Five Little Plays Part 21

HARVEY. [_Steadily._] Yes. Because I myself--gave it to her.

[_There is a moment's almost stupefied silence;_ HARVEY _and_ ALICE _are face to face._ MISS FARREN _to the left of her,_ MRS.

BANKET _is still at the back, the_ JUDGE _by the fire._ MRS.

WESTERN _breaks the silence._

MRS. WESTERN. [_Sternly._] You--gave--it--her?

HARVEY. [_Steadily._] Yes.

MRS. WESTERN. You ask me to believe that you gave a bracelet to--this person--my children's governess?

HARVEY. I did.

MRS. WESTERN. An exact copy of the one you gave me?

HARVEY. I've told you--it's not an exact copy--there's a difference in the setting.

MRS. BANKET. Nonsense, nonsense, it can't be--he's just saying this--

JUDGE. f.a.n.n.y, don't interfere.

HARVEY. I'm saying what's true.

MRS. WESTERN. I refuse to believe it. It's incredible. You've not sunk so low as that. It's a lie.

HARVEY. [_Indignantly._] Alice!

MRS. WESTERN. Yes, a lie. A trumped-up story. The girl has taken it--

MISS FARREN. I have not!

MRS. WESTERN. You can tell that to the magistrate--[_She turns to_ HARVEY]

and you too, if you like. [_She moves to the bell._

JUDGE. [_Putting out a hand to stop her._] Alice--

MRS. WESTERN. Leave me alone, Tom. I know what I'm doing. I'll send for a policeman.

HARVEY. [_Imploringly._] Alice, Alice--

MRS. WESTERN. [_Pausing, with her hand on the bell._] I'll let the girl off, if you'll tell me the truth.

HARVEY. I _have_ told you the truth.

MRS. WESTERN. You persist in this silly falsehood?

HARVEY. It isn't--I tell you it isn't!

MRS. WESTERN. Very well, then.

[_She presses the bell. At that moment the door bursts open, and_ MARTIN _comes in triumphantly, with the bracelet on a salver._ SMITHERS _and_ WILLIAM _are behind him, but do not pa.s.s beyond the threshold._

MARTIN. [_Eagerly._] Ma'am, ma'am, we've found the--

[MRS. WESTERN _has turned towards him, still holding the other bracelet in her hand._ MARTIN _catches sight of it, and stops dead short, staring bewilderedly at it._

MRS. WESTERN. [_Calmly._] Where did you find it?

[_She takes the bracelet off the salver and lays it on the table._

MARTIN. [_With a great effort._] It had fallen into the pocket of the car--there was a hole in the pocket--it had worked its way right down into the body.

MRS. WESTERN. Very well. Thank you.

[MARTIN _goes; the other servants have already slunk off. There is a moment's silence._ MRS. WESTERN _suddenly flings the bracelet she has in her hand in_ MISS FARREN'S _direction._

MRS. WESTERN. [_Contemptuously._] Here. I return you your property. And now pack up your things and leave the house.

HARVEY. [_Who has stepped forward and picked up the bracelet, standing between_ MRS. WESTERN _and_ MISS FARREN.] No.

MRS. WESTERN. [_Staring at him._] What?

HARVEY. [_Violently._] I say, No!

MRS. WESTERN. I have told the girl to leave my house.

HARVEY. _My_ house--mine! And she shall stay in it! Or, at least, when she goes, it shall be without the slightest stain or suspicion--

MRS. WESTERN. [_Scornfully._] I am not accusing her of theft.

HARVEY. But you are insinuating--I declare solemnly before you all--

JUDGE. [_Interposing._] Harvey, one moment.... I am sure that Miss Farren would rather go to her room....

MISS FARREN. Yes.

HARVEY. By all means. Here, take your bracelet. [_He gives it to her._]

But you don't leave this house--you understand that? _I_ am master here.

[MISS FARREN _goes quietly._

JUDGE. Now just listen to me, both of you. Be calm--all this excitement won't help. Harvey, you too. You and Alice will have your explanation--

MRS. WESTERN. If the girl doesn't go to-night--

HARVEY. I tell you again she shall not! And there's no need. I was a fool to give her that bracelet--she didn't want to take it--

MRS. BANKET. Why _did_ you?