The morning room at Chatworth Hall, Hertfordshire. Lady Mildred Conington’s country house.
Blind, no longer French, but a sporting little Englishman in plus fours is practising Mashie shots on the carpet; he is the Hon. Thomas Conington, known by everyone as Toddy. Enter O.W. dressed as an English lady in the country. She is his sister Lady Mildred Conington.
O.W. Hullo, Toddy, wearing out the carpet?
Blind. Only by the way. I’m trying to kill two birds with one stone – improve my short game and do a little quiet thinking.
O.W. Still puzzling over Ivan’s remark?
Blind. That’s it. Why should he have taken such a dislike to a harmless looking person like our Mr. Cohen?
O.W. It might have been because the prince was so upset by him.
Blind. I don’t think so. From the way he said it I think there’s more behind. “This man is our enemy” – that was his remark – and in a tone of voice that admitted of no doubt.
O.W. Do you feel quite certain of him, Toddy?
Blind. (Slowly.) I’m not quite sure. At first I thought of him as the old family retainer – old faithful – my life for my master’s sort of fellow. But master Ivan doesn’t open out much, does he?
O.W. He doesn’t give himself away, certainly. I’ll talk to the Princess about him.
Blind. And I’ll do a little Sherlock Holmesing. (Several Mashie shots.) By the way, Mildred – talking of the Princess – are Russian Princesses real Princesses? I mean, are they princesses in the same sense as our princesses are princesses?
O.W. Well – not quite. They are not necessarily members of the royal family.
Blind. I mean, what level would they be on in England?
O.W. About on the level of the younger son of an earl, I think.
Blind. Oh, don’t be an ass, Mildred. (He turns away rather huffily. O.W. exit, laughing. Blind goes out of French window. Enter Ivan – he looks about for a book, which he finds. Enter Dumb.)
Dumb. What do you think of your master this morning, Ivan?
Ivan. He is no worse, no better.
Dumb. No. We’ve been here nearly a week now and in spite of the rest and change, he is just where he was. That’s what worries me: I am having a second opinion today. I have rung up Sir Lawson Danvers, the leading brain specialist of the day. He promised to be here by 11.30. It’s just after 11 now.
Ivan. Do you know him?
Dumb. Only by reputation. I have never met him.
Ivan. He comes from London?
Dumb. Yes.
Ivan. By train?
Dumb. No – he’s driving down. Why?
Ivan. (After a momentary pause.) Your English trains are often late – has the medicine come for my master?
Dumb. Not yet. It’s to be sent up this afternoon.
Ivan. We have only one dose left. May I telephone to the chemist to send it this morning?
Dumb. Yes, by all means! There’s the telephone – behind the screen.
(Dumb exit. Ivan goes behind screen to telephone.)
Ivan. I want the King’s Head, please, What’s the number? 1.7. Thank you. (Pause.) Is that the King’s Head. I want to speak to Mr. Farjeon – yes, the Belgian gentleman. Thank you. (Pause.) Is that you, Petrovitch? I have two things to tell you – first (Toddy strolls in, unseen by Ivan who is behind the screen.) Lord Stevenage arrived last night – he is lame – No, not at all like – That is so, but a lame leg can’t be disguised. The second thing: Dr. Pike has telephoned for a brain specialist to see the Prince. He does not know him by sight, if you want to come here, you could impersonate him – name? Sir Lawson Danvers: he is coming by car from London – well how does one get rid of brain specialists? You must decide that for yourself. You must have his car – yes, but it’s worth some risk. There is a lonely bit of road half a mile from the park gates, where the lane runs through a wood – a pond just beyond, the place is only a quarter of a mile from the Inn – he is expected here at half past 11.
(Toddy goes noiselessly out of French window.)
Ivan. Yes, you should start at once to make certain. Goodbye.
(Ivan gets up, as he does so enter O.W. and Lezinka.)
Ivan. I beg your pardon, my lady, Dr. Pike told me to telephone for His Excellency’s medicine.
O.W. Oh, very well, Ivan. (Exit Ivan.) I can’t make Ivan out. You’re quite sure of him, I suppose.
Lez. What do you mean by “sure of him?”
O.W. You’re certain he’s faithful?
Lez. Oh yes. But I am not quite certain that he is always wise with Boris.
O.W. Oh?
Lez. Yes, he will say sometimes things which excite and even frighten Boris. Since the revolution broke out, I have had often to ask him not to tell Boris of what he heard in the village. I think sometimes that it was through Ivan that he more and more distrusted the peasants and shut himself up and lost their sympathy and love.
O.W. You don’t think Ivan has revolutionary ideas himself – that he did anything to rouse the peasants against you.
Lez. Oh no. He always spoke very bitterly against the peasants.
O.W. I see. I hear Dr. Pike has called in Sir Lawson Danvers.
Lez. Yes. He will come this morning.
O.W. I’m sorry the Prince is no better.
Lez. We are very anxious about him. Lady Mildred, I do feel grateful to you. It is through you that we are alive.
O.W. Not through me. Through the Grey Shadow.
Lez. Are we never to know the name of our deliverer?
O.W. Not unless he chooses to reveal himself. His followers, as you know, are called the Workers in the Mist – and many of them don’t know who their leader is – they are bound by a solemn promise only to refer to him as the Grey Shadow – Everyone knows about him yet hardly anyone knows him. Our society has a great many members now, and not 10% know who gives them their orders. All they know is that if they fail, through their own fault, to carry out an order to the smallest detail, they will never be employed again. Yet recruits come pouring in. It is wonderful how many man – and women too – are ready to risk their lives to save others.
Lez. And are all the workers English?
O.W. Oh no, we have plenty of French and American members – and a sprinkling of other nationalities.
Lez. And they are all ready to go into deadly danger like you – and your brother.
O.W. Certainly. We are nothing remarkable.
Lez. Oh, Lady Mildred. And your brother! He is the bravest man I have ever met.
O.W. Toddy?
Lez. Yes. I was forgetting you had another brother. Somehow Lord Stevenage hardly seems to count.
O.W. Poor old Budge. Yet he had a splendid record in the War.
Lez. Did he? He seems so different from the Hon. Thomas.
O.W. For goodness’ sake – don’t talk about him as the Hon. Thomas – Mr. Conington. Everyone who knows him really well calls him Toddy.
Lez. I wonder if I shall ever dare to call him Toddy.
O.W. I dare say you will – after years and years.
Lez. He is not only brave. He is so unselfish – so cheerful – so cool. He is just my idea of a hero.
O.W. Well – don’t tell him so. He’d blush till the end of his life.
Lez. It is curious that he and Lord Stevenage are so different.
(Enter Lame – now Lord Stevenage. Plus fours, monocle, slightly asinine manner. He is carrying a golf bag.)
Lame. Morning, Princess. What’s the latest bulletin?
Lez. No better, I’m afraid. Dr. Pike is calling in Sir Lawson Danvers.
Lame. Oh, yes. Good man, Danvers, did a lot of good work in shell shock Hospitals in the war. Queer thing, shell shock – almost got it myself in 1916.
O.W. My dear Budge – you haven’t enough imagination to get shell shook.
Lame. No, perhaps not. It’s generally the men with brains who have it. I remember one poor fellow in my company, fellow of Balliol I think he was.
(Enter Red Beard, still Jack Cameron – in plus fours.)
Red. Hullo, Mildred. Has Budge told you about cur round?
Lame. Shut up, Jack.
O.W. I thought you were home rather early. What happened?
Red. Well, all went well till the 3rd hole, then Budge sliced into a bunker, out came the famous niblick, you know, the one like a tea tray – first shot moved the ball exactly an inch and a half – second shot half buried it, third shot completed the burial. We took five or ten minutes digging him out.
Lame. Yes, the silver king went to earth properly.
Red. Then Budge proposed coming home.
Lame. When I grow up, I’ve decided not to be a sexton. It’s a very arduous job.
Red. All the way back he was swearing at his niblick.
Lame. (Taking the club gloomily out of his bag.) Yes, this niblick will be the death of me.
Red. The only thing that cheered him up was seeing Toddy haring full pelt across the links.
Lame. Yes, I sat down and laughed for five minutes. What’s the ass doing? Trying to get thin?
O.W. Which way was he going ?
Red. Towards Loveday’s pond. He didn’t see us.
Lame. By the way. I must ask Fisher if there are any poachers about.
O.W. Why?
Lame. Oh, nothing. I thought I heard a shot in Pegley Wood – that’s all.
Lez. It is a mystery to me why grown up people like to play golf.
Lame. A gloomy mystery to me, Princess. We are workers in the mist together. By the way, have you solved the other mystery yet?
Lez. The Grey Shadow?
Lame. Yes.
Lez. I have an idea.
Lame. Let’s have it.
Lez. I think it may be Mr. Conington.
Lame. Toddy! Good Heavens! (Goes into shouts of laughter.)
Lez. (Rather hurt.) I don’t know why you are laughing.
Lame. You might almost as well have guessed me.
(All laugh. Enter Dumb, followed by Prince and Ivan.)
Dumb. I’m taking your brother on to the verandah, Princess. It’s sheltered from the wind and the change of scene will do him good.
O.W. I’m so glad to see you down, Prince. I don’t think you’ve met my elder brother, Lord Stevenage. He got back from the Riviera last night after you had gone upstairs. Budge, this is Prince Boris Alessandrevsky.
(Lame advances to shake hands. Boris begins trembling.)
Lame. Glad to meet you, Prince. I hope you’ll soon be quite fit again.
(Boris is staring at him in terror – he at Boris in perplexity. Everyone is silent, realising that something is wrong.)
Boris. (Almost under his breath.) The Lame Wolf again. (Loud.) Ivan, you told me the Lame Wolf would pursue me for ever. You were right.
Dumb. But Prince, this is Lord Stevenage.
Boris. (Speaking very rapidly.) The Lame Wolf is on my trail, he will pursue me night and day – in my dreams I see his glaring eyes as I saw them at Kroskov, that night, before we escaped. I came into the room, the Lame Wolf was there, he gave me twelve minutes of life. I cheated him – I have lived a week since then – a week – seven days – how many hours? How many minutes? I cheated you. The Grey Shadow carried me away from the teeth of your pack. I cheated you, but I can’t escape you. When you are not there, I see you still, if I shut my eyes – your eyes burn me and torture me. But you’ll haunt me all my life. Ivan tells me so, he knows. He tells me everything. Whatever Ivan says comes to pass. All my life! Why didn’t I stay to be killed, it would have been better than this living death. I shall never escape you. You have tracked me down here as you tracked us to Copenhagen, But I am an Alessandrevsky! My crest is a stag, wolf. The wolf and the stag. You have hunted me down and brought me to bay, but the stag at bay is a dangerous animal. (Picks up sharp paper knife from table.) The stag will fight for life and freedom.
(He attacks Lame. Dumb holds him, Ivan does nothing.)
Lez. Boris! Hold him, Ivan – hold him.
Ivan. I can do nothing, when he is like this.
Boris. The wolf has come to kill the stag. The stag will kill the wolf. (Tears himself free.)
O.W. Stop, Prince. Do you want to kill the Grey Shadow?
Boris. The Grey – (All expression fades from his face and he falls weakly into chair. O.W. realises that Ivan has overheard. Dumb attends to Boris.)
O.W. Ivan, take your master to his room.
Ivan. (Affectionately.) Come, Excellency. (Boris allows himself to be led out. He is as obedient as a tired child.)
(Dumb. is going out too – also Princess.)
Lame. (Seriously,) Pike – is the Prince’s condition serious?
Dumb. Well, no. He has had these outbursts before. They leave him exhausted – but no more.
Lame. In that case, will you stay here a few minutes? Princess, I shall be very grateful if you will stop too. Perhaps you had better all sit down. We are going to have a Committee meeting.
O.W. I’m sorry, Budge.
Lame. (Amused.) Rule number two “No member may reveal the identity of the Grey Shadow” – that rule, Mildred, you’ve broken, but I dare say you meant well. I accept your apology and on this occasion I shall not suspend you.
O.W. Thank you, Budge.
Lame. Now to business. Princess, you have overheard a secret which must be kept dark for the sake of your fellow countrymen. Can I rely on you?
Lez. I shall never breathe a word of it.
Lame. Thank you. Jack, I suppose you suspected it?
Red. My dear fellow. I hadn’t the slightest notion of it.
Lame. No – you’re not over gifted with brains, are you?
Red. Oh, shut up.
Lame. That’s what I want you to do.
Red. Right-o.
Lame. Good, Pike?
Dumb. You know I am a dumb man, Lord Stevenage.
Lame. In Russia, yes. No peasant speaks Russian with an American accent. (Dumb looks rather hurt than amused.) I apologise.
Dumb. That’s all right. And you can rely on my secrecy, Lord Stevenage.
Lame. Then that’s that. Now there remain the Prince and Ivan.
Lez. Boris won’t remember.
Dumb. That’s so. He remembers nothing about these fits of violence when they’re over.
Lame. Perhaps it’s just as well, while he’s in this queer state. Ivan?
O.W. I don’t trust Ivan.
Lame. No. It’s rather awkward. (Cheerfully.) Well, we must hope for the best. I’ll have a talk with Ivan bye and bye. I hope I can persuade him that it is to his interest to keep his mouth shut.
O.W. I shouldn’t be too optimistic.
Lame. I’m not. Well – now that you know as much as you do, you may as well know the whole thing. What do you say, Mildred?
O.W. Fire away, Budge.
Lame. When Mildred let the cat out the bag just now to save one of its nine lives, she only let out one cat. There are two others which I’ll proceed to release. It all happened like this: Early in 1917 I stopped a bullet with my skin – as I had forgotten to put my pads on, it smashed up my leg rather badly. The doctors shook their heads over me and thought my leg would have to go, but luckily it healed up and well, a gammy leg is better than no leg at all. I came home to convalesce and devoured a heap of food and a good deal of light literature. One day I was reading “The scarlet Pimpernel” when Dennis brought in the papers. I threw down my book and opened “The Times” – the first headline I saw was “Murder of Russian Aristocrats” – it was then that the great idea came to me. “By George, Mildred,” I said, “Why shouldn’t we do a Scarlet Pimpernel turn in Russia?” I think those were the very words?
O.W. There or thereabout.
Lame. I broached the subject to Toddy, who had just been turned out of the Army for slackness, or misbehaviour, or having half a lung shot away, I forget the exact excuse the War Office made. Anyhow here we were – no further use for active service, and here was Mildred kicking her heels and doing nothing, so we decided to try our luck. Fortunately, we all spoke Russian fluently, I dare say you remember that Father was Ambassador in Petersburg for a good many years when we were children. Well our first move was to put an advertisement in “The Times” – here’s a copy of it. (He hands it to Dumb who reads aloud.)
Dumb. “Wanted. Disabled or otherwise disused officers of either service for philanthropic work – considerable risk attached and no remuneration or profit – a good knowledge of Russian life and language is indispensable. Apply Box L. 257. The Times Office,” (hands it back.)
Lame. We had only six answers to that advertisement. The knowledge of Russian was the stumbling block. Those six and ourselves were the original workers in the Mist. Until this morning no one else knew the identity of the Grey Shadow. Now there are almost a hundred of us – but the more recent recruits don’t know where their orders come from. They work in the mist and in the dark. Up to date we have had no bad failures, though the Soviet Secret Service are on to us for all they’re worth. Our bag of aristocrats now number 376, you and your brother being the last brace, Princess.
Lez. What a noble work, Lord Stevenage.
Lame. Oh, I don’t know. It’s tremendous sport, but I’ve left the real point to the end. You are still labouring under the delusion that I am the one and only Grey Shadow – that’s only a third of the truth. The Grey Shadow is Mildred, Toddy and me – or is it I? I was never noted for my grammar.
Red. All three of you?
Lame. All three of us. We work out everything together and we all make suggestions. Mildred is full of ideas and Toddy is not such a fool as he looks. It’s better to have three than one, because if one of us ends on a Russian scaffold the other two can carry on. (Pause.)
Red. Then you don’t all take part in the same rescues.
Lame. Not always, of course. Very often none of us are there – the other six are the remaining officers. But, as you know, we were all in this show. It’s the biggest thing we’ve done up to date.
Red. But you weren’t there?
Lame. Wasn’t I? I’ve been in both your fancy dress parties. Do you remember shooting a rather unattractive looking cripple? That was poor little Budge. You fortunately did obey orders and swap your revolver for Mildred, which was loaded with blank. You see, it was necessary for one of us to be in the attacking force to lead them off on false scents. You only want a bit of swank to lead a mob. Toddy and I tossed for that job and I won. But I went too far and dropped a most appalling brick.
Red. What was that?
Lame. Just before the house was attacked, I went in to dope the wine. I knew the mob would drink what they could find and that would lessen their numbers. While I was there, Princess, your brother came in. I couldn’t give myself away so I acted on the spur of the moment. I had heard the Prince was nervous but obstinate – I wanted to put the wind up him, so that he would agree to escape. I did it too successfully; you see I didn’t know he’d had shell-shock. Princess, if your brother doesn’t recover, I shall never forgive myself.
Lez. You did what you believed to be best. No one can foresee the result of what he does.
Red. Why didn’t you come back with us to Copenhagen?
Lame. I joined you there.
Red. I never saw you.
Lame. Oh yes you did. Like a silly ass I went to sleep on the sofa.
Dumb. Mr. Cohen!
Red. Well I’m –
Lame. That’s what I said when I woke up next morning. The fellow who doped me was the chief of the Soviet Secret Service. I knew him at once. I doped him at Kroskov, he doped me at Copenhagen. All square and one to play.
(Dennis – a footman – enters and speaks in an undertone to Dumb.)
Dumb. Sir Lawson Danvers has come.
Lame. Show Sir Lawson in here, Dennis.
Dennis. Very good, m’Lord. (Exit Dennis.)
Dumb. Lord Stevenage, as a very humble worker in the mist, may I shake the hand of my leader.
Lame. One of your leaders, (Shake.)
Dumb. I’ll go and tell the Prince that Sir Lawson has come.
(Exit Dumb.)
O.W. Come along, Lezinka, You shall see Sir Lawson after he has examined your brother.
(Exeunt O.W. and Lezinka.)
(Enter Dennis, showing in Fur – no beard – dressed as a Specialist.)
Dennis. Sir Lawson Danvers, m’Lord. (Exit Dennis.)
Lame. How good of you to come down so promptly, Sir Lawson.
Fur. Lord Stevenage?
Lame. That’s right, Have a cigar?
Fur. (Taken rather aback.) No thank you. I don’t smoke.
Lame. We were anxious to consult you about a Russian Officer who’s staying with us – case of shell-shook but Dr. Pike will tell you all about it. (Enter Dumb.) This is Dr. Pike, Sir Lawson. Come along, Jack, we’re de trop.
(Exeunt Lame and Red by window,)
Dumb. I’m real glad you were able to come, Sir Lawson: the case puzzles me. And I’ve had some experience of shell shock.
Fur. Ah. These cases vary considerably. How long have you been in charge?
Dumb. Only for the last week.
Fur. Then you have not had much time to observe the patient. Is he ever violent?
Dumb. Sometimes. He had quite a serious outbreak about twenty minutes ago, but he is quite quiet now.
Fur. How long is it since he was invalided home?
Dumb. Over two years.
Fur. Dear me, that’s serious. Is there anyone here who has been with him all the time?
Dumb. Yes, his sister and a servant.
Fur. His sister is probably anxious. I expect I should get a clearer account from the servant.
Dumb. You would like to see him now?
Fur. If you don’t mind.
Dumb. Alone?
Fur. Oh, I think so. A fellow like that will probably talk more freely, if nobody else is in the room.
Dumb. I’ll send him down.
Fur. Thank you.
(Exit Dumb. Fur looks out of French window.)
(Enter Ivan.)
Ivan. Well?
Fur. Well, I’ve arrived.
Ivan. And the real Sir Lawson?
Fur. I shot him and dropped him in the pond. (Ivan whistles.) It’s worth the risk. No one saw.
Ivan. I’ve discovered the Grey Shadow.
Fur. Stevenage?
Ivan. Yes.
Fur. Good.
Ivan. What are you going to do?
Fur. Kill him.
Ivan. You mustn’t be discovered.
Fur. What does it matter? (Ivan shrugs.) He is ruining the cause of the People of Russia. If he is dead, what do I matter?
Ivan. How shall you kill him?
Fur. Who knows? I shall find a way.
(Enter Dumb.)
Dumb. Are you ready, Sir Lawson?
Fur. Dr. Pike, from what this man tells me I think it will be necessary for me to remain here for a couple of nights. I always go out of town for the week-ends and I might just as well be here as anywhere else. Could that be managed?
Dumb. I’m sure Lord Stevenage will be most grateful.
Fur. Not at all, not at all. You see with these brain cases, it is essential to see the patient in different moods. A mere examination is practically useless.
Dumb. Quite, quite. Would you like to see him now?
Fur. Certainly. Do you know I fancy I’ve met Lord Stevenage before somewhere. His face seems very familiar.
(Exeunt talking, followed by Ivan.)
(Enter Redbeard. He picks up his clubs and takes out a putter and 3 balls. As he is going out of the window, Blind enters at door. He is streaming with sweat and very out of breath.)
Red. Hullo, Toddy: what have you been doing? By the way, the cat’s out of the bag.
Blind. Something pretty awful’s happened. Where’s Budge?
Red. Just outside. What’s up?
Blind. Ask him to come in a minute, will you.
(Redbeard goes out and Lame enters.)
Lame. My good Toddy. What have you been doing?
Blind. Watching a murderer dispose of the body.
Lame. Tell me.
Blind. Well, I heard Ivan talking on the telephone to some unknown party at the King’s Arms. I was very suspicious – he mentioned a wood by the road and a pond beyond – so I raced off for Pegley wood. Just as I reached the wood, I heard a shot near the road. I got to the hedge and looked through. There was a big two seater in the road which had just been pulled up. A man was in the act of bundling a dead body into the dickey. Evidently he had stopped the car, shot the owner and was now disposing of the body.
Lame. What did you do?
Blind. Nothing. I could do no good. As soon as he drove off I ran to Loveday’s pond. I was just in time to see him dropping the body into the deep spot by the railings. Then he drove off. Budge –
Lame. Well?
Blind. I’m pretty certain the murderer is the fellow who doped you at Copenhagen.
Lame. I know he is.
Blind. How?
Lame. He’s here.
Blind. What?
Lame. Disguised as a Doctor.
Blind. Then the murdered man was –
Lame. Sir Lawson Danvers. (Blind whistles.)
Blind. What’s he come for?
Blind. Me, I suppose.
Blind. Who is he?
Lame. Petrovitch.
Blind. The Soviet spy?
Lame. Yes.
Blind. My hat
Lame. I was pretty certain the moment he came into the room but to make assurance doubly sure, I offered him a cigar.
Blind. What did he do?
Lame. He was taken aback. Then I knew he had recognised me.
Blind. Take care of yourself, old man. He’s dangerous as a mad dog.
Lame. That’s all right. I shall keep half an eye open. Personally, I’m glad. We had to have it out sometime and friend Petrovitch has done for himself by this murder – with you as a witness.
Blind. What’s the next move?
Lame. Well, I want to have a little chat with Petrovitch, but I should like you and Jack to be within hail in the garden – you mustn’t be seen. I’ll fire if I want help.
Blind. You’ve got a gun then?
Lame. Yes. I ran upstairs as fast as my game leg would carry me, as soon as I had seen the specialist. I also rang up Scotland Yard. They are sending down a couple of men. The spare room door’s opening, off with you. (Exit Blind by window.)
(Lame sits down facing door. Enter Fur.)
Lame. Well, doctor, what do you make of him?
Fur. It is impossible to give an opinion at present, If you will allow me to encroach on your hospitality, I should like to stay for a couple of nights. I could then judge of the case from first hand knowledge.
Lame. I shall be delighted. It’s very good of you.
Fur. Not at all. I’m looking forward to an interesting week-end.
Lame. (Walks to fireplace back to Fur and warms hands.) Curious thing shell shock. (Fur takes niblick from bag, and comes softly behind Lame as he talks. Lame watches him in the mirror. Takes out revolver.) I remember a fellow who got a bad go of it after the Somme: the doctors could make nothing of him. He was sent home of course, then his wife thought of taking him to concerts, and would you believe it – he began to improve from that moment. (Fur is about to strike a deadly blow when Lame turns suddenly and covers him.) Drop that club. Trying to increase your practice, doctor? (Pause.) You forgot the looking-glass, Petrovitch. (He searches him rapidly. He is unarmed,) You dropped your gun into the pond with the body, I suppose. Stand where you are. I want to talk to you. (Lame goes up back to door.) Now Petrovitch,#the game’s up, so you may as well tell the truth. You tried to persuade the Prince and Princess to escape from Kroskov on the night of the attack. Why did you do that?
Fur. I thought they ought to have a fair trial,
Lame. Or you thought you would increase your reputation by their capture? Answer.
Fur. Have it your own way.
Lame. Right. Why did you change your mind?
Fur. I heard the Grey Shadow was helping them.
Lame. And that scared you?
Fur. You liar. You know that’s not true.
Lame. I apologise. Then you thought we were better game than they were.
Fur. My one hope for the last two years has been to kill you.
Lame. I’m sorry to have robbed you of your hope.
(Ivan has quietly crept in behind Lame and now pinions him.)
Fur. I may succeed yet.
(Ivan tries to seize revolver. Fur comes round to help. Lame forces up Ivan’s hand and fires in the air. Enter Redbeard and Blind. They seize Ivan, who struggles. Lame again covers Fur. Red and Blind force Ivan back into a chair and hold him. Enter O.W., Dumb and Lezinka.)
O.W. What happened, Budge?
Lame. Sir Lawson has been practising his swing with my niblick, that’s all.
(Enter Dennis.)
Dennis. The men from Scotland Yard, m’Lord.
Lame. Show them in. (Exit Dennis. Re-enter with plain clothes men and bobby.)
Dennis. Inspector Buswell, m’Lord. (Dennis hangs about to see.)
Buswell. We’ve been as quick as we could, my lord.
Lame. Good man. Inspector, it’s my painful duty to hand over these two men to you.
Buswell. On what charge, my lord?
Lame. Murder.
Buswell. You have proof, I suppose.
Blind. I witnessed the murder.
Buswell. Thank you, sir. (To bobby.) Take that man in charge, constable, and wait for me in the hall.
Policeman. Very good, sir (he handcuffs Ivan and takes him out.)
Buswell. You’d better come quietly. It is my duty to tell you that anything you say may be used against you.
Fur. I am indifferent. My death was necessary to the cause of my people. I faced that when I took on this work. But my life is wasted. I have failed. Lord Stevenage, for the moment you are safe. I am going to my death. But there are other men to carry on my work.
Lame. And if I share your fate, there are others to carry on mine.
Fur. (Proudly.) I am proud to give my life for the people.
(He is led out by Buswell.)
Lame. That’s a real hero. He is just as ready to die for his ideals as we are for ours.
Blind. Personally I prefer to live for mine.
Lame. Yes, you’ve got something to live for.
Blind. What do you mean?
Lame. Never mind, old son, Ask Lezinka to tell you.
Dumb. Well, this has been some stunt, I congratulate you, Lord Stevenage,
Lame. Oh, do drop Lord Stevenage. All my friends call me Budge, You can’t go through a show like this without being friends at the end of it. Call me Budge.
Dumb. I shall be proud, Lord –
Lame. Budge.
Dumb. Budge.
Lame. Now, Lezinka.
Lez. Budge.
Lame. Both together.
Dumb & Lez. Budge.
Lame. Thank you. (to Lezinka.) Now you can call Toddy Toddy. (Enter Boris.)
Boris. I saw them taking away Ivan.
O.W. Yes, Prince. He had to go.
Boris. Shall I never see him again?
O.W. Probably not, not for a long time at any rate.
Boris. Thank God. (Pause.) He frightened me. I shall recover now,
Lame. Prince, I came into your room at Kroskov disguised as a cripple. I threatened you. We met again at Copenhagen: I was disguised then and you knew me. You knew me again here. All I did was intended for your good. You called me the Lame Wolf – I was only the shadow of a wolf. Will you forgive me?
Boris. I have a dim recollection of making a mistake this morning. Didn’t someone tell me that the Lame Wolf was the Grey Shadow.
O.W. Yes, Prince.
Boris. Then I have abused and attacked our deliverer.
Lame. Oh, that’s all right, Prince.
Boris. I apologise – and I thank you. I can never repay you.
Lame. The best way you can repay us is by being fit and well again as soon as possible. (He idly picks up the niblick.)
Boris. (With a charming smile.) I will attempt to carry out your wishes, But I should like to show my gratitude in the shape of some little memento.
Lame. Do you really mean that, Prince.
Boris. Certainly – is there anything you’d like.
Lame. Well, what I should like above all things is a new niblick. I never cared for this one, and I don’t think I’ll play with it again.
Boris. You shall have it.
Lame. Poor old Petrovitch! Still, it is a dirty trick to kill a man with his own niblick, Now for a Committee meeting. Come along Mildred, We must be off tomorrow.
Red. Where to?
Lame. Russia.
Dumb. May I be one of the party?
Lame. If you don’t mind another week of dumbness.
Red. Let me come, Budge.
O.W. We’ll all go except Toddy. It’s his turn to stand down.
Blind. I say!
O.W. Someone’s got to stay and look after Boris and Lezinka.
Blind. Oh – right you are.
O.W. Come along, Budge – there’s a lot to arrange. The Grey Shadow must get busy.
Lame. Right (Lame and O.W. go towards door. Suddenly Lame stops.) You know, I said this niblick would be the death of me. It very nearly was.
CURTAIN