The Scarlet Claw Page #4

He's gone to bed.

Your wrong Doctor.

He went out in

the marshes alone.

I tried to go with

him but he refused.

But Great Scott if he

runs into this monster

and he's by himself

he'll get killed!

Holmes!

Holmes!

Are you all right?

Where are you Watson?

Here I am over

here Holmes.

Watson where are you?

I'm in the bog.

Oh good gracious.

Come here.

You're instructions were

to mingle with the people

and stay in the caf.

Sergeant Thompson said

you were out here alone

so I thought you

might need help.

Yes so you proceeded

to fall in the bog?

Fall?

I was pushed into

the blasted thing.

Pushed by the most

ghastly apparition.

Came at me like

a roaring furnace

with spitting fire

in all directions.

Before I could

get my revolver

the thing was upon me.

Well the next

thing I knew I was...

I was in the bog.

Are you all right

Mr. Holmes, I heard shots.

Yes I'm all right but

Doctor Watson here

seems to have

encountered the monster.

He has?

Come on old fellow

we'd better get you

out of these wet clothes

and into a hot tub before

he takes a death of cold.

Now you've had

enough of that.

Drink this.

You'll be as fit as a

fiddle in the morning.

Sorry you had

such a bad time.

I've got a right to

share your dangers.

Thanks old fellow.

You know I wasn't sure

that the villagers

weren't right

and if it did

turn out to be

some sort of

supernatural monster,

well why should

I involve you?

Rubbish.

However, I did

learn something.

I can now

state positively

that our antagonist

is not a phantom.

But the thing actually

spat flames at me.

Oh just a figment

of your imagination.

The murderer knew I was

out on the marshes

and obviously wanted

to frighten me.

He frightened

me all right.

How did he

manage the flames?

Merely clothing treated

with phosphorus.

When the murderer fled

his shirt caught on a tree

and this piece of

cloth was torn off.

Come in.

I'd like a few words

with you Mr. Holmes.

I'll come directly

to the point.

Hello.

What happened to

your assistant?

I'm not his assistant.

If you must know

I was pushed into a

boggy hole on the marsh.

Pushed?

By whom?

I don't know.

Spat fire at me.

My good sir,

in spite of Mr. Holmes'

theories to the contrary

things have been seen

and heard on those marshes

that cannot

be explained away

by the use of logic.

If I were you I'd

keep away from them.

I'm not so sure.

Holmes found...

Penrose, for

the first time

in my long

pursuit of crime,

I confess that

I find myself baffled.

I'm a detective

I need tangible clues

and up to now

I admit I found none.

And you won't.

I advise you to

leave La Morte Rouge.

Tonight you escaped

with your life.

Next time you may

not be so fortunate.

Thank you for your considerate

advice Lord Penrose.

Good night sir.

Excuse me.

Oh good night.

I don't like that

fellow Holmes.

Why do you think

he came here?

He wanted to find out if

we discovered anything.

He seemed very pleased

when I told him we hadn't.

Now Watson there are

one or two questions

I want to ask

Sergeant Thompson.

You stay here.

I have a very

important job for you.

Anything Holmes, what

do you want me to do?

Go to bed.

Yes it's cotton fabric.

Here take a look.

That discoloration,

the purple ink must

have been spilt on it.

Possibly.

I should say this cloth

was red with blue lines.

Probably large checks

and it seems to

have been laundered

a good many times.

The blues lines are

almost completely erased.

Yes you can

scarcely see them.

It's good fabric, well

woven, with a solid base.

Hello Bill.

Hello Sergeant, Your phone

call must be important

to bring me over this

time of the night.

It was, this is

Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

He wants to ask you

a few questions.

This is Mr. Taylor, the

storekeeper Mr. Holmes.

Oh.

Good evening

Monsieur Taylor.

Good evening monsieur.

Have you any shirts

of this design?

Squares are red

and the lines blue.

Yes I have.

Can you remember to

whom you sold them?

I can.

I keep them in stock

especially

for Judge Brisson.

He won't have

anything else.

Judge Brisson who's he?

A retired magistrate.

He's a cripple.

Lives alone with

his housekeeper.

Have you sold any of these

shirts to anyone else?

No sir.

They're too expensive for

the village and the boatmen.

This is the finest

material imported.

You say Judge

Brisson's a cripple?

Yes.

He was a

magistrate in Quebec.

Had a stroke about

two years ago,

that's why he

retired and came here

to live in La Morte Rouge.

Just about the time that

Monsieur Journet arrived here.

Now that you mention it,

it was just about then.

Hello operator?

Give me Judge Brisson's

home will you?

Thank you.

Nora.

Let it ring.

Haven't I told you not to

answer the phone at night?

Yes sir.

Well then obey my orders.

Yes sir.

No answer.

Where's he live?

On the marsh road

but I don't advise

you to go there

after dark Mr. Holmes.

The place is a fortress

and guarded by

a savage dog.

I think Doctor Watson

and I will have to

pay Judge Brisson a

visit in the morning.

Good night gentlemen.

Good night Mr. Holmes.

Two locks on the door,

one of them new.

Yes I should say that

Lady Penrose death

has increased

Judge Brisson's terror.

Don't like the

sound of that dog.

Sounds hungry.

Possibly ravenous.

Could we come back after

he's had his breakfast?

I'm sorry Watson our

business won't wait.

Oh he's stop now.

Yes Watson.

Stop!

Good Fido.

Stop!

Good Fido!

Who is it?

Sherlock Holmes

and Doctor Watson.

I telephoned Judge

Brisson we were coming.

You can't come in.

He's given orders no

one is to be admitted.

You wouldn't want

Judge Brisson's

death on your

hands would you?

No sir.

Then you'd

better let us in.

I'll probably lose

my job for this.

Not after we've

talked to Judge Brisson.

My good woman you, you

keep an eye on that dog.

Oh don't worry Watson

you know as well as I do

the dog won't touch you

if you're with its

master or mistress.

Well you know

it and I know it

but are you quite

sure the dog knows it?

Good dog,

happy dog, good boy.

Let me warn you I'm armed

and I'm an expert shot.

We didn't come here to

harm you Judge Brisson

but to protect your life.

I told you over the phone this

morning Mr. Sherlock Holmes

that I did not

want to see you.

I don't want

to see anyone.

But I want to see you.

Stay where you are!

Nora show these men out.

Judge Brisson if you'll

answer a few questions

I maybe to save your life.

I have the

fullest confidence

in my own defenses and

I will not trade them

for any theories of

Mr. Sherlock Holmes

however plausible

you make them sound.

Now get out will you?

I'm sorry.

Under the circumstances

I'm helpless to

prevent your death,

almost certainly

by violence.

Come on Watson.

Oh pardon me,

may I trouble you

for that envelope?

I must have dropped it.

Thank you.

You're a very

clever man Mr. Holmes.

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