" Who's there?" " Passport check." "We're near the frontier." "DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS" " Good morning." " Good morning." " Good morning." " So..." "Chief, you know I work at night and sleep during the day." "Frankly, I find it quite depressing to spend my mornings with you." "I'd also rather meet someone else." " But I accept my lot." " You're paid too, right?" "Couldn't you come alone, just once, for a change?" "We've been living together for two years now, Chief." "I've already told you that." "Ah, yes..." "'In good times and in bad'." "There's this morning's quip - where do you find them?" "By mixing with bad elements, Mister Amount." "Thieves, murderers, pimps..." "Cool it, Michel." "It's not worth it." "Well, let's get to the point, now." "More than 700 million French francs worth of diamonds have been stolen from the safe of a dealer here in Paris." "Your father, Miss, a real specialist in breaking safes, has been murdered on a train by someone who tried to get hold of the diamonds." "My father had left the scene long ago." "You don't have a shred of proof against him." "He left because he was tired." "He needed a vacation." "I warn you, Miss." "You'd better tell me all you know." "Listen, I'll say it again: if by any chance your father has given you those diamonds," " then you're in danger." " He gave me nothing." "The last time I saw my father was long ago." "Maybe... maybe two months before he died." "He was tired." "He needed a vacation." "I'm sure you're on the wrong track, Chief." "No, it is you who's making a mistake." "I only hope that it won't be too late when you realise it." "Listen... if the sermon's over, I guess we'll be off." "Well, you can go, but don't leave Paris without giving me your address." " Goodbye, Chief." " Goodbye." "I'm sorry, I don't act as you do, I like to choose my men." " Nicole, telephone!" " I'm coming." " There you go." " Hello, who's speaking?" "A friend who'd like to have a little chat with you." "I must see you privately, as soon as possible." "Listen, stop breaking my balls." "My performance over here at the Crazy starts in two minutes, and I'm naked!" "In the meantime, you can go to hell!" " Can you tell me what's that girl's name?" " Nicole Rochard." "Do you think she'd join me at my table?" "I doubt it." "After this, she has another show at the Kit Kat." "Why not try and surprise me by knocking, darling?" "You're right, sorry." " Can I?" " Yes." "Come on in, silly!" " I like you when you're all black." " Really?" "Give me that, I'll help you." "You know what happens when you do it." "Exactly." " Nicole, the boss wants to speak with you." " Say I've gone out." "I tell you, they were huge!" " Jean, call me a taxi." " Right away, Nicole!" "Bye, love." "Wait." "Do we have to make out only between shows?" "Listen, darling..." "Someone has to work to keep things going, while you wait to be offered a position as an ambassador." "So in the meantime, it's all up to me." "You're not funny." "Oh, come on, don't put up that face!" " You know I like you just the way you are." " The taxi's here!" "Coming!" "Bye love, see you later at home." " Yeah." " And try not to drink too much!" " Good evening, Miss." " Good evening." "Well, you'll forgive the intrusion..." "I think I'm messing this all up, really, that's for sure." "I mean, I wouldn't know how to go about this, it's awkward." "'Awkward'?" "How so?" "Who are you, by the way?" "Well, I'm the one who sent all these flowers." "I'm truly pleased to meet you." "All right, thank you for the flowers." " Now I have to change, if you don't mind." " Oh, sure!" "I just hope I'll see you again soon." "If you'll let me, of course." "Listen, I do this job for a living, but that's it." "So, I suggest you don't waste any of your time." "Would you mind?" " I liked your show, I'll see you again." " Really?" " If you don't mind." " Thanks." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Yes?" "If you don't want to end up like your father did, tell me where the diamonds are." " But... who is this?" " Where have you hidden them?" "I don't know anything." "I don't know anything!" "If you don't talk, I'll kill you." "You'll see, you'll recover your memory very soon." "Hey, darling..." "You got a light on you, please?" "So rude!" " Hi, Nicole." " Hi." "Since you're so good at throwing knives, why don't you get a job with a circus?" "Well, did you wiggle nicely tonight, eh?" "You got them all high." "And you got excited watching them being so high, right?" "Come on, do it for me!" "I like to see you shake it!" " You've been drinking again." " Yeah!" "On your dough..." "You wiggle your ass around to bring in the money, and I drink it all to your health!" " To the health of your ass!" " Stop it, stop drinking!" " Oh, please Michel!" " "Oh, please Michel." ""That's enough, Michel." ""I implore you, Michel..." "Oh!"" "You're a beautiful woman, Nicole." "But I can manage without you, your money and your ass!" "I'm fed up being scorned by all those people!" "They say, "Look, it's Nicole's pimp!"" "I'm tired of waiting for you at home all night!" "I can manage very well without you." "I'm fed up to the back teeth, am I clear?" "Damn!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "With this razor, you won't feel the pain right away, but it will leave your body covered with horrible scars." "What have I done to you?" "What do you want from me?" "Tell me where the diamonds are, and I'll leave." "I don't know!" "I don't know if my father had them!" " I don't know!" " So much the worse for you." "Think it over well, Nicole." "The next time," "I'll use the sharp edge of the blade." "Wait here." "Have you seen Michel?" "Yes, a couple of hours ago." "I'm sorry." "Ah, Miss Nicole!" "I have no intention of wasting your time, but it's going to be a perfect day, tomorrow." "I mean, today." "We could take a plane and..." " Sorry, I have to go." " No, wait, I'm a little drunk," " but I won't be later, I assure you." " Let me go!" "My name's Robert Matthews, I'm at the Hotel Ambassador." "If we had breakfast you might improve your opinion of me..." " Oh, my good friend..." " Yes?" " Call me a taxi for the Ambassador." " Right away, sir." "You're a genius." " Michel..." "Michel!" " What is it, Nicole?" "What's going on?" "Oh, Michel!" "After you went away, a masked man came in." "He had a razor, he wanted to slash me!" " Oh, and what was the film's title?" " I'm serious!" " Once I dreamt I was being hanged." " It was no dream!" "He threatened me." "He thinks I know where the diamonds are." " He says he'll kill me if I don't talk." " Well, then tell him." "But you know that I haven't got those diamonds!" "Even if you did know, you wouldn't tell me for sure." "No." "You know I don't have them, otherwise I'd tell you." "I'm sorry about before." "I drank too much." "And I'm tired of never finding the job I want." "And I'm fed up that everybody thinks I'm a pimp!" "It's a fixation, I guess." "But I do love you." "Reservations, please." "This is the Hotel Ambassador." " Excuse me." " I'll be with you in a moment." "Yes, I need two tickets for Brussels from Paris, for Friday." "For Mrs and Mr Wright..." "Yes, Evelyn and Jack Wright." "Good morning, Miss Nicole." " What brings you here?" " Good morning." "Don't tell me this is a coincidence, I wouldn't believe it." " It's not." " Even better." "Shall we have breakfast together?" " Where?" " Well, wherever you like." "The only trouble is this wire, prompting me to go back to London right away." "But the flight leaves at half past three, so we've got all the time in the world." "Choose the restaurant, and make it one you really like." "Now listen, Matthews." "I know you like me, so take me with you, or we'll never meet again." "Nicole, what's this all about?" "I only want to leave Paris no matter what." "So what do you think?" "They're beautiful." "These are the ones you liked, aren't they?" "I was expecting you to ask me questions." " You take cream?" " Thank you." "You're the least curious person I've ever met." "You know, I used to be very curious," "I wanted to know absolutely everything about everyone." "But then, I discovered that every question begged a reply and every reply belied a disappointment, and so..." "So I decided to stop asking so many questions." "That's it." "You don't strike me as someone who'd take home a stripper." "I'm just a good doctor who got married in accordance with the usual bourgeois conventions, someone who, after years of a stupid, monotonous marriage," "has managed to find the first woman he ever really liked." "Who, as it turns out, happens to be a striptease artist!" "But Robert, I don't understand why you don't divorce, then." "She's dead set against it." "I might get a divorce if I gave her back all of her money." "I owe everything to Vanessa's money, including the clinic." "Her name's Vanessa?" "It's a pretty name." "Yes, yes, beautiful." "But let's change the subject, right?" "Thank you, Robert, for everything you bought me." " You're very sweet." " You're very welcome." " Don't you have any regrets?" " No!" " I never look back on any decision I make." " I'm happy." "The first time I saw you at the Crazy Horse, I said to myself," ""So there's something else in this world." "Wake up, Robert!" ""You must not miss this chance."" " But you don't know me at all yet." " What's the difference?" "You're here with me, and I like you very much." "That's it." "Isn't that enough for starters?" " Undo my dress, would you?" " Yes, darling." "Robert, would you please help me take these boots off?" "Don't take them off." "I like it all... just like that." " Do you mind?" " No." "I don't mind at all." "Come on, think hard, it's important." "Yes, I remember this guy very well, he was the last to go." "He spoke with Nicole and asked for a taxi after she left." " Anything else?" " He was tall, distinguished and drunk." "I'm sorry, that's all I can tell you." "No, wait a minute!" "He was going to... to the Hotel Ambassador!" "It's about four miles from here, Vanessa doesn't know about it." " You'll see, you'll like the cottage." " I'm sure, Robert." "The caretaker, Hallory, is waiting for us at the local pub." "There it is." "It's where all the local gossips gather." "Oh, by the way." "Hallory has a false hand." "Pretend not to notice it, he's sensitive, you know." "One more thing..." "You know what small towns are like - we'll tell everyone you're my wife." "You don't mind, right?" "On the contrary." "Shall we go?" "Hello Hallory, hello Peggy!" " Good morning." " Good morning, Dr Matthews." "This is my wife, Nicole." "And these are Hallory and Peggy." " Something to drink, my dear?" " No, thank you, Robert." "I'll have a whiskey, Peggy." "Well, Hallory." "Is everything all right over at the cottage?" " Yes, sir." " Good." "I got the keys with me." "We can go there whenever you want." "You like it?" "It's the only spot on the coast where the sun comes out... sometimes!" "I know I shall just love being here." " Is that motorboat yours?" " Yes." "But it's too small." "I want to buy a bigger one." "It's beautiful, Robert." "I needed a place just like this." " Good morning, Mr Matthews." " Good morning, Philip." "How are you?" " Good enough, sir." " And your fishing?" "I was up at the crack of dawn, so now I've got the coast's freshest fish!" "Now, tell me, which are the two freshest fish you've got?" " That one, and that one there, sir." " These two?" " All right." "You like them?" " They're perfect!" "All right!" "Put them on my account then." "Aren't they great?" " After you, Madame!" " Thank you." "Must you really go away, Robert?" "I'm scared to be here all alone at night." "But there's nothing to be afraid of!" "I'll be back from London just as soon as I possibly can." "Besides, there's Hallory." "He lives nearby, on the hill." "If you need anything, just call him." "His phone number is written in the address book." " But he frightens me." " Who?" "Hallory?" "He makes a bad impression, but he's all right." "He's reliable." "Anyway, if you feel that you're really in danger, then just go over to the fireplace, push this side," "and you'll be able to defend yourself..." "with this." "Believe me, Nicole, nothing ever happens around this village." "You know, they still think that tango is a sinful dance!" " Don't stay away long." " Go back inside, it's cold here." " Bye." " Bye!" " Morning, Mrs Matthews." " Hi, Peggy." " Well, I'll be leaving now, madam." " OK." "Goodbye, Hallory." " Good morning Mr Matthews!" " Good morning, Philip." "If you want to buy some fish, now's your chance." "Today, I'm the only one who caught them." "Of course..." "Fish ask around, and if they find out that the nets are yours, they fight their way in!" "Robert!" "Yes, that's right, Captain." "I want to buy a bigger boat." "My wife will be here for some time, so she'll be needing it." " Shall we meet at the pub in..." " Half an hour." "In an hour, all right?" "See those two idiots?" "I'm sure they're talking about us." "He never mentioned his wife before!" " Really?" " Sure!" " Greetings, Dr Matthews." " Oh, good evening, Captain!" "I want you to meet my wife." "Nicole, this is Captain Lenny." " How do you do?" " Have you brought along the photos?" " Yes, I've got them right here." " Good, we can all go over there, we'll be more comfortable." "Shall we go, dear?" "Hallory says they make love all day!" "I wonder what they do at night!" "If you want a boat, this one is a real bargain." "It's a really cheap cruiser, look." "And you don't even know what they do on the reef!" "Is it ready?" "Are there any any repairs that need doing?" "Good morning, my dear." "Where have you been hiding?" "I've been looking for you for a very long time." "I wanted to tell you about the sermon which will be delivered next Saturday." "What about the paperwork?" "There's only the registration." "Robert, take me home." " What's wrong, dear?" " I can't stay here any longer." "I'll be outside." "I'll come right away." "Excuse me, I'll have to leave now." "My wife's not feeling well." "Look, I'll be back tomorrow, we can talk about the boat then." "It's all right." "Though, you really ought to take it." " Nicole..." " Take me home." " Take me home." " As you wish." "I just can't take it anymore, Robert." "Take me back to London." "I can't stay alone in this house any longer." "In this small town, which seems like a village of the dead!" "Please Nicole, be patient." "I'll ask Vanessa for a divorce, and then we can be married." "Now, try to calm down." "You... you really want to marry me?" "Of course." "Why shouldn't I?" "You know very well that I love you." "I'll be back tomorrow to discuss the boat with Captain Lenny." "But then I'll have to rush off again as I have to do a pretty delicate operation on a poor soul." "I'll be here waiting, Robert." "And..." "I'm sorry I made such a scene tonight at the pub." "Forget it." " Hello Hallory, how are you?" " Good morning, Dr Matthews." " May I help you, sir?" " No, thank you very much." " Are you staying?" " No, I just came to meet Captain Lenny." "But I'll be back in a couple of days to stay the whole weekend, or longer I hope." " Would you turn around the car, please?" " Yes, sir." "Nicole!" "Why didn't you tell me my wife wasn't here?" "Where is she?" "I don't know." "I didn't see her leave." "In fact, I haven't seen her since yesterday." "What happened?" "The lady didn't sleep at home last night." "It isn't news." "We already knew she wasn't your wife, Doctor." "Did you hear that?" "Keep your voice down, if you don't mind." "The village is too small to hide certain things." "And people like to gossip, which is worse." "The bed was properly made, evidently she slept outside." "You may learn many things in ten years, and yet ten lifetimes wouldn't be enough to understand a woman." "Do me a favour, Captain." "I'm sure that Nicole will be back, tonight or tomorrow." "When she returns, tell her to call me at once in London." "Here." "This is the phone number of my clinic." "All right, Doctor." "Still not even a glimmer, Smith?" "Nothing, Doctor." "Nothing." "The treatment is going just fine." "Just a bit longer, and you'll be able to see again perfectly." "Thanks to you, Doctor." "I don't know how to express my gratitude." "Don't move." "This will take just a moment." "Here." "That's it, all done." "Remember, you must not take this bandage off for any reason." "Yes, who is it?" "Doctor!" "Doctor..." "What did you say his name was?" "Matthews, Inspector." "Robert Matthews." " There's his Mrs downstairs." " Very well." "Let's get to work, Bergson." "Come along." " Mrs Matthews?" " Yes?" "Baxter, Scotland Yard." "My assistant, Bergson." "You have my sympathy, madam." "Sir, in your opinion, who tried to murder him?" "Why, my granny, Bergson." "Robert!" "Nicole..." "Nicole!" "I beg your pardon, madam." "Is Nicole your first name?" "No, Inspector." "My name's Vanessa." "Then who could this Nicole be?" "No one that I know." " Hello there, Baxter." " Hello." "Matthews was lucky." "The bullet didn't damage any vital organ." "Thanks, Jack." "All right, go on." "I just heard some footsteps." "A woman's footsteps, wearing heels..." "Quite heavy steps, too." "You know, it could have been a man wearing a woman's shoes." "Maybe not, maybe... maybe it was just a very determined woman." "You know, Inspector, if you are determined about something, it's bound to come out in the way you walk." "Hmm." " Then what happened?" " Matthews asked, "Who is it?"" "The reply was a pistol shot." "And afterwards I heard the sound of footsteps again." "Someone was running away - the steps were much lighter." "Of course, that doesn't mean a thing, because when you run you actually walk on tiptoe, and so... the steps are inevitably always lighter." "Did you know that, Inspector?" "Yes, Smith." "They teach us many things at the police college!" "How long have you received treatment under Dr Matthews?" "Quite some time." "And did you ever hear Matthews telephone, talk about or make any reference to a woman called Nicole?" "Nicole?" "No..." "I've never heard that name." " Inspector?" "The tapes are ready." " All right, I'm coming." "What are you doing?" "You want to start all over again?" "Yes, yes, I do." "Pull over here a bit." " Like this?" "You like it?" " Yeah, yeah..." "Uh!" " What's the matter?" " That was your heel." "Oh, sorry, Robert." "You wanted me to keep the boots on." " I brought you your coffee." " Oh, thank you." " Inspector?" " Hmm?" "I wrote down the inventory of the dresses." "Inspector, wait until you take a look at this." "Remind me to screen it." "Inspector!" " What now?" " Look what we've found." "And who would this gentleman be?" "He's French, like the dead woman." "Like more than 40 million other French, Bergson." "I caught him at Miss Peggy's pub." "He was smashing everything, even the customers' heads." "Then we shall cool him down a bit." "Take that." "Drink this." "Go on, drink it!" "Go on..." " Take him outside now." " To get some fresh air?" "No, to throw up, Bergson." "Please, sit down." "Miss Pennypacker?" " Feeling any better now?" " Yes." "He arrived yesterday and immediately began making calls." " Who to?" " I don't know, he was speaking in French, but I'm sure he wasn't happy." "He began to drink and play cards, but always going back to the telephone." " Go on." " Shall I go on?" "He went on playing all night until he collapsed on a sofa, and I left him there to sleep." "He woke up when they found and brought in Miss Nicole's body." "He asked what was going on, so I said that she drowned." "He put his hands around my throat, shouting like a madman." " Shall I go on, Inspector?" " No, no, please!" "Miss Pennypacker, would you take her out for some air?" "Inspector, he seems a bit more sober now." "That English bastard killed her." "Which one?" "There are 50 million of us on this island." "His name's Matthews." "Robert Matthews." "He owns this house." "I don't know how he did it." "Nicole Rochard was my woman." "We had some problems, like everyone, but he took her away!" "I'm afraid your suspicion is unfounded." "Doctor Matthews is at the hospital." "He was shot last night." "In fact, how come you knew that this house belongs to him?" " Have you been here before?" " No, never before." "I wanted to come by this morning." "I tried to phone all night, but nobody answered." "How did you get the address?" "Did Miss Rochard tell you?" "Well, yes..." "She phoned me in Paris and told me to get over here." "I see." "Mr Hallory, could you get me a cup of coffee, please?" "Please, sit down." "What will you do..." "with Nicole?" "The body will be taken to London and submitted to a thorough examination." "Superficially, it would seem she died during the night, a few hours before the fishermen found her caught in their net." "I wonder if she meant to commit suicide." "No, she didn't do that, she was murdered." "Miss Rochard drowned, and there wasn't a mark on her body." "We found her with a dress on and nothing under it." "She wasn't accustomed to underwear, because of her job." " May I see your passport?" " Of course." "It's in order." "I don't doubt it, but I'll have to keep it for now." "I'm afraid you'll have to stay here until we settle things." "Don't worry, I won't leave until I see Nicole's murderer dead." "And now, if you don't mind, I'll go out for a bit of air." "All right, I don't mind." "Inspector, your coffee." "Hallory, you're responsible for all the house's articles." "Here's a copy of the list." "Well, looks pretty clear I'd say, Inspector." "The girl drops her lover in Paris and takes an Englishman." "After a search, the Frenchman finds her, comes here... and drowns her." "Of course!" "And then he decides to stay on and get completely drunk." "Inspector, a call for you from Scotland Yard." "Bloody hell!" "Stop!" "Why were you watching?" "You're inquisitive, eh?" "What are you looking for?" " Let me go!" " Tell me everything you know!" " Let go!" " Talk, or I'll push you over." "Miss Pennypacker..." " Tell Brown to get himself clean." " Yes, Inspector." "If the fellow can't hold his liquor, so much worse for him." "It's not a question of liquor, it's just not logical." "The girl was killed, and Dr Matthews is alive by a miracle." "To my mind there's some connection between these two facts." "Perhaps." "But the Frenchman should be held for now." "You know, some people still support the notion that everyone is 'innocent until proven guilty'." " Miss Pennypacker, call the others." " Yes, Inspector." " Get him, we're going back to London." " Very good, sir." "Mr Amount!" " Mr Amount!" " That's all I know." " This is your hotel, right?" " Yes, you're right." "Well, you know where to find me if you should need me." "And if you should need me, just call Scotland Yard." " The number's in the telephone book." " That's funny." "I shot it myself in Paris." "Nicole didn't even know she had been filmed." "In fact, at that time..." "she didn't even know I existed." "Now I just wish she never met me." "Did you know she was living with another man in Paris?" "A certain Michel Amount." "It seems she left him abruptly to come over here with you." "I never asked her about her past, nor did she ever tell me." "Amount was in the village, but his alibi is pretty perfect." "But... but how did he get there in the first place?" "Apparently, Miss Rochard phoned and asked him to come." "That's impossible!" "We had decided to get married." "Listen, Matthews, you can speak freely." "I've seen all sorts of things." "Perhaps you two had a fight?" "No, Inspector." "We got along just fine." "Strange, because the next day Nicole had vanished, someone tried to kill you in your clinic, and the blind man says that the footsteps were a woman's." "Can you rule out that it was Nicole who fired the shot?" " Absolutely, Inspector." " Why, you saw your attacker?" " No, I only saw the boots." " It all looks quite simple." "You two have a scene, so you break up with your mistress." "She decides to murder you, comes to London and shoots you." "But then she commits suicide in despair and remorse." "That's absolute nonsense!" "Maybe, but the pistol is a French one, as was Nicole." "Impossible!" "Nicole would never..." " We never quarrelled, never!" " Calm down, calm down!" "I hate to upset you, but this is my job." " Try to understand me." " You're right, I'm sorry." "Avenge her?" "Why avenge a crazy bitch who tried to kill the one who was keeping her," " all for no reason?" " Don't you dare talk about her!" "Come here..." "come, or I'll strangle you!" "Someone saw you in the village the night before the murder." "You went to your husband's cottage!" "I've never been to that brothel!" " I didn't even know it existed!" " Oh, yes, you did!" "A woman was seen there, and it can only have been you!" "You!" " Let me go!" "You're crazy!" " Stop it!" "Come here." "What's your name?" "My name's Amount." "Michel Amount." "I'm a French citizen." "The report here says that you beat and threatened her." "I lost control." "Amount, I suggest you talk to me." "I went to see Mrs Matthews because someone had seen an unknown woman the night before Nicole disappeared." "May I suggest you leave this sort of thing to the police?" "If they can spare just you, the killer will never be caught!" "Since you're so eager to get things going, tell me what made Nicole drop you in such a damn bloody hurry?" "We had a fight." "I suppose you had your share of fighting in two years." "She told me something the night before she left Paris, but I didn't pay attention to her." "She was frightened." " Someone had threatened her." " Someone..." "It's always 'someone'." "Go back to your hotel and don't trouble anyone again." "Otherwise, next time I'll put you in jail." "Who told you about the unknown woman at the village?" "A guy lurking around the cottage the day you came." "He claims to be a former Navy Captain." "Bergson." "Yes, sir?" "Call Mrs Matthews, and invite her to picnic." " To picnic?" " Just call her, Bergson." "Whatever you say, Inspector." "I can't swear to it, but I don't think it was Mrs Matthews I saw that night." "You see, Inspector?" "It's not wise to listen to people like this gentleman." "Well, so much better for you, Mrs Matthews." "I'd like to show you something, if I may." "It's quite nearby." "Mrs Matthews." "An attempted murder with a blind man as a witness - now, that's unusual." "Maybe the killer was counting on it." "My husband was Miss Rochard's companion." "Maybe he got tired and she decided to make him pay." "After you, madam." "Since it's evident you're accustomed to this house and its gate, let's get inside and have a little chat." "Please, open the door for me." "What do you want?" "I'm Vanessa Matthews." "Mrs Matthews." "Please, come in." "Take a seat." "The reason for my visit is quite simple." "I'd like you to leave my husband." "You think he's rich." "He's not." "All of this belongs to me." "So let him go." "I mean, you're barking up the wrong tree." "There's £5,000 here." "Take it." "Just take it and be gone!" "Once she got paid, she would vanish - I was more than sure of it." " May I, Inspector?" " Oh, sure." "I'm sorry, but I'd like to know how did you manage to learn about your husband's affair with that woman?" "Suppose it's not true that Miss Rochard rang up her former lover, begging him to come over to meet her." "Listen Inspector, she called me like I said!" "I said I'm only supposing, dear sir." "I think it wouldn't be so difficult to obtain Dr Matthews' whereabouts, even in Paris." "The problem would be to find out where he'd taken Nicole, but then again, it would be easy to get to his wife, and then to rattle her jealousy, thus finally getting one step closer to the fugitive." "That's just nonsense." "No, madam, I'm only supposing." "Good evening, madam." " Hello, Vanessa!" " Hello, Robert!" "I've been waiting for you." "How are you, darling?" "I'm sorry I'm late, but I didn't think you would be home." "I feel fine now." " By the way, where have you been?" " Inspector Baxter sent for me." "How so?" "Something wrong?" "Something I haven't told you yet." "For what it's worth..." "I knew about your affair with the Frenchwoman." " Who told you?" " That's not important." "When I found out, I went one evening to that seaside nest of yours, and I gave her £5,000 to have you back." "And she took it?" "Ever seen anyone refuse £5,000?" " I would have never imagined." " Oh, Robert!" "What happened to you?" "We were so close." "Vanessa... please forgive me." "I just..." "I lost my head to that woman." "I understand." "But I didn't want to share you with another woman." "I don't want to lose you." "Just as you don't want to lose me." "Go to bed, you look tired." "See you tomorrow." "Vanessa..." "Do you still want me around?" "Well... we'll talk about it some other time." "Good night." "Thank you Liz." "Turn that light out, please." "Certainly, sir." " Good night, sir." " Good night, Liz." "No!" "No!" "No!" "Ma'am?" "Ma'am!" " What is it?" "What happened?" " She's dead!" "She's dead!" "What a butchery!" "The post-mortem is as good as done for us." "Jack, take a look at Matthews." "He could use your assistance more than this poor soul." "Inspector, who do you think did it this time?" "Sorry, Bergson, but I left my crystal ball at home." "Now that's a great help, Inspector." "Considering how many short-sighted people there are around." "Of course, Bergson, of course." " Miss Pennypacker?" " Yes, Inspector?" " Take the lens to the laboratory." " Right away, sir." "Bergson." "Do you know this gentleman?" " Come on, speak up." " He threatened Mrs Matthews once." "I even had to call the police." "Yes, I know that." "Did you ever see him before that?" "Two or three days before." "He talked to her for hours." "I remember it clearly." "When he left, Mrs Matthews went to her room." "She was very upset and didn't talk." " Miss Pennypacker, take her out." " Yes, Inspector." "Let's go." "This means... that your supposition was indeed correct, Inspector." "Funny, I never guess right." "Well, hardly ever..." "Well, Baxter..." "I've given him an injection." "He's resting now." "It was a terrible shock." "When will you do the autopsy?" "The day after tomorrow, as soon as I get the authorization." "For what it's worth." "Remember, Doctor, no stone should ever remain unturned." "Let's go, Bergson." "I'd like to ask you something, Jack." "Miss Pennypacker, don't forget to send a wire off to Paris to check if the Frenchman wore contact lenses." "Yes, sir." "Well, I warned you, Inspector." "The autopsy was completely useless." "Listen, Jack." "I would have the killer, but the night when, as you say, the French girl was killed, he spent it in the local pub with at least four witnesses." "She died no more than six hours before her body was found." "What if you're wrong, by only 24 hours?" "Then you should find a corpse that doesn't follow the laws of medicine." "Part of her body was still soft." "Rigor mortis was only just setting in." "So... six hours at the most." "I don't understand." "This one, I mean Mrs Matthews..." "She's been dead for over 24 hours, and she's not rigid." "So what?" "Decomposition is held up while in the freezer." "You see, we put all of our clients on ice." "On ice..." "I see." " It's not too far." " That's good." "How long would it take me to get there?" " Oh, I'd say roughly half an hour." " Thank you, my angel." " Always in a hurry?" " Ah, that's the nature of our work!" "As soon as I get some time off, I'll take you out." "Hey, what did you say?" "I'll phone you!" "Bye!" "We only serve butchers, restaurants, many bars, but most of all fishermen." "Rarely private customers, and then only during the summer." "And you didn't serve anyone else five or six days ago?" "No one in their senses is going to buy ice with this cold." "Anyway, if you need more information, you could send your assistant, alone." "He looks so bright and alert to me." "Yes, I'll do just that." "Good day, madam." "Is there another wharf?" "Yes, on the other side of the house." "Something on your mind, Inspector?" "Just the hat, Bergson." "The hat." "What are you doing, Inspector?" "Just give me a hand." "Yes, of course, right away." "Hmm." "Blocks of ice would fit here nicely with the body." "You mean... to delay the process of decomposition?" "Yes, exactly." "A most ingenious way of creating an alibi." "Evidently, it was someone who knew the victim quite well." "Very good, Bergson, bravo!" "Now free yourself." "So you spied on her!" "You must have been drooling all over, watching her!" "You pig!" "Where did you get all this money, eh?" "Where?" "You saw who killed Nicole, didn't you?" "Didn't you?" "Talk... talk!" "Yes..." "I saw someone." "He was dressed in black, but I didn't recognise him." "I couldn't see a thing, it was pouring rain." "It could have been anyone... even you!" "Hey, you!" "Stop!" "Inspector, that French son of a bitch just stole our car!" "Keep calm, Bergson, keep calm!" "What's this?" "Where did you get it?" "I couldn't resist, Inspector." "I couldn't resist." "After all, I'm just a man." "She would undress at night, without drawing the curtain." "And so I... used to watch her with that spyglass." "I couldn't help myself." "She'd wiggle and ride on the floor, half naked, and I..." "I thought I'd go mad, watching her move like that." "But I just waited all day for that moment to come at night." "And then, that night..." "I saw her put some money into a box." "She seemed quite upset." "It began to rain, and as I moved the spyglass, I saw a man." "I couldn't see as well as before." "But... it looked as if he pushed a cushion down over her face." "By this time, the spyglass lens was covered up by raindrops." "In fact, the rain formed a curtain, so I just couldn't make anything out clearly." "A few minutes later, that man came out of the house." "He was carrying her body over his shoulder." "I stood there, by the spyglass." "I didn't know what to do." "Sometime later I saw him come back," "He searched around the house, as if looking for something." "He went over to the cupboard and opened it." "Then he bent down and picked something up." "It looked to me like a pair of boots." "Women's shoes, anyway." "Then he moved off suddenly." "I tried to follow him with the spyglass, to see who he was." "But I wasn't able to see, unfortunately." "There was £5,000 in that open and empty house." "I thought, "It's not like you're stealing it, really."" "It would have been a huge temptation for anyone." "I took the money meaning to give it back at the right time." "All right, never mind." "But the man - who was it?" "Can you give us a clue, something?" "It was pouring rain, I couldn't make out anything." "It was too dark." "The spyglass magnifies things, but it also reduces brightness." "I've already said this to that Frenchman." "I can make no accusations, I can't testify." "It was too dark." "Was it him, that night?" "Well, it could have been him." "Otherwise, how could he have known about the money?" "From the newspapers, for instance." " Thank you very much, Inspector." " A pleasure." "All right, Smith." "We are going to have a little chat." "You can forget the cane." "I'll let you know if there are any other wallets around." "So, the bird has flown." " I want the truth, Smith!" " All right." "I'm recovering." "My sight has almost come back." " Why did you pretend to be blind?" " I was blind!" "I just went on pretending I couldn't see!" "Then I'll smash your face and ring up Scotland Yard!" "You won't smash my face, nor will you ring up Scotland Yard!" "Listen up, I'm sick of your threats!" "Get up." "Who shot Matthews?" "I told you already..." "I was blind then!" "Talk!" "Enough, please..." "Please!" "Please, it's the truth..." "Please, I swear it to you!" "For a while, I couldn't see." "I had become blind." "It was due to an accident at my work." " What kind of work?" " It was a blowtorch." "I was working on a safe." "I swear, if I had been able to see who shot him," "I'd have told it to Inspector Baxter, even if it would have meant going to prison." "That doesn't concern me." "I just want to know who shot him!" "I just... heard some footsteps." "They seemed like... a woman's footsteps." "Hey!" "You're not going to tell all this to Baxter, are you?" "Don't worry." "The less I see of Baxter, the better." "Hello, Baxter's office." "One moment, please." "For you, Inspector." "I don't know who it is, but they say it's urgent." "Yes?" "Inspector Baxter speaking." "This is a friend, giving you some advice, Inspector." "If you want to find out more about Nicole Rochard's death, keep an eye on Smith, the blind man Dr Matthews was treating." "That could be a good idea." "Thank you, Mr Amount." "You're welcome." "Oh, about your car, Inspector." "Don't worry, I'll bring it back soon." "Goodbye, sir." "We've just got three minutes!" "Hang on, Smith!" "If they catch you, I'm screwed too." "Put some light here." "He managed to get me out, then he put me on a train with a ticket back to London." "A diamond robbery in Paris, a nasty accident, and a blind fellow in London, recovering at the right time." "My friend said that he would contact me, once the diamonds were safe." "But then, I heard nothing more from him." "I couldn't go looking for him without being able to see." " And who was this chum of yours?" " I'm no informer." "Anyway, that guy took you for a ride..." "You're over here in London, without a penny, while he's somewhere with the loot." "I prefer to believe that he will keep his word." "He'll find me someday somewhere." "Anyway, all those diamonds are worth the risk of a few years in jail." " Inspector, the telex from Paris." " Thanks." "You're really in trouble, Smith." "Your accomplice was a chap named Rochard," "Ernest Rochard, and he was killed on a train headed to Spain." "He was murdered by a presumed accomplice who was after those jewels." "Are you trying one of those copper tricks, eh?" "Don't you read the news?" "I was blind, how the hell could I?" "If it's true, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry for Rochard." " But it wasn't me who murdered him!" " That has yet to be proven." "The shot fired at Dr Matthews could have been intended for you." "Maybe someone wanted to avenge Rochard's death and pocket the jewels." "Maybe..." "Maybe it was his daughter " "Nicole..." "Nicole Rochard." "Come again?" " Nicole Rochard?" " Yes." "But, as I agreed with Rochard she had to keep all those diamonds!" "You pig!" "Stop!" " Bergson, search the Frenchman." " All right, Inspector." "Don't try anything smart." "We got you, eh, Frenchie?" "You had your fun stealing our car, didn't you?" "Now what?" " Speechless, eh?" " Mister Matthews, forgive me." "I can't help it." "It's a vice... a vice!" " Go change yourself." " A vice!" "Let's see what you've got in your pockets." "Hands up now..." " Brown." "Have him change his dress." " Yes, Inspector." "You're not so smart now, eh?" "Leave me alone." "I am innocent." "This is all there is, Inspector." "Now, what have we here?" "Hmm... interesting." "There's your proof, Bergson." "We certainly don't need any more evidence than this." " Put the cuffs on him." " Right away, Inspector." " Nicely done, Inspector!" " Funny... it would be a first." " Ah, Brown..." " Yes, Inspector?" "Handcuffs for the gentleman." "And then take him outside." "Come on, let's go." "Inspector." "Inspector!" "Magnificent!" "Just look at them, see the sparkles!" "Just as we had agreed," "Rochard had hidden them inside his daughter's necklace and bracelets!" "I knew the old man would have kept his word." "That seems to settle it, doesn't it?" "And now, a cup of coffee wouldn't be a bad idea." "Certainly, Inspector." "Satisfied?" "What an incredible story, Inspector!" "It took Michel quite some time to find the girl." "When he did, she still wouldn't talk, so he killed her." "After which, using a flash of genius and two slabs of ice, he managed to fool the coroner as to the time of her death, thus creating an excellent alibi." "And let's not forget that he murdered your wife, who had started to get suspicious since their first encounter." "Then he tried to kill Smith and very nearly killed you." "All the same, Smith was right:" "Even men can wear high heels, if they have to, at least sometimes." "I don't want to come back here ever again." "It may be over for you, Inspector." "A case among many, but for me..." "Good morning, Mr Matthews!" " How are you this morning?" " Fine, and you?" "I have some wonderful, truly fresh sea bass, so you won't be needing all that ice you used last time!" "There's £5,000 here." "Take it." "Just take it and be gone!" "Listen, I certainly don't need £5,000." "Fine." "Then I'll have to tell you something that you'll find rather unpleasant." "Go ahead." "Your father and my husband were business partners." "You know what I mean, don't you?" "They'd worked together for many years." "Brains and brawn." "Robert conceived the robberies, and Rochard executed them." "It was Robert who worked out the Paris diamond robbery, and he was the one who murdered your father to get them." "He'll murder you too to have those diamonds for himself." "And I did..." "I had no other choice." "I got rid of Rochard on the train, but he didn't have the diamonds with him." "Smith didn't know me." "I lured him into my clinic by offering to treat him for free, but I couldn't get anything out of him." "I wrapped some slabs of ice around Nicole's body, and I threw her into the freezing sea to delay decomposition." "Then I went back to the cottage to look for the diamonds, but I couldn't do anything - that damned Frenchman was there." "He was looking at a pair of boots I had bought for Nicole." "They were just like a pair I had bought for Vanessa." "I fancied them." "I liked my women to wear them." "I didn't go back that night." "I planned to return after Nicole's body had been found, and I had established an utterly foolproof alibi." "But I hadn't taken into account my wife." "First of all, she tried to buy off Nicole with £5,000, then she tried to kill me and take over the situation." "But she missed, and when she merely wounded me, she botched her plans, complicating matters, at the same time handing me an unexpected, iron-clad alibi." "So you recognised your wife as the would be-murderer?" "Of course, from the boots." "And although she didn't know I recognised her, I had to kill her, otherwise she would have blackmailed me for the rest of my life." "Well... since they won't be of any further use to me," "I might as well hand over to you the real jewels." " The real jewels?" " My dear Inspector..." "Do you think I'd kill Nicole before I got hold of them?" "The diamonds you found are fake." "I replaced the real ones some days after Nicole's death." "So where's all the good stuff, then?" "Over there, in the fireplace." "They're in a secret drawer." " Would you like to see them?" " Certainly." "I put them here for safekeeping, until I could retrieve them for good." "Here they are, Rochard's diamonds!" "Get up, Inspector!" " Don't be a fool, Matthews." " You're the fools!" "Take your handcuffs and lock yourselves together!" "You too!" "Go on, hurry up." "Don't waste time." "Hurry up!" "Goodbye, Inspector." "I hope we shall never meet again." "Try and get up, Amount!" "Come on!" "I'm afraid I have to apologise, but when I saw those lenses, I was ready to bet my family jewels on your guilt!" "In Paris, that same morning when Nicole disappeared," "I saw those contact lenses while I was shaving." "I realised that Nicole's story was true." "Matthews had planted them there to make me look guilty." "Yes, and he managed to convince us like that as well." " You did your best, Inspector." " Oh, a pretty poor best." "Mister Amount!" "Hurry!" "Come on, come on!" " Well, go... goodbye!" " Goodbye, Inspector!" " So long, old boy!" " Goodbye!" "Give me a light, Bergson." "And now, let's be modest with our senior officers." "Let's make sure they see it's we who solved the case!" "All right." "Don't worry, Inspector!" "THE END"