Magic | Page 6

need not trouble. He will come if I call him.
[She goes out into the garden and calls out some half-chanted and
unintelligible words, somewhat like the song preceding her entrance.
The red light reappears; and there is a slight sound as of fallen leaves
shuffled by approaching feet. The cloaked STRANGER with the
pointed hood is seen standing outside the garden doors.
PATRICIA. You may enter all doors.
[The figure comes into the room
MORRIS. [Shutting the garden doors behind him.] Now, see here,
wizard, we've got you. And we know you're a fraud.
SMITH. [Quietly.] Pardon me, I do not fancy that we know that. For
myself I must confess to something of the Doctor's agnosticism.

MORRIS. [Excited, and turning almost with a snarl.] I didn't know you
parsons stuck up for any fables but your own.
SMITH. I stick up for the thing every man has a right to. Perhaps the
only thing that every man has a right to.
MORRIS. And what is that?
SMITH. The benefit of the doubt. Even your master, the petroleum
millionaire, has a right to that. And I think he needs it more.
MORRIS. I don't think there's much doubt about the question, Minister.
I've met this sort of fellow often enough--the sort of fellow who
wheedles money out of girls by telling them he can make stones
disappear.
DOCTOR. [To the STRANGER.] Do you say you can make stones
disappear?
STRANGER. Yes. I can make stones disappear.
MORRIS. [Roughly.] I reckon you're the kind of tough who knows how
to make a watch and chain disappear.
STRANGER. Yes; I know how to make a watch and chain disappear.
MORRIS. And I should think you were pretty good at disappearing
yourself.
STRANGER. I have done such a thing.
MORRIS. [With a sneer.] Will you disappear now?
STRANGER. [After reflection.] No, I think I'll appear instead. [He
throws back his hood, showing the head of an intellectual-looking man,
young but rather worn. Then he unfastens his cloak and throws it off,
emerging in complete modern evening dress. He advances down the
room towards the DUKE, taking out his watch as he does so.]
Good-evening, your Grace. I'm afraid I'm rather too early for the

performance. But this gentleman [with a gesture towards MORRIS]
seemed rather impatient for it to begin.
DUKE. [Rather at a loss.] Oh, good-evening. Why, really--are you
the...?
STRANGER. [Bowing.] Yes. I am the Conjurer.
[There is general laughter, except from PATRICIA. As the others
mingle in talk, the STRANGER goes up to her.
STRANGER. [Very sadly.] I am very sorry I am not a wizard.
PATRICIA. I wish you were a thief instead.
STRANGER. Have I committed a worse crime than thieving?
PATRICIA. You have committed the cruellest crime, I think, that there
is.
STRANGER. And what is the cruellest crime?
PATRICIA. Stealing a child's toy.
STRANGER. And what have I stolen?
PATRICIA. A fairy tale.
CURTAIN

ACT II
The same room lighted more brilliantly an hour later in the evening.
On one side a table covered with packs of cards, pyramids, etc., at
which the CONJURER in evening dress is standing quietly setting out
his tricks. A little more in the foreground the DUKE; and HASTINGS
with a number of papers.

HASTINGS. There are only a few small matters. Here are the
programmes of the entertainment your Grace wanted. Mr. Carleon
wishes to see them very much.
DUKE. Thanks, thanks. [Takes the programmes.]
HASTINGS. Shall I carry them for your Grace?
DUKE. No, no; I shan't forget, I shan't forget. Why, you've no idea how
businesslike I am. We have to be, you know. [Vaguely.] I know you're
a bit of a Socialist; but I assure you there's a good deal to do--stake in
the country, and all that. Look at remembering faces now! The King
never forgets faces. [Waves the programmes about.] I never forget
faces. [Catches sight of the CONJURER and genially draws him into
the discussion.] Why, the Professor here who performs before the King
[puts down the programmes]--you see it on the caravans, you
know--performs before the King almost every night, I suppose....
CONJURER. [Smiling.] I sometimes let his Majesty have an evening
off. And turn my attention, of course, to the very highest nobility. But
naturally I have performed before every sovereign potentate, white and
black. There never was a conjurer who hadn't.
DUKE. That's right, that's right! And you'll say with me that the great
business for a King is remembering people?
CONJURER. I should say it was remembering which people to
remember.
DUKE. Well, well, now.... [Looks round rather wildly for something.]
Being really businesslike....
HASTINGS. Shall I take the programmes for your Grace?
DUKE. [Picking them up.] No, no, I shan't forget. Is there anything
else?
HASTINGS. I have to go