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
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[exploding]
Mr. Hawcastle!
[placatingly]
Well, I can call a person Colonel or Cap or Doc or anything of that kind, but I just plain don't know how to use the kind of words you have over here for those things. They don't seem to fit my mouth, somehow. Just let me run on my own way. I don't mean to hurt your feelings. Anyway, Jim says your brother-in-law was in business in Russia.
[Up to this point he has gone on rapidly, but after the word "Russia" he pauses abruptly as if startled by a sudden thought and slowly repeats.]
"In business in Russia!"
[He rises.]
This is beside the point entirely!
It is the point! Now, between us, ain't Jim right? Ain't it the truth?
[angry and agitated]
Since some of your vulgar American officials have been spying about—
[with controlled excitement]
Your brother-in-law was in business in Russia; so far, so good.
[Leans upon back of chair watching her, eager, but smiling cordially.][pg 134]
I don't say he was peddling shoe-strings on the corner or selling weinerwursts—
[LADY CREECH gives a slight scream of indignation.]
[continuing]
Probably something more hifalutin' and dignified than that. He was probably agent for a wooden butter-dish factory.
[enraged]
He had contracts with the Russian government itself!
(staggering back, recovers himself immediately, and, speaking sharply, but in a voice of great agitation). Not for mining—not for hydraulic machines!
And even so he protected the historic name of St. Aubyn.
By God, I believe you!
Don't mumble your words!
Had he ever lived at Glenwood Priory?
[indignantly]
Is your mind wandering? The priory belonged to Hawcastle's mother. Can you state its connection with the subject?
That's how he protected the historic name of St. Aubyn! That's the name he took—Glenwood!
What of that?
[awe-struck]
God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform![pg 135]
Oblige me by omitting blasphemous allusions in my presence. What answer are you prepared to make to Lord Hawcastle?
[in a ringing voice]
Tell your brother-in-law that he can have my answer in ten minutes—and he can come to me here for it! I'll give it in the presence of the young lady and her brother.
[turning to go]
Her brother—certainly! He is in perfect sympathy with our attitude. As for Miss Granger-Simpson's knowing anything of this most disagreeable affair—no!
I beg your pardon.
I shall not permit her to come near here. As her chaperone I refuse. We all refuse!
All right; refuse away.
I shall tell Lord Hawcastle—
Ten minutes from now and in this room.
But Miss Granger-Simpson under no condition whatever.
[Sweeps out haughtily.]
[PIKE closes the doors behind her, touches an electric button over the mantel, then sits at desk and writes hurriedly. Knock at upper doors.]
Come in![pg 136]
[Enter MARIANO.]
Mariano, I want you to take this note to Miss Simpson.
[Quickly enclosing note in envelope and addressing it.]
To Mees Granger-Seempson?
Do you know where she is?
She walks on the terrace alone.
Give it to her yourself—to no one else—
[emphatically]
—and do it now.
[Gives him the note.]
At once, sir!
[Going.]
Hurry!
[Almost pushes him out of the upper doors and closes them. He goes quickly to the door on the right, opens it, and calls.]
Ivanoff!
[IVANOFF opens the door and comes out apprehensively.]
[as he enters]
Have they come?
Not yet! Ivanoff, you prayed to see your wife and your friend Glenwood before you went back to Siberia.
[falling back with a cry]
Ah![pg 137]
If that prayer is answered through me, will you promise to remember that it's my fight?
Ah! it is impossible—you wish to play with me!
Do I look playful?
[A bugle sounds sharply outside the window.]
[wildly]
The carabiniere—for me.
[The two rush together to the window.]
[thrusting IVANOFF behind him]
Don't show yourself!
[looking out of the window over PIKE'S shoulder]
Look! Near the lamp yonder—there by the doors—the carabiniere.
They've been there since this afternoon.
[Shading his eyes from the light of the room with one hand.]
Look there—who on earth—who's that they've got with them?—Why, good Lord! it's Doc!
[Astounded.]
It is Herr von Gröllerhagen! Did I not tell you he was a Russian? He has betrayed me himself. He was not satisfied that others should.
[Bitterly.]
I knew I was in the wolf's throat here![pg 138]
Don't you believe it! They've arrested poor old Doc. They got him as he went out.
[pointing]
No; they speak respectfully to him. They bow to him—
[grimly]
They'll be bowing to us in a minute. That's probably the way these colonels run you in.
[Sharp knock on upper doors.]
[urging him toward the door on the right]
You wait till I call you, and remember it's my fight.
[turning, half hysterically]
You promise before I am taken that I shall see—
[MARIANO enters at upper doors.]
[domineeringly, as he sees MARIANO]
And don't you forget what I've been telling you—you get the sand out of that gear-box first thing tomorrow morning, or I'll see that you draw your last pay Saturday night.
[IVANOFF bows meekly and exit to right, closing door after him.]
Miss Granger-Seempson!
[Exit.]
All right, Mariano!
[ETHEL enters haughtily.]
I'm much obliged to you for taking my note the right way. I've got some pretty good reasons for not leaving this room.[pg 139]
[She is icy in manner, but her hands fidget with the note he has sent her, crumpling it up.]
[sitting]
Your note seemed so extraordinarily urgent—
It had to be. Some folks who want to see me are coming here, and I want you to see them—here. They'd stopped you from coming if they could.
[holding herself very straight in her chair]
There was no effort to prevent me.
No; I didn't give 'em time.
May I ask to whom you refer?
The whole kit and boodle of 'em!
[not relaxing her coldness]
You are inelegant, Mr. Pike.
I haven't time to be elegant, even if I knew how.
Do you mean that my chaperone would disapprove?
I shouldn't be surprised. I reckon the whole fine flower of Europe would disapprove. "Disapprove?"—they'd sand-bag you to keep you away!
[rising quickly]
Oh, then I can't stay.
[going between her and the upper doors, [pg 140] speaks with ring of domination]
Yes you can, and you will, and you've got to!
[angrily]
"Got to!" I shall not!
I'm your guardian, and you'll do as I say. You'll obey me this once if you never do again.
[She looks at him defiantly; he faces her with determination, and continues without pause.]
You'll stay here while I talk to these people, and you'll stay in spite of anything they say or do to make you go.
[Slight pause; she yields and walks back to her chair. PIKE continues.]
God knows I hate to talk rough to you. I wouldn't hurt your feelings for the world, but it's come to a point where I've got to use the authority I have over you.
[with a renewal of her defiance]
Authority? Do you think—
You'll stay here for the next twenty minutes if I have to make Crecy and Agincourt look like a Peace Conference!
[She looks at him aghast, sinks into chair by table; he continues after a very slight pause.][pg 141]
You and your brother have
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