Word: turnkey
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...supporting Faulknerian types who around on the front porch country store, self-styled cates with a Hemingway can be seen in person every the pages of Al Capp and Kelly. Some of the dialogue as though it was lifted from time vaudeville. For example Turk, (Angelo's sheriff) turnkey, drunk on election to do a little between themselves...
...About that speech," the turnkey said...
...nicker" (steal ?2,000,000) but unfortunately finds himself "in boob" (in jail). Fortunately, Jailbird Sellers inhabits a gilded cage that contains a radio, a wine cellar, a fully equipped kitchen, a cuckoo clock, an amiable tabby. Milk and papers are delivered every morning by the local tradesmen. The turnkey knocks timidly before entering and walks the cat upon request. Morning massage by a cellmate is followed by classes in basket weaving, fretwork and (when the warden looks the other way) safe blowing...
Under such conditions, Sellers decides, it should not be too difficult to lark out, pick up the packet, and nip back with a perfect alibi before the warden knows he is gone. But just before he can put his plan into effect, the friendly old turnkey is replaced by Sergeant Sidney ("Sour") Crout, who is notoriously "the most wickid screw what ever crep' down a prison corridor." Best scene occurs in a prison quarry, where an "accidental" blast blows Sergeant Crout to comical tatters and leaves him staring at the audience with an expression like...
Rohan was let off with what amounted to a reprimand for believing that the Queen would agree to a midnight rendezvous-the most believable part of the whole charade. Although the countess defended herself spiritedly, biting the turnkey, and seducing (in all probability) the governor of the Bastille, she was found guilty. Her punishment was to be stripped naked in public, beaten with rods, branded on both shoulders and then imprisoned for life. But probably with official connivance, the countess escaped from jail. She traveled to England (where her husband, with or without Rohan's knowledge, seemed to have...