The Scarlet Claw Page #3

just why are you

leaving La Morte Rouge

at this

particular time?

I'm not leaving.

What gave you the

idea that I was?

Your daughter.

My daughter's mistaken.

I merely said that

I would like to go away.

I've just been teaching

her the difference.

Yes so I observed.

I can't say that

I approve of

your method sir.

I'll ask you to mind

your own business.

Run along dear.

There there my dear.

Disgraceful

hitting a child!

Monsieur Journet's

quite right.

It's none of our business.

Monsieur Journet

what do you know

of the death

of Lady Penrose?

Only what everyone

in the village knows

that she was killed

by the monster.

Have you seen

this monster?

No but who else could have

done this terrible thing?

Sheep have been killed,

their throats torn out.

You were a jailer at

Talon Prison weren't you?

Well yes monsieur.

Why did you decide to

come to La Morte Rouge?

Well I always wanted

to own a hotel

and I heard this one was

for sale so I bought it.

That was two years ago.

Yes.

I believe it

was about the time

the monster made his

reappearance wasn't it?

Do you suspect me

of being the

monster Mr. Holmes?

Oh no, no, no.

I was just remarking

a coincidence.

I thought you

didn't believe

in those things Holmes.

Quite right

Watson I don't.

At least not in the

supernatural variety.

Not the werewolf

who bites into his victim's

throat with his teeth

but a monster who uses

for his weapon of death

a five-prong

garden weeder,

yes that's a little

more my line.

I don't know

what you mean.

I mean that this

monster's been recreated

and used as a screen

behind, which to

commit a horrible crime.

Whoever did it felt

certain that no suspicion

could possibly

fall on him?

But my unexpected

arrival upset his plans.

Very possibly he

became frightened,

decided to run away.

You're right masseur.

I was running away

but not for the

reason you think

but in fear of my life.

And who would

want to kill you?

I don't know.

It's like some

terrible premonition

but it's so real.

The very word that's in

Lady Penrose's letter.

Yes.

That still doesn't explain

this garden weeder.

I swear to you

I know nothing

about it's being here.

Hadn't we better send

for that fellow

Sergeant Thompson?

No Watson that

won't be necessary.

Monsieur Journet knows

as well as we do

that you can't run

away from yourself.

Oh would you be so good

as to return this to

Sergeant Thompson monsieur?

I took it away

quite by accident.

Monsieur Journet

knows as well as we do

you can't run

away from yourself.

This fellow Journet seems

a very frightened chap.

Do you think he

has any connection

with Lady

Penrose's murder?

Time will tell us

many things Watson.

And now my dear fellow

there's something you

can do for me if you will.

Anything Holmes.

I knew I could

rely on you.

I want you to mingle

with the people in

the caf tonight.

Find out all you can

and keep a particularly

sharp eye on Journet.

Sort of take

over the case.

That's right oh boy.

I want to get

a good night's rest

before starting out

again in the morning.

Oh and incidentally

make yourself

as inconspicuous as

possible will you?

Inconspicuous?

You can depend on me.

Oh thank you my dear.

I'm glad to see that

the tears are all gone.

Are you feeling better?

Thanks to you

and Mr. Holmes,

Papaw is not going away.

Not going away?

That's good.

Journet not going away.

There are many phases

of the supernatural

Mr. Drake.

Witchcraft, vampires,

werewolves,

ghosts, monsters,

you'll find them all

in the history of crime.

So I say to myself

Potts this is the handy

work of the supernatural.

I gather that your

name is Potts

and that you're interested

in the detection of crime.

Allow me to

introduce myself.

My name's Watson,

Doctor Watson

of 221-B Baker Street,

London, England.

How do you do sir?

Here's to crime, bigger

and better crime.

I deduce my good man that

you are somewhat drunk.

Well sharp he is,

sharp as a tack

and just as flat headed.

You might also deduce

that I'm leaving

this place.

Getting up and soon as

the bus I'm waiting for

hoots it's hooter.

I believe they say honks

its hooter in these parts.

Hoots to me, honks to you.

Hoot hoot.

My dear fellow

I don't care two hoots

whether it's hoot or honk.

Oh that's my

bus gentlemen.

I just heard it hoot

its hooter, distinctly.

If you solve this

case let me know

but personally I'm

betting on the monster.

You take my advice Pottsy.

Get out of this place

before they find you

with your throat cut.

Hoots,

it's hooter.

Nervous?

Well the thought of having

your throat torn out

by some monster

isn't likely

to make you very

gay Doctor Watson.

No indeed.

Some of Monsieur Journet's

excellent wine

will soon remedy that.

Marie would you

bring a bottle

of this excellent wine

for my friend here?

Yes monsieur.

Mr. Potts as a

student of the occult

supposing you give me your

theory of this murder.

Oh you'll like this wine.

Oh but Doctor Watson

I never drink anything

stronger than milk.

Tea toddler?

No hiccups.

Every time I drink

alcohol I have hiccups.

Oh sorry.

Mr. Holmes.

Mr. Holmes?

This circle is where the

murder actually occurred.

Yes Mr. Holmes.

There's a footpath

just beyond the church,

which leads

across the marshes

follow it for half a

mile and you'll be there.

Thank you Sergeant,

I'm sure I'll find it.

Mr. Holmes I wish you'd

let me go with you.

It's dangerous in

the marshes at night.

These swamps,

the one false step...

I'm sorry Sergeant but

it's important I go alone.

I'll keep

close to the path.

Well will Doctor Watson

be going with you?

No Sergeant.

I asked him to do some

research work of his own

and by now he's probably

magnificently involved.

Good night.

Good night Mr. Holmes.

But according to your

theory Doctor Watson,

everyone in the village

is under suspicion.

Pardon me.

It's quite all right.

Oh thank you.

Murder is a very

interesting story gentlemen.

I will recall

a short story

by that brilliant

author G. K. Cheston

in which the murder is

committed by a postman

I refer of course

to the invisible man.

A brilliant

bit of deduction

on the part

of Father Brown.

I'm a postman.

This is precisely

why I mentioned it

to understate the

absurdity of assuming

cause one man in the

postman's uniform is a murderer

any other man in the same

uniform should be suspected.

Thanks.

Had me worried

for a minute.

Well fiddle sticks.

A child can see

that this

ridiculous monster has...

has got you all

afraid of your own shadow.

I saw Lady Penrose.

I wouldn't like it

to happen to me.

I'll be getting on.

I'm going with you.

Good night Doctor.

Good night.

It's quite all right.

Well what's so strange

about a church bell ring?

It rang the same

time last night.

Excuse me Doctor Watson,

can you tell me if

Mr. Holmes is armed.

Armed my dear fellow,

why should he be?

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