HANN. (c.) Well—you gave the signal!
(Allen r.c. a little to front of Hann. He keeps in front of Hann. all through the scene until Luke has got away and prevents his turning round—he is very excited but tries to appear careless—the result being a slightly hysterical manner. When Luke comes from behind the curtain and while he is crossing Allen catches Hann. by the lapels of his coat and holds and works him round so that his back is to Luke. He grows more and more eager and intense until Luke is off, when he gradually subsides into a quieter manner, but not too suddenly. At Hann’s hint that he has had too much brandy, he catches at the idea to cover his excitement, to account for his conduct.)
ALLEN. Yes, my dear fellow—but—but—I wur going to explain to thee—it wurn’t the signal—it wur an accident. I dropped the glass by accident. Thee see I had just had a glass of brandy.
HANN. More than one glass, cousin?
ALLEN. (Laughs loudly.) Ha! ha! Perhaps it wur two. (First movement of Luke.) (At this point Luke creeps from behind curtain, Purt. sees him and is about to make an exclamation, when Allen, covering his action by assumed drunkenness, lunges half round and catches Purt. on his shoulder, clutching it tightly with his left hand while holding Hann. with his right—laughing boisterously all the time. Purt. understands and remains silent. Allen grows more and more excited. Laughs.) Well, now, look’ee here.
Hanningford. Cousin Dick—my long lost—(laughs as before and slaps him on the shoulder. Hann. impatient half turns round—Allen seises his coat with both hands and keeps him round.) No—no—look thee here, Cousin Dick. Now you say this Cassidy, this creeping, crawling, lying cur, Dan Cassidy, tried to murder thee—(Hann. again seems as though he would turn round)—and these papers—these papers that you sent me. Well, I sent ’em on to Purtwee. Ah, he’s a sharp one. (Door clicks after Luke’s exit.) Purtwee, he’ll know who’s who. He’ll put us right. Won’t ’ee, Purtwee, old friend? Won’t ’ee—won’t ’ee?
(He slaps Purt. on back, laughing boisterously and half staggering forward into Purt.‘s arms. Luke has got away by door r., and from now Allen’s excitement gradually subsides, and an air of exhaustion follows. Sits l.c.)
HANN. (c.) Say! Are you drunk or playing the fool? Where’s this man Cassidy?
ALLEN. (Pause.) I don’t know.
HANN. Isn’t he coming here?