the silver box-第6部分

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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　upa　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　at　the　house　this　morning；　you　did　the　room　in　which
the　box　was　left；　you　were　alone　in　the　room。　　I　find　the　box　'ere。
You　say　you　did　n't　take　it？

MRS。　JONES。　　Yes；　sir；　of　course　I　say　I　did　not　take　it；　because　I
did　not。

SNOW。　　Then　how　does　the　box　come　to　be　here？

MRS。　JONES。　　I　would　rather　not　say　anything　about　it。

SNOW。　　Is　this　your　husband？

MRS。　JONES。　　Yes；　sir；　this　is　my　husband；　sir。

SNOW。　　Do　you　wish　to　say　anything　before　I　take　her？

　　　　　＇JONES　remains　silent；　with　his　head　bend　down。＇

Well　then；　Missis。　　I　'll　just　trouble　you　to　come　along　with　me
quietly。

MRS。　JONES。　　＇Twisting　her　hands。＇　　Of　course　I　would　n't　say　I　had
n't　taken　it　if　I　hadand　I　did　n't　take　it；　indeed　I　did　n't。　　Of
course　I　know　appearances　are　against　me；　and　I　can't　tell　you　what
really　happened：　But　my　children　are　at　school；　and　they'll　be
coming　homeand　I　don't　know　what　they'll　do　without　me。

SNOW。　　Your　'usband'll　see　to　them；　don't　you　worry。　　＇He　takes　the
woman　gently　by　the　arm。＇

JONES。　　You　drop　itshe's　all　right！　　＇Sullenly。＇　I　took　the　thing
myself。

SNOW。　　＇Eyeing　him＇　　There；　there；　it　does　you　credit。　　Come　along；
Missis。

JONES。　　＇Passionately。＇　　Drop　it；　I　say；　you　blooming　teck。　　She's
my　wife；　she　's　a　respectable　woman。　　Take　her　if　you　dare！

SNOW。　　Now；　now。　　What's　the　good　of　this？　　Keep　a　civil　tongue；　and
it'll　be　the　better　for　all　of　us。

　　　　　＇He　puts　his　whistle　in　his　mouth　and　draws　the　woman　to　the
　　　　　door。＇

JONES。　　＇With　a　rush。＇　　Drop　her；　and　put　up　your　'ands；　or　I　'll
soon　make　yer。　　You　leave　her　alone；　will　yer！　　Don't　I　tell　yer；　I
took　the　thing　myself。

SNOW。　　＇Blowing　his　whistle。＇　　Drop　your　hands；　or　I　'll　take　you
too。　　Ah；　would　you？

　　　　　＇JONES；　closing；　deals　him　a　blow。　　A　Policeman　in　uniform
　　　　　appears；　there　is　a　short　struggle　and　JONES　is　overpowered。
　　　　　MRS。　JONES　raises　her　hands　avid　drops　her　face　on　them。＇


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　curtain　falls。




SCENE　II

　　　　　The　BARTHWICKS'　dining…room　the　same　evening。　　The　BARTHWICKS
　　　　　are　seated　at　dessert。

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　John！　　＇A　silence　broken　by　the　cracking　of　nuts。＇
John！

BARTHWICK。　　I　wish　you'd　speak　about　the　nuts　they're　uneatable。
＇He　puts　one　in　his　mouth。＇

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　It's　not　the　season　for　them。　　I　called　on　the
Holyroods。

　　　　　＇BARTHWICK　fills　his　glass　with　port。＇

JACK。　　Crackers；　please；　Dad。

　　　　　＇BARTHWICK　passes　the　crackers。　　His　demeanour　is　reflective。＇

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　Lady　Holyrood　has　got　very　stout。　　I　've　noticed　it
coming　for　a　long　time。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Gloomily。＇　　Stout？　　＇He　takes　up　the　crackerswith
transparent　airiness。＇　　The　Holyroods　had　some　trouble　with　their
servants；　had　n't　they？

JACK。　　Crackers；　please；　Dad。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Passing　the　crackers。＇　　It　got　into　the　papers。　　The
cook；　was　n't　it？

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　No；　the　lady's　maid。　　I　was　talking　it　over　with
Lady　Holyrood。　　The　girl　used　to　have　her　young　man　to　see　her。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Uneasily。＇　　I'm　not　sure　they　were　wise

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　My　dear　John；　what　are　you　talking　about？　　How
could　there　be　any　alternative？　　Think　of　the　effect　on　the　other
servants！

BARTHWICK。　　Of　course　in　principleI　wasn't　thinking　of　that。

JACK。　　＇Maliciously。＇　　Crackers；　please；　Dad。

　　　　　＇BARTHWICK　is　compelled　to　pass　the　crackers。＇

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　Lady　Holyrood　told　me：　〃I　had　her　up；〃　she　said；　〃I
said　to　her；　'You'll　leave　my　house　at　once；　I　think　your　conduct
disgraceful。　　I　can't　tell；　I　don't　know；　and　I　don't　wish　to　know；
what　you　were　doing。　　I　send　you　away　on　principle；　you　need　not
come　to　me　for　a　character。'　　And　the　girl　said：　'If　you　don't　give
me　my　notice；　my　lady；　I　want　a　month's　wages。　　I'm　perfectly
respectable。　　I've　done　nothing。'〃'Done　nothing！

BARTHWICK。　　H'm！

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　Servants　have　too　much　license。　　They　hang　together
so　terribly　you　never　can　tell　what　they're　really　thinking；　it's　as
if　they　were　all　in　a　conspiracy　to　keep　you　in　the　dark。　　Even　with
Marlow；　you　feel　that　he　never　lets　you　know　what's　really　in　his
mind。　　I　hate　that　secretiveness；　it　destroys　all　confidence。　　I
feel　sometimes　I　should　like　to　shake　him。

JACK。　　Marlow's　a　most　decent　chap。　　It's　simply　beastly　every　one
knowing　your　affairs。

BARTHWICK。　　The　less　you　say　about　that　the　better！

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　It　goes　all　through　the　lower　classes。　　You　can　not
tell　when　they　are　speaking　the　truth。　　To…day　when　I　was　shopping
after　leaving　the　Holyroods；　one　of　these　unemployed　came　up　and
spoke　to　me。　　I　suppose　I　only　had　twenty　yards　or　so　to　walk　to　the
carnage；　but　he　seemed　to　spring　up　in　the　street。

BARTHWICK。　　Ah！　　You　must　be　very　careful　whom　you　speak　to　in　these
days。

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　I　did　n't　answer　him；　of　course。　　But　I　could　see
at　once　that　he　wasn't　telling　the　truth。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Cracking　a　nut。＇　　There's　one　very　good　rulelook　at
their　eyes。

JACK。　　Crackers；　please；　Dad。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Passing　the　crackers。＇　　If　their　eyes　are　straight…
forward　I　sometimes　give　them　sixpence。　　It　's　against　my
principles；　but　it's　most　difficult　to　refuse。　　If　you　see　that
they're　desperate；　and　dull；　and　shifty…looking；　as　so　many　of　them
are；　it's　certain　to　mean　drink；　or　crime；　or　something
unsatisfactory。

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　This　man　had　dreadful　eyes。　　He　looked　as　if　he
could　commit　a　murder。　　〃I　've　'ad　nothing　to　eat　to…day；〃　he　said。
Just　like　that。

BARTHWICK。　　What　was　William　about？　　He　ought　to　have　been　waiting。

JACK。　　＇Raising　his　wine…glass　to　his　nose。＇　　Is　this　the　'63；　Dad？

　　　　　＇BARTHWICK；　holding　his　wine…glass　to　his　eye；　lowers　it　and
　　　　　passes　it　before　his　nose。＇

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　I　hate　people　that　can't　speak　the　truth。　　＇Father
and　son　exchange　a　look　behind　their　port。＇　　It　's　just　as　easy　to
speak　the　truth　as　not。　　I've　always　found　it　easy　enough。　　It　makes
it　impossible　to　tell　what　is　genuine；　one　feels　as　if　one　were
continually　being　taken　in。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Sententiously。＇　　The　lower　classes　are　their　own
enemies。　　If　they　would　only　trust　us；　they　would　get　on　so　much
better。

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　But　even　then　it's　so　often　their　own　fault。　　Look
at　that　Mrs。　Jones　this　morning。

BARTHWICK。　　I　only　want　to　do　what's　right　in　that　matter。　　I　had
occasion　to　see　Roper　this　afternoon。　　I　mentioned　it　to　him。　　He's
coming　in　this　evening。　　It　all　depends　on　what　the　detective　says。
I've　had　my　doubts。　　I've　been　thinking　it　over。

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　The　woman　impressed　me　most　unfavourably。　　She
seemed　to　have　no　shame。　　That　affair　she　was　talking　aboutshe　and
the　man　when　they　were　young；　so　immoral！　　And　before　you　and　Jack！
I　could　have　put　her　out　of　the　room！

BARTHWICK。　　Oh！　　I　don't　want　to　excuse　them；　but　in　looking　at
these　matters　one　must　consider

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　Perhaps　you'll　say　the　man's　employer　was　wrong　in
dismissing　him？

BARTHWICK。　　Of　course　not。　　It's　not　there　that　I　feel　doubt。　　What
I　ask　myself　is

JACK。　　Port；　please；　Dad。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Circulating　the　decanter　in　religious　imitation　of　the
rising　and　setting　of　the　sun。＇　　I　ask　myself　whether　we　are
sufficiently　careful　in　making　inquiries　about　people　before　we
engage　them；　especially　as　regards　moral　conduct。

JACK。　　Pass　the…port；　please；　Mother！

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　＇Passing　it。＇　　My　dear　boy；　are　n't　you　drinking
too　much？

　　　　　＇JACK　fills　his　glass。＇

MARLOW。　　＇Entering。＇　　Detective　Snow　to　see　you；　Sir。

BARTHWICK。　　＇Uneasily。＇　　Ah！　　say　I'll　be　with　him　in　a　minute。

MRS。　BARTHWICK。　　＇Without　turning。＇　　Let　him　come　in　here；　Marlow。

　　　　　＇SNOW　enters　in　an　overcoat；　his　bowler　hat　in　hand。＇

BARTHWICK。　　＇Half…rising。＇　　Oh！　　Good　evening！

SNOW。　　Good　evening；　sir；　good　evening；　ma'am。　I　've　called　round　to
report　what　I　've　done；　rather　late；　I　'm　afraidanother　case　took
me　away。　　＇He　takes　the　silver　box　out　o　f　his　pocket；　causing　a
sensation　in　the　BARTHWICK　family。＇　　This　is　the　identical　article；
I　believe。

BARTHWICK。　　Certainly；　certainly。

SNOW。　　Havin'　your　crest　and　cypher；　as　you　described　to　me；　sir；　I
'd　no　hesitation　in　the　matter。

BARTHWICK。　　Excellent。　　Will　you　have　a　glass　of　＇he　glance