01x13 - The Case of Laker, Absconded

[bunniefuu]

In late Victorian London
lived many detectives

who were the rivals
of Sherlock Homes.

HEWITT: Peach!

- Yes, sir?
-Tea.

- Oh, yes, sir.
-And crumpets.

Crumpets, sir?

What is this, Martin,
a celebration?

It is, indeed.
Come in, and I'll tell you.

Oh, crumpets for two, sir?

Or for three?

Uh, for three, Peach.

Thanks very much, sir.

- Hot!
-Yes, sir!

And saturated
with best farmhouse butter!

Yes, sir!

What are we celebrating?
New case or a new contract?

Oh, a new contract.
The cases will follow.

Well, we'll hope so.

We're retained
as detective advisers

to the City Guarantee Society.

Very impressive.

In all cases of fraud, forgery,
embezzlement, theft.

Theft from the Society?

No, from its clients.

The City Guarantee,
like all insurance corporations,

makes its living
by taking risks.

Don't we all?

Including risks on the integrity
of bank clerks, cashiers.

You mean if one of them elopes
with the cashbox...

- Exactly.
-...we catch them.

- We do?
-For a fee.

It's an important moral game
to the City Guarantee.

Discourages
other potential elopers.

Ah. And the fee should be
important, morally.

No fee.

No --

But a commission on what
we recover of the plunder.

Ah.

Well, without wishing harm
on anyone...

- No, of course not.
-...let us trust...

As law-abiding citizens.

...that the moral fiber
of the British

will continue as shaky as ever.

As shaky as ever.

Six £ notes make £ , .

shillings and fourpence
makes £ , , and ,

all correct as per bill.

May see you Sunday, then,
Charles, on the Heath?

Yes.
Till then, Henry.

Look after yourself.

Ah, good morning, Mr. Harding.
What can I do for you?

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Mind your head, sir.

That's it.
Nearly had your hat off.

- Yes.
-Sorry about all this, sir.

Be finished
by the end of the week.

Well, I hope so.

If they get on with it
like they ought to.

Workmen these days.

Morning.

Liddle, Neal, and Liddle.
Bills for encashment.

I'll be glad when you've got
the new doorway finished.

£ , ?

That's right.

Morning.

Liddle, Neal, and Liddle.

Securities for encashment.

£ , exactly.

That's right.

: .
Time for my lunch.

Shan't have mine yet.

Things to do.

Excuse me.

Do you sell touring tickets
to France?

Yes.

The kind you can break
your journey wherever you like

and change from one route
to another?

Yes.

I'd like one, please.

One tourist to France.

The name's C.W. Laker.

Do you want my address?

Just the money.

Goes from Charing Cross,
does it?

Yes. Return?

No. Single.

[Toilet flushes]

[Toilet flushes]

[Train chugging]

Excuse me.

Lost something, sir?

No.

- Oh, this is the --
-Lost Property Office.

Sorry.

Where can I find the times
of the trains to the Continent?

Board over there, sir,

tells you everything
your heart could desire.

If you don't trust it,

Passenger Inquiry Office
just beyond, on the right.

Thank you.

You know, he's the sort of chap
who will go

to the Passenger Inquiry Office
when he loses something.

Vanished into thin air.

Yes. An eloper invariably starts
by doing that.

No, no, no, thank you.

Of course,
they called the police in,

but those fools at the bank
didn't think of telling me

till half an hour ago.

Mm. Well, I suppose
they just think of you

as the City Guarantee,

the one who pays up if they fail
to recover the plunder.

That's just it.

Of course, they don't realize

you've employed the best brains
in Great Britain.

Where the devil is Hewitt?

Oh, please don't worry, sir.
Young Peach will find him.

: .
This man has got hours' start.

Don't worry.
Old Hewitt Will find him.

He'd better.

May I inquire
the amount of the plunder?

Over £ , .

£ , ?

Well, Mr. Hewitt and I
will do our very utmost.

[Door closes]

- Is that Mr. Hewitt now?
-Yes, I believe so.

- Good evening, Mr. Lister.
-Evening, Hewitt.

I'm sorry I was out.
It was a case.

- Peach, put the kettle on.
-Yes, sir.

Well, what's the trouble?

A walk clerk absconded
at lunchtime today

from Liddle, Neal, and Liddle.

Lunchtime?

The fools didn't tell me
till now.

See.

What precisely
does a walk clerk do?

A walk clerk's
one of these chaps --

A walk clerk is a bank employee

who every day goes on a round of
other banks and finance houses

with a wallet full of bills
and suchlike due for payment.

So, at the end of his round,
he has a wallet full of cash.

A temptation, Mr. Hewitt.

Oh, a terrible temptation,
Mr. Pryde.

And this walk clerk was employed
by Liddle, Neal, and Liddle?

Yes, a fellow called Laker

absconded with the whole
proceeds of his walk.

- Much?
-Over £ , .

Uh, and the City Guarantee?

The full sum.

Well, we'd better go
and see Mr. Liddle.

Or Mr. Neal.

Or Mr. Liddle.
[ Chuckles ]

Mr. Neal is expecting you,
gentlemen.

This way, if you please.

This way, Mr. Hewitt, sir.

Thank you.

- May I take your coat?
-Oh, thank you very much.

[Knock on door]

NEAL: Come in.

[ Door opens

Mr. Lister, sir.

And Mr. Hewitt.

Neal,
may I introduce Mr. Hewitt,

whom we have retained
as our adviser?

Mr. Neal.

- How do you do?
-Mr. Neal, how do you do?

Lister tells me
you have a reputation.

- What can you do to help?
-Who's the girl outside?

Laker's fiancée.

- Laker absconded?
-Yes, why?

I wondered why she was waiting.

I wondered myself
why it was necessary.

I've explained the facts
of the situation to her

and advised her
to start forgetting him.

Well, that's not always easy.

No, perhaps not.

As for helping anyone,

my job is, of course,
to help Mr. Lister.

I'm as anxious as Lister
to get this man behind bars.

And the money back.

But of course.

One bank clerk absconds
and gets away with it,

the rest
will start doing it, too.

It's an encouragement.
It could spread.

Although, heaven knows, Laker --

Not the absconding type?

Well, he made a wrong return
once, I believe,

but that turned out to be
a mere clerical error.

One mistake in how long?

Seven years in all, the last
four months as a walk clerk.

Did you know anything about
his life outside the office?

No.
Why should I?

Except that now
this girl here --

Yes, how did she come here?

It can't be
in the newspapers yet.

I think Inspector Plummer
asked her to be present.

- Of Scotland Yard?
-Yes.

Oh, I'm delighted to hear it.

We're very old friends.
Is he here now?

Yes, he's going through
Laker's desk and so forth.

He thinks that Laker
may have had accomplices.

Does he?
Well, that's interesting.

He's already
found out a good deal.

He has his men
scouring everywhere.

Oh, yes, Plummer's a great man

for having his men
scouring everywhere.

Right. You wait here.
I shan't be a moment.

And don't let her go.

I want to talk to her again
after I've spoken to Mr. Neal.

-[ Knock on door]
-NEAL: Come in.

Well, Mr. Neal,
We've found what we thought --

Hello, Mr. Hewitt.
You in on this, are you?

Acting on behalf of the City
Guarantee Society, Inspector.

I see.
And mister, uh...

Lister, City Guarantee.

Ah.
Papers in his desk.

An accomplice?

A motive.
Laker's been betting.

Ah.

Letters from a bookmaker
about settling.

Wonder he trusted a clerk.

Telegrams from tipsters,
notes from a friend.

They're signed with initials,
damn it,

asking him to put a sovereign
on a horse.

Well, we often find it's
gambling, don't we, Mr. Hewitt?

- May I see?
-Oh, see all you like.

They're no use to me, apart
from showing why he did it.

It's the old story, Mr. Neal.

They get deeper and deeper,
can't pay up,

desperate, turn to crime.

Meanwhile,
no news from France yet.

- That's where he's gone?
-Yes.

You've been in touch
with the French police?

Wired to Calais, wired to Paris,
sent off a couple of smart men.

- HEWITT: Why Calais?
-What?

I beg your pardon.
Why Calais?

Charles Laker
was a bit of a mug.

Oh?

Went on his usual rounds,

cashed all his bills
in the ordinary way,

ended up at
the Eastern Consolidated Bank

at a quarter past : .

Then we found he'd been
to Palmer's Tourist Office.

Laker had been there?

After he left
Eastern Consolidated.

- Straight after.
-And bought a ticket?

Charing Cross-Dover-
Calais route.

Once he's over there,
he's just an ordinary tourist.

He can jump and change,
double back on his tracks.

[ Chuckles ]
Quite a smart move in a way.

But he did one damn silly thing.

New hands always do,
eh, Mr. Hewitt?

Old hands do pretty often.

[ Laughing ]
Right.

But Laker was a real muggins.

Gave his name.
C.W. Laker.

[Bell tolling]

A genuine
copper-bottomed muggins.

Now, you gentlemen know
as well as I do --

better, you go to the Continent,
I can't afford to --

you don't have to give
your own name or anything.

But there he was, own name.

Fool!

Well, he'll live to regret it.

What's your next step,
Inspector?

Well, I've got my men
scouring everywhere,

acting on my instructions,
of course.

As to what I myself am going to
do, may I just say I shall see?

I have a thing or two
in my mind.

And you, Mr. Hewitt?

May I borrow one of your clerks
tomorrow morning

to take me around the banks?

But the inspector
has already done this.

Nevertheless.

No objection
to duplication of effort.

I like to begin
at the beginning.

Well, just as you please.

Good. Well, I shall be here
first thing tomorrow morning.

So, now, if you'll excuse me,
gentlemen.

Mr. Lister, Mr. Neal, Inspector.

Yes.

Oh, and good luck with your men
in France.

[Door closes]

- Mr. Hewitt?
-Yes?

I heard your name.

And I know why you're here.

I'm employed
to catch the criminal

and to recover the money.

Charles didn't do it.

You're the only person
in England who believes that.

I'm sure he didn't.
Charles isn't a thief.

Is he a fool?

- What?
-An idiot, a muggins?

Charles is very intelligent.
Why?

It's something I need to know.

But I don't understand.

No, nor do I yet.

But if he's intelligent,
then perhaps...

Well, perhaps anything.

Mr. Hewitt.

Please help me.

If you will call on me at :
tomorrow morning and help me.

Help you?

To be a detective.

You're both fond of boating?

Yes.

What are you trying
to make me say,

that Charles
had expensive tastes?

Boating isn't very expensive.

I don't try
to make people say anything.

Oh, I'm sorry.

But Inspector Plummer --

He and I don't use
the same methods.

He told me about the betting.

You hadn't known?

Charles never said a word to me.

Did it come as a shock?

A surprise, not really a shock.

[Sighs]

Yes, Charles
has expensive tastes.

So do I.

We can't afford to indulge them
on his salary, nor on mine.

I make a pound a week
teaching drawing

to silly young ladies
who will never learn to draw,

never learn anything except how
to spend their dress allowance.

Well, Charles and I couldn't
even afford to get married.

Others get married on less.

Have you seen how they live?

Yes.

Well, we don't want to live
like that.

We had all sorts of plans
for making our fortune first.

Charles was quite brilliant
at mathematics,

working out possibilities,
the laws of chance.

I understand his gambling.

I don't understand
why he didn't tell me.

I wouldn't have disapproved.

You'd have disapproved
of his losing.

Oh, yes, I suppose so.

I can't think of his losing.

Most gamblers mostly lose.

Oh, Mr. Pryde,
come and meet Miss Shaw.

Get those in the post
right away, will you, Peach?

Sir.

Miss Shaw, Mr. Pryde.
Mr. Pryde is my partner.

- How do you do?
-An expert on men's vices.

The betting papers?

Oh, yes, yes,
I'm working on them.

- Results by lunchtime.
-Good.

Shouldn't be difficult.
We know the bookies of old.

- I'll pay a call on them.
-Splendid.

Well, uh, good morning,
Miss Shaw.

Good morning.

Now, you're an exceptionally
honest young woman.

I see no harm in the truth.

Some would.

You mean if Charles could gamble
without telling me,

he could abscond
without telling me.

Is it possible?

Gambling isn't a crime,

or half the aristocracy
would be in prison,

including the Prince of Wales.

[ Laughs

Yes, agreed, but £ , ,
which is nothing to them,

to a poor, young bank clerk --

Charles loves me.

We're engaged.

We're going to be married.

Peach.

Tea, sir?
Oh, good morning, miss.

Uh, Peach, Miss Shaw.

Peach, in the street
you'll find a man

looking unmistakably
like a plainclothes detective.

Yes, sir.
I've seen him already, sir.

Oh, good. Good.
You'll go far.

Will you tell him that
I'm looking after Miss Shaw,

that I'll be back with her
soon after midday.

So he can take the morning off.

Wouldn't it be more fun
to let him trail you, sir?

The message
will reach Inspector Plummer,

who will burn to find out
what I've been finding out.

Oh, yes, sir.
Right, sir.

Good.

A detective?
Following me?

Since Laker loves you,
then perhaps he's made

or will make a secret rendezvous
with you in France.

No.

Are you free this morning?
No drawing lessons?

[ Sighs ]
I've given up my job.

Until Charles is found
and proved innocent.

I see one chance of that.

Which is?

The same one you see.

Mr. Hewitt, I am at a loss to --

When inspector Plummer
suspects this girl --

I want the girl to be with us.

Mr. Neal,
did you know Laker well?

He seemed to me to be
a well-behaved junior clerk.

The girl knew him.

His friends knew him,

some of them also junior clerks
at other banks,

but the girl knew him best.

So she would know best.

Would know what, Mr. Hewitt?

She believes it's possible
that the man was not Laker.

But the clerks
in the other banks --

- All say he was, swear he was.
- Yes.

Mr. Parsloe, were you ever
a walk clerk in your time?

For five years, some time ago,
some years ago.

In the banks you walked to,
did the counter clerks know you

and recognize you as being
you yourself, as being Parsloe?

He may have a point here,
Mr. Neal.

In my experience, the counter
clerks don't really know you,

nor you them.

They know you're from Liddle,
Neal, and Liddle, of course.

You say,
"From Liddle, Neal, and Liddle."

That's what you say.

Of course. Well?

And they may have some idea
of what you look like.

You don't use your own name,
just "Liddle, Neal, and Liddle."

The normal practice.

Yes, sir, absolutely.
Normal.

Thank you, Mr. Parsloe.

Will you show Miss Shaw
that list?

Miss Shaw, Mr. Parsloe.

Anyone you know?

United Amalgamated,
the first bank on the list.

Stevens.

If that's Henry Stevens,
he's a friend of ours.

We've met him several times.

Anyone else?

No. Well, they may
have known Charles.

They may or they may not.

- But if it's Henry Stevens --
-Well, don't hope too much.

I'm afraid
you're going to be disappointed.

Oh, yes,
it was Charles, all right.

Why, I mean,
how could it not have been?

We had a notion, Mr. Stevens,
not a good one.

I'm awfully sorry, Emily.

I mean,
I couldn't have believed it.

No.

When they told me.

But it was Charles.
I talked to him.

- Rotten for you.
-Yes.

How did he seem, his manner?

Quite as usual.

Not nervous or preoccupied
or excited?

Perhaps a bit excited.

No, not excited.

Cheerful, he seemed,
in a very good mood.

Can you remember
what you said to each other?

It might help us,
even the smallest thing.

Well, he came in,
and I took his bills

and started dealing with him
in the usual way.

And while I was doing it --

Um, we'd met up on Hampstead
Heath last Sunday with...

- With me.
-Miss Shaw and a friend of mine.

Uh, we passed a remark

about how much we enjoyed
our walk together.

And then --

Yes, then I noticed
his umbrella.

Oh?
Why his umbrella?

Well, it was a new one.

I said something about
the handle, how nice it was.

What was it like?

A gorse-root handle,
rather odd-shaped,

with two silver bands on it,
one with his monogram, C.W.L.

He said he was very proud of it

because it was a present
from Miss Shaw.

Anything else about it?

I mean, how did he carry it?
Rolled?

No, it wasn't rolled,
just flapping.

There had been a bit of rain,
and I said that.

And he said
he was ready for anything.

And then?

I counted out the money.

He put it in his wallet,

and I said, "May see you
on the Heath on Sunday again?"

He said, "Yes." Of course,
I had no idea he was going to...

HEWITT:
more banks, Miss Shaw.

And what's the good
of going to them?

Have you changed your opinion?

It was Charles.

Yes.

I want to go home
and lie down and cry.

No, you don't, even if you do.

more banks first.

Morning, George.

Good morning, Mr. Parsloe.

Mind your head
as you go in, sir.

Thank you.

It was the usual man
from Liddle, Neal, and Liddle.

- Laker?
-Yes.

You knew him by name?

No, the police
mentioned his name.

But you knew him by sight?

Of course.
He came every week at least.

What did he look like?

Like the usual man
from Liddle, Neal, and Liddle.

Yes, I mean,
but can you describe him?

'Cause I've never
seen him myself.

Uh, tallish and youngish,
about , I should say,

brownish hair
and a brown mustache.

Yes.
Yes, that's Charles.

Oh, and he hung his umbrella
on the counter.

I noticed it.

It had rather a curious handle.

Yes, I did notice the umbrella.

Gorse-root handle, wasn't it?

- Yes.
-Very smart.

Wouldn't mind one like that
myself.

Did you notice anything else?

Yes, the time.

Why, particularly?

Well, I'd been dealing
with walk clerks all morning.

It isn't much fun, unless they
happen to be chums of yours,

which isn't very likely.

Us chaps at the counter

are a considerable cut above
a common or garden walk clerk.

- And the time was?
-That's what I'm saying. : .

And another chap should have
been here to take over from me,

and I'd promised
to meet a lady friend for lunch.

Well, anyway, I was feeling
desperately peckish.

- I said something about it.
-And he said?

Well, I had rather gathered
that, uh --

what was his name? --
Laker had finished his round

but wasn't gonna have lunch yet
for some reason or other.

I don't think
he said the reason.

Thank you, Mr. Wilkins.

Pleasure, I'm sure.

Hope you catch him.

We will.

Have you finished with me now,
Mr. Hewitt?

Uh, yes, thank you.

I do hope it was useful.

You tell Mr. Neal
I said it was well worthwhile.

Goodbye, Mr. Parsloe.

Miss Shaw. Mr. Hewitt.

And I do hope you'll surprise
us all with your detection.

Oh, yes, so do I.

Was it worthwhile?

You are in a bad state of mind
because you are now convinced

that you were wrong
about Charles Laker

and that he's a criminal
fleeing from justice.

Obviously.

Yes.

Have you finished with me?

We still have to follow Charles
on his travels.

Yeah, tallish chap
with a brown mustache.

I told the police
when they came.

And a wallet under one arm
like bank clerks carry.

And an umbrella?

Yeah, I suppose so.

Do you remember
if he carried an umbrella?

Most people do, don't they,
what with our climate?

It's not like sunny France.

But do you actually remember --

Oh, what does
the umbrella matter?

I don't know, not yet.

Excuse me.

Could I borrow a piece of paper,
please, and a pencil?

If you want to.

Will you draw me
a gorse-root handle?

Why?

If not for Laker's sake,
for my sake.

- This do?
-Yes, admirably.

Thank you.

Now, Miss Shaw.

And this man gave you his name?

Yeah. I remembered him
'cause of him giving his name.

He didn't have to, you see?
I thought everyone knew that.

But he gave me his name
before I could tell him.

- I suppose he was in a hurry.
-I'm sure he was.

- What name did he give?
-Laker, with the initials.

I don't remember the initials.

- But you remember Laker.
-Yeah.

Now, a detective came in here
yesterday afternoon

and told you that he was looking
for a man called Laker.

No, he didn't tell me.
I told him.

You sure?

Cross me heart.
I remembered it.

Yes, I believe you.
Good.

Will that do?

Oh, it's excellent.

Now, you're not quite sure
if he had an umbrella.

Uh, would that help you?

Yeah, he did have one like that.
He did.

Good. Thank you.

And his train went
from Charing Cross.

He said did it go from Charing
Cross, and I said, yes, it did.

I'm deeply, deeply grateful
to you.

Yes, you'll go far
in your profession.

Thanks very much.

Now we must go.

Where to now?

At a guess, and I think a good
one, to find the umbrella.

[Knock on door]

Here we go again.

- HEWITT: Good morning.
-Morning, sir.

Have you lost something, sir?

Yes, I fancy an umbrella was
lost at this station yesterday.

It was a new umbrella,
with a gorse-root handle.

- Oh, yeah?
-Looking rather like that.

Oh, yes.

Well, if I remember,
we had a haul

of some five or six umbrellas
during the course of the day.

Our usual batting average
for the time of year.

But that particular one?

Oh, well, we'll have to see,
won't we?

- Bert!
-Hello.

Come here.

Have we got an umbrella
like this from yesterday?

Yeah, number .

Hold on a minute
for the formalities.

Are you claiming it, sir?

Yes, a friend of mine
lost it here

just about :
in the afternoon,

and he asked me to collect it.

Have you any further means
of identifying it,

such as might
thoroughly convince me?

Uh, there were two silver bands
on the handle,

one with his monogram, C.W.L.

- Correct, Bert?
-Correct.

He's an absent-minded fellow.

He doesn't remember
exactly where he left it.

They never do.

Do you know where it was left?

- Uh, where was it left, Bert?
-Up against the counter.

- What, this counter?
-This counter.

God, it makes you despair
of mankind.

Do you know we haven't advanced
from the apes?

Oh, that's odd.

When you found it,
was it rolled?

- Was it rolled, Bert?
-No.

'Cause my friend
carried it loose, flapping.

Ah. Well, there you strike
upon Bert's little fad.

- Yeah.
-it's a fad of Bart's, you know,

rolling up umbrellas
close and neat.

I've seen him looking
at the passengers sometimes

as though he could snatch
their umbrellas from them

when they're a bit clumsy done.

It's a rum fad, eh?

[ Chuckles ]

We all have
our little peculiarities.

- Right, sir.
-Right.

You disappointed in me, then?

In you?

In Charles.

And myself.

The net result
of this morning's work

is that we found
Charles Laker's umbrella.

So, he went from Charing Cross,
which you knew already.

No.

No?

No, not the net result.

I found something else.

Ah. Good morning again,
Miss Shaw.

The report on the betting.

I think you'll find
it's what you wanted.

Jonathan, which newspaper
is this from?

May I see?

It's an agony column.
It's cut out, then torn in half.

It says, "Yob,
H.R. Shop Roast, night..."

" , second, straight mon."

Yes.

Well, from the type,

it could be the News Telegraph,
Standard, or Chronicle.

They're all
pretty much the same.

It's a pity it's torn.

We could have told
by the width of the column.

From the quality of the paper,
I'd say it was the Chronicle.

Have we yesterday's Chronicle?

Yes. Well, if young Peach hasn't
used it to the light fire.

It's a code, of course.

Yes. Yes, of course.
That will take a moment longer.

Now, you're a truthful girl.
I believe everything you say.

And you do assure me that Laker
was a very clever man.

Only too clever.

Because the first thing
that a criminal thinks of,

any criminal,
even the newest and greenest,

is changing his name.

But Laker went into that tourist
office and blurted out his name,

his real name, when he didn't
have to give any name at all.

- Criminals make mistakes.
-Oh, yes, all the time.

But this one is the least likely
mistake that I can think of.

Well, under the stress
of his first crime.

Now, the second thing
a criminal thinks of

is changing whatever
is most recognizable

about his appearance.

But Laker had his bank wallet
in one hand

and your very distinctive
umbrella in his other.

Well, he had them.
The man saw him.

But you say he's clever.

Well, he stopped being clever.

Oh, I don't understand
why he did it.

I don't understand anything
about what he did.

At the tourist office,
he made it clear

that he was going
to Charing Cross.

At Charing Cross,
he lean his umbrella

up against the Lost Property
Counter like that,

a place where it was most likely
to be found.

Now, was that clever?

Well, he was laying a trail for
the police and you to follow.

Yes, you're right, because if
a clever man did these things,

they were not mistakes.

They were done deliberately
to mislead us.

So he's not gone to France.

He's gone...

[ Sighs ]
Anywhere else.

Certainly we were meant
to find the umbrella.

Yes, I see that.

But we were probably not meant
to find that piece of paper.

Oh, Inspector Plummer.

As always, arriving just after
the nick of time.

- Do you mind?
-No.

-[ Knock on door]
-Come in.

It's Inspector Plummer, sir.

- Morning, Hewitt.
-Morning, Inspector.

Ah, there you are, Miss Shaw.

Here I am.

You've been out with Mr. Hewitt.

Yes. We found Charles' umbrella
at Charing Cross.

Well, that proves what I said,
doesn't it?

Fled the country to France.

Yes.

Don't think you're
going to join him there.

'Cause my men will catch up
with him in a few days' time,

if they've not done so already.

Ah, morning, Inspector.
May I?

HEWITT:
You've done it.

The newspaper message,
with a free translation,

and I thought you might like
a post-office street directory.

What are you up to, Hewitt?

Inspector, where will you be
this afternoon?

In my office at Scotland Yard.

I may find myself
sending you a telegram.

Telegram?

Mr. Pryde, send Peach
to get me a cab, will you?

To Stoke Newington?

Naturally.

Oh, and call off your men
in France.

Laker certainly isn't there.
He's in London.

What?
How do you know?

We found his umbrella.

[Hooves clopping]

[Children laughing,
shouting indistinctly]

- Mr. Merston?
-Yes.

Ah, right.
I'm from the gas.

Could I have a look
at your meter?

I'll have to ask.

Oh, it won't take a mo.

Not that I wouldn't like
to spend longer.

- I'll ask master.
-Yes, you do that.

Oh, excuse me, Mr. Merston.

There's a man here
from the gas.

Good afternoon, Mr. Merston.

- The gas?
-That's right, sir.

We had our meterman here, what?

Oh, last month, sir.

Oh, Lord bless you, Mr. Merston.
I don't want to read it.

I want to inspect it.
It's from headquarters.

There's been a deal of gas
running away somewhere.

I'm here looking to see
if the meters are right.

- Oh, yes.
-I don't want to take it away.

I just want to check it and give
it a tap or two and so on.

Very well.

If your girl could
show me the way.

Yes, yes, carry on.

Oh, it's downstairs.

This way.

Thank you, my dear.

Down here.

It's in there.

Oh, I'll be frightened
to go in there by myself.

I'll get you a candle.

I'd rather you
go in there with me.

Oh!
[ Chuckles ]

Well, hurry up with that candle!

Oh, thank you, my dear.
What's your name?

- Nellie.
-Thank you, Nellie.

Now, then.

Oh, it's down there.

Oh, yes, so it is.

Hoo-hoo.

What a place to put a meter.

Are we losing gas?

No, no, no, no, I just want to
check the setting.

Nellie,
will you do something for me?

What?

- Business before pleasure.
-Oh.

I want you to go into
the kitchen and light the gas.

Now, keep your hand near it,

and when I call out,
shut it off at once, right?

That's all?

You come back in here,
and you'll see if that's all.

[Dogs barking in distance]

Well, well, well.

Nellie!

Right! Shut off!

I thought
you was gonna wait for me.

I like to see what I'm doing.

Everything all right, then?

- I'm really glad I came.
-Are you?

Something wrong
somewhere along your pipes.

So you can tell your master

his gas bill will be
a good deal less next quarter.

And you can do one more thing
for me.

What?

I've got to send a telegram
off to one of my colleagues.

Where's the nearest post office?

Mind your head, sir,
as you go in.

Oh, thank you.
I don't want to go in.

- No, sir?
-I just want to look at you.

- Beg your pardon, sir?
-To look at you.

To make sure.

Yes, thank you very much.

Yes, the buildings
have been empty for some time.

They're destined to come down
very shortly.

Completely empty?

Well, we did let an office
and a cellar in one of them.

- When?
-Uh, a week or so ago.

Who to?

Ah, yes, a Mr. Westley.

Westley?

Was he a youngish chap, about
, well-dressed, well-spoken?

Yes.
Do you know him?

I have a good idea I know him.

- Not a criminal?
-A very clever criminal.

I'm afraid we didn't ask
for references

since he paid us
a fortnight's rent in advance.

And no doubt had a good story.

Yes, he was opening
a London branch

for a large firm
of cider merchants.

He just wanted a temporary
office and a cool cellar

for storing samples until
his new premises were ready.

Well, there's no office there
now, and I doubt the samples.

However, there's something
in the cellar I want.

Do you have another key?

Well, here he is at last.

Good afternoon, Miss Shaw.

- Good afternoon, Inspector.
-Got your telegram.

- Yes, so I see.
-What's all this, then?

First, have you put a watch

on number Hackforth Road,
Stoke Newington?

Front and back. Nobody can get
out without my men following.

Good, good,
and I gather Scotland Yard

is already watching the Hoxton
Road shop for some other reason?

- How do you know that?
-I read the newspapers.

I fancy an old friend of yours
is in this.

Mr. Sam Gunter.

Sam Gunter, the Hoxton yob?

I think it's possible that he
was Mr. Westley for a bit.

However, let me introduce

the managing clerk
of Winsor and Weekes,

who has the key to
this whole mystery in his hand.

Miss Shaw,
I know you're a clever girl.

I also think you're brave.

- Why?
-You may have to be.

Mr. Hewitt?

Inspector Plummer.

If you turn that 'round,

I think you'll find
it says something like

"Buller, Clayton, Ladds & Co.
temporary entrance."

How did you know that?

It was hanging
on a hook outside.

- You saw it?
-No, but somebody saw it.

We don't want the office.
There's no one there.

We want the cellar.

Down the stairs, sir.

Yes, I imagine.

Your men got their bull's-eyes,
Inspector?

You didn't say anything
about bringing lights.

Well, that was foolish of me.

Is that
a Winsor and Weekes padlock?

Not ours, sir.
New.

- Skeleton keys, Inspector?
-No.

No, nor I.
We're ill-prepared.

Did you hear something?

No.

I think since Winsor and Weekes

are going to have this place
demolished,

we might try a little demolition
free of charge.

Russell, Peabody, break it down.

[ Man moans ]

Good God, what's that?

SHAW: Oh.

Charles.

HEWITT:
Laker, absconded.

Fetch water and brandy.

And a doctor.

[Knocking on door]

Don't open it!

[Knocking on door]

Open the door.

Mr. Merston's residence?

- Who is it?
-Scotland Yard.

Scotland Yard?

Mr. Merston?

Yes?

Going on a journey?

A holiday, yes.

- Why?
-Open them up.

Break them open.

No!

HEWITT:
But Laker was intelligent.

He would never have left that
very obvious trail accidentally.

Thank you.

So, that gave two possibilities.

Either it was Laker leaving
a deliberate, false trail,

or it was someone else
personating Laker.

But the counter clerks knew him.

No, only the first one.

See, old Mr. Parsloe
gave me the clue.

The others hardly looked
at the usual man

from Liddle, Neal, and Liddle.

Youngish, brown mustache.
Why should they?

He was just another walk clerk.

I confess I still don't --

Very clever gangs of thieves
in this city.

Now, take this one.

Backed by an apparently
respectable person,

Mr. Joseph Merston of
Hackforth Road, Stoke Newington,

who puts up the finance

and takes the major share
of the proceeds,

they have the bright idea
of robbing a walk clerk.

They choose a particular victim,

perhaps because a member
of the g*ng resembles him.

They study him.
They study his round.

And then one day,
when it's all prepared...

£ , . ,
all correct as per bill.

May see you Sunday, then,
Charles, on the Heath?

Yes.
Till then, Henry.

Sir?
This way this morning.

Front door's closed
for the alterations.

Oh, thank you.

Straight down the corridor, sir.
It leads through.

Right.
Get that body.

Morning.

Liddle, Neal, and Liddle.
Bills for encashment.

NEAL: Come in.

Inspector Plummer, sir.

Evening, gentlemen.

Got Merston, Sam Gunter,
and one other so far.

So, it was young Sam.

The Hoxton yob, yes,
personating Laker.

- Picked him up near Hoxton Road.
-And the money?

Pretty nearly all of it.

Sherry, Inspector?

Thanks.

What put you onto Merston?

Well, as I told you, Inspector,
I read the newspapers.

"Yob, H.R. Shop Roast,
you first, then tonight, ,

second top, third L, number ,
red bl., straight mon."

I translate.

"Yob," back slang for "boy."

"H.R. shop roast."

"H.R.," Hoxton Road,

"shop," usual place,
"roast," being watched.

The rest is directions
how to get to a new place

using the post-office
street directory.

Number Hackforth Road,
Stoke Newington,

red blinds, straight moniker,

which means ask for him
by his real name, Merston.

So, it's lucky
that Scotland Yard

was already watching
the Hoxton Road shop.

[ Laughing ]
Yes.

Triumph for the Yard.

- Congratulations, inspector.
-Congratulations, Mr. Hewitt.

And now, if you'll excuse me,
gentlemen,

I'll bid you good night.

We had hoped
you would dine with us.

I myself was about to suggest
a small celebration.

No, I'm sorry.
I have someone waiting.

- Another client?
-Almost a client.

[ Door opens

- How is he?
-Much better.

He'll be all right quite soon.

I think I've convinced Mr. Neal

that your Charles
deserves a week in bed,

a month's holiday,
and a promotion.

Thank you.

And a good wife.

I'll try to be one.

You've been as good as one
already.

You convinced me
that Laker was clever,

and that convinced me
that he was innocent.

- Oh, you still here, Mr. Pryde?
-Oh, yes.

Yes, still here, Mr. Hewitt,

waiting to hear
how we succeeded financially.

Uh, what about
that betting thing?

Laker, yes, well, he did badly
at first this year,

and then well, then these past
few weeks very well, indeed.

At the moment he's in profit,
to the tune of some £ .

As we are in profit, I hope.

No.

Our percentage
of the money recovered.

The City Guarantee Society

insures against theft
by bank clerks,

but unfortunately for us,
Laker was innocent.

The Society does not insure
against thefts by thieves.

We get nothing.

Nothing.

Except a friend.

Two friends.

Except the prospect
of dining quite soon

with a rising young
counter clerk and his wife.

Merry Christmas.

[Bell tolling]