Chapter XIV: Act IV

_The Stage represents the Admiral's house, as in Acts I. and III. A
chair, L., in front. As the curtain rises, the Stage is dark. Enter
ARETHUSA, L., with candle; she lights another; and passes to door, R.,
which she unbolts. Stage light_

SCENE I

ARETHUSA, KIT

ARETHUSA. Come, dear Kit, come!

KIT. Well, I'm here.

ARETHUSA. O Kit, you are not angry with me.

KIT. Have I reason to be pleased?

ARETHUSA. Kit, I was wrong. Forgive me.

KIT. O yes. I forgive you. I suppose you meant it kindly; but there are some kindnesses a man would rather die than take a gift of. When a man is accused, Arethusa, it is not that he fears the gallows--it's the shame that cuts him. At such a time as that, the way to help was to stand to your belief. You should have nailed my colours to the mast, not spoke of striking them. If I were to be hanged to-morrow, and your love there, and a free pardon and a dukedom on the other side--which would I choose?

ARETHUSA. Kit, you must judge me fairly. It was not my life that was at stake, it was yours. Had it been mine--mine, Kit--what had you done, then?

KIT. I am a downright fool; I saw it inside out. Why, give you up, by George!

ARETHUSA. Ah, you see! Now you understand. It was all pure love. When he said that word--O! death and that disgrace!... But I know my father. He fears nothing so much as the goodness of his heart; and yet it conquers. He would pray, he said; and to-night, and by the kindness of his voice, I knew he was convinced already. All that is wanted is that you should forgive me.

KIT. Arethusa, if you looked at me like that I'd forgive you piracy on the high seas. I was only sulky; I was boxed up there in the black dark, and couldn't see my hand. It made me pity that blind man, by George.

ARETHUSA. O, that blind man! The fiend! He came back, Kit: did you hear him? he thought we had killed you--you!

KIT. Well, well, it serves me right for keeping company with such a swab.

ARETHUSA. One thing puzzles me: how did you get in? I saw my father lock the door.

KIT. Ah, how? That's just it. I was a sheet in the wind, you see. How did we? He did it somehow.... By George, he had a key! He can get in again.

ARETHUSA. Again? that man!

KIT. Ay can he! Again! When he likes!

ARETHUSA. Kit, I am afraid. O Kit, he will kill my father.

KIT. Afraid. I'm glad of that. Now, you'll see I'm worth my salt at something. Ten to one he's back to Mrs. Drake's. I'll after, and lay him aboard.

ARETHUSA. O Kit, he is too strong for you.

KIT. Arethusa, that's below the belt! Never you fear; I'll give a good account of him.

ARETHUSA (_taking cutlass from wall_). You'll be none the worse for this, dear.

KIT. That's so (_making cuts_). All the same, I'm half ashamed to draw on a blind man; it's too much odds. (_He leans suddenly against the table._) Ah!

ARETHUSA. Kit! are you ill?

KIT. My head's like a humming top; it serves me right for drinking.

ARETHUSA. Oh, and the blind man! (_She runs, L., to the corner cupboard, brings a bottle and glass, and fills and offers glass._) Here, lad, drink that.

KIT. To you! That's better. (_Bottle and glass remain on GAUNT'S table._)

ARETHUSA. Suppose you miss him?

KIT. Miss him! The road is straight; and I can hear the tap-tapping of that stick a mile away.

ARETHUSA (_listening_). 'St! my father stirring in his room!

KIT. Let me get clear; tell him why when I'm gone. The door----?

ARETHUSA. Locked!

KIT. The window!

ARETHUSA. Quick, quick! (_She unfastens R. window, by which KIT goes out._)

SCENE II

_ARETHUSA, GAUNT entering L._

ARETHUSA. Father, Kit is gone.... He is asleep.

GAUNT. Waiting, waiting and wearying. The years, they go so heavily, my Hester still waiting! (_He goes R. to chest, which he opens._) That is your chain; it's of Guinea gold; I brought it you from Guinea. (_Taking out chain._) You liked it once; it pleased you long ago; O, why not now--why will you not be happy now?... I swear this is my last voyage; see, I lay my hand upon the Holy Book and swear it. One more venture--for the child's sake, Hester; you don't think upon your little maid.

ARETHUSA. Ah, for my sake, it was for my sake!

GAUNT. Ten days out from Lagos. That's a strange sunset, Mr. Yeo. All hands shorten sail! Lay aloft there, look smart!... What's that? Only the negroes in the hold.... Mr. Yeo, she can't live long at this; I have a wife and child in Barnstaple.... Christ, what a sea! Hold on, for God's sake--hold on fore and aft! Great God! (_as though the sea were making a breach over the ship at the moment_).

ARETHUSA. O!

GAUNT. They seem quieter down below there.... No water--no light--no air--seven days battened down, and the seas mountain high, and the ship labouring hell-deep! Two hundred and five, two hundred and five, two hundred and five--all to eternal torture!

ARETHUSA. O pity him, pity him! Let him sleep, let him forget! Let her prayers avail in heaven, and let him rest!

GAUNT. Hester, no, don't smile at me. Rather tears! I have seen you weep--often, often; two hundred and five times. Two hundred and five! (_With ring._) Hester, here is your ring (_he tries to put the ring on his finger_). How comes it in my hand? Not fallen off again? O no, impossible! it was made smaller, dear, it can't have fallen off! Ah, you waste away. You must live, you must, for the dear child's sake, for mine, Hester, for mine! Ah, the child. Yes. Who am I to judge? Poor Kit French! And she, your little maid, she's like you, Hester, and she will save him! How should a man be saved without a wife?

ARETHUSA. O father, if you could but hear me thank and bless you! (_The tapping of PEW'S stick is heard approaching. GAUNT passes L. front and sits._)

GAUNT (_beginning to count the taps_). One--two--two hundred and five----

ARETHUSA (_listening_). God help me, the blind man! (_She runs to door, C.; the key is put into the lock from without, and the door opens._)

SCENE III

_ARETHUSA (at back of stage by the door); GAUNT (front L.); to these,
PEW, C._

PEW (_sotto voce_). All snug. (_Coming down._) So that was you, my young friend Christopher, as shot by me on the road; and so you was hot foot after old Pew? Christopher, my young friend, I reckon I'll have the bowels out of that chest, and I reckon, you'll be lagged and scragged for it. (_At these words ARETHUSA locks the door, and takes the key._) What's that? All still. There's something wrong about this room. Pew, my 'art of oak, you're queer to-night; brace up and carry on. Where's the tool? (_Producing knife._) Ah, here she is; and now for the chest; and the gold; and rum--rum--rum. What! Open?... old clothes, by God!... He's done me; he's been before me; he's bolted with the swag; that's why he ran: Lord wither and waste him forty year for it! O Christopher, if I had my fingers on your throat! Why didn't I strangle the soul out of him? I heard the breath squeak in his weasand; and Jack Gaunt pulled me off. Ah, Jack, that's another I owe you. My pious friend, if I was God Almighty for five minutes! (_GAUNT rises and begins to pace the stage like a quarter-deck, L._) What's that? A man's walk. He don't see me, thank the blessed dark! But it's time to slip, my bo. (_He gropes his way stealthily till he comes to GAUNT'S table, where he burns his hand in the candle._) A candle--lighted--then it's bright as day! Lord God, doesn't he see me? It's the horrors come alive. (_GAUNT draws near and turns away._) I'll go mad, mad! (_He gropes to the door, stopping and starting._) Door. (_His voice rising for the first time, sharp with terror._) Locked? Key gone? Trapped! Keep off--keep off of me--keep away! (_Sotto voce again._) Keep your head, Lord have mercy, keep your head. I'm wet with sweat. What devil's den is this? I must out--out! (_He shakes the door vehemently._) No? Knife it is, then--knife--knife--knife! (_He moves with the knife raised towards GAUNT, intently listening and changing his direction as GAUNT changes his position on the stage._)

ARETHUSA (_rushing to intercept him_). Father, father, wake!

GAUNT. Hester, Hester! (_He turns, in time to see ARETHUSA grapple PEW in the centre of the stage, and PEW force her down._)

ARETHUSA. Kit! Kit!

PEW (_with the knife raised_). Pew's way!

SCENE IV

_To these, KIT_

(_He leaps through window, R., and cuts PEW down. At the same moment,
GAUNT, who has been staring helplessly at his daughter's peril, fully
awakes._)

GAUNT. Death and blood! (_KIT, helping ARETHUSA, has let fall the cutlass. GAUNT picks it up and runs on PEW._) Damned mutineer, I'll have your heart out! (_He stops, stands staring, drops cutlass, falls upon his knees._) God forgive me! Ah, foul sins, would you blaze forth again? Lord, close your ears! Hester, Hester, hear me not! Shall all these years and tears be unavailing?

ARETHUSA. Father, I am not hurt.

GAUNT. Ay, daughter, but my soul--my lost soul!

PEW (_rising on his elbow_). Rum? You've done me. For God's sake, rum. (_ARETHUSA pours out a glass, which KIT gives to him._) Rum? This ain't rum; it's fire! (_With great excitement._) What's this? I don't like rum? (_Feebly._) Ay, then, I'm a dead man, and give me water.

GAUNT. Now even his sins desert him.

PEW (_drinking water_). Jack Gaunt, you've always been my rock ahead. It's thanks to you I've got my papers, and this time I'm shipped for Fiddler's Green. Admiral, we ain't like to meet again, and I'll give you a toast; Here's Fiddler's Green, and damn all lubbers! (_Seizing GAUNT'S arm._) I say--fair dealings, Jack!--none of that heaven business: Fiddler's Green's my port, now, ain't it?

GAUNT. David, you've hove short up, and God forbid that I deceive you. Pray, man, pray; for in the place to which you are bound there is no mercy and no hope.

PEW. Ay, my lass, you're black, but your blood's red, and I'm all a-muck with it. Pass the rum, and be damned to you (_Trying to sing_)--

"Time for us to go,
Time for us----"

(_He dies._)

GAUNT. But for the grace of God, there lies John Gaunt! Christopher, you have saved my child; and _I_, I, that was blinded with self-righteousness, have fallen. Take her, Christopher; but O, walk humbly!

MACAIRE

A MELODRAMATIC FARCE
IN THREE ACTS

PERSONS REPRESENTED

ROBERT MACAIRE

BERTRAND

DUMONT, Landlord of the "Auberge des Adrets"

CHARLES, a Gendarme, Dumont's supposed Son

GORIOT

THE MARQUIS, Charles's Father

THE BRIGADIER of Gendarmerie

THE CURATE

THE NOTARY

A WAITER

ERNESTINE, Goriot's Daughter

ALINE

MAIDS, PEASANTS (_Male and Female_), GENDARMES

The Scene is laid in the Courtyard of the "Auberge des Adrets," on the frontier of France and Savoy. The time 1820. The Action occupies an interval of from twelve to fourteen hours; from four in the afternoon till about five in the morning

NOTE.--_The time between the acts should be as brief as possible, and the piece played, where it is merely comic, in a vein of patter_

MACAIRE