make it quickly, I'm thirsty.... And I'm so cold.
[A ring at the front door is heard.
Basil.
[Jumping up.] There's some one at the door, Fanny. Hurry up.
[She goes out, and he follows her to the door of the room.
Basil.
Fanny, don't let any one up beside Mr. Halliwell. Say I can see no one. [He waits for a moment, anxiously.] Is that you, John?
John.
[Outside.] Yes.
Basil.
[To himself.] Thank God!
[John comes in.
Basil.
I thought you were never coming. I begged you to come at once.
John.
I started immediately I got your wire.
Basil.
It seems hours since the girl went to the post-office.
John.
What's the matter?
Basil.
[Hoarsely.] Don't you know? I thought I had said it in my telegram.
John.
You simply wired that you were in great trouble.
Basil.
I suppose I thought you'd see it in the papers.
John.
What on earth d'you mean? I've not seen a paper. Where's your wife?
Basil.
[After a pause, almost in a whisper.] She's dead.
John.
[Thunderstruck.] Good God!
Basil.
[Impatiently.] Don't look at me like that. Isn't it plain enough? Don't you understand?
John.
But she was all right yesterday.
Basil.
[Dully.] Yes. She was all right yesterday.
John.
For goodness sake tell me what you mean, Basil.
Basil.
She's dead.... And she was all right yesterday.
[John does not understand. He is greatly distressed, and does not know what to say.
Basil.
I killed her—as surely as if I'd strangled her with my own hands.
John.
What d'you mean? She's not really dead!
Basil.
[In agony.] She threw herself into the river last night.
John.
How awful!
Basil.
Haven't you got something more to say than how awful? I feel as if I were going mad.
John.
But I can't understand! Why did she do it?
Basil.
Oh—yesterday we had an awful row ... before you came.
John.
I know.
Basil.
Then she followed me to ... to your sister-in-law's. And she came up and made another scene. Then I lost my head. I was so furious, I don't know what I said. I was mad. I told her I'd have nothing more to do with her.... Oh, I can't bear it, I can't bear it.
[He breaks down and hides his face in his hands, sobbing.
John.
Come, Basil—pull yourself together a bit.
Basil.
[Looking up despairingly.] I can hear her voice now. I can see the look of her eyes. She asked me to give her another chance, and I refused. It was so pitiful to hear the way she appealed to me, only I was mad, and I couldn't feel it.
[Fanny comes in with the cup of tea, which Basil silently takes and drinks.
Fanny.
[To John.] He ain't slept a wink all night, sir.... No more 'ave I, for the matter of that.
[John nods, but does not answer; and Fanny, wiping her eyes with her apron, leaves the room.
Basil.
Oh, I'd give everything not to have said what I did. I'd always held myself in before, but yesterday—I couldn't.
John.
Well?
Basil.
I didn't get back here till nearly ten, and the maid told me Jenny had just gone out. I thought she'd gone back to her mother's.
John.
Yes?
Basil.
And soon after a constable came up and asked me to go down to the river. He said there'd been an accident.... She was dead. A man had seen her walk along the tow-path and throw herself in.
John.
Where is she now?
Basil.
[Pointing to one of the doors.] In there.
John.
Will you take me in?
Basil.
Go in alone, John. I daren't, I'm afraid to look at her. I can't bear the look on her face.... I killed her—as surely as if I'd strangled her with my own hands. I've been looking at the door all night, and once I thought I heard a sound. I thought she was coming to reproach me for killing her.
[John goes
