This time Father Brown has to solve the murder mystery from his bedroom, where he is recovering from a nasty accident on his bicycle. He passes the time "bird watching" with his telescope.

Father Roland, a young priest, is filling in for him. He agonizes, thinking that God might have sent him there as a test.

"He sent me here to test me and the devil was waiting, tempting, taunting me with carnal images."

Mrs. McCarthy and Lady Felicia have to do all the legwork. That was quite entertaining, these two squabbling while gathering information. They should do that more often.

"As a rosary is both beautiful and with purpose"

A switched film, cyanide, a hatpin, letters with verses from the Bible.

What can this all mean?

"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish."

Spreading malicious slander can be deadly. Three women have lied in the past and now they face retribution.

"They murdered my father, as surely as if they'd pulled the lever on the drop."

Of the three, only one escaped death. She did spend a couple of hours in jail, a little inconvenience for her evil deed.

It's a pity, perhaps the shame and her guilty conscience will haunt her the rest of her life.

"An eye for an eye."

"Vengeance is the Lord's. He will repay."

I enjoyed this episode, especially the end. A boxing priest and another tied to a wheelchair. What a fight.


Lady Felicia should have tasted the scones. They looked absolutely scrumptious.

"You didn't taste my scones?"

"I just sort of pretended."

And what of Father Roland?

"I was lost and now I'm found. Thanks to Father Brown. A man of hidden wisdom, it transpires."

"God wants sacrifice, but not suffering."