0:00

Can. Father Brown solve a murder

0:03

in a curious household. Gk.

0:06

Chesterton. Today. On

0:08

the Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome

0:19

to the Classic Tales Podcast! Thank

0:21

you for listening. The. Vintage

0:24

episode for the week is the

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million pound banknote by Mark Twain.

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Be. Sure to check it out on Tuesday! If.

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Go. To Classic Tales audio.com

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and become a supporter today.

1:06

Thank. You so much. The.

1:08

Classic Tale Book Club was so much

1:11

fun! It. Was great getting to know

1:13

you and talking a little shop. I.

1:15

Think next time we'll do some giveaways

1:17

so keep your schedule clear for the

1:19

second Wednesday in April. Will see them.

1:23

I've been having fun designing the specials

1:26

for our Kickstarter for the next or

1:28

then Loop Handbook The Golden Triangle. Boxed.

1:31

Sets, special editions and now pins.

1:33

I've got a lot to do.

1:36

And. I want to get it already so he

1:38

can hit the ground running. Keep. An

1:40

ear open for when we pulled the trigger. Gk.

1:44

Chesterton was a pioneer of the

1:46

detective story. Many. Consider

1:48

his creation of Father Brown. The.

1:50

Equivalent to if not an

1:53

improvement on Sherlock Holmes. The.

1:55

Window that a man of the cloth

1:57

has to the dark secrets of crime.

2:00

Is indeed fascinating and very effective

2:02

in solving crimes. One.

2:05

Thing I noticed in today story. Was

2:07

just returns use of racism as a

2:10

plot device. The. Story will

2:12

land differently on twenty first century ears

2:14

than it did when it was written

2:16

in Nineteen Eleven. I don't

2:18

want to say much about it other than

2:20

there are some racially charged terms in today's

2:22

story. Just a heads up. And

2:25

now. The. Wrong shape.

2:27

By. Gk Chesterton. He

2:34

won't say. Certain.

2:37

Of the great roads going north out of

2:39

London. Continue. Far into the

2:41

country, a sort of. Attenuated,

2:43

And interrupted specter of a street.

2:46

With. Great gaps in the building but

2:48

preserving the line. Here. Will

2:50

be a group of shops followed by a

2:52

sense field or panic. And then

2:55

a famous public house. And then

2:57

perhaps of market Garden or a nursery garden.

2:59

And then one large private house. And.

3:02

Then another field and another in and

3:04

so on. If.

3:06

Anyone wants a long one of these

3:08

roads? He. Will pass a house

3:10

which will probably catches I. Though

3:12

he may not be able to explain it's attraction.

3:16

It. Is a long low house. Running.

3:18

Parallel with the road, Painted.

3:20

Mostly white and pale green. With.

3:23

A veranda and some blinds. And.

3:25

Porches kept with those quaint sort of

3:27

to blows like wooden umbrellas. That.

3:29

One season some old fashion houses.

3:32

In. Fact that is an old fashioned house. Very.

3:35

English and very suburban and the

3:37

good old wealthy clap I'm sense.

3:39

And. Yet the house has a look of having

3:41

been built chiefly for the hot weather. Looking.

3:44

At it's white paint and some blinds. One.

3:46

Thinks vaguely of pug or ease and

3:49

even of palm trees. I.

3:51

Cannot trace the ceiling to. it's rude. Perhaps.

3:54

The place was built by an Anglo Indian. Any

3:57

one passing this house I say. Would.

3:59

Be. Aimlessly fascinated by it,

4:02

Would. Feel that it was a place about

4:04

which some story was to be told. And.

4:07

He would have been right. As. Usual

4:09

shortly here. For. This is

4:11

the story. The story

4:13

of the strange things the did really happen in

4:16

it. In the whitson tide of the

4:18

year, eighteen blank. Anyone

4:20

passing the house on the Thursday before

4:23

with Sunday. that about half past

4:25

four pm. Would. Have the front

4:27

door open. And. Father Brown. Of.

4:29

The small church to some mongo. Come

4:32

out smoking a large pipe in company

4:34

with a very tall friends friend of

4:36

his called Flamborough. Was. Smoking

4:38

a very small cigarette. These

4:41

persons may or may not be of interest to

4:43

the reader. For. The truth is that

4:45

they were not the only interesting things that were

4:47

displayed. On. The front door of the white

4:49

and greenhouse was opened. There. Are

4:51

further peculiarities about this house. Which.

4:54

Must be described to start with. Not.

4:56

Only that the reader may understand this tragic

4:58

tale. But. Also the he may

5:01

realize what it was that the opening

5:03

of the door revealed. The.

5:05

Whole house was built upon the plan of

5:08

a T. But. A

5:10

T with a very long crosspiece and

5:12

a very short tail. Peace. The.

5:15

Long crosspiece was the frontage that ran

5:17

along the face of the street. With.

5:20

The front door in the middle. It.

5:22

Was two storeys high and contained nearly

5:24

all the important rooms. The

5:26

short tail piece which ran out of

5:29

the back immediately opposite the front door.

5:31

Was. One story high. and

5:33

consisted only have to long

5:35

rooms the one. Leading. Into

5:38

the other. The. First of these

5:40

two rooms was the study. In

5:42

which the celebrated Mr. Clinton

5:44

wrote his wild oriental poems

5:46

and romances. The

5:48

farther room was a glass conservatory

5:50

full of tropical blossoms of quite

5:53

unique and almost monstrous beauty. And

5:56

on such afternoons as these

5:58

glowing with gorgeous sunlight. That's.

6:01

When. The whole door was open. Many. A

6:04

passer by literally stopped to stare

6:06

and gasp. For. He looked

6:08

down a perspective of rich apartments

6:10

to something really like a transformation

6:12

seen in a ferry play. Purple.

6:15

Clouds and golden sons and

6:17

crimson stars. That. Were once

6:20

scorching li vivid. And. Yet

6:22

transparent and far away. Leonard.

6:25

Clinton the poet. Had.

6:28

Himself most carefully arranged this

6:30

effect. And. It is doubtful

6:32

whether he so perfectly expressed his personality

6:34

in any of his poems. For.

6:36

He was a man who drank and bathed

6:39

in colors. Who. And don't to last

6:41

for color somewhat to the neglect to

6:43

form. Even. Of good form. This.

6:46

It was that had turned his

6:48

genius so holy to Eastern art

6:50

and imagery. To. Those bewildering

6:52

carpets, a blinding embroideries and

6:55

which all the colors seem

6:57

fallen into a fortunate chaos.

6:59

Having nothing to typify or to

7:01

teach. He. Had attempted. Not.

7:04

Perhaps with complete artistic success,

7:07

But with acknowledged imagination and invention.

7:10

To. Compose epics and love stories

7:12

reflecting the riot a violent and

7:14

even cruel. Color. Tales

7:17

of tropical heavens of burning gold

7:19

or blood red copper. Of

7:22

Eastern heroes who rode with

7:24

twelve turbaned mitre upon elephants

7:26

painted purple or peacock green.

7:29

Of gigantic jewels that one hundred

7:31

negroes could not carry. Of.

7:33

It's burned with ancient and strange

7:35

you'd fires. In. Short.

7:38

To put the matter from the more common point of view.

7:41

He. Dealt much in the eastern heavens. Rather,

7:43

Worse than most western hills. In.

7:46

Eastern Monarchs. Who. We might

7:48

possibly called maniacs. And

7:50

in Eastern Jewels which a Bond Street

7:52

jeweler if the hundred staggering negroes brought

7:55

them into his shop. Might.

7:57

Possibly not regard as genuine.

8:00

Clinton. Was a genius if a morbid

8:02

one. And even his morbidity

8:04

appeared more in his life than in his

8:06

work. In. Temperament. He.

8:09

Was week and was miss. And.

8:11

His health had suffered heavily from

8:13

oriental experiments with opium. His.

8:15

Wife. A handsome, hard

8:18

working, and indeed overworked woman.

8:21

Objected. To the opium. That.

8:23

Objected much more to allies Indian

8:25

hermit in white and yellow ropes.

8:27

whom. Were husband insisted on entertaining for

8:30

months together. A. Virgil.

8:32

To. Guide his spirit through the heavens and

8:34

the hills of the east. It.

8:37

Was out of this artistic household. That.

8:40

Father Brown and his friend stepped

8:42

onto the doorstep. And. To

8:44

judge from their faces, they stepped out of

8:46

it with much relief. Flamborough

8:48

had known Quintin and Wilde student days

8:50

and Paris. And. They'd renewed the

8:53

acquaintance for a weekend. But. Apart

8:55

from Flamborough, more responsible developments

8:57

of late. He did not get

8:59

on well with the poet. Now. Choking

9:02

oneself with opium and writing a little

9:04

erotic vs on vellum. Was.

9:06

Not his notion of how a gentleman should go to

9:08

the devil. as the

9:10

to pause on the doorstep before taking a turn

9:12

in the garden. The. Front garden gate

9:14

was thrown open with violence. And

9:17

a young man with a billie talk had on the

9:19

back to his head tumbled up the steps in his

9:21

eagerness. He was a dissipated

9:23

looking use with a gorgeous red necktie.

9:25

All awry. As if he had slept in

9:27

it. And. He kept sitting and lashing

9:30

about with one of those little jointed

9:32

keynes. I say. He

9:34

said breathlessly. I want to see

9:36

Old Clinton a must see him as he gone. Mr.

9:39

Clinton is in, I believe. Said.

9:41

Father Brown Cleaning as by. It. But

9:44

I do not know if you can see him. The.

9:46

Doctor is with him at present. The.

9:49

Young man who seemed not to be perfectly

9:51

sober. Stumbled. Into the hall, And.

9:54

Of the same moment, the doctor came out of

9:56

Clinton study. Shutting the door and beginning

9:58

to put on his gloves. See.

10:00

My Sig Clinton. Said. The

10:02

Doctor Cooley. Now. I'm afraid

10:04

to. guns. In. Fact: You mustn't on

10:07

any account. Nobody must see him.

10:09

I've just given him his leaving draft. Know

10:12

but look heroes have. Said. The

10:14

use in the red tie trying to section

10:16

of lead to capture the doctor by the

10:18

lapels of his coat. looks. yes, I'm sitting.

10:20

So now I tell you I. Is.

10:22

No good. Mr. Atkinson. Said.

10:24

The doctor forcing him to fall back. And

10:27

you can also the effect of a drug. I'll

10:29

also my decision. And.

10:31

Settling on his hat, he stepped out into

10:33

the sunlight with the other two. He.

10:36

Was a bull next. Good tempered little man. With.

10:39

A small mustache. inexpressible. He

10:41

ordinary. Is. Giving an impression

10:43

of capacity. The.

10:45

Young man in the Billie Cox who didn't seem

10:47

to be gifted with any attacked in dealing with

10:50

people beyond the general idea of putting hold of

10:52

their coats. Sit outside the door.

10:54

As dazed as as he had been thrown out

10:56

bodily. And. Suddenly what's the other?

10:59

three walk away together through the garden?

11:01

That was a sounds spanking lie I

11:04

tell just now. Remark.

11:06

The medical man laughing. In.

11:08

Point of fact, poor Clinton doesn't have his

11:11

sleeping draft for nearly half an hour. I'm

11:14

not going to have him bothered with that little

11:16

beast the only wants to borrow money that he

11:18

wouldn't pay bag we could. Is.

11:20

A dirty little scamp. Know. He

11:22

is Mrs. Clinton's brother. And seizes

11:24

find a woman has ever walked. Harris.

11:28

Said. Father Brown. says. A

11:30

good woman. So. I propose to

11:32

hang about the god until the creature

11:34

has cleared off. Went. On the

11:36

Doctor. And then I'll go into

11:39

Clinton with the medicine. Atkinson can't

11:41

get he hadn't because I locked the door.

11:44

And that case, Doctor Harris. Said. Sambo.

11:47

Who. Might as well walk round of the backed by

11:49

the end of the conservatory. Is no

11:51

entrance to a that when money's worth seeing.

11:53

He learned from the outside. As

11:56

I might get a squinted my patient. Last,

11:58

the doctor. The lead refers

12:00

to lie on and also been right

12:02

at the end of the conservatory amid

12:05

all those blood red pro incestuous. Give

12:07

me the creeps. The. What Are you

12:09

doing? Father. Brown had

12:12

stopped for a moment. And. Picked up

12:14

out of the long grass where it is

12:16

almost been wholly hidden. A

12:18

queer crooked oriental. Nice. Inlaid,

12:21

exquisitely and colored stones and metals.

12:25

What? Is this. Asked

12:27

whether brown. Regarding. It with some

12:29

to savour. Oh. Clinton's.

12:32

Us verse. Said. Dr. Harris

12:34

carelessly. There's. All sorts

12:36

of Chinese knickknacks about the place O

12:39

Brasil belongs to that mild Hindus is

12:41

suing keeps on a string. What's.

12:44

Hindu. Asked Father Brown,

12:46

still staring at the dagger in his

12:48

hand. Ah, some

12:50

Indian vondra. Said. The

12:52

doctor likely. The. Fraud of course. You

12:55

don't believe in magic. Asked

12:58

Father Brown without looking up. So

13:00

cri kee magic. Said. The

13:02

doctor. It's. Very beautiful. Said.

13:05

The priest and a low dreaming voice. The.

13:08

Colors are very beautiful. But.

13:10

It's the wrong shape. But. For.

13:13

Asked Flamborough staring. For.

13:16

Anything. Is the wrong

13:18

shape in the abstract? Don't. You ever

13:20

feel that about Eastern aren't. The

13:22

colors or intoxicating. Lovely. But.

13:25

Save some mean and bad.

13:28

Deliberately. Mean and bad. I.

13:30

Have seen wicked things in a turkey goth. It.

13:33

On do. Frites. Lambeau

13:35

laughing. They.

13:37

Are letters and symbols in the language? I

13:39

don't know. But. I know

13:42

they stand for evil words. Went

13:44

on. the priest. Is was growing lower

13:46

and lower. The. Lines

13:49

go wrong on purpose. Like

13:51

serpents doubling to escape. Or.

13:54

Had the devil are you talking about?

13:57

Said. The doctor with allowed laugh. Flamborough.

14:00

Spoke quietly to him and answer. The.

14:03

Father's sometimes gets this mystics cloud

14:05

on him. He said. And.

14:08

I give you fair warning that I have

14:10

never known him to have it, except when there

14:12

was some evil quite near. Oh

14:14

rights. Said. The scientist. My.

14:17

Look at it. Cried. For

14:19

the brown, holding out the crooked knife

14:22

at arm's length as it were some

14:24

glittering snake. Don't you

14:26

see it is the wrong shape? Don't

14:28

you see that it as know hearty

14:31

and plane purpose. It. Is not

14:33

point like a spear. It is not sleep

14:35

like a size. It does not look

14:37

like a weapon. It looks like an instrument of

14:39

torture. Well. As you

14:41

don't seem to like and. Said. The Jolly

14:44

Harris. Is. It better be taken back

14:46

to it's owner. When we come

14:48

to the end of this confounded conservatory and.

14:51

These houses the wrong say. Does he like. You.

14:53

Don't understand. Said. Father

14:55

Brown shaking his head. The

14:58

shape of these houses claimed. It

15:01

is even laughable. But. There is

15:03

nothing wrong about it. As

15:06

they spoke, they came round the curve

15:08

of glass that ended the Conservatory. And

15:10

uninterrupted curve. For. There was

15:12

another door nor window by which to enter it.

15:14

That end. The. Glass, however,

15:17

was clear. And. the some still

15:19

bright. Though beginning to set. And

15:21

they could see. Not. Only the

15:24

flamboyant blossoms inside. But. The

15:26

frail figure of the poet in a

15:28

brown velvet coat. Lying. Languidly

15:30

on the sofa, Having

15:32

apparently. Fallen. Half asleep over a

15:34

book. Who. Is appeal

15:36

slight man? With. Loose, just not

15:39

hair. And. A fringe of beard. There.

15:41

Was the paradox of his face? For

15:44

the beard made him look less manly. These.

15:46

Traits were well known to all three of them. But.

15:49

Even have not been so. It

15:51

may be doubted whether they would have looked at Clinton

15:53

just them. Their. Eyes were riveted

15:55

on another object. Exactly

15:58

in their path. Immediately outside

16:00

around end of the glass

16:02

building was standing a tall

16:04

man. Whose. Drapery fell to

16:06

his feet and faultless, wide. And

16:09

his bare brown skull, face and

16:11

neck. Gleaned. And the setting

16:13

sun like splendid bronze. He.

16:16

Was looking through the glass of the sleeper. And

16:18

he was more motionless than a mountain. Who

16:22

is that? Cried. Father

16:24

Brown stepping back to the hissing and take

16:26

it was breath. And. Now. It

16:29

is only that hindu humbug. Growled.

16:31

Harris. But. I don't know

16:33

the doozies doing here. It

16:35

looks like hypnotism. Said. Flamborough

16:37

fighting is black moustache. Why?

16:40

Are you on Medical fellows always

16:42

talking boss about hypnotism. Pride.

16:44

The doctor. He looks a deal

16:46

more like burglary. Well.

16:48

We will speak to it at any rate,

16:51

said Flamborough. Who. Was always for action.

16:54

One long stride took him to the place

16:56

where the Indian stood. Bowing,

16:58

From his great hide. Which. Overtopped

17:00

even the orientals. He. Said

17:02

with placid impudence. Good.

17:04

Evening Sir: Do you want anything? Quite.

17:08

Slowly. Like. A great ship

17:10

turning into a harbor. The

17:12

great yellow face turned. And.

17:14

Looked at last over it's white shoulder. They

17:18

were startled to see that it's yellowish

17:20

eyelids were quite sealed, as in sleep.

17:23

Thank. You. Said the face

17:25

And excellent English. I.

17:27

Want nothing. Than.

17:30

Half opening the lids so as to show

17:32

a slit of obe lessened eyeball. He

17:35

repeated. I. Want

17:37

nothing. Then

17:39

he opened his eyes wide with a

17:41

startling stare said. I

17:43

want nothing. And.

17:46

When wrestling away into the rapidly darkening,

17:48

gordon. The

17:50

christian is more modest. muttered.

17:52

Father Brown. He wants

17:55

something. But. An

17:57

F? Was he doing? Asked Lambeau

17:59

knitting. The black rouse and lowering his

18:01

voice. I should like to

18:03

talk to you later. Said. Father Brown.

18:07

The. Sunlight was still a reality. But.

18:09

It was the red light of evening. And

18:12

the boat to the garden. Trees and

18:14

bushes grew blacker and blacker against it.

18:17

He turned round the end of the Conservatory. And.

18:20

Walked in silence down the other side

18:22

to get round to the front door.

18:25

As they went. They seemed to

18:27

wake something as one startles a bird in

18:29

the deeper corner between the study and the

18:31

main building, And again they

18:33

saw the white robed for tear slide

18:35

out of the shadow. And slip

18:38

around towards the front door. To.

18:40

Their surprise. However, he had not been alone.

18:43

They found themselves abruptly pulled up and

18:45

forced to banish their bewilderment by the

18:47

appearance of Mrs. Clinton. With. Her

18:50

heavy golden hair and square pale

18:52

face advancing on them out of

18:54

the twilight. She. Looked

18:56

a little stern, but was entirely

18:58

courteous. Good. Evening Doctor Harris.

19:01

Was. All she said. Good. Evening

19:03

Mrs. Clinton. Said. The

19:05

little doctor heartily, I.

19:07

Am just going to give your husband is

19:10

Sleeping draft. Yes,

19:12

She. Said in a clear voice. I.

19:15

Think it is quite son. And.

19:17

She smiled at them. And. Went sweeping

19:19

into the house, That.

19:22

Woman's over driven. Said.

19:24

Father Brown. That's. The

19:27

kind of woman the does her duty for

19:29

twenty years. And. Then does something

19:31

dreadful. Little

19:33

doctor looked at him for the first time with an

19:35

eye of interest. Did you

19:37

ever study medicine? Ask. You.

19:40

Have to know something of the mind as well

19:43

as the body. Answered the priest.

19:45

We. Have to know something of the body as

19:48

well as the mind. Well.

19:51

Said. The doctor. I think

19:53

I'll go and give Clinton is stuff. They

19:56

had turned the corner of the front facade and

19:59

we're approaching the from. The doorway. And

20:01

they turned into it. They saw the man in

20:03

the white robe for the third time. He

20:06

came so straight towards the front door that

20:08

has seemed quite incredible that he had not

20:10

just come out of the study opposite to

20:12

it. Yet they knew that

20:14

the study door was locked. For.

20:17

The brown and flamborough however, Kept.

20:19

This weird contradiction to themselves.

20:22

And. Doctor Harris was not amanda waste his

20:24

thoughts on the impossible. He.

20:26

Permitted the omnipresent asiatic to make

20:28

his exit, And then

20:30

stepped briskly into the hall. There.

20:32

He sound of figure which he had

20:35

already forgotten. The.

20:37

Inane Atkinson was still hanging about.

20:40

Coming and poking things with is no

20:42

became. The. Doctors face had

20:44

a spasm of disgust and decision. And

20:47

he whispered rapidly to his companion. I.

20:49

Must lock the door again or this rattle

20:52

get him. But. I shall the out

20:54

again in two minutes. He.

20:56

Rapidly unlocked the door, unlocked it again

20:58

behind him. Just barking, a blundering

21:00

charred from the young man and the Billie

21:02

talk. The. Young man threw

21:04

himself impatiently on a halt share. Flamborough.

21:08

Looked at a Persian illumination on the wall.

21:10

Father. Brown. Who. Seemed in a

21:13

sort of days. Delhi. I'd the

21:15

door. In about four

21:17

minutes, the door was opened again. Atkinson.

21:19

Was quicker this time. He. Sprang forward, held

21:22

the door open for an instant and called

21:24

out oh I say Clinton I want. From.

21:27

The other end of the study came clear voice

21:29

of Clinton. And something between a

21:31

yawn and a yellow weary laughter. Oh

21:34

I know, as you want, take it

21:36

and leave me And these. I'm writing

21:38

a song about peacocks. Before

21:41

the door closed have a sovereign came

21:43

flying through the aperture. And. Atkinson,

21:45

stumbling forward, caught it with

21:48

singular dexterity. So.

21:50

That's settled. Said. The doctor.

21:53

And locking the door savagely. To.

21:55

Lead the way out into the garden. Poor.

21:58

Leonard can get little piece now. He.

22:00

Added to Father Brown. He's.

22:02

Locked in all by himself for an

22:05

hour to. Vs.

22:07

Answered the priest. And his

22:09

voice sounded jolly enough when we left him. Then.

22:13

He looked gravely round the garden. And

22:15

saw the loose figure of Atkinson standing

22:17

and jingling the have Sovereign in his pocket.

22:20

And beyond. And. The purple Twilight.

22:23

The figure of the Indian sitting bolt

22:25

upright upon a bank of grass. With.

22:27

His face turned towards the setting sun.

22:31

Then. He said abruptly. Whereas. Mrs.

22:33

Clinton. She. Has gone up

22:35

to her room so the doctor. And

22:37

that as her shadow on the blind. For.

22:40

The brown looked up. And. Frowningly scrutinize

22:42

the dark outline at the gas lit

22:45

window. Is.

22:47

He. Said. That. His her

22:49

shadow. And he

22:51

walked the order to and threw himself upon

22:53

a garden seat. Flamborough.

22:56

Sat down beside him. For

22:58

the doctor was one of those energetic people

23:00

who live naturally on their legs. He.

23:02

Walked away smoking and of a twilight.

23:05

And the two friends were left together. My.

23:08

Father. Said. Flamborough and

23:10

Friends. What? Is the matter with

23:12

you? For.

23:14

Brown was silent and motionless for half

23:16

a minute. And He said.

23:20

Superstition is a religious.

23:23

But. There is something in the air of this place. I

23:26

think it's that indian. And. Least partly.

23:30

He sank into silence. And

23:32

watched the distant outline of the Indian.

23:35

Who still serve rigid as if in prayer. At

23:38

first sight, he seemed motionless. But.

23:41

His father round watched him. He saw

23:43

that the man swayed ever so slightly.

23:45

With. A rhythmic movement, Just

23:47

as the dark tree tops swayed ever

23:50

so slightly in the wind, it was

23:52

creeping up the dim garden paths and

23:54

shuffling the fallen leaves a little. The.

23:57

Landscape was growing rapidly. dark, As

24:00

if for a storm. For. They

24:02

could still see all the figures in their

24:04

various places. Atkinson was

24:06

leaning against a tree with the listless face.

24:09

Clinton's. Wife was still at her window. The.

24:12

Doctor gone strolling around the end of

24:14

the conservatory. They could see

24:16

his cigar like a will of the wisp. And

24:19

the secure still sat rigid and

24:21

yet rocking. While. The

24:23

trees above him began to rocks and

24:25

almost to roar. Storm

24:28

was certainly coming. When.

24:31

That Indian spoke to us. Went.

24:33

On Brown and a conversational undertone. I

24:37

had a sort of vision. A

24:39

vision of him and all his universe.

24:42

Is he only said the same thing

24:44

three times? When first

24:46

he said i want nothing. It.

24:49

Meant only that he was impenetrable. That.

24:51

Asia does not give itself away.

24:55

Then. He said again, I want nothing. And

24:58

I knew that he meant that he was

25:00

sufficient to himself like the cosmos. That

25:03

he needed know. God neither admitted

25:05

any since. And

25:07

when he said the third time, I want nothing.

25:10

He. Said it was blazing eyes. And

25:13

I knew that he meant literally what he said. That.

25:16

Nothing. Was. His desire and

25:18

his home. That. He

25:20

was weary for nothing else for wine.

25:23

That annihilation. Severe.

25:26

Destruction of everything. Or

25:28

anything. To.

25:30

Drops of rain fell. And

25:33

for some reason, Flamborough started and looked up as if

25:35

they had stung him. And.

25:37

The same instant, the doctor down by the

25:39

end of the Conservatory began running towards them,

25:42

calling out something as he ran. As

25:44

he came among them like a bombshell, the

25:46

Restless Atkinson happen to be taking in turn

25:48

nearer to the house front and the doctor

25:50

clutched him by the color in a convulsive

25:52

grip. Foul Play He cried,

25:54

what have you been doing to him

25:57

you dog. The priest

25:59

and spring. Erect. And. Had

26:01

a voice of steel. Have a soldier in

26:03

command know fighting. He. Cried coolly.

26:06

We. Are enough to hold any one we want to. What?

26:09

Is the matter? Doctor? Things. Are not

26:11

right with Clinton. Said. The doctor

26:13

quite white. I could just see

26:15

him through the glass and I don't like to where

26:17

he's lying. It's not as I left him any.

26:19

I'll. Let us go into him. Said

26:22

Father Brown shortly. You can

26:24

leave Mr. Atkinson alone. I have

26:26

had him inside since we had Clinton's voice. I

26:29

will stop here and watch him. Said Lambeau

26:31

hurriedly. You. Go in and see. The.

26:34

Doctor in the priest flew to the study door,

26:37

unlocked it, and fell into the room. In

26:39

doing so, they nearly fell over the large Morgan,

26:41

a table in the center at which the poet

26:44

usually wrote. For. The place was lit

26:46

only by a small fire kept for the invalid.

26:49

In the middle of this table lay a single sheet

26:51

of paper. Evidently. Left there on

26:53

purpose. The. Doctor snatched up,

26:55

glanced at it, handed it to

26:57

Father Brown and crying. Good God

26:59

look at that. Plunged.

27:02

Toward the glass room beyond. With.

27:04

A terrible traffic Flowers still seems to keep

27:06

a crimson memory of the sunset. Father.

27:10

Brown read the words three times.

27:12

Before he put down the paper. The.

27:15

Words were. I die

27:17

by my own hand. It

27:19

I die. Murdered. They.

27:23

Were in the quite inimitable, not

27:25

to say illegible handwriting. Of

27:28

Leonard Clinton. Then

27:30

Father Brown, still keeping the paper in

27:32

his hand. Strode towards the

27:34

conservatory. Only to meet

27:36

his medical friend coming back with the face

27:39

of assurance and collapse. He's

27:41

done it. Said. Harris. They.

27:44

Went together through the gorgeous unnatural

27:46

beauty of cactus and azalea. And

27:49

found Leonard Clinton. Poet.

27:52

And romance or. With. His head

27:54

hanging downward off his ottoman. And.

27:56

As red curls sweeping the ground. Into

27:59

his. Side was thrust the

28:01

queer dagger. That. They had picked up

28:04

in the garden. And. Is limp

28:06

and still rested on the hilt. Outside

28:10

the storm and come at once. Tried. Like.

28:12

The Night and Coleridge. And

28:14

garden and glass roof where dark and

28:17

with driving rain. For.

28:19

The brown seem to be studying the paper more

28:21

than the courts. He held

28:23

it close to his eyes. And. Seemed

28:25

trying to read it in the twilight. The

28:28

they held it up against the same plight. And

28:31

as he did so, lightning stared at

28:33

them for an instant, so worried that

28:35

the paper looked black against us. Darkness.

28:39

Full of thunder followed. And

28:41

after the Thunder. Father. Browns voice set

28:43

out of the dark. Doctor.

28:46

This. Paper is the wrong

28:48

shape. Would you mean?

28:51

Asked Dr. Harris with the frowning

28:53

stare. It isn't

28:56

square. answered brown. It

28:59

has a sort of edge snipped all for the

29:01

corner. What? Does it mean. How

29:03

would do shit? I now. Crowd the

29:06

doctor shall we moved his porch. have

29:08

to think he's quite dead. Now.

29:11

Answered the priest. We. Must

29:13

leave him as he lies. And send for

29:15

the police. That.

29:17

He was still scrutinizing the paper. So

29:20

they went back through the study. He stopped by

29:23

the table and picked up a small pair of

29:25

nail scissors. Ah, He.

29:27

Said. With. Sort of relief. This

29:30

is what he did it with. But.

29:32

Yes, And he knitted

29:34

is browse. As stop fooling

29:36

with that scrap of paper. Said.

29:39

The doctor emphatically, He was

29:41

a side of his. Get. Hundreds of

29:43

them. He got all his paper like

29:45

that. For. The pointed to

29:47

a stack of sermon paper still unused on

29:49

another and smaller table. Father.

29:52

Brown went up to it. And. Held up a

29:54

seat. It. Was the same

29:56

irregular shape. Quite

29:59

so, He said. And

30:01

here I see the corners that was snapped off.

30:05

And to the indignation of his colleague, he began

30:07

to count them. That's

30:09

all right, He. Said with an

30:11

apologetic smile. Twenty.

30:13

Three seats, cup and twenty two corners

30:16

cut off them. And.

30:18

As I see you are impatient. We will rejoin

30:20

the others. Whose. Tell

30:22

his wife. Asked Dr.

30:24

Harris. Will. You go and

30:26

tell her. now. mile I send a servant for the

30:29

police. As you will. Said.

30:31

Father Brown and differently. And

30:34

he went out to the whole door. Here.

30:37

Also he found a drama. Though. Have

30:39

a more grotesque sort. It

30:41

showed nothing less than his big friend, Flamborough,

30:43

in an attitude to which he had long

30:45

been unaccustomed. While. Upon the pathway

30:47

the bottom of the steps with sprawling

30:50

with his boots in the air the

30:52

amiable Atkinson. Is Billie call

30:54

cat and walking cane sent flying in

30:56

opposite directions along the path. Atkinson

30:59

headed length weary the slam bows

31:01

almost paternal custody and have endeavored

31:03

to knock him down. Which.

31:06

Was by no means a smooth game to play

31:08

with the law. There's a pass. He.

31:10

Went after that monarchs abdication. Flamborough

31:13

was about to leave upon his enemy and

31:15

secure him once more when the priest patted

31:17

him easily on the shoulder. Make.

31:20

It up with Mr. Atkinson, my friend. He

31:22

said. They give mutual pardon and

31:25

say good night. We. Need not

31:27

detain him any longer. Than.

31:29

As Atkinson rose somewhat don't fully and

31:31

gathered his hat and stick and went

31:34

towards the garden gate. For. The

31:36

brown said in a more serious tone. Where.

31:38

That Indian. They all

31:41

three for the doctor had joined them. Turned.

31:43

In voluntarily towards the dim grassy

31:45

bank amid the tossing trees purple

31:48

with twilight. But. They had

31:50

last seen the brown man swaying and is

31:52

strange prayers. The. Indian

31:54

was gone. And. Found

31:56

him. For. The Doctor

31:58

Stumping? Seriously. Now. I know

32:00

that it was that nigger the did it. I

32:03

thought you didn't believe in magic. Said.

32:05

For the brown, Quietly no more.

32:07

I did. Said. The doctor

32:09

rolling his eyes. I. Only know

32:11

that I loathe that the Yellow Devil when I

32:13

thought he was a sham wizard and I shall

32:15

loathe him more the I come to think he

32:17

was a real one. Fairly.

32:20

Is having escaped is nothing. Said

32:22

Lambeau. We. Could have proved

32:24

nothing and done nothing against him. One.

32:27

Hardly goes to the parish council with

32:29

the story of suicide imposed by

32:31

witchcraft or auto suggestion. Meanwhile.

32:35

Father. Brown had made his way into the house.

32:38

And now went to break the news to the wife of

32:40

the dead man. When.

32:42

He came out again. he looked a little pale

32:44

and tragic. But. Would pass

32:46

between them in that interview was never known.

32:49

Even. When all was known. Sambo.

32:53

Who. Was talking quietly with the doctor. Was.

32:55

Surprised to see his friend reappear so

32:57

soon at his elbow. But.

33:00

Brown took no notice. And merely

33:02

to the doctor apart. You

33:04

have sent for the police. have into. He

33:07

asked. This. Answer: Terrorists.

33:10

They. Ought to be here. and ten minutes. Will.

33:13

You do me a favor. Said the

33:15

priest quietly. The

33:17

truth is. I make a

33:19

collection of these curious stories. Which.

33:21

Often contain. As. In the

33:23

case of Allah Hindu friend. Elements which

33:26

can hardly be put into a police report.

33:29

Now I want you to write out a

33:31

report of this case for my private use.

33:34

Yours. Is a clever trained. He said.

33:37

Looking. The doctor gravely and steadily in the

33:39

face. I sometimes

33:41

think that. You. Know some details

33:43

of this matter. Which. You have

33:46

not thought fit to mention. Mine.

33:48

Is a confidential trained by Kills.

33:52

And I will treat anything you write for

33:54

me in strict confidence. But.

33:56

right? The whole. The.

33:59

Doctor. Who'd. Been listening

34:01

thoughtfully with his head a little on one

34:03

side. Look the priest in the

34:05

face for an instant. And said. Oh

34:09

Rock. And went into

34:11

the study. Closing. The door behind him.

34:14

Flamborough. Said. Father Brown.

34:18

There is a long seat. they're under the

34:20

veranda. Where. We can smoke out of the

34:22

rain. You are my only friend

34:24

in the world. And I want to talk to you.

34:27

Or. Perhaps be silent with him? They.

34:30

Establish themselves comfortably in the veranda.

34:32

Seed. Father. Brown against

34:34

is common habit. Accepted a

34:37

good cigar and smoked it steadily

34:39

and silence. While. The rain

34:41

shrieked and rattled on the roof of the veranda.

34:45

My friend. He said it like. This

34:48

is a very clear case. A

34:50

very clear case. As

34:52

you think it was, Said. Lambeau with

34:55

something like a shudder. You.

34:57

Call it clear. And I call it

34:59

clear. Said. The other. And

35:02

yet we mean quite the opposite things. The

35:05

modern mind always mixes up two

35:07

different ideas. Mystery in

35:09

the sense of what is marvelous. And

35:11

mystery in the sense of what is complicated. That.

35:14

Is half the difficulty about miracles? A

35:17

miracle is startling, but it is simple.

35:20

It is simple because it is a miracle. It

35:23

is power coming directly from God

35:26

or the devil. Instead

35:28

of indirectly through nature or

35:30

human wills, Now

35:33

you mean that this business is marvelous

35:35

because it is miraculous. Because.

35:37

It is witch craft works by a

35:39

wicked Indian. Understand.

35:42

I do not say that it was

35:44

not spiritual or diabolical. Heaven

35:46

and Hell only. No. By. What

35:49

surrounding influences strain since com into

35:51

the lives of men. That

35:54

are the present. My. Point is this.

35:57

He. Would was pure magic as you think.

36:00

Then it is marvelous. But. It

36:02

is not mysterious. That. Is

36:04

it is not complicated. The

36:06

quality of a miracle. This mysterious.

36:09

But. It's manner is simple. Now

36:12

the manner of this business has been the

36:14

reverse of simple. The

36:17

storm that had slack for a little. Seems.

36:19

To be swelling again. And. Their

36:21

came heavy movements as a faint thunder.

36:24

Father. Brown that fall the ash of his cigar.

36:27

And. Went on. There

36:29

has been in this incident he said.

36:32

The. Twisted Ugly Complex.

36:34

Quality. The. Does not

36:36

belong to the straight boats either of heaven or

36:39

hell. As one knows, the

36:41

crooked track of a snail. I

36:43

know the crooked track of a man. The.

36:46

White lightning opened. It's enormous I in

36:48

one wink. The. Sky shut up

36:50

again. And. The priests went on.

36:54

Of all these crooked things, The crooked

36:56

ist. Was. The shape of that

36:58

piece of paper. It

37:01

was crooked or than the dagger that killed him. You.

37:04

Mean: the paper on which Clinton confessed

37:06

his suicide. Said Flamborough. I'm

37:09

in the paper on which Clinton wrote.

37:12

I die by my own hand. And.

37:15

For the brown. The

37:17

shape of that paper, my friend. Was.

37:19

The wrong shape. The. Wrong

37:21

see if ever I have seen it in

37:23

this wicked world. Will

37:26

lay out a corner, snipped off. Said.

37:28

Sambo. I understand that

37:30

Old Clinton's paper was cut that way. It

37:33

was very odd way. Said. The

37:35

other. Than. A very bad

37:37

way. To. My taste and fancy.

37:40

Look here. Flamborough. This

37:42

Clinton. God. Receive is so.

37:45

That's a bit of a care in some ways.

37:48

But. It really was an artist. With.

37:50

A pencil as well as the pen. His

37:53

handwriting, though hard to read, once

37:55

bold and beautiful. I

37:57

can't prove what I say. I. Can

38:00

prove anything. But. I tell

38:02

you. With. The full force of

38:04

conviction. That. He could never

38:06

have caught that mean little piece

38:09

off the sheet of paper. If

38:11

he had wanted to cut down paper for

38:14

some purpose of sitting in or binding up

38:16

or whatnot. He would

38:18

have made quite a difference/with the scissors.

38:21

To. Remember the said. He. Was

38:23

a mean shape. It was the

38:25

wrong shaped. Like

38:27

this. Don't. You remember. And

38:31

he waved his burning cigar before him in

38:33

the darkness. Making. Irregular shape

38:35

so rapidly that Flamborough really seems

38:38

to see them as fiery hieroglyphics

38:40

upon the darkness. Hieroglyphics,

38:43

Such as his friend had spoken of. Which.

38:45

Are undesirable, Get. Can have

38:48

no good meaning. But.

38:51

Since. Lambeau. As a priest, put

38:53

a cigar in his mouth again and lean back. Staring

38:56

at the roof. Suppose.

38:59

Somebody else did use the scissors. Why?

39:01

Should somebody else cutting pieces off

39:03

his some and paper make Clinton

39:06

commit suicide? For.

39:08

The brown was still leaning back and staring at

39:10

the roof. But. He took his

39:13

cigar out of his mouth and said. Clinton.

39:16

Never did commit suicide.

39:20

Lambeau stared at him. Like.

39:22

And sounded all he. Then,

39:25

why did he confessed to suicide? The

39:28

priest lent forward again. Settle.

39:31

His elbows on his knees, Look.

39:33

To the ground and said. In a

39:35

low, distinct voice. He.

39:38

Never did confess to

39:40

suicide. Flamborough

39:43

latest the guy down. You. Mean.

39:46

He said that the writing was forged.

39:48

Know. Said Father Brown. Clinton.

39:51

Wrote it all right. Well. There you are,

39:53

Said. The aggravated flamborough. Quintin.

39:56

Wrote: I'd die by my own hand with

39:58

his own hand on a. Lane piece

40:00

of paper. Of the wrong

40:02

say. Said. The priest calmly,

40:04

oh, the shape be damned tried Lambeau.

40:06

what are the shape to do with

40:09

it? There were twenty

40:11

three snipped papers. Resumed

40:13

Brown unmoved. And

40:16

only twenty two pieces snipped and.

40:19

Therefore, One. Of the

40:21

pieces had been disproved. Probably.

40:23

That from the written paper. Does.

40:26

That suggest anything to you. A

40:29

light dawned on Flamborough space.

40:32

And. He said. It was

40:34

something else written by Clinton, some

40:36

other words. They. Will tell

40:38

you I die by my own handle. Do

40:41

not believe that. Potter. As

40:43

the children's they. Said. His friend. But

40:46

the piece was hardly half an inch across, There.

40:49

Was no room for one word that loan from

40:51

it. Can. You think of anything

40:53

hardly bigger than a coma. Which. The

40:55

man with Helen his heart had to

40:57

tear away as a testimony against him.

41:01

I can think of Nothing. Said.

41:03

Sambo last. What?

41:05

About quotation marks. Said.

41:07

The priest. And flung his cigar

41:10

far into the darkness like a shooting star.

41:13

All. Words had left the other man's

41:16

mouth. And. Father Brown

41:18

said. Like. One going back

41:20

to fundamentals. Leonard

41:22

Clinton was a romance or. And

41:25

was writing an oriental romance about

41:27

wizardry and hypnotism. Who. At

41:30

this moment, The door opened briskly behind

41:32

them and the doctor came out with his

41:34

hat on. He. Put a long

41:36

envelope into the priests hands, That's.

41:39

The document you wanted. He said.

41:41

And. I must be getting home good night. Good.

41:44

Night. Said. Father Brown. To.

41:47

The doctor walked briskly to the gate. He.

41:50

Left the front door open. So the

41:52

the shaft of gaslight fell upon them. In

41:55

the light of this, Brown. Opened

41:57

the envelope, And read the

41:59

following: Dear.

42:02

Father Brown. V.

42:05

Cheese D. Galilei. Otherwise

42:07

dom your eyes which are

42:09

very penetrating one's. Gonna

42:12

be possible to. there is something and all that

42:14

stuff of yours after all. I

42:17

am a man. Who's. Ever since

42:19

boyhood believed in nature. And.

42:21

In all natural functions and the

42:23

instincts. Were. The men cold the

42:25

moral or immoral. Long

42:27

before I became a doctor. When. I

42:30

was a schoolboy keeping my son spiders.

42:33

I believed that to be a good animal

42:35

is the best thing in the world. But.

42:38

Just now. I'm. Shaken.

42:42

I have believed in nature. But.

42:44

It seems as if. Nature could betray

42:46

a man. Can.

42:49

There be anything in your boss. I.

42:52

Am really getting morbid. I

42:55

loved Clinton's wife. What?

42:57

Was their wrong in that? Nature.

42:59

Told me to. And it's love that

43:01

makes the world go round. I

43:04

also thought quite sincerely that she would

43:06

be happier with a clean animal like

43:09

me. The went that tormenting the lunatic.

43:11

What? Was the wrong in that? I

43:14

was only facing facts like amount

43:16

of science. She would have been

43:18

happier. According. To

43:20

my own creed, I was quite free

43:22

to kill Clinton. Which. Was

43:25

the best thing for everybody, even

43:27

himself. But. As a healthy

43:29

animal, I had no notion of killing myself.

43:32

A result therefore, That. I would

43:34

never do it until I saw a chance

43:36

that would leave me Scot free. I

43:39

saw that sounds this morning. I

43:42

have been three times also

43:44

into Clinton's study today. The.

43:47

First time I went in the would

43:49

talk about nothing but the weird tale

43:52

polled the cured of a Saints which

43:54

he was writing. Which. Is

43:56

all about how some Indian hermit made

43:58

an English channel kill himself by thinking

44:00

about him? He showed

44:02

me the last cheats. And. Even

44:04

read me the last paragraph which was something

44:06

like this: The. Conqueror

44:09

of the Punjab. Amir: yellow

44:11

skeleton. But. Still gigantic.

44:13

Managed. To lift himself on his

44:16

elbow and gas been his nephews ear.

44:18

I die by my own hand.

44:21

Yet I die Murdered. It

44:24

so happened that I one chance out of a

44:26

hundred. That. Those last words were

44:28

written at the top of a new

44:30

sheet of paper. I

44:33

left the room. And went out

44:35

into the god and intoxicated with a frightful

44:37

opportunity. We. Walked around

44:39

the house, And two more things

44:41

happened in my favor. You

44:43

suspected an Indian. And you

44:45

found a dagger with the Indian might

44:47

probably use. Taking the

44:49

opportunity to stuff it in my pocket,

44:52

I went back to Quintin study, lock

44:54

the door and gave him his sleeping

44:56

draft. Use. Against answering Atkinson

44:58

at all, but I urged him to

45:00

call out and quiet the fellow. Because

45:02

I wanted a clear proof that Clinton was alive when

45:05

I left the room for the second time. Clinton.

45:08

Lay down and the conservatory. And

45:10

I came through the study. I am

45:12

a quick man with my hands. And in a

45:14

minute and a half, I had done what I wanted to

45:16

do. I had emptied

45:19

all the first thought of Clinton's romance

45:21

into the fireplace. With. At burned

45:23

to ashes. Then. I saw

45:25

that the quotation marks wouldn't do. So.

45:27

I sniff them off. And. To make

45:29

it seem likely, I snipped the whole choir

45:31

to match. Then. I

45:33

came out with the knowledge that Clinton's concession

45:36

of suicide lay on the front table. While.

45:39

Clinton lay allies but asleep

45:41

in the conservatory beyond. The.

45:44

Last act was a desperate one. You can guess

45:46

it. I. Pretended to have

45:48

seen Clinton dead and rushed to

45:50

his room. I. Delayed you

45:52

with the paper. And being a

45:54

quick man with my hands killed Clinton

45:56

while you were looking at his confession

45:59

of suicide. He. Was half asleep

46:01

being drugged and I put his own hand

46:03

on the knife and drove it into his

46:05

body. The. Knife was of

46:08

so clear a shape. That no

46:10

one but an operator could have calculated the

46:12

angle that would reach his hand. I

46:15

wonder if you notice this? When.

46:17

I had done. It's the extraordinary thing

46:20

happened. Nature. Deserted.

46:22

Me: I felt ill.

46:25

I felt just as if I had done something wrong.

46:29

I think my brain is breaking off. I

46:31

feel some sort of desperate pleasure and thinking I've

46:33

told the thing to somebody. That.

46:36

I shall not have to be alone with it

46:38

if I marry and have children. Was.

46:41

The matter with me? Mattress.

46:44

Or. Can one house remorse? Just

46:46

as if one were in Byron's poems. I

46:50

cannot write anymore. James ask

46:52

in our Us. For.

46:55

The brown carefully folded up the letter.

46:58

And put it in his breast pocket. Just.

47:00

As the came allowed peel at the gate bell.

47:03

And the wet waterproofs of several policemen.

47:06

Gleamed. In the road outside.

47:21

This is Bj Harrison. I hope

47:23

you enjoyed this unabridged production of

47:26

the Wrong Shape by Gk Chesterton.

47:28

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