DAVID. I shall have to be quick about it, as it is to be disposed of to-day for the benefit of the mortgagees.
PLATO. Did you speak, sah?
DAVID (shortly. No!
PLATO. You say you will gib me de ten poun' down?
DAVID. Go to the devil! (R.)
PLATO (solemnly). I renounce de debble, sah! I forgib you, Misser Michaelmas! When all de money comes tumbling out ob de wall 'bout your ears, you'll be sorry for dis!
DAVID (laughs). Comes tumbling out of the wall! ha, ha! does he think--eh? Why not, after all?
PLATO. Misser Michaelmas, you hab transgressed ag'nist de laws ob politeness. As a polite man myself, I beg to mention anoder lilly posescript!
DAVID. Oh, bother!
PLATO. No boder, sah--it's a pleasure. I want to make a poppersition. I present my compliments and beg to offer you my hat, sah! all de money dat you fine, you put in him hat, an' all de money what tumbles froo dat hat comes to me, and all de money what stops in de hat, goes to you. (throws hat in.)
DAVID (examines hat and puts his arm through it). All the money that does not tumble through the hat comes to me? Thank you for nothing. (tosses hat to PLATO) Have I been measuring all this time instead of counting? Where will I commence!? Oh, the pattern on the wall.
PLATO. Misser Michaelmas, won't you hab de hat, wid Misser Plato's compliments.
DAVID. Pshaw! (looks up at flat, R.) The window is in the way. I will try the top row of roses on the other side. (to L ) "Six along"-- down from that--one--two--three--that's the rose. But how to reach it. (stands upon bed.)
PLATO. I don't know whether I am most frightened ob losing de money or ob seein' de ghost! (sits up on window-sill, about to enter) Does yer see de money, sah?
DAVID (with joy). Oh!
PLATO (in terror). Ky! (tumbles out of window.)
DAVID (eagerly, hand at trap in flat Here is a piece of the matting loose and a bit of string hanging from it--a letter at the end of the string! Hurrah! (gets off of bed and runs to window with letter in his hand. Knocks the dust off it) I can hardly read it for joy! "Duplicate of the letter to the Provost-Marshal." Oh, my master! I must go back to town without delay.
PLATO (shows his head). Misser Michaelmas!
DAVID. Out of the way!
PLATO. Hab you foun' de money!
DAVID. Out of the way! I am going to jump for it! Out of the way! (PLATO disappears, DAVID leaps out of window, waving letter.)
PLATO (as if he had been jumped upon, screams). A-a-ah!
Scene closes in. SCENE II.--Prison interior in 1st grooves.
Enter, R., JAILOR. Enter, R., MISS MILBURN.
MISS M. I want to speak to the Count de Leyrac. Here is the magistrate's order, (gives paper. JAILER looks at paper, bows, crosses to L., unlocks L. D., and then goes off L., pros. E.)
Enter, L. D., slowly, LEYRAC, but seeing MISS MILBURN, approaches her eagerly. LEY. Good-morning, my darling. You are most welcome!
MISS M. I bring you good news, Maurice.
LEY. You were sure to be the first to bring that. (takes her hand.)
MISS M. The sympathies of everybody on the island are with you. The magistrates themselves are all in your favor. There is proof that you insulted Mr. Westcraft in the market-place, but none that you are a slave. You are only known as the Count de Leyrac. Oh! what a charming thing Justice is--when it is on your own side! You will pass a formal examination, and leave the court as free as other men. But how you look at me. Do you so admire me?
LEY. I admire you, and I love you with all my heart and soul!
MISS M. You must have patience, my love. Come, come, my hand has nothing to do with it.
LEY. Is the day so far off when the hand will be mine?
MISS M. Ah! that may be nearer than you have expected. Mr. Westcraft insisted on my giving a definite answer to his pretensions. I shall find much pleasure in so doing.
LEY. I who am to stand as one of them amongst the slaves! can I concern myself with marriage?
MISS M. Now, I dislike you. Ah, hear me! I almost rejoice that your misfortunes have come. I can prove my esteem of you by saying: Slave or free, I love you! Maurice, will you take my hand?
LEY. As the hand of my wife?
MISS M. (smiling). If you have no objections, sir!
LEY. And when will we be married? To-day?
MISS M. You are in a great hurry, sir! Ah! it is not easy to say so, but I know you will not think the worse of me for it, but--but I have hastened the time of our marriage.
LEY. You! Ah, I understand, (gloomily) Your friends----
MISS M. No! You don't understand. My friends may suppose what they like, and say what they will. Marriage, in my eyes, is too sacred to be made a refuge from the opinion of the world. I have no parents--you are an orphan. To me you are the world. Slave or free, what is that to me? To-morrow there is a ship sails for France--will you go with it, and take me with you, as your wife?
LEY. Emily! (embraces her) Does there a man live who is worthy of you?
MISS M. I think there does.
Enter, R., paper in hand, PROVOST-MARSHAL. MARSHAL, Count Maurice de Leyrac, I regret that I have an unpleasant commission to perform. (R.)
LEY. (C., with MISS M. on his left). What is it, sir?
MAR. It is my official duty here to be present at the sale of slaves.
MISS M. My dear Provost-Marshal, that duty will be rendered less unpleasant by one exception to-day.
MAR. I run glad to hear it.
LEY. Stay, Emily. It is for me not to permit any thoughts injurious to my love of truth to be circulated. As far as regards me, your duty must be exercised.
MISS M. My darling, you are not bound to criminate yourself by revealing the secret of your birth.
MAR. You have only to remain silent. Mr. Westcraft has no written proof--and so matters will be in what is popularly termed a dead-lock.
LEY. I am not bound to volunteer any evidence that will injure me, but, if questions are directly put to me, I must not in honor permit my silence to pass for consent.
MAR. I must ask you certain leading questions, which will be registered in the records of the court.