The lawyer must have the money before the end of the week.
Fosco (to his wife). Are you answered? (To SIR PERCIVAL.) Can I see the lawyer?
Sir P. He has just gone. He was obliged to get back to London to-night. The deed, signed and witnessed, must follow him the first thing to-morrow. Where is Lady Glyde?
Madame F. Lady Glyde is walking in the garden with Miss Halcombe. Shall I go and find her?
Sir P. I shall be much obliged to you if you will.
(MADAME FOSCO goes out on the right.)
Fosco. How much money is it?
Sir P. Six thousand pounds. (FOSCO starts.) Five thousand for my pressing debts. And one thousand as a loan to you. Ain't I the best friend you ever had in your life?
Fosco. My best friend, tell me one thing. What does Lady Glyde do in signing that paper?
[41]Sir P. She authorises her trustees to sell out six thousand pounds of her money. I must have two witnesses. You will be one, and I shall ask Miss Halcombe to be the other.
Fosco (startled). Miss Halcombe! (He considers for a moment.) No; any way Lady Glyde would have Miss Halcombe to advise her.
Sir P. She won't have anything of the sort. I shan't allow either of them to read what is written here. I shall give them the folded deed to sign, and there will be an end of it. How cursedly hot it is! Come into the house and have a cool drink!
Fosco (thoughtfully). I will wait for you here. (SIR PERCIVAL goes back into the house by way of the study. FOSCO continues, alone.) My good friend Percival, as the English say, you see no further than your nose! Even if Lady Glyde is foolish enough to sign blindly when she is asked, there is Miss Halcombe to advise her to read first!
Enter MADAME FOSCO on the right, hurriedly, and in agitation.
Madame F. Count! you told me just now that you felt no anxiety about Anne Catherick.
Fosco. Well?
Madame F. She has done what I always feared she would do. She has discovered that Laura is married to Sir Percival Glyde. She has escaped from those hands that you were so sure of. She has found her way here.
Fosco (thunderstruck). Are you out of your mind?
Madame F. Not five minutes since I surprised her, in close conversation with Laura and Miss Halcombe, in the garden!
Fosco (bursting out in his own language). Maledizione! (He pauses a moment to control himself.) It is over--I am myself again. Did they meet by appointment?
Madame F. No. Anne Catherick had ventured into the grounds on the chance of seeing them this fine summer night.
Fosco. What did you do when you discovered them?
Madame F. I stepped behind a tree.
[42]Fosco. Admirable woman! Did Anne mention my name?
Madame F. She mentioned both our names. She expressed surprise at our having left her to discover the marriage by chance----
Fosco. Did she express distrust as well as surprise?
Madame F. No. The favourable impression we have produced on her still maintains its hold on her mind. Her one idea, so far, is the idea of serving the interests of my niece.
Fosco. What did she say? Repeat her own words, if you can.
Madame F. She said to Laura: "If you are living in misery with the villain you have married, I have only to say the word, and the law will take him!"
Fosco (wiping his forehead). We are on the brink of the precipice! Who spoke next? Miss Halcombe, of course. What did she say?
Madame F. She said it was not safe to prolong the conversation at that time and in that place. She asked for Anne Catherick's address----
Fosco. And Anne gave it?
Madame F. At a neighbouring farm-house, called Todd's Corner. She described the people as old friends of hers. Miss Halcombe promised to see her to-morrow.
Fosco. And on that they parted? My course is clear before me. I must get the start of Miss Halcombe. (He produces his pocket-book, tears out a leaf, writes on it, and hands it to his wife.) See! a note written in Miss Halcombe's name! She has changed her mind. She makes an appointment with Anne to-night--there, in the shrubbery--(he points off on the left)--at eleven o'clock. I must secure her, before she does more mischief. Stop! Does Anne still dress in white?
Madame F. She wears a brown cloak over her white dress, with a hood to it to pull over her face.
Fosco. Good! She will not be noticed on her way here. Direct my note to Anne Catherick, and send a servant with it to Todd's Corner. (MADAME FOSCO goes out through the drawing-room. FOSCO takes a turn on the stage, and continues.) There were two difficulties to meet in this matter of Anne--to keep her from discovering the [43]marriage, and to keep her from taking Miss Halcombe into her confidence. Could I confide her once more to the doctor at the asylum? The doctor had already let her escape. What else could I do but place her in the hands of my own people, and trust to the progress of her fatal malady to relieve us of the charge of her? Am I to blame for the stupidity of my people? Bah! who is capable of preventing accidents and contending with fools!
Enter LAURA and MARIAN on the right. MARIAN speaks in a whisper to LAURA, pointing to FOSCO, who stands with his back towards them.
Mar. If the count discovers that we have seen Anne, we are lost--remember that! (She advances and addresses FOSCO.) Still admiring the moonlight, count?
Fosco (turning). Ah! the dear ladies. How good of you to pity the solitary Fosco, and come back to him again! (He looks searchingly at MARIAN.) Any adventures in the garden, Miss Halcombe?
Mar. The age of adventures, count, is past!
(She turns away to LAURA.)
Fosco (admiring her). Superb creature! I could not have put a better face upon it myself!
(He turns away on his side. MADAME FOSCO reappears in the drawing-room. MARIAN walks apart slowly with LAURA, warning her once more.)
Mar. Be careful, Laura. He suspects something already!
Fosco (on the other side of the stage, addressing his wife, who has joined him). Is it done?
Madame F. The servant has gone.
(SIR PERCIVAL appears in the study, and advances to the lawn.)
Fosco. Did anybody see you give him the letter?
Madame F. Nobody.
Sir P. (looking about him). Where are they? Oh, here you are. Lady Glyde, I am afraid I must trouble you about a little matter of business. Miss Halcombe, I want you to witness my wife's signature, if you will be so kind. Fosco will be the other witness.
Laura. Will it take long? It is so hot in the house!
Sir P. It won't take a minute. I'll bring out one of [44]the lamps, and we will do it under the verandah. You have only to sign your names here.
(He holds out the deed, so folded as only to show the blank space left for the signature.)
Mar. (to LAURA). Ask him to unfold the paper.
Fosco (overhearing her). Exactly as I thought!
Laura (to SIR PERCIVAL). The paper is folded, Sir Percival. I suppose you will allow me to see what it contains?
Sir P. It contains nothing but lawyer's gibberish. You wouldn't understand it if I was to show it to you.
Laura. I might try to understand it.
Sir P. Mere waste of time!
Mar.