Experiment Perilous Page #2

'She had a heart attack. '

Nick came down and said

it was the excitement.

We all went right

on talking again.

And Cissie was dying then.

All by herself upstairs.

- Wasn't a doctor called?

- 'Not that I know of. '

'Nobody thought that

it was very serious. '

Too bad. I liked Cissie.

Hadn't seen her

for years though.

'She'd been out

at a sanatorium'

'Or something of the sort. '

The baboon sister

Kissed so hard

he raised a blister

- What is that?

- "I went to the animal fair. "

The old baboon by

the light of the moon

Was combing his auburn hair

I know, what made me think

of that. Bederaux's sister.

The baboon's sister.

You know him, Hunt?

No.

- Why baboon?

- I don't know.

Sort of that

quality about him.

The way he looks up at you,

rather peculiarly.

'I think, Allida is the

most beautiful woman I've ever seen. '

She is a work of art.

I don't like beautiful women,

it makes them nervous.

Hunt.

I don't remember you mentioning

the Bederauxs before.

No, I fancied myself in love

with Allida some years ago

When I first met her.

Along with a dozen others.

You forget your attachments

pretty easily.

No, one doesn't forget

Allida easily.

There's something,

something fateful about her.

What do you mean?

Have you seen

Maitland's painting of her?

In the Bederaux

wing of the museum?

- No.

- Well, see it.

Or better still,

if you're game

Next Sunday, I'll take you

to Nick's for tea.

They wouldn't be having tea

the week his sister died.

Why not? She'd

been away for years.

Will you come?

No, thanks.

I know you must be tired, Hunt.

- I'll make our excuses.

- Thank you.

What do you mean,

if I'm game?

I said Allida was fateful.

See the portrait, Hunt.

- Good evening, doctor.

- Good evening, George.

The lady I reserved

the room for, Miss Bederaux

She died this afternoon

of a heart attack.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'd suggest that you send her

luggage along to her brother.

Nicholas Bederaux, you'll

find him in the directory.

Yes, doctor.

Uh, by the way, I'd rather

you didn't mention my name.

No, sir.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- Is that you, Maggie?

- Oh, good evening, doctor.

You weren't

long on your trip.

Long enough.

- Somebody sick?

- Well, a consultation.

I've unpacked

your things, doctor.

You shouldn't

have to bother.

Thank you, Maggie. I wouldn't

trouble with anything more.

Oh, no, doctor.

This fresh water, Maggie?

'Maggie?'

Oh, the water. Yes, doctor.

I've put your writing case

in the closet.

Thank you, Maggie.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, doctor.

I've simply got to be

Home for tea.

I must be

home for tea.

They thought

something was

The matter

with my heart.

But Dr. Hatch

Said that

was nonsense.

I'm not going

to spend even

A single night

in our house.

I said,

"Shall I call a doctor?"

And Nick said, "Nonsense. "

Everything's

going to be different.

Dear, Dr. Bailey,

I'll be grateful for this

All the rest of my life.

There's something

fateful about Allida.

See the picture, Hunt.

Hello, Clag? Hunt.

I've been thinking over your

invitation to the Bederaux tea.

I'd like to go.

Yes, I'm game, yeah.

Alright, see you Sunday. Bye.

- Afternoon, Frank.

- Good afternoon, sir.

Nick's prized Goddess.

Collected on their honeymoon

as I understand it.

Well?

Looks like something

out of Jules Verne.

The only place in town

where you're never sure

What century you're living in.

Alright then, Allida,

a second cup if you insist.

Clag. Excuse me.

Hello there.

- Hello, Nick.

- Nice to see you for a change.

- Have you been away?

- No, busy.

- Huntington Bailey.

- How do you do?

How do you do?

I know you.

I read your article on the

Napoleonic complex last year.

Always suspected I might

have something of that sort.

- Oh, hardly.

- I'm glad you're here.

You can meet

the rest presently

But now I want to

exhibit you to Allida.

Men of science

are rather rare in this house.

Hello, Bailey.

May I present

Dr. Huntington Bailey, my dear.

Mrs. Bederaux.

How do you do?

How will you take

your tea, Dr. Bailey?

'I think he might have

a touch of something stronger. '

But you must go through

the form of pouring tea

You do it so delightfully.

'And then, he will sit

with you for a few moments'

'And re-assure

about Alec's appetite. '

We have a five-year-old son

who refuses to eat as he should

When I'm not

around to tell him stories.

Hunt has seen

your portrait, Allida.

He thinks it has

a disturbing beauty.

Allida's so fond

of that portrait

That she still wears

the same gown.

We even must have the same cups.

Be kind to him, my dear.

Come on, Clag.

Talk to me.

It isn't the pose, really.

Nick designed the gown and it

pleases him to see me wear it.

Maitland does paint

beautifully, doesn't he?

I don't know anything

at all about painting.

Oh...

- Sugar?

- No, thanks.

As a matter of fact,

Clag insists

That I'm artistically

illiterate.

But I did say

the painting was disturbing.

Why?

'There was something

in the expression of the eyes. '

Yes?

'Yes, I, I wanted to see

for myself if it was'

'The artist's imagination

or if it was really there. '

Which is it?

It's there.

You haven't tasted your tea.

Oh.

Mmm, smoky souchong.

How do you know?

Oh, I, I suppose

I've heard.

Clag tells me you're

a quite a famous doctor.

And that you and he

play billiards together

And argue

about his work.

And I've found, the only way

not to argue with Clag

Is to agree with

everything he says.

I've tried that,

but then he says

You're not giving

your honest opinion.

Aren't you curious about

what I saw in the portrait?

Or thought I saw?

Yes, yes, of course.

First of all, I must tell

you that I came here

For quite another reason.

Not the portrait.

- I came here...

- No.

No, I didn't know that.

I knew you were a doctor,

but you didn't seem like that.

Oh, please, please.

Mrs. Bederaux.

How clumsy of me.

My dear child,

what have you done now?

I'm so sorry, Nick.

I... it was stupid of me.

Oh, let's not fuss about it.

Ring for Frank.

You must be needing something

more stimulating than tea.

- Forgive me.

- My fault, really.

Tell me, Bailey, are you

in practice or all out

For science, purely

for science sake.

I make a living

at it, I have to.

That's good,

that's very sensible of you.

Both feet on the ground,

no ivory tower.

- Sherry or Madeira?

- Sherry, please.

You may be precisely

the fellow I want.

You have seen it of course.

I can tell by your face.

I don't think

I quite understand.

Well, you needn't talk about it,

if you don't wish. Let me.

Did she mention

the boy at all?

I mean did she

bring it up herself?

No.

Well, if you're not going to be

interrupted for a few moments...

You must be used to meeting

emergencies in your practice.

Now, so am I.

In a mild way.

But they have never

before involved peril

To myself

or to anyone I loved.

- Peril?

- Yes, peril.

Allida and I are faced

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