Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime (1983) s01e03 Episode Script
The House of Lurking Death
1 Subtitle by Tekkichan - More coffee, Lois? - Thank you, Miss Logan.
- Mary? - No, thanks.
Dennis is rather late this morning Perhaps he's already gone out Without his breakfast? He may have needed to see someone in the village Well, I wonder where he can be.
He's probably still in his room, sleeping it off.
Mary! He didn't get in till nearly four.
Didn't you hear him? No.
That's surprising.
He made enough noise.
That remark was uncalled for, Mary What? About the noise he made, or the condition he was in? Both.
Didn't you hear him? I did not.
Then I beg your pardon.
Yours too, Lois.
Oh, there's no need.
I'm sure there's a perfectly simple explanation.
Doubtless.
I say, have any of you see the papers? Been looking all over.
Not a sign of it, most strange.
Is this what you're after? Oh, well done! Now I was beginning to think one of the servant had a sneak of it Dennis, you know none of the staff would ever do such a thing - Just a joke.
- I'm sorry to have put you on so much trouble - Sure you're finish with it? - Quite sure.
Jolly good.
The racing results are at the back.
Hello, hunny bunch! Hipp oats Dennis, or scrambled eggs? I'll have neither, thanks! Or some of Mrs.
Holloway's excellent porrige? No, nothing for me, really, uh Perhaps I'll just have a cup coffee - Only coffe? - Black, please.
Are you not feeling well? I'm fine, maybe I'm a bit off colour.
Perhap you got a touch of flu.
Perhaps.
- Oh, I hope not.
- There's a lot of it about.
Thanks! - Parcel just come for you, Miss Hargreaves.
- Thank you, Ester.
What is that? Oh, Chocolates!! - Look!! - I say! Who is it from, dear ? There's no name.
And there's doesn't seem to be a card.
- That's odd - Perhaps you have an unknown admirer.
- Dennis! - Apart from me, that is.
Well, whoever they're from, they look lovely.
- Here Mary, try one.
- No, thanks.
- Oh, do! - No, really.
Worried about your figure, Mary? Well just one.
- Miss Logan? - Oh, thank you dear! - Dennis? - Oh, not for me thanks! - Oh, really? - No, no, I must run, err Fact is, I have to go and see .
A man about a horse? Something like that, yes.
Save a few for me.
Shall we expect you for lunch, Dennis? Why not? I shan't be long, now Goodbye.
Now, which should I choose? - Hard or soft ? - They are absolutely delicious.
I think soft.
Ummm scrumptious.
Rose, do you think this powder's the right shade? Oh, yes! You've got to be careful, when you've got particular colouring like mine.
- Oh, it's georgeous! - You think so? Yes.
It's not bad.
It's depraved, and disgusting.
I wasn't talking to you.
You're a painted woman, my girl.
Mark my words, you'll come to no good.
What do you think Mrs.
Halloway? Don't bother me now Ester, I've got too much to do.
- Bugger!! - You be careful, young mistress doesn't catch you with all that harlot's muck on your face.
What? Miss Hargreaves? She don't know what day it is Mr.
Radcliffe does, tough! Yesterday, he said I looked peachy - Oh, what you - You're just jealous! You ought to use make up, Rose.
- Oh, no! - I mean it.
Why don't you try it, sometime? I don't think so.
I tell you what, I'll lend you some of mine.
- Will you? - Leave the girl alone.
What's it got to do with you? - It's unseemly, and against the will of God - Huh! They're ringing for you, Ester I'm not deaf! Give you a tip, suck your lips a bit.
What? Suck your lips.
Like this.
What for? Makes them look redder.
More desirable, see? Ester!! Oh, alright, alright! You can all say your prayers now.
Ester ! - We must sent for the Police.
- No! - In Heaven's name, why not? - Just don't feel justified.
But justified after what happened-- - Dr.
Burton-- - Listen to me Miss Hargreaves, - Lois, this isn't the first time.
- I know.
- Something has to be done.
- But the Police-- You owe to everyone.
Least of all to yourself.
I'm sorry, I can't! - Then I won't be responsible.
- You don't have to be.
My dear girl, you're my patient and a very dear friend.
Perhaps there's another way Another way? Yes.
One equally as good, and much safer.
I thought of something that doesn't involve the police.
Got you! Look at that! - Who is it? -The girl.
- Oh let me see it.
- Are there no holes there? - Oh, please! - Looks to me a frightfully nice girl.
- Let me see! Damn, alright! Albert's giving her the usual tosh.
The job is sir, madam We've never been so busy.
You could say we're up to all race Oh! Ye ah err.
Scotland Yard on the telephone every minute, They are "santé" (Sûreté) That's the French Police, you know.
Or they'd be pisterin' on something rotten.
Oh dear! Yeah the bush is just as bad as most of his pinned Oh, perhaps I better go! Ah no, I didn't say it was impossible.
We might be able to .
squeeze you in? Oh, I'd be most awfully grateful! She's not bad.
Not bad? And her clothes are simply the latest shout.
She's perfectly lovely, obviously frightfully sympathetic and beautiful, and distictly inteligent, without being too, errm saucy Your powers of observation are distinctly clean this morning.
This case is gonna require a very careful handling.
I shall be .
sophisticated, suave, err - distingué - What? All at once? I know this Tuppence, I am captain of the ship, and don't you forget it.
Lets have her in.
Entrez! Miss Lois Hargreaves, Sir.
How do you do, Miss Hargreaves.
That will be all, Albert.
May I present .
Miss Robinson.
- How do you do? - How do you do? Miss Robinson is my amanuensis (transcriber) Thank you, Albert.
- Won't you take a seat? - Thank you.
Get out, Albert! Now .
We shall not be serious or formal, you will simply tell me all about it.
And we should then discuss the best way to help you out from your present little "camp de états" You are very kind, Mr.
Blunt.
Pas de rien.
(You're welcome) Excuse me, but are you a foreigner? Not exactly.
But my investigations carry me abroad a good deal.
My methods are those of the French Sûreté Oh Your name is Lois Hargreaves I live in a great rambling old fashioned house called Thurnly Grange.
It is in the heart of the country, and extremely isolated.
Altough the little village of Thurnly is close by.
Ah, I've never felt lonely there, indeed I much prefer country to town life.
Ah, how wise.
if only I, err-- oh, but let that pass.
Please, continue Miss Hargreaves.
About a week ago, I got a box of chocolates, sent through the post.
There was nothing to indicate who they were from, naturally, I passed them round.
Everyone who'd eaten the chocolates, was taken seriously ill.
Indeed? My doctor, Doctor Burton, had the remaining chocolate analysed.
Mr.
Blunt, those chocolates contained arsenic! Well not enough to kill anyone, but quite enough to make them ill.
How extraordinary! Doctor Burton was most concerned.
You see this his was the third occurrence of the kind, in our neighborhood.
In each case, a large house was selected, and the inmates taken ill, after eating the mysterious chocolates.
It looked as though someone was playing a particularly fiendish practical joke.
Is that Doctor Burton's opinion? He puts it down to Socialist agitation, there are one or two malcontents in the village.
Do you agree with him? It seems to me rather absurd.
Quite.
Miss Hargreaves, Why haven't you gone to the police about this? I hate the idea of the fuss, and you know the publicity.
Anyway I know our local inspector, I can't imagine him ever finding out anything.
I see.
Mr.
Blunt, err, Miss Robinson, in your advertisement you say a great deal about discretion.
I take that to mean that you would not Well, you would not make anything public without my consent.
Miss Hargreaves, I think you do as well to tell us everything; and everything will be kept in the strictest confidence.
Very well.
I have a reason for not going to the police.
The box of chocolate was sent by someone living in my own house.
How do you know? It's very simple.
I have a habit, it's foolish really, of drawing something, a sort of doodle, whenever I have a pencil in my hand It's a little design, like three fish intertwined.
Well, sometime ago I received a parcel of silk stockings from London.
I had been marking something in the newspaper at the time, and, without thinking, I began to draw on the parcel before I opened it.
I tought no more about it.
But, when I examined the paper in which the chocolates had been wrapped, I I found You found what? Miss Hargreaves This.
Oh! This is most serious.
I know! I ask you again Miss Hargreaves, why didn't you go to the police? Because I may want the whole thing hushed up.
- Whom do you suspect, Miss Hargreaves? - No one, but there are possibilities.
Quite.
Please describe the household to us.
First, I must tell you that I was brought up by my aunt, Lady Radcliffe, who's very wealthy.
Her husband made a big fortune, and was knighted.
But he died some years ago, that's when I went to live with my aunt Lucy.
I was her only living relative, a part from Dennis Radcliffe, her husband's nephew.
I have always called him cousin, but of course he's nothing of the kind.
Go on.
Aunty Lucy always said she intended to leave her fortune to Dennis.
It was Radcliffe money, she said.
and ought to go to a Radcliffe.
However, Sometimes ago they quarrelled over some silly debts that he had run up, I think.
And when my aunt died, I was astonished to find she'd left everything to me.
Oh, it was a terrible blow to Dennis, and I felt badly about it.
I wanted to give him the money but I knew he wouldn't take it.
However, as soon as I was 21 I made a will leaving it all to him.
So if if anything should happen, at least Dennis will come into his own.
And when .
may I ask, were you twenty one? Just three weeks ago.
Hmmmm.
Miss Hargreaves, the members of your household? Servants or others? Everyone.
Well Most of the servants have been with us for ages.
There is Mrs.
Holloway, the cook.
Oh she's rather quiet and works very hard, And then there's Rose, her daughter.
She's very shy and keeps mostly to herself.
Hannah was my aunt's maid, she's quite old and rather religious.
The parlormaid is Esther Quant.
I don't know much about her she's only just joined us, but she seems very nice.
As for us, Miss Logan was Aunt Lucy's companion, oh she runs the house for me.
Then there is Captain Radcliffe.
Dennis you know, whom I told you about.
And a girl called Mary Chilcott who was staying with us.
We were at school together.
She's my oldest and dearest friend.
And .
that's all.
Hmmm Err, so I take it you're not suspicious of, err anyone in particular.
You are only afraid it may turn out to be well err not a servant, shall we say? Yes.
It's clear what's to be done.
We must be on the spot.
- Oh well, when you'll come down? - Tomorrow.
there is no time to loose.
One thing more, Miss Hargreaves not a word to anyone of what you have just told me.
- I promise.
- Thank you.
Oh Albert - show Miss Hargreaves out, would you? Very good Mr.
Blunt.
Thank you.
I'm most grateful We'll see you tomorrow.
Good bye.
Au revoir, Mr.
Blunt.
Oh err, bon voyage Miss Hargreaves.
- What do you think? - I don't like it.
Especially the chocolates having so .
little arsenic in them.
Well don't you see? those sent round the neighborhood were just sort of a blind To establish the idea of a local maniac so when this poor girl is poisoned, it would seem the same thing.
After this wrapping paper no one will ever guess they were actually sent by someone in the same house.
So you think it's a deliberate plot against Lois Hargreaves? - I'm certain of it.
I remember reading about Lady Radcliffe's will that girl's come into terrific amount of money.
Which make it look bad for Dennis Radcliffe.
He gains most by her death, She must love him an awful lot.
Why darling it's obvious, That's why she determined not to go to the police.
Or in that case, why doesn't he marry her? I don't know.
Much safer and simpler than trying to kill her.
Unless of course he's already involved with somebody else.
Show a leg? Oh, darling.
Now I brought your breakfast and the morning paper.
Hot off the press.
I've been up for ages.
So energetic.
Right, and we've a journey to make, remember? I suppose this is all a deep plot of the night need my dress Past eight you know How so early Now I've run your bath, oh, let's be on the road as soon as possible.
Probably there won't be much traffic but you never know.
Besides, I'm, err, rather concerned about, err, - Tommy! What is it? Sudden outbreak of ptomaine poisoning.
Those dead so far Miss Lois Hargreaves, the owner of the house, the parlormaid Esther Quant.
Seriously ill, Miss Rachel Logan, Lois Hargreaves dead.
Oh Tuppence.
That girl! That perfectly ripping girl! Something about this house even in daylight.
Don't you feel it? I feel only the need to confront that dirty blackguard Radcliffe.
Come on.
You must be Rose Holloway.
Sir? Look here, I'm not a reporter or anything, Miss Hargreaves came to see me yesterday and asked me to come down here.
Who else is in the house? Dr.
Burton and Miss Chilcott.
She's making all the arrangements.
I should like to see Dr.
Burton at once.
Thank you.
This way please, Sir.
If you wouldn't mind waiting.
Thank you.
How nasty ! More like a jungle than a conservatory.
So dark and oppressive you see the whole place is rotty.
I wonder who looks after it? Can I help you? Dr.
Burton? Yes.
My card.
Are you Mr.
Blunt? This is my assistant - Miss Robinson.
- How do you do? Miss Hargreaves called on me yesterday, about the poisoned chocolates.
At her request I came down to investigate Alas .
I'm too late.
Under the circumstances, there is no need for reticence.
But for the episode of the chocolates, I might have believed these deaths been caused by severe ptomaine poisoning.
One unusually virulent kind.
There was gastro-intestinal inflammation and haemorrhage.
As it is, I'm taking the fig paste to be analized Oh fig paste? Did you not know? The cause of the outbreak was some fig paste sandwhiches served with the tea yesterday.
The poison, if poison it is, is something potent and swift.
Arsenic? No.
something much more virulent.
It looks like a powerful vegetable toxin.
Oh! Vegetable toxin.
Where is Dennis Radcliffe? Upstairs.
I should like to see him.
- Mr.
Blunt, - and at once! Very well.
Mr.
Blunt, I really should tell you.
Captain Radcliffe died at five o'clock this morning.
You must be Mr.
Blunt and Miss Robinson.
Lois told me, you see.
May we talk somewhere else? I'm so glad you're here it's all too terrible.
Please sit down.
Thank you.
Is there anything I can tell you? Yes The fig paste, that you had for tea yesterday, where did it come from? From London, we often have it.
No one suspected anything.
Personally, I dislike the flavour, which is why I ate none of the sandwiches.
But Lois did, and Miss Logan.
And what about the maid? Esther Quant? She must've take some later.
She was a greedy girl.
How is Miss Logan? Dr.
Burton seems to think she'll recover.
He says that because she's older, the poisons had less effect.
She's still very weak, though.
What I can't understand is how Dennis, Captain Radcliffe, was affected.
He wasn't with you for tea then? No.
He was out.
What time did he return? At about a quarter to seven.
Did you see him? Yes.
Miss Chilcott, were you in love with Captain Radcliffe? In love with him? Yes.
Yes, that's what I said.
Please, Miss Chilcott, this is very important.
He was rather wild and impulsive, and I suppose, not very trustworthy.
But He could be awfully amusing, sometimes.
He was like a little boy, very generous and kind.
Thank you.
Now tell us, Miss Chilcott, what exactly happened, last night? Dennis had been out, for a walk.
he usually did, just before dinner.
It was getting dark, I was in the conservatory.
Giving up the good work? Well I have to do something, to keep myself occupied.
Oh! Not as bad as all that, is it? - Sometimes.
- Shame.
- Like a drink? - No, thanks.
But don't let me stop you.
I won't.
- Dennis.
- Hmmm? When are you going to tell Lois? About us.
Nothing really to tell, is there? If you say not.
Probably not as much as about you and the parlormaid.
Esther? Don't say you're jealous? I think I am.
Well there's no need.
Dennis, you know you really are a bit of a rotter.
- Oh, I say!! You sure you won't have one? Quite sure.
Look old girl, don't you worry, everything'll turn up for the best.
- Well let's - Bound to.
Happy days He went upstairs, not long after, he fell ill.
Thank you Miss Chilcott.
- You've .
- been most helpfull, We'll, errm, continue our talk later Yes.
Thanks so much.
- What was in there about? - The kitchen! Quick! Stop! Are those yesterday's things? Oh, I'm sorry madam but what-- with the horrible bussiness Now listen Rose, there was a glass in the conservatory, Have you washed it? Well, where is it? - What? Here? - No, no no no! Thank you.
Come on! Carry on, Rose! There's still some drops in it.
What luck! Well done, darling.
Lets get Dr.
Burton to analyze it later.
Yes, then it will tell us, who put the poison in there.
Will it? What next? Hannah.
Miss Macpherson! Let hot burning coals fall upon them : let them be cast into the fire; that they never rise up again.
May we speak to you, please? There is no time, no time, time is running short, I say.
I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them.
Neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.
So it is written.
I am the scourge of the Lord.
Mad as a hatter.
Go out from here.
The time is at hand! I am the flail of the Lord.
The wind bloweth where it listeth - so shall I destroy.
Thank you very much! I wonder how long she's been like that? I don't know.
Look at this.
It's funny reading for dotty old housemaid, wouldn't you say? Materia Medica Edward Logan Logan Logan Logan do you think she's a relative? Let's find out.
Yes.
It was one of my father's books He was a great doctor.
One of the pioneers of serum therapeutics You must have been very proud of him.
I was.
Miss Logan, the maid Hannah is she quite mm, I mean quite right in the head? Oh, yes! She she's very religious but there's nothing wrong with that.
And that book, did you lend it to Hannah? To Hannah? No, indeed.
Oh, Dr.
Burton injected you.
I'm afraid he's insisted, I seemed to have been very ill.
And yet we found this book in .
Hannah's room.
Disgraceful! I'll not have the servants touching my things.
Where ought it to be Miss Logan? On the bookshelf in my sitting-room-or-- stay.
I I lent it to Mary.
To Mary? The dear girl is very interested in plants .
of all kinds, and She's taken over the care of conservatory.
I believe she's made one or two little experiments.
Oh! Some herbal teas can be very restorative and wonderful for a cold in the head I'm prone to, and so is Dennis.
Poor Dennis.
His father was my first cousin you know The conservatory, who else looks after it, apart of Mary Chilcott? Hannah does, occasionally, I believe.
I see.
Well, thank you Miss Logan.
Forgive us for tiring you.
Yes, thank you and just rest.
Get well quicky! Thank you, my dear.
I hate this house! Well lets have the drive to dr.
Burton's to clear our heads and our minds? So many possibilities, and yet the obvious one is dead, - Dennis Radcliffe He must've had something for those girls to fall in love with him.
You know, the more I hear the more I'm convinced he was a swine.
The worst of it is .
I kind of am feeling responsible.
I mean that somehow, I could have prevented it.
That's foolish and morbid.
Lois Hargreaves refused to go to the police and if she hadn't come to us, she would have done nothing at all.
And the result would have been the same Yes, you're right.
I swear to you we're gonna solve this case.
I don't know how.
But we will, even it'll kills us.
For that poor girl's sake.
It's not going to be easy.
I know.
Dr.
Burton's still working on the fig paste analysis, he'll have the sample's result as soon as he can.
Good.
What puzzles me most is the timing of the death.
Timing? Dennis Radcliffe was murdered after the others.
Why? That's easy, he wasn't there.
As soon as he returned, he was poisoned.
Maybe You don't sound very convinced It just that somehow, I feel that timing is the key to the whole thing and if only I could get the right perspective What if Lois Hargreaves wasn't the real target? What on earth do you mean? supposing her death was a blight, like the chocolates.
Dennis Radcliffe was the intended victim all along.
Is that possible? Possible, not very probable.
You're forgetting the money.
Yes that's true.
And Lois' fortune is the obvious motive.
The obvious is the awful right.
- Tuppence - Hmmm Did you like Mary Chilcott? Yes, I think so, why? Don't you think it odd, that she didn't seem more upset I mean she was supposed to be Lois Hargreaves' best friend Of course that could be a point into her favor.
I mean if she is the murderer, wouldn't she make a point of being more upset? Here lay it on rather thick? I suppose so - Oh, dear! - Not getting far, are we? No I wonder what Esther Quant was really like.
Young, good looking? You know what Mary Chilcott called her? Greedy.
Obviously flat it would be for Dennis Radcliffe.
I wonder if her interest was returned? We shall probably never know.
The devil is strangled it all here.
Well, we've talked and talked and we're no near a solution, neither when we started.
Come on! Oh, must we? Yes, we must.
You know there's one person we musn't forget - Hannah.
- Hannah? People do all sorts of things when they suffer from religious mania.
Hmm .
Must come on awfully rapidly I believe it does.
You know you go on muttering bits from the Bible in your bedroom for years and then suddenly, you go right over the line and become violent.
Well, you saw.
Oh, she wasn't exactly violent.
Near enough.
I suppose there is more evidence against her, than anyone else.
Yes-- perspective doesn't seem right.
Tuppence We're getting nowhere.
Unless .
I have an idea.
Oh, Rose! Ask your mother if she can spare us a moment, would you please? My mother? And you come with her too.
- I could .
- We shall be in the conservatory.
Oh, sorry of we startled you.
You didn't.
I thought you've gone down to the village.
We're back.
I gather you're fond of plants, Miss Chilcott? - Not really.
- Oh? and yet you look after all these.
Well someone has to, otherwise they'd run wild.
Mr.
Blunt.
Are you any near to solving this terrible business? I believe so.
Are you quite certain that it really is a question of foul play? What else could it be? Well a genuine case of food poisoning? That hardly explains the death of Captain Radcliffe, though.
Does it, Miss Chilcott? No.
- You wanted us .
.
- Sir.
Oh yes, Mrs.
Halloway, thank you.
We shan't keep you long.
Oh no, stay please, Miss Chilcott We should like you to hear.
Mrs.
Halloway what was your opinion of Esther Quant? Esther? Well she wasn't with us for long, Was she a good girl? Oh come along, Mrs.
Halloway, it's a perfectly simple question.
That's not for me to say.
What about you, Rose? Did you like her? Yes You weren't perhaps a little jealous of her, I suppose Jealous? Why should I be? She was pretty thick with Captain Radcliffe, wasn't she? Well, wasn't she? What're you saying, Mr.
Blunt? That Rose like every other young female in this house, might well, have been in love with Captain Radcliffe and might, well, have become unbearably jealous.
- That's not true.
- Isn't it ? - Are you accusing my daughter? - Oh not accusing, Mrs.
Halloway, merely suggesting.
and you must admit that it is, err, a possibility.
Well, Rose? I did like Captain Radcliffe, and Esther was a bit fast - There was nothing more to it.
- Are you sure? Captain Radcliffe was a gentleman.
You ought to be ashamed even to think such a thing, Sir.
that my Rose would - could ever - You seem very concerned, Mrs.
Halloway concerned, of course I'm concerned.
Rose is all I've got in the world, - I'd do everything for her.
- Even murder? Oh come now, Mrs.
Halloway If your only daughter is being trifled with by a blackguard, wouldn't you do anything to protect her? - even kill? - Mr.
Blunt that's insane! - Is it? What do you say Mrs.
Halloway? Nothing.
I'm saying nothing.
Very well, that would be all, for the moment.
Thank you both.
That was a bit brutal, wasn't it? So is murder, Miss Chilcott.
- Wouldn't you say? - Yes, but acusing them like that, it's ridiculous.
Hmm possibly, especially when there's more obvious suspect at hand.
You mean me, I suppose? Come in.
Messenger brought this, from Dr.
Burton Thank you, Rose.
I trust it's good news, if you have any further flights of fancy, I should be in my room.
That girl's a cool one, she gave nothing away.
Hmm, you're a bit hard on the others, weren't you? It had to be done, darling.
Ha! Let's see what dr.
Burton has to say "Dear Mr.
Blunt, there is reason to believe that the poison employed was ricin.
Ricin? A vegetable.
toxic albumose of tremendous potency.
Please keep this to yourselves.
Ricin?! Do Do you know anything about this, Tuppence? You used to be pretty well up in these things I think you get it from Castor Oil plant Never did take kindly to Castor Oil, now I hate it more than ever.
you get the ricin from the seeds of the castor oil plant.
yes it's not too difficult to extract And pretty deadly Dr.
Burton said Look! - Is that? - Castor Oil plant? anyone could extract the poison? Oh .
providing they knew herbs Could Hanna have done it? I wouldn't thought so Unless The book It was open on the table with the page turned at Now then, let's see Ricin.
Yes! I thought so.
I think we better have another word with a Miss Macpherson .
Tommy, would you leave this to me? Just this once.
Fair enough, Tuppence.
You shall be Captain of the Ship Just for a change.
Where are you going? I want to ask Miss Logan a question, only one.
Miss Logan, Miss Logan.
- Is that you, my dear? - Yes.
Have you slept well? As well as can be expected.
We're trully sorry to disturb you.
Never mind.
- Thank you Mr.
Blunt.
- Not at all.
Well now Tell me, Have you been able to find anything out? Yes, yes I think we have.
My dear, you're much too attractive to be a detective.
You're so young! And being young, I happened to work in a hospital during the war - Cruel time - Yes But it told me something about serum therapeutics.
poisons and antidotes, how they save lives and how they can kill.
Mr.
Blunt, would you mind? Of course.
You're most kind.
Please go on, my dear.
I also happen to know something about Ricin.
For example when it's taken in small doses, antiricin is formed and immunity is produced.
Is that really so? Yes, indeed.
It's discovery paved the way for the whole science of serum therapeutics.
It's your father's work, in fact.
My father? You knew that, Miss Logan you knew that very well.
And that's why you sistematically injected your self with Ricin.
- What? - Let go my hand .
- Not yet You did this Miss Logan, not Dr.
Burton.
You helped your father with his work You knew all about Ricin, You injected yourself to build up antiricin.
- And that's how you came to let yourself be poisoned with the rest.
- No! You chose the day when Dennis Radcliffe would be out.
It would never do for him to be poisoned at the same time, or he might die before Lois Hargreaves.
- You're mad! The timing was crucial, wasn't it? So long as she died first, he would inherit her fortune.
but at his death the money would pass to you - Mr.
Blunt help me! - his next of kin.
It's not true ! Oh yes it is.
You told us yourself, his father was your first cousin, remember? The real truth is you gave yourself away.
You're mad, I tell you! Truth has spoken, for Lord is truth the almighty is.
There is the wicked one! I saw her reading the book, and smiling to herself, and I knew.
I've found the book and the page!! But it meant nothing to me.
But the voice of the Lord speak on to me, and it was good! - Take her away! Take her away! She hated my mistress, her Ladyship.
She was always a viper, jealous and envious.
She hated my own dear sweet Miss Lois.
But the wicked shall perish, the fire of the Lord shall consume them in.
Is she dead? The shock must have been too much for her - I have suceeded.
- I'm sorry.
We will notify the police.
-- credit goes to the original subber --
- Mary? - No, thanks.
Dennis is rather late this morning Perhaps he's already gone out Without his breakfast? He may have needed to see someone in the village Well, I wonder where he can be.
He's probably still in his room, sleeping it off.
Mary! He didn't get in till nearly four.
Didn't you hear him? No.
That's surprising.
He made enough noise.
That remark was uncalled for, Mary What? About the noise he made, or the condition he was in? Both.
Didn't you hear him? I did not.
Then I beg your pardon.
Yours too, Lois.
Oh, there's no need.
I'm sure there's a perfectly simple explanation.
Doubtless.
I say, have any of you see the papers? Been looking all over.
Not a sign of it, most strange.
Is this what you're after? Oh, well done! Now I was beginning to think one of the servant had a sneak of it Dennis, you know none of the staff would ever do such a thing - Just a joke.
- I'm sorry to have put you on so much trouble - Sure you're finish with it? - Quite sure.
Jolly good.
The racing results are at the back.
Hello, hunny bunch! Hipp oats Dennis, or scrambled eggs? I'll have neither, thanks! Or some of Mrs.
Holloway's excellent porrige? No, nothing for me, really, uh Perhaps I'll just have a cup coffee - Only coffe? - Black, please.
Are you not feeling well? I'm fine, maybe I'm a bit off colour.
Perhap you got a touch of flu.
Perhaps.
- Oh, I hope not.
- There's a lot of it about.
Thanks! - Parcel just come for you, Miss Hargreaves.
- Thank you, Ester.
What is that? Oh, Chocolates!! - Look!! - I say! Who is it from, dear ? There's no name.
And there's doesn't seem to be a card.
- That's odd - Perhaps you have an unknown admirer.
- Dennis! - Apart from me, that is.
Well, whoever they're from, they look lovely.
- Here Mary, try one.
- No, thanks.
- Oh, do! - No, really.
Worried about your figure, Mary? Well just one.
- Miss Logan? - Oh, thank you dear! - Dennis? - Oh, not for me thanks! - Oh, really? - No, no, I must run, err Fact is, I have to go and see .
A man about a horse? Something like that, yes.
Save a few for me.
Shall we expect you for lunch, Dennis? Why not? I shan't be long, now Goodbye.
Now, which should I choose? - Hard or soft ? - They are absolutely delicious.
I think soft.
Ummm scrumptious.
Rose, do you think this powder's the right shade? Oh, yes! You've got to be careful, when you've got particular colouring like mine.
- Oh, it's georgeous! - You think so? Yes.
It's not bad.
It's depraved, and disgusting.
I wasn't talking to you.
You're a painted woman, my girl.
Mark my words, you'll come to no good.
What do you think Mrs.
Halloway? Don't bother me now Ester, I've got too much to do.
- Bugger!! - You be careful, young mistress doesn't catch you with all that harlot's muck on your face.
What? Miss Hargreaves? She don't know what day it is Mr.
Radcliffe does, tough! Yesterday, he said I looked peachy - Oh, what you - You're just jealous! You ought to use make up, Rose.
- Oh, no! - I mean it.
Why don't you try it, sometime? I don't think so.
I tell you what, I'll lend you some of mine.
- Will you? - Leave the girl alone.
What's it got to do with you? - It's unseemly, and against the will of God - Huh! They're ringing for you, Ester I'm not deaf! Give you a tip, suck your lips a bit.
What? Suck your lips.
Like this.
What for? Makes them look redder.
More desirable, see? Ester!! Oh, alright, alright! You can all say your prayers now.
Ester ! - We must sent for the Police.
- No! - In Heaven's name, why not? - Just don't feel justified.
But justified after what happened-- - Dr.
Burton-- - Listen to me Miss Hargreaves, - Lois, this isn't the first time.
- I know.
- Something has to be done.
- But the Police-- You owe to everyone.
Least of all to yourself.
I'm sorry, I can't! - Then I won't be responsible.
- You don't have to be.
My dear girl, you're my patient and a very dear friend.
Perhaps there's another way Another way? Yes.
One equally as good, and much safer.
I thought of something that doesn't involve the police.
Got you! Look at that! - Who is it? -The girl.
- Oh let me see it.
- Are there no holes there? - Oh, please! - Looks to me a frightfully nice girl.
- Let me see! Damn, alright! Albert's giving her the usual tosh.
The job is sir, madam We've never been so busy.
You could say we're up to all race Oh! Ye ah err.
Scotland Yard on the telephone every minute, They are "santé" (Sûreté) That's the French Police, you know.
Or they'd be pisterin' on something rotten.
Oh dear! Yeah the bush is just as bad as most of his pinned Oh, perhaps I better go! Ah no, I didn't say it was impossible.
We might be able to .
squeeze you in? Oh, I'd be most awfully grateful! She's not bad.
Not bad? And her clothes are simply the latest shout.
She's perfectly lovely, obviously frightfully sympathetic and beautiful, and distictly inteligent, without being too, errm saucy Your powers of observation are distinctly clean this morning.
This case is gonna require a very careful handling.
I shall be .
sophisticated, suave, err - distingué - What? All at once? I know this Tuppence, I am captain of the ship, and don't you forget it.
Lets have her in.
Entrez! Miss Lois Hargreaves, Sir.
How do you do, Miss Hargreaves.
That will be all, Albert.
May I present .
Miss Robinson.
- How do you do? - How do you do? Miss Robinson is my amanuensis (transcriber) Thank you, Albert.
- Won't you take a seat? - Thank you.
Get out, Albert! Now .
We shall not be serious or formal, you will simply tell me all about it.
And we should then discuss the best way to help you out from your present little "camp de états" You are very kind, Mr.
Blunt.
Pas de rien.
(You're welcome) Excuse me, but are you a foreigner? Not exactly.
But my investigations carry me abroad a good deal.
My methods are those of the French Sûreté Oh Your name is Lois Hargreaves I live in a great rambling old fashioned house called Thurnly Grange.
It is in the heart of the country, and extremely isolated.
Altough the little village of Thurnly is close by.
Ah, I've never felt lonely there, indeed I much prefer country to town life.
Ah, how wise.
if only I, err-- oh, but let that pass.
Please, continue Miss Hargreaves.
About a week ago, I got a box of chocolates, sent through the post.
There was nothing to indicate who they were from, naturally, I passed them round.
Everyone who'd eaten the chocolates, was taken seriously ill.
Indeed? My doctor, Doctor Burton, had the remaining chocolate analysed.
Mr.
Blunt, those chocolates contained arsenic! Well not enough to kill anyone, but quite enough to make them ill.
How extraordinary! Doctor Burton was most concerned.
You see this his was the third occurrence of the kind, in our neighborhood.
In each case, a large house was selected, and the inmates taken ill, after eating the mysterious chocolates.
It looked as though someone was playing a particularly fiendish practical joke.
Is that Doctor Burton's opinion? He puts it down to Socialist agitation, there are one or two malcontents in the village.
Do you agree with him? It seems to me rather absurd.
Quite.
Miss Hargreaves, Why haven't you gone to the police about this? I hate the idea of the fuss, and you know the publicity.
Anyway I know our local inspector, I can't imagine him ever finding out anything.
I see.
Mr.
Blunt, err, Miss Robinson, in your advertisement you say a great deal about discretion.
I take that to mean that you would not Well, you would not make anything public without my consent.
Miss Hargreaves, I think you do as well to tell us everything; and everything will be kept in the strictest confidence.
Very well.
I have a reason for not going to the police.
The box of chocolate was sent by someone living in my own house.
How do you know? It's very simple.
I have a habit, it's foolish really, of drawing something, a sort of doodle, whenever I have a pencil in my hand It's a little design, like three fish intertwined.
Well, sometime ago I received a parcel of silk stockings from London.
I had been marking something in the newspaper at the time, and, without thinking, I began to draw on the parcel before I opened it.
I tought no more about it.
But, when I examined the paper in which the chocolates had been wrapped, I I found You found what? Miss Hargreaves This.
Oh! This is most serious.
I know! I ask you again Miss Hargreaves, why didn't you go to the police? Because I may want the whole thing hushed up.
- Whom do you suspect, Miss Hargreaves? - No one, but there are possibilities.
Quite.
Please describe the household to us.
First, I must tell you that I was brought up by my aunt, Lady Radcliffe, who's very wealthy.
Her husband made a big fortune, and was knighted.
But he died some years ago, that's when I went to live with my aunt Lucy.
I was her only living relative, a part from Dennis Radcliffe, her husband's nephew.
I have always called him cousin, but of course he's nothing of the kind.
Go on.
Aunty Lucy always said she intended to leave her fortune to Dennis.
It was Radcliffe money, she said.
and ought to go to a Radcliffe.
However, Sometimes ago they quarrelled over some silly debts that he had run up, I think.
And when my aunt died, I was astonished to find she'd left everything to me.
Oh, it was a terrible blow to Dennis, and I felt badly about it.
I wanted to give him the money but I knew he wouldn't take it.
However, as soon as I was 21 I made a will leaving it all to him.
So if if anything should happen, at least Dennis will come into his own.
And when .
may I ask, were you twenty one? Just three weeks ago.
Hmmmm.
Miss Hargreaves, the members of your household? Servants or others? Everyone.
Well Most of the servants have been with us for ages.
There is Mrs.
Holloway, the cook.
Oh she's rather quiet and works very hard, And then there's Rose, her daughter.
She's very shy and keeps mostly to herself.
Hannah was my aunt's maid, she's quite old and rather religious.
The parlormaid is Esther Quant.
I don't know much about her she's only just joined us, but she seems very nice.
As for us, Miss Logan was Aunt Lucy's companion, oh she runs the house for me.
Then there is Captain Radcliffe.
Dennis you know, whom I told you about.
And a girl called Mary Chilcott who was staying with us.
We were at school together.
She's my oldest and dearest friend.
And .
that's all.
Hmmm Err, so I take it you're not suspicious of, err anyone in particular.
You are only afraid it may turn out to be well err not a servant, shall we say? Yes.
It's clear what's to be done.
We must be on the spot.
- Oh well, when you'll come down? - Tomorrow.
there is no time to loose.
One thing more, Miss Hargreaves not a word to anyone of what you have just told me.
- I promise.
- Thank you.
Oh Albert - show Miss Hargreaves out, would you? Very good Mr.
Blunt.
Thank you.
I'm most grateful We'll see you tomorrow.
Good bye.
Au revoir, Mr.
Blunt.
Oh err, bon voyage Miss Hargreaves.
- What do you think? - I don't like it.
Especially the chocolates having so .
little arsenic in them.
Well don't you see? those sent round the neighborhood were just sort of a blind To establish the idea of a local maniac so when this poor girl is poisoned, it would seem the same thing.
After this wrapping paper no one will ever guess they were actually sent by someone in the same house.
So you think it's a deliberate plot against Lois Hargreaves? - I'm certain of it.
I remember reading about Lady Radcliffe's will that girl's come into terrific amount of money.
Which make it look bad for Dennis Radcliffe.
He gains most by her death, She must love him an awful lot.
Why darling it's obvious, That's why she determined not to go to the police.
Or in that case, why doesn't he marry her? I don't know.
Much safer and simpler than trying to kill her.
Unless of course he's already involved with somebody else.
Show a leg? Oh, darling.
Now I brought your breakfast and the morning paper.
Hot off the press.
I've been up for ages.
So energetic.
Right, and we've a journey to make, remember? I suppose this is all a deep plot of the night need my dress Past eight you know How so early Now I've run your bath, oh, let's be on the road as soon as possible.
Probably there won't be much traffic but you never know.
Besides, I'm, err, rather concerned about, err, - Tommy! What is it? Sudden outbreak of ptomaine poisoning.
Those dead so far Miss Lois Hargreaves, the owner of the house, the parlormaid Esther Quant.
Seriously ill, Miss Rachel Logan, Lois Hargreaves dead.
Oh Tuppence.
That girl! That perfectly ripping girl! Something about this house even in daylight.
Don't you feel it? I feel only the need to confront that dirty blackguard Radcliffe.
Come on.
You must be Rose Holloway.
Sir? Look here, I'm not a reporter or anything, Miss Hargreaves came to see me yesterday and asked me to come down here.
Who else is in the house? Dr.
Burton and Miss Chilcott.
She's making all the arrangements.
I should like to see Dr.
Burton at once.
Thank you.
This way please, Sir.
If you wouldn't mind waiting.
Thank you.
How nasty ! More like a jungle than a conservatory.
So dark and oppressive you see the whole place is rotty.
I wonder who looks after it? Can I help you? Dr.
Burton? Yes.
My card.
Are you Mr.
Blunt? This is my assistant - Miss Robinson.
- How do you do? Miss Hargreaves called on me yesterday, about the poisoned chocolates.
At her request I came down to investigate Alas .
I'm too late.
Under the circumstances, there is no need for reticence.
But for the episode of the chocolates, I might have believed these deaths been caused by severe ptomaine poisoning.
One unusually virulent kind.
There was gastro-intestinal inflammation and haemorrhage.
As it is, I'm taking the fig paste to be analized Oh fig paste? Did you not know? The cause of the outbreak was some fig paste sandwhiches served with the tea yesterday.
The poison, if poison it is, is something potent and swift.
Arsenic? No.
something much more virulent.
It looks like a powerful vegetable toxin.
Oh! Vegetable toxin.
Where is Dennis Radcliffe? Upstairs.
I should like to see him.
- Mr.
Blunt, - and at once! Very well.
Mr.
Blunt, I really should tell you.
Captain Radcliffe died at five o'clock this morning.
You must be Mr.
Blunt and Miss Robinson.
Lois told me, you see.
May we talk somewhere else? I'm so glad you're here it's all too terrible.
Please sit down.
Thank you.
Is there anything I can tell you? Yes The fig paste, that you had for tea yesterday, where did it come from? From London, we often have it.
No one suspected anything.
Personally, I dislike the flavour, which is why I ate none of the sandwiches.
But Lois did, and Miss Logan.
And what about the maid? Esther Quant? She must've take some later.
She was a greedy girl.
How is Miss Logan? Dr.
Burton seems to think she'll recover.
He says that because she's older, the poisons had less effect.
She's still very weak, though.
What I can't understand is how Dennis, Captain Radcliffe, was affected.
He wasn't with you for tea then? No.
He was out.
What time did he return? At about a quarter to seven.
Did you see him? Yes.
Miss Chilcott, were you in love with Captain Radcliffe? In love with him? Yes.
Yes, that's what I said.
Please, Miss Chilcott, this is very important.
He was rather wild and impulsive, and I suppose, not very trustworthy.
But He could be awfully amusing, sometimes.
He was like a little boy, very generous and kind.
Thank you.
Now tell us, Miss Chilcott, what exactly happened, last night? Dennis had been out, for a walk.
he usually did, just before dinner.
It was getting dark, I was in the conservatory.
Giving up the good work? Well I have to do something, to keep myself occupied.
Oh! Not as bad as all that, is it? - Sometimes.
- Shame.
- Like a drink? - No, thanks.
But don't let me stop you.
I won't.
- Dennis.
- Hmmm? When are you going to tell Lois? About us.
Nothing really to tell, is there? If you say not.
Probably not as much as about you and the parlormaid.
Esther? Don't say you're jealous? I think I am.
Well there's no need.
Dennis, you know you really are a bit of a rotter.
- Oh, I say!! You sure you won't have one? Quite sure.
Look old girl, don't you worry, everything'll turn up for the best.
- Well let's - Bound to.
Happy days He went upstairs, not long after, he fell ill.
Thank you Miss Chilcott.
- You've .
- been most helpfull, We'll, errm, continue our talk later Yes.
Thanks so much.
- What was in there about? - The kitchen! Quick! Stop! Are those yesterday's things? Oh, I'm sorry madam but what-- with the horrible bussiness Now listen Rose, there was a glass in the conservatory, Have you washed it? Well, where is it? - What? Here? - No, no no no! Thank you.
Come on! Carry on, Rose! There's still some drops in it.
What luck! Well done, darling.
Lets get Dr.
Burton to analyze it later.
Yes, then it will tell us, who put the poison in there.
Will it? What next? Hannah.
Miss Macpherson! Let hot burning coals fall upon them : let them be cast into the fire; that they never rise up again.
May we speak to you, please? There is no time, no time, time is running short, I say.
I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them.
Neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.
So it is written.
I am the scourge of the Lord.
Mad as a hatter.
Go out from here.
The time is at hand! I am the flail of the Lord.
The wind bloweth where it listeth - so shall I destroy.
Thank you very much! I wonder how long she's been like that? I don't know.
Look at this.
It's funny reading for dotty old housemaid, wouldn't you say? Materia Medica Edward Logan Logan Logan Logan do you think she's a relative? Let's find out.
Yes.
It was one of my father's books He was a great doctor.
One of the pioneers of serum therapeutics You must have been very proud of him.
I was.
Miss Logan, the maid Hannah is she quite mm, I mean quite right in the head? Oh, yes! She she's very religious but there's nothing wrong with that.
And that book, did you lend it to Hannah? To Hannah? No, indeed.
Oh, Dr.
Burton injected you.
I'm afraid he's insisted, I seemed to have been very ill.
And yet we found this book in .
Hannah's room.
Disgraceful! I'll not have the servants touching my things.
Where ought it to be Miss Logan? On the bookshelf in my sitting-room-or-- stay.
I I lent it to Mary.
To Mary? The dear girl is very interested in plants .
of all kinds, and She's taken over the care of conservatory.
I believe she's made one or two little experiments.
Oh! Some herbal teas can be very restorative and wonderful for a cold in the head I'm prone to, and so is Dennis.
Poor Dennis.
His father was my first cousin you know The conservatory, who else looks after it, apart of Mary Chilcott? Hannah does, occasionally, I believe.
I see.
Well, thank you Miss Logan.
Forgive us for tiring you.
Yes, thank you and just rest.
Get well quicky! Thank you, my dear.
I hate this house! Well lets have the drive to dr.
Burton's to clear our heads and our minds? So many possibilities, and yet the obvious one is dead, - Dennis Radcliffe He must've had something for those girls to fall in love with him.
You know, the more I hear the more I'm convinced he was a swine.
The worst of it is .
I kind of am feeling responsible.
I mean that somehow, I could have prevented it.
That's foolish and morbid.
Lois Hargreaves refused to go to the police and if she hadn't come to us, she would have done nothing at all.
And the result would have been the same Yes, you're right.
I swear to you we're gonna solve this case.
I don't know how.
But we will, even it'll kills us.
For that poor girl's sake.
It's not going to be easy.
I know.
Dr.
Burton's still working on the fig paste analysis, he'll have the sample's result as soon as he can.
Good.
What puzzles me most is the timing of the death.
Timing? Dennis Radcliffe was murdered after the others.
Why? That's easy, he wasn't there.
As soon as he returned, he was poisoned.
Maybe You don't sound very convinced It just that somehow, I feel that timing is the key to the whole thing and if only I could get the right perspective What if Lois Hargreaves wasn't the real target? What on earth do you mean? supposing her death was a blight, like the chocolates.
Dennis Radcliffe was the intended victim all along.
Is that possible? Possible, not very probable.
You're forgetting the money.
Yes that's true.
And Lois' fortune is the obvious motive.
The obvious is the awful right.
- Tuppence - Hmmm Did you like Mary Chilcott? Yes, I think so, why? Don't you think it odd, that she didn't seem more upset I mean she was supposed to be Lois Hargreaves' best friend Of course that could be a point into her favor.
I mean if she is the murderer, wouldn't she make a point of being more upset? Here lay it on rather thick? I suppose so - Oh, dear! - Not getting far, are we? No I wonder what Esther Quant was really like.
Young, good looking? You know what Mary Chilcott called her? Greedy.
Obviously flat it would be for Dennis Radcliffe.
I wonder if her interest was returned? We shall probably never know.
The devil is strangled it all here.
Well, we've talked and talked and we're no near a solution, neither when we started.
Come on! Oh, must we? Yes, we must.
You know there's one person we musn't forget - Hannah.
- Hannah? People do all sorts of things when they suffer from religious mania.
Hmm .
Must come on awfully rapidly I believe it does.
You know you go on muttering bits from the Bible in your bedroom for years and then suddenly, you go right over the line and become violent.
Well, you saw.
Oh, she wasn't exactly violent.
Near enough.
I suppose there is more evidence against her, than anyone else.
Yes-- perspective doesn't seem right.
Tuppence We're getting nowhere.
Unless .
I have an idea.
Oh, Rose! Ask your mother if she can spare us a moment, would you please? My mother? And you come with her too.
- I could .
- We shall be in the conservatory.
Oh, sorry of we startled you.
You didn't.
I thought you've gone down to the village.
We're back.
I gather you're fond of plants, Miss Chilcott? - Not really.
- Oh? and yet you look after all these.
Well someone has to, otherwise they'd run wild.
Mr.
Blunt.
Are you any near to solving this terrible business? I believe so.
Are you quite certain that it really is a question of foul play? What else could it be? Well a genuine case of food poisoning? That hardly explains the death of Captain Radcliffe, though.
Does it, Miss Chilcott? No.
- You wanted us .
.
- Sir.
Oh yes, Mrs.
Halloway, thank you.
We shan't keep you long.
Oh no, stay please, Miss Chilcott We should like you to hear.
Mrs.
Halloway what was your opinion of Esther Quant? Esther? Well she wasn't with us for long, Was she a good girl? Oh come along, Mrs.
Halloway, it's a perfectly simple question.
That's not for me to say.
What about you, Rose? Did you like her? Yes You weren't perhaps a little jealous of her, I suppose Jealous? Why should I be? She was pretty thick with Captain Radcliffe, wasn't she? Well, wasn't she? What're you saying, Mr.
Blunt? That Rose like every other young female in this house, might well, have been in love with Captain Radcliffe and might, well, have become unbearably jealous.
- That's not true.
- Isn't it ? - Are you accusing my daughter? - Oh not accusing, Mrs.
Halloway, merely suggesting.
and you must admit that it is, err, a possibility.
Well, Rose? I did like Captain Radcliffe, and Esther was a bit fast - There was nothing more to it.
- Are you sure? Captain Radcliffe was a gentleman.
You ought to be ashamed even to think such a thing, Sir.
that my Rose would - could ever - You seem very concerned, Mrs.
Halloway concerned, of course I'm concerned.
Rose is all I've got in the world, - I'd do everything for her.
- Even murder? Oh come now, Mrs.
Halloway If your only daughter is being trifled with by a blackguard, wouldn't you do anything to protect her? - even kill? - Mr.
Blunt that's insane! - Is it? What do you say Mrs.
Halloway? Nothing.
I'm saying nothing.
Very well, that would be all, for the moment.
Thank you both.
That was a bit brutal, wasn't it? So is murder, Miss Chilcott.
- Wouldn't you say? - Yes, but acusing them like that, it's ridiculous.
Hmm possibly, especially when there's more obvious suspect at hand.
You mean me, I suppose? Come in.
Messenger brought this, from Dr.
Burton Thank you, Rose.
I trust it's good news, if you have any further flights of fancy, I should be in my room.
That girl's a cool one, she gave nothing away.
Hmm, you're a bit hard on the others, weren't you? It had to be done, darling.
Ha! Let's see what dr.
Burton has to say "Dear Mr.
Blunt, there is reason to believe that the poison employed was ricin.
Ricin? A vegetable.
toxic albumose of tremendous potency.
Please keep this to yourselves.
Ricin?! Do Do you know anything about this, Tuppence? You used to be pretty well up in these things I think you get it from Castor Oil plant Never did take kindly to Castor Oil, now I hate it more than ever.
you get the ricin from the seeds of the castor oil plant.
yes it's not too difficult to extract And pretty deadly Dr.
Burton said Look! - Is that? - Castor Oil plant? anyone could extract the poison? Oh .
providing they knew herbs Could Hanna have done it? I wouldn't thought so Unless The book It was open on the table with the page turned at Now then, let's see Ricin.
Yes! I thought so.
I think we better have another word with a Miss Macpherson .
Tommy, would you leave this to me? Just this once.
Fair enough, Tuppence.
You shall be Captain of the Ship Just for a change.
Where are you going? I want to ask Miss Logan a question, only one.
Miss Logan, Miss Logan.
- Is that you, my dear? - Yes.
Have you slept well? As well as can be expected.
We're trully sorry to disturb you.
Never mind.
- Thank you Mr.
Blunt.
- Not at all.
Well now Tell me, Have you been able to find anything out? Yes, yes I think we have.
My dear, you're much too attractive to be a detective.
You're so young! And being young, I happened to work in a hospital during the war - Cruel time - Yes But it told me something about serum therapeutics.
poisons and antidotes, how they save lives and how they can kill.
Mr.
Blunt, would you mind? Of course.
You're most kind.
Please go on, my dear.
I also happen to know something about Ricin.
For example when it's taken in small doses, antiricin is formed and immunity is produced.
Is that really so? Yes, indeed.
It's discovery paved the way for the whole science of serum therapeutics.
It's your father's work, in fact.
My father? You knew that, Miss Logan you knew that very well.
And that's why you sistematically injected your self with Ricin.
- What? - Let go my hand .
- Not yet You did this Miss Logan, not Dr.
Burton.
You helped your father with his work You knew all about Ricin, You injected yourself to build up antiricin.
- And that's how you came to let yourself be poisoned with the rest.
- No! You chose the day when Dennis Radcliffe would be out.
It would never do for him to be poisoned at the same time, or he might die before Lois Hargreaves.
- You're mad! The timing was crucial, wasn't it? So long as she died first, he would inherit her fortune.
but at his death the money would pass to you - Mr.
Blunt help me! - his next of kin.
It's not true ! Oh yes it is.
You told us yourself, his father was your first cousin, remember? The real truth is you gave yourself away.
You're mad, I tell you! Truth has spoken, for Lord is truth the almighty is.
There is the wicked one! I saw her reading the book, and smiling to herself, and I knew.
I've found the book and the page!! But it meant nothing to me.
But the voice of the Lord speak on to me, and it was good! - Take her away! Take her away! She hated my mistress, her Ladyship.
She was always a viper, jealous and envious.
She hated my own dear sweet Miss Lois.
But the wicked shall perish, the fire of the Lord shall consume them in.
Is she dead? The shock must have been too much for her - I have suceeded.
- I'm sorry.
We will notify the police.
-- credit goes to the original subber --