MRS。BARTHWICK。Notmaterial？
　　ROPER。Purelyprivatelife！Mayhavehappenedtothemagistrate。
　　BARTHWICK。[Withamovementasiftoshiftaburden。]Thenyou’lltakethethingintoyourhands？
　　ROPER。Ifthegodsarekind。[Heholdshishandout。]
　　BARTHWICK。[Shakingitdubiously。]Kindeh？What？Yougoing？
　　ROPER。Yes。I’veanothercase，somethinglikeyours——mostunexpected。
　　[HebowstoMRS。BARTHWICK，andgoesout，followedbyBARTHWICK，talkingtothelast。MRS。BARTHWICKatthetableburstsintosmotheredsobs。BARTHWICKreturns。]
　　BARTHWICK。[Tohimself。]There’llbeascandal！
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。[Disguisinghergriefatonce。]Isimplycan’timaginewhatRopermeansbymakingajokeofathinglikethat！
　　BARTHWICK。[Staringstrangely。]You！Youcan’timagineanything！
　　You’venomoreimaginationthanafly！
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。[Angrily。]YoudaretotellmethatIhavenoimagination。
　　BARTHWICK。[Flustered。]I——I’mupset。Frombeginningtoend，thewholethinghasbeenutterlyagainstmyprinciples。
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。Rubbish！Youhaven’tany！Yourprinciplesarenothingintheworldbutsheerfright！
　　BARTHWICK。[Walkingtothewindow。]I’veneverbeenfrightenedinmylife。YouheardwhatRopersaid。It’senoughtoupsetonewhenathinglikethishappens。Everythingonesaysanddoesseemstoturninone’smouth——it’s——it’suncanny。It’snotthesortofthingI’vebeenaccustomedto。[Asthoughstifling，hethrowsthewindowopen。Thefaintsobbingofachildcomesin。]What’sthat？
　　[Theylisten。]
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。[Sharply。]Ican’tstandthatcrying。ImustsendMarlowtostopit。Mynervesareallonedge。[Sheringsthebell。]
　　BARTHWICK。I’llshutthewindow;you’llhearnothing。[Heshutsthewindow。Thereissilence。
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。[Sharply。]That’snogood！It’sonmynerves。
　　Nothingupsetsmelikeachild’scrying。
　　[MARLOWcomesin。]
　　What’sthatnoiseofcrying，Marlow？Itsoundslikeachild。
　　BARTHWICK。Itisachild。Icanseeitagainsttherailings。
　　MARLOW。[Openingthewindow，andlookingoutquietly。]It’sMrs。
　　Jones’slittleboy，ma’am;hecamehereafterhismother。
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。[Movingquicklytothewindow。]Poorlittlechap！
　　John，weoughtn’ttogoonwiththis！
　　BARTHWICK。[Sittingheavilyinachair。]Ah！butit’soutofourhands！
　　[MRS。BARTHWICKturnsherbacktothewindow。Thereisanexpressionofdistressonheyface。Shestandsmotionless，compressingherlips。Thecryingbeginsagain。BARTHWICK
　　coveyshisearswithhishands，andMARLOWshutsthewindow。
　　Thecryingceases。]
　　Thecurtainfalls。
　　ACTIII
　　Eightdayshavepassed，andthesceneisaLondonPoliceCourtatoneo’clock。AcanopiedseatofJusticeissurmountedbythelionandunicorn。Beforethefireaworn—lookingMAGISTRATEiswarminghiscoat—tails，andstaringattwolittlegirlsinfadedblueandorangerags，whoareplacedbeforethedock。Closetothewitness—boxisaRELIEVINGOFFICERinanovercoat，andashortbrownbeard。BesidethelittlegirlsstandsabaldPOLICECONSTABLE。OnthefrontbencharesittingBARTHWICKandROPER，andbehindthemJACK。Intherailedenclosureareseedy—lookingmenandwomen。Someprosperousconstablessitorstandabout。
　　MAGISTRATE。[Inhispaternalandferociousvoice，hissinghiss’s。]
　　Nowletusdisposeoftheseyoungladies。
　　USHER。TheresaLivens，MaudLivens。
　　[ThebaldCONSTABLEindicatesthelittlegirls，whoremainsilent，disillusioned，inattentive。]
　　RelievingOfficer！
　　[TheRELIEVINGOFFICERStepsintothewitness—box。]
　　USHER。TheevidenceyougivetotheCourtshallbethetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth，sohelpyouGod！Kissthebook！
　　[Thebookiskissed。]
　　RELIEVINGOFFICER。[Inamonotone，pausingslightlyateachsentenceend，thathisevidencemaybeinscribed。]Aboutteno’clockthismorning，yourWorship，IfoundthesetwolittlegirlsinBlueStreet，Fulham，cryingoutsideapublic—house。Askedwheretheirhomewas，theysaidtheyhadnohome。Motherhadgoneaway。
　　Askedabouttheirfather。Theirfatherhadnowork。Askedwheretheysleptlastnight。Attheiraunt’s。I’vemadeinquiries，yourWorship。Thewifehasbrokenupthehomeandgoneonthestreets。
　　Thehusbandisoutofworkandlivingincommonlodging—houses。Thehusband’ssisterhaseightchildrenofherown，andsaysshecan’taffordtokeeptheselittlegirlsanylonger。
　　MAGISTRATE。[Returningtohisseatbeneaththecanopyofjustice。]
　　Now，letmesee。Yousaythemotherisonthestreets;whatevidencehaveyouofthat？
　　RELIEVINGOFFICER。Ihavethehusbandhere，yourWorship。
　　MAGISTRATE。Verywell;thenletusseehim。
　　[Therearecriesof"LIVENS。"TheMAGISTRATEleansforward，andstareswithhardcompassionatthelittlegirls。LIVENS
　　comesin。Heisquiet，withgrizzledhair，andamufflerforacollar。Hestandsbesidethewitness—box。]
　　Andyou，aretheirfather？Now，whydon’tyoukeepyourlittlegirlsathome。Howisityouleavethemtowanderaboutthestreetslikethis？
　　LIVENS。I’vegotnohome，yourWorship。I’mlivingfrom’andtomouth。I’vegotnowork;andnothin’tokeepthemon。
　　MAGISTRATE。Howisthat？
　　LIVENS。[Ashamedly。]Mywife，shebrokemy’omeup，andpawnedthethings。
　　MAGISTRATE。Butwhatmadeyoulether？
　　LEVINS。YourWorship，I’dnochancetostop’er，shediditwhenI
　　wasoutlookin’forwork。
　　MAGISTRATE。Didyouill—treather？
　　LIVENS。[Emphatically。]Ineverraisedmy’andtoherinmylife，yourWorship。
　　MAGISTRATE。Thenwhatwasit——didshedrink？
　　LIVENS。Yes，yourWorship。
　　MAGISTRATE。Wasshelooseinherbehaviour？
　　LIVENS。[Inalowvoice。]Yes，yourWorship。
　　MAGISTRATE。Andwhereisshenow？
　　LIVENS。Idon’tknowyourWorship。Shewentoffwithaman，andafterthatI。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes。Whoknowsanythingofher？[TothebaldCONSTABLE。]Issheknownhere？
　　RELIEVINGOFFICER。Notinthisdistrict，yourWorship;butIhaveascertainedthatsheiswellknown。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes——yes;we’llstopatthat。Now[TotheFather]yousaythatshehasbrokenupyourhome，andlefttheselittlegirls。
　　Whatprovisioncanyoumakeforthem？Youlookastrongman。
　　LIVENS。SoIam，yourWorship。I’mwillin’enoughtowork，butforthelifeofmeIcan’tgetanythingtodo。
　　MAGISTRATE。Buthaveyoutried？
　　LIVENS。I’vetriedeverything，yourWorship——I’vetriedmy’ardest。
　　MAGISTRATE。Well，well。[Thereisasilence。]
　　RELIEVINGOFFICER。IfyourWorshipthinksit’sacase，mypeoplearewillingtotakethem。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes，Iknow;butI’venoevidencethatthismanisnottheproperguardianforhischildren。
　　[Herisesovalgoesbacktothefire。]
　　RELIEVINGOFFICER。Themother，yourWorship，isabletogetaccesstothem。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes;themother，ofcourse，isanimproperpersontohaveanythingtodowiththem。[TotheFather。]Well，nowwhatdoyousay？
　　LIVENS。YourWorship，IcanonlysaythatifIcouldgetworkI
　　shouldbeonlytoowillingtoprovideforthem。ButwhatcanIdo，yourWorship？HereIamobligedtolivefrom’andtomouthinthese’erecommonlodging—houses。I’mastrongman——I’mwillingtowork——I’mhalfasaliveagainassomeof’em——butyousee，yourWorship，my’airs’turnedabit，owingtothefever——[Toucheshishair]——andthat’sagainstme;andIdon’tseemtogetachanceanyhow。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes—yes。[Slowly。]Well，Ithinkit’sacase。
　　[Staringhishardestatthelittlegirls。]Now，areyouwillingthattheselittlegirlsshouldbesenttoahome。
　　LIVENS。Yes，yourWorship，Ishouldbeverywilling。
　　MAGISTRATE。Well，I’llremandthemforaweek。Bringthemagainto—dayweek;ifIseenoreasonagainstitthen，I’llmakeanorder。
　　RELIEVINGOFFICER。To—dayweek，yourWorship。
　　[ThebaldCONSTABLEtakesthelittlegirlsoutbytheshoulders。Thefatherfollowsthem。TheMAGISTRATE，returningtohisseat，bendsoverandtalkstohisCLERKinaudibly。]
　　BARTHWICK。[Speakingbehindhishand。]Apainfulcase，Roper;verydistressingstateofthings。
　　ROPER。HundredslikethisinthePoliceCourts。
　　BARTHWICK。Mostdistressing！ThemoreIseeofit，themoreimportantthisquestionoftheconditionofthepeopleseemstobecome。IshallcertainlymakeapointoftakingupthecudgelsintheHouse。Ishallmove。
　　[TheMAGISTRATEceasestalkingtohisCLERK。]
　　CLERK。Remands！
　　[BARTHWICKstopsabruptly。ThereisastirandMRS。JONES
　　comesinbythepublicdoor;JONES，usheredbypolicemen，comesfromtheprisoner’sdoor。Theyfileintothedock。]
　　CLERK。JamesJones，JaneJones。
　　USHER。JaneJones！
　　BARTHWICK。[Inawhisper。]Thepurse——thepursemustbekeptoutofit，Roper。Whateverhappensyoumustkeepthatoutofthepapers。
　　[ROPERnods。]
　　BALDCONSTABLE。Hush！
　　[MRS。JONES，dressedinheythin，black，wispydress，andblackstrawhat，standsmotionlesswithhandscrossedonthefrontrailofthedock。JONESleansagainstthebackrailofthedock，andkeepshalfturning，glancingdefiantlyabouthim。Heishaggardandunshaven。]
　　CLERK。[Consultingwithhispapers。]ThisisthecaseremandedfromlastWednesday，Sir。Theftofasilvercigarette—boxandassaultonthepolice;thetwochargesweretakentogether。JaneJones！JamesJones！
　　MAGISTRATE。[Staring。]Yes，yes;Iremember。
　　CLERK。JaneJones。
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Doyouadmitstealingasilvercigarette—boxvaluedatfivepounds，tenshillings，fromthehouseofJohnBARTHWICK，M。P。，betweenthehoursof11p。m。onEasterMondayand8。45a。m。onEasterTuesdaylast？Yes，orno？
　　MRS。JONES。[Inalogyvoice。]No，Sir，Idonot，sir。
　　CLERK。JamesJones？Doyouadmitstealingasilvercigarette—boxvaluedatfivepounds，tenshillings，fromthehouseofJohnBARTHWICK，M。P。，betweenthehoursof11p。m。onEasterMondayand8。45A。M。onEasterTuesdaylast。Andfurthermakinganassaultonthepolicewhenintheexecutionoftheirdutyat3p。m。onEasterTuesday？Yesorno？
　　JONES。[Sullenly。]Yes，butI’vegotalottosayaboutit。
　　MAGISTRATE。[TotheCLERK。]Yes——yes。Buthowcomesitthatthesetwopeoplearechargedwiththesameoffence？Aretheyhusbandandwife？
　　CLERK。Yes，Sir。Yourememberyouorderedaremandforfurtherevidenceastothestoryofthemaleprisoner。
　　MAGISTRATE。Havetheybeenincustodysince？
　　CLERK。Youreleasedthewomanonherownrecognisances，sir。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes，thisisthecaseofthesilverbox;I
　　remembernow。Well？
　　CLERK。ThomasMarlow。
　　[Thecryof"THOMASMARLOW"isrepeatedMARLOWcomesin，andstepsintothewitness—box。]
　　USHER。Theevidenceyougivetothecourtshallbethetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth，sohelpyouGod。Kissthebook。
　　[Thebookiskissed。Thesilverboxishandedup，andplacedontherail。]
　　CLERK。[Readingfromhispapers。]YournameisThomasMarlow？Areyou，butlertoJohnBARTHWICK，M。P。，of6，RockinghamGate？
　　MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Isthatthebox？
　　MARLOW。YesSir。
　　CLERK。Anddidyoumissthesameat8。45onthefollowingmorning，ongoingtoremovethetray？
　　MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Isthefemaleprisonerknowntoyou？
　　[MARLOWnods。]
　　Isshethecharwoman。employedat6，RockinghamGate？
　　[AgainMARLOWnods。]
　　Didyouatthetimeofyourmissingtheboxfindherintheroomalone？
　　MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Didyouafterwardscommunicatethelosstoyouremployer，anddidhesendyoutothepolicestation？
　　MARLOW。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。[ToMRS。JONES。]Haveyouanythingtoaskhim？
　　MRS。JONES。No，sir，nothing，thankyou，sir。
　　CLERK。[ToJONES。]JamesJones，haveyouanythingtoaskthiswitness？
　　JONES。Idon’tknow’im。
　　MAGISTRATE。Areyousureyouputtheboxintheplaceyousayatthetimeyousay？
　　MARLOW。Yes，yourWorship。
　　MAGISTRATE。Verywell;thennowletushavetheofficer。
　　[MARLOWleavesthebox，andSnowgoesintoit。]
　　USHER。Theevidenceyougivetothecourtshallbethetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth，sohelpyouGod。[Thebookiskissed。
　　CLERK。[Readingfromhispapers。]YournameisRobertAllow？YouareadetectiveintheX。B。divisionoftheMetropolitanpoliceforce？AccordingtoinstructionsreceiveddidyouonEasterTuesdaylastproceedtotheprisoner’slodgingsat34，MerthyrStreet，St。
　　Soames’s？Anddidyouonenteringseetheboxproduced，lyingonthetable？
　　SNOW。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Isthatthebox？
　　Snow。[Fingeringthebox。]Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Anddidyouthereupontakepossessionofit，andchargethefemaleprisonerwiththeftoftheboxfrom6，RockinghamGate？Anddidshedenythesame？
　　SNOW。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Didyoutakeherintocustody？
　　Snow。Yes，Sir。
　　MAGISTRATE。Whatwasherbehaviour？
　　SNOW。Perfectlyquiet，yourWorship。Shepersistedinthedenial。
　　That’sall。
　　MAGISTRATE。DOyouknowher？
　　SNOW。No，yourWorship。
　　MAGISTRATE。Issheknownhere？
　　BALDCONSTABLE。No，yourWorship，they’reneitherofthemknown，we’venothingagainstthematall。
　　CLERK。[ToMRS。JONES。]Haveyouanythingtoasktheofficer？
　　MRS。JONES。No，sir，thankyou，I’venothingtoaskhim。
　　MAGISTRATE。Verywellthen——goon。
　　CLERK。[Readingfromhispapers。]Andwhileyouweretakingthefemaleprisonerdidthemaleprisonerinterpose，andendeavourtohinderyouintheexecutionofyourduty，anddidhestrikeyouablow？
　　SNOW。Yes，Sir。
　　CLERK。Anddidhesay，"You，lethergo，Itooktheboxmyself"？
　　SNOW。Hedid。
　　CLERK。Anddidyoublowyourwhistleandobtaintheassistanceofanotherconstable，andtakehimintocustody？
　　SNOW。Idid。
　　CLERK。Washeviolentonthewaytothestation，anddidheusebadlanguage，anddidheseveraltimesrepeatthathehadtakentheboxhimself？
　　[Snownods。]
　　Didyouthereuponaskhiminwhatmannerhehadstolenthebox？AnddidyouunderstandhimtosayhehadenteredthehouseattheinvitationofyoungMr。BARTHWICK
　　[BARTHWICK，turninginhisseat，frownsatROPER。]
　　aftermidnightonEasterMonday，andpartakenofwhisky，andthatundertheinfluenceofthewhiskyhehadtakenthebox？
　　SNOW。Idid，sir。
　　CLERK。Andwashisdemeanourthroughoutveryviolent？
　　SNOW。Itwasveryviolent。
　　JONES。[Breakingin。]Violent———ofcourseitwas！Youputyour’andsonmywifewhenIkepttellin’youItookthethingmyself。
　　MAGISTRATE。[Hissing，withprotrudedneck。]Now——youwillhaveyourchanceofsayingwhatyouwanttosaypresently。Haveyouanythingtoasktheofficer？
　　JONES。[Sullenly。]No。
　　MAGISTRATE。Verywellthen。Nowletushearwhatthefemaleprisonerhastosayfirst。
　　MRS。JONES。Well，yourWorship，ofcourseIcanonlysaywhatI’vesaidallalong，thatIdidn’ttakethebox。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes，butdidyouknowthatitwastaken？
　　MRS。JONES。No，yourWorship。And，ofcourse，towhatmyhusbandsays，yourWorship，Ican’tspeakofmyownknowledge。Ofcourse，I
　　knowthathecamehomeverylateontheMondaynight。Itwaspastoneo’clockwhenhecamein，andhewasnothimselfatall。
　　MAGISTRATE。Hadhebeendrinking？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，yourWorship。
　　MAGISTRATE。Andwashedrunk？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，yourWorship，hewasalmostquitedrunk。
　　MAGISTRATE。Anddidhesayanythingtoyou？
　　MRS。JONES。No，yourWorship，onlytocallmenames。AndofcourseinthemorningwhenIgotupandwenttoworkhewasasleep。AndI
　　don’tknowanythingmoreaboutituntilIcamehomeagain。ExceptthatMr。BARTHWICK——that’smyemployer，yourWorship——toldmetheboxwasmissing。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes。
　　MRS。JONES。ButofcoursewhenIwasshakingoutmyhusband’scoatthecigarette—boxfelloutandallthecigaretteswerescatteredonthebed。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yousayallthecigaretteswerescatteredonthebed？
　　[ToSNOW。]Didyouseethecigarettesscatteredonthebed？
　　SNOW。No，yourWorship，Ididnot。
　　MAGISTRATE。Youseehesayshedidn’tseethem。
　　JONES。Well，theywerethereforallthat。
　　SNOW。Ican’tsay，yourWorship，thatIhadtheopportunityofgoingroundtheroom;Ihadallmyworkcutoutwiththemaleprisoner。
　　MAGISTRATE。[ToMRS。JONES。]Well，whatmorehaveyoutosay？
　　MRS。JONES。OfcoursewhenIsawthebox，yourWorship，Iwasdreadfullyupset，andIcouldn’tthinkwhyhehaddonesuchathing;whentheofficercamewewerehavingwordsaboutit，becauseitisruintome，yourWorship，inmyprofession，andIhavethreelittlechildrendependentonme。
　　MAGISTRATE。[Protrudinghisneck]。Yes——yes——butwhatdidhesaytoyou？
　　MRS。JONES。Iaskedhimwhatevercameoverhimtodosuchathing—
　　andhesaiditwasthedrink。Hesaidhehadhadtoomuchtodrink，andsomethingcameoverhim。Andofcourse，yourWorship，hehadhadverylittletoeatallday，andthedrinkdoesgototheheadwhenyouhavenothadenoughtoeat。YourWorshipmaynotknow，butitisthetruth。AndIwouldliketosaythatallthroughhismarriedlife，Ihaveneverknownhimtodosuchathingbefore，thoughwehavepassedthroughgreathardshipsand[speakingwithsoftemphasis]Iamquitesurehewouldnothavedoneitifhehadbeenhimselfatthetime。
　　MAGISTRATE。Yes，yes。Butdon’tyouknowthatthatisnoexcuse？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，yourWorship。Iknowthatitisnoexcuse。
　　[TheMAGISTRATEleansoverandparleyswithhisCLERK。]
　　JACK。[Leaningoverfromhisseatbehind。]Isay，Dad。
　　BARTHWICK。Tsst！[ShelteringhismouthhespeakstoROPER。]
　　Roper，youhadbettergetupnowandsaythatconsideringthecircumstancesandthepovertyoftheprisoners，wehavenowishtoproceedanyfurther，andifthemagistratewoulddealwiththecaseasoneofdisorderonlyonthepartof。
　　BALDCONSTABLE。HSSShh！
　　[ROPERshakeshishead。]