The Tenth Man: A Tragic Comedy in Three Acts

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE [ There is a pause. James Ford. Good-bye, George. My promise holds. George Winter. [ Bitterly. ] It’s no good to me. I’m like a rat in a trap. You can get what fun you like out of seeing me wriggle. [ For a moment James Ford looks at him, then silently goes out . George Winter is seized with a horrible, convulsive trembling. He shakes as a man might shake in an ague. With his quick mind he sees that no subtlety will save him now; he is up against the blank wall of a character as strong as his own. In a moment Catherine enters the room . George Winter. What the devil d’you want? Catherine. I heard Mr. Ford go. May I speak to you now? [ George Winter makes an effort to appear composed . George Winter. Well? Catherine. Now that the election is over you can have no further use for me. I’ve carried out my part of the bargain scrupulously. George Winter. [ Putting his hand in a dazed way to his head. ] I don’t know what you’re talking about. Catherine. I understand that I’ve condoned all your offences towards me, and I’m helpless now to do anything. So you need have no fear that I shall interfere with you in any way. [ He turns round and looks at her. He takes in at last what she is saying. ] But there’s no reason that I should expose myself any longer to a humiliation that I found unbearable. I’ve come to tell you that now I’ve done all you exacted I’m going to leave you, this time for good. I’m starting early to-morrow morning for the Continent with my friend Barbara Herbert, and I shall not return. You can devise whatever explanation you think necessary, and you may be quite sure I shan’t contradict it. I shall be gone by the time you get up. You will find in my room all the trinkets you’ve given me. I wish to take nothing with me that I have received from you. George Winter. [ With clenched teeth. ] Are you leaving your clothes? Catherine. [ With a shrug of the shoulders. ] I think there is nothing more to be said. Good-bye. I trust you to leave me in peace. I promise on my side to do nothing that can inconvenience you. [ She waits for a moment to see if he has anything further to say, but as he remains silent she goes towards the door. As she is about to go out he bursts into a peal of laughter. She stops with a start and looks at him. His laughter grows, peal upon peal. It becomes wild and shrill and hysterical. He bellows with laughter. Already half frightened, not understanding , Catherine makes a step or two back into the room . Catherine. What’s the matter? George, George! [ He laughs still, and then suddenly breaks into a sob. He gives way entirely, and bursts into uncontrolled weeping. Catherine. [ Coming down to him. ] George, what is it? George Winter. For God’s sake give me a drink. [ She hurries to the half-empty bottle of champagne on the table and pours out a glass of wine. He drinks it at a gulp. George Winter. [ Recovering himself. ] That’s rich, that is. Rich. [ Again he bursts into laughter. Catherine. What is it, George? It’s not because I’m going away? George Winter. Your going away doesn’t matter a damn to me. It means that I’ve been done in the eye. Those swindling rogues, the Lewishams, have got me at last. That article’s done the trick and I’m dished. You can go your own way now, Kate. You’ve got the better of me after all. Catherine. I don’t understand. George Winter. James Ford knows that the bonds have gone. And he’s going to Scotland Yard. Catherine. Oh! And father? George Winter. Oh, I can’t worry about your father now. He must look after his own skin. I’ve got enough to do to think of myself. Catherine. What shall I do? George Winter. He’ll give me till to-morrow to replace them, but I can’t. It’s impossible. And he knows I can’t. Damned hypocrite! I shouldn’t complain if I’d been beaten fairly; but it’s so childish. And just when I’d got the reins in my hand. He can’t countenance dishonesty. It’s childish. I always distrusted him. Sanctimonious prig! He’s jealous of me. He wants to kick me off my perch, so that he can take my place. And I know him. I know him inside out. He’ll do what he says. [ With angry scorn. ] It’s his duty. Catherine. Can’t we sell things? There’s my jewellery. George Winter. A drop in the ocean. How can I get eighty thousand pounds in a falling market. Catherine. [ Horrified. ] D’you mean to say they’ll arrest you? George Winter. [ With a dull roar, like a wild beast at bay. ] No. D’you think I’m going to stand that, and a trial, and—and all the rest? Catherine. [ Wringing her hands. ] Is there no chance that you may get off? George Winter. Bennett would give me away to save himself. I know him. There’s not a man I can trust. The only thing’s to have done with it at once. I must get out of it while I have the chance. Catherine. D’you think there’s any hope of your getting away? George Winter. My way. Yes. Catherine. [ Understanding. ] Oh, George, you wouldn’t do that. George Winter. What else d’you expect me to do? D’you think I’m going to bolt to America, to be brought back in six months by a couple of detectives? Not much. Catherine. Wouldn’t it be better to stay and face it? If you’ve done wrong, can’t you accept your punishment? You’re young still. George Winter. They won’t have mercy on me. It’ll mean ten years. And when I come out, it’ll mean hiding, doing odd jobs, like Bennett, dirty work for other men who won’t risk their own skins. And what d’you suppose a life like that is worth to me? I want the power, and the notoriety, and the glamour. I wanted men to point me out in the street. I’ve aimed too high to be content with anything but the highest. Catherine. Oh, it’s horrible. George Winter. Come, Kate—honestly—if you loved me, wouldn’t you wish me to make an end of it? Catherine. [ After a long look at him. ] Oh, don’t ask me. George Winter. Will you do something for me? It’s the last thing I’ll ever ask you. Catherine. I’ll do anything I can. George Winter. I want half an hour to myself. You must let no one come to me under any pretext whatever. Catherine. [ With a cry of horror. ] You’re not going to do it now? George Winter. I don’t trust James Ford. He may have gone to Scotland Yard already. Perhaps the detectives are already on their way. Catherine. You’ve said yourself that he’s to be relied on. George Winter. Oh, I’m frightened. And what’s the good? I’m dead beat. Perhaps to-morrow I shouldn’t have the nerve. Catherine. Oh, it’s awful. George Winter. [ With a laugh. ] Why, it’s your freedom. [ He goes to the table and pours himself out a glass of brandy. George Winter. I’m mixing my liquors. Bad habit, isn’t it? You’ll be ravishing in black, darling. It always suited you. [ Catherine gives an inarticulate sob . George Winter , shrugging his shoulders, goes towards the door . George Winter. Will you promise to prevent anyone from disturbing me? Catherine. Yes. George Winter. In half an hour you can go to bed.... I hope you’ll sleep as soundly as I shall. [ He goes out and locks the door behind him. Catherine hides her face in her hands and moans with fright and horror. In a moment O’Donnell comes in . Catherine starts as she hears him . Catherine. I thought you’d gone to bed. O’Donnell. I feel so awfully wide awake. I came in to see if I could find a book. Catherine. [ Pointing to a table. ] There are some over there. O’Donnell. You’re looking dreadfully done up. Why don’t you turn in? [ At that moment shouts are heard in the square below, cheers and cries of Winter . Catherine. [ Frightened. ] What’s that? O’Donnell. [ Going to the window. ] Oh, it’s closing time. Enthusiastic politicians who’ve been turned out of the public-houses. [ Cries of Winter , Winter . Catherine. Oh, send them away, I can’t bear it. O’Donnell. [ Opening the window and calling out. ] Mr. Winter has gone to bed, gentlemen, and I strongly recommend you to follow his example. [ He shuts the window, amid the laughter and cheers of the roisterers. They go away singing. Catherine clenches her hands to prevent herself from screaming . O’Donnell. [ With a laugh. ] Splendid, aren’t they? Catherine. Now, you really must go to bed. O’Donnell. [ Taking a book from the table. ] All right. I dare say we shall have a busy day to-morrow.... I really think this is the happiest day I’ve ever had. Life is jolly, isn’t it? Catherine. [ With a strange look at him. ] Yes. O’Donnell. Good-night. Catherine. [ With a sudden start. ] Oh! O’Donnell. What’s the matter? Catherine. I thought I heard a sound. O’Donnell. I didn’t. The hotel’s as still as death, for a wonder. I hope the trains won’t disturb you to-night. Catherine. Good-night. [ He goes out. Catherine turns and looks at the door of George Winter’s room. She takes a step towards it. Catherine. George! [ She listens, but there is no answer. With a gesture of horror she turns away. Fred Bennett bursts into the room . Bennett. I beg your pardon. I didn’t expect to find any one here. Where’s the Governor? Catherine. I don’t know. Bennett. I want to see him at once. Catherine. He can’t see any one to-night. Bennett. He’ll see me. Catherine. He left instructions that no one was to bother him. Bennett. It’s a matter of life and death. Catherine. [ With a shiver of apprehension. ] I tell you, you can’t see him. Bennett. Isn’t he in his room? Catherine. No. Bennett. [ Going towards the door. ] Are you sure? Catherine. [ Getting in his way. ] He’s tired out. Can’t you let him rest? Bennett. Oh, but you don’t know what’s happened. The mine’s all right. For goodness’ sake, let me go to him. Catherine. [ Quickly. ] What do you mean? Bennett. [ The words tumbling over one another in his hurry. ] The manager had taken Macdonald in, hadn’t shown him a new shaft they’d sunk. The place is crammed full of gold. It was only a dodge of the Lewishams. I did what the Governor told me. I just flooded the market with selling orders of their stocks, and at closing time Manny Lewisham sent for me. I smelt a rat. I was too clever for him. He’s offered to take the Governor in. He’ll buy a huge block of shares to-morrow at par. He’s going to pay on the nail. And we’re safe, we’re safe, we’re safe. Catherine. D’you mean to say.... Bennett. [ Interrupting. ] It’s what the Governor’s been fighting for for ten years. At last he’s got there. The shares’ll be worth anything you like in a month. It means wealth, safety, everything. Catherine. Then George is.... Bennett. He’s at the top of the tree. He’s where he ought to be. In ten years he’ll be in the House of Lords. Would you like to tell him yourself? [ Catherine hesitates for a moment. She sees her chance of freedom slipping away from her once more. For a moment she struggles with herself. All her life, past and future, comes before her in a flash. Catherine. I don’t know where he is. Bennett. You don’t know? Catherine. He went down to the smoking-room. Bennett. I must find him. [ He runs towards the door, but before he can get out Catherine has a revulsion of feeling . She gives a cry. Catherine. No, stop. He’s in his bedroom. Oh, be quick! Be quick! [ Bennett stops and looks at her with surprise. She runs to the door and beats against it with her hands. Catherine. George, George, George! Open the door! George, George! Bennett. What’s the matter? What d’you mean? Catherine. George! It’s all right. Open the door, for God’s sake. [ To Bennett .] Oh, can’t you open the door? Bennett. Good God, what’s he doing? Catherine. George, George! [ Bennett puts his shoulder against it and tries to burst the door open. It does not yield. Bennett. Governor. It’s me. Catherine. He locked it. Break the glass. [ She gives him a bronze ornament which is at her hand, and he breaks it against the pane of glass which is above the lock. The glass splinters. He puts his hand in and turns the key. Then he opens the door and bursts in. Bennett. He’s not there. Catherine. He must be. He must be. Bennett. The windows are wide open. He must have gone out. Catherine. There’s nowhere to go. There’s only about two yards of garden and then the line. Call out. Bennett. Perhaps he’s in the garden. [ Bennett runs out through the door of George Winter’s room. As he does this , Francis Etchingham comes in from the left, in his pyjamas and a dressing-gown . Etchingham. I say, what the devil’s all this row? It’s bad enough to have the trains banging under one’s window all night long. Upon my soul. Catherine. Where’s George? Father, father! Etchingham. How the deuce should I know? [ Bennett comes back . Bennett. He’s not in the garden anywhere. Catherine. Oh, I’m so frightened! Etchingham. What on earth’s the matter with you, Kate? Catherine. Oh, my God, my God! Bennett. We can’t find the Governor. Etchingham. Perhaps he’s gone for a walk. Catherine. Along the line? [ Teddie O’Donnell comes running in . He has taken his coat and waistcoat off. O’Donnell. I say, I’ve just seen a most awful accident. A man’s been run over on the line. [ Catherine gives a shrill scream of horror, and, falling on her knees, hides her face . THE END. Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: seizes her her by the shoulders=> seizes her by the shoulders {pg 27} he get’s a month’s hard labour=> he gets a month’s hard labour {pg 101} rapidily run their eyes=> rapidly run their eyes {pg 141} He say’s Teddie’s awfully useful=> He says Teddie’s awfully useful {pg 167} *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TENTH MAN: A TRAGIC COMEDY IN THREE ACTS *** Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed. 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