"Yes?" "My Lady." "Doctor Amersham." "King!" "Sit down." "Coming a bit late, aren't you, Doctor?" " Where is he?" "Lebanon works in the library at this time." "Come." "Yes?" "Lord Lebanon here." "Hello?" "Hello!" "This is Lord Lebanon speaking." "Say something, for God's sake!" "Hello!" "Look here, my good friend, if this is a practical joke..." "Just a moment, please." "I'll connect you right away." "Hello!" "This is Edgar Wallace speaking." "I have the honour to beaddressing you at this difficult time, as lawyer of our dear departed, Lord Francis Percival Lebanon." "He has left me the task of reading his testament to you all." "My next to last will." " What sort of will?" "Are you being funny?" "Did wecome from all corners of the world, to be victimized... by his crazy sense of humour?" "We have a right to be told!" "My dear ones." "When you hear the following words, I'll have disappeared as the 28th Lord of Lebanon and gone to join our fore-fathers." "I trust my demise to a place as I might have wished for myself." "Quickly, unexpectedly, and without unnecessary complications." "May I interrupt to enquire how it was that my dearly beloved cousin died?" "Heart failure." "Third attack. I was there for the autopsy, as luck would have it." "Please, go on reading." " l have a question I'd like to put." "It happens to be my inheritance." " Don't interrupt!" "What is the exact sum each one can expect?" " This is really a family affair." "You're not related by blood, and, to our shame, you are American as well." "I'm speaking for my wife, of genuine Lebanon creed." "And as long as Peter Ross is present, who is nothing but an illegitimate son, and as long as Miss Isla Harris sits here, although she has only the feeblest connection with this family, then I have as much right here as anyone!" "Please, please!" "Quiet!" "Let's have respect for the deceased." "You might say something!" " Shut up." "May I point out that the total property amounts to some half million pounds." "And that, that converts to roughly, a million and a half dollars." "My life has always been marred by one great disappointment." "Disappointment in you all for having destroyed a great and illustrious family by the venomous strife that has divided you for all these years." "As of today, this situation will change." "For this purpose I bequeath to each of you a substantial portion of my possessions, under the condition that you will remain under this roof for 6 days and 6 nights, in peace and harmony." "Awaiting the opening... of my last will and testament." "Mr. Tanner, to whom I gave a sealed copy of the will, is instructed by me to supervise the execution of these conditions." "Let the spirit of our ancient and venerable family inspire all of you with peace and harmony." "And link your hearts in all true faith, hope and charity." "6 days and 6 nights!" "Especially nights!" "I can't leave my expedition alone that long." "I must go back to the Amazon!" "Who will look after my flock, if I fail to arrive at church, as usual?" "They'll go to heaven without you, Pastor." " Nobody is being forced to remain." "But, what would happen, if we decided to leave?" "Will my share besent to me?" "No, it won't besent to you." "It'll be divided among those who remain." "One of us could die, perhaps." " That's a pleasant thought, but uh, the dead aren't eligible." " Looks like we better fish, or cut bait." "Allow me to welcome you." "Though, we're a bit short of help." "Good evening." "To whom does this horrid little chest belong?" "is it yours, by any chance?" " Qh, indeed not." "A spider!" "Which stupid idiot opened that box?" "That's one of the most venomous of all tropical insects." "That's a Blackbird Spider. its bite is fatal." "Don't worry, Edward's here to protect you." "Thank you, My Lord." " But, Isla." "We're relatives." "Call me Edward, please." "I hope you have no more such surprises." " l fear hedoes, My Lady." "Sir Hockbridge has a bird." "And a bird, who is, if you will permit me to say, a most scurrilous creature." "It is a rarity from the Amazon." " l believe you, Sir." "But he speaks perfect English to me, and his mouth should be washed out with strong soap." "I think our guests are ready for bed." "Isn't that so?" "Edward, come along!" "Come, Isla." " Would you please follow me." "But, before I go to bed, I must wish all my dear relatives a very good night." "Quite in the spirit of our dear deceased, I retire in peace and serenity." "What thedevil's gone wrong, now?" "But, don't be alarmed." "Evidently, utility pole was hit." "Hello?" "Hello!" "Hello!" "The telephone is out of order, and since electrical skill is not in my repertoire, our communication is severed for a while." " A tree must have fallen across a cable." "The devastating storm ln West Scotland ls now assuming the proportions of a national calamity." "Several shipwrecks have been announced." "Off Scrabster, the dyke broke along a stretch of 2 miles." "The whole penlnsular ls now cut off from the mainland." "Further lnformatlon will follow." "Well, I guess that's us, friends." " l'd better repair the lamps here." "And I have to ration food." "Particularly mustard is in short supply." "The whole situation is absurd!" "Well, what do you think, Edward?" "What do you think of this mock testament?" "How could Papa do that to us?" " Qld age gives people weird fantasies." "Recently he spoke a lot about his family." " Family." "Hyenas is what they are." "They have no right to it, whatsoever." "It's your property." "To think we may even be deprived of the castle." "Edward, we must fight this will." "Together, to our last breath." "Mama. ln two weeks time, I give my first concert in London." "How can you expect me to be concerned about this inheritance of mine?" "No." "Of course, my precious." "You are not to worry." "I'll watch over you, my dear." "I'll fight for you against them all." "Oh, good heavens!" "Good heavens!" "Oh, my goodness!" "Oh!" "Dear, dear!" "But, who are you?" "What do you want?" "Nothing." "It's raining." "It's raining!" "I'm Chiko." "Chiko..." "What kind of a name is that?" "Chiko, why, you nearly frightened me out of my wits!" "I suppose I need a little drink!" "Hey, it was quite a scare, after all." "Ah, a nice old cognac, to brace me up!" "But, Bonwit, what's the meaning of this?" " Reverend Hastings won't have breakfast." "Oh. lsn't he feeling well?" " l'm quite incapable of replying." "He is dead." "What did you say?" " He's been quite choked to death, I fear." "If you would care to certify the manner of death, he's in the blue salon." "Doctor Amersham." "Edward." " Yes, Mama?" "Did you hear that Uncle Lionel is dead?" " Do you think the members of the Royal House will come to my concert, Mother?" "Edward." "Sometimes, I'm so worried for you." "What sort of world are you living in?" " ln my own, Mama." "Tell me, Bonwit, at ten o'clock... when you took around the candlesticks to every room, was the Reverend Hastings still alive?" " As I left he made the sign of the cross." "Why did he do that?" " Because he didn't have a tip handy." "What an awful thing to say!" " My dear friends, this much is evident." "That a murder has been committed in a very cruel and effective way." "What did you say?" "A murder?" " Yes, that's exactly it." "As we are unable to contact the police, we must solve the case for ourselves." "I'm not a plain clothes man, by any means." "But if you all agree, I'll be glad to offer my services." " The main point is for it to be no one who might gain by the investigation." " No one's asked your advice." "That's certainly the best solution." " Thank you for your confidence, My Lady." "I have some further questions to Bonwit." "Could you please wait in the dining room?" "Of course." " l hope it won't take too long." "Tell me, Bonwit, have you, at any point..." "What are we going to do with him?" " l suggest to bring him to the chapel." "It's very tranquil there, Sir." "And the view is glorious." "Awful, isn't it, to think..." "that there could be a murderer among us." "You can be a lot more exact, my dear." "He's certainly one of us." "But each of us gets twenty-thousand more." "And that's a consolation, isn't it?" "I forbid you to talk like that." "Well, now we can get down to Briar Stacks." "Has anybody ever seen this scarf before?" "No." "Not that I know of, Tanner." "And, what do you say, Doctor Amersham?" "Me?" "No!" "Why me?" "That goes for all of you." "Good." "Was anybody up after ten o'clock?" "And, did you hear anything which might help us?" "I didn't hear, but I saw." " Saw what?" "A man." " And?" "And nothing." "I saw him go in to the Reverend's room." "Did you see who the man was?" " l course I saw him." "And, who was it?" "Mr. Tilling." " That is a damned lie!" "I never left my room all night!" " My husband left his room very soon after ten o'clock." "He didn't return for a long time." "Don't believe her, she's a pathological liar!" "You're in a position to know." "Correct me if I'm wrong." "That is... the suit you were wearing yesterday?" " What?" "Well, naturally. I'm not a fashion model." " Uh, there's a button off your jacket." "So what?" "It's been off for ages." "She won't sew buttons, she said." "She couldn't have sewn this button." "Because I have it here." "Have you any idea where it turned up?" "Beside the Reverend's bed." "Alright." "I went to his room. I admit it." "I wanted to talk about my wife." "She's after me, because she wants a divorce." "But, I never reached that point." "I found him dead." "Can you prove that?" "I don't need to." "Can you disprove it?" " There, you are asking too much of me." "I collect the material, but, the rest is considered police work." "Bonwit!" "Now, ladies and gentlemen, come this way." "I would like to introduce to you:" "Chiko." "Cook, valet, chauffer, all in one person." "Chiko, you told me you'd seen one of these guests three weeks ago visiting the castle." "You managed to recall the exact day." "Uh, the 18th of June, I believe." "Yes, Sir." " ls that person one of us, here?" "Yes." "There." "Chiko, how does it happen, that you can recall the date so precisely?" "Because, the following day, His Lordship was murdered." "Thanks, Chiko." "That's enough." "You may go." "You infer I'm the murderer of Lord Lebanon from that?" "Why not?" "Your wife would inherit more, and you would get rid of your debts." "I remember, my husband went for a few days to Birmingham, on business." "I never believed in that trip." " There is no love lost between you two, is there, Mrs. Tilling?" " No." "That seems very natural." " You, I'm warning you." "I'm warning you!" "of course, I only belong to the family, because His Lordship seduced my Mother." "But, I suggest we relegate Mr. Tillingto his room." "Proletarian." "Gentlemen!" "I must insist on manners!" "Listen to me now, all of you." "I'm a free native-born American." "Whoever lays a hand on me, regrets it." "I don't care to be madean exhibition of!" "By my own wife!" " Yes, I hate you!" "I've always hated you." "From the beginning!" "Your fat face, your hands, your odor!" "When you touched me, you made my flesh creep!" "If I ever recover, it will only be when you're hanged!" "So!" "So, that's it." "Really." "You hate me!" "But you could stand the money, alright." "Stand it!" "You came running!" "You were poor in those days, poor!" "Not much butter on your bread when we met!" "Yeah, I was good enough for you then." "I know I'm vulgar." "I've worked my way up, but I'm honest!" "At least I say what I think!" "And you." "You won't believe me." "Yeah." "But, I worshipped you." "Now, that I've had a bit of bad luck, and you're gonna inherit some money, now, it's very handy to remember how you hate!" "Now, old Tilling gets a kick in the rear, right?" "But, I'm warning you." "You may go too far." "Things are going to change." "I guarantee that." "Murderer!" "Who is it?" "Tanner!" "You arrive on que." "Are you psychic?" "No." "But, I have fine hearing." " Yes." "We were pretty vocal, I admit." "Can I help you in some way?" " Lots of ways." "Firstly, have you a light?" "I'm sorry, how careless of me." "And, secondly?" " You handle divorce cases, don't you?" "Uh, yes." "When it can't be helped." " lt can't be." "We'll see each other frequently." " lt would bean honour, Mrs. Tilling." "only an honour?" " And, of course, a pleasure." "We'll speak further about this soon." " lf you like." "Well, then, good night." "And, don't catch cold." " You're sweet to be so concerned." "Ciao." "Morning." "What are you fools gaping at?" "I didn't bad off the old goat, I tell you!" "Did you happen to knock off your wife, then?" "My wife?" " Look, you can stop playing around." "This morning your wife was found dead." "Murdered." "By you." "Mr. Tilling." "The self same way in which the Reverend happened to be found murdered." "Are you all out of your minds?" "What motive would make me kill my wife?" " Motive?" "I'll tell you the motive." "First, your wife destroyed your alibi." "She knew that you murdered Hastings, because the dead can't be legacies." "And she was very keen on a divorce." "That would have ruined you." " Let go!" "Let go, I say!" "This is all nonsense!" "Stop!" "Stay away from there, or I'll shoot." "I see through you." "I see through the whole thing!" "I'm American, so you pick on me." "But you won't get away with it." "Not even if I have to use this thing." "is that clear?" "Chiko!" "Leave him alone." "You're very courageous, Mr. Tanner, but to no avail." "There's been no ammunition kept in the house since the 15th Lord of Lebanon took a pop-shot at his wife's lover at tea time." "Put off shooting people!" "Mr. Tanner, are murderers eligibleas heirs?" "Shame on you." "We have a murderer among us, and all you can think about is money." "If Tilling and his wife own their property in common, what will happen?" "Tilling will inherit." " And if he's condemned?" "It goes to his children." " Great!" "May I ask you to return to your rooms, I try to reason with our ill-tempered friend and try to get a clear story." "Isla!" "Mr. Tilling. I must speak to you." " l'll put a hole in your belly!" "Don't talk nonsense." "You're out of your mind, Tilling!" "Aren't two murders enough?" "Be sensible, and let me in there!" "Please come in, Sir." "What happened?" " Chiko was a world champion wrestler." "It bruised his intelligence, but occasionally it comes in very handy." "Shut up!" "Very sorry." " Now, what do we do with him?" "The chapel's been reserved for our newly-deads." "But, we might lock him up in the dungeon of the castle." " Not a bad idea." "How were you able to break in here?" " Won't you have a look over here?" "Through this secret passage." "It was used in the middle-ages, so lovers could meet, without being unduly disturbed." "A version of the Dolce Vita, if you'll permit mean instant of levity." "Must have been a lot of traffic through here, eh, Bonwit?" "Let's have a look at it, huh?" "I'll just give you this, Sir, if I may?" "I cannot work in this atmosphere!" " lt will all be over in a few days." "The police will come, and arrest this loathsome, foreign fool." "And then they'll leave us alone." "I promise." "How was it, you never told me of Father's two heart attacks?" "I wanted to spare you the worry." "And then I'd been..." "I'd been told they weren't very serious." "Were Papa's heart attacks the cause of his death, Mother?" "Ah, but Edward!" "You heard what Doctor Amersham said." "I don't believe him." "Never believed him!" "Even back in India." "It's not that simple." "I can't do it." "It's the same pattern, isn't it?" " Quite so, Sir." "Nervous?" " Quite so, Sir." "I found it in the cupboard." "Here's the breakfast for your bird, Sir." " Thank you." "Set it over there." "Quite so, Sir." "Murder!" "Murder!" "Murder!" "You won't tell, will you?" "My Lady." "My dear friends." "Exactly five hundred years ago," "Philip became the founder of our family." "In commemoration of this auspicious event, I have prepared a little surprise for you." "I'm dying to see what." " l brought back some exceedingly interesting and instructive photos of our exhibition in... lsla." "Kindly forgive me, but I haven't time for this sort of thing." "First I have for you a picture of the most dangerous animal in the world." "our war minister, who participated in the expedition, succeeded in taking this rare photo, at the risk of his very life." "What is it?" "What's wrong?" "oh, heavens!" "It's the wrong set!" "Excuse me, won't you?" "There." "That's the Amazonian Jaguar." "Savage and bloodthirsty." "And it kills, not for food, but out of a lust to kill." "Please don't bother." "The witness's statements are kept at my bank." "Emily, why don't you give me the papers?" "Are you determined to have me ruined?" "No." "No more than my husband, who obtained their silence in return for a lot of money." "Hard labour is the reward of allowing a high government official to steal a whole ship's cargo of medical supplies." "You threat me with common blackmail." "There's a penalty for that, too." "Why, how you talk!" " Haven't I paid for that error?" "Emily!" "Who established the cause of your husband's death?" "Isn't that enough?" "No." " No?" "No." "If I talk." "What then?" "You would not be so foolish." "You know why I wished the autopsy to state that his death had been entirely natural." "Edward's career would have ended, before it had begun, if it had come out, his Father had been the victim of a common murder." "And this is a catching stick." "Used for hunting by the Tupi Indians." "Who live at the source of the Amazon River." "They hunt tapers with them." "A stick, with a scarf attached to it." "They just make a rope out of it... lt's very ingenious." "That'll beall." "Bonwit, lights, please." "Bravo!" " Bravo!" "Really, it was exceedingly interesting." " Thank you, My Lady, thank you." "Bonwit?" "The champagne." "I invite you all to drink with me, because, as of today, a bad chapter of our life is finished." "A heartless murderer is awaiting his just reward." "My Lady?" " Thank you, Bonwit." "Are you so certain, My Lady?" "is Tilling really the murderer?" "What Sir Hockbridge showed us, is undoubtedly the murder weapon, and it can only belong to the murderer." "Mr. Ross!" "I find your remarks offensive, and intemperate." "Your doubtful origins do not give you the freedom for ill-mannered behaviour." "Happy days!" "My dears..." "Wonderful." "Come, kitty!" "Come to Daddy!" "That's a good kitty." "That's right, I won't hurt you." "Come on." "That's right." "Yes, see?" "That's it." "With fine weather, it's lovely here." "I hope you remain here with us as our guest." "After all, it's so..." " l'm afraid, Isla won't have the time." "Then we'll meet in London." " l promise you!" "Ha, Doctor Amersham, you know this one?" "A swindler finds a rich banker on the train." "The swindler says, I see you're heading to London, we can make the trip together." "So the banker says, I planned to go, but now I feel, I can't afford the trip!" "Very clever, indeed." " How nice." "At last, a calm, uneventful morning." "Thank you, my dear." "We can only trust, there'll be no more murders for the rest of our stay here." "Hope the weather will improve soon." " Where's Mr. Tanner?" "Morning." "Kindly excuse me for being so late." "Thank you." "I tried to contact the mainland." " Did you have any luck?" "Can we get over?" " There's no work on the dyke, so far." "And they predict the flood will be rising." "Apparently, nobody's left on the peninsular." "Only us." "What you've done for the family is extremely dangerous." "Outside, there's nothing but swamp and moor." "Not even the streets are safe." "I was rather hoping to be rid of this mad-man, Tilling." "Oh, didn't you know?" "Tilling is dead." "Did he commit suicide?" " No, he's been killed like the others." "By being strangled." " So, the murderer's still present." "Yes." " He must have escaped from the mad house." "I can't bear it much longer." " l think Sir Hockbridge is very close to the truth." "A normal man's very unlikely to have committed these crimes." "These scarves." "These damnable scarves." "If I had some idea where they came from." "I've considered the problem for a time, and today, doing my morning push-ups, I thought of the answer." "These scarves belonged to Lord Albert Spencer Lebanon, the Father of the late, lamented Lord Francis Percival Lebanon." "It was India they came from." " How many did he bring back?" "He purchased all things by the dozen." "He suffered from the delusion, that, if he did not the salesman would bite him." " Wish they had." "Where are the scarves?" "When I took over in the fourth generation the posted butler at Marks priory, they were in a chest, in the green salon." " Where's the green salon?" "It's occupied by Mr. Ross, at present." "Go upstairs and search it." " Not alone." "Alright, go with him!" "After breakfast." " He better go on alone." "Well, could have done that right away." "Mr. Tanner, you said a while ago, that the killer can't be sane." "Are you aware that a dope addict is also capable of murder?" "Kindly explain that, Doctor Amersham." " Aren't there traits of our illegitimate" "Lebanon that have struck you?" " Ross?" "Not that I know of, I'm certain." "Yesterday, for example." "Didn't you notice how he trembled, smashed a glass in his hand and fled to his room?" "Well, yes, but what does it mean?" "It was when Lady Lebanon rebuked him." "No." "The symptoms indicate the warmth of an essential tranquillising agent." "Whether it is morphine, or cocaine, or heroin, it's all the same." "Whatever you're after, you won't find it." " Hope springs eternal in the human heart." "Yes, you are quite eligible." "All the heirs are targets for the murderer." "You too." "The closer you come to the solution, the worse danger you'll be in." "That's a very good point, of course." "And very alarming, isn't it?" "Yes." " Scared?" "For you." "Frankly." "That's sad. I was absolutely positive, that when Tilling shot at me, you called out my name in a loud voice." " You have a vivid imagination." "Apparently." "Find anything?" " No, although I looked very carefully." "That was on the cards." "What' that?" " A pair of black gloves of My Lady." "Good work." "You can go." "Uh, Ross, where are the scarves?" "I'll never tell." "I need them for the others." "Very amusing." " The last is kept especially for you." "Very nice, so I've still got some time." "I wanted to ask you something, Ross." "How long have you been a dope addict?" "Edward!" "This is..." "Why do you act this way with your elders, eh?" "What's wrong?" "Edward?" "What's wrong with you?" "What is it?" "Aren't you hot?" "Get out of my room!" " But, Edward, I was just..." "Get out of here at once!" " What did I do?" "Mad!" "What's happened, Sir Hockbridge?" "King!" "Go on upstairs!" "Edward!" "Edward!" "Please, it's me!" "Qpen up." "Edward!" "Open the door!" "Ah, he's playing!" " What happened, Hockbridge?" "You can tell us." " Uh, nothing." "I knocked on the door, then I went in." "And suddenly..." " Where'd you find that scarf?" "What?" "Where'd I find what?" " That scarf!" "I've no idea." "It must have come from my room." "It was in my chest, so I took it." "I never gave it a thought." "Oh, I'm sick." "Quite sick. I've got a temperature." "I'm not used to this damn climate anymore." "I'm going to be demolished." "I must go up and rest." "Yes, Sir Henry." "Lie down a while." "Chiko will heat your bath." "You should have a steam bath this evening." "And then tomorrow your fever will be gone." " Yes, thank you." "I must have a word alone with you, My Lady." "Right away, please." "Yes, of course." "Well, as suspects, you and Miss Harris won't do." "The murderer must have been a man." "It takes a lot of strength to strangle a man like Tilling." "Neither of you could manage." "So, first off, who've we got?" " King, get down!" "First of all, Chiko." "He's got strength enough, but not enough intelligence." "Then, Bonwit..." " Ah!" "Mr. Tanner, admit that idea's a bit ludicrous." " Yes." "Then, of course, Hockbridge, who has all it takes." "The strength, the motive, the intelligence and the instrument." "Amersham's got to be reckoned with, and Mr. Ross, who detests you all, because you treated him like a prier." " And who is an addict, as Amersham has observed." " That's right." "Yes, and then we must count... your son." "What?" " Yes, naturally." "He might lose a fortune worth millions of pounds in this testament." "You dare accuse my son of this scandal." "That boy's never had anything on his mind but his music." "One person you have forgotten, is a certain Mr. Tanner." "Me, you say?" " Yes!" "Who can be sure, you haven't already examined the last will." "That it doesn't contain a clause, whereby you would become sole heir if none of the family were left alive after you've killed... all the immediate prospects." "But, My Lady..." " Then show me the last will. immediately!" "I can't do that." "Not before the seventh morning." "Enough!" "Enough!" "This idiotic piano playing is driving me mad!" "I've no idea!" "I'm sure, I didn't see nothing!" "Just steam." "Steam." "Always steam!" "Steam?" "Did you hear anything?" " No." "Only steam." "Only steam..." "What's the matter with you?" "Chiko, you know something!" "No, Sir. I don't know nothing." " Ah." "Well, wait for me near the heater." "I might have more to say to you." "Yes, Sir." " Did you speak to Sir Hockbridgeat all, while you were in here?" " No, I didn't." "No, no." "Two men who meet in the steam bath, and don't speak to each other?" "Strange..." "What's so strange about that?" " But you must have seen him, if he sat there on the bench?" "You must have!" " Of course." "And neither of you opened your mouths?" " Well, if you really must know, he said that the idiotic piano playing was driving him crazy." "Edward!" "You might have tried to say that a little more tactfully." "Sorry, I didn't think." "Where were you yesterday between 8and 10?" " Where were you between 8and 10?" "Why, you..." " A nice cup of hot tea is what you need." "Get out, Bonwit!" "What did you say, Sir?" " Oh, Mr. Tanner meant, just for the moment, we won't have tea." " Very well, My Lady." "By all means, continue." "By the way, someone broke in to my room yesterday." "And went to a good deal of trouble to get hold of the last will." "Someone's anxious to know the contents ahead of time." "What's the point of gaping at me?" "Mr. Tanner?" "So you don't remember, My Lady?" "That was clumsy of you, Amersham." "You've managed... to aim Tanner's suspicions straight at me." " l didn't go to his room, my dear." "I give you my word." " And what's that worth?" "A shilling, a penny, or nothing at all." "And let this be the last time, you adopt that familiar tone." "The time for that is long passed." "I warn you." "You may go too far." "I'll set all my cards on the table." " And spend the rest of your life behind bars?" " Yes." "Both of us together." "But you'd be using a good deal more." "Get out." "Chiko!" "Mr. Tanner!" "Mr. Tanner!" "I'm working!" "What do you want?" "is Chiko often here?" " He sits with meas often as he can." "At which time, you encourage him to liquidate your relatives, right?" "You underestimate me." "It's a matter of principal with me to commit my own murders." "Chiko's been murdered." "His conscience drove him to commit suicide." "I never could stand you, Tanner." "With your macabre jokes." "Now, Ross, it's no joke." "I'm afraid it's the plain truth." "Chiko was scared." "Panic stricken." "That I'd succeed in making him confess." " What do you mean by that?" "Chiko did commit the murders." "But he was simply the tool." "Somebody else was using it." "Mr. Ross." "My Lady, breakfast is served." "Thank you, my darling." "Have a good breakfast." "Now, he wants breakfast in bed!" "Naturally." "The guests are fewer, so they expect more." "No reason for him to be here at all." "What's the matter?" " Where's your suitcase?" "You must get out." "You might at least say good morning." " We've got no time for manners." "The situation is desperate." " But, why?" "There have been five murders here." "I thought you might have noticed." "And I won't let you be the sixth!" "You're going to pack up your things!" "As of today, you're sleeping with me." "What?" "Who do you think you are!" "Just come with me." "What's this?" "A closet." " So you think!" "Look!" "He could walk in any time he wants to." " Who?" "The murderer!" "And when he walks in, you may never walk out, so come on!" "Good morning." "Tea is served in your room." " Please bring breakfast for Miss Harris to my room, too." "She'll stay with me." " Very well, Sir." "Sir!" "This sort of game isn't permitted at the castle." "I mean, not so openly." "From the beginning, I never trusted that Tanner." "Never!" "And I don't understand Isla either." "She's with him all the time now." "Oh, my poor dear." "She's no great loss, now. ls she?" " Yes." "She means a great deal to me." "I'll marry Isla, one day." "What?" "Up to now, I've never had much amusement." " But, Edward." "You were always a happy child." "Do you think so?" "I was always very lonely." "Outside of you and Papa, I never saw another human being." "I always worked ten, twelve hours a day!" "I never even knew that other things existed." "But since I've known Isla..." "Edward..." "Yes, what is it?" " Breakfast, My Lady." "No, not now." "Edward..." "The Edinburgh Meteorological Institute announces, that Hurricane Carla is moving northward." "The force of the hurricane, which caused serious damage on the west coast of Scotland, is gradually diminishing." "Thank the Lord." "Finally, a glimmer of hope." "Listen carefully." "We can't leave here yet." "There are only the moors, and all the roads are impossible." "We must resign ourselves to staying here." "And somehow, try to survive." "Give me one." "Four..." "Thank you." "Four heirs remain alive." "One of them must be the murderer, of course." "And, if he runs true to form, he will naturally try to, you know what." "Yes, why should he leave a job half done?" "You bet." "Why indeed." "I searched in here with a fine tooth comb, without finding another entrance." "In case I have to leave you by yourself here, just remember to lock up, like Snow White." " Snow White!" "And, if anybody tries to break in, by force, then by all means, shoot." "Yes. I'm going to show you how it's done." "First, you take the revolver..." "The revolver's gone!" " Hands up!" "The revolver's gone!" " Hands up!" "I said, hands up!" "You were very smart indeed, Mr. Tanner." "Coming here, as an attorney, who nobody ever heard of before." "Neither My Lady, nor Amersham, nor Hockbridge!" "What are you really, Mr. Tanner?" "You don't want to talk?" "The police can be relied on to make you talk, you'll see." "For God's sake, you're completely crazy." " Because you two couldn't fool me?" "A very respectable pair of connivers." "Get out." "And no false moves." "Come on, Isla." "We've got to." "A pretty pistol, you got there." " Shut up!" "Stop here!" "Alright, Miss Harris. ln here!" "Go on." "Go on downstairs." "You filthy swine!" "Wanted me to break my neck, didn't you?" " lt'll happen." "Open the door!" "Open up!" "But, Miss Harris!" "You were just in the bedroom with Mr. Tanner." "How did you get in here?" " Quick, get the police immediately!" "All our lives depend on it!" "Halt!" "In here." "My dear friend, when Cleopatra arrives, please be so kind as to notify the Yard." "It is a matter of live and death." "Very sincerely yours, Richard Bonwit." "Murder!" "Murder!" " No stupid remarks now, if you please!" "Don't bring disgrace down upon your master." "Fly quickly and decently!" "No amorous adventures on the way." "You may save our lives." "Direction North-Northwest." "Well?" " All taken care of, as you told us." "I found this suitcase, but I can't open the lock." "Nothing." "He's hidden it away somewhere else." "Don't worry." "The little girl will talk, I promise you." "What did he mean by that?" "Who's to talk?" "Isla." "Isla?" "I must hurt you very much, my son." "This Mr. Tanner is a criminal." "And Isla is his partner." "That's a lie." "That's a damned lie!" "A filthy dammed lie!" " Darling!" "Now, my darling, come!" "You mustn't be so upset." "What have you got there?" " l'm bringing the spider of the deceased" "Sir Hockbridge to the radiator. it's used to a tropical climate extremely nervous." "Give it here." "Hey there!" "Be damned!" "For the last time." "Where's Tanner keeping the will?" "Where's the testament?" " l haven't any idea. I don't know!" "You know, and you'll inform me!" " l tell you, I can't!" "Help me!" "Help!" "Don't worry, that swine won't harm you, Isla." "What was that?" "Please recall, you come from the same sty." "You're no son of my Father's." " Oh yes." "Oh yes, and I can prove it." "The old fellow recognised his paternity and paid alimony." "He was rather liberal." "Shame on you!" "Isla?" "Isla!" "Ross locked Mr. Tanner up somewhere." " Very odd behaviour. I'll inform My Lady, so we can free the poor man." " No, don't." "We must find him ourselves." "Alright." "Let's go find him together." "But you must do me one favour." "How many people will beat supper tonight?" " Absolutely no clue." "Mr. Tanner!" "Frank!" "Frank?" " Here I am!" "Here he is!" " ln here!" "Oh, Frank!" "Ross..." " This time you definitely said Frank." "Ross wanted to know where the will is." "He tied me to a chair!" "If Edward had bee..." " Where's Ross now?" "In his room." "With Edward." "You're responsible to me for her life." " l will never abandon her, I swear." "That's a bit too responsible." " Have no fear." "When aroused to fury, I am a tiger!" "Isla!" "Bonwit!" "Bonwit!" " Sir?" "What are you doing?" "Where's Miss Harris?" " Quite safe, Sir." "Go and find out where Mr. Ross is." "I'll come right away." " Righty-oh, Sir." "What's going on?" "That's no food, it's our dear deceased Uncle Chiko." "It's all plaster." "All plaster!" "What is it?" " Sir!" "What's wrong with the dog?" " Sir!" "Get the dog out of here." " Go on, King." "One more, bites the dust." "We misjudged him." "He wasn't the murderer." "He wasn't an addict, either." "This is insulin." "He was diabetic." "Edward?" "Edward." "The game is over..." "Lady Lebanon." "Yes." "And it seems I'm the loser." "I couldn't resign myself to the idea that my poor son would lose his property." "I tried to protect him, that's all." "You took quite a while before you found me out." "Yes." "You're right." "I was mistaken in thinking you didn't have the strength." "Look at these." "Your prizes should have made me suspect." "Tennis, golf, riding..." "Oh, yes." "You were plenty strong enough." "Yes." "Yes, I'm strong." "When Chiko died, I nearly guessed the truth." "He was there when Hockbridge was murdered, wasn't he?" "But he refused to betray you." "So he picked the only way out." "A mother's love is very touching, My Lady." "But what you did in its name, is quite a different matter." "I don't have to say what's in store for you now." "You've known all along." "Well." "At present, there's not much space left, Sir." "Gentlemen, ladies." "With your kind permission, I will proceed to read the will." "My last will and..." "The sun is shining, gaily." "We are once again connected to the mainland." "Castle Marks Priory." "Tanner speaking." " Scotland Yard. Inspector Foxman here." "I got a message from my friend Bonwit." "Seems all is not well at the castle?" "No, everything's under control." " l'll be there in an hour." "Yes, but..." "Scotland Yard's arriving in an hour." "They were enquiring about a message." "An aerial one." "Cleopatra!" "Well, we'd better finish this affair." "I'll try to begin once more." "My last will and testament." "My dears..." "Silence, please." "When the members of my family will have succeeded in exterminating each other out of greed, or when they have finally been murdered, by my crazy son, the scarf appended to my will is here with bequeathed as a personal souvenir," "and out of gratitude to his loyalty to... my faithful butler, Mr. Richard Maria Bonwit." "Castle Marks Priory and the rest of my property I here with bequeath to the great man, whom I consider as the finest writer of the century." "Edgar Wallace."