ACT III.
1st POL. I have it from the Governor that an expedition has been fitted out,—has been in readiness for days to start against Lafitte and his followers.
DUV. (impatiently.) Then why doesn’t it start?
1st POL. Because there has been treachery,—because at the last moment it was discovered that the pilot was a spy.
DUV. Ah!
1st POL. It is an enforced delay. The way is dangerous.
1st LEG. (to Duval.) You forget that already one expedition against Barataria has failed and come to grief. (exeunt Duval, legislators and politicians; enter Lizbette, dressed as a serving-woman; enter Baptiste.)
BAP. Lordy, Aun’ Lizbette, yo’ hyar!
LIZ. Ne mine ’bout dat. Lizbette got frens. Yo hole yo mouf shut ’bout me, dass all. I wan t’ see yo.
BAP. Lordy! Dey shorely’ll come bad luck to me fo’ dis night.
LIZ. De folks all dancin’ de gran’ quadrille now. Who dat gwine see yo?
BAP. (submissively.) Yes ma’am.
LIZ. Is yo see dat young leddy wat come to de hotel dat day wid de nuns?
BAP. Lordy, Aun Lizbette, how yo know dat?
LIZ. Ne mine. Is yo see her?
BAP. Norm, I—
LIZ. (severely.) Pay ’tention wat you say.
BAP. (looks at her dazedly; finally fumbles in his pockets) I done got a little money hyar, Aun’ Lizbette, to hep make up wat de sperrit took ’way dat day.
LIZ. (turning the money over in her hand dissatisfiedly.) Huh!—Is yo see her? (Baptiste shakes his head.) Den go. (Baptiste bows and turns to go.) But yo better look out.
BAP. (stopping and turning around.) Ma’am?
LIZ. (moving bric-a-brac about energetically.) I dunno wat dat gwine save yo.
BAP. (trembling.) Who me?
LIZ. ’Ceptin’ yo gits spunky.—Go ’long.
BAP. Home?
LIZ. Ef yo doan hear fum me in fifteen minutes.
BAP. Lordy! (exeunt Baptiste and Lizbette; enter hurriedly Mariana, followed by Manuel; both in evening dress.)
MAN. Won’t you let me know your purpose?—Won’t you let me share with you your hopes and fears?
MAR. (quietly and firmly.) No.
MAN. Ah, you have not forgiven me; you still remember the conduct of which I will be ashamed to the end of my life.
MAR. (evenly and unemotionally.) You are mistaken. I remember also the love which constituted itself a protective force to return me to my uncle’s house six years ago.
MAN. (eagerly.) You—
MAR. (very self-reliant and aloof.) But now,—I can take care of myself.
MAN. (with sudden vehemence.) You want to see Lafitte again! You still love him! (Mariana remains unmoved; Manuel walks about.) Very well. (aside.) He must be gotten rid of. (dissembling his rage, he returns to Mariana.) I forgot to tell you, Mariana, that Father Cuthbert is in the city and wishes to see you. I shall be leaving in a little while and willtake any message you like to send. (hands her paper and pencil.)
MAR. Thank you. (sits; writes a brief note; hands it to Manuel.) If you will give him this, I shall be much obliged to you.
MAN. (bows.) Good-night.
MAR. Good-night. (exit Manuel; enter Governor Claiborne.)
GOV. C. (soliloquizing.) Impatience does no good....
MAR. (advances; bows.) Governor Claiborne.
GOV. C. I beg your pardon, but—
MAR. Don’t you remember me? At the convent—
GOV. C. So I do. Miss d’Acosta.
MAR. Yes, Mariana d’Acosta, come to ask you a great favor.
GOV. C. Anything in my power.
MAR. I have heard of the delayed expedition against Barataria. I will myself, if you will allow me, lead it.
GOV. C. Miss d’Acosta!
MAR. No one is so well qualified for the work as I. I have lived there, days that have been years. I have seen them rob, destroy life and property; kill my nearest and dearest. Oh!—
GOV. C. My poor child!
MAR. I will lead the expedition. I know the way. (Governor Claiborne shakes his head; walks back and forth.) I have seen the British in consultation with those pirates; seen them seated at the same table in feasting and good fellowship!
GOV. C. (starts.) Can you be sure?
MAR. I heard them discussing the capture of Louisiana; I heard and saw them drink to Success!
GOV. C. (walks about.) If it were not for your youth—your sex—
MAR. Ah, let me go. I have most cause to go.
GOV. C. You were on the ship—
MAR. Yes. Let me go.
GOV. C. Your brother—
MAR. Ah, there is no time to lose. Action is imperative. Write the order.
GOV. C. Pray heaven, I do not wrong you in doing so. (writes; Mariana takes the order.)
MAR. The nation will bless you for this act. (exeunt; Mariana hurriedly, Governor Claiborne slowly and much perturbed in spirit; enter from opposite direction, Pedro; enter Manuel.)
MAN. (starts.) You! Why, I thought—Does Mariana know you are alive?
PED. Probably not.
MAN. (with sudden change of thought; hurriedly, eagerly.) Would you like to earn the five hundred dollars reward for Lafitte’s head?
PED. I would.
MAN. Very well. (takes Mariana’s note out of his pocket.) Here’s an easy way.
PED. (reads.) “Dear Father:—I beg your pardon for my words and actions at Barataria. I shall be atl’hotel des Exilesat 4 o’clock on the 7th. May I see you then? Humbly and in sorrow, Mariana.”—(slaps Manuel on the back.) My boy, love is improving you.
MAN. Have you an eraser?
PED. (takes one out of his pocket.) Always prudent to carry one. (Manuel spreads Mariana’s note on a table; erases heading.) I think I can capture Emperor Lafitte at the time and place mentioned and make beside quite a handsome sum off the Spanish merchants for the capture.
MAN. By whom can we send this?
PED. (examining the note.) It must go immediately. The appointment is only two days off and Lafitte cannot be trusted to be found at the last moment. He is said to be frequently away from Barataria for days.
MAN. How about that nigger of Darblee? He is thought to be very muchen rapportwith Lizbette, the old witch of the island, who is Lafitte’s staunch friend.
PED. Just the man! Frighten him sufficiently with portents and he would as soon think of dying as of proving faithless. (enter Baptiste at back.)
MAN. Isn’t that he?
PED. Baptiste. (Baptiste starts; comes forward bowing.) You are in great danger.
BAP. Yes, sah.
PED. It behooves you to be careful.—Do you know Lizbette?
BAP. Naw, sah, I ain’t—
PED. That will do. Do you know Lizbette?
BAP. (in distressed irresolution.) I done had some ’quaintance wid ’er, but—
PED. Here is a paper that you will give to Lizbette for Lafitte. Now listen. If it reach him safely and in time, you will have a big reward. If not—
BAP. Lordy!
PED. If not, you will be haunted to a most torturing death; a death you will not be able to escape. You are in great danger. I put the paper here on this table. (lays paper down; Baptiste approaches.) Don’t touch it, till you have seen me disappear. I’m going. (moves toward exit.) Be careful. Watch the paper. Watch me. Your safety is at stake. (raises his hand impressively; exeunt Manuel and Pedro; Baptiste in his eagerness to watch Pedro, goes a little up stage, away from the table; enter by a side entrance, Lizbette.)
LIZ. (passing by table and swooping up paper.) I dunno who dat scatter all dis litter ’bout. (throws paper in fire and exits without having been seen by Baptiste.)
BAP. (comes to table; finds note gone! falls on his knees.) Lordy! Lordy! (crawls around table on his knees looking for paper; enter Bella.)
BELLA. Why, Baptiste! You’d better hurry home before Mr. Darblee discovers your absence.
BAP. Good-by, Miss Bella.
BELLA. Good-by, Baptiste. (exit Baptiste.) Poor fellow! He looks as I feel. Oh, I am so glad Dominique has not come. If he and Pedro d’Acosta meet ... I believe that man to be a sinister and deadly.—I hate State balls! (enter Dominique.)
DOM. Alone?
BELLA. (half coquettishly.) I was hoping to be.
DOM. You were waiting for me,—wondering why I hadn’t come. Now, confess.
BELLA. (seriously.) I was prayerfully glad you hadn’t come.
DOM. What!—Let me tell you something:—you haven’t kissed me once.
BELLA. What kept you? (enter unperceived, Manuel.)
DOM. I see. You want me to kiss you first. (kisses her in spite of Bella’s attempted defense; Manuel coughs; Dominique turns; Manuel exits.)
BELLA. Now, you see.
DOM. A very disagreeable fellow. Is he the suitor?
BELLA. No.
DOM. Who is the suitor, Bella? What’s his abominable name? (Bella is silent.) Is he here? (Bella starts.) He is. Then I’ll find him. (going.)
BELLA. (alarmed.) Dominique! I’ll tell you one thing about him. He’s—stout.
DOM. What! Ah, you are joking. I give you warning. I am going to disguise myself and catch a glimpse of that man.
BELLA. Why disguise yourself?
DOM. Because I believe you’d warn him away if you knew I were coming.
BELLA. Pshaw! (laughs.) I’d know you under any disguise. Oh!—I have an idea. “Things will come right through a disguise!”
DOM. Eh?
BELLA. You must assume a disguise and try it on your uncle.
DOM. My uncle!
BELLA. Don’t you see, if the impression produced by it be favorable, you can try it on my father and lay your case before him. Then in an adverse event, you’ll still be unknown.
DOM. (doubtfully, scratching his chin.) Ye—es; but I’d like to catch a glimpse of Mr. Duval to-night.
BELLA. He has already gone home. Now listen, Dominique. Don’t be seen with me any more to-night. We’ll only jeopardize our chances.
DOM. (kicks a flower lying on the floor.) Allow me to conduct you to your friends. (Bella takes his arms and as they turn to move away, Pedro enters and sees them; exeunt Bella and Dominique.)
PED. (savagely, yet calculatingly.) There is a way ... it may not be worth much, but then again it may. (re-enter Dominique alone; as he is passing, Pedro goes up to him; raises his hand.) “TO-MORROW—”
DOM. “AND HER DUPES.”
PED. (offers Dominique his hand; gives him a hearty shake.) At eleven o’clock on the morning of the 7th, you are to go to theCafe Marinfor an important paper containing news of urgent import for Lafitte. At three o’clock of the same day, you are to bring the documents to Lafitte atl’hotel des Exiles.
DOM. At three o’clock.
PED. I am understood?
DOM. Perfectly.Au revoir.(exit; enter Manuel.)
MAN. Just a word. You’d better make yourself secure with your lady-love. Otherwise, you may find that even with one fortune, you will be unable to get the other.
PED. What do you mean?
MAN. I noticed a very ardent young man with her a while ago, and I noticed that he kissed her quite possessingly.
PED. (grimly.) I have the young man undersurveillance. (enter unperceived, Lizbette; she straightens a rug; Dominique repasses at back with a few ladies.) Is that the man? (Manuel and Lizbette look up stage.)
MAN. That’s the man.
PED. My stay in Barataria wasn’t profitless after all. I learned the pirate pass-word. (Lizbette, who had been on the point of going, stops; listens.)
MAN. Not much gain in that, I should say.
PED. Well, I used it a while ago as an experiment upon that ardent young man and the trap succeeded beautifully. He answered immediately.
MAN. Why didn’t you have him arrested?
PED. I had no witnesses. But I have instructed him to get and bring certain papers to Lafitte at Darblee’s at 3 o’clock on the afternoon of the 7th. I shall have a body of armed men on the spot and if the government fail to catch and convict the fellow with those papers on him, I shall be much deceived. (exeunt Pedro and Manuel.)
LIZ. (advances; shakes her fist after them.) Catch Marser Dominique, would you? Not wid de powers ’gainst yo.Ikin warn Marser Dominique. (going.) Stop! Ee plum discontempchus o’ me. Ef I tell ’im, ee’ll go shore. Ne mineMarser Lafitte sot heap o store on dat young man. I gwine save ’im anyhow. Marser Lafitte de man!Ee’ll know how to deal wid ’em. (unties her apron; exit; enter Lafitte; he is exquisitely attired in evening dress; enter from opposite direction a man servant.)
LAF. Is Miss d’Acosta here?
SER. Naw, sah.
LAF. Be careful. She has been here.
SER. (scratching his temple.) Miss d’Acosta?—Oh, yes sah; I ’members.
LAF. Is she here now.
SER. Less’n she done gone, sah. She was hyar a minit ago. (Lafitte exits eagerly followed by servant; enter Governor Claiborne and the Chairman on the Committee of War Measures.)
GOV. C. I was very reluctant to let her go.
CHAIR. If Lafitte be in league with the British, it is a league formidable beyond computation.
GOV. C. Exactly. No time can be lost. I ordered the expedition off with all speed. Lafitte must be captured. Since the five hundred dollars reward be of no avail, we’ll try fire.
CHAIR. It is like the British to league themselves with those hellish pirates. (exeunt; enter Lafitte.)
LAF. She is not here and I can find no clue as to where she has gone. (leans against mantel; enter several ladies and gentlemen.)
1st LADY. She must have reconsidered her determination to become a nun.
2d LADY. No wonder! I think Don Manuel d’Acosta (Lafitte starts) is the most perfectly fascinating man I ever met.
1st GEN. Oh, now. A little quarter!
1st LADY. He seemed so tender to her—so protecting and gallant! (exeunt ladies and gentlemen.)
LAF. I must find her, or she will be duped, trapped, as she was trapped into a belief that I could be a traitor! (enter Governor Claiborne and the Chairman; Lafitte goes up to them.) Governor Claiborne, allow me to present to you—Jean Lafitte. (bows.)
GOV. C. What!—Do you know that there is a five hundred dollar reward for your head posted over this city?
LAF. I have been a little more flattering. (bows.) I have offered five thousand dollars for yours.
GOV. C. (enraged.) You dare! (to the Chairman.) The guard.
CHAIR. (summoning at back quickly.) The guard! (enter soldiers.)
GOV. C. I order you to—(points to Lafitte; Lafitte takes from his breast a white paper; holds it commandingly aloft; the Governor pauses; waives the soldiers off.) Await further orders. (exeunt soldiers.) Well? It is questionable honor in me to respect even a flag of truce in your hands.—Proceed.
LAF. The British are preparing to attack New Orleans by way of Barataria.
GOV. C. Well sir? You are ready to give them assistance.
LAF. I come to offer my services to the American forces.
CHAIR. A trick.
LAF. For no pay whatever;—to enter the lists merely as a private.
CHAIR. A ruse, sir; a crafty ruse by which to obtain money or honors from the American government. (Lafitte hands the paper to Governor Claiborne.)
GOV C. (reads.)—“Captain!... thirty thousand dollars!” ... (hands the paper to the Chairman.)
LAF. If you will not accept my services, I shall instantly leave the country. I will not suffer the imputation of having co-operated towards an invasion from Barataria which cannot fail to take place. (Governor Claiborne walks about.)
CHAIR. (doubtfully still.) The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate are here—
GOV. C. It would do no harm to see them and find out whether they think it fit to submit the matter to the Legislature and to General Jackson.
LAF. I can only give you ten minutes in which to decide.
GOV. C. (resentfully.) You are autocratic.
LAF. I must be. A matter dearer life, country, heaven, claims my attention and cannot wait. I will await your early return here. (exeunt Governor Claiborne and the Chairman; Lafitte becomes impatient; looks at his watch; finally sits near the fire and absent-mindedly picks up a charred remnant of Mariana’s note which had fallen on the hearth.) A love note, probably....(he holds it up; throws it into the fire; then, looking upon the flame, he softly and unconsciously whistles Mon Coeur a Toi.)
CURTAIN.
BAP. (has the black bottle in his hands.) Nuttin ax wid me same zit ought to. I got dish ere rat pison fum Aun’ Lizbette kase she say she done season it on a new made grave an’ de rats hep dem sperrits to make noises ’bout my room, an’ I done see dem critters eatin’ de bread I soak in dat pison. An’ dey comes up peert z’ever. (shakes his head dolefully.) Dey’s bad time comin’ shore. (exit; enter Bella and Duval.)
DUV. (coaxingly.) Now, if he have the fortune in a week, you’ll marry him?
BELLA. We’ll wait until he have the fortune.
DUV. (puts his arm around Bella; enter unperceived, Dominique.) Come, let us sit here.
DOM. (starts.) The stout man! (aside.)
DUV. (draws Bella to the arm of his chair; Bella pouts.) Now, be my sweet little girl; won’t you? (kisses Bella’s cheek; she breaks away; Duval runs after her.) Ah, (laughing) you can’t escape me so! (as Duval gets opposite the niche door, Dominique rushes up behind him, shoves him up the step and claps him into the niche; re-enter Dominique.)
DOM. (furiously) So, Miss—
BELLA. (in a frightened undertone.) It is my father, Leon Duval, that you have shut up there! (kicking and calling by Duval.)
DOM. What! I’ll go to the rescue. (starting)
BELLA. (detaining him) You’ll do nothing of the kind. We’ll ask Mr. Darblee to come. (exeunt; enter Baptiste; Duval raps; calls; Baptiste starts.)
BAP. Lordy! (Duval raps again; Baptiste jumps; suddenly has an idea.) Yes, sah! (exit on a run; returns immediately holding a big syringe.) Comin’ sah. Lordy!...(he puts the syringe to the crevice in the wall and applies his remedy; redoubled, furious stamping and swearing by Duval; enter Darblee and Bella.)
DAR. Baptiste. (Baptiste falls back in a state of collapse; exit Darblee; re-enter immediately Darblee, conducting Duval whose face and hair are soaked.) My dear sir, I am all amazement and indignation!
DUV. (pointing to Baptiste.) That son of Satan must have put me in there.
BAP. Naw sah, Marser Duval. De mask sperrit put yo in dyar, sah, to save some pirate fum despair an’ death.
DAR. Nonsense.
BAP. Who dat put Marser Duval in dyar den? I dint know dey uz a place in dyar big ’nough fo’ anyting ’ceptin’ a sperrit.
BELLA. (nervously.) I just caught a glimpse of a man with a full beard;—oh, a horrible red beard! Then I ran out for assistance and met Mr. Darblee.
DUV. A plague of old pirate houses! They’re always full of traps.
DAR. (to Baptiste.) Get out! (to Duval.) I’ll have him severely punished for this.
DUV. I’ll wash my face and comb my hair. (exit.)
BELLA. Baptiste—
DAR. Oh, of course, he won’t be punished.
BELLA. (dejectedly.) I’m afraid our chances will be smaller than ever now.
DAR. I hear there are some extra fine terrapin in the market, just sent in fromBayou Teche. I’ll go see if there be any left. A few of them will restore your father’s good humor. (bows; exit; enter Duval.)
DUV. Scoundrel!—Come. (exeunt Duval and Bella; enter Mariana.)
MAR. (exultant; nervous; wretched; looks around.) No one here. (looks at her watch.) Long before the time. So much the better. I need a little rest.—If only he had not escaped!... I wonder (looking scornfully at mask.) if you are still busy? Did you send some human ear into your mask to warn your fellow pirates of the burning of Barataria? (mockingly.) Iwill listen now. Perhaps you wish me to save them. (exit to back of mask; looks through it; enter Duval and Pedro, the latter out of sight of the mask eyes.)
MAN. (excitedly.) You had my father murdered!
PED. (sneeringly.) Did he favor your suit so much that you regret him? (Mariana starts; noise in the niche.)
MAN. What was that?—(irritably.) Your interference in my behalf has been too costly.
PED. (contemptuously and intolerantly.) Did I not take my own medicine? Was I not very nearly killed in Barataria by Lafitte’s order? Would I not have been killed but for the fact that Father Cuthbert unloaded the guns?
MAN. A likely story! You knew from the beginning that Lafitte was Jean Durand. You depended upon that fact in case of emergency.
PED. Have a care. No man shall accuse me of being a coward with impunity.
MAN. I challenge you to deny that you told Lafitte you are Mariana’s brother.
PED. Certainly, I deny it. Lafitte saw in me only the Colonel Tolosa who had had him drugged and court-martialed from Napoleon’s army six years ago. Not that I would not have availed myself of the chance to escape, if there had been one; but there is no escape in pirate law for insubordinators. And you may thank your lucky star that Lafitte did not happen on the execution ground when Mariana did. It would have been all up with you if he had.
MAN. (with feverish apprehension.) If she should discover our plot!
PED. She is safe never to know it. The men have orders not to let her in:—small-pox in the house.
MAN. Lafitte’s arrest will be made without her knowledge. But you—She will hear of you through the reward.
PED. What of it? I cheerfully forego all privileges to her society. So that she does not hear of your complicity—
MAN. It is prudent to burn that agreement about her fortune. It will make no difference to you. The chests are in Barataria and so soon as Lafitte is disposed of, you can go for them. (Pedro takes a paper from his pocket and hands it to Manuel; Manuel opens it; starts.) What!
PED. What’s the matter?
MAN. Oh, despicable.
PED. (tears the paper out of Manuel’s hand; stamps his foot.) Fool! Fool!
MAN. Traitor! British spy! And to think that I told you of the British Commission’s offer to Lafitte!
PED. Damn it all!
MAN. And here (shaking his hand at the paper.) I discover that you have offered to show them the way into New Orleans and earn the British money at the same time that you are pretending to serve the American Government by capturing Lafitte.
PED. Ah, have done. I admit that I drew them a careful map of the country. You have seen the written guarantee of payment from Captain Lockyer of the British navy in case the chart be found correct.
MAN. (accusingly.) You!
PED. That was the paper I had intended to be found on the ardent young man. As to Lafitte, I see no reason why I should not combine pleasure with business.
MAN. As to Lafitte, all right. He ought to be killed—curse him!—will be, if he come, but your treachery to the government is intolerable.
PED. (cruelly and deliberately.) Do you threaten, or are you merely patriotic? (Manuel walks about.) Because in the former case, I will see to it that you do not get Mariana, unless—
MAN. (turning on him angrily.) There are two sides to that! Suppose I inform the Governor that the attack upon and scuttling of the American vessel, the killing of her captain, my father and many passengers, the delivery of her crew into piratical hands were your work? That you forged an order from Lafitte in order to get command of one of his ships? Suppose I inform him that the work of rescue was really done by Lafitte?
PED. (quietly.) Would you not be implicating yourself? Would you not be doing Lafitte a good turn?—We had best stand by our old bargain: the girl for you, the money for me.
MAN. (after a pause.) Let me have that agreement.
PED. I haven’t it.
MAN. What!
PED. I made a mistake; left that paper instead of this. (rapping paper in his hand.)
MAN. What! That man has.... If Mariana should ever see it....
PED. I can remedy that blunder yet.
MAN. But if for all this, she will not—
PED. Then she must be made to.
MAN. (fretfully.) Why she should have chosen a house with entrances on three streets.... We cannot watch all three.
PED. Lafitte is not on his guard. I’ll watch the North side, you the South and the men the West. (walks apart absorbed in thought.)
MAN. (excitedly; restlessly.) At what time did her note tell Father Cuthbert she would see him? (takes out a note-book; opens it.) 4 o’clock. Emperor Lafitte is not yet due for a long while. (walks about.) That was a good idea to have her write that note in pencil ... and a cleverer one to erase the “dear father” and send it to Lafitte.... (enter Dominique disguised; he wears a very red, full beard.)
DOM. (aside on perceiving Pedro.) The very man! I’ll try him. (going up to Pedro; bows.) Do you know if Mr. Darblee be in? (Pedro shrugs his shoulders surlily and turns off; Dominique turns to Manuel.) Rheumatic? (Manuel shrugs his shoulders.) Doyouknow if Mr. Darblee be in?
MAN. (curtly.) I do not. (exeunt Pedro and Manuel.)
DOM. (cheerfully.) Must be a good disguise. The very man who gave me the order to be here didn’t recognize me. I’ll try uncle Darblee. (exit; enter from mask niche, Mariana.)
MAR. (looks around desperately; rings bell.) I have no time in which to do anything myself.—He may come at any moment ... (writes hastily; enter Baptiste.) Here. (gives Baptiste money.) Take this note to the Governor. (gives him note.) Use all the speed you can in getting there. Go! (half pushes Baptiste out of the room.) I will beg his life of the governor later, but now—I must save Jean.... May beMr. Darblee would help me. (exit; enter one of Pedro’s guard; he beckons to others who enter.)
1st G. (significantly.) The Captain left orders that any man answering the description he gave us should be searched.
2d G. Yes and any papers found on him broughtunopenedto him atMme. Fantine’s.
3d G. That’s singular. A prisoner’s papers are generally opened before him.
1st G. That’s not our affair.
2d G. No. The only thing we’ve got to be careful about is not to make a mistake in the man.
1st G. (significantly.) Ah!
3d G. He isn’t expected to arrive before 3 o’clock. (looks at his watch.) Twenty minutes from now.
1st G. He’s here now.
2d G. Ah, no.
3d G. He couldn’t be.
1st G. Did you notice a youngish looking man, with a straight nose and a yellow cravat?
2d G. Why, he had a beard!
1st G. Yes,—and may be it’s his and maybe it isn’t. He didn’t handle it as if it were.
3d G. You think?—
1st G. We’ve simply let him escape. (enter Dominique.)
2d G. Here he is!
DOM. (bows.) At your service.
1st G. Take off that beard.
DOM. What?
3d G. British spy!
DOM. Come, come.
2d G. Your airs of complacency won’t deceive us.
DOM. What the devil are you talking about?
1st G. Surrender!
DOM. (angrily.) Iamdisguised, (switching off his beard.) but not a British spy. (draws his sword.) Now,—what do you want?
ALL. You.
1st G. And a paper you have on you.
DOM. (starts.) I have a paper on me, but you shall not have it.
1st G. Seize him!
ALL. Kill him! (they fight; Dominique wounds 2d guard.)
1st G. (to 3d guard.) Pin him to the wall. (enter Lafitte; he knocks 1st guard’s sword up just in time to save Dominique; they fight, 3d guard engaging Dominique and 1st guard, Lafitte; Lafitte’s sword breaks.) Now, (to Lafitte.) Curse you, die! (as 1st guard lunges at him, Lafitte grapples with him and clinches; 1st guard calls to 2d and 3d guards.) Shall you let him escape, you two! Kill him! (2d guard resumes his sword; rushes at Dominique; 1st guard speaks while struggling to get at Lafitte.) Kill him! (Lafitte by a supreme effort, throws 1st guard from him, causing him to drop his sword. Lafitte picks it up; wounds 2d guard and knocks the sword out of the hand of the 3d guard.)
LAF. I command you in the name of Governor Claiborne to desist. (1st guard picks himself up from the floor; 2d and 3d guards stand irresolute.) Upon what charge do you seek to arrest this man?
1st G. As a British spy.
LAF. Search him. I pledge my word for him.
DOM. (waving them aside; to Lafitte.) The paper is for you. (Lafitte shakes his head.) I insist.
LAF. Let them have it. (1st guard searches Dominique; finds paper; motions to his men; they station themselves besides Dominique; 1st guard moves toward the door.) Friend! If you be honest you will read that paper before the prisoner. (1st guard hesitates; beckons to his men; they go to him; Lafitte speaks hurriedly to Dominique.) Back to back. There’s been treason.
3d G. It’s nothing but fair.
1st G. And may be safer, since we have been charged not to make a mistake.
2d G. We can say the seal got broken in the tussle. (they return and the 1st guard opens the paper.)
1st. G. (looks sheepishly at his comrades;) A love affair. (he returns the paper to Dominique; exeunt guards.)
LAF. (with a puzzled face, takes paper; he opens it, starts terribly; crumples the paper into a thousand pieces in his clenched fist; walks about in violent agitation.) Oh, not to save twentycountries! not to save my soul from everlasting disgrace, will I stop in my search now! Go! (to Dominique.) Fight indomitably. General Jackson will tell you where. Here is your commission as Captain.
DOM. (takes commission and in doing so, kisses Lafitte’s hand.) Can I not help you?
LAF. Yes. Fight for us both! (exit Dominique by West entrance just as Mariana enters.)
MAR. (she sees Lafitte; speaks in a horrified, low voice.) Jean ...
LAF. Mariana! (he holds her in his arms silently; his cheek on her hair; then holds her from him.) You are well? (Mariana nods.) Ah, (folding her in his arms again.) I have been seeking you night and day; I must have left Barataria almost in the hour you did; I have not been there since. I have lived in terror. Even death has frightened me, since it might claim me before I found you.
MAR. (starts) Oh, Jean—
LAF. (soothing her.) All is well, sweetheart. My life belongs to you. That is why it is a charmed life. Only a little while ago, I escaped from the British. I was journeying along on foot. Beppo kept me company. Suddenly, I heard the tramp of horses. Intuitively I felt that they carried British soldiers. I watched. A turn in the road showed me I was right. I heard Captain McWilliams’ voice, I crouched in the thick undergrowth bordering the road, I tried to quiet Beppo. He barked. I—I was obliged to kill him in order to prevent him from betraying me.... Not for the value of my own life, but to save the country’s. (Mariana put her arms around his neck) Then, so soon as they had gone by, I borrowed a horse and came on. I have sent word to General Jackson. There is no time to spare. Now that I have found you and can put you in secure care, I must go. The British are approaching. They are within nine miles of the city.
MAR. And you?
LAF. (tenderly.) I, sweetheart, am Captain once more. Captain Jean Lafitte, of the American army. Ah, there is so much in my heart!—so much that I want to tell you about myhatred for the Spanish; my feint to the British Commission. You don’t understand. I have never sailed under any flag but that of the republic of Carthagena. My vessels are perfectly regular in that respect. Carthagena is at war with Spain. I capture and sink Spanish vessels and take possession of their cargoes. That is the sum total of my offending. When I shall have told you what we owe to Spaniards,—how hopeless I was—
MAR. (brokenly.) I know—
LAF. (compassionatingly.) Sweetheart! (kisses her.) Now, let us find Darblee. He will care for you until my return.
MAR. (detaining him.) Not now.
LAF. I must go, sweetheart.
MAR. (half-sobbing.) I want to see you.... I haven’t seen you for so long....
LAF. (passing his hand over her hair.) Sweetheart—
MAR. Did you get my note asking you to come here?
LAF. (surprised.) No.
MAR. Thenwhydid you come?
LAF. To save Dominique. I was barely in time. (leading her towards the door.)
MAR. (suddenly placing her back on the shut door.) No!—You cannot go!
LAF. (in gentle remonstrance.) Sweetheart—
MAR. You cannot go. The house is guarded!
LAF. (dazed at first; then comprehending.) And you?... You wrote to me to come here?
MAR. The note was for Father Cuthbert. I had no idea ... then I overheard Manuel and Pedro....
LAF. Manuel! Is he coming? At last! (walks center; enter Beluche.)
BEL. Lafitte, General Jackson fears that the British are preparing to attack by way of Barataria. He commands me to caution you about the defense of that point.
LAF. Oh, I am perfectly confident of the fidelity of my men.
BEL. (grimly.) They have had provocation.
LAF. (indignantly.) Provocation! At a time like this, to speak of provocation!
BEL. (doggedly.) Yes. Now, they urge, is the time to retaliate for all the persecution they have endured at the hands of the Americans. Now. While the opportunity offers. All hail to the Emperor of Barataria!
LAF. (goes up quietly to Beluche and puts his hands on his shoulders.) Beluche,—we are first of all Americans. Who will follow me must follow now not the Emperor of Barataria, but the American soldier. Re-iterate my orders to the men of Barataria. (Beluche, humbled, bows; in turning he sees Mariana; he starts and his face is instantly hard.)
BEL. It is well the men of Barataria don’t see you with this woman, or they would refuse to obey your orders. (exit.)
LAF. (turns in bewilderment to Mariana.) What did he mean?
MAR. (looks at him desperately; Lafitte waits; finally she puts out her hands in dumb, piteous supplication.) I thought my brother had been killed ... and my uncle ... all those helpless people....
LAF. Your brother? Where?
MAR. At Barataria ... shot ... by a band of pirates....
LAF. That man! The false commander of the Creole?
MAR. Yes.
LAF. (takes her by the shoulders.) You are dreaming! That man was Colonel Tolosa; the man responsible for my court-martial from Napoleon’s army; the man who came near separating us forever. That was the man I ordered shot at Barataria.
MAR. And that—was Pedro;—the man who has trapped you here now.
LAF. Impossible. He was buried at Barataria.
MAR. (shakes her head.) He was saved by Father Cuthbert.
LAF. (with sudden oppressive intuition.) And you? What did you do.
MAR. (puts out her hands blindly.) I thought Pedro had been killed ... and I did not know him then ... I loved him with all my heart ... and I believed you cruel as well as wicked....
LAF. Quick! What did you do?
MAR. I led an expedition against Barataria ... had the entire Island burned and sacked and many of the pirates killed and taken prisoners....
LAF. Merciful heaven! I understand Beluche’s warning and the peril of New Orleans! (indistinct noises of voices heard without.)
MAR. Pedro and the guard! Ah, let me try to save you! (falls on her knees.) On my knees, Jean!—for the love you bore me—(Jean lifts her from the floor.) For the love you bear your imperiled country.
LAF. Yes. Speak to Darblee if you can. He is one of my men and will come to the rescue.
MAR. Yes, yes. (she pushes Lafitte into the mask niche, following him out of the room; Pedro, Manuel and the guard enter.)
PED. An empty room! There has been treachery somewhere. (noise in the niche.) What was that? (he rushes to the door beneath the mask; tries to open it; to burst it.)
MAN. That door is built against a wall; an annex made to the house after it was completed.
PED. (to the guard.) Knock the lock off. (they knock it off; the door is swung open and reveals a solid brick wall.)
MAN. Just as I told you.
PED. Search the house. (enter Mariana.)
MAR. (in feigned joyful surprise, to Pedro.) Pedro! (going to him) Alive!
PED. (catching her arm; roughly.) Where is Lafitte? Come, now. I’ll stand no fooling.
MAR. (quietly.) I am in no mood for fooling either. I have not seen Lafitte. (softening.) But you—
PED. The men swear they saw him enter.
MAR. I know he is not in the house, because he would have asked for me. I was coming into this room just now, when I overheard Manuel speaking of the use to which he had put my note.
PED. (brutally.) What else did you overhear?
MAR. (looking at him calmly and unflinchingly.) Nothing. I was on the point of entering, thinking that Father Cuthbert might be here, when I heard Manuel speak. Then I decided to wait and see what came of my note before going to the Governor. (to Manuel.) There was no need of concealment. I would have helped you if I had known.
MAN. You would?
MAR. Have I not wrongs? I wrote to Lafitte, which must be the reason of his non-appearance now, when as ill-luck would have it, he escaped from the burning of Barataria. Yes, that was my business the night of the ball; to beg the Governor’s permission to lead the delayed expedition against Barataria.
MAN. Why didn’t you let me know?
MAR. Because I wanted to do it all myself.
1st G. A womandidlead that expedition.
MAR. A woman did. She failed of her purpose then, but please God, she’ll not fail now. I am on my way to inform the Governor that Lafitte is to meet me a half hour hence at the hotelSt. Philippe. He will come, because he will believe me to be repentant.
MAN. (suspiciously.) You still believe that he loves you?
MAR. Do not profane the word. I still believe that Jean Lafitte is not a man to relinquish any purpose lightly.
PED. (to 1st guard.) Order eight of your best men to watch this hotel. (exit 1st guard; to Mariana.) We will go with you my dear.
MAR. I will meet you atSt. Philippe. I wish to see Mr. Darblee about my room first. (moving towards door.)
PED. (agreeably.) We can wait. Shall I conduct you to Mr. Darblee?
MAR. (baffled; speaks sweetly.) Thank you. (takes Pedro’s arm, clock strikes 4.) Oh, I haven’t time. I must go to the Governor immediately.
PED. (pleasantly.) There is no need. A sufficient force will be on hand. I have engaged to myself to capture Lafitte. We will all go toSt. Philippe; all—except the eight who are to watch this hotel.
MAR. I’ll get my hat. (Pedro crosses to door; holds it open for her.) The Governor (aside) will have received my message and sent succor before they discover—(exeunt Mariana and Pedro; enter 1st guard and three others.)
MAN. (to 1st guard.) All right? (1st guard bows; enter Mariana and Pedro; Manuel advances; takes Mariana’s cloak from Pedro; folds it lovingly about Mariana.) Happy cloak, to enfoldyou so warmly! to feel the sweet, soft pulsing of your heart!
PED. Ready? (enter Lafitte.)
LAF. Stop!
MAN. (starts.) Lafitte!
MAR. (starts.) Ah!
PED. (to the guard.) Seize him! (the six guards rush upon Lafitte; fasten his arms down.)
LAF. I give you warning! I belong to the American army. You will pay dearly.
PED. (savagely.)Youwon’t be the bill-maker, Emperor Lafitte. (to the men.) Remove his sword. (they remove it; Pedro takes it; breaks it across his knee and throws the pieces aside; exit 1st guard.)
MAN. (turning upon Mariana in a fury of jealousy.) So, Miss! You still love this fellow! Well, American or not, he will be put out of the way! Pedro and I have some scores to settle with him. And as for you, my beauty—(goes to Mariana; she slaps his face.) We’ll see! (takes her forcibly in his arms.) call upon your determined lover now! (kisses her; Lafitte suddenly breaks the shackles that bind his arms; snatches a small dagger from his belt and fells Manuel with a blow; then he turns upon the crowd; re-enter 1st guard and eight armed men.)
LAF. (with his dagger in hand.) Advance, cowards!
PED. His head, dead or alive. Fire! (the eight men raise their guns; Mariana screams; runs in front of Lafitte, clinging to him; at the same moment a commotion is heard at the opposite door and a file of soldiers with raised guns appears.)
1st SOL. Hold!
PED. Fire!
1st SOL. The first man who fires will be shot! (the eight men lower their guns.) Arrest these men. (pointing to Pedro and Manuel; the soldiers handcuff them.)
PED. Upon whose order and on what charge?
1st SOL. Governor Claiborne’s order, on charge of being a Britishspy. (to his men.) Search them. (Pedro and Manuel are searched; the paper from Captain Lockyer is found on Pedro and handed to 1st soldier.)
MAN. (he is assisted to his feet; speaks with the borrowed strength of rage.) Do you know that it isLafittewhom you have saved?
1st SOL. (to his men.) Lead them away. (Pedro and Manuel are marched off; exeunt guards and soldiers; 1st soldier goes up to Lafitte.)
You had best use all dispatch in joining your command. Every moment’s delay now is dangerous. (bows; exit.)
LAF. Mariana.... (he gently takes her arm from his neck and raises her head; she is dazed almost insensible.) Sweetheart....
MAR. (violently.) No!—I cannot let you go! (Lafitte kisses her; smooths her hair; leads her to the door.)
LAF. Good-by, sweetheart ... good-by.
MAR. (quietly; leaning against the door.) Good-by....
CURTAIN.