George Bernard Shaw a penn State Electronic Classics Series Publication

neck thickens; his face reddens; the fleshy purses under his eyes
become injected with hot blood; the man of peace vanishes, trans-
figured into a choleric and formidable man of war. Still, she
does not come out of her absorption to look at him: her eyes are
steadfast with a mechanical reflection of Richard’s stead-fast-
ness.)
JUDITH
. He took your place: he is dying to save you. That
is why he went in your coat. That is why I kissed him.
ANDERSON 
(exploding). Blood an’ owns! (His voice is rough
and dominant, his gesture full of brute energy.) Here! Essie,
Essie!

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42
The Devil’s Disciple
ESSIE 
(running in). Yes.
ANDERSON 
(impetuously). Off with you as hard as you
can run, to the inn. Tell them to saddle the fastest and stron-
gest horse they have (Judith rises breathless, and stares at him
incredulously)—the chestnut mare, if she’s fresh—without a
moment’s delay. Go into the stable yard and tell the black
man there that I’ll give him a silver dollar if the horse is
waiting for me when I come, and that I am close on your
heels. Away with you. (His energy sends Essie flying from the
room. He pounces on his riding boots; rushes with them to the
chair at the fire; and begins pulling them on.)
JUDITH 
(unable to believe such a thing of him). You are not
going to him!
ANDERSON 
(busy with the boots). Going to him! What
good would that do? (Growling to himself as he gets the first
boot on with a wrench) I’ll go to them, so I will. (To Judith
peremptorily) Get me the pistols: I want them. And money,
money: I want money—all the money in the house. (He stoops
over the other boot, grumbling) A great satisfaction it would
be to him to have my company on the gallows. (He pulls on
the boot.)
JUDITH
. You are deserting him, then?
ANDERSON
. Hold your tongue, woman; and get me the
pistols. (She goes to the press and takes from it a leather belt
with two pistols, a powder horn, and a bag of bullets attached to
it. She throws it on the table. Then she unlocks a drawer in the
press and takes out a purse. Anderson grabs the belt and buckles
it on, saying) If they took him for me in my coat, perhaps
they’ll take me for him in his. (Hitching the belt into its place)
Do I look like him?
JUDITH 
(turning with the purse in her hand). Horribly un-
like him.
ANDERSON 
(snatching the purse from her and emptying it
on the table). Hm! We shall see.
JUDITH 
(sitting down helplessly). Is it of any use to pray, do
you think, Tony?
ANDERSON 
(counting the money). Pray! Can we pray
Swindon’s rope off Richard’s neck?
JUDITH
. God may soften Major Swindon’s heart.
ANDERSON 
(contemptuously—pocketing a handful of
money). Let him, then. I am not God; and I must go to work
another way. (Judith gasps at the blasphemy. He throws the
purse on the table.) Keep that. I’ve taken 25 dollars.

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43
GB Shaw
JUDITH
. Have you forgotten even that you are a minister?
ANDERSON
. Minister be—faugh! My hat: where’s my hat?
(He snatches up hat and cloak, and puts both on in hot haste.)
Now listen, you. If you can get a word with him by pretend-
ing you’re his wife, tell him to hold his tongue until morn-
ing: that will give me all the start I need.
JUDITH 
(solemnly). You may depend on him to the death.
ANDERSON
. You’re a fool, a fool, Judith (for a moment