The Crimson Cassock

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 10, 6 March 1924, Page 11

The Crimson Cassock

(By I). B. Wyndham Lewis from the Novel by Jeremiah Shocking)

A LITTLE PLAY FOR EARNEST AMATEURS.

Note— Every admirer of Mr. Shocking’s entrancing and wholesome novels will bo glad to hear that a potted version of one of the most popular has at last been written. Mr. Shocking has generously waived all dramatic rights in favor of his collaborator, observing that a blow for the cause is a blow, whoever strikes it. PERSONS IN THE PLAY Alice. Alice’s Mother. A Sinister Stranger. The scene is a pleasant drawing-room in one of the northern suburbs. It is plainly but tastefully furnished, with a long low bo oh shelf around the wall. Running a casual eye over the charmingly bound boohs on the shelf one would find such titles as Mrs. Rowbottom’s Poisons of Popery, Miss StrothcrgilVs Saved from a Convent, the Rev. Obadiah Ruff Is Romo Behind the Weather? Rare s Blue Book of Martyrs, and other belles-lettres which stamp their possessor as a person of taste and culture. As the scene opens Alice, a typically sweet and unspoilt young English girl, is discovered knitting. The room is almost in darkness, and a tall leather screen cuts off that half which is behind Alice. The girl is plainly distraught. Ever and anon she lays down her knitting to glance at the clock on the mantlepiece and lay her hand on her heart, which is palpitating considerably. Alice. How , hot it is I I can hardly bear it much longer. And this .awful suspense! Oh, Alfred, Alfred! (Moans quietly to herself. Enter Alice’s Mother, a lady dressed-in black silk.) v Alice. Oh, mother. Is there any news? Is there? Alice’s Mother {in a mellow voice). None yet, dear I’m afraid. Alice (moaning). How dreadful, how dreadful! My

only brother. Our Alfred. To be carried off by Jesuits! " Alice's Mother (soothingly). Be brave, my child. Alice (shuddering). Will they torture him, mother?. Alice's Mother. •?; Hush, darling. We may yet discover in time the dungeon in which they have, flung the innocent lad. Alice (sobbing). It is all my fault. I should have looked under the bed, as dear Mr. Densit advised. Alice's Mother (looking round). That reminds me did you give Tibbies her supper? Puss! Puss! (Exit.) (Alice continues to sob. Suddenly she starts. A sudden noise behind the tall screen turns her blood cold.) Alice, (sharply). Who is there? A deep Voice. I. ■....'■ (What is this sinister figure looming in the gloom? From, his crimson cassock, the cope which is carelessly slung over one shoulder, the richly jewelled biretta on his head, and the indescribable air of develish enjoyment, on his sneering lips, it is obvious that this is a Jesuit.) Alice (shuddering). Who are you? The Stranger (sneering). Need you ask? Alice. A Jesuit! .' • . The Stranger (sheering devilishly). Girl, you cannot escape Us. Alice (faintly). What have you done with my brother? The Stranger (with a harsh laugh). . Ask the dark dungeon.. Ask the wind that whistles past the lonely house. Do you think We ever let our prisoners go? Alice (shivering). Where have you come from? The Stranger (with a dreadful sneer.) Everywhere, girl. Yesterday I was in Venezuela, plotting the downfall of an enemy of the Order. The day before I was in HongKong. t Alice (in a strangled voice). Still plotting? The Stranger (stealthily). Girl, did you ever hear of a Jesuit monk who was not plotting? To-morrow I shall be undermining the throne of the Shah of Persia. On Wednesday I shall be plotting far away in. Nijni-Nov-gorod. On Friday I have a conspiracy in the Sanjak of Novi-Bazar. We are everywhere, and at once. We are behind everp throne, back and front. We know every international secret. As for deceit ought to see us deceiving! In our spare time Alice (shuddering). Yes? The Stranger (fiendishly). We decoy. Personally I prefer plotting to decoying, though "I sometimes take a hand with the poison when things are slack; ■ Alice (faintly). If you have any mercy, spare my only brother. The Stranger (impassively). Too late. Alice. At least tell me how he got into' the clutch of your fell Order. ft The Stranger (stealthily). We have been watching for six months. No movement of his during that time, night or day, went unobserved by us. The old woman who sells sweets at the'cornershe was a Jesuit in disguise. The policeman who. guided little Alfred across the busy street— was a disguised Jesuit. The milkman who brought the child his morning cana Jesuit. You had a visit from.the Gas Company's inspector the other day? Alice (sobbing). Yes. The Stranger (sardonically). Another of our Order. The coppers from your meteramounting to eighteen shillings and fourpence—are now in our strong-box at Rome. The Order does not do things by halves ! After six months' tireless watching and waiting our hour came. A handful of drugged acid-drops'..- . . a. bandage across the eyes ... a gag— (dropping into, French) Voila tout ! Alice (moaning)'. Ruthless man! (Desperately) But the Law of England—— -. • '•:'. The Stranger (laughing softly). Girl, the Lord Chancellor himself is in our power— and the Ministry. of Health as well! They are. powerless against Us. ;-,..' (Alice shudders a great deal at this, as well she might. • The Stranger stands looking on with. a, sneer.) Alice (suddenly). Tell me the truth 4 , v ; The Stranger (wincing and recoiling a pace.) Truth ! What is that word to me? Girl, have you not heard that we never tell the truth? Never. Even among, ourselves, however inconvenient. I, r. .. V ■} ,■; ;., , .

.'>--. ' /;,:_. (The clock strikes twelve.) ,--;.-. ; : '•■••■■■ -. Alice (starring). What was that? ..„>, .■;..:'. ■: The Stranger (lying mechanically). A quarter to eight. (He produces from his biretta a mysterious small box. From it he takes a curious gold and rub ring.) And now — to my mission. (He twists his features into a honeyed smile.) After all, girl, we. bear you no ill-will. Take .this ring—it is a present from the Order to your Uncle George. [■} ,;.■ Alice (involuntarily, taking the ring). How pretty! (She slips it on her Uncle George will be so (She ' falls lifeless to the ground. It is, of course — did you — the ordinary Borgia ring, Mark VI., used by the Order to remove their victims quickly'and quietly.) ; - V The Stranger (contemplating the lifeless form of Alice with a slow smile). ' Ah,* well. 4 What a sudden end! And yet,- as one might say, it justifies the means. Now, let me see. . . , (Produces' a little red-bound Appointment Book from his . [cassock 'and runs down the page, muttering: "8.30. H.J. (Mem.: Oil thumbscrews.) ...-., ."' \ : "10.30. Walling-up 'Miss ,C. 8., V- '. "1.15. Lunch. . ' , ; "2.15. Trial of new Rack. (Mem.: jCheck&spare .J •. parts.)." •• '" :*.'"•>.-'. (He sighs.) A busy morning! . , ... .~" (Slings his cope over his shoulder, steps, over Alice's prostrate form, andhaving first carefully retrieved the ring— prowling silently to the door when a faint mew makes him turn round. It is Tibbies.).. ■ The Stranger. Ha! yet another! Puss,.'puss. (The. cat' comes to him. He gives it one sniff at'the ring, and it rolls over, stiff.) The Stranger. The Order is thorough. (He vanishes dexterously. There is a strong smell of brim- ■-.. . ';. ' stone.) ]'' ' : :'!- (Explicit.)