Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Twisden.  When did he give you this money?

Ricardos.  The middle of Octobare last.

Twisden. [Suddenly looking up] Mr Ricardos, was it Captain Dancy?

Ricardos. [Again wiping his forehead] Gentlemen, I am so fond of my daughter.  I have only the one, and no wife.

Twisden. [With an effort] Yes, yes; but I must know.

Ricardos.  Sare, if I tell you, will you give me your good word that my daughter shall not hear of it?

Twisden.  So far as we are able to prevent it—­certainly.

Ricardos.  Sare, I trust you.—­It was Captain Dancy.

     A long pause.

Graviter [Suddenly] Were you blackmailing him?

Twisden. [Holding up his hand] My partner means, did you press him for this settlement?

Ricardos.  I did think it my duty to my daughter to ask that he make compensation to her.

Twisden.  With threats that you would tell his wife?

Ricardos. [With a shrug] Captain Dancy was a man of honour.  He said:  “Of course I will do this.”  I trusted him.  And a month later I did remind him, and he gave me this money for her.  I do not know where he got it—­I do not know.  Gentlemen, I have invested it all on her—­every penny-except this note, for which I had the purpose to buy her a necklace.  That is the sweared truth.

Twisden.  I must keep this note. [He touches the hundred-pound note] You will not speak of this to anyone.  I may recognise that you were a holder for value received—­others might take a different view.  Good-day, sir.  Graviter, see Mr Ricardos out, and take his address.

Ricardos. [Pressing his hands over the breast of his frock coat—­with a sigh] Gentlemen, I beg you—­remember what I said. [With a roll of his eyes] My daughter—­I am not happee.  Good-day.

     He turns and goes out slowly, Left Forward, followed by Graviter.

Twisden. [To himself] Young Dancy! [He pins the two notes together and places them in an envelope, then stands motionless except for his eyes and hands, which restlessly express the disturbance within him.]

     Graviter returns, carefully shuts the door, and going up to him,
     hands him Ricardos’ card.

[Looking at the card] Villa Benvenuto.  This will have to be verified, but I’m afraid it’s true.  That man was not acting.

Graviter.  What’s to be done about Dancy?

Twisden.  Can you understand a gentleman—?

Graviter.  I don’t know, sir.  The war loosened “form” all over the place.  I saw plenty of that myself.  And some men have no moral sense.  From the first I’ve had doubts.

Twisden.  We can’t go on with the case.

Graviter.  Phew! . . . [A moment’s silence] Gosh!  It’s an awful thing for his wife.

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Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.