FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114  
>>  
you're speaking to me. Sleep's the comfort I've got here; I'm entitled to take it out full. WOODER comes out of the cell, and instantly, as though extinguished, CLIPTON moves with stealthy suddenness back into his cell. WOODER. All right, sir. THE GOVERNOR nods. The door is closed and locked. THE GOVERNOR. Which is the man who banged on his door this morning? WOODER. [Going towards O'CLEARY'S cell] This one, sir; O'Cleary. He lifts the disc and glances through the peephole. THE GOVERNOR. Open. WOODER throws open the door. O'CLEARY, who is seated at a little table by the door as if listening, springs up and stands at attention jest inside the doorway. He is a broad-faced, middle-aged man, with a wide, thin, flexible mouth, and little holes under his high cheek-bones. THE GOVERNOR. Where's the joke, O'Cleary? O'CLEARY. The joke, your honour? I've not seen one for a long time. THE GOVERNOR. Banging on your door? O'CLEARY. Oh! that! THE GOVERNOR. It's womanish. O'CLEARY. An' it's that I'm becoming this two months past. THE GOVERNOR. Anything to complain of? O'CLEARY. NO, Sirr. THE GOVERNOR. You're an old hand; you ought to know better. O'CLEARY. Yes, I've been through it all. THE GOVERNOR. You've got a youngster next door; you'll upset him. O'CLEARY. It cam' over me, your honour. I can't always be the same steady man. THE GOVERNOR. Work all right? O'CLEARY. [Taking up a rush mat he is making] Oh! I can do it on me head. It's the miserablest stuff--don't take the brains of a mouse. [Working his mouth] It's here I feel it--the want of a little noise --a terrible little wud ease me. THE GOVERNOR. You know as well as I do that if you were out in the shops you wouldn't be allowed to talk. O'CLEARY. [With a look of profound meaning] Not with my mouth. THE GOVERNOR. Well, then? O'CLEARY. But it's the great conversation I'd have. THE GOVERNOR. [With a smile] Well, no more conversation on your door. O'CLEARY. No, sirr, I wud not have the little wit to repeat meself. THE GOVERNOR. [Turning] Good-night. O'CLEARY. Good-night, your honour. He turns into his cell. The GOVERNOR shuts the door. THE GOVERNOR. [Looking at the record card] Can't help liking the poor blackguard. WOODER. He's an amiable man, sir. THE GOVERNOR. [Pointing down the corridor] Ask the doctor
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114  
>>  



Top keywords:

GOVERNOR

 
CLEARY
 
WOODER
 

honour

 
conversation
 
Cleary
 
amiable
 

miserablest

 

Working

 

Pointing


brains
 

blackguard

 

making

 

liking

 
doctor
 
corridor
 

Taking

 

steady

 

Turning

 
repeat

meself
 

meaning

 

terrible

 

profound

 
Looking
 

record

 

wouldn

 
allowed
 

glances

 
morning

peephole
 

listening

 

springs

 

stands

 

throws

 
seated
 

banged

 

instantly

 

entitled

 
speaking

comfort

 

extinguished

 

CLIPTON

 

closed

 
locked
 

stealthy

 

suddenness

 
attention
 

months

 

Anything