Nurse Guinness brings up the rear, and waits near the door, on
Mangan's left.
MRS HUSHABYE. What has happened?
MAZZINI. Your housekeeper told me there was somebody upstairs,
and gave me a pistol that Mr Hushabye had been practising with. I
thought it would frighten him; but it went off at a touch.
THE BURGLAR. Yes, and took the skin off my ear. Precious near
took the top off my head. Why don't you have a proper revolver
instead of a thing like that, that goes off if you as much as
blow on it?
HECTOR. One of my duelling pistols. Sorry.
MAZZINI. He put his hands up and said it was a fair cop.
THE BURGLAR. So it was. Send for the police.
HECTOR. No, by thunder! It was not a fair cop. We were four to
one.
MRS HUSHABYE. What will they do to him?
THE BURGLAR. Ten years. Beginning with solitary. Ten years off my
life. I shan't serve it all: I'm too old. It will see me out.
LADY UTTERWORD. You should have thought of that before you stole
my diamonds.
THE BURGLAR. Well, you've got them back, lady, haven't you? Can
you give me back the years of my life you are going to take from
me?
MRS HUSHABYE. Oh, we can't bury a man alive for ten years for a
few diamonds.
THE BURGLAR. Ten little shining diamonds! Ten long black years!
LADY UTTERWORD.
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