The Skull Page #2

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Marquis de Sade.

What proof have you?

Do you happen to have a copy of

Havelock Ellis's Studies?

Yes, they're over there by the mask.

In the section named La Fontaine

there is something you might find

rather interesting.

A short time after the Marquis de Sade

was buried at Charenton in 1814,

his skull was stolen from his grave.

The man who stole it was a phrenologist.

Such was his interest, professionally,

in de Sade,

he wanted to see if an examination

of the skull would show

whether the Marquis was truly insane.

Pierre?

A few clays later, the executor of

the phrenologists estate, a friend of his,

a certain Dr Londe...

Ah! Too many things.

It'll take weeks and weeks of work.

What's this?

- Who are you?

- I am the executor of Monsieur's estate.

Oh. Well, continue. I shan't disturb you.

Yes, but excuse me. Er... Who are you?

But I asked you who you were.

Who do you think I am? His mother? Hm?

We were colleagues.

He was really devoted to his work.

Perhaps that was the trouble.

- Too devoted.

- What do you mean?

Is there perhaps something

that you should tell me?

He brought something back with him

the night he was killed.

He didn't show it to me. He took it in there.

What could it have been?

I don't know.

But whatever it was it...changed him.

Changed him? In what way?

The way he spoke to me.

He never had before.

He was always gentle, kind.

- And you think that this thing changed him?

- Yes. It made him evil!

Huh.

I wonder what it could have been.

I don't know.

If you'll excuse me, I'll get my things.

I wonder what it was.

Hm.

That's rubbish.

Huh.

Well, suppose I'll put them down.

Hm.

Ah!

That's wonderful!

Wonderful!

That's it.

One head.

Dr Londe could not explain his action

to the police.

To all their questions,

he merely replied, "The skull."

And this, according to you, is the mysterious

skull of the Marquis de Sade?

Here's the description. Read it for yourself.

There are plenty of skulls

that will fit that description.

You know me, Mr Maitland.

I have never sold you anything

which was not truly authentic.

You can take my word for it.

I know that is the skull

of the Marquis de Sade.

1,000!

No. It's too much for a skull

and a flimsy story.

Well...let's say 800.

All right then - 500, and right now.

This is the first time I've known you

to lower your price.

- Now I know it's a fake.

- On the contrary.

If it were, I wouldn't budge from my price.

You stole that skull, didn't you, Marco?

What does that matter to you?

You can tuck it away in your collection,

look at it whenever you like

and know that it's yours.

Nobody need be any the wiser.

Think about it, Mr Maitland.

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