A room on the first floor of Count Radivloski’s house. Ten minutes later. Radivloski discovered: he thinks a moment, then walks across to door, exit and re-enter, dragging in Denison, who looks weak and ill.
Radi. (Flinging in Denison into chair.) You’ve come round, have you? Feel well enough to talk a little?
Den. Why have they brought me here? Are you responsible for this?
Radi. Never mind that. Now that you are here I want you to talk.
Den. Look here, Radivloski – if this is a joke, you have a curious sense of humour.
Radi. I was never further from joking. Listen: you are absolutely in my power; you happen to have knowledge which I want. Tell me what I want you to and I shall let you go free – but if you refuse, you will never be heard of again.
Den. Now we know where we are. Well, what do you want to know?
Radi. I must have the full instructions for making and using the explosive which was tested this morning.
Den. Ask me another.
Radi. I warn you Denison – flippancy will not pay with me.
Den. And I warn you, Radivloski – threats will not pay with me.
Radi. Don’t you understand, you fool, that if you don’t give me the information I want, I shall kill you.
Den. Then you’d better do it at once and stop bothering me.
Radi. (Strikes him.) Stop this fooling –
Den. (Tries to rise but collapses.) Oh – curse that chloroform! Radi. Now, speak. How is the explosive made?
Den. My dear man, if I wanted to tell you, I couldn’t possibly do so. And if I could do so, I certainly shouldn’t.
Radi. I think I may be able to stimulate your memory. (Noise outside.) We’ll see about it later,
Den. Don’t you want to introduce me to your friend?
Radi. (Pulling him out and throwing him into adjoining room.) If you value your life, keep quiet.
Den. Thanks for the suggestion.
(Radi. goes to door C. and opens it.)
(Enter Higg. and Lady H. followed by Hil. and Simmons carrying Chung.)
Higg. Forgive our intruding at this hour, Count, the Bolshies are getting busy round the Manor House – so we are forced to throw ourselves on your hospitality. That’s all, Simmons, thank you.
Sim. Thank you, Sir. (Exit Simmons.)
Lady H. It’s too bad inflicting ourselves on a bachelor establishment in this way.
Radi. It is a pleasure, Lady Hilary, to be of any assistance.
Lady H. I did not realise that you knew Count Radivloski, Mr. Higginson – until we drove up to the house.
Higg. Oh yes – we have known one another for some years. We met in Russia before the Revolution.
Radi. I expect you would like to go to your rooms, ladies; there are fortunately two beds ready aired, as I was expecting some guests tomorrow.
Nancy. Thank you most awfully. As almost a complete stranger, I must apologise for giving so much trouble.
Radi. Please don’t mention it. I am only sorry the quarters are so poor. Will you come Lady Hilary? I show you the rooms.
Lady H. Thank you so much. (Exeunt Lady H., Nancy and Radi.)
Hil. What on earth are we to do with Chung-Hi?
Higg. We’d better lock him up for tonight and hand him over to the police in the morning.
Hil. Why not ring up the police at once?
Higg. Not a bad notion. We’ll get Radivloski to give them a call when he comes back. I don’t know where his telephone is.
Chung. Chung-Hi not comfy.
Higg. Well, old son, you’ll have to lump that a mite longer.
Hil. I don’t know how to thank you, Higginson.
Higg. If you want to thank me, I’ll just put you wise how you can do it. (Noise outside.) Now what in Moses’ name is that?
(Breit bursts into room carrying evening paper.)
Breit. Hilary be careful what you are doing. There is more in this Mr. Higginson than meets the eyes. Sir, I do not know who you be – but I know that you are not Mr. Stewart P. Higginson and you are owing us an explainance.
Higg. Explanation, old son.
Breit. You will smile at the other side of the head when you shall hear this. Hark. (Reads.) “American mystery – it is officially announced that the dead body of Senator Stewart P. Higginson was discovered a week ago concealed under a heap of stones in a lonely wood about 24 miles outside New York City. It is rumoured that the deceased gentleman was on his way to Europe on important but unofficial State business. A bullet had passed through Senator Higginson’s brain from behind leaving no possible doubt that he had been murdered. The body has been identified by the son of the deceased. The police are making investigations and are believed to have a clue.”
Higg. They always are.
Hil. May I see it?
Breit. Now, Sir perhaps you... (Turns to Higg, and finds himself covered by a revolver.)
Higg. With pleasure. This fortunate discovery relieves me of the necessity of carrying on with this tiresome accent. I can relapse into my native English.
Hil. Why? Who are you?
Higg. My name is Canning – Bertram Canning. (Takes off spectacles.)
Hil. Lord Riverside’s son?
Higg. That’s it. The Honourable – or dishonourable – Bertram Canning – cashiered from the Guards during the War for trafficking with the enemy.
Hil. Bertram Canning – good Heavens!
Higg. You don’t like the name?
Hil. It brings back unpleasant memories.
Higg. I’m sorry – I can’t help it. I am Bertram Canning. But I am better known as Bartrovitch Kanikoff.
Hil. Kanikoff!
Breit. You are a pig. (Hand to pocket – Kanikoff revolver up.)
Higg. Please keep your hands up, Breitwald. I’ll trouble you to do the same, Sir George. (They do so.) I’m sorry to keep you in that uncomfortable attitude. It brings back memories of “Arms stretch” in the Gym at Harrow.
Hil. Have you no sense of shame?
Higg. None whatever. And that reminds me, Sir George, I brought you to the hospitable roof of Count Radivloski to ask you to hand over to me certain papers which are in your possession – instructions for the manufacture of a rather serviceable explosive – “The Destroying Angel,” I think you said the inventor called it – very useful to me with my creed of destruction.
Hil. You infernal blackguard
Higg. “Manners Makyth Man”, Sir George. You are a Wykehamist, I think. (Enter Radi.) Oh Radivloski, I am most anxious to release these two gentlemen from the necessity of standing in that uncomfortable position. Just to be on the safe side, would you mind running your hand over their pockets.
(Radi. produces revolver from Breit’s pocket.) Ah, I thought so. Thanks. What about Sir George? No? I hardly expected him to have so much foresight. Well, gentlemen, you may put down your hands.
(Enter Nancy.)
Nancy. I have locked Lady Hilary in her room.
Hil. You shall pay for this insult, Canning.
Higg. Now, we may as well drop these pleasantries. Hand over the papers.
Chung. Before you do anything else I wish you’d untie my hands and feet. I am feeling the cramp.
Higg. So sorry, old man; I forgot you. Help him, will you, Radivloski.
Hil. Then Chung-Hi is one of your gang?
Higg. Gang! My dear man, I’m not a cinema crook. I’m the greatest statesman in Russia. Count Radivloski, as you so courteously call him, is my right hand man. Miss Wake is our principal lady agent – I don’t think I’ll tell you her real name. (Chung is now free.) And now let me introduce you to Fang Li Chuang, one of my most useful Chinese allies.
Chung. I am distressed to have deceived you, Sir George. But that’s because you don’t understand the oriental mind.
Hil. Then your rescue of me from Chung’s knife was a put up job?
Higg. Quite. To induce you to leave your own house.
Chung. If I had meant to kill you, I shouldn’t have failed.
Higg. Now to business. The tribunal assembles. (The four sit round table.) I am afraid you’re going to be rather out of the picture, Baron. You see you are a very harmless and uninteresting person – without your revolver: by the way, perhaps it would be better locked up, Radivloski. One gun at a time is enough; I have mine. Do not lead the Baron into temptation by leaving his lying about. On the whole, Baron, I think you had better sit over in that corner. I have an objection to Huns.
Breit. You insult my country, Kanikoff.
Higg. I intended to.
Breit. The newspapers say you are mad. I begin to believe it.
Higg. Madness is allied to genius. But in the usual meaning of the word I am not mad: just now and then when things go very right or very wrong – just in flashes – when any one annoys me as you are annoying me now. Baron.
Breit. I refuse to be intimated.
Higg. Intimidated, Baron. Learn to speak a language before you use it in public.
Breit. Again you insult me.
Higg. You are a nuisance, Baron.
Chung. Shall I kill him?
Higg. No. Not at present. It would be too large a corpse to dispose of conveniently. Sit over there please Baron. (Breit hesitates.)
Hil. You might as well Breitwald. Our position is not a very strong one. (Breit. crosses and sits.)
Higg. Thank you, Sir George. I see you understand the situation. So will you kindly hand me over the papers.
Hil. No.
Higg. You refuse?
Hil. Absolutely.
Higg. You have them here of course?
Hil. I refuse to give you any information.
Higg. I hoped you would be more reasonable. Radivloski, take Sir George in to the next room and search him.
Radi. Denison is in the next room.
Hil. Denison?
Higg. Yes – he joined our little party earlier in the evening. Send him in here, Radivloski, while you attend to Sir George.
Radi. Come in here.
(Exit Radi. with Hil.)
Nancy. Shall I go and search Lady Hilary?
Higg. Yes, it will save time. (Exit Nancy.)
(Denison enters but cannot get beyond the door.) Assist Mr. Denison, Fang. (Chung helps Denison to chair just below table.) Now Mr. Denison, I want you to answer me one question. Where does Sir George keep the instructions for making the explosive?
Den. I have no idea.
Higg. Somewhere concealed in his clothes, no doubt.
Den. I tell you I don’t know.
Higg. Very well. Then you will sit down at that table and write out a full description of the process.
Den. That’s impossible.
Higg. You won’t speak?
Den. I say it’s impossible.
Chung. I’ll make him talk. (Advances slowly on Den. Threateningly.) Will you write.
Den. I can’t. (Chung draws knife.) I tell you I can’t.
Chung. I have many methods to get information from unwilling witnesses. We make a speciality of ingenious tortures in China. (Chung nearer still.)
Den. I know nothing – thank Heaven! I know nothing. Whatever you do to me I cannot give it away.
Breit. Kanikoff, I protest –
Higg. Sit down, Breitwald.
Breit. I will not sit near to see you to torture an innocent man. Do what you wish, I will knock over that Chinese if he touches again this young man. (Chung hisses.)
Higg. Don’t be melodramatic, Baron – it doesn’t suit you. Fang, I believe the young man is telling the truth: we’ll try another method – unless Radivloski is fortunate, which I doubt.
(Denison is looking very feeble. Enter Nancy.)
Nancy. Lady Hilary hasn’t got them.
Higg. No, I hardly expected that.
Nancy. Has Radivloski had any luck?
Higg. He’s not finished.
Nancy. (Seeing Denison.) Hullo, here’s my friend Mr. Denison. I’m afraid your coffee has disagreed with you.
(Enter Radi.)
Radi. The papers are not there.
Higg. Very well. Bring in Sir George. (Exit Radi. and returns with Hil.) Sit down here, Hilary. (Does so.) Now the papers are not on your clothes. Tell me where they are.
Hil. You know I shall not tell you.
Higg. (Revolver up.) I shall put a bullet through your head, if you don’t speak. (Short pause.)
Hil. That’s more bluff. If you shoot me, you lose your source of information – you know that. No one else knows where the instructions are.
Higg. You’re cleverer than I took you for. But I shall get my information.
Hil. I don’t think so.
Higg. Oh yes. Radivloski, ask Lady Hilary to come here.
(Exit Radi.)
Hil. You cad ! This is men’s work: you’re surely not going to drag a woman into it.
Higg. You don’t seem to understand that I want those papers. It doesn’t matter to me how I get them.
Hil. She doesn’t know where they are: I swear she doesn’t.
Higg. We shall see. (Enter Lady Hil with Radi.)
Lady H. What is the meaning of this extraordinary behaviour, Mr. Higginson?
Higg. Not Higginson, Lady Hilary. My name is Kanikoff.
Lady H. But... (She sees it is true and is silent.)
Higg. Now, Lady Hilary, your husband has some important papers – instructions for making the explosive. Where does he keep them?
Lady H. I don’t know,
Higg. I am going to kill your husband, unless I have the papers in one minute.
Hil. He’s bluffing you, Grace.
Lady H. I can see that.
Higg. Well, Sir George, I have done what I can for you – I have tried to bluff you both into telling me what 1 want to know. Now we’ll get to grips in real earnest. This time I mean what I say – and you know I mean it. I am going to count to ten: if I reach ten before you’ve told me where the papers are concealed, I am going to shoot your wife.
Breit. For Heaven’s sake (Chung hisses.)
Lady H. It’s no use, Baron. (Breit. collapses, head in hand.)
Higg. I am going to begin. One –
Lady H. Don’t tell him, George.
Higg. Two – Three – Four.
Hil. They’re –
Lady H. George!
Higg. Five – Six – Seven – Eight –
Hil. In my hat.
Higg. Thank you (turns quickly and sees Hil’s hat on table at back: returns to centre table and pulls out lining.)
Lady H. Oh George!
Hil. I couldn’t stick it, my dear.
(Higg. finds papers and five tubes of liquid.)
Higg. (Other Bolshies near door.) Very ingenious, Sir George. A hat is the last place I should have thought of: one loaves it about so much. I congratulate you on your cleverness. And you have been good enough to throw in five tubes of the liquid to go on with: that was very thoughtful of you. The Destroying Angel shall be sent on his errand of destruction.
Hil. The liquid is useless without the powder: That cant be made in under 34 days.
Higg. But our friend Baron Breitwald has kindly supplied me with some powder – quite a small quantity, I admit – but sufficient to blow up London, Berlin and Paris.
Breit. It is a Kolossal lie –
Higg. Not at all, Baron. Probably you did not intend it for my use. But I had a suspicion that you had stolen a little powder when Sir George so thoughtfully passed it round yesterday – so in the evening, when you were playing pool and had conveniently taken off your dinner jacket, I took the liberty of picking your pockets. I felt it was wiser not to let you have such dangerous toys.
Breit. The whole story is a lie from the commencement to the end.
Higg. We don’t like owning up to our faults, do we There was a time when I felt ashamed. It’s a long time ago.
Hil. What are you proposing to do with us now?
Higg. Well I can’t take you about with me like a menagerie – and I can’t let you go – I have told you too many confidences. I suppose you’ll all have to die.
Chung. I will take them to the cellar?
Hil. You are not really meaning to murder us
Higg. I apologise for the necessity – but it does seem the most convenient plan.
Chung. One minute and it’s over.
Higg. Painlessly, Pang.
Chung. I have 37 painless methods. Follow.
(A considerable noise outside. Higg reaches for revolver which he put on table when examining hat. Denison during foregoing dialogue has quietly taken it.)
Higg. Where...?
Den. I have you covered.
(Radi. rushes to cupboard – but before he gets there enter Simmons and Stein with revolvers.)
Higg. Well, that’s that.
Sim. Hands up. (Bolshies’ hands up.)
Stein. (Feels for weapons.) All right. (Stein is very American.) So, sonny we’ve got you at last.
Higg. Looks like it. (Enter Castlemore and Ambrose. Castle. comes down to Hil, and Lady H. Breit crosses to them.)
Castle. Thank God you’re safe, Lady Hilary. We’ve been terribly anxious about you and your husband.
Hil. You’re just in the nick of time. Chung-Hi was getting impatient. How did you know anything about it.
Castle. This good fellow, Father Ambrose, rang me.
Amb. I was only carrying out Baron von Breitwald’s instructions.
Lady H. Then you are the hero of the night, Baron?
Breit. I would not say so, Lady Hilary. I had seen an evening paper and that has made me suspectious: I thought that Lord Castlemore should know what was happened. And I am come on to this house, to discover whether my suspections were correct.
Hil. And you found they were more than justified.
Breit. Very much more. Your arrival, Lord Castlemore, was most favourable.
Castle. As far as I can judge – you owe more to Inspector Simmons; he had half the Metropolitan Police force outside the house when I drove up.
Sim. Only 40 constables, my Lord. I have been shadowing this man for two days. We had information at the Yard from America, my lord, that the man calling himself Stewart P. Higginson was not what he pretended to be – and that he was wanted by the American police. That was all we knew, till Superintendent Stein turned up here ten minutes ago.
Stein. Red hot from the “Oceanic,” gentlemen. Seems I was just in the nick.
Higg. Well, I seem to be cornered. Father Ambrose I have not yet had time to read these interesting papers: but I have an aesthetic objection to their being subjected to the prying eyes of Scotland Yard. May I make you a present of them.
(Hands papers to Amb.)
Amb. Gentlemen – it looks as if it were God’s will that these papers should return to the hands of the sinner who wrote them for the destruction of his fellow creatures. Have I your permission to burn them?
Hil. Lord Castlemore must decide.
Castle. I have just come from the Prime Minister. Our decision is that we cannot accept your offer, Sir George: we feel not only that this explosive subjects the operators of it to an appalling risk – but still more that it is a weapon too terrible to be used in warfare by a Christian country like our own. (General relief.)
Amb. My prayers are answered.
Hil. Please burn the papers, Father Ambrose.
(Ambrose burns them – all watching as if fascinated.)
Amb. The work of my past life is finished. The Destroying Angel is himself destroyed. Thanks be to God. Now my new life’s work can begin. Hil. You return to Strassburg?
Amb. Yes, to report to my beloved Bishop and receive his blessing. Then to Russia.
Castle. To Russia?
Amb. To atone for my sin – to conquer Bolshevism, not by force but by love – to win back the starving souls to the Christ who died for them. Sir George, here is your money:
(Hands crumpled cheque.) You wouldn’t take it back before. Now that our bargain is at an end, please do not refuse it.
Hil. Will you accept it as a small contribution to your work?
Amb. Thank you, Sir George. It shall be used for the suppression of Bolshevism. But not as we intended.
Higg. If you are going to Russia, we may meet again. They can’t keep me locked up for more than three years for inciting to revolution. I look forward, Father Ambrose, to our next merry meeting.
Stein. No more merry meetings for you, Sonny, not on this side of the Jordan. Its not for inciting to revolution that we want you, son, but for the murder of Senator Stewart P Higginson.
Higg. I am to be tried for my life?
Stein. Right first time – and you haven’t got an earthly. We’ve got your fingermarks on the collar of the deceased, and plenty more evidence besides. You’re for it this time, son.
Nancy. Oh no!
Higg. It’s no good snivelling. I shell be tried in an American Court? Stein You will be that.
Higg. I’m glad; I shall prefer a chair to a rope. It’s more homelike.
Stein. My chiefs over the duckpond will be glad to see you; you Bolshie agents aren’t very popular in the States, Bud.
Castle. You know who your prisoner is, superintendent?
Stein. Sure thing. This is Bud Candy, the worst Bolshie agitator in the States.
Castle. Your prize is greater than you know: you have arrested Kanikoff, the organiser of the Bolshevist league.
Nancy. Our great master!
Radi. The greatest man of all time!
Chung. The Light of Asia. The prophet of annihilation!
Stein. Holy Stars – and Stripes! I guess Senator Higginson has done me a good turn.
Breit. Without this man Bolshevism will collapse.
Higg. Don’t believe it, Baron. My work is well done – Bolshevism will endure: it is a conquering force and will overwhelm the world.
Amb. It cannot stand before the Kingdom of God.
(During the last few lines Higg. has edged back to door, and locked it. He now walks to window and throws the key out.)
Sim. You’d better sit down, my man, and keep quiet.
(Higg. comes forward and sits down – mixes explosive.)
Castle. Well: I congratulate you, Superintendent. This is a great capture
Stein. Thank you, my lord, but more than half the credit belongs to Inspector Simmons.
Sim. The job was an easy one, Sir. I told his chauffeur to spin a yarn and get the place myself.
Breit. So, everything is favourably concluded.
Higg. “And they all lived happily ever after.” That’s how the fairy tales end, isn’t it, Baron? But the tale of the Destroying Angel does not finish like that – it’s a magnificent tragedy. Half an hour ago you accused me of being mad – this is one of my mad moments. I do not care to be marched off by this conceited policeman. I prefer to die like the Hebrew Samson, overwhelming my enemies in my own downfall. Half a minute ago I poured some of this powder into one of these phials, about enough to blow up London. You have Breitwald to thank for this: he stole the powder. The door is locked and I have thrown the key out of the window. Throw the phial after it – it would make no difference. We all have 15 seconds to live. (They stand in silence watching him spellbound with the phial in his hand.)
Nancy. (Suddenly screams.) I can’t die! I can’t face death. (Sobs.)
Chung. Spirits of my ancestors! My Spirit is passing to your Home. (Some stand at attention: others are moving their lips as if in prayer.)
Higg. Five seconds.
(They wait for at least 10 seconds in rigid silence, broken only by Nancy’s sobs. Breit. suddenly laughs uncontrollably.)
Hil. For pity’s sake, Breitwald..
Breit. Let me see that tin. (Examines it.) Oh, but it is too funny! (Laughs.)
Castle. Do be quiet.
Breit. But it will not explode.
Higg. What?
Breit. No. That is not the Destroying Angel. It is my daily dose of Bemax. (A sudden burst of laughter relieves the tension. Higg. collapses – a broken man.) I wondered where it was gone.
Stein. (Touching Higg on shoulder.) Come.
(Higg rises mechanically to follow him.)