Footsteps in the Fog Page #6

Same name as your sister.

Might bring you luck,

looking for that letter you're trying to find.

What do you say, ducks? One and sixpence?

- Come on. Be a sport.

- One sport in the family's enough.

A shilling.

In a minute, love. In a minute.

All right, then. I give in. Sixpence.

Oh, all right, then. Sixpence.

Anything to get you out from under my feet.

Sixpence. Jersey... Lily.

Now, what about the last?

- Here's your sixpence.

- Thanks, ducks.

Huh. Well, if it wasn't here all the time!

See? I told you a bet on that Jersey Lily

might bring you luck.

Here, what's Lily want you to burn that for?

I don't know. Says it's all a pack of lies.

Seems a lot of trouble to go to, writing a pack

of lies and asking someone to burn it up.

"Put it on the fire and forget all about it.

When I wrote it, I was feeling mean and spiteful

and took pleasure in making something up

that might cause trouble to someone. "

Meaning who? I wonder.

"But everything is changed now

and I'm not afraid of nothing. "

Hm.

And another thing.

Why should she have thought

that something might happen to her sudden?

Well, it... So it might to anyone.

Yes, but you don't go writing letters about it.

You may laugh at me, old girl, but I've got a sort

of queer hunch about this billet-doux of Lily's.

You know, that we might sort of learn

something about her, if er... we took a look.

But that's not honest!

And since when's being honest

paid you anything?

All I had in mind was that you'd feel happier

knowing something about your only little sister.

Which uh... maybe you ought to know.

Well, I... I would, that.

No! It's against my principles.

All right, love. I'm coming.

Come in.

- The doctor to see you, sir.

- Oh, thank you, Lily.

And how's my patient this morning? Better?

- I'm afraid not.

- Oh, we can't have that, you know.

My dear chap, I'm afraid we are having it.

We've been having it for two weeks.

Sure you've been taking your medicines

regularly?

Yes, that delightful crimson mixture

I take before meals

and those strange little powders after meals

and that chalky-looking substance before

I go to bed - a nightcap I can hardly wait for.

Yes, yes, very tedious for you. But I can only go

on the symptoms you've given me.

Now, Doctor... seriously.

I know you're going to say

that I'm imagining it, but...

don't you think that my symptoms

are rather like those of my poor wife?

Oh-ho. Well, uh... yes and no.

Many quite different maladies

produce the same symptoms at the outset.

And nerves can play a very tricky part, too.

And you've been under a great strain. Still,

we'll soon get to the bottom of it, given time.

- Oh, no, not again, Doctor!

- Oh, it's pure routine.

Now...

Now just take a deep breath, will you?

And another.

Yes, that seems to be pumping away.

Yes, quite in good order.

You know, I never worry very much

about a man who has a good heart.

Well...

If I had facts, sir, I wouldn't be here.

But I have reasons - sound ones -

for feeling as I do.

Well, as you feel so strongly about it,

let's have your reasons.

I can't give them

without violating the ethics of my profession.

I've been very patient with you, David,

but now I've had quite enough.

You've come here

to deliberately besmirch a man's reputation.

- A man too ill to defend himself...

- I do not.

No, hear me out. I have the greatest sympathy

for your disappointment about Elizabeth.

- I object to that.

- Why?

You're disappointed

she's marrying another man.

It's not disappointment, sir,

but quite frankly I'm... alarmed.

- Alarmed?

- Because...

Because the man happens to be

Stephen Lowry.

Sir, I ask you

to at least postpone this marriage until...

- Until when?

- Until I have something more concrete.

- I'm afraid you're a very bad loser, David.

- I'm sorry you take that view, sir.

Mr Lowry had better see me,

if he knows what's good for him.

Sir, I told you,

he hasn't been to the office for some days.

You're a liar! You're an 'umbug!

Oh, there you are, Mr Lowry.

I knew you'd come out of hiding

when you heard that I wouldn't be put off.

- Sir, you're making a mistake.

- Herbert Moresby's the name.

I'm married to Lily Watkins' sister.

I'll take care of this, Hedges.

May I suggest this is not the proper place

to create a disturbance?

I know a very nice little pub

just round the corner.

- We can have a chat and a drink there.

- Now you're talking like a sensible chap.

It's the most charming little house, and I do think

it would be fun to live in the country for a time.

I've always wanted to.

What do you think, Stephen?

Oh, I'm tiring you.

The doctor said I was only to stay 20 minutes

and I must have been here

for more than an hour.

It's only this medicine I have to take.

Don't take any notice of him.

- Excuse me, sir. Your broth.

- Oh, is it time for that again? Do I have to?

I'm sorry, sir.

Dr Simpson said you were to have it.

I see you're in good hands.

- Thank you, Miss Travers.

- I really must go.

- Must you?

- I'll see you tomorrow.

Lily? Would you be so good

as to see Miss Travers out?

Please get well, quickly, darling. I want you

to see the new house. I know you'll love it.

I love you.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Bye.

Give us a pint, Allie.

Well, Mr Lowry, if that letter ain't worth L500,

my name ain't Herbert Moresby.

- I thought that'd give you a bit of a turn.

- Yes, it has.

- I never expected anything like this.

- Look pretty on a banner headline, wouldn't it?

- "Stephen Lowry murders his wife... "

- Not so loud.

No more of that.

If I'm to settle with you, I want you sober.

Oh. So you're going to settle, are you?

I thought you would.

You know, the first time I laid eyes on you,

I said to myself,

"Now, there's a sensible man. "

But you don't look a bit like a bloke

what done in his...

- Well, you'd be the last man I'd pick.

- Give me an address where I can reach you.

What for?

Well... it may take some days

to raise such a large amount of money.

Oh, I can stay with a pal of mine.

He's potman at the King's Head.

Alf Peters is his name.

Well, here's the very best of health.

- Do you feel better? I'll only be a few minutes.

- I don't want a doctor. I'm fine.

- Don't be silly. You're getting worse every day.

- You know what he'll do.

- He'll just give me another bottle of this.

- He's only around the corner.

Come back as quick as you can.

Don't leave me alone too long.

I'll be five minutes.

Five minutes...

How could you bring Father and myself

to this place?

Surely it must be obvious to everyone

what kind of a man this is.

- Here, you be careful what you say.

- Be quiet.

And what about him,

pretending to be someone that he ain't?

- Getting me to take him into my confidence.

- I didn't say I was Stephen Lowry.

- That was your mistake.

- You let him go on believing it.

For your sake, Beth,

so this letter might come to light.

- Why didn't you confront Stephen with it?

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