'Like most actresses, she is a realist,' said Dame Beatrice. 'There was no need any longer for her to fear de Maas, and she was penniless, with all her plans gone awry. Besides, she knew that Kirkby would be on her track. It is notoriously difficult to extradite criminals from South America, and contrary to legal practice to obtain evidence from a husband against his wife.'
'I see another of your letters is postmarked Duncastle,' said Laura. 'Is it from...'
'Yes.' Dame Beatrice opened it. 'It is from Binnie. The school is flourishing, Humphrey is nice to her, and they are expecting their first baby in December.'
'I suppose you're asked to be godmother.'
'Well,' said Dame Beatrice, 'practice makes perfect, they say, and by now I have lost count of the number of my god-children.'
'In The Merchant of Venice,' said Hamish, 'Gratiano wished Shylock's godfathers were jurymen.
'"Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,
'"To bring thee to the gallows, not the font."
'Mamma, are you glad or sorry they've done away with hanging people?'
'It depends on the people,' replied Laura. 'In this particular case, the question doesn't appear to arise, I'm pleased to say.'
End