The Scarlet Claw

Who could be ringing the

church bell at this time?

Maybe it

ain't a who father

maybe it's an it.

And maybe it's

tolling the bell.

Awe there's no such things

as ghosts and monsters.

Haven't I made

that clear to you?

Something tore

the throats

out of Charlie

Roches sheep

and that something

didn't leave any tracks.

Andy Trent here

saw a weird glow

moving across the

marshes last night

and this morning

he found two of

his sheep dead.

There throats torn open.

Maybe the same thing

that killed Andy's sheep

is tolling the bell.

I was on my way just now

to deliver a

special letter

at Penrose Manor

when a strange light

appeared on the

road before me

then moved quickly

across the marshes

and faded into the mist.

I turned the car around

and hurried back here.

It's not real.

First the light

and now the bell.

There's a very sound

and logical reason

for the bell

tolling at this time

and I'm going to

find out what it is.

You can drive me to

the church Potts.

The letter can wait.

No hurry.

Nothing will harm you if

you're with the priest.

Is that true Father?

Awe what you

need is more faith

and less imagination.

Come along.

I'd better deliver that

letter to the manor.

I'm sure it's important.

Thank goodness that

bell has stopped.

Odd it's tolling at

this time of night.

I don't like it.

What with this phantom

around in the marshes.

I saw it again tonight.

Who would that be?

Where's Lord Penrose?

He's gone to Quebec.

Get him on the

phone immediately.

What's happened Father?

Lady Penrose dead

clutching the bell rope,

tolling for help.

It was dreadful.

Her ladyship.

Call Sergeant Thompson

at the police station.

Ask him to come to the

church immediately.

Come with me Potts

I may need you.

Yes Father.

Operator put me

through to Quebec.

Lord William Penrose.

Yes.

He's addressing a meeting

of the Royal Canadian

Occult Society

at a Quebec hotel.

It's urgent sir.

Page.

Yes sir.

Lord Penrose.

La Morte Rouge is

on the telephone.

It's urgent, he's

in the Gold Room.

Yes sir.

Gentlemen,

as you know

the greatest

obstacle in proving

the authenticity

of the occult

lies in finding facts.

However, if the

facts are there

even the most

harden skeptic,

provided he

has an open mind,

must finally acknowledge

the actual existence

of the supernatural.

Do you admit

that Mr. Holmes?

Facts are always

convincing Lord Penrose.

It's the conclusions

drawn from facts

that are

frequently in error.

Yes in the case of the

Hound of the Baskervilles,

as well as the Adventure

of the Sussex Vampire,

we found that...

Watson please.

Oh sorry.

Well gentlemen this

time I have facts.

Cold facts.

Many years ago,

one hundred to be exact,

an apparition

appeared at night

in the village now

called La Morte Rouge.

The following morning

three people

were found dead,

their throats torn out.

Hence the town's

rather a grime name.

Interesting yes.

But facts, no.

I hardly think the tales

of superstitious pheasants

can be considered...

I haven't finished

Mr. Holmes.

The La Morte Rouge has

again been the scene

of these strange and

unexplainable occurrences.

Unexplainable that is

from your point-of-view.

Several of our most

responsible citizens

have actually seen

the strange apparition

on the marshes at night

and next morning

sheep were discovered...

With there

throats torn out

and no traces of the

killer anywhere to be found.

Oh you've read about

it in the papers?

As a matter of

fact I haven't.

It was a merely

a deduction.

A rather obvious

one I'm afraid.

Deductions are

a weakness of mine

as Doctor Watson

can tell you.

Would you believe

it, Holmes can...

Well those are

facts Mr. Holmes.

Ignore them if you can.

But it's very urgent sir.

Very well, go ahead.

Thank you.

I never ignore

facts Lord Penrose

and I have no doubt that

the incident of the sheep

with their throats torn out

is unquestionably a fact.

However, the interpretation of this fact

as being final proof

of the existence

of the supernatural

is merely supposition

and therefore cannot be

accepted without further data.

Your opinions Mr. Holmes

are undoubtedly the result

of your inability

to cope with something

beyond the realm of

your comprehension.

I say old man.

I'm sorry John but this

ridiculous skepticism...

yes what it is my boy?

La Morte Rouge on

the telephone sir.

Very urgent my Lord.

Excuse me gentlemen.

I'm afraid Lord...

It's quite

understandable Sir John.

Lord Penrose is deeply

entrenched in his beliefs.

That's his privilege.

Oh hang it all Holmes,

the fellow was

positively rude.

Well shall we see a

little overwrought Watson?

I'm leaving immediately.

Order my car at

once and hurry.

Yes sir.

Gentlemen, my wife has

just been found dead.

Her throat torn out

in exactly the same

manner as the sheep.

This is terrible!

I say you don't

think that it's...

Undoubtedly Mr. Holmes

you would call it murder

by person or

persons unknown.

I'm sorry, If I can

be of any assistance...

Thank you, no.

I'm afraid the happenings

in La Morte Rouge

wouldn't interest

you Mr. Holmes.

Under the circumstances

I think we should adjourn.

Yes indeed Sir John.

Holmes what a

terrible thing.

Uh Sir John would

you be good enough

to convey our condolences

to Lord Penrose.

Yes I'd be glad to.

Say uh,

can't we get something

to eat before we leave?

We don't often get

food like you do here.

Don't you think

of anything else

besides your stomach?

No not often.

I think I'll get a paper.

Good morning.

Good morning sir.

I imagine you'll be glad to

get back to London Mr. Holmes?

Yes indeed.

Oh by the way, there's

a letter for you sir.

Thank you.

Here's something

about Lady Penrose.

She was found

in the church

with her throat

horribly cut

and then she dragged herself

from the marshes nearby

and tried to summon

help with a bell rope.

What is it Holmes?

Listen to this Watson.

What?

My dearest of Holmes.

I've every

reason to believe

my life is in danger.

Yet if you were to

ask me how I know

I couldn't give you

a logical answer.

There is nothing tangible,

yet like a

terrible premonition

it is also

frightfully real.

I've heard of you

being in Quebec

and I'm turning

to you, a stranger,

and asking your help

in the frantic hope

that you'll not fail me.

Well whose it from?

Signed Lillian Penrose.

Lillian Pen... Lady Penrose?

A letter from

the dead woman.

What's it mean Holmes?

I should say

that Lady Penrose

lived in fear of her life.

Some secret hidden in

her past in probability.

Perhaps it isn't

as simple as that.

What if Penrose is right?

I'm glad we're going

back to London.

Things like that can't

happen on Baker Street.

Oh it's a pity Watson.

Huh?

Do you know a village

by the name of

La Morte Rouge?

Yes sir, it's about

twelve miles from here

up towards the falls.

Great Scott Holmes

you mean you're going

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