1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:08,119
Speaker 1: The Last Duchess, edited by Julian Hawthorne. Chapter one, has

2
00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:13,240
the Duchess returned? No, your grace. Knowles came farther into

3
00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,039
the room. He had a letter on a salver. When

4
00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,359
the Duke had taken it, Knowles still lingered. The Duke

5
00:00:19,519 --> 00:00:23,920
glanced at him. Is an answer required? No, your grace

6
00:00:24,719 --> 00:00:29,280
still knows lingered. Something a little singular has happened. The

7
00:00:29,399 --> 00:00:32,439
carriage has returned without the Duchess, and the men say

8
00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,359
that they thought her grace was in it. What do

9
00:00:35,399 --> 00:00:39,880
you mean? I hardly understand myself, your Grace. Perhaps you

10
00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:44,039
would like to see Barnes. Barnes was the coachman. Send

11
00:00:44,119 --> 00:00:47,880
him up. When Knowles had gone and he was alone,

12
00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:51,880
his Grace showed signs of being slightly annoyed. He looked

13
00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,799
at his watch. I told her she'd better be in

14
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,200
by four. She says that she's not feeling well, and

15
00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,560
yet one would think that she was not aware of

16
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,960
the fatigue entailed and having the Prince come to dinner

17
00:01:04,439 --> 00:01:08,079
and the mob of people to follow. I particularly wished

18
00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,680
her to lie down for a couple of hours. Knowles

19
00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,879
ushered in not only Barnes, the coachman, but Moisey the

20
00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:18,319
footman too. Both these persons seemed to be ill at ease.

21
00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,799
The Duke glanced at them sharply. In his voice there

22
00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:26,840
was a suggestion of impatience. What is the matter, Barnes

23
00:01:26,879 --> 00:01:30,359
explained as best he could, if you please, your grace,

24
00:01:30,439 --> 00:01:33,840
we waited for the duchess outside Cain and Wilson's the drapers.

25
00:01:34,239 --> 00:01:36,799
The duchess came out, got into the carriage, and Moisey

26
00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,560
shut the door, and her grace said home. And if

27
00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:44,040
yet when we got home, she wasn't there. She wasn't ware,

28
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,439
her grace wasn't in the carriage, or grace, what on

29
00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,319
earth do you mean her grace did get into the carriage?

30
00:01:51,319 --> 00:01:55,040
You shut the door, didn't you. Barnes turned to Moisey.

31
00:01:55,719 --> 00:01:57,840
Moysey brought his hand up to his brow in a

32
00:01:57,879 --> 00:02:01,000
sort of military salute. He had been a soldier in

33
00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,920
the regiment in which, once upon a time the Duke

34
00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,480
had been a subaltern. She did. The duchess came out

35
00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,479
of the shop. She seemed rather in a hurry. I

36
00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,560
thought she got into the carriage, and she said home, noisy.

37
00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,479
I shut the door and bends drove straight home. We

38
00:02:15,599 --> 00:02:18,120
never stopped anywhere, and we never noticed nothing happened on

39
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,560
the way, And yet when we got home the carriage

40
00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,719
was empty. The Duke started, do you mean to tell

41
00:02:24,759 --> 00:02:26,759
me that the duchess got out of the carriage while

42
00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,879
you were driving full pelt through the streets without saying

43
00:02:29,879 --> 00:02:34,719
anything to you, and without you noticing it? The carriage

44
00:02:34,719 --> 00:02:37,919
was empty when we got home. Your grace was either

45
00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:42,680
of the doors open. No, your grace, you fellows have

46
00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,479
been up to some infernal mischief. You've made a mess

47
00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,960
of it. You never picked up the duchess, and your

48
00:02:48,039 --> 00:02:51,240
trying to palm this tail off on me to save yourselves.

49
00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,280
Barnes was moved to adjuration. I'll take my bible oath

50
00:02:56,319 --> 00:02:58,719
your grace that the duchess caught into the carriage outside

51
00:02:58,759 --> 00:03:03,000
cane and Wilson's Moisey seconded his colleague, I will swear

52
00:03:03,039 --> 00:03:05,280
to that, your grace, she got into that carriage and

53
00:03:05,319 --> 00:03:08,360
I shut the door, and she said home, Moisey. The

54
00:03:08,479 --> 00:03:10,400
Duke looked as if he did not know what to

55
00:03:10,479 --> 00:03:13,759
make of the story and its tellers. What carriage did

56
00:03:13,759 --> 00:03:19,800
you have? Her grace's browam your grace, Knowles interposed. The

57
00:03:20,039 --> 00:03:22,960
browham was ordered because I understood the Duchess was not

58
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,080
feeling very well, and there's rather a high wind, your grace,

59
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,599
the Duke snapped at him, What has that to do

60
00:03:30,719 --> 00:03:33,800
with it? Why are suggesting that the Duchess was more

61
00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,960
likely to jump out of a browm while it was

62
00:03:36,039 --> 00:03:38,560
dashing through the streets than that of any other kind

63
00:03:38,599 --> 00:03:42,960
of vehicle. The Duke's glance fell on the letter which

64
00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,479
Knowles had brought him. When he first had entered. He

65
00:03:45,479 --> 00:03:48,479
had placed it on his writing table. Now he took

66
00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,039
it up. It was addressed to his Grace, the Duke

67
00:03:52,199 --> 00:03:57,439
of Datchet Private, very pressing. The name was written in

68
00:03:57,479 --> 00:04:01,120
a fine, clear, almost feminine hand. The words in the

69
00:04:01,199 --> 00:04:03,240
left hand corner of the envelope were written in a

70
00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,960
different hand. They were large and bold, almost as though

71
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:08,840
they had been painted with the end of the pen

72
00:04:08,919 --> 00:04:12,560
holder instead of being written with the pen. The envelope

73
00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,000
itself was of an unusual size and bowldsed out, as

74
00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:20,199
though it contained something else besides a letter. The Duke

75
00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,360
tore the envelope open. As he did so, something fell

76
00:04:23,399 --> 00:04:25,800
out of it on to the writing table. It looked

77
00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,639
as though it was a lock of a woman's hair.

78
00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,160
As he glanced at it, The Duke seemed to be

79
00:04:30,199 --> 00:04:35,360
a trifle startled. The Duke read the letter. Your grace

80
00:04:35,399 --> 00:04:37,839
will be so good as to bring five hundred pounds

81
00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,680
in gold to the Piccadilly end of the Burlington Arcade

82
00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,079
within an hour of the receipt of this. The Duchess

83
00:04:44,079 --> 00:04:47,839
of Dachet has been kidnapped an imitation. Duchess got into

84
00:04:47,879 --> 00:04:50,800
the carriage which was waiting outside Caine and Wilson's, and

85
00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,959
she alighted on the road. Unless your Grace does as

86
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,160
you are requested, the Duchess of Dachet's left hand little

87
00:04:57,199 --> 00:04:59,680
finger will be at once cut off and sent home

88
00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,199
in time to receive the Prince to dinner. Other portions

89
00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:06,079
of her grace will follow. A lock of her Grace's

90
00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,120
hair is enclosed with this as an earnest of our

91
00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,839
good intentions. Before five thirty p m. Your Grace is

92
00:05:13,879 --> 00:05:16,639
requested to be at the Piccadilly end of the Burlington

93
00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,439
Arcade with five hundred pounds in gold. You will there

94
00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,079
be accosted by an individual in a white top hat

95
00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,199
and with a gardenia in his button hole. You will

96
00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,279
be entirely at liberty to give him into custody, or

97
00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,040
to have him followed by the police, in which case

98
00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,720
the Duchess's left arm, cut off at the shoulder, will

99
00:05:35,759 --> 00:05:39,040
be sent home for dinner. Not to mention other extremely

100
00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:44,360
possible contingencies, but you are advised to give the individual

101
00:05:44,399 --> 00:05:47,399
in question the five hundred pounds in gold, because in

102
00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,199
that case the Duchess herself will be home in time

103
00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,519
to receive the Prince to dinner, and with one of

104
00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,759
the best stories with which to entertain your distinguished guests

105
00:05:55,920 --> 00:06:01,839
they ever heard. Remember, not later than five thirty, unless

106
00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:07,279
you wished to receive her Grace's little finger. The Duke

107
00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,800
stared at this amazing epistle when he had read it,

108
00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,279
as though he found it difficult to believe the evidence

109
00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,439
of his eyes. He was not a demonstrative person as

110
00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,279
a rule, but this little communication astonished even him. He

111
00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,439
read it again. Then his hands dropped to his sides,

112
00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,319
and he swore he took up the lock of hair

113
00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,839
which had fallen out of the envelope. Was it possible

114
00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,920
that it could be his wife's the duchess? Was it

115
00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,120
possible that a Duchess of Datchet could be kidnapped in

116
00:06:36,199 --> 00:06:39,519
broad daylight, in the heart of London and be sent home,

117
00:06:39,759 --> 00:06:44,120
as it were in pieces. Had sacrilegeous hands already been

118
00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:48,199
playing pranks with that great lady's hair? Certainly that hair

119
00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,800
was so like her hair that the mere resemblance made

120
00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:56,240
his Grace's blood run cold. He turned on Mescher's bonds

121
00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,040
and Noisy, as though he would have liked to rend

122
00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:03,879
them your scoundals. He moved forward as though the intention

123
00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,879
had entered his ducal heart to knock his servants down.

124
00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,519
But if that were so, he did not act quite

125
00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,959
up to his intention. Instead, he stretched out his arm,

126
00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,720
pointing at them, as if he were an accusing spirit.

127
00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,759
Will you swear that it was the duchess who got

128
00:07:19,759 --> 00:07:24,759
into the carriage outside Caine and Wilson's Barnes began to stammer,

129
00:07:25,519 --> 00:07:28,720
I swear, your grace that are thought. The Duke stormed

130
00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,560
in interruption. I don't ask what your thought. I ask you,

131
00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:36,360
Will you swear it was the Duke's anger was more

132
00:07:36,439 --> 00:07:40,319
than Barnes could face. He was silent, Noisy showed a

133
00:07:40,399 --> 00:07:43,240
larger courage. I could have sworn that it was at

134
00:07:43,279 --> 00:07:45,560
the time, your Grace, But now it seems to me

135
00:07:45,759 --> 00:07:50,839
that it's a rummy go a rummy go. The peculiarity

136
00:07:50,839 --> 00:07:52,720
of the phrase did not seem to strike the Duke

137
00:07:52,839 --> 00:07:55,079
just then, At least he echoed it as if it

138
00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,480
didn't you call it a rummy go? Do you know

139
00:07:58,519 --> 00:08:00,399
that I am told in this letter that the woman

140
00:08:00,399 --> 00:08:02,920
who entered the carriage was not the duchess. What you

141
00:08:02,959 --> 00:08:05,120
are thinking about, or what case you will be able

142
00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,680
to make out for yourselves? You no better than I.

143
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,560
But I can tell you this that in an hour

144
00:08:10,639 --> 00:08:14,040
you will leave my service, and you may esteem yourselves fortunate.

145
00:08:14,079 --> 00:08:16,680
If to night you are not both of you sleeping

146
00:08:16,759 --> 00:08:19,959
in jail. One might almost have suspected that the words

147
00:08:19,959 --> 00:08:23,279
were spoken in irony. But before they could answer, another

148
00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,040
servant entered, who also brought a letter for the Duke.

149
00:08:26,399 --> 00:08:29,040
When his grace's glance fell on it, he uttered an exclamation.

150
00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,279
The writing on the envelope was the same writing that

151
00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,759
had been on the envelope which had contained the very

152
00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:38,879
singular communication, like it in all respects, down to the

153
00:08:38,879 --> 00:08:42,679
broomstick and thickness of the private and very pressing in

154
00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:47,360
the corner. Who brought this stormed the Duke. The servant

155
00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,480
appeared to be a little startled by the violence of

156
00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:53,159
his grace's manner. A lady, or at least your grace.

157
00:08:53,279 --> 00:08:57,000
She seemed to be a lady. Where is she? She came,

158
00:08:57,039 --> 00:08:59,320
and a handsome, your grace. She gave me that letter

159
00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,480
and said give to the Duke of Datchet at once,

160
00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,840
without a moment's to lie. Then she got into the

161
00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,120
hansom again and drove away. Why didn't you stop her,

162
00:09:08,039 --> 00:09:12,279
your grace? The man seemed surprised, as though the idea

163
00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,559
of stopping Chan's visitors to the ducal mansion Viet Armis

164
00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,559
had not until that moment entered into his philosophy. The

165
00:09:19,639 --> 00:09:21,679
Duke continued to regard the man as if he could

166
00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,799
say a good deal if he chose. Then he pointed

167
00:09:24,799 --> 00:09:28,039
to the door. His lips said nothing, but his gesture

168
00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:33,519
much the servant vanished. Another hoax, the Duke said grimly,

169
00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,960
as he tore the envelope open. This time the envelope

170
00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,519
contained a sheet of paper, and in the sheet of

171
00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:43,200
paper another envelope. The Duke unfolded the sheet of paper.

172
00:09:43,799 --> 00:09:48,440
On it, some words were written. These, the duchess appears

173
00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,360
so particularly anxious to drop you a line, that one

174
00:09:51,399 --> 00:09:55,159
really hasn't the heart to refuse her her grace's communication,

175
00:09:55,440 --> 00:10:00,759
written amidst blinding tears, you will find enclosed with this, Knowles,

176
00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,600
said the Duke, in a voice which actually trembled. Knowles,

177
00:10:04,759 --> 00:10:07,039
oaks or no Wolkes. I will be even with a

178
00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,799
gentleman who wrote that. Handing the sheet of paper to

179
00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,519
mister Knowles, his grace turned his attention to the envelope

180
00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:16,759
which had been enclosed. It was a small square envelope

181
00:10:16,879 --> 00:10:20,399
of the finest quality, and it reeked with perfume. The

182
00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,279
Duke's countenance assumed an added frown. He had no fondness

183
00:10:24,279 --> 00:10:27,679
for envelopes which were scented In the center of the envelope,

184
00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,519
with the words to the Duke of Datchet written in

185
00:10:30,519 --> 00:10:33,600
the big, bold, sprawling hand which he knew so well

186
00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:39,360
Mabel's writing, he said half to himself, as with shaking fingers,

187
00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,840
he tore the envelope open. The sheet of paper which

188
00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:46,120
he took out was almost as stiff as cardboard. It too,

189
00:10:46,279 --> 00:10:48,879
emitted what his grace deemed the nauseous odor of the

190
00:10:48,879 --> 00:10:53,480
perfumer's shop. On it was written this letter, my.

191
00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,919
Speaker 2: Dear Herward, for Heaven's sake, do what these people require.

192
00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,320
I don't know what has happened where I am. But

193
00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,879
I am nearly distracted. They have already cut off some

194
00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,360
of my hair, and they tell me that if you

195
00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,080
don't let them have five hundred pounds in gold by

196
00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,720
half past five, they will cut off my little finger too.

197
00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,240
I would sooner die than lose my little finger. And

198
00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,799
I don't know what else besides by the token which

199
00:11:18,799 --> 00:11:22,080
I send you, and which has never until now been

200
00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,120
off my breast. I conjure you to help me. How

201
00:11:25,159 --> 00:11:26,399
would help me?

202
00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:31,080
Speaker 1: When he read that letter, the Duke turned white, very white,

203
00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,720
as white as the paper on which it was written.

204
00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,480
He passed the epistle on to Knowles. I suppose that

205
00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:43,480
also is a hoax. Mister Knowles was silent. He still

206
00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:47,960
yielded to his constitutional disrelish to commit himself. At last,

207
00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,480
he asked, what is it that your grace proposes to do.

208
00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,879
The Duke spoke with a bitterness which almost suggested a

209
00:11:55,919 --> 00:12:01,679
personal animosity toward the inoffensive mister Knowles. I propose, with

210
00:12:01,879 --> 00:12:05,600
your permission, to release the Duchess from the custody of

211
00:12:05,639 --> 00:12:10,600
my estimable correspondent. I propose, always with your permission, to

212
00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,320
comply with his modest request and to take him his

213
00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,399
five hundred pounds in gold. He paused, then continued in

214
00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:23,879
a tone which coming from him meant volumes. Afterwards, I

215
00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,559
proposed to cry quits with the cococtor of this petty

216
00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,360
little hoax, even if it cost me every penny I

217
00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:32,960
possess he shall pay more for that five hundred pounds

218
00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:42,519
than he supposes. End of Chapter one, Chapter two. The

219
00:12:42,639 --> 00:12:45,559
Duke of Dajet, coming out of the bank, lingered for

220
00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,480
a moment on the steps. In one hand he carried

221
00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,399
a canvas bag, which seemed well weighted. On his countenance

222
00:12:52,519 --> 00:12:55,639
there was an expression which, to a casual observer might

223
00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,639
have suggested that his grace was not completely at his ease.

224
00:12:59,399 --> 00:13:03,039
That casual observer happened to come strolling by. It took

225
00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,519
the form of Ivor Dacre. Mister Dacre looked at the

226
00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,960
Duke of Datchet up and down in that languid way

227
00:13:09,039 --> 00:13:13,000
he has he perceived the canvas bag. Then he remarked,

228
00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:17,279
possibly intending to be facetious, been robbing the bank? Shall

229
00:13:17,279 --> 00:13:22,480
I call a cart? Nobody minds what Ivor Dacre says. Besides,

230
00:13:22,519 --> 00:13:25,399
he is the Duke's own cousin, perhaps a little removed.

231
00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:29,039
Still there it is so. The Duke smiled a sickly smile,

232
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,000
as if mister Dacre's delicate wit had given him a

233
00:13:32,039 --> 00:13:36,039
passing touch of indigestion. Mister Daker noticed that the Duke

234
00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,879
looked sallow, so he gave his pretty sense of humor

235
00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,240
another airing kitchen boiler burst. When I saw the duchess

236
00:13:43,279 --> 00:13:47,480
just now, I wondered if it had his grace distinctly started.

237
00:13:48,039 --> 00:13:51,519
He almost dropped the canvas bag. You saw the duchess

238
00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:56,879
just now? Ivor whin? The Duke was evidently moved, Mister

239
00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:01,039
Dacre was stirred to languid curiosity. I can't say I

240
00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,120
clocked it, perhaps half an hour ago, maybe a little

241
00:14:04,159 --> 00:14:07,879
more half an hour ago. Are you sure? Where did

242
00:14:07,919 --> 00:14:12,759
you see her? Mister Dacre wondered, the Duchess of Datchet

243
00:14:12,799 --> 00:14:16,639
could scarcely have been eloping in broad daylight. Moreover, she

244
00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,480
had not yet been married a year. Everyone knew that

245
00:14:19,559 --> 00:14:21,480
she and the Duke were still as fond of each

246
00:14:21,519 --> 00:14:23,600
other as if they were not man and wife. So

247
00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,360
although the Duke, for some cause or other, was evidently

248
00:14:27,399 --> 00:14:30,360
in an odd state of agitation, mister Dacre saw no

249
00:14:30,399 --> 00:14:32,399
reason why he should not make a clean breast of

250
00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,759
all he knew she was going like blazes in a

251
00:14:35,759 --> 00:14:41,200
handsome cab, In a handsome cab. Where down Waterloo place?

252
00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:46,159
Was she alone? Mister Dacre reflected. He glanced at the

253
00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,720
Duke out of the corners of his eyes. His languid

254
00:14:49,799 --> 00:14:54,639
utterance became a positive drawl. I rather fancy that she

255
00:14:54,919 --> 00:14:59,440
wasn't Who was with her, my dear fellow. If you

256
00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:01,879
were to for me the bank, I couldn't tell you.

257
00:15:02,799 --> 00:15:07,679
Was it a man? Mister Dacre's droll became still more pronounced.

258
00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:14,120
I rather fancy that it was. Mister Dacre expected something.

259
00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,200
The Duke was so excited, but he by no means

260
00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:22,600
expected what actually came. Iv or she's been kidnapped. Mister

261
00:15:22,639 --> 00:15:25,399
Dacre did what had never been known to do before

262
00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,480
within the memory of man. He dropped his eyeglasses, dash

263
00:15:29,559 --> 00:15:33,879
it she has some scoundrel has decoyed her away and

264
00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,240
trapped her. He's already sent me a lock of her hair,

265
00:15:37,559 --> 00:15:39,240
and he tells me that if I don't let him

266
00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,200
have five hundred pounds in gold by half past five,

267
00:15:42,519 --> 00:15:46,080
he'll let me have her little finger. Mister Dacre did

268
00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:47,799
not know what to make of his grace at all.

269
00:15:48,279 --> 00:15:51,799
He was a sober man. It couldn't be that mister

270
00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,279
Dacre felt really concerned.

271
00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:55,240
Speaker 2: I'll call a.

272
00:15:55,279 --> 00:15:57,799
Speaker 1: Cab old man, and you'd better let me see you home.

273
00:15:58,799 --> 00:16:01,639
Mister Dacre half raised his stick to hail a passing hansom.

274
00:16:02,159 --> 00:16:05,279
The Duke caught him by the arm. You ass, what

275
00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,200
do you mean? I'm telling you the simple truth. My

276
00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,600
wife's been kidnapped. Mister Dacre's countenance was a thing to

277
00:16:12,639 --> 00:16:17,039
be seen and remembered. Oh, I hadn't heard that there

278
00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,240
was much of that sort of thing about. Just now

279
00:16:19,799 --> 00:16:23,080
they talk of poodles being kidnapped. But as for duchesses,

280
00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,200
you'd really better let me call that cab I for

281
00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,320
do you want me to kick you? Don't you see that?

282
00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,799
To me, it's a question of life and death. I've

283
00:16:32,799 --> 00:16:35,559
been in there to get the money. His grace motioned

284
00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,679
toward the bank. I'm going to take it to the

285
00:16:37,759 --> 00:16:40,799
scamandrel who has my darling and his mercy. Let me

286
00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,440
but have her hand in mine again, and he shall

287
00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,799
continue to pay for every sovereign with tears of blood

288
00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,799
until he dies. Look here, dadgitt, I don't know if

289
00:16:50,799 --> 00:16:53,399
you're having a joke with me? Or if you're not well?

290
00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,879
The Duke stepped impatiently into the roadway. I'm or you

291
00:16:56,919 --> 00:16:59,759
are a fool. Can't you tell Jess from ernest health

292
00:16:59,759 --> 00:17:03,559
from disease? I'm off? Are you coming with me? It

293
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,759
would be as well that I should have a witness.

294
00:17:06,519 --> 00:17:09,200
Where are you off too? To the other end of

295
00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:13,079
the arcade. Who is the gentleman you expect to have

296
00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:16,759
the pleasure of meeting there? How should I know? The

297
00:17:16,839 --> 00:17:18,960
Duke took a letter from his pocket. It was the

298
00:17:19,039 --> 00:17:22,119
letter which had just arrived. The fellow is to wear

299
00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,880
a white top hat and a guardena in his button hole.

300
00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,200
What is it you have there? It's the letter which

301
00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,519
brought the news. Look for yourself and see. But for

302
00:17:31,559 --> 00:17:35,400
God's sake, make haste his grace glanced at his watch.

303
00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,519
It's already twenty after five. And do you mean to

304
00:17:38,599 --> 00:17:40,440
say that, on the strength of a letter such as

305
00:17:40,519 --> 00:17:43,400
this you are going to hand over five hundred pounds

306
00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,680
to the Duke? Cut mister Dacre short, What are five

307
00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:50,079
hundred pounds to me? Besides, you don't know all There

308
00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,200
is another letter, and I have heard from Mabel, but

309
00:17:53,279 --> 00:17:55,400
I will tell you all about that later, if you

310
00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,319
are coming, come pulling up the letter. Mister Dacre returned

311
00:17:59,319 --> 00:18:02,079
it to the Duke. As you say, what are five

312
00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,720
hundred pounds to you? And as well they are not

313
00:18:04,839 --> 00:18:06,799
as much to you as they are to me. I

314
00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:10,720
am afraid hang it, I've all due prose. Afterwards, the

315
00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:14,400
Duke hurried across the road. Mister Daker hastened after him.

316
00:18:14,839 --> 00:18:17,960
As they entered the arcade, they passed a constable. Mister

317
00:18:18,039 --> 00:18:21,319
Dacre touched his companion's arm. Didn't you think we'd butter

318
00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,000
ask our friend in blue to walk behind us. His

319
00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,720
neighborhood might be handy. Nonsense? The Duke's doctorate aboor. This

320
00:18:28,839 --> 00:18:31,039
is my affair, not yours. If you are not content

321
00:18:31,079 --> 00:18:33,519
to play the part of silent witness, be so good

322
00:18:33,559 --> 00:18:37,640
as to leave me, My dear datchet. I'm entirely at

323
00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,440
your service. I can be every whit as insane as you,

324
00:18:40,559 --> 00:18:44,519
I do assure you. Side by side, they moved rapidly

325
00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:47,799
down the Burlington arcade. The Duke was obviously in a

326
00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,559
state of the extremest nervous tension. Mister Daker was equally

327
00:18:51,599 --> 00:18:55,160
obviously in a state of the most supreme enjoyment. People

328
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,519
stared as they rushed past. The Duke saw nothing. Mister

329
00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:03,039
Dacre saw everything and smiled. When they reached the Piccadilly

330
00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,119
end of the arcade, the Duke pulled up. He looked

331
00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:10,160
about him. Mister Dacre also looked about him. I see

332
00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,119
nothing of your white hat had and gardenia button, old friend,

333
00:19:13,519 --> 00:19:17,079
said Ivor. The Duke referred to his watch. It's not

334
00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,559
yet half past five. I'm up to time. Mister Daker

335
00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:23,400
held his stick in front of him and leaned on it.

336
00:19:23,799 --> 00:19:28,920
He indulged himself with a beautific smile. It strikes me,

337
00:19:29,039 --> 00:19:31,079
my dear old Dadgitt, that you've been the victim of

338
00:19:31,079 --> 00:19:33,799
one of the finest things in hoaxes. I hope I

339
00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:38,640
haven't kept you waiting. The voice which interrupted mister Dacre

340
00:19:38,759 --> 00:19:41,359
came from the rear. While they were looking in front

341
00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,319
of them, some one approached them from behind, apparently coming

342
00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,079
out of the shop which was at their backs. The

343
00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,960
speaker looked a gentleman. He sounded like one too. Costume appearance,

344
00:19:52,079 --> 00:19:55,680
manner were beyond reproach, even beyond the criticism of two

345
00:19:55,799 --> 00:19:59,599
such keen critics, as were these the glorious attire of

346
00:19:59,599 --> 00:20:02,759
a London, and dandy was surmounted with a beautiful white

347
00:20:02,839 --> 00:20:07,400
top hat. In his button hole was a magnificent guardinia

348
00:20:08,759 --> 00:20:11,319
in age. The stranger was scarcely more than a boy,

349
00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,799
and a sunny faced, handsome boy at that. His cheeks

350
00:20:14,799 --> 00:20:18,039
were hairless, his eyes were blue. His smile was not

351
00:20:18,079 --> 00:20:21,519
only innocent, it was bland. Never was there a more

352
00:20:21,559 --> 00:20:25,759
conspicuous illustration of that repose which stamps the case of

353
00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:29,480
Vere de Vere. The Duke looked at him and glowered.

354
00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,240
Mister Dacre looked at him and smiled. Who are you,

355
00:20:34,039 --> 00:20:34,720
asked the Duke.

356
00:20:35,599 --> 00:20:37,799
Speaker 2: Ah, that is the question.

357
00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:42,279
Speaker 1: The newcomers refined and musical voice breathed the very soul

358
00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,759
of appability. I am an individual who is so unfortunate

359
00:20:47,039 --> 00:20:50,519
as to be in want of five hundred pounds. I

360
00:20:50,759 --> 00:20:54,519
you the scoundrel who sent me that infamous letter. The

361
00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,759
charming stranger never turned a hair. I am the scoundrel

362
00:20:58,839 --> 00:21:01,720
mentioned in that infamous letter who wants to accost you

363
00:21:01,759 --> 00:21:04,960
at the Piccadilly end of the Burlington Arcade before half

364
00:21:05,039 --> 00:21:09,400
past five, as witness my white hat and my guardina.

365
00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,680
Where's my wife? The stranger gently swung his stick in

366
00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,279
front of him with his two hands. He regarded the

367
00:21:17,319 --> 00:21:20,039
Duke as a merry hearted son might regard his father.

368
00:21:20,759 --> 00:21:24,440
The thing was beautiful. Her Grace will be home almost

369
00:21:24,519 --> 00:21:26,880
as soon as you are, when you have given me

370
00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,319
the money which I perceive you have all ready for

371
00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,519
me in that scarcely elegant looking canvas bag. He shrugged

372
00:21:33,519 --> 00:21:38,000
his shoulders quite gracefully. Unfortunately, in these matters one has

373
00:21:38,079 --> 00:21:43,359
no choice. One is forced to ask for gold. And suppose,

374
00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,160
instead of giving you what is in this canvas bag,

375
00:21:46,519 --> 00:21:48,759
I take you by the throat and choke the life

376
00:21:48,839 --> 00:21:53,119
right out of you. Or suppose, admitted mister Daker, that

377
00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,559
you do better and commend this gentleman to the tender

378
00:21:55,599 --> 00:21:59,640
mercies of the first policeman we encounter. The stranger turned

379
00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:04,319
to missus Dacre. He condescended to become conscious of his presence.

380
00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:10,279
Is this gentleman your Grace's friend, ah, mister taker, I

381
00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:14,319
perceive I have the honor of knowing mister Dacre, though

382
00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:19,160
possibly I am unknown to him you were until this moment.

383
00:22:20,519 --> 00:22:23,279
With an airy little laugh, the stranger returned to the Duke.

384
00:22:23,799 --> 00:22:26,440
He brush an invisible speck of dust off the sleeve

385
00:22:26,519 --> 00:22:30,759
of his coat, as has been intimated in this infamous letter,

386
00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,119
his grace is at perfect liberty to give me into custody.

387
00:22:34,319 --> 00:22:37,680
Why not only, he said it with his boyish smile.

388
00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,200
If a particular communication is not received from me in

389
00:22:41,279 --> 00:22:45,519
certain quarters within a certain time, the Duchess of Datchet's

390
00:22:45,559 --> 00:22:48,480
beautiful white arm will be hacked off at the shoulder

391
00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,119
you owned. The Duke would have taken the stranger by

392
00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,240
the throat and have done his best to choke the

393
00:22:55,279 --> 00:22:57,519
life right out of him then and there, if mister

394
00:22:57,599 --> 00:23:01,799
Dacre had not intervened. Still, you man, mister Dacre turned

395
00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,440
to the stranger. You appear to be a pretty sort

396
00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:10,880
of scoundrel. The stranger gave his shoulders that almost imperceptible shrug. Oh,

397
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,640
my dear Dacre, I am in want of money. I

398
00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:16,039
believe that you sometimes are in want of money too.

399
00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,240
Everybody knows that nobody knows where Ivor Dacre gets his

400
00:23:20,319 --> 00:23:23,640
money from, so the illusion must have tickled him immensely.

401
00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:28,359
You're a cool hand, he said. Some men are born

402
00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,480
that way, so I should imagine men like you must

403
00:23:32,519 --> 00:23:38,119
be born, not made precisely as you say. The stranger turned,

404
00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,359
with a graceful smile to the Duke, But are we

405
00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:45,000
not wasting precious time? I can assure your grace that

406
00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:49,880
in this particular matter, moments are of value. Mister Daker

407
00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,240
interposed before the Duke could answer. If you take my

408
00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,759
strongly urged advice statute, you will summon this constable, who

409
00:23:56,799 --> 00:23:59,319
is now coming down the arcade, and hand this gentleman

410
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,599
over to his key. I do not think that you

411
00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,000
need fear that the Duchess will lose her arm or

412
00:24:04,039 --> 00:24:07,400
even her little finger. Scoundrels of this one's kidney are

413
00:24:07,519 --> 00:24:11,119
most amenable to reason when they have handcuffs on their wrists.

414
00:24:12,279 --> 00:24:16,039
The Duke plainly hesitated, he would and he would not.

415
00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:20,960
The stranger, as he eyed him, seemed much amused. My

416
00:24:21,319 --> 00:24:25,039
dear Duke, by all means act on mister Dacre's valuable suggestion.

417
00:24:25,599 --> 00:24:28,119
As I said before, why not it would at least

418
00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,680
be interesting to see if the Duchess does or does

419
00:24:30,759 --> 00:24:33,759
not lose her arm. Almost as interesting to you as

420
00:24:33,759 --> 00:24:38,480
to mister Dacre. Those blackmailing, kidnapping scoundrels do use such

421
00:24:38,599 --> 00:24:42,400
empty menaces. Besides, you would have the pleasure of seeing

422
00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,839
me locked up. My imprisonment for life will recompense you

423
00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,119
even for the loss of her grace's arm. And five

424
00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,640
hundred pounds is such a sum to have to pay

425
00:24:52,039 --> 00:24:55,880
merely for a wife. Why not therefore act on mister

426
00:24:55,960 --> 00:25:00,480
Daker's suggestion? Here comes the constable. The constable referred to

427
00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,440
was advancing toward them. He was not a dozen yards away.

428
00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,559
Let me beckon to him, I will with pleasure. He

429
00:25:06,599 --> 00:25:10,279
took out his watch, a gold chronograph repeater. There are

430
00:25:10,319 --> 00:25:13,160
scarcely ten minutes left during which it would be possible

431
00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,119
for me to send the communication which I spoke of,

432
00:25:15,599 --> 00:25:17,880
so that it may arrive in time, as it will

433
00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,920
then be too late, and the instruments are already prepared

434
00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,359
for the little operation which her Grace is eagerly anticipating.

435
00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,160
It would perhaps be as well, after all, that you

436
00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,599
should give me into charge. You would have saved your

437
00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,240
five hundred pounds, and you would at any rate have

438
00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,279
something in exchange for her Grace's mutilated limb ah. Here

439
00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:40,559
is the constable officer. The stranger spoke with such a

440
00:25:40,559 --> 00:25:43,960
pleasant little air of easy geniality that it was impossible

441
00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:45,960
to tell if he were in jest or in earnest.

442
00:25:46,519 --> 00:25:49,039
This fact impressed the Duke much more than if he

443
00:25:49,079 --> 00:25:51,759
had gone in for a liberal indulgence of the under

444
00:25:51,799 --> 00:25:56,960
the circumstances, orthodox, melodramatic scowling, and indeed in the face

445
00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,480
of his own common sense. It impressed mister Ivor Dake too.

446
00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:04,160
This well bred, well groomed youth was just the being

447
00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,240
to realize or bous desenglis, a modern type of the devil,

448
00:26:08,559 --> 00:26:11,680
the type which depicts himself as a perfect gentleman who

449
00:26:11,759 --> 00:26:16,200
keeps smiling all the time. The constable, whom this audacious

450
00:26:16,279 --> 00:26:20,480
rogue had signaled, approached the little group. He addressed the stranger,

451
00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,720
do you want me, sir? No, I do not want you.

452
00:26:25,799 --> 00:26:28,920
I think it is the Duke of Datchet. The constable,

453
00:26:29,079 --> 00:26:31,640
who knew the Duke very well by sight, saluted him

454
00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:35,440
as he turned to receive instructions. The Duke looked white,

455
00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,119
even savage. There was not a pleasant look in his eyes,

456
00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,200
and about his lips. He appeared to be endeavoring to

457
00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,960
put a great restraint upon himself. There was a momentary silence.

458
00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,880
Mister Dacre made a movement as if to interpose. The

459
00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:53,720
Duke caught him by the arm. He spoke, no, Constable,

460
00:26:53,759 --> 00:26:57,599
I do not want you. This person is mistaken. The

461
00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,839
constable looked as if he could not quite make out

462
00:26:59,839 --> 00:27:03,519
how such a mistake could have arisen. Hesitated, Then with

463
00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:07,960
another salute, he moved away. The stranger was still holding

464
00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,440
his watch in his hand. Only eight minutes, he said.

465
00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:15,359
The Duke seemed to experience some difficulty in giving utterance

466
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,200
to what he had to say. If I give you

467
00:27:18,319 --> 00:27:21,880
this five hundred pounds, your knew. As the Duke paused,

468
00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,359
as if at a loss for language which was strong

469
00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:28,839
enough to convey his meaning, the stranger laughed, let us

470
00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:33,079
take adjitives for granted. Besides it only boys who call

471
00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:36,680
each other names. Men do things. If you give me

472
00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,119
the five hundred sovereigns which you have in that bag

473
00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:42,000
at once in five minutes, it will be too late.

474
00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,960
I will promise, I will not swear. If you do

475
00:27:45,039 --> 00:27:47,359
not credit my simple promise, you will not believe my

476
00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,839
solemn affirmations. I will promise that, possibly within an hour,

477
00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,680
certainly within an hour and a half, the Duchess of

478
00:27:54,799 --> 00:27:59,079
Dechtet Sir returned to you absolutely uninjured, except, of course,

479
00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,279
as you are already aware, with regard to a few

480
00:28:02,319 --> 00:28:05,119
of the hairs on her head. I will promise this

481
00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,039
on the understanding that you do not yourself attempt to

482
00:28:08,039 --> 00:28:10,119
see where I go, and that you will allow no

483
00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,200
one else to do so. This with a glance at

484
00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,880
Ivor Dacre, I shall know at once if I am followed.

485
00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,119
If you entertain such intentions, you had better, on all

486
00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:25,000
accounts remain in possession of your five hundred pounds. The

487
00:28:25,079 --> 00:28:30,880
Duke eyed him very grimly. I entertain no such intentions

488
00:28:31,799 --> 00:28:36,680
until the Duchess returns again. The stranger indulged in that

489
00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:41,519
musical laugh of his ah. Until the Duchess returns, of course,

490
00:28:41,599 --> 00:28:44,000
then the bargains at an end. When you are at

491
00:28:44,039 --> 00:28:47,079
once more in the enjoyment of Her Grace's society, you

492
00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,200
will be at liberty to set all the dogs in

493
00:28:49,279 --> 00:28:53,000
Europe at my heels. I assure you, I fully expect

494
00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,880
that you will do so. Why not the Duke raised

495
00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:00,200
the canvas bag. My dear Duke, ten thousand thanks. You

496
00:29:00,279 --> 00:29:03,079
shall see Her Grace at Datchet House upon my honor,

497
00:29:03,559 --> 00:29:09,000
possibly within the hour, well commented Ivor Dacre, when the

498
00:29:09,039 --> 00:29:12,440
stranger had vanished with the bag into Piccadilly, and as

499
00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,599
the Duke and himself moved toward Burlington Gardens. If a

500
00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:17,960
gentleman is to be robbed. It is as well that

501
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:23,160
he should have another gentleman rob him. End of chapter two.

502
00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:30,240
Chapter three. Mister Daker eyed his companion covertly as they progressed.

503
00:29:31,079 --> 00:29:34,079
His grace of Datchet appeared to have some fresh cause

504
00:29:34,119 --> 00:29:37,839
for uneasiness. All at once he gave it utterance, in

505
00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:42,119
a tone of voice which is extremely somber. I forord

506
00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:45,039
you think that scoundrel will dare to play me false?

507
00:29:46,279 --> 00:29:49,480
I think, murmured mister Dacre, that he has dared to

508
00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,799
play you pretty false already. I don't mean that, but

509
00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,039
I mean, how am I to know, now that he

510
00:29:55,119 --> 00:29:57,720
has his money, that he will not he still keep

511
00:29:57,759 --> 00:30:01,880
Mabel in his clutches. There came an echo from mister Dacre,

512
00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:05,240
just so, how are you to know? I believe that

513
00:30:05,319 --> 00:30:07,880
something on the sort has been done in the States.

514
00:30:08,559 --> 00:30:10,759
I thought that there they were content to kidnap them

515
00:30:10,759 --> 00:30:13,039
after they were dead. I was not aware that they

516
00:30:13,079 --> 00:30:16,039
had as yet got so far as the living. I

517
00:30:16,079 --> 00:30:19,680
believe I have heard of something just like this. Possibly

518
00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:23,519
they are giants over there, and in that case, the scoundrels,

519
00:30:23,519 --> 00:30:26,400
when their demands were met, refused to keep to the

520
00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:29,200
letter of their bargain. And asked for more. The Duke

521
00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:33,839
stood still. He clenched his fists and swore, I who

522
00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:36,880
have that villain doesn't keep his word, and Mabel isn't

523
00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,440
home with any hour by I shall go mad, My

524
00:30:40,519 --> 00:30:43,680
dear dadget Mister Dacre loved strong language as little as

525
00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,400
he loved a scene. Let us trust to time and

526
00:30:46,599 --> 00:30:49,799
a little to your white hatted and gardenia buttonhold friend's

527
00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:53,319
word of honor. You should have thought of possible eventualities

528
00:30:53,319 --> 00:30:57,400
before you showed your confidence. Really suppose instead of going mad,

529
00:30:57,519 --> 00:31:01,440
we first of all go home. A handsome stood waiting

530
00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:04,400
for affair at the end of the arcade. Mister Daker

531
00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,759
had handed the Duke into it before his grace had

532
00:31:06,839 --> 00:31:11,400
quite realized that the vehicle was there. Tell the fellow

533
00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,400
to drive faster. That was what the Duke said when

534
00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:17,599
the cab had started. My dear datchet, the man's already

535
00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:20,440
driving his gearage off its legs. If a bobby catches

536
00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:23,400
sight of him, he'll take his number. A moment later,

537
00:31:23,599 --> 00:31:26,440
a murmur from the Duke, I know if you are

538
00:31:26,519 --> 00:31:29,319
aware that the Prince is coming to dinner. I am

539
00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:33,680
perfectly aware of it. You take it uncommonly cool, how

540
00:31:33,839 --> 00:31:37,440
easy it is to bear our brother's burdens Ibill. If

541
00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:41,200
Mabel doesn't turn up, I shall feel like murder. I

542
00:31:41,359 --> 00:31:43,519
sympathize with you dat It with all my heart, though

543
00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:47,279
I may observe parenthetically that I very far from realize

544
00:31:47,319 --> 00:31:50,400
the situation even yet. Take my advice. If the Duchess

545
00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:52,480
does not show quite as soon as we both of

546
00:31:52,559 --> 00:31:55,799
us desire, don't make a scene. Just let me see

547
00:31:55,839 --> 00:31:59,880
what I can do. Judging from the expression of his countenance,

548
00:32:00,119 --> 00:32:03,240
the Duke was conscious of no overwhelming desire to witness

549
00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,599
an exhibition of mister Daker's prowess. When the cab reached

550
00:32:07,599 --> 00:32:10,000
Thatchet house, his Grace dashed up the steps three at

551
00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:16,200
a time. The door flew open. Has the duchess returned, Howard,

552
00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,519
a voice floated downward from above. Some one came running

553
00:32:20,519 --> 00:32:24,359
down the stairs. It was her Grace of Datchet, Mabel.

554
00:32:25,079 --> 00:32:27,960
She actually rushed into the Duke's extended arms, and he

555
00:32:28,039 --> 00:32:32,319
kissed her, and she kissed him before the servants. So

556
00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:36,519
you're not quite did she cried? I am almost, he said.

557
00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:40,480
She drew herself a little away from him. Howard, were

558
00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:43,759
you seriously hurt? Do you suppose I could have been

559
00:32:43,799 --> 00:32:48,839
otherwise than seriously hurt my darling. Was it a Pickford's van?

560
00:32:50,039 --> 00:32:56,480
The duke stared up Pickford's van. I don't understand, but

561
00:32:56,720 --> 00:32:59,519
come in here, come along ivor Mabel, you don't see

562
00:32:59,519 --> 00:33:04,160
Ivor how do you do mister Dacre? Then the trio

563
00:33:04,279 --> 00:33:07,240
withdrew into a little ante room. It was really time.

564
00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,240
Even then the pair conducted themselves as if mister Dacre

565
00:33:10,319 --> 00:33:12,400
had been nothing and no one. The Duke took the

566
00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:16,680
lady's two hands in his He eyed her fondly. So

567
00:33:16,799 --> 00:33:19,440
you are uninjured, with the exception of that lock of hair.

568
00:33:19,759 --> 00:33:22,799
Where did the vidan take it from? The lady looked

569
00:33:22,799 --> 00:33:23,519
a little puzzled.

570
00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:25,440
Speaker 2: What lock of hair?

571
00:33:26,519 --> 00:33:28,400
Speaker 1: From an envelope which he took from his pocket. The

572
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,359
Duke produced a shining tress. It was the lock of

573
00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:35,079
hair which had arrived in the first communication. I will

574
00:33:35,079 --> 00:33:39,400
have it framed. You will have what framed. The duchess

575
00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,319
glanced at what the Duke was so tenderly caressing, almost

576
00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:43,920
as it seemed a little dubiously.

577
00:33:44,559 --> 00:33:45,799
Speaker 2: Whatever is it you have there?

578
00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:48,880
Speaker 1: It is the lock of hair. When that scound will

579
00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,920
send me something in the lady's face caused him to

580
00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:55,039
ask a question. Didn't he tell you he had sent

581
00:33:55,119 --> 00:33:59,000
it to me? Her? What did the brute tell you

582
00:33:59,079 --> 00:34:03,039
he meant to cut off your finger? A very curious

583
00:34:03,119 --> 00:34:05,799
look came into the lady's face. She glanced at the

584
00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,159
Duke as if she all at once was half afraid

585
00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:11,280
of him. She cast at mister Daker what really seemed

586
00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:15,000
to be a look of inquiry. Her voice was tremulously anxious.

587
00:34:15,559 --> 00:34:20,440
Who did did the accident affect you mentally? How could

588
00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:23,119
it not have affected me mentally? Do you think my

589
00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:24,880
mental organization is of steel?

590
00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:27,000
Speaker 2: But you look so well?

591
00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:29,840
Speaker 1: Of course I look well now that I have you

592
00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,280
back again, tell me, darling, to that hound actually threaten

593
00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:35,880
you with cutting off your arm? If he did, I

594
00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:39,199
shall have you'll have inclined to kill him. Yet the

595
00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:42,639
Dutch seemed positively to shrink from her better HAPs near neighborhood?

596
00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,920
Was it a Pickford's van? The Duke seemed puzzled, Well,

597
00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:53,360
he might be. What a Pickford van? The lady turned

598
00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:55,519
to mister Daker. In her voice there was a ring

599
00:34:55,559 --> 00:34:59,199
of anguish. Mister Daker, tell me was it a Pickford's van?

600
00:35:00,039 --> 00:35:03,000
Ivor could only imitate his relative's repetition of her inquiry,

601
00:35:03,559 --> 00:35:06,719
I didn't quite catch you? Was what a bigfor the van?

602
00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:11,239
The Duchess clasped her hands in front of her. What

603
00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:13,519
is it you're keeping from me? What is it you're

604
00:35:13,519 --> 00:35:16,239
trying to hide? I implore you to tell me the worst,

605
00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,920
whatever it may be. Do not keep me any longer

606
00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:22,239
in suspense. You do not know what I've already endured.

607
00:35:22,599 --> 00:35:24,519
Mister Taker, is my husband mad?

608
00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:26,559
Speaker 2: One?

609
00:35:26,599 --> 00:35:29,440
Speaker 1: Need scarcely observe that. The lady's amazing appeal to mister

610
00:35:29,519 --> 00:35:32,880
Daker as to her husband's sanity was received with something

611
00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:35,760
like surprise. As the Duke continued to stare at her,

612
00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:40,320
a dreadful fear began to loomin his brain. My darling,

613
00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:43,400
your brain is unhinged. He advanced to take her two

614
00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:46,960
hands again in his but to his unmistakable distress, she

615
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,480
shrank away from him. How don't touch me? How is

616
00:35:50,519 --> 00:35:52,480
it that I missed you? Why did you not wait

617
00:35:52,559 --> 00:35:59,400
until I came? Wait until you came? The Duke's bewilderment increased. Surely,

618
00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:01,960
if you're in he turned out, after all, to be slight.

619
00:36:02,519 --> 00:36:04,800
That was all the more reason why you should have

620
00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:09,440
waited after sending for me like that I sent for you.

621
00:36:09,679 --> 00:36:13,679
I The Duke's tone was grave, My darling, perhaps you

622
00:36:13,679 --> 00:36:17,719
had better come upstairs, not until we've had an explanation.

623
00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:20,519
You must have known that I should come. Why did

624
00:36:20,599 --> 00:36:22,599
you not wait for me after you had sent me that?

625
00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,679
The duchess held out something to the Duke. He took it,

626
00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:30,559
and it was a card, his own visiting card. Something

627
00:36:30,639 --> 00:36:32,639
was written on the back of it. He read aloud

628
00:36:32,679 --> 00:36:36,159
what was written, Mabel, come to me at once with

629
00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:39,480
the bearer. They tell me that they cannot take me home.

630
00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:43,760
It looks like my own writing, looks like it. It

631
00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:47,920
is your writing. It looks like it, and written with

632
00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:51,840
a shaky pen, dear child, one's hand would shake at

633
00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:55,000
such a moment as that. Mabel, Where did you get this?

634
00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:58,480
And it was brought to me at Canaan Wilson's. Who

635
00:36:58,559 --> 00:37:01,840
brought it? Who brought it? Why the man you sent?

636
00:37:02,639 --> 00:37:06,400
The man I sent? A light burst upon the Duke's brain.

637
00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:11,199
He fell back a pace. It's the decoy, her grace

638
00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:16,400
echoed the words, the decoy, the scoundrel to set the

639
00:37:16,519 --> 00:37:19,239
trap with such a bait. My boy, it isn't darling.

640
00:37:19,559 --> 00:37:22,400
Did you think it came from me. Tell me, Mabel,

641
00:37:22,519 --> 00:37:25,960
where did he cut off your hair? Cut off my hair?

642
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,519
Her grace put her hand to her head, as if

643
00:37:28,599 --> 00:37:31,079
to make sure that her hair was there. Where did

644
00:37:31,119 --> 00:37:35,199
he take you to? He took me to Draper's buildings.

645
00:37:35,719 --> 00:37:39,400
Draper's buildings. I have never been in the city before,

646
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,079
but he told me it was Draper's buildings. Isn't that

647
00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:47,039
near the stock Exchange? Near the stock Exchange? It seemed

648
00:37:47,079 --> 00:37:49,639
rather a curious place to which to take the kidnapped victim.

649
00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:53,639
The man's audacity. He told me that you were coming

650
00:37:53,679 --> 00:37:55,960
out of the stock Exchange when a van knocked you over.

651
00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,159
He said that he thought it was a Pickford's van.

652
00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:01,679
Was it a Pickford's van? No, it was not a

653
00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:05,119
Pickford's van. Mabel. Were you in Draper's buildings when you

654
00:38:05,159 --> 00:38:10,119
wrote that letter? Wrote? What letter? Have you forgotten it already?

655
00:38:10,599 --> 00:38:12,239
I do not believe that there was a word in

656
00:38:12,239 --> 00:38:14,280
it which will not be branded on my brain until

657
00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:18,760
I die? Herwood, What do you mean, Surely you cannot

658
00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:20,440
have written me such a letter as that and then

659
00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:23,880
forgotten it already. He handed her the letter, which had

660
00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:27,440
arrived in the second communication. She glanced at it, askance.

661
00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:32,320
Then she took it with a little gasp. Howard, if

662
00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:35,039
you don't mind, I think I'll take a chair. She

663
00:38:35,199 --> 00:38:40,320
took a chair. Wh whatever, whatever is this? As she

664
00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:43,079
read the letter, the varying expressions which passed across her

665
00:38:43,079 --> 00:38:47,039
face were in themselves a study in psychology. Is it

666
00:38:47,199 --> 00:38:51,079
possible that you can imagine that, under any conceivable circumstances

667
00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:54,280
I could have written such a letter as this? Mabel?

668
00:38:55,079 --> 00:38:58,320
She rose to her feet with emphasis. How would don't

669
00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:01,760
say you thought this came from me, not from you?

670
00:39:03,039 --> 00:39:06,320
He remembered Nol's diplomatic reception of the epistle on its

671
00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:09,639
first appearance. I suppose you will say next that this

672
00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:13,360
is not a lock of your hair, My dear child

673
00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:16,280
would be, Have you got in your bonnet this a

674
00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:17,760
lock of my hair? Why?

675
00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:19,679
Speaker 2: It's not the least bit like my hair?

676
00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:24,039
Speaker 1: Which was certainly inaccurate. As far as color was concerned,

677
00:39:24,039 --> 00:39:26,760
it was an almost perfect match. The Duke turned to

678
00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:30,079
mister Dacre. I or I've had to go through a

679
00:39:30,119 --> 00:39:32,320
good deal this afternoon. If I have to go through

680
00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:36,440
much more, something will crack. He touched his forehead. I

681
00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:39,400
think it's my turn to take a chair, not the

682
00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:41,960
one which the Duchess had vacated, but one which faced it.

683
00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:44,480
He stretched out his legs in front of him. He

684
00:39:44,559 --> 00:39:47,519
thrust his hands into his trouser pockets. He said, in

685
00:39:47,559 --> 00:39:51,480
a tone which was not gloomy but absolutely gruesome. Might

686
00:39:51,519 --> 00:39:56,639
I ask Mabel if you have been kidnapped? Kidnapped? The

687
00:39:56,760 --> 00:39:59,400
word I used was kidnapped, but I will spell it

688
00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:01,639
if you like, or I will get a dictionary that

689
00:40:01,719 --> 00:40:04,880
you may see us meaning. The Duchess looked as if

690
00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:06,920
she was beginning to be not quite sure if she

691
00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:10,920
was awake or sleeping. She turned to Ivor, mister taker,

692
00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:14,960
has the accident affected herward's brain? The Duke took the

693
00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:19,320
words out of his cousin's mouth. On that point, my dear,

694
00:40:19,639 --> 00:40:20,800
let me ease your mind.

695
00:40:21,159 --> 00:40:21,920
Speaker 2: I don't know if you.

696
00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:23,639
Speaker 1: Are under the impression that I should be in the

697
00:40:23,679 --> 00:40:26,119
same shape after a Pickford's van had run over me

698
00:40:26,159 --> 00:40:28,679
as I was before. But in any case, I have

699
00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:31,320
not been run over by a Pickford's van. So far

700
00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:34,320
as I am concerned, there has been no accident. Dismissed

701
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:40,079
that delusion from your mind. Oh you appear surprised, One

702
00:40:40,119 --> 00:40:42,760
might even think you were sorry. But may I now

703
00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:45,639
ask what you did when you arrived at Draper's buildings?

704
00:40:46,159 --> 00:40:50,159
Did I looked for you? Indeed? And when you had

705
00:40:50,159 --> 00:40:52,760
looked in Vain, what was the next item in your program?

706
00:40:53,559 --> 00:40:56,639
The lady shrank still farther from him her what have

707
00:40:56,719 --> 00:40:59,199
you been having a jest? At my expense? Can you

708
00:40:59,239 --> 00:41:03,039
have been so cruel? Tears stood in her eyes, rising,

709
00:41:03,119 --> 00:41:06,320
the Duke laid his hand upon her arm. Mabel, tell

710
00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:08,480
me what did you do when you had looked for

711
00:41:08,519 --> 00:41:13,159
me in Vain? I look you upstairs, downstairs, and everywhere

712
00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:15,760
was quite a large place. It took me ever such

713
00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:19,400
a time. I thought that I should go distracted. Nobody

714
00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:21,559
seemed to know anything about you, or even that there

715
00:41:21,559 --> 00:41:24,039
had been an accident at all. It was all officers.

716
00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:26,280
I couldn't make it out in the least, and that

717
00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:28,519
people didn't seem to be able to make me out either.

718
00:41:29,079 --> 00:41:31,480
So when I couldn't find you anywhere, it came straight

719
00:41:31,519 --> 00:41:35,480
home again. The Duke was silent for a moment, then,

720
00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:39,079
with a funeral gravity, he turned to mister Dacre. He

721
00:41:39,119 --> 00:41:43,199
put to him this question, ivel what are you laughing at?

722
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:46,719
Mister Dacre drew his hand across his mouth with a

723
00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:51,559
rather suspicious gesture, my dear fellow, only a smile. The

724
00:41:51,639 --> 00:41:54,480
Duchess looked from one to the other. What have you

725
00:41:54,519 --> 00:41:58,400
two been doing? What is the joke? With an air

726
00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:01,719
of preternatural solemnity, the Duke took two letters from the

727
00:42:01,719 --> 00:42:05,239
breast pocket of his coat. Mabel, you have already seen

728
00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:08,320
your letter. You have already seen the lock of your hair.

729
00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:12,679
Just look at this and that. He gave her the

730
00:42:12,679 --> 00:42:16,000
two very singular communications, which had arrived in such a

731
00:42:16,039 --> 00:42:19,559
mysterious manner, and so quickly one after the other. She

732
00:42:19,679 --> 00:42:23,840
read them with wide open eyes. How wherever did these

733
00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:27,239
come from? The Duke was standing with his legs apart

734
00:42:27,519 --> 00:42:31,679
and his hands in his trouser pockets. I would give

735
00:42:32,039 --> 00:42:34,840
I would give another five hundred pounds to know. Shall

736
00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:37,000
I tell you, madam, what I have been doing. I

737
00:42:37,039 --> 00:42:40,159
have been presenting five hundred golden sovereigns to a perfect

738
00:42:40,199 --> 00:42:43,000
stranger with a top hat and a gardenia in his

739
00:42:43,119 --> 00:42:48,880
button hole. Whatever for if you have perused these documents

740
00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:50,440
which you have in your hand, you will have some

741
00:42:50,719 --> 00:42:55,760
faint idea I've all when it's your funeral, as'll smile, Mabel,

742
00:42:56,119 --> 00:42:58,760
Duchess of dabt it. It is beginning to dawn upon

743
00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:01,400
the vacuum which represents my brain, that I've been the

744
00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:04,280
victim of one of the prettiest things and practical jokes

745
00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:07,599
that ever yet was planned. When that fellow brought you

746
00:43:07,679 --> 00:43:10,679
that card at Caanan Wilson's, which I need scarce, they

747
00:43:10,719 --> 00:43:13,840
tell you, never came from me. Someone walked out the

748
00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:17,119
front entrance who was so exactly like you. Both Bounds

749
00:43:17,159 --> 00:43:19,920
and Moisy took her for you. Moisey showed her into

750
00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:22,840
the carriage, and Barns drove her home. But when the

751
00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:26,039
carriage reached home it was empty. Your double had got

752
00:43:26,039 --> 00:43:29,599
out upon the road. The Duchess uttered a sound which

753
00:43:29,639 --> 00:43:34,639
was half gasp, half sigh her what Barns and Moisy,

754
00:43:34,679 --> 00:43:38,000
with beautiful and childlike innocence, when they found that they

755
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:40,079
had brought the thing home empty, It came straight away

756
00:43:40,159 --> 00:43:41,960
and told me you had jumped out of the brow

757
00:43:42,119 --> 00:43:44,559
while I had been driving full pelt through the streets.

758
00:43:45,039 --> 00:43:47,719
While I was digesting that piece of information, there came

759
00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:51,119
the first epistle with the lock of your hair. Before

760
00:43:51,159 --> 00:43:53,519
I had time to digest that, there came the second

761
00:43:53,559 --> 00:43:59,840
epistle with yours inside. It seems incredible. It sounds incredible,

762
00:43:59,840 --> 00:44:03,559
but unfathomable is the folly of man, especially of a

763
00:44:03,599 --> 00:44:07,199
man who loves his wife. The Duke crossed to mister Dacre.

764
00:44:08,039 --> 00:44:10,639
I don't want ivor to suggest anything in the way

765
00:44:10,679 --> 00:44:13,599
of bribery and corruption, But if you could keep this

766
00:44:13,719 --> 00:44:17,239
matter to yourself, not mention it to your friends, A

767
00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:21,599
white hattered and Guardina buttonhold acquaintance, and welcome to his

768
00:44:21,719 --> 00:44:24,559
five hundred pounds. And Mabel, what on earth are you

769
00:44:24,679 --> 00:44:27,559
laughing at? The duchess appeared all at once to be

770
00:44:27,639 --> 00:44:32,119
seized with inextinguishable laughter. Oh just think how that man

771
00:44:32,199 --> 00:44:35,320
must be laughing at you. And the Duke of Datchet

772
00:44:35,800 --> 00:44:40,920
thought of it. End of the Last Duchess