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    A Man of Honour
    A Man of Honour
    A Man of Honour
    Ebook131 pages1 hour

    A Man of Honour

    By W. Somerset Maugham

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    About this ebook

    William Somerset Maugham was a popular British writer and playwright in the 20th century.  Maugham was a prolific writer and his classic novels, Of Human Bondage and The Moon and Sixpence, are still widely read today.  This edition of A Man of Honour includes a table of contents.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCharles River Editors
    Release dateMar 22, 2018
    ISBN9781531266226
    A Man of Honour
    Author

    W. Somerset Maugham

    William Somerset Maugham was born in Paris, on January 25th, 1874. Orphaned by the age of ten, he moved to England to live with an uncle. He received his education in England and Germany, studying medicine and graduating as a physician.Eschewing his education, Maugham instead became a full-time writer. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, was published in 1897, but he soon established his reputation as a successful playwright. In time he wrote 32 plays, and abandoned the theater scene by 1933.He wrote nineteen novels, of which Of Human Bondage (1915), The Moon and Sixpence (1919), The Painted Veil (1925), Cakes and Ale (1930), and The Razor's Edge (1944), are considered classics of early 20th century literature.Maugham was a restless and inquisitive soul, and his travels and his sympathies with the working class often formed the basis of characters and settings. Maugham also had a tendency to insert auto-biographical aspects into his work, most infamously in the Ashenden stories, based on his time with the British Secret Service during WWI.Throughout his life, Maugham faced many personal challenges. Romantic struggles and speculation of his sexual identity were only exacerbated publicly by his popularity amongst readers. He had an extended affair with Syrie Wellcome, who gave birth to his only child, May Elizabeth "Liza," in 1915, formalizing their relationship by marriage in 1917. Maugham's relationship with Frederick Gerald Haxton-his long-standing secretary/companion-& constant traveling, eventually caused a rift in the marriage, ending in divorce in 1929.He experienced great financial success with his works, many of which were adapted for radio, stage, film & TV; though the same could not be said for critical approval amongst the literary community, which was uneven at best. He died December 16th 1965, in Nice, France.In his later years, Maugham continued to beguile critics and fans alike-as author Pico Iyer writes, "The riddle he presents us with is how a stammering, conventional-seeming Edwardian, writing in civil service prose, could somehow become the spokesman of hippies, black magicians and stockbrokers throwing it all over for Tahiti. His books are measured explorations of extravagance."

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      Book preview

      A Man of Honour - W. Somerset Maugham

      A MAN OF HONOUR

      ..................

      W. Somerset Maugham

      KYPROS PRESS

      Thank you for reading. If you enjoy this book, please leave a review or connect with the author.

      All rights reserved. Aside from brief quotations for media coverage and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without the author’s permission. Thank you for supporting authors and a diverse, creative culture by purchasing this book and complying with copyright laws.

      Copyright © 2016 by W. Somerset Maugham

      Interior design by Pronoun

      Distribution by Pronoun

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      A Man of Honour

      CHARACTERS

      THE FIRST ACT

      THE SECOND ACT

      THE THIRD ACT

      THE FOURTH ACT.

      A MAN OF HONOUR

      ..................

      CHARACTERS

      Basil Kent

      Jenny Bush

      James Bush

      John Halliwell

      Mabel

      Hilda Murray

      Robert Brackley

      Mrs. Griggs

      Fanny

      Butler

      Time: The Present Day.

      Act I—Basil’s lodgings in Bloomsbury.

      Acts II and IV—The drawing-room of Basil’s house at Putney.

      Act III—Mrs. Murray’s house in Charles Street.

      The Performing Rights of this Play are fully protected, and permission to perform it, whether by Amateurs or Professionals, must be obtained in advance from the author’s Sole Agent, R. Golding Bright, 20 Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C., from whom all particulars can be obtained.

      THE FIRST ACT

      Sitting-room of Basil’s Lodgings in Bloomsbury.

      In the wall facing the auditorium, two windows with little iron balconies, giving a view of London roofs. Between the windows, against the wall, is a writing-desk littered with papers and books. On the right is a door, leading into the passage; on the left a fire-place with arm-chairs on either side; on the chimney-piece various smoking utensils. There are numerous bookshelves filled with books; while on the walls are one or two Delft plates, etchings after Rossetti, autotypes of paintings by Fra Angelico and Botticelli. The furniture is simple and inexpensive, but there is nothing ugly in the room. It is the dwelling-place of a person who reads a great deal and takes pleasure in beautiful things.

      Basil Kent is leaning back in his chair, with his feet on the writing-table, smoking a pipe and cutting the pages of a book. He is a very good-looking man of six-and-twenty, clean-shaven, with a delicate face and clear-cut features. He is dressed in a lounge-suit.

      [There is a knock at the door.

      Basil.

      Come in.

      Mrs. Griggs.

      Did you ring, sir?

      Basil.

      Yes. I expect a lady to tea. And there’s a cake that I bought on my way in.

      Mrs. Griggs.

      Very well, sir.

      [She goes out, and immediately comes in with a

      tray on which are two cups, sugar, milk,

      &c.

      Basil.

      Oh, Mrs. Griggs, I want to give up these rooms this day week. I’m going to be married. I’m sorry to leave you. You’ve made me very comfortable.

      Mrs. Griggs.

      [With a sigh of resignation.] Ah, well, sir, that’s lodgers all over. If they’re gents they get married; and if they’re ladies they ain’t respectable.

      [A ring is heard.

      Basil.

      There’s the bell, Mrs. Griggs. I dare say it’s the lady I expect. If any one else comes, I’m not at home.

      Mrs. Griggs.

      Very well, sir.

      [She goes out, and Basil occupies himself for a

      moment in putting things in order. Mrs.

      Griggs, opening the door, ushers in the

      new-comers.

      Mrs. Griggs.

      If you please, sir.

      [She goes out again, and during the next few

      speeches brings two more cups and the tea.

      [Mabel and Hilda enter, followed by John

      Halliwell. Basil going towards them

      very cordially, half stops when he notices

      who they are; and a slight expression of

      embarrassment passes over his face. But

      he immediately recovers himself and is

      extremely gracious. Hilda Murray is a

      tall, handsome woman, self-possessed and

      admirably gowned. Mabel Halliwell is

      smaller, pretty rather than beautiful,

      younger than her sister, vivacious, very

      talkative, and somewhat irresponsible.

      John is of the same age as Basil, good-humoured,

      neither handsome nor plain

      blunt of speech and open.

      Basil.

      [Shaking hands.] How d’you do?

      Mabel.

      Look pleased to see us, Mr. Kent.

      Basil.

      I’m perfectly enchanted.

      Hilda.

      You did ask us to come and have tea with you, didn’t you?

      Basil.

      I’ve asked you fifty times. Hulloa, John! I didn’t see you.

      John.

      I’m the discreet husband, I keep in the background.

      Mabel.

      Why don’t you praise me instead of praising yourself? People would think it so much nicer.

      John.

      On the contrary, they’d be convinced that when we were alone I beat you. Besides, I couldn’t honestly say that you kept in the background.

      Hilda.

      [To Basil.] I feel rather ashamed at taking you unawares.

      Basil.

      I was only slacking. I was cutting a book.

      Mabel.

      That’s ever so much more fun than reading it, isn’t it? [She catches sight of the tea things.] Oh, what a beautiful cake—and two cups! [She looks at him, questioning.]

      Basil.

      [A little awkwardly.] Oh—I always have an extra cup in case some one turns up, you know.

      Mabel.

      How unselfish! And do you always have such expensive cake?

      Hilda.

      [With a smile, remonstrating.] Mabel!

      Mabel.

      Oh, but I know them well, and I love them dearly. They cost two shillings at the Army and Navy Stores, but I can’t afford them myself.

      John.

      I wish you’d explain why we’ve come, or Basil will think I’m responsible.

      Mabel.

      [Lightly.] I’ve been trying to remember ever since we arrived. You say it, Hilda; you invented it.

      Hilda.

      [With a laugh.] Mabel, I’ll never take you out again. They’re perfectly incorrigible, Mr. Kent.

      Basil.

      [To John and Mabel, smiling.] I don’t know why you’ve come. Mrs. Murry has promised to come and have tea with me for ages.

      Mabel.

      [Pretending to feel injured.] Well, you needn’t turn me out the moment we arrive. Besides, I refuse to go till I’ve had a piece of that cake.

      Basil.

      Well, here’s the tea! [Mrs. Griggs brings it in as he speaks. He turns to Hilda.] I wish you’d pour it out. I’m so clumsy.

      Hilda.

      [Smiling at him affectionately.] I shall be delighted.

      [She proceeds to do so, and the conversation goes

      on while Basil hands Mabel tea and cake.

      John.

      I told them it was improper for more than one woman at a time to call at a bachelor’s rooms, Basil.

      Basil.

      If

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