The Divorce of Lady X (1938)

Morton Selten: Lord Steele

Quotes 

• Lord Steele : I'm appalled to think that my granddaughter should leave this house at nine in the evening and return at nine in the morning.

  Jefferies : You know perfectly well, there are some girls you can't trust to go out and post a letter, but Miss Leslie you can trust to the North Pole.

  Lord Steele : Isn't it my duty to ask her for a full account of her doings?

  Jefferies : Well look, Tom, you're not a prying, meddlesome judge - you're an adoring grandpa.

  [Lord Steele chuckles] 

• Lord Steele : You've been messing this paper about. Been trying to do the crossword puzzle.

  Jefferies : I don't read your paper. I have my own, and you know it.

  Lord Steele : Altogether, I know too much about you.

  Jefferies : Then I had better go, altogether.

  Lord Steele : That is exactly what I wanted to tell you.

• Leslie : But aren't you being a little cynical grandpa?

  Lord Steele : I don't think so. And every day I learn things about which even the cleverest grandchildren know nothing at all.

  Leslie : But you don't mean that he might prefer a bad woman to a...

  Lord Steele : Very often... and so do you.

  Leslie : Me?

  Lord Steele : Certainly! What made you play the woman with the past? Because you felt you could wear your imaginary adventures like an alluring costume, didn't you? Things in the past - they were a great success. The danger is that when the costume falls off, the young man may look at you and wonder whatever on earth he saw in such an innocent slip of a girl.

  Leslie : Grandad, what should I do? I love the brute so much.

• Leslie : Good morning, grandpa.

  Lord Steele : Is it? Where have you been?

  Leslie : Hasn't Jeffries told you?

  Jefferies : I most certainly did tell you. You know perfectly well there was a fog last night and Miss Leslie spent the night at the Royal Parks Hotel.

  Lord Steele : Her father and mother are in India, and I'm responsible for her.

  Jefferies : So am I.

  Lord Steele : You? I'm her grandfather.

  Jefferies : Seems I know her better.