"Quiet, Gernicot!" "It's not him." " Good." " Why "good"?" "If he's succeeded, he'll come back in a cab." "You're not going to bug us again, are you, Marcel?" "Do you think Jean will succeed?" "I'm a poet, I believe in miracles." "I'm an ingenior." "I don't." "You, Sir, have a strong mind." " Leave it be:" "Can't you see it's dry?" " Just like us." " Have you got a cigarette?" " Who's got a cigarette?" "Don't all answer at once." " What time is it?" " Ask the owner." "1:30." "Say, if Perlonjour didn't succeed..." "Couldn't you..." " What?" " Well, sell the house!" "Uncle Émile already mortgaged it for 350000 francs." "Not very tactful, Uncle Émile." "On the contrary, he loved old wine and young women." "He was tact incarnate." "So you say." "If we fail we'll just have to blow our brains out." "All together, it's merrier." "We've known other dire straits in eight years." "The wing of despair often brushed by us." "Oh, shut up, you!" " Don't wake up your muse." " I didn't say anything." "He's been gone for four hours." "What can he be doing?" "Oh no!" "It can't go on like this." "Good or bad but we must know." "Let him come back!" "Say, Gribbe!" "Do you want me to quiet you down?" "It won't be long." " Come." "It will entertain us." " Shut up!" " Here he comes." " On foot?" "At last!" " Well?" " I won!" "Perlonjour triumphed over an unfriendly fate." " Let me find my breath." " I suggest a triumphal march." " My dear friends..." " Come on, let him talk." "You entrusted me with 5000 F, Here is what I'm bringing back." " And this." " For Perlonjour:" "Hurray!" "Two hands in a row, my boys, and the last one passed 8 times." "One moment." "I've got a proposition to make." " Do you want a percentage?" " Do you want a slap in the face?" "With this, we can live for 3 months or exist for 1 year." "After that, we'll have to find something else." " One year from now..." " It will be over soon." " Perlonjour is a pessimist." " Let me explain." "No jokes now." "Since we couldn't succeed together," "Let's split the money and try our luck in every corner of the Earth" " A sphere has no corners." " You see what I mean." "I think it weird that, after having been dirt poor together, we'd split when the dough begins to come in." "And what if, even separated, we'd keep standing together?" "What do you mean "together"?" "Do you have an idea?" "Let's agree that everything we earn belongs to the community" " and will ultimately be shared." " Exactly." "If one of us gets rich, we'll all benefit from it." " How long will you give us?" " Two years." " You're an optimist." " I propose ten years." "That's too much or not enough." "Let's say 5." "OK." " If one of us meets his doom?" " The others will benefit from it." " Not that." " We must foresee everything." " We have to draft a contract." " In the presence of a notary." "Why not?" "Do you have any idea of where you'll go?" " Let's trust to chance." " I'll go first." " Dakar." " Now me." " Buenos Aires." " Beware of the ladies." "Tierra del Fuego." "Non, that's too hot." "I'll try again." "NO!" "NO!" " La France." "The "Massif central"." " I'll dance the bourrée." " Don't you want to trade?" "Brazzaville." "We'll be neighbours, Gernicot." "The Atlantic." "Oh, no, I'll try again." "FIVE YEARS LATER" "Thank you." "Leave your address." "We'll write to you." " But I'm not finished." " We'll write to you, I tell you." "Oh, fine, fine." "Next." "Will you let me pass!" "Miss Malou Mila." " Mila Malou." " What she says." "Hey, what gives you the right to be so familiar." "Also, a little bit of contemplate, please." " A bit of what?" " A bit of quiet." "Well, a bit of contemplate." "This is a dramatic song." "In F." "Slowly." "Your piano is not an orchestra." "Do you or don't you want to audition?" "I'm not saying anything, Sir." "I was chatting with the pianist." "Go on, sweetie!" "Through my window..." "Since he lived across the road" "I saw him every morning" "Shaving in front of his mirror" "His mirror with no frame and no foil" "He was eying me" "Boldly so" "I was giving him the eye" "In the noise of passing cars" "I heard fate calling me" "Without knowing each other, We liked each other" "The heart doesn't need anything more" "Love came cowardly in" "Through my window" "On the wind's quick wing" "Through my window" "A dancing blackbird whistled" "On my window ledge" "And I threw my beating heart" "Through my window..." "Thanks, that will be enough." "We'll send you a cable." "Come on, close the window." " Next." " Miss Barbarina." " Mr. Senterre?" " Take your turn." " But I..." " There, like everybody does." " Miss Barbarina!" "Well?" " Coming, coming." "Come on, come on, hurry up." " Will you let him insult me?" " Insult?" "Didn't you hear?" "He said:" "We'll send you a cable." " That's not an insult." " Oh no?" "It means:" "You should hang yourself" "Just because I don't have an operatic voice nor a mouth like a hen's arse." " But I shall make it anyway." " I'm sure of it." "The swine will pay." "He'll ask for me on his knees." "I'll answer: "Get lost!" "You've been too much of a boor." "You weren't wise enough to hire me when I was still blossoming." "So go boil an egg." "You'll be right." "Meanwhile, let's split." "Will that be all?" "I've been insulted and you won't say anything?" "Do you know what you are?" "A sissy." " You don't believe in my talent." " I do, but..." " Go and talk to him." " What do you want me to say?" "Just show him your card from the Police Headquarters." " Come on, cut the nonsense." " Nonsense!" "So instead of defending me, you shoot at me." "Fine, my friend." "Just you go on." "Others will be happy to take your place." " They'll make people respect me." " Are you finished?" "No, Sir, I'm not finished!" "My friend has something to tell you." "So, will you go already?" "Oh, I'll pay you back." "Sir, my name is Wenceslas Voroboetchick." "Don't blame me." "I'm a commissioner of Police." "Obviously, you're unlucky." "And Miss Mila Malou's lover." "A piece of advice: change your name, occupation and mistress." "A piece of advice too: change your tone of voice." "Discussing more is useless." "I believe so too." "So it's always possible to reach an agreement." "Thank you." "We'll write to you." "Next." " Sir...?" " Perlonjour." "Mr. Perlonjour." " We're waiting for you, Sir." " Senterre?" " Where are you?" " You?" "Stay where you are, I'm coming for you." " Send everybody away." " Yes, Sir." "How happy I am to see you, old sport." "You can't imagine how happy I am." " 5 years." " Yes, 5 years." " Auditions are over." " What about us?" "Come back next week." "Come on, let's go and have a drink." "You haven't changed, you know." " Your skin is a bit darker, that's all." " Yeah." "From what I see, you're a success." "The Palladium in Paris, 2 theatres in Berlin, 2 more in Belgium and 1 in Geneva." " What about you?" " Busted." "I was lucky to find space on a merchant vessel to come back here." " Poor old chap." " I expected it." "I drained my whole luck at cards in one time the other night." "Don't you worry." " I have enough for two." " No, I won't have it." "In a fortnight, I'll be back at sea." "But I didn't want to miss our rendez-vous." "You're forgetting our agreement." "We have a contract." "Of course we couldn't all succeed." "You and me, we make an average." "A good one!" "I assure you." "Any news of the others?" "What?" "No." "What about you?" "I met Gernicot in Brazzaville during a holiday." "We wanted to go in business, prospecting together." "It didn't work." "We separated." " Why?" " Oh, for uninteresting reasons." " A matter of women, of course?" " There's always a woman." "At what hotel are you staying?" "None yet." "Oh, now that I think of it." "You'll give this back to me after we share everything." " Thanks, old boy." " Think nothing of it." " What the..." " What?" "What is it?" ""The Aquitaine arrived today in Marseille." ""An accident occurred during the." "crossing." "The victim, Mr. Namotte..." ""The Aquitaine had just left Dakar," ""when a tragic scream was heard at the stern." ""In spite of a frenetic search" ""All hope of finding the passenger was soon gone." ""No one knows the cause of this accident. "" " Did you watch the stairs?" " You're imagining things." "But I've seen him." "It doesn't prove anything." "I don't want the proof to be me." "Hello?" "Is this you, Jean?" "I received a wire from Gernicot." "He'll be here tonight." "All right." "I'll be there too." "Wait for me here." "I'll be back in fifteen minutes." "Yes?" "A gentleman asks to see you, Sir." "Mr. Gernicot?" "He wouldn't say his name." "If I may say what I think, Sir," "If I were you, I wouldn't see the gentleman, Sir." "Stop it." "Nobody ask you anything." "Clear off!" "Marcel?" "What a strange way to arrive." "Send your boy away." "Thank you, Fabien." "You may go to bed." "You won't need me anymore, Sir?" " No, good night." " Good night, Sir." " What's eating you?" " It's the storm." "You know I hate storms." "They get on my nerves." "Is this why you're in such a state?" "You look like a hunted man." " Does it show that much?" " Have you gone mad?" "Not yet, but it's coming." "I can feel it." "Is Namotte's death the problem?" "Do you know how he died?" " He fell into the sea." " He was thrown overboard." " Murdered?" " A job well done." "Oh, God, how I hurt." "Please, get a hold of yourself." "What are you talking about?" "You say Namotte was thrown overboard?" " Who did?" " I don't know." "Namotte didn't know either." "But he could feel danger." "He couldn't wait to leave Africa." "He told me so when we met on board." "Then, on the evening of the tragedy," "I was first to arrive on the bridge." "I saw a fleeing shadow." "Are you sure?" "On nights like that one, one can't be sure of anything." "A shadow is not much." "Jean!" "Jean!" " Are you surprised to see me?" " On the contrary." "I was thinking of you." "That's why I jumped." "Good evening, all the same." "Good evening, Lolita." "Good evening, Jean." "Good evening, little Lolita." "Good evening, little Jean." " Are you looking at my hand?" " Your wedding ring." "I married one year after you disappeared." "That's what they told me." " Is Gernicot with Senterre?" " He's been for 10 minutes." " Will you go up?" " No, I would be in the way." "Friends meeting after a long time don't need a woman between them." "See you later then." " Are you leaving?" " They're waiting for me." "Well, just let them wait." "Come in for a moment." "Come!" "How forceful you are!" " Always the same perfume." " Always." "I don't like changes." "And now, Jean, listen to me." "I've got a question to ask you." "Answer truthfully." "Two years ago, you left Dakar without one word of explanation." " Why did you leave?" " I didn't leave:" "I fled." " There's a difference." " Why?" " Gernicot must have told you." " My husband?" " He was more astonished than I was." " He didn't say anything?" "He was amazed by your disappearance." "Amazed?" "There was no reason." "I left Dakar because I was about to do something stupid." "Such as?" "A folly." "I was about to ask you to share my poverty." "Without thinking that shared riches are twice as light... and poverty twice as heavy." "Yes..." "I was about to do that folly." "Fortunately, I had Gernicot with me," "A great friend." "The best of friends, who made me understand at the last moment that I'd better go away." "There." "Now, you know." " Where are you going?" " I'm going to thank my friend." " No, don't do it!" " Don't worry, I won't harm him." "Wait until tomorrow." "What I just learned upset me." "I need some quiet in order to think." "Everything can change tonight." "Go home." " When I have said what I mean to say." " No: now!" " Don't ask me that." " I not asking, I'm praying." "For the sake of the evening when we first met there." " Can you remember?" " I forgot it all." " And it was hard enough." " I didn't forget anything." "I'll tell you." "It will be like meeting again." "I don't want to play this game." "Don't try to appear meaner than you are." "Give me your phone number." "I'll call you tomorrow." "Meanwhile, go to bed." "I'll wake you up." "Thank you." " You're making me crazy." " I'm reassured then." "You'll be good." "Namotte could have fallen by accident." "He was not prone to vertigo nor did he drink." "It makes no sense." " Did you think about suicide?" " Others did." "It doesn't fit." "We were joking together ten minutes before he died." "I can't picture him leaving me and just jumping over the rail." "He was done for." "And it's just a beginning." "Namotte was the first, Tomorrow, it will be my turn..." "Or yours." "Say, Marcel..." " You wouldn't take drugs, by any chance?" " Me?" "The occasional pipe won't make me rant." "No, believe me, Henri..." "I'm doomed, I can feel it." "And you are doomed too." "And so are the others." "We'll all die." "All." " You're completely nuts." " You can't understand." " If only you'd seen him..." " Who?" "On the docks, just before departure," " A one-eyed man was staring at me." " So what?" "I couldn't find him on the ship." "And I should have seen his black patch." "He stayed there." "So why did I see him again in Marseille, and again here in Paris?" "Of course." "You're starting to be impressed" "What would you say if you saw him watching us now?" " Why would he be after us?" " You lack imagination." "If he knows about our association?" "Namotte was rich, I am too, so are you." " Honestly." " I don't care about that." "The point is: you succeeded and so did our pals." " Perlonjour doesn't have a penny." " So what?" "Even if Gribbe and Tignol are broke too," "Each time one of us disappears," " the share of the others grows." " So?" "So if I'm not mistaken, we're going to be offed one after the other." "When there's only one left, he'll be an arch millionaire." "And the other will just have to strike one last time and collect." "You're so silly!" "You should have written pulp novels." "You don't believe me?" "You're wrong." "I don't know if it comes with living with niggers, but I acquired a kind of instinct there, a kind of foresight." "I can feel a threat upon us." "A terrible threat." "Oh!" "It's your nerves." "Maybe so, but I'm frightened." "Very frightened." "How hot it is!" "One could croak here." "I'll create a draft." "Marcel!" "Are you wounded?" " He got me." " Wait." "Don't bother." "It's too late." "In the car, on the street corner..." "My wife is in danger." "Go and fetch her." " Hurry up." " Yes." "What's going on, Sir?" "Call the Police and a doctor." "Yes, Sir." "Hello?" "Is this the Police?" "Hello?" "Hello?" "There's nobody on the line." "Ask them to trace the call." "Still nothing." " They didn't hang up." " We'll have the information soon..." "Shut up!" "I hear someone moaning." "What do you know!" "I left the door open." "And I don't have my keys." " What can he be doing?" " Waiting is terrible." " You were here?" " I was on the stairs." "Gernicot has been killed." "This way!" " Where is he?" " But..." "Fabien?" "Fabien?" "Fabien!" " All in all, you saw nothing." " No, but I felt." "You don't have anything to add?" " I have." "A personal observation." " Go on." "Since it's impossible to serve in a house where the staff is being massacred," "I ask Mr. Senterre for my freedom." "That's a business between you and he." " Do you hope to find the culprit?" " I first have to find the victim." " We thought you wouldn't come." " I was gone fishing." "What with the storm, you're sure to catch something." "Look what I caught in a puddle," "Just in front of Mr. Senterre's." "Nice catch, isn't it?" "Does this revolver belong to one of you?" "Come closer." "Don't be afraid." "It doesn't bite." "No?" "No taker?" "Sold." "Commissioner, here's the testimony." "Mrs. Gernicot, Mr. Perlonjour," "Mr. Senterre." "Who would have thought that we'd meet again so soon?" "Madam," " Are you sick?" " No, I'll be all right." "I know this questioning must be painful for you." "I'll to my best to be... brief." "Go on." "Have you seen anybody since you arrived in Paris?" " No." " You didn't leave your car?" "No." "I got out a few minutes before Mr. Senterre came." "I felt nervous, anxious." "Very well, very well." " Was it raining at the time?" " Yes, I think so." " Quite violently." " Maybe." "Oh, I don't know, I don't know anymore." "It doesn't mean much." "I love walking under the rain too." "Mr. Perlonjour, You left your hotel at 11 pm." "It took you 40 minutes to come here?" "I took shelter under a porch during the storm." "You're soaking wet." "When I saw the rain starting to fall..." "You went out, I understand." "You're afraid of the storm, not of the rain." "That explains everything." "Do you read Montaigne, Mr. Senterre?" " Haven't I got a right to?" " It's a duty." "It's our duty." "He wrote beautiful pages about friendship." "M. Gernicot was a very good friend of yours, wasn't he?" "We lived together for 8 years." "That is no proof." "Was the victim facing his killer?" "He was shot in the chest." "At the time of the murder, you were standing at this window." " Who says I wasn't?" " No one." "Yes..." "Of course." "I'm warning you:" "I'm not a patient man." "You'll do like I did, You'll become one." "May I?" "I'm a collector." "Please do." "Make yourself at home." "Patient, but a collector." " A nice copy." " A copy?" "Are you crazy?" "Everybody can err, but if I were you," "I'd have it authenticated" "So Gernicot fell just in front of the window?" "Yes, on the rug" "The rug?" "Yes, the..." " What do you know!" " It vanished?" " Cant you see?" " I can see that I can't see it." " Do you think you're witty?" " Yes: patient, but witty." "The body disappears, so does the rug." " Did they wrap the body in the rug?" " It's an explanation." "Do you have a better one?" "No, but my strength is that I do not look for one." " Why take a body away?" " The murderer surely had a reason." " What reason?" " I'm not the murderer." "My husband was carrying all of his fortune on his person." "Yes, I've read it." "Diamonds in a belt, that's careless." "Bankers have such a reputation that..." "They didn't have the time to take his clothes off..." " You do believe so?" " I don't believe anything." "I'm patient but incredulous." "Well?" "Well, I walk around," "I look," "I talk." "It gives me the illusion of thinking." "And while you're talking, the murderer gets away." "What murderer?" "Oh, the mysterious one-eyed man?" "A murderer doesn't wear a patch so he'll be noticed." "Nobody saw that one-eyed man tonight, anyway." "Sorry, Mr. Wens:" "I saw him." " You?" " As I was coming here." " And you didn't say so?" " What with everything, I forgot." "Of course you did!" "It's so natural." "Will you allow me, madam?" "I'm of an indiscreet nature." "Patient, but indiscreet." "What is this?" " A telephone number." " Thank you." "What I want to know is whose number it is." " Must I answer?" " Absolutely not." "We'll say it's a personal number." " Are you finished?" " Beg your pardon?" " Are you finished?" " I fail to understand." "We're fed up with your innuendo." "Quiet, young man." "You should go and seek the murderer." "Who says he's not here?" "You all could have shot him." "Are you accusing us?" "I'm not accusing." "I'm stating a fact." "Arrest us then." "I have no proof." "I'm patient but circumspect." "There were six of you in your association." "Gernicot fell here, Namotte at sea..." " Drowned, yes." " Probably." " Two are still missing." " Tignol and Gribbe." " Gribbe?" " Georges Gribbe." " Do you know him?" " Vaguely." "Is he is Paris?" "I'm going to check." "I'm patient and conscientious." "Gentlemen, Madam." "Gentlemen." "Good morning, Gentlemen." "Good morning, Commissioner." "Get me Jo's file." "What "Jo"?" "Georges Gribbe of the fake cheques." "the one and only." "My own little Jo." "How are your kids?" "I'm waiting for a sixth one." "The Police are not lazy." " Here's your man." " Thank you." " Was he naughty?" " I'll tell you." "The special brigade?" " No trumps." " I'll deal then." "Good evening, Jo." "Good evening, Mr. Wens." " I'm coming for you." " For me?" "You're wrong." "Since I came back from my holiday, nobody had anything to blame on me." " What will you have?" " A mint cordial." "A mint cordial." " What are you doing these days?" " What am I doing?" " What job?" " Small things." "Small jobs here and there." " It seems to agree with you." " I'm getting along." "Nice clothes, nice shoes." "Ah, now the shoes, they're crocodile." "And they fit perfectly." "I tried them on twice." "You have them made-to-measure?" "I'm got sensitive feet." "And your small jobs paid for them?" "No." "I had a tip in Auteuil." "Anubis in the 4th race." "He brought back 20 against 1." "That's nice, even for an outsider." "Indeed it is." " Your coat is new too." " I won it in Longchamp" "Zanzibar in the 3rd." "182 F for 5 F." "And you got you suit in Enghien," "Your ties in Maisons and your watch in Vincennes." "No, Mr. Wens, I never go to Vincennes." "There are too many tricks." "Tricks disgust me." "You spend your days on the racetracks." "For my health." "Don't be mistaken." "I always was feeble in the lungs." " Do you understand?" " Oh, of course I do." "I'm the understanding type." "Now, shall we talk a bit about your evenings?" " My evenings?" " Yesterday evening, for instance?" "Yesterday evening, wait a second..." "Yesterday, I went to the movies." "I go on every Friday." "They were showing a movie with sentiment." "I just love sentiment." " It moves me." " We're both sentimental." "And after that?" "I went to bed." "With someone?" "What do you think I am?" "A kid?" "Shuteye is sacred." "During the day, once in a while, when it's raining." "But at night, I sleep." "Did your janitor hear you coming home?" "I'd be surprised if she did." "She leaves the door open, not to be bothered." "So nothing proves that you spent the night home." "You didn't have to beat around the bush." "I have no alibi." "You're lucky." "What?" "If you had an alibi, I would have arrested you." "You don't say?" "If you had anything to do with it," "You'd have found some drunks to swear they were with you." "So, you don't suspect me anymore?" "No." "I never really suspected you, anyway." "What happened yesterday?" "One of your old pals was killed, Gernicot." " Gernicot?" " He was killed in Senterre's home." "That's something else." "You were associated, if I understand correctly." "Oh, that's kid stuff." "But we were friends, real friends." "By the way, do you know that you pals expect you to visit them?" "What do you mean, no?" "They're waiting for Gribbe, A lad that I once knew well, who was promising, and who died stupidly too." "Take Jo's word for it." "We'll talk about that again." "No, Mr. Wens, we'll never talk about it again." "As you wish." "Goodbye, Jo." "Goodbye, Mr. Wens." "Follow him then report to me every morning." "It's done." "How did it go?" "Just a formality to confirm our statements." "Mr. Perlonjour?" "I thought you were admirable last night." "You are almost a child, and you endured the shock better than we did." "I deserve no credit." "I wasn't my husband's friend." "My candor may embarrass you but I don't like hypocrisy." "I only lie when I can't avoid it." "You weren't enemies either, were you?" "Worse: strangers." "One of those couples who live sideways." " Do I shock you?" " I'm not accustomed to frankness." "I regret it." "I'll be frank to the end." " I've got a favour to ask." " Please do." "Marcel was carrying all of our savings on his person." "I'm left with 2000 francs in my purse." "Oh no!" "You misunderstood me." "What I want is a job." "What do you do?" "I was performing in a theatre, in Dakar when I met Marcel." " Oh, you're a singer?" " No..." "Here." "What are you thinking?" "Oh, I can guess." "No." "Just a coincidence." "Do you believe me?" "I don't know, but I'll wait for you tomorrow to sign your contract." "Thank you." "Grace, a natural demeanor." "That's what you wanted, isn't it?" "Yes, yes, very well." "Now, let's not move anymore." "Fine." "The picture will be printed tomorrow, on two columns." "Yes, Mr. Senterre." "And the caption will read:" ""Miss Lolita, the new star of the Palladium, candidly surprised in her dressing room. "" "Candidly, yes." "Perfect." " Are you happy?" " Why wouldn't I be?" "Costumes, posters, papers..." "You're giving it all to me." " It's a compensation." " What are you saying?" "Nothing, but I'm thinking a lot." "Goodbye, young man." "Good night, Mr. Senterre." " Good night, madam." " Hey, have a care!" "." " He almost tore my rollers off." " Come on, Pâquerette." " I don't have that many left." " What the hell are you doing here?" "I come to undress the lady." "But I can come back." "No." "Stay, Pâquerette." "I must come back for Miss Milli." "I won't regret that one." "Tonight is her last night." "And she sings off-key, She doesn't dance and she washes only on the days when her boyfriend comes to see her." "Next time, before I hire artists, I'll ask your advice." "You would be well inspired to." "No, really." "I'd gladly change places with you." "Especially now." "Why now?" "Because a dresser is also charged with undressing." "Hey, will you stop that?" "Don't be upset, cutie." "Mr. Senterre is like that with all the ladies." "Get the hell out of here, Pâquerette." "We've seen you enough." "If miss Lolita needs anything, I'll replace you." " Shall I, Miss?" " I can take care of myself." " Take this dress away." " Go." " I'm going to eat some brawn." " Are you fond of good food?" "I like sweets." "That's the only vice I've got left." " That and drinking." " All right, all right!" "Flee, you sweet image." "Kiss me." "What's the matter with you?" " On the nose." " Not on the nose nor anywhere." "Can you imagine?" "But since you didn't love Gernicot." " I don't love you either." " You will." "I'm unlucky with theatre managers." "Once I had a rabid one, in Saigon." "One day, he jumped on me and bit my foot." "Your foot?" "He was a sadist!" "At least he was mad." "You don't even have that excuse." "Go now, I have to change." "Must I, really?" "Look, you've been very nice to me." "Yes, yes, very nice." "I thought it was unselfish, I still think so." "That's where you're wrong." "No." "You proved me that you were a nice person," "Now show me that you're clever." " By acting like a fool?" " No, like a friend." "That's what I meant." "See you tomorrow." "Think about it anyway." " Sir!" " What?" " I come to show you..." " I don't have time." "Don't bother me." "And now, tell me about your adventures." "You know, my "adventures", my adventures..." "Where have you been those 5 years?" " In Rouen." " In Rouen?" "Rouen in the Seine-Inférieure" "City of cathedrals." " I thought you were in Tierra del Fuego." " So did I, but..." "I was gone with a big momentum." "In Rouen, I missed my boat." " You could have taken the next one." " Yes, I could have..." "But my momentum was broken." "On the day of the departure, I was in bed with the mumps." " At your age?" " I thought it was the mumps." " What was it?" " The doctor said: my nerves." " Fear?" " Well, apprehension." "So I thought..." "Meeting with fortune is more likely in a city than in a desert." "More people are passing through." "Obviously." "And then I met Marguerite." "Just like Faust?" "With a difference:" "Marguerite was a widow." "In Rouen, she's known as "The Galleries Widow"." "Her late husband left her the "Parisian Galleries"." "The greatest store in town." " How old, your widow?" " How old?" "Spring, summer or autumn?" "More like autumn." "The beginning of it, anyway." "Early autumn is ravishing." "Vaporous fogs, golden leaves... all the poets loved autumn." " Don't tell me you love your wife." " I do..." "Of a love tempered with common sense." "Yes." "All in all, you married the store." "For me, that was safety." "All the poets loved safety." "You can sing adventure better with your feet in slippers." " So you're rich." " Yes and no." "My wife is from Normandy." "She stipulated a contract the Normand way." " With a sword at your side." " What?" " I can't touch her dowry." " Oh, I see." "So you don't have anything to share." "Hey, you're not stupid." "Come in." "A letter for a mister..." "Bignol, Chignol," "Rignol..." "Tignol?" "I'm Tignol." " Do you know someone in Paris?" " No, not a soul." "Wait, I'll give you something." " Here you are." " Thank you, sir." ""Bignol"..." "They can't even read." "What's happening to you?" " This is a bad joke." " I'm not going to...?" "Of course not." "Are you mad?" "Have a little nerve." " Don't you leave me anymore." " Of course, of course." "Don't work yourself in such a condition." "I'd rather go and die home, in my store." " What do you say?" " It's better than in Rouen." "Far Better." " So why the long face?" " I'm thinking of my wife's thighs." "All these weapons were seized from criminals." "You could sharpen some pens with these." "A helluva lot, as Tototte would say." "Tototte is a girlfriend of mine." "She was with me at the Porte Saint-Martin." "She slept with every fireman." "Firemen..." "Does it look sensible to you?" "I was going out with the prompter." "A very smart guy." "He could prompt the whole play without turning pages." "That proves what a head he had." " Who are they?" " Papavoine and Caserio." " Famous murderers." " I know only two of those." "Landru and Ravaillac." "I've been told about Landru, and saw Ravaillac at the museum." "And who's that one?" "Mrs. Lafarge and the Voisin." " The neighbour?" " No, the Voisin." "That was her name." "Where's my pussycat?" " My pussycat?" " Not yours." "My own pussycat." " Well:" "Wens." " Oh, the commissioner!" " He'll be here very soon." " Good." "I don't want to eat in the middle of the night." "It's only 8:15 pm." "We must be at 9 pm at the Palladium for the debut of beautiful Lolita." "I don't like her." "She did it." "As soon as I saw her picture, I told Wens..." "But he wouldn't believe me." "He's probably in love with the bird." "Men are such cretins." "I could beat her to a pulp." "Which reminds me of how hungry I am." "Oh, at last!" "Don't wear your hat like a punk, it's not your style." "It's obvious that your mother overprotected you." "Come on." "Hello?" "Yes?" "It's for you, Mr. commissioner." "What?" "Yes, speaking." "Gribbe?" "What?" "I trusted you but you asked two cops to watch me." "I neatly gave them the slip." "You're a regular bastard." "But my poor chap..." "Hello?" "Damn!" "Picard, Gribbe got away." "Go to the brigade of hotels." "We must find him before dawn." "Let's hope it won't be too late." "So much for liver pâté." " Did you warn Miss Lolita?" " Yes, five minutes ago." "I'll fetch her." "I've got the model." "For 10 days, I've been trying to reach you." "You're at the boot maker's, at the tailor's..." " I had to be dressed." " ... or shooting at cardboard targets." " I had to train." " Murderers don't train." "They shoot accurately all the same." " Why won't you dine with me?" " I already told you that I can't." "You're going back to the tailor's?" " Don't be silly." " To try something on?" "You show Senterre some skin, a bit of thigh." "A shiver goes through both of you." "Exactly." "You should have been a fortune reader." "Whom are you going out with after the show?" " Guess." " I'm sure it's Senterre." " You are gifted." " He's wooing you." "Of course he is." "Or he wouldn't have spent 50000 F to organize my number." "So you admit it?" "And you allow him to?" "As long as he just wants a supper or a one hour talk..." " I owe him as much." " Women have peculiar morals." "Come in." "Lolita, you must be on stage soon." "Yes, here I come." " What are you doing here?" " Chatting?" "Is that forbidden?" "Strangers aren't allowed backstage." " So I've become a stranger?" " of course not." "But there are no friends on the evening of a premiere." "Lolita?" "Coming." " You're courting Lolita, aren't you?" " So what?" " I'm going to explain." " No, don't." "If you think you have a chance, fight for it." "I'll do the same." " I thought you were my friend." " I am, but that's irrelevant." " Well, see you soon." " No." "As you wish." "Tignol arrived today." "He's in the theatre." "Go and join him." " I don't give a damn about Tignol!" " All right, all right." " I now know what friends are worth." " You're being stupid." "The management of the Palladium is now presenting the woman you're all waiting for:" "Lolita, Queen of the target." " Miss Lolita?" " this way." "Put this here." "Oh, what a mess!" " You're waiting for the young lady?" " Yes." "Unfortunately, I must leave." "Don't be so exuberant." "Let's go home." " The show was ravishing." " It was nice, wasn't it?" "Hey!" "Are you or am I the director?" " Your show was very interesting." " Not bad, but not enough singers." "If I'd been in it, I would have straightened the mix." "Do you know that Tignol is here." " Now you tell me?" " Come:" "I'll introduce you." "What a nice surprise!" "I'm not asking how you are." "You put on some weight." "Oh, you look a little too thin." "And green of complexion." " Probably the success of the show?" " You're too witty for your own good." "Senterre pleaded with me to be his star performer." "I refused." "Hey, old boy!" "But what's going on here?" "Is he dead?" "Still breathing." "He must be sent to a hospital." "In my office." " Mila!" " What is it?" "Call Police Headquarters." "Let them send Picard." " The telephone, please." " On your right." "He took advantage of your number to get away with shooting." "It must have been unheard in the middle of the shooting." " I understand." " I'll attend to it." " Well, doctor?" " I couldn't do anything." "He died without coming to his senses." "You must be glad, Senterre." "Oh, please." "If you warned me as I asked, it might not have come to this." " I have enough remorse." " A bit late." "One is so busy on the evening of a premiere..." "I didn't think he was in any danger here." " Among us, watching the show." " Here's the proof." "Boss." "Did Mr. Tignol received a letter here?" " Yes, Mr. commissioner." " Come here." " How do you know?" " I gave it to him." " This letter?" " Yes, sir." "The victim was sitting in Mr. Senterre's office." "Really?" "Didn't your friend show it to you?" " He did." " You didn't think he was in danger?" "I thought it was a joke." "You've got a peculiar sense of humour." " Who gave you the letter?" " A kid." "Are you sure the weapon is from your collection?" "This revolver was in my dressing room when I went on the stage." "Who was the last person to get out of your dressing room?" "Mr. Senterre, I believe." " Did you lock the door?" " No, commissioner." "We never lock it." " Who are you, madam?" "Pâquerette." "Kid Pâquerette, I was called." "Where were you during the number?" " In the corridor." " Did you leave it?" " No." " You went to have a distingué." " What is a distingué?" " It's nothing." "Oh, come on." "it's a brandy and Bénédictine cocktail." "Bénédictine for sweetness, and brandy for strength." " It's very fortifying." " I can believe that." "So anybody could have entered the dressing room?" "Oh, yes, I know." "Somebody entered it." "First the florist, then the gentleman who had an argument with Mr. Senterre." " Perlonjour?" " I don't know his name." " Did you have a row?" " Yes." "Of no consequence." "Of no consequence?" "About what?" "Well..." "literature." "You haven't seen him since?" "I did." "I saw him at the bar after I left Tignol." "And then?" "He must have left immediately after Lolita's number." "I'll give you a ride, madam." "We'll chat as we go." "Goodbye, dear lady." "Goodbye." "See you soon." " Lolita!" " What are you doing here?" " I've been waiting for 2 hours." " In the street?" "I came to say goodbye." "I give up." "I won't bother you anymore." "Oh, you're so stupid." "I'm sorry I came back." "It's too late to talk, Jean, I have to go home." " Come back tomorrow." " Tomorrow I'll have left Paris." "All right, come:" "I can't let you do anything stupid." "But you'll be sorry." "Already?" "Bravo!" "Good job." "Gribbe took refuge in the Étoile Hôtel, 32 rue de Flandres." "Go there with two detectives." "I'll join you." " Are you sure he's here?" " He didn't move since 9 pm" "Police!" "He's a sound sleeper." "Open." " Go first." " Leave me alone!" "The bulb is dead." "Give me your torch." " He couldn't possibly wake up." " What a pity!" "In my place." "Here's the result of your feat, Jalabert." "I had Gribbe followed in order to protect him." "His death will be on your conscience." " You didn't tell me he had a visit?" " He didn't." "Nobody." " He was alive when your detective saw him." " Detective?" "Yes, a tall one-eyed man with a macintosh." " When did he come?" " One hour ago." "He stayed only 5 minutes." " He phoned you immediately." " Whom?" " The Police." " Now we've seen it all." " Do you love me?" " Ask the coffee grounds." " This is cocoa." " Ask the stars then." " The sun is shining." " Wait for tonight and you'll know." "Hey, would you mind being proper?" " What is it?" " It's me." "Mrs. Foin." " I've got a parcel for you." " Thank you, madam." "Your servant." "Here." ""Henri Senterre." "As a souvenir of your debut"" " Ah, the bastard!" " It's quite white, you know." "Send it back to him." "It will teach him a lesson." "The lesson would be better if I kept it." "Do you know that Gribbe's body has been found?" "I read the papers." "Two more victims and the murderer will have reached his goal." " One should be enough." " Why only one?" "Senterre and I are still alive." "But, logically, one of you is the killer." " That's silly." " Not that much." "Gernicot talked about a stranger who would kill you all in order to get your fortunes." " Yes?" " It doesn't make sense." "How could a stranger do that?" "These days, a fortune isn't composed of bags full of gold coins." "His work over, the stranger would have been unable to get anything." " Do you follow me?" " Go on." "But if the killer is one of you, he's the legal heir of his victims." "I'm sure I didn't kill anybody." "And Senterre is incapable of such a cowardly act." "Very well." "Sit down." "What about Namotte?" "What do you think of him?" " Namotte is dead." " Mysteriously." " Why dwell on the past?" " Answer." "We didn't get along." "We were too different." "He had strong ideas about everything." "He didn't live in real life." "He was building himself another world." " What about Gernicot?" " Just the reverse. tense, impassioned." "But an overflowing imagination." "Tignol wrote verse but Gernicot was the poet." "Were you at the Palladium when Tignol was killed," "You weren't anymore when the body was found." "Where did you spend the night?" " I can't answer that." " It's very good, young man." "It will grow out of you, but it's very good." "I know it all." "You went to see Mrs. Gernicot at 2 pm." " What did you do from midnight to 2?" " I waited." " Where?" " In front of her door." "Love is a beautiful thing." "Did you ever know that?" "When I was 14, I fell deeply in love with the principal's wife." "A gorgeous, tall brunette." "She didn't exactly have a moustache, but a slight fuzz on her lip." "Oh!" "It was a beautiful dream." "While you waited, didn't you have the idea of going to visit your old friend Gribbe?" "Why don't you arrest me if you suspect me?" "That would be for the best." "Innocent, you would be safe," "Guilty, you would be neutralized." "Unfortunately, I can't." "The law is not perfect." "I'm sorry for you and for me." "No hard feelings." " Oh, here you are?" " As you can see." "I was going to your place." "I've got something to give you, from Lolita." "Oh, less than nothing." "A trinket." "She thinks it's too small." "Oh, that's..." "Mr. Senterre?" " We'll talk about that again." " Whenever you want to." "You had me fetched by a detective like an accused man?" "Sorry." "It was urgent." "Would you look at this?" "The first one was given to Tignol in your presence." "This one was on Gribbe's chest." "So?" "The paper is strangely similar to the one of your notepad." " Look at the watermark" " Is that all you had to tell me?" "I wouldn't have bothered you for such a small thing." " I wanted to warn you." " Of what?" "You know what I mean:" "You are a showman," "You know that, in a story well told, at some point, the drama congeals." "that's where we are:" "the end of Act II." " After Act II, there's a break." " A short, very short break." "It may be over already without you noticing." " She's not here." " I can see that." "What's going on?" "Precious Metals are entering the stage." "Disaster!" "Where can she be?" "They work seriously for 3 days then get their kicks on the 4th." " Let's call the Police." " What are you?" "Crazy?" "Since the other day, I can see murderers everywhere." " And the boss is not here." " Maybe they're together." "She left her home at 19 h 55 and never got here." " Is that all you know?" " Yes." " I can see you read the papers." " I'm no seer." "How do you explain her disappearance?" " There are 3 possible explanations." " Which are?" " The first one, the second one..." " And the third one." "No: and the good one." "The 1st is that she's been killed, The 2nd is that she fled." " Why?" " Yes: why?" "Then there's the most likely explanation:" "A kidnapping." " A kidnapping by Perlonjour." " Why would he do that?" "You don't think he's locking her up out of love, do you?" "By the way, I thought he was as upset as you are." "An act." "If he's acting, he's a very good actor." " Well, if it's not he?" " It's you." "What?" "Or somebody else." "Somebody else is more likely." "Yes, more likely." "Oh my, oh my!" "This is really annoying." "Where can it be?" "Did you find it?" "No." "It's a white glove with butterflies." "If there were only the butterflies, they could have flown away." "Look in your pockets, under the furniture." " Will you hurry up!" " I'm doing what I can." "I'll stay here two days but I'll find it." "Did you find it?" " Can't you see anything?" " I'm searching." "Saint Anthony, if you help me find my glove," "I'll burn a small candle to you." "shit!" "Shit, shit, shit!" "What a joint!" "Someone's messing with me." "It's either the maid, burglars or mice." "I've got it!" "I've got it, Mila." "Thank you, my kiki, Thank you, my trounounou." " Where is it?" " I don't know." " What?" " I know who he is?" " My glove?" " The killer." "Oh, that's what you were doing." "I've lost my glove and you, you're looking for your killer." "You good for nothing layabout." "It's a whole wig in your palm, not just a hair." "Dummy!" "While watching Perlonjour's mail," " We found an anonymous letter." " Addressed to him?" "Yes." "It doesn't bode well." "You poor dummy, Lolita is making a fool out of you." "Ifyouwantproof,gotakea look  on Tuesday, at 11 pm, in Romainville, 31 Boulevard Auguste Rodin." "I'm delighted." "I was impatiently waiting for that." "Close the envelope and put it back in the mail." " Good evening, Picard." " Good evening, sir." "I can't go to the Palladium tonight." "What could happen?" "We already had the Flore Quintet last season." "They didn't change their number at all." "Of course not." "Everything will be OK, don't worry." "If I can, I'll come, but not before very late in the evening." "Yes?" "Commissioner Wenceslas" "Voroboetchik." "Let him come in." "Sorry to come so late, my dear Sir." "You're not here for pleasure." "Tonight, I come as a friend, if I may use the word." "I've been a little rough with you, these past few days." "Please, forget those small slights." " What do you want to ask me?" " To have dinner with me." " Tonight?" " Are you engaged?" " The problem is this is Tuesday." " Tuesday, indeed." "On every Tuesday, we have a new debut at the Palladium," " and I have to be there." " It's a piece of bad luck." "Duty before everything else." " Were you going to the theatre?" " Yes, as a matter of fact, I..." "I don't want you to be late because of me." "I'll go with you." "But... before that, I must do..." " I am indiscreet." " Not at all." "I am, I am, I can feel it." "Patient, but perceptive." "I'm going." "A piece of advice: no useless turns in dark alleys." "I'm no coward." "Cowards are not always the ones who get killed." "Are you armed?" " Don't worry." " I'm not only worried about you." "One more dead body and I'm fired." "So my concern is really selfish." "Look, if it can put your mind at rest." "You call this a gun?" "It's a toy, my friend." "With this, you couldn't kill a sparrow three paces away." "We're going to trade guns." " Take this." " Are you joking?" "No." "Frankly, I'll sleep better." "Good night then." "Good luck." "Hello, Celtic Hôtel?" "My I speak to Mr. Perlonjour." "What?" "Mr. Perlonjour is not here." "I must speak to him." "It's really serious." "He's not here, I tell you." "His key is on the board." "Hello?" "Mr. Senterre just went out." "Hello?" "Commissioner Voroboetchik?" " I don't know him." " What?" "I don't know him!" "All I know is that he's a jerk." "Mila, this is Lolita." "I've got to talk to Wens." "If I only knew where he is." "We had a date and he stood me up." "Men are a pain in the arse!" "Louts, boors, all of them." "What they deserve is flaming straw in their behind..." "Hands up!" "Cuff him." "Come on now!" " You're caught." " This is madness." "We agree on that point." "You succeeded three times, but not this one." " I can swear..." " Your gun is warm." "I shot in self-defense." "You lured Perlonjour into a trap" "Thanks to an anonymous letter." " You're lying!" " What are you doing here then?" "I got a letter from Lolita." " Do you have it?" " In my right pocket." "No: the right one." "A fake, my poor chap." "A bad fake." "You could have found better." " I'm disappointed." " Listen, Wens," "Please, listen to me." "It's a mistake." "I am not guilty." "Can you hear me?" "I am not guilty!" "I know that." "I wanted to teach you a lesson." "I don't understand." "The murderer played on your nerves." "He lured both of you in this isolated place." "That was clever." "Obviously, fear would make one of you shoot his gun." "A dead man and a sentenced man." " But I was there." " So what?" "He didn't hurt himself as he fell." "On your feet, young man." "Damn!" "Jean!" "We spent the afternoon arranging that comedy." "You're not the only director here." " So your gun..." " Fired blanks." "That was the reason of the trade." "Patient, but cautious." "But who is the murderer?" "Haven't you guessed?" "It's..." "Duck!" "Are you unhurt, Boss?" "Hey: there!" "This way!" " It doesn't looks like a quarry." " That's what it is all the same." "Don't talk that much." "Jalabert, Perlonjour, this way." "The others, follow me." "Here he is!" "Bastard!" "You?" "What have you done with Senterre?" " Are you OK?" " Yes, thank you." "This way, boss." "Picard, come and see." " Maybe he's here." " No way." " Picard?" " Yes?" " Well?" " No one." "He didn't vanish into thin air, did he?" "I had all the exits guarded." "He can't escape us." "Help!" "Help!" "Help me!" "Help me!" "No doubt: the call came from here." "And here are his footsteps." "He sunk." "You gave me the key to the mystery" "When you told me about Gernicot's imagination." "The spectacular aspect of the crimes, the idea of killing Tignol in front of a crowd, the lists..." "It didn't fit with your personalities." "But the murderer had to be one of you." "Who then?" " A dead man who wouldn't be dead." " Sounds like something in a movie." "Thank you." "A dead body vanished and took his rug with him." "A murderer had no interest in doing that." "But for a false victim, it was mandatory." "If we analyzed the blood spots, we would have found just haemoglobin." " He's a very neat bloke." " What an ace!" " He succeeded real well." " Leave me alone." "The idea was clever but quite easy to realize." "He shot through the window, threw his gun in the street then fell down, all bloody." "No, thank you." "There's one thing bothering me:" "How could he inherit without unmasking himself?" "He would have claimed that you sequestered him." "With money, you can find witnesses." " Am I wrong?" " No." "That's what he told me in the small house where he kept me." "We went through some bad times." "Don't complain: yours is the best part." " What about the bottle?" " She knows what she wants." "Let's go." "Thank you." "I like to see you smile." "It's rare." "Life wasn't kind to me." "Now you must forget everything, Smile to the future." "Trust me." " You saved our lives." " You saved mine too." "We saved each other." "And I'm going to ask you to save me once again." " Are you in danger?" " Look at this woman." "If you do not hire her..." " She's hired." " For the next show?" " In 3 weeks," " But I have conditions:" "First, a dresser who respects me and doesn't call me by my first name," "Second, a disinfection of my dressing room, third..." "Look, Wens, I like you but..." "If some day, Mila Malou is found murdered," " Don't look for the killer." " It will be I." "Patient, but determined."