Royal54-04-2530The Colonels Lady

This is Ralph Richardson. Today, I've chosen to present to you a dramatization of a tale by one of the finest of storytellers, Somerset Maugham. I expect that many of you who are listening will have seen some of the films based on his stories.

And so, you may recall this tale, which was included in the first of those films, Quartet. In this adaptation, I should be playing the part of the storyteller, Colonel Pettigreen. So here now is Somerset Morm's tale, The Colonel's Lady.

My name is George Pettigney. But this is not so much my story, it is the story of my wife, Eve. But we've been married for some pretty years. I always thought of hers, and quiet, unassuming woman.

You have a humble servant, and whose generous they were, liked in the village. Our place is in Warickshire, laying with manor, first-rate hunting country. We lived a normal country life. Or so I thought. We all began one morning at breakfast.

I was reading the times and waste to just brought in the letter. Thank you, Wes. Oh, tell us, I shall want the car to live in West, and go to the agricultural show. Yes, sir.

What have you got there, parcel? Here, give it me. No, I hate to see people cutting strings. Thanks, sir. Since we're from some publishers, books, I suppose. Ah, they are. Eh, what they're all the same.

What an earth you want six copies of the same book for. Hmm, poetry. Though pyramids decay by E.K. Hamilton. E.K. Well, that's your maiden name. You don't want to say you wrote it? Yes. What, Percy?

I'm afraid so. It's rotten. But you never told me. Well, you are a slide booth. I didn't think it would interest you very much. Would you like a copy? who purchase much of my life, you know?