The Man from Home Part 27

[VASILI enters briskly from the hall.]

[RIBIERE enters immediately after from the same direction.]

VASILI [in a loud, clear voice]. There will be no arrests to-night, my friends.

HAWCASTLE [violently, to ALMERIC]. Do as I say! This man [meaning VASILI] goes, too.

VASILI [curtly]. The officer is not there, the carabiniere have been withdrawn.

[To PIKE, gravely and rapidly.]

For your sake I have relinquished my incognito.

[To HAWCASTLE.]

The man Ivanoff is in my custody.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "IVAN! DON'T KILL ME!"]

HAWCASTLE [violently]. By whose authority? Do you know that you are speaking to the Earl of Hawcastle?

RIBIERE [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.]

PIKE [thunderstruck]. Respectful! Think of what _I've_ been calling him!

VASILI. My friend, it has been refres.h.i.+ng. [To RIBIERE]. Ribiere, I shall take Ivanoff's statement in writing. Bring him with you.

[VASILI turns on his heel, curtly, and pa.s.ses 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.]

IVANOFF [hoa.r.s.ely to her]. I would not touch you--not even to strangle you!

[With outstretched hand, pointing to HAWCASTLE.]

But G.o.d will let me pay my debt to the Earl of Hawcastle!

[Goes rapidly out with RIBIERE.]

HAWCASTLE [choked with rage, advancing on PIKE]. Why, you--

PIKE [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.

ETHEL [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?

PIKE [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

THE FOURTH 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.

ALMERIC. Ah, Governor; see you're moving!

HAWCASTLE. I may.

[His manner is nervous, apprehensive, and wary. Porter touches his cap and goes into hotel.]

It depends.

ALMERIC. Depends? Madame de Champigny took the morning boat to Naples, and your trunks are gone. Shouldn't say that looked much like dependin'.

HAWCASTLE [nervously]. It does, though, with that devilish convict--

ALMERIC. Oh, but I say, Governor, you're not in a funk about him! You could bowl him over with a finger.

HAWCASTLE [glancing over his shoulder]. Not if he had what he didn't have last night, or I shouldn't be here to-day.

ALMERIC. You don't think the beggar'd be taking a shot at you?

HAWCASTLE [fastening clasp of hat-box]. I don't know what the crazy fool mightn't do.

ALMERIC. 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.]

HAWCASTLE [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.

LADY CREECH [with triumphant indignation]. Then I have the advantage over you, Hawcastle. He's just done it.

HAWCASTLE [startled]. What?