

328
00:18:33,599 --> 00:18:37,079
I'm not going to hide anything, sir, only only I.

329
00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:40,119
I can't face the police, not yet, I've I can't

330
00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,680
tell you. But can't you tell them what I say

331
00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,160
and keep me out of their way? Isn't it possible?

332
00:18:45,839 --> 00:18:49,400
His white face worked convulsively. He spoke as though compelled

333
00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:53,079
to do so against his will. I don't understand, you,

334
00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,039
said the other man coldly. You say someone desired your death,

335
00:18:57,279 --> 00:19:00,279
Yet you don't want to inform the police yourself. Don't

336
00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:02,880
you realize that you'll have to testify you were with

337
00:19:03,039 --> 00:19:06,559
missus Willoughby when she stumbled over the body. Yes, sir,

338
00:19:07,599 --> 00:19:11,240
I'm a lawyer, allering. Perhaps you didn't know that. Yes, yes,

339
00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:13,519
I knew it. That's why I'm asking you to help me.

340
00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,319
To help Louise I. Lennin winced as he used the

341
00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,039
Christian name of his friend's wife. But the gardener did

342
00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,960
not see the movement. You didn't kill the man, did you,

343
00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:28,160
snapped Lenin suddenly, No, No, good God, No, Well, then

344
00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,599
will you be kind enough to explain just what is

345
00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:36,799
it all about? He hates me, Allarein? Continued, Who Andrew

346
00:19:37,039 --> 00:19:40,039
Andrew Willoughby? He hates me as much as he fears me?

347
00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:45,279
Lennin started angrily to his feet. Willoughby's my friend, the

348
00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:49,960
younger man laughed stridently. Friend, He's no man's friend. There's

349
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,640
only one thing in the world of any value to him.

350
00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:53,519
Speaker 2: That's science.

351
00:19:54,279 --> 00:19:56,079
Speaker 1: Didn't you see how he took the death of that

352
00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,200
poor dog out there. I was behind a clump of shrub.

353
00:19:59,599 --> 00:20:02,839
I heard, heard, and saw him. He gloated over his body.

354
00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,599
He was glad, glad that a man had died and

355
00:20:05,759 --> 00:20:11,000
proven another one of his damnable poisons efficacious? By God,

356
00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:15,279
are you insinuating that Andrew Willoughby killed that man out there?

357
00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:17,400
Speaker 2: I am a man.

358
00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:21,720
Speaker 1: He'd never seen a stray tramp. It was intended for me,

359
00:20:22,279 --> 00:20:26,519
aluring returned wearily. He failed in his purpose so far

360
00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:29,160
as I was concerned. But he made a sure test

361
00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:34,079
and it proved successful. You're making an astounding statement. Young man,

362
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,599
said Lannin, straining to keep his voice calm and uninterested.

363
00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,000
You are accusing a man of murder, your employer, the

364
00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,480
husband of the woman with whom alluring sprang to his feet.

365
00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,559
The veins stood out in great welts on his high,

366
00:20:47,559 --> 00:20:51,759
thin forehead. His nostrils quivered. When he again sank into

367
00:20:51,799 --> 00:20:55,039
his chair, he was panting from the struggle. Mister Lannin,

368
00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:59,240
he said, abruptly, I I met Louise, missus Willoughby outside

369
00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,720
in the grounds. Why I did so as our affair.

370
00:21:02,039 --> 00:21:03,279
But she is a good woman.

371
00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:04,480
Speaker 2: You must know she is.

372
00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:09,079
Speaker 1: Her husband is more than a scoundrel. He's the vilest, lowest.

373
00:21:09,799 --> 00:21:13,640
Lannin's gesture interrupted him. He continued in a quieter tone.

374
00:21:14,079 --> 00:21:16,960
We met by an arbor near the greenhouses. It is

375
00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,880
very dark out there, and in spite of its being moonlight,

376
00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,880
we weren't seen, but we saw the figure of a

377
00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,039
man as he came out of the house. It was

378
00:21:25,079 --> 00:21:28,599
Andrew Willoughby. At first we thought he had seen Louise

379
00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,400
leave and was following us, but he passed the arbor

380
00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:34,839
and went on toward the greenhouses in the moonlight, which

381
00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,079
made everything perfectly visible in the open. I could see

382
00:21:38,079 --> 00:21:41,720
he was carrying something. A little case is medicine case

383
00:21:41,759 --> 00:21:44,680
he uses when visiting a patient. I was afraid he

384
00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,559
could hear Louise's breathing. He passed so close to us,

385
00:21:48,039 --> 00:21:50,279
but he was too intent on his wicked thoughts to

386
00:21:50,319 --> 00:21:54,920
notice anything else. At the greenhouses, he hesitated, He looked

387
00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,920
stealthily around, and then he laughed. That laugh made Louise

388
00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,559
grip my arm. I put my hand over her mouth

389
00:22:01,599 --> 00:22:04,759
for fear she would cry out. There's a hydrant beside

390
00:22:04,759 --> 00:22:07,000
one of the houses. I use it every morning to

391
00:22:07,039 --> 00:22:09,880
attach the hose. To my knowledge, no one else ever

392
00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:13,440
touches it. No one has occasion to. Willoughby was aware

393
00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:16,240
of this. It is an old fashioned arrangement, and I've

394
00:22:16,279 --> 00:22:19,160
protested against it, but the things remain as it is.

395
00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,559
Several times have been drenched by the nozzle slipping as

396
00:22:23,599 --> 00:22:27,440
we watched. Willoughby went to this hydrant. He carefully unfastened

397
00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,559
the hose. Then he opened the little case he carried.

398
00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,200
He took out something which evidently was a piece of cloth,

399
00:22:34,319 --> 00:22:37,279
and wiped all the damp off the rusty metal. Then

400
00:22:37,319 --> 00:22:40,440
he put the cloth back into the case. Next, he

401
00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,279
took a small vial out of it, and with great caution,

402
00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,519
poured it all over the metal. Then, as quietly as

403
00:22:46,599 --> 00:22:48,839
he had come, he whirled around and went back to

404
00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:53,240
the house. Allering paused. Then we both stood there in

405
00:22:53,319 --> 00:22:55,880
the darkness, unable at first to speak or move.

406
00:22:56,039 --> 00:22:56,519
Speaker 2: He went on.

407
00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:00,799
Speaker 1: Then Louise whispered, Charlie, what was it? What was he doing?

408
00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,319
I didn't tell her. I knew he had contrived some

409
00:23:04,799 --> 00:23:07,880
diabolical way to get rid of me, though just how

410
00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,279
a liquid poison on a piece of metal could do

411
00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,799
that I didn't know. I resolved, under no conditions to

412
00:23:13,799 --> 00:23:17,920
touch it. Louise became frightened and started to cry. She

413
00:23:18,079 --> 00:23:21,319
was pent up and nervous before. Now she became hysterical.

414
00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,440
I tried to reassure her and told her she'd best

415
00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:26,960
go back to the house. Though she tried to control

416
00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,079
her feelings. I felt she knew instinctively what I did,

417
00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:31,440
that her husband had.

418
00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:32,240
Speaker 2: Planned my murder.

419
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,200
Speaker 1: Just as she braced up and started to leave me,

420
00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,359
a man vaulted the stone wall and lurched into view,

421
00:23:38,759 --> 00:23:42,160
a pool of moonlight outlining him distinctly. I think he

422
00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,000
was a tramp or a thief. I had never seen

423
00:23:45,079 --> 00:23:48,240
him before. He wandered about aimlessly until he came to

424
00:23:48,279 --> 00:23:51,039
the hydrant. Almost before I knew what he was doing,

425
00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,400
he had put his mouth to the socket and turned

426
00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,279
on the water. The next moment he gave that cry

427
00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,960
you heard. We saw him stagger backwards, fling up his arm,

428
00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:04,200
waving them wildly, then fall over, doubling up and writhing

429
00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,279
as though in horrible pain. It only lasted a moment

430
00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:11,599
then he was dead. Louise screamed. She started to run.

431
00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,720
She fell twice. I wasn't going to follow her, that

432
00:24:14,839 --> 00:24:17,559
I knew I mustn't. I crept further back into the

433
00:24:17,559 --> 00:24:20,519
shadow of the arbor. After you all came back into

434
00:24:20,519 --> 00:24:23,480
the house, I stole out the other way, climbed the wall,

435
00:24:23,519 --> 00:24:27,200
and returned through the servant's entrance. Why should Andrew wish

436
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:31,440
to kill you, Lanin asked abruptly, alluring rose again. He

437
00:24:31,559 --> 00:24:34,519
crossed to the lawyer and stood under a stand lamp,

438
00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,880
allowing its light to shine directly on his pallid face.

439
00:24:38,519 --> 00:24:41,160
The skin over his cheek bones was drawn and tight.

440
00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,359
There was a feverish gleam in his eyes. His young

441
00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,319
mouth was hard and grim. But in spite of everything,

442
00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,039
there was a look of candor and manliness about him,

443
00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,559
which impressed Lanin. Arthur Lanin, don't you know me?

444
00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:54,480
Speaker 2: Why?

445
00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,680
Speaker 1: Why? The vague something which had disturbed Lenin resolved itself

446
00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,920
into a memory, the memory of a pink cheeked, red

447
00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:05,240
haired lad with a sunny smile and almost cherubic cast

448
00:25:05,319 --> 00:25:06,079
of countenance.

449
00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:07,880
Speaker 2: He gave a gasp.

450
00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:13,039
Speaker 1: Charlie Moore, Not Charlie Moore, Yes, Louise's brother.

451
00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:13,799
Speaker 2: But why?

452
00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,000
Speaker 1: An automobile came into the driveway, stopped with a noisy

453
00:25:18,039 --> 00:25:21,200
pair of the engine CEMENTA lighted, Then the door bell

454
00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:25,039
gave him metallic clatter. The boy clutched Laddin's arm. For

455
00:25:25,079 --> 00:25:27,440
God's sake, keep me out of this, he cried, I'll

456
00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,480
explain later. Before the lawyer could answer, he had disappeared

457
00:25:31,519 --> 00:25:36,279
behind the satin draperies four. Lanin opened the door before

458
00:25:36,319 --> 00:25:39,599
the servant reached it. The inspector, followed by his medical

459
00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:43,680
examiner and a couple of officers, strode into the hallway. Well,

460
00:25:43,759 --> 00:25:47,680
what's the dope, the inspector asked abruptly. He was a

461
00:25:47,759 --> 00:25:50,400
large man with a twenty four hours crop of blue

462
00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,039
black beard. His eyes were dark and very keen. He

463
00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:58,200
wore horn rimmed spectacles, which he kept constantly removing and polishing.

464
00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,359
Lannin knew that in that brief second survey of the

465
00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:05,000
room he had noticed the almost imperceptible swaying of the

466
00:26:05,039 --> 00:26:09,039
curtains as they fell together behind Charlie Moore. You called me,

467
00:26:09,319 --> 00:26:13,480
the inspector continued, not waiting for his question to be answered. Yes,

468
00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:17,920
where's Willoughby? The doctor was well known on the island. Outside,

469
00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,240
a dead man was found on the grounds, some sneak

470
00:26:21,319 --> 00:26:24,200
thief for hobo. Evidently we thought it best to send

471
00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,240
for you. It may be heart failure, it may be murder.

472
00:26:27,759 --> 00:26:31,160
All right, take me to 'em. As they stepped outside,

473
00:26:31,279 --> 00:26:35,000
Lannin realized that morning had arrived. In the hazy light,

474
00:26:35,079 --> 00:26:38,119
he saw doctor Willoughby seated on a stone bench, his

475
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:41,680
shaggy bearded chin cupped in his hand as he stared

476
00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,559
with evident interest at the huddled splotch on the ground

477
00:26:44,599 --> 00:26:48,720
before him. The servants had grouped themselves some little distance away,

478
00:26:49,039 --> 00:26:52,160
evidently discussing the gruesome event, but at the sight of

479
00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:56,960
the officers, they hushed abruptly. Lannin glanced quickly at the hydrant.

480
00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,559
It was open a slow trickle of water resolved itself

481
00:27:00,599 --> 00:27:03,720
into a little rivulet below it, and wended away into

482
00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,920
a tiny stream toward the greenhouses a trifle below it.

483
00:27:07,599 --> 00:27:11,319
Willoughby rose leisurely at their appearance and extended his hand

484
00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,519
to the inspector, mister Dwyer. He said, I'm doctor Willoughby.

485
00:27:15,759 --> 00:27:19,319
This is my home. It's unfortunate, Yes, I know, doctor

486
00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:23,160
Dwyer interrupted. The man's dead, all right. You don't know him,

487
00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:27,000
do you. Willoughby shook his head. Now seems to be

488
00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,160
a hobo, doesn't he. I fancy he died of heart failure,

489
00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,559
but I'd rather your examiner passed upon the case. I

490
00:27:33,599 --> 00:27:36,200
don't think it's advisable for you to depend solely upon

491
00:27:36,279 --> 00:27:39,240
my decision. It's awkward happening on my grounds, you know.

492
00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:43,000
He spoke easily. All traces of the strain of the

493
00:27:43,039 --> 00:27:47,000
evening before seemed to have vanished. The examiner knelt on

494
00:27:47,039 --> 00:27:49,680
the damp ground and took a brief survey of the body.

495
00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:54,079
No indication of foul play, he said. He scowled uncertainly,

496
00:27:54,319 --> 00:27:58,079
then looked from Willoughby's face to the inspectors. He seems

497
00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:01,799
to have died suddenly with acute aggon rather an unusual

498
00:28:01,839 --> 00:28:04,640
attitude for a heart failure to assume. Don't you think so,

499
00:28:04,799 --> 00:28:05,559
doctor Willoughby.

500
00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:06,599
Speaker 2: I do.

501
00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:10,240
Speaker 1: That's why I hesitated to diagnose it as such. And

502
00:28:10,319 --> 00:28:14,720
yet the physician leaned closer. I I'm not prepared to

503
00:28:14,759 --> 00:28:18,759
say it isn't look him over, Riley, said Dwyer abruptly

504
00:28:18,799 --> 00:28:21,200
to a younger man in plain clothes. See if there's

505
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:24,799
anything to identify him on his clothes, plain hobo.

506
00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:25,279
Speaker 2: Said the other.

507
00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,000
Speaker 1: After a moment's survey, there were no cards, letters, nor

508
00:28:29,079 --> 00:28:31,480
marks of any kind on the body or clothing to

509
00:28:31,559 --> 00:28:34,440
lead to any knowledge of the man heart failure. It is,

510
00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,720
I take it, said Dwyer, grimly. Must have caught the

511
00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,960
poor devil suddenly, probably dropped in here to steal a

512
00:28:41,039 --> 00:28:44,759
night's lodging and having a bum heart keeled over. Lannin

513
00:28:44,839 --> 00:28:48,920
started to speak hesitated, then turned abruptly to doctor Willoughby.

514
00:28:49,599 --> 00:28:52,839
There was an enigmatical look on the physician's bearded face.

515
00:28:53,359 --> 00:28:56,880
Lanin almost fancied. The triumph gleamed through his black eyes.

516
00:28:57,799 --> 00:29:01,200
You you aren't going to have an inquest, the lawyer queried,

517
00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:02,519
Not necessary.

518
00:29:02,759 --> 00:29:05,319
Speaker 2: Dwyer replied, these things seem pretty clear. To me.

519
00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:10,519
Speaker 1: He turned deferentially to Willoughby. You passed it as heart failure, also,

520
00:29:10,599 --> 00:29:14,759
didn't you. Doctor Willoughby bowed his head in assent. We'll

521
00:29:14,759 --> 00:29:18,519
have the body removed at once. The inspector continued, Riley,

522
00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,960
you could stay here till the wagon comes. If there's

523
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,559
nothing further, we'll bid you good morning. Something seemed to

524
00:29:24,599 --> 00:29:27,880
snap in Lannin's brain. The story the young gardener had

525
00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,079
told him, the scream the dead man had given had

526
00:29:31,119 --> 00:29:33,640
made too deep an impression on the lawyer's mind to

527
00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:38,720
be dismissed lightly. Doctor, he exclaimed, touching the medical assistant's arm.

528
00:29:39,279 --> 00:29:42,400
Do persons dying suddenly of heart failure give a cry

529
00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:43,440
of mortal agony?

530
00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:48,400
Speaker 2: Hey? Lannon repeated the question. No, No, I think not.

531
00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,599
Speaker 1: It would be unusual, quite unusual, but not impossible for

532
00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,319
them to cry out death comes too suddenly as a

533
00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,119
rule for them to make any sound death so painful

534
00:29:58,119 --> 00:30:02,079
as this, Why do you ask this man gave a scream.

535
00:30:02,359 --> 00:30:05,119
I heard it, so did missus Willoughby, who found the body.

536
00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,640
The inspector dug the blunt toe of his shoe into

537
00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,920
the grass at his feet. He coughed, then looked at Willoughby,

538
00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:15,720
back to Lannin's expressive face, then to his assistant, a

539
00:30:15,759 --> 00:30:19,720
slow flush mounted to his forehead. This puts another complexion

540
00:30:19,759 --> 00:30:23,279
on the matter, He said, quietly, where is missus Willoughby

541
00:30:24,079 --> 00:30:27,200
in the house. Her husband replied, she was badly upset

542
00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:30,200
about the matter and is gone in Stay here, Riley,

543
00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,519
come on with me the rest of you. An air

544
00:30:32,559 --> 00:30:35,279
of alertness had taken hold of Dwyer, as though he

545
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,599
suddenly sensed something of interest. As the servants huddled together

546
00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:43,119
did not move, he gave a peremptory gesture toward them

547
00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,640
and repeated the command for them to return to the

548
00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:50,759
house with him five. Once inside the house, Willoughby became

549
00:30:50,839 --> 00:30:54,200
a genial host, inquiring of the officers if they desired

550
00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,920
anything to drink, and when Dwyer accepted with alacrity, he

551
00:30:58,039 --> 00:31:01,680
ordered the butler to serve all present. Dyer wandered about

552
00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,000
the room for a few moments, touching a bit of

553
00:31:04,039 --> 00:31:07,799
furniture here, a drapery there, and puffing viciously on a

554
00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:11,440
strong and vile smelling cigar. After he had swallowed a

555
00:31:11,519 --> 00:31:14,319
large drink of old whiskey, wiped his mouth with the

556
00:31:14,359 --> 00:31:17,400
back of his hand. He asked that missus Willoughby be called.

557
00:31:18,079 --> 00:31:21,119
You heard this fellow, scream, he said, turning to Lenin

558
00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:22,759
while they waited for her appearance.

559
00:31:23,359 --> 00:31:26,599
Speaker 2: Yes, wake you up? No, I was awake.

560
00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,759
Speaker 1: How's that insomnia? What time did he scream?

561
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:30,920
Speaker 2: About?

562
00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:34,119
Speaker 1: Half past four? I should judge now, I don't suffer

563
00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:38,279
with insomnia. I'm usually a heavy sleeper. Something else wakened you?

564
00:31:38,359 --> 00:31:39,359
Speaker 2: Then? Yes?

565
00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:43,759
Speaker 1: What it's hard to say. Possibly being in a strange

566
00:31:43,839 --> 00:31:46,799
room in bed. I'm a guest here, you know. Possibly

567
00:31:46,839 --> 00:31:50,039
the quieter the country after the city, or I fancied

568
00:31:50,039 --> 00:31:54,440
I heard footsteps outside my door. Willoughby leaned forward, his

569
00:31:54,599 --> 00:31:59,319
black eyes lightened, the pupils became mere pinpoints. What kind

570
00:31:59,319 --> 00:32:04,400
of footsteps? Inquired Dwyer. That I can't state. I'm not

571
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:06,759
prepared to say that I heard any. I may have

572
00:32:06,839 --> 00:32:09,640
fancied I did. If I did hear them, they were

573
00:32:09,839 --> 00:32:13,599
very soft, cautious. I should say man's are a woman's

574
00:32:14,319 --> 00:32:18,359
I don't know, but I think a man's. Willoughby sank

575
00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,000
back in the chair, gripping the arms of it with

576
00:32:21,079 --> 00:32:25,160
long stained fingers. How long after you heard these footsteps

577
00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,079
was it that you heard the scream? I should judge

578
00:32:28,079 --> 00:32:31,000
thirty minutes. I lay in bed some little time, then,

579
00:32:31,279 --> 00:32:33,599
unable to sleep, I got up and sat by the window.

580
00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,279
Does your window face those greenhouses?

581
00:32:36,799 --> 00:32:39,599
Speaker 2: Yes? Did you see this man enter the grounds?

582
00:32:40,359 --> 00:32:43,640
Speaker 1: No? I'd left the window when he screamed, and you

583
00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:48,359
saw nothing suspicious out there? Lannin hesitated. He caught the

584
00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:52,640
glance his hosts directed toward him and coughed. Something impelled

585
00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:56,200
him to say no. Louise Willoughby came into the room.

586
00:32:56,759 --> 00:32:59,759
She'd removed her bedraggled evening gown and had replaced it

587
00:32:59,799 --> 00:33:02,880
with a tea gown of lavender satin and lace. Her

588
00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:06,160
face was ghastly pale in the morning light, her eyes

589
00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:10,279
wide and very dark. Lannin suddenly felt a great pity

590
00:33:10,319 --> 00:33:13,240
for her. Her heavy mass of dark red hair she

591
00:33:13,279 --> 00:33:15,960
had let down and braided into a great rope which

592
00:33:16,039 --> 00:33:19,480
hung over one shoulder. It made her look younger, almost girlish.

593
00:33:20,359 --> 00:33:23,519
At her entrance, Willoughby merely raised his head, looked at

594
00:33:23,519 --> 00:33:27,119
her a second, then back toward the inspector. She accepted

595
00:33:27,119 --> 00:33:29,920
the chair. Lannin offered her, you wish to see me?

596
00:33:30,359 --> 00:33:34,000
She said, yes, missus Willoughby, I'm sorry to disturb you,

597
00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,400
But this unfortunate death on your grounds makes it necessary.

598
00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:42,160
Dwyer's voice unconsciously softened as he addressed her. I understand,

599
00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:43,839
Please pardon my appearance.

600
00:33:43,839 --> 00:33:44,640
Speaker 2: I'd gone to bed.

601
00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,160
Speaker 1: You were the first to find the dead man's body,

602
00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:53,119
weren't you, missus Willoughby, Yes, you were alone. No, her

603
00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,079
gaze did not falter, nor did she look at her husband,

604
00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:00,160
who was with you, A young man, mister Allering. Did

605
00:34:00,279 --> 00:34:04,039
this young man, mister Allering, see, she interrupted him. We

606
00:34:04,119 --> 00:34:07,759
both saw him fall fall. The man wasn't dead when

607
00:34:07,759 --> 00:34:11,039
you first saw him. The woman bit her lip, then

608
00:34:11,119 --> 00:34:14,159
she shook her head. No, mister Allering and I were

609
00:34:14,159 --> 00:34:16,880
in the arbor near the greenhouses. We saw a man

610
00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:18,039
climb over the fence.

611
00:34:18,639 --> 00:34:19,440
Speaker 2: He staggered.

612
00:34:19,599 --> 00:34:23,199
Speaker 1: Then then her eyes shifted and rested on the face

613
00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:28,000
of her husband. Willoughby was yellow. His black eyes, like beads,

614
00:34:28,079 --> 00:34:30,960
stared at her with all the fascination of a snake.

615
00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,159
Speaker 2: Coiled the spring. She shivered.

616
00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:36,760
Speaker 1: Then he gave a terrible cry, flung up his arms,

617
00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:40,920
and fell over, writhing. I think he died instantly. I

618
00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,800
screamed too, It was horrible to see a man die.

619
00:34:44,159 --> 00:34:47,280
Then I started to run he lay in my pathway.

620
00:34:47,599 --> 00:34:48,280
Speaker 2: It was dark.

621
00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:50,719
Speaker 1: The moon went under cloud Right after it happened.

622
00:34:51,119 --> 00:34:51,559
Speaker 2: I fell.

623
00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:56,920
Speaker 1: I touched his cold face. She paused, staring straight ahead

624
00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:59,480
of her, as if visualizing what had taken place.

625
00:35:00,079 --> 00:35:01,400
Speaker 2: That is all, said Dwyer.

626
00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:05,360
Speaker 1: Yes. Lanin wondered if Dwyer realized the woman was lying.

627
00:35:06,119 --> 00:35:10,480
Where's this holuring now? The officer inquired, looking about. The

628
00:35:10,599 --> 00:35:12,960
servants who had come into the room on returning to

629
00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:17,199
the house shook their heads. I don't know, missus, Willoughby answered,

630
00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:21,440
probably in his room, snapped her husband, speaking for the

631
00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:25,679
first time, he's the gardener employed here. Dwyer merely raised

632
00:35:25,679 --> 00:35:29,079
his eyebrows. He studied the pale, patrician face of the woman,

633
00:35:29,519 --> 00:35:32,559
then turned to one of his assistants, Riley, go of

634
00:35:32,639 --> 00:35:37,079
the servant to get him six. Dwyer and his medical

635
00:35:37,079 --> 00:35:39,960
adviser again traversed the lawn to the greenhouses.

636
00:35:40,639 --> 00:35:41,679
Speaker 2: Lannin went with them.

637
00:35:42,079 --> 00:35:45,000
Speaker 1: The operator, whom Doyer had left in charge of the body,

638
00:35:45,119 --> 00:35:49,239
grinned a sickly welcome. As they approached again, Lannin noticed

639
00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:53,599
the dripping hydrant. Dwyer stalked about the grounds. Crossing to

640
00:35:53,679 --> 00:35:57,119
the greenhouses, he opened a door and stepped inside. He

641
00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:59,920
was gone but a moment. When he returned, he made

642
00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,559
a survey of the arbor and the stone wall which

643
00:36:02,599 --> 00:36:06,559
surrounded the grounds. The grass was trampled and crushed, but

644
00:36:06,679 --> 00:36:10,679
no definite footprints were discernible. Stevens, go back to the

645
00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:13,079
house and see what's the matter that Riley hasn't found

646
00:36:13,079 --> 00:36:17,480
that gardener, he said abruptly. The medical examiner, whose attention

647
00:36:17,559 --> 00:36:19,880
had been centered on the dead man, looked up quickly.

648
00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:24,320
It's heart failure, all right, Dwyer, he said. Dwyer merely grunted.

649
00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:26,920
The man who had been with the body, hitched his

650
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,639
trousers and passed the back of a hairy hand across

651
00:36:29,639 --> 00:36:33,679
his mouth. He started briskly toward the house, paused abruptly,

652
00:36:33,719 --> 00:36:37,239
and whirling around, crossed the hydrant. As he stopped to

653
00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:40,719
drink from the faucet. Lannin cried out in an unnatural voice.

654
00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:41,800
Speaker 2: Don't do that.

655
00:36:42,559 --> 00:36:46,800
Speaker 1: The young officer straightened abruptly. Speaking to me, he asked, Yes,

656
00:36:47,519 --> 00:36:51,639
what's the matter? Don't touch that hydrant. Stevens came closer.

657
00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,719
I don't understand, he said, wondering if he were making

658
00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:58,400
a fool of himself, or if what Allering had said

659
00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:02,920
were true, Lannin has a. The inspector looked at him inquiringly.

660
00:37:03,519 --> 00:37:08,119
Lannon laughed nervously, Well, said Dwyer. He removed his horn

661
00:37:08,199 --> 00:37:12,159
rimmed glasses and polished them vigorously. His keen eyes squinted.

662
00:37:12,559 --> 00:37:17,159
Lannin inwardly squirmed under the scrutiny. I may be mistaken,

663
00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,599
the lawyer said, uneasily, but I'm under the impression that

664
00:37:20,639 --> 00:37:24,679
the man died after drinking from that faucet. Stevens whistled.

665
00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,320
Lannin realized he had told too much to withhold any more,

666
00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:32,840
and continued quietly. Allarin came to me after Missus Willoughby retired.

667
00:37:33,079 --> 00:37:35,679
He said, the dead man took a drink, then fell

668
00:37:35,719 --> 00:37:38,480
writhing to the ground. He may have imagined it. I

669
00:37:38,519 --> 00:37:42,079
don't know, but it's well to take no chances. Missus

670
00:37:42,119 --> 00:37:46,039
Willoughby did not mention this. No where did Alarin go?

671
00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:50,679
Why hasn't Riley found him? I don't know, well, mused

672
00:37:50,719 --> 00:37:54,320
the inspector. Stamp queer. We'll get a glass test this water.

673
00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:58,280
Here's a tin cup, said the younger officer, reaching for one,

674
00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,320
which hung on a nail just below the high Lannin

675
00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:04,400
suddenly remembered the gardener's words when he had mentioned the

676
00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:08,039
caution Willoughby had exercised in wiping the moisture from the faucet.

677
00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:12,039
He stepped forward quietly, and drawing his handkerchief from his pocket,

678
00:38:12,199 --> 00:38:14,679
he wrapped it about his hand before turning the spicket.

679
00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,039
Then he drew some water and handed it to the

680
00:38:17,079 --> 00:38:18,000
medical examiner.

681
00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:19,920
Speaker 2: It was clear as crystal.

682
00:38:20,599 --> 00:38:23,719
Speaker 1: Willoughby has a laboratory where he makes tests in chemistry.

683
00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:27,800
The lawyer said, stay here, Dwyer said to the operator

684
00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:30,440
he had left with the body before then he turned

685
00:38:30,559 --> 00:38:32,440
to the others with a curt nod of his head

686
00:38:32,559 --> 00:38:35,360
toward the house. We'll use the laboratory, though I have

687
00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:38,039
a hunch there's nothing to this water business, but you

688
00:38:38,119 --> 00:38:40,719
never can't tell. And we've got to locate this fellow

689
00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:46,000
Allerin seven. As they entered the house, Willoughby rose abruptly.

690
00:38:46,519 --> 00:38:49,599
Lannin sensed attention in the air, as though the physician

691
00:38:49,679 --> 00:38:53,280
and his wife had been quarreling. The woman's face was bloodless,

692
00:38:53,599 --> 00:38:56,360
the great purple shadows under her eyes and her white

693
00:38:56,400 --> 00:39:00,239
lips gave her an almost ethereal beauty. She smiled out

694
00:39:00,280 --> 00:39:03,199
a wand greeting, as though welcoming the interruption of an

695
00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:08,400
unpleasant scene. Doctor Willoughby said the inspector abruptly, Doctor Graves

696
00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:10,800
here would like to use your laboratory for a little test,

697
00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:15,760
if you don't mind test, smiled Willoughby suavely. Yes, of

698
00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:19,000
the hydrant water. Mister Lenin is under the impression that

699
00:39:19,039 --> 00:39:21,400
the dead hobo took a drink from your hydrant and

700
00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:24,280
keeled over. Water looks all right, but we'd like to

701
00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:28,239
make sure. The smile never left Willoughby's face, though Lenin

702
00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:31,639
fancied it grew tighter. I'll be very glad to assist

703
00:39:31,639 --> 00:39:34,920
you in any way, the physician said, though I'm positive

704
00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,400
the water had nothing to do with the poor chap's death.

705
00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:41,519
We don't use it for drinking purposes, but it's pure. However,

706
00:39:41,559 --> 00:39:44,039
as you say, it's best to make sure. Come this way,

707
00:39:44,079 --> 00:39:45,639
if you please. My laboratory is on.

708
00:39:45,599 --> 00:39:46,280
Speaker 2: The top floor.

709
00:39:47,039 --> 00:39:49,239
Speaker 1: He led the way to the odorous room that was

710
00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:52,400
the scene of as many chemical tests. As they reached

711
00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:55,320
the door for a second, he hesitated. He drew a

712
00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:57,920
deep breath and inserted a key in the lock. It

713
00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:02,719
did not turn. The physician looked puzzled. That's strange, he muttered.

714
00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:06,480
He rattled the knob. Maybe the lock is sprung, said

715
00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:10,679
the inspector grimly. Willoughby shook his head. It seems to

716
00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:14,000
be locked from the inside, he said. The smile left

717
00:40:14,039 --> 00:40:18,000
his face. He became yellower if possible. There came to

718
00:40:18,079 --> 00:40:21,039
them the rustle of papers inside the room, the sound

719
00:40:21,079 --> 00:40:26,079
of someone moving. The men stared at each other. Willoughby

720
00:40:26,119 --> 00:40:29,960
swayed a trifle and lurched against the door. Dwyer thrust

721
00:40:30,039 --> 00:40:33,039
a huge fist forward and gave the panel a resounding kick.

722
00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:36,719
Open this door, he called, open it, or we'll break

723
00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:40,519
it down. There was silence, then a sound of footsteps,

724
00:40:40,519 --> 00:40:43,440
and the door was flung open. The gardener stood just

725
00:40:43,519 --> 00:40:47,679
inside the room. There was silence, then a sound of footsteps,

726
00:40:47,679 --> 00:40:50,920
and the door was flung open. The gardener stood just

727
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:54,480
inside the room. He had discarded his overalls and looked

728
00:40:54,639 --> 00:40:57,480
very much the gentleman in a dark, well fitting suit.

729
00:40:58,079 --> 00:41:01,000
Though he was ghastly pale, there was a triumphant gleam

730
00:41:01,039 --> 00:41:03,719
in his dark eyes and an air of success.

731
00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:04,000
Speaker 2: In his bearing.

732
00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:09,079
Speaker 1: The room was in absolute disorder. Papers were thrown everywhere,

733
00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:13,119
Bottles lay at random on glass top tables, paper baskets

734
00:41:13,159 --> 00:41:18,440
were overthrown. Everything indicated a hurried but thorough search. One

735
00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:22,719
instant Willoughby glared at his ransacked laboratory, then into the

736
00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:25,719
glowing eyes of the boy, whom he seemed to recognize

737
00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:28,519
for the first time. Then he flung himself at the

738
00:41:28,559 --> 00:41:32,039
younger man with an almost animal like snarl. Damn you,

739
00:41:33,079 --> 00:41:36,599
Aluring stepped aside. At the same moment Dwyer laid a

740
00:41:36,639 --> 00:41:40,719
heavy hand on his shoulder. Well he smiled, but the

741
00:41:40,760 --> 00:41:44,360
menace in his cool tones made Lanin shiver. I presume

742
00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:47,320
you are the gardener Aluring. No wonder you didn't care

743
00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:50,079
to give your testimony to us. We came out here

744
00:41:50,119 --> 00:41:52,519
to look into the matter of a heart failure. We

745
00:41:52,639 --> 00:41:55,320
hardly expected to be so fortunate as to lay our

746
00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:58,480
hands on Charlie Moore number nine six seven to two.

747
00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:02,440
The boy flung back his head and looked bravely into

748
00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:06,039
the cool, hard face of the inspector. Number nine sixty

749
00:42:06,039 --> 00:42:08,079
seven two, gasped Stevens.

750
00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:09,039
Speaker 2: Sure.

751
00:42:09,159 --> 00:42:12,199
Speaker 1: The escaped khan, sent up two years ago for manslaughter,

752
00:42:12,559 --> 00:42:15,920
escaped six weeks ago. They say a society woman helped

753
00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:18,800
him bust out. But I never dreamed. It was missus Willoughby.

754
00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:21,800
She's my sister, said the boy, proudly.

755
00:42:22,199 --> 00:42:22,480
Speaker 2: Sure.

756
00:42:23,159 --> 00:42:25,280
Speaker 1: Dwyer bit off the end of a cigar and stuck

757
00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:28,199
it in his mouth, but he didn't light it. He

758
00:42:28,239 --> 00:42:31,920
looked steadily at the young man, then toward Willoughby. The

759
00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:35,440
latter's eyes were bloodshot. He seemed to be controlling himself

760
00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:40,639
with difficulty. What did you know about this, Dwyer asked him. Nothing,

761
00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:45,800
snapped the doctor. You didn't recognize him, no, young Moore

762
00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:49,800
laughed unpleasantly. That's a lie, he said. He knew me

763
00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:52,880
the moment Louise brought me into this house. She knew

764
00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:55,199
he did, and so did I. But he didn't dare

765
00:42:55,239 --> 00:42:57,920
admit it. If he had, he would have notified you

766
00:42:57,960 --> 00:43:00,239
in a minute. He wanted me out of the way,

767
00:43:00,519 --> 00:43:03,400
but he was afraid, so he chose the cowardly way.

768
00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:06,800
He made everyone think I was her lover and poisoned

769
00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:10,280
them against her, and then stop. It was Willoughby who

770
00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:15,199
exclaimed the boy shrugged his shoulders. You've made some strange statements,

771
00:43:15,239 --> 00:43:18,639
young man, said Dwyer quietly. And I must say, for

772
00:43:18,719 --> 00:43:22,480
a man under arrest, an escaped convict you're damned cool.

773
00:43:23,199 --> 00:43:27,519
A frank smile curled the other's lips. I'm not going back, Inspector,

774
00:43:27,840 --> 00:43:30,159
he said, And don't you think it for one minute.

775
00:43:30,679 --> 00:43:33,440
Speaker 2: Oh is that so? You bet your life? It is?

776
00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:36,480
Speaker 1: I spent two years in that hellhole. I was clever

777
00:43:36,639 --> 00:43:39,280
enough to make my escape. You can rest assured I'll

778
00:43:39,320 --> 00:43:41,599
be clever enough to keep out of it. What do

779
00:43:41,639 --> 00:43:44,679
you think I came here for? That's what I'm wondering,

780
00:43:44,920 --> 00:43:47,840
said Dwyer dryly. You might have known sooner or later

781
00:43:47,920 --> 00:43:50,360
we'd have run you down that we would be certain

782
00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:53,639
to come to your sisters for you. Not so certain.

783
00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:56,320
If that poor devil hadn't died out there, I'd still

784
00:43:56,320 --> 00:43:59,599
be safe here. I've had six weeks start of you, Inspector,

785
00:43:59,679 --> 00:44:03,159
that was all I needed. Six weeks too much for you, Andrew.

786
00:44:03,599 --> 00:44:06,519
But you see you didn't get me after all. Dwyer

787
00:44:06,639 --> 00:44:09,880
flung his cigar from him impatiently and stepped over the

788
00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:14,039
threshold into the disordered laboratory. He closed the door behind

789
00:44:14,079 --> 00:44:17,559
him with a snap. Willoughby suddenly swayed and dropped into

790
00:44:17,559 --> 00:44:22,800
the nearest chair. Now more, said the inspector. No funny business,

791
00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:25,360
get me, you're going back with me, and you're going

792
00:44:25,480 --> 00:44:28,280
back to stay. You were sent up on a poison charge.

793
00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:28,920
Speaker 2: Young man.

794
00:44:29,039 --> 00:44:31,480
Speaker 1: There's a dead man out there on those grounds. What

795
00:44:31,559 --> 00:44:34,159
did you have to do with his death? The boy

796
00:44:34,199 --> 00:44:37,559
shrugged his shoulders again, then his eyes clouded. A note

797
00:44:37,559 --> 00:44:42,039
of pathos crept into his voice. Everything he said quietly.

798
00:44:42,440 --> 00:44:44,480
I suppose if it weren't for me, the poor.

799
00:44:44,320 --> 00:44:45,159
Speaker 2: Devil would be alive.

800
00:44:45,199 --> 00:44:50,000
Speaker 1: At this minute, Willoughby gave an inarticulate cry. Dwyer stared

801
00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:53,599
at the ex gardener, striving to digest his astounding words.

802
00:44:54,480 --> 00:44:57,480
Let me get you right, he said, slowly. Are you

803
00:44:57,639 --> 00:45:01,480
confessing that you killed that bum out there? No, said

804
00:45:01,519 --> 00:45:04,559
young Moore, But I'm saying that my brother in law,

805
00:45:04,639 --> 00:45:10,920
Andrew Willoughby did eight. There was dead silence. Then Willoughby laughed.

806
00:45:11,239 --> 00:45:13,880
He laughed until he shook. Then he staggered to his

807
00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:16,920
feet and waved a long bony finger at his accuser.

808
00:45:17,320 --> 00:45:18,079
Speaker 2: He tried to.

809
00:45:18,039 --> 00:45:21,760
Speaker 1: Implicate me before you whelp. You tried to shift John

810
00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:25,199
Gordon's murder on my shoulders. By god, don't you try

811
00:45:25,199 --> 00:45:28,440
it again. I never saw that man out there before.

812
00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:32,280
I just a minute. The dignity, the note of authority

813
00:45:32,280 --> 00:45:35,599
in the boy's voice seemed to impress even Dwyer, hardened

814
00:45:35,639 --> 00:45:38,960
officer of the law that he was two years ago

815
00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,239
when I came out of college, I came here to

816
00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:44,599
study chemistry with doctor Willoughby, my brother in law. I

817
00:45:44,719 --> 00:45:48,559
was interested in science. He'd gone further into some phases

818
00:45:48,559 --> 00:45:51,280
of it than any other teacher I could secure. I

819
00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:55,679
became his assistant in numerous tests. John Gordon was another assistant.

820
00:45:56,440 --> 00:46:00,039
Why rake all that up, snapped Dwyer impatiently. All that

821
00:46:00,079 --> 00:46:03,079
detail came out at the trial, because you are going

822
00:46:03,119 --> 00:46:06,079
to know the truth, because I'm going to prove my statements.

823
00:46:06,639 --> 00:46:09,119
I don't know if Andrew Willoughby is insane or not,

824
00:46:09,559 --> 00:46:12,119
but I do know that in the interest of science

825
00:46:12,159 --> 00:46:16,519
he will stop at nothing, not even murder. Please, He continued,

826
00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:19,639
raising a silencing hand as they would have interrupted him.

827
00:46:20,079 --> 00:46:23,159
He was making some tests of a new, very strange

828
00:46:23,159 --> 00:46:26,920
and interest in Eastern poison. It left no trace of

829
00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:29,920
any kind. A touch of it on a mucous membrane

830
00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:34,039
would produce instant death. This was not enough for doctor Willoughby.

831
00:46:34,559 --> 00:46:37,360
He was searching for a poison whose mere contact will

832
00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:41,320
be deadly. At last, he hit upon one harmless enough

833
00:46:41,360 --> 00:46:45,760
liquid until combined with metal and moisture. Lanin gave an

834
00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:50,400
exclamation of surprise. Willoughby had seated himself and now sat

835
00:46:50,440 --> 00:46:54,199
staring at the speaker with beaded, fascinated eyes. He wet

836
00:46:54,239 --> 00:46:56,760
his lips with the tip of his tongue, but otherwise

837
00:46:56,840 --> 00:47:01,039
made no movement. The trouble with this poison, continued Moore,

838
00:47:01,239 --> 00:47:04,519
was that the victim died in convulsions, the death being

839
00:47:04,559 --> 00:47:09,480
of several moments duration. Consequently, Willoughby was still dissatisfied. I

840
00:47:09,519 --> 00:47:12,639
don't know what his desire was in making of poisoning

841
00:47:12,639 --> 00:47:15,159
a fine art. I don't think that at that time

842
00:47:15,320 --> 00:47:19,960
murder was his object. He sacrificed numerous animals in his experiments.

843
00:47:20,000 --> 00:47:23,599
Even Louise's pet Yardale and a Persian cat belonging to

844
00:47:23,639 --> 00:47:27,679
the housekeeper were destroyed. The brutality of their death, the

845
00:47:27,719 --> 00:47:30,920
horrible agony they suffered was getting on my nerves. I

846
00:47:30,960 --> 00:47:34,079
wanted to get away. He did not let John Gordon

847
00:47:34,119 --> 00:47:37,119
into the secret of these poisons, so Gordon was in

848
00:47:37,159 --> 00:47:41,000
total ignorance of Willoughby's ambition. I began to fear my

849
00:47:41,079 --> 00:47:43,880
brother in law. There was an insane glitter in his

850
00:47:43,960 --> 00:47:46,519
eyes when at work. It dawned upon me that he

851
00:47:46,519 --> 00:47:49,320
would not endure any obstacle being placed in his way,

852
00:47:49,719 --> 00:47:52,239
and that because of my knowledge of his tests, he

853
00:47:52,320 --> 00:47:56,280
hated me, although he needed me. Then John Gordon was

854
00:47:56,320 --> 00:48:00,440
found dead. His attitude, the tortured expression on his face

855
00:48:00,519 --> 00:48:04,280
proved conclusively he had been poisoned, though if Willoughby had

856
00:48:04,320 --> 00:48:07,679
not so painstakingly explained to the nature of that poison,

857
00:48:08,119 --> 00:48:11,039
no one would have detected it in his system. Whether

858
00:48:11,119 --> 00:48:13,599
my brother in law deliberately killed him as a test

859
00:48:14,119 --> 00:48:16,599
or it was an accident, I'm not prepared to state.

860
00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:19,480
But I had nothing to do with it. The metal

861
00:48:19,519 --> 00:48:22,679
cup which contained the coffee which Gordon drank I never

862
00:48:22,760 --> 00:48:26,360
saw before, So help me God. Willoughby swore in court

863
00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:30,039
to my carelessness that I had deliberately left that cup

864
00:48:30,159 --> 00:48:32,480
which had been used on a tea table, and young

865
00:48:32,519 --> 00:48:35,239
Gordon had poured coffee into it and drank it. It

866
00:48:35,360 --> 00:48:38,599
was a lie, Doctor Willoughby himself did it. I had

867
00:48:38,639 --> 00:48:41,719
nothing to support my statement. Then I was working for

868
00:48:41,760 --> 00:48:45,440
a reputable, famous scientist. What was my word against his?

869
00:48:46,239 --> 00:48:49,159
With every proof in the world against me. But I

870
00:48:49,280 --> 00:48:52,039
made up my mind that the instant, those prison doors

871
00:48:52,039 --> 00:48:54,760
closed behind me, and I was once again a free man.

872
00:48:55,039 --> 00:48:58,760
I would not only prove my innocence, but Andrew Willoughby's guilt,

873
00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:03,280
and I've done so. He paused abruptly. I escaped the

874
00:49:03,360 --> 00:49:06,559
papers gave the details. I took a chance in coming here,

875
00:49:06,679 --> 00:49:09,320
But as Louisa's gardener, I was safe from you. If

876
00:49:09,320 --> 00:49:12,239
Willoughby did not recognize me. For a long time, he

877
00:49:12,280 --> 00:49:15,039
never noticed me. One servant was the same as another

878
00:49:15,079 --> 00:49:18,840
to him. His wife always engaged them. Then he noted

879
00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:22,639
our friendship, Louise's in mine, and became jealous. Too late,

880
00:49:22,719 --> 00:49:25,559
we recognized our mistake for the instant. He took a

881
00:49:25,559 --> 00:49:28,599
good look at me. He knew who I was. As

882
00:49:28,599 --> 00:49:31,599
I said, he was cowardly. He knew I had something

883
00:49:31,639 --> 00:49:35,000
more than my liberty at stake. He feared me. He

884
00:49:35,079 --> 00:49:37,639
was afraid of what I knew of him. He instantly

885
00:49:37,719 --> 00:49:40,199
sensed that my presence in his household meant I was

886
00:49:40,199 --> 00:49:43,719
spying upon him. He could not send me away. He

887
00:49:43,800 --> 00:49:47,199
determined to do away with me. Cleverly, he planted the

888
00:49:47,199 --> 00:49:49,559
idea in the mind of all his wife's friends that

889
00:49:49,639 --> 00:49:52,039
she was unfaithful to him, that I was her lover.

890
00:49:52,519 --> 00:49:54,519
He did this so that if he were discovered as

891
00:49:54,559 --> 00:49:57,440
my murderer, he would be exonerated for protecting his honor.

892
00:49:58,039 --> 00:50:01,440
Then he began to study my habits, knowing what he intended.

893
00:50:01,440 --> 00:50:03,639
I ate all my meals at a nearby road house.

894
00:50:04,079 --> 00:50:07,519
Everything suspicious I handled with gloves. But in spite of

895
00:50:07,559 --> 00:50:10,440
all my precautions, if that poor devil had not appeared

896
00:50:10,480 --> 00:50:12,920
last night this morning I would be a dead man.

897
00:50:13,400 --> 00:50:16,880
An enigmatical smile curled up the corners of Willoughby's eyes.

898
00:50:17,239 --> 00:50:21,480
He shifted his position. He glanced in an almost disinterested

899
00:50:21,519 --> 00:50:25,320
fashion at the papers tossed about the room. He contrived

900
00:50:25,320 --> 00:50:29,000
my murder in the cleverest most diabolical fashion conceived of

901
00:50:29,119 --> 00:50:33,039
by man, continued Moore, knowing that what are the plants?

902
00:50:33,039 --> 00:50:36,400
I must attach that hose Every morning, he carefully saw

903
00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:39,840
to it that it was unattached. Then, using this poison

904
00:50:39,880 --> 00:50:42,639
which he had perfected, he placed it on the faucet,

905
00:50:42,920 --> 00:50:45,719
so that the instant it came into contact with moisture

906
00:50:45,719 --> 00:50:48,960
and metal, it became deadly, so deadly that the touch

907
00:50:49,039 --> 00:50:51,079
of it on my bare hand was enough to kill me.

908
00:50:52,039 --> 00:50:55,239
Very pretty, said Dwyer, with something like a snort. But

909
00:50:55,320 --> 00:50:57,719
it strikes me like some kind of a fairy tale.

910
00:50:58,119 --> 00:51:01,960
You can't get away with that stuff, young man Moore smiled.

911
00:51:02,280 --> 00:51:05,000
I saw him place the poison on the hydrant faucet,

912
00:51:05,159 --> 00:51:07,719
so did his wife. I saw the tramp touch it

913
00:51:07,800 --> 00:51:11,000
and fall over dead, so did she. I've been hunting

914
00:51:11,039 --> 00:51:14,960
the formula and his diary. Dwyer sniffed again, though he

915
00:51:15,039 --> 00:51:18,159
took the book more extended toward him and turned over

916
00:51:18,199 --> 00:51:22,639
its pages curiously. We're always getting dope on mysterious poisons

917
00:51:22,639 --> 00:51:25,199
that leave no trace, he said. But it's going a

918
00:51:25,199 --> 00:51:27,719
little too far to believe in the existence of one

919
00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:30,320
that kills by the mere touch of flesh which has

920
00:51:30,360 --> 00:51:34,400
no abrasion or scratch of any kind. Willoughby suddenly stiffened,

921
00:51:34,719 --> 00:51:39,320
his nostrils quivered. You don't doubt its existence, he exclaimed,

922
00:51:39,320 --> 00:51:41,320
in a high pitched, excited voice.

923
00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:42,119
Speaker 2: I do.

924
00:51:43,000 --> 00:51:45,039
Speaker 1: You don't believe what he says is true?

925
00:51:45,320 --> 00:51:46,960
Speaker 2: I do not, well.

926
00:51:47,119 --> 00:51:50,199
Speaker 1: It is true, every word of it. The professional pride

927
00:51:50,239 --> 00:51:53,280
in the doctor's voice showed he'd clearly forgotten that such

928
00:51:53,280 --> 00:51:56,639
a statement meant an admission of murder. Are you confessing

929
00:51:56,639 --> 00:51:58,960
that you attempted your brother in law's life and killed

930
00:51:58,960 --> 00:52:03,320
that hobo, exclaimed Dwyer, whirling on him. I'm making a

931
00:52:03,400 --> 00:52:07,039
statement that I've discovered the greatest existing poison, that I've

932
00:52:07,119 --> 00:52:09,960
proven its potency. You doubt my word.

933
00:52:10,159 --> 00:52:10,519
Speaker 2: Watch.

934
00:52:11,400 --> 00:52:14,480
Speaker 1: Before any of the startled spectators could stop him, he

935
00:52:14,519 --> 00:52:17,400
had reached for the little vial of amber colored liquid

936
00:52:17,519 --> 00:52:20,920
lenin so vividly recalled as spilling the night before, and

937
00:52:21,000 --> 00:52:23,320
pouring a little of it in a metal measuring cup

938
00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:26,000
half filled with water. He rubbed his hand over the

939
00:52:26,039 --> 00:52:29,119
surface of the cup for a second. He smiled whimsically

940
00:52:29,159 --> 00:52:32,079
at the men, who stared in bewilderment at him. Then

941
00:52:32,119 --> 00:52:35,639
he suddenly stiffened his muscles, gave a convulsive movement, and

942
00:52:35,719 --> 00:52:38,599
he rolled off the chair on to the floor, dead,

943
00:52:39,039 --> 00:52:43,960
exclaimed the other physician, bending over him, almost instantaneous. Well

944
00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:49,440
I'm damped, ejaculated Dwyer. My sister, gasped young Moore. There

945
00:52:49,440 --> 00:52:52,559
was a horrified expression in his dark eyes. I must

946
00:52:52,599 --> 00:52:55,199
go to her. You don't want me, do you No?

947
00:52:55,559 --> 00:52:58,760
But don't try to get away, replied Dwyer, grimly, still

948
00:52:58,800 --> 00:53:01,559
staring in blank as styles at the stark figure of

949
00:53:01,599 --> 00:53:05,280
their late host. You'll find everything in his diary, said

950
00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:08,519
the boy in the doorway. His vainglory prompted him to

951
00:53:08,519 --> 00:53:12,800
write it up. It prompted his death, said Lannin, turning away,

952
00:53:13,000 --> 00:53:17,039
heartsick at the thought. Then the knowledge that Louise Willoughby

953
00:53:17,119 --> 00:53:19,800
was free sent him down into the drawing room, where

954
00:53:19,840 --> 00:53:24,360
she sat, hands clasped in those of her brother. End

955
00:53:24,480 --> 00:53:27,239
of After Midnight by Martin Neville