"Sorry?" "What are you sorry about?" "You didn't make the world, and neither did I." "And if we had, I'm not sure we'd have made it any different." "Correction." "Drop that whole speech and substitute... erm substitute..." "Sorry!" "What is there to be sorry about?" "We didn't make the world." "And if we had, what a mess we would have made, being what we are!" "'Sorry!" "What is there to be sorry about?" "We didn't make the world." "'And if we had, what a mess we would have made, being what we are!" "'" "Bob, I've redone the Act II speech." "Type it and send it to the theatre." "Pearce'll have to learn new lines." "He never learned the old lines!" "On opening night I thought he was in some other play." "I wished I was!" "Your play is already a smash hit in New York." "Why not leave it alone?" "What do you suggest I do?" "Walk round the National Gallery or sit here and rot?" "Or rot in New York?" "Get it over to the theatre." "Good afternoon." "Is this Mr Hannen's apartment?" "Yes." "I wonder if might see him." "Would you say Jean Lennox is here?" "Is he expecting you?" "No." "Are you a friend of Mr Hannen?" "I think of myself as one." "Won't you wait inside?" "Excuse me a moment." "Ask Miss Lennox to come in." "Come in, please, Miss Lennox." "Hello, Phil." "Hello, Jean." "What are you doing in London?" "Just a vacation." "I wanted to drop in and say hello and congratulate you on getting such wonderful notices." "You came 3, 000 miles for that?" "No, of course not." "Phil, why didn't you let me know when you were leaving New York?" "You know the answer!" "Johnny and Pat are in London." "Have you called them?" "I've called no one." "I've been busy." "I don't see why you act this way." "Jean, when a thing is finished, I like to forget it." "Let's talk about something else." "Do you like the apartment?" "It's lovely." "Come and look at the beautiful view." "Houses of Parliament and Big Ben." "You can see they're repairing it." "And Charing Cross station." "Over there is Waterloo Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral." "We even have some ruins that date back to 1941." "Don't be so bitter." "It doesn't help." "Bitter?" "Me?" "I'm a successful playwright who'sjust had a hit!" "Why should I be bitter?" "I'm OK if people leave me alone." "I wish people wouldn't rearrange things!" "I have to go out now, Jean." "Were you going someplace?" "No." "Just back to the apartment." "You have an apartment?" "I must see your view some time." "Bob, I'm going out." "Shall I come?" "No, it's just to the pub." "The Eagle?" "Sure you don't want me?" "Quite sure!" "Call a cab for Miss Lennox." "When you've finished typing, meet me at The Eagle with the car." "Goodbye, Jean." "Goodbye, Phil." "Nice of you to look me up." "Do you want a cab, Miss Lennox?" "Oh, no, thank you." "I can manage." "You mustn't do that, you know." " What?" "Fuss over him." "He'll go crazy if you do." "I don't like him out alone." "I know, but he must if he thinks he can." "Where is this bar?" "It's two streets down, across the road." "Across the road?" "Yes." "You can see it from here." "Allow me." "Thank you." "Have you worked for him long?" "Since he came here last time." "Nearly two months." "Is he drinking?" "Well, not exactly drinking, but not exactly not!" "Have you known him a long time, Miss Lennox?" "I was his secretary for three years in New York and here and wherever he wanted to go." "We were engaged to be married." "And then it happened." "He didn't like having me around." "So I was fired." "I'm sorry." "What's it to be this evening?" "Scotch, please, double." "Soda or water?" "Neither." "Straight." "You're American, aren't you?" "Then you'll want ice?" "No." "I've learned to like it your way." "Here we are, then." "Thanks." "What makes you so tired, dear?" "It's a long story, one I'm sure you've heard many times." "Not from a young fellow like you." "Will that do?" "That'll do fine." "Thank you." "I want nothing to do with it, Mr Evans." "I don't like it." "You'll like the money." "It'll be more than the last job." "How do I know what you will do with it?" "You just do what I say, take the money and forget it." "It's dirty when people trust you." "Oh?" "Shall I say a prayer?" "You promised that the job with His Lordship would be the last." "This is a much bigger job and Mary arrives on the tenth." "You go down and take it over." "Then we take it and give you the money." "What is simpler than that?" "You don't understand." "I might get to like it." "No, Mr Evans." "I won't do it." "I won't!" "Oh in less than five minutes." "So think that over!" "You wouldn't do that." "You wouldn't!" "As long as you do as you're told." "Now, come on, control yourself." "There isn't anything to cry about." "All right." "There's no decency left anyway." "When do I start?" "Night of the ninth, same address." "I'll take you down." "Then you start the job on the tenth." "All right." "Can I go now?" "What's the hurry?" "Have a drink." "No." "Her Ladyship's off to a concert and someone must see to them." "I'll walk out with you." "Which way?" "Just to the corner. 73 takes me right to the door but it gets full." "Miss?" "Would you come here, please?" "Yes, dear?" "Those two people - do you know them?" "A man and a girl?" "No, never saw them before." "What were they like?" "Just a man and a girl." "Were they tall, short, young or old?" "He was taller than she was." "Not very tall, not very old." "Sort of medium people." "Were they sixteen or sixty?" "I didn't look at them particularly." "But I think they were thirtyish." "Maybe her a bit younger." "Anything the matter, Mr Hannen?" "Bob, did you see a man and a woman?" "No, I saw no one." "Miss, didn't you notice anything about them?" "She had a cape and he a raincoat." "Anyhow, they came right by you, nearer than to me." "You saw them." "No, I didn't see them." "I don't see things nowadays." "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't realise." "That's all right." "You weren't meant to." "Both of medium height." "Age - probably 25 to 35." "Woman thought to be wearing a cape, man a raincoat." "The woman used a perfume." "The man wheezed as though he had bronchial trouble." "His voice was strange." "The police are coming." "Okay." "Let me finish this." "The conversation went as follows:" ""I want nothing to do with it, Mr Evans." "I don't like it."" ""You'll like the money." "It'll be more than the last job."" ""How do I know what you will do...?"" ""...do I start?"" ""The night of the ninth, same place." "Then you start the job on the tenth."" ""All right." "Can I go now?"" ""What's the hurry?" "Have a drink."" ""No." "Her Ladyship is off to a concert and someone must see to them."" ""I'll walk out with you." "Which way?"" ""Just to the corner. 73 takes me right to the door but it gets full."" ""That's all." "I heard no more." "Then they came out."" "Well?" "Is that verbatim, Mr Hannen?" "Word for word?" "Yes." "You have a remarkable memory." "My business is to remember dialogue." "Was that all there was?" "Isn't that enough?" "Something evil is going on." "Maybe." " What do you mean, maybe?" "Tell us what you make of it, sir." "I figure it this way." "This woman works with children, probably a nursemaid." "She had to go as somebody is going out." "She had to take care of the kids." "She's employed by a lord and a lady." "Mr Evans is trying to force her to do something wrong." "She doesn't want to do it, but she's afraid of Evans." "Scared to death of him, as he has a hold over her." "On the tenth she meets this girl, Mary to get something to give to Evans." "This Mary may be a nursemaid too, and they plan to kidnap a child." "Kidnappings occur in America, but they're rare here." "Maybe it's a robbery." "But something is very wrong." "Mr Hannen, you're a dramatist and a very skilful one." "Your recording is very dramatic and convincing." "Mr Hannen is not likely to ham it!" "I've recorded it how they said it." "But the words could have a different meaning." "Such as?" "Suppose this girl is employed as you said, by a titled family and this man is trying to entice her to a better job and more money." ""More money than in last job."" "But "hand over to us later"?" "Well..." " Maybe the girl, Mary, is leaving and they want someone temporarily." "And "It's dirty to let them down"?" "She dislikes being enticed away from her present job for money?" "Oh, an old-fashioned servant!" "Why did Evans threaten her?" "Did he threaten her?" "Maybe, when I couldn't hear." "Inspector, it seems to me, you not only think I'm blind but crazy." "It's my business to know what people mean when they speak." "And no one is that scared over changing a job." "You may be right." "Thank you for contacting us so promptly." "Somebody must act promptly - it's set for the tenth, one week away." "What are you going to do?" "We haven't many clues but we shall make enquiries." "If, meanwhile, you recall any more?" "All I know is on that tape." "Play it any time." "Thank you, Mr Hannen." "We may do so." "Good evening." "They can't wait to get started, can they?" "Where are we now?" "Passing under Waterloo Bridge." "Festival Hall, on the left." "I never saw that." "What's it like?" "Modern." "What's that noise?" "Helicopter coming in to Waterloo air terminal." "They won't do anything." "The police think I'm making something out of nothing." "Well... "No clues," they say." ""Possibly innocent conversation."" "But unless I'm crazy, that girl was terrified." "Maybe I am going crazy." "Well, how does it look?" "Is it beautiful?" "Yes, yes, very beautiful." "The view, the buildings." "You make it all so vivid I can almost see it!" "5:30." "The sun must be just going down ahead of us." "Any barges coming down?" "Yes." "Two lots." "I know." "The river is gold with the sun, barges black against the gold." "A slight wind makes the water dance against the side of the boat." "Wait a minute!" "What's up?" "That perfume." "That's it!" "Jean?" "Yes, Phil?" "I need to ask you:" "Do you remember 3 years ago, we were in a rowboat?" "Yes, it was on Lake Cayuga." "I was rowing." "It was hot." "You wiped my forehead with a handkerchief." "There was perfume on the handkerchief - a perfume you used." "It was Plaisir D'Amour." "Do you still use it?" "No." "I haven't used it for almost two years." "It's too expensive." "It is expensive?" "About the most expensive there is." "Why?" "That woman yesterday was using it." "I smelled it." "What kind of nursemaid uses the most expensive perfume there is?" "She might have been given it by the master." "That still happens." "Or she stole it from her mistress." "No." "A servant could safely steal money or clothes." "But perfume is detectable every time she comes into a room." "True, very true." "A frightened nursemaid and expensive perfume." "What does that mean?" "Is the answer on that tape?" ""I want nothing to do with it, Mr Evans." "I don't like it."" ""You'll like the money." "It'll be more than the last job."" "Miss Lennox, the conversation might have meant anything between people who might have been anybody." "Where can I go from that?" "It's Mr Hannen I'm thinking of, Inspector." "This is the first real thing that's awakened him for a long time." "The question is, how real is this?" "It's very important to Mr Hannen." "I understand your concern, and I sympathise but you need a psychiatrist, not a police officer." "Well, yes, you're right, Inspector, and I am taking up your time." "But I thought if you could call him and say..." "Say what?" "That you are interested, and are working on it." "If anything comes of this I'll gladly telephone Mr Hannen at once." "Thank you." ""Take the money and forget it." "It's dirty, and people are trusting you."" ""Shall I say a prayer?"" ""You promised that the job with His Lordship would be the last."" "Jean?" "Well, did they see you?" "Yes." "Are they working on it?" "Like demons!" "They're interviewing the barmaid and seeking Evans and they're watching The Eagle in case those two should return and..." "Bravo!" "An excellent performance, but you know they're not doing a thing." "They've just filed it under "C" for crackpot." "Bob, is 73 a bus or a tram?" "Bus." "Where does it go?" "It's a long route along Oxford St and Park Lane and Knightsbridge." "She was getting back to her job?" "So she said." "Her job with somebody titled?" "A peer, because of "His Lordship"." ""Her Ladyship" went to a concert." "How many lords are there?" "Including the Irish?" " I don't care." "I don't know." "How many can live on one particular bus route and have children?" "And wives at a concert!" "There's a book for lords." "Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of the United Kingdom." "Oh, here's one - Baron Yalding of Hayle, H-A-Y-L-E." "Two sons, one daughter." "Heir, born 1949." "Address - 46 Link Court, Knightsbridge." "Telephone, Avenue 7473." "I think that's all the possibles." "There's a Baron Zwemmer but I doubt if he's got any young children." "How old is he?" "78, and never been married." "Still..." "Forget him." "How many?" "Twenty." "What we want is one whose wife went to a concert." "Let's call them." "Not now." "It's two o'clock in the morning." "And I'm exhausted." "I'm sorry." "I wasn't thinking." "Bob, call Miss Lennox a taxi." "Phil, may I come back tomorrow?" "I really am interested." "Sure." "Bob and I will start phoning in the morning." "Good night." "Good night, Jean." "Thanks for your help." "That's all right." "No, I'm afraid Your Ladyship is misunderstanding me." "I am not giving a concert." "I understand you went to a concert on Tuesday." "Oh, I see." "I must have been misinformed." "I'm sorry I bothered you, Your Ladyship." "No go." "She never goes to concerts." "She doesn't sound a bit musical." "Sobey." "Can I speak to Lady Sobey, please?" "I'm speaking for..." "Oh...?" "Really?" "I didn't know th..." "I see." "I'm sorry to have troubled you." "Deceased." "Before or after the concert?" "Two months ago." "How many's that?" "Seventeen." "Next, Lady Syrett." "You stay with the 'phone, I'll get the door." "Mayfair one... two... oh... oh..." "We're making the calls now." " Good." "Lady Syrett, please." "I'm speaking for Mr Phillip Hannen." "Hello?" "Lady Syrett?" "Good afternoon, Your Ladyship." "I called you on Tuesday evening but I believe you were at a concert." "You were?" "I see!" "I'm speaking for Mr Phillip Hannen, the playwright." "Mr Hannen wonders if he could see you sometime." "He wants help on a small matter." "Some more tea?" "Or more cake?" "I can't tell you how exciting it is, having a playwright to tea." "I've tried desperately to get tickets to your play." "I'll be happy to leave my tickets for you at the box office." "That is kind." "I do appreciate it." "Lady Syrett, you must think our visit very odd." "No." "If one couldn't look forward to odd things no one would want to get up in the mornings." "I suppose not." "But..." "Just one thing!" "Could you make it four tickets for this Saturday?" "Of course." "Make a note of that, Bob." "We're dining with friends of my husband who are a frightfully dreary couple." "Bird-watchers, you know." "I don't mind them watching, but they talk about it endlessly." "It would be a marvellous way to get through the evening." "Oh, now, where were we?" "I want to ask you something." "A small matter." "I heard that your children's nurse" " I've forgotten her name..." "Janet Murch." "...Janet Murch, might be leaving and she's a good nurse." "She is perfectly marvellous." "That's why I'm so annoyed." "Pardon me?" "You lost me there!" "Simply, it's not my children, it's my grandchildren." "Miss Murch leaving has us at our wits' end." "Had she a reason for leaving?" "Yes, indeed." "She simply took another position starting on the tenth." "I got no satisfaction from complaining to the agency." "Which agency?" "The Unity Domestic Bureau." "Thank you, we've taken enough of your time." "I've enjoyed it." "Would you mind if I asked you an odd question?" "Of course not!" "Do you ever use a perfume called Plaisir D'Amour?" "No, Mr Hannen." "Ought I to?" "No, not while you're using that charming Bal des Fleurs you have on." "Thank you again, Lady Syrett." "Goodbye." "Did you get that address?" "The Unity Domestic Bureau." "Janet Murch..." "I recall the name." "I'm sure we've placed her sometime." "Let me see." "Here." "She's with Lady Syrett, in Brook St." "She left." "That's why I thought I might hire her." "Left?" "Well!" "She's only been there a few months." "I'm anxious to get her." "Could I have her home address?" "Let me see, Janet Murch's home address." "Sorry, madam!" "We can't do that." "It wouldn't be very good business." "You could contact her yourself and we'd lose our commission." "I'll deal with this." "Would you come in?" "Sorry, Mr Pillings." "I didn't think." "No, of course you didn't." "Have a chair." "You're looking for a nursemaid?" "We have some very good girls." "I wanted Janet Murch." "She's been well recommended by Lady Syrett." "Oh, we have several others just as good, if not better." "Here's a very excellent Scotch lass named MacDonald." "Recommended, too." "I'll think it over and let you know." "I'd better have your address, if Janet Murch comes in, or we can find somebody else, Mrs...?" "Mrs Jean Lennox." "Jean Lennox... 603 Regent Court, Portman Sq, W1." "Portman Square, W1." "Telephone?" "Arcade 6549." "Arcade 6549." "Mrs Jean Lennox." "Thank you." "Good day, madam." "Thank you." "I'm sorry, Mr Pillings." "I didn't know, really." "No one told me." "Well, go on, go on." "He was very tall, almost 6 feet, so I doubt if he could be Evans." "What was his voice like?" "Smooth and oily." "Very positive." "Did he wheeze when he breathed?" "If he did, I didn't hear it." "It's a blind alley." "The agency seemed genuine." "Even if Janet Murch is your girl, the agency needn't be involved." "No." "Maybe not." "Sorry, madam." "603, please." "603." "That's Mr Hannen." "Hannen?" "The name I have here is Lennox." "Well, 603 is Mr Hannen, ma'am." "Right there, ma'am." "Thank you." "Does Mrs Lennox live here?" "I'm from the Domestic Bureau, about the position." "Your name, please?" "Alice MacDonald." "I'll see if Miss..." "Mrs Lennox is in." "Come in." "Excuse me one moment." "She's the girl he wanted me to take." "How did she get here?" "I gave this address." "I thought if they found Murch...!" "Bob, take her to the living room." "Jean, keep her talking as I listen." "Say that these arrangements are for my family coming from America." "I'll wait here." "I don't want her to know I can't see." "Good afternoon." "Good afternoon." "Won't you sit down?" "I hope this is right." "The Bureau said Mrs Lennox, but the liftman said Mr Hannen." "I'm Mrs Lennox, and I inquired for Mr Hannen, who lives here." "Mr Hannen's family may come from America and they'll need a nurse." "The Bureau said you wanted someone else but that perhaps I would do." "Someone called Janet Murch was recommended." "Do you know her?" "Murch?" "No, sir, I don't." "The Bureau said to show you my references." "Thank you." "I'll take them." "These are very good." "Here, Phil, look at them." "They're very impressive." "Yes, very." "Thank you, but Mr Hannen's plans aren't definite yet." "We'll contact you." "If you'll leave your address..." "You can reach me through the Bureau." "Good afternoon, madam." " Good afternoon." "Good afternoon." "Follow that girl." "Don't lose her." "See where she lives and get a picture" "What for?" "If she is Murch, the barmaid and Lady Syrett can identify her." "How do I get a photograph?" "With a camera, idiot." "Hurry!" "Well, did you smell it?" "No." "What?" "Did you hear it?" "What?" "People with eyes are too busy looking to notice anything." "That perfume!" "And her accent was pure vaudeville." "Do you think she is Murch?" "Maybe." "The voice is wrong, but people can alter their voices." "Follow that bus." "Hey!" "What about the money?" "No!" "Go on." "May I interest you in a new cleaner, madam?" "It's absolutely marvellous." "May I show you?" "Look!" "It is absolutely wonderful." "Here!" " Thank you." "Where shall I go with this?" " By the haberdashery." "Good day, sir." "£3.10s - is that right?" "Three pounds and ten shillings, sir." "And is it ready for use?" " Immediately, sir." "Shall I wrap it?" "No, I'll take it as it is." "Very good, sir." "Please!" "I'm in a hurry." "Here we are!" "Ham and eggs, country style." "Toast and butter on the left, coffee on the right." "And a pretty girl opposite me." "Well, thank you, sir." "It's just like old times, isn't it, Phil?" "It's old something!" "Marry me and I promise to give up cooking." "That's a very refreshing proposal." "I'll have you know I don't propose to just anybody." "I've only proposed twice in my life, both times to the same man." "I know, Jean." "I wish I could see it your way but I can't." "Eat your dinner." "It'll get cold." "Hello, Bob!" "Hello." "Did you get anything?" "Yes." "Pneumonia!" "You're wet." "I can smell that tweed!" "It's the rain." "It makes you wet if you stand out in it for hours." "Where did she go?" " First she went into Barker's in Kensington." "I don't know what she bought." "I was busy buying the camera." "Her parcel was a long one, about two feet long." "She came out of Barker's." "Rain started." "She took a bus to Hammersmith." "Still raining." "She went into a chemist's, came out again." "Raining." "In a cafe she had tea and one bun." "Or perhaps one tart." "Rain obscured the view." "She went into a store, walked around store." "Walked around store again, came out..." "Excuse me, it's a bit smudged here." "Oh, yes, I see - raining heavily." "Do you want me to go on?" "Where does she live?" "If she has a home, she despises it." "She much prefers to wander around the streets." "You must have left her some place." "There is no "must" about it." "As a matter of fact, she left me." "I followed her to a building." "224 Stoner Street." "She went inside." "I waited outside." "I waited and waited and waited." "After three hours, I was suspicious, so I went inside." "It was an empty warehouse." "No sign of MacDonald." "Did she duck you deliberately?" "There were at least four exits that she could have used." "Well, that certainly was a dead end." "Never mind, Bob." "I think you did very well." "Have a cup of hot coffee." "Oh, thank you." "Anyhow, I got her photograph." "You did?" "Uh-hmm." "Except that I'm not sure that I turned the film on properly." "This isn't Janet Murch." " Anything like her?" "Not at all." "This girl is older and quite different." "Have you ever seen her?" "No, never." "It's not just a bad photograph?" "It's a very good photograph taken in very difficult conditions." "Something fascinating is going on." "I wish you'd tell me what it is." "Frankly, Lady Syrett, I can't explain it even to myself." "If you ever feel you can, please call." "It'll make my dinner table conversation for six months." "I never have anything to say." "Thank you again, Lady Syrett." "She's got to be Murch." "She smelled right." "Two nursemaids using that perfume is no coincidence." "I didn't smell it." "I could cook fish under your nose and you'd never smell it!" "I didn't have a cold at first." "Smells are very tricky, Phil." "You can make yourself believe you can smell anything." "That's perfectly true." "I can smell gas whenever I... give my mind to it." "Are you saying I've made all this up?" "If you think that, stop humouring me!" "You needn't amuse me with a game of "Let's Play Detective"!" "Drive Miss Lennox home, Bob." "Never mind, Bob." "You go on up with him." "I'll get a taxi." ""You go down and take over."" ""Then we give you the money."" "Who's that?" "What about Jean?" "She took a taxi." "She thought you shouldn't be alone." "Now I need a nursemaid!" ""What is simpler than that?"" ""You don't understand." "I might get to like it."" ""You won't have time for that."" ""No, Mr Evans, no." "I won't do it."" "It's no good, Mr Evans." "I'm after you." "If MacDonald isn't Murch, and you're not the guy at the agency..." "Who is Murch?" "Lady Syrett?" "And who are you, Mr Evans?" "# Dicky Dight, show a light Or else the dogs can't follow!" "# Or else the dogs can't follow." "Follow!" "Did you call, Mr Hannen?" " No, I sang." "I want to put an advertisement in all the newspapers." ""If Janet Murch is in need of help or advice will she call Arcade 6549."" "That's our number!" " I know." ""Strictest confidence."" "How on earth could you let him?" "I told you I didn't think!" "Think, what?" "I've just read this ridiculous advertisement!" "When did you start reading classifieds?" "Bob told me what you'd done." "Do you realise what may happen?" "Sure." "I want to find Murch and Evans, particularly Evans." "You're telling whoever they are that you know something." "You're saying where you are!" "This is the last thing I want to say, but you must face it." "You can't be involved in violence!" "Arcade 6549." "Hello?" "Mr Hannen's apartment." "Yes." "A woman." "She says she's Janet Murch." "Make a recording of this, from the extension." "Hello." "This is Phillip Hannen." " "What's the good news?"" "Janet Murch?" ""Yes, Janet Murch." "You want to contact me, I want to contact you."" ""Do I need help?" "I certainly do!"" "Where are you now?" "In the bar." "The best bar in London." "Come and have a drink." "Whoever it was, it wasn't Janet Murch." "Just a drunk who rang up for fun." "It's a man called Phillip Hannen, if that means anything." "There are porters, locks and a chain on the door, and I have Bob." "I'm like Fort Knox." "What about you?" "You're involved." "If the agency's involved, they'll look for you, and you live alone." "Don't you live alone?" "Yes, but..." "I don't want you alone in that apartment." "Bob, reserve a hotel room." "I won't leave my apartment for some dreary room." "A reasonably nice hotel, Bob, maybe even a private bath." "Goodbye, Jean." " Goodbye, Phil." "Who is it?" "It's me, deary." "Elsie Schuyler." "Oh, just a moment." "Janet, I must go out." "Would you care for Pokey for me?" "I'm off to a seance and Mme Pavio's medium doesn't like Pokey." "I was going out to a telephone." "I'll be right back." "Janet, you are a duck." "I'll wait for you." ""Hello, hello?"" "Arcade 6549..." "This is Janet Murch, isn't it?" "I recognised your voice." "Never mind how." "This is Phillip Hannen." "I inserted the advertisement." "I want to talk to you." "Can you come here?" ""No." "I can't leave home."" "Where are you speaking from?" ""From my home." "If you could meet my father, he'd bring you here."" "Can he come over here?" "813 Regent Court, Portman Square." ""No, but anywhere else you say."" "But why not here?" ""Someone might see."" "Do you know a pub called The Eagle?" "I'll meet your father there in a few minutes." ""No, not now." "In an hour would be better."" "All right, I'll be there." "Goodbye." "Sorry, sir." "He doesn't answer." "Can I take a message?" "All right, sir." "Simmons, would you take a message for Mr Mathews?" "I've had a telephone call." "Have him meet me at The Eagle." "So sorry!" "I beg your pardon!" "Where is this, guv?" "On the north side of Portman Square." "Where's Baker Street?" "23 paces behind you." "Take my arm, I'll show you." "My spectacles are misty." "I might as well have my head in a bucket." "It must be a great handicap, having to wear glasses!" "Well, here's a brave man." "Oh, it's you, dear!" "Good evening." "Big Scotch, no ice." "It's wonderful, the way you get about." "Had you not told me, I'd never have known..." "I suppose you get used to it?" "Never!" "Some things you learn to do, but you never get used to it." "Is anybody here?" "Not a soul, dear." "No one's coming out on a night like this." "Would you help me?" " 'Course!" "I expect to meet someone - a middle-aged man." "See if he's the one I asked you about the other day." "Talk to him so I hear his voice." "If he is the same one, cough." "I told you I hardly saw him." "If he's like the other one, cough." "All right." "If you cough, I'll leave." "You say "Good night, Mr Doyle."" "Otherwise, bring me a drink." "If it's the same man I cough, and say "Good night, Mr Doyle." Okay, dear." "Now, tell me exactly where the pinball machine is." "On the right." "No, a little this way." "That's it." "You've been very kind." "I don't want him to know about my eyes." "Don't you?" "All right, ducks, whatever you say." "Half o' mild, please." "Yes, sir." "Here you are, sir." "Thank you, ma'am." "What a night, eh?" "Can't see a hand before yer face." "Remember the bad fog in the War?" "Oh, this is thicker." "Oh, thank you." "I don't think he's the same one." "Talk so I'll know where he is." "Third stool from the door." "I certainly didn't expect customers tonight, and here I am with two." "Sometimes people have to go out even in a fog." "Good evening." "Nasty night, isn't it?" "It makes everybody late." "Are you Mr Hannen?" " Yes, I am." "I'm Mr Murch." "Let's sit at a table." "Oh... er..." "I'll carry your drink." "Here's a nice table." "How's that?" "Okay, dear?" "Oh, Mr Mathews, I've got a...!" "She won't say a word, except that she wants to see you." "Something is not right, sir, hasn't been for a long time." "Has she mentioned a man named Evans?" "Evans?" "She never mentioned that name nor any other." "She's been close." "Well..." "Cheers!" "When did Mr Hannen leave?" "About 20 minutes ago." "It's only a short distance." "May I take your arm?" "I'm not used to fog." "Of course, although the fog is thinning." "There's a sharp left turn here." "He went around to the left there, and he was with another man." "This is it." "Here we are, now." "Watch your step." "Take care." "Let me switch on the light." "Now we can see what we're doing." "Now will you come upstairs?" "It's a long climb." "Careful, now." "It's a long climb." "It's not much of a place, sir, as you see." "Now, I'll leave you together because she won't talk if I'm there." "Come in, sir." "Mr Murch?" "Mr Murch?" "Anybody here?" "Mr Hannen?" "Where are you?" "Up here, Bob, up high." "Stay where you are!" "Don't move!" "Wait till I get to you." "What's the matter?" "Man up there." "Follow me!" "Mr Hannen!" "Mr Hannen!" " Up here!" "Are you all right?" "Yes." "Just get me out of here." "You're all right." "Where am I?" "Where is this?" "It's a bombed building." "The whole front is missing." "One more step and I would have been missing too." "Hello, Joe." "Filthy night, isn't it?" "Did you see Mr Hannen?" "Yes, Mr Pillings." "It's all done." "That's good news, Joe." "It will save everybody a lot of trouble." "Joe says Mr Hannen won't need a nursemaid any more." "Yes." "Goodbye." "He says, "Well done."" "Some tea, Joe?" "Not now, thank you." "If I drink tea at night it keeps me awake." "Thanks, Jean." "I want you to promise me that you'll never do that again!" "It isn't the sort of thing folks do do again." "Jean, the strangest thing happened to me out there on that ledge." "I thought I didn't care about living any more, but I was wrong." "I found out that when faced with death I cared desperately." "Do you know what I'm trying to say, Jean?" "Yes, Phil." "Only don't get yourself killed proving you want to live." "Mr Hannen, Inspector Grovening and Sgt Luce are here." "Are they?" "Show them in." "Hello, Inspector." " I hear you've been having adventures." "Adventures?" "No." "A dramatic mind might think someone tried to kill me." "But I'll bet there's some innocent explanation." "Mr Hannen, you were expecting this man." "Did you know who he was?" "No." "But I knew he wasn't Evans." "He posed as the father of Janet Murch." "You've enquired about her, haven't you, and advertised?" "What was your interest in her?" "She was the girl I heard in the bar." "I spoke to her on the telephone." "You have to find Murch, and you have to find her fast." "Janet Murch may have been associated with criminals - it's not certain." "One thing is certain:" "Whatever she was going to do she won't do now." "Her body was taken out of the river this morning." "She was murdered?" " Yes." "A nasty job with a knife." "And I'm responsible because of that advertisement." "She saw the advertisement but so did Evans." "Evans knew I suspected something, murdered her and tried to murder me." "I killed her as surely as if I'd shot her." "We must find Evans before tomorrow!" "Mr Hannen, as I told you before..." "But it's starting!" "Today is the ninth - it's happening, now!" "You must remember, Mr Hannen, there are nine million people out there." "None of us have ever seen Evans, and only you have even heard him." "This morning he prefers whisky to eggs." "If it helps him get through the day, I approve." "I also, but it affects him no more than milk does a baby." "I'll see what I can do." "Does he know I stayed here last night?" "He knows that today is the tenth." "That's all he knows." ""Mary arrives on the tenth."" "Jean?" "You didn't just come in?" "No, I stayed here last night." "In your spare room." "I hope you were comfortable." "Can I fix you one?" "At ten o'clock in the morning?" "On the tenth hour of the tenth day." "Let's drink to that." "Do you mind that I stayed?" "Bob must go out sometimes." "And you feel I need another keeper." "The facts support that." "It seems I can't be left alone without getting people killed." "But you didn't know." "I didn't know Evans was so desperate." "How could you?" ""You go down and take over." "Then we take it, give you the money"." "Why do you keep playing that?" "You must know it by heart." "I knew it by heart to start with." "But what does it mean?" "It is trying to tell me about Evans and what it is he's going to do." "But I can't hear it and the rest of you can only see." ""You wouldn't do that." "No, just as long as you do as you're told."" ""Pull yourself together:" "There's nothing to cry about."" "All right, Mr Evans, you win." "Jean, are you by the window?" "Yes." "Is it still foggy?" "A little." "It's almost clear now." "Well, what do you see?" "You know, Phil." "You told me the first time I came here." "That's right." "Parliament, Big Ben, Charing Cross Station..." "Station!" "I wonder if Mary would be arriving at a station?" "What train would she be on?" "A suburban train?" "A boat train?" "What's that?" "A boat?" "Why sound it if it isn't foggy?" "They often do." "That's right." "Leaving or arriving." "I remember when I was on the Queen Mary..." ""Mary on the 10th!"" "BOB!" "Find out when the Queen Mary arrives." "I missed something when that pinball machine made the noise." "It could have been "Queen Mary arrives"." "And "You go down there" could be to Southampton. "Mary" is a ship!" "Janet Murch was to meet somebody off that boat." "What time does the Queen Mary dock?" "It docked at six." "The boat train arrived here at ten." "What time is it now?" "It's 10.30." "Get a list of the rich passengers who arrived with children." "And phone that fireball policeman." "Thank you very much." "I'm sorry to have bothered you." "They are not the ones." "Mr and Mrs Richard Avery brought their own nurse with them." "Isn't there one more?" "Yes, Argentinians, Da Mestres." "We haven't been able to contact them." "Anyhow, the daughter is 17." "She'd hardly need a nurse." "Still, we'll try to find them." "But I hope you're wrong, Mr Hannen." "I don't want to be right." "I'm just afraid that I might be." "I don't know if it's nerves or the cold, but I'm freezing." "I'm sorry." "There's a blanket here." "Better?" "They seem to be taking forever!" "Only ten minutes." "They know their business." "They're just active." "They don't know their business." "A 17-year-old wouldn't need a nursemaid." "I'm completely lost." "What happened?" "I think it's Mrs Da Mestre." "Search the Gardens for a 17-year-old girl in a wheelchair and a nurse in uniform." "She's an invalid?" "Her father says she never grew up." "Those poor people!" "Jean?" "Any luck?" "Phil, shouldn't we go home?" "It's getting cold." "No." "I'm not of much use, but I want to stay here, just in case." "I think they've found something." " Take me over!" "There's a fence here." "Get some lights up to cover this area." "Good evening, Inspector." "What did they find?" "An invalid chair, the type that folds so one can lie flat." "Is anything in it?" "A robe, a pillow." "And a gollywog." "What?" " Gollywog - a soft doll with black face." "A soft doll?" "Yes." "It's rather large." "Looks new." "Inspector?" "May I see the doll for a minute?" "I just want to hold it." "There won't be fingerprints on it." "She went to the store, to the toy department and bought something in a package about two feet long." "Inspector!" "If you want to find the person that handled this last..." "MacDonald?" "I don't know." "You followed that perfume there." "It's an empty house." "Of course." "If you kidnapped a child, where would you take it?" "Claridges?" "Inspector, are you willing to take another chance on another long shot?" "If so, we must hurry." "Mr Mathews, take us to that place." "Drive Mr Hannen home, Miss Lennox." "Evans may be at that place." "You won't know him." "Mr Hannen, you've seen more with no eyes than we with two." "But things might get rough, and it's no place for you." "Well, I can't stand here all night." "Where's the car?" "We got them, Mr Hannen, including the child." "She's sleepy from something they gave her, but all right." "The inspector wants to speak to you." "Mr Hannen, I congratulate you." "You were quite right." "Have you got Evans?" "There are two men here." "One of them we know as Teapot Charlie." "He has used many names and I imagine "Evans" is one of them." "The other one answers the barmaid's description of "Mr Murch"." "And MacDonald?" ""A woman is here, but not the one Mathews followed."" "Not MacDonald?" "That's strange." "It shouldn't take long to find her." "I see." "Did you have any trouble?" ""No, they came as meekly as lambs."" "So I wouldn't have been in the way!" "Hello?" "Hello!" "Inspector?" "Hello?" "Hello?" "He's hung up." "I'm afraid he's still sore!" "Oh, there you are." "I thought I'd lost you." "Congratulations..." "Not at all." "You're welcome." "Goodbye." "That appears to be that." "Did they get them?" "Yes." "Grovening and the police arrived in time." "Will wonders never cease?" "While you mope in the dark, I will have a drink." "OK, if you feel like celebrating." "But I think I'll go to bed." "Don't worry, I'll leave." "As soon as I finish this drink I'll be gone." "Here's to Phillip Hannen." "Why congratulate him?" "He only grunted." "Why wish him happiness?" "He didn't want it!" "He'd rather be lonely and tragic." "Why wish him luck?" "All his luck must be bad luck." "So here's to Mr Hannen, for whom something must always go wrong or not be complete enough, so that he can sit and mope about it!" "To Mr Hannen, who's so proud he won't let anybody help him who doesn't want any help even if it's only to cross the street." "Shall I call you a taxi?" "Or is there something else you want to say?" "When Bob comes I'll leave." "Bob's on his way home now." "There's nothing to stay for." "No, I guess there isn't." "Goodbye." "Goodbye, Jean." "Jean?" "Jean?" "Bob?" "Come in, Mr Evans." "We're equal now." "Not afraid of the dark, are you?" "Come in, Mr Evans." "Come in, Mr Evans." "We're equal now." "Not afraid of the dark, are you?" "Come in, Mr Evans." "Come in, Mr Evans." "Today is the tenth." "I've been expecting you." "Not afraid of the dark, are you?" ""Come in, Mr Evans." "We're equal now."" ""Not afraid of the dark, are you?"" ""Come in, Mr Evans." "We're equal now." "Not afraid of the dark, are you?"" ""Come in, Mr Evans."" ""Come in, Mr Evans, not afraid of the dark, are you?" "Come in, Mr Evans."" ""Not afraid of the dark, are you?"" "You must kill me!" "I know too much." ""Come in, Mr Evans." "Not afraid of the dark, are you?"" ""Not afraid of the dark..." "Come in, Mr Evans..." "We're equal..."" "Mr Hannen!" "Wait, Bob!" "Are you hurt?" "Was it Evans?" "It was Evans but I don't know." "It's a woman." " It's MacDonald." "MacDonald and Evans were the same?" "Of course, the perfume and the voice." "I should have thought of it." "But if two people pass you, one a "man" you assume the perfume is the girl." "I thought that till I got hold of her slim wrist." "She's dead?" "Yes." "I'm sorry." "Another cup of coffee?" "No, thanks." "There's one thing I want to know." "When you sent me away last night, did you know Evans would come?" "I didn't know." "I just thought maybe." "The police were after the kidnappers." "I was after Evans." "And Evans was after me, not knowing how much I knew." "Can you imagine that?" "Afraid of me, not of the police - me!" "Yet you sent me away." "I had to, honey." "I had to get Evans." "I couldn't go after him, so he had to come to me." "Yes." "But just the same, you should have..." "What sort of day is it?" "Foggy?" "No." "It's clear now." "Well, take me out and show me." "Can't you lend a guy a helping hand who can't even see?" "Sure!" "What do you see?" "It's just the same as you remember it." "That's right." "Just as I remember it."