Seven Short Plays Part 11

_Mr. Quirke:_ Easy! It's easy to say let you make yourself easy.

_Hyacinth:_ I can tell you where it is.

_Mr. Quirke:_ Where what is?

_Hyacinth:_ The sheep you are fretting after.

_Mr. Quirke:_ What do you know about it?

_Hyacinth:_ I know everything about it.

_Mr. Quirke:_ I suppose the Sergeant told you?

_Hyacinth:_ He told me nothing.

_Mr. Quirke:_ I suppose the whole town knows it, so?

_Hyacinth:_ No one knows it, as yet.

_Mr. Quirke:_ And the Sergeant didn't see it?

_Hyacinth:_ No one saw it or brought it away but myself.

_Mr. Quirke:_ Where did you put it at all?

_Hyacinth:_ In the ditch behind the church wall. In among the nettles it is. Look at the way they have me stung. (_Holds out hands._)

_Mr. Quirke:_ In the ditch! The best hiding place in the town.

_Hyacinth:_ I never thought it would bring such great trouble upon you. You can't say anyway I did not tell you.

_Mr. Quirke:_ You yourself that brought it away and that hid it! I suppose it was coming in the train you got information about the message to the police.

_Hyacinth:_ What now do you say to me?

_Mr. Quirke:_ Say! I say I am as glad to hear what you said as if it was the Lord telling me I'd be in heaven this minute.

_Hyacinth:_ What are you going to do to me?

_Mr. Quirke:_ Do, is it? (_Grasps his hand._) Any earthly thing you would wish me to do, I will do it.

_Hyacinth:_ I suppose you will tell--

_Mr. Quirke:_ Tell! It's I that will tell when all is quiet. It is I will give you the good name through the town!

_Hyacinth:_ I don't well understand.

_Mr. Quirke:_ (_Embracing him._) The man that preserved me!

_Hyacinth:_ That preserved you?

_Mr. Quirke:_ That kept me from ruin!

_Hyacinth:_ From ruin?

_Mr. Quirke:_ That saved me from disgrace!

_Hyacinth:_ (_To Mrs. Delane._) What is he saying at all?

_Mr. Quirke:_ From the Inspector!

_Hyacinth:_ What is he talking about?

_Mr. Quirke:_ From the magistrates!

_Hyacinth:_ He is making some mistake.

_Mr. Quirke:_ From the Winter a.s.sizes!

_Hyacinth:_ Is he out of his wits?

_Mr. Quirke:_ Five years in gaol!

_Hyacinth:_ Hasn't he the queer talk?

_Mr. Quirke:_ The loss of the contract!

_Hyacinth:_ Are my own wits gone astray?

_Mr. Quirke:_ What way can I repay you?

_Hyacinth:_ (_Shouting._) I tell you I took the sheep--

_Mr. Quirke:_ You did, G.o.d reward you!

_Hyacinth:_ I stole away with it--

_Mr. Quirke:_ The blessing of the poor on you!

_Hyacinth:_ I put it out of sight--

_Mr. Quirke:_ The blessing of my five children--

_Hyacinth:_ I may as well say nothing--

_Mrs. Delane:_ Let you be quiet now, Quirke. Here's the Sergeant coming to search the shop--

(_Sergeant comes in: Quirke leaves go of Halvey, who arranges his hat, etc._)