第23章 ACT IV(5)

He points to the clerks'room and moves towards the outer office.FALDER does not move.RUTH puts out her hand timidly.

He shrinks back from the touch.She turns and goes miserably into the clerks'room.With a brusque movement he follows,seizing her by the shoulder just inside the doorway.COKESONshuts the door.

JAMES.[Pointing to the outer office]Get rid of that,whoever it is.

SWEEDLE.[Opening the office door,in a scared voice]Detective-Sergeant blister.

The detective enters,and closes the door behind him.

WISTER.Sorry to disturb you,sir.A clerk you had here,two years and a half ago:I arrested him in,this room.

JAMES.What about him?

WISTER.I thought perhaps I might get his whereabouts from you.

[There is an awkward silence]

COKESON.[Pleasantly,coming to the rescue]We're not responsible for his movements;you know that.

JAMES.What do you want with him?

WISTER.He's failed to report himself this last four weeks.

WALTER.How d'you mean?

WISTER.Ticket-of-leave won't be up for another six months,sir.

WALTER.Has he to keep in touch with the police till then?

WISTER.We're bound to know where he sleeps every night.I dare say we shouldn't interfere,sir,even though he hasn't reported himself.

But we've just heard there's a serious matter of obtaining employment with a forged reference.What with the two things together--we must have him.

Again there is silence.WALTER and COKESON steal glances at JAMES,who stands staring steadily at the detective.

COKESON.,[Expansively]We're very busy at the moment.If you could make it convenient to call again we might be able to tell you then.

JAMES.[Decisively]I'm a servant of the Law,but I dislike peaching.In fact,I can't do such a thing.If you want him you must find him without us.

As he speaks his eye falls on FALDER'S cap,still lying on the table,and his face contracts.

WISTER.[Noting the gesture--quietly]Very good,sir.I ought to warn you that,having broken the terms of his licence,he's still a convict,and sheltering a convict.

JAMES.I shelter no one.But you mustn't come here and ask questions which it's not my business to answer.

WISTER.[Dryly]I won't trouble you further then,gentlemen.

COKESON.I'm sorry we couldn't give you the information.You quite understand,don't you?Good-morning!

WISTER turns to go,but instead of going to the door of the outer office he goes to the door of the clerks'room.

COKESON.The other door....the other door!

WISTER opens the clerks'door.RUTHS's voice is heard:"Oh,do!"and FALDER,'S:"I can't !"There is a little pause;then,with sharp fright,RUTH says:"Who's that?"WISTER has gone in.

The three men look aghast at the door.

WISTER [From within]Keep back,please!

He comes swiftly out with his arm twisted in FALDER'S.The latter gives a white,staring look at the three men.

WALTER.Let him go this time,for God's sake!

WISTER.I couldn't take the responsibility,sir.

FALDER.[With a queer,desperate laugh]Good!

Flinging a look back at RUTH,he throws up his head,and goes out through the outer office,half dragging WISTER after him.

WALTER.[With despair]That finishes him.It'll go on for ever now.

SWEEDLE can be seen staring through the outer door.There are sounds of footsteps descending the stone stairs;suddenly a dull thud,a faint "My God!"in WISTER's voice.

JAMES.What's that?

SWEEDLE dashes forward.The door swings to behind him.There is dead silence.

WALTER.[Starting forward to the inner room]The woman-she's fainting!

He and COKESON support the fainting RUTH from the doorway of the clerks'room.

COKESON.[Distracted]Here,my dear!There,there!

WALTER.Have you any brandy?

COKESON.I've got sherry.

WALTER.Get it,then.Quick!

He places RUTH in a chair--which JAMES has dragged forward.

COKESON.[With sherry]Here!It's good strong sherry.[They try to force the sherry between her lips.

There is the sound of feet,and they stop to listen.

The outer door is reopened--WISTER and SWEEDLE are seen carrying some burden.

JAMES.[Hurrying forward]What is it?

They lay the burden doom in the outer office,out of sight,and all but RUTH cluster round it,speaking in hushed voices.

WISTER.He jumped--neck's broken.

WALTER.Good God!

WISTER.He must have been mad to think he could give me the slip like that.And what was it--just a few months!

WALTER.[Bitterly]Was that all?

JAMES.What a desperate thing![Then,in a voice unlike his own]

Run for a doctor--you![SWEEDLE rushes from the outer office]An ambulance!

WISTER goes out.On RUTH's face an expression of fear and horror has been seen growing,as if she dared not turn towards the voices.She now rises and steals towards them.

WALTER.[Turning suddenly]Look!

The three men shrink back out of her way,one by one,into COKESON'S room.RUTH drops on her knees by the body.

RUTH.[In a whisper]What is it?He's not breathing.[She crouches over him]My dear!My pretty!

In the outer office doorway the figures of men am seen standing.

RUTH.[Leaping to her feet]No,no!No,no!He's dead!

[The figures of the men shrink back]

COKESON.[Stealing forward.In a hoarse voice]There,there,poor dear woman!

At the sound behind her RUTH faces round at him.

COKESON.No one'll touch him now!Never again!He's safe with gentle Jesus!

RUTH stands as though turned to stone in the doorway staring at COKESON,who,bending humbly before her,holds out his hand as one would to a lost dog.

The curtain falls.