Dick. When I was sentenced--the evidence was black against me, I
admit--I wrote and released you from your engagement. You are
married now?
Millicent (throwing herself on the sofa). Oh, Dick!
Jasper (recovering himself). Enough of this. Miss Wilsdon is going
to marry me to-morrow.
Dick. To marry YOU! (He strides over to the sofa and pulls Millicent
to her feet.) Millicent, look me in the eyes! Do you love him? (She
turns away.) Say "Yes," and I will go back quietly to my prison.
(She raises her eyes to his.) Ha! I thought so! You don't love him!
Now then I can speak.
Jasper (advancing threateningly). Yes, to your friends the warders.
Millicent, ring the bell.
Dick (wresting the revolver from his grasp). Ha, would you? Now
stand over there and listen to me. (He arranges his audience,
Millicent on a sofa on the right, Jasper, biting his finger-nails,
on the left.) Three years ago Lady Wilsdon's diamond necklace was
stolen. My flat was searched and the necklace was found in my
hatbox. Although I protested my innocence, I was tried, found
guilty, and sentenced to ten years' penal servitude, followed by
fifteen years' police supervision.
Millicent (raising herself on the sofa). Dick, you were innocent--I
know it. (She falls back again.)
Dick. I was. But how could I prove it? I went to prison. For a year
black despair gnawed at my heart. And then something happened. The
prisoner in the cell next to mine tried to communicate with me by
means of taps. We soon arranged a system and held conversations
together. One day he told me of a robbery in which he and another
man had been engaged--the robbery of a diamond necklace.
Jasper (jauntily). Well?
Dick (sternly). A diamond necklace, Jasper Beeste, which the other
man hid in the hatbox of another man in order that he might woo the
other man's fiancee! (Millicent shrieks.)
Jasper (blusteringly). Bah!
Dick (quietly). The man in the cell next to mine wants to meet this
gentleman again. It seems that he has some old scores to pay off.
Jasper (sneeringly). And where is he?
Dick. Ah, where is he? (He goes to the window and gives a low
whistle. A Stranger in knickerbockers jumps in and advances with a
crab-like movement.) Good! here you are. Allow me to present you to
Mr Jasper Beeste.
Jasper (in horror). Two-toed Thomas! I am undone!
Two-toed Thomas (after a series of unintelligible snarls). Say the
word, guv'nor, and I'll kill him. (He prowls round Jasper
thoughtfully.)
Dick (sternly). Stand back! Now, Jasper Beeste, what have you to
say?
Jasper (hysterically). I confess. I will sign anything. I will go to
prison. Only keep that man off me.
Dick (going up to a bureau and writing aloud at incredible speed).
"I, Jasper Beeste, of Beeste Hall, do hereby declare that I stole
Lady Wilsdon's diamond necklace and hid it in the hatbox of Richard
Trayle; and I further declare that the said Richard Trayle is
innocent of any complicity in the affair." (Advancing with the paper
and a fountain pen.) Sign, please.
[Jasper signs. At this moment two warders burst into the room.
First Warder. There they are!
[He seizes Dick. Two-toed Thomas leaps from the window, pursued by
the second Warder. Millicent picks up the confession and advances
dramatically.
Millicent. Do not touch that man! Read this!
[She hands him the confession with an air of superb pride.
First Warder (reading). Jasper Beeste! (Slipping a pair of handcuffs
on Jasper.) You come along with me, my man. We've had our suspicions
of you for some time. (To Millicent, with a nod at Dick.) You'll
look after that gentleman, miss?
Millicent. Of course! Why, he's engaged to me. Aren't you, Dick?
Dick. This time, Millicent, for ever!