PLAYS THIRD SERIES THE FUGITIVE THE PIGEON THE MOB JOHN THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT OF Kenneth MacKenna THE WORKS OF JOHN GALSWORTHY FICTION VILLA RUBEIN: AND OTHER STORIES THE ISLAND PHARISEES THE MAN OF PROPERTY THE COUNTRY HOUSE FRATERNITY THE PATRICIAN THE DARK FLOWER THE FREELANDS BEYOND FIVE TALES SAINTS' PROGRESS TATTERDEMALION IN CHANCERY TO LET THE FORSYTE SAGA THE MAN OF PROPERTY INDIAN SUMMER or A FORSTTB IN CHANCEHT AWAKENING To LET STUDIES A COMMENTARY A MOTLEY THE INN OF TRANQUILLITY THE LITTLE MAN A SHEAF ANOTHER SHEAF ADDRESSES IN AMERICA. 1919 POEMS MOODS, SONGS AND DOGGERELS MEMORIES (ILLUSTRATED) AWAKENING (ILLUSTRATED) PLAYS FIRST SERIES: THE SILTEB Box JOT STRIFE SECOJTD SERIES: THE ELDEST Sow THE LITTLE DRKAM JUSTICE THIRD SERIES: THE FUGITIVE THE PIGEON THE MOB FOURTH SERIES: A BIT o' Love FOUNDATIONS THE SKIN GAXB SIX SHORT PLAYS PLAYS THIRD SERIES BY JOHN GALSWORTHY PLAYS THIRD SERIES THE FUGITIVE THE PIGEON THE MOB BY JOHN GALSWORTHY NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1922 THE FUGITIVE COPYRIGHT, isia. BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS THE PIGEON COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS THE MOB COPYRIGHT, iu, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America College M"*** j| i PK ser DOLORES AND FRANK LDCAS THE FUGITIVE A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS PERSONS OF THE PLAY GEORGE DEDMOND, a civilian CLARE, his wife GENERAL SIR CHARLES DEDMOND, K.C.B., his father^ LADY DEDMOND, his mother REGINALD HUNTINGDON, Clare's brother EDWARD FULLARTON), , . , DOROTHY FULLARTON ) PAYNTER, a manservant BUHNEY, a maid TWISDEN, a solicitor HAYWOOD, a tobacconist MALISE, a writer MRS. MILER, his caretaker THE PORTER at his lodgings A BOY messenger ARNAUD, a waiter at " The Gascony" MR. VARLEY, manager of " The Gascony" Two LADIES WITH LARGE HATS, A LADY AND GENTLEMAN, A LANGUID LORD, His COMPANION, A YOUNG MAN, A BLOND GENTLEMAN, A DARK GENTLEMAN. ACT I. George Dedmond's Flat. Evening. ACT II. The rooms of Malise. Morning. ACT III. SCENE I. The rooms of Malise, Late afternoon. SCENE II. The rooms of Malise. Early After- noon. ACT IV. A small supper room at " The Gascony." Between Acts I and II three nights elapse. Between Acts II and Act III, Scene I, three months. Between Act III, Scene I, and Act HI, Scene II. three months. Between Act III, Scene II, and Act IV six months. CAST OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION AT THE ROYAL COURT THEATRE, SEPTEMBER 18, 1913 George Dedmond MR. CLAUDE KING Clare Miss IRENE ROOKE General Sir Charles Dedmond, K.C.B. MR. NIGEL PLAYFAIR Lady Dedmond Miss ALMA MURRAY Reginald Huntingdon MR. HYLTON ALLEN Edward Fullarton MR. LESLIE REA Mrs. Fullarton Miss ESTELLE WINWOOD Paynter MR. FRANK MACRAE Burney Miss DORIS BATEMAN Twisden MR. J. H. ROBERTS Haywood MR. CHARLES GROVES Malise MR. MILTON ROSMER Mrs. Miler MRS. A. B. TAPPING Porter MR. ERIC BARBER A Messenger Boy CHARACTERS IN ACT FOUR A Young Man MR. VINCENT CLIVB Arnaud MR. CLARENCE DERWENT Mr. Varley MR. CHARLES GROVES A Languid Lord MR. J. H. ROBERTS His Companion Miss MORE-DUNPHIE A Blond Gentleman MB. LESLIE REA Two Ladies with large hats MISSES BATEMAN and NEWCOMBE ACT I The SCENE is the pretty drawing-room of a flat. There are two doors, one open into the hall, the other shut and curtained. Through a large bay window, the curtains of which are not yet drawn, the towers of Westminster can be seen darkening in a summer sunset; a grand piano stands across one corner. The man-servant PATNTER, clean-shaven and dis- creet, is arranging two tables for Bridge. BUBNET, the maid, a girl with one of those flowery Botticellian faces only met with in England, comes in through the curtained door, which she leaves open, disclosing the glimpse of a white watt. PATNTER looks up at her; she shakes her head, with an expres- sion of concern. PATNTER. Where's she gone? BURNET. Just walks about, I fancy. PATNTER. She and the Governor don't hit it! One of these days she'll flit you'll see. I like her she's a lady; but these throughbred 'tins it's their skin and their mouths. They'll go till they drop if they like the job, and if they don't, it's nothing but jib jib jib. How was it down there before she married him? BURNET. Oh' Quiet, of course. 1 2 THE FUGITIVE ACT i PATNTER. Country homes I know 'em. What's her father, the old Rector, like? BUBNEY. Oh! very steady old man. The mother dead long before I took the place. PATNTER. Not a penny, I suppose? BURNEY. [Shaking her head] No; and seven of them. PAYNTER. [At sound of the hatt door] The Gov- ernor! BURNEY withdraws through the curtained door. GEORGE DEDMOND enters from the hall. He is in evening dress, opera hat, and overcoat; his face is broad, comely, glossily shaved, but with neat moustaches. His eyes, clear, small, and blue-grey, have little speculation. His hair is well brushed. GEORGE. [Handing PAYNTER his coat and hat] Look here, Paynter! When I send up from the Club for my dress things, always put in a black waistcoat as well. PAYNTER. I asked the mistress, sir. GEORGE. In future see? PAYNTER. Yes, sir. [Signing towards the window} Shall I leave the sunset, sir? But GEORGE has crossed to the curtained door; he opens it and says: "Clare!" Receiving no answer, he goes in. PAYNTER switches up the electric light. His face, turned towards the cur- tained door, is apprehensive. GEORGE. [Re-entering] Where's Mrs. Dedmond? PAYNTER. I hardly know, sir. GEORGE. Dined in? ACT i THE FUGITIVE 3 PAYNTER. She had a mere nothing at seven, sir. GEORGE. Has she gone out, since? PAYNTER. Yes, sir that is, yes. The er mis- tress was not dressed at all. A little matter of fresh air, I think, sir. GEORGE. What time did my mother say they'd be here for Bridge? PAYNTER. Sir Charles and Lady Dedmond were coming at half-past nine; and Captain Huntingdon, too Mr. and Mrs. Fullarton might be a bit late, sir. GEORGE. It's that now. Your mistress said noth- ing? PAYNTER. Not to me, sir. GEORGE. Send Burney. PAYNTER. Very good, sir. [He withdraws. GEORGE stares gloomily at the card tables. BUR- NEY comes in from the hall. GEORGE. Did your mistress say anything before she went out? BURNEY. Yes, sir. GEORGE. Well? BURNEY. I don't think she meant it, sir. GEORGE. I don't want to know what you don't think, I want the fact. BURNEY. Yes, sir. The mistress said: "I hope it'll be a pleasant evening, Burney!" GEORGE. Oh! Thanks. BURNEY. I've put out the mistress's things, sir. GEORGE. Ah! BURNEY. Thank you, sir. [She withdraws. 4 THE FUGITIVE ACT i GEORGE. Damn! He again goes to the curtained door, and passes through. PAYNTER, coming in from the hall, announces: "General Sir Charles and Lady Dedmond." SIR CHARLES is an upright, well- groomed, grey-moustached, red-faced man of sixty-seven, with a keen eye for molehills, and none at all for mountains. LADY DEDMOND has a firm, thin face, full of capability and de- cision, not without kindliness; and faintly weathered, as if she had faced many situations in many parts of the world. She is fifty-five. PAYNTER withdraws. SIR CHARLES. Hullo! Where are they? H'm! As he speaks, GEORGE re-enters. LADY DEDMOND. [Kissing her son] Well, George. Where's Clare? GEORGE. Afraid she's late. LADY DEDMOND. Are we early? GEORGE. As a matter of fact, she's not in. LADY DEDMOND. Oh? SIR CHARLES. H'm! Not not had a rumpus? GEORGE. Not particularly. [With the first real sign of feeling] What I can't stand is being made a fool of before other people. Ordinary friction one can put up with. But that SIR CHARLES. Gone out on purpose? What! LADY DEDMOND. What was the trouble? GEORGE. I told her this morning you were coming iq ACT i THE FUGITIVE 5 to Bridge. Appears she'd asked that fellow Malise, for music. LADY DEDMOND. Without letting you know? GEORGE. I believe she did tell me. LADY DEDMOND. But surely GEORGE. I don't want to discuss it. There's never anything in particular. We're all anyhow, as you know. LADY DEDMOND. I see. [She looks shrewdly at her son] My dear, I should be rather careful about him, I think. SIR CHARLES. Who's that? LADY DEDMOND. That Mr. Malise. SIR CHARLES. Oh! That chap! GEORGE. Clare isn't that sort. LADY DEDMOND. I know. But she catches up no- tions very easily. I think it's a great pity you ever came across him. SIR CHARLES. Where did you pick him up? GEORGE. Italy this Spring some place or other where they couldn't speak English. SIR CHARLES. Um! That's the worst of travellin'. LADY DEDMOND. I think you ought to have dropped him. These literary people [Quietly] From ex- changing ideas to something else, isn't very far, George. SIR CHARLES. We'll make him play Bridge. Do him good, if he's that sort of fellow. LADY DEDMOND. Is anyone else coming? GEORGE. Reggie Huntingdon, and the Fullartons. LADY DEDMOND. [So/%] You know, my dear boy, THE FUGITIVE ACT I I've been meaning to speak to you for a long time. It is such a pity you and Clare What is it? GEORGE. God knows! I try, and I believe she does. SIR CHARLES. It's distressin' for us, you know, my dear fellow distressin'. LADY DEDMOND. I know it's been going on for a long time. GEORGE. Oh! leave it alone, mother. LADY DEDMOND. But, George, I'm afraid this man has brought it to a point put ideas into her head. GEORGE. You can't dislike him more than I do. But there's nothing one can object to. LADY DEDMOND. Could Reggie Huntingdon do any- thing, nonv he's home? Brothers sometimes GEORGE. I can't bear my affairs being messed about with. LADY DEDMOND. Well! it would be better for you and Clare to be supposed to be out together, than for her to be out alone. Go quietly into the dining- room and wait for her. SIR CHARLES. Good! Leave your mother to make up something. She'll do it! [A bell sounds. LADY DEDMOND. That may be he. Quick! GEORGE goes out into the hall, leaving the door open in his haste. LADY DEDMOND, following, calls "Paynter!" PAYNTER enters. LADY DEDMOND. Don't say anything about your master and mistress being out. I'll explain. PAYNTER. The master, my lady? ACT i THE FUGITIVE 7 LADY DEDMOND. Yes, I know. But you needn't say so. Do you understand? PAYNTER. [In polite dudgeon] Just so, my lady. [He goes out. SIR CHARLES. By Jove! That fellow smells a rat! LADY DEDMOND. Be careful, Charles! SIR CHARLES. I should think so. LADY DEDMOND. I shall simply say they're dining out, and that we're not to wait Bridge for them. SIR CHARLES. [Listening] He's having a palaver with that man of George's. PAYNTER, reappearing, announces: "Captain Huntingdon." SIR CHARLES and LADY DED- MOND turn to him with relief. LADY DEDMOND. Ah! It's you, Reginald! HUNTINGDON. [/I tall, fair soldier, of thirty] How d'you do? How are you, sir? What's the matter with their man? SIR CHARLES. What! HUNTINGDON. I was going into the dining-room to get rid of my cigar; and he said: "Not in there, sir. The master's there, but my instructions are to the effect that he's not." SIR CHARLES. I knew that fellow LADY DEDMOND. The fact is, Reginald, Clare's out, and George is waiting for her. It's so important people shouldn't HUNTINGDON. Rather! They draw together, as people do, discussing the misfortunes of members of their families. 8 THE FUGITIVE ACT i LADY DEDMOND. It's getting serious, Reginald. I don't know what's to become of them. You don't think the Rector you don't think your father would speak to Clare? HUNTINGDON. Afraid the Governor's hardly well enough. He takes anything of that sort to heart so especially Clare. Sm CHARLES. Can't you put in a word yourself? HUNTINGDON. Don't know where the mischief lies. SIR CHARLES. I'm sure George doesn't gallop her on the road. Very steady-goin' fellow, old George. HUNTINGDON. Oh, yes; George is all right, sir. LADY DEDMOND. They ought to have had children. HUNTINGDON. Expect they're pretty glad now they haven't. I really don't know what to say, ma'am. SIR CHARLES. Saving your presence, you know, Reginald, I've often noticed parsons' daughters grow up queer. Get too much morality and rice puddin'. LADY DEDMOND. [With a clear look] Charles! SIR CHARLES. What was she like when you were kids? HUNTINGDON. Oh, all right. Could be rather a little devil, of course, when her monkey was up. SIR CHARLES. I'm fond of her. Nothing she wants that she hasn't got, is there? HUNTINGDON. Never heard her say so. SIR CHARLES. [Dimly] I don't know whether old George is a bit too matter of fact for her. H'm? [A short silence. ACT i THE FUGITIVE 9 LADY DEDMOND. There's a Mr. Malise coming here to-night. I forget if you know him. HUNTINGDON. Yes. Rather a thorough-bred mon- grel. LADY DEDMOND. He's literary. [With hesitation] You you don't think he puts er ideas into her head? HUNTINGDON. I asked Greyman, the novelist, about him; seems he's a bit of an Ishmaelite, even among those fellows. Can't see Clare LADY DEDMOND. No. Only, the great thing is that she shouldn't be encouraged. Listen! It is her coming in. I can hear their voices. Gone to her room. What a blessing that man isn't here yet! [The door bell rings] Tt! There he is, I expect. SIB CHARLES. What are we goin' to say? HUNTINGDON. Say they're dining out, and we're not to wait Bridge for them. SIB CHARLES. Good! The door is opened, and PAYNTEB announces "Mr. Kenneth Malise." MALISE enters. He is a tall man, about thirty-five, with a strongly- marked, dark, irregular, ironic face, and eyes which seem to have needles in their pupils. His thick hair is rather untidy, and his dress clothes not too new. LADY DEDMOND. How do you do? My son and daughter-in-law are so very sorry. They'll be here directly. [MALISE bows with a queer, curly smile. SIB CHABLES. [Shaking hands] How d'you do, sir? 10 THE FUGITIVE ACT i HUNTINGDON. We've met, I think. He gives MALISE that peculiar smiling stare, which seems to warn the person bowed to of the sort of person he is. MALISE'S eyes sparkle. LADY DEDMOND. Clare will be so grieved. One of those invitations MALISE. On the spur of the moment. SIR CHARLES. You play Bridge, sir? MALISE. Afraid not! SIR CHARLES. Don't mean that? Then we shall have to wait for 'em. LADY DEDMOND. I forget, Mr. Malise you write, don't you? MALISE. Such is my weakness. LADY DEDMOND. Delightful profession. SIR CHARLES. Doesn't tie you! What! MALISE. Only by the head. SIR CHARLES. I'm always thinkin' of writin' my ex- periences. MALISE. Indeed! [There is the sound of a door banged. SIR CHARLES. [Hastily] You smoke, Mr. Malise? MALISE. Too much. SIR CHARLES. Ah! Must smoke when you think a lot. MALISE. Or think when you smoke a lot. SIR CHARLES. [Genially] Don't know that I find that. LADY DEDMOND. [With her clear look at him] Charles! The door is opened. CLARE DEDMOND in a ACT i THE FUGITIVE 11 cream-coloured evening frock comes in from the hall, followed by GEORGE. She is rather pale, of middle height, with a beautiful figure, wavy brown hair, full, smiling lips, and large grey mesmeric eyes, one of those women all vibration, iced over with a trained stoicism of voice and manner. LADY DEDMOND. Well, my dear! SIR CHARLES. Ah! George. Good dinner? GEORGE. [Giving his hand to MALISE] How are you? Clare! Mr. Malise! CLARE. [Smiling in a clear voice with the faintest possible lisp] Yes, we met on the door-mat. [Pause. SIR CHARLES. Deuce you did! [An awkward pause. LADY DEDMOND. [Acidly] Mr. Malise doesn't play Bridge, it appears. Afraid we shall be rather in the way of music. SIR CHARLES. What ! Aren't we goin' to get a game? [PAYNTER has entered with a tray. GEORGE. Paynter! Take that table into the dining- room. PAYNTER. [Putting down the tray on a table behind the door] Yes, sir. MALISE. Let me give you a hand. PAYNTER and MALISE carry one of the Bridge tables out, GEORGE making a half-hearted at- tempt to relieve MALISE. SIR CHARLES. Very fine sunset! Quite softly CLARE begins to laugh. All look at her first with surprise, then with offence, 12 THE FUGITIVE ACT i then almost with horror. GEORGE is about to go up to her, but HUNTINGDON heads him off. HUNTINGDON. Bring the tray along, old man. GEORGE takes up the tray, stops to look at CLARE, then allows HUNTINGDON to shepherd him out. LADY DEDMOND. [Without looking at CLARE] Well, if we're going to play, Charles? [She jerks his sleeve. SIR CHARLES. What? [He marches out. LADY DEDMOND. [Meeting MALISE in the doorway] Now you will be able to have your music. [She follows the GENERAL out . [CLARE stands perfectly still, with her eyes closed. MALISE. Delicious! CLARE. [In her level, clipped voice] Perfectly beastly of me! I'm so sorry. I simply can't help running amok to-night. MALISE. Never apologize for being fey. It's much too rare. CLARE. On the door-mat! And they'd whitewashed me so beautifully! Poor dears! I wonder if I ought [She looks towards the door. MALISE. Don't spoil it! CLARE. I'd been walking up and down the Em- bankment for about three hours. One does get des- perate sometimes. MALISE. Thank God for that! CLARE. Only makes it worse afterwards. It seems so frightful to them, too. MALISE. [Softly and suddenly, but with a difficulty ACT i THE FUGITIVE 13 in finding the right words] Blessed be the respectable! May they dream of me! And blessed be all men of the world! May they perish of a surfeit of good form! CLARE. I like that. Oh, won't there be a row! [With a faint movement of her shoulders] And the usual reconciliation. MALISE. Mrs. Dedmond, there's a whole world out- side yours. Why don't you spread your wings? CLARE. My dear father's a saint, and he's getting old and frail; and I've got a sister engaged; and three little sisters to whom I'm supposed to set a good ex- ample. Then, I've no money, and I can't do anything for a living, except serve in a shop. I shouldn't be free, either; so what's the good? Besides, I oughtn't to have married if I wasn't going to be happy. You see, I'm not a bit misunderstood or ill-treated. It's only MALISE. Prison. Break out! CLARE. [Turning to the window} Did you see the sunset? That white cloud trying to fly up? [She holds up her bare arms, with a motion of flight. MALISE. [Admiring her] Ah-h-h! [Then, as she drops her arms suddenly} Play me something. CLARE. {Going to the piano} I'm awfully grateful to you. You don't make me feel just an attractive fe- male. I wanted somebody like that. [Letting her hands rest on the notes] All the same, I'm glad not to be ugly. MALISE. Thank God for beauty! 14 THE FUGITIVE ACT i PAYNTER. [Opening the door] Mr. and Mrs. Fullarton. MALISE. Who are they? CLARE. [Rising] She's my chief pal. He was in the Navy. She goes forward. MRS. FULLARTON is a rather tatt woman, with dark hair and a quick eye. He, one of those clean-shaven naval men of good presence who have retired from the sea, but not from their susceptibility. MRS. FULLARTON. [Kissing CLARE, and taking in both MALISE and her husband's look at CLARE] We've only come for a minute. CLARE. They're playing Bridge in the dining-room. Mr. Malise doesn't play. Mr. Malise Mrs. Fullar- ton, Mr. Fullarton. [They greet. FULLARTON. Most awfully jolly dress, Mrs. Ded- mond. MRS. FULLARTON. Yes, lovely, Clare. [FULLARTON abases eyes which mechanically readjust themselves} We can't stay for Bridge, my dear; I just wanted to see you a minute, that's all. [Seeing HUNTINGDON coming in she speaks in a low voice to her husband] Edward, I want to speak to Clare. How d'you do, Captain Huntingdon? MALISE. I'll say good-night. He shakes hands with CLARE, bows to MRS. FULLARTON, and makes his way out. HUNT- INGDON and FULLARTON foregather in the doorway. ACT i THE FUGITIVE 15 MRS. FULLARTON. How are things, Clare? [CLARE just moves her shoulders] Have you done what I sug- gested? Your room? CLARE. No. MRS. FULLARTON. Why not? CLARE. I don't want to torture him. If I strike I'll go clean. I expect I shall strike. MRS. FULLARTON. My dear! You'll have the whole world against you. CLARE. Even you won't back me, Dolly? MRS. FULLARTON. Of course I'll back you, all that's possible, but I can't invent things. CLARE. You wouldn't let me come to you for a bit, till I could find my feet? MRS. FULLARTON, taken aback, cannot refrain from her glance at FULLARTON automatically gazing at CLARE while he talks with HUNT- INGDON. MRS. FULLARTON. Of course the only thing is that CLARE. [With a faint smile] It's all right, Dolly. I'm not coming. MRS. FULLARTON. Oh! don't do anything desperate, Clare you are so desperate sometimes. You ought to make terms not tracks. CLARE. Haggle? [She shakes her head] What have I got to make terms with? What he still wants is just what I hate giving. MRS. FULLARTON. But, Clare 16 THE FUGITIVE ACT i CLARE. No, Dolly; even you don't understand. All day and every day just as far apart as we can be and still Jolly, isn't it? If you've got a soul at all. MRS. FULLARTON. It's awful, really. CLARE. I suppose there are lots of women who feel as I do, and go on with it; only, you see, I happen to have something in me that comes to an end. Can't endure beyond a certain time, ever. She has taken a flower from her dress, and sud- denly tears it to bits. It is the only sign of emotion she has given. MRS. FULLARTON. .[Watching] Look here, my child; this won't do. You must get a rest. Can't Reggie take you with him to India for a bit? CLARE. [Shaking her head] Reggie lives on his pay. MRS. FULLARTON. [With one of her quick looks] That was Mr. Malise, then? FULLARTON. [Coming towards them] I say, Mrs. Ded- mond, you wouldn't sing me that little song you sang the other night, [He hums] "If I might be the falling bee and kiss thee all the day"? Remember? MRS. FULLARTON. " The falling dew," Edward. We simply must go, Clare. Good-night. [She kisses her. FULLARTON. [Taking half -cover between his wife and CLARE] It suits you down to the ground that dress. CLARE. Good-night. HUNTINGDON sees them out. Left alone CLARE clenches her hands, moves swiftly across to the window, and stands looking out. HUNTINGDON. [Returning] Look here, Clare! ACT i THE FUGITIVE 17 CLARE. Well, Reggie? HUNTINGDON. This is working up for a mess, old girl. You can't do this kind of thing with impunity. No man'll put up with it. If you've got anything against George, better tell me. [CLARE shakes her head} You ought to know I should stick by you. What is it? Come? CLARE. Get married, and find out after a year that she's the wrong person; so wrong that you can't ex- change a single real thought; that your blood runs cold when she kisses you then you'll know. HUNTINGDON. My dear old girl, I don't want to be a brute; but it's a bit difficult to believe in that, except in novels. CLARE. Yes, incredible, when you haven't tried. HUNTINGDON. I mean, you you chose him yourself. No one forced you to marry him. CLARE. It does seem monstrous, doesn't it? HUNTINGDON. My dear child, do give us a reason. CLARE. Look! [She points out at the night and the darkening towers] If George saw that for the first time he'd just say, "Ah, Westminster! Clock Tower! Can you see the time by it?" As if one cared where or what it was beautiful like that! Apply that to every every everything. HUNTINGDON. [Staring] George may be a bit prosaic. But, my dear old girl, if that's all CLARE. It's not all it's nothing. I can't explain, Reggie it's not reason, at all; it's it's like being underground in a damp cell; it's like knowing you'll 18 THE FUGITIVE ACT i never get out. Nothing coming never anything com- ing again never anything. HUNTINGDON. [Moved and puzzled] My dear old thing; you mustn't get into fantods like this. If it's like that, don't think about it. CLARE. When every day and every night! Oh! I know it's my fault for having married him, but that doesn't help. HUNTINGDON. Look here! It's not as if George wasn't quite a decent chap. And it's no use blinking things; you are absolutely dependent on him. At home they've got every bit as much as they can do to keep going. CLAKE. I know. HUNTINGDON. And you've got to think of the girls. Any trouble would be very beastly for them. And the poor old Governor would feel it awfully. CLARE. If I didn't know all that, Reggie, I should have gone home long ago. HUNTINGDON. Well, what's to be done? If my pay would run to it but it simply won't. CLARE. Thanks, old boy, of course noU HUNTINGDON. Can't you try to see George's side of it a bit? CLARE. I do. Oh! don't let's talk about it. HUNTINGDON. Well, my child, there's just one thing you won't go sailing near the wind, will you? I mean, there are fellows always on the lookout. CLARE. "That chap, Malise, you'd better avoid him!" Why? ACT i THE FUGITIVE 19 HUNTINGDON. Well! I don't know him. He may be all right, but he's not our sort. And you're too pretty to go on the tack of the New Woman and that kind of thing haven't been brought up to it. CLARE. British home-made summer goods, light and attractive don't wear long. [At the sound of voices in the hall] They seem to be going, Reggie. [HUNTINGDON looks at her, vexed, unhappy. HUNTINGDON. Don't head for trouble, old girl. Take a pull. Bless you! Good-night. CLARE kisses him, and when he has gone turns away from the door, holding Jierself in, refusing to give rein to some outburst of emotion. Sud- denly she sits down at the untouched Bridge table, leaning her bare elbows on it and her chin on her hands, quite calm. GEORGE is coming in. PAYNTER follows him. CLARE. Nothing more wanted, thank you, Paynter. You can go home, and the maids can go to bed. PAYNTER. We are much obliged, ma'am. CLARE. I ran over a dog, and had to get it seen to. PAYNTER. Naturally, ma'am! CLARE. Good-night. PAYNTER. I couldn't get you a little anything, ma'am? CLARE. No, thank you. PAYNTER. No, ma'am. Good-night, ma'am. [He withdraws. GEORGE. You needn't have gone out of your way to tell a lie that wouldn't deceive a guinea-pig. {Going 20 THE FUGITIVE ACT i up to her] Pleased with yourself to-night? [CLARE shakes her head] Before that fellow Malise; as if our own people weren't enough! CLARE. Is it worth while to rag me? I know I've behaved badly, but I couldn't help it, really! GEORGE. Couldn't help behaving like a shop-girl? My God! You were brought up as well as I was. CLARE. Alas! GEORGE. To let everybody see that we don't get on there's only one word for it Disgusting! CLARE. I know. GEORGE. Then why do you do it? I've always kept my end up. Why in heaven's name do you behave in this crazy way? CLARE. I'm sorry. GEORGE. {With intense feeling] You like making a fool of me! CLARE. No Really! Only I must break out sometimes. GEORGE. There are things one does not do. CLARE. I came in because I was sorry. GEORGE. And at once began to do it again! It seems to me you delight in rows. CLARE. You'd miss your reconciliations. GEORGE. For God's sake, Clare, drop cynicism! CLARE. And truth? GEORGE. You are my wife, I suppose. CLARE. And they twain shall be one spirit. GEORGE. Don't talk wild nonsense! [There is silence. ACT i THE FUGITIVE 21 CLARE. [Softly] I don't give satisfaction. Please give me notice! GEORGE. Pish! CLARE. Five years, and four of them like this! I'm sure we've served our time. Don't you really think we might get on better together if I went away? GEORGE. I've told you I won't stand a separation for no real reason, and have your name bandied about all over London. I have some primitive sense of honour. CLARE. You mean your name, don't you? GEORGE. Look here. Did that fellow Malise put all this into your head? CLARE. No; my own evil nature. GEORGE. I wish the deuce we'd never met him. Comes of picking up people you know nothing of. I distrust him and his looks and his infernal satiric way. He can't even dress decently. He's not good form. CLARE. [With a touch of rapture] Ah-h! GEORGE. Why do you let him come? What d'you find interesting in him? CLARE. A mind. GEORGE. Deuced funny one! To have a mind as you call it it's not necessary to talk about Art and Literature. CLARE. We don't. GEORGE. Then what do you talk about your minds? [CLARE looks at him] Will you answer a straight ques- tion? Is he falling in love with you? 22 THE FUGITIVE ACT i CLARE. You had better ask him. GEORGE. I tell you plainly, as a man of the world, I don't believe in the guide, philosopher and friend business. CLARE. Thank you. A silence. CLARE suddenly clasps her hands be- hind her head. CLARE. Let me go! You'd be much happier with any other woman. GEORGE. Clare! CLARE. I believe I'm sure I could earn my living. Quite serious. GEORGE. Are you mad? CLARE. It has been done. GEORGE. It will never be done by you understand that! CLARE. It really is time we parted. I'd go clean out of your life. I don't want your support unless I'm giving you something for your money. GEORGE. Once for all, I don't mean to allow you to make fools of us both. CLARE. But if we are already! Look at us. We go on, and on. We're a spectacle! GEORGE. That's not my opinion; nor the opinion of anyone, so long as you behave yourself. CLARE. That is behave as you think right. GEORGE. Clare, you're pretty riling. CLARE. I don't want to be horrid. But I am in earnest this time. ACT i THE FUGITIVE 23 GEORGE. So am I. [CLARE turns to the curtained door. GEORGE. Look here! I'm sorry. God knows I don't want to be a brute. I know you're not happy. CLARE. And you are you happy? GEORGE. I don't say I am. But why can't we be? CLARE. I see no reason, except that you are you, and I am I. GEORGE. We can try. CLARE. I have haven't you? GEORGE. We used CLARE. I wonder! GEORGE. You know we did. CLARE. Too long ago if ever. GEORGE [Coming closer] I still CLARE. [Making a barrier of her hand] You know that's only cupboard love. GEORGE. We've got to face the facts. CLARE. I thought I was. GEORGE. The facts are that we're married for better or worse, and certain things are expected of us. It's suicide for you, and folly for me, in my posi- tion, to ignore that. You have all you can reasonably want; and I don't don't wish for any change. If you could bring anything against me if I drank, or knocked about town, or expected too much of you. I'm not unreasonable in any way, that I can see. CLARE. Well, I think we've talked enough. [She again moves toivards the curtained door. GEORGE. Look here, Clare; you don't mean you're 24 THE FUGITIVE ACT i expecting me to put up with the position of a man who's neither married nor unmarried? That's simple purgatory. You ought to know. CLARE. Yes. I haven't yet, have I? GEORGE. Don't go like that! Do you suppose we're the only couple who've found things aren't what they thought, and have to put up with each other and make the best of it. CLARE. Not by thousands. GEORGE. Well, why do you imagine they do it? CLARE. I don't know. GEORGE. From a common sense of decency. CLARE. Very! GEORGE. By Jove! You can be the most maddening thing in all the world! [Taking up a pack of cards, he lets them fall with a long slithering flutter} After behaving as you have this evening, you might try to make some amends, I should think. CLARE moves her head from side to side, as if in sight of something she could not avoid. He puts his hand on her arm. CLARE. No, no no! GEORGE. [Dropping his hand] Can't you make it up? CLARE. I don't feel very Christian. She opens the door, passes through, and closes it behind her. GEORGE steps quickly towards it, stops, and turns back into the room. He goes to the window and stands looking out ; shuts it with a bang, and again contemplates the door. Moving forward, he rests his hand on the de- ACT i THE FUGITIVE 25 serted card table, clutching its edge, and mut- tering. Then he crosses to the door into the hatt and switches off the light. He opens the door to go out, then stands again irresolute in the dark- ness and heaves a heavy sigh. Suddenly he mut- ters: "No!" Crosses resolutely back to the curtained door, and opens it. In the gleam oj light CLARE is standing, unhooking a necklet. He goes in, shutting the door behind him with a thud. CURTAIN. ACT II THE SCENE is a large, whitewashed, disordered room, whose outer door opens on to a corridor and stairway. Doors on either side lead to other rooms. On the walls are unframed reproductions of fine pictures, secured with tintacks. An old wine-coloured arm- chair of low and comfortable appearance, near the centre of the room, is surrounded by a litter of manu- scripts, books, ink, pens and newspapers, as though some one had already been up to his neck in labour, though by a grandfather's clock it is only eleven. On a smallish table close by, are sheets of paper, cigarette ends, and two claret bottles. There are many books on shelves, and on the floor, an over- flowing pile, whereon rests a soft hat, and a black knobby stick. MALISE sits in his armchair, garbed in trousers, dressing-gown, and slippers, unshaved and uncoUared, writing. He pauses, smiles, lights a cigarette, and tries the rhythm of the last sentence, holding up a sheet of quarto MS. MALISE. "Not a word, not a whisper of Liberty from all those excellent frock-coated gentlemen not a sign, not a grimace. Only the monumental silence of their profound deference before triumphant Tyranny." While he speaks, a substantial woman, a little over middle-age, in old dark clothes and a black 27 28 THE FUGITIVE ACT n straw hat, enters from the corridor. She goes to a cupboard, brings out from it an apron and a Bissell broom. Her movements are slow and imperturbable, as if she had muck time befor" her. Her face is broad and dark, with Chinese eyebrows. MALISE. Wait, Mrs. Miler! MRS. MILER. I'm gettin' be'ind'and, sir. She comes and stands before him. MALISE writes. MRS. MILER. There's a man 'angin' about below. MALISE looks up ; seeing that she has roused his attention, she stops. But as soon as he is about to write again, goes on. MRS. MILER. I see him first yesterday afternoon. I'd just been out to get meself a pennyworth o' soda, an' as I come in I passed 'im on the second floor, lookin* at me with an air of suspicion. I thought to meself at the time, I thought: You're a 'andy sort of 'ang-dog man. MALISE. Well? MRS. MILER. Well peekin' down through the bal- usters, I see 'im lookin' at a photograft. That's a funny place, I thinks, to look at pictures it's so dark there, ye 'ave to use yer eyesight. So I giv' a scrape with me 'eel [She illustrates] an' he pops it in his pocket, and puts up 'is 'and to knock at number three. I goes down an' I says: "You know there's no one lives there, don't yer?" "Ah!" 'e says with an air of inner- cence, "I wants the name of Smithers." "Oh!" I says, "try round the corner, number ten." "Ah!" 'e says, ACT n THE FUGITIVE 9 tactful, "much obliged." "Yes," I says, "you'll find 'im in at this time o' day. Good evenin'!" And I thinks to meself [She closes one eye] Rats! There's a good many corners hereabouts. MALISE. [With detached appreciation] Very good, Mrs. Miler. MKS. MILER. So this mornin', there e' was again on the first floor with 'is 'and raised, pretendin' to knock at number two. "Oh! you're still lookin' for 'im?" I says, lettin' him see I was 'is grandmother. "Ah!" 'e says, affable, "you misdirected me; it's here I've got my business." "That's lucky," I says, "cos nobody lives there neither. Good mornin'!" And I come straight up. If you want to see 'im at work you've only to go downstairs, 'e'll be on the ground floor by now, pretendin' to knock at number one. Wonderful resource! MALISE. What's he like, this gentleman? MRS. MILER. Just like the men you see on the front page o' the daily papers. Nasty, smooth-lookin' feller, with one o' them billycock hats you can't abide. MALISE. Isn't he a dun? MRS. MILER. They don't be'ave like that; you ought to know, sir. He's after no good. [Then, after a little pause] Ain't he to be put a stop to? If I took me time I could get 'im, innercent-like, with a jug o' water. [MALISE, smiling, shakes his head. MALISE. You can get on now; I'm going to shave. He looks at the clock, and passes out into the inner room. MRS. MILER gazes round her, pins up 30 THE FUGITIVE ACT n her skirt, sits down in the armchair, takes off her hat and puts it on the table, and slowly rolls up her sleeves; then with her hands on her knees she rests. There is a soft knock on the door. She gets up leisurely and moves fiat-footed to- wards it. The door being opened CLARE is revealed. CLARE. Is Mr. Malise in? MRS. MILER. Yes. But Vs dressin'. CLARE. Oh. MRS. MILER. Won't take 'im long. What name? CLARE. Would you say a lady. MRS. MILER. It's against the rules. But if you'll sit down a moment I'll see what I can do. [She brings forward a chair and rubs it with her apron. Then goes to the door of the inner room and speaks through it] A lady to see you. [Returning she removes some cigarette ends] This is my hour. I shan't make much dust. [Noting CLARE'S eyebrows raised at the debris round the armchair] I'm particular about not disturbin* things. CLARE. I'm sure you are. MRS. MILER. He likes 'is 'abits regular. Making a perfunctory pass with the Bissell broom, she runs it to the cupboard, comes back to the table, takes up a bottle and holds it to the light ; finding it empty, she turns it upside down and drops it into the wastepaper basket; then, hold- ing up the other bottle, and finding it not empty, she corks it and drops it into the fold of her skirt. ACT it THE FUGITIVE 31 MRS. MILER. He takes his claret fresh-opened not like these 'ere bawgwars. CLARE. [Rising] I think I'll come back later. MRS. MILER. Mr. Malise is not in my confidence. We keep each other to ourselves. Perhaps you'd like to read the paper; he has it fresh every mornin' the Westminister. She plucks that journal from out of the armchair and hands it to CLARE, who sits down again unhappily to brood. MRS. MILER makes a pass or two with a very dirty duster, then stands still. No longer hearing sounds, CLARE looks up. MRS. MILER. I wouldn't interrupt yer with my workin,' but 'e likes things clean. [At a sound from the inner room] That's 'im; 'e's cut 'isself! I'll just take 'im the tobaccer! She lifts a green paper screw of tobacco from the debris round the armchair and taps on the door. It opens. CLARE moves restlessly across the room. MRS. MILER. [Speaking into the room] The tobaccer. The lady's waitin'. CLARE has stopped before a reproduction of Titian's picture "Sacred and Profane Love." MRS. MILER stands regarding her with a Chi- nese smile. MALISE enters, a thread of to- bacco still hanging to his cheek. MALISE. [Taking MRS. MILER'S hat off the table and handing it to her] Do the other room. [Enigmatically she goes. MALISE. Jolly of you to come. Can I do anything? 32 THE FUGITIVE ACT u CLARE. I want advice badly. MALISE. What! Spreading your wings? CLARE. Yes. MALISE. Ah! Proud to have given you that advice. When? CLARE. The morning after you gave it me ... MALISE. Well? CLARE. I went down to my people. I knew it would hurt my Dad frightfully, but somehow I thought I could make him see. No good. He was awfully sweet, only he couldn't. MALISE. [Softly] We English love liberty in those who don't belong to us. Yes. CLARE. It was horrible. There were the children and my old nurse. I could never live at home now. They'd think I was . Impossible utterly! I'd made up my mind to go back to my owner And then he came down himself. I couldn't stand it. To be hauled back and begin all over again; I simply couldn't. I watched for a chance; and ran to the station, and came up to an hotel. MALISE. Bravo! CLARE. I don't know no pluck this morning! You see, I've got to earn my living no money; only a few things I can sell. All yesterday I was walking about, looking at the women. How does anyone ever get a chance? MALISE. Sooner than you should hurt his dignity by working, your husband would pension you off. CLARE. If I don't go back to him I couldn't take it. MALISE. Good! ACT n THE FUGITIVE 33 CLARE. I've thought of nursing, but it's a long train- ing, and I do so hate watching pain. The fact is, I'm pretty hopeless; can't even do art work. I came to ask you about the stage. MALISE. Have you ever acted? [CLARE shakes her head] You mightn't think so, but I've heard there's a prejudice in favour of training. There's Chorus I don't recommend it. How about your brother? CLARE. My brother's got nothing to spare, and he wants to get married; and he's going back to India in September. The only friend I should care to bother is Mrs. Fullarton, and she's got a husband. MALISE. I remember the gentleman. CLARE. Besides, I should be besieged day and night to go back. I must lie doggo somehow. MALISE. It makes my blood boil to think of women like you. God help all ladies without money. CLARE. I expect I shall have to go back. MALISE. No, no! We shall find something. Keep your soul alive at all costs. What! let him hang on to you till you're nothing but emptiness and ache, till you lose even the power to ache. Sit in his drawing- room, pay calls, play Bridge, go out with him to din- ners, return to duty; and feel less and less, and be less and less, and so grow old and die! [The bell rings. MALISE. [Looking at the door in doubt} By the way he'd no means of tracing you? [She shakes her head. [The bell rings again. 34 THE FUGITIVE ACT n MALISE. Was there a man on the stairs as you came up? CLABE. Yes. Why? MALISE. He's begun to haunt them, I'm told. CLARE. Oh! But that would mean they thought I oh! no! MALISE. Confidence in me is not excessive. CLABE. Spying! MALISE. Will you go in there for a minute? Or shall we let them ring or what? It may not be anything, of course. CLARE. I'm not going to hide. [The bell rings a third time. MALISE. [Opening the door of the inner room] Mrs. Miler, just see who it is; and then go, for the present. MRS. MILER comes out with her hat on, passes enigmatically to the door, and opens it. A man's voice says: "Mr. Malise? Would you give him these cards?" MRS. MILER. [Re-entering] The cards. MALISE. Mr. Robert Twisden. Sir Charles and Lady Dedmond. [He looks at CLARE. CLARE. [Her face scornful and unmoved] Let them come. MALISE. [To MRS. MILER] Show them in! TWISDEN enters a clean-shaved, shrewd-looking man, with a fighting underlip, followed by SIR CHARLES and LADY DEDMOND. MRS. MILER goes. There are no greetings. ACT n THE FUGITIVE 35 TWISDEN. Mr. Malise? How do you do, Mrs. Ded- mond? Had the pleasure of meeting you at your wed- ding. [CLARE inclines her head] I am Mr. George Ded- mond's solicitor, sir. I wonder if you would be so very kind as to let us have a few words with Mrs. Dedmond alone? At a nod from CLARE, MALISE passes into the inner room, and shuts the door. A silence. SIR CHARLES. [Suddenly] What! LADY DEDMOND. Mr. Twisden, will you ? TWISDEN. [Uneasy] Mrs. Dedmond 1 must apol- ogize, but you you hardly gave us an alternative, did you? [He pauses for an answer, and, not getting one, goes on] Your disappearance has given your husband great anxiety. Really, my dear madam, you must for- give us for this attempt to get into communication. CLARE. Why did you spy ,iere? SIR CHARLES. No, no! Nobody's spied on you. What! TWISDEN. I'm afraid the answer is that we appear to have been justified. {At the expression on CLARE'S face he goes on hastily} Now, Mrs. Dedmond, I'm a lawyer and I know that appearances are misleading. Don't think I'm unfriendly; I wish you well. [CLARE raises her eyes. Moved by that look, which is exactly as if she had said: "I have no friends," he hurries on] What we want to say to you is this : Don't let this split go on ! Don't commit yourself to what you'll bitterly regret. Just tell us what's the matter. I'm sure it can be put straight. 36 THE FUGITIVE ACT n CLARE. I have nothing against my husband it was quite unreasonable to leave him. TWISDEN. Come, that's good. CLARE. Unfortunately, there's something stronger than reason. TWISDEN. I don't know it, Mrs. Dedmond. CLARE. No? TWISDEN. [Disconcerted] Are you you oughtn't to take a step without advice, in your position. CLARE. Nor with it? TWISDEN. [Approaching her] Come, now; isn't there anything you feel you'd like to say that might help to put matters straight? CLARE. I don't think so, thank you. LADY DEDMOND. You must see, Clare, that TWISDEN. In your position, Mrs. Dedmond a beau- tiful young woman without money. I'm quite blunt. This is a hard world. Should be awfully sorry if any- thing goes wrong. CLARE. And if I go back? TWISDEN. Of two evils, if it be so choose the least! CLARE. lam twenty -six; he is thirty-two. We can't reasonably expect to die for fifty years. LADY DEDMOND. That's morbid, Clare. TWISDEN. What's open to you if you don't go back ? Come, what's your position? Neither fish, flesh, nor fowl; fair game for everybody. Believe me, Mrs. Dedmond, for a pretty woman to strike, as it appears you're doing, simply because the spirit of her marriage has taken flight, is madness. You must know that no ACT n THE FUGITIVE 37 one pays attention to anything but facts. If now excuse me you you had a lover, [His eyes travel round the room and again rest on her] you would, at all events, have some ground under your feet, some sort of protection, but [He pauses] as you have not you've none. CLARE. Except what I make myself. SIR CHARLES. Good God! TWISDEN. Yes! Mrs. Dedmond! There's the bed- rock difficulty. As you haven't money, you should never have been pretty. You're up against the world, and you'll get no mercy from it. We lawyers see too much of that. I'm putting it brutally, as a man of the world. CLARE. Thank you. Do you think you quite grasp the alternative? TWISDEN. [Taken aback] But, my dear young lady, there are two sides to every contract. After all, your husband's fulfilled his. CLARE. So have I up till now. I shan't ask any- thing from him nothing do you understand? LADY DEDMOND. But, my dear, you must live. TWISDEN. Have you ever done any sort of work? CLARE. Not yet. TWISDEN. Any conception of the competition now- adays? CLARE. I can try. [TWISDEN, looking at her, shrugs his shoulders. CLARE. [Her composure a little broken by that look] It's real to me this you see! 38 THE FUGITIVE ACT n SIB CHARLES. But, my dear girl, what the devil's to become of George? CLARE. He can do what he likes it's nothing to me. TWISDEN. Mrs. Dedmond, I say without hesitation you've no notion of what you're faced with, brought up to a sheltered life as you've been. Do realize that you stand at the parting of the ways, and one leads into the wilderness. CLARE. Which? TWISDEN. [Glancing at the door through which MALISE has gone] Of course, if you want to play at wild asses there are plenty who will help you. SIR CHARLES. By Gad! Yes! CLARE. I only want to breathe. TWISDEN. Mrs. Dedmond, go back! You can now. It will be too late soon. There are lots of wolves about. [Again he looks at the door. CLARE. But not where you think. You say I need advice. I came here for it. TWISDEN. [With a curiously expressive shrug] In that case I don't know that I can usefully stay. [He goes to tfie outer door. CLARE. Please don't have me followed when I leave here. Please ! LADY DEDMOND. George is outside, Clare. CLARE. I don't wish to see him. By what right have you come here? [She goes to the door through which MALISE has passed, opens it, and says] Please come in, Mr. Malise. MALISE enters. ACT n THE FUGITIVE 39 TWISDEN. I am sorry. [Glancing at MALISE, he in- clines his head} I am sorry. Good morning. [He goes. LADY DEDMOND. Mr. Malise, I'm sure, will see CLARE. Mr. Malise will stay here, please, in his own room. [MALISE bows. SIR CHARLES. My dear girl, 'pon my soul, you know, I can't grasp your line of thought at all ! CLARE. No? LADY DEDMOND. George is most willing to take up things just as they were before you left. CLARE. Ah! LADY DEDMOND. Quite frankly what is it you want? CLARE. To be left alone. Quite frankly, he made a mistake to have me spied on. LADY DEDMOND. But, my good girl, if you'd let us know where you were, like a reasonable being. You can't possibly be left to yourself without money or position of any kind. Heaven knows what you'd be driven to! [She looks at MALISE. MALISE. [Softly] Delicious! SIR CHARLES. You will be good enough to repeat that out loud, sir. LADY DEDMOND. Charles! Clare, you must know this is all a fit of spleen; your duty and your interest marriage is sacred, Clare. CLARE. Marriage! My marriage has become the the reconciliation of two animals one of them un- willing. That's all the sanctity there is about it. SIR CHARLES. What! 40 THE FUGITIVE ACT u LADY DEDMOND. You ought to be horribly ashamed. CLARE. Of the fact I am. LADY DEDMOND. [Darting a glance at MALISE] If we are to talk this out, it must be in private. MALISE. [To CLARE] Do you wish me to go? CLARE. No. LADY DEDMOND. [At MALISE] I should have thought ordinary decent feeling Good heavens, girl! Can't you see that you're being played with? CLARE. If you insinuate anything against Mr. Ma- lise, you lie. LADY DEDMOND. If you will do these things come to a man's rooms CLARE. I came to Mr. Malise because he's the only person I know with imagination enough to see what my position is; I came to him a quarter of an hour ago, for the first time, for definite advice, and you instantly suspect him. That is disgusting. LADY DEDMOND. [Frigidly] Is this the natural place for me to find my son's wife? CLARE. His woman. LADY DEDMOND. Will you listen to Reginald? CLARE. I have. LADY DEDMOND. Haven't you any religious sense at all, Clare? CLARE. None, if it's religion to live as we do. LADY DEDMOND. It's terrible this state of mind! It's really terrible! CLARE breaks into the soft laugh of the other eve- ning. As if galvanized by the sound, SIB ACT n THE FUGITIVE 41 CHARLES comes to life out of the transfixed beivilderment with which he has been listening. SIR CHARLES. For God's sake don't laugh like that! [CLARE stops. LADY DEDMOND. [With real feeling} For the sake of the simple right, Clare! CLARE. Right? Whatever else is right our life is not. [She puts her hand on her heart] I swear before God that I've tried and tried. I swear before God, that if I believed we could ever again love each other only a little tiny bit, I'd go back. I swear before God that I don't want to hurt anybody. LADY DEDMOND. But you are hurting everybody. Do do be reasonable! CLARE. [Losing control] Can't you see that I'm fighting for all my life to come not to be buried alive not to be slowly smothered. Look at me! I'm not wax I'm flesh and blood. And you want to prison me for ever body and soul. [They stare at her. SIR CHARLES. [Suddenly] By Jove! I don't know, I don't know! What! LADY DEDMOND. [To MALISE] If you have any de- cency left, sir, you will allow my son, at all events, to speak to his wife alone. [Beckoning to her husband] We'll wait below. SIR CHARLES. I I want to speak. [To CLARE] My dear, if you feel like this, I can only say as a as a gentleman LADY DEDMOND. Charles! 42 THE FUGITIVE ACT n SIR CHARLES. Let me alone! I can only say that damme, I don't know that I can say anything! He looks at her very grieved, then turns and marcfies out, followed by LADY DEDMOND, whose voice is heard without, answered by his: "What!" In the doorway, as they pass, GEORGE is standing; he comes in. GEORGE. [Going up to CLARE, who has recovered all her self-control] Will you come outside and speak to me? CLARE. No. GEORGE glances at MALISE, who is leaning against the wall with folded arms. GEORGE. [In a low voice] Clare! CLARE. Well! GEORGE. You try me pretty high, don't you, forcing me to come here, and speak before this fellow? Most men would think the worst, finding you like this. CLARE. You need not have come or thought at all. GEORGE. Did you imagine I was going to let you vanish without an effort CLARE. To save me? GEORGE. For God's sake be just! I've come here to say certain things. If you force me to say them before him on your head be it! Will you appoint somewhere else? CLARE. No. GEORGE. Why not? CLARE. I know all those "certain things." "You must come back. It is your duty. You have no money. Your friends won't help you. You can't earn ACT n THE FUGITIVE 43 your living. You are making a scandal." You; might even say for the moment: "Your room shall be re- spected." GEORGE. Well, it's true and you've no answer. CLARE. Oh! [Suddenly] Our life's a lie. It's stu- pid; it's disgusting. I'm tired of it! Please leave me alone! GEORGE. You rather miss the point, I'm afraid. I didn't come here to tell you what you know perfectly well when you're sane. I came here to say this: Any- one in her senses could see the game your friend here is playing. It wouldn't take a baby in. If you think that a gentleman like that [His stare travels round the dishevelled room till it rests on MALISE] champions a pretty woman for nothing, you make a fairly bad mis- take. CLARE. Take care. But MALISE, after one convulsive movement of his hands, has again become rigid. GEORGE. I don't pretend to be subtle or that kind of thing; but I have ordinary common sense. I don't attempt to be superior to plain facts CLARE. [Under her breath] Facts! GEORGE. Oh! for goodness' sake drop that hifalutin' tone. It doesn't suit you. Look here! If you like to go abroad with one of your young sisters until the autumn, I'll let the flat and go to the Club. CLARE. Put the fire out with a penny hose. [Slowly] I am not coming back to you, George. The farce is over. 44 THE FUGITIVE ACT n GEORGE. [Taken aback for a moment by the finality of her tone, suddenly fronts MALISE] Then there is something between you and this fellow. MALISE. [Dangerously, but without moving] I beg your pardon! CLARE. There is nothing. GEORGE [Looking from one to the other} At all events, I won't I won't see a woman who once [CLARE makes a sudden effacing movement with her hands} I won't see her go to certain ruin without lifting a finger. CLARE. That is noble. GEORGE. [With intensity] I don't know that you de- serve anything of me. But on my honour, as a gen- tleman, I came here this morning for your sake, to warn you of what you're doing. [He turns suddenly on MALISE] And I tell this precious friend of yours plainly what I think of him, and that I'm not going to play into his hands. MALISE, without stirring from the wall, looks at CLARE, and his lips move. CLARE. [Shakes her head at him then to GEORGE] Will you go, please? GEORGE. I will go when you do. MALISE. A man of the world should know better than that. GEORGE. Are you coming? MALISE. That is inconceivable. GEORGE. I'm not speaking to you, sir. MALISE. You are right. Your words and mine will never kiss each other. ACT n THE FUGITIVE 45 GEORGE. Will you come? [CLARE shakes her head. GEORGE. [With fury] D'you mean to stay in this pigsty with that rhapsodical swine? MALISE. [Transformed] By God, if you don't go, I'll kill you. GEORGE. [As suddenly calm] That remains to be seen. MALISE. [With most deadly quietness] Yes, I will kill you. He goes stealthily along the watt, takes up from where it lies on the pile of books the great black knobby stick, and stealthily approaches GEORGE, his face quite fiendish. CLARE. [With a swift movement, grasping the stick] Please. MALISE resigns the stick, and the two men, per- fectly still, glare at each other. CLARE, letting the stick fall, puts her foot on it. Then slowly she takes off her hat and lays it on the table. CLARE. Now will you go! [There is silence. GEORGE. [Staring at her hat] You mad little fool! Understand this; if you've not returned home by three o'clock I'll divorce you, and you may roll in the gutter with this high-souled friend of yours. And mind this, you sir I won't spare you by God! Your pocket shall suffer. That's the only thing that touches fel- lows like you. Turning, he goes out, and slams the door. CLARE and MALISE remain face to face. Her lips have begun to quiver. 46 THE FUGITIVE ACT n CLARE. Horrible! She turns away, shuddering, and sits down on the edge of the armchair, covering her eyes with the backs of her hands. MALISE 'picks up the stick, and fingers it lovingly. Then putting it down, he moves so that he can see her face. She is sitting quite still, staring straight before her. MALISE. Nothing could be better. CLARE. I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do! MALISE. Thank the stars for your good fortune. CLARE. He means to have revenge on you! And it's all my fault. MALISE. Let him. Let him go for his divorce. Get rid of him. Have done with him somehow. She gets up and stands with face averted. Then swiftly turning to him. CLARE. If I must bring you harm let me pay you back! I can't bear it otherwise! Make some use of me, if you don't mind! MALISE. My God! [She puts up her face to be kissed, shutting her eyes. MALISE. You poor He clasps and kisses her, then, drawing back, looks in her face. She has not moved, her eyes are still closed; but she is shivering ; her lips are tightly pressed together; her hands twitching. MALISE. [Very quietly] No, no! This is not the house of a "gentleman." ACT n THE FUGITIVE 47 CLARE. [Letting her head fall, and almost in a whisper] I'm sorry. MALISE. I understand. CLARE. I don't feel. And without I can't, can't. MALISE. [Bitterly] Quite right. You've had enough of that. There is a long silence. Without looking at him she takes up her hat, and puts it on. MALISE. Not going? [CLARE nods. MALJSE. You don't trust me? CLARE. I do I But I can't take when I'm not giving. MALISE. I beg I beg you! What does it matter? Use me! Get free somehow. CLARE. Mr. Malise, I know what I ought to be to you, if I let you in for all this. I know what you want or will want. Of course why not? MALISE. I give you my solemn word CLARE. No! if I can't be that to you it's not real. And I can't. It isn't to be manufactured, is it? MALISE. It is not. CLARE. To make use of you in such a way! No. [She moves towards the door. MALISE. Where are you going? CLARE does not answer. She is breathing rapidly. There is a change in her, a sort of excitement be- neath her calmness. MAUSE. Not back to him? [CLARE shakes her head] Thank God! But where? To your people again? CLARE. No. 48 THE FUGITIVE ACT H MALISE. Nothing desperate? CLARE. Oh ! no. MALISE. Then what tell me come! CLARE. I don't know. Women manage somehow. MALISE. But you poor dainty thing! CLARE. It's all right! Don't be unhappy! Please! MALISE. [Seizing her arm] D'you imagine they'll let you off, out there you with your face? Come, trust me trust me! You must! CLARE. {Holding out her hand] Good-bye! MALISE. [Not taking that hand] This great damned world, and you! Listen! [The sound of the traffic far down below is audible in the stillness] Into that I alone helpless without money. The men who work with you; the men you make friends of d'you think they'll let you be? The men in the streets, staring at you, stopping you pudgy, bull-necked brutes; devils with hard eyes; senile swine; and the "chivalrous" men, like me, who don't mean you harm, but can't help seeing you're made for love! Or suppose you don't take covert but struggle on in the open. Society! The respectable! The pious! Even those who love you! Will they let you be? Hue and cry! The hunt was joined the moment you broke away! It will never let up ! Covert to covert till they've run you down, and you're back in the cart, and God pity you! CLARE. Well, I'll die running! MALISE. No, no! Let me shelter you! Let me! CLARE. [Shaking her head and smiling] I'm going to seek my fortune. Wish me luck! ACT n THE FUGITIVE 49 MALISE. I can't let you go. CLARE. You must. He looks into her face; then, realizing that she means it, suddenly bends down to her fingers, and puts his lips to them. MALISE. Good luck, then! Good luck! He releases her hand. Just touching his bent head with her other hand, CLARE turns and goes. MALISE remains with bowed head, listen- ing to the sound of her receding footsteps. They die away. He raises himself, and strikes out into the air with his clenched fist. CURTAIN. ACT III MALISE'S sitting-room. An afternoon, three months later. On the table are an open bottle of claret, his hat, and some tea-things. Down in the hearth is a kettle on a lighted spirit-stand. Near the door stands HAYWOOD, a short, round-faced man, with a tobacco-coloured moustache; MALISE, by the table, is contemplating a piece of blue paper. HAYWOOD. Sorry to press an old customer, sir, but a year and an 'alf without any return on your money MALISE. Your tobacco is too good, Mr. Haywood. I wish I could see my way to smoking another. HAYWOOD. Well, sir that's a funny remedy. With a knock on the half -opened door, a BOY ap- pears. MALISE. Yes. What is it? BOY. Your copy for "The Watchfire," please, sir. MALISE. [Motioning him out] Yes. Wait! The BOY withdraws. MALISE goes up to the pile of books, turns them over, and takes up some volumes. MALISE. This is a very fine unexpurgated translation of Boccaccio's "Decameron," Mr. Haywood illus- trated. I should say you would get more than the amount of your bill for them. 51 52 THE FUGITIVE ACT m HAYWOOD. [Shaking his head] Them books worth three pound seven! MALISE. It's scarce, and highly improper. Will you take them in discharge? HAYWOOD. [Torn between emotions] Well, I 'ardly know what to say No, sir, I don't think I'd like to 'ave to do with that. MALISE. You could read them first, you know? HAYWOOD. [Dubiously] I've got my wife at 'ome. MALISE. You could both read them. HAYWOOD. [Brought to his bearings] No, sir, I couldn't. MALISE. Very well; I'll sell them myself, and you shall have the result. HAYWOOD. Well, thank you, sir. I'm sure I didn't want to trouble you. MALISE. Not at all, Mr. Hay wood. It's for me to apologize. HAYWOOD. So long as I give satisfaction. MALISE. [Holding the door for him] Certainly. Good evening. HAYWOOD. Good evenin', sir; no offence, I hope. MALISE. On the contrary. Doubtfully HAYWOOD goes. And MALISE stands scratching his head; then slipping the bill into one of the volumes to remind him, he replaces them at the top of the pile. The BOY again advances into the doorway. MALISE. Yes, now for you. He goes to the table and takes some sheets of MS. sc. i THE FUGITIVE 53 from an old portfolio. But the door is again timidly pushed open, and HAYWOOD reappears. MALISE. Yes, Mr. Hay wood? HAYWOOD. About that little matter, sir. If if it's any convenience to you I've thought of a place where I could MALISE. Read them? You'll enjoy them thor- oughly. HAYWOOD. No, sir, no! Where I can dispose of them. MALISE. [Holding out the volumes] It might be as well. [HAYWOOD takes the books gingerly] I congratu- late you, Mr. Haywood; it's a classic. HAYWOOD. Oh, indeed yes, sir. In the event of there being any MALISE. Anything over? Carry it to my credit. Your bill [He hands over the blue paper] Send me the receipt. Good evening! HAYWOOD, nonplussed, and trying to hide the books in an evening paper, fumbles out : "Good evenin', sir!" and departs. MALISE again takes up the sheets of MS. and cons a sentence over to himself, gazing blankly at the stolid BOY. MALISE. "Man of the world good form your god! Poor buttoned-up philosopher" [the BOY shifts his feet] "inbred to the point of cretinism, and founded to the bone on fear of ridicule [the BOY breathes heavily] you are the slave of facts!" [There is a knock on the door. 54 THE FUGITIVE ACT in MALISE. Who is it? The door is pushed open, and REGINALD HUNT- INGDON stands there. HUNTINGDON. I apologize, sir; can I come in a minute? [MALISE bows with ironical hostility. HUNTINGDON. I don't know if you remember me Clare Dedmond's brother. MALISE. I remember you. [He motions to the stolid BOY to go outside again. HUNTINGDON. I've come to you, sir, as a gentle- man MALISE. Some mistake. There is one, I believe, on the first floor. HUNTINGDON. It's about my sister. MALISE. D n you! Don't you know that I've been shadowed these last three months? Ask your detectives for any information you want. HUNTINGDON. We know that you haven't seen her, or even known where she is. MALISE. Indeed! You've found that out? Bril- liant! HUNTINGDON. We know it from my sister. MALISE. Oh ! So you've tracked her down? HUNTINGDON. Mrs. Fullarton came across her yes- terday in one of those big shops selling gloves. MALISE. Mrs. Fullarton the lady with the husband. Well! you've got her. Clap her back into prison. HUNTINGDON. We have not got her. She left at once, and we don't know where she's gone. sc. i THE FUGITIVE 55 MALISE. Bravo! HUNTINGDON. [Taking hold of his bit] Look here, Mr. Malise, in a way I share your feeling, but I'm fond of my sister, and it's damnable to have to go back to India knowing she must be all adrift, without protection, going through God knows what! Mrs. Fullarton says she's looking awfully pale and down. MALISE. [Struggling between resentment and sympa- thy] Why do you come to me? HUNTINGDON. We thought MALISE. Who? HUNTINGDON. My my father and myself. MALISE. Go on. HUNTINGDON. We thought there was just a chance that, having lost that job, she might come to you again for advice. If she does, it would be really gen- erous of you if you'd put my father in touch with her. He's getting old, and he feels this very much. [He hands MALISE a card] This is his address. MALISE. [Twisting the card] Let there be no mistake, sir; I do nothing that will help give her back to her husband. She's out to save her soul alive, and I don't join the hue and cry that's after her. On the contrary if I had the power. If your father wants to shelter her, that's another matter. But she'd her own ideas about that. HUNTINGDON. Perhaps you don't realize how unfit my sister is for rough and tumble. She's not one of this- new sort of woman. She's always been looked 56 THE FUGITIVE ACT in after, and had things done for her. Pluck she's got, but that's all, and she's bound to come to grief. MAHSE. Very likely the first birds do. But if she drops half-way it's better than if she'd never flown. Your sister, sir, is trying the wings of her spirit, out of the old slave market. For women as for men, there's more than one kind of dishonour, Captain Hunting- don, and worse things than being dead, as you may know in your profession. HUNTINGDON. Admitted but MALISE. We each have our own views as to what they are. But they all come to death of our spirits, for the sake of our carcases. Anything more? HUNTINGDON. My leave's up. I sail to-morrow. If you do see my sister I trust you to give her my love and say I begged she would see my father. MALISE. If I have the chance yes. He makes a gesture of salute, to which HUNTING- DON responds. Then the latter turns and goes out. MALISE. Poor fugitive! Where are you running now? He stands at the window, through which the even- ing sunlight is 'powdering the room with smoky gold. The stolid BOY has again come in. MA- LISE stares at him, then goes back to the table, takes up the MS., and booms it at him; he re- ceives the charge, breathing hard. MALISE. "Man of the world product of a material age; incapable of perceiving reality in motions of the spirit; having 'no use,' as you would say, for 'senti- ac. i THE FUGITIVE 57 mental nonesnse'; accustomed to believe yourself the national spine your position is unassailable. You will remain the idol of the country arbiter of law, parson in mufti, darling of the playwright and the novelist God bless you! while waters lap these shores." He places the sheets of MS. in an envelope, and hands them to the BOY. MALISE. You're going straight back to "The Watch- fire"? BOY. [Stolidly] Yes, sir. MALISE. [Staring at him] You're a masterpiece. D'you know that? BOY. No, sir. MALISE. Get out, then. He lifts the portfolio from the table, and takes it into the inner room. The BOY, putting his thumb stolidly to his nose, turns to go. In the doorway he shies violently at the figure of CLARE, standing there in a dark-coloured dress, skids past her and goes. CLARE comes into the gleam of sunlight, her white face alive with emotion or excitement. She looks round her, smiles, sighs; goes swiftly to the door, closes it, and comes back to the table. There she stands, fin- gering the papers on the table, smoothing MA- LISE'S hat wistfully, eagerly, waiting. MALISE. [Returning] You! CLARE. [With a faint smile] Not very glorious, is it? He goes towards her, and checks himself, then slews the armchair round. 58 THE FUGITIVE ACT m MALISE. Come! Sit down, sit down! [CLARE, heav- ing a long sigh, sinks down into tfie chair] Tea's nearly ready. He places a cushion for her, and prepares tea; she looks up at him softly, but as he finishes and turns to her, she drops that glance. CLARE. Do you think me an awful coward for com- ing? [She has taken a little plain cigarette case from her dress] Would you mind if I smoked? MALISE shakes his head, then draws back from her again, as if afraid to be too close. And again, unseen, she looks at him. MALISE. So you've lost your job? CLARE. How did you ? MALISE. Your brother. You only just missed him. [CLARE starts up] They had an idea you'd come. He's sailing to-morrow he wants you to see your father. CLARE. Is father ill? MALISE. Anxious about you. CLARE. I've written to him every week. [Excited] They're still hunting me! MALISE. [Touching her shoulder gently] It's all right all right. She sinks again into the chair, and again he with- draws. And once more she gives him that soft eager look, and once more averts it as he turns to her. CLARE. My nerves have gone funny lately. It's be- ing always on one's guard, and stuffy air, and feeling sc. i THE FUGITIVE 59 people look and talk about you, and dislike your being there. MALISE. Yes; that wants pluck. CLARE. [Shaking her head] I curl up all the time. The only thing I know for certain is, that I shall never go back to him. The more I've hated what I've been doing, the more sure I've been. I might come to any- thing but not that. MALISE. Had a very bad time? CLARE. [Nodding] I'm spoilt. It's a curse to be a lady when you have to earn your living. It's not really been so hard, I suppose; I've been selling things, and living about twice as well as most shop girls. MALISE. Were they decent to you? CLARE. Lots of the girls are really nice. But some- how they don't want me, can't help thinking I've got airs or something; and in here [She touches her breast] I don't want them! MALISE. I know. CLARE. Mrs. Fullarton and I used to belong to a society for helping reduced gentlewomen to get work. I know now what they want: enough money not to work that's all! [Suddenly looking up at him] Don't think me worse than I am please! It's working un- der people; it's having to do it, being driven. I have tried, I've not been altogether a coward, really! But every morning getting there the same time; every day the same stale "dinner," as they call it; every evening the same "Good evening, Miss Clare," "Good evening, Miss Simpson," "Good evening, Miss Hart," "Good evening, Miss Clare." And the same walk home, or 60 THE FUGITIVE ACT m the same 'bus; and the same men that you mustn't look at, for fear they'll follow you. [She rises] Oh! and the feeling always, always that there's no sun, or life, or hope, or anything. It was just like being ill, the way I've wanted to ride and dance and get out into the country. [Her excitement dies away into the old clipped composure, and she sits down again] Don't think too badly of me it really is pretty ghastly ! MALISE. [Gruffly] H'm! Why a shop? CLARE. References. I didn't want to tell more lies than I could help; a married woman on strike can't tell the truth, you know. And I can't typewrite or do shorthand yet. And chorus I thought you wouldn't like. MALISE. I? What have I ? [He checks himself] Have men been brutes? CLARE. [Stealing a look at him] One followed me a lot. He caught hold of my arm one evening. I just took this out [She draws out her hatpin and holds it like a dagger, her lip drawn back as the lips of a dog going to bite] and said: "Will you leave me alone, please?" And he did. It was rather nice. And there was one quite decent little man in the shop I was sorry for him such a humble little man! MALISE. Poor devil it's hard not to wish for the moon. At the tone of his voice CLARE looks up at him ; his face is turned away. CLARE. [So/%] How have you been? Working very hard? MALISE. As hard as God will let me. BC. i THE FUGITIVE 61 CLARE. [Stealing another look] Have you any type- writing I could do? I could learn, and I've still got a brooch I could sell. Which is the best kind? MALISE. I had a catalogue of them somewhere. He goes into the inner room. The moment he is gone, CLARE stands up, her hands pressed to her cheeks as if she felt them flaming. Then, wiih hands clasped, she stands waiting. He comes back with the old portfolio. MALISE. Can you typewrite where you are? CLARE. I have to find a new room anyway. I'm changing to be safe. [She takes a luggage ticket from her glove] I took my things to Charing Cross only a bag and one trunk. [Then, with that queer expression on her face which prefaces her desperations] You don't want me now, I suppose. MALISE. What? CLARE. [Hardly above a whisper] Because if you still wanted me I do now. MALISE. [Staring hard into her face that is quivering and smiling] You mean it? You do? You care ? CLARE. I've thought of you so much! But only if you're sure. He clasps her and kisses her closed eyes; and so they stand for a moment, till the sound of a latchkey in the door sends them apart. MALISE. It's the housekeeper. Give me that ticket; I'll send for your things. Obediently she gives him the ticket, smiles, and goes quietly into the inner room. MRS. MILER 62 THE FUGITIVE ACT in has entered ; her face, more Chinese than ever, shows no sign of having seen. MALISE. That lady will stay here, Mrs. Miler. Kindly go with this ticket to the cloak-room at Charing Cross station, and bring back her luggage in a cab. Have you money? MRS. MILER. 'Arf a crown. [She takes the ticket then impassively] In case you don't know there's two o' them men about the stairs now. The moment she is gone MALISE makes a gesture of maniacal fury. He steals on tiptoe to the outer door, and listens. Then, placing his hand on the knob, he turns it witJiout noise, and wrenches back the door. Transfigured in the last sunlight streaming down the corridor are two men, close together, listening and consulting secretly. They start back. MALISE. [With strange, almost noiseless ferocity] You've run her to earth; your job's done. Kennel up, hounds! [And in their faces he slams the door. CURTAIN. sc. n THE FUGITIVE 63 SCENE II i SCENE II. The same, early on a winter afternoon, three months later. The room has now a certain dainti- ness. There are curtains over the doors, a couch under the window, all the books are arranged on shelves. In small vases, over the fireplace, are a few violets and chrysanthemums. MALISE sits hud- dled in his armchair drawn close to the fire, paper on knee, pen in hand. He looks rather grey and drawn, and round his chair is the usual litter. At the table, now nearer to the window, CLARE sits working a typewriter. She finishes a line, puts sheets of paper together, makes a note on a card adds some figures, and marks the total. CLARE. Kenneth, when this is paid, I shall have made two pound seventeen in the three months, and saved you about three pounds. One hundred and seventeen shillings at tenpence a thousand is one hundred and forty thousand words at fourteen hundred words an hour. It's only just over an hour a day. Can't you get me more? MALISE lifts the hand that holds his pen and lets it fall again. CLARE puts the cover on the type- ivriter, and straps it. CLARE. I'm quite packed. Shall I pack for you? [He nods] Can't we have more than three days at the sea? [He shakes his head. Going up to him] You did sleep last night. 64 THE FUGITIVE ACT ro MALISE. Yes, I slept. CLAKE. Bad head? [MALISE nods] By this time the day after to-morrow the case will be heard and done with. You're not worrying for me? Except for my poor old Dad, 7 don't care a bit. MALISE heaves himself out of the chair, and begins pacing up and down. CLARE. Kenneth, do you understand why he doesn't claim damages, after what he said that day here? [Looking suddenly at him] It is true that he doesn't? MALISE. It is not. CLARE. But you told me yourself MALISE. I lied. CLARE. Why? MALISE. [Shrugging] No use lying any longer you'd know it to-morrow. CLARE. How much am I valued at? MALISE. Two thousand. [Grimly] He'll settle it on you. [He laughs] Masterly! By one stroke, destroys his enemy, avenges his "honour," and gilds his name with generosity! CLARE. Will you have to pay? MALISE. Stones yield no blood. CLARE. Can't you borrow? MALISE. I couldn't even get the costs. CLARE. Will they make you bankrupt, then? [MA- LISE nods] But that doesn't mean that you won't have your income, does it? [MALISE laughs] What is your in- come, Kenneth? [He is silent] A hundred and fifty from "The Watchfire," I know. What else? BC. n THE FUGITIVE 65 MALISE. Out of five books I have made the sum of forty pounds. CLARE. What else? Tell me. MALISE. Fifty to a hundred pounds a year. Leave me to gnaw my way out, child. CLARE stands looking at him in distress, then goes quickly into the room behind her. MALISE takes up his paper and pen. The paper is quite blank. MALISE. [Feeling his head] Full of smoke. He drops paper and pen, and crossing to the room on the left goes in. CLARE re-enters with a small leather box. She puts it down on her typing table as MALJSE returns followed by MRS. MILER, wearing her hat, and carrying his over- coat. MRS. MILER. Put your coat on. It's a bitter wind. [He puts on the coat. CLARE. Where are you going? MALISE. To "The Watchfire." The door closes behind him, and MRS. MILER goes up to CLARE holding out a little blue bot- tle with a red label, nearly futt. MRS. MILER. You know he's takin' this [She makes a little motion towards her mouth] to make 'im sleep? CLARE. [Reading the label\ Where was it? MRS. MILER. In the bathroom chest o' drawers, where 'e keeps 'is odds and ends. I was lookin' for 'is garters. CLARE. Give it to me! 66 THE FUGITIVE ACT m Mas. MILER. He took it once before. He must get his sleep. CLARE. Give it to me! MRS. MILER resigns it, CLARE takes the cork out, smells, then tastes it from her finger. MRS. MILER, twisting her apron in her hands, speaks. MRS. MILER. I've 'ad it on my mind a long time to speak to yer. Your comin' 'ere's not done 'im a bit o' good. CLARE. Don't! MRS. MILER. I don't want to, but what with the worry o' this 'ere divorce suit, an' you bein' a lady an' 'im havin' to be so careful of yer, and tryin' to save, not smokin' all day like 'e used, an' not gettin' 'is two bottles of claret regular; an' losin' his sleep, an' takin' that stuff for it; and now this 'ere last business. I've seen 'im sometimes holdin' 'is 'ead as if it was comin' off. [Seeing CLARE wince, she goes on with a sort of compassion in her Chinese face] I can see yer fond of him; an' I've nothin' against yer you don't trouble me a bit; but I've been with 'im eight years we're used to each other, and I can't bear to see 'im not 'imself, really I can't. She gives a sudden sniff. Then her emotion passes, leaving her as Chinese as ever. CLARE. This last business what do you mean by that? MRS. MILER. If 'e a'n't told yer, I don't know that I've any call to. CLARE. Please. BC. n THE FUGITIVE 67 MRS. MILER. [Her hands twisting very fast] Well, it's to do with this 'ere "Watchfire." One of the men that sees to the writin' of it 'e's an old friend of Mr. Malise, 'e come 'ere this mornin' when you was out. I was doin' my work in there [She points to the room on the right] an' the door open, so I 'eard 'em. Now you've 'ung them curtains, you can't 'elp it. CLARE. Yes? MRS. MILER. It's about your divorce case. This 'ere "Watchfire," ye see, belongs to some fellers that won't 'ave their men gettin' into the papers. So this 'ere friend of Mr. Malise very nice 'e spoke about it "If it comes into Court," 'e says, "you'll 'ave to go," 'e says. "These beggars, these dogs, these logs," 'e says, "they'll 'oof you out," 'e says. An' I could tell by the sound of his voice, 'e meant it proper upset 'e was. So that's that! CLARE. It's inhuman! MRS. MILER. That's what I thinks; but it don't 'elp, do it? "'Tain't the circulation," 'e says, "it's the principle," 'e says; and then 'e starts in swearin' hor- rible. 'E's a very nice man. And Mr. Malise, 'e says: "Well, that about does for me!" 'e says. CLARE. Thank you, Mrs. Miler I'm glad to know. MRS. MILER. Yes; I don't know as I ought to 'ave told you. [Desperately uncomfortable] You see, I don't, take notice of Mr. Malise, but I know 'im very well. 'E's a good-'earted gentleman, very funny, that'll do things to help others, and what's more, keep on doin' 'em, when they hurt 'im; very obstinate 'e is. Now, 68 THE FUGITIVE ACT m when you first come 'ere, three months ago, I says to meself: "He'll enjoy this 'ere for a bit, but she's too much of a lady for 'im." What 'e wants about 'im permanent is a woman that thinks an' talks about all them things he talks about. And sometimes I fancy 'e don't want nothin' permanent about 'im at all. CLARE. Don't! MBS. MILEB. [With another sudden sniff] Gawd knows I don't want to upset ye. You're situated very 'ard; an' women's got no business to 'urt one another that's what I thinks. CLABE. Will you go out and do something for me? [Mas. MILEB nods. CLABE takes up the sheaf of papers and from the leather box a note and an emerald pendant} Take this with the note to that address it's quite close. He'll give you thirty pounds for it. Please pay these bills and bring me back the receipts, and what's over. MBS. MILEB. {Taking the pendant and note} It's a pretty thing. CLABE. Yes. It was my mother's. MBS. MILEB. It's a pity to part with it; ain't you got another? CLABE. Nothing more, Mrs. Miler, not even a wed- ding ring. MBS. MILEB. {Without expression} You make my 'eart ache sometimes. She wraps pendant and note into her handker- chief and goes out to the door. MBS. MILEB. [From the door] There's a lady and sc. n THE FUGITIVE 69 gentleman out here. Mrs. Fuller wants you, not Mr. Malise. CLARE. Mrs. Fullarton? [Mas. MILEB nods] Ask them to come in. MBS. MILEB opens the door wide, says "Come in," and goes. MBS. FULLABTON is accom- panied not by FULLABTON, but by the lawyer, TWISDEN. They come in. MBS. FULLABTON. Clare! My dear! How are you after all this time? CLARE. {Her eyes fixed on TWISDEN] Yes? MBS. FULLABTON. [Disconcerted by the strange greet- ing} I brought Mr. Twisden to tell you something. May I stay? CLABE. Yes. [She points to the chair at the same table : MBS. FULLABTON sits down] Now! [TWISDEN comes forward. TWISDEN. As you're not defending this case, Mrs. Dedmond, there is nobody but yourself for me to apply to. CLARE. Please tell me quickly, what you've come for. TWISDEN. [Bowing slightly] I am instructed by Mr. Dedmond to say that if you will leave your present companion and undertake not to see him again, he will withdraw the suit and settle three hundred a year on you. [At CLABE'S movement of abhorrence] Don't misunderstand me, please it is not it could hardly be, a request that you should go back. Mr.' Dedmond is not prepared to receive you again. The proposal forgive my saying so remarkably Quixotic 70 THE FUGITIVE ACT m is made to save the scandal to his family and your own. It binds you to nothing but the abandonment of your present companion, with certain conditions of the same nature as to the future. In other words, it assures you a position so long as you live quietly by yourself. CLABE. I see. Will you please thank Mr. Dedmond, and say that I refuse? MBS. FULLABTON. Clare, Clare! For God's sake don't be desperate. [CLABE, deathly still, just looks at her. TWISDEN. Mrs. Dedmond, I am bound to put the position to you in its naked brutality. You know there's a claim for damages? CLABE. I have just learnt it. TWISDEN. You realize what the result of this suit must be: You will be left dependent on an undischarged bankrupt. To put it another way, you'll be a stone round the neck of a drowning man. CLABE. You are cowards. MBS. FULLABTON. Clare, Clare! [To TWISDEN] She doesn't mean it; please be patient. CLARE. I do mean it. You ruin him because of me. You get him down, and kick him to intimidate me. MBS. FULLABTON. My dear girl! Mr. Twisden is not personally concerned. How can you? CLABE. If I were dying, and it would save me, I wouldn't take a penny from my husband. TWISDEN. Nothing could be more bitter than those BC. n THE FUGITIVE 71 words. Do you really wish me to take them back to him? CLARE. Yes. [She turns from them to the fire. MRS. FULLARTON. [In a low voice to TWISDEN] Please leave me alone with her, don't say anything to Mr. Dedmond yet. TWISDEN. Mrs. Dedmond, I told you once that I wished you well. Though you have called me a cow- ard, I still do that. For God's sake, think before it's too late. CLARE. [Putting out her hand blindly] I'm sorry I called you a coward. It's the whole thing, I meant. TWISDEN. Never mind that. Think! With the curious little movement of one who sees something he does not like to see, he goes. CLARE is leaning her forehead against the mantelshelf, seemingly unconscious that she is not alone. MRS. FULLARTON approaches quietly till she can see CLARE'S face. MRS. FULLARTON. My dear sweet thing, don't be cross with met [CLARE turns from her. It is all the time as if she were trying to get away from words and people to something going on within herself] How can I help wanting to see you saved from all this ghastliness? CLARE. Please don't, Dolly! Let me be! MRS. FULLARTON. I must speak, Clare! I do think you're hard on George. It's generous of him to offer to withdraw the suit considering. You do owe it to us to try and spare your father and your sisters and and all of us who care for you. 72 THE FUGITIVE ACT m CLARE. [Facing her] You say George is generous! If he wanted to be that he'd never have claimed those damages. It's revenge he wants I heard him here. You think I've done him an injury. So I did when I married him. I don't know what I shall come to, Dolly, but I shan't fall so low as to take money from him. That's as certain as that I shall die. MRS. FULLARTON. Do you know, Clare, I think it's awful about you! You're too fine, and not fine enough, to put up with things; you're too sensitive to take help, and you're not strong enough to do with- out it. It's simply tragic. At any rate, you might go home to your people. CLARE. After this I MRS. FULLARTON. To us, then? CLARE. "If I could be the falling bee, and kiss thee all the day!" No, Dolly! MRS. FULLARTON turns from her ashamed and baffled, but her quick eyes take in the room, try- ing to seize on some new point of attack. MRS. FULLARTON. You can't be you aren't happy, here ? CLARE. Aren't I ? MRS. FULLARTON. Oh! Clare! Save yourself and all of us! CLARE. [Very still] You see, I love him. MRS. FULLARTON. You used to say you'd never love; did not want it would never want it. CLARE. Did I ? How funny ! sc. n THE FUGITIVE 73 MRS. FULLARTON. Oh! my dear! Don't look like that, or you'll make me cry. CLARE. One doesn't always know the future, does one? [Desperately] I love him! I love him! MRS. FULLARTON. [Suddenly] If you love him, what will it be like for you, knowing you've ruined him? CLARE. Go away! Go away! MRS. FULLARTON. Love! you said! CLARE. [Quivering at that stab suddenly] I must I will keep him. He's all I've got. MRS. FULLARTON. Can you can you keep him? CLARE. Go! MRS. FULLARTON. I'm going. But, men are hard to keep, even when you've not been the ruin of them. You know whether the love this man gives you is really love. If not God help you! [She turns at the door, and says mournfully] Good-bye, my child! If you can Then goes. CLARE, almost in a whisper, repeats the words: "Love! you said!" At the sound of a latchkey she runs as if to escape into the bed- room, but changes her mind and stands blot- ted against the curtain of the door. MALJSE enters. For a moment he does not see her stand- ing there against the curtain that is much the same colour as her dress. His face is that of a man in the grip of a rage that he feels to be im- potent. Then, seeing her, he pulls himself to- gether, walks to his armchair, and sits down there in his hat and coat. 74 THE FUGITIVE ACT ra CLARE. Well? "The Watchfire?" You may as well tell me. MAUSE. Nothing to tell you, child. At that touch of tenderness she goes up to his chair and kneels down beside it. Mechanically MALISE takes off his hat. CLARE. Then you are to lose that, too? [MALISE stares at her] I know about it never mind how. MALISE. Sanctimonious dogs! CLARE. [Very low] There are other things to be got, aren't there? MALISE. Thick as blackberries. I just go out and cry, "Malise, unsuccessful author, too honest journal- ist, freethinker, co-respondent, bankrupt," and they tumble! CLARE. [Quietly] Kenneth, do you care for me? [MALISE stares at her] Am I anything to you but just prettiness? MALISE. Now, now! This isn't the time to brood! Rouse up and fight. CLARE. Yes. MALISE. We're not going to let them down us, are we? [She rubs her cheek against his hand, that still rests on her shoulder] Life on sufferance, breath at the pleas- ure of the enemy! And some day in the fullness of his mercy to be made a present of the right to eat and drink and breathe again. [His gesture sums up the rage within him] Fine! [He puts his hat on and rises] That's the last groan they get from me. CLARE. Are you going out again? [He nods] Where? sc. n THE FUGITIVE 75 MALISE. Blackberry ing! Our train's not till six. He goes into the bedroom. CLARE gets up and stands by the fire, looking round in a dazed way. She puts her hand up and mechanic- ally gathers together the violets in the little vase. Suddenly she twists them to a button- hole, and sinks down into the armchair, which he must pass. There she sits, the violets in her hand. MALISE comes out and crosses towards the outer door. She puts the violets up to him. He stares at them, shrugs his shoulders, and passes on. For just a moment CLARK sits motionless. CLARE. [Quietly} Give me a kiss! He turns and kisses her. But his lips, after that kiss, have the furtive bitterness one sees on the lips of those who have done what does not suit their mood. He goes out. She is left motionless by the armchair, her throat working. Then, feverishly, she goes to the little table, seizes a sheet of paper, and writes. Looking up suddenly she sees that MRS. MILER has let herself in with her latchkey. MRS. MILER. I've settled the baker, the milk, the washin' an' the groceries this 'ere's what's left. She counts down a five-pound note, four sovereigns, and two shillings on to the little table. CLARE folds the letter into an envelope, then takes up the five-pound note and puts it into her dress. CLARE. [Pointing to the money on the table} Take 76 THE FUGITIVE ACT m your wages; and give him this when he comes in. I'm going away. MRS. MILER. Without him? When'll you be comin' back? CLARE. [Rising] I shan't be coming back. [Gazing at MRS. MILER'S hands, which are plaiting at her dress] I'm leaving Mr. Malise, and shan't see him again. And the suit against us will be withdrawn the divorce suit you understand? MRS. MILER. [Her face all broken up] I never meant to say anything to yer. CLARE. It's not you. I can see for myself. Don't make it harder; help me. Get a cab. MRS. MILER. [Disturbed to the heart] The porter's outside, cleanin' the landin' winder. CLARE. Tell him to come for my trunk. It is packed. [She goes into the bedroom. MRS. MILER. [Opening the door desolately] Come 'ere! [The PORTER appears in shirt-sleeves at the door. MRS. MILER. The lady wants a cab. Wait and carry 'er trunk down. CLARE comes from the bedroom in her hat and coat. MRS. MILER. [To the PORTER] Now. They go into the bedroom to get the trunk. CLARE picks up from the floor the bunch of violets, her fingers play with it as if they did not quite know what it was ; and she stands by the armchair very still, while MRS. MILER and the PORTER pass sc. ii THE FUGITIVE 77 her with trunk and bag. And even after the PORTER has shouldered the trunk outside, and marched away, and MRS. MILER has come back into the room, CLARE still stands there. MRS. MILER. [Pointing to the typewriter] D'you want this 'ere, too? CLARE. Yes. MRS. MILER carries it out. Then, from the door- way, gazing at CLARE taking her last look, she sobs, suddenly. At sound of that sob CLARE throws up her head. CLARE. Don't! It's all right. Good-bye! She walks out and away, not looking back. MRS. MILER chokes her sobbing into the black stuff qf her thick old jacket. CURTAIN. ACT IV SUPPER-TIME in a small room at "The Gascony" on Derby Day. Through the windows of a broad corridor, out of which the door opens, is seen the dark blue of a summer night. The walls are of apricot-gold; the carpets, curtains, lamp-shades, and gilded chairs, of red; the wood-work and screens white; the palms in gilded tubs. A doorway that has no door leads to another small room. One little table behind a screen, and one little table in the open, are set for two persons each. On a serv- ice-table, above which hangs a speaking-tube, are some dishes of hors d'ceuvres, a basket of peaches, two bottles of champagne in ice-pails, and a small barrel of oysters in a gilded tub. ABNAUD, the waiter, slim, dark, quick, his face seamed with a quiet, soft irony, is opening oysters and listening to the robust joy of a distant supper-party, where a man is playing the last bars of: "Do ye ken John Peel" on a horn. As the sound dies away, he murmurs: "Tres Joli!" and opens another oyster. Two Ladies with bare shoulders and large hats pass down the corridor. Their talk is faintly wafted in : "Well, I never like Derby night! The boys do get so bobbish!" "That horn vulgar, I call it!" 79 80 THE FUGITIVE ACT iv ARNATTD'S eyebrows rise, the corners of his mouth droop. A Lady with bare shoulders, and crimson roses in her hair, comes along the corridor, and stops for a second at the window, for a man to join her. They come through into the room. ARNAUD has sprung to attention, but with: "Let's go in here, shall we?" they pass through into the further room. The MANAGER, a gentleman with neat moustaches, and buttoned into a frock-coat, has appeared, brisk, noiseless, his eyes everywhere; he inspects the peaches. MANAGER. Four shillin' apiece to-night, see? ARNAUD. Yes, Sare. From the inner room a young man and his partner have come in. She is dark, almost Spanish- looking; he fair, languid, pale, clean-shaved, slackly smiling, with half-closed eyes one of those who are bred and dissipated to the point of having lost all save the capacity for hiding their emotions. He speaks in a LANGUID VOICE. Awful row they're kickin' up in there, Mr. Varley. A fellow with a horn. MANAGER. [Blandly] Gaddesdon Hunt, my lord always have their supper with us, Derby night. Quiet corner here, my lord. Arnaud! ARNAUD is already at the table, between screen and palm. And, there ensconced, the couple take their seats. Seeing them safely landed, the MANAGER, brisk and noiseless, moves away. In the corridor a lady in black, with a cloak fall- ACT iv THE FUGITIVE 81 ing open, seems uncertain whether to come in. She advances into the doorway. It is CLARE. ABNAUD. [Pointing to the other table as he flies uaith dishes] Nice table, Madame. CLARE moves to the corner of it. An artist in observation of his clients, ARNAUD takes in her face very pale under her wavy, simply- dressed hair; shadowy beneath the eyes; not powdered; her lips not reddened; without a sin- gle ornament; takes in her black dress, finely cut, her arms and neck beautifully white, and at her breast three gardenias. And as he nears her, she lifts her eyes. It is very much the look of something lost, appealing for guidance. ARNAUD. Madame is waiting for some one? [She shakes her head] Then Madame will be veree well here veree well. I take Madame's cloak? He takes the cloak gently and lays it on the back of the chair fronting the room, that she may put it round her when she wishes. She sits down. LANGUID VOICE. [From the corner] Waiter! ARNAUD. Milord! LANGUID VOICE. The Roederer. ARNAUD. At once, milord. CLARE sits tracing a pattern with her finger on the cloth, her eyes lowered. Once she raises them, and follows ARNAUD'S dark rapid figure. ARNAUD. [Returning] Madame feels the 'eat? [He scans her with increased curiosity] You wish something, Madame? 82 THE FUGITIVE ACT iv CLARE. [Again giving him that look] Must I order? ABNAUD. Non, Madame, it is not necessary. A glass of water. [He pours it out] I have not the pleas- ure of knowing Madame's face. CLARE. [Faintty smiling] No. ARNAUD. Madame will find it veree good 'ere, veree quiet. LANGUID VOICE. Waiter! ARNAUD. Pardon ! [He goes. The bare-necked ladies with large hats again pass down the corridor outside, and again their voices are wafted in: "Tottie! Not she! Oh! my goodness, she has got a pride on her!" "Bobbie'll never stick it!" "Look here, dear " Galvanized by those sounds, CLARE has caught her cloak and half -risen; they die away and she subsides. ARNAUD. {Back at her table, with a quaint shrug to- wards the corridor] It is not rowdy here, Madame, as a rule not as in some places. To-night a little noise. Madame is fond of flowers? [He whisks out, and returns almost at once with a bowl of carnations from some table in the next room] These smell good! CLARE. You are very kind. ARNAUD. [With courtesy] Not at all, Madame; a pleasure. [He bows. A young man, tatt, thin, hard, straight, with close-cropped, sandyish hair and moustache, a face tanned very red, and one of those small, long, lean heads that only grow in Britain; ACT iv THE FUGITIVE 83 clad in a thin dark overcoat thrown open, an opera hat pushed back, a white waistcoat round his lean middle, he comes in from the corridor. He looks round, glances at CLARE, passes her table towards the further room, stops in the door- way, and looks back at her. Her eyes have just been lifted, and are at once cast down again. The young man wavers, catches ABNAUD'S eye, jerks his head to summon him, and passes into the further room. ARNAUD takes up the vase that has been superseded, and follows him out. And CLARE sits alone in silence, broken by the murmurs of the languid lord and his partner, behind the screen. She is breathing as if she had been running hard. She lifts her eyes. The tall young man, divested of hat and coat, is standing by her table, holding out his hand with a sort of bashful hardiness. YOUNG MAN. How d'you do? Didn't recognize you at first. So sorry awfully rude of me. CLARE'S eyes seem to fly from him, to appeal to him, to resign herself all at once. Something in the YOUNG MAN responds. He drops his hand. CLARE. [Faintly] How d'you do? YOUNG MAN. {Stammering} You you been down there to-day? CLARE. Where? YOUNG MAN. [With a smile] The Derby. What? Don't you generally go down? [He touches the other chair] May I? 84 THE FUGITIVE ACT iv CLARE. [Almost in a whisper] Yes. As he sits down, ARNATJD returns and stands before them. ARNAUD. The plovers' eggs veree good to-night, Sare. Veree good, Madame. A peach or two, after. Veree good peaches. The Roederer, Sare not bad at all. Madame likes it frappS, but not too cold yes? [He is away again to his service-table,. YOUNG MAN. [Burying his face in the carnations] I say these are jolly, aren't they? They do you pretty well here. CLARE. Do they? YOUNG MAN. You've never been here? [CLARE shakes her head] By Jove! I thought I didn't know your face. [CLARE looks full at him. Again something moves in the YOUNG MAN, and he stammers] I mean not CLARE. It doesn't matter. YOUNG MAN. [Respectfully] Of course, if I if you were waiting for anybody, or anything I [He half rises* CLARE. It's all right, thank you. The YOUNG MAN sits down again, uncomfort- able, nonplussed. There is silence, broken by the inaudible words of the languid lord, and the distant merriment of the supper-party, ARNAUD brings the plovers' eggs. YOUNG MAN. The wine, quick. ARNAUD. At once, Sare. ACT iv THE FUGITIVE 85 YOUNG MAN. [Abruptly] Don't you ever go racing, then? CLARE. No. [ABNAUD pours out champagne. YOUNG MAN. I remember awfully well my first day. It was pretty thick lost every blessed bob, and my watch and chain, playin' three cards on the way home. CLARE. Everything has a beginning, hasn't it? [She drinks. The YOUNG MAN stares at her. YOUNG MAN. [Floundering in these waters deeper than he had bargained for] I say about things having beginnings did you mean anything? [CLARE nods. YOUNG MAN. What! D'you mean it's really the first ? CLARE nods. The champagne has flicked her courage. YOUNG MAN. By George! [He leans back] I've often wondered. ARNAUD. [Again filling the glasses] Monsieur finds YOUNG MAN. [Abruptly] It's all right. He drains his glass, then sits bolt upright. Chiv- alry and the camaraderie of class have begun to stir in him. YOUNG MAN. Of course I can see that you're not I mean, that you're a a lady. [CLARE smiles] And I say, you know if you have to because you're in a hole I should feel a cad. Let me lend you ? 86 THE FUGITIVE ACT iv CLARE. [Holding up her glass] Le vin est tire, il faut le boiret She drinks. The French words, which he does not too well understand, completing his convic- tion that she is a lady, he remains quite silent, frowning. As CLARE held up her glass, two gen- tlemen have entered. The first is blond, of good height and a comely insolence. His crisp, fair hair, and fair brushed-up moustache are just go- ing grey; an eyeglass is fixed in one of two eyes that lord it over every woman they see; his face is broad, and coloured with air and wine. His companion is a tall, thin, dark bird of the night, with sly, roving eyes, and hollow cheeks. They stand looking round, then pass into the further room; but in passing, they have stared unre- servedly at CLARE. YOUNG MAN. [Seeing her wince] Look here! I'm afraid you must feel me rather a brute, you know. CLARE. No, I don't; really. YOUNG MAN. Are you absolute stoney? [CLARE nods] But [Looking at her frock and cloak] you're so awfully well CLARE. I had the sense to keep them. YOUNG MAN. [More and more disturbed] I say, you know I wish you'd let me lend you something. I had quite a good day down there. CLARE. [Again tracing her pattern on the cloth then looking up at him full] I can't take, for nothing. YOUNG MAN. By Jove! I don't know really, I ACT iv THE FUGITIVE 87 don't this makes me feel pretty rotten. I mean, it's your being a lady. CLARE. [Smiling] That's not your fault, is it? You see, I've been beaten all along the line. And I really don't care what happens to me. [She has that peculiar fey look on her face now] I really don't; except that I don't take charity. It's lucky for me it's you, and not some The supper-party is getting still more boisterous, and there comes a long view holloa, and a blast of the horn. YOUNG MAN. But I say, what about your people? You must have people of some sort. He is fast becoming fascinated, for her cheeks have begun to flush and her eyes to shine. CLARE. Oh, yes; I've had people, and a husband, and everything And here I am! Queer, isn't it? [She touches her glass] This is going to my head! Do you mind? I sha'n't sing songs and get up and dance, and I won't cry, I promise you ! YOUNG MAN. [Between fascination and chivalry] By George! One simply can't believe in this happening to a lady CLARE. Have you got sisters? [Breaking into her soft laughter] My brother's in India. I sha'n't meet him, anyway. YOUNG MAN. No, but I say are you really quite cut off from everybody? [CLARE nods] Something rather awful must have happened? She smiles. The two gentlemen have returned. 88 THE FUGITIVE ACT iv The blond one is again staring fixedly at CLARE. This time she looks back at him, flaming; and, with a little laugh, he passes with his friend into the corridor. CLARE. Who are those two? YOUNG MAN. Don't know not been much about town yet. I'm just back from India myself. You said your brother was there; what's his regiment? CLARE. [Shaking her head] You're not going to find out my name. I haven't got one nothing. She leans her bare elbows on the table, and her face on her hands. CLARE. First of June! This day last year I broke covert I've been running ever since. YOUNG MAN. I don't understand a bit. You must have had a a some one But there is such a change in her face, such rigid- ity of her whole body, tfiat he stops and averts his eyes. WJien he looks again she is drinking. She puts the glass down, and gives a little laugh. YOUNG MAN. [With a sort of awe] Anyway it must have been like riding at a pretty stiff fence, for you to come here to-night. CLARE. Yes. What's the other side? The YOUNG MAN puts out his hand and touches her arm. It is meant for sympathy, but she takes it for attraction. CLARE. [Shaking her head] Not yet please! I'm enjoying this. May I have a cigarette? [He takes out his case, and gives her one* ACT iv THE FUGITIVE 89 CLARE. [Letting the smoke slowly forth] Yes, I'm en- joying it. Had a pretty poor time lately; not enough to eat, sometimes. YOUNG MAN. Not really! How damnable! I say do have something more substantial. CLARE gives a sudden gasp, as if going off into hysterical laughter, but she stifles it, and shakes her head. YOUNG MAN. A peach? [ARNAUD brings peaches to the table. CLARE. [Smiling] Thank you. [He fills their glasses and retreats. CLARE. [Raising her glass] Eat and drink, for to- morrow we Listen! From the supper-party comes the sound of an abortive chorus: "With a hey ho, chivy, hark forrard, hark forrard, tantivy!" Jarring out into a discordant whoop, it sinks. CLARE. "This day a stag must die." Jolly old song! YOUNG MAN. Rowdy lot! [Suddenly] I say I ad- mire your pluck. CLARE. [Shaking her head] Haven't kept my end up. Lots of women do! You see: I'm too fine, and not fine enough! My best friend said that. Too fine, and not fine enough. [She laughs] I couldn't be a saint and martyr, and I wouldn't be a soulless doll. Neither one thing nor the other that's the tragedy. YOUNG MAN. You must have had awful luck! CLARE. I did try. [Fiercely] But what's the good when there's nothing before you? Do I look ill? 90 THE FUGITIVE ACT iv YOUNG MAN. No; simply awfully pretty. CLAKE. [With a laugh] A man once said to me: "As you haven't money, you should never have been pretty!" But, you see, it is some good. If I hadn't been, I couldn't have risked coming here, could I? Don't you think it was rather sporting of me to buy these [She touches the gardenias] with the last shilling over from my cab fare? YOUNG MAN. Did you really? D d sporting! CLARE. It's no use doing things by halves, is it? I'm in for it wish me luck! [She drinks, and puts her glass dmvn with a smile] In for it deep! [She flings up her hands above her smiling face} Down, down, till they're just above water, and then down, down, down, and all over! Are you sorry now you came and spoke to me? YOUNG MAN. By Jove, no! It may be caddish, but I'm not. CLARE. Thank God for beauty! I hope I shall die pretty! Do you think I shall do well? YOUNG MAN. I say don't talk like that! CLARE. I want to know. Do you? YOUNG MAN. Well, then yes, I do. CLARE. That's splendid. Those poor women in the streets would give their eyes, wouldn't they? that have to go up and down, up and down! Do you think I shall The YOUNG MAN, half-rising, puts his hand on her arm. YOUNG MAN. I think you're getting much too ex- ACT iv THE FUGITIVE 91 cited. You look all Won't you eat your peach? [She shakes her head] Do! Have something else, then some grapes, or something? CLARE. No, thanks. [She has become quite calm again. YOUNG MAN. Well, then, what d'you think? It's awfully hot in here, isn't it? Wouldn't it be jollier drivin'? Shall we shall we make a move? CLARE. Yes. The YOUNG MAN turns to look for the waiter, but ARNAUD is not in the room. He gets up. YOUNG MAN. [Feverishly] D n that waiter! Wait half a minute, if you don't mind, while I pay the bill. As he goes out into the corridor, the two gentlemen re-appear. CLARE is sitting motionless, look- ing straight before her. DARK ONE. A fiver you don't get her to! BLOND ONE. Done! He advances to her table with his inimitable inso- lence, and taking the cigar from his mouth, bends his stare on her, and says : " Charmed to see you lookin' so well! Will you have sup- per with me here to-morrow night?" Startled out of her reverie, CLARE looks up. She sees those eyes, she sees beyond him the eyes of his companion sly, malevolent, amused watch- ing; and she just sits gazing, without a word. At that regard, so clear, the BLOND ONE does not wince. But rather suddenly he says: "That's arranged then. Half-past eleven. So good of you. Good-night!" He replaces his cigar 92 THE FUGITIVE ACT ir and strolls back to his companion, and in a low voice says: "Pay up!" Then at a languid "Hullo, Charles!" they turn to greet the two in their nook behind the screen. CLARE has not moved, nor changed the direction of her gaze. Suddenly she thrusts her hand into the 'pocket of the cloak that hangs behind her, and brings out the little blue bottle which, six months ago, she took from MALISE. She pulls out the cm-k and pours the whole contents into her champagne. She lifts the glass, holds it before her smiling, as if to call a toast, then puts it to her lips and drinks. Still smiling, she sets the empty glass down, and lays the gardenia flowers against her face. Slowly she droops back in her chair, the drowsy smile still on her lips ; the gardenias drop into her lap; her arms relax, her head falls forward on her breast. And the voices behind the screen talk on, and the sounds of joy from the supper-party wax and wane. The waiter, ARNAUD, returning from the corridor, passes to his service-table with a tall, be-rib- boned basket of fruit. Putting it down, he goes towards the table behind the screen, and sees. He runs up to CLARE. ARNAUD. Madame! Madame! [He listens for her breathing ; then suddenly catching sight of the little bottle, smells at it] Bon Dieu! At that queer sound they come from behind the screen all four, and look. The dark night bird says : "Hallo; fainted!" ARNAUD holds out the bottle. ACT iv THE FUGITIVE 03 LANGUID LORD. [Taking it, and smelling] Good God! The woman bends over CLARE, and lifts her hands; ARNATTD rushes to his service-table, and speaks into his tube: ARNAUD. The boss. Quick! [Looking up he sees the YOUNG MAN, returning] Monsieur, elle a fui I Elle est morte I LANGUID LORD. [To the YOUNG MAN standing there aghast] What's this? Friend of yours? YOUNG MAN. My God ! She was a lady. That's all I know about her. LANGUID LORD. A lady! The blond and dark gentlemen have slipped from the room; and out of the supper-party's distant laughter comes suddenly a long, shrill: "Gone away!" And the sound of the horn playing the seven last notes of the old song : "This day a stag must die!" From the last note of all the sound flies up to an octave higher, sweet and thin, like a spirit passing, till it is drowned once more in laughter. The YOUNG MAN has covered his eyes with his hands; ARNAUD is crossing himself fervently ; the LANGUID LORD stands gazing, with one of the dropped gardenias twisted in his fingers; and the woman, bending over CLARE, kisses her forehead. CURTAIN. THE PIGEON FANTASY IN THREE ACTS PERSONS OF THE PLAY CHRISTOPHER WELLWYN, an artist ANN, his daughter GUINEVERE MEGAN, a flower-setter RORY MEGAN, her husband FERRAND, an alien TIMSON, once a cabman EDWARD BERTLEY, a Canon ALFRED CALWAY, a Professor SIR THOMAS HOXTON, a Justice of the Peace Also a police constable, three humble-men, and some curious persons The action passes in Wettwyn's Studio, and the street out* side. ACT I. Christmas Eve. ACT II. New Year's Day. ACT III. The First of April. CAST OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION MESSES. J. E. VEDRENNE AND DENNIS EADIE AT THE ROYALTY THEATRE, LONDON, ON JANUARY SOra, 1912 CHRISTOPHER WELLWTN ANN FERRAND TIMSON MRS. MEGAN MEGAN CANON BERTLEY PROFESSOR CALWAT SIR THOMAS HOXTON POLICE CONSTABLE FIRST HUMBLE-MAN SECOND HUMBLE-MAN THIRD HUMBLE-MAN A LOAFER MR. WHITFORD KANE Miss GLADYS COOPER MR. DENNIS EADIE MR. WILFRED SHINE Miss MARGARET MORRIS MR. STANLEY LOGAN MR. HUBERT HARBEN MR. FRANK VERNON MR. FREDERICK LLOYD MR. ARTHUR B. MURRAY MR. W. LEMMON WARDE MR. F. B. J. SHARP MR. ARTHUR BOWYER MR. ARTHUR BAXENDELL ACT I It i the night of Christmas Eve, the SCENE is a Studio, flush with the street, having a skylight darkened by a fall of snow. There is no one in the room, the walls of which are whitewashed, above a floor of bare dark boards. A fire is cheerfully burning. On a model's platform stands an easel and canvas. There are busts and pictures; a screen, a little stool, two arm- chairs, and a long old-fashioned settle under the win- dow. A door in one wall leads to the house, a door in the opposite wall to the model's dressing-room, and the street door is in the centre of the wall between. On a low table a Russian samovar is hissing, and beside it on a tray stands a teapot, with glasses, lemon, sugar, and a decanter of rum. Through a huge uncurtained window close to the street door the snowy lamplit street can be seen, and beyond it the river and a night of stars. The sound of a latchkey turned in the lock of the street door, and ANN WELLWYN enters, a girl of seventeen, with hair tied in a ribbon and covered by a scarf. Leaving the door open, she turns up the electric light and goes to the fire. She throws off her scarf and long red cloak. She is dressed in a high evening frock of some soft white material. Her movements 1 2 THE PIGEON ACT r are quick and substantial. Her face, full of no non- sense, is decided and sincere, with deep-set eyes, and a capable, well-shaped forehead. Shredding off her gloves she warms her hands* In the doorway appear the figures of two men. The first is rather short and slight, with a soft short beard, bright soft eyes, and a crumply face. Under his squash hat his hair is rather plentiful and rather grey. He wears an old brown ulster and woollen gloves, and is puffing at a hand-made cigarette. He is ANN'S father, WELLWYN, the artist. His com- panion is a well-wrapped clergyman of medium height and. stoutish build, with a pleasant, rosy face, rather shining eyes, and rather chubby clean-shaped lips; in appearance, indeed, a grown-up boy. He is the Vicar of the parish CANON BERTLEY. BERTLEY. My dear Wellwyn, the whole question of reform is full of difficulty. When you have two men like Professor Calway and Sir Thomas Hoxton taking diametrically opposite points of view, as we've seen to-night, I confess, I WELLWYN. Come in, Vicar, and have some grog. BERTLEY. Not to-night, thanks! Christmas to- morrow ! Great temptation, though, this room ! Good- night, Wellwyn; good-night, Ann! ANN. [Coming from the fire towards the tea-table.} Good-night, Canon Bertley. [He goes out, and WELLWYN, shutting the door after him, approaches the fire. ACT i THE PIGEON 3 ANN. [Sitting on the little stool, with her back to the fire, and making tea.} Daddy! WELLWYN. My dear? ANN. You say you liked Professor Calway's lec- ture. Is it going to do you any good, that's the question? WELLWYN. I I hope so, Ann. ANN. I took you on purpose. Your charity's get- ting simply awful. Those two this morning cleared out all my housekeeping money. WELLWYN. Um! Um! I quite understand your feeling. ANN. They both had your card, so I couldn't refuse didn't know what you'd said to them. Why don't you make it a rule never to give your card to anyone except really decent people, and picture dealers, of course. WELLWYN. My dear, I have often. ANN. Then why don't you keep it? It's a frightful habit. You are naughty, Daddy. One of these days you'll get yourself into most fearful complications. WELLWYN. My dear, when they when they look at you? ANN. You know the house wants all sorts of things. Why do you speak to them at all? WELLWYN. I don't they speak to me. [He takes off his ulster and hangs it over the back of an arm-chair. ANN. They see you coming. Anybody can see you coming, Daddy. That's why you ought to be so 4 THE PIGEON ACT r careful. I shall make you wear a hard hat. Those squashy hats of yours are hopelessly inefficient. WELLWYN. [Oozing at his hat.] Calway wears one. ANN. As if anyone would beg of Professor Cal- way. WELLWYN. Well perhaps not. You know, Ann, 1 admire that fellow. Wonderful power of of theory ! How a man can be so absolutely tidy in his mind! It's most exciting. ANN. Has any one begged of you to-day ? WELLWYN. [Doubtfully.} No no. ANN. [After a long, severe look.] Will you have rum in your tea? WELLWYN. [Crestfallen.] Yes, my dear a good deal. ANN. [Pouring out the rum, and handing him the glass.] Well, who was it? WELLWYN. He didn't beg of me. [Losing himself in recollection.] Interesting old creature, Ann real type. Old cabman. ANN. Where? WELLWYN. Just on the Embankment. ANN. Of course! Daddy, you know the Embank* ment ones are always rotters. WELLWYN. Yes, my dear; but this wasn't. ANN. Did you give him your card? WELLWYN. I I don't ANN. Did you, Daddy? WELLWYN. I'm rather afraid I may have! ANN. May have! It's simply immoral. WELLWYN. Well, the old fellow was so awfully hu ACT i THE PIGEON 5 man, Ann. Besides, I didn't give him any money hadn't got any. ANN. Look here, Daddy! Did you ever ask any- body for anything? You know you never did, you'd starve first. So would anybody decent. Then, why won't you see that people who beg are rotters? WELLWYN. But, my dear, we're not all the same. They wouldn't do it if it wasn't natural to them. One likes to be friendly. What's the use of being alive if one isn't? ANN. Daddy, you're hopeless. WELLWYN. But, look here, Ann, the whole thing's so jolly complicated. According to Calway, we're to give the State all we can spare, to make the undeserving deserving. He's a Professor; he ought to know. But old Hoxton's always dinning it into me that we ought to support private organisations for helping the deserv- ing, and damn the undeserving. Well, that's just the opposite. And he's a J.P. Tremendous experience. And the Vicar seems to be for a little bit of both. Well, what the devil ? My trouble is, whichever I'm with, he always converts me. [Ruefully.] And there's no fun in any of them. ANN. [Rising.] Oh! Daddy, you are so don't you know that you're the despair of all social reformers? [She envelops him.] There's a tear in the left knee of your trousers. You're not to wear them again. WELLWYN. Am I likely to? ANN. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it isn't your only pair. D'you know what I live in terror of? [WELLWYN gives her a queer and apprehensive look. 6 THE PIGEON ACT i ANN. That you'll take them off some day, and give them away in the street. Have you got any money? [She feels in his coat, and he is his trousers they find nothing.} Do you know that your pockets are one enor- mous hole? WELLWYN. No! ANN. Spiritually. WELLWYN. Oh! Ah! H'm! ANN. [Severely.] Now, look here, Daddy! [She takes him by his lappels.] Don't imagine that it isn't the most disgusting luxury on your part to go on giving away things as you do! You know what you really are, I suppose a sickly sentimentalist! WELLWYN. [Breaking away from her, disturbed.] It isn't sentiment. It's simply that they seem to me so so jolly. If I'm to give up feeling sort of nice in here [he touches his chest] about people it doesn't matter who they are then I don't know what I'm to do. I shall have to sit with my head in a bag. ANN. I think you ought to. WELLWYN. I suppose they see I like them then they tell me things. After that, of course you can't help doing what you can. ANN. Well, if you witt love them up! WELLWYN. My dear, I don't want to. It isn't them especially why, I feel it even with old Calway some- times. It's only Providence that he doesn't want any- thing of me except to make me like himself con- found him! ACT i THE PIGEON 7 ANN. [Moving towards the door into the house im- pressively.] What you don't see is that other people aren't a bit like you. WELLWYN. Well, thank God! ANN. It's so old-fashioned too! I'm going to bed I just leave you to your conscience. WELLWYN. Oh! ANN. [Opening the door severely.] Good-night [with a certain weakening] you old Daddy! [She jumps at him, gives him a hug, and goes out. [WELLWYN stands perfectly still. He first gazes up at the skylight, then down at the floor. Slowly he begins to shake his head, and mutter, as he moves towards the fire. WELLWYN. Bad lot. . . . Low type no backbone, no stability! [There comes a fluttering knock on the outer door. As the sound slowly enters his consciousness, he begins to wince, as though he knew, but would not admit its significance. Then he sits down, covering his ears. The knocking does not cease. WELLWYN drops first one, then both hands, rises, and begins to sidle towards the door. The knock- ing becomes louder. WELLWYN. Ah dear! Tt! Tt! Tt! [After a look in the direction of ANN'S disap* pearance, he opens the street door a very little way. By the light of the lamp there can be seen a young girl in dark clothes, huddled in a shawl to which 8 THE PIGEON ACT i the snow is clinging. She has on her arm a bas- ket covered with a bit of sacking. WELLWYN. I can't, you know; it's impossible. [The girl says nothing, but looks at him with dark eyes. WELLWYN. [Wincing.} Let's see I don't know you -do I? [The girl, speaking in a soft, hoarse voice, with a faint accent of reproach: "Mrs. Megan you give me this " She holds out a dirty visiting card. WELLWYN. [Recoiling from the card.] Oh! Did I? Ah! When? MRS. MEGAN. You 'ad some vi'lets off of me larst spring. You give me 'arf a crown. [A smile tries to visit her face. WELLWYN. [Looking stealthily round.] Ah! Well, come in just for a minute it's very cold and tell us what it is. [She comes in stolidly, a sphinx-like figure, with her pretty tragic little face. WELLWYN. I don't remember you. [Looking closer.] Yes, / do. Only you weren't the same were you? MRS. MEGAN. [Dully.] I seen trouble since. WELLWYN. Trouble! Have some tea? [He looks anxiously at the door into the house, llien goes quickly to the table, and pours out a glass of tea, putting rum into it. WELLWYN. [Handing her the tea.] Keeps the cold out! Drink it off! ACT i THE PIGEON 9 [Mas. MEGAN drinks it off, chokes a little, and almost immediately seems to get a size larger. WELLWYN watches her with his head held on one side, and a smile broadening on his face. WELLWYN. Cure for all evils, um? MRS. MEGAN. It warms you. [Slie smiles. WELLWYN. [Smiling back, and catching himself out.] Well! You know, I oughtn't. MRS. MEGAN. [Conscious of the disruption of his per- sonality, and withdrawing into her tragic abyss.} I wouldn't 'a come, but you told me if I wanted an 'and WELLWYN. [Gradually losing himself in his own na- ture.} Let me see corner of Flight Street, wasn't it? MRS. MEGAN. [With faint eagerness.} Yes, sir, an' I told you about me vi'lets it was a luvly spring day. WELLWYN. Beautiful! Beautiful! Birds singing, and the trees, &c.! We had quite a talk. You had a baby with you. MRS. MEGAN. Yes. I got married since then. WELLWYN. Oh! Ah! Yes! [Cheerfully.} And how's the baby? MRS. MEGAN. [Turning to stone.} I lost her. WELLWYN. Oh! poor Um! MRS. MEGAN. [Impassive.} You said something abaht makin' a picture of me. [With faint eagerness.] So I thought I might come, in case you'd forgotten. WELLWYN. [Looking at her intently.] Things going badly? 10 THE PIGEON ACT i MRS. MEGAN. [Stripping the sacking off her basket.] I keep 'em covered up, but the cold gets to 'em. Thruppence that's all I've took. WELLWYN. Ho! Tt! Tt! [He looks into the basket.] Christmas, too! MRS. MEGAN. They're dead. WELLWTN. [Drawing in his breath.] Got a good hus- band? MRS. MEGAN. He plays cards, WELLWYN. Oh, Lord! And what are you doing out with a cold like that? [He taps his chest. MRS. MEGAN. We was sold up this morning he's gone off with 'is mates. Haven't took enough yet for a night's lodgin'. WELLWYN. [Correcting a spasmodic dive into his pockets.] But who buys flowers at this time of night? [MRS. MEGAN looks at him, and faintly smiles. WELLWYN. [Rumpling his hair.] Saints above us! Here! Come to the fire! [She follows him to the fire. He shuts the street door. WELLWYN. Are your feet wet? [She nods.] Well, sit down here, and take them off. That's right. [She sits on the stool. And after a slow look up at him, which has in it a deeper knowledge than belongs of right to her years, begins taking off her shoes and stockings. WELLWYN goes to the door into the house, opens it, and listens with a sort of stealthy casualness. He returns whis- tling, but not out loud. The girl has finished tak- ACT i THE PIGEON 11 ing off her stockings, and turned her bare toes to the flames. She shuffles them back under her skirt. WELLWYN. How old are you, my child? MRS. MEGAN. Nineteen, come Candlemas. WELLWYN. And what's your name? MRS. MEGAN. Guinevere. WELLWYN. What? Welsh? Mrs. MEGAN. Yes from Battersea. WELLWYN. And your husband? MRS. MEGAN. No. Irish, 'e is. Netting Dale, 'e comes from. WELLWYN. Roman Catholic? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. My 'usband's an atheist as well. WELLWYN. I see. [Abstractedly.] How jolly! And how old is he this young man of yours? MRS. MEGAN. 'E'll be twenty soon. WELLWYN. Babes in the wood! Does he treat you badly? MRS. MEGAN. No. WELLWYN. Nor drink? MRS. MEGAN. No. He's not a bad one. Only he gets pi ay in' cards then 'e'll fly the kite. WELLWYN. I see. And when he's not flying it, what does he do? MRS. MEGAN. [Touching her basket.] Same as me. Other jobs tires 'im. WELLWYN. That's very nice! [He checks himself.] Well, what am I to do with you? 12 THE PIGEON ACT i MRS. MEGAN. Of course, I could get me night's lodging if I like to do the same as some of them. WELLWYN. No! no! Never, my child! Never! MRS. MEGAN. It's easy that way. WELLWYN. Heavens! But your husband ! Um? Mas. MEGAN. [With stoical vindictiveness.] He's after one I know of. WELLWYN. Tt! What a pickle! MRS. MEGAN. I'll 'ave to walk about the streets. WELLWYN. [To himself.] Now how can I? [MRS. MEGAN looks up and smiles at him, as if she had already discovered that he is peculiar. WELLWYN. You see, the fact is, I mustn't give you anything because well, for one thing I haven't got it. There are other reasons, but that's the real one. But, now, there's a little room where my models dress. I wonder if you could sleep there. Come, and see. [The Girl gets up lingeringly, loth to leave the warmth. She takes up her wet stockings. MRS. MEGAN. Shall I put them on again? WELLWYN. No, no; there's a nice warm pair of slippers. [Seeing the steam rising from her.] Why, you're wet all over. Here, wait a little! [He crosses to the door into the house, and after stealthy listening, steps through. The Girl, like a cat, steals back to the warmth of the fire. WELLWYN returns with a candle, a canary- coloured bath gown, and two blankets. WELLWYN. Now then! [He precedes her towards the door of the model's room.] Hsssh ! [He opens the door and ACT i THE PIGEON IS holds up the candle to show her the room.] Will it do? There's a couch. You'll find some washing things. Make yourself quite at home. See! [The Girl, perfectly dumb, passes through with her basket and her shoes and stockings. WELLWYN hands her the candle, blankets, and bath gown. WELLWYN. Have a good sleep, child! Forget that you're alive! [He closes the door, mournfully.] Done it again! [He goes to the table, cuts a large slice of cake, knocks on the door, and hands it in.] Chow-chow! [Then, -as he walks away, he sights the opposite door.] Well damn it, what could I have done? Not a far- thing on me! [He goes to the street door to shut it, butjirst opens it wide to confirm himself in his hospitality.] Night Uke this! [A sputter of snow is blown in his face. A voice says: "Monsieur, pardon!" WELLWYN re- coils spasmodically. A figure moves from the lamp-post to the doorway. He is seen to be young and to have ragged clothes. He speaks again: "You do not remember me, Monsieur? My name is Ferrand it was in Paris, hi the Champs-Elysees by the fountain. . . . When you came to the door, Monsieur I am not made of iron. . . . Tenez, here is your card I have never lost it." He holds out to WELLWYN an old and dirty visiting card. As inch by inch he has advanced into the doorway, the light from within falls on him, a tall gaunt young pagan with fair hair and reddish golden 14 THE PIGEON ACT i stubble of beard, a long ironical nose a little to one side, and large, grey, rather prominent eyes, There is a certain grace in his figure and move- ments; his clothes are nearly dropping off him. WELLWYN. [Yielding to a pleasant memory.] Ah lyes. By the fountain. I was sitting there, and you came and ate a roll, and drank the water. FERRAND. [With faint eagerness.] My breakfast. I was in poverty veree bad off. You gave me ten francs. I thought I had a little the right [WELLWYN makes a movement of disconcertion], seeing you said that if I came to England WELLWYN. Um! And so you've come? FERRAND. It was time that I consolidated my for- tunes, Monsieur. WELLWYN. And you have [He stops embarrassed. FERRAND. [Shrugging his ragged shoulders.] One is not yet Rothschild. WELLWYN. [Sympathetically.} No. [Yielding to mem- ory.] We talked philosophy. FERRAND. I have not yet changed my opinion. We other vagabonds, we are exploited by the bourgeois. This is always my idea, Monsieur. WELLWYN. Yes not quite the general view, per- haps! Well [Heartily.] Come in! Very glad to see you again. FERRAND. [Brushing his arms over his eyes.] Pardon, Monsieur your goodness I am a little weak. [He opens his coat, and shows a belt drawn very tight over his ACT i THE PIGEON 15 ragged skirt.] I tighten him one hole for each meal, during two days now. That gives you courage. WELLWYN. [With cooing sounds, pouring out tea, and adding rum.] Have some of this. It'll buck you up. [He watches the young man drink. FERRAND. [Becoming a size larger.] Sometimes I think that I will never succeed to dominate my life, Monsieur though I have no vices, except that I guard always the aspiration to achieve success. But I will not roll myself under the machine of existence to gain a nothing every day. I must find with what to fly a little. WELLWYN. [Delicately.] Yes; yes I remember, you found it difficult to stay long in any particular yes. FERRAND. [Proudly.] In one little corner? No Monsieur never! That is not in my character. I must see life. WELLWYN. Quite, quite! Have some cake? [He cuts cake. FERRAND. In your country they say you cannot eat the cake and have it. But one must always try, Mon- sieur; one must never be content. [Refusing the cake.] Grand merci, but for the moment I have no stomach I have lost my stomach now for two days. If I could smoke, Monsieur! [He makes the gesture of smoking. WELLWYN. Rather! [Handing his tobacco pouch.] Roll yourself one. FERRAND. [Rapidly rolling a cigarette.] If I had not found you, Monsieur I would have been a little hole in the river to-night I was so discouraged. [He inhales and puffs a long luxurious whiff of smoke. Very bitterly.} 16 THE PIGEON ACT i Life! [He disperses the puff of smoke with his finger, and stares before him.] And to think that in a few minutes HE will be born ! Monsieur ! [He gazes intently at WELL- WTN.] The world would reproach you for your goodness to me. WELLWTN. [Looking uneasily at the door into the house.] You think so? Ah! FERBAND. Monsieur, if HE himself were on earth now, there would be a little heap of gentlemen writing to the journals every day to call Him sloppee senti- mentalist! And what is veree funny, these gentlemen they would all be most strong Christians. [He regards WELLWYN deeply.] But that will not trouble you, Monsieur; I saw well from the first that you are no Christian. You have so kind a face. WELLWTN. Oh! Indeed! FERRAND. You have not enough the Pharisee in your character. You do not judge, and you are judged. [He stretches his limbs as if in pain. WELLWYN. Are you in pain? FERRAND. I 'ave a little the rheumatism WELLWTN. Wet through, of course! [Glancing tow- ards the house.] Wait a bit! I wonder if you'd like these trousers; they've er they're not quite [He passes through the door into the house. FER- RAND stands at the fire, with his limbs spread as it were to embrace it, smoking with abandonment. WELLWTN returns stealthily, dressed in a Jaeger dressing-gown, and bearing a pair of drawers, his trousers, a pair of slippers, and a sweater. ACT i THE PIGEON 17 WELLWYN-. [Speaking in a low voice, for the door is stitt open.} Can you make these do for the moment? FERBAND. Je vous remercie, Monsieur. [Pointing to the screen.] May I retire? WELLWYN. Yes, yes. [FERRAND goes behind the screen. WELLWYN closes the door into the house, then goes to the win- dow to draw the curtains. He suddenly recoils and stands petrified with doubt. WELLWYN. Good Lord! [There is the sound of tapping on glass. Against the window-pane is pressed the face of a man. WELLWYN motions to him to go away. He does not go, but continues tapping. WELLWYN opens the door. There enters a square old man, with a red, pendulous-jawed, shaking face under a snow besprinkled bowler hat. He is holding out a visiting card with tremulous hand. WELLWYN. Who's that? Who are you? TIMSON. [In a thick, hoarse, shaking voice.] 'Appy to see you, sir; we 'ad a talk this morning. Timson I give you me name. You invited of me, if ye remember. WELLWYN. It's a little late, really. TIMSON. Well, ye see, I never expected to 'ave to call on yer. I was 'itched up all right when I spoke to yer this mornin', but bein' Christmas, things 'ave took a turn with me to-day. [He speaks with increasing thick- ness.] I'm reg'lar disgusted not got the price of a bed abaht me. Thought you wouldn't like me to be deli- cate not at my age. 18 THE PIGEON ACT i WEL.LWTN. [With a mechanical and distracted dive of his hands into his pockets.] The fact is, it so happens I haven't a copper on me. TEMSON. [Evidently taking this for professional re- fusal.] Wouldn't arsk you if I could 'elp it. 'Ad to do with 'orses all me life. It's this 'ere cold I'm frightened of. I'm afraid I'll go to sleep. WELLWYN. Well, really, I TIMSON. To be froze to death I mean it's awk- ward. WELLWYN. [Puzzled and unhappy.] Well come in a moment, and let's think it out. Have some tea! [He pours out the remains of the tea, and finding there is not very much, adds rum rather liber- ally. TIMSON, who walks a little wide at the knees, steadying his gait, has followed. TEMSON. [Receiving the drink.] Yer 'ealth. 'Ere's soberiety! [He applies the drink to his lips with shaking hand. Agreeably surprised.] Blimey! Thish yer tea's foreign, ain't it? FERRAND. [Reappearing from behind the screen in his new clothes of which the trousers stop too soon.] With a needle, Monsieur, I would soon have with what to make face against the world. WELLWTN. Too short! Ah! [He goes to the dais on which stands ANN'S work- basket, and takes from it a needle and cotton. [While he is so engaged FERRAND is sizing up old TIMSON, as one dog will another. The old man, glass in hand, seems to have lapsed into coma. ACT i THE PIGEON 19 FERRAND. [Indicating TIMSON.] Monsieur! [He makes the gesture of one drinking, and shakes his head. WELLWYN. [Handing him the needle and cotton.] Um! Afraid so! [Tliey approach TIMSON, who takes no notice. FERRAND. [Gently.} It is an old cabby, is it not, Mon- sieur? Ceux sont tous des buveurs. WELLWYN. [Concerned at the old man's stupefaction.} Now, my old friend, sit down a moment. [They ma- noeuvre TIMSON to the settle.] Will you smoke? TIMSON. [In a drowsy voice.] Thank 'ee smoke pipe of 'baccer. Old 'orse standin* abaht in th* cold. [He relapses into coma. FERRAND. [With a click of his tongue.] II est parti. WELLWYN. [Doubtfully.] He hasn't really left a horse outside, do you think? FERRAND. Non, non, Monsieur no 'orse. He is dreaming. I know very well that state of him that catches you sometimes. It is the warmth sudden on the stomach. He will speak no more sense to-night. At the most, drink, and fly a little in his past, WELLWYN. Poor old buffer! FERRAND. Touching, is it not, Monsieur? There are many brave gents among the old cabbies they have philosophy that comes from 'orses, and from sitting still. WELLWYN. [Touching TIMSON'S shoulder.] Drenched! FERRAND. That will do 'im no 'arm, Monsieur no 'arm at all. He is well wet inside, remember it is 20 THE PIGEON ACT i Christinas to-morrow. Put him a rug, if you will, he will soon steam. [WELLWYN takes up ANN'S long red cloak, and wraps it round the old man. TIMSON. [Faintly roused.] Tha's right. Put the rug on th' old 'orse. [He makes a strange noise, and works his head and tongue. WELLWYN. [Alarmed.] What's the matter with him? FEKBAND. It is nothing, Monsieur; for the moment he thinks 'imself a 'orse. II joue "cache-cache," 'ide and seek, with what you call 'is bitt. WELLWYN. But what's to be done with him? One can't turn him out in this state. FERRAND. If you wish to leave him 'ere, Monsieur, have no fear. I charge myself with him. WELLWYN. Oh! [Dubiously.] You er I really don't know, I hadn't contemplated You think you could manage if I if I went to bed? FERRAND. But certainly, Monsieur. WELLWYN. [Still dubiously.] You you're sure you've everything you want? FERRAND. [Bowing.] Mais oui, Monsieur. WELLWYN. I don't know what I can do by staying. FERRAND. There is nothing you can do, Monsieur. Have confidence in me. WELLWYN. Well keep the fire up quietly very quietly. You'd better take this coat of mine, too. You'll find it precious cold, I expect, about three o'clock. [He hands FERRAND his ulster. ACT i THE PIGEON 21 FERRAND. [Taking it.] I shall sleep in praying for you, Monsieur. WELLWYN. Ah! Yes! Thanks! Well good-night! By the way, I shall be down rather early. Have to think of my household a bit, you know. FERRAND. Tr&s bien, Monsieur. I comprehend. One must well be regular in this life. WELLWYN. [With a start.] Lord! [He looks at the door of the model's room.] I'd forgotten FERRAND. Can I undertake anything, Monsieur? WELLWYN. No, no! [He goes to the electric light switch by the outer door.] You won't want this, will you? FERRAND. Merci, Monsieur. [WELLWYN switches off the light. FERRAND. Bon soir, Monsieur! WELLWYN. The devil! Er good-night! [He hesitates, rumples his hair, and passes rather suddenly away. FERRAND. [To himself.] Poor pigeon! [Looking long at old TIMSON.] Espdce de type anglais! [He sits down in the firelight, curls up afoot on his knee, and taking out a knife, rips the stitching of a turned-up end of trouser, pinches the cloth double, and puts in the preliminary stitch of a new hem all with the swiftness of one well-ac- customed. Then, as if hearing a sound behind him, he gets up quickly and slips behind the screen. MRS. MEGAN, attracted by the cessation of voices, has opened the door, and is creeping from the model's room towards the fire. She ha 22 THE PIGEON ACT t almost reached it before she takes in the torpid crimson figure of old TIMSON. She halts and puts her hand to her chest a queer figure in the firelight, garbed in the canary-coloured bath gown and rabbit' s-wool slippers, her black matted hair straggling down on her neck. Having quite digested the fact that the old man is in a sort of stupor, MRS. MEGAN goes close to the fire, and sits on the little stool, smiling sideways at old TIMSON. FERRAND, coming quietly up behind, examines her from above, drooping his long nose as if enquiring with it as to her condition in life; then he steps back a yard or two. FERRAND. [Gently.] Pardon, Ma'moiselle. MRS. MEGAN. [Springing to her feet.] Oh! FERRAND. All right, all right! We are brave gents! TIMSON. [Faintly roused.] 'Old up, there! FERRAND. Trust in me, Ma'moiselle! [MRS. MEGAN responds by drawing away. FERRAND. [Gently.] We must be good comrades. This asylum it is better than a doss-'ouse. [He pushes the stool over towards her, and seats himself. Somewhat reassured, MRS. MEGAN again sits down. MRS. MEGAN. You frightened me. TIMSON. [Unexpectedly in a drowsy tone.] Purple foreigners! FERRAND. Pay no attention, Ma'moiselle. He fr a philosopher. *cr i THE PIGEON 23 MRS. MEGAN. Oh! I thought 'e was boozed. [They both look at TIMSON. FERHAND. It is the same veree 'armless. MRS. MEGAN. What's that he's got on 'im? FERRAND. It is a coronation robe. Have no fear, Ma'moiselle. Veree docile potentate. MRS. MEGAN. I wouldn't be afraid of him. [Chal- lenging FERRAND.] I'm afraid o' you. FERRAND. It is because you do not know me, Ma'- moiselle. You are wrong, it is always the unknown you should love. MRS. MEGAN. I don't like the way you speaks to me. FERRAND. Ah! You are a Princess in disguise? MRS. MEGAN. No fear! FERRAND. No? What is it then you do to make face against the necessities of life? A living? MRS. MEGAN. Sells flowers. FERRAND. [Rolling his eyes.] It is not a career. MRS. MEGAN. [With a touch of devilry.] You don't know what I do. FERRAND. Ma'moiselle, whatever you do :s char- ming. [MRS. MEGAN looks at him. and slowly smiles. MRS. MEGAN. You're a foreigner. FERRAND. It is true. , MRS. MEGAN. What do you do for a livin'? FERRAND. I am an interpreter. MRS. MEGAN. You ain't very busy, are you? FERHAND. [With dignity.] At present I am resting. 24 THE PIGEON ACT i MRS. MEGAN. [Looking at him and smiling,] How did you and 'im come here? FERBAND. Ma'moiselle, we would ask you the same question. MRS. MEGAN. The gentleman let me. 'E's funny. FERRAND. C'est un angel [At MRS. MEGAN'S blank stare he interprets.] An angel! MRS. MEGAN. Me luck's out that's why I come. FERRAND. [Rising.] Ah! Ma'moiselle! Luck! There is the little God who dominates us all. Look at this old! [He points to TIMSON.] He is finished. In his day that old would be doing good business. He could afford himself [He makes a sign of drinking.] Then come the motor cars. All goes he has nothing left, only 'is 'abits of a cocher! Luck! TIMSON. [With a vague gesture drowsily.] Kick the foreign beggars out. FERRAND. A real Englishman. . . . And look at me 1 My father was merchant of ostrich feathers in Brussels. If I had been content to go in his business, I would 'ave been rich. But I was born to roll "rolling stone" to voyage is stronger than myself. Luck! . . . And you, Ma'moiselle, shall I tell your fortune? [He looks in her face.] You were born for lajoie de vivre to drink the wines of life. Et vous voilal Luck! [Though she does not in the least understand what he has said, her expression changes to a sort of glee. FERRAND. Yes. You were born loving pleasure. Is it not? You see, you cannot say, No. All of us, we have our fates. Give me your hand. [He kneels down ACT i THE PIGEON 25 and takes her hand} In each of us there is that against which we cannot struggle. Yes, yes! [He holds her hand, and turns it over between his own. MBS. MEGAN remains stolid, half -fasci- nated, half-reluctant. TIMSON. [Flickering into consciousness.] Be'ave your- selves ! Yer crimson canary birds ! [MRS. MEGAN would withdraw her hand, but cannot. FERBAND. Pay no attention, Ma'moiselle. He is a Puritan. [TIMSON relapses into comatosity, upsetting his glass, which falls with a crash. MRS. MEGAN. Let go my hand, please! FEBBAND. [Relinquishing it, and staring into the fire gravely.] There is one thing I have never done 'urt a woman that is hardly in my character. [Then, draw- ing a little closer, he looks into her face.] Tell me, Ma'- moiselle, what is it you think of all day long? MBS. MEGAN. I dunno lots, I thinks of. FEBRAND. Shall I tell you? [Her eyes remain fixed on his, the strangeness of him preventing her from telling him to "get along." He goes on in his ironic voice.] It is of the streets the lights the faces it is of all which moves, and is warm it is of colour it is [he brings his face quite close to hers] of Love. That is for you what the road is for me. That is for you what the rum is for that old [He jerks his thumb back at TIMSON. Then bending swiftly forward to the girl.] See! I kiss you Ah! [He draws her forward off the stool. There is a little struggle, then she resigns her lips. The 26 THE PIGEON ACT i little stool, overturned, falls with a clatter. They spring up, and move apart. The door opens and ANN enters from the house in a blue dressing- gown, with her hair loose, and a candle held high above her head. Taking in the strange half- - circle round the stove, she recoils. Then, stand- ing her ground, calls in a voice sharpened by fright: "Daddy Daddy!" TIMSON. [Stirring uneasily, and struggling to his feet.] All ri ! I'm comin'! FERRAND. Have no fear, Madame! [In the silence that follows, a clock begins loudly striking twelve. ANN remains, as if carved in stone, her eyes fastened on the strangers. There is the sound of someone falling downstairs, and WELLWTN appears, also holding a candle above his head. ANN. Look! WEMJWTN. Yes, yes, my dear! It it happened. ANN. [With a sort of groan.] Oh! Daddy! [In the renewed silence, the church clock ceases to chime. FERRAND. [Softly, in his ironic voice.] HE is come, Monsieur! 'Appy Christmas! Bon Noel! [There is a sudden chime of bells. The Stage is blotted dark. Curtain. ACT II It is four o'clock in the afternoon of New Year's Day, On the raised dais MRS. MEGAN is standing, in her rags; with bare feet and ankles, her dark hair as if blown about, her lips parted, holding out a dishevelled bunch of violets. Before his easel, WELLWYN is painting her. Behind him, at a table between the cupboard and the door to tlie model's room, TIMSON is washing brushes, with the movements of one employed upon relief works! The samovar is hissing on the table by the stove, the tea things are set out. WELLWYN. Open your mouth. [Mas. MEGAN opens her mouth. ANN. [In hat and coat, entering from the house.] Daddy! [WELLWYN goes to her; and, released from re- straint, MRS. MEGAN looks round at TIMSON and grimaces. WELLWYN. Well, my dear? [They speak in low voices. ANN. [Holding out a note.] This note from Canon Bertley. He's going to bring her husband here this afternoon. [She looks at MRS. MEGAN. WELLWYN. Oh! [He also looks at MRS. MEGAN. 27 28 THE PIGEON ACT n ANN. And I met Sir Thomas Hoxton at church this morning, and spoke to him about Timson. WELLWYN. Um! [They look at TIMSON. Then ANN goes back to the door, and WELLWYN follows her. ANN. [Turning.] I'm going round now, Daddy, to ask Professor Calway what we're to do with that Fer- rand. WELLWYN. Oh! One each! I wonder if they'll like it. ANN. They'll have to lump it. [She goes out into the house. WELLWTN. [Back at his easel.] You can shut your mouth now. [MBS. MEGAN shuts her mouth, but opens it im- mediately to smile. WELLWYN. [Spasmodically.] Ah! Now that's what I want. [He dabs furiously at the canvas. Then stand- ing back, runs his hands through his hair and turns a painter's glance towards the skylight.] Dash! Light's gone! Off you get, child don't tempt me! [MRS. MEGAN descends. Passing towards the door of the model's room she stops, and stealthily looks at the picture. TIMSON. Ah! Would yer! WELLWYN. [Wheeling round.] Want to have a look? Well come on! [He takes her by the arm, and they stand before the canvas. After a stolid moment, she giggles. WELLWYN. Oh! You think so? ACT n THE PIGEON 2& MRS. MEGAN. [Who has lost her hoarseness.] It's not like my picture that I had on the pier. WELLWYN. No it wouldn't be. MRS. MEGAN. [Timidly.] If I had an 'at on, I'd look better. WELLWYN. With feathers? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. WELLWYN. Well, you can't! I don't like hats, and I don't like feathers. [MRS. MEGAN timidly tugs his sleeve. TIMSON, screened as he thinks by the picture, has drawn from his bulky pocket a bottle and is taking a stealthy swig. WELLWYN. [To MRS. MEGAN, affecting not to notice.] How much do I owe you? MRS. MEGAN. [A little surprised.] You paid me for to-day all 'cept a penny. WELLWYN. Well! Here it is. [He gives her a coin.] Go and get your feet on! MRS. MEGAN. You've give me 'arf a crown. WELLWYN. Cut away now! [MRS. MEGAN, smiling at the coin, goes towards the model's room. She looks back at WELLWYN, as if to draw his eyes to her, but he is gazing at the picture; then, catching old TIMSON'S sour glance, she grimaces at him, kicking up her feet with a little squeal. But when WELLWYN turns to the sound, she is demurely passing through the doorway. 30 THE PIGEON ACT n TUCSON. [In his voice of dubious sobriety.] I've fin- ished these yer brushes, sir. It's not a man's work. I've been thinkin' if you'd keep an 'orse, I could give yer satisfaction. WELLWYN. Would the horse, Timson? TIMSON. [Looking him up and down.] I knows of one that would just suit yer. Reel 'orse, you'd like 'im. WELLWYN. [Shaking his head.] Afraid not, Timson! Awfully sorry, though, to have nothing better for you than this, at present. TIMSON. [Faintly waving the brushes.] Of course, if you can't afford it, I don't press you it's only that I feel I'm not doing meself justice. [Confidentially.] There's just one thing, sir; I can't bear to see a gen'le- man imposed on. That foreigner 'e's not the sort to 'ave about the place. Talk? Oh! ah! But 'e'll never do any good with 'imself. He's a alien. WELLWYN. Terrible misfortune to a fellow, Timson. TIMSON. Don't you believe it, sir; it's his fault I says to the young lady yesterday: Miss Ann, your father's a gen'leman [with a sudden accent of hoarse sin- cerity], and so you are I don't mind sayin' it but, I said, he's too easy-goin'. WELLWYN. Indeed! TIMSON. Well, see that girl now ! [He shakes his head.] I never did believe in goin' behind a person's back I'm an Englishman but [lowering his voice] she's a bad hat, sir. Why, look at the street she comes from ! WELLWYN. Oh! you know it. TIMSON. Lived there meself larst three years. See ACT n THE PIGEON 31 the difference a few days' corn's made in her. She's that saucy you can't touch 'er head. WELLWYN. Is there any necessity, Timson ? TIMSON. Artful too. Full o' vice, I call 'er. Where's 'er 'usband? WELLWYN. [Gravely.] Come, Timson! You wouldn't like her to TIMSON. [With dignity, so that the bottle in his pocket is plainly visible.] I'm a man as always beared inspec- tion. WELLWYN. [With a well-directed smile.] So I see. TIMSON. [Curving himself round the bottle.] It's not for me to say nothing but I can tell a gen'leman as quick as ever I can tell an 'orse. WELLWYN. [Painting.] I find it safest to assume that every man is a gentleman, and every woman a lady. Saves no end of self-contempt. Give me the little brush. TIMSON. [Handing him the brush after a consider- able introspective pause.] Would yer like me to stay and wash it for yer again ? [With great resolution.] I will I'll do it for you never grudged workin' for a gen'le- man. WELLWTN. [With sincerity.] Thank you, Timson very good of you, I'm sure. [He hands him back the brush.] Just lend us a hand with this. [Assisted by TIM- SON he pushes back the dais.] Let's see! What do I owe you? TIMSON. [Reluctantly.] It so 'appens, you advanced me to-day's yesterday. 32 THE PIGEON ACT n . Then I suppose you want to-morrow's ? TIMSON. Well, I 'ad to spend it, lookin' for a per- manent job. When you've got to do with 'orses, you can't neglect the publics, or you might as well be dead. WELLWYN. Quite so! TIMSON. It mounts up in the course o' the year. WELLWYN. It would. [Passing him a coin.] This is for an exceptional purpose Timson see. Not - TIMSON. [Touching his forehead.] Certainly, sir. I quite understand. I'm not that sort, as I think I've proved to yer, comin' here regular day after day, all the week. There's one thing, I ought to warn you per- haps I might 'ave to give this job up any day. [He makes a faint demonstration with the little brush, then puts it, absent-mindedly, into his pocket. WELLWYN. [Gravely.] I'd never stand in the way of your bettering yourself, Timson. And, by the way, my daughter spoke to a friend about you to-day. I think something may come of it. TIMSON. Oh! Oh! She did! Well, it might do me a bit o' good. [He makes for the outer door, but stops.] That foreigner! 'E sticks in my gizzard. It's not as if there wasn't plenty o' pigeons for 'im to pluck in 'is own Gawd-forsaken country. Reg-lar jay, that's what I calls 'im. I could tell yer something - [He has opened the door, and suddenly sees thai FEBBAND himself is standing there. Sticking out his lower lip, TIMSON gives a roll of his jaw ACT n THE PIGEON 33 and lurches forth into the street. Owing to a alight miscalculation, his face and raised arms are plainly visible through the window, as he for- tifies himself from his battle against the cold. FEKKAND, having closed the door, stands with his thumb acting as pointer towards this spectacle. He is now remarkably dressed in an artist's squashy green hat, a frock coat too small for him, a bright bhie tie of knitted silk, the grey trousers that were torn, well-worn brown boots, and a tan waistcoat. WELLWYN. What luck to-day ? FERRAND. [With a shrug.] Again I have beaten all London, Monsieur not one bite. [Contemplating him- self.] I think perhaps, that, for the bourgeoisie, there is a little too much colour in my costume. WELLWYN. [Contemplating him.] Let's see I be- lieve I've an old top hat somewhere. FERRAND. Ah! Monsieur, merci, but that I could not. It is scarcely in my character. WELLWYN. True! FERRAND. I have been to merchants of wine, of tabac, to hotels, to Leicester Square. I have been to a Society for spreading Christian knowledge I thought there I would have a chance perhaps as interpreter. Toujours meme chose we regret, we have no situation for you same thing everywhere. It seems there is nothing doing in this town. WELLWYN. I've noticed, there never is. FERRAND. I was thinking, Monsieur, that in avia- 34 THE PIGEON ACT ir lion there might be a career for me but it seems one must be trained. WELLWYN. Afraid so, Ferrand. FERBAND. [Approaching the picture.] Ah! You are always working at this. You will have something of very good there, Monsieur. You wish to fix the type of wild savage existing ever amongst our high civilisa- tion. C'est tres chic ca! [WELLWYN manifests the quiet delight of an English artist actually understood.] In the figures of these good citizens, to whom she offers her flower, you would give the idea of all the cage doors open to catch and make tame the wild bird, that will surely die within. Tres gentil! Believe me, Monsieur, you have there the greatest comedy of life ! How anx- ious are the tame birds to do the wild birds good. [His voice changes.] For the wild birds it is not funny. There is in some human souls, Monsieur, what cannot be made tame. WELLWYN. I believe you, Ferrand. [The face of a young man appears at the window, unseen. Suddenly ANN opens the door leading to the house. ANN. Daddy I want you. WELLWYN. [To FERRAND.] Excuse me a minute! [He goes to his daughter, and they pass out. [FERRAND remains at the picture. MRS. MEGAN dressed in some of ANN'S discarded garments, has come out of the model's room. She steals up behind FERRAND like a cat, reaches an arm up, and curls it round his mouth. He turns, and ACT n THE PIGEON SS tries to seize her; she disingenuously slips away. He follows. The chase circles the tea table. He catches her, lifts her up, swings round with her, so that Tier feet fly out; kisses her bent-back face, and sets her down. She stands there smiling. The face at the window darkens. FEBRAND. La Valse! {He takes her with both hands by the waist, she puts her hands against his shoulders to push him off and suddenly they are whirling. As they whirl, they bob together once or twice, and kiss. Then, with a warning motion towards the door, she wrenches herself free, and stops beside the picture, trying desperately to appear demure. WELLWYN and ANN have entered. The face has vanished. FERRAND. [Pointing to the picture.} One does not comprehend all this, Monsieur, without well studying. I was in train to interpret for Ma'moiselle the chiaro- scuro. WELLWYN. [With a queer look.] Don't take it too seriously, Ferrand. FERRAND. It is a masterpiece. WELLWYN. My daughter's just spoken to a friend, Professor Calway. He'd like to meet you. Could you come back a little later ? FERRAND. Certainly, Ma'moiselle. That will be an opening for me, I trust. [He goes to the street door. ANN. [Paying no attention to him.] Mrs. Megan, will you too come back in hah* an hour ? 56 THE PIGEON ACT n FERRAND. Tres bien, Ma'moisellel I will see that she does. We will take a little promenade together. That will do us good. [He motions towards the door; MRS. MEGAN, all eyes, follows him out. ANN. Oh! Daddy, they are rotters. Couldn't you see they were having the most high jinks ? WELLWTN. [At his picture.] I seemed to have no- ticed something. ANN. [Preparing for tea.] They were kissing. WELLWTN. Tt! Tt! ANN. They're hopeless, all three especially her. Wish I hadn't given her my clothes now. WELLWTN. [Absorbed.] Something of wild-savage. ANN. Thank goodness it's the Vicar's business to see that married people live together in his parish. WELLWTN. Oh! [Dubiously.] The Megans are Ro- man Catholic-Atheists, Ann. ANN. [With heat.] Then they're all the more bound. [WELLWTN gives a sudden and alarmed whistle. ANN. What's the matter? WELLWTN. Didn't you say you spoke to Sir Thomas, too. Suppose he comes in while the Professor's here. They're cat and dog. ANN. [Blankly.] Oh! [As WELLWTN strikes a match.] The samovar is lighted. [Taking up the nearly empty decanter of rum and going to the cupboard.] It's all right. He won't. WELLWTN. We'll hope not. [He turns back to his picture. ACT n THE PIGEON 37 ANN. [At the cupboard.] Daddy! WELLWYN. Hi! ANN. There were three bottles. WELLWYN. Oh! ANN. Well ! Now there aren't any. WELLWYN. [Abstracted.] That'll be Timson. ANN. [With real horror.] But it's awful! WELLWYN. It is, my dear. ANN. In seven days. To say nothing of the stealing WELLWYN. [Vexed.] I blame myself very much. Ought to have kept it locked up. ANN. You ought to keep him locked up! [There is heard a mild but authoritative knock. WELLWYN. Here's the Vicar! ANN. What are you going to do about the rum ? WELLWYN. [Opening the door to CANON BERTLEY.] Come in, Vicar! Happy New Year! BERTLEY. Same to you! Ah! Ann! I've got into touch with her young husband he's coming round. ANN. [Still a little out of her plate.] Thank Go Moses! BERTLEY. [Faintly surprised.] From what I hear he's not really a bad youth. Afraid he bets on horses. The great thing, Wellwyn, with those poor fellows is to put your finger on the weak spot. ANN. [To herself gloomily.] That's not difficult. What would you do, Canon Bertley, with a man who's been drinking father's rum? BERTLEY. Remove the temptation, of course. WELLWYN. He's done that. 38 THE PIGEON ACT n BERTLEY. Ah! Then [WELLWYN and ANN hang on his wards] then I should er ANN. [Abruptly.] Remove him. BERTLEY. Before I say that, Ann, I must certainly see the individual. WELLWYN. [Pointing to the window.] There he is! [In the failing light TIMSON'S face is indeed to be seen pressed against the window pane. ANN. Daddy, I do wish you'd have thick glass put in. It's so disgusting to be spied at! [WELLWYN going quickly to the door, has opened it.] What do you want? [TmsoN enters with dignity. He is fuddled. TIMSON. [Slowly.] Arskin' yer pardon thought it me duty to come back found thish yer little brishel on me. [He produces the little paint brush. ANN. [In a deadly voice.] Nothing else? [TIMSON accords her a glassy stare. WELLWYN. [Taking the brush hastily.] That'll do, Timson, thanks! TIMSON. As I am 'ere, can I do anything for yer? ANN. Yes, you can sweep out that little room. [She points to the model's room.] There's a broom in there. TIMSON. [Disagreeably surprised.] Certainly; never make bones about a little extra never 'ave in all me life. Do it at onsh, I will. [He moves across to the model's room at that peculiar broad gait so perfectly adjusted to his habits.] You quite understand me couldn't bear to 'ave anything on me that wasn't mine. [He pastes out. ANN. Old fraud! ACT n THE PIGEON 89 WELLWTN. "In" *nd "on." Mark my words, he'll restore the bottles. BERTLEY. But, my dear Wellwyn, that is stealing. WELLWYN. We all have our discrepancies, Vicar. ANN. Daddy! Discrepancies! WELLWYN. Well, Ann, my theory is that as regards solids Tirnson's an Individualist, but as regards liquids he's a Socialist ... or vice versd, according to taste. BERTLEY. No, no, we mustn't joke about it. [Gravely.] I do think he should be spoken to. WELLWYN. Yes, but not by me. BERTLEY. Surely you're the proper person. WELLWYN. [Shaking his head.] It was my rum, Vicar. Look so personal. [There sound a number of little tot-tat knocks. WELLWYN. Isn't that the Professor's knock? [While Ann sits down to make tea, he goes to the door and opens it. There, dressed in an ulster, stands a thin, clean-shaved man, with a little hollow sucked into either cheek, who, taking off a grey squash hat, discloses a majestically bald forehead, which completely dominates all that comes below it. WELLWYN. Come in, Professor! So awfully good of you! You know Canon Bertley, I think? CALWAY. Ah! How d'you do? WELLWYN. Your opinion will be invaluable, Pro- fessor. ANN. Tea, Professor Calway? (They have assembled round the tea table. 40 THE PIGEON ACT u CALWAY. Thank you; no tea; milk. WELLWYN. Rum? [He pours rum into CALWAY'S milk. CALWAY. A little thanks! [Turning to ANN.] You were going to show me some one you're trying to rescue, or something, I think. ANN. Oh! Yes. He'll be here directly simply per- fect rotter. CALWAY. [Smiling.] Really! Ah! I think you said he was a congenital ? WELLWYN. [With great interest.] What! ANN. [Low.] Daddy! [To CALWAY.] Yes; I I think that's what you call him. CALWAY. Not old ? ANN. No; and quite healthy a vagabond. CALWAY. [Sipping.] I see! Yes. Is it, do you think chronic unemployment with a vagrant tendency? Or would it be nearer the mark to say: Vagrancy WELLWYN. Pure! Oh! pure! Professor. Awfully human. CALWAY. [With a smile of knowledge.] Quite! And ANN. [Breaking in.] Before he comes, there's an- other BEKTLEY. [Blandly.] Yes, when you came in, we were discussing what should be done with a man who drinks rum [CALWAY pauses in the act of drinking] that doesn't belong to him. CALWAY. Really! Dipsomaniac? BERTLEY. Well perhaps you could tell us drink ACTH THE PIGEON 41 certainly changing thine to mine. The Professor could see him, Wellwyn? ANN. [Rising.] Yes, do come and look at him, Pro- fessor Calway. He's in there. [She points towards the model's room. CALWAY smiles deprecatingly. ANN. No, really; we needn't open the door. You can see him through the glass. He's more than half CALWAY. Well, I hardly ANN. Oh! Do! Come on, Professor Calway! We must know what to do with him. [CALWAY rises.] You can stand on a chair. It's all science. [She draws CALWAY to the model's room, which is lighted by a glass panel in the top of the high door. CANON BERTLEY also rises and stands watch- ing. WELLWYN hovers, torn between respect for science and dislike of espionage. ANN. [Drawing up a chair.] Come on! CALWAY. Do you seriously wish me to? ANN. Rather! It's quite safe; he can't see you. CALWAY. But he might come out. [ANN puts her back against the door. CALWAY mounts the chair dubiously, and raises his head cautiously, bending it more and more downwards. ANN. Well? CALWAY. He appears to be sitting on the floor. WELLWYN. Yes, that's all right! [BERTLEY covers his lips. CALWAY. [To ANN descending.] By the look of his 42 THE PIGEON ACT n face, as far as one can see it, I should say there was a leaning towards mania. I know the treatment. [ There come three loud knocks on the door. WELL- WTN and ANN exchange a glance of consterna- tion. ANN. Who's that? WELLWYN. It sounds like Sir Thomas. CALWAY. Sir Thomas Hoxton ? WELLWYN. [Nodding.] Awfully sorry, Professor. You see, we CALWAY. Not at all. Only, I must decline to be in- volved in argument with him, please. BERTLEY. He has experience. We might get his opinion, don't you think? CALWAY. On a point of reform ? A J.P. ! BERTLEY. [Deprecating.] My dear Sir we needn't take it. [The three knocks resound with extraordinary fury. ANN. You'd better open the door, Daddy. [WELLWYN opens the door. SIB THOMAS HOX- TON is disclosed in a fur overcoat and top hat. His square, well-coloured face is remarkable for a massive jaw, dominating all that comes above it. His voice is resolute. HOXTON. Afraid I didn't make myself heard. WELLWYN. So good of you to come, Sir Thomas. Canon Bertley! [They greet.] Professor Calway you know, I think. HOXTON. [Ominously.] I do. [They almost greet. An awkward pause, ACT n THE PIGEON 43 ANN. [Blurting it out.] That old cabman I told you of s been drinking father's rum. BEKTLEY. We were jurt discussing what's to be done with him, Sir Thomas. One wants to do the very best, of course. The question of reform is always delicate. CALWAY. I beg your pardon. There is no question here. HOXTON. [Abruptly.] Oh! Is he in the house? ANN. In there. HOXTON. Works for you, eh? WELLWYN. Er yes. HOXTON. Let's have a look at him! [An embarrassed pause. BEBTLEY. Well the fact is, Sir Thomas CALWAY. When last under observation ANN. He was sitting on the floor. WELLWYN. I don't want the old fellow to feel he's being made a show of. Disgusting to be spied at, Ann. ANN. You can't, Daddy! He's drunk. HOXTON. Never mind, Miss Weflwyn. Hundreds of these fellows before me in my time. [At CALWAY.] The only thing is a sharp lesson ! CALWAY. I disagree. I've seen the man; what he requires is steady control, and the Dobbins treatment. [WELLWYN approaches them with fearful interest. HOXTON. Not a bit of it! He wants one for his knob! Brace 'em up! It's the only thing. BERTLEY. Personally, I think that if he were spoken to seriously CALWAY. I cannot walk arm in arm with a crab! 44 THE PIGEON ACT n HOXTON. [Approaching CALWAT.] I beg your pardon ? CALWAT. [Moving back a little.] You're moving back- wards, Sir Thomas. I've told you before, convinced reactionaryism, in these days [There comes a single knock on the street door. BEBTLEY. [Looking at his watch.] D'you know, I'm rather afraid this may be our young husband, Wellwyn. I told him half-past four. WELLWYN. Oh! Ah! Yes. [Going towards the two reformers.] Shall we go into the house, Professor, and settle the question quietly while the Vicar sees a young man? CALWAY. [Pale with uncompleted statement, and gravi- tating insensibly in the direction indicated.] The merest sense of continuity a simple instinct for order HOXTON. [Following.] The only way to get order, sir, is to bring the disorderly up with a round turn. [CAL- WAY turns to him in the doorway.] You people without practical experience CALWAY. If you'll listen to me a minute. HOXTON. I can show you in a mo [They vanish through the door. WELLWYN. I was afraid of it. BEBTLEY. The two points of view. Pleasant to see such keenness. I may want you, Wellwyn. And Ann perhaps had better not be present. WELLWYN. [Relieved.] Quite so! My dear! [ANN goes reluctantly. WELLWYN opens the street door. The lamp outside has just been lighted, and, by Us gleam, is seen the figure of ACT n THE PIGEON 45 RORT MEGAN, thin, pale, youthful. ANN turn- ing at the door into the house gives him a long, inquisitive look, then goes. WELLWTN. Is that Megan? MEGAN. Yus. WELLWTN. Come in. [MEGAN comes in. There follows an awkward silence, during which WELLWTN turns up the light, then goes to the tea table and pours out a glass of tea and rum. BEBTLET. [Kindly.] Now, my boy, how is it that you and your wife are living apart like this? MEGAN. I dunno. BEKTLEY. Well, if you don't, none of us are very likely to, are we? MEGAN. That's what I thought, as I was comin' along. WELLWTN. [Twinkling.] Have some tea, Megan? [Handing him the glass.] What d'you think of her pic- ture? 'Tisn't quite finished. MEGAN. [After scrutiny.] I seen her look like it once. WELLWTN. Good! When was that? MEGAN. [Stoically.] When she 'ad the measles. [He drinla. WELLWTN. [Ruminating.} I see yes. I quite see feverish! BEBTLET. My dear Wellwyn, let me [To ME- GAN.] Now, I hope you're willing to come together again, and to maintain her? 46 THE PIGEON ACT n MEGAN. If she'll maintain me. BERTLET. Oh! but I see, you mean you're in the same line of business? MEGAN. Yus. BERTLET. And lean on each other. Quite so! MEGAN. I leans on 'er mostly with 'er looks. BERTLET. Indeed! Very interesting that! MEGAN. Yus. Sometimes she'll take 'arf a crown off of a toff. [He looks at WELLWTN. WELLWTN. [Turinkling.] I apologise to you, Megan. MEGAN. [With a faint smile.] I could do with a bit more of it. BERTLET. [Dubiously.] Yes! Yes! Now, my boy, I've heard you bet on horses. MEGAN. No, I don't. BERTLET. Play cards, then? Come! Don't be afraid to acknowledge it. MEGAN. When I'm 'ard up yus. BERTLET. But don't you know that's ruination? MEGAN. Depends. Sometimes I wins a lot. BERTLET. You know that's not at all what I mean. Come, promise me to give it up. MEGAN. I dunno abaht that. BERTLET. Now, there's a good fellow. Make a big effort and throw the habit off! MEGAN. Comes over me same as it might over you. BERTLET. Over me! How do you mean, my boy? MEGAN. [With a look up.] To tork! [WELLWTN, turning to the picture, makes a funny little noise. ACT n THE PIGEON 47 BERTLEY. [Maintaining his good humour.] A hit! But you forget, you know, to talk's my business. It's not yours to gamble. MEGAN. You try sellin' flowers. If that ain't a gamble BERTLEY. I'm afraid we're wandering a little from the point. Husband and wife should be together. You were brought up to that. Your father and mother MEGAN. Never was. WELLWYN. [Turning from the picture.] The question is, Megan: Will you take your wife home? She's a good little soul. MEGAN. She never let me know it. [There is a feeble knock on the door. WEiiLWYN. Well, now come. Here she is! [He points to the door, and stands regarding MEGAN vrith his friendly smile. MEGAN. [With a gleam of responsiveness.] I might, perhaps, to please you, sir. BERTLEY. [Appropriating the gesture.] Capital, I thought we should get on in time. MEGAN. Yus. [WELLWYN opens the door. MRS. MEGAN and FERRAND are revealed. They are about to enter t but catching sight of MEGAN, hesitate. BERTLEY. Come in! Come in! [MRS. MEGAN enters stolidly. FERRAND, follow- ing, stands apart with an air of extreme detach- ment. MEGAN, after a quick glance at them 48 THE PIGEON ACT n both, remains unmoved. No one has noticed that the door of the model's room has been opened, and that the unsteady figure of old TIMSON is standing there. BEBTLET. [A little awkward in the presence of FER- RAND to the MEGANB.] This begins a new chapter. We won't improve the occasion. No need. [MEGAN, turning towards his wife, makes her a gesture as if to say: "Here! let's get out of this!" BEBTLEY. Yes, yes, you'll like to get home at once I know. [He holds up his hand mechanically. TIMSON. I forbids the banns. BERTLEY. [Startled.] Gracious! TIMSON. [Extremely unsteady.} Just cause and iin- pejiment. There 'e stands. [He points to FERRAND.] The crimson foreigner! The mockin' jay! WELLWYN. Timson! TIMSON. You're a gen'leman I'm aweer o' that but I must speak the truth [he waves his hand] an' shame the devil! BERTLEY. Is this the rum ? TIMSON. [Struck by the word.] I'm a teetotaler. WELLWYN. Timson, Timson! TIMSON. Seein' as there's ladies present, I won't be conspicuous. [Moving away, and making for the door, he strikes against the dais, and mounts upon it.] But what I do say, is: He's no better than 'er and she's worse. BERTLEY. This is distressing. icr n THE PIGEON 49 FERRAND. [Calmly.] On my honour, Monsieur! [TiMSON growls. WELLWTN. Now, now, Timson! TIMSON. That's all right. You're a gen'leman, an' I'm a gen'leman, but he ain't an' she ain't. WELLWYN. We shall not believe you. BERTLEY. No, no; we shall not believe you. TIMSON. [Heavily.] Very well, you doubts my word. Will it make any difference, Guv'nor, if I speaks the truth? BERTLEY. No, certainly not that is of course, it will. TIMSON. Well, then, I see 'em plainer than I see [pointing at BERTLEY] the two of you. WELLWYN. Be quiet, Timson! BERTLEY. Not even her husband believes you. MEGAN. [Suddenly.] Don't I! WELLWYN. Come, Megan, you can see the old fel- low's in Paradise. BERTLEY. Do you credit such a such an object? [He points at TIMSON, who seems falling asleep. MEGAN. Naow! [Unseen by anybody, ANN has returned. BERTLEY. Well, then, my boy ? MEGAN. I seen 'em meself. * BERTLEY. Gracious! But just now you were will- ing MEGAN. [Sardonically.] There wasn't nothing against me honour, then. Now you've took it away between you, comin' aht with it like this. I don't want no more 50 THE PIGEON ACT n of 'er, and I'll want a good deal more of 'im; as Vll soon find. [He jerks his chin at FERRAND, turns slowly on his heel, and goes out into the street. [There follows a profound silence. ANN. What did I say, Daddy? Utter! All three. [Suddenly alive to her presence, they all turn. TIMSON. [Waking up and looking round him.} Well, p'raps I'd better go. [Assisted by WELLWYN he lurches gingerly off the dais towards the door, which WELLWYN holds open for him. TIMSON. [Mechanically.] Where to, sir? [Receiving no answer he passes out, touching his hat; and the door is closed. WELLWYN. Ann! [ANN goes back whence she came. [BERTLEY, steadily regarding MRS. MEGAN, who has put her arm up in front of her face, beckons to FERRAND, and the young man comes gravely forward. BERTLEY. Young people, this is very dreadful. [MRS. MEGAN lowers her arm a little, and looks at him over it.] Very sad! MRS. MEGAN. [Dropping her arm.} Megan's no bet- ter than what I am. BERTLEY. Come, come! Here's your home broken up! [MRS. MEGAN smiles. Shaking his head gravely.} Surely surely you mustn't smile. [MRS. MEGAN be- comes tragic.] That's better. Now, what is to be done ? ACT n THE PIGEON 52 FEBBAND. Believe me, Monsieur, I greatly regret. BERTLEY. I'm glad to hear it. FEBBAND. If I had foreseen this disaster. BEBTLEY. Is that your only reason for regret? FEBBAND. [With a little bow.] Any reason that you wish, Monsieur. I will do my possible. MBS. MEGAN. I could get an unfurnished room if [she slides her eyes round at WELLWTN] I 'ad the money to furnish it. BEBTLEY. But suppose I can induce your husband to forgive you, and take you back ? MBS. MEGAN. [Shaking her head.] 'E'd 'it me. BEBTLEY. I said to forgive. MBS. MEGAN. That wouldn't make no difference. [With a flash at BEBTLEY.] An' I ain't forgiven him! BEBTLEY. That is sinful. MBS. MEGAN. I'm a Catholic. BEBTLEY. My good child, what difference does that make? FEBRAND. Monsieur, if I might interpret for her. [BEBTLEY silences him with a gesture. MBS. MEGAN. [Sliding her eyes towards WELLWYN.] If I 'ad the money to buy some fresh stock. BEBTLEY. Yes; yes; never mind the money. What I want to find in you both, is repentance. MBS. MEGAN. [With a flash up at him.] I can't get me livin' off of repentin'. BEBTLEY. Now, now! Never say what you know to be wrong. FEBBAND. Monsieur, her soul is very simple. 52 THE PIGEON ACT n BERTLEY. [Severely.] I do not know, sir, that we shall get any great assistance from your views. In fact, one thing is clear to me, she must discontinue your acquaintanceship at once. FERRAND. Certainly, Monsieur. We have no serious intentions. BERTLEY. All the more shame to you, then! FERRAND. Monsieur, I see perfectly your point of view. It is very natural. [He bows and is silent. MRS. MEGAN. I don't want 'im hurt 'cos o' me. Me- gan'll get his mates to belt him bein' foreign like he is. BERTLEY. Yes, never mind that. It's you I'm think- ing of. MRS. MEGAN. I'd sooner they'd hit me. WELLWYN. [Suddenly.] Well said, my child! MRS. MEGAN. 'Twasn't his fault. FERRAND. [Without irony to WELLWYN.] I cannot accept that Monsieur. The blame it is all mine. ANN. [Entering suddenly from the house.] Daddy, they're having an awful ! [The voices of PROFESSOR CALWAY and SIR THOMAS HOXTON are distinctly heard. CALWAY. The question is a much wider one, Sir Thomas. HOXTON. As wide as you like, you'll never [WELLWYN pushes ANN back into the house and closes the door behind her. The voices are still faintly heard arguing on the threshold. BERTLEY. Let me go in here a minute, Wellwyn. I must finish speaking to her. [He motions MRS. MEGAN ACT n THE PIGEON 53 towards the model's room.] We can't leave the matter thus. FEHRAND. [Suavely.] Do you desire my company, Monsieur? [BERTLEY, unth a prohibitive gesture of his hand, shepherds the reluctant MRS. MEGAN into the model's room. WELLWYN. [Sorrowfully.] You shouldn't have done this, Ferrand. It wasn't the square thing. FERBAND. [With dignity.] Monsieur, I feel that I am in the wrong. It was stronger than me. [As he speaks, SIR THOMAS HOXTON and PRO- FESSOR CALWAY enter from the house. In the dim light, and the full cry of argument, they do not notice the figures at the fire. SIR THOMAS HOXTON leads towards the street door. HOXTON. No, sir, I repeat, if the country once com- mits itself to your views of reform, it's as good as doomed. CALWAY. I seem to have heard that before, Sir Thomas. And let me say at once that your hitty- missy cart-load of bricks regime HOXTON. Is a deuced sight better, sir, than your grand-motherly methods. What the old fellow wants is a shock! With all this socialistic molly-coddling, you're losing sight of the individual. CALWAY. [Swiftly.] You, sir, with your "devil take the hindmost," have never even seen him. [SiR THOMAS HOXTON, throwing back a gesture of disgust, steps out into the night, and falls heavily. 54- THE PIGEON ACT n PROFESSOR CALWAT, hastening to his rescue, falls more heavily still. iTiMSON, momentarily roused from slumber on the doorstep, sits up. HOXTON. [Struggling to his knees.] Damnation! CALWAY. [Sitting.] How simultaneous! [WELLWYN and FEKRAND approach hastily. FERRAND. [Pointing to TIMSON.] Monsieur, it was true, it seems. They had lost sight of the individual. [A Policeman has appeared under the street lamp. He picks up HOXTON'S hat. CONSTABLE. Anything wrong, sir? HOXTON. [Recovering his feet.] Wrong? Great Scott! Constable! Why do you let things lie about in the street like this? Look here, Wellwyn! [They all scrutinize TIMSON. WELLWTN. It's only the old fellow whose reform you were discussing. HOXTON. How did he come here? CONSTABLE. Drunk, sir. [Ascertaining TIMSON to bt in the street.} Just off the premises, by good luck. Come along, father. TIMSON. [Assisted to his feet drowsily.} Cert'nly, by no means; take my arm. [They move from the doorway. HOXTON and CALWAT re-enter, and go towards the fire. ANN. {Entering from the house.] What's happened? CALWAT. Might we have a brush? HOXTON. [Testily.] Let it dry! ACT n THE PIGEON 55 [He moves to the fire and stands before it. PRO- FESSOR CALWAT following stands a little behind him. ANN returning begins to brush the PRO- FESSOR'S sleeve. WELLWYN. [Turning from the door, where he has stood looking after the receding TIMSON.] Poor old Timson! FERRAND. [Softly.] Must be philosopher, Monsieur! They will but run him in a little. [From the model's room MRS. MEGAN has come out, shepherded by CANON BERTLEY. BERTLEV. Let's see, your Christian name ia . MRS. MEGAN. Guinevere. BERTLEY. Oh! Ah! Ah! Ann, take Gui take our little friend into the study a minute : I am going to put her into service. We shall make a new woman of her, yet. ANN. [Handing CANON BERTLEY the brush, and turn- ing to MRS. MEGAN.] Come on! [She leads into the house, and MRS. MEGAN fottows stolidly. BERTLEY. [Brushing CALWAY'S back.] Have you fallen? CALWAY. Yes. BERTLEY. Dear me! How was that? HOXTON. That old ruffian drunk on the doorstep. Hope they'll give him a sharp dose ! These rag-tags ! [He looks round, and his angry eyes light by chance on FERRAND. FERRAND. [With his eyes on HOXTON softly.] Mon- 56 THE PIGEON ACT n sieur, something tells me it is time I took the road again. WELLWYN. [Fumbling out a sovereign.] Take this, then! FERRAND. [Refusing the coin.] Non, Monsieur. To abuse 'ospitality is not in my character. BERTLEY. We must not despair of anyone. HOXTON. Who talked of despairing? Treat him, as I say, and you'll see! CALWAY. The interest of the State HOXTON. The interest of the individual citizen BERTLEY. Come! A little of both, a little of both! [They resume their brushing. FERRAND. You are now debarrassed of us three, Monsieur. I leave you instead these sirs. [He points.] Au revoir, Monsieur! [Motioning towards the fire.] 'Appy New Year! [He slips quietly out. WELLWYN, turning, con- templates the three reformers. They are all now brushing away, scratching each other's backs, and gravely hissing. As he approaches them, they speak with a certain unanimity. HOXTON. My theory ! CALWAY. My theory ! BERTLEY. My theory ! [They stop surprised. WELLWYN makes a gesture of discomfort, as they speak again with still more unanimity. THE PIGEON 57 HOXTON. My ! CALWAY. My ! BERTLEY. My 1 [They stop in greater surprise. The stage is blotted dark. Curtain. ACT III It is the first of April a white spring day of gleams and driving showers. The street door of WELLWYN'S studio stands wide open, and, past it, in the street, the wind is whirling bits of straw and paper bags. Through the door can be seen the butt end of a sta* tionary furniture van with its flap let down. To this van three humble-men in shirt sleeves and aprons, are carrying out the contents of the studio. The hiss- ing samovar, the tea-pot, the sugar, and the nearly empty decanter of rum stand on the low round table in the fast-being-gutted room. WELLWYN in his ulster and soft hat, is squatting on the little stool in front of the blazing fire, staring into it, and smoking a hand-made cigarette. He has a moulting air. Behind him the humble-men pass, embracing busts and other articles of vertu. CHIEF H'MAN. [Stopping, and standing in the attitude of expectation.] We've about pinched this little lot, sir. Shall we take the reservoir? [He indicates the samovar. WELLWYN. Ah! [Abstractedly feeling in his pockets, and finding coins.] Thanks thanks heavy work, I'm afraid. 80 60 THE PIGEON ACT m H'MAN. [Receiving the coins a little surprised and a good deal pleased.] Thank'ee, sir. Much obliged, I'm sure. We'll 'ave to come back for this. [He gives the dais a vigorous push with his foot.] Not a fixture, as I understand. Perhaps you'd like us to leave these 'ere for a bit. [He indicates the tea things. WELLWYN. Ah! do. [The humble-men go out. There is the sound of horses being started, and the butt end of the van disappears. WELLWYN stays on his stool, smoking and brooding over the fire. The open doorway is darkened by a figure. CANON BERT- LEY is standing there. BEBTLEY. Wellwyn! [WELLWYN turns and rises.] It's ages since I saw you. No idea you were moving. This is very dreadful. WELLWYN. Yes, Ann found this too exposed. That tall house in Flight Street we're going there. Seventh floor. BEBTLEY. Lift? [WELLWYN shakes his head. BEKTLEY. Dear me! No lift? Fine view, no doubt. [WELLWYN nods.] You'll be greatly missed. WELLWYN. So Ann thinks. Vicar, what's become of that little flower-seller I veas painting at Christmas ? You took her into service. BEBTLEY. Not we exactly! Some dear friends of ours. Painful subject! WELLWYN. Oh! BEBTLEY. Yes. She got the footman into trouble. ACT ra THE PIGEON 61 WELLWTN. Did she, now? BERTLEY. Disappointing. I consulted with Calway, and he advised ine to try a certain institution. We got her safely in excellent place; but, d'you know, she broke out three weeks ago. And since I've heard [he holds his hands up] hopeless, I'm afraid quite! WELLWTN. I thought I saw her last night. You can't tell me her address, I suppose? BERTLEY. [Shaking his head.] The husband too has quite passed out of my ken. He betted on horses, you remember. I'm sometimes tempted to believe there's nothing for some of these poor folk but to pray for death. [ANN has entered from the house. Her hair hangs from under a knitted cap. She wears a white wool jersey, and a loose silk scarf. BERTLEY. Ah! Ann. I was telling your father of that poor little Mrs. Megan. ANN. Is she dead? BERTLEY. Worse I fear. By the way what became of her accomplice? ANN. We haven't seen him since. [She look* search- ingly at WELLWYN.] At least have you Daddy? WELLWYN. [Rather hurt.} No, my dear; I have not. BERTLEY. And the old gentleman who drank the rum? ANN. He got fourteen days. It was the fifth time. BERTLEY. Dear me! ANN. When he came out he got more drunk than ever. Rather a score for Professor Calway, wasn't it? 62 THE PIGEON ACT ra BERTLEY. I remember. He and Sir Thomas took a kindly interest in the old fellow. ANN. Yes, they fell over him. The Professor got him into an Institution. BEBTLEY. Indeed! ANN. He was perfectly sober all the time he was there. WELLWYN. My dear, they only allow them milk. ANN. Well, anyway, he was reformed. WELLWYN. Ye yes! ANN. [Terribly.] Daddy! You've been seeing him! WELLWYN. [With dignity.] My dear, I have not. ANN. How do you know, then? WELLWYN. Came across Sir Thomas on the Em- bankment yesterday; told me old Timson had been had up again for sitting down in front of a brewer's dray. ANN. Why? WELLWYN. Well, you see, as soon as he came out of the what d'you call 'em, he got drunk for a week, and it left him in low spirits. BERTLEY. Do you mean he deliberately sat down, with the intention of er? WELLWYN. Said he was tired of life, but they didn't believe him. ANN. Rather a score for Sir Thomas! I suppose he'd told the Professor? What did he say? WELLWYN. Well, the Professor said [with a quick glance at BERTLEY] he felt there was nothing for some of these poor devils but a lethal chamber. ACT m THE PIGEON 63 BERTLEY. [Shocked.] Did he really! [He has not yet caught WELLWYN'S glance. WELLWYN. And Sir Thomas agreed. Historic oc- casion. And you, Vicar H'm! [BERTLEY winces. ANN. [To herself.] Well, there isn't. BERTLEY. And yet! Some good in the old fellow, no doubt, if one could put one's finger on it. [Preparing to go.] You'll let us know, then, when you're settled. What was the address? [WELLWYN takes out and hands him a card.] Ah! yes. Good-bye, Ann. Good-bye, Wellwyn. [The wind blows his hat along the street.] What a wind! [He goes, pursuing. ANN. [Who has eyed the card askance.] Daddy, have you told those other two where we're going? WELLWYN. Which other two, my dear? ANN. The Professor and Sir Thomas. WELLWYN. Well, Ann, naturally I ANN. [Jumping on to the dais with disgust.] Oh, dear! When I'm trying to get you away from all this atmos- phere. I don't so much mind the Vicar knowing, be- cause he's got a weak heart [She jumps off again. WELLWYN. [To himself.] Seventh floor! I felt there was something. ANN. [Preparing to go.] I'm going round now. But you must stay here till the van comes back. And don't forget you tipped the men after the first load. WELLWYN. Oh! yes, yes. [Uneasily.] Good sorts they look, those fellows! 64 THE PIGEON ACT ra ANN. [Scrutinising him.] What have you done? WELLWYN. Nothing, my dear, really ! ANN. What? WELLWYN. I I rather think I may have tipped them twice. ANN. [Drily.] Daddy! If it is the first of April, it's not necessary to make a fool of oneself. That's the last time you ever do these ridiculous things. [WELL- WYN eyes her askance.] I'm going to see that you spend your money on yourself. You needn't look at me like that! I mean to. As soon as I've got you away from here, and all these WELLWYN. Don't rub it in, Ann! ANN. [Giving him a sudden hug then going to the door with a sort of triumph j Deeds, not words. Daddy! [She goes out, and the wind catching her scarf blows it out beneath her firm young chin. WELL- WYN returning to the fire, stands brooding, and gazing at his extinct cigarette. WELLWYN. [To himself.] Bad lot low type! No method ! No theory ! [In the open doorway appear FEKRAND and MRS. MEGAN. They stand, unseen, looking at him. FERRAND is more ragged, if possible, than on Christmas Eve. His chin and cheeks are clothed in a reddish golden beard. MRS. MEGAN'S dress is not so woe-begone, but her face is white, her eyes dark-circled. They whisper. She slip* back into the shadaiv of the doorway. WELL- ACT ra THE PIGEON 65 WTN turns at the sound, and stares at FERRAND in amazement. FERRAND. [Advancing.] Enchanted to see you, Mon- sieur. [He looks round the empty room.} You are leaving ? WELLWYN. [Nodding then taking the young man's hand.] How goes it? FERRAND. [Displaying himself, simply.] As you see, Monsieur. I have done of my best. It still flies from me. WELLWYN. [Sadly as if against his will.] Ferrand, it will always fly. [The young foreigner shivers suddenly from head to foot; then controls himself with a great effort. FERRAND. Don't say that, Monsieur! It is too much the echo of my heart. WELL WTN. Forgive me! I didn't mean to pain you. FERRAND. [Drawing nearer the fire.] That old cabby, Monsieur, you remember they tell me, he nearly suc- ceeded to gain happiness the other day. [WELLWYN nods. FERRAND. And those Sirs, so interested in him, with their theories? He has worn them out? [WELLWYN nods.} That goes without saying. And now they wish for him the lethal chamber. WELLWYN. [Startled.] How did you know that? [There is silence. FERRAND. [Staring into the fire.] Monsieur, while I was on the road this time I fell ill of a fever. It seemed to me in my illness that I saw the truth how I was wasting in this world I would never be good for any 68 THE PIGEON ACT m one nor any one for me all would go by, and I never of it fame, and fortune, and peace, even the necessi- ties of life, ever mocking me. [He draws closer to the fire, spreading his fingers to the flame. And while he is speaking, through the doorway MRS. MEGAN creeps in to listen. FERRAND. [Speaking on into the fire.] And I saw, Monsieur, so plain, that I should be vagabond all my days, and my days short, I dying in the end the death of a dog. I saw it all in my fever clear as that flame there was nothing for us others, but the herb of death. [WELLWTN takes his arm and presses it.] And so, Mon- sieur, I wished to die. I told no one of my fever. I lay out on the ground it was verree cold. But they would not let me die on the roads of their parishes they took me to an Institution, Monsieur, I looked in their eyes while I lay there, and I saw more clear than the blue heaven that they thought it best that I should die, although they would not let me. Then Monsieur, naturally my spirit rose, and I said: "So much the worse for you. I will live a little more." One is made like that! Life is sweet, Monsieur. WELLWTN. Yes, Ferrand; Life is sweet. FERRAND. That little girl you had here, Monsieur [WELLWTN nods.] in her too there is something of wild- savage. She must have joy of life. I have seen her since I came back. She has embraced the life of joy. It is not quite the same thing. [He lowers his voice.] She is lost, Monsieur, as a stone that sinks in water. I can see, if she cannot. [As WELLWYN makes a movement of ACT ra THE PIGEON 67 distress.] Oh! I am not to blame for that, Monsieur. It had well begun before I knew her. WELLWTN. Yes, yes I was afraid of it, at the time. [MRS. MEGAN turns silently, and slips away. FEBRAND. I do my best for her, Monsieur, but look at me! Besides, I am not good for her it is not good for simple souls to be with those who see things clear. For the great part of mankind, to see anything is fatal. WELLWTN. Even for you, it seems. FERRAND. No, Monsieur. To be so near to death has done me good; I shall not lack courage any more till the wind blows on my grave. Since I saw you, Monsieur, I have been in three Institutions. They are palaces. One may eat upon the floor though it is true for Kings they eat too much of skilly there. One little thing they lack those palaces. It is under- standing of the 'urnan heart. In them tame birds pluck wild birds naked. WELLWYN. They mean well. FERRAND. Ah! Monsieur, I am loafer, waster what you like for all that [bitterly] poverty is my only crime. If I were rich, should I not be simply veree original, 'ighly respected, with soul above commerce, travelling to see the world? And that young girl, would she not be "that charming ladee," "veree chic t you know!" And the old Tims good old-fashioned gentleman drinking his liquor well. Ehl bien what are we now? Dark beasts, despised by all. That is life, Monsieur. [He stares into the /ire. 68 THE PIGEON ACT m WELLWYN. We're our own enemies, Ferrand. I can afford it you can't. Quite true! FERRAND. [Earnestly.] Monsieur, do you know this? You are the sole being that can do us good we hope- less ones. WELLWYN. [Shaking his head.] Not a bit of it; I'm hopeless too. FERRAND. [Eagerly.] Monsieur, it is just that. You understand. When we are with you we feel something here [he touches his heart.] If I had one prayer to make, it would be, Good God, give me to understand! Those sirs, with their theories, they can clean our skins and chain our 'abits that soothes for them the aesthetic sense; it gives them too their good little importance. But our spirits they cannot touch, for they nevare understand. Without that, Monsieur, all is dry as a parched skin of orange. WELLWYN. Don't be so bitter. Think of all the work they do! FERRAND. Monsieur, of their industry I say nothing. They do a good work while they attend with their theories to the sick and the tame old, and the good un- fortunate deserving. Above all to the little children. But, Monsieur, when all is done, there are always us hopeless ones. What can they do with me, Monsieur, with that girl, or with that old man? Ah! Monsieur, we, too, 'ave our qualities, we others it wants you courage to undertake a career like mine, or like that young girl's. We wild ones we know a thousand times more of life than ever will those sirs. They waste ACT m THE PIGEON 69 their time trying to make rooks white, Be kind to us if you will, or let us alone like Mees Ann, but do not try to change our skins. Leave us to live, or leave us to die when we like in the free air. If you do not wish of us, you have but to shut your pockets and your doors we shall die the faster. WELLWYN. [With agitation.] But that, you know we can't do now can we? FERRAND. If you cannot, how is it our fault? The harm we do to others is it so much ? If I am criminal, dangerous shut me up! I would not pity myself nevare. But we in whom something moves like that flame, Monsieur, that cannot keep still we others we are not many that must have motion in our lives, do not let them make us prisoners, with their theories, because we are not like them it is life itself they would enclose! [He draws up his tattered figure, then bending over the fire again.] I ask your pardon; I am talking. If I could smoke, Monsieur! [WELLWYN hands him a tobacco pouch; and he rolls a cigarette with his yellow-stained fingers. FERRAND. The good God made me so that I would rather walk a whole month of nights, hungry, with the stars, than sit one single day making round busi- ness on an office stool! It is not to my advantage. I cannot help it that I am a vagabond. What would you have? It is stronger than me. [He looks suddenly at WELLWYN.] Monsieur, I say to you things I have never said. WELLWYN. [Quietly.] Go on, go on. [There in silence. 70 THE PIGEON ACT m FERRAND. {Suddenly.} Monsieur! Are you really English? The English are so civilised. WELLWYN. And am I not? FERRAND. You treat me like a brother. [WELLWYN has turned towards the street door at a sound of feet, and the clamour of voices. TIMSON. [From the street.] Take her in 'ere. I knows *im. [Through the open doorway come a POLICE CON- STABLE and a LOAFER, bearing between them the limp white-faced form of MRS. MEGAN, hatless and with drowned hair, enveloped in the police- man's waterproof. Some curious persons bring up the rear, jostling in the doorway, among whom is TIMSON carrying in his fiands the policeman's dripping waterproof leg pieces. FERRAND. [Starting forward.] Monsieur, it is that little girl! WELLWYN. What's happened? Constable! What's happened ! [The CONSTABLE and LOAFER have laid the body down on the dais; with WELLWYN and FER- RAND they stand bending over her. CONSTABLE. 'Tempted sooicide, sir; but she hadn't been in the water 'arf a minute when I got hold of her. [He bends lower.] Can't understand her collapsin' like this. WELLWYN. [Feeling her heart.] I don't feel anything. FERRAND. [In a voice sharpened by emotion.] Let me try, Monsieur. ACT ra THE PIGEON 71 CONSTABLE. [Touching his arm.] You keep off, my lad. WELLWYN. No, constable let him. He's her friend. CONSTABLE. [Releasing FERKAND to the LOAFER.] Here you! Cut off for a doctor sharp now! [He pushes back the curious persons.] Now then, stand away there, please we can't have you round the body. Keep back Clear out, now! [He slowly moves them back, and at last shepherds them through the door and shuts it on them, TIMSON being last. FERRAND. The rum! [WELLWYN fetches the decanter. With the little there is left FERRAND chafes the girl's hands and forehead, and pours some between her lips. But tJiere is no response from the inert body. FERRAND. Her soul is still away, Monsieur! [WELLWYN, seizing the decanter, pours into it tea and boiling water. CONSTABLE. It's never drownin', sir her head was hardly under; I was on to her like knife. FERRAND. [Rubbing her feet.] She has not yet her philosophy, Monsieur; at the beginning they often try. If she is dead! [In a voice of awed rapture.] What for- tune! CONSTABLE. [With puzzled sadness.] True enough, sir -that! We'd just begun to know 'er. If she 'as been taken her best friends couldn't wish 'er better. WELLWYN. [Applying the decanter to her lips.] Poor little thing.' I'll try this hot tea. 72 THE PIGEON ACT ra FEHRAND. [Whispering.] La mart le grand ami! WELLWYN. Look! Look at her! She's eoming round! [A faint tremor passes over MRS. MEGAN'S body. He again applies the hot drink to her mouth. She stirs and gulps. CONSTABLE. [With intense relief.] That's brave! Good lass! She'll pick up now, sir. [Then, seeing that TIMSON and the curious persons have again opened the door, he drives them out, and stands with his back against it. MBS. MEGAN comes to herself. WELLWYN. [Sitting on the dais and supporting her as if to a child.] There you are, my dear. There, there better now! That's right. Drink a little more of this tea. [Mas. MEGAN drinks from the decanter. FERRAND. [Rising.] Bring her to the fire, Monsieur. [ They take her to the fire and seat her on the little stool. From the moment of her restored anima- tion FERRAND has resumed his air of cynical detachment, and now stands apart with arms folded, watching. WELI.WYN. Feeling better, my child? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. WELLWYN* That's good. That's good. Now, how was it? Um? MRS. MEGAN. I dunno. [She shivers.] 1 was standin' here just now when you was talkin', and when I heard 'im, it cam' over me to do it like. ACT ra THE PIGEON 7S WELLWYN. Ah, yes 7 know. MRS. MEGAN. I didn't seem no good to meself nor any one. But when I got in the water, I didn't want to any more. It was cold hi there. WELLWYN. Have you been having such a bad time of it? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. And listenin' to him upset me. [She signs urith her head at FERRAND.] I feel better now I've been in the water. [She smiles and shivers. WELLWYN. There, there! Shivery? Like to walk up and down a little? [They begin walking together up and down. WELLWYN. Beastly when your head goes under? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. It frightened me. I thought I wouldn't come up again. WELLWYN. I know sort of world without end, wasn't it? What did you think of, um? MRS. MEGAN. I wished I 'adn't jumped an* I thought of my baby that died and [in a rather sur- prised voice] and I thought of d-dancin'. [Her mouth quivers, her face puckers, she gives a choke and a little sob. WELLWYN. [Stopping and stroking her.] There, there there! [For a moment her face is buried in his sleeve, then she recovers herself. MRS. MEGAN. Then 'e got hold o* me, an' pulled me out. WELLWYN. Ah! what a comfort um? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. The water got into me mouth. 74 THE PIGEON ACT m [They walk again.] I wouldn't have gone to do it but for him. [She looks towards FERRAND.] His talk made me feel all funny, as if people wanted me to. WELLWYN. My dear child! Don't think such things! As if anyone would ! MRS. MEGAN. [Stolidly.] I thought they did. They used to look at me so sometimes, where I was before I ran away I couldn't stop there, you know. WELLWYN. Too cooped-up? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. No life at all, it wasn't not after sellin' flowers, I'd rather be doin' what I am. WELLWYN. Ah! Well it's all over, now! How d'youfeel eh? Better? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. I feels all right now. [She sits up again on the little stool before the fire. WELLWYN. No shivers, and no aches; quite comfy? MRS. MEGAN. Yes. WELLWYN. That's a blessing. All well, now, Con- stable thank you! CONSTABLE. [Who has remained discreetly apart at the door cordially.] First rate, sir! That's capital! [He approaches and scrutinises MRS. MEGAN.] Right as rain, eh, my girl? MRS. MEGAN. [Shrinking a little.] Yes. CONSTABLE. That's fine. Then I think perhaps, for 'er sake, sir, the sooner we move on and get her a change o' clothin', the better. WELLWYN. Oh! don't bother about that I'll send round for my daughter we'll manage for her here. ACT ra THE PIGEON 75 CoNSTABiiE. Very kind of you, I'm sure, sir. But [with embarrassment] she seems all right. She'll get every attention at the station. WELLWYN. But I assure you, we don't mind at all; we'll take the greatest care of her. CONSTABLE. [Still more embarrassed.] Well, sir, of course, I'm thinkin' of I'm afraid I can't depart from the usual course. WELLWTN. [Sharply.] What! But oh! No! No! That'll be all right, Constable! That'll be all right! I assure you. CONSTABLE. [With more decision.] I'll have to charge her, sir. WELLWYN. Good God ! You don't mean to say the poor little thing has got to be CONSTABLE. [Consulting vrith him.] Well, sir, we can't get over the facts, can we? There it is! You know what sooicide amounts to it's an awkward job. WELLWYN. [Calming himself with an effort.] But look here, Constable, as a reasonable man This poor wretched little girl you know what that life means better than anyone! Why! It's to her credit to try and jump out of it! [The CONSTABLE shakes his head. WELLWYN. You said yourself her best friends couldn't wish her better! [Dropping his voice still more.] Every- body feels it! The Vicar was here a few minutes ago saying the very same thing the Vicar, Constable! [The CONSTABLE shakes his head.] Ah! now, look here, I know something of her. Nothing can be done with 76 THE PIGEON ACT ra her. We all admit it. Don't you sec? Well, then hang it you needn't go and make fools of us all by FERRAND. Monsieur, it is the first of April. CONSTABLE. [With a sharp glance at him.} Can't neglect me duty, sir; that's impossible. WELLWYN. Look here! She slipped. She's been telling me. Come, Constable, there's a good fellow. May be the making of her, this. CONSTABLE. I quite appreciate your good 'eart, sir, an' you make it very 'ard for me but, come now! I put it to you as a gentleman, would you go back on yer duty if you was me? [WELLWTN raises his hat, and plunges his fingers through and through his hair. WELLWYN. Well! God in heaven! Of all the d d topsy-turvy ! Not a soul in the world wants her alive and now she's to be prosecuted for trying to be where everyone wishes her. CONSTABLE. Come, sir, come! Be a man! [Throughout all this MRS. MEGAN has sat stolidly before the fire, but as FERRAND suddenly steps forward she looks up at him. FERRAND. Do not grieve, Monsieur! This will give her courage. There is nothing that gives more courage than to see the irony of things. [He touches MRS. MEGAN'S shoulder.} Go, my child; it will do you good. [MRS. MEGAN rises, and looks at him dazedly. CONSTABLE. [Coming forward, and taking her by the hand.} That's my good lass. Come along! We won't hurt you. ACT ra THE PIGEON 77 MRS. MEGAN. I don't want to go. They'll stare at me. CONSTABLE. [Comforting.] Not they! I'll see to that. WELLWTN. [Very upset.] Take her in a cab, Con- stable, if you must for God's sake! [He pulls out a shilling.] Here! CONSTABLE. [Taking the shilling.] I will, sir, cer- tainly. Don't think I want to WELLWYN. No, no, I know. You're a good sort. CONSTABLE. [Comfortable.] Don't you take on, sir. It's her first try; they won't be hard on 'er. Like as not only bind 'er over in her own recogs not to do it again. Come, my dear. MRS. MEGAN. [Trying to free herself from the police- man's cloak.] I want to take this off. It looks so funny. [As she speaks the door is opened by ANN; behind whom is dimly seen the form of old TIMSON, still heading the curious persons. ANN. [Looking from one to the other in amaze.] What is it? What's happened? Daddy! FERRAND. [Out of the silence.] It is nothing, Ma'- moiselle! She has failed to drown herself. They run her in a little. WELLWTN. Lend her your jacket, my dear; she'll catch her death. [ANN, feeling MRS. MEGAN'S arm, strips off her jacket, and helps her into it without a word. CONSTABLE. [Donning his cloak.] Thank you, Miss- very good of you, I'm sure. 78 THE PIGEON ACT ra MRS. MEGAN. [Mazed.] It's warm! [She gives them att a last half-smiling look, and passes with the CONSTABLE through the doorway. FERBAND. That makes the third of us, Monsieur. We are not in luck. To wish us dead, it seems, is easier than to let us die. [He looks at ANN, who is standing with her eyes fixed on her father. WELLWTN has taken from his pocket a visiting card. WELLWTN. [To FERRAND.] Here quick; take this, run after her! When they've done with her tell her to come to us. FERRAND. [Taking the card, and reading the address.] "No. 7, Haven House, Flight Street!" Rely on me, Monsieur I will bring her myself to call on you. An revoir, mon bon Monsieur! [He bends over WELLWTN'S hand ; then, with a bow to ANN goes out; his tattered figure can be seen through the window, passing in the wind. WELLWTN turns back to the fire. The figure of TIMSON advances into the doorway, no longer holding in either hand a waterproof leg-piece. TIMSON. [In a croaky voice.] Sir! WELLWTN. What you, Timson? TIMSON. On me larst legs, sir. 'Ere! You can see 'em for yerself ! Shawn't trouble yer long. WELLWTN. [After a long and desperate stare.] Not now Timson not now! Take this! [He takes out another card, and hands it to TIMSON.] Some other time. ACT m THE PIGEON 79 TIMSON. [Taking the card.] Yer new address! You are a gen'leman. [He lurches slowly away. [ANN shuts the street door and sets her back against it. The rumble of the approaching van is heard outside. It ceases. ANN. [In a fateful voice.] Daddy! [They stare at each other.] Do you know what you've done? Given your card to those six rotters. WELLWYN. [With a blank stare.] Six? ANN. [Staring round the naked room.] What was the good of this? WELLWYN. [Following her eyes very gravely.] Ann! It is stronger than me. [Without a word ANN opens the door, and walks straight out. With a heavy sigh, WELLWYN sinks down on the little stool before the fire. The three humble-men come in. CHIEF HUMBLE-MAN. [In an attitude of expectation.] This is the larst of it, sir. WELLWYN. Oh! Ah! yes! [He gives them money; then something seems to strike him, and he exhibits certain signs of vex- ation. Suddenly he recovers, looks from one to the other, and then at the tea things. A faint smile comes on his face. WELLWYN. You can finish the decanter. [He goes out in haste. CHIEF HUMBLE-MAN. [Clinking the coins.] Third time of arskin'! April fool! Not 'arf! Good old pigeon! 80 THE PIGEON ACT m SECOND HUMBLE-MAN. 'Uman being, 7 call 'im. CHIEF HUMBLE-MAN. [Taking the three glasses from the last packing-case, and pouring very equally into them.] That's right. Tell you wot, I'd never 'a touched this unless 'e'd told me to, I wouldn't not with 'im. SECOND HUMBLE-MAN. Ditto to that! This is a bit of orl right! [Raising his glass.] Good luck! THIRD HUMBLE-MAN. Same 'ere! [Simultaneously they place their lips smartly against the liquor, and at once let fall their faces and their glasses. CHIEF HUMBLE-MAN. [With gr eat sokmnity.] Crikey! Bill! Tea! . . . 'E's got us! The stage is blotted dark. Curtain. THE MOB A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS PERSONS OF THE PLAY STEPHEN MORE, Member of Parliament KATHERINE, his wife OLIVE, their little daughter THE DEAN OF STOUR, Katherine's uncle GENERAL SIR JOHN JULIAN, her father CAPTAIN HUBERT JULIAN, her brother HELEN, his wife EDWARD MENDIP, editor of " The Parthenon" ALAN STEEL, Moves secretary JAMES HOME, architect ~\ CHARLES SHELDER, solicitor I A deputation of More't MARK WACE, bookseller constituents WILLIAM BANNING, manufacturer ) NURSE WREFORD WREFORD (her son), Hubert's orderly His SWEETHEART THE FOOTMAN HENRY A DOORKEEPER SOME BLACK-COATED GENTLEMEN A STUDENT A GIRL A MOB ACT I. The dining-room of M ore's town house, evening. ACT 11. The same, morning. ACT 111. SCENE I. An alley at the back of a suburban theatre. SCENE II. Katherine's bedroom. ACT IV. The dining-room of More's house, late afternoon. AFTERMATH. The corner of a square, at dawn. Between ACTS I and II some days elapse. Between ACTS II and III three months. Between ACT III SCENE I and ACT III SCENE II no time. Between ACTS III and IV a few hours. Between ACTS IV and AFTERMATH an indefinite period. CAST OF THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION AT THE GAIETY THEATRE, MANCHESTER, MARCH 30, 1914 Stephen More MILTON ROSMER Katherine IRENE ROOKE Olive PHYLLIS BOURKE The Dean of Stour LEONARD MUDIE General Sir John Julian HERBERT LOMAS Captain Hubert Julian WILLIAM HOME Helen HILDA BRUCE POTTER Edward Mendip D. LEWIN MANNERING Alan Steel ERIC BARBER James Home ARCHIBALD McCLEAN Charles Shelder PERCY FOSTER Mark Wace NAPIER BARRY William Banning CHARLES BIBBY Nurse Wreford MRS. A. B. TAPPING Wreford CECIL CALVERT His Sweetheart HILDA DAVIES The Footman Henry BASIL HOLMES A Doorkeeper ALFRED RUSSELL A Student ELLIS DEE A Girl MUBIEL POPE ACT I It is half-past nine of a July evening. In a dining-room lighted by sconces, and apparelled in watt-paper, carpet, and curtains of deep vivid blue, the large French windows between two columns are open on to a wide terrace, beyond which are seen trees in dark- ness, and distant shapes of lighted houses. On one side is a bay window, over which curtains are partly drawn. Opposite to this windmv is a door leading into the hall. At an oval rosewood table, set with silver, flowers, fruit, and wine, six people are seated after dinner. Back to the bay window is STEPHEN MORE, the host, a man of forty, with a fine-cut face, a rather charming smile, and the eyes of an idealist; to his right, SIR JOHN JULIAN, an old soldier, with thin brown features, and grey moustaches; to SIR JOHN'S right, his brother, the DEAN OF STOUR, a tall, dark, ascetic-looking Churchman: to his right KATHERINE is leaning forward, her elbows on the table, and her chin on her hands, staring across at her husband; to her right sits EDWARD MENDIP, a pale man of forty-five, very bald, with a fine fore- head, and on his clear-cut lips a smile that shows his teeth; between him and MORE is HELEN JULIAN, 1 2 THE MOB ACT i a pretty dark-haired young woman, absorbed in thoughts of her own. The voices are tuned to the pitch of heated discussion, as the curtain rises. THE DEAN. I disagree with you, Stephen; absolutely, entirely disagree. MORE. I can't help it. MENDIP. Remember a certain war, Stephen! Were your chivalrous notions any good, then? And, what was winked at in an obscure young Member is anath- ema for an Under Secretary of State. You can't afford MORE. To follow my conscience? That's new, Mendip. MENDIP. Idealism can be out of place, my friend. THE DEAN. The Government is dealing here with a wild lawless race, on whom I must say I think senti- ment is rather wasted. MORE. God made them, Dean. MENDIP. I have my doubts. THE DEAN. They have proved themselves faithless. We have the right to chastise. MORE. If I hit a little man in the eye, and he hits me back, have I the right to chastise him? SIR JOHN. We didn't begin this business. MORE. What! With our missionaries and our trading? THE DEAN. It is news indeed that the work of civ- ilization may be justifiably met by murder. Have you forgotten Glaive and Morlinson? ACT i THE MOB 3 SIR JOHN. Yes. And that poor fellow Groome and his wife? MORE. They went into a wild country, against the feeling of the tribes, on their own business. What has the nation to do with the mishaps of gamblers? SIR JOHN. We can't stand by and see our own flesh and blood ill-treated! THE DEAN. Does our rule bring blessing or does it not, Stephen? MORE. Sometimes; but with all my soul I deny the fantastic superstition that our rule can benefit a people like this, a nation of one race, as different from our- selves as dark from light in colour, religion, every mortal thing. We can only pervert their natural in- stincts. THE DEAN. That to me is an unintelligible point of view. MENDIP. Go into that philosophy of yours a little deeper, Stephen it spells stagnation. There are no fixed stars on this earth. Nations can't let each other alone. MORE. Big ones could let little ones alone. MENDIP. If they could there'd be no big ones. My dear fellow, we know little nations are your hobby, but surely office should have toned you down. SIR JOHN. I've served my country fifty years, and I say she is not in the wrong. MORE. I hope to serve her fifty, Sir John, and I say she is. 4 THE MOB ACT i MENDIP. There are moments when such things can't be said, More. MORE. They'll be said by me to-night, Mendip. MENDIP. In the House? [MORE nods. KATHERINE. Stephen! MENDIP. Mrs. More, you mustn't let him. It's madness. MORE. [Rising] You can tell people that to-morrow, Mendip. Give it a leader in The Parthenon. MENDIP. Political lunacy! No man in your position has a right to fly out like this at the eleventh hour. MORE. I've made no secret of my feelings all along. I'm against this war, and against the annexation we all know it will lead to. MENDIP. My dear fellow! Don't be so Quixotic! We shall have war within the next twenty-four hours, and nothing you can do will stop it. HELEN. Oh! No! MENDIP. I'm afraid so, Mrs. Hubert. SIR JOHN. Not a doubt of it, Helen. MENDIP. [To MORE] And you mean to charge the windmill? [MORE nods. MENDIP. C'eat magnifiquel MORE. I'm not out for advertisement. MENDIP. You will get it! MORE. Must speak the truth sometimes, even at that risk. Sat JOHN. It is not the truth. ACT i THE MOB 5 MENDIP. The greater the truth the greater the libel, and the greater the resentment of the person libelled. THE DEAN. [Trying to bring matters to a blander level] My dear Stephen, even if you were right which I deny about the initial merits, there surely comes a point where the individual conscience must resign it- self to the country's feeling. This has become a ques- tion of national honour. SIR JOHN. Well said, James! MORE. Nations are bad judges of then- honour, Dean. THE DEAN. I shall not follow you there. MORE. No. It's an awkward word. KATHERINE. [Stopping THE DEAN] Uncle James! Please! [MoRE looks at her intently. SIR JOHN. So you're going to put yourself at the head of the cranks, ruin your career, and make me ashamed that you're my son-in-law ? MORE. Is a man only to hold beliefs when they're popular? You've stood up to be shot at often enough, Sir John. SIR JOHN. Never by my country! Your speech will be in all the foreign press trust 'em for seizing on anything against us. A show-up before other coun- tries ! MORE. You admit the show-up? SIR JOHN. I do not, sir. THE DEAN. The position has become impossible. The state of things out there must be put an end to once for all! Come, Katherine, back us up! 6 THE MOB ACT i MORE. My country, right or wrong! Guilty still my country! MENDIP. That begs the question. KATHERINE rises. THE DEAN, too, stands up. THE DEAN. [In a low voice] Quern Deus vult per-