Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1060 page)

Ah, I thought so. Left-hand coat pocket. As he is not feeling quite himself to-day, and the exertion might prove injurious, suppose you attend to it.

BILLY
: Yes sir (
He goes quickly to
MORIARTY
puts hand in his pocket and draws out a bull dog revolver
) Is this it sir?

HOLMES
: It has the general outline of being it. Quite so. Put it on the table.

(
MORIARTY
makes a grab for it
)

Not there Billy. Look out. Push it a little further this way.

(
BILLY
does so placing it so that it is within easy reach of
HOLMES
.
)

HOLMES
: That’s more like it.

BILLY
: Shall I see if he’s got another sir?

HOLMES
: Why, Billy, you surprise me, after the gentleman has taken the trouble to inform you that he hasn’t.

BILLY
: When sir?

HOLMES
: When he made a snatch for this one. Now that we have your little memorandum book, Professor, do you think of anything else you’d like before Billy goes?

(
MORIARTY
does not reply
.)

Any little thing that you’ve got, that you want? No! Ah, I am sorry that’s all, Billy.

(
pause.
MORIARTY
motionless, eyes on
HOLMES
.
HOLMES
puts his own revolver in his pocket quietly.
MORIARTY
remains motionless, his eyes on
HOLMES
, waiting for a chance
.)

BILLY
:  Thank you, sir. (
Goes out
.)

(
HOLMES
carelessly picks up
MORIARTY’S
weapon, turns it over in his hands a little below table for a moment, then tosses it back on table again — during which business
MORIARTY
looks front savagely
.)

HOLMES
(
tapping revolver with pipe
): Rather a rash project of yours Moriarty — even though you have made the street quite safe in every respect — to make use of that thing — so early in the evening and in this part of the town.

MORIARTY
: Listen to me. On the 4th of January you crossed my path — on the 23rd you incommoded me. And now, at the close of April, I find myself placed in such a position through your continual interference that I am in positive danger of losing my liberty.

HOLMES
: Have you any suggestion to make?

MORIARTY
(
head swaying from side to side
): No! (
Pause and look fiercely at
HOLMES
.) I have no suggestion to make. I have a fact to state. If you do not drop it at once your life is not worth that. (
Snap of finger
.)

HOLMES
:  I shall be pleased to drop it — at ten o’clock to-morrow night.

MORIARTY
: Why then?

HOLMES
: Because at that hour, Moriarty … your life will not be worth that, (
A snap of finger
.) You will be under arrest.

MORIARTY
: At that hour, Sherlock Holmes, your eyes will be closed in death.

(
Both look at one another motionless an instant
.)

HOLMES
(
rising as if rather bored
): I am afraid, Professor, that in the pleasure of this conversation I am neglecting more important business. (
Turns away to mantel and business of looking for match, etc
.)

(
MORIARTY
rises slowly, picks up hat, keeping his eyes on
HOLMES
. Suddenly catches sight of revolver on table — pause — and putting hat on table.
)

MORIARTY
(
nearing
HOLMES
and looking towards door
): I came here this evening to see if peace could not be arranged between us.

HOLMES
: Ah yes (
Smiling pleasantly and pressing tobacco in pipe
.) I saw that. That’s rather good.

MORIARTY
(
passionately
): You have seen fit not only to reject my proposals, but to make insulting references coupled with threats of arrest.

HOLMES
:  Quite so! Quite so! (
Lights match and holds it to pipe
)

MORIARTY
(
moving a little so as to be nearer table
): Well (
slyly picking up revolver
) — you have been warned of your danger — you do not heed that warning — perhaps you will heed this!

(
Making a sudden plunge and aiming at
HOLMES’
head rapidly snaps the revolver in quick attempt to fire
)

(
HOLMES
turns quietly toward him still holding match to pipe so that the last snap of hammer is directly in his face. Very slight pause on
MORIARTY
being unable to fire — and back up at same time boiling with rage
.)

HOLMES
: Oh! ha! — here! (
As if recollecting something. Tosses away match and feeling quickly in left pocket of dressing gown brings out some cartridges and tosses them carelessly on table towards
MORIARTY
.
) I didn’t suppose you’d want to use that thing again, so I took all your cartridges out and put them in my pocket.  You’ll find them all there, Professor. (
Reaches over and rings bell on table with right hand.
)

(
Enter
BILLY
)

Billy!

BILLY
:  Yes, sir!

HOLMES
: Show this gentleman nicely to the door.

BILLY
: Yes sir! This way sir! (
Standing within door
)

(
PROFESSOR
MORIARTY
looks at
HOLMES
a moment, then flings revolver down and across the table, clenches fist in
HOLMES’
face, turns boiling with rage, picks hat up, and exits quickly at door, muttering aloud as he goes
.)

HOLMES
(
after exit of
MORIARTY
): Billy! Come here!

BILLY
:  Yes, sir! (
BILLY
comes quickly down.
)

HOLMES
: Billy! You’re a good boy!

BILLY
:  Yes, sir! Thank you, sir! (
Stands grinning up at
HOLMES
.)

(
The lights go out suddenly
.)

(
No music at end of this Act.
)

CURTAIN

ACT II
I

The Stepney Gas Chamber. Midnight.

 
SCENE. — The Gas Chamber at Stepney. A large, dark, grimy room on an upper floor of an old building backing on wharves etc. Plaster cracking off, masonry piers or chimney showing. As uncanny and gruesome appearance as possible. Heavy beams and timbers showing. Door leads to the landing and then to the entrance. Another door leads to a small cupboard. The walls of the cupboard can be seen when the door is opened. Large window, closed. Grimy and dirty glass so nothing can be seen through it. The window is nailed with spike nails securely shut.  Black backing — no light behind. Strong bars outside back of windows, to show when window is broken. These bars must not be seen through the glass. Trash all over the room. The only light in the room on the rise of the curtain is from a dim lantern — carried on by
McTAGUE
.

Characteristic Music for Curtain.

CRAIGIN
and
LEARY
are discovered.
CRAIGIN
is sitting on a box. He sits glum and motionless, waiting.
LEARY
is sitting on table his feet on the chair in front of it.

McTAGUE
enters with safety lamp. He stops just within a moment, glancing around in the dimness. Soon moves up near a masonry pier, a little above the door, and leans against it, waiting.
CRAIGIN
,
LEARY
and
McTAGUE
are dressed in dark clothes and wear felt -soled shoes.

LEARY
:  What’s McTague doing ‘ere?

McTAGUE
:  I was sent ‘ere.

(
All dialogue in this part of Act in low tones, but distinct, to give a weird effect, echoing through the large grimy room among the deep shadows
.)

LEARY
:  I thought the Seraph was with us in this job.

CRAIGIN
:  ‘E ain’t.

LEARY
:  Who was the last you put the gas on?

(
Pause
.)

CRAIGIN
:  I didn’t ‘ear ‘is name. (
Pause
.) ‘E’d been ‘oldin’ back money on a ‘aul out some railway place.

(
Pause
.)

McTAGUE
:  What’s this ‘ere job he wants done? (
Sits on box, placing lamp on floor by his side
.)

(
Pause
.)

CRAIGIN
: I ain’t been told.

(
Pause
.)

LEARY
:  As long as it’s ‘ere we know what it’s likely to be.

(
Door opens slowly and hesitatingly. Enter
SID
PRINCE
. He stands just within door, and looks about a little suspiciously as if uncertain what to do. Pause. He notices that the door is slowly closing behind him and quietly holds it back. But he must not burlesque this movement with funny business.
McTAGUE
holds lantern up to see who it is, at the same time rising and coming down near
PRINCE
.)

PRINCE
:  Does any one of you blokes know if this is the place where I meet Alf Bassick?

(
Pause. Neither of the other men take notice of
PRINCE
.
McTAGUE
goes back to where he was sitting before
PRINCE’S
entrance.
)

(
After waiting a moment.
) From wot you say, I take it you don’t.

CRAIGIN
:  We ain’t knowin’ no such man. ‘E may be ‘ere and ‘e may not.

PRINCE
:  Oh! (
Comes a little farther into room and lets the door close.
) It’s quite right then, thank you. (
Pause. No one speaks.
) Nice old place to find, this ‘ere is. (
No one answers him
.) And when you do find it — (
looks about
) — I can’t say it’s any too cheerful. (
He thereupon pulls out a cigarette-case, puts a cigarette in his mouth, and feels in pocket for matches. Finds one. About to light it. Has moved a few steps during this
.)

CRAIGIN
: Here! ...

(
PRINCE
stops
.)

Don’t light that! … It ain’t safe!

(
PRINCE
stops motionless, where above speech caught him, for an instant. Pause.
PRINCE
begins to turn his head slowly and only a little way, glances carefully about, as if expecting to see tins of nitro-glycerine. He sees nothing on either side, and finally turns towards
CRAIGIN
.)

PRINCE
:  If it ain’t askin’ too much wot’s the matter with the place? It looks all roight to me.

CRAIGIN
:  Well don’t light no matches, and it’ll stay lookin’ the same.

(
Pause. Door opens, and
BASSICK
enters hurriedly. He looks quickly about
.)

BASSICK
:  Oh, Prince, you’re here. I was looking for you outside.

PRINCE
:  You told me to be ‘ere, sir. That was ‘ow the last arrangement stood.

BASSICK
:  Very well! (
Going across
PRINCE
and glancing about to see that the other men are present
.) You’ve got the rope Craigin?

(
Voices are still kept low
.)

CRAIGIN
(
pointing to bunch of loose rope on floor near him
):  It’s ‘ere.

BASSICK
:  That you, Leary?

LEARY
:  ‘Ere, sir!

BASSICK
:  And McTague?

McTAGUE
:  ‘Ere, sir!

BASSICK
:  You want to be very careful with it to-night — you’ve  got a tough one.

CRAIGIN
:  You ain’t said who, as I’ve ‘eard.

BASSICK
(
low voice
): Sherlock Holmes.

(
Brief pause
.)

CRAIGIN
(
after the pause
): You mean that, sir?

BASSICK
: Indeed, I do!

CRAIGIN
: We’re goin’ to count ‘im out.

BASSICK
: Well, if you don’t and he gets away — I’m sorry for you, that’s all.

CRAIGIN
: I’ll be cursed glad to put the gas on ‘im — I tell you that.

LEARY
:  I say the same myself.

(
Sound of
MORIARTY
and
LARRABEE
coming
.)

BASSICK
: Sh! Professor Moriarty’s coming.

(
McTAGUE
places lamp on box.
)

LEARY
:  Not the guv’nor?

BASSICK
:  Yes. He wanted to see this.

(
The three men retire a little up stage, waiting.
BASSICK
moves to meet
MORIARTY
.
PRINCE
moves up out of way. Door opens. Enter
MORIARTY
, followed by
LARRABEE
. Door slowly closes behind them.
LARRABEE
waits a moment near door and then retires up near
PRINCE
. They watch the following scene. All speeches low — quiet — in undertone
.)

MORIARTY
:  Where’s Craigin?

(
CRAIGIN
steps forward
.)

Have you got your men?

CRAIGIN
:  All ‘ere, sir.

MORIARTY
:  No mistakes to-night.

CRAIGIN
:  I’ll be careful o’ that.

MORIARTY
(
quick glance about
): That door, Bassick. (
Points up, back to audience.
)

BASSICK
: A small cupboard, sir. (
Goes quickly up and opens the door wide to show it.
)

(
LEARY
catches up lantern and swings it near the cupboard door
.)

MORIARTY
:  No outlet?

BASSICK
: None whatever, sir.

(
LEARY
swings lantern almost inside cupboard to let
MORIARTY
See. All this dialogue in very low tones, but distinct and Impressive. 
BASSICK
closes door after lantern business
.)

MORIARTY
(
turns and points
): That window?

BASSICK
(
moving over a little
): Nailed down, sir!

(
LEARY
turns and swings the lantern near window so that
MORIARTY
can see.
)

MORIARTY
:  A man might break the glass.

BASSICK
: If he did that he’d come against heavy iron bars outside.

CRAIGIN
: We’ll ‘ave ‘im tied down afore ‘e could break any glass sir.

MORIARTY
(
who has turned to
CRAIGIN
): Ah! You’ve used it before.  Of course you know if it’s airtight?

BASSICK
:  Every crevice is caulked sir.

MORIARTY
(
turns and points as if at something directly over footlights
) And that door?

(
LEARY
comes down and gives lantern a quick swing as if lighting place indicated
)

BASSICK
(
from same position
): The opening is planked up solid sir as you can see and double thickness.

MORIARTY
: Ah! (
Satisfaction. Glances at door through which he entered
) When the men turn the gas on him they leave by that door?

BASSICK
: Yes sir.

MORIARTY
: It can be made quite secure?

BASSICK
: Heavy bolts on the outside sir and solid bars over all.

MORIARTY
: Let me see how quick you can operate them.

BASSICK
: They tie the man down, sir — there’s no need to hurry.

MORIARTY
(
same voice
) Let me see how quick you can operate them.

BASSICK
(
quick order
): Leary! (
Motions him to door
)

LEARY
(
handing lamp to
CRAIGIN
): Yes sir! (
He jumps to and goes out closing it at once and immediately the sound of sliding bolts and the dropping of bars are heard from outside
)

(
This is a very important effect as it is repeated at the end of the Act. 
CRAIGIN
places lamp on box
)

MORIARTY
: That s all.

(
Sounds of bolts withdrawn and
LEARY
enters and waits
)

(
Goes to
CRAIGIN
.) Craigin — you’ll take your men outside that door and wait till Mr. Larrabee has had a little business interview with the gentleman. Take them up the passage to the left so Holmes does not see them as he comes in. (
To
BASSICK
.
) Who’s driving the cab to night?