Part 4

(_Mr. Quirke appears in shop. Sergeant comes out, makes another dive, taking up sacks, etc._)

_Mr. Quirke:_ I'm greatly afraid I am just out of meat, Sergeant--and I'm sorry now to disoblige you, and you not being in the habit of dealing with me----

_Sergeant:_ I should think not, indeed.

_Mr. Quirke:_ Looking for a tender little bit of lamb, I suppose you are, for Mrs. Carden and the youngsters?

_Sergeant:_ I am not.

_Mr. Quirke:_ If I had it now, I'd be proud to offer it to you, and make no charge. I'll be killing a good kid to-morrow. Mrs. Carden might fancy a bit of it----

_Sergeant:_ I have had orders to search your establishment for unwholesome meat, and I am come here to do it.

_Mr. Quirke:_ (_Sitting down with a smile._) Is that so? Well, isn't it a wonder the schemers does be in the world.

_Sergeant:_ It is not the first time there have been complaints.

_Mr. Quirke:_ I suppose not. Well, it is on their own head it will fall at the last!

_Sergeant:_ I have found nothing so far. _Mr. Quirke:_ I suppose not, indeed. What is there you could find, and it not in it?

_Sergeant:_ Have you no meat at all upon the premises?

_Mr. Quirke:_ I have, indeed, a nice barrel of bacon.

_Sergeant:_ What way did it die?

_Mr. Quirke:_ It would be hard for me to say that. American it is. How would I know what way they do be killing the pigs out there? Machinery, I suppose, they have--steam hammers----

_Sergeant:_ Is there nothing else here at all?

_Mr. Quirke:_ I give you my word, there is no meat living or dead in this place, but yourself and myself and that bird above in the cage.

_Sergeant:_ Well, I must tell the Inspector I could find nothing. But mind yourself for the future.

_Mr. Quirke:_ Thank you, Sergeant. I will do that. (_Enter Fardy. He stops short._)

_Sergeant:_ It was you delayed that message to me, I suppose? You'd best mend your ways or I'll have something to say to you. (_Seizes and shakes him._)

_Fardy:_ That's the way everyone does be faulting me. (_Whimpers._)

(_The Sergeant gives him another shake. A half-crown falls out of his pocket._)

_Miss Joyce:_ (_Picking it up._) A half-a-crown! Where, now, did you get that much, Fardy?

_Fardy:_ Where did I get it, is it!

_Miss Joyce:_ I'll engage it was in no honest way you got it.

_Fardy:_ I picked it up in the street----

_Miss Joyce:_ If you did, why didn't you bring it to the Sergeant or to his Reverence?

_Mrs. Delane:_ And some poor person, may be, being at the loss of it.

_Miss Joyce:_ I'd best bring it to his Reverence. Come with me, Fardy, till he will question you about it.

_Fardy:_ It was not altogether in the street I found it----

_Miss Joyce:_ There, now! I knew you got it in no good way! Tell me, now.

_Fardy:_ It was playing pitch and toss I won it----

_Miss Joyce:_ And who would play for half-crowns with the like of you, Fardy Farrell? Who was it, now?

_Fardy:_ It was--a stranger----

_Miss Joyce:_ Do you hear that? A stranger! Did you see e'er a stranger in this town, Mrs. Delane, or Sergeant Carden, or Mr. Quirke?

_Mr. Quirke:_ Not a one.

_Sergeant:_ There was no stranger here.

_Mrs. Delane:_ There could not be one here without me knowing it.

_Fardy:_ I tell you there was.

_Miss Joyce:_ Come on, then, and tell who was he to his Reverence.

_Sergeant:_ (_Taking other arm._) Or to the bench.

_Fardy:_ I did get it, I tell you, from a stranger.

_Sergeant:_ Where is he, so?

_Fardy:_ He's in some place--not far away.

_Sergeant:_ Bring me to him.

_Fardy:_ He'll be coming here.

_Sergeant:_ Tell me the truth and it will be better for you.

_Fardy:_ (_Weeping._) Let me go and I will.

_Sergeant:_ (_Letting go._) Now--who did you get it from?

_Fardy:_ From that young chap came to-day, Mr. Halvey.

_All:_ Mr. Halvey!

_Mr. Quirke:_ (_Indignantly._) What are you saying, you young ruffian you? Hyacinth Halvey to be playing pitch and toss with the like of you!

_Fardy:_ I didn't say that.

_Miss Joyce:_ You did say it. You said it now.

_Mr. Quirke:_ Hyacinth Halvey! The best man that ever came into this town!

_Miss Joyce:_ Well, what lies he has!

_Mr. Quirke:_ It's my belief the half-crown is a bad one. May be it's to pass it off it was given to him. There were tinkers in the town at the time of the fair. Give it here to me. (_Bites it._) No, indeed, it's sound enough. Here, Sergeant, it's best for you take it.

(_Gives it to Sergeant, who examines it._)

_Sergeant:_ Can it be? Can it be what I think it to be?

_Mr. Quirke:_ What is it? What do you take it to be?

_Sergeant:_ It is, it is. I know it. I know this half-crown----

_Mr. Quirke:_ That is a queer thing, now.

_Sergeant:_ I know it well. I have been handling it in the church for the last twelvemonth----

_Mr. Quirke:_ Is that so?

_Sergeant:_ It is the nest-egg half-crown we hand round in the collection plate every Sunday morning. I know it by the dint on the Queen's temples and the crooked scratch under her nose.

_Mr. Quirke:_ (_Examining it._) So there is, too.

_Sergeant:_ This is a bad business. It has been stolen from the church.

_All:_ O! O! O!

_Sergeant:_ (_Seizing Fardy._) You have robbed the church!

_Fardy:_ (_Terrified._) I tell you I never did!

_Sergeant:_ I have the proof of it.

_Fardy:_ Say what you like! I never put a foot in it!

_Sergeant:_ How did you get this, so?

_Miss Joyce:_ I suppose from the stranger?

_Mrs. Delane:_ I suppose it was Hyacinth Halvey gave it to you, now?

_Fardy:_ It was so.

_Sergeant:_ I suppose it was he robbed the church?

_Fardy:_ (_Sobs._) You will not believe me if I say it.

_Mr. Quirke:_ O! the young vagabond! Let me get at him!

_Mrs. Delane:_ Here he is himself now!

(_Hyacinth comes in. Fardy releases himself and creeps behind him._)

_Mrs. Delane:_ It is time you to come, Mr. Halvey, and shut the mouth of this young schemer.

_Miss Joyce:_ I would like you to hear what he says of you, Mr. Halvey. Pitch and toss, he says.

_Mr. Quirke:_ Robbery, he says.

_Mrs. Delane:_ Robbery of a church.

_Sergeant:_ He has had a bad name long enough. Let him go to a reformatory now.

_Fardy:_ (_Clinging to Hyacinth._) Save me, save me! I'm a poor boy trying to knock out a way of living; I'll be destroyed if I go to a reformatory. (_Kneels and clings to Hyacinth's knees._)

_Hyacinth:_ I'll save you easy enough.

_Fardy:_ Don't let me be gaoled!

_Hyacinth:_ I am going to tell them.

_Fardy:_ I'm a poor orphan----

_Hyacinth:_ Will you let me speak?

_Fardy:_ I'll get no more chance in the world----

_Hyacinth:_ Sure I'm trying to free you----

_Fardy:_ It will be tasked to me always.

_Hyacinth:_ Be quiet, can't you.

_Fardy:_ Don't you desert me!

_Hyacinth:_ Will you be silent?

_Fardy:_ Take it on yourself.

_Hyacinth:_ I will if you'll let me.

_Fardy:_ Tell them you did it.

_Hyacinth:_ I am going to do that.

_Fardy:_ Tell them it was you got in at the window.

_Hyacinth:_ I will! I will!

_Fardy:_ Say it was you robbed the box.

_Hyacinth:_ I'll say it! I'll say it!

_Fardy:_ It being open!

_Hyacinth:_ Let me tell, let me tell.

_Fardy:_ Of all that was in it.

_Hyacinth:_ I'll tell them that.

_Fardy:_ And gave it to me.

_Hyacinth:_ (_Putting hand on his mouth and dragging him up._) Will you stop and let me speak?

_Sergeant:_ We can't be wasting time. Give him here to me.

_Hyacinth:_ I can't do that. He must be let alone.

_Sergeant:_ (_Seizing him._) He'll be let alone in the lock-up.

_Hyacinth:_ He must not be brought there.

_Sergeant:_ I'll let no man get him off.

_Hyacinth:_ I will get him off.

_Sergeant:_ You will not!

_Hyacinth:_ I will.

_Sergeant:_ Do you think to buy him off?

_Hyacinth:_ I will buy him off with my own confession.

_Sergeant:_ And what will that be?

_Hyacinth:_ It was I robbed the church.

_Sergeant:_ That is likely indeed!

_Hyacinth:_ Let him go, and take me. I tell you I did it.

_Sergeant:_ It would take witnesses to prove that.

_Hyacinth:_ (_Pointing to Fardy._) He will be witness.

_Fardy:_ O! Mr. Halvey, I would not wish to do that. Get me off and I will say nothing.

_Hyacinth:_ Sure you must. You will be put on oath in the court.

_Fardy:_ I will not! I will not! All the world knows I don't understand the nature of an oath!

_Mr. Quirke:_ (_Coming forward._) Is it blind ye all are?

_Mrs. Delane:_ What are you talking about?

_Mr. Quirke:_ Is it fools ye all are?

_Miss Joyce:_ Speak for yourself.

_Mr. Quirke:_ Is it idiots ye all are?

_Sergeant:_ Mind who you're talking to.

_Mr. Quirke:_ (_Seizing Hyacinth's hands._) Can't you see? Can't you hear? Where are your wits? Was ever such a thing seen in this town?

_Mrs. Delane:_ Say out what you have to say.

_Mr. Quirke:_ A walking saint he is!

_Mrs. Delane:_ Maybe so.

_Mr. Quirke:_ The preserver of the poor! Talk of the holy martyrs! They are nothing at all to what he is! Will you look at him! To save that poor boy he is going! To take the blame on himself he is going! To say he himself did the robbery he is going! Before the magistrate he is going! To gaol he is going! Taking the blame on his own head! Putting the sin on his own shoulders! Letting on to have done a robbery! Telling a lie--that it may be forgiven him--to his own injury! Doing all that I tell you to save the character of a miserable slack lad, that rose in poverty.

(_Murmur of admiration from all._)

_Mr. Quirke:_ Now, what do you say?

_Sergeant:_ (_Pressing his hand._) Mr. Halvey, you have given us all a lesson. To please you, I will make no information against the boy. (_Shakes him and helps him up._) I will put back the half-crown in the poor-box next Sunday. (_To Fardy._) What have you to say to your benefactor?

_Fardy:_ I'm obliged to you, Mr. Halvey. You behaved very decent to me, very decent indeed. I'll never let a word be said against you if I live to be a hundred years.

_Sergeant:_ (_Wiping eyes with a blue handkerchief._) I will tell it at the meeting. It will be a great encouragement to them to build up their character. I'll tell it to the priest and he taking the chair----

_Hyacinth:_ O stop, will you----

_Mr. Quirke:_ The chair. It's in the chair he himself should be. It's in a chair we will put him now. It's to chair him through the streets we will. Sure he'll be an example and a blessing to the whole of the town. (_Seizes Halvey and seats him in chair._) Now, Sergeant, give a hand. Here, Fardy.

(_They all lift the chair with Halvey in it, wildly protesting._)

_Mr. Quirke:_ Come along now to the Courthouse. Three cheers for Hyacinth Halvey! Hip! hip! hoora!

(_Cheers heard in the distance as the curtain drops._)

THE RISING OF THE MOON

PERSONS

_Sergeant._ _Policeman X._ _Policeman B._ _A Ragged Man._

THE RISING OF THE MOON

_Scene: Side of a quay in a seaport town. Some posts and chains. A large barrel. Enter three policemen. Moonlight._

(_Sergeant, who is older than the others, crosses the stage to right and looks down steps. The others put down a pastepot and unroll a bundle of placards._)

_Policeman B:_ I think this would be a good place to put up a notice. (_He points to barrel._)

_Policeman X:_ Better ask him. (_Calls to Sergt._) Will this be a good place for a placard?

(_No answer._)

_Policeman B:_ Will we put up a notice here on the barrel? (_No answer._)

_Sergeant:_ There's a flight of steps here that leads to the water. This is a place that should be minded well. If he got down here, his friends might have a boat to meet him; they might send it in here from outside.

_Policeman B:_ Would the barrel be a good place to put a notice up?

_Sergeant:_ It might; you can put it there.

(_They paste the notice up._)

_Sergeant:_ (_Reading it._) Dark hair--dark eyes, smooth face, height five feet five--there's not much to take hold of in that--It's a pity I had no chance of seeing him before he broke out of gaol. They say he's a wonder, that it's he makes all the plans for the whole organization. There isn't another man in Ireland would have broken gaol the way he did. He must have some friends among the gaolers.

_Policeman B:_ A hundred pounds is little enough for the Government to offer for him. You may be sure any man in the force that takes him will get promotion.

_Sergeant:_ I'll mind this place myself. I wouldn't wonder at all if he came this way. He might come slipping along there (_points to side of quay_), and his friends might be waiting for him there (_points down steps_), and once he got away it's little chance we'd have of finding him; it's maybe under a load of kelp he'd be in a fishing boat, and not one to help a married man that wants it to the reward.

_Policeman X:_ And if we get him itself, nothing but abuse on our heads for it from the people, and maybe from our own relations.

_Sergeant:_ Well, we have to do our duty in the force. Haven't we the whole country depending on us to keep law and order? It's those that are down would be up and those that are up would be down, if it wasn't for us. Well, hurry on, you have plenty of other places to placard yet, and come back here then to me. You can take the lantern. Don't be too long now. It's very lonesome here with nothing but the moon.

_Policeman B:_ It's a pity we can't stop with you. The Government should have brought more police into the town, with _him_ in gaol, and at assize time too. Well, good luck to your watch.

(_They go out._)

_Sergeant:_ (_Walks up and down once or twice and looks at placard._) A hundred pounds and promotion sure. There must be a great deal of spending in a hundred pounds. It's a pity some honest man not to be the better of that.

(_A ragged man appears at left and tries to slip past. Sergeant suddenly turns._)

_Sergeant:_ Where are you going?

_Man:_ I'm a poor ballad-singer, your honour. I thought to sell some of these (_holds out bundle of ballads_) to the sailors. (_He goes on._)

_Sergeant:_ Stop! Didn't I tell you to stop? You can't go on there.

_Man:_ Oh, very well. It's a hard thing to be poor. All the world's against the poor!

_Sergeant:_ Who are you?

_Man:_ You'd be as wise as myself if I told you, but I don't mind. I'm one Jimmy Walsh, a ballad-singer.

_Sergeant:_ Jimmy Walsh? I don't know that name.

_Man:_ Ah, sure, they know it well enough in Ennis. Were you ever in Ennis, sergeant?

_Sergeant:_ What brought you here?

_Man:_ Sure, it's to the assizes I came, thinking I might make a few shillings here or there. It's in the one train with the judges I came.

_Sergeant:_ Well, if you came so far, you may as well go farther, for you'll walk out of this.

_Man:_ I will, I will; I'll just go on where I was going. (_Goes towards steps._)

_Sergeant:_ Come back from those steps; no one has leave to pass down them to-night.

_Man:_ I'll just sit on the top of the steps till I see will some sailor buy a ballad off me that would give me my supper. They do be late going back to the ship. It's often I saw them in Cork carried down the quay in a hand-cart.

_Sergeant:_ Move on, I tell you. I won't have any one lingering about the quay to-night.

_Man:_ Well, I'll go. It's the poor have the hard life! Maybe yourself might like one, sergeant. Here's a good sheet now. (_Turns one over._) "Content and a pipe"--that's not much. "The Peeler and the goat"--you wouldn't like that. "Johnny Hart"--that's a lovely song.

_Sergeant:_ Move on.

_Man:_ Ah, wait till you hear it. (_Sings:_)

There was a rich farmer's daughter lived near the town of Ross; She courted a Highland soldier, his name was Johnny Hart; Says the mother to her daughter, "I'll go distracted mad If you marry that Highland soldier dressed up in Highland plaid."

_Sergeant:_ Stop that noise.

(_Man wraps up his ballads and shuffles towards the steps_)

_Sergeant:_ Where are you going?

_Man:_ Sure you told me to be going, and I am going.

_Sergeant:_ Don't be a fool. I didn't tell you to go that way; I told you to go back to the town.

_Man:_ Back to the town, is it?

_Sergeant:_ (_Taking him by the shoulder and shoving him before him._) Here, I'll show you the way. Be off with you. What are you stopping for?

_Man:_ (_Who has been keeping his eye on the notice, points to it._) I think I know what you're waiting for, sergeant.

_Sergeant:_ What's that to you?

_Man:_ And I know well the man you're waiting for--I know him well--I'll be going.

(_He shuffles on._)

_Sergeant:_ You know him? Come back here. What sort is he?

_Man:_ Come back is it, sergeant? Do you want to have me killed?

_Sergeant:_ Why do you say that?

_Man:_ Never mind. I'm going. I wouldn't be in your shoes if the reward was ten times as much. (_Goes on off stage to left_). Not if it was ten times as much.

_Sergeant:_ (_Rushing after him._) Come back here, come back. (_Drags him back._) What sort is he? Where did you see him?

_Man:_ I saw him in my own place, in the County Clare. I tell you you wouldn't like to be looking at him. You'd be afraid to be in the one place with him. There isn't a weapon he doesn't know the use of, and as to strength, his muscles are as hard as that board (_slaps barrel_).

_Sergeant:_ Is he as bad as that?

_Man:_ He is then.

_Sergeant:_ Do you tell me so?

_Man:_ There was a poor man in our place, a sergeant from Ballyvaughan.--It was with a lump of stone he did it.

_Sergeant:_ I never heard of that.

_Man:_ And you wouldn't, sergeant. It's not everything that happens gets into the papers. And there was a policeman in plain clothes, too.... It is in Limerick he was.... It was after the time of the attack on the police barrack at Kilmallock.... Moonlight ... just like this ... waterside.... Nothing was known for certain.

_Sergeant:_ Do you say so? It's a terrible county to belong to.

_Man:_ That's so, indeed! You might be standing there, looking out that way, thinking you saw him coming up this side of the quay (_points_), and he might be coming up this other side (_points_), and he'd be on you before you knew where you were.

_Sergeant:_ It's a whole troop of police they ought to put here to stop a man like that.

_Man:_ But if you'd like me to stop with you, I could be looking down this side. I could be sitting up here on this barrel.

_Sergeant:_ And you know him well, too?

_Man:_ I'd know him a mile off, sergeant.

_Sergeant:_ But you wouldn't want to share the reward?

_Man:_ Is it a poor man like me, that has to be going the roads and singing in fairs, to have the name on him that he took a reward? But you don't want me. I'll be safer in the town.

_Sergeant:_ Well, you can stop.

_Man:_ (_Getting up on barrel._) All right, sergeant. I wonder, now, you're not tired out, sergeant, walking up and down the way you are.

_Sergeant:_ If I'm tired I'm used to it.

_Man:_ You might have hard work before you to-night yet. Take it easy while you can. There's plenty of room up here on the barrel, and you see farther when you're higher up.

_Sergeant:_ Maybe so. (_Gets up beside him on barrel, facing right. They sit back to back, looking different ways._) You made me feel a bit queer with the way you talked.

_Man:_ Give me a match, sergeant (_he gives it and man lights pipe_); take a draw yourself? It'll quiet you. Wait now till I give you a light, but you needn't turn round. Don't take your eye off the quay for the life of you.

_Sergeant:_ Never fear, I won't. (_Lights pipe. They both smoke._) Indeed it's a hard thing to be in the force, out at night and no thanks for it, for all the danger we're in. And it's little we get but abuse from the people, and no choice but to obey our orders, and never asked when a man is sent into danger, if you are a married man with a family.

_Man:_ (_Sings_)--

As through the hills I walked to view the hills and shamrock plain, I stood awhile where nature smiles to view the rocks and streams, On a matron fair I fixed my eyes beneath a fertile vale, As she sang her song it was on the wrong of poor old Granuaile.

_Sergeant:_ Stop that; that's no song to be singing in these times.

_Man:_ Ah, sergeant, I was only singing to keep my heart up. It sinks when I think of him. To think of us two sitting here, and he creeping up the quay, maybe, to get to us.

_Sergeant:_ Are you keeping a good lookout?

_Man:_ I am; and for no reward too. Amn't I the foolish man? But when I saw a man in trouble, I never could help trying to get him out of it. What's that? Did something hit me?

(_Rubs his heart._)

_Sergeant:_ (_Patting him on the shoulder._) You will get your reward in heaven.

_Man:_ I know that, I know that, sergeant, but life is precious.

_Sergeant:_ Well, you can sing if it gives you more courage.

_Man:_ (_Sings_)--

Her head was bare, her hands and feet with iron bands were bound, Her pensive strain and plaintive wail mingles with the evening gale, And the song she sang with mournful air, I am old Granuaile. Her lips so sweet that monarchs kissed....

_Sergeant:_ That's not it.... "Her gown she wore was stained with gore." ... That's it--you missed that.

_Man:_ You're right, sergeant, so it is; I missed it. (_Repeats line._) But to think of a man like you knowing a song like that.

_Sergeant:_ There's many a thing a man might know and might not have any wish for.

_Man:_ Now, I daresay, sergeant, in your youth, you used to be sitting up on a wall, the way you are sitting up on this barrel now, and the other lads beside you, and you singing "Granuaile"?...

_Sergeant:_ I did then.

_Man:_ And the "Shan Bhean Bhocht"?...

_Sergeant:_ I did then.

_Man:_ And the "Green on the Cape?"

_Sergeant:_ That was one of them.

_Man:_ And maybe the man you are watching for to-night used to be sitting on the wall, when he was young, and singing those same songs.... It's a queer world....

_Sergeant:_ Whisht!... I think I see something coming.... It's only a dog.

_Man:_ And isn't it a queer world?... Maybe it's one of the boys you used to be singing with that time you will be arresting to-day or to-morrow, and sending into the dock....

_Sergeant:_ That's true indeed.

_Man:_ And maybe one night, after you had been singing, if the other boys had told you some plan they had, some plan to free the country, you might have joined with them ... and maybe it is you might be in trouble now.

_Sergeant:_ Well, who knows but I might? I had a great spirit in those days.

_Man:_ It's a queer world, sergeant, and it's little any mother knows when she sees her child creeping on the floor what might happen to it before it has gone through its life, or who will be who in the end.

_Sergeant:_ That's a queer thought now, and a true thought. Wait now till I think it out.... If it wasn't for the sense I have, and for my wife and family, and for me joining the force the time I did, it might be myself now would be after breaking gaol and hiding in the dark, and it might be him that's hiding in the dark and that got out of gaol would be sitting up where I am on this barrel.... And it might be myself would be creeping up trying to make my escape from himself, and it might be himself would be keeping the law, and myself would be breaking it, and myself would be trying maybe to put a bullet in his head, or to take up a lump of a stone the way you said he did ... no, that myself did.... Oh! (_Gasps. After a pause._) What's that? (_Grasps man's arm._)

_Man:_ (_Jumps off barrel and listens, looking out over water._) It's nothing, sergeant.

_Sergeant:_ I thought it might be a boat. I had a notion there might be friends of his coming about the quays with a boat.

_Man:_ Sergeant, I am thinking it was with the people you were, and not with the law you were, when you were a young man.

_Sergeant:_ Well, if I was foolish then, that time's gone.

_Man:_ Maybe, sergeant, it comes into your head sometimes, in spite of your belt and your tunic, that it might have been as well for you to have followed Granuaile.

_Sergeant:_ It's no business of yours what I think.

_Man:_ Maybe, sergeant, you'll be on the side of the country yet.