Seven Short Plays Part 24

_Mrs. Broderick:_ What is it you are wanting to apply about?

_Sibby:_ Will you tell me where is the man that is after buying your jackdaw?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Looking at Nestor._) What's that? Where is he, is it?

_Nestor:_ (_Making signs of silence._) How would you know where he is?

It is not in a broken little town of this sort such a man would be stopping, and he having his business finished.

_Sibby:_ Sure he will have to be coming back here for the bird. I will stop till I'll see him drawing near.

_Nestor:_ It is more likely he will get it consigned to the s.h.i.+pping agent. Mind what I say now, it is best not be speaking of him at all.

(_Timothy Ward comes in triumphantly, croaking his toy. He has a bird in his hand._)

_Ward:_ I chanced on a starling. It was not with this I tempted him, but a little chap that had him in a crib. Would you say now, Mr.

Nestor, would that do as well as a jackdaw? Look now, it's as handsome every bit as the other. And anyway it is likely they will both die before they will reach to their journey's end.

_Nestor:_ (_Lifting up his hands._) Of all the foolishness that ever came upon the world!

_Ward:_ Hurry on now, Mrs. Broderick, tell me where will I bring it to the buyer you were speaking of. He is fluttering that hard it is much if I can keep him in my hand. Is it at Noonan's Royal Hotel he is or is it at Mack's?

_Nestor:_ (_Shaking his head threateningly._) How can you tell that and you not knowing it yourself?

_Ward:_ Sure you have a right to know what way did he go, and he after going out of this.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Her eyes apprehensively on Nestor._) Ah, sure, my mind was tattered on me. I couldn't know did he go east or west.

Standing here in this place I was, like a ghost that got a knock upon its head.

_Ward:_ If he is coming back for the bird it is here he will be coming, and if it is to be sent after him it is likely you will have his address.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ So I should, too, I suppose. Where now did I put it?

(_She looks to Nestor for orders, but cannot understand his signs, and turns out pocket._) That's my specs ... that's the key of the box ...

that's a bit of root liquorice.... Where now at all could I have left down that address?

_Ward:_ There has no train left since he was here. Sure what does it matter so long as he did not go out of this. I'll bring this bird to the railway. Tell me what sort was he till I'll know him.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Still looking at Nestor._) Well, he was middling tall ... not very gross ... about the figure now of Mr. Nestor.

_Ward:_ What aged man was he?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ I suppose up to sixty years. About the one age, you'd say, with Mr. Nestor.

_Ward:_ Give me some better account now; it is hardly I would make him out by that.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ A grey beard he has hanging down ... and a bald poll, and grey hair like a fringe around it ... just for all the world like Mr. Nestor!

_Nestor:_ (_Jumping up._) There is nothing so disagreeable in the whole world as a woman that has too much talk.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Well, let me alone. Where's the use of them all picking at me to say where did I get the money when I am under orders not to tell it?

_Ward:_ Under orders?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ I am, and strong orders.

_Ward:_ Whose orders are those?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ What's that to you, I ask you?

_Ward:_ Isn't it a pity now a woman to be so unneighbourly and she after getting profit for herself?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Look now, Mr. Nestor, the way they are going on at me, and you saying no word for me at all.

_Ward:_ How would he say any word when he hasn't it to say? The only word could be said by any one is that you are a mean grasping person, gathering what you can for your own profit and keeping yourself so close and so compact. It is back to the Court I am going, and it's no good friend I'll be to you from this out, Mrs. Broderick!

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Amn't I telling you I was bidden not to tell?

_Sibby:_ You were. And is it likely it was you yourself bid yourself and gave you that advice, Mrs. Broderick? It is what I think the bird was never bought at all. It is in some other way she got the money.

Maybe in a way she does not like to be talking of. Light weights, light fingers! Let us go away so and leave her, herself and her money and her orders! (_Timothy Ward goes out, but Sibby stops at door._) And much good may they do her.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Listen to that, Mr. Nestor! Will you be listening to that, when one word from yourself would clear my character! I leave it now between you and the hearers. Why would I be questioned this way and that way, the same as if I was on the green table before the judges? You have my heart broke between you. It's best for me to heat the kettle and wet a drop of tea.

(_Goes to inner room._)

_Sibby:_ Tell us the truth now, Mr. Nestor, if you know anything at all about it.

_Nestor:_ I know everything about it. It was to myself the notes were handed in the first place. I am willing to take my oath to you on that. It was a stranger, I said, came in.

_Sibby:_ I wish I could see him and know him if I did see him.

_Nestor:_ It is likely you would know a man of that sort if you did see him, Sibby Fahy. It is likely you never saw a man yet that owns riches would buy up the half of this town.

_Sibby:_ It is not always them that has the most that makes the most show. But it is likely he will have a good dark suit anyway, and s.h.i.+ning boots, and a gold chain hanging over his chest.

_Nestor:_ (_Sarcastically._) He will, and gold rings and pins the same as the King of France or of Spain.

(_Enter c.o.o.ney, hatless, streaked with soot and lime, speechless but triumphant. He holds up a nest with nestlings._)

_Nestor:_ What has happened you, Mr. c.o.o.ney, at all?

_c.o.o.ney:_ Look now, what I have got!

_Nestor:_ A nest, is it?

_c.o.o.ney:_ Three young ones in it!

_Nestor:_ (_Faintly._) Is it what you are going to say they are jackdaws!

_c.o.o.ney:_ I followed your directions....