Experiment Perilous Page #4

for disliking doctors

Well, that's your own.

But I'd like to be your friend.

I am your friend.

Thank you.

Here's your package, madam.

I've been reading

up on the Bederauxs.

I remembered an article

in "The Manhattan. "

Found it luckily enough.

Written by someone

named A. Gregory.

'You know him?'

That was a long time ago.

Yes?

Oh, I don't know,

I've forgotten.

Well, whoever he was

He gave a curiously

superficial account of Nick.

All he had to say about you was

that you raised country daisies.

Is that so strange?

- 'What?'

- That I once raised daisies.

Why, no, on the contrary

if you'll remember

That's the way I said

I would've painted you.

Dr. Bailey, I thought you

wanted to be my friend.

I do.

May I help, madam?

No, no, thank you,

I changed my mind.

You must believe me.

I am your friend,

and I know you need help.

How do you know?

It was in your eyes

and your voice yesterday

When you looked at me

and said please, please.

It was also in your

eyes in the portrait.

Nick wanted me

to ask you for dinner.

- Would tomorrow be convenient?

- Yes, delighted.

Mrs. Bederaux,

I am your friend.

If circumstances

were only different...

Shall we say 8 o'clock?

- Thank you.

- Goodbye, Dr. Bailey.

- Carriage, sir?

- Yes.

Thank you, sir.

'It is your

writing case, isn't it?'

'No, Maggie, it isn't. '

Oh, perhaps your baggage

got mixed up.

Do you want me to

report it to the desk?

No.

Whoever has my case, knows

very well to whom it belongs.

It had my name in it.

There was a note from...

From a friend of mine, in it.

That's all.

Goodnight, Maggie.

Yes, doctor. Goodnight.

"Nicholas Bederaux III"

"Was born on November

the twenty-first, 1848"

"At Landskron, the family

estate not far from Vienna. "

"I was only a tiny mite

of a girl"

"Scarcely five years old"

"Waiting for my father

to come down and tell me"

"I had a baby brother. "

"I didn't know why he

looked so hard and angry"

"Until he told me

that my mother had died"

"Giving birth to little Nick. "

"So Nicholas Bederaux

was destined never to know"

"His mother,

nor his father either. "

"One year later, my father

while returning from America"

"On the line

of Brazilian Queen"

"Decided to take his own life. "

"I swore then that I would

be both father and mother"

"To Nicky as long

as we both should live. "

"I tried, goodness knows,

but it was not always easy. "

"Sometimes Nicky seemed

to have a devil in him. "

"Allida was the sweetest

"The most beautiful child

in all the world.

"We had met her

during the long summer

"We spent at Stoneygate

in Vermont.

"Where she and her father

lived in a little cottage

"Down at the end of the field.

"From the very beginning

Nick found her

completely enchanting. "

'Nick. '

Oh, Nick, isn't it lovely?

I don't think there's

anything in the world

More beautiful

than a field of daisies.

Oh, oh, no. You are much

too easily pleased.

I think I will have to

really show you this world.

- Will you? When?

- Much sooner than you think.

But right now, we have

need of a conference.

Oh, good. Let's sit here.

What do we confer about?

Well, I've had a talk

with your father.

I told him how much

Cissie and I admire you.

Oh, you're both so kind.

And how it would please

us to do things for you.

But, you've done too much

for father and me already.

I suggested he allow us

to take you to Europe with us.

To Europe?

Would you like that?

Oh, I... I don't know.

Oh, it would be an enormously

rich experience for you.

You would see all the places

and treasures of history.

I'm afraid this would

pale slightly by comparison.

Oh, no.

Art and language

courses if you liked.

And in Paris, we might even find

a gown or two that suited you.

Who can tell?

You might grow to be quite

a distinguished lady.

Oh, I'm sure

I wouldn't like that.

Perhaps you'd become

the century's great beauty.

Oh, Nick, stop teasing me.

Would be fun maybe.

Oh, it's terribly kind

of Cissie and you.

- It's like you, but...

- But what?

Oh, I couldn't go,

of course.

What did father say?

He said he couldn't

possibly stand in the way

Of such an opportunity for you.

- I don't believe you.

- Oh, yes.

I'll ask Cissie.

I'll run you back.

Oh, no, you won't.

Come on, Nick.

"Dear sweet Allida.

"How young she was,

and how excited

"At her first view of Paris.

"Nick was simply

marvelous with her.

"Though he refused

to allow her to be spoiled.

"For a while it seemed

"The Louvre was

a second home to us.

"And none of the days

were ever long enough

"To keep pace with Nick's

ambition for the child.

"Sometimes it seemed

almost cruel to drive her so.

"And I confess,

at that time I didn't realize

"The extent of Nick's

ambition for her.

"But he knew that in that

little Vermont village

"He had found a jewel.

"He was determined

to see that it was polished

And mounted to perfection. "

No, No, mademoiselle.

Listen to the interval.

It's a perfect fit.

"And then, after two long years"

"And I shall never

forget that night"

"Allida was presented

to Parisian Society. "

"She wore a gown designed

by Charvet himself. "

"And in the ballroom

of beautiful women"

"There was none to match her. "

"And Nick,

how proud he was of her.

"Oh, he tried

not to show it. But I knew.

"I knew that little trick

of his of squinting up his eyes

"When he was terribly pleased.

Oh, he was so proud. "

My dear.

Oh, Nick. I'm so happy.

I know.

My dear, tonight is nothing.

Merely the threshold of what

can be a very beautiful

And important life.

Oh, Nick.

There is nothing we cannot

achieve, you and I.

'Nothing. '

'You and I.'

'Allida, do you know

what I'm saying?'

My dear, will you do me

the honor of becoming my wife?

Nick, you're joking.

No. I'm not.

Something I've never

before told a woman.

I love you.

Oh, I, I can't think.

You needn't answer me now.

Nick, I'm so terribly grateful.

'No, please, no. '

Once before, you told me

you were grateful.

I don't want any such

foolish notion

To color your decision now.

'Do you understand?'

Yes.

I'd like to stay here

just a minute, do you mind?

"And just three weeks

later, Nick and Allida were married

"In a little church on the

Left Bank, with only a handful"

"Of the painter friends who

marked the end of this sojourn"

"Of ours in Paris. "

"Today was Allida's birthday.

"Nick gave her a priceless

string of carved white jade.

"She seemed unaware

of their wealth

"Only pleased because

they were a gift of Nick's.

"She wore them as she played

one of her little songs

For us before dinner. "

'Allida, more. '

- No, that's enough.

- It isn't your voice, my dear.

When you sing, we can stare

at you without embarrassment.

Oh, Clag, you're a fool.

Alright, then I happen to see

your little string of jade.

Oh...

Here.

- Where on earth, Nick?

- It's beautiful, isn't it?

Did you notice each

design is different?

- No, I didn't.

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