The Big Drum Part 39

Masterly!

SIR RANDLE.

[_Opening the door._] Bertram--Bertram, my boy--Bertie----!

[_He disappears._ LADY FILSON _scribbles violently._

END OF THE SECOND ACT

THE THIRD ACT

_The scene represents two rooms, connected by a pair of wide doors, in a set of residential chambers on the upper floor of a house in Gray's Inn. The further room is the dining-room, the nearer room a study. In the wall at the back of the dining-room are two windows; in the right-hand wall is a door leading to the kitchen; and in the left-hand wall a door opens from a vestibule, where, opposite this door, there is another door which gives on to the landing of the common stair._

_In the study, a door in the right-hand wall admits to a bedroom; in the wall facing the spectator is a door opening into the room from the vestibule; and beyond the door on the right, in a piece of wall cutting off the corner of the room, is the fireplace. A bright fire is burning._

_The rooms are wainscotted to the ceilings and have a decrepit, old-world air, and the odds and ends of furniture--all characteristic of the dwelling of a poor literary man of refined taste--are in keeping with the surroundings. In the dining-room there are half-a-dozen chairs of various patterns, a sideboard or two, a corner-cupboard, a "grandfather" clock, and a large round table. In the study, set out into the room at the same angle as the fireplace, is a writing-table. A chair stands at the writing-table, its back to the fire, and in the front of the table is a well-worn settee. On the left of the settee is a smaller table, on which are an a.s.sortment of pipes, a box of cigars and another of cigarettes, a tobacco-jar, an ash-tray, and a bowl of matches; and on the left of the table is a capacious arm-chair. There is an arm-chair on either side of the fireplace; and against the right-hand wall, on the nearer side of the bedroom door, is a cabinet._

_On the other side of the room, facing the bedroom door, there is a second settee, and behind the settee is an oblong table littered with books and magazines. At a little distance from this table stands an arm-chair, and against the wall at the back, on the left of the big doors, is a chair of a lighter sort. Also against the back wall, but on the left of the door opening from the vestibule, is a table with a telephone-instrument upon it, and running along the left-hand wall is a dwarf bookcase, unglazed, packed with books which look as if they would be none the worse for being dusted and put in order._

_In the vestibule, against the wall on the right, there is a small table on which are Philip's hats, caps, and gloves; and an overcoat and a man's cape are hanging on some pegs._

_It is late on a November afternoon. Curtains are drawn across the dining-room windows, and the room is lighted rather dimly by an electric lamp standing upon a sideboard. A warm glow proceeds from the nearer right-hand corner as from a fire. The study is lighted by a couple of standard lamps and a library-lamp on the writing-table, and the vestibule by a lamp suspended from the ceiling._

_The big doors are open._

[PHILIP, _a pipe in his mouth and wearing an old velvet jacket, is lying upon the settee on the right, reading a book by the light of the lamp on the writing-table. In the dining-room,_ JOHN _and a waiter--the latter in his s.h.i.+rt-sleeves--are at the round table, unfolding a white table-cloth._

JOHN.

[_A cheery little man in seedy clothes--to the waiter, softly._]

Careful! Don't crease it.

PHILIP.

[_Raising his eyes from his book._] What's the time, John?

JOHN.

Quarter-to-six, sir.

PHILIP.

Have my things come from the tailor's yet?

JOHN.

[_Laying the cloth with the aid of the waiter._] Yes, sir; while you were dozing. [_Ecstatically._] They're lovely, sir. [_A bell rings in the vestibule._] Expect that's the cook, sir. [_He bustles into the vestibule from the dining-room. There is a short pause and then he reappears, entering the study at the door opening from the vestibule, followed by_ ROOPE.] It's Mr. Roope, sir!

PHILIP.

No! [_Throwing his book aside and jumping up._] Why, Robbie!

ROOPE.

[_As they shake hands vigorously._] My dear fellow!

PHILIP.

Return of the wanderer! When did you get back?

ROOPE.

Last night.

PHILIP.

Take your coat off, you old ruffian. [_Putting his pipe down._] I _am_ glad.

ROOPE.

[_To_ JOHN, _who relieves him of his hat, overcoat, and neckerchief._]

How are _you_, John?

JOHN.

Splendid, Mr. Roope. [_Beaming._] Our new novel is _sech_ a success, sir.

PHILIP.

Ha, ha, ha, ha!

ROOPE.

[_To_ JOHN.] So Mr. Mackworth wrote and told me. [_Giving his gloves to_ JOHN.] Congratulate you, John.

JOHN.

[_Depositing the hat, coat, etc., upon the settee on the left._]

Thank you, sir.

ROOPE.