A Man of the People

Chapter 25

SET SCENE: _The same as Act I at a quarter to eight the same evening_.

AT RISE: EDWARD, _the old Doorman, is straightening the furniture in the room. He clumsily clears the floor of a litter of letters and places them in the corner with the unopened bag. He draws the heavy draperies of the windows and adjusts them so that no ray of light can reach the outside._ MRS. LINCOLN _enters and watches him fix the draperies._

MRS. LINCOLN

[_Speaking suddenly._]

Edward----!

 

EDWARD

[_Jumping in fright._]

Yes, Madam!

MRS. LINCOLN

What on earth are you doing in here----?

EDWARD

[_In terror of_ MRS. LINCOLN.]

Just--er drawin"--er the curtains, Madam.

MRS. LINCOLN

[_Sternly._]

These curtains haven"t been drawn in a year----

EDWARD

[_Stammering._]

I-don"t-think-they-have-either----

MRS. LINCOLN

You know they haven"t!

EDWARD

[_Gulping wind._]

Yes"m----

MRS. LINCOLN

Who told you to draw them?

EDWARD

Colonel Nicolay!

MRS. LINCOLN

Where is he?

EDWARD

Down-stairs, on the door.

MRS. LINCOLN

In your place?

EDWARD

Yes"m----

MRS. LINCOLN

While you"re up here acting as house maid?

EDWARD

[_Embarra.s.sed._]

Well, so it seems, Madam----

MRS. LINCOLN

[_Sternly._]

What does this mean?

EDWARD

I do not know, Madam----

MRS. LINCOLN

[_Sarcastically._]

And you haven"t the slightest idea--I suppose?

© 2024 www.topnovel.cc