Wow, had forgotten that about John Harkins! He is wonderful as the master of Dartmoor here.
Petofi still insists that Quentin must not be harmed, so I suppose he's planning to go into the repo business in order to go to the future.
Charles gets to be an action hero: As Aristede watches from outside, Quentin gives further proof that he is himself again, as if further proof were needed: He has finished one decanter of brandy and starts on his second. He takes a sip before answering the knock on the door. Aristede insouciantly pretends that he was successful. Petofi has got a knife sticking in his chest, he reports, and will be dead very soon. You should have stayed till you were certain, Quentin says. I promise Petofi won’t survive, Aristede assures him. Why don’t we have a drink. Quentin takes Aristede into the drawing room and unwisely turns his back as he pours the drinks. Aristede spots the crossed swords on the wall and takes one of them out of its scabbard and makes ready to run Quentin through. I already know what I want for my reward--your life, Quentin Collins! he shouts. Even when in danger of his life, Quentin carefully sets the drinks down before he backs away, but Aristede puts the sword point to Quentin’s chest and forces him backward. I know you’re Quentin and that you tried to trick me, he snarls, and you will pay. Just as he has Quentin’s back against the wall, Charles rushes in, pistol drawn. Put the sword down or get your head blown off! he orders Aristede. I don’t want him to live after what he has done! Aristede argues. Charles says he’s just following orders. Will the count will live? Aristede asks with some trepidation. Why don’t you go see for yourself, Charles suggests sarcastically. I don’t want to, Aristede whines. You have good reason to be afraid, Charles says, but orders him out anyway. Aristede finally throws down the sword and runs out. I’m sorry to hear Petofi isn’t dead, Quentin observes. I thought one of us would die and didn’t especially care which. You’re lucky to be alive, Charles says in some surprise. I know why Petofi sent you, Quentin replies. I don’t consider myself lucky at all.
Great dream sequence on how Aristede met Petofi. Why would Petofi--who seems to be very much a city mouse--be strolling the Devonshire moors? Maybe he was researching the Hound of the Baskervilles. The more collateral damage he causes, the more he enjoys himself, it seems.
BTW, we already saw John Harkins in one episode as Lieutenant Costa in 1967. And we'll see him again briefly as Strak before we meet Horace Gladstone.
