Second Series Plays, JUSTICE by John Galsworthy

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SecondSeriesPlays,JUSTICEbyJohnGalsworthy
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Title:Justice(SecondSeriesPlays)
Author:JohnGalsworthy
ReleaseDate:September26,2004[EBook#2911]
LastUpdated:October28,2012
Language:English
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***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKJUSTICE(SECONDSERIESPLAYS)***
ProducedbyDavidWidger
GALSWORTHY'SPLAYS
LinkstoAllVolumes
THEFIRSTSERIES:
TheSilverBox
Joy
Strife
THESECONDSERIES: TheEldestSon
LittleDream
Justice
THETHIRDSERIES:
ThePigeon
TheMob
TheFugitive
THEFOURTHSERIES: ABitO'Love
TheFoundations TheSkinGame
THEFIFTHSERIES:
AFamilyMan
Loyalties
THESIXTHSERIES:
TheFirstandLast TheLittleMan
Windows
FourShortPlays
GALSWORTHYPLAYS
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2911/2911h/2911h.htm
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SECONDSERIESNO.3
JUSTICE
ByJohnGalsworthy
ACTI
ACTII
ACT
III
ACT
IV
PERSONSOFTHEPLAY
JAMESHOW,solicitor
WALTERHOW,solicitor
ROBERTCOKESON,theirmanagingclerk
WILLIAMFALDER,theirjuniorclerk
SWEEDLE,theirofficeboy
WISTER,adetective
COWLEY,acashier
MR.JUSTICEFLOYD,ajudge
HAROLDCLEAVER,anoldadvocate
HECTORFROME,ayoungadvocate
CAPTAINDANSON,V.C.,aprisongovernor
THEREV.HUGHMILLER,aprisonchaplain
EDWARDCLEMENT,aprisondoctor
WOODER,achiefwarder
MOANEY,convict
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CLIFTON,convict
O'CLEARY,convict
RUTHHONEYWILL,awoman
ANUMBEROFBARRISTERS,SOLICITERS,SPECTATORS,USHERS,REPORTERS,
JURYMEN,WARDERS,ANDPRISONERS
TIME:ThePresent.
ACTI.TheofficeofJamesandWalterHow.Morning.July.
ACTII.Assizes.Afternoon.October.
ACTIII.Aprison.December.
SCENEI.TheGovernor'soffice.
SCENEII.Acorridor.
SCENEIII.Acell.
ACTIV.TheofficeofJamesandWalterHow.Morning.
March,twoyearslater.
CASTOFTHEFIRSTPRODUCTION
ATTHEDUKEOFYORK'STHEATRE,FEBRUARY21,1910
JamesHowMR.SYDNEYVALENTINE
WalterHowMR.CHARLESMAUDE
CokesonMR.EDMUNDGWENN
FalderMR.DENNISEADIE
TheOfficeboyMR.GEORGEHERSEE
TheDetectiveMR.LESLIECARTER
TheCashierMR.C.E.VERNON
TheJudgeMR.DIONBOUCICAULT
TheOldAdvocateMR.OSCARADYE
TheYoungAdvocateMR.CHARLESBRYANT
ThePrisonGovernorMR.GRENDONBENTLEY
ThePrisonChaplainMR.HUBERTHARBEN
ThePrisonDoctorMR.LEWISCASSON
WooderMR.FREDERICKLLOYD
MoaneyMR.ROBERTPATEMAN
CliptonMR.O.P.HEGGIE
O'ClearyMR.WHITFORDKANE
RuthHoneywillMissEDYTHOLIVE
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ACTI
The scene is the managing clerk's room, at the offices of James and Walter
How,onaJulymorning.Theroomisoldfashioned,furnishedwithwellworn
mahoganyandleather,andlinedwithtinboxesandestateplans.Ithasthree
doors.Twoofthemareclosetogetherinthecentreofawall.Oneofthesetwo
doorsleadstotheouteroffice,whichisonlydividedfromthemanagingclerk's
roombyapartitionofwoodandclearglassandwhenthedoorintothisouter
office is opened there can be seen the wide outer door leading out on to the
stonestairwayofthebuilding.Theotherofthesetwocentredoorsleadstothe
juniorclerk's room. The third door is that leading to the partners' room. The
managingclerk,COKESON,issittingathistableaddingupfiguresinapass
book,andmurmuringtheirnumberstohimself.Heisamanofsixty,wearing
spectaclesrathershort,withabaldhead,andanhonest,pugdogface.Heis
dressedinawellwornblackfrockcoatandpepperandsalttrousers.
COKESON.Andfive'stwelve,andthreefifteen,nineteen,twentythree,thirtytwo,fortyone
and carry four. [He ticks the page, and goes on murmuring] Five, seven, twelve, seventeen,
twentyfourandnine,thirtythree,thirteenandcarryone.
He again makes a tick. The outer office door is opened, and SWEEDLE, the
officeboy,appears,closingthedoorbehindhim.Heisapaleyouthofsixteen,
withspikyhair.
COKESON.[Withgrumpyexpectation]Andcarryone.
SWEEDLE.There'sapartywantstoseeFalder,Mr.Cokeson.
COKESON.Five,nine,sixteen,twentyone,twentynineandcarrytwo.SendhimtoMorris's.
Whatname?
SWEEDLE.Honeywill.
COKESON.What'shisbusiness?
SWEEDLE.It'sawoman.
COKESON.Alady?
SWEEDLE.No,aperson.
COKESON.Askherin.TakethispassbooktoMr.James.[Heclosesthepassbook.]
SWEEDLE.[Reopeningthedoor]Willyoucomein,please?
RUTH HONEYWILL comes in. She is a tall woman, twentysix years old,
unpretentiously dressed, with black hair and eyes, and an ivorywhite, clear
cut face. She stands very still, having a natural dignity of pose and gesture.
SWEEDLEgoesoutintothepartners'roomwiththepassbook.
COKESON.[LookingroundatRUTH]Theyoungman'sout.[Suspiciously]Stateyourbusiness,
please.
RUTH. [Who speaks in a matteroffact voice, and with a slight WestCountry accent] It's a
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personalmatter,sir.
COKESON.Wedon'tallowprivatecallershere.Willyouleaveamessage?
RUTH.I'dratherseehim,please.
Shenarrowsherdarkeyesandgiveshimahoneyedlook.
COKESON.[Expanding]It'sallagainsttherules.SupposeIhadmyfriendsheretoseeme!It'd
neverdo!
RUTH.No,sir.
COKESON.[Alittletakenaback]Exactly!Andhereyouarewantingtoseeajuniorclerk!
RUTH.Yes,sirImustseehim.
COKESON. [Turning full round to her with a sort of outraged interest] But this is a lawyer's
office.Gotohisprivateaddress.
RUTH.He'snotthere.
COKESON.[Uneasy]Areyourelatedtotheparty?
RUTH.No,sir.
COKESON.[Inrealembarrassment]Idon'tknowwhattosay.It'snoaffairoftheoffice.
RUTH.ButwhatamItodo?
COKESON.Dearme!Ican'ttellyouthat.
SWEEDLEcomesback.Hecrossestotheouterofficeandpassesthroughinto
it,withaquizzicallookatCokeson,carefullyleavingthedooraninch or two
open.
COKESON.[Fortifiedbythislook]Thiswon'tdo,youknow,thiswon'tdoatall.Supposeone
ofthepartnerscamein!
An incoherent knocking and chuckling is heard from the outer door of the
outeroffice.
SWEEDLE.[Puttinghisheadin]There'ssomechildrenoutsidehere.
RUTH.They'remine,please.
SWEEDLE.ShallIholdthemincheck?
RUTH.They'requitesmall,sir.[ShetakesasteptowardsCOKESON]
COKESON.Youmustn'ttakeuphistimeinofficehourswe'reaclerkshortasitis.
RUTH.It'samatteroflifeanddeath.
COKESON.[Againoutraged]Lifeanddeath!
SWEEDLE.HereisFalder.
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FALDER has entered through the outer office. He is a pale, goodlooking

youngman,withquick,ratherscaredeyes.Hemovestowardsthedoorofthe
clerks'office,andstandsthereirresolute.
COKESON.Well,I'llgiveyouaminute.It'snotregular.
Takingupabundleofpapers,hegoesoutintothepartners'room.
RUTH. [In a low, hurried voice] He's on the drink again, Will. He tried to cut my throat last
night.Icameoutwiththechildrenbeforehewasawake.Iwentroundtoyou.
FALDER.I'vechangedmydigs.
RUTH.Isitallreadyfortonight?
FALDER.I'vegotthetickets.Meetme11.45atthebookingoffice.ForGod'ssakedon'tforget
we'remanandwife![Lookingatherwithtragicintensity]Ruth!
RUTH.You'renotafraidofgoing,areyou?
FALDER.Haveyougotyourthings,andthechildren's?
RUTH.Hadtoleavethem,forfearofwakingHoneywill,allbutonebag.Ican'tgonearhome
again.
FALDER.[Wincing]Allthatmoneygonefornothing.Howmuchmustyouhave?
RUTH.SixpoundsIcoulddowiththat,Ithink.
FALDER.Don'tgiveawaywherewe'regoing.[Asiftohimself]WhenIgetoutthereImeanto
forgetitall.
RUTH.Ifyou'resorry,sayso.I'dsoonerhekilledmethantakeyouagainstyourwill.
FALDER.[Withaqueersmile]We'vegottogo.Idon'tcareI'llhaveyou.
RUTH.You'vejusttosayit'snottoolate.
FALDER.Itistoolate.Here'ssevenpounds.Bookingoffice11.45tonight.Ifyouweren'twhat
youaretome,Ruth!
RUTH.Kissme!
They cling together passionately, there fly apart just as COKESON reenters
the room. RUTH turns and goes out through the outer office. COKESON
advancesdeliberatelytohischairandseatshimself.
COKESON.Thisisn'tright,Falder.
FALDER.Itshan'toccuragain,sir.
COKESON.It'sanimproperuseofthesepremises.
FALDER.Yes,sir.
COKESON.Youquiteunderstandthepartywasinsomedistressand,havingchildrenwithher,
Iallowedmyfeelings[Heopensadrawerandproducesfromitatract]Justtakethis!"Purity
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intheHome."It'sawellwrittenthing.
FALDER.[Takingit,withapeculiarexpression]Thankyou,sir.
COKESON. And look here, Falder, before Mr. Walter comes, have you finished up that
cataloguingDavishadinhandbeforeheleft?
FALDER.Ishallhavedonewithittomorrow,sirforgood.
COKESON.It'soveraweeksinceDaviswent.Nowitwon'tdo,Falder.You'reneglectingyour
workforprivatelife.Ishan'tmentionaboutthepartyhavingcalled,but
FALDER.[Passingintohisroom]Thankyou,sir.
COKESON stares at the door through which FALDER has gone out then
shakeshishead,andisjustsettlingdowntowrite,whenWALTERHowcomes
in through the outer Office. He is a rather refinedlooking man of thirtyfive,
withapleasant,almostapologeticvoice.
WALTER.Goodmorning,Cokeson.
COKESON.Morning,Mr.Walter.
WALTER.Myfatherhere?
COKESON.[Alwayswithacertainpatronageastoayoungmanwhomightbedoingbetter]Mr.
Jameshasbeenheresinceeleveno'clock.
WALTER.I'vebeenintoseethepictures,attheGuildhall.
COKESON. [Looking at him as though this were exactly what was to be expected] Have you
nowyees.ThisleaseofBoulter'samItosendittocounsel?
WALTER.Whatdoesmyfathersay?
COKESON.'Aven'tbotheredhim.
WALTER.Well,wecan'tbetoocareful.
COKESON.It'ssuchalittlethinghardlyworththefees.Ithoughtyou'ddoityourself.
WALTER.Sendit,please.Idon'twanttheresponsibility.
COKESON.[Withanindescribableairofcompassion]Justasyoulike.This"rightofway"case
we'vegot'emonthedeeds.
WALTER.Iknowbuttheintentionwasobviouslytoexcludethatbitofcommonground.
COKESON.Weneedn'tworryaboutthat.We'retherightsideofthelaw.
WALTER.Idon'tlikeit,
COKESON.[Withanindulgentsmile]Weshan'twanttosetourselvesupagainstthelaw.Your
fatherwouldn'twastehistimedoingthat.
AshespeaksJAMESHowcomesinfromthepartners'room.Heisashortish
man,withwhitesidewhiskers,plentifulgreyhair,shrewdeyes,andgoldpince
nez.
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JAMES.Morning,Walter.
WALTER.Howareyou,father?
COKESON.[Lookingdownhisnoseatthepapersinhishandasthoughdeprecatingtheirsize]
I'll just take Boulter's lease in to young Falder to draft the instructions. [He goes out into
FALDER'Sroom.]
WALTER.Aboutthatrightofwaycase?
JAMES.Oh,well,wemustgoforwardthere.Ithoughtyoutoldmeyesterdaythefirm'sbalance
wasoverfourhundred.
WALTER.Soitis.
JAMES.[Holdingoutthepassbooktohisson]Threefiveone,norecentcheques.Justget
meoutthechequebook.
WALTERgoestoacupboard,unlocksadrawerandproducesachequebook.
JAMES.Tickthepoundsinthecounterfoils.Five,fiftyfour,seven,five,twentyeight,twenty,
ninety,eleven,fiftytwo,seventyone.Tally?
WALTER.[Nodding]Can'tunderstand.Madesureitwasoverfourhundred.
JAMES.Givemethechequebook.[Hetakesthecheckbookandconsthecounterfoils]What's
thisninety?
WALTER.Whodrewit?
JAMES.You.
WALTER. [Taking the chequebook] July 7th? That's the day I went down to look over the
TrentonEstatelastFridayweekIcamebackontheTuesday,youremember.Butlookhere,
father,itwasnineIdrewachequefor.FiveguineastoSmithersandmyexpenses.Itjustcovered
allbuthalfacrown.
JAMES.[Gravely]Let'slookatthatninetycheque.[Hesortsthechequeoutfromthebundlein
thepocketofthepassbook]Seemsallright.There'snoninehere.Thisisbad.Whocashedthat
ninepoundcheque?
WALTER. [Puzzled and pained] Let's see! I was finishing Mrs. Reddy's willonly just had
timeyesIgaveittoCokeson.
JAMES.Lookatthat't''y':thatyours?
WALTER.[Afterconsideration]Myy'scurlbackalittlethisdoesn't.
JAMES.[AsCOKESONreentersfromFALDER'Sroom]Wemustaskhim.Justcomehereand
carry your mind back a bit, Cokeson. D'you remember cashing a cheque for Mr. Walter last
FridayweekthedayhewenttoTrenton?
COKESON.Yees.Ninepounds.
JAMES.Lookatthis.[Handinghimthecheque.]
COKESON.No!Ninepounds.MylunchwasjustcominginandofcourseIlikeithotIgave
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thechequetoDavistorunroundtothebank.Hebroughtitback,allgoldyouremember,Mr.
Walter, you wanted some silver to pay your cab. [With a certain contemptuous compassion]
Here,letmesee.You'vegotthewrongcheque.
HetakeschequebookandpassbookfromWALTER.
WALTER.Afraidnot.
COKESON.[Havingseenforhimself]It'sfunny.
JAMES.YougaveittoDavis,andDavissailedforAustraliaonMonday.Looksblack,Cokeson.
COKESON.[Puzzledandupset]whythis'dbeafelony!No,no!there'ssomemistake.
JAMES.Ihopeso.
COKESON.There'sneverbeenanythingofthatsortintheofficethetwentynineyearsI'vebeen
here.
JAMES.[Lookingatchequeandcounterfoil]Thisisaverycleverbitofworkawarningtoyou
nottoleavespaceafteryourfigures,Walter.
WALTER.[Vexed]Yes,IknowIwasinsuchatearinghurrythatafternoon.
COKESON.[Suddenly]Thishasupsetme.
JAMES.Thecounterfoilalteredtooverydeliberatepieceofswindling.WhatwasDavis'sship?
WALTER.'CityofRangoon'.
JAMES.WeoughttowireandhavehimarrestedatNapleshecan'tbethereyet.
COKESON.Hispooryoungwife.Ilikedtheyoungman.Dear,ohdear!Inthisoffice!
WALTER.ShallIgotothebankandaskthecashier?
JAMES.[Grimly]Bringhimroundhere.AndringupScotlandYard.
WALTER.Really?
He goes out through the outer office. JAMES paces the room. He stops and
looksatCOKESON,whoisdisconsolatelyrubbingthekneesofhistrousers.
JAMES.Well,Cokeson!There'ssomethingincharacter,isn'tthere?
COKESON.[Lookingathimoverhisspectacles]Idon'tquitetakeyou,sir.
JAMES.Yourstory,wouldsoundddthintoanyonewhodidn'tknowyou.
COKESON.Yees![Helaughs.Thenwithasuddengravity]I'msorryforthatyoungman.Ifeel
itasifitwasmyownson,Mr.James.
JAMES.Anastybusiness!
COKESON.Itunsettlesyou.Allgoesonregular,andthenathinglikethishappens.Shan'trelish
mylunchtoday.
JAMES.Asbadasthat,Cokeson?
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COKESON.Itmakesyouthink.[Confidentially]Hemusthavehadtemptation.
JAMES.Notsofast.Wehaven'tconvictedhimyet.
COKESON. I'd sooner have lost a month's salary than had this happen. [He
broods.]
JAMES.Ihopethatfellowwillhurryup.
COKESON.[Keepingthingspleasantforthecashier]Itisn'tfiftyyards,Mr.James.Hewon'tbe
aminute.
JAMES.Theideaofdishonestyaboutthisofficeithitsmehard,Cokeson.
Hegoestowardsthedoorofthepartners'room.
SWEEDLE. [Entering quietly, to COKESON in a low voice] She's popped up again, sir
somethingsheforgottosaytoFalder.
COKESON.[Rousedfromhisabstraction]Eh?Impossible.Sendheraway!
JAMES.What'sthat?
COKESON. Nothing, Mr. James. A private matter. Here, I'll come myself. [He goes into the
outerofficeasJAMESpassesintothepartners'room]Now,youreallymustn'twecan'thave
anybodyjustnow.
RUTH.Notforaminute,sir?
COKESON.Reely!Reely!Ican'thaveit.Ifyouwanthim,waitabouthe'llbegoingoutforhis
lunchdirectly.
RUTH.Yes,sir.
WALTER, entering with the cashier, passes RUTH as she leaves the outer
office.
COKESON. [To the cashier, who resembles a sedentary dragoon] Goodmorning. [To
WALTER]Yourfather'sinthere.
WALTERcrossesandgoesintothepartners'room.
COKESON. It's a nahsty, unpleasant little matter, Mr. Cowley. I'm quite ashamed to have to
troubleyou.
COWLEY.Irememberthechequequitewell.[Asifitwerealiver]Seemedinperfectorder.
COKESON.Sitdown,won'tyou?I'mnotasensitiveman,butathinglikethisabouttheplace
it'snotnice.Ilikepeopletobeopenandjollytogether.
COWLEY.Quiteso.
COKESON.[Buttonholinghim,andglancingtowardthepartners'room]Ofcoursehe'sayoung
man.I'vetoldhimaboutitbeforenowleavingspaceafterhisfigures,buthewilldoit.
COWLEY.Ishouldremembertheperson'sfacequiteayouth.
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COKESON.Idon'tthinkweshallbeabletoshowhimtoyou,asamatteroffact.
JAMESandWALTERhavecomebackfromthepartners'room.
JAMES. Goodmorning, Mr. Cowley. You've seen my son and myself, you've seen Mr.
Cokeson,andyou'veseenSweedle,myofficeboy.Itwasnoneofus,Itakeit.
Thecashiershakeshisheadwithasmile.
JAMES.Besogoodastositthere.Cokeson,engageMr.Cowleyinconversation,willyou?
HegoestowardFALDER'Sroom.
COKESON.Justaword,Mr.James.
JAMES.Well?
COKESON. You don't want to upset the young man in there, do you? He's a nervous young
feller.
JAMES. This must be thoroughly cleared up, Cokeson, for the sake of Falder's name, to say
nothingofyours.
COKESON.[WithSomedignity]That'lllookafteritself,sir.He'sbeenupsetoncethismorning
Idon'twanthimstartledagain.
JAMES.It'samatterofformbutIcan'tstanduponnicenessoverathinglikethistooserious.
JusttalktoMr.Cowley.
HeopensthedoorofFALDER'Sroom.
JAMES.BringinthepapersinBoulter'slease,willyou,Falder?
COKESON.[Burstingintovoice]Doyoukeepdogs?
Thecashier,withhiseyesfixedonthedoor,doesnotanswer.
COKESON.Youhaven'tsuchathingasabulldogpupyoucouldspareme,Isuppose?
At the look on the cashier's face his jaw drops, and he turns to see FALDER
standing in the doorway, with his eyes fixed on COWLEY, like the eyes of a
rabbitfastenedonasnake.
FALDER.[Advancingwiththepapers]Heretheyare,sir!
JAMES.[Takingthem]Thankyou.
FALDER.Doyouwantme,sir?
JAMES.No,thanks!
FALDERturnsandgoesbackintohisownroom.AsheshutsthedoorJAMES
givesthecashieraninterrogativelook,andthecashiernods.
JAMES.Sure?Thisisn'taswesuspected.
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COWLEY.Quite.Heknewme.Isupposehecan'tslipoutofthatroom?
COKESON.[Gloomily]There'sonlythewindowawholefloorandabasement.
The door of FALDER'S room is quietly opened, and FALDER, with his hat in
hishand,movestowardsthedooroftheouteroffice.
JAMES.[Quietly]Whereareyougoing,Falder?
FALDER.Tohavemylunch,sir.
JAMES.Waitafewminutes,wouldyou?Iwanttospeaktoyouaboutthislease.
FALDER.Yes,sir.[Hegoesbackintohisroom.]
COWLEY.IfI'mwanted,Icanswearthat'stheyoungmanwhocashedthecheque.Itwasthe
lastchequeIhandledthatmorningbeforemylunch.Thesearethenumbersofthenoteshehad.
[Heputsaslipofpaperonthetablethen,brushinghishatround]Goodmorning!
JAMES.Goodmorning,Mr.Cowley!
COWLEY.[ToCOKESON]Goodmorning.
COKESON.[WithStupefaction]Goodmorning.
The cashier goes out through the outer office. COKESON sits down in his
chair,asthoughitweretheonlyplaceleftinthemorassofhisfeelings.
WALTER.Whatareyougoingtodo?
JAMES.Havehimin.Givemethechequeandthecounterfoil.
COKESON.Idon'tunderstand.IthoughtyoungDavis
JAMES.Weshallsee.
WALTER.Onemoment,father:haveyouthoughtitout?
JAMES.Callhimin!
COKESON. [Rising with difficulty and opening FALDER'S door hoarsely] Step in here a
minute.
FALDER.[Impassively]Yes,sir?
JAMES.[Turningtohimsuddenlywiththechequeheldout]Youknowthischeque,Falder?
FALDER.No,sir.
JADES.Lookatit.YoucasheditlastFridayweek.
FALDER.Oh!yes,sirthatoneDavisgaveitme.
JAMES.Iknow.AndyougaveDavisthecash?
FALDER.Yes,sir.
JAMES.WhenDavisgaveyouthechequewasitexactlylikethis?
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FALDER.Yes,Ithinkso,sir.
JAMES.YouknowthatMr.Walterdrewthatchequeforninepounds?
FALDER.No,sirninety.
JAMES.Nine,Falder.
FALDER.[Faintly]Idon'tunderstand,sir.
JAMES.Thesuggestion,ofcourse,isthatthechequewasalteredwhetherbyyouorDavisis
thequestion.
FALDER.II
COKESON.Takeyourtime,takeyourtime.
FALDER.[Regaininghisimpassivity]Notbyme,sir.
JAMES. The cheque was handed toCokeson by Mr. Walter at one o'clock we know that
becauseMr.Cokeson'slunchhadjustarrived.
COKESON.Icouldn'tleaveit.
JAMES.ExactlyhethereforegavethechequetoDavis.Itwascashedbyyouat1.15.Weknow
thatbecausethecashierrecollectsitforthelastchequehehandledbeforehislunch.
FALDER. Yes, sir, Davis gave it to me because some friends were giving him a farewell
luncheon.
JAMES.[Puzzled]YouaccuseDavis,then?
FALDER.Idon'tknow,sirit'sveryfunny.
WALTER, who has come close to his father, says something to him in a low
voice.
JAMES.DaviswasnothereagainafterthatSaturday,washe?
COKESON. [Anxious to be of assistance to the young man, and seeing faint signs of their all
beingjollyoncemore]No,hesailedontheMonday.
JAMES.Washe,Falder?
FALDER.[Veryfaintly]No,sir.
JAMES.Verywell,then,howdoyouaccountforthefactthatthisnoughtwasaddedtothenine
inthecounterfoilonorafterTuesday?
COKESON.[Surprised]How'sthat?
FALDERgivesasortoflurchhetriestopullhimselftogether,buthehasgone
alltopieces.
JAMES. [Very grimly] Out, I'm afraid, Cokeson. The chequebook remained in Mr. Walter's
pockettillhecamebackfromTrentononTuesdaymorning.Inthefaceofthis,Falder,doyou
stilldenythatyoualteredbothchequeandcounterfoil?
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FALDER.No,sirno,Mr.How.Ididit,sirIdidit.
COKESON.[Succumbingtohisfeelings]Dear,dear!whatathingtodo!
FALDER.Iwantedthemoneysobadly,sir.Ididn'tknowwhatIwasdoing.
COKESON.Howeversuchathingcouldhavecomeintoyourhead!
FALDER.[Graspingatthewords]Ican'tthink,sir,really!Itwasjustaminuteofmadness.
JAMES.Alongminute,Falder.[Tappingthecounterfoil]Fourdaysatleast.
FALDER.Sir,IswearIdidn'tknowwhatI'ddonetillafterwards,andthenI hadn't the pluck.
Oh!Sir,lookoverit!I'llpaythemoneybackIwill,Ipromise.
JAMES.Gointoyourroom.
FALDER,withaswiftimploringlook,goesbackintohisroom.Thereissilence.
JAMES.Aboutasbadacaseastherecouldbe.
COKESON.Tobreakthelawlikethatinhere!
WALTER.What'stobedone?
JAMES.Nothingforit.Prosecute.
WALTER.It'shisfirstoffence.
JAMES.[Shakinghishead]I'vegravedoubtsofthat.Tooneatapieceofswindlingaltogether.
COKESON.Ishouldn'tbesurprisedifhewastempted.
JAMES.Life'sonelongtemptation,Cokeson.
COKESON.Yees,butI'mspeakingofthefleshandthedevil,Mr.James.Therewasawoman
cometoseehimthismorning.
WALTER.Thewomanwepassedaswecameinjustnow.Isithiswife?
COKESON.No,norelation.[Restrainingwhatinjolliercircumstanceswouldhavebeenawink]
Amarriedperson,though.
WALTER.Howdoyouknow?
COKESON.Broughtherchildren.[Scandalised]Theretheywereoutsidetheoffice.
JAMES.Arealbadegg.
WALTER.Ishouldliketogivehimachance.
JAMES.Ican'tforgivehimforthesneakywayhewenttoworkcountingonoursuspecting
young Davis if the matter came to light.It was the merest accident the chequebook stayed in
yourpocket.
WALTER.Itmusthavebeenthetemptationofamoment.Hehadn'ttime.
JAMES. A man doesn't succumb like that in a moment, if he's a clean mind and habits. He's
rottengottheeyesofamanwhocan'tkeephishandsoffwhenthere'smoneyabout.
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WALTER.[Dryly]Wehadn'tnoticedthatbefore.
JAMES. [Brushing the remark aside] I've seen lots of those fellows in my time. No doing
anythingwiththemexcepttokeep'emoutofharm'sway.They'vegotablindspat.
WALTER.It'spenalservitude.
COKESON.They'renahstyplacesprisons.
JAMES.[Hesitating]Idon'tseehowit'spossibletosparehim.Outofthequestiontokeephim
inthisofficehonesty'sthe'sinequanon'.
COKESON.[Hypnotised]Ofcourseitis.
JAMES.Equallyoutofthequestiontosendhimoutamongstpeoplewho'venoknowledgeofhis
character.Onemustthinkofsociety.
WALTER.Buttobrandhimlikethis?
JAMES.IfithadbeenastraightforwardcaseI'dgivehimanotherchance.It'sfarfromthat.He
hasdissolutehabits.
COKESON.Ididn'tsaythatextenuatingcircumstances.
JAMES.Samething.He'sgonetoworkinthemostcoldbloodedwaytodefraudhisemployers,
andcasttheblameonaninnocentman.Ifthat'snotacaseforthelawtotakeitscourse,Idon't
knowwhatis.
WALTER.Forthesakeofhisfuture,though.
JAMES.[Sarcastically]Accordingtoyou,noonewouldeverprosecute.
WALTER.[Nettled]Ihatetheideaofit.
COKESON.That'srather'exparte',Mr.Walter!Wemusthaveprotection.
JAMES.Thisisdegeneratingintotalk.
Hemovestowardsthepartners'room.
WALTER.Putyourselfinhisplace,father.
JAMES.Youasktoomuchofme.
WALTER.Wecan'tpossiblytellthepressuretherewasonhim.
JAMES. You may depend on it, my boy, if a man is going to do this sort of thing he'll do it,
pressureornopressureifheisn'tnothing'llmakehim.
WALTER.He'llneverdoitagain.
COKESON.[Fatuously]S'poseIweretohaveatalkwithhim.Wedon'twanttobehardonthe
youngman.
JAMES.That'lldo,Cokeson.I'vemadeupmymind.[Hepassesintothepartners'room.]
COKESON.[Afteradoubtfulmoment]Wemustexcuseyourfather.Idon'twanttogoagainst
yourfatherifhethinksitright.
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WALTER.Confoundit,Cokeson!whydon'tyoubackmeup?Youknowyoufeel
COKESON.[Onhisdignity]Ireallycan'tsaywhatIfeel.
WALTER.Weshallregretit.
COKESON.Hemusthaveknownwhathewasdoing.
WALTER.[Bitterly]"Thequalityofmercyisnotstrained."
COKESON.[Lookingathimaskance]Come,come,Mr.Walter.Wemusttryandseeitsensible.
SWEEDLE.[Enteringwithatray]Yourlunch,sir.
COKESON.Putitdown!
While SWEEDLE is putting it down on COKESON's table, the detective,
WISTER,enterstheouteroffice,and,findingnoonethere,comestotheinner
doorway. He is a square, mediumsized man, cleanshaved, in a serviceable
bluesergesuitandstrongboots.
COKESON.[Hoarsely]Here!Here!Whatarewedoing?
WISTER.[ToWALTER]FromScotlandYard,sir.DetectiveSergeantBlister.
WALTER.[Askance]Verywell!I'llspeaktomyfather.
Hegoesintothepartners'room.JAMESenters.
JAMES.Morning![InanswertoanappealinggesturefromCOKESON]I'msorryI'dstopshort
ofthisifIfeltIcould.Openthatdoor.[SWEEDLE,wonderingandscared,opensit]Comehere,
Mr.Falder.
As FALDER comes shrinkingly out, the detective in obedience to a sign from
JAMES,slipshishandoutandgraspshisarm.
FALDER.[Recoiling]Oh!no,oh!no!
WALTER.Come,come,there'sagoodlad.
JAMES.Ichargehimwithfelony.
FALTER.Oh,sir!There'ssomeoneIdiditforher.Letmebetilltomorrow.
JAMES motions with his hand. At that sign of hardness, FALDER becomes
rigid.Then,turning,hegoesoutquietlyinthedetective'sgrip.JAMESfollows,
stiffanderect.SWEEDLE,rushingtothedoorwithopenmouth,pursuesthem
through the outer office into the corridor. When they have all disappeared
COKESONspinscompletelyroundandmakesarushfortheouteroffice.
COKESON:[Hoarsely]Here!Whatarewedoing?
There is silence. He takes out his handkerchief and mops the sweat from his
face.Goingbackblindlytohistable,sitsdown,andstaresblanklyathislunch.
Thecurtainfalls.
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ACTII
ACourtofJustice,onafoggyOctoberafternooncrowdedwithbarristers,solicitors,reporters,
ushers,andjurymen.Sittinginthelarge,soliddockisFALDER,withawarderoneithersideof
him, placed there for his safe custody, but seemingly indifferent to and unconscious of his
presence.FALDERissittingexactlyoppositetotheJUDGE,who,raisedabovetheclamourof
the court, also seems unconscious of and indifferent to everything. HAROLD CLEAVER, the
counselfortheCrown,isadried,yellowishman,ofmorethanmiddleage,inawigwornalmost
tothecolourofhisface.HECTORFROME,thecounselforthedefence,isayoung,tallman,
cleanshaved,inaverywhitewig.Amongthespectators,havingalready given their evidence,
are JAMES and WALTER HOW, and COWLEY, the cashier. WISTER, the detective, is just
leavingthewitnessbox.
CLEAVER.ThatisthecasefortheCrown,melud!
Gatheringhisrobestogether,hesitsdown.
FROME.[RisingandbowingtotheJUDGE]Ifitpleaseyourlordshipandgentlemenofthejury.
I am not going to dispute the fact that the prisoner altered this cheque, but I am going to put
beforeyouevidenceastotheconditionofhismind,andtosubmitthatyouwouldnotbejustified
infindingthathewasresponsibleforhisactionsatthetime.Iamgoingtoshowyou,infact,that
he did this in a moment of aberration, amounting to temporary insanity, caused by the violent
distressunderwhichhewaslabouring.Gentlemen,theprisonerisonlytwentythreeyearsold.I
shallcallbeforeyouawomanfromwhomyouwilllearntheeventsthatleduptothisact.You
willhearfromherownlipsthetragiccircumstancesofherlife,thestillmoretragicinfatuation
withwhichshehasinspiredtheprisoner.Thiswoman,gentlemen,hasbeenleadingamiserable
existencewithahusbandwhohabituallyillusesher,fromwhomsheactuallygoesinterrorof
herlife.Iamnot,ofcourse,sayingthatit'seitherrightordesirableforayoungmantofallin
lovewithamarriedwoman,orthatit'shisbusinesstorescueherfromanogrelikehusband.I'm
notsayinganythingofthesort.ButweallknowthepowerofthepassionofloveandIwould
ask you to remember, gentlemen, in listening to her evidence, that, married to a drunken and
violenthusband,shehasnopowertogetridofhimfor,asyouknow,anotheroffencebesides
violence is necessary to enable a woman to obtain a divorce and of this offence it does not
appearthatherhusbandisguilty.
JUDGE.Isthisrelevant,Mr.Frome?
FROME.Mylord,Isubmit,extremelyIshallbeabletoshowyourlordshipthatdirectly.
JUDGE.Verywell.
FROME.Inthesecircumstances,whatalternativeswerelefttoher?Shecouldeithergoonliving
withthisdrunkard,interrorofherlifeorshecouldapplytotheCourtforaseparationorder.
Well,gentlemen,myexperience of such cases assures me that this would have given her very
insufficientprotectionfromtheviolenceofsuchamanandevenifeffectualwouldverylikely
havereducedhereithertotheworkhouseorthestreetsforit'snoteasy,assheisnowfinding,
foranunskilledwomanwithoutmeansoflivelihoodtosupportherselfandherchildrenwithout
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resortingeithertothePoorLawortospeakquiteplainlytothesaleofherbody.
JUDGE.Youarerangingratherfar,Mr.Frome.
FROME.Ishallfirepointblankinaminute,mylord.
JUDGE.Letushopeso.
FROME.Now,gentlemen,markandthisiswhatIhavebeenleadinguptothiswomanwill
tell you, and the prisoner will confirm her, that, confronted with such alternatives, she set her
wholehopesonhimself,knowingthefeelingwithwhichshehadinspiredhim.Shesawaway
outofhermiserybygoingwithhimtoanewcountry,wheretheywouldbothbeunknown,and
might pass as husband and wife. This was a desperate and, as my friend Mr. Cleaver will no
doubtcall it, an immoral resolution but, as a fact, the minds of both of them were constantly
turnedtowardsit.Onewrongisnoexcuseforanother,andthosewhoareneverlikelytobefaced
by such a situation possibly have the right to hold up their handsas to that I prefer to say
nothing.Butwhateverviewyoutake,gentlemen,ofthispartoftheprisoner'sstorywhatever
opinionyouformoftherightofthesetwoyoungpeopleundersuchcircumstancestotakethe
lawintotheirownhandsthefactremainsthatthisyoungwomaninherdistress,andthisyoung
man,littlemorethanaboy,whowassodevotedlyattachedtoher,didconceivethisifyoulike
reprehensibledesignofgoingawaytogether.Now,forthat,ofcourse,theyrequiredmoney,
andtheyhadnone.AstotheactualeventsofthemorningofJuly7th,onwhichthischeque
wasaltered,theeventsonwhichIrelytoprovethedefendant'sirresponsibility I shall allow
thoseeventstospeakforthemselves,throughthelipsofmywitness.RobertCokeson.[Heturns,
looksround,takesupasheetofpaper,andwaits.]
COKESONissummonedintocourt,andgoesintothewitnessbox,holdinghis
hatbeforehim.Theoathisadministeredtohim.
FROME.Whatisyourname?
COKESON.RobertCokeson.
FROME.Areyoumanagingclerktothefirmofsolicitorswhoemploytheprisoner?
COKESON.Yees.
FROME.Howlonghadtheprisonerbeenintheiremploy?
COKESON.Twoyears.No,I'mwrongthereallbutseventeendays.
FROME.Hadyouhimunderyoureyeallthattime?
COKESON.ExceptSundaysandholidays.
FROME.Quiteso.Letushear,please,whatyouhavetosayabouthisgeneralcharacterduring
thosetwoyears.
COKESON.[Confidentiallytothejury,andasifalittlesurprisedatbeingasked]Hewasanice,
pleasantspoken young man. I'd no fault to find with himquite the contrary. It was a great
surprisetomewhenhedidathinglikethat.
FROME.Didheevergiveyoureasontosuspecthishonesty?
COKESON.No!Tohavedishonestyinouroffice,that'dneverdo.
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FROME.I'msurethejuryfullyappreciatethat,Mr.Cokeson.
COKESON.Everymanofbusinessknowsthathonesty's'thesignquanon'.
FROME.Doyougivehimagoodcharacterallround,ordoyounot?
COKESON. [Turning to the JUDGE] Certainly. We were all very jolly and pleasant together,
untilthishappened.Quiteupsetme.
FROME.Now,comingtothemorningofthe7thofJuly,themorningonwhichthechequewas
altered.Whathaveyoutosayabouthisdemeanourthatmorning?
COKESON.[Tothejury]Ifyouaskme,Idon'tthinkhewasquitecomposwhenhedidit.
THEJUDGE.[Sharply]Areyousuggestingthathewasinsane?
COKESON.Notcompos.
THEJUDGE.Alittlemoreprecision,please.
FROME.[Smoothly]Justtellus,Mr.Cokeson.
COKESON.[Somewhatoutraged]Well,inmyopinion[lookingattheJUDGE]suchasitis
hewasjumpyatthetime.Thejurywillunderstandmymeaning.
FROME.Willyoutellushowyoucametothatconclusion?
COKESON.Yees,Iwill.Ihavemylunchinfromtherestaurant,achopandapotatosaves
time.ThatdayithappenedtocomejustasMr.WalterHowhandedmethecheque.Well,Ilikeit
hotsoIwentintotheclerks'officeandIhandedthechequetoDavis,theotherclerk,andtold
himtogetchange.InoticedyoungFalderwalkingupanddown.Isaidtohim:"Thisisnotthe
ZoologicalGardens,Falder."
FROME.Doyourememberwhatheanswered?
COKESON.Yees:"IwishtoGoditwere!"Struckmeasfunny.
FROME.Didyounoticeanythingelsepeculiar?
COKESON.Idid.
FROME.Whatwasthat?
COKESON.Hiscollarwasunbuttoned.Now,Ilikeayoungmantobeneat.Isaidtohim:"Your
collar'sunbuttoned."
FROME.Andwhatdidheanswer?
COKESON.Staredatme.Itwasn'tnice.
THEJUDGE.Staredatyou?Isn'tthataverycommonpractice?
COKESON.Yees,butitwasthelookinhiseyes.Ican'texplainmymeaningitwasfunny.
FROME.Hadyoueverseensuchalookinhiseyesbefore?
COKESON.No.IfIhadIshouldhavespokentothepartners.Wecan'thaveanythingeccentric
inourprofession.
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THEJUDGE.Didyouspeaktothemonthatoccasion?
COKESON.[Confidentially]Well,Ididn'tliketotroublethemaboutprimefaceyevidence.
FROME.Butitmadeaverydistinctimpressiononyourmind?
COKESON.Yees.TheclerkDaviscouldhavetoldyouthesame.
FROME.Quiteso.It'sveryunfortunatethatwe'venotgothimhere.Nowcanyoutellmeofthe
morningonwhichthediscoveryoftheforgerywasmade?Thatwouldbethe18th.Didanything
happenthatmorning?
COKESON.[Withhishandtohisear]I'malittledeaf.
FROME.WasthereanythinginthecourseofthatmorningImeanbeforethediscoverythat
caughtyourattention?
COKESON.Yeesawoman.
THEJUDGE.Howisthisrelevant,Mr.Frome?
FROME.Iamtryingtoestablishthestateofmindinwhichtheprisonercommittedthisact,my
lord.
THEJUDGE.Iquiteappreciatethat.Butthiswaslongaftertheact.
FROME.Yes,mylord,butitcontributestomycontention.
THEJUDGE.Well!
FROME.Yousayawoman.Doyoumeanthatshecametotheoffice?
COKESON.Yees.
FROME.Whatfor?
COKESON.AskedtoseeyoungFalderhewasoutatthemoment.
FROME.Didyouseeher?
COKESON.Idid.
FROME.Didshecomealone?
COKESON.[Confidentially]Well,thereyouputmeinadifficulty.Imustn'ttellyouwhatthe
officeboytoldme.
FROME.Quiteso,Mr.Cokeson,quiteso
COKESON.[Breakinginwithanairof"Youareyoungleaveittome"]ButIthinkwecanget
roundit.Inanswertoaquestionputtoherbyathirdpartythewomansaidtome:"They'remine,
sir."
THEJUDGE.Whatare?Whatwere?
COKESON.Herchildren.Theywereoutside.
THEJUDGE.HOWdoyouknow?
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COKESON.Yourlordshipmustn'taskmethat,orIshallhavetotellyouwhatIwastoldand
that'dneverdo.
THEJUDGE.[Smiling]Theofficeboymadeastatement.
COKESON.Eggzactly.
FROME.WhatIwanttoaskyou,Mr.Cokeson,isthis.InthecourseofherappealtoseeFalder,
didthewomansayanythingthatyouspeciallyremember?
COKESON.[Lookingathimasiftoencouragehimtocompletethesentence]Aleetlemore,sir.
FROME.Ordidshenot?
COKESON.Shedid.Ishouldn'tlikeyoutohaveledmetotheanswer.
FROME.[Withanirritatedsmile]Willyoutellthejurywhatitwas?
COKESON."It'samatteroflifeanddeath."
FOREMANOFTHEJURY.Doyoumeanthewomansaidthat?
COKESON.[Nodding]It'snotthesortofthingyouliketohavesaidtoyou.
FROME.[Alittleimpatiently]DidFaldercomeinwhileshewasthere?[COKESONnods]And
shesawhim,andwentaway?
COKESON.Ah!thereIcan'tfollowyou.Ididn'tseehergo.
FROME.Well,isshetherenow?
COKESON.[Withanindulgentsmile]No!
FROME.Thankyou,Mr.Cokeson.[Hesitsdown.]
CLEAVER.[Rising]Yousaythatonthemorningoftheforgerytheprisonerwasjumpy.Well,
now,sir,whatpreciselydoyoumeanbythatword?
COKESON. [Indulgently] I want you to understand. Have you ever seen a dog that's lost its
master?Hewaskindofeverywhereatoncewithhiseyes.
CLEAVER. Thank you I was coming to his eyes. You called them "funny." What are we to
understandbythat?Strange,orwhat?
COKESON.Yees,funny.
COKESON.[Sharply]Yes,sir,butwhatmaybefunnytoyoumaynotbefunnytome,ortothe
jury.Didtheylookfrightened,orshy,orfierce,orwhat?
COKESON.Youmakeitveryhardforme.Igiveyoutheword,andyouwantmetogiveyou
another.
CLEAVER.[Rappinghisdesk]Does"funny"meanmad?
CLEAVER.Notmad,fun
CLEAVER.Verywell!Nowyousayhehadhiscollarunbuttoned?Wasitahotday?
COKESON.YeesIthinkitwas.
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CLEAVER.Anddidhebuttonitwhenyoucalledhisattentiontoit?
COKESON.Yees,Ithinkhedid.
CLEAVER.Wouldyousaythatthatdenotedinsanity?
Hesitsdowns.COKESON,whohasopenedhismouthtoreply,isleftgaping.
FROME.[Risinghastily]Haveyouevercaughthiminthatdishevelledstatebefore?
COKESON.No!Hewasalwayscleanandquiet.
FROME.Thatwilldo,thankyou.
COKESON turns blandly to the JUDGE, as though to rebuke counsel for not
remembering that the JUDGE might wish to have a chance arriving at the
conclusionthatheistobeaskednothingfurther,heturnsanddescendsfrom
thebox,andsitsdownnexttoJAMESandWALTER.
FROME.RuthHoneywill.
RUTHcomesintocourt,andtakesherstandstoicallyinthewitnessbox.Sheis
sworn.
FROME.Whatisyourname,please?
RUTH.RuthHoneywill.
FROME.Howoldareyou?
RUTH.Twentysix.
FROME.Youareamarriedwoman,livingwithyourhusband?Alittlelouder.
RUTH.No,sirnotsinceJuly.
FROME.Haveyouanychildren?
RUTH.Yes,sir,two.
FROME.Aretheylivingwithyou?
RUTH.Yes,sir.
FROME.Youknowtheprisoner?
RUTH.[Lookingathim]Yes.
FROME.Whatwasthenatureofyourrelationswithhim?
RUTH.Wewerefriends.
THEJUDGE.Friends?
RUTH.[Simply]Lovers,sir.
THEJUDGE.[Sharply]Inwhatsensedoyouusethatword?
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RUTH.Weloveeachother.
THEJUDGE.Yes,but
RUTH.[Shakingherhead]No,yourlordshipnotyet.
THEJUDGE.'Notyet!H'm![HelooksfromRUTHtoFALDER]Well!
FROME.Whatisyourhusband?
RUTH.Traveller.
FROME.Andwhatwasthenatureofyourmarriedlife?
RUTH.[Shakingherhead]Itdon'tbeartalkingabout.
FROME.Didheilltreatyou,orwhat?
RUTH.Eversincemyfirstwasborn.
FROME.Inwhatway?
RUTH.I'drathernotsay.Allsortsofways.
THEJUDGE.IamafraidImuststopthis,youknow.
RUTH. [Pointing to FALDER] He offered to take me out of it, sir. We were going to South
America.
FROME.[Hastily]Yes,quiteandwhatpreventedyou?
RUTH.Iwasoutsidehisofficewhenhewastakenaway.Itnearlybrokemyheart.
FROME.Youknew,then,thathehadbeenarrested?
RUTH.Yes,sir.Icalledathisofficeafterwards,and[pointingtoCOKESON]thatgentleman
toldmeallaboutit.
FROME.Now,doyourememberthemorningofFriday,July7th?
RUTH.Yes.
FROME.Why?
RUTH.Myhusbandnearlystrangledmethatmorning.
THEJUDGE.Nearlystrangledyou!
RUTH.[Bowingherhead]Yes,mylord.
FROME.Withhishands,or?
RUTH. Yes, I just managed to get away from him. I went straight to my friend. It was eight
o'clock.
THEJUDGE.Inthemorning?Yourhusbandwasnotundertheinfluenceofliquorthen?
RUTH.Itwasn'talwaysthat.
FROME.Inwhatconditionwereyou?
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RUTH.Inverybadcondition,sir.Mydresswastorn,andIwashalfchoking.
FROME.Didyoutellyourfriendwhathadhappened?
RUTH.Yes.IwishIneverhad.
FROME.Itupsethim?
RUTH.Dreadfully.
FROME.Didheeverspeaktoyouaboutacheque?
RUTH.Never.
FROZE.Didheevergiveyouanymoney?
RUTH.Yes.
FROME.Whenwasthat?
RUTH.OnSaturday.
FROME.The8th?
RUTH.Tobuyanoutfitformeandthechildren,andgetallreadytostart.
FROME.Didthatsurpriseyou,ornot?
RUTH.What,sir?
FROME.Thathehadmoneytogiveyou.
Ring.Yes,becauseonthemorningwhenmyhusbandnearlykilledmemyfriendcriedbecause
hehadn'tthemoneytogetmeaway.Hetoldmeafterwardshe'dcomeintoawindfall.
FROME.Andwhendidyoulastseehim?
RUTH.Thedayhewastakenaway,sir.Itwasthedayweweretohavestarted.
FROME.Oh,yes,themorningofthearrest.Well,didyouseehimatallbetweentheFridayand
thatmorning?[RUTHnods]Whatwashismannerthen?
RUTH.Dumblikesometimeshedidn'tseemabletosayaword.
FROME.Asifsomethingunusualhadhappenedtohim?
RUTH.Yes.
FROME.Painful,orpleasant,orwhat?
RUTH.Likeafatehangingoverhim.
FROME.[Hesitating]Tellme,didyoulovetheprisonerverymuch?
RUTH.[Bowingherhead]Yes.
FROME.Andhadheaverygreataffectionforyou?
RUTH.[LookingatFALDER]Yes,sir.
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FROME. Now, ma'am, do you or do you not think that your danger and unhappiness would
seriouslyaffecthisbalance,hiscontroloverhisactions?
RUTH.Yes.
FROME.Hisreason,even?
RUTH.Foramomentlike,Ithinkitwould.
FROME.WasheverymuchupsetthatFridaymorning,orwashefairlycalm?
RUTH.Dreadfullyupset.Icouldhardlybeartolethimgofromme.
FROME.Doyoustilllovehim?
RUTH.[WithhereyesonFALDER]He'sruinedhimselfforme.
FROME.Thankyou.
Hesitsdown.RUTHremainsstoicallyuprightinthewitnessbox.
CLEAVER. [In a considerate voice] When you left him on the morning of Friday the 7th you
wouldnotsaythathewasoutofhismind,Isuppose?
RUTH.No,sir.
CLEAVER.ThankyouI'venofurtherquestionstoaskyou.
RUTH. [Bending a little forward to the jury] I would have done the same for him I would
indeed.
THEJUDGE.Please,please!Yousayyourmarriedlifeisanunhappyone?Faultsonbothsides?
RUTH.OnlythatIneverboweddowntohim.Idon'tseewhyIshould,sir,nottoamanlike
that.
THEJUDGE.Yourefusedtoobeyhim?
RUTH.[Avoidingthequestion]I'vealwaysstudiedhimtokeepthingsnice.
THEJUDGE.Untilyoumettheprisonerwasthatit?
RUTH.Noevenafterthat.
THEJUDGE.Iask,youknow,becauseyouseemtometogloryinthisaffectionofyoursforthe
prisoner.
RUTH.[Hesitating]IIdo.It'stheonlythinginmylifenow.
THEJUDGE.[Staringatherhard]Well,stepdown,please.
RUTHlooksatFALDER,thenpassesquietlydownandtakesherseatamong
thewitnesses.
FROME.Icalltheprisoner,mylord.
FALDERleavesthedockgoesintothewitnessbox,andisdulysworn.
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FROME.Whatisyourname?
FALDER.WilliamFalder.
FROME.Andage?
FALDER.Twentythree.
FROME.Youarenotmarried?
FALDERshakeshishead
FROME.Howlonghaveyouknownthelastwitness?
FALDER.Sixmonths.
FROME.Isheraccountoftherelationshipbetweenyouacorrectone?
FALDER.Yes.
FROME.Youbecamedevotedlyattachedtoher,however?
FALDER.Yes.
THEJUDGE.Thoughyouknewshewasamarriedwoman?
FALDER.Icouldn'thelpit,yourlordship.
THEJUDGE.Couldn'thelpit?
FALDER.Ididn'tseemableto.
TheJUDGEslightlyshrugshisshoulders.
FROME.Howdidyoucometoknowher?
FALDER.Throughmymarriedsister.
FROME.Didyouknowwhethershewashappywithherhusband?
FALDER.Itwastroubleallthetime.
FROME.Youknewherhusband?
FALDER.Onlythroughherhe'sabrute.
THEJUDGE.Ican'tallowindiscriminateabuseofapersonnotpresent.
FROME.[Bowing]Ifyourlordshippleases.[ToFALDER]Youadmitalteringthischeque?
FALDERbowshishead.
FROME.Carryyourmind,please,tothemorningofFriday,Julythe7th,andtellthejurywhat
happened.
FALDER. [Turning to the jury] I was having my breakfast when she came. Her dress was all
torn,andshewasgaspingandcouldn'tseemtogetherbreathatalltherewerethemarksofhis
fingersroundherthroatherarmwasbruised,andthebloodhadgotintohereyesdreadfully.It
frightened me, and then when she told me, I feltI feltwellit was too much for me!
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[Hardeningsuddenly]Ifyou'dseenit,havingthefeelingsforherthatIhad,you'dhavefeltthe
same,Iknow.
FROME.Yes?
FALDER.WhensheleftmebecauseIhadtogototheofficeIwasoutofmysensesforfear
thathe'ddoitagain,andthinkingwhatIcoulddo.Icouldn'tworkallthemorningIwaslike
thatsimplycouldn'tfixmymindonanything.Icouldn'tthinkatall.Iseemedtohavetokeep
moving.WhenDavistheotherclerkgavemethechequehesaid:"It'lldoyougood,Will,
tohavearunwiththis.Youseemhalfoffyourchumpthismorning."ThenwhenIhaditinmy
handIdon'tknowhowitcame,butitjustflashedacrossmethatifIputthe'ty'andthenought
therewouldbethemoneytogetheraway.ItjustcameandwentIneverthoughtofitagain.
ThenDaviswentouttohisluncheon,andIdon'treallyrememberwhatIdidtillI'dpushedthe
cheque through to the cashier under the rail. I remember his saying "Gold or notes?" Then I
supposeIknewwhatI'ddone.Anyway,whenIgotoutsideI wanted to chuck myself under a
busIwantedtothrowthemoneyawaybutitseemedIwasinforit,soIthoughtatanyrateI'd
saveher.OfcoursetheticketsItookforthepassageandthelittleIgaveher'sbeenwasted,and
all, except what I was obliged to spend myself, I've restored. I keep thinking over and over
howeveritwasIcametodoit,andhowIcan'thaveitallagaintododifferently!
FALDERissilent,twistinghishandsbeforehim.
FROME.Howfarisitfromyourofficetothebank?
FALDER.Notmorethanfiftyyards,sir.
FROME.FromthetimeDaviswentouttolunchtothetimeyoucashedthecheque,howlongdo
yousayitmusthavebeen?
FALDER.Itcouldn'thavebeenfourminutes,sir,becauseIranalltheway.
FROME.Duringthosefourminutesyousayyouremembernothing?
FALDER.No,sironlythatIran.
FROME.Notevenaddingthe'ty'andthenought?'
FALDER.No,sir.Idon'treally.
FROMEsitsdown,andCLEAVERrises.
CLEAVER.Butyourememberrunning,doyou?
FALDER.IwasalloutofbreathwhenIgottothebank.
CLEAVER.Andyoudon'trememberalteringthecheque?
FALDER.[Faintly]No,sir.
CLEAVER.Divestedoftheromanticglamourwhichmyfriendiscastingoverthecase,isthis
anythingbutanordinaryforgery?Come.
FALDER.Iwashalffranticallthatmorning,sir.
CLEAVER.Now,now!Youdon'tdenythatthe'ty'andthenoughtweresoliketherestofthe
handwritingastothoroughlydeceivethecashier?
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FALDER.Itwasanaccident.
CLEAVER. [Cheerfully] Queer sort of accident, wasn't it? On which day did you alter the
counterfoil?
FALDER.[Hanginghishead]OntheWednesdaymorning.
CLEAVER.Wasthatanaccidenttoo?
FALDER.[Faintly]No.
CLEAVER.Todothatyouhadtowatchyouropportunity,Isuppose?
FALDER.[Almostinaudibly]Yes.
CLEAVER. You don't suggest that you were suffering under great excitement when you did
that?
FALDER.Iwashaunted.
CLEAVER.Withthefearofbeingfoundout?
FALDER.[Verylow]Yes.
THE JUDGE. Didn't it occur to you that the only thing for you to do was to confess to your
employers,andrestorethemoney?
FALDER.Iwasafraid.[Thereissilence]
CLEAVER.Youdesired,too,nodoubt,tocompleteyourdesignoftakingthiswomanaway?
FALDER. When I found I'd done a thing like that, to do it for nothing seemed so dreadful. I
mightjustaswellhavechuckedmyselfintotheriver.
CLEAVER.YouknewthattheclerkDaviswasabouttoleaveEnglanddidn'titoccurtoyou
whenyoualteredthischequethatsuspicionwouldfallonhim?
FALDER.Itwasalldoneinamoment.Ithoughtofitafterwards.
CLEAVER.Andthatdidn'tleadyoutoavowwhatyou'ddone?
FALDER.[Sullenly]ImeanttowritewhenIgotoutthereIwouldhaverepaidthemoney.
THEJUDGE.Butinthemeantimeyourinnocentfellowclerkmighthavebeenprosecuted.
FALDER.Iknewhewasalongwayoff,yourlordship.Ithoughtthere'dbetime.Ididn'tthink
they'dfinditoutsosoon.
FROME. I might remind your lordship that as Mr. Walter How had the chequebook in his
pocket till after Davis had sailed, if the discovery had been made only one day later Falder
himselfwouldhaveleft,andsuspicionwouldhaveattachedtohim,andnottoDavis,fromthe
beginning.
THEJUDGE.Thequestioniswhethertheprisonerknewthatsuspicionwouldlightonhimself,
andnotonDavis.[ToFALDERsharply]DidyouknowthatMr.WalterHowhadthecheque
booktillafterDavishadsailed?
FALDER.IIthoughthe
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THEJUDGE.Nowspeakthetruthyesorno!
FALDER.[Verylow]No,mylord.Ihadnomeansofknowing.
THEJUDGE.Thatdisposesofyourpoint,Mr.Frome.
[FROMEbowstotheJUDGE]
CLEAVER.Hasanyaberrationofthisnatureeverattackedyoubefore?
FALDER.[Faintly]No,sir.
CLEAVER.Youhadrecoveredsufficientlytogobacktoyourworkthatafternoon?
FALDER.Yes,Ihadtotakethemoneyback.
CLEAVER.Youmeantheninepounds.Yourwitsweresufficientlykeenforyoutoremember
that?Andyoustillpersistinsayingyoudon'trememberalteringthischeque.[Hesitsdown]
FALDER.IfIhadn'tbeenmadIshouldneverhavehadthecourage.
FROME.[Rising]Didyouhaveyourlunchbeforegoingback?
FALDER.IneverateathingalldayandatnightIcouldn'tsleep.
FROME.Now,astothefourminutesthatelapsedbetweenDavis'sgoingoutandyourcashing
thecheque:doyousaythatyourecollectnothingduringthosefourminutes?
FALDER.[Afteramoment]IrememberthinkingofMr.Cokeson'sface.
FROME.OfMr.Cokeson'sface!Hadthatanyconnectionwithwhatyouweredoing?
FALDER.No,Sir.
FROME.Wasthatintheoffice,beforeyouranout?
FALDER.Yes,andwhileIwasrunning.
FROME.Andthatlastedtillthecashiersaid:"Willyouhavegoldornotes?"
FALDER.Yes,andthenIseemedtocometomyselfanditwastoolate.
FROME.Thankyou.Thatclosestheevidenceforthedefence,mylord.
TheJUDGEnods,andFALDERgoesbacktohisseatinthedock.
FROME.[Gatheringupnotes]IfitpleaseyourlordshipGentlemenoftheJury,Myfriendin
crossexaminationhasshownadispositiontosneeratthedefencewhichhasbeensetupinthis
case,andIamfreetoadmitthatnothingIcansaywillmoveyou,iftheevidencehasnotalready
convincedyouthattheprisonercommittedthisactinamomentwhentoallpracticalintentsand
purposes he was not responsible for his actions a moment of such mental and moral vacuity,
arisingfromtheviolentemotionalagitationunderwhichhehadbeensuffering,astoamountto
temporarymadness.Myfriendhasalludedtothe"romanticglamour"withwhichIhavesought
to invest this case. Gentlemen, I have done nothing of the kind. I have merely shown you the
background of "life"that palpitating life which, believe mewhatever my friend may say
alwaysliesbehindthecommissionofacrime.Nowgentlemen,weliveinahighly,civilizedage,
and the sight of brutal violence disturbs us in a very strange way, even when we have no
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personalinterestinthematter.Butwhenweseeitinflictedonawomanwhomwelovewhat
then?Justthinkofwhatyourownfeelingswouldhavebeen,eachofyou,attheprisoner'sage
andthenlookathim.Well!heishardlythecomfortable,shallwesaybucolic,personlikelyto
contemplatewithequanimitymarksofgross violenceon a womanto whomhewas devotedly
attached.Yes,gentlemen,lookathim!Hehasnotastrongfacebutneitherhasheaviciousface.
Heisjustthesortofmanwhowouldeasilybecomethepreyofhisemotions.Youhaveheardthe
descriptionofhiseyes.Myfriendmaylaughattheword"funny"Ithinkitbetterdescribesthe
peculiaruncanny look of those who are strained to breakingpoint than any other word which
couldhavebeenused.Idon'tpretend,mindyou,thathismentalirresponsibilitywasmorethan
aflashofdarkness,inwhichallsenseofproportionbecamelostbuttocontend,that,justasa
man who destroys himself at such a moment may be, and often is, absolved from the stigma
attachingtothecrimeofselfmurder,sohemay,andfrequentlydoes,commitothercrimeswhile
in this irresponsible condition, and that he may as justly be acquitted of criminal intent and
treated as a patient. I admit that this is a plea which might well be abused. It is a matter for
discretion. But here you have a case in which there is every reason to give the benefit of the
doubt.Youheardmeasktheprisonerwhathethoughtofduringthosefourfatalminutes.What
washisanswer?"IthoughtofMr.Cokeson'sface!"Gentlemen,nomancouldinventananswer
likethatitisabsolutelystampedwithtruth.Youhaveseenthegreataffection[legitimateornot]
existingbetweenhimandthiswoman,whocameheretogiveevidenceforhimattheriskofher
life.Itisimpossibleforyoutodoubthisdistressonthemorningwhenhecommittedthisact.We
wellknowwhatterriblehavocsuchdistresscanmakeinweakandhighlynervouspeople.Itwas
alltheworkofamoment.Theresthasfollowed,asdeathfollowsastabtotheheart,orwater
dropsifyouholdupajugtoemptyit.Believeme,gentlemen,thereisnothingmoretragicinlife
thantheutterimpossibilityofchangingwhatyouhavedone.Oncethischequewasalteredand
presented,theworkoffourminutesfourmadminutestheresthasbeensilence.Butinthose
fourminutestheboybeforeyouhasslippedthroughadoor,hardlyopened,intothatgreatcage
which never again quite lets a man gothe cage of the Law. His further acts, his failure to
confess, the alteration of the counterfoil, his preparations for flight, are all evidencenot of
deliberate and guilty intention when he committed the prime act from which these subsequent
acts arose nothey are merely evidence of the weak character which is clearly enough his
misfortune. But is a man to be lost because he is bred and born with a weak character?
Gentlemen, men like the prisoner are destroyed daily under our law for want of that human
insightwhichseesthemastheyare,patients,andnotcriminals.Iftheprisonerbefoundguilty,
andtreatedasthoughhewereacriminaltype,hewill,asallexperienceshows,inallprobability
becomeone.Ibegyounottoreturnaverdictthatmaythrusthimbackintoprisonandbrandhim
for ever. Gentlemen, Justice is a machine that, when some one has once given it the starting
push,rollsonofitself.Isthisyoungmantobegroundtopiecesunderthismachineforanact
whichattheworstwasoneofweakness?Ishetobecomeamemberofthelucklesscrewsthat
man those dark, illstarred ships called prisons? Is that to be his voyagefrom which so few
return?Orishetohaveanotherchance,tobestilllookedonasonewhohasgonealittleastray,
butwhowillcomeback?Iurgeyou,gentlemen,donotruinthisyoungman!For,asaresultof
those four minutes, ruin, utter and irretrievable, stares him in the face. He can be saved now.
Imprisonhimasacriminal,andIaffirmtoyouthathewillbelost.Hehasneitherthefacenor
themannerofonewhocansurvivethatterribleordeal.Weighinthescaleshiscriminalityand
the suffering he has undergone. The latter is ten times heavier already. He has lain in prison
underthischargeformorethantwomonths.Ishelikelyevertoforgetthat?Imaginetheanguish
of his mind during that time. He has had his punishment, gentlemen, you may depend. The
rolling of the chariotwheels of Justice over this boy began when it was decided to prosecute
him.Wearenowalreadyatthesecondstage.IfyoupermitittogoontothethirdIwouldnot
givethatforhim.
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Heholdsupfingerandthumbintheformofacircle,dropshishand,andsits
dozen.
Thejurystir,andconsulteachother'sfacesthentheyturntowardsthecounselfortheCrown,
whorises,and,fixinghiseyesonaspotthatseemstogivehimsatisfaction,slidesthemevery
nowandthentowardsthejury.
CLEAVER. May it please your lordship[Rising on his toes] Gentlemen of the Jury,The
factsinthiscasearenotdisputed,andthedefence,ifmyfriendwillallowmetosayso,issothin
thatIdon'tproposetowastethetimeoftheCourtbytakingyouovertheevidence.Thepleais
oneoftemporaryinsanity.Well,gentlemen,Idaresayitisclearertomethanitistoyouwhythis
ratherwhatshallwecallit?bizarredefencehasbeensetup.Thealternativewouldhavebeen
topleadguilty.Now,gentlemen,iftheprisonerhadpleadedguiltymyfriendwouldhavehadto
relyonasimpleappealtohislordship.Insteadofthat,hehasgoneintothebywaysandhedges
andfoundthiserpeculiarplea,whichhasenabledhimtoshowyoutheproverbialwoman,to
putherin the boxto give, in fact, a romantic glow to this affair. I compliment my friend I
think it highly ingenious of him. By these means, he hasto a certain extentgot round the
Law.Hehasbroughtthewholestoryofmotiveandstressoutincourt,atfirsthand,inawaythat
he would not otherwise have been able to do. But when you have once grasped that fact,
gentlemen,youhavegraspedeverything.[Withgoodhumouredcontempt]Forlookatthisplea
ofinsanitywecan'tputitlowerthanthat.Youhaveheardthewoman.Shehaseveryreasonto
favourtheprisoner,butwhatdidshesay?Shesaidthattheprisonerwasnotinsanewhensheleft
him in the morning. If he were going out of his mind throughdistress, that was obviouslythe
moment when insanity would have shown itself. You have heard the managing clerk, another
witnessforthedefence.WithsomedifficultyIelicitedfromhimtheadmissionthattheprisoner,
thoughjumpy[awordthatheseemedtothinkyouwouldunderstand,gentlemen,andI'msureI
hopeyoudo],wasnotmadwhenthechequewashandedtoDavis.Iagreewithmyfriendthatit's
unfortunatethatwehavenotgotDavishere,buttheprisonerhastoldyouthewordswithwhich
Davisinturnhandedhimthechequeheobviously,therefore,wasnotmadwhenhereceivedit,
orhewouldnothaverememberedthosewords.Thecashierhastoldyouthathewascertainlyin
hissenseswhenhecashedit.Wehavethereforethepleathatamanwhoissaneattenminutes
pastone,andsaneatfifteenminutespast,may,forthepurposesofavoidingtheconsequencesof
acrime,callhimselfinsanebetweenthosepointsoftime.Really,gentlemen,thisissopeculiara
propositionthatIamnotdisposedtowearyyouwithfurtherargument.Youwillformyourown
opinion of its value. My friend has adopted this way of saying a great deal to youand very
eloquentlyonthescoreofyouth,temptation,andthelike.Imightpointout,however,thatthe
offence with which the prisoner is charged is one of the most serious known to our law and
there are certain features in this case, such as the suspicion which he allowed to rest on his
innocentfellowclerk,andhisrelationswiththismarriedwoman,whichwillrenderitdifficult
foryoutoattachtoomuchimportancetosuchpleading.Iaskyou,inshort,gentlemen,forthat
verdictofguiltywhich,inthecircumstances,Iregardyouas,unfortunately,boundtorecord.
LettinghiseyestravelfromtheJUDGEandthejurytoFROME,hesitsdown.
THE JUDGE. [Bending a little towards the jury, and speaking in a businesslike voice]
Gentlemen,youhaveheardtheevidence,andthecommentsonit.Myonlybusinessistomake
clear to you the issues you have to try. The facts are admitted, so far as the alteration of this
cheque and counterfoil by the prisoner. The defence set up is that he was not in a responsible
condition when he committed the crime. Well, you have heard the prisoner's story, and the
evidenceoftheotherwitnessessofarasitbearsonthepointofinsanity.Ifyouthinkthatwhat
youhaveheardestablishesthefactthattheprisonerwasinsaneatthetimeoftheforgery,you
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willfindhimguilty,butinsane.If,ontheotherhand,youconcludefromwhatyouhaveseenand
heardthattheprisonerwassaneandnothing short of insanity will countyou will find him
guilty. In reviewing the testimony as to his mental condition you must bear in mind very
carefullytheevidenceastohisdemeanourandconductbothbeforeandaftertheactofforgery
theevidenceoftheprisonerhimself,ofthewoman,ofthewitnesserCOKESON,ander
ofthecashier.AndinregardtothatIespeciallydirectyourattentiontotheprisoner'sadmission
thattheideaofaddingthe'ty'andthenoughtdidcomeintohismindatthemomentwhenthe
cheque was handed to him and also to the alteration of the counterfoil, and to his subsequent
conduct generally. The bearing of all this on the question of premeditation [and premeditation
willimplysanity]isveryobvious.Youmustnotallowanyconsiderationsofageortemptationto
weigh with you in the finding of your verdict. Before you can come to a verdict of guilty but
insaneyoumustbewellandthoroughlyconvincedthattheconditionofhismindwassuchas
wouldhavequalifiedhimatthemomentforalunaticasylum.[Hepauses,then,seeingthatthe
juryaredoubtfulwhethertoretireorno,adds:]Youmayretire,gentlemen,ifyouwishtodoso.
The jury retire by a door behind the JUDGE. The JUDGE bends over his
notes. FALDER, leaning from the dock, speaks excitedly to his solicitor,
pointingdawnatRUTH.ThesolicitorinturnspeakstoFROME.
FROME.[Rising]Mylord.TheprisonerisveryanxiousthatIshouldaskyouifyourlordship
wouldkindlyrequestthereportersnottodisclosethenameofthewomanwitnessinthePress
reports of these proceedings. Your lordship will understand that the consequences might be
extremelyserioustoher.
THEJUDGE.[Pointedlywiththesuspicionofasmile]well,Mr.Frome,youdeliberatelytook
thiscoursewhichinvolvedbringingherhere.
FROME.[Withanironicbow]IfyourlordshipthinksIcouldhavebroughtoutthefullfactsin
anyotherway?
THEJUDGE.H'm!Well.
FROME.Thereisveryrealdangertoher,yourlordship.
THEJUDGE.Yousee,Ihavetotakeyourwordforallthat.
FROME. If your lordship would be so kind. I can assure your lordship that I am not
exaggerating.
THEJUDGE.Itgoesverymuchagainstthegrainwithmethatthenameofawitnessshouldever
besuppressed.[WithaglanceatFALDER,whoisgrippingandclaspinghishandsbeforehim,
andthenatRUTH,whoissittingperfectlyrigidwithhereyesfixedonFALDER]I'llconsider
yourapplication.Itmustdepend.Ihavetorememberthatshemayhavecomeheretocommit
perjuryontheprisoner'sbehalf.
FROME.Yourlordship,Ireally
THEJUDGE.Yes,yesIdon'tsuggestanythingofthesort,Mr.Frome.Leaveitatthatforthe
moment.
Ashefinishesspeaking,thejuryreturn,andfilebackintothebox.
CLERKofASSIZE.Gentlemen,areyouagreedonyourverdict?
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FOREMAN.Weare.
CLERKofASSIZE.IsitGuilty,orGuiltybutinsane?
FOREMAN.Guilty.
TheJUDGEnodsthen,gatheringuphisnotes,sitslookingatFALDER,who
standsmotionless.
FROME.[Rising]Ifyourlordshipwouldallowmetoaddressyouinmitigation of sentence. I
don'tknowifyourlordshipthinksIcanaddanythingtowhatIhavesaidtothejuryonthescore
oftheprisoner'syouth,andthegreatstressunderwhichheacted.
THEJUDGE.Idon'tthinkyoucan,Mr.Frome.
FROME. If your lordship says soI do most earnestly beg your lordship to give the utmost
weighttomyplea.[Hesitsdown.]
THEJUDGE.[TotheCLERK]Calluponhim.
THECLERK.Prisoneratthebar,youstandconvictedoffelony.Haveyouanythingtosayfor
yourself,whytheCourtshouldnotgiveyoujudgmentaccordingtolaw?[FALDERshakeshis
head]
THE JUDGE. William Falder, you have been given fair trial and found guilty, in my opinion
rightlyfoundguilty,offorgery.[Hepausesthen,consultinghisnotes,goeson]Thedefencewas
setupthatyouwerenotresponsible for your actions at the moment of committing this crime.
There is no, doubt, I think, that this was a device to bring out at first hand the nature of the
temptationtowhichyousuccumbed.Forthroughoutthetrialyourcounselwasinrealitymaking
an appeal for mercy. The setting up of this defence of course enabled him to put in some
evidencethatmightweighinthatdirection.Whetherhewaswelladvisedtosoisanothermatter.
Heclaimedthatyoushouldbetreatedratherasapatientthanasacriminal.Andthispleaofhis,
which in the end amounted to a passionate appeal, he based in effect on an indictment of the
march of Justice, which he practically accused of confirming and completing the process of
criminality.Now,inconsideringhowfarIshouldallowweighttohisappealIhaveanumberof
factorstotakeintoaccount.Ihavetoconsiderontheonehandthegravenatureofyouroffence,
thedeliberatewayinwhichyousubsequentlyalteredthecounterfoil,thedangeryoucaused to
aninnocentmanandthat,tomymind,isaverygravepointandfinallyIhavetoconsiderthe
necessityofdeterringothersfromfollowingyourexample.Ontheotherhand,Ihavetobearin
mindthatyouareyoung,thatyouhavehithertoborneagoodcharacter,thatyouwere,ifIamto
believeyourevidenceandthatofyourwitnesses,inastateofsomeemotionalexcitementwhen
youcommittedthiscrime.Ihaveeverywish,consistentlywithmydutynotonlytoyou,butto
the communityto treat you with leniency. And this brings me to what are the determining
factorsinmymindinmyconsiderationofyourcase.Youareaclerkinalawyer'sofficethatis
averyseriouselementinthiscasetherecanbenopossibleexcusemadeforyouontheground
that you were not fully conversant with the nature of the crime you were committing, and the
penaltiesthatattachtoit.Itissaid,however,thatyouwerecarriedawaybyyouremotions.The
story hasbeen told here today of your relations with thiserMrs. Honeywill on that story
boththedefenceandthepleaformercywereineffectbased.Nowwhatisthatstory?Itisthat
you, a young man, and she, a young woman, unhappily married, had formed an attachment,
whichyoubothsaywithwhat truth I am unable to gauge had not yet resulted in immoral
relations,butwhichyoubothadmitwasabouttoresultinsuchrelationship. Your counsel has
madeanattempttopalliatethis,onthegroundthatthewomanisinwhathedescribes,Ithink,as
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"ahopelessposition."AstothatIcanexpressnoopinion.Sheisamarriedwoman,andthefact
is patent that you committed this crime with the view of furthering an immoral design. Now,
howeverImightwish,Iamnotabletojustifytomyconscienceapleaformercywhichhasa
basis inimical to morality. It is vitiated 'ab initio', and would, if successful, free you for the
completionofthisimmoralproject.Yourcounselhasmadeanattempttotraceyouroffenceback
towhatheseemstosuggestisadefectinthemarriagelawhehasmadeanattemptalsotoshow
that to punish you with further imprisonment would be unjust. I do not follow him in these
flights.TheLawiswhatitisamajesticedifice,shelteringallofus,eachstoneofwhichrests
onanother.Iamconcernedonlywithitsadministration.Thecrimeyouhavecommittedisavery
seriousone.IcannotfeelitinaccordancewithmydutytoSocietytoexercisethepowersIhave
inyourfavour.Youwillgotopenalservitudeforthreeyears.
FALDER,whothroughouttheJUDGE'Sspeechhaslookedathimsteadily,lets
hisheadfallforwardonhisbreast.RUTHstartsupfromherseatasheistaken
outbythewarders.Thereisabustleincourt.
THEJUDGE.[Speakingtothereporters]GentlemenofthePress,Ithinkthatthenameofthe
femalewitnessshouldnotbereported.
Thereportersbowtheiracquiescence.THEJUDGE.[ToRUTH,whoisstaring
inthedirectioninwhichFALDERhasdisappeared]Doyouunderstand,your
namewillnotbementioned?
COKESON.[Pullinghersleeve]Thejudgeisspeakingtoyou.
RUTHturns,staresattheJUDGE,andturnsaway.
THEJUDGE.Ishallsitratherlatetoday.Callthenextcase.
CLERKofASSIZE.[Toawarder]PutupJohnBooley.
Tocriesof"WitnessesinthecaseofBooley":
Thecurtainfalls.
ACTIII
SCENEI
A prison. A plainly furnished room, with two large barred windows,
overlookingtheprisoners'exerciseyard,wheremen,inyellowclothesmarked
witharrows,andyellowbrimlesscaps,areseeninsinglefileata distance of
fouryardsfromeachother,walkingrapidlyonserpentinewhite lines marked
ontheconcreteflooroftheyard.Twowardersinblueuniforms,withpeaked
caps and swords, are stationed amongst them. The room has distempered
walls, a bookcase with numerous officiallooking books, a cupboard between
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the windows, a plan of the prison on the wall, a writingtable covered with
documents.ItisChristmasEve.TheGOVERNOR,aneat,gravelookingman,
withatrim,fairmoustache,theeyesofatheorist,andgrizzledhair,receding
from the temples, is standing close to this writingtable looking at a sort of
rough saw made out of a piece of metal. The hand in which he holds it is
gloved, for two fingers are missing. The chief warder, WOODER, a tall, thin,
militarylooking man of sixty, with grey moustache and melancholy, monkey
likeeyes,standsveryuprighttwopacesfromhim.
THE GOVERNOR. [With afaint, abstracted smile]Queerlooking affair, Mr.Wooder! Where

didyoufindit?
WOODER.Inhismattress,sir.Haven'tcomeacrosssuchathingfortwoyearsnow.
THEGOVERNOR.[Withcuriosity]Hadheanysetplan?
WOODER.He'dsawedhiswindowbaraboutthatmuch.[Heholdsuphisthumbandfingera
quarterofaninchapart]
THEGOVERNOR.I'llseehimthisafternoon.What'shisname?Moaney!Anoldhand,Ithink?
WOODER.Yes,sirfourthspellofpenal.You'dthinkanoldlaglikehimwouldhavehadmore
sensebynow.[Withpityingcontempt]Occupiedhismind,hesaid.Breakinginandbreakingout
that'salltheythinkabout.
THEGOVERNOR.Who'snexthim?
WOODER.O'Cleary,sir.
THEGOVERNOR.TheIrishman.
WOODER. Next him again there's that young fellow, Falderstar classand next him old
Clipton.
THEGOVERNOR.Ah,yes!"Thephilosopher."Iwanttoseehimabouthiseyes.
WOODER.Curiousthing,sir:theyseemtoknowwhenthere'soneofthesetriesatescapegoing
on.Itmakesthemrestivethere'saregularwavegoingthroughthemjustnow.
THEGOVERNOR.[Meditatively]Oddthingsthosewaves.[Turningtolookattheprisoners
exercising]Seemquietenoughouthere!
WOODER.ThatIrishman,O'Cleary,beganbangingonhisdoorthismorning.Littlethinglike
that'squiteenoughtoupsetthewholelot.They'rejustlikedumbanimalsattimes.
THEGOVERNOR.I'veseenitwithhorsesbeforethunderit'llrunrightthroughcavalrylines.
The prison CHAPLAIN has entered. He is a darkhaired, ascetic man, in
clericalundress,withapeculiarlysteady,tightlippedfaceandslow,cultured
speech.
THEGOVERNOR.[Holdingupthesaw]Seenthis,Miller?
THECHAPLAIN.Usefullookingspecimen.
THEGOVERNOR.DofortheMuseum,eh![Hegoestothecupboardandopensit,displayingto
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view a number of quaint ropes, hooks, and metal tools with labels tied on them] That'll do,
thanks,Mr.Wooder.
WOODER.[Saluting]Thankyou,sir.[Hegoesout]
THE GOVERNOR. Account for the state of the men last day or two, Miller? Seems going
throughthewholeplace.
THECHAPLAIN.No.Idon'tknowofanything.
THEGOVERNOR.Bytheway,willyoudinewithusonChristmasDay?
THECHAPLAIN.Tomorrow.Thanksverymuch.
THE GOVERNOR. Worries me to feel the men discontented. [Gazing at the saw] Have to
punish this poor devil. Can't help liking a man who tries to escape. [He places the saw in his
pocketandlocksthecupboardagain]
THECHAPLAIN.Extraordinarypervertedwillpowersomeofthem.Nothingtobedonetill
it'sbroken.
THEGOVERNOR.Andnotmuchafterwards,I'mafraid.Groundtoohardforgolf?
WOODERcomesinagain.
WOODER.Visitorwho'sbeenseeingQ3007askstospeaktoyou,sir.Itoldhimitwasn'tusual.
THEGOVERNOR.Whatabout?
WOODER.ShallIputhimoff,sir?
THEGOVERNOR.[Resignedly]No,no.Let'sseehim.Don'tgo,Miller.
WOODERmotionstosomeonewithout,andasthevisitorcomesinwithdraws.
The visitor is COKESON, who is attired in a thick overcoat to the knees,
woollengloves,andcarriesatophat.
COKESON.I'msorrytotroubleyou.I'vebeentalkingtotheyoungman.
THEGOVERNOR.Wehaveagoodmanyhere.
COKESON. Name of Falder, forgery. [Producing a card, and handing it to the GOVERNOR]
FirmofJamesandWalterHow.Wellknowninthelaw.
THEGOVERNOR.[Receivingthecardwithafaintsmile]Whatdoyouwanttoseemeabout,
sir?
COKESON.[Suddenlyseeingtheprisonersatexercise]Why!whatasight!
THEGOVERNOR.Yes,wehavethatprivilegefromheremyofficeisbeingdoneup.[Sitting
downathistable]Now,please!
COKESON.[Dragginghiseyeswithdifficultyfromthewindow]Iwantedtosayawordtoyou
Ishan'tkeepyoulong.[Confidentially]Factis,Ioughtn'ttobeherebyrights.Hissistercameto
mehe'sgotnofatherandmotherandshewasinsomedistress."Myhusbandwon'tletmego
and see him," she said "says he's disgraced the family. And his other sister," she said, "is an
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invalid."Andsheaskedmetocome.Well,Itakeaninterestinhim.HewasourjuniorIgoto
thesamechapelandIdidn'tliketorefuse.AndwhatIwantedtotellyouwas,heseemslonely
here.
THEGOVERNOR.Notunnaturally.
COKESON.I'mafraidit'llpreyonmymind.Iseealotofthemaboutworkingtogether.
THE GOVERNOR. Those are local prisoners. The convicts serve their three months here in
separateconfinement,sir.
COKESON.Butwedon'twanttobeunreasonable.He'squitedownhearted.Iwantedtoaskyou
tolethimrunaboutwiththeothers.
THEGOVERNOR.[Withfaintamusement]Ringthebellwouldyou,Miller?[ToCOKESON]
You'dliketohearwhatthedoctorsaysabouthim,perhaps.
THECHAPLAIN.[Ringingthebell]Youarenotaccustomedtoprisons,itwouldseem,sir.
COKESON. No. But it's a pitiful sight. He's quite a young fellow. I said to him: "Before a
month'sup"Isaid,"you'llbeoutandaboutwiththeothersit'llbeanicechangeforyou.""A
month!"hesaidlikethat!"Come!"Isaid,"wemustn'texaggerate.What'samonth?Why,it's
nothing!""Aday,"hesaid,"shutupinyourcellthinkingandbroodingasIdo,it'slongerthana
yearoutside.Ican'thelpit,"hesaid"ItrybutI'mbuiltthatway,Mr.COKESON."And,he
heldhishanduptohisface.Icouldseethetearstricklingthroughhisfingers.Itwasn'tnice.
THE CHAPLAIN. He's a young man with large, rather peculiar eyes, isn't he? Not Church of
England,Ithink?
COKESON.No.
THECHAPLAIN.Iknow.
THE GOVERNOR. [To WOODER, who has come in] Ask the doctor to be good enough to
comehereforaminute.[WOODERsalutes,andgoesout]Let'ssee,he'snotmarried?
COKESON.No.[Confidentially]Butthere'sapartyhe'sverymuchattachedto,notaltogether
comilfa.It'sasadstory.
THECHAPLAIN.Ifitwasn'tfordrinkandwomen,sir,thisprisonmightbeclosed.
COKESON. [Looking at the CHAPLAIN over his spectacles] Yees, but I wanted to tell you
about that, special. He had hopes they'd have let her come and see him, but they haven't. Of
courseheaskedmequestions.Ididmybest,butIcouldn'ttellthepooryoungfellowalie,with
himinhereseemedlikehittinghim.ButI'mafraidit'smadehimworse.
THEGOVERNOR.Whatwasthisnewsthen?
COKESON.Likethis.Thewomanhadanahsty,spitefulfellerforahusband,andshe'dlefthim.
Factis,shewasgoingawaywithouryoungfriend.It'snotnicebutI'velookedoverit.Well,
whenhewasputinhereshesaidshe'dearnherlivingapart,andwaitforhimtocomeout.That
wasagreatconsolationtohim.ButafteramonthshecametomeIdon'tknowherpersonally
and she said: "I can't earn the children's living, let alone my ownI've got no friends. I'm
obligedtokeepoutofeverybody'sway,elsemyhusband'dgettoknowwhereIwas.I'mvery
muchreduced,"shesaid.Andshehaslostflesh."I'llhavetogointheworkhouse!"It'sapainful
story.Isaidtoher:"No,"Isaid,"notthat!I'vegotawifean'family,butsoonerthanyoushould
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dothatI'llspareyoualittlemyself.""Really,"shesaidshe'sanicecreature"Idon'tliketo
takeitfromyou.IthinkI'dbettergobacktomyhusband."Well,Iknowhe'sanahsty,spiteful
fellerdrinksbutIdidn'tliketopersuadehernotto.
THECHAPLAIN.Surely,no.
COKESON.Yees,butI'msorrynowit'supsetthepooryoungfellowdreadfully.AndwhatI
wantedtosaywas:He'sgothisthreeyearstoserve.Iwantthingstobepleasantforhim.
THECHAPLAIN.[Withatouchofimpatience]TheLawhardlysharesyourview,I'mafraid.
COKESON.ButIcan'thelpthinkingthattoshuthimuptherebyhimself'llturnhimsilly.And
nobodywantsthat,Is'pose.Idon'tliketoseeamancry.
THECHAPLAIN.It'saveryrarethingforthemtogivewaylikethat.
COKESON.[Lookingathiminatoneofsuddendoggedhostility]Ikeepdogs.
THECHAPLAIN.Indeed?
COKESON.Yees.AndIsaythis:Iwouldn'tshutoneofthemupallbyhimself, month after
month,notifhe'dbitmeallover.
THECHAPLAIN.Unfortunately,thecriminalisnotadoghehasasenseofrightandwrong.
COKESON.Butthat'snotthewaytomakehimfeelit.
THECHAPLAIN.Ah!thereI'mafraidwemustdiffer.
COKESON.It'sthesamewithdogs.Ifyoutreat'emwithkindnessthey'lldoanythingforyou
buttoshut'emupalone,itonlymakes'emsavage.
THE CHAPLAIN. Surely you should allow those who have had a little more experiencethan
yourselftoknowwhatisbestforprisoners.
COKESON.[Doggedly]Iknowthisyoungfeller,I'vewatchedhimforyears.He'seuroticgot
no stamina. His father died of consumption. I'm thinking of his future. If he's to be kept there
shutupbyhimself,withoutacattokeephimcompany,it'lldohimharm.Isaidtohim:"Where
doyoufeelit?""Ican'ttellyou,Mr.COKESON,"hesaid,"butsometimesIcouldbeatmyhead
againstthewall."It'snotnice.
During this speech the DOCTOR has entered. He is a mediumSized, rather
goodlookingman,withaquickeye.Hestandsleaningagainstthewindow.
THEGOVERNOR.ThisgentlemanthinkstheseparateistellingonQ3007Falder,youngthin
fellow,starclass.Whatdoyousay,DoctorClements?
THEDOCTOR.Hedoesn'tlikeit,butit'snotdoinghimanyharm.
COKESON.Buthe'stoldme.
THE DOCTOR. Of course he'd say so, but we can always tell. He's lost no weightsincehe's
beenhere.
COKESON.It'shisstateofmindI'mspeakingof.
THEDOCTOR.Hismind'sallrightsofar.He'snervous,rathermelancholy.Idon'tseesignsof
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anythingmore.I'mwatchinghimcarefully.
COKESON.[Nonplussed]I'mgladtohearyousaythat.
THE CHAPLAIN. [More suavely] It's just at this period that we are able to make some
impressiononthem,sir.Iamspeakingfrommyspecialstandpoint.
COKESON.[TurningbewilderedtotheGOVERNOR]Idon'twanttobeunpleasant,buthaving
givenhimthisnews,Idofeelit'sawkward.
THEGOVERNOR.I'llmakeapointofseeinghimtoday.
COKESON. I'm much obliged to you. I thought perhaps seeing him every day you wouldn't
noticeit.
THEGOVERNOR.[Rathersharply]Ifanysignofinjurytohishealthshowsitselfhiscasewill
bereportedatonce.That'sfullyprovidedfor.[Herises]
COKESON.[Followinghisownthoughts]Ofcourse,whatyoudon'tseedoesn'ttroubleyoubut
havingseenhim,Idon'twanttohavehimonmymind.
THEGOVERNOR.Ithinkyoumaysafelyleaveittous,sir.
COKESON.[Mollifiedandapologetic]Ithoughtyou'dunderstandme.I'maplainmannever
setmyselfupagainstauthority.[ExpandingtotheCHAPLAIN]Nothingpersonalmeant.Good
morning.
Ashegoesoutthethreeofficialsdonotlookateachother,buttheirfaceswear
peculiarexpressions.
THECHAPLAIN.Ourfriendseemstothinkthatprisonisahospital.
COKESON. [Returning suddenly with an apologetic air] There's just one little thing. This
womanIsupposeImustn'taskyoutolethimseeher.It'dbeararetreatforthemboth.He's
thinkingaboutherallthetime.Ofcourseshe'snothiswife.Buthe'squitesafeinhere.They'rea
pitifulcouple.Youcouldn'tmakeanexception?
THEGOVERNOR.[Wearily]Asyousay,mydearsir,Icouldn'tmakeanexceptionhewon'tbe
allowedanothervisitofanysorttillhegoestoaconvictprison.
COKESON.Isee.[Rathercoldly]Sorrytohavetroubledyou.[Heagaingoesout]
THECHAPLAIN.[Shrugginghisshoulders]Theplainmanindeed,poorfellow.Comeandhave
somelunch,Clements?
HeandtheDOCTORgoouttalking.TheGOVERNOR,withasigh,sitsdownat
histableandtakesupapen.
Thecurtainfalls.
SCENEII
Partofthegroundcorridoroftheprison.Thewallsarecolouredwithgreenish
distemperuptoastripeofdeepergreenabouttheheightofaman'sshoulder,
andabovethislinearewhitewashed.Thefloorisofblackenedstones.Daylight
isfilteringthroughaheavilybarredwindowattheend.Thedoorsoffourcells
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arevisible.Eachcelldoorhasalittleroundpeepholeatthelevelofaman's
eye,coveredbyalittleround disc, which, raised upwards, affords a view o f
thecell.Onthewall,closetoeachcelldoor,hangsalittlesquareboardwith
the prisoner's name, number, and record. Overhead can be seen the iron
structures of the firstfloor and secondfloor corridors. The WARDER
INSTRUCTOR, a bearded man in blue uniform, with an apron, and some
danglingkeys,isjustemergingfromoneofthecells.
INSTRUCTOR.[Speakingfromthedoorintothecell]I'llhaveanotherbitforyouwhenthat's
finished.
O'CLEARY.[UnseeninanIrishvoice]Littledoubto'that,sirr.
INSTRUCTOR.[Gossiping]Well,you'dratherhaveitthannothing,Is'pose.
O'CLEARY.An'that'stheblessedtruth.
Soundsareheardofacelldoorbeingclosedandlocked,andofapproaching
footsteps.
INSTRUCTOR.[Inasharp,changedvoice]Lookaliveoverit!
Heshutsthecelldoor,andstandsatattention.TheGOVERNORcomeswalking
downthecorridor,followedbyWOODER.
THEGOVERNOR.Anythingtoreport?
INSTRUCTOR.[Saluting]Q3007[hepointstoacell]isbehindwithhiswork, sir. He'll lose
markstoday.
TheGOVERNORnodsandpassesontotheendcell.TheINSTRUCTORgoes
away.
THEGOVERNOR.Thisisourmakerofsaws,isn'tit?
HetakesthesawfromhispocketasWOODERthrowsopenthedoorofthecell.
The convict MOANEY is seen lying on his bed, athwart the cell, with his cap
on. He springs up and stands in the middle of the cell. He is a rawboned
fellow,aboutfiftysixyearsold,withoutstandingbat'searsandfierce,staring,
steelcolouredeyes.
WOODER.Capoff![MOANEYremoveshiscap]Outhere![MOANEYComestothedoor]
THE GOVERNOR. [Beckoning him out into the corridor, and holding up the sawwith the
mannerofanofficerspeakingtoaprivate]Anythingtosayaboutthis,myman?[MOANEYis
silent]Come!
MOANEY.Itpassedthetime.
THEGOVERNOR.[Pointingintothecell]Notenoughtodo,eh?
MOANEY.Itdon'toccupyyourmind.
THEGOVERNOR.[Tappingthesaw]Youmightfindabetterwaythanthis.
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MOANEY. [Sullenly] Well! What way? I must keep my hand in against the time I get out.
What'sthegoodofanythingelsetomeatmytimeoflife?[Withagradualchangetocivility,as
histonguewarms]Yeknowthat,sir.I'llbeinagainwithinayearortwo,afterI'vedonethislot.
Idon't want to disgrace meself when I'm out. You've got your pride keeping theprisonsmart
well,I'vegotmine.[SeeingthattheGOVERNORislisteningwithinterest,hegoeson,pointing
tothesaw]Imustbedoin'alittleo'this.It'snoharmtoanyone.Iwasfiveweeksmakin'that
sawabitofallrightitis,toonowI'llgetcells,Isuppose,orsevendays'breadandwater.You
can'thelpit,sir,IknowthatIquiteputmeselfinyourplace.
THEGOVERNOR.Now,lookhere,Moaney,ifIpassitoverwillyougivemeyourwordnotto
tryitonagain?Think![Hegoesintothecell,walkstotheendofit,mountsthestool,andtries
thewindowbars]
THEGOVERNOR.[Returning]Well?
MOANEY.[Whohasbeenreflecting]I'vegotanothersixweekstodoinhere,alone.Ican'tdoit
andthinko'nothing.Imusthavesomethingtointerestme.You'vemademeasportingoffer,sir,
butIcan'tpassmywordaboutit.Ishouldn'tliketodeceiveagentleman.[Pointingintothecell]
Anotherfourhours'steadyworkwouldhavedoneit.
THE GOVERNOR. Yes, and what then? Caught, brought back, punishment. Five weeks' hard
worktomakethis,andcellsattheendofit,whiletheyputanewbartoyourwindow.Isitworth
it,Moaney?
MOANEY.[Withasortoffierceness]Yes,itis.
THEGOVERNOR.[Puttinghishandtohisbrow]Oh,well!Twodays'cellsbreadandwater.
MOANEY.Thank'e,sir.
Heturnsquicklylikeananimalandslipsintohiscell.TheGOVERNORlooks
afterhimandshakeshisheadasWOODERclosesandlocksthecelldoor.
THEGOVERNOR.OpenClipton'scell.
WOODER opens the door of CLIPTON'S cell. CLIPTON is sitting on a stool
justinsidethedoor,atworkonapairoftrousers.Heisasmall,thick, oldish
man, with an almost shaven head, and smouldering little dark eyes behind
smokedspectacles.Hegetsupandstandsmotionlessinthe doorway, peering
athisvisitors.
THEGOVERNOR.[Beckoning]Comeouthereaminute,Clipton.
CLIPTON,withasortofdreadfulquietness,comesintothecorridor,theneedle
andthreadinhishand.TheGOVERNORsignstoWOODER,whogoesintothe
cellandinspectsitcarefully.
THEGOVERNOR.Howareyoureyes?
CLIFTON.Idon'tcomplainofthem.Idon'tseethesunhere.[Hemakesastealthymovement,
protruding his neck a little] There's just one thing, Mr. Governor, as you're speaking to me. I
wishyou'daskthecovenextdoorheretokeepabitquieter.
THEGOVERNOR.What'sthematter?Idon'twantanytales,Clipton.
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CLIPTON.Hekeepsmeawake.Idon'tknowwhoheis.[Withcontempt]Oneofthisstarclass,I
expect.Oughtn'ttobeherewithus.
THEGOVERNOR.[Quietly]Quiteright,Clipton.He'llbemovedwhenthere'sacellvacant.
CLIPTON.Heknocksaboutlikeawildbeastintheearlymorning.I'mnotusedtoitstopsme
gettingmysleepout.Intheeveningtoo.It'snotfair,Mr.Governor,asyou'respeakingtome.
Sleep'sthecomfortI'vegothereI'mentitledtotakeitoutfull.
WOODER comes out of the cell, and instantly, as though extinguished,
CLIPTONmoveswithstealthysuddennessbackintohiscell.
WOODER.Allright,sir.
THEGOVERNORnods.Thedoorisclosedandlocked.
THEGOVERNOR.Whichisthemanwhobangedonhisdoorthismorning?
WOODER.[GoingtowardsO'CLEARY'Scell]Thisone,sirO'Cleary.
Heliftsthediscandglancesthroughthepeephole.
THEGOVERNOR.Open.
WOODERthrowsopenthedoor.O'CLEARY,whoisseatedatalittletableby
the door as if listening, springs up and stands at attention jest inside the
doorway. He is a broadfaced, middleaged man, with a wide, thin, flexible
mouth,andlittleholesunderhishighcheekbones.
THEGOVERNOR.Where'sthejoke,O'Cleary?
O'CLEARY.Thejoke,yourhonour?I'venotseenoneforalongtime.
THEGOVERNOR.Bangingonyourdoor?
O'CLEARY.Oh!that!
THEGOVERNOR.It'swomanish.
O'CLEARY.An'it'sthatI'mbecomingthistwomonthspast.
THEGOVERNOR.Anythingtocomplainof?
O'CLEARY.NO,Sirr.
THEGOVERNOR.You'reanoldhandyououghttoknowbetter.
O'CLEARY.Yes,I'vebeenthroughitall.
THEGOVERNOR.You'vegotayoungsternextdooryou'llupsethim.
O'CLEARY.Itcam'overme,yourhonour.Ican'talwaysbethesamesteadyman.
THEGOVERNOR.Workallright?
O'CLEARY.[Takinguparushmatheismaking]Oh!Icandoitonmehead.It'sthemiserablest
stuffdon'ttakethebrainsofamouse.[Working his mouth] It's here I feel itthe want of a
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littlenoiseaterriblelittlewudeaseme.
THEGOVERNOR.YouknowaswellasIdothatifyouwereoutintheshopsyouwouldn'tbe
allowedtotalk.
O'CLEARY.[Withalookofprofoundmeaning]Notwithmymouth.
THEGOVERNOR.Well,then?
O'CLEARY.Butit'sthegreatconversationI'dhave.
THEGOVERNOR.[Withasmile]Well,nomoreconversationonyourdoor.
O'CLEARY.No,sirr,Iwudnothavethelittlewittorepeatmeself.
THEGOVERNOR.[Turning]Goodnight.
O'CLEARY.Goodnight,yourhonour.
Heturnsintohiscell.TheGOVERNORshutsthedoor.
THEGOVERNOR.[Lookingattherecordcard]Can'thelplikingthepoorblackguard.
WOODER.He'sanamiableman,sir.
THEGOVERNOR.[Pointingdownthecorridor]Askthedoctortocomehere,Mr.Wooder.
WOODERsalutesandgoesawaydownthecorridor.TheGOVERNORgoesto
thedoorofFALDER'Scell.Heraiseshisuninjuredhandtouncoverthepeep
hole but, without uncovering it, shakes his head and drops his hand then,
after scrutinising the record board, he opens the cell door. FALDER, who is
standingagainstit,lurchesforward.
THEGOVERNOR.[Beckoninghimout]Nowtellme:can'tyousettledown,Falder?
FALDER.[Inabreathlessvoice]Yes,sir.
THEGOVERNOR.YouknowwhatImean?It'snogoodrunningyourheadagainstastonewall,
isit?
FALDER.No,sir.
THEGOVERNOR.Well,come.
FALDER.Itry,sir.
THEGOVERNOR.Can'tyousleep?
FALDER.Verylittle.Betweentwoo'clockandgettingup'stheworsttime.
THEGOVERNOR.How'sthat?
FALDER. [His lips twitch with a sort of smile] I don't know, sir. I was always nervous.
[Suddenlyvoluble]Everythingseemstogetsuchasizethen.IfeelI'llnevergetoutaslongasI
live.
THEGOVERNOR.That'smorbid,mylad.Pullyourselftogether.
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FALDER.[Withanequallysuddendoggedresentment]YesI'vegotto.
THEGOVERNOR.Thinkofalltheseotherfellows?
FALDER.They'reusedtoit.
THE GOVERNOR. They all had to go through it once for the first time, just as you're doing
now.
FALDER.Yes,sir,Ishallgettobelikethemintime,Isuppose.
THEGOVERNOR.[Rathertakenaback]H'm!Well!Thatrestswithyou.Nowcome.Setyour
mindtoit,likeagoodfellow.You'restillquiteyoung.Amancanmakehimselfwhathelikes.
FALDER.[Wistfully]Yes,sir.
THEGOVERNOR.Takeagoodholdofyourself.Doyouread?
FALDER. I don't take the words in. [Hanging his head] I know it's no good but I can't help
thinkingofwhat'sgoingonoutside.InmycellIcan'tseeoutatall.It'sthickglass,sir.
THEGOVERNOR.You'vehadavisitor.Badnews?
FALDER.Yes.
THEGOVERNOR.Youmustn'tthinkaboutit.
FALDER.[Lookingbackathiscell]HowcanIhelpit,sir?
He suddenly becomes motionless as WOODER and the DOCTOR approach.
TheGOVERNORmotionstohimtogobackintohiscell.
FALDER.[Quickandlow]I'mquiterightinmyhead,sir.[Hegoesbackintohiscell.]
THEGOVERNOR.[TotheDOCTOR]Justgoinandseehim,Clements.
TheDOCTORgoesintothecell.TheGOVERNORpushesthedoorto,nearly
closingit,andwalkstowardsthewindow.
WOODER.[Following]Sorryyoushouldbetroubledlikethis,sir.Verycontentedlotofmen,
onthewhole.
THEGOVERNOR.[Shortly]Youthinkso?
WOODER.Yes,sir.It'sChristmasdoingit,inmyopinion.
THEGOVERNOR.[Tohimself]Queer,that!
WOODER.Begpardon,sir?
THEGOVERNOR.Christmas!
Heturnstowardsthewindow,leavingWOODERlookingathimwithasortof
painedanxiety.
WOODER.[Suddenly]Doyouthinkwemakeshowenough,sir?Ifyou'dlikeustohavemore
holly?
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THEGOVERNOR.Notatall,Mr.Wooder.
WOODER.Verygood,sir.
TheDOCTORhascomeoutofFALDER'sCell,andtheGOVERNORbeckonsto
him.
THEGOVERNOR.Well?
THEDOCTOR.Ican'tmakeanythingmuchofhim.He'snervous,ofcourse.
THEGOVERNOR.Isthereanysortofcasetoreport?Quitefrankly,Doctor.
THEDOCTOR.Well,Idon'tthinktheseparatesdoinghimanygoodbutthenIcouldsaythe
sameofalotofthemthey'dgetonbetterintheshops,there'snodoubt.
THEGOVERNOR.Youmeanyou'dhavetorecommendothers?
THEDOCTOR.Adozenatleast.It'sonhisnerves.There'snothingtangible.Thatfellowthere
[pointing to O'CLEARY'S cell], for instancefeels it just as much, in his way. If I once get
awayfromphysicalfactsIshan'tknowwhereIam.Conscientiously,sir,Idon'tknowhowto
differentiatehim.Hehasn'tlostweight.Nothingwrongwithhiseyes.Hispulseisgood.Talks
allright.
THEGOVERNOR.Itdoesn'tamounttomelancholia?
THEDOCTOR.[Shakinghishead]IcanreportonhimifyoulikebutifIdoIoughttoreport
onothers.
THEGOVERNOR.Isee.[LookingtowardsFALDER'Scell]Thepoordevilmustjuststickit
then.
AshesaysthinhelooksabsentlyatWOODER.
WOODER.Begpardon,sir?
ForanswertheGOVERNORstaresathim,turnsonhisheel,andwalksaway.
Thereisasoundasofbeatingonmetal.
THEGOVERNOR.[Stopping]Mr.Wooder?
WOODER.Bangingonhisdoor,sir.Ithoughtweshouldhavemoreofthat.
Hehurriesforward,passingtheGOVERNOR,whofollowsclosely.
Thecurtainfalls.
SCENEIII
FALDER's cell, a whitewashed space thirteen feet broad by seven deep, and
ninefeethigh,witharoundedceiling.Thefloorisofshinyblackened bricks.
Thebarredwindowofopaqueglass,withaventilator,ishighupinthemiddle
oftheendwall.Inthemiddleoftheoppositeendwallisthenarrowdoor.Ina
cornerarethemattressandbeddingrolledup[twoblankets,twosheets,anda
coverlet].Abovethemisaquartercircularwoodenshelf,onwhichisaBible
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andseverallittledevotional books, piled in a symmetrical pyramid there are

alsoablackhairbrush,toothbrush,andabitofsoap.Inanothercorneristhe
woodenframeofabed,standingonend.Thereisadarkventilatorunderthe
window, and another over the door. FALDER'S work [a shirt to which he is
puttingbuttonholes]ishungtoanailonthewalloverasmallwoodentable,on
whichthenovel"LornaDoone"liesopen.Lowdowninthecornerbythedoor
is a thick glass screen, about a foot square, covering the gasjet let into the
wall.Thereisalsoawoodenstool,andapairofshoesbeneathit.Threebright
round tins are set under the window. In fastfailing daylight, FALDER, in his
stockings,isseenstandingmotionless,withhisheadinclinedtowardsthedoor,
listening. He moves a little closer to the door, his stockinged feet making no
noise.Hestopsatthedoor.Heistryingharderandhardertohearsomething,
anylittlethingthatisgoingonoutside.Hespringssuddenlyuprightasifata
soundandremainsperfectlymotionless.Then,withaheavysigh,hemovesto
hiswork,andstandslookingatit,withhisheaddoomhedoesastitchortwo,
having the air of a man so lost in sadness that each stitch is, as it were, a
coming to life. Then turning abruptly, he begins pacing the cell, moving his
head,likeananimalpacingitscage.Hestopsagainatthedoor,listens,and,
placingthepalmsofhiphandsagainstitwithhisfingersspreadout,leanshis
forehead against the iron. Turning from it, presently, he moves slowly back
towards the window, tracing his way with his finger along the top line of the
distemper that runs round the wall. He stops under the window, and, picking
up the lid of one of the tins, peers into it. It has grown very nearly dark.
Suddenly the lid falls out of his hand with a clatterthe only sound that has
brokenthesilenceandhestandsstaringintentlyatthewallwherethestuffof
the shirt is hanging rather white in the darknesshe seems to be seeing
somebody or something there. There is a sharp tap and click the cell light
behind the glass screen has been turned up. The cell is brightly lighted.
FALDERisseengaspingforbreath.Asoundfromfaraway,asofdistant,dull
beatingonthickmetal,issuddenlyaudible.FALDERshrinksback,notableto
bearthissuddenclamour.Butthesoundgrows,asthoughsomegreattumbril
were rolling towards the cell. And gradually it seems to hypnotise him. He
beginscreepinginchbyinchnearertothedoor.Thebangingsound,travelling
fromcelltocell,drawscloserandcloserFALDER'Shandsareseenmovingas
ifhisspirithadalreadyjoinedinthisbeating,andthesoundswellstillitseems
to have entered the very cell. He suddenly raises his clenched fists. Panting
violently,heflingshimselfathisdoor,andbeatsonit.
Thecurtainfalls.
ACTIV
The scene is again COKESON'S room, at a few minutes to ten of a March
morning,twoyearslater.Thedoorsareallopen.SWEEDLE,nowblessedwith
a sprouting moustache, is getting the offices ready. He arranges papers on
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COKESON'Stablethengoestoacoveredwashstand,raisesthelid,andlooks
athimselfinthemirror.WhileheisgazinghisfullRUTHHONEYWILLcomes
inthroughtheouterofficeandstandsinthedoorway. There seems a kind of
exultationandexcitementbehindherhabitualimpassivity.
SWEEDLE.[Suddenlyseeingher,anddroppingthelidofthewashstandwithabang]Hello!It's
you!
RUTH.Yes.
SWEEDLE.There'sonlymehere!Theydon'twastetheirtimehurryingdowninthemorning.
Why,itmustbetwoyearssincewehadthepleasureofseeingyou.[Nervously]Whathaveyou
beendoingwithyourself?
RUTH.[Sardonically]Living.
SWEEDLE.[Impressed]Ifyouwanttoseehim[hepointstoCOKESON'Schair],he'llbehere
directlynevermissesnotmuch.[Delicately] I hope our friend's back from the country. His
time's been up these three months, if I remember. [RUTH nods] I was awful sorry about that.
Thegovernormadeamistakeifyouaskme.
RUTH.Hedid.
SWEEDLE.Heoughttohavegivenhimachanst.And,Isay,thejudgeoughttoha'lethimgo
after that. They've forgot what human nature's like. Whereas we know. [RUTH gives him a
honeyedsmile]
SWEEDLE. They come down on you like a cartload of bricks, flatten you out, andwhenyou
don'tswellupagaintheycomplainofit.Iknow'emseenalotofthatsortofthinginmytime.
[Heshakeshisheadintheplenitudeofwisdom]Why,onlytheotherdaythegovernor
ButCOKESONhascomeinthroughtheouterofficebriskwitheastwind,and
decidedlygreyer.
COKESON.[Drawingoffhiscoatandgloves]Why!it'syou![ThenmotioningSWEEDLEout,
andclosingthedoor]Quiteastranger!Mustbetwoyears.D'youwanttoseeme?Icangiveyou
aminute.Sitdown!Familywell?
RUTH.Yes.I'mnotlivingwhereIwas.
COKESON.[Eyeingheraskance]Ihopethingsaremorecomfortableathome.
RUTH.Icouldn'tstaywithHoneywill,afterall.
COKESON. You haven't done anything rash, I hope. I should be sorry if you'd done anything
rash.
RUTH.I'vekeptthechildrenwithme.
COKESON. [Beginning to feel that things are not so jolly as ha had hoped] Well, I'm glad to
haveseenyou.You'venotheardfromtheyoungman,Isuppose,sincehecameout?
RUTH.Yes,Iranacrosshimyesterday.
COKESON.Ihopehe'swell.
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RUTH.[Withsuddenfierceness]Hecan'tgetanythingtodo.It'sdreadfultoseehim.He'sjust
skinandbone.
COKESON.[Withgenuineconcern]Dearme!I'msorrytohearthat.[Onhisguardagain]Didn't
theyfindhimaplacewhenhistimewasup?
RUTH.Hewasonlytherethreeweeks.Itgotout.
COKESON.I'msureIdon'tknowwhatIcandoforyou.Idon'tliketobesnubby.
RUTH.Ican'tbearhisbeinglikethat.
COKESON.[Scanninghernotunprosperousfigure]Iknowhisrelationsaren'tveryforthyabout
him.Perhapsyoucandosomethingforhim,tillhefindshisfeet.
RUTH.Notnow.Icouldhavebutnotnow.
COKESON.Idon'tunderstand.
RUTH.[Proudly]I'veseenhimagainthat'sallover.
COKESON. [Staring at herdisturbed] I'm a family manI don't want to hear anything
unpleasant.ExcusemeI'mverybusy.
RUTH.I'dhavegonehometomypeopleinthecountrylongago,butthey'venevergotoverme
marryingHoneywill.Ineverwaswaywise,Mr.Cokeson,butI'mproud.Iwasonlyagirl,you
see,whenImarriedhim.Ithoughttheworldofhim,ofcourse...heusedtocometravellingto
ourfarm.
COKESON.[Regretfully]Ididhopeyou'dhavegotonbetter,afteryousawme.
RUTH.Heusedmeworsethanever.Hecouldn'tbreakmynerve,butIlostmyhealthandthen
hebeganknockingthechildrenabout.Icouldn'tstandthat.Iwouldn'tgobacknow,ifhewere
dying.
COKESON. [Who has risen and is shifting about as though dodging a stream of lava] We
mustn'tbeviolent,mustwe?
RUTH.[Smouldering]Amanthatcan'tbehavebetterthanthat[Thereissilence]
COKESON.[Fascinatedinspiteofhimself]Thenthereyouwere!Andwhatdidyoudothen?
RUTH.[Withashrug]TriedthesameaswhenIlefthimbefore...,makingskirts...cheapthings.
It was the best I could get, but I never made more than ten shillings a week, buying my own
cottonandworkingalldayIhardlyevergottobedtillpasttwelve.Ikeptatitforninemonths.
[Fiercely]Well,I'mnotfitforthatIwasn'tmadeforit.I'dratherdie.
COKESON.Mydearwoman!Wemustn'ttalklikethat.
RUTH. It was starvation for the children tooafter what they'd always had. I soon got not to
care.Iusedtobetootired.[Sheissilent]
COKESON.[Withfearfulcuriosity]Why,whathappenedthen?
RUTH.[Withalaugh]Myemployerhappenedthenhe'shappenedeversince.
COKESON.Dear!Ohdear!Inevercameacrossathinglikethis.
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RUTH. [Dully] He's treated me all right. But I've done with that. [Suddenly her lips begin to
quiver,andshehidesthemwiththebackofherhand]IneverthoughtI'dseehimagain,yousee.
ItwasjustachanceImethimbyHydePark.Wewentinthereandsatdown,andhetoldmeall
abouthimself.Oh!Mr.Cokeson,givehimanotherchance.
COKESON.[Greatlydisturbed]Thenyou'vebothlostyourlivings!Whatahorribleposition!
RUTH.Ifhecouldonlygetherewherethere'snothingtofindoutabouthim!
COKESON.Wecan'thaveanythingderogativetothefirm.
RUTH.I'venooneelsetogoto.
COKESON.I'llspeaktothepartners,butIdon'tthinkthey'lltakehim,underthecircumstances.
Idon'treally.
RUTH.Hecamewithmehe'sdownthereinthestreet.[Shepointstothewindow.]
COKESON.[Onhisdignity]Heshouldn'thavedonethatuntilhe'ssentfor.[Thensofteningat
thelookonherface]We'vegotavacancy,asithappens,butIcan'tpromiseanything.
RUTH.Itwouldbethesavingofhim.
COKESON.Well,I'lldowhatIcan,butI'mnotsanguine.NowtellhimthatIdon'twanthimtill
Iseehowthingsare.Leaveyouraddress?[Repeatingher]83MullingarStreet?[Henotesiton
blottingpaper]Goodmorning.
RUTH.Thankyou.
Shemovestowardsthedoor,turnsasiftospeak,butdoesnot,andgoesaway.
COKESON. [Wiping his head and forehead with a large white cotton handkerchief] What a
business![Thenlookingamongsthispapers,hesoundshisbell.SWEEDLEanswersit]
COKESON.WasthatyoungRichardscomingheretodayaftertheclerk'splace?
SWEEDLE.Yes.
COKESON.Well,keephimintheairIdon'twanttoseehimyet.
SWEEDLE.WhatshallItellhim,sir?
COKESON.[Withasperity]inventsomething.Useyourbrains.Don'tstumphimoffaltogether.
SWEEDLE.ShallItellhimthatwe'vegotillness,sir?
COKESON.No!Nothinguntrue.SayI'mnotheretoday.
SWEEDLE.Yes,sir.Keephimhankering?
COKESON.Exactly.Andlookhere.YourememberFalder?Imaybehavinghimroundtosee
me.Now,treathimlikeyou'dhavehimtreatyouinasimilarposition.
SWEEDLE.Inaturallyshoulddo.
COKESON.That'sright.Whenaman'sdownneverhit'im.'Tisn'tnecessary.Givehimahand
up.That'sametaphorIrecommendtoyouinlife.It'ssoundpolicy.
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SWEEDLE.Doyouthinkthegovernorswilltakehimonagain,sir?
COKESON.Can'tsayanythingaboutthat.[Atthesoundofsomeonehavingenteredtheouter
office]Who'sthere?
SWEEDLE.[Goingtothedoorandlooking]It'sFalder,sir.
COKESON.[Vexed]Dearme!That'sverynaughtyofher.Tellhimtocallagain. I don't want
HebreaksoffasFALDERcomesin.FALDERisthin,pale,older,hiseyeshave
grownmorerestless.Hisclothesareverywornandloose.SWEEDLE,nodding
cheerfully,withdraws.
COKESON. Glad to see you. You're rather previous. [Trying to keep things pleasant] Shake
hands! She's striking while the iron's hot. [He wipes his forehead] I don't blame her. She's
anxious.
FALDER timidly takes COKESON's hand and glances towards the partners'
door.
COKESON.Nonotyet!Sitdown![FALDERsitsinthechairattheaideofCOKESON'stable,
onwhichheplaceshiscap]NowyouarehereI'dlikeyoutogivemealittleaccountofyourself.
[Lookingathimoverhisspectacles]How'syourhealth?
FALDER.I'malive,Mr.Cokeson.
COKESON.[Preoccupied]I'mgladtohearthat.Aboutthismatter.Idon'tlikedoinganything
outoftheordinaryit'snotmyhabit.I'maplainman,andIwanteverythingsmoothandstraight.
ButIpromisedyourfriendtospeaktothepartners,andIalwayskeepmyword.
FALDER.Ijustwantachance,Mr.Cokeson.I'vepaidforthatjobathousandtimesandmore.I
have,sir.Nooneknows.TheysayIweighedmorewhenIcameoutthanwhenIwentin.They
couldn'tweighmehere[hetoucheshishead]orhere[hetoucheshisheart,andgivesasortof
laugh].TilllastnightI'dhavethoughttherewasnothinginhereatall.
COKESON.[Concerned]You'venotgotheartdisease?
FALDER.Oh!theypassedmesoundenough.
COKESON.Buttheygotyouaplace,didn'tthey?
FALSER.Yesverygoodpeople,knewallaboutitverykindtome.IthoughtIwasgoingto
getonfirstrate.Butoneday,allofasudden,theotherclerksgotwindofit....Icouldn'tstickit,
Mr.COKESON,Icouldn't,sir.
COKESON.Easy,mydearfellow,easy!
FALDER.Ihadonesmalljobafterthat,butitdidn'tlast.
COKESON.Howwasthat?
FALDER.It'snogooddeceivingyou,Mr.Cokeson.Thefactis,Iseemtobestrugglingagainsta
thingthat'sallroundme.Ican'texplainit:it'sasifIwasinanetasfastasIcutithere,itgrows
upthere.Ididn'tactasIoughttohave,aboutreferencesbutwhatareyoutodo?Youmusthave
them.Andthatmademeafraid,andIleft.Infact,I'mI'mafraidallthetimenow.
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Hebowshisheadandleansdejectedlysilentoverthetable.
COKESON.IfeelforyouIdoreally.Aren'tyoursistersgoingtodoanythingforyou?
FALDER.One'sinconsumption.Andtheother
COKESON.Ye...es.Shetoldmeherhusbandwasn'tquitepleasedwithyou.
FALDER. When I went therethey were at suppermy sister wanted to give me a kissI
know.Buthejustlookedather,andsaid:"Whathaveyoucomefor?"Well,Ipocketedmypride
andIsaid:"Aren'tyougoingtogivemeyourhand,Jim?Cisis,Iknow,"Isaid."Lookhere!"he
said,"that'sallverywell,butwe'dbettercometoanunderstanding.I'vebeenexpectingyou,and
I'vemadeupmymind.I'llgiveyoufifteenpoundstogotoCanadawith.""Isee,"Isaid"good
riddance!No,thanks keep your fifteen pounds." Friendship's a queer thing when you've been
whereIhave.
COKESON. I understand. Will you take the fifteen pound from me? [Flustered, as FALDER
regardshimwithaqueersmile]QuitewithoutprejudiceImeantitkindly.
FALDER.I'mnotallowedtoleavethecountry.
COKESON.Oh!ye...esticketofleave?Youaren'tlookingthething.
FALDER. I've slept in the Park three nights this week. The dawns aren't all poetry there. But
meetingherIfeeladifferentmanthismorning.I'veoftenthoughtthebeingfondofhersthe
bestthingaboutmeit'ssacred,somehowandyetitdidforme.That'squeer,isn'tit?
COKESON.I'msurewe'reallverysorryforyou.
FALDER. That's what I've found, Mr. Cokeson. Awfully sorry for me. [With quiet bitterness]
Butitdoesn'tdotoassociatewithcriminals!
COKESON.Come,come,it'snousecallingyourselfnames.Thatneverdidamananygood.Put
afaceonit.
FALDER.It'seasyenoughtoputafaceonit,sir,whenyou'reindependent.Tryitwhenyou're
downlikeme.Theytalkaboutgivingyouyourdeserts.Well,IthinkI'vehadjustabitover.
COKESON. [Eyeing him askance over his spectacles] I hope they haven't made a Socialist of
you.
FALDERissuddenlystill,asifbroodingoverhispastselfheuttersapeculiar
laugh.
COKESON.Youmustgivethemcreditforthebestintentions.Reallyyoumust.Nobodywishes
youharm,I'msure.
FALDER. I believe that, Mr. Cokeson. Nobody wishes you harm, but they down you all the
same.Thisfeeling[Hestaresroundhim,asthoughatsomethingclosingin]It'scrushingme.
[Withsuddenimpersonality]Iknowitis.
COKESON.[Horriblydisturbed]There'snothingthere!Wemusttryandtakeitquiet.I'msure
I'veoftenhadyouinmyprayers.Nowleaveittome.I'llusemygumptionandtake'emwhen
they'rejolly.[Ashespeaksthetwopartnerscomein]
COKESON[Ratherdisconcerted,buttryingtoputthemallatease]Ididn'texpectyouquiteso
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soon.I'vejustbeenhavingatalkwiththisyoungman.Ithinkyou'llrememberhim.
JAMES.[Withagrave,keenlook]Quitewell.Howareyou,Falder?
WALTER.[Holdingouthishandalmosttimidly]Verygladtoseeyouagain,Falder.
FALDER.[Whohasrecoveredhisselfcontrol,takesthehand]Thankyou,sir.
COKESON.Justaword,Mr.James.[ToFALDER,pointingtotheclerks'office]Youmightgo
inthereaminute.Youknowyourway.Ourjuniorwon'tbecomingthismorning.Hiswife'sjust
hadalittlefamily.
FALDER,goesuncertainlyoutintotheclerks'office.
COKESON.[Confidentially]I'mboundtotellyouallaboutit.He'squitepenitent.Butthere'sa
prejudice against him. And you're not seeing him to advantage this morning he's under
nourished.It'sverytryingtogowithoutyourdinner.
JAMES.Isthatso,COKESON?
COKESON.Iwantedtoaskyou.He'shadhislesson.Nowweknowallabouthim,andwewant
aclerk.Thereisayoungfellowapplying,butI'mkeepinghimintheair.
JAMES.Agaolbirdintheoffice,COKESON?Idon'tseeit.
WALTER."TherollingofthechariotwheelsofJustice!"I'venevergotthatoutofmyhead.
JAMES.I'venothingtoreproachmyselfwithinthisaffair.What'shebeendoingsincehecame
out?
COKESON.He'shadoneortwoplaces,buthehasn'tkeptthem.He'ssensitivequitenatural.
Seemstofancyeverybody'sdownonhim.
JAMES.Badsign.Don'tlikethefellowneverdidfromthefirst."Weakcharacter"'swrittenall
overhim.
WALTER.Ithinkweowehimalegup.
JAMES.Hebroughtitallonhimself.
WALTER.Thedoctrineoffullresponsibilitydoesn'tquiteholdinthesedays.
JAMES.[Rathergrimly]You'llfinditsafertoholditforallthat,myboy.
WALTER.Foroneself,yesnotforotherpeople,thanks.
JAMES.Well!Idon'twanttobehard.
COKESON.I'mgladtohearyousaythat.Heseemstoseesomething[spreadinghisarms]round
him.'Tisn'thealthy.
JAMES.Whataboutthatwomanhewasmixedupwith?Isawsomeoneuncommonlylikeher
outsideaswecamein.
COKESON.That!Well,Ican'tkeepanythingfromyou.Hehasmether.
JAMES.Isshewithherhusband?
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COKESON.No.
JAMES.Falderlivingwithher,Isuppose?
COKESON. [Desperately trying to retain the newfound jollity] I don't know that of my own
knowledge.'Tisn'tmybusiness.
JAMES.It'sourbusiness,ifwe'regoingtoengagehim,COKESON.
COKESON.[Reluctantly]Ioughttotellyou,perhaps.I'vehadthepartyherethismorning.
JAMES.Ithoughtso.[ToWALTER]No,mydearboy,itwon'tdo.Tooshadyaltogether!
COKESON.ThetwothingstogethermakeitveryawkwardforyouIseethat.
WALTER.[Tentatively]Idon'tquiteknowwhatwehavetodowithhisprivatelife.
JAMES.No,no!Hemustmakeacleansheetofit,orhecan'tcomehere.
WALTER.Poordevil!
COKESON.Willyouhavehimin?[AndasJAMESnods]IthinkIcangethimtoseereason.
JAMES.[Grimly]Youcanleavethattome,COKESON.
WALTER.[ToJAMES,inalowvoice,whileCOKESONissummoningFALDER]Hiswhole
futuremaydependonwhatwedo,dad.
FALDERcomesin.Hehaspulledhimselftogether,andpresentsasteadyfront.
JAMES.Nowlookhere,Falder.MysonandIwanttogiveyouanotherchancebuttherearetwo
thingsImustsaytoyou.Inthefirstplace:It'snogoodcominghereasavictim.Ifyou'veany
notionthatyou'vebeenunjustlytreatedgetridofit.Youcan'tplayfastandloosewithmorality
and hope to go scotfree. If Society didn't take care of itself, nobody wouldthe sooner you
realisethatthebetter.
FALDER.Yes,sirbutmayIsaysomething?
JAMES.Well?
FALDER.Ihadalotoftimetothinkitoverinprison.[Hestops]
COKESON.[Encouraginghim]I'msureyoudid.
FALDER. There were all sorts there. And what I mean, sir, is, that if we'd been treated
differentlythefirsttime,andputundersomebodythatcouldlookafterusabit,andnotputin
prison,notaquarterofuswouldeverhavegotthere.
JAMES.[Shakinghishead]I'mafraidI'veverygravedoubtsofthat,Falder.
FALDER.[Withagleamofmalice]Yes,sir,soIfound.
JAMES.Mygoodfellow,don'tforgetthatyoubeganit.
FALDER.Ineverwantedtodowrong.
JAMES.Perhapsnot.Butyoudid.
FALDER. [With all the bitterness of his past suffering] It's knocked me out of time. [Pulling
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himselfup]Thatis,Imean,I'mnotwhatIwas.
JAMES.Thisisn'tencouragingforus,Falder.
COKESON.He'sputtingitawkwardly,Mr.James.
FALDER.[Throwingoverhiscautionfromtheintensityofhisfeeling]Imeanit,Mr.Cokeson.
JAMES.Now,layasideallthosethoughts,Falder,andlooktothefuture.
FALDER. [Almost eagerly] Yes, sir, but you don't understand what prison is. It's here it gets
you.
Hegripshischest.
COKESON.[InawhispertoJames]Itoldyouhewantednourishment.
WALTER.Yes,but,mydearfellow,that'llpassaway.Time'smerciful.
FALDER.[Withhisfacetwitching]Ihopeso,sir.
JAMES.[Muchmoregently]Now,myboy,whatyou'vegottodoistoputallthepastbehind
you and build yourself up a steady reputation. And that brings me to the second thing. This
womanyouweremixedupwithyoumustgiveusyourword,youknow,tohavedonewiththat.
There's no chance of your keeping straight if you're going to begin your future with such a
relationship.
FALDER.[Lookingfromonetotheotherwithahuntedexpression]Butsir...butsir...it'sthe
onethingIlookedforwardtoallthattime.Andshetoo...Icouldn'tfindherbeforelastnight.
DuringthisandwhatfollowsCOKESONbecomesmoreandmoreuneasy.
JAMES.Thisispainful,Falder.Butyoumustseeforyourselfthatit'simpossibleforafirmlike
thistocloseitseyestoeverything.Giveusthisproofofyourresolvetokeepstraight,andyou
cancomebacknototherwise.
FALDER.[AfterstaringatJAMES,suddenlystiffenshimself]Icouldn'tgiveherup.Icouldn't!
Oh,sir!
I'mallshe'sgottolookto.AndI'msureshe'sallI'vegot.
JAMES.I'mverysorry,Falder,butImustbefirm.It'sforthebenefitofyoubothinthelongrun.
Nogoodcancomeofthisconnection.Itwasthecauseofallyourdisaster.
FALDER.Butsir,itmeanshavinggonethroughallthatgettingbrokenupmynervesareinan
awfulstatefornothing.Ididitforher.
JAMES.Come!Ifshe'sanythingofawomanshe'llseeitforherself.Shewon'twanttodragyou
down further. If there were a prospect of your being able to marry herit might be another
thing.
FALDER.It'snotmyfault,sir,thatshecouldn'tgetridofhimshewouldhaveifshecould.
That'sbeenthewholetroublefromthebeginning.[LookingsuddenlyatWALTER]...Ifanybody
wouldhelpher!It'sonlymoneywantsnow,I'msure.
COKESON.[Breakingin,asWALTERhesitates,andisabouttospeak]Idon'tthinkweneed
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considerthatit'sratherfarfetched.
FALDER.[ToWALTER,appealing]Hemusthavegivenherfullcausesinceshecouldprove
thathedrovehertoleavehim.
WALTER.I'minclinedtodowhatyousay,Falder,ifitcanbemanaged.
FALDER.Oh,sir!
Hegoestothewindowandlooksdownintothestreet.
COKESON.[Hurriedly]Youdon'ttakeme,Mr.Walter.Ihavemyreasons.
FALDER.[Fromthewindow]She'sdownthere,sir.Willyouseeher?Icanbeckontoherfrom
here.
WALTERhesitates,andlooksfromCOKESONtoJAMES.
JAMES.[Withasharpnod]Yes,lethercome.
FALDERbeckonsfromthewindow.
COKESON. [In a low fluster to JAMES and WALTER] No, Mr. James. She's not been quite
whatsheoughttoha'been,whilethisyoungman'sbeenaway.She'slostherchance.Wecan't
consulthowtoswindletheLaw.
FALDER has come from the window. The three men look at him in a sort of
awedsilence.
FALDER. [With instinctive apprehension of some changelooking from one to the other]
There'sbeennothingbetweenus,sir,topreventit....WhatIsaidatthetrialwastrue.Andlast
nightweonlyjustsatinthePark.
SWEEDLEcomesinfromtheouteroffice.
COKESON.Whatisit?
SWEEDLE.Mrs.Honeywill.[Thereissilence]
JAMES.Showherin.
RUTHcomesslowlyin,andstandsstoicallywithFALDERononesideandthe
threemenontheother.Noonespeaks.COKESONturnstohistable,bending
over his papers as though the burden of the situation were forcing him back
intohisaccustomedgroove.
JAMES.[Sharply]Shutthedoorthere.[SWEEDLEshutsthedoor]We'veaskedyoutocomeup
because there are certain facts to be faced in this matter. I understand you have only just met
Falderagain.
RUTH.Yesonlyyesterday.
JAMES.He'stoldusabouthimself,andwe'reverysorryforhim.I'vepromisedtotakehimback
here if he'll make a fresh start. [Looking steadily at RUTH] This is a matter that requires
courage,ma'am.
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RUTH,whoislookingatFALDER,beginstotwistherhandsinfrontofherasthoughprescient
ofdisaster.
FALDER.Mr.WalterHowisgoodenoughtosaythathe'llhelpustogetyouadivorce.
RUTHflashesastartledglanceatJAMESandWALTER.
JAMES.Idon'tthinkthat'spracticable,Falder.
FALDER.But,Sir!
JAMES.[Steadily]Now,Mrs.Honeywill.You'refondofhim.
RUTH.Yes,SirIlovehim.
ShelooksmiserablyatFALDER.
JAMES.Thenyoudon'twanttostandinhisway,doyou?
RUTH.[Inafaintvoice]Icouldtakecareofhim.
JAMES.Thebestwayyoucantakecareofhimwillbetogivehimup.
FALDER. Nothing shall make me give you up. You can get a divorce. There's been nothing
betweenus,hasthere?
RUTH.[Mournfullyshakingherheadwithoutlookingathim]No.
FALDER.We'llkeepaparttillit'sover,sirifyou'llonlyhelpuswepromise.
JAMES.[ToRUTH]Youseethethingplainly,don'tyou?YouseewhatImean?
RUTH.[Justaboveawhisper]Yes.
COKESON.[Tohimself]There'sadearwoman.
JAMES.Thesituationisimpossible.
RUTH.MustI,Sir?
JAMES.[Forcinghimselftolookather]Iputittoyou,ma'am.Hisfutureisinyourhands.
RUTH.[Miserably]Iwanttodothebestforhim.
JAMES.[Alittlehuskily]That'sright,that'sright!
FALDER.Idon'tunderstand.You'renotgoingtogivemeupafterallthis?There'ssomething
[StartingforwardtoJAMES]Sir,Iswearsolemnlythere'sbeennothingbetweenus.
JAMES.Ibelieveyou,Falder.Come,mylad,beaspluckyassheis.
FALDER.Justnowyouweregoingtohelpus.[HestartsatRUTH,whoisstandingabsolutely
stillhisfaceandhandstwitchandquiverasthetruthdawnsonhim]Whatisit?You'venotbeen
WALTER.Father!
JAMES.[Hurriedly]There,there!That'lldo,that'lldo!I'llgiveyouyourchance,Falder.Don't
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letmeknowwhatyoudowithyourselves,that'sall.
FALDER.[Asifhehasnotheard]Ruth?
RUTH looks at him and FALDER covers his face with his hands. There is
silence.
COKESON.[Suddenly]There'ssomeoneoutthere.[ToRUTH]Goinhere.You'llfeelbetterby
yourselfforaminute.
He points to the clerks' room and moves towards the outer office. FALDER
does not move. RUTH puts out her hand timidly. He shrinks back from the
touch. She turns and goes miserably into the clerks' room. With a brusque
movement he follows, seizing her by the shoulder just inside the doorway.
COKESONshutsthedoor.
JAMES.[Pointingtotheouteroffice]Getridofthat,whoeveritis.
SWEEDLE.[Openingtheofficedoor,inascaredvoice]DetectiveSergeantblister.
Thedetectiveenters,andclosesthedoorbehindhim.
WISTER.Sorrytodisturbyou,sir.Aclerkyouhadhere,twoyearsandahalfago:Iarrestedhim
in,thisroom.
JAMES.Whatabouthim?
WISTER. I thought perhaps I might get his whereabouts from you. [There is an awkward
silence]
COKESON. [Pleasantly, coming to the rescue] We're not responsible for his movements you
knowthat.
JAMES.Whatdoyouwantwithhim?
WISTER.He'sfailedtoreporthimselfthislastfourweeks.
WALTER.Howd'youmean?
WISTER.Ticketofleavewon'tbeupforanothersixmonths,sir.
WALTER.Hashetokeepintouchwiththepolicetillthen?
WISTER.We'reboundtoknowwherehesleepseverynight.Idaresayweshouldn'tinterfere,
sir, even though he hasn't reported himself. But we've just heard there's a serious matter of
obtaining employment with a forged reference. What with the two things togetherwe must
havehim.
Againthereissilence.WALTERandCOKESONstealglancesatJAMES,who
standsstaringsteadilyatthedetective.
COKESON.[Expansively]We'reverybusyatthemoment.Ifyoucouldmakeitconvenientto
callagainwemightbeabletotellyouthen.
JAMES.[Decisively]I'maservantoftheLaw,butIdislikepeaching.Infact,Ican'tdosucha
thing.Ifyouwanthimyoumustfindhimwithoutus.
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As he speaks his eye falls on FALDER'S cap, still lying on the table, and his
facecontracts.
WISTER.[Notingthegesturequietly]Verygood,sir.Ioughttowarnyouthat,havingbroken
thetermsofhislicence,he'sstillaconvict,andshelteringaconvict.
JAMES. I shelter no one. But you mustn't come here and ask questions which it's not my
businesstoanswer.
WISTER.[Dryly]Iwon'ttroubleyoufurtherthen,gentlemen.
COKESON. I'm sorry we couldn't give you the information. You quite understand, don't you?
Goodmorning!
WISTERturnstogo,butinsteadofgoingtothedooroftheouterofficehegoes
tothedooroftheclerks'room.
COKESON.Theotherdoor....theotherdoor!
WISTER opens the clerks' door. RUTHS's voice is heard: "Oh, do!" and
FALDER'S: "I can't!" There is a little pause then, with sharp fright, RUTH
says: "Who's that?" WISTER has gone in. The three men look aghast at the
door.
WISTER[Fromwithin]Keepback,please!
He comes swiftly out with his arm twisted in FALDER'S. The latter gives a
white,staringlookatthethreemen.
WALTER.Lethimgothistime,forGod'ssake!
WISTER.Icouldn'ttaketheresponsibility,sir.
FALDER.[Withaqueer,desperatelaugh]Good!
FlingingalookbackatRUTH,hethrowsuphishead,andgoesoutthrough
theouteroffice,halfdraggingWISTERafterhim.
WALTER.[Withdespair]Thatfinisheshim.It'llgoonforevernow.
SWEEDLE can be seen staring through the outer door. There are sounds of
footstepsdescendingthestonestairssuddenlyadullthud,afaint"MyGod!"
inWISTER'svoice.
JAMES.What'sthat?
SWEEDLE dashes forward. The door swings to behind him. There is dead
silence.
WALTER.[Startingforwardtotheinnerroom]Thewomanshe'sfainting!
HeandCOKESONsupportthefaintingRUTHfromthedoorwayoftheclerks'
room.
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1/29/2015
COKESON.[Distracted]Here,mydear!There,there!
WALTER.Haveyouanybrandy?
COKESON.I'vegotsherry.
WALTER.Getit,then.Quick!
HeplacesRUTHinachairwhichJAMEShasdraggedforward.
COKESON.[Withsherry]Here!It'sgoodstrongsherry.[Theytrytoforcethesherrybetween
herlips.]
Thereisthesoundoffeet,andtheystoptolisten.Theouterdoorisreopened
WISTERandSWEEDLEareseencarryingsomeburden.
JAMES.[Hurryingforward]Whatisit?
They lay the burden doom in the outer office, out of sight, and all but RUTH
clusterroundit,speakinginhushedvoices.
WISTER.Hejumpedneck'sbroken.
WALTER.GoodGod!
WISTER.Hemusthavebeenmadtothinkhecouldgivemethesliplikethat.Andwhatwasit
justafewmonths!
WALTER.[Bitterly]Wasthatall?
JAMES. What a desperate thing! [Then, in a voice unlike his own] Run for a doctoryou!
[SWEEDLErushesfromtheouteroffice]Anambulance!
WISTERgoesout.OnRUTH'sfaceanexpressionoffearandhorrorhasbeen
seengrowing,asifshedarednotturntowardsthevoices.Shenowrises and
stealstowardsthem.
WALTER.[Turningsuddenly]Look!
Thethreemenshrinkbackoutofherway,onebyone,intoCOKESON'Sroom.
RUTHdropsonherkneesbythebody.
RUTH. [In a whisper] What is it? He's not breathing. [She crouches over him] My dear! My
pretty!
Intheouterofficedoorwaythefiguresofmenamseenstanding.
RUTH.[Leapingtoherfeet]No,no!No,no!He'sdead!
[Thefiguresofthemenshrinkback]
COKESON.[Stealingforward.Inahoarsevoice]There,there,poordearwoman!
AtthesoundbehindherRUTHfacesroundathim.
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COKESON.Noone'lltouchhimnow!Neveragain!He'ssafewithgentleJesus!
RUTHstandsasthoughturnedtostoneinthedoorwaystaringatCOKESON,
who, bending humbly before her, holds out his hand as one would to a lost
dog.
Thecurtainfalls.
GALSWORTHY'SPLAYS
LinkstoAllVolumes
THEFIRSTSERIES:
TheSilverBox
Joy
Strife
THESECONDSERIES: TheEldestSon
LittleDream
Justice
THETHIRDSERIES:
ThePigeon
TheMob
TheFugitive
THEFOURTHSERIES: ABitO'Love
TheFoundations TheSkinGame
THEFIFTHSERIES:
AFamilyMan
Loyalties
THESIXTHSERIES:
TheFirstandLast TheLittleMan
Windows
FourShortPlays
EndofProjectGutenberg'sJustice(SecondSeriesPlays),byJohnGalsworthy
***ENDOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKJUSTICE(SECONDSERIESPLAYS)***
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Second Series Plays, JUSTICE by John Galsworthy

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FALDER has entered through the outer office. He is a pale, goodlooking

THE GOVERNOR. [With afaint, abstracted smile]Queerlooking affair, Mr.Wooder! Where

andseverallittledevotional books, piled in a symmetrical pyramid there are

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