FRENCH'S ACTING EDITION No. 2173. Shades of Night A Fantasy in One Act ROBERT MARSHALL NET I/' NET LONDON : SAMUEL FRENCH, LI Publishers a SOUTHAMPTON STREET STRAND, W.C.a NEW YORK SAMUEL FRENCH Pvblither 28 WEST 38ra STREET SCENERY With view to obviate, as f at as possible, th great difficulty amateurs experience in obtaining scenery, we have endeavoured to cope with the situation by providing Strong Lithographed Paper which can be easily mounted on canvas or calico (as canvas u so expensive at present), and then framed on woodwork. As all amateurs will have discovered, the expense of hiring or buying painted canvas scenery is very considerable, but by printing large quantities we can sell outright at a rate comparing favourably with that usually charged for the HIRE of painted canvas scenery. primary object we have had in view has been to provide scenery which, by easy adjustment and additional sheets of litho- graphed paper, can be made to fit any reasonable size of stage. Any questions on the subject of our scenery will be gladly and promptly answered, and if the particulars of >ttage the height, the width, and depth, together with the position in which you require the doors, fireplace, or windows are forwarded, we will submit you an estimate of the coat, either for the paper alone or mounted on cat The framework of wood can be very easily constructed by an tor or can be supplied by us. We shall be ploaaed to quote prices upon receiving details. We do not send Scenery on Hire FULLY ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE sent gratis on application, Torn to next page of cotter. SHADES OF NIGHT A Fantasy in One Act BY ROBERT MARSHALL LONDON NEW YORK SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. SAMUEL FRENCH PUBLISHERS PUBLISHER 26 SOUTHAMPTON STREET CTRFFT STRAND, W.C.2 Made and Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner. Frome and London Originally produced at the Lyceum Theatre, March 14.th, 1895, under the management of Mr. Forbes Eobertson and Mr. Frederick Harrison. SHADES OF NIGHT, CHARACTERS. CAPTAIN THE HON. TERENCE TRIVETT (of the 21st Lancers) MR. FRANK GILLMORB. WINIFRED TESTER Mtss ETHEL WEYBCTRN. SIR LUDOVIC TKIVETT (u Phantom) MR, J. WILLBS. THE LADY MILDRED YESTSR (a Phantom) Miss HENRIETTA WATSOH. SCENE. THB HAUNTED ROOM AT TRIVETT TOWBBS. PERIOD. TO-DAY. NOTE. IW playing " SHADES or NIGHT " upon a stage which Is not fitted witn traps, the phantoms can make their entrance through an ordinary door, preferably one concealed by tapestries. In making their exit they can- Firstly, pass through another door in the flat at back, which is painted upon gauze. At the edge of the door the gauze is one thickness, and at distances of about eighteen inches tlift 1'olds of gauze gradually increase. Secondly, the lights can be lowered and gauzes gradually drawn in front of them. Thirdly, if electric light is employed it can all go out for an Instant, during which time the phantoms clear the stag* ; the lights being turned sharply up as the curtain descends. The fee for each representation of this play by amateurs is One Guinea, payable in advance to Messrs. Samuel French, Ltd., 28 Southampton Street, Strand, London, W.C.2, or their authorized representatives, .who, apon payment of the fee, will send a written permission for this performance to take place. No public performance may be given unless this written per- mission has first been obtained. Character Costumes and Wigs used in the performance of plays contained in French's Acting Edition may be obtained from MESSRS. CHAS. H. Fox, LTD., 27 Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C.2. SHADES OF NIGHT. SCENE : The haunted room at Trivett Towers. A targe, many- cornered, oak-walled room. A painted window, through which moonlight is streaming, R. A massive oaken door on which the moonlight falls, L. A large open fire-place, L., with table and two old high-backed chairs before it. In window recess a couch. An old bureau, a table and chair at back, c. Portraits, armour, a spinet, etc. As the curtain rises a key grates harshly in the lock of the door L. It opens, and WINIFRED VASTER, a handsome girl of about twenty-two, advances hesitatingly in the moonlight. She wears a fancy costume of the period of 1770. As the door opens, waltt music played by a string band is heard in the distance. WIN. Ah ! what a lovely room I and how eerie the very air feels. A haunted room, and I alone in it. Yet I don't feel a bit afraid, and it is good to get away for a moment from the crowded ball-room How delightful my gown looks in the cool, soft light, and with these old-world surroundings. Hush! listen! what's that? How dreadful 1 what weird noises ! Ah ! there they are again. Rats in the wainscotting. Now footsteps and, yes they're coming here. Why why did I come to this desolate spot alone ? I made sure Captain Trivett would follow me. Steps coming towards the door ! I can't bear it I can't look I know it's some horrible spectre I hear the clanking of chains I can't move I can't breathe Oh ! oh ! Enter CAPTAIN TKTVETT, a handsome man of twenty-five, in the full-dress uniform of 21st Lancers. WIN. Oh ! it's only you. What a horrid noise your spurs make. You quite startled me. CAPT. I'm sorry. Fact is, I saw you run off here, and this is our dance, you know. WIN. Then let us sit here and talk. A haunted room I Oh, it's simply sweet ; and remember, at dinner you pro- mised to tell me everything and show me everything. CAPT. Then let's be comfortable. I told Evans to lay a log fire and put a lamp in the room. Ah, here it is. (lights lamp) Though, 'pon my word, the moon is so bright there's hardly any need for a lamp. WIN. Better light it though . Now give me a match, and I will light the fire, (goes to fire L.) * 4 SHADES OF NIGHT. CAPT. No, no ; I'll do that. WIN. No, please ; as if a man could light a fire. Don't be stupid. There that's beautiful. Do look at the lovely shadows, (rises) You have not told me yet if you like my gown. CAPT. I do, very much. But I think everything about you is divine. WIN. Oh, you mustn't say that. CAPT. Why not 1 WIN. Because mamma says, Cavalry officers, as a rule, never mean what they say, and I should be miserable if T thought you didn't mean that I was divine. CAPT. I am glad of that. What's the costume ? WIN. It is Sir Joshua Reynolds' portrait, painted in 1771, of a great-great-grand -aunt of mine, the Lady Mildred Tester. CAPT. Great Scott ! You don't say so. WIN. But I do. Why not 1 CAPT. I mean . . . really, it's most extraordinary 'pon my soul of all the queer things WIN. What do you mean ? CAPT. I mean that the story of this room is of an ancestor of mine who murdered the Lady Mildred Yester on the 28th September 1775. WIN. (stifling a cry) Oh ! CAPT. Come, it's all right. It's merely a coincidence. WIN. No, no ! It's two coincidences. CAPT. Two coincidences ! How 1 Why ? WIN. (excitedly) This to-day to-night don't you see, this is the 28th September. CAPT. By Jove, so it is. WIN. It's horribly weird. I I think I am afraid, (goes to him) CAPT. Come now, it's all right. (bits.) I am not like my ancestor, you know. WIN. Well, I hope not. Anyhow, I can tell you, if you think of murdering me, I shall scream, (solemnly) D'you know, it's three coincidences ? You're one, I'm one, and the date's one. No, it's four coincidences, my costume's another. CAPT. The costume is merely because my mother happens to be giving this fancy dress ball to-night. WIN. After all, I suppose everyone's haunted. Every- one's got a skeleton in the cupboard. CAPT. (crosses to R.) That's devilish true. Fact is, I have so many skeletons, one cupboard won't hold them all. WIN. Shall we sit by the fire 1 SHADES OF NIGHT. 5 CAPT. By all means, (they sit) 'Pon my soul, she's a dear girl, (aside) WIN. After all, the room is only haunted by our own ancestors. CAPT. That's all. WIN. So that if I met them, I should almost feel as if I knew them. CAPT. I daresay. I fancy they're awfully distant sort of people. By the way, I must show you the family legend. WIN. Oh do. CAPT. (rises) Here it is ; carved on this stone, but by whom, nobody knows. WIN. What quaint, old-world lettering. How dee* it read ? CAPT. It's this (gets on seat). " Till a maid of my blood do plight her troth To a man that is born of thine, Till these walls have heard their spoken love, A curse on thy house and line ! " WIN. How badly you read it. (rises. Gets on seat) Listen. This is how the words should be declaimed, (repeats legend, then jumps down) CAPT. Bravo ! Capital ! That was rippin' ! WIN. (gets off seat) I wonder what it means ? CAPT. ]So one knows. I believe it has something to do with the murder. WIN. I wonder what would happen if we saw the spectres. CAPT. I don't think it would upset me much. I've got ? sort of hereditary calm that never gets quite ruffled. WIN. Not even when you find yourself up to the eyes in debt? CAPT. Why, who told you that ? WIN. (crosses to R., sits in chair) Never mind, ifs true, isn't it ? CAPT. Perhaps. WIN. I know it is. I wish you wouldn't bet and gamble. CAPT. (crosses to c.) You don't know the temptation. I don't suppose if you tried, you could spend a tenth of what you've got. WIN. It isn't fair, Captain Trivett, to taunt me with my wealth. CAPT. (crosses to her) My dear lady, nothing could b further from my thoughts. WIN. I've a heart, you know. CAPT. I I hope so. It's it's no necessary. 6 SHADES OF NIGHT. WIN. (rites) Well ! joking apart, I've a proposal to make to you. CAPT. Ah 1 I won't swear I haven't the same to make to you. WIN. Really ! CAPT. (aside) Pull up, my boy, pull up ! (aloud) Well, your proposal is WIN. That you hunt father's horses while he is abroad this winter. There ! I know how you love your hunting, and that you've had to give it up. And we are such old friends. Our families have lived side by side for over two hundred years. CAPT. My dear Miss Tester, I'm afraid WIN. Afraid ! of what ? (goes up to window) Come to the window look at the stretch of lovely grass country and refuse me if you can ! CAPTAIN TRIVETT follows her to the window, they look out. CAPT. You put it very temptingly. WIN. And the moon puts it more temptingly still, does he not ? They sit on couch and talk aside. A strain of ghostly music as Sra LUDOVIC TRIVETT ascends through trap- door R.c. He is dressed entirely in white, period 1770. White Court suit, wig, etc. Face and hands dead white. He is quite young in appearance, and is supposed to be both invisible and inaudible to the other occupants of the room. SIR LUDOVIC crosses to L. as soon as trap is up. SIR L. (observing couple in recess of window) Halloa ! bless my soul ! We're going to have an audience. I'm rather glad. On this particular day for the last hundred and twenty odd years fair weather or foul, moonlight or mirk have we enacted the scene which resulted in the tragic death of the Lady Mildred Tester, at this hour and in this room. But no one's seen it. Some have said they did. They lied. Now we have a chance, if these good people will but wait till the Tower clock chimes midnight, at which moment but not before we are visible and audible to the human eye and ear. (takes a, pinch of snuff) A strain of music, and LADY MILDRED YESTER ascends through trap-door, L.C. She is dressed in white, period 1770, white wig, etc. Hands and face dead white. Throughout the play the Phantoms are quite noiseless. As the trap -door closes, LADY MILDRED curtseys deeply to SIR LUDOVIC. LADY M. Good evening. SHADES OP NIGHT. 7 SIR L. Ah ! You're there, Lady Mildred, are you 1 LADY M. Been here long ? SIB L. No. (both bow) We're a trifle before our time, I think. LADY M. (crosses to SIR LUDOVIC) I came here with Lady Jane Grey for company's sake. She was on her way to haunt the Tower. SIR L. And how is she ? LADY M. Much the same. Awfully tetchy if you chaff her about her neck. She tells me she had great fun last year. Showed herself to a subaltern of the Guards who was on duty somewhere in London. All his friends call him the " Little Liar " now. (looks toward window) Who are those people ? SIR L. The man's a spendthrift descendant of my own. LADY M. Ah ! The family failing. SIR L. That's the uniform of his regiment. Rather neat, eh ! LADY M. It seems a little too tight to be good for fighting in. (goes up a little) SIR L. Oh, they only fight for love in that costume. They wear grubby things in real battles. LADY M. How disagreeably modern, (turns) And the woman oh, Lud ! Sir Ludovic ! See, her head is turned. She's Winifred Tester, my great-great-grand-niece, dressed as I was when dear Sir Joshua painted me. SIR L. Dear me, so it is. Most interesting. I see how matters stand. There is what they call a fancy dress ball going on in the house. LADY M. I hope they will go shortly, (comes down) SIR L. Do you ? D'you know, I'm rather glad they're here. I am sick of going through our farce year after year, and no one seeing it. LADY M. Perhaps you are. You don't have to drink the poison. But I allow that the worst part of our lives is the perpetual hanging about and nobody knowing we're there. SIR L. Yes, people are so difficult to haunt nowadays ; and if we do appear, women faint or shriek till common politeness demands that we should retire. LADY M. Come, I think men are quite as bad. (looking rownd) She seems rather an uninteresting sort of person. SIR L. Oh, no ! not nowadays. LADY M. Nowadays ! D'you think the race is deterior- ating ? SIR L. Not exactly deteriorating ; but I don't think it improves. Shall we walk 1 (walking to R. and back with LADY MILDRED on his R.) About ten years ago I met Nero. He 8 SHADES OF NIGHT. was on his way to haunt some Roman camp near here a thing he's got to do every five or ten years, I forget which. Awful unsatisfactory work, he said, coming all the way from Rome, especially as no one has ever seen him. Well, I remember he said that, as far as he could judge, the human race is no better now than it used to be in his day, nor, indeed as he added laughingly than it ought to be. Now, as he in his day was a pretty hot lot (stopping c., LADY MILDRED on his R.) LADYM. A "hot lot"? SIR L. Yes ; don't you know the expression 1 I got it from a sporting peer who joined us the other day. However, as I was saying, if Nero can't see any improvement, it's a bad sign. Won't you sit down ? (motioning to settee by fire) LADY M. (sitting) Thanks. I suppose it is a bad sign. Only last year Shakespeare vowed to me that literature was undoubtedly on the decline. SIR L. Did he ? Well, he ought to know. I wonder where he is now. Some one told me he was persistently haunting a man who had brought out a mangled edition of his works. LADI M. Very likely. Last year he and Chaucer went to stop with Sir Walter Scott at Melrose Abbey. SIR L. Ah ! that's a lovely spot ! Such nice mossy tomb- stones ! LADY M. Yes; they're such an interesting set, these people. I hate our set all people who in life did nothing but adorn their persons ; whilst they the others adorned their minds. SIR L. Yes. We learn a good deal about people and their motives nowadays. For instance, I met Sir Walter Raleigh in the crypt of Westminster Abbey the other evening, and he assured me that the cloak he threw on the mud for the Queen to tread on wasn't really his own, but one he had borrowed from a friend when the rain came on. LADY M. Really? SIR L. (looking at his watch) Egad ! It's getting near our time for showing up. We might give 'em the poison tableau. LADY M. D'you think they could stand it? Besides, if they don't know our story, it wouldn't interest them. SIR L. (sits top end of couch) But they do know it in a way. The mistake they make is in thinking that I murdered you. LADY M. Practically, you did. SIR L. Not at all. I proposed to you. You rejected me. We passed into this room, and I poured out two glasses of wine. One was poisoned. My intention was to drink it in your presence, and gloat over your horror as you saw me SHADES OF NIGHT. 9 slowly dying. It was a hot evening, and it happened that you were thirsty. When fora moment my back was turned, you drank off both glasses. You died. But you can scarcely say I murdered you ! LADY M. We won't argue the point. It was altogether a most unfortunate affair, especially for me. WIN. (still seated at window) But what's the roal story of the murder ? CAPT. Well, the lady of the picture you represent wouldn't have anything to do with Sir Ludovic, my ancestor. I think he was plain looking, and anyhow he was desperately hard up. SIB L. Egad ! I like that. CAPT. Well, he inveigled her on some pretence into coming to this room. LADY M. You did, you know. CAPT. Then he poisoned her, stabbed her, and cut off her head like Bluebeard. WIN. How dreadful ! SIR L. (rises) I did nothing of the sort. LADY M. My dear Sir Ludovic, don't get angry. Besides, you know, they can't hear you. SIB L. That's what's so annoying, (goes down L. corner) WIN. And what happened then ? CAPT. Well, he bolted. LADY M. Yes, you did that, you know. CAPT. And eventually drank himself to death. SIB L. What a farrago of nonsense, (sits again) I died of gout, a perfectly respectable disease. WIN. (rises) It's a little cold here, isn't it ? CAPT. (rising) It is a little chilly. WIN. How delightfully the logs are blazing. LADY M. They're coming here. WIN. Shall we warm ourselves ? (crosses to fire) CAPT. And discuss the question of the hunters ? By all means. WIN. (looking at her dress) This place is fearfully dusty. (they diist seat and phantoms) CAPT. Allow me. They sit on the Phantom* as if absolutely unaware of their presence. LADY M. This is one of the inconveniences of an invisible presence. STB L. And rather a crushing one. LADY M. We are so to speak SIB L. Sat on 1 10 SHADES OF NIGHT. LADY M. Exactly ! CAPT. Kindly meant as is your suggestion, Miss Tester, I am afraid that I must decline. There's one condition only, under which I could but there, I mustn't think of that. WIN. Do please tell me. CAPT. I I I haven't the courage to. LADY M. Lud ! the man's going to propose ! SIR L. Poor devil ! I hope they'll rise to the occasion. WIN. Come, Captain Trivett, I must know your condi- tion. CAPT. Then, Miss Tester, I'll come straight to the point. Viewed commercially, I'm a broken man. Otherwise I hope I believe that I'm quite sound. WIN. Tes? CAPT. (rising) And and well ! I love you. That's all. LADY M. (rising) What a relief ! Crosses to chair R. , SIR LuDOVIC rises and Joins her. WIN. Really, Captain Trivett, I think you a little prema- ture. Tou've quite taken my breath away. CAPT. (standing with back to fire) Perhaps I ought to tell you we our family are under a curse. WIN. What? CAPT. A curse. That cursed thing on the wall. One of the family always gets killed, or dies suddenly, or some- thing, and I'm the only one left now. WIN. That certainly alters matters. CAPT. I suppose it does. WIN. (rises, moves c.) I don't quite see my way to even thinking of marrying a man with a curse on him. It would get on my nerves, don't you know ? I mean constantly ex- pecting you to go off suddenly. LADY MILDRED and SIR LUDOVIC go up into window. CAPT. Still, if you cared for me at all WIN. (crosses to L., stands by fire) Ah ! but I never said I did! CAPT. (bitterly) No. 1 suppose you're like all other WIN. Tes ! Other what ? CAPT. Other er attractive girls. I mean you don't care a blow for a man's feelings, as long as you're amused. WIN. I certainly don't care a blow, as I don't quite know what a blow means. CAPT. Ah, possibly you're more familiar with the " puff." WIN. It's most indelicate of you to suggest such a thing. Besides, in fancy dress, it's quite proper to use a puff. An? girl would. They all do. SHADES OF NIGHT. 11 CAPT. I'm sorry, Winifred. WIN. How dare you call me Winifred ? I am Miss Tester ! SIR L. She's got your family temper, Mildred. LADY M. Silence ! WIN. (as CAPTAIN TRIVETT approaches her) No, please. Go over there. I shall leave the room when when (in tears) I have c-c-composed myself, (cries) CAP-. Good heavens ! If only you'd WIN. Don't speak to me. Why do you say such horrid things ? CAPT. Come, I was only WIN. Not that I want to know. CAPT. (nettled) Oh ! all right. WIN. Besides, I told you not to speak. CAPT. I'm sure I don't want to speak, if you don't care to listen to reason. (Sits R. end of couch) SIR L. (right up in window) They're a quaint couple. Confess now, Lady Mildred, that in our day I did the business much more gracefully. LADY M. Perhaps. But no more successfully. SIR L. That was your fault. LADY M. Not, however, my misfortune. WIN. Captain Trivett, we have arranged to go for a long ride to-morrow on our bicycles. That is now off. CAPT. (moodily) Very good. LADY M. What are bicycles ? LADY MILDRED rises and comes down with SIR LUDOVIC. SIR L. Oh, that's quite the correct thing nowadays. A bicycle is a thing with two wheels, and they sit on them and well then they go, you know. LADY M. But how does the lady dispose of er her draperies ? Sra L. They haven't quite settled that yet. The proper skirt is a point on which ladies are divided. LADY M. I don't think I like the idea. SIR L. (going up into window) No ; but I am told the motion is pleasant. WIN. (sits L. end of couch ; coldly) I suppose we may as well pretend to be f rienda So this is the actual scene of the murder. CAPT. Yes ; where my bounder of an ancestor poisoned the skittish young lady whom you represent to-night. SIR L. What a garbled version of a really touching tale. LADY M. (comes down) My dear Sir Ludovic, the man's beneath contempt. Did you hear his reference to me 1 12 SHADES OF NIGHT. SIB L. Yes ; no matter. One minute more and we become visible ; then let them look to themselves. LADY MILDRED crosses up to L.C. WIN. (moving from fire) We ought to go back to the dancers ; people will miss us. SIR L. How annoying ; I believe we shall be sold again. CAPT. Then may I offer you my arm. (offers arm) Wini- fred, won't you forgive me 1 WIN. Certainly not not yet. The clock without strikes a deep note. Ghostly music sounds. On the clock striking second stroke, two strong lime-lights are suddenly flashed on the two Phantoms, who form a tableau c., at back. LADY MILDRED is holding an empty glass, and SIR LUDOVIC stands as if transfixed with horror, watching her. WINIFRED shrieks and clings to CAPTAIN TRIVETT who supports her. Through- out the remainder of the play the lime-lights are kept on the Plantoms. CAPT. (short laugh) It's all right, darling ! Hold up 1 I see through it all. Two of our guests playing us a practical joke, that's all. WIN. (half reassured) Really 1 SIR L. Nothing of the sort ; we're perfectly genuim spectres, (vehemently) We've been so for ages. LADY MILDRED goes round L. of couch. CAPT. (laughing) You look jolly well on it, then. LADY M. How very rude. I am a phantom, and I insist on being treated as such, (sits) CAPT. (politely) Ah ! you're a very nice ghost. A triflt pale, perhaps, a little overdone, (comes down) SIR L. (angrily) You're a most irritating man ! Look here, sir ! I've been at this game for something over a hundred and twenty years ; and if you mean to stand there grinning in pagan unbelief I won't be answerable for the height to which your hair shall presently stand on end. WIN. Terence, dear, do ask them to stop this fooling. LADY M. (rises, very haughtily) Madam, (bmos) since you have elected to put in your oar, let me tell you that you lack tone. I might even suggest that you would be more profit- ably employed were you to discard this travesty of dear Sir Joshua's masterpiece and return (with withering wcosm) to your two-wheeled bicycle. CAPT. (after laughing violently) Come, I say, that's a little rude, you know. SIR L. (aside to the other*) Don't mind her, poor thing, he's had very bitter experiences. SHADES OF NIGHT. 13 WIN. Do, like good people, remove your wigs and paint, and let us see who you are. LADY M. Now I don't wish to be unpleasant, but really you are a most distracting couple. Can't you see that we are not flesh and blood ? Is there nothing unusual in the strong spectral light that intensifies our presence ? CAPT. By Jove ! I never thought of that. LADY M. If, madam, you have any further doubts regard- ing us, I will permit you to walk through me. CAPT. (to LADY MILDRED) May I ? LADY M. No, certainly not. You may walk through Sir Ludovic. CAPT. Then they are ghosts ! WIN. (appealingly) They couldn't be a magic-lantern entertainment, could they ? SIR L. There's no white sheet that I am aware of. WIN. (dinging to CAPTAIN TRIVBTT.) It's horrible ! horrible ! SIR L. My good woman, we're perfectly harmless ! The fact is, we're visible once a year, and then only from midnight till cock-crow. It happens that you have hit our night, that's all ! Sometimes we're here for two or three hours, sometimes less. It depends upon the cock. There used to be a wretched bird that invariably crew at 1 a.m. However, I'm thankful to say it died in 1815 (moves L.) CAPT. This is rather a weird experience, Winifred. WIN. Oh ! it's too too dreadful ! SIR L. (complacently) Yes. I fancy you won't treat spectres in quite such a cavalier manner in the future. Still, I'm bound to say you've stood the first shock remarkably well ; though, indeed to be candid there's practically nothing to be afraid of. For instance, no matter how often I might run my rapier through you, you wouldn't feel it. WIN. That's very comforting. SIR L. To prove it, I will now run you through, (drawi rapier and moves towards WINIFRED) WIN. Pray don't trouble. SIR L. No trouble, I assure you. WIN. Still, I'd rather you didn't. SIR L. (moving to fire) Oh, very good ; I only wanted to convince you. By the way, I don't suppose you know, sir, that I'm the source of all your ill-luck. " I can't help it, you know. She makes me. LADY M. You see, a curse must be kept up if one begins it. It is a point of etiquette. SIR L. For instance, do you remember at Ascot you were going to back Daredevil ? 14 SHAPES OF NIGHT. CAPT. (crosses to SIR LUDOVIC) Yes. SIB L. But you didn't. CAPT. I wish I had. LADY MILDRED and WINIFRED have bus. up R. SIB L. Quite so. Well, it was I who influenced you. I caused you to back Bunkum, and Bunkum lost. I was sitting on the bookmaker's hat at the time. Then when you smashed your collar-bone, hunting last winter, you didn't know that I was perched on the horse as well as you. I tugged his tail as you took the fence you came a cropper over, and that caused the trouble. Also it was I who caused you to fall in love with Lady Agatha Pierrepoint CAPT. Hush, she'll hear you ! (indicating WINIFRED) SIB, L. And when you proposed to Miss Angela Rivers, it was I CAPT. Look here. Stop this rot. Can't you see you're spoiling my little game ! (SiR LUDOVIC laughs) Why the deuce do you tell me these things ? SIB L. Chiefly because you can't knock me down. CAPT. Unfortunately I can't. However, you told us that were a cock to crow you'd have to go. Well, I'm off to fetch a bally cock up here, and I promise you I'll make him crow. If I have to imitate a whole poultry yard, I'll make that cock crow. SIR L. (alarmed) Don't do that. CAPT. Why not? SIR L. I've got a reason. You won't regret it. I'll tell you presently. CAPT. I suppose you're also responsible for all the sudden deaths in our family. SIR L. Of course I am. That's my business. What do you take me for ? CAPT. And you, Lady Mildred ? LADY M. I merely influence him. He's naturally bad all ancestors are. I merely influence him for worse. Some- times I'm sorry I cursed you all ; but it was the thing to do in my young days. Ah, me 1 (crosses to SIR LUDOVIC) There's a way out of it, you know. CAPTAIN crosses to WINIFRED, who is by chair, R. corner. SIR L. (aside to her) Hush ! Don't tell them that yet. Now, we've a little programm e to run through to-night. We do the poisoning scene, and if you don't mind waiting till that's over, we can have a little c hat after it. WIN. It's all so strange, Terenc e, they talk in quite a modern fashion. SHADES OF NIGHT. 15 SIB L. Ah, that's because we get modern recruits every now and then, who keep us up to date. We snub them a good deal. Still, even a phantom must have a beginning. LADY M. (at back) I believe, Captain Trivett, that your mother now rules the establishment here. That being so, might I ask you, as a favor, to request her to keep this room for the future aired and dusted ? CAPT. Yes, yes of course by all means. LADY M. Thanks. This, you know, is my only gown. SIB L. That's one of our hardships. We can only sport the togs we died in. CAPT. Then if you die in bed ? SIB L. You put an awkward question. A good deal would depend on the pattern. I think we had better go on with the business. Eh, Lady Mildred ? LADY M. (with great hauteur) I certainly think no. I have no desire to pursue the present vein of the conversa- tion. WIN. You've shucked her, Terence. CAPT. So it seems. SIB L. (crosses to CAPTAIN and WINIFRED, LADY MILDRED gets to table) Your presence here to-night is a matter of great satisfaction to me. You'll now learn the true version of our story. But you mustn't laugh. You see we've never done it to an audience before, and no doubt we shall be a little awkward at first. Are you ready, Lady Mildred? LADY M. Quite. SIB L. Very well, then. (CAPTAIN and WENIFBBD go to the chair, B. corner, WINIFBED sits. To the others) We begin with the declaration of my passion. The language may seem a little stilted, but you won't mind that? CAPT. Not at all. SIB L. Thanks. Now then ! Throughout the scene that follows, the action of the Phantoms takes place at the back of the stage, C. The tone of speech is hollow, the style melodramatic, but not extravagantly so. The ordinary mode of speech is adopted when the Phantoms stop the action at intervals to discuss it with CAPTAIN TRIVETT and WINIFRED. LADY MILDRED is seated at table, SIR LUDOVIC bending over her. A decanter and two glasses are on the table. '* As evening looms from out the sundown and the burnished sword of daybreak smites the raven wings of night, still do I protest, O Lady Mildred, that but one thought draws from my soul I " LADY M. "Lud! Sir Ludovic Your ideas must be 16 SHADES OF NIGHT. vastly limited 1 " I should like to point out, Miss Tester, that originally this gown was of a delicate shell pink brocade, lined with pale mauve velvet, and at the time my complexion was the talk of the county. (SiB LUDOVIC moves B. up to window, much annoyed) In the astral world, you know, we become quite colourless. WIN. Yes, yes, I understand. SIB L. (comes down) However, to continue. " There is but one passion that dominates my soul, Lady Mildred. It is the burning love I bear you ! " LADY M. " You bear my fortune 1 Enough, Sir Ludovic, 1 will have none of you ! " SIB L. (starting back) " Spurned ? " LADY M. " Aye, spurned ! For I too love my fortune ! " Sm L. " Am I then doomed to live alas ! alone ? " LADY M. "Lud ! Sir Ludovic ! 'tis I who mean to live a lass alone ! " (laugJis and turns to the others') You see my play upon the words "alas ! alone " ? SIB L. Isn't it good ? I remember, though, I felt it terribly at the time. CAPT. It was a little heartless. LADY M. (sliarply) Not at all. It was said quite artlessly. CAPT. Exactly as I say heartlessly. LADY M. I said a r t artlessly you supplied the h ; not being my own I dropped it. (crosses L. a little) Besides, I knew he cared for nothing but my money. SIR L. It's quite true ; she saw through me. CAPT. Ah ! you admit it ? SIB L. Oh, dear me, yes ! I felt no love at all ! It was all put on, like her complexion. WIN. (laughing) That's very good ! LADY M. (with great hauteur) My dear madam, it is not good, because it is not true. And since you have again elected to put in your oar, let me tell you that history repeats itself, and that Captain Trivett's devotion to you is probably measured by the weight of your money bags WIN. The horrid creature ! Say it isn't, Terry. CAPT. Of course it isn't. LADY M. You couldn't very well say it is, could you ? SIB L. Come, come now ; don't let us all get a- quarrelling. Let us get on with the business. I now pour out the wine (does so) and add the poison. Now comes a very touching bit. (moves to window ; LADY MILDKED crosses to table) I turn to look good-bye on my dear old mortgaged acres, and then you see what she does. He turns to window. LADY MILDRED drinks off both glasses. As sfo speaks he turns slowly from window. SHADES OF NIQHT. 17 LADY M. " And so, Sir Ludovic, farewell ! (starts) Heavens ! what a spasm ! " SIR L. (in agonised accents) ' ' Lady Mildred ! Lad> Mildred ! Where is the wine, say oh, say you have spilfc it!" LADY M. " Spilt it ? No, I've swallowed it." SIK L. "Ye gods ! ye gods ! " (covers face urith hands) LADY M. "I pray you forgive me ! Some is still left yon in the bottle, and alack, I was so thirsty, (shivers spasmodi- cally as if in pain) What ! another spasm ? " SIR L. "Thrice wretched woman! I sought to die in agony before your very eyes, and so poured out a deadly draught into the larger glass of wine. I meant it for myself. Oh, retribution ! Oh, retribution ! " CAPT. I aay, one of the house guests is a doctor. Can't we fetch him ? The Phantoms stop the action and laugh heartily. SIR L. Why, my good people, we don't feel all this. WIN. What ? Not at all '( LADY M. It harrows our memories slightly, nothing more. WIN. Then why not stop doing it ? (rises) We we can get you some supper. SIR L. (again laughing) That's very quaint. You're a very droll young lady. Unfortunately, however, and to put the matter as delicately as possible, we have no insides. LADY M. (much shocked) Sir Ludovic ! SIR L. My dear Lady Mildred, I only speak the truth. When proffered hospitality must be declined 'tis only common courtesy to give a reason. LADY M. Yes, but you express yourself so crudely. For a moment consider my embarrassment on hearing you inform two perfect strangers that I have no interior mechanism. I wish I wish I had a chaperon, (moves L) SIR L. I see what you mean. I'm sorry. LADY M. Well, let's get on. There's nothing but your closing speech, (goes up to setke*\ but before I die I must curse you. " Till a maid of my blood do plight her troth To a man who is born of thine, Till these walls have heard their spoken love A curse on thy house and line." She falls on settee tragically, her eyes closed at if dead. SIB LUDOVIC bends over her. SIR L. "Gone ! gone ! gone 1 So from me her longed-for fortune fliea." 18 SHADES OF NIGHT. LADY M. (looking up} I think that line indicates his character so clearly. SIR L. (querulously) There ! you've put me off. For the life of me I can't think what comes next. LADY M. You can't suppose that I'll stop here with lingering spasms, merely to let you fire off new fifth-rate platitudes. SIR L. Bless my soul, Lady Mildred, how tetchy you are to-night. I've only two lines more. Ah I've got 'em ! (LADY MILDRED gets back on settee again) " 'Twas mine to hope that feigned love for thee would lift the mortgage from my acres broad." During this CAPTAIN TRIVETT and WINIFRED have ceased to watch, and are embracing each other. SIR L. (turning to them angrily) Will you please attend to what's going on ? LADY MILDRED again looks up, this time indignantly. WIN. I'm sure I beg your pardon. CAPT. I'm sorry. But we were really listening. SIR L. Then tell me the last line I said. CAPT. (stammering) Was is not about the raven wings of dawn, or something ? SIR L. (sulkily) Wrong. Very well, then. I won't finish. That's all. (sits down in window) WIN. (rises, goes up) Oh, please do. You do it so prettily. SIK L. Prettily forsooth ! A death scene prettily ! If I'd only known, I would never have begun. CAPT. Really, Sir Ludovic, I am most anxious to hear the end. SIR L. I am very sorry. I don't see my way to oblige you, however, (rises, comes down, hums moodily. Then, as if changing the subject) The weather's cold for the time of the year. WIN. (rises) Perhaps we'd better go, Terry. CAPT. (they move up) Yes, I think we ought to. (they go right up to door) SIR L. Oh, well, I'll finish, since you are so anxious about it. (the phantoms pose again) '"Twas mine to hope that feigned love for thee would lift the mortgage from my acres broad. 'Twas not to be. Farewell ! farewell ! " (ordinary manner) That's the whole business. (LADY MILDRED rises) And now, to show my good intentions to all, I will tell you how to elude the curse. There, on the stone, are Lady Mildred's words. (repeats legend) Now, don't you see, you are a maid of her blood, and iHADES OP NIGHT. 19 you are a man of mine. Ergo ! If you plight your troth to each other, here on the scene of our tragedy, the curse will be bust I beg your pardon will be removed. CAPT. By Jove ! WIN. Yes, but we've quarrelled. SIR L. Pooh ! That's nothing. You can do it now. LADY M. (rising) We'll go behind this screen in case you feel embarrassed. Of course we can see through it, but you needn't think of that. CAPT. Will you Winifred darling? Ah, do! LADY M. I think you ought to. You can reform him after marriage. All the Yesters can do that. CAPT. Ah ! say you will, Winifred. WIN. Well, 1 suppose, if it's to save you from sudden death and losing bets and collar-bones and things CAPT. Yes ! yes ! WIN. I may as well. SIR L. Good ! We'll retire. Speak out. Remember, the walls must hear. Allow me, my lady, (hands LADY MILDRED politely behind screen with great ceremony, and to soft minuet music) CAPT. Now, then. I, Terence Trivett, do hereby plight my troth to you, Winifred Yester. WIN. As I to you ! (they embrace) And I do love you, Terry, very, very dearly. I'm I'm sorry I was so cross. CAPT. All my fault, darling. But there, I'm the hap- piest man in England. SIR L. (reappearing) Good, very good ! Very simple very neat quite legal admirably done altogether. The curse is off ! LADY M. The curse is off 1 CAPT. The curse is off ! WIN. The curse is off ! SIR L. D'you know, you did that quite sweetly. It was most affecting, (rapid) Quite infectious. Most catching. I feel a similar emotion coming over me. Mildred dare I, after these hundred and twenty odd years, say dearest Mildred? LADY M. Not before these people. SIR L. (to others) Will you please retire behind the screen for a moment ? CAPT. Certainly, (they retire) SIR L. Thank you. (To LADY MILDRED) Mildred, my own, forgive me ! Let our weary souls rest in the love that is born to-night. LADY M. (embracing him) If peace to thy breast can so be brought, be thine the love in this heart fraught. 20 SHADES OF NIGHT. SIR L. How exquisite ! Mildred, my own ! (kisses "her) LADY M. Ludovic ! At last ! at last ! SIR L. I cannot feel your kiss, nor can you mine, but om hearts are attuned, poor shades of night though we be ! LADY M. How I wish we were solid ! SIR L. Ah ! yes ! (moves R. To the others) All right ! You can come out. WIN. Is there anything we can do for you ? Coming out L. of screen WINIFRED comes first, then CAPTAIN comes down R. of her. LADY M. One moment, Sir Ludovic. (whispers to SIR LTTDOVIC) I think a little weak wine SIR L. Just what I was goins; to propose. I'll ask. (to the others) Under the rules of the Astral Alliance we are per- mitted to partake sparingly of any very light wine, if we can get it. That the liquor should be light is an obviously proper condition, since as you will admit a wine that has no body is specially adapted to our limited capacities. CAPT. (crosses to c. behind ghost-lady) We've some light supper champagne. SIR L. Capital ! the very thing. LADY M. Not too dry, I hope ? CAPT. I think you will find it pleasant. I'll ring for some, or stay I'd better fetch it myself, (exiti.) LADY M. We shall come to your wedding, (crosses i. arm- in-arm with SIR LUDOVIC.) WIN. Oh ! please don't trouble. LADY M. No trouble at all. We'll both be there, for luck. You won't see us, but we'll follow you all day, and rap on tables and things. And when you're married, dear, keep him well in hand. A pleading look in the eye affects his family wonderfully. Can you get tears easily ? WIN. I I never tried. LADY M. Well, you ought to. Train them to come to the eye and tremble there, but don't cry. There is nothing so effective as the unshed trembling tear. Enter CAPTAIN TRIVETT, L., with wine on tray, and two glasses. SIR L. She (indicating LADY MILDRED) used to crumple me with it frequently. Ah, well ! Ah ! here's our refresh- ment ! Th-e Phantoms now stand on their respective trap -door t. LADY M. You assure me this has no body f SHADES OF NIGHT. 2i CAFT. I'll vouch for that. CAPTAIN TKIVETT hands each an empty glass, and is dbovt to fill them. SIR, L. Just one moment. Before we drink your health, I wish to point out the moral of our appearance here to- night ; for all the little passages of life should bear a moral. And so when we remember that we should not dally with the good things of life, but should employ them for our benefit, as we are about to employ this wine A cock crows loudly without ; the trap-doors descend with the Phantoms, who, by their gesticulations, eoepress their mortification at being summoned so suddenly. SIB, L. (as he descends) How sickening ! LADY M. (as she descends) If you hadn't had so much to say SIR L. (as his head disappears below the floor) Oh, you wretched bird ! .it the Phantoms go down, CAPTAIN TEIVETT offers wine to [them, which they try ineffectually to get. Ghostly VlfiY QUICK 38400 PLAYS BY KEBLE HOWARD PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. THE CHEERFUL KNAVE. A Comedy in Three Acts. 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