The Devil's Disciple Author:Bernard Shaw Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Act ra Early neat morning the sergeant, at the British headquarters in the Town Hall, unlocks the door of a littie empty panelled waiting room, and invites Ju... more »dith to enter. She has had a bad night, probably a rather delirious one; for even in the reality of the raw morning, her fixed gaze comes back at moments when her attention is not strongly held. The sergeant considers that her feelings do her credit, and is sympathetic in an encouraging military way. Being a fine figure of a man, vain of his uniform and of his rank, he feels specially qualified, in a respectful way, to console her. Sergeant. You can have a quiet word with him here, mum. Judith. Shall I have long to wait ? Sergeant. No, mum, not a minute. We kep him in the Bridewell for the night; and he's just been brought over here for the court martial. Don't fret, mum: he slep like a child, and has made a rare good breakfast. Judith (incredulously). He is in good spirit a! Sergeant. Tip top, mum. The chaplain looked in to see him last night; and he won seventeen shillings off him at spoil five. He spent it among us like the gentleman he is. Duty's duty, mum, of course; but you're among friends here. (The tramp of a couple of soldiers is heard approaching.) There: I think he's coming. (Richard comes in, without a sign of care or captivity in his bearing. The sergeant nods to the two soldiers, and shews them the key of the room in his hand. They withdraw.) Your good lady, sir. Richard (going to her). What! My wife. My adored one. (He takes her hand and kisses it with a perverse, raffishgallantry.') How long do you allow a brokenhearted husband for leave-taking, Sergeant? Sergeant. As long as we can, sir. We shall not disturb you till the court sits. Richard. But it has struck the hour. Sergea...« less