The Greatest Plays of William Somerset Maugham. Уильям Сомерсет Моэм

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СКАЧАТЬ make it quickly, I'm thirsty.... And I'm so cold.

      [A ring at the front door is heard.

      Basil.

      [Jumping up.] There's some one at the door, Fanny. Hurry up.

      [She goes out, and he follows her to the door of the room.

      Basil.

      Fanny, don't let any one up beside Mr. Halliwell. Say I can see no one. [He waits for a moment, anxiously.] Is that you, John?

      John.

      [Outside.] Yes.

      Basil.

      [To himself.] Thank God!

      [John comes in.

      Basil.

      I thought you were never coming. I begged you to come at once.

      John.

      I started immediately I got your wire.

      Basil.

      It seems hours since the girl went to the post-office.

      John.

      What's the matter?

      Basil.

      [Hoarsely.] Don't you know? I thought I had said it in my telegram.

      John.

      You simply wired that you were in great trouble.

      Basil.

      I suppose I thought you'd see it in the papers.

      John.

      What on earth d'you mean? I've not seen a paper. Where's your wife?

      Basil.

      [After a pause, almost in a whisper.] She's dead.

      John.

      [Thunderstruck.] Good God!

      Basil.

      [Impatiently.] Don't look at me like that. Isn't it plain enough? Don't you understand?

      John.

      But she was all right yesterday.

      Basil.

      [Dully.] Yes. She was all right yesterday.

      John.

      For goodness sake tell me what you mean, Basil.

      Basil.

      She's dead.... And she was all right yesterday.

      [John does not understand. He is greatly distressed, and does not know what to say.

      Basil.

      I killed her—as surely as if I'd strangled her with my own hands.

      John.

      What d'you mean? She's not really dead!

      Basil.

      [In agony.] She threw herself into the river last night.

      John.

      How awful!

      Basil.

      Haven't you got something more to say than how awful? I feel as if I were going mad.

      John.

      But I can't understand! Why did she do it?

      Basil.

      Oh—yesterday we had an awful row ... before you came.

      John.

      I know.

      Basil.

      Then she followed me to ... to your sister-in-law's. And she came up and made another scene. Then I lost my head. I was so furious, I don't know what I said. I was mad. I told her I'd have nothing more to do with her.... Oh, I can't bear it, I can't bear it.

      [He breaks down and hides his face in his hands, sobbing.

      John.

      Come, Basil—pull yourself together a bit.

      Basil.

      [Looking up despairingly.] I can hear her voice now. I can see the look of her eyes. She asked me to give her another chance, and I refused. It was so pitiful to hear the way she appealed to me, only I was mad, and I couldn't feel it.

      [Fanny comes in with the cup of tea, which Basil silently takes and drinks.

      Fanny.

      [To John.] He ain't slept a wink all night, sir.... No more 'ave I, for the matter of that.

      [John nods, but does not answer; and Fanny, wiping her eyes with her apron, leaves the room.

      Basil.

      Oh, I'd give everything not to have said what I did. I'd always held myself in before, but yesterday—I couldn't.

      John.

      Well?

      Basil.

      I didn't get back here till nearly ten, and the maid told me Jenny had just gone out. I thought she'd gone back to her mother's.

      John.

      Yes?

      Basil.

      And soon after a constable came up and asked me to go down to the river. He said there'd been an accident.... She was dead. A man had seen her walk along the tow-path and throw herself in.

      John.

      Where is she now?

      Basil.

      [Pointing to one of the doors.] In there.

      John.

      Will you take me in?

      Basil.

      Go in alone, John. I daren't, I'm afraid to look at her. I can't bear the look on her face.... I killed her—as surely as if I'd strangled her with my own hands. I've been looking at the door all night, and once I thought I heard a sound. I thought she was coming to reproach me for killing her.

      [John СКАЧАТЬ