(She gives him her hand.) Welcome to Limmeridge House.
Fosco (lifting her hand to his lips). You are too good to me, Miss Halcombe!
Sir P. (roughly). That's more than I can say, Fosco. I am welcomed here by suspicion and mistrust. First, I find a hitch in the marriage settlements, a clause introduced by the family lawyer. Not a halfpenny of my wife's money is to go to me if my wife dies first. I remark to Miss Halcombe, here, that it's possible, in a matter of this kind, to be too hard on a man----
Mar. (to FOSCO). And I remark to Sir Percival that it [29]is not possible to be too hard on a man who marries for money.
Fosco. Well answered, Miss Halcombe. (Aside, looking at SIR PERCIVAL.) The idiot is doing his best to break off his own marriage!
Sir P. (continuing). And that's not the worst of it, mind! The next proposal made to me comes from Miss Fairlie herself. She coolly asks me--with the marriage settlement actually in the house--to release her from our engagement. I put it to you, Fosco, as a member of the family. I have been engaged to your wife's niece for two years, with the consent of the parents on both sides. Has Miss Fairlie any right to play fast and loose with me after that?
Fosco. My good friend, your tone is deplorable. Moderate it.
Sir P. Moderate it? I am deliberately kept out in the dark. I am sacrificed, for all I know, to a new fancy for some other man. When I ask Miss Fairlie for her reasons she hangs her head; and Miss Halcombe tells me to my face I have no right to put the question.
Mar. I deliberately repeat it, Sir Percival. You have no right to force yourself into my sister's confidence. Are we in the slave market at Constantinople? You talk as if Laura Fairlie was yours by right of purchase!
Sir P. (to FOSCO). You hear her, Fosco?
Fosco (sternly). I recommend you to be silent, Percival. I think Miss Halcombe is quite right. (Aside.) A fine woman, spirit, intelligence, courage!
Sir P. Oh, you agree with Miss Halcombe, do you? All right! Get that loan of money you want from somebody else. Don't ask me.
Fosco (to MISS HALCOMBE). Permit me to apologise for Percival's temper.
Mar. We will adjourn this family discussion, count. Madame Fosco is really uneasy at your absence. Let me show you the way to the house.
(She turns to lead the way out. At the same moment LAURA and MADAME FOSCO appear at the door at the back.)
Madame F. My dear count! I couldn't resist follow[30]ing Sir Percival and Miss Halcombe--I was so anxious about you!
Fosco (kissing her hand). My angel! It is worth while losing myself to hear that charming confession! (He takes a little gold box out of his pocket). Chocolate à la vanille. Have a bonbon?
Madame F. (continuing). My niece, Laura, was so kind as to come with me. Let me present you, count, to my niece.
(She indicates LAURA. The COUNT notices her for the first time.)
Fosco (starting back). That is Miss Fairlie!!!
Madame F. What is there to be surprised at?
Fosco (confusedly). Nothing, nothing! (He controls himself, bows to LAURA, and drawing back towards the door on the left, continues, aside.) The fugitive from the lunatic asylum over again! The double of the woman whom I have got hidden in here!
(His eyes remain fixed in astonishment on LAURA'S face. LAURA, who has entered the room with signs of agitation in her manner, bows to the COUNT without observing the effect which she has produced on him, and then turns to MARIAN, showing a letter in her hand. MADAME FOSCO remains near her husband at the side of the stage.)
Mar. Laura, you look agitated! Is there anything wrong?
Laura. Something very painful has happened since you and Sir Percival left us.
Mar. Something connected with that letter?
Laura. Yes; I owe it to Sir Percival not to delay one moment in telling him what this letter contains.
Sir P. (carelessly). Am I concerned in it?
Laura. You are seriously concerned in it. (SIR PERCIVAL draws back a step in surprise. A momentary pause. FOSCO, foreboding something wrong, changes his position, so as to place himself on one side of SIR PERCIVAL. LAURA continues.) I received the letter, not five minutes since, from the person who keeps the lodge gate. Take it, Sir Percival.
(She attempts to hand the letter to SIR PERCIVAL. MARIAN interposes.)
[31]Mar. (to LAURA). Does this refer, in any way, to your marriage engagement?
Laura. It warns me to pause before I fulfil my engagement.
Sir P. (in alarm). Miss Halcombe! that letter was not offered to you, but to me.
Fosco (aside to SIR PERCIVAL.) Hold your tongue!
Mar. (taking the letter from LAURA). Before I give it up, Sir Percival, I should be glad to know in what character you claim it. Laura has made an appeal to you to release her from her engagement. Do you ask me for the letter as Laura's affianced husband, or simply as a guest staying in the house?
Fosco (aside to SIR PERCIVAL). Mind what you are about!
Sir P. (to MARIAN). I ask for it as her affianced husband.
Fosco (turning away with a gesture of contempt). Bah!
Mar. (to SIR PERCIVAL). In that case, as Laura's relative and friend, I claim it first! Her father is dead--her uncle is in ill health--she has no one to defend her interests but me. I mean to defend them to the last! (She turns to LAURA.) Is the letter signed?
Laura. Yes.
Mar. Do you know the person who has written it?
Laura. I remember the person when we were both children. She interested my poor mother. (SIR PERCIVAL listens attentively.) By a strange accident, we were so like each other in those past times, that we were taken for twin-sisters.
(SIR PERCIVAL and FOSCO both start, recognising the person. MARIAN opens the letter.)
Mar. (to LAURA). May I read it aloud?
Laura. Certainly.
Mar. (to SIR PERCIVAL). I will take no undue advantage of you. I will read the letter in your presence. (She reads.) "MISS FAIRLIE,--It is reported that you are about to marry Sir Percival Glyde. Break off your engagement to him, or you will be making the misery of your whole future life. I can give you a reason--a terrible reason--for my intruding this advice on you, if you can first promise me protection from his vengeance. He has [32]already deprived me of my liberty. If he can lay hands on me, he will take my life next. Please write to me at the post-office, Carlisle. Your grateful servant, ANNE CATHERICK."--Sir Percival! these serious charges are signed by a person with whom my sister is acquainted. In justice to you, this matter must be cleared up.
Sir P. I court the fullest inquiry, Miss Halcombe. (Aside.) I shall catch her at Carlisle!
Mar. (aside to LAURA). I shall trace her through the post-office!
Fosco (aside). I have got her here!
THE CURTAIN FALLS. THE END OF THE FIRST ACT.
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[33]ACT II. DATE: AUGUST 31, 1862. PLACE: Blackwater Park, Hampshire.
The flat scene--which must not be placed further back than is absolutely necessary--represents a portion of the wall of SIR PERCIVAL GLYDE'S country-house; comprehending the ground-floor and the floor above it.