Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1049 page)

TERESE
:  He could not, madame. I do not veesh longer to remain.

MADGE
:  What is it? You must give me some reason!

TERESE
:  It is zat I wish to go.

MADGE
: You’ve been here months, and have made no complaint.

TERESE
:  Ah, madame — it is not so before! It is now beginning zat I do not like.

MADGE
(
rising
): What? What is it you do not like?

TERESE
(
with some little spirit but low voice
): I do not like eet, madame — eet — here — zis place — what you do — ze young lady you have up zere! I cannot remain to see! (
Indicating above.
) Eet ees not well! I cannot remain to see!

MADGE
:  You know nothing about it! The young lady is ill. She is not right here — (
Touching forehead
.) She is a great trouble to us, but we take every care of her, and treat her with the utmost kindness and —

(
A piercing scream, as if muffled by something, heard in distant part of house above
.)

(
Music on scream. Very pianissimo. Agitato.
)

(
Pause. Both motionless.
TERESE
does not assume a horrified expression; she simply stands motionless. After quite a pause,
MRS
.
FAULKNER
comes down stairway rapidly, a white-haired lady, dressed in an old black gown
.)

MRS
.
FAULKNER
:  My child! my child! They’re hurting my child!

(
MRS
.
FAULKNER
stands just within archway, looking vacantly, helplessly, at
MADGE
.
MADGE
turns, sees her and goes quickly to her
.)

MADGE
(
between her teeth
): What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you never to come down!

(
The old lady simply stares vacantly, but a vague expression of trouble is upon her face
.)

Come with me! (
Taking
MRS
.
FAULKNER
by the arm and drawing her towards stairs
.)

(
The old lady hangs back in a frightened way
.)

Come, I say! (
The scream again — more muffled — from above. Sudden change. Tenderly
.) Don’t be alarmed, dear, your poor daughter’s head is bad to-day. She’ll be better soon! (
Turns to
TERESE
.) Terèse — come to me in the morning. (
To old lady
.) Come along, dear. (
Then angrily in low threatening voice.
) Do you hear me? Come!

(
Takes
MRS. FAULKNER
off with some force up the stairs.
TERESE
stands looking after them. Enter
FORMAN
quietly. He looks a moment toward where
MADGE
has just taken the old lady off.
 
TERESE
is looking also the same way
.
FORMAN
goes down to
TERESE
.
They look at one another an instant in silence. Then he speaks to her in a low voice. Just before
FORMAN
speaks the music stops
)

FORMAN
: She’s made it quite satisfactory, I suppose.

(
TERESE
looks at
FORMAN
.)

You will not leave her — now?

TERESE
:  Leave her now? More zan evaire before! Do you hear young lady? What is eet they make to her?

FORMAN
(
low voice
): It may be she is ill.

TERESE
: Indeed, I think it is so zat zey make her eel! I weel not remain to see! (
Turning a little
.) I can find another place; eet eez not so difficult.

FORMAN
: Not so difficult if you know where to go!

TERESE
: Ah — zhat eez it!

FORMAN
: I have one address —

TERESE
(
turns to him quickly
): Bien — you know one?

(
FORMAN
nods
.)

Est-ce serieux?
What you call re-li-ah-ble?

FORMAN
(
moves to her
): Here — on this card — (
Quickly takes card from pocket and pushes it into her hands
.) Go to that address! Don’t let anyone see it!

TERESE
(
quickly looking at card while FORMAN looks away — begins slowly to read
): Meester — Sheer — lock —

FORMAN
(
with a quick warning exclamation and sudden turn, seizes her, covering her mouth with one hand; they stand a moment, he looks slowly round
): Some one might hear you! Go to that address in the morning.

(
The front door bell rings.
FORMAN
motions her off with quick, short motion. She goes out
.
FORMAN
goes out to open the house door — quickly. Sound of house door opening — a solid, heavy sound — not sharp. Enter
SID
PRINCE
,
walking in quickly. He is a short, stoutish, dapper little fellow. He carries a small black satchel, wears overcoat and hat, gloves, etc., and is well dressed and jaunty. He wears diamond scarf pin, rings, etc., is quick in movements and always on the alert.
FORMAN
follows him on, standing near archway
.)

PRINCE
(
going across towards piano
): Don’t waste toime, you fool; tell ‘em I’m ‘ere, can’t yer?

FORMAN
: Did you wish to see Mr. Chetwood, sir, or was it Miss Chetwood?

PRINCE
(
stopping and turning to
FORMAN
): Well, I’ll be blowed! You act as if I’d never been ‘ere before! ‘Ow do you know but I was born in this ‘ere ‘ouse? Go on and tell ‘em as it’s Mr. Sidney Prince, Esq. (
He puts satchel, which is apparently heavy, on seat at foot of piano
.)

FORMAN
: Oh yes, sir — I beg your pardon! I’ll announce you immediate, sir. (
Goes out upstairs
.)

(
PRINCE
takes off hat, gloves, etc., laying them so as to cover the satchel. Looks about room. Walks over to the heavy desk and glances at it. Swings door of the desk open in easy business-like way
.)

PRINCE
: Ah! (
As if he had found what he was looking for. Not an exclamation of surprise. Drops on one knee and gives the lock a turn. Rises and goes over to his satchel — which he uncovers and opens. Feels about for something.
)

(
MADGE
and
LARRABEE
come downstairs and enter.
PRINCE
sees them, but does not stop what he is doing.
)

MADGE
(
going across to
PRINCE
): Oh, is that you, Sid? I’m so glad you’ve come.

LARRABEE
:  Hallo, Sid! … Did you get my note?

PRINCE
(
going right on with what he is doing
): Well, I’m ‘ere, ain’t I? (
Business at satchel
.) … That’s what it is, I take it? (
Motion of head towards desk
.)

MADGE
: Yes … We’re awfully glad you turned up, Sid. We might have had to get in some stranger to do it. (
Going across to below piano in front of
PRINCE
.)

PRINCE
(
standing up and looking at
LARRABEE
and
MADGE
):  That would be nice now, wouldn’t it? If your game ‘appens to be anything off colour — !!!

LARRABEE
: Oh — it isn’t so specially dark.

PRINCE
: That different. (
Goes across to desk with tools from satchel
.) I say, Larrabee —

(
Quick “Sh!” from
MADGE
just behind him
.)

LARRABEE
(
at same time
): Shut up!

(
They look round.
PRINCE
looks up surprised
.)

For Heaven’s sake, Sid, remember — my name is Chetwood here.

PRINCE
: Beg your pardon. My mistake. Old times when we was learnin’ the trade together — eh!

LARRABEE
: Yes, yes!

PRINCE
: I ‘ardly expected you’d be doin’ the ‘igh tone thing over ‘ere, wen I first come up with you workin’ the Sound Steamer Line out O’ New York.

LARRABEE
: Come! Don’t let’s go into that now.

PRINCE
: Well, you needn’t get so ‘uffy about it! You wouldn’t a’ been over ‘ere at all, if it ‘adn’t been for me … An’ youd a’ never met Madge ‘ere neither — and a devil of a life of it you might a’ been leadin’.

LARRABEE
:  Yes, yes.

MADGE
:  We know all that, Sid — but can’t you open that box for us now? We’ve no time to lose.

PRINCE
:  Open it! I should say I could! It’s one o’ those things it’ll fall open if you let it alone long enough! I’d really like to know where you picked up such a relic as this ‘ere box! It’s an old timer and no mistake! (
About to try some tools on lock, looks about.
) All clear, you say, no danger lurking?

LARRABEE
(
shaking head
): Not the least!

(
MADGE
moves away a little, glancing cautiously about.
PRINCE
tries tools.
LARRABEE
remains near piano. Both watch him as he tries tools in the lock.
)

PRINCE
(
at lock
): You’re not robbing yourselves, I trust?

LARRABEE
(
near
PRINCE
): It does look a little like it!

PRINCE
: I knew you was on some rum lay — squatting down in this place for over a year; but I never could seem to — (
business
) get a line on you. (
He works a moment, then crosses to get a tool out of satchel, and goes near light on piano and begins to adjust it. This must bring him where he commands stage. Stopping and looking sharply at
MADGE
and
LARRABEE
.) What do we get here? Oof, I trust?

LARRABEE
:  Sorry to disappoint you, but it isn’t.

PRINCE
:  That’s too bad!

MADGE
(
shakes head
): Only a bundle of papers, Sid.

(
PRINCE
works at tool an instant before speaking
.)

PRINCE
: Pipers!

LARRABEE
: Um! (
Grunt of assent
.)

PRINCE
:  Realise, I trust?

MADGE
:  We can’t tell — it may be something — it may be nothing.

PRINCE
:  Well, if it’s something, I’m in it, I hope.

MADGE
:  Why, of course, Sid — whatever you think is due for opening the box.

PRINCE
:  Fair enough. (
As if it was all settled to go on.
) Now ‘ere. (
Glances round quickly
.) Before we starts ‘er goin’ what’s the general surroundin’s?

LARRABEE
:  What’s the good of wasting time on — (
Going near
PRINCE
.)