strife-第3部分

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HARNESS。　　＇With　irony。＇　　Yes；　that　seems　to　be　the　A　B　C　of　commerce；　sir；　and　the　A　B　C　of　commerce　is　between　your　interests　and　the　men's。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Whispering。＇　　We　ought　to　arrange　something。

HARNESS。　　＇Drily。＇　　Am　I　to　understand　then；　gentlemen；　that　your　Board　is　going　to　make　no　concessions？

　　　　　＇WANKLIN　and　WILDER　bend　forward　as　if　to　speak；　but　stop。＇

ANTHONY。　　＇Nodding。＇　　None。

　　　　　＇WANKLIN　and　WILDER　again　bend　forward；　and　SCANTLEBURY　gives　an　　　　　　unexpected　grunt。＇

HARNESS。　　You　were　about　to　say　something；　I　believe？

　　　　　＇But　SCANTLEBURY　says　nothing。＇

EDGAR。　　＇Looking　up　suddenly。＇　　We're　sorry　for　the　state　of　the　men。

HARNESS。　　＇Icily。＇　　The　men　have　no　use　for　your　pity；　sir。　　What　they　want　is　justice。

ANTHONY。　　Then　let　them　be　just。

HARNESS。　　For　that　word　〃just〃　read　〃humble；〃　Mr。　Anthony。　　Why　should　they　be　humble？　　Barring　the　accident　of　money；　are　n't　they　as　good　men　as　you？

ANTHONY。　　Cant！

HARNESS。　　Well；　I've　been　five　years　in　America。　　It　colours　a　man's　notions。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Suddenly；　as　though　avenging　his　uncompleted　grunt。＇　Let's　have　the　men　in　and　hear　what　they've　got　to　say！

　　　　　＇ANTHONY　nods；　and　UNDERWOOD　goes　out　by　the　single　door。＇

HARNESS。　　＇Drily。＇　　As　I'm　to　have　an　interview　with　them　this　afternoon；　gentlemen；　I　'll　ask　you　to　postpone　your　final　decision　till　that's　over。

　　　　　＇Again　ANTHONY　nods；　and　taking　up　his　glass　drinks。＇

　　　　　＇UNDERWOOD　comes　in　again；　followed　by　ROBERTS；　GREEN；　BULGIN；　　　　　　THOMAS；　ROUS。　　They　file　in；　hat　in　hand；　and　stand　silent　in　a　　　　　　row。　　ROBERTS　is　lean；　of　middle　height；　with　a　slight　stoop。　　　　　　He　has　a　little　rat…gnawn；　brown…grey　beard；　moustaches；　high　　　　　　cheek…bones；　hollow　cheeks；　small　fiery　eyes。　　He　wears　an　old　　　　　　and　grease…stained　blue　serge　suit；　and　carries　an　old　bowler　　　　　　hat。　　He　stands　nearest　the　Chairman。　　GREEN；　next　to　him；　has　a　　　　　　clean；　worn　face；　with　a　small　grey　goatee　beard　and　drooping　　　　　　moustaches；　iron　spectacles；　and　mild；　straightforward　eyes。　　He　　　　　　wears　an　overcoat；　green　with　age；　and　a　linen　collar。　　Next　to　　　　　　him　is　BULGIN；　a　tall；　strong　man；　with　a　dark　moustache；　and　　　　　　fighting　jaw；　wearing　a　red　muffler；　who　keeps　changing　his　cap　　　　　　from　one　hand　to　the　other。　　Next　to　him　is　THOMAS；　an　old　man　　　　　　with　a　grey　moustache；　full　beard；　and　weatherbeaten；　bony　face；　　　　　　whose　overcoat　discloses　a　lean；　plucked…looking　neck。　　On　his　　　　　　right；　ROUS；　the　youngest　of　the　five；　looks　like　a　soldier；　he　　　　　　has　a　glitter　in　his　eyes。＇

UNDERWOOD。　　＇Pointing。＇　　There　are　some　chairs　there　against　the　wall；　Roberts；　won't　you　draw　them　up　and　sit　down？

ROBERTS。　　Thank　you；　Mr。　Underwoodwe'll　stand　in　the　presence　of　the　Board。　　＇He　speaks　in　a　biting　and　staccato　voice；　rolling　his　r's；　pronouncing　his　a's　like　an　Italian　a；　and　his　consonants　short　and　crisp。＇　　How　are　you；　Mr。　Harness？　　Did　n't　expect　t'　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　till　this　afternoon。

HARNESS。　　＇Steadily。＇　　We　shall　meet　again　then；　Roberts。

ROBERTS。　　Glad　to　hear　that；　we　shall　have　some　news　for　you　to　take　to　your　people。

ANTHONY。　　What　do　the　men　want？

ROBERTS。　　＇Acidly。＇　　Beg　pardon；　I　don't　quite　catch　the　Chairman's　remark。

TENCH。　　＇From　behind　the　Chairman's　chair。＇　　The　Chairman　wishes　to　know　what　the　men　have　to　say。

ROBERTS。　　It's　what　the　Board　has　to　say　we've　come　to　hear。　　It's　for　the　Board　to　speak　first。

ANTHONY。　　The　Board　has　nothing　to　say。

ROBERTS。　　＇Looking　along　the　line　of　men。＇　　In　that　case　we're　wasting　the　Directors'　time。　　We'll　be　taking　our　feet　off　this　pretty　carpet。

　　　　　＇He　turns；　the　men　move　slowly；　as　though　hypnotically　　　　　　influenced。＇

WANKLIN：　＇Suavely。＇　　Come；　Roberts；　you　did　n't　give　us　this　long　cold　journey　for　the　pleasure　of　saying　that。

THOMAS。　　＇A　pure　Welshman。＇　　No；　sir；　an'　what　I　say　iss

ROBERTS。＇Bitingly。＇　　Go　on；　Henry　Thomas；　go　on。　　You　're　better　able　to　speak　to　theDirectors　than　me。　　＇THOMAS　is　silent。＇

TENCH。　　The　Chairman　means；　Roberts；　that　it　was　the　men　who　asked　for　the　conference；　the　Board　wish　to　hear　what　they　have　to　say。

ROBERTS。　　Gad！　　If　I　was　to　begin　to　tell　ye　all　they　have　to　say；　I　wouldn't　be　finished　to…day。　　And　there'd　be　some　that'd　wish　they'd　never　left　their　London　palaces。

HARNESS。　　What's　your　proposition；　man？　　Be　reasonable。

ROBERTS。　　You　want　reason　Mr。　Harness？　　Take　a　look　round　this　afternoon　before　the　meeting。　　＇He　looks　at　the　men；　no　sound　escapes　them。＇　　You'll　see　some　very　pretty　scenery。

HARNESS。　　All　right　my　friend；　you　won't　put　me　off。

ROBERTS。　　＇To　the　men。＇　　We　shan't　put　Mr。　Harness　off。　　Have　some　champagne　with　your　lunch；　Mr。　Harness；　you'll　want　it；　sir。

HARNESS。　　Come；　get　to　business；　man！

THOMAS。　　What　we're　asking；　look　you；　is　just　simple　justice。

ROBERTS。　　＇Venomously。＇　　Justice　from　London？　　What　are　you　talking　about；　Henry　Thomas？　　Have　you　gone　silly？　　＇THOMAS　is　silent。＇　　We　know　very　well　what　we　arediscontented　dogsnever　satisfied。　　What　did　the　Chairman　tell　me　up　in　London？　　That　I　did　n't　know　what　I　was　talking　about。　　I　was　a　foolish；　uneducated　man；　that　knew　nothing　of　the　wants　of　the　men　I　spoke　for；

EDGAR。　　Do　please　keep　to　the　point。

ANTHONY。　　＇Holding　up　his　hand。＇　　There　can　only　be　one　master；　Roberts。

ROBERTS。　　Then；　be　Gad；　it'll　be　us。

　　　　　＇There　is　a　silence；　ANTHONY　and　ROBERTS　stare　at　one　another。＇

UNDERWOOD。　　If　you've　nothing　to　say　to　the　Directors；　Roberts；　perhaps　you　'll　let　Green　or　Thomas　speak　for　the　men。

　　　　　＇GREEN　and　THOMAS　look　anxiously　at　ROBERTS；　at　each　other；　and　　　　　　the　other　men。＇

GREEN。　　＇An　Englishman。＇　　If　I'd　been　listened　to；　gentlemen

THOMAS。　　What　I'fe　got　to　say　iss　what　we'fe　all　got　to　say

ROBERTS。　　Speak　for　yourself；　Henry　Thomas。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　a　gesture　of　deep　spiritual　discomfort。＇　　Let　the　poor　men　call　their　souls　their　own！

ROBERTS。　　Aye；　they　shall　keep　their　souls；　for　it's　not　much　body　that　you've　left　them；　Mr。　＇with　biting　emphasis；　as　though　the　word　were　an　offence＇　　Scantlebury！　　＇To　the　men。＇　　Well；　will　you　speak；　or　shall　I　speak　for　you？

ROUS。　　＇Suddenly。＇　　Speak　out；　Roberts；　or　leave　it　to　others。

ROBERTS。　　＇Ironically。＇　　Thank　you；　George　Rous。　　＇Addressing　himself　to　ANTHONY。＇　　The　Chairman　and　Board　of　Directors　have　honoured　us　by　leaving　London　and　coming　all　this　way　to　hear　what　we've　got　to　say；　it　would　not　be　polite　to　keep　them　any　longer　waiting。

WILDER。　　Well；　thank　God　for　that！

ROBERTS。　　Ye　will　not　dare　to　thank　Him　when　I　have　done；　Mr。　Wilder；　for　all　your　piety。　　May　be　your　God　up　in　London　has　no　time　to　listen　to　the　working　man。　　I'm　told　He　is　a　wealthy　God；　but　if　he　listens　to　what　I　tell　Him；　He　will　know　more　than　ever　He　learned　in　Kensington。

HARNESS。　　Come；　Roberts；　you　have　your　own　God。　　Respect　the　God　of　other　men。

ROBERTS。　　That's　right；　sir。　　We　have　another　God　down　here；　I　doubt　He　is　rather　different　to　Mr。　Wilder's。　　Ask　Henry　Thomas；　he　will　tell　you　whether　his　God　and　Mr。　Wilder's　are　the　same。

　　　　　＇THOMAS　lifts　his　hand；　and　cranes　his　head　as　though　to　　　　　　prophesy。＇

WANKLIN。　　For　goodness'　sake；　let　's　keep　to　the　point；　Roberts。

ROBERTS。　　I　rather　think　it　is　the　point；　Mr。　Wanklin。　　If　you　can　get　the　God　of　Capital　to　walk　through　the　streets　of　Labour；　and　pay　attention　to　what　he　sees；　you're　a　brighter　man　than　I　take　you　for；　for　all　that　you're　a　Radical。

ANTHONY。　　Attend　to　me；　Roberts！　　＇Roberts　is　silent。＇　　You　are　here　to　speak　for　the　men；　as　I　am　here　to　speak　for　the　Board。

　　　　　＇He　looks　slowly　round。＇

　　　　　＇WILDER；　WANKLIN；　and　SCANTLEBURY　make　movements　of　uneasiness；　　　　　　and　EDGAR　gazes　at　the　floor。　　A　faint　smile　comes　on　HARNESS'S　　　　　　face。＇

Now　then；　what　is　it？

ROBERTS。　　Right；　Sir！

　　　　　＇Throughout　all　that　follows；　he　and　ANTHONY　look　fixedly　upon　　　　　　each　other。　　Men　and　Directors　show　in　their　various　ways　　　　　　suppressed　uneasiness；　as　though　listening　to　words　that　they　　　　　　themselves　would　not　have　spoken。＇

The　men　can't　afford　to　travel　up　to　London；　and　they　don't　trust　you　to　believe　what　they　say　in　black　and　white。　　They　know　what　the　post　is　＇he　darts　a　look　at　UNDERWOOD　and　TENCH＇；　and　what　Directors'　meetings　are：　〃Refer　it　to　the　managerlet　the　manager　advise　us　on　the　men's　condition。　　Can　we　squeeze　them　a　little　more？〃

UNDERWOOD。　　＇In　a　low　voice。＇　　Don't　hit　below　the　belt；　Roberts！

ROBERTS。　　Is　it　below　the　belt；　Mr。　Underwood？　　The　men　know。　　When　I　came　up　to　London；　I　told　you　the　position　straight。　　An'　what　came　of　it？　　I　was　told　I　did　n't　know　what　I　was　talkin'　about。　　I　can't　afford　to　travel　up　to　London　to　be　told　that　again。

ANTHONY。　　What　have　you　to　say　for　the　men？

ROBERTS。　　I　have　this　to　sayand　first　as　to　their　condition。　　Ye　shall　'ave　no　need　to　go　and　ask　your　manager。　　Ye　can't　squeeze　them　any　more。　　Every　man　of　us　is　well…nigh　starving。　　＇A　surprised　murmur　rises　from　the　men。　　＇ROBERTS　looks　round。＇　　Ye　wonder　why　I　tell　ye　that？　　Every　man　of　us　is　going　short。　　We　can't　be　no　worse　off　than　we've　been　these　weeks　past。　　Ye　need　n't　think　that　by　waiting　yell　drive　us　to　come　in。　　We'll　die　first；　the　whole　lot　of　us。　　The　men　have　sent　for　ye　to　know；　once　and　for　all；　whether　ye　are　going　to　grant　them　their　demands。　　I　see　the　sheet　of　paper　in　the　Secretary's　hand。　　＇TENCH　moves　nervously。＇　　That's　it；　I　think；　Mr。　Tench。　　It's　not　very　large。

TENCH。　　＇Nodding。＇　　Yes。

ROBERTS。　　There's　not　one　sentence　of　writing　on　that　paper　that　we　can　do　without。

　　　　　＇A　movement　amongst　the　men。　　ROBERTS　turns　on　them　sharply。＇

Isn't　that　so？

　　　　　＇The　men　assent　reluctantly。　　ANTHONY　takes　from　TENCH　the　paper　　　　　　and　peruses　it。＇

Not　one　single　sentence。　　All　those　demands　are　fair。　　We　have　not。　asked　anything　that　we　are　not　entitled　to　ask。　　What　I　said　up　in　London；　I　say　again　now：　there　is　not　anything　on　that　piece　of　paper　that　a　just　man　should　not　ask；　and　a　just　man　give。

　　　　　＇A　pause。＇

ANTHONY。　　There　is　not　one　single　demand　on　this　paper　that　we　will　grant。

　　　　　＇In　the　stir　that　follows　on　these　words；　ROBERTS　watches　th