Sherlock Holmes: A Drama in Four Acts Part 1

 The scene represents the drawing-room at Edelweiss Lodge, an old house, gloomy and decayed, situated in a lonely district in a little-frequented part of London.

The furniture is old and decayed, with the exception of the piano — a baby-grand. The desk is very solid. The ceiling is heavily beamed. Many places out of repair in the walls and ceilings. Carvings broken here and there.

The music stops an instant before rise of curtain. A short pause after curtain is up. Curtain rises in darkness — lights come up. MADGE LARRABEE is discovered anxiously waiting. A strikingly handsome woman, but with a somewhat hard face. Black hair.  Richly dressed.

Enter FORMAN with evening paper.  He is a quiet perfectly trained servant. He is met by MADGE who takes the paper from him quickly.

FORMAN (speaks always very quietly): Pardon, ma’am, but one of the maids wishes to speak with you.

(MADGE is scanning the paper eagerly and sinks on to seat at the foot of the piano)

MADGE (not looking from paper): I can’t spare the time now. 

FORMAN: Very well, ma’am. (Turns to go.)

MADGE (without looking up from paper): Which maid was it? 

FORMAN (turning towards MADGE again): Térèse, ma’am.

MADGE (looking up. Very slight surprise in her tone): Térêse! 

FORMAN: Yes, ma’am.

MADGE: Have you any idea what she wants? 

FORMAN: Not the least, ma’am.

MADGE: She must tell you. I’m very busy, and can’t see her unless I know.

FORMAN: I’ll say so, ma’am.

(Turns and goes out, carefully and quietly closing the door after him — immediately coming in again and watching MADGE, who is busy with paper. Finds what she has been looking for and starts eagerly to read it. As if not seeing the print well, she leans near light and resumes reading with the greatest avidity. FORMAN quietly shuts door. He stands at the door looking at MADGE as she reads the paper. This is prolonged somewhat, so that it may be seen that he is not waiting for her to finish from mere politeness. His eyes are upon her sharply and intensely, yet he does not assume any expression otherwise. She finishes and angrily rises, casting the paper violently down on the piano. She turns and goes near the large heavy desk. Pauses there. Then turns away angrily. Sees FORMAN, calms herself at once. Just as MADGEturns, FORMAN seems to be coming into room.)

I could get nothing from her, ma’am. She insists that she must speak to you herself.

MADGE: Tell her to wait till to-morrow.

FORMAN: I asked her to do that, ma’am, and she said that she would not be here to-morrow.

(MADGE turns toward FORMAN with some surprise.)

MADGE: What does she mean by that?

FORMAN: Pardon me for mentioning it, ma’am, but she is a bit singular, as I take it.

MADGE: Tell her to come here— (FORMAN bows and turns to go. MADGE goes toward the piano, near where the paper lies. She sees it. Stops with hand on piano.)

Oh —Judson!

(FORMAN stops and comes down. Everything quiet, subdued, cat-like in his methods.)

How did you happen to imagine that I would be interested in this marriage announcement? (Takes up paper and sits in seat below the piano.)

FORMAN: I could ‘ardly help it, ma’am.

(MADGE turns and looks hard at him an instant. FORMANstands deferentially.)

MADGE:  I suppose you have overheard certain references to the matter — between myself and my brother?

FORMAN: I ‘ave, ma’am, but I would never have referred to it in the least if I did not think it might be of some importance to you ma’am to know it.

MADGE:  Oh no — of no special importance! We know the parties concerned and are naturally interested in the event. Of course, you do not imagine there is anything more (She does not look at him as she says this)

FORMAN (not looking at MADGE —eyes front): Certainly not, ma’am. Anyway if I did imagine there was something more I’m sure you’d find it to your interest ma’am to remember my faithful services in helpin’ to keep it quiet.

MADGE (after slight pause, during which she looks steadily in front): Judson, what sort of a fool are you?

(FORMAN turns to her with feigned astonishment)

(Speaks with sharp, caustic utterances, almost between her teeth. Turns to him.) Do you imagine I would take a house, and bring this girl and her mother here and keep up the establishment for nearly two years without protecting myself against the chance of petty blackmail by my own servants?

FORMAN (protestingly) Ah—ma’am—you misunderstand me — I —

MADGE (rising—throws paper on to the piano) I understand too well! And now I beg you to understand me. I have had a trifle of experience in the selection of my servants and can recognize certain things when I see them! It was quite evident from your behaviour you had been in something yourself and it didn‘t take me long to get it out of you. You are a self-confessed forger.

FORMAN (quick movement of apprehension): No! (Apprehensive look around) Don’t speak out like that! (Recovers a little) It — it was in confidence — I told you in confidence ma’am.

MADGE:  Well, I’m telling you in confidence that at the first sign of any underhand conduct on your part this little episode of yours will —

FORMAN (hurriedly—to prevent her from speaking it): Yes, yes! I — will bear it in mind, ma’am. I will bear it in mind!

MADGE (after a sharp look at him as if satisfying herself that he is now reduced to proper condition): Very well … Now, as to the maid — Térèse —

(FORMAN inclines head for instruction.)

Do you think of anything which might explain her assertion that she will not be here to-morrow?

FORMAN (his eyes turned away from MADGE. Speaking in low tones, and behaviour subdued as if completely humiliated): It has occurred to me, ma’am, since you first asked me regarding the  matter, that she may have taken exceptions to some occurrences which she thinks she ‘as seen going on in this ‘ouse. 

MADGE:  I’ll raise her wages if I find it necessary; tell her so. If it isn’t money that she wants — I’ll see her myself.

FORMAN: Very well, ma’am. (He turns and goes out quietly.) 

(MADGE stands motionless a moment. There is a sound of a heavy door opening and closing. MADGE gives a quick motion of listening. Hurries to look off. Enter JIM LARRABEE, through archway, in some excitement. He is a tall, heavily-built man, with a hard face. Full of determination and a strong character. He is well dressed, and attractive in some respects. A fine looking man. Dark hair and eyes, but the hard sinister look of a criminal.) 

MADGE: Didn’t you find him? I

LARRABEE:  No. (Goes to the heavy desk and throws open the wooden doors of lower part, showing the iron and combination lock of a safe or strong-box. Gives knob a turn or two nervously, and works at it.)

(MADGE follows, watching him.)

He wasn’t there! (Rises from desk.) We’ll have to get a lock smith in.

MADGE (quickly): No, no! We can’t do that! It isn’t safe!

LARRABEE:  We’ve got to do something, haven’t we? (Stoops down quickly before door of safe again, and nervously tries it.) I wish to God I knew a bit about these things. (Business at safe.) There’s no time to waste, either! They’ve put Holmes on the case!

Will be continued.....