The Fallen Idol Page #7

You can keep that marble if you'd like.

Baines had a quarrel with Mrs. Baines | about you last night, didn't he?

No!

Didn't you hear them quarreling?

No!

- Phillipe, why did you run away? | - I took a walk.

Oh, a bit late, wasn't it, for a walk? | In your pajamas?

Now, wasn't it because Mrs. Baines | frightened you?

No.

But she did hit you, didn't she?

No.

- She came to your room last night. | - No.

Phillipe, tell me, what did you see | that made you run away?

I didn't run away.

Mrs. Baines was away all day | yesterday, wasn't she?

- What did you do? | - I went to the zoo with Baines and -

"And"?

Phillipe. And?

And then we went to the reptile house, | and then we came home.

- And then? | - We had supper.

- "We"? | - Baines.

- I, Baines and - | - Yes? And?

And then we - | And then we played games.

- What sort of games, Phillipe? | - Hide-and-seek in the dark.

I always get a bit frightened | when I play that. Who hid?

I hid, and they couldn't find me.

- "They"? | - Baines, I mean! Baines, I mean!

"They," Phillipe? | Now, who was with Baines?

- Nobody! Nobody! | - Phillipe.

- Who did you play hide-and-seek with? | - Baines!Just Baines!

You must tell the truth.

What is this? What are they saying?

It's a bit fast, sir. | I can't quite follow.

Will you speak English, please.

Don't badger them.!

I'm here, aren't I, | if you want to ask any questions.

Now, Phillipe, tell me...

who was with Baines?

His niece.

- Was she your niece, Mr. Baines? | - I told him so.

Your girl?

Yes. It was me.

- You were here? | - Yes. He wanted to keep me out of it.

He d - He di - | didn't mean any harm.

And this telegram?

She tried to catch us out, I suppose.

You'd better go upstairs, Phillipe.

You can keep the marble if you like.

- Baines. | - No, no. Mr. Baines is staying here.

Now we're getting somewhere.

Your quarrel with Mrs. Baines last night | was over this young lady.

It was what I said. | She went for the boy. She was hitting him.

That's not what the boy says.

Can't you see that child is lying?

I'm afraid there have been | a lot of lies in this business.

- There was no need for them. | - I sincerely hope there wasn't.

Now, will you come upstairs | and tell me exactly what happened.

I was in this room... with Julie.

Mm-hmm? Yes?

I thought I heard the boy calling.

I came out here...

and then I saw her hit him, | as I told you.

- Go on. | - She came running down these stairs.

She wanted to get into that room, | toJulie.

I caught hold of her.

She pushed me back.

She was hysterical.

She used to get into these rages | and do anything.

I've known her to put her hand | through a window she couldn't open.

I wasn't going to let her get in there.

Yes? And then?

And then I pushed her back...

over there.

She was shouting all the time.

I don't remember exactly what.

And we -we were struggling...

here.

Yes.

"Stop it," I said. "Stop it.

Go downstairs, and presently | I'll come down and talk to you. "

Then she seemed calmer | and started down the stairs.

I went back to this room.

- What is it, Harry? | - They're on the telephone from Selfridges.

They want to know if it'd | be all right if they deliver...

...the 40 gilt chairs tomorrow afternoon...

instead of today...

as the reception | is not till Wednesday night.

Yes, yes, tomorrow will be all right.

Then I - | I went back to this door.

No, Harry | - Harry, tell them they must...

deliver the chairs today because we..

Just tell them they must | deliver the chairs as arranged.

Then I - | I went back to the door.

When I got there, | I heard the scream...

as I told you.

I came out...

and when I got here...

I saw her hit the last step.

We've examined this staircase | very carefully, Mr. Baines...

and there's no evidence | of her having slipped.

When people slip, | they try to recover.

They leave some sign - | a scratch on the banister, anything.

It's just like a car skidding.

- What, and there's nothing? | - Nothing.

And the injuries would indicate | something more than a slip.

You're quite sure | you didn't, uh, push her?

You were both, I take it, very angry.

I'd done enough to her without that.

You see, | if she'd slipped from here...

or even a few steps down...

she couldn't possibly have landed | where she did -

because we've tested that -

unless she was pushed.

You're a very strong man, Mr. Baines.

You probably don't | know your own strength.

I didn't push her.

Why did the boy ask you, | "Was it self-defense...

as in Africa?'"

I've never been out of the country.

- Never? | - Well, except once, to Ostend.

Very well, Mr. Baines. Would you come

into the other room? And you too, miss.

- And whose room is this? | - A guest room.

Where were you when it happened, | when the scream came, hmm?

Yes?

There.

Although there had | been a struggle outside

and angry words, | according to Mr. Baines?

I couldn't do anything else.

I should have thought | you'd have got up and tried to hide.

I couldn't.

I'm sorry to have to ask you | all these questions.

- You then dressed in a great hurry, I suppose. | - Of course.

That would be after the scream.

Yes.

How long was that | after the child called out?

I don't know.

Two, three minutes. | I don't know.

- The child said he never called out. | - He must be lying.

It's obvious somebody must be lying.

When you dressed, | what did you do?

He showed me out.

Wouldn't it have been wiser, | and more honest, to have stayed?

He wanted to keep me out of it. | I was frightened because of our lies.

I don't understand you.

Then I - I can't explain to you.

How long had you known Mr. Baines?

Ever since I started to work | at the embassy- seven months.

- Without Mrs. Baines's knowledge? | - Yes.

And all that time you were | carrying on an affair with each other.

- We are very busy here. | - Won't be a moment.

Look, can't you come back later?

The first Monday of every month...

this clock has to be done.

They behave much better if they're, uh - | if they're looked after.

Oh, be as quick as you can.

You don't want to do it jerkily...

and not too fast.

You must take your time.

Thank you.

Did you ever discuss marriage?

No.

But your relations with this man | were intimate.

We love each other.

And intimacy took | place during that period?

We don't talk the same language. | I don't know what you mean.

- I mean, in plain language - | - Oh, leave her alone, can't you?

Don't worry. | It's his duty to ask questions.

Last night was the first time | we were ever alone like this.

Now, you take your photographs | and fingerprints and everything.

It's love you'll photograph, | not "intimacy. "

What do you want, sonny?

You've got to leave Baines alone. | He didn't do it.

- Didn't do what? | - He didn't murder her!

Why did you say "murder," Phillipe?

No one has mentioned murder.

Thank heaven someone has then.

Why did you say "murder," Phillipe?

He didn't do it.

Well, if he didn't do it...

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