The door at one side, a pair of French windows on the other. It is two years later.
Enter MRS. STAUNTON, showing in ARMITAGE.
MRS. STAUNTON: I can't tell how long the Doctor may be. It's not long since he went out.
ARMITAGE: Well, I'll wait for him, however long it is.
MRS. STAUNTON: It's nothing I could do for you, I suppose.
ARMITAGE: No, it is not.
MRS. STAUNTON: Well, you need not be so short. Perhaps, after you've seen the Doctor, you may be sorry.
ARMITAGE: There's the law of England watching over me, Mrs. Staunton. I advise you not to forget it—nor your master either. I fear no man so long as I am doing my duty.
(Enter ENID.)
Ah, Miss Stonor, I am very glad to see you.
ENID (bewildered): Good-day, Mr. Armitage. What brings you up here?
ARMITAGE: I had a little business with the Doctor. But I should be very glad to have a chat with you also.
MRS. STAUNTON: I don't think the Doctor would like it, Miss Enid.
ARMITAGE: A pretty state of things. Isn't this young lady able to speak with whoever she likes? Do you call this a prison, or a private asylum, or what? These are fine doings in a free country.
MRS. STAUNTON: I am sure the Doctor would not like it.
ARMITAGE: Look here, Mrs. Staunton, two is company and three is none. If I'm not afraid of your master, I'm not afraid of YOU. You're a bit beyond your station, you are. Get to the other side of that door and leave us alone, or else—
MRS. STAUNTON: Or what, Mr. Armitage?
ARMITAGE: As sure as my father was a Methodist I'll go down to the J.P. and swear out an information that this young lady is under constraint.
MRS. STAUNTON: Oh—well, you need not be so hot about it. It's nothing to me what you say to Miss Enid. But the Doctor won't like it.
(She goes out.)
ARMITAGE (looking at the door): You haven't such a thing as a hatpin? (Crossing over to door.)
ENID: No.
ARMITAGE: If I were to jab it through that keyhole—
ENID: Mr. Armitage please don't.
ARMITAGE: You'd hear Sister Jane's top note. But we'll speak low for I don't mean she shall hear. First of all Miss Enid are they using you? Are you all right?
ENID: Mr. Armitage I know you mean it all for kindness but I cannot discuss my personal affairs with you. I hardly know you.
ARMITAGE: Only the village grocer. I know all about that. But I've taken an interest in you Miss Stonor and I'm not the kind of man that can't leave go his hold. I came here not to see you, but your stepfather.
ENID: Oh, Mr. Armitage, I beg you to go away at once. You have no idea how violent he is if any one thwarts him. Please, please go at once.
ARMITAGE: Well Miss Stonor your only chance of getting to go is to answer my questions. When my conscience is clear, I'll go and not before. My conscience tells me that it is my duty to stay here till I have some satisfaction.
ENID (crossing to settee and sitting): What is it, Mr. Armitage. Let's sit down.
ARMITAGE (bringing chair over to settee): Well I'll tell you. I make it my business to know what is going on in this house. It may be that I like you or it may be that I dislike your stepfather. Or it may be that it is just my nature but so it is I've got my own ways of finding out, and I find out.
ENID: What have you found out?
ARMITAGE: Now look here, Miss. Cast your mind back to that inquest two years ago.
ENID: Oh! (Turning away.)
ARMITAGE: I'm sorry if it hurts you, but I must speak plain. When did your sister meet her death? It was shortly after her engagement was it not?
ENID: Yes, it was.
ARMITAGE: Well, you're engaged now, are you not?
ENID: Yes, I am.
ARMITAGE: Point number one. Well, now, have there not been repairs lately, and are you not forced to sleep in the very room your sister died in?
ENID: Only for a few nights.
ARMITAGE: Point number two. In your evidence you said you heard music in the house at night. Have you never heard music of late?
ENID: Good God! only last night I thought I heard it; and then persuaded myself that it was a dream. But how do you know these things, Mr. Armitage, and what do they mean?
ARMITAGE: Well, I won't tell you how I know them, and I can't tell you what they mean. But it's devilish, Miss Stonor, devilish! (Rising.) Now I've come up to see your stepfather and to tell him, as man to man, that I've got my eye on him, and that if anything happens to you it will be a bad day's work for him.
ENID (rising): Oh, Mr. Armitage, he would beat you within an inch of your life. Mr. Armitage, you cannot think what he is like when the fury is on him. He is terrible.
ARMITAGE: The law will look after me.
ENID: It might avenge you, Mr. Armitage, but it could not protect you. Besides, there is no possible danger. You know of my engagement to Lieutenant Curtis?
ARMITAGE: I hear he leaves to-morrow.
ENID: That is true. But the next day I am going on a visit to his mother, at Fenton. Indeed, there is no danger.
ARMITAGE: Well, I won't deny that I am consoled by what you say, but there's just one condition on which I would leave this house.
ENID: What is that?
ARMITAGE: Well, I remember your friend, Dr. Watson, at the inquest – and we've heard of his connection with Mr. Sherlock HOLMES. If you'll promise me that you'll slip away to London to-morrow, see those two gentlemen, and get their advice, I'll wash my hands of it. I should feel that some one stronger than me Was looking after you.
ENID: Oh, Mr. Armitage, I couldn't.
ARMITAGE (folding his arms): Then I stay here.
ENID: It is Lieutenant Curtis's last day in England.
ARMITAGE: When does he leave?
ENID: In the evening.
ARMITAGE: Well if you go in the morning you'd be back in time.
ENID: But how can I get away?
ARMITAGE: Who's to stop you? Have you money?
ENID: Yes, I have enough.
ARMITAGE: Then go.
ENID: It is really impossible.
ARMITAGE (sitting): Very good. Then I'll have it out with Doctor.
ENID (crossing to him): There, there! I'll promise. I'll go. I won't have you hurt I'll write and arrange it all somehow.
ARMITAGE: Word of honour?
ENID: Yes, yes I'll write to Dr Watson. Oh do go. This way. (Goes to the French window.) If you keep among the laurels you can get to the high road and no one will meet you.
ARMITAGE (going up to the windows. Pause. Returning): That dog about?
ENID: It is with the Doctor. Oh do go! and thank you—Thank you with all my heart.
ARMITAGE: My wife and I can always take you in. Don't you forget it.
(ARMITAGE goes out ENID stands looking after him. As she does so MRS STAUNTON enters the room.)
MRS STAUNTON: I saw Mr. Armitage going off through the shrubbery (Looks out of window.)
ENID: Yes he has gone.
MRS. STAUNTON: But why did he not wait to see the Doctor.
ENID: He's changed his mind.
MRS STAUNTON: He is the most impertinent busybody in the whole village. Fancy the insolence of him coming up here without a with-your- leave or by-your- leave. What was it he wanted, Miss Enid?
ENID: It is not your place, Mrs. Staunton, to ask such questions.
MRS. STAUNTON: Oh, indeed! For that matter, Miss Enid, I should not have thought it was your place to have secrets with the village grocer. The Doctor will want to know all about it.
ENID: What my stepfather may do is another matter. I beg, Mrs. Staunton, that you will attend to your own affairs and leave me alone.
MRS. STAUNTON (putting her arms akimbo): High and mighty, indeed! I'm to do all the work of the house, but the grocer can come in and turn me out of the room. If you think I am nobody you may find yourself mistaken some of these days.
ENID: How dare you—(She makes for the door as RYLOTT enters.)
RYLOTT: Why, ENID, what's the matter? Any one been upsetting you? What's all this, Mrs. Staunton?
ENID: Mrs. Staunton has been rude to me.
RYLOTT: Dear, dear! Here's a storm in a teacup. Well, now, come and tell me all about it. No one shall bother my little Enid. What would her sailor boy say?
MRS. STAUNTON: Mr. Armitage has been here. He would speak with Miss ENID alone. I didn't think it right. That is why Miss Enid is offended.
RYLOTT: Where is the fellow?
MRS. STAUNTON: He is gone. He went off through the shrubbery.
RYLOTT: Upon my word, he seems to make himself at home. What did he want, ENID?
ENID: He wanted to know how I was.
RYLOTT: This is too funny! You have made a conquest, Enid. You have a rustic admirer.
ENID: I believe he is a true friend who means well to me.
RYLOTT: Astounding! Perhaps it is as well for him that he did not prolong his visit. But now, my dear girl, go to your room until I send for you. I am very sorry that you have been upset, and I will see that such a thing does not happen again. Tut, tut! my little girl shall not be worried. Leave it to me. (Goes up to door with ENID.)
(ENID goes out.)
Well, what is it, then? Why have you upset her?
MRS. STAUNTON: Why has she upset me? Why should I be always the last to be considered?
RYLOTT: Why should you be considered at all?
MRS. STAUNTON: You dare to say that to me—you that promised me marriage only a year ago. If I was what I should be, then there would be no talk as to who is the mistress of this house. I'll put up with no more of her tantrums, talking to me as if I were the kitchen-maid. (Turning from him.)
RYLOTT: You forget yourself.
MRS STAUNTON: I forget nothing. I don t forget your promise and it will be a bad day for you if you don't keep it.
RYLOTT: I'll put you out on the roadside if you dare speak so to me.
MRS STAUNTON: You will, will you? Try it and see. I saved you once. Maybe I could do the other thing if I tried.
RYLOTT: Saved me?
MRS STAUNTON: Yes saved you. If it hadn't been for my evidence at that inquest that fellow Armitage would have taken the Jury with him. Yes he would. I've had it from them since.
RYLOTT: Well you only spoke the truth.
MRS STAUNTON: The truth! Do you think I don't know?
RYLOTT: What do you know?
(She is silent and looks hard at him.)
What do you know?
(She is still silent.)
Don't look at me like that woman. What do you know?
MRS STAUNTON: I know enough
(Pause.)
RYLOTT: Tell me then—how did she die?
MRS STAUNTON: Only you know that. I may not know how she died but I know very well—
RYLOTT (interrupting): You were always fanciful Kate but I know very well that you have only my own interests at heart. Put it out of your head if I have said anything unkind. Don't quarrel with this little fool, or you may interfere with my plans. Just wait a little longer and things will come straight with us. You know that I have a hasty temper but it is soon over.
MRS. STAUNTON: You can always talk me round, and you know it. Now, listen to me, for I am the only friend you've got. Don't try it again. You've got clear once. But a second would be too dangerous.
RYLOTT: They would make no more of the second than of the first. No one in the world can tell. It's impossible, I tell you. If she marries, half my income is gone.
MRS. STAUNTON: Yes, I know. Couldn't she sign it to you?
RYLOTT: She can be strong enough when she likes. She would never sign it to me. I hinted at it once, and she talked of a lawyer. (Pause.) But if anything should happen to her—well, there's an end to all our trouble.
MRS. STAUNTON: They must suspect.
RYLOTT: Let them suspect. But they can prove nothing.
MRS. STAUNTON: Not yet.
RYLOTT: On Wednesday she goes a-visiting, and who knows when she may return? No, it's to-morrow or never.
MRS. STAUNTON: Then let it be never.
RYLOTT: And lose half my income without a struggle? No, Kate, it's all or nothing with me now.
MRS. STAUNTON: Well, look out for Armitage.
RYLOTT: What about him?
MRS. STAUNTON: He must have known something before he dared to come here.
RYLOTT: What can he know of our affairs?
MRS. STAUNTON: There's Rodgers. You think he's half-witted. So he is. But he may know more and say more than we think. He talks and Armitage talks. Maybe Armitage gets hold of him.
RYLOTT: We'll soon settle that. (Crossing to bell-pull.) I'll twist the old rogue's neck if he has dared to play me false. There's one thing— he can't hold anything in if I want it to come out. Did you ever see a snake and a white mouse? You just watch.
(Enter RODGERS.)
Come here, Rodgers.
RODGERS: Yes, sir.
RYLOTT: Stand here, where the light falls on your face, Rodgers. I shall know then if you are telling me the truth.
RODGERS: The truth, sir. Surely I would tell that.
RYLOTT (takes chair from behind settee): Sit there! Don't move! Now look at me. That's right. You can't lie to me now. You've been down to see Mr. Armitage.
RODGERS: Sir—I hope—there was no harm in that.
RYLOTT: How often?
RODGERS: Two or three times.
RYLOTT: How often?
RODGERS: Two or three—
RYLOTT: How often?
RODGERS: When I go to the village I always see him.
MRS STAUNTON: That's nearly every day.
RYLOTT: What have you told him about me?
RODGERS: Oh, sir, nothing.
RYLOTT: What have you told him?
RODGERS: Just the news of the house sir.
RYLOTT: What news?
RODGERS: Well, about Miss Enid's engagement, and Siva biting the gardener and the cook giving notice and the like.
RYLOTT: Nothing more than this?
RODGERS: No sir.
RYLOTT: Nothing more about Miss Enid?
RODGERS: No sir.
RYLOTT You swear it?
RODGERS: No, sir, no. I said nothing more.
RYLOTT (springing up, catching him by the neck, shaking him): You doddering old rascal how came you to say anything at all? I kept you here out of charity and you dare to gossip about my affairs. I've had enough of you —(Throwing him off): I'll go to London tomorrow and get a younger man. You pack up your things and go. Do you hear?
RODGERS: Won't you look it over sir? I'm an old man sir. I have no place to go to. Where am I to go?
RYLOTT: You can go to the devil for all I care, or to your friend Armitage the grocer. There is no place for you here. Get out of the room.
RODGERS: Yes sir. You won't reconsider it?
RYLOTT: Get out. And tell Miss Enid I want her.
RODGERS: Yes, sir.
(RODGERS goes out.)
MRS. STAUNTON: You have done wisely. He was not safe.
RYLOTT: The old devil suited me too in a way. A younger man may give more trouble.
MRS STAUNTON: You'll soon break him in.
RYLOTT: Yes, I expect I will. (Crossing to her.) Now, make it right with ENID for my sake. You must play the game to the end.
MRS. STAUNTON: It's all right. I'm ready for her.
(Enter ENID.)
RYLOTT: My dear, Mrs. Staunton is very sorry if she has given you any annoyance. I hope you will accept her apology in the same spirit that it is offered.
MRS. STAUNTON: I meant no harm, Miss Enid, and I was only thinking of the master's interests. I hope you'll forgive me.
ENID: Certainly, I forgive you, Mrs. Staunton.
RYLOTT: There's a good little girl. Now, Mrs. Staunton, you had better leave us.
(MRS. STAUNTON goes out.)
Now, my dear, you must not be vexed with poor Mrs. Staunton, for she is a very hard-working woman and devoted to her duty, though, of course, her manners are often wanting in polish. Come now, dear, say that it is All right.
(ENID sits on settee.)
ENID: I have said that I forgive her.
RYLOTT: You must tell me anything I can do, to make you happier. Of course, you have some one else now, but I would not like you to forget your old stepfather altogether. Until the day when you have to leave me, I wish to do the very best for you.
ENID: You are very kind.
RYLOTT: Can you suggest anything that I can do?
ENID: No, no, there is nothing.
RYLOTT: I was a little too rough last week. I am sorry for that. I should wish your future husband to like me. You will tell him, when you see him, that I have done what I could to make you happy?
ENID: Yes, yes.
RYLOTT: You see him to-morrow?
ENID: Yes.
RYLOTT: And he leaves us to-morrow evening? (Sitting beside her on settee.)
ENID: Yes.
RYLOTT: You have all my sympathy, dear. But he will soon back again, and then, of course, you will part no more. You will be sorry to hear that old Rodgers has been behaving badly, and that I must get rid of him.
ENID (rising): Rodgers! What has he done?
RYLOTT: He grows more foolish and incompetent every day. I propose to go to London myself tomorrow to get a new butler. Would you send a line in my name to the agents to say that I shall call about two o clock?
ENID: I will do so.
RYLOTT: There's a good little girl (Pause. Crossing to her and placing his hand on her shoulder): There's nothing on your mind, is there?
ENID: Oh no.
RYLOTT: Well then run away and get your letter written. I dare bet you have another of your own to write. One a day—or two a day? – what is his Allowance? Well, well, we have All done it at some time.
(Enter ALI with milk jug glass and saucer on a tray.)
ALI: I beg pardon Sahib, I go.
RYLOTT: Come in! Come in! Put my milk down on the table.
(ALI does so.)
Now my dear please don't forget to write the letter to the agents.
(ENID goes out.)
You fool! Why did you not make sure I was alone?
ALI: I thought no one here but Sahib.
RYLOTT: Well as it happens there's no harm done (Goes to door and locks it. Pulls down blind of window.)
(While he does so ALI opens a cupboard and takes out a square wicker work basket.RYLOTT pours milk into saucer and puts it before basket. Then he cracks his fingers and whistles while ALI plays on an Eastern flute.)
CURTAIN