A Very Dear Cat

更新：2023-11-22

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[00:01.46]Lesson 19
[00:03.37]A very dear cat
[00:12.09]Why was Rastus 'very dear' in more ways than one?
[00:19.44]Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat.
[00:28.77]Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years.
[00:38.26]Rastus leads an orderly life.
[00:41.37]He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock.
[00:47.84]One evening, however he failed to arrive.
[00:52.08]Mrs. Ramsay got very worried.
[00:55.10]She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.
[00:59.56]Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter.
[01:06.03]The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of ￡1,000.
[01:17.52]Mrs.Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door.
[01:25.04]At first, she decided to go to the police,
[01:28.55]but fearing that she would never see Rastus again -- the letter had made that quite clear -- she changed her mind.
[01:36.31]She withdrew ￡1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions.
[01:42.60]The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs.Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word.
[01:50.55]Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening.
[01:55.92]He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk.
[02:02.44]The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done.
[02:07.05]She explained that Rastus was very dear to her.
[02:10.76]Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!