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+Project Gutenberg's The Silver Box (First Series Plays), by John Galsworthy
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Silver Box (First Series Plays)
+
+Author: John Galsworthy
+
+Release Date: September 26, 2004 [EBook #2906]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SILVER BOX (FIRST SERIES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+FIRST SERIES PLAYS
+
+By John Galsworthy
+
+
+
+THE SILVER BOX
+
+A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS
+
+
+
+PERSONS OF THE PLAY
+
+JOHN BARTHWICK, M.P., a wealthy Liberal
+MRS. BARTHWICK, his wife
+JACK BARTHWICK, their son
+ROPER, their solicitor
+MRS. JONES, their charwoman
+MARLOW, their manservant
+WHEELER, their maidservant
+JONES, the stranger within their gates
+MRS. SEDDON, a landlady
+SNOW, a detective
+A POLICE MAGISTRATE
+AN UNKNOWN LADY, from beyond
+TWO LITTLE GIRLS, homeless
+LIVENS, their father
+A RELIEVING OFFICER
+A MAGISTRATE'S CLERK
+AN USHER
+POLICEMEN, CLERKS, AND OTHERS
+
+
+TIME: The present. The action of the first two Acts takes place on
+Easter Tuesday; the action of the third on Easter Wednesday week.
+
+
+ACT I.
+     SCENE I. Rockingham Gate. John Barthwick's dining-room.
+     SCENE II. The same.
+     SCENE III. The same.
+
+ACT II.
+     SCENE I. The Jones's lodgings, Merthyr Street.
+     SCENE II. John Barthwick's dining-room.
+
+ACT III. A London police court.
+
+
+
+
+ACT I
+
+SCENE I
+
+     The  curtain rises on the BARTHWICK'S dining-room, large,
+     modern, and well furnished; the window curtains drawn.
+     Electric light is burning.  On the large round dining-table is
+     set out a tray with whisky, a syphon, and a silver
+     cigarette-box.  It is past midnight.
+
+     A fumbling is heard outside the door.  It is opened suddenly;
+     JACK BARTHWICK seems to fall into the room.  He stands holding
+     by the door knob, staring before him, with a beatific smile.
+     He is in evening dress and opera hat, and carries in his hand a
+     sky-blue velvet lady's reticule.  His boyish face is freshly
+     coloured and clean-shaven.  An overcoat is hanging on his arm.
+
+
+JACK.  Hello!  I've got home all ri----[Defiantly.]  Who says I
+sh'd never 've opened th' door without 'sistance.  [He staggers in,
+fumbling with the reticule. A lady's handkerchief and purse of
+crimson silk fall out.]  Serve her joll' well right--everything
+droppin' out.  Th' cat.  I 've scored her off--I 've got her bag.
+[He swings the reticule.]  Serves her joly' well right. [He takes a
+cigarette out of the silver box and puts it in his mouth.]  Never
+gave tha' fellow anything!  [He hunts through all his pockets and
+pulls a shilling out; it drops and rolls away.  He looks for it.]
+Beastly shilling!  [He looks again.]  Base ingratitude!  Absolutely
+nothing.  [He laughs.]  Mus' tell him I've got absolutely nothing.
+
+     [He lurches through the door and down a corridor, and presently
+     returns, followed by JONES, who is advanced in liquor.  JONES,
+     about thirty years of age, has hollow cheeks, black circles
+     round his eyes, and rusty clothes: He looks as though he might
+     be unemployed, and enters in a hang-dog manner.]
+
+JACK.  Sh!  sh!  sh!  Don't you make a noise, whatever you do.  Shu'
+the door, an' have a drink.  [Very solemnly.]  You helped me to open
+the door--I 've got nothin, for you.  This is my house.  My father's
+name's Barthwick; he's Member of Parliament--Liberal Member of
+Parliament: I've told you that before.  Have a drink!  [He pours out
+whisky and drinks it up.]  I'm not drunk [Subsiding on a sofa.]
+Tha's all right.  Wha's your name?  My name's Barthwick, so's my
+father's; I'm a Liberal too--wha're you?
+
+JONES.  [In a thick, sardonic voice.]  I'm a bloomin' Conservative.
+My name's Jones!  My wife works 'ere; she's the char; she works
+'ere.
+
+JACK.  Jones?  [He laughs.]  There's 'nother Jones at College with
+me.  I'm not a Socialist myself; I'm a Liberal--there's ve--lill
+difference, because of the principles of the Lib--Liberal Party.
+We're all equal before the law--tha's rot, tha's silly.  [Laughs.]
+Wha' was I about to say?  Give me some whisky.
+
+     [JONES gives him the whisky he desires, together with a squirt
+     of syphon.]
+
+Wha' I was goin' tell you was--I 've had a row with her.  [He waves
+the reticule.]  Have a drink, Jonessh 'd never have got in without
+you--tha 's why I 'm giving you a drink.  Don' care who knows I've
+scored her off.  Th' cat!  [He throws his feet up on the sofa.]
+Don' you make a noise, whatever you do.  You pour out a drink--you
+make yourself good long, long drink--you take cigarette--you take
+anything you like.  Sh'd never have got in without you.  [Closing
+his eyes.]  You're a Tory--you're a Tory Socialist.  I'm Liberal
+myself--have a drink--I 'm an excel'nt chap.
+
+     [His head drops back.  He, smiling, falls asleep, and JONES
+     stands looking at him; then, snatching up JACK's glass, he
+     drinks it off.  He picks the reticule from off JACK'S
+     shirt-front, holds it to the light, and smells at it.]
+
+JONES.  Been on the tiles and brought 'ome some of yer cat's fur.
+[He stuffs it into JACK's breast pocket.]
+
+JACK.  [Murmuring.]  I 've scored you off!  You cat!
+
+     [JONES looks around him furtively; he pours out whisky and
+     drinks it.  From the silver box he takes a cigarette, puffs at
+     it, and drinks more whisky.  There is no sobriety left in him.]
+
+JONES.  Fat lot o' things they've got 'ere!  [He sees the crimson
+purse lying on the floor.]  More cat's fur.  Puss, puss!  [He
+fingers it, drops it on the tray, and looks at JACK.]  Calf!  Fat
+calf!  [He sees his own presentment in a mirror.  Lifting his hands,
+with fingers spread, he stares at it; then looks again at JACK,
+clenching his fist as if to batter in his sleeping, smiling face.
+Suddenly he tilts the rest o f the whisky into the glass and drinks
+it.  With cunning glee he takes the silver box and purse and pockets
+them.]  I 'll score you off too, that 's wot I 'll do!
+
+     [He gives a little snarling laugh and lurches to the door.  His
+     shoulder rubs against the switch; the light goes out.  There is
+     a sound as of a closing outer door.]
+
+
+                         The curtain falls.
+
+
+
+
+The curtain rises again at once.
+
+SCENE II
+
+     In the BARTHWICK'S dining-room.  JACK is still asleep; the
+     morning light is coming through the curtains.  The time is
+     half-past eight.  WHEELER, brisk person enters with a dust-pan,
+     and MRS. JONES more slowly with a scuttle.
+
+WHEELER.  [Drawing the curtains.]  That precious husband of yours
+was round for you after you'd gone yesterday, Mrs. Jones.  Wanted
+your money for drink, I suppose.  He hangs about the corner here
+half the time.  I saw him outside the "Goat and Bells" when I went
+to the post last night.  If I were you I would n't live with him.  I
+would n't live with a man that raised his hand to me.  I wouldn't
+put up with it.  Why don't you take your children and leave him?  If
+you put up with 'im it'll only make him worse.  I never can see why,
+because a man's married you, he should knock you about.
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Slim, dark-eyed, and dark-haired; oval-faced, and with
+a smooth, soft, even voice; her manner patient, her way of talking
+quite impersonal; she wears a blue linen dress, and boots with
+holes.]  It was nearly two last night before he come home, and he
+wasn't himself.  He made me get up, and he knocked me about; he
+didn't seem to know what he was saying or doing.  Of course I would
+leave him, but I'm really afraid of what he'd do to me.  He 's such
+a violent man when he's not himself.
+
+WHEELER.  Why don't you get him locked up?  You'll never have any
+peace until you get him locked up.  If I were you I'd go to the
+police court tomorrow.  That's what I would do.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Of course I ought to go, because he does treat me so
+badly when he's not himself.  But you see, Bettina, he has a very
+hard time--he 's been out of work two months, and it preys upon his
+mind.  When he's in work he behaves himself much better.  It's when
+he's out of work that he's so violent.
+
+WHEELER.  Well, if you won't take any steps you 'll never get rid of
+him.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Of course it's very wearing to me; I don't get my sleep
+at nights.  And it 's not as if I were getting help from him,
+because I have to do for the children and all of us.  And he throws
+such dreadful things up at me, talks of my having men to follow me
+about.  Such a thing never happens; no man ever speaks to me.  And
+of course, it's just the other way.  It's what he does that's wrong
+and makes me so unhappy.  And then he 's always threatenin' to cut
+my throat if I leave him.  It's all the drink, and things preying on
+his mind; he 's not a bad man really.  Sometimes he'll speak quite
+kind to me, but I've stood so much from him, I don't feel it in me
+to speak kind back, but just keep myself to myself.  And he's all
+right with the children too, except when he's not himself.
+
+WHEELER.  You mean when he's drunk, the beauty.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes.  [Without change of voice]  There's the young
+gentleman asleep on the sofa.
+
+     [They both look silently at Jack.]
+
+MRS. JONES.  [At last, in her soft voice.]  He does n't look quite
+himself.
+
+WHEELER.  He's a young limb, that's what he is.  It 's my belief he
+was tipsy last night, like your husband.  It 's another kind of
+bein' out of work that sets him to drink.  I 'll go and tell Marlow.
+This is his job.
+
+     [She goes.]
+
+     [Mrs. Jones, upon her knees, begins a gentle sweeping.]
+
+JACK.  [Waking.]  Who's there?  What is it?
+
+MRS. JONES.  It's me, sir, Mrs. Jones.
+
+JACK.  [Sitting up and looking round.]  Where is it--what--what time
+is it?
+
+MRS. JONES.  It's getting on for nine o'clock, sir.
+
+JACK.  For nine!  Why--what!  [Rising, and loosening his tongue;
+putting hands to his head, and staring hard at Mrs. Jones.]  Look
+here, you, Mrs.----Mrs. Jones--don't you say you caught me asleep
+here.
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, sir, of course I won't sir.
+
+JACK.  It's quite an accident; I don't know how it happened.  I must
+have forgotten to go to bed.  It's a queer thing.  I 've got a most
+beastly headache.  Mind you don't say anything, Mrs. Jones.
+
+     [Goes out and passes MARLOW in the doorway.  MARLOW is young
+     and quiet; he is cleanshaven, and his hair is brushed high from
+     his forehead in a coxcomb.  Incidentally a butler, he is first
+     a man.  He looks at MRS. JONES, and smiles a private smile.]
+
+MARLOW.  Not the first time, and won't be the last.  Looked a bit
+dicky, eh, Mrs. Jones?
+
+MRS. JONES.  He did n't look quite himself.  Of course I did n't
+take notice.
+
+MARLOW.  You're used to them.  How's your old man?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Softly as throughout.]  Well, he was very bad last
+night; he did n't seem to know what he was about.  He was very late,
+and he was most abusive.  But now, of course, he's asleep.
+
+MARLOW.  That's his way of finding a job, eh?
+
+MRS. JONES.  As a rule, Mr. Marlow, he goes out early every morning
+looking for work, and sometimes he comes in fit to drop--and of
+course I can't say he does n't try to get it, because he does.
+Trade's very bad.  [She stands quite still, her fan and brush before
+her, at the beginning and the end of long vistas of experience,
+traversing them with her impersonal eye.]  But he's not a good
+husband to me--last night he hit me, and he was so dreadfully
+abusive.
+
+MARLOW.  Bank 'oliday, eh!  He 's too fond of the "Goat and Bells,"
+that's what's the matter with him.  I see him at the corner late
+every night.  He hangs about.
+
+MRS. JONES.  He gets to feeling very low walking about all day after
+work, and being refused so often, and then when he gets a drop in
+him it goes to his head.  But he shouldn't treat his wife as he
+treats me.  Sometimes I 've had to go and walk about at night, when
+he wouldn't let me stay in the room; but he's sorry for it
+afterwards.  And he hangs about after me, he waits for me in the
+street; and I don't think he ought to, because I 've always been a
+good wife to him.  And I tell him Mrs. Barthwick wouldn't like him
+coming about the place.  But that only makes him angry, and he says
+dreadful things about the gentry.  Of course it was through me that
+he first lost his place, through his not treating me right; and
+that's made him bitter against the gentry.  He had a very good place
+as groom in the country; but it made such a stir, because of course
+he did n't treat me right.
+
+MARLOW.  Got the sack?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes; his employer said he couldn't keep him, because
+there was a great deal of talk; and he said it was such a bad
+example.  But it's very important for me to keep my work here; I
+have the three children, and I don't want him to come about after me
+in the streets, and make a disturbance as he sometimes does.
+
+MARLOW.  [Holding up the empty decanter.]  Not a drain!  Next time
+he hits you get a witness and go down to the court----
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, I think I 've made up my mind.  I think I ought
+to.
+
+MARLOW.  That's right.  Where's the ciga----?
+
+     [He searches for the silver box; he looks at MRS. JONES, who is
+     sweeping on her hands and knees; he checks himself and stands
+     reflecting.  From the tray he picks two half-smoked cigarettes,
+     and reads the name on them.]
+
+Nestor--where the deuce----?
+
+     [With a meditative air he looks again at MRS. JONES, and,
+     taking up JACK'S overcoat, he searches in the pockets.
+     WHEELER, with a tray of breakfast things, comes in.]
+
+MARLOW.  [Aside to WHEELER.]  Have you seen the cigarette-box?
+
+WHEELER.  No.
+
+MARLOW.  Well, it's gone.  I put it on the tray last night.  And
+he's been smoking.  [Showing her the ends of cigarettes.]  It's not
+in these pockets.  He can't have taken it upstairs this morning!
+Have a good look in his room when he comes down.  Who's been in
+here?
+
+WHEELER.  Only me and Mrs. Jones.
+
+MRS. JONES.  I 've finished here; shall I do the drawing-room now?
+
+WHEELER.  [Looking at her doubtfully.]  Have you seen----Better do
+the boudwower first.
+
+     [MRS. JONES goes out with pan and brush.  MARLOW and WHEELER
+     look each other in the face.]
+
+MARLOW.  It'll turn up.
+
+WHEELER.  [Hesitating.]  You don't think she----
+[Nodding at the door.]
+
+MARLOW.  [Stoutly.]  I don't----I never believes anything of
+anybody.
+
+WHEELER.  But the master'll have to be told.
+
+MARLOW.  You wait a bit, and see if it don't turn up.  Suspicion's
+no business of ours.  I set my mind against it.
+
+
+                    The curtain falls.
+
+
+
+
+               The curtain rises again at once.
+
+
+
+SCENE III
+
+     BARTHWICK and MRS. BARTHWICK are seated at the breakfast table.
+     He is a man between fifty and sixty; quietly important, with a
+     bald forehead, and pince-nez, and the "Times" in his hand.  She
+     is a lady of nearly fifty, well dressed, with greyish hair,
+     good features, and a decided manner.  They face each other.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [From behind his paper.]  The Labour man has got in at
+the by-election for Barnside, my dear.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Another Labour?  I can't think what on earth the
+country is about.
+
+BARTHWICK.  I predicted it.  It's not a matter of vast importance.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Not?  How can you take it so calmly, John?  To me
+it's simply outrageous.  And there you sit, you Liberals, and
+pretend to encourage these people!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Frowning.]  The representation of all parties is
+necessary for any proper reform, for any proper social policy.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I've no patience with your talk of reform--all that
+nonsense about social policy.  We know perfectly well what it is
+they want; they want things for themselves.  Those Socialists and
+Labour men are an absolutely selfish set of people.  They have no
+sense of patriotism, like the upper classes; they simply want what
+we've got.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Want what we've got!  [He stares into space.]  My dear,
+what are you talking about?  [With a contortion.]  I 'm no alarmist.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Cream?  Quite uneducated men!  Wait until they
+begin to tax our investments.  I 'm convinced that when they once
+get a chance they will tax everything--they 've no feeling for the
+country.  You Liberals and Conservatives, you 're all alike; you
+don't see an inch before your noses.  You've no imagination, not a
+scrap of imagination between you.  You ought to join hands and nip
+it in the bud.
+
+BARTHWICK.  You 're talking nonsense!  How is it possible for
+Liberals and Conservatives to join hands, as you call it?  That
+shows how absurd it is for women----Why, the very essence of a
+Liberal is to trust in the people!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Now, John, eat your breakfast.  As if there were
+any real difference between you and the Conservatives.  All the
+upper classes have the same interests to protect, and the same
+principles.  [Calmly.]  Oh!  you're sitting upon a volcano, John.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I read a letter in the paper yesterday.  I forget
+the man's name, but it made the whole thing perfectly clear.  You
+don't look things in the face.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Indeed!  [Heavily.]  I am a Liberal!  Drop the subject,
+please!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Toast?  I quite agree with what this man says:
+Education is simply ruining the lower classes.  It unsettles them,
+and that's the worst thing for us all.  I see an enormous difference
+in the manner of servants.
+
+BARTHWICK, [With suspicious emphasis.]  I welcome any change that
+will lead to something better.  [He opens a letter.]  H'm!  This is
+that affair of Master Jack's again.  "High Street, Oxford.  Sir, We
+have received Mr. John Barthwick, Senior's, draft for forty pounds!"
+Oh! the letter's to him!  "We now enclose the cheque you cashed with
+us, which, as we stated in our previous letter, was not met on
+presentation at your bank.  We are, Sir, yours obediently, Moss and
+Sons, Tailors."  H 'm!  [Staring at the cheque.]  A pretty business
+altogether!  The boy might have been prosecuted.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Come, John, you know Jack did n't mean anything; he
+only thought he was overdrawing.  I still think his bank ought to
+have cashed that cheque.  They must know your position.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Replacing in the envelope the letter and the cheque.]
+Much good that would have done him in a court of law.
+
+     [He stops as JACK comes in, fastening his waistcoat and
+     staunching a razor cut upon his chin.]
+
+JACK.  [Sitting down between them, and speaking with an artificial
+joviality.]  Sorry I 'm late.  [He looks lugubriously at the
+dishes.]  Tea, please, mother.  Any letters for me?  [BARTHWICK
+hands the letter to him.]  But look here, I say, this has been
+opened!  I do wish you would n't----
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Touching the envelope.]  I suppose I 'm entitled to
+this name.
+
+JACK.  [Sulkily.]  Well, I can't help having your name, father!  [He
+reads the letter, and mutters.]  Brutes!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Eyeing him.]  You don't deserve to be so well out of
+that.
+
+JACK.  Haven't you ragged me enough, dad?
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Yes, John, let Jack have his breakfast.
+
+BARTHWICK.  If you hadn't had me to come to, where would you have
+been?  It's the merest accident--suppose you had been the son of a
+poor man or a clerk.  Obtaining money with a cheque you knew your
+bank could not meet.  It might have ruined you for life.  I can't
+see what's to become of you if these are your principles.  I never
+did anything of the sort myself.
+
+JACK.  I expect you always had lots of money.  If you've got plenty
+of money, of course----
+
+BARTHWICK.  On the contrary, I had not your advantages.  My father
+kept me very short of money.
+
+JACK.  How much had you, dad?
+
+BARTHWICK.  It's not material.  The question is, do you feel the
+gravity of what you did?
+
+JACK.  I don't know about the gravity.  Of course, I 'm very sorry
+if you think it was wrong.  Have n't I said so!  I should never have
+done it at all if I had n't been so jolly hard up.
+
+BARTHWICK.  How much of that forty pounds have you got left, Jack?
+
+JACK.  [Hesitating.]  I don't know--not much.
+
+BARTHWICK.  How much?
+
+JACK.  [Desperately.]  I have n't got any.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What?
+
+JACK.  I know I 've got the most beastly headache.
+
+     [He leans his head on his hand.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Headache?  My dear boy!  Can't you eat any
+breakfast?
+
+JACK.  [Drawing in his breath.]  Too jolly bad!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I'm so sorry.  Come with me; dear; I'll give you
+something that will take it away at once.
+
+     [They leave the room; and BARTHWICK, tearing up the letter,
+     goes to the fireplace and puts the pieces in the fire.  While
+     he is doing this MARLOW comes in, and looking round him, is
+     about quietly to withdraw.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  What's that?  What d 'you want?
+
+MARLOW.  I was looking for Mr. John, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What d' you want Mr. John for?
+
+MARLOW.  [With hesitation.]  I thought I should find him here, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Suspiciously.]  Yes, but what do you want him for?
+
+MARLOW.  [Offhandedly.]  There's a lady called--asked to speak to
+him for a minute, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  A lady, at this time in the morning.  What sort of a
+lady?
+
+MARLOW.  [Without expression in his voice.]  I can't tell, sir; no
+particular sort.  She might be after charity.  She might be a Sister
+of Mercy, I should think, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Is she dressed like one?
+
+MARLOW.  No, sir, she's in plain clothes, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Did n't she say what she wanted?
+
+MARLOW.  No sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Where did you leave her?
+
+MARLOW.  In the hall, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  In the hall?  How do you know she's not a thief--not got
+designs on the house?
+
+MARLOW.  No, sir, I don't fancy so, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Well, show her in here; I'll see her myself.
+
+     [MARLOW goes out with a private gesture of dismay.  He soon
+     returns, ushering in a young pale lady with dark eyes and
+     pretty figure, in a modish, black, but rather shabby dress, a
+     black and white trimmed hat with a bunch of Parma violets
+     wrongly placed, and fuzzy-spotted veil.  At the Sight of MR.
+     BARTHWICK she exhibits every sign of nervousness.  MARLOW goes
+     out.]
+
+UNKNOWN LADY.  Oh!  but--I beg pardon there's some mistake--I [She
+turns to fly.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  Whom did you want to see, madam?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Stopping and looking back.]  It was Mr. John Barthwick I
+wanted to see.
+
+BARTHWICK.  I am John Barthwick, madam.  What can I have the
+pleasure of doing for you?
+
+UNKNOWN.  Oh!  I--I don't [She drops her eyes.  BARTHWICK
+scrutinises her, and purses his lips.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  It was my son, perhaps, you wished to see?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Quickly.]  Yes, of course, it's your son.
+
+BARTHWICK.  May I ask whom I have the pleasure of speaking to?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Appeal and hardiness upon her face.]  My name is----oh!
+it does n't matter--I don't want to make any fuss.  I just want to
+see your son for a minute.  [Boldly.]  In fact, I must see him.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Controlling his uneasiness.]  My son is not very well.
+If necessary, no doubt I could attend to the matter; be so kind as
+to let me know----
+
+UNKNOWN.  Oh! but I must see him--I 've come on purpose--[She bursts
+out nervously.]  I don't want to make any fuss, but the fact is,
+last--last night your son took away--he took away my [She stops.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Severely.]  Yes, madam, what?
+
+UNKNOWN.  He took away my--my reticule.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Your reti----?
+
+UNKNOWN.  I don't care about the reticule; it's not that I want--I
+'m sure I don't want to make any fuss--[her face is quivering]--but
+--but--all my money was in it!
+
+BARTHWICK.  In what--in what?
+
+UNKNOWN.  In my purse, in the reticule.  It was a crimson silk
+purse.  Really, I wouldn't have come--I don't want to make any fuss.
+But I must get my money back--mustn't I?
+
+BARTHWICK.  Do you tell me that my son----?
+
+UNKNOWN.  Oh! well, you see, he was n't quite I mean he was
+
+     [She smiles mesmerically.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  I beg your pardon.
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Stamping her foot.]  Oh!  don't you see--tipsy!  We had a
+quarrel.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Scandalised.]  How?  Where?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Defiantly.]  At my place.  We'd had supper at the----and
+your son----
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Pressing the bell.]  May I ask how you knew this house?
+Did he give you his name and address?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Glancing sidelong.]  I got it out of his overcoat.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Sardonically.]  Oh!  you got it out of his overcoat.
+And may I ask if my son will know you by daylight?
+
+UNKNOWN.  Know me?  I should jolly--I mean, of course he will!
+     [MARLOW comes in.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  Ask Mr. John to come down.
+
+     [MARLOW goes out, and BARTHWICK walks uneasily about.]
+
+And how long have you enjoyed his acquaintanceship?
+
+UNKNOWN.  Only since--only since Good Friday.
+
+BARTHWICK.  I am at a loss--I repeat I am at a----
+
+     [He glances at this unknown lady, who stands with eyes cast
+     down, twisting her hands And suddenly Jack appears.  He stops
+     on seeing who is here, and the unknown lady hysterically
+     giggles.  There is a silence.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Portentously.]  This young--er--lady says that last
+night--I think you said last night madam--you took away----
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Impulsively.]  My reticule, and all my money was in a
+crimson silk purse.
+
+JACK.  Reticule.  [Looking round for any chance to get away.]  I
+don't know anything about it.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Sharply.]  Come, do you deny seeing this young lady
+last night?
+
+JACK.  Deny?  No, of course.  [Whispering.]  Why did you give me
+away like this?  What on earth did you come here for?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Tearfully.]  I'm sure I didn't want to--it's not likely,
+is it?  You snatched it out of my hand--you know you did--and the
+purse had all my money in it.  I did n't follow you last night
+because I did n't want to make a fuss and it was so late, and you
+were so----
+
+BARTHWICK.  Come, sir, don't turn your back on me--explain!
+
+JACK.  [Desperately.]  I don't remember anything about it.  [In a
+low voice to his friend.]  Why on earth could n't you have written?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Sullenly.]  I want it now; I must have, it--I 've got to
+pay my rent to-day. [She looks at BARTHWICK.]  They're only too glad
+to jump on people who are not--not well off.
+
+JACK.  I don't remember anything about it, really.  I don't remember
+anything about last night at all.  [He puts his hand up to his
+head.]  It's all--cloudy, and I 've got such a beastly headache.
+
+UNKNOWN.  But you took it; you know you did.  You said you'd score
+me off.
+
+JACK.  Well, then, it must be here.  I remember now--I remember
+something.  Why did I take the beastly thing?
+
+BARTHWICK.  Yes, why did you take the beastly----[He turns abruptly
+to the window.]
+
+UNKNOWN.  [With her mesmeric smile.]  You were n't quite were you?
+
+JACK.  [Smiling pallidly.]  I'm awfully sorry.  If there's anything
+I can do----
+
+BARTHWICK.  Do?  You can restore this property, I suppose.
+
+JACK.  I'll go and have a look, but I really don't think I 've got
+it.
+
+     [He goes out hurriedly.  And BARTHWICK, placing a chair,
+     motions to the visitor to sit; then, with pursed lips, he
+     stands and eyes her fixedly.  She sits, and steals a look at
+     him; then turns away, and, drawing up her veil, stealthily
+     wipes her eyes.  And Jack comes back.]
+
+JACK.  [Ruefully holding out the empty reticule.]  Is that the
+thing?  I 've looked all over--I can't find the purse anywhere.  Are
+you sure it was there?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Tearfully.]  Sure?  Of course I'm sure.  A crimson silk
+purse.  It was all the money I had.
+
+JACK.  I really am awfully sorry--my head's so jolly bad.  I 've
+asked the butler, but he has n't seen it.
+
+UNKNOWN.  I must have my money----
+
+JACK.  Oh!  Of course--that'll be all right; I'll see that that's
+all right.  How much?
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Sullenly.]  Seven pounds-twelve--it's all I 've got in
+the world.
+
+JACK.  That'll be all right; I'll--send you a cheque.
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Eagerly.]  No; now, please.  Give me what was in my
+purse; I've got to pay my rent this morning.  They won't' give me
+another day; I'm a fortnight behind already.
+
+JACK.  [Blankly.]  I'm awfully sorry; I really have n't a penny in
+my pocket.
+
+     [He glances stealthily at BARTHWICK.]
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Excitedly.]  Come I say you must--it's my money, and you
+took it.  I 'm not going away without it.  They 'll turn me out of
+my place.
+
+JACK.  [Clasping his head.]  But I can't give you what I have n't
+got.  Don't I tell you I have n't a beastly cent.
+
+UNKNOWN.  [Tearing at her handkerchief.]  Oh!  do give it me!  [She
+puts her hands together in appeal; then, with sudden fierceness.]
+If you don't I'll summons you.  It's stealing, that's what it is!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Uneasily.]  One moment, please.  As a matter of---er
+--principle, I shall settle this claim.  [He produces money.]  Here is
+eight pounds; the extra will cover the value of the purse and your
+cab fares.  I need make no comment--no thanks are necessary.
+
+     [Touching the bell, he holds the door ajar in silence.  The
+     unknown lady stores the money in her reticule, she looks from
+     JACK to BARTHWICK, and her face is quivering faintly with a
+     smile.  She hides it with her hand, and steals away.  Behind
+     her BARTHWICK shuts the door.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [With solemnity.]  H'm!  This is nice thing to happen!
+
+JACK.  [Impersonally.]  What awful luck!
+
+BARTHWICK.  So this is the way that forty pounds has gone!  One
+thing after another!  Once more I should like to know where you 'd
+have been if it had n't been for me!  You don't seem to have any
+principles.  You--you're one of those who are a nuisance to society;
+you--you're dangerous!  What your mother would say I don't know.
+Your conduct, as far as I can see, is absolutely unjustifiable.
+It's--it's criminal.  Why, a poor man who behaved as you've done
+--d' you think he'd have any mercy shown him?  What you want is a good
+lesson.  You and your sort are--[he speaks with feeling]--a nuisance
+to the community.  Don't ask me to help you next time.  You're not
+fit to be helped.
+
+JACK.  [Turning upon his sire, with unexpected fierceness.]  All
+right, I won't then, and see how you like it.  You would n't have
+helped me this time, I know, if you had n't been scared the thing
+would get into the papers.  Where are the cigarettes?
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Regarding him uneasily.]  Well I 'll say no more about
+it.  [He rings the bell.]  I 'll pass it over for this once, but----
+[MARLOW Comes in.]  You can clear away.
+
+     [He hides his face behind the "Times."]
+
+JACK.  [Brightening.]  I say, Marlow, where are the cigarettes?
+
+MARLOW.  I put the box out with the whisky last night, sir, but this
+morning I can't find it anywhere.
+
+JACK.  Did you look in my room?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, sir; I've looked all over the house.  I found two
+Nestor ends in the tray this morning, so you must have been smokin'
+last night, sir.  [Hesitating.]  I 'm really afraid some one's
+purloined the box.
+
+JACK.  [Uneasily.]  Stolen it!
+
+BARTHWICK.  What's that?  The cigarette-box!  Is anything else
+missing?
+
+MARLOW.  No, sir; I 've been through the plate.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Was the house all right this morning?  None of the
+windows open?
+
+MARLOW.  No, sir.  [Quietly to JACK.]  You left your latch-key in
+the door last night, sir.
+
+     [He hands it back, unseen by BARTHWICK]
+
+JACK.  Tst!
+
+BARTHWICK.  Who's been in the room this morning?
+
+MARLOW.  Me and Wheeler, and Mrs. Jones is all, sir, as far as I
+know.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Have you asked Mrs. Barthwick?
+
+[To JACK.]  Go and ask your mother if she's had it; ask her to look
+and see if she's missed anything else.
+
+     [JACK goes upon this mission.]
+
+Nothing is more disquieting than losing things like this.
+
+MARLOW.  No, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Have you any suspicions?
+
+MARLOW, No, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  This Mrs. Jones--how long has she been working here?
+
+MARLOW.  Only this last month, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What sort of person?
+
+MARLOW.  I don't know much about her, sir; seems a very quiet,
+respectable woman.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Who did the room this morning?
+
+MARLOW.  Wheeler and Mrs. Jones, Sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [With his forefinger upraised.]  Now, was this Mrs.
+Jones in the room alone at any time?
+
+MARLOW.  [Expressionless.]  Yes, Sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  How do you know that?
+
+MARLOW.  [Reluctantly.]  I found her here, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  And has Wheeler been in the room alone?
+
+MARLOW.  No, sir, she's not, sir.  I should say, sir, that Mrs.
+Jones seems a very honest----
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Holding up his hand.]  I want to know this:  Has this
+Mrs. Jones been here the whole morning?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, sir--no, sir--she stepped over to the greengrocer's
+for cook.
+
+BARTHWICK.  H'm!  Is she in the house now?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Very good.  I shall make a point of clearing this up.
+On principle I shall make a point of fixing the responsibility; it
+goes to the foundations of security.  In all your interests----
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What sort of circumstances is this Mrs. Jones in?  Is
+her husband in work?
+
+MARLOW.  I believe not, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Very well.  Say nothing about it to any one.  Tell
+Wheeler not to speak of it, and ask Mrs. Jones to step up here.
+
+MARLOW.  Very good, sir.
+
+     [MARLOW goes out, his face concerned; and BARTHWICK stays, his
+     face judicial and a little pleased, as befits a man conducting
+     an inquiry.  MRS. BARTHWICK and hey son come in.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  Well, my dear, you've not seen it, I suppose?
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  No.  But what an extraordinary thing, John!
+Marlow, of course, is out of the question.  I 'm certain none of the
+maids as for cook!
+
+BARTHWICK.  Oh, cook!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Of course!  It's perfectly detestable to me to
+suspect anybody.
+
+BARTHWICK.  It is not a question of one's feelings.  It's a question
+of justice.  On principle----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I should n't be a bit surprised if the charwoman
+knew something about it.  It was Laura who recommended her.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Judicially.]  I am going to have Mrs. Jones up.  Leave
+it to me; and--er--remember that nobody is guilty until they're
+proved so.  I shall be careful.  I have no intention of frightening
+her; I shall give her every chance.  I hear she's in poor
+circumstances.  If we are not able to do much for them we are bound
+to have the greatest sympathy with the poor.  [MRS. JONES comes in.]
+[Pleasantly.]  Oh!  good morning, Mrs. Jones.
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Soft, and even, unemphatic.]  Good morning, sir!  Good
+morning, ma'am!
+
+BARTHWICK.  About your husband--he's not in work, I hear?
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, sir; of course he's not in work just now.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Then I suppose he's earning nothing.
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, sir, he's not earning anything just now, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  And how many children have you?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Three children; but of course they don't eat very much
+sir.  [A little silence.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  And how old is the eldest?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Nine years old, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Do they go to school?
+
+MRS. JONES, Yes, sir, they all three go to school every day.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Severely.]  And what about their food when you're out
+at work?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Well, Sir, I have to give them their dinner to take
+with them.  Of course I 'm not always able to give them anything;
+sometimes I have to send them without; but my husband is very good
+about the children when he's in work.  But when he's not in work of
+course he's a very difficult man.
+
+BARTHWICK.  He drinks, I suppose?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, Sir.  Of course I can't say he does n't drink,
+because he does.
+
+BARTHWICK.  And I suppose he takes all your money?
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, sir, he's very good about my money, except when
+he's not himself, and then, of course, he treats me very badly.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Now what is he--your husband?
+
+MRS. JONES.  By profession, sir, of course he's a groom.
+
+BARTHWICK.  A groom!  How came he to lose his place?
+
+MRS. JONES.  He lost his place a long time ago, sir, and he's never
+had a very long job since; and now, of course, the motor-cars are
+against him.
+
+BARTHWICK.  When were you married to him, Mrs. Jones?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Eight years ago, sir that was in----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Sharply.]  Eight?  You said the eldest child was
+nine.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, ma'am; of course that was why he lost his place.
+He did n't treat me rightly, and of course his employer said he
+couldn't keep him because of the example.
+
+BARTHWICK.  You mean he--ahem----
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, sir; and of course after he lost his place he
+married me.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  You actually mean to say you--you were----
+
+BARTHWICK.  My dear----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Indignantly.] How disgraceful!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Hurriedly.]  And where are you living now, Mrs. Jones?
+
+MRS. JONES.  We've not got a home, sir.  Of course we've been
+obliged to put away most of our things.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Put your things away!  You mean to--to--er--to pawn
+them?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, sir, to put them away.  We're living in Merthyr
+Street--that is close by here, sir--at No. 34.  We just have the one
+room.
+
+BARTHWICK.  And what do you pay a week?
+
+MRS. JONES.  We pay six shillings a week, sir, for a furnished room.
+
+BARTHWICK.  And I suppose you're behind in the rent?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, sir, we're a little behind in the rent.
+
+BARTHWICK.  But you're in good work, aren't you?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Well, Sir, I have a day in Stamford Place Thursdays.
+And Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays I come here.  But to-day, of
+course, is a half-day, because of yesterday's Bank Holiday.
+
+BARTHWICK.  I see; four days a week, and you get half a crown a day,
+is that it?
+
+MRS.  JONES.  Yes, sir, and my dinner; but sometimes it's only half
+a day, and that's eighteen pence.
+
+BARTHWICK.  And when your husband earns anything he spends it in
+drink, I suppose?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Sometimes he does, sir, and sometimes he gives it to me
+for the children.  Of course he would work if he could get it, sir,
+but it seems there are a great many people out of work.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Ah!  Yes.  We--er--won't go into that.
+[Sympathetically.]  And how about your work here?  Do you find it
+hard?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Oh!  no, sir, not very hard, sir; except of course,
+when I don't get my sleep at night.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Ah!  And you help do all the rooms?  And sometimes, I
+suppose, you go out for cook?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, Sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  And you 've been out this morning?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, sir, of course I had to go to the greengrocer's.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Exactly.  So your husband earns nothing?  And he's a bad
+character.
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, Sir, I don't say that, sir.  I think there's a
+great deal of good in him; though he does treat me very bad
+sometimes.  And of course I don't like to leave him, but I think I
+ought to, because really I hardly know how to stay with him.  He
+often raises his hand to me.  Not long ago he gave me a blow here
+[touches her breast]  and I can feel it now.  So I think I ought to
+leave him, don't you, sir?
+
+BARTHWICK.  Ah! I can't help you there.  It's a very serious thing
+to leave your husband.  Very serious thing.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, sir, of course I 'm afraid of what he might do to
+me if I were to leave him; he can be so very violent.
+
+BARTHWICK.  H'm!  Well, that I can't pretend to say anything about.
+It's the bad principle I'm speaking of----
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, Sir; I know nobody can help me.  I know I must
+decide for myself, and of course I know that he has a very hard
+life.  And he's fond of the children, and its very hard for him to
+see them going without food.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Hastily.]  Well--er--thank you, I just wanted to hear
+about you.  I don't think I need detain you any longer, Mrs. Jones.
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, sir, thank you, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Good morning, then.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Good morning, sir; good morning, ma'am.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Exchanging glances with his wife.]  By the way, Mrs.
+Jones--I think it is only fair to tell you, a silver cigarette-box
+--er--is missing.
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Looking from one face to the other.] I am very sorry,
+sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Yes; you have not seen it, I suppose?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Realising that suspicion is upon her; with an uneasy
+movement.]  Where was it, sir; if you please, sir?
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Evasively.]  Where did Marlow say?  Er--in this room,
+yes, in this room.
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, Sir, I have n't seen it--of course if I 'd seen it
+I should have noticed it.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Giving hey a rapid glance.]  You--you are sure of that?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Impassively.]  Yes, Sir.  [With a slow nodding of her
+head.]  I have not seen it, and of course I don't know where it is.
+
+     [She turns and goes quietly out.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  H'm!
+
+     [The three BARTHWICKS avoid each other's glances.]
+
+
+                         The curtain falls.
+
+
+
+
+ACT II
+
+SCENE I
+
+     The JONES's lodgings, Merthyr Street, at half-past two o'clock.
+
+     The bare room, with tattered oilcloth and damp, distempered
+     walls, has an air of tidy wretchedness.  On the bed lies JONES,
+     half-dressed; his coat is thrown across his feet, and muddy
+     boots are lying on the floor close by.  He is asleep.  The door
+     is opened and MRS. JONES comes in, dressed in a pinched black
+     jacket and old black sailor hat; she carries a parcel wrapped
+     up in the "Times."  She puts her parcel down, unwraps an apron,
+     half a loaf, two onions, three potatoes, and a tiny piece of
+     bacon.  Taking a teapot from the cupboard, she rinses it,
+     shakes into it some powdered tea out of a screw of paper, puts
+     it on the hearth, and sitting in a wooden chair quietly begins
+     to cry.
+
+JONES.  [Stirring and yawning.]  That you?  What's the time?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Drying her eyes, and in her usual voice.]  Half-past
+two.
+
+JONES.  What you back so soon for?
+
+MRS. JONES.  I only had the half day to-day, Jem.
+
+JONES.  [On his back, and in a drowsy voice.]  Got anything for
+dinner?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Mrs. BARTHWICK's cook gave me a little bit of bacon.
+I'm going to make a stew.  [She prepares for cooking.]  There's
+fourteen shillings owing for rent, James, and of course I 've only
+got two and fourpence.  They'll be coming for it to-day.
+
+JONES.  [Turning towards her on his elbow.]  Let 'em come and find
+my surprise packet.  I've had enough o' this tryin' for work.  Why
+should I go round and round after a job like a bloomin' squirrel in
+a cage.  "Give us a job, sir"--"Take a man on"--"Got a wife and
+three children."  Sick of it I am! I 'd sooner lie here and rot.
+"Jones, you come and join the demonstration; come and 'old a flag,
+and listen to the ruddy orators, and go 'ome as empty as you came."
+There's some that seems to like that--the sheep!  When I go seekin'
+for a job now, and see the brutes lookin' me up an' down, it's like
+a thousand serpents in me.  I 'm not arskin' for any treat.  A man
+wants to sweat hisself silly and not allowed that's a rum start,
+ain't it?  A man wants to sweat his soul out to keep the breath in
+him and ain't allowed--that's justice that's freedom and all the
+rest of it!  [He turns his face towards the wall.]  You're so milky
+mild; you don't know what goes on inside o' me.  I'm done with the
+silly game.  If they want me, let 'em come for me!
+
+     [MRS. JONES stops cooking and stands unmoving at the table.]
+
+I've tried and done with it, I tell you.  I've never been afraid of
+what 's before me.  You mark my words--if you think they've broke my
+spirit, you're mistook.  I 'll lie and rot sooner than arsk 'em
+again.  What makes you stand like that--you long-sufferin',
+Gawd-forsaken image--that's why I can't keep my hands off you.  So
+now you know.  Work!  You can work, but you have n't the spirit of a
+louse!
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Quietly.]  You talk more wild sometimes when you're
+yourself, James, than when you 're not.  If you don't get work, how
+are we to go on?  They won't let us stay here; they're looking to
+their money to-day, I know.
+
+JONES.  I see this BARTHWICK o' yours every day goin' down to
+Pawlyment snug and comfortable to talk his silly soul out; an' I see
+that young calf, his son, swellin' it about, and goin' on the
+razzle-dazzle.  Wot 'ave they done that makes 'em any better than
+wot I am?  They never did a day's work in their lives.  I see 'em
+day after day.
+
+MRS. JONES.  And I wish you wouldn't come after me like that, and
+hang about the house.  You don't seem able to keep away at all, and
+whatever you do it for I can't think, because of course they notice
+it.
+
+JONES.  I suppose I may go where I like.  Where may I go?  The other
+day I went to a place in the Edgware Road.  "Gov'nor," I says to the
+boss, "take me on," I says.  "I 'aven't done a stroke o' work not
+these two months; it takes the heart out of a man," I says; "I 'm
+one to work; I 'm not afraid of anything you can give me!"  "My good
+man," 'e says, "I 've had thirty of you here this morning.  I took
+the first two," he says, "and that's all I want."  "Thank you, then
+rot the world!" I says.  "Blasphemin'," he says, "is not the way to
+get a job.  Out you go, my lad!"  [He laughs sardonically.]  Don't
+you raise your voice because you're starvin'; don't yer even think
+of it; take it lyin' down!  Take it like a sensible man, carn't you?
+And a little way down the street a lady says to me: [Pinching his
+voice]  "D' you want to earn a few pence, my man?" and gives me her
+dog to 'old outside a shop-fat as a butler 'e was--tons o' meat had
+gone to the makin' of him.  It did 'er good, it did, made 'er feel
+'erself that charitable, but I see 'er lookin' at the copper
+standin' alongside o' me, for fear I should make off with 'er
+bloomin' fat dog.  [He sits on the edge of the bed and puts a boot
+on.  Then looking up.]  What's in that head o' yours?  [Almost
+pathetically.]  Carn't you speak for once?
+
+     [There is a knock, and MRS. SEDDON, the landlady, appears, an
+     anxious, harassed, shabby woman in working clothes.]
+
+MRS. SEDDON.  I thought I 'eard you come in, Mrs. Jones.  I 've
+spoke to my 'usband, but he says he really can't afford to wait
+another day.
+
+JONES.  [With scowling jocularity.]  Never you mind what your
+'usband says, you go your own way like a proper independent woman.
+Here, jenny, chuck her that.
+
+     [Producing a sovereign from his trousers pocket, he throws it
+     to his wife, who catches it in her apron with a gasp.  JONES
+     resumes the lacing of his boots.]
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Rubbing the sovereign stealthily.]  I'm very sorry
+we're so late with it, and of course it's fourteen shillings, so if
+you've got six that will be right.
+
+     [MRS. SEDDON takes the sovereign and fumbles for the change.]
+
+JONES.  [With his eyes fixed on his boots.]  Bit of a surprise for
+yer, ain't it?
+
+MRS. SEDDON.  Thank you, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged.  [She
+does indeed appear surprised.]  I 'll bring you the change.
+
+JONES.  [Mockingly.]  Don't mention it.
+
+MRS. SEDDON.  Thank you, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged.  [She
+slides away.]
+
+     [MRS. JONES gazes at JONES who is still lacing up his boots.]
+
+JONES.  I 've had a bit of luck.  [Pulling out the crimson purse and
+some loose coins.]  Picked up a purse--seven pound and more.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Oh, James!
+
+JONES.  Oh, James!  What about Oh, James!  I picked it up I tell
+you.  This is lost property, this is!
+
+MRS. JONES.  But is n't there a name in it, or something?
+
+JONES.  Name?  No, there ain't no name.  This don't belong to such
+as 'ave visitin' cards.  This belongs to a perfec' lidy.  Tike an'
+smell it.  [He pitches her the purse, which she puts gently to her
+nose.]  Now, you tell me what I ought to have done.  You tell me
+that.  You can always tell me what I ought to ha' done, can't yer?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Laying down the purse.]  I can't say what you ought to
+have done, James.  Of course the money was n't yours; you've taken
+somebody else's money.
+
+JONES.  Finding's keeping.  I 'll take it as wages for the time I
+'ve gone about the streets asking for what's my rights.  I'll take
+it for what's overdue, d' ye hear?  [With strange triumph.]  I've
+got money in my pocket, my girl.
+
+     [MRS. JONES goes on again with the preparation of the meal,
+     JONES looking at her furtively.]
+
+Money in my pocket!  And I 'm not goin' to waste it.  With this 'ere
+money I'm goin' to Canada.  I'll let you have a pound.
+
+     [A silence.]
+
+You've often talked of leavin' me.  You 've often told me I treat
+you badly--well I 'ope you 'll be glad when I 'm gone.
+
+MRS.  JONES. [Impassively.] You have, treated me very badly, James,
+and of course I can't prevent your going; but I can't tell whether I
+shall be glad when you're gone.
+
+JONES.  It'll change my luck.  I 've 'ad nothing but bad luck since
+I first took up with you.  [More softly.]  And you've 'ad no
+bloomin' picnic.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Of course it would have been better for us if we had
+never met.  We were n't meant for each other.  But you're set
+against me, that's what you are, and you have been for a long time.
+And you treat me so badly, James, going after that Rosie and all.
+You don't ever seem to think of the children that I 've had to bring
+into the world, and of all the trouble I 've had to keep them, and
+what 'll become of them when you're gone.
+
+JONES. [Crossing the room gloomily.] If you think I want to leave
+the little beggars you're bloomin' well mistaken.
+
+MRS. JONES. Of course I know you're fond of them.
+
+JONES.  [Fingering the purse, half angrily.]  Well, then, you stow
+it, old girl.  The kids 'll get along better with you than when I 'm
+here.  If I 'd ha' known as much as I do now, I 'd never ha' had one
+o' them.  What's the use o' bringin' 'em into a state o' things like
+this? It's a crime, that's what it is; but you find it out too late;
+that's what's the matter with this 'ere world.
+
+     [He puts the purse back in his pocket.]
+
+MRS. JONES.  Of course it would have been better for them, poor
+little things; but they're your own children, and I wonder at you
+talkin' like that.  I should miss them dreadfully if I was to lose
+them.
+
+JONES.  [Sullenly.]  An' you ain't the only one.  If I make money
+out there--[Looking up, he sees her shaking out his coat--in a
+changed voice.] Leave that coat alone!
+
+     [The silver box drops from the pocket, scattering the
+     cigarettes upon the bed.  Taking up the box she stares at it;
+     he rushes at her and snatches the box away.]
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Cowering back against the bed.] Oh, Jem! oh, Jem!
+
+JONES.  [Dropping the box onto the table.]  You mind what you're
+sayin'!  When I go out I 'll take and chuck it in the water along
+with that there purse.  I 'ad it when I was in liquor, and for what
+you do when you 're in liquor you're not responsible-and that's
+Gawd's truth as you ought to know.  I don't want the thing--I won't
+have it.  I took it out o' spite.  I 'm no thief, I tell you; and
+don't you call me one, or it'll be the worse for you.
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Twisting her apron strings.]  It's Mr. Barthwick's!
+You've taken away my reputation.  Oh, Jem, whatever made you?
+
+JONES.  What d' you mean?
+
+MRS. JONES.  It's been missed; they think it's me.  Oh! whatever
+made you do it, Jem?
+
+JONES.  I tell you I was in liquor.  I don't want it; what's the
+good of it to me?  If I were to pawn it they'd only nab me. I 'm no
+thief. I 'm no worse than wot that young Barthwick is; he brought
+'ome that purse that I picked up--a lady's purse--'ad it off 'er in
+a row, kept sayin' 'e 'd scored 'er off.  Well, I scored 'im off.
+Tight as an owl 'e was!  And d' you think anything'll happen to him?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [As though speaking to herself.]  Oh, Jem!  it's the
+bread out of our mouths!
+
+JONES.  Is it then?  I'll make it hot for 'em yet.  What about that
+purse?  What about young BARTHWICK?
+
+[MRS. JONES comes forward to the table and tries to take the box;
+JONES prevents her.]  What do you want with that?  You drop it, I
+say!
+
+MRS. JONES.  I 'll take it back and tell them all about it.  [She
+attempts to wrest the box from him.]
+
+JONES.  Ah, would yer?
+
+     [He drops the box, and rushes on her with a snarl.  She slips
+     back past the bed.  He follows; a chair is overturned.  The
+     door is opened; Snow comes in, a detective in plain clothes and
+     bowler hat, with clipped moustaches.  JONES drops his arms,
+     MRS. JONES stands by the window gasping; SNOW, advancing
+     swiftly to the table, puts his hand on the silver box.]
+
+SNOW.  Doin' a bit o' skylarkin'?  Fancy this is what I 'm after.
+J. B., the very same.  [He gets back to the door, scrutinising the
+crest and cypher on the box.  To MRS. JONES.]  I'm a police officer.
+Are you Mrs. Jones?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, Sir.
+
+SNOW.  My instructions are to take you on a charge of stealing this
+box from J.  BARTHWICK, Esquire, M.P., of 6, Rockingham Gate.
+Anything you say may be used against you.  Well, Missis?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [In her quiet voice, still out of breath, her hand
+upon her breast.]  Of course I did not take it, sir.  I never have
+taken anything that did n't belong to me; and of course I know
+nothing about it.
+
+SNOW.  You were at the house this morning; you did the room in which
+the box was left; you were alone in the room.  I find the box 'ere.
+You say you did n't take it?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, sir, of course I say I did not take it, because I
+did not.
+
+SNOW.  Then how does the box come to be here?
+
+MRS. JONES.  I would rather not say anything about it.
+
+SNOW.  Is this your husband?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, sir, this is my husband, sir.
+
+SNOW.  Do you wish to say anything before I take her?
+
+     [JONES remains silent, with his head bend down.]
+
+Well then, Missis.  I 'll just trouble you to come along with me
+quietly.
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Twisting her hands.]  Of course I would n't say I had
+n't taken it if I had--and I did n't take it, indeed I did n't.  Of
+course I know appearances are against me, and I can't tell you what
+really happened: But my children are at school, and they'll be
+coming home--and I don't know what they'll do without me.
+
+SNOW.  Your 'usband'll see to them, don't you worry.  [He takes the
+woman gently by the arm.]
+
+JONES.  You drop it--she's all right!  [Sullenly.] I took the thing
+myself.
+
+SNOW.  [Eyeing him]  There, there, it does you credit.  Come along,
+Missis.
+
+JONES.  [Passionately.]  Drop it, I say, you blooming teck.  She's
+my wife; she 's a respectable woman.  Take her if you dare!
+
+SNOW.  Now, now.  What's the good of this?  Keep a civil tongue, and
+it'll be the better for all of us.
+
+     [He puts his whistle in his mouth and draws the woman to the
+     door.]
+
+JONES.  [With a rush.]  Drop her, and put up your 'ands, or I 'll
+soon make yer.  You leave her alone, will yer!  Don't I tell yer, I
+took the thing myself.
+
+SNOW.  [Blowing his whistle.]  Drop your hands, or I 'll take you
+too.  Ah, would you?
+
+     [JONES, closing, deals him a blow.  A Policeman in uniform
+     appears; there is a short struggle and JONES is overpowered.
+     MRS. JONES raises her hands avid drops her face on them.]
+
+
+                         The curtain falls.
+
+
+
+
+SCENE II
+
+     The BARTHWICKS' dining-room the same evening.  The BARTHWICKS
+     are seated at dessert.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  John!  [A silence broken by the cracking of nuts.]
+John!
+
+BARTHWICK.  I wish you'd speak about the nuts they're uneatable.
+[He puts one in his mouth.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  It's not the season for them.  I called on the
+Holyroods.
+
+     [BARTHWICK fills his glass with port.]
+
+JACK.  Crackers, please, Dad.
+
+     [BARTHWICK passes the crackers.  His demeanour is reflective.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Lady Holyrood has got very stout.  I 've noticed it
+coming for a long time.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Gloomily.]  Stout?  [He takes up the crackers--with
+transparent airiness.]  The Holyroods had some trouble with their
+servants, had n't they?
+
+JACK.  Crackers, please, Dad.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Passing the crackers.]  It got into the papers.  The
+cook, was n't it?
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  No, the lady's maid.  I was talking it over with
+Lady Holyrood.  The girl used to have her young man to see her.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Uneasily.]  I'm not sure they were wise----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  My dear John, what are you talking about?  How
+could there be any alternative?  Think of the effect on the other
+servants!
+
+BARTHWICK.  Of course in principle--I wasn't thinking of that.
+
+JACK.  [Maliciously.]  Crackers, please, Dad.
+
+     [BARTHWICK is compelled to pass the crackers.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Lady Holyrood told me: "I had her up," she said; "I
+said to her, 'You'll leave my house at once; I think your conduct
+disgraceful.  I can't tell, I don't know, and I don't wish to know,
+what you were doing.  I send you away on principle; you need not
+come to me for a character.'  And the girl said: 'If you don't give
+me my notice, my lady, I want a month's wages.  I'm perfectly
+respectable.  I've done nothing.'"'--Done nothing!
+
+BARTHWICK.  H'm!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Servants have too much license.  They hang together
+so terribly you never can tell what they're really thinking; it's as
+if they were all in a conspiracy to keep you in the dark.  Even with
+Marlow, you feel that he never lets you know what's really in his
+mind.  I hate that secretiveness; it destroys all confidence.  I
+feel sometimes I should like to shake him.
+
+JACK.  Marlow's a most decent chap.  It's simply beastly every one
+knowing your affairs.
+
+BARTHWICK.  The less you say about that the better!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  It goes all through the lower classes.  You can not
+tell when they are speaking the truth.  To-day when I was shopping
+after leaving the Holyroods, one of these unemployed came up and
+spoke to me.  I suppose I only had twenty yards or so to walk to the
+carnage, but he seemed to spring up in the street.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Ah!  You must be very careful whom you speak to in these
+days.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I did n't answer him, of course.  But I could see
+at once that he wasn't telling the truth.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Cracking a nut.]  There's one very good rule--look at
+their eyes.
+
+JACK.  Crackers, please, Dad.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Passing the crackers.]  If their eyes are
+straight-forward I sometimes give them sixpence.  It 's against my
+principles, but it's most difficult to refuse.  If you see that
+they're desperate, and dull, and shifty-looking, as so many of them
+are, it's certain to mean drink, or crime, or something
+unsatisfactory.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  This man had dreadful eyes.  He looked as if he
+could commit a murder.  "I 've 'ad nothing to eat to-day," he said.
+Just like that.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What was William about?  He ought to have been waiting.
+
+JACK.  [Raising his wine-glass to his nose.]  Is this the '63, Dad?
+
+     [BARTHWICK, holding his wine-glass to his eye, lowers it and
+     passes it before his nose.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I hate people that can't speak the truth.  [Father
+and son exchange a look behind their port.]  It 's just as easy to
+speak the truth as not.  I've always found it easy enough.  It makes
+it impossible to tell what is genuine; one feels as if one were
+continually being taken in.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Sententiously.]  The lower classes are their own
+enemies.  If they would only trust us, they would get on so much
+better.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  But even then it's so often their own fault.  Look
+at that Mrs. Jones this morning.
+
+BARTHWICK.  I only want to do what's right in that matter.  I had
+occasion to see Roper this afternoon.  I mentioned it to him.  He's
+coming in this evening.  It all depends on what the detective says.
+I've had my doubts.  I've been thinking it over.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  The woman impressed me most unfavourably.  She
+seemed to have no shame.  That affair she was talking about--she and
+the man when they were young, so immoral!  And before you and Jack!
+I could have put her out of the room!
+
+BARTHWICK.  Oh!  I don't want to excuse them, but in looking at
+these matters one must consider----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Perhaps you'll say the man's employer was wrong in
+dismissing him?
+
+BARTHWICK.  Of course not.  It's not there that I feel doubt.  What
+I ask myself is----
+
+JACK.  Port, please, Dad.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Circulating the decanter in religious imitation of the
+rising and setting of the sun.]  I ask myself whether we are
+sufficiently careful in making inquiries about people before we
+engage them, especially as regards moral conduct.
+
+JACK.  Pass the-port, please, Mother!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Passing it.]  My dear boy, are n't you drinking
+too much?
+
+     [JACK fills his glass.]
+
+MARLOW.  [Entering.]  Detective Snow to see you, Sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Uneasily.]  Ah!  say I'll be with him in a minute.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Without turning.]  Let him come in here, Marlow.
+
+     [SNOW enters in an overcoat, his bowler hat in hand.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Half-rising.]  Oh!  Good evening!
+
+SNOW.  Good evening, sir; good evening, ma'am. I 've called round to
+report what I 've done, rather late, I 'm afraid--another case took
+me away.  [He takes the silver box out o f his pocket, causing a
+sensation in the BARTHWICK family.]  This is the identical article,
+I believe.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Certainly, certainly.
+
+SNOW.  Havin' your crest and cypher, as you described to me, sir, I
+'d no hesitation in the matter.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Excellent.  Will you have a glass of [he glances at the
+waning port]--er--sherry-[pours out sherry].  Jack, just give Mr.
+Snow this.
+
+     [JACK rises and gives the glass to SNOW; then, lolling in his
+     chair, regards him indolently.]
+
+SNOW.  [Drinking off wine and putting down the glass.]  After seeing
+you I went round to this woman's lodgings, sir.  It's a low
+neighborhood, and I thought it as well to place a constable below
+--and not without 'e was wanted, as things turned out.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Indeed!
+
+SNOW.  Yes, Sir, I 'ad some trouble.  I asked her to account for the
+presence of the article.  She could give me no answer, except to
+deny the theft; so I took her into custody; then her husband came
+for me, so I was obliged to take him, too, for assault.  He was very
+violent on the way to the station--very violent--threatened you and
+your son, and altogether he was a handful, I can till you.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  What a ruffian he must be!
+
+SNOW.  Yes, ma'am, a rough customer.
+
+JACK.  [Sipping his mine, bemused.]  Punch the beggar's head.
+
+SNOW.  Given to drink, as I understand, sir.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  It's to be hoped he will get a severe punishment.
+
+SNOW.  The odd thing is, sir, that he persists in sayin' he took the
+box himself.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Took the box himself!  [He smiles.]  What does he think
+to gain by that?
+
+SNOW.  He says the young gentleman was intoxicated last night
+
+     [JACK stops the cracking of a nut, and looks at SNOW.]
+
+     [BARTHWICK, losing his smile, has put his wine-glass down;
+     there is a silence--SNOW, looking from face to face, remarks]
+
+--took him into the house and gave him whisky; and under the
+influence of an empty stomach the man says he took the box.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  The impudent wretch!
+
+BARTHWICK.  D' you mean that he--er--intends to put this forward
+to-morrow?
+
+SNOW.  That'll be his line, sir; but whether he's endeavouring to
+shield his wife, or whether [he looks at JACK]  there's something in
+it, will be for the magistrate to say.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Haughtily.]  Something in what?  I don't
+understand you.  As if my son would bring a man like that into the
+house!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [From the fireplace, with an effort to be calm.]  My son
+can speak for himself, no doubt.  Well, Jack, what do you say?
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Sharply.]  What does he say?  Why, of course, he
+says the whole story's stuff!
+
+JACK.  [Embarrassed.]  Well, of course, I--of course, I don't know
+anything about it.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I should think not, indeed!  [To Snow.]  The man is
+an audacious ruffian!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Suppressing jumps.]  But in view of my son's saying
+there's nothing in this--this fable--will it be necessary to proceed
+against the man under the circumstances?
+
+SNOW.  We shall have to charge him with the assault, sir.  It would
+be as well for your son to come down to the Court.  There'll be a
+remand, no doubt.  The queer thing is there was quite a sum of money
+found on him, and a crimson silk purse.
+
+     [BARTHWICK starts; JACK rises and sits dozen again.]
+
+I suppose the lady has n't missed her purse?
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Hastily.]  Oh, no!  Oh!  No!
+
+JACK.  No!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Dreamily.]  No!  [To SNOW.]  I 've been inquiring
+of the servants.  This man does hang about the house.  I shall feel
+much safer if he gets a good long sentence; I do think we ought to
+be protected against such ruffians.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Yes, yes, of course, on principle but in this case we
+have a number of things to think of.  [To SNOW.]  I suppose, as you
+say, the man must be charged, eh?
+
+SNOW.  No question about that, sir.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Staring gloomily at JACK.]  This prosecution goes very
+much against the grain with me.  I have great sympathy with the
+poor.  In my position I 'm bound to recognise the distress there is
+amongst them.  The condition of the people leaves much to be
+desired.  D' you follow me?  I wish I could see my way to drop it.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Sharply.]  John!  it's simply not fair to other
+people.  It's putting property at the mercy of any one who likes to
+take it.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Trying to make signs to her aside.]  I 'm not defending
+him, not at all.  I'm trying to look at the matter broadly.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Nonsense, John, there's a time for everything.
+
+SNOW.  [Rather sardonically.]  I might point out, sir, that to
+withdraw the charge of stealing would not make much difference,
+because the facts must come out [he looks significantly at JACK]  in
+reference to the assault; and as I said that charge will have to go
+forward.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Hastily.]  Yes, oh!  exactly!  It's entirely on the
+woman's account--entirely a matter of my own private feelings.
+
+SNOW.  If I were you, sir, I should let things take their course.
+It's not likely there'll be much difficulty.  These things are very
+quick settled.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Doubtfully.]  You think so--you think so?
+
+JACK.  [Rousing himself.]  I say, what shall I have to swear to?
+
+SNOW.  That's best known to yourself, sir.  [Retreating to the
+door.]  Better employ a solicitor, sir, in case anything should
+arise.  We shall have the butler to prove the loss of the article.
+You'll excuse me going, I 'm rather pressed to-night.  The case may
+come on any time after eleven.  Good evening, sir; good evening,
+ma'am.  I shall have to produce the box in court to-morrow, so if
+you'll excuse me, sir, I may as well take it with me.
+
+     [He takes the silver box and leaves them with a little bow.]
+
+     [BARTHWICK makes a move to follow him, then dashing his hands
+     beneath his coat tails, speaks with desperation.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  I do wish you'd leave me to manage things myself.  You
+will put your nose into matters you know nothing of.  A pretty mess
+you've made of this!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Coldly.]  I don't in the least know what you're
+talking about.  If you can't stand up for your rights, I can.  I 've
+no patience with your principles, it's such nonsense.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Principles!  Good Heavens!  What have principles to do
+with it for goodness sake?  Don't you know that Jack was drunk last
+night!
+
+JACK.  Dad!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [In horror rising.]  Jack!
+
+JACK.  Look here, Mother--I had supper.  Everybody does.  I mean to
+say--you know what I mean--it's absurd to call it being drunk.  At
+Oxford everybody gets a bit "on" sometimes----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Well, I think it's most dreadful!  If that is
+really what you do at Oxford?
+
+JACK.  [Angrily.]  Well, why did you send me there?  One must do as
+other fellows do.  It's such nonsense, I mean, to call it being
+drunk.  Of course I 'm awfully sorry.  I 've had such a beastly
+headache all day.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Tcha!  If you'd only had the common decency to remember
+what happened when you came in.  Then we should know what truth
+there was in what this fellow says--as it is, it's all the most
+confounded darkness.
+
+JACK.  [Staring as though at half-formed visions.]  I just get a--
+and then--it 's gone----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Oh, Jack!  do you mean to say you were so tipsy you
+can't even remember----
+
+JACK.  Look here, Mother!  Of course I remember I came--I must have
+come----
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Unguardedly, and walking up and down.]  Tcha!--and that
+infernal purse!  Good Heavens!  It'll get into the papers.  Who on
+earth could have foreseen a thing like this?  Better to have lost a
+dozen cigarette-boxes, and said nothing about it.  [To his wife.]
+It's all your doing.  I told you so from the first.  I wish to
+goodness Roper would come!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Sharply.]  I don't know what you're talking about,
+John.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Turning on her.]  No, you--you--you don't know
+anything!  [Sharply.]  Where the devil is Roper?  If he can see a
+way out of this he's a better man than I take him for.  I defy any
+one to see a way out of it.  I can't.
+
+JACK.  Look here, don't excite Dad--I can simply say I was too
+beastly tired, and don't remember anything except that I came in and
+[in a dying voice] went to bed the same as usual.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Went to bed?  Who knows where you went--I 've lost all
+confidence.  For all I know you slept on the floor.
+
+JACK.  [Indignantly.]  I did n't, I slept on the----
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Sitting on the sofa.]  Who cares where you slept; what
+does it matter if he mentions the--the--a perfect disgrace?
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  What?  [A silence.]  I insist on knowing.
+
+JACK.  Oh!  nothing.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Nothing?  What do you mean by nothing, Jack?
+There's your father in such a state about it!
+
+JACK.  It's only my purse.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Your purse!  You know perfectly well you have n't
+got one.
+
+JACK.  Well, it was somebody else's--it was all a joke--I did n't
+want the beastly thing.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Do you mean that you had another person's purse,
+and that this man took it too?
+
+BARTHWICK.  Tcha!  Of course he took it too!  A man like that Jones
+will make the most of it.  It'll get into the papers.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I don't understand.  What on earth is all the fuss
+about?  [Bending over JACK, and softly.] Jack now, tell me dear!
+Don't be afraid.  What is it?  Come!
+
+JACK.  Oh, don't Mother!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  But don't what, dear?
+
+JACK.  It was pure sport.  I don't know how I got the thing.  Of
+course I 'd had a bit of a row--I did n't know what I was doing--I
+was--I Was--well, you know--I suppose I must have pulled the bag out
+of her hand.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Out of her hand?  Whose hand?  What bag--whose bag?
+
+JACK.  Oh!  I don't know--her bag--it belonged to--[in a desperate
+and rising voice] a woman.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  A woman?  Oh!  Jack!  No!
+
+JACK.  [Jumping up.]  You would have it.  I did n't want to tell
+you.  It's not my fault.
+
+     [The door opens and MARLOW ushers in a man of middle age,
+     inclined to corpulence, in evening dress.  He has a ruddy, thin
+     moustache, and dark, quick-moving little eyes.  His eyebrows
+     aye Chinese.]
+
+MARLOW.  Mr. Roper, Sir.  [He leaves the room.]
+
+ROPER.  [With a quick look round.]  How do you do?
+
+     [But neither JACK nor MRS. BARTHWICK make a sign.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Hurrying.]  Thank goodness you've come, Roper.  You
+remember what I told you this afternoon; we've just had the
+detective here.
+
+ROPER.  Got the box?
+
+BARTHWICK.  Yes, yes, but look here--it was n't the charwoman at
+all; her drunken loafer of a husband took the things--he says that
+fellow there [he waves his hand at JACK, who with his shoulder
+raised, seems trying to ward off a blow] let him into the house last
+night.  Can you imagine such a thing.
+
+     [Roper laughs. ]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [With excited emphasis.].  It's no laughing matter,
+Roper.  I told you about that business of Jack's too--don't you see
+the brute took both the things--took that infernal purse.  It'll get
+into the papers.
+
+ROPER.  [Raising his eyebrows.]  H'm!  The purse!  Depravity in high
+life!  What does your son say?
+
+BARTHWICK.  He remembers nothing.  D--n!  Did you ever see such a
+mess?  It 'll get into the papers.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [With her hand across hey eyes.]  Oh!  it's not
+that----
+
+     [BARTHWICK and ROPER turn and look at her.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  It's the idea of that woman--she's just heard----
+
+     [ROPER nods.  And MRS. BARTHWICK, setting her lips, gives a
+     slow look at JACK, and sits down at the table.]
+
+What on earth's to be done, Roper?  A ruffian like this Jones will
+make all the capital he can out of that purse.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I don't believe that Jack took that purse.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What--when the woman came here for it this morning?
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Here?  She had the impudence?  Why was n't I told?
+
+     [She looks round from face to face--no one answers hey, there
+     is a pause.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Suddenly.]  What's to be done, Roper?
+
+ROPER.  [Quietly to JACK.]  I suppose you did n't leave your
+latch-key in the door?
+
+JACK.  [Sullenly.]  Yes, I did.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Good heavens!  What next?
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  I 'm certain you never let that man into the house,
+Jack, it's a wild invention.  I'm sure there's not a word of truth
+in it, Mr. Roper.
+
+ROPER.  [Very suddenly.]  Where did you sleep last night?
+
+JACK.  [Promptly.]  On the sofa, there--[hesitating]--that is--I----
+
+BARTHWICK.  On the sofa?  D' you mean to say you did n't go to bed?
+
+JACK.[Sullenly.]  No.
+
+BARTHWICK.  If you don't remember anything, how can you remember
+that?
+
+JACK.  Because I woke up there in the morning.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Oh, Jack!
+
+BARTHWICK.  Good Gracious!
+
+JACK.  And Mrs. Jones saw me.  I wish you would n't bait me so.
+
+ROPER.  Do you remember giving any one a drink?
+
+JACK.  By Jove, I do seem to remember a fellow with--a fellow with
+[He looks at Roper.]  I say, d' you want me----?
+
+ROPER.  [Quick as lightning.]  With a dirty face?
+
+JACK.  [With illumination.]  I do--I distinctly remember his----
+
+     [BARTHWICK moves abruptly; MRS. BARTHWICK looks at ROPER
+     angrily, and touches her son's arm.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  You don't remember, it's ridiculous!  I don't
+believe the man was ever here at all.
+
+BARTHWICK.  You must speak the truth, if it is the truth.  But if
+you do remember such a dirty business, I shall wash my hands of you
+altogether.
+
+JACK.  [Glaring at them.]  Well, what the devil----
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Jack!
+
+JACK.  Well, Mother, I--I don't know what you do want.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  We want you to speak the truth and say you never
+let this low man into the house.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Of course if you think that you really gave this man
+whisky in that disgraceful way, and let him see what you'd been
+doing, and were in such a disgusting condition that you don't
+remember a word of it----
+
+ROPER.  [Quick.] I've no memory myself--never had.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Desperately.]  I don't know what you're to say.
+
+ROPER.  [To JACK.]  Say nothing at all!  Don't put yourself in a
+false position.  The man stole the things or the woman stole the
+things, you had nothing to do with it.  You were asleep on the sofa.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Your leaving the latch-key in the door was quite
+bad enough, there's no need to mention anything else.  [Touching his
+forehead softly.]  My dear, how hot your head is!
+
+JACK.  But I want to know what I 'm to do.  [Passionately.]  I won't
+be badgered like this.
+
+     [MRS. BARTHWICK recoils from him.]
+
+ROPER.  [Very quickly.]  You forget all about it. You were asleep.
+
+JACK.  Must I go down to the Court to-morrow?
+
+ROPER.  [Shaking his head.]  No.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [In a relieved voice.] Is that so?
+
+ROPER.  Yes.
+
+BARTHWICK.  But you'll go, Roper.
+
+ROPER.  Yes.
+
+JACK.  [With wan cheerfulness.]  Thanks, awfully!  So long as I
+don't have to go.  [Putting his hand up to his head.]  I think if
+you'll excuse me--I've had a most beastly day.  [He looks from his
+father to his mother.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK. [Turning quickly.] Goodnight, my boy.
+
+JACK.  Good-night, Mother.
+
+     [He goes out.  MRS. BARTHWICK heaves a sigh.  There is a
+     silence.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  He gets off too easily.  But for my money that woman
+would have prosecuted him.
+
+ROPER.  You find money useful.
+
+BARTHWICK.  I've my doubts whether we ought to hide the truth----
+
+ROPER.  There'll be a remand.
+
+BARTHWICK.  What!  D' you mean he'll have to appear on the remand.
+
+ROPER. Yes.
+
+BARTHWICK.  H'm, I thought you'd be able to----Look here, Roper,
+you must keep that purse out of the papers.
+
+     [ROPER fixes his little eyes on him and nods.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Mr. Roper, don't you think the magistrate ought to
+be told what sort of people these Jones's are; I mean about their
+immorality before they were married.  I don't know if John told you.
+
+ROPER.  Afraid it's not material.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Not material?
+
+ROPER.  Purely private life!  May have happened to the magistrate.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [With a movement as if to shift a burden.] Then you'll
+take the thing into your hands?
+
+ROPER.  If the gods are kind.  [He holds his hand out.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Shaking it dubiously.]  Kind eh?  What?  You going?
+
+ROPER.  Yes.  I've another case, something like yours--most
+unexpected.
+
+     [He bows to MRS. BARTHWICK, and goes out, followed by
+     BARTHWICK, talking to the last.  MRS. BARTHWICK at the table
+     bursts into smothered sobs.  BARTHWICK returns.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [To himself.]  There'll be a scandal!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Disguising her grief at once.]  I simply can't
+imagine what Roper means by making a joke of a thing like that!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Staring strangely.]  You!  You can't imagine anything!
+You've no more imagination than a fly!
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Angrily.]  You dare to tell me that I have no
+imagination.
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Flustered.]  I--I 'm upset.  From beginning to end, the
+whole thing has been utterly against my principles.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  Rubbish!  You have n't any!  Your principles are
+nothing in the world but sheer fright!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Walking to the window.]  I've never been frightened in
+my life.  You heard what Roper said.  It's enough to upset one when
+a thing like this happens.  Everything one says and does seems to
+turn in one's mouth--it's--it's uncanny.  It's not the sort of thing
+I've been accustomed to.  [As though stifling, he throws the window
+open.  The faint sobbing of a child comes in.]  What's that?
+
+     [They listen.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Sharply.]  I can't stand that crying.  I must send
+Marlow to stop it.  My nerves are all on edge.  [She rings the
+bell.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  I'll shut the window; you'll hear nothing.  [He shuts
+the window.  There is silence.]
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Sharply.]  That's no good!  It's on my nerves.
+Nothing upsets me like a child's crying.
+
+     [MARLOW comes in.]
+
+What's that noise of crying, Marlow?  It sounds like a child.
+
+BARTHWICK.  It is a child.  I can see it against the railings.
+
+MARLOW.  [Opening the window, and looking out quietly.]  It's Mrs.
+Jones's little boy, ma'am; he came here after his mother.
+
+MRS. BARTHWICK.  [Moving quickly to the window.]  Poor little chap!
+John, we ought n't to go on with this!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Sitting heavily in a chair.]  Ah!  but it's out of our
+hands!
+
+     [MRS. BARTHWICK turns her back to the window.  There is an
+     expression of distress on hey face.  She stands motionless,
+     compressing her lips.  The crying begins again.  BARTHWICK
+     coveys his ears with his hands, and MARLOW shuts the window.
+     The crying ceases.]
+
+
+                         The curtain falls.
+
+
+
+
+ACT III
+
+     Eight days have passed, and the scene is a London Police Court
+     at one o'clock.  A canopied seat of Justice is surmounted by
+     the lion and unicorn.  Before the fire a worn-looking
+     MAGISTRATE is warming his coat-tails, and staring at two little
+     girls in faded blue and orange rags, who are placed before the
+     dock.  Close to the witness-box is a RELIEVING OFFICER in an
+     overcoat, and a short brown beard.  Beside the little girls
+     stands a bald POLICE CONSTABLE.  On the front bench are sitting
+     BARTHWICK and ROPER, and behind them JACK.  In the railed
+     enclosure are seedy-looking men and women.  Some prosperous
+     constables sit or stand about.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [In his paternal and ferocious voice, hissing his s's.]
+Now let us dispose of these young ladies.
+
+USHER.  Theresa Livens, Maud Livens.
+
+     [The bald CONSTABLE indicates the little girls, who remain
+     silent, disillusioned, inattentive.]
+
+Relieving Officer!
+
+     [The RELIEVING OFFICER Steps into the witness-box.]
+
+USHER.  The evidence you give to the Court shall be the truth, the
+whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God!  Kiss the
+book!
+
+     [The book is kissed.]
+
+RELIEVING OFFICER.  [In a monotone, pausing slightly at each
+sentence end, that his evidence may be inscribed.]  About ten
+o'clock this morning, your Worship, I found these two little girls
+in Blue Street, Fulham, crying outside a public-house.  Asked where
+their home was, they said they had no home.  Mother had gone away.
+Asked about their father.  Their father had no work.  Asked where
+they slept last night.  At their aunt's.  I 've made inquiries, your
+Worship.  The wife has broken up the home and gone on the streets.
+The husband is out of work and living in common lodging-houses.  The
+husband's sister has eight children of her own, and says she can't
+afford to keep these little girls any longer.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Returning to his seat beneath the canopy of justice.]
+Now, let me see.  You say the mother is on the streets; what
+evidence have you of that?
+
+RELIEVING OFFICER.  I have the husband here, your Worship.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Very well; then let us see him.
+
+     [There are cries of "LIVENS."  The MAGISTRATE leans forward,
+     and stares with hard compassion at the little girls.  LIVENS
+     comes in.  He is quiet, with grizzled hair, and a muffler for a
+     collar.  He stands beside the witness-box.]
+
+And you, are their father?  Now, why don't you keep your little
+girls at home.  How is it you leave them to wander about the streets
+like this?
+
+LIVENS.  I've got no home, your Worship.  I'm living from 'and to
+mouth.  I 've got no work; and nothin' to keep them on.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  How is that?
+
+LIVENS.  [Ashamedly.]  My wife, she broke my 'ome up, and pawned the
+things.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  But what made you let her?
+
+LEVINS.  Your Worship, I'd no chance to stop 'er, she did it when I
+was out lookin' for work.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Did you ill-treat her?
+
+LIVENS.  [Emphatically.]  I never raised my 'and to her in my life,
+your Worship.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Then what was it--did she drink?
+
+LIVENS.  Yes, your Worship.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Was she loose in her behaviour?
+
+LIVENS.  [In a low voice.]  Yes, your Worship.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  And where is she now?
+
+LIVENS.  I don't know your Worship. She went off with a man, and
+after that I----
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes.  Who knows anything of her?  [To the bald
+CONSTABLE.]  Is she known here?
+
+RELIEVING OFFICER.  Not in this district, your Worship; but I have
+ascertained that she is well known----
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes--yes; we'll stop at that.  Now [To the Father] you
+say that she has broken up your home, and left these little girls.
+What provision can you make for them?  You look a strong man.
+
+LIVENS.  So I am, your Worship.  I'm willin' enough to work, but for
+the life of me I can't get anything to do.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  But have you tried?
+
+LIVENS.  I've tried everything, your Worship--I 've tried my
+'ardest.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Well, well----       [There is a silence.]
+
+RELIEVING OFFICER. If your Worship thinks it's a case, my people are
+willing to take them.
+
+MAGISTRATE. Yes, yes, I know; but I've no evidence that this man is
+not the proper guardian for his children.
+
+     [He rises oval goes back to the fire.]
+
+RELIEVING OFFICER.  The mother, your Worship, is able to get access
+to them.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes; the mother, of course, is an improper person
+to have anything to do with them.  [To the Father.]  Well, now what
+do you say?
+
+LIVENS.  Your Worship, I can only say that if I could get work I
+should be only too willing to provide for them.  But what can I do,
+your Worship?  Here I am obliged to live from 'and to mouth in these
+'ere common lodging-houses.  I 'm a strong man--I'm willing to work
+--I'm half as alive again as some of 'em--but you see, your Worship,
+my 'airs' turned a bit, owing to the fever--[Touches his hair]--and
+that's against me; and I don't seem to get a chance anyhow.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes-yes.  [Slowly.]  Well, I think it 's a case.
+[Staring his hardest at the little girls.]  Now, are you willing
+that these little girls should be sent to a home.
+
+LIVENS. Yes, your Worship, I should be very willing.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Well, I'll remand them for a week.  Bring them again
+to-day week; if I see no reason against it then, I 'll make an
+order.
+
+RELIEVING OFFICER. To-day week, your Worship.
+
+     [The bald CONSTABLE takes the little girls out by the
+     shoulders. The father follows them.  The MAGISTRATE, returning
+     to his seat, bends over and talks to his CLERK inaudibly.]
+
+BARTHWICK.  [Speaking behind his hand.]  A painful case, Roper; very
+distressing state of things.
+
+ROPER.  Hundreds like this in the Police Courts.
+
+BARTHWICK.  Most distressing!  The more I see of it, the more
+important this question of the condition of the people seems to
+become.  I shall certainly make a point of taking up the cudgels in
+the House.  I shall move----
+
+     [The MAGISTRATE ceases talking to his CLERK.]
+
+CLERK.  Remands!
+
+     [BARTHWICK stops abruptly.  There is a stir and MRS. JONES
+     comes in by the public door; JONES, ushered by policemen, comes
+     from the prisoner's door.  They file into the dock.]
+
+CLERK.  James Jones, Jane Jones.
+
+USHER.  Jane Jones!
+
+BARTHWICK.  [In a whisper.]  The purse--the purse must be kept out
+of it, Roper.  Whatever happens you must keep that out of the
+papers.
+
+     [ROPER nods.]
+
+BALD CONSTABLE.  Hush!
+
+     [MRS. JONES, dressed in hey thin, black, wispy dress, and black
+     straw hat, stands motionless with hands crossed on the front
+     rail of the dock.  JONES leans against the back rail of the
+     dock, and keeps half turning, glancing defiantly about him.  He
+     is haggard and unshaven.]
+
+CLERK.  [Consulting with his papers.]  This is the case remanded
+from last Wednesday, Sir.  Theft of a silver cigarette-box and
+assault on the police; the two charges were taken together.  Jane
+Jones!  James Jones!
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Staring.]  Yes, yes; I remember.
+
+CLERK.  Jane Jones.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  Do you admit stealing a silver cigarette-box valued at five
+pounds, ten shillings, from the house of John BARTHWICK, M.P.,
+between the hours of 11 p.m.  on Easter Monday and 8.45 a.m.  on
+Easter Tuesday last?  Yes, or no?
+
+MRS. JONES.  [In a logy voice.]  No, Sir, I do not, sir.
+
+CLERK.  James Jones?  Do you admit stealing a silver cigarette-box
+valued at five pounds, ten shillings, from the house of John
+BARTHWICK, M.P., between the hours of 11 p.m.  on Easter Monday and
+8.45 A.M.  on Easter Tuesday last.  And further making an assault on
+the police when in the execution of their duty at 3 p.m.  on Easter
+Tuesday?  Yes or no?
+
+JONES.  [Sullenly.]  Yes, but I've got a lot to say about it.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [To the CLERK.]  Yes--yes.  But how comes it that these
+two people are charged with the same offence?  Are they husband and
+wife?
+
+CLERK.  Yes, Sir.  You remember you ordered a remand for further
+evidence as to the story of the male prisoner.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Have they been in custody since?
+
+CLERK.  You released the woman on her own recognisances, sir.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes, this is the case of the silver box; I
+remember now.  Well?
+
+CLERK.  Thomas Marlow.
+
+     [The cry of "THOMAS MARLOW" is repeated MARLOW comes in, and
+     steps into the witness-box.]
+
+USHER.  The evidence you give to the court shall be the truth, the
+whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God.  Kiss the
+book.
+
+     [The book is kissed.  The silver box is handed up, and placed
+     on the rail.]
+
+CLERK.  [Reading from his papers.]  Your name is Thomas Marlow?  Are
+you, butler to John BARTHWICK, M.P., of 6, Rockingham Gate?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  Is that the box?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes Sir.
+
+CLERK.  And did you miss the same at 8.45 on the following morning,
+on going to remove the tray?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  Is the female prisoner known to you?
+
+     [MARLOW nods.]
+
+Is she the charwoman employed at 6, Rockingham Gate?
+
+     [Again MARLOW nods.]
+
+Did you at the time of your missing the box find her in the room
+alone?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  Did you afterwards communicate the loss to your employer,
+and did he send you to the police station?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  [To MRS. JONES.]  Have you anything to ask him?
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, sir, nothing, thank you, sir.
+
+CLERK.  [To JONES.]  James Jones, have you anything to ask this
+witness?
+
+JONES.  I don't know 'im.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Are you sure you put the box in the place you say at
+the time you say?
+
+MARLOW.  Yes, your Worship.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Very well; then now let us have the officer.
+
+     [MARLOW leaves the box, and Snow goes into it.]
+
+USHER.  The evidence you give to the court shall be the truth, the
+whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God.  [The book
+is kissed.]
+
+CLERK.  [Reading from his papers.]  Your name is Robert Allow?  You
+are a detective in the X. B.  division of the Metropolitan police
+force?  According to instructions received did you on Easter Tuesday
+last proceed to the prisoner's lodgings at 34, Merthyr Street, St.
+Soames's?  And did you on entering see the box produced, lying on
+the table?
+
+SNOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  Is that the box?
+
+Snow.  [Fingering the box.]  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  And did you thereupon take possession of it, and charge the
+female prisoner with theft of the box from 6, Rockingham Gate?  And
+did she deny the same?
+
+SNOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  Did you take her into custody?
+
+Snow.  Yes, Sir.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  What was her behaviour?
+
+SNOW.  Perfectly quiet, your Worship.  She persisted in the denial.
+That's all.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  DO you know her?
+
+SNOW.  No, your Worship.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Is she known here?
+
+BALD CONSTABLE.  No, your Worship, they're neither of them known,
+we 've nothing against them at all.
+
+CLERK.  [To MRS. JONES.]  Have you anything to ask the officer?
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, sir, thank you, I 've nothing to ask him.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Very well then--go on.
+
+CLERK.  [Reading from his papers.]  And while you were taking the
+female prisoner did the male prisoner interpose, and endeavour to
+hinder you in the execution of your duty, and did he strike you a
+blow?
+
+SNOW.  Yes, Sir.
+
+CLERK.  And did he say, "You, let her go, I took the box myself"?
+
+SNOW.  He did.
+
+CLERK.  And did you blow your whistle and obtain the assistance of
+another constable, and take him into custody?
+
+SNOW.  I did.
+
+CLERK.  Was he violent on the way to the station, and did he use bad
+language, and did he several times repeat that he had taken the box
+himself?
+
+     [Snow nods.]
+
+Did you thereupon ask him in what manner he had stolen the box?  And
+did you understand him to say he had entered the house at the
+invitation of young Mr. BARTHWICK
+
+     [BARTHWICK, turning in his seat, frowns at ROPER.]
+
+after midnight on Easter Monday, and partaken of whisky, and that
+under the influence of the whisky he had taken the box?
+
+SNOW.  I did, sir.
+
+CLERK.  And was his demeanour throughout very violent?
+
+SNOW.  It was very violent.
+
+JONES.  [Breaking in.]  Violent---of course it was!  You put your
+'ands on my wife when I kept tellin' you I took the thing myself.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Hissing, with protruded neck.]  Now--you will have
+your chance of saying what you want to say presently.  Have you
+anything to ask the officer?
+
+JONES.  [Sullenly.]  No.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Very well then.  Now let us hear what the female
+prisoner has to say first.
+
+MRS. JONES.  Well, your Worship, of course I can only say what I 've
+said all along, that I did n't take the box.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, but did you know that it was taken?
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, your Worship.  And, of course, to what my husband
+says, your Worship, I can't speak of my own knowledge.  Of course, I
+know that he came home very late on the Monday night.  It was past
+one o'clock when he came in, and he was not himself at all.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Had he been drinking?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, your Worship.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  And was he drunk?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, your Worship, he was almost quite drunk.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  And did he say anything to you?
+
+MRS. JONES.  No, your Worship, only to call me names.  And of course
+in the morning when I got up and went to work he was asleep.  And I
+don't know anything more about it until I came home again.  Except
+that Mr. BARTHWICK--that 's my employer, your Worship--told me the
+box was missing.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes.
+
+MRS. JONES.  But of course when I was shaking out my husband's coat
+the cigarette-box fell out and all the cigarettes were scattered on
+the bed.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  You say all the cigarettes were scattered on the bed?
+[To SNOW.]  Did you see the cigarettes scattered on the bed?
+
+SNOW.  No, your Worship, I did not.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  You see he says he did n't see them.
+
+JONES.  Well, they were there for all that.
+
+SNOW.  I can't say, your Worship, that I had the opportunity of
+going round the room; I had all my work cut out with the male
+prisoner.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [To MRS. JONES.]  Well, what more have you to say?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Of course when I saw the box, your Worship, I was
+dreadfully upset, and I could n't think why he had done such a
+thing; when the officer came we were having words about it, because
+it is ruin to me, your Worship, in my profession, and I have three
+little children dependent on me.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Protruding his neck].  Yes--yes--but what did he say
+to you?
+
+MRS. JONES.  I asked him whatever came over him to do such a thing
+--and he said it was the drink.  He said he had had too much to drink,
+and something came over him.  And of course, your Worship, he had
+had very little to eat all day, and the drink does go to the head
+when you have not had enough to eat.  Your Worship may not know, but
+it is the truth.  And I would like to say that all through his
+married life, I have never known him to do such a thing before,
+though we have passed through great hardships and [speaking with
+soft emphasis]  I am quite sure he would not have done it if he had
+been himself at the time.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes.  But don't you know that that is no excuse?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, your Worship.  I know that it is no excuse.
+
+     [The MAGISTRATE leans over and parleys with his CLERK.]
+
+JACK.  [Leaning over from his seat behind.]  I say, Dad----
+
+BARTHWICK.  Tsst!  [Sheltering his mouth he speaks to ROPER.]
+Roper, you had better get up now and say that considering the
+circumstances and the poverty of the prisoners, we have no wish to
+proceed any further, and if the magistrate would deal with the case
+as one of disorder only on the part of----
+
+BALD CONSTABLE.  HSSShh!
+
+     [ROPER shakes his head.]
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Now, supposing what you say and what your husband says
+is true, what I have to consider is--how did he obtain access to
+this house, and were you in any way a party to his obtaining access?
+You are the charwoman employed at the house?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Yes, your Worship, and of course if I had let him into
+the house it would have been very wrong of me; and I have never done
+such a thing in any of the houses where I have been employed.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Well--so you say.  Now let us hear what story the male
+prisoner makes of it.
+
+JONES.  [Who leans with his arms on the dock behind, speaks in a
+slow, sullen voice.]  Wot I say is wot my wife says.  I 've never
+been 'ad up in a police court before, an' I can prove I took it when
+in liquor.  I told her, and she can tell you the same, that I was
+goin' to throw the thing into the water sooner then 'ave it on my
+mind.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  But how did you get into the HOUSE?
+
+JONES.  I was passin'.  I was goin' 'ome from the "Goat and Bells."
+
+MAGISTRATE.  The "Goat and Bells,"--what is that?  A public-house?
+
+JONES.  Yes, at the corner.  It was Bank 'oliday, an' I'd 'ad a drop
+to drink.  I see this young Mr. BARTHWICK tryin' to find the keyhole
+on the wrong side of the door.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Well?
+
+JONES.  [Slowly and with many pauses.]  Well---I 'elped 'im to find
+it--drunk as a lord 'e was.  He goes on, an' comes back again, and
+says, I 've got nothin' for you, 'e says, but come in an' 'ave a
+drink.  So I went in just as you might 'ave done yourself.  We 'ad a
+drink o' whisky just as you might have 'ad, 'nd young Mr. BARTHWICK
+says to me, "Take a drink 'nd a smoke.  Take anything you like, 'e
+says."  And then he went to sleep on the sofa.  I 'ad some more
+whisky--an' I 'ad a smoke--and I 'ad some more whisky--an' I carn't
+tell yer what 'appened after that.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Do you mean to say that you were so drunk that you can
+remember nothing?
+
+JACK.  [Softly to his father.]  I say, that's exactly what----
+
+BARTHWICK.  TSSh!
+
+JONES.  That's what I do mean.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  And yet you say you stole the box?
+
+JONES.  I never stole the box.  I took it.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Hissing with protruded neck.]  You did not steal it--
+you took it.  Did it belong to you--what is that but stealing?
+
+JONES.  I took it.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  You took it--you took it away from their house and you
+took it to your house----
+
+JONES.  [Sullenly breaking in.]  I ain't got a house.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Very well, let us hear what this young man Mr.--Mr.
+BARTHWICK has to say to your story.
+
+     [SNOW leaves the witness-box.  The BALD CONSTABLE beckons JACK,
+     who, clutching his hat, goes into the witness-box.  ROPER moves
+     to the table set apart for his profession.]
+
+SWEARING CLERK.  The evidence you give to the court shall be the
+truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God.
+Kiss the book.
+
+     [The book is kissed.]
+
+ROPER.  [Examining.]  What is your name?
+
+JACK.  [In a low voice.]  John BARTHWICK, Junior.
+
+     [The CLERK writes it down.]
+
+ROPER.  Where do you live?
+
+JACK.  At 6, Rockingham Gate.
+
+     [All his answers are recorded by the Clerk.]
+
+ROPER.  You are the son of the owner?
+
+JACK.  [In a very low voice.]  Yes.
+
+ROPER.  Speak up, please.  Do you know the prisoners?
+
+JACK.  [Looking at the JONESES, in a low voice.]  I 've seen Mrs.
+Jones.  I   [in a loud voice]  don't know the man.
+
+JONES.  Well, I know you!
+
+BALD CONSTABLE.  HSSh!
+
+ROPER.  Now, did you come in late on the night of Easter Monday?
+
+JACK.  Yes.
+
+ROPER.  And did you by mistake leave your latch key in the door?
+
+JACK.  Yes.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Oh!  You left your latch-key in the door?
+
+ROPER.  And is that all you can remember about your coming in?
+
+JACK.  [In a loud voice.]  Yes, it is.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Now, you have heard the male prisoner's story, what do
+you say to that?
+
+JACK.  [Turning to the MAGISTRATE, speaks suddenly in a confident,
+straight-forward voice.]  The fact of the matter is, sir, that I 'd
+been out to the theatre that night, and had supper afterwards, and I
+came in late.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Do you remember this man being outside when you came
+in?
+
+JACK.  No, Sir.  [He hesitates.]  I don't think I do.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Somewhat puzzled.]  Well, did he help you to open the
+door, as he says?  Did any one help you to open the door?
+
+JACK.  No, sir--I don't think so, sir--I don't know.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  You don't know?  But you must know.  It is n't a usual
+thing for you to have the door opened for you, is it?
+
+JACK.  [With a shamefaced smile.]  No.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Very well, then----
+
+JACK.  [Desperately.]  The fact of the matter is, sir, I'm afraid
+I'd had too much champagne that night.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Smiling.]  Oh! you'd had too much champagne?
+
+JONES.  May I ask the gentleman a question?
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes--yes--you may ask him what questions you like.
+
+JONES.  Don't you remember you said you was a Liberal, same as your
+father, and you asked me wot I was?
+
+JACK.  [With his hand against his brow.]  I seem to remember----
+
+JONES.  And I said to you, "I'm a bloomin' Conservative," I said;
+an' you said to me, "You look more like one of these 'ere
+Socialists.  Take wotever you like," you said.
+
+JACK.  [With sudden resolution.]  No, I don't.  I don't remember
+anything of the sort.
+
+JONES.  Well, I do, an' my word's as good as yours.  I 've never
+been had up in a police court before.  Look 'ere, don't you remember
+you had a sky-blue bag in your 'and [BARTHWICK jumps.]
+
+ROPER.  I submit to your worship that these questions are hardly to
+the point, the prisoner having admitted that he himself does not
+remember anything.  [There is a smile on the face of Justice.]  It
+is a case of the blind leading the blind.
+
+JONES.  [Violently.]  I've done no more than wot he 'as.  I'm a poor
+man; I've got no money an' no friends--he 's a toff--he can do wot I
+can't.
+
+MAGISTRATE: Now, now?  All this won't help you--you must be quiet.
+You say you took this box?  Now, what made you take it?  Were you
+pressed for money?
+
+JONES.  I'm always pressed for money.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Was that the reason you took it?
+
+JONES.  No.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [To SNOW.]  Was anything found on him?
+
+SNOW.  Yes, your worship.  There was six pounds twelve shillin's
+found on him, and this purse.
+
+     [The red silk purse is handed to the MAGISTRATE.  BARTHWICK
+     rises his seat, but hastily sits down again.]
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Staring at the purse.]  Yes, yes--let me see [There is
+a silence.]  No, no, I 've nothing before me as to the purse.  How
+did you come by all that money?
+
+JONES.  [After a long pause, suddenly.]  I declines to say.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  But if you had all that money, what made you take this
+box?
+
+JONES.  I took it out of spite.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Hissing, with protruded neck.]  You took it out of
+spite?  Well now, that's something!  But do you imagine you can go
+about the town taking things out of spite?
+
+JONES.  If you had my life, if you'd been out of work----
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes; I know--because you're out of work you think
+it's an excuse for everything.
+
+JONES.  [Pointing at JACK.]  You ask 'im wot made 'im take the----
+
+ROPER.  [Quietly.]  Does your Worship require this witness in the
+box any longer?
+
+MAGISTRATE. [Ironically.]  I think not; he is hardly profitable.
+
+     [JACK leaves the witness-box, and hanging his head, resumes his
+     seat.]
+
+JONES.  You ask 'im wot made 'im take the lady's----
+
+     [But the BALD CONSTABLE catches him by the sleeve.]
+
+BALD CONSTABLE.  SSSh!
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Emphatically.]  Now listen to me.
+
+I 've nothing to do with what he may or may not have taken.  Why did
+you resist the police in the execution of their duty?
+
+JONES.  It war n't their duty to take my wife, a respectable woman,
+that 'ad n't done nothing.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  But I say it was.  What made you strike the officer a
+blow?
+
+JONES.  Any man would a struck 'im a blow.  I'd strike 'im again, I
+would.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  You are not making your case any better by violence.
+How do you suppose we could get on if everybody behaved like you?
+
+JONES.  [Leaning forward, earnestly.]  Well, wot, about 'er; who's
+to make up to 'er for this?  Who's to give 'er back 'er good name?
+
+MRS. JONES.  Your Worship, it's the children that's preying on his
+mind, because of course I 've lost my work.  And I've had to find
+another room owing to the scandal.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes, I know--but if he had n't acted like this
+nobody would have suffered.
+
+JONES.  [Glaring round at JACK.]  I 've done no worse than wot 'e
+'as.  Wot I want to know is wot 's goin' to be done to 'im.
+
+     [The BALD CONSTABLE again says "HSSh"]
+
+ROPER.  Mr. BARTHWICK wishes it known, your Worship, that
+considering the poverty of the prisoners, he does not press the
+charge as to the box.  Perhaps your Worship would deal with the case
+as one of disorder.
+
+JONES.  I don't want it smothered up, I want it all dealt with fair
+--I want my rights----
+
+MAGISTRATE.  [Rapping his desk.]  Now you have said all you have to
+say, and you will be quiet.
+
+     [There is a silence; the MAGISTRATE bends over and parleys with
+     his CLERK.]
+
+Yes, I think I may discharge the woman.  [In a kindly voice he
+addresses MRS. JONES, who stands unmoving with her hands crossed on
+the rail.]  It is very unfortunate for you that this man has behaved
+as he has.  It is not the consequences to him but the consequences
+to you.  You have been brought here twice, you have lost your work--
+[He glares at JONES]--and this is what always happens.  Now you may
+go away, and I am very sorry it was necessary to bring you here at
+all.
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Softly.]  Thank you very much, your Worship.
+
+     [She leaves the dock, and looking back at JONES, twists her
+     fingers and is still.]
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Yes, yes, but I can't pass it over.  Go away, there's a
+good woman.
+
+     [MRS. JONES stands back.  The MAGISTRATE leans his head on his
+     hand; then raising it he speaks to JONES.]
+
+Now, listen to me.  Do you wish the case to be settled here, or do
+you wish it to go before a jury?
+
+JONES.  [Muttering.]  I don't want no jury.
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Very well then, I will deal with it here.  [After a
+pause.]  You have pleaded guilty to stealing this box----
+
+JONES.  Not to stealin'----
+
+BALD CONSTABLE.  HSSShh!
+
+MAGISTRATE.  And to assaulting the police----
+
+JONES.  Any man as was a man----
+
+MAGISTRATE.  Your conduct here has been most improper.  You give the
+excuse that you were drunk when you stole the box.  I tell you that
+is no excuse.  If you choose to get drunk and break the law
+afterwards you must take the consequences.  And let me tell you that
+men like you, who get drunk and give way to your spite or whatever
+it is that's in you, are--are--a nuisance to the community.
+
+JACK.  [Leaning from his seat.]  Dad!  that's what you said to me!
+
+BARTHWICK.  TSSt!
+
+     [There is a silence, while the MAGISTRATE consults his CLERK;
+     JONES leans forward waiting.]
+
+MAGISTRATE.  This is your first offence, and I am going to give you
+a light sentence.  [Speaking sharply, but without expression.]  One
+month with hard labour.
+
+     [He bends, and parleys with his CLERK.  The BALD CONSTABLE and
+     another help JONES from the dock.]
+
+JONES.  [Stopping and twisting round.]  Call this justice?  What
+about 'im?  'E got drunk!  'E took the purse--'e took the purse but
+[in a muffled shout]  it's 'is money got 'im off--JUSTICE!
+
+     [The prisoner's door is shut on JONES, and from the
+     seedy-looking men and women comes a hoarse and whispering groan.]
+
+MAGISTRATE.  We will now adjourn for lunch!  [He rises from his
+seat.]
+
+     [The Court is in a stir.  ROPER gets up and speaks to the
+     reporter.  JACK, throwing up his head, walks with a swagger to
+     the corridor; BARTHWICK follows.]
+
+MRS. JONES.  [Turning to him zenith a humble gesture.]  Oh!  sir!
+
+     [BARTHWICK hesitates, then yielding to his nerves, he makes a
+     shame-faced gesture of refusal, and hurries out of court.  MRS.
+     JONES stands looking after him.]
+
+
+                         The curtain falls.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Silver Box (First Series Plays)
+by John Galsworthy
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SILVER BOX (FIRST SERIES ***
+
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+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/0/2906/
+
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+
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+
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+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
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