the garotters-第3部分

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and　his　arctics。'　　To　the　maid：　　'Here；　Bella；　if　you　haven't　quite
taken　leave　of　your　wits；　undo　his　shoes。'

ROBERTS：　　'I'LL　help　him　off　with　his　coat'

BEMIS：　　'Careful！　careful！　　I　may　be　injured　internally。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Oh；　if　you　only　WERE；　Mr。　Bemis；　perhaps　I　could
persuade　Edward　that　he　was　too：　　I　KNOW　he　is。　　Edward；　don't　exert
yourself！　　Aunt　Mary；　will　you　STOP　him；　or　do　you　all　wish　to　see
me　go　distracted　here　before　your　eyes？'

WILLIS；　examining　the　overcoat　which　Roberts　has　removed：　　'Well；
you　won't　have　much　trouble　buttoning　and　unbuttoning　this　coat　for
the　present。'

BEMIS：　　'They　tore　it　open；　and　tore　my　watch　from　my　vest　pocket'

WILLIS；　looking　at　the　vest：　　'I　see。　　Pretty　lively　work。　　Were
there　many　of　them？'

BEMIS：　　'There　must　have　been　two　at　least'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'There　were　half　a　dozen　in　the　gang　that　attacked
Edward。'

BEMIS：　　'One　of　them　pulled　me　violently　over　on　my　back'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Edward's　put　HIS　arm　round　his　neck　and　choked　him。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Agnes！'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'I　KNOW　he　did；　Aunt　Mary。'

BEMIS：　　'And　the　other　tore　my　watch　out　of　my　pocket。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'EDWARD'S'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Agnes；　I'm　thoroughly　ashamed　of　you。　　WILL　you　stop
interrupting？'

BEMIS：　　'And　left　me　lying　in　the　snow。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'And　then　he　ran　after　them；　and　snatched　his　watch
away　again　in　spite　of　them　all；　and　he　didn't　call　for　the　police；
or　anything；　because　it　was　their　first　offence；　and　he　couldn't
bear　to　think　of　their　suffering　families。'

BEMIS；　with　a　stare　of　profound　astonishment：　　'Who？'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Edward。　　Didn't　I　SAY　Edward；　all　the　time？'

BEMIS：　　'I　thought　you　meant　me。　　I　didn't　think　of　pursuing　them；
but　you　may　be　very　sure　that　if　there　had　been　a　policeman　within
callof　course　there　wasn't　one　within　cannon…shotI　should　have
handed　the　scoundrels　over　without　the　slightest　remorse。'

ROBERTS：　　'Oh！'　　He　sinks　into　a　chair　with　a　slight　groan。

WILLIS：　　'What　is　it？'

ROBERTS：　　''Sh！　　Don't　say　anything。　　Butstay　here。　　I　want　to
speak　with　you；　Willis。'

BEMIS；　with　mounting　wrath：　　'I　should　not　have　hesitated　an　instant
to　give　the　rascal　in　charge；　no　matter　who　was　dependent　upon　him
no　matter　if　he　were　my　dearest　friend；　my　own　brother。'

ROBERTS；　under　his　breath：　　'Gracious　powers！'

BEMIS：　　'And　while　I　am　very　sorry　to　disagree　with　Mr。　Roberts；　I
can't　help　feeling　that　he　made　a　great　mistake　in　allowing　the
ruffians　to　escape。'

MRS。　CRASHAW；　with　severity：　　'I　think　you　are　quite　right；　Mr。
Bemis。'

BEMIS：　　'Probably　it　was　the　same　gang　attacked　us　both。　　After
escaping　from　Mr。　Roberts　they　fell　upon　me。'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'I　haven't　a　doubt　of　it。'

ROBERTS；　sotto　voce　to　his　brother…in…law：　　'I　think　I'll　ask　you　to
go　with　me　to　my　room；　Willis。　　Don't　alarm　Agnes；　please。　　II
feel　quite　faint。'

MRS。　ROBERTS；　crestfallen：　　'I　can't　feel　that　Edward　was　to　blame。
EdOh；　I　suppose　he's　gone　off　to　make　himself　presentable。　　But
WillisWhere's　Willis；　Aunt　Mary？'

MRS。　CRASHAW：　　'Probably　gone　with　him　to　help　him。'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'Oh；　he　SAW　how　unstrung　poor　Edward　was！　　Mr。　Bemis；
I　think　you're　quite　prejudiced。　　How　could　Edward　help　their
escaping？　　I　think　it　was　quite　enough　for　him；　single…handed；　to
get　his　watch　back。'　　A　ring　at　the　door；　and　then　a　number　of
voices　in　the　anteroom。　　'I　do　believe　they're　all　there！　　I'll　just
run　out　and　prepare　your　son。　　He　would　be　dreadfully　shocked　if　he
came　right　in　upon　you。'　　She　runs　into　the　anteroom；　and　is　heard
without：　　'Oh；　Dr。　Lawton！　　Oh；　Lou　dear！　　OH；　Mr。　Bemis！　　How　can　I
ever　tell　you？　　Your　poor　father！　　No；　no；　I　CAN'T　tell　you！　　You
mustn't　ask　me！　　It's　too　hideous！　　And　you　wouldn't　believe　me　if　I
did。'

Chorus　of　anguished　voices：　　'What？　what？　what？'

MRS。　ROBERTS：　　'They've　been　robbed！　　Garotted　on　the　Common！　　And；
OH；　Dr。　Lawton；　I'm　so　glad　YOU'VE　come！　　They're　both　injured
internally；　but　I　WISH　you'd　look　at　Edward　first。'

BEMIS：　　'Good　heavens！　　Is　that　Mrs。　Roberts's　idea　of　preparing　my
son？　　And　his　poor　young　wife！'　　He　addresses　his　demand　to　Mrs。
Crashaw；　who　lifts　the　hands　of　impotent　despair。




PART　SECOND




SCENE　I：　　MR。　ROBERTS；　MR。　CAMPBELL



In　Mr　Roberts's　dressing…room；　that　gentleman　is　discovered
tragically　confronting　Mr。　Willis　Campbell；　with　a　watch　uplifted　in
either　hand。

WILLIS：　　'Well？'

ROBERTS；　gasping：　　'Mymy　watch！'

WILLIS：　　'Yes。　　How　comes　there　to　be　two　of　it？'

ROBERTS：　　'Don't　you　understand？　　When　I　went　out　Ididn't　take　my
watchwith　me。　　I　left　it　here　on　my　bureau。'

WILLIS：　　'Well？'

ROBERTS：　　'Oh；　merciful　heavens！　don't　you　see？　　Then　I　couldn't
have　been　robbed！'

WILLIS：　　'Well；　but　whose　watch　did　you　take　from　the　fellow　that
didn't　rob　you；　then？'

ROBERTS：　　'His　own！'　　He　abandons　himself　powerlessly　upon　a　chair。
'Yes；　I　left　my　own　watch　here；　and　when　that　person　brushed　against
me　in　the　Common；　I　missed　it　for　the　first　time。　　I　supposed　he　had
robbed　me；　and　ran　after　him；　and'

WILLIS：　　'Robbed　HIM！'

ROBERTS：　　'Yes。'

WILLIS：　　'Ah；　ha；　ha；　ha！　　I；　hi；　hi；　hi！　　O；　ho；　ho；　ho！'　　He
yields　to　a　series　of　these　gusts　and　paroxysms；　bowing　up　and　down；
and　stamping　to　and　fro；　and　finally　sits　down　exhausted；　and　wipes
the　tears　from　his　cheeks。　　'Really；　this　thing　will　kill　me。　　What
are　you　going　to　do　about　it；　Roberts？'

ROBERTS；　with　profound　dejection　and　abysmal　solemnity：　　'I　don't
know；　Willis。　　Don't　you　see　that　it　must　have　beenthat　I　must
have　robbedMr。　Bemis？'

WILLIS：　　'Bemis！'　　After　a　moment　for　tasting　the　fact。　　'Why；　so　it
was！　　Oh；　Lord！　oh；　Lord！　　And　was　poor　old　Bemis　that　burly
ruffian？　that　bloodthirsty　gang　of　giants？　thatthatoh；　Lord！　oh；
Lord！'　　He　bows　his　head　upon　his　chair…back　in　complete　exhaustion；
demanding；　feebly；　as　he　gets　breath　for　the　successive　questions；
'What　are　you　going　to　d…o…o…o？　　What　shall　you　s…a…a…a…y？　　How　can
you　expla…a…ain　it？'

ROBERTS：　　'I　can　do　nothing。　　I　can　say　nothing。　　I　can　never
explain　it。　　I　must　go　to　Mr。　Bemis　and　make　a　clean　breast　of　it；
but　think　of　the　absurditythe　ridicule！'

WILLIS；　after　a　thoughtful　silence：　　'Oh；　it　isn't　THAT　you've　got
to　think　of。　　You've　got　to　think　of　the　old　gentleman's　sense　of
injury　and　outrage。　　Didn't　you　hear　what　he　saidthat　he　would
have　handed　over　his　dearest　friend；　his　own　brother；　to　the
police？'

ROBERTS：　　'But　that　was　in　the　supposition　that　his　dearest　friend；
his　own　brother；　had　intentionally　robbed　him。　　You　can't　imagine；
Willis'

WILLIS：　　'Oh；　I　can　imagine　a　great　many　things。　　It's　all　well
enough　for　you　to　say　that　the　robbery　was　a　mistake；　but　it　was　a
genuine　case　of　garotting　as　far　as　the　assault　and　taking　the　watch
go。　　He's　a　very　pudgicky　old　gentleman。'

ROBERTS：　　'He　is。'

WILLIS：　　'And　I　don't　see　how　you're　going　to　satisfy　him　that　it
was　all　a　joke。　　Joke？　　It　WASN'T　a　joke！　　It　was　a　real　assault　and
a　bona　fide　robbery；　and　Bemis　can　prove　it。'

ROBERTS：　　'But　he　would　never　insist'

WILLIS：　　'Oh；　I　don't　know　about　that。　　He's　pretty　queer；　Bemis　is。
You　can't　say　what　an　old　gentleman　like　that　will　or　won't　do。　　If
he　should　choose　to　carry　it　into　court'

ROBERTS：　　'Court！'

WILLIS：　　'It　might　be　embarrassing。　　And　anyway；　it　would　have　a
very　strange　look　in　the　papers。'

ROBERTS：　　'The　papers！　　Good　gracious！'

WILLIS：　　'Ten　years　from　now　a　man　that　heard　you　mentioned　would
forget　all　about　the　acquittal；　and　say：　　〃Roberts？　　Oh　yes！　　Wasn't
he　the　one　they　sent　to　the　House　of　Correction　for　garotting　an　old
friend　of　his　on　the　Common！〃　　You　see；　it　wouldn't　do　to　go　and
make　a　clean　breast　of　it　to　Bemis。'

ROBERTS：　　'I　see。'

WILLIS：　　'What　will　you　do？'

ROBERTS：　　'I　must　never　say　anything　to　him　about　it。　　Just　let　it
go。'

WILLIS：　　'And　keep　his　watch？　　I　don't　see　how　you　could　manage
that。　　What　would　you　do　with　the　watch？　　You　might　sell　it；　of
course'

ROBERTS：　　'Oh　no；　I　COULDN'T　do　that。'

WILLIS：　　'You　might　give　it　away　to　some　deserving　person；　but　if　it
got　him　into　trouble'

ROBERTS：　　'No；　no；　that　wouldn't　do；　either。'

WILLIS：　　'And　you　can't　have　it　lying　around；　Agnes　would　be　sure　to
find　it；　sooner　or　later。'

ROBERTS：　　'Yes。'

WILLIS：　　'Besides；　there's　your　conscience。　　Your　conscience
wouldn't　LET　you　keep　Bemis's　watch　away　from　him。　　And　if　it　would；
what　do　you　suppose　Agnes's　conscience　would　do　when　she　came　to
find　it　out？　　Agnes　hasn't　got　much　of　a　headthe　want　of　it　seems
to　grow　upon　her；　but　she's　got　a　conscience　as　big　as　the　side　of　a
house。'

ROBERTS：　　'Oh；　I　see；　I　see。'

WILLIS；　coming　up　and　standing　over　him；　with　his　hands　in　his
pockets：　　'I　tell　you　what；　Roberts；　you're　in　a　box。'

ROBERTS；　abjectly：　　'I　know　it；　Willis；　I　know　it。　　What　do　you
suggest？　　You　MUST　know　some　way　out　of　it。'

WILLIS：　　'It　isn't　a　simple　matter　like　telling　them　to　start　the
elevator　down　when　they　couldn't　start　her　up。　　I've　got　to　think　it
over。'　　He　walks　to　and　fro；　Roberts's　eyes　helplessly　following　his
movements。　　'How　would　it　do　toNo；　that　wouldn't　do；　either。'

ROBERTS：　　'What　wouldn't？'

WILLIS：　　'Nothing。　　I　was　just　thinkingI　say；　you　mightOr；　no；
you　couldn't。'

ROBERTS：　　'Couldn't　what？'

WILLIS：　　'Nothing。　　But　if　you　were　toNo；　up　a　stump　that　way
too。'

ROBERTS：　　'Which　way？　　For　mercy's　sake；　my　dear　fellow；　don't　seem
to　get　a　clew　if　you　haven't　it。　　It's　more　than　I　can　bear。'　　He
rises；　and　desperately　confronts　Willis　in　his　promenade。　　'If　you
see　any　hope　at　all'

WILLIS；　stopping：　　'Why；　if　you　were　a　different　sort　of　fellow；
Roberts；　the　thing　would　be　perfectly　easy。'

ROBERTS：　　'Very　well；　then。　　What　sort　of　fellow　do　you　want　me　to
be？　　I'll　be　any　sort　of　fellow　you　like。'

WILLIS：　　'Oh；　but　you　couldn't！　　With　that　face　of　yours；　and　that
confounded　conscience　of　yours　behind　it；　you　would　give　away　the
whitest　lie　that　was　ever　told。'

ROBERTS：　　'Do　you　wish　me　to　lie？　　Very　well；　then；　I　will　lie。
What　is　the　lie？'

WILLIS：　　'Ah；　now　you're　talking　like　a　man！　　I　can　soon　think　up　a