



 Produced by David Widger





GALSWORTHY PLAYS--SERIES 3


THE FUGITIVE

A Play in Four Acts


By John Galsworthy



PERSONS OF THE PLAY

 GEORGE DEDMOND, a civilian
 CLARE, his wife
 GENERAL SIR CHARLES DEDMOND, K.C.B., his father.
 LADY DEDMOND, his mother
 REGINALD HUNTINGDON, Clare's brother
 EDWARD FULLARTON, her friend
 DOROTHY FULLARTON, her friend
 PAYNTER, a manservant
 BURNEY, a maid
 TWISDEN, a solicitor
 HAYWOOD, a tobacconist
 MALISE, a writer
 MRS. MILER, his caretaker
 THE PORTER at his lodgings
 A BOY messenger
 ARNAUD, a waiter at "The Gascony"
 MR. VARLEY, manager of "The Gascony"
 TWO LADIES WITH LARGE HATS, A LADY AND GENTLEMAN, A LANGUID LORD,
      HIS COMPANION, A YOUNG MAN, A BLOND GENTLEMAN, A DARK GENTLEMAN.




  ACT I.  George Dedmond's Flat.  Evening.

  ACT II.  The rooms of Malise.  Morning.

  ACT III.  SCENE I.  The rooms of Malice.  Late afternoon.

            SCENE II.      The rooms of Malise.  Early Afternoon.

  ACT IV. A small supper room at "The Gascony."




  Between Acts I and II three nights elapse.

  Between Acts II and Act III, Scene I, three months.

  Between Act III, Scene I, and Act III, Scene II, three months.

  Between Act III, Scene II, and Act IV, six months.




  "With a hey-ho chivy
  Hark forrard, hark forrard, tantivy!"




ACT I

     The SCENE is the pretty drawing-room of a flat.  There are two
     doors, one open into the hall, the other shut and curtained.
     Through a large bay window, the curtains of which are not yet
     drawn, the towers of Westminster can be seen darkening in a
     summer sunset; a grand piano stands across one corner.  The
     man-servant PAYNTER, clean-shaven and discreet, is arranging two
     tables for Bridge.

     BURNEY, the maid, a girl with one of those flowery Botticellian
     faces only met with in England, comes in through the curtained
     door, which she leaves open, disclosing the glimpse of a white
     wall.  PAYNTER looks up at her; she shakes her head, with an
     expression of concern.

PAYNTER.  Where's she gone?

BURNEY.  Just walks about, I fancy.

PAYNTER.  She and the Governor don't hit it!  One of these days
she'll flit--you'll see.  I like her--she's a lady; but these
thoroughbred 'uns--it's their skin and their mouths.  They'll go till
they drop if they like the job, and if they don't, it's nothing but
jib--jib--jib.  How was it down there before she married him?

BURNEY.  Oh!  Quiet, of course.

PAYNTER.  Country homes--I know 'em.  What's her father, the old
Rector, like?

BURNEY.  Oh! very steady old man.  The mother dead long before I took
the place.

PAYNTER.  Not a penny, I suppose?

BURNEY.  [Shaking her head]  No; and seven of them.

PAYNTER.  [At sound of the hall door]  The Governor!

     BURNEY withdraws through the curtained door.

     GEORGE DEDMOND enters from the hall.  He is in evening dress,
     opera hat, and overcoat; his face is broad, comely, glossily
     shaved, but with neat moustaches.  His eyes, clear, small, and
     blue-grey, have little speculation.  His hair is well brushed.

GEORGE.  [Handing PAYNTER his coat and hat]  Look here, Paynter!
When I send up from the Club for my dress things, always put in a
black waistcoat as well.

PAYNTER.  I asked the mistress, sir.

GEORGE.  In future--see?

PAYNTER.  Yes, sir.  [Signing towards the window]  Shall I leave the
sunset, sir?

     But GEORGE has crossed to the curtained door; he opens it and
     says: "Clare!"  Receiving no answer, he goes in.  PAYNTER
    