The Man from Home, Harry Leon Wilson [good books for 8th graders TXT] 📗
- Author: Harry Leon Wilson
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[in a ringing voice, advancing a step]
More respectful, sir! You are addressing his Highness, the Grand-Duke Vasili of Russia.
[HAWCASTLE falls back, stricken.]
[thunderstruck]
Respectful! Think of what I've been calling him!
My friend, it has been refreshing.
[To RIBIERE]
Ribiere, I shall take Ivanoff's statement in writing. Bring him with you.
[VASILI turns on his heel, curtly, and passes rapidly out through the door on the right.]
[RIBIERE touches IVANOFF on shoulder, indicating that he must follow VASILI.]
[IVANOFF starts with RIBIERE; MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY shrinks back with a low exclamation of fear.]
[hoarsely to her]
I would not touch you—not even to strangle you!
[With outstretched hand, pointing to HAWCASTLE.][pg 150]
But God will let me pay my debt to the Earl of Hawcastle!
[Goes rapidly out with RIBIERE.]
[choked with rage, advancing on PIKE]
Why, you—
[genially]
Oh! I hated to hand you this, my lord. I didn't come over here to make the fine flower of Europe any more trouble than they've got. But I had to show John Simpson's daughter.
[Movement from HORACE and ETHEL.]
And I reckon now she isn't wanting any alliance with the remnants of Crecy and Agincourt.
[tremulously, coming close to PIKE]
But I have no choice—I gave Almeric my promise when I thought it an honor to bear his name. Now that you have shown me it is a shame to bear it, the promise is only more sacred. The shame is not his fault. You—you—want me to be—honorable—don't you?
[after a long stare at her, speaks in a feeble voice, very slowly]
Your father—and mother—both—came—from Missouri, didn't they?
END OF THE THIRD ACT
SCENE: The same as in Act I. The morning of the next day. Upon the steps leading to the hotel doors is a pile of bags, hat-boxes, and rugs.
As the curtain rises HAWCASTLE, in a travelling suit and cap, is directing a porter who is adjusting a strap on a travelling bag. ALMERIC enters from the hotel, smoking a cigarette.
Ah, Governor; see you're moving!
I may.
[His manner is nervous, apprehensive, and wary. Porter touches his cap and goes into hotel.]
It depends.
Depends? Madame de Champigny took the morning boat to Naples, and your trunks are gone. Shouldn't say that looked much like dependin'.
[nervously]
It does, though, with that devilish convict—[pg 154]
Oh, but I say, Governor, you're not in a funk about him! You could bowl him over with a finger.
[glancing over his shoulder]
Not if he had what he didn't have last night, or I shouldn't be here to-day.
You don't think the beggar'd be taking a shot at you?
[fastening clasp of hat-box]
I don't know what the crazy fool mightn't do.
But, you know, he's really quite as much in custody as you could wish. That Vasilivitch chap has got him fast enough.
[LADY CREECH enters from the hotel.]
[sharply]
The Grand-Duke Vasili has the reputation of being a romantic fool. I don't know what moment he may decide to let Ivanoff loose.
[with triumphant indignation]
Then I have the advantage over you, Hawcastle. He's just done it.
[startled]
What?
[continuing]
Got him a pardon from Russia by telegraph.
You don't mean that![pg 155]
Ethel has just told me.
My God!
[He springs forward and touches a bell on wall.]
An outrage! Our plans all so horribly upset—
[turning and coming down steps]
No, they're not.
[MARIANO appears in the doorway.]
Mariano, I'm off for Naples. Sharp's the word!
It is too late for the boat, Milor'. You must drive to Castellamare for the train.
There's a carriage waiting for me at the gate yonder. Get these things into it quick—quick!
[MARIANO beckons porters from the hotel. Porters enter sharply and carry bags, etc., off.]
[Meanwhile, HAWCASTLE, without pause, continues rapidly and in an excited voice to ALMERIC and LADY CREECH.]
You must see it through; you mustn't let the thing fail; what's more, you've got to hurry it, just as if I were here. This girl gave her word last night that she'd stick.[pg 156]
But she's behaving very peculiarly this morning. Outrageously would be nearer it.
How?
Shedding tears over this Ivanoff's story. What's more, she has sent that dreadful Pike person to him with assistance.
What sort of assistance?
Money. I don't know how much, but I'm sure it was a lot.
[with a sudden inspiration]
By Jove! Buying the beggar off, perhaps, to keep him from making a scandal for us.
[excitedly]
That's what she's trying to do!
Then why do you go?
Because I'm not sure she can.
[Going to steps.]
Wire me at the Bertolini, Naples.
[Turning at stoop.]
This shows she means to stick.
For the sake of her promise.
[emphatically]
Yes, and for the sake of the name.
[He runs out rapidly.]
[PIKE enters from the grove, smoking.]
[thoughtfully]
Your pa seems in a hurry.
[LADY CREECH and ALMERIC turn, [pg 157] startled. LADY CREECH haughtily sweeps away, entering the hotel.]
[cheerfully]
Oh yes, possibly—he's off, you know—to catch a train. He's so easily worried by trifles.
[PIKE looks at ALMERIC with a sort of chuckling admiration.]
Well, you don't worry—not too easy; do you, son?
Oh, one finds nothing in particular this morning to bother one.
[assenting]
Nothing at all.
Not I. Of course, Miss Ethel is standing to her promise?
[grimly]
Yes, she is.
The Governor only thought it best to clear out a bit until we were certain that she manages to draw off this convict chap.
[puzzled]
Draw him off?
What you Americans call "affixing him," isn't it?
"Affixing him?" Don't try to talk United States, my son. Just tell me in your own way.
She's been giving him money, hasn't she? You took it to him yourself, didn't you? [pg 158] Naturally, we understood what it was for. She's trying to keep the beggar quiet.
So that's what she sent this poor cuss the money for, was it?
Why, what other reason could there be?
Well, you know I sort of gathered it was because she was sorry for him—thought he'd been wronged; but, of course, I'm stupid.
Well, ra-ther! I don't know that it was so necessary for her to hush him up, but it showed a very worthy intention in her, didn't it?
[slowly]
Would you mind my being present when you thank her for it?
Shouldn't in the least if I intended thanking her. It simply shows she considers herself already one of us. It's perfectly plain—why, it's plain as you are!
[Chuckles.]
Oh! if I could only get it over to Kokomo! And that's why you're not worrying, is it, son?
Worrying? My good man, do you mind excusing me. I saw a most likely pup yesterday; I'm afraid some other chap'll snatch him up before I do. I should have taken him at once. Good-morning!
[Exit through the grove with a [pg 159] sprightly gait and a wave of his stick.]
[PIKE gazes after him, shaking his head with a half-admiring, half-sardonic chuckle.]
[Enter ETHEL from the hotel. She wears a pretty morning dress and hat; her face is very sad.]
I hear that Lord Hawcastle has left the hotel.
[dryly]
Yes; I saw him go.
He left very quickly?
He did seem to be forgetting the scenery.
[decidedly]
He was afraid of Ivanoff.
I shouldn't be surprised. Ivanoff wants to thank you. May I bring him?
Yes.
[PIKE goes off into the grove.]
[MARIANO and a file of servants enter from the hotel, form a line, and bow profoundly as VASILI enters. They withdraw at a sign from him.]
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