The Man from Home by Harry Leon Wilson (book series to read .TXT) π
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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[as ALMERIC goes]
I do, I do. It is insufferable, but I'll wait.
[Exit into the garden.]
[PIKE stands for a moment, contemplating the car in some despondency, still humming or whistling.]
[LADY CREECH, after a few moments, appears at a window in the upper story of the hotel. Unseen by PIKE, she pulls up the awning for a better view, and drops lace curtains inside of window so as to screen herself from observation. Sits watching.]
[Immediately upon HORACE'S exit MARIANO, flustered, enters hurriedly from the hotel, goes to the gates, and fumbles with the lock. At the same [pg 082] time VASILI enters from the garden, smoking.]
You make progress, my friend?
Your machine's like a good many peopleβgot sand in its gear-box.
[to MARIANO]
Are you locking us in?
[excitedly coming down and showing a big key which he has taken from the lock]
No, Herr von GrΓΆllerhagen, I lock some one outβthat bandit who have not been capture. The carabiniere warn us to close all gates for an hour. They will have that wicked one soon. There are two companies.
[In a lower tone to VASILI.]
Monsieur Ribiere has much fears.
Monsieur Ribiere is sometimes a fool.
[in a hoarse whisper]
Monsieur, this convict is a Russian.
[VASILI waves him away somewhat curtly.]
[Exit MARIANO, shaking his head, carrying the key with him.]
Two companies of soldiers! A town marshal out my way would 'a' had him yesterday.
My friend, you are teaching me to respect your country, not by what you brag, but by what you do.[pg 083]
How's that.
[significantly]
I see how a son of that great democracy can apply himself to a dirty machine, while his eyes are full of visions of one of its beautiful daughters.
[slowly and sadly, peering into the machine]
Doc, there's sand in your gear-box.
[laughing]
So?
You go down to the kitchen and make signs for some of the help to give you a nice clean bunch of rags.
[surprised into hauteur]
What is it you ask me to do?
I need some more rags.
[amused]
My friend, I obey.
[Makes a mock-serious bow and starts.]
I won't leave the machineβ'twouldn't be safe.
[halting, laughs]
You fear this famous bandit would steal it?
No; but there's parties around here might think it was a settlement.
I do not understand.
[chuckling]
Doc, that's where we're in the same fix.[pg 084]
Weidersehn, my friend.
[Exit into hotel.]
[PIKE kneels on the foot-board of machine above gear-box, begins to clean, using an old rag, singing "Sweet Genevieve." A distant shot is heard. PIKE looks up at this, ceasing to sing. Then he continues his work and music. LADY CREECH leans out from her window, staring off to the right with opera-glasses. There is a noise at the gates as some one hastily but cautiously tries to open them. PIKE looks up again, turns toward the gates, and, after a short pause, again begins to sing and work, but very softly.]
[IVANOFF appears on top of the wall at back, climbing up cautiously from lane below. He creeps from the wall to the top of pergola and cautiously along that through the foliage to above PIKE. He peers over the foliage at PIKE.]
[PIKE looks up slowly, and, as slowly, stops "Sweet Genevieve," his voice [pg 085] fading away on a half syllable as he encounters IVANOFF'S gaze. They stare at each other, LADY CREECH observing unseen.]
[IVANOFF is a thin, very fragile-looking man of thirty-eight. His disordered hair is prematurely gray, his beard is a grizzled four days' stubble. He is exceedingly haggard and worn, but has the face and look of a man of refinement and cultivation. He has lost his hat; his shoes and trousers are splashed with dried mud, and brambles cling to him here and there. He wears a soiled white shirt and collar, and a torn black tie, black waistcoat and trousers. He is covered with dust from head to foot; one sleeve of his shirt has been torn off at the elbow. He wears no coat.]
[in a voice tremulous with tragic appeal]
Et ce que vous Γͺtes un homme de bon coeur? Je ne suis pas coupableβ
[very gravely]
There ain't any use in the world your talkin' to me like that![pg 086]
[panting]
You are an Englishman?
[quietly, rising and stepping back]
That'll do for that. You come down from there!
[in a voice that lifts, almost cracks, with sudden hope]
An American?
They haven't made me anything else yet.
[swinging himself down to the ground]
Thank God for that!
[He leans against the car, exhausted.]
I do. What makes you so glad about it?
Because I have suffered in the cause your own forefathers gave their lives for. I am a Russian political fugitive, and I can go no farther. If you give me up I shall not be taken alive. I have no weapon, but I can find a way to cut my throat.
[with humorous incredulity]
Are you the bandit they're lookin' for?
They call me that. Do I look like a bandit?
How close are they?
[with despairing gesture]
There!
Did they see you climb that wall?
I think not.
[There comes a loud ringing at the gates. At the sound IVANOFF starts [pg 087] violently, throwing one arm up as if to shield his face from a blow.]
Oh, my God! it is they!
[He staggers back against the machine.]
[hastily stripping off his working blouse]
Do you know anything about gear-box plugs?
[The ringing continues.]
Nothing in the world.
Then you're a chauffeur.
[Puts blouse on him.]
Take a look at this one.
[With emphatic significance.]
It's underneath the machine.
[Quickly sets his hands on IVANOFF'S shoulders, having forced the blouse on him, and pushes him beneath the car.]
[within the hotel, calling]
Subito! Subito! Vengo, Signore! Vengo!
[PIKE at same time rapidly wipes his hands on a rag, puts on his hat, cuffs, and coat, which have been lying on the seat.]
[running on, flustered]
Corpo de St. Costanzo! Non posso essere dapertutto allo stesso tempo. Vengo, vengo!
[He hastens to the gates with his [pg 088] key, unfastening busily. Meanwhile PIKE lights a cigar.]
Ecco!
[Throws open gates and falls back in astonishment.]
Dio mio!
[Two carabiniere, good-looking, soldierly men in the carabiniere uniform, cocked hats, white cross-belts, etc., are disclosed, their carbines slung over their arms, their long cloaks thrown back. Behind the carabiniere stand some fishermen in red caps, dirty flannel shirts, and trousers rolled up to the knee; also a few ragged beggars.]
[as gate is opened]
Buon giorno!
[The two carabiniere enter briskly.]
[springing forward and closing gate, calling to crowd outside]
No, no!
Ceerchimo l'assassino Russo.
Dio mio! Non nell' Albergo Regina Margherita.
[coming to PIKE]
Avete visto un uomo scavalcare il muro?
[genially]
Wishing you many happy returns, Colonel![pg 089]
[greatly excited]
It is the robber of Russia. They think he climb the wall, the assassin. The other carabiniere, they surround all yonder.
[Gesturing right and left.]
These two they search here. They ask you, please, have you see him climb the wall.
No.
Ae quelcuno passato de qui?
He say has any one go across here?
No.
[pointing under the car]
Chi costui?
He want to know who that is.
The new chauffeur for the machine, from Naples.
E lo chauffeur di un illustre personaggio padrone dell' automobile.
[bowing to PIKE]
Grazia, Signore.
[To MARIANO.]
Cerchereremo nel giardino.
[Exit swiftly FIRST CARABINIERE to the right through pergola; SECOND to the left.]
Dio mio! but those are the brave men, Signore. Either one shall meet in a moment this powerful assassin who may take his lifes.
[Murmur of voice from back arises, [pg 090] sounds of running feet and shrill whistles and pounding on gates.]
[MARIANO runs back, opens the gates, showing excited and
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