Chapter 4

[Puts furniture against door.

Luc.He’s got it! Why, he must have come in here, then; and—and—of course he saw Elizabeth with my cloak round her. I see. Ha, ha, ha!

Cha.Confound her, she’s laughing! She laughs too as if she was only twenty.

Luc.So, sir, you refuse to open the door?

Cha.Quite impossible, madam. I’m gone, I’m a long way off, I’m on my road to Baden.

Luc.Pleasant journey, sir. (Aside.) It can’t be helped, I must have recourse to more violent means.

[ExitL. D.

Cha.I verily believe she’s going to burst the door in: I’d better bolt. The devil! this is becoming serious. It almost reminds me of my adventure amongst the savages in Africa, where the daughter of a king, with rings in her nose, took a violent fancy to me. The king favored the marriage, and told me quietly that I had the choice, if I didn’t marry his daughter he’d eat me. I at once answered, “Your Majesty, I prefer to enter your family to your mouth; I’ll marry your daughter to-morrow.” And during the night I escaped to the coast. Let us do the same, and escape to the coast.

[Makes for door.

Pri.(appearing at door drunk). Miss Lucy Mortimer wishes to have the honor of seeing you, sir.

Cha.Miss who, did you say?

Pri.Well, sir, beg pardon, it’s your cousin’s uncle or your uncle’s cousin.

Cha.Ask the lady to walk in, wretched man.

Pri.(announcingLucy,who is inElizabeth’scloak with a thick veil on). Miss Lucy Mortimer.

Cha.(advancing, confused). Madam, I thought I—

Luc.(speaking to him in a disguised voice, and throwing back veil). Well, sir, what do you think of me?

Cha.Ah, madam! Even the most confused man in the world could but confess that you are charming. (Aside.) If my neighbor were only half as pretty! Charming is not the word; but, excuse me, you come here at five in the morning, and ask me what I think of you. Well, that’s all right, I suppose; but pardon me if I go further, and venture to ask in the most humble manner in the world a little question.

Luc.(same voice). I’m listening.

Cha.I scarcely know how to put it, but by what curious coincidence do you come to know my name?

Luc.(in ordinary voice). Because, sir, I found out. (Points to dressing-case.) Because it’s the name of a kind, frank, brave young fellow, whom I really don’t find too lazy for any thing, and whom I’ve also learned to know as too honorable to misinterpret.

Cha.That voice! impossible. (Points toL. H.) It can’t be you. Who could I have seen there just now?

Luc.My maid, who was asleep whilst I was here, reading your name.

Cha.Why, it’s like a dream. But your husband, madam—

Luc.He too has gone to that land of rest.

Cha.You are then—

Luc.Miss Lucy Mortimer, your cousin, who can no longer retain the fortune that so justly belongs to you.

Cha.(confused). But I absolutely refuse to—

Luc.Ah, if you refuse me, I shall ask you to give me back my sprig of May.

Cha.(kneeling). Never. I will keep it to the last moment of my life, and with it the hand I now hold.

[Sinks on his knee. Door opens.

Luc.Get up: here’s some one coming.

EnterPrichard,R. 2 E.

Pri.Madam, sir, the postilions are harnessed: I mean the horses.

Cha.Confound that landlord!—Come here, landlord. (TakesPri.upC.) Did you ever hear that this hotel ofyours was infected with a malady of the most infectious character?

Pri.Sir, I beg most distinctly to state that—

Cha.Landlord, you’re very drunk.

[Pushes him through door into next room, where he falls on sofa.

Luc.Oh, Charles, dear! I hope we sha’n’t catch it.

Cha.Don’t be afraid, dear: the malady which I allude to is one from which we are both of us suffering, and it is one that has but one remedy for its cure. (To audience.) Dear friends, the malady is love: the remedy is marriage. If any of you are suffering from some of the premonitory symptoms of this insidious disease, you will, I feel sure, accord us your utmost sympathy. But if there should be any here who have not yet been attacked, and who wish to avoid contagion, let me strongly recommend them to avoid, upon any pretence whatever, a conversation with a lady which is to be carried on

UNDER A VEIL.

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