Wanda. [Faintly] Larry!
Keith. He’s in no danger. They always get the wrong man first. It’ll do him no harm to be locked up a bit—hyena like that. Better in prison, anyway, than sleeping out under archways in this weather.
Larry. What was he like, Keith?
Keith. A little yellow, ragged, lame, unshaven
scarecrow of a chap.
They were fools to think he could have had the strength.
Larry. What! [In an awed voice] Why, I saw him—after I left you last night.
Keith. You? Where?
Larry. By the archway.
Keith. You went back there?
Larry. It draws you, Keith.
KErra. You’re mad, I think.
Larry. I talked to him, and he said, “Thank you for this little chat. It’s worth more than money when you’re down.” Little grey man like a shaggy animal. And a newspaper boy came up and said: “That’s right, guv’nors! ’Ere’s where they found the body—very spot. They ’yn’t got ’im yet.”
[He laughs; and the terrified girl presses herself against him.]
An innocent man!
Keith. He’s in no danger, I tell you. He could never have strangled——Why, he hadn’t the strength of a kitten. Now, Larry! I’ll take your berth to-morrow. Here’s money [He brings out a pile of notes and puts them on the couch] You can make a new life of it out there together presently, in the sun.
Larry. [In a whisper] In the sun! “A cup of wine and thou.” [Suddenly] How can I, Keith? I must see how it goes with that poor devil.
Keith. Bosh! Dismiss it from your mind; there’s not nearly enough evidence.
Larry. Not?
Keith. No. You’ve got your chance. Take it like a man.
Larry. [With a strange smile—to the girl] Shall we, Wanda?
Wanda. Oh, Larry!
Larry. [Picking the notes up from the couch] Take them back, Keith.
Keith. What! I tell you no jury would convict; and if they did, no judge would hang. A ghoul who can rob a dead body, ought to be in prison. He did worse than you.
Larry. It won’t do, Keith. I must see it out.
Keith. Don’t be a fool!
Larry. I’ve still got some kind of honour. If I clear out before I know, I shall have none—nor peace. Take them, Keith, or I’ll put them in the fire.
Keith. [Taking back the notes; bitterly] I suppose I may ask you not to be entirely oblivious of our name. Or is that unworthy of your honour?
Larry. [Hanging his head] I’m awfully sorry, Keith; awfully sorry, old man.
Keith. [sternly] You owe it to me—to our name—to our dead mother —to do nothing anyway till we see what happens.