Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1048 page)
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Authors: SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
COLONEL. And so you are actually he.
CORPORAL. “ And a damned good answer, too,” says he.
COLONEL. Why, we are very proud of you in London. And so you are actually one of the men who held Hougoumont. (Looks round him at the medicine bottles, etc.)
(NORAH sits L. of table with needlework, taken from her basket.)
CORPORAL. Yes, colonel, I was at Hougoumont.
COLONEL. Well, I hope that you are pretty comfortable and happy.
CORPORAL. Thank ye, sir, I am pretty bobbish when the weather holds, and the flies are not too owdacious. I have a good deal of trouble with my toobes. You wouldn’t think the job it is to cut the phlegm. And I need my rations, I get cold without ‘em. And my jints, they are not what they used to be.
COLONEL. HOW’S the memory ?
CORPORAL. Oh, there ain’t anything amiss there. Why, sir, I could give you the name of every man in Captain Haldane’s flank company.
COLONEL. And the battle — you remember that ?
CORPORAL. Why I sees it afore me. every time I shuts my eyes. Lordy, sir, you wouldn’t hardly believe how clear it is to me. There’s our line right along from the paragoric bottle to the inhaler, d’ye see ! Well then, the pill box is for Hougoumont on the right, where we was, and the thimble for Le Hay Saint. That’s all right, sir. (Cocks his head and looks at it with satisfaction.) And here are the reserves, and here were our guns and our Belgians, then here’s the French, where I put my new pipe, and over here, where the cough drops are, was the Proosians a comin’ up on our left flank, Jimini, but it was a glad sight to see the smoke of their guns. (NORAH helps him into chair.)
COLONEL. And what was it that struck you most, now, in connection with the whole affair ?
CORPORAL. I lost three half-crowns over it, I did. I shouldn’t wonder if I were never to get the money now. I lent them to Jabez Smith, my rear rank man at Brussels. “Grig!” says he, “I’ll pay you true, only wait till pay-day.” By Jimini, he was struck by a lancer at Quarter Brass, and me without a line to prove the debt. Them three half-crowns is as good as lost to me.
COLONEL (laughing). The officers — of the Guards — want you to buy — yourself — some little trifle, some little present which may add to your comfort. It is not from me, so you need not thank me. (Slips a note into the old man’s baccy pouch. Crosses to leave.)
CORPORAL. Thank you kindly, sir. But there’s one favor I’d ask you, Colonel.
COLONEL. Yes, corporal, what is it ? 2
CORPORAL. If I’m called, Colonel, you won’t grudge me a flag and a firing party. I’m not a civilian, I’m a Guardsman, and I should like to think as two lines of the bear-skins would be walkin’ after my coffin.
COLONEL. All right, corpora! I’ll see to it. (CORPORAL sinks back in his chair.) I fear that I have tired him. He is asleep, I think. Good-bye, my girl; and I hope that we may have nothing but good news from you. (Exit COLONEL. )
NORAH. Thank you, sir, I’m sure I hope so too. Uncle, uncle ! Yes, I suppose he is asleep. But he is so grey and thin, that he frightens me. Oh, I wish I had someone to advise me, for I don’t know when he is ill and when he is not.
(Enter SERGEANT MCDONALD abruptly.)
SERGEANT. Good day, Miss. How is the old gentleman ?
NORAH. Sh I He’s asleep, I think. But I feel quite frightened about him.
SERGEANT (going over to him). Yes, he don’t look as if he were long for this life, do he ? Maybe a sleep like this brings strength to him.
NORAH. Oh, I do hope so.
SERGEANT. I’ll tell you why I came back so quick. I told them up at the barracks that I’d given him a pipe, and the others they wanted to be in it too, so they passed round, you understand, and made up a pound of baccy. It’s long cavendish, with plenty o’ bite to it.
NORAH. HOW kind of you to think of him !
SERGEANT. DO you always live with him ?
NORAH. NO, I only came this morning.
SERGEANT. Well, you haven’t taken long to get straight.
NORAH. Oh, but I found everything in such a mess. When I have time to myself I’ll soon get it nice.
SERGEANT. That sounds like marching orders to me.
NORAH. Oh, how could you think so I
SERGEANT. Tell me, Miss, have you ever been over a barrack ?
NORAH. NO, I’ve been on a farm all my life.
SERGEANT. Well, maybe, when he comes up you would come with him ? I’d like to show you over.
NORAH. I’m sure I’d like to come.
SERGEANT. Well, will you promise to come ?
NORAH (laughing). You seem quite earnest about it.
SERGEANT. Well, maybe I am.
NORAH. Very well, I’ll promise to come.
SERGEANT. You’ll find us rough and ready.
NORAH. I’m sure it will be very nice.
SERGEANT. Not quite what young ladies are accustomed to.
NORAH. But I am no young lady. I’ve worked with my hands every day that I can remember.
CORPORAL (in a loud voice). The Guards need powder. (Louder.) The Guards need powder I (Struggles to rise.)
NORAH. Oh, I am so frightened.
CORPORAL (staggering to his feet, and suddenly flashing out into his old soldiery figure.) The Guards need powder, and, by God, they shall have it ! (Falls back into chair. NORAH and the SERGEANT rush to-wards him.)
NORAH (sobbing). Oh, tell me, sir, tell me, what do you think of him.
SERGEANT (gravely). I think that the 3rd Guards have a full muster now.
CURTAIN. SLOW.
In the order of their appearance
MADGE LARRABEE
ALFRED BASSICK
JOHN FORMAN
BILLY
JAMES LARRABEE
DOCTOR WATSON
TERESE
JIM CRAIGIN
MRS FAULKNER
THOMAS LEARY
SIDNEY PRINCE
“LIGHTFOOT” MCTAGUE
ALICE FAULKNER
MRS SMEEDLEY
SHERLOCK HOLMES
PARSONS
PROFESSOR MORIARTY
COUNT VON STALBURG
JOHN
SIR EDWARD LEIGHTON
ACT
I
Drawing-room at the LARRABEES. Evening.
The scene represents the drawing-room at Edelweiss Lodge, an old house, gloomy and decayed, situated in a lonely district in a little-frequented part of London.
The furniture is old and decayed, with the exception of the piano — a baby-grand. The desk is very solid. The ceiling is heavily beamed. Many places out of repair in the walls and ceilings. Carvings broken here and there.
The music stops an instant before rise of curtain. A short pause after curtain is up. Curtain rises in darkness — lights come up. MADGE LARRABEE is discovered anxiously waiting. A strikingly handsome woman, but with a somewhat hard face. Black hair. Richly dressed.
Enter FORMAN with evening paper. He is a quiet perfectly trained servant. He is met by MADGE who takes the paper from him quickly.
FORMAN
(
speaks always very quietly
): Pardon, ma’am, but one of the maids wishes to speak with you.
(
MADGE
is scanning the paper eagerly and sinks on to seat at the foot of the piano
)
MADGE
(
not looking from paper
): I can’t spare the time now.
FORMAN
: Very well, ma’am. (
Turns to go
.)
MADGE
(
without looking up from paper
): Which maid was it?
FORMAN
(
turning towards
MADGE
again
): Térèse, ma’am.
MADGE
(
looking up. Very slight surprise in her tone)
: Térêse!
FORMAN
: Yes, ma’am.
MADGE
: Have you any idea what she wants?
FORMAN
: Not the least, ma’am.
MADGE
: She must tell you. I’m very busy, and can’t see her unless I know.
FORMAN
: I’ll say so, ma’am.
(Turns and goes out, carefully and quietly closing the door after him — immediately coming in again and watching
MADGE
,
who is busy with paper. Finds what she has been looking for and starts eagerly to read it. As if not seeing the print well, she leans near light and resumes reading with the greatest avidity.
FORMAN
quietly shuts door. He stands at the door looking at
MADGE
as she reads the paper. This is prolonged somewhat, so that it may be seen that he is not waiting for her to finish from mere politeness. His eyes are upon her sharply and intensely, yet he does not assume any expression otherwise. She finishes and angrily rises, casting the paper violently down on the piano. She turns and goes near the large heavy desk. Pauses there. Then turns away angrily. Sees
FORMAN
,
calms herself at once. Just as
MADGE
turns
,
FORMAN
seems to be coming into room.
)
I could get nothing from her, ma’am. She insists that she must speak to you herself.
MADGE
: Tell her to wait till to-morrow.
FORMAN
: I asked her to do that, ma’am, and she said that she would not be here to-morrow.
(
MADGE
turns toward
FORMAN
with some surprise
.)
MADGE
: What does she mean by that?
FORMAN
: Pardon me for mentioning it, ma’am, but she is a bit singular, as I take it.
MADGE
: Tell her to come here — (
FORMAN
bows and turns to go.
MADGE
goes toward the piano, near where the paper lies. She sees it. Stops with hand on piano
.)
Oh — Judson!
(
FORMAN
stops and comes down. Everything quiet, subdued, cat-like in his methods
.)
How did you happen to imagine that I would be interested in this marriage announcement? (
Takes up paper and sits in seat below the piano
.)
FORMAN
: I could ‘ardly help it, ma’am.
(
MADGE
turns and looks hard at him an instant.
FORMAN
stands deferentially
.)
MADGE
: I suppose you have overheard certain references to the matter — between myself and my brother?
FORMAN
: I ‘ave, ma’am, but I would never have referred to it in the least if I did not think it might be of some importance to you ma’am to know it.
MADGE
: Oh no — of no special importance! We know the parties concerned and are naturally interested in the event. Of course, you do not imagine there is anything more (
She does not look at him as she says this
)
FORMAN
(
not looking at
MADGE
—
eyes front
): Certainly not, ma’am. Anyway if I did imagine there was something more I’m sure you’d find it to your interest ma’am to remember my faithful services in helpin’ to keep it quiet.
MADGE
(after slight pause, during which she looks steadily in front): Judson, what sort of a fool are you?
(
FORMAN
turns to her with feigned astonishment
)
(
Speaks with sharp, caustic utterances, almost between her teeth. Turns to him.
) Do you imagine I would take a house, and bring this girl and her mother here and keep up the establishment for nearly two years without protecting myself against the chance of petty blackmail by my own servants?
FORMAN
(
protestingly
) Ah — ma’am — you misunderstand me — I —
MADGE
(
rising — throws paper on to the piano
) I understand too well! And now I beg you to understand me. I have had a trifle of experience in the selection of my servants and can recognize certain things when I see them! It was quite evident from your behaviour you had been in something yourself and it didn’t take me long to get it out of you. You are a self-confessed forger.
FORMAN
(
quick movement of apprehension
): No! (
Apprehensive look around)
Don’t speak out like that! (
Recovers a little
) It — it was in confidence — I told you in confidence ma’am.
MADGE
: Well, I’m telling you in confidence that at the first sign of any underhand conduct on your part this little episode of yours will —
FORMAN
(
hurriedly — to prevent her from speaking it
): Yes, yes! I — will bear it in mind, ma’am. I will bear it in mind!
MADGE
(
after a sharp look at him as if satisfying herself that he is now reduced to proper condition
): Very well … Now, as to the maid — Térèse —
(
FORMAN
inclines head for instruction.
)
Do you think of anything which might explain her assertion that she will not be here to-morrow?
FORMAN
(
his eyes turned away from
MADGE
.
Speaking in low tones, and behaviour subdued as if completely humiliated
): It has occurred to me, ma’am, since you first asked me regarding the matter, that she may have taken exceptions to some occurrences which she thinks she ‘as seen going on in this ‘ouse.
MADGE
: I’ll raise her wages if I find it necessary; tell her so. If it isn’t money that she wants — I’ll see her myself.
FORMAN
: Very well, ma’am. (
He turns and goes out quietly
.)
(
MADGE
stands motionless a moment. There is a sound of a heavy door opening and closing.
MADGE
gives a quick motion of listening. Hurries to look off. Enter
JIM
LARRABEE
,
through archway, in some excitement. He is a tall, heavily-built man, with a hard face. Full of determination and a strong character. He is well dressed, and attractive in some respects. A fine looking man. Dark hair and eyes, but the hard sinister look of a criminal
.)
MADGE
: Didn’t you find him? I
LARRABEE
: No. (
Goes to the heavy desk and throws open the wooden doors of lower part, showing the iron and combination lock of a safe or strong-box. Gives knob a turn or two nervously, and works at it
.)
(
MADGE
follows, watching him
.)
He wasn’t there! (
Rises from desk.
) We’ll have to get a lock smith in.
MADGE
(
quickly
): No, no! We can’t do that! It isn’t safe!
LARRABEE
: We’ve got to do something, haven’t we? (
Stoops down quickly before door of safe again, and nervously tries it.
) I wish to God I knew a bit about these things. (
Business at safe
.) There’s no time to waste, either! They’ve put Holmes on the case!
MADGE
: Sherlock Holmes?
LARRABEE
: Yes. (
At safe, trying knob
.)
MADGE
: How do you know?
LARRABEE
: I heard it at Leary’s. They keep track of him down there, and every time he’s put on something they give notice round.
MADGE
: What could he do?
LARRABEE
(
rises and faces her
): I don’t know — but he’ll make some move — he never waits long! It may be any minute! (
Moves about restlessly but stops when
MADGE
speaks
.)
MADGE
: Can’t you think of someone else — as we can’t find Sid?
LARRABEE
: He may turn up yet. I left word with Billy Rounds, and he’s on the hunt for him. (
Between his teeth
.) Oh! it’s damnable. After holding on for two good years just for this and now the time comes and she’s blocked us! (
Goes to and looks off and up stairway. Looks at
MADGE
.
Goes to her.
) Look here! I’ll just get at her for a minute. (
Starting to go out.
) I have an idea I can change her mind.
MADGE
(
quickly
): Yes — but wait, Jim.
(
LARRABEE
stops and turns to her
.)
(
She goes near him
.) What’s the use of hurting the girl? We’ve tried all that!
LARRABEE
: Well, I’ll try something else! (
Turns and goes to archway
.)
MADGE
(
quick, half whisper
): Jim! (
LARRABEE
turns
,
MADGE
approaches him
.) Remember — nothing that’ll show! No marks! We might get into trouble.
LARRABEE
(
going doggedly
): I’ll look out for that.
(
LARRABEE
goes out, running upstairs in haste. As
MADGE
looks after him with a trifle of anxiety standing in archway, enter
TERESE
.
She is a quiet-looking French maid with a pleasant face. She stands near the door
.
MADGE
turns into the room and sees her. Stands an instant. She seats herself in the arm-chair
.)
MADGE
: Come here.
(
TERESE
comes down a little way — with slight hesitation.
)
What is it?
TERESE
: Meester Judson said I vas to come.
MADGE
: I told Judson to arrange with you himself.
