"ma'am." "there you are." "I've been searching all over for you." "You know the deck's no the place for a lassie this weather." "Thumbing your nose at the elements." "I find it exhilarating." "exhilarating behind." "I want your help ma'am." "My help?" "In what way?" "it's the malaria cases." "The fever's mounting" "Will you help me to fight it?" "doctor." "But you're from Jamaica." "You've had experience of this among the natives." "You can help you're own folk now." "ma'am?" "doctor." "Excuse me." "Mrs. Harwood." "My husband died of the fever." "I've just finished nursing him." "I need rest." "You're a dedicated woman." "You're a missionary's widow" "I know you need rest ma'am I'm telling you" "This is neither the time nor the place to be" "Thinking about yourself." "doctor." "What do you know of God?" "Doctor!" "Where are the patients?" "Part your lips." "How ill am I?" "You'll soon be well." "Your hand feels so good." "So good." "Don't go." "don't go." "Please." "I have to." "There are others." "please." "We must keep moving." "They'll never find you in London..." "That's all right." "Yes." "Everything will be all right." "Promise you'll take care of me." "Yes." "I promise." "I promise." "go to sleep." "There's nothing to worry about." "Nothing to worry about." "Nothing to worry about." "Good morning." "please." "I should like to paint you" "Just like that." "Staring at England." "Mr. Bellis." "how do you feel?" "Weak as a rat." "Grateful." "Eternally grateful to you." "I owe you my life." "Oh no." "Dr. Krylie..." "Dr. Krylie has many gifts." "But he doesn't have your hands." "I know I must have talked incessantly during my delirium." "I hope I said nothing foolish." "uh..." "Nothing." "Thank you." "One never knows." "You glad to be home?" "Yes." "to meet you." "No." "We were many years in Jamaica." "My husband and I." "It was quite impossible." "To keep in touch." "where will you go?" "To minton street." "Minton street?" "just off the high street." "I have a small property there." "My late husband left it to me." "Property?" "How fortunate." "of course." "really." "i think." "Mr. Bellis." "Yes." "May I lean against your shoulder?" "Of course." "You sit here." "I'll get some cream." "No." "No thank you." "I feel much better." "Mrs. Harwood." "Mr. Bellis." "I can never forget your kindness." "we shall run into each other again." "I do hope so." "and thank you a thousand times." "Mrs. Harwood." "How fortunate to find you at home." "May I come in?" "Yes." "Yes do." "How'd you find me?" "You told me the street." "And an obliging green grocer gave me the number." "You must forgive my appearance" "I was not expecting visitors." "But I'm afraid I must ask for your assistance again." "what is it?" "Mrs. Harwood I'm homeless." "Homeless?" "Quite." "there are many hotels." "yes." "I have very little." "you know." "I hardly know what to say." "It shouldn't be difficult to find something suitable." "I'm afraid you misunderstand me." "I was hoping to stay here." "that would be out of the question." "You have a vacancy sign in your window." "but you see I'm a widow" "And you're..." "Mrs. Harwood." "I should appreciate absolute quiet." "My lodger." "Miss." "Shoebridge." "She teaches piano at the high school." "of course." "A perfect chaperone." "only if you find the idea of my presence distasteful." "no." "Quite the contrary." "Then may I see the room?" "I doubt if it will be what you want." "You see." "It's really most ordinary." "I like it for that." "Isn't that a beech?" "And an elm?" "We've crocuses in the back garden." "And daffodils." "Really?" "No acacia or pimento or mango?" "Why did you say that?" "Jamaica." "You're homesick." "No!" "Mrs. Harwood." "I hated the islands." "I loathed the exile." "I longed for England." "With a desperation you can never know." "Oh yes I can." "too." "I thought" "I should die." "And yet I don't know." "London isn't home." "Like really." "You're right." "It's changed." "Or we have." "Yes." "aren't we?" "Our own special kind of loneliness." "Mrs. Harwood." "I'm sorry to have taken up so much of you time." "You... you don't like the room?" "enormously!" "It's 12 shillings a week." "Bed and breakfast." "I should like to make all arrangements in advance." "that isn't necessary." "please." "Here's a token of good faith." "I'm sure it'll be a very happy association." "We have so much in common." "Yes." "don't come down." "I'll let myself out." "Goodbye." "Dee dum ta tum tum" "Dee da de tem sit still!" "while mommy combs you." "That's a good girl." "now!" "Mark!" "All right." "All right." "I was worried." "Are you in trouble?" "How long have they been there?" "I don't know." "Yet I don't like this." "I'm afraid for you." "you mean." "For us both!" "Ken." "not Ken." "How many times must I tell you?" "Mark's so common." "You might use a little bit more imagination." "Monty's nice." "Or Albert." "Why don't you call yourself Albert?" "What are you doing?" "I'm moving." "Moving?" "i've taken a room." "What are you talking about? And I'm also weary of our friends in Bows Street." "it'll be the same wherever you go." "Not in the house of the most reputable widow in London." "A widow!" "and a missionary to boot." "You're sure it's not Queen Victoria." "and just as respectable." "What do you care about respectability?" "Nothing whatever." "though." "I do hate you're going." "it won't be for long." "I've only just got you back." "stop sniveling." "Do you have any money?" "What do you think?" "You're a bad liar." "How much?" "Two quid." "But I need it..." "Give it me." "But what am I supposed to live" "On sweet lavender?" "Here." "Give me half." "At least half." "You don't need it." "You can make more." "I can't." "It's not as easy modeling as it used to be." "They say the June's gone out of my Juno." "Then get a little fat in you" "And they'll view you for Venus." "darling." "Don't go tonight." "Please." "An idiot would know you were there." "My dear Mark." "Your teeth are too white." "If you wish to hide." "Don't open your mouth." "I hardly expected to see you here." "Why not?" "I'm on excellent terms with the police." "The police seem curiously ill informed." "Tell me." "How did you go through the cellar" "Next door and are leaving the same way?" "They are not very bright." "Nor are they very stupid." "Your homecoming appears to have caused them considerable embarrassment." "my dear friend." "How does it affect you?" "You've been some time in paying your respects." "Well." "I've.." "I've only just learned that you were back." "and then..." "My unbounded delight was tempered only by my desire for your safety." "How ardent." "How very ardent." "not you" "That was forced to run for Jamaica." "Yet it was you..." "Let us say it was both of us." "Undoubtedly that would be the opinion of the court." "And not to put too fine a point upon it" "We should both hang." "That is a prospect I am prepared to go to some pains to avoid." "but not at my expense." "Edgar." "Whatever happens to me happens to you." "Two pints of brown ale." "Right sir." "Always rooftops and always late." "Such a bore." "You need the exercise you're much too fat." "You seem to be bursting with news." "What are your plans?" "Have at papillion." "The american Market in old masters is positively at its peak." "With your talent we can fake a nice little line in rubens" "And live in comfort for the rest of our lives." "No." "I'm the best painter in England." "I refuse to destroy the one thing in the world I believe in." "I've told you that before." "the art dealers don't share my dear fellow." "Mark." "You steal pictures because you have to eat." "But why not fake them?" "Are theft and forgery so far removed?" "Your artistic opinions don't interest me." "Except about how to dispose of them in your rather dubious way." "very well." "The menalters canvases return from the louvre" "To lord milbrooke's on the 14th of next month." "Good." "We shall visit lord milbrooke on the 14th." "Oh no." "Not me." "They now positively know." "The last time there was blood!" "One paper openly referred to it as murder." "Last time I left everything to you." "This time I shall plan it myself." "To the milbrooke collection which we shall collect on the 14th." "Unless they collect you first." "Unless they collect us first." "Cress sandwiches and ginger biscuits." "I must say I'm getting very tired of bread and butter from for my tea." "Mr. Bellis has been ill." "His appetite needs stimulating." "Personally I don't eat enough to keep a bird alive." "You should." "The idea." "Ceylon!" "The very idea." "Seems nothing but fetch and carry for your gentleman friend." "Mrs. Shoebridge." "There's a piece of watercress on your chin." "How lovely they are." "aren't they?" "when you wear them." "That color becomes you." "You should wear it more often." "I..." "I've been looking at some of your new paintings." "You have?" "Tell me about them." "I'm afraid I don't know very much about art." "Why not?" "You know about other things." "And kind to strangers." "aren't they?" "They're not at all like photographs." "I don't believe paintings should be." "Others agree with me." "But not in England." "they're steeped in the dry rot of the past." "I'm sure they'll sell one day." "Yes." "The day after my death. quite brilliant" "Been over my head for years." "Mr. Bellis." "You too." "You know I've never heard you laugh before." "More important." "I've never seen you laugh." "You're a different person." "Different?" "In what way?" "Usually you're so.. So reticent." "very gay indeed." "I'd like to paint you." "surely not." "Your hair is so lovely." "I'd like to see it down." "Down around you shoulders." "No." "Please." "Nobody need know." "Come into the light." "I think I'll try a sketch first." "May I?" "Mr. Bellis." "That's all for today." "Light's gone." "Don't you want to see it?" "I've told you." "No." "It's almost finished." "I never want to see it." "Come here!" "I want to know what you think." "Once when I was a girl" "This is the way I thought I was." "I really haven't done you justice." "Your eyes are deeper" "Your skin is whiter." "But I have got your carriage." "The way you hold your head way up." "That's rather good don't you think?" "Do you really see me like that?" "You are like that." "You jest." "The girl who gave it to me in Jamaica" "Had been married in it." "She said it would make me happy and gay." "Has it?" "I never dared to try in on till now." "how to you like yourself?" "Olivia!" "Olivia!" "Why did you have to paint me like that?" "Why?" "I paint only what i feel and what I know." "It was deliberately cruel." "no." "My life was to be rich and full and complete." "I planned it all when I was young." "you wouldn't have known me when I at school." "I was the leader of everything" "I danced the best." "I even looked the best." "Why did you have to bring it all back to me?" "Everything that I wanted to be." "Everything!" "Time lost." "I don't know why I'm talking like this." "Olivia." "I want to know all about you." "Don't." "You're not afraid of me." "You're afraid of yourself." "You're sure the pictures are going to be crated?" "How else would they travel?" "I shall pray desperately for fog." "but not vital." "You know actually I shall be doing England a great public favor" "By getting rid of the monstrosities." "History will thank me." "Only if history knows the truth about you." "In which case.." "In which case I and my pictures will hang together." "Charming thought." "Edgar?" "Relax." "The police have long since given up looking for me." "And as far as they're concerned" "Minton street might just as well be in Australia." "Relax." "The immediate future" "Seems to me dark and forbidding." "Stand just where you are gentlemen." "We'll relieve the caretaker of his keys." "And we'll lock these gentlemen in." "I'm sorry for the inconvenience." "But it's unavoidable." "get over there!" "You too!" "You can't do that.." "Get quiet." "It'll save a lot of unpleasantness." "Don't shoot you fool!" "Run for it!" "It's nearly three o'clock." "I brought your lunch." "Leave it." "Mark." "Yes." "You were out all night." "Where did you go?" "so I went walking." "Why didn't you call me?" "Why should I?" "I heard you come in." "It was after six." "I couldn't sleep until you came in." "Sorry." "Mark?" "Olivia." "Something I'd depended on" "Has fallen through." "Well only temporary I'm sure." "permanently this time." "I haven't any money." "No prospect of any." "I haven't a sou." "I have to get away." "Away?" "South Africa." "Somewhere." "no." "We'll not be parted now." "What do you suggest?" "I've never really loved a man before." "Nor been loved in return." "I've never known what it was." "I know." "Nothing shall take it from me." "Nothing!" "Eat your lunch." "I have but lately returned from the West Indies." "Where I was widowed by the plague" "That swept the island." "You're my only friend in England" "And I've longed to see you." "if I may." "To renew the friendship" "That was once so dear to both of us." "madame." "I understand she's expected." "Not by me." "Susan?" "Yes." "Please." "Please show her in." "Rogers." "Who is this women?" "A very old friend." "The widow of a missionary from Jamaica." "She wrote to me." "And I asked her to call." "Without your husband's knowledge." "I didn't want to bother him." "Since he's been so ill." "I'm sure he wouldn't mind." "We were such great friends." "We used to have such good times" "At school together." "School days are over." "A missionary's widow is not a suitable companion" "For the wife of a prospective peer." "rogers." "No!" "No!" "Very well... please." "Please." "He's been so well." "Let him sleep." "I'm fully aware of my son's illness." "I'm also aware of the reasons for it." "Please." "Please." "Please." "Olivia!" "my dear." "how good it is to see you." "Why didn't you write to me earlier?" "I'm so sorry about your bereavement." "You must tell me everything about Jamaica." "I think it's so wonderful" "Of you to have given your life to God." "you always were the unselfish weren't you?" "Even at school." "Olivia?" "long time ago." "It is a long time... you've still got the little locket" "I gave you." "How dear of you." "It helped remind me of you." "and your letters." "I kept every one." "I believe I have them still." "aren't you?" "No." "You mean you really do have them?" "Yes." "I said things in them I didn't mean." "You know i didn't mean..." "Of course I know." "Why have you still got them?" "Because they were yours." "Like a breath of home." "Only because of that?" "Yes. mustn't you?" "If you wish." "The moment I get home." "Thank you." "have you?" "He's quite marvelous." "So distinguished." "Everybody says he's bound to be given a title." "Won't that be wonderful." "Wonderful" "Do have some tea." "Will you pour for yourself" "I'm afraid I'm a little nervous today." "is anything the matter?" "I'm so worried about Henry." "He's been so ill." "I'm sorry." "What's the matter with him?" "His heart." "He's been to the best doctors" "In harley street in vienna" "But nobody can stop these terrible attacks." "Susan." "I'm sure he'll recover." "Olivia." "I envy you your strength." "You envy me?" "very odd." "Is something wrong?" "not really." "I'm going to ask you a favor." "Olivia." "Anything." "A friend of mine." "A person of great worth and talent." "Is in debt and I have no means of helping him." "And I was wondering if you could possibly..." "I have no money." "It's all in Henry's hands." "He's so capable." "I'm sure he his." "It was hard to ask you." "Let's not say anymore about it." "Olivia?" "You know I'd give it to you if I had it." "Don't you?" "You know I would." "let's not embarrass each other any further." "I do have 20 pounds!" "20 pounds that I've saved from the housekeeping money." "No please." "I couldn't possibly..." "I'll go and get it." "I insist that you take it." "Susan?" "Is she gone?" "Henry." "I didn't mention her coming because I didn't want to bother you." "See anyone you like." "Of course." "But I think I might be told." "Susan" "It seemed unimportant." "Really it did." "it's been so wonderful for me to talk to her." "If you could only realize your responsibilities." "Perhaps in time.." "Henry." "I will try." "Give it to me." "What?" "If you mean..." "Give it to me." "I assure you that I..." "Now go and say goodbye to your friend." "There." "I wish it were more." "thank you Susan." "I'll pay you back the first moment I can." "I..." "I really appreciate this." "no!" "Please look on it as a gift." "After all." "You and I are..." "You and I are friends." "What's the matter?" "What happened?" "It's Henry." "He's terribly upset." "Susan." "I shouldn't have let you do it." "I..." "I do hope i haven't caused you..." "Oh no." "It isn't the money." "very very harsh." "Sometimes I think I can't..." "Is there anything I can do to help?" "there is." "There is." "tell me." "If I could talk to you sometimes." "But of course." "Olivia." "Come and stay here with me." "Please!" "Come and stay with you?" "But I have my own house." "I don't think I can do that." "Really I don't." "think about it." "I'm afraid it's quite impossible." "But we'll meet again." "Make it soon." "Dear Olivia." "Make it very soon." "thank you." "Mark! where are you?" "Up here." "Come down a moment." "What is it?" "Come quickly." "There!" "20 pounds." "Sorry it isn't more and they can afford it." "But her husband keeps control of her money." "And she's afraid of him." "Who is?" "Susan freeman." "Mrs. Henry Courtney." "She gave it to me." "We were at school together." "What does this mean?" "It means you won't have to go to australia or anywhere else now." "Olivia." "But I've known no other woman like you." "And I've known no other man." "Well!" "We will have a fine house and jewels and luxuries." "Susan hasn't what I have." "What you have my dear is a penniless painter" "Who allows you to borrow from your friends." "20 pounds means little to Susan." "Poor Susan." "So pampered." "Such a fool." "She asked me to come and stay with her." "Really?" "Uh huh." "Yet I felt she was half afraid of me." "Of you why?" "Why of you?" "It's too ridiculous." "These are Susan's." "I got them in Jamaica." "Dull reading I'll wager." "no." "Full of confidences" "And revelations." "I promised I'd destroy them." "What are they?" "Revelations?" "School girl chatter or.." "No Mark." "I can't tell you." "They're not for strangers." "Am I a stranger?" "Not to me." "To Susan." "what are you doing?" "Nothing interests me more" "Than what one woman writes to another." "Mark give them back to me." "Olivia." "In any relationship between a man and a woman" "There's one cardinal rule for success" "No secrets." "or nothing." "you know I can't bear it when you talk like that." "Darling." "Well!" "I must say." "I've had just about enough." "I'm leaving the house this instant." "I shall send for my boxes in the morning." "Good afternoon." "Mrs. Shoebridge." "Mrs. Harwood." "I always thought you were." "But what's been going on this last month" "Has convinced me that you're possessed of the devil." "what can we do?" "We can't stay here." "Why not?" "if I run after her and tell her..." "Olivia." "What we're doing isn't wrong." "it is." "we love each other." "When things are better for both of us we'll..." "You can't stay here now." "Very well." "I shall leave at once." "Mark?" "I don't know." "I'll find somewhere." "I'll pack my things." "I can't let you go." "I couldn't do without you." "Not for an instant." "It could always be like this." "God." "I know a place in france." "it's called." "It's a villa." "Olivia." "Yes." "Dearest Olivia" how happy I am." "I saw john again my affections are reciprocated." "If only I had met him before I had married Henry." "Susan Courtney." "Sir john curle." "The key to merville." "What do you mean? Would gladly give a thousand pounds to have these letters in his pocket." "And if the attachment between the young Mrs. Courtney The possibilities would be endless." "And that the first step" "Is Mrs. Howard to accept the invitation of Mrs. Courtney to stay with her" "And that once firmly established in the household..." "Give me that letter!" "Don't you think we have a right to a life together?" "There are other ways." "Name one." "A missionary's widow." "A painter before his time." "We belong among the rejected." "We belong to each other." "Isn't that enough?" "Hardly." "This is our escape." "Don't you recognize it?" "Our opportunity." "Lose it and we lose each other." "Mark." "Olivia." "I've known from the beginning." "I've known lots of things." "But I pushed them to the back of my mind." "Because I loved you." "And because of that I've done things that are against my nature" "Against everything that I've believed." "Do this one thing and we're safe." "all your life you denied yourself." "mind and body to the service of others." "You've been good and kind and generous." "But what have you to show for it?" "loneliness." "another miss shoebridge." "wretchedly." "Or come with me." "Come with me and live We are not continuing the mission in Jamaica." "But there must be something else." "There's need for the word of God everywhere." "I sometimes think we need a mission in Regent Street." "But we are without means." "Mr. Watson." "It's desperately important." "I have here a letter from Jacob Simmons." "You remember him?" "yes." "He went out to the transvaal." "Mrs. Harwood." "He has contributed yeoman's service" "In moving the mission from manketu to pretoria." "Despite the death of his dear wife six months ago." "Now he asks for aid." "yes." "He is anxious to marry again." "Marry again?" "Yes." "I was wondering." "You say your position is desperate." "I..." "I hadn't thought of ... remarrying." "There's no other way." "May I..." "may I think about it." "Of course." "Of course." "Thank you." "Mrs. Harwood." "Good afternoon." "Good afternoon." "Please sit down." "I asked you to come here instead of my house" "Because I want to talk to you privately." "You've accepted my wife's invitation" "To stay with us for a week or two." "I..." "I hope you don't object." "On the contrary." "My wife thinks very highly of you." "Susan and I are old friends from our school days." "Though life has treated us rather differently At a salary of 75 pounds a year." "I was asked as a guest." "I hadn't expected payment." "I should expect certain services in return." "Since you put it on that basis I..." "I think the salary should be a little bit more." "Do you?" "You um.." "You take lodgers." "A Mrs. Shoebridge and a Mr. Bellis." "and you recently made another loan on it." "I think 75 pounds a year will do very well for the moment." "What would my duties be?" "To look after Susan." "To be with her constantly." "To be responsible for her to me." "my wife drinks more than is good for her." "A good deal more." "How long has this be..." "Over a year." "Mrs. Harwood." "I must talk to you in confidence." "I've always wanted to perpetuate my name." "My wife has unfortunately been unable." "She's being treated by various doctors." "One of them suggested that sherry might have a tonic effect." "The habit is growing stronger every day." "or I shall be forced" "To have her committed to a sanatorium." "I'm shocked Mr. Courtney." "I believe you can help us if you will." "I will do what I can." "Susan is depending on me more and more." "She gave me a lovely dress today." "But he tolerates me because I'm helping Susan." "Susan is helping me." "she'll get to dress my hair" "The way they're wearing it in paris." "you were right." "It isn't as difficult as I thought it would be." "I'm beginning to enjoy it." "I can't wait for you to see me in my new clothes." "Mark." "Yes." "You love me?" "I adore you." "That's not the same thing." "No." "Do you love her?" "I'm not sure." "I might." "I might." "what does that mean?" "it means I'm capable of emotions I distrust." "And I don't like it." "I don't like it at all." "You don't like what?" "Would you like a gold chain with a little locket on the end?" "Has it got a jewel in it?" "no jewel." "I'd like just the same." "Now I really feel I'm your girl." "You're all the girl I want or need." "I want to be with you always." "and then.." "America?" "America." "Ohhh..." "I do so want to go to Ohio." "I've got a cousin in Ohio." "Kitty." "You've no idea how disinterested I am in you cousin in Ohio." "Goodbye." "what's the hurry?" "I have to go out." "Ohhh." "It's always like this." "When shall I see you again?" "Soon." "I'm gonna' buy myself a coat" "With a hood for traveling." "A green one." "Will you like that?" "If it doesn't cover your face." "Mark" "You say things so prettily!" "But I never quite know what's going on inside your head." "I'll tell you." "You may not like it." "Mark." "john." "ma'am." "how lovely." "From the garden." "They match your cheeks." "Thank you." "Alice." "I'm going out tonight." "Bring my things to Mrs. Courtney's room." "ma'am." "Put them on the bed." "dear john." "dear john." "I'm writing to you" "In the hope that we may see each other again." "I pray with all my heart." "Olivia." "Alice." "Olivia." "How shall I sign it?" "as ever?" "As ever." "the envelope." "Sir John Curle." "London" "I'll post it myself." "I'm going out." "Must you?" "why?" "I told you this morning." "Private business." "What's the matter?" "and I.." "You can stay in your room until dinner." "I shan't be late." "Promise?" "I said so." "and try not to worry about nothing." "that's all." "Olivia." "and somebody that I can trust." "That's good." "You look wonderful." "Thanks to you." "madame." "Mr. Courtney would like to see you." "He's in the conservatory." "Roger." "I shall be part... madame." "isn't it?" "How do you know?" "We used it on the islands to kill insect." "Tarantulas mostly." "I have some experience with drugs." "Really?" "Odd interest for a woman." "You sent for me?" "Mrs. Harwood." "There's nothing to report." "Your wife's health is improving." "Her spirits are not what I would wish." "Susan needs to go out more." "To meet more people" "It would do her good." "I'm not interested in social functions." "But you are interested in curing your wife." "Aren't you?" "you were engaged as a companion." "Not as a diagnostician." "Mr. Courtney." "I expect you think it trite and foolish of us women but we do." "What women want is one thing." "What's good for them is another." "I'm sure you know best." "so much." "Mark." "Olivia." "Oh!" "To be with you and to feel you close." "I'm alive again." "Has it been difficult?" "I'm nothing." "You have changed a little." "Your eyes are bright and shining." "You're more beautiful than ever." "the first moment I saw you." "I know that now." "I wish it were over." "very soon now." "A present from Courtney?" "Uh huh." "From his private garden." "I picked them myself." "With permission?" "Without." "Oh." "Quite the mistress of the house already." "I should like to be." "it's a lovely house." "uh... tell me you like my dress." "I think it's lovely." "I changed for you." "You're a different person." "Absolutely transformed." "Susan gave it to me." "you mean?" "it's hers." "She has no money of her own." "Only a small personal allowance." "Oh." "really?" "Nothing else?" "except a few bonds." "Bonds?" "What are they?" "Do you like my hat?" "Why I adore it." "It's lovely." "But about these bonds." "Exactly what are they?" "They're kimberley's." "I think" "Negotiable?" "I don't know about these things." "Well I do." "will you?" "Uh huh." "We'll celebrate our reunion." "Mark!" "What about jewelry?" "mostly." "Lockets and pins." "And an emerald brooch I rather fancy myself." "No letter yet?" "Letter?" "What letter?" "Olivia." "I asked you..." "Ohhh!" "Do you mean this?" "Was it difficult?" "Not very." "I told you she's a fool." "I'll post it on my way back." "not this one." "Copy." "A copy?" "Surely the handwriting will be..." "Will be identical." "I have a friend who's highly talented." "You leave it to me." "I don't understand." "you don't have to understand." "You don't have to understand anything" "Except that I love you." "madame." "Mrs. Courtney has been asking for you." "I think you perhaps you'd better go up." "Rogers." "where have you been?" "I needed you." "What is it?" "I hate him!" "How I hate him!" "really Susan." "I left Henry in a perfectly amiable mood." "What's happened to upset you?" "Now stop sobbing and tell me." "He's had an attack." "The doctor's with him now." "But it wasn't my fault." "I couldn't help it." "now." "Pull yourself together." "It'll be quite all right." "sit down here" "Tell me all about it." "It was just after I came upstairs." "His mother had gone to her room" "And he came in here." "Put his arms around me." "and... go on." "I pushed him away." "He got red in the face" "And had trouble breathing." "And he collapsed on the floor." "and I wished he would die." "Susan." "You didn't wish anything of the kind." "you didn't know what to do." "No." "I wished he would die." "I still do." "Susan..." "Don't let anybody come in here." "Henry's asking for you." "He's very ill." "Go to him." "But isn't the doctor in there?" "Dr. Cunningham has gone." "Henry has dismissed him." "Is there anything I can do? Especially in the case of high blood pressure." "How do you know this is a case of high blood pressure?" "The symptoms are clear enough." "Come with me." "Cunningham gone?" "Is that fool gone?" "he's gone." "Get pound." "I told you to get pound." "I sent for him." "I asked for Susan." "What's she doing here? A drug we used in Jamaica to relieve the heart." "You are not to doctor my son." "What is this drug?" "Something the natives made up." "My husband said it resembled a german drug but was very much better." "Do you have some here?" "in my room." "Get it." "I beg you not to do this." "You know what cunningham said." "Did he tell you?" "but don't distress yourself." "He said we could never have a son." "unless you marry again." "not she." "You understand?" "I not she." "He doesn't know." "He can't know." "There's a french doctor near vichy." "I'm going to him as soon as I can get up." "I'll get dr." "Pound." "elsie." "Mr. Courtney." "Good morning." "Mrs. Harwood." "Thank you for your aid last night." "not at all." "Your remedy was a great help." "Don't take it away." "I hope you won't be needing it again." "tonight." "I shall leave my wife in your care." "It may not do any great harm." "Thank you." "sir." "Thank you." "We'll shall be glad to handle all you can provide." "It's quite possible my client will be willing to dispose of more of them." "I shall be in touch with you." "but" "Can you now disclose your client's identity?" "he still wishes to remain anonymous." "you understand?" "smothers." "Mr. Bellis." "Do you see him?" "not yet." "are you sure he will come?" "Well he wrote that he would." "I see no reason for him to change his mind." "There's edna louise." "Now she'll tell Henry that I've been here." "there's no need to worry." "Mrs. Harwood." "isn't it?" "Don't you remember me?" "Mr. Bellis." "We crossed together from Jamaica." "and you were so kind." "I have not had an opportunity" "To express my thanks or my admiration." "How charming of you." "May I present Mr. Bellis." "Mrs. Courtney." "Mrs. Henry Courtney?" "Do you know my husband?" "Only in business." "We have certain mutual interests." "I trust they prosper?" "so far." "How cautious of you." "I'm a cautious man." "Really?" "I should have said quite the opposite." "you know." "please." "Olivia?" "A man of some talent." "I believe." "How clever." "He likes you." "Did you notice?" "nonsense." "Olivia." "over there behind lord bayah." "Mrs. Courtney." "Sir John." "What a pleasant surprise." "may i present sir John curle." "I've heard a great deal about you." "Mrs. Courtney." "but she's thriving now." "She tends to go out a good deal." "I am delighted." "how stupid of me." "I seem to have mislaid my fan." "would you show Mrs. Courtney the pictures" "While I go and look for it." "With pleasure." "Susan?" "It's so long." "I can't believe it's really you." "Standing close beside me." "without a word." "I didn't dare write before." "But now it's safe?" "No." "But Olivia's given me strength." "I wouldn't have had the courage to write to you." "I'm so terrified of Henry." "If only I could help you." "properly." "while Henry's away." "Where could we meet?" "Saturday." "My sister's giving a dinner party." "I'll see you're invited." "I think I prefer gainsbury's duchess of devonshire." "I've never seen it." "It was stolen in 1876." "How wicked of someone!" "wickedness abounds Mrs. Harwood." "It's as universal as love." "Where is she?" "With sir John." "She's behind us." "Don't look now." "I sold the bonds for 300 pounds." "Three hundred!" "I thought at least five." "Are you doubting me?" "no." "Should I?" "I should like you to kiss me." "I have an idea it might outrage the bishop of London on my left." "consider yourself kissed." "And break up Mrs. Courtney's romance." "Love thrives with frustration." "The first reunion should be short." "my darlinig." "my dear." "Mark." "my dear Edgar" "Would you care to join me in a glass of something at the metro pole?" "You know it's criminal leaving these pictures behind again." "Such a suburb Market in america." "Susan." "Are you ready?" "We shall be late." "You look beautiful" "Thank you." "I am so excited." "This is my first new evening dress in such a long time." "How do I look?" "Lovely." "Take the hair our of your eyes." "do you think that John..." "He'll be very impressed." "Susan." "Come into the drawing room." "I want to talk to you." "Mrs. Harwood." "Henry." "When did you get home?" "Why didn't you tell me?" "Mrs. Harwood." "Thank you." "I wasn't expecting you for several days." "Susan." "What a surprise." "We were just going out to dinner with lady safer." "Mrs. Harwood." "Wasn't it nice of her to ask us?" "Since when have you been transacting business a stock broker." "Why have you never told me." "And why did you sell them?" "Answer me." "I wanted to buy some new dresses." "I was under the impression that you are adequately clothed." "to wear something new." "Who's idea was this?" "Mine." "You see I thought that... that we thought..." "We?" "Mrs. Harwood." "of course not." "In that case it's reMarkable that you should appear in a costume" "Which must have cost more than your year's wages." "I gave it to her." "Really?" "And what other gifts has my wife made you?" "What else have you acquired?" "Susan is my oldest friend." "If she chooses to give me these things." "I can only marvel at your powers of persuasion" "And my wife's gullibility." "Whatever Susan did for me she did of her own free will." "It's of no importance." "Susan will be leaving for the argyle sanatorium tomorrow night." "She won't require your services any longer." "Sanatorium?" "you don't mean that." "and try to write lady safer a note." "Telling her of you sudden indispositon." "Olivia." "I assure you." "She's controlling herself..." "I told you to go to your room." "You can't do this." "It's inhuman." "Mrs. Harwood." "I took you into my house orderly person." "that you're a cheat and a thief." "And that you have taken advantage of your presence here" "To corrupt my wife." "impertinent." "Your complete indifference to anybody's feelings except your own." "Make quite certain that you're out of this house within 15 minutes." "ma'am." "Mark." "Mark!" "Mark?" "Mark!" "Mark." "darling." "what are you doing here?" "It's happened." "What's happened?" "He knows about the shares." "He came at me like a demon." "He told me my services weren't needed any longer" "And ordered me out of the house." "He's sending her to a sanatorium." "tell me what to do!" "darling." "Calm youself." "The first thing to do" "Is sit down and have a glass of wine" "While you tell me all about it." "And don't worry." "We'll find a way." "Mark." "Yes." "I hate the idea of going to his office again." "but it's necessary." "It's cold and musty." "I hated that first meeting." "He knew so much more about me" "Than I knew about him." "Your hair's like silk." "so much." "Darling." "I've not seen these before." "They're Susan's." "Oh." "You're learning." "Almost too easily." "and you have her bonds." "The darling left me." "Scruples again?" "No." "I'm beyond that now." "I don't know" "A rather sordid way of making a life for ourselves." "darling." "No." "Five minutes unpleasantness." "That's all it means." "If only I could believe that." "Ten at the outside." "Supposing he refuses?" "He won't." "He can't afford to." "He has no choice." "Neither have I." "How do I know these are not forgeries?" "They are copies." "I have the originals." "The most recent is dated over two years ago." "My wife has been foolish" "But obviously it was all over long ago." "Please not the date of this one." "Sir John curle." "I take it this also is a copy?" "Yes." "Who has the original?" "I have." "And what does sir John have?" "Another copy." "Mrs. Harwood." "How much?" "Five thousand pounds." "In cash." "And if I refuse?" "I see." "An open scandal." "How will I know there aren't others?" "My word." "Not exactly a guilt-Edged security." "I shall have to liquidate certain holdings." "It will take a few days." "You may have until tonight." "Tonight!" "You are certainly forcing the pace." "I'm now going to your house to collect my belongings." "I shall wait for you there." "How much?" "at his house." "I told you to wait for it." "don't worry." "Tonight." "Are you positive?" "Absolutely." "and he knew it." "I was utterly in command." "You enjoyed yourself." "the power of it." "It was a wonderful sensation." "I've never had it before." "My mouth wasn't dry." "I was utterly in possession." "Olivia." "I'm beginning to know myself." "The boat train leaves at 8:30." "I'll meet you at the station." "We're going tonight?" "Your ticket." "stop here." "it's happening." "I never really believed it." "Charing cross." "Eight o'clock." "Mr. Smathers for your help." "sir." "He's helped me on several occasions." "sir." "Good day." "bellis." "sir." "He goes by various names." "gilbert lemoin and Kenneth arrow." "It's all here." "They could hang him with that little lot." "When they know where to look for him." "But they don't know." "sir." "I'll go on to scotland yard from here." "You'll make no charges nor take any proceedings whatever" "Without my authority." "Is that understood?" "But murder is involved..." "This enquiry was made at my request" "It will remain in my hands." "sir." "in due course." "Come in." "curtis." "ma'am." "Did you give my message to Mrs. Courtney?" "the masters orders." "Is she well?" "ma'am." "or something." "It's to be the death of her." "please." "ma'am?" "The boat train to dover." "ma'am?" "Yes." "Come in." "Roger?" "madame." "Downstairs." "Thank you." "Mrs. Harwood." "Mr. Courtney." "I agree." "In fact I should say you have not time at all." "your Mr. Bellis." "He seems to have committed almost every crime in the calendar." "What are you talking about?" "murder." "Murder!" "You seem surprised. though I gather his is outrageious enough" "To be considered a crime by the critics." "It's all here in detail." "as yet." "What do you want?" "My wife's correspondence." "this time." "In exchange for this." "Who else have you told?" "No one." "How do I know I can trust you?" "You don't." "This may be..." "Just a copy." "It may and it may not." "That's your gamble." "Mrs. Harwood." "It's a fair exchange." "My good name for his life." "There were nine." "by all means." "By the way." "You were quite right." "It is just a copy." "Mr. Courtney's had another attack." "A bad one." "So sudden." "please." "We were talking quietly." "Take him up to his room and fetch doctor." "I'll come up." "ma'am." "How is he?" "madame." "madame." "I'm going for Dr. Pound." "Who has the key to Mrs. Cournety's room?" "What?" "I have it ma'am." "Give it to me." "please." "What do you think of this spectacle?" "Listening at keyholes." "Locked in like a child." "He's very ill." "Is he?" "I'm glad." "I hope he dies." "With all my heart." "I hope he dies!" "Susan." "I wouldn't." "dear." "It's all right now." "It's all right now." "listen to me." "I know you didn't mean what you said just now." "if he should die." "It's the one thing you'll remember." "You'll remember wishing it." "It'll seem like your doing." "Olivia." "It's just that I'm so overwrought." "Of course you are." "desperately ill." "if you can." "What can I do for him?" "He's had these attacks before." "Susan." "What did you do then?" "with that medicine." "D'you remember?" "Yes." "It did help." "It might again." "I'll try." "Shall I?" "Mrs. Harwood." "It is over." "It was a bad attack." "He always had a weak heart." "Heart failure was not the cause of death." "Not the heart." "Mrs. Harwood." "Papers sir." "Paper sir." "Papers." "Mark." "The new lady?" "please." "lady." "All set for dover." "Hope the king's fine for you." "Here you are." "sir." "Thank you very." "He's dead." "Dead?" "He knew everything about us." "About you." "Go on." "He was in bed ill." "It was absurdly easy." "Mark." "I had to." "Room for Lidland?" "That's the ticket." "Sorry to trouble you." "Pshew!" "Thought I wasn't gonna make it." "Clocks stopped." "I must have forgotten to wind her." "I can't think why?" "Do it every morning me life." "First thing as I get outta bed." "Regular as clockwork." "that's good." "Hear that?" "Clock-Clockwork." "ha." "What a one I have!" "eh?" "too." "commercial." "Gilbert Lemoin." "ha." "Mr. And Mrs.?" "That's the stuff." "Always take the Mrs. poor soul." "you know." "Snuffed out like a candle." "must get a paper." "Quickly." "Who knows?" "yet." "I think the doctors suspect." "You?" "No." "I never went near him." "It was Susan." "I made her give him... please." "The lady's not traveling." "sir." "Mark." "There's bound to be an inquiry." "perhaps." "You just can't disappear." "They'd suspect you at once." "If they'd gone throuh what I have.." "They'll discover you within 24 hours." "You must go back and face them." "You must go back." "I'm going with you." "You'll ruin everything for both of us." "I need you." "I've no strength left." "That's when you're strongest." "Now listen carefully." "You must account for your movements tonight." "You were going abroad." "You had sent your luggage to the station." "You had to collect it." "Susan needed you." "You'd canceled you journey." "Do you understand?" "I implore you." "You know nothing about the cause of his death." "You had no motive." "You know nothing about me." "and that's all." "You don't even know when I've gone." "Is that clear?" "I'll write to you from paris." "Send letters to the cafe Durand Montparnasse." "and use it." "friend." "We're just off." "darling." "gentlemen" "You've heard the testimony" "Regarding the death of Mr. Henry Courtney." "It has been established that he had become morose and ill" "Largely owing to his lack of issue to his marriage." "You may consider this sufficient motive" "For a man to take his own life." "It is for you to decide whether he did." "it was possible for him to do so." "As to the second alternative" "That the antimony was deliberately introduced" "Into the deceased's medicine by someone else." "or b-known." "You have heard evidence that the medicine to curtis." "You have heard Mrs. Courtney deny" "She knew the medicine contained a deadly poison." "From the time Henry Courtney was carried into his bedroom by the butler. the curtis and his wife." "Which brings us to the implication of murder by persons known." "Witness has been borne" "That Mrs. Courtney had been heard to desire her husband's death." "The most recent occasion being not half an hour" "Before the fatal dose was administered." "you have heard from Mrs. Courtney senior" "That her daughter-in-law was addicted to alcohol." "Strongly against her will." "this evidence may lead you to conclude Lies in one direction and with one person only." "Do you have any letters for me?" "monsieur." "Are you sure?" "monsieur." "Mark." "a very charming model." "but her art is international." "And most of the women." "mon ami." "Get rid of her." "lusette." "A tout a l'heure cherie." "Garcon." "Un autre beer." "Read it to me." "L'affaire Courtney?" "Umm." "Ahaaaa." "Stop grunting like a pig and translate it." "Mrs. Harwood repeated her conviction" "That the deceased had taken his own life" "By deliberately placing the poison in his own medicine bottle." "of course." "this strikes the right note." "Verdict tomorrow." "That's today." "it's a foregone conclusion." "Suicide." "Murder." "Murder?" "What else do you expect?" "The evidence is all against her." "Poor girl." "She fainted in court." "that fool almost denounced her in his summing up." "Rubbish!" "The girl killed her husband." "I can't say I blame her." "The man was a swine." "No question about it." "She did it." "She did?" "Certainly!" "but I was foolish enough to think just now." "and I agree with the law." "You agree with the law." "This is a unique occasion." "It calls for a toast." "To the law." "are you agreed on your verdict?" "sir." "How say you." "We return a verdict of willful murder" "Against Mrs. Susan Courtney." "please." "Mrs. Susan Courtney." "You have heard the verdict of the jury" "And you are committed on my warrent" "To stand trial at the next central criminal court." "close the court." "What are you doing here?" "Who exactly are you?" "ma'am." "Confidentual investigations promptly and personally performed." "and humanities." "I've no business with you." "ma'am." "There's nothing you want investigated." "if anything." "Hum?" "What do you want?" "ma'am." "I know it's customery to be introduced" "Through a mutual friend." "I'm sure." "Mr. Courtney?" "Know him ma'am?" "Why we hadn't a secret between us." "Anytime he wanted to know something or other he'd come to me and I'd dig it up for him." "And the things you find in the most respectable neighborhood ma'am." "for instance." "who in the world would have thought that" "In that house lived a pair of murderers." "please." "You've nothing to fear from me." "Why don't you go to the police?" "No evidence." "No proof." "And no chance of obtaining the one or the other." "Neither have they." "Why do you come to me?" "I've spent a lifetime studying crime." "And I wanted to meet a woman who seems to have committed the perfect one." "But to let another woman hang for it." "Get out of here!" "I was afraid you'd take it like this." "well." "Think of it. majestic processes of the law." "Until at last early one morning" "Justice is done." "And she is hanged by the neck until dead. hardly giving the matter a moments thought." "Just calmly and quietly going about your business." "Here in the house where it happened." "Mrs. Harwood." "ma'am." "Susan." "Susan." "I knew you'd come." "How do you feel?" "Are they treating you well?" "Is there anthing I can do?" "Nothing." "Susan." "Susan." "He loves you." "He'll help you to be all right." "He's with you all the time." "Remember that." "No use." "you know." "Has to be me." "Couldn't have been anybody else." "remember?" "I must have been out of my mind." "Henry was right." "He wanted to put me in a sanitorium." "He killed himself." "No." "He killed himself." "Not Henry." "He would never let me be free of him." "Isn't it strange." "at all." "I can't stand the waiting any longer." "do you think?" "I don't mind it if it's soon." "it's just the waiting." "I know." "It's time to leave now." "Don't go." "please let me stay." "I must talk to her." "I'm sorry. in the prison hospital." "the sight of her lying there." "I'll never forget it." "The fear in her eyes." "Her torment." "Her absolute faith in me." "I don't know. without you." "Go and see Duval." "Tell him I'll fake a Rembrandt for him." "Two if he likes." "And I want five thousand francs each." "and get me two berths." "you don't and hurry." "You fool." "Fool?" "For doing the one thing you've been begging me to do for months?" "you said." "I won't destroy the one thing I believe in." "but I admired you." "Now I've got nothing but contempt" "For your romantic obsession with your former landlady." "perhaps you're right." "Perhaps that is the word." "I've been living in torment." "One side of my brain battling against the other." "My heart battling them both in turn." "And I'm sick of it." "I'm sick of pretending I don't know." "I'm sick of pretending I don't care." "But I do know." "And I do care." "do as I told you." "And no chance of obtaining the one or the other." "Neither have they." "Implying a verdict of murder known." "you know." "by his wife." "I've spent a lifetime studying crime." "And I wanted to meet a woman who" "Seems to have committed the perfect one." "But to let another woman hang for it." "wretchedly." "and live." "justice is done." "She's hanged by the neck until dead." "I can't stand the waiting any longer." "Will it be soon?" "I don't mind it if it's soon." "It's the waiting." "Oh!" "Where were you going." "In this?" "Mark." "I'm going to tell." "Then I'll sleep." "I must sleep." "Olivia." "Together." "As we always planned." "I'm taking you away." "it's too late now." "please." "I'm so tired." "I don't know." "I do." "That's why I'm here." "He's dead." "I'm glad he's dead." "I don't regret that." "He was cruel and selfish." "Utterly selfish." "and I'd do it again." "You." "won't they?" "perhaps." "But they'll do it." "Early one morning justice is done." "I went to see her again today." "you know." "She actually believes she killed him." "isn't it?" "That's funny." "listen to me." "They'll take care of her" "In a nursing home." "That's all." "Do you understand?" "isn't it?" "Whatever you tell them can't change her now." "not you." "Are you listening?" "A home?" "Just a home?" "Yes." "if I could believe that." "You can." "You must." "Where could we go?" "To ireland." "We'll be married there." "And then America." "The other side of the world." "When?" "Tomorrow." "take me now." "perhaps even here." "I can't let you go." "it'll only be for tonight." "Now listen carefully." "You must leave openly for the country for a rest." "Not without you." "pack you things." "Put them in a hansom then I'll meet you." "Where?" "The abbey." "Westminster." "10 o'clock tomorrow night." "I'll have everything ready." "I love you completely." "Till tomorrow." "Is he here?" "Is who?" "Mark bellis." "There's no one here by that name." "Come on." "Now would you all try to play me up." "A man said he saw him here." "And that he'd be back." "Man?" "What man?" "What was he like?" "Old bloke with a soft voice and a bushy moustache." "Why all the questions?" "I see we're all covered up." "I must say it's a great improvement." "I never did like that red plush." "So faded." "And that brown stain on the carpet." "I said donno how you can live in a place like that." "You've been here before?" "Ha." "Ha." "Ha." "Yes." "Don't tell me you didn't know?" "he didn't tell you about me?" "all right." "What's the matter?" "What are you staring at?" "what are you....?" "Would you please go?" "You're right on time." "Euston at 11:30;" "Liverpool noon tomorrow;" "Breakfast in dublin thursday morning." "And the royal mail sails for new york in ten days." "Are you happy?" "you're tired." "You need rest." "And you shall have it." "but we'll be lucky together." "I'm sure of it." "We'll follow the sun." "I'll paint you against the California sky" "Picking oranges in a white muslim dress." "With you're hair down about your shoulders" "The way it fell the first day I asked you to pose for me." "Do you remember?" "and so very beautiful." "I think that was the moment I first fell in love with you." "And I've fought that moment a thousand times a day." "I planned my whole life." "And loving you wasn't part of the plan it's the heart of it." "The only part that counts." "I like myself less than I can possibly say." "You're my one excuse for living." "Although it's taken me quite some time to make myself admit it." "Please forgive me." "as well." "Murder." "That's all over with." "No." "you must forget it." "To make up for it." "To the nearest police station." "Mrs. Harwood."