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Auto Light, episode 98, Ronald Coleman in tonight's presentation of Suspense.

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Tonight, Auto Light brings to life one of the most famous detectives in literature as

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we dramatize E.C. Bentley's classic novel of deduction, Trent's Last Case, our star

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Mr. Ronald Coleman.

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Say, Hap, would you hand me that spark plug, please?

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No, the other one.

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Thanks.

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They both look alike to me, Harlow.

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Well, they do look alike, Hap, but there's a big difference.

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This one is ignition engineered.

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That means it's built by Auto Light, the people who really know spark plugs.

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What makes you say that, Harlow?

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Why, Auto Light makes complete electrical systems specified as original equipment on

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many leading makes of our finest cars.

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That means that Auto Light engineers specialize in ignition.

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And because spark plugs are the very heart of a car's ignition system, they just naturally

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design spark plugs to give you the smoothest performance money can buy.

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I guess I better be mighty sure I get only ignition engineered Auto Light spark plugs

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from now on, eh, Harlow?

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Right, Hap, because when you have ignition engineered Auto Light spark plugs in your

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car, truck, or tractor, you have the finest spark plugs money can buy.

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So friends, be sure you get the very best by insisting on standard or resistor type

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ignition engineered Auto Light spark plugs.

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They're world famous for quality and performance, and they're made by the world's largest independent

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manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment.

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And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Auto Light.

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And now, Auto Light presents E.C. Bentley's Trent's Last Case, starring Mr. Ronald Coleman,

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hoping once again to keep you in suspense.

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The last case to which I, Philip Trent, applied myself in the field of criminology and detection,

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occurred in the spring of 1910.

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I must acknowledge that the intricacies of the crime were worthy of the brain of Sigsbee

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Manderson.

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This colossus among financial giants had manipulated power and wealth in every corner of the world.

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He centralized industries of continental scope, smashed families and fortunes, and along with

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each dollar, he accumulated an enemy.

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When Sigsbee Manderson was murdered, the world lost nothing worth a single tear.

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The day of his death, Sir James Malloy, publisher of the London Record, asked me to cover the

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case for his paper.

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I agreed and immediately took the train to Bishop's Bridge.

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Trent?

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Philip Trent?

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Wait for an old man.

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Why Mr. Couples, by all this miraculous.

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How are you?

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Oh, it's Philip.

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Reckless.

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I expected you'd be down to Bishop's Bridge to write about the murder.

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Well, that's rather a colorless way of stating it.

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I should prefer to put it that I have come down in the character of avenger of blood,

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to hunt down the guilty and vindicate the honor of society.

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Families waited on at their private residences.

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Famous turned your head.

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This tragic affair will not blend well with your lightheartedness.

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Ah, now Mr. Couples, you have more than a bystander's interest in the case.

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I have indeed.

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Come now, you didn't do the great man in.

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Mabel Manderson is my niece and there are some things you will learn which may prejudice

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you.

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I wanted you to hear them from me so your good judgment would not be impaired by gossip

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or malicious tongues.

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Good.

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So you're going to walk to the Manderson place with me?

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Oh, much too far to walk.

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I'll take you in my motor car.

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Oh, now, now, you will go slowly, won't you?

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Oh, very slowly.

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You get in, I'll crank the engine.

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Now, how about your niece?

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My niece had been married to Manderson for five years.

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They got along rather well despite the difference in their ages.

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She was just eighteen when they married and he was close to fifty.

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Several months ago, for no apparent reason, he began to treat her miserably.

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He was surly, contentious and insulting.

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When she could bear it no longer, she turned to me.

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I offered to speak to him, demand an explanation for his outrageous behavior.

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Why didn't she speak to him herself?

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Mabel is the most gentle and even-tempered person.

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She wanted to avoid a bitter squabble.

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A rare woman indeed.

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I tried to see Manderson for a week.

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When I finally did catch up with him, I was doubly angry for his shabby treatment of his

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wife and for avoiding me.

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And did you get any satisfaction?

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He refused to discuss the matter.

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In the presence of witnesses, I'm afraid I made a rather rash statement.

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I expressed the view that men such as he did not deserve to live.

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I wouldn't worry about that, Mr. Couples.

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That opinion seems to be universal.

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The strange thing is, why your niece married Manderson.

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Oh, yeah, here we are.

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Would you mind opening the gates, please?

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No, no, no, this will be fine.

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I'd like to nose around the grounds a bit, unless you want to drive in.

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No, no, no, no, I'm staying in town.

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If you should want me, I'm at the Hotel Royal.

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Thank you for the lift, Couples.

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I passed through the gates and walked the path between tall walls of hedges.

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A gap in this green wall took me to a gravel track that led to the small gardener's cottage.

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Someone was poking about as they were looking for something.

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My approach startled the fellow.

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This is private property.

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What are you doing here?

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My name is Trent, and you, John Marlow.

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Oh, yes, Secretary to Mr. Manderson, I believe.

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You seem to have lost something.

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Perhaps I can help you look.

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No, I was just hoping I could find something here, something that the murderer may have

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dropped.

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This is where Manderson's body was found.

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Ah, and have you found anything?

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No, I really didn't expect to.

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I've just been so, so upset, bereaved, devastated by the master's death.

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Frankly, no, I'm limp, that's all.

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I've been up all night driving, haven't had any sleep.

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You should, you should do your driving during the day.

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Mr. Manderson had sent me on an urgent errand to Southampton just before he was killed.

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Oh, then you weren't around when the deed was done.

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I have accounted for myself to Inspector Merch.

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But now that your employment here has come to an abrupt end, do you plan on leaving Bishop's

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Bridge?

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Mrs. Manderson has asked me to stay, to clear up various papers and loose ends.

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Oh, well, then I shall see you about.

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You shall.

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Mr. Trent, I would like to offer a suggestion.

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Snoop around if you must, but leave Mrs. Manderson alone.

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I've already heard that she's the most fragile creature.

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But have no worries, Mr. Marlow.

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I am gentle as a bird.

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When Marlow left me, I potted about the uncut grass which still showed where the body had

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lain.

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Then I started towards the large house.

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There was a man standing in the open French doors of the study.

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Why, Trent, come in, come in.

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Ah, me, trois-zeve-zots.

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I did think for once I was the head of Scotland Yard, and now here again is the largest officer

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in the entire force already filling that prime position.

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How are you, Merch?

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Earning my wages, Trent.

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Ah, then you've arrested the bloke.

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What done the old fellow in?

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Good work.

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No, I didn't say that.

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It'll take more than you or me to put the cuffs on anyone in this case.

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Oh, come now, what about the butler?

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And the upstairs maid, the cook, the gardener?

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Why, the place must be teeming with likely suspects.

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That's the trouble.

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Nothing was not what I'd call a lovable chip.

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Too many suspects.

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Why, why, some bloke could have come here from Tanganyika or Timbuktu, pulled the trigger,

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and then gone home, easy as you please.

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The gun hasn't been found?

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No.

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I have the bullet here, a.32.

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Ah.

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Such a small bullet to have ruined such a large brain.

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Any powder burns?

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None.

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The gun was fired from a distance of about five feet.

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The medical examiner has fixed the time of death at about midnight.

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Where's the body?

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At Ackerman's Mortuary in town.

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I have a photograph here, taken where the body was found.

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Let me see.

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The best dress cops I've ever seen.

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Except for the shoes.

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The shoes?

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Well, they're very expensive and practically new.

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I'd like to see them if they're about.

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Everything Mr. Manderson was wearing when he was killed has been returned to his room.

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I suppose it'd be all right if I went up and sniffed around.

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Of course.

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I'll lead the way.

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I've gone over everything thoroughly.

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I don't know why you're so interested in the shoes.

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Merch, don't you think it rather strange that Manderson was dressed meticulously when he

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was shot, hair parted neatly, tie in place, waistcoat completely buttoned, yet the laces

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of the shoes were untied?

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Perhaps his feet bothered him.

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I have terrible pains with...

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Could robbery have come into it, you think?

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Anything missing from Manderson's pockets or from the house?

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No.

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As a matter of fact, Manderson's wallet was overstuffed with about 5,000 pounds.

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That's more than pocket money, even for a millionaire.

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There was also a pouch of valuable uncut diamonds in one of his pockets.

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No robbery is certainly out.

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This is Manderson's room here.

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Good diamonds, eh?

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Has anyone guessed at their value?

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About 10,000 pounds.

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Well, good heavens.

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Don't you think diamonds are worth that much?

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Yes, yes, but I'm more impressed by the array of shoes in this wardrobe.

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Why, there must be 50 pairs if there's one.

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Aha, this is what I want.

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How could you tell that those were the shoes Manderson wore last night?

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Well, look here, there's a tear near the tongue.

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Well, as I said, they must have been a bit tight for him.

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Now, why would he with 50 pairs to choose from, select the one pair that pinched?

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You know how it is.

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I've become attached to an old bathrobe, much too tight for me.

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Yet I, I favor it over a new one that the wife gave me on my birthday.

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It's odd, very odd.

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Merch, I wonder if we could have a look at Marlow's room now.

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Certainly, it's just down the hall, but Marlow's in the clear.

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He left at 11 last night, an hour before Manderson was killed.

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He got to the Bedford Hotel in Southampton at 6.30.

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Couldn't possibly have made the drive in less than seven and a half hours.

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What was the errands Manderson sent him on?

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He was to meet Mr. Harris and give him a package,

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some big secret business affair of Manderson's, I imagine.

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And Marlow delivered the package and returned to Bishop's Bridge?

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He returned without making the delivery.

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Harris didn't appear.

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You might at least knock before intruding.

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Oh, I'm sorry, Marlow. I thought the room was unoccupied.

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No offense, Mr. Marlow. Trent here is working on the case.

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He might call this visit an official police business.

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I've told you all I can. If you don't mind, I'd like to nap.

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Marlow, when you first went to work for Manderson,

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did he require a graduate of Oxford?

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All he wanted was a capable secretary.

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But you were at Oxford.

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I was.

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Marvelous place, Oxford.

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Gave us a great school and a fine style of shoe.

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By the way, Marlow, what size shoe do you wear?

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Inspector, if you don't remove this gentleman,

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I shall report this to the authorities.

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Oh, come off it, Mr. Marlow.

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Let's indulge Mr. Trent in a question or two.

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I wear size 10C.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Marlow, have you any idea what was in that package for Mr. Harris?

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No.

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Where is it now?

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A messenger came for it this morning.

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Do you have any idea who this Mr. Harris may be?

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Have you ever met him?

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No.

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Mr. Manderson had many private business arrangements

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about which I was kept in the dark.

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I was his secretary, not a business partner.

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Isn't it rather odd that an American would

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hire an English secretary?

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Well, not at all.

249
00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,200
Maybe.

250
00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:16,960
Mrs. Manderson is English.

251
00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,040
That is why Mr. Manderson lived in England a good part

252
00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:20,280
of the time.

253
00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,080
He wanted his wife to feel at home among her own people.

254
00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,920
And I assume you did your part in that regard.

255
00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:27,440
I beg your pardon?

256
00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,200
I beg yours, Marlow.

257
00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,840
Well, take your nap and pleasant dreams.

258
00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,880
Inspector Merch went off to complete arrangements

259
00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:43,160
for the inquest, leaving me alone in this marble mausoleum

260
00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,720
of a house to wait for Mrs. Manderson.

261
00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,120
I then sent a telegram to Oxford University

262
00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,760
and requested an immediate reply to my inquiries

263
00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,800
about John Marlow's undergraduate activities.

264
00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,200
Then I wrote my first dispatch for the London Record,

265
00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:00,360
setting forth everything I knew, but keeping to myself

266
00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,360
those suspicions which I hope would soon be confirmed.

267
00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,880
Since Mrs. Manderson didn't appear,

268
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,480
I decided to have another look at the garden as cottage.

269
00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,960
But a compelling thought turned me instead

270
00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,280
towards the sound of the sea.

271
00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,720
Standing at the edge of the cliff,

272
00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,680
I watched the beautiful movements of water,

273
00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,600
the wash of a light sea over broken rock.

274
00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:30,520
And then, then my heart seemed to stop.

275
00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,320
Close to the point where the cliff dropped sheer,

276
00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,720
a woman of remarkable beauty was sitting,

277
00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,720
her face full of some distant dream.

278
00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,840
I knew who this woman must be, Mabel Manderson.

279
00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,120
She was at once everything that poets and painters

280
00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,040
have tried to express with pen and brush.

281
00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,320
Yet this woman, who appeared to be devoid of evil

282
00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,120
and incapable of murder, this woman,

283
00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,680
whose husband's death had made her the wealthiest of widows,

284
00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:05,120
wore on her lips a faint, yet unmistakable smile.

285
00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:24,320
Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Ronald Coleman

286
00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,720
in E.C. Bentley's Trent's Last Case,

287
00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,320
tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding

288
00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:42,120
theater of thrills, Suspense.

289
00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,120
There's one thing I've learned, Harlow,

290
00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:46,920
and that's to make sure I get ignition-engineered

291
00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,720
auto light spark plugs for my car every time.

292
00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:51,920
Well, you've learned a mighty important lesson, Hap,

293
00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,720
because money can't buy finer spark plugs,

294
00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:56,920
and that's proven every day by millions of car,

295
00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:00,320
truck, and tractor owners under all kinds of conditions.

296
00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:02,920
You see, auto light spark plugs are designed by men

297
00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,120
who specialize in ignition, and because they know ignition,

298
00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,320
they know how important it is for spark plugs

299
00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,920
to work as a team with the complete ignition system.

300
00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,920
Is that why you say they're ignition-engineered, Harlow?

301
00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,920
Right you are, Hap, so friends, treat yourself to the best.

302
00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,120
Ask for and insist on ignition-engineered

303
00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:21,720
auto light spark plugs.

304
00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,320
They're world famous for quality and performance.

305
00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,720
Ask your dealer for the standard or resistor-type

306
00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,720
best suited to your car and your style of driving.

307
00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,920
And remember, from bumper to tail light,

308
00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,920
you're always right with auto light.

309
00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:38,520
And now, auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage

310
00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,320
Mr. Ronald Coleman in Elliot Lewis's production

311
00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,520
of E.C. Bentley's Trent's Last Case,

312
00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:49,120
a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.

313
00:16:49,120 --> 00:17:02,320
To continue my narration of the peculiar circumstances

314
00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,720
surrounding the death of Sigsby Manderson,

315
00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,520
the last case to which I, Philip Trent, applied myself,

316
00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,720
the sight of Mrs. Manderson at her sanctuary on the cliff

317
00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,520
had a most unsettling effect on me.

318
00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,120
I returned to the house and nervously paced the floor of the study

319
00:17:18,120 --> 00:17:20,520
for I don't know how long.

320
00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,520
When the door opened and my name was spoken,

321
00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,320
I stared stupidly.

322
00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:30,120
Mr. Trent, I am Mrs. Manderson.

323
00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:33,320
You are Mr. Trent, I believe.

324
00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,120
I believe, yes, Mr. Trent.

325
00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:37,920
Please sit down, Mr. Trent.

326
00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:40,320
I would like to help you in any way I can.

327
00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:41,520
Thank you.

328
00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:43,520
I'm sorry for inflicting myself upon you

329
00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:45,720
at this tragic time, Mrs. Manderson,

330
00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,720
but I have just a few questions.

331
00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:53,120
Last night, did your husband retire at the usual time?

332
00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:54,920
Yes, at 10.30.

333
00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:58,520
Then sometime after 11, I heard him move about in his room,

334
00:17:58,520 --> 00:17:59,920
which adjoins mine.

335
00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:02,720
I called and asked him if anything were troubling him.

336
00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,720
He said no, he was just a bit restless

337
00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,320
and would ask Mr. Marlowe to take him for a drive to relax his nerves.

338
00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,920
And did the drive with Marlowe bring the desired results?

339
00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,520
Well, I thought so.

340
00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,120
At about midnight, I heard my husband return

341
00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:16,920
and asked if he felt better.

342
00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:18,320
He replied that he did,

343
00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:21,120
and that he'd sent Marlowe on an errand to Southampton.

344
00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:22,920
I see, thank you.

345
00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,120
Your uncle, Mr. Couples,

346
00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:28,320
mentioned that Mr. Manderson behaved strangely towards you

347
00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:29,920
in the past month or so.

348
00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:31,520
Well, he did, rather.

349
00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:33,120
I put it down to the pressure of business

350
00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:34,520
that it's begun to tell on him.

351
00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:36,920
And was he of a very jealous nature?

352
00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,120
He had no reason to be jealous.

353
00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:42,320
There were no quarrels, differences of any kind?

354
00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:44,120
Not quarrels, really.

355
00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:45,920
My husband liked to spend money.

356
00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,120
I never learned to. My needs were modest.

357
00:18:48,120 --> 00:18:50,120
I've long feared that the large amount of cash

358
00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:53,520
my husband always had on hand was an invitation to burglars.

359
00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,920
And was he in the habit of carrying a pouch

360
00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,720
full of diamonds in his pocket?

361
00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,320
He often bought expensive jewels for me,

362
00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,120
but they were kept in the safe.

363
00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:04,320
Since they were not put to use by me,

364
00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,520
perhaps he had decided to dispose of them.

365
00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:07,920
Of course.

366
00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,120
I know this must be a harrowing experience for you, Mrs. Manderson,

367
00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:15,920
but you do want your husband's murderer brought to justice.

368
00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,120
I will help in any way I can.

369
00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:29,120
I didn't think I would learn anything by attending the inquest,

370
00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:33,120
so while it was being held, I strolled to the telegraph office.

371
00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:35,520
Yes, sir?

372
00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:38,120
I expected a telegram yesterday.

373
00:19:38,120 --> 00:19:39,720
I wonder whether it has come in.

374
00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,120
What is the name, please?

375
00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:42,520
Trent. Philip Trent.

376
00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,920
Trent. It does sound familiar.

377
00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:47,120
Why, of course.

378
00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:50,720
A batch of telegrams was delivered to Mrs. Manderson last night.

379
00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,520
Sympathy messages, you know, the poor thing.

380
00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:55,720
Yours went out of the house along with the others.

381
00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,120
You're sure of that?

382
00:19:57,120 --> 00:19:59,120
Why, look here. The delivery book.

383
00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:02,920
You can see it's signed by the person who received it.

384
00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:04,920
Thank you. Thank you very much.

385
00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:10,920
The receipt bore a signature in a clear hand.

386
00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,920
John Marlowe.

387
00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,920
I found myself at the cliff again,

388
00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:28,920
and each crashing wave was like a hammer blow on my heart.

389
00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,920
I was certain of the contents of the telegram.

390
00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,920
Only one thing was not clear, and that was a motive.

391
00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:38,920
And each time the answer tried to insinuate itself into my mind,

392
00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,920
I consciously pushed it away.

393
00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,920
I could no longer look at the case impersonally.

394
00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,920
After the first sight of Mrs. Manderson sitting on this very rock

395
00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:49,920
while she gazed at the sea,

396
00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:52,920
I knew that she could be motive enough, innocent or not,

397
00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,920
for any deed, good or bad.

398
00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:56,920
This came for you last night.

399
00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,920
What? Why, what, what?

400
00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,920
Why, you're in the habit of skulking up on people?

401
00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,920
I, I almost lost my footing.

402
00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:06,920
Be more careful. It's a long way down.

403
00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,920
Well, what are you, uh, waiting for?

404
00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,920
Surely you don't expect me to thank you for withholding my telegram since last night?

405
00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,920
You weren't here.

406
00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:17,920
You didn't expect me to chase over the countryside looking for you.

407
00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,920
All right. Uh, thank you.

408
00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,920
I imagine you'll be leaving Bishop's Bridge, Trent.

409
00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:27,920
The inquest jury returned a verdict of murder by persons unknown.

410
00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,920
Inspector Merch believes the crime was committed by a crank.

411
00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,920
You're a veritable storehouse of information, Marlow.

412
00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,920
And now if you'll excuse me.

413
00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:42,920
When Marlow left me, I tore open the telegram.

414
00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:47,920
Response to your inquiry, John Marlow, member of Dramatic Society.

415
00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:52,920
Excellent in roles calling for disguise and vocal impersonations.

416
00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:54,920
Ah.

417
00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,920
I knew what I had to do

418
00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,920
and I approached my task with the deepest pain and gloom.

419
00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,920
Mr. Trent, I didn't realize you'd come in.

420
00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,920
Forgive my playing. The piano is my only release.

421
00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:08,920
No, no, please continue.

422
00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,920
I, I've...

423
00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,920
Aren't you feeling well?

424
00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:15,920
Perhaps some brandy.

425
00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:18,920
No, no, no, thank you, Mrs. Manderson. I,

426
00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,920
I've written the story of this case and addressed it to the publisher of the record.

427
00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,920
It's all here in this envelope.

428
00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,920
It contains certain things which I have concluded about your husband's death.

429
00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,920
Things not suspected by anyone else.

430
00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:38,920
Mrs. Manderson, I am not free to suppress this evidence on a mere whim.

431
00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:40,920
I want the truth.

432
00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:42,920
Are you asking me if I perjured myself at the inquest?

433
00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,920
Since I have a passion for truth, I do not attend inquests.

434
00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:51,920
But you knew why your husband changed his attitude towards you in the month or so preceding his death?

435
00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,920
What have you found out?

436
00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:55,920
I want you to tell me.

437
00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:57,920
All right.

438
00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,920
He knew that I was weary of life with him.

439
00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:08,920
The constant parties, business conferences, scheming, complicated plans for amalgamations, corporations, which went on constantly.

440
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:13,920
I couldn't ask him to pass a butter at dinner without getting the latest market prices on that commodity.

441
00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:19,920
I refused to attend his dinners. I wouldn't pay hostess any longer at his dull parties.

442
00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,920
That is why his attitude changed.

443
00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:24,920
There was no talk of divorce?

444
00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,920
None.

445
00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:28,920
Did you plan to continue living with him?

446
00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,920
Why? Why do you ask me that?

447
00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:40,920
I know that your husband became contemptuous of you because of John Marlowe.

448
00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,920
There you have the envelope.

449
00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:44,920
Send it to the record or withhold it as you choose.

450
00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:50,920
I'm done with this. This is my last case.

451
00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:55,920
I watched her trembling hands tear open the envelope and extract the story.

452
00:23:55,920 --> 00:24:00,920
The story that told how Marlowe had shot Manderson at eleven o'clock, had impersonated him at midnight,

453
00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,920
had worn the dead man's shoes to cover up his own footprints,

454
00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:10,920
and had been in such haste that he neglected to tie the laces when he returned them to the feet of the murdered man.

455
00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,920
I dared not guess how deeply Mrs. Manderson was involved in the plot.

456
00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:19,920
Besides being the motive for it, I wanted to be done with the affair

457
00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:23,920
and get as far away as possible from the woman who now stood so near to me.

458
00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:25,920
I can't send this off, Mr. Trent.

459
00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:27,920
I'm sure you have good reason.

460
00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:29,920
The best. You are wrong.

461
00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:34,920
Impossible. I can prove that Marlowe masqueraded as your husband.

462
00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:39,920
Oh, listen, please. My husband sent Marlowe off to see a man who never existed.

463
00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:46,920
In the package addressed to the mythical Mr. Harris with my husband's wallet with five thousand pounds and the pouch of diamonds.

464
00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:52,920
He intended only to wound himself and then had Mr. Marlowe arrested for theft and attempted murder.

465
00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:59,920
Like you, my husband suspected there was something between Marlowe and me. There never was.

466
00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:00,920
Oh, Mrs. Manderson.

467
00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,920
When Marlowe started to drive off, he heard the shot and drove back.

468
00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:07,920
My husband was dead, a suicide.

469
00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:09,920
He realized then what my husband had planned.

470
00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:14,920
He replaced the wallet and diamonds in the pockets, then borrowed the shoes for reasons you guessed.

471
00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,920
They were torn because Marlowe's feet were a little too large for them.

472
00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:20,920
But you said you had seen Manderson at midnight.

473
00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:29,920
I said I had heard his voice. Marlowe's a good impersonator. He was trying to protect himself and me.

474
00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:34,920
Now, Mrs. Manderson, I couldn't have been that far from the solution.

475
00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:36,920
You were even further away, Trent.

476
00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:37,920
Why, couples.

477
00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,920
Manderson was not a suicide.

478
00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:41,920
What?

479
00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:43,920
I killed him.

480
00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:44,920
This is too ridiculous.

481
00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:48,920
I was out walking that night. I saw Marlowe drive off.

482
00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,920
Then I came upon Manderson just as he was about to shoot himself.

483
00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:57,920
I tried to stop him. We struggled. And during the struggle, the gun went off accidentally.

484
00:25:57,920 --> 00:25:59,920
How could I have been so wrong?

485
00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:06,920
I think I know why. Your talents must be better suited to reporting than the detective business.

486
00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,920
My dear Mrs. Manderson, I couldn't agree with you more.

487
00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,920
This eye-bow shall be Trent's last case.

488
00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:20,920
[♪triumphant music playing on the radio.

489
00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:30,920
[♪music playing on the radio.

490
00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,920
Suspense.

491
00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,920
Presented by Auto Light, the night star, Mr. Ronald Coleman.

492
00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:44,920
This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Auto Light, the world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment.

493
00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:52,920
In 28 plants from coast to coast, Auto Light makes over 400 products for cars, trucks, tractors, planes, boats, and industry.

494
00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:58,920
These products include dial indicating and recording thermometers, bumpers, die castings, and batteries,

495
00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:04,920
such as the famous Auto Light Stay Full, ignition engineered Auto Light spark plugs, both standard and resistor types,

496
00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:09,920
voltage regulators, wire and battery cable, Auto Light bullseye sealed beam units,

497
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and Auto Light original service parts for all Auto Light electrical systems.

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Auto Light is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry.

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So, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Auto Light.

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[♪triumphant music playing on the radio.

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Next week, we combine fact and fiction. The fact, the murder of Mary Cecilia Rogers.

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The fiction, Edgar Allan Poe's solution of that crime, the mystery of Marie Roget.

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Our star, Mr. Cornell Wilde. That's next week on Suspense.

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Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis.

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With music composed by Lucian Morawick and conducted by Lud Bluskin,

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Eddie Bentley's Trent's Last Case was adapted for Suspense by Oliver Gard.

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Featured tonight's cast were Ellen Morgan, Joseph Kearns, Richard Peel, Gloria Ann Simpson, and William Johnstone.

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And remember next week, Mr. Cornell Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe's The Mystery of Marie Roget.

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You can buy Auto Light standard or resistor type spark plugs, Auto Light original service parts,

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and Auto Light Stay Full batteries at your neighborhood Auto Light dealers.

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Switch to Auto Light. Good night.

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This is the CBS Radio Network.

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