MRS。BARTHWICK。Notmaterial？
ROPER。Purelyprivatelife！Mayhavehappenedtothemagistrate。
BARTHWICK。[Withamovementasiftoshiftaburden。]Thenyou’lltakethethingintoyourhands？
ROPER。Ifthegodsarekind。[Heholdshishandout。]
BARTHWICK。[Shakingitdubiously。]Kindeh？What？Yougoing？
ROPER。Yes。I’veanothercase，somethinglikeyours——mostunexpected。
[HebowstoMRS。BARTHWICK，andgoesout，followedbyBARTHWICK，talkingtothelast。MRS。BARTHWICKatthetableburstsintosmotheredsobs。BARTHWICKreturns。]
BARTHWICK。[Tohimself。]There’llbeascandal！
MRS。BARTHWICK。[Disguisinghergriefatonce。]Isimplycan’timaginewhatRopermeansbymakingajokeofathinglikethat！
BARTHWICK。[Staringstrangely。]You！Youcan’timagineanything！
You’venomoreimaginationthanafly！
MRS。BARTHWICK。[Angrily。]YoudaretotellmethatIhavenoimagination。
BARTHWICK。[Flustered。]I——I’mupset。Frombeginningtoend，thewholethinghasbeenutterlyagainstmyprinciples。
MRS。BARTHWICK。Rubbish！Youhaven’tany！Yourprinciplesarenothingintheworldbutsheerfright！
BARTHWICK。[Walkingtothewindow。]I’veneverbeenfrightenedinmylife。YouheardwhatRopersaid。It’senoughtoupsetonewhenathinglikethishappens。Everythingonesaysanddoesseemstoturninone’smouth——it’s——it’suncanny。It’snotthesortofthingI’vebeenaccustomedto。[Asthoughstifling，hethrowsthewindowopen。Thefaintsobbingofachildcomesin。]What’sthat？
[Theylisten。]
MRS。BARTHWICK。[Sharply。]Ican’tstandthatcrying。ImustsendMarlowtostopit。Mynervesareallonedge。[Sheringsthebell。]
BARTHWICK。I’llshutthewindow;you’llhearnothing。[Heshutsthewindow。Thereissilence。
MRS。BARTHWICK。[Sharply。]That’snogood！It’sonmynerves。
Nothingupsetsmelikeachild’scrying。
[MARLOWcomesin。]
What’sthatnoiseofcrying，Marlow？Itsoundslikeachild。
BARTHWICK。Itisachild。Icanseeitagainsttherailings。
MARLOW。[Openingthewindow，andlookingoutquietly。]It’sMrs。
Jones’slittleboy，ma’am;hecamehereafterhismother。
MRS。BARTHWICK。[Movingquicklytothewindow。]Poorlittlechap！
John，weoughtn’ttogoonwiththis！
BARTHWICK。[Sittingheavilyinachair。]Ah！butit’soutofourhands！
[MRS。BARTHWICKturnsherbacktothewindow。Thereisanexpressionofdistressonheyface。Shestandsmotionless，compressingherlips。Thecryingbeginsagain。BARTHWICK
coveyshisearswithhishands，andMARLOWshutsthewindow。
Thecryingceases。]
Thecurtainfalls。
ACTIII
Eightdayshavepassed，andthesceneisaLondonPoliceCourtatoneo’clock。AcanopiedseatofJusticeissurmountedbythelionandunicorn。Beforethefireaworn—lookingMAGISTRATEiswarminghiscoat—tails，andstaringattwolittlegirlsinfadedblueandorangerags，whoareplacedbeforethedock。Closetothewitness—boxisaRELIEVINGOFFICERinanovercoat，andashortbrownbeard。BesidethelittlegirlsstandsabaldPOLICECONSTABLE。OnthefrontbencharesittingBARTHWICKandROPER，andbehindthemJACK。Intherailedenclosureareseedy—lookingmenandwomen。Someprosperousconstablessitorstandabout。
MAGISTRATE。[Inhispaternalandferociousvoice，hissinghiss’s。]
Nowletusdisposeoftheseyoungladies。
USHER。TheresaLivens，MaudLivens。
[ThebaldCONSTABLEindicatesthelittlegirls，whoremainsilent，disillusioned，inattentive。]
RelievingOfficer！
[TheRELIEVINGOFFICERStepsintothewitness—box。]
USHER。TheevidenceyougivetotheCourtshallbethetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth，sohelpyouGod！Kissthebook！
[Thebookiskissed。]
RELIEVINGOFFICER。[Inamonotone，pausingslightlyateachsentenceend，thathisevidencemaybeinscribed。]Aboutteno’clockthismorning，yourWorship，IfoundthesetwolittlegirlsinBlueStreet，Fulham，cryingoutsideapublic—house。Askedwheretheirhomewas，theysaidtheyhadnohome。Motherhadgoneaway。
Askedabouttheirfather。Theirfatherhadnowork。Askedwheretheysleptlastnight。Attheiraunt’s。I’vemadeinquiries，yourWorship。Thewifehasbrokenupthehomeandgoneonthestreets。
Thehusbandisoutofworkandlivingincommonlodging—houses。Thehusband’ssisterhaseightchildrenofherown，andsaysshecan’taffordtokeeptheselittlegirlsanylonger。
MAGISTRATE。[Returningtohisseatbeneaththecanopyofjustice。]
Now，letmesee。Yousaythemotherisonthestreets;whatevidencehaveyouofthat？
RELIEVINGOFFICER。Ihavethehusbandhere，yourWorship。
MAGISTRATE。Verywell;thenletusseehim。
[Therearecriesof\"LIVENS。\"TheMAGISTRATEleansforward，andstareswithhardcompassionatthelittlegirls。LIVENS
comesin。Heisquiet，withgrizzledhair，andamufflerforacollar。Hestandsbesidethewitness—box。]
Andyou，aretheirfather？Now，whydon’tyoukeepyourlittlegirlsathome。Howisityouleavethemtowanderaboutthestreetslikethis？
LIVENS。I’vegotnohome，yourWorship。I’mlivingfrom’andtomouth。I’vegotnowork;andnothin’tokeepthemon。
MAGISTRATE。Howisthat？
LIVENS。[Ashamedly。]Mywife，shebrokemy’omeup，andpawnedthethings。
MAGISTRATE。Butwhatmadeyoulether？
LEVINS。YourWorship，I’dnochancetostop’er，shediditwhenI
wasoutlookin’forwork。
MAGISTRATE。Didyouill—treather？
LIVENS。[Emphatically。]Ineverraisedmy’andtoherinmylife，yourWorship。
MAGISTRATE。Thenwhatwasit——didshedrink？
LIVENS。Yes，yourWorship。
MAGISTRATE。Wasshelooseinherbehaviour？
LIVENS。[Inalowvoice。]Yes，yourWorship。
MAGISTRATE。Andwhereisshenow？
LIVENS。Idon’tknowyourWorship。Shewentoffwithaman，andafterthatI。
MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes。Whoknowsanythingofher？[TothebaldCONSTABLE。]Issheknownhere？
RELIEVINGOFFICER。Notinthisdistrict，yourWorship;butIhaveascertainedthatsheiswellknown。
MAGISTRATE。Yes——yes;we’llstopatthat。Now[TotheFather]yousaythatshehasbrokenupyourhome，andlefttheselittlegirls。
Whatprovisioncanyoumakeforthem？Youlookastrongman。
LIVENS。SoIam，yourWorship。I’mwillin’enoughtowork，butforthelifeofmeIcan’tgetanythingtodo。
MAGISTRATE。Buthaveyoutried？
LIVENS。I’vetriedeverything，yourWorship——I’vetriedmy’ardest。
MAGISTRATE。Well，well。[Thereisasilence。]
RELIEVINGOFFICER。IfyourWorshipthinksit’sacase，mypeoplearewillingtotakethem。
MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes，Iknow;butI’venoevidencethatthismanisnottheproperguardianforhischildren。
[Herisesovalgoesbacktothefire。]
RELIEVINGOFFICER。Themother，yourWorship，isabletogetaccesstothem。
MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes;themother，ofcourse，isanimproperpersontohaveanythingtodowiththem。[TotheFather。]Well，nowwhatdoyousay？
LIVENS。YourWorship，IcanonlysaythatifIcouldgetworkI
shouldbeonlytoowillingtoprovideforthem。ButwhatcanIdo，yourWorship？HereIamobligedtolivefrom’andtomouthinthese’erecommonlodging—houses。I’mastrongman——I’mwillingtowork——I’mhalfasaliveagainassomeof’em——butyousee，yourWorship，my’airs’turnedabit，owingtothefever——[Toucheshishair]——andthat’sagainstme;andIdon’tseemtogetachanceanyhow。
MAGISTRATE。Yes—yes。[Slowly。]Well，Ithinkit’sacase。
[Staringhishardestatthelittlegirls。]Now，areyouwillingthattheselittlegirlsshouldbesenttoahome。
LIVENS。Yes，yourWorship，Ishouldbeverywilling。
MAGISTRATE。Well，I’llremandthemforaweek。Bringthemagainto—dayweek;ifIseenoreasonagainstitthen，I’llmakeanorder。
RELIEVINGOFFICER。To—dayweek，yourWorship。
[ThebaldCONSTABLEtakesthelittlegirlsoutbytheshoulders。Thefatherfollowsthem。TheMAGISTRATE，returningtohisseat，bendsoverandtalkstohisCLERKinaudibly。]
BARTHWICK。[Speakingbehindhishand。]Apainfulcase，Roper;verydistressingstateofthings。
ROPER。HundredslikethisinthePoliceCourts。
BARTHWICK。Mostdistressing！ThemoreIseeofit，themoreimportantthisquestionoftheconditionofthepeopleseemstobecome。IshallcertainlymakeapointoftakingupthecudgelsintheHouse。Ishallmove。
[TheMAGISTRATEceasestalkingtohisCLERK。]
CLERK。Remands！
[BARTHWICKstopsabruptly。ThereisastirandMRS。JONES
comesinbythepublicdoor;JONES，usheredbypolicemen，comesfromtheprisoner’sdoor。Theyfileintothedock。]
CLERK。JamesJones，JaneJones。
USHER。JaneJones！
BARTHWICK。[Inawhisper。]Thepurse——thepursemustbekeptoutofit，Roper。Whateverhappensyoumustkeepthatoutofthepapers。
[ROPERnods。]
BALDCONSTABLE。Hush！
[MRS。JONES，dressedinheythin，black，wispydress，andblackstrawhat，standsmotionlesswithhandscrossedonthefrontrailofthedock。JONESleansagainstthebackrailofthedock，andkeepshalfturning，glancingdefiantlyabouthim。Heishaggardandunshaven。]
CLERK。[Consultingwithhispapers。]ThisisthecaseremandedfromlastWednesday，Sir。Theftofasilvercigarette—boxandassaultonthepolice;thetwochargesweretakentogether。JaneJones！JamesJones！
MAGISTRATE。[Staring。]Yes，yes;Iremember。
CLERK。JaneJones。
MRS。JONES。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Doyouadmitstealingasilvercigarette—boxvaluedatfivepounds，tenshillings，fromthehouseofJohnBARTHWICK，M。P。，betweenthehoursof11p。m。onEasterMondayand8。45a。m。onEasterTuesdaylast？Yes，orno？
MRS。JONES。[Inalogyvoice。]No，Sir，Idonot，sir。
CLERK。JamesJones？Doyouadmitstealingasilvercigarette—boxvaluedatfivepounds，tenshillings，fromthehouseofJohnBARTHWICK，M。P。，betweenthehoursof11p。m。onEasterMondayand8。45A。M。onEasterTuesdaylast。Andfurthermakinganassaultonthepolicewhenintheexecutionoftheirdutyat3p。m。onEasterTuesday？Yesorno？
JONES。[Sullenly。]Yes，butI’vegotalottosayaboutit。
MAGISTRATE。[TotheCLERK。]Yes——yes。Buthowcomesitthatthesetwopeoplearechargedwiththesameoffence？Aretheyhusbandandwife？
CLERK。Yes，Sir。Yourememberyouorderedaremandforfurtherevidenceastothestoryofthemaleprisoner。
MAGISTRATE。Havetheybeenincustodysince？
CLERK。Youreleasedthewomanonherownrecognisances，sir。
MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes，thisisthecaseofthesilverbox;I
remembernow。Well？
CLERK。ThomasMarlow。
[Thecryof\"THOMASMARLOW\"isrepeatedMARLOWcomesin，andstepsintothewitness—box。]
USHER。Theevidenceyougivetothecourtshallbethetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth，sohelpyouGod。Kissthebook。
[Thebookiskissed。Thesilverboxishandedup，andplacedontherail。]
CLERK。[Readingfromhispapers。]YournameisThomasMarlow？Areyou，butlertoJohnBARTHWICK，M。P。，of6，RockinghamGate？
MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Isthatthebox？
MARLOW。YesSir。
CLERK。Anddidyoumissthesameat8。45onthefollowingmorning，ongoingtoremovethetray？
MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Isthefemaleprisonerknowntoyou？
[MARLOWnods。]
Isshethecharwoman。employedat6，RockinghamGate？
[AgainMARLOWnods。]
Didyouatthetimeofyourmissingtheboxfindherintheroomalone？
MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Didyouafterwardscommunicatethelosstoyouremployer，anddidhesendyoutothepolicestation？
MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。[ToMRS。JONES。]Haveyouanythingtoaskhim？
MRS。JONES。No，sir，nothing，thankyou，sir。
CLERK。[ToJONES。]JamesJones，haveyouanythingtoaskthiswitness？
JONES。Idon’tknow’im。
MAGISTRATE。Areyousureyouputtheboxintheplaceyousayatthetimeyousay？
MARLOW。Yes，yourWorship。
MAGISTRATE。Verywell;thennowletushavetheofficer。
[MARLOWleavesthebox，andSnowgoesintoit。]
USHER。Theevidenceyougivetothecourtshallbethetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth，sohelpyouGod。[Thebookiskissed。
CLERK。[Readingfromhispapers。]YournameisRobertAllow？YouareadetectiveintheX。B。divisionoftheMetropolitanpoliceforce？AccordingtoinstructionsreceiveddidyouonEasterTuesdaylastproceedtotheprisoner’slodgingsat34，MerthyrStreet，St。
Soames’s？Anddidyouonenteringseetheboxproduced，lyingonthetable？
SNOW。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Isthatthebox？
Snow。[Fingeringthebox。]Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Anddidyouthereupontakepossessionofit，andchargethefemaleprisonerwiththeftoftheboxfrom6，RockinghamGate？Anddidshedenythesame？
SNOW。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Didyoutakeherintocustody？
Snow。Yes，Sir。
MAGISTRATE。Whatwasherbehaviour？
SNOW。Perfectlyquiet，yourWorship。Shepersistedinthedenial。
That’sall。
MAGISTRATE。DOyouknowher？
SNOW。No，yourWorship。
MAGISTRATE。Issheknownhere？
BALDCONSTABLE。No，yourWorship，they’reneitherofthemknown，we’venothingagainstthematall。
CLERK。[ToMRS。JONES。]Haveyouanythingtoasktheofficer？
MRS。JONES。No，sir，thankyou，I’venothingtoaskhim。
MAGISTRATE。Verywellthen——goon。
CLERK。[Readingfromhispapers。]Andwhileyouweretakingthefemaleprisonerdidthemaleprisonerinterpose，andendeavourtohinderyouintheexecutionofyourduty，anddidhestrikeyouablow？
SNOW。Yes，Sir。
CLERK。Anddidhesay，\"You，lethergo，Itooktheboxmyself\"？
SNOW。Hedid。
CLERK。Anddidyoublowyourwhistleandobtaintheassistanceofanotherconstable，andtakehimintocustody？
SNOW。Idid。
CLERK。Washeviolentonthewaytothestation，anddidheusebadlanguage，anddidheseveraltimesrepeatthathehadtakentheboxhimself？
[Snownods。]
Didyouthereuponaskhiminwhatmannerhehadstolenthebox？AnddidyouunderstandhimtosayhehadenteredthehouseattheinvitationofyoungMr。BARTHWICK
[BARTHWICK，turninginhisseat，frownsatROPER。]
aftermidnightonEasterMonday，andpartakenofwhisky，andthatundertheinfluenceofthewhiskyhehadtakenthebox？
SNOW。Idid，sir。
CLERK。Andwashisdemeanourthroughoutveryviolent？
SNOW。Itwasveryviolent。
JONES。[Breakingin。]Violent———ofcourseitwas！Youputyour’andsonmywifewhenIkepttellin’youItookthethingmyself。
MAGISTRATE。[Hissing，withprotrudedneck。]Now——youwillhaveyourchanceofsayingwhatyouwanttosaypresently。Haveyouanythingtoasktheofficer？
JONES。[Sullenly。]No。
MAGISTRATE。Verywellthen。Nowletushearwhatthefemaleprisonerhastosayfirst。
MRS。JONES。Well，yourWorship，ofcourseIcanonlysaywhatI’vesaidallalong，thatIdidn’ttakethebox。
MAGISTRATE。Yes，butdidyouknowthatitwastaken？
MRS。JONES。No，yourWorship。And，ofcourse，towhatmyhusbandsays，yourWorship，Ican’tspeakofmyownknowledge。Ofcourse，I
knowthathecamehomeverylateontheMondaynight。Itwaspastoneo’clockwhenhecamein，andhewasnothimselfatall。
MAGISTRATE。Hadhebeendrinking？
MRS。JONES。Yes，yourWorship。
MAGISTRATE。Andwashedrunk？
MRS。JONES。Yes，yourWorship，hewasalmostquitedrunk。
MAGISTRATE。Anddidhesayanythingtoyou？
MRS。JONES。No，yourWorship，onlytocallmenames。AndofcourseinthemorningwhenIgotupandwenttoworkhewasasleep。AndI
don’tknowanythingmoreaboutituntilIcamehomeagain。ExceptthatMr。BARTHWICK——that’smyemployer，yourWorship——toldmetheboxwasmissing。
MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes。
MRS。JONES。ButofcoursewhenIwasshakingoutmyhusband’scoatthecigarette—boxfelloutandallthecigaretteswerescatteredonthebed。
MAGISTRATE。Yousayallthecigaretteswerescatteredonthebed？
[ToSNOW。]Didyouseethecigarettesscatteredonthebed？
SNOW。No，yourWorship，Ididnot。
MAGISTRATE。Youseehesayshedidn’tseethem。
JONES。Well，theywerethereforallthat。
SNOW。Ican’tsay，yourWorship，thatIhadtheopportunityofgoingroundtheroom;Ihadallmyworkcutoutwiththemaleprisoner。
MAGISTRATE。[ToMRS。JONES。]Well，whatmorehaveyoutosay？
MRS。JONES。OfcoursewhenIsawthebox，yourWorship，Iwasdreadfullyupset，andIcouldn’tthinkwhyhehaddonesuchathing;whentheofficercamewewerehavingwordsaboutit，becauseitisruintome，yourWorship，inmyprofession，andIhavethreelittlechildrendependentonme。
MAGISTRATE。[Protrudinghisneck]。Yes——yes——butwhatdidhesaytoyou？
MRS。JONES。Iaskedhimwhatevercameoverhimtodosuchathing—
andhesaiditwasthedrink。Hesaidhehadhadtoomuchtodrink，andsomethingcameoverhim。Andofcourse，yourWorship，hehadhadverylittletoeatallday，andthedrinkdoesgototheheadwhenyouhavenothadenoughtoeat。YourWorshipmaynotknow，butitisthetruth。AndIwouldliketosaythatallthroughhismarriedlife，Ihaveneverknownhimtodosuchathingbefore，thoughwehavepassedthroughgreathardshipsand[speakingwithsoftemphasis]Iamquitesurehewouldnothavedoneitifhehadbeenhimselfatthetime。
MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes。Butdon’tyouknowthatthatisnoexcuse？
MRS。JONES。Yes，yourWorship。Iknowthatitisnoexcuse。
[TheMAGISTRATEleansoverandparleyswithhisCLERK。]
JACK。[Leaningoverfromhisseatbehind。]Isay，Dad。
BARTHWICK。Tsst！[ShelteringhismouthhespeakstoROPER。]
Roper，youhadbettergetupnowandsaythatconsideringthecircumstancesandthepovertyoftheprisoners，wehavenowishtoproceedanyfurther，andifthemagistratewoulddealwiththecaseasoneofdisorderonlyonthepartof。
BALDCONSTABLE。HSSShh！
[ROPERshakeshishead。]