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A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 A Play i n On e Act 
 
 BY 
 
 LORD DUNSANY 
 
 THE SUNWISE TURN, Inc. 
 
 2 EAST 31 ST STREET NEW YORK 
 1916 
 
 
• t 
 
 COPTBIGHT, 1916, BT 
 
 THE SUNWISE TURN, INC. 
 
 ALL BIGHTS BESEBVED 
 
 The professional and amateur stage rights on this play are 
 strictly reserved by the author. Applications for permission 
 to produce the play should be made to The Neighborhood 
 Playhouse, 466 Grand Street, New York. 
 
 Any infringement of the author's rights will be punished 
 by the penalties imposed under the United States Revised 
 Statutes, Title 60, Chapter 3. 
 
 THE DRAWING ON THE COVEB 13 FH< >M 
 A BILVEB SEAL CUT BY LOBD DDN8ANT 
 
 2nd Printing 
 
 3 S 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS 
 
 A. E. SooTT-FoBTEsguE (The Toff), 
 
 A dUapidati d <l> nih man 
 £++ William Jones (Bill) 
 
 ScJu Albert Thomas Y merchant sailort 
 
 Jacob Smith (Sniggers) J 
 
 First Priest of Klesh 
 Seeoiid Priest of Klesh 
 Third Priest of Klesh 
 Klesh 
 
 1 
 
 ■ 
 
A NIGHT AT AX INN 
 
 Tii curtain rises on a room in an inn. 
 Sniggers and Bill an talking, th> I •■ 
 reading a paper. Albert tits a UttU apart. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 What's his idea, I wonder? 
 
 Bill 
 I don't know. 
 
 Sxiggk: 
 
 And how much longer will he keep us 
 here? 
 
 Bill 
 We've heni here three days. 
 
 Sniggers 
 And aven't seen a soul. 
 
 Bill 
 
 And a pretty penny it eost us when he 
 rented the pub. 
 
 Sniggbbs 
 
 \ >w long di<l '•• nut the pub ' 
 
 1 
 
2 A NIGHT AT A.\ INN 
 
 BlLL 
 
 Yoq never know with him. 
 
 Snigcd 
 It 's lonely enough. 
 
 Bill 
 
 '( )w long did you rent the pub for, 
 Tony | 
 
 (The Toff continues to read a sport- 
 ing paper; he takes no notice of 
 what is said.) 
 
 Sniggers 
 'E's such a toff. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Yet Vs clever, no mistake. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 Those clever ones are the beggars to 
 make a muddle. Their plana are clever 
 enough, bu1 they don't work, and then they 
 make a mess of things much worse than 
 you or me. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Al.! 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 I don '1 like this place. 
 
A NIGHT AT AX I\.\ 3 
 
 Bill 
 
 Why not? 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 I don't like the looks of it. 
 
 Bill 
 
 He's keeping us here because here those 
 niggers can't find us. The three heathen 
 priests what was looking for us so. But 
 we want to go and sell our ruby soon. 
 
 Albert 
 There's no sense in it. 
 
 Bill 
 Why not, Albert? 
 
 Albert 
 
 Because I gave those black devils the 
 slip in Hull. 
 
 Bill 
 
 You give 'em the slip, Albert? 
 
 Albert 
 
 The slip, all three of them. The fel- 
 lows with the gold spots on their fore- 
 heads. I had the ruby then and I give 
 them the slip in Hull. 
 
4 A NIGHT AT AN IXN 
 
 Bill 
 How did you do it. Albert? 
 
 Albert 
 
 I had the ruby and they were following 
 me. . . . 
 
 Kill 
 
 Who told them you had the ruby? You 
 didn't show it. 
 
 Albert 
 
 No. . . . But they kind of know.! 
 
 Sniggers 
 They kind of know, Albert? 
 
 Albert 
 
 Yes, they know if you've got it. Well, 
 they sort of mouehed after me, and I tells 
 a policeman and he says, O, they were only 
 three poor niggers and they wouldn't hurt 
 me. Ugh! When I thought of what they 
 did in Malta to poor old Jim. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Yes, and to George in Bombay before 
 we started. 
 
 Sniggers 
 [Jffh! 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 5 
 
 Bill 
 Why didn't you give 'em in charge? 
 
 Albert 
 What about the ruby, Bill? 
 
 Bill 
 \ Ah! 
 
 Albert 
 
 Well, I did better than that. I walks 
 up and down through Hull. I walks slow 
 enough. And then I turns a corner and I 
 runs. I never sees a corner but I turns 
 it. But sometimes I let a corner pass just 
 to fool them. I twists about like a hare. 
 Then I sits down and waits. No priests. 
 
 Sniggers 
 What? 
 
 Albert 
 
 No heathen black devils with gold spots 
 on their face. I give 'em the slip. 
 
 Bill 
 Well done, Albert ! 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 {After a sigh of content.) 
 Why didn 't you tell us ? 
 
6 A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 A I I5ERT 
 
 'Cause '•' won't l«-t yon speak. 'E's got 
 "is plans and V thinks we're silly folk. 
 Things must be done is way. And all 
 the time I've give 'em the slip. Blight 'avc 
 'ad one o' them crooked knives in him be- 
 fore now but for mo who give 'em the slip 
 in Bull. 
 
 Bill 
 
 W, 11 done, Albert! 
 
 Do you hear that, Toffy? Albert has 
 give 'em the slip. 
 
 The Toff 
 Yes, I hear. 
 
 Sniggers 
 Well, what do you say to that ? 
 
 The Toff 
 O. . . . Well done, Albert! 
 
 Albert 
 And what a' you going to do? 
 
 The Toff 
 Going to wait. 
 
 Albert 
 Don't seem to know what 'e's waiting 
 for. 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 7 
 
 Sniggers 
 It's a nasty place. 
 
 Albert 
 
 It's getting: silly, Bill. Our money's 
 gone and we want to sell the ruby. Let's 
 get on to a town. 
 
 Bill 
 
 But 'e won't come. 
 
 Albert 
 Then we'll leave him. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 We'll be all right if we keep away from 
 Hull. 
 
 Albert 
 We'll go to London. 
 
 Bill 
 But 'e must 'ave 'is share. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 All right. Only let's go. {To the Toff) 
 We're going, do you hear? Give us the 
 ruby. 
 
8 A NIGHT AT AX INN 
 
 The Toff 
 Certainly. 
 
 (Hr gives them a rubjf from. Jiis 
 waistcoat pocket; it is the size of 
 a small hen 's egg. 
 He goes on reading his paper.) 
 
 Albert 
 
 Come on, Sniggers. 
 
 (Exeunt Albert and Sniggers.) 
 
 Bill 
 
 Good-by, old man. We'll give you your 
 fair share, but there's nothing to do hero — 
 no girls, no halls, and we must sell the 
 ruby. 
 
 The Toff 
 
 I'm not a fool, Bill. 
 
 Bill 
 
 No, no, of course not. Of course you 
 ain't, and you've helped us a lot. Good- 
 by. You'll say good-by? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Oh, yes. Good-hy. 
 
 (Still reads his paper. Exit Bill. 
 The Toff puts a revolver on the 
 tabic besidi him and goes on irith 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 9 
 
 his papers. After a moment the 
 three men eome rushing in again, 
 frightened.) 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 (Out of breath.) 
 We've come back, Toffy. 
 
 The Toff 
 So you have. 
 
 Albert 
 Toffy. . . . How did they get here? 
 
 The Toff 
 They walked, of course. 
 
 Albert 
 But it's eighty miles. 
 
 Sniggers 
 Did you know they were here, Toffy? 
 
 The Toff 
 Expected them about now. 
 
 Albert 
 Eighty miles! 
 
 Bill 
 Toffy, old man . . . what are we to do? 
 
10 A. NIGHT AT AX INN 
 
 The Toff 
 Aflk Albert. 
 
 Bill 
 
 If they can do things like this, there's 
 do one can save us but you, Toffy. . . . 
 I always knew you were a clever nm\ We 
 won't be fools any more. We'll obey you, 
 Toffy. 
 
 The Toff 
 
 You're brave enough and strong enough. 
 There isn't many that would steal a ruby 
 eye out of an idol's head, and such an 
 idol as that was to look at, and on such a 
 night. You're brave enough, Bill. But 
 you're all three of you fools. Jim would 
 have none of my plans, and where 's Jim? 
 fc .\nd George. What did they do to him? 
 
 Sniggers 
 Don't, Toffy! 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Well, then, your strength is no use to 
 yon. You want cleverness; or they'll have 
 you the way they had George and Jim. 
 
 All 
 Ugh! 
 
A XIGIIT AT AN INN 11 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Those black priests would follow you 
 round the world in circles. Year after 
 year, till they got the idol's rye. And if 
 we died with it, they'd follow our grand- 
 children. That fool thinks he can escape 
 from men like that by running round three 
 streets in the town of Hull. 
 
 Albert 
 
 God's truth, you 'aven't escaped them, 
 because they 're 'ere. 
 
 The Toff 
 So I supposed. 
 
 Albert 
 You supposed! 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Yes, I believe there's no announcement 
 in the Society papers. But I took this 
 country seat especially to receive them. 
 There's plenty of room if you dig, it is 
 pleasantly situated, and, what is more im- 
 portant, it is in a very quiet neighbor- 
 hood. So I am at home to them this 
 afternoon. 
 
 Bill 
 
 "Well, you're a deep one. 
 
12 A NIGHT AT AX INN 
 
 The Toff 
 
 And remember, you've only my wits be- 
 tween you and death, and don't put your 
 futile plans against those of an educated 
 
 gentleman. 
 
 Albert 
 
 If you're a gentleman, why don't you go 
 about among gentlemen instead of the likes 
 of us? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Because T was too clever for them as I 
 am too clever for you. 
 
 Albert 
 Too clever for them? 
 
 The Toff 
 I never lost a game of cards in my life. 
 
 Bill 
 You never lost a game! 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Not when there was money in it. 
 
 Bill 
 Well, well' 
 
 Tin: Toff 
 
 Have a game of poker 1 
 
A NIGHT AT AN I XX 13 
 
 All 
 No, thanks. 
 
 The Toff 
 Then do as you're told. 
 
 Bill 
 All right, Toffy. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 I saw something just then. Hadn't we 
 better draw the curtains? 
 
 The Toff 
 No. 
 
 Sniggers 
 What? 
 
 The Toff 
 Don't draw the curtains. 
 
 Sniggers 
 0, all right. 
 
 Bill 
 
 But, Toffy, they can see us. One doesn't 
 let the enemy do that. I don't see 
 why. . . . 
 
 The Toff 
 
 No, of course you don't. 
 
14 A NIGHT AT AX I XX 
 
 Bill 
 0, all right, Toffy. 
 
 (-4// begin to pull out revolvers.) 
 
 The Toff 
 
 (Putting his own away.) 
 No revolvers, please. 
 
 Albert 
 Why not? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Because I don't want any noise at my 
 
 party. We might get guests that hadn't 
 
 \ been invited. Knives are a different matter. 
 
 (All draw knives. The Toil signs to 
 
 them not to draw th< m yt t. Toffy 
 
 has already taken back his ruby.) 
 
 Bill 
 I think they're coming, Toffy. 
 
 The Toff 
 Not yet. 
 
 Albert 
 When will they come? 
 
 The Toff 
 \ When I am quite ready to receive them. 
 1 Not before. 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 15 
 
 Sniggers 
 I should like to get this over. 
 
 The Toff 
 Should you ? Then we '11 have them now. 
 
 Sniggers 
 Now? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Yes. Listen to me. You shall do as you 
 see me do. You will all pretend to go out. 
 I'll show you how. I've got the ruby. 
 When they see me alone they will come 
 for their idol's eye. 
 
 Bill 
 How can they tell like this which of us 
 has it? 
 
 The Toff 
 I confess I don 't know, but they seem to. 
 
 Sniggers 
 What will you do when they come in? 
 
 The Toff 
 I shall do nothing. 
 
 Sniggers 
 What? 
 
16 A XIGHT AT AX 1XX 
 
 The Toff 
 
 They will creep up behind me. Then, 
 ray friends. Sniggers and Bill and Albert, 
 who gave them the dip, will do what they 
 can. 
 
 Bill 
 
 All right, Toffy. Trust us. 
 
 The Toff 
 If you're a little slow, you will see 
 enacted the cheerful spectacle that accom- 
 panied the demise of Jim. 
 
 Sniggers 
 Don't, Toffy. We'll be there, all right. 
 
 The Toff 
 Very well. Now watch me. 
 
 {He goes past the windows to the 
 inner door R. He o-pens it in- 
 ivards, then under cover of the 
 open door, he slips down on his 
 knee and closes it, remaining on 
 the inside, appearing to have gone 
 out. 1I< signs to the others, who 
 understand. Then hi aj>p<<irs to 
 re-enter in the same manner.) 
 
 The Toff 
 Now, T shall sit with my back to the 
 door. You go out one by one, so far as 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 17 
 
 our friends can make out. Crouch very 
 low to be on the safe side. They mustn't 
 see you through the window. 
 
 (Bill makes his sham exit.) 
 
 The Tofp 
 
 Remember, no revolvers. The police are, 
 I believe, proverbially inquisitive. 
 
 (The other two follow Bill. All 
 three are now crouching inside 
 the door R. The Toff puts the 
 ruby beside him on the table: He 
 lights a cigarette.) 
 
 (The door at the back opens so 
 slowly that you can hardly say 
 at what moment it began. The 
 Toff picks up his paper.) 
 
 (A native of India wriggles along 
 the floor ever so slowly, seeking 
 cover from chairs. He moves L. 
 where the Toff is. The three 
 sailors are B. Sniggers and Al- 
 bert lean forward. Bill's arm 
 keeps them back. An arm-chair 
 had better conceal them from the 
 Indian. The black Priest nears 
 the Toff. Bill watches to see if 
 any more are coming. Then he 
 leaps forward alone — he has taken 
 his boots off — and knifes the 
 Priest. ) 
 
18 A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 (The Priest tries to shout but Bill's 
 left h and is our his mouth.) 
 
 (The Toff continues to read his 
 sporting paper. He never looks 
 around,) 
 
 Bill 
 
 (Sotto voce.) 
 There's only one, Toffy. What shall we 
 do? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 (Without turning his head.) 
 Only one? 
 
 Bill 
 Yes. 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Wait a moment. Let me think. (Still 
 apparently absorbed in his paper.) Ah, 
 yes. You go back, Bill. We must attract 
 another guest. . . . Now, are you ready? 
 
 Bill 
 Yes. 
 
 The Toff 
 
 All right You shall now see my demise 
 at my Yorkshire residence. You must 
 receive guests for ma 
 
 (He leaps up in full view of the 
 window, flings up both arms and 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 19 
 
 falls to the floor mar the dead 
 Priest.) 
 Now, be ready. (II is eyes close.) 
 
 (There is a long pause. Again the 
 door opens, very, very slowly. 
 Another priest creeps in. He has 
 three golden spots upon his fore- 
 head. He looks round, then he 
 creeps up to his companion and 
 turns him over and looks insi<I< 
 of his clenched hands. Then he 
 looks at the recumbent Toff. Then 
 he creeps toward him. Bill slips 
 after him and knifes him like the 
 other with his left hand over his 
 mouth.) 
 
 Bill 
 
 (Sotto voce.) 
 We've only got two, Toffy. 
 
 The Toff 
 Still another. 
 
 Bill 
 What '11 we do? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 (Sitting up.) 
 Hum. 
 
 Bill 
 
 This is the best way, much. 
 
20 A NIGHT AT AN I NX 
 
 The Toff 
 Out of the question. Never play the 
 Bame game twice. 
 
 Bill 
 Why not. Toffy? 
 
 The Toff 
 Doesn't work if you do. 
 
 Bill 
 Well? 
 
 The Toff 
 I have it, Albert. You will now walk 
 into the room. I showed you how to do it. 
 
 Albert 
 Yes. 
 
 The Toff 
 Just run over here and have a fight at 
 this window with these two men. 
 
 Albert 
 But they're . . . 
 
 The Toff 
 Yes. they're dead, my perspicuous Al- 
 bert. But Bill and I are going to re- 
 Buscitate them. . . . Come on. 
 
 (Bill picks up a body under the 
 arms.) 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 21 
 
 The Toff 
 
 That's right, Bill. (Docs the same. 
 
 Come and help us, Sniggers. . . . (Snig- 
 gers comes.) Keep low, keep low. Wave 
 their arms about. Sniggers. Don't show 
 yourself. Now, Albert, over you go. Our 
 Albert is slain. Baek you get. Bill. Back, 
 Sniggers. Still, Albert. Mustn't move 
 when he comes. Not a muscle. 
 
 (A face appears at the window and 
 stays for some time. Then the 
 door opens and, looking craftily 
 round, the third Priest enters. 
 He looks at his companions' 
 bodies and turns round. He sus- 
 pects something. He takes up one 
 of the knives and with a knife 
 in each hand he puts his back to 
 the wall. He looks to the left and 
 right.) 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Come on, Bill. 
 
 {The Priest rushes to the door. The 
 Toff knifes the last Priest from 
 behind.) 
 
 The Toff 
 A good day's work, my friends. 
 
22 A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 Bill 
 
 Well done, Toffy. Oh, you are a deep 
 onel 
 
 Albert 
 A deep one if ever there was one. 
 
 Sniggers 
 There ain't any more, Bill, are there! 
 
 The Toff 
 No more in the world, my friend. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Aye, that's all there are. There were 
 only three in the temple. Three priests 
 and their beastly idol. 
 
 Albert 
 
 What is it worth, Toffy? Is it worth a 
 thousand pounds? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 It's worth all they've got in the shop. 
 "Worth just whatever we like to ask for it. 
 
 Albert 
 Then we're millionaires now. 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 23 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Yes, and, what is more important, we 
 no longer have any heirs. 
 
 Bill 
 We'll have to sell it now. 
 
 • Albert 
 
 That won't be easy. It's a pity it isn't 
 small and we had half a dozen. Hadn't 
 the idol any other on him? 
 
 Bill 
 
 No, he was green jade all over and only 
 had this one eye. He had it in the middle 
 of his forehead and was a long sight uglier , 
 than anything else in the world. 
 
 Sniggers 
 I'm sure we ought all to be very grate- 
 ful to Toffy. 
 
 Bill 
 And, indeed, we ought. 
 
 Albert 
 If it hadn't been for him. . . . 
 
 Bill 
 Yes, if it hadn't been for old Toffy. . . , 
 
24 A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 Sniggers 
 He's a deep one 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Well, you see I just have a knack of 
 foreseeing things. 
 
 Sniggers 
 I should think you did. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Why, I don't suppose anything happens 
 S\\nv that our Toff doesn't foresee. Does it, 
 
 v << ,VU^\ Toffy? 
 ^>\^<^*^ The Toff 
 
 Well, I don't think it does, Bill. I don't 
 think it often does. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Life is no more than just a game of 
 sards to our old Toff. 
 
 The Toff 
 Well, we've taken these follows' trick. 
 
 Sniggeks 
 
 ing to window.) 
 
 It wouldn't do for any one to Bee them. 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 25 
 
 The Toff 
 Oh, nobody will come this way. We're 
 all alone on a moor. 
 
 Bill 
 Where will we put them? 
 
 The Toff 
 Bury them in the cellar, but there's no 
 hurry. 
 
 Bill 
 And what then, Toffy? 
 
 The Toff 
 Why, then we'll go to London and up- 
 set the ruby business. We have really 
 come through this job very nicely. 
 
 Bill 
 I think the first thing that we ought to 
 do is to give a little supper to old Toffy. 
 We'll bury these fellows to-night. 
 
 Albert 
 Yes, let's. 
 
 Sniggers 
 The very thing! 
 
 Bill 
 
 And we'll all drink his health. 
 
26 A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 Albert 
 
 Good old Toffy! 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 He ought to have been a general or a 
 premier. 
 
 [They fj(t hottlrs from cupboard, 
 
 { tr. i 
 
 The Toff 
 Well, we've earned our bit of a supper. 
 (They sit down.) 
 
 Bn,L 
 
 (Glass in hand.) 
 I Here's to old Toffv, who guessed every- 
 thing! 
 
 Albert 
 Sniggers 
 Good old Toffy! 
 
 Bill 
 
 Toffy, who saved our lives and made our 
 fortunes. 
 
 Albert 
 Sniggers 
 Hear ! Hear ! 
 
 The Toff 
 And here's to Bill, who saved me twiee 
 to-night 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 27 
 
 Bill 
 
 Couldn't have done it but for your 
 cleverness, Toffy. 
 
 Sniggers 
 Hear, hear! Hear! Hear! 
 
 (,„ 
 
 Albert 
 He foresees everything. 
 
 Bill 
 
 A speech, Toffy. A speech from our 
 general. 
 
 All 
 Yes, a speech. 
 
 r*"" -- Sniggers 
 
 I A speech. 
 
 ^- The Toff 
 
 Well, get me some water. This whiskey's 
 too much for my head, and I must keep it 
 clear till our friends are safe in the cellar. 
 
 Bill 
 
 Water? Yes, of course. Get him some 
 water. Sniggers. 
 
 Sniggers 
 "We don't use water here. Where shall 
 I get it? 
 
28 A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 Hill 
 
 Outride in the garden. 
 (Exit Sniggers.) 
 
 Albert 
 Here's to future! 
 
 Bitj, 
 Here's to Albert Thomas. Esquire. 
 
 Albert 
 
 And William Jones, Esquire. 
 (Re-enter Sniggers, terrified.) 
 
 The Toff 
 
 Hullo, here's Jacob Smith, Esquire, #. 
 ■P., alias Sniggers, back again. 
 
 Sniggers 
 Toffy, I've been thinking about my share 
 in that ruby. I don't want it. Toffy; I 
 don't want it. 
 
 The Toff 
 Nonsense, Sniggers. Nonsense. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 You shall have it. Toffy, you shall have 
 it yourself, only Bay Sniggers has no share 
 in this 'ere ruby. Say it. Toffy, say it! 
 
A NIGHT AT AN INN 29 
 
 Bill 
 Want to turn informer, Sniggers? 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 No, no. Onlv I don't want the ruby, 
 Toffy. . . . 
 
 The Toff 
 
 No more nonsense. Sniggers. We're all 
 in together in this. If one hangs, we all 
 hang; but they won't outwit me. Besides, 
 it's not a hanging affair, they had their 
 knives. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 Toffy, Toffy, I always treated you fair, 
 Toffy. I was always one to say, Give Toffy 
 a ehance. Take back my share. Toffy. 
 
 The Toff 
 
 What 's the matter ? What are you driv- 
 ing at ? 
 
 Sniggers 
 Take it back, Toffy. 
 
 The Toff 
 Answer me, what are you up toT 
 
 Sniggers 
 I don't want my share any more. 
 
30 
 
 A NIGHT AT AN I\'\ 
 
 Bill 
 
 Have you seen the police I 
 
 (Albert pulls out his knife.) 
 
 The Toff 
 No, no knives, Albert. 
 
 Albert 
 
 What then? 
 
 The Toff 
 
 The honest truth in open court, barring 
 the ruby. We were attacked. 
 
 Sniggers 
 There's no police. 
 
 The Toff 
 Well, then, what's the matter? 
 
 Bill 
 Out with it. 
 
 Sniggers 
 I swear to God. . . . 
 
 Albert 
 Weill 
 
 The Toff 
 Don't interrupt. 
 
A NIGHT AT AN I XX 31 
 
 Sniggeks 
 
 I swear I saw something what I didn't 
 like. 
 
 The Toff 
 What you didn't like? 
 
 Sniggers 
 (In tears.) 
 Toffy, Toffy, take it back. Take my 
 share. Say you take it. 
 
 The Toff 
 What has he seen? 
 
 (Dead silence, only broken by Snig 
 gers's sobs. Then steps arc heard. 
 Enter a hideous idol. It is blind 
 and gropes its way. It gropes its 
 way to the ruby and picks it up 
 and screws it into a socket in 
 the forehead. Sniggers still weeps 
 softly, the rest stare in horror. 
 The idol steps out, not groping. 
 Its steps move off, then stop.) 
 
 The Toff 
 0, great heavens! 
 
 Albert 
 
 (In a childish, plaintive voice.) 
 What is it, Toffy? 
 
32 A NIGHT AT AN INN 
 
 Bill 
 
 Albert, it is that obscene idol (in a 
 whisper) come from India. 
 
 Albert 
 It is gone. 
 
 Bill 
 It has taken its eye. 
 
 Sniggers 
 We are saved. 
 
 A Voice Off 
 
 (With outlandish accent.) 
 Meestaire William Jones, Able Seaman. 
 (The Toff has never spoken, never 
 
 moved. lie only gazes stupidly in 
 
 horror. ) 
 
 Bill 
 
 Albert, Albert, what is this! 
 
 (He ruses and walks out. One moan 
 is heard. Sniggers goes to the 
 window. lie falls back sickly. > 
 
 Albert 
 
 (In a whisper.) 
 What lias happened) 
 
A NIGHT AT AN I NX 39 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 I have seen it. I have seen it. 0, I 
 have seen it! 
 
 (He returns to table.) 
 
 The Toff 
 
 (Laying his hand very gently on 
 Sniggers' s arm, speaking softly 
 and ivinningly.) 
 What was it, Sniggers? 
 
 Sniggers 
 I have seen it. 
 
 Albert 
 What? 
 
 Sniggers 
 0! 
 
 Voice 
 Meestaire Albert Thomas, Able Seaman. 
 
 Albert 
 Must I go. Toffy? Toffy, must I go? 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 (Clutching him.) 
 Don't move. 
 
34 A NIGHT AT AX INN 
 
 Albert 
 mg. I 
 
 Toffy, Toffy. Exit.) 
 
 Voice 
 
 Meestaire Jacob Smith, Able Seaman. 
 
 Sniggers 
 
 T can't po. Toffy. I can't go. I can't 
 do it. 
 
 {He goes.) 
 
 Voice 
 
 Meestaire Arnold Everett Scott-For- 
 tescue, late Esquire, Able Seaman. 
 
 The Toff 
 
 I did not foresee it. 
 (Exit) 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
-^> 
 
 -*T 
 
 d. 
 
 >ix 
 
 >\ 
 
 -fc/ 
 
 r • 
 
 - rti. 
 
MHBM 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
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 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
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