MARIAN is seated apart, supporting LAURA, whose head rests on her shoulder. WALTER, PESCA, and MR. KYRLE are seated round the table, on which papers and writing materials are placed.
Wal. (indignantly addressing MR. KYRLE). And you expect me to be patient?
Mr. K. Yes, Mr. Hartright, as your friend and your legal adviser, I expect you to be patient. (He turns to MARIAN.) How is Lady Glyde?
Mar. As you see, quite worn out. (Looking down fondly at LAURA.) Denied to her face by the people among whom she has lived from a child! Branded as an adventuress--here, on her own land, and in sight of her own home! Is it for this that we have rescued her from the madhouse, and brought her to the place of her birth?
Wal. (bitterly.) It is we who are exposed as impostors by Count Fosco. It is we who have planned a conspiracy and committed a fraud. (He points to LAURA.) The tenantry on the Fairlie estate have seen her here to-day, a living woman--and they still believe the lie which records her death on the tombstone in the churchyard!
[72]Pesca. Patience, my friend. Count Fosco has possessed himself of their confidence. Count Fosco has blinded them to the truth.
Enter a Chambermaid on the left.
Chamber. (to MARIAN). The room is ready, ma'am, if the lady wishes to rest.
Mar. (rising, with LAURA). Come, Laura. After what you have endured to-day you need repose.
Laura (faintly). Where is Walter? (WALTER approaches.) You won't leave me here? When you go back to London you will take me with you?
Wal. (taking her hand). Go where I may, we will never be parted again!
Mr. K. (to WALTER, aside). I wish to speak to you when the ladies have left the room.
Wal. (to LAURA). Go with Marian. Rest, Laura, rest!
(He kisses her hand. MARIAN takes her out on the left. The Chambermaid follows them. WALTER, PESCA, and MR. KYRLE resume their places at the table.)
Mr. K. Mr. Hartright, let us begin by looking facts in the face. You have claimed the right to assert Lady Glyde's identity, in the presence of the tenantry on her uncle's estate; and the tenantry have decided against you. Will you let me--as your professional adviser--help you to understand your position? May I tell you plainly why you have failed?
Pesca. Hear him, Walter, for your own sake.
Wal. (controlling himself). Speak, sir.
Mr. K. In the first place, you have damaged your own case at starting----
Wal. How?
Mr. K. You declare that Miss Halcombe discovered Lady Glyde imprisoned in the lunatic asylum under Anne Catherick's name----
Wal. Well?
Mr. K. What course do you and Miss Halcombe take on making that alleged discovery? Do you appeal to the proprietor of the asylum? Do you employ lawful and honest means of proving the lady's identity, and claiming [73]her release? No! you bribe a nurse to be false to the trust placed in her, and to let the patient escape.
Wal. Could we leave her to wait the slow remedy of the law? Could we leave her, with her mind already shaken, to lose her senses in the asylum?
Pesca (to MR. KYRLE). Oh no! Surely, sir, they could not do that?
Mr. K. I don't say they could. I only say that their own natural proceeding throws suspicion on their own case at starting.
Pesca (to WALTER). That is true.
Wal. (impatiently). True or not, Laura's personal statement ought to have satisfied everybody.
Mr. K. Ought it? What is her statement? She says she was decoyed to London by a false telegram. She says she was met by the count at the station, and taken to a strange house, on the pretence that Miss Halcombe had returned to London, and was waiting there to see her. She says that she only saw two men (both strangers), who put extraordinary questions to her--that she became alarmed, and turned faint--that the smelling salts and the water supplied to her were both medicated--that she lost her senses--and that she came to herself in the asylum, with Anne Catherick's clothes on her, placed there under Anne Catherick's name.
Wal. All true!
Mr. K. And none of it proved to be true. What does Count Fosco say on his side? He appeals to the certificate of death. Evidence! He appeals to the old nurse from Limmeridge, who came to London to perform the last offices--and who recognised the body. Evidence! He appeals to the proprietor of the asylum--a man of high character--who identifies his former patient. Evidence! You declare that the witnesses are deceived by the likeness between the two women. You assert that it is not Lady Glyde, but Anne Catherick, who lies buried in Limmeridge churchyard. What proof do you produce in support of that assertion? Your own conviction--nothing more!
Wal. What proof can I produce?
Mr. K. (rising). Produce evidence which does not depend on your assertion or Miss Halcombe's. Produce [74]evidence which absolutely proves that Lady Glyde was alive in Hampshire, the day after the doctor's certificate declares her to have died in London. Get proof of that--proof in person or proof in writing--and you win your case.
Wal. (rising). I will get it!
Pesca. How?
(MARIAN appears at the entrance on the left.)
Mr. K. How--indeed! All my experience fails to show me. Mr. Hartright, the struggle, as I told you from the first, is a hopeless one. Give it up.
Wal. Never! (MARIAN advances a little.)
Pesca (to WALTER--rising as he speaks). Think of what you risk if you go on!
Wal. Come what may of it, I will go on!
Mar. (placing herself by his side). Come what may of it, I go with him! (WALTER presses MARIAN'S hand.
Pesca. Miss Halcombe!
Mr. K. May you both succeed! I can say no more.
(He gathers up the papers; bows to MISS HALCOMBE; and leaves them. At the right side entrance, he is met by a groom in livery, with a letter in his hand.)
The Groom. I beg your pardon, sir. Is Miss Halcombe here?
Mr. K. (pointing to MARIAN). There is Miss Halcombe.
(He goes out. The Groom advances; gives the letter to MARIAN; retires to the back, and waits.)
Mar. (opening the letter). From Count Fosco! I decline to receive it.
(She turns to give the letter back to the Servant. WALTER stops her.)
Wal. Let me look at it. (MARIAN gives him the letter. He runs his eye over it, considers for a moment, and addresses the Servant.) No answer. (The Servant goes out. WALTER turns to MARIAN.) Have you left Laura better?
Mar. I have left her sleeping--I came here to tell you so. Do you wish me to go?
Wal. You shall decide for yourself. You heard what I said to the servant. Now hear the count's letter. (He reads the letter.) "Admirable woman! A word to com[75]pose your mind for the future. After the decision of today, you have nothing to fear from me--on these conditions, that you silence Mr. Hartright, and that you remain in retirement. The fair companion of your retreat shall not be molested. The proprietor of the asylum has no wish to risk another scandal by receiving his patient again. Let me hear, dear lady, that you accept the terms of peace. If the servant fails to bring a written reply, I will assume that you offer me the privilege of receiving my answer from yourself.--FOSCO."
Mar.