Sleuth Page #11

When-when was it ?

Where was she found ?

What ?

Uh, Joyce, uh,

I can't understand what you--

Do try to control your--

What ?

The Police...

asked--

Oh, my... God.

You should've believed me.

Now, we're gonna play the game.

In a little over 30 minutes,

the law will arrive.

It's going to be your giant brain...

against their plodding ones.

Concealed about this room...

are four clues incriminating you...

as Tea's murderer,

including, as a final expression of

your contempt for the Police,

the murder weapon itself.

Now, are you ready ?

You can't make a game out of real murder.

We'll see.

Now, remember:
four objects.

Those that you don't find,

be sure the Police will.

And they are all in plain view.

And the first object is...

a crystal bracelet.

- Not the one--

- Yes.

I tore it off her wrist.

It's, uh, it's inscribed--

All right, all right !

I know how it's inscribed.

- Would you like some help ?

- Yes, damn you !

Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. So soon.

Now, where's my list ?

- Oh, God.

- Here it is.

"For any man with half an eye,

what stands before him he may spy.

"But optics sharp it needs, and clean,

to see what is not to be seen."

You said everything was in plain view !

Well, aren't I the shifty old sly boots then ?

You're not giving me anything for a chance,

you bastard !

Now, think, think, think.

It's in plain view yet not to be seen,

and optical tricks involved.

To see what is not to be

seen by the naked eye.

It's-it's microscopic !

Only a fragment of it is showing !

That's it !

The traditional tool of your trade, Inspector.

Why don't you ask yourself...

how your man "Merridick"

would go about the search.

Merridew ! St. John Lord Merridew !

Calm. Keep calm.

Now, think. What are the problems of crystal ?

Hard, brilliant, transparent.

Look through it, but you don't see it.

That's the trick !

Now, the only place to conceal

transparent things...

so as to make it invisible and yet

leave it in plain view...

is on or in another transparent thing

like-- like--

Clear as crystal.

But I-- I don't need to destroy this, do I ?

She could've left it here any time.

- True.

- Go on. What next ?

- Ah.

The next object is much more incriminating.

Here's a little riddle which I'm sure...

one of your nannies must have taught you.

Two brothers we are

great burdens we bear

on which we are bitterly pressed.

The truth is to say

we are full all the day

and empty when

we go to rest.

I know that !

I know that.

Uh, just a minute.

"Full all the day, empty when we go to--"

I know ! It's a pair of shoes !

In this case, one lady's left black shoe,

size six.

The other, I need hardly add,

is on Tea's foot.

God ! Poor Tea.

Poor Tea, eh ? That's better.

Do you know that's the first sign

of sorrow you've shown...

since you heard of her death ?

You wouldn't put it here anyway, or even

upstairs among Marguerite's shoes.

It's too obvious.

- Such grief is touching.

You really are the salt of the

earth, you know that, Andrew ?

By the way, that's a clue,

if you're interested.

"Salt of the earth" ?

Earth ? It's buried !

No, better the other.

Salt. Salt.

Salt and pepper.

saltpeter. Salt water.

Salt cellar. It's in the cellar !

You're really turned on, aren't you, Andrew ?

Even though the game you're playing...

is for your own life,

you're practically having it off.

Shoe ! Shoe. I ask myself,

"if I was a black shoe, where would I hide ?

If I was as black as your hat--

If I was as black as the ace of spades--

If I was as black as--"

- Coal !

That's it !

Bastard !

Dirty son of a b*tch !

You're getting warmer... and blacker.

Must be quite a new experience for you.

I don't suppose "blacks" play much of

a part in the books you write, do they ?

Except for the odd, eyeball-rolling darkie...

to take his place alongside the

swarthy yid, the oily lebantine,

and others.

Oh, I'm sorry it's so messy.

It's only earth...

from Tea's first grave in your garden.

Not so bad. We're up on the clock, I think.

- Barely.

Well, what's next ?

What do you find so damned amusing ?

What the hell are you laughing at ?

- You sure you're all right ?

- Yes, I'm all right, Jack.

Jack ?

You simple minded twit !

You've been handing me the clue all along !

It's Jolly Jack Tar !

It's on the sailor !

True !

That's where it is.

But this time,

I am not going to tell you...

what it is.

All right !

He looks disappointed in you.

But then, it's no laughing matter.

Or is it ?

Do that again.

My God, he's never winked at me before !

I suppose the other lash is

on one of poor Tea's eyes.

She won't miss it. They're both closed.

How much more time ?

You've got about five minutes.

Hardly enough, I'd say.

There's one more thing left,

I think-- the murder weapon.

You strangled her over there with what ?

Rope ? A belt ?

A scarf ?

- It bit into her neck very deeply, Andrew.

I had to pry it loose.

You'll pay for that, I promise,

you sadistic, bloody wop !

I hope I didn't hear that correctly.

You're certain to need more help.

I'd hate to have to start giving

you difficult italian clues...

full of treachery and double meaning.

All right.

All right !

As several wops have remarked

from time to time,

non e oro tutto che scintilla.

Is that a clue ?

Say the damn thing again, then.

Non e oro tutto che scintilla.

No. Once more, please.

Non e oro tutto che scintilla.

Que hora ?

What's the time ?

No, uh--

Oro. Oro.

Gold ! Gold !

Oro tutto.

All gold.

Uh, scintilla. Scintilla.

Scintillare.

Uh, gold scintillates--

g-g-glitters--

All that glisters is not gold !

There will always be an England.

You strangled her with something

golden and scintillating.

What-- what's that ?

A musical clue. Right.

Now, um, golden, uh--

Golden notes.

Golden scale.

Golden-- golden chord.

It's a chord ! You strangled

her with a golden cord !

And like everybody does, you

hid it behind the bell pull !

No, damn it, you didn't.

"Anything goes !"

In olden days--

In olden days

a glimpse of stocking

was looked on

as something shocking--

Stocking !

Where would you put stockings ?

Up the-- on legs.

Legs-- the golden legs !

There's not a golden leg in the blasted house.

It-- is it in this room ?

Non capisco.

Oh !

Bastard !

In olden days

a glimpse of stocking

was looked on

as something shocking

Now, heaven knows

anything goes

The world has gone mad today

and good's--

I-I think I can hear something.

Andrew ? Andrew !

- What ?

- They're here. The Police are here.

It looks like you've had it.

They're coming up the drive.

- Keep them out !

- Keep the Police out ?

It's just not done, old boy.

But still, I'll try.

Just one more minute !

Stall them somehow ! Please ?

Remember:

"In olden days,

a glimpse of stocking."

Mr. Tindle.

- Olden days.

- I wasn't expecting to find you here, sir.

- Good evening, Sergeant Tarrant.

- A glimpse--

In olden days.

Before tights, what ? Nylon.

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