:04:05
He then returned to Broughton Gifford
on the 2:40 train...
:04:08
disguised as Sir Mortimer
turret's Valet, Burton,
:04:11
making sure his arrival was
noted by the ticket inspector.
:04:16
From then on, his plan was
simplicity itself.
:04:19
Knowing it was Burton's day off,
he had no difficulty in entering
Hellrake Hall unobserved...
:04:25
And murdering Sir Mortimer with the
arrow from the astrolabe...
:04:28
which he had sharpened
on the stone knife grinder
by the scullery window.
:04:32
"Remember my query about
brass knives at the time ?
:04:38
I was worried about
those metal shavings."
:04:43
"By jove, Lord Merridew, sir,
:04:45
"You don't miss a trick.
:04:47
But since you appear
to know so much, sir,"
:04:51
continued the inspector humbly,
:04:54
"I wonder if you would explain
how the murderer managed to
leave the body of his victim...
:04:58
"in the middle of the tennis
court and effect his escape...
:05:01
"without leaving any tracks
behind him in the red dust.
:05:04
Frankly, sir, we in the Police
Force are just plain baffled."
:05:16
St. John Lord Merridew,
the great detective,
:05:19
rose majestically,
:05:21
his huge Father Christmas face
glowing with mischievous delight.
:05:26
Slowly, he brushed the
crumbs of seedy cake...
:05:30
from the folds of his
pendulous waistcoat.
:05:32
"The Police may be baffled,
Inspector," he boomed,
:05:36
"But Merridew is not.
:05:38
"Thirty years ago, the
murderer, Dr. Grayson,
:05:42
was a prominent member
of the Ballets Russes,
:05:45
dancing under the name
of Oleg Graysinski.
:05:48
And though the years had
altered his appearance somewhat,
:05:52
yet his old skill
had not deserted him.
:05:54
He carried the body to
the center of the court,
:05:56
walking on his points...
:05:58
along the white tape which separated
the service boxes, and from there...