"Come on." "Go, little bitch." "Aha, colonel, good morning." "Colonel:" "Ah, farnon." "I see your little cat's still fond of that morning ride." "Oh yes." "I'd be for the high-jump if I left her out." "There you are, they tell me you've just bought yourself a new breeding ram." "Oh yes, yes, fine, fine animal." "Farnon, could you ask your brother to drop by and pick up his tickets?" "We're in a bit of a rush for the beagle hunt ball this year." "If he hangs about too much, he'll lose them, which won't please rachael at all." "I'll tell him, of course, uh, Tristan is taking your rachael to the ball?" "Oh yes, yes, hitting it off lately, those two." "Hmm, he'll have his hands full there, I can tell you." "How's the vet today?" "Not too bad at all, phin, thank you." "How's yourself?" "Well, middling, Mr. farnon." "And you then, Charlie, how is thee?" "Calvert." "I heard as how you bought yourself a new ram." "Had to put your other one down, I hear?" "You heard correctly." "Eeh, you wanna watch yourself, buying stock like that from folk you don't know." "I did consider buying one of yours, calvert, but I decided against it." "So long as you're happy, Charlie, and while I'm on to you, you wanna watch that cat of yours." "Maudy?" "Ah, little thing's started wandering about my place, and I wouldn't want her to come to any harm, you see, not a nice friendly little 'un like that." "Yes, that would be most unfortunate." "Aye, well, I thought I'd best tell you." "Take care, Mr. farnon." "Yes, I will." "Oh, Mr. boggs." " Is he in?" "Mr. farnon?" " Aye, that's him." "He is, but the surgery's not open yet." "He takes my money, so I'll have his time." " Yes." "A trifle early for surgery, Mr. boggs." " Early for some, mister." "Blackhead, Mr. boggs." "I'll put him on a course of stavar salt tablets." "Thank you." "That should see him right." "Expensive stuff, mister." "You've taken my money for them little tablets afore." "Well, it's a very effective remedy, Mr. boggs." "Any of your other birds affected, do you think?" "Could be, but he is the worst." "I'd best call out and have a look." "Oh, not sure I can afford that, mister." " Mr. boggs, if your turkeys are ill..." "They must be attended to." "There you are." "If the others are affected, I'll give you more." "How much for these then?" " The usual price, Mr. boggs." "Thank you kindly." "She's been uneasy ever since I got up." "She's wanting to calve but I reckon it's stuck." "Yes, that's what it looks like." "Hot water, soap and a towel, please, Mr. dugdale." "Aye, right." "Oh, Jimmy, you've got it already, good lad." "Aye, he's way ahead of you, Mr. Herriot." "Aye, and me too." "I'd best get that water afore he gives me a right good ticking off." "Right." "Bad presentation, dad." "Hmm, probably." "It's getting the hand in there that counts." "It gets rid of any guesswork in the job, you see." "Yes, you learn more with your arm up the ass of a cow than from any book, don't you?" " What?" "!" "I heard Uncle siegfried saying to you once, it's true, isn't it?" "Yes, it's true, Jimmy." "Ah, there you are." "The cause of the bellyache." "Right." "Calum, stitch her up if you'd be so kind." "Righto." "Good God, calum, what the deuce do you think you're playing at?" "What do you mean?" " That catgut-- have you any idea how much it costs a foot?" "Not really." "And the dusting powder, damned expensive stuff and you've just chucked away half a pound, to no good effect." "And look at this, literally a foot, where a square inch would do." "Well, I use only what I need, siegfried." "Well, if you were paying for it, you'd be bankrupt in no time at all." "But I've always done it this way." "Indeed, and I blame myself for not taking your extravagant ways in hand sooner." "Now, now, now, look here." "If you want a swab, something this size is perfectly good enough." "There, see?" "And this, that's quite sufficient." "And..." "And this" "short lengths will do perfectly well." "Needle." "Out of the way." "It's difficult to tie off short lengths, isn't it?" "Certainly not." "There you are, job done at a fraction of the cost." "It's not so easy to remember when you're caught up in the work though, is it?" "Exactly, that's why I suggest that you follow my infallible method." "Oh, what's that?" "Now, observe, calum, and inwardly digest what I am about to demonstrate." "Memorize the desirable length of silk or catgut that you mean to use and close your eyes." "Form a mental picture of intense clarity..." "Got it!" "The image now resides up here." "Forgotten until the need arises when it will spring instantly into mental view." "Result-- no waste, improved efficiency, and the joy that comes from being master and not servant of your modus operandi, huh?" "I know, calum, that you don't give a hoot about money at the moment, but the time will come, my dear boy, when you have your own practice and then you'll learn something of the burdens of a senior partner." "Hello, Helen." "Not early, am I?" "Hello, Rosie." " Hello." "No, no, I'm late." "My poor old car's gone on the blink." "It stops and starts but never quite when you want it to." " That takes me back." "Granville used to fob me off with his old wrecks till he saw the light." "Every time I broke down, I insisted he personally come and fetch me back." "Now, my dears, I have the pick of the garage." "Rosie, you go in." "Mrs. greenlaw's making lunch and I'll see you later." "Bye-bye." "Now, where are we going?" " The country club." "Have you been there before?" "No, but if I had known we were doing it in style," "I'd have dressed for the occasion." "Don't be silly, you look lovely." " Hmm." "I'll just see how she's getting on inside." "The rope's well on." " Yes, Jimmy." "I'm glad to know somebody is keeping an eye on t'job." "Not much escapes the son and heir, Mr. dugdale." "All right, baby, all right." "Yes, yes, she's almost there." "Right." "Here goes, bill." "Right." " Give us on a bit." "Jimmy, move that bucket back, would you?" "And, pull." "Come on, come on." "Come on, boy." "Jimmy, I think you'd better give me a hand." "Get some leverage and pull." "Pull, come on then." "Come on, come on, it's all right." "All:" "It's all right." "Tight, hold tight." " Come on, baby." "Yes, dad." "Ease it over a bit, over to me." " Come on then." "Come on." "Ah, there." "Yes, that's good." "James:" "Yes!" "It's a heifer, dad, that's good isn't it, Mr. dugdale?" " Aye it is, lad, it is that." "Want all the heifers we can get." "That young 'un you're rubbing down will be a good milk cow one day." "Don't worry, we'll look after her." "Won't we, dad?" "We'll do our best, Jimmy, certainly." "We'll do our best." "Zoe:" "It's extraordinary how successful it is." "Of course, everyone thought it was crazy to specialize in small animals, but my goodness, were they wrong." "He's seriously looking for someone to join him?" "Yes, the hunt is on in earnest." "Thank you." "What does it involve, Zoe?" "Essentially, it's finding the right person to buy into the practice and going on from there." "I see." "Does granville have anyone in mind?" "Early days yet." "He'll advertise if necessary but for now he'd much prefer a recommendation from someone he respects, like James or siegfried." "I'll speak to James." "Thanks." "It's a wonderful opportunity for the right person." "Whoever it is will have a completely free hand, in effect run the practice." "And my dear, just as important, they'll be financially secure for life." "Hello, love." " Hello." "How was your lunch?" "Oh, delicious." "Very expensive and great fun." "James?" " Hmm?" "Guess what?" "Granville is looking for a partner." " Really?" "Yes, apparently the practice is doing so well, he and Zoe are looking to wind down, you know, long cruises, golf, more holidays." "All the things we lesser mortals just dream about." "Yes." " Good luck to them, they deserve it." "It's a wonderful opportunity, isn't it?" " Hmm." "The best-equipped practice in the north, financial security for life, quite a thought, isn't it?" " Yes." "Yes it is." "Have you given it some thought, James?" " What?" "Let's face it, you're never going to be a rich man working in darrowby." "There's more to life than money, tris." " Is there?" "Oh, granted, but man, woman and children cannot live on job satisfaction alone." "Ah!" " Siegfried, all done?" "Would you care for a drink?" "Oh James, so kind, yes, I should like a whiskey." "Thank you." "Um, Tristan, where are you tomorrow morning?" "Colonel bosworth's." " Good." "Phineas calvert rang, he would like you to look in on his calves, please." "It shall be done and the colonel need be none the wiser." "What exactly has he got against phin?" " Thank you, James, old and new money, very uneasy neighbors those two." "Principally because phin calvert owns land that used to belong to the bosworths." "Your excellent good health, James." " Cheers." "'Course, Tristan, you'd know all about the bosworth family, wouldn't you?" "Well, we are on tolerably good terms, yes." "Formidable girl, that miss rachael bosworth, the man-eater of the tennis court, so the sporting fraternity reckon." "I like a spirited beauty." "So does younger brother." "She's his latest conquest." "Really?" "He didn't mention it." "I'm not one to yatter on about my private life, James, others do that for me." "It's amazing, isn't it?" "Just pass the time of day with a female around here and tongues start wagging." "Also the colonel wants you to collect the tickets for the beagle hunt ball." "I'm having a lunchtime game with rachael tomorrow," "I'll pick them up then." " See?" "We're just good friends, siegfried." "She's a perfectly sweet girl." "Is he talking about the same rachael bosworth?" "The same she whose previous suitors litter the landscape like so many discarded husks." "Beagle balls, tennis tournaments, where will it all end, I wonder?" "Not in tears, let us hope." "Eh, dear brother?" "30-love." "Was that in?" "I'm not sure." "Well, I saw the chalk kick." "Well" " Cheat!" "40-love." "Out." "Tst!" "Your game and set." "Another set?" "Don't you think you might be overdoing it?" "Playing with you?" "You're hopeless, Tristan." "I'm just not warmed up yet, that's all." "Besides, I usually play with ordinary mortals." "And I like to play with someone who can give me a decent game." "Look at you, puffing like a bellows." "Nothing a glass of champagne wouldn't cure." "Nope, one more set first." "Now come on and try to do better and do stop smoking." "What's this going to cost me, mister?" "The merest fraction of what it would cost you to replace dead birds, Mr. boggs." "May I?" "Thank you." "Not here, there." "Siegfried:" "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, poor little things." "Blackhead, as I thought." "You'll have to douse all the birds in the pen." "Now, you know the instructions." "Please, follow them very carefully." "Costs more when you buy them by the packet, I reckon." "Oh, indeed, yes." "Buy a jar that size, you pay less, that's all, mister." "Of course, much, much cheaper." "Best have it then." "This bottle" " Are you saying I can't have it?" "No, no, no, no, no." " Then give it here." "You'll get paid." "Here, it's been opened." "I was about to say that, Mr. boggs." "You trying to sell me damaged goods, mister?" "Certainly not." "This jar should contain a thousand tablets, it's short just a very few." "How many?" "Very-- practically none." "I assure you, it's almost a brand new jar." "To the fair Victor, the spoils." "Tristan, do sit down." "How can I relax when you're strutting about like an Italian waiter?" "Your wish is my command." "And stop behaving like one too." "Tristan, do we have to go to a restaurant tonight?" "I mean couldn't we just go for a drive in your car, really fast?" "I'll think about it." "Good God, man, did it die?" "Not quite, but don't worry, siegfried," "I'll breathe life into them." "God help us all." "Is anyone in the waiting room, calum?" "Well, there is just one person-- come on, calum, jump to it." "Actually, siegfried, he's waiting to see you." "It's Mr. boggs." " Boggs?" "I've just seen him." "Well, he wants to see you again." "Insists on it, in fact." "Back again so soon, Mr. boggs?" "You've been waiting quite some time, haven't you, Mr. boggs?" "That is a very artistic display." "I presume it has a meaning." "Them little tablets of yours, mister, you said there were a thousand in bottles here." " Not quite correct." "I've been counting them, aye, three times just to be sure." "And you're wrong, do you hear?" "How very conscientious of you." "There's 991 and a half here." "That's eight and a half tablets missing." "By my reckoning, that's tuppence ha'penny you've overcharged me." "Thank you, Mr. boggs." "Aha, there you are." "Hello, sir, could I offer you some of your own excellent champagne?" "No, thank you, touch early in the day for me." "Here are your tickets for the beagle hunt ball." "Mind you don't lose them." "The doorman won't let you in if you're without them." "What the devil's that?" "Charlie!" " Calvert, what the devil are you doing here?" "I came straightaway, there's been an accident." "That little cat of yours." " Maudy?" "I were driving past long grass when the little thing shot out straight under t'wheels," "I'm right sorry, Charlie." "Tristan:" "Let's have a look at her, phin." "Is she--?" "She's alive." "Best not." "It's a frightful injury, sir." "Her jaw must have caught the impact." "She needs immediate surgery." "I'll ring you from darrowby." "One thing, if you think it's hopeless, please, she mustn't suffer unnecessarily." "I quite understand." "Do what you can for that little cat, young fellow." "I wouldn't be too hopeful, phin." "Oh, I'm a great believer in science." "There's got to be some way to help her." "And whatever it costs, you put it down to me." "There you are, Janet." " Thank you." "Keep oyster away from chocolate, his tummy will soon get better." "Bye-bye, bye, oyster." " Bye-bye." "James!" "Colonel bosworth's maudy hit by a tractor." "Clear the decks, for God's sake, quickly." " Yes, right." "Here we are." "See what you think." "My God." " Exactly." "Right." " What are you doing?" "The kindest thing, tris, 5ccs of nembutal, put her out of her agony for good." "I know it seems like the only thing to do, but the colonel's feelings for this animal run very deep." "I'm going to inject her, tris." "If there was no other hope, it's what he would want..." "But maudy was a present from his wife before she died." "Rachael's told me how this cat helped pull him round." "There, tris, 1cc." "That will knock her out until we decide what to do." "You think there may be a chance?" "Well, not with me or anyone else I can-- except granville Bennett." "It's a pretty desperate injury, granville." " How bad?" "It looks like a symphysial fracture, shattered mandible and probably worse." "Lovely stuff, James, anything internal?" "I don't think so." "Can you help?" "It's a bit tricky, laddie." "Not the job, James, it sounds right up my street, that." "No, it's Zoe, you see." "She'll be expecting me to turn up at the theater at mannerton." "And there'll be hell to pay if I don't." "Can't you contact her?" "No, not a hope, James, she's out and about doing her good works." "Look, I tell you what-- is Helen free?" " I think so, why?" "Well, if she was, she could stand in for me." "I mean, Zoe would love that." "What about it?" "Helen!" "Hang on, granville." "Darling, how'd you like to go to the theater with Zoe Bennett, while granville operates on maudy?" "Lovely, what about the children?" "Well, calum can look after them." "Calum?" " And Deirdre." "What do you say?" " Of course." "It's on granville, thank you." "I'll see you as soon as I can." "Bye." "Just one thing-- don't let granville entice you to the pub again." "Don't worry, never again." " That's what you said last time." "I promise to stay in the surgery until you and Zoe return." "Don't disgrace yourself in front of her." "She's never seen you sober." "I'll keep a strict eye on him." " Lovely, and who's going to keep an eye on you?" "Screw." "Head this way a fraction." "No, the other way." " Sorry." "God almighty, more." "Drill." "Hell's bells, Tristan!" "All smiles and snores up there." "And only "worker's playtime" playing out here." "Calum?" " Mm-hmm?" "There's a problem." " Oh?" "A parent problem." " What?" "My parents think it's time Buchanan revealed all." "What have you been telling them?" "Everything." "Oh." "And?" "They want to meet you." "Isn't that nice?" "Isn't that ominous?" "Only if you've been playing fast and loose with their daughter." "Do you think I have?" " I don't know." "It's not me you have to convince." "Oh, it's much more fun convincing you than them." "Oh, you've got a way with you." "Jimmy:" "We can see you, calum." "All smiles and snores, eh?" "I'd better sort them out." "Lovely." "Yes, I think we've done about all we can." "I want to show you my latest addition, James." "Latest addition?" " Yeah, for recovery after the op." "Recovery after the op?" "Yeah, it's a fully-equipped recovery room." "Go on, get your togs off." "Uh, granville-- oh, for God's sake, James, it's only a recovery room." "Come on, James." "Here we are." "You see, laddie, specially constructed recovery cages." "You see, they're warm, quiet." "It gives them a chance to recover gradually, you see." "It's better than being bounced about in the back of a car." "It's very impressive." "What a marvelous idea." "It must have cost you a fortune though." "That's not the point, James, people stay in hospital after an op, so why shouldn't these chaps get the same treatment?" "Besides, I'm not exactly out of pocket." "My clients are willing to foot the most enormous bills, you know." "When I was a lad, I dreamed of having a place like this, just like this." "Did you now?" "The corridors of power at the min." "Of ag, and the grassroot work I handle in darrowby..." "Very important to get the balance right, I believe." "You have a girlfriend at the ministry, haven't you?" "Oh, good lord, ancient history, Susan." "An ex-flatmate of mine used to work there, forever going on about the office heartthrob Tristan farnon." "They can't have meant me." " You're the only one I know who lives in mannerton." "I live there too, you see." "Good heavens, really?" "So, how long have you been working for granville?" "Granville:" "Come and have a look at the old girl, Tristan." "Tristan:" "When I think how she was when we took her in..." "Hush, laddie." "She's coming round." "Listen..." "Good lord, she can move her jaw again." "Incredible, granville." "A couple of weeks of fluid feeding and she'll be as good as new." "Ah, we're just in time" " Sorry, granville, not tonight, if you don't mind." "Not even a pint to wash away the dust of battle?" "Tristan:" "Well..." "Better not." "You can't possibly go without Zoe's benediction." "Uh, I tell you what, this house is crammed with food." "Zoe worries, you see, in case I get peckish." "Why don't we ask Susan here to knock us up a light collation, while we wait for them to get back from the theater?" "Very decent of you, granville." "Yes, I'll go and sort something out." "I better phone the bosworths." "Oh, use the phone in there." "Come on, James." "Come into the reception." "I want to show you my library." "It's a little something that calms the anxious client." "Oh." "Here we are, James," "food for the mind." "And..." "Drink for the spirit." "Oh no." " Oh yes!" "If a good read doesn't calm them down, this often does the trick." "It's also very useful if one is marooned." "And it's got its own icemaker." "Look." "And again." "There, scotch on the rocks suit you?" "To tell you the truth, granville" " Though so." "Just the very merest" "cheers." " Cheers." "Yes, and sometime tomorrow, she'll be ready to come home." "Thank you, sir, not at all." "Rachael?" "Yes, of course I'll speak to her." "Goodbye, sir." "Hello, rachael." "You know what I really need here, James," "I mean while I sail off into the wide blue yonder?" "A partner, do you mean?" " Exactly." "Someone who knows the work, who's keen, able to move with the times." "But above all, someone who truly cares for the unfortunate little brutes we try to put right." "Ah." "In short, James, a chap like you." "Me?" "!" "Good lord, I'd snap you up like that, if I knew you were free." "You've got what it takes and a hell of a lot more besides." "There's only one thing-- you're a bit sluggish with the old elbow, aren't you?" "Sorry." "Of course, whoever it was who came in wouldn't have to worry about money again." "Oh!" "That's a thought." "Cheers." "Cheers." "Is there something wrong with it, James?" " No." "How much would a partner need to buy in?" "It depends, I mean, initially whatever he can afford." "Let's face it, money is the least of my problems." "The damn practice is awash with it." "It's also awash with scotch." "Ah, lovely grub." "Just the job." "James?" "Hi, tris." "Um... well, come on, tuck in." "Mustn't let the slide down." "Mustn't let..." "Really out for the count this time." "Well, what shall I tell them?" "Do you think they'll like me?" "I don't know." "They make up their own minds about that kind of thing." "But if you can sing a song, play the pipes and tell a good joke, then I think you're in with a head start." "And so, mein damen and herren, ze finale-- ein performance of "carmina burana"" "by the brilliantish conductor, Wolfgang vonkeitz." "Bravo, bravo." "Now, you listen to this." "Danke, danke." "Zis important work," "I first conduct at ze academy for lunatic muzic." "Achtung!" "Hello, James." "Hello, darling." "Tris is doing his impersonation of the mad conductor." "So I see." "Oh." " Hello, James." "Granville." "It needs tuning." "Hello, Zoe." "Got back in one piece, eh?" "It's entirely your fault, James." " I was depending on you." "Zoe Bennett thinks I'm a confirmed alcoholic." "I take my eyes off you for one second, the next thing I know is you're legless." " What about you?" "Driven off with your head hanging out the window singing bizet." "Verdi, if you must know." "At least I think it was." "Anyway, what happened with Susan?" "Nothing happened with Susan." "At least I don't think it did." "Aha, good morning!" "For God's sake, siegfried." "Good grief, it's alive!" "Same here?" "All the signs of a Bennett bacchanal." "I'm going to get the cat." " It's in the kitchen." "I'm taking Jimmy on my rounds." "Before you depart, a word in your shell-like ears-- get on with it." " I had a full report this morning from granville of all that transpired last night..." "Not another lecture, please, siegfried." "Merely to compliment all those concerned in saving the bosworth cat, my dear brother-- you for your prompt action, James for his inspired decision, granville for his brilliant surgery." "Indeed, there was much to celebrate." "Good lord, James, I think he actually means it." "Hello, Mr. dugdale." "Now then, you two, it's one of me milk cows, Mr. herriot, there's something funny about her." "How's my calf doing, Mr. dugdale?" "It's a right weak 'un, young fellow-me-lad." "Can I have a look?" " Of course, she's in there with t'others." "See if you can spot which one it is." "Can you manage, dad?" " I'll try." "Aye, you can see how she is." "She's trembling a bit." "A touch of fever too, I think." "Is she eating all right?" "No, she won't touch hay or cake." "Looks very much like mastitis, I'm afraid." "That's what I thought." "But I took this out of her not an hour since, and it's right clear." "It looks clear enough." "Ah." "What may I get of you, mister?" " I was passing, Mr. boggs, so I thought I'd pop in and see if your turkeys were improving." "Did you now?" " I shan't be long." "I've no intention of lingering, I assure you." "I'll just see what their form is." "Oh, while I'm here, can I take a dozen of your best eggs?" "That'll be two and eight-pence to you, mister." "Fine." "What's wrong, dad?" " I don't understand it, Jimmy." "Her lungs are okay, her stomach is working perfectly well, she's off her food and running a temperature." "Not mastitis then?" " Everything points to it, bill, but the milk looks fine, doesn't it?" "This one's got him beat, young fellow." "I could have sworn it was mastitis." "I think it is mastitis, dad." " What?" "This quarter's very hot, feel it." "By God, Jimmy, you're right." "It is hot, isn't it?" "I can almost feel the flakes." "By heck, apprentice knows more than t'boss." "He told me to watch out for that." "Easy to be fooled, you said." "Aye, and he was and all." "Yes I was, bill, I should have taken a fresh sample." "Well, I can see thou's in right good hands, Mr. herriot, so I'll go and get some milking done." "Thanks, Jimmy." "Mr. boggs!" "Your turkeys are not improving, Mr. boggs." "Them little tablets you sold me must be no good." "Are you sure you're following the correct dosage?" "Chucking away good brass, that's what I've been doing, mister." "Here!" "What" " I'm merely checking." "You're sure you're giving the tablets properly to the birds?" "Told you." "Why, hardly any have been used!" "You're a foolish, parsimonious man, Mr. boggs." "Why bother to buy a treatment when you're too damnably mean to use it?" "I give them what I thought right." "Carry on in the same vein, you may find yourself with a case of willful neglect to answer." "Do you take my meaning?" "Ah, here's your money for the eggs." "Five, six, two, seven, two and eight, thank you." "Goodbye-- for the present." "There are only 11 eggs here." "You're wrong, mister." "11 eggs, not 12, count them yourself." "No need to." "You can count 11, but I tell you there's 12." "One of them's double-yolked, mister." "Is it easy to do that, Mr. dugdale?" "Well, it is when you know how." "Want to have a go, then?" " Could I?" "Of course you could." "Now, you sit down there." "Off you go then." "There's nothing coming out, not a drop." "It's not as easy as it looks, is it, young fellow-me-lad?" "I'll reckon you'll be at it all week, if you try to milk my cows." "I tell you what, you come up here after school one day and I'll teach you." "I'll soon make a milker out of you." "Damned valuable coat, that, farnon." "Hate to tell you what he cost." "I'll spare no expense to put him right." "Indeed, he's a very good sort." "Ready, siegfried?" " Aye." "Nasty one, eh, farnon?" "Indeed it looks like it, lord hawden." "Little beggar tried to jump the fence." "Hello, fella, let me look at you now." "Let's have a look at you." "That's it." "Let me have a look." "Wait a minute." "Do you know, I think you may be in a bit of luck." "There's no deep tissue damage and the bone of the rib is all right." "It's just a straightforward stitching job." "So, calum, you can go ahead," " Righto." "Stitch him up, if you please." "Shh, shh." "Uh..." "Calum, is it?" "Yes, uh... peregrine." "Everything all right, old chap?" "Yes, peregrine." "Good, good." "Well, I'll..." "leave you to it." "What the hell are you doing?" "Economizing, as you said." "Economize with a valuable animal like this?" "What the devil are you up to?" " But you said-- get out of the way." "Now then, calum, powder." "Now watch, this is how we do it." "You're like a finicky old hen with your niminy-piminy pinches of powder." "Right, now, cotton wool." "I can't tell you how bad it looks to the clients, using a piddling amounts of material." "This is incredible." "Panache, calum, a certain panache, that's what we need." "Mind you, it's not your fault." "You scots are all the same." "You have a great many qualities that I admire-- industry, loyalty, but you'll be the first to agree that you often overdo the thrift." "So, calum, not so canny when you're operating." "Try and remember that, will you?" "I've learned an infallible method for doing just that, remembering things." "Have you?" "I'm glad to hear it." "So have I, one that's never been known to fail." "Remind me to..." "Demonstrate it to you one day." "One little moggy, sir." "Still a bit groggy but otherwise in remarkably good shape." "My dear boy, I really don't know how..." "All she needs now is the healing touch." "I'm sure she'll get it here." "Oh, she will." "Welcome home, old girl." "Come in." "I'm sorry, colonel, but it looks like black disease." "It's my guess this animal had liver fluke when you bought him." "What a helluva thing to happen." "Still, you pay your money, you take your chance, I suppose." "Indeed." "I'm only sorry there was nothing I could do." "No." "My fault, buying from people I don't know." "So what the devil am I going to do now?" "I'm going to need to ram with tupping time coming along." "Why not try one of Phineas calvert's animals?" "None better that I know." "Hmm, buggin's choice, isn't it?" "Either the devil you don't know or the one you do." "No, I'll have no truck with him, farnon." "Oh, by the way, thanks for everything you chaps did for maudy." "Oh, not at all." "And speaking of which, it's about time you sent me a bill." "All taken care of, colonel." " What?" "Phin calvert settled up in full." "Good day to you." "Jimmy's gone." " What?" "I was late getting to the school and when I got there, he'd gone, completely vanished." "He's a strong independent young lad." "He'll be off adventuring-- he's probably with a friend, Helen." " I'll get it." "I've already been round to Charles' and Stephen's, they haven't seen him since the bell." "I don't know where else to try, James." "It's just not like him to go off without a word." "It'll be dark soon." "If this isn't news now, I'll get the car and look for him." "All right, Mr. dugdale, I'll tell them." "Dugdales!" "That's where the little devil's skived off to." "You've got the drift." " How did he get to dugdale's?" "He walked apparently, decided it was time he was taught the art of milking." "I'm becoming really good, Mr. dugdale." "Aye, good." "Siegfried!" " Tristan!" "Of course, the beagle ball." "Is James still here?" "He's already gone, I'm afraid." "Helen too." "Oh, damn!" "You seem a trifle agitated, dear brother." "Something awful." "I've lost the tickets to the beagle ball." "I thought maybe James or Helen might have seen them here." "Rachael is meeting me here any moment." "If she finds out I've lost them-- oh my God, that's her now." "Quake not, my dear Tristan, I will entertain her." "Now, calm yourself." "Siegfried:" "Do please come in." "He'll be ready in a moment." "If I may say so you look so absolutely stunning." "Hello, rachael." "Susan." " Hello, Tristan." "Is this your first beagle ball?" "First time I've ever been asked." "Having fun?" " Dad!" "Hello, Jimmy." "Look what I can do, mom." "It's real easy, isn't it, Mr. dugdale?" "Aye, it is..." "When you know how." "...that was the last time I invited Billy archer to the beagle ball." "Well, if you'll forgive me," "I've got one or two things to clear up in the surgery, all right?" "So, that's your famous brother, Tristan?" "Yes, yes." "Ah, there's something I must ask him." "Won't be a moment, Susan." "What a ghastly mess!" "I must have invited her that night at granville's." "Knowing you when drinking, I wouldn't be in the least surprised." "Rachael will be here any moment." "Oh my God!" " Your turn this time, Tristan." "Right." "Here goes." "Hello, rachael, come in." "I'm sorry I'm a bit late, but I'm here now." "Well, yes, come on I'll get you a drink." "Why are we going in there?" "It's the surgery." "I know perfectly well what it is, Tristan, but I'd rather go in there if you don't mind." "I'd rather you didn't, as a matter of fact." "Why not?" "Tristan, you're behaving very oddly, you know." "Really?" " Mind out." ""Oh, what a tangled web we weave," as I may have said before." "Shh." "I can't hear anything!" "What am I going to do?" "What every farnon has to do in the end-- the right thing." "I'll have to go in." "I'll be right behind you." "Hello, good evening, rachael, how lovely you look." "Well, thanks for the drink, Tristan." "I'd better go now or I'll miss Henry." "Henry?" " Do give him my best wishes." "You know Henry lumsden, don't you?" "The locum who works for Henry mottram?" " My fiancé." "Oh, your fiancé!" "Yes, of course." "He's working late, you see." "It gave me a chance to say hello and drop these off." "I found them in the car that night I drove you home from granville's." "Oh, that night, yes." "Well, we'll meet later, I expect." " Yes, of course." "Siegfried:" "I'll see you out, Susan." "Goodbye, rachael, nice to have met you." "Tristan, what is" " Ah!" "I shan't be a moment." "Susan:" "Good night, siegfried." "Siegfried:" "Good night, my dear." "And greet Henry for me, won't you?" "I will." "Goodbye, Tristan." "My God!" "You knew all along." "More than diverting." "Rachael:" "Tristan!" "Tristan!" "Coming, rachael!" "You!"