The Locked Chest The Sweeps of Ninety- Eight John Masefield THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE LOCKED CHEST THE SWEEPS OF NINETY-EIGHT This edition, of which this is Number ,v)X. is limited and is printed from type. // . ///.> ^ "//>' / The Locked Chest and The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight TWO ONE ACT PLAYS BY JOHN MASEFIELD THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1916 All rights resented COPYRIGHT, 1916 BY JOHN MASEFIELD Published September, 1916 THE LOCKED CHEST A Play in One Act (From a Tale in the Laxdaelasaga) LISRARf PERSONS THORD GODDI - A Farmer THOROLF INGIALD - A Lord SOLDIERS - - Adherents of Ingiald VIGDIS GODDI - - Wife of Thord SCENE Iceland THE LOCKED CHEST SCENE: A room. A chest used as a bench. A table, etc. VIGDIS embroidering a cloth. VIGDIS. {Singing.} My love is drowned in the Lowlands, Away. Heigho. My love is drowned in the Lowlands, Lowlands no more. [Enter THORD GODDI] Well, Thord. I hope you had a good market. [Sings.] His hair is cold with the seaweed, Away. Heigho. His hair is cold with the seaweed, Lowlands no more. Come and sit down by the fire, won't you? [Sings.] O my love is drowned in the Lowlands, Away 7 8 The Locked Chest THORD. For heaven's sake, stop it. VIGDIS. Stop what? THORD. That caterwauling. VIGDIS. Caterwauling? THORD. I'm not going to have that howling when I've got a headache VIGDIS. I'm sorry I sang when you had a head- ache. I didn't know. THORD. I've always got a headache. VIGDIS. I'm sorry, Thord. THORD. O, don't "sorry" me. If you're so sorry The Locked Chest 9 as all that there'd have been a nice supper ready. But there. It's always the way. VIGDIS. Let me get you your supper. THORD. O, I don't want it now, thanks, I couldn't eat it. Why wasn't it ready for me, the mo- ment I came in? VIGDIS. But, Thord. My dear man. THORD. How many more times am I to tell you I won't be "my deared" when I've a head- ache? VIGDIS. I'm sorry, Thord. THORD. If you knew how much it aggravated. But there. You only do it to drive me mad. VIGDIS. I don't, Thord. io The Locked Chest THORD. Contradict me. Do. That's right. Con- tradict me. I suppose you'll say next But there, it's always the way. VIGDIS. Thord! THORD. Now, why wasn't supper ready the mo- ment I came in? VIGDIS. You said you'd be home late, Thord, and that supper wasn't to be till half-past seven. THORD. You might have known the fair would be a bad one. VIGDIS. Was the fair a bad one? THORD. O, use your sense. Use your sense, woman. VIGDIS. But I do, Thord. The Locked Chest 1 1 THORD. Would I be here at this time if the fair had been a good one? You know perfectly well I shouldn't. VIGDIS. I'm so sorry, Thord. THORD. [Growling.] Yes, so that you might have more money to spend on jewellery. [He sits dozen.] I'm tired. VIGDIS. Let me help you pull your boots off. [She pulls a boot and drops it.] THORD. O, for Heaven's sake. Didn't I tell you I'd got a headache? But there. No, I'll take off the other my- self. I'm tired to death. VIGDIS. Let me give you a nip of brandy. THORD. Brandy? With a headache? You know 12 The Locked Chest brandy nearly kills me. Now do for Heaven's sake leave me alone. VIGDIS. You're tired, Thord. You're tired. Lie down on the chest, and rest till supper. You're tired to death. THORD. I wouldn't be tired if I wasn't driven half mad by your tongue. A plague take all wives and all fairs. VIGDIS. Tell me about the fair, Thord, if you're not too tired. THORD. I've already told you about the fair. VIGDIS. Were there many people? THORD. Enough to fill a graveyard. I'd be glad to have the burying of some of them. VIGDIS. What's the news? The Locked Chest 13 THORD. News ? What d'ye want with news ? VIGDIS. But I like to hear what's going on. What were they talking of? THORD. What were who talking of? VIGDIS. The people at the fair. THORD. None of their business. That's what they were talking of. They were talking of a murder. VIGDIS. A murder! THORD. [Shouting.] A murder. Can't you pay attention when I'm talking to you. I said a murder. Why don't you listen? VIGDIS. Who has been murdered? 14 The Locked Chest THORD. I didn't say anyone had been murdered. VIGDIS. But you said THORD. But I said nothing of the sort. There was a fight down on the beach and a man was killed. VIGDIS. What man? THORD. That big swaggering fellow Hall. VIGDIS. Hall ? Brother of Ingiald ? THORD. Yes. Brother of Ingiald. A lout he was, too. VIGDIS. Who killed him? THORD. Does it matter to you who killed him? The Locked Chest 15 VlGDIS. No. Only I would like to know. THORD. You're always wanting to know. You want to know too much. What was Hall to you ? VIGDIS. Nothing. My cousin was his partner. That's all I know about him. And they used to quarrel all day, as though they were man and wife. THORD. I suppose that's meant for me. Well, I don't know who killed him. But I know this. VIGDIS. What? THORD. I pity the man who did it. VIGDIS. Why? THORD. Have you any sense at all, woman ? 1 6 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. I don't see why he should be pitied. THORD. Well, I do. D'you suppose a great man like Ingiald will let his brother's murderer escape? VIGDIS. But you said it was a fight on the beach. THORD. I said. I said. I said. Nag. Nag. Nag. Even if it were, d'you suppose a man like Ingiald would let the man escape? Ingiald'll hunt him down. That murderer's a doomed man. VIGDIS. Poor fellow, I say. THORD. Serve him right, I say. Serve him right. VIGDIS. I wonder who it was. The Locked Chest 17 THORD. It isn't known who it was. Two or three are suspected. VIGDIS. I hope it wasn't cousin Thorolf. THORD. Well, if it was he must take the conse- quences. VIGDIS. That man Hall was a sad man to work with. I hate to speak ill of a dead man; but he had a bad name. THORD. He was a drunken boor. VIGDIS. He went for Thorolf with an axe once. THORD. Well, I pity the man who went for him with an axe. Is supper ever going to come at all? Or am I to stay talking here all night. 1 8 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. Won't you go in and lie down, Thord? Supper will be ready in a moment. THORD. How can I go in and lie down? You know perfectly well I've got to see to the chores. I can't trust the hired men. VIGDIS. I'll run out and see to the chores, Thord. THORD. You? I can't trust you to get supper, let alone do the chores. No. I must sacri- fice myself. I've got a headache and I'm half dead. But there, it's always the way. I must do a thing myself if I want it done. Give me my boots. VIGDIS. Let me go, Thord. I'll see the cows driven in and milked. THORD. Give me my boots. Don't I tell you. Don't tell me what you'll do and what you'll The Locked Chest 19 not do. There [puts on boots] I thought when I came in I'd have time to rest myself. But there. It's always the way. [Turns to go out.] What are you glowering there for? Go and get the supper ready. When you've worn me to my grave I suppose you'll be glad. You do make me so mad. VIGDIS. I'll have supper directly, Thord. THORD. You do make me so mad. But there. It's always the way. [He goes out.] VIGDIS. It's a pity we've no child, Thord and I. They say a child is a great sweetener in a house. If we'd a child, perhaps he wouldn't take on so. Ah well. It wasn't like this when we were courting. I must get this table clear. If I'd had a child now, he'd have been different. That's what a wife must expect. Nothing but "O my head- ache," and "O if I'm not tired." I only wanted to hear about the murder. It's not 20 The Locked Chest so often we get a murder to talk about. The way he talks you'd think we had one every day. So Hall is murdered. I never liked that man. I wonder who killed him. Well. There's one comfort. My cousin Thorolf wouldn't go for to kill a man. Not even Hall, he wouldn't. He wouldn't kill a fly, my cousin Thorolf wouldn't. He's like a blessed babe. [The door at the back is knocked violently.} Bless us and save us. VOICE. Let me in. Let me in. Vigdis. Thord. VIGDIS. Who's there? VOICE. Open. Open. For God's sake let me in. VIGDIS. Enter. If you be of God. VOICE. Open. The Locked Chest 21 VlGDIS. [Running to door.] Come in. Who's there? [Enter THOROLF.] Thorolf. Cousin Thorolf. How are you. THOROLF. Stand back. Don't kiss me. VIGDIS. What's the matter, Thorolf? THOROLF. Stand back. You keep your hands off. VIGDIS. But I'm your cousin, Thorolf. THOROLF. Yes. But perhaps you won't be quite so glad to be my cousin when you hear the news. VIGDIS. What news, Thorolf? THOROLF. About Hall. 22 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. He's dead. What d'ye mean, Thorolf ? THOROLF. I killed him, Vigdis. VIGDIS. You, Thorolf? THOROLF. He cheated me. O, but I can't go into that. So we fought, and I killed him. It was a fair fight. I didn't want to kill him, God knows. VIGDIS. Men have no sense when they have swords in their hands. THOROLF. It was a fair fight. VIGDIS. I'm not blaming you, Thorolf. It seems men must kill each other from time to time. But what are you going to do now? THOROLF. What indeed. The Locked Chest 23 VlGDIS. You know what it means. You must know what it means. Do they know you did it? THOROLF. Ingiald will know by this. VIGDIS. But you know what Ingiald is. He'll be after you to-night, now. Now. What will you do? What you will do, Thorolf? THOROLF. You're my cousin, Vigdis ? VIGDIS. Of course I'm your cousin. THOROLF. You wouldn't cast me off. You don't think worse of me. I mean, it was a fair fight. It was fair and square. VIGDIS. Of course I won't cast you off. You're my cousin. Men have no sense at any time. 24 The Locked Chest But when they have swords in their hands it might happen to anyone. THOROLF. Vigdis. Will you stand by me? VIGDIS. You're my cousin, Thorolf. There's my hand. But don't waste time like this. Where will you hide? Who can shelter you against Ingiald? The King himself could hardly do it. It's death to shelter you. Where will you go? Think. Think. Where will you go ? THOROLF. I was thinking perhaps you would shelter me. VIGDIS. I, Thorolf? THOROLF. You and Thord. VIGDIS. And Thord? THOROLF. I was thinking perhaps you would. The Locked Chest 25 VlGDIS. Against Ingiald? THOROLF. Until I could get a ship. Only till I could get a ship. VIGDIS. Against a man like Ingiald? THOROLF. I know it's a risk, dear. I know it's a risk. VIGDIS. You know, Thorolf, my man Thord isn't much of a warrior. THOROLF. It wouldn't be for long, dear. If I could lie low a night or two VIGDIS. What should we be, against Ingiald? THOROLF. If we could just put him off the track, dear, then I could slip down to Broadfirth 26 The Locked Chest and get a ship. It would only be a night or two. VIGDIS. Thord is Thord. And I'm only a woman, and women aren't much good in a case of this sort. THOROLF. Let me stay, Vigdis. Will you? VIGDIS. I wish I could think of a plan. THOROLF. Where else can I go? VIGDIS. Go? You won't go anywhere. You'll just stay here, where you are. Don't worry yourself about that. It's Ingiald and Thord I'm thinking of. THOROLF. My God, Vigdis, you're good. I'll kiss you for that. VIGDIS. Oh, none of your nonsense, now. This The Locked Chest 27 is no kissing matter. No, you can't stay in here. Let go my hand, or I'll box your ears. Come this way, now. I'll shut you up in the sheep-fold. Quickly, now, before my husband comes. [Goes out at side door.] THOROLF. I've only got to put Ingiald off the track, dear. Old Hrut will get me a ship. VIGDIS. Put Ingiald off the track first, my friend. We'll think of the ship later. Come along. [Exeunt.] [The other side door opens, and re-enter THORD.] THORD. Vigdis. Vigdis. Is supper ready yet? Now if that isn't too bad. What's the woman thinking of? Vigdis, I say. It's not enough that I have a headache, and get fairly fratted to death, but I'm to be kept waiting for my supper. Vigdis. Vigdis, I say. [Enter VIG- DIS.] VIGDIS. What is it, Thord? 28 The Locked Chest THORD. What is it? Supper. Where's supper. Why on earth isn't supper ready? VIGDIS. I've had a visitor, Thord. A guest. THORD. A guest, eh. Who invited him? VIGDIS. No one invited him. He's a sort of a re- lation of mine. THORD. So it is a he. How long am I to be tor- tured with him? VIGDIS. I'd like him to stay for some time. If you don't mind, Thord. THORD. You know I mind. You know as well as I do I can't abide strangers in the house. They make this house just like an inn. Ex- cept that they never pay for what they have. I will not put up with it. It's enough The Locked Chest 29 that I'm half mad With headache, but I must have a stranger in the house. But there. It's always the way. Who is this stranger? Is he respectable? VIGDIS. He's a sort of relation of mine. I told you just now. THORD. A relation. If it had been a stranger I wouldn't have minded; but to have a rela- tion. And I shall have to be civil to him. Vigdis, I do think you might have had a little thought of me. But there. You think of no one but yourself. It's always the way with you women. VIGDIS. It won't be for long, Thord. THORD. I tell you what it is, Vigdis. If he's re- spectable he may stay the night and go on before breakfast. If he's one of these rowdy fellows, or if he's in trouble, I'll not have him near the place. I'll put the dogs on him myself. 30 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. You cannot, Thord. I've already taken him in. I can't go back on my word. I've promised him shelter now. THORD. Shelter? VlGDIS. You see he's in trouble. THORD. What trouble? Who is he, once for all? VlGDIS. Cousin Thorolf. THORD. Thorolf! What's he been doing? He's an idle blackguard, Thorolf. VlGDIS. He's not. THORD. He is, I say. Don't contradict. What's he been doing? The Locked Chest 3 i VlGDIS. There was ... It was ... It was a fair fight, Thord. THORD. A fair fight. You don't mean VlGDIS. Down on the beach. THORD. Not ... No ... Not Hall? VlGDIS. Yes. He killed Hall. THORD. Ingiald's brother. VlGDIS. Ingiald's brother. THORD. And you've been such a fool as to take him in. To take in Hall's murderer. In- giald's brother's murderer. 32 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. It was a fair fight, Thord. THORD. It was a fair fight. A fair fight. Ingiald's brother. A fair fight. VIGDIS. They fought with swords. THORD. In my house. Here. Ingiald's brother's murderer. And you've let him in. Where is he? VIGDIS. In the sheep-fold at the back of the house, for the present. That's a good place. They'd never look among the sheep. THORD. My head is like the seven mills of Mill- town. In my house. O, my head. O mis- erable man. It'll be my death. It's not enough that I must have a headache, and come home tired out, but I must have Ingiald down on me. He'll burn the house. He The Locked Chest 33 will. He will. I know Ingiald. He'll burn the house. He's sure to find out. And if he doesn't burn the house he'll put a blood- fine on me. He'll fine me a flock of sheep. It's not enough that I'm fratted to death and find no supper ready, but I must lose my cattle and be murdered in my bed. But there, it's always the way. VIGDIS. You'll be nothing of the sort. Have pity on poor Thorolf. THORD. Pity. Let poor Thorolf show a little pity on me. I'm a ruined man. Ingiald will drag me up and down by the hair. He'll hit me in the ribs with his great fists. He will. He will. I know Ingiald. And you go and take in a murderer. A murderer. If it had been a murderer of some common man I wouldn't have minded. But the mur- derer of Ingiald's brother. VIGDIS. I tell you it was not a murder. Thorolf 's no murderer. He's like a woman in most 34 The Locked Chest things, Thorolf is. I tell you it was not a murder. It was a fair fight. THORD. So Ingiald'll say. Yes, he'll say. I'll take your sheep, he'll say. And them nice cows too, Thord, he'll say. It was a nice fair fight, he'll say, so now I'll burn you in your bed. I know Ingiald. Ahoo. Ahoo. VIGDIS. Well. I wouldn't be a cry baby. There's worse things than being burned in our beds. Come. Be a man, Thord. One would think you were afraid of dying. THORD. O hold your nagging tongue, for God's sake. Ahoo. Ahoo. VIGDIS. It will all come right, Thord. Look. I'll get you some nice supper. THORD. You'll drive me mad in another minute. Supper, Ingiald's knife'll be the only supper The Locked Chest 35 I shall have. Hold your nagging tongue, and let me die in peace. VIGDIS. It's very likely that we'll have Ingiald here before long. He's not a man to wait on the road. He comes like an eagle, Ingiald does. THORD. O what shall I do? What shall I do? VIGDIS. Do? Put a bold face on it. There's no danger where there's no fear. Look him in the face and tell him to walk out of here. THORD. He may be coming now. Look out at the door, Vigdis. Is he coming? VIGDIS. There's someone coming. It's a party of men. A dozen, quite. THORD. O, I'm not fit to die. I'm not. 36 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. Be a man. They're coming quickly. They'll be here in a minute. Yes. It's Ingiald. There's his red cloak. He's walk- ing ahead of the rest. Be a man now, Thord. It'll be all right. THORD. O! O! VlGDIS. Can you think of any better plan than the sheep-fold? THORD. O! VlGDIS. O, why didn't I marry a man? You don't think he'd look in the sheep-fold, with all the sheep in it? I'm sure he wouldn't. THORD. O, Thorolf's all right. It's myself I'm thinking of. It's myself. O! VlGDIS. I wonder you aren't ashamed. The Locked Chest 37 THORD. I was getting on so well. I'd have been able to buy Rapp's field next year VlGDIS. Think of poor Thorolf. Brace up, man. Ingiald'll suspect at once if he sees you like that. What's your life? What's my life? It's our guest's life that matters. THORD. An idle vagrant's life better than mine? If it had been the king, now. VIGDIS. Thord, brace yourself. Thorolf's safe in the sheep-fold. Ingiald can prove nothing. Your guest's life depends on the way you look. Don't flop there like a done-out old gather-up of a bachelor. Swell your chest out. Put a scowl on, like a Viking. That's better. Here they are. [A knock at the door.} THORD. O, I'm a dead man. 38 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. O, I could shake you. For Thorolf's sake, perk yourself. [A knock.} Come in. Go and open the door, Thord. THORD. I can't. How can you ask me to open the door? [A knock.] VIGDIS. Go on, Thord. Go. Open, man. THORD. Vigdis. You don't mind. You open. Your nerves aren't like mine. VIGDIS. Quick, Thord. It's for the host to open. VOICES. Open within there. Open in the name of the law. VIGDIS. I must open, then. [Goes to the door.] Come in, come in. The Locked Chest 39 [Enter INGIALD and MEN-AT-ARMS.] INGIALD. God save all here. Thank you, Vigdis. VIGDIS. My man's not quite himself, to-night. Lord Ingiald. INGIALD. I'm sorry to hear that. What pin pricks now, Thord? THORD. Ah. Oh. INGIALD. [Looking keenly at both of them.} I should have thought life was pretty quiet up here. No fighting. No gambling. No anxiety VIGDIS. My man gets run down, Lord Ingiald. It's going to these fairs that does it. I've known him come home in a way of speaking, and he'd be all cold, like a dead man. It's the nerves and that on the brain. [A pause.} What could I do for you, Lord Ingiald ? Will you not sit down? Is there anything you 40 The Locked Chest would like to take? It's not often we see you up here. Why, I don't think I've seen you, not since last October twelve month. INGIALD. No. I daresay not. [He goes over to THORD and bangs him on the shoulder.} THORD. Ow. What is it, Ingiald ? Don't. INGIALD. I want to have a talk with you, my friend. THORD. A a talk. O yes. Yes, that. Yes. Very nice. INGIALD. [To his men.] Go out and stand by the door. Don't budge till I tell you. MEN. Ay, ay, sir. [Exeunt.] VlGDIS. Wouldn't your men be pleased to take a The Locked Chest 41 drop of something? You've surely not come all the way from Sheep Isles. What is it we could do for you, Lord Ingiald? Perhaps you would let me hear it. My man's not himself to-night. Were you wanting any hands to help get your harvest in? Tell me what it is. INGIALD. Thank you, Vigdis. I want to have a talk with Thord, here. THORD. I I'm so ill, Ingiald. It's the weather. Vigdis will do any business. My head. My head is bad. I'm a martyr to my head in wet weather. INGIALD. I know what it is. My own head gives me tortures. But I must have a talk with you. Perhaps you would ask your wife to mull me a little ale? VIGDIS. You must let me mull it in here, then. The kitchen fire's out. 42 The Locked Chest INGIALD. I should be delighted; but my nerves can't bear the smell of ale being mulled. It al- ways upsets me. [To THORD.] Perhaps you would ask your wife to to look at the sunset. Most beautiful sunset, outside. VIGDIS. Yes, we were looking at it this last half hour. INGIALD.. I see. Well. Vigdis. I must talk to Thord here privately. Will you go into the next room? I won't keep you long. VIGDIS. Certainly, Lord Ingiald. Now, I won't have you telling my man about any of those naughty baggages at Reykjavik. He knows quite enough, already. INGIALD. I won't mention a single baggage. [He calls to a SOLDIER.] Erik, just attend the lady for a moment. [Aside to SOLDIER.] See she doesn't leave the room. The Locked Chest 43 VlGDIS. I know you men. [She tries to catch THORD'S eye.] Ill make him repeat every word you say. [She goes out unconcernedly.} INGIALD. [Aside.] Well. If you're not a wonder. [Sharply.] Now Thord, my friend, I've got only one thing to say to you. Where's Thorolf? THORD. Thorolf. INGIALD. Well? THORD. Which Thorolf would that be? INGIALD. You know quite well which Thorolf. THORD. O, you mean old Thorolf of the Ridge? Ah yes. A fat man. He INGIALD. Now, Thord. [Glares at him.} 44 The Locked Chest THORD. O, young Thorolf. Koll o'Dales' lad. He goes to school, now. INGIALD. [Rapping the table.] Thord. THORD. Don't, Ingiald. You put a fellow out so. INGIALD. Where's Thorolf. Vigdis's cousin. Your cousin, Thorolf. THORD. Ha, ha, ha! That Thorolf. Yes. An idle blackguard. Yes. INGIALD. Yes. That Thorolf. Where is he? THORD. I've not seen him, Ingiald. INGIALD. I suppose you've not heard about him, either? The Locked Chest 45 THORD. No. INGIALD. Not? Sure? THORD. No. I mean yes. Of course I've heard about him. INGIALD. About what he has done to-day ? THORD. I didn't know he did anything to-day. INGIALD. You heard about my brother? THORD. Your poor brother, Hall? Yes, I was truly grieved. I was quite upset. INGIALD. That's what Thorolf did. THORD. Thorolf? 46 The Locked Chest INGIALD. Now where is he ? THORD. Your brother? INGIALD. I see. You won't answer. THORD. Now don't be hasty, Ingiald. You're so hasty. You don't give me a chance. What is it you want to know? INGIALD. Where is Thorolf ? THORD. I've not seen him, Ingiald. How should I know where Thorolf is ? INGIALD. He was seen coming towards this house. THORD. Towards this house? The Locked Chest 47 INGIALD. Only an hour ago. THORD. Thorolf? INGIALD. No more talk, my friend. Where is he? THORD. I don't know, Ingiald. I don't know. INGIALD. You lying knave. You creeping worm. You dog of . I'll ram this scabbard down your throat. You say you don't know. Where is he? Any more of your lies and I'll squeeze your lying tongue off. THORD. Don't, Ingiald. Don't. You're hurting. Don't, man. INGIALD. Well. No more of your lies, then. THORD. Now you've hurt me. I shall have a sore throat for a week. 48 The Locked Chest INGIALD. Do you good. [A pause.} Now then, Thorolf's here. Isn't he. Hey? THORD. Yes, Ingiald. INGIALD. I thought we should come to it sooner or later. See what comes of being patient. So he's here. Hidden somewhere? THORD. Yes, Ingiald. INGIALD. Where is he hidden? THORD. O, but I couldn't tell you that. If I told you that I'd have to leave the country. No one would speak to me, if I told you that. INGIALD. That's nothing to do with me. Now then. Where is he? The Locked Chest 49 THORD. O, I couldn't. INGIALD. Hey? THORD. I'd have to leave this farm. Have mercy, Ingiald. INGIALD. Mercy, eh? THORD. I couldn't bear it. I'm not strong, Ingiald. My head. INGIALD. D'ye see this little knife of mine? THORD. O, don't, Ingiald. Ingiald, you don't mean. Ingiald, I'd have to leave the country if I told you. INGIALD. Look here, Thord. I'm going to get Thorolf before I go. Let's understand each other. THORD. O, yes, Ingiald. I'll do anything. I'll 50 The Locked Chest say anything. But I can't tell you where he is. I can't. I'd have to leave the country. INGIALD. Well. You needn't tell me where he is. Not in so many words. D'ye understand? THORD. O, Ingiald. INGIALD. Let's come to some arrangement. You don't want your neighbours to call you a traitor. I understand that. You don't want me to burn your house down, or to stick this knife into you. I understand that, too. Well. You give up Thorolf to me quietly. THORD. I can't, Ingiald. They'd know. They'd know. Vigdis would tell them. INGIALD. I don't say "betray him," you silly gowk. THORD. But what then, Ingiald? The Locked Chest 5 i INGIALD. Give me some hint where he is, so that I can find him. I'll pretend to search the house, and light on him, as it were, by chance. Come now. THORD. But INGIALD. Come now. D'ye see this bag? [Pro- duces a purse.] THORD. Yes. INGIALD. D'ye hear it? Eh? Chink. Eh? Chink? Where is he? THORD. I couldn't. INGIALD. Come now. Hark? Three silver marks. Eh? Just whisper. Where? Come now. THORD. Three silver marks. 52 The Locked Chest INGIALD. Three silver marks. You needn't say it right out. Hear it jingle. THORD. It's a lot of money. INGIALD. You could do with it, eh? Come now, old man, where is he? THORD. Let me weigh it in my hand. INGIALD. Certainly. Here you are. Now then. Whisper here. Where is he? Tell me where he is. Where is he? Is he in the chest here? THORD. No, not in the chest. INGIALD. No? What is in the chest? THORD. Things of Vigdis's. The Locked Chest 53 INGIALD. Is he upstairs, then? Eh? Upstairs? THORD. No. He's not upstairs. INGIALD. Outside ? Eh ? THORD. [Putting the bag on the table.} Ingiald. INGIALD. Yes. Well. What is it? THORD. You won't take it to heart my hiding him? INGIALD. No. No. Of course I won't. THORD. Swear you won't. You won't fine me? Nor take my cattle? INGIALD. Not if you tell me where he is. 54 The Locked Chest THORD. You'll search the house first, Ingiald. In pretence ? INGIALD. Yes. I'll pretend to search the house. And then? THORD. You see that door there? INGIALD. Yes. Yes. What then? THORD. You must go through that door. No. No. Go through this door, and then round the house. INGIALD. Yes ? Where to ? Among the ricks ? THORD. No. Not among the ricks. INGIALD. In the dairy? THORD. You might look in the dairy. The Locked Chest 55 INGIALD. Where else, eh ? THORD. Just to the left of the dairy. INGIALD. The cowbyre, eh? THORD. No. No. You might look in the cowbyre, though. INGIALD. Where else? THORD. Ingiald. INGIALD. Yes. THORD. Swear you won't tell any one. Swear you won't say I told you. INGIALD. Of course I won't tell anyone. 56 The Locked Chest THORD. You might count the sheep. You under- stand? INGIALD. To the left of the dairy, eh ? THORD. To the left of the dairy. INGIALD. I'll see them counted. Thank'ee, Thord. THORD. Now, you'll pretend to look upstairs? INGIALD. Yes. We'll let in Vigdis, now. THORD. No, not Vigdis, no. INGIALD. Yes, man. Hey there. Erik! ERIK. Sir. The Locked Chest 57 INGIALD. Tell the lady to come in. ERIK. Tell the lady to come in, sir. You may go in now, mum. [Enter VIGDIS.] VlGDIS. Well. Have you had a nice talk? INGIALD. No. Not so nice as I could have wished, perhaps. Your husband's very low to-night. Excuse me a moment. Hi there. Hrapp, Hoskuld. SOLDIERS. [Entering.] Sir. Sir. INGIALD. I'm sorry, Vigdis. But I must search the house. Your husband has given me permission. I must look through all the rooms. VIGDIS. Search my house, indeed. 58 The Locked Chest INGIALD. I won't disarrange it more than can be helped. VIGDIS. Search my house, indeed. For what will you search my house? INGIALD. For your cousin, Thorolf. VIGDIS. My cousin Thorolf. And why should you want my cousin Thorolf, I should like to know? INGIALD. Come, Vigdis, I'm sorry. Now don't let's have a scene. VIGDIS. A scene, indeed. And why should you have a scene? I'm not going to have my house pulled to pieces. INGIALD. They won't do any harm, Vigdis. VIGDIS. Harm or no harm, I won't have anyone The Locked Chest 59 spying around in my house. I never heard of such impudence. This is my house. It isn't Thorolf s house. What d'ye want Tho- rolf for? INGIALD. You know perfectly well, Vigdis, what I want Thorolf for. VIGDIS. [To THORD.] And I'm to be insulted in my own house! I wonder you sit there and let your wife be insulted. As for you, Ingiald, for all your lordship, you never had more manners than one brought up in a pig- stye. It is what I might expect from you. But as for you, Thord, I'm ashamed of you. Defend your wife, man. Don't let these louts throw the whole house overboard. INGIALD. [To his men.] Upstairs with you. Search every room in the house. VIGDIS. How dare you insult a woman so. You great captains want humbling. If I were a man now, you wouldn't dare. 60 The Locked Chest ERIK. [To INGIALD.] Beg pardon, captain. INGIALD. What is it? ERIK. That box, captain. [Points to chest.] INGIALD. Well. What about it? ERIK. I was thinking he might be in that box. INGIALD. O, nonsense. Upstairs with you. [They all run upstairs.] [To THORD.] You come, too, Thord. If anything's missing you'll blame my men. THORD. [Aside.] Let Vigdis go, Ingiald. Take Vigdis. INGIALD. [Glancing at her.] No. She suspects nothing. You come. The Locked Chest 61 THORD. No. I don't think she suspects. No, she suspects nothing. VIGDIS. Where are you going, Thord? THORD. Upstairs with Ingiald. VIGDIS. Am I married to a man or to a bleating old sheep with the staggers. Do you call yourself a human being, Thord? [Aside.] What's Ingiald going to do? INGIALD. Come, Thord. Come on, now. THORD. [To VIGDIS.] Get supper ready. Don't stand there. [Exit with INGIALD.] VIGDIS. Get supper ready. Get supper ready. What's he going to do? Why didn't Thord 62 The Locked Chest give me a hint? He'll search the sheep- fold. Of course he'll search the sheep-fold. He'll be going to the fold in another minute. Why did I leave him in the sheep-fold? Why did I let him stay at all? What can I do? What can I do? He'll be down in a minute. What's this bag of money? What's this bag of money? Thord's sold him. It's blood money, I know it. What can I do? O, God. What can I do? THORD. [Above.] Vigdis. VlGDIS. Yes, Thord. THORD. All right. Nothing. I only wanted to know if you were there. VIGDIS. What can I do? I know. I know. It's a bare chance. It's a bare chance. [She runs softly and swiftly from the room.] [In two seconds she returns with THOROLF.] [Noise above, and shouts.] The Locked Chest 63 VlGDIS. Quiet. Quiet. Not a whisper. THOROLF. What shall I do? VlGDIS. Not a whisper. THORD. [Above.] Vigdis. Are you there still? VlGDIS. I'm still here, Thord. What's the matter with you? Into the chest, Thorolf. Get into the chest. [She opens chest.} THOROLF. [Kissing her.] Good-bye, in case, Vigdis. VIGDIS. O, you silly boy. Get in. I must lock you in. Don't sneeze, for God's sake. Press your upper lip if you want to sneeze. It's a bare chance, Thorolf. [She locks the chest on him and takes key. Then she hurriedly 64 The Locked Chest and softly puts bread and beer upon the table as for supper.} [Re-enter INGIALD, THORD, and SOLDIERS.] VlGDIS. Well, my lord. Did you find my cousin Thorolf by any chance? INGIALD. I've not finished looking yet. VIGDIS. Haven't you? You might look on the dresser there. I would if I were you. Or in the oven. Yes, look in the oven, Ingiald. Show him the oven, Thord. INGIALD. [To some of his men.} Step into the kitchen, and look in the oven. You. Come with me the rest of you. We must look through the farmyard. VIGDIS. Don't disturb your elder brother, Ingiald. INGIALD. What elder brother? The Locked Chest 65 VlGDIS. The donkey. INGIALD. Ah, you're funny, Vigdis. Well, he laughs best who laughs last, / say. [Exit with MEN.] VIGDIS. Thord. Thord Goddi. THORD. Yes, Vigdis. VIGDIS. What's this bag of money, here ? THORD. Bag of money? VIGDIS. This bag of money here. What is it? THORD. It's what I brought from market. VIGDIS. It's nothing of the sort. 66 The Locked Chest THORD. Oh no. Nor it is. VIGDIS. Well? THORD. Well? I suppose Ingiald left it there when he came in. VIGDIS. Did you see Ingiald leave it there? O, what am I thinking of? [Aside.] THORD. Now for Heaven's sake stop nagging. Hark! VIGDIS. What is it? THORD. I thought I heard a noise in the yard. A cry. VIGDIS. My God. A cry. [They go to the door.] THORD. I hope they won't find him. The Locked Chest 67 VlGDIS. Thank God I did what I could for him. O, may Heaven blind them. THORD. I'm afraid they're sure to find him. What was that? VIGDIS. My God. They're brave, aren't they, thirteen to one? THORD. Didn't you hear a sort of groan then? VIGDIS. Poor Thorolf. Poor Thorolf. THORD. We did our best, Vigdis. VIGDIS. Yes. May God always help you, Thord, as well as you helped Thorolf! THORD. Yes, I shall always be glad I did my best for him. 68 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. Yes, Thord. I suppose you will be. I hope you will be. THORD. Poor fellow. VIGDIS. Poor Thorolf . THORD. Don't take on, Vigdis. We must all die. Ah. Ah. Come away from the door. Come. [Cries without.] VIGDIS. [Covering her eyes.] O, my dear, my dear. O Thorolf, little brown-haired Thorolf. THORD. There. There. It's all over now. VIGDIS. O, my Thorolf, my cousin Thorolf. THORD. There. There. Now don't take on. Don't take on; you get on my nerves when you cry like that. The Locked Chest 69 VlGDIS. O, you had brown hair, Thorolf. Bonny hair you had. O, my boy, my poor cousin. [Cries without.] THORD. [Aside.] They've got him. They've got him. [He rubs his hands.] We all owe Heaven a death. Poor Thorolf. Poor fellow. And him so young. VIGDIS. It was a sight for sore eyes on a sunny morning to see him going over the hills. O, Thorolf, you were the joy of a woman's eyes. You were as stately as a stag. You were as comely as a king's darling. O, my boy, my poor cousin, my own dear, my heart's darling, Thorolf! THORD. And him so young. And such a promising young fellow. To be cut short. Life is but a span. And him so young. Idle, vicious, drunken blackguard, it's a good job you are cut short. [More noise without] jo The Locked Chest VlGDIS. He had soft brown hair with threads of gold in it like the bright bird's feathers. Now it's dabbled with blood, dabbled with blood, dabbled with blood. THORD. Dabbled with blood. O! O me! VlGDIS. O young man, O treasure of the west, O white, comely, handsome Thorolf! Yours will be a cold bride bed under the winter grass. THORD. O do for Heaven's sake be quiet. VlGDIS. A cold bed, a lonely bed, a white bed. THORD. You'll waste none of our sheets, laying of him out. Let me tell you that. VlGDIS. Three white lonely candles in a draught, The Locked Chest 71 three flames guttering, but you will lie still beneath them, Thorolf. THORD. Vigdis. Do you want to drive me mad? Have done now. VIGDIS. O bonny Thorolf. Swimming and rowing and going among young men you were like a king. None could sail a boat like you. No queen ever loosed her hair about a lovelier lover than you. You were courteous, you were kind, you had strength and beauty, you were brave; now you will lie in the ground, and the sheep will crop the grass there. THORD. Here. Vigdis. A little of that goes a long way. Thorolf's dead. Here's Ingiald coming back. Hold your noise now, for Heaven's sake. [Re-enter INGIALD with MEN.] INGIALD. I've a bone to pick with you, Thord. 72 The Locked Chest VlGDIS. Bring me my dead. Give me my dead, you butchers, you bloody men. INGIALD. D'ye hear? VlGDIS. Thirteen to one. Thirteen to one. You butchers. You bloody men. Bring me my dead. Bring me my dead darling. You cowards. You cowards. INGIALD. What's wrong with you, Vigdis ? VlGDIS. Let me look upon the boy's dead face. You butchers. O fair, white face. O white face with the red blood upon it. O my boy, my dear boy, Thorolf. INGIALD. He'll be a white face when I get him and that's a fact, Vigdis. I'll promise you that much. Thord, I'll wring your ears off. The Locked Chest 73 VlGDIS. Where is my dead lad? You dogs. You butchers. Take me to his corpse. INGIALD. Your dead lad? There's no dead lad. VIGDIS. Not dead. O, Heaven! [Pretends to swoon.] THORD. What? INGIALD. I'll tell you what, you creeping rot. You cur. You Judas. What have you done with him? THORD. Done with him ? INGIALD. With Thorolf. Eh. Where is he? Eh? What have you done with him? THORD. I've done nothing, Ingiald. Nothing. 74 The Locked Chest INGIALD. Don't tell me you've done nothing. THORD. I didn't do anything with him. INGIALD. You lying knave. D'ye dare to sit there and say you haven't got him off? THORD. I haven't got him off. INGIALD. You lie. THORD. How could I have got him off? INGIALD. How? How do I know how? But I'll know how. I'll flay you alive. I'll skin you and salt you. I'll I'll I'll- THORD. O don't. Ingiald, I swear I swear I thought you'd get him. The Locked Chest 75 INGIALD. I tell you, you've got him off. THORD. I haven't, Ingiald. INGIALD. [To his men.] Look at him. Look at this liar, here. I come here to this liar and tell him I want Thorolf. And he cringes and whines and licks my boots. So I just speak to him kindly, like a father. I'm always kindly and like a father. I'm too kind. And he cringes and whines, and begs me not to hit him. Only spare my precious hide, he says, and I'll tell you where Thorolf is. THE MEN. Hear that now. He betrayed him, etc. Then he wants a little money, for saying where Thorolf is. The money on the table there. Three marks of silver, no less. He'd sell his own mother for a little money. Wouldn't you, eh? The Locked Chest THORD. I wouldn't. INGIALD. You would, you know it. Three marks of silver you begged. And then you told me to look in the sheep-fold. THE MEN. Treacherous swine. His own cousin. His own cousin. INGIALD. And then he sneaks his man off while we're rummaging in the wrong place. And now he expects me to be out three marks of silver. THE MEN. Tie him to the bull's tail, master; and let's hunt him. INGIALD. So you'd sell your cousin, would you, and then try to go back on your bargain? [Going to him.] Where have you taken Thorolf to? Eh? The Locked Chest 77 THORD. He was in the sheep-fold where I told you, Ingiald. He was. Indeed he was. INGIALD. O. Was he? And where is he now? Gone to Olaf's, I suppose. THORD. He may have gone to Olaf's. THE MEN. Olaf's is a likely place. We'd better go on there at once. INGIALD. Lord help you, Thord, if we don't get him. Understand? I mean it. Come on there. A MAN. You never looked in that chest yet, captain. INGIALD. O yes, that chest. [He tries lid.] Where's the key, Thord? 78 The Locked Chest THORD. Ask Vigdis. INGIALD. Where's the key of this chest, Vigdis ? VIGDIS. Key of the chest, indeed. Who are you to ask for my keys? I'm not going to have you spying in my chests. You and your gang have done harm enough here. You'll get no key. Let that be enough. INGIALD. Come now. The key. VIGDIS. I tell you, you shall not have the key. THE MEN. Break it open, captain. A MAN. O let the chest alone. Thorolf'll be safe at Olaf's if we don't hurry. INGIALD. Give me the key. The Locked Chest 79 TlIORD. Give up the key at once. VIGDIS. I tell you, you shall not have the key. You've thrown the house overboard as it is. Get out now. Go. INGIALD. Give me that key at once, Vigdis. VIGDIS. [Flinging key on floor.] Take it then, and bad luck go with it. Here it is. Now open. INGIALD. [Giving it back.] Thank you. That's all I wanted. Now, Thord. Give back that bag of money. THORD. O, Ingiald, you gave it to me. INGIALD. Now you will give it back. THORD. O, Ingiald. 8o The Locked Chest VlGDIS. Give it, Thord. Give it, you Judas, you. D'ye think I'll have blood money in the house. Give it up at once. [The Men go out and linger at the door.} INGIALD. Come on now. VIGDIS. [Taking money bag.} I've only one thing to say to you, Ingiald. I say, take your money and get out of my house, now. [She makes him back to the door.} Take your dirty blood money. [She smites him over the face with the money bag and drives him out. She watches them go} Go on to Olaf's with you, and try some other Judas. That's all I've to say to you, my lord. [She turns and unlocks chest. Then, instead of opening, she turns to look at Thord. Thord goes to door and looks out, comes back and sits on chest. Vigdis backs away from him} THORD. Well. They've gone. [A pause} They've The Locked Chest 8 i gone. [No answer.] Can't you answer when I speak to you? VIGDIS. Yes. I can answer. Listen to me, Thord Goddi. You and I will part from now. You took money to betray Thorolf, your guest and my cousin. I always knew you for a mean man. Now I know you are base, and a dastard, and a dog. God forgive me, I once loved you. Pah. I let you kiss me. I held you in my arms. There. There. There. Take it. [She flings her wedding ring at him.} Now we'll part, my sir. I thank God I never bore you a child. THORD. [Laughing nervously.} I've got a head- ache. I can't Ow [The chest lid rises. Thord leaps from it. Thorolf appears.} Thorolf! THOROLF. Thorolf! THORD. Thorolf, I didn't mean I swear I didn't. 82 The Locked Chest I didn't mean. It was only a joke. I'll explain. THOROLF. Thord. Pah. You're not worth it. THORD. O Thorolf. You shall have I'll give you my money. All of it THOROLF. Pah. Vigdis, my dear, where are they? VIGDIS. They've gone, Thorolf. We can slip away to Broadfirth now. It's quite safe. Come. Come. We'll go together, my friend. (They turn to go.] THORD. I'll change my religion. CURTAIN. Written in 1906. THE SWEEPS OF NINETY-EIGHT THE SWEEPS OF NINETY-EIGHT SCENE: An inn at Dunleary. A parlour. TIGER ROCHE, an old, well-preserved man, with his left arm in a sling. ROCHE. I have been in seven lost causes. This is the seventh; and it comes to an end like the others. There were good fellows with me. They poured out their lives like water. Good fellows they were. They are all gone now. Shears, and all of them. My God! but they were brave. And to think of those swine at the Castle ruling men like they were! [He rings the bell.} [Enter HOSTESS.] Well, what did the ship-captain say? HOSTESS. There'll be a boat below the door here in half an hour from now. ROCHE. And he'll engage to land me in France? 85 86 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight HOSTESS. In France itself. ROCHE. You said half an hour? HOSTESS. Yes, sir. ROCHE. So I've half an hour more in Ireland. Half an hour more in Ireland, and then- Adieu for ever more, My love, Adieu for ever more. Well, there's no sense in sorrow; I may as well have some wine. HOSTESS. What wine would you like, sir? Claret? Burgundy? ROCHE. Have you any Miss Taylor? HOSTESS. Why, sir, that's a common drink. Only sailors drink Miss Taylor. The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 87 ROCHE. I drank a cup of Miss Taylor the day I landed at Killala. I would drink it again to the memory of the friends who pledged me in it. [Soliloquizing.] It ought not to have failed. But the honest purpose does fail, for it is fighting the knavery of the world. It's a harsh alternative, to fail or be British. Fail, aye, and I'm proud to fail. Better be trampled out by asses' hooves Than be the thing the asses' mind approves. [HOSTESS goes out and returns with bottle and glass.] i HOSTESS. Here it is, sir. ROCHE. I thank you. [HOSTESS goes out.] [Pouring out a glass of wine and holding it up.] I drink to you, my comrades. You fought a good fight, my comrades. You were spent 88 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight like water. Your names shall be written in fire. [Re-enter HOSTESS.] HOSTESS. There's some gentlemen coming, sir. Per- haps you'd like to step aside, sir. The cellar's dark, and there's a good place in the hen- house. ROCHE. I'll stay where I am, thank you. HOSTESS. It may be dangerous for you to stay, sir. One of them's that Major Sirr. ROCHE. I shall be glad to meet him. HOSTESS. [Looking out.] It may be very dangerous, sir. One of them's that Major Sandys. ROCHE. O! Who's the third? The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 89 HOSTESS. Sir, would you not be advised, since it might be your death? He's the drunken fat man who flogged poor Mr. Wright. I must go out, sir. [Exit.] ROCHE. Old Fitzpatrick! I shall have pleasant company for my last half-hour in Ireland. [He sits down.] [Enter MAJOR SIRR, MAJOR SANDYS, and THOMAS JUDKIN FITZPATRICK, J. P.] FITZ. And so, sir, when he said that, sir, there was no use bothering a jury. SIRR. Aha. Very good, very good. You are a wag, sir. FITZ. Yes, sir, the rebellious dog. SAND. All the same, the rebellion's not stamped 90 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight out. I shall be glad when that new regi- ment comes in. SIRR. What new regiment? SAND. O, a Kentish regiment. Fencibles and that. They'll be marching through here, by the way. Before we go, I expect. SIRR. Well, the more the merrier. But all the same, I think we've scotched the rebellion. Let's sit down and be merry. SAND. All the same, I'm glad the new regiment's coming. And I'm glad it'll pass this tavern. We are in the enemy's country, so far from Dublin. SIRR. Come, let's be merry. Mr. Fitzpatrick, I hear you hanged the last of these rebels yesterday morning. FlTZ. Yes, sir; the rebellious dog. Under God's The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 9 1 providence I hanged that rebel, sir. The rebellious dog, sir, he was little better than a common atheist. If we could catch that arch-traitor, Tiger Roche, sir; why honest men, sir, could sleep in peace again. SAND. Why, I thought Tiger Roche had died twenty years ago. FITZ. That's an instance, sir, of the lengths these rebels go to. It's their subtlety, sir; their canting, lying, hypocritical subtlety. He pretended he was dead, sir. He gave out a report that he was dead, sir. And then, sir, if you please, he lands at Killala with a troop of pikemen. Dead? A crocodile's tears, sir. Twenty years of scheming and plotting; and pretending all the time he was in his grave. [Staring hard at ROCHE.] Who's the old put with his arm in a bag? SIRR. O, some old put or other. Let's be merry. [He rings the bell.} [Enter HOSTESS.] 92 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight SlRR. Mine's brandy. What's yours? What's yours, Sandys? FlTZ. A bottle of brandy, woman. Bring a bottle of brandy. [HOSTESS brings bottle and glasses. Then lingers.] Well, ma'am. And why don't you go, ma'am? HOSTESS. The brandy is half a guinea, sir. FITZ. You saucy jade. Hark ye, mistress. I'd have you know, ma'am, that I'm a justice of the peace, ma'am. I shouldn't wonder if you're another of these pernicious atheis- tical Friends of Ireland, as they call them. Pernicious, lying, murderous dogs. Well! What are you waiting for? HOSTESS. I'm waiting for my money, sir. I don't like to be put upon. The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 93 FlTZ. What? Rebel, would you, against the King's Peace? I am the King's Peace, madam. Not another word, or I'll commit you. [Exit HOSTESS.] SlRR. You are a wag, sir. Your are merry. SAND. Excellent. Excellent. [They draw to the table, unbuckle their belts, put down their swords and papers, and prepare to enjoy themselves^ [To FITZ.] They say you made a great haul of rebels in Tipperary, about six weeks back. FITZ. Under God's providence, I did, sir. I caught seven, sir. I had them all flogged, sir, and then hanged the eldest. Strong measures, sir; but without strong measures we shouldn't sleep in peace, sir. No, sir. If we didn't exert the strong arm, sir and you will agree with me that might is right 94 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight there'd be a subversion of all Liberty. But I thank God, sir, that we have a Constitu- tion. Let me hear no cant about Equality and Liberty, and the Rights of Man, sir. Show me a man who talks of Truth, and I will show you a rebel. SIRR. Hear, hear. SAND. Well, about the rebels. How did you catch them? FITZ. Catch them? I saw them in the streets, sir. The effrontery of these rebels knows no bounds, sir. SAND. What, with arms in their hands ? FITZ. Arms in their hands? No, sir. In Tip- perary, sir under God's providence they know better. SAND. Well but how did you know them? The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 95 FITZ. Know them, sir? I knew them by their waistcoats, their canting, atheistical, seditious red French waistcoats. There was "Down with Church and State" in every button. Sir, the evidence was plain, sir. Those waist- coats would have condemned a Christian martyr, sir. ROCHE. [Aside.] It seems they did. FITZ. What's the old put there muttering? SAND. Ah, don't pay any heed to him. Tell us of the man who didn't take off his hat to you. SIRR. Yes, tell us of that. You are a wag, Mr. Fitzpatrick. I'm afraid you're a merry wag, sir. FITZ. Sir, your very good health. 96 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight SlRR. O, sir, your servant, I'm sure. [They drink.} SAND. Well, about the man FlTZ. O, yes. The rebellious hound. He didn't take off his hat to me, sir. Well, sir. He that affronts me, sir, affronts King George, sir. For I, sir, under God's providence, am King George's Justice of the Peace, sir; so, sir, when a man does not salute me, he does not salute King George, sir. He is a rebel, sir. A sans-culotte, sir. A murdering pike in the hand of a sans-culotte, sir. He is a rebel on the face of it. And so, sir, to make a short tale, I gave him fifty lashes. And d'ye know, sir, he had the brazen-faced effrontry to contradict me when I called him a rebel to his teeth. Beat that if you can, sir. What d'ye think of that, sir? Beat it if you can for cold-blooded, brazen- faced, rebellious audacity. These people are possessed of the devil, sir. The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 97 SAND. Look at my case. Only last week. I had a traitor. He was taken in the fact, as it were. That man Hevey. Why, he was a known traitor. There was no need to try him. The thing was evident. I condemned him to be hanged. Well, he had a mare, a grey mare, a famous creature. I told him to send her round to me. I told him straight out that a mare like her should never again load her loyal loins with the vile burden of a convicted traitor. And he'd the heaven- sent impudence to complain to General Craig. FITZ. These people are possessed of the devil, sir. But come, a bumper. A bumper. SIRR. [Aside.] I think that old put's a rebel. He blushed like fire, Major, when you told your story. [They look at ROCHE, who is reading a little book.} 98 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight FITZ. What's he reading? These reading people, they're generally deep ones. SIRR. [Peeping.] It seems to be poetry. FITZ. [Aside.] Poetry? He is a rebel without doubt. [Aloud.] I would make it a capital offence to read poetry. Yes, sir. When a man deliberately starts to poison his mind with incendiary cant about Truth and Beauty, he is as good as damned, sir. I would hang any man who read poetry. A man who has a book of poems in one hand has always a rebel's pike in the other. You mark my words, sir. Ahem! You, sir! You with your arm in the sling. ROCHE. You were pleased to speak to me? FITZ. Yes, sir, I was pleased, as you call it, to speak to you. Don't trifle with me, sir. The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 99 For I am, under God's providence, a Justice of the King's Peace, King George's deputy, under God's providence, if you know what that means. ROCHE. Sir, I know what that means. Yes, sir, I know what that means. Its meaning is written red across this island. FlTZ. So, sir. I am glad to find you so well affected. Are you an honest man, sir? ROCHE. Come, Mr. Fitzpatrick. A man is known by the company he keeps. SIRR. You are a wag, sir. FITZ. So, sir, I see you know me? ROCHE. Not know Mr. Fitzpatrick! ioo The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight FITZ. Why then, sir, you will let me see what book you are reading. ROCHE. With pleasure, sir. The Odes of Horace. SAND. I know that Odes O'Horace to be a pamph- leteering rebel. Mr. Fitzpatrick we must secure this man. SIRR. [Looking at book.] There's mighty few rebels understands Hebrew, let me tell you that, Sandys. ROCHE. [To Sirr.] I thought I couldn't be mis- taken. Can it be tell me Am I not in the presence of Major Sirr, the saviour of this benighted country, the apprehender of that arch-offender, that rebel chief, Sir Peter Keogh? O happy day! A glorious privilege! FITZ. Yes, sir, that is Major Sirr, sir. Our The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 101 Saviour under God's providence, Major Sirr, sir. Come, sit down and be merry, Mr. Mr. what's your name? SAND. All very well, Fitzpatrick. But you and I are of the Commission. Hark! There's the fifes. The regiment's coming. We'd better send him in with the regiment and have him properly examined. SIRR. Don't be an ass, Sandys. FITZ. Major Sandys, sir. When you are drunk, sir, you are a credit to your King and your religion, sir. But Major Sandys, sir, when you are sober, sir, you are a dry toast, sir. You stick in an honest man's throat, sir. Damme, sir, sit down and drink like a Chris- tian. SAND. Well. The regiment's coming. The band are out of tune. These militia are the deuce. 102 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight Well, Mr. Rebel, or Mr. Honest Man, who- ever you are, the bottle lies with you. FITZ. Give us a toast, Mr. Honest Man. ROCHE. Gentlemen, pass up your glasses. I will give you a toast. Hand up your glasses. I will give you a toast. SIRR. What is it you're drinking? ROCHE. Tokay, Major, a kind of Imperial Tokay. FITZ. A man who drinks Tokay, sir, is a man of principle. Did the rebels drink Tokay? No, sir, they drank vile antheistical whisky. ROCHE. Come, don't abuse whisky. I've known whisky get a grocer knighted. The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 103 FlTZ. Sir, a King, sir, is above the law, sir. Come, give us your toast. SAND. Yes, give us your toast. SIRR. Fill fair, now, honest man. [RocHE lines up the three glasses and fills them full.] FlTZ. Your toast, now. ROCHE. Gentlemen, I give you a toast "The Trinity of Judas." There, sir, is yours; there's yours, Major Sandys; there's yours, Major Sirr. [He flings the glasses one by one into the faces of the trio.} Gentlemen, I am Tiger Roche. I hope you liked your wine. IO4 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight SlRR. Traitor! Help me, you two. There is a thousand pounds reward. FITZ. My religion forbids re retaliation. SAND. [To ROCHE.] Well, you bully. The regi- ment's coming. Then we'll see about Mr. Tiger Roche, with his toasts and his Hebrew. [SiRR tries to reach his sword.] ROCHE. [To SIRR.] I should be sorry to have your blood upon my sword, Major Sirr. [SiRR relapses.] [To SANDYS.] Now, Mr. Sandys, about your regiment. That is not your regiment. Your regiment is a red ruin at Rathnew. Those fifes are the fifes of the Friends of Ireland. In five minutes' time I hope to be leading them to Dublin. The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 105 ALL. What! O, God, we are lost! ROCHE. Sit down, you carrion. SIRR. And I've a wife and two sons. ROCHE. What! Human feeling in a Sirr! FITZ. O, Mr. Roche, sir; Captain Roche, sir. Have pity; I am not fit to die. ROCHE. Truth from a Fitzpatrick! SAND. O, Captain Roche. You shall have the grey mare. Hevey's famous mare, that won the trotting match. ROCHE. Generosity in a Mr. Major Sandys. io6 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight ALL. O, Mr. Roche, we'll reform. O, hide us, Mr. Roche. Not the mob, Mr. Roche. We shall be torn limb from limb. ROCHE. Well, you'd better get up that chimney. FITZ. My belly'll never go there. ROCHE. Well, it had better go there. SAND. It won't hold us all. You must stand out, Fitzpatrick. Stand by, Sirr. I go first. [He gets up the chimney.} SIRR. O God, will I be in time? [He gets up the chimney] [The fifes sound clearly.] FITZ. My belly will bring my grey hairs in sor- The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 107 row to the grave. O you inhuman Sandys. Help me up. O help me up. I'll squeeze in somehow. O, Mr. Roche, help me up. Do now, kind Mr. Roche. O, I shall choke. [He gets up the chimney.} [An agonized voice from the chimney:] Do our legs show? [The band sounds without. ROCHE gathers up their papers in a pile. Then goes to the window.] ROCHE. Ho, there. Captain! VOICE WITHOUT. What d'ye want. ROCHE. Bring in a file of men. There are some rebels secreted here. [The troops ground arms and halt. Enter CAPTAIN and file.] CAPTAIN. Well, sir, where are the rebels? ROCHE. Sir, I hold the King's Commission. I io8 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight have traced these rebels here. Five minutes since we were drinking at this table. They are up that chimney. Do your duty. SOLDIERS. [Running to chimney.] Here's a leg. Here they are all right. Yank them down, sons. We'll give you Killala Bay. We'll give you Erin-go-bragh. In the neck we'll give it to you. [They pull down three filthy, blinking scarecrows.} [As they wipe the soot from their eyes ROCHE indicates them.} ROCHE. This [pointing to SANDYS] is Mr. Napper Tandy. This [pointing to SIRR] is Captain Tiger Roche. He looks a tiger, I must say. This [pointing to FITZPATRICK] is that arch- felon, Mr. Wolfe Tone. Guard them care- fully, Captain. They are worth some seven thousand pounds. ALL THREE. [Recognizing the Kings uniform through the The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 109 soot.] Unhand us, Captain. We are the King's Justices. That man there is the rebel. That is Tiger Roche, Captain. We are the King's Justices. A SOLDIER. Bleeding fine Justices the King's got, then. A SOLDIER. You and your Justices. We'll give you all the justice you need. An ounce of lead is the justice you'll get. ALL THREE. Unhand us, will you! Captain! What are you doing? That is the rebel. That is Tiger Roche. Take off your men. We are the King's Justices. CAPTAIN. I've heard that song before. Shut your damned seditious heads or I'll make you chew a trooper's cook. ROCHE. [Smiling.] What in the world's a trooper's cook? Captain. iio The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight CAPTAIN. It's a piece of wood, sir. It's all the cook a trooper has. Between the teeth, it is an effective gag. ALL THREE. But hear us, Captain. A SOLDIER. Blimy! Shut your heads. Don't you hear what the Captain tells you? SAND. Damn it, Captain. You shall suffer FITZ. If there's justice in Ireland. A SOLDIER. There's no justice in Ireland. SIRR. But there's law, sir. And you shall have it. CAPTAIN. Yes, there's law, and you shall have it. There's man-o'-war law "over the face and eyes." The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 1 1 i SERGEANT. Like the cat give the monkey. ROCHE. You've secured their hands, sir. They are three desperate felons. SERGEANT. Their hands won't give no trouble. CAPTAIN. [To ROCHE.] Well, sir. What next? ROCHE. [Writing at table.} O, march them into Dublin this note will explain and give them in charge to General Craig. CAPTAIN. I presume you will come, too, sir. ROCHE. I will follow in a moment. I must place a seal on these papers I have found here. THE THREE JUSTICES. That proves it, Captain. He's the rebel. ii2 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight He's Tiger Roche. Don't let him stay behind, Captain. ROCHE. Captain, remove those babblers. Silence, you felons. Give them the trooper's cook. Stay a moment. Leave a file of men. They can bear witness to my sealing the papers. CAPTAIN. I've a reputation to keep up. What! Leave my men in a tavern? No, sir, and I'm obliged to you. The hostess will be witness enough. Forward, my croppy boys. Quick march. ROCHE. But you'll have a drink before you go, Captain? CAPTAIN. Not in working hours, thank ye. Now, my croppy boys. THE THREE. You shall hang for this, Captain. The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight 113 CAPTAIN. There's some I know will hang too. Quick march, I say. [He nods to ROCHE.] I'll see you later, at the General's. ROCHE. At General Craig's. But I shall probably overtake you on the road. CAPTAIN. "We will meet at that beautiful shore." Quick march, my sons. [Exeunt. The troops pass on.] [A pause, during which ROCHE watches them from the window.] ROCHE. Well, the fire's out and the guests are gone. There's only the bill to pay. [He empties a purse on ike table.] [Enter HOSTESS.] HOSTESS. The boat is waiting below, sir. ii4 The Sweeps of Ninety-Eight ROCHE. It is good-bye, then. HOSTESS. You'll be coming again, sir. There'll be other friends going the same road. ROCHE. I shall be too old when they try again. Good-bye. Now with his useless steel the beaten rebel goes To that proud misery's peace no victor ever knows. Written in 1905. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-25/-9,'47(A5618)444 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES A 000557231 8 PR 6025 M37 1