WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:09.919 The Great Ruby Robbery pursus. Ramonette was an American heiress, 2 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:14.279 As she justly remarked, this was a commonplace profession for 3 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:19.079 a young woman nowadays, for almost everybody of late years 4 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:26.320 has been an American and an heiress. A poor Californian indeed, 5 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:31.640 would be a charming novelty in London society, But London 6 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:37.799 society so far has had to go without one pursus. 7 00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:40.840 Ramonette was on her way back from the Wilcoxes Ball. 8 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:46.520 She was stopping, of course, with Sir Everett and Lady 9 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:51.640 mc clure at the house at Hampstead. I say, of 10 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:55.439 course advisedly, because if you or I go to see 11 00:00:55.479 --> 00:00:58.399 New York, we have to put up at our own 12 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:03.439 expense by dollars a day without wine or extras at 13 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:07.799 the Windsor or the Fifth Avenue. But when the pretty 14 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:11.799 American comes to London, and every American girl is ex 15 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:16.599 officio pretty in Europe, at least I suppose they keep 16 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.359 their ugly ones at home for domestic consumption. She is 17 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:25.200 invariably the guest either of the two wager duchess or 18 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:29.200 of a royal lackeredemicion, like Sir Everett of the first distinction. 19 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:35.239 Yankees visit Europe in fact, to see, among other things, 20 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:39.920 our art and our old nobility, and by dint of 21 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:44.040 native persistence, they get into places that you and I 22 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:49.079 could never succeed in penetrating unless we devoted all the 23 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:52.959 energies of a long and blameless life to securing an invitation. 24 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:57.959 Perces hadn't been to the Wilcoxes with. 25 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:58.760 Lady mc clure. 26 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:03.079 However, the mc clures were really too great to know 27 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:07.799 such people as Wilcoxes, who were something tremendous in the 28 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:13.719 city but didn't buy pictures, And academicians, you know, don't 29 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:20.560 care to cultivate city people unless they are customers patrons 30 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:24.800 the academicians most usually call them, but I prefer the 31 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:29.080 simple business word myself as being a deal less patronizing. 32 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:35.520 So Perss had accepted an invitation from Missus Duncan Harrison, 33 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:39.879 the wife of the well known member for the Hackney's 34 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:43.879 Division of Elmatshire, to take a seat in her carriage 35 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:50.479 to and from the Wilcoxes. Missus Harrison knew the habits 36 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:54.400 and manners of American heiresses too well to offer to 37 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:59.960 chaperone Perses, and indeed Persis as a free born America 38 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:03.479 citizen who was quite as well able to take care 39 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:08.240 of herself the wide world over as any three ordinary 40 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:16.439 married englishwomen. Now missus Harrison had a brother, an Irish baronet, 41 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:22.159 Sir Justin o'byron, late of the Eighth Husses, who had 42 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:25.719 been with them to the Wilcoxes, and who accompanied them 43 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:28.960 home to Hampstead on the back seat of the carriage. 44 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:34.560 Sir Justin was one of those charming, ineffective, elusive irishmen 45 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:41.439 whom everybody likes and everybody disapproves of. He had been 46 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:48.039 everywhere and done everything except to earn an honest livelihood. 47 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.479 The total absence of rents during the sixties and seventies 48 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:58.360 had never prevented his father, old Sir Terence o'byron, who 49 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:03.159 sat so long for Connemara in the Unreformed Parliament, from 50 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:07.000 sending his son Justin in the state to Eton and 51 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:13.360 afterwards to a fashionable college at Oxford. He gave me 52 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:17.279 the education of a gentleman. Sir Justin was wont regretfully 53 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:20.879 to observe, but he omitted to give me also the 54 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:28.600 income to keep it up with. Nevertheless, society felt o'bien 55 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.680 was the sort of man who must be kept afloat somehow, 56 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:37.839 and it kept him afloat accordingly, in those mysterious ways 57 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:42.639 that only society understands, and that you and I, who 58 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:45.800 are not society, could never get to the bottom off 59 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:50.920 if he tried. For a century. Sir Justin himself had 60 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:54.519 essayed Parliament too, where he sat for a while behind 61 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:59.120 the great parnel, without put a moment forfeiting society's regard, 62 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:03.000 even in those early days when it was held as 63 00:05:03.079 --> 00:05:07.000 prime article of faith by the world, that no gentleman 64 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:13.120 could possibly call himself a home ruler. Twas only of 65 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:18.680 o' byron's wild Irish tricts, Society said complacently with that 66 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:24.519 single indulgence it always extends to its special favorites, and 67 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:29.519 which is in fact the correlative of the unsparing cruelty 68 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:32.920 it shows in turn to those who happened to offend 69 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:39.519 against its unwritten precepts. If Sir Justin had blown up 70 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:43.000 a star or two in a fit of political exuberance, 71 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:47.680 society would only have regarded the escapade as one of 72 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:53.399 o' byron's eccenticities. He had also held a commission for 73 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:57.480 a while in a cavalry regiment, which he left, it 74 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:00.759 was understood owing to a difference of opinion about her 75 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:05.120 lady with the colonel, and he was now a gentleman 76 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:10.279 at large on London society, supposed by those who know 77 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:15.720 more about everyone than one knows about oneself, to be 78 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:19.079 on the lookout for a nice girl with a little money. 79 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:25.199 Sir Justin had paid Perces a great deal of attention 80 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:26.360 that particular evening. 81 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:28.560 In point of. 82 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:31.120 Fact, he had paid her a great deal of attention 83 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:34.959 from the very first whenever he met her, and on 84 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:37.920 the way back home from the dance, he had kept 85 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.720 his eyes fixed on Perces's face to an extent that 86 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:48.160 was almost embarrassing. The pretty Californian leaned back in her 87 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:54.040 place in the carriage and surveyed him languidly. She was 88 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:57.160 looking at her level best that night, in her pale 89 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:01.680 pink dress, with the famous remnete room in a cascade 90 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.720 of red light setting off the snowy neck of hers 91 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:11.439 twas a neck for a painter. Sir Justin let his 92 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:15.720 eyes fall regretfully more than once on the glittering groupies 93 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:24.680 he liked and admired pursues. Oh quite immensely your society man, 94 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:29.000 who had been through seven or eight London seasons, could 95 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:32.759 hardly be expected to go quite so far as falling 96 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:37.560 in love with any woman. His habit is rather to 97 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:41.519 look about him critically among all the nice girls trotted 98 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:46.240 out by their mammas for his lordly inspection, and to 99 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:50.759 reflect with a faint smile that this, that or the 100 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:56.079 other one might perhaps really suit him, if it were 101 00:07:56.160 --> 00:08:01.079 not for and there comes in the inn inevitable butt 102 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:08.319 of all human commendation. Still, Sir Justin admitted, with a 103 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:12.360 sigh to himself that he liked Pursis ever so much. 104 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:17.480 She was so fresh and original, and she talked so 105 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:23.600 cleverly as for purses. She would have given her eyes 106 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:28.879 like every other American girl, to be made my lady. 107 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:33.879 And she had seen no man yet with that auxiliary 108 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.440 title in his gift whom she liked half so well 109 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:43.960 as this delightful, wild irishman. At the McLear's door, the 110 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:48.279 carriage stopped, so Justin jumped out and gave his hand 111 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:53.240 to Persis. You know the house well, of course, Sir 112 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:58.960 Everett McLear's. It's one of those large artistic mansions in 113 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:02.120 red brick and old old oak the top of the hill, 114 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:05.240 and it stands a little way back from the road. 115 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:11.519 Discreetly retired the big wooden porch, very convenient for leave taking. 116 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:16.519 Sir Justin ran up the steps with purses to ring 117 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:20.039 the bell for her. He had too much of the 118 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:24.240 irrepressible Irish blood in his veins to leave that pleasant 119 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:28.720 task to his sister's footman. But he didn't ring at once, 120 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:32.840 and the risk of keeping Missus Harrison waiting outside for nothing, 121 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:37.000 he stopped and talked a minute or so with the 122 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:43.919 pretty American. You look charming tonight, miss Ramonette, he said, 123 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:46.799 as she threw back her light opera wrapped for a 124 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:51.120 moment in the porch and displayed a single flash of 125 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:55.960 the snowy neck with the famous rubies. Those stones become you. 126 00:09:56.120 --> 00:10:01.960 So she looked at him and smiled. You think so, 127 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:06.960 she said, a little tremulous for even your American heiress, 128 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.000 after all. 129 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:08.720 Is a woman. 130 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:14.840 Well, I'm glad you do, but it's good bye tonight, 131 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:18.559 Sir Justin, for I go next week to Paris. 132 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.240 Even in the gloom of. 133 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:25.879 The porch, just lighted by an artistic red and blue 134 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:29.440 lantern in wrought iron, She could see a shade of 135 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:33.519 disappointment passed quickly over his handsome face as he answered 136 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:34.799 with a little gulp. 137 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:38.440 No, you don't mean that. 138 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:45.039 Oh, mister Romanette, I am so sorry. Then he paused 139 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:52.240 and drew back. And yet after all, he continued, perhaps, 140 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:58.960 and there he checked himself. Pursus looked up at him hastily. 141 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:06.440 Yet after all what she asked with evident interest, The 142 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:13.840 young man drew an almost inaudible sigh. Yet after all nothing, 143 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:21.679 he answered evasively. That might do for an englishwoman, Pursus 144 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.159 put in with American frankness, but it. 145 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:29.080 Won't do for me. You must tell me what you 146 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:29.759 mean by it. 147 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:34.840 For she reflected sagely that the happiness of two lives 148 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:38.720 might depend upon those two minutes. You'll have foolish to 149 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:41.360 throw away the chance of a man you really like, 150 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:45.559 with a my ladyship to boot all for the sake 151 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:51.399 of pure convention. Sir Justin leaned against the woodwork of 152 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:57.399 the retiring porch. She was a beautiful girl, he had 153 00:11:57.480 --> 00:12:02.799 hot Irish blood. Well, yes, just for once he would 154 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:08.120 say the plain truth to her, Miss Ramonette. He began 155 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:14.320 leaning forward and bringing his face close to hers. Miss Ramonette, Persus, 156 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:19.200 shall I tell you the reason why? Because I like 157 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:25.159 you so much, I almost think I love you. Persius 158 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:29.399 felt the blood cub in her tingling cheeks, how handsome 159 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:36.120 he was, and a baronet. And yet you're not altogether sorry, 160 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:43.519 she said, reproachfully that I'm going to Paris. No, not 161 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:48.879 altogether sorry, he answered, sticking to it. And I'll tell 162 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:53.240 you why too, Miss Ramonette, I like you very much, 163 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:54.320 and I. 164 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:55.039 Think you like me. 165 00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:00.000 For a week or two, I've been saying to myself, 166 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:04.600 I really believe I must ask her to marry me. 167 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:09.159 The temptations being so strong, I could hardly resist it. 168 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:14.960 And why do you want to resist it? Pursus asked, 169 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:21.200 all tremulous, So justin hesitated a second, and then, with 170 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:25.519 a perfectly natural and instinctive movement, though only a gentleman 171 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:29.440 would have ventured to make it, he lifted his hand 172 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:33.200 and just touched the tips of his finger the ruby 173 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:39.240 pendant on her necklip. This is why, he answered, simply, 174 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:46.879 with manly frankness, Persis, you're so rich, I'd never dare 175 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:52.600 ask you. Perhaps you don't know what my answer would be, 176 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:58.919 Prisius murmured, very low, just to preserve her own dignity. 177 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:03.000 Oh yes, I think I do, the young man replied, 178 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:09.600 gazing deeply into her dark eyes. It isn't that. If 179 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:12.759 it were only that, I wouldn't be so much minded. 180 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:18.440 But I think you'd take me. There was moisture in 181 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:23.159 her eye. He went on more boldly. I know you 182 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:28.279 would take me, Pursis, and that's why I don't ask you. 183 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:33.759 You're a great deal too rich, and these make it impossible, 184 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:41.639 sir Justin Pursus answered, removing his hand gently, but with 185 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:46.960 the moisture growing thicker, for she really liked him. It's 186 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:52.120 most unkind of you to say so. Either you ought 187 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:56.360 not have told me at all, or else if you did. 188 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:58.080 She stopped short. 189 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:05.399 Humanly, shame overcame her. The man leaned forward and spoke earnestly. 190 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:11.399 Oh don't say that, he cried from his heart. I 191 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:15.559 couldn't bear to offend you, but I couldn't bear either 192 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:20.320 to let you go away well without ever having told you. 193 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.480 In that case, you might have thought I didn't care 194 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:28.039 at all for you, and I was only. 195 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:34.279 Flirting with you. But Purchase, I have cared a great 196 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:35.240 deal about. 197 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:40.559 You, a great great deal, and had hard work many 198 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:45.080 times to prevent myself from asking you. And I'll tell 199 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:50.159 you the plain reason why I haven't asked you. I'm 200 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:53.720 a man about town, not much good. I'm afraid for 201 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:59.480 anybody or anything when everybody says I am on the 202 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:04.480 lookout for an heiress, which happens not to be true. 203 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:09.159 And if I married you, everybody would say, ah, there, 204 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:15.519 I told you so. Now, I wouldn't mind that for myself. 205 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.799 I'm a man and I could snap my fingers at them, 206 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:25.600 but i'd mind it for you, persis, for I'm enough 207 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:29.000 in love with you to be very, very jealous, indeed, 208 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:34.519 for your honor. I couldn't bear to think people should say, 209 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:39.480 there's that pretty American girl, Persius Ramonette. That was you know, 210 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:43.759 she'd thrown herself away upon that good for nothing irishman 211 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:48.679 Justin o'byron, a regular fortune hunter, who married her for 212 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:54.519 her money. So for your sake, Persus, I'd rather not 213 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:58.919 ask you. I'd rather leave you for some better man 214 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:07.200 to marry. But I wouldn't, Pursus cried aloud. Oh, sir Justin, 215 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:13.240 you must believe me. You must remember, at that precise 216 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:16.440 moment Missus Harrison put her head out of the carriage 217 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:22.000 window and called out rather loudly, why, Justin, what's keeping you? 218 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:23.480 Though? 219 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:27.319 Horses will catch their deaths of cold, and they were 220 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:32.000 clipped this morning. Come back at once, my dear boy. Besides, 221 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:34.839 you know lay common answers. 222 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:38.359 All right, Norah, her brother. 223 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:42.359 Answered, I won't be a minute. We can't get them 224 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:46.240 to answer this, precious bell. I believe it don't ring, 225 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:52.359 but I'll try again anyhow, And half forgetting that his 226 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:56.279 own words weren't strictly true, for he hadn't yet tried. 227 00:17:57.400 --> 00:18:02.720 He pressed the knob with a vengeance. Is that your 228 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:06.480 room with the light burning, miss Ramonette, he went on 229 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:09.960 in a fairly loud official voice, as a servant came 230 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:15.359 to answer the one with the balcony. I mean quite panish, 231 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:21.279 isn't it reminds one of Romeo and Juliette. But most 232 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:28.000 convenient for a burglary too, such nice low rails. Mind 233 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:34.079 you take good care of the remnette rubies. I don't 234 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:37.960 want to take care of them, Pursus answered, wiping her 235 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:42.599 dim eyes hastily with her lace pocket handkerchief. If they 236 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:46.359 make you feel, as you say, said Justin, I don't 237 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:51.319 mind if they go, let the burglar take them, And 238 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:56.240 even as she spoke, the McLear footman immutable sphinx like 239 00:18:57.079 --> 00:19:02.680 opened the door for her. Purceus sat long in her 240 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:06.799 own room that night. Before she began undressing, her head 241 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:10.279 was full of Sir Justin and these mysterious hints of his. 242 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:15.519 At last, however, she took her rubies off, and a 243 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:20.599 pretty silk bodis I don't care for them at all, 244 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:24.359 she thought, with a gulp, if they keep from me 245 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:29.519 the love of the man I'd like to marry. It 246 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:32.480 was late before she fell asleep, and when she did, 247 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:37.519 her rest was troubled. She dreamt the great deal in 248 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:42.480 her dreams, Sir Justin and dance music, and the rubies 249 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:47.880 and burglars were incongruously mingled. To make up for it, 250 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.640 she slept late next morning, and Lady mc clure let 251 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:56.920 her sleep on, thinking she was probably wearied out with 252 00:19:57.079 --> 00:20:02.039 much dancing the previous evening, as though any amount of 253 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:08.039 excitement could ever weary a pretty American. About ten o'clock, 254 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:12.240 she woke up with a start. A weak feeling oppressed 255 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:15.160 her that somebody had come in during the night and 256 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:20.000 stolen her rubies. She rose hastily and went to her 257 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:23.680 dressing table to look for them. The case was there, 258 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:28.759 all right. She opened it and looked at it, Oh, 259 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:36.759 prophetic soul. The rubies were gone, and the box was empty. Now, 260 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:40.960 Perces had honestly said that night before the burglar might 261 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:44.160 take her rubies if he chose, and she wouldn't mind 262 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:48.839 the loss of them. But that was last night, and 263 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:53.839 the rubies hadn't then as yet been taken. This morning, 264 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:58.920 somehow things seemed quite different. It would be rough on 265 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:03.680 us all, especially on politicians, if we must always be 266 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:08.519 bound by what we said yesterday. Perces was an American, 267 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:13.440 and no American is insensible to the charms of precious stones. 268 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:18.759 It is a savage taste which European immigrants seem to 269 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:24.920 have inherited obliquely from their red Indian predecessors. She rushed 270 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.839 over to the bell and rang it with the feminine 271 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:34.000 violence Lady Maclear's made. Answered the summons as usual. She 272 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:38.079 was a clever, demure looking girl, this made of Lady McLear's. 273 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.880 And when Perces cried to her wildly sent for the 274 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:47.200 police at once and tell Sir Everett, my jewels are stolen. 275 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:54.480 She answered, yes, Miss with such sober acquiescence that Persus, 276 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:59.160 who was American and therefore a bundle of nerves, turned 277 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:02.839 round and stared her as an incomprehensible mystery. 278 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:06.640 No Mahatma could have been more unmoved. 279 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:10.200 She seemed quite to expect those rubies would be stolen, 280 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:13.960 and to take no more notice of the incident than 281 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:19.119 if Perceus had told her she wanted hot water. Lady 282 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:25.039 mc clure indeed greatly prided herself on the cultivated imperturbability 283 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:29.559 of Bertha's She regarded it as the fine flower of 284 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:35.119 English domestic service, where Perces was American and saw things 285 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:41.480 otherwise to her. The calm repose with which Bertha answered, yes, 286 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:46.559 miss certainly, Miss, I'll go and tell sir, Everard, seemed 287 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:52.079 nothing short of exasperating. Pertha went off with the news, 288 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:55.680 closing the door quite softly, and a few minutes later 289 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:00.359 Lady mc clere herself appeared in the Californian's room to 290 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:06.279 console her visitor under this severe domestic affliction. She found 291 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:09.319 Percy's sitting up in the bed in a pretty French 292 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:13.000 dressing jacket pale blue with the reverse of fawn color, 293 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:18.720 reading a book of verses. Why my dear Lady mc 294 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:23.960 clure exclaimed, then you've found them again. I suppose Twith 295 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.440 had told us you'd lost your lovely rubies, so I have, 296 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:32.960 dear Lady mc clure, pursus answered, wiping her eyes, They 297 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:36.759 are gone. They've been stolen. I've forgot to lock my 298 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:39.559 door when I came home last night and the window 299 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:44.240 was open. Somebody must have come in this way or 300 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:49.200 that and taken them. But whenever I'm in trouble, I'd 301 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:53.240 try a dose of Browning. He's splendid for the nerves. 302 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:57.559 He's so consoling, you know. He brings one to anchor. 303 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:04.119 She breakfasted in bed. She wouldn't leave the room, she declared, 304 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:05.359 till the police arrived. 305 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:09.480 After breakfast, she rose and put. 306 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:14.160 On a dainty Parisian morning wrap. Americans have always such 307 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:18.599 pretty bedroom things for these informal receptions, and sat up 308 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:23.880 in a state to await the police officer. Sir Everett, himself, 309 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:27.240 much disturbed that such a mishap should have happened in 310 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:30.519 his house, went round in person to fetch the official. 311 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:34.799 While he was gone, Lady mc clear made a thorough 312 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:37.799 search of the room, but couldn't find a trace of 313 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:41.880 the missing rubies. Are you sure you put them in 314 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:46.200 the case, dear, she asked for the honor of the household, 315 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:51.640 and Percy's answered quite confident, Lady mc clear, I always 316 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:54.599 put them the moment I take them off, and when 317 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:57.160 I came to look for them this morning, the case 318 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:02.599 was empty. The they were very valuable, I believe, Lady 319 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:07.920 mc clear said inquiringly. Six thousand pounds was the figure 320 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:12.839 in your money? I guess Persus answered ruefully. I don't 321 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:14.920 know if you call that a lot of money in England, 322 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:17.880 but we do in America. 323 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.039 There was a. 324 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:24.279 Moment's pause, and then Percys spoke again. Lady mc clear, 325 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:29.000 She said, abruptly, do you consider that maid of yours 326 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:34.599 a Christian woman? Lady mc clear was startled. That was 327 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:37.920 hardly the light in which she was accustomed to regard 328 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:43.920 the lower classes. Well, I don't know about that, she 329 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:48.000 said slowly. That's a great deal, you know, dear, to 330 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:54.440 assert about anybody, especially once made. But I should think 331 00:25:54.519 --> 00:26:01.000 she was honest, quite decidedly honest. Well that's the same 332 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:06.039 thing about, isn't it. Pursus answered, much relieved, I am 333 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:09.640 glad you think that. So for I was almost half 334 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:13.880 afraid of her. She's too quite for my taste somehow, 335 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:20.759 so silent, you know, and inscrutable. Oh my dear, her 336 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:25.440 hostess cried, don't blame her for silence. That's just what 337 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:29.359 I like about her. It's exactly why I chose her 338 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:34.640 for such a nice, noiseless girl. Moves about the room 339 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:38.480 like a cat on tiptoe, knows her proper place, and 340 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:41.440 never dreams of speaking unless she's spoken to. 341 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:46.359 Well, you may like them that way in. 342 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:51.839 Europe, Pursus responded frankly, But in America we prefer them 343 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:57.240 a little bit more human. Twenty minutes later, the police 344 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:03.200 officer arrived. He wasn't in you uniform. The inspector, feeling 345 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:06.920 at once the gravity of the case and recognizing that 346 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:10.480 this was a big thing in which there was glory 347 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:15.799 to be won and perhaps promotion, sent the detective at once. 348 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:19.039 And advised that. 349 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:22.039 If possible, nothing should be said to the household on 350 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:26.160 the subject for the present till the detective had taken 351 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.000 a good look around the premises. 352 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.240 That was useless. Sir Everett feared. 353 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:36.119 For the lady maid knew, and the lady's maid would 354 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:40.359 sure go down all agog with the news to the 355 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:47.240 servants hall immediately, however, they might try. No harm in trying, 356 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:51.599 and sooner the detective got round to the house, of course, 357 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:57.960 the better. The detective accompanied him back a keen faced, 358 00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:03.240 close shaven, irreproached looking man like a vulgarized copy of 359 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:08.319 mister John Morley. He was kirk and business like. His 360 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:13.519 first question was have the servants been told about this? 361 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:20.400 Lady mc clure looked inquiringly across at Bertha. She herself 362 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:23.119 had been sitting all the time with the bereaved persis 363 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:29.440 to console her with browning under this heavy affliction. No, 364 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:36.599 my lady Bertha answered, ever calm, invaluable Servant Bertha, I 365 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:41.799 didn't mention it to anybody downstairs, on purpose, thinking perhaps 366 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:45.200 it might be decided to search the servant's boxes. 367 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.839 The detective pricked up his ears. 368 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:52.960 He was engaged already in glancing casually round the room. 369 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:57.599 He moved about it now like a conjurer, with quiet 370 00:28:57.640 --> 00:29:03.079 steps and slow. He doesn't get on one's nerves. Purses 371 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:07.599 remarked approvingly in an undertone to her friend. Then she 372 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:14.599 added aloud, what's your name, please, mister officer. The detective 373 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:17.559 was lifting a lace handkerchief on the dressing table at 374 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.599 the side. 375 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.640 He turned round softly. 376 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:26.079 Gregory, madam, he answered, hardly, glancing at the girl and 377 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:31.839 going on with his occupation. The same as the powders persist, 378 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:35.119 interposed with a shudder. I used to take them when 379 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:40.039 I was a child. I never could bear them. We 380 00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:44.279 are useful as remedies, the detective replied, with a quiet smile, 381 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:50.559 But nobody likes us, and he relapsed contentedly into his work, 382 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:55.359 once more, searching round the apartment. The first thing we 383 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:58.759 have to do, he said, with a calm air of superiority, 384 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:02.200 standing now by the window with one hand in his pocket, 385 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:06.920 is to satisfy ourselves whether or not there has really 386 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:10.480 at all been a robbery. You must look through the 387 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:13.880 room well and see you haven't left rubies lying about 388 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.720 loose somewhere. 389 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:17.720 Such things often happen. 390 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:22.240 We are constantly called in to investigate a case when 391 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:27.839 it's only a matter of ladies carelessness. At this purse 392 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:31.839 is flared up. Our daughter of the Great Republic isn't 393 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:36.640 accustomed to be doubted like a mere European woman. I 394 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:40.079 am quite sure I took them off, she said, and 395 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:43.880 put them back in the jewel case of that, I 396 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:50.559 am just confident there isn't a doubt possible. Mister Gregory 397 00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:56.480 redoubled his search in all likely and unlikely places. I 398 00:30:56.519 --> 00:31:01.359 should say that settles the matter, he answered, blandly. Our 399 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:05.799 experience is that whenever a lady's perfectly certain, beyond the 400 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:10.480 possibility of doubt, she put a thing away safely, it's 401 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:14.279