Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1055 page)

HOLMES
:  On the contrary, you’re going to see me return them to their rightful owner.

LARRABEE
(
with revolver)
Yes — I think that’ll be the safest thing for Mr. Sherlock Holmes to do.

(HOLMES
stops dead and looks at
LARRABEE
and walks quietly down facing him
)

HOLMES
: You flatter yourself Mr. Larrabee. The reason I did not leave the house with this package of papers is not because of you, or what you may do — or say — or think — or feel! It is on account of this young lady! I care that for your cheap bravado (
Looks at revolver and smiles
) Really? (
He looks quietly in
LARRABEE’S
eyes an instant, then turns and goes to
ALICE
.) Miss Faulkner permit me to place this in your hands (
Gives her the package
.)

(
ALICE
takes the package with sudden eagerness — then turns and keeps her eyes steadily on
HOLMES
)

Should you ever change your mind and be so generous, forgiving as to wish to return these letters to the one who wrote them, you have my address. In any event, rest assured there will be no more cruelty, no more persecution in this house.  You are perfectly safe with your property now — for I shall so arrange that your faintest cry of distress will be heard! And if that cry is heard — it will be a very unfortunate thing for those who are responsible.  Good night Miss Faulkner (
Pause — turns to
LARRABEE
and
MADGE
.
Coming to them
) As for you sir and you, madam, I beg you to understand that you continue your persecution of that young lady at your peril

(
ALICE
looks at
HOLMES
an instant, uncertain what to do. He makes a slight motion indicating her to go.
ALICE
,
after slight pause crosses in front of
HOLMES
and goes out
LARRABEE
makes slight move towards
ALICE
,
but is checked by a look from
HOLMES
.
HOLMES
waits motionless eyes on
ALICE
until exit. Then he looks after her for a moment. Then turns and takes his coat and hat. Looks at them an instant.
)

Good evening — (
Walks out and the sound of heavy door closing is heard outside
)

(
Pause
LARRABEE
and
MADGE
stand where
HOLMES
left them.  Sound of window opening
SIDPRINCE
hurries in at window
)

PRINCE
(
sharp but subdued
): Well! ‘E didn’t get it, did ‘e?

(
LARRABEE
shakes head.
PRINCE
looks at him, puzzled, and then turns towards
MADGE
.)

Well — wot is it? Wot’s the pay if ‘e didn’t?

MADGE
:  He gave it to her.

PRINCE
:  What!—’e found it?

(
MADGE
indicates “Yes” by slight movement.
)

An’ gave it to the girl?

(
MADGE
repeats slight affirmative motion.
)

Well ‘ere — I say! Wot are you waiting for? Now’s the chance — before she ‘ides it again! (
Starting as if to go
.)

MADGE
(
stopping
PRINCE
): No! Wait! (
Glances round nervously
.)

PRINCE
:  Wot’s the matter! (
Going to
LARRABEE
.) Do you want to lose it?

LARRABEE
:  No! you’re right! It’s all a cursed bluff! (
Starting as if to go
.)

MADGE
(
meeting them, as if to stop them
): No, no, Jim!

LARRABEE
:  I tell you we will! Now’s our chance to get a hold of it! (
Pushing her aside
.)

PRINCE
:  Well, I should say so!

(
Three knocks are heard just as
PRINCE
and
LARRABEE
reach archway. A distant sound of three heavy blows, as if struck from underneath up against the floor, reverberates through the house. All stop motionless.)

(
Pause
.)

(
Music, melodramatic agitato, very pp. till Curtain
.)

LARRABEE
(in a low voice)
: What’s that?

MADGE
:  Someone at the door.

LARRABEE
(
low voice)
: No — it was on that side!

(
PRINCE
glances round alarmed.
MADGE
rings bell. Enter
FORMAN
All stand easily as if nothing out of the usual.
)

MADGE
: I think someone knocked, Judson.

(
FORMAN
at once goes out quietly but quickly. Sound of door outside closing again.
FORMAN
re-enters
.)

FORMAN
:  I beg pardon, ma’am, there’s no one at the door.

MADGE
:  That’s all.

(
FORMAN
goes
.)

PRINCE
(
speaks almost in a whisper from above the piano
) ‘E’s got us watched! Wot we want to do is to leave it alone an the Hemperor ‘ave it!

MADGE
(
low voice — taking a step or two toward
PRINCE
): Do you mean — Professor Moriarty?

PRINCE
: That’s ‘oo I mean.  Once let ‘im get at it and ‘e’ll settle it with ‘Olmes pretty quick (
Turns to
LARRABEE
). Meet me at Leary’s — nine sharp — in the morning. Don’t you worry a minute.  I tell you the Professor’ll get at ‘im before to-morrow night! ‘E don’t wait long either! An’ w’en he strikes — it means death. (
He goes out at window
)

(
Brief pause.  After
PRINCE
goes
MADGE
looks after him.
LARRABEE
,
with a despairing look on his face, leans on chair — looks round puzzled. His eyes meet
MADGE’S
as lights fade away
.)

CURTAIN
.  

ACT I
I

SCENE
1

PROFESSOR MORIARTY’S Underground Office. Morning

SCENE 1 — This scene is built inside the Second. PROFESSOR MORIARTY’S underground office. A large vault-like room, with rough masonry walls and vaulted ceiling. The general idea of this place is that it has been converted from a cellar room of a warehouse into a fairly comfortable office or head-quarters. There are no windows.

The colour or tone of this set must not be similar to the third Act set, which is a gloomy and dark bluish-brown. The effect in this set should be of masonry that has long ago been whitewashed and is now old, stained and grimy. Maps on wall of England, France, Germany, Russia, etc. Also a marked map of London — heavy spots upon certain localities. Many charts of buildings, plans of floors — possible tunnellings, etc. Many books about — on impoverished shelves, etc.

PROFESSOR
ROBERT
MORIARTY
is seated at a large circular desk facing the front. He is looking over letters, telegrams, papers, etc., as if morning mail. He is a middle-aged man, with massive head and grey hair, and a face full of character, overhanging brow, heavy jaw. A man of great intellectual force, extremely tall and thin. His forehead domes out in a white curve, and his two eyes are deeply sunken in his head. Clean-shaven, pale, ascetic-looking. Shoulders rounded, and face protruding forward, and for ever oscillating from side to side in a curiously reptilian fashion. Deep hollow voice.

The room is dark, with light showing on his face, as if from lamp. Pause.
MORIARTY
rings a gong at desk, which has a Peculiar sound. In a second, buzzer outside door replies twice. He Picks up a speaking tube and puts it to his mouth.

MORIARTY
(speaking into tube in a low voice)
: Number.
(He Places tube to his ear and listens, then speaks into it again.)
Correct.
(Drops tube. He moves a lever up against wall and the bolt of the door slides back with a solid heavy sound.)

(
Enter
JOHN
noiselessly. No sound of steps. He stands just within the door in the half darkness.
)

Has any report come in from Chibley?

JOHN
: Nothing yet sir.

MORIARTY
:  All the others are heard from?

JOHN
:  Yes, sir.

MORIARTY
:  I was afraid we’d have trouble there. If anything happened we lose Hickson — one of our best men. Send Bassick.

(
JOHN
goes out. Bolt slides back. Buzzer outside door rings twice.
MORIARTY
picks up tube and speaks into it
)

(
Speaking into tube
.) Number. (
Listens. Speaks into tube again
.) Correct.
(He slides back bolt of door.)

(
Enter
BASSICK
noiselessly Bolt of door slides back.
BASSICK
goes to
MORIARTY’S
desk at once and stands
. 
MORIARTY
motions to sit. He does so
)

Before we go into anything else, I want to refer to Davidson.

BASSICK
:  I’ve made a note of him myself, sir; he’s holding bad money.

MORIARTY
: Something like six hundred short on that last haul, isn’t it?

BASSICK
: Certainly as much as that.

MORIARTY
: Have him attended to. Craigin is the one to do it. (
BASSICK
writes a memo quickly
) And see that his disappearance is noticed.  Have it spoken of.  That finishes Davidson … Now as to this Blaisdell matter — did you learn anything more?

BASSICK
: The whole thing was a trap.

MORIARTY
: What do you mean?

BASSICK
: Set and baited by an expert.

MORIARTY
: But those letters and papers of instructions — you brought them back, or destroyed them, I trust?

BASSICK
: I could not do it, sir — Manning has disappeared and the papers are gone!

(
Music melodramatic. Cue, as
MORIARTY
looks at
BASSICK
.)

MORIARTY
:  Gone! Sherlock Holmes again. That’s bad for the Underwood trial.

BASSICK
: I thought Shackleford was going to get a postponement.

MORIARTY
:  He tried to — and found he was blocked.

BASSICK
: Who could have done it?

(
MORIARTY
turns and looks at
BASSICK
almost hypnotically — his head vibrating from side to side as if making him speak the name.
)

Sherlock Holmes?

MORIARTY
:  Sherlock Holmes again. (
His eyes still on
BASSICK
.)

BASSICK
(
as if fascinated by
MORIARTY
.
Slight affirmative motion
.) He’s got hold of between twenty and thirty papers and instructions in as many different jobs, and some as to putting a man or two out of the way — and he’s gradually completing chains of evidence which, if we let him go on, will reach to me as sure as the sun will rise. Reach to me! — Ha! (
Sneer.
) He’s playing rather a dangerous game! Inspector Wilson tried it seven years ago. Wilson is dead. Two years later Henderson took it up. We haven’t heard anything of Henderson lately, eh?

BASSICK
(
shaking head
): Not a thing, sir.

MORIARTY
: Ha! (
Sneer
.) This Holmes is rather a talented man. He hopes to drag me in at the Underwood trial, but he doesn’t realise what can happen between now and Monday. He doesn’t know that there isn’t a street in London that’ll be safe for him if I whisper his name to Craigin — I might even make him a little call myself — just for the satisfaction of it — (
business of head swaying, etc.
) — just for the satisfaction of it. (
BASSICK
watches
MORIARTY
with some anxiety
.) Baker Street, isn’t it? His place — Baker Street — eh?

BASSICK
: Baker Street, sir.

MORIARTY
:  We could make it safe. We could make it absolutely secure for three streets each way.

BASSICK
: Yes, sir, but —

MORIARTY
:  We could. We’ve done it over and over again elsewhere — Police decoyed. Men in every doorway. (
Sudden turn to him.)
Do this to-night — in Baker Street! At nine o’clock call his attendants out on one pretext and another, and keep them out — you understand! I’ll see this Sherlock Holmes myself — I’ll give him a chance for his life. If he declines to treat with me —

(
He takes a savage-looking bulldog revolver from under desk and examines it carefully, slowly placing it in breast pocket. Ring of telephone bell is heard, but not until the revolver business is finished.
)

(
The music stops.
)

(
MORIARTY
gives a nod to
BASSICK
,
indicating him to attend to phone.
BASSICK
r
ises and goes to and picks up telephone.
MORIARTY
resumes business of examining papers on his desk
.)

BASSICK
(
speaks into receiver and listens as indicated)
: Yes — yes — Bassick — What name did you say? Oh, Prince, yes. He’ll have to wait — Yes — I got his telegram last night — Well, tell him to come and speak to me at the phone. (
Longer wait.)
Yes — I got your telegram, Prince, but I have an important matter on. You’ll have to wait — Who? (
Suddenly becomes very interested
.) What sort of a game is it? — Where is he now? — - Wait a moment. (
To
MORIARTY
.) Here’s something, sir. Sid Prince has come here over some job, and he says he’s got Holmes fighting against him.

MORIARTY
(
quickly turning to
BASSICK
) Eh? Ask him what it is. Ask him what it is. (
BASSICK
is about to speak through the telephone. Quickly.
) Wait! (
BASSICK
stops
.) Let him come here. (
BASSICK
turns in surprise
.)

BASSICK
:  No one sees you — no one knows you. That has meant safety for years.

MORIARTY
:  No one sees me now. You talk with him — I’ll listen from the next room. (
BASSICK
looks at him hesitatingly an instant
.) This is your office — you understand — your office — I’ll be there.

(
BASSICK
turns to telephone
.)

BASSICK
(
speaking into telephone
): Is that you, Prince? — Yes, I find I can’t come out — but I’ll see you here — What interest have they got? What’s the name? (
Listening a moment. Looks round to
MORIARTY
.) He says there’s two with him — a man and a woman named Larrabee. They won’t consent to any interview unless they’re present.

MORIARTY
: Send them in.

BASSICK
(
speaking into telephone
): Eh, Prince — ask Beads to come to the telephone — Beads — eh — ? (
Lower voice.)
Those people with Prince, do they seem to be all right? Look close

yes? — Well — take them out through the warehouse and down by the circular stairway and then bring them up here by the long tunnel — Yes, here — Look them over as you go along to see they’re not carrying anything — and watch that no one sees you come down — Yes — (
Hangs up ear-piece, turns and looks at
MORIARTY
.) I don’t like this, sir!

MORIARTY
(
rises
): You don’t like this! You don’t like this! I tell you it’s certain death unless we can settle with this man Holmes.

(
The buzzer rings three times.
)

(
Moves towards opening
.) Your office, you understand — your office.

(
BASSICK
looks at
MORIARTY
.
MORIARTY
goes out
.
BASSICK
,
after
MORIARTY
is well off, goes and takes
MORIARTY’S
place at the back of the desk. Rings gong at desk. Buzzer replies twice from outside.
)

BASSICK
(
speaking into tube
): Send John here.

(
BASSICK
pushes back bolt. Enter
JOHN
noiselessly. He stands just within door. Bolt of door slides back when door shuts.
)

There are some people coming in here, you stand over there, and keep your eye on them from behind. If you see anything suspicious, drop your handkerchief. If it’s the woman pick it up — if it’s the man leave it on the floor.

(
Three knocks are distinctly heard on door from outside. On last knock
JOHN
goes near wall.
)

(
Picks up tube and speaks into it.
) Number. (
Listens — speaking into tube.
) Are the three waiting with you? (
Listens — drops tube and pushes lever back, and the bolt slides back from the door. The door slowly swings open.
)

(
Enter
SID PRINCE
,
followed by
MADGE
and
LARRABEE
.
The door Closes and the bolts slide back with a clang. At the sound of the bolts
LARRABEE
looks round at door very sharply, realising that they are all locked in.
BASSICK
motions
MADGE
to chair.
MADGE
Sits
.
LARRABEE
is suspicious, and does not like the look of the place.
PRINCE
remains standing
.
BASSICK
sits behind desk.
JOHN
is in the dark, watching
LARRABEE
and
MADGE
,
with a handkerchief in hand
.)