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Duke saying good…bye to his favourite canary on the eve of the trial were
in readiness weeks before the event was due to take place； other films
depicted the Duchess holding imaginary consultations with fictitious
lawyers or making a light repast off specially advertised vegetarian
sandwiches during a supposed luncheon interval。 As far as human
foresight and human enterprise could go nothing was lacking to make
the trial a success。
Two days before the case was down for hearing the advance reporter
of an important syndicate obtained an interview with the Duke for the
purpose of gleaning some final grains of information concerning his
Grace's personal arrangements during the trial。
〃I suppose I may say this will be one of the biggest affairs of its kind
during the lifetime of a generation；〃 began the reporter as an excuse for
the unsparing minuteness of detail that he was about to make quest for。
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〃I suppose so … if it comes off；〃 said the Duke lazily。
〃If？〃 queried the reporter； in a voice that was something between a
gasp and a scream。
〃The Duchess and I are both thinking of going on strike；〃 said the
Duke。
〃Strike！〃
The baleful word flashed out in all its old hideous familiarity。 Was
there to be no end to its recurrence？
〃Do you mean；〃 faltered the reporter； 〃that you are contemplating a
mutual withdrawal of the charges？〃
〃Precisely；〃 said the Duke。
〃But think of the arrangements that have been made； the special
reporting； the cinematographs； the catering for the distinguished foreign
witnesses； the prepared music…hall allusions； think of all the money that
has been sunk … 〃
〃Exactly；〃 said the Duke coldly； 〃the Duchess and I have realised
that it is we who provide the material out of which this great far…
reaching industry has been built up。 Widespread employment will be
given and enormous profits made during the duration of the case； and we；
on whom all the stress and racket falls； will get … what？ An
unenviable notoriety and the privilege of paying heavy legal expenses
whichever way the verdict goes。 Hence our decision to strike。 We
don't wish to be reconciled； we fully realise that it is a grave step to take；
but unless we get some reasonable consideration out of this vast
stream of wealth and industry that we have called into being we intend
coming out of court and staying out。 Good afternoon。〃
The news of this latest strike spread universal dismay。 Its
inaccessibility to the ordinary methods of persuasion made it peculiarly
formidable。 If the Duke and Duchess persisted in being reconciled the
Government could hardly be called on to interfere。 Public opinion in
the shape of social ostracism might be brought to bear on them； but that
was as far as coercive measures could go。 There was nothing for it but
a conference； with powers to propose liberal terms。 As it was； several
of the foreign witnesses had already departed and others had
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telegraphed cancelling their hotel arrangements。
The conference； protracted； uncomfortable； and occasionally
acrimonious； succeeded at last in arranging for a resumption of litigation；
but it was a fruitless victory。 The Duke； with a touch of his earlier
precocity； died of premature decay a fortnight before the date fixed for
the new trial。
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BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
THE ROMANCERS
IT was autumn in London； that blessed season between the
harshness of winter and the insincerities of summer； a trustful season
when one buys bulbs and sees to the registration of one's vote； believing
perpetually in spring and a change of Government。
Morton Crosby sat on a bench in a secluded corner of Hyde Park；
lazily enjoying a cigarette and watching the slow grazing promenade of
a pair of snow…geese； the male looking rather like an albino edition of
the russet…hued female。 Out of the corner of his eye Crosby also noted
with some interest the hesitating hoverings of a human figure； which had
passed and repassed his seat two or three times at shortening intervals；
like a wary crow about to alight near some possibly edible morsel。
Inevitably the figure came to an anchorage on the bench； within easy
talking distance of its original occupant。 The uncared…for clothes； the
aggressive； grizzled beard； and the furtive； evasive eye of the new…comer
bespoke the professional cadger； the man who would undergo hours of
humiliating tale…spinning and rebuff rather than adventure on half a day's
decent work。
For a while the new…comer fixed his eyes straight in front of him in a
strenuous； unseeing gaze； then his voice broke out with the insinuating
inflection of one who has a story to retail well worth any loiterer's while
to listen to。
〃It's a strange world；〃 he said。
As the statement met with no response he altered it to the form of a
question。
〃I daresay you've found it to be a strange world； mister？〃
〃As far as I am concerned；〃 said Crosby； 〃the strangeness has worn
off in the course of thirty…six years。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the greybeard； 〃I could tell you things that you'd hardly
believe。 Marvellous things that have really happened to me。〃
〃Nowadays there is no demand for marvellous things that have really
happened；〃 said Crosby discouragingly； 〃the professional writers of
fiction turn these things out so much better。 For instance； my
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