ACT · III

ACT · IIISCENE · 1A hall on the first floor of the Palace: stairs at the back leading down. A lamp burning below shines on to the stage.Enter TRISTRAM and FLORA hurriedly(R.).FLORA.Fly, Tristram, down the stairs: she is coming.TRISTRAM.O, wala! wala! If she has seen us—2140Fl.Quick! And dout the lamp.[ExitR.T.O, wala! wala![Exit down the stairs, back, making a great noise; the lamp suddenly goes out.Enter Diana in robe-de-chambre, with a lamp in her hand.DIANA.Stop, sir! stop, stop! I see you: I bid you stop.Flora, Flora!—I’ll ring the alarm.[Pulls a rope.Will no one come?Enter Ricardo(L.).RICARDO.I heard your ladyship call.D.He is here, Ricardo: I heard him, I saw him.R.Where?2145D.He ran off down the stairs. Follow him and seize him.Bring him back here. Quick!R.Down the stairs?D.Quick, quick![Exit R. at back.Is this the way I am treated? and not a servant!Flora! Come, Flora! Flora! is no one awake?Enter(L.)St. Nicholas hurriedly, half-dressed, carrying suits of clothes, a dressing-case, etc.D.Stay, sir! where go you?ST. NICHOLAS.2150Fire! fire! The palace is on fire! Fly, fly!D.Stay, sir, I say: the house is not on fire.N.Where is the fire? Mercy! O, heaven save me!D.There is no fire at all.N.No fire! Are you sure?D.I rang the bell myself to awake the house.A man broke in.N.Thieves? Robbers?D.I do not know.He has got away. Go, wake Sir Gregory.N.(going). First let me fetch my sword!D.Nonsense, St. Nicholas; we need no swords.Go, wake Sir Gregory, and send him here:Send him at once.[Exit N.(L.)Re-enter Ricardo(back).2160Were you too late, Ricardo?Did you not catch him? Has he escaped?R.In the dark,Whoever it was, had passed the door before me,And, like a hare, faster than I could follow,Sped o’er the grass into the house.D.You saw him?Where went he in?R.At Frederick’s door. I reached itIn time to hear the key turn in the lock.D.’Tis he, then, and escaped in spite of us.But I’ll find out with whom he dares....R.(aside). ’Twas the fool Tristram:I saw him plainly enough. Should I not tell her?—2171D.Ricardo, go and fetch Sir Gregory;I have sent St. Nicholas for him, but the manIs scared with terror.R.(aside). While all goes well with me, the less I meddleThe better. I’ll let her find this out herself.[Exit(L.)D.I’ll ring the bell again.Enter the Maids(R.).So here you crawl at last! I had better keepNo maids at all than such a drowsy troop.Not frightened by the fire-bell! You must haveWondrous good consciences. Now, tell me at once—There was a man outside my chamber-doorLaughing and talking. Answer at once!—who was it?2181Who was it was here?DOROTHY.I heard my lady call;But did not think that it could be my ladyAt such an hour.D.Nay: I should be asleepOf course, but I was not.Enter Gregory and Ricardo(L.).My major-domoAt last. Come in, Sir Gregory, come: you are wanted.Sir GREGORY.I am shocked, your ladyship, at what hath happened:Ricardo hath told me. But there seems no doubtThe unknown intruder hath escaped. Be sureYou may retire in safety, without fear2190Of being disturbed again. I will go roundAnd see that all’s secure. To-morrow morningThere shall be full inquiry.D.To-morrow? Nay,I do not leave this spot till I know all.I guess who ’tis.G.I pray your ladyshipRetire. The cold air of the hall, the excitementAt such an hour may harm your ladyship.D.No. If I die I’ll learn the truth at once.I know else how ’twill be. You’ll go to bedAnd sleep till noon; and when you wake you’ll say2200’Twas all delusion, that I never heardA man at all. That what Ricardo sawWas but a bush, a shadow, a bat, an owlHe frighted from the ivy: and so in the endAll will make light of it.G.Heigh! Give me a light.The lamp has been extinguished on the stairs.I’ll go and search about.[Takes a light from one of the maids, and Exit, back.R.(aside).I’ll stay and watch.D.Now, ye dissemblers, stand forth one by oneAnd answer me.R.(aside). This will seal Frederick’s fate.She must betray her mean suspicion, and I2210Witness the degradation of her idol.—(The maids are congregated at back,R.as they come out of the passage. They stand forth singly to be questioned, and come in turn to front,R.)D.Dorothy first. Dost thou know, Dorothy,What man it was whose voice I heard up-stairs;Who, when I left my room and gave the alarm,Ran out?Dor.I do not know, my lady.D.I askDidst thou not see or hear him?2215Dor.No, my lady.D.Thou wert asleep?Dor.I was asleep, my lady.D.Then stand aside. Now, Kate.Dor.(aside). Here’s a fine game!D.Sawst thou or heardst thou anything?KATE.No, my lady.D.Nothing at all?K.Nothing at all, my lady.D.Wert thou asleep?2220K.I was asleep, my lady.D.Step thou aside. Now, Flora.K.(to Dor.).Will she lie?Dor.(to K.). Trust her.D.Now, Flora, answer.Fl.I am grieved my ladyShould think I could deceive her.D.I did not askIf you deceived me. Heard you any noise?Did you see any man?Fl.Not I, my lady.Dor.(aside to K.). Oh! oh!D.Were you asleep?Fl.I was asleep, my lady.D.Then stand aside.Fl.(aside to K.). Did she believe me?K.(to Fl.).Well!Thou’st got a brazen face!Dor.(do.).Art thou not shamed?D.Marcela next. Didst thou hear anything?MARCELA.2231I heard no noise until my lady called.D.Thou wert asleep?Mar.I was asleep, my lady.D.’Tis strange. Stand thou aside.Dor.(aside).Now then for Rose.Mar.(do.). She really was asleep.Fl.(do.).Then what shall come?D.Now, Rose, thou’rt left alone. Thy fellow-servantsHave all denied the thing of which some oneAt least is guilty. Thee I did not suspect:But do not fear to tell the truth. Who was it?Tell me who is thy lover. No tittering there!Your levity makes you all accomplices,Ay, every one.ROSE.2140My lady, I have no lover.D.Tell me who this man was.Rose.I do not know.I heard no noise till Marcela awoke me.D.Didst thou awake her, Marcela?Mar.Yes, my lady.She was asleep. Rose always speaks the truth.It wasn’t Rose.D.You are all then in one plot:Or shame has made you lie. But never thinkTo escape. I know the gentleman, and knowHe visits one of you: and which it is2250I’ll learn to-night: unless perhaps you’ll sayHe makes love to you all.Mar.Indeed, my lady,He is quite a proper man.Dor.And all his courtshipHas been most regular.D.Come, come: confess.Who is it?Fl.It’s me, my lady. I must confess.D.Flora!Fl.Forgive me, I beg; for I abjureI never asked him: but, as I often tell him,He takes such liberties; which, as you know him,I need not tell your ladyship: and ’tis trueWe have been some time engaged.D.Engaged!—to you!Here’s a fine story!2259R.(aside). She has not said his name.Fl.Indeed, ’tis true, my lady; and I am sureMy lady will pardon me. And since he hath told meHow kind your ladyship hath been to him....D.By heaven, I’ll have you whipped,—whipped!Fl.O, my lady!D.And speak of marriage, you impertinent hussy!Fl.It was the money which your ladyship gave him,That made us think of marrying.D.Worse and worse!To spend my present on my waiting-maid.—O thy pretension! thy pretension! Think youHe really loves you?Fl.Why not?2270Maids.Ay, why not?D.What hath he ever said to make you thinkHe loves you, Flora?Fl.He told me very often,Before I’d have him....D.Ah!Kate.And that I warrant.He’s not one of your struck-dumb mumbling sort,That haven’t a word.D.Silence! And tell me, Flora,Something he has said.2275Fl.He calls me his little love,—his duck:And says a hundred thousand pretty thingsAs often as we meet.D.A hundred thousand!His compliments are cheap. Duck, too!Fl.My lady,’Tis what men say. It does not mean a duck.Kate.’Tis true, my lady; ’tis a common saying.D.Silence! No one of you dare from this moment2282To speak to me. You are all alike disgraced.And, that you are not more shamed, disgraced the more.I shall discharge you all.Kate.What! and Rose too!D.To-morrow morning. Bút, Flóra, for youI cannot think of punishment sufficient.Merely to have had a lover,—to have concealed it,—To have even admitted him by night,—were nothing,Had the affair been....Re-enter Sir Gregory up the stairs with Tristram’s hat, holding it up.2290G.Found on the stairs,—the intruder’s hat, my lady:He had thrown it on the lamp to extinguish it,And thereby is detected.R.(aside).Now’s revelation.D.Why,—but whose hat is this?Fl.’Tis his, my lady.R.Is not this Tristram’s hat?D.(aside). Hath he come hither in his servant’s clothes?Fl.It’s Tristram’s hat.K.At least what’s left of it.D.Came he disguised?Fl.’Twas thus, my lady. As he ran down the stairs,I bade him dout the lamp. I did not meanThat he should burn his hat.D.(aside). What can this be?It can’t have been Tristram.—Answer me, Flora:2301Was it master Tristram visited you to-night?Fl.Of course, my lady. I’d not deny it.D.(aside).I see!After all, only Tristram.—Came he alone?Answer me at once.Fl.I am much ashamed, my lady,He came alone. And yet, my lady, I swearI never bade him; nor asked him, for that matter.I heard his step, and found him waiting thereBy the big clock. How he came in I know not.D.Enough: I shall discover. All leave but Flora.[Exeunt maids except Fl.2310(Aside.) Thank heaven they have not guessed ... and yet how nearlyMy jealousy betrayed me! (To Fl.) I told you, Flora,I shall discharge you. Tho’I do not doubtTristram came here without your invitation,Yet in concealing his pretensions from meYou have disobeyed,—deceived me.Fl.I was afraidMy lady would forbid him.D.Silence, girl!Go to your room. I’ll speak of this to-morrow.Fl.I hope my lady will forgive his boldness.I have told my lady all.D.Begone! begone![Exit Fl.2320(To R.) What think you of this, Ricardo?R.’Tis the wrong fox we have hunted.D.Ah, I thinkFox is the word. I half believe that FrederickAnd Tristram are in league.R.I guessed the truthWhen Flora first confessed.D.I was too hot.R.You think too ill of Frederick.D.Nay, Ricardo:Do not defend him. ’Tis enough to shame himThat Tristram is his servant.G.I pray my ladyWill now retire.D.Yes, true, Sir Gregory.’Tis time, high time. And let this trophy here2330Be sent to its owner; and to-morrow morningBid him come speak with me. Tell him, Ricardo.Good-night.[Exit Gregory lighting her out,R.R.I am now secure of her: since in my presenceShe hath so consented to disgrace her idol.He is quite dethroned: she knows too that I know.He is past recovery. Could she but have seen himWalking with Laura in the garden, plottingTheir flight to-morrow! And I to climb by suchA ladder of comedy, tottering with laughter,To love’s very heaven! After three years of painThree days of farce, disguise, and folly; and then,Suddenly win my joy!Re-enter Sir Gregory.2341And thou, Sir Gregory,Shalt be my major-domo.G.Eigh!R.(taking his arm). I say,Sir Gregory, I’ll have you for my major-domo.[Exeunt.SCENE · 2Frederick’s room; open portmanteaus, &c. lying about. Near the fireplace R. is a cupboard with key in lock. A table in centre.Enter FREDERICK carrying music, and TRISTRAM.FREDERICK.All my clothes are in, you say, Tristram?TRISTRAM.Everything, sir.F.You pack well, Tristram: put in these. (handing music.) Is there room for the music?T.Anything, sir. Lie there, ye wrigglers. (begins to sing to himself.)F.And this book.2350T.Where is it you may be going, if you please, sir?F.Never mind. You pack very well, Tristram. I shall miss you.T.If the Countess has sent you to Milan, will you not want your best black velvet doublet?F.I shall wear that on the journey.T.Wear your best black velvet on the road! Well!—Stay we long away, sir?F.Never mind. Now shut it up and give me the key.T.I should like to know, sir, how long we stay2360away, and when we are to start.F.Give me the key. Now, Tristram, I understand that the Countess has dismissed you from her household. That saves me explanation. Here’s your wages (puts money on the table) for the current quarter. You are no more my servant.T.Good heavens! do you discharge me, sir? I beg, what have I done to offend you?F.Never mind.The Countess has discharged you,—that’s enough.Tho’you’re a fool, Tristram, to say the truth,I have got accustomed to you, and shall be sorryTo part with you. I have quite as many reasonsFor wishing you to stay, as you have given me2375To be dissatisfied. But so ’tis fated;And what God willeth, Tristram,needs must be,After the opinion of certain clerkës.T.I am not to go with you to-day to Milan?F.No, Tristram. Now we part.T.Consider, sir,2380That Flora is discharged as well as me:Cannot you take us with you?F.You and FloraWith me!T.What shall we do, sir? What shall we do?F.I’ll tell you what. While you were in my serviceYou served me ill, pried into my affairs,Took bribes to spy upon me:—I know,—attend.If you would win my favour, you must serve meNow you are discharged. You can assist me, and ifYou serve me better, I’ll use my interest, Tristram,To get you a decent place.T.What is’t to do?F.’Tis this. An hour from hence I must be off.2391St. Nicholas will likely enough be hereAfter his marriage settlement. Now, Tristram,He must not find me. Wait for him here:—do you see?—And if he comes, get him out of the way.And if Ricardo comes, tell him that IAm gone to seek him and shall soon return:Bid him await me here. If by your helpI get off quickly, I will help you; if not,Tristram, I’ll cut your throat from ear to ear.[Exit.T.Heavens! what has possessed my master, and what’s to happen to me? O wala, wala! It all comes of love: or rather, I should say, it all came of my hat. I would it had been consumed entirely. This hole in the crown is not to be mended ... and all round ’tis like tinder, it breaks with a touch. Of what contemptible material are these hats made! It might have been sewn up else. Now ’tis a picture of me. Yes, the hat is me, as it were; the hole in the crown is the ruin of my fortunes wrought upon me by the fiery lamp, which is my love for Flora. There’s a parable. Could I write a poem on this, it might appease the Countess. Deary me! What are Flora and I to do? Money beingthe root of all evil, I must look first to that. All depends on that. Let me see what I can muster. There’s my pay; there’s the Countess’present, and my little savings. (turns out his purse and pockets on to the table.) I’ll put it all in heaps of ten. No, heaps of five: better in fives, there’ll be more heaps; and there’s comfort in the number of heaps. Tho’less lordly, ’twill be more showy. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty. (knocking at door.) Come in,—twenty-five.Enter St. Nicholas.ST. NICHOLAS.Tristram! Where’s your master?T.Twenty-five. My master’s no more. Twenty-six.N.Frederick is dead?T.(singing). What dead, my dearie?Oh no, my dearie.N.What is this nonsense, Tristram?T.When I meet with a poet, St. Nicholas, I can2430speak poetry.N.I came to see your master, Tristram; and you said he was dead.T.I said he was no more, not that he was dead: and, as I say, he is no more my master. I am, as ’twere, a gentleman at large; and I sit here by invitation, engaged on my own affairs, which do not need assistance.N.I came to see your master on important business, Tristram. Be civil enough to tell me where he is.T.My master is nowhere. This was twenty-six.N.I shall wait for him here.T.Well, if you choose to wait, I know what you come after. ’Tis not the sonnet.N.When will Frederick be back, Tristram?T.But I’ll give you back your sonnet, if you will write me a poem about my hat, this hat. ’Tis but to versify my own imaginations. See! I am the hat: the hole in it is my discharge: the flame which burnt the hole is Flora,—that’s the Countess’maid. All is good. There’s the blackness of the hat, the fire of the lamp, the abysm of the hole: it lacks but the moon, which you might shift to see through the crown; and if you could weave in with that your sphinx and something about death, I think that I might tickle the Countess’ ear to reconsider of my discharge; for she loves poetry.N.Curse thy impertinence, Tristram. Where’s thy master?T.I will shew you where your master is, if you curse me or aught of mine, master Nick.2460N.Darst thou speak to me thus?T.Did you not call me a thief, and base-born clown?N.Art thou not both?T.Whate’er I be, Mr. Poet, I have now no master, nor any obligation to any gentleman to make believe for his convenience that thou art aught. Thou! Why thy brainpan hath nought in it but shoddy, I warrant. Thou combed ass! thou left-handed goose!—to curse2470me!N.By heaven, I cannot away with thee.T.No, that you can’t. (Aside.) I have it. I’ll shut him in the screeky cupboard.—Well, sir: I know what you come after. ’Tis the marriage papers, is it not? I was bid see to them. Look in that cupboard.N.Ah! are they there? (Goes to cupboard and looks in. T. pushes him behind, and shuts door on him, locking it.)T.There curse me, and seek your papers.—(Aside.) I think I have him now. If this does not satisfy my2480master, I’ll never try to please him again.N.(within). Let me out at once. There are no papers here. What did you shut me in here for?T.To follow your occupation—to lounge, lounge in the cupboard. Am I a thief?N.Let me out, I beg of you, Tristram.T.Not till you have made my poem, or told me a cure for the rheumatics. Ay, bawl and kick: Iwill finish my accounts. Kick away, one for each pile. Twenty-six it was: twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty. Why you overdo it: you kick by the ducat. With three and a half, (pocketing.) thirty-three ducats and a half. Silence! silence! ’Tis more kicks than half-pence, as they say. If you will be quiet, I will give you back your sonnet. (Takes it out and reads)—Master of mine, remember for pitie.Ha! who’s your master now?—I will recite the end part, which I have never read.Once in a vesture of pale crimson cameThat willowed Archdelight, whose eyes are dim2501With gazing on a book of writhing flame:My stars! and no wonder neither.And with him Hope, the stringless harp-player,Himself an embelem, harped in mine earHis long-lost Sapphic song and nuptial hymn.Hem! Very good, sir, as far as it goes. You should finish this and have it ready by the wedding. See! I will thrust it to you under the door. Won’t you take it back? If I have not charmed him to sleep with his own verses! Ha! he bites—he lives. (N. pulls it to him from within.) (To himself.) This is very well. But I wonder why my master wished him out of the way;and why he is sent to Milan; and taking all these things with him; and why he is travelling in that doublet. He hath no care for his clothes. Yet I’ll do him a last service, and brush it for him. ’Tis sadly dusty (having taken it down). He shall not say that his old valet neglected him in aught. So lie there. (puts doublet on table.) Pockets full, of course. If I were a gentleman, I’d have no pockets. How can velvet lie? How can one smoothe it down, stuffed out in a lump like this ... an old handkerchief, I’ll warrant ... no ... a glove: a lady’s glove: a very secret affair: one he hath stolen to write verses on. I shall tell the Countess of this. (Knocking at the door heard.) This will be Mister Ricardo, I suppose. Come in!Enter Sir Gregory.GREGORY.Tristram, where’s your master? Not at home?T.shakes his head.G.Do you know where he is?T.shakes.2530G.Has St. Nicholas been here?T.nods.G.Is he gone?T.nods.N.(kicking harder), Sir Gregory! Sir Gregory! I am here!G.Do you expect your master soon?T.nods.G.I may sit and await him?(T. bows and gives a chair. G. sits to table, T. takes doublet from table. The glove falls on the floor. G. takes out papers, and lays them on the table to read them.)T.(hanging up doublet). Now shall the cupboard-door speak to the old gentleman. (pretends to busy himself. N. makes a great knocking.)G.Come in! There is some one at the door, Tristram.T.shakes.G.I think there is. (goes to the door and opens it: finds no one, and returns.)(Aside.) Frederick is unaccountably remiss,Most unaccountably remiss.—Tristram, I am sure I hear a noise. What is it?T.(going up to G., shouts in his ear).They are sweeping the chimney in the next room, Sir Gregory.G.Ah.—You would much oblige me, Tristram, if you would go and seek your master, and tell him that I am here.T.(nodding). I can’t refuse, and I’ve done my duty by St. Nicholas. Yet ’tis sad to miss any of this play. I will go, and be back in a trice. (Passing the cupboard, to N.) Thou silly! he’ll never mind thee.N.Curse you, Tristram!T.Hush thee, my babe.[Exit.G.(walks about restlessly).The man’s as strange as his master. How DianaCan trust her affairs to one so wholly unfit,So unmethodical! And what discomfortThe fellow lives in. The room in such disorder:2560He might be going away for good. Two suchImmense portmanteaux. What’s all that for now?There is something going on that I do not know of....Tristram’s discharged ... that’s true. (sees glove on floor; and picks it up mechanically to put it on the table.)A lady’s glove!Yes, ’tis a lady’s; thrown upon the floor.What see I? that embroidery ... ’Tis Laura’s;Laura’s. St. Nicholas hath been here.—No, no. Yet the only other explanation....It cannot be ... I see it all.... ’Tis true....Her tears and strange farewell to me this morning:Her treatment of St. Nicholas: and Frederick,Why he mistook the contract ... these portmanteaux.—By heaven, by heaven, there’s no time to lose:They’re off. (going out, passes close to cupboard. N. makes more noise than ever.)Ha!—Heigh!’Tis here, then: not in the chimney. Eh!—who’s here?(Opens cupboard.) St. Nicholas!N.O, Sir Gregory, you would not hear.G.Who shut you in the cupboard?N.Tristram.G.Tristram?N.assents.G.And is this Laura’s glove? Look at it.N.(nodding). It is.G.Then tell me: did you bring it here? Could youBy any chance have dropped it here?N.(disclaiming by gesture).I? No, sir.I came to seek for Frederick.2580G.(to himself).What can this mean,Unless to keep his rival out of the way?—Listen, St. Nicholas, I have discovered somethingConcerns you nearly.—I think—I am sure—Nay: I’ll not tell you what I suspect....’Tis but suspicion. But you have been, I fear,Most shamefully beguiled.N.Ay, that I was.He said that I should find my settlementIn the cupboard.G.Patience. I will go to LauraAnd learn the truth. Meanwhile, seek out the Countess,2590And beg her give me an interview at once.I’ll come to the ante-chamber. By heaven, St. Nicholas....And yet I scarce know.... There’s no time to lose:Come quickly.[Exeunt.SCENE · 3A room in the Palace.DIANA and FREDERICK.DIANA.You say you start at once.FREDERICK.The coach is waiting.D.Here is my letter: give it to the Duke.The answer is not urgent: it may keep youA day or two at Milan.F.You wish, my lady,I should return?D.Why not?I understoodYour ladyship to accept my resignation.2600It lies with her convenience but to fixThe day of my dismission.D.Do you wishTo leave my service?F.I could never serveWhere I am distrusted.D.Would you reconsiderYour angry speech, I would make some concession.F.I had cause for anger.D.That I would concede.But I too was provoked; and in the endI came off worst.F.Not so, my lady.D.I soughtTo learn your secret, and was merely fooled.F.I understand not how your ladyshipWas first provoked,—at least with me.2610D.Nay, true:’Twas a mistake. We need no explanation,And may be friends again.F.I cannot offerHer ladyship my services.D.You leave me?F.’Tis better that I should. I thank your ladyshipFor many kindnesses. I pray sincerelyYou may be better suited.D.No fear for that,2617Frederick: for by my soul I thinkThere is no other man would so have wronged me2619As thou hast done.... My only fault hath beenTo have thought too well of thee. But do not dreamI am unprepared. I have seen thro’thee, Frederick;Yes, thro’and thro’. My offers of concessionI made to prove thee, lest thou shouldst pretendThat I was unforgiving. In the letterI have writ the Duke, thou bearest the commissionOf thy successor. Henceforth I reject thee:And treat thee as thou deservest. Go, sir, go!Indeed, I care not whether you go or not.F.I have then your leave to stay away?D.My leave?2630I bid thee go, and never see me more.I have done with thee, sir. Go![Exit F. bowing.And that’s the man I loved; the man for whomI sank to jealousy. Who is’t he loves?He love! The fool was right: he loves himself.Now will he bide at Milan. Ah, good sir,Thy lady is not there, and yet thou goestMost cheerfully,—thou goest. And it was thouDidst write soft verses: music too,—thy music.And I thinking I loved thee was betrayedA thousand times ... and to be scorned—by thee!2641Scorned for another. (Weeps.)Enter St. Nicholas hastily.ST. NICHOLAS.My lady, I pray.D.(going off). Nay, sir: I cannot see you.N.But listen a moment. Tristram locked me in the cupboard....D.What is this? I cannot see you.N.But Sir Gregory sent me to entreat an interview at once,—he said at once.D.Then tell Sir Gregory that I will see him in halfan hour; until that time let no one disturb me on any2650account,—not even Sir Gregory.[Exit.N.I’ll be well satisfied. I’ll be revenged.To shut me half an hour in a dark cupboard,With all the flock and flue, ’mong cast-off clothes,Old boots and shoes: call me an ass, a goose,And mock my muse ... a fellow ... a common fellow.A man that is the servant of the servantOf the adoptive sister of my Laura!He shall be swinged. Sir Gregory will right me:Sir Gregory will avenge me. Had heaven but given me2660His inches, why, I’d do it myself. I’d flog him,Till he cried mercy, mercy! mercy, St. Nicholas,Mercy, I pray! No, no: no mercy, sir.Down on thy knees! No mercy, sir, from me.No mercy. (beating a chair.)Enter Sir Gregory.GREGORY.St. Nicholas, where’s the Countess?N.(shouting). She says that she will see you in half an hour.G.In half an hour!—Nay, I must see her at once.You have been betrayed.N.I have. I have been betrayed.But you shall see me avenged.G.And I must see her at once. (going in.)N.(withstanding him). She bade me sayShe could not see you.2670G.Do not stay me, man;Your happiness is at stake.N.Nay, she forbade it.She said in half an hour.G.(half-aside). Why does he stay me?In half an hour he says. What can I do?By that time he’ll be off. (Aloud.) St. Nicholas!His coach is at the door: in half an hour’Twill be too late: he will have got away.Go to the stables, mount yourself at onceWith three or four of the grooms, and ride togetherTo the further gate of the park. There wait for Frederick’s carriage:2680Stop it. If she is within, I give you warrantTo bring them back: if she be not within,Follow. She awaits him somewhere on the road.Wherever it be, take them, and bring them back:You have a father’s warrant.N.Who is it you speak of, sir?G.Heigh!N.Whose carriage shall I stop?G.Why, Frederick’s.N.And who’s the lady?2690G.Who is the lady, ask you? Why Laura, my daughter.N.Laura with Frederick!G.I went to her room: she’s flown, and with a maid.She hath packed up clothes and gone. I am right, I am sure.N.And shall I stop them?G.Lose no more time. Begone! Do as I bid.N.There’s some mistake; Laura with Frederick!Why, we were to be married!G.Fly! fly! St. Nicholas, else ’twill be too late.[Exit N.The man’s a dolt: he’ll never be in time,2700And I that call him fool, why what am I?With my grey hairs—and such an idiot,Not to have seen! And if I had only knownThat Frederick loved my Laura, and she him....Why did they never tell me? My dearest Laura, ...To marry without my knowledge, ... run awayWithout my blessing ... it shall not be ... as ifAgainst my will ... not to ask my consent ...And count on my approval. O Laura, Laura!If I had known—and now no doubt2710’Tis past all hindrance.... Am I not a foolTo wish to stop them? Perhaps they have not started,I may be in time. I will tell Frederick all,—I do not disapprove ... nay, I approve.’Tis better far ... and yet how can I?—My word is plighted to St. Nicholas.’Tis better they should get clear off. Heaven speed them!Why did I send that idiot after them?I wish they may escape. O Laura, Laura!Without my blessing. Yet thou hast my blessing.2720God bless thee! I try and hinder thee? O no.I will go stop St. Nicholas.[Hurries out.SCENE · 4Frederick’s room as before.

A hall on the first floor of the Palace: stairs at the back leading down. A lamp burning below shines on to the stage.

Enter TRISTRAM and FLORA hurriedly(R.).FLORA.Fly, Tristram, down the stairs: she is coming.TRISTRAM.O, wala! wala! If she has seen us—2140Fl.Quick! And dout the lamp.[ExitR.T.O, wala! wala![Exit down the stairs, back, making a great noise; the lamp suddenly goes out.Enter Diana in robe-de-chambre, with a lamp in her hand.DIANA.Stop, sir! stop, stop! I see you: I bid you stop.Flora, Flora!—I’ll ring the alarm.[Pulls a rope.Will no one come?Enter Ricardo(L.).RICARDO.I heard your ladyship call.D.He is here, Ricardo: I heard him, I saw him.R.Where?2145D.He ran off down the stairs. Follow him and seize him.Bring him back here. Quick!R.Down the stairs?D.Quick, quick![Exit R. at back.Is this the way I am treated? and not a servant!Flora! Come, Flora! Flora! is no one awake?Enter(L.)St. Nicholas hurriedly, half-dressed, carrying suits of clothes, a dressing-case, etc.D.Stay, sir! where go you?ST. NICHOLAS.2150Fire! fire! The palace is on fire! Fly, fly!D.Stay, sir, I say: the house is not on fire.N.Where is the fire? Mercy! O, heaven save me!D.There is no fire at all.N.No fire! Are you sure?D.I rang the bell myself to awake the house.A man broke in.N.Thieves? Robbers?D.I do not know.He has got away. Go, wake Sir Gregory.N.(going). First let me fetch my sword!D.Nonsense, St. Nicholas; we need no swords.Go, wake Sir Gregory, and send him here:Send him at once.[Exit N.(L.)Re-enter Ricardo(back).2160Were you too late, Ricardo?Did you not catch him? Has he escaped?R.In the dark,Whoever it was, had passed the door before me,And, like a hare, faster than I could follow,Sped o’er the grass into the house.D.You saw him?Where went he in?R.At Frederick’s door. I reached itIn time to hear the key turn in the lock.D.’Tis he, then, and escaped in spite of us.But I’ll find out with whom he dares....R.(aside). ’Twas the fool Tristram:I saw him plainly enough. Should I not tell her?—2171D.Ricardo, go and fetch Sir Gregory;I have sent St. Nicholas for him, but the manIs scared with terror.R.(aside). While all goes well with me, the less I meddleThe better. I’ll let her find this out herself.[Exit(L.)D.I’ll ring the bell again.Enter the Maids(R.).So here you crawl at last! I had better keepNo maids at all than such a drowsy troop.Not frightened by the fire-bell! You must haveWondrous good consciences. Now, tell me at once—There was a man outside my chamber-doorLaughing and talking. Answer at once!—who was it?2181Who was it was here?DOROTHY.I heard my lady call;But did not think that it could be my ladyAt such an hour.D.Nay: I should be asleepOf course, but I was not.Enter Gregory and Ricardo(L.).My major-domoAt last. Come in, Sir Gregory, come: you are wanted.Sir GREGORY.I am shocked, your ladyship, at what hath happened:Ricardo hath told me. But there seems no doubtThe unknown intruder hath escaped. Be sureYou may retire in safety, without fear2190Of being disturbed again. I will go roundAnd see that all’s secure. To-morrow morningThere shall be full inquiry.D.To-morrow? Nay,I do not leave this spot till I know all.I guess who ’tis.G.I pray your ladyshipRetire. The cold air of the hall, the excitementAt such an hour may harm your ladyship.D.No. If I die I’ll learn the truth at once.I know else how ’twill be. You’ll go to bedAnd sleep till noon; and when you wake you’ll say2200’Twas all delusion, that I never heardA man at all. That what Ricardo sawWas but a bush, a shadow, a bat, an owlHe frighted from the ivy: and so in the endAll will make light of it.G.Heigh! Give me a light.The lamp has been extinguished on the stairs.I’ll go and search about.[Takes a light from one of the maids, and Exit, back.R.(aside).I’ll stay and watch.D.Now, ye dissemblers, stand forth one by oneAnd answer me.R.(aside). This will seal Frederick’s fate.She must betray her mean suspicion, and I2210Witness the degradation of her idol.—(The maids are congregated at back,R.as they come out of the passage. They stand forth singly to be questioned, and come in turn to front,R.)D.Dorothy first. Dost thou know, Dorothy,What man it was whose voice I heard up-stairs;Who, when I left my room and gave the alarm,Ran out?Dor.I do not know, my lady.D.I askDidst thou not see or hear him?2215Dor.No, my lady.D.Thou wert asleep?Dor.I was asleep, my lady.D.Then stand aside. Now, Kate.Dor.(aside). Here’s a fine game!D.Sawst thou or heardst thou anything?KATE.No, my lady.D.Nothing at all?K.Nothing at all, my lady.D.Wert thou asleep?2220K.I was asleep, my lady.D.Step thou aside. Now, Flora.K.(to Dor.).Will she lie?Dor.(to K.). Trust her.D.Now, Flora, answer.Fl.I am grieved my ladyShould think I could deceive her.D.I did not askIf you deceived me. Heard you any noise?Did you see any man?Fl.Not I, my lady.Dor.(aside to K.). Oh! oh!D.Were you asleep?Fl.I was asleep, my lady.D.Then stand aside.Fl.(aside to K.). Did she believe me?K.(to Fl.).Well!Thou’st got a brazen face!Dor.(do.).Art thou not shamed?D.Marcela next. Didst thou hear anything?MARCELA.2231I heard no noise until my lady called.D.Thou wert asleep?Mar.I was asleep, my lady.D.’Tis strange. Stand thou aside.Dor.(aside).Now then for Rose.Mar.(do.). She really was asleep.Fl.(do.).Then what shall come?D.Now, Rose, thou’rt left alone. Thy fellow-servantsHave all denied the thing of which some oneAt least is guilty. Thee I did not suspect:But do not fear to tell the truth. Who was it?Tell me who is thy lover. No tittering there!Your levity makes you all accomplices,Ay, every one.ROSE.2140My lady, I have no lover.D.Tell me who this man was.Rose.I do not know.I heard no noise till Marcela awoke me.D.Didst thou awake her, Marcela?Mar.Yes, my lady.She was asleep. Rose always speaks the truth.It wasn’t Rose.D.You are all then in one plot:Or shame has made you lie. But never thinkTo escape. I know the gentleman, and knowHe visits one of you: and which it is2250I’ll learn to-night: unless perhaps you’ll sayHe makes love to you all.Mar.Indeed, my lady,He is quite a proper man.Dor.And all his courtshipHas been most regular.D.Come, come: confess.Who is it?Fl.It’s me, my lady. I must confess.D.Flora!Fl.Forgive me, I beg; for I abjureI never asked him: but, as I often tell him,He takes such liberties; which, as you know him,I need not tell your ladyship: and ’tis trueWe have been some time engaged.D.Engaged!—to you!Here’s a fine story!2259R.(aside). She has not said his name.Fl.Indeed, ’tis true, my lady; and I am sureMy lady will pardon me. And since he hath told meHow kind your ladyship hath been to him....D.By heaven, I’ll have you whipped,—whipped!Fl.O, my lady!D.And speak of marriage, you impertinent hussy!Fl.It was the money which your ladyship gave him,That made us think of marrying.D.Worse and worse!To spend my present on my waiting-maid.—O thy pretension! thy pretension! Think youHe really loves you?Fl.Why not?2270Maids.Ay, why not?D.What hath he ever said to make you thinkHe loves you, Flora?Fl.He told me very often,Before I’d have him....D.Ah!Kate.And that I warrant.He’s not one of your struck-dumb mumbling sort,That haven’t a word.D.Silence! And tell me, Flora,Something he has said.2275Fl.He calls me his little love,—his duck:And says a hundred thousand pretty thingsAs often as we meet.D.A hundred thousand!His compliments are cheap. Duck, too!Fl.My lady,’Tis what men say. It does not mean a duck.Kate.’Tis true, my lady; ’tis a common saying.D.Silence! No one of you dare from this moment2282To speak to me. You are all alike disgraced.And, that you are not more shamed, disgraced the more.I shall discharge you all.Kate.What! and Rose too!D.To-morrow morning. Bút, Flóra, for youI cannot think of punishment sufficient.Merely to have had a lover,—to have concealed it,—To have even admitted him by night,—were nothing,Had the affair been....Re-enter Sir Gregory up the stairs with Tristram’s hat, holding it up.2290G.Found on the stairs,—the intruder’s hat, my lady:He had thrown it on the lamp to extinguish it,And thereby is detected.R.(aside).Now’s revelation.D.Why,—but whose hat is this?Fl.’Tis his, my lady.R.Is not this Tristram’s hat?D.(aside). Hath he come hither in his servant’s clothes?Fl.It’s Tristram’s hat.K.At least what’s left of it.D.Came he disguised?Fl.’Twas thus, my lady. As he ran down the stairs,I bade him dout the lamp. I did not meanThat he should burn his hat.D.(aside). What can this be?It can’t have been Tristram.—Answer me, Flora:2301Was it master Tristram visited you to-night?Fl.Of course, my lady. I’d not deny it.D.(aside).I see!After all, only Tristram.—Came he alone?Answer me at once.Fl.I am much ashamed, my lady,He came alone. And yet, my lady, I swearI never bade him; nor asked him, for that matter.I heard his step, and found him waiting thereBy the big clock. How he came in I know not.D.Enough: I shall discover. All leave but Flora.[Exeunt maids except Fl.2310(Aside.) Thank heaven they have not guessed ... and yet how nearlyMy jealousy betrayed me! (To Fl.) I told you, Flora,I shall discharge you. Tho’I do not doubtTristram came here without your invitation,Yet in concealing his pretensions from meYou have disobeyed,—deceived me.Fl.I was afraidMy lady would forbid him.D.Silence, girl!Go to your room. I’ll speak of this to-morrow.Fl.I hope my lady will forgive his boldness.I have told my lady all.D.Begone! begone![Exit Fl.2320(To R.) What think you of this, Ricardo?R.’Tis the wrong fox we have hunted.D.Ah, I thinkFox is the word. I half believe that FrederickAnd Tristram are in league.R.I guessed the truthWhen Flora first confessed.D.I was too hot.R.You think too ill of Frederick.D.Nay, Ricardo:Do not defend him. ’Tis enough to shame himThat Tristram is his servant.G.I pray my ladyWill now retire.D.Yes, true, Sir Gregory.’Tis time, high time. And let this trophy here2330Be sent to its owner; and to-morrow morningBid him come speak with me. Tell him, Ricardo.Good-night.[Exit Gregory lighting her out,R.R.I am now secure of her: since in my presenceShe hath so consented to disgrace her idol.He is quite dethroned: she knows too that I know.He is past recovery. Could she but have seen himWalking with Laura in the garden, plottingTheir flight to-morrow! And I to climb by suchA ladder of comedy, tottering with laughter,To love’s very heaven! After three years of painThree days of farce, disguise, and folly; and then,Suddenly win my joy!Re-enter Sir Gregory.2341And thou, Sir Gregory,Shalt be my major-domo.G.Eigh!R.(taking his arm). I say,Sir Gregory, I’ll have you for my major-domo.[Exeunt.SCENE · 2Frederick’s room; open portmanteaus, &c. lying about. Near the fireplace R. is a cupboard with key in lock. A table in centre.Enter FREDERICK carrying music, and TRISTRAM.FREDERICK.All my clothes are in, you say, Tristram?TRISTRAM.Everything, sir.F.You pack well, Tristram: put in these. (handing music.) Is there room for the music?T.Anything, sir. Lie there, ye wrigglers. (begins to sing to himself.)F.And this book.2350T.Where is it you may be going, if you please, sir?F.Never mind. You pack very well, Tristram. I shall miss you.T.If the Countess has sent you to Milan, will you not want your best black velvet doublet?F.I shall wear that on the journey.T.Wear your best black velvet on the road! Well!—Stay we long away, sir?F.Never mind. Now shut it up and give me the key.T.I should like to know, sir, how long we stay2360away, and when we are to start.F.Give me the key. Now, Tristram, I understand that the Countess has dismissed you from her household. That saves me explanation. Here’s your wages (puts money on the table) for the current quarter. You are no more my servant.T.Good heavens! do you discharge me, sir? I beg, what have I done to offend you?F.Never mind.The Countess has discharged you,—that’s enough.Tho’you’re a fool, Tristram, to say the truth,I have got accustomed to you, and shall be sorryTo part with you. I have quite as many reasonsFor wishing you to stay, as you have given me2375To be dissatisfied. But so ’tis fated;And what God willeth, Tristram,needs must be,After the opinion of certain clerkës.T.I am not to go with you to-day to Milan?F.No, Tristram. Now we part.T.Consider, sir,2380That Flora is discharged as well as me:Cannot you take us with you?F.You and FloraWith me!T.What shall we do, sir? What shall we do?F.I’ll tell you what. While you were in my serviceYou served me ill, pried into my affairs,Took bribes to spy upon me:—I know,—attend.If you would win my favour, you must serve meNow you are discharged. You can assist me, and ifYou serve me better, I’ll use my interest, Tristram,To get you a decent place.T.What is’t to do?F.’Tis this. An hour from hence I must be off.2391St. Nicholas will likely enough be hereAfter his marriage settlement. Now, Tristram,He must not find me. Wait for him here:—do you see?—And if he comes, get him out of the way.And if Ricardo comes, tell him that IAm gone to seek him and shall soon return:Bid him await me here. If by your helpI get off quickly, I will help you; if not,Tristram, I’ll cut your throat from ear to ear.[Exit.T.Heavens! what has possessed my master, and what’s to happen to me? O wala, wala! It all comes of love: or rather, I should say, it all came of my hat. I would it had been consumed entirely. This hole in the crown is not to be mended ... and all round ’tis like tinder, it breaks with a touch. Of what contemptible material are these hats made! It might have been sewn up else. Now ’tis a picture of me. Yes, the hat is me, as it were; the hole in the crown is the ruin of my fortunes wrought upon me by the fiery lamp, which is my love for Flora. There’s a parable. Could I write a poem on this, it might appease the Countess. Deary me! What are Flora and I to do? Money beingthe root of all evil, I must look first to that. All depends on that. Let me see what I can muster. There’s my pay; there’s the Countess’present, and my little savings. (turns out his purse and pockets on to the table.) I’ll put it all in heaps of ten. No, heaps of five: better in fives, there’ll be more heaps; and there’s comfort in the number of heaps. Tho’less lordly, ’twill be more showy. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty. (knocking at door.) Come in,—twenty-five.Enter St. Nicholas.ST. NICHOLAS.Tristram! Where’s your master?T.Twenty-five. My master’s no more. Twenty-six.N.Frederick is dead?T.(singing). What dead, my dearie?Oh no, my dearie.N.What is this nonsense, Tristram?T.When I meet with a poet, St. Nicholas, I can2430speak poetry.N.I came to see your master, Tristram; and you said he was dead.T.I said he was no more, not that he was dead: and, as I say, he is no more my master. I am, as ’twere, a gentleman at large; and I sit here by invitation, engaged on my own affairs, which do not need assistance.N.I came to see your master on important business, Tristram. Be civil enough to tell me where he is.T.My master is nowhere. This was twenty-six.N.I shall wait for him here.T.Well, if you choose to wait, I know what you come after. ’Tis not the sonnet.N.When will Frederick be back, Tristram?T.But I’ll give you back your sonnet, if you will write me a poem about my hat, this hat. ’Tis but to versify my own imaginations. See! I am the hat: the hole in it is my discharge: the flame which burnt the hole is Flora,—that’s the Countess’maid. All is good. There’s the blackness of the hat, the fire of the lamp, the abysm of the hole: it lacks but the moon, which you might shift to see through the crown; and if you could weave in with that your sphinx and something about death, I think that I might tickle the Countess’ ear to reconsider of my discharge; for she loves poetry.N.Curse thy impertinence, Tristram. Where’s thy master?T.I will shew you where your master is, if you curse me or aught of mine, master Nick.2460N.Darst thou speak to me thus?T.Did you not call me a thief, and base-born clown?N.Art thou not both?T.Whate’er I be, Mr. Poet, I have now no master, nor any obligation to any gentleman to make believe for his convenience that thou art aught. Thou! Why thy brainpan hath nought in it but shoddy, I warrant. Thou combed ass! thou left-handed goose!—to curse2470me!N.By heaven, I cannot away with thee.T.No, that you can’t. (Aside.) I have it. I’ll shut him in the screeky cupboard.—Well, sir: I know what you come after. ’Tis the marriage papers, is it not? I was bid see to them. Look in that cupboard.N.Ah! are they there? (Goes to cupboard and looks in. T. pushes him behind, and shuts door on him, locking it.)T.There curse me, and seek your papers.—(Aside.) I think I have him now. If this does not satisfy my2480master, I’ll never try to please him again.N.(within). Let me out at once. There are no papers here. What did you shut me in here for?T.To follow your occupation—to lounge, lounge in the cupboard. Am I a thief?N.Let me out, I beg of you, Tristram.T.Not till you have made my poem, or told me a cure for the rheumatics. Ay, bawl and kick: Iwill finish my accounts. Kick away, one for each pile. Twenty-six it was: twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty. Why you overdo it: you kick by the ducat. With three and a half, (pocketing.) thirty-three ducats and a half. Silence! silence! ’Tis more kicks than half-pence, as they say. If you will be quiet, I will give you back your sonnet. (Takes it out and reads)—Master of mine, remember for pitie.Ha! who’s your master now?—I will recite the end part, which I have never read.Once in a vesture of pale crimson cameThat willowed Archdelight, whose eyes are dim2501With gazing on a book of writhing flame:My stars! and no wonder neither.And with him Hope, the stringless harp-player,Himself an embelem, harped in mine earHis long-lost Sapphic song and nuptial hymn.Hem! Very good, sir, as far as it goes. You should finish this and have it ready by the wedding. See! I will thrust it to you under the door. Won’t you take it back? If I have not charmed him to sleep with his own verses! Ha! he bites—he lives. (N. pulls it to him from within.) (To himself.) This is very well. But I wonder why my master wished him out of the way;and why he is sent to Milan; and taking all these things with him; and why he is travelling in that doublet. He hath no care for his clothes. Yet I’ll do him a last service, and brush it for him. ’Tis sadly dusty (having taken it down). He shall not say that his old valet neglected him in aught. So lie there. (puts doublet on table.) Pockets full, of course. If I were a gentleman, I’d have no pockets. How can velvet lie? How can one smoothe it down, stuffed out in a lump like this ... an old handkerchief, I’ll warrant ... no ... a glove: a lady’s glove: a very secret affair: one he hath stolen to write verses on. I shall tell the Countess of this. (Knocking at the door heard.) This will be Mister Ricardo, I suppose. Come in!Enter Sir Gregory.GREGORY.Tristram, where’s your master? Not at home?T.shakes his head.G.Do you know where he is?T.shakes.2530G.Has St. Nicholas been here?T.nods.G.Is he gone?T.nods.N.(kicking harder), Sir Gregory! Sir Gregory! I am here!G.Do you expect your master soon?T.nods.G.I may sit and await him?(T. bows and gives a chair. G. sits to table, T. takes doublet from table. The glove falls on the floor. G. takes out papers, and lays them on the table to read them.)T.(hanging up doublet). Now shall the cupboard-door speak to the old gentleman. (pretends to busy himself. N. makes a great knocking.)G.Come in! There is some one at the door, Tristram.T.shakes.G.I think there is. (goes to the door and opens it: finds no one, and returns.)(Aside.) Frederick is unaccountably remiss,Most unaccountably remiss.—Tristram, I am sure I hear a noise. What is it?T.(going up to G., shouts in his ear).They are sweeping the chimney in the next room, Sir Gregory.G.Ah.—You would much oblige me, Tristram, if you would go and seek your master, and tell him that I am here.T.(nodding). I can’t refuse, and I’ve done my duty by St. Nicholas. Yet ’tis sad to miss any of this play. I will go, and be back in a trice. (Passing the cupboard, to N.) Thou silly! he’ll never mind thee.N.Curse you, Tristram!T.Hush thee, my babe.[Exit.G.(walks about restlessly).The man’s as strange as his master. How DianaCan trust her affairs to one so wholly unfit,So unmethodical! And what discomfortThe fellow lives in. The room in such disorder:2560He might be going away for good. Two suchImmense portmanteaux. What’s all that for now?There is something going on that I do not know of....Tristram’s discharged ... that’s true. (sees glove on floor; and picks it up mechanically to put it on the table.)A lady’s glove!Yes, ’tis a lady’s; thrown upon the floor.What see I? that embroidery ... ’Tis Laura’s;Laura’s. St. Nicholas hath been here.—No, no. Yet the only other explanation....It cannot be ... I see it all.... ’Tis true....Her tears and strange farewell to me this morning:Her treatment of St. Nicholas: and Frederick,Why he mistook the contract ... these portmanteaux.—By heaven, by heaven, there’s no time to lose:They’re off. (going out, passes close to cupboard. N. makes more noise than ever.)Ha!—Heigh!’Tis here, then: not in the chimney. Eh!—who’s here?(Opens cupboard.) St. Nicholas!N.O, Sir Gregory, you would not hear.G.Who shut you in the cupboard?N.Tristram.G.Tristram?N.assents.G.And is this Laura’s glove? Look at it.N.(nodding). It is.G.Then tell me: did you bring it here? Could youBy any chance have dropped it here?N.(disclaiming by gesture).I? No, sir.I came to seek for Frederick.2580G.(to himself).What can this mean,Unless to keep his rival out of the way?—Listen, St. Nicholas, I have discovered somethingConcerns you nearly.—I think—I am sure—Nay: I’ll not tell you what I suspect....’Tis but suspicion. But you have been, I fear,Most shamefully beguiled.N.Ay, that I was.He said that I should find my settlementIn the cupboard.G.Patience. I will go to LauraAnd learn the truth. Meanwhile, seek out the Countess,2590And beg her give me an interview at once.I’ll come to the ante-chamber. By heaven, St. Nicholas....And yet I scarce know.... There’s no time to lose:Come quickly.[Exeunt.SCENE · 3A room in the Palace.DIANA and FREDERICK.DIANA.You say you start at once.FREDERICK.The coach is waiting.D.Here is my letter: give it to the Duke.The answer is not urgent: it may keep youA day or two at Milan.F.You wish, my lady,I should return?D.Why not?I understoodYour ladyship to accept my resignation.2600It lies with her convenience but to fixThe day of my dismission.D.Do you wishTo leave my service?F.I could never serveWhere I am distrusted.D.Would you reconsiderYour angry speech, I would make some concession.F.I had cause for anger.D.That I would concede.But I too was provoked; and in the endI came off worst.F.Not so, my lady.D.I soughtTo learn your secret, and was merely fooled.F.I understand not how your ladyshipWas first provoked,—at least with me.2610D.Nay, true:’Twas a mistake. We need no explanation,And may be friends again.F.I cannot offerHer ladyship my services.D.You leave me?F.’Tis better that I should. I thank your ladyshipFor many kindnesses. I pray sincerelyYou may be better suited.D.No fear for that,2617Frederick: for by my soul I thinkThere is no other man would so have wronged me2619As thou hast done.... My only fault hath beenTo have thought too well of thee. But do not dreamI am unprepared. I have seen thro’thee, Frederick;Yes, thro’and thro’. My offers of concessionI made to prove thee, lest thou shouldst pretendThat I was unforgiving. In the letterI have writ the Duke, thou bearest the commissionOf thy successor. Henceforth I reject thee:And treat thee as thou deservest. Go, sir, go!Indeed, I care not whether you go or not.F.I have then your leave to stay away?D.My leave?2630I bid thee go, and never see me more.I have done with thee, sir. Go![Exit F. bowing.And that’s the man I loved; the man for whomI sank to jealousy. Who is’t he loves?He love! The fool was right: he loves himself.Now will he bide at Milan. Ah, good sir,Thy lady is not there, and yet thou goestMost cheerfully,—thou goest. And it was thouDidst write soft verses: music too,—thy music.And I thinking I loved thee was betrayedA thousand times ... and to be scorned—by thee!2641Scorned for another. (Weeps.)Enter St. Nicholas hastily.ST. NICHOLAS.My lady, I pray.D.(going off). Nay, sir: I cannot see you.N.But listen a moment. Tristram locked me in the cupboard....D.What is this? I cannot see you.N.But Sir Gregory sent me to entreat an interview at once,—he said at once.D.Then tell Sir Gregory that I will see him in halfan hour; until that time let no one disturb me on any2650account,—not even Sir Gregory.[Exit.N.I’ll be well satisfied. I’ll be revenged.To shut me half an hour in a dark cupboard,With all the flock and flue, ’mong cast-off clothes,Old boots and shoes: call me an ass, a goose,And mock my muse ... a fellow ... a common fellow.A man that is the servant of the servantOf the adoptive sister of my Laura!He shall be swinged. Sir Gregory will right me:Sir Gregory will avenge me. Had heaven but given me2660His inches, why, I’d do it myself. I’d flog him,Till he cried mercy, mercy! mercy, St. Nicholas,Mercy, I pray! No, no: no mercy, sir.Down on thy knees! No mercy, sir, from me.No mercy. (beating a chair.)Enter Sir Gregory.GREGORY.St. Nicholas, where’s the Countess?N.(shouting). She says that she will see you in half an hour.G.In half an hour!—Nay, I must see her at once.You have been betrayed.N.I have. I have been betrayed.But you shall see me avenged.G.And I must see her at once. (going in.)N.(withstanding him). She bade me sayShe could not see you.2670G.Do not stay me, man;Your happiness is at stake.N.Nay, she forbade it.She said in half an hour.G.(half-aside). Why does he stay me?In half an hour he says. What can I do?By that time he’ll be off. (Aloud.) St. Nicholas!His coach is at the door: in half an hour’Twill be too late: he will have got away.Go to the stables, mount yourself at onceWith three or four of the grooms, and ride togetherTo the further gate of the park. There wait for Frederick’s carriage:2680Stop it. If she is within, I give you warrantTo bring them back: if she be not within,Follow. She awaits him somewhere on the road.Wherever it be, take them, and bring them back:You have a father’s warrant.N.Who is it you speak of, sir?G.Heigh!N.Whose carriage shall I stop?G.Why, Frederick’s.N.And who’s the lady?2690G.Who is the lady, ask you? Why Laura, my daughter.N.Laura with Frederick!G.I went to her room: she’s flown, and with a maid.She hath packed up clothes and gone. I am right, I am sure.N.And shall I stop them?G.Lose no more time. Begone! Do as I bid.N.There’s some mistake; Laura with Frederick!Why, we were to be married!G.Fly! fly! St. Nicholas, else ’twill be too late.[Exit N.The man’s a dolt: he’ll never be in time,2700And I that call him fool, why what am I?With my grey hairs—and such an idiot,Not to have seen! And if I had only knownThat Frederick loved my Laura, and she him....Why did they never tell me? My dearest Laura, ...To marry without my knowledge, ... run awayWithout my blessing ... it shall not be ... as ifAgainst my will ... not to ask my consent ...And count on my approval. O Laura, Laura!If I had known—and now no doubt2710’Tis past all hindrance.... Am I not a foolTo wish to stop them? Perhaps they have not started,I may be in time. I will tell Frederick all,—I do not disapprove ... nay, I approve.’Tis better far ... and yet how can I?—My word is plighted to St. Nicholas.’Tis better they should get clear off. Heaven speed them!Why did I send that idiot after them?I wish they may escape. O Laura, Laura!Without my blessing. Yet thou hast my blessing.2720God bless thee! I try and hinder thee? O no.I will go stop St. Nicholas.[Hurries out.SCENE · 4Frederick’s room as before.

Enter TRISTRAM and FLORA hurriedly(R.).

FLORA.

Fly, Tristram, down the stairs: she is coming.

TRISTRAM.

O, wala! wala! If she has seen us—

2140Fl.Quick! And dout the lamp.[ExitR.

Fl.Quick! And dout the lamp.[ExitR.

T.O, wala! wala!

[Exit down the stairs, back, making a great noise; the lamp suddenly goes out.

Enter Diana in robe-de-chambre, with a lamp in her hand.

DIANA.

Stop, sir! stop, stop! I see you: I bid you stop.Flora, Flora!—I’ll ring the alarm.[Pulls a rope.Will no one come?

Stop, sir! stop, stop! I see you: I bid you stop.

Flora, Flora!—I’ll ring the alarm.[Pulls a rope.

Will no one come?

Enter Ricardo(L.).RICARDO.

Enter Ricardo(L.).

RICARDO.

I heard your ladyship call.

D.He is here, Ricardo: I heard him, I saw him.

R.Where?

2145D.He ran off down the stairs. Follow him and seize him.Bring him back here. Quick!

D.He ran off down the stairs. Follow him and seize him.

Bring him back here. Quick!

R.Down the stairs?

D.Quick, quick!

[Exit R. at back.

Is this the way I am treated? and not a servant!Flora! Come, Flora! Flora! is no one awake?

Is this the way I am treated? and not a servant!

Flora! Come, Flora! Flora! is no one awake?

Enter(L.)St. Nicholas hurriedly, half-dressed, carrying suits of clothes, a dressing-case, etc.

D.Stay, sir! where go you?

ST. NICHOLAS.

2150Fire! fire! The palace is on fire! Fly, fly!

Fire! fire! The palace is on fire! Fly, fly!

D.Stay, sir, I say: the house is not on fire.

N.Where is the fire? Mercy! O, heaven save me!

D.There is no fire at all.

N.No fire! Are you sure?

D.I rang the bell myself to awake the house.A man broke in.

D.I rang the bell myself to awake the house.

A man broke in.

N.Thieves? Robbers?

D.I do not know.He has got away. Go, wake Sir Gregory.

D.I do not know.

He has got away. Go, wake Sir Gregory.

N.(going). First let me fetch my sword!

D.Nonsense, St. Nicholas; we need no swords.Go, wake Sir Gregory, and send him here:Send him at once.[Exit N.(L.)

D.Nonsense, St. Nicholas; we need no swords.

Go, wake Sir Gregory, and send him here:

Send him at once.[Exit N.(L.)

Re-enter Ricardo(back).

2160Were you too late, Ricardo?Did you not catch him? Has he escaped?

Were you too late, Ricardo?

Did you not catch him? Has he escaped?

R.In the dark,Whoever it was, had passed the door before me,And, like a hare, faster than I could follow,Sped o’er the grass into the house.

R.In the dark,

Whoever it was, had passed the door before me,

And, like a hare, faster than I could follow,

Sped o’er the grass into the house.

D.You saw him?Where went he in?

D.You saw him?

Where went he in?

R.At Frederick’s door. I reached itIn time to hear the key turn in the lock.

R.At Frederick’s door. I reached it

In time to hear the key turn in the lock.

D.’Tis he, then, and escaped in spite of us.But I’ll find out with whom he dares....

D.’Tis he, then, and escaped in spite of us.

But I’ll find out with whom he dares....

R.(aside). ’Twas the fool Tristram:I saw him plainly enough. Should I not tell her?—

R.(aside). ’Twas the fool Tristram:

I saw him plainly enough. Should I not tell her?—

2171D.Ricardo, go and fetch Sir Gregory;I have sent St. Nicholas for him, but the manIs scared with terror.

D.Ricardo, go and fetch Sir Gregory;

I have sent St. Nicholas for him, but the man

Is scared with terror.

R.(aside). While all goes well with me, the less I meddleThe better. I’ll let her find this out herself.

R.(aside). While all goes well with me, the less I meddle

The better. I’ll let her find this out herself.

[Exit(L.)

D.I’ll ring the bell again.

Enter the Maids(R.).

So here you crawl at last! I had better keepNo maids at all than such a drowsy troop.Not frightened by the fire-bell! You must haveWondrous good consciences. Now, tell me at once—There was a man outside my chamber-doorLaughing and talking. Answer at once!—who was it?2181Who was it was here?

So here you crawl at last! I had better keep

No maids at all than such a drowsy troop.

Not frightened by the fire-bell! You must have

Wondrous good consciences. Now, tell me at once—

There was a man outside my chamber-door

Laughing and talking. Answer at once!—who was it?

Who was it was here?

DOROTHY.

I heard my lady call;But did not think that it could be my ladyAt such an hour.

I heard my lady call;

But did not think that it could be my lady

At such an hour.

D.Nay: I should be asleepOf course, but I was not.

D.Nay: I should be asleep

Of course, but I was not.

Enter Gregory and Ricardo(L.).

My major-domoAt last. Come in, Sir Gregory, come: you are wanted.

My major-domo

At last. Come in, Sir Gregory, come: you are wanted.

Sir GREGORY.

I am shocked, your ladyship, at what hath happened:Ricardo hath told me. But there seems no doubtThe unknown intruder hath escaped. Be sureYou may retire in safety, without fear2190Of being disturbed again. I will go roundAnd see that all’s secure. To-morrow morningThere shall be full inquiry.

I am shocked, your ladyship, at what hath happened:

Ricardo hath told me. But there seems no doubt

The unknown intruder hath escaped. Be sure

You may retire in safety, without fear

Of being disturbed again. I will go round

And see that all’s secure. To-morrow morning

There shall be full inquiry.

D.To-morrow? Nay,I do not leave this spot till I know all.I guess who ’tis.

D.To-morrow? Nay,

I do not leave this spot till I know all.

I guess who ’tis.

G.I pray your ladyshipRetire. The cold air of the hall, the excitementAt such an hour may harm your ladyship.

G.I pray your ladyship

Retire. The cold air of the hall, the excitement

At such an hour may harm your ladyship.

D.No. If I die I’ll learn the truth at once.I know else how ’twill be. You’ll go to bedAnd sleep till noon; and when you wake you’ll say2200’Twas all delusion, that I never heardA man at all. That what Ricardo sawWas but a bush, a shadow, a bat, an owlHe frighted from the ivy: and so in the endAll will make light of it.

D.No. If I die I’ll learn the truth at once.

I know else how ’twill be. You’ll go to bed

And sleep till noon; and when you wake you’ll say

’Twas all delusion, that I never heard

A man at all. That what Ricardo saw

Was but a bush, a shadow, a bat, an owl

He frighted from the ivy: and so in the end

All will make light of it.

G.Heigh! Give me a light.The lamp has been extinguished on the stairs.I’ll go and search about.

G.Heigh! Give me a light.

The lamp has been extinguished on the stairs.

I’ll go and search about.

[Takes a light from one of the maids, and Exit, back.

R.(aside).I’ll stay and watch.

D.Now, ye dissemblers, stand forth one by oneAnd answer me.

D.Now, ye dissemblers, stand forth one by one

And answer me.

R.(aside). This will seal Frederick’s fate.She must betray her mean suspicion, and I2210Witness the degradation of her idol.—

R.(aside). This will seal Frederick’s fate.

She must betray her mean suspicion, and I

Witness the degradation of her idol.—

(The maids are congregated at back,R.as they come out of the passage. They stand forth singly to be questioned, and come in turn to front,R.)

D.Dorothy first. Dost thou know, Dorothy,What man it was whose voice I heard up-stairs;Who, when I left my room and gave the alarm,Ran out?

D.Dorothy first. Dost thou know, Dorothy,

What man it was whose voice I heard up-stairs;

Who, when I left my room and gave the alarm,

Ran out?

Dor.I do not know, my lady.

D.I askDidst thou not see or hear him?

D.I ask

Didst thou not see or hear him?

2215Dor.No, my lady.

Dor.No, my lady.

D.Thou wert asleep?

Dor.I was asleep, my lady.

D.Then stand aside. Now, Kate.

Dor.(aside). Here’s a fine game!

D.Sawst thou or heardst thou anything?

KATE.

No, my lady.

D.Nothing at all?

K.Nothing at all, my lady.

D.Wert thou asleep?

2220K.I was asleep, my lady.

K.I was asleep, my lady.

D.Step thou aside. Now, Flora.

K.(to Dor.).Will she lie?

Dor.(to K.). Trust her.

D.Now, Flora, answer.

Fl.I am grieved my ladyShould think I could deceive her.

Fl.I am grieved my lady

Should think I could deceive her.

D.I did not askIf you deceived me. Heard you any noise?Did you see any man?

D.I did not ask

If you deceived me. Heard you any noise?

Did you see any man?

Fl.Not I, my lady.

Dor.(aside to K.). Oh! oh!

D.Were you asleep?

Fl.I was asleep, my lady.

D.Then stand aside.

Fl.(aside to K.). Did she believe me?

K.(to Fl.).Well!Thou’st got a brazen face!

K.(to Fl.).Well!

Thou’st got a brazen face!

Dor.(do.).Art thou not shamed?

D.Marcela next. Didst thou hear anything?

MARCELA.

2231I heard no noise until my lady called.

I heard no noise until my lady called.

D.Thou wert asleep?

Mar.I was asleep, my lady.

D.’Tis strange. Stand thou aside.

Dor.(aside).Now then for Rose.

Mar.(do.). She really was asleep.

Fl.(do.).Then what shall come?

D.Now, Rose, thou’rt left alone. Thy fellow-servantsHave all denied the thing of which some oneAt least is guilty. Thee I did not suspect:But do not fear to tell the truth. Who was it?Tell me who is thy lover. No tittering there!Your levity makes you all accomplices,Ay, every one.

D.Now, Rose, thou’rt left alone. Thy fellow-servants

Have all denied the thing of which some one

At least is guilty. Thee I did not suspect:

But do not fear to tell the truth. Who was it?

Tell me who is thy lover. No tittering there!

Your levity makes you all accomplices,

Ay, every one.

ROSE.

2140My lady, I have no lover.

My lady, I have no lover.

D.Tell me who this man was.

Rose.I do not know.I heard no noise till Marcela awoke me.

Rose.I do not know.

I heard no noise till Marcela awoke me.

D.Didst thou awake her, Marcela?

Mar.Yes, my lady.She was asleep. Rose always speaks the truth.It wasn’t Rose.

Mar.Yes, my lady.

She was asleep. Rose always speaks the truth.

It wasn’t Rose.

D.You are all then in one plot:Or shame has made you lie. But never thinkTo escape. I know the gentleman, and knowHe visits one of you: and which it is2250I’ll learn to-night: unless perhaps you’ll sayHe makes love to you all.

D.You are all then in one plot:

Or shame has made you lie. But never think

To escape. I know the gentleman, and know

He visits one of you: and which it is

I’ll learn to-night: unless perhaps you’ll say

He makes love to you all.

Mar.Indeed, my lady,He is quite a proper man.

Mar.Indeed, my lady,

He is quite a proper man.

Dor.And all his courtshipHas been most regular.

Dor.And all his courtship

Has been most regular.

D.Come, come: confess.Who is it?

D.Come, come: confess.

Who is it?

Fl.It’s me, my lady. I must confess.

D.Flora!

Fl.Forgive me, I beg; for I abjureI never asked him: but, as I often tell him,He takes such liberties; which, as you know him,I need not tell your ladyship: and ’tis trueWe have been some time engaged.

Fl.Forgive me, I beg; for I abjure

I never asked him: but, as I often tell him,

He takes such liberties; which, as you know him,

I need not tell your ladyship: and ’tis true

We have been some time engaged.

D.Engaged!—to you!Here’s a fine story!

D.Engaged!—to you!

Here’s a fine story!

2259R.(aside). She has not said his name.

R.(aside). She has not said his name.

Fl.Indeed, ’tis true, my lady; and I am sureMy lady will pardon me. And since he hath told meHow kind your ladyship hath been to him....

Fl.Indeed, ’tis true, my lady; and I am sure

My lady will pardon me. And since he hath told me

How kind your ladyship hath been to him....

D.By heaven, I’ll have you whipped,—whipped!

Fl.O, my lady!

D.And speak of marriage, you impertinent hussy!

Fl.It was the money which your ladyship gave him,That made us think of marrying.

Fl.It was the money which your ladyship gave him,

That made us think of marrying.

D.Worse and worse!To spend my present on my waiting-maid.—O thy pretension! thy pretension! Think youHe really loves you?

D.Worse and worse!

To spend my present on my waiting-maid.—

O thy pretension! thy pretension! Think you

He really loves you?

Fl.Why not?

2270Maids.Ay, why not?

Maids.Ay, why not?

D.What hath he ever said to make you thinkHe loves you, Flora?

D.What hath he ever said to make you think

He loves you, Flora?

Fl.He told me very often,Before I’d have him....

Fl.He told me very often,

Before I’d have him....

D.Ah!

Kate.And that I warrant.He’s not one of your struck-dumb mumbling sort,That haven’t a word.

Kate.And that I warrant.

He’s not one of your struck-dumb mumbling sort,

That haven’t a word.

D.Silence! And tell me, Flora,Something he has said.

D.Silence! And tell me, Flora,

Something he has said.

2275Fl.He calls me his little love,—his duck:And says a hundred thousand pretty thingsAs often as we meet.

Fl.He calls me his little love,—his duck:

And says a hundred thousand pretty things

As often as we meet.

D.A hundred thousand!His compliments are cheap. Duck, too!

D.A hundred thousand!

His compliments are cheap. Duck, too!

Fl.My lady,’Tis what men say. It does not mean a duck.

Fl.My lady,

’Tis what men say. It does not mean a duck.

Kate.’Tis true, my lady; ’tis a common saying.

D.Silence! No one of you dare from this moment2282To speak to me. You are all alike disgraced.And, that you are not more shamed, disgraced the more.I shall discharge you all.

D.Silence! No one of you dare from this moment

To speak to me. You are all alike disgraced.

And, that you are not more shamed, disgraced the more.

I shall discharge you all.

Kate.What! and Rose too!

D.To-morrow morning. Bút, Flóra, for youI cannot think of punishment sufficient.Merely to have had a lover,—to have concealed it,—To have even admitted him by night,—were nothing,Had the affair been....

D.To-morrow morning. Bút, Flóra, for you

I cannot think of punishment sufficient.

Merely to have had a lover,—to have concealed it,—

To have even admitted him by night,—were nothing,

Had the affair been....

Re-enter Sir Gregory up the stairs with Tristram’s hat, holding it up.

2290G.Found on the stairs,—the intruder’s hat, my lady:He had thrown it on the lamp to extinguish it,And thereby is detected.

G.Found on the stairs,—the intruder’s hat, my lady:

He had thrown it on the lamp to extinguish it,

And thereby is detected.

R.(aside).Now’s revelation.

D.Why,—but whose hat is this?

Fl.’Tis his, my lady.

R.Is not this Tristram’s hat?

D.(aside). Hath he come hither in his servant’s clothes?

Fl.It’s Tristram’s hat.

K.At least what’s left of it.

D.Came he disguised?

Fl.’Twas thus, my lady. As he ran down the stairs,I bade him dout the lamp. I did not meanThat he should burn his hat.

Fl.’Twas thus, my lady. As he ran down the stairs,

I bade him dout the lamp. I did not mean

That he should burn his hat.

D.(aside). What can this be?It can’t have been Tristram.—Answer me, Flora:2301Was it master Tristram visited you to-night?

D.(aside). What can this be?

It can’t have been Tristram.—Answer me, Flora:

Was it master Tristram visited you to-night?

Fl.Of course, my lady. I’d not deny it.

D.(aside).I see!After all, only Tristram.—Came he alone?Answer me at once.

D.(aside).I see!

After all, only Tristram.—Came he alone?

Answer me at once.

Fl.I am much ashamed, my lady,He came alone. And yet, my lady, I swearI never bade him; nor asked him, for that matter.I heard his step, and found him waiting thereBy the big clock. How he came in I know not.

Fl.I am much ashamed, my lady,

He came alone. And yet, my lady, I swear

I never bade him; nor asked him, for that matter.

I heard his step, and found him waiting there

By the big clock. How he came in I know not.

D.Enough: I shall discover. All leave but Flora.

[Exeunt maids except Fl.

2310(Aside.) Thank heaven they have not guessed ... and yet how nearlyMy jealousy betrayed me! (To Fl.) I told you, Flora,I shall discharge you. Tho’I do not doubtTristram came here without your invitation,Yet in concealing his pretensions from meYou have disobeyed,—deceived me.

(Aside.) Thank heaven they have not guessed ... and yet how nearly

My jealousy betrayed me! (To Fl.) I told you, Flora,

I shall discharge you. Tho’I do not doubt

Tristram came here without your invitation,

Yet in concealing his pretensions from me

You have disobeyed,—deceived me.

Fl.I was afraidMy lady would forbid him.

Fl.I was afraid

My lady would forbid him.

D.Silence, girl!Go to your room. I’ll speak of this to-morrow.

D.Silence, girl!

Go to your room. I’ll speak of this to-morrow.

Fl.I hope my lady will forgive his boldness.I have told my lady all.

Fl.I hope my lady will forgive his boldness.

I have told my lady all.

D.Begone! begone![Exit Fl.2320(To R.) What think you of this, Ricardo?

D.Begone! begone![Exit Fl.

(To R.) What think you of this, Ricardo?

R.’Tis the wrong fox we have hunted.

D.Ah, I thinkFox is the word. I half believe that FrederickAnd Tristram are in league.

D.Ah, I think

Fox is the word. I half believe that Frederick

And Tristram are in league.

R.I guessed the truthWhen Flora first confessed.

R.I guessed the truth

When Flora first confessed.

D.I was too hot.

R.You think too ill of Frederick.

D.Nay, Ricardo:Do not defend him. ’Tis enough to shame himThat Tristram is his servant.

D.Nay, Ricardo:

Do not defend him. ’Tis enough to shame him

That Tristram is his servant.

G.I pray my ladyWill now retire.

G.I pray my lady

Will now retire.

D.Yes, true, Sir Gregory.’Tis time, high time. And let this trophy here2330Be sent to its owner; and to-morrow morningBid him come speak with me. Tell him, Ricardo.Good-night.[Exit Gregory lighting her out,R.

D.Yes, true, Sir Gregory.

’Tis time, high time. And let this trophy here

Be sent to its owner; and to-morrow morning

Bid him come speak with me. Tell him, Ricardo.

Good-night.[Exit Gregory lighting her out,R.

R.I am now secure of her: since in my presenceShe hath so consented to disgrace her idol.He is quite dethroned: she knows too that I know.He is past recovery. Could she but have seen himWalking with Laura in the garden, plottingTheir flight to-morrow! And I to climb by suchA ladder of comedy, tottering with laughter,To love’s very heaven! After three years of painThree days of farce, disguise, and folly; and then,Suddenly win my joy!

R.I am now secure of her: since in my presence

She hath so consented to disgrace her idol.

He is quite dethroned: she knows too that I know.

He is past recovery. Could she but have seen him

Walking with Laura in the garden, plotting

Their flight to-morrow! And I to climb by such

A ladder of comedy, tottering with laughter,

To love’s very heaven! After three years of pain

Three days of farce, disguise, and folly; and then,

Suddenly win my joy!

Re-enter Sir Gregory.

2341And thou, Sir Gregory,Shalt be my major-domo.

And thou, Sir Gregory,

Shalt be my major-domo.

G.Eigh!

R.(taking his arm). I say,Sir Gregory, I’ll have you for my major-domo.

R.(taking his arm). I say,

Sir Gregory, I’ll have you for my major-domo.

[Exeunt.

Frederick’s room; open portmanteaus, &c. lying about. Near the fireplace R. is a cupboard with key in lock. A table in centre.Enter FREDERICK carrying music, and TRISTRAM.FREDERICK.All my clothes are in, you say, Tristram?TRISTRAM.Everything, sir.F.You pack well, Tristram: put in these. (handing music.) Is there room for the music?T.Anything, sir. Lie there, ye wrigglers. (begins to sing to himself.)F.And this book.2350T.Where is it you may be going, if you please, sir?F.Never mind. You pack very well, Tristram. I shall miss you.T.If the Countess has sent you to Milan, will you not want your best black velvet doublet?F.I shall wear that on the journey.T.Wear your best black velvet on the road! Well!—Stay we long away, sir?F.Never mind. Now shut it up and give me the key.T.I should like to know, sir, how long we stay2360away, and when we are to start.F.Give me the key. Now, Tristram, I understand that the Countess has dismissed you from her household. That saves me explanation. Here’s your wages (puts money on the table) for the current quarter. You are no more my servant.T.Good heavens! do you discharge me, sir? I beg, what have I done to offend you?

Frederick’s room; open portmanteaus, &c. lying about. Near the fireplace R. is a cupboard with key in lock. A table in centre.

Enter FREDERICK carrying music, and TRISTRAM.

FREDERICK.

All my clothes are in, you say, Tristram?

TRISTRAM.

Everything, sir.

F.You pack well, Tristram: put in these. (handing music.) Is there room for the music?

T.Anything, sir. Lie there, ye wrigglers. (begins to sing to himself.)

F.And this book.

T.Where is it you may be going, if you please, sir?

F.Never mind. You pack very well, Tristram. I shall miss you.

T.If the Countess has sent you to Milan, will you not want your best black velvet doublet?

F.I shall wear that on the journey.

T.Wear your best black velvet on the road! Well!—Stay we long away, sir?

F.Never mind. Now shut it up and give me the key.

T.I should like to know, sir, how long we stay2360away, and when we are to start.

F.Give me the key. Now, Tristram, I understand that the Countess has dismissed you from her household. That saves me explanation. Here’s your wages (puts money on the table) for the current quarter. You are no more my servant.

T.Good heavens! do you discharge me, sir? I beg, what have I done to offend you?

F.Never mind.The Countess has discharged you,—that’s enough.Tho’you’re a fool, Tristram, to say the truth,I have got accustomed to you, and shall be sorryTo part with you. I have quite as many reasonsFor wishing you to stay, as you have given me2375To be dissatisfied. But so ’tis fated;And what God willeth, Tristram,needs must be,After the opinion of certain clerkës.

F.Never mind.

The Countess has discharged you,—that’s enough.

Tho’you’re a fool, Tristram, to say the truth,

I have got accustomed to you, and shall be sorry

To part with you. I have quite as many reasons

For wishing you to stay, as you have given me

To be dissatisfied. But so ’tis fated;

And what God willeth, Tristram,needs must be,

After the opinion of certain clerkës.

T.I am not to go with you to-day to Milan?

F.No, Tristram. Now we part.

T.Consider, sir,2380That Flora is discharged as well as me:Cannot you take us with you?

T.Consider, sir,

That Flora is discharged as well as me:

Cannot you take us with you?

F.You and FloraWith me!

F.You and Flora

With me!

T.What shall we do, sir? What shall we do?

F.I’ll tell you what. While you were in my serviceYou served me ill, pried into my affairs,Took bribes to spy upon me:—I know,—attend.If you would win my favour, you must serve meNow you are discharged. You can assist me, and ifYou serve me better, I’ll use my interest, Tristram,To get you a decent place.

F.I’ll tell you what. While you were in my service

You served me ill, pried into my affairs,

Took bribes to spy upon me:—I know,—attend.

If you would win my favour, you must serve me

Now you are discharged. You can assist me, and if

You serve me better, I’ll use my interest, Tristram,

To get you a decent place.

T.What is’t to do?

F.’Tis this. An hour from hence I must be off.2391St. Nicholas will likely enough be hereAfter his marriage settlement. Now, Tristram,He must not find me. Wait for him here:—do you see?—And if he comes, get him out of the way.And if Ricardo comes, tell him that IAm gone to seek him and shall soon return:Bid him await me here. If by your helpI get off quickly, I will help you; if not,Tristram, I’ll cut your throat from ear to ear.[Exit.

F.’Tis this. An hour from hence I must be off.

St. Nicholas will likely enough be here

After his marriage settlement. Now, Tristram,

He must not find me. Wait for him here:—do you see?—

And if he comes, get him out of the way.

And if Ricardo comes, tell him that I

Am gone to seek him and shall soon return:

Bid him await me here. If by your help

I get off quickly, I will help you; if not,

Tristram, I’ll cut your throat from ear to ear.[Exit.

T.Heavens! what has possessed my master, and what’s to happen to me? O wala, wala! It all comes of love: or rather, I should say, it all came of my hat. I would it had been consumed entirely. This hole in the crown is not to be mended ... and all round ’tis like tinder, it breaks with a touch. Of what contemptible material are these hats made! It might have been sewn up else. Now ’tis a picture of me. Yes, the hat is me, as it were; the hole in the crown is the ruin of my fortunes wrought upon me by the fiery lamp, which is my love for Flora. There’s a parable. Could I write a poem on this, it might appease the Countess. Deary me! What are Flora and I to do? Money beingthe root of all evil, I must look first to that. All depends on that. Let me see what I can muster. There’s my pay; there’s the Countess’present, and my little savings. (turns out his purse and pockets on to the table.) I’ll put it all in heaps of ten. No, heaps of five: better in fives, there’ll be more heaps; and there’s comfort in the number of heaps. Tho’less lordly, ’twill be more showy. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty. (knocking at door.) Come in,—twenty-five.Enter St. Nicholas.ST. NICHOLAS.Tristram! Where’s your master?T.Twenty-five. My master’s no more. Twenty-six.N.Frederick is dead?T.(singing). What dead, my dearie?Oh no, my dearie.N.What is this nonsense, Tristram?T.When I meet with a poet, St. Nicholas, I can2430speak poetry.N.I came to see your master, Tristram; and you said he was dead.T.I said he was no more, not that he was dead: and, as I say, he is no more my master. I am, as ’twere, a gentleman at large; and I sit here by invitation, engaged on my own affairs, which do not need assistance.N.I came to see your master on important business, Tristram. Be civil enough to tell me where he is.T.My master is nowhere. This was twenty-six.N.I shall wait for him here.T.Well, if you choose to wait, I know what you come after. ’Tis not the sonnet.N.When will Frederick be back, Tristram?T.But I’ll give you back your sonnet, if you will write me a poem about my hat, this hat. ’Tis but to versify my own imaginations. See! I am the hat: the hole in it is my discharge: the flame which burnt the hole is Flora,—that’s the Countess’maid. All is good. There’s the blackness of the hat, the fire of the lamp, the abysm of the hole: it lacks but the moon, which you might shift to see through the crown; and if you could weave in with that your sphinx and something about death, I think that I might tickle the Countess’ ear to reconsider of my discharge; for she loves poetry.N.Curse thy impertinence, Tristram. Where’s thy master?T.I will shew you where your master is, if you curse me or aught of mine, master Nick.2460N.Darst thou speak to me thus?T.Did you not call me a thief, and base-born clown?N.Art thou not both?T.Whate’er I be, Mr. Poet, I have now no master, nor any obligation to any gentleman to make believe for his convenience that thou art aught. Thou! Why thy brainpan hath nought in it but shoddy, I warrant. Thou combed ass! thou left-handed goose!—to curse2470me!N.By heaven, I cannot away with thee.T.No, that you can’t. (Aside.) I have it. I’ll shut him in the screeky cupboard.—Well, sir: I know what you come after. ’Tis the marriage papers, is it not? I was bid see to them. Look in that cupboard.N.Ah! are they there? (Goes to cupboard and looks in. T. pushes him behind, and shuts door on him, locking it.)T.There curse me, and seek your papers.—(Aside.) I think I have him now. If this does not satisfy my2480master, I’ll never try to please him again.N.(within). Let me out at once. There are no papers here. What did you shut me in here for?T.To follow your occupation—to lounge, lounge in the cupboard. Am I a thief?N.Let me out, I beg of you, Tristram.T.Not till you have made my poem, or told me a cure for the rheumatics. Ay, bawl and kick: Iwill finish my accounts. Kick away, one for each pile. Twenty-six it was: twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty. Why you overdo it: you kick by the ducat. With three and a half, (pocketing.) thirty-three ducats and a half. Silence! silence! ’Tis more kicks than half-pence, as they say. If you will be quiet, I will give you back your sonnet. (Takes it out and reads)—Master of mine, remember for pitie.Ha! who’s your master now?—I will recite the end part, which I have never read.Once in a vesture of pale crimson cameThat willowed Archdelight, whose eyes are dim2501With gazing on a book of writhing flame:My stars! and no wonder neither.And with him Hope, the stringless harp-player,Himself an embelem, harped in mine earHis long-lost Sapphic song and nuptial hymn.Hem! Very good, sir, as far as it goes. You should finish this and have it ready by the wedding. See! I will thrust it to you under the door. Won’t you take it back? If I have not charmed him to sleep with his own verses! Ha! he bites—he lives. (N. pulls it to him from within.) (To himself.) This is very well. But I wonder why my master wished him out of the way;and why he is sent to Milan; and taking all these things with him; and why he is travelling in that doublet. He hath no care for his clothes. Yet I’ll do him a last service, and brush it for him. ’Tis sadly dusty (having taken it down). He shall not say that his old valet neglected him in aught. So lie there. (puts doublet on table.) Pockets full, of course. If I were a gentleman, I’d have no pockets. How can velvet lie? How can one smoothe it down, stuffed out in a lump like this ... an old handkerchief, I’ll warrant ... no ... a glove: a lady’s glove: a very secret affair: one he hath stolen to write verses on. I shall tell the Countess of this. (Knocking at the door heard.) This will be Mister Ricardo, I suppose. Come in!Enter Sir Gregory.GREGORY.Tristram, where’s your master? Not at home?T.shakes his head.G.Do you know where he is?T.shakes.2530G.Has St. Nicholas been here?T.nods.G.Is he gone?T.nods.N.(kicking harder), Sir Gregory! Sir Gregory! I am here!G.Do you expect your master soon?T.nods.G.I may sit and await him?(T. bows and gives a chair. G. sits to table, T. takes doublet from table. The glove falls on the floor. G. takes out papers, and lays them on the table to read them.)T.(hanging up doublet). Now shall the cupboard-door speak to the old gentleman. (pretends to busy himself. N. makes a great knocking.)G.Come in! There is some one at the door, Tristram.T.shakes.G.I think there is. (goes to the door and opens it: finds no one, and returns.)

Enter St. Nicholas.

ST. NICHOLAS.

Tristram! Where’s your master?

T.Twenty-five. My master’s no more. Twenty-six.

N.Frederick is dead?

T.(singing). What dead, my dearie?Oh no, my dearie.

N.What is this nonsense, Tristram?

T.When I meet with a poet, St. Nicholas, I can2430speak poetry.

N.I came to see your master, Tristram; and you said he was dead.

T.I said he was no more, not that he was dead: and, as I say, he is no more my master. I am, as ’twere, a gentleman at large; and I sit here by invitation, engaged on my own affairs, which do not need assistance.

N.I came to see your master on important business, Tristram. Be civil enough to tell me where he is.

T.My master is nowhere. This was twenty-six.

N.I shall wait for him here.

T.Well, if you choose to wait, I know what you come after. ’Tis not the sonnet.

N.When will Frederick be back, Tristram?

T.But I’ll give you back your sonnet, if you will write me a poem about my hat, this hat. ’Tis but to versify my own imaginations. See! I am the hat: the hole in it is my discharge: the flame which burnt the hole is Flora,—that’s the Countess’maid. All is good. There’s the blackness of the hat, the fire of the lamp, the abysm of the hole: it lacks but the moon, which you might shift to see through the crown; and if you could weave in with that your sphinx and something about death, I think that I might tickle the Countess’ ear to reconsider of my discharge; for she loves poetry.

N.Curse thy impertinence, Tristram. Where’s thy master?

T.I will shew you where your master is, if you curse me or aught of mine, master Nick.

N.Darst thou speak to me thus?

T.Did you not call me a thief, and base-born clown?

N.Art thou not both?

T.Whate’er I be, Mr. Poet, I have now no master, nor any obligation to any gentleman to make believe for his convenience that thou art aught. Thou! Why thy brainpan hath nought in it but shoddy, I warrant. Thou combed ass! thou left-handed goose!—to curse2470me!

N.By heaven, I cannot away with thee.

T.No, that you can’t. (Aside.) I have it. I’ll shut him in the screeky cupboard.—Well, sir: I know what you come after. ’Tis the marriage papers, is it not? I was bid see to them. Look in that cupboard.

N.Ah! are they there? (Goes to cupboard and looks in. T. pushes him behind, and shuts door on him, locking it.)

T.There curse me, and seek your papers.—(Aside.) I think I have him now. If this does not satisfy my2480master, I’ll never try to please him again.

N.(within). Let me out at once. There are no papers here. What did you shut me in here for?

T.To follow your occupation—to lounge, lounge in the cupboard. Am I a thief?

N.Let me out, I beg of you, Tristram.

T.Not till you have made my poem, or told me a cure for the rheumatics. Ay, bawl and kick: Iwill finish my accounts. Kick away, one for each pile. Twenty-six it was: twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty. Why you overdo it: you kick by the ducat. With three and a half, (pocketing.) thirty-three ducats and a half. Silence! silence! ’Tis more kicks than half-pence, as they say. If you will be quiet, I will give you back your sonnet. (Takes it out and reads)—

Master of mine, remember for pitie.

Ha! who’s your master now?—I will recite the end part, which I have never read.

Once in a vesture of pale crimson cameThat willowed Archdelight, whose eyes are dim2501With gazing on a book of writhing flame:

Once in a vesture of pale crimson came

That willowed Archdelight, whose eyes are dim

With gazing on a book of writhing flame:

My stars! and no wonder neither.

And with him Hope, the stringless harp-player,Himself an embelem, harped in mine earHis long-lost Sapphic song and nuptial hymn.

And with him Hope, the stringless harp-player,

Himself an embelem, harped in mine ear

His long-lost Sapphic song and nuptial hymn.

Hem! Very good, sir, as far as it goes. You should finish this and have it ready by the wedding. See! I will thrust it to you under the door. Won’t you take it back? If I have not charmed him to sleep with his own verses! Ha! he bites—he lives. (N. pulls it to him from within.) (To himself.) This is very well. But I wonder why my master wished him out of the way;and why he is sent to Milan; and taking all these things with him; and why he is travelling in that doublet. He hath no care for his clothes. Yet I’ll do him a last service, and brush it for him. ’Tis sadly dusty (having taken it down). He shall not say that his old valet neglected him in aught. So lie there. (puts doublet on table.) Pockets full, of course. If I were a gentleman, I’d have no pockets. How can velvet lie? How can one smoothe it down, stuffed out in a lump like this ... an old handkerchief, I’ll warrant ... no ... a glove: a lady’s glove: a very secret affair: one he hath stolen to write verses on. I shall tell the Countess of this. (Knocking at the door heard.) This will be Mister Ricardo, I suppose. Come in!Enter Sir Gregory.GREGORY.Tristram, where’s your master? Not at home?T.shakes his head.G.Do you know where he is?T.shakes.2530G.Has St. Nicholas been here?T.nods.G.Is he gone?T.nods.N.(kicking harder), Sir Gregory! Sir Gregory! I am here!G.Do you expect your master soon?T.nods.G.I may sit and await him?(T. bows and gives a chair. G. sits to table, T. takes doublet from table. The glove falls on the floor. G. takes out papers, and lays them on the table to read them.)T.(hanging up doublet). Now shall the cupboard-door speak to the old gentleman. (pretends to busy himself. N. makes a great knocking.)G.Come in! There is some one at the door, Tristram.T.shakes.G.I think there is. (goes to the door and opens it: finds no one, and returns.)

Enter Sir Gregory.

GREGORY.

Tristram, where’s your master? Not at home?

T.shakes his head.

G.Do you know where he is?

T.shakes.

G.Has St. Nicholas been here?

T.nods.

G.Is he gone?

T.nods.

N.(kicking harder), Sir Gregory! Sir Gregory! I am here!

G.Do you expect your master soon?

T.nods.

G.I may sit and await him?

(T. bows and gives a chair. G. sits to table, T. takes doublet from table. The glove falls on the floor. G. takes out papers, and lays them on the table to read them.)

T.(hanging up doublet). Now shall the cupboard-door speak to the old gentleman. (pretends to busy himself. N. makes a great knocking.)

G.Come in! There is some one at the door, Tristram.

T.shakes.

G.I think there is. (goes to the door and opens it: finds no one, and returns.)

(Aside.) Frederick is unaccountably remiss,Most unaccountably remiss.—Tristram, I am sure I hear a noise. What is it?

(Aside.) Frederick is unaccountably remiss,

Most unaccountably remiss.—

Tristram, I am sure I hear a noise. What is it?

T.(going up to G., shouts in his ear).They are sweeping the chimney in the next room, Sir Gregory.

T.(going up to G., shouts in his ear).

They are sweeping the chimney in the next room, Sir Gregory.

G.Ah.—You would much oblige me, Tristram, if you would go and seek your master, and tell him that I am here.T.(nodding). I can’t refuse, and I’ve done my duty by St. Nicholas. Yet ’tis sad to miss any of this play. I will go, and be back in a trice. (Passing the cupboard, to N.) Thou silly! he’ll never mind thee.N.Curse you, Tristram!T.Hush thee, my babe.[Exit.

G.Ah.—You would much oblige me, Tristram, if you would go and seek your master, and tell him that I am here.

T.(nodding). I can’t refuse, and I’ve done my duty by St. Nicholas. Yet ’tis sad to miss any of this play. I will go, and be back in a trice. (Passing the cupboard, to N.) Thou silly! he’ll never mind thee.

N.Curse you, Tristram!

T.Hush thee, my babe.[Exit.

G.(walks about restlessly).The man’s as strange as his master. How DianaCan trust her affairs to one so wholly unfit,So unmethodical! And what discomfortThe fellow lives in. The room in such disorder:2560He might be going away for good. Two suchImmense portmanteaux. What’s all that for now?There is something going on that I do not know of....Tristram’s discharged ... that’s true. (sees glove on floor; and picks it up mechanically to put it on the table.)A lady’s glove!Yes, ’tis a lady’s; thrown upon the floor.What see I? that embroidery ... ’Tis Laura’s;Laura’s. St. Nicholas hath been here.—No, no. Yet the only other explanation....It cannot be ... I see it all.... ’Tis true....Her tears and strange farewell to me this morning:Her treatment of St. Nicholas: and Frederick,Why he mistook the contract ... these portmanteaux.—By heaven, by heaven, there’s no time to lose:They’re off. (going out, passes close to cupboard. N. makes more noise than ever.)Ha!—Heigh!’Tis here, then: not in the chimney. Eh!—who’s here?(Opens cupboard.) St. Nicholas!

G.(walks about restlessly).

The man’s as strange as his master. How Diana

Can trust her affairs to one so wholly unfit,

So unmethodical! And what discomfort

The fellow lives in. The room in such disorder:

He might be going away for good. Two such

Immense portmanteaux. What’s all that for now?

There is something going on that I do not know of....

Tristram’s discharged ... that’s true. (sees glove on floor; and picks it up mechanically to put it on the table.)

A lady’s glove!

Yes, ’tis a lady’s; thrown upon the floor.

What see I? that embroidery ... ’Tis Laura’s;

Laura’s. St. Nicholas hath been here.—

No, no. Yet the only other explanation....

It cannot be ... I see it all.... ’Tis true....

Her tears and strange farewell to me this morning:

Her treatment of St. Nicholas: and Frederick,

Why he mistook the contract ... these portmanteaux.—

By heaven, by heaven, there’s no time to lose:

They’re off. (going out, passes close to cupboard. N. makes more noise than ever.)

Ha!—Heigh!

’Tis here, then: not in the chimney. Eh!—who’s here?

(Opens cupboard.) St. Nicholas!

N.O, Sir Gregory, you would not hear.

G.Who shut you in the cupboard?

N.Tristram.

G.Tristram?

N.assents.

G.And is this Laura’s glove? Look at it.

N.(nodding). It is.

G.Then tell me: did you bring it here? Could youBy any chance have dropped it here?

G.Then tell me: did you bring it here? Could you

By any chance have dropped it here?

N.(disclaiming by gesture).I? No, sir.I came to seek for Frederick.

N.(disclaiming by gesture).I? No, sir.

I came to seek for Frederick.

2580G.(to himself).What can this mean,Unless to keep his rival out of the way?—Listen, St. Nicholas, I have discovered somethingConcerns you nearly.—I think—I am sure—Nay: I’ll not tell you what I suspect....’Tis but suspicion. But you have been, I fear,Most shamefully beguiled.

G.(to himself).What can this mean,

Unless to keep his rival out of the way?—

Listen, St. Nicholas, I have discovered something

Concerns you nearly.—I think—I am sure—

Nay: I’ll not tell you what I suspect....

’Tis but suspicion. But you have been, I fear,

Most shamefully beguiled.

N.Ay, that I was.He said that I should find my settlementIn the cupboard.

N.Ay, that I was.

He said that I should find my settlement

In the cupboard.

G.Patience. I will go to LauraAnd learn the truth. Meanwhile, seek out the Countess,2590And beg her give me an interview at once.I’ll come to the ante-chamber. By heaven, St. Nicholas....And yet I scarce know.... There’s no time to lose:Come quickly.[Exeunt.

G.Patience. I will go to Laura

And learn the truth. Meanwhile, seek out the Countess,

And beg her give me an interview at once.

I’ll come to the ante-chamber. By heaven, St. Nicholas....

And yet I scarce know.... There’s no time to lose:

Come quickly.[Exeunt.

A room in the Palace.

DIANA and FREDERICK.

DIANA.

You say you start at once.

FREDERICK.

The coach is waiting.

D.Here is my letter: give it to the Duke.The answer is not urgent: it may keep youA day or two at Milan.

D.Here is my letter: give it to the Duke.

The answer is not urgent: it may keep you

A day or two at Milan.

F.You wish, my lady,I should return?

F.You wish, my lady,

I should return?

D.Why not?

I understoodYour ladyship to accept my resignation.2600It lies with her convenience but to fixThe day of my dismission.

I understood

Your ladyship to accept my resignation.

It lies with her convenience but to fix

The day of my dismission.

D.Do you wishTo leave my service?

D.Do you wish

To leave my service?

F.I could never serveWhere I am distrusted.

F.I could never serve

Where I am distrusted.

D.Would you reconsiderYour angry speech, I would make some concession.

D.Would you reconsider

Your angry speech, I would make some concession.

F.I had cause for anger.

D.That I would concede.But I too was provoked; and in the endI came off worst.

D.That I would concede.

But I too was provoked; and in the end

I came off worst.

F.Not so, my lady.

D.I soughtTo learn your secret, and was merely fooled.

D.I sought

To learn your secret, and was merely fooled.

F.I understand not how your ladyshipWas first provoked,—at least with me.

F.I understand not how your ladyship

Was first provoked,—at least with me.

2610D.Nay, true:’Twas a mistake. We need no explanation,And may be friends again.

D.Nay, true:

’Twas a mistake. We need no explanation,

And may be friends again.

F.I cannot offerHer ladyship my services.

F.I cannot offer

Her ladyship my services.

D.You leave me?

F.’Tis better that I should. I thank your ladyshipFor many kindnesses. I pray sincerelyYou may be better suited.

F.’Tis better that I should. I thank your ladyship

For many kindnesses. I pray sincerely

You may be better suited.

D.No fear for that,2617Frederick: for by my soul I thinkThere is no other man would so have wronged me2619As thou hast done.... My only fault hath beenTo have thought too well of thee. But do not dreamI am unprepared. I have seen thro’thee, Frederick;Yes, thro’and thro’. My offers of concessionI made to prove thee, lest thou shouldst pretendThat I was unforgiving. In the letterI have writ the Duke, thou bearest the commissionOf thy successor. Henceforth I reject thee:And treat thee as thou deservest. Go, sir, go!Indeed, I care not whether you go or not.

D.No fear for that,

Frederick: for by my soul I think

There is no other man would so have wronged me

As thou hast done.... My only fault hath been

To have thought too well of thee. But do not dream

I am unprepared. I have seen thro’thee, Frederick;

Yes, thro’and thro’. My offers of concession

I made to prove thee, lest thou shouldst pretend

That I was unforgiving. In the letter

I have writ the Duke, thou bearest the commission

Of thy successor. Henceforth I reject thee:

And treat thee as thou deservest. Go, sir, go!

Indeed, I care not whether you go or not.

F.I have then your leave to stay away?

D.My leave?2630I bid thee go, and never see me more.I have done with thee, sir. Go!

D.My leave?

I bid thee go, and never see me more.

I have done with thee, sir. Go!

[Exit F. bowing.

And that’s the man I loved; the man for whomI sank to jealousy. Who is’t he loves?He love! The fool was right: he loves himself.Now will he bide at Milan. Ah, good sir,Thy lady is not there, and yet thou goestMost cheerfully,—thou goest. And it was thouDidst write soft verses: music too,—thy music.And I thinking I loved thee was betrayedA thousand times ... and to be scorned—by thee!2641Scorned for another. (Weeps.)

And that’s the man I loved; the man for whom

I sank to jealousy. Who is’t he loves?

He love! The fool was right: he loves himself.

Now will he bide at Milan. Ah, good sir,

Thy lady is not there, and yet thou goest

Most cheerfully,—thou goest. And it was thou

Didst write soft verses: music too,—thy music.

And I thinking I loved thee was betrayed

A thousand times ... and to be scorned—by thee!

Scorned for another. (Weeps.)

Enter St. Nicholas hastily.

ST. NICHOLAS.

My lady, I pray.

D.(going off). Nay, sir: I cannot see you.

N.But listen a moment. Tristram locked me in the cupboard....

D.What is this? I cannot see you.

N.But Sir Gregory sent me to entreat an interview at once,—he said at once.

D.Then tell Sir Gregory that I will see him in halfan hour; until that time let no one disturb me on any2650account,—not even Sir Gregory.[Exit.

D.Then tell Sir Gregory that I will see him in half

an hour; until that time let no one disturb me on any

account,—not even Sir Gregory.[Exit.

N.I’ll be well satisfied. I’ll be revenged.To shut me half an hour in a dark cupboard,With all the flock and flue, ’mong cast-off clothes,Old boots and shoes: call me an ass, a goose,And mock my muse ... a fellow ... a common fellow.A man that is the servant of the servantOf the adoptive sister of my Laura!He shall be swinged. Sir Gregory will right me:Sir Gregory will avenge me. Had heaven but given me2660His inches, why, I’d do it myself. I’d flog him,Till he cried mercy, mercy! mercy, St. Nicholas,Mercy, I pray! No, no: no mercy, sir.Down on thy knees! No mercy, sir, from me.No mercy. (beating a chair.)

N.I’ll be well satisfied. I’ll be revenged.

To shut me half an hour in a dark cupboard,

With all the flock and flue, ’mong cast-off clothes,

Old boots and shoes: call me an ass, a goose,

And mock my muse ... a fellow ... a common fellow.

A man that is the servant of the servant

Of the adoptive sister of my Laura!

He shall be swinged. Sir Gregory will right me:

Sir Gregory will avenge me. Had heaven but given me

His inches, why, I’d do it myself. I’d flog him,

Till he cried mercy, mercy! mercy, St. Nicholas,

Mercy, I pray! No, no: no mercy, sir.

Down on thy knees! No mercy, sir, from me.

No mercy. (beating a chair.)

Enter Sir Gregory.

GREGORY.

St. Nicholas, where’s the Countess?

N.(shouting). She says that she will see you in half an hour.

G.In half an hour!—Nay, I must see her at once.You have been betrayed.

G.In half an hour!—Nay, I must see her at once.

You have been betrayed.

N.I have. I have been betrayed.But you shall see me avenged.

N.I have. I have been betrayed.

But you shall see me avenged.

G.And I must see her at once. (going in.)

N.(withstanding him). She bade me sayShe could not see you.

N.(withstanding him). She bade me say

She could not see you.

2670G.Do not stay me, man;Your happiness is at stake.

G.Do not stay me, man;

Your happiness is at stake.

N.Nay, she forbade it.She said in half an hour.

N.Nay, she forbade it.

She said in half an hour.

G.(half-aside). Why does he stay me?In half an hour he says. What can I do?By that time he’ll be off. (Aloud.) St. Nicholas!His coach is at the door: in half an hour’Twill be too late: he will have got away.Go to the stables, mount yourself at onceWith three or four of the grooms, and ride togetherTo the further gate of the park. There wait for Frederick’s carriage:2680Stop it. If she is within, I give you warrantTo bring them back: if she be not within,Follow. She awaits him somewhere on the road.Wherever it be, take them, and bring them back:You have a father’s warrant.

G.(half-aside). Why does he stay me?

In half an hour he says. What can I do?

By that time he’ll be off. (Aloud.) St. Nicholas!

His coach is at the door: in half an hour

’Twill be too late: he will have got away.

Go to the stables, mount yourself at once

With three or four of the grooms, and ride together

To the further gate of the park. There wait for Frederick’s carriage:

Stop it. If she is within, I give you warrant

To bring them back: if she be not within,

Follow. She awaits him somewhere on the road.

Wherever it be, take them, and bring them back:

You have a father’s warrant.

N.Who is it you speak of, sir?

G.Heigh!

N.Whose carriage shall I stop?

G.Why, Frederick’s.

N.And who’s the lady?

2690G.Who is the lady, ask you? Why Laura, my daughter.

G.Who is the lady, ask you? Why Laura, my daughter.

N.Laura with Frederick!

G.I went to her room: she’s flown, and with a maid.She hath packed up clothes and gone. I am right, I am sure.

G.I went to her room: she’s flown, and with a maid.

She hath packed up clothes and gone. I am right, I am sure.

N.And shall I stop them?

G.Lose no more time. Begone! Do as I bid.

N.There’s some mistake; Laura with Frederick!Why, we were to be married!

N.There’s some mistake; Laura with Frederick!

Why, we were to be married!

G.Fly! fly! St. Nicholas, else ’twill be too late.

[Exit N.

The man’s a dolt: he’ll never be in time,2700And I that call him fool, why what am I?With my grey hairs—and such an idiot,Not to have seen! And if I had only knownThat Frederick loved my Laura, and she him....Why did they never tell me? My dearest Laura, ...To marry without my knowledge, ... run awayWithout my blessing ... it shall not be ... as ifAgainst my will ... not to ask my consent ...And count on my approval. O Laura, Laura!If I had known—and now no doubt2710’Tis past all hindrance.... Am I not a foolTo wish to stop them? Perhaps they have not started,I may be in time. I will tell Frederick all,—I do not disapprove ... nay, I approve.’Tis better far ... and yet how can I?—My word is plighted to St. Nicholas.’Tis better they should get clear off. Heaven speed them!Why did I send that idiot after them?I wish they may escape. O Laura, Laura!Without my blessing. Yet thou hast my blessing.2720God bless thee! I try and hinder thee? O no.I will go stop St. Nicholas.[Hurries out.

The man’s a dolt: he’ll never be in time,

And I that call him fool, why what am I?

With my grey hairs—and such an idiot,

Not to have seen! And if I had only known

That Frederick loved my Laura, and she him....

Why did they never tell me? My dearest Laura, ...

To marry without my knowledge, ... run away

Without my blessing ... it shall not be ... as if

Against my will ... not to ask my consent ...

And count on my approval. O Laura, Laura!

If I had known—and now no doubt

’Tis past all hindrance.... Am I not a fool

To wish to stop them? Perhaps they have not started,

I may be in time. I will tell Frederick all,—

I do not disapprove ... nay, I approve.

’Tis better far ... and yet how can I?—

My word is plighted to St. Nicholas.

’Tis better they should get clear off. Heaven speed them!

Why did I send that idiot after them?

I wish they may escape. O Laura, Laura!

Without my blessing. Yet thou hast my blessing.

God bless thee! I try and hinder thee? O no.

I will go stop St. Nicholas.[Hurries out.

Frederick’s room as before.

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