[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 The officer is not there, the carabiniere have been withdrawn.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 refreshing. [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?