text: [Themes: Mystery, conversation]
  
  > look around
  The hotel lounge is small, but comfortable. A large couch stands near one wall, with a mahogany couch table in front of it. Next to it is an old fashioned reclining chair. In the corner of the room, an old grandfather clock is steadily ticking away, lending a dignified air to the proceedings.
  
  James Garfield, the owner of Seafront Hotel, is standing by the clock, watching you expectantly.
  
  Jonathan Allington stands next to Mr. Garfield, his employer. His face reveals no emotions.
  
  Shane Pearson is sitting in the couch with her legs crossed.
  
  Doctor Elias Mole is sitting next to Shane in the couch, leaning forward with an inquisitive look in his eyes.
  
  Count Heinrich Von Carstein is leaning backwards in the reclining chair, sipping a glass of wine.
  
  Detective Goodfellow is standing behind you, eagerly waiting to assist you in arresting the murderer.
  
  > 3
  "I turned my attention to the young Doctor. He was the one who had examined John McClaren. According to his examinations, the poor Colonel had been first sedated with laudanum in his wine, then stabbed three times with a knife. All fingerprints had been wiped from the knife after the grisly deed was done. His pocket watch had apparently been struck by the knife and had stopped at exactly 02:30. The doctors examinations confirmed that time of death could have occured at that hour. The Doctor himself had no alibi for the time of the murder."
  
  [1] Motive
  [2] Alibi
  
  > 1
  "The Doctor did not at first seem to be a likely suspect. He was successful and had nothing to gain from the death of the Colonel."
  
  [1] Alibi
  
  > 1
  "The Doctor had no alibi for the time of the murder. If he was the murderer, it would have been easy for him to simply estimate the time of death to a time where he couldn't possible have been there."
  
  > 3
  "My inital investigations into the Count turned up little of interest. He seemed to be simply a rich member of the German nobility who had decided to take a vacation in england. However, sinister things are often hidden behind a mask of innocence."
  
  [1] Motive
  [2] Alibi
  
  > 1
  "I could detect no conceivable reason why the Count might have wanted to kill the Colonel. They had been observed talking together several times, but their relationship seemed amicable."
  
  [1] Alibi
  
  > 1
  "The Count had no alibi for the time of the murder. He claimed to have been fast asleep, but no one could confirm it. I kept him in mind as a possible suspect, but I still needed a motive."
  
  > 3
  "Once the body had been discovered I phoned Scotland Yard and Detective Goodfellow showed up immediately. Unfortunately, he was unable to discover any clues to the identity of the murderer, leaving it up to me to solve the crime, as usual."
  
  Detective Goodfellow seems almost tempted to defend himself, but in the end he just shrugs and keeps quiet. The detectives of Scotland Yard have learned to respect your superior intellect.
  
  [1] Motive
  [2] Alibi
  
  > 1
  "It hardly seemed likely that detective Goodfellow had anything to do with the murder, but I always consider every possibility, no matter how unlikely."
  
  [1] Alibi
  
  > examine Doctor
  Doctor Elias Mole is a young handsome Doctor. Recently graduated from medical school, he has just opened his own practice in London.
  
  > examine the moustache
  Your black moustache is impeccably groomed.
  
  > talk it
  "I have always felt that the quality of a persons character can be determined from how he takes care of his facial hair. I myself keep my moustache impeccably groomed."
  
  > Examine count
  The German Count seems to be in his early sixties. He is relaxing in the reclining chair, sipping a glass of red wine, while watching the proceedings with a slightly bored look. Both his hair and his beard are almost entirely white.
  
  > look at beard
  (Heinrichs beard)
  The Count is regularly scratching his beard, almost as if he wasn't used to it.
  
  > talk it
  "I noticed the counts beard. He did not seem to be used to it, which aroused my curiosity. A full beard takes a while to grow and the Count claimed to have had it for years. Things did not add up."
  
  The Count sighs. "I figured we would get here sooner or later." His German accent seems to have mysteriously disappeared. "It's obvious that Mr. Germain has seen through my disguise. I might as well come clean."
  
  With a single smooth movement of his hand, he removes the beard revealing the face of a much younger man in his thirties. "My real name is Sylvester Starfield. I am an investigative reporter with the London Tribune, currently doing a series of articles on the actions of the intelligence service during the war. After I realized that the Colonel had been working for MI6 during the war, I disguised myself as "Count von Carstein" and checked into the seafront hotel to get close to him. I had nothing to do with the murder, though. I just wanted to see if I could make him reveal some information."
  
  > talk sylvester
  [1] Research
  [2] Motive
  [3] Accuse Sylvester Starfield
  
  > 1
  "After I learned that Mr. Starfield had been researching the Colonel, I investigated his research. What I found put the case in a whole new light."
  
  "I can imagine that it would," says Sylvester to your great relief. "I discovered some pretty interesting things about the Colonel. He made many enemies during the war, in particular a certain German agent who swore revenge. Unfortunately, I was unable to discover the name of this agent. He is also supposed to have sired an illegitimate child which he subsequently abandoned."
  
  [1] Motive
  [2] Accuse Sylvester Starfield
  
  > 1
  "After finding out the true identity of Sylvester Starfield, I considered him a viable suspect. Here was a journalist looking for a good story; what better way to get it than to make it himself? A lurid murder would be bound to sell papers."
  
  "I resent that comment," says Sylvester. "As a journalist, I report the news; I do not make them. And I am not a murderer."
  
  [1] Accuse Sylvester Starfield
  
  > talk sylvester
  [1] Motive
  [2] Accuse Sylvester Starfield
  
  > 2
  "There was no doubt in my mind; Sylvester Starfield had killed the Colonel to further his journalistic career. Detective, arrest the murderer."
  
  "This is ridiculous," says Sylvester while being handcuffed. "I will make sure this gets into all the papers. The people will know what a hack you are."
  
  He does, but no one believes him. After all, who would doubt the word of the worlds greatest detective? Even though Sylvester Starfield is never convicted, his career is over, and a year later he is found hanging from the roof of his flat.
  
  > examine Shane
  Shane Pearson is a tall slender woman with semi long blond hair that just barely reaches her shoulders. Her book, How Blue Was the Sky, recently hit the bestseller list. What she is doing in England is anyones guess.
  
  > talk the hair
  (Shanes hair)
  "Mademoiselle Pearson's hair was blond. Perhaps a bit too blond."
  
  Shane rolls her eyes. "Ok, so I dye my hair. I am actually a brunette. Is that really germane to the case?"
  
  > talk the hair
  (Shanes hair)
  You can't think of anything to say.