The Sinister Monk Page #3

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Chief! She's running to the castle!

Help! Help!

What was that?

- It was Lola!

Help!

The Monk!

Stop! Stop!

Are you out of your mind? Haven't you

got enough sense to get off the road?

I just wanted to show you the way

to Darkwood Hall. There's been a murder!

Disgraceful! We race out here because

of a murder, and this idiot comes along...

and almost kills the whole police force!

Just who are you, anyhow?

The school's caretaker. My name's Smith.

- You're coming with us!

I'm innocent, Sir!

- Why are you trembling then?

I'm not! I've had something of a shock.

I just found this note nailed to a tree.

"Keep out of this affair.

The Monk."

The Monk, the Monk!

If he's a monk, then I'm a nun!

Come now!

Tell me the truth. Before the police

get here and the investigation begins.

You're driving me crazy, Mama!

Please stop if you can!

Am I being unjust, Ronny?

- Now what are you talking about?

Are you the one who...

Now what would I do that for?

Maybe Lola learned something about you?

- Ah, what nonsense!

Maybe she found out about the accident.

The one in Lausanne.

So what?

She can't talk now.

Too bad. She was so pretty!

After that time with Jeanette Rouir,

I protected you. Year after year.

Day after day. Hour after hour.

This is too much. I can't do it again.

- I never touched Lola! Stop accusing me!

I sometimes wish that I had

never given birth to you!

Well? An eavesdropper, huh?

Cigarette?

As you like.

Now, the question of this monk!

After Lady Patricia spoke to meat

Scotland Yard, I concluded that we must...

send 2 policemen as soon as possible

to the boarding school to protect you.

But Lady Patricia claims you turned down

her request because this was all...

Being caused by a practical joker.

- That was before I learned...

that Inspector Potter had been murdered.

- Yes, but then...

Did Miss Lola have any enemies?

I mean any reason to be murdered.

Please think carefully.

What is it, my child?

Why are you crying? Huh? There.

Calm down. It's alright.

If you know something that will help

solve the case then you can tell me!

If you know that Miss Lola had an enemy,

don't be afraid to tell me. Who was it?

I! I don't want to hurt anyone!

Yes, of course. I understand.

You're not sure you're right, and you

don't want to accuse anyone.

Well, just come and talk to me later.

Is Gwendolin here?

- No. Shall I look for her?

Oh, would you, Dolores?

- Lady Patricia. Sir John believes that...

Just a minute. Excuse me.

Who is Gwendolin?

My niece.

But Sir John, the most important thing...

- I beg your pardon, Miss.

But who's questioning who, here, huh?

You me, or I you?

Now, too much interference might cause

a person to seem suspicious.

That's right. The murderer wears

the disguise of a monk to conceal.

Connolly?

- Yes, Chief?

Look at this. A water pistol. Smell it!

- Sulphuric acid!

Here. Take it along.

- Right.

CM30, please come in!

- CM30 reporting!

Inspector Black, listen to this carefully.

- Go ahead, Chief.

All stations. Look for someone

who's been burnt severely by acid!

Report to me right away. Got that?

- Yes, Sir.

You wanted to see me?

- Please catch the bus into London,

stop by the milliners and pick up my hat.

And you wanted to go to the hairdresser's?

Yes, for the last 3 days.

- You can ride into town with Gwendolin.

Sorry, but I can't allow it. No one must

leave this area before I've finished...

with my investigation.

- I'm in command in my own house!

Or are we under arrest?

- No, but I have my own reasons.

I, too, have my reasons!

The only concession that I will make,

is that you can accompany them to the bus,

and afterwards pick them up again.

You can send the men

you refused me recently for my protection.

Good morning, Sir John!

- Good morning, Lady Patricia!

You old battle axe!

You can't deny

those prints came from your shoes!

I was the one who found the body.

- And just what were you doing...

in the park at midnight?

- You'll think this is silly, Inspector.

But I'm romantically inclined.

- That's not an answer to my question!

Cigarette?

- No, thank you.

Lola Winters attracted me.

I went out to meet her at the bus.

I see. And do you know those men

who just drove up?

They're my mother's brothers. They live

in London. One's a lawyer, one's a doctor.

I may have a few more questions later on.

- I won't leave the house. Good morning.

He's a cagey one, isn't he?

The strangulation marks

around the dead girl's throat...

are the same as on Inspector Potter.

- That young man had very capable hands.

Did you notice when he offered

his cigarettes a minute ago?

Yes. I think Inspector Potter's case is

linked up with those girls...

who disappeared about a year ago.

- Yes. But this girl didn't disappear,

she was murdered.

- She knew something she shouldn't.

Or somebody.

Maybe jealousy. Or else, revenge.

Or else,

she was mistaken for someone else.

I won't stand for it!

- Get out of my room!

That's what you want, isn't it?

Miss Gwendolin?

Where were you just now?

In the conference room.

- And where are you going now?

To clean out the girls' room.

- And then?

Up to my room.

Wait! Miss. Gwendolin!

Sorry to ask, but what will you do then?

- And what am I doing tomorrow?

And the day after? No, Smitty.

What I do is my own business.

Of course, Miss Gwendolin. Forgive me!

I merely want to be near you, when I can.

To protect you. Please, Miss Gwendolin!

- That's very sweet of you, Smitty,

but you'd better let me look after myself.

Thank you.

No, Richard. I'll never sign!

And neither will I. You're free

to do what you want with the will.

I want you out of my house this minute.

- What you want, dearest Patricia,

doesn't interest me in the least.

- Get a hold of yourself, Patricia.

This is no time to lose your nerve.

- I'm afraid that your man mistook Lola...

for Gwendolin.

- What? My man?

Yes. Your man.

- What's this? Did you hire a paid killer?

Killer? You don't honestly believe

I'd be so clumsy, William.

I have very different plans.

Gwendolin's going into London later

and by the time she gets back,

I want you out of here. Otherwise...

- Otherwise, my dear Patricia?

I've got proof

that your darling son, Ronny...

strangled that French girl Jeanette Rouir.

After all, I was the one...

who defended him in court.

I wouldn't hesitate for a minute...

to use the proof I've got against him.

- And I wouldn't hesitate for a minute...

to use the proof I have against you!

- What proof are you referring to?

That the reason Gwendolin's father

is rotting in jail...

is on account of you two!

Explain that, mother!

Reginald was sole heir to the estate

and so you hired someone to kill him!

He killed his attacker in self defense.

Then you both swore in front of the judge

who considered it a premeditated murder!

The verdict of the jury was manslaughter.

And so they sentenced him to

life imprisonment, instead of hanging him!

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