[00:01.040]--- lesson 19 A very dear cat
[00:06.040]--- Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
[00:11.680]--- Why was Rastus 'very dear' in more ways than one?
[00:19.000]Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat.
[00:28.320]Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years.
[00:37.800]Rastus leads an orderly life.
[00:40.960]He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock.
[00:47.360]One evening, however, he failed to arrive.
[00:51.640]Mrs. Ramsay got very worried.
[00:54.680]She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.
[00:59.080]Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter.
[01:05.600]The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of $1,000.
[01:17.000]Mrs. Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door.
[01:24.560]At first, she decided to go to the police,
[01:28.160]but fearing that she would never see Rastus again -- the letter had made that quite clear -- she changed her mind.
[01:35.800]She withdrew $1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions.
[01:42.080]The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs. Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word.
[01:50.080]Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening.
[01:55.400]He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk.
[02:01.920]The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done.
[02:06.520]She explained that Rastus was very dear to her.
[02:10.240]Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!