"THE VAMPIRES" "Hey,you guys!" "There's a woman who's drowned over here." "Hurry!" "Come give me a hand!" "Just like the others." "Not a drop ofblood left in her." "Yet no injuries of any kind." "All we know is she died before being thrown in the river." "This case appears identical to the others." "TERROR STRI KES PARIS AGAI N" ""Mysterious Killer Claims AnotherVictim"" ""Four Girls Killed in Six Months"" ""Vampire Continues His Killing Spree"" ""Police Investigation Yields No Clues"" ""Is the Monster Unstoppable?"" ""Investigation by Pierre Lantin"" "Hi, Pierre." "Haveyou heard?" "TheVampire has turned up again." "Why doyou care so much?" "You're a journalist, not a policeman." "You've put too much time into that case as it is." "I know it seems I'm obsessed, but I have to discover his identity." "Listen, I know it would be the greatest scoop of all time." "After all, they've made no progress on that case." "I'm convinced this victim is the key to the whole mystery." "Pierre?" "What areyou thinking about?" "The next victim." "Who will it be?" ""TwentyYears Old"" "Nora, aren'tyou going to get dressed?" "I'm reading Lantin's article." ""She had been missing for two weeks... yet she had died just a few hours before they found her."" "Good heavens." ""Where was she all that time?" "What torments does the Vampire inflict on his victims?"" "The poor girl was only 1 8 years old!" "I'm off." "What areyou girls going to do?" "Areyou coming, Lisette?" "Just a minute." " Go on ahead." "I'll catch up." "Okay." "Seeyou tomorrow." " Aren'tyou coming?" " I'm going to read a little longer." "You reallywant to read that horrible newspaper?" " No, I'm expecting a phone call." " From whom?" "The Vampire?" "Don't joke about it." "I'm upset enough as it is." "Giorgio called whilewewere rehearsing." "He leftword for me towait here." "He said he'd call back later." "Fine." "We'll seeyou at the usual bar." "Okay, ifl can make it in time." "Is anyone left up there?" "Yes, Nora." " Nora?" " What?" "Pull the door shut when you leave." "I'll stop by later and lock up." " Okay." " It's the same every night." "I can't get out at a decent hour." "There's always some straggler." " Poor Michel." " So I have to come back!" " Soyou didn't see her leave?" " No, Inspector." "I went to get a bite to eat." "She wasn't upstairs when I came back to lock up." "Even her costumes were gone." "Nobody's seen her since Tuesday night." "Not even her friends or fiancé... much less her landlady." "Wait." "I remember now she was expecting a phone call." "So she may have gone out to keep an appointment." "I happen to think she didn't leave the theater at all... at least, not willingly." "What areyou doing here?" "It's myjob to sniff out juicy stories." "Ifyou journalists would just doyourjob... instead ofplaying cops and robbers... maybe ourworkwouldn't be so hard." "Really?" "I just might have something that would interestyou." "May I?" "A draft of my article." "I've saved it foryou." ""Vampire kidnaps dancer from theater."" "Don'tyou thinkyou're getting carried awaywith your little story?" "I can prove it." " Here." " What's that supposed to mean?" "That's Nora's shoe." "I know because I took it to be repaired last week." " Where did you find it?" " In the wings." "Keep it." "It's a present." "It might helpyou." " Listen, you" " Don't get upset." "I'm leaving." "I'm gonna snoop around elsewhere." "Good-bye, Inspector." "FORENSICS" "For now we've got only one clue... of any importance." "All the victims were of the same blood type." "Then you think theywere chosen intentionally?" "We've little evidence on which to base such a hypothesis... except perhaps the traces of needle marks on their bodies... and the absence of any sign of struggle." "But we mustn't read too much into these things." "These days any number of people know how to handle a syringe." "You don't need to be a doctor... just a patient." "Just think how skilled drug addicts are." "Nowyou're really groping in the dark." "Yourvampire could be insane but he could alsojust as easily be... someone in full possession ofhis mental faculties." "You have any better ideas?" "Notyet, but I hope to soon." " In that case, congratulations." " Thankyou, Doctor." ""Along the Seine" I seeyour collection is growing." " What is this one?" " The last picture taken of Nora." " Who gave it toyou?" " Her fiancé." "Is he the man with her here?" " Couldn't he be the" " Afraid not." " He's got a perfect alibi." " Too bad." "I always find people who can cook up a perfect alibi... all the more suspicious." "Could you saywhereyou were the evening ofJanuary 27th?" ""Drug Addict?"" " No." " You see?" "What would the symptoms be?" "Dilated pupils, shaky hands" "What areyou saying?" "Nothing.Just something the doctor at the lab mentioned." "I'm trying to picture theVampire." "Setyour dismal fantasies aside for a moment... and take a look at this splendid creature." "I know her." "She's the niece ofthe Duchess du Grand." "And that's howyou treat her?" "I really don't understand you." "Say, maybeyou're the monster who feeds on human blood." "After all, the whole thing started when you came back to Paris." "Don't talk nonsense." "You're the one who needs to get serious." " What's so interesting there?" " Take a look." " Look at this picture." " You already showed it to me." " Did you see who's behind Nora?" " A passerby." " He's hiding his face." " You're imagining things." "To me, he's just a guy whose face is covered." "Maybe." "But I can't afford to overlook the slightest clue." "By the way, did you know the girl found in the Seine... used to attend the "Joan of Arc" school?" " Who told you that?" " Her mother." "You sent me to see her, remember?" " Where are you going?" " To interview her classmates." "They may know something." "Come on." "Wait for me here." "Miss, may I have a word with you?" "Bravo, Lorette!" "Forgive me." "It was a bet." "She said she'd slap the first person to approach her on the street." " That was you." " Thanks so much." " Did I hurt you?" "Just a little." "Lucky for meyou used your left hand oryou'd have knocked my head off." " On the contrary." "I'm left-handed." " Guess I'm not so lucky after all." " My name is Pierre Lantin." " The journalist?" "Precisely." "I wanted to askyou a few questions aboutyour classmate." " Mireille?" " Yes, the girl they found in the Seine." "Doyou remember anything unusual about her?" "She'd only been coming to school here for a few days." "We told the police everything except" " Except what?" " You tell him, Lorette." "A man was following us one day, or at least I thought he was." " Go on." " That's it." "I told my friends, and that's how we came up with the idea for the bet." "What did this man look like?" "He was tall and thin." "That's all I remember." "He looked a lot likeyou." "Or perhaps like this man?" "Yes, hewas wearing a topcoat." "I can't tell much bythis picture." "You thinkyou would recognize him ifyou saw him again?" "I think so." "He had a dazed look." "Likeyou when Lorette slapped you!" "Listen, I may need your help." "Can we set a time for another meeting?" "I wouldn't want to risk getting slapped again." "Well, you know where I go to school." "Excuse me, please." "Good-bye." " Hello, Giselle." " Hello, Pierre." "It's been impossible to find you lately." "I'm hurt by the way you've neglected me." "Forgive me, but mywork leaves no time for distractions." "You seem to find time... to flirt with the local students." "I don't know whatyou mean." "I assureyou, you're mistaken." "A man always denies these things." "I should probably pretend to believeyou... but I'm no good at pretending." "Listen, Giselle, I'm here on newspaper business." "You don't have to explain yourself." "I only ask thatyou come by to see me on occasion." "I can't promise right now." "I understand." "I'll call your boss... and ask him to haveyou write a story on the castle." "Then you could say you were there on newspaper business." "All right, I'll stop by." "Good-bye." "Good-bye." " What did she want?" " She wants me to stop by the castle." "How can you say that so casually?" "The most beautiful woman in Paris makes eyes at you... and you don't even care!" "It's a long story involving our families." "I'm not interested in her." "Well, I am!" "A lot more than your investigation." "Introduce me to her... and I promise I'll turn this city upside down until I find yourvampire." "A fix!" "I need a fix!" "You'll get one-- later." "Haveyou got it?" "You go to rehearsal every day at 4:00.... at Number 5 Rue St. Etienne." "This is her." "You know her." "Her name is Lorette." "Don't forget." "Rue St. Etienne." "You know what you have to do?" "Yes." "Give me my fix!" "I'm going crazy!" "You can have all you want..." "later." "This will do for now." " I'll try not to be long." " Don't worry." " I'll wait as long as it takes." " Thanks." "That's fine." "Excuse me." "Is Mr. Berthier in?" "I tell you, when he saw me, he did everything he could to get away." "He was afraid." "Look--you can see it on his face." " Areyou sure this was the house?" " Positive." "See?" "I even took a picture ofit." "Let's have a look." " Can I help you?" " I'm Inspector Chantal." "I'd like to speak with this gentleman." " I don't know who that is." " What?" " Doesn't he live here?" " I've never seen him before." "That's impossible." "He came to the door 20 minutes ago." "I haven't left the house all day and I've had no visitors either." "I'm a disabled policeman." "I lost my arm in the line of duty." " You can take myword for it." " There was a window there!" "What window?" "That's been walled up foryears." " Butyou're welcome to take a look." " Thankyou." "Excuse us." "There's apparently been some mistake." "The houses around here all look alike." "It's easy to get confused." "I swear I saw him." "I talked to him!" "I'm not crazy!" "No, you're not crazy-- you're worse." "You're a meddler looking for publicity at any cost." "Takeyour picture back, but ifyou dare print it, I'll throwyou in" "But this was the street!" "The first street after the traffic barricade." "Let's go." "Hey, who moved this barricade?" " Somebody could get killed." " Give me a hand." "I'm sorry, sir... but Professor du Grand is not receiving visitors today." "What doyou want?" "You know verywell." " Professor,Joseph's here." " What?" "He won't leave." "I thinkyou better see him." "All right." "Show him in." "You insisted on seeing me." "Why?" "I have to leave town." "I want some money." "A lot of money." "Otherwise I'll tell them everything." "I don't know whatyou're talking about." "Bring a syringe." "He needs to calm down." "I'll tell them everything." "They're on my trail!" " Stopyelling!" " I won't take the fall foryou." "I only did whatyou told me to." "But now I know whoyou are and I swearyou won't get awaywith it." " What haveyou done?" " It was the onlyway to shut him up." "So he showed up here." "I expected it all along." "Now the police will be on your trail." "They could arrestyou at any moment." "How did he find us?" "It would be a sad ending for the illustrious ProfessorJulien du Grand... as well as ruin for all ofus." "There's only oneway to saveyour name and your past." "You knowwhat that is." "Yes, Margherita." ""A Great Loss For Mankind"" ""ProfessorJulien du Grand Dies Unexpectedly"" "The unexpected death ofthe duchess's cousin... must have been a terrible blow for her." "Without a doubt." "She was very fond ofthe professor... and he owed so much to her." "Julien's family had little money left." "It was Margherita who paid for his schooling." "He fell madly in love with her... but she always thought ofhim as a brother." "I don't see the duchess' niece here." "Giselle?" "She's not the type to come to funerals." "Besides, she's away on a trip." " I was hoping to meet Giselle." " I'm sureyou were." "You've only had eyes for her since she moved back here." "Unfortunately, she spends little time here at the castle." "Don't worry." "She'll be back soon." "I understand he was a relative... but she's taking the mourning too far." "She always wears those veils." "You can't be serious!" "Surely she doesn't wear them at home." "No one has seen her face in years." "She was a very beautiful woman who never adjusted to growing old." "Her love for my father was partly to blame." "It wasn't like that." "My father hated her." "He wanted nothing to do with her." "I'll bet!" "She must have been much older than him." "She was a heartless woman who destroyed my mother's life." "Turn it on." " What areyou trying to do?" " Be quiet." "It's an experiment." "I want to isolate his organs... and extend their life... while they're still intact." "I'll use this device... to artificially oxygenate the blood... with no need to rely on the body itself... which now lies dead and inert." "Someday..." "I'll discover the very energy that creates life... and make it flow forever through my subjects." "That will be my moment oftriumph... because it will mean that all mywork... was not in vain." " Who's there?" " It's me." "The moment has come." "Get everything ready for tonight." "I'm not readyyet." "It could be dangerous to proceed now." "I'm not afraid, and Giselle has to be here tomorrow." "At least let me try my experiment." "I cannot wait!" "Fine!" "Turn it off." "Andre." "Have them bring the car around right away." "I wish to go out." "Yes, Duchess." "Please,just a moment." "I'm sorry to disturbyou." "Would you do me a great favor?" "Of course." "I need to deliver this letter." "It's urgent." "My condition prohibits me from moving very quickly." "Ifyou would be so kind... it's for a good cause, believe me." " Lorette, hurry up!" " What areyou doing?" "Just a minute." "I'll be right there." " Shall we wait for her?" " Might as well." "It's next to the Church ofthe Sacred Heart." "The name is on the box." "God will reward you." "You're very kind." " Did he kiss you?" " What?" "Pierre would never try to get personal with me." " Which upsets you, doesn't it?" " You two are unbearable." " Bye." " You're not coming with us?" " I've got an errand to run." " For Pierre?" "That's enough." "Bye." "Excuse me." "Does Mrs. Chabert live here?" "Second floor." "May I help you?" "A blind man in the street asked me to deliver this letter to Mrs. Chabert." " He said it was urgent." " Come in, please." "Madam is always afraid ofthieves." "What can you do?" "Follow me." "I'll let Madam knowyou're here." "Ifthere's one thing I can't stand... it's Lorette being late for a meal." "It's never happened before." "She's always on time." " I'm really starting to get worried." " Don't overreact." "I'm just sorry she's made this gentleman wait." " You'll have to excuse her." " No need for that." " She didn't know I'd be stopping by." " We could call the school." "I already did." "She left almost two hours ago." "We should call the police, the hospitals." "She could have been run over." "Maybe she's hurt and can't talk." "Don't be so dramatic, dear." "She's just late, that's all." "If only I could do something or had a clue where to look for her." "But I've looked everywhere." "Somebody must have seen her!" "Listen, you should go home now." "There's nothing more you can do here." "You haven't found any sign ofher?" "She's all I have." "The thought she could have disappeared is driving me out of my mind." "With all that's been going on recently..." "I hate to even think it, but what ifshe's been" "Every policeman on the force is looking for her." "Calm down." "Go toyourwife." "I'm sure she needs you now." "Lorette may show up when you least expect it." "Inspector." "Mr. Lantin." "I'd like a word with you." "You were interested in that girl becauseyou thought she knew something." "Isn't that right?" "More or less." "Did you ever thinkyou might have drawn someone's attention to thatyoung lady?" "Forget aboutyour newspaper for once." "Have a little compassion for her parents." "They certainly need it." "I'm afraid those poor people are in for a terrible blow." "Help!" "When I called out to her, I saw him hand her a letter." "Later she left us and said she had to run an errand." "That's all." "Please." "Areyou sure this is the man?" "Positive." "Thankyou." "You may go now." "Show her out." "So, doyou continue to deny it?" "I didn't know what was going to happen." "A guy gave me a thousand francs... just to deliver that letter to that address." " I never imagined, really" " Soyou know where she went?" " Of course." " Where?" "46 Rue de la Fortresse." "Second floor." "We should have known." "The building is empty, slated for demolition." "The apartment was a charade, a trap." "They set it all up perfectly." "Hey, Pierre." " The boss wants to seeyou." " I'll be right there." "Better hurry-- the ogre is furious." "Who knows what you've done now." " Hello, Mr. Bourgeois." " Hello." "Now listen here, Lantin." "You're destroying this newspaper." "You're always talking about scoops and new evidence... but just what haveyou come up with?" " Nothing we don't already know!" " Ifthat's whatyou think" "You're being reassigned beginning immediately." "I will not discuss it further!" "The Duchess du Grand's niece wrote to me." "They're giving a reception at the castle tonight... and she wants you there to cover it for the social column." "Please, send someone else in my place." "I don't generally cover that sort of story... and I've other matters to see to." "You must be joking!" "I'm trailing someone I'm almost sure is the killer." "I'm sorry, but this evening you will be covering... the ball at the du Grand castle." "You're offthe murder case for good." "All right." " You're the boss." " Exactly." "Poor Margherita." "This party must be very difficult for her." "I was sure she wouldn't come." "The last ball she gave was in 1 925." "It was in '29, dear." "No, I'd swear it was in '25." "I remember because it was theyear she suffered that great disappointment... and neverwanted to see anyone again." "To think she so used to enjoy having a good time... just like her niece does now." "Ifyou only knew what a chore it is to come here tonight." "But why?" "I'm delighted to be here." "I'm beginning to suspect you have terrible taste." "Haveyou looked around?" "You always seem to forget about Giselle." "Every time I see her, she looks more beautiful." "I really don't understand how she can live in a place like this." "Stay here ifyou like." "I'm going out on the terrace." "Would you excuse me?" "I'm a little tired." "Why areyou hiding out here?" "I don't like to dance and I'm not dressed appropriately." "I feel out of place among all those people." "Doesn't my presence cheeryou up even a little bit?" "What's wrong?" "Why areyou looking at me that way?" "Yourvoice sounds different today..." "like someone who" " I'm sureyou're not interested." " You don't seem to think much of me." "I thinkyou're a spoiled and selfish woman." " Then why did you come?" " You know verywell." "I belong to the class known as slaves... who have to scrupulously obey the orders they receive." " I'm afraid I'm boring you." " On the contrary." " Your guests are asking foryou." " My guests!" "I hate them!" "A bunch of dried-up mummies is what they are!" "I despise the idea ofbecoming one ofthem." " I couldn't stand it!" " You could do whatyour aunt does." "You don't understand." "You have no idea what a woman goes through." "Especially a woman in love." "Sometimes you act like a silly girl... though I knowyou're not." "Why doyou behave that way?" "It's amazing how much you resembleyour father." "How can you say that?" "You couldn't have ever met him." "My aunt has a picture ofhim that she guards jealously." "She must have loved your fathervery much." "She never stops talking about him... as ifhe were the greatest man ever to walk the earth." "Most people will never know that kind oflove." "Ifl had a love like that... no obstacle could keep me from reaching my dream." "Areyou sure?" "Absolutely." "My aunt has an attack every once in a while." "We try to keep it quiet." "She has a terrible, incurable disease." "That's why she behaves so strangely." "Why did you scream?" "It's no use, you know." "No one can hearyou." "I want to leave this place." "I want to go home!" "Stopyelling, silly girl!" "I don't want to hurtyou... butyou mustn't push me." "Your life is hanging by a thread." "Don't break it." "You understand?" "The Count and Countess de la Roche wish to say their farewells." "Tell them I'm engaged at the moment." "I will join them as soon as I can." "Nowyou know everything about me." "Won'tyou tell me something aboutyourself?" "I'm sorry, but I must be going." "I must get back to the paper." "Thankyou for inviting me." "Good night." "Pierre, wait for me!" "Why areyou leaving?" "What happened?" "I don't want to lead Giselle on." "It wouldn't be honest." "That's true." "Soyou won't mind ifl tryto console her?" "Go ahead." "I don't knowwhy, but I can't stand her or this castle." "I don't feel the same way." "I can't help it" " I really like her." "Did you call the paper?" "No, I had no reason to." " Wereyou expecting some news?" " No." "I can't stop thinking about Lorette." "You see, Donald..." "I feel guilty in a way." "I understand." "Anyway, I'm staying, so I'll seeyou tomorrow at the office." "Don't be afraid." "You must get some rest now." " It will be better foryou and for us." " I won't!" "Stop making such a racket!" "That's enough!" "It's foryour own good, after all." "I'm beautiful." "You!" "What areyou doing here?" "What doyou want?" "Just to admireyou in silence-- nothing more." " You're out ofyour mind!" " And it's all because ofyou." "Since the moment I sawyou, I wanted to meetyou... and since I metyou, I do nothing but dream ofyou." "And you think that's reason enough for this impudence?" "It's all I have, and it is enough for me." "Why?" "Ifl had knocked at the door... would that make it all right?" " Areyou kidding?" " I'm not surewhy I feel theway I do." "But is it so hard foryou to believe any man could fall in love with you?" "You are so beautiful." "Leave at once or I'll call for help!" "Just a minute." "You think I don't know your secret?" "It's the same secret that has consumed your aunt's life." "What doyou mean?" "A disease passed on from one generation to the next." "Being in love with a Lantin." "Your aunt was in love with Pierre's father." "You are in love with Pierre." "That's enough." "Nowyou're insulting me!" "Giselle, forget about Pierre." "It's no use." "Leave at once unless you want my servants to throwyou out." "It would not be pleasant, I assureyou." "Let go of me!" "Let go of me, I said!" "Go away oryou'll be sorry!" "Get out of my room immediately!" "I neverwant to seeyou again." "You understand?" "Stop looking at me like that!" "Stop looking at me!" "I know I'm old and ugly." "This is the real me!" "I am Duchess Margherita du Grand!" "I becameyoung again at the cost ofhuman life... just for that man's love!" "I couldn't let him get away like I let his father get away!" "So I deceived everyone and became Giselle... and I'll go on being Giselle becauseyou won't say a word!" " What areyou doing?" " You should never have come here!" "Go see what's happened." "I hateyou!" "Hurry!" "Take him away." "Did you hear me?" "Take him away and get rid ofthe body!" "No, you mustn't ask me to do this!" "I can't work miracles." "You have to find a way,Julien." "You promised me." "You told meyou had discovered the fountain ofyouth." "Nowyou suddenly say you can't help me!" "It's too late to back out now." "Death doesn't frighten me... ifthe alternative is to go on living like this!" "Don't say that." "I've done everything I can." "You have to try again." "Be reasonable." "You've seen foryourself." "The effects are of shorter duration every time." "Even a strong emotion can shatter their power." "I have experiments underway to overcome this obstacle... but the results aren'tyet reliable." "You might harm yourself ifyou tried it now." "Ifyou were in a calmer state it might work... but in your current condition, the risk is too great." "I tell you I don't care." "I can't let myyouth slip away." "I can't let my beauty fade." "We have to try it." "This is insanity!" "You would never survive it!" "Come on!" "What areyou waiting for?" "As you wish... but I warned you." "Professor, she's dead." "No, she's just fallen into a deep sleep." "It seems we're destined to run across each otherwhen we least expect it." "There must be secret ties binding us... or maybe it's just my desire that leads me toyou." "I don't put much store in destiny, at least in certain cases." "Ifthis is presumptuous of me, too bad." " I orderyou to come with me." " Verywell." "I've come to pick up the picture you mentioned in your letter to my aunt." "Please, come this way." "Bring that over here." "Here we are." "It's a marvelous painting." "To be honest..." "I hate to part with it." "It is beautiful, but areyou sure it's authentic?" "Doyou think I would offer something to the Duchess du Grand... ifl wasn't absolutely certain ofits authenticity?" "Actually, I'm the one buying it." "To me, you and the duchess are one and the same." "Really?" "I wouldn't have thought you were such a perceptive man." "Fine." "How much is it?" "850,000 francs." "Isn't that a bit high?" "For a painting by Francesco Guardi?" "Verywell." "Have them put it in my car." "I didn't know you were left-handed." "It's true." "I'm a little scatterbrained this morning." "It seems I have to write with my left." "What's wrong with me today?" " I'm afraid I have another engagement." " Don't mention it." "I should go too." "Good-bye, Pierre." "My regards, Miss." "Had you ever noticed she was left-handed before?" "Now that you mention it..." "I'd never noticed." " May I use your phone?" " By all means." "Hotel Angleterre?" "I'd like to speak to Mr. Ronald Fontaine." "I'm sorry, but Mr. Fontaine did not return last night... nor this morning." "Listen, Lantin, you've pulled my leg once too often... with your hot leads and your pictures ofvampires... and we both know where they've led." "How can I take you seriously?" "I tell you, Ronald has been missing since last night." "I don't like that castle either." "The du Grand family is very strange." "But that's not sufficient grounds for a search." "I can't forceyou to see things through my eyes... but I'm absolutely certain the key to this mystery lies in that castle." "Doyou have any kind of proof at all?" "Not the kind you want, but I'll get it." "I'll go to the castle myself." " Julien, maybeyou were right." " What?" "I feel ill." "I'm afraid myheart might give out." "Margherita, don't worry." "I'll be right there." "Who's there?" "Stop!" "Please get me out of here!" "Take me away from this place!" "You see?" "He's the man I was following." "I found him fleeing from the castle." "At least tell us your name." "Come on, what's your name?" "My name is..." "Joseph Segnoret." "They made me help them... and then they killed me." "What?" "You're crazy!" " You expect me to believe that?" " Let him finish." "That's enough." "Nowyou've gone too far." "Ifyou think these pranks are funny, you've very mistaken." "Now... you claim they forced you to help them." "Who did?" "I didn't want to kidnap them." "They made me do it." "They're the real murderers." "The scoundrels should pay for it." "Quick, call a doctor!" "The police!" "Turn out the lights." "I said turn out the lights!" "Joseph has escaped." "How did this happen?" "Who betrayed us?" " May I helpyou?" " Police." " We want to speak to the duchess." " That's impossible." "She is gone." " Ask her niece to come down." " Good evening." "It must be a very urgent matter... that would lead you to disturb me at this unheard-ofhour." "Even policemen know what good manners are." "Circumstances have obliged me to impose upon you." "I've been informed that some shall we say "unusual" things... have been taking place in this castle." "Did Mr. Lantin bring you here?" "Yes, it's the first time I set foot willingly in this castle... and foryour sake and mine, I hope it's the last." "I can't imaginewhat this gentlemen could have told you... to convinceyou to come here." "I only know my lifestyle arouses much criticism." "People invent the most absurd lies... and your friend here has been especially active in that regard... ever since I rejected his clumsy advances." "How dareyou!" "I actually came here to seeyour aunt... and am most disappointed not to find her in." "Therefore I askyou... to hear me out and answer my questions." "You needn't be afraid." "Don't run away." "Come with me." "I'll getyou out ofhere." "Don't touch me!" "I do not know anyJoseph Segnoret." "As for the photographer Mr. Lantin refers to... he left last night with all the other guests." "One more question:" "Is Mr. Robert's daughter here in the castle?" "I can only say this is the first time I've heard that name." " But that's" " Mr. Lantin!" "I askyou to understand my situation, Miss... and allow me to search the castle." "Ifthat will serve to rid me ofthis gentleman once and for all..." "I will gladly giveyou permission." "Look around all you like." "With Mr. Lantin as your guide..." "I'm sureyou'll make some exciting discoveries." "You go that way." "Come with us." "Not a thing." "This can't be!" "That man told us" "Let's go." "There should be a chapel around here." "There it is." "Well?" "I'm sorry." "I hopeyou'll forgive me." "Surelyyou're not giving up the search!" "Upset byyet another failure?" "Just a moment." "Who's there?" "It's us, Inspector." "An underground passage connects the du Grand family chapel to the castle." ""I shall conquer hell."" "A strange family motto." "My ancestors adopted it during the Crusades." "As for the passageway, we've known about it for centuries." "It was a custom of nobility to have direct access to the family chapel." "As far as I know, there's nothing illegal about it." "Nobody said there was." " Gather the men." "We're leaving." " You're making a mistake." "I'm certain this woman is lying." "Go on with your questions." "I'm sorry to have bothered you." "Good night." "The man I found here admitted to kidnapping the girls." " Whywon'tyou believe him?" " You've caused enough trouble, Lantin!" "Inspector, look!" "Why areyou looking at me like that?" "What's wrong with you?" "You've no right to insult me." "You'll be sorry, I tell you." "Leave!" "Leave at once!" "Quick, seal off all exits from the castle!" "Search the place from top to bottom." "No one is to escape!" "This is the onlyway out." " I hear steps." "They're coming." " It won't open." "There's a passageway here we didn't see before." "Stop!" "Professor du Grand." "He was supposed to be dead and buried." "Quick, to the chapel!" "Open the tomb." "It's a real miracle." "She's extremelyweak but otherwise fine." "Don't worry." "She needs medical attention, but she'll be all right." "Is thatyou, Pierre?" "How doyou feel?" "I don't know." "Now thatyou're here..." "I understand it's finally over." "From now on it will be nothing... but a terrible dream." "That's right, Lorette." "Try to rest now." "I'll be close by." "I thought ofyou so often over the last few days." "I want to get out ofthis place." "I'm afraid." "Don't be afraid." "You're not alone anymore." " My mother." " I've already sent word." "You'll see her soon." "What about the duchess?" "She died ten minutes ago." "She confessed to it all." "I oweyou an apology for my behavior this evening." "I knewyou were right as soon as we entered the castle." "On the other hand, I was taking quite a risk... coming here without a search warrant." "One false move could have been disastrous." "I was hoping desperately that something would happen... that would authorize me to take the next step." "The duchess was a very cunning woman." "She deceived us all with her double identity." "Ronald Fontaine discovered her secret." "That's why he didn't leave here alive." "That may have been the duchess's only mistake." "Who was the man I found here?" "Nothing but a pawn." "They tried to get rid ofhim... but he was dead in appearance only." "The experiments they carried out on him... suddenly reawakened the vital force in him." "With his help we were finally able... to bring this terrible chapter to a close." "My deepest thanks, Inspector." "I'm not the one you should be thanking." " Thank him." " Words fail me." "Sometimes the heart knows better than the head." "How about a cup of coffee?" "I know a good place."