Villain as he is, can I leave him recklessly to his fate? Is it possible to warn him without betraying Pesca? (He addresses FOSCO.) Count Fosco, I have a last word to say before I go. I express no opinion of Madame Fosco's conduct to her niece. But I ask you, in the name of your innocent victim, have you no word of repentance to say at parting?
Fosco (loftily). Stop, Mr. Hartright! You have mentioned Madame Fosco in a tone that there is no mistaking. I assert my wife's sublime devotion of herself to my interests, as one of my wife's virtues. What duty does the marriage obligation impose on a woman in this respectable country of yours? It charges her, unreservedly, to love, honour, and obey her husband. That is exactly what Madame Fosco has done. Silence, Calumny! Your sympathy, wives of England, for Madame Fosco!
Wal. (turning away). I might have known it! Who could hope to touch that impenetrable heart?
Fosco. As for me, what have I to repent of? With my [87]vast resources in chemistry, I might have taken Lady Glyde's life. At immense personal sacrifice, I followed the dictates of my own humanity, and took her identity instead. Judge me by what I might have done. How comparatively innocent, how indirectly virtuous I appear in what I really did!
Wal. (turning away in disgust). I have heard enough!
(He crosses to the door on the right, and opens it.)
Fosco. A message before you go--a message to Miss Halcombe. It is to her influence, sir, that you are to attribute every weakness that I have shown, every concession that I have made. Say, when you see Miss Halcombe (he strikes his heart) that her image is here! She looked thin and ill when I saw her last. Take care of that noble creature! I earnestly entreat you, sir, take care of Miss Halcombe!
(He waves his hand, and turns away.)
Wal. (looking back through the open door, and laying a strong emphasis on the last word). Take care of YOURSELF!
(He goes out, closing the door.)
Fosco (turning rapidly). What?--Bah! what does he know? The last empty threat of a man writhing under my impenetrable calm! (He stretches his arms luxuriously.) Ouf! the skirmish has been hot! I am satisfied with myself. I have been dignified--I have been eloquent--I have been superior to my adversary all the way through. Give me a few hours more--give me time and room for my own grand combinations--and I will set my foot yet on this miserable Brotherhood that threatens me! (The birds in the ante-chamber, awakened by his voice, begin to twitter faintly. FOSCO instantly approaches them, and stands talking to them, with his back turned towards the room.) Ha! my little feathered children, have I woke you up? I must part with you, my pret-pret-pretties. I must leave you in the care of a friend. Have a bonbon, my pets, at parting!
(He takes out his box, and puts a bonbon between the bars of the cage, still talking to the birds in dumb slow. At the moment when he is silent, one of the men in the conservatory takes a key from his pocket; noiselessly opens the glass door, and looks into the room. He signs to his comrade to go up the con[88]servatory. The second man goes up, and is lost to view. The first man draws his dagger; and, advancing into the room, steals towards FOSCO. Arrived nearly within arm's length of the Count, his foot strikes against a chair. FOSCO instantly turns round from the birdcage. At the same moment, the second man, who has been out of sight, springs on him from behind, in the ante-chamber, and throws one arm round his throat. The first man, at a blow, stabs him to the heart. He sinks with a low cry on the man who holds him by the throat. The man, aided by his accomplice, lays the dead body on the floor of the ante-chamber. This done, the two men, lifting their daggers in their left hands, join their right hands solemnly over the corpse--stand, for a moment, in that position--and then disappear: one by the door at the back, which opens out of the ante-chamber: the other by way of the conservatory. The body of FOSCO lies in the moonlight. For a moment or two there is silence. Then a knock is heard at the door on the right. After another pause, the voice of MADAME FOSCO is audible outside, saying--"Count! may I come in?"
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
THE END.
LONDON:
C WHITING, BRAUFORT HOUSE. DUKE STREET, LINCOLN'S-INN-FIELDS.