58
MAYHEW. (
Tactfully indicating SIR WILFRID
) This is the man you’ve got to thank.
(
LEONARD crosses to C. to meet SIR WILFRID, but comes face to face with MYERS, who glares
at him, and exits up C. SIR WILFRID crosses to R. of LEONARD.
)
LEONARD. (
Turning to SIR WILFRID
) Thank you, sir. (
His tone is less spontaneous than is
was to MAYHEW. He dislikes SIR WILFRID it seems.
) You—you’ve got me out of a very nasty
mess.
SIR WILFRID. Nasty mess! Do you hear that, John? Your troubles are over now, my boy.
MAYHEW. (
Moving to L. of LEONARD
) But it was a near thing you know.
LEONARD. (
Unwillingly
) Yes, I suppose it was.
SIR WILFRID. If we hadn’t been able to break that woman down…
LEONARD. Did you have to go for her the way you did? It was terrible the way she went to
pieces. I can’t believe…
SIR WILFRID. (
With all the force of his personality.
) Look here, Vole, you’re not the first young
man I’ve known who’s been so crazy over a woman that he’s been blinded to what she’s really
like. That woman did her level best to put a rope round your neck.
MAYHEW. And don’t you forget it.
LEONARD. Yes, but why? I can’t see why. She’s always seemed so devoted. I could have
sworn she loved me—and yet all the time she was going with this other fellow. (
He shakes his
head.
) It’s unbelievable—there’s something there I don’t understand.
WARDER. (
Enters up L. and moves to L. of the table.
) Just two or three minutes more, sir. We’ll
slip you out to a car by the side entrance.
LEONARD. Is there still a crowd?
(
ROMAINE, escorted by the POLICEMAN, enters up L.
)
POLICEMAN. (
In the doorway.
) Better wait in here, ma’am. The crowd’s in a nasty mood. I’d
let them disperse before you try to leave.
ROMAINE. (
Moving down L. of the table
) Thank you.
(
The POLICEMAN and the WARDER exit up L. ROMAINE crosses towards LEONARD.
)
SIR WILFRID. (
Intercepting ROMAINE
) No, you don’t.
ROMAINE. (
Amused
) Are you protecting Leonard from me? Really, there’s no need.
SIR WILFRID. You’ve done enough harm.
ROMAINE. Mayn’t I even congratulate Leonard on being free?
SIR WILFRID. No thanks to you.
ROMAINE. And rich.
LEONARD. (
Uncertainly.
) Rich?
MAYHEW. Yes, I think, Mr. Vole, that you will certainly inherit a great deal of money.
LEONARD. (
Boyishly
) Money doesn’t seem to mean so much after what I’ve been through.
Romaine, I can’t understand…
ROMAINE. (
Smoothly.
) Leonard, I can explain.
SIR WILFRID. No!
(
SIR WILFRID and ROMAINE look at each other like antagonists.
)
ROMAINE. Tell me, do those words the Judge said mean that I shall—go to prison?
SIR WILFRID. You will quite certainly be charged with perjury and tried for it. You will
probably go to prison.
LEONARD. (
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