White Mischief Page #4

May l see it?

This is too much.

No further questions.

Mr Fox, remind me.

Was the revolver stolen from the house

of the accused ever recovered?

No.

- So you've never examined it?

- No.

Thank you.

How will the trial affect world opinion?

l would think the world

was far too busy to pay any attention.

lsn't there a war on?

Are you the lady

the defence counsel referred to?

Which one?

- The one who shot her husband.

- Which husband?

lsn't it scandalous, that while in

England people are suffering rationing...

l have just the thing for you.

The way some people

behave here in Kenya...

This is a treacherous climate.

We all must take care of our skin.

Countess, were you

in love with Lord Erroll?

Of course! Everyone was.

- Is that true?

- It's true.

l'm rarely in love,

but when l am, l know it,

because this violent

heat shoots through my nipples.

- Were you very upset by his death?

- No.

Joss is very lucky.

He'll always be who he is.

He'll never grow old.

l was an officer

in the Irish Guards for 17 years.

l have been a magistrate for 22 years.

l was the chairman of the bench

for county of Chester.

You have inherited

considerable wealth?

- Yes.

- One of your hobbies is horse racing?

Yes. l've owned race horses

for over 25 years.

- Winning and losing without regret?

- Certainly.

Before you married Lady Broughton,

was any pact made

between you governing your future?

We agreed that if either of us

fell in love with anybody else,

we would release each other.

So you were fully prepared

for the events which followed,

even though you did not welcome them?

lt was a risk worth taking.

When did you first learn

of the affair with your wife?

When Lady Delamere told me.

Did you feel

any bitterness or resentment?

No. Only sadness.

My only choice was

to resign myself to the situation.

What did you decide to do?

l decided to go to Ceylon on my own

and return after three months

to see if my wife had changed her mind.

- Was that likely?

Girls do.

Did you know of Lord Erroll's

reputation as a ladies' man?

l would prefer not to answer

that unless much pressed.

Let us come

to the evening of January 23rd.

You dined with your wife,

Lady Carberry and the deceased

at the Muthaiga Club.

- What was the atmosphere?

- Very jolly as l recall.

Lady Carberry has stated

that you drank heavily that night.

l may have had a little too much.

She says she accompanied

you home and helped you upstairs.

l can't remember. She may have.

Do you swear under oath

that you did not leave the house?

l could not have left

without someone hearing me.

The house was full of servants.

ls it true that while

Ieaving with your regiment for France

in 1916 you were laid low

by a severe case of sunstroke?

Yes.

And the British Army medical

board found that as a result

of that you suffered a weakness

in your right leg and hand

and night blindness?

Yes.

Chief Superintendent Poppy,

a man sound in wind and limb,

walked from the scene of the crime

to your house in 25 minutes.

Would you be physically

capable of doing that?

No, l would not.

Chief Superintendent Poppy

mentioned the burning of some

rubbish on the day after the murder.

We saw the remains

of a checked stocking he found there.

You did not recognise the stocking?

l've never owned

a pair of checked stockings in my life.

May l ask why you decided

to light a bonfire on this day?

lt needed to be done.

l was distressed by Lord Erroll's death.

l thought it might cheer me up.

l've always loved a bonfire.

Do you consider yourself

a sportsman and a gentleman?

ln short, a man of your word?

- l do.

- Thank you.

- You may sit if you wish.

- Thank you.

Sir Delves?

ls it a coincidence

that Lord Erroll was shot with a revolver

like the one stolen from you?

- l've not thought about it.

- You've not thought about it.

You thought it flattering for a man

to fall in love with your wife?

l think it is.

One always likes to see

one's possessions admired.

The same as if

you have a beautiful picture?

Exactly.

But it's a very different thing

when your friend,

instead of admiring your picture

proceeds to remove it

from the wall and take it away with him.

What was your reaction

to Lord Erroll's death?

l was dumbfounded.

But wasn't it a satisfactory

solution to your troubles?

- Not at all.

- What do you mean?

No man would relish

resuming life with a woman

who was madly in love

with another man,

even if that man were dead.

- The car isn't here. l'm sorry.

Are you still in love

with Lord Erroll?

- l love my husband.

- One more question.

- Lady Broughton, what would you say...

- Lady Broughton...

My car hasn't arrived.

Lady Broughton,

may l ask you one question?

Are you still

in love with Lord Erroll?

l'm extremely grateful.

Do you find the accused,

Sir Henry Jock Delves Broughton

guilty or not guilty of the murder of

Captain, the Right Honourable

Josslyn Victor Hay,

22nd Earl of Erroll

and Baron Kilmarnok?

- Not guilty, my Lord.

Silence!

- Is that the verdict of you all?

- It is, my Lord.

The accused is acquitted

and discharged.

Bad luck, Walter!

Didn't get me that time!

Our whole way of life

here is over.

That man has done for all of us.

- That's not funny.

- What's not funny?

- Lizzie says everyone thinks l did it.

- Idina.

- Gwlady.

- It's so close.

- Yes.

Diana, l think Jock has

a little something for you.

- It's not the right moment.

- Go on.

What is it?

Come on, man.

- What is it?

- The deeds to the Djinn Palace.

- l thought we could live there.

- Erroll's house? Isn't that morbid?

He's got the b*tch back.

He might as well have the kennel.

Jock...would you forgive me

for a moment? Excuse me.

l've always thought Jock

an appalling man.

You don't marry

girls like Diana.

Keep them, yes.

lt's raining!

lt's raining!

# l is Idina so fragile, so frail

# J is for Joss, the sting in her tail

# K is the Kenya, kisses and all

# L is for love into which we all fall

# M is for money

we always need more of

# N is for Nina, no one's quite sure of

# O is the outrage with nothing to gain

Oh, God.

Not another f***ing beautiful day!

Alice.

Why not?

Diana?

Diana, are you awake?

What is it?

l was asleep.

l'm sorry.

l was wondering...forgive me.

May l?

l have a few problems.

Nothing terrible.

Just money worries.

You really loved Joss, didn't you?

l think you loved him as much as l did.

Will you come to my farm?

They wouldn't take money if l offered it.

Just want to be with the cattle.

They don't eat meat.

Blood and milk.

Very good for you.

They are the guardians, you see.

They say the cattle belong to God.

Belong to me actually.

lt doesn't mean a thing to them.

Best people in the world.

lt wasn't Alice.

She had every motive.

Her only alibi is Lizzie.

She's dead.

She shot herself.

Don't know what to do.

Suppose l should offer you a drink.

- It's Joss's dog.

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