The Skin Game Page #6

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I'm sure I don't want

to do that girl a hurt.

I only mention it

because of course,

you can't guarantee

that it won't get out.

Not absolutely,

I suppose.

That's his car.

It always seems to make

more noise than any other.

But you leave him

to us what you want.

And uh, I wouldn't

mention this.

The centry's no mortal good to

him if he can't put up works.

I reckon he'll be glad

to save what he can.

Mr. Hornblower

to see you, madam,

by appointment,

he says.

I've come to ask you

point blank

what you mean by

writing me these letters.

I will discuss it

in the presence of nobody,

if you please.

Mr. Dawker knows just as

much as I do, and more.

Does he? Very well.

Your second note says that my

daughter-in-law has lied to me.

Well, I've brought her.

,

and what you've got to say

if it's not just a trick

to see me again,

you will say to her face.

Mr. Hornblower,

you'd better decide that

after hearing what it is.

We shall be quite ready to

repeat it in her presence,

but... we want to do as

little harm as possible...

oh. You do, do you?

Well, what lies have

you been hearing, eh?

Or what have you made up?

You and mr. Dawker.

I suppose you know

there's such a thing

as the law of

libel and slander.

I'm not the man

to stoop at that.

Are you familiar with the law

of divorce, mr. Hornblower?

No, I'm not.

Well, in that case...

no misconduct

is required.

I suppose you've heard

that cases are arranged.

I know it's all very

shocking. What about it?

Some cases are arranged,

mr. Hornblower.

The man who is

to be divorced

often visits an hotel

with a strange woman.

I'm extremely sorry to have to

say that your daughter-in-law,

before her marriage,

was in the habit of being

employed as such a woman.

It's all

proved up to the hilt.

I don't believe

a word of it.

You're lying to

save your skins!

How dare you tell me

such monstrosities!

Dawker, I'll have you

in a criminal court!

Oh, rats. You saw the gentleman

that was with me yesterday?

Well, he's employed her.

A put up job, sir!

A conspiracy!

Go and fetch your

daughter-in-law.

It's a foul shame.

A lying slander.

And so it's easily

disproved.

Go and fetch her.

I will.

Now, then, let's have this

impudent story torn to rags.

What story?

You, my dear.

When a woman who...

oh, it's too shocking.

I don't know

how to tell you.

Go on.

When a woman that went with

men to get them their divorce.

Who says that?

That lady here.

And her bull terrier

there.

That's a charitabl e

thing to say, isn't it?

Is it true?

No!

Here, I'll have you

both on your knees to her.

How do you do, mrs. Vane?

I don't know you.

You've got a bad

memory, ma'am.

You knew me well

enough yesterday.

A day's not

a long time,

nor 3 years.

Who are you? I don't know you, I say.

Let me refresh

your memory, ma'am

just on 3 years ago,

"october 3, fee and expenses

mrs. Vane with mr. C.

"Hotel buli 20.

October 10, ditto.

20."

If you like to have

a look at the book, sir,

you'll see the entries

are quite genuine.

No.

It's lies,

a lot of lies.

Come, ma'am.

We wish you no harm.

Take me away. I won't be treated like this.

Lies!

Were you ever

called vane?

No, never!

There.

Don't tell Charlie

father.

I'm all at sea here.

Go out and wait

for me in the car.

What do you want for this... secret?

Nothing.

Indeed?

Wonderful the trouble

you've tak en for nothing.

If you harm us,

we shall harm you...

any use whatever

of the centry.

For which you made me

pay 9,500.

We'll buy it from you.

What price?

The centry at the price miss

Mullins was willing to take it first.

Longmeadow at the price

you gave up.

$4,500 in all.

A fine price!

And me 6,000

out of pocket.

No, no,

I'll keep it.

And hold it

over you.

You daren't tell the secret

so long as I've got it.

Well, then, you go your

own way, and we'll go ours.

There's no witness

to this conversation.

By heaven!

You're a clever woman.

Will you swear

by almighty god

that you

and your family

and that agent of yours

won't breathe a word of this

shocking thing to a mortal soul?

Yes... if you sell.

Where's Dawker?

Dawker.

Mr. Dawker!

I suppose you've got

your iniquity ready.

It's mighty near

conspiracy, miss.

Have you got

a testament?

My word will be enough...

you will pardon me.

I can't make it

solemn enough for you.

Very well.

I'll get the bible.

It's a short conveyanc e of

the centry and Longmeadow.

Site sale by miss

Mullins, the first.

John Hillcrist,

the second.

And whereas you agreed for

the sale to John Hillcrist

the said property

for the sum of 4,500,

in consideration

of said sum... ahem...

you hereby acknowledge that you do

convey all that and et cetera, et cetera.

Sign here. Eyewitness.

To that oath,

mr. Hornblower,

we shall add

the words,

"so long as the Hornblower

family do us no harm."

Take it in your hands,

both of you.

Together.

Swear.

Swear by almighty god...

I swear by

almighty god...

never to breathe

a word of what I know...

concerning...

Chloe Hornblower...

concerning

Chloe Hornblower...

to any living soul.

To any living soul.

So long as the Hornblower

family do us no harm.

Oh, dada,

she looked like

a lost soul.

What has she done?

She committed her real crime

when she married young Hornblower

without telling him she came

out of a certain world to do it.

Oh.

Is it very awful

in that world, dada?

I don't know, Jill

some can stand it,

I suppose.

Some can't.

One thing I'm...

I don't know which

sort she is.

One thing I'm sure of, she's

awfully fond of Charlie.

D. That's bad. That's very ba

and she's frightened

horribly.

I think she's desperate.

Oh, dada.

I'm not enjoying her

much tonight.

I never could hate

properly.

It's a confounded

nuisance.

Mother's fearfully

bucked,

and Dawker's simply

oozing triumph.

I don't trust him,

dodo.

He's too...

not puglistic, but the

other one with a "pug".

Pugnacious.

Hmm, he is, rather.

I'm sure he wouldn't care a

tuppence if Chloe committed suicide.

Nonsense, nonsense.

I wonder if mother would.

What's that?

I thought I heard...

is there

anyone out there?

Oh!

Oh, come in.

It's only us.

Good evening.

Won't you sit down?

Yes, do sit down.

You're all shaky.

Is there anything

I can do?

I couldn't bear it.

He's coming to ask you.

Who?

My husband.

I've got to be quick.

He keeps on asking.

He knows

there's something.

Make your mind easy.

We shan't tell him

oh, that's not enough.

Can't you tell

him something

to put him back to

thinking it's all right?

I've done him such a wrong

I didn't realize it

till after.

I thought meeting him was such

a wonderful piece of good luck

After all I'd been through

I'm not such a bad lot.

Not really.

You see, my father

went bankrupt,

and I was in a shop till...

oh, I never gave a man away or

did anything I was ashamed of,

at least, I mean...

I had to make my living

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