07 - Selected Short Stories - The Man Who Disliked Cats

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter seven of The Man Upstairs. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
by Mike Harress. The Man Upstairs by P. G. Woodhouse,
Chapter seven, The Man who Disliked Cats. It was Harold

(00:23):
who first made us acquainted when I was dining one
night at the Cafe Britannique in Soho. It is a
peculiarity of the Cafe Britannique that you always find flies there,
even in the winter. Snow was folding that night as
I turned in at the door, but glancing about me,
I noticed several of the old faces. My old acquaintance,
Percy the Blue Bottle, looking wonderfully fit despite his years,

(00:46):
was doing deep breeding exercises on a mutton cutlet, and
was too busy to do more than pause for a
moment to nod at me now. But his cousin, Harold,
always active, sighted me and bustled up to do the honors.
He'd finished his game of touch last with my right
ear and was circling slowly in the air while he
thought out other ways of entertaining me. When there was

(01:08):
a rush of air, a swish of napkin, and no
more Harold. I turned to thank my preserver, whose table
adjoined mine. He was a Frenchman, a melancholy looking man.
He had the appearance of one who was searching for
the leak in life's gas pipe, with a lighted candle
of one whom the clenched fist of fate had smitten
beneath the temperamental third waistcoat button. He waved my thanks

(01:32):
to side. It was a bagattale, he said. He became friendly.
He moved to my tabroom, and we fraternized over our coffee.
Suddenly he became agitated. He kicked at something on the floor.
His eyes gleamed angrily. Pste he hissed, Vatan. I looked
around the corner of the table and perceived the restaurant

(01:53):
cat in dignified retreat. You do not like cats, I said,
I ate old animals, monsieur cats especially. He frowned. He
seemed to hesitate. I will tell you my sturry, he said.
You will sympathize. You have a sympathetic face. It is
the story of a man's tragedy. It is the story

(02:14):
of a blighted life. It is the story of a
woman who would not forgive. It is the sturry excuse me,
I've got an appointment at eleven, I said. He nodded absently,
drew at his cigarette, and began. I have conceived my
hatred of animals, monsieur, many years ago in Paris. Animals

(02:36):
are to me a symbol for the lost dreams of youth,
for ambitions foiled, for artistic impulses cruelly stifled. You are astonished.
You asked why I say these things. I shall tell you.
I am in Paris, young, ardent, artistic. I wish to
paint pictures. I have the genius, the enthusiasm. I wish
to be discipled of the great Bouguereau. Ah. But no,

(02:59):
I am depending and first support upon an uncle. He
is rich. He is proprietor of the great hotel jule Trio.
My name is also Prio. He is not sympathetic. I say, Uncle,
I am the genius, the enthusiasm, permit me to paint.
He shakes his head. He says, I will give you
position in my hotel, and you shall earn your living.

(03:22):
What choice? I weep? But I kill my dreams and
I become cashier at my uncle's hotel. He a salary
of thirty five francs a week. I the Artist, become
a machine for the changing of money at a damn
bad salary. What would you what choice? I am dependent.
I go to the hotel, and there I learn to
hate all animals, cats especially. I will tell you the

(03:45):
reason my uncle's hotel is fashionable. Hotel rich Americans, rich
Maharaja is a rich people of every nation come to
my uncle's hotel. They come and with them have brought
their pets. Monsieur, it was the existence of a nightmare.
Wherever I have looked, there are animals. Listen. There is
an Indian prince. He has with him two drama daries.

(04:06):
There is also one other Indian prince. With him is
a giraffe. The giraffe drink every day. One does in
best champagne to keep his coat goot. I the artist
have my bock, and my coat is not good. There
is a guest with a young lion. There is a
guest with an alligator. But especially there is a cat.
He is fat. His name is Alexander. He belongs to

(04:29):
an American woman. She is fat. She exhibits him to
me he is wrapped in a silk and fur creation
like an opera cloak. Every day she exhibits him. It
is Alexander's This an Alexander that till I hate Alexander
very much. I hate all the animals, but especially Alexander,

(04:49):
and so, Monsieur. It goes on day by day in
this hotel that is a zoological garden, and every day
I hate the animals the more, but especially Alexander. We artists, Monsieur,
we are martyrs to our nerves. It became insupportable this thing.
Each day it became more insupportable. At night, I dream
of all the animals, one by one, the giraffe, the

(05:12):
two dromedaries, the young lion, the alligator, and Alexander, especially Alexander.
You have heard of men who cannot endure the society
of a cap are they cry out and jump in
the air of a cat? Is among those present time,
your Lord roberts precisely, Monsieur, I have read so much. Listener,
I am become by degrees almost like him. I do

(05:34):
not cry out and jump in the air when I
see the cat Alexander, but I grind my teeth and
I hate him yes, I am the sleeping volcano and
one murning. Monsieur, I have suffered the eruption. It is
like this, I shall tell you, not only at that
time am I the martyr to my nerves, but also
to toothache. That morning, I have had the toothache very bad.

(05:55):
I have been in pain, the most terrible. I groan
as I heard of the figures in my book. As
I growan, I hear a voice say good morning to
Monsieur Brio Alexander. Conceive my emotions, Monsieur. In this fat,
beastly cat is placed before me upon my desk. It
puts the cover upon it. No, that is not the
price the lid. It put the lid upon it. All

(06:19):
my smothered atrell of the animal burst forth. I could
no longer conceal my adred. I rose. I was terrible.
I seized im basitrail. I flung him. I did not
know where. I did not care not then afterwards, Yes,
but not then, your longfellow has a poem. I shot
an arrow into the air. It fell to earth I

(06:40):
know not where. And then he has found it the
arrow in the art of a friend. Am I right also?
Who was at the tragedy with me. I flung the cat. Alexander,
my uncle on whom I am dependent, is passing at
the moment he has received the cat in the middle
of his face. My companion, with the artist's instinct for

(07:03):
the curtain pause. He looked round the brightly lit restaurant.
From every side rose the clatter of knife and fork,
and the clear, sharp note of those who drank soup.
In a distant corner, a small waiter with a large
voice was calling the cook names through the speaking tube.
It was a cheerful scene, but it brought no chair
to my companion. He sighed heavily and resumed. I urry

(07:27):
over that painful scene. There is a blooming row. My
uncle is ot tempered man. The cat is heavy cat.
I have thrown him very hard, for my nerves and
my toothache and my ettret have given me the giant
strength alone. Is this enough to enrage my ot tempered uncle.
I am there in his hotel. You will understand as cashier,

(07:49):
not as cat thrower. And now beside all this, I
have insulted the valuable patron. She have left the hotel
that day. There are no doubts in my mind as
to the outcome with certainty. I my conje, and after
painful scene I get it. I am to go at once.
You have assured the angry American that I go at once.
He has called me into his private office, Jeanne. He

(08:10):
has said to me, at the end of other things,
you are a fool, dull to no good, imbecile. I
give you good days in my hotel, and you spend
your time flinging cats. I will have no more of you.
Even now I cannot forget that you are my dear
brother's child. Of I will now give you one thousand
francs and never see you again. I have thanked him
for to me it is wealth. Not before have I

(08:33):
ever had one thousand francs of my own. I go
out of the hotel. I go to a cafe and
order a bock. I smoke a cigarette. It is necessary
that I think out plans. Shall I, with my one
thousand francs, rent a studio in the quarter and commence
my life as artists? No, I have still the genius,
the enthusiasm, but I have not the training to train
myself to vain pictures. I must study long, and even

(08:54):
one thousand francs will not last forever. Then what shall
I do? I do not know. I order one other box,
smoke more cigarettes. But still I do not know. And
then I say to myself, I will go back to
my uncle and plead with him. I will seize favorable opportunity.
I will approach him after dinner. He in his good temper.
But for that I must be close at hand, I
must be what is your expression the Johnny on the spot?

(09:19):
My mind is made up. I have my plan. I
have gone back to my uncle's hotel and have engaged
not too expensive bed of. Then my uncle does not know.
He still is in his private office. I secure my room.
I dine cheaply that night, but I go to the
theater and also to supper after the theore. For have
I not my thousand francs. It is late when I
reach my bedroom. I go to bed. I go to sleep,

(09:43):
but I do not sleep long. I am awakened by
a voice. It is a voice that says, move and
I shoot, Move and I shoot. I lie still. I
do not move. I am courageous, but I am unarmed.
And the voice says again, move and I shoot. Is
it Robbles? Is it some marauder who has made his
way to my room to plunder me. I do not know.

(10:06):
Perhaps I think, yes, who are you? I have asked,
There is no answer. I take my courage in my hands.
I leap from my bed. I dash for the door.
No pistol has been fire. I have reached the passage
and have shouted for assistance. Hotel officials run up doors open.
What is it? Voices cry? There is in my room
an armed robber. I assure him, and then I have

(10:28):
found no I am mistaken. My door, you will understand,
is open, and as I have said these words, a
large green parrot comes opping out. My assassin is nothing
but a green parrot. Move, I shoot, it is said
to those gathered in the corridor. It then has bitten
me in the hand and passed on. I am chagrined, monsieur,

(10:49):
but only for a moment. Then I forget my chagrin,
for a voice from a door that has opened says
with joy, it is my Polly, which I have this
evening lost them. I turn, I gasp for admiration. It
is a beautiful lady in a pink dressing gown, which
have spoke these words. She has looked at me. I
have looked at her. I forget everything but that she
is adorable. I forget those who stand by. I forget

(11:12):
that the parrot has bitten me in the hand. I
forget even that I am standing there in my pajamas
with on my feet nothing. I can only gaze at
her and worship am. I have found words, Mademoiselle. I
have said, I am rejoiced that I have been the
means of restoring to you your bird. She has thanked
me with her eyes, and then with words. Also. I

(11:33):
am bewitched. She is divine. I care not that my
feet are cold. I could wish to stand there talking
all night. She has given a cry of dismay you,
your aunt. It is wounded. I look at my hand. Yes,
it is bleeding where the bird have bitten it. S Mademoiselle,
I have said it is a bag at tell, But no,
she is distressed. She is what your poets Scott have said,

(11:56):
a ministering angel. Now she have torn our Ankorschiffin is
binding up my wound. I am enchanted such beauty, such kindness.
Hardly can I resist to fall on my knees before
her and declare my passion. We are twin souls. She
has thanked me again, she has scolded the parrots. She
has smiled upon me as she retires to her room.

(12:17):
It is enough. Nothing is said. But I am man
of sensibility and discernment, and I understand that she will
not be offended if I seek to renew our friendship
on a more suitable occasion. The doors shut, the guests
have returned to bed, the hotel servants to their duties,
and I go back to my room. Ah, but not
to sleep. It is very late, but I do not sleep.
I lie awake, and I think of her. You will conceive, monsieur,

(12:42):
with what mixed feelings. I descend next morning. On the
one end, I must keep the sharp lookout for my uncle.
For him, I must avoid till I shall have what
do you say in your idiom get me? Oh, yes,
I have it. Simel down and tucked in his shirt.
On the other hand, I must watch from my lady
of the parrot. I count the minutes till we shall
meet again. I avoid my uncle with success, and I

(13:05):
see her about the hour of Dejahnay. She is talking
to old gentlemen. I have bowed. She has smiled and
motioned me to approach father. She has said, this is
the gentleman who caught Pole. We have shaken hands. He
is indulgent Papa. He has smiled and thanked me. Also.
We have confided to each other our names. He is English,

(13:26):
She owns much land in England. He has been staying
in Paris. He is rich. His name is Enderson. He
addresses his daughter and calls her Marion. In my heart
I also call her Marion. You will perceive that I am,
as you say, pretty far gone. The hour of de
Johnay has arrived. I entreat them to be my guests.

(13:47):
I can run to it. You understand, for there are
still in my pockets plenty of my uncle's franks. They consent.
I am in heaven. All is well. Our friendship has
progressed with marvelous speed. The old gentleman and I a
swiftly the dear old pals. I have confided to him
my dreams of artistic fame, and he has told me
how much he dislikes your Lloyd George. He has mentioned

(14:08):
that he and miss Mary and the part for London
that day. I am desolate. My face tumbles. He has
observed my despair. He has invited me to visit them
in London. Imagine my chagrin. To visit them in London
is the one thing I desire to do. But how
I accept gratefully? But I ask myself how it is
to be done. I am poor blighter, with no profession

(14:30):
and nine hundred francs. He has taken it for granted
that I am wealthy. What shall I do? I spent
the afternoon trying to form a plan, and then I
am resolved. I will go to my uncle and say, Uncle,
I have the magnificent chance to marry the daughter of
a wealthy English landowner. Already I have her gratitude. Soon,
for I am young and some debonair, I shall have

(14:51):
her love given me one more chance. Uncle, be decent,
old buck, and put up the money for this affair.
These words I have resolved to say to my uncle.
I go back to the hotel, I enter his private office.
I reveal no secret when I say that he is
not cordial ten thousand devils. He has cried, what do
you have here? I hastened to tell him all and

(15:14):
plead with him to be decent old buck. He does
not believe who is he? He asks, this English landowner?
How did I meet him, and where I tell him.
He is amazed. You have the infernal impudence to take
room in my hotel, he has cried. I am crafty,
I am diplomat. Where else, my dear uncle, I say,
in all Paris there is no such arm. From home,

(15:36):
the cuisine marvelles, the beds of rose leaves, the attendant superb,
if only for one night, I have said to myself,
I must stay in this Cibo hotels. I have what
do you say, touched the spot? And what you say?
He has said, montcomly, there is certainly something. It is
a good hotel. This of mine, the only hotel I

(15:57):
have assured them. The Marys shit. I snap my fingers.
The ritz Bah once again, I snap my fingers. In
all Paris there is no hotel like this. He has
simmered down. His shirt is tucked in tail. Me again
as his plan of yours Jean. When I leave him,
we have come to an understanding. It has agreed between

(16:17):
us that I am to have one last chance. He
will not spoil this promising ship for the apworth of tar.
He will give me money for my purpose. But he
is set as we part. If I fail, his hands
shall be washed of me. He cannot now forget that
I am his dear brother's child. But if I fail
to accomplish the conquest to the divine Miss Marian, he

(16:39):
thinks he will be able to it is well. A
week later I follow the Enderscens to London for the
next few days. Monsieur, I am in paradise. My host
has much nice house in Eaton Square. He is rich, popular,
There is much society, and I I have the successful.
I am young, handsome, debonnair. I cannot speak the English

(17:02):
very well, not so well as I now speak him,
but I marriage I get along. I am intelligent, amiable.
Everyone loves me. Ah no, not every one. Captain Bassett,
he does not love me, and why because he loves
the charming Miss Marian and observes that already I am
succeeding with her like a ouse on fire. He is

(17:23):
em de fermil He is captain of your garde excuse
and my ousterold me. He has distinguished himself as soldier
pretty much. It may be so as soldier perhaps, but
that conversation he is not so good. He's quite nice fellow,
you understand, ansome, yes, distinguished, oh yes, but he does
not sparkle. He is not my verve, my lan I,

(17:45):
how do you say, I makes your rings around him?
But shoot? At that moment I would have made the
rings round the old British army. Yes, and also the
cours diplomatique. For I am inspired. Love has inspired me.
I am conqueror ah. But I will not weary you, monsieur,
with the details of my wooing. You are sympathetic, but

(18:07):
I must not weary you. Let us say that I have,
in four days of five made progress the most remarkable
and proceeds of the tragic end, or must I could
tell it in fur words? In them, one would say
that it is set forth. There was in London at
that tim bobulars song, a couamic, vulgar song of the Arlsley.
The cat came back. You have heard it. Yes, I

(18:30):
heard it myself, and without emotion. It had no sinister
warning for me. It not did not strike me as
an omen. Yet in those four words, monsieur, is my
tragedy ah. But I shall tell you every word is
a sword twisted in my art. But I shall tell
you one morning there we were at tea, all is well.

(18:52):
I am vivacious gay, miss Mary, and charming gracious. There
is present also an aunt, mister Anderson's sister, but ere
I do not much notice. It is to Mary, and
I speak both of my lips and also with my eyes.
As we sit, Captain Bassett is announced he has entered.
We have greeted each other politely but cold. Lafore we

(19:12):
are rivals. There is in his manner also a something
which I do not much like a species of suppressed
triumph of elation. I am uneasy, but only yet vaguely.
You will understand I have not the foreboding that he
is about to speak my death sentence. He addresses Miss Marian.
There is joy in his voice, Miss Enderson. He has said,

(19:36):
I have for you the bally good news you will remember.
Isn't it the cat belonging to the American woman in
the hotel at Paris, of which you have spoken to
me last night? At dinner, I have been seated beside her.
At first I am not certain? Is it she? Then
I say that there cannot be two missus baldistone rock
metalers in Europe. So I mention to her the cat,

(19:58):
And to cut the long story short, I ent you
to purchase for you as a little present the cat Alexander.
I have uttered a cry of horror, but it is
not heard because of Miss Marian's cry of joy, Oh
Captain Bassett. She has said, how very splendid have you
ever since I first saw him? Have I loved Alexander?

(20:19):
I cannot tell you how grateful I am, But it
amazes me that you should have been able to induce
her to part with him in Paris. She has refused
all my offers. He has paused, embarrassed. The fact is
he has said, there is between her and Alexander a
certain coolness. He has deceived her, and she loves him
no more. Immediately upon arrival in London, he had the

(20:40):
misfortune to have six fine kittens. However, out of evil,
who cometh good? And I have thus been able to
secure him for you. He is downstairs in a basket.
Miss Marian has rung the bell and commanded for him
to be brought up instantly. I will not describe the meeting, Monsieur.
You are sympathetic, you will understand my feelings. Let us

(21:03):
hurry on. Figure yourself, monsieur, to what extent I was
now harassed? I am artis I am a man of nerves.
I cannot be gay, brilliant, debonair in the presence of
a cat. Yet always the cat is there. It is terrible.
I feel that I am falling behind in the race.
Her gratitude has made her the more gracious to captain Bassett.

(21:23):
She smiles upon him, and, like Chanticleer at the sight
of the sun, he flaps his wings and crows. He
is no longer the silent listener. It is I who
will become the silent listener. I have said to myself
that something must be done. Chance has shown me the way.
One afternoon, I am, by fortune alone in the oar
in his cage. The parrot Polly is opping. I address

(21:45):
him through the bars, Move him, I shoot. He has cried.
The tears have filled my eyes. Oh, it has brought
the old scene back to me. As I weep, I
perceive the cat Alexander approaching. I formed a plan. I
have opened the cage door and released the parrot. The
cat I think would attack the parrot of which Miss
Enderson is so fond. She will love him no more.

(22:06):
He will be expelled. He paused. I suppose my face
must have lost some of its alleged sympathy. As he
set forth this fiendish plot. Even Percy the Blue Bottle
seemed shocked. He had settled on the sugar bowl. But
at these words he rose in a market manner and
left the table. You do not approve, he said, I
shrugged my shoulders. No business of mine, I said, But

(22:28):
don't you think yourself? It was playing at a bit
low down. Didn't the thought present itself to you in
a shadowy way that it was rather rough on the bird?
It did, monsieur, But what would you It is necessary
to break eggs in order to make an omelet. Ah
all is fair, you say in love and war, and
this was both. Moreover, you must understand I do not

(22:49):
dictate his movements to the parrot. He is a free agent.
I do but open the cage door. Should he op
out and proceed to the floor, where is the cat?
That is his affair? I shall continue, eh hella. I
opened the cage door and disappeared discreetly. It is not
politic that I remained to witness what shall transpire. It
is for me to establish an alibi. I go to

(23:10):
the drawing room, where I remain At dinner that night,
mister Anderson has laughed in all this afternoon, he said,
I have seen bad chance the dickens of a funny occurrence.
That parrot of yours Marian, had escaped once again from
his cage and was having an argument with that cat
which Captain Bassett has given you. Oh, I hope that

(23:31):
Alexander has not hurt Perpoly, of whom I am very fond.
She has said. The affair did not come to blows,
as said mister Henderson, you may trust that bird to
take care of himself, my dear. When I came upon
the scene, the cat was crouching in a corner with
his fer bristling in his back up, while Polly, standing
before him, was telling him not to move or he
would shoot. Nor did he move till I had seized

(23:54):
the parrot and replaced him in the cage. When he
shot up stairs like a streak of lightning. By sheer
force character, that excellent bird at won the bloodless victory.
I drink to him. You can conceive my emotion as
I listen to this tale. I am like the poet's
mice and men whose best kid schemes have gone away.
I am baffled, I am discouraged. I do not know

(24:15):
what I shall do. I must find another plan, But
I do not know what. How shall I remove the cat?
Shall I kill him? No, for I might be suspect.
Shall I I ask some one to steal him. No,
for my accomplice might betray me. Shall I myself steal him? Ah?
That is better. That is a very good plan. Soon
I have it perfected. This plan listen, Monsieur it as follows.

(24:37):
It is simple, but it is good. I will await
my opportunity. I will remove the cats secretly from the house.
I will take him to an office of the district
messenger boys. I will order a messenger to carry him
at once to the cat's house, and to request Monsieur
le directeur immediately to destroy him. It is a simple plan,
but it is good. I carry it through without itch.

(24:58):
It is not so difficult to secure the cat. Here
is a sleep in the drawing room. There is nobody
at lund. I have in my bedroom at box which
I have brought from Paris. I have brought it with
me to the drawing room. I have placed in it
the cat. I have escaped from the house. The cat
has uttered a cry, but none is erb. I have
reached the office of the district messenger. Boys, I have
ended over the cat in its box. The manager is courteous, sympathetic.

(25:21):
A messenger has started in a cab for the cat's house.
I have breathed a desigh of relief. I am saved.
That is what I say to myself as I returned.
My troubles are over, and once more I can be gay, debonair,
vivacious with Miss Marian. For no longer will there be
present with a cat Alexander to arrass me. When I
have returned, there is commotion in the house. I pass

(25:43):
on the stairs, domestics calling Puss, Puss, Puss. The butler
is chirruping loudly and poking beneath the furniture with a umbrella.
All is confusion and adjutation. In the drawing room is
Miss Marian. She is distressed. Nowhere, she said, can there
be found the cat Alexander, of whom I am so fond.
Nowhere in the house is he? Where can he be?

(26:04):
He is lost? I am gentle, sympathetic. I endeavor to
console there. I indowere that I am not sufficient substitute
for a beastly cat. She is, however, inconsolable. I must
be patient. I must waste my time. Captain Bassett is announced.
He is informed of what has happened. He is distressed.
He is the heir, as if he too would endeavor

(26:26):
to be gentle sympathetic. But I am Johnny on the spot.
I stay till he has gone. Next day, again it
is Puss, Puss, Puss again. The butler has explored under
the furniture with the umbrella again. Miss Marian is distressed again.
Have I endeavored to console this time? I think I
am not so unsuccessful. I am, you understand, young and

(26:48):
some sympathetic. In another two ticks, I am about to
seize her and declare my passion. But before I can
do so, Captain Bassett is announced. I gaze at him
as at unsuccessful arrival. I am confident. I am conqueror. Ah,
I little know it is in the moments of I
has hoped ensure that we are destroyed. Captain Bassett, he too,

(27:11):
as the heir of the conqueror. He has begun to speak,
Miss Anderson. He has said, I have once more the
ballygood news. I rather fancy that I have tracked down
the missing Alexander. Do you not know, Miss Marian has
cried out with Joe. But I am calm, for is
not Alexander already yesterday destroyed? He is like this, he
has resumed. I have thought to myself where is lost

(27:33):
cat most likely to be? And I have answered in
the cat's house. So I go this morning to the
cat's house, and there I see a cat which is
either lost Alexander or his living image. Exactly? Is he
the same as all appearances as the lost Alexander. But
there is when I try to purchase him some curious
itch which they do not explain. They must have time,
they say, to consider. They cannot at once decide. Why

(27:56):
what nonsense? Miss marian abscried. If the cat is my cat,
surely then must they return him to me? Come, he
has said, let us all three at once in a
taxicab go to the cat's house. If the all three
of us identify the lost Alexander, then must they return him? Monsieur?
I am uneasy. I are foreboding, but I go what choice?

(28:16):
We go in a taxicab to the cat's house. The
directeur is courteous and sympathetic. He has introduced us to
the cat, and my arm has turned to water, for
it is Alexander? Why has he not been destroyed? Director
is speaking. I hear him in a dream. If you
identify him as your cat, Miss he has said, the

(28:37):
matter is ended. My hesitation when you, sir, approached me
this morning on the matter was due to the fact
that a messenger was sent with instructions that he be
destroyed at once. Rather rough, wasn't it that? On the messenger? Eh,
Captain Bassett has said, he is facetious, you understand, for
he is conqueror. I am silent. I am not facetious,
for already I feel how you say my fowl is cooked?

(29:00):
Not the messenger, sir. The director has said, who have
misunderstood me? It was the cat which was to be destroyed,
as by instructions of the anonymous sender. Who could have
played such a wicked trick? Miss Marian has asked, indignant,
The director has stooped, and from behind the table he
has brought a hat box in this year, said the
above animal was conveyed, but with it there was no

(29:22):
accompanying letter. The sender was anonymous, perhaps Captain Bessett, he said,
And still more in dream I er him. Perhaps on
the at box is some ballet name or of it.
Do not know no what I clutched the table. The
room is spinning round and round. I have no stomach,
only emptiness. Why bless may the director said, you are

(29:43):
quite right here, sir. So there is funny of me
not to the four observed it. There is a name
and also an address. It is the name of Jean Prio,
and the address is the Hotel Jule Prio in Paris.
My companion stopped abruptly. He passed a handkerchief over his forehead.
With a quick movement, he reached for his glass of

(30:05):
Liqueur brandy and drained it at a gulp. Monsieur, he said,
you will not wish me to describe the scene. There
is no need for me, and that is to be
zola esque. Who can imagine she chucked you in a
moment of emotion. It is the simplest language that comes
to the lips. He nodded and married Captain Bassett. He

(30:27):
nodded again, and your uncle, I said, how did he
take it? He sighed, there was once more a blooming raw, Monsieur.
He washed his hands, have you well? Not altogether? He
was angry, but he gave me one more chance. I
am still his dear brother's child, and he cannot forget it.
An acquaintance of his, a man of letters, and Monsieur

(30:48):
Paul Sartine was in need of a secretary of the
post was not well paid, but it was permanent. My
uncle insists that I take it. In what choice I
took it. It is the post which I still old.
He ordered another Liqueur Brandy and gulped it down. The
name is familiar to you. You have heard of Monsieur Sartine's. No,
I don't think I have. Who is he? He is

(31:10):
a man of letters asavant. For five years he has
been occupied upon a great work. It is with that
that I assist him by collecting facts for his use.
I've spent this afternoon in the British Museum collecting facts.
Tomorrow I go again, and the next day, and again
after that. The book will occupy yet another ten years
before it is completed. It is his great work. It

(31:32):
sounds as if it was. I said, what's it about?
He signaled to the waiter, Yesson. One other Liqueur brandeis
the book Monsieur is a history of zi Cat in
ancient Egypt. End of chapter seven, The man who disliked
cats recording by Mike Haras