Experiment Perilous Page #5

- 'Hello. '

Hello, everybody.

Hello, Master Nick. What a

horrible night for a party.

- Alec.

- Happy, happy birthday.

- Look what I brought you.

- Oh!

Insignificant, but thoughtful.

As a matter of fact, Nick,

the florist wouldn't

Take my check, so I

charged them to your account.

- They're withered.

- Not at all.

- They're just a little tired.

- Oh, but they're lovely.

Thank you so much.

How did you know daisies

were my favorite flowers?

Just looking at you.

You know, there are

words to go with them.

From a writer naturally.

Say the name

and you'll know the person

By the way it forms

upon the lips.

'How then shall I say, Allida?'

Well, it's not exactly

genius but...

- At least it's short.

- Someday I'll finish it.

My, what a lot of talent

we have here tonight.

We can paint a picture,

cut a figure out of stone.

Write a sonnet.

'Or have Allida just

stand there and be them all. '

Oh, Alec, have you

been drinking?

On my honor, not a drop.

Frankly, I could stand

something now.

Dinner's served, madam.

'Thank you, Frank. '

Well, that was certainly

a quick drink.

Nick gave me the commission

to do her picture tonight.

I'm so happy for you.

And you do it

so cleverly too, I know.

He wants her in

the dress he designed.

'I'd rather paint her

as she's now. '

Yes, she should well...

What has she done

with her necklace?

She is such a child.

Nick would be terribly upset

if she's misplaced it.

Oh, Alec, help me look.

- For what?

- My necklace.

I put it down

when you came in.

It must be here somewhere.

Are you sure?

I had it in my hand

when you gave me the daisies.

Allida, I couldn't

finish the poem before

With Nick and the others there.

- Will you listen to it now?

- Yes, Alec, of course.

How then shall I say, Allida?

The single word upon

my lips will make it clear.

I love her.

You shouldn't write

things like that about me.

Of course not.

Come help me look.

Did I tell you

I've taken on a new job?

- No, what?

- Series of articles in Mexico.

- Are you going there?

- Mm-hmm.

- When?

- Right away.

Oh, we'll miss you.

I won't really go.

I, I've tried before.

Tried?

Taking the job,

whatever it was

Packed my bags,

gone to the station.

It's never any use.

Alec.

Those weren't just the words

of a poem before.

It's a stupid poem anyway.

- I, I can't write about you.

- Oh, please.

When I try, I go

off the deep end.

I wanna say how you are.

How I know you are.

Warm, simple, and bright inside.

You're not a great lady,

in a great house.

You're the earth and everything

that grows and breathes

And when I'm not with you,

it's a blank...

- Oh, no.

- Do you love me?

- No.

- You don't love Nick.

Yes, yes, I do.

No, you don't.

I'm sure of that.

Oh, Alec, please.

My dear, there is going to be

a commotion unless you go up.

Clag threatens to twirl

Cissie around by the heels

Unless he produces you.

'Clag I believe

has been drinking. '

Not a bad idea,

Master Nick.

We were looking

for my necklace.

- I thought I left it here.

- I found it.

- Oh.

- 'Here. '

Oh, I'm sorry to have

been so careless.

Oh, nonsense, my dear.

I'll keep it for you,

shall I?

Yes, Nick.

Alec was telling me,

he may go to Mexico.

Oh, when did you

decide this, Alec?

I haven't decided. As a matter

of fact, I'm not going.

Temperamental these

artists, aren't they?

Very.

- Nick, I think it's time we...

- Alec.

Alright, Allida.

Do you think I could find

where Clag loaded up?

Yes, there is

champagne upstairs.

Or if you want whiskey,

it's in the library.

Whiskey? I think you hit on

something here, Master Nick.

Tell me, does his impertinence

add to his attractiveness?

Don't, Nick.

Why did you stop him?

Frank discussion of these

matters would be interesting.

Mentality never quite makes up

for the physical, does it?

Let's not have a scene.

Not tonight.

Allida dear.

Do come and stop Clag.

He's behaving

very badly, really.

'He threatens to climb into

one of those suits of armor. '

Isn't it funny?

But we can't have that, can we?

Tend to your other

warrior, my dear.

Allida.

Allida.

Nick and Alec.

He stayed behind.

Nick! Nick!

'Cissie's fainted. '

What are you doing there?

Get her upstairs, Frank.

Yes, sir, will see to it, sir.

I'm so sorry.

I'll be alright.

Hello?

'Dr. Bailey.

It's Allida Bederaux. '

Dr. Bailey, if Nick

goes up to the boy

If he goes upstairs tomorrow

night while you are here

Will you try to follow him?

Will you see if you can...

- Hunt, what the blazes?

- Coming in. I wanna talk.

- You drunk?

- I blundered into something.

Whatever it is

Someone thinks it's important

enough to have me followed.

It's the little people

that chase you all over.

In the morning, they'll play

around the foot of your bed.

Look.

Hmm.

Tell me.

Now that I'm here,

what can I tell you?

Oh, your medical ethics.

Nonsense.

There is more

delightful scandal lost...

When I heard of Cissie's death,

I didn't tell you I knew her?

- No.

- I did.

I came back across

the country with her.

- Why didn't you say so?

- Don't ask me why.

There isn't any why.

I was surprised,

shocked if you like, but...

I wanted to think.

You mean, this has something

to do with the Bederauxs?

I don't know.

Oh, go on.

Well, she was determined

not to stay with Nick.

She asked me about a hotel

And I recommended mine,

and took her bags there.

Then, I heard she

died of a heart attack.

Perfectly simple.

She was frightened to death.

But of what?

'I sat beside her during

a near train wreck. '

'And that woman didn't have

any organic heart disease. '

Are you suggesting...

I'm not suggesting anything.

I'm just talking.

So, she died a natural death.

Who doesn't?

And I have her blasted

dressing case in my bathroom

'And a man in peculiar shoes

follows me wherever I go. '

Her dressing case?

Yes, it got mixed-up

with my things

And my writing case

went on with hers.

I only discovered

her bag tonight.

I looked into it. Perhaps,

I shouldn't. But I did.

Cissie's diaries were there.

Along with the manuscript

she was writing.

"The life and Times

of Nicholas Bederaux. "

I read 'em.

I've been living

in that diary tonight.

Living the strange, distorted

lives of Nick and his sister.

You know their histories?

Fairly well.

They're not nice.

His mother died

when he was born.

He was hated by a father who

committed suicide a year later.

He was raised by a sister,

who I believe hated him too.

Although, she certainly

never knew it.

She made a burnt offering

of her life.

And Allida.

Yes, I know.

I didn't like him the first

time I met him, I told you so.

The more I know him,

the less I like him.

There's something

out of tune with him.

Like, like a chord of music

with a basic note missing.

What are you trying to tell me?

That the man is mad?

Not what you mean by madness.

He's reasonable, logical.

Even brilliant.

But he's at war.

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