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Loyalties, a play by John Galsworthy |
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Act 3 - Scene 1 |
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_ ACT III SCENE I [Three months later. Old MR JACOB TWISDEN's Room, at the offices of Twisden & Graviter, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, is spacious, with two large windows at back, a fine old fireplace, Right, a door below it, and two doors, Left. Between the windows is a large table sideways to the window wall, with a chair in the middle on the right-hand side, a chair against the wall, and a client's chair on the left-hand side.] [GRAVITER, TWISDEN'S much younger partner, is standing in front of the right-hand window looking out on to the Fields, where the lamps are being lighted, and a taxi's engine is running down below. He turns his sanguine, shrewd face from the window towards a grandfather dock, between the doors, Left, which is striking "four." The door, Left Forward, is opened.] YOUNG CLERK. [Entering] A Mr Gilman, sir, to see Mr Twisden. GRAVITER. By appointment? YOUNG CLERK. No, sir. But important, he says. GRAVITER. I'll see him. [The CLERK goes. GRAVITER sits right of table. The CLERK returns, ushering in an oldish MAN, who looks what he is, the proprietor of a large modern grocery store. He wears a dark overcoat and carries a pot hat. His gingery-grey moustache and mutton-chop whiskers give him the expression of a cat.] GRAVITER. [Sizing up his social standing] Mr Gilman? Yes. GILMAN. [Doubtfully] Mr Jacob Twisden? GRAVITER. [Smiling] His partner. Graviter my name is. GILMAN. Mr Twisden's not in, then? GRAVITER. No. He's at the Courts. They're just up; he should be in directly. But he'll be busy. GILMAN. Old Mr Jacob Twisden--I've heard of him. GRAVITER. Most people have. GILMAN. It's this Dancy-De Levis case that's keepin' him at the Courts, I suppose? [GRAVITER nods.] Won't be finished for a day or two? [GRAVITER shakes his head] No. Astonishin' the interest taken in it. GRAVITER. As you say. GILMAN. The Smart Set, eh? This Captain Dancy got the D.S.O., didn't he? [GRAVITER nods.] Sad to have a thing like that said about you. I thought he gave his evidence well; and his wife too. Looks as if this De Levis had got some private spite. Searchy la femme, I said to Mrs Gilman only this morning, before I-- GRAVITER. By the way, sir, what is your business? GILMAN. Well, my business here--No, if you'll excuse me, I'd rather wait and see old Mr Jacob Twisden. It's delicate, and I'd like his experience. GRAVITER. [With a shrug] Very well; then, perhaps, you'll go in there. [He moves towards the door, Left Back]. GILMAN. Thank you. [Following] You see, I've never been mixed up with the law-- GRAVITER. [Opening the door] No? GILMAN. And I don't want to begin. When you do, you don't know where you'll stop, do you? You see, I've only come from a sense of duty; and --other reasons. GRAVITER. Not uncommon. GILMAN. [Producing card] This is my card. Gilman's--several branches, but this is the 'ead. GRAVITER. [Scrutinising card] Exactly. GILMAN. Grocery--I daresay you know me; or your wife does. They say old Mr Jacob Twisden refused a knighthood. If it's not a rude question, why was that? GRAVITER. Ask him, sir; ask him. GILMAN. I said to my wife at the time, "He's holdin' out for a baronetcy." [GRAVITER Closes the door with an exasperated smile.] YOUNG CLERK. [Opening the door, Left Forward] Mr WINSOR, sir, and Miss Orme. [They enter, and the CLERK withdraws.] GRAVITER. How d'you do, Miss Orme? How do you do, WINSOR? WINSOR. Twisden not back, Graviter? GRAVITER. Not yet. WINSOR. Well, they've got through De Levis's witnesses. Sir Frederick was at the very top of his form. It's looking quite well. But I hear they've just subpoenaed Canynge after all. His evidence is to be taken to-morrow. GRAVITER. Oho! WINSOR. I said Dancy ought to have called him. GRAVITER. We considered it. Sir Frederic decided that he could use him better in cross-examination. WINSOR. Well! I don't know that. Can I go and see him before he gives evidence to-morrow? GRAVITER. I should like to hear Mr Jacob on that, WINSOR. He'll be in directly. WINSOR. They had Kentman, and Goole, the Inspector, the other bobby, my footman, Dancy's banker, and his tailor. GRAVITER. Did we shake Kentman or Goole? WINSOR. Very little. Oh! by the way, the numbers of those two notes were given, and I see they're published in the evening papers. I suppose the police wanted that. I tell you what I find, Graviter--a general feeling that there's something behind it all that doesn't come out. GRAVITER. The public wants it's money's worth--always does in these Society cases; they brew so long beforehand, you see. WINSOR. They're looking for something lurid. MARGARET. When I was in the bog, I thought they were looking for me. [Taking out her cigarette case] I suppose I mustn't smoke, Mr Graviter? GRAVITER. Do! MARGARET. Won't Mr Jacob have a fit? GRAVITER. Yes, but not till you've gone. MARGARET. Just a whiff. [She lights a cigarette]. WINSOR. [Suddenly] It's becoming a sort of Dreyfus case--people taking sides quite outside the evidence. MARGARET. There are more of the chosen in Court every day. Mr Graviter, have you noticed the two on the jury? GRAVITER. [With a smile] No; I can't say-- MARGARET. Oh! but quite distinctly. Don't you think they ought to have been challenged? GRAVITER. De Levis might have challenged the other ten, Miss Orme. MARGARET. Dear me, now! I never thought of that. [As she speaks, the door Left Forward is opened and old MR JACOB TWISDEN comes in. He is tallish and narrow, sixty-eight years old, grey, with narrow little whiskers curling round his narrow ears, and a narrow bow-ribbon curling round his collar. He wears a long, narrow-tailed coat, and strapped trousers on his narrow legs. His nose and face are narrow, shrewd, and kindly. He has a way of narrowing his shrewd and kindly eyes. His nose is seen to twitch and snig.] TWISDEN. Ah! How are you, Charles? How do you do, my dear? MARGARET. Dear Mr Jacob, I'm smoking. Isn't it disgusting? But they don't allow it in Court, you know. Such a pity! The Judge might have a hookah. Oh! wouldn't he look sweet--the darling! TWISDEN. [With a little, old-fashioned bow] It does not become everybody as it becomes you, Margaret. MARGARET. Mr Jacob, how charming! [With a slight grimace she puts out her cigarette]. GRAVITER. Man called Gilman waiting in there to see you specially. TWISDEN. Directly. Turn up the light, would you, Graviter? GRAVITER. [Turning up the light] Excuse me. [He goes.] WINSOR. Look here, Mr Twisden-- TWISDEN. Sit down; sit down, my dear. [And he himself sits behind the table, as a cup of tea is brought in to him by the YOUNG CLERK, with two Marie biscuits in the saucer.] Will you have some, Margaret? MARGARET. No, dear Mr Jacob. TWISDEN. Charles? WINSOR. No, thanks. The door is closed. TWISDEN. [Dipping a biscuit in the tea] Now, then? WINSOR. The General knows something which on the face of it looks rather queer. Now that he's going to be called, oughtn't Dancy to be told of it, so that he may be ready with his explanation, in case it comes out? TWISDEN. [Pouring some tea into the saucer] Without knowing, I can't tell you. [WINSOR and MARGARET exchange looks, and TWISDEN drinks from the saucer.] MARGARET. Tell him, Charles. WINSOR. Well! It rained that evening at Meldon. The General happened to put his hand on Dancy's shoulder, and it was damp. [TWISDEN puts the saucer down and replaces the cup in it. They both look intently at him.] TWISDEN. I take it that General Canynge won't say anything he's not compelled to say. MARGARET. No, of course; but, Mr Jacob, they might ask; they know it rained. And he is such a George Washington. TWISDEN. [Toying with a pair of tortoise-shell glasses] They didn't ask either of you. Still-no harm in your telling Dancy. WINSOR. I'd rather you did it, Margaret. MARGARET. I daresay. [She mechanically takes out her cigarette-case, catches the lift of TWISDEN'S eyebrows, and puts it back]. WINSOR. Well, we'll go together. I don't want Mrs Dancy to hear. MARGARET. Do tell me, Mr Jacob; is he going to win? TWISDEN. I think so, Margaret; I think so. MARGARET. It'll be too--frightful if he doesn't get a verdict, after all this. But I don't know what we shall do when it's over. I've been sitting in that Court all these three days, watching, and it's made me feel there's nothing we like better than seeing people skinned. Well, bye-bye, bless you! [TWISDEN rises and pats her hand.] WINSOR. Half a second, Margaret. Wait for me. She nods and goes out. Mr Twisden, what do you really think? TWISDEN. I am Dancy's lawyer, my dear Charles, as well as yours. WINSOR. Well, can I go and see Canynge? TWISDEN. Better not. WINSOR. If they get that out of him, and recall me, am I to say he told me of it at the time? TWISDEN. You didn't feel the coat yourself? And Dancy wasn't present? Then what Canynge told you is not evidence--he'll stop your being asked. WINSOR. Thank goodness. Good-bye! [WINSOR goes out.] [TWISDEN, behind his table, motionless, taps his teeth with the eyeglasses in his narrow, well-kept hand. After a long shake of his head and a shrug of his rather high shoulders he snips, goes to the window and opens it. Then crossing to the door, Left Back, he throws it open and says TWISDEN. At your service, sir. [GILMAN comes forth, nursing his pot hat.] Be seated. [TWISDEN closes the window behind him, and takes his seat.] GILMAN. [Taking the client's chair, to the left of the table] Mr Twisden, I believe? My name's Gilman, head of Gilman's Department Stores. You have my card. TWISDEN. [Looking at the card] Yes. What can we do for you? GILMAN. Well, I've come to you from a sense of duty, sir, and also a feelin' of embarrassment. [He takes from his breast pocket an evening paper] You see, I've been followin' this Dancy case--it's a good deal talked of in Putney--and I read this at half-past two this afternoon. To be precise, at 2.25. [He rises and hands the paper to TWISDEN, and with a thick gloved forefinger indicates a passage] When I read these numbers, I 'appened to remember givin' change for a fifty-pound note--don't often 'ave one in, you know--so I went to the cash-box out of curiosity, to see that I 'adn't got it. Well, I 'ad; and here it is. [He draws out from his breast pocket and lays before TWISDEN a fifty-pound banknote] It was brought in to change by a customer of mine three days ago, and he got value for it. Now, that's a stolen note, it seems, and you'd like to know what I did. Mind you, that customer of mine I've known 'im--well-- eight or nine years; an Italian he is--wine salesman, and so far's I know, a respectable man-foreign-lookin', but nothin' more. Now, this was at 'alf-past two, and I was at my head branch at Putney, where I live. I want you to mark the time, so as you'll see I 'aven't wasted a minute. I took a cab and I drove straight to my customer's private residence in Putney, where he lives with his daughter--Ricardos his name is, Paolio Ricardos. They tell me there that he's at his business shop in the City. So off I go in the cab again, and there I find him. Well, sir, I showed this paper to him and I produced the note. "Here," I said, "you brought this to me and you got value for it." Well, that man was taken aback. If I'm a judge, Mr Twisden, he was taken aback, not to speak in a guilty way, but he was, as you might say, flummoxed. "Now," I said to him, "where did you get it--that's the point?" He took his time to answer, and then he said: "Well, Mr Gilman," he said, "you know me; I am an honourable man. I can't tell you offhand, but I am above the board." He's foreign, you know, in his expressions. "Yes," I said, "that's all very well," I said, "but here I've got a stolen note and you've got the value for it. Now I tell you," I said, "what I'm going to do; I'm going straight with this note to Mr Jacob Twisden, who's got this Dancy-De Levis case in 'and. He's a well-known Society lawyer," I said, "of great experience." "Oh!" he said, "that is what you do?"--funny the way he speaks! "Then I come with you!"--And I've got him in the cab below. I want to tell you everything before he comes up. On the way I tried to get something out of him, but I couldn't--I could not. "This is very awkward," I said at last. "It is, Mr Gilman," was his reply; and he began to talk about his Sicilian claret--a very good wine, mind you; but under the circumstances it seemed to me uncalled for. Have I made it clear to you? TWISDEN. [Who has listened with extreme attention] Perfectly, Mr Gilman. I'll send down for him. [He touches a hand-bell]. [The YOUNG CLERK appears at the door, Left Forward.] A gentleman in a taxi-waiting. Ask him to be so good as to step up. Oh! and send Mr Graviter here again. [The YOUNG CLERK goes out.] GILMAN. As I told you, sir, I've been followin' this case. It's what you might call piquant. And I should be very glad if it came about that this helped Captain Dancy. I take an interest, because, to tell you the truth, [Confidentially] I don't like--well, not to put too fine a point upon it 'Ebrews. They work harder; they're more sober; they're honest; and they're everywhere. I've nothing against them, but the fact is--they get on so. TWISDEN. [Cocking an eye] A thorn in the flesh, Mr Gilman. GILMAN. Well, I prefer my own countrymen, and that's the truth of it. [As he speaks, GRAVITER comes in by the door Left Forward.] TWISDEN. [Pointing to the newspaper and the note] Mr Gilman has brought this, of which he is holder for value. His customer, who changed it three days ago, is coming up. GRAVITER. The fifty-pounder. I see. [His face is long and reflective]. YOUNG CLERK. [Entering] Mr Ricardos, sir. [He goes out. RICARDOS is a personable, Italian-looking man in a frock coat, with a dark moustachioed face and dark hair a little grizzled. He looks anxious, and bows.] TWISDEN. Mr Ricardos? My name is Jacob Twisden. My partner. [Holding up a finger, as RICARDOS would speak] Mr Gilman has told us about this note. You took it to him, he says, three days ago; that is, on Monday, and received cash for it? RICARDOS. Yes, sare. TWISDEN. You were not aware that it was stolen? RICARDOS. [With his hand to his breast] Oh! no, sare. TWISDEN. You received it from--? RICARDOS. A minute, sare; I would weesh to explain--[With an expressive shrug] in private. TWISDEN. [Nodding] Mr Gilman, your conduct has been most prompt. You may safely leave the matter in our hands, now. Kindly let us retain this note; and ask for my cashier as you go out and give him [He writes] this. He will reimburse you. We will take any necessary steps ourselves. GILMAN. [In slight surprise, with modest pride] Well, sir, I'm in your 'ands. I must be guided by you, with your experience. I'm glad you think I acted rightly. TWISDEN. Very rightly, Mr Gilman--very rightly. [Rising] Good afternoon! GILMAN. Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, gentlemen! [To TWISDEN] I'm sure I'm very 'appy to have made your acquaintance, sir. It's a well-known name. TWISDEN. Thank you. [GILMAN retreats, glances at RICARDOS, and turns again.] GILMAN. I suppose there's nothing else I ought to do, in the interests of the law? I'm a careful man. TWISDEN. If there is, Mr Gilman, we will let you know. We have your address. You may make your mind easy; but don't speak of this. It might interfere with Justice. GILMAN. Oh! I shouldn't dream of it. I've no wish to be mixed up in anything conspicuous. That's not my principle at all. Good-day, gentlemen. [He goes.] TWISDEN. [Seating himself] Now, sir, will you sit down. [But RICARDOS does not sit; he stands looking uneasily across the table at GRAVITER.] You may speak out. RICARDOS. Well, Mr Tweesden and sare, this matter is very serious for me, and very delicate--it concairns my honour. I am in a great difficulty. TWISDEN. When in difficulty--complete frankness, sir. RICARDOS. It is a family matter, sare, I-- TWISDEN. Let me be frank with you. [Telling his points off on his fingers] We have your admission that you changed this stopped note for value. It will be our duty to inform the Bank of England that it has been traced to you. You will have to account to them for your possession of it. I suggest to you that it will be far better to account frankly to us. RICARDOS. [Taking out a handkerchief and quite openly wiping his hands and forehead] I received this note, sare, with others, from a gentleman, sare, in settlement of a debt of honour, and I know nothing of where he got them. TWISDEN. H'm! that is very vague. If that is all you can tell us, I'm afraid-- RICARDOS. Gentlemen, this is very painful for me. It is my daughter's good name--[He again wipes his brow]. TWISDEN. Come, sir, speak out! RICARDOS. [Desperately] The notes were a settlement to her from this gentleman, of whom she was a great friend. TWISDEN. [Suddenly] I am afraid we must press you for the name of the gentleman. RICARDOS. Sare, if I give it to you, and it does 'im 'arm, what will my daughter say? This is a bad matter for me. He behaved well to her; and she is attached to him still; sometimes she is crying yet because she lost him. And now we betray him, perhaps, who knows? This is very unpleasant for me. [Taking up the paper] Here it gives the number of another note--a 'undred-pound note. I 'ave that too. [He takes a note from his breast pocket]. GRAVITER. How much did he give you in all? RICARDOS. For my daughter's settlement one thousand pounds. I understand he did not wish to give a cheque because of his marriage. So I did not think anything about it being in notes, you see. TWISDEN. When did he give you this money? RICARDOS. The middle of Octobare last. TWISDEN. [Suddenly looking up] Mr Ricardos, was it Captain Dancy? RICARDOS. [Again wiping his forehead] Gentlemen, I am so fond of my daughter. I have only the one, and no wife. TWISDEN. [With an effort] Yes, yes; but I must know. RICARDOS. Sare, if I tell you, will you give me your good word that my daughter shall not hear of it? TWISDEN. So far as we are able to prevent it--certainly. RICARDOS. Sare, I trust you.--It was Captain Dancy. [A long pause.] GRAVITER [Suddenly] Were you blackmailing him? TWISDEN. [Holding up his hand] My partner means, did you press him for this settlement? RICARDOS. I did think it my duty to my daughter to ask that he make compensation to her. TWISDEN. With threats that you would tell his wife? RICARDOS. [With a shrug] Captain Dancy was a man of honour. He said: "Of course I will do this." I trusted him. And a month later I did remind him, and he gave me this money for her. I do not know where he got it--I do not know. Gentlemen, I have invested it all on her--every penny-except this note, for which I had the purpose to buy her a necklace. That is the sweared truth. TWISDEN. I must keep this note. [He touches the hundred-pound note] You will not speak of this to anyone. I may recognise that you were a holder for value received--others might take a different view. Good-day, sir. Graviter, see Mr Ricardos out, and take his address. RICARDOS. [Pressing his hands over the breast of his frock coat--with a sigh] Gentlemen, I beg you--remember what I said. [With a roll of his eyes] My daughter--I am not happee. Good-day. [He turns and goes out slowly, Left Forward, followed by GRAVITER.] TWISDEN. [To himself] Young Dancy! [He pins the two notes together and places them in an envelope, then stands motionless except for his eyes and hands, which restlessly express the disturbance within him.] [GRAVITER returns, carefully shuts the door, and going up to him, hands him RICARDOS' card.] [Looking at the card] Villa Benvenuto. This will have to be verified, but I'm afraid it's true. That man was not acting. GRAVITER. What's to be done about Dancy? TWISDEN. Can you understand a gentleman--? GRAVITER. I don't know, sir. The war loosened "form" all over the place. I saw plenty of that myself. And some men have no moral sense. From the first I've had doubts. TWISDEN. We can't go on with the case. GRAVITER. Phew!... [A moment's silence] Gosh! It's an awful thing for his wife. TWISDEN. Yes. GRAVITER. [Touching the envelope] Chance brought this here, sir. That man won't talk--he's too scared. TWISDEN. Gilman. GRAVITER. Too respectable. If De Levis got those notes back, and the rest of the money, anonymously? TWISDEN. But the case, Graviter; the case. GRAVITER. I don't believe this alters what I've been thinking. TWISDEN. Thought is one thing--knowledge another. There's duty to our profession. Ours is a fine calling. On the good faith of solicitors a very great deal hangs. [He crosses to the hearth as if warmth would help him]. GRAVITER. It'll let him in for a prosecution. He came to us in confidence. TWISDEN. Not as against the law. GRAVITER. No. I suppose not. [A pause] By Jove, I don't like losing this case. I don't like the admission we backed such a wrong 'un. TWISDEN. Impossible to go on. Apart from ourselves, there's Sir Frederic. We must disclose to him--can't let him go on in the dark. Complete confidence between solicitor and counsel is the essence of professional honour. GRAVITER. What are you going to do then, sir? TWISDEN. See Dancy at once. Get him on the phone. GRAVITER. [Taking up the telephone] Get me Captain Dancy's flat.... What?... [To TWISDEN] Mrs Dancy is here. That's a propos with a vengeance. Are you going to see her, sir? TWISDEN. [After a moment's painful hesitation] I must. GRAVITER. [Telephoning] Bring Mrs Dancy up. [He turns to the window]. [MABEL DANDY is shown in, looking very pale. TWISDEN advances from the fire, and takes her hand.] MABEL. Major Colford's taken Ronny off in his car for the night. I thought it would do him good. I said I'd come round in case there was anything you wanted to say before to-morrow. TWISDEN. [Taken aback] Where have they gone? MABEL. I don't know, but he'll be home before ten o'clock to-morrow. Is there anything? TWISDEN. Well, I'd like to see him before the Court sits. Send him on here as soon as he comes. MABEL. [With her hand to her forehead] Oh! Mr Twisden, when will it be over? My head's getting awful sitting in that Court. TWISDEN. My dear Mrs Dancy, there's no need at all for you to come down to-morrow; take a rest and nurse your head. MABEL. Really and truly? TWISDEN. Yes; it's the very best thing you can do. GRAVITER turns his head, and looks at them unobserved. MABEL. How do you think it's going? TWISDEN. It went very well to-day; very well indeed. MABEL. You must be awfully fed up with us. TWISDEN. My dear young lady, that's our business. [He takes her hand]. [MABEL's face suddenly quivers. She draws her hand away, and covers her lips with it.] There, there! You want a day off badly. MABEL. I'm so tired of--! Thank you so much for all you're doing. Good night! Good night, Mr Graviter! GRAVITER. Good night, Mrs Dancy. [MABEL goes.] GRAVITER. D'you know, I believe she knows. TWISDEN. No, no! She believes in him implicitly. A staunch little woman. Poor thing! GRAVITER. Hasn't that shaken you, sir? It has me. TWISDEN. No, no! I--I can't go on with the case. It's breaking faith. Get Sir Frederic's chambers. GRAVITER. [Telephoning, and getting a reply, looks round at TWISDEN] Yes? TWISDEN. Ask if I can come round and see him. GRAVITER. [Telephoning] Can Sir Frederic spare Mr Twisden a few minutes now if he comes round? [Receiving reply] He's gone down to Brighton for the night. TWISDEN. H'm! What hotel? GRAVITER. [Telephoning] What's his address? What...? [To TWISDEN] The Bedford. TWISDEN. I'll go down. GRAVITER. [Telephoning] Thank you. All right. [He rings off]. TWISDEN. Just look out the trains down and up early to-morrow. [GRAVITER takes up an A B C, and TWISDEN takes up the Ricardos card.] TWISDEN. Send to this address in Putney, verify the fact that Ricardos has a daughter, and give me a trunk call to Brighton. Better go yourself, Graviter. If you see her, don't say anything, of course-- invent some excuse. [GRAVITER nods] I'll be up in time to see Dancy. GRAVITER. By George! I feel bad about this. TWISDEN. Yes. But professional honour comes first. What time is that train? [He bends over the ABC]. [CURTAIN.] _ |
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