The Great Adventure

The Great Adventure

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Great Adventure, by Arnold
Bennett
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Title: The Great Adventure
Author: Arnold Bennett
Release Date: October 29, 2004 [eBook #13894]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT
ADVENTURE***
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THE GREAT ADVENTURE
A Play of Fancy in Four Acts
by
ARNOLD BENNETT
1913

CHARACTERS
ILAM CARVE An illustrious Painter ALBERT SHAWN Ilam's Valet
DR. PASCOE EDWARD HORNING Doctor's Assistant CYRUS
CARVE Ilam's Cousin, a City Auctioneer FATHER LOOE A Catholic
Priest PETER HORNING A Journalist EBAG A Picture Dealer JOHN
SHAWN A Curate JAMES SHAWN His Brother, a Curate LORD
LEONARD ALCAR TEXEL An American Millionaire A WAITER A

PAGE A SERVANT JANET CANNOT A Widow MRS. ALBERT
SHAWN HONORIA LOOE Sister of Father Looe

SCENES
ACT I ROOM IN ILAM CARVE'S HOUSE, 126 REDCLIFFE
GARDENS
ACT II PRIVATE ROOM AT THE GRAND BABYLON HOTEL
ACT III JANET'S SITTING-ROOM AT WERTER ROAD, PUTNEY
ACT IV LORD LEONARD ALCAR'S STUDY, GROSVENOR
GARDENS
SPECIAL NOTE.--Each Act is divided into two scenes, separated by a
passage of time more or less short. The passage of time is indicated by
darkening the stage for a few moments. No change of scenery is
involved.

NOTE
The play was produced for the first time in London at the Kingsway
Theatre, by Granville Barker, on Tuesday, March 25th, 1913.

THE GREAT ADVENTURE
ACT I
SCENE I
Front room on ground floor at 126 Redcliffe Gardens. An apartment
furnished richly but in an old-fashioned way. Fine pictures. Large
furniture. Sofa near centre. General air of neglect and dustiness. Carpet
half-laid. Trunks and bags lying about in corners, some opened. Men's
wearing apparel exposed. Mantelpiece, R., in disorder. At back double
doors (ajar) leading to another room. Door, L., leading to hall and front
door.
TIME.--Evening in August.
ALBERT SHAWN is reclining on the sofa, fully dressed, but obviously
ill: an overcoat has been drawn over his legs. A conspicuous object is a
magnificent light purple dressing-gown thrown across a chair.
Door bangs off. Enter ILAM CARVE in his shirt sleeves, hurriedly.
SHAWN feebly tries to get up.
CARVE. Now, don't move. Remember you're a sick man, and forget

you're a servant.
(SHAWN shivers. CARVE, about to put on his dressing-gown, changes
his mind, and wraps it round SHAWN as well as he can. CARVE then
puts on an oldish coat.)
SHAWN. (Feebly.) You've been very quick, sir.
CARVE. I found a red lamp only three doors off. He'll be along in half
a minute.
SHAWN. Did you explain what it was, sir?
CARVE. (Genially.) How could I explain what it was, you fool, when I
don't know? I simply asked to see the doctor, and I told him there was a
fellow-creature suffering at No. 126, and would he come at once.
"126?" he said, "126 has been shut up for years."
SHAWN. (Trying to smile.) What did you say, sir?
CARVE. I said (articulating with clearness) a hundred and
twenty-six--and ran off. Then he yelled out after me that he'd come
instantly.... I say, Shawn, we're discovered. I could tell that from his
sudden change of tone. I bet the entire street knows that the celebrated
Me has arrived at last. I feel like a criminal already, dashed if I don't! I
wish we'd gone to a hotel now. (Walks about.) I say, did you make up
the bed?
SHAWN. I was just doing it, sir.
CARVE. But what about sheets and so on?
SHAWN. I bought some this morning, ready hemmed, sir--with those
and the travelling rug----
CARVE. Well, don't you think you could work your passage out to the
bed? With my help?
SHAWN. Me in your bed, sir!
CARVE. (Genially bullying.) Keep on in that tone--and I'll give you
the sack on the spot. Now then. Try--before the doctor comes. (Bell
rings.)
SHAWN. The bell, sir--excuse me.
CARVE. Confound----
(Exit CARVE.)
(SHAWN coughs and puts a handkerchief to his mouth. CARVE
returns immediately with DR. PASCOE.)
PASCOE. (Glancing round quickly.) This the patient? (Goes to
SHAWN, and looks at him. Then, taking a clinical thermometer from

his pocket and wiping it; with marked respect.) Allow me to put this
under your tongue for half a minute. (Having done so, he takes
SHAWN'S wrist and, looking at his watch, counts the patient's pulse.
Then turning to CARVE, in a low curt voiced) When did this begin?
CARVE. Just now.