WISTER goes out. On RUTH's face an expression of fear and horror has been seen growing, as if she dared not turn towards the voices. She now rises and steals towards them. WALTER. [Turning suddenly] Look! The three men shrink back out of her way, one by one, into COKESON'S room. RUTH drops on her knees by the body. RUTH. [In a whisper] What is it? He's not breathing. [She crouches over him] My dear! My pretty! In the outer office doorway the figures of men am seen standing. RUTH. [Leaping to her feet] No, no! No, no! He's dead! [The figures of the men shrink back] COKESON. [Stealing forward. In a hoarse voice] There, there, poor dear woman! At the sound behind her RUTH faces round at him. COKESON. No one'll touch him now! Never again! He's safe with gentle Jesus! RUTH stands as though turned to stone in the doorway staring at COKESON, who, bending humbly before her, holds out his hand as one would to a lost dog. The curtain falls. GALSWORTHY PLAYS--SERIES 3 Contents: The Fugitive The Pigeon The Mob THE FUGITIVE A Play in Four Acts PERSONS OF THE PLAY GEORGE DEDMOND, a civilian CLARE, his wife GENERAL SIR CHARLES DEDMOND, K.C.B., his father. LADY DEDMOND, his mother REGINALD HUNTINGDON, Clare's brother EDWARD FULLARTON, her friend DOROTHY FULLARTON, her friend PAYNTER, a manservant BURNEY, a maid TWISDEN, a solicitor HAYWOOD, a tobacconist MALISE, a writer MRS. MILER, his caretaker THE PORTER at his lodgings A BOY messenger ARNAUD, a waiter at "The Gascony" MR. VARLEY, manager of "The Gascony" TWO LADIES WITH LARGE HATS, A LADY AND GENTLEMAN, A LANGUID LORD, HIS COMPANION, A YOUNG MAN, A BLOND GENTLEMAN, A DARK GENTLEMAN. ACT I. George Dedmond's Flat. Evening. ACT II. The rooms of Malise. Morning. ACT III. SCENE I. The rooms of Malice. Late afternoon. SCENE II. The rooms of Malise. Early Afternoon. ACT IV. A small supper room at "The Gascony." Between Acts I and II three nights elapse. Between Acts II and Act III, Scene I, three months. Between Act III, Scene I, and Act III, Scene II, three months. Between Act III, Scene II, and Act IV, six months. "With a hey-ho chivy Hark forrard, hark forrard, tantivy!" ACT I The SCENE is the pretty drawing-room of a flat. There are two doors, one open into the hall, the other shut and curtained. Through a large bay window, the curtains of which are not yet drawn, the towers of Westminster can be seen darkening in a summer sunset; a grand piano stands across one corner. The man-servant PAYNTER, clean-shaven and discreet, is arranging two tables for Bridge.