55
GB Shaw
BURGOYNE
(
sympathetically). Now there, Mr. Anderson,
you talk like a civilian, if you will excuse my saying so. Have
you any idea of the average marksmanship of the army of
His Majesty King George the Third? If we make you up a
firing party, what will happen? Half of them will miss you:
the rest will make a mess of the business and leave you to the
provo-marshal’s pistol. Whereas we can hang you in a per-
fectly workmanlike and agreeable way. (
Kindly) Let me per-
suade you to be hanged, Mr. Anderson?
JUDITH
(
sick with horror). My God!
RICHARD
(
to Judith). Your promise! (
To Burgoyne) Thank
you, General: that view of the case did not occur to me be-
fore. To oblige you, I withdraw my objection to the rope.
Hang me, by all means.
BURGOYNE
(
smoothly). Will 12 o’clock suit you, Mr.
Anderson?
RICHARD
. I shall be at your disposal then, General.
BURGOYNE
(
rising). Nothing more to be said, gentlemen.
(
They all rise.)
JUDITH
(
rushing to the table). Oh, you are not going to
murder a man like that, without a proper trial—without
thinking of what you are doing—without— (
She cannot find
words.)
RICHARD
. Is this how you keep your promise?
JUDITH
. If I am not to speak, you must. Defend yourself:
save yourself: tell them the truth.
RICHARD
(
worriedly). I have told them truth enough to
hang me ten times over. If you say another word you will
risk other lives; but you will not save mine.
BURGOYNE
. My good lady, our only desire is to save un-
pleasantness. What satisfaction would it give you to have a
solemn fuss made, with my friend Swindon in a black cap
and so forth? I am sure we are greatly indebted to the admi-
rable tact and gentlemanly feeling shown by your husband.
JUDITH
(
throwing the words in his face). Oh, you are mad.
Is it nothing to you what wicked thing you do if only you do
it like a gentleman? Is it nothing to you whether you are a
murderer or not, if only you murder in a red coat? (
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