The Collected Plays of George Bernard Shaw - 60 Titles in One Edition (Illustrated Edition). GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

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      LADY CICELY (quite understanding, and putting her hand kindly on his shoulder). Oh no. I am sure you have done lots of kind things and brave things, if you could only recollect them. With Gordon for instance? Nobody can belittle that.

      He looks up at her for a moment; then kisses her hand. She presses his and turns away with her eyes so wet that she sees Drinkwater, coming in through the arch just then, with a prismatic halo round him. Even when she sees him clearly, she hardly recognizes him; for he is ludicrously clean and smoothly brushed; and his hair, formerly mud color, is now a lively red.

      DRINKWATER. Look eah, kepn. (Brassbound springs up and recovers himself quickly.) Eahs the bloomin Shike jest appeahd on the orawzn wiv abaht fifty men. Thy’ll be eah insawd o ten minnits, they will.

      LADY CICELY. The Sheikh!

      BRASSBOUND. Sidi el Assif and fifty men! (To Lady Cicely) You were too late: I gave you up my vengeance when it was no longer in my hand. (To Drinkwater) Call all hands to stand by and shut the gates. Then all here to me for orders; and bring the prisoner.

      DRINKWATER. Rawt, kepn. (He runs out.)

      LADY CICELY. Is there really any danger for Howard?

      BRASSBOUND. Yes. Danger for all of us unless I keep to my bargain with this fanatic.

      LADY CICELY. What bargain?

      BRASSBOUND. I pay him so much a head for every party I escort through to the interior. In return he protects me and lets my caravans alone. But I have sworn an oath to him to take only Jews and true believers — no Christians, you understand.

      LADY CICELY. Then why did you take us?

      BRASSBOUND. I took my uncle on purpose — and sent word to Sidi that he was here.

      LADY CICELY. Well, that’s a pretty kettle of fish, isn’t it?

      BRASSBOUND. I will do what I can to save him — and you. But I fear my repentance has come too late, as repentance usually does.

      LADY CICELY (cheerfully). Well, I must go and look after Marzo, at all events. (She goes out through the little door. Johnson, Redbrook and the rest come in through the arch, with Sir Howard, still very crusty and determined. He keeps close to Johnson, who comes to Brassbound’s right, Redbrook taking the other side.)

      BRASSBOUND. Where’s Drinkwater?

      JOHNSON. On the lookout. Look here, Capn: we don’t half like this job. The gentleman has been talking to us a bit; and we think that he IS a gentleman, and talks straight sense.

      REDBROOK. Righto, Brother Johnson. (To Brassbound) Won’t do, governor. Not good enough.

      BRASSBOUND (fiercely). Mutiny, eh?

      REDBROOK. Not at all, governor. Don’t talk Tommy rot with Brother Sidi only five minutes gallop off. Can’t hand over an Englishman to a nigger to have his throat cut.

      BRASSBOUND (unexpectedly acquiescing). Very good. You know, I suppose, that if you break my bargain with Sidi, you’ll have to defend this place and fight for your lives in five minutes. That can’t be done without discipline: you know that too. I’ll take my part with the rest under whatever leader you are willing to obey. So choose your captain and look sharp about it. (Murmurs of surprise and discontent.)

      VOICES. No, no. Brassbound must command.

      BRASSBOUND. You’re wasting your five minutes. Try Johnson.

      JOHNSON. No. I haven’t the head for it.

      BRASSBOUND. Well, Redbrook.

      REDBROOK. Not this Johnny, thank you. Haven’t character enough.

      BRASSBOUND. Well, there’s Sir Howard Hallam for You! HE has character enough.

      A VOICE. He’s too old.

      ALL. No, no. Brassbound, Brassbound.

      JOHNSON. There’s nobody but you, Captain.

      REDRROOK. The mutiny’s over, governor. You win, hands down.

      BRASSBOUND (turning on them). Now listen, you, all of you. If I am to command here, I am going to do what I like, not what you like. I’ll give this gentleman here to Sidi or to the devil if I choose. I’ll not be intimidated or talked back to. Is that understood?

      REDBROOK (diplomatically). He’s offered a present of five hundred quid if he gets safe back to Mogador, governor. Excuse my mentioning it.

      SIR HOWARD. Myself AND Lady Cicely.

      BRASSBOUND. What! A judge compound a felony! You greenhorns, he is more likely to send you all to penal servitude if you are fools enough to give him the chance.

      VOICES. So he would. Whew! (Murmurs of conviction.)

      REDBROOK. Righto, governor. That’s the ace of trumps.

      BRASSBOUND (to Sir Howard). Now, have you any other card to play? Any other bribe? Any other threat? Quick. Time presses.

      SIR HOWARD. My life is in the hands of Providence. Do your worst.

      BRASSBOUND. Or my best. I still have that choice.

      DRINKWATER (running in). Look eah, kepn. Eah’s anather lot cammin from the sahth heast. Hunnerds of em, this tawm. The owl dezzit is lawk a bloomin Awd Pawk demonstrition. Aw blieve it’s the Kidy from Kintorfy. (General alarm. All look to Brassbound.)

      BRASSBOUND (eagerly). The Cadi! How far off?

      DRINKWATER. Matter o two mawl.

      BRASSBOUND. We’re saved. Open the gates to the Sheikh.

      DRINKWATER (appalled, almost in tears). Naow, naow. Lissn, kepn (Pointing to Sir Howard): e’ll give huz fawv unnerd red uns. (To the others) Ynt yer spowk to im, Miste Jornsn — Miste Redbrook —

      BRASSBOUND (cutting him short). Now then, do you understand plain English? Johnson and Redbrook: take what men you want and open the gates to the Sheikh. Let him come straight to me. Look alive, will you.

      JOHNSON. Ay ay, sir.

      REDBROOK. Righto, governor.

      They hurry out, with a few others. Drinkwater stares after them, dumbfounded by their obedience.

      BRASSBOUND (taking out a pistol). You wanted to sell me to my prisoner, did you, you dog.

      DRINKWATER (falling on his knees with a yell). Naow! (Brassbound turns on him as if to kick him. He scrambles away and takes refuge behind Sir Howard.)

      BRASSBOUND. Sir Howard Hallam: you have one chance left. The Cadi of Kintafi stands superior to the Sheikh as the responsible governor of the whole province. It is the Cadi who will be sacrificed by the Sultan if England demands satisfaction for any injury to you. If we can hold the Sheikh in parley until the Cadi arrives, you may frighten the Cadi into forcing the Sheikh to release you. The Cadi’s coming is a lucky chance for YOU.

      SIR HOWARD. СКАЧАТЬ