the silver box-第10部分

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invitation　of　young　Mr。　BARTHWICK

　　　　　＇BARTHWICK；　turning　in　his　seat；　frowns　at　ROPER。＇

after　midnight　on　Easter　Monday；　and　partaken　of　whisky；　and　that
under　the　influence　of　the　whisky　he　had　taken　the　box？

SNOW。　　I　did；　sir。

CLERK。　　And　was　his　demeanour　throughout　very　violent？

SNOW。　　It　was　very　violent。

JONES。　　＇Breaking　in。＇　　Violent…of　course　it　was！　　You　put　your
'ands　on　my　wife　when　I　kept　tellin'　you　I　took　the　thing　myself。

MAGISTRATE。　　＇Hissing；　with　protruded　neck。＇　　Nowyou　will　have
your　chance　of　saying　what　you　want　to　say　presently。　　Have　you
anything　to　ask　the　officer？

JONES。　　＇Sullenly。＇　　No。

MAGISTRATE。　　Very　well　then。　　Now　let　us　hear　what　the　female
prisoner　has　to　say　first。

MRS。　JONES。　　Well；　your　Worship；　of　course　I　can　only　say　what　I　've
said　all　along；　that　I　did　n't　take　the　box。

MAGISTRATE。　　Yes；　but　did　you　know　that　it　was　taken？

MRS。　JONES。　　No；　your　Worship。　　And；　of　course；　to　what　my　husband
says；　your　Worship；　I　can't　speak　of　my　own　knowledge。　　Of　course；　I
know　that　he　came　home　very　late　on　the　Monday　night。　　It　was　past
one　o'clock　when　he　came　in；　and　he　was　not　himself　at　all。

MAGISTRATE。　　Had　he　been　drinking？

MRS。　JONES。　　Yes；　your　Worship。

MAGISTRATE。　　And　was　he　drunk？

MRS。　JONES。　　Yes；　your　Worship；　he　was　almost　quite　drunk。

MAGISTRATE。　　And　did　he　say　anything　to　you？

MRS。　JONES。　　No；　your　Worship；　only　to　call　me　names。　　And　of　course
in　the　morning　when　I　got　up　and　went　to　work　he　was　asleep。　　And　I
don't　know　anything　more　about　it　until　I　came　home　again。　　Except
that　Mr。　BARTHWICKthat　's　my　employer；　your　Worshiptold　me　the
box　was　missing。

MAGISTRATE。　　Yes；　yes。

MRS。　JONES。　　But　of　course　when　I　was　shaking　out　my　husband's　coat
the　cigarette…box　fell　out　and　all　the　cigarettes　were　scattered　on
the　bed。

MAGISTRATE。　　You　say　all　the　cigarettes　were　scattered　on　the　bed？
＇To　SNOW。＇　　Did　you　see　the　cigarettes　scattered　on　the　bed？

SNOW。　　No；　your　Worship；　I　did　not。

MAGISTRATE。　　You　see　he　says　he　did　n't　see　them。

JONES。　　Well；　they　were　there　for　all　that。

SNOW。　　I　can't　say；　your　Worship；　that　I　had　the　opportunity　of
going　round　the　room；　I　had　all　my　work　cut　out　with　the　male
prisoner。

MAGISTRATE。　　＇To　MRS。　JONES。＇　　Well；　what　more　have　you　to　say？

MRS。　JONES。　　Of　course　when　I　saw　the　box；　your　Worship；　I　was
dreadfully　upset；　and　I　could　n't　think　why　he　had　done　such　a
thing；　when　the　officer　came　we　were　having　words　about　it；　because
it　is　ruin　to　me；　your　Worship；　in　my　profession；　and　I　have　three
little　children　dependent　on　me。

MAGISTRATE。　　＇Protruding　his　neck＇。　　Yesyesbut　what　did　he　say
to　you？

MRS。　JONES。　　I　asked　him　whatever　came　over　him　to　do　such　a　thing…
and　he　said　it　was　the　drink。　　He　said　he　had　had　too　much　to　drink；
and　something　came　over　him。　　And　of　course；　your　Worship；　he　had
had　very　little　to　eat　all　day；　and　the　drink　does　go　to　the　head
when　you　have　not　had　enough　to　eat。　　Your　Worship　may　not　know；　but
it　is　the　truth。　　And　I　would　like　to　say　that　all　through　his
married　life；　I　have　never　known　him　to　do　such　a　thing　before；
though　we　have　passed　through　great　hardships　and　＇speaking　with
soft　emphasis＇　　I　am　quite　sure　he　would　not　have　done　it　if　he　had
been　himself　at　the　time。

MAGISTRATE。　　Yes；　yes。　　But　don't　you　know　that　that　is　no　excuse？

MRS。　JONES。　　Yes；　your　Worship。　　I　know　that　it　is　no　excuse。

　　　　　＇The　MAGISTRATE　leans　over　and　parleys　with　his　CLERK。＇

JACK。　　＇Leaning　over　from　his　seat　behind。＇　　I　say；　Dad

BARTHWICK。　　Tsst！　　＇Sheltering　his　mouth　he　speaks　to　ROPER。＇
Roper；　you　had　better　get　up　now　and　say　that　considering　the
circumstances　and　the　poverty　of　the　prisoners；　we　have　no　wish　to
proceed　any　further；　and　if　the　magistrate　would　deal　with　the　case
as　one　of　disorder　only　on　the　part　of

BALD　CONSTABLE。　　HSSShh！

　　　　　＇ROPER　shakes　his　head。＇

MAGISTRATE。　　Now；　supposing　what　you　say　and　what　your　husband　says
is　true；　what　I　have　to　consider　ishow　did　he　obtain　access　to
this　house；　and　were　you　in　any　way　a　party　to　his　obtaining　access？
You　are　the　charwoman　employed　at　the　house？

MRS。　JONES。　　Yes；　your　Worship；　and　of　course　if　I　had　let　him　into
the　house　it　would　have　been　very　wrong　of　me；　and　I　have　never　done
such　a　thing　in　any　of　the　houses　where　I　have　been　employed。

MAGISTRATE。　　Wellso　you　say。　　Now　let　us　hear　what　story　the　male
prisoner　makes　of　it。

JONES。　　＇Who　leans　with　his　arms　on　the　dock　behind；　speaks　in　a
slow；　sullen　voice。＇　　Wot　I　say　is　wot　my　wife　says。　　I　've　never
been　'ad　up　in　a　police　court　before；　an'　I　can　prove　I　took　it　when
in　liquor。　　I　told　her；　and　she　can　tell　you　the　same；　that　I　was
goin'　to　throw　the　thing　into　the　water　sooner　then　'ave　it　on　my
mind。

MAGISTRATE。　　But　how　did　you　get　into　the　HOUSE？

JONES。　　I　was　passin'。　　I　was　goin'　'ome　from　the　〃Goat　and　Bells。〃

MAGISTRATE。　　The　〃Goat　and　Bells；〃what　is　that？　　A　public…house？

JONES。　　Yes；　at　the　corner。　　It　was　Bank　'oliday；　an'　I'd　'ad　a　drop
to　drink。　　I　see　this　young　Mr。　BARTHWICK　tryin'　to　find　the　keyhole
on　the　wrong　side　of　the　door。

MAGISTRATE。　　Well？

JONES。　　＇Slowly　and　with　many　pauses。＇　　Well…I　'elped　'im　to　find
itdrunk　as　a　lord　'e　was。　　He　goes　on；　an'　comes　back　again；　and
says；　I　've　got　nothin'　for　you；　'e　says；　but　come　in　an'　'ave　a
drink。　　So　I　went　in　just　as　you　might　'ave　done　yourself。　　We　'ad　a
drink　o'　whisky　just　as　you　might　have　'ad；　'nd　young　Mr。　BARTHWICK
says　to　me；　〃Take　a　drink　'nd　a　smoke。　　Take　anything　you　like；　'e
says。〃　　And　then　he　went　to　sleep　on　the　sofa。　　I　'ad　some　more
whiskyan'　I　'ad　a　smokeand　I　'ad　some　more　whiskyan'　I　carn't
tell　yer　what　'appened　after　that。

MAGISTRATE。　　Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　were　so　drunk　that　you　can
remember　nothing？

JACK。　　＇Softly　to　his　father。＇　　I　say；　that's　exactly　what

BARTHWICK。　　TSSh！

JONES。　　That's　what　I　do　mean。

MAGISTRATE。　　And　yet　you　say　you　stole　the　box？

JONES。　　I　never　stole　the　box。　　I　took　it。

MAGISTRATE。　　＇Hissing　with　protruded　neck。＇　　You　did　not　steal　it
you　took　it。　　Did　it　belong　to　youwhat　is　that　but　stealing？

JONES。　　I　took　it。

MAGISTRATE。　　You　took　ityou　took　it　away　from　their　house　and　you
took　it　to　your　house

JONES。　　＇Sullenly　breaking　in。＇　　I　ain't　got　a　house。

MAGISTRATE。　　Very　well；　let　us　hear　what　this　young　man　Mr。Mr。
BARTHWICK　has　to　say　to　your　story。

　　　　　＇SNOW　leaves　the　witness…box。　　The　BALD　CONSTABLE　beckons　JACK；
　　　　　who；　clutching　his　hat；　goes　into　the　witness…box。　　ROPER　moves
　　　　　to　the　table　set　apart　for　his　profession。＇

SWEARING　CLERK。　　The　evidence　you　give　to　the　court　shall　be　the
truth；　the　whole　truth；　and　nothing　but　the　truth；　so　help　you　God。
Kiss　the　book。

　　　　　＇The　book　is　kissed。＇

ROPER。　　＇Examining。＇　　What　is　your　name？

JACK。　　＇In　a　low　voice。＇　　John　BARTHWICK；　Junior。

　　　　　＇The　CLERK　writes　it　down。＇

ROPER。　　Where　do　you　live？

JACK。　　At　6；　Rockingham　Gate。

　　　　　＇All　his　answers　are　recorded　by　the　Clerk。＇

ROPER。　　You　are　the　son　of　the　owner？

JACK。　　＇In　a　very　low　voice。＇　　Yes。

ROPER。　　Speak　up；　please。　　Do　you　know　the　prisoners？

JACK。　　＇Looking　at　the　JONESES；　in　a　low　voice。＇　　I　've　seen　Mrs。
Jones。　　I　　　＇in　a　loud　voice＇　　don't　know　the　man。

JONES。　　Well；　I　know　you！

BALD　CONSTABLE。　　HSSh！

ROPER。　　Now；　did　you　come　in　late　on　the　night　of　Easter　Monday？

JACK。　　Yes。

ROPER。　　And　did　you　by　mistake　leave　your　latch　key　in　the　door？

JACK。　　Yes。

MAGISTRATE。　　Oh！　　You　left　your　latch…key　in　the　door？

ROPER。　　And　is　that　all　you　can　remember　about　your　coming　in？

JACK。　　＇In　a　loud　voice。＇　　Yes；　it　is。

MAGISTRATE。　　Now；　you　have　heard　the　male　prisoner's　story；　what　do
you　say　to　that？

JACK。　　＇Turning　to　the　MAGISTRATE；　speaks　suddenly　in　a　confident；
straight…forward　voice。＇　　The　fact　of　the　matter　is；　sir；　that　I　'd
been　out　to　the　theatre　that　night；　and　had　supper　afterwards；　and　I
came　in　late。

MAGISTRATE。　　Do　you　remember　this　man　being　outside　when　you　came
in？

JACK。　　No；　Sir。　　＇He　hesitates。＇　　I　don't　think　I　do。

MAGISTRATE。　　＇Somewhat　puzzled。＇　　Well；　did　he　help　you　to　open　the
door；　as　he　says？　　Did　any　one　help　you　to　open　the　door？

JACK。　　No；　sirI　don't　think　so；　sirI　don't　know。

MAGISTRATE。　　You　don't　know？　　But　you　must　know。　　It　is　n't　a　usual
thing　for　you　to　have　the　door　opened　for　you；　is　it？

JACK。　　＇With　a　shamefaced　smile。＇　　No。

MAGISTRATE。　　Very　well；　then

JACK。　　＇Desperately。＇　　The　fact　of　the　matter　is；　sir；　I'm　afraid
I'd　had　too　much　champagne　that　night。

MAGISTRATE。　　＇Smiling。＇　　Oh！　you'd　had　too　much　champagne？

JONES。　　May　I　ask　the　gentleman　a　question？

MAGISTRATE。　　Yesyesyou　may　ask　him　what　questions　you　like。

JONES。　　Don't　you　remember　you　said　you　was　a　Liberal；　same　as　your
father；　and　you　asked　me　wot　I　was？

JACK。　　＇With　his　hand　against　his　brow。＇　　I　seem　to　remember

JONES。　　And　I　said　to　you；　〃I'm　a　bloomin'　Conservative；〃　I　said；
an'　you　said　to　me；　〃You　look　more　like　one　of　these　'ere
Socialists。　　Take　wotever　you　like；〃　you　said。

JACK。　　＇With　sudden　resolution。＇　　No；　I　don't。　　I　don't　remember
anything　of　the　sort。

JONES。　　Well；　I　do；　an'　my　word's　as　good　as　yours。　　I　've　never
been　had　up　in　a　police　court　before。　　Look　'ere；　don't　you　remember
you　had　a　sky…blue　bag　in　your　'and　＇BARTHWICK　jumps。＇

ROPER。　　I　submit　to　your　worship　that　these　questions　are　hardly　to
the　point；　the　prisoner　having　admitted　that　he　himself　does　not
remember　anything。　　＇There　is　a　smile　on　the　face　of　Justice。＇　　It
is　a　case　of　the　blind　leading　the　blind。

JONES。　　＇Violently。＇　　I've　done　no　more　than　wot　he　'as。　　I'm　a　poor
man；　I've　got　no　money　an'　no　friendshe　's　a　toffhe　can　do　wot　I
can't。

MAGISTRATE：　Now；　now？　　All　this　won't　help　youyou　must　be　quiet。
You　say　you　took　this　box？　　Now；　what　made　you　take　it？　　Were　you
pressed　for　money？

JONES。　　I'm　always　pressed　for　money。

MAGISTRATE。　　Was　that　the　reason　you　took　it？

JONES。　　No。

MAGISTRATE。　　＇To　SNOW。＇　　Was　anything　found　on　him？

SNOW。　　Yes；　your　worship。　　There　was　six　pounds　twelve　shillin's
fou