I'm not very good at telling stories,' said Mr Cubitt. 'But first, I
want to explain something.
'I'm not rich, but I come from a very old and well-known
family. My family has lived at Ridling Thorpe Manor, in Norfolk,
for nearly five hundred years.
'Last year, while I was visiting London, I met an American
lady called Elsie Patrick. Elsie and I became friends and soon fell
in love. I didn't know anything about Elsie's family or her past life.
But I decided to ask her to marry me.
'The day before our wedding, Elsie spoke to me. "I've had some
very sad things happen to me in my past life, Hilton. I've done
nothing wrong, but I wish to forget my past. Please promise me you
will never ask me anything about it. If you are unable to make this