Loyalties | Page 8

creeper off the balcony, as a blind. Come and
look here, General. [He goes to the window; the GENERAL follows.
DE LEVIS points stage Right] See the rail of my balcony, and the rail
of the next? [He holds up the cord of his dressing-gown, stretching his
arms out] I've measured it with this. Just over seven feet, that's all! If a
man can take a standing jump on to a narrow bookcase four feet high
and balance there, he'd make nothing of that. And, look here! [He goes

out on the balcony and returns with a bit of broken creeper in his hand,
and holds it out into the light] Someone's stood on that--the stalk's
crushed--the inner corner too, where he'd naturally stand when he took
his jump back.
CANYNGE. [After examining it--stiffly] That other balcony is young
Dancy's, Mr De Levis; a soldier and a gentleman. This is an
extraordinary insinuation.
DE LEVIS. Accusation.
CANYNGE. What!
DE LEVIS. I have intuitions, General; it's in my blood. I see the whole
thing. Dancy came up, watched me into the bathroom, tried my door,
slipped back into his dressing-room, saw my window was open, took
that jump, sneaked the notes, filled the case up with these, wrenched
the creeper there [He points stage Left] for a blind, jumped back, and
slipped downstairs again. It didn't take him four minutes altogether.
CANYNGE. [Very gravely] This is outrageous, De Levis. Dancy says
he was downstairs all the time. You must either withdraw unreservedly,
or I must confront you with him.
DE LEVIS. If he'll return the notes and apologise, I'll do nothing--
except cut him in future. He gave me that filly, you know, as a hopeless
weed, and he's been pretty sick ever since, that he was such a flat as not
to see how good she was. Besides, he's hard up, I know.
CANYNGE. [After a vexed turn up and down the room] It's mad, sir, to
jump to conclusions like this.
DE LEVIS. Not so mad as the conclusion Dancy jumped to when he
lighted on my balcony.
CANYNGE. Nobody could have taken this money who did not know
you had it.
DE LEVIS. How do you know that he didn't?
CANYNGE. Do you know that he did?
DE LEVIS. I haven't the least doubt of it.
CANYNGE. Without any proof. This is very ugly, De Levis. I must tell
WINSOR.
DE LEVIS. [Angrily] Tell the whole blooming lot. You think I've no
feelers, but I've felt the atmosphere here, I can tell you, General. If I
were in Dancy's shoes and he in mine, your tone to me would be very
different.

CANYNGE. [Suavely frigid] I'm not aware of using any tone, as you
call it. But this is a private house, Mr De Levis, and something is due to
our host and to the esprit de corps that exists among gentlemen.
DE LEVIS. Since when is a thief a gentleman? Thick as thieves--a
good motto, isn't it?
CANYNGE. That's enough! [He goes to the door, but stops before
opening it] Now, look here! I have some knowledge of the world. Once
an accusation like this passes beyond these walls no one can foresee the
consequences. Captain Dancy is a gallant fellow, with a fine record as a
soldier; and only just married. If he's as innocent as--Christ--mud will
stick to him, unless the real thief is found. In the old days of swords,
either you or he would not have gone out of this room alive. It you
persist in this absurd accusation, you will both of you go out of this
room dead in the eyes of Society: you for bringing it, he for being the
object of it.
DE LEVIS. Society! Do you think I don't know that I'm only tolerated
for my money? Society can't add injury to insult and have my money as
well, that's all. If the notes are restored I'll keep my mouth shut; if
they're not, I shan't. I'm certain I'm right. I ask nothing better than to be
confronted with Dancy; but, if you prefer it, deal with him in your own
way--for the sake of your esprit de corps.
CANYNGE. 'Pon my soul, Mr De Levis, you go too far.
DE LEVIS. Not so far as I shall go, General Canynge, if those notes
aren't given back.
WINSOR comes in.
WINSOR. Well, De Levis, I'm afraid that's all we can do for the present.
So very sorry this should have happened in my house.
CANYNGE. [Alter a silence] There's a development, WINSOR. Mr De
Levis accuses one of your guests.
WINSOR. What?
CANYNGE. Of jumping from his balcony to this, taking the notes, and
jumping back. I've done my best to dissuade him from indulging the
fancy--without success. Dancy must