the garotters-第2部分

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fast　as　he　could。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Willis's　watch？　　Why；　he's　got　it　on。'

MRS。　ROBERTS；　with　proud　delight：　　'Exactly　what　I　said　when　he　told
me。'　　Then；　very　solemnly：　　'And　do　you　know　WHY　he's　got　it　on？
'Sh；　Edward！　　I　WILL　tell！　　Because　he　ran　after　them　and　took　it
back　again。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Why；　they　might　have　killed　him！'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Of　COURSE　they　might。　　But　EDWARD　didn't　care。　　The
idea　of　being　robbed　at　six　o'clock　on　the　Common　made　him　so
furious　that　he　scorned　to　cry　out　for　help；　or　call　the　police；　or
anything；　but　he　just　ran　after　them'

ROBERTS：　　'Agnes！　　Agnes！　　There　was　only　ONE。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Nonsense；　Edward！　　How　could　you　tell；　so　excited　as
you　were？And　caught　hold　of　the　largest　of　the　wretchesa　perfect
young　giant'

ROBERTS：　　'No；　no；　not　a　GIANT；　my　dear。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Well；　he　was　YOUNG；　anyway！And　flung　him　on　the
ground。'　　She　advances　upon　Mrs。　Crashaw　in　her　enthusiasm。

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Don't　you　fling　ME　on　the　ground；　Agnes！　　I　won't
have　it。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'And　tore　his　coat　open；　while　all　the　rest　were
tugging　at　him；　and　snatched　his　watch；　and　thenand　then　just
walked　coolly　away。'

ROBERTS：　　'No；　my　dear；　I　ran　as　fast　as　I　could。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Well；　RAN。　　It's　quite　the　same　thing；　and　I'm　just
as　proud　of　you　as　if　you　had　walked。　　Of　course　you　were　not　going
to　throw　your　life　away。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'I　think　he　did　a　very　silly　thing　in　going　after
them　at　all。'

ROBERTS：　　'Why；　of　course；　if　I'd　thought　twice　about　it；　I
shouldn't　have　done　it。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Of　course　you　wouldn't；　dear！　　And　that's　what　I
want　him　to　promise；　Aunt　Mary：　　never　to　do　it　again；　no　matter　HOW
much　he's　provoked。　　I　want　him　to　promise　it　right　here　in　your
presence；　Aunt　Mary！'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'I　think　it's　much　more　important　he　should　put　on
another　collar　andshirt；　if　he's　going　to　see　company。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Yes；　go　right　off　at　once；　Edward。　　How　you　DO　think
of　things；　Aunt　Mary！　　I　really　suppose　I　should　have　gone　on　all
night　and　never　noticed　his　looks。　　Run；　Edward；　and　do　it；　dear。
Butkiss　me　first！　　Oh；　it　DON'T　seem　as　if　you　could　be　alive　and
well　after　it　all！　　Are　you　sure　you're　not　hurt？'

ROBERTS；　embracing　her：　　'No；　I'm　all　right。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'And　you're　not　injured　internally？　　Sometimes
they're　injured　internallyaren't　they；　Aunt　Mary？and　it　doesn't
show　till　months　afterwards。　　Are　you　sure？'

ROBERTS；　making　a　cursory　examination　of　his　ribs　with　his　hands：
'Yes；　I　think　so。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'And　you　don't　feel　any　bad　effects　from　the　cologne
NOW？　　Just　think；　Aunt　Mary；　I　gave　him　cologne　to　drink；　and　poured
the　brandy　on　his　head；　when　he　came　in！　　But　I　was　determined　to
keep　calm；　whatever　I　did。　　And　if　I've　poisoned　him　I'm　quite
willing　to　die　for　itoh；　quite！　　I　would　gladly　take　the　blame　of
it　before　the　whole　world。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Well；　for　pity's　sake；　let　the　man　go　and　make
himself　decent。　　There's　your　bell　now。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Yes；　do　go；　Edward。　　Butkiss　me'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'He　DID　kiss　you；　Agnes。　　Don't　be　a　simpleton！'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Did　he？　　Well；　kiss　me　again；　then；　Edward。　　And　now
do　go；　dear。　　M…m…m…m。'　　The　inarticulate　endearments　represented　by
these　signs　terminate　in　a　wild　embrace；　protracted　halfway　across
the　room；　in　the　height　of　which　Mr。　Willis　Campbell　enters。



SCENE　III：　　MR。　CAMPBELL；　MRS。　CRASHAW；　MR。　AND　MRS。　ROBERTS



WILLIS；　pausing　in　contemplation：　　'Hello！　　What's　the　matter？
What's　she　trying　to　get　out　of　you；　Roberts？　　Don't　you　do　it；
anyway；　old　fellow。'

MRS。　ROBERTS；　in　an　ecstasy　of　satisfaction：　　'Willis！　　Oh；　you've
come　in　time　to　see　him　just　as　he　is。　　Look　at　him；　Willis！'　　In
the　excess　of　her　emotion　she　twitches　her　husband　about；　and　with
his　arm　fast　in　her　clutch；　presents　him　in　the　disadvantageous
effect　of　having　just　been　taken　into　custody。　　Under　these
circumstances　Roberts's　attempt　at　an　expression　of　diffident
heroism　fails；　he　looks　sneaking；　he　looks　guilty；　and　his　eyes　fall
under　the　astonished　regard　of　his　brother…in…law。

WILLIS：　　'What's　the　matter　with　him？　　What's　he　been　doing？'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　''Sh；　Edward！　　What's　he　been　doing？　　What　does　he
look　as　if　he　had　been　doing？'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Agnes'

WILLIS：　　'He　looks　as　if　he　had　been　signing　the　pledge。　　And　he
smells　like　it。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'For　shame；　Willis！　　I　should　think　you'd　sink
through　the　floor。　　Edward；　not　a　word！　　I　AM　ashamed　of　him；　if　he
IS　my　brother。'

WILLIS：　　'Why；　what　in　the　world's　up；　Agnes？'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Up？　　He's　been　ROBBED！robbed　on　the　Common；　not
five　minutes　ago！　　A　whole　gang　of　garotters　surrounded　him　under
the　Old　Elmor　just　where　it　used　to　beand　took　his　watch　away！
And　he　ran　after　them；　and　knocked　the　largest　of　the　gang　down；　and
took　it　back　again。　　He　wasn't　hurt；　but　we're　afraid　he's　been
injured　internally；　he　may　be　bleeding　internally　NOWOh；　do　you
think　he　is；　Willis？　　Don't　you　think　we　ought　to　send　for　a
physician？That；　and　the　cologne　I　gave　him　to　drink。　　It's　the
brandy　I　poured　on　his　head　makes　him　smell　so。　　And　he　all　so
exhausted　he　couldn't　speak；　and　I　didn't　know　what　I　was　doing；
either；　but　he's　promisedoh　yes；　he's　promised！never；　never　to
do　it　again。'　　She　again　flings　her　arms　about　her　husband；　and　then
turns　proudly　to　her　brother。

WILLIS：　　'Do　you　know　what　it　means；　Aunt　Mary？'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Not　in　the　least！　　But　I've　no　doubt　that　Edward　can
explain；　after　he's　changed　his　linen'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Oh　yes；　do　go；　Edward！　　Not　but　what　I　should　be
proud　and　happy　to　have　you　appear　just　as　you　are　before　the　whole
world；　if　it　was　only　to　put　Willis　down　with　his　jokes　about　your
absent…mindedness；　and　his　boasts　about　those　California　desperadoes
of　his。'

ROBERTS：　　'Come；　come；　Agnes！　　I　MUST　protest　against　your'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Oh；　I　know　it　doesn't　become　me　to　praise　your
courage；　darling！　　But　I　should　like　to　know　what　Willis　would　have
done；　with　all　his　California　experience；　if　a　garotter　had　taken
his　watch？'

WILLIS：　　'I　should　have　let　him　keep　it；　and　pay　five　dollars　a
quarter　himself　for　getting　it　cleaned　and　spoiled。　　Anybody　but　a
literary　man　would。　　How　many　of　them　were　there；　Roberts？'

ROBERTS：　　'I　only　saw　one。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'But　of　course　there　were　more。　　How　could　he　tell；
in　the　dark　and　excitement？　　And　the　one　he　did　see　was　a　perfect
giant；　so　you　can　imagine　what　the　rest　must　have　been　like。'

WILLIS：　　'Did　you　really　knock　him　down？'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Knock　him　down？　　Of　course　he　did。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Agnes；　WILL　you　hold　your　tongue；　and　let　the　men
alone？'

MRS。　ROBERTS；　whimpering：　　'I　can't；　Aunt　Mary。　　And　you　couldn't；
if　it　was　yours。'

ROBERTS：　　'I　pulled　him　over　backwards。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'There；　Willis！'

WILLIS：　　'And　grabbed　your　watch　from　him？'

ROBERTS：　　'I　was　in　quite　a　frenzy；　I　really　hardly　knew　what　I　was
doing'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'And　he　didn't　call　for　the　police；　or　anything'

WILLIS：　　'Ah；　that　showed　presence　of　mind！　　He　knew　it　wouldn't
have　been　any　use。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'And　when　he　had　got　his　watch　away　from　them；　he
just　let　them　go；　because　they　had　families　dependent　on　them。'

WILLIS：　　'I　should　have　let　them　go　in　the　first　place；　but　you
behaved　handsomely　in　the　end；　Roberts；　there's　no　denying　that。
And　when　you　came　in　she　gave　you　cologne　to　drink；　and　poured
brandy　on　your　head。　　It　must　have　revived　you。　　I　should　think　it
would　wake　the　dead。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'I　was　all　excitement；　Willis'

WILLIS：　　'No；　I　should　think　from　the　fact　that　you　had　set　the
decanter　here　on　the　hearth；　and　put　your　cologne　into　the　wood…box；
you　were　perfectly　calm；　Agnes。'　　He　takes　them　up　and　hands　them　to
her。　　'Quite　as　calm　as　usual。'　　The　door…bell　rings。

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Willis；　WILL　you　let　that　ridiculous　man　go　away　and
make　himself　presentable　before　people　begin　to　come？'　　The　bell
rings　violently；　peal　upon　peal。

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Oh；　my　goodness；　what's　that？　　It's　the　garottersI
know　it　is；　and　we　shall　all　be　murdered　in　our　beds！'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'What　in　the　world　can　it'

WILLIS：　　'Why　don't　your　girl　answer　the　bell；　Agnes？　　Or　I'll　go
myself。'　　The　bell　rings　violently　again。

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'NO；　Willis；　you　sha'n't！　　Don't　leave　me；　Edward！
Aunt　Mary！Oh；　if　we　MUST　die；　let　us　all　die　together！　　Oh；　my
poor　children！　　Ugh！　　What's　that？'　　The　servant…maid　opens　the
outer　door；　and　uttering　a　shriek；　rushes　in　through　the　drawing…
room　portiere。

BELLA　THE　MAID：　　'Oh；　my　goodness！　　Mrs。　Roberts；　it's　Mr。　Bemis！'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Which　Mr。　Bemis？'

ROBERTS：　　'What's　the　matter　with　him？'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Why　doesn't　she　show　him　in？'

WILLIS：　　'Has　HE　been　garotting　somebody　too？'



SCENE　IV：　　MR。　BEMIS；　MR。　CAMPBELL；　MR。　AND　MRS。　ROBERTS



BEMIS；　appearing　through　the　portiere：　　'II　beg　your　pardon；　Mrs。
Roberts。　　I　oughtn't　to　present　myself　in　this　stateI　But　I
thought　I'd　better　stop　on　my　way　home　and　report；　so　that　my　son
needn't　be　alarmed　at　my　absence　when　he　comes。　　I'　　He　stops；
exhausted；　and　regards　the　others　with　a　wild　stare；　while　they
stand　taking　note　of　his　disordered　coat；　his　torn　vest；　and　his
tumbled　hat。　　'I've　just　been　robbed'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Robbed？　　Why；　EDWARD　has　been　robbed　too。'

BEMIS：　　'coming　through　the　Common'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Yes；　EDWARD　was　coming　through　the　Common。'

BEMIS：　　'of　my　watch'

MRS。　ROBERTS；　in　rapturous　admiration　of　the　coincidence：　　'Oh；　and
it　was　Edward's　WATCH　they　took！'

WILLIS：　　'It's　a　parallel　case；　Agnes。　　Pour　him　out　a　glass　of
cologne　to　drink；　and　rub　his　head　with　brandy。　　And　you　might　let
him　sit　down　and　rest　while　you're　enjoying　the　excitement。'

MRS。　ROBERTS；　in　hospitable　remorse：　　'Oh；　what　am　I　thinking　of！
Here；　Edwardor　no；　you're　too　weak；　you　mustn't。　　Willis；　YOU　help
me　to　help　him　to　the　sofa。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'I　think　you'd　better　help　him　off　with　his　overcoat
and　his　arctics。'　　To　the　maid：　　'Here；　Bella；　if　you　haven't　quite
taken　leave　of　your　wits；　undo　his　shoes。'

ROBERT