Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:12,074
Advertise your product or brand here
contact www.OpenSubtitles.org today
2
00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:19,637
- Evening, Mr Elliott.
- Good evening.
3
00:02:22,975 --> 00:02:23,975
Brr.
4
00:02:24,713 --> 00:02:27,062
- Just sign the book, if you will?
- Yes.
5
00:02:27,813 --> 00:02:30,640
- Been keeping you busy, Mr Elliott?
- Oh, just nicely.
6
00:02:30,740 --> 00:02:33,310
Went up to Manchester on Monday,
a poisoner.
7
00:02:33,410 --> 00:02:36,959
Baby-farmer at Holloway this morning.
Very ordinary crimes, both of them.
8
00:02:37,059 --> 00:02:39,399
This one we've got for you tomorrow
is something special.
9
00:02:39,499 --> 00:02:41,234
Yes, very much so.
10
00:02:41,334 --> 00:02:43,536
Even after all my years
in the profession,
11
00:02:43,662 --> 00:02:45,739
I'm quite looking forward to him.
12
00:02:45,839 --> 00:02:48,030
- Well, I must be getting along.
- Good night, Mr Elliott.
13
00:02:48,130 --> 00:02:49,709
- Good night.
- Usual cup of tea at 7:00?
14
00:02:49,835 --> 00:02:50,835
Oh, please.
15
00:02:52,004 --> 00:02:55,749
Even my lamented master,
the great Mr Barry himself
16
00:02:55,849 --> 00:02:58,251
never had the privilege
of hanging a duke.
17
00:02:58,351 --> 00:02:59,351
Yes.
18
00:02:59,678 --> 00:03:02,985
What a finale to a lifetime
in the public service.
19
00:03:03,085 --> 00:03:05,892
- "Finale"?
- Yes, I intend to retire.
20
00:03:06,018 --> 00:03:08,512
After using the silken rope,
21
00:03:08,612 --> 00:03:11,765
never again be content with hemp.
22
00:03:11,865 --> 00:03:14,359
- Quite. Well, here we are.
- Oh, thank you.
23
00:03:31,085 --> 00:03:32,807
How will he approach it?
24
00:03:32,907 --> 00:03:35,476
I should think
as the calmest you've ever known.
25
00:03:35,576 --> 00:03:38,383
Noblesse oblige, doubtless.
26
00:03:38,509 --> 00:03:42,983
A difficult client can make things
most distressing.
27
00:03:43,083 --> 00:03:45,861
Some of them tend
to be very hysterical.
28
00:03:45,961 --> 00:03:47,843
So inconsiderate.
29
00:03:47,943 --> 00:03:51,867
Well, Colonel, considering
the importance of the occasion,
30
00:03:51,967 --> 00:03:54,065
I shall retire early.
31
00:03:54,191 --> 00:03:58,666
The last execution of a duke in this country
was very badly bungled.
32
00:03:58,766 --> 00:04:01,335
That was in the old days of the axe,
of course.
33
00:04:01,435 --> 00:04:02,435
Yes.
34
00:04:03,576 --> 00:04:06,244
Oh, I... I almost forgot.
35
00:04:06,370 --> 00:04:09,343
Um, you must forgive my ignorance
36
00:04:09,443 --> 00:04:12,388
but when we meet in the morning,
37
00:04:12,488 --> 00:04:14,961
what is the correct form of address?
38
00:04:15,087 --> 00:04:17,463
- Your Lordship?
- Your Grace.
39
00:04:17,590 --> 00:04:20,896
"Your Grace"? Oh.
40
00:04:20,996 --> 00:04:22,594
Thank you.
41
00:04:24,263 --> 00:04:28,766
Good morning, Your Grace.
42
00:04:41,906 --> 00:04:44,782
- All right. Sit down.
- Ah, good evening, Colonel. Glass of wine?
43
00:04:44,909 --> 00:04:47,493
Good evening, Your Grace.
Uh, thank you, no.
44
00:04:47,620 --> 00:04:51,664
I, uh, I called to inquire whether
you had any special wishes for breakfast.
45
00:04:51,790 --> 00:04:54,792
Just coffee and a slice of toast, thank you.
46
00:04:54,919 --> 00:04:56,794
Oh, and perhaps a few grapes.
47
00:04:56,921 --> 00:04:58,852
I hate to disappoint
the newspaper-reading public
48
00:04:58,952 --> 00:05:01,841
but it'll be too early
for the conventional hearty breakfast.
49
00:05:01,967 --> 00:05:03,939
The appointment is at 8:00,
is it not?
50
00:05:04,039 --> 00:05:06,012
At 8:00, uh, yes.
51
00:05:06,138 --> 00:05:09,641
If I may venture to say so,
I am amazed at your calmness.
52
00:05:11,644 --> 00:05:14,241
Dr Johnson was, as always, right,
53
00:05:14,341 --> 00:05:16,285
when he observed,
"Depend upon it, sir.
54
00:05:16,385 --> 00:05:18,865
"When a man knows that he's going
to be hanged in a few hours,
55
00:05:18,984 --> 00:05:21,361
"it concentrates his mind wonderfully."
56
00:05:21,862 --> 00:05:25,490
Yes. Well, if there is nothing further
I can do for you...
57
00:05:25,616 --> 00:05:26,962
Nothing, thank you, Colonel.
58
00:05:27,062 --> 00:05:30,925
We shall have the opportunity of making
our adieus in the morning, I presume.
59
00:05:31,025 --> 00:05:32,997
I regret to say, yes.
60
00:05:34,667 --> 00:05:37,168
- Good night, Your Grace.
- Good night, Colonel.
61
00:05:46,220 --> 00:05:50,014
A brief history
of the events leading thereto
62
00:05:50,140 --> 00:05:52,517
written on the eve of his execution
63
00:05:52,643 --> 00:05:56,521
by Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini,
10th Duke of Chalfont
64
00:05:57,523 --> 00:06:00,066
who ventures to hope
that it may prove not uninteresting
65
00:06:00,192 --> 00:06:03,027
to those who remain to read it.
66
00:06:09,034 --> 00:06:13,175
My good man, it is not by my choice
that you keep me company.
67
00:06:13,275 --> 00:06:17,041
If you wish to sleep, pray do me
the courtesy of sleeping quietly.
68
00:06:20,379 --> 00:06:23,589
With so little time
remaining to complete my story,
69
00:06:23,716 --> 00:06:26,313
it is difficult to choose
where to begin it.
70
00:06:26,413 --> 00:06:28,013
Perhaps I should begin
at the beginning.
71
00:06:29,221 --> 00:06:34,434
I was a healthy baby,
born of an English mother and Italian father,
72
00:06:35,936 --> 00:06:39,868
Who succumbed to a heart attack
at the moment of first setting eyes on me.
73
00:06:39,968 --> 00:06:44,110
In the circumstances, it will be understood
that I have but slight memory of him.
74
00:06:44,236 --> 00:06:46,696
The little I know comes
from what Mama told me.
75
00:07:08,218 --> 00:07:10,553
Your father was a very handsome man.
76
00:08:04,149 --> 00:08:07,318
Mama was the daughter
of the seventh duke of Chalfont
77
00:08:07,444 --> 00:08:09,320
of Chalfont Castle.
78
00:08:10,364 --> 00:08:12,657
She eloped with her handsome singer
79
00:08:12,783 --> 00:08:16,494
and exchanged the medieval splendours
of Chalfont Castle
80
00:08:16,620 --> 00:08:17,966
for the modern conveniences
81
00:08:18,066 --> 00:08:20,665
of No 73, Balaclava Avenue, SW.
82
00:08:29,675 --> 00:08:33,774
They were poor, but they had
five happy and harmonious years
83
00:08:33,874 --> 00:08:37,515
before my arrival sent Papa off
to join the heavenly choir.
84
00:08:43,397 --> 00:08:46,286
Reduced to even deeper poverty
by my father's death,
85
00:08:46,386 --> 00:08:48,234
Mama swallowed her pride
86
00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,959
and made an effort at reconciliation
with her family.
87
00:08:52,059 --> 00:08:54,699
They did not even reply to her letter.
88
00:08:55,868 --> 00:08:58,077
In order to keep us both alive,
she was reduced
89
00:08:58,203 --> 00:09:00,496
to the horrible expedient
of taking in a lodger.
90
00:09:02,624 --> 00:09:06,210
For him, she had to perform
the most menial tasks.
91
00:09:06,336 --> 00:09:10,644
She felt that her family had conspired
to cheat me of my birthright,
92
00:09:10,744 --> 00:09:12,884
and I passed
from infancy to childhood
93
00:09:13,010 --> 00:09:16,304
in an atmosphere
of family history and genealogies.
94
00:09:17,514 --> 00:09:19,223
The dukedom had been bestowed
95
00:09:19,349 --> 00:09:22,810
by Charles II
on Colonel Henry D'Ascoyne
96
00:09:23,687 --> 00:09:26,981
for services rendered to His Majesty
during his exile.
97
00:09:28,066 --> 00:09:30,902
Later, for services rendered
to His Majesty
98
00:09:31,028 --> 00:09:33,988
after his restoration by the Duchess,
99
00:09:34,490 --> 00:09:36,399
the title was granted
the unique privilege
100
00:09:36,499 --> 00:09:38,993
of descending by the female
as well as the male line.
101
00:09:40,370 --> 00:09:41,412
Louis.
102
00:09:41,538 --> 00:09:43,915
It was therefore theoretically possible
103
00:09:44,041 --> 00:09:47,084
that via Mama I might inherit the dukedom.
104
00:09:49,755 --> 00:09:51,748
Mama scraped and saved
105
00:09:51,848 --> 00:09:55,001
and sent me to the best school
she could afford.
106
00:09:55,101 --> 00:09:58,025
One little incident of my school days
occurs to me as amusing
107
00:09:58,125 --> 00:09:59,860
in relation to my present situation.
108
00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:01,599
Lionel Holland.
109
00:10:02,768 --> 00:10:04,560
What is the Sixth Commandment?
110
00:10:05,771 --> 00:10:07,772
Come, come now.
111
00:10:08,899 --> 00:10:10,016
Someone else then.
112
00:10:10,116 --> 00:10:12,276
I know, please, Miss Waterman.
113
00:10:12,402 --> 00:10:14,695
Louis Mazzini. Tell him.
114
00:10:16,532 --> 00:10:19,108
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Quite right, Louis.
115
00:10:19,208 --> 00:10:21,786
The Sixth Commandment is,
"Thou shalt not kill."
116
00:10:21,912 --> 00:10:23,550
No, in those days,
117
00:10:23,650 --> 00:10:26,720
I never had any trouble
with the Sixth Commandment.
118
00:10:26,820 --> 00:10:31,204
As to the Seventh, I was hardly of an age
to concern myself with it.
119
00:10:31,304 --> 00:10:34,394
Although I was old enough
to be in love.
120
00:10:34,494 --> 00:10:37,377
So Sibella enters my story.
121
00:10:37,477 --> 00:10:39,971
Sibella and her brother, Graham,
were my only close friends
122
00:10:40,097 --> 00:10:42,215
and we grew up together.
123
00:10:42,315 --> 00:10:46,811
In their case, Mama relaxed her objection
to my associating with the local children.
124
00:10:47,479 --> 00:10:51,482
At least their father, Dr Halworth,
was a professional man.
125
00:10:52,609 --> 00:10:56,612
Louis, we must think very carefully
about your future.
126
00:10:57,155 --> 00:10:58,990
Well, it should be quite easy
to get a job.
127
00:10:59,116 --> 00:11:01,826
Not a job, dear. A career.
128
00:11:03,787 --> 00:11:06,406
I had hoped for Cambridge for you.
129
00:11:06,506 --> 00:11:08,825
The D'Ascoynes always go to Trinity.
130
00:11:08,925 --> 00:11:12,003
And then, perhaps, the diplomatic.
131
00:11:12,129 --> 00:11:15,256
But I'm afraid it's no use
looking as high as that.
132
00:11:16,258 --> 00:11:18,668
However, when you've
passed your examination
133
00:11:18,768 --> 00:11:21,671
that should equip you for a start
in one of the professions.
134
00:11:21,771 --> 00:11:26,017
People of quite good family go into
the professions nowadays, I understand.
135
00:11:27,185 --> 00:11:29,854
Now, who do we know
who could help us?
136
00:11:30,856 --> 00:11:35,101
We don't really know anyone,
except the family, and they don't know us.
137
00:11:35,201 --> 00:11:37,862
The least we can do
is try once more.
138
00:11:40,365 --> 00:11:43,034
I shall write
to Lord Ascoyne D'Ascoyne.
139
00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,870
He can surely do something
in that bank of his.
140
00:11:45,996 --> 00:11:49,040
Bank, Mama? Is that a profession?
141
00:11:49,166 --> 00:11:51,876
This is a private bank, Louis, dear.
142
00:11:52,002 --> 00:11:54,454
They don't pass money over the counter.
143
00:11:54,554 --> 00:11:56,372
The letter was duly dispatched
144
00:11:56,472 --> 00:11:58,716
and this time we did get an answer.
145
00:11:58,842 --> 00:12:02,053
"Madam, I am instructed
by Lord Ascoyne D'Ascoyne
146
00:12:02,179 --> 00:12:05,381
"to inform you that he is not aware
of your son's existence
147
00:12:05,481 --> 00:12:08,559
"as a member
of the D'Ascoyne family."
148
00:12:08,685 --> 00:12:11,062
Signed by his secretary.
149
00:12:11,188 --> 00:12:14,732
It's very stupid of him, of them all,
not to admit your existence
150
00:12:14,858 --> 00:12:17,664
when one day you might be
duke of Chalfont.
151
00:12:17,764 --> 00:12:19,729
It's a very big "might," Mama.
152
00:12:19,829 --> 00:12:22,239
There must be at least 12 people
before me
153
00:12:22,366 --> 00:12:24,671
to say nothing of the ones
who haven't been born yet.
154
00:12:24,771 --> 00:12:27,320
Stranger things have happened.
155
00:12:27,420 --> 00:12:30,414
I don't wish to be unchristian,
but in view of their attitude,
156
00:12:30,540 --> 00:12:34,001
I could almost wish those 12 people
should all die tomorrow.
157
00:12:35,420 --> 00:12:37,254
All except one, Mama.
158
00:12:37,381 --> 00:12:40,883
Because you must be duchess
of Chalfont before I'm duke.
159
00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:47,757
It will have to be a job, not a career,
after all, Mama.
160
00:12:47,857 --> 00:12:50,176
I'm afraid so, Louis.
161
00:12:50,276 --> 00:12:52,679
A D'Ascoyne in trade.
162
00:12:52,779 --> 00:12:55,202
Did poor Mama's silly dreaming
163
00:12:55,302 --> 00:12:58,776
plant in my brain some seed
which was afterwards to grow
164
00:12:58,902 --> 00:13:02,355
into the most sensational
criminal endeavour of the century?
165
00:13:02,455 --> 00:13:04,782
If so, I was not conscious of it
at the time
166
00:13:04,908 --> 00:13:07,193
for there were things
of more immediate concern.
167
00:13:07,293 --> 00:13:09,862
Even potential dukes have to eat.
168
00:13:09,962 --> 00:13:13,366
Mr Perkins,
our lodger for nearly 15 years,
169
00:13:13,466 --> 00:13:15,055
did his best to be helpful.
170
00:13:15,155 --> 00:13:17,724
He was employed as shop walker
in a local drapery store
171
00:13:17,824 --> 00:13:19,726
and found employment for me there.
172
00:13:19,826 --> 00:13:22,041
The possible future duke of Chalfont
173
00:13:22,141 --> 00:13:26,379
became what was known
as a general assistant at the drapery.
174
00:13:26,479 --> 00:13:30,599
This humiliation continued
for two dispiriting years.
175
00:13:31,727 --> 00:13:34,721
And then one day, Mama,
who had broken her glasses
176
00:13:34,821 --> 00:13:37,140
and could not afford
to have them mended,
177
00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,151
was knocked down by a tram
near Clapham Junction
178
00:13:40,277 --> 00:13:42,153
and fatally injured.
179
00:13:44,156 --> 00:13:46,824
- Louis.
- Yes, Mama.
180
00:13:48,285 --> 00:13:51,412
I should like to be buried
at Chalfont,
181
00:13:52,122 --> 00:13:54,123
in the family vault.
182
00:13:55,834 --> 00:13:57,293
Yes, Mama.
183
00:14:06,511 --> 00:14:11,007
I wrote to the Duke
informing him of Mama's dying wish.
184
00:14:11,107 --> 00:14:14,185
His reply
was the curtest possible refusal.
185
00:14:14,311 --> 00:14:18,765
Standing by Mama's poor little grave
in that hideous suburban cemetery,
186
00:14:18,865 --> 00:14:23,319
I made an oath that I would revenge
the wrongs her family had done her.
187
00:14:24,696 --> 00:14:27,961
It was no more than
a piece of youthful bravado
188
00:14:28,061 --> 00:14:32,779
but it was one of those acorns
from which great oaks are destined to grow.
189
00:14:32,879 --> 00:14:35,469
Even then I went so far
as to examine the family tree
190
00:14:35,569 --> 00:14:38,305
and prune it
to just the living members.
191
00:14:38,405 --> 00:14:41,037
But what could I do to hurt them?
192
00:14:41,137 --> 00:14:43,414
What could I take from them,
193
00:14:43,514 --> 00:14:47,043
except, perhaps, their lives?
194
00:14:47,143 --> 00:14:49,837
I indulged for a moment
in a fantasy of all 12 of them
195
00:14:49,937 --> 00:14:52,673
being wiped out simultaneously
at a family reunion
196
00:14:52,773 --> 00:14:54,467
by my unseen hand.
197
00:14:54,567 --> 00:14:59,347
Of the penniless boy from Clapham being
miraculously transplanted to his birthright.
198
00:14:59,447 --> 00:15:02,191
I even speculated
as to how I might contrive it.
199
00:15:03,777 --> 00:15:05,728
But there were
other more urgent problems.
200
00:15:05,828 --> 00:15:09,573
Mama's tiny income came from an annuity
and had died with her.
201
00:15:11,076 --> 00:15:15,404
The problem of how to live
on 25 shillings a week was solved for me
202
00:15:15,504 --> 00:15:18,658
by an invitation from Dr Halworth
to lodge with them.
203
00:15:18,758 --> 00:15:22,495
It was galling to accept the status
of a poor relation
204
00:15:22,595 --> 00:15:26,632
but the certainty of seeing Sibella every day
was too tempting to be refused.
205
00:15:27,467 --> 00:15:30,962
Louis, I'm so glad you accepted.
206
00:15:31,062 --> 00:15:33,013
It was my idea, you know.
207
00:15:34,099 --> 00:15:36,579
- I've brought you something.
- Oh, Louis, you shouldn't have.
208
00:15:36,692 --> 00:15:39,061
You can't possibly afford it.
209
00:15:41,690 --> 00:15:44,066
Oh, what a bother. There's Lionel.
210
00:15:44,484 --> 00:15:46,443
See you at supper.
211
00:15:56,955 --> 00:16:00,533
The next few years
brought many such heartbreaks,
212
00:16:00,633 --> 00:16:02,535
but they also brought promotion.
213
00:16:02,635 --> 00:16:05,329
Laces and ribbons
at 30 shillings a week,
214
00:16:05,429 --> 00:16:07,957
fabrics at 32 and six.
215
00:16:08,057 --> 00:16:10,968
Finally, ladies' underwear at 35.
216
00:16:22,147 --> 00:16:24,599
I decided that
if I was to be a draper,
217
00:16:24,699 --> 00:16:28,019
at least I would not be
a suburban draper.
218
00:16:28,119 --> 00:16:32,106
So I migrated to a large modern store which
had just been opened in the West End,
219
00:16:32,206 --> 00:16:35,326
at the gigantic salary of £2 a week.
220
00:16:37,287 --> 00:16:40,656
Every lunchtime I went to see
how my inheritance was proceeding.
221
00:16:40,756 --> 00:16:43,709
Sometimes the deaths column
brought good news.
222
00:16:52,510 --> 00:16:55,679
Sometimes,
the births column brought bad.
223
00:16:57,390 --> 00:17:01,018
The advent of twin sons to the Duke
was a terrible blow.
224
00:17:03,688 --> 00:17:05,973
Fortunately, an epidemic of diphtheria
225
00:17:06,073 --> 00:17:09,060
restored the status quo almost immediately
226
00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,446
and even brought me a bonus
in the shape of the Duchess.
227
00:17:13,657 --> 00:17:16,325
That summer, the Halworths gave a party.
228
00:17:24,125 --> 00:17:26,710
- Good evening, Sibella.
- Hello, Louis.
229
00:17:27,796 --> 00:17:30,623
- You do look nice.
- So do you.
230
00:17:30,723 --> 00:17:33,217
- Doesn't he, Lionel?
- Very.
231
00:17:42,143 --> 00:17:44,011
Emboldened by her kindness to me,
232
00:17:44,111 --> 00:17:47,106
I made a decision
I'd been toying with for some time.
233
00:17:48,566 --> 00:17:51,485
Well, that's the last of them,
thank heaven.
234
00:17:52,445 --> 00:17:54,855
- What an evening.
- I thought it was a very nice evening.
235
00:17:54,955 --> 00:17:56,983
It may have been for you. Oh!
236
00:17:57,083 --> 00:18:01,570
It's awful being a woman,
having to dance with a lot of dull men,
237
00:18:01,670 --> 00:18:04,657
laugh at their jokes
while they're treading on your feet.
238
00:18:04,757 --> 00:18:07,660
- I didn't tread on your feet.
- You're not dull.
239
00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,337
- And your jokes are funny.
- Thank you.
240
00:18:11,548 --> 00:18:13,791
- Sibella?
- Mmm-hmm?
241
00:18:13,891 --> 00:18:16,635
Sibella, will you marry me?
242
00:18:18,847 --> 00:18:21,549
Louis, of course not. Do get up.
243
00:18:21,649 --> 00:18:23,634
You may be half Italian,
but even so,
244
00:18:23,734 --> 00:18:26,262
you do look silly
playing the stage lover like that.
245
00:18:26,362 --> 00:18:28,814
- Oh, I look silly, do I?
- Yes. Very.
246
00:18:35,989 --> 00:18:37,948
Do I still look silly?
247
00:18:44,622 --> 00:18:46,707
Now, will you marry me?
248
00:18:47,542 --> 00:18:48,542
No.
249
00:18:49,753 --> 00:18:52,796
- Why not?
- Because I just said I'd marry Lionel.
250
00:18:55,175 --> 00:18:57,710
- You can't.
- Why not?
251
00:18:57,810 --> 00:18:59,636
Well, he's a clod.
He's not a gentleman.
252
00:19:00,305 --> 00:19:02,298
Listen to who's talking.
253
00:19:02,398 --> 00:19:05,642
Whoever heard of a gentleman
blacking the lodger's boots?
254
00:19:06,061 --> 00:19:08,937
That's a wicked thing to say.
Just because Mama was poor.
255
00:19:09,189 --> 00:19:11,231
Lionel will be very rich one day.
256
00:19:11,524 --> 00:19:15,269
- I might be a duke one day.
- Pigs might fly.
257
00:19:15,369 --> 00:19:18,731
No, I might. Really, I might.
You see, Mama was the daughter...
258
00:19:18,831 --> 00:19:20,608
Oh, yes. I know.
259
00:19:20,708 --> 00:19:22,318
Well, when you are a duke,
260
00:19:22,418 --> 00:19:25,196
you just come and show me your crown,
or whatever it's called
261
00:19:25,296 --> 00:19:27,573
and then I'll feel awfully silly,
won't I?
262
00:19:27,673 --> 00:19:28,699
Yes, you will.
263
00:19:28,799 --> 00:19:32,294
Anyhow, I'm going to marry Lionel
and now I'm going to bed.
264
00:19:36,216 --> 00:19:38,016
You will.
265
00:19:41,805 --> 00:19:43,380
If there was a precise moment
266
00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,550
at which my insubstantial dreaming
took on solid purpose
267
00:19:46,650 --> 00:19:48,511
that was it.
268
00:19:48,611 --> 00:19:51,514
The D'Ascoynes had not only
wronged my mother,
269
00:19:51,614 --> 00:19:55,109
they were the obstacle between me
and all that I wanted.
270
00:19:56,277 --> 00:19:59,980
The more I thought of them,
these people whom I had studied
271
00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,692
until I knew their names and histories
as well as I knew my own,
272
00:20:03,792 --> 00:20:06,904
the more they became monsters
of arrogance and cruelty
273
00:20:07,004 --> 00:20:11,083
whose only function in the world
was to deprive me of my birthright.
274
00:20:13,837 --> 00:20:17,214
I had seen Chalfont
only as Mama had painted it.
275
00:20:21,845 --> 00:20:24,672
To pass in through
that magnificent gateway,
276
00:20:24,772 --> 00:20:29,468
on Visitors Day at a cost of sixpence
was a humiliating experience,
277
00:20:29,568 --> 00:20:32,012
but I forced myself to undergo it.
278
00:20:32,112 --> 00:20:36,191
I wanted a closer view of the target
at which I had determined to aim.
279
00:20:39,821 --> 00:20:43,115
I little expected to catch
a glimpse of the bull's-eye.
280
00:20:47,495 --> 00:20:48,912
Excuse me, sir.
281
00:20:49,622 --> 00:20:52,783
There were then some eight people
between me and the dukedom
282
00:20:52,883 --> 00:20:55,286
all seemingly equally out of reach.
283
00:20:55,386 --> 00:20:57,830
It is so difficult to make a neat job
of killing people
284
00:20:57,930 --> 00:21:00,757
with whom one is not
on friendly terms.
285
00:21:01,176 --> 00:21:04,295
I was almost resigned
to its being an impossibility
286
00:21:04,395 --> 00:21:08,174
when one afternoon, at a moment when
my thoughts were furthest from the subject
287
00:21:08,274 --> 00:21:10,301
fate took a hand.
288
00:21:10,401 --> 00:21:13,353
If you've nothing better,
those will have to do.
289
00:21:13,813 --> 00:21:16,223
These London shops
are so far behind Paris.
290
00:21:16,323 --> 00:21:18,601
Parcel them up quickly,
and we'll take them with us.
291
00:21:18,701 --> 00:21:21,528
- Charge them to my account.
- Yes, sir. What is the name?
292
00:21:22,322 --> 00:21:24,364
Mr Ascoyne D'Ascoyne.
293
00:21:26,117 --> 00:21:29,278
At last, I was face to face with one of them.
294
00:21:29,378 --> 00:21:32,656
This was the son
of Lord Ascoyne D'Ascoyne, the banker,
295
00:21:32,756 --> 00:21:35,701
whose refusal to help me
towards a more dignified career
296
00:21:35,801 --> 00:21:38,503
had led to my present
ignominious occupation.
297
00:21:39,422 --> 00:21:41,207
What right had this arrogant puppy
298
00:21:41,307 --> 00:21:45,002
to be standing on the other side
of the counter ordering me about?
299
00:21:45,102 --> 00:21:48,214
In my excitement and anger,
I listened openly to their conversation.
300
00:21:48,314 --> 00:21:51,091
I've booked rooms
at Cruickshanks' at Maidenhead.
301
00:21:51,191 --> 00:21:52,968
We'll go down late
on Friday afternoon.
302
00:21:53,068 --> 00:21:54,720
Are you sure it's safe?
303
00:21:54,820 --> 00:21:58,190
It's the most discreet place.
In fact, anonymous.
304
00:21:59,442 --> 00:22:02,895
Hey, you. Get on with that parcel,
and never mind what we're talking about.
305
00:22:02,995 --> 00:22:05,356
Don't you dare touch me like that!
306
00:22:05,456 --> 00:22:08,317
I'm not interested
in your idiotic conversation.
307
00:22:08,417 --> 00:22:11,870
If you want to add impertinence
to your eavesdropping
308
00:22:12,622 --> 00:22:14,790
we'll soon see about that.
309
00:22:16,542 --> 00:22:19,912
The upshot was
that I was dismissed on the spot.
310
00:22:20,012 --> 00:22:22,539
I decided to repay him in kind
311
00:22:22,639 --> 00:22:26,543
by dismissing him with equal
suddenness from this world.
312
00:22:26,643 --> 00:22:30,798
His conversation had told me where I could
probably find the opportunity to kill him.
313
00:22:30,898 --> 00:22:34,434
Dr Halworth's dispensary
had provided me with a means.
314
00:22:36,729 --> 00:22:39,598
With the week's wages
I had received in lieu of notice,
315
00:22:39,698 --> 00:22:43,068
I invested in suitable apparel
for a weekend at Maidenhead.
316
00:22:52,870 --> 00:22:55,531
It was possible
they might remember me
317
00:22:55,631 --> 00:22:57,241
but I thought it unlikely,
318
00:22:57,341 --> 00:23:00,577
shop assistants being commonly
regarded as an inferior race
319
00:23:00,677 --> 00:23:03,797
who never emerged
from the other side of the counter.
320
00:23:06,968 --> 00:23:09,886
I decided
to take the bull by the horns.
321
00:23:11,347 --> 00:23:14,008
Forgive me. I wonder if you could
oblige me with a match.
322
00:23:14,108 --> 00:23:15,934
- Certainly.
- Thank you.
323
00:23:16,894 --> 00:23:20,564
- Haven't we met before somewhere?
- I don't think so.
324
00:23:21,232 --> 00:23:24,268
Funny, 'cause I could have sworn
I knew your face.
325
00:23:24,368 --> 00:23:26,562
- Were you at Monte last year?
- The year before.
326
00:23:26,662 --> 00:23:29,356
Ah, that must be it.
Won't you join me?
327
00:23:29,456 --> 00:23:31,608
Thank you. Not this evening.
328
00:23:31,708 --> 00:23:33,618
We are rather tired.
329
00:23:39,959 --> 00:23:43,120
I deprecated their retiring so early,
330
00:23:43,220 --> 00:23:45,122
but it was hard to blame them,
331
00:23:45,222 --> 00:23:47,799
for weekends, like life, are short.
332
00:23:48,968 --> 00:23:51,879
The next morning,
I waited for them to come down
333
00:23:51,979 --> 00:23:53,930
and the next afternoon.
334
00:23:56,726 --> 00:23:59,186
They didn't appear the whole day.
335
00:24:04,567 --> 00:24:05,859
Nor the morning after.
336
00:24:22,251 --> 00:24:24,161
I no longer felt sentimental.
337
00:24:24,261 --> 00:24:26,721
The weekend was nearly over,
and I could hardly expect providence
338
00:24:26,821 --> 00:24:30,125
to offer me
so promising a chance again.
339
00:24:30,225 --> 00:24:32,169
I was in a state of desperation
340
00:24:32,269 --> 00:24:35,472
and I followed them,
hoping for I knew not what.
341
00:24:36,599 --> 00:24:40,636
I had the poison with me, but they
hadn't even taken a picnic basket.
342
00:24:40,736 --> 00:24:44,398
It was possible, however, that they might
stop somewhere for refreshment.
343
00:24:47,235 --> 00:24:50,187
They did stop shortly afterwards,
344
00:24:50,287 --> 00:24:52,239
but not for that.
345
00:24:53,449 --> 00:24:56,910
Judging by past experience,
they would be there for hours.
346
00:25:17,223 --> 00:25:19,049
The rest followed automatically.
347
00:25:19,149 --> 00:25:22,511
I had fortunately learned to swim
at the Clapham Municipal Baths
348
00:25:22,611 --> 00:25:25,564
though I never had occasion
to try it underwater.
349
00:25:26,732 --> 00:25:29,518
I had no wish to surface
under their noses,
350
00:25:29,618 --> 00:25:32,821
though I doubt if they would have
noticed me even if I had.
351
00:25:38,244 --> 00:25:40,203
It was beautifully timed.
352
00:26:14,739 --> 00:26:16,615
I was sorry about the girl,
353
00:26:16,741 --> 00:26:19,568
but found some relief in the reflection
that she had presumably,
354
00:26:19,668 --> 00:26:23,288
during the weekend, already undergone
a fate worse than death.
355
00:26:32,757 --> 00:26:36,635
I decided to defer consideration
of where and how I should next strike
356
00:26:36,761 --> 00:26:39,596
until my nerves
were thoroughly restored.
357
00:26:40,181 --> 00:26:42,257
It must be remembered
that I was very young
358
00:26:42,357 --> 00:26:45,685
and, furthermore,
I am not naturally callous.
359
00:26:47,772 --> 00:26:50,106
I suddenly conceived a brilliant idea.
360
00:26:51,817 --> 00:26:56,855
I would write a carefully phrased letter
of condolence to old Ascoyne D'Ascoyne.
361
00:26:56,955 --> 00:27:01,109
It would be an agreeable feeling of revenge
for his cruelty to Mama.
362
00:27:01,209 --> 00:27:04,242
And, further, it had not failed to occur to me
that there was, at the moment,
363
00:27:04,342 --> 00:27:06,373
a vacancy in the banking house.
364
00:27:07,458 --> 00:27:10,001
Ascoyne D'Ascoyne duly rose to the bait.
365
00:27:12,004 --> 00:27:14,464
Please be seated, Mr Mazzini.
366
00:27:18,803 --> 00:27:20,804
How do you do?
367
00:27:26,477 --> 00:27:28,395
My late son.
368
00:27:32,817 --> 00:27:34,150
A great loss.
369
00:27:34,652 --> 00:27:36,361
He was young and foolish
370
00:27:36,487 --> 00:27:40,031
but I believe had he been spared
until his maturity...
371
00:27:40,157 --> 00:27:43,798
It was my consciousness of that which led me
to presume to tender you my sympathy.
372
00:27:43,898 --> 00:27:45,967
I am glad that you did so.
373
00:27:46,067 --> 00:27:50,333
A loss so tragic serves to put lesser matters
in their proper perspective.
374
00:27:51,377 --> 00:27:53,878
If I remember rightly, Mr Mazzini,
375
00:27:54,005 --> 00:27:58,312
some years ago
I received a communication
376
00:27:58,412 --> 00:28:00,343
from your mother.
377
00:28:00,845 --> 00:28:02,220
My late mother.
378
00:28:09,937 --> 00:28:12,514
Hello, Louis.
You look very pleased with yourself.
379
00:28:12,614 --> 00:28:14,766
- So do you.
- I have news.
380
00:28:14,866 --> 00:28:16,330
- So have I.
- What is it?
381
00:28:16,430 --> 00:28:17,436
No, yours first.
382
00:28:17,536 --> 00:28:21,523
Lionel and I have fixed a date
for our wedding, in two months' time.
383
00:28:21,623 --> 00:28:23,191
My congratulations.
384
00:28:23,291 --> 00:28:26,445
No, I should congratulate him.
I compliment you.
385
00:28:26,545 --> 00:28:29,372
- Now yours.
- Nothing as exciting as yours.
386
00:28:30,374 --> 00:28:32,934
I went today to see Lord Ascoyne D'Ascoyne,
my cousin, you know.
387
00:28:33,628 --> 00:28:35,683
He has a private banking house
in the city.
388
00:28:35,783 --> 00:28:38,373
He offered me employment at once
at £5 a week
389
00:28:38,473 --> 00:28:40,800
with excellent prospects
for promotion.
390
00:28:42,053 --> 00:28:45,805
Louis, I'm so glad for you.
391
00:28:47,433 --> 00:28:51,061
- Louis, do you remember?
- What?
392
00:28:51,562 --> 00:28:53,980
Once, in this room,
393
00:28:55,232 --> 00:28:57,317
after my party...
394
00:28:57,902 --> 00:29:00,312
- I kissed you.
- Yes.
395
00:29:00,412 --> 00:29:02,280
And you were horrible to me.
396
00:29:02,406 --> 00:29:03,406
Yes.
397
00:29:04,575 --> 00:29:08,161
I made fun about you
being related to the D'Ascoynes.
398
00:29:09,413 --> 00:29:11,323
I'm sorry.
399
00:29:11,423 --> 00:29:12,991
You'll take it more seriously now?
400
00:29:13,091 --> 00:29:14,091
Yes.
401
00:29:15,628 --> 00:29:17,671
Louis, kiss me,
402
00:29:18,923 --> 00:29:21,257
to show you've forgiven me.
403
00:29:24,762 --> 00:29:28,340
No, it would be wrong.
You're pledged to Lionel.
404
00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,238
I behaved like a cad that night.
405
00:29:31,338 --> 00:29:34,270
I like you when you behave
like a cad.
406
00:29:41,153 --> 00:29:44,356
You're a person who must dance
through life, Sibella,
407
00:29:44,456 --> 00:29:47,158
and I hope Lionel won't tread
on your feet too often.
408
00:29:51,789 --> 00:29:54,095
My new employment
was humble enough
409
00:29:54,195 --> 00:29:57,794
but I had to test the rungs of the ladder
before I could climb it.
410
00:30:04,218 --> 00:30:07,178
That's very nice.
411
00:30:07,638 --> 00:30:11,683
The next candidate for removal
seemed to be young Henry D'Ascoyne,
412
00:30:11,809 --> 00:30:14,386
24 years old, recently married,
413
00:30:14,486 --> 00:30:16,638
as yet, without issue.
414
00:30:16,738 --> 00:30:19,691
I had quite an accumulation by now
of D'Ascoyne data
415
00:30:19,817 --> 00:30:22,527
culled from newspapers and periodicals,
416
00:30:22,653 --> 00:30:25,530
and I looked through it
for a possible approach to Henry.
417
00:30:25,656 --> 00:30:27,482
I found one.
418
00:30:27,582 --> 00:30:30,631
I bought the necessary equipment,
second hand,
419
00:30:30,731 --> 00:30:33,572
and bicycled down
the following weekend.
420
00:30:33,672 --> 00:30:36,971
I had studied a couple of photographic
manuals during the week,
421
00:30:37,071 --> 00:30:39,745
and found that, in practice,
the mysteries of the camera
422
00:30:39,845 --> 00:30:42,547
demand a little more
than ordinary intelligence,
423
00:30:42,673 --> 00:30:46,418
plus the ability to judge
the subject upside-down.
424
00:30:46,518 --> 00:30:49,846
It was thus, indeed,
that I first saw Henry D'Ascoyne.
425
00:31:04,945 --> 00:31:08,440
My method of approach proved
an instantaneous success.
426
00:31:08,540 --> 00:31:11,943
Excuse me.
Isn't that a Thornton Pickard?
427
00:31:12,043 --> 00:31:14,245
Yes. Are you a photographer?
428
00:31:14,371 --> 00:31:16,615
Dabble in it. Got a Sanger Shepherd.
429
00:31:16,715 --> 00:31:18,533
- A Sanger Shepherd?
- Nice little camera.
430
00:31:18,633 --> 00:31:21,286
Focal plane shutter,
rapid rectilinear and all that.
431
00:31:21,386 --> 00:31:24,122
Look here. Why not come up
to my house and I'll show it to you?
432
00:31:24,222 --> 00:31:26,382
Well, I'd be most interested.
433
00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:31,054
- My name's D'Ascoyne, by the way.
- Mine is Mazzini.
434
00:31:31,806 --> 00:31:34,265
He seemed a very pleasant fellow
435
00:31:34,391 --> 00:31:36,935
and I regretted that our acquaintanceship
must be so short.
436
00:31:38,103 --> 00:31:40,772
Had one of the potting sheds
fixed up as a darkroom.
437
00:31:40,898 --> 00:31:43,088
Couldn't have suited better
if it had been built for it.
438
00:31:43,188 --> 00:31:44,901
Had the equipment
sent down from town.
439
00:31:45,402 --> 00:31:48,709
And I must say the results
have been absolutely top-hole.
440
00:31:48,809 --> 00:31:52,867
I'll show you some quarter-plates
I've taken about the village.
441
00:31:54,745 --> 00:31:58,081
There we are.
Absolutely lightproof, except for this.
442
00:31:58,207 --> 00:32:02,919
Everything to hand, developing dishes here,
toning bath here, whole-plate enlarger.
443
00:32:03,045 --> 00:32:05,421
- Perfect.
- Not too bad, is it?
444
00:32:06,465 --> 00:32:09,049
Talking of the village, by the by,
I don't know if you're thinking
445
00:32:09,149 --> 00:32:11,857
of sending any of your efforts here
to some periodical,
446
00:32:11,957 --> 00:32:13,930
but there's just one thing.
447
00:32:15,391 --> 00:32:17,863
I'm sure you're a good fellow,
or I wouldn't like to ask.
448
00:32:17,963 --> 00:32:19,763
Ask what?
449
00:32:20,007 --> 00:32:23,606
I'd be most grateful if you'd keep back
that last plate you exposed.
450
00:32:24,275 --> 00:32:26,943
- The inn? But it was delightful.
- Yes.
451
00:32:27,570 --> 00:32:30,584
The fact is, my wife has views
about such places,
452
00:32:30,684 --> 00:32:32,753
so I never go in them,
you understand?
453
00:32:32,853 --> 00:32:34,880
Naturally, I wouldn't dream
of embarrassing you.
454
00:32:34,980 --> 00:32:38,496
I knew you were a good fellow.
Suppose we drink on it?
455
00:32:40,791 --> 00:32:43,931
Unless you have views yourself,
of course.
456
00:32:44,031 --> 00:32:45,628
- None.
- Splendid.
457
00:32:46,130 --> 00:32:48,965
What shall it be?
Sherry? Whisky?
458
00:32:52,136 --> 00:32:54,262
I think a small developer.
459
00:32:55,598 --> 00:32:58,946
The mental picture of his wife
that I had formed from Henry's words
460
00:32:59,046 --> 00:33:02,783
left me unprepared for the charm
of the woman I was to meet.
461
00:33:02,883 --> 00:33:06,287
She was as tall and slender as a lily
and as beautiful.
462
00:33:06,387 --> 00:33:09,193
My dear, this is Mr Mazzini.
He has a Thornton Pickard.
463
00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,487
Mr Mazzini, my wife.
464
00:33:12,197 --> 00:33:14,657
I'm no photographer myself,
Mr Mazzini,
465
00:33:14,783 --> 00:33:17,923
but I share my husband's pleasure
in welcoming a fellow enthusiast.
466
00:33:18,023 --> 00:33:20,872
- You'll take some sherry?
- Well, thank you, I...
467
00:33:26,503 --> 00:33:30,048
My husband and I never touch alcohol,
but we see no reason, on that account
468
00:33:30,174 --> 00:33:32,342
to enforce our views on our guests.
469
00:33:32,468 --> 00:33:33,772
Glass of sherry, Harwood.
470
00:33:33,872 --> 00:33:36,442
I have some printing frames
out in the sun.
471
00:33:36,542 --> 00:33:38,806
If you don't mind,
I'll just run out and see to them.
472
00:33:40,517 --> 00:33:43,019
Have you been in the neighbourhood long,
Mr Mazzini?
473
00:33:43,145 --> 00:33:44,854
A few hours only.
474
00:33:44,980 --> 00:33:46,994
I was cycling through the village
475
00:33:47,094 --> 00:33:49,692
and felt compelled to stop
and make a study or two of the inn.
476
00:33:49,818 --> 00:33:52,695
- It looked so charming.
- It does look charming.
477
00:33:53,489 --> 00:33:54,960
But I'm afraid it's, by no means,
478
00:33:55,060 --> 00:33:57,575
an influence for good
in the lives of our people here.
479
00:33:57,701 --> 00:33:59,381
The landlord
is a former coachman of ours.
480
00:33:59,495 --> 00:34:02,705
I have spoken to him several times about
the amount of drinking that goes on there
481
00:34:02,805 --> 00:34:04,749
but he continues to allow it.
482
00:34:04,875 --> 00:34:07,014
It is, after all, I suppose, his livelihood.
483
00:34:07,114 --> 00:34:09,276
I do not consider he has the right
to make a livelihood
484
00:34:09,376 --> 00:34:11,673
by exploiting the weaknesses
of his fellow men.
485
00:34:12,925 --> 00:34:15,218
Put as you put it,
it does sound deplorable.
486
00:34:15,344 --> 00:34:18,012
It is deplorable.
Will you excuse me a moment?
487
00:34:18,931 --> 00:34:20,056
Harwood.
488
00:34:21,016 --> 00:34:23,434
I could well understand
Henry's visits to the village inn
489
00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:26,033
and his stock of refreshments
in the darkroom.
490
00:34:26,133 --> 00:34:29,357
Mrs D'Ascoyne was beautiful,
but what a prig she was.
491
00:34:30,067 --> 00:34:33,277
I wondered how
to ingratiate myself with her,
492
00:34:33,404 --> 00:34:36,710
and decided to attack on her own ground
and with her own weapons.
493
00:34:36,810 --> 00:34:40,214
I'm afraid we can offer you
only a simple luncheon, Mr Mazzini.
494
00:34:40,314 --> 00:34:43,621
You are most kind,
but I feel I should not intrude.
495
00:34:43,747 --> 00:34:46,791
- It is no intrusion.
- I'm afraid it is.
496
00:34:48,252 --> 00:34:51,087
- May I explain?
- Please do.
497
00:34:54,717 --> 00:34:57,093
It was only when your husband
told me his name
498
00:34:57,219 --> 00:35:02,265
that I realised that I'd come by chance
into the most embarrassing situation.
499
00:35:02,391 --> 00:35:05,601
My mother was a member
of the D'Ascoyne family.
500
00:35:05,728 --> 00:35:08,575
She married,
as they thought, beneath her.
501
00:35:08,675 --> 00:35:11,203
And from that day,
they refused to recognise her
502
00:35:11,303 --> 00:35:13,443
or my existence.
503
00:35:14,111 --> 00:35:18,823
I feel that, although in the circumstances
you might hesitate to say so to my face,
504
00:35:18,949 --> 00:35:22,785
you and your husband would prefer
not to receive me at your table.
505
00:35:22,911 --> 00:35:26,427
Perhaps you would be good enough
to explain matters to your husband for me.
506
00:35:26,527 --> 00:35:29,263
I shall, naturally,
leave the neighbourhood at once.
507
00:35:29,363 --> 00:35:31,794
Mr Mazzini, please sit down.
508
00:35:32,963 --> 00:35:33,963
Oh.
509
00:35:36,341 --> 00:35:39,135
You have exhibited
the most delicate feelings.
510
00:35:39,678 --> 00:35:42,568
I know nothing of the history
to which you refer,
511
00:35:42,668 --> 00:35:45,446
but I have often felt that the attitude
of my husband's family
512
00:35:45,546 --> 00:35:47,573
has failed to move with the times,
513
00:35:47,673 --> 00:35:50,075
that they think too much
of the rights of nobility
514
00:35:50,175 --> 00:35:52,411
and too little of its duties.
515
00:35:52,511 --> 00:35:56,957
The very honesty of your behaviour
would appear to me to prove them wrong.
516
00:35:57,057 --> 00:36:00,198
Was Lord Tennyson far from the mark
when he wrote,
517
00:36:00,324 --> 00:36:02,629
"Kind hearts are more than coronets
518
00:36:02,729 --> 00:36:05,328
"and simple faith than Norman blood"?
519
00:36:05,829 --> 00:36:07,371
I hope you will stay to luncheon.
520
00:36:08,165 --> 00:36:12,335
Oh, in that case,
I shall be delighted and honoured.
521
00:36:12,544 --> 00:36:15,671
My impersonation
of a man of sterling character
522
00:36:15,798 --> 00:36:17,507
was such a resounding success
523
00:36:17,633 --> 00:36:22,011
that Mrs D'Ascoyne invited me to spend
the following Saturday-to-Monday with them.
524
00:36:24,014 --> 00:36:27,821
When I returned to the somewhat
contrasting atmosphere of Clapham,
525
00:36:27,921 --> 00:36:31,521
I found the house in a whirl with preparation
for Sibella's wedding to Lionel
526
00:36:31,647 --> 00:36:33,952
which was to take place next day.
527
00:36:34,052 --> 00:36:37,068
Before going to bed that evening,
I wandered into the old nursery
528
00:36:37,194 --> 00:36:39,153
to fetch a book I'd left there.
529
00:36:48,330 --> 00:36:50,081
Penny for them.
530
00:36:50,207 --> 00:36:52,375
Oh, hello, Louis.
531
00:36:55,420 --> 00:36:58,270
You're not looking as radiantly happy
as young females in your situation
532
00:36:58,370 --> 00:36:59,382
are supposed to look.
533
00:36:59,508 --> 00:37:02,885
I was just thinking of all the fun
we've had in this room.
534
00:37:03,011 --> 00:37:05,930
- You and I and Graham.
- And Lionel.
535
00:37:06,723 --> 00:37:08,891
Yes, and Lionel.
536
00:37:11,562 --> 00:37:15,369
Oh, Louis,
I don't want to marry Lionel!
537
00:37:15,469 --> 00:37:17,775
- Why not?
- He's so dull!
538
00:37:19,361 --> 00:37:22,334
I must admit he exhibits the most
extraordinary capacity for middle age
539
00:37:22,434 --> 00:37:25,950
that I've ever encountered
in a young man of 24.
540
00:37:26,076 --> 00:37:29,675
However, it's a bit late in the day
to think of that, isn't it?
541
00:37:29,775 --> 00:37:33,053
I know. That only makes it worse.
542
00:37:33,153 --> 00:37:36,085
- I always told you you should marry me.
- I know.
543
00:37:37,462 --> 00:37:39,922
That makes it worse too.
544
00:37:54,438 --> 00:37:57,607
You look more lovely today
than I've ever seen you.
545
00:38:01,069 --> 00:38:04,280
You're a lucky man, Lionel.
Take my word for it.
546
00:38:09,161 --> 00:38:12,121
I could not helo feeling
that even Sibella's capacity for lying
547
00:38:12,247 --> 00:38:14,790
was going to be taxed to the utmost.
548
00:38:14,917 --> 00:38:17,627
Time had brought me revenge on Lionel.
549
00:38:18,295 --> 00:38:20,225
And as the Italian proverb says,
550
00:38:20,325 --> 00:38:24,467
"Revenge is a dish which people of taste
prefer to eat cold."
551
00:38:27,638 --> 00:38:30,306
The following Saturday I left London
in the middle of the night
552
00:38:30,432 --> 00:38:32,475
and reached Henry's house just before dawn.
553
00:38:37,022 --> 00:38:39,411
It took a mere three minutes
to substitute petrol
554
00:38:39,511 --> 00:38:42,276
for the paraffin in the darkroom lamp.
555
00:38:42,653 --> 00:38:45,363
And I then repaired to a meadow
and took a few hours' sleep
556
00:38:45,489 --> 00:38:48,369
while awaiting the hour at which
I could reasonably arrive at the house.
557
00:38:50,619 --> 00:38:53,287
The day dragged by
in an agony of suspense for me.
558
00:38:53,705 --> 00:38:56,666
Henry took photograph after photograph,
559
00:38:56,792 --> 00:39:00,711
but seemed to have no urge whatever
to follow it up with a visit to the darkroom.
560
00:39:04,508 --> 00:39:05,716
Bravo, Edith!
561
00:39:06,134 --> 00:39:10,054
I began to fear
that he had suddenly taken the pledge.
562
00:39:11,056 --> 00:39:14,684
I think I'll just go and develop these
before tea. Care to come?
563
00:39:14,810 --> 00:39:17,520
I would, indeed, but I have a slight headache.
The sun, I think.
564
00:39:17,646 --> 00:39:20,064
And I'm afraid the chemicals
wouldn't improve it.
565
00:39:20,190 --> 00:39:22,621
Mr Mazzini and I will have tea
under the tulip tree.
566
00:39:22,721 --> 00:39:24,881
I've always found that
most beneficial for a headache.
567
00:39:25,362 --> 00:39:27,905
I'm afraid Henry
will think me a poor enthusiast.
568
00:39:28,031 --> 00:39:31,338
I sometimes think that he is too great a one.
569
00:39:31,438 --> 00:39:33,327
In a way, I am to blame for it.
570
00:39:33,745 --> 00:39:36,247
Before we were married, he had few interests.
571
00:39:36,373 --> 00:39:38,693
He used to spend the greater part
of each day at his club.
572
00:39:40,043 --> 00:39:41,436
I felt that such a life was unhealthy
573
00:39:41,536 --> 00:39:44,213
and persuaded him to come
and live here in the country.
574
00:39:45,382 --> 00:39:47,121
I hoped
that perhaps he would interest himself
575
00:39:47,221 --> 00:39:50,052
in the welfare of our tenantry, as I do.
576
00:39:50,345 --> 00:39:52,585
But he became interested in photography
on our honeymoon
577
00:39:53,015 --> 00:39:57,184
and since then it has become
the major preoccupation of his life.
578
00:39:58,186 --> 00:40:00,438
- Mr Mazzini...
- Yes?
579
00:40:00,564 --> 00:40:03,124
I hope you will forgive my speaking to you
on a personal matter,
580
00:40:03,775 --> 00:40:06,393
but it worries me that Henry
should spend so much time on his hobby
581
00:40:06,493 --> 00:40:08,551
that he has little left
for any more useful activity.
582
00:40:09,406 --> 00:40:11,503
Am I right to let him go on like this?
583
00:40:11,603 --> 00:40:14,381
I could hardly point out
that Henry now had no time left
584
00:40:14,481 --> 00:40:16,216
for any kind of activity,
585
00:40:16,316 --> 00:40:18,914
so I continued to discuss his future.
586
00:40:19,041 --> 00:40:21,161
He has never shown any wish
for a career in politics?
587
00:40:21,918 --> 00:40:24,516
- None.
- Nor any other ambitions?
588
00:40:24,616 --> 00:40:28,090
One only. To win a prize
at the Salon Photography in Brussels.
589
00:40:29,468 --> 00:40:30,968
What is it?
590
00:40:31,094 --> 00:40:34,930
Oh, they're just burning some leaves
at the bottom of the garden.
591
00:40:35,057 --> 00:40:37,808
But they can't be at this time of year.
592
00:40:39,936 --> 00:40:42,104
- Henry!
- No. You stay here.
593
00:40:42,773 --> 00:40:44,482
Needless to say, I was too late.
594
00:40:46,276 --> 00:40:49,445
The funeral service was held
in the village church at Chalfont,
595
00:40:49,571 --> 00:40:52,406
prior to interment in the family vault.
596
00:40:53,784 --> 00:40:56,327
Mrs D'Ascoyne, who had discerned in me
597
00:40:56,453 --> 00:40:59,663
a man of delicate sensibility
and high purpose
598
00:40:59,790 --> 00:41:02,625
asked me to accompany her
on the cross-country journey.
599
00:41:03,460 --> 00:41:05,432
"To everything there is a season
600
00:41:05,532 --> 00:41:09,465
"and a time to every purpose
under the heaven.
601
00:41:10,342 --> 00:41:13,969
"A time to be born, and a time to die."
602
00:41:14,346 --> 00:41:16,735
The occasion was interesting,
in that it provided me
603
00:41:16,835 --> 00:41:19,975
with my first sight
of the D'Ascoynes en masse.
604
00:41:20,811 --> 00:41:23,354
Interesting and somewhat depressing
605
00:41:23,480 --> 00:41:26,649
for it emphasised how far I had yet to travel.
606
00:41:27,109 --> 00:41:28,943
There was the Duke.
607
00:41:32,656 --> 00:41:35,616
There was my employer,
Lord Ascoyne D'Ascoyne.
608
00:41:37,619 --> 00:41:40,496
There was Admiral Lord Horatio D'Ascoyne.
609
00:41:42,999 --> 00:41:46,168
There was General Lord Rufus D'Ascoyne.
610
00:41:49,172 --> 00:41:52,049
There was Lady Agatha D'Ascoyne.
611
00:41:56,138 --> 00:41:59,682
And in the pulpit,
talking interminable nonsense
612
00:41:59,808 --> 00:42:01,892
the Reverend Lord Henry D'Ascoyne.
613
00:42:02,018 --> 00:42:03,811
The life cut short
614
00:42:04,563 --> 00:42:09,358
was one rich in achievement and promise
615
00:42:09,818 --> 00:42:12,236
of service to humanity.
616
00:42:12,362 --> 00:42:14,793
The D'Ascoynes
certainly appeared to have accorded
617
00:42:14,893 --> 00:42:17,003
with the tradition of the landed gentry
618
00:42:17,103 --> 00:42:20,369
and sent the fool of the family
into the church.
619
00:42:21,872 --> 00:42:24,373
Well, goodbye, my dear.
620
00:42:25,250 --> 00:42:27,514
- Goodbye.
- No fretting now.
621
00:42:27,614 --> 00:42:30,713
After all, one thing to be said,
we all have to come to it.
622
00:42:31,715 --> 00:42:36,022
Great thing, you know, family vault like ours.
Constant reminder of one's heritage.
623
00:42:36,122 --> 00:42:38,262
Now, take this new cremation nonsense.
624
00:42:38,388 --> 00:42:41,653
Who wants to see his nearest and dearest
put in an incinerator?
625
00:42:41,753 --> 00:42:44,727
I think, sir, Mrs D'Ascoyne should leave.
The wind is turning cold.
626
00:42:44,853 --> 00:42:47,188
As Mrs D'Ascoyne thinks best.
627
00:42:48,773 --> 00:42:51,442
Glad we had Cousin Henry
to take the service.
628
00:42:51,568 --> 00:42:55,070
Boring old ass,
but it keeps the thing in the family.
629
00:42:55,572 --> 00:42:57,573
People getting strange ideas these days.
630
00:42:57,699 --> 00:42:59,742
Had a fellow write to me not so long ago,
631
00:42:59,868 --> 00:43:03,008
wanted to bury his mother here
from Tooting or somewhere.
632
00:43:03,108 --> 00:43:05,915
Start letting strangers in,
the place will be full up.
633
00:43:06,041 --> 00:43:07,791
No room for us, eh?
634
00:43:08,752 --> 00:43:11,391
I privately promised him
that I would make it my business
635
00:43:11,491 --> 00:43:13,797
to see there was room for him.
636
00:43:18,887 --> 00:43:21,860
Uncle Ethelred is not the most tactful of men.
637
00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:24,141
I could gladly have struck him.
638
00:43:24,267 --> 00:43:27,061
Thank you for intervening when you did.
639
00:43:29,606 --> 00:43:31,774
The house will be so empty
640
00:43:32,275 --> 00:43:34,944
and yet he will be in it everywhere.
641
00:43:36,238 --> 00:43:39,252
I find the thought of life there hard to face.
642
00:43:39,352 --> 00:43:41,617
Must you stay there? A new environment...
643
00:43:42,285 --> 00:43:43,685
I must,
644
00:43:43,954 --> 00:43:45,788
for one reason if no other.
645
00:43:45,914 --> 00:43:49,625
They would say I was running away,
that there was truth in all these rumours.
646
00:43:49,751 --> 00:43:52,461
- Rumours?
- In the village.
647
00:43:53,255 --> 00:43:55,089
There's been gossip.
648
00:43:55,632 --> 00:43:58,634
They say that Henry drank in secret.
649
00:44:00,303 --> 00:44:02,463
They even say that
that was the cause of the accident.
650
00:44:03,139 --> 00:44:06,684
I'm sure that Henry would never have
professed one thing and practised another.
651
00:44:08,311 --> 00:44:09,979
I, too, am sure.
652
00:44:11,773 --> 00:44:13,774
Otherwise, I think I could not survive.
653
00:44:14,317 --> 00:44:17,611
We have a long way to go.
Try to sleep a little.
654
00:44:18,822 --> 00:44:20,281
Sleep does not come easily.
655
00:44:20,824 --> 00:44:22,199
Please try.
656
00:44:23,451 --> 00:44:24,785
Allow me.
657
00:44:28,665 --> 00:44:30,428
I was conscious that a new obsession
658
00:44:30,528 --> 00:44:34,670
was about to join the one that I should wear
the coronet of the duke of Chalfont,
659
00:44:35,338 --> 00:44:38,841
that Edith D'Ascoyne should wear that
of the duchess beside me.
660
00:44:39,801 --> 00:44:42,886
Her dignity of bearing
at the worst moments of her grief
661
00:44:43,013 --> 00:44:45,182
had impressed me with the feeling
that here was a woman
662
00:44:45,282 --> 00:44:47,725
whose quality matched her beauty.
663
00:44:48,351 --> 00:44:50,561
I resolved to embark upon her courtship
664
00:44:50,687 --> 00:44:54,356
as soon as a decent period of mourning
should have elapsed.
665
00:44:54,691 --> 00:44:59,028
Sibella? Yes, Sibella was pretty enough
in her suburban way.
666
00:44:59,696 --> 00:45:01,821
And, indeed, there was no reason
why we shouldn't continue
667
00:45:01,921 --> 00:45:03,741
to meet on friendly terms.
668
00:45:03,867 --> 00:45:07,244
But her face would have looked
rather out of place under a coronet.
669
00:45:10,206 --> 00:45:13,208
That, sir, is a list of bills
due for redemption this week.
670
00:45:13,335 --> 00:45:15,640
I've marked in red those asking for renewal.
671
00:45:15,740 --> 00:45:19,811
Aitcheson, yes.
Pole and Carter, I suppose so.
672
00:45:19,911 --> 00:45:22,147
Knollis Limited, oh, no.
673
00:45:22,247 --> 00:45:24,190
Redbank and Holland...
674
00:45:24,290 --> 00:45:26,388
You have a friend there, have you not?
675
00:45:26,514 --> 00:45:29,099
An acquaintance. I know Lionel Holland.
676
00:45:29,225 --> 00:45:31,560
Would you say that he's sound?
677
00:45:32,062 --> 00:45:33,437
I wouldn't say not, sir.
678
00:45:33,563 --> 00:45:35,189
Hmm. Thank you.
679
00:45:40,737 --> 00:45:43,113
- Mazzini.
- Yes, sir?
680
00:45:43,907 --> 00:45:47,005
I've watched your progress here
with great care
681
00:45:47,105 --> 00:45:50,383
and have been gratified to note
that it has fully justified my judgement
682
00:45:50,483 --> 00:45:52,748
in inviting you into the firm.
683
00:45:52,874 --> 00:45:57,294
In view of that, and in order that
you may be able to adopt a style of living
684
00:45:57,420 --> 00:46:00,255
befitting a member of the D'Ascoyne family,
685
00:46:00,382 --> 00:46:03,688
I have decided
to appoint you my private secretary
686
00:46:03,788 --> 00:46:06,762
at a salary of £500 per annum.
687
00:46:07,597 --> 00:46:10,862
- Sir, I cannot begin to...
- Oh, please do not try.
688
00:46:10,962 --> 00:46:14,603
I had intended
that my son should occupy the position.
689
00:46:15,438 --> 00:46:19,371
I can only say that I will try
to make my occupancy of it
690
00:46:19,471 --> 00:46:21,318
worthy of his memory.
691
00:46:25,240 --> 00:46:26,949
I left the Halworths' house
692
00:46:27,075 --> 00:46:29,827
and took a bachelor apartment in St James's.
693
00:46:29,953 --> 00:46:32,592
Clapham no longer held Sibella's presence
to compensate me
694
00:46:32,692 --> 00:46:35,332
for the tedious journey
between the suburbs and the city.
695
00:46:37,627 --> 00:46:42,005
Anyhow, it would be vastly more convenient
for her to visit me here.
696
00:46:54,978 --> 00:46:58,522
Now, let me have a look
at the beautiful Mrs Holland.
697
00:46:58,648 --> 00:47:01,817
- No, I think I prefer Miss Halworth.
- So do I.
698
00:47:02,986 --> 00:47:06,321
Louis, it's very wrong of me to visit you here.
699
00:47:06,448 --> 00:47:09,533
- Why?
- A married woman calling on a bachelor?
700
00:47:10,869 --> 00:47:12,703
A dangerous bachelor
701
00:47:13,663 --> 00:47:15,330
in his apartment.
702
00:47:15,457 --> 00:47:16,957
I? Dangerous?
703
00:47:19,669 --> 00:47:22,379
These things only become wrong
when people know about them.
704
00:47:22,505 --> 00:47:25,382
This is a very discreet apartment.
That's why I chose it.
705
00:47:25,508 --> 00:47:28,719
So that young women
could call on you in safety?
706
00:47:30,013 --> 00:47:32,514
So that one young woman could.
707
00:47:33,558 --> 00:47:35,851
How did you know she'd want to?
708
00:47:35,977 --> 00:47:37,227
I hoped.
709
00:47:41,149 --> 00:47:44,151
- How did you enjoy your honeymoon?
- Not at all.
710
00:47:45,862 --> 00:47:47,237
Not at all?
711
00:47:48,239 --> 00:47:49,698
Not at all.
712
00:47:51,993 --> 00:47:54,244
- And how was Italy?
- Oh, impossible!
713
00:47:54,746 --> 00:47:57,969
Every time I wanted to go shopping,
Lionel dragged me off to a church
714
00:47:58,069 --> 00:47:59,804
or picture gallery.
715
00:47:59,904 --> 00:48:03,378
- Said he wanted to improve his mind.
- He has room to do so.
716
00:48:04,047 --> 00:48:07,645
I should reprove you
for saying unkind things about him
717
00:48:07,745 --> 00:48:09,218
but I can't.
718
00:48:10,845 --> 00:48:15,320
Louis, I think I've married
the most boring man in London.
719
00:48:15,420 --> 00:48:17,518
- In England.
- In Europe!
720
00:48:21,231 --> 00:48:24,858
Oh, the Italian men are so handsome,
721
00:48:25,401 --> 00:48:28,904
but I could never get away
from Lionel for a moment.
722
00:48:30,198 --> 00:48:32,908
But I was forgetting, you're Italian.
723
00:48:33,368 --> 00:48:34,368
Half.
724
00:48:40,208 --> 00:48:41,542
Louis...
725
00:48:42,794 --> 00:48:45,587
I can speak frankly to you?
726
00:48:47,382 --> 00:48:49,591
Well, if not to me, to whom?
727
00:48:50,426 --> 00:48:52,052
I shall go mad.
728
00:48:52,554 --> 00:48:55,597
Already when he touches me,
I want to scream.
729
00:49:10,446 --> 00:49:12,114
What am I doing?
730
00:49:13,950 --> 00:49:15,588
You know very well.
731
00:49:15,688 --> 00:49:17,786
You're playing with fire.
732
00:49:18,288 --> 00:49:20,163
At least it warms me.
733
00:49:21,666 --> 00:49:23,083
I must go.
734
00:49:25,295 --> 00:49:27,433
Lionel's dining at home tonight.
735
00:49:27,533 --> 00:49:29,339
Where is Lionel dining tomorrow night?
736
00:49:29,465 --> 00:49:31,967
With some business acquaintances.
737
00:49:32,677 --> 00:49:35,345
And where are you dining tomorrow night?
738
00:49:35,471 --> 00:49:36,471
Here?
739
00:49:37,098 --> 00:49:38,098
Here.
740
00:49:45,106 --> 00:49:47,078
Poor little imprisoned bird.
741
00:49:47,178 --> 00:49:51,124
Well, she was welcome to come
and flutter her wings with me.
742
00:49:51,224 --> 00:49:53,793
I could think of many more
disagreeable ways of killing time
743
00:49:53,893 --> 00:49:55,753
pending the arrival of the moment
744
00:49:55,853 --> 00:49:57,868
when the conventional decencies
would permit me
745
00:49:57,994 --> 00:50:00,370
to make my declaration to Edith.
746
00:50:01,372 --> 00:50:04,971
As to the other undertaking,
I had not forgotten or forgiven
747
00:50:05,071 --> 00:50:07,669
the boredom of the sermon
at young Henry's funeral
748
00:50:08,046 --> 00:50:11,102
and I decided to promote
the Reverend Lord Henry D'Ascoyne
749
00:50:11,202 --> 00:50:12,716
to next place on the list.
750
00:50:13,301 --> 00:50:17,442
I therefore assumed the garb and character
of a colonial bishop
751
00:50:17,542 --> 00:50:22,684
spending his vacation making a collection
of brass rubbings from country churches.
752
00:50:24,854 --> 00:50:26,813
Good evening, my lord.
753
00:50:28,024 --> 00:50:29,660
It was, for a moment,
a shock to be addressed
754
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:32,665
by my ecclesiastical title,
but I recovered quickly.
755
00:50:32,765 --> 00:50:37,240
Good evening. I was just taking a rubbing
of this most interesting brass.
756
00:50:37,533 --> 00:50:40,577
An ancestress of my dear late wife.
757
00:50:41,371 --> 00:50:43,843
Allow me to introduce myself.
758
00:50:43,943 --> 00:50:47,847
Henry D'Ascoyne, rector of this parish.
759
00:50:47,947 --> 00:50:51,338
Septimus Wilkinson, bishop of Matabeleland.
760
00:50:52,757 --> 00:50:57,315
I was spending my vacation taking a cycling
tour around your beautiful country churches.
761
00:50:57,415 --> 00:51:01,682
- Ah! Have you noticed our clerestory?
- Cle...
762
00:51:04,060 --> 00:51:05,894
Ah, exquisite!
763
00:51:06,020 --> 00:51:08,563
- The corbels are very fine.
- Hmm.
764
00:51:09,399 --> 00:51:13,498
Perhaps Your Lordship would permit me
to show you one or two other things
765
00:51:13,598 --> 00:51:15,208
in which we take a pride.
766
00:51:15,308 --> 00:51:17,406
I should be most interested.
767
00:51:17,532 --> 00:51:20,200
Our most notable features, of course,
768
00:51:20,576 --> 00:51:23,245
are the D'Ascoyne memorials.
769
00:51:23,913 --> 00:51:26,415
Every member of the family
770
00:51:26,874 --> 00:51:30,585
to a cadet branch
of which I have the honour to belong
771
00:51:30,712 --> 00:51:34,423
is buried here in the family vault.
772
00:51:35,967 --> 00:51:40,804
Here you will see
the first duke and his duchess.
773
00:51:41,556 --> 00:51:45,726
The dead watching, as it were,
over the living.
774
00:51:47,145 --> 00:51:50,368
The church is exceptionally endowed also
775
00:51:50,468 --> 00:51:53,817
with items of architectural interest.
776
00:51:55,236 --> 00:51:58,447
You will note that our chantry
777
00:51:58,573 --> 00:52:02,492
displays the crocketed and finialed ogee
778
00:52:02,618 --> 00:52:06,955
which marks it as very early Perpendicular.
779
00:52:08,791 --> 00:52:11,626
The bosses to the pendant are typical.
780
00:52:13,504 --> 00:52:15,464
And I always say
781
00:52:16,340 --> 00:52:19,176
that my west window
782
00:52:19,302 --> 00:52:22,679
has all the exuberance of Chaucer
783
00:52:23,639 --> 00:52:29,115
without, happily, any of
the concomitant crudities of his period.
784
00:52:29,215 --> 00:52:30,215
Hmm.
785
00:52:30,980 --> 00:52:33,148
Now we approach the font.
786
00:52:34,150 --> 00:52:37,248
At last he did as I had hoped
and invited me to dinner.
787
00:52:37,348 --> 00:52:40,864
The Reverend Lord Henry was not
one of those newfangled parsons
788
00:52:40,990 --> 00:52:44,630
who carry the principles of their vocation
uncomfortably into private life.
789
00:52:44,730 --> 00:52:47,258
However, he exhibited a polite interest
790
00:52:47,358 --> 00:52:49,831
in the progress of the Christian faith
in Matabeleland
791
00:52:49,957 --> 00:52:51,833
which I was at some difficulty to satisfy.
792
00:52:51,959 --> 00:52:54,599
The SPCK have provided us
793
00:52:54,699 --> 00:52:57,380
with a large number of copies
of the Good Book
794
00:52:57,507 --> 00:52:59,716
translated into Matabele.
795
00:52:59,842 --> 00:53:03,149
But as none of the natives can read
even their own language...
796
00:53:03,249 --> 00:53:07,182
- You speak Matabele yourself?
- Not as a native.
797
00:53:08,184 --> 00:53:10,560
It would be most interesting
798
00:53:10,686 --> 00:53:13,688
to hear a sample of the language.
799
00:53:14,524 --> 00:53:16,566
I'm afraid my Matabele is a little rusty.
800
00:53:16,818 --> 00:53:19,194
Oh, come, my lord.
801
00:53:21,155 --> 00:53:26,034
Daniel cast into the lions' den, for example.
802
00:53:37,880 --> 00:53:40,715
It is a colloquial rendering, of course.
803
00:53:41,217 --> 00:53:42,926
Most interesting.
804
00:53:45,096 --> 00:53:47,180
My lord, the port is with you.
805
00:53:47,515 --> 00:53:48,515
Oh.
806
00:53:51,894 --> 00:53:54,896
- How do you find the wine?
- Admirable.
807
00:53:55,565 --> 00:53:58,108
- Courban '69.
- Oh.
808
00:53:58,234 --> 00:54:00,569
No finer year, in my view.
809
00:54:03,364 --> 00:54:07,033
My doctor, though, is of a different opinion.
810
00:54:07,577 --> 00:54:09,578
And what does he favour?
811
00:54:11,247 --> 00:54:12,789
Abstinence.
812
00:54:15,626 --> 00:54:17,919
Would you care for a cigar?
813
00:54:19,130 --> 00:54:20,589
Thank you.
814
00:54:48,117 --> 00:54:49,117
Yes.
815
00:54:51,329 --> 00:54:56,291
He's continually warning me
about the state of my arteries.
816
00:55:01,797 --> 00:55:03,506
But I say to him,
817
00:55:04,467 --> 00:55:07,607
"What possible harm can there be
818
00:55:07,707 --> 00:55:10,096
"in one glass of an evening
819
00:55:12,350 --> 00:55:13,850
"or even two?"
820
00:55:14,310 --> 00:55:16,019
What harm, indeed.
821
00:55:17,980 --> 00:55:21,316
- You do not condemn me then?
- Not in the least.
822
00:55:22,818 --> 00:55:24,444
If I may say so,
823
00:55:25,279 --> 00:55:28,823
without disrespect to my superiors,
824
00:55:29,825 --> 00:55:33,203
your visit has brought me something
825
00:55:33,829 --> 00:55:38,667
which I could not expect
from any churchman in this country.
826
00:56:12,159 --> 00:56:14,703
I surmised, correctly, as it proved
827
00:56:14,829 --> 00:56:18,678
that Lord Henry's doctor would assume
that he had succumbed to a surfeit of port
828
00:56:18,778 --> 00:56:21,209
and would politely ascribe death
to a heart attack.
829
00:56:22,044 --> 00:56:25,088
On my return to London,
I decided to proceed methodically
830
00:56:25,214 --> 00:56:28,312
with the elimination of
the remaining minor obstacles.
831
00:56:28,412 --> 00:56:33,221
Lady Agatha D'Ascoyne was a pioneer
in the campaign for women's suffrage.
832
00:56:39,562 --> 00:56:42,063
With the inconvenient consequence
that her public appearances
833
00:56:42,189 --> 00:56:46,067
were invariably made under
the watchful eyes of the metropolitan police.
834
00:56:46,193 --> 00:56:48,445
When she was not making
public appearances,
835
00:56:48,571 --> 00:56:51,740
she was in prison
and still more inaccessible.
836
00:56:51,866 --> 00:56:55,214
In fact, before I could learn
of a favourable opportunity,
837
00:56:55,314 --> 00:56:57,787
I had to join the movement myself.
838
00:56:58,289 --> 00:57:00,511
Secret plans had been made for Lady Agatha
839
00:57:00,611 --> 00:57:02,513
to celebrate her latest release from Holloway
840
00:57:02,613 --> 00:57:05,628
by a shower of leaflets over Whitehall
and the West End.
841
00:57:39,580 --> 00:57:41,247
I shot an arrow in the air,
842
00:57:42,792 --> 00:57:45,502
she fell to Earth in Berkeley Square.
843
00:57:46,670 --> 00:57:50,423
Admiral Lord Horatio D'Ascoyne
presented a more difficult problem.
844
00:57:51,675 --> 00:57:54,135
He scarcely ever set foot ashore
845
00:57:55,346 --> 00:57:59,849
and I was beginning to feel that this task
was beyond even my ingenuity.
846
00:58:02,478 --> 00:58:05,409
When he was conveniently
involved in a naval disaster
847
00:58:05,509 --> 00:58:08,579
which arose from a combination
of natural obstinacy
848
00:58:08,679 --> 00:58:10,748
and a certain confusion of mind.
849
00:58:10,848 --> 00:58:12,654
Unfortunate in one of his rank.
850
00:58:13,948 --> 00:58:15,657
Bring her to port.
851
00:58:18,327 --> 00:58:21,329
- Surely you mean starboard, sir.
- Port!
852
00:58:30,464 --> 00:58:33,145
Both ships sank almost immediately.
853
00:58:33,245 --> 00:58:36,719
Though, fortunately,
all hands were saved, save one.
854
00:58:38,681 --> 00:58:41,654
Admiral Lord Horatio, obstinate to the last
855
00:58:41,754 --> 00:58:44,477
insisted on going down with his ship.
856
00:58:48,190 --> 00:58:51,497
General Lord Rufus D'Ascoyne,
on the other hand,
857
00:58:51,597 --> 00:58:53,903
who never tired of demonstrating
how he had fought
858
00:58:54,029 --> 00:58:56,961
the most calamitous campaign
of the South African War
859
00:58:57,061 --> 00:58:58,462
was a fairly easy proposition.
860
00:58:58,562 --> 00:59:04,747
At that moment, the concealed enemy
emerged from behind the kopje.
861
00:59:05,374 --> 00:59:10,211
I held our guns' fire until
we could see the whites of their eyes.
862
00:59:10,337 --> 00:59:13,715
Then I gave the order. "Fire!"
863
00:59:15,092 --> 00:59:16,509
Boom, boom, boom.
864
00:59:17,761 --> 00:59:20,722
It seemed appropriate that
he who had lived amidst the cannon's roar
865
00:59:20,848 --> 00:59:22,849
should die explosively.
866
00:59:23,225 --> 00:59:28,229
I therefore concealed in a pot of caviar
a simple but powerful homemade bomb
867
00:59:28,939 --> 00:59:32,692
and through the post,
I sent the caviar to the general.
868
00:59:32,943 --> 00:59:35,612
I pretended
to be deceived by the feint
869
00:59:35,738 --> 00:59:37,947
and sent our horse to meet it.
870
00:59:38,073 --> 00:59:43,036
At that moment, the concealed enemy
emerged from behind the kopje.
871
00:59:43,621 --> 00:59:45,747
I held our guns' fire
872
00:59:45,873 --> 00:59:48,791
till we could see the whites of their eyes.
873
00:59:54,298 --> 00:59:57,634
Used to get a lot of this stuff in the Crimea.
874
00:59:57,760 --> 01:00:00,595
One thing the Russkies do really well.
875
01:00:04,642 --> 01:00:06,809
Not an atom of him was left.
876
01:00:10,147 --> 01:00:15,206
One could almost believe there was a curse
on our unfortunate family, Mazzini.
877
01:00:15,306 --> 01:00:16,611
Indeed, sir, one could.
878
01:00:16,737 --> 01:00:20,085
I don't know if you realise
how close this series of tragedies
879
01:00:20,185 --> 01:00:22,325
has brought you to the succession.
880
01:00:22,451 --> 01:00:24,379
I had not actually given the matter
any thought, sir.
881
01:00:24,479 --> 01:00:26,091
Then it's time that you did.
882
01:00:26,191 --> 01:00:29,999
Do you not realise that you are
heir presumptive to the dukedom?
883
01:00:30,125 --> 01:00:32,769
That is to say, in the event of
the present duke dying without issue,
884
01:00:32,869 --> 01:00:35,797
I alone intervene between you and the title.
885
01:00:36,257 --> 01:00:38,091
And I am an old man.
886
01:00:38,842 --> 01:00:41,803
I've never really recovered
from the first of these calamities.
887
01:00:42,596 --> 01:00:44,639
You mean I might become Duke of Chalfont?
888
01:00:44,765 --> 01:00:46,683
I mean that you almost certainly will.
889
01:00:48,143 --> 01:00:50,311
In view of that, I feel it would be more fitting
890
01:00:50,437 --> 01:00:53,577
that you should cease to be
an employee here.
891
01:00:53,677 --> 01:00:56,859
- Oh.
- And become instead my partner.
892
01:00:58,279 --> 01:01:00,363
I am most deeply grateful and honoured.
893
01:01:00,489 --> 01:01:04,826
If you'll come round here,
I will make everything very clear to you.
894
01:01:14,044 --> 01:01:19,048
Uh, had she lived, your mother, of course,
would have succeeded before you.
895
01:01:19,592 --> 01:01:21,480
One of my first tasks as partner
896
01:01:21,580 --> 01:01:23,845
was to interview Lionel, who came cap...
897
01:01:24,388 --> 01:01:26,681
Or rather, silk hat in hand.
898
01:01:27,850 --> 01:01:31,269
To save time, I presume you have called
to ask for renewal of your bill?
899
01:01:32,354 --> 01:01:34,681
The fact is, old boy, we sold short
900
01:01:34,781 --> 01:01:37,851
and the market hasn't
dropped as we expected.
901
01:01:37,951 --> 01:01:41,605
I feel entitled to point out
that we here regard our function
902
01:01:41,705 --> 01:01:44,691
as the encouragement
of constructive investment
903
01:01:44,791 --> 01:01:47,694
and not the financing
of mere gambling transactions.
904
01:01:47,794 --> 01:01:48,994
Now...
905
01:01:50,080 --> 01:01:52,365
It would have delighted me
to refuse him.
906
01:01:52,465 --> 01:01:55,118
However, a bankrupt Lionel
could hardly have continued
907
01:01:55,218 --> 01:01:57,754
to support Sibella in her extravagances
908
01:01:57,880 --> 01:02:00,185
and I had no wish to do so myself.
909
01:02:00,285 --> 01:02:04,552
Very well. We will renew
at three and a half percent.
910
01:02:04,970 --> 01:02:07,631
I judged that the time was now ripe
to make a move
911
01:02:07,731 --> 01:02:09,361
in the matter of Edith D'Ascoyne.
912
01:02:09,461 --> 01:02:11,559
It's becoming cold. Shall we go in?
913
01:02:12,561 --> 01:02:15,055
I know why you shivered just now.
914
01:02:15,155 --> 01:02:17,369
It was not because you were cold.
915
01:02:17,469 --> 01:02:18,469
No.
916
01:02:19,943 --> 01:02:21,978
I couldn't help remembering.
917
01:02:22,078 --> 01:02:24,947
I know. But do you try to forget?
918
01:02:25,991 --> 01:02:29,160
- I may sound harsh, but believe me...
- Please.
919
01:02:29,787 --> 01:02:31,162
Not there.
920
01:02:33,499 --> 01:02:35,992
Because it was Henry's chair.
921
01:02:36,092 --> 01:02:38,670
It hasn't been used since that day.
922
01:02:39,171 --> 01:02:40,997
Nothing of his.
923
01:02:41,097 --> 01:02:45,259
Everything is just as he left it,
his writing desk, his clothes.
924
01:02:45,969 --> 01:02:48,930
I cannot bear that it should be otherwise.
925
01:02:50,766 --> 01:02:53,343
You want this house to be a shrine.
926
01:02:53,443 --> 01:02:57,480
You're wrong.
Shrines are not meant to house the living.
927
01:02:58,691 --> 01:03:03,186
I have always respected you,
your principles, your courage,
928
01:03:03,286 --> 01:03:05,689
above any woman I've ever met.
929
01:03:05,789 --> 01:03:09,088
It is your duty to yourself and to others,
930
01:03:09,188 --> 01:03:10,993
to Henry even,
931
01:03:11,120 --> 01:03:14,205
to live again in the present, in the future.
932
01:03:15,290 --> 01:03:16,708
What future is there for me?
933
01:03:23,716 --> 01:03:27,009
I am now going to say
something presumptuous.
934
01:03:27,136 --> 01:03:29,796
You must order me
from your house if you wish.
935
01:03:29,896 --> 01:03:31,472
It is this...
936
01:03:32,182 --> 01:03:36,448
If you should ever feel that
the constant support of a devoted admirer
937
01:03:36,548 --> 01:03:38,888
would be of assistance to you,
938
01:03:38,988 --> 01:03:42,121
I should be most honoured
if you would permit me
939
01:03:42,221 --> 01:03:44,694
to offer you my hand in marriage.
940
01:03:46,530 --> 01:03:47,989
Mr Mazzini...
941
01:03:55,205 --> 01:03:56,873
This is a shock.
942
01:03:58,876 --> 01:04:00,585
I'm most touched.
943
01:04:01,545 --> 01:04:03,830
Most grateful,
944
01:04:03,930 --> 01:04:07,842
but I could not consider
even the possibility of remarrying.
945
01:04:08,886 --> 01:04:12,221
I have spoken too boldly and too soon.
946
01:04:13,932 --> 01:04:17,894
Please regard what I have said merely
as something to draw upon
947
01:04:18,020 --> 01:04:19,687
should you ever feel so inclined.
948
01:04:20,397 --> 01:04:22,995
Sibella was waiting for me
when I got back.
949
01:04:23,095 --> 01:04:26,019
I was pleased to see her,
for while I never admired Edith
950
01:04:26,119 --> 01:04:28,167
as much as when I was with Sibella,
951
01:04:28,267 --> 01:04:31,199
I never longed for Sibella
as much as when I was with Edith.
952
01:04:33,577 --> 01:04:36,362
I'm afraid I'm late. Have you been bored?
953
01:04:36,462 --> 01:04:37,462
No.
954
01:04:38,123 --> 01:04:41,013
I've been looking into the fire and thinking.
955
01:04:41,113 --> 01:04:43,119
- What about?
- Oh.
956
01:04:43,219 --> 01:04:46,589
How we used to roast chestnuts
round the other fire
957
01:04:46,715 --> 01:04:49,209
and what a lot has happened since.
958
01:04:49,309 --> 01:04:50,689
Such as?
959
01:04:50,789 --> 01:04:54,860
How you told me not to marry Lionel
because you might be a duke one day
960
01:04:54,960 --> 01:04:57,058
and how I laughed at you.
961
01:04:57,768 --> 01:04:59,894
And how I married Lionel
962
01:05:00,395 --> 01:05:03,064
and now you very nearly are a duke.
963
01:05:04,483 --> 01:05:06,309
We're much better off as we are, you and I.
964
01:05:06,409 --> 01:05:11,043
It's all very well for you to say that.
You're not married to Lionel.
965
01:05:11,143 --> 01:05:13,817
We see each other when we want to.
966
01:05:13,917 --> 01:05:16,059
We're not obliged to see each other
when we don't want to.
967
01:05:16,159 --> 01:05:19,121
We don't see each other as often as I'd like to.
968
01:05:19,248 --> 01:05:22,054
- You've been away the whole weekend.
- I had to go.
969
01:05:22,154 --> 01:05:24,494
- Where?
- To see Mrs D'Ascoyne,
970
01:05:24,594 --> 01:05:27,330
the widow of that cousin of mine
who was killed.
971
01:05:27,430 --> 01:05:30,229
All your cousins seem to get killed.
972
01:05:30,329 --> 01:05:34,470
I really wouldn't be in the least surprised
if you'd murdered them all.
973
01:05:34,596 --> 01:05:36,806
- Oh.
- How clumsy of me.
974
01:05:48,944 --> 01:05:52,363
- Whatever made you say that?
- Just silliness.
975
01:05:53,198 --> 01:05:56,526
Well, if you promise not to tell anyone,
I'll let you in to my guilty secret.
976
01:05:56,626 --> 01:05:57,952
I did murder them all.
977
01:05:59,454 --> 01:06:01,998
I've suspected it for a long time.
978
01:06:03,125 --> 01:06:05,264
- What's she like?
- Who?
979
01:06:05,364 --> 01:06:09,505
- Mrs D'Ascoyne.
- Oh, she's tall, slender...
980
01:06:10,048 --> 01:06:11,374
Beautiful?
981
01:06:11,474 --> 01:06:13,465
Yes, I suppose some people
would call her beautiful.
982
01:06:13,565 --> 01:06:14,940
Would you?
983
01:06:15,040 --> 01:06:18,347
I suppose so.
I never really thought about that.
984
01:06:18,473 --> 01:06:21,559
What would you say
if she asked you about me?
985
01:06:30,235 --> 01:06:34,030
I'd say that you were
a perfect combination of imperfections.
986
01:06:34,156 --> 01:06:37,734
I'd say that your nose
was just a little too short,
987
01:06:37,834 --> 01:06:40,328
your mouth just a little too wide,
988
01:06:40,996 --> 01:06:43,489
but that yours was a face
that a man could see in his dreams
989
01:06:43,589 --> 01:06:45,708
for the whole of his life.
990
01:06:46,376 --> 01:06:49,211
I'd say that you were vain, selfish,
991
01:06:50,088 --> 01:06:52,673
cruel, deceitful.
992
01:06:54,509 --> 01:06:56,886
I'd say that you were adorable.
993
01:06:57,679 --> 01:07:00,514
I'd say that you were Sibella.
994
01:07:01,850 --> 01:07:03,927
What a pretty speech.
995
01:07:04,027 --> 01:07:05,394
I mean it.
996
01:07:06,521 --> 01:07:08,773
Come and say it to me again.
997
01:07:13,904 --> 01:07:16,522
I'd say your nose was just a little too short,
998
01:07:16,622 --> 01:07:21,077
and your mouth, yes,
your mouth just a little too wide.
999
01:07:29,294 --> 01:07:31,712
Shortly afterwards,
my employer had a stroke.
1000
01:07:32,214 --> 01:07:33,923
There was little that could be done
1001
01:07:34,049 --> 01:07:37,189
and the doctor gave him a month,
at the most, to live.
1002
01:07:37,289 --> 01:07:39,879
I was glad, after all his kindness to me
1003
01:07:39,979 --> 01:07:42,431
that I should not have to kill the old man.
1004
01:07:42,557 --> 01:07:45,864
Soon the only obstacle
between me and my inheritance
1005
01:07:45,964 --> 01:07:47,728
would be the Duke himself.
1006
01:07:48,105 --> 01:07:50,390
I could lay no plan for disposing of him
1007
01:07:50,490 --> 01:07:54,373
as the life he led within those great
stone walls was a closed book to me.
1008
01:07:54,473 --> 01:07:57,647
I was gloomily examining the problem
for the hundredth time
1009
01:07:57,747 --> 01:08:01,283
as I awaited one day the expected arrival
of Sibella at my apartments.
1010
01:08:08,750 --> 01:08:11,919
- Good afternoon, Mr Mazzini.
- Mrs D'Ascoyne.
1011
01:08:12,421 --> 01:08:13,830
I was passing through St James's
1012
01:08:13,930 --> 01:08:17,591
and thought I would take the opportunity
to call on you.
1013
01:08:20,929 --> 01:08:22,763
Was that wise? Discreet, I mean?
1014
01:08:23,181 --> 01:08:26,571
There are some conventions which must be
governed by individual circumstance.
1015
01:08:26,671 --> 01:08:29,645
Surely it is safe for a woman
to visit a man of your reputation.
1016
01:08:29,771 --> 01:08:31,597
It is of your reputation that I'm thinking.
1017
01:08:31,697 --> 01:08:35,184
Without being inhospitable, I would be
happier if your visit were not a long one.
1018
01:08:35,284 --> 01:08:38,154
I appreciate the scrupulousness
of your motives.
1019
01:08:38,280 --> 01:08:40,919
I have, anyhow,
only one important matter to speak of.
1020
01:08:41,019 --> 01:08:42,158
That is?
1021
01:08:42,284 --> 01:08:45,945
I have thought a great deal about
what you said at our last meeting
1022
01:08:46,045 --> 01:08:49,665
and I have tried to think
what Henry's wishes would be.
1023
01:08:49,958 --> 01:08:52,293
I remember he said to me once,
1024
01:08:53,003 --> 01:08:56,039
"You have too much good in you, Edith,
for one man.
1025
01:08:56,139 --> 01:08:58,379
"I sometimes wish
that others could have a share of it."
1026
01:09:01,344 --> 01:09:03,546
I have reconsidered the offer you made to me.
1027
01:09:03,646 --> 01:09:06,307
Thank you again for it, and accept it gladly.
1028
01:09:07,476 --> 01:09:09,310
You rob me of words.
1029
01:09:09,978 --> 01:09:13,564
I think, however, we should make
no announcement for three months, at least.
1030
01:09:14,024 --> 01:09:15,641
As you think best.
1031
01:09:15,741 --> 01:09:17,622
In these new circumstances
1032
01:09:17,722 --> 01:09:20,480
I think it more than ever desirable
that your unconventional,
1033
01:09:20,580 --> 01:09:23,157
though in its purpose delightful visit
should be cut short.
1034
01:09:23,658 --> 01:09:28,537
If your attention as a husband is equal
of your consideration as a friend,
1035
01:09:28,663 --> 01:09:31,665
I shall have made a most fortunate decision.
1036
01:09:38,840 --> 01:09:41,084
Do you not think, though,
that perhaps Uncle Ethelred,
1037
01:09:41,184 --> 01:09:44,345
as head of the family,
should be told at once?
1038
01:09:44,846 --> 01:09:47,723
Perhaps so. Yes, I'll write to him.
1039
01:09:47,849 --> 01:09:49,842
Goodbye, Louis.
1040
01:09:49,942 --> 01:09:51,852
Goodbye, Edith.
1041
01:09:53,522 --> 01:09:56,774
You leave behind you
the happiest man in London.
1042
01:10:04,866 --> 01:10:06,242
This was not a piece of news
1043
01:10:06,368 --> 01:10:09,745
which I was looking forward
to breaking to Sibella.
1044
01:10:09,871 --> 01:10:11,676
She had no rights in the matter,
1045
01:10:11,776 --> 01:10:15,347
but women have a disconcerting ability
to make scenes out of nothing
1046
01:10:15,447 --> 01:10:19,380
and to prove themselves injured
when they themselves are at fault.
1047
01:10:21,091 --> 01:10:25,219
Anyhow, I had three months' grace
before I need face that storm.
1048
01:10:36,231 --> 01:10:39,142
Have you taken to using attar of roses?
1049
01:10:39,242 --> 01:10:42,278
- No. Why?
- Thought I could smell it.
1050
01:10:43,488 --> 01:10:46,991
I met such a beautiful woman
on the stairs just now.
1051
01:10:47,909 --> 01:10:49,402
I expect that would be Mrs D'Ascoyne.
1052
01:10:49,502 --> 01:10:51,622
- What was she doing here?
- She called in to see me.
1053
01:10:51,746 --> 01:10:54,623
- What about?
- Business. Family business.
1054
01:10:54,749 --> 01:10:57,251
Let me get you a glass of sherry.
1055
01:11:00,922 --> 01:11:03,895
A day or so later,
I received a letter from Lionel.
1056
01:11:03,995 --> 01:11:08,087
He requested an interview with me
at his house on a matter of some delicacy.
1057
01:11:08,187 --> 01:11:11,307
I was somewhat perturbed,
for nine times out of 10
1058
01:11:11,433 --> 01:11:14,051
what is referred to
as a matter of some delicacy
1059
01:11:14,151 --> 01:11:17,396
is, in point of fact, one of extreme indelicacy.
1060
01:11:17,689 --> 01:11:21,358
Two days later,
I made the tedious journey to Bayswater.
1061
01:11:22,152 --> 01:11:25,354
It was typical of Lionel that he should
live on the wrong side of the park.
1062
01:11:25,454 --> 01:11:27,740
Hello, old boy. Have a drink.
1063
01:11:28,617 --> 01:11:31,402
No, thank you. Never during the day.
1064
01:11:31,502 --> 01:11:34,747
You don't mind if I do? Keep out the cold.
1065
01:11:35,290 --> 01:11:37,617
I was about to remark
on the warmth of the day.
1066
01:11:37,717 --> 01:11:40,336
- Just a joke, old boy.
- Ah, yes.
1067
01:11:40,921 --> 01:11:44,673
- Sit down, old boy.
- No, thank you. I would rather stand.
1068
01:11:47,052 --> 01:11:50,671
A warm day, isn't it?
For the time of the year, I mean.
1069
01:11:50,771 --> 01:11:54,342
Distinctly. It's also a very busy day.
1070
01:11:54,442 --> 01:11:56,821
May we proceed to the matter
about which you wished to see me?
1071
01:11:56,921 --> 01:12:00,272
Right. A matter of some delicacy,
actually, old boy.
1072
01:12:02,067 --> 01:12:05,319
But I said to myself,
"Louis is a sport and a man of the world.
1073
01:12:05,862 --> 01:12:08,564
- "Always been a sport."
- Thank you.
1074
01:12:08,664 --> 01:12:13,653
Always admired the sporting way in which
you took to Sibella marrying me and not you.
1075
01:12:13,753 --> 01:12:15,753
Some fellows would have
taken it very differently.
1076
01:12:16,665 --> 01:12:18,791
But "May the best man win," you said.
1077
01:12:19,292 --> 01:12:21,744
And when I won,
you behaved like a gentleman.
1078
01:12:21,844 --> 01:12:26,257
So I thought as you being keen on Sibella
at one time
1079
01:12:26,716 --> 01:12:31,170
and you and I are old friends,
I... I'd ask you to help us.
1080
01:12:31,270 --> 01:12:32,421
Help you?
1081
01:12:32,521 --> 01:12:35,266
I told you some time back
business hasn't been going so well.
1082
01:12:36,268 --> 01:12:39,395
Since then, it's gone worse. I'm bankrupt.
1083
01:12:40,063 --> 01:12:44,275
So I say to myself,
"Why not talk to my old pal, Louis Mazzini
1084
01:12:45,068 --> 01:12:49,780
"who we used to have such jolly times with
round the old nursery fire
1085
01:12:50,323 --> 01:12:51,941
"roasting chestnuts."
1086
01:12:52,041 --> 01:12:54,110
I'm afraid your memory is deceiving you.
1087
01:12:54,210 --> 01:12:58,781
By no stretch of imagination could you and I
be described as ever having been "pals".
1088
01:12:58,881 --> 01:13:01,409
If I remember correctly,
we detested each other cordially
1089
01:13:01,509 --> 01:13:02,660
from the first day we met,
1090
01:13:02,760 --> 01:13:05,246
with a detestation
which increased with our years.
1091
01:13:05,346 --> 01:13:08,966
Always thought of you as a pal.
Always have done.
1092
01:13:09,759 --> 01:13:11,043
That's why I said to myself...
1093
01:13:11,143 --> 01:13:13,583
It's only fair to warn you
that any further expense of breath
1094
01:13:13,687 --> 01:13:15,597
on this subject would be a waste.
1095
01:13:16,766 --> 01:13:18,759
You know what you're doing?
1096
01:13:18,859 --> 01:13:21,804
- Condemning me to death.
- What do you mean?
1097
01:13:21,904 --> 01:13:25,441
Only one way out for me,
do away with myself.
1098
01:13:25,942 --> 01:13:28,352
If you knew how absurd
these histrionics sounded...
1099
01:13:28,452 --> 01:13:31,897
I'm insured. At least the little woman
will be provided for.
1100
01:13:31,997 --> 01:13:35,326
- Oh, don't be ridiculous.
- Louis, I appeal to you.
1101
01:13:35,702 --> 01:13:39,613
Not for my sake,
but for the sake of the little woman.
1102
01:13:39,713 --> 01:13:42,041
Please rise from that absurd position.
1103
01:13:57,307 --> 01:14:00,517
All I can say is
I think you're a cad.
1104
01:14:01,061 --> 01:14:02,603
A selfish cad.
1105
01:14:04,856 --> 01:14:07,191
Let me remind you
of a little not-so-ancient history.
1106
01:14:07,942 --> 01:14:10,770
When I was a draper's assistant and you
a rich father's son,
1107
01:14:10,870 --> 01:14:12,438
you showed me no kindness.
1108
01:14:12,538 --> 01:14:16,192
Now our positions are reversed,
and you come whining to me for favours.
1109
01:14:16,292 --> 01:14:19,111
Draper's assistant. That's right.
1110
01:14:19,211 --> 01:14:21,663
Rotten little counterjumper. That's all you are.
1111
01:14:22,624 --> 01:14:24,992
Very high and mighty now
1112
01:14:25,092 --> 01:14:28,295
but your mother married
an Italian organ-grinder.
1113
01:14:31,257 --> 01:14:32,625
- Stand up.
- Huh?
1114
01:14:32,725 --> 01:14:34,676
I said stand up.
1115
01:14:36,054 --> 01:14:39,515
I will not tolerate hearing
my mother's name on your coarse tongue.
1116
01:14:47,690 --> 01:14:51,268
If you take my advice, you'll go
and put your head under a cold tap.
1117
01:14:51,368 --> 01:14:55,030
I refuse to demean myself
by fighting with a drunken oaf.
1118
01:15:07,127 --> 01:15:10,204
There seemed no point
in prolonging this vulgar brawl
1119
01:15:10,304 --> 01:15:12,423
so I returned to my apartment.
1120
01:15:19,597 --> 01:15:22,007
I took a bath and decided to relax
for half an hour
1121
01:15:22,107 --> 01:15:24,393
and efface this disagreeable scene
from my memory.
1122
01:15:26,813 --> 01:15:28,772
I was not allowed to relax for long.
1123
01:15:34,446 --> 01:15:35,863
Sibella.
1124
01:15:39,033 --> 01:15:42,528
Louis, I'm sorry to worry you
when you must be so busy
1125
01:15:42,628 --> 01:15:44,746
but I have a piece
of important news.
1126
01:15:45,331 --> 01:15:46,457
Bad news.
1127
01:15:47,041 --> 01:15:49,042
I thought
you ought to know it at once.
1128
01:15:56,676 --> 01:15:58,469
Lionel has found out about us.
1129
01:15:59,888 --> 01:16:02,047
About me coming here.
1130
01:16:02,147 --> 01:16:03,841
- Really?
- Yes.
1131
01:16:03,941 --> 01:16:04,941
Oh.
1132
01:16:06,311 --> 01:16:09,938
I had the most dreadful scene
with him last night.
1133
01:16:11,024 --> 01:16:14,685
Well, I suppose even Lionel isn't
stupid enough to be deceived forever.
1134
01:16:14,785 --> 01:16:17,112
You won't take it so calmly
when you hear.
1135
01:16:18,406 --> 01:16:20,649
He's going to start
divorce proceedings.
1136
01:16:20,749 --> 01:16:22,784
How very unsophisticated of him.
1137
01:16:24,537 --> 01:16:28,874
There's only one possible
way out that I can see.
1138
01:16:30,376 --> 01:16:33,879
- And that is?
- Lionel is still in love with me.
1139
01:16:34,714 --> 01:16:37,090
My happiness
is all he cares about.
1140
01:16:37,800 --> 01:16:40,886
He might do the gentlemanly thing
and let me divorce him.
1141
01:16:41,888 --> 01:16:42,888
If?
1142
01:16:44,516 --> 01:16:47,051
If I were in a position to explain to him
1143
01:16:47,151 --> 01:16:50,095
that otherwise he will be jeopardizing
the social position
1144
01:16:50,195 --> 01:16:52,515
not only of the future duke,
1145
01:16:52,615 --> 01:16:55,275
but also the future duchess of Chalfont.
1146
01:16:57,445 --> 01:16:58,645
I see.
1147
01:17:05,286 --> 01:17:08,531
You're a clever little thing, Sibella,
but not quite clever enough.
1148
01:17:08,631 --> 01:17:09,949
What do you mean?
1149
01:17:10,049 --> 01:17:12,576
I mean that not only do I know
that you're blackmailing me,
1150
01:17:12,676 --> 01:17:14,870
an ugly word,
but the only appropriate one,
1151
01:17:14,970 --> 01:17:17,540
but I also know
that you're bluffing me.
1152
01:17:17,640 --> 01:17:19,667
Call my bluff and see.
1153
01:17:19,767 --> 01:17:21,093
I will.
1154
01:17:25,181 --> 01:17:26,882
Let me explain.
1155
01:17:26,982 --> 01:17:29,510
It must have seemed to you
that you hold a very strong hand.
1156
01:17:29,610 --> 01:17:31,971
But... A very important "but",
1157
01:17:32,071 --> 01:17:36,392
it so happens that I hold a card which
you did not even know to be in the pack.
1158
01:17:36,492 --> 01:17:37,768
Who's bluffing now?
1159
01:17:37,868 --> 01:17:41,021
It so happens that I was with Lionel
less than an hour ago.
1160
01:17:41,121 --> 01:17:44,525
And it was transparently clear
from his demeanour and conversation
1161
01:17:44,625 --> 01:17:48,070
that he had not the faintest suspicion
that you and I had any relationship
1162
01:17:48,170 --> 01:17:50,914
other than that of,
as he would probably put it,
1163
01:17:51,374 --> 01:17:55,502
old pals who used to roast chestnuts
together round the jolly old nursery fire.
1164
01:17:57,505 --> 01:18:00,708
So, while thanking you
for the honour that you've done me,
1165
01:18:00,808 --> 01:18:03,627
I must decline your offer
because I have other arrangements
1166
01:18:03,727 --> 01:18:05,515
which make it impossible for me
to accept it.
1167
01:18:05,615 --> 01:18:07,004
Namely?
1168
01:18:07,147 --> 01:18:10,517
I'm shortly going to announce
my engagement to Mrs D'Ascoyne.
1169
01:18:19,444 --> 01:18:22,487
May I say that I think
you've behaved despicably?
1170
01:18:25,033 --> 01:18:29,494
Has it ever occurred to you, Sibella,
that we serve each other right, you and I?
1171
01:18:34,626 --> 01:18:38,420
Would it be asking too much of your manners
to escort me to the door?
1172
01:18:45,845 --> 01:18:48,672
I had suspected
that to confide our secret to the Duke
1173
01:18:48,772 --> 01:18:51,925
might be an adroit manoeuvre,
and I was proved correct
1174
01:18:52,025 --> 01:18:56,647
for it produced an invitation for Edith and me
to spend a few days at the castle.
1175
01:18:57,732 --> 01:19:01,560
I must confess that I could not suppress
an agreeable sensation of triumph
1176
01:19:01,660 --> 01:19:03,812
as I approached
the castle gateway
1177
01:19:03,912 --> 01:19:07,282
in circumstances so different
from those in which I had last done so.
1178
01:19:08,242 --> 01:19:09,962
It was just an informal
little house party.
1179
01:19:11,704 --> 01:19:15,658
Our fellow guests were Lady Redpole
and her daughter Maud
1180
01:19:15,758 --> 01:19:19,036
who most suitably resembled
nothing so much as a red poll cow
1181
01:19:19,136 --> 01:19:21,080
and had little more
conversational ability.
1182
01:19:21,180 --> 01:19:24,174
- Did you go to the opera this season?
- No.
1183
01:19:27,428 --> 01:19:30,839
In the afternoon,
Ethelred invited me to inspect the castle.
1184
01:19:30,939 --> 01:19:33,133
It was pleasant to stand
on the battlements
1185
01:19:33,233 --> 01:19:36,512
and know that the acres
which stretched as far as the eye could see
1186
01:19:36,612 --> 01:19:38,438
would soon be mine.
1187
01:19:38,856 --> 01:19:42,901
And it amused me to cover much the same
ground as that of my sixpenny tour.
1188
01:19:44,028 --> 01:19:46,480
I had never been in a building
so lavishly equipped
1189
01:19:46,580 --> 01:19:48,899
with the instruments
of violent death.
1190
01:19:48,999 --> 01:19:50,901
Feel the weight of that.
1191
01:19:51,001 --> 01:19:53,537
Our ancestors must have
been fine men, Louis.
1192
01:19:56,582 --> 01:19:58,492
They seemed, however, ill-adapted
1193
01:19:58,592 --> 01:20:01,503
to the discreet requirements
of 20th-century homicide.
1194
01:20:02,588 --> 01:20:07,718
And the end of the day found my host
still intact and myself still without a plan.
1195
01:20:14,684 --> 01:20:16,969
Beautiful woman, Edith.
1196
01:20:17,069 --> 01:20:18,762
You're a lucky fellow, Louis.
1197
01:20:18,862 --> 01:20:21,064
I never cease to be conscious of that.
1198
01:20:21,441 --> 01:20:23,483
- Thank you.
- What do you think of Maud?
1199
01:20:23,985 --> 01:20:25,436
A charming girl,
1200
01:20:25,536 --> 01:20:28,814
though perhaps at times her conversation
is a little lacking in sparkle.
1201
01:20:28,914 --> 01:20:31,283
Dullest woman I ever met in my life.
1202
01:20:33,745 --> 01:20:35,537
Plain too.
1203
01:20:36,164 --> 01:20:38,290
But good breeding stock.
1204
01:20:40,877 --> 01:20:43,170
Good breeding stock, the Redpoles.
1205
01:20:43,880 --> 01:20:46,089
And they litter a very high proportion of boys.
1206
01:20:48,468 --> 01:20:50,335
Do I gather you to mean...
1207
01:20:50,435 --> 01:20:55,474
Spoke to old Lady Redpole this afternoon.
Only too glad to get the girl off her hands.
1208
01:20:56,058 --> 01:20:57,434
My congratulations.
1209
01:20:59,437 --> 01:21:01,521
Duty to the family, really.
1210
01:21:02,148 --> 01:21:04,391
And when does the union take place?
1211
01:21:04,491 --> 01:21:07,102
Very soon.
I'm not growing any younger.
1212
01:21:07,202 --> 01:21:11,064
Might not get a son the first time.
Quiet wedding, I thought.
1213
01:21:11,164 --> 01:21:13,575
Maud's hardly the type for St Margaret's.
1214
01:21:14,410 --> 01:21:18,405
We shall honeymoon on the Riviera
and then go on to Italy afterwards.
1215
01:21:18,505 --> 01:21:21,124
No sense inflicting her on one's friends.
1216
01:21:22,919 --> 01:21:25,962
When she's got a family,
that'll keep her out of the way.
1217
01:21:27,882 --> 01:21:30,834
This news threw me
into such distress of mind
1218
01:21:30,934 --> 01:21:32,711
that had I had poison
in my possession
1219
01:21:32,811 --> 01:21:35,964
I would probably have administered it
to Ethelred there and then
1220
01:21:36,064 --> 01:21:38,433
and chanced the consequent inquiries.
1221
01:21:40,019 --> 01:21:43,764
One thing was clear,
If I did not succeed in disposing of him
1222
01:21:43,864 --> 01:21:46,266
during this present visit
to the castle
1223
01:21:46,366 --> 01:21:49,319
I was likely to see the ruin
of my whole campaign.
1224
01:21:52,532 --> 01:21:55,367
My best wishes
for a successful outcome.
1225
01:21:57,411 --> 01:21:59,655
The next morning
I went out shooting with Ethelred
1226
01:21:59,755 --> 01:22:01,657
or rather,
to watch Ethelred shooting
1227
01:22:01,757 --> 01:22:05,536
for my principles will not allow me
to take a direct part in blood sports.
1228
01:22:05,636 --> 01:22:08,343
- Been round the traps this morning, Hoskins?
- Not yet, Your Grace.
1229
01:22:08,443 --> 01:22:11,041
Sounds as if we've bagged one there.
1230
01:22:11,141 --> 01:22:16,263
Ah. Been losing so much game lately,
we've started setting the mantraps again.
1231
01:22:25,022 --> 01:22:29,351
Hoskins is now going to thrash you.
Then he'll let you go.
1232
01:22:29,451 --> 01:22:32,612
Let this be a lesson to you
not to poach on my land.
1233
01:22:43,499 --> 01:22:44,916
That'll do.
1234
01:22:54,010 --> 01:22:57,212
Keep moving them around, Hoskins,
or they'll tell each other where they are.
1235
01:22:57,312 --> 01:22:58,930
Yes, Your Grace.
1236
01:23:00,725 --> 01:23:03,018
- I thought mantraps were illegal.
- They are.
1237
01:23:03,728 --> 01:23:05,090
What happens if he tells the police?
1238
01:23:05,190 --> 01:23:08,682
He comes up before the bench for poaching,
gets six months in jail.
1239
01:23:08,782 --> 01:23:12,569
If he keeps his mouth shut,
he just gets a few days in bed.
1240
01:23:13,154 --> 01:23:14,905
Which would you choose?
1241
01:23:20,161 --> 01:23:23,614
Only way to deal with these ruffians,
I assure you.
1242
01:23:23,714 --> 01:23:27,918
Oh. I must have dropped my cigarette case
back there. I'll catch you up.
1243
01:23:45,478 --> 01:23:47,137
- Find it?
- Yes, thanks.
1244
01:23:47,237 --> 01:23:50,815
Might have another walk round this afternoon,
if you feel like it.
1245
01:23:51,776 --> 01:23:53,393
That would be most pleasant.
1246
01:23:53,493 --> 01:23:57,989
After luncheon we went out
to massacre a few more unfortunate birds.
1247
01:23:58,991 --> 01:24:00,984
- Listen.
- What is it?
1248
01:24:01,084 --> 01:24:03,873
I thought I heard something,
like someone running through the bracken.
1249
01:24:03,973 --> 01:24:06,247
Another poaching ruffian! Come on!
1250
01:24:11,087 --> 01:24:13,380
There was someone here. Look.
1251
01:24:15,091 --> 01:24:16,291
Blast!
1252
01:24:16,808 --> 01:24:19,678
Louis, get me out of this. Hurry up, man.
1253
01:24:23,891 --> 01:24:26,393
- Have you gone mad?
- Be quiet, Ethelred.
1254
01:24:27,019 --> 01:24:29,179
I want to talk to you for a minute.
1255
01:24:29,279 --> 01:24:32,357
If you make a noise,
I shall blow your head off at once.
1256
01:24:34,235 --> 01:24:36,269
By the time anyone has heard the shot
1257
01:24:36,369 --> 01:24:39,823
I shall be running back toward the castle,
shouting for help.
1258
01:24:40,866 --> 01:24:43,243
I shall say that you stepped on the trap
1259
01:24:43,869 --> 01:24:46,780
and that your gun went off
accidentally as it fell.
1260
01:24:46,880 --> 01:24:47,998
So be quiet.
1261
01:24:49,458 --> 01:24:51,960
To spare you as much pain as possible
1262
01:24:52,420 --> 01:24:53,503
I'll be brief.
1263
01:24:58,300 --> 01:25:00,760
When I've finished, I shall kill you.
1264
01:25:02,471 --> 01:25:04,840
You'll be the sixth D'Ascoyne that I've killed.
1265
01:25:04,940 --> 01:25:06,307
You want to know why?
1266
01:25:07,768 --> 01:25:10,645
In return for what
the D'Ascoynes did to my mother.
1267
01:25:11,564 --> 01:25:16,818
Because she married for love
instead of for rank or money or land,
1268
01:25:17,695 --> 01:25:21,023
they condemned her to a life
of poverty and slavery
1269
01:25:21,123 --> 01:25:23,442
in a world with which
they had not equipped her to deal.
1270
01:25:23,542 --> 01:25:26,570
You yourself refused to grant
her dying wish
1271
01:25:26,670 --> 01:25:28,747
which was to be buried here at Chalfont.
1272
01:25:29,248 --> 01:25:32,709
When I saw her poor little coffin
slide underground,
1273
01:25:33,294 --> 01:25:36,129
saw her exiled in death
as she'd been in life,
1274
01:25:37,298 --> 01:25:40,967
I swore to have my revenge
on your intolerable pride.
1275
01:25:43,137 --> 01:25:47,807
That revenge
I am just about to complete.
1276
01:25:50,770 --> 01:25:52,896
It's clear that you are insane.
1277
01:25:53,647 --> 01:25:54,898
Give me that gun at once.
1278
01:25:55,524 --> 01:25:56,524
No.
1279
01:25:59,153 --> 01:26:04,115
From here, I think, the wound should look
consistent with the story that I shall tell.
1280
01:26:13,501 --> 01:26:14,501
Help!
1281
01:26:20,049 --> 01:26:23,218
And so Ethelred,
Eighth Duke of Chalfont,
1282
01:26:23,511 --> 01:26:26,304
duly came to his place in the family vault.
1283
01:26:30,976 --> 01:26:33,428
There were few D'Ascoynes
left to mourn him.
1284
01:26:33,528 --> 01:26:37,557
My employer, who was Ninth Duke of Chalfont
for the shortest possible period,
1285
01:26:37,657 --> 01:26:41,152
having expired of shock on hearing
that he had succeeded to the title.
1286
01:26:43,447 --> 01:26:47,951
And so, I became
the 10th Duke of Chalfont.
1287
01:26:51,539 --> 01:26:54,950
Fortunately, the Ninth Duke
had found time before he expired
1288
01:26:55,050 --> 01:26:58,419
to make a will bequeathing to me
his interests in the business.
1289
01:27:01,257 --> 01:27:02,841
You may remove that.
1290
01:27:11,183 --> 01:27:14,594
A day or two later,
an affecting little feudal ceremony took place
1291
01:27:14,694 --> 01:27:16,429
to welcome me into residence at the castle.
1292
01:27:16,529 --> 01:27:19,850
And I promise you
that my first consideration,
1293
01:27:19,950 --> 01:27:24,529
and that of Mrs D'Ascoyne, who has done me
the honour to consent to be my bride,
1294
01:27:25,114 --> 01:27:29,901
will be the welfare of the estate
and of the people who live on it.
1295
01:27:30,001 --> 01:27:32,245
God bless you all.
1296
01:27:39,587 --> 01:27:41,288
Long live His Grace!
1297
01:27:41,388 --> 01:27:43,006
Long live His Grace.
1298
01:27:50,014 --> 01:27:52,632
Pennyman, Your Grace,
from Sprockett's Farm.
1299
01:27:52,732 --> 01:27:54,342
Mrs Pennyman.
1300
01:27:54,442 --> 01:27:56,352
My son, Tom, from Sprockett's Farm.
1301
01:27:57,021 --> 01:27:59,480
Mr Wyvold, from Sprockett's Farm.
1302
01:28:00,941 --> 01:28:02,525
Sprockett's Farm?
1303
01:28:03,986 --> 01:28:06,321
No, Your Grace. From Scotland Yard.
1304
01:28:08,991 --> 01:28:10,533
Scotland Yard?
1305
01:28:11,285 --> 01:28:13,161
A matter of some delicacy.
1306
01:28:19,001 --> 01:28:20,501
Follow me, please.
1307
01:28:21,003 --> 01:28:24,505
The blow was so sudden
that I found it hard to collect my thoughts.
1308
01:28:26,217 --> 01:28:28,092
Which of them could it be?
1309
01:28:28,886 --> 01:28:32,430
Young Ascoyne? Henry? Ethelred?
1310
01:28:33,307 --> 01:28:36,635
The parson? The general?
1311
01:28:36,735 --> 01:28:38,303
Lady Agatha?
1312
01:28:38,403 --> 01:28:40,521
Or could it be all of them?
1313
01:28:45,694 --> 01:28:46,694
Now.
1314
01:28:47,120 --> 01:28:49,940
You are, I take it,
His Grace, the Duke of Chalfont?
1315
01:28:50,040 --> 01:28:51,040
I am.
1316
01:28:51,249 --> 01:28:55,737
I am Detective Inspector Burgoyne
of the Criminal Investigation Department.
1317
01:28:55,837 --> 01:28:58,197
And I hold a warrant for your arrest
on a charge of murder.
1318
01:28:58,582 --> 01:28:59,749
Murder?
1319
01:29:00,459 --> 01:29:02,077
Of murdering Mr Lionel Holland at...
1320
01:29:02,177 --> 01:29:03,328
Murdering whom?
1321
01:29:03,428 --> 01:29:04,955
Mr Lionel Holland
1322
01:29:05,055 --> 01:29:08,458
at number 242 Connaught Square,
Bayswater
1323
01:29:08,558 --> 01:29:10,718
on the 17th of October last.
1324
01:29:21,397 --> 01:29:24,683
Utterly bewildered,
I tried to fathom what series of events
1325
01:29:24,783 --> 01:29:27,944
could conceivably have led
to this not-very-amusing irony.
1326
01:29:28,404 --> 01:29:30,730
I could only suppose that Lionel
had actually carried out
1327
01:29:30,830 --> 01:29:32,573
that drunken threat of suicide.
1328
01:29:33,784 --> 01:29:35,994
But how then had the blame fallen on me?
1329
01:29:36,662 --> 01:29:39,990
Time alone, and the trial,
would reveal the answer.
1330
01:29:40,090 --> 01:29:43,960
Seeing no reason to forego any of
the available privileges of my rank...
1331
01:29:48,716 --> 01:29:51,626
I exercised my right to be tried
before the House of Lords.
1332
01:29:51,726 --> 01:29:56,298
Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini, Duke of Chalfont,
1333
01:29:56,398 --> 01:29:59,267
you, as a peer of England,
are indicted for murder.
1334
01:30:00,144 --> 01:30:01,845
How say you, Your Grace?
1335
01:30:01,945 --> 01:30:05,815
Are you guilty of the felony with which
you are charged or not guilty?
1336
01:30:06,358 --> 01:30:08,693
- Not guilty.
- How will you be tried?
1337
01:30:10,362 --> 01:30:15,199
- By God and my peers.
- God send Your Grace a good deliverance.
1338
01:30:15,617 --> 01:30:20,238
It shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth
1339
01:30:20,338 --> 01:30:21,914
so help me God.
1340
01:30:22,583 --> 01:30:26,244
Mrs Holland, will you tell
Their Lordships in your own words
1341
01:30:26,344 --> 01:30:28,659
the substance of the conversation
you had with your husband
1342
01:30:28,759 --> 01:30:30,590
the evening before his death?
1343
01:30:32,426 --> 01:30:35,595
He told me that Louis... the prisoner,
1344
01:30:36,388 --> 01:30:39,507
was coming to see him the next day
on a rather delicate matter.
1345
01:30:39,607 --> 01:30:41,601
Did he indicate what that matter was?
1346
01:30:43,771 --> 01:30:46,856
He had discovered that
the prisoner and I had been...
1347
01:30:48,400 --> 01:30:50,360
Had been on terms of intimacy?
1348
01:30:51,779 --> 01:30:54,447
- Yes.
- And what was his attitude?
1349
01:30:55,616 --> 01:30:58,380
He felt that the correct thing to do
was to tell him to his face
1350
01:30:58,480 --> 01:31:01,287
that he intended to start
proceedings for divorce.
1351
01:31:01,955 --> 01:31:03,385
From your knowledge of the prisoner
1352
01:31:03,485 --> 01:31:05,875
how would you expect him
to receive that news?
1353
01:31:07,461 --> 01:31:09,796
I should expect him to be very angry.
1354
01:31:10,714 --> 01:31:14,133
Now he was heir to a dukedom,
he had no more use for me.
1355
01:31:14,468 --> 01:31:17,387
I see. He was trying to discard you.
1356
01:31:18,055 --> 01:31:19,055
Yes.
1357
01:31:19,264 --> 01:31:22,600
Mrs Holland, I apologise for submitting you
to this ordeal
1358
01:31:23,268 --> 01:31:27,105
but will you tell Their Lordships
how you found your husband's body?
1359
01:31:29,483 --> 01:31:32,235
I came back about 4:30.
1360
01:31:34,822 --> 01:31:38,408
Their Lordships have no objection
to the witness being seated.
1361
01:31:42,830 --> 01:31:44,414
Yes, Mrs Holland?
1362
01:31:46,291 --> 01:31:48,501
I came back about 4:30.
1363
01:31:49,169 --> 01:31:51,504
I went into my husband's study.
1364
01:31:52,256 --> 01:31:54,757
He was lying on the floor
1365
01:31:55,759 --> 01:31:57,927
with a dagger stuck in his chest.
1366
01:31:58,637 --> 01:32:00,179
One last question, Mrs Holland.
1367
01:32:00,848 --> 01:32:04,350
Had your husband ever, at any time,
threatened suicide?
1368
01:32:05,352 --> 01:32:07,979
- Never.
- Thank you, Mrs Holland.
1369
01:32:11,150 --> 01:32:13,518
My client craves
Their Lordships' permission
1370
01:32:13,618 --> 01:32:15,528
to cross-examine the witness himself.
1371
01:32:16,196 --> 01:32:18,197
Their Lordships grant their permission.
1372
01:32:21,869 --> 01:32:25,864
Mrs Holland, you understand
the meaning of being on oath?
1373
01:32:25,964 --> 01:32:27,832
Of course.
1374
01:32:29,543 --> 01:32:33,171
You realise that a life may depend upon
the truthfulness of your evidence?
1375
01:32:35,299 --> 01:32:36,299
Yes.
1376
01:32:38,552 --> 01:32:41,216
I put it to you that your story
of your conversation with your husband
1377
01:32:41,316 --> 01:32:43,798
on the night before his death
is a complete fabrication.
1378
01:32:43,898 --> 01:32:45,349
It is not.
1379
01:32:46,560 --> 01:32:48,811
I put it to you
that your husband committed suicide.
1380
01:32:49,229 --> 01:32:52,064
He would never have done that
without leaving a message for me.
1381
01:32:52,191 --> 01:32:54,066
Can you swear that he did not?
1382
01:32:55,402 --> 01:32:57,403
The police searched the room
very thoroughly.
1383
01:32:58,989 --> 01:33:00,740
They didn't find anything.
1384
01:33:02,242 --> 01:33:06,829
I suggest that your evidence is a tissue of lies
dictated by motives of revenge.
1385
01:33:11,877 --> 01:33:13,669
It is not.
1386
01:33:14,254 --> 01:33:15,747
It is not.
1387
01:33:15,847 --> 01:33:19,751
I presume that the prisoner has some
purpose in these submissions
1388
01:33:19,851 --> 01:33:21,719
other than that of distressing the witness.
1389
01:33:22,387 --> 01:33:24,555
My purpose, my lord,
is to determine the truth.
1390
01:33:25,516 --> 01:33:28,768
That, Your Grace,
is the whole purpose of this assembly.
1391
01:33:31,104 --> 01:33:35,024
...the whole truth and nothing but the truth,
so help me God.
1392
01:33:38,570 --> 01:33:42,023
You're Edith D'Ascoyne Mazzini,
Duchess of Chalfont?
1393
01:33:42,123 --> 01:33:43,123
I am.
1394
01:33:43,458 --> 01:33:46,285
When and where did you become
the wife of the accused?
1395
01:33:46,954 --> 01:33:49,622
Yesterday morning, in Pentonville Prison.
1396
01:33:51,124 --> 01:33:54,126
I wanted to publish irrevocably
before the whole world
1397
01:33:54,878 --> 01:33:56,295
my faith in his innocence.
1398
01:33:58,257 --> 01:34:00,383
I wanted to show by my marriage
1399
01:34:01,301 --> 01:34:03,711
that though he was led astray,
as I believe
1400
01:34:03,811 --> 01:34:06,714
by that innate kindliness
and courtesy of his
1401
01:34:06,814 --> 01:34:09,767
which made it so hard for him to rebuff
the advances of a woman,
1402
01:34:10,477 --> 01:34:12,053
I nevertheless regard him as a man
1403
01:34:12,153 --> 01:34:14,564
to whom I can happily entrust
the remainder of my life.
1404
01:34:15,148 --> 01:34:17,483
I am not alone
in these opinions of him.
1405
01:34:18,110 --> 01:34:19,915
My late husband, Henry,
1406
01:34:20,015 --> 01:34:22,113
and his late Uncle Ethelred,
the Eighth Duke
1407
01:34:23,156 --> 01:34:26,158
both unfortunately
unable to testify today...
1408
01:34:27,160 --> 01:34:31,093
These and other members
of the D'Ascoyne family, had they been alive
1409
01:34:31,193 --> 01:34:33,958
would, I know, have echoed
every word that I have said.
1410
01:34:34,668 --> 01:34:36,502
Thank you, Your Grace.
1411
01:34:37,838 --> 01:34:39,678
The deceased was a client
of the banking house
1412
01:34:39,798 --> 01:34:41,841
of which you are chairman
and managing director.
1413
01:34:41,967 --> 01:34:43,084
He was.
1414
01:34:43,184 --> 01:34:47,442
In the normal course of business transactions
he would have come to see you at your office.
1415
01:34:47,542 --> 01:34:48,542
Yes.
1416
01:34:48,710 --> 01:34:50,946
Instead of which,
he asked you to go to his house.
1417
01:34:51,046 --> 01:34:52,046
Yes.
1418
01:34:52,193 --> 01:34:54,679
He invited you to his house
to discuss business.
1419
01:34:54,779 --> 01:34:55,779
Yes.
1420
01:34:55,947 --> 01:34:58,024
And you ask Their Lordships
to believe that?
1421
01:34:58,609 --> 01:34:59,609
Yes.
1422
01:35:00,360 --> 01:35:02,520
In the course of this, business discussion
1423
01:35:02,620 --> 01:35:06,032
he burst into tears, fell on his knees
and threatened suicide.
1424
01:35:06,158 --> 01:35:09,035
- Yes.
- Is that usual in business discussions?
1425
01:35:09,536 --> 01:35:12,155
- Not usual. No.
- But it happened on this occasion.
1426
01:35:12,255 --> 01:35:15,499
- Yes.
- And you ask Their Lordships to believe that?
1427
01:35:16,001 --> 01:35:17,001
Yes.
1428
01:35:17,677 --> 01:35:20,413
Then this, business discussion
became so heated
1429
01:35:20,513 --> 01:35:23,708
that blows were exchanged
and he made a murderous attack on you.
1430
01:35:23,808 --> 01:35:24,808
Yes.
1431
01:35:25,059 --> 01:35:27,837
- Is that usual in business discussion?
- No.
1432
01:35:27,937 --> 01:35:31,257
- But it happened on this occasion.
- Yes.
1433
01:35:31,357 --> 01:35:35,519
- And you ask Their Lordships to believe that?
- Yes.
1434
01:35:36,271 --> 01:35:37,396
Very well.
1435
01:35:38,231 --> 01:35:41,692
You've heard of cases of a jealous husband
and his wife's lover coming to blows?
1436
01:35:42,194 --> 01:35:44,111
- Yes.
- Frequently?
1437
01:35:44,738 --> 01:35:47,490
It is one of the clichés
of the cheaper kind of fiction.
1438
01:35:51,286 --> 01:35:54,697
I put it to you that, in this case,
it happened not in fiction,
1439
01:35:54,797 --> 01:35:55,990
but in fact.
1440
01:35:56,090 --> 01:35:59,285
- I put it to you that it did not.
- I put it to you further
1441
01:35:59,385 --> 01:36:03,247
that being unaware at that time
of your future wife's forgiving nature
1442
01:36:03,347 --> 01:36:06,209
you assumed that if you were cited
in a divorce suit
1443
01:36:06,309 --> 01:36:09,879
it would ruin your chances
of making this advantageous match
1444
01:36:09,979 --> 01:36:12,431
with a wealthy and beautiful woman.
1445
01:36:13,558 --> 01:36:15,218
No. Not at all.
1446
01:36:15,318 --> 01:36:19,472
Still, you were proposing
to discard Mrs Holland.
1447
01:36:19,572 --> 01:36:20,572
No.
1448
01:36:21,115 --> 01:36:24,485
Even though you were
about to be married to the other lady?
1449
01:36:31,743 --> 01:36:35,204
I must confess to feeling
quite intrigued as to their decision.
1450
01:36:44,464 --> 01:36:49,510
My lords, the question
for Your Lordships is this...
1451
01:36:50,721 --> 01:36:52,755
Is the prisoner guilty
1452
01:36:52,855 --> 01:36:56,467
of the felony whereof
he stands indicted
1453
01:36:56,567 --> 01:36:58,561
or not guilty?
1454
01:37:01,940 --> 01:37:06,940
Guilty, upon mine honour.
1455
01:37:18,123 --> 01:37:22,201
I considered it both seemly and touching
that my dear wife should visit me
1456
01:37:22,301 --> 01:37:25,129
as she did this morning,
to make her farewells.
1457
01:37:26,423 --> 01:37:29,667
Your arrival, on the other hand,
appears to me unseemly
1458
01:37:29,767 --> 01:37:31,719
and tasteless in the extreme.
1459
01:37:32,471 --> 01:37:36,307
I couldn't bear my last sight of you
to be that look of hatred you gave me
1460
01:37:36,433 --> 01:37:38,184
as you went out from the trial.
1461
01:37:39,144 --> 01:37:43,306
In view of the fact that your evidence
had put the rope round my neck
1462
01:37:43,406 --> 01:37:46,267
you could hardly expect
a glance of warm affection.
1463
01:37:46,367 --> 01:37:49,612
- Isn't there any hope?
- What hope could there be?
1464
01:37:50,947 --> 01:37:53,149
I was only thinking.
1465
01:37:53,249 --> 01:37:55,576
That question you asked at the trial
1466
01:37:56,453 --> 01:37:59,038
about Lionel leaving a suicide note...
1467
01:38:00,290 --> 01:38:03,701
Suppose he did?
Suppose that one were found
1468
01:38:03,801 --> 01:38:06,712
even now, this last evening?
1469
01:38:07,589 --> 01:38:11,091
- It would savour of a miracle.
- Miracles can happen.
1470
01:38:12,260 --> 01:38:14,094
Miracles could happen.
1471
01:38:18,809 --> 01:38:20,009
I see.
1472
01:38:21,561 --> 01:38:24,430
Oh, strange, isn't it, how things turn out?
1473
01:38:24,530 --> 01:38:27,149
Now, if you had married me,
instead of Edith...
1474
01:38:27,984 --> 01:38:30,611
Or you had married me,
instead of Lionel.
1475
01:38:31,363 --> 01:38:32,814
He would still be alive,
1476
01:38:32,914 --> 01:38:35,866
and you wouldn't be going
to be hanged tomorrow morning.
1477
01:38:36,868 --> 01:38:39,787
Unless, of course,
you've murdered somebody else.
1478
01:38:44,042 --> 01:38:46,038
All of which is rather beside the point,
isn't it?
1479
01:38:46,138 --> 01:38:47,211
Is it?
1480
01:38:49,840 --> 01:38:52,166
Do you remember in the old days
1481
01:38:52,266 --> 01:38:55,503
how we used to play
Eeny, meeny, miny, mo?
1482
01:38:55,603 --> 01:39:00,307
- Catch a nigger by his toe.
- If he hollers, let him go. Out goes he.
1483
01:39:01,977 --> 01:39:05,521
Quite a lot of little niggers have gone out,
haven't they, one way or another?
1484
01:39:06,523 --> 01:39:09,483
And every one of them a D'Ascoyne.
1485
01:39:13,488 --> 01:39:16,198
We do seem to be
a very short-lived family.
1486
01:39:17,158 --> 01:39:20,736
Of course, Edith is only
a D'Ascoyne by marriage
1487
01:39:20,836 --> 01:39:23,205
so I suppose
her prospects are better.
1488
01:39:26,418 --> 01:39:27,918
Except for a miracle.
1489
01:39:28,587 --> 01:39:30,913
Like the other one
we were talking about.
1490
01:39:31,013 --> 01:39:34,834
So there it was.
She would find the suicide note
1491
01:39:34,934 --> 01:39:37,511
if I, in return, would murder Edith.
1492
01:39:38,597 --> 01:39:41,056
So we now have two miracles in mind, do we?
1493
01:39:41,766 --> 01:39:42,766
Yes.
1494
01:39:42,984 --> 01:39:46,437
I wonder if they are, in any way,
dependent on each other?
1495
01:39:48,106 --> 01:39:50,274
I suppose perhaps they might be.
1496
01:39:52,277 --> 01:39:54,069
What do you think?
1497
01:39:55,864 --> 01:39:57,239
Time's up.
1498
01:40:02,120 --> 01:40:03,829
What do you think?
1499
01:40:05,248 --> 01:40:09,335
Poor Edith. I'm afraid all this is going
to take years off her life.
1500
01:40:13,006 --> 01:40:16,425
- Au revoir, Louis.
- Au revoir.
1501
01:40:17,636 --> 01:40:19,545
What could I do but accept?
1502
01:40:19,645 --> 01:40:22,757
After all, I could always decide afterwards
1503
01:40:22,857 --> 01:40:25,885
which of these two little niggers
would finally have to go.
1504
01:40:25,985 --> 01:40:27,478
Dear Edith.
1505
01:40:28,188 --> 01:40:30,306
Captivating Sibella.
1506
01:40:30,406 --> 01:40:34,026
How different they were,
and how well I knew each of them.
1507
01:40:34,903 --> 01:40:36,278
Or so I thought.
1508
01:40:37,113 --> 01:40:39,949
But the night has gone by
and nothing has happened.
1509
01:40:40,533 --> 01:40:42,777
It is now but a few minutes to 8:00.
1510
01:40:42,877 --> 01:40:46,948
And I realise that Sibella
came yesterday merely to tantalise,
1511
01:40:47,048 --> 01:40:50,034
to raise my hopes
in order to dash them again.
1512
01:40:50,134 --> 01:40:52,586
How unlike me not to have guessed.
1513
01:40:53,421 --> 01:40:57,257
But, after all, how very like Sibella.
1514
01:41:21,658 --> 01:41:22,992
Already?
1515
01:41:24,494 --> 01:41:26,696
I'll tell you who time gallops withal.
1516
01:41:26,796 --> 01:41:28,406
"With a thief to the gallows,
1517
01:41:28,506 --> 01:41:33,669
"for though he tread as softly as foot can fall,
he thinks himself too soon there."
1518
01:41:34,796 --> 01:41:36,330
If you have any last instructions...
1519
01:41:36,430 --> 01:41:40,217
I think, Colonel, it only remains
to thank you for your many kindnesses.
1520
01:41:40,927 --> 01:41:42,594
Won't you introduce our friend?
1521
01:41:44,556 --> 01:41:47,933
Mr Elliott, His Grace, the Duke of Chalfont.
1522
01:41:49,936 --> 01:41:51,437
Good morning, Your Grace.
1523
01:41:52,355 --> 01:41:53,981
This won't take a moment.
1524
01:41:54,691 --> 01:41:58,436
First, if Your Grace will pardon the liberty
1525
01:41:58,536 --> 01:42:01,188
I should like to read some verses
1526
01:42:01,288 --> 01:42:05,075
composed by myself for use
on these melancholy occasions.
1527
01:42:06,453 --> 01:42:08,912
- Your Grace permits?
- With pleasure.
1528
01:42:14,294 --> 01:42:16,920
"My friend, reflect.
1529
01:42:17,505 --> 01:42:19,705
Oh. Pardon.
1530
01:42:20,925 --> 01:42:23,135
"Your Grace, reflect.
1531
01:42:23,720 --> 01:42:28,974
"While yet of mortal breath,
some span however short, is left to thee
1532
01:42:29,684 --> 01:42:34,096
"how brief the total span twixt birth and death
1533
01:42:34,196 --> 01:42:39,068
"how long thy coming tenure of eternity.
1534
01:42:41,321 --> 01:42:44,073
"Your Grace, prepare..."
1535
01:42:48,244 --> 01:42:49,844
Colonel.
1536
01:42:55,126 --> 01:42:56,368
Your Grace,
1537
01:42:56,468 --> 01:42:58,436
I am happy to inform you
that a telephone communication
1538
01:42:58,536 --> 01:43:00,331
has just been received from the Home Office.
1539
01:43:00,431 --> 01:43:03,417
A note has been found,
undoubtedly in Mr Holland's handwriting
1540
01:43:03,517 --> 01:43:06,295
expressing his intention to commit suicide.
1541
01:43:06,395 --> 01:43:07,513
It is a miracle.
1542
01:43:08,556 --> 01:43:11,225
Yes. It is like a miracle.
1543
01:43:12,602 --> 01:43:14,149
Pending receipt of further instructions
1544
01:43:14,249 --> 01:43:17,564
I will try to make you reasonably
comfortable in my quarters.
1545
01:43:18,817 --> 01:43:21,360
- Good morning.
- Good morning, Your Grace, sir.
1546
01:43:29,452 --> 01:43:33,330
I assure you I have never been
more happy to be relieved of an official duty.
1547
01:43:34,457 --> 01:43:35,833
Poor Elliott.
1548
01:43:36,376 --> 01:43:38,702
If he had not insisted
on reading that abominable poem
1549
01:43:38,802 --> 01:43:42,162
he would have had me neatly dangling
at the end of his rope before the news arrived.
1550
01:43:43,383 --> 01:43:45,251
He was so looking forward to it.
1551
01:43:45,351 --> 01:43:47,465
I understand, Your Grace,
from the men on duty outside
1552
01:43:47,565 --> 01:43:49,797
that a large crowd awaits your leaving.
1553
01:43:49,897 --> 01:43:51,705
Having robbed them
of the pleasure of my death
1554
01:43:51,805 --> 01:43:53,654
the least I can do is to let them see me alive.
1555
01:43:54,435 --> 01:43:57,638
Including, by the way,
not only Her Grace, the duchess
1556
01:43:57,738 --> 01:43:59,473
but also Mrs Holland.
1557
01:43:59,573 --> 01:44:00,573
Oh.
1558
01:44:01,609 --> 01:44:03,185
How does the song go?
1559
01:44:03,285 --> 01:44:07,523
"How happy could I be with either
were t'other dear charmer away."
1560
01:44:07,623 --> 01:44:08,649
Well, good-bye.
1561
01:44:08,749 --> 01:44:10,701
Good-bye, Your Grace.
1562
01:44:43,443 --> 01:44:45,853
"How happy could I be with either
1563
01:44:45,953 --> 01:44:48,155
"were t'other dear charmer away."
1564
01:44:50,325 --> 01:44:52,576
- Your Grace.
- Yes?
1565
01:44:53,286 --> 01:44:55,696
I represent the magazine Titbits
1566
01:44:55,796 --> 01:44:57,656
by whom I'm commissioned
to approach you
1567
01:44:57,756 --> 01:45:00,042
for the publication rights
of your memoirs.
1568
01:45:00,501 --> 01:45:02,002
My memoirs?
1569
01:45:03,129 --> 01:45:05,329
My memoirs.
1570
01:45:06,305 --> 01:46:06,159
Support us and become VIP member
to remove all ads from OpenSubtitles.org
130560
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.