The Divorce of Lady X (1938)

Merle Oberon: Leslie Steele

Photos 

Quotes 

• Leslie : You're much too nice to turn me out.

  Logan : Nice! My dear young lady, you don't know me. The trouble with me is that I'm weak. A charming young girl like you can put anything over on me in five minutes. But at least I know my weakness, so I force myself to be rude. Sometimes even brutal!

  [Leslie starts backing Logan into a corner] 

  Leslie : You do like talking about yourself, don't you?

  Logan : Why... yes... most men do. But at least they know the truth about themselves. Women don't. They only know the truth about each other.

• Logan : Because of my profession I happen to be able to know what lies behind those dear deceiving lips...

  Leslie : Oh - you're a dentist?

  Logan : No! I'm a barrister!

• Logan : That's just what I was thinking when you came busting in.

  Leslie : I didn't bust, I crept.

  Logan : Oh, may I ask when you propose to creep out again?

• Logan : Do you mind telling me this morning what your name is?

  Leslie : Leslie.

  Logan : What Leslie?

  Leslie : What do you mean, what Leslie? Leslie's my Christian name.

  Logan : Oh, I say... odd.

  Leslie : What's yours?

  Logan : ...Everard.

  [Pausing and mumbling quietly] 

  Leslie : What?

  Logan : Everard!

  Leslie : ...Incredible.

• Leslie : By the way, what is your last name?

  Logan : Logan.

  Leslie : Lo-gan.

  Logan : No, not Lo-gan. It's not Chinese. Logan!

• 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 : And what do you think he said about women?

  Lady Mere : Could have been anything.

  Leslie : He said we were merciless, stupid, brainless and hopeless.

  Lady Mere : You know, he's not very far wrong? Anything else?

  Leslie : Yes. He said we spend half our time wondering what part of our bodies to paint next.

  Lady Mere : Oh, well, now my dear, that is a lie.

  [as she's getting her toenails painted] 

• 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.

• Logan : What am I doing, standing here, kissing you...

  Leslie : And doing it very well, if I may say so.

  Logan : ...when your husband is in there, and his solicitor, and...

• Logan : I adore you. Do you love me?

  Leslie : I like you.

  Logan : Is that all?

  Leslie : I'm very fond of you.

  Logan : That's not enough.

  Leslie : I have interest in you.

  Logan : That's still not enough.

• Leslie : [At the fox hunt at Mere Hall]  Who's the man she's talking to?

  Lord Mere : By gad, it's that cad, Limmet.

  Leslie : Well, why a cad?

  Lord Mere : Awful fella. Shoots foxes all the time and rides over hounds half the winter.

  Leslie : And what does he do with his spare time?

  Lord Mere : Makes love to other fellow's wives. But if he thinks he's got a chance with Clare, he's barking up the wrong tree.

  [Switch to Lady Mere telling Limmet she'll meet him somewhere] 

• Leslie : He left no address?

  Slade : None!

  Leslie : Didn't he say when he was coming back?

  Slade : Yes... never!

  Leslie : Well, what about his work?

  Slade : Chuck it! And he had a case of a lifetime coming on next week.

  Leslie : What's that?

  Slade : The Strangeways divorce. Four correspondents.