Chapter I: Front Matter

Note: Images of the original pages are available through
Internet Archive. See
https://archive.org/details/conquestorpieceo00stop

CONQUEST

Or

A Piece of Jade

A New Play in Three Acts

by

MARIE C. STOPES

D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.Litt., etc.

1/- net

Copyright 1917 by Dr. Marie C. Stopes

New York Samuel French Publisher 28-30 West 38th Street

London Samuel French, Ltd. 26 Southampton Street Strand

1917

LEATHERHEAD, SURREY, ENGLAND.

DEAR MR. DELIGHTFULEST-MANAGER-IN-THE-WORLD,--

I am sending you this play printed instead of type-written because I think you will find it much easier to slip into your pocket and read, and also because I don’t know your address, and printed books have a way of finding people without being addressed which typescripts have not yet learnt. So instead of sending my play round, in what people tell me is the usual way, to lots and lots of managers in typescript and wasting ever so much valuable time while they don’t read it, I am sending it to you direct, and hope you will like it. When you read it you will find that there is still another reason why I am glad to see it in print.

First let me have just one word in your ear, please: don’t look to see how many pages long it is, and (reckoning “a page a minute”) say it is too short to fill an evening, for I ought to tell you it is a full-length play but the printer is war-economising and has printed it all on fewer pages than he would have done in the days of Paper, Peace and Plenty long ago.

While I was writing the leading part I pictured one of our finest actresses in it, and she has read it and says the play is “simply splendid”: if you want her to take the part I will tell you her name and address, but she is such an angel she will forgive you if some one you love better seems to you to be the heroine.

Yours sincerely,
MARIE C. STOPES.

_Registered Copyright by Marie C. Stopes._

_The Copyright of_ CONQUEST _is the sole property of the author, to whom application should be made for a license to produce, translate, place on the cinematograph or use in any other way._

_Addressing_: DR. MARIE STOPES,
_Craigvara, Leatherhead,
Surrey, England_.

“CONQUEST,” or “A PIECE OF JADE.”

A NEW PLAY IN THREE ACTS, BY

MARIE C. STOPES.

TIME: _1915_. PLACE: _New Zealand and London_.

ACT I.

An Out-station on the Hyde’s Sheep Farm,
New Zealand.

Afternoon.

ACT II.

The Hyde’s Homestead, New Zealand.

Morning.

Three or four months elapse between Acts I. and II.

ACT III.

The Duchess of Rainshire’s Drawing-room, London.

Evening.

About two months elapse between Acts II. and III.

“CONQUEST,” or “A PIECE OF JADE.”

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

_In the order of their appearance_:

FIRST SHEPHERD.
SECOND SHEPHERD.
GORDON HYDE, _New Zealand Sheep Farmer_.
ROTO, _an old Maori_.
NORA LEE, _A New Zealand Girl_.
LOVEDAY LEWISHAM, _Nora’s Cousin, out from England_.
ROBERT HYDE, _New Zealand Sheep Farmer, Gordon’s Brother_.
JOHN VARLIE _alias_ THE REV DR. CHAPMAN.
RECRUITING OFFICER.
THE DUCHESS OF RAINSHIRE.
A CABINET MINISTER.
SMITHERS.

ALSO (_Without words_):

TWO (OR PERHAPS THREE) YOUNG MEN _in New Zealand Khaki_.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, _Guests at the Duchess’ Evening Party_.
MAID, _Footman’s substitute in uniform_.
TWO PLAIN CLOTHES OFFICERS.
ONE OR TWO COLLIE DOGS.
SHEEP--ONE, OR MORE, _if convenient_.

“CONQUEST,”

OR

“A PIECE OF JADE.”

A NEW PLAY IN THREE ACTS BY

MARIE C. STOPES.