ACT IV.
BEL. (to two or three of his men.) Remember: Wellington’s soldiers are to be dealt with; twelve thousand to five. Relieve the forward watch. (men salute and exeunt; Beluche looks after them; sighs; walks a few steps with bowed head; takes out the little picture he had found on Pedro in Barataria; looks at it long and intently, enter agitatedly, Bella.)
BELLA. (timidly, yet desperately.) Can you tell me if Dominique You be here?
BEL. (looks up; starts; looks at his picture; looks at Bella; puts the picture in his pocket.) He is.
BELLA. May I see him?
BEL. (coldly.) No—
BELLA. Just a moment—
BEL. (brusquely.) Is not your name Cardez?
BELLA. Yes.
BEL. Ha!
BELLA. Do you know Captain You?
BEL. (grimly.) I do and I can tell you that you need expect no success in the practice of your wiles upon him, because I know too, that you have another lover.
BELLA. (starts.) Who are you?
BEL. (turning to leave her.) All women are alike in their infamous cruelty.
BELLA. (runs after him.) Please ... I must see him. He may be killed.
BEL. Very probably.
BELLA. I want to ask his forgiveness for my foolish words—
BEL. Whose picture does that locket contain? (pointing to serpent-head locket on Bella’s neck.)
BELLA. Promise to send Dominique to me and I will tell you.
BEL. May be.
BELLA. It is the picture of a man my mother loved.
BEL. Tell me the story.
BELLA. It was over in Spain. He was a Frenchman, but it seems he had been intrusted by the Spanish government with important papers with instructions not to let them leave his hands except to the proper authority. My mother with a girl’s caprice, begged to take them; was refused; begged, pouted and finally had them read to her. She had been outspoken in her love for this man, though my grand-parents had betrothed her to my father. They must have overheard the reading of the papers, for a few hours later my mother’s lover was arrested and thrown into prison and his life saved only on condition of mother’s immediate marriage to my father.
BEL. (starts.) What!
BELLA. So you see, he must have believed—this man whom my mother loved—that she betrayed him. (Beluche bows his head.) And she, knowing that all hope was over, and knowing too, his merciless, just nature did not dare to try to undeceive him. Then my grand-parents died and when I was still a young baby, my father died, leaving mother penniless. But the world was bright for her once more, because for the first time in two years, she had hope. She tried to find the man she loved. She prayed to be able to tell him why she hadseemed to forsake him; to be able to beg his forgiveness for all the misery she had entailed by her foolish insistence. But when at last she came to a place where they had heard of him, she was told that he was dead. And so, to lift me out of the stress of dire poverty, she finally yielded and married Leon Duval. They came to America and he made her a good husband to the end.
BEL. (in a choked voice.) She is dead.
BELLA. Yes—Poor mother!—Don’t you think it a fine face? (showing Beluche the locket.)
BEL. No—an idiotic face.
BELLA. (warmly.) It is not so. Mother could never have loved other than a fine man.
BEL. Did she ever tell you his name?
BELLA. No.—Sometimes I think they may have made a mistake about his being dead;—don’t you think so?
BEL. No,—he is dead. (turns to go.)
BELLA. (puts her hand on his arm.) You will send Dominique to me?
BEL. Yes.
BELLA. Thank you.—I do like you. (exeunt severally Bella and Beluche; distant sounds of battle; enter several pirates; they look surly, scowling.)
1st PIR. Do you hear that firing?
2d PIR. I’m not deaf. (shivers; draws his coat about him.)
1st PIR.Idon’t believe in Lafitte’s co-operation; I don’t believe he advised our being stationed here.
3d PIR. (savagely.) If I thought we had been imposed upon—
1st PIR. Are we sheep that we are to be led to the slaughter in this manner?
3d PIR. What can we do?
1st PIR. It’s our turn to relieve the watch next, isn’t it?
2d PIR. Yes.
1st PIR. Very well then. Wait in seeming acquiescence until the British come—
3d PIR. And then? (hoof-beats are heard approaching.)
1st PIR. Wave a flag of truce and let Captains Beluche and You take the consequences. (enter a mounted messenger.)
MESS. Captain Lafitte—
1st PIR. Is not here.
MESS. General Jackson orders him to take Battery 3 to the re-enforcement of Coffee’s line. Captain Beluche—
1st PIR. Over there. (pointing; exit messenger, the men following him; distant sounds of battle; enter Dominique.)
DOM. (worried and anxious.) the idea of exposing herself in this manner!—must be more of Lizbette’s counsel. (stops; whistles.) I’ll bet that disguise was insisted upon at Lizbette’s dictation. I’ve a great mind to try the prescription on Bella herself. (puts on disguise.) She said she’d recognize me under any disguise. (enter Bella; Dominique goes up to her; holds out both hands.)
BELLA. (starts.) Who are you?
DOM. Your heart must tell you.
BELLA. Sir—
DOM. Do not speak hastily. I know I have seemed to do so, but I could not help it. We may be interrupted at any moment.
BELLA. You have no right—
DOM. The best I love you.
BELLA. You do not know me.
DOM. (humoring the situation, but wholly in earnest.) You are talking nonsense. It is you who do not know me. My heart is full of you. My soul seeks you even in sleep. I love you.
BELLA. You are insolent.
DOM. No. I am truthful. Why will you mistake? Do you not feel that I have loved you for months: prayed for all chances to meet you—to kiss you—(attempts to kiss her.)
BELLA. (screams.) Help! (enter Duval.)
DUV. (aside.) The red beard! (whips out his sword;) Draw, sir. (Bella runs aside.)
DOM. I refuse to draw.
DUV. Do you wish to be murdered?
DOM. (coolly.) I shall not be.
DUV. Take this!—(he makes a pass at Dominique who dodges the sword and trips him.)
BELLA. Brute! (she makes a dash for Dominique’s face; catches his whiskers; pulls off his disguise; screams; Duval is up again and on the point of resuming the attack.) Don’t!(to her father; throws her arms around Dominique’s neck.) It is Dominique. I love him. (enter Beluche.)
DUV. And who the devil may Dominique be? A pirate, I’ll bet. One of a band of sneaking robbers, too cowardly ever to fight squarely and above board. (enter men of Battery 4.)
BEL. (with cutting contempt.) But brave enough tofight, no matter what the circumstances, when the country needs them. (the pirates settle about; play cards and throw dice.)
DUV. None of your insinuations. I would be fighting now, if it were not for this girl.
BEL. (to Dominique, aside.) You’d better see to your men. They are becoming moody. Lafitte’s absence pre-occupies them.
DOM. You think?—
BEL. (gravely.) Keep a close watch. I am taking battery 3 to the re-enforcement of Coffee’s line. (exit; Dominique turns to exit.)
DUV. (to Dominique.) Stop! (Dominique stops; to Bella,) With whom did you come?
BELLA. Baptiste.
DUV. Then go home with him.
BELLA. (kisses her father.) Good-by. (holds her hand out to Dominique.) Good-by. (he comes to her; takes her hand; kisses it; exit Bella.)
DUV. (to Dominique.) Now, sir!—I have no time to join the fighting forces near New Orleans. I will follow you and settle my personal differences with you later.
DOM. (bows; turns; makes a few steps toward exit, followed by Duval; stops; starts.) By heavens!—the British! The men have let them pass without a shot! (to his men.) Forward! (men remain seated; continue playing.) In the name of Lafitte! (all rise.)
1st PIR. In the name of lies! Lafitte is not here.
DOM. He would be here if he could.
2d PIR. He could be here if he would.
DUV. The British are advancing! (to the men.) In the name of the country!
1st PIR. And of the legislators who offered rewards for pirate heads!
2d PIR. Who had us shot like dogs!
3d PIR. Burned out of house and home!
4th PIR. Thrown into dungeons!
5th PIR. And liberated only in order that we might defend them!
ALL. (in rage, making a lunge at Duval.) Ah!
DOM. (darting in front of Duval.) Back, cowards! Respectable odds await you! (the British open fire; pirates stand irresolute.)
1st PIR. (to the men.) Come.
DOM. (jumps on a knoll; levels his gun.) I’ll shoot the first man who retreats. (men face about irresolutely; firing continues; one man is wounded.)
WOUNDED P. (in a rage of defiance.) Ah! (switches out a large white handkerchief; strings it to the barrel of his gun; advances towards the British.) We won’t retreat! (pirates cheer and rally marching around wounded pirate; firing ceases; Dominique shoots down the flag of truce; the men in rage close upon Duval and Dominique; another flag of truce is raised and the march towards the British re-begun; meanwhile, above the sound of their frenzy; are heard approaching cheers and hoof-beats by the hundred; enter Lafitte followed by scores of his men.)
LAF. Men of Barataria to the front! (snatches down the flag of truce.) Death to Wellington’s soldiers! (exit; firing begins.)
ALL. Lafitte forever! (exeunt; furious firing, becoming momentarily more remote; enter Bella, Mariana and Baptiste.)
BAP. (cataleptic with fear.) Lordy! Lordy!
BELLA. Oh hush, Baptiste, you give me the shivers. (to Mariana.) I’m glad I brought my cordial bottle, in case we get too nervous.
BAP. Oh, Miss Bella, yo plumb rash to fly so in de face o’ Providence! Lordy, (kneels.) please make ’em change dey mine, seein’ I cyarn do nuttin, an’ ef not, pertec dis po’ ole nigger who done pray to you an’ who bin yo good an’ faithful sarvent.... Yes, Lord, I trus yo full an’ free.... (a stray shot sounds close and loud; Bella starts, dropping her cordial bottle; Baptiste jumps up.) Gawd A’mighty, das dang’ous! (exit running.)
BELLA. Oh, I think we had better go, too. (takes Mariana’s arm; half pulls her off; enter Pedro.)
PED. (scantily clad.) I made up my mind to escape. I’ve done it. Hungry—chilled to the bone—with blood hounds on my track—But if every other purpose I ever had in life fail, I will accomplish that of my hate for Lafitte. (reaches for his pistol; holds his hand out; looks at it.) Curse this cold! I can scarcely hold my pistol. (sees the cordial bottle; picks it up.) Ah! (takes a drink; slaps the stopper back on and throws the bottle down; makes a wry face.) That’s queer tasting stuff. (the firing has ceased; enter Lafitte.)
LAF. (anxiously.) Surely she could not have been so imprudent—(Pedro sees him; creeps up behind him; aims waveringly.)
PED. (in choking rage.) Damn— (falls; dies; Lafitte turns; sees Pedro; enter Mariana.)
MAR. Jean! (Lafitte starts; throws his cloak over Pedro’s body.) You are not hurt?
LAF. Not hurt, sweetheart.
MAR. And the victory?
LAF. Is ours. I have just sent word to General Jackson. The British have been routed with fearful loss.
MAR. And we?—Oh—(seeing the covered form.) Who is it?
LAF. (solemnly.) A man to whom I owe much knowledge. (Mariana takes a flower from her breast, goes up to the body and places it upon his.)
LAF. (to some of his men who have come on.) Take this body to New Orleans for interment. (the men carry it away; enter Dominique and Bella at back.) My sweetheart this place—
MAR. Ah, I am so proud of you! (enter Duval and Beluche.)
BEL. (earnestly to Duval.) Your broken word would be a lesser matter to you than your daughter’s broken heart.
BELLA. Oh, here’s my cordial bottle! (picks it up.)
DUV. (to Lafitte.) I desire, sir, to congratulate you. (shakes hands; Bella goes to Mariana; Beluche and Dominique are grouped together.)
BELLA. (to Mariana, showing her cordial bottle.) Shall we take a swallow,—just to settle our nerves? (Mariana smiles; takes the bottle; raises it.)
LAF. (comes behind her as she is about to drink, takes the bottle from her and throws it aside; happily.) You need no cordial onsuch a day as this.
BELLA. All, my tonic is all wasted! (enter a messenger on horseback.)
MESS. (dismounts; bows.) General Jackson presents his thanks to Captain Jean Lafitte for his efficient and loyal services; also thanks to Captains Beluche and You, together with a promise to grant Captain Lafitte any pardons he may ask.
LAF. (bows.) My profound acknowledgement and most respectful homage to General Jackson. Do you know whether the two men arrested at thehotel des Exileshave been executed? (Mariana goes to Lafitte’s side.)
MESS. They have not. One of them escaped; is being traced now. The other will be executed in an hour. (Mariana starts; puts her hand on Lafitte’s arm.)
LAF. (placing his hand over hers.) Which one escaped.
MESS. Pedro d’Acosta. (Mariana buries her face in her hand.)
DUV. (starts.) Pedro d’Acosta arrested?
MESS. As a British spy.
LAF. I shall be very much in your debt if you will use all possible speed in seeing the Governor and in begging him, in my name, to spare Don Manuel d’Acosta’s life—and that of Pedro d’Acosta, if he be caught.
MESS. I shall do so. (bows; exit.)
MAR. (to Lafitte.) Do you think he will be in time?
LAF. Yes.
DUV. (to Bella.) Well, I will give my consent.
BEL. On one condition: that she give up her faith in Lizbette and her practices.
BELLA. Dominique told you about that, but—I promise. (exeunt Bella, Dominique, Duval and Beluche.)
MAR. Do you think Pedro will be caught?
LAF. (lovingly.) It would not matter if he were.
MAR. But do you think he’ll be caught?
LAF. (kisses her.) No, sweetheart. (passes his hand gently over her hair.) I don’t think he’ll be caught.
CURTAIN.