Mr. Obenreizer will listen to reason directly.
Obenreizer. Will he!
Vendale. Don’t compel me to force you to sign.
Obenreizer. Force me? (VENDALE takes the forged receipt from his pocket and silently shows it to him. In a whisper.) The forged receipt!
Vendale. (In a whisper). What becomes of your authority over her now?
Bintrey. (producing the document). Will you sign this?
Obenreizer. (to VENDALE). Does she know?
Vendale. She does not know.
Obenreizer. She will never know if I sign?
Vendale. Never!
(VENDALE passes to the table, and burns the receipt in the candle as OBENREIZER signs the paper.)
Bintrey. (aside, taking the signed document). My sheet of paper has got the best of you after all!
Obenreizer. (standing apart from the rest). So ends the dream of my life! (He takes the phial of laudanum from his breast-pocket, and secretly drinks the poison. JOEY and SALLY appear at the back.)
Marguerite. (to VENDALE). What does it mean?
Obenreizer. It means, Marguerite, that you are free.
Marguerite. (to VENDALE). Free?
Vendale. Yes.
Marguerite. Look at him, George. Is the feeling wrong which tells me to forget the past? (VENDALE withdraws a little, and motions her to speak to OBENREIZER. She approaches him; they look at each other for a few moments in silence. MARGUERITE gently addresses him.) I am going to begin a new life, and a happy life. I wish to say something more than farewell. If I ever wronged you even in thought, forgive me! If you ever wronged me—for George’s sake, I forgive you. (OBENREIZER looks at her in silence.) Why are you silent?
Obenreizer. I once frightened you in the past time. Do I frighten you now?
Marguerite. (giving her hand). You are looking at me very strangely.
Obenreizer. I am looking at you for the last time. (His strength fails him, he staggers, VENDALE and BINTREY advance to support him. To VENDALE.) Don’t touch me! (Recovers himself. To BINTREY.) Thank you! Farewell! (As he crosses the threshold of the door, the curtain falls.)
THE END.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND.