Thumb-nail artists and expert kodak
manipulators were retained at extravagant salaries, and special dress
reporters were in high demand. An enterprising Paris firm of costume
builders presented the defendant Duchess with three special creations, to
be worn, marked, learned, and extensively reported at various critical
stages of the trial; and as for the cinematograph agents, their industry
and persistence was untiring. Films representing the 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.
"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.
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