Rope of Sand Page #7

into think air.

Who know?

Perhaps he's here in Angola.

In fact, certain information

I have leads me

to believe he is.

Of course, he still faces

certain obstacles like finding

an unscrupulous person to

Polish the diamonds and

disposing of them.

But in all these things, if I

can only locate the man, I

could help him.

I...

I could even help him to arrange

for a shipment of the

diamonds in... in small lots

to various countries.

Which is what I would

suggest. -Go away.

Yes, he's awful sorry.

He left great disaster

in his trail.

I think I've said it before,

there's nothing but suffering

from contact with this hardest

of all matter...

glass, steel, human soul.

As for the death of poor Dr.

Hunter, well, he drank a

little too much anyway.

But I feel really sorry for

mademoiselle Renaud.

I just can't believe

she killed him.

There's no one who can

prove differently.

Oh, that a girl so beautiful

should die.

Signore!

Senors!

Mr. Davis, try and remember

now that you're a rich man.

This violence is no

longer necessary.

Tell me the truth.

I'm only reporting

an incident...

tell me the truth.

If you'll let me

get in my inside

pocket, there's a clipping.

It'll...

it'll verify everything.

Mademoiselle Suzannette de

Renaud, known also as Suzanne

Renaud, who is being held for

the murder of Dr. Francis

Kiteeridge Hunter,

a diamond stud...

where did you ever

learn how to read?

This is what is says.

It says a French tramps

try to cross off Mike

Davis then got herself...

Nobody ever did me any favors.

Nobody!

Well, I think as long as you're

determined to... to

sacrifice this great fortune

and go back to diamond stud

and help the girl, I...

I think I know a man who can

arrange for us to make this

trip, quietly.

Of course I...

I'll needs some money.

May I get you some

strong coffee?

I thought you got by on charm.

I didn't know you did homework.

I thought I felt a draft.

Close that will you, please?

Michael, I can save

considerable time, I think, by

telling you immediately that

I could never accept your

proposition.

You haven't heard my

proposition yet.

You have your diamonds.

Now you want your girl.

Why else would you

risk coming back?

I cannot do it.

It's even better than that.

An even trade, the diamonds

for the girl.

You're really in love

with her, aren't you?

After what she did?

I got her into this, and

I have to get her out.

That's all.

I never know what

to think anymore.

I'm being constantly

disillusioned.

Has money completely

lost its power?

Is everyone motivated

now by love?

The diamonds for the girl?

Really, my dear Michael,

she's not worth it.

On the streets of cape town...

stick to the point.

Yes or no?

Hm.

It appeals to me, yes.

It would make a her of me in

the eyes of the company.

It would distress Vogel.

No, Michael.

I'm afraid I cannot

buck the law.

Our directors have very definite

ideas on that matter.

Look, let me buck the law.

You stay charming.

Whenever you have the diamonds,

you wouldn't have

them here, of course.

I would be trusting you

to produce then.

One thing at a time.

I wouldn't know where to begin.

Put a piece of paper

in that typewriter,

and get Vogel here.

That would be very amusing

come in, Paul.

Well, what is it?

Uh, forgive me Paul

for getting you out

at this late hour.

But it's time we resolved this

curious situation in which we

find ourselves.

Couldn't this have waited

till the morning?

Uh, no.

I'm afraid no.

Now we are both responsible

for the loss of the

diamonds, aren't we?

So even despising each other

as we do, we're obliged to

protect each other to

protect ourselves.

Is that so?

I've protected myself this time.

Would you sign this, please?

What is it?

I'll read it for you.

Mademoiselle Suzanne Renaud

known by whatever aliases et

cetera, et cetera.

Mademoiselle Suzanne Renaud is

innocent of the murder of Dr.

Francis Kiteeridge Hunter.

She will be released

immediately.

Signed, Paul Vogel, commandant,

witnessed Fred

Martingale.

Only our signatures are missing.

And this is intended as

some sort of joke?

The humor escapes me.

Let me explain it to you.

Davis and Martingale.

I see.

Personally, I decided

to the relax.

Your can see that our friend

is somewhat overwrought.

He was here when you phoned me.

Well, forgive my lack of

courage, but there was a gun

at my head.

Sign that paper, Vogel.

Martingale, you witness it.

Speaking for myself,

I have an enormous

antipathy to dying.

Sign it.

What if we sign?

We take our chances on getting

out and you take your

chances I send you the diamonds.

You'll give us our pass,

of course.

I won't.

She'll hang.

Sign it.

I'll sign.

But you won't get far.

I swear it.

Whenever you go, I'll

be waiting for you.

For you and the girl.

You'll be waiting for us wherever?

It says there above your

signature that mademoiselle

Renaud did not kill Dr. Hunter.

Then who did, Vogel?

Who did?

Who else but you was in the

room when he was killed?

You've just signed a confession

of murder.

I could prove before any court

that I signed this with

a gun at my throat.

Not if you died now.

Martingale is a witness.

I wonder if he's care

to testify for you.

Breathe, Vogel.

No grave would have you.

Cigar, Paul?

Mike?

I'm so sorry, Paul.

You gave me the gun too late.

You double tongued swine.

Oh, by the way Paul,

there's something

I neglected to tell you.

Something I think you

might like to know.

The report that deprived you

of a district of your own.

Someone else must have sent it.

I didn't.

Do you hear me, Paul?

Oh.

You though I'd be killed.

I had faith that his first shot

would be a little wild.

Call your police.

Go ahead.

Well, now.

Let me see.

Gentleman of the jury, I

cornered the late commandant

Vogel into admitting the

murder of Dr. Hunter.

He signed a confession.

Then, it requested the courtesy

of a gun and a few

moments alone with it.

For a gentleman, I

could do no less.

I gave him the gun.

Then unexpectedly, he attempted

to seize the

confession and escape.

Fortunately, I had provided

myself with another gun.

I'd always suspected he wasn't

a gentleman actually.

Why?

I don't know, really.

Except that perhaps

I'm a little more

sentimental than I thought.

Ah.

Oh, very well then.

Vogel and I have been forced

to trust each other.

That was no good.

Suppose he killed me.

I took that gamble.

With my life?

You know, in his way he was

quite a remarkable fellow.

Nasty, but remarkable.

Mr. Martingale told me

the original plan

was to run away together.

The plans have been changed.

Yes, but you were willing to.

I got you into something.

I got you out of it.

That ends it.

Does it?

Does it really, Mike?

After what you did?

Hello there.

I forgot your going

away present.

No thanks.

They're some of yours.

Keep them for luck.

Toady.

Mike, don't you love me?

If you ever tried to get away

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