THE EQUINOX
[Goes to cupboard and hrings ale and glasses.
Seeing
himself alone, he whispers, Safe ! Safe| dropping into
the furtive, gleeful manner.
Then suddenly
HE
seems to listen intently.
All this time the others are
heard of talking and laughing.
HE goes R, shuts
door, goes to place where corpse is, listens with ear to
floor.
With great terror, rising to his knees]
JACK. It is—it is—low,
slow, and solemn, but it is—
again—again!
God!
Great God! they will hearl
[Voiees
louder, returning. JACK resumes hisfolly manner and shufiles
about, pouring out the ale]
[Re—enter OTHERS
JACK. Well, did you find it all as I said?
SERGEANT. Neighbour Clark, you’ll not hear the last ο’
this for many a long year.
[Goes to table.
Drinking bus]
IST CONSTABLE. Burglars! ho! ho! ho!
2ND CONSTABLE. Murder! ha! ha! ha!
SERGEANT. Here’s your health, Mr. Adams!
JACK. Yours, neighbour Clark; no offence, man, no offence.
[Aside] Louder, louder! they will hear it.
CLARK. Well, I’m sure——
SERGEANT. Never be
sure!
The first great rule of a
good officer.
JACK. What?
What?
Ι
say no—[louder]—I say
no
!
Know your own mind and stick to it.
Let’s have a song—ah,
what do you say? “A policeman's life is not a happy one "?
SERGEANT. Why, it’s no trouble; it’s well worth coming
across to talk to such a good fellow, and drink a glass of ale
like this.
JACK. Have
some more!
Sing, somebody—Clark, you
sing.
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