POLITE SATIRES

All applications for permission to give performances of any of Mr. Clifford Bax's plays should be addressed to The Secretary, Collection Bureau, The Incorporated Society of Authors, 1 Central Buildings, Tothill Street, S.W.1

Printed in Great Britain

Contents

THE UNKNOWN HAND

Characters

JULIET
HELEN

THE UNKNOWN HAND

SCENE. A Room in JULIET'S Flat. Back centre, a fire. To its right, a chair; to its left, an easy chair and a small table. Two envelopes and a new novel lie on the table. JULIET is seated in the easy chair, looking into the fire.

JULIET (dreamily). Hans Andersen, when he was old and frail,
Said that his life had been a fairy-tale.... (Looking up.)
That's what mine is! Think of it—by a freak
Of Fortune to be famous in one week,
And with my first book! Would it have made quite
Such a commotion had I dared to write
Under my name? Who knows? But if you've penned
A merciless portrait of your dearest friend,
You simply can't avow it. And a book
That bears a man's name has a weightier look
Somehow. My novel! Why, it seems an age
Since last I gloated on the title-page. (She takes up the novel from the table.)
'The Strong Man's Library. Number Seventeen.
"Calypso and Her Loves," by Galahad Green.
Second Impression.' Then down there, quite small.
The modest publishers—Chapman and Hall.

(Turning to the envelopes on the table.)

Oh, and they've sent me—Is it from Chapman? Yes—
Another batch of cuttings from the Press.
Quite a lot, too! I'll give them just a glance
Before I go to supper.

(Taking the envelope which is on top, she extracts a number of Press cuttings, looks through them hastily and tosses them back on to the table one by one.)

'True romance.'
W. J. Turner—'Shows a man's desire
To write for men.... Much promise.' J. C. Squire.—
'At times like Gosse....' Who wrote that? Squire again,
But in a different paper—'Stuff for men....
Gosse-like at moments.' Edward Shanks—'No learner,
A finished craftsman.' W. J. Turner—
'Impressive.' J. C. Squire.—'His novel ranks
Among the best books of the season....' Shanks.—
'Impressive.' Shanks.—'Almost the true Gosse fire....'
Turner again. 'A man's book.' J. C. Squire.—
My poor head