While the matter is in progress, I have proposed--with Percival's free consent--that, you shall pay a little visit to Limmeridge House.
Laura. Oh, I shall be so glad to do that!
Mar. (aside to LAURA). Wait! Don't commit yourself!
Fosco (to LAURA). You are not angry with me for what I have done?
Laura. Angry! I am sincerely obliged to you.
Fosco. You will be ready to go at a day's notice?
Mar. (silencing LAURA). Lady Glyde decides nothing, count, until she has had time to think. (To LAURA.) You are not fit to deal with him. Leave it to me.
(She forces LAURA to go out with her on the left.)
Fosco (in triumph). I have done it! Your wife will help us to get Miss Halcombe out of the house. Bravo, Fosco!
Sir P. I don't understand.
Fosco. You foggy-minded Percival! A man I can trust follows my letter to Cumberland to-night. He will telegraph to Miss Halcombe to-morrow, in Mr. Fairlie's name. Mr. Fairlie--represented by my man--will invite her to Limmeridge, to explain matters to him before he interferes between man and wife. If Miss Halcombe is unwilling to leave, Lady Glyde will force her to go. Neat, is it not? A man who can play his cards as well as that, deserves a reward. (He produces his box.) The man shall have it! (He takes a bonbon.) Ah! how nice!
Sir P. (aside). Sixty years old, and fond of sugar-plums. Disgusting! (To FOSCO.) Well! what next?
Fosco. This next. Miss Halcombe cannot possibly dis[57]cover the trick that has been played on her, and get back here, before midnight on the fourth of the month. By midnight on the fourth of the month---- Pass me one exclamation in parenthesis. How interesting this is!
Sir P. Go on!
Fosco. By midnight on the fourth, Lady Glyde will be in the lunatic asylum--under the name of Anne Catherick, restored to medical care.
Sir P. How do you manage that?
Fosco. I shall manage it. One thing at a time. Before I follow Madame Fosco to London, you must have your instructions what to do here, in my absence. I can't trust your memory. There are your instructions in writing!
(He hands a paper to SIR PERCIVAL.)
Sir P. (looking at it). What's this? "Intercept all letters and telegrams which come for Miss Halcombe--except mine. Clear the house of all the servants, except your valet, Philip, and his wife, whom we can trust." (Looking up bewildered.) Clear the house of the servants!
Fosco. Certainly! Under what name, and in what character, is Anne Catherick to be introduced into my house in London?
Sir P. In the name and character of Lady Glyde.
Fosco. Do we want witnesses here, who can testify that they saw Lady Glyde at Blackwater Park, at the very time when she is declared to have been with me in London? Attend to your instructions; and mind this--you don't think for yourself: I think for you. What time is it? (He looks at his watch.) I have an hour to spare before I start for London. How shall I pass the hour? Bah! I dismiss our conspiracy with this wave of my hand. There is nobody in the music-room. I shall go to the pianoforte, and sing and play, and lift myself into the seventh heaven of musical delight. (He stops at the picture on his way out.) Look at the painting of those shadows on the face. A miracle of art! Illustrious Vandyck, I congratulate you on those shadows! (He bows to the picture, and takes out his gilt box.) You look anxious, Percival. Have a bonbon. (SIR PERCIVAL declines with a gesture of disgust.) No? My friend, a taste for sweets is the innocent taste of women and children. I cultivate innocence!
[58](He helps himself to a mouthful of sweetmeats, and goes out on the right.)
Sir P. (alone). I have known Fosco for twenty years, and hang me if I can tell at this moment whether he's a tiger, a monkey, or a man!
(He follows FOSCO.)
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THE SECOND SCENE. DATE: September 4, 1862. PLACE: The smoking-room at Blackwater Park.
A large open window in the flat, with nothing seen through it but the sky. A table, having writing materials placed on it. A chair. Pipes of various kinds are hung on the walls. Entrances at the side, right and left. SIR PERCIVAL is discovered seated, smoking, with an open letter in his hand. He touches a bell on the table. The valet, PHILIP, appears on the left.)
Sir P. Brandy-and-water, Philip. Stop! What is the day of the month?
Phil. The fourth, Sir Percival.
Sir P. Three days since Fosco left me! Is your wife on the look-out for telegrams to Lady Glyde?
Phil. Yes, Sir Percival. (He goes out on the left.)
Sir P. (taking up a letter). Awful news from Fosco! Anne Catherick died yesterday of heart disease, at his house in St. John's Wood. The doctor was called in to attend her under the name of "Lady Glyde." The doctor's certificate records the death of "Lady Glyde" in London, yesterday. And here is Lady Glyde still in Hampshire, a living woman! (He looks again at the letter.) In spite of what has happened, Fosco is determined to go on. My wife is to be decoyed to London by telegram to-day. Fosco meets her at the station--deludes her with the idea that she is going on to Cumberland--and places her in the asylum to-night, under Anne Catherick's name. (PHILLIP appears on the left, with a bottle of brandy, water, and a [59]glass.) Are you sure nothing has come for Lady Glyde?
Phil. Quite sure, Sir Percival.
(He goes out on the left. SIR PERCIVAL mixes his brandy-and-water.)
Sir P. I wish to Heaven I had said No, when Fosco first proposed to run this infernal risk. Haven't I got enough on my mind already? There is something wrong at Old Welmingham. Mrs. Catherick has twice written to me for money, and hasn't answered my last letter telling her she must wait. It would be like my luck if she turned against me just at this time. The heir-at-law is in England. The rector of Old Welmingham is a friend of his. If he and Mrs. Catherick meet---- (He pauses, and drinks.) It turns me cold to think of it!
Enter PHILIP, on the left.
Phil. A telegram, Sir Percival, for my lady.
Sir P. (taking it). Have you dismissed the messenger?
Phil. Yes, Sir Percival.
Sir P. Did anybody see him but you?
Phil. Nobody, Sir Percival.
(He goes out on the left. SIR PERCIVAL opens the telegram.)
Sir P. Fosco's telegram, written in Miss Halcombe's name! The decoy that is to lure my wife to London! (He reads.) "Marian Halcombe, Limmeridge, Cumberland, to Lady Glyde, Blackwater Park, Hampshire.--Mr. Fairlie will be happy to see you; and I am eager for your arrival. Travel as far as London on receipt of this. Pass the night at your aunt's house in St. John's Wood; and come on to us in Cumberland the next day. We have wronged the count by our suspicions of him. When you get to St. John's Wood, you will find he has been our best friend."--(SIR PERCIVAL speaks.) This infernal message is well-timed! Miss Halcombe cannot get back here before twelve to-night. If I send this to my wife, she will start for London to-day, by the two-forty train. Dare I send it? I must! (He puts the telegram back in the envelope, and strikes the bell.