WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:06.160 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 Thank you. 5 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:16.640 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 Suddenly. 28 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:34.400 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 I've watched them. 42 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:15.800 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 As he walked. 53 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:50.319 How do I know she won't go with. 54 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:51.479 Him if I send him away? 55 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.159 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 What is it? 82 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:30.240 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 Two? 105 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:47.000 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 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 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 Allering. 137 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.319 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 His chin shook. 159 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:45.679 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 Ample bosom, what was it? Doctor? Did you hear it? 162 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.360 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 Doctor? Dear? What do you think it is? 169 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:15.360 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 I a dead man. Yes. 190 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.960 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 Like a hobo. 220 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:17.240 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 It's so heartless. 224 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:26.600 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 He's a tramp. 229 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:40.519 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 Murdered. 236 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:01.720 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 Yes? 258 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:21.879 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 Were his Andrews? 261 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:28.679 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 She shivered. 292 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:26.600 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 Something here. 295 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:34.480 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 What do you mean by that? 327 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.880 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 That's science. 351 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:56.079 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 I am a man. 358 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:21.720 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 You must know she is. 372 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:09.079 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