The Saint Plays With Fire - The Saint (Ep88)

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
The Saints Plays with Fire by Leslie charteris dramatized by
Neville Teller with Paul Rees says the Saint, Kim Thompson
as Patricia Holme and Fiona Fullerton as Lady Vane.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Three cheers for our lightnse ignorres.

Speaker 3 (00:26):
I suppose you like being packed off to bed when
the clock strikes eleven.

Speaker 4 (00:29):
But Darling Patricia, just think, if it weren't for our
professional nannies, we'd still be swilling infurious champagne and being
deafened by saxophones in that revolting roadhouse. Instead of reveling
in the magnificent English countryside. You are reveling in the
magnificent English countryside, don't you.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
I can't see any magnificent English countryside. It's pitch black
out there.

Speaker 4 (00:51):
Well, revel in the magnificent English country road then you
can see that. Oh for some saxophones, Miss Holme wants
saxophone saxophones.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Miss Holmes shall have.

Speaker 5 (01:04):
Caught them like bombing, destroy them like that their shlake
jum throughout our fair land.

Speaker 6 (01:13):
The blood of.

Speaker 5 (01:14):
A million Frenchmen dead on the field of glory.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Ties out to you. Shoe yourself worthy of their sacrifice.

Speaker 7 (01:26):
Rise up and arm yourself against did perl that threatened
you from within?

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Done of h I call you to our.

Speaker 3 (01:41):
For Heaven's sake, Simon, switch it on, now, listen to it.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
It's the sound of a world gone mad. I've heard
this sort of thing before.

Speaker 4 (01:50):
One night I was fiddling with the radio and caught
some Nazi jamboree and Nurembergs like an infectious disease and
nation not nation, falling over themselves to wipe out two
thousand years of civilization, first Russia, then Italy, Germany, Spain
and now France. Thank god for little sanity and English saxophones.

Speaker 8 (02:17):
But what was that.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
The sons of France heard of them? Colonel Marteau's Blue
Shirt gang.

Speaker 4 (02:24):
They've been holding a midnight rally outside Paris. Torches, bonfires,
flags bands, the whole shooting match lifted from Hair Hitler.

Speaker 3 (02:32):
What's it all in aid of? For Heaven's sake?

Speaker 4 (02:34):
Overthrowing the French socialist government probably and leaving the world
safe for the arms manufacturers to make an honest fortune
out of mass murder.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
It's a lovely idea look over there.

Speaker 3 (02:49):
Oh, yes, anyone would say.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
It's a fire, and that's just what I bet it is.
We'd better drift along and look it over.

Speaker 9 (02:55):
Oh, simon, this.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
Is how those racing chappies do it, you know, really,
and what.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
Do they do when they want to go around the corner?

Speaker 4 (03:09):
I should think this is the place, handsome gatehouse. Now
that's what I call a fire.

Speaker 3 (03:19):
It meets with your approval.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Then well, at least everybody seems to have got out.
Come on, let's have a closer look. One young lady rescued.

Speaker 10 (03:30):
Oh my, you fella.

Speaker 6 (03:31):
You don't like it, you know right?

Speaker 7 (03:33):
All right?

Speaker 6 (03:34):
You rescued me, and I'm very grateful for him's sake.
Stop pouring me Donald and find me something decent wear.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
I think you look very well as you are.

Speaker 8 (03:41):
I'd prefer to have something more on it.

Speaker 9 (03:43):
It's your fun night dress out here. At least if
you run Donald, damn it ll.

Speaker 4 (03:47):
Do you realize how of course she does, old man.
She knows you've been a hero, but she's just being practical.
Now you try it and tell me is there anybody
left in the house? What you don't Well, don't you
think it'd be a good idea to round up the
others and make sure nobody's missing.

Speaker 11 (04:03):
Oh, certainly, Sue, you.

Speaker 6 (04:04):
Mean general, General, Will you and Lady Sanguor come over here?
Was it?

Speaker 10 (04:10):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yes, of course, of course come.

Speaker 6 (04:12):
Oh my dear, mister Luca, mister Farewell, we're assembling over here.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
Well, someone ought to know. Are you all here?

Speaker 6 (04:19):
No, they aren't here.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Johnny isn't here?

Speaker 6 (04:21):
With Johnny?

Speaker 8 (04:22):
Where can he be?

Speaker 12 (04:23):
He must have heard the alarm?

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Kennedy, Kenny.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
Where does this man Kenneth sleep?

Speaker 6 (04:27):
He's in the end room on the left.

Speaker 10 (04:28):
That window there, Oh my god, that wings where the
fire started.

Speaker 8 (04:32):
Just look at it. It's an inferno.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
Does anybody know where there's a ladder? Heaven? Say, pat
do what you can, Yes, darling.

Speaker 8 (04:40):
Stop him, for God's sake, stop him at suicide.

Speaker 9 (04:43):
You come back.

Speaker 4 (04:45):
But I was halfway across the lawn by then, racing
towards the house. As I plunged through the front door,
the heat struck me like a physical blow.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
I dodged across the hall and left up the stairs.

Speaker 4 (04:56):
Four At the time, the smoke was thicker on the land,
but I thought that the door at the very end
was closed. I fell on it and turned the hand
when it was locked, with no response.

Speaker 2 (05:09):
Flames curled out from beneath the door.

Speaker 4 (05:12):
Perhaps I could dislodge the key and fish it through
the gap. I bent down and looked through the keyhole.
There was no key. I rammed the door with my shoulder,
but it was tough, old English oak, seasoned by two
hundred years of history.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
There was nothing to be done. I fought my way.

Speaker 4 (05:27):
Back through the barrier of flame to come reeling out
through the front door, clothes blackened and singed and smarting
from a dozen minor burns.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
There we are, sir.

Speaker 5 (05:40):
That was a very fool ardy thing to do, sir,
if I may say so, but very brave.

Speaker 4 (05:45):
Nice of you to say so, constable, But do release
your grip, reginald oh boy. Being collared by the police
makes me rather nervous, Sorry.

Speaker 13 (05:53):
Sir, I'd get along and see the doctor.

Speaker 11 (05:55):
Surify with you?

Speaker 5 (05:56):
Is in the lodge with lady Sangor?

Speaker 4 (05:58):
Is that the old trout's name? Better husbands at least
a general? No thanks, I'd rather have a drink. I
wonder if the owner of this jolly little bonfire would
oblige you mean.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Mister Fairweather, sir? Oh, that's him coming along.

Speaker 8 (06:10):
Now, my word, sir, let me shake you by the hand.

Speaker 4 (06:13):
I don't know who you are at Templar's the name,
Simon Templer.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Good grief, i've heard of you.

Speaker 8 (06:19):
Your name is a saint, aren't you. What were you
doing here?

Speaker 2 (06:22):
Passing?

Speaker 14 (06:23):
Fine effort, young man? Splendid effort by gaed, But just
shouldn't have tried it.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
Did anybody find a ladder?

Speaker 10 (06:30):
A ladder wouldn't be much use now, quite right, lucaw,
much too late.

Speaker 14 (06:34):
Just look at the frames they're shipping pouring out of
the poor fellow's windows.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
Not a hope, poor chap, What a tragedy.

Speaker 12 (06:40):
It's lucky you turned back when you did.

Speaker 10 (06:42):
If you'd reached his room, the chances are you'd never
have got out.

Speaker 4 (06:44):
Oh but I did reach his room, and I couldn't
get in. The door was locked and the key was limed.

Speaker 10 (06:50):
Really well, now the fire brigades arriving.

Speaker 8 (06:54):
I suppose we should get along to the lodge General.

Speaker 12 (06:56):
We can't be any use here.

Speaker 14 (06:58):
Fine, Oh yes, yes, father splendid. Every young man splendid
deserves a meddle.

Speaker 10 (07:04):
I shall take personal steps to see that your heroism
is suitably recognized.

Speaker 2 (07:08):
As a temper.

Speaker 4 (07:12):
Well, we might as well be floating along. The excitement's
over and it's past our bedtime.

Speaker 2 (07:19):
You feel like bed I thought you'd never ask. Excuse me, sir,
Ah Reginald.

Speaker 5 (07:29):
I'd better have your name and address, sir, that's going
to be an inquest.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
My card Constable all particular has inscribed thereon, and this
is where I'll be staying for the next few days.

Speaker 11 (07:42):
Thank you, sir, and you ma'am.

Speaker 3 (07:44):
My name is Patricia Holme. I'm with mister Templar.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
This chap Kenneth. He wouldn't be any relation of the
government ministerot he.

Speaker 5 (07:52):
His son, I believe, sir, from what I've heard in
the village, staying with mister Fairweather for the weekend.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Long weekend. Good fellow.

Speaker 4 (07:59):
By the way, who's that other bloke, the one who
looked as if he's been carved out of a small
piece of cliff.

Speaker 2 (08:04):
Oh you mean mister Luca.

Speaker 11 (08:06):
He's off and down here.

Speaker 7 (08:07):
He's a financier or dumb search Well, excuse me, sir,
I must cast General Sangor before he leaves.

Speaker 2 (08:13):
I knew he was a gentleman. Right, we'll be off.
Next time I tend to acquire I'll be sure to
wear some old clothes.

Speaker 8 (08:27):
You're better off than I am.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
Between them, ladies Sangor and Valerie Woodchester have cut.

Speaker 2 (08:31):
A sway through my wardrobe.

Speaker 3 (08:33):
The old battle Axe insinuated that all my unders were
immoral and didn't stop her helping herself do anything she
could halfway get into.

Speaker 2 (08:40):
And what about the Woodchester girl.

Speaker 3 (08:42):
Lady Valerie Woodchester, to be exact, she was even worse,
since everything fitted she picked out my most expensive things.

Speaker 2 (08:49):
I'm desed at you poor, You would some saxophones.

Speaker 3 (08:53):
Help dancing at the Savoy.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
You know that fellow Luca's the odd man out?

Speaker 3 (09:03):
Well, how do you mean.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
You won't have heard of him?

Speaker 4 (09:06):
That he's a big fit hobknobs with prime ministers and
ambassadors and dictators. Yet here he is not once, but
quite often, visiting nonentities like fair Weather and General Sangle.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
Perhaps their friends.

Speaker 4 (09:20):
People like Luca don't have friends, they have useful contacts.
He's the majority shareholder and a steel company in Germany,
an armaments firm in Front, and the Wolverhampton Ordnance Company.
All he do with friends is armed them and set
them firing at each other.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
That's more or less what he did in Spain.

Speaker 3 (09:38):
Then what on earth was John Kennett doing with these people?
He was pretty far to the left, wasn't it.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
My thought? Precisely strange bedfellows.

Speaker 3 (09:47):
I only hope he was unconscious before the fire got in.

Speaker 2 (09:50):
My did, Pat.

Speaker 4 (09:51):
If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that the
fire did not hurt him. You mean, I mean, I'm
absolutely certain he was dead before.

Speaker 2 (10:00):
That fire started. I think it's murder.

Speaker 13 (10:09):
Peter Quentin, Yes, he's staying here, of course, I will
eleven thirty.

Speaker 2 (10:17):
Fine, he'll be there, goodbye. That's from me, Peter.

Speaker 13 (10:22):
The quis HiT's at eleven thirty in Anford. The pleasure
of your company is requested. I dare say this calls
for a little light refreshment.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
You have the knack of hitting the nail unerringly on
the head.

Speaker 9 (10:33):
He means, yes, please, Peter, oh right, and you've Pat,
I may as well join you.

Speaker 4 (10:38):
I do hope myles libation will help put my thoughts
in order.

Speaker 9 (10:42):
Your thoughts about murder?

Speaker 8 (10:43):
You mean.

Speaker 2 (10:43):
I'll give you four things.

Speaker 3 (10:45):
One of them is that John Kennet's door was locked.

Speaker 4 (10:47):
It's certainly ears to say nothing of the fact that
the key wasn't in it. Who did lock that door. Secondly,
where were all the servants? Thirdly why were all the
doors and windows wide open?

Speaker 2 (10:59):
And your fourth point, mister Kane Luca, who sticks out
like a sore thumb in that crind.

Speaker 13 (11:05):
And you're going to present these points of yours of
the corner.

Speaker 4 (11:08):
Let's see if the opportunity presents itself, shall we? Ah,
Lady Valery, I.

Speaker 2 (11:22):
Presume are you a reporter?

Speaker 8 (11:24):
No?

Speaker 2 (11:25):
But I could get you one mayg compliment you on
your dress? I know it well. I always liked that
particular number.

Speaker 6 (11:31):
How silly of me? I remember you?

Speaker 2 (11:34):
You're the hero, aren't you? If you say so?

Speaker 6 (11:38):
If only you'd managed to reach John, I can't think
what could have happened. He must have heard the alarm,
and I knew he wasn't drunk. He couldn't have committed suicide.

Speaker 2 (11:49):
No, he didn't commit suicide. I bet anything on that.
But why did you think it a possibility?

Speaker 6 (11:55):
Well, you did have the most awful row, and I
saw I'd never speak to him again. He did seem
to take it rather to heart.

Speaker 2 (12:02):
Were you engaged to him?

Speaker 8 (12:03):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (12:04):
No, nothing like that.

Speaker 9 (12:06):
Of course he may have.

Speaker 2 (12:07):
He may have thought you were in love with him,
and you let him think. So is that is?

Speaker 15 (12:12):
I suppose?

Speaker 6 (12:12):
So if you put it that way, what girl would
see a thousand guinea for a coat slip away just
for want of a bit of an effort with a man?

Speaker 2 (12:21):
And who made you this generous.

Speaker 6 (12:23):
Offer, Algae fair Weather Gourd, he's simply rolling in cash,
A thousand guineas dropping the ocean to him. He was
more than willing to spend it. If John could be
reconciled to his father, that the other Foreign secretary n
I know well, Algae thought that if John was engaged
to me only in a sort of unofficial way, of

(12:44):
course I could stop him being so stupid about all
his left wing causes.

Speaker 2 (12:49):
So of course I had to try any luck.

Speaker 6 (12:51):
Not really, just wouldn't forget all his stupid ideas. Instead
of enjoying himself like any ordinary person.

Speaker 2 (12:59):
He just lack me for Uh.

Speaker 6 (13:02):
Sometimes he'd bring along a fellow called Windley that he
shared digs with, some ghastly place called Balaklava Mansions and
notting Hill Gate of all places, and then they'd both
talk at me.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
It was simply frightful. What did they talk about? Oh?

Speaker 6 (13:17):
He'd say, the beastliest thing was about mister Luker and
General sang Or and even his own father. And then
he'd go on about something called the Sons of France.
The Sons of France.

Speaker 9 (13:29):
I don't know what that was about.

Speaker 6 (13:31):
It didn't ask me.

Speaker 3 (13:32):
He kept on.

Speaker 6 (13:33):
About how he was going to upset everything in a
few weeks and make things uncomfortable for everyone, something about
papers he and Windley were going to publish and photographs
they'd got held of. I used to tell him not
to be so damned selfish, live and let live my motto.

Speaker 4 (13:49):
Quite incidentally, what's happened to Luca and the other Oh
they're in the office talking to the coroner?

Speaker 2 (13:56):
Are they just? That doesn't all go too well?

Speaker 11 (14:03):
You are the captain of the Anford Fire Brigade.

Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yes, sir.

Speaker 11 (14:07):
On the morning of the eighteenth you examined the ruins
at Whiteways.

Speaker 12 (14:10):
Yes, sir.

Speaker 9 (14:11):
What did you find in the ruins of the library?
I found the body of the deceased among a lot
of debris, including bits of a burnt out bedstead.

Speaker 11 (14:18):
And what conclusion did you draw? Well?

Speaker 9 (14:21):
That they dropped through the ceiling from one of the
rooms above.

Speaker 7 (14:25):
You are the owner of White Ways, Mister Fairweather would
you mind telling the court what happened.

Speaker 10 (14:30):
On the night of the far We had dinner at
about seven o'clock, and then we sat and talked in
the library until about half past ten, when mister Kenneth
went to bed. That was the last that he evers
saw of him. The rest of us decided to go
upstairs about eleven fifteen or thereabouts.

Speaker 11 (14:46):
That is all perfect, plais Her Farmer's a fair weather.

Speaker 10 (14:49):
What happened next, well, about an hour later, I was
suddenly woken up by the pir alarms. I pulled on
a pair of trousers and went out onto the landing.
I saw Captain Knightley along the passage carrying Lady Valery.

Speaker 6 (15:05):
Heaven's sake, Donald did not care the second potatos.

Speaker 8 (15:10):
Thank you sorry.

Speaker 10 (15:10):
I was thinking soon, how you out somewhere? I could
hear General sangor hurry up.

Speaker 11 (15:17):
And get out of everybody. There's not much time. Make
your way to the front lawn.

Speaker 8 (15:23):
I started to follow Captain Knightley.

Speaker 10 (15:26):
I was halfway down the stairs when I met mister
Luca coming up.

Speaker 11 (15:30):
Oh it's you fairly that that's all right?

Speaker 12 (15:31):
Then?

Speaker 10 (15:32):
I was afraid you hadn't heard. The others were all out,
come along quickly. I ran out into the front garden
with him. That's about all I can remember.

Speaker 11 (15:40):
Thank you, mister Fairweather.

Speaker 7 (15:42):
Next witness, I'm ament sure if you please, the jury
have a question for the witnesses, that's right?

Speaker 11 (15:48):
What is your question? Aren't there any servants a light.

Speaker 10 (15:52):
Ways several, but except for my chauffeur, who lives in
the gatehouse. I'd given them all leave to attender dance
in reading. They left straight out to dinner and didn't
get back till the fire was practically over.

Speaker 11 (16:03):
Does that answer your question? The thank you, mister Fairweather.
Needn prob you any further. They'll call mister Kane Luca.

Speaker 10 (16:11):
As Sir Robert and Lady Sagor came up to the
front door, I started to go down to the lodge
to from the fibergate. On the way, I met mister
Fairweather chauffeur, and I sent him back to make the call.
I returned to the house and started to go upstairs.
I met mister Fairweather halfway up. I said, do you
know if the others are all out? I thought he
gave some sort of affirmative answer. Now I realize you

(16:33):
must have missed my first words and thought I said,
the others are all out a tragic misunderstanding.

Speaker 7 (16:39):
Yes, indeed, Luca, but I didn't think any blame can
be attached to you.

Speaker 11 (16:45):
Next witness, please, mister Simon Templar.

Speaker 7 (16:50):
Thank you, mister Templar, that all seems quite clear.

Speaker 11 (16:54):
You appear to have active with singular courage.

Speaker 7 (16:56):
I should like to congratulate you on your extremely gallant
to tell to save this.

Speaker 11 (17:01):
Unfortunate young man's life.

Speaker 2 (17:02):
Next witness, please, haven't the jury any questions?

Speaker 11 (17:06):
Yes, I've got some questions, have you? Well, you'd better
ask them that you're the chap they call the saint,
aren't you. You've had lots of experience in crime.

Speaker 9 (17:15):
Now do you think there was something fishy about this fire?

Speaker 7 (17:19):
Whatever nickname the public might know, mister Templar by his
personal opinions are not matters which.

Speaker 4 (17:24):
Concern Yes, I think there were a lot of very
fishy things about it.

Speaker 11 (17:31):
Tha silence, I'll have the court from clers.

Speaker 7 (17:37):
You're not interested in your theories, mister Templar, Please remember.

Speaker 11 (17:41):
That this is a court of law.

Speaker 4 (17:42):
I am trying to I was summoned here to give
evidence about mister Kenneth's death. I haven't given any yet.
I'm trying to draw attention to a number of curious
facts that I haven't been allowed to mention so far.
For one thing, every ground floor window in sight was open,
producing a draft, which must have materially helped the growth

(18:04):
of the fire.

Speaker 15 (18:06):
I of course, mister Fairweather, it had been a warm
day and we'd had all the windows open. It would
normally have been the butler's job to lock up the house,
and I'm afraid it's slipped my mind.

Speaker 8 (18:17):
The butler would indeed have done.

Speaker 10 (18:19):
So on his return, except, of course, on this occasion
he arrived back sometime after the fire started.

Speaker 11 (18:24):
Thank you very much, mister Fairweather.

Speaker 7 (18:28):
Now this is an instructive example of the dangers of
jumping to rash conclusions. There are some persons who went
over there in the public aisle and it to exaggerate
and distorted in the hope of attracting more attention to themselves.

Speaker 11 (18:41):
So much for your offisi effects, mister Templan.

Speaker 2 (18:44):
Then why was young Kenneth's door locked?

Speaker 11 (18:46):
But why shouldn't he lock his door?

Speaker 2 (18:48):
He had every reason for locking it.

Speaker 4 (18:50):
He was staying in a house full of people he
bitterly opposed, who hated or he believed him.

Speaker 2 (18:55):
But it hasn't improved that he locked his door.

Speaker 4 (18:59):
Said that the door was locked, and I might add
from personal observation that the key was not in it.

Speaker 7 (19:06):
Who is that talbu Breamsir Fibergate Captain Ah, Yes, mister Breed,
you have something to say about the key, Sir.

Speaker 11 (19:13):
I found it among the debris in the library. Thank
you very much.

Speaker 7 (19:16):
Indeed, mister Breed, mister Kenneth locked his door and took
out the key.

Speaker 11 (19:22):
I failed to.

Speaker 7 (19:22):
See any sinister implications in that. I have frequently done
Sah myself.

Speaker 2 (19:27):
And have you frequently held inquest without bringing any evidence
to establish the cause of death.

Speaker 11 (19:33):
Mister t that is a.

Speaker 7 (19:34):
Most improper remark, and you will withdraw it at once.

Speaker 2 (19:38):
I do withdraw it. I apologize, draw back to your seat.

Speaker 7 (19:43):
I am strongly minded to commit you of a contempt
of court, but since it is publicity you are doug seeking,
I shall not give you that satisfaction As for the.

Speaker 11 (19:52):
Cause of death, in a case like this, where there.

Speaker 7 (19:54):
Is no evidence to justify a suspicion of foul play,
it is not necessary to order an auto Members of
the jury, Let missummarize the facts in this case, which
are absolutely clear.

Speaker 3 (20:10):
You were magnificent, Simon. I could have murdered that coroner,
but what.

Speaker 8 (20:14):
Good did you do?

Speaker 4 (20:15):
The verdict was still dead by misadventure, no good at all,
but it had to be tried. My worst mistake was
in telling Luca at the time that the key wasn't
in the door. He simply slung it through the library
window at the first opportunity.

Speaker 3 (20:28):
Incidentally, I noticed you getting all cozy with your girlfriend
before the inquest, but I didn't see you take my
dress off her.

Speaker 4 (20:34):
There's a time and a place for everything, Pat, But
we were right boys and girls. Our old friend the
arms racketeers were on the warpath again.

Speaker 2 (20:43):
Luke a fairwea her and sang them with Luca pulling
the strings.

Speaker 3 (20:46):
The sons of France are in it somewhere too.

Speaker 4 (20:48):
I'm pretty certain that something BIG's in the offing. Young
Kennet was onto it. He got hold of some papers
or photographs that made him too dangerous to go on living.
He just wasn't smart or tough enough, and they got him.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
Friends. I'm going to carry on where Kenneth left off.
Who's with me?

Speaker 14 (21:07):
A fall trouble had it to double every man.

Speaker 4 (21:17):
I drove straight to notting Hill Gate to see if
Kenneth's flatmate, Rape Windley, could help clear up some of
the unanswered questions. Balaclava Mansions turned out.

Speaker 2 (21:26):
To be as ghastly as Lady Balery had said. I
walked through the decaying hallway and found the front door
of the flat half open and the wireless on.

Speaker 4 (21:35):
I called out, but no one answered. It didn't take
me long to discover why a bullet fired at close
range had very effectively ended Rape Windley's chances of ever
saying anything again. The room had been ransacked.

Speaker 2 (21:51):
You in your handiwork temp good God, Chief Inspector Claude
Eustace teal as I live and breathe mustn't do that
to me. Claude, you know I'm you have a very
nervous disposition.

Speaker 4 (22:02):
Ah, yes, switch that off for once. Claude, you're at
the right place, at the right time. I don't know
whether you've noticed it yet, but there's a dead body
on the floor behind me, And without claiming your encyclopedic
knowledge of crime, I should say he appears to be murdered.

Speaker 9 (22:18):
That's right, And I should say that I knew who
did it?

Speaker 4 (22:21):
Call me hypersensitive if you will, Claude, But can you
buy any chance to be suggested?

Speaker 9 (22:26):
See about that sergeant?

Speaker 2 (22:28):
Search him? Raise your arms please, sir, I'm extremely ticklish.
Do be careful nothing, sir?

Speaker 9 (22:34):
What have you done with that gun?

Speaker 4 (22:36):
Do you think I carry a gun in a suit
like this? My tailor would throw a fit.

Speaker 9 (22:40):
Well, let's have some explanations. Then I come in here
and find you standing over a body.

Speaker 4 (22:44):
Precisely I think about it, Claude, In all our years together,
have you ever known me stand over the bodies I murder?
Tell me what made you come here in the first place?

Speaker 9 (22:53):
The landlady found out about half an hour ago.

Speaker 4 (22:55):
Right, allow me five minutes to commit the dustly deed,
another five for our pleasant chat. And that means the
poor fellow was done to death no less than forty
minutes ago. But at twelve minutes past one, I left
the golden fleece in Anford. Quite a number of people
of impeccable character can vouch for that. I know I'm
one hell of a driver, but even I can't do

(23:17):
ninety five miles in that time?

Speaker 9 (23:19):
Hanford, What were you doing in Anford?

Speaker 2 (23:21):
I was attending the inquest of a poor bliter by
the name of John Kennet.

Speaker 9 (23:26):
You mean the foreign sextist son who was killed in
that fire.

Speaker 2 (23:29):
How you do keep up with news? Claude?

Speaker 9 (23:31):
All right, you were at Anford? But what are you
doing here now?

Speaker 4 (23:35):
I wanted to see rape Windley before some one else did.
I was too late, believe this or not, but Windley
and the late John Kenneth shared this charming Pieterteraire.

Speaker 9 (23:45):
What was the verdict of the inquest?

Speaker 2 (23:47):
Death by misadventure? And was it put it this way?

Speaker 4 (23:52):
Claude, I think it would be a good idea if
you started investigating not one murder but two. Now, if
you'll excuse me, I'll be heading back to Anford.

Speaker 2 (24:07):
All on your Ownio again?

Speaker 11 (24:08):
Oh hello?

Speaker 2 (24:10):
Are you always being left alone?

Speaker 8 (24:12):
Oh?

Speaker 6 (24:12):
The others are upstairs having a business conference or something.
Where have you been all afternoon? You seem to vanish
off the face.

Speaker 2 (24:19):
Of the glue. Oh about my business, just as you
go about yours?

Speaker 6 (24:22):
And what is my business?

Speaker 2 (24:24):
Being friend fair Weather's tame vamp? I suppose do you
think I'm dame? Let's see what will be your fee
for dining with a gent? Say Thursday.

Speaker 6 (24:34):
That's the sort of dinner invitation no girl could resist.

Speaker 2 (24:37):
Well, I fell passionately in love with you the moment
I saw you.

Speaker 6 (24:40):
I suppose I could endure a dinner with you for fee.
After all, I've got to it somewhere. Let me think
I couldn't let you off with a penny less than fifty.

Speaker 2 (24:48):
Guineas you know, there's an innocence, the freshness about you
that's quite irresistible. Will it check to or must it
be cash? Damn?

Speaker 6 (24:57):
I believe you'd have paid a hundred if I. Oh, well,
a Bargain's a.

Speaker 4 (25:02):
Bargain Thursday then at eight at the Berkley. And since
this is a business deal, I shall expect you to
be punctual. The fee will go down for every minute
I'm kept waiting.

Speaker 2 (25:17):
Fairweather, Oh Algae, this is Valerie.

Speaker 6 (25:20):
I'm rightfully sorry to bother you and all that, but
I rather wanted your advice. Do you mind terribly? It's
about Johnny.

Speaker 10 (25:28):
That man Templer hasn't been pestering you again, I hope
not exactly.

Speaker 6 (25:32):
I mean I have just had dinner with him.

Speaker 8 (25:35):
Why did you have dinner with him?

Speaker 9 (25:37):
He does ask rather a lot of questions the.

Speaker 8 (25:39):
Man's becoming a perfect nuisance.

Speaker 6 (25:41):
That's not what I phoned you about. What I wanted
was your advice about something Johnny left with me. I mean,
what was I supposed to do with a great thick
wad of papers?

Speaker 13 (25:52):
What papers?

Speaker 2 (25:53):
I don't know.

Speaker 6 (25:54):
I didn't read them.

Speaker 10 (25:56):
Well, i'd better at once I'll be around immediately.

Speaker 6 (26:00):
That wouldn't be any good. I haven't got them at
the moment.

Speaker 9 (26:03):
I've I've sort.

Speaker 8 (26:04):
Of mislayed them, mislaid them.

Speaker 6 (26:07):
Well, Johnny and I had a flaming ralph, and I
couldn't go on carrying a racking great envelope around with me.
So are you I dumped them.

Speaker 8 (26:16):
Somewhere, somewhere where?

Speaker 9 (26:18):
Well, that's just it.

Speaker 6 (26:19):
I've forgotten some cloakrom or other. I suppose I had
a ticket, but all my things went up in the fire.
I was wondering if it might be a good scheme
to get mister Templar to help.

Speaker 9 (26:31):
Me find them.

Speaker 8 (26:32):
Templar certainly not the last man on earth. You haven't
told him about these papers, have you? Not? Rarely?

Speaker 6 (26:39):
But you know, I think he guesses something two or
three times this evening. He asked if Johnny had ever
given me anything to keep for him.

Speaker 8 (26:48):
You must remember where you put them.

Speaker 6 (26:50):
Oh, don't worry. I've written to Celia Mallard.

Speaker 8 (26:54):
What on earth Celia Maud got to do with it?

Speaker 6 (26:56):
She was with me when I dumped them, and she's
got a perfectly mindvel of memory. I told her in
my letter they were worth thousands, so if anything happened
to me, she was to race to the police. You'd
get a letter back quite soon. How long does the
post take from Monty these days?

Speaker 8 (27:13):
Made you say the papers were worth thousands?

Speaker 6 (27:17):
I don't know, But anything terribly important is bound to
be worth a lot of money to somebody.

Speaker 2 (27:22):
Isn't it?

Speaker 8 (27:23):
Not necessarily? But i'd see you didn't lose by it.
You did once tell me you needed a car to
go with that fur coat, didn't you?

Speaker 12 (27:35):
And you believe her about this cloakroom ticket.

Speaker 8 (27:37):
I don't know what to believe, knowing her methods.

Speaker 12 (27:39):
I suppose she's fishing to see how much we're prepared
to pay. It's dinner with Templar. How do you know
you didn't put her up to this?

Speaker 2 (27:44):
Oh?

Speaker 12 (27:44):
My might easily have no papers at all.

Speaker 10 (27:46):
No, my dear Algie, I'm a favor shall have to
take more permanent steps to deal with both of them.

Speaker 2 (27:50):
What sorts of steps do.

Speaker 12 (27:52):
You really want to know?

Speaker 10 (27:53):
You mean, you and Sangor you're like a couple of
squamish old maids with shares in a brothel. You want
your dividends, but you determine not to know how that are.
That's how you were about Kennet and Windley. Now it's
Templar and Lady Valerie. Well, i'll spread it out.

Speaker 12 (28:05):
We get hold of that cloakroom ticket, or.

Speaker 10 (28:07):
Establish that it doesn't exist, and then they've got to
be murdered.

Speaker 2 (28:15):
Hello is that you, Simon?

Speaker 11 (28:17):
Darling?

Speaker 6 (28:18):
This is Valerie.

Speaker 2 (28:19):
Hello Darling, and how are you all right?

Speaker 6 (28:21):
Listen, Simon? Remember that cloakroom ticket I asked you.

Speaker 2 (28:24):
To keep for me, cloakroom ticket. Of course, it's quite
so oh good, you.

Speaker 8 (28:29):
See, I'm afraid I must have it back at once.

Speaker 6 (28:32):
Sorry to be a nuisance, but it's frightfully important.

Speaker 8 (28:35):
I mean, could you bring.

Speaker 2 (28:36):
It round right away easily? I was just looking for
something useful to do. You know where I live, I
should think, so I looked it up in the phonebook
the instant I got back to town. I've just been
waiting for an invitation.

Speaker 6 (28:46):
Well you've got one, now do hurry, darling, and little
promise you'll tell no one you're coming.

Speaker 4 (28:52):
To see me, cross my heart and hope to die. Well, well,
well did you get all that?

Speaker 2 (28:57):
Friends?

Speaker 3 (28:58):
She wants to see you? Am I supposed to get
as excited as.

Speaker 2 (29:01):
You obviously are. She wants more than that. She wants
a cloak room ticket she gave me to keep for her.
Well problem, she's never given me any ticket, good God.

Speaker 9 (29:09):
And she wanted at once and nobody to know where
you've gone.

Speaker 2 (29:11):
Call me suspicious if you like old chum, but I
detect the strong odor of a setup. Or if you're
not going, are you try and stop me?

Speaker 4 (29:19):
Ah Ris, old man? Things have been a bit dull
for a while. Do you feel like a spot of action?

Speaker 12 (29:25):
Were just allowed to revolver?

Speaker 2 (29:27):
Hands up? If you saw an eyelid? That are you on? Peter?
Lead the way, captain?

Speaker 3 (29:30):
Would you remember one thing.

Speaker 2 (29:32):
For you anything?

Speaker 9 (29:33):
I look terrible in back?

Speaker 2 (29:37):
A lift carried us to the top floor of the
block of flat.

Speaker 4 (29:40):
I waited until Peter and Norris had taken up their
positions flattened against the wall on either side of the
front door.

Speaker 2 (29:51):
Come in, get gracious, who are you and what's that
gun for?

Speaker 12 (29:55):
Come in you and put your hands up.

Speaker 4 (29:57):
I slid past him so that he was forced to
turn his back to the door to keep me covered.
Peter and Norris were precisely on cue.

Speaker 9 (30:03):
I'll you very much, had it to my connection one
of these.

Speaker 4 (30:07):
Okay, Peter, let him breathe, Now talk very quietly. What
was supposed to happen next?

Speaker 9 (30:14):
I want to take you in there.

Speaker 12 (30:16):
There's two blokes want to see you.

Speaker 2 (30:17):
Fair enough. Let's carry on as if nothing had happened.
Oris empty out the bullets and give it back to him.
Now we'll do. Now, you two cover us. We're going in,
and remember you one sign that everything isn't hunky dory,
and you'll be the first dead hero of the evening.

Speaker 4 (30:33):
Understood, understood you, I understand. Right, let's go. I turned
the handle and went in with my arms raised. On
one side, Lady Valery was tied to a chair, a
man bending over her with a hand clamped over her mouth.
A second man stood on the opposite side of the room,
a small automatic in his hand. Hello, darling, you do

(30:56):
have some nice friends, don't you.

Speaker 11 (30:58):
Disarm and search him?

Speaker 4 (31:00):
So your name is to mayor, is it? Won't you
introduce me to your uncle to be a bit more
careful if it is of.

Speaker 11 (31:06):
Any interest to you.

Speaker 7 (31:07):
I am Major Bravash, a divisional commander of the Sons
of France.

Speaker 4 (31:11):
How perfectly splendid, but do you know what bad company
you are in?

Speaker 7 (31:15):
Ah, the wallet, thank you to mail PAF the ticket
in question. I will take charge of that, Monamy, My
dear lady, we are very grateful you have done a
great service to the Sons of France. I can assure
you that if anything should happen to you, should you,
for instance, be murdered by one of our enemies, we
would consider that a debt of honor to avenge you.

Speaker 2 (31:38):
Oh, that'll be nice for you. Won't advance for you, monsieur.

Speaker 7 (31:41):
You have been attempting to discover our secrets in order
to betray them to our enemies.

Speaker 11 (31:46):
The penalty for that, as you know, is dead.

Speaker 2 (31:48):
What book have you been reading?

Speaker 7 (31:50):
Your crime has been committed against the Sons of France,
and you have threatened Lady Valade, who is our friend.
If you were to murder her, it would not be
our duty to avenge you.

Speaker 2 (32:02):
Mean that the idea is to kill both of us.

Speaker 7 (32:05):
Our version of events will find a word acceptance. You
are a notorious criminal. Many people will applaud our action,
not least the British. You know what to do, you,
mister Templar, will accompany pierpri and myself. If you resist
or try to obstruct us, you will be shot. Is

(32:27):
that understood?

Speaker 2 (32:27):
Oh? Perfectly? What a pity.

Speaker 4 (32:29):
I can't go along with such beautifully laid plans.

Speaker 11 (32:33):
Use your gun, you fool, there's nothing in it.

Speaker 2 (32:35):
Enter the cavalry now. I wouldn't Major, really, I wouldn't.

Speaker 4 (32:42):
Orris, you might care to relieve the Major of whatever
offensive weapons he may have about him?

Speaker 2 (32:46):
My pleasure?

Speaker 11 (32:47):
And what might your name be?

Speaker 2 (32:49):
He's the strong, silent type.

Speaker 11 (32:50):
He's a pity to waste a perfectly good time.

Speaker 13 (32:52):
But I think we ought to restrict your freedom of
movement a little, don't you.

Speaker 11 (32:57):
You gave me some bad moment.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
I'd let you down. Now. Whence have I ever failed it? Down?
The throne? Especially one court and her neglige?

Speaker 11 (33:07):
What about getting the managerie out of here?

Speaker 2 (33:09):
Good idea? Perhaps you and Peter could keep an eye
on them for a little.

Speaker 4 (33:13):
Oh, in Major, I wouldn't get too excited about that
ticket you found. It didn't win me a bottle of
wine that the Cricket club raffle last month.

Speaker 6 (33:21):
On you personally, you always seem to be catching me
in these boudoir moments. I mean, you've seen me in
my negligee more often than fully dressed.

Speaker 2 (33:32):
It must be fatal or something traveling.

Speaker 6 (33:35):
There won't be any thrilled lesson we get.

Speaker 2 (33:37):
Really, I should think you've had enough thrills to last
for a bit. Now, all this about a cloakroom ticket,
I take it that you've got something they want, probably
some papers that Kenneth gave you, and you've parked them somewhere.

Speaker 11 (33:50):
Sharp as a needle.

Speaker 6 (33:52):
Well, you're right, I thought Algae i'd like to know, so.

Speaker 2 (33:55):
I just mentioned it to him casually on the phonein
you were trying to sell them to him.

Speaker 9 (34:00):
Girl has to live.

Speaker 4 (34:01):
How long do you think you would have lived tonight
if it hadn't been for me, poor little fly brained moron?
What makes you think you can cut in on a
game like this?

Speaker 2 (34:10):
Well, Algae did.

Speaker 6 (34:11):
Offer me ten thousand earlier this evening, only I thought
they were worth more if I could get a decent
offer for those papers.

Speaker 8 (34:18):
I'd take it like a shot.

Speaker 6 (34:19):
What do you think there were?

Speaker 2 (34:21):
I'll give you a shilling form.

Speaker 8 (34:22):
Oh.

Speaker 6 (34:22):
I wasn't thinking of selling them to you. But if
I rang Algae and told him he could have the
papers for fifteen thousand, probably jumped at the offer. I mean,
after what's happened tonight, he considered himself damn lucky to
get them at all.

Speaker 2 (34:34):
Where are those papers at the moment?

Speaker 6 (34:36):
They're in a cloakroom, all right there? Say I could
find the ticket when.

Speaker 11 (34:40):
I have to?

Speaker 4 (34:41):
Valerie, why don't you stop being an idiot and let
me get into the firing line.

Speaker 6 (34:45):
I think I'll be getting along now. It's been a
lovely party, but even the best times have to come.

Speaker 8 (34:51):
To an end.

Speaker 6 (34:52):
Do you think you could move those men out of
the bedroom while I put on some clothes.

Speaker 2 (34:56):
I didn't think you want to keep them for domestic pets, Horace,
Peter bring out the zoo.

Speaker 4 (35:03):
I phoned Pat and told her she wouldn't be needing
her little black number just yet, but to get hold
of a chauffeurs cap and drive the Daimler over, making
sure she wasn't followed. Then I took Peter to one
side and gave him certain instructions. A few minutes later,
he and Oris had escorted the three sons of France
out of the flat.

Speaker 6 (35:23):
What's happened to everyone?

Speaker 4 (35:24):
Peter and Oris have removed the exhibits. They'll get what's
coming to them somewhere else. We didn't want to make
any more.

Speaker 2 (35:30):
Mess few here.

Speaker 9 (35:31):
Could you get me a taxi?

Speaker 2 (35:33):
I could do better. I sent her one of my
more ducal cars and it's waiting outside.

Speaker 6 (35:37):
Now I'm going to the Carlton. I shall phone Algae.

Speaker 2 (35:40):
From there, right the Carlton. It is a penny for them.

Speaker 6 (35:49):
You make me sick?

Speaker 2 (35:51):
Me what have I done?

Speaker 8 (35:52):
Nothing? That's just it.

Speaker 11 (35:54):
I'm fed up.

Speaker 4 (35:55):
Perhaps you've had a dual leavement, really ought to get
about more, you know, go places, meet people, very funny.

Speaker 6 (36:03):
Well, perhaps you'll be a bit bet up yourself when
Algae and Luca get those papers.

Speaker 2 (36:07):
Are you sure you aren't going to give them to me? Well,
I suppose you think I ought to.

Speaker 8 (36:11):
You're saving my life.

Speaker 6 (36:14):
You go about playing a robin hood of crime, and
then it's back to your blonde girlfriend to be told
how wonderful you are.

Speaker 11 (36:20):
That's why you made me sick.

Speaker 2 (36:23):
Six six six well, why not get on with it.
Don't worry about the car. We can always have a key.

Speaker 11 (36:27):
Oh yeah, where are we?

Speaker 2 (36:30):
This isn't the way to the car to you've noticed.

Speaker 6 (36:32):
Tell the chauffeur to turn around.

Speaker 4 (36:34):
Tell leave the chauffeur in peace behind the little glass windows,
shall we?

Speaker 6 (36:39):
I don't know what good you think this is going
to do. You you're trying to protect me or anything
like that.

Speaker 2 (36:44):
I read me, darling. The thought would never enter my head.

Speaker 4 (36:48):
I know you can look after yourself, but it wouldn't
suit me at all if you sold those papers to
fair Weather or Luka.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
So I just want to keep an eye on you
until I get them. You mean you're kidnapping me, gues
in one. I wouldn't like to take you on a charade.

Speaker 6 (37:03):
I think you are an unspeakable cat.

Speaker 2 (37:06):
I am, and I have fairly wallowing it.

Speaker 4 (37:13):
And here we are at the CAD's country seat, thirty
minutes from London. If you don't worry about the speed cops,
and you might as well be in the middle of
the new forest. Now let me introduce you to the chauffeur.
You remember Pat, don't you the blonde with a wardrobe.

Speaker 2 (37:29):
You liked so much.

Speaker 6 (37:31):
Yew, I'm afraid so.

Speaker 3 (37:33):
I gather we'll be spending quite a bit of time
in each other's company. We might get to know each
other better.

Speaker 9 (37:38):
I wouldn't count on it.

Speaker 2 (37:41):
At four a m.

Speaker 4 (37:42):
The following morning, a young policeman noticed a suspicious cluster
of shapes in a doorway in Grosvenor Square. Three bound
men with a decent tape over their mouths. They were
stripped to the waist and.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
Horrid blood stains smeared across their tortos. The young Bobby's
heart skipped a beat fame promotion. Then one of the
bodies moved and groaned, no, not blood red paint from
brow to waste. They were painted in zebra stripes of red,
white and blue.

Speaker 4 (38:12):
Hanging over them on the door handle was a card
inscribed with the words these animals are the property of
mister Kane Luca.

Speaker 12 (38:20):
Please do not feed.

Speaker 4 (38:22):
Chief Inspector Claude Eustace teal by all that's wonderful coming
and have some breakfast.

Speaker 9 (38:27):
Yes, I had my breakfast at breakfast time. I know
you were up till all hours, so tell me what
were you doing last night?

Speaker 2 (38:35):
Really, Claude, have you no discretion.

Speaker 9 (38:38):
Let me tell you some of the things you did.
You dined at the Barkley with Lady Valerie Woodchester. She
left it about our past tenth. You went onto the
Cafe Royal and got back here. Towards twelve fifteen. At
five minutes past one, you went out again with two
of your friends, taking good care you weren't followed. At
twenty five past two, Miss Own left here in another

(38:58):
of your cars, and she also gave us the slip.
At four thirty you came in alone. I want to
know what you were doing between one and five and
four thirty.

Speaker 2 (39:11):
You know, I believe you must have been having me watched.
I don't call that very friendly of you.

Speaker 9 (39:15):
And while we're at it, suppose you tell me about
those men you had painted red, white and blue.

Speaker 4 (39:21):
Somebody must have been pulling your leg, Claude. Do they
say I had painted them?

Speaker 10 (39:26):
No?

Speaker 9 (39:26):
I know it was you, though it has your stamp
all over it.

Speaker 2 (39:30):
Well, since no one's labor complaint, you haven't come here
to arrest me. What have you come for, Claude?

Speaker 9 (39:36):
I thought you might like to tell me what this
is all about, and what has mister Luca got to
do with it. He was at that country house when
John Kennett was burnt to death, wasn't he?

Speaker 2 (39:45):
Have you thought of asking Luca?

Speaker 9 (39:46):
I have asked him. He said he'd never seen these
men before, and they say they've never heard of him.
But two of them are French. I happen to have
found out that John Kennett was a member of this
fascist organization, the the Sons of France.

Speaker 2 (40:01):
Are you sure about that?

Speaker 11 (40:02):
Oh?

Speaker 9 (40:02):
Yes, His mother was French and he spoke the lingo
like a native. He joined six months ago under the
name of Jander la Pey. Incidentally, she was also a
member of the French Communist Party. What do you make
of that?

Speaker 4 (40:16):
That he had guts for one? But he must have
got further than just joining, and that would be another
reason for having him committed?

Speaker 9 (40:24):
Or what was the first?

Speaker 8 (40:26):
Come on?

Speaker 11 (40:26):
Templar?

Speaker 4 (40:27):
Let's work together, all right, Claude, I'll tell you the
little I know. Let's start with friend Luca. He's currently
top tycoon in the arms racket.

Speaker 8 (40:37):
Yes, I suppose so.

Speaker 4 (40:39):
Friends fair Weather and Sangor are his stooges, and a
couple of British arms firms he controls. Between them, they
practically have a monopoly of the arms industry in this country.
And remember the best way to increase profits in that
game is for as many people to kill as many
others as possible.

Speaker 2 (40:54):
Now, let's go to France.

Speaker 4 (40:55):
There they have a fascist organization called the Sons of France,
and it's pretty clear Luca is backing them. Fascist regimes
are good for business. And Kenneth John Kennett was a
communist and a pacifist, and as I said, he had guts.
He joined the Sons of France to try to expose
the arms racket, and by some fluke he must have
discovered something really worth discovering. So he had an accident,

(41:20):
but no one can prove that he was murdered.

Speaker 9 (41:23):
Not yet, but I'm working on it. What are you
working on?

Speaker 2 (41:27):
Only one thing?

Speaker 4 (41:29):
Kenneth fell for Lady Valerie, and he left some of
his evidence in writing. That's why the flat was torn
apart when Windley was murdered. But whatever it was, it
wasn't there. Lady Valerie has it, and for the moment
she's not saying what she's.

Speaker 2 (41:42):
Done with it. She's concealing evidence.

Speaker 4 (41:46):
That dough Mazuma boodle. She knows the evidence is worth
cash to fair Weather and co. But don't worry about it, Claude.
The price is too high for you and it wouldn't
do you much good. I only wanted to find out
what's behind the racket.

Speaker 9 (41:59):
No darn well, I sent a man around to interview
Lady Valerie Woodchester. No, Lady Valerie, but he's furd her
made in a real old state. When she got in
this morning, she found the flat turn up side down.
It looks exactly as if she has been kidnapped. And
if she has, Oh no, who's done the kidnapping?

Speaker 2 (42:18):
Lord? What a suspicious mind you do have?

Speaker 9 (42:22):
No, no, no, you stay here.

Speaker 11 (42:23):
I'll see who it is.

Speaker 2 (42:25):
Claud you're a sweetheart.

Speaker 4 (42:27):
I've given Norris the day off.

Speaker 11 (42:32):
You better come in.

Speaker 9 (42:35):
I was just about to put mister Templar under arrest.

Speaker 12 (42:39):
Good gracious, may I ask the charge inspector.

Speaker 9 (42:41):
I suspect him of being concerned in kidnapping Lady Valie Woodchester.

Speaker 10 (42:46):
Kidnapping? Well, her maid told me she hadn't slept at
home last night. As mister Templer seems to have been
seeing rather a lot of her recently, I thought he
might know where she is.

Speaker 12 (42:54):
But I do I knew it now?

Speaker 4 (42:56):
Where did you take her, but she's no more than
half a dozen yards away from you. Of course you
didn't think of that, did you. You'll find her perfectly
safe and sound.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
Where is she?

Speaker 4 (43:07):
Come through to the bedroom and I'll show you this way.
You always suspected this place was an Aladdin's cave of
secret passagers.

Speaker 2 (43:17):
Claude, this auto amuseum. Open that door, well, lovely selection
of suits.

Speaker 4 (43:24):
If I say to myself, look, I didn't come here
to there and pushed the wall at the end it opens.

Speaker 2 (43:32):
You go, all in good time, gentlemen, All in good time. Hello,
it's bad news.

Speaker 8 (43:47):
The girl's just got away.

Speaker 2 (43:50):
Let me talk to him as she went out in
the cart the bottom Scotch.

Speaker 9 (43:53):
While she was going this, Lady Fellerie shout out that
the Rugg's on fire. I don't see if she slips
out behind me before it was Jack Robinson.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
She's already downstairs and she's all like a battle of
ill with your Dame last the Daimler, the unkindest cut.

Speaker 4 (44:08):
Listen, Norris, all hell is about to pop and you'd
better get out from under. Stick around till miss Home
gets back. Then both of you make for Brooklyn's. Get
out the old kite and fly over to Heston. Peter
will be waiting for you, and do exactly what he
tells you. Got it, Peter, old man, one or two
balloons have gone up. Action is undoubtedly called for before

(44:29):
Chief Inspector Teal emerges from my wardrobe.

Speaker 2 (44:32):
I do think I quite call back. It's a nice story,
but another time, Peter.

Speaker 4 (44:36):
Now listen, Pat and Norris will be on their way
to Heston with the monos bar at any moment. Get
over there and take off at once. Hop over to Douville,
take the train to Paris, and I'll be in touch
later at the hotel.

Speaker 2 (44:47):
Raphael be seeing you. I left the flat to the
sound of thunder on the wardrobe door. It could only
be a matter of seconds before it gave way. The
lift deposited Miss Swim in the basement garage, and I
slid into the hrondell. I had a pretty good idea
of the intrepid Valerie's next move, and knowing she was

(45:07):
coming from Weybridge, gave me the chance to stage in ambush.
I got to the spot she had to pass with
ten minutes in hand.

Speaker 4 (45:15):
Just as expected, I saw the Daimler glide past the
end of the road, and I was on the trail
a stop at South Kensington Post Office. Valerie parks and
walks in. I decide to hear un Dell is now
a liability and reluctantly park around an exhibition road. I
walked back to the post office and there is Valerie
and merchant putting a small envelope in her bag, much
too small to contain Kenneth's dossier. Her Cloak Crew story

(45:38):
must be true. She mailed the ticket to herself. Post
respond as she climbs back.

Speaker 2 (45:44):
Into my Daimler. I hail a taxi, see that damler.

Speaker 9 (45:47):
Here's cup.

Speaker 2 (45:48):
There's too quid on top of the fair. If you
can keep behind it, you're on.

Speaker 11 (45:54):
Yes you the old bill.

Speaker 2 (45:55):
Not quite but that's my damler, and I don't trust
the girl behind the wheel.

Speaker 11 (46:00):
Drivers don't on over.

Speaker 14 (46:06):
Hey, this is a bit of all right Paddington Station
Campy's dream.

Speaker 11 (46:10):
She gonna let us anywhere.

Speaker 4 (46:11):
Right, here's a fiver wait here five minutes. If I'm
not back by then.

Speaker 2 (46:15):
We're all square.

Speaker 9 (46:16):
Okay, I'm by me.

Speaker 4 (46:17):
Gun that young lady, the one just before your last customer?

Speaker 2 (46:26):
Where did she want to go? And give me a ticket? There?

Speaker 4 (46:30):
First class there were three minutes to spare, and I
made a dash for platform six.

Speaker 2 (46:36):
I pulled up just in time. A burly man in
a dark suit was pacing bovinely past the platform entrance.
The alarm had gone out in earnest I had the
snowflakes chance in hell according that train.

Speaker 4 (46:48):
I turned and walked quickly out of the station. The
dameler was where Valerie had considerately passed it. I gave
the carage head and I made Antford station in three
minutes under two hours. The London trane had beaten near
by a good quarter of an hour, but the local
taxim and remembered his female affair once scene.

Speaker 2 (47:06):
Valerie Woodchester isn't easily forgotten. He dropped her at the
Golden Fleece.

Speaker 4 (47:13):
Come in, darling, something the matter with our hospitality?

Speaker 6 (47:19):
Well, I'll be damned, aren't you marvelous?

Speaker 2 (47:22):
How on earth did you know?

Speaker 4 (47:23):
I was professional secret I do these tricks for a living.
And now suppose you tell me what John Kennett's papers
were doing in.

Speaker 2 (47:30):
The left luggage at Paddington's stations.

Speaker 6 (47:33):
I had them with me when I came down for
the weekend of the fire. I hadn't read them, of course,
and John was sure to go on about them, so
I decided I'd leave them somewhere safe. Then the fire
happened and everything, so I thought i'd better see.

Speaker 15 (47:48):
What they were all about.

Speaker 2 (47:49):
And what are they all about?

Speaker 6 (47:50):
I don't know yet, but they look rather dull if
I let you see them. I don't see why we
shouldn't work together.

Speaker 2 (47:57):
You do rather like me, don't you, darling. I adore
you well, I hope.

Speaker 6 (48:01):
So, because if you don't, I'm going to scream for
help and bring the whole hotel in. On the other hand,
provided you're reasonable.

Speaker 2 (48:11):
Darling, I can be the most reasonable man alive. On
the other hand, if you even try to scream, I'll
have no hesitation in knocking you out, and when you
wake up you'll have a headache and a pain in
your jaw. The papers, please beast, take.

Speaker 6 (48:29):
Your damn papers.

Speaker 2 (48:32):
Well, nothing out of the ordinary as detailed d'ss of
the Sons of France. What you'd expect? Nothing to get
killed four And this is more interesting. It's just a scribble,
Fan sank Ool, twenty fifth of August. Tomorrow we should
piece to memoir noi pa holage.

Speaker 6 (48:53):
Solage isn't that the French president?

Speaker 2 (48:56):
It is? And your speak to memoir is an old chateau.
Let it into a sort of old soldier's home for
great war veterans. He's opening the place tomorrow. Wait a bit,
there's something else. What do you make of this?

Speaker 6 (49:09):
Remember them? No, it's John's writing without last.

Speaker 2 (49:14):
Bit, just a scrawl.

Speaker 4 (49:15):
Remember the that's an r, isn't it? Remember the looks
like rink dear a ship and al Think, Valerie, he
meant this for you. He scribbled it on the paper
because he thought it would mean something to you. Is
it a pet name for somewhere you used to meet?

Speaker 2 (49:32):
For God's sake? Think it's no good.

Speaker 9 (49:34):
It doesn't mean a thing.

Speaker 2 (49:36):
Something happens at NI tomorrow and this ought to tell
us what this is what Luca and the sons of
France are murdering, scared of anybody getting hold of John
must have thought you'd understand if only you listen to him.

Speaker 6 (49:47):
I know, I'm a silly little fool. Isn't this photograph
any help?

Speaker 2 (49:52):
This is Colonel Marteau and that's Luca. Now who's the
other man?

Speaker 6 (49:56):
I don't know, but I do remember John getting excited.

Speaker 2 (49:59):
About a photo. What did he say about it?

Speaker 8 (50:01):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (50:01):
I told you, I never listened. I've got a sort
of idea.

Speaker 8 (50:05):
He said.

Speaker 6 (50:05):
It would prove something about how mister Luca was a murderer.

Speaker 11 (50:08):
But oh, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (50:11):
Well, I'll take charge of it.

Speaker 4 (50:13):
An unbeknown to Valerie, I also took charge of the negative,
which I'd found clipped beneath it.

Speaker 2 (50:19):
I rolled it up and slipped it into the top
of my fountain pen. Ten minutes later we were speeding
towards the coast. I'll drop you off at Southampton, and.

Speaker 6 (50:27):
Then what will you do? Dash back to your blonde
girl friend, I suppose and tell her how clever you are.

Speaker 2 (50:32):
I don't have to tell her.

Speaker 6 (50:34):
She knows you enjoy hurting people, don't you? Pushing around
the women you leave like a little hitler.

Speaker 9 (50:39):
In the reichstan What in.

Speaker 11 (50:42):
The name of all that?

Speaker 2 (50:43):
My god, how did you think of it? That's it?
That's what the Reichstark. That's the word on Kennet's No,
that's what he wrote. Remember the Riichstark he meant the
Reichstag fire. The Nazis they did it themselves, and they
blamed the communists that's how they seized power, and Marteau
plans to have show large assassinated and seized power for himself.

Speaker 14 (51:11):
Now, Luca, what about this story of fairweathers that that
you're planning for murder Lady Bellerie so.

Speaker 10 (51:18):
You've heard, Yes, it has become necessary for her and
Templer to be eliminated.

Speaker 2 (51:21):
That is why I sent for you this evening.

Speaker 12 (51:23):
I told you so.

Speaker 2 (51:24):
General.

Speaker 14 (51:24):
Well, well, if you think we're going to take part
in any damn murder plot, you're damnal mistaken. I never
heard of such such infernal impudance.

Speaker 10 (51:32):
Mem when you realize we are not playing games French patriots,
a fender could turf for tomorrow.

Speaker 12 (51:37):
Of course people will die. What the one or two
more or less matter? Officially we know nothing about all this.

Speaker 10 (51:42):
If the plot failed, don't think you'd be able to
plead ignorance. Dunk Kenneth gave some papers to Lady Valerie
before he was killed. My men have recovered most of them,
but the negative of a certain photograph was not to
be found. That photograph is enough to implicate us all
how I am in that photograph, so is Colonel Matteaux,
and so is the assassin. If I am implicated, gentlemen,
so are you.

Speaker 12 (52:02):
I do assure you of that.

Speaker 14 (52:04):
But where are they now? A Templar and the girl.

Speaker 10 (52:07):
I mean, I've arranged for them to be sent across
to Paris. It would be easy to deal with them there.
Within a few hours. The sons of France will be
giving their own orders to the Sieur de Tete.

Speaker 4 (52:16):
We flew over the channel in extreme discomfort, bound and
huddled together in the luggage hold. Throughout the flight, I
was working away against a metal flange of the ropes
binding me, and by the time we landed only a
Strando two still held. We were blindfolded, shoveled into the
back of a limousine and driven for about.

Speaker 2 (52:33):
Half an hour.

Speaker 4 (52:35):
Then we were hauled out and led none too gently
down a flight of stone steps and into a cellar.
When the blindfolds were removed, we stood his hands behind
our backs, facing Colonel Marteau. At his side, unbending as
ever was Caine Luca.

Speaker 11 (52:52):
Commandant, Monsieur Luco, mister Templar.

Speaker 10 (52:56):
Among the papers you secured it from Lady Balery, there
was a photograph in its negative.

Speaker 12 (53:00):
Where is the negative?

Speaker 2 (53:01):
You have me, old boy?

Speaker 12 (53:02):
I certainly do we also have Lady Valerie.

Speaker 10 (53:04):
I know quite well that you would resistant delegation for
a long time, and at the moment time is precious.

Speaker 2 (53:09):
We shall therefore start with Lady Valerie.

Speaker 10 (53:11):
Oh my god, the sons of France have an excellent
treatment for obstinacy. Unless we're given the information we require,
Lady Valerie will be tied up and flogged until we
do get it.

Speaker 11 (53:20):
But I don't know.

Speaker 6 (53:22):
I don't know what happened to the negative Simon.

Speaker 11 (53:24):
I don't know what you did with it.

Speaker 4 (53:25):
That's true, she doesn't know. She couldn't tell you, even
if you flogged head to death.

Speaker 10 (53:29):
In that case, I hope your natural chivalry will induce
you to spare her any unnecessary suffering.

Speaker 2 (53:35):
Monsieur le commandant. I ask nothing for myself, but are
you content to recall the torture of a helpless girl
as the glorious beginning of your revolution.

Speaker 5 (53:44):
No individual counts for anything compared with the destiny of France.
As a man, I should prefer to spare Mademoiselle. As
a leader charged with the destiny of France, my cause
cannot fuzzo. The faith of Mademoiselle is in your hands.

Speaker 4 (53:58):
I see and if I told you what you want
to know, I suppose we should be murdered just the same.

Speaker 5 (54:03):
The sons of cars do not commit murder. You will
be court martials exactly.

Speaker 10 (54:08):
You'll get a fair trial by court marshals, and you'll
be shot immediately afterwards.

Speaker 2 (54:12):
Those words were Luca's fatal mistake. There was clearly nothing
left to lose. I burst the last strands of rope
restraining me and seized the revolver from the holster of
the nearest guard. Ah, any of you can.

Speaker 4 (54:24):
Have with your friend God, you only have to ask,
none of the mask. Then on my right I saw
a door opening stealthily. It was the third man in
Kennet's photograph, the assassin Luca made.

Speaker 2 (54:35):
For his revolver.

Speaker 4 (54:36):
So I leveled my sights between his eyes and fired again.
And suddenly armed men in the uniforms of gendarmes were swarming.

Speaker 2 (54:44):
In Saint May.

Speaker 13 (54:52):
I have the pleasure of presenting this your snap Paris Police.

Speaker 12 (54:56):
Monsieur Templar.

Speaker 11 (54:57):
I only regret that your message reached me to.

Speaker 2 (54:59):
All my dear sir, I'm devastated to have troubled you.

Speaker 9 (55:05):
Not trouble, Monsieur Templar, I assure you a pleasure.

Speaker 6 (55:13):
I think I'm going to be married.

Speaker 2 (55:14):
Since who was the lucky man?

Speaker 6 (55:16):
Captain Knightly? Do you remember him.

Speaker 11 (55:19):
Don't you?

Speaker 6 (55:19):
He rescued me from the fire, so he did.

Speaker 2 (55:22):
Why do you think the general shout himself?

Speaker 4 (55:24):
I suppose he thought it was the best way out
for him. Let's drink to him, sang Hi. Haven't you
ever wondered why all those policemen poured into that cellar in.

Speaker 2 (55:34):
The nick of time?

Speaker 9 (55:36):
He got a message from you?

Speaker 4 (55:37):
I sent no message, Sangor sent it. Luca committed the
unforgivable sin. He reckoned without that spark of honor at
the heart of the old soldier. Sangor went along with
him most of the way, but cold blooded murder. It
was a step too far, so to General.

Speaker 2 (55:55):
Sangor, General Sangle. That makes an ex climax climax.

Speaker 6 (56:01):
I thought i'd write my memoirs for one of the
Sunday papers I told Algae about, and he offered to
buy them himself.

Speaker 2 (56:07):
How much did he give you for them?

Speaker 6 (56:09):
Ten thousand?

Speaker 2 (56:11):
So fast?

Speaker 5 (56:12):
He doesn't really.

Speaker 6 (56:12):
Want me to start writing them just yet. Just as well, Really,
my spelling's.

Speaker 2 (56:17):
Lousy in the Saint.

Speaker 1 (56:24):
Play To Acquire by Leslie charteris dramatized by Neville Teller.
Paul Reese played the Saint. Kim Thompson, Patricia, Jonel Fullerton, Bowery,
John Badley, Inspector Teal Jonathan Keeble, Peter, John Hartley Fairweather,
Jeffrey Whitehead, Luca, John Turner, General Sangor, John Hollis, Horis,
Andrew Brannch Knightley, Roger may Marto, David Collings the Coroner,

(56:48):
and David Timpson. Breathe The Saints was directed by Matthew
Waters