PHILIP enters on the left.) Take that to Lady Glyde. My apologies. I opened it by mistake. (PHILIP goes out. SIR PERCIVAL rises.) [60]I'm sending her straight on the road to the madhouse. I can't face her if she comes in to say good-bye. (He turns to the right to go out, and checks himself.) Stop! I must send the intercepted letters and telegrams to Fosco. He wants to read them.
(He unlocks a drawer of the writing-table, and takes out papers. As he sits down at the table to write, LAURA hurriedly enters on the left, with FOSCO'S telegram in her hand.)
Laura (joyfully). Have you read my telegram, Sir Percival?
Sir P. (not looking at her). No.
Laura (offering it to him). There it is. (SIR PERCIVAL silently puts it away. LAURA continues.) It's no secret--it's from Marian. I am to go to Limmeridge, and to leave for London to-day. Have you any objection?
Sir P. None.
Laura. I am to stop at my aunt's in St. John's Wood, and go on the next day. (She again offers him the telegram.) I wish you would read it. There's a sentence in it about Count Fosco----
Sir P. (violently). I don't want to hear about Count Fosco!
Laura (starting). I didn't mean to offend you.
Sir P. (with an effort). When are you going?
Laura (smiling). I must make a little confession. I have had my things packed since yesterday in expectation of going away. I could be ready at once--by the next train--if I knew how to get to it. But now the servants have all gone----
Sir P. Can't you walk to the station?
Laura. Willingly. I should enjoy the walk this lovely day. But my luggage----
Sir P. I will find some way of sending your luggage after you. It shall reach you by passenger-train to-night, Will that do?
Laura. Perfectly, thank you! (She turns to go out, and comes back to him.) We have not lived together happily, Percival. Let us part on friendly terms, and let us meet again with more forbearance on both sides. Will you say that you forgive me as heartily as I forgive you?
(She offers him her hand.)
[61]Sir P. (turning away). Don't talk nonsense! You'll miss the train. Go!
Laura (sadly). Good-bye, Sir Percival.
(She looks at him for a moment as he turns away from her--sighs--and goes out on the left.)
Sir P. (facing the room in violent agitation). It's an infernal shame! It's worse than killing her outright to shut her up in the asylum for the rest of her life. I'll call her back! (He takes a step towards the left, and checks himself.) It's too late to call her back: no help for it now but to go on to the end. What's to be done next? (He looks round him, and sees the papers on the table.) The intercepted letters! I'll write a line with them to Fosco. (He sits down and writes, repeating the words.) "Backwater Park, September fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two. DEAR FOSCO,--All has passed exactly as you wished. Lady Glyde starts for London to-day by the two-forty train. Yours, PERCIVAL GLYDE." (He puts the letter into an envelope, directs and stamps it, and calls off on the left.) Philip! (There is no answer. He strikes the bell. Nobody appears.) What's the meaning of this? Where can Philip be? Not a servant in the house to post my letter! (He goes to the window and looks out.) Hallo, there! you're the miller's boy, are you not? Here! take that letter back with you to the village, and put it in the post. (He throws it out of window to the boy.) What the devil has become of Philip? (Enter PHILIP hurriedly by the door on the right.) What's wrong? Any message from Lady Glyde?
Phil. (excitedly). No, Sir Percival. Her ladyship has just passed me on her way to the station.
Sir P. (aside). She has gone! (To PHILIP.) Speak out, you fool. What is it?
Phil. The farm-bailiff, Sir Percival! I met him at the stable-door. (He points off on the right.)
Sir P. Well, and what of that?
Phil. He was at the magistrate's on business, sir. He heard your name mentioned, and he came on here----
Sir P. My name mentioned? How?
Phil. A sworn information, Sir Percival. Nobody knows what it's about. The magistrate saw the gentleman in his private room.
[62]Sir P. What gentleman?
Phil. The rector of Old Welmingham.
Sir P. (staggering back). Mrs. Catherick has betrayed me!
Phil. I'm afraid from what I heard there's a warrant out against you, Sir Percival. The farm-bailiff only had the start of them by five minutes.
Sir P. (to himself). The night boat from Southampton will take me to France. I can't trust the railway. My horse is my only chance. I can do it across country. (To PHILIP.) Is the coast clear on that side of the house?
(He points off on the right.)
Phil. Yes, Sir Percival.
(The house-bell is heard ringing at a distance.)
Sir P. What's that?
Phil. (hurrying to the window and looking out.) The police!
Sir P. Keep them waiting at the front door. Five minutes' start of them is all I want.
(He hurries out on the right. PHILLIP goes out on the left.)
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THE THIRD SCENE. DATE: September 16. PLACE : The Waiting-room at a Lunatic Asylum.
The stage is closed in to represent a room of moderate size, plainly furnished. A door at the side on the right. Another door at the back. FOSCO and the Matron of the asylum are discovered. The Matron is standing by a table. FOSCO is seated at the other side of the table, his head on his breast, his hands hanging over his knees, in an attitude of the deepest dejection. His voice and manner are alike subdued when he speaks.
Fosco. When did the doctor receive Miss Halcombe's letter?
The Mat. Two days since, sir.
[63]Fosco. Is it known how she discovered the address of this asylum?
The Mat. She applied, I believe, to the rector of Old Welmingham.
Fosco. Ah! the rector knew it, of course, through Mrs. Catherick. Miss Halcombe has been ill, has she not?
The Mat. Quite broken down, sir, from grief at Lady Glyde's death.
Fosco. Her object is to see Anne Catherick. Does she mention the motive?
The Mat. The interest she feels in the poor woman's case is the only motive Miss Halcombe mentions.
Fosco. And the doctor permits her to see Anne?
The Mat. The doctor has no reason for refusing, sir. Miss Halcombe has addressed him with a proper introduction. I am told to expect her between the visitors' usual hours--twelve and three.
Fosco. In this room? (The Matron bows.) Can I wait anywhere, out of the way of other visitors, if they come?
The Mat. I can't tell you, sir. I must ask the doctor.
Fosco. I have reason for wishing to say two words to Miss Halcombe, alone, before she sees Anne Catherick. Perhaps you will convey my request to the doctor, and ask him to give me his answer here?
The Mat. Certainly, sir.
(She turns to leave the room by the door on the right. FOSCO stops her.)
Fosco. One moment! I do not wish Miss Halcombe to be informed that I am in the house. You understand?
The Mat. Yes, sir.
(She goes out on the right. A pause.)
Fosco (thoughtfully). Br