Section 1 Flashcards
Ow!
Charley! Are you ready? We’re all waiting downstairs to raise a glass to your engagement! Charley? Come along now, Charley, you’ve been in there for hours now. If I didn’t know better I’d say you were having second thoughts about the wedding! (Chuckle) Hang it all, Charley, if you won’t come out, I’ll come in! (Tries handle.) Darn it! He’s locked the door! Hand me those keys, Perkins!
Here they are, Mr Colleymoore!
Thank you, Perkins. Let’s get this door open. We’re coming in, Charley! We’re coming in! There we are. We’re in. But, what’s this? Charles, unconscious?
Asleep surely, Mr Colleymoore?
Darn it, Perkins. I hope so.
I’ll take his pulse!
Blast! I knew something was wrong, it’s so unlike Charles to disappear like this.
He’s not breathing sir and there’s no hint of a heartbeat!
I’m dumbfounded! He was right as rain an hour ago.
Sir! He’s dead!
Dead!? Darn it, Perkins, he can’t be! He’s my closest friend!
I don’t understand. He was as fit as a fiddle. He can’t be dead. It doesn’t make any sense.
Of course it makes sense. He’s been murdered! Good God; where’s Florence?
In the dining room, sir, shall I fetch her?
Not yet! The last thing we need is for her to have one of her hysterical episodes.
Shall I telephone the police, Mr Colleymoore?
The police? They wouldn’t make it out here for days in this snowstorm. I’ll telephone Inspector Carter, he lives just the other side of the village. (Picks up receiver.) He’ll be here in next to no time. Hand me the receiver, Perkins. Thank you, Perkins. Good evening. Give me Inspector Carter!… I know it’s late…Sir, I don’t care about the weather. There’s been a murder! Someone’s murdered Charles Haverscham! That’s right! Thank you (Hangs up.) He’s on his way.
Yes, sir. Do you think it was murder Mr Colleymore? Or do you think perhaps it was suicide?
Suicide? Charley? Not possible! There never was a man with more zest for life than Charley! He was young, rich and soon to be married, why on earth would he commit suicide?
But why on earth would anyone murder him, sir? Charles was such a good man. Generous, kind, a true… (Reads the word from his hand and mispronounces it.) philanthropist. He never had an enemy in his life.
Until today it seems. Hang it all, Perkins! Charles Haversham was murdered in cold blood in this very room on this very day, in this very room!
Inspector Carter?
They say he’s the best darn inspector in the district, he’ll crack this case and quick.
Very good sir and what shall I do?
Lock every door, man! Not a soul gets out of Haversham Manor until the killer is found!
At once, sir.
…and assemble everyone in here.
