Kind Hearts And Coronets Page #10

without leaving a message for me.

Can you swear that he did not?

The police searched the room

very thoroughly.

They didn't find anything.

I suggest that your evidence is a tissue of lies

dictated by motives of revenge.

It is not.

It is not.

I presume that the prisoner has some

purpose in these submissions...

other than that of

distressing the witness.

My purpose, my lord,

is to determine the truth.

That, Your Grace,

is the whole purpose of this assembly.

...the whole truth and nothing but the truth,

so help me God.

- I am.

When and where did you become

the wife of the accused?

Yesterday morning, in Pentonville Prison.

I wanted to publish irrevocably

before the whole world...

my faith in his innocence.

I wanted to show

by my marriage...

that though he was led astray,

as I believe...

by that innate kindliness

and courtesy of his...

which made it so hard for him to rebuff

the advances of a woman...

I nevertheless

regard him as a man...

to whom I can happily entrust

the remainder of my life.

I am not alone

in these opinions of him.

My late husband, Henry,

and his late Uncle Ethelred, the eighth duke -

both unfortunately

unable to testify today.

These and other members of the D'Ascoyne family,

had they been alive...

would, I know, have echoed

every word that I have said.

Thank you, Your Grace.

The deceased was a client

of the banking house...

- of which you are chairman and managing director.

- He was.

In the normal course

of business transactions...

- he would have come to see you at your office.

- Yes.

- Instead of which, he asked you to go to his house.

- Yes.

- He invited you to his house to discuss business.

- Yes.

And you ask Their Lordships

to believe that?

- Yes.

- In the course of this, uh, business discussion...

he burst into tears, fell on his knees

and threatened suicide.

- Yes.

- Is that usual in business discussions?

- Not usual. No.

- But it happened on this occasion.

- Yes.

- And you ask Their Lordships to believe that?

- Yes.

- Then this, uh, business discussion...

became so heated

that blows were exchanged...

- and he made a murderous attack on you.

- Yes.

- Is that usual in business discussion?

- No.

- But it happened on this occasion.

- Yes.

- And you ask Their Lordships to believe that?

- Yes.

Very well.

You've heard of cases of a jealous husband

and his wife's lover coming to blows?

- Yes.

- Frequently?

It is one of the clichs of the cheaper kind of fiction.

I put it to you that,

in this case, it happened...

not in fiction,

but in fact.

- I put it to you that it did not.

- I put it to you further...

that being unaware at that time

of your future wife's forgiving nature...

you assumed that if you were

cited in a divorce suit...

it would ruin your chances

of making this advantageous match...

with a wealthy and beautiful woman.

No. Not at all.

- Still, you were proposing to discard Mrs. Holland.

- No.

Even though you were

about to be married to the other lady?

I must confess to feeling

quite intrigued as to their decision.

My lords, the question

for Your Lordships is this:

Is the prisoner guilty...

of the felony whereof

he stands indicted...

or not guilty?

Guilty, upon mine honor.

Guilty, upon mine honor.

Guilty, upon mine honor.

I considered it both seemly and touching

that my dear wife should visit me...

as she did this morning,

to make her farewells.

Your arrival, on the other hand,

appears to me unseemly...

and tasteless in the extreme.

I couldn't bear my last sight of you

to be that look of hatred you gave me...

as you went out from the trial.

In view of the fact that your evidence

had put the rope round my neck...

you could hardly expect

a glance of warm affection.

- Isn't there any hope?

- What hope could there be?

I was only thinking.

That question you asked at the trial...

about Lionel leaving

a suicide note.

Suppose he did?

Suppose that one were found...

even now,

this last evening?

- It would savor of a miracle.

- Miracles can happen.

Miracles could happen.

I see.

Oh. Strange, isn't it,

how things turn out?

Now, if you had married me,

instead of Edith -

Or you had married me,

instead of Lionel.

He would still be alive, and you wouldn't be

going to be hanged tomorrow morning.

Unless, of course, you've murdered somebody else.

- All of which is rather beside the point, isn't it?

- Is it?

Do you remember

in the old days...

how we used to play

eeny, meeny, miny, mo?

- Catch a n*gger by his toe.

- If he hollers, let him go. Out goes he.

Quite a lot oflittle n*ggers have gone out,

haven't they, one way or another?

And every one of them a D'Ascoyne.

Mmm. We do seem to be

a very short-lived family.

Of course, Edith is only

a D'Ascoyne by marriage...

so I suppose

her prospects are better.

Except for a miracle.

Like the other one

we were talking about.

So there it was.

She would find the suicide note...

if I, in return,

would murder Edith.

So we now have two miracles

in mind, do we?

Yes.

I wonder if they are, in any way,

dependent on each other?

I suppose perhaps they might be.

What do you think?

Time's up.

What do you think?

Poor Edith. I'm afraid all this is going

to take years off her life.

- Au revoir, Louis.

- Au revoir.

What could I do but accept?

After all, I could

always decide afterwards...

which of these two little n*ggers

would finally have to go.

Dear Edith.

Captivating Sibella.

How different they were,

and how well I knew each of them.

"Or so I thought.

"But the night has gone by

and nothing has happened.

"It is now but a few minutes to 8:00.

"And I realize that Sibella

came yesterday merely to tantalize...

"to raise my hopes

in order to dash them again.

"How unlike me

not to have guessed.

But, after all,

how very like Sibella. "

Already?

I'll tell you who time gallops withal.

"With a thief to the gallows.

"For though he tread

as softly as foot can fall...

he thinks himself too soon there. "

If you have any last instructions -

I think, Colonel, it only remains

to thank you for your many kindnessess.

Won't you introduce our friend?

Mr. Elliott,

Good morning, Your Grace.

This won't take a moment.

First, if Your Grace

will pardon the liberty...

I should like to read

some verses...

composed by myself for use

on these melancholy occasions.

- Your Grace permits?

- With pleasure.

"My friend, reflect" -

Oh. Oh. Pardon.

"Your Grace, reflect.

"While yet of

mortal breath some span...

"however short, is left to thee...

"how brief the total span

twixt birth and death...

"how long thy coming

tenure of eternity.

Your Grace, prepare" -

- Colonel.

- Hmm?

Your Grace,

I am happy to inform you...

that a telephone communication

has just been received from the Home Office.

A note has been found,

undoubtedly in Mr. Holland's handwriting...

expressing his intention

to commit suicide.

It is a miracle.

Yes. It is like a miracle.

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