Hotel Reserve Page #4

the secret photographs. Yes.

Mary, keep this to yourself. I don't

want anyone to know. All right.

Thank you. Whatever you do,

keep out of the sun.

TELEPHONE RINGS:

Hello? Peter Vadassy. Oh, Vadassy.

Yes? Well, what is it? What is it?

I was knocked out in

my room just now.

Did you identify the man?

No, he attacked me from behind.

Your room was searched?

Yes.

Two rolls of film are missing.

Anything else?

No, nothing.

Hello? Hello? Are you still there?

Don't fuss, but listen carefully.

Go back and tell Madame Koche

that your suitcase was forced open

and that several things

have been stolen.

A silver cigarette case, a diamond pin,

a gold watch chain

and the two rolls of film.

Make a scene. I want them all

at the hotel to know about it.

But do NOT ask for the police.

Do you understand? I can't do that.

Don't argue, but do as you're told.

Was your suitcase forced?

No.

Then force it yourself before

you tell Madame Koche.

Is that clear? Yes, but I have

no cigarette case or a diamond pin.

Of course not. They've been stolen!

Get on with it!

Why did he come here to telephone?

There's a telephone in the hotel.

And who's the guy with him?

His keeper(!) Another drink?

Swell idea.

Waiter! Vermouth cassis and a whisky.

M Duclos!

M Duclos!

M Duclos!

I want to talk to you.

It's very important.

M Duclos, you're a

man of the world.

Can you give me advice on a

matter of some delicacy?

I am at your disposal.

I have experience of this.

But how...?

I am a man of the world. She's charming.

What are you talking about?

Miss Skelton.

It's nothing to do with her.

I've been robbed.

A burglary?! My suitcase has been

forced and my valuables taken.

Who could it be? The major?

Possibly.

Roux? Heinberger?

Maybe someone from the village.

You'll help me?

We must inform the police.

That would cause a scandal.

Yes. We want to keep it dark.

Naturally. But a few discreet

enquiries. I understand perfectly.

You can rely on me. I'll get

to the bottom of this for you.

You may trust me implicitly.

I do, M Duclos. I do.

M Duclos is coming.

Come here.

A most terrible thing has happened.

M Vadassy has been robbed

of valuable jewels.

Was there violence?

What are we going to do?

Wait. Meantime, not a word.

My watch!

We must go back to the hotel.

Have you heard the news? There's

been a burglary in the hotel.

Burglars?

M Vadassy has had everything stolen.

His diamond pin. His pearl studs. And

the watch presented to his father.

Gold?

Yes.

I'm amazed

Vadassy had such valuables.

I understand on the highest authority

he's travelling incognito.

Good Lord! Yes. So the utmost

secrecy must be observed.

Not a word of this must leak out.

Pardon my intrusion. But there's a

gang of crooks at large in the hotel.

They've stolen important papers

from M Vadassy. Secret documents.

It may lead

to international complications.

What's going on, Peter? When I left

you, you were completely down.

What's so funny?

Isn't Duclos marvellous?

What's all this about

you travelling incognito?

Did he really say that?

I don't understand. Explain.

Mary, I know this seems

insane, but I think

everything's going to be all right.

I'll take your word for it.

Don't be angry, Mary. I'm not angry.

I'll explain soon, I promise.

He's a genius.

Remember - I can't impress upon you

enough the importance of secrecy.

The peace of the world may depend on it.

I may be summoned to Geneva myself.

(I've already heard from

the Minister of the Interior...)

HE MOUTHS:

Excuse me, monsieur.

Yes, Albert?

Madame would be grateful if

you'd come to her office.

What's the matter now?

I'll be back in a minute.

Come in!

M Vadassy.

Come in, M Vadassy.

Sit down, monsieur.

I hope you have

some satisfactory news for me.

No, monsieur. None of the staff

could throw any light on the affair.

Most of them have been

with me for years

and I'm satisfied they're telling

me the truth. ..You may go.

This is really a case

for the police.

Do you think that's altogether advisable?

I have no intention of calling them.

I don't want any more scandal.

I asked you to say nothing until

I had gone into the matter.

You lost no time in doing

precisely the opposite.

I admit that I did discuss

the matter with M Duclos.

M Duclos! M Vadassy, I have now been in

the hotel business for a number of years.

I've met gentlemen

of your kind before.

You broke open the case yourself.

But this is absurd!

I assure you, madame... Please,

monsieur, there is nothing you can say.

You will leave my hotel tomorrow.

I do not wish the other guests to know why.

You will find some plausible excuse.

Here's your bill.

I cannot say that I hope to see you

again at the Hotel Reserve.

KNOCKS GENTLY ON DOOR

I'm afraid

you'll find nothing of value here.

I... Spare me your excuses.

Now, would you prefer to see

Madame Koche here? Or in her office?

I don't want to see her. I've taken

nothing. There is nothing to take.

Some valuables were stolen

from MY suitcase. I suspected you.

I happen to have discussed

your story with Madame Koche.

She tells me you're leaving.

Under protest. This is part of your

protest? Put it that way if you like.

However, I see that you are not

the thief. I can only apologise.

That will not do. It would be

as well that you stayed here

until we discuss this

with Madame Koche.

You can't charge me with anything.

My dear Vadassy, you are

already known to the police.

You came here with the

intention of stealing.

You can explain

yourself to the police.

Under what name are you going

to lodge your complaint?

Herr Heinberger?

Emil Schimler of Berlin?

Or Paul Czissar of Prague?

So, you're NOT a hotel sneak thief!

I told you I wasn't a thief.

No, you're a filthy, little spy!

KNOCK ON DOOR:

Yes? You rang, monsieur?

It was a mistake.

That was a fortunate interruption for

you, my friend. I was going to kill you.

Perhaps we can talk sense.

I suppose you've never heard

of a man called Beghin? No.

You soon will. He's attached

to naval intelligence at Toulon.

Doesn't that suggest

anything to you?

I have a suspicion, Vadassy, that

we're talking at cross purposes.

Who are you? What do you want?

I want a piece of information.

What did you do with that camera? I

don't know what you're talking about.

Then I shall hand you over

for interrogation. You fool!

My reasons for using a different name

are nothing whatever to do with you.

The police know who I am

and so does Madame Koche.

You are trying to blackmail me into

giving information I don't possess.

Am I right?

More or less.

You've seen the passports.

I'll be frank with you.

I daren't let this

information get any further.

That's your affair.

Vadassy, in 1933, I was editor of the

Social Democrat newspaper in Berlin.

That year, German social democracy

died a bitter death.

I was arrested by the Nazis

and sent to a concentration camp.

They're not very pleasant places.

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