Book: Loyalties (Fifth Series Plays)
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John Galsworthy >> Loyalties (Fifth Series Plays)
TWISDEN. No. It isn't that.
DANCY. [Looking at his wrist watch] By me it's just on the half-hour,
sir.
TWISDEN. Yes. I don't want you to go to the Court.
DANCY. Not?
TWISDEN. I have very serious news for you.
DANCY. [Wincing and collecting himself] Oh!
TWISDEN. These two notes. [He uncovers the notes] After the Court rose
yesterday we had a man called Ricardos here. [A pause] Is there any need
for me to say more?
DANCY. [Unflinching] No. What now?
TWISDEN. Our duty was plain; we could not go on with the case. I have
consulted Sir Frederic. He felt--he felt that he must throw up his
brief, and he will do that the moment the Court sits. Now I want to talk
to you about what you're going to do.
DANCY. That's very good of you, considering.
TWISDEN. I don't pretend to understand, but I imagine you may have done
this in a moment of reckless bravado, feeling, perhaps, that as you gave
the mare to De Levis, the money was by rights as much yours as his.
Stopping DANCY, who is about to speak, with a gesture.
To satisfy a debt of honour to this--lady; and, no doubt, to save your
wife from hearing of it from the man Ricardos. Is that so?
DANCY. To the life.
TWISDEN. It was mad, Captain Dancy, mad! But the question now is: What
do you owe to your wife? She doesn't dream--I suppose?
DANCY. [With a twitching face] No.
TWISDEN. We can't tell what the result of this collapse will be. The
police have the theft in hand. They may issue a warrant. The money
could be refunded, and the costs paid--somehow that can all be managed.
But it may not help. In any case, what end is served by your staying in
the country? You can't save your honour--that's gone. You can't save
your wife's peace of mind. If she sticks to you--do you think she will?
DANCY. Not if she's wise.
TWISDEN. Better go! There's a war in Morocco.
DANCY. [With a bitter smile] Good old Morocco!
TWISDEN. Will you go, then, at once, and leave me to break it to your
wife?
DANCY. I don't know yet.
TWISDEN. You must decide quickly, to catch a boat train. Many a man has
made good. You're a fine soldier.
DANCY. There are alternatives.
TWISDEN. Now, go straight from this office. You've a passport, I
suppose; you won't need a visa for France, and from there you can find
means to slip over. Have you got money on you? [Dancy nods]. We will
see what we can do to stop or delay proceedings.
DANCY. It's all damned kind of you. [With difficulty] But I must think
of my wife. Give me a few minutes.
TWISDEN. Yes, yes; go in there and think it out.
He goes to the door, Right, and opens it. DANCY passes him and goes
out. TWISDEN rings a bell and stands waiting.
CLERK. [Entering] Yes, sir?
TWISDEN. Tell them to call a taxi.
CLERK. [Who has a startled look] Yes, sir. Mr Graviter has come in,
air, with General Canynge. Are you disengaged?
TWISDEN. Yes.
The CLERK goes out, and almost immediately GRAVITER and CANYNGE
enter. Good-morning, General. [To GRAVITER]
Well?
GRAVITER. Sir Frederic got up at once and said that since the
publication of the numbers of those notes, information had reached him
which forced him to withdraw from the case. Great sensation, of course.
I left Bromley in charge. There'll be a formal verdict for the
defendant, with costs. Have you told Dancy?
TWISDEN. Yes. He's in there deciding what he'll do.
CANYNGE. [Grave and vexed] This is a dreadful thing, Twisden. I've
been afraid of it all along. A soldier! A gallant fellow, too. What on
earth got into him?
TWISDEN. There's no end to human nature, General.
GRAVITER. You can see queerer things in the papers, any day.
CANYNGE. That poor young wife of his! WINSOR gave me a message for you,
Twisden. If money's wanted quickly to save proceedings, draw on him.
Is there anything I can do?
TWISDEN. I've advised him to go straight off to Morocco.
CANYNGE. I don't know that an asylum isn't the place for him. He must
be off his head at moments. That jump-crazy! He'd have got a verdict on
that alone--if they'd seen those balconies. I was looking at them when I
was down there last Sunday. Daring thing, Twisden. Very few men, on a
dark night--He risked his life twice. That's a shrewd fellow--young De
Levis. He spotted Dancy's nature.
The YOUNG CLERK enters.
CLERK. The taxi's here, sir. Will you see Major Colford and Miss Orme?
TWISDEN. Graviter--No; show them in.
The YOUNG CLERK goes.
CANYNGE. Colford's badly cut up.
MARGARET ORME and COLFORD enter.
COLFORD. [Striding forward] There must be some mistake about this, Mr
Twisden.
TWISDEN. Hssh! Dancy's in there. He's admitted it.
Voices are subdued at once.
COLFORD. What? [With emotion] If it were my own brother, I couldn't
feel it more. But--damn it! What right had that fellow to chuck up the
case--without letting him know, too. I came down with Dancy this
morning, and he knew nothing about it.
TWISDEN. [Coldly] That was unfortunately unavoidable.
COLFORD. Guilty or not, you ought to have stuck to him--it's not playing
the game, Mr Twisden.
TWISDEN. You must allow me to judge where my duty lay, in a very hard
case.
COLFORD. I thought a man was safe with his solicitor.
CANYNGE. Colford, you don't understand professional etiquette.
COLFORD. No, thank God!
TWISDEN. When you have been as long in your profession as I have been in
mine, Major Colford, you will know that duty to your calling outweighs
duty to friend or client.
COLFORD. But I serve the Country.
TWISDEN. And I serve the Law, sir.
CANYNGE. Graviter, give me a sheet of paper. I'll write a letter for
him.
MARGARET. [Going up to TWISDEN] Dear Mr Jacob--pay De Levis. You know
my pearls--put them up the spout again. Don't let Ronny be--
TWISDEN. Money isn't the point, Margaret.
MARGARET. It's ghastly! It really is.
COLFORD. I'm going in to shake hands with him. [He starts to cross the
room].
TWISDEN. Wait! We want him to go straight off to Morocco. Don't upset
him. [To COLFORD and MARGARET] I think you had better go. If, a little
later, Margaret, you could go round to Mrs Dancy--
COLFORD. Poor little Mabel Dancy! It's perfect hell for her.
They have not seen that DANCY has opened the door behind them.
DANCY. It is!
They all turn round in consternation.
COLFORD. [With a convulsive movement] Old boy!
DANCY. No good, Colford. [Gazing round at them] Oh! clear out--I can't
stand commiseration; and let me have some air.
TWISDEN motions to COLFORD and MARGARET to go; and as he turns to
DANCY, they go out. GRAVITER also moves towards the door. The
GENERAL sits motionless. GRAVITER goes Out.
TWISDEN. Well?
DANCY. I'm going home, to clear up things with my wife. General
Canynge, I don't quite know why I did the damned thing. But I did,
and there's an end of it.
CANYNGE. Dancy, for the honour of the Army, avoid further scandal if
you can. I've written a letter to a friend of mine in the Spanish War
Office. It will get you a job in their war. [CANYNGE closes the
envelope].
DANCY. Very good of you. I don't know if I can make use of it.
CANYNGE stretches out the letter, which TWISDEN hands to DANCY, who
takes it. GRAVITER re-opens the door.
TWISDEN. What is it?
GRAVITER. De Levis is here.
TWISDEN. De Levis? Can't see him.
DANCY. Let him in!
After a moment's hesitation TWISDEN nods, and GRAVITER goes out.
The three wait in silence with their eyes fixed on the door, the
GENERAL sitting at the table, TWISDEN by his chair, DANCY between
him and the door Right. DE LEVIS comes in and shuts the door. He
is advancing towards TWISDEN when his eyes fall on DANCY, and he
stops.
TWISDEN. You wanted to see me?
DE LEVIS. [Moistening his lips] Yes. I came to say that--that I
overheard--I am afraid a warrant is to be issued. I wanted you to
realise--it's not my doing. I'll give it no support. I'm content. I
don't want my money. I don't even want costs. Dancy, do you understand?
DANCY does not answer, but looks at him with nothing alive in his
face but his eyes.
TWISDEN. We are obliged to you, Sir. It was good of you to come.
DE LEVIS. [With a sort of darting pride] Don't mistake me. I didn't
come because I feel Christian; I am a Jew. I will take no money--not
even that which was stolen. Give it to a charity. I'm proved right.
And now I'm done with the damned thing. Good-morning!
He makes a little bow to CANYNGE and TWISDEN, and turns to face
DANCY, who has never moved. The two stand motionless, looking at
each other, then DE LEVIS shrugs his shoulders and walks out. When
he is gone there is a silence.
CANYNGE. [Suddenly] You heard what he said, Dancy. You have no time to
lose.
But DANCY does not stir.
TWISDEN. Captain Dancy?
Slowly, without turning his head, rather like a man in a dream,
DANCY walks across the room, and goes out.
CURTAIN.
SCENE III
The DANCYS' sitting-room, a few minutes later. MABEL DANCY is
sitting alone on the sofa with a newspaper on her lap; she is only
just up, and has a bottle of smelling-salts in her hand. Two or
three other newspapers are dumped on the arm of the sofa. She
topples the one off her lap and takes up another as if she couldn't
keep away from them; drops it in turn, and sits staring before her,
sniffing at the salts. The door, Right, is opened and DANCY comes
in.
MABEL. [Utterly surprised] Ronny! Do they want me in Court?
DANCY. No.
MABEL. What is it, then? Why are you back?
DANCY. Spun.
MABEL. [Blank] Spun? What do you mean? What's spun?
DANCY. The case. They've found out through those notes.
MABEL. Oh! [Staring at his face] Who?
DANCY. Me!
MABEL. [After a moment of horrified stillness] Don't, Ronny! Oh! No!
Don't! [She buries her face in the pillows of the sofa].
DANCY stands looking down at her.
DANCY. Pity you wouldn't come to Africa three months ago.
MABEL. Why didn't you tell me then? I would have gone.
DANCY. You wanted this case. Well, it's fallen down.
MABEL. Oh! Why didn't I face it? But I couldn't--I had to believe.
DANCY. And now you can't. It's the end, Mabel.
MABEL. [Looking up at him] No.
DANCY goes suddenly on his knees and seizes her hand.
DANCY. Forgive me!
MABEL. [Putting her hand on his head] Yes; oh, yes! I think I've known a
long time, really. Only--why? What made you?
DANCY. [Getting up and speaking in jerks] It was a crazy thing to do;
but, damn it, I was only looting a looter. The money was as much mine as
his. A decent chap would have offered me half. You didn't see the brute
look at me that night at dinner as much as to say: "You blasted fool!"
It made me mad. That wasn't a bad jump-twice over. Nothing in the war
took quite such nerve. [Grimly] I rather enjoyed that evening.
MABEL. But--money! To keep it!
DANCY. [Sullenly] Yes, but I had a debt to pay.
MABEL. To a woman?
DANCY. A debt of honour--it wouldn't wait.
MABEL. It was--it was to a woman. Ronny, don't lie any more.
DANCY. [Grimly] Well! I wanted to save your knowing. I'd promised a
thousand. I had a letter from her father that morning, threatening to
tell you. All the same, if that tyke hadn't jeered at me for parlour
tricks!--But what's the good of all this now? [Sullenly] Well--it may
cure you of loving me. Get over that, Mab; I never was worth it--and I'm
done for!
MABEL. The woman--have you--since--?
DANCY. [Energetically] No! You supplanted her. But if you'd known I
was leaving a woman for you, you'd never have married me. [He walks over
to the hearth].
MABEL too gets up. She presses her hands to her forehead, then
walks blindly round to behind the sofa and stands looking straight
in front of her.
MABEL. [Coldly] What has happened, exactly?
DANCY. Sir Frederic chucked up the case. I've seen Twisden; they want
me to run for it to Morocco.
MABEL. To the war there?
DANCY. Yes. There's to be a warrant out.
MABEL. A prosecution? Prison? Oh, go! Don't wait a minute! Go!
DANCY. Blast them!
MABEL. Oh, Ronny! Please! Please! Think what you'll want. I'll pack.
Quick! No! Don't wait to take things. Have you got money?
DANCY. [Nodding] This'll be good-bye, then!
MABEL. [After a moment's struggle] Oh! No! No, no! I'll follow--I'll
come out to you there.
DANCY. D'you mean you'll stick to me?
MABEL. Of course I'll stick to you.
DANCY seizes her hand and puts it to his lips. The bell rings.
MABEL. [In terror] Who's that?
The bell rings again. DANCY moves towards the door.
No! Let me!
She passes him and steals out to the outer door of the flat, where
she stands listening. The bell rings again. She looks through the
slit of the letter-box. While she is gone DANCY stands quite still,
till she comes back.
MABEL. Through the letter-bog--I can see----It's--it's police. Oh!
God! . . . Ronny! I can't bear it.
DANCY. Heads up, Mab! Don't show the brutes!
MABEL. Whatever happens, I'll go on loving you. If it's prison--I'll
wait. Do you understand? I don't care what you did--I don't care! I'm
just the same. I will be just the same when you come back to me.
DANCY. [Slowly] That's not in human nature.
MABEL. It is. It's in Me.
DANCY. I've crocked up your life.
MABEL. No, no! Kiss me!
A long kiss, till the bell again startles them apart, and there is a
loud knock.
DANCY. They'll break the door in. It's no good--we must open. Hold
them in check a little. I want a minute or two.
MABEL. [Clasping him] Ronny! Oh, Ronny! It won't be for long--I'll be
waiting! I'll be waiting--I swear it.
DANCY. Steady, Mab! [Putting her back from him] Now!
He opens the bedroom door, Left, and stands waiting for her to go.
Summoning up her courage, she goes to open the outer door. A sudden
change comes over DANCY'S face; from being stony it grows almost
maniacal.
DANCY. [Under his breath] No! No! By God! No! He goes out into the
bedroom, closing the door behind him.
MABEL has now opened the outer door, and disclosed INSPECTOR DEDE
and the YOUNG CONSTABLE who were summoned to Meldon Court on the
night of the theft, and have been witnesses in the case. Their
voices are heard.
MABEL. Yes?
INSPECTOR. Captain Dancy in, madam?
MABEL. I am not quite sure--I don't think so.
INSPECTOR. I wish to speak to him a minute. Stay here, Grover. Now,
madam!
MABEL. Will you come in while I see?
She comes in, followed by the INSPECTOR.
INSPECTOR. I should think you must be sure, madam. This is not a big
place.
MABEL. He was changing his clothes to go out. I think he has gone.
INSPECTOR. What's that door?
MABEL. To our bedroom.
INSPECTOR. [Moving towards it] He'll be in there, then.
MABEL. What do you want, Inspector?
INSPECTOR. [Melting] Well, madam, it's no use disguising it. I'm
exceedingly sorry, but I've a warrant for his arrest.
MABEL. Inspector!
INSPECTOR. I'm sure I've every sympathy for you, madam; but I must carry
out my instructions.
MABEL. And break my heart?
INSPECTOR. Well, madam, we're--we're not allowed to take that into
consideration. The Law's the Law.
MABEL. Are you married?
INSPECTOR. I am.
MABEL. If you--your wife--
The INSPECTOR raises his hand, deprecating.
[Speaking low] Just half an hour! Couldn't you? It's two lives--two
whole lives! We've only been married four months. Come back in half an
hour. It's such a little thing--nobody will know. Nobody. Won't you?
INSPECTOR. Now, madam--you must know my duty.
MABEL. Inspector, I beseech you--just half an hour.
INSPECTOR. No, no--don't you try to undermine me--I'm sorry for you;
but don't you try it! [He tries the handle, then knocks at the door].
DANCY'S VOICE. One minute!
INSPECTOR. It's locked. [Sharply] Is there another door to that room?
Come, now--
The bell rings.
[Moving towards the door, Left; to the CONSTABLE] Who's that out there?
CONSTABLE. A lady and gentleman, sir.
INSPECTOR. What lady and-- Stand by, Grover!
DANCY'S VOICE. All right! You can come in now.
There is the noise of a lock being turned. And almost immediately
the sound of a pistol shot in the bedroom. MABEL rushes to the
door, tears it open, and disappears within, followed by the
INSPECTOR, just as MARGARET ORME and COLFORD come in from the
passage, pursued by the CONSTABLE. They, too, all hurry to the
bedroom door and disappear for a moment; then COLFORD and MARGARET
reappear, supporting MABEL, who faints as they lay her on the sofa.
COLFORD takes from her hand an envelope, and tears it open.
COLFORD. It's addressed to me. [He reads it aloud to MARGARET in a low
voice].
"DEAR COLFORD,--This is the only decent thing I can do. It's too damned
unfair to her. It's only another jump. A pistol keeps faith. Look
after her, Colford--my love to her, and you."
MARGARET gives a sort of choking sob, then, seeing the smelling bottle,
she snatches it up, and turns to revive MABEL.
COLFORD. Leave her! The longer she's unconscious, the better.
INSPECTOR. [Re-entering] This is a very serious business, sir.
COLFORD. [Sternly] Yes, Inspector; you've done for my best friend.
INSPECTOR. I, sir? He shot himself.
COLFORD. Hara-kiri.
INSPECTOR. Beg pardon?
COLFORD. [He points with the letter to MABEL] For her sake, and his own.
INSPECTOR. [Putting out his hand] I'll want that, sir.
COLFORD. [Grimly] You shall have it read at the inquest. Till then--
it's addressed to me, and I stick to it.
INSPECTOR. Very well, sir. Do you want to have a look at him?
COLFORD passes quickly into the bedroom, followed by the INSPECTOR.
MARGARET remains kneeling beside MABEL.
COLFORD comes quickly back. MARGARET looks up at him. He stands
very still.
COLFORD. Neatly--through the heart.
MARGARET [wildly] Keeps faith! We've all done that. It's not enough.
COLFORD. [Looking down at MABEL] All right, old boy!
The CURTAIN falls.