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diff --git a/4765.txt b/4765.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..41fc01e --- /dev/null +++ b/4765.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3990 @@ + + Project Gutenberg's Loyalties (Fifth 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: Loyalties (Fifth Series Plays) + + Author: John Galsworthy + + Last Updated: February 10, 2009 + Release Date: September 26, 2004 [EBook #4765] + + Language: English + + Character set encoding: ASCII + + *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOYALTIES (FIFTH SERIES PLAYS) *** + + + + + Produced by David Widger + + + +FIFTH SERIES PLAYS OF GALSWORTHY + + +LOYALTIES + + +By John Galsworthy + + + + PERSONS OF THE PLAY + + In the Order of Appearance + + CHARLES WINSOR.................. Owner of Meldon Court, near Newmarket + LADY ADELA...................... His Wife + FERDINAND DE LEVIS.............. Young, rich, and new + TREISURE........................ Winsor's Butler + GENERAL CANYNGE................. A Racing Oracle + MARGARET ORME................... A Society Girl + CAPTAIN RONALD DANDY, D.S.O..... Retired + MABEL........................... His Wife + INSPECTOR DEDE.................. Of the County Constabulary + ROBERT.......................... Winsor's Footman + A CONSTABLE..................... Attendant on Dede + AUGUSTUS BOBBING................ A Clubman + LORD ST ERTH.................... A Peer of the Realm + A FOOTMAN....................... Of the Club + MAJOR COLFORD................... A Brother Officer of Dancy's + EDWARD GRAVITER................. A Solicitor + A YOUNG CLERK................... Of Twisden & Graviter's + GILMAN.......................... A Large Grocer + JACOB TWISDEN................... Senior Partner of Twisden & Graviter + RICARDOS........................ An Italian, in Wine + + + + + ACT I. + SCENE I. CHARLES WINSOR's dressing-room at Meldon Court, near + Newmarket, of a night in early October. + SCENE II. DE LEVIS'S Bedroom at Meldon Court, a few minutes later. + + ACT II. + SCENE I. The Card Room of a London Club between four and five in + the afternoon, three weeks later. + SCENE II. The Sitting-room of the DANCYS' Flat, the following + morning. + + ACT III. + SCENE I. OLD MR JACOB TWISDEN'S Room at TWISDEN & GRAVITER'S in + Lincoln's Inn Fields, at four in the afternoon, three + months later. + SCENE II. The same, next morning at half-past ten. + SCENE III. The Sitting-room of the DANCYS' Flat, an hour later. + + + + +ACT I + +SCENE I + + The dressing-room of CHARLES WINSOR, owner of Meldon Court, near + Newmarket; about eleven-thirty at night. The room has pale grey + walls, unadorned; the curtains are drawn over a window Back Left + Centre. A bed lies along the wall, Left. An open door, Right Back, + leads into LADY ADELA's bedroom; a door, Right Forward, into a long + corridor, on to which abut rooms in a row, the whole length of the + house's left wing. WINSOR's dressing-table, with a light over it, + is Stage Right of the curtained window. Pyjamas are laid out on the + bed, which is turned back. Slippers are handy, and all the usual + gear of a well-appointed bed-dressing-room. CHARLES WINSOR, a tall, + fair, good-looking man about thirty-eight, is taking off a smoking + jacket. + +WINSOR. Hallo! Adela! + +V. OF LADY A. [From her bedroom] Hallo! + +WINSOR. In bed? + +V. OF LADY A. No. + + She appears in the doorway in under-garment and a wrapper. She, + too, is fair, about thirty-five, rather delicious, and suggestive + of porcelain. + +WINSOR. Win at Bridge? + +LADY A. No fear. + +WINSOR. Who did? + +LADY A. Lord St Erth and Ferdy De Levis. + +WINSOR. That young man has too much luck--the young bounder won two +races to-day; and he's as rich as Croesus. + +LADY A. Oh! Charlie, he did look so exactly as if he'd sold me a carpet +when I was paying him. + +WINSOR. [Changing into slippers] His father did sell carpets, +wholesale, in the City. + +LADY A. Really? And you say I haven't intuition! [With a finger on her +lips] Morison's in there. + +WINSOR. [Motioning towards the door, which she shuts] Ronny Dancy took +a tenner off him, anyway, before dinner. + +LADY A. No! How? + +WINSOR. Standing jump on to a bookcase four feet high. De Levis had to +pay up, and sneered at him for making money by parlour tricks. That +young Jew gets himself disliked. + +LADY A. Aren't you rather prejudiced? + +WINSOR. Not a bit. I like Jews. That's not against him--rather the +contrary these days. But he pushes himself. The General tells me he's +deathly keen to get into the Jockey Club. [Taking off his tie] It's +amusing to see him trying to get round old St Erth. + +LADY A. If Lord St Erth and General Canynge backed him he'd get in if he +did sell carpets! + +WINSOR. He's got some pretty good horses. [Taking off his waistcoat] +Ronny Dancy's on his bones again, I'm afraid. He had a bad day. When a +chap takes to doing parlour stunts for a bet--it's a sure sign. What +made him chuck the Army? + +LADY A. He says it's too dull, now there's no fighting. + +WINSOR. Well, he can't exist on backing losers. + +LADY A. Isn't it just like him to get married now? He really is the +most reckless person. + +WINSOR. Yes. He's a queer chap. I've always liked him, but I've never +quite made him out. What do you think of his wife? + +LADY A. Nice child; awfully gone on him. + +WINSOR. Is he? + +LADY A. Quite indecently--both of them. [Nodding towards the wall, +Left] They're next door. + +WINSOR. Who's beyond them? + +LADY A. De Levis; and Margaret Orme at the end. Charlie, do you realise +that the bathroom out there has to wash those four? + +WINSOR. I know. + +LADY A. Your grandfather was crazy when he built this wing; six rooms in +a row with balconies like an hotel, and only one bath--if we hadn't put +ours in. + +WINSOR. [Looking at his watch] Half-past eleven. [Yawns] Newmarket +always makes me sleepy. You're keeping Morison up. + + LADY ADELA goes to the door, blowing a kiss. CHARLES goes up to his + dressing-table and begins to brush his hair, sprinkling on essence. + There is a knock on the corridor door. + +Come in. + + DE LEVIS enters, clad in pyjamas and flowered dressing-gown. He is + a dark, good-looking, rather Eastern young man. His face is long + and disturbed. + +Hallo! De Levis! Anything I can do for you? + +DE LEVIS. [In a voice whose faint exoticism is broken by a vexed +excitement] I say, I'm awfully sorry, Winsor, but I thought I'd better +tell you at once. I've just had--er--rather a lot of money stolen. + +WINSOR. What! [There is something of outrage in his tone and glance, as +who should say: "In my house?"] How do you mean stolen? + +DE LEVIS. I put it under my pillow and went to have a bath; when I came +back it was gone. + +WINSOR. Good Lord! How much? + +DE LEVIS. Nearly a thousand-nine hundred and seventy, I think. + +WINSOR. Phew! [Again the faint tone of outrage, that a man should have +so much money about him]. + +DE LEVIS. I sold my Rosemary filly to-day on the course to Bentman the +bookie, and he paid me in notes. + +WINSOR. What? That weed Dancy gave you in the Spring? + +DE LEVIS. Yes. But I tried her pretty high the other day; and she's in +the Cambridgeshire. I was only out of my room a quarter of an hour, and +I locked my door. + +WINSOR. [Again outraged] You locked-- + +DE LEVIS. [Not seeing the fine shade] Yes, and had the key here. [He +taps his pocket] Look here! [He holds out a pocket-book] It's been +stuffed with my shaving papers. + +WINSOR. [Between feeling that such things don't happen, and a sense that +he will have to clear it up] This is damned awkward, De Levis. + +DE LEVIS. [With steel in his voice] Yes. I should like it back. + +WINSOR. Have you got the numbers of the notes? + +DE LEVIS. No. + +WINSOR. What were they? + +DE LEVIS. One hundred, three fifties, and the rest tens and fives. + +WINSOR. What d'you want me to do? + +DE LEVIS. Unless there's anybody you think-- + +WINSOR. [Eyeing him] Is it likely? + +DE Levis. Then I think the police ought to see my room. It's a lot of +money. + +WINSOR. Good Lord! We're not in Town; there'll be nobody nearer than +Newmarket at this time of night--four miles. + + The door from the bedroom is suddenly opened and LADY ADELA appears. + She has on a lace cap over her finished hair, and the wrapper. + +LADY A. [Closing the door] What is it? Are you ill, Mr De Levis? + +WINSOR. Worse; he's had a lot of money stolen. Nearly a thousand +pounds. + +LADY A. Gracious! Where? + +DE LEVIS. From under my pillow, Lady Adela--my door was locked--I was in +the bath-room. + +LADY A. But how fearfully thrilling! + +WINSOR. Thrilling! What's to be done? He wants it back. + +LADY A. Of course! [With sudden realisation] Oh! But Oh! it's quite +too unpleasant! + +WINSOR. Yes! What am I to do? Fetch the servants out of their rooms? +Search the grounds? It'll make the devil of a scandal. + +DE LEVIS. Who's next to me? + +LADY A. [Coldly] Oh! Mr De Levis! + +WINSOR. Next to you? The Dancys on this side, and Miss Orme on the +other. What's that to do with it? + +DE LEVIS. They may have heard something. + +WINSOR. Let's get them. But Dancy was down stairs when I came up. Get +Morison, Adela! No. Look here! When was this exactly? Let's have as +many alibis as we can. + +DE LEVIS. Within the last twenty minutes, certainly. + +WINSOR. How long has Morison been up with you? + +LADY A. I came up at eleven, and rang for her at once. + +WINSOR. [Looking at his watch] Half an hour. Then she's all right. +Send her for Margaret and the Dancys--there's nobody else in this wing. +No; send her to bed. We don't want gossip. D'you mind going yourself, +Adela? + +LADY A. Consult General Canynge, Charlie. + +WINSOR. Right. Could you get him too? D'you really want the police, +De Levis? + +DE LEVIS. [Stung by the faint contempt in his tone of voice] Yes, I do. + +WINSOR. Then, look here, dear! Slip into my study and telephone to the +police at Newmarket. There'll be somebody there; they're sure to have +drunks. I'll have Treisure up, and speak to him. [He rings the bell]. + + LADY ADELA goes out into her room and closes the door. + +WINSOR. Look here, De Levis! This isn't an hotel. It's the sort of +thing that doesn't happen in a decent house. Are you sure you're not +mistaken, and didn't have them stolen on the course? + +DE LEVIS. Absolutely. I counted them just before putting them under my +pillow; then I locked the door and had the key here. There's only one +door, you know. + +WINSOR. How was your window? + +DE LEVIS. Open. + +WINSOR. [Drawing back the curtains of his own window] You've got a +balcony like this. Any sign of a ladder or anything? + +DE LEVIS. No. + +WINSOR. It must have been done from the window, unless someone had a +skeleton key. Who knew you'd got that money? Where did Kentman pay you? + +DE LEVIS. Just round the corner in the further paddock. + +WINSOR. Anybody about? + +DE LEVIS. Oh, yes! + +WINSOR. Suspicious? + +DE LEVIS. I didn't notice anything. + +WINSOR. You must have been marked down and followed here. + +DE LEVIS. How would they know my room? + +WINSOR. Might have got it somehow. [A knock from the corridor] Come in. + + TREISURE, the Butler, appears, a silent, grave man of almost + supernatural conformity. DE LEVIS gives him a quick, hard look, + noted and resented by WINSOR. + +TREISURE. [To WINSOR] Yes, sir? + +WINSOR. Who valets Mr De Levis? + +TREISURE. Robert, Sir. + +WINSOR. When was he up last? + +TREISURE. In the ordinary course of things, about ten o'clock, sir. + +WINSOR. When did he go to bed? + +TREISURE. I dismissed at eleven. + +WINSOR. But did he go? + +TREISURE. To the best of my knowledge. Is there anything I can do, sir? + +WINSOR. [Disregarding a sign from DE LEVIS] Look here, Treisure, +Mr De Levis has had a large sum of money taken from his bedroom within +the last half hour. + +TREISURE. Indeed, Sir! + +WINSOR. Robert's quite all right, isn't he? + +TREISURE. He is, sir. + +DE LEVIS. How do you know? + + TREISURE's eyes rest on DE LEVIS. + +TREISURE. I am a pretty good judge of character, sir, if you'll excuse +me. + +WINSOR. Look here, De Levis, eighty or ninety notes must have been +pretty bulky. You didn't have them on you at dinner? + +DE LEVIS. No. + +WINSOR. Where did you put them? + +DE LEVIS. In a boot, and the boot in my suitcase, and locked it. + + TREISURE smiles faintly. + +WINSOR. [Again slightly outraged by such precautions in his house] And +you found it locked--and took them from there to put under your pillow? + +DE LEVIS. Yes. + +WINSOR. Run your mind over things, Treisure--has any stranger been +about? + +TREISURE. No, Sir. + +WINSOR. This seems to have happened between 11.15 and 11.30. Is that +right? [DE LEVIS nods] Any noise-anything outside-anything suspicious +anywhere? + +TREISURE. [Running his mind--very still] No, sir. + +WINSOR. What time did you shut up? + +TREISURE. I should say about eleven-fifteen, sir. As soon as Major +Colford and Captain Dancy had finished billiards. What was Mr De Levis +doing out of his room, if I may ask, sir? + +WINSOR. Having a bath; with his room locked and the key in his pocket. + +TREISURE. Thank you, sir. + +DE LEVIS. [Conscious of indefinable suspicion] Damn it! What do you +mean? I WAS! + +TREISURE. I beg your pardon, sir. + +WINSOR. [Concealing a smile] Look here, Treisure, it's infernally +awkward for everybody. + +TREISURE. It is, sir. + +WINSOR. What do you suggest? + +TREISURE. The proper thing, sir, I suppose, would be a cordon and a +complete search--in our interests. + +WINSOR. I entirely refuse to suspect anybody. + +TREISURE. But if Mr De Levis feels otherwise, sir? + +DE LEVIS. [Stammering] I? All I know is--the money was there, and it's +gone. + +WINSOR. [Compunctious] Quite! It's pretty sickening for you. But so +it is for anybody else. However, we must do our best to get it back for +you. + + A knock on the door. + +WINSOR. Hallo! + + TREISURE opens the door, and GENERAL. CANYNGE enters. + +Oh! It's you, General. Come in. Adela's told you? + + GENERAL CANYNGE nods. He is a slim man of about sixty, very well + preserved, intensely neat and self-contained, and still in evening + dress. His eyelids droop slightly, but his eyes are keen and his + expression astute. + +WINSOR. Well, General, what's the first move? + +CANYNGE. [Lifting his eyebrows] Mr De Levis presses the matter? + +DE Levis. [Flicked again] Unless you think it's too plebeian of me, +General Canynge--a thousand pounds. + +CANYNGE. [Drily] Just so! Then we must wait for the police, WINSOR. +Lady Adela has got through to them. What height are these rooms from the +ground, Treisure? + +TREISURE. Twenty-three feet from the terrace, sir. + +CANYNGE. Any ladders near? + +TREISURE. One in the stables, Sir, very heavy. No others within three +hundred yards. + +CANYNGE. Just slip down, and see whether that's been moved. + +TREISURE. Very good, General. [He goes out.] + +DE LEVIS. [Uneasily] Of course, he--I suppose you-- + +WINSOR. We do. + +CANYNGE. You had better leave this in our hands, De Levis. + +DE LEVIS. Certainly; only, the way he-- + +WINSOR. [Curtly] Treisure has been here since he was a boy. I should as +soon suspect myself. + +DE LEVIS. [Looking from one to the other--with sudden anger] You seem +to think--! What was I to do? Take it lying down and let whoever it is +get clear off? I suppose it's natural to want my money back? + + CANYNGE looks at his nails; WINSOR out of the window. + +WINSOR. [Turning] Of course, De Levis! + +DE LEVIS. [Sullenly] Well, I'll go to my room. When the police come, +perhaps you'll let me know. He goes out. + +WINSOR. Phew! Did you ever see such a dressing-gown? + + The door is opened. LADY ADELA and MARGARET ORME come in. The + latter is a vivid young lady of about twenty-five in a vivid + wrapper; she is smoking a cigarette. + +LADY A. I've told the Dancys--she was in bed. And I got through to +Newmarket, Charles, and Inspector Dede is coming like the wind on a motor +cycle. + +MARGARET. Did he say "like the wind," Adela? He must have imagination. +Isn't this gorgeous? Poor little Ferdy! + +WINSOR. [Vexed] You might take it seriously, Margaret; it's pretty +beastly for us all. What time did you come up? + +MARGARET. I came up with Adela. Am I suspected, Charles? How +thrilling! + +WINSOR. Did you hear anything? + +MARGARET. Only little Ferdy splashing. + +WINSOR. And saw nothing? + +MARGARET. Not even that, alas! + +LADY A. [With a finger held up] Leste! Un peu leste! Oh! Here are the +Dancys. Come in, you two! + + MABEL and RONALD DANCY enter. She is a pretty young woman with + bobbed hair, fortunately, for she has just got out of bed, and is in + her nightgown and a wrapper. DANCY is in his smoking jacket. He + has a pale, determined face with high cheekbones, small, deep-set + dark eyes, reddish crisp hair, and looks like a horseman. + +WINSOR. Awfully sorry to disturb you, Mrs Dancy; but I suppose you and +Ronny haven't heard anything. De Levis's room is just beyond Ronny's +dressing-room, you know. + +MABEL. I've been asleep nearly half an hour, and Ronny's only just come +up. + +CANYNGE. Did you happen to look out of your window, Mrs Dancy? + +MABEL. Yes. I stood there quite five minutes. + +CANYNGE. When? + +MABEL. Just about eleven, I should think. It was raining hard then. + +CANYNGE. Yes, it's just stopped. You saw nothing? + +MABEL. No. + +DANCY. What time does he say the money was taken? + +WINSOR. Between the quarter and half past. He'd locked his door and had +the key with him. + +MARGARET. How quaint! Just like an hotel. Does he put his boots out? + +LADY A. Don't be so naughty, Meg. + +CANYNGE. When exactly did you come up, Dance? + +DANCY. About ten minutes ago. I'd only just got into my dressing-room +before Lady Adela came. I've been writing letters in the hall since +Colford and I finished billiards. + +CANYNGE. You weren't up for anything in between? + +DANCY. No. + +MARGARET. The mystery of the grey room. + +DANCY. Oughtn't the grounds to be searched for footmarks? + +CANYNGE. That's for the police. + +DANCY. The deuce! Are they coming? + +CANYNGE. Directly. [A knock] Yes? + + TREISURE enters. + +Well? + +TREISURE. The ladder has not been moved, General. There isn't a sign. + +WINSOR. All right. Get Robert up, but don't say anything to him. By +the way, we're expecting the police. + +TREISURE. I trust they will not find a mare's nest, sir, if I may say +so. + + He goes. + +WINSOR. De Levis has got wrong with Treisure. [Suddenly] But, I say, +what would any of us have done if we'd been in his shoes? + +MARGARET. A thousand pounds? I can't even conceive having it. + +DANCY. We probably shouldn't have found it out. + +LADY A. No--but if we had. + +DANCY. Come to you--as he did. + +WINSOR. Yes; but there's a way of doing things. + +CANYNGE. We shouldn't have wanted the police. + +MARGARET. No. That's it. The hotel touch. + +LADY A. Poor young man; I think we're rather hard on him. + +WINSOR. He sold that weed you gave him, Dancy, to Kentman, the bookie, +and these were the proceeds. + +DANCY. Oh! + +WINSOR. He'd tried her high, he said. + +DANCY. [Grimly] He would. + +MABEL. Oh! Ronny, what bad luck! + +WINSOR. He must have been followed here. [At the window] After rain +like that, there ought to be footmarks. + + The splutter of a motor cycle is heard. + +MARGARET. Here's the wind! + +WINSOR. What's the move now, General? + +CANYNGE. You and I had better see the Inspector in De Levis's room, +WINSOR. [To the others] If you'll all be handy, in case he wants to put +questions for himself. + +MARGARET. I hope he'll want me; it's just too thrilling. + +DANCY. I hope he won't want me; I'm dog-tired. Come on, Mabel. [He +puts his arm in his wife's]. + +CANYNGE. Just a minute, Charles. + + He draws dose to WINSOR as the others are departing to their rooms. + +WINSOR. Yes, General? + +CANYNGE. We must be careful with this Inspector fellow. If he pitches +hastily on somebody in the house it'll be very disagreeable. + +WINSOR. By Jove! It will. + +CANYNGE. We don't want to rouse any ridiculous suspicion. + +WINSOR. Quite. [A knock] Come in! + +TREISURE enters. + +TREISURE. Inspector Dede, Sir. + +WINSOR. Show him in. + +TREISURE. Robert is in readiness, sir; but I could swear he knows +nothing about it. + +WINSOR. All right. + + TREISURE re-opens the door, and says "Come in, please." The + INSPECTOR enters, blue, formal, moustachioed, with a peaked cap in + his hand. + +WINSOR. Good evening, Inspector. Sorry to have brought you out at this +time of night. + +INSPECTOR. Good evenin', sir. Mr WINSOR? You're the owner here, I +think? + +WINSOR. Yes. General Canynge. + +INSPECTOR. Good evenin', General. I understand, a large sum of money? + +WINSOR. Yes. Shall we go straight to the room it was taken from? One +of my guests, Mr De Levis. It's the third room on the left. + +CANYNGE. We've not been in there yet, Inspector; in fact, we've done +nothing, except to find out that the stable ladder has not been moved. +We haven't even searched the grounds. + +INSPECTOR. Right, sir; I've brought a man with me. + + They go out. + + + CURTAIN. And interval of a Minute. + + + +SCENE II + + [The same set is used for this Scene, with the different arrangement + of furniture, as specified.] + + The bedroom of DE LEVIS is the same in shape as WINSOR'S + dressing-room, except that there is only one door--to the + corridor. The furniture, however, is differently arranged; a + small four-poster bedstead stands against the wall, Right Back, + jutting into the room. A chair, on which DE LEVIS's clothes are + thrown, stands at its foot. There is a dressing-table against the + wall to the left of the open windows, where the curtains are + drawn back and a stone balcony is seen. Against the wall to the + right of the window is a chest of drawers, and a washstand is + against the wall, Left. On a small table to the right of the bed + an electric reading lamp is turned up, and there is a light over + the dressing-table. The INSPECTOR is standing plumb centre + looking at the bed, and DE LEVIS by the back of the chair at the + foot of the bed. WINSOR and CANYNGE are close to the door, Right + Forward. + +INSPECTOR. [Finishing a note] Now, sir, if this is the room as you left +it for your bath, just show us exactly what you did after takin' the +pocket-book from the suit case. Where was that, by the way? + +DE LEVIS. [Pointing] Where it is now--under the dressing-table. + + He comes forward to the front of the chair, opens the pocket-book, + goes through the pretence of counting his shaving papers, closes the + pocket-book, takes it to the head of the bed and slips it under the + pillow. Makes the motion of taking up his pyjamas, crosses below + the INSPECTOR to the washstand, takes up a bath sponge, crosses to + the door, takes out the key, opens the door. + +INSPECTOR. [Writing]. We now have the room as it was when the theft was +committed. Reconstruct accordin' to 'uman nature, gentlemen--assumin' +the thief to be in the room, what would he try first?--the clothes, the +dressin'-table, the suit case, the chest of drawers, and last the bed. + + He moves accordingly, examining the glass on the dressing-table, the + surface of the suit cases, and the handles of the drawers, with a + spy-glass, for finger-marks. + +CANYNGE. [Sotto voce to WINSOR] The order would have been just the +other way. + + The INSPECTOR goes on hands and knees and examines the carpet + between the window and the bed. + +DE LEVIS. Can I come in again? + +INSPECTOR. [Standing up] Did you open the window, sir, or was it open +when you first came in? + +DE LEVIS. I opened it. + +INSPECTOR. Drawin' the curtains back first? + +DE LEVIS. Yes. + +INSPECTOR. [Sharply] Are you sure there was nobody in the room already? + +DE LEVIS. [Taken aback] I don't know. I never thought. I didn't look +under the bed, if you mean that. + +INSPECTOR. [Jotting] Did not look under bed. Did you look under it +after the theft? + +DE LEVIS. No. I didn't. + +INSPECTOR. Ah! Now, what did you do after you came back from your bath? +Just give us that precisely. + +DE LEVIS. Locked the door and left the key in. Put back my sponge, and +took off my dressing-gown and put it there. [He points to the footrails +of the bed] Then I drew the curtains, again. + +INSPECTOR. Shutting the window? + +DE LEVIS. No. I got into bed, felt for my watch to see the time. My +hand struck the pocket-book, and somehow it felt thinner. I took it out, +looked into it, and found the notes gone, and these shaving papers +instead. + +INSPECTOR. Let me have a look at those, sir. [He applies the +spy-glasses] And then? + +DE LEVIS. I think I just sat on the bed. + +INSPECTOR. Thinkin' and cursin' a bit, I suppose. Ye-es? + +DE LEVIS. Then I put on my dressing-gown and went straight to Mr WINSOR. + +INSPECTOR. Not lockin' the door? + +DE LEVIS. No. + +INSPECTOR. Exactly. [With a certain finality] Now, sir, what time did +you come up? + +DE LEVIS. About eleven. + +INSPECTOR. Precise, if you can give it me. + +DE LEVIS. Well, I know it was eleven-fifteen when I put my watch under +my pillow, before I went to the bath, and I suppose I'd been about a +quarter of an hour undressing. I should say after eleven, if anything. + +INSPECTOR. Just undressin'? Didn't look over your bettin' book? + +DE LEVIS. No. + +INSPECTOR. No prayers or anything? + +DE LEVIS. No. + +INSPECTOR. Pretty slippy with your undressin' as a rule? + +DE LEVIS. Yes. Say five past eleven. + +INSPECTOR. Mr WINSOR, what time did the gentleman come to you? + +WINSOR. Half-past eleven. + +INSPECTOR. How do you fix that, sir? + +WINSOR. I'd just looked at the time, and told my wife to send her maid +off. + +INSPECTOR. Then we've got it fixed between 11.15 and 11.30. [Jots] Now, +sir, before we go further I'd like to see your butler and the footman +that valets this gentleman. + +WINSOR. [With distaste] Very well, Inspector; only--my butler has been +with us from a boy. + +INSPECTOR. Quite so. This is just clearing the ground, sir. + +WINSOR. General, d'you mind touching that bell? + +CANYNGE rings a bell by the bed. + +INSPECTOR. Well, gentlemen, there are four possibilities. Either the +thief was here all the time, waiting under the bed, and slipped out after +this gentleman had gone to Mr WINSOR. Or he came in with a key that fits +the lock; and I'll want to see all the keys in the house. Or he came in +with a skeleton key and out by the window, probably droppin' from the +balcony. Or he came in by the window with a rope or ladder and out the +same way. [Pointing] There's a footmark here from a big boot which has +been out of doors since it rained. + +CANYNGE. Inspector--you er--walked up to the window when you first came +into the room. + +INSPECTOR. [Stiffly] I had not overlooked that, General. + +CANYNGE. Of course. + + A knock on the door relieves a certain tension, + +WINSOR. Come in. + + The footman ROBERT, a fresh-faced young man, enters, followed by + TREISURE. + +INSPECTOR. You valet Mr--Mr De Levis, I think? + +ROBERT. Yes, sir. + +INSPECTOR. At what time did you take his clothes and boots? + +ROBERT. Ten o'clock, sir. + +INSPECTOR. [With a pounce] Did you happen to look under his bed? + +ROBERT. No, sir. + +INSPECTOR. Did you come up again, to bring the clothes back? + +ROBERT. No, sir; they're still downstairs. + +INSPECTOR. Did you come up again for anything? + +ROBERT. No, Sir. + +INSPECTOR. What time did you go to bed? + +ROBERT. Just after eleven, Sir. + +INSPECTOR. [Scrutinising him] Now, be careful. Did you go to bed at +all? + +ROBERT. No, Sir. + +INSPECTOR. Then why did you say you did? There's been a theft here, and +anything you say may be used against you. + +ROBERT. Yes, Sir. I meant, I went to my room. + +INSPECTOR. Where is your room? + +ROBERT. On the ground floor, at the other end of the right wing, sir. + +WINSOR. It's the extreme end of the house from this, Inspector. He's +with the other two footmen. + +INSPECTOR. Were you there alone? + +ROBERT. No, Sir. Thomas and Frederick was there too. + +TREISURE. That's right; I've seen them. + +INSPECTOR. [Holding up his hand for silence] Were you out of the room +again after you went in? + +ROBERT. No, Sir. + +INSPECTOR. What were you doing, if you didn't go to bed? + +ROBERT. [To WINSOR] Beggin' your pardon, Sir, we were playin' Bridge. + +INSPECTOR. Very good. You can go. I'll see them later on. + +ROBERT. Yes, Sir. They'll say the same as me. He goes out, leaving a +smile on the face of all except the INSPECTOR and DE LEVIS. + +INSPECTOR. [Sharply] Call him back. + + TREISURE calls "Robert," and the FOOTMAN re-enters. + +ROBERT. Yes, Sir? + +INSPECTOR. Did you notice anything particular about Mr De Levis's +clothes? + +ROBERT. Only that they were very good, Sir. + +INSPECTOR. I mean--anything peculiar? + +ROBERT. [After reflection] Yes, Sir. + +INSPECTOR. Well? + +ROBERT. A pair of his boots this evenin' was reduced to one, sir. + +INSPECTOR. What did you make of that? + +ROBERT. I thought he might have thrown the other at a cat or something. + +INSPECTOR. Did you look for it? + +ROBERT. No, Sir; I meant to draw his attention to it in the morning. + +INSPECTOR. Very good. + +ROBERT. Yes, Sir. [He goes again.] + +INSPECTOR. [Looking at DE LEVIS] Well, sir, there's your story +corroborated. + +DE LEVIS. [Stiffly] I don't know why it should need corroboration, +Inspector. + +INSPECTOR. In my experience, you can never have too much of that. [To +WINSOR] I understand there's a lady in the room on this side [pointing +Left] and a gentleman on this [pointing Right] Were they in their rooms? + +WINSOR. Miss Orme was; Captain Dancy not. + +INSPECTOR. Do they know of the affair? + +WINSOR. Yes. + +INSPECTOR. Well, I'd just like the keys of their doors for a minute. My +man will get them. + + He goes to the door, opens it, and speaks to a constable in the + corridor. + +[To TREISURE] You can go with him. + + TREISURE goes Out. + +In the meantime I'll just examine the balcony. + + He goes out on the balcony, followed by DE LEVIS. + +WINSOR. [To CANYNGE] Damn De Levis and his money! It's deuced +invidious, all this, General. + +CANYNGE. The Inspector's no earthly. + + There is a simultaneous re-entry of the INSPECTOR from the balcony + and of TREISURE and the CONSTABLE from the corridor. + +CONSTABLE. [Handing key] Room on the left, Sir. [Handing key] Room on +the right, sir. + + The INSPECTOR tries the keys in the door, watched with tension by + the others. The keys fail. + +INSPECTOR. Put them back. + + Hands keys to CONSTABLE, who goes out, followed by TREISURE. + +I'll have to try every key in the house, sir. + +WINSOR. Inspector, do you really think it necessary to disturb the whole +house and knock up all my guests? It's most disagreeable, all this, you +know. The loss of the money is not such a great matter. Mr De Levis has +a very large income. + +CANYNGE. You could get the numbers of the notes from Kentman the +bookmaker, Inspector; he'll probably have the big ones, anyway. + +INSPECTOR. [Shaking his head] A bookie. I don't suppose he will, sir. +It's come and go with them, all the time. + +WINSOR. We don't want a Meldon Court scandal, Inspector. + +INSPECTOR. Well, Mr WINSOR, I've formed my theory. + + As he speaks, DE LEVIS comes in from the balcony. + +And I don't say to try the keys is necessary to it; but strictly, I ought +to exhaust the possibilities. + +WINSOR. What do you say, De Levis? D'you want everybody in the house +knocked up so that their keys can be tried? + +DE LEVIS. [Whose face, since his return, expresses a curious excitement] +No, I don't. + +INSPECTOR. Very well, gentlemen. In my opinion the thief walked in +before the door was locked, probably during dinner; and was under the +bed. He escaped by dropping from the balcony--the creeper at that corner +[he points stage Left] has been violently wrenched. I'll go down now, +and examine the grounds, and I'll see you again Sir. [He makes another +entry in his note-book] Goodnight, then, gentlemen! + +CANYNGE. Good-night! + +WINSOR. [With relief] I'll come with you, Inspector. + + He escorts him to the door, and they go out. + +DE LEVIS. [Suddenly] General, I know who took them. + +CANYNGE. The deuce you do! Are you following the Inspector's theory? + +DE LEVIS. [Contemptuously] That ass! [Pulling the shaving papers out +of the case] No! The man who put those there was clever and cool enough +to wrench that creeper off the balcony, as a blind. Come and look here, +General. [He goes to the window; the GENERAL follows. DE LEVIS points +stage Right] See the rail of my balcony, and the rail of the next? [He +holds up the cord of his dressing-gown, stretching his arms out] I've +measured it with this. Just over seven feet, that's all! If a man can +take a standing jump on to a narrow bookcase four feet high and balance +there, he'd make nothing of that. And, look here! [He goes out on the +balcony and returns with a bit of broken creeper in his hand, and holds +it out into the light] Someone's stood on that--the stalk's crushed--the +inner corner too, where he'd naturally stand when he took his jump back. + +CANYNGE. [After examining it--stiffly] That other balcony is young +Dancy's, Mr De Levis; a soldier and a gentleman. This is an +extraordinary insinuation. + +DE LEVIS. Accusation. + +CANYNGE. What! + +DE LEVIS. I have intuitions, General; it's in my blood. I see the whole +thing. Dancy came up, watched me into the bathroom, tried my door, +slipped back into his dressing-room, saw my window was open, took that +jump, sneaked the notes, filled the case up with these, wrenched the +creeper there [He points stage Left] for a blind, jumped back, and +slipped downstairs again. It didn't take him four minutes altogether. + +CANYNGE. [Very gravely] This is outrageous, De Levis. Dancy says he +was downstairs all the time. You must either withdraw unreservedly, +or I must confront you with him. + +DE LEVIS. If he'll return the notes and apologise, I'll do nothing-- +except cut him in future. He gave me that filly, you know, as a hopeless +weed, and he's been pretty sick ever since, that he was such a flat as +not to see how good she was. Besides, he's hard up, I know. + +CANYNGE. [After a vexed turn up and down the room] It's mad, sir, to +jump to conclusions like this. + +DE LEVIS. Not so mad as the conclusion Dancy jumped to when he lighted +on my balcony. + +CANYNGE. Nobody could have taken this money who did not know you had it. + +DE LEVIS. How do you know that he didn't? + +CANYNGE. Do you know that he did? + +DE LEVIS. I haven't the least doubt of it. + +CANYNGE. Without any proof. This is very ugly, De Levis. I must tell +WINSOR. + +DE LEVIS. [Angrily] Tell the whole blooming lot. You think I've no +feelers, but I've felt the atmosphere here, I can tell you, General. If +I were in Dancy's shoes and he in mine, your tone to me would be very +different. + +CANYNGE. [Suavely frigid] I'm not aware of using any tone, as you call +it. But this is a private house, Mr De Levis, and something is due to +our host and to the esprit de corps that exists among gentlemen. + +DE LEVIS. Since when is a thief a gentleman? Thick as thieves--a good +motto, isn't it? + +CANYNGE. That's enough! [He goes to the door, but stops before opening +it] Now, look here! I have some knowledge of the world. Once an +accusation like this passes beyond these walls no one can foresee the +consequences. Captain Dancy is a gallant fellow, with a fine record as a +soldier; and only just married. If he's as innocent as--Christ--mud will +stick to him, unless the real thief is found. In the old days of swords, +either you or he would not have gone out of this room alive. It you +persist in this absurd accusation, you will both of you go out of this +room dead in the eyes of Society: you for bringing it, he for being the +object of it. + +DE LEVIS. Society! Do you think I don't know that I'm only tolerated +for my money? Society can't add injury to insult and have my money as +well, that's all. If the notes are restored I'll keep my mouth shut; if +they're not, I shan't. I'm certain I'm right. I ask nothing better than +to be confronted with Dancy; but, if you prefer it, deal with him in your +own way--for the sake of your esprit de corps. + +CANYNGE. 'Pon my soul, Mr De Levis, you go too far. + +DE LEVIS. Not so far as I shall go, General Canynge, if those notes +aren't given back. + +WINSOR comes in. + +WINSOR. Well, De Levis, I'm afraid that's all we can do for the present. +So very sorry this should have happened in my house. + +CANYNGE. [Alter a silence] There's a development, WINSOR. Mr De Levis +accuses one of your guests. + +WINSOR. What? + +CANYNGE. Of jumping from his balcony to this, taking the notes, and +jumping back. I've done my best to dissuade him from indulging the +fancy--without success. Dancy must be told. + +DE LEVIS. You can deal with Dancy in your own way. All I want is the +money back. + +CANYNGE. [Drily] Mr De Levis feels that he is only valued for his +money, so that it is essential for him to have it back. + +WINSOR. Damn it! This is monstrous, De Levis. I've known Ronald Dancy +since he was a boy. + +CANYNGE. You talk about adding injury to insult, De Levis. What do you +call such treatment of a man who gave you the mare out of which you made +this thousand pounds? + +DE LEVIS. I didn't want the mare; I took her as a favour. + +CANYNGE. With an eye to possibilities, I venture to think--the principle +guides a good many transactions. + +DE LEVIS. [As if flicked on a raw spot] In my race, do you mean? + +CANYNGE. [Coldly] I said nothing of the sort. + +DE LEVIS. No; you don't say these things, any of you. + +CANYNGE. Nor did I think it. + +DE LEVIS. Dancy does. + +WINSOR. Really, De Levis, if this is the way you repay hospitality-- + +DE LEVIS. Hospitality that skins my feelings and costs me a thousand +pounds! + +CANYNGE. Go and get Dancy, WINSOR; but don't say anything to him. + + WINSOR goes out. + +CANYNGE. Perhaps you will kindly control yourself, and leave this to me. + + DE LEVIS turns to the window and lights a cigarette. WINSOR comes + back, followed by DANCY. + +CANYNGE. For WINSOR's sake, Dancy, we don't want any scandal or fuss +about this affair. We've tried to make the police understand that. To +my mind the whole thing turns on our finding who knew that De Levis had +this money. It's about that we want to consult you. + +WINSOR. Kentman paid De Levis round the corner in the further paddock, +he says. + + DE LEVIS turns round from the window, so that he and DANCY are + staring at each other. + +CANYNGE. Did you hear anything that throws light, Dancy? As it was your +filly originally, we thought perhaps you might. + +DANCY. I? No. + +CANYNGE. Didn't hear of the sale on the course at all? + +DANCY. No. + +CANYNGE. Then you can't suggest any one who could have known? Nothing +else was taken, you see. + +DANCY. De Levis is known to be rolling, as I am known to be stony. + +CANYNGE. There are a good many people still rolling, besides Mr De +Levis, but not many people with so large a sum in their pocket-books. + +DANCY. He won two races. + +DE LEVIS. Do you suggest that I bet in ready money? + +DANCY. I don't know how you bet, and I don't care. + +CANYNGE. You can't help us, then? + +DANCY. No. I can't. Anything else? [He looks fixedly at DE LEVIS]. + +CANYNGE. [Putting his hand on DANCY's arm] Nothing else, thank you, +Dancy. + + DANCY goes. CANYNGE puts his hand up to his face. A moment's + silence. + +WINSOR. You see, De Levis? He didn't even know you'd got the money. + +DE LEVIS. Very conclusive. + +WINSOR. Well! You are--! + + There is a knock on the door, and the INSPECTOR enters. + +INSPECTOR. I'm just going, gentlemen. The grounds, I'm sorry to say, +have yielded nothing. It's a bit of a puzzle. + +CANYNGE. You've searched thoroughly? + +INSPECTOR. We have, General. I can pick up nothing near the terrace. + +WINSOR. [After a look at DE LEVIS, whose face expresses too much] H'm! +You'll take it up from the other end, then, Inspector? + +INSPECTOR. Well, we'll see what we can do with the bookmakers about the +numbers, sir. Before I go, gentlemen--you've had time to think it over-- +there's no one you suspect in the house, I suppose? + + DE LEVIS's face is alive and uncertain. CANYNGE is staring at him + very fixedly. + +WINSOR. [Emphatically] No. + + DE LEVIS turns and goes out on to the balcony. + +INSPECTOR. If you're coming in to the racing to-morrow, sir, you might +give us a call. I'll have seen Kentman by then. + +WINSOR. Right you are, Inspector. Good night, and many thanks. + +INSPECTOR. You're welcome, sir. [He goes out.] + +WINSOR. Gosh! I thought that chap [With a nod towards the balcony] +was going to--! Look here, General, we must stop his tongue. Imagine it +going the rounds. They may never find the real thief, you know. It's +the very devil for Dancy. + +CANYNGE. WINSOR! Dancy's sleeve was damp. + +WINSOR. How d'you mean? + +CANYNGE. Quite damp. It's been raining. + + The two look at each other. + +WINSOR. I--I don't follow-- [His voice is hesitative and lower, showing +that he does]. + +CANYNGE. It was coming down hard; a minute out in it would have been +enough--[He motions with his chin towards the balcony]. + +WINSOR. [Hastily] He must have been out on his balcony since. + +CANYNGE. It stopped before I came up, half an hour ago. + +WINSOR. He's been leaning on the wet stone, then. + +CANYNGE. With the outside of the upper part of the arm? + +WINSOR. Against the wall, perhaps. There may be a dozen explanations. +[Very low and with great concentration] I entirely and absolutely refuse +to believe anything of the sort against Ronald Dancy in my house. Dash +it, General, we must do as we'd be done by. It hits us all--it hits us +all. The thing's intolerable. + +CANYNGE. I agree. Intolerable. [Raising his voice] Mr De Levis! + +DE LEVIS returns into view, in the centre of the open window. + +CANYNGE. [With cold decision] Young Dancy was an officer and is a +gentleman; this insinuation is pure supposition, and you must not make +it. Do you understand me? + +DE LEVIS. My tongue is still mine, General, if my money isn't! + +CANYNGE. [Unmoved] Must not. You're a member of three Clubs, you want +to be member of a fourth. No one who makes such an insinuation against a +fellow-guest in a country house, except on absolute proof, can do so +without complete ostracism. Have we your word to say nothing? + +DE LEVIS. Social blackmail? H'm! + +CANYNGE. Not at all--simple warning. If you consider it necessary in +your interests to start this scandal-no matter how, we shall consider it +necessary in ours to dissociate ourselves completely from one who so +recklessly disregards the unwritten code. + +DE LEVIS. Do you think your code applies to me? Do you, General? + +CANYNGE. To anyone who aspires to be a gentleman, Sir. + +DE LEVIS. Ah! But you haven't known me since I was a boy. + +CANYNGE. Make up your mind. + + A pause. + +DE LEVIS. I'm not a fool, General. I know perfectly well that you can +get me outed. + +CANYNGE. [Icily] Well? + +DE LEVIS. [Sullenly] I'll say nothing about it, unless I get more +proof. + +CANYNGE. Good! We have implicit faith in Dancy. + + There is a moment's encounter of eyes; the GENERAL'S steady, shrewd, + impassive; WINSOR'S angry and defiant; DE LEVIS's mocking, a little + triumphant, malicious. Then CANYNGE and WINSOR go to the door, and + pass out. + +DE LEVIS. [To himself] Rats! + + + CURTAIN + + + + +ACT II + +SCENE I + + Afternoon, three weeks later, in the card room of a London Club. A + fire is burning, Left. A door, Right, leads to the billiard-room. + Rather Left of Centre, at a card table, LORD ST ERTH, an old John + Bull, sits facing the audience; to his right is GENERAL CANYNGE, to + his left AUGUSTUS BORRING, an essential Clubman, about thirty-five + years old, with a very slight and rather becoming stammer or click + in his speech. The fourth Bridge player, CHARLES WINSOR, stands + with his back to the fire. + +BORRING. And the r-rub. + +WINSOR. By George! You do hold cards, Borring. + +ST ERTH. [Who has lost] Not a patch on the old whist--this game. Don't +know why I play it--never did. + +CANYNGE. St Erth, shall we raise the flag for whist again? + +WINSOR. No go, General. You can't go back on pace. No getting a man to +walk when he knows he can fly. The young men won't look at it. + +BORRING. Better develop it so that t-two can sit out, General. + +ST ERTH. We ought to have stuck to the old game. Wish I'd gone to +Newmarket, Canynge, in spite of the weather. + +CANYNGE. [Looking at his watch] Let's hear what's won the +Cambridgeshire. Ring, won't you, WINSOR? [WINSOR rings.] + +ST ERTH. By the way, Canynge, young De Levis was blackballed. + +CANYNGE. What! + +ST ERTH. I looked in on my way down. + + CANYNGE sits very still, and WINSOR utters a disturbed sound. + +BORRING. But of c-course he was, General. What did you expect? + + A FOOTMAN enters. + +FOOTMAN. Yes, my lord? + +ST ERTH. What won the Cambridgeshire? + +FOOTMAN. Rosemary, my lord. Sherbet second; Barbizon third. Nine to +one the winner. + +WINSOR. Thank you. That's all. + + FOOTMAN goes. + +BORRING. Rosemary! And De Levis sold her! But he got a good p-price, I +suppose. + + The other three look at him. + +ST ERTH. Many a slip between price and pocket, young man. + +CANYNGE. Cut! [They cut]. + +BORRING. I say, is that the yarn that's going round about his having had +a lot of m-money stolen in a country house? By Jove! He'll be pretty +s-sick. + +WINSOR. You and I, Borring. + + He sits down in CANYNGE'S chair, and the GENERAL takes his place by + the fire. + +BORRING. Phew! Won't Dancy be mad! He gave that filly away to save her +keep. He was rather pleased to find somebody who'd take her. Bentman +must have won a p-pot. She was at thirty-threes a fortnight ago. + +ST ERTH. All the money goes to fellows who don't know a horse from a +haystack. + +CANYNGE. [Profoundly] And care less. Yes! We want men racing to whom +a horse means something. + +BORRING. I thought the horse m-meant the same to everyone, General-- +chance to get the b-better of one's neighbour. + +CANYNGE. [With feeling] The horse is a noble animal, sir, as you'd know +if you'd owed your life to them as often as I have. + +BORRING. They always try to take mine, General. I shall never belong to +the noble f-fellowship of the horse. + +ST ERTH. [Drily] Evidently. Deal! + + As BORRING begins to deal the door is opened and MAJOR COLFORD + appears--a lean and moustached cavalryman. + +BORRING. Hallo, C-Colford. + +COLFORD. General! + + Something in the tone of his voice brings them all to a standstill. + +COLFORD. I want your advice. Young De Levis in there [He points to the +billiard-room from which he has just come] has started a blasphemous +story-- + +CANYNGE. One moment. Mr Borring, d'you mind-- + +COLFORD. It makes no odds, General. Four of us in there heard him. +He's saying it was Ronald Dancy robbed him down at WINSOR's. The +fellow's mad over losing the price of that filly now she's won the +Cambridgeshire. + +BORRING. [All ears] Dancy! Great S-Scott! + +COLFORD. Dancy's in the Club. If he hadn't been I'd have taken it on +myself to wring the bounder's neck. + + WINSOR and BORRING have risen. ST ERTH alone remains seated. + +CANYNGE. [After consulting ST ERTH with a look] Ask De Levis to be good +enough to come in here. Borring, you might see that Dancy doesn't leave +the Club. We shall want him. Don't say anything to him, and use your +tact to keep people off. + + BORRING goes out, followed by COLFORD. WINSOR. Result of hearing + he was black-balled--pretty slippy. + +CANYNGE. St Erth, I told you there was good reason when I asked you to +back young De Levis. WINSOR and I knew of this insinuation; I wanted to +keep his tongue quiet. It's just wild assertion; to have it bandied +about was unfair to Dancy. The duel used to keep people's tongues in +order. + +ST ERTH. H'm! It never settled anything, except who could shoot +straightest. + +COLFORD. [Re-appearing] De Levis says he's nothing to add to what he +said to you before, on the subject. + +CANYNGE. Kindly tell him that if he wishes to remain a member of this +Club he must account to the Committee for such a charge against a +fellow-member. Four of us are here, and form a quorum. + + COLFORD goes out again. + +ST ERTH. Did Kentman ever give the police the numbers of those notes, +WINSOR? + +WINSOR. He only had the numbers of two--the hundred, and one of the +fifties. + +ST ERTH. And they haven't traced 'em? + +WINSOR. Not yet. + + As he speaks, DE LEVIS comes in. He is in a highly-coloured, not to + say excited state. COLFORD follows him. + +DE LEVIS. Well, General Canynge! It's a little too strong all this-- +a little too strong. [Under emotion his voice is slightly more exotic]. + +CANYNGE. [Calmly] It is obvious, Mr De Levis, that you and Captain +Dancy can't both remain members of this Club. We ask you for an +explanation before requesting one resignation or the other. + +DE LEVIS. You've let me down. + +CANYNGE. What! + +DE LEVIS. Well, I shall tell people that you and Lord St Erth backed me +up for one Club, and asked me to resign from another. + +CANYNGE. It's a matter of indifference to me, sir, what you tell people. + +ST ERTH. [Drily] You seem a venomous young man. + +DE LEVIS. I'll tell you what seems to me venomous, my lord--chasing a +man like a pack of hounds because he isn't your breed. + +CANYNGE. You appear to have your breed on the brain, sir. Nobody else +does, so far as I know. + +DE LEVIS. Suppose I had robbed Dancy, would you chase him out for +complaining of it? + +COLFORD. My God! If you repeat that-- + +CANYNGE. Steady, Colford! + +WINSOR. You make this accusation that Dancy stole your money in my house +on no proof--no proof; and you expect Dancy's friends to treat you as if +you were a gentleman! That's too strong, if you like! + +DE LEVIS. No proof? Bentman told me at Newmarket yesterday that Dancy +did know of the sale. He told Goole, and Goole says that he himself +spoke of it to Dancy. + +WINSOR. Well--if he did? + +DE LEVIS. Dancy told you he didn't know of it in General Canynge's +presence, and mine. [To CANYNGE] You can't deny that, if you want to. + +CANYNGE. Choose your expressions more nicely, please! + +DE LEVIS. Proof! Did they find any footmarks in the grounds below that +torn creeper? Not a sign! You saw how he can jump; he won ten pounds +from me that same evening betting on what he knew was a certainty. +That's your Dancy--a common sharper! + +CANYNGE. [Nodding towards the billiard-room] Are those fellows still in +there, Colford? + +COLFORD. Yes. + +CANYNGE. Then bring Dancy up, will you? But don't say anything to him. + +COLFORD. [To DE LEVIS] You may think yourself damned lucky if he doesn't +break your neck. + + He goes out. The three who are left with DE LEVIS avert their eyes + from him. + +DE LEVIS. [Smouldering] I have a memory, and a sting too. Yes, my +lord--since you are good enough to call me venomous. [To CANYNGE] I +quite understand--I'm marked for Coventry now, whatever happens. Well, +I'll take Dancy with me. + +ST ERTH. [To himself] This Club has always had a decent, quiet name. + +WINSOR. Are you going to retract, and apologise in front of Dancy and +the members who heard you? + +DE LEVIS. No fear! + +ST ERTH. You must be a very rich man, sir. A jury is likely to take the +view that money can hardly compensate for an accusation of that sort. + + DE LEVIS stands silent. CANYNGE. Courts of law require proof. + +ST ERTH. He can make it a criminal action. + +WINSOR. Unless you stop this at once, you may find yourself in prison. +If you can stop it, that is. + +ST ERTH. If I were young Dancy, nothing should induce me. + +DE LEVIS. But you didn't steal my money, Lord St Erth. + +ST ERTH. You're deuced positive, sir. So far as I could understand it, +there were a dozen ways you could have been robbed. It seems to me you +value other men's reputations very lightly. + +DE LEVIS. Confront me with Dancy and give me fair play. + +WINSOR. [Aside to CANYNGE] Is it fair to Dancy not to let him know? + +CANYNGE. Our duty is to the Club now, WINSOR. We must have this cleared +up. + + COLFORD comes in, followed by BORRING and DANCY. + +ST ERTH. Captain Dancy, a serious accusation has been made against you +by this gentleman in the presence of several members of the Club. + +DANCY. What is it? + +ST ERTH. That you robbed him of that money at WINSOR's. + +DANCY. [Hard and tense] Indeed! On what grounds is he good enough to +say that? + +DE LEVIS. [Tense too] You gave me that filly to save yourself her keep, +and you've been mad about it ever since; you knew from Goole that I had +sold her to Kentman and been paid in cash, yet I heard you myself deny +that you knew it. You had the next room to me, and you can jump like a +cat, as we saw that evening; I found some creepers crushed by a weight on +my balcony on that side. When I went to the bath your door was open, and +when I came back it was shut. + +CANYNGE. That's the first we have heard about the door. + +DE LEVIS. I remembered it afterwards. + +ST ERTH. Well, Dancy? + +DANCY. [With intense deliberation] I'll settle this matter with any +weapons, when and where he likes. + +ST ERTH. [Drily] It can't be settled that way--you know very well. +You must take it to the Courts, unless he retracts. + +DANCY. Will you retract? + +DE LEVIS. Why did you tell General Canynge you didn't know Kentman had +paid me in cash? + +DANCY. Because I didn't. + +DE LEVIS. Then Kentman and Goole lied--for no reason? + +DANCY. That's nothing to do with me. + +DE LEVIS. If you were downstairs all the time, as you say, why was your +door first open and then shut? + +DANCY. Being downstairs, how should I know? The wind, probably. + +DE LEVIS. I should like to hear what your wife says about it. + +DANCY. Leave my wife alone, you damned Jew! + +ST ERTH. Captain Dancy! + +DE LEVIS. [White with rage] Thief! + +DANCY. Will you fight? + +DE LEVIS. You're very smart-dead men tell no tales. No! Bring your +action, and we shall see. + + DANCY takes a step towards him, but CANYNGE and WINSOR interpose. + +ST ERTH. That'll do, Mr De Levis; we won't keep you. [He looks round] +Kindly consider your membership suspended till this matter has been +threshed out. + +DE LEVIS. [Tremulous with anger] Don't trouble yourselves about my +membership. I resign it. [To DANCY] You called me a damned Jew. My +race was old when you were all savages. I am proud to be a Jew. Au +revoir, in the Courts. + + He goes out, and silence follows his departure. + +ST ERTH. Well, Captain Dancy? + +DANCY. If the brute won't fight, what am I to do, sir? + +ST ERTH. We've told you--take action, to clear your name. + +DANCY. Colford, you saw me in the hall writing letters after our game. + +COLFORD. Certainly I did; you were there when I went to the +smoking-room. + +CANYNGE. How long after you left the billiard-room? + +COLFORD. About five minutes. + +DANCY. It's impossible for me to prove that I was there all the time. + +CANYNGE. It's for De Levis to prove what he asserts. You heard what he +said about Goole? + +DANCY. If he told me, I didn't take it in. + +ST ERTH. This concerns the honour of the Club. Are you going to take +action? + +DANCY. [Slowly] That is a very expensive business, Lord St Erth, and +I'm hard up. I must think it over. [He looks round from face to face] +Am I to take it that there is a doubt in your minds, gentlemen? + +COLFORD. [Emphatically] No. + +CANYNGE. That's not the question, Dancy. This accusation was overheard +by various members, and we represent the Club. If you don't take action, +judgment will naturally go by default. + +DANCY. I might prefer to look on the whole thing as beneath contempt. + + He turns and goes out. When he is gone there is an even longer + silence than after DE LEVIS's departure. + +ST ERTH. [Abruptly] I don't like it. + +WINSOR. I've known him all his life. + +COLFORD. You may have my head if he did it, Lord St Erth. He and I have +been in too many holes together. By Gad! My toe itches for that +fellow's butt end. + +BORRING. I'm sorry; but has he t-taken it in quite the right way? I +should have thought--hearing it s-suddenly-- + +COLFORD. Bosh! + +WINSOR. It's perfectly damnable for him. + +ST ERTH. More damnable if he did it, WINSOR. + +BORRING. The Courts are b-beastly distrustful, don't you know. + +COLFORD. His word's good enough for me. + +CANYNGE. We're as anxious to believe Dancy as you, Colford, for the +honour of the Army and the Club. + +WINSOR. Of course, he'll bring a case, when he's thought it over. + +ST ERTH. What are we to do in the meantime? + +COLFORD. If Dancy's asked to resign, you may take my resignation too. + +BORRING. I thought his wanting to f-fight him a bit screeny. + +COLFORD. Wouldn't you have wanted a shot at the brute? A law court? +Pah! + +WINSOR. Yes. What'll be his position even if he wins? + +BORRING. Damages, and a stain on his c-character. + +WINSOR. Quite so, unless they find the real thief. People always +believe the worst. + +COLFORD. [Glaring at BORRING] They do. + +CANYNGE. There is no decent way out of a thing of this sort. + +ST ERTH. No. [Rising] It leaves a bad taste. I'm sorry for young Mrs +Dancy--poor woman! + +BORRING. Are you going to play any more? + +ST ERTH. [Abruptly] No, sir. Good night to you. Canynge, can I give +you a lift? + + He goes out, followed by CANYNGE. BORRING. + +[After a slight pause] Well, I shall go and take the t-temperature of +the Club. + + He goes out. + +COLFORD. Damn that effeminate stammering chap! What can we do for +Dancy, WINSOR? + +WINSOR. Colford! [A slight pause] The General felt his coat sleeve +that night, and it was wet. + +COLFORD. Well! What proof's that? No, by George! An old +school-fellow, a brother officer, and a pal. + +WINSOR. If he did do it-- + +COLFORD. He didn't. But if he did, I'd stick to him, and see him +through it, if I could. + + WINSOR walks over to the fire, stares into it, turns round and + stares at COLFORD, who is standing motionless. + +COLFORD. Yes, by God! + + + CURTAIN. + + + +SCENE II + [NOTE.--This should be a small set capable of being set quickly + within that of the previous scene.] + + Morning of the following day. The DANCYS' flat. In the + sitting-room of this small abode MABEL DANCY and MARGARET ORME + are sitting full face to the audience, on a couch in the centre + of the room, in front of the imaginary window. There is a + fireplace, Left, with fire burning; a door below it, Left; and a + door on the Right, facing the audience, leads to a corridor and + the outer door of the flat, which is visible. Their voices are + heard in rapid exchange; then as the curtain rises, so does + MABEL. + +MABEL. But it's monstrous! + +MARGARET. Of course! [She lights a cigarette and hands the case to +MABEL, who, however, sees nothing but her own thoughts] De Levis might +just as well have pitched on me, except that I can't jump more than six +inches in these skirts. + +MABEL. It's wicked! Yesterday afternoon at the Club, did you say? +Ronny hasn't said a word to me. Why? + +MARGARET. [With a long puff of smoke] Doesn't want you bothered. + +MABEL. But----Good heavens!----Me! + +MARGARET. Haven't you found out, Mabel, that he isn't exactly +communicative? No desperate character is. + +MABEL. Ronny? + +MARGARET. Gracious! Wives are at a disadvantage, especially early on. +You've never hunted with him, my dear. I have. He takes more sudden +decisions than any man I ever knew. He's taking one now, I'll bet. + +MABEL. That beast, De Levis! I was in our room next door all the time. + +MARGARET. Was the door into Ronny's dressing-room open? + +MABEL. I don't know; I--I think it was. + +MARGARET. Well, you can say so in Court any way. Not that it matters. +Wives are liars by law. + +MABEL. [Staring down at her] What do you mean--Court? + +MARGARET. My dear, he'll have to bring an action for defamation of +character, or whatever they call it. + +MABEL. Were they talking of this last night at the WINSOR's? + +MARGARET. Well, you know a dinner-table, Mabel--Scandal is heaven-sent +at this time of year. + +MABEL. It's terrible, such a thing--terrible! + +MARGARET. [Gloomily] If only Ronny weren't known to be so broke. + +MABEL. [With her hands to her forehead] I can't realise--I simply can't. +If there's a case would it be all right afterwards? + +MARGARET. Do you remember St Offert--cards? No, you wouldn't--you were +in high frocks. Well, St Offert got damages, but he also got the hoof, +underneath. He lives in Ireland. There isn't the slightest connection, +so far as I can see, Mabel, between innocence and reputation. Look at +me! + +MABEL. We'll fight it tooth and nail! + +MARGARET. Mabel, you're pure wool, right through; everybody's sorry for +you. + +MABEL. It's for him they ought-- + +MARGARET. [Again handing the cigarette case] Do smoke, old thing. + + MABEL takes a cigarette this time, but does not light it. + +It isn't altogether simple. General Canynge was there last night. You +don't mind my being beastly frank, do you? + +MABEL. No. I want it. + +MARGARET. Well, he's all for esprit de corps and that. But he was +awfully silent. + +MABEL. I hate half-hearted friends. Loyalty comes before everything. + +MARGARET. Ye-es; but loyalties cut up against each other sometimes, you +know. + +MABEL. I must see Ronny. D'you mind if I go and try to get him on the +telephone? + +MARGARET. Rather not. + + MABEL goes out by the door Left. + +Poor kid! + + She curls herself into a corner of the sofa, as if trying to get + away from life. The bell rings. MARGARET stirs, gets up, and goes + out into the corridor, where she opens the door to LADY ADELA + WINSOR, whom she precedes into the sitting-room. + +Enter the second murderer! D'you know that child knew nothing? + +LADY A. Where is she? + +MARGARET. Telephoning. Adela, if there's going to be an action, we +shall be witnesses. I shall wear black georgette with an ecru hat. Have +you ever given evidence? + +LADY A. Never. + +MARGARET. It must be too frightfully thrilling. + +LADY A. Oh! Why did I ever ask that wretch De Levis? I used to think +him pathetic. Meg did you know----Ronald Dancy's coat was wet? The +General happened to feel it. + +MARGARET. So that's why he was so silent. + +LADY A. Yes; and after the scene in the Club yesterday he went to see +those bookmakers, and Goole--what a name!--is sure he told Dancy about +the sale. + +MARGARET. [Suddenly] I don't care. He's my third cousin. Don't you +feel you couldn't, Adela? + +LADY A. Couldn't--what? + +MARGARET. Stand for De Levis against one of ourselves? + +LADY A. That's very narrow, Meg. + +MARGARET. Oh! I know lots of splendid Jews, and I rather liked little +Ferdy; but when it comes to the point--! They all stick together; why +shouldn't we? It's in the blood. Open your jugular, and see if you +haven't got it. + +LADY A. My dear, my great grandmother was a Jewess. I'm very proud of +her. + +MARGARET. Inoculated. [Stretching herself] Prejudices, Adela--or are +they loyalties--I don't know--cris-cross--we all cut each other's throats +from the best of motives. + +LADY A. Oh! I shall remember that. Delightful! [Holding up a finger] +You got it from Bergson, Meg. Isn't he wonderful? + +MARGARET. Yes; have you ever read him? + +LADY A. Well--No. [Looking at the bedroom door] That poor child! I +quite agree. I shall tell every body it's ridiculous. You don't really +think Ronald Dancy--? + +MARGARET. I don't know, Adela. There are people who simply can't live +without danger. I'm rather like that myself. They're all right when +they're getting the D.S.O. or shooting man-eaters; but if there's no +excitement going, they'll make it--out of sheer craving. I've seen Ronny +Dancy do the maddest things for no mortal reason except the risk. He's +had a past, you know. + +LADY A. Oh! Do tell! + +MARGARET. He did splendidly in the war, of course, because it suited +him; but--just before--don't you remember--a very queer bit of riding? + +LADY A. No. + +MARGARET. Most dare-devil thing--but not quite. You must remember-- +it was awfully talked about. And then, of course, right up to his +marriage--[She lights a cigarette.] + +LADY A. Meg, you're very tantalising! + +MARGARET. A foreign-looking girl--most plummy. Oh! Ronny's got charm +--this Mabel child doesn't know in the least what she's got hold of! + +LADY A. But they're so fond of each other! + +MARGARET. That's the mistake. The General isn't mentioning the coat, is +he? + +LADY A. Oh, no! It was only to Charles. + + MABEL returns. + +MARGARET. Did you get him? + +MABEL. No; he's not at Tattersall's, nor at the Club. + + LADY ADELA rises and greets her with an air which suggests + bereavement. + +LADY A. Nobody's going to believe this, my dear. + +MABEL. [Looking straight at her] Nobody who does need come here, or +trouble to speak to us again. + +LADY A. That's what I was afraid of; you're going to be defiant. Now +don't! Just be perfectly natural. + +MABEL. So easy, isn't it? I could kill anybody who believes such a +thing. + +MARGARET. You'll want a solicitor, Mabel, Go to old Mr Jacob Twisden. + +LADY A. Yes; he's so comforting. + +MARGARET. He got my pearls back once--without loss of life. A +frightfully good fireside manner. Do get him here, Mabel, and have a +heart-to-heart talk, all three of you! + +MABEL. [Suddenly] Listen! There's Ronny! + + DANCY comes in. + +DANCY. [With a smile] Very good of you to have come. + +MARGARET. Yes. We're just going. Oh! Ronny, this is quite too-- +[But his face dries her up; and sidling past, she goes]. + +LADY A. Charles sent his-love--[Her voice dwindles on the word, and she, +too, goes]. + +DANCY. [Crossing to his wife] What have they been saying? + +MABEL. Ronny! Why didn't you tell me? + +DANCY. I wanted to see De Levis again first. + +MABEL. That wretch! How dare he? Darling! [She suddenly clasps and +kisses him. He does not return the kiss, but remains rigid in her arms, +so that she draws away and looks at him] It's hurt you awfully, I know. + +DANCY. Look here, Mabel! Apart from that muck--this is a ghastly +tame-cat sort of life. Let's cut it and get out to Nairobi. I can scare +up the money for that. + +MABEL. [Aghast] But how can we? Everybody would say-- + +RONNY. Let them! We shan't be here. + +MABEL. I couldn't bear people to think-- + +DANCY. I don't care a damn what people think monkeys and cats. I never +could stand their rotten menagerie. Besides, what does it matter how I +act; if I bring an action and get damages--if I pound him to a jelly-- +it's all no good! I can't prove it. There'll be plenty of people +unconvinced. + +MABEL. But they'll find the real thief. + +DANCY. [With a queer little smile] Will staying here help them to do +that? + +MABEL. [In a sort of agony] Oh! I couldn't--it looks like running +away. We must stay and fight it! + +DANCY. Suppose I didn't get a verdict--you never can tell. + +MABEL. But you must--I was there all the time, with the door open. + +DANCY. Was it? + +MABEL. I'm almost sure. + +DANCY. Yes. But you're my wife. + +MABEL. [Bewildered] Ronny, I don't understand--suppose I'd been accused +of stealing pearls! + +DANCY. [Wincing] I can't. + +MABEL. But I might--just as easily. What would you think of me if I ran +away from it? + +DANCY. I see. [A pause] All right! You shall have a run for your +money. I'll go and see old Twisden. + +MABEL. Let me come! [DANCY shakes his head] Why not? I can't be happy +a moment unless I'm fighting this. + + DANCY puts out his hand suddenly and grips hers. + +DANCY. You are a little brick! + +MABEL. [Pressing his hand to her breast and looking into his face] +Do you know what Margaret called you? + +RONNY. No. + +MABEL. A desperate character. + +DANCY. Ha! I'm not a tame cat, any more than she. + + The bell rings. MABEL goes out to the door and her voice is heard + saying coldly. + +MABEL. Will you wait a minute, please? Returning. It's De Levis--to +see you. [In a low voice] Let me see him alone first. Just for a +minute! Do! + +DANCY. [After a moment's silence] Go ahead! He goes out into the +bedroom. + +MABEL. [Going to the door, Right] Come in. + + DE LEVIS comes in, and stands embarrassed. + +Yes? + +DE LEVIS. [With a slight bow] Your husband, Mrs Dancy? + +MABEL. He is in. Why do you want to see him? + +DE LEVIS. He came round to my rooms just now, when I was out. He +threatened me yesterday. I don't choose him to suppose I'm afraid of +him. + +MABEL. [With a great and manifest effort at self-control] Mr De Levis, +you are robbing my husband of his good name. + +DE LEVIS. [Sincerely] I admire your trustfulness, Mrs Dancy. + +MABEL. [Staring at him] How can you do it? What do you want? What's +your motive? You can't possibly believe that my husband is a thief! + +DE LEVIS. Unfortunately. + +MABEL. How dare you? How dare you? Don't you know that I was in our +bedroom all the time with the door open? Do you accuse me too? + +DE LEVIS. No, Mrs Dancy. + +MABEL. But you do. I must have seen, I must have heard. + +DE LEVIS. A wife's memory is not very good when her husband is in +danger. + +MABEL. In other words, I'm lying. + +DE LEVIS. No. Your wish is mother to your thought, that's all. + +MABEL. [After staring again with a sort of horror, turns to get control +of herself. Then turning back to him] Mr De Levis, I appeal to you as a +gentleman to behave to us as you would we should behave to you. Withdraw +this wicked charge, and write an apology that Ronald can show. + +DE LEVIS. Mrs Dancy, I am not a gentleman, I am only a--damned Jew. +Yesterday I might possibly have withdrawn to spare you. But when my race +is insulted I have nothing to say to your husband, but as he wishes to +see me, I've come. Please let him know. + +MABEL. [Regarding him again with that look of horror--slowly] I think +what you are doing is too horrible for words. + + DE LEVIS gives her a slight bow, and as he does so DANCY comes + quickly in, Left. The two men stand with the length of the sofa + between them. MABEL, behind the sofa, turns her eyes on her + husband, who has a paper in his right hand. + +DE LEVIS. You came to see me. + +DANCY. Yes. I want you to sign this. + +DE LEVIS. I will sign nothing. + +DANCY. Let me read it: "I apologise to Captain Dancy for the reckless +and monstrous charge I made against him, and I retract every word of it." + +DE LEVIS. Not much! + +DANCY. You will sign. + +DE LEVIS. I tell you this is useless. I will sign nothing. The charge +is true; you wouldn't be playing this game if it weren't. I'm going. +You'll hardly try violence in the presence of your wife; and if you try +it anywhere else--look out for yourself. + +DANCY. Mabel, I want to speak to him alone. + +MABEL. No, no! + +DE LEVIS. Quite right, Mrs Dancy. Black and tan swashbuckling will only +make things worse for him. + +DANCY. So you shelter behind a woman, do you, you skulking cur! + + DE LEVIS takes a step, with fists clenched and eyes blazing. DANCY, + too, stands ready to spring--the moment is cut short by MABEL going + quickly to her husband. + +MABEL. Don't, Ronny. It's undignified! He isn't worth it. + + DANCY suddenly tears the paper in two, and flings it into the fire. + +DANCY. Get out of here, you swine! + + DE LEVIS stands a moment irresolute, then, turning to the door, he + opens it, stands again for a moment with a smile on his face, then + goes. MABEL crosses swiftly to the door, and shuts it as the outer + door closes. Then she stands quite still, looking at her husband + --her face expressing a sort of startled suspense. + +DANCY. [Turning and looking at her] Well! Do you agree with him? + +MABEL. What do you mean? + +DANCY. That I wouldn't be playing this game unless-- + +MABEL. Don't! You hurt me! + +DANCY. Yes. You don't know much of me, Mabel. + +MABEL. Ronny! + +DANCY. What did you say to that swine? + +MABEL. [Her face averted] That he was robbing us. [Turning to him +suddenly] Ronny--you--didn't? I'd rather know. + +DANCY. Ha! I thought that was coming. + +MABEL. [Covering her face] Oh! How horrible of me--how horrible! + +DANCY. Not at all. The thing looks bad. + +MABEL. [Dropping her hands] If I can't believe in you, who can? +[Going to him, throwing her arms round him, and looking up into his face] +Ronny! If all the world--I'd believe in you. You know I would. + +DANCY. That's all right, Mabs! That's all right! [His face, above her +head, is contorted for a moment, then hardens into a mask] Well, what +shall we do? Let's go to that lawyer--let's go-- + +MABEL. Oh! at once! + +DANCY. All right. Get your hat on. + + MABEL passes him, and goes into the bedroom, Left. DANCY, left + alone, stands quite still, staring before him. With a sudden shrug + of his shoulders he moves quickly to his hat and takes it up just as + MABEL returns, ready to go out. He opens the door; and crossing + him, she stops in the doorway, looking up with a clear and trustful + gaze as + + + The CURTAIN falls. + + + + +ACT III + +SCENE I + + Three months later. Old MR JACOB TWISDEN's Room, at the offices of + Twisden & Graviter, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, is spacious, with two + large windows at back, a fine old fireplace, Right, a door below it, + and two doors, Left. Between the windows is a large table sideways + to the window wall, with a chair in the middle on the right-hand + side, a chair against the wall, and a client's chair on the + left-hand side. + + GRAVITER, TWISDEN'S much younger partner, is standing in front of + the right-hand window looking out on to the Fields, where the lamps + are being lighted, and a taxi's engine is running down below. He + turns his sanguine, shrewd face from the window towards a + grandfather dock, between the doors, Left, which is striking "four." + The door, Left Forward, is opened. + +YOUNG CLERK. [Entering] A Mr Gilman, sir, to see Mr Twisden. + +GRAVITER. By appointment? + +YOUNG CLERK. No, sir. But important, he says. + +GRAVITER. I'll see him. + + The CLERK goes. GRAVITER sits right of table. The CLERK returns, + ushering in an oldish MAN, who looks what he is, the proprietor of a + large modern grocery store. He wears a dark overcoat and carries a + pot hat. His gingery-grey moustache and mutton-chop whiskers give + him the expression of a cat. + +GRAVITER. [Sizing up his social standing] Mr Gilman? Yes. + +GILMAN. [Doubtfully] Mr Jacob Twisden? + +GRAVITER. [Smiling] His partner. Graviter my name is. + +GILMAN. Mr Twisden's not in, then? + +GRAVITER. No. He's at the Courts. They're just up; he should be in +directly. But he'll be busy. + +GILMAN. Old Mr Jacob Twisden--I've heard of him. + +GRAVITER. Most people have. + +GILMAN. It's this Dancy-De Levis case that's keepin' him at the Courts, +I suppose? + + GRAVITER nods. + +Won't be finished for a day or two? + + GRAVITER shakes his head. No. + +Astonishin' the interest taken in it. + +GRAVITER. As you say. + +GILMAN. The Smart Set, eh? This Captain Dancy got the D.S.O., didn't +he? + + GRAVITER nods. + +Sad to have a thing like that said about you. I thought he gave his +evidence well; and his wife too. Looks as if this De Levis had got some +private spite. Searchy la femme, I said to Mrs Gilman only this morning, +before I-- + +GRAVITER. By the way, sir, what is your business? + +GILMAN. Well, my business here--No, if you'll excuse me, I'd rather +wait and see old Mr Jacob Twisden. It's delicate, and I'd like his +experience. + +GRAVITER. [With a shrug] Very well; then, perhaps, you'll go in there. +[He moves towards the door, Left Back]. + +GILMAN. Thank you. [Following] You see, I've never been mixed up with +the law-- + +GRAVITER. [Opening the door] No? + +GILMAN. And I don't want to begin. When you do, you don't know where +you'll stop, do you? You see, I've only come from a sense of duty; and +--other reasons. + +GRAVITER. Not uncommon. + +GILMAN. [Producing card] This is my card. Gilman's--several branches, +but this is the 'ead. + +GRAVITER. [Scrutinising card] Exactly. + +GILMAN. Grocery--I daresay you know me; or your wife does. They say old +Mr Jacob Twisden refused a knighthood. If it's not a rude question, why +was that? + +GRAVITER. Ask him, sir; ask him. + +GILMAN. I said to my wife at the time, "He's holdin' out for a +baronetcy." + + GRAVITER Closes the door with an exasperated smile. + +YOUNG CLERK. [Opening the door, Left Forward] Mr WINSOR, sir, and Miss +Orme. + + They enter, and the CLERK withdraws. + +GRAVITER. How d'you do, Miss Orme? How do you do, WINSOR? + +WINSOR. Twisden not back, Graviter? + +GRAVITER. Not yet. + +WINSOR. Well, they've got through De Levis's witnesses. Sir Frederick +was at the very top of his form. It's looking quite well. But I hear +they've just subpoenaed Canynge after all. His evidence is to be taken +to-morrow. + +GRAVITER. Oho! + +WINSOR. I said Dancy ought to have called him. + +GRAVITER. We considered it. Sir Frederic decided that he could use him +better in cross-examination. + +WINSOR. Well! I don't know that. Can I go and see him before he gives +evidence to-morrow? + +GRAVITER. I should like to hear Mr Jacob on that, WINSOR. He'll be in +directly. + +WINSOR. They had Kentman, and Goole, the Inspector, the other bobby, my +footman, Dancy's banker, and his tailor. + +GRAVITER. Did we shake Kentman or Goole? + +WINSOR. Very little. Oh! by the way, the numbers of those two notes +were given, and I see they're published in the evening papers. I suppose +the police wanted that. I tell you what I find, Graviter--a general +feeling that there's something behind it all that doesn't come out. + +GRAVITER. The public wants it's money's worth--always does in these +Society cases; they brew so long beforehand, you see. + +WINSOR. They're looking for something lurid. + +MARGARET. When I was in the bog, I thought they were looking for me. +[Taking out her cigarette case] I suppose I mustn't smoke, Mr Graviter? + +GRAVITER. Do! + +MARGARET. Won't Mr Jacob have a fit? + +GRAVITER. Yes, but not till you've gone. + +MARGARET. Just a whiff. [She lights a cigarette]. + +WINSOR. [Suddenly] It's becoming a sort of Dreyfus case--people taking +sides quite outside the evidence. + +MARGARET. There are more of the chosen in Court every day. Mr Graviter, +have you noticed the two on the jury? + +GRAVITER. [With a smile] No; I can't say-- + +MARGARET. Oh! but quite distinctly. Don't you think they ought to have +been challenged? + +GRAVITER. De Levis might have challenged the other ten, Miss Orme. + +MARGARET. Dear me, now! I never thought of that. + + As she speaks, the door Left Forward is opened and old MR JACOB + TWISDEN comes in. He is tallish and narrow, sixty-eight years old, + grey, with narrow little whiskers curling round his narrow ears, and + a narrow bow-ribbon curling round his collar. He wears a long, + narrow-tailed coat, and strapped trousers on his narrow legs. His + nose and face are narrow, shrewd, and kindly. He has a way of + narrowing his shrewd and kindly eyes. His nose is seen to twitch + and snig. + +TWISDEN. Ah! How are you, Charles? How do you do, my dear? + +MARGARET. Dear Mr Jacob, I'm smoking. Isn't it disgusting? But they +don't allow it in Court, you know. Such a pity! The Judge might have a +hookah. Oh! wouldn't he look sweet--the darling! + +TWISDEN. [With a little, old-fashioned bow] It does not become everybody +as it becomes you, Margaret. + +MARGARET. Mr Jacob, how charming! [With a slight grimace she puts out +her cigarette]. + +GRAVITER. Man called Gilman waiting in there to see you specially. + +TWISDEN. Directly. Turn up the light, would you, Graviter? + +GRAVITER. [Turning up the light] Excuse me. + + He goes. + +WINSOR. Look here, Mr Twisden-- + +TWISDEN. Sit down; sit down, my dear. + + And he himself sits behind the table, as a cup of tea is brought in + to him by the YOUNG CLERK, with two Marie biscuits in the saucer. + +Will you have some, Margaret? + +MARGARET. No, dear Mr Jacob. + +TWISDEN. Charles? + +WINSOR. No, thanks. The door is closed. + +TWISDEN. [Dipping a biscuit in the tea] Now, then? + +WINSOR. The General knows something which on the face of it looks rather +queer. Now that he's going to be called, oughtn't Dancy to be told of +it, so that he may be ready with his explanation, in case it comes out? + +TWISDEN. [Pouring some tea into the saucer] Without knowing, I can't +tell you. + + WINSOR and MARGARET exchange looks, and TWISDEN drinks from the + saucer. MARGARET. Tell him, Charles. + +WINSOR. Well! It rained that evening at Meldon. The General happened +to put his hand on Dancy's shoulder, and it was damp. + + TWISDEN puts the saucer down and replaces the cup in it. They both + look intently at him. + +TWISDEN. I take it that General Canynge won't say anything he's not +compelled to say. + +MARGARET. No, of course; but, Mr Jacob, they might ask; they know it +rained. And he is such a George Washington. + +TWISDEN. [Toying with a pair of tortoise-shell glasses] They didn't ask +either of you. Still-no harm in your telling Dancy. + +WINSOR. I'd rather you did it, Margaret. + +MARGARET. I daresay. [She mechanically takes out her cigarette-case, +catches the lift of TWISDEN'S eyebrows, and puts it back]. + +WINSOR. Well, we'll go together. I don't want Mrs Dancy to hear. + +MARGARET. Do tell me, Mr Jacob; is he going to win? + +TWISDEN. I think so, Margaret; I think so. + +MARGARET. It'll be too--frightful if he doesn't get a verdict, after all +this. But I don't know what we shall do when it's over. I've been +sitting in that Court all these three days, watching, and it's made me +feel there's nothing we like better than seeing people skinned. Well, +bye-bye, bless you! + + TWISDEN rises and pats her hand. + +WINSOR. Half a second, Margaret. Wait for me. She nods and goes out. +Mr Twisden, what do you really think? + +TWISDEN. I am Dancy's lawyer, my dear Charles, as well as yours. + +WINSOR. Well, can I go and see Canynge? + +TWISDEN. Better not. + +WINSOR. If they get that out of him, and recall me, am I to say he told +me of it at the time? + +TWISDEN. You didn't feel the coat yourself? And Dancy wasn't present? +Then what Canynge told you is not evidence--he'll stop your being asked. + +WINSOR. Thank goodness. Good-bye! + + WINSOR goes out. + + TWISDEN, behind his table, motionless, taps his teeth with the + eyeglasses in his narrow, well-kept hand. After a long shake of his + head and a shrug of his rather high shoulders he snips, goes to the + window and opens it. Then crossing to the door, Left Back, he + throws it open and says + +TWISDEN. At your service, sir. + + GILMAN comes forth, nursing his pot hat. + +Be seated. + + TWISDEN closes the window behind him, and takes his seat. + +GILMAN. [Taking the client's chair, to the left of the table] Mr +Twisden, I believe? My name's Gilman, head of Gilman's Department +Stores. You have my card. + +TWISDEN. [Looking at the card] Yes. What can we do for you? + +GILMAN. Well, I've come to you from a sense of duty, sir, and also a +feelin' of embarrassment. [He takes from his breast pocket an evening +paper] You see, I've been followin' this Dancy case--it's a good deal +talked of in Putney--and I read this at half-past two this afternoon. To +be precise, at 2.25. [He rises and hands the paper to TWISDEN, and with +a thick gloved forefinger indicates a passage] When I read these numbers, +I 'appened to remember givin' change for a fifty-pound note--don't often +'ave one in, you know--so I went to the cash-box out of curiosity, to see +that I 'adn't got it. Well, I 'ad; and here it is. [He draws out from +his breast pocket and lays before TWISDEN a fifty-pound banknote] It was +brought in to change by a customer of mine three days ago, and he got +value for it. Now, that's a stolen note, it seems, and you'd like to +know what I did. Mind you, that customer of mine I've known 'im--well-- +eight or nine years; an Italian he is--wine salesman, and so far's I +know, a respectable man-foreign-lookin', but nothin' more. Now, this was +at 'alf-past two, and I was at my head branch at Putney, where I live. +I want you to mark the time, so as you'll see I 'aven't wasted a minute. +I took a cab and I drove straight to my customer's private residence in +Putney, where he lives with his daughter--Ricardos his name is, Paolio +Ricardos. They tell me there that he's at his business shop in the City. +So off I go in the cab again, and there I find him. Well, sir, I showed +this paper to him and I produced the note. "Here," I said, "you brought +this to me and you got value for it." Well, that man was taken aback. +If I'm a judge, Mr Twisden, he was taken aback, not to speak in a guilty +way, but he was, as you might say, flummoxed. "Now," I said to him, +"where did you get it--that's the point?" He took his time to answer, +and then he said: "Well, Mr Gilman," he said, "you know me; I am an +honourable man. I can't tell you offhand, but I am above the board." +He's foreign, you know, in his expressions. "Yes," I said, "that's all +very well," I said, "but here I've got a stolen note and you've got the +value for it. Now I tell you," I said, "what I'm going to do; I'm going +straight with this note to Mr Jacob Twisden, who's got this Dancy-De +Levis case in 'and. He's a well-known Society lawyer," I said, "of great +experience." "Oh!" he said, "that is what you do?"--funny the way he +speaks! "Then I come with you!"--And I've got him in the cab below. +I want to tell you everything before he comes up. On the way I tried to +get something out of him, but I couldn't--I could not. "This is very +awkward," I said at last. "It is, Mr Gilman," was his reply; and he +began to talk about his Sicilian claret--a very good wine, mind you; but +under the circumstances it seemed to me uncalled for. Have I made it +clear to you? + +TWISDEN. [Who has listened with extreme attention] Perfectly, Mr Gilman. +I'll send down for him. [He touches a hand-bell]. + + The YOUNG CLERK appears at the door, Left Forward. + +A gentleman in a taxi-waiting. Ask him to be so good as to step up. Oh! +and send Mr Graviter here again. + + The YOUNG CLERK goes out. + +GILMAN. As I told you, sir, I've been followin' this case. It's what +you might call piquant. And I should be very glad if it came about that +this helped Captain Dancy. I take an interest, because, to tell you the +truth, [Confidentially] I don't like--well, not to put too fine a point +upon it 'Ebrews. They work harder; they're more sober; they're honest; +and they're everywhere. I've nothing against them, but the fact is--they +get on so. + +TWISDEN. [Cocking an eye] A thorn in the flesh, Mr Gilman. + +GILMAN. Well, I prefer my own countrymen, and that's the truth of it. + + As he speaks, GRAVITER comes in by the door Left Forward. + +TWISDEN. [Pointing to the newspaper and the note] Mr Gilman has brought +this, of which he is holder for value. His customer, who changed it +three days ago, is coming up. + +GRAVITER. The fifty-pounder. I see. [His face is long and reflective]. + +YOUNG CLERK. [Entering] Mr Ricardos, sir. + + He goes out. RICARDOS is a personable, Italian-looking man in a + frock coat, with a dark moustachioed face and dark hair a little + grizzled. He looks anxious, and bows. + +TWISDEN. Mr Ricardos? My name is Jacob Twisden. My partner. [Holding +up a finger, as RICARDOS would speak] Mr Gilman has told us about this +note. You took it to him, he says, three days ago; that is, on Monday, +and received cash for it? + +RICARDOS. Yes, sare. + +TWISDEN. You were not aware that it was stolen? + +RICARDOS. [With his hand to his breast] Oh! no, sare. + +TWISDEN. You received it from--? + +RICARDOS. A minute, sare; I would weesh to explain--[With an expressive +shrug] in private. + +TWISDEN. [Nodding] Mr Gilman, your conduct has been most prompt. You +may safely leave the matter in our hands, now. Kindly let us retain +this note; and ask for my cashier as you go out and give him [He writes] +this. He will reimburse you. We will take any necessary steps +ourselves. + +GILMAN. [In slight surprise, with modest pride] Well, sir, I'm in your +'ands. I must be guided by you, with your experience. I'm glad you +think I acted rightly. + +TWISDEN. Very rightly, Mr Gilman--very rightly. [Rising] +Good afternoon! + +GILMAN. Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, gentlemen! [To TWISDEN] +I'm sure I'm very 'appy to have made your acquaintance, sir. It's a +well-known name. + +TWISDEN. Thank you. + + GILMAN retreats, glances at RICARDOS, and turns again. + +GILMAN. I suppose there's nothing else I ought to do, in the interests +of the law? I'm a careful man. + +TWISDEN. If there is, Mr Gilman, we will let you know. We have your +address. You may make your mind easy; but don't speak of this. It might +interfere with Justice. + +GILMAN. Oh! I shouldn't dream of it. I've no wish to be mixed up in +anything conspicuous. That's not my principle at all. Good-day, +gentlemen. + + He goes. + +TWISDEN. [Seating himself] Now, sir, will you sit down. + + But RICARDOS does not sit; he stands looking uneasily across the + table at GRAVITER. + +You may speak out. + +RICARDOS. Well, Mr Tweesden and sare, this matter is very serious for +me, and very delicate--it concairns my honour. I am in a great +difficulty. + +TWISDEN. When in difficulty--complete frankness, sir. + +RICARDOS. It is a family matter, sare, I-- + +TWISDEN. Let me be frank with you. [Telling his points off on his +fingers] We have your admission that you changed this stopped note for +value. It will be our duty to inform the Bank of England that it has +been traced to you. You will have to account to them for your possession +of it. I suggest to you that it will be far better to account frankly to +us. + +RICARDOS. [Taking out a handkerchief and quite openly wiping his hands +and forehead] I received this note, sare, with others, from a gentleman, +sare, in settlement of a debt of honour, and I know nothing of where he +got them. + +TWISDEN. H'm! that is very vague. If that is all you can tell us, I'm +afraid-- + +RICARDOS. Gentlemen, this is very painful for me. It is my daughter's +good name--[He again wipes his brow]. + +TWISDEN. Come, sir, speak out! + +RICARDOS. [Desperately] The notes were a settlement to her from this +gentleman, of whom she was a great friend. + +TWISDEN. [Suddenly] I am afraid we must press you for the name of the +gentleman. + +RICARDOS. Sare, if I give it to you, and it does 'im 'arm, what will my +daughter say? This is a bad matter for me. He behaved well to her; and +she is attached to him still; sometimes she is crying yet because she +lost him. And now we betray him, perhaps, who knows? This is very +unpleasant for me. [Taking up the paper] Here it gives the number of +another note--a 'undred-pound note. I 'ave that too. [He takes a note +from his breast pocket]. + +GRAVITER. How much did he give you in all? + +RICARDOS. For my daughter's settlement one thousand pounds. I +understand he did not wish to give a cheque because of his marriage. +So I did not think anything about it being in notes, you see. + +TWISDEN. When did he give you this money? + +RICARDOS. The middle of Octobare last. + +TWISDEN. [Suddenly looking up] Mr Ricardos, was it Captain Dancy? + +RICARDOS. [Again wiping his forehead] Gentlemen, I am so fond of my +daughter. I have only the one, and no wife. + +TWISDEN. [With an effort] Yes, yes; but I must know. + +RICARDOS. Sare, if I tell you, will you give me your good word that my +daughter shall not hear of it? + +TWISDEN. So far as we are able to prevent it--certainly. + +RICARDOS. Sare, I trust you.--It was Captain Dancy. + + A long pause. + +GRAVITER [Suddenly] Were you blackmailing him? + +TWISDEN. [Holding up his hand] My partner means, did you press him for +this settlement? + +RICARDOS. I did think it my duty to my daughter to ask that he make +compensation to her. + +TWISDEN. With threats that you would tell his wife? + +RICARDOS. [With a shrug] Captain Dancy was a man of honour. He said: +"Of course I will do this." I trusted him. And a month later I did +remind him, and he gave me this money for her. I do not know where he +got it--I do not know. Gentlemen, I have invested it all on her--every +penny-except this note, for which I had the purpose to buy her a +necklace. That is the sweared truth. + +TWISDEN. I must keep this note. [He touches the hundred-pound note] +You will not speak of this to anyone. I may recognise that you were a +holder for value received--others might take a different view. Good-day, +sir. Graviter, see Mr Ricardos out, and take his address. + +RICARDOS. [Pressing his hands over the breast of his frock coat--with a +sigh] Gentlemen, I beg you--remember what I said. [With a roll of his +eyes] My daughter--I am not happee. Good-day. + + He turns and goes out slowly, Left Forward, followed by GRAVITER. + +TWISDEN. [To himself] Young Dancy! [He pins the two notes together and +places them in an envelope, then stands motionless except for his eyes +and hands, which restlessly express the disturbance within him.] + + GRAVITER returns, carefully shuts the door, and going up to him, + hands him RICARDOS' card. + +[Looking at the card] Villa Benvenuto. This will have to be verified, +but I'm afraid it's true. That man was not acting. + +GRAVITER. What's to be done about Dancy? + +TWISDEN. Can you understand a gentleman--? + +GRAVITER. I don't know, sir. The war loosened "form" all over the +place. I saw plenty of that myself. And some men have no moral sense. +From the first I've had doubts. + +TWISDEN. We can't go on with the case. + +GRAVITER. Phew!... [A moment's silence] Gosh! It's an awful +thing for his wife. + +TWISDEN. Yes. + +GRAVITER [Touching the envelope] Chance brought this here, sir. That +man won't talk--he's too scared. + +TWISDEN. Gilman. + +GRAVITER. Too respectable. If De Levis got those notes back, and the +rest of the money, anonymously? + +TWISDEN. But the case, Graviter; the case. + +GRAVITER. I don't believe this alters what I've been thinking. + +TWISDEN. Thought is one thing--knowledge another. There's duty to our +profession. Ours is a fine calling. On the good faith of solicitors a +very great deal hangs. [He crosses to the hearth as if warmth would help +him]. + +GRAVITER. It'll let him in for a prosecution. He came to us in +confidence. + +TWISDEN. Not as against the law. + +GRAVITER. No. I suppose not. [A pause] By Jove, I don't like losing +this case. I don't like the admission we backed such a wrong 'un. + +TWISDEN. Impossible to go on. Apart from ourselves, there's Sir +Frederic. We must disclose to him--can't let him go on in the dark. +Complete confidence between solicitor and counsel is the essence of +professional honour. + +GRAVITER. What are you going to do then, sir? + +TWISDEN. See Dancy at once. Get him on the phone. + +GRAVITER. [Taking up the telephone] Get me Captain Dancy's flat.... +What?... [To TWISDEN] Mrs Dancy is here. That's a propos with a +vengeance. Are you going to see her, sir? + +TWISDEN. [After a moment's painful hesitation] I must. + +GRAVITER. [Telephoning] Bring Mrs Dancy up. [He turns to the window]. + + MABEL DANDY is shown in, looking very pale. TWISDEN advances from + the fire, and takes her hand. + +MABEL. Major Colford's taken Ronny off in his car for the night. I +thought it would do him good. I said I'd come round in case there was +anything you wanted to say before to-morrow. + +TWISDEN. [Taken aback] Where have they gone? + +MABEL. I don't know, but he'll be home before ten o'clock to-morrow. Is +there anything? + +TWISDEN. Well, I'd like to see him before the Court sits. Send him on +here as soon as he comes. + +MABEL. [With her hand to her forehead] Oh! Mr Twisden, when will it be +over? My head's getting awful sitting in that Court. + +TWISDEN. My dear Mrs Dancy, there's no need at all for you to come down +to-morrow; take a rest and nurse your head. + +MABEL. Really and truly? + +TWISDEN. Yes; it's the very best thing you can do. + +GRAVITER turns his head, and looks at them unobserved. + +MABEL. How do you think it's going? + +TWISDEN. It went very well to-day; very well indeed. + +MABEL. You must be awfully fed up with us. + +TWISDEN. My dear young lady, that's our business. [He takes her hand]. + + MABEL's face suddenly quivers. She draws her hand away, and covers + her lips with it. + +There, there! You want a day off badly. + +MABEL. I'm so tired of--! Thank you so much for all you're doing. +Good night! Good night, Mr Graviter! + +GRAVITER. Good night, Mrs Dancy. + + MABEL goes. + +GRAVITER. D'you know, I believe she knows. + +TWISDEN. No, no! She believes in him implicitly. A staunch little +woman. Poor thing! + +GRAVITER. Hasn't that shaken you, sir? It has me. + +TWISDEN. No, no! I--I can't go on with the case. It's breaking faith. +Get Sir Frederic's chambers. + +GRAVITER. [Telephoning, and getting a reply, looks round at TWISDEN] +Yes? + +TWISDEN. Ask if I can come round and see him. + +GRAVITER. [Telephoning] Can Sir Frederic spare Mr Twisden a few minutes +now if he comes round? [Receiving reply] He's gone down to Brighton for +the night. + +TWISDEN. H'm! What hotel? + +GRAVITER. [Telephoning] What's his address? What...? [To +TWISDEN] The Bedford. + +TWISDEN. I'll go down. + +GRAVITER. [Telephoning] Thank you. All right. [He rings off]. + +TWISDEN. Just look out the trains down and up early to-morrow. + + GRAVITER takes up an A B C, and TWISDEN takes up the Ricardos card. + +TWISDEN. Send to this address in Putney, verify the fact that Ricardos +has a daughter, and give me a trunk call to Brighton. Better go +yourself, Graviter. If you see her, don't say anything, of course-- +invent some excuse. [GRAVITER nods] I'll be up in time to see Dancy. + +GRAVITER. By George! I feel bad about this. + +TWISDEN. Yes. But professional honour comes first. What time is that +train? [He bends over the ABC]. + + + CURTAIN. + + + +SCENE II + + The same room on the following morning at ten-twenty-five, by the + Grandfather clock. + + The YOUNG CLERK is ushering in DANCY, whose face is perceptibly + harder than it was three months ago, like that of a man who has + lived under great restraint. + +DANCY. He wanted to see me before the Court sat. + +YOUNG CLERK. Yes, sir. Mr Twisden will see you in one minute. He had +to go out of town last night. [He prepares to open the waiting-room +door]. + +DANCY. Were you in the war? + +YOUNG CLERK. Yes. + +DANCY. How can you stick this? + +YOUNG CLERK. [With a smile] My trouble was to stick that, sir. + +DANCY. But you get no excitement from year's end to year's end. It'd +drive me mad. + +YOUNG CLERK. [Shyly] A case like this is pretty exciting. I'd give a +lot to see us win it. + +DANCY. [Staring at him] Why? What is it to you? + +YOUNG CLERK. I don't know, sir. It's--it's like football--you want your +side to win. [He opens the waiting-room door. Expanding] You see some +rum starts, too, in a lawyer's office in a quiet way. + + DANCY enters the waiting-room, and the YOUNG CLERK, shutting the + door, meets TWISDEN as he comes in, Left Forward, and takes from him + overcoat, top hat, and a small bag. + +YOUNG CLERK. Captain Dancy's waiting, sir. [He indicates the +waiting-room]. + +TWISDEN. [Narrowing his lips] Very well. Mr Graviter gone to the +Courts? + +YOUNG CLERK. Yes, sir. + +TWISDEN. Did he leave anything for me? + +YOUNG CLERK. On the table, sir. + +TWISDEN. [Taking up an envelope] Thank you. + + The CLERK goes. + + +TWISDEN. [Opening the envelope and reading] "All corroborates." H'm! +[He puts it in his pocket and takes out of an envelope the two notes, +lays them on the table, and covers them with a sheet of blotting-paper; +stands a moment preparing himself, then goes to the door of the +waiting-room, opens it, and says:] Now, Captain Dancy. Sorry to have +kept you waiting. + +DANCY. [Entering] WINSOR came to me yesterday about General Canynge's +evidence. Is that what you wanted to speak to me about? + +TWISDEN. No. It isn't that. + +DANCY. [Looking at his wrist watch] By me it's just on the half-hour, +sir. + +TWISDEN. Yes. I don't want you to go to the Court. + +DANCY. Not? + +TWISDEN. I have very serious news for you. + +DANCY. [Wincing and collecting himself] Oh! + +TWISDEN. These two notes. [He uncovers the notes] After the Court rose +yesterday we had a man called Ricardos here. [A pause] Is there any need +for me to say more? + +DANCY. [Unflinching] No. What now? + +TWISDEN. Our duty was plain; we could not go on with the case. I have +consulted Sir Frederic. He felt--he felt that he must throw up his +brief, and he will do that the moment the Court sits. Now I want to talk +to you about what you're going to do. + +DANCY. That's very good of you, considering. + +TWISDEN. I don't pretend to understand, but I imagine you may have done +this in a moment of reckless bravado, feeling, perhaps, that as you gave +the mare to De Levis, the money was by rights as much yours as his. + + Stopping DANCY, who is about to speak, with a gesture. + +To satisfy a debt of honour to this--lady; and, no doubt, to save your +wife from hearing of it from the man Ricardos. Is that so? + +DANCY. To the life. + +TWISDEN. It was mad, Captain Dancy, mad! But the question now is: What +do you owe to your wife? She doesn't dream--I suppose? + +DANCY. [With a twitching face] No. + +TWISDEN. We can't tell what the result of this collapse will be. The +police have the theft in hand. They may issue a warrant. The money +could be refunded, and the costs paid--somehow that can all be managed. +But it may not help. In any case, what end is served by your staying in +the country? You can't save your honour--that's gone. You can't save +your wife's peace of mind. If she sticks to you--do you think she will? + +DANCY. Not if she's wise. + +TWISDEN. Better go! There's a war in Morocco. + +DANCY. [With a bitter smile] Good old Morocco! + +TWISDEN. Will you go, then, at once, and leave me to break it to your +wife? + +DANCY. I don't know yet. + +TWISDEN. You must decide quickly, to catch a boat train. Many a man has +made good. You're a fine soldier. + +DANCY. There are alternatives. + +TWISDEN. Now, go straight from this office. You've a passport, I +suppose; you won't need a visa for France, and from there you can find +means to slip over. Have you got money on you? [Dancy nods]. We will +see what we can do to stop or delay proceedings. + +DANCY. It's all damned kind of you. [With difficulty] But I must think +of my wife. Give me a few minutes. + +TWISDEN. Yes, yes; go in there and think it out. + + He goes to the door, Right, and opens it. DANCY passes him and goes + out. TWISDEN rings a bell and stands waiting. + +CLERK. [Entering] Yes, sir? + +TWISDEN. Tell them to call a taxi. + +CLERK. [Who has a startled look] Yes, sir. Mr Graviter has come in, +air, with General Canynge. Are you disengaged? + +TWISDEN. Yes. + + The CLERK goes out, and almost immediately GRAVITER and CANYNGE + enter. Good-morning, General. [To GRAVITER] + +Well? + +GRAVITER. Sir Frederic got up at once and said that since the +publication of the numbers of those notes, information had reached him +which forced him to withdraw from the case. Great sensation, of course. +I left Bromley in charge. There'll be a formal verdict for the +defendant, with costs. Have you told Dancy? + +TWISDEN. Yes. He's in there deciding what he'll do. + +CANYNGE. [Grave and vexed] This is a dreadful thing, Twisden. I've +been afraid of it all along. A soldier! A gallant fellow, too. What on +earth got into him? + +TWISDEN. There's no end to human nature, General. + +GRAVITER. You can see queerer things in the papers, any day. + +CANYNGE. That poor young wife of his! WINSOR gave me a message for you, +Twisden. If money's wanted quickly to save proceedings, draw on him. +Is there anything I can do? + +TWISDEN. I've advised him to go straight off to Morocco. + +CANYNGE. I don't know that an asylum isn't the place for him. He must +be off his head at moments. That jump-crazy! He'd have got a verdict on +that alone--if they'd seen those balconies. I was looking at them when I +was down there last Sunday. Daring thing, Twisden. Very few men, on a +dark night--He risked his life twice. That's a shrewd fellow--young De +Levis. He spotted Dancy's nature. + + The YOUNG CLERK enters. + +CLERK. The taxi's here, sir. Will you see Major Colford and Miss Orme? + +TWISDEN. Graviter--No; show them in. + + The YOUNG CLERK goes. + +CANYNGE. Colford's badly cut up. + + MARGARET ORME and COLFORD enter. + +COLFORD. [Striding forward] There must be some mistake about this, Mr +Twisden. + +TWISDEN. Hssh! Dancy's in there. He's admitted it. + + Voices are subdued at once. + +COLFORD. What? [With emotion] If it were my own brother, I couldn't +feel it more. But--damn it! What right had that fellow to chuck up the +case--without letting him know, too. I came down with Dancy this +morning, and he knew nothing about it. + +TWISDEN. [Coldly] That was unfortunately unavoidable. + +COLFORD. Guilty or not, you ought to have stuck to him--it's not playing +the game, Mr Twisden. + +TWISDEN. You must allow me to judge where my duty lay, in a very hard +case. + +COLFORD. I thought a man was safe with his solicitor. + +CANYNGE. Colford, you don't understand professional etiquette. + +COLFORD. No, thank God! + +TWISDEN. When you have been as long in your profession as I have been in +mine, Major Colford, you will know that duty to your calling outweighs +duty to friend or client. + +COLFORD. But I serve the Country. + +TWISDEN. And I serve the Law, sir. + +CANYNGE. Graviter, give me a sheet of paper. I'll write a letter for +him. + +MARGARET. [Going up to TWISDEN] Dear Mr Jacob--pay De Levis. You know +my pearls--put them up the spout again. Don't let Ronny be-- + +TWISDEN. Money isn't the point, Margaret. + +MARGARET. It's ghastly! It really is. + +COLFORD. I'm going in to shake hands with him. [He starts to cross the +room]. + +TWISDEN. Wait! We want him to go straight off to Morocco. Don't upset +him. [To COLFORD and MARGARET] I think you had better go. If, a little +later, Margaret, you could go round to Mrs Dancy-- + +COLFORD. Poor little Mabel Dancy! It's perfect hell for her. + + They have not seen that DANCY has opened the door behind them. + +DANCY. It is! + + They all turn round in consternation. + +COLFORD. [With a convulsive movement] Old boy! + +DANCY. No good, Colford. [Gazing round at them] Oh! clear out--I can't +stand commiseration; and let me have some air. + + TWISDEN motions to COLFORD and MARGARET to go; and as he turns to + DANCY, they go out. GRAVITER also moves towards the door. The + GENERAL sits motionless. GRAVITER goes Out. + +TWISDEN. Well? + +DANCY. I'm going home, to clear up things with my wife. General +Canynge, I don't quite know why I did the damned thing. But I did, +and there's an end of it. + +CANYNGE. Dancy, for the honour of the Army, avoid further scandal if +you can. I've written a letter to a friend of mine in the Spanish War +Office. It will get you a job in their war. [CANYNGE closes the +envelope]. + +DANCY. Very good of you. I don't know if I can make use of it. + + CANYNGE stretches out the letter, which TWISDEN hands to DANCY, who + takes it. GRAVITER re-opens the door. + +TWISDEN. What is it? + +GRAVITER. De Levis is here. + +TWISDEN. De Levis? Can't see him. + +DANCY. Let him in! + + After a moment's hesitation TWISDEN nods, and GRAVITER goes out. + The three wait in silence with their eyes fixed on the door, the + GENERAL sitting at the table, TWISDEN by his chair, DANCY between + him and the door Right. DE LEVIS comes in and shuts the door. He + is advancing towards TWISDEN when his eyes fall on DANCY, and he + stops. + +TWISDEN. You wanted to see me? + +DE LEVIS. [Moistening his lips] Yes. I came to say that--that I +overheard--I am afraid a warrant is to be issued. I wanted you to +realise--it's not my doing. I'll give it no support. I'm content. I +don't want my money. I don't even want costs. Dancy, do you understand? + + DANCY does not answer, but looks at him with nothing alive in his + face but his eyes. + +TWISDEN. We are obliged to you, Sir. It was good of you to come. + +DE LEVIS. [With a sort of darting pride] Don't mistake me. I didn't +come because I feel Christian; I am a Jew. I will take no money--not +even that which was stolen. Give it to a charity. I'm proved right. +And now I'm done with the damned thing. Good-morning! + + He makes a little bow to CANYNGE and TWISDEN, and turns to face + DANCY, who has never moved. The two stand motionless, looking at + each other, then DE LEVIS shrugs his shoulders and walks out. When + he is gone there is a silence. + +CANYNGE. [Suddenly] You heard what he said, Dancy. You have no time to +lose. + + But DANCY does not stir. + +TWISDEN. Captain Dancy? + + Slowly, without turning his head, rather like a man in a dream, + DANCY walks across the room, and goes out. + + + CURTAIN. + + + +SCENE III + + The DANCYS' sitting-room, a few minutes later. MABEL DANCY is + sitting alone on the sofa with a newspaper on her lap; she is only + just up, and has a bottle of smelling-salts in her hand. Two or + three other newspapers are dumped on the arm of the sofa. She + topples the one off her lap and takes up another as if she couldn't + keep away from them; drops it in turn, and sits staring before her, + sniffing at the salts. The door, Right, is opened and DANCY comes + in. + +MABEL. [Utterly surprised] Ronny! Do they want me in Court? + +DANCY. No. + +MABEL. What is it, then? Why are you back? + +DANCY. Spun. + +MABEL. [Blank] Spun? What do you mean? What's spun? + +DANCY. The case. They've found out through those notes. + +MABEL. Oh! [Staring at his face] Who? + +DANCY. Me! + +MABEL. [After a moment of horrified stillness] Don't, Ronny! Oh! No! +Don't! [She buries her face in the pillows of the sofa]. + + DANCY stands looking down at her. + +DANCY. Pity you wouldn't come to Africa three months ago. + +MABEL. Why didn't you tell me then? I would have gone. + +DANCY. You wanted this case. Well, it's fallen down. + +MABEL. Oh! Why didn't I face it? But I couldn't--I had to believe. + +DANCY. And now you can't. It's the end, Mabel. + +MABEL. [Looking up at him] No. + + DANCY goes suddenly on his knees and seizes her hand. + +DANCY. Forgive me! + +MABEL. [Putting her hand on his head] Yes; oh, yes! I think I've known a +long time, really. Only--why? What made you? + +DANCY. [Getting up and speaking in jerks] It was a crazy thing to do; +but, damn it, I was only looting a looter. The money was as much mine as +his. A decent chap would have offered me half. You didn't see the brute +look at me that night at dinner as much as to say: "You blasted fool!" +It made me mad. That wasn't a bad jump-twice over. Nothing in the war +took quite such nerve. [Grimly] I rather enjoyed that evening. + +MABEL. But--money! To keep it! + +DANCY. [Sullenly] Yes, but I had a debt to pay. + +MABEL. To a woman? + +DANCY. A debt of honour--it wouldn't wait. + +MABEL. It was--it was to a woman. Ronny, don't lie any more. + +DANCY. [Grimly] Well! I wanted to save your knowing. I'd promised a +thousand. I had a letter from her father that morning, threatening to +tell you. All the same, if that tyke hadn't jeered at me for parlour +tricks!--But what's the good of all this now? [Sullenly] Well--it may +cure you of loving me. Get over that, Mab; I never was worth it--and I'm +done for! + +MABEL. The woman--have you--since--? + +DANCY. [Energetically] No! You supplanted her. But if you'd known I +was leaving a woman for you, you'd never have married me. [He walks over +to the hearth]. + + MABEL too gets up. She presses her hands to her forehead, then + walks blindly round to behind the sofa and stands looking straight + in front of her. + +MABEL. [Coldly] What has happened, exactly? + +DANCY. Sir Frederic chucked up the case. I've seen Twisden; they want +me to run for it to Morocco. + +MABEL. To the war there? + +DANCY. Yes. There's to be a warrant out. + +MABEL. A prosecution? Prison? Oh, go! Don't wait a minute! Go! + +DANCY. Blast them! + +MABEL. Oh, Ronny! Please! Please! Think what you'll want. I'll pack. +Quick! No! Don't wait to take things. Have you got money? + +DANCY. [Nodding] This'll be good-bye, then! + +MABEL. [After a moment's struggle] Oh! No! No, no! I'll follow--I'll +come out to you there. + +DANCY. D'you mean you'll stick to me? + +MABEL. Of course I'll stick to you. + +DANCY seizes her hand and puts it to his lips. The bell rings. + +MABEL. [In terror] Who's that? + + The bell rings again. DANCY moves towards the door. + +No! Let me! + + She passes him and steals out to the outer door of the flat, where + she stands listening. The bell rings again. She looks through the + slit of the letter-box. While she is gone DANCY stands quite still, + till she comes back. + +MABEL. Through the letter-bog--I can see----It's--it's police. Oh! +God!... Ronny! I can't bear it. + +DANCY. Heads up, Mab! Don't show the brutes! + +MABEL. Whatever happens, I'll go on loving you. If it's prison--I'll +wait. Do you understand? I don't care what you did--I don't care! I'm +just the same. I will be just the same when you come back to me. + +DANCY. [Slowly] That's not in human nature. + +MABEL. It is. It's in Me. + +DANCY. I've crocked up your life. + +MABEL. No, no! Kiss me! + + A long kiss, till the bell again startles them apart, and there is a + loud knock. + +DANCY. They'll break the door in. It's no good--we must open. Hold +them in check a little. I want a minute or two. + +MABEL. [Clasping him] Ronny! Oh, Ronny! It won't be for long--I'll be +waiting! I'll be waiting--I swear it. + +DANCY. Steady, Mab! [Putting her back from him] Now! + + He opens the bedroom door, Left, and stands waiting for her to go. + Summoning up her courage, she goes to open the outer door. A sudden + change comes over DANCY'S face; from being stony it grows almost + maniacal. + +DANCY. [Under his breath] No! No! By God! No! He goes out into the +bedroom, closing the door behind him. + + MABEL has now opened the outer door, and disclosed INSPECTOR DEDE + and the YOUNG CONSTABLE who were summoned to Meldon Court on the + night of the theft, and have been witnesses in the case. Their + voices are heard. + +MABEL. Yes? + +INSPECTOR. Captain Dancy in, madam? + +MABEL. I am not quite sure--I don't think so. + +INSPECTOR. I wish to speak to him a minute. Stay here, Grover. Now, +madam! + +MABEL. Will you come in while I see? + + She comes in, followed by the INSPECTOR. + +INSPECTOR. I should think you must be sure, madam. This is not a big +place. + +MABEL. He was changing his clothes to go out. I think he has gone. + +INSPECTOR. What's that door? + +MABEL. To our bedroom. + +INSPECTOR. [Moving towards it] He'll be in there, then. + +MABEL. What do you want, Inspector? + +INSPECTOR. [Melting] Well, madam, it's no use disguising it. I'm +exceedingly sorry, but I've a warrant for his arrest. + +MABEL. Inspector! + +INSPECTOR. I'm sure I've every sympathy for you, madam; but I must carry +out my instructions. + +MABEL. And break my heart? + +INSPECTOR. Well, madam, we're--we're not allowed to take that into +consideration. The Law's the Law. + +MABEL. Are you married? + +INSPECTOR. I am. + +MABEL. If you--your wife-- + + The INSPECTOR raises his hand, deprecating. + +[Speaking low] Just half an hour! Couldn't you? It's two lives--two +whole lives! We've only been married four months. Come back in half an +hour. It's such a little thing--nobody will know. Nobody. Won't you? + +INSPECTOR. Now, madam--you must know my duty. + +MABEL. Inspector, I beseech you--just half an hour. + +INSPECTOR. No, no--don't you try to undermine me--I'm sorry for you; +but don't you try it! [He tries the handle, then knocks at the door]. + +DANCY'S VOICE. One minute! + +INSPECTOR. It's locked. [Sharply] Is there another door to that room? +Come, now-- + + The bell rings. + +[Moving towards the door, Left; to the CONSTABLE] Who's that out there? + +CONSTABLE. A lady and gentleman, sir. + +INSPECTOR. What lady and-- Stand by, Grover! + +DANCY'S VOICE. All right! You can come in now. + + There is the noise of a lock being turned. And almost immediately + the sound of a pistol shot in the bedroom. MABEL rushes to the + door, tears it open, and disappears within, followed by the + INSPECTOR, just as MARGARET ORME and COLFORD come in from the + passage, pursued by the CONSTABLE. They, too, all hurry to the + bedroom door and disappear for a moment; then COLFORD and MARGARET + reappear, supporting MABEL, who faints as they lay her on the sofa. + COLFORD takes from her hand an envelope, and tears it open. + +COLFORD. It's addressed to me. [He reads it aloud to MARGARET in a low +voice]. + +"DEAR COLFORD,--This is the only decent thing I can do. It's too damned +unfair to her. It's only another jump. A pistol keeps faith. Look +after her, Colford--my love to her, and you." + +MARGARET gives a sort of choking sob, then, seeing the smelling bottle, +she snatches it up, and turns to revive MABEL. + +COLFORD. Leave her! The longer she's unconscious, the better. + +INSPECTOR. [Re-entering] This is a very serious business, sir. + +COLFORD. [Sternly] Yes, Inspector; you've done for my best friend. + +INSPECTOR. I, sir? He shot himself. + +COLFORD. Hara-kiri. + +INSPECTOR. Beg pardon? + +COLFORD. [He points with the letter to MABEL] For her sake, and his own. + +INSPECTOR. [Putting out his hand] I'll want that, sir. + +COLFORD. [Grimly] You shall have it read at the inquest. Till then-- +it's addressed to me, and I stick to it. + +INSPECTOR. Very well, sir. Do you want to have a look at him? + + COLFORD passes quickly into the bedroom, followed by the INSPECTOR. + MARGARET remains kneeling beside MABEL. + + COLFORD comes quickly back. MARGARET looks up at him. He stands + very still. + +COLFORD. Neatly--through the heart. + +MARGARET [wildly] Keeps faith! We've all done that. It's not enough. + +COLFORD. [Looking down at MABEL] All right, old boy! + + + The CURTAIN falls. + + + + + + + End of Project Gutenberg's Loyalties (Fifth Series Plays), by John Galsworthy + + *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOYALTIES (FIFTH SERIES PLAYS) *** + + ***** This file should be named 4765.txt or 4765.zip ***** + This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/7/6/4765/ + + Produced by David Widger + + Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions + will be renamed. + + Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no + one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation + (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without + permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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