-;>-*^i-'y-
 
 JUDAH 
 
 AN ORIGINAL PLAY IN THREE ACTS 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY ARTHUR JONES 
 
 AUTHOR OF "the TEMPTER," " THE MASQUERADERS," " THE DANCING 
 
 GIRL," "the MIDDLEMAN," "THE CRUSADERS," "tHE CASE 
 
 OF REBELLIOIS SUSAN," ETC. 
 
 Played first on the 2ist May, iSgo, at the Shaftesbury 
 
 Theatre, London, under the management of 
 
 Mr. E. S. WiLLARD and Mr. John Lart 
 
 MACMILLAN AND CO. 
 
 AND LONDON 
 1894
 
 Copyright, i8g4. 
 
 BY 
 
 Macmillan & Co. 
 
 PRINTED BY ROBERT DRUMMOND, NEW YORK,
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 SANTA BARBARA COLLEGE LIBRARY 
 
 CAST OF CHARACTERS AT FIRST 
 PERFORMANCE 
 
 The Earl of Asgarby . Mr. C. Fulton. 
 Professor Jopp, F.R.S., 
 
 F.L.S., F.G.S., etc. . . Mr. Sant Matthews, 
 
 Mr. Prall Mr. H. Cane. 
 
 JuxON Prall Mr. F. Kerr. 
 
 Mr. D ETHIC Mr. Royce Carle ion. 
 
 Mr. Papworthy, Mayor 
 
 of Beachampton . . . Mr. F. W. Thomas. 
 
 Roper Mr. H. Harting. 
 
 MORSON, \ r.. ^ \ . 
 
 >• Irustees . . \ 
 Granger, ) ( • 
 
 JuDAH Llewellyn, Min- 
 ister of the Welsh Pres- 
 byterian Church, Beach- 
 ampton Mr. Willard. 
 
 Lady Eve Miss Bessie Hatton. 
 
 Sophie Jopp Miss Gertrude Warden. 
 
 Mrs. Prall Miss A. Bower ing. 
 
 Vashti D ethic . . . . Miss Oha Brandon.
 
 ACT I. " SHE IS ALONE THE ARABIAN 
 BIRD." 
 
 Scene. Tapestry-roOiM at Asgarby Castle. 
 Eighteen days pass. 
 
 ACT II. "STAND SENTINEL." 
 
 Scene. The Terrace and Old Norman Keep, 
 Asgarby Castle. 
 
 One year passes. 
 
 ACT III. "NOT POPPY, NOR 
 MANDRAGORA." 
 
 Scene. Tapestry-room at Asgarby Castle. 
 
 The whole of the actio/i takes place at Asgarby Castle, 
 near the city of Beachampton, in the present day.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 The claim of Mr. Henry Arthur Jones's more 
 ambitious plays to rank as literature may have 
 been in some cases grudgingly allowed, but has not 
 been seriously contested. If any doubt existed as 
 to their right to be so considered, the publication 
 consecutively of Sauifs and Sinners, The Crusad- 
 ers, and Jiidah must have set it at rest. As pict- 
 ures of the English life of to-day, these works have 
 a fidelity at which the dramatists of previous cen- 
 turies did not always aim, or, at least, a prosperity 
 to which they did not always attain. Some measure 
 of exaggeration or accentuation seems all but indis- 
 pensable to the dramatic portrayal of comic char- 
 acter. It is as evident in Tony Lumpkin or Bob 
 Acres as it is in Sir Toby Belch or ancient Pistol. 
 Making allowance for this apparent necessity, which 
 springs from conditions in the drama analogous to 
 those attending distemper painting, the characters 
 
 in the three plays named are as faithful as those 
 
 vii
 
 Vm PREFACE 
 
 of Balzac, and more easily within our ken ; and 
 the language, whether passionate or humorous, is 
 always appropriate and well chosen. We are not 
 yet far enough away from ourselves to take an ab- 
 solutely trustworthy and dispassionate view of 
 what are the distinguishing attributes of our age. 
 The fidelity of Mr. Jones's pictures wins, however, 
 hearty and delighted recognition, and the banter 
 of modern aspiration and effort which he supplies 
 is at least happy and convincing to ourselves. 
 
 It is convenient, in dealing with Judah, to con- 
 cern oneself only for purposes of comparison or 
 illustration with the two other printed plays. I 
 wish I could include with these The Danchig Girl, 
 The Bauble Shop, and The Middleman, but my re- 
 membrance of those plays, though vivid, is neither 
 full nor, I fear, accurate. Practically, Judah holds 
 a position between the two works I have associated 
 with it. While inveighing with fierceness against 
 the Pharisaical hypocrisy of to-day, and painting 
 the deacon of the conventicle as Colley Gibber, 
 borrowing from Moliere, painted the Non-juror of 
 yesterday, Mr. Jones in Saints and Sinners still 
 leans to some extent upon those melodramatic de- 
 vices which made tlie Silver King and Hoodman 
 Blind the best and most prosperous works in their
 
 PREFACE IX 
 
 class of the last decade. Captain Eustace Fan- 
 shawe, though he is something more, is practically 
 the wicked baronet ; Letty Fletcher is, of course, 
 the typical persecuted heroine ; and George Kings- 
 mill represents her immemorial protector. The es- 
 capade — if such it can be called, seeing that it is 
 involuntary — of Letty links the play closely with 
 melodrama, as it does, I must confess, a little to 
 the detriment of my theory, with the Vicar of 
 Wakefield. Letty has much in common with 
 Olivia, and Jacob Fletcher might pass for a dis- 
 senting Dr. Primrose. In the development of his 
 story, however, and in the pictures of the deacons, 
 Mr. Jones quitted the old methods for the new, 
 and displayed the satirical intention which has un- 
 derlain and coloured all his subsequent efforts. 
 
 In The Crusaders the satirical purpose fights 
 with, if it does not overmaster, the sentimental in- 
 terest. What dwells in the mind longest is not the 
 love, intense and almost abject, of Philos Ingar- 
 field for the fair and bewitching widow ; the devo- 
 tion, purer and not less absorbing, of Una Dell 
 for the associate in her labours ; nor the light- 
 hearted and compromising affection of Dick Rusper 
 for the heroine. We are wholly occupied with the 
 presentation of aristocratic affectations ; the pict-
 
 X PREFACE 
 
 ures of society playing at being charitable and 
 virtuous, and seeking, as it were, without removing 
 its white kid gloves, to wash the feet of the poor. 
 It is not my cue to speak concerning The Crusa- 
 ders, or I would willingly expatiate upon the mar- 
 vellous truth of what is vital in the plot, and the 
 overpowering fidelity of characters such as Mrs. 
 Champion-Blake and Mr. Palsam — the last-named 
 especially, at once a creation and an actuality, if 
 such a conjunction can be conceived. 
 
 Between the two there comes Judah, a satire in 
 the main — the satire, primarily, of aristocratic 
 patronage of fads ; and, secondarily, of new forms 
 of social priggishness. Underlying this is a love 
 interest, not in the least melodramatic, but ex- 
 quisitely human, informing the whole with poetry 
 and passion. In Mr. Jones's later works there are 
 no lay figures. Each character bears the impress 
 of a distinct and recognisable individuality. The 
 nearest approach to a conventional type is perhaps 
 Lord Asgarby, who is necessarily, perhaps — since 
 love for a suffering daughter is scarcely a distin- 
 guishing attribute — somewhat colourless. I am 
 not sure that this is not indeed a proof of accurate 
 observation, since in their aspect towards the gen- 
 eral public great English noblemen present no
 
 PREFACE XI 
 
 very salient characteristics. Concerning the re- 
 maining characters no doubt is possible. Each is 
 a breathing, genuine human being. In the epony- 
 mous hero, with his concentrated and almost mor- 
 bid piety, and his passionate, if fleshly and un- 
 hallowed, love for a woman far from fulfilling his 
 moral and intellectual aspirations, the play is linked 
 with The Crusaders^ and also with The Dancing 
 Girl. Judah is, however, carefully differentiated 
 from Philos Ingarfield. Both are visionaries, 
 dreamers, sanguine at the outset of their capacity 
 to alleviate human suffering or elevate human na- 
 ture. Judah is, however, a mystic, which Philos 
 is not. Like Joan of Arc, Judah hears voices, and 
 like her he has full faith in his mission. In Washti 
 Dethic he sees a miracle-worker— the response, as 
 it were, to his own aspiration after absorption in 
 the Divine. The love and the ambition of Philos 
 Ingarfield are on a lower plane. To him Cynthia 
 Greenslade is a possible earthly spouse. She will 
 help him in his task of mitigating human suffering. 
 She is rich, and she has already shown her disposi- 
 tion so to do. It is as a woman, however, and not 
 as a goddess that he adores her, and his courtship 
 of her is a practical abandonment of duty, which 
 at the beginning that of Judah is not. Philos is'
 
 XU PREFACE 
 
 in fact, a socialist ; Judah, a species of cenobite. 
 In both men love means self-sacrifice ; there are 
 few cases, possibly, in which it does not. I'he 
 self-sacrifice of Judah is, however, self-immolation, 
 which that of Philos is far from being. Both tell 
 lies in order to save the woman they love ; Philos 
 savagely, since there is no other way in which her 
 reputation and honour may be saved. Despising 
 himself for so doing, he lends himself to an act of 
 social hypocrisy and mendacity which must end 
 in his own defeat and humiliation, since — although 
 in the end the heroine comes weeping to his feet 
 and bids him do with her what he will — the pros- 
 pect in front of him, in case he accepts her and 
 lifts her up, as he will, into his embrace, is joyless, 
 hopeless. With Judah it is otherwise. He has 
 shared deliberately and purposely the woman's 
 fraud, and has rejoiced in her crime as bringing 
 her nearer to him. If the contest with his con- 
 science has been fierce, no less fierce has been his 
 joy in his self-abasement. True, he has deter- 
 mined to reconquer his own self-respect, and raise 
 with him to the spheres the poor, suffering, tor- 
 mented creature whom he has mistaken for an 
 angel. But the passage upward must be joint. If 
 she will not ascend, neither will he. He will, on
 
 PREFACE xiii 
 
 the contrary, go with her where she goes ; her 
 people shall be his people, and her God his God. 
 For him, then, a fair chance of happiness is held 
 out. In this respect Jtidah, unlike The Crusa- 
 ders^ ends happily. 
 
 Vashti Dethic, meantime, is perhaps the most 
 strangely composite character Mr. Jones has 
 created. Her fall from grace and honesty is not, 
 like that of Letty Fletcher, due to masculine base- 
 ness and the captured fancy of a girl. An enthu- 
 siast in some respects like Una Dell, she is also, 
 when viewed from another point, a somewhat com- 
 monplace adventuress. She is in the house of Lord 
 Asgarby for the purpose of preying upon him, after 
 the fashion of her tribe. Some pains are taken at 
 the outset to show the existence of latent possi- 
 bilities of good. She even tries to believe in her 
 own mission, consciously false and hypocritical as 
 are her methods of prosecuting it. She acts prac- 
 tically under the compulsion of her father, and is 
 weary of the game she plays, and anxious to ex- 
 change for healthier air the atmosphere of lies in 
 which she dwells. In this, however there is no- 
 thing distinguishing. Above all adventuresses 
 whose story is susceptible of dramatic treatment 
 there is some power hard to oppose — father, hus-
 
 XIV PREFACE 
 
 band, brother, lover ; if none of these, there is the 
 hardest taskmaster of all, call it what you will — fate, 
 circumstances, the inevitable logic of events. . As 
 for the penitence, sincere or otherwise ; the de- 
 sire to quit the life of shame, shifts, and dishonour 
 — it is always in the mouth of the impostor. The 
 unfailing vindication and recrimination of the 
 woman of this class finds its most characteristic 
 utterance in L' Avetiiurier of M. Emile Augier. 
 After her detection and humiliation Clorinde turns 
 upon her brother Annibal with the words — 
 
 " C'est toi, toi qui m'as degrad6e ; 
 C'est toi des dons du ciel qui m'as depossedee ; 
 Qui m'as s6ch6 le coeur, qui m'as mise si bas, 
 Que je veux remonter et que je ne peux pas ! 
 L'injure et ie m6pris oii je me vois sujette, 
 O conseiller du mal, sur toi je les rejette ! 
 Je te hais, te maudis, et je voudrais pouvoir 
 Te remplir dc ma honte et de mon desespoir ! " 
 
 Vashti is incapable of a tirade such as this, having 
 neither the strength of will, the self-reliance, nor 
 the knowledge of the world of her prototype. She 
 is none the less in the same boat. She can plead 
 no excuse of love, nothing higher than ordinary 
 human needs and paternal influence in mitigation 
 of punishment or in excuse of misdeed. Hear
 
 PREFACE XV 
 
 what she finds to say when her falsehood has been 
 detected by the man of all others whose good 
 opinion and love she is anxious to conquer : 
 
 " You don't know what my childhood and girl- 
 hood were like; how often we were pressed for 
 money. Sometimes we had scarcely bread enough 
 to eat. We went to Spain. I found I was able to 
 cure many of the foolish country people if they 
 only believed in me, and my father persuaded me 
 [not compelled me even] if I could only show 
 them that I could live without food it would be a 
 sign of my possessing supernatural power. I be- 
 gan, and it was as he said. I found everybody 
 believed in me. When I had once begun, I was 
 obliged to go on. We came back to England, and 
 then I met you ; and at first I was pleased to 
 see what power I had over you. But when I saw 
 that you believed in me and loved me, I gradually 
 felt how wicked I'd been. I tried again and again 
 to give it up ; I tried to tell you. I wanted you 
 to know the truth about me, and yet I could not 
 bear you to think that I was not worthy of your 
 love. You know it now. Oh ! tell me you forgive 
 me.'' 
 
 Lame as is this excuse, it is all she has to offer ; 
 nor can any casuistry on the part of author, spec-
 
 XVI PREFACE 
 
 tator, or reader, find anything more valid. Yet we 
 do not class Vashti Dethic with commonplace ad- 
 venturesses. Something may perhaps be due to 
 the talent of the first exponent, whose perform- 
 ance of the character brought out whatever in it 
 was elevating or redeeming. To attribute over- 
 much to this cause would, however, be unjust to 
 the author, who clearly intended to inspire this feel- 
 ing, and to beget in behalf of his heroine a sympathy 
 that is something more than mere forgiveness. 
 While an unmistakable sinner, Vashti seems indeed 
 of the stuff of which saints are made. She would 
 fain accept her own mission as true ; and her sins, 
 though real, are not specially serious. At the 
 worst she is only carrying out, while in Asgarby 
 Castle, a precept ascribed to the Jesuits, that it is 
 lawful to do evil in order that good may ensue. 
 Byron in his English Bards and Scotch Reviewers 
 speaks of Scott's Marmion as 
 
 " Now forging deeds, now foremost in the fight ; 
 Not quite a felon, yet but half a knight." 
 
 Some similar words — not quite a felon, yet but 
 half a saint — might describe the feeling generally 
 entertained towards Vashti. With her is contrasted 
 Lady Eve, whose frail, clinging, emotional nature
 
 PREFACE xvii 
 
 and neurotic temperament, besides serving as foils 
 to Vashti, furnish the best excuse for the fasting 
 girl's crowning deception. Against these three 
 characters, all of them leaning to mysticism, Mr. 
 Jones puts the scientific investigator, with faith in 
 nothing but the seen, admirably illustrated in Pro- 
 fessor Jopp. One cannot but admire the justice 
 with which the balance is held. While Dethic — 
 charlatan, conjurer, vulgarian, and, not to put too 
 fine a point upon it, thief — gives birth to Vashti — 
 a girl who, though partner in a fraud, is capable, 
 under the sustaining and inspiring influences of 
 love, of heroic self-immolation approaching to 
 martyrdom ; Professor Jopp — the type of all that 
 is wisest, most enlightened, and most penetrating 
 in modern science — begets a daughter who may be 
 regarded as the most exasperating and hateful 
 product of modern civilisation. That the more 
 responsible and erudite of his dramatis personce 
 should be the special subjects of Mr. Jones's satire 
 is natural, inevitable even. The passion, sublime 
 at once and pitiful, of Judah Llewellyn for the 
 sinful woman whom he shelters, and whose iniquity 
 he shares, lends itself no more readily to irony or 
 humour than does the nervous anxiety of Lord 
 Asgarby for his daughter's health. Indulgence is
 
 xviu PREFACE 
 
 the most that is demanded, but sympathy follows 
 necessarily in its wake. 
 
 With purely intellectual characters it is other- 
 wise. Upon these Mr. Jones pours out the vials 
 of his wit. Jopp himself is treated with respect, 
 and is shown as honourable, straightforward, and, 
 even in matters in which his scientific conscience 
 and instincts are concerned, not incapable of leni- 
 ency and generosity. In the wooing of Sophie 
 Jopp by Juxon Prall, Mr. Jones overflows with 
 mirth not unmixed with severity. It is not of 
 course science or erudition that he lashes, but af- 
 fectation and priggishness. 
 
 Here, then, in the satire comes in the species of 
 over-accentuation ; it is impossible to deny the 
 dramatist. The serious characters, one and all, 
 are faithful transcripts from real life. Out of the 
 very heart of womanhood Mr. Jones has wrung his 
 Vashti Dethic. Lord Asgarby and Lady Eve are 
 worthy, truthful, and acceptable beings. Judah 
 Llewellyn, mixed Welshman and Jew, is a type of 
 noble purpose and misguided enthusiasm which 
 may be, and often is, encountered, and which com- 
 mends itself especially to our dramatist. Juxon 
 Prall and Sophie Jopp are in some respects carica- 
 tures. They are, however, justifiable as such, and
 
 PREFACE XIX 
 
 show the conceivable results to which modern 
 methods and processes tend. A man precisely- 
 such as Juxon none of us has seen. Men such as 
 he are, however, a possible outcome of forces 
 known to be at work. "We are none of us infalli- 
 ble, not even the youngest of us," said the Oxford 
 don. The type of man known by painful experi- 
 ence to the utterer of that brilliant witticism is 
 skilfully and legitimately caricatured by Mr. Jones. 
 Just as respect for authority, paternal or other, is 
 unknown to our young men, so regard for modesty 
 is, I am told, fading among our maidens. That a 
 point has been reached at which a woman shall, 
 like Sophie, calmly discuss with the man who pro- 
 poses to her the physical aspects of marriage, I am 
 not prepared to say. The satire, however, strikes 
 home. It shows what is to be expected, and so 
 fulfils its mission. Satire exactly similar in method, 
 and no whit less accentuated, established the mag- 
 nificent reputation of Le Mo?ide ou Von s'ennuie, 
 and such has again and again opened to the French 
 candidate the gates of the Institute. 
 
 I have dealt with the more important characters 
 in Judah. Among the minor personages Mr. Prall 
 is interesting as a type of a species the fitness of 
 which for dramatic purposes Mr. Jones has been
 
 XX PREFACE 
 
 one of the first to recognise. He is the disciple, 
 the votary, the interpreter and worshipper of the 
 latest prophet or faddist, the evangelist of the 
 latest craze. Another member of the same frater- 
 nity, more comic, but scarcely more zealous, is Mr. 
 Figg in The Crusaders, the founder of the Jawle 
 Guild. Not wholly disinterested are these men, 
 each having in his own way a purpose to serve, but 
 they are zealous and thoroughgoing. Mr. Jones is 
 a profound believer in earnestness and enthusiasm. 
 Mr. Palsam, odious as he is, and fond of feeding 
 upon moral garbage, surprises and almost over- 
 awes us by his inveteracy of purpose ; and poor 
 Mr. Prabble, the junior deacon at Bethel, almost 
 convinces us that the stores are opposed to Chris- 
 tian morality and dogma. As a type of local fussi- 
 ness and importance Mr. Papworthy, Mayor of 
 Beachampton, demands a word of praise. 
 
 I cannot pretend to have analysed any of the 
 characters in Judah, or to have lighted upon any 
 new theory concerning them. I have but given a 
 faint idea of the impression they convey to one 
 mind. Concerning the characters of Hamlet, vol- 
 umes enough to fill the room in which I write have 
 been given to the world without placing it to our- 
 selves in a light much clearer than that in which it
 
 PREFACE XXI 
 
 was seen by our ancestors. I am indeed of those 
 who doubt, when a dramatic character is given to 
 the world, whether the very creator knows all the 
 issues to which it is touched. I dwell in the case 
 of Jiidah upon character rather than either plot or 
 dialogue, because it is this which makes a play. 
 Given certain clearly defined characters, and place 
 them in certain circumstances, and the result is, or 
 should be, independent, so to speak, of the volition 
 of the dramatist. From the narrator of a story of 
 modern life, such as all Mr. Jones's recent works, 
 with the exception of The Tempter^ have been, 
 appropriateness of dialogue and wit — wit recon- 
 cilable with appropriateness, that is — are expected. 
 Poetry, except in the nature of the incidents or 
 the relations and emotions of the characters, is out 
 of the question. There is no call for me to deal 
 with the question, " What is or is not permissible 
 in the modern drama ? " I am only careful to 
 claim for Judah that it is literature, and as such 
 deserves to be accessible in a printed form such as 
 is now assigned it. All drama, not including dra- 
 matic poems such as Festus, are written for the stage, 
 and are best seen there. From the poorest per- 
 formance of a Shakespearian masterpiece the most 
 ardent and enlightened scholar learns much that he
 
 XXll PREFACE 
 
 will never reach by perusal. We are not, there- 
 fore, to deprive ourselves of the privilege of read- 
 ing and poring over the work at our pleasure, ex- 
 tracting what Rabelais calls its moelle substanti- 
 Jigue, and deriving a delight perpetually fresh and 
 new from our researches. A work such as Jiidah 
 demands no special research in order to grasp its 
 merits and beauties. There are thousands in the 
 world who may never have a chance of seeing it 
 acted, and may yet profit by its perusal. 
 
 As studies of the life around us, its affectations, 
 pretences, frivolities, and also of the deeper feel- 
 ings that underlie and sweeten it, Mr. Jones's 
 dramas appeal to me more directly than those of 
 most, if not all, of his compeers. The moon to 
 the sea of drama, causing and controlling all its 
 tides, is passion. With the light of this Judah is 
 quickened and thrilled. I know few things that 
 speak more directly to my feelings than the subju- 
 gation of the nature of the young dreamer and 
 enthusiast by the sight and touch of Vashti. I am 
 dealing now with the printed volume and not with 
 the performance, well remembered though it be, of 
 the play. If affords, however, curious proof how 
 true a note was struck, that the audience of the 
 first night was electrified after a fashion that, in an
 
 PREFACE xxiu 
 
 exceptionlly long and close attendance upon theat- 
 rical representations, I have rarely seen equalled, 
 and never seen surpassed. As at the first produc- 
 tion of Caste by Robertson, — a piece wholly dif- 
 ferent in character, and cognate only in the influ- 
 ence it exercised, — the spectator felt the necessity 
 for some outlet for his admiration and sympathy, 
 and spoke to the stranger near him with no fear of 
 rebuff. 
 
 It is a compliment and a gratification to be asso- 
 ciated in any fashion with a writer so able, con- 
 scientious, and inspired as Mr. Jones. Inspiration 
 is in these days a not too commonly accorded gift. 
 I know not, however, how to refuse it to the man 
 who has shown " the very age and body of the 
 time his form and pressure." If I have attempted 
 no exegesis of the work which follows, and have 
 shed on it no light of illumination, I have at least 
 enjoyed the privilege of recording my admiration 
 and regard for the book and its author. 
 
 JOSEPH KNIGHT.
 
 ACT I 
 
 Scene. The Tapestry-room at Asgarby Castle. A 
 ha7idso7ne apartjnent hu/ig with Raphael s cartoojis 
 in tapestry. The back is covered with a copy iti 
 tapestry of the cartoon of the healing of the para- 
 lytic at the gate of the Temple. Door up stage right. 
 Fire-place down stage right. Windows opening 
 upon garden up stage left. 
 Discover Lord Asgarby — a very distinguished-look- 
 ing ?nan abotit sixty. He is writing at table. 
 Enter Roper, announcing. 
 Roper. Mr. Papworthy ! 
 
 Enter Papworthy. 
 
 [^Exit Roper. 
 (Lord A. rises.) 
 
 Pap. Excuse my taking the liberty, Lord Asgar- 
 by, but you being the chief pillar of Beachampton, 
 I thought it my duty to ask your opinion upon the 
 question of our Mr. Llewellyn and this young per- 
 son. 
 
 Enter Professor Joi^p at window. A tnan about 
 sixty, keen, alert, intellectual, bald, very high fore- 
 head, bright deep-set eyes, genial Voltaire type of 
 face. 
 Jopp. Am I in the way ? 
 Lord A. Not at all, Jopp. {^Introduces^ Mr.
 
 2 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Papworthy. He wants to ask my advice about this 
 young lady who is causing all this sensation in the 
 city. 
 
 Jopp. This Miss Dethic ? 
 
 Pap. Yes, sir. I have been connected with the 
 Durfield Road Chapel since I was a boy, and it 
 seems to me that our young minister, Mr. Llewellyn, 
 is going too far when he declares in public his be- 
 lief in the miracles that this Miss Dethic is said to 
 work. 
 
 Jopp. You don't believe in miracles, Mr. Pap- 
 worthy ? 
 
 Pap. Not in England in the nineteenth century. 
 Do you, sir ? 
 
 Jopp. No. I never believe in miracles that do 
 not happen either in a remote century or a remote 
 country. 
 
 Pap. Quite so, sir; and though of course I don't 
 say they are impossible in Beachampton to-day, yet 
 I think as mayor, and as head of one of the oldest 
 establishments in the city, it is my duty to — to — ah 
 — to — 
 
 Jopp. To discourage them as much as possible, 
 eh? 
 
 Pap. Yes. And Lord Asgarby subscribing very 
 largely to our cause, as he does to everything in 
 Beachampton, I called to ask him whether in his 
 opinion Mr. Llewellyn ought not to be removed. 
 
 Jopp. What for ? He is tremendously in earnest 
 — the finest natural orator I ever listened to.
 
 ACT I JUDAH 3 
 
 Pap. You have heard him, sir ? 
 
 Lord A. We all went last night. My daughter 
 was deeply impressed, and wished to meet him. 
 
 Pap. He's in Asgarby now, with Miss Dethic. 
 
 Lord A. In the village ? Could you bring him 
 here ? 
 
 Pap. Certainly, my lord. [Lord A. rings bell.] 
 I don't deny Mr. Llewellyn's extraordinary gifts, 
 but it's a pity he's so infatuated with this girl. 
 There are other members of the congregation — my 
 own daughter, for instance — she did knit him a 
 pair of slippers. However, there's no denying the 
 wonderful power he has over the people. 
 
 Jopp. He seems to have received a good educa- 
 tion. 
 
 Pap. He was at our training-college for some 
 years. All our ministers are trained there. But it 
 isn't education with Mr. Llewellyn — it's born in 
 him ! 
 
 Jopp. Welsh, isn't he ? 
 
 Pap. a Welsh father and Jewish mother. 
 
 Jopp. Celt and Jew! Two good races I Just 
 the man to give England a new religion, or make 
 her believe in her old one. 
 
 Roper enters. 
 
 Pap. I will try and find him, my lord. 
 
 Lord A. Thank you. By the way, you needn't 
 trouble the rate-payers about the Free Library for 
 the city. I will bear the entire cost myself.
 
 4 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Pap. My lord, you are too generous ! 
 Lord A. Generous ! What is the use of money 
 to me ? 
 
 Lady Eve enters — a girl of Jifteeti, ivith beautiful, 
 hectic cofjiplexion, feverish, fidgety, with sud- 
 den alternate fits of languor and restless energy. 
 Papworthy bows very respectfully to her, 
 and she comes to Lord A. He kisses her 
 forehead. 
 
 Pap. [Aside.] Fifty thousand a year, and one 
 dying child ! [£xit. Roper sho7as him off. 
 
 Lord A. ivatches Lady Eve constantly, with the 
 greatest tenderness and solicitude. 
 
 Jopp. Well, Lady Eve, how are you to-day ? 
 
 Ladv E. I am quite well. The doctors are all 
 wrong. I mean to cheat them all and live. 
 
 [Flings herself into an arm-chair, her fingers 
 playing restlessly with a tassel. 
 
 Lord A. Live, dearest ? The doctors have never 
 said otherwise. 
 
 Lady E. No, but they think it. You need not 
 try to deceive me. I know what these journeys 
 mean, from Torquay to Nice, from Nice to Algiers. 
 [She rises suddenly, goes to Jopp detertninedly. Lord 
 A. follows her, always with the greatest solicitude^ 
 Professor Jopp, I read your article in this month's 
 Modern Rcvietu, on " The Scientific Conception of 
 Truth."
 
 ACT I JUDAH 5 
 
 Jopp. You read a great deal too much, Lady 
 Eve. 
 
 Lady Eve. I read everything. {^Very pointedly.'\ 
 Do you always tell the truth yourself? 
 
 Jopp. \^A little taken aback j after a short pause. ^ 
 Almost invariably. 
 
 Lady E. Will you tell me the truth now ? 
 
 Jopp. Certainly. 
 
 Lady E. How long shall I live ? 
 
 Jopp. Well, I am not in practice now, you know. 
 
 Lady E. \^Goes from him, pettishly, to chair at 
 fireplace, afid sits.\ Ah ! you all think I am afraid 
 to die ! My uncle Jack dashed among the powder 
 barrels at Inkerman, though he knew it was cer- 
 tain death. I am no more a coward than he was. 
 I can die ! 
 
 Lord A. But you said you were going to live. 
 
 \ Going to her. 
 
 Lady E. So I am, if you will let me have my 
 own way. \^With great eager!icss.'\ Will you ? 
 
 Lord A. My dearest, if there is anything in this 
 world that money can buy, or love can procure, 
 you know it is yours. \^Tenderly.^ What is it ? 
 
 Lady E. Professor Jopp will laugh. 
 
 Jopp. \^Seriously and tenderly.^ I couldn't laugh 
 at anything that promised to bring health to you. 
 
 Lady E. You laughed the other day. 
 
 Jopp. At what ? 
 
 Lady E. At this Vashti Dethic. Yet she has 
 made hundreds of cures in Spain.
 
 6 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Jopp. In Spain ! 
 
 Lady E. And in America. 
 
 Jopp. In America ! 
 
 Lady E. And in England. Mr. Prall has writ- 
 ten a book all about her cures and her fasting. 
 [ Very confidently?^^ I am sure she could cure me. 
 Father, you won't be angry ! Miss Dethic is stay- 
 ing at the Towers with Mrs. Prall, and I have writ- 
 ten and asked them to come this afternoon. 
 
 Lord A. That's right. 
 
 Lady E. And may I ask her to stay here ? 
 
 Lord A. Certainly, dear, if you wish. [Jopp 
 shrugs his shoulders^ She is in the village with 
 this Mr. Llewellyn. 
 
 Lady E. Mr. Llewellyn — the minister we heard 
 last night. I'll go and see if I can find her. \Goes 
 to window. Lord A. folloivs her.^ No, don't 
 come. Oh ! If I could speak like him ! If I 
 could do something ! It's action I want. This 
 world is all for the strong. To do something, 
 and then to die. [/« a very dreamy, nnisifig tone.^ 
 How sweet Death seems sometimes ! Like a 
 kiss from an unknown lover ! He comes and 
 touches you and says, " Don't you know me ? 
 I have loved you all these years. This is our 
 wedding-day. You must come with me. You 
 must come." [£xit at witidow. 
 
 Lord A. \^Has watched her tinth great pain. 
 Cojnes do7un, sits at writitig-table, head in hands, then 
 bursts into tears.] I cannot bear it. My dear one !
 
 ACT I JUDAH 7 
 
 My only one ! The last of us ! The end of our 
 race ! To have our name written in every page of 
 our country's history, and now to be blotted out. 
 I have followed six of them to the grave, one after 
 another, and now this last one is to be taken. I 
 could buy up half the county, Jopp, and I can't 
 buy a year's life for my only child. I am worth 
 nearly sixty thousand a year, and I am poorer than 
 the poorest labourer that can give blood and vigour 
 to his race. 
 
 Jopp. My poor Asgarby ! 
 
 Lord A. You have changed your beliefs since 
 we were at Oxford together. I haven't ! What 
 comfort can your no-creed give me ? Is it 
 just ? 
 
 Jopp. Yes. Your family has played a great part 
 all through English history. It has lived its life, a 
 long and honoured one. My dear Asgarby, when 
 the day's work is done, and well done, why rebel 
 because the night has come and the labourer must 
 go home to his rest ? 
 
 Lord A. But she has not lived her day. Must 
 it be, Jopp ? I do not trust these doctors. They 
 only tell me what they know I am longing to hear. 
 Tell me the truth. 
 
 Jopp. With the greatest care, Lady Eve may live 
 some years. 
 
 Lord A. How many ? 
 
 Jopp. It is possible she may outlive you and me, 
 but —
 
 8 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Lord A. But ? — 
 
 Jopp. You must not build on it. 
 
 [ The ttvo men stand ivith hands clasped for 
 some moments. Sophie Jopp's voice 
 heard off at window. 
 
 Sophie. [(9^.] Decidedly — put the girl to a 
 scientific test. 
 
 Enter Sophie Jopp at windoiv, in outdoor dress, 
 a dogmatic, supercilious, incisive young lady, 
 with eye-glass and short hair. She speaks 
 in a metallic, confident voice ; a girl who 
 could never blush. Goes to chair j sits 
 down. 
 
 Enter at tidndotu JuxoN Prall, a thin, ivizened, old- 
 young man, spectacles, sharp features j knozvs 
 everything — a young man of the most complete 
 self-assurance. Has a peculiar finicking trick 
 of speaking with the tips of the fingers of one 
 hand playing on the tips of the other. Holds his 
 head upon one side, as though he hadn't muscular 
 strength enough to hold it upright. 
 
 JuxoN. How do you do, Asgarby ? How do 
 you do, Jopp ? We have been watching this 
 wonder-worker. Miss Dethic, go through her per- 
 formance. 
 
 Lord A. You don't share your father's belief in 
 her?
 
 ACT I JUDAH 9 
 
 JuxON. My dear Lord Asgarby ! 
 
 \^Shrugs /lis shoulders. 
 
 Lord A. But Mr. Prall gives scores of authenti- 
 cated cases in his book. 
 
 JuxoN. \_With the loftiest contempt.^ My father's 
 book! You've read //^a^*.? 
 
 Lord A. With the greatest interest. Why not ? 
 
 JuxoN. Well, naturally I would not deprive my 
 poor father of any small intellectual status that his 
 various lucubrations have left him, but to me his 
 book is simply the most deplorable farrago of un- 
 sound logic, sickly sentiment, and blatant igno- 
 rance that I have ever read. Eh, Miss Jopp ? 
 
 Sophie. The style is certainly flabby. 
 
 JuxoN. Atrocious. Do you feel inclined to in- 
 vestigate this Miss Dethic's powers, Jopp ? 
 
 Jopp. {^Shakes his head.'\ I have investigated too 
 many of them. The exact point at which self- 
 deception ends and the deception of other people 
 begins has ceased to interest me. I made up my 
 mind when I exposed those rascally spiritualists 
 last year, that I would not waste any more time 
 over such nonsense. 
 
 Sophie. Oh ! but this case does really present 
 some very astonishing features. 
 
 JuxoN. Quite out of the common. I have pro- 
 posed a scientific test. 
 
 Lord A. Ah ! What ? 
 
 JuxoN. Miss Dethic only performs these wonder- 
 ful cures after some weeks' fastintr. She is locked
 
 lO JUDAH ACT I 
 
 in a room and remains in a kind of trance. To 
 test if the fast is real, I have proposed that the key 
 of the room should be handed over to me. 
 
 Sophie. Would it not be better, Mr. Prall, that 
 you and I should take watches of equal duration ? 
 
 JuxoN. I don't think so. I don't question your 
 good faith ; but the experience of my entire life 
 has convinced me that my own personal observa- 
 tion is the only instrument whose results are per- 
 fectly satisfying and convincing. 
 
 Lord A. And did Miss Dethic refuse ? 
 
 JuxoN. My mother objected on the score of 
 propriety. I am extremely desirous not to say 
 anything unfilial, but to me my poor mother pre- 
 sents the most alarming spectacle of all that is 
 insufferable and prudish in the British matron. It 
 is simply deplorable. 
 
 Enter Roper, announcing Mr. and Mrs. Prall. 
 During the following scene ]\]y.o^ gazes at his 
 father and mother with an air of benevolent pity\ 
 and occasionally exchanges glances and shrugs 
 of the shoulder with Sophie, tvho reciprocates 
 his feelings. 
 
 Enter Mr. and Mrs. Prall — Mr. Prall carrying 
 crutches. 
 
 Mrs. p. Lord Asgarby, congratulate us. \_Shak- 
 ing hands with Lord A.] The most marvellous 
 manifestations !
 
 ACT I JUDAH II 
 
 Mr. p. How do you do, Asgarby ? ^S hakes 
 hands?\ To-day's results must silence the most 
 obdurate. 
 
 JuxoN. They will not silence me. 
 
 S^Goes to Sophie. 
 
 Mr. p. \Looks at Juxon angrily j says nothing. 
 Turns to Lord A.] You remember old Benjamin 
 Bandy ? 
 
 Lord A. The lame man at the cross-roads ? 
 
 Mr. p. Yes. For the last twenty years he has 
 done nothing but hobble round his garden on 
 crutches. 
 
 Mrs. p. And swear horribly. And, as he had a 
 remarkably powerful voice, all his neighbours for 
 half a mile round were compelled to listen to him. 
 
 Juxon. Not necessarily. 
 
 Mr. p. \^To Juxon, very loudly and angrily^ It 
 was impossible to avoid hearing him. 
 
 Lord A. What about him ? 
 
 Mr. p. Miss Dethic has cured him. 
 
 Jopp. Of his bad language ? 
 
 Mrs. p. No, of his complications. He had vari- 
 ous disorders. 
 
 Mr. p. He can walk, Lord Asgarby, as well as 
 you and I. These are his crutches. {^Showing 
 them to Jopp.] 
 
 Mrs. p. \^To Jopp.] You can't deny the 
 crutches. 
 
 Jopp. \^Exaf?iines the crutches very carefully 
 through glasses ; turns them round upside doum, as-
 
 12 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 suviing an air of conducting aprofound examination 
 and then delivers his verdict very magisterially^ 
 They are crutches. 
 
 [Prall, ivith a satisfied air, crosses to table 
 and puts crutches on it. 
 
 Mrs. p. And what have you to say to that ? 
 
 Jopp. That apparently Miss Dethic has set free 
 an alarming quantity of bad language to perambu- 
 late the country, instead of confining it within the 
 limited radius of half a mile of the cross-roads. 
 
 Enter Roper, announcing Mr. Papworthy and 
 Mr. Llewellyn. Enter Papworthy. Enter 
 JuDAH Llewellyn, about twenty- five, dark com- 
 plexion, shaggy, clustering hair in thick curls 
 over his forehead. Quick, Jiervous step ; glow- 
 ing, enthusiastic manner. Slight Welsh accent 
 which becomes more noticeable in excitement. 
 
 Pap. My lord, this is Mr. Llewellyn. If you'll 
 excuse me, my lord — \Taking out watch^ — I have 
 a meeting. \_Exit. 
 
 JuDAH. {^Boius very slightly^ You sent for me. 
 
 Lord A. We had the pleasure of hearing you 
 last evening. We were delighted. 
 
 Jopp. I have to speak in public occasionally. I 
 should like to know the secret of your oratory. 
 
 JuDAH. I believe what I say.
 
 ACT I JUDAH 13 
 
 Jopp. / believe what / say. There must be some 
 other reason. 
 
 JUDAH. What do you speak about ? 
 
 Jopp. My last lecture was on tadpoles and lizards. 
 
 JUDAH. Mine was on the unseen world. 
 
 Jopp. [-Dfj^y-] Ah ! — there I can't follow you. 
 
 JuDAH. It does need wings. 
 
 Jopp. And I have only legs. Was that a per- 
 sonal experience of your own that you told us of 
 last night ? Those mysterious voices — 
 
 JUDAH. Yes ; I hear them almost every day. I 
 have heard them ever since I was a child and kept 
 my father's sheep on the hills in Wales. You 
 know I lived almost alone until I was nearly twenty. 
 I saw no human being, sometimes spoke to no one, 
 from one week to another. 
 
 Jopp. And you fancy that you hear a real voice 
 at these times ? 
 
 JuDAH. It is not fancy — I hear it as plainly as 
 I hear yours. [Jopp smiVes.] Why do you doubt 
 me ? Is the spirit-world so far from you that you 
 don't believe in it ? It's nearer to me than this 
 earth I walk upon. 
 
 Lord A. I understood that this Miss Vashti 
 Dethic was with you, Mr. Llewellyn. 
 
 [Af the mention of her name Judah's face shows 
 intense interest. 
 
 JuDAH. I left her in the village. 
 
 Mrs. p. I was bringing her here, but she would
 
 14 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 insist on trying her marvellous curative power on 
 some poor people in the village. 
 
 Mr. p. Wonderful I I am just bringing out a 
 new edition of my book on her cures — the seven- 
 teenth ! 
 
 JuxoN. Perhaps you will correct a few of the 
 gross inaccuracies that appear in the previous 
 editions. 
 
 Mr. p. \^Terribly upset ^ with a?i outburst of im- 
 potent wrath^ Juxon ! {^Suddenly recovers himself' 
 Speaks ill a tone of condescending sarcasm.^ I de- 
 cline to argue with you, sir. 
 
 Juxon. [Imperturbab/y.'] My dear father, I 
 would not force you to such an unequal contest. 
 
 E)iter Roper, announcittg Mr. Dethic. Enter 
 Mr. Dethic, a suave, furtive, sallow, oily man 
 of about fifty with a touch of the 7nanner of a 
 second-rate platform orator. 
 
 Mr. p. Lord Asgarby, may I present Mr. Dethic, 
 the father of our distinguished guest ? 
 
 Lord A. We are pleased to see you, Mr. Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. I hope you'll excuse my intruding, my 
 lord, but my poor child — 
 
 JUDAH. Miss Dethic is not ill ? 
 
 Dethic. Merely exhausted. She is resting in 
 the grounds for a few moments. 
 
 Mrs. p. And the young girl with the fits ? 
 
 Dethic. Perfectly cured, and so grateful. 
 Wanted to give us a testimonial on the spot.
 
 ACT I JUDAH 15 
 
 Mr. p. What do you say to these occurrences, 
 Professor ? 
 
 Jopp. I have not witnessed them. 
 Mr. p. You don't deny them ? 
 Jopp. We don't deny miracles nowadays, Mr. 
 Prall — we explain them. 
 JuDAH. Explain ! — what ? 
 
 Jopp. The perfectly natural means by which 
 miracles are always accomplished. 
 
 JuDAH. You know the secrets of life and death, 
 then ? You hold the keys of the grave ? Explain ? ! 
 Explain to the mother the mystery of the love that 
 gives a living child to her arms ! Explain to the 
 husband what hand snatches back his wife from 
 the gates of death ! Explain ? ! They do not need 
 it. They hold their dear ones to their hearts — safe. 
 They do not question — they love. 
 
 Lord A. [tv/io has listened eagerly.~\ We hoped 
 Miss Dethic would have been here. 
 
 JUDAH. Will you let me bring her to you ? 
 Lord A. If you will be so kind. 
 JUDAH. I will fetch her. 
 
 Dethic. \^Comes up to Lord A., his 7nanner oily, 
 uneasy, underbred?^ My lord, may I express my 
 overwhelming sense of the honour you have done 
 me to welcome me under the hospitable roof of 
 Asgarby Castle ? 
 
 Lord A. \^Bo%usi\ We hear wonderful accounts 
 of Miss Dethic's powers. 
 
 Dethic. Not half the truth, my lord.
 
 l6 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Jopp. So I should imagine ! 
 
 Dethic. {^Tnrns sharply round on ]o'pv.'\ Sir! 
 
 Jopp. In placing the proportion of truth to 
 rumour at one half, you have formed an unusually 
 favourable estimate of human nature, Mr. Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. \^Confused ; /angks slightly.^ Oh — ah ! 
 Yes ! Possibly, sir, you have never met with any- 
 one possessing these extraordinary powers. 
 
 Jopp. [/« the gravest, most matter-of-fact tone, 
 looks Dethic full in the face, and speaks without 
 showing the least iro?iy.^ Never, Mr. Dethic. I 
 have in my little collection at home the liver-wing 
 of a phoenix, the entire skeleton of a griffin in 
 excellent preservation, and the only known speci- 
 men of the horn of a unicorn, but I have never met 
 with any one possessed of supernatural powers. 
 
 Dethic. Indeed ! \^Laiighs ; rather confused. 
 Then, aside.] He's chaffing me ! 
 
 Roper enters rather suddenly. 
 
 Roper. I beg pardon, my lord. The young lady 
 has fainted. 
 
 [Mrs. p.. Lord A., and Mr. P. go off, followed 
 by Roper. Jopp stands at fire-place. 
 
 Dethic. \^To Juxon, tvho ignores him^ My poor 
 darling ! It's ever the same when she is labouring 
 for the good of others. 
 
 Re-enter Judah, bearing Vashti /;/ a swoon.
 
 ACT I JUDAH 17 
 
 Vashti has a very pale ^ saintly, beautiful face. 
 He carries her tvith the utmost tenderness, a7id 
 shows great concern. He is followed into the 
 room by Lord A. and the Pralls. 
 
 JUDAH. [^Brings her down stage.^ She is ill ! She 
 is dying ! \^To Dethic] You shall not let her 
 waste her strength any more. She is killing herself. 
 {^P laces her on settee.^ Miss Dethic ! 
 
 Jopp. I have some medical knowledge. Can I 
 be of any use ? 
 
 Dethic. [^Intercepts Jopp.] Not at all. Pardon 
 me ; she prefers to be left alone. [Jopp turns 
 away.] My lord, will you be so kind as to leave 
 her with me ? 
 
 Lord A. By all means. You are sure there is no 
 danger? 
 
 Dethic. Nothing serious ; it will soon pass off. 
 
 [Sophie and Mrs. P. going off at window. 
 Prall has been taking notes in a pocket- 
 book. 
 
 Mr. p. a few notes for my next edition. 
 JuxoN. I must really beg you to correct those 
 inaccuracies, sir. 
 
 [Exeunt Juxon and Prall. Lord A. beckons 
 Jopp and goes off. 
 
 Jopp. [Aside, as he crosses to 7vindow.] Father — 
 genus, cheat; species, religious; variety, bogus-mir- 
 acle business. Daughter — hum ! [Exit.
 
 l8 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Vashti opens her eyes. 
 
 JuDAH. \Looking at her^f^ You are better ? 
 
 Vashti. Yes. How good you are to me ! 
 
 JuDAH. You are trembling still — you can hardly 
 breathe. 
 
 Dethic. Mr. Llewellyn, my poor child will re- 
 cover more quickly if she is left alone with me. 
 
 JUDAH. It is my fault. I have encouraged her to 
 use these powers, and now her strength is failing. 
 
 Vashti. No, I am better ; leave me for a few 
 moments. 
 
 [Judah gives her a look, then exit at window 
 after the others. They wateh him off. 
 
 Dethic. Splendid, my darling. I'm proud of 
 you. By Jove, we're in clover at last ! The old 
 fellow here is worth goodness knows how much a 
 year, and throws it about as if it was pebbles, and 
 the young lady that wrote to Mr, Prall is his only 
 child. All the others have died, and he's ready to 
 give his head to keep her alive. Now, my dear, do 
 play your cards well, and our fortunes are made for 
 life. 
 
 Vashti. I'll go no further. 
 
 Dethic. What ? 
 
 Vashti. I'm tired of it. I hate this deception. 
 I'll have no more of it. 
 
 Dethic. Hush now ! Take care, my angel girl, 
 take care ! You surely won't refuse to cure the 
 poor young lady ?
 
 ACT I JUDAH 19 
 
 Vashti. Cure her ? 
 
 Dethic. Yes, darling. You do cure people, you 
 know. 
 
 A^ASHTi. They get well — sometimes. 
 
 Dethic. My darling, what more can any doctor 
 in the country say of his patients ? 
 
 Vashti. It's only the ignorant and uneducated 
 who believe in me. They think I have some mys- 
 terious power. 
 
 Dethic. So you have. Take my word for it, my 
 darling, there's some sort of magnetic influence 
 about you that you don't quite understand yourself. 
 
 Vashti. Sometimes I think there is, but then 
 again I doubt myself. You're sure I have this 
 power — it is / who cure them ? 
 
 Dethic. Quite sure, my darling. You couldn't 
 have been successful in so many scores of cases if 
 there hadn't been something in it. 
 
 Vashti. Then let us trust to that alone, and give 
 up this pretence of fasting. 
 
 Dethic. You can't, my dear. We've always given 
 out that the fasting is the secret of your power, and 
 people look for it. The general public are such 
 fools. They'll never let you do 'em good in a 
 plain, honest, straightforward way. You're liound 
 to deceive 'em for their own good. We must throw 
 'em the fasting in. Mr. Prall has written a book 
 about it, and laid special stress upon it. 
 
 Vashti. Mr. Prall is deceiving himself and his 
 readers.
 
 20 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Dethic. Just SO, my dear. Mr. Prall is a fool — 
 that's the reason he's been of such use to us. And 
 his readers are fools — that's the reason his book has 
 had so many editions. It's ungrateful to repine at 
 Providence for having made the world so full of 
 fools, when it's quite plain they are put here for 
 our especial benefit. 
 
 Vashti. If I should be found out, who would be 
 the fool then ? 
 
 Dethic. Found out ? ! Nonsense ! 
 
 Vashti. You might not be able to supply me 
 with food. 
 
 Dethic. My precious angel, you trust to your 
 old father. I didn't spend twenty years in the 
 conjuring business without keeping a trick or two 
 up my sleeve in case of accident. 
 
 Vashti. I will not do it. It's shameful ! It's 
 wicked ! I would never have begun it if I had 
 known it would come to this, but you led me on 
 step by step, and now I hate myself. Oh ! what 
 am I ? — what am I ? [ Wit/i bitter self-reproach; then 
 ttirns suddenly roimd ofi hifnJ] Make some excuse 
 to these people. I will not stay to trick and lie to 
 them. 
 
 Dethic. \_Intercepiing her and catching her hands, 
 lookijig straight in her eyes.] Oh yes, you will, my 
 dear ! 
 
 Vashti. [Fery Jirm.'} 1 will not. 
 
 Dethic. Oh yes, you will. [Vashti turns from 
 him; he drops her hands^ What's the reason of this
 
 ACT I JUDAH 21 
 
 change, Vashti ? There's some reason for it. What 
 is it? 
 
 Vashti. \_After a pause.'\ The people believe in 
 me. 
 
 Dethic. Well, don't you want them to believe 
 in you ? 
 
 Vashti. \_Sofily.'\ Mr. Llewellyn believes in me. 
 
 Dethic. Mr. Llewellyn ? Oh-h-h ! It's Mr. 
 Llewellyn, is it ? 
 
 Vashti. I will not do it. [ Very determinedly^ 
 
 Dethic. [ Venomous and quiet^ Look here, my 
 girl. Either you stay on here, and act according to 
 my instructions, and are rewarded 'with a happy 
 and honoured competence for the rest of your life, 
 or you confess yourself a fraud, disgrace your trust- 
 ing old father, and let Mr. Llewellyn know exactly 
 what you are, besides getting yourself lodgings in- 
 side Beachampton jail. 
 
 Vashti. \^Frightened?^ Jail ! 
 
 Dethic. The palatial red-brick edifice overlook- 
 ing the canal. 
 
 Vashti. [^Very frig hie ?icd.^ I have done nothing 
 criminal, have I ? 
 
 Dethic. Haven't you ? How about imposing on 
 dear, kind, good Mr. and Mrs. Prall, and living on 
 'em, and obtaining money of 'em on false pre- 
 tences ? 
 
 Vashti. Obtaining money ? 
 
 Dethic. I've borrowed a hundred pounds of 
 Mr. Prall. [Vashti sho7vs a/arm.] Oh, you've had
 
 22 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 your share. Everything you've got on came out 
 of it. 
 
 Vashti. {^Deeply ashamed.^ You told me he gave 
 it you. 
 
 Dethic. So he did, so far as there's any chance 
 of his getting it back. But up to the present he 
 regards the transaction as a loan. [Vashti is over- 
 come zviih shalllc^^ Come, Vashti, don't be a fool. 
 You can't go back now. [Judah enters at window^ 
 I was just trying to persuade her, Mr. Llewellyn, 
 that it is her duty to stay here and cure this poor 
 young lady if she can. I was asking her to remem- 
 ber what you said : " Squander your life to save 
 it ; save it, and find that you have lost it after all." 
 \^Tnrns to Vashti.] You will stay here, Vashti, 
 won't you? You'll stay ? \_Looks threateningly. 
 
 Vashti. \^Afier a pa use. ^ Yes, I'll stay. 
 
 Dethic. That's right, my dear. I'll tell his lord- 
 ship. \^Goes to window, and exit. 
 
 Judah. [ Vety nmch embarrassed.l Miss Dethic. 
 
 Vashti. Yes ? \^Looks at him?[ What is it, Mr. 
 Llewellyn ? 
 
 Judah. I want to speak to you. 
 
 Vashti. [Pat/se.] Why don't you speak ? 
 
 Judah. Because — I can't ! 
 
 Vashti. You can be eloquent enough when you 
 choose. 
 
 Judah. I am afraid to speak to you. Your 
 goodness, your purity, take my breath away. 
 
 [Vashti shows a stab of pain at deceiving him,
 
 ACT I JUDAH 23 
 
 then shows pleasure at his confession of ad- 
 miration. Her face glows as he proceeds. 
 
 JuDAH. {^Looking at her with the deepest reverence, 
 approaching her.^ You are like the picture of the 
 angel that my mother hung over my head when 
 I was a child. I can't speak to you as I do to 
 others. [Breathless.] I want to kneel and worship 
 you. 
 
 Vashti. How can you speak so ? You do not 
 know me. You are mistaken in me. Oh, why do 
 you think so well of me ! Can't you see that I 
 have a thousand faults ? Indeed, indeed, I am no 
 better than other women. 
 
 JUDAH. It is your goodness makes you say that. 
 
 Vashti. I am not good. 
 
 JuDAH. How is it, then, that you have this strange 
 power over evil ? What is it but your goodness 
 that frightens disease from its hold ? See what you 
 have done to-day ? But you fly from your own 
 good deeds. You will not hear the blessings of 
 those whom you have healed and comforted. I 
 hear them. I treasure them. I know what they 
 cost you. It is your own life and health you give 
 to others. This afternoon you fainted. I want 
 to ask you to spare yourself, to waste your strength 
 no more. 
 
 Vashti. I am better now — quite well. You 
 would wish me stay here and try and do this young 
 lady good ?
 
 24 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 JuDAH. I would not have you injure your own 
 health. 
 
 Vashti. But if I promised you that this should 
 be the last time, — that, succeed or fail, I will try 
 no more, — would you not have me do it then ? 
 
 JUDAH. Yes, I would. 
 
 Vashti. Then I will do this, and for your sake 
 it shall be for the last time. 
 
 JuDAH. Thank you. 
 
 Vashti. But oh ! Mr. Llewellyn, you must not 
 think so well of me. You don't know me. I am 
 not an angel, I am a woman. 
 
 Elite?- Dethic at windotv. 
 
 Dethic. \Oil}\ bal}ny7[ Quite recovered, my 
 precious ? [Vashti shows intense disgust at her 
 father s tone.^ That's right. \Calls off^ My lord, 
 my poor child is now perfectly restored. 
 
 Enter Lord A. and Lady E. 
 
 Lady E. \_Excitedly, speaking as she enters^ Where 
 is she ? Introduce me ! Never mind, I'll intro- 
 duce myself. {^Going to Vashti, taking her hands.^ 
 You are Vashti Dethic ? I have heard so much of 
 you. Is it true you have this wonderful power ? 
 
 Enter Jopp at windoiv. He pauses, and looks at 
 Dethic. 
 
 Vashti. I think I have been the means of re- 
 storing some people to health.
 
 ACT I JUDAH 25 
 
 Lady E. Can you cure me ? 
 
 Vashti. Will you let me try ? 
 
 Lady E. Yes. There is something in the touch 
 of your hand. I feel you have done me good al- 
 ready. You must stay with us now. 
 
 Vashti. If Mrs. Prall can spare me. 
 
 Lady E. She must ! \^Tiirns to Lord A.] Then 
 that's settled, isn't it ? 
 
 Lord A. I shall be only too pleased — if con- 
 venient to Miss Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. Quite, my lord. Quite, I assure you. 
 ^^^Sho^i'il!g great satisfaction. 
 
 Lady E. I will go and tell }slrs. Prall we are go- 
 ing to rob her of you. I shall soon be well now. 
 
 Lord A. \_Kisses her, s/ioius great affect ion. '\ My 
 dearest ! 
 
 Lady E. [^Standi fig at ^uindotv.^ Doesn't she look 
 like a saint ? [Aside to Lord A.] Perhaps she is 
 one. 
 
 Lord A. If she cures you she is. 
 
 [£xit Lady Eve at ivindo-iv. 
 
 Dethic. \_After a little hii/n/ning and ha7i>ing.'[ 
 My lord, do I understand that I am included in your 
 lordship's kind invitation to Asgarby Castle ? 
 
 Lord A. Certainly, Mr. Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. Thank you, my lord. My dear child 
 will lay down her life for Lady Eve, if necessary. 
 
 Jopp. How can that be necessary ? 
 
 Dethic. Well, you see, she is quite unable to
 
 26 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 perform these great cures without fasting for 
 weeks, and she is like a dead creature afterwards. 
 
 JUDAH. [ Very emphatically to Vashtl] You 
 shall not do it. 
 
 Dethic. Of course we don't expect any reward. 
 Still, if any trifling way of showing your gratitude 
 should suggest itself — 
 
 [Vashti rises as if to stop Dethic. 
 
 Lord A. If your daughter is the means of bene- 
 fiting Lady Eve, there is nothing you can ask me 
 for, even to the half of all I have in the world, that 
 I will not readily give you. 
 
 Vashti. \_Emphatically^ I will take nothing. 
 
 Lord A. I shall insist on making some return. 
 There is surely something that you wish for ? 
 
 Vashti. No, nothing. \_Gla7icing at Judah.] 
 Yes, there is something. 
 
 Lord A. What is it ?• 
 
 Vashti. May I mention it to you alone ? 
 
 Lord A. Certainly. [ Taking her doum stage. 
 
 Vashti. You have heard Mr. Llewellyn. He is 
 spending all his life in doing good. You do not 
 know how great a work he is doing. If Lady Eve 
 is well in a year from now, will you build him a new 
 church, a place worthy of him and the truths he 
 speaks ? This is the only thing I will take from 
 you. 
 
 Lord A. If my child's life is spared, in memory 
 of her restoration I will raise a monument; it shall
 
 ACT I JUDAH 27 
 
 be the most beautiful church in Beachampton, 
 and I will endow the minister with any income 
 that you may ask. 
 
 Vashti. Thank you ! Thank you with all my 
 heart. You will not let him know. He would not 
 accept it. 
 
 Lord A. He shall not know. 
 
 Jopp. May I ask, Miss Dethic, what is the pre- 
 cise nature of the cure you propose to work upon 
 Lady Eve ? 
 
 Vashti. That is my secret. 
 
 Jopp. Mr. Llewellyn, perhaps you can explain 
 Miss Dethic's method. 
 
 JuDAH. Miss Dethic fasts for several days, and 
 a strange unearthly power comes to her, which gives 
 her strength not her own, to convey to those whom 
 she desires to heal. 
 
 Jopp. I don't quite follow the operation. So far 
 from giving strength, any lengthened period of fast- 
 ing must weaken. 
 
 JuDAH. It weakens the body, but it gives beauty 
 and strength to the spirit. [Jopp shakes his head.'\ 
 Why should it seem strange to you ? Can you not 
 see that Miss Dethic is not as others ? 
 
 Jopp. Evidently. [Zi? Deth.] Does she abstain 
 from all kinds of food ? 
 
 Dethic. Absolutely. \]ovv whistles incredulously. 
 
 Vashti. You do not believe that I fast ? 
 
 Jopp. My dear young lady, I always believe 
 what's told me.
 
 28 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Dethic. But you whistled ! 
 
 Jopp. Yes, I did whistle. \^Fause. 
 
 JuDAH. Do you deny her gifts ? 
 
 Jopp. I have no opportunity of judging. 
 
 JuDAH. Inquire of those whom she has cured. 
 They can testify to her powers. 
 
 Jopp. Fifteen years ago, sir, I analyzed a patent 
 pill. It was composed of harmless, drastic, and 
 poisonous drugs in about ec^ual proportions. The 
 patentee had made a fortune out of it, and thou- 
 sands of his victims had given him testimonials. 
 
 JUDAH. Well? 
 
 Jopp. Since then the patentee has made another 
 fortune, and a thousand more victims have given 
 him testimonials. 
 
 JUDAH. Miss Dethic has submitted herself to 
 every proof that can be offered to her. 
 
 Jopp. Not to mine. 
 
 [Slight pause. Judah looks at Vashti, and 
 makes an action as if asking her to speak. 
 
 Vashti. \_Conies down to Jopp.] Will you put me 
 to your proof, sir ? 
 
 Jopp. [^Kises very quietly.^ Is it a challenge ? 
 
 Vashti. As you please. 
 
 Jopp. Um ! \_Aside to Lord A.] You mean this 
 young lady to remain at the Castle ? 
 
 Lord A. Yes ; Eve wishes it, and I wish it. 
 
 Jopp. And it is with your consent that she treats 
 Lady Eve in some mysterious, occult way ?
 
 ACT I JUDAH 29 
 
 Lord A. If you had but one child, and you loved 
 her as I love Eve, you would listen to every quack 
 and charlatan that promised to give her a few 
 months' life. 
 
 Jopp. But your physicians ? 
 
 Lord A. I've no faith in them. They gave me 
 hopes of the others to the very last, and they all 
 died. Do as you please ; I leave this matter in 
 your hands. 
 
 Jopp. You wish me to act for you ? 
 
 Lord A. Yes, only, whatever you do, let Eve 
 have her own way in everything. 
 
 Jopp. [To Vashti.] You propose to cure Lady 
 Eve in your usual manner — by fasting ? 
 
 Vashti. Yes. 
 
 Jopp. You are willing for me to test the reality 
 of your fast ? 
 
 Vashti. Have I not said so ? 
 
 Jopp. You allow me to impose my own condi- 
 tions ? 
 
 Vashti. Impose what conditions you please. 
 
 Dethic. At the same time I must warn you that 
 a habit of doubting, an atmosphere of unbelief, does 
 very materially interfere with a — a — 
 
 Jopp. With the success of miracles. Yes, I've 
 noticed that. Asgarby, are the rooms in the old 
 keep, the tower-rooms, occupied now ? 
 
 Lord A. No, they remain as they were in my 
 father's time. 
 
 Jopp. May I use them ?
 
 30 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Lord A. Certainl3^ 
 
 Jopp. Thank you. [To Vashti.] There are 
 three very delightful rooms in the old keep. They 
 are quite modern. The late Lord Asgarby had 
 them fitted up for his scientific library. Have they 
 been occupied recently ? 
 
 [Dethic a/id Vashti s/iow keen attention. 
 
 Lord A. Yes, when we were in Algiers last year, 
 Roper lived in the keep, and the jewels were kept 
 there, so I had a new safety lock put on the outer 
 door. 
 
 Jopp. How many keys are there to that lock ? 
 
 Lord A. Only one. 
 
 Jopp. Only one ! That will do ! [To Vashti.] I 
 shall confide you to my daughter. I shall give her 
 that key, and she will take care that you have all 
 the liberty consistent with — consistent with our 
 watching you most thoroughly. 
 
 Vashti. I may see my father sometimes ? 
 
 [Jopp looks curiously <^?/ Dethic, who tries to look 
 sublimely unconcerned, but fails. Shuffles, 
 a?id looks rather unco7nfortable. 
 
 Jopp. [After having taken stock of Dethic for 
 some time.^ H'm-m ! Well, perhaps sometimes. 
 
 Dethic. It's of no consequence. 
 
 Jopp. And we begin, shall we say, to-morrow 
 morning ? 
 
 Vashti. This afternoon — at once.
 
 ACT I JUDAH 31 
 
 Jopp. [Aside, puzzled.'] Now is that girl really 
 humbugging herself— or is she trying to humbug 
 me ? I'll give myself the benefit of the doubt. 
 
 Enter fro?n window Lady Eve with Mrs. Prall, 
 followed by Prall. 
 
 Lady E. [Excited, restless, flies to \AS}iii.'\ Miss 
 Dethic, Mrs. Prall says you can stay with me from 
 now, so you are my prisoner. [Sits beside her on 
 settee. 
 
 Jopp. Excuse me, Lady Eve, for the next three 
 weeks Miss Dethic is my prisoner. 
 
 Lady E. What do you mean ? 
 
 Jopp. Miss Dethic invariably fasts before curing 
 her patients, and as she wishes us to be quite sure 
 that her fasting is genuine, she has kindly asked me 
 to put her to the test. 
 
 JuxoN. Allow me to suggest, Jopp, that my test 
 would be — 
 
 Jopp. Thank you, Mr. Prall. I shall employ my 
 own test, and I am pretty certain about the result. 
 
 Judah. Won't you wait until you've obtained 
 the result ? 
 
 Jopp. You're right. I spoke too soon. 
 
 Dethic. Quite so. The proof of the pudding is 
 in the eating. 
 
 Jopp. Pardon me. The proof of the pudding is 
 in the digestion. 
 
 Lady E. But I may see Miss Dethic ? 
 
 Jopp. Certainly, as often as you wish.
 
 32 JUDAH ACT I 
 
 Vashti. As you are to be my jailer, perhaps 
 you will kindly tell me your name. 
 
 JOPP. My name ? [A sudden monosyllable like the 
 effect of a little pistol shot. 'I Jopp ! 
 
 Dethic. Jopp ! \_Shows a sudden shock of stir- 
 prise, as though he were shot, but quickly recovers. 
 
 Vashti. \^Looks at Jopp. By an inwiense effort 
 does not betray herself. Very faintly^ Professor 
 
 Jopp ? 
 
 Jopp. You've heard of me. 
 
 Vashti. The Professor Jopp who exposed the 
 spiritualists last year ? 
 
 Jopp. The same Professor Jopp. 
 
 Dethic. \_Having perfectly recovered, coines down 
 to Jopp and offers hand.\ My dear sir, let me shake 
 you by the hand ; I'm proud to think my dear child 
 has an opportunity of convincing the world-re- 
 nowned Professor Jopp of her extraordinary powers. 
 
 Jopp. [ Takes no notice of his proffered hand.'\ 
 That's exactly what my spiritualist friend said to 
 me last year. Poor beggar ! I signed a petition 
 to the Home Secretary the other day to get him 
 out of jail. 
 
 Vashti. You sent him to jail ? 
 
 Jopp. No ; his own cleverness did that. I'm 
 trying to get him out. 
 
 Vashti looks frightened at him. 
 
 Jopp. What's the matter ? 
 
 Vashti. Nothing — nothing ! 
 
 Jopp. You still agree to submit to my test ?
 
 ACT! JUDAH 33 
 
 Vashti. Yes, yes — have I not said yes ? Put me 
 to whatever test you please. 
 
 JuDAH. You hear, sir ! Miss Dethic is in your 
 hands ! Try her ! Lay snares ! Set traps for her ! 
 You have no juggling trickster to deal with now ! 
 The power she serves stands ready to vouch for 
 her, and your own lips shall be the witness of her 
 truth and goodness to all the world. 
 
 CURTAIN.
 
 34 JUDAH 
 
 ACT II 
 
 Scene. The conservatory and terrace. A conser- 
 vatory outside the castle, opening ofi to the terrace, 
 which runs along back of stage, and shows a flight 
 of old stone steps with a crumbling wall on each 
 side, covered with ivy, and overhung with the tops 
 of the trees ; a suggestion of considerable depth 
 belotv. The steps lead up to the old castle keep 
 A doorway with a window over it. Beside the 
 windotv a stone seat cut deeply into the wall, with 
 steps leading on to the ramparts. This seat is 
 large enough to conceal a man. Bright lamp in 
 the conservatory, with wicker chairs and table on 
 stage. A flood of summer moonlight on the old 
 keep. Door opening from rooms in the castle. A 
 light burning in windotv at the gate tower. A?i 
 old Norman arch., ivy-covered, with door on right 
 of stage. Piano is being played off stage and some 
 one is singing j this at suitable intervals during the 
 act until Lady Eve's entrance. When curtain 
 rises Judah comes from warder s seat in recess 
 to top of the steps J looks up at window of keep ; 
 then after a pause he sees Dethic. He then re- 
 tires into the recess, and is hidden.
 
 ACT II JUDAH 35 
 
 Enter Dethic alofig terrace in evening dress, as if 
 Just comi?ig from di?itier. He enters very cau- 
 tiously, looking behind him to see if he is followed. 
 Creeps cautiously on to terrace and looks up at 
 the keep ; ivhistles up toivards gatc-totver as if 
 desirous of attracting the attention of sotne one 
 within. 
 
 Dethic. \^0n terrace at bottom of the keep steps. 
 Looks cautiously round, takes out a very large new 
 key from pocket?^ They're all pretty safe : the men 
 in the dining-room, the ladies in the drawing-room. 
 I've a good mind to risk it. \^As if carelessly, but 
 really looking all round to see if he is observed, opens 
 the Norman gateivay door; looks out j shuts it. Is 
 about to go up steps, his back being towards the left. 
 
 Sophie, in evening dress, enters through conservatory. 
 
 Sophie. Mr. Dethic ! 
 
 Dethic. \^Turns round, confused.^ Er — you've 
 left the drawing-room rather quickly, Miss Jopp ! 
 
 Sophie. You've left the dining-room very quickly, 
 Mr. Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. Yes. I'm so fond of nature. Now 
 that scene ! \^Flourishing his right hand over the 
 moonlit landscape, and calling Sophie's attention to 
 it, while his left hand is putting the large key into his 
 coat-tail pocket. He is standing with his back to audi- 
 ence, so this action is very distinct^ To me there is 
 something very sweetly mysterious about all that. 
 
 \^He has secreted the key.
 
 36 JUDAH ACT 11 
 
 Sophie. The most sweetly mysterious thing to me, 
 Mr. Dethic, is that your daughter should have 
 looked so well without food until a few days ago. 
 
 Dethic. Ah, you see. Miss Jopp, we have stood 
 the ordeal and come out unscathed. 
 
 Sophie. There are three days longer yet ! 
 
 Dethic. But eighteen days have gone by with- 
 out one morsel to her lips. 
 
 Sophie. \_Stares straight at him^ Eh, Mr. Dethic? 
 
 Dethic. You've kept the strictest watch over 
 her all day. You've locked her up there all night, 
 and you've never allowed the key of the tower 
 rooms to pass for a moment out of your possession. 
 
 Sophie. No. 
 
 Dethic. You have it now ? 
 
 Sophie. \Prodiices from pocket a key exactly the 
 same in shape as the one Dethic /las put into ///j'.] 
 There it is. \_Holds it up so that the audience can 
 distinctly see the likeness between the keys. 
 
 Dethic. With that key in your possession you 
 cannot entertain the least suspicion of our good 
 faith. 
 
 Sophie. You see the window to the tower-room ? 
 \^Pointing up to the iviudow tvhich is lighted. 
 
 Dethic. Yes. The room where my dear child is 
 imprisoned. 
 
 Sophie. That window was nailed up by my 
 father's orders. 
 
 Dethic. So that no food could possibly come 
 through that way.
 
 ACT II JUDAH 37 
 
 Sophie. Just so. Except that last Saturday I 
 discovered that one of those little panes would take 
 out, Mr. Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. You don't say so ? But you can't sup- 
 pose that food could be conveyed through one of 
 those panes at that distance ? It's — it's really too 
 absurd. 
 
 Sophie. It is absurd ; yet, absurd as it is, your 
 daughter's health and spirits, which had kept up 
 precisely as if she were being fed, declined from 
 the very day that my father and I had a wire-gauze 
 put over the window, Mr. Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. \_Affectiug asionislunent^ A wire-gauze ! 
 
 Sophie. You hadn't noticed, perhaps. 
 
 Dethic. [^Telling a good, solid lie.'\ No. 
 
 Sophie. Strange ! And what is also strange is 
 that since last Saturday your daughter has shown 
 every symptom of starving ! \^Accidentally raises 
 her voice a little, and speaks the word in such a tone 
 that it can be heard by Judah. 
 
 Dethic Starving ! 
 
 Sophie. \In an unconcerned tone.'\ Yes ; absurd, 
 isn't it? I'm just going to her. 
 
 Dethic. Shall we escort her to the drawing- 
 room ? Yes, I think we will ! [ With great eager- 
 ness, going towards Sophie. 
 
 Sophie. No, I think we won't ! [Dethic's face 
 falls very much?[ At least not till my father comes 
 from the dining-room. But Miss Dethic can walk 
 along the terrace here, if —
 
 38 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Dethic. [Again delighted^ Yes, if — 
 
 Sophie. If you'll be good enough to keep at the 
 other end of it. 
 
 Dethic. [Again shows great disappointmetit^ 
 Oh, by all means. [^ovYii's. goes up steps — takes out 
 her key. Aside.^ Oh, you duck ! [Shakes his fist 
 at her as she goes up steps. 
 
 Sophie. [Suddenly turns round; nearly catches 
 him in his threatening attitude. He drops it, tries to 
 look unconcernedi\ Eh ? 
 
 Dethic. Eh ? 
 
 Sophie. You spoke? 
 
 Dethic. No, no ; merely thought out loud. The 
 dining-room windows are open, I see. I'll rejoin 
 his lordship. 
 
 [Sophie goes to the top of steps and opens the 
 keep door. Dethic makes a griinace at her 
 
 and goes off along terrace. 
 
 Sophie. [Calling.'] Miss Dethic ! [Vashti, in 
 white, conies to the keep door. A marked differeiice 
 from the last act; very haggard and tueak, but with 
 an expression of fixed endura?ice. JuDAH looks 
 doiun from the warder s seat and listens.] I hope 
 you are better. 
 
 Vashti. [At top of steps.] I am quite well. Why 
 do you always ask so anxiously after me ? 
 
 Sophie. I was afraid you might not be able to 
 hold out three days longer. 
 
 Vashti. You needn't fear.
 
 ACT 11 JUDAH 39 
 
 Sophie. Would you like to walk on the terrace 
 for a little while ? 
 
 Vashti. Yes. [^Co»ies dozen. JVith foj'ced cheer- 
 fulness?^ What a lovely night ! I could dance with 
 delight. 
 
 \Runs quickly past Sophie ^vith affected gaiety. 
 Stops exhausted at bottom. 
 
 Sophie. Ah ! You're playing a very foolish game. 
 
 Vashti. \^Nettlcd^p7'oiid, drazos herself to her full 
 height.'\ I'm playing no game, except with death, 
 for dear Lady Eve's life, and I shall win. [Sophie 
 shrugs her shoulders?^ You think I am cheating you. 
 
 Sophie. No, I think you are cheating yourself. 
 I shall be at the end of the terrace with your 
 father, so you are quite free for the time. 
 
 \^Exit along terrace after Dethic. Vashti 
 watches her off. Judah ivatches her also, 
 and comes down steps gradually. 
 
 Vashti. \^Sinks into seat. Aside.] Why doesn't 
 my father bring me something ? If there were any 
 berries — anything to stop these wolves that gnaw 
 me ! Why shouldn't I give in ? And let Mr. Llew- 
 ellyn know me for what I am ? No, I dare not ! 
 I'll starve to death before he shall think me a 
 cheat. Besides, am I a cheat ? I do not willingly 
 deceive them. 
 
 Judah. [Has come down steps behind her.] jNIiss 
 Dethic.
 
 40 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Vashti. \_Turning ivith great surprise?^ Mr. Llew- 
 ellyn ! How did you get here ? 
 
 JUDAH. I climbed up from the moat. 
 
 Vashti. From the moat ? \Looks over the para- 
 pet ; shuddersl\ How could you do such a danger- 
 ous thing ? You might have been killed. 
 
 JUDAH. You forget ; I was a shepherd all my 
 youth. Before I was twelve I climbed the side of 
 a mountain three times as high as this for a bird's 
 nest. 
 
 Vashti. Three times as high as this ! 
 
 JUDAH. I was dared to do it. I brought the 
 young ones down to the ground, and when I heard 
 the mother crying for them, I climbed up again 
 and put them back in the nest. 
 
 Vashti. \Again looking dozvn.~\ It makes me 
 giddy to look down. Why have you come here ? 
 
 JUDAH. To be near you. I've been here every 
 night since you have been in the castle. 
 
 Vashti. Every night ? 
 
 JuDAH. Yes. I couldn't keep away. 
 
 Vashti. You haven't seen — no one has seen 
 you ? 
 
 JUDAH. No, I think not. They all sleep on the 
 other side of the house ; and look — \Pointiug up to 
 the warder's seat] — that seat in the hollow in the 
 wall yonder seems to have been built on purpose 
 that I might watch over you. 
 
 [Cof/ies dow7i on to terrace. 
 
 Vashti. Lady Eve told me it was the warder's
 
 ACT II JUDAH 41 
 
 place in the olden times ; that stone seat was his 
 bed. 
 
 JuDAH. It has been mine. [^Coines to her. Jopp 
 enters into conservatory. Conies in carelessly from 
 dinner. Stops suddenly and listens^ I've stayed here 
 half the night praying that strength might be given 
 you to finish your task. In three days your trial 
 will be over ; you will have wrestled for Lady Eve's 
 life, and you will have conquered. I heard that 
 girl taunt you just now. She does not believe in 
 you. 
 
 Vashti. But you believe in me. 
 
 JUDAH. You know I do. You know I have 
 never doubted you. 
 
 Jopp. \_Aside.'\ My young Welshman is honest. 
 I knew he Avas ! \Exit. 
 
 Vashti. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Llewellyn, 
 with all my heart. You don't know how those 
 words help me. 
 
 JuDAH. {^Approaching her.^ Help you ! I help you ! 
 Oh, you're above me, like heaven itself. But hear 
 me. I must tell you — I love you ! 
 
 Vashti. Mr. Llewellyn, say no more. 
 
 JuDAH. I love you. Forgive my daring to say 
 it. I'm mad to speak of human love to you. You're 
 scarcely of this world at all. Oh ! but I love you, 
 I love you ! From the first moment I saw you, 
 when that poor woman tried to thank you for the 
 health you had given her, and your face turned to 
 her like an angel's in your pity, I have loved you.
 
 42 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 You have been the secret spring of all my power 
 When I speak to the people, it is your voice that 
 speaks through me. Your love is a flame on my 
 tongue. All the world is transfigured because you 
 are in it. When I walk along the streets all the 
 men and women seem to be smitten with your 
 beauty. There is nothing common or mean or 
 wicked anywhere : everything is good and bright 
 and pure. Your presence makes all the earth 
 beautiful and sacred, and your goodness is like 
 your beauty, it spreads goodness all round you, as 
 your beauty spreads beauty. You make me half 
 divine. I love you, I love you ! 
 
 \^Has sunk on his knees. 
 
 Vashti. \Her face has shoivn alternate pain and 
 pleasure. She speaks very quietly^ If I were not 
 good — if I were wicked ? 
 
 JuDAH. You cannot be other than yourself. 
 
 Vashti. But would you love me, whatever I was ? 
 Satisfy my woman's curiosity — would you love me 
 if I were not good ? 
 
 JuDAH. If you were not good it would not be 
 you. \_Looking at her closely. \ What do you mean ? 
 
 \^Pause. 
 
 Vashti. [Assuming quiet, matter-of-fact tone.'\ 
 Nothing. I only asked out of curiosity. You 
 must go. [JuDAH turns azcay.] Miss Jopp will be 
 .coming soon. Good-night. 
 
 JuDAH. You are not offended ? 
 
 Vashti. [ Very calm, without showing any trace of
 
 ACT n JUDAH 43 
 
 feeling^ Offended ! — no. Oh, please say no 
 more. 
 
 JuDAH. [After a patise of pain^i^ I will not — but 
 I am as you are — something apart from other men 
 and women. All my life has been different from 
 others. Till six years ago I never had any com- 
 panions but the hills and my father's cattle. Till 
 I saw you I had never known what the love of man 
 for woman was. 
 
 Vashti. You have never loved any one before ? 
 
 JuDAH. Never. To-night I have spoken the 
 only words of love that I shall ever speak. [Her 
 face glows with delight.'] No woman will ever again 
 hear me say that I love her. 
 
 Vashti. [Aside.] Oh ! [ With great delight.] Are 
 you sure of that ? 
 
 JuDAH. Quite sure. It is not possible for me to 
 love again. 
 
 Vashti. Hark ! Some one's coming. You must 
 go. Quick ! 
 
 [JUDAH rufis up steps ; then gets over the parapet. 
 Vashti folloivs to top of steps. 
 
 JuDAH. [Descending the wall of the moat.] Good- 
 bye ! Give me that handkerchief you wear. 
 
 [6*/;!^ takes the handkerchief from her neck and 
 throws it to him. He catches it, Vashti 
 leans over parapet.
 
 44 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Vashti. Take care, take care ! [^He goes doivn ; 
 disappears.'] Oh, if he were killed I would dash my- 
 self over too, and die with him ! ^Looks again j 
 whispers doiaii.'\ Are you safe ? 
 
 JuDAH. l^Beloiu.] Quite ; do not fear. 
 
 Vashti. If I had the courage to tell him ! If 
 he could know the truth of me, and yet love 
 me ! I will. I wiil tell him ; and yet — I dare not. 
 Oh, if you knew how it breaks my heart to deceive 
 you ! 
 
 D ETHIC, 7vith cigar lighted, saunters on furtively 
 along terrace. Vashti is bending over par- 
 apet. 
 
 Dethic. [/« a loud whisper.] Vashti ! 
 
 Vashti. ^Turns round.] Bring me some food ; 
 I'm perishing with hunger. 
 
 Dethic. By and by. I've been to London, and 
 Tozer — 
 
 Vashti. Hush ! 
 Sophie enters along terrace, and overhears Dethic's 
 last zvords. Dethic is confused. 
 
 Dethic. S^Going on.] Yes, I saw Tozer, and he 
 said — [6"^^^ Sophie y stops. 
 
 Sophie. [To Dethic] Pray don't let me inter- 
 rupt Mr. Tozer's message. 
 
 Dethic. [Confused.] Oh, Tozer said nothing of 
 importance — 
 
 Sophie. Ah ! A member of Parliament possibly, 
 or a popular preacher. Will you come with me
 
 ACT II JUDAH 45 
 
 into the drawing-room, Miss Dethic, or do you pre- 
 fer being alone ? 
 
 Vashti. [At top of steps^^ I would rather be 
 alone. \Aside?^ He loves me ! he loves me ! 
 
 Sophie. You are sure you won't take any food ? 
 
 [Dethic sig?is to her to say No, u?isee?i by Sophie. 
 
 Vashti. I do not need it. 
 
 [Fale, fixed, determined. Goes in to keep gate- 
 way. Sophie shrugs her shoulders. Goes 
 up steps to faste?i the gate. 
 
 Dethic. Do you hear that ? This is a glorious 
 triumph for us. 
 
 Sophie. [Turtis on step, fixing hini.^ Ah, you 
 have dined ; your daughter hasnt! 
 
 Dethic. [Aside] If you don't come to some bad, 
 wicked end, it 7c/// be a pity. 
 
 [£xit along terrace. Sophie comes dotvn, hav- 
 ing locked door. 
 
 JuxON Prall enters through conservatory, in a 
 towering rage. 
 
 JuxoN. [Throws book on table.] Really, it's most 
 lamentable ! [Goes xip stage; leans on wall. 
 
 Sophie. What is ? 
 
 JuxoN. For the past six years I have endeavoured 
 to instil into my poor dear mother's mind the mer- 
 est elements of logic. Will you believe me. Miss 
 Jopp, that she fails to grasp the necessary conse- 
 quence in the simplest syllogism ?
 
 46 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Sophie. How strange it is, Mr. Juxon, that peo- 
 ple like your parents should possess such a gifted 
 son as you ! 
 
 Juxon. It is one of the freaks of heredity. My 
 brother James is not gifted. When I think of poor 
 James, I am ashamed of my attainments. 
 
 Sophie. Why ? 
 
 Juxon. James being quite a fool, I feel that I 
 have unintentionally deprived him of his intellec- 
 tual birthright. 
 
 Sophie. You ought to feel grateful for your own 
 extraordinary endowments. 
 
 Juxon. \_Approachitig her^ Then you — you really 
 have the penetration. Miss Jopp, to see that my 
 acquirements are — if I may say so without egoism 
 — not quite of the common order ? 
 
 \^He somehow gets her hand, and continues during 
 the scene nursing it between both of his in 
 a seesaw tvay, moving her hand between his 
 up and doivn about four inches below his 
 chin, and using them to emphasize his dis- 
 course occasionally. 
 
 Sophie. I never met with any one quite so con- 
 genial to me. 
 
 Juxon. Really — really — Miss Jopp, your mind, 
 though necessarily possessing some feminine limita- 
 tions, is one of the most philosophic I have ever 
 met. In fact, for some time past — ever since we
 
 ACT 11 JUDAH 47 
 
 attended those lectures by Professor Dobney last 
 season — 
 
 Sophie. On mental pathology ; very interesting, 
 but Dobney is quite wrong in his deductions. 
 
 JuxoN. Decidedly Dobney is wrong — deplorably 
 wrong. Dobney is an insufferable, self-satisfied 
 prig. I shall be compelled to tell Dobney my opin- 
 ion of him one of these days. [Paitse.^ But — 
 we'll leave Dobney for the time, and, as I was say- 
 ing — as I was saying — 
 
 \^Hesitates; gets a little confused^ 
 
 Sophie. \Helping him?^ Shall we sit down ? 
 
 JuxoN. \_Looks round^ No; no, I don't think so. 
 I think I can formulate my thoughts better stand- 
 ing. You'll permit me to speak quite frankly ? 
 
 Sophie. Do so ; I wish it. 
 
 JuxoN. In approaching the really momentous 
 subject of marriage — \^Paiise^ Have I made it 
 plain to you that I am about to suggest that we 
 should become united for life ? 
 
 Sophie. [ Unembarrassed?^ I gathered as much. 
 
 JuxoN. Thank you. I have considered the mat- 
 ter very carefully, and — you fully understand, do 
 you not, that I am now making you a definitive offer 
 of marriage ? 
 
 Sophie. \(2itite unembarrassed?^ Oh yes. And I 
 may say frankly, Mr. Juxon, I am disposed to ac- 
 cept you — under certain conditions. 
 
 Juxon. Pecuniary, I suppose ? You are aware I 
 am quite dependent upon my father. I cannot
 
 48 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 truthfully affirm that my poor father is of the slight- 
 est use in the world, and yet, so far as I can judge, 
 there is very little prospect of his immediately re- 
 tiring from it. Not that I wish him to do so; still, 
 it would simplify matters. However, as I am one 
 of his only two children, I suppose he will make 
 some provision for me. 
 
 Sophie. My objections were not pecuniary, but 
 physiological. 
 
 JuxoN. Very necessary ! Extremely necessary ! 
 How sensible of you ! The neglect of the simplest 
 physiological principles is simply deplorable. But, 
 my dear Miss Jopp, my physical development, 
 though somewhat retarded by my great mental 
 exertions, is in the most satisfactory state. 
 
 Sophie. You had a bad cough last winter. 
 
 JuxoN. Nothing, nothing, I assure you. [^Strikes 
 his chest twice with Sophie's ha?td. Coughs.] My 
 lungs are organically sound. In fact, for a man of 
 medium height and build, my whole frame is un- 
 usually vigorous and elastic. However, I would, 
 of course, insure my life ; and it might perhaps be 
 some satisfaction to you if I were to bring you the 
 certificate from the Life Insurance Society. 
 
 Sophie. If you don't mind. 
 
 JuxoN. Not at all. Then I suppose we may 
 consider the matter settled. 
 
 Sophie. [ U?imoved.'\ Quite so — so far as I am 
 concerned. 
 
 JuxoN. There's nothing else to discuss ?
 
 ACT 11 JUDAH 49 
 
 Sophie. No, not that I remember. 
 
 l^Long pause. He retains her hand; is about to 
 raise it to his lips, then is undecided whether 
 he should kiss her face. She appears abso- 
 lutely indifferefit. He hesitates between her 
 lips and her hand; finally raises her ha?id to 
 his lips, kisses it rather gingerly, drops it 
 suddenly. Sophie goes down right. JuxON 
 goes to table, takes his book, and returns be- 
 fore speaking. 
 
 {Pause. \ 
 
 JuxoN. I really think we may congratulate our- 
 selves. 
 
 Sophie. Um ! I wonder where everybody is. 
 
 JuxoN. I trust you don't feel dull. 
 
 Sophie. {Quickly^ Not at all. 
 
 JuxoN. I'm glad of that. {Takes her hand as 
 before.'\ We might perhaps now sit down for a 
 while. Shall we ? 
 
 Sophie. Yes. {They sit. ^ How quickly we came 
 to a perfect understanding ! 
 
 TuxoN. Yes. {Pauses^ I do really think we 
 may congratulate ourselves. 
 
 Sophie. I think so. 
 
 Jopp and Prall come into co?iservatory smoking, 
 and stand with backs to audience. 
 
 JuxoN. Our fathers — there's no necessity to 
 mention our decision to them at present.
 
 5© JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Sophie. [^After a pause of consideratmi^ No, I 
 should say not. Marriage being a purely personal 
 matter — 
 
 JuxoN. Quite so, 
 
 Sophie. It concerns ourselves only. 
 
 JuxoN. Precisely. I shall, of course, inform my 
 poor father and mother before we marry. 
 
 Sophie. Yes. I may possibly tell my father, but 
 he'll not interfere ; he's far too sensible. 
 
 JuxoN. I wish I could say the same of mine. 
 
 Jopp. \_Saunters on to terrace.~\ Oh, here you are. 
 How's our prisoner ? 
 
 Sophie. Hungry. i\Ir. Dethic seems most anx- 
 ious to speak to her. 
 
 Jopp. She has already had one visitor. 
 
 Sophie. Who ? 
 
 Jopp. That strange young minister, Mr. Llewel- 
 lyn, has been here. I heard him speak to her a 
 few minutes ago. 
 
 Sophie. He may have brought her food. 
 
 Jopp. Oh, no. I heard quite enough to satisfy 
 me. Besides, there's no doubt about his honesty. 
 He's a fanatic, but he's as true as the day. 
 
 Mr. v. Eighteen days gone out of the twenty- 
 one. Come, Jopp, what do you say now ? 
 
 Jopp. Miss Dethic is a marvel. 
 
 Mr. p. You candidly confess yourself beaten ? 
 
 Jopp. I candidly confess, Prall, I don't know 
 how it's done.
 
 ACT II JUDAH 51 
 
 Dethic strolls on to terrace with cigar. Listeningy 
 leans against wall. 
 
 Mr. p. Oh, come, come, Jopp ; you don't suspect 
 any trickery ? 
 
 Jopp. My dear Prall, I've lived sixty years in 
 this world. I have never met with a single instance 
 of cheating or deception or fraud of any descrip- 
 tion. I am told such things are occasionally prac- 
 tised on this planet, though happily not in this de- 
 gree of longitude. Still, I do occasionally meet 
 with — 
 
 Mr. p. With what ? 
 
 Jopp. With things that puzzle me. However, no 
 amount of evidence that my eyes or ears can bring 
 shall ever shake my theory that human nature is 
 absolutely above suspicion. 
 
 Mr. p. Now, Jopp, I consider that very unhand- 
 some. You find yourself beaten, and you hint at 
 treachery. [Dethic is listening on terrace. 
 
 Sophie. We are not beaten yet, Mr. Prall. There 
 are three days more, and we intend from to-morrow 
 to watch Miss Dethic more closely. 
 
 Dethic. [Aside.] Oh, you beauty ! [Conies for- 
 ward. Mrs. Prall enters at conseri'atorj.] You 
 may make what rules you like. Miss Jopp. My 
 dear child will prove herself triumphant, as she has 
 done hitherto. Has she not, Mrs. Prall ? 
 
 Mrs. p. She has, indeed. I'm quite sure there 
 is no deception. [£xit Dethic through archway
 
 52 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Enter Lady Eve and Lord A. on terrace. 
 
 Lady E. What are you talking about ? Miss 
 Dethic ? I'm sure she has this strange power, what- 
 ever it is. Since she has been in the house I've 
 felt so much better. 
 
 Lord A. \^To Jopp, aside^^ You hear that ? 
 
 Lady E. Isn't she coming to say good-night to 
 me ? 
 
 Sophie. I'll bring her to you. 
 
 \^Goes up the keep steps and opens door.'\ 
 
 Mrs. p. [^Aside to Juxon.] I wish, Juxon, you 
 wouldn't be so friendly with that girl. She seems 
 to me a highly unsuitable companion for a young 
 man. 
 
 Juxon. We will not discuss that question just 
 now, my dear mother. 
 
 Sophie. \^At top of steps, calls.^ Miss Dethic ! 
 [Vashti appears from tower doorJ] Lady Eve 
 wants to say good-night to you. 
 
 Vashti runs down steps tvith bravado and assmned 
 cheerfulness to Lady Eve. They go down stage 
 together. 
 
 Jopp. {^Aside, ^catching her.^ Very well put on, 
 young lady; very well put on. 
 
 [Sophie has come down steps. ]vxo:<! joins her 
 at back. They cross together and exeunt 
 alojis: terrace.
 
 ACT II JUDAH 53 
 
 Lord A. How are you this evening, Miss 
 Dethic ? 
 
 Vashti. Quite well, Lord Asgarby — wonderfully 
 well. [ With assumed gaiety^ We'll take a run in 
 the garden — shall we, Lady Eve ? 
 
 Lady E. \^Excitedlyi\ Yes ; let's race to the lodge 
 gates. Professor Jopp, !Miss Dethic will win the 
 day. 
 
 Jopp. Apparently. 
 
 Lady E. You see strength does come to those 
 to whom she wills it. 
 
 Jopp. Yes, I see. 
 
 Lady E. You are quite convinced ? 
 
 Jopp. Quite. 
 
 Lady E. Then there is no necessity for her to 
 fast any longer ? 
 
 Jopp. None whatever. I cordially recommend 
 her to give up her dangerous experiment. 
 
 Vashti. I shall not give up my experiment, dan- 
 gerous or not. \^To Lady E.] Come, it's stifling 
 here. We'll race to the lodge — no, to the lake or 
 anywhere. 
 
 Lady E. \_Catchhig her excitettient^ Yes. Come 
 along. 
 
 Jopp. {^Intercepts them as they are going.'\ Stay, 
 Miss Dethic. If you care for her health, persuade 
 her not to stay up. Come, Lady Eve, it's nearly 
 ten o'clock, and whatever ISIiss Dethic's mysterious 
 method is, it is far more likely to act if you keep 
 early hours. Come, say good-night.
 
 54 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Lady E. No. [ Turns away petulantly^ I don't 
 want to go to bed. I never really feel alive till after 
 dinner. Miss Dethic — [Vashti goes to her] — I 
 want to stay near you. Come ! The moonlight's 
 lovely. Our race ! [Jopp again intercepts them. 
 
 Jopp. The night air by the lake is dangerous, 
 Miss Dethic. Persuade her to go to bed. 
 
 Vashti. [^After a pause; to Lady Eve.] Pro- 
 fessor Jopp is right. Say good-night to us. 
 
 [Prall rises, and exit with Mrs. P. 
 
 Lady E. \^Pouti7ig.\ Oh, very well. \^Kisses her. 
 To Lord A.] Good-night. 
 
 Lord A. Good-night, my dear. 
 
 Mrs. p. Good-night, Lady Eve. 
 
 [^Exeunt Mr. a?id Mrs. Prall. 
 
 Lord A. [Kisses her very passionately.] You'll 
 soon be fast asleep. 
 
 Lady E. \^Excitedly.] No, I shan't. I never slept 
 till three last night. And then I dreamed — I had 
 the strangest dream about you. \^Eufis to Vashti.] 
 I must tell you. \_Kneels by her.] I dreamed we 
 were drowning together. Professor Jopp, have 
 you ever been nearly drowned ? It's enchanting! 
 At first we tried to swim, and it was hard work to 
 keep up; and the waves dashed over us, and took 
 away our breath; and then I caught you in my arms, 
 and I said, " Don't let us try to keep alive any more. 
 Let's sink, and see what it is like." And I felt so 
 strong. I dragged you under the water ; it was de- 
 lightful ! Down — down — down — I felt like a mer-
 
 ACT II JUDAH 55 
 
 maid dragging you down to my home ; and we kept 
 on sinking, and the deeper we got the clearer and 
 sweeter the water was: it was full of lovely gold 
 and silver fish, and they swam round us ; and we 
 went through gardens of waving purple seaweed, 
 and all the little bubbles in the water turned into 
 diamonds and hung round our necks, and dragged 
 us deeper still, and we kept on falling for hours ; 
 and at last you wanted to leave me, but I clung to 
 you and pulled you down, and said, " How can you 
 want to go back to that hateful world ? Come 
 down and drown with me, drown — drown — drown! " 
 And you said, " Let me go — I want to get back to 
 life. There is some one who loves me up there." 
 And I said, " There are two who love you down 
 here — Death and I. Stay with us and die. You 
 don't know how sweet it is." But you kissed me 
 and said good-bye ; and I tried to keep you, but 
 you faded out of my arms ; and when I tried to 
 hold you, there was no one there, and I cried out, 
 " Stay with me — stay with me ! " And then I 
 woke, and I was crying, and it was just daylight ! 
 You won't leave me ! [ Throwifig her arms round 
 Vashti, desperately weepings her head o?i Vashti's 
 kfiee. 
 
 Vashti. Do not fear. If I cannot bring you 
 back to life with me, I will stay and drown with 
 you. 
 
 Re-enter Mr. and Mrs. Prall. 
 
 Ladv E. {^Kisses her passionately; throws her arms
 
 56 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 around Vashti's ncck?^ I don't want to go away 
 from you. 
 
 Jopp. \Has been listening and showing i?npatie}ice 
 a?id anxiety at 'Lagy Eve's excitement.^ Come, Lady 
 Eve, this excitement will never do. Come, come ! 
 Bed, bed, bed ! Say good-night. 
 
 Lady E. Good-night, Professor Jopp. 
 
 {^Shakes his hand, then crosses to conservatory steps. 
 
 Jopp. And no dreams to-night. 
 
 Lady E. \0n conservatory steps ^ Yes, I shall 
 dream of you. 
 
 Jopp. You won't drown me ? 
 
 Lady E. No, I'll fly away with you to the stars. 
 
 \^Kisses her hand to Vashti, and exit through 
 conservator])' 
 
 Re-enter Dethic at archway. 
 
 Jopp. [Aside stern/y to Vashti.] If you wish to 
 keep her alive, don't let her excite herself as she 
 has done to-night. You understand ? 
 
 Vashti. [Pause.^ I understand. 
 
 [£xit Jopp a/ong terrace. Vashti goes up to 
 terrace. 
 
 Mr. p. [CordiaUy^^ She's wonderfully improved, 
 Asgarby. 
 
 Dethic. I told Lord Asgarby how it would be. 
 I hope, my lord, you are satisfied. 
 
 Lord A. She certainly seems better. 
 
 Roper enters through conservatory.
 
 ACT II JUDAH 57 
 
 Roper. Mr. Prall's carriage. \^Exit. 
 
 Re-eiiter Sophie a)id Juxon. 
 
 Mr. p. Good-night, Asgarby. We'll come over 
 again on Monday. Good-night, Miss Dethic. 
 
 \^Shakes hands and crosses to co?iservaiory. 
 
 Mrs. p. [^Shakes hands with Lord A. To 
 Vashti.] Good-night, dear. \Kisses\ x^inii. Theft 
 crosses to conservatory^] Are you ready, Juxon ? 
 
 Juxon. \_Lighting cigarette^ I would prefer to 
 walk. Our drive home from the Selwyns' the other 
 night was far from pleasant to me. 
 
 Mr. p. You would insist on arguing all the way. 
 
 Juxon. My dear father, when you advance such 
 extraordinary opinions, how can I refrain from en- 
 deavouring to put you right ? Ah, when shall I 
 reconcile myself to the inevitable folly of the vast 
 majority of my fellow-creatures ? 
 
 Mr. p. Sooner than the majority of your fellow- 
 creatures will reconcile themselves to your wisdom. 
 
 Mrs. p. Then you'll walk home, Juxon ? 
 
 Juxon. If you don't mind. I'm really afraid of 
 being drawn into some discussion with you or my 
 father, and really I am not equal to the exertion 
 to-night — I'm not, indeed ! 
 
 Mr. p. Very well, my boy, we will spare you our 
 company. 
 
 [Mr. and Mrs. Prall and Lord A. exeunt 
 through conservatory. 
 
 Dethic. [Creeping up to Vashti, aside to her.
 
 58 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 Look out for me as soon as the house is asleep. 
 [Sophie turtis sharply, nearly catching him.^ A 
 lovely moon ! [£xil along terrace. 
 
 Sophie. \^Asideto]\i^o^7\ Don't go away — come 
 back here in an hour. 
 
 JuxON. Why ? 
 
 Sophie. Mr. Dethic is going to run the blockade 
 to-night. [Jopp and Lord A. re-efiter in conser- 
 vatory.^ We'll watch him. Hush ! 
 
 JuxoN. \^To Lord A.] Good-night, Lord Asgar- 
 by. Good-night, Jopp. \_Crosses them to conserva- 
 tory. With a smile of superiority. '\ My poor father 
 seems quite happy in displaying his folly and igno- 
 rance. Did you ever witness such a lamentable 
 exhibition ? Tchk ! Tchk ! 
 
 \^Exit through conservatory. 
 
 Lord A. \^To Jopp.] You heard what Eve said 
 — she's really better ! [ Very anxiously. 
 
 Jopp. A little, perhaps. But you must keep her 
 from these fits of excitement. They'll do no end of 
 mischief. 
 
 Lord A. Good-night, Miss Dethic. You're sure 
 your own health is not suffering ? 
 
 [^Shakes hands 7vith her. 
 Vashti. Quite sure, my lord. Good-night. 
 
 [Exit Lord A. by terrace, after shaking hands 
 with Sophie. 
 
 Sophie. Sliall I see you safely housed for the 
 night, Miss Dethic ?
 
 ACT II JUDAH 59 
 
 Vashti. I am ready. 
 
 Sophie. Come, then. 
 
 \^Goes up steps and into tower. 
 
 Vashti. Good-night, Professor Jopp. 
 
 Jopp. Good-night. 
 
 Vashti. ^Triumphantly^ You see I shall count 
 Lady Eve amongst those whom I have cured. 
 
 Jopp. You mean those who have cured them- 
 selves. 
 
 Vashti. Cured themselves? 
 
 Jopp. If you don't know the secret of this mys- 
 terious power of yours, I'll explain it to you. These 
 good folks whom you cure are all suffering from 
 different kinds of nervous diseases, where only vo- 
 lition is required to make them better. Their faith 
 in you gives the necessary shock to their volition, 
 and brings its powers into exercise. But in all 
 cases of organic disease I assure you you are as 
 helpless as — as any regular practitioner ; and that's 
 saying a good deal. 
 
 Vashti. But there is no proof that I have not 
 cured them. 
 
 Jopp. Certainly there is no proof. And that is 
 why I think you are behaving very foolishly. 
 
 Vashti. What do you mean ? 
 
 Jopp. If your patients insist on getting well, 
 neither I nor any one else can possibly prove you 
 have not cured them. But — I can and will prove 
 that you can't live without eating. 
 
 Vashti. [^Goes up a few steps; staggers. He comes
 
 6o JUDAH ACT II 
 
 to her assistance. She repulses him; stands panting.^ 
 You'll prove that ? Very well. Prove it — if you 
 can. 
 
 Jopp. You are foolish. Think again. Trust me. 
 You shall find me one of the best friends you ever 
 had. 
 
 Vashti. What do you mean ? 
 
 Jopp. You've set yourself a task beyond your 
 strength. Give it up. 
 
 Vashti. Ah ! You find I've beaten you, and 
 now you want me to give you the victory. 
 
 Jopp. \Quietly, earnestly, rather tenderly.^ I want 
 no victory, Miss Dethic. Come, let's both give up. 
 What do you say ? 
 
 Vashti. [Pause.] No. 
 
 Jopp. [Shrt/gs his shoulders; changes his tone.] So 
 be it. Only take care, because — 
 
 Vashti. Because? 
 
 Jopp. The Home Secretary hasn't let my spiritu- 
 alist friend out of jail yet. 
 
 Vashti. [ Terribly frightened, but trying to hide it 
 with a pretended smile. Frightened, hoarse whisper.] 
 Would you send me to jail ? 
 
 Jopp. I should be sorry : but you're trifling with 
 the truth; you're playing upon sacred feelings ; and 
 I warn you I shall be merciless to you. 
 
 [Vashti shows terrible fright. Staggers on 
 steps. Sophie holds the door open for her. 
 
 Sophie. You're ill, Miss Dethic. Shall I stay 
 with you ? [Offers to support her.
 
 ACT 11 JUDAH ' 6l 
 
 Vashti. Thank you. I'm quite well. Good-night. 
 [Goes into keep. Sophie locks the door after her. 
 
 Jopp. \As Sophie conies down-stairsl] That's a 
 damned silly girl, but she's got pluck. 
 
 Sophie. There's a relief expedition intended to- 
 night. 
 
 Jopp. She's locked in. No one can get to her. 
 
 Sophie. No, but still I think we'd better watch 
 the father. 
 
 Enter Roper by terrace, carrying lantern. 
 
 Roper. Can I lock up, sir? 
 
 Jopp. Yes ; we're just going off to bed. Roper, 
 could you leave the conservatory unlocked for to- 
 night ? 
 
 Roper. Certainly, sir. I can lock the drawing- 
 room door, so that there's no fear of anybody get- 
 ting into the house. 
 
 Jopp. Thank you, Roper. Good-night. 
 
 Roper. Good-night, sir. Young lady in the keep 
 room going on quite comfortable, I hope ? 
 
 Jopp. Quite, Roper ; so she says. Good-night. 
 
 Roper. Good-night, sir. 
 
 \^Exetint Jopp a?id Sophie along terrace. Roper 
 turns out lamp in conservatory ; exit ; shuts 
 door, and is heard to turn key in lock. 
 Front of stage dark. Moonlight on terrace, and pari 
 
 of stage. After a long pause Judah is seen 
 
 climbing over parapet. Comes to the front of 
 
 the keep.
 
 62 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 JUDAH. \Looking towards her window?^ I cannot 
 leave you. You draw me to you, loadstar of purity 
 and goodness. Oh, there is something more than 
 mortal in your beauty ! And I dared to speak 
 of love to you, of earthly love ! — I, who am 
 not worthy to breathe the same air, or touch your 
 garment with my lips. Forgive me ! Let me but 
 walk where your feet have trodden, speak some- 
 times with you, look upon your heavenly beauty, 
 see you do your gracious acts of mercy and kind- 
 ness, and it shall be enough for me. {^Standing on 
 top of steps, looking up at the housei\ The house is 
 quiet; all the lights are out; they are asleep. \^Tur7is 
 again towards keep.\ Are you asleep, too, worn out 
 with fasting and watching? Giving up your life 
 that others may live ? Oh, let me be your sentinel, 
 your watch-dog, and keep guard that no evil thing 
 comes near you. Nay, no evil thing could come 
 near you. Keep her ! Give her strength to defeat 
 her enemies, and show Thy power to them that 
 deny Thee ! \Going into warder s niche, is hidden. 
 
 Pause. Dethic enters at terrace, looking cautiously 
 roufid. 
 
 Dethic. That confounded moon ! What the 
 plague does it want to shine to-night for ? — as if it 
 couldn't blaze away some other night ! Thank 
 goodness, everybody sleeps on the other side of the 
 house. They're all safely in bed by this time. 
 What's this ? The conservatory door open ? There's
 
 ACT II JUDAH 63 
 
 some one in there. [^Striking snatch and searching 
 conservatory^ No. It's been left open by accident. 
 If I'd known that, I might have got out this way. 
 I must risk it and give her the key. [Goes up the 
 steps; JuDAH is in the shade of the keep watching 
 him. 'D^imc pulls out a key, opcfis door very quietly 
 and gingerly, looking up at the house to see whether he 
 is watched all the 7vhile. Opens door.] Vashti ! 
 Vashti ! [ Taking something out of his pocket. 
 
 Vashti. [//z doorway ^^ Have you brought it ? 
 Dethic. Yes, my darling. Here, here. Come 
 down to the conservatory. I mustn't leave the 
 house again. \_Giving her something, Vashti eats 
 ravenously?^ I've got plenty of food for you, but I 
 had to drop out of the first-floor window, so I was 
 obliged to leave it in my room. 
 
 Vashti. Go and fetch it. I must have it. I'm 
 starving 
 
 Dethic. \Brings her down steps?\ My darling, 
 that Miss Jopp is on the lookout. I mustn't be 
 seen again. Here, take this key. You see, I got it 
 copied. Tozer did it. I stole it from Miss Jopp. 
 She never missed it, and I put it back in her pocket 
 without her even knowing it. They've forgotten to 
 lock up the conservatory. You come in there and 
 wait. You know that door that leads into the 
 drawing-room. I'll bring it to you there. 
 Vashti. But that door is locked and bolted. 
 Dethic. The key's left in it on the other side
 
 64 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 I took stock of tliat. You wait down there, and 
 I'll give it to you in ten minutes from now. 
 
 Vashti. Bring it me, bring it me ! Quick ! I 
 don't want to be found down here. 
 
 Dethic. All right, my love. Wait there in the 
 conservatory. I won't keep you long. 
 
 Vashti. Make haste ! [Dethic goes off at ter- 
 race. Vashti watches Dethic going off. Judah 
 rises in the warder's seat and comes down steps. She 
 hears his footsteps, turns roimd, and sees hi?n on steps.'\ 
 You ! [Deadly quiet whisper.'] You heard ? 
 
 Judah. [ Very calm.'] Every word. 
 
 Vashti. You know what I am. 
 
 Judah. [Still very calm.'] Don't I tell you I heard 
 all? 
 
 Vashti. [Pattse.'] What do you think of me ? 
 [He does not reply. In more agitated tone.] What 
 do you think of me ? [Still no reply. Again, more 
 excited.] Tell me; I must know. What do you 
 think of me ? [Goes up to him. 
 
 Judah. I cannot think. Good is evil, day is 
 night. Are you angel or devil — or both ? What 
 are you ? The brightest saint of all hell, the black- 
 est fiend of all heaven ? What are you ? Oh, if I 
 had died before I knew ! 
 
 Vashti. [Imploringly.] Do not speak like that. 
 I told you I was not a saint, but only a woman — a 
 vain, foolish, ambitious girl; but not — not willingly 
 wicked, only weak. Oh ! [Imploringly.] Do not
 
 ACT II JUDAH 65 
 
 think badly of me. I cannot bear it, I cannot 
 bear it ! \^Kneels and clings to him. 
 
 JUDAH. \_Ptishing her away?^ You'd cast your 
 snares round me again. You would make me be- 
 lieve in you now — now — after what I have heard. 
 And — God forgive me — if I listen to you I shall be 
 ready to sell my eternal peace, my very soul, at 
 your bidding. Let me go, woman — let me go ! 
 
 \_Throwing her from him, Yashti, on her 
 knees, clings to him, holds him. 
 
 Vashti. [Very imploringly i\ No, no; hear me 
 first — you must hear me — you shall hear me, and 
 then kill me if you like — for I cannot live if you 
 hate me ! Hear me — oh ! it is the very last thing 
 I shall ever beg of you. 
 
 JUDAH. [^Tears himself atvay from her. ^ Woman! 
 I know you. 
 
 Vashti. No — you do not know me ; and you 
 will not hear me. [^Bursts into tears. He is going, 
 but is stopped by her appealing attitude. Kneeling^ 
 You don't know what my childhood and girlhood 
 were like — how often we were pressed for money. 
 Sometimes we had scarcely bread enough to eat. 
 We went to Spain. I found I was able to cure 
 many of the foolish country people if they only 
 believed in me, and my father persuaded me if I 
 could only show them that I could live without 
 food it would be a sign of my possessing super- 
 natural power. I began, and it was as he said. I
 
 66 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 found everybody believed in me. When I had 
 once begun, I was obliged to go on. We came 
 back to England and then I met you ; and at first 
 I was pleased to see what power I had over you. 
 But when I saw that you believed in me and loved 
 me, I gradually felt how wicked I'd been. I tried 
 again and again to give it up; I tried to tell you. I 
 wanted you to know the truth about me, and yet I 
 could not bear you to think that I was not worthy 
 of your love. You know it now. Oh ! tell me you 
 forgive me. \^Seizitig his hand. Imploringly?^ Oh, 
 say you forgive me. [ Very emphatic. 
 
 JuDAH. \^Has regained cabnness.\ I forgive you. 
 Let me go. \_Going up stage, she retains his hand. 
 
 Vashti. Good-bye. 
 
 \^She takes his hand to her lips, and kisses it. 
 
 JUDAH. l^Fired tvith her kiss^ What have you 
 done ? \Looks at her in the moonlight?[ Oh, you 
 are more beautiful than ever to-night. \^Looking at 
 her passionately.^ This is all a dream. I blot the 
 past hour from my memory. You're mad to say 
 that you could cheat and deceive. I will not be- 
 lieve you. [ Takes both her hands ifi his.^ You are 
 very truth. How dare you slander yourself ? 
 
 Vashti. Ah ! No ! \^Drawing away from him; 
 withdraws her hand?\ Know me for what I am — 
 a cheat, an impostor, a liar. 
 
 Judah. Hush ! hush ! You shall not say so. 
 
 Vashti. Oh ! why should you deceive yourself ?
 
 ACT 11 JUDAH 67 
 
 You know the truth of nie at last, and I am glad — 
 yes, I am glad ! Think what I am — vain, weak, 
 false ! 
 
 JuDAH. Why, yes, perhaps you are, and therefore 
 so much nearer me. [/Raises her and clasps her in 
 his arms.] I thought you out of my reach, up there 
 amongst the stars; and you're of this earth, like 
 myself, a woman made for me ! Ah, yes ! I'm 
 glad you are what you are, for I can make you 
 mine now. 
 
 Vashti. [Breaking atvay from him.] No, no, for 
 your own sake you must give me up ; have no 
 more to do with me. Disown me ; forget me ! 
 
 JUDAH. Forget you ! 
 
 Vashti. You must. All your future is at stake. 
 Forget me ! It is the best for both ; but — you 
 won't betray me ? 
 
 JuDAH. Betray you ? I love you. [Embracing 
 her.] Oh, don't you see you are nearer to me for 
 this night ; we are bound to each other. I love 
 you ! I love you ! My wife ! 
 
 Vashti. [Recoiling from him, recovers herself 
 with immense effort. Speaks calmly.] I cannot be 
 your wife — I — 
 
 JuDAH. You do not love me ? 
 
 Vashti. I cannot be your wife. [N'oise of foot- 
 steps heard outside on terrace.] Ah, hush I Who's 
 that? 
 
 [Judah is about to send her up steps, but thinking
 
 68 JUDAH ACT 11 
 
 they will be seen, takes her i?ito the conserv- 
 atory. They hide behind palms. Sophie 
 and Jopp co)ne along terrace, listening at 
 back. 
 
 Sophie. I certainly heard voices. 
 
 Jopp. I thought so. \Crosses to archway; looks off. 
 
 Sophie. Everything is quiet. Let's wait here. 
 It's the best place to watch the keep. 
 
 Jopp. [ Yawning7\ Deuce take the girl ! To 
 think I should be fool enough to let her rob me of 
 my beauty-sleep to prove to the British public that 
 she's a swindler. 
 
 Sophie. There will be some satisfaction in thor- 
 oughly exposing her, and seeing her safely locked 
 up. 
 
 Jopp. It's the British public that ought to be 
 locked up till it learns wisdom. 
 
 Sophie. It would be locked up for ever, then. 
 
 Jopp. I dare say. Still I must own that in the 
 great epic war between rogues and fools all my 
 sympathies go with the rogues. 
 
 Sophie. So do mine ; but that's no reason why 
 we should not hang both rogues and fools. 
 
 Jopp. Oh, I mean to punish my lady. She 
 should have accepted my terms an hour ago; now 
 it's too late. 
 
 \^A noise of very gently withdrawing locks and 
 bolts is heard at the drawing-room door, 
 
 Sophie. \Rises, seizes Jopp's hand ; Jopp rises to
 
 ACT II JUDAH 69 
 
 meet /ler.] Hush ! What did I tell you ? Some one 
 is at the drawing-room door. 
 
 Jopp. Mr. Dethic. We'll let him get well at his 
 work before we disturb him. The archway — quick ! 
 
 [Sophie goes off at a?'c/nuay. Jopp folloivs, and 
 closes door after them, Dethic cautiously 
 opens door in conservatory and is coming on. 
 
 JUDAH. \^In conservatory, in a whisper. '\ Keep 
 back ! If you are seen, you'll ruin her. \Hurries 
 Dethic off. To Vashti.] Quick, up the steps ! 
 Lock yourself in ; leave the rest to me. 
 
 [Vashti takes the key that Dethic lias given 
 her out of her pocket., rushes up steps with 
 it, goes in., closes keep door after her., locks 
 herself in. Judah goes up the steps j takes 
 his place in the warder s ?iiche and is hidden. 
 
 Jopp and Sophie re-enter from archway door on 
 terrace and come out. 
 
 Jopp. He's gone up ! 
 
 Sophie. Yes, I heard his steps. 
 
 Jopp. Give me the key. You go along the ter- 
 race and give the alarm. \^Exit Sophie along the 
 terrace^ He's got another key, then. 
 
 [Jopp ^^^J up steps ; opens keep door. Fire-bell 
 is heard to ring violently. General alarm 
 of the house. Lord A. enters along terrace. 
 Comes to foot of steps. Sophie re-enters
 
 70 JUDAH ACT II 
 
 from terrace after the ringing of the fire- 
 bell is done. 
 
 Lord A. What is it, Jopp ? 
 
 JoPP. \_At top of steps. ^ Mr. Dethic is now in the 
 keep, taking food to his daughter. 
 
 Re-enter Sophie with Lady Y,\'e., followed by Juxon, 
 Roper with lantern, and two Servants in livery. 
 
 Lord A. Where is the key ? 
 
 Jopp. I have it. \Opens the keep door and calls. 
 Mr. Dethic, Mr. Dethic ! 
 
 Vashti. \Comes to door^ What is the matter ? 
 
 Lord A. Your father is in there — ask him to 
 come out. 
 
 Vashti. My father is not here, 
 
 Jopp. You are alone ? 
 
 Vashti. I am alone. Search the place if you 
 please. 
 
 [Jopp goes in. Judah comes doion from the 
 7varders seat on to the terrace. Vashti 
 follows him. 
 
 Lord A. Mr, Llewellyn ! What are you doing 
 here? 
 
 Judah. I've watched here every night of Miss 
 Dethic's stay. 
 
 Lord A. You've watched here ? How long have 
 you been here to-night ? 
 
 Judah. Ever since the house went to rest. 
 
 \Co)nes down steps.
 
 ACT II JUDAH 71 
 
 Lord A. You have brought Miss Dethic food. 
 
 JUDAH. No. 
 
 [JoPP returns fro7n keep-room crestfallen. 
 
 Jopp. I am mistaken ; I own it. But I heard 
 voices, I'm sure. Who was it ? Who was speaking 
 here a few moments ago ? Mr. Llewellyn ! \Chal- 
 lenges Judah.] You know something of this, sir. 
 
 JUDAH. I know nothing. [^Fause. Jopp looks 
 at /mn.^ Don't you believe me ? 
 
 Jopp. {^Looking at hifn.^ I don't know. Give 
 me your oath — you have not brought Miss Dethic 
 any food. [Vashti looks at Judah. 
 
 Judah. My oath — I have not brought Miss 
 Dethic any food. 
 
 Jopp. Your oath — you have not seen her take 
 any. [Vashti looks at hiin. 
 
 Judah. \^After a pause.\ My oath — I have not 
 seen her take any. [Vashti shows relief. 
 
 Jopp. Your oath — she has not been outside that 
 door, to your knowledge. \_Longer pause. 
 
 Judah. My oath — she has not been outside that 
 door to my knowledge. 
 
 Jopp. \^Looks at /lim.'] Enough ! I take your 
 word. I was mistaken. 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 A year passes between Acts II. and III.
 
 72 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 ACT III 
 
 Scene. Same as in Act I. 
 
 Discover Lady Eve seated in arnu/iair, and Lord 
 AsGARBY standing by Lady Eve. 
 
 Lady E. Then everything's settled. 
 
 Lord A. Everything. Granger brings the deed 
 to-day, and Mr. Llewellyn and Papworthy are to 
 meet me and read it over. 
 
 Lady E. And on the foundation-stone it is to 
 be carved that the building is in memory of my 
 getting well again. 
 
 Lord A. Yes. 
 
 Lady E. And nothing is to be said about Vashti 
 having cured me ? 
 
 Lord A. No, my dear ; it is better to leave such 
 questions alone. 
 
 Lady E. ^Pettishly.^ But it is she who has cured 
 me. If she had not come to Asgarby when she 
 did, the wind would have blown me away before 
 this. 
 
 Lord A. Eve, my darling, don't speak like this ! 
 
 Lady E. Why not ? Leaves must fall, even rose- 
 leaves ; and then they mustn't litter the garden — 
 they must be swept away to make room for the live 
 flowers. [Goes to window and exit.
 
 ACT III JUDAH 73 
 
 Lord A. She is better ; she is stronger than she 
 has ever been. What does it matter what the 
 cause is ? [Lady Eve comes swiftly in again. 
 
 Lady E. Here's that dreadful Mr. Dethic. He's 
 always hinting to me about money. I'm sure 
 Vashti won't like him to live with her and Mr. 
 Llewellyn. Can't you pension him to live away 
 from them ? 
 
 Lord A. Yes, dear, if you wish it. 
 
 Dethic enters at window, rather better dressed, 
 affable, familiar, jaunty. 
 
 Dethic. Ha ! Do you know, my lord, the more 
 I see of this noble historical pile, the more I'm 
 intoxicated with it ! 
 
 Lord A. \Coolly?[ Indeed, Air. Dethic. 
 
 Dethic. Language entirely fails to convey the 
 depth of my attachment to this venerable place and 
 its venerable owner. 
 
 Lord A. We will spare you the expression of 
 your feelings, Mr. Dethic. Lady Eve and I have 
 been speaking of your daughter's approaching mar- 
 riage to Mr. Llewellyn. [Dethic shows great in- 
 terest^ You will not, I suppose, live with them ? " 
 
 Dethic. Well, my lord, nothing has been men- 
 tioned about my future, but I see no reason why 
 I should not be perfectly happy and comfortable 
 with my dear children. 
 
 Lord A. That arrangement Avill suit them ? 
 
 Dethic. I should say so. I always make myself
 
 74 JUDAH ACT in 
 
 agreeable in all circles of society, and if nobody 
 expresses a violent dislike to my company, I take 
 it for granted I'm welcome, and — if I may use a 
 playful term — chum on ! 
 
 Lord A. Miss Dethic refuses to accept my offer 
 of a provision for herself. 
 
 Dethic. It's ungrateful of her. I've argued it 
 with her scores of times. I know your lordship 
 will never suspect us of mercenary motives; but 
 still, if any trifling way of showing your gratitude 
 should suggest itself — [Vashti enters. Lady 
 'Eve Joins her. Vashti kisses her. Seeing Vashti, 
 Dethic drops his voice.'\ I think, my lord, I could 
 better express my paternal care for Vashti's future 
 if we were out of her hearing. 
 
 Lord A. Doubtless. Come this way, Mr. 
 Dethic. I have a proposal to make to you on the 
 subject. 
 
 Dethic. \yery gratefiiUy?\^ Thank you, my lord, 
 thank you. 
 
 [Lord A. and Dethic exeunt at window. 
 Vashti seats herself. Lady Eve kneels by 
 her side. 
 
 Lady E. You grow sadder and sadder the nearer 
 you get to your wedding-day. How is it ? 
 Vashti. No, no ! 
 
 Lady E. Yes, you do. You love Mr. Llewellyn ? 
 Vashti. Love him ! 
 Lady E. And he loves you. I wish I had a
 
 ACT III JUDAH 75 
 
 lover. Oh, if somebody would but once — only 
 once look at me as Mr. Llewellyn looks at you ! 
 
 Vashti. \^RadiafiL'\ He does love me ! 
 
 Lady E. Yes, but he has changed. 
 
 Vashti. {^Alartned.^ Changed ! No, no ! He 
 cannot change. 
 
 Lady E. Yes, he doesn't love you now as he did 
 a year ago. 
 
 Vashti. Oh, don't say that ! don't say that ! 
 What do you mean ? 
 
 Lady E. He used to look at you as if he wanted 
 to worship you ; now he looks at you as if he 
 wanted to protect you. 
 
 Vashti. [^Reassured — a great sigh of relief ; in a 
 low, pleased voice. '\ I want him to protect me. 
 
 £nter Judah at ivindow, very pale, thinner, older. 
 
 JUDAH. Lord Asgarby told me I should find you 
 here. 
 
 [Lady Eve rwis to him, takes his hand, looks at 
 him critically for a few seconds. 
 
 Lady E. You too! \_Looks from one to the other. ^ 
 What makes you both so sad ? My father has 
 promised me everything I asked him for you. It 
 is to be the most magnificent building in Beach- 
 ampton, and it is to be endowed while you are its 
 minister, so that you will be perfectly happy, both 
 of you, for all your lives. 
 
 Judah. I have done nothing to deserve this. 
 Lady Eve. I cannot take it.
 
 76 JUDAH ACT in 
 
 Lord A. enters at ivindozu. 
 
 Lady E. Yes, you must ! Mr. Llewellyn says he 
 will not take your gift. Tell him he must. 
 
 Lord A. Indeed you must, Mr. Llewellyn. I 
 promised if my child's life were spared that what- 
 ever Miss Dethic should ask, I would give her. 
 
 JuDAH. But it is too much ; besides, I have done 
 nothing. 
 
 Lord A. You are doing immense good ; your 
 example is even better than your words. [Judah 
 winces^ We need such men as you — truthful, up- 
 right, honest, open as the day. I do not ask what 
 your creed is : your actions are enough for me — 
 
 [Judah shows compunction. 
 
 Lord A. {^Going jip to Lady Eve.] What are 
 you doing, Eve ? 
 
 Lady Eve. \_Blowing muay the thist/edoivn.^ See- 
 ing how long I shall live. 
 
 Lord A. How can you tell ? 
 
 Lady E. Don't you see ? I have blown six 
 times, and all the seeds have flown from the stalk. 
 I shall live just six years longer. 
 
 Lord A. \Clasping her very tenderly^ Eve ! 
 
 \^ExcH)it Lord A. and Lady Eve by window. 
 Judah and Vashti watch them off, then 
 instinctively go to each other. 
 
 Vashti. You are ill? \Takes his hands. 
 
 Judah. It is nothing. You ? 
 
 Vashti. I'm well enough; but you — you are
 
 ACT III JUDAH 77 
 
 working too hard. Every one says you must break 
 down. \^Fause. Frightened ivhisper?\ What ailed 
 you yesterday morning ? 
 
 JuDAH. In the service ? 
 
 Vashti. Yes. 
 
 JuDAH. Nothing. Why ? I spoke as usual, did 
 I not ? 
 
 Vashti. Yes; but much more powerfully. This 
 last year — ever since — \^Pause^ — ever since that 
 dreadful night here, your tongue seems to be on 
 fire; you speak as you never spoke before. 
 
 JuDAH. Do I ? I ought to be able to proclaim 
 the truth, for I know what lying is. 
 
 Vashti. Hush, hush ! don't speak like that ! 
 Tell me — what was it yesterday morning ? 
 
 Judah. You noticed, then ? 
 
 A^ASHTi. Only that you were much disturbed, and 
 once I thought you would have broken down. 
 What was it ? 
 
 Judah. The same as it has been all the year ; 
 only it was worse than ever yesterday. Every sen- 
 tence I spoke I heard shouted in my ear, " Lies, 
 lies ; come down, liar ! Come down ! Lies ! 
 Lies! Lies!" It spoke so plainly I thought all 
 the congregation must have heard it; and after- 
 wards, as I poured out the wine, it laughed in the 
 cup and said, " Go on, go on ! Poison them, poison 
 them with your lies ! Poison them ! " 
 
 Vashti. \Cluiging to him — in a frightened whis-
 
 78 JUDAH ACT in 
 
 j)er.'\ Hush ! hush ! You must not speak like this. 
 Indeed there was nothing. 
 
 JUDAH. I know there was nothing, but I heard it. 
 I've heard it all night long. It's been with me on 
 my walk here this morning — on the other side of 
 the hedge as I came along. It kept mocking at me ! 
 Hark ! It's here now. In this room. Don't you 
 hear it ? 
 
 Vashti. No ; there is not a sound. 
 
 JuDAH. Yes. Hark ; there ! Listen ! You hear 
 what it says. Liar ! Hypocrite ! Liar ! Hypo- 
 crite ! 
 
 \^St retches out his hands in mute appeal; then 
 falls on settee, shivering with horror. 
 
 Vashti. \_Goes to him.] Oh, my dear one, my best 
 loved ! Indeed, indeed, all is still as the grave ! 
 
 Judah. [i?«<?i-.] If it were so ! If I could stop 
 my ears forever ! Silence ! Silence ! Eternal 
 silence ! [Pause,] We'll leave this place ! 
 
 Vashti. Yes, yes; where shall we go? 
 
 Judah. Anywhere ! anywhere ! I can't stay 
 here ! Why can't they give up building this church 
 for me ? 
 
 Vashti. Lady Eve has set her heart upon it. 
 The architect and the lawyer and everybody are 
 coming this afternoon. It is to be the most beauti- 
 ful building in the city. 
 
 Judah. It won't stand. If they lay the founda- 
 tions as deep as the roots of the hills, and build the
 
 ACT III JUDAH 79 
 
 walls twenty feet thick, it can't stand. It's built on 
 lies. 
 
 Vashti. Oh, don't speak like this ! You tear my 
 heart to pieces. 
 
 [J^u/'sts into tears ; falls on her knees — head on 
 his knees. 
 
 JUDAH. \_Very tenderly takes her to him.'\ Forgive 
 me, dear ! You, too, look weary. I ought not to 
 have told you. 
 
 Vashti. Yes, yes, let me share all your griefs, all 
 your burdens, as you have shared mine. Oh ! I 
 cannot bear to think what I have done. If I should 
 be discovered ! if I should bring disgrace upon you 
 
 now 
 
 Judah. Very well, let it be so ; I can bear it. 
 
 Vashti. No ! No ! Every one believes in you, 
 and I am so proud of you ; I could not bear to 
 have your name dragged in the mire with mine. 
 Give me up even now, send me away from you ; 
 let me go. 
 
 Judah. Not for every blessing in this world will 
 I part from you ! \_Takes her in his anns.^ Heap 
 them all up — fame, riches, health, peace of mind, 
 length of days, honour, friendship, every joy of body, 
 mind, and soul that the heart of man can desire — 
 put them in one scale and your love in the other. 
 I will not have them — I don't want them. I want 
 your love — I will not barter you away for all the 
 world contains. {^Clasping her very tenderly.
 
 Bo JUDAH ACT in 
 
 Vashti. Oh ! but think what I am. 
 
 JUDAH. You are yourself ! You are myself ! 
 Whatever you are I will make myself that I may be 
 like you. I will deserve you, be sure ! I will be 
 your mate. If you are evil, I will be evil too, so 
 that at the last I may taste every drop of suffering 
 that you taste, feel every pang, and keep your soul 
 side by side with mine forever ! [jPause. 
 
 Vashti. If you knew how I have tried to be 
 good since I have known you ! Every moment of 
 my life I try to be just that woman you thought me 
 before you knew me for what I am. I have re- 
 pented — oh, most bitterly ! You too — you have 
 repented ? 
 
 JUDAH. No, I cannot. The oath I took that 
 night has burnt into me. Every fibre of me is a 
 lie ! [Vashti fears herself aivay from him with a 
 cry ; bursts into tears, Judah 7-ises^ goes to her.^ 
 What is it ? What now ? 
 
 Vashti. Oh, I have ruined you forever. You 
 were the best, the most honourable man on earth. 
 You were truth itself, and I have dragged you down 
 to me. How can you love me ? 
 
 Judah. \Vety tenderly^ How can I not love 
 you ? [Vashti bursts into tears,, turns and buries 
 her head in his arms. He folds her most tenderly to 
 him J she is sobbing in his arnis.^ Hush ! hush ! 
 Hold fast to me ! We're shipwrecked together. 
 If we find land, we'll find it together. If we perish, 
 we'll perish together ! Either way you are mine !
 
 ACT III JUDAH 8l 
 
 There's nothing else much matters ! Don't blame 
 yourself. All is as it should be. You're mine ; 
 there's nothing I would change. [Kisses Iter. Pause. 
 
 Enter Jopp, sJwuni in by Roper. 
 Roper. I'll tell his lordship you're here, sir. 
 
 [Exit by window. 
 [JUDAH a7id Vashti slunu surprise and some 
 degree of alarm. 
 
 Jopp. Good-morning, j\Ir. Llewellyn. [He ad- 
 vances to JuDAH, holds out /lis hand ; Judah will not 
 take //.] No ? I'm your friend. You don't believe 
 me? [Looking at \ K'=,-i\-Y\i\ I told Miss Dethic I 
 was her friend once; she wouldn't believe me; and 
 yet she'd have been wise to make me her friend. 
 
 Vashti. Aren't you my friend now ? 
 
 Jopp. [Pause. Looks at her; then a direct — ] No, 
 I'm not. 
 
 Vashti. [Alar7ncd.'\ Why have you come to As- 
 garby ? 
 
 Jopp. I always spend a few weeks with Lord 
 Asgarby at this time of the year. 
 
 Vashti. But you were not expected. 
 
 Jopp. No; the fact is I have a little business with 
 Lord Asgarby and — [Looking at Judah] — and with 
 Mr. Llewellyn too. May I be so ungallant as to 
 ask you to leave us ? 
 
 Judah. You can speak to me before Miss Dethic. 
 [Takes her hand.\ I have no business with any one 
 that she has not a risht to hear.
 
 82 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 Jopp. I must speak to you alone. 
 JuDAH. I will not hear. \_Turns away to zcnndoiu.'] 
 Vashti. [Intercepting Judah.] Yes, yes; please, 
 please, hear what he has to say ; I'll go. [S/iowing 
 great alarm; goes to window; stops; comes down to 
 Jopp very anxiously^ This business that has 
 brought you to Asgarby so suddenly — is it about 
 me ? 
 
 Jopp. [Pause. Looks at her. ~\ Yes. \^ x'iYi'xi makes 
 a gesture of alarm ; Judah reassures her, and then 
 goes with her to window. Exit Vashti. Pause. 
 Judah comes down to Jopp. To Judah, holding out 
 his hand.^ Come ; give me your hand. I tell you 
 I'm your friend. 
 
 Judah. [Will not take it.'] When I've heard what 
 you have to say. 
 
 Jopp. Very well ; very well. You're going to 
 marry that young lady ? 
 
 Judah. Next Thursday. 
 
 Jopp. [Looks kifidly at Judah again.] AVhen I 
 was in practice, I had to cauterize a young labourer 
 who had been bitten by a mad dog — a fine, sturdy 
 young fellow with a very limited vocabulary. He 
 swore at me fearfully at the time, but he thanked 
 me afterwards. 
 
 Judah. Well? 
 
 Jopp. I'm going to cauterize you. 
 
 Judah. Go on. 
 
 Jopp. [Puts his hand affectionately on Judah's 
 shoulder.'] My lad, I haven't seen you for a year.
 
 ACT III JUDAH 83 
 
 But I wouldn't say I'm not just a little fond of you. 
 I know the value of such men as you. It is the 
 man who believes in something, believes in himself, 
 believes in his fellow men, in the woman he loves, 
 in the faith his fathers have taught him — that's the 
 man that's good for something in this world. 
 [Dryly. '\ I don't believe in anything myself, so 
 I'm good for nothing. [Judah ?noves uneasily away 
 from ln?n.'] Don't move away from me. I'm 
 determined to be your friend. 
 
 Judah. Say what you have to say. 
 
 Jopp. You believe in this Miss Dethic. I knew 
 you were mistaken a year ago. I tried all I could 
 to open your eyes then, but she was too many for 
 us. I knew very well all the while she was deceiv- 
 ing Lord Asgarby, deceiving Lady Eve, deceiving 
 you. 
 
 Judah. She was not deceiving me. 
 
 Jopp. My dear sir, you were blind — although 
 you know, that night here, for a moment I was dis- 
 posed to think that you might be aiding her in her 
 lies. 
 
 Judah. You thought that ? 
 
 Jopp. Forgive me ; it was only for a moment. 
 I don't mind telling you that, if she was foolish 
 enough to play her tricks again, I would let you be 
 her keeper, and I would believe your word as easily 
 as I would disbelieve her oath. 
 
 Judah. Indeed ! Yet she is as truthful as I am. 
 
 Jopp. Tut, tut ! You've got a fine career before
 
 84 JUDAH ACT HI 
 
 you ; I don't want to see you throw it away. This 
 woman is an impostor. I can prove it ; all the 
 country shall ring with it, and in a week to-day, if 
 she is in England at all, she shall be in prison. 
 
 JuDAH. You'll prove her an impostor ? How? 
 
 Jopp. There is but one key to those tower rooms. 
 
 JuDAH. Which was in your daughter's keeping. 
 
 Jopp. Mr. Dethic had another key made. I've 
 got the locksmith who made it for him. He's 
 waiting for me at the Asgarby Arms now. I have 
 had detectives at work for months. I've fished out 
 all the past history of these Dethics, and they can- 
 not escape me. As soon as I have seen Lord 
 Asgarby I bring my man up from the village and 
 prove it. 
 
 JUDAH. [^Pause. Looking at Jopp for some 
 seconds, then calmly^ Bring him. 
 
 Jopp. You will marry Miss Dethic next Thurs- 
 day. 
 
 JuDAH. Yes. 
 
 Jopp. Are you mad ? Her character is lost ! 
 The man who marries her will be utterly ruined for 
 life. 
 
 JUDAH. I am that man ! Prove your worst 
 against her. Write " Liar " on her forehead, make 
 her name a byword all over England, hunt her to 
 shame, to prison, to another country, I'm her part- 
 ner ! I love her ! There's no locksmith living can 
 put bars between her and me, and the sword was
 
 ACT III JUDAH 85 
 
 never forged that can divide us in twain. Do your 
 worst ! To-morrow she shall be my wife. 
 
 \^Exit after Vashti by -dniidoiv. 
 Jopp. [^Looking after him.'] That's a splendid — 
 fool ! {^Pause.] Well, never again while this world 
 wags will I permit myself the luxury of any inter- 
 ference with its love affairs. 
 
 JuxON enters at window^ followed by Sophie. 
 Sophie crosses beliind and sits in armchair. 
 
 JuxoN. Good-morning, Jopp. How d'ye do ? 
 
 [Holds out his hand very limply and feebly. 
 
 Jopp. \_Shaking hands.] Good-morning, Mr. Prall. 
 How are you ? 
 
 JuxON. I regret I am in a very low condition of 
 health. [^Crosses to armchair and sits. 
 
 Jopp. How's that ? 
 
 JuxoN. I do not choose to expose the infirmity 
 of those who by some curious stroke of irony stand 
 to me in the relation of father and mother, but 
 their fatuous imbecility — I can really call it by no 
 other name — has at last assumed such colossal pro- 
 portions, that companionship with them is impos- 
 sible to me. I cannot remain any longer under the 
 same roof with them. It is positively sapping my 
 vitality. 
 
 Jopp. You don't say so ? 
 
 JuxoN. I assure you, Jopp, the constant en- 
 deavour for the last six months to root out from my 
 father's mind the pernicious doctrines of protection
 
 86 JUDAH ACT iir 
 
 and reciprocity has been nothing less than martyr- 
 dom to me — martyrdom ! 
 
 [ Wipi)ig his forehead in an agony of recollection. 
 
 Jopp. \^Good-humoureJly?\^ Give him up as a bad 
 job. 
 
 JuxoN. I really must. In fact, it is with that 
 view that — \_Glancing at Sophie.] — I have ap- 
 proached Miss Jopp with overtures — [^Glancing a 
 little nervously at her.^ Have I not ? 
 
 Sophie. \_Looking straight at her father.^ Mr. 
 Prall and I intend to marry shortly, father. 
 
 Jopp. \Jumps up from his seat.] What the dev — 
 what ? 
 
 Sophie. My dear father, pray control yourself. 
 There is surely no reason for any intemperance of 
 speech or feeling ! Juxon and I have thoroughly 
 made up our minds. [Loohing at him very firmly 
 and straight^ tvith great determination^ You surely 
 don't propose to offer any resistance. 
 
 Jopp. \_Looks at them both for a feiv moments j 
 sees she is determined.] No. \^Sits dow?i. 
 
 Sophie. \_Sweetly?\ Thank you. Then we needn't 
 remind you that we are considerably over twenty- 
 one. 
 
 Jopp. \^Sitting serenely, drops into a good-humoured, 
 indifferent, ironic tone.] Been engaged long ? 
 
 Sophie. Nearly twelve months. 
 
 Jopp. Got anything to marry on ? 
 
 Sophie. Nothing definite, at present. 
 
 Jopp. How are you going to live ?
 
 ACT III JUDAH 87 
 
 Juxox. I have various things in contempla- 
 tion. 
 
 Jopp. What in particular? 
 
 Juxox. When I was making arrangements for 
 my cremation the other day, the post of curator to 
 the new cremation museum was offered to me, with 
 a free residence overlooking the present Necropolis. 
 I need hardly say the cremation of — er — other 
 people would be a superlatively congenial occupa- 
 tion to me. 
 
 Jopp. Then why didn't you take it ? 
 
 JuxoN. The salary was so deplorably insuf- 
 ficient. 
 
 Jopp. Anything else in view ? 
 
 JuxoN. ]\Iy father is remarkably well off. 
 
 Jopp. Well, won't he do something for you ? 
 
 JuxoN. [To Jopp.] Another bitter stroke of 
 irony is that the entire result of my six months' 
 incessant argument with him on the science of 
 political economy has been the destruction of a 
 will in which he left me half his property, which is 
 now made over to institutions whose very existence 
 I have again and again warned him are plague-spots 
 on society. 
 
 Jopp. [Begi/is ve/y so/em/ify.] Young man. [StoJ>s. 
 Aside.'] No; why should I? [Turns to Sophie.] 
 Sophie, you've quite made up your mind to marry 
 this gentleman ? 
 
 Sophie. My dear father, you cannot suppose that 
 in a matter of such importance as marriage I should
 
 88 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 have spoken before I had made up my mind, or 
 that I should suffer any interference from a third 
 person. 
 
 Jopp. \^Shrugs his shoulders ; calmly accepts the 
 situation.^ All right. \^To JuxoN, very solemnly.^ 
 Young man, I cannot make the least provision 
 for my daughter ; therefore will you do me a 
 favour ? 
 
 JuxoN. Certainly, if it doesn't involve any sacri- 
 fice of principle. 
 
 Jopp. Would you oblige me by immediately 
 adopting your father's views on political econ- 
 omy ? 
 
 JuxoN. \_Skakt's his head obstinately. \ I really 
 can't do that — I can't indeed ; but — 
 
 Jopp. But what ? 
 
 JuxoN. But. \^Looking off.'\ Here are my father 
 and mother coming. Sophie has told me what you 
 have discovered about this Miss Dethic and her 
 father. 
 
 Jopp. Indeed ! Sophie has told you — 
 
 JuxoN. Everything. If you would consent to 
 let them leave Asgarby without any public exposure, 
 I think I could so arrange matters with my father 
 that he would make ample provision for my future. 
 
 Jopp. What do you mean ? 
 
 JuxoN. Will you allow me a few minutes' con- 
 versation with my father ? I will make my propo- 
 sals to him, and bring them to you and Miss Jopp 
 afterwards. Will you permit me ?
 
 ACT III JUDAH 89 
 
 Jopp. You will not commit me to any course of 
 action ? 
 
 JuxoN. Not in the least. 
 
 Jopp. Come along, Sophie. 
 
 [^Exii at door. Sophie rises and foil ok's him. 
 As they go off, enter Mr. and Mrs. Prall by window. 
 
 Prall. There ! Those Jopps are here again ! 
 
 Mrs. p. Yes, that was surely that dreadful young 
 person. {Looking after Sophie. 
 
 JuxoN. My dear mother, will you oblige me by 
 refraining from comments on Miss Jopp ? 
 
 Mrs. p. I never met with a more disagreeable 
 girl in my life. I'm sure the minx knows all sorts 
 of horrid things that she shouldn't. 
 
 JuxoN. [JVit/i his sickly smile of superiority?^ I 
 have myself directed Miss Jopp's studies, and I 
 believe I am acquainted with the nature and extent 
 of her knowledge on all subjects. 
 
 Mrs. p. I am ashamed of you, Juxon, to en- 
 courage an unmarried woman in those dreadful in- 
 vestigations. 
 
 JuxON. She did not require any encouragement. 
 
 Mrs. p. I dare say not. 
 
 JuxoN. So far as I can judge, the young women 
 of the present day are lamentably ignorant ; they 
 may be said to know next to nothing. 
 
 Prall. Oh, don't they ? \Looking at newspaper, 
 
 Juxon. {Continuing -with his sickly smile.'\ I have 
 trained Miss Jopp with the view of making her a 
 fit companion for life.
 
 90 JUDAH ACT HI 
 
 Prall. Companion for life — for whom ? 
 JuxoN. For me, or for some man of equal intel- 
 lectual breadth and vigour. 
 
 Prall. Oh ! and is it to be you or the other 
 man ? 
 
 JuxoN. It is to be distinctly me. We marry as 
 soon as possible. 
 
 Prall. And how do you mean to live ? 
 JuxoN, My dear sir — ^^Approaching Prall] — 
 seeing that you are responsible for bringing me into 
 existence, I think I may very fitly address that 
 question to you. How am I to live ? Of course — 
 [ With a sickly s?nile of supcriority\ — with such lit- 
 erary and scientific attainments as mine, we couldn't 
 possibly starve. 
 
 Prall. Oh, couldn't you ? You try ! 
 
 [ Turns away and sits in armchair. 
 JuxoN. But with your large fortune it is incon- 
 testably your duty — I say it is your duty — to pro- 
 vide for me in a suitable manner. 
 
 Prall. I have already disposed of my fortune 
 between your brother Jim and charities. 
 
 JuxoN. I beg you will reconsider the matter, sir; 
 as if I am thrown on my own resources I shall be 
 compelled to act in a manner that would be ex- 
 tremely disagreeable to you. 
 Prall. Oh, how, sir ? 
 
 JuxoN. Jopp and I have discovered the whole 
 history of these Dethics. The man was a profes- 
 sional conjurer — Professor Janus, the Wizard of the
 
 ACT III JUDAH 91 
 
 East. We have also discovered the locksmith who 
 made the key of the tower rooms for Mr. Dethic ; 
 we have, in fact, the most complete evidence of the 
 whole imposture. 
 
 Prall. \^Taketi aback^ Oh ! And what do you 
 mean to do ? 
 
 JuxoN. I shall firstly write a letter to the Times, 
 explaining how your peculiarly illogical intellect 
 rendered you an easy victim ; I shall then deal 
 with the matter in the reviews and magazines; and, 
 finally, I shall begin my long-contemplated work, 
 " The History of Dupes," in which I shall deal at 
 length with you as the most notorious example of 
 credulity known in this century. In the mean time 
 Professor Jopp will have made a public exposure of 
 the girl and her father. 
 
 Prall. [^Completely overcome i\ Oh ! You are go- 
 ing to do this — when ? 
 
 JuxoN. I shall write to the Times to-morrow, 
 unless — 
 
 Prall. Unless what ? 
 
 JuxoN. Unless you relieve me of the necessity 
 of providing for my future. In that case I should 
 persuade Jopp to let them off, and I should 
 refrain from writing my history of your de- 
 lusions. Weigh the matter carefully and let me 
 know. I wish to spare you. 
 
 [Goes up to table, takes hat and stick. 
 
 Prall. [Seated?^ How much per annum would 
 you take ?
 
 92 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 JuxoN. Sufficient to pursue my studies, and to 
 provide me with a comfortable home at — at some 
 distance from your residence. \_Stopsj speaks ivith 
 great authority.^ Understand me: if I persuade Jopp 
 to allow this affair to blow over, I must not be held 
 to condone the mistakes and misrepresentations in 
 your book. \^Goes a step or tiuo further ; then stops 
 again^ Nor do I acquiesce in your monstrous the- 
 ories of reciprocity and protection. ^Stoppi/ig at 
 door, very dictatorially.'] Understand that clearly ! 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 Prall. I wish I had sent that boy to sea instead 
 of his brother Jim. 
 
 Mrs. p. Jim was never intellectual. 
 
 Prall. No, thank Heaven. What's to be done ? 
 If there's a public exposure, what will become of 
 my book ? 
 
 Mrs. p. You've said nothing in it that isn't true. 
 
 Prall. No — at least, of course if Jopp has been 
 inquiring, there's no telling what construction may 
 be put upon my truths. 
 
 Mrs. p. Nobody shall ever make me believe the 
 girl's an impostor. James, whatever you do, don't 
 you withdraw your book from circulation. 
 
 Prall. [Firmly.'] I won't. After all, the public 
 is the best judge. They like it, and there's a new 
 edition just coming out. 
 
 Mrs. p. I wouldn't alter a single line. 
 
 Prall. [Fositii'ely.'] I won't !
 
 ACT III JUDAH 93 
 
 Mrs. p. Whatever you have once asserted, never 
 retract it. 
 
 Prall. [Same toue^ I won't. 
 
 Mrs. p. And if there are any truths that are at all 
 doubtful, I should make them very emphatic. 
 
 Prall. I will — I will — only — [Uneasily\ — if 
 Juxon writes to the Times, and Jopp proves the 
 girl's an impostor, it may place my truths in a very 
 awkward light. 
 
 Mrs. Prall. Never mind. Repeat them over 
 and over again, and in the end some one will be- 
 lieve them. 
 
 Prall. [Anxiously.'] Yes ; but it's very extra- 
 ordinary how many truths can be disproved, you 
 know ; and if there's a great public scandal, — 
 Caroline, for the sake of keeping my truths untam- 
 pered with, I shall make Juxon that allowance. 
 
 [Exeunt by window. 
 
 Enter Lord A. and Jopp. 
 
 Lord A. My dear Jopp, this is a most welcome 
 surprise. You are going to stay, of course ? 
 
 Jopp. No, I've come on business. You have 
 still got those Dethics here ? 
 
 Lord A. Yes. I've kept my promise to the girl. 
 I'm building a new church for Mr. Llewellyn, and 
 endowing it. The deeds are to be signed this 
 morning. 
 
 Jopp. Then I've come just in time. You must 
 go no further, Asgarby. I have the whole history
 
 94 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 of these people. I can prove the father an impos- 
 tor his whole life through. 
 
 Lord A. Of course he's an impostor ; but Eve 
 loves the girl, and has made me promise to make 
 her a settlement on her marriage, and — blame me 
 if you like, Jopp — I know I'm being duped — I know 
 I'm a coward, and a fool perhaps — but I can't 
 deny Eve anything. When I think she is the last of 
 us, and in a few years I may be left alone — 
 
 S^Breaks down; turns away ; hides his head. 
 
 Lady Eve 7-uns on. 
 
 Lady E. Oh, here you are. Professor Jopp. 
 Sophie told me you were come. You're just in time. 
 
 Jopp. What for, Lady Eve ? 
 
 Lady E. To play the hypocrite for once, will 
 you ? 
 
 Jopp. Certainly, if you will coach me. 
 
 Lady E. Well, first of all you are to say that I am 
 quite well and strong. What's the matter, father ? 
 
 Lord A. Nothing, Eve, nothing ! 
 
 Lady E. Tears! [Z'6' Jopp.] You've been telling 
 him I shall die. 
 
 Jopp. No, Lady Eve. 
 
 Lady E. Well, perhaps I shall ; but not yet, not 
 while my dear Vashti is near me to keep me alive. 
 [Jopp laughsl\ You're not to laugh, Professor Jopp. 
 It's true ! Come, father ; they are all in the library, 
 and the deeds are ready. Where shall we sign 
 them ?
 
 ACT III JUDAH 95 
 
 Lord A. It doesn't matter ; anywhere. 
 
 Lady E. Then let us sign them here — here where 
 I first saw Vashti ; and — [T^i^Jopp] — you shall be 
 a witness, will you ? \_Coaxi?igIy.'\ Just to please me. 
 
 Jopp. To please you, Lady Eve, I'd witness any- 
 thing. 
 
 Lady E. I know you are laughing up your sleeve. 
 
 Jopp. No, no, Lady Eve. 
 
 Lady E. Yes. You think it's all moonshine, 
 don't you ? 
 
 Jopp. Certainly not. 
 
 Lady E. Yes, you do. I've read your books. 
 But what's the use ? 
 
 Jopp. The use of what ? 
 
 Lady E. Of proving all the fairy tales are false ; 
 it only makes the children unhappy. 
 
 Jopp. \_Taking her hands very tenderly.'] And 
 the grown-up people too. [^Exit Lady Eve. 
 
 Lord A. \^Gocs up to him very anxiously. ] What 
 do you think of her ? 
 
 Jopp. She's certainly better. 
 
 Lord A. You own it. And she will get well ? 
 There's a chance of her livino- to old age ? Tell 
 
 me 
 
 Jopp. [ Very quietly ?\ INIy dear Asgarby, she may 
 live some years, but she will not live to old age. 
 
 Lord A. Till womanhood ? 
 
 Jopp. Over the threshold, perhaps. 
 
 Lord A. And, knowing that she cannot live 
 longer, you ask me to thwart her — to send this Miss
 
 96 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 Dethic away ? My dear Jopp, you say you have 
 fresh evidence against these people — [^Action of 
 remonstrance from Jopp.] I don't want to hear it. 
 They will not live at the castle after next week — 
 \Gesture of remonstrance from Jopp.] Let me go 
 on now. I can't help it, Jopp — I know it's only 
 superstition ; I know there's no reason for it, but I 
 feel that somehow Eve's life does depend on Miss 
 Dethic — \_Action of remonstrance from ]o'p-p.'\ At 
 any rate, you can see that it would be dangerous 
 to Eve to part them. 
 
 Jopp. Yes, there would be a danger to Eve. 
 
 Lord A. Then for her sake you will spare them, 
 and say nothing of what you know ? 
 
 Jopp. {^After a pause.\ Yes, Asgarby, I'll spare 
 them. [Offers hand. 
 
 Lord A. [Shakes his hand heartily^ Thank you, 
 Jopp, thank you. I'll just go and see where these 
 people are, and we will get the deeds signed as 
 soon as possible. [Exit. 
 
 Jopp. [Alone.'] After all, why not believe the 
 fairy tales ? Why not pretend there is a dryad in 
 every tree, and a nymph in every brook ? Nymphs 
 and dryads may be as good names for the great 
 secret as germ-plasms and protoplasms. Perhaps 
 there is no great secret after all. [Looking off.'] 
 Here comes that infernal scoundrel ! So I shall 
 be obliged to let you and your precious daughter 
 off after all, shall I ?
 
 ACT III JUDAH 97 
 
 Enter D ethic at ^vindotv, affable, serene, cheerful as 
 usual. 
 
 Dethic. [Holdifig out his Itand.'] Ah, how do 
 you do, my dear professor ? 
 
 Jopp. How do you do, my dear /ro/essor ? 
 
 Dethic. [S/tgMy alarmed.] Professor ? 
 
 Jopp. A title I share with you. I am professor 
 of biology; you are professor of the art of making 
 plum-puddings in other people's hats, and convey- 
 ing other people's watches and coins from their 
 pockets into yours. [Dethic looks ghastly. Jopp 
 glances at his own watch-chain ; handles it.] Don't 
 be alarmed ! I'm sure you wouldn't practise on a 
 brother professor. 
 
 Dethic. [brightened, but screwing up his courage 
 as far as possible. '\ I think you are mistaking me 
 for— 
 
 Jopp. ^ome oVatr professor} No, professor, I'm 
 not. Come, own up. Professor Janus. [ Winks at 
 him good-humouredly.] What made you give up the 
 conjuring business, eh ? 
 
 Dethic. \Pause?[ Well, it didn't pay. 
 
 Jopp. Ah ! then you had to turn your attention 
 to something else. 
 
 Dethic. \_Trying to brazen it out.] Look here, 
 let's understand one another, professor. 
 
 Jopp. Just %o, professor, let us. 
 
 Dethic. \^Very frrnily.] Because I am a conjurer 
 is no reason that I'm not an honest man.
 
 pS JUDAH ACT HI 
 
 Jopp. No, there must be some other reason for 
 that. 
 
 Dethic. Eh ? 
 
 Jopp. What made you take the name of Dethic ? 
 
 Dethic. Well, I had to take some name, and I 
 — I thought Dethic was a very good one. 
 
 Jopp. Capital name ! \^Co7}ies up to him ; winks 
 at him again. Very good-hu?noured, very quiet, coax- 
 ing tone^ How did you manage to get the food to 
 her for the first twelve days, eh ? 
 
 Dethic. \_Loud — ang7y^ How dare you infer 
 — how dare you infer — 
 
 Jopp. [ Very quiet and good-te}?ipered.'\ Come, 
 come, no secrets from a brother professor, you 
 know. Besides — [Quiet, genial whisper?^ — I've got 
 the man who made you the key. 
 
 Dethic. [^Turns very pale.'] No! 
 
 Jopp. Yes, I have. Tozer, you know. 
 
 Dethic. Got him — where ? 
 
 Jopp. He's here in the village. 
 
 Dethic. \Collapses. Very humbly^ Oh, profes- 
 sor, you won't be hard on — on — 
 
 Jopp. On a brother professor ? No. I'm going 
 to let you and your daughter off scot-free. 
 
 Dethic. \_Overjoyed^ What ! You are ! Upon 
 my word you're really the noblest man I ever met 
 in all my life. [ Very heartily. 
 
 Jopp. On one condition. 
 
 Dethic. Anything — anything. I accept it, what-
 
 ACT III JUDAH 99 
 
 ever it is. I'm so grateful to you there's nothing 
 I wouldn't do for you. 
 
 Jopp. You sail straight away to-morrow for 
 America or Australia. 
 
 Dethic. Either ! America or Australia, which- 
 ever you please — it's immaterial. Anything else, 
 professor ? 
 
 Jopp. You stay there for the rest of your life. 
 
 Dethic. I will. I give you my word of honour I 
 will. Anything else, professor ? 
 
 Jopp. Yes. As I am deprived of the pleasure of 
 dusting your jacket in public, I really must indulge 
 myself in the luxury of telling you in private that 
 you are one of the most rascally humbugs, impos- 
 tors, liars, thieves, and swindlers that I have ever 
 met ! And you may thank your lucky stars that 
 the state of Lady Eve's health doesn't allow me to 
 expose you as you deserve, you blackguard. 
 
 [ Very passionately. 
 
 Dethic. S^Takes it very calmly. After a pause.'\ 
 Anything else, professor ? 
 
 Jopp. Nothing else, professor. 
 
 Dethic. Then I suppose I may take the liberty 
 of saying au revoir. 
 
 Jopp. You may take the further liberty of saying 
 adieu. 
 
 Dethic I will. Adieu, professor. \^Exit. 
 
 Enter Judah at windota. 
 
 JuDAH. [^Intensely calm.] Lord Asgarby asked 
 me to wait for him here.
 
 lOO JUDAH ACT III 
 
 Jopp. He is in the next room, I believe. [Judah 
 turns up stage j stands for a mojnent back to audience. 
 Aside.] He's a good fellow, and he loves her. I'm 
 glad it's to be hushed up. Mr. Llewellyn ! [Judah 
 turns round, intensely calm.'] I find I am mistaken 
 about Miss Dethic. 
 
 Judah. Mistaken ! 
 
 Jopp. I have no evidence against her. I wish 
 you and your bride a happy future. 
 
 Judah. [Calm, dreamy, absorbed.] Yes, our future 
 will be happy. 
 
 Jopp. You have every reason to think so. Mr. 
 Dethic will leave the country, and you will begin 
 your new life without a cloud. 
 
 Judah. Yes. Without a cloud ! 
 
 Jopp. [Aside.] He's not listening to me. [Aloud.] 
 I say that, so far as I am concerned, Miss Dethic 
 will be quite safe. 
 
 Judah. Thank you. Yes, she will be quite safe. 
 
 Jopp. After all, there's not one of us that dares to 
 have all his life stripped bare. 
 
 Judah. [Turns and looks at him.] You think 
 not ? Do you suppose there is anything in my past 
 life I would not show to you and to all the world) 
 when it is already known where no secrets can be 
 hidden ? 
 
 Jopp. You are lucky if you have no such secrets, 
 Mr. Llewellyn. 
 
 Judah. I have none. I have nothing that I dare 
 to hide.
 
 ACT III JUDAH lOl 
 
 Jopp. I congratulate you. 
 Lord A. enters, folloived by Mr. and Mrs. Prall. 
 
 Lord A. Ah ! [^Calling off.'] Will you all come 
 this way, please ? 
 
 Enter Morson and Granger toith papers, followed 
 by Papworthy and tiuo other Trustees. 
 
 Lord A. Now, Granger, the deeds of gift. 
 [Granger gives him deed.] And, Morson, will yoti 
 bring the plans of the new building ? Where is 
 Miss Dethic ? 
 
 JuDAH. She is waiting on the terrace outside. 
 I'll fetch her. 
 
 \^Exif JuDAH. He returns in a feiv jnimites with 
 Vashti, who is deeply affected, trembling, 
 ashamed. 
 
 Lord A. Papworthy, I shall want you and your 
 brother trustees to execute the deed. Is it all pre- 
 pared ? 
 
 Pap. Everything. There is nothing to do but to 
 sign. 
 
 E?iter Judah and Vashti. 
 
 JUDAH. [^Speaking ifi a loiv tone to her.] Have 
 courage ! It will soon be over. 
 
 Lord A. Miss Dethic, Mr. Llewellyn, I have to 
 beg your acceptance of a marriage present from 
 Lady Eve and myself — the grounds on which your 
 present church is built, ^20,000 for rebuilding it 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 SANTA BATiCARA COLLEGE LIBRARY
 
 I02 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 according to the plans that Mr. Morson has pre- 
 pared, and an endowment for the living while you 
 shall be its minister. Will you look over the deed ? 
 [Giz'i//g it to /iim.] Lady Eve will be here in a min- 
 ute. 
 
 JUDAH. Miss Dethic has something to say first. 
 [To Vashti.] Speak! Don't be afraid. A few 
 bold words and all is over. Speak ! I am beside 
 you. Nothing can harm you — speak ! [Pause- 
 
 Vashti. [Bo7ved with shame, speaks in a loiv, 
 ashamed voiee.] Lord Asgarby, you do not know 
 me. I have deceived you and Lady Eve. I came 
 into your house to deceive you — I have deceived 
 all who believe in me. I have no supernatural 
 powers. It has been all a pretence — a falsehood 
 from beginning to end. [Turns to Judah.] I 
 have said it — now let me go. 
 
 Judah. [Taking her hand.'\ Stay ! I have my 
 share of the burden to bear. 
 
 Vashti. No, no ! You shall not ! Why should 
 you sacrifice yourself ? Lord Asgarby, do not hear 
 him. It was his love for me that blinded him. He 
 is worthy of your gift and of your friendship. 
 Give them to him, and — think no more of me. 
 
 Judah. No, your guilt is mine. I claim my 
 share of it. [To Jopp.] Put the oath to me again 
 that you put that night. 
 
 Jopp. What do you mean ? 
 
 Judah. Ask me if I knew her deceit — if I helped 
 her to deceive. Do you hear ? Quick ! I can't
 
 ACT III JUDAH 103 
 
 sleep at nights. I've not had one moment's rest 
 since. My food is bitter ! My conscience burns 
 me ! Oh, quench this fire ! Do you hear ? Put me 
 to my oath. 
 
 Jopp. Is it possible ! 
 
 JuDAH. You won't ? Then hear me, hear me, 
 all of you ! I lied ! I lied ! Take back my false 
 oath ; let the truth return to my lips ! Let my 
 heart find peace, and my eyelids sleep again ! You 
 all know me now for what I am ; let all who hon- 
 oured me and followed me know me too. Hide 
 nothing ! Let it be blazed about the city. [I'at/se. 
 To Lord A.] Take back your gift. \^Gives 
 deed to Lord A.] We will take nothing from you ! 
 Nothing ! Nothing ! \Goes to Vashti.] It's done ! 
 {^Takes her hand.^ Our path is straight now; we 
 can walk safely all our lives. [ Taking her up stage. 
 Lord A. But your future — what will you do ? 
 JUDAH. Leave this place, and work out our re- 
 pentance together in some place where we are not 
 known. 
 
 Jopp. No, Mr. Llewellyn. You have conquered 
 yourself. Stay here, live down your fault, amongst 
 the people whom you have deceived. You shall 
 have one true friend as often as I am here. 
 
 Lord A. And you shall have another friend in 
 me. 
 
 JuDAH. Vashti, dare you stay here ? dare you 
 face those who know you ? 
 
 Vashti. [^Looking at him.'\ With you, yes.
 
 I04 JUDAH ACT III 
 
 JUDAH. Let it be so. But I am not fit to lead. 
 I resign my ministry, but we'll stay here and win 
 back the trust and the respect of those who know 
 us. 
 
 Jopp. Bravo ! 
 
 Lady Eve rims on. 
 
 Lady E. [^Comes dow?i to Vashti.] Why didn't 
 you tell me you were ready ? Where are the 
 deeds ? Are they signed ? 
 
 JUDAH. No, Lady Eve ; there was a mistake in 
 the title-deeds. The building-stones were not 
 sound. There is to be no new church. [Lady Eve 
 shows great disappointment.^ Yes, we will build our 
 new church with our lives, and its foundation shall 
 be the truth. 
 
 CURTAIN.
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
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