text: > Look around
  The hotel lounge is small, but comfortable. A soft, expensive leather 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.
  
  Brian Holmes, the former secret agent, is standing by the clock.
  
  Jonathan Allington stands next to his employer, wearing his brand new tuxedo. His face reveals no emotions.
  
  Shane Pearson is looking nervous.
  
  Doctor Mole has recovered from his temporary breakdown and is sitting upright in the couch.
  
  Sylvester Starfield, the journalist, is sitting upright in the reclining chair taking notes on a notepad.
  
  Detective Goodfellow is standing behind you, eagerly waiting to assist you in arresting the murderer.
  
  > look at the table
  The table is made of dark red mahogany. It looks expensive, but no one is using it at the moment.
  
  > talk jonathan
  [1] Motive
  
  > 1
  "Monsieur Allington had started working at the hotel mere weeks before the murder. This seemed too unlikely to be a coincidence. Was it possible that he had taken the job to get closer to the victim?"
  
  "Absurd," says Jonathan. "I took the job because I needed work and this place was highly recommended. That's all there is to it."
  
  But there is a hint of fear in his voice.
  
  > examine Jonathan
  He is standing with his hands behind his back, dressed in a tuxedo with a black bow tie. Unlike everyone else, his face betrays no curiosity, nor any other feelings.
  
  > talk shane
  [1] Accuse Shane Pearson
  
  > examine the hands
  (Jonathans hands)
  You notice several small wounds where the skin has been scraped off, as if he had been scrubbing his hands too hard.
  
  > talk the hands
  (Jonathans hands)
  "Jonathan would often stand with his hands behind his back. I wondered if he was trying to hide something."
  
  "I have no idea what you are talking about," says Jonathan.
  
  > talk the hands
  (Jonathans hands)
  You can't think of anything to say.
  
  > take the hands
  (Jonathans hands)
  Jonathan would probably not appreciate it.
  
  > examine the wounds
  He seems to have been scrubbing his hands way too hard. They look like they have been bleeding recently.
  
  > talk wounds
  "I noticed that Mr. Allington's hands were bruised, as if he had been scrubbing too hard or too long. What might he have been trying to hide?"
  
  Jonathan seems uncomfortable. "Sir, as a waiter I need to keep my hands impeccably clean. I may have overdone it this time, but that is not a crime."
  
  > Just random guesses
  You typed a rather long command and I didn't understand it. It's better to stick to simpler things like TAKE JAMES BEARD.
  
  > examine the tuxedo
  The tuxedo is spotless. It seems brand new.
  
  > talk shane
  [1] Accuse Shane Pearson
  
  > think
  You have thought about the case all day with no results. Your last hope is that you can make the murderer reveal him or herself during your closing monologue.
  
  > Xyzzy
  You don't need magic to solve the case; only logic.
  
  > look at Holmes
  The man you used to know as James Garfield. He looks much the same as he did before, but there is now a shrewd look in his eyes.
  
  > look at the hands
  (Shanes hands)
  You notice a light band around her ring finger.
  
  > Talk band
  "It was then that I noticed something peculiar about Mrs. Pearson's hands. It looked like she had been wearing a ring, which she had subsequently taken off. People do not usually take off their engagement rings, so why would she do that?"
  
  "Nothing escapes your attention does it, Monsieur Germain?" says Shane. "I suppose I might as well admit that I am engaged to Jonathan."
  
  Jonathan nods. "We have been together for three months. We had hoped to keep our relationship private until we got married, but that idea doesn't seem realistic any more."
  
  "It is obvious that you have figured it out, Mr. Germain," says Jonathan. "I tried to help my fiancee by giving her an alibi. It was foolish thing to do. At around midnight, I heard Shane walk down the stairs and followed her down to the library where I saw what happened. She was clearly blameless - the Colonel had attacked her - but I couldn't take the chance that the police might not believe her. I found the Colonel's watch in his pocket and set it to 02:30. Then I took the knife and stabbed him several times myself, making sure I hit the watch so it would stop. I felt dirty afterwards, so I scrubbed my hands until they started bleeding. Afterwards, I made sure Shane would have an alibi for 02:30 AM by waking her up by then and then telling James about it. I made sure to make a lot of noise so plenty of people would hear me."
  
  "Oh, Darling," says Shane. "You shouldn't have done that."
  
  "My love, I would do anything to prevent you from going to jail. Unfortunately, Mr. Germain saw right through me."
  
  > examine Jonathan
  His emotionless facade has dropped and he is now looking tenderly at Shane. His nose squats from his face like a beak.
  
  > talk jonathan
  [1] Accuse Jonathan
  [2] Alibi
  
  > 2
  "Figuring out that the time of death had been faked changed everything. It now seemed like no one had an alibi for the actual time of the murder. I knew who had stabbed the Colonel, but that had been a red herring all along. The true murderer was the one who had given him the cyanide. But it seemed like anyone could have done that."
  
  [1] Accuse Jonathan
  
  > talk nose
  "Monsieur Allington's long nose drew my attention."
  
  Sylvester gasps. "Of course. It looks just like the Colonel's. I can't believe I never noticed that before."
  
  "Ok, I confess," says Jonathan. "I am the Colonel's illegitimate son from the war. When I finally managed to track down my father, I took a job here to get to know him before confronting him. But I swear I didn't kill him. I just wanted to meet him."
  
  > talk jonathan
  [1] Accuse Jonathan
  [2] Motive
  
  > 2
  "It was now clear that Jonathan had a motive for the murder. His father had abandoned him. Was it possible that his anger could have driven him to murder? Or perhaps he expected to inherit the Colonel's estate after revealing his true identity?"
  
  "Never," says Jonathan. "I did not hate my father. I understand why he couldn't stay; I just wanted to meet him."
  
  [1] Accuse Jonathan
  
  > 1
  "After figuring out that Jonathan was the illegitimate son of the Colonel, everything became clear. His anger over being abandoned had driven him to murder. He had poisoned his father with cyanide, then intefered with the evidence to cover his tracks. Detective, arrest the murderer."
  
  "This is outrageous," says Jonathan while being handcuffed. "Why would I want to kill my father? I just wanted to meet him."
  
  You shrug. "I have better things to do than try to understand the motives of a homicidal maniac. Take him away."
  
  Jonathan serves a short sentence for intefering with the investigation, but there is not enough evidence to convict him for the murder. Everyone believes he is guilty, though. After all, who would doubt the word of the worlds greatest detective? His career is ruined and a year later he is found hanging from the roof of his apartment.