Plays : First Series. Galsworthy John

you? And a little way down the street a lady says to me: [Pinching his voice] "D' you want to earn a few pence, my man?" and gives me her dog to 'old outside a shop-fat as a butler 'e was – tons o' meat had gone to the makin' of him. It did 'er good, it did, made 'er feel 'erself that charitable, but I see 'er lookin' at the copper standin' alongside o' me, for fear I should make off with 'er bloomin' fat dog. [He sits on the edge of the bed and puts a boot on. Then looking up.] What's in that head o' yours? [Almost pathetically.] Carn't you speak for once?

      [There is a knock, and MRS. SEDDON, the landlady, appears, an anxious, harassed, shabby woman in working clothes.]

      MRS. SEDDON. I thought I 'eard you come in, Mrs. Jones. I 've spoke to my 'usband, but he says he really can't afford to wait another day.

      JONES. [With scowling jocularity.] Never you mind what your 'usband says, you go your own way like a proper independent woman. Here, jenny, chuck her that.

      [Producing a sovereign from his trousers pocket, he throws it to his wife, who catches it in her apron with a gasp. JONES resumes the lacing of his boots.]

      MRS. JONES. [Rubbing the sovereign stealthily.] I'm very sorry we're so late with it, and of course it's fourteen shillings, so if you've got six that will be right.

      [MRS. SEDDON takes the sovereign and fumbles for the change.]

      JONES. [With his eyes fixed on his boots.] Bit of a surprise for yer, ain't it?

      MRS. SEDDON. Thank you, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged. [She does indeed appear surprised.] I 'll bring you the change.

      JONES. [Mockingly.] Don't mention it.

      MRS. SEDDON. Thank you, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged. [She slides away.]

      [MRS. JONES gazes at JONES who is still lacing up his boots.]

      JONES. I 've had a bit of luck. [Pulling out the crimson purse and some loose coins.] Picked up a purse – seven pound and more.

      MRS. JONES. Oh, James!

      JONES. Oh, James! What about Oh, James! I picked it up I tell you. This is lost property, this is!

      MRS. JONES. But is n't there a name in it, or something?

      JONES. Name? No, there ain't no name. This don't belong to such as 'ave visitin' cards. This belongs to a perfec' lidy. Tike an' smell it. [He pitches her the purse, which she puts gently to her nose.] Now, you tell me what I ought to have done. You tell me that. You can always tell me what I ought to ha' done, can't yer?

      MRS. JONES. [Laying down the purse.] I can't say what you ought to have done, James. Of course the money was n't yours; you've taken somebody else's money.

      JONES. Finding's keeping. I 'll take it as wages for the time I 've gone about the streets asking for what's my rights. I'll take it for what's overdue, d' ye hear? [With strange triumph.] I've got money in my pocket, my girl.

      [MRS. JONES goes on again with the preparation of the meal,

      JONES looking at her furtively.]

      Money in my pocket! And I 'm not goin' to waste it. With this 'ere money I'm goin' to Canada. I'll let you have a pound.

      [A silence.]

      You've often talked of leavin' me. You 've often told me I treat you badly – well I 'ope you 'll be glad when I 'm gone.

      MRS. JONES. [Impassively.] You have, treated me very badly, James, and of course I can't prevent your going; but I can't tell whether I shall be glad when you're gone.

      JONES. It'll change my luck. I 've 'ad nothing but bad luck since I first took up with you. [More softly.] And you've 'ad no bloomin' picnic.

      MRS. JONES. Of course it would have been better for us if we had never met. We were n't meant for each other. But you're set against me, that's what you are, and you have been for a long time. And you treat me so badly, James, going after that Rosie and all. You don't ever seem to think of the children that I 've had to bring into the world, and of all the trouble I 've had to keep them, and what 'll become of them when you're gone.

      JONES. [Crossing the room gloomily.] If you think I want to leave the little beggars you're bloomin' well mistaken.

      MRS. JONES. Of course I know you're fond of them.

      JONES. [Fingering the purse, half angrily.] Well, then, you stow it, old girl. The kids 'll get along better with you than when I 'm here. If I 'd ha' known as much as I do now, I 'd never ha' had one o' them. What's the use o' bringin' 'em into a state o' things like this? It's a crime, that's what it is; but you find it out too late; that's what's the matter with this 'ere world.

      [He puts the purse back in his pocket.]

      MRS. JONES. Of course it would have been better for them, poor little things; but they're your own children, and I wonder at you talkin' like that. I should miss them dreadfully if I was to lose them.

      JONES. [Sullenly.] An' you ain't the only one. If I make money out there – [Looking up, he sees her shaking out his coat – in a changed voice.] Leave that coat alone!

      [The silver box drops from the pocket, scattering the cigarettes upon the bed. Taking up the box she stares at it; he rushes at her and snatches the box away.]

      MRS. JONES. [Cowering back against the bed.] Oh, Jem! oh, Jem!

      JONES. [Dropping the box onto the table.] You mind what you're sayin'! When I go out I 'll take and chuck it in the water along with that there purse. I 'ad it when I was in liquor, and for what you do when you 're in liquor you're not responsible-and that's Gawd's truth as you ought to know. I don't want the thing – I won't have it. I took it out o' spite. I 'm no thief, I tell you; and don't you call me one, or it'll be the worse for you.

      MRS. JONES. [Twisting her apron strings.] It's Mr. Barthwick's!

      You've taken away my reputation. Oh, Jem, whatever made you?

      JONES. What d' you mean?

      MRS. JONES. It's been missed; they think it's me. Oh! whatever made you do it, Jem?

      JONES. I tell you I was in liquor. I don't want it; what's the good of it to me? If I were to pawn it they'd only nab me. I 'm no thief. I 'm no worse than wot that young Barthwick is; he brought 'ome that purse that I picked up – a lady's purse – 'ad it off 'er in a row, kept sayin' 'e 'd scored 'er off. Well, I scored 'im off. Tight as an owl 'e was! And d' you think anything'll happen to him?

      MRS. JONES. [As though speaking to herself.] Oh, Jem! it's the bread out of our mouths!

      JONES. Is it then? I'll make it hot for 'em yet. What about that purse? What about young BARTHWICK?

      [MRS. JONES comes forward to the table and tries to take the box; JONES prevents her.] What do you want with that? You drop it, I say!

      MRS. JONES. I 'll take it back and tell them all about it. [She attempts to wrest the box from him.]

      JONES. Ah, would yer?

      [He drops the box, and rushes on her with a snarl. She slips back past the bed. He follows; a chair is overturned. The door is opened; Snow comes in, a detective in plain clothes and bowler hat, with clipped moustaches. JONES drops his arms, MRS. JONES stands by the window gasping; SNOW, advancing swiftly to the table, puts his hand on the silver box.]

      SNOW. Doin' a bit o' skylarkin'? Fancy this is what I 'm after.

      J. B., the very same. [He gets back to the door, scrutinising the crest and cypher on the box. To MRS. JONES.] I'm a police officer.

      Are you Mrs. Jones?

      MRS. JONES. Yes, Sir.

      SNOW. My instructions are to take you on a charge of stealing this box from J. BARTHWICK, Esquire, M.P., of 6, Rockingham Gate. Anything you say may be used against you. Well, Missis?

      MRS. JONES. [In her quiet voice, still out of breath, her hand upon her breast.] Of course I did not take it, sir. I never have taken anything that did n't belong to me; and of course I know nothing about it.

      SNOW. You were