The Vampires by Louis Feuillade
3rd episode THE RED CYPHER
After the murder of his fiancée, dancer Marfa Koutiloff, by the Vampires,
journalist Philippe Guérande, taken prisoner by the sinister gang,
was freed by Vampire turncoat Mazamette.
Philippe Guérande was grappling with the Cypher found in the little red notebook
recovered from the body of the Grand Inquisitor of the Vampires.
The
crimes
The crimes of the vampires are reported in this notebook.
Woe betide he who seeks to know these terrible secrets.
There's someone at the door!
After Philippe failed to show up at the paper that day,
Mr de Villement, the Direotor, was calling by to inquire after him.
Please insert: ''We regret to inform our readers that our contributor Philippe Guérande,
''stricken and constrained to his room,
''has been forced to put a temporary hold on his inquiries.''
The Vampires were having Philippe's home watched.
The ''Hissing Cat'' club, one of the most ill-famed cafés in all of Paris.
For the members of the Vampires gang, the party did not end at closing time.
But the Grand Julot, alias the Comte de Noirmoutier, alias Doctor Nox,
was quite indifferent to his associates' merrymaking.
Last minute
Our readers will be sorry to hear that contributor Philippe Guérande,
now confined to his room on doctors' orders,
has been obliged to suspend the publication of his gripping inquiries into the Vampires.
If Guérande is at his place, then so is the red notebook.
Mother, it's me, Philippe!
Using the Cypher as a vital lead, PhiIippe was pursuing his enquiries out on the street...
via the chimney since the door was being watched.
A friend who knows the house is being watched
is on the roof awaiting a signal from you via the chimney, upon which to drop in.
Mazamette! In undertaker's garb!
Are you a reformed man?
MUNICIPAL FUNERAL SERVICES We hereby certify that Mazamette Osoar Claud
has always shown himself to be a responsibIe and punctuaI employee
and never given the slightest cause for complaint.
I stole this pen from the Grand Master of the Vampires.
The ink is a powerfuI poison which kills in seconds.
A few days later.
With Guérande's maid called away by an urgent telegram
to her father's deathbed in Brittany,
the agency had arranged for a replacement.
Meanwhile, Madame Guérande was showing Philippe the new maid's excellent credentials.
Don't forget to tell her I am ill.
Do you know this woman?
Irma Vep! Here!
Night fell...
Sir's bed is ready.
A few moments later...
My dear sister, I have just had a motorcar accident.
I beg you to come to Passy post-haste, in spite of the late hour.
Your brother, Jean.
Take this pen. You never know.
The master isn't in. He's gone to the theatre!
Oh, but he hasn't had an accident!
I swear, Ma'am, I played no part in this crueI prank!
Meanwhile, Philippe kept vigil in the darkness...
Loaded with blanks!
But Philippe still had the preoious notebook.
In a nearby hoveI...
They call me Father SiIence because I am a deaf mute.
Order for Father Silenoe to kiII the prisoner if she refuses to sign the following letter.
My dear son, if you ever wish to see me alive again,
take the red notebook to locker 113 at the Gare du Nord.
Failing this, I will be killed one hour after this letter reaches you.
Shortly before dawn...
It is this pen that killed him... And it is my pen.
There is a traitor among us and I shall find him out.
Finally, in the early morning, Madame Guérande was reunited with her son.
End of ''THE RED CYPHER''