The Man from Home by Harry Leon Wilson (book series to read .TXT) đź“•
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [quickly]. You are invidious, mon ami! My affair isnot settled--am I a clumsy oof?
HAWCASTLE [leaning toward her across the table and speaking sharply andearnestly]. No, Hélène. Your little American, brother Horace, is so inlove with you, if you asked him suddenly, "Is this day or night?" hewould answer, "It's Hélène." But he's too shy to speak. You're awoman--you can't press matters; but Almeric's a man--he can. He can urgean immediate marriage, which means an immediate settlement, and a directone.
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [seriously, quickly]. It will not be small, thatsettlement?
[He shakes his head grimly, leaning back to look at her. She continueseagerly.]
You have decide' what sum?
[He nods decidedly.]
What?
HAWCASTLE [sharply, with determination, yet quietly]. A hundred andfifty thousand pounds!
MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [excited and breathless]. My friend! Will she?
[Turns and stares toward ETHEL'S room, where the pia
Read free book «The Man from Home by Harry Leon Wilson (book series to read .TXT) 📕» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Harry Leon Wilson
- Performer: -
Read book online «The Man from Home by Harry Leon Wilson (book series to read .TXT) 📕». Author - Harry Leon Wilson
[With an apologetic and pathetic laugh.]
Yes'm, it's my favorite. I couldn't—I couldn't get you to sing it for me before I go back home—could I?
I—I think not.
[She looks at him thoughtfully, then goes slowly into the hotel.]
[PIKE sighs, and begins to read the last page of the letter.]
[reading]
"I am sorry old man Simpson's daughter thinks of buying a title. Somehow I have a notion that that may hit you, Dan.
[Poignant dismay and awe are expressed in his voice as he continues.]
"I haven't forgotten how you always kept that picture of her on your desk. The old man thought so much of you I had an idea he hoped she'd come back some day and marry a man from home."
I don't wonder she said she hadn't read it![pg 115]
[His face begins to light with radiant amazement.]
But she had—and she didn't go away—that is, not right away!
[LORD HAWCASTLE and HORACE enter from the hotel.]
[speaking as they enter]
But, Lord Hawcastle, Ethel says Mr. Pike positively refuses.
Leave him to me. Within ten minutes he will be as meek as a nun.
[HORACE goes into the hotel.]
My dear Pike, there is a certain question—
[in his mildest tone]
I don't want to seem rough with you, but I meant what I said.
Imagining I did not mean that question—
Then it's all right.
Late this afternoon I developed a great anxiety concerning the penalty prescribed by Italian law for those unfortunate and impulsive individuals who connive at the escape or concealment—
[he speaks with significant emphasis and a glance at the hotel, where lights begin to appear in the windows]
—of certain other unfortunates who may be, to speak vulgarly, wanted—by the police.
[coolly]
You're anxious about that, are you?[pg 116]
So deeply that I ascertained the penalty for it. You may confirm my information by appealing to the nearest carabiniere—strange to say, many of them are very near. The minimum penalty for one whose kind heart has thus betrayed him—
[he turns up sharply toward the lighted windows of hotel, then sharply again to PIKE, his voice lifting]
—is two years' imprisonment, and Italian prisons, I am credibly informed, are quite ferociously unpleasant.
[gently]
Well, being in jail any place ain't much like an Elks' carnival.
There would be no escape, even for a citizen of your admirable country, if his complicity were established, especially if he happened to be—as it were—caught in the act!
[grimly]
Talk plain; talk plain.
My dear young friend, imagine that a badly wanted man appears upon the pergola here and makes an appeal of I know not what nature to one of your fellow-countrymen, who—for the purposes of argument—is at work upon this car. Say that the too-amiable American conceals the fugitive under the automobile, and afterward, with the connivance of a friend, deceives the officers of the law and shelters the criminal, say in a room of that lower suite yonder.[pg 117]
[His voice shows growing excitement as a man's shadow appears on the shade of the window nearest the door.]
Imagine, for instance, that the shadow which at this moment appears on the curtain were that of the wanted man—then, would you not agree that a moderate and reasonable request of your fellow-countryman might be acceded to?
[swallowing painfully]
What would be the nature of that request?
It would concern a certain alliance; might concern a certain settlement.
If the request were refused, what would the consequences be?
Two years, at least, for the American, and the friend who had been his accessory. Altogether I should consider it a disastrous situation.
[thoughtfully]
Yes; looks like it.
[with sharp significance]
If this fellow-countryman of yours were assured that the law would be made to take its course if a favorable answer were not received—say, by ten o'clock to-night—what, in your opinion, would his answer be?
[plaintively]
Well, it would all depend upon [pg 118] which of my countrymen you caught. If it depended on the one I know best, he'd tell you he'd see you in hell first!
[The two remain staring fixedly at each other as the curtain slowly descends.]
END OF THE SECOND ACT
SCENE: A handsome private salon in the hotel the same evening. There are cabinets against the walls, buhl tables, luxurious tapestried chairs, etc. At back, double doors, wide open, disclose a brilliantly lit conservatory and hall with palms and oleanders in bloom. On the left a heavily curtained window looks out upon the garden; on the right is a closed door. Unseen, an orchestra is playing an aria from "Pagliacci."
The rise of the curtain discloses PIKE sitting in a dejected attitude in an arm-chair. He wears a black tie, collar and linen as before, black trousers, a white waistcoat, cut rather low, and a black frock-coat—"Western statesman" style—not fashionably cut, but well-fitting and graceful.
MARIANO passes through the conservatory at back bearing a coffee-tray. LADY CREECH, in an evening gown of black velvet and lace, follows with stately tread. HORACE, in evening clothes, follows, with MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY on his arm; she is in a handsome, very Parisian, décolleté dress. They are deep in tender conversation.
ETHEL follows, on the arm of ALMERIC. She wears a [pg 122] pretty evening gown, ALMERIC in evening clothes; her head is bent, her eyes cast down.
A valet de chambre enters the salon from the hall. He touches an electric button on wall near door. RIBIERE comes quickly and noiselessly from the room to the right. They stand bowing as VASILI enters through the conservatory. Valet immediately closes the doors. VASILI wears an overcoat trimmed with sables, a silk hat, evening clothes, and white gloves; order ribbon in his button-hole.
[as VASILI enters]
I'm mighty glad you've come—I've been waiting.
[to RIBIERE, and speaking in undertone]
You have telegraphed for the information?
Yes, sir.
[Valet, with coat, hat, etc., goes out, followed by RIBIERE.]
I have dined with an old tutor of mine. Once every year I come here to do that.
[Valet returns with vodka and cigarettes, which he places on a table, immediately withdrawing.]
[with a keen glance at PIKE]
And you; I suppose you dined with the charming young lady, your ward, and her brother, as you expected?
[turning away sadly]
Oh no, they've got friends of their own here.[pg 123]
So I have observed.
[Sips vodka.]
Oh, I don't mind their not asking me.
[With an assumption of cheerfulness.]
Fact is, these friends of hers are trying to get me to do something I can't do—
You need not tell me that, my friend. I have both eyes and ears; I understand.
[troubled, coming near him]
I wish you understood the rest, because it ain't easy for me to tell you. Doc, I'm afraid I've got you into a pretty bad hole.
[smiling]
Ah, that I fear I do not understand.
[remorsefully]
I'm afraid I have. You and Ivanoff and me—all three of us. This Hawcastle knows, and he knows it as well as I know you're sittin' in that chair, that we've got that poor fellow in yonder.
[Pointing to the door on the right.]
Surely you can trust Lord Hawcastle not to mention it. He must know that the consequences for you, as well as for me, would be, to say the least, disastrous. Surely you made that clear to him.
[grimly]
No; he made it clear to me. Two [pg 124] years in jail is the minimum, and if I don't make up my mind by ten o'clock
[VASILI looks at his watch]
to do what he wants me to do—
What does he want you to do?
The young lady's father trusted me to look after her, and if I won't promise to let her pay seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars for that—well, you've seen it around here, haven't you—
I have observed it—that is, if you refer to the son of Lord Hawcastle.
Well, if I don't consent to do that, I reckon Ivanoff has to go back to Siberia and you and I to jail.
He threatens that?
He'll do that!
[looking at him sharply]
What do you mean to do?
There wouldn't be any trouble about it if it was only me. That would make it easy. They could land me for two years
[swallowing painfully]
or twenty. What makes it so hard is that I can't do what they want, even to let you and Ivanoff out. It ain't my money. All I can do is to ask you to forgive me, and warn you to get away before they come down on me. This feller's got me, Doc. Don't you see how it stands? Ivanoff can't get away—
Comments (0)