Dial M for Murder Page #6

Let's get moving on.

Almost empty.

Remind me to get some more.

It always runs out

just when we need it.

Look, before I forget,

the sergeant wanted to know...

...why you didn't phone

the police immediately.

-How could l?. You were--

-I know, but--

You distinctly told me not

to speak to anyone...

-...until you got here.

-I know...

...but I told him a slightly different story.

-Why?.

-Well, I said you didn't phone the police...

...because you naturally assumed

that I would do it from the hotel.

Why did you say that?.

Because it was the perfectly logical

explanation, and he accepted it.

Now, if they get the idea

that we delayed reporting it...

...they might get nosy and ask

all sorts of questions.

-You want me to say the same thing?.

-I think so...

...in case it comes up again.

That will be Mark.

Would you let him in?.

-Good morning, madam.

-Good morning.

-Mrs. Wendice?.

-Yes.

I'm a police officer.

May I come in?.

Of course.

Excuse me.

I'll just tell my husband you're here.

Thank you.

-Good morning.

-Good morning, sir.

I'm Chief Inspector Hubbard, in charge of

Criminal Investigation of this division.

I think we gave your sergeant

all the information.

Yes. I've seen his report, of course...

...but there are a few things

I'd like to get firsthand.

I gather the sergeant only saw you

for a few moments, Mrs. Wendice?.

-Yes, l--

-My wife was suffering...

...from considerable shock.

Yes, that was a very nasty

experience you had.

Mind if I take a look around?.

Go ahead. The bedroom and

bathroom are through here.

He certainly didn't get in

by the bathroom.

And the kitchen has bars

on the window.

We assume he must have come in

through these windows here.

I understand you weren't

here when this happened.

No, I was at a dinner party

at the Grendon Hotel...

...and by coincidence, I was phoning

my wife when she was attacked.

So I gather.

Can you tell me exactly

what time it was?.

No, I'm afraid I can't.

I do remember my watch had stopped.

Did you notice, Mrs. Wendice?.

-No, I didn't.

-Won't you sit down, inspector.

Why, thank you.

Have you any idea who he was?.

Yes. At least,

we've discovered where he lived.

There still seems to be some

confusion as to his real name.

He appeared to have several.

Had you ever seen him before?.

Why, no, of course not.

-Is this him?.

-Yes.

You don ' t recognize him?.

No, I never saw him.

But didn't you even catch

a glimpse of his face?.

No. You see, he attacked me

from behind, and it was dark.

I hardly saw him at all.

Yes, but before I showed you

these photographs...

...you said you'd never seen him before.

How could you know that

if you never saw his face last night?.

I don't quite understand.

Inspector, my wife simply means

that as far as she knew...

...she never saw him before.

-Was that what you meant?.

-Yes.

Now, how about you, sir?.

Had you ever seen him before?.

No.

-No, at least....

-Yes?.

He's very like someone I was at college

with, but the mustache makes a difference.

What was his name?.

I don't know.

It must be 20 years since I left it.

-Was it Lesgate?.

-No.

-Wilson?.

-No.

-Swan?.

-N--

Swan.

Wait a minute. Swan.

Yes, that's it.

Here's an old photo taken at a reunion.

We were at the same college.

There he is there.

Why, it's unbelievable.

-Did you know him well?.

-No. He was senior to me.

-Have you met him since then?.

-No, at least....

Come to think of it,

I did see him quite recently.

-But not to speak to.

-When was that?.

Six months ago, at a railway station.

Victoria, I think. I remember noticing

how little he'd changed.

Had he a mustache then, sir?.

No.

Mrs. Wendice, would you show me

exactly what happened last night?.

-Tony, do I have to?.

-I'm afraid so, darling.

I was in bed when the phone rang.

And I got up, and I came in here.

-Did you switch this light on?.

-No.

Just show me exactly where

you were standing.

I stood here,

and I picked up the phone.

Just one moment.

Are you sure you had your back...

-...to the window like that?.

-Yes.

-But why?.

-Why not?.

I mean, why go around the desk?.

I should have picked it

up from this side.

But I always answer

the phone from here.

But why?.

In case I have to write anything down,

I can hold the phone in my left hand.

I see, yes.

I'm sorry. Go on.

When I picked up the phone...

...he must have come from behind

those curtains and attacked me.

-He got something around my neck.

-Something?.

What do you mean?.

I think it was a stocking.

I see. And what happened then?.

Well, then he pushed me

across the desk.

I remember feeling for the scissors.

Where were those

scissors usually kept?.

In that mending basket.

I'd forgotten to put them away.

Now, what makes you think

he came from behind those curtains?.

-Where else could he have been?.

-The curtains were drawn?.

-They were.

-Did you draw them?.

No, inspector, I drew them

just before I went out.

-Did you lock the window at the same time?.

-Yes.

-Are you quite sure of that, sir?.

-Perfectly sure.

I always lock up when

I draw the curtains.

How do you suppose

he got in?.

We assume that he broke in.

There's no sign of a break-in.

Our report shows

the lock's quite undamaged.

Mrs. Wendice...

...why didn't you call the police

immediately this happened?.

I was trying to call to the police...

...when I discovered my husband

was on the line.

I naturally thought that he would

call the police from the hotel...

-...before he came here.

-Didn't it occur to you to call a doctor?.

-No.

-Why ever not?.

-He was dead.

-How did you know that?.

I--

-It was obvious.

-Did you feel his pulse?.

No. Of course I didn't.

Anyone would have

realized he was dead.

-Just one look at those staring eyes--

-So you did see his face after all.

I saw his eyes!

I can't remember his face!

Inspector, my wife obviously

had never seen this man before.

And if he didn't come in by those windows,

how did he get in?.

As a matter of fact, we're quite certain

that he came in by this door.

But it was locked.

Margot, did you open that door

at all after we'd gone?.

-No.

-How many keys are there to this door, sir?.

Only two. Mine was in my handbag,

and you had yours with you.

Yes, that's right.

-Has the caretaker got a key?.

-No.

Do you employ a charwoman?.

Yes, but she hasn't got one either.

I'm always here when she comes.

What makes you think

he came in this way?.

-His shoes.

-His shoes?.

The ground was soaking wet last night.

And if he'd come in by the garden,

he'd have left mud all over the carpet.

As it is, he didn't

leave any marks at all...

...because he wiped his shoes

on the front doormat.

-How can you tell?.

-It's a fairly new mat...

...and some of its fibers

came off on his shoes.

-But surely--

-And there was a small tar stain...

...on the mat, and some

of the fibers show that as well.

There is no question about it.

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