AGATHA CHRISTIE - THE CRETAN BULL Narrated by Jason Fraser Detective Tales

dear listeners now you will hear a fascinating Story by Agatha Christie the Creon bull thank you very much for choosing this video subscribe to this channel so you won't miss any new fascinating stories enjoy listening the Creon bull is part of Agatha Christi's the labors of Hercules collection where each story mirrors one of the mythical labors of Hercules in this story Christie draws a parallel between the mythological task of capturing the Creon bull a symbol of uncont controllable rage and Madness and Poo's challenge of unraveling the truth behind Hugh Chandler's belief in his impending Insanity

the story highlights christe's interest in the psychological aspects of crime particularly how fear and suggestion can manipulate human behavior the exploration of hereditary Madness reflects contemporary anxieties of the early 20th century making the story both a compelling mystery and a commentary on societal fears heru puau looked thoughtfully at his visitor he saw a pale face with a determined looking chin eyes that were more gray than blue and hair that was of that real blue black shade so seldom seen the Hine locks of ancient Greece he noted the well-cut but also well-worn country Tweeds the shabby

handbag and the unconscious arrogance of manner that lay behind the girl's obvious nervousness he thought to himself ah yes she is the county but no money and it must be something quite out of the way that would bring her to me Diana mbery said and her voice shook a little I I don't know whether you can help me or not miss porro it's it's a very extraordinary position quo said but yes tell me Diana maybelly said I've come to you because I don't know what to do I don't even know if there is anything to

do will you let me be the judge of that the color surged suddenly into the girl's face she said rapidly and breathlessly I've come to you because the man I've been engaged to for over a year has broken off our engagement she stopped and eyed him defiantly you must think she said that I'm completely mental slowly Hercule puau shook his head on the contrary Mademoiselle I have no doubt whatever but that you are are extremely intelligent it is certainly not my mettier in life to patch up the lovers quarrels and I know very well that

you are quite aware of that it is therefore that there is something unusual about the breaking of this engagement that is so is it not the girl nodded she said in a clear precise voice Hugh broke off our engagement because he thinks he's going mad he thinks people who are mad should not marry hercu PU br's eyebrows Rose a little and do you not agree I don't know what is being mad after all everyone is a little mad it has been said so PUO agreed cautiously it's only when you begin thinking you're a poached egg

or something that they have to shut you up and your fiance has not reached that stage Diana maelly said I can't see that there's anything wrong with Hugh at all he's oh he's the sest person I know sound Dependable then why does he think he is going mad poo paused a moment before going on is there perhaps Madness in his family reluctantly Diana jerked her head in Ascent she said his grandfather was mental I believe and some great aunt or other but what I say is that every family has got someone queer in it you

know a bit half witted or extra clever or something her eyes were appealing Hercule PUO shook his head sadly he said I'm very sorry for you madmoizelle her chin shot out she cried I don't want you to be sorry for me I want you to do something what do you want me to do I don't know but there's something wrong will you tell me madmoizelle all about your fiance Diana spoke rapidly his name's Hugh Chandler he's 24 his father is Admiral Chandler they live at lied Manor it's been in the Chandler family since the time

of Elizabeth Hugh's the only son he went into the Navy all the Chandlers are Sailors it's a sort of tradition ever since Sir Gilbert Chandler sailed with Sir Walter Raleigh in 15 something or other Hugh went into the Navy as a matter of course his father wouldn't have heard of anything else and yet and yet it was his father who insisted on getting him out of it when was that nearly a year ago quite suddenly was Hugh Chandler happy in his profession absolutely there was no Scandal of any kind about Hugh absolutely nothing he was

getting on splendidly he he couldn't understand his father what reason did Admiral Chandler himself give Diana said slowly he never really gave a reason oh he said it was necessary Hugh should learn to manage the estate but that was only a pretext even George frobisher realized that who is George frobisher Colonel frobisher he's Admiral Chandler's oldest friend and Hugh's Godfather he spends most of his time down at the Manor and what did Colonel frobisher think of Admiral Chandler's determination that his son should leave the Navy he was dumbfounded he couldn't understand it at all nobody

could not even Hugh Chandler himself Diana did not answer at once once PUO waited a minute then he went on at the time perhaps he too was astonished but now has he said nothing nothing at all Diana murmured reluctantly he said about a week ago that that his father was right that it was the only thing to be done did you ask him why of course but he wouldn't tell me hercu puau reflected for a minute or two then he said have there been any unusual occurrences in your part of the world starting perhaps about

a year ago something that has given rise to a lot of local talk and surmise she flashed out I don't know what you mean PUO said quietly but with authority in his voice you had better tell me there wasn't anything nothing of the kind you mean of what kind then I think you're simply odious quck things often happen on farms it's revenge or the village idiot or somebody what happened she said reluctantly there was a fuss about some sheep their throats were cut oh it was horrid but they all belong to one farmer and he's

a very hard man the police thought it was some kind of spite against him but they didn't catch the person who had done it no she added fiercely but if you think PUO held up his hand he said you you do not know in the least what I think tell me this has your fiance consulted a doctor no I'm sure he hasn't wouldn't that be the simplest thing for him to do Diana said slowly he won't he he hates doctors and his father I don't think the Admiral believes much in doctors either says there a

lot of humbug Merchants how does the Admiral seem himself is he well happy Diana said in a low voice he's aged terribly in in in the last year yes he's a wreck a sort of shadow of what he used to be PUO nodded thoughtfully then he said did he approve of his son's engagement oh yes you see my people's land ad joins his we've been there for Generations he was frightfully pleased when Hugh and I fixed it up and now what does he say to your engagement being broken off the girl's voice shook a little

she said I met him yesterday morning he was looking ghastly he took my hand in both of his he said it's hard on you my girl but the boy is doing the right thing the only thing he can do and so said hercu puero you came to me she nodded she asked can you do anything hercu PUO replied I do not know but I can at least come down and see for myself it was Hugh Chandler's magnificent physique that impressed Hercule PUO more than anything else tall magnificently proportioned with a terrific chest and shoulders and

a tny head of hair there was a tremendous air of strength and virility about him on their arrival at Diana's house she had at once rung up Admiral Chandler and they had forth with gone over to lied Manor where they had found tea waiting on the long Terrace and with the te three men there was Admiral Chandler white-haired looking older than his years his shoulders bowed as though by an overheavy burden and his eyes dark and brooding a contrast to him was his friend Colonel frobisher a dried up tough little man with reddish hair turning

gray at the temples a Restless irascible Snappy little man rather like a terrier but the possessor of a pair of extremely shrew R eyes he had a habit of drawing down his brows over his eyes and lowering his head thrusting It Forward whilst those same shrewd little eyes studied you piercingly the third man was Hugh fine specimen eh said Colonel frobisher he spoke in a low voice having noted pu's close scrutiny of the young man Hercule PUO nodded his head he and frobisher were sitting close together the other three had their chairs on the far

side of the tea table and were chatting together in an animated but slightly artificial manner PUO murmured yes he is magnificent magnificent he is the young bull yes one might say the bull dedicated to Poseidon a perfect specimen of healthy manhood looks fit enough doesn't he frisher sighed his shrewd little eyes stole sideways considering Hercule PU presently he said I know who you are you know ah that it is no secret PUO waved a royal hand he was not Incognito the gesture seemed to say he was traveling as himself after a minute or two frobisher

asked did the girl get you down over this business the business the business of young Hugh yes I see you know all about it but I can't quite see why she went to you shouldn't have thought this sort of thing was in your line I meant um say it's more a medical show all kinds of things are in my line you would be surprised I mean I can't see quite what she expected you could do miss mabery said PUO is a fighter Colonel frobisher nodded a warm Ascent yes she's a fighter all right she's a

f fine kid she won't give up all the same you know there are some things that you can't fight his face looked suddenly old and tired Pirro dropped his voice still lower he murmured discreetly there is insanity I understand in the family frisher nodded only crops up now and again he murmured Skips a generation or two Hugh's grandfather was the last poo threw a quick glance in the direction of the other three Diana was holding the conversation well laughing and bantering Hugh you would have said that the three of them had not a care in

the world what form did the madness take poo asked softly the old boy became pretty violent in the end he was perfectly all right up to 30 normal as could be then he began to go a bit queer it was some time before people noticed it then a lot of rumors began going around people started talking properly things happened that were hushed up but well he raised his shoulders ended up as mad as a Hatter poor devil homicidal had to be certified he paused for a moment and then added he lived to be quite an

old man I believe that's what Hugh is afraid of of course that's why he doesn't want to see a doctor he's afraid of being shut up and living shut up for years can't say I blame him I'd feel the same name and Admiral Chandler how does he feel it's broken him up completely frisher spoke shortly he is very fond of his son wrapped up in the boy you see his wife was drowned in a boating accident when the boy was only 10 years old since then he's lived for nothing but the child was he very

devoted to his wife worshiped her everybody woried her she was she was one of the loveliest women I've ever known he paused a moment and then said jerkily care to see her portrait I should like to see it very much frisher pushed back his chair and Rose aloud he said going to show mure PUO one or two things Charles he's a bit of a connoisseur the Admiral raised a vague hand frobisher tramped along the Terrace and PUO followed him for a moment Diana's face dropped its mask of gayety and looked an agonized question Hugh too

raised his head and looked steadily at the small man with the big black mustache Pirro followed frobisher into the house it was so dim at first coming in out of the sunlight that he could hardly distinguish one article from another but he realized that the house was full of old and Beautiful Things Colonel frobisher led the way to the picture gallery on the paneled walls hung portraits of dead and gone Chandlers faces Stern and gay men in court dress or in naval uniform women in satin and Pearls finally frobisher stopped under a portrait at the

end of the gallery painted by Orin he said gruffly they stood looking up at a tall woman her hand on a Greyhound's collar a woman with Orban hair and an expression of radiant Vitality boy the spitting image of her said frobisher don't you think so in some things yes he hasn't got her delicacy her femininity of course he's a masculine addition but in all the essential things he broke off pity he inherited from the Chandlers the one thing he could well have done without they were silent there was Melancholy in the air all around them

as though dead and gone chanders sighed for the taint that lay in their blood and which remorselessly from time to time they passed on Hercule PUO turned his head to look at his companion George frobisher was still gazing up at the beautiful woman on the wall above him PUO said softly you knew her well frisher spoke jerkily we were boy and girl together I went off as a sub Alton to India when she was 16 when I got back she was married to Charles Chandler you knew him well also Charles is one of my oldest

friends he's my best friend always has been did you see much of them after the marriage used to spend most of my leaves here like a second home to me this place Charles and Caroline always kept my room here ready and waiting he squared his shoulders suddenly thrust his head forward pugnaciously that's why I'm here now to stand by in case I'm wanted if Charles needs me I'm here again the shadow of tragedy crept over them and what do you think about all this PUO asked frobisher stood stiffly his brows came down over his eyes

what I think is the least said the better and to be frank I don't see what you're doing in the business Miss PUO I don't see why Diana roped you in and got you down here you are aware that Diana maybell's engagement to Hugh Chandler has been broken off yes I know that and you know the reason for it frisher replied stiffly I don't know anything about that young people manage these things between them not my business to butt in PUO said Hugh Chandler told Diana that it was not right that they should marry because

he was going out of his mind he saw the beads of perspiration break out on frobisher's forehead frobisher said have we got to talk about the damned thing what do you think you can do Hugh's done the right thing poor devil it's not his fault it's heredity germ plasm brain cells but once he knew well what else could he do but break the engagement it's one of those things that just has to be done if I could be convinced of that you can take it from me but you have told me nothing I tell you

I don't want to talk about it why did Admiral Chandler Force his son to leave the Navy because it was the only thing to be done why frisher shook an obstinate head PUO murmured Softly was it to do with some sheep being killed the other man said angrily so you've heard about that Diana told me that girl had far better keep her mouth shut she did not think it was conclusive she doesn't know what doesn't she know unwillingly jerkily angrily frobisher spoke oh well if you must have it Chandler heard a noise that night thought

it might be someone got in the house went out to investigate light in the boy's room Chandler went in Hugh asleep on bed dead asleep in his clothes Blood on the clothes Basin in the room full of blood his father couldn't wake him next morning heard about sheep being found with their throats cut questioned Hugh boy didn't know anything about it didn't remember going out and his shoes found by the side door caked in mud couldn't explain the blood in the basin couldn't explain anything poor devil didn't know you understand Charles came to me talked

it over what was the best thing to be done then it happened again three nights later after that well you can see for yourself the boy had got to leave the service if he was here under Charles's eye Charles could watch over him couldn't afford to have a scandal in the Navy yes it was the the only thing to be done Faro asked and since then frobisher said fiercely I'm not answering any more questions don't you think Hugh knows his own business best hercu PUO did not answer he was always loathed to admit that anyone

could know better than hercu PUO as they came into the Hall they met Admiral Chandler coming in he stood for a moment a dark figure silhouetted against the bright light outside he said in a low Gruff voice oh there you both are M PUO I would like a word with you come into my study frisher went out through the open door and PUO followed the Admiral he had rather the feeling of having been summoned to the quarter deck to give an account of himself the Admiral motioned PUO to take one of the big easy chairs

and himself sat down in the other PUO whilst with frobisher had been impressed by the others restlessness nervousness and irritability all the signs of intense mental strain with Admiral Chandler he felt a sense of hopelessness of quiet deep despair with a deep sigh Chandler said I can't help being sorry Diana has brought you into this poor child I know how hard it is for her but well it is our own private tragedy and I think you will understand M PUO that we don't want Outsiders I can understand your feeling certainly Diana poor child can't believe

it I couldn't at first probably wouldn't believe it now if I didn't know he paused no what that it's in the blood the taint I mean and yet you agreed to the engagement Admiral Chandler flushed you mean I should have put my foot down then but at the time I'd no idea Hugh takes after his mother nothing about him to remind you of the Chandlers I hoped he'd taken after her in every way from his childhood upwards there's never been a trace of abnormality about him until now I couldn't know that Dash it all there's

a trace of insanity in nearly every old family poo said softly you have not consulted a doctor Chandler roared no and I'm not going to the boy's safe enough here with me to look after him they Shan shut him up between four walls like a wild beast he is safe here you say but are others safe what do you mean by that poo did not reply he looked steadily into Admiral Chandler's sad dark eyes the Admiral said bitterly each man to his trade you're looking for a criminal my boy is not a criminal M PUO

not yet what do you mean by not yet these things increase those sheep who told you about the Sheep Diana maelly and also your friend Colonel frobisher George would have done better to keep his mouth shut he is a very old friend of yours is he not my best friend the Admiral said gruffly and he was a friend of your wife's too Chandler smiled yes George was in love with Caroline I believe when she was very young he's never married I believe that's the reason oh well I was the lucky one or so I thought

I carried her off only to lose her he sighed and his shoulders sagged Baro said colonel frobisher was with you when your wife was drowned Chandler nodded yes he was with us down in Cornwall when it happened she and I were out in the boat together he happened to stay at home that day I've never understood how that boat came to capsize must have sprung a sudden leap we were right out in the bay strong tide running I held her up as long as I could his voice broke her body was washed up 2 days

later thank the lord we hadn't taken little Hugh out with us at least that's what I thought at the time now well better for Hugh poor devil perhaps if he had been with us if it had all been finished and done for then again there came that deep hopeless sigh where the last of the Chandlers M PUO there will be no more Chandlers at lied after we're gone when Hugh got engaged to Diana I hoped well it's no good talking of that thank God they didn't marry that's all I can say hul PUO sat on

a seat in the Rose Garden beside him Sat Hugh Chandler Diana maybelly had just left them the young man turned a handsome tortured face towards His companion he said you've got to make her understand Miss PUO he paused for a minute and then went on you see D is a fighter she won't give in she won't accept what she's darned well got to accept she she will go on believing that I'm sane while you yourself are quite certain that you are pardon me insane the young man winced he said I'm not actually hopelessly off my

head yet but it's getting worse Diana doesn't know bless her she's only SE seen me when I am all right and when you are all wrong what happens Hugh Chandler took a long breath then he said for one thing I dream and when I dream I am mad last night for instance I wasn't a man any longer I was first of all a bull a Mad Bull Racing about in blazing sunlight tasting dust and blood in my mouth dust and blood and then I was a dog a great slavery dog I had Hydrophobia children scattered

and fled as I came men tried to shoot me someone sat down a great bowl of water for me and I couldn't drink I couldn't drink he paused I woke up and I knew it was true I went over to the washstand my mouth was parched horribly parched and dry I was thirsty but I couldn't drink Miss PUO I couldn't swallow oh my God I wasn't able to drink UL PUO made a gentle murmur h Chandler went on his hands were clenched on his knees his face was thrust forward his eyes were half closed as

though he saw something coming towards him and there are things that aren't dreams things that I see when I'm wide awake specters frightful shapes they Lear at me and sometimes I'm able to fly to leave my bed and fly through the air to ride the winds and fiends bear me company cha cha said Hercule PUO it was a gentle deprecating little noise Hugh Chandler turned to him oh there isn't any doubt it's in my blood it's my family heritage I can't escape thank God I found it out in time before I'd married Diana suppose we'd

had a child and handed on this frightful thing to him he laid a hand on poirot's arm you must make her understand you must tell her she's got to forget she's got to there will be someone else some day there's young Steve Graham he's crazy about her and he's an awfully good chap she'd be happy with him and safe I want her to be happy Graham's hard up of course and so are her people but when I'm gone they'll be all right heru's voice interrupted him why will they be all right when you are gone

Hugh Chandler smiled it was a gentle lovable smile he said there's my mother's money she was an heys you know it came to me I've left it all to Diana hercu PUO sat back in his chair he said ah then he said but you may live to be quite an old man Mr Chandler Hugh Chandler shook his head he said sharply no Miss PUO I am not going to live to be an old man then he drew back with a sudden shudder my god look he stared over Poo's shoulder there standing by you it's a

skeleton its bones are shaking it's calling to me beckoning his eyes the pupes widely dilated stared into the sunshine he leaned suddenly sideways as though collapsing then turning to PUO he said in an almost childlike voice you didn't see anything slowly U PUO shook his head Hugh Chandler said hely I don't mind this so much seeing things it's the blood I'm frightened of the blood in my room on my clothes we had a parrot one morning it was there in my room with its throat cut and I was lying on the bed with the razor

in my hand wet with its blood he lent closer to PUO even just lately things have been killed he whispered all around in the village out on the Downs sheep young Lambs a colli dog father locks me in at night but sometimes sometimes the doors open in the morning I must have a key hidden somewhere but I don't know where I've hidden it I don't know it isn't I who do these things it's someone else who comes into me who takes possession of me who turns me from a man into a raving monster who wants

blood and who can't drink water suddenly he buried his face in his hands after a minute or two poo asked I still do not understand why you have not seen a doctor Hugh Chandler shook his head he said don't you really understand physically I'm strong I'm as strong as a bull I might live for years years shut up between four walls that I can't face it would be better to go out altogether there are ways you know an accident cleaning a gun that sort of thing Diana will understand I'd rather take my own way out

he looked defiantly at PUO but PUO did not respond to the challenge instead he asked mildly what do you eat and drink Hugh Chandler flung his head back he roared with laughter nightmares after indigestion is that your idea poo merely repeated gently what do you eat and drink just what everybody else eats and drinks no special medicine cachets pills good Lord no do you really think patent pills would cure my trouble he quoted derisively can't though then minister to a mind diseased her PUO said Dry I am trying to does anyone in this house suffer

with eye trouble Hugh Chandler stared at him he said Father's Eyes give him a good deal of trouble he has to go to an oculist fairly often ah PUO meditated for a moment or two then he said Colonel frobisher I suppose has spent much of his life in India yes he was in the Indian army he's very keen on India talks about about it a lot native traditions and all that PUO murmured ah again then he remarked I see that you have cut your chin Hugh put his hand up yes quite a nasty gash father

startled me one day when I was shaving I'm a bit nervy these days you know and I've had a bit of a rash over my chin and neck makes shaving difficult PUO said you should use a soothing cream oh I do Uncle George gave me one he gave a sudden laugh we're talking like a woman's beauty parlor lotions soothing creams patent pills eye trouble what does it all amount to what are you getting at Miss PUO PUO said quietly I'm trying to do the best I can for Diana maybelly Hugh's mood changed his face sobered

he laid a hand on Poo's arm yes do what you can for her tell her she's got to forget tell her that it's no good hoping tell her some of the things I've told you tell her oh tell her for God's sake to keep away from me that's the only thing she can do for me now keep away and try to forget have you courage madmoizelle great courage you will need it Diana cried sharply then it's true it's true he is mad Hercule PUO said I am not an alienist mm moiselle it is not I

who who can say this man is mad this man is sane she came closer to him Admiral Chandler thinks Hugh is mad George frobisher thinks he is mad Hugh himself thinks he is mad PUO was watching her and you madmoizelle I I say he isn't mad that's why she stopped that is why you came to me yes I couldn't have had any other reason for coming to you could I that said hercu PUO is exactly what I have been asking myself madm moiselle I don't understand you who is Steven Graham she stared Steven Graham oh

he's he's just someone she caught him by the arm what's in your mind what are you thinking about you just stand there behind that great mustache of yours blinking your eyes in the sunlight and you don't tell me anything you're making me afraid horribly afraid why are you making me afraid perhaps said PUO because I'm afraid myself the Deep gray eyes opened wide stared up at him she said in a whisper what are you afraid of UL PUO sighed a deep sigh he said it is much easier to catch a murderer than it is to

prevent a Murder She cried out murder don't use that word nevertheless said hercu PUO I do use it he altered his tone speaking quickly and authoritatively Mademoiselle it is necessary that both you and I should pass the night at lid Manor I Look to You to arrange the matter you can do that I yes I suppose so but why because there is no time to lose you have told me that you have courage prove that courage now do what I ask and make no questions about it she nodded without a word and turned away PUO

followed her into the house after the lapse of a moment or two he heard her voice in the library and the voices of three men he passed up the broad staircase there was no one on the Upper Floor he found Hugh Chandler's room easily enough in the corner of the room was a fitted wash basin with hot and cold water over it on a glass shelf were various tubes and pots and Bottles hercu PUO went quickly and dextrously to work what he had to do did not take him long he was downstairs again in the

hall when Diana came out of the library looking flushed and rebellious it's all right she said Admiral Chandler Drew PUO into the library and closed the door he said look here miss PUO I don't like this what don't you like Admiral Chandler Diana has been insisting that you and she should both spend the night here I don't want to be inhospitable it is not a question of hospitality as I say I don't like being inhospitable but frankly I don't like it m PUO I I don't want it and I don't understand the reason for it

what good can it possibly do shall we say that it is an experiment I'm trying what kind of an experiment that you will pardon me is my business now look here M PUO I didn't ask you to come here in the first place PUO interrupted believe me Admiral Chandler I quite understand and appreciate your point of view I am here simply and solely because of the obstinacy of a girl in love you have told me certain things Colonel frobisher has told me certain things Hugh himself has told me certain things now I want to see

for myself yes but see what I tell you there's nothing to see I lock hook into his room every night and that's that and yet sometimes he tells me that the door is not locked in the morning what's that have you not found the door unlocked yourself Chandler was frowning I always imagined George had unlocked what do you mean where do you leave the key in the lock no I lay it on the chest outside I or George or Withers the valet take it from there in the morning we've told Withers it's because Hugh walks

in his sleep I dare say he knows more but he's a faithful fellow been with me for years is there another key not that I know of one could have been made but who your son thinks that he himself has one hidden somewhere although he is unaware of it in his waking State Colonel frobisher speaking from the far end of the room said I don't like it Charles the girl Admiral Chandler said quickly just what I was thinking the girl mustn't come back with you come back yourself if you like poo said why don't you

want miss mabery here tonight crisher said in a low voice it's too risky in these cases he stopped poo said Hugh is devoted to her Chandler cried that's just why damn it all man everything's Topsy Turvy where a madman's concerned Hugh knows that himself Diana mustn't come here as to that said PUO Diana must decide for herself he went out of the library Diana was waiting outside in the car she called out wek get what we want for the night and be back in time for dinner as they drove down the long drive PUO repeated

to her the conversation he had just held with the Admiral and Colonel frobisher she laughed scornfully do they think Hugh would hurt me by by way of reply PUO asked her if she would mind stopping at the Chemists in the village he had forgotten he said to pack a toothbrush the chemist's shop was in the middle of the peaceful Village Street Diana waited outside in the car it struck her that Hercule PUO was a long time choosing a toothbrush in the big bedroom with the heavy Elizabeth and oak furniture Hercule puau sat and waited there

was nothing to do but wait all his Arrangements were made it was towards early morning that the summons came at the sound of footsteps outside poo Drew back the bolt and opened the door there were two men in the passage outside two middle-aged men who looked older than their years the Admiral was stern-faced and Grim Colonel frobisher twitched and trembled Chandler said simply will you come with us mure PUO there was a HUD figure lying outside diab's bedroom door the light fell on rumpled Tony hid H Chandler lay there breathing stutter rooly he was in

his dressing gown and slippers in his right hand was a sharply curved shining knife not all of it was shining here and there it was obscured by Red glistening patches Hercule puau exclaimed softly M frisher said sharply she's all right he hasn't touched her he raised his voice and called Diana it's us let us in quo heard the Admiral groan and mutter under his breath my boy my poor boy there was a sound of bolts being drawn the door opened and Diana stood there her face was dead white she faltered out what's happened there was

someone trying to get in I heard them feeling the door the handle scratching on the panels oh it was awful like an animal frisher said sharply thank God door was locked M PUO told me to lock it PUO said lift him up and bring him inside the two men stooped and raised the unconscious man Diana caught her breath with a little gasp as they passed her Hugh is it Hugh what's that on his hands Hugh Chandler's hands were sticky and wet with a brownish red stain Diana breathed is that [Music] blood PU looked inquiringly at

the two men the Admiral nodded he said Not Human thank God a cat I found it downstairs in the hall throat cut afterwards he must have come up here here Diana's voice was low with horror to me the man on the chair stirred muttered they watched him fascinated Hugh Chandler sat up he blinked hello his voice was Dazed hoarse what's happened why am I he stopped he was staring at the knife which he held still clasped in his hand he said in a slow thick voice what have I done his eyes went from one to

the other they rested at last on Diana shrinking Back Against The Wall he said quietly did I attack Diana his father shook his head Hugh said tell me what has happened I've got to know they told him told him unwillingly haltingly his quiet perseverance drew it out of them outside the window the sun was coming up Hercule PUO drew a curtain aside the radiance of the Dawn came into the room Hugh Chandler's face was composed his voice was steady he said I see then he got up he smiled and stretched himself his voice was quite

natural as he said beautiful morning what think I'll go out in the woods and try to get a rabbit he went out of the room and left them staring after him then the Admiral started forward frisher caught him by the arm no Charles no it's the best way for him poor devil if for nobody else Diana had thrown herself sobbing on the bed Admiral Chandler said his voice coming unevenly you're right George you're right I know the boy got guts frisher said and his voice too was broken he's a man there was a moment silence

and then Chandler said damn it where's that cursed Foreigner in The Gun Room Hugh Chandler had lifted his gun from the rack and was in the act of loading it when hercu Poo's hand fell on his shoulder hercu Poo's voice said one word and said it with a strange Authority he said no Hugh Chandler stared at him he said in a thick angry voice take your hands off me don't interfere there's going to be an accident I tell you it's the only way out again Hercule PUO repeated that one word no don't you realize that

if it hadn't been for the accident of her door being locked I would have cut Diana's throat Diana's with that knife I realized nothing of the kind you would not have killed Miss maybelly I killed the cat didn't I no you did not kill the cat you did not kill the parrot you did not kill the Sheep Hugh stared at him he demanded are you m mad or am I Hercule PUO replied neither of us is mad it was at that moment that Admiral Chandler and Colonel frobisher came in behind them came Diana Hugh Chandler

said in a weak dazed voice this chap says I'm not mad Hercule puau said I am happy to tell you that you are entirely and completely sane Hugh laughed it was a laugh such as a lunatic might popularly be supposed to give that's damned funny it's sane is it to cut the throats of sheep and other animals I was sayane was I when I killed that parrot and the cat tonight I tell you you did not kill the sheep or the parrot or the cat then who did someone who has had at heart the sole

object of proving you insane on each occasion you were given a heavy soporific and a bloodstained knife or razor was planted by you it was someone else whose bloody hands were washed in your Basin but why in order that you should do what you were just about to do when I stopped you Hugh stared poo turned to colonel frobisher colonel frobisher you lived for many years in India did you never come across cases where persons were deliberately driven mad by the administration of drugs Colonel fish's face lit up he said never came across a case

myself but I've heard of them often enough d poisoning It Ends by driving a person insane exactly well the active principle of the detura is very closely Allied to if it is not actually the alkaloid atropine which is also obtained from belladon or deadly nightshade belladona preparations are fairly common and atropine sulfate itself is prescribed freely for eye treatments by duplicating a prescription and getting it made up in different places a large quantity of the poison could be obtained without arousing suspicion the alkaloid could be extracted from it and then introduced into say a soothing

shaving cream applied externally it would cause a rash this would soon lead to abrasions in shaving and thus the drug would be continually entering the system it would produce certain symptoms dryness of the mouth and throat difficulty in swallowing hallucinations double vision all the symptoms in fact which Mr Chandler has experienced he turned to the young man and to remove the last doubt from your mind I will tell you that that is not a supposition but a fact your shaving cream was heavily impregnated with atropine sulfate I took a sample and had it tested white

shaking Hugh asked who did it Hercule puau said that is what I have been studying ever since I arrived here I have been looking for a motive for murder Diana maybelly gained financially by your death but I did not consider her seriously Hugh Chandler flashed out I should hope not I envisaged another possible motive the Eternal triangle two men and a woman Colonel frobisher had been in love with your mother Admiral Chandler married her Admiral Chandler Cried Out George George I won't believe it Hugh said in an incredulous voice do you mean that hatred could

go on to a son hercu PUO said under certain circumstances yes frisher cried out out it's a damned lie don't believe him Charles Chandler shrank away from him he muttered to himself the datura India yes I see and we'd never suspect poison not with Madness in the family already mewe Hercule Poo's voice Rose High and shrill Madness in the family a Madman bent on Revenge cunning as Mad Men are concealing his Madness for years he Whirled round on crisher M you must have known you must have suspected that Hugh was your son why did you

never tell him so frisher stammered gulped I didn't know I couldn't be sure you see Caroline came to me once she was frightened of something in great trouble I don't know I never have known what it was all about she I we lost our heads afterwards I went away at once it was the only thing to be done we both knew we'd got to play the game I well I wondered but I couldn't be sure Caroline never said anything that led me to think Hugh was my son and then when this this streak of Madness

appeared it settled things definitely I thought poo said yes it settled things you could not see the way the boy has of thrusting out his face and bringing down his brows a trick he inherited from you but Charles Chandler saw it saw it years ago and learned the truth from his wife I think she was afraid of him he'd begun to show her the Mad streak that was what drove her into your arms you whom she had always loved Charles Chandler planned his revenge his wife died in a boating accident he and she were out

in the boat alone and he knows how that accident came about then he settled down to feed his concentrated hatred Against The Boy Who Bore his name but who was not his son your Indian stories put the idea of datura poisoning into his head Hugh should be slowly driven mad driven to the stage where he would take his own life in despair the bloodlust was Admiral chanders not Hughes it was Charles Chandler who was driven to cut the throats of sheep in lonely Fields but it was Hugh who was to pay the penalty do you

know when I suspected when Admiral Chandler was so a first to his son seeing a doctor for Hugh to object was natural enough but the father there might be treatment which would save his son there were a hundred reasons why he should seek to have a doctor's opinion but no a doctor must not be allowed to see Hugh Chandler in case a doctor should discover that Hugh was sane Hugh said very quietly sane I am sane he took a step towards Diana Fisher said in a Gruff voice you're sane enough there's no taint in our

family Diana said Hugh Admiral Chandler picked up Hugh's gun he said all a lot of nonsense think I'll go and see if I can get a rabbit frisher started forward but the hand of hercu PUO restrained him PUO said you said yourself just now that it was the best way Hugh and Diana had gone from the room the two men the Englishman and the Belgian watched the last of the Chandlers cross the park and go up into the woods presently they heard a shot thank you very much for listening to this story narrated by Jason

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