The Third Degree

So you were telling me that

we found you here in this building, this night,

because you came to murder your wife's lover?

Yes.

As I informed you, sir,

you may request a solicitor anytime.

As I informed you, I waived that right.

Do you mind if I take notes?

No.

Sir William Douglas.

How do you account for the blood on your hands?

That is blood, is it not?

I--I'm not sure.

I've been Inspector for the Yard for...

over 20 years. I can assure you it is blood.

W--What I meant to say is...

I'm not exactly sure how it got there.

I--I don't recall.

There was a pool of blood

found in the main auditorium of this building.

Yes, I... I think I remember being there.

And finding Sterling Gordon's body?

I guess so.

Same person you requested in a letter

to meet you here tonight.

Yes.

Sterling, I must see you.

You know why. 8 PM at our club building

This must come to an end.

This letter?

Yes.

We found it next to this.

Which... I believe you have handled.

It was in his chest.

-Sterling Gordon's? -Yes.

And you pulled it out?

-I must have. -And why did you do that?

Because I didn't know if he was dead.

I--I thought maybe if I--I pulled the knife out,

I could stop the bleeding.

But you've stated your intention was to kill him.

Yes, but... after seeing all that blood, I--

The same blood that's on your hands.

Yes, the same blood.

And then?

And then I... I must have blacked out.

And the reason you asked Mr. Gordon

to meet you here is because you suspected

he was having an affair with your wife

-Is that right? -No, no, no.

Suspected is the wrong word. I know he was.

How is it that you know that?

Welcome to check with a former colleague of yours,

Constable Griffin.

His investigative reports should satisfy you

into their affair, as they did me.

Why didn't you confront your wife first?

Because I've known Sterling for over 20 years.

We attended Oxford together.

And his betrayal on this matter,

well, I've already told you my intention on meeting him.

I see. So you thought it best

to meet him here and kill him?

Yeah, I wanted complete privacy so I could remind him of his vows

which he made in this club over alters.

Which, if he acknowledged he broke,

would mean his life must be taken.

I'm also a member of this Club Osiris,

and well aware of the commitments we make here.

But there are many ways to interpret those vows

and the penalties for breaking them

and it's certainly extremely debatable

whether or not you

should be the one taking his life.

-Yes, well, I-- -Anyway,

we can revisit that later.

So, once inside, you locked the front doors?

Yes. Yes, but...

but Sterling was already here,

waiting for me in the main auditorium.

-Are you sure about that? -Yes, I'm sure.

And in fact, if I locked the doors,

then how did you gain entrance, Inspector?

We heard reports of screaming

inside the building.

And after finding the front doors locked,

I remembered the secret back entrance.

Right. And that's where you found me, is it?

After fully searching the building, yes.

Tell me something,

since the time you and Mr. Gordon attended Oxford,

would you say you've remained close friends?

Why are you asking that?

Well, I'm trying to establish that

because you've known him for so many years

you wouldn't be mistaken that you pulled out

-this knife out of his-- -Of course,

I would not be mistaken.

William.

I hear you think you've killed me.

But--but I--I saw you. You... you were dead.

Sorry to disappoint.

Very much alive.

I came here upon the inspector's request.

I got your note, gave it to the inspector here.

Looks like someone's made a rather royal mess of it.

Obviously, I couldn't attend per your invite

for I had other plans this evening.

William, it looks like you've murdered the wrong person.

Mr. Gordon, please.

Inspector, why exactly am I here?

Well, for Sir William to see you very much alive.

Satisfied?

However, this has made me late for a rendezvous.

I'm sure you know of whom I speak.

-You sick son of a-- -None of that, sir.

Please. Sit down.

William, you've already thought

you killed me once this evening.

You really can't keep trying.

I don't know what sick game you're playing, Sterling.

But you certainly won't get away with this.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Please see the physician I've referred you to.

Am I free to go?

Oh, by the way, Gabrielle's outside.

She's as concerned as I am you're losing your marbles.

-Is she here? -She is.

Well, be careful. She is beguiling.

I think I've dealt

with a few such women in my life, thank you.

Not like her, you haven't.

She's a femme fatale, as the French would say.

First things first. The body, the knife,

the blood on your hands.

Hold on a minute. I-- If--if...

If I saw Sterling

alive just now, then who did I see?

Well, the truth is, sir,

we haven't found a body or anyone actually dead.

-I beg your pardon? -As of yet.

I'm sick of waiting.

William, what on earth have you done?

Sterling just told me you may have murdered a man.

No, I don't believe I have.

Well, then, why was Stirling here?

Well, you may be the one who has to answer that, Gabrielle.

We need to have a serious talk,

but away from here. Inspector, what is it exactly

you want to ask my wife?

Please.

Where were you this evening, Lady Douglas?

Where your constables found me, at our home.

And you spent the entire day there?

Yes. Except for purchasing some floral arrangements.

-And the name of that shop? -The Rosebud.

Let me ask the questions, sir.

They will confirm you were there, will they?

Yes, of course, William.

Sir, I am the one asking the questions.

Well, do you have any of significance?

And if you do not, can we go now?

If you could stay a little longer,

-it might help to-- -You have no charges.

You don't even have a dead body.

Please. Indulge me.

Why would I? Sterling is clearly alive.

I obviously did not kill him, did I?

Well, you yourself remember waking

next to a dead body holding that knife.

Well, now I have serious doubts

what I do and I do not remember.

All I do know is I must have a private conversation with my wife.

Gabrielle, let's go.

If you could only accompany me

to the main auditorium

and where we found you unconscious,

it might really help.

Yes. Yes, it could help restore your memory, William.

Isn't that right, Inspector?

That would be my hope.

You certainly recall entering the building

and locking those front doors, is that right?

Yes.

With keys you no longer have.

When I came to, they were gone.

I see. What is peculiar

is that the only footprints in here are yours.

You have mud on your shoes

from the rain earlier this evening.

Mr. Gordon's shoes were clean.

There are no other prints in here.

You must have stopped here to survey the murder scene.

Yes. I do recall being here.

But you've been reading far too many

Strand detective magazines, Inspector.

William. William, please.

William, stop. We must talk.

Now, really?

'Cause you didn't seem to want to before.