Ah! my expected pilot.
PLATO (bows). Hab I kep' you a-waitin', sah? Sorry, sah! But de press ob culled business in dis island am puffectly oberwhelminatin' on a public man like me.
DAVID. Are the public men well paid, Mr. Plato, on this island?
PLATO (disgusted). Well paid, sah! Dey is not paid at all, sah! All I gits is a lilly encouragement and de comfort ob my own approvin' conscience. (L. of DAVID at C.)
DAVID (aside). Hem! I think I can manage this part of it very easily.
PLATO. What am de use ob my approvin' conscience? Can we eat him? Will him fine me in clothes? Will he cober me up warm in de night? I is sick ob my approvin' conscience!
DAVID. Well, Mr. Plato, about the sights of town. What is the first of your public institutions?
PLATO. Whareber de flag ob England floats, what is de fust of public institootions? Why, sah, de grog-shop roun' de corner. Ha, yah!
DAVID. Well, before we patronize that public institution, I would like to put a few questions to you upon the old families of the island--all out of pure curiosity.
PLATO. I nebah encourage idle curiosity, sah. I hab moral objections to de same. Misser Michaelmas, I wish you a berry good mornin'. (stands still, face turned from DAVID.)
DAVID. Good-morning, Mr. Plato.
PLATO. Good-morning.
DAVID. (aside). He says good-morning, but he does not stir. I understand. (aloud) Mr. Plato, have you any moral objections to receive a sovereign?
PLATO. (turning around quickly). What dat you say, sah?
DAVID. Have you any moral objections to a sovereign?
PLATO. Not if you put It in my pocket when I am lookin' de oder way. Shall I look de oder way, Misser Michaelmas?
DAVID. Not yet, Mr. Plato. I want some information. If you can give it, I will pay you handsomely, in installments of a crown at a time. Do you know where is the house of the Mr. Brentwood, that died some years ago?
PLATO. Massa Brentwood, sah! I was one ob de sarvints ob de family.
DAVID. Ah! you can look the other way.
PLATO (turns his back on DAVID, both his hands in his coat-tail pockets, looking round). A lubly mornin', sah! I nebah see de birds look nicer a bloomin' on de trees.
DAVID (drops coin in PLATO'S pocket, PLATO rattles coin in one corner, fishes it up, furtively bites it, and drops it again in pocket, joyfully). Ky!
DAVID. Is the house far from here?
PLATO. Pooty good long way from heah, sah, on de coast road to de norf.
DAVID. Does anyone live there now?
PLATO. De present owner libs in de new wing, sah.
DAVID. The new wing. (aside) Then "the old wing" means the old wing of the house. That is one mystery cleared up. Mr. Plato, I think you are looking the other way.
PLATO (facing L.). I tink not, sah!
DAVID. Oh, yes, you are.
PLATO. Well, sah, a genibleman kin look de oder way without remarkin' it to himself. (about half of those on the stage may retire gradually, ready to come on for the final tableau) Hab you eber remarked dat, Mr. Michaelmas?
DAVID. Yes, I don't know but what I have. (PLATO shakes his coat-tails significantly) Once more about the old wing. No one lives there?
PLATO (shudders). Not a soul, sah! Dat's whar Massa Brentwood died, and den dey shut up all the rooms, and nobody eber go dar since, sah.
DAVID (aside). Then things are left just as when he inhabited there? Good. (aloud) You are looking the other way this time, Mr. Plato?
PLATO. I am admiring de beauty ob my native market-place. Lubly market-place, sah!
DAVID. I see. (drops coin in PLATO'S pocket.)
PLATO. Ky!
DAVID. Now then, I want a guide to take me to the old wing.
PLATO. Nobody is allowed to go dar, sah. Dey wouldn't let you dar eben if you axed.
DAVID. Then I shall go without asking.
PLATO. You want a guide, sah?
DAVID. Yes. Can you find me one to point me out the room in which Mr. Brentwood died?
PLATO. I am the only living man that knows de ole wing.
DAVID. Ah! (aside) I have been too hasty with my second crown. I will weigh the next more carefully. Mr. Plato, no, you needn't look the other way yet. I should like to take a walk along the road to the north. The rest of the sovereign will be found under the window of Mr. Brentwood's room.
PLATO. Dar won't be any risk to me, sah?
DAVID. None.
PLATO. Misser Michaelmas, dis is just do mornin' for a walk along de coast road to de norf. Permit me to offer you my arm, sah?
DAVID. Thank you.
PLATO (going L. with DAVID). Mine the pebbles in the road, sah? Don't 'tep in de puddle! (at L. D.) Dis way, sah, dis way. Ont ob de way dar, you white niggahs! Mine de 'tep, sah!
[Exit, with DAVID, L. 2 E. D.
Enter, R. U. E., coming down C., WESTCRAFT. WEST. The Frenchman is coming at last. Ah! (in satisfaction) I am glad of it. (cane in hand) Let her but come as I am correcting him, and it will be just the triumph I want. (L. C. front.)
Enter, R. U. E, followed by WOLF, LEYRAC. Both come down. SLAVES and PLANTERS stroll on and off, by U. E.'S. WEST. So you have come at last?
LEY. You have sent me a message relative to that whip which you hold in your hand. Do you want another lesson such as I taught you this morning? Are you responsible for the insolence of this man? (meaning WOLF.)
WEST. Settle it with the man! (WOLF looks at LEYRAC and smiles defiantly) What does it matter to me?
LEY. Hark ye, Mr. Planter, I gave you the option of settling our quarrel like a gentleman.
WEST. Are you so vain as to imagine that any friend of mine would take a message to you? (ALL on for picture.)
LEY. Is that your answer?
WEST. All my answer, yes.
LEY. (drawing glove off). Then, take mine! (strikes WESTCRAFT across face with glove.)
Excitement. Semi-circle formed of SPECTATORS behind WOLF, LEYRAC and WESTCRAFT. Pause. WEST. Bear witness, all of ye, that he has struck me in the face with his glove.
LEY. What! do you call witnesses to your degradation? Is there no shame in you?
WEST. (sternly, with suppressed passion. Wait a bit. You shall see. Wolf.
WOLF. Master? (to C.)
WEST.