The Ringer (Edgar Wallace - Der Hexer)

Mr. Messer's private office, one moment, please.

Mr. Hopkins wishes to speak to you, Sir. - Yes.

What's the matter? You know quite well that I...

What's that?

Right here?

Hello! Here speaks Edgar Wallace!

The Ringer

Everything alright, Shelby? - You can come up but hurry up.

Good morning, my dear! Mr. Higgins in?

Enter! - Oh, I forgot to knock again!

I'm so sorry!

That's ok!

Oh that's a beautiful suit you're wearing, but rather tight?

Inspector Higgins is in the lab, developing.

Himself? - No, a woman who didn't open...

her refrigerator for 3 days. - Oh!

Her husband deceived her!

And he was inside! - Oh, hard warm?

How are you getting on with Higgie? Ok?

In the office or in private, Miss Penton?

Hello, Jean! This photo is a real knock out!

Have a look! It's a real bomb isn't it? - Miss Penton is here!

Yes, that's right

Oh!

This is a pleasant surprise! - Yes, it is. May I look at that bomb?

Yes, or no... You'd better not.

The police photos I take...

are usually somewhat shocking. - I want to look!

Jerk!

But Elise...

Miss Osbourne, where's the...

I want to talk to you, Inspector!

Yes, Sir.

Well, Sir?

Why did you come in? - You wanted to speak to me, Sir?

Oh yes!

It's about a woman! - I hope a young one?

Yes, unfortunately dead! Read the report!

The body was picked up near the docks at 6.30 am this morning.

The name of the woman found there is Gwenda Milton,

13 Barkley Street, London. She worked as a secretary to lawyer Maurice Messer.

Gwenda Milton? - Yes, 21 years old.

No exterior signs of used force were found on her.

Aha, it was an accident, then? - No, murder!

The woman didn't drown! She was strangled before death.

This is the report of the autopsy.

By the way, it was sweet of you to wait for me, in spite of that photo.

I love you in spite of it!

Who cares if Scotland Yards most famous Detective...

That is what you are? - Who told you that?

When Scotland Yards most famous Detective lost his driving licence...

for driving too fast. - Yes, yes, keep on reminding me...

of that one! Here, you nearly hit that cab, dear!

And why not? The only possibility of our being together longer...

is in a double bed in the hospital!

I don't know what to say, Inspector. I could hardly believe it!

Miss Milton is gone!

Last night she was here. - How late?

It must have been about 9 pm, if I'm not mistaken.

She put a call through. It must have been about 9:30 pm by then.

I was going to send her off, only... I found she was gone.

Do you know anything about her acquaintances, her personal life?

Miss Milton was my secretary. We never talked about her private life!

Yes, I see. Then that's about all we can tell her relatives.

I didn't know that Miss Milton had relatives in England?

Well, not here, in Australia. A brother, Arthur Milton.

Have you heard of him? That name won't mean anything to you,

because here in London he is known as... The Magician.

Why are you startled, Mr. Messer?

Now come, it's not pleasant to know...

ones secretary's brother is a known criminal!

Milton isn't a criminal! - Look, they banished him from England!

Because he led a few scoundrels to commit suicide.

Illegal yes, but it wasn't murder! - However, he wouldn't be as stupid...

as that coming back here?

He'd be imprisoned right away! - Do you think so?

Wherever he is, he will come!

Yes!

Good day, gentlemen! - Who are you? What do you want?

But Sir, Archibald Finch is my name.

You were my defence attorney in court, Sir. Don't you know me?

The kleptomaniac? - I don't want to disturb you any longer.

Thank you. - You're welcome.

Regards to Sir John. Sorry I couldn't be of any help, Inspector.

I'll see you off.

Well, what do you want, Finch?

You told me once that you would help me from the bottom, up the ladder.

Oh, dear!

I'm afraid you're a hopeless case!

Not at all, Sir. I have become a perfect butler from the time...

I came out of prison. It says so here.

Just a souvenir, Sir. I swear!

Welcome my friends and protectors! - Enough, Hopkins.

Come along!

What did I tell you to do with the woman, about the body?

Get rid of it? - Yes, but there are hundreds of ways!

Who had the clever idea to throw her into the Thames?

I did! To drown is a natural death! - Not for the police!

She was strangled first. Don't interrupt me!

We don't want to arouse suspicion. We can't do a thing right now!

But Sir, what's that got to do with us?

The little rat is whose concern? - We have 2 dozen girls...

to be delivered. - But I think Mr. Messer is right!

Our man in Cairo is urging me to send them!

It means cash!

I told you we can't make a move, you fool. - You said that.

But why?

Because Gwenda Milton was the sister of The Magician!

Come, come, I know Mr. Messer very well.

He's a member of my club.

Suspecting him, would be like suspecting me!

You must consider that. - I have, Sir John!

But I still suspect him!

Anyone can be suspected, even you!

But why?

Tea, Sir John.

Thank you, my dear.

Nice teapot.

Nervous? - No, Sir.

You seem so. You were about to say...

You just asked why I should suspect. - And?

Instinct, Sir John! - A prejudice of the lower salary group!

What now? - If we don't get him, Arthur Milton will!

The Magician? - Yes.

He manipulates things in his own way, but won't make exceptions.

He's not a member of your club.

What?

I see, yes.

Perhaps he hasn't heard of it! - Maybe. I approved orders...

to all Australian Newspapers to write about the murder of his sister!

Unsuccessfully, of course? - Don't be so sure of that. Tomorrow,

a Cora Ann Milton will arrive in London! - Absurd, lnspector!

That remains to be seen!

Mrs. Milton? - Yes, I am.

We are from Scotland Yard, Mr. Higgins and Sir John Walford.

It's a pleasure, Madam! - It's also a pleasure for me.

Undoubtedly.

I suppose you have come for the funeral, Mrs. Milton?

And your husband didn't come?

Porter, please bring me my baggage. - Yes, Madam!

Mister... what was your name? - Higgins.

Higgins, I suppose you know...

how difficult it is for my husband to come to England.

You must consider that, Inspector! - Naturally, but, Madam,

your husband is no less than The Magician! - The Magician?

Arthur never liked this name, although it's completely incorrect.

Am I free to go now? - Of course, but please be available...

if Scotland Yard needs you.

I'll be at the Park Royal, but never before 11:00 am!

Taxi, please! I'll be seeing you, gentlemen.

Charming, positively charming woman! - Yes, but without The Magician!

Oh, don't worry about it. - If The Magician does love her,

he's near her, I'm sure of it!

From Sydney on, every passenger was checked and he wasn't aboard the plane.

Then he's already here! - But he's on a warrant of arrest!

She was ill at ease all the time, she only smiled at her parting.

I wonder what made her smile? - My dear young man,

though I'm rather modest, men of my importance have always...

impressed intellectual women! - Yes, the porter! That's it!

He's disappeared! - Yes, into the comfort station.

What? Then why didn't you arrest him? - There must be a limit, Inspector!

Open up! Scotland Yard!

Come out with your hands in the air!

What are you doing here? - Oh, what a question!

I saw this man at Mr. Messer's home! - That's right, Sir.

I am his butler. - What's that?

Australian news, for Mr. Messer!

Gentlemen!

Excuse me, but have you seen a porter around here?

Want one? - Yes, but one in particular!

There was one, just a while ago.

And he climbed out of the window! I wondered why.

That's all we needed!

I'm sure now, Sir John! The Magician is in London!

Oh, what a nice surprise! - They came an hour ago. Without a card.

Thank you, Madam. I hope you have a pleasant visit here.

Yes, I hope so!

9 roses, and then 8 carnations, 3 hyacinth,

3 gladiola, 3 orchids. 9-8-3-3-3!

Hello?

Huh, Arthur, you were very daring, my sweet!

The Magician in London! - Good morning, governor!

The Magician is back in London! A special report,

from special correspondence!

The Magician in London! Read all about it!

Who's going to believe that trash? - Oh. Go on!

So, now it's not only the police are tracking us.

The Magician!

I'm not afraid, we're not idiots and there are four of us!

We'll find a way!

Excuse me! I must inform you that... - What?

The Magician is in London! - We know that already!

He just registered as Tom Wesby in the Westminster Hotel.

Finch, who told you that? - From the time I made my mistake,

I have certain connection, Sir,

which will be useful to you! - Thank you very much, Finch!

May I also add, Miss Milton's funeral...

will take place tomorrow at the central cemetery.

Mr. Wesby will no doubt try to attend!

I'm afraid The Magician won't live very much longer!