plays [69]
should long since have swung in the wind at Execution
Dock. What brought you? Why did you open my door while I slept
to such a companion? Christopher French, I have two treasures.
One (LAYING HIS HAND ON ARETHUSA'S SHOULDER) I know you covet.
Christopher, is this your love?
KIT. Sir, I have been fooled and trapped. That man declared he
knew you, declared he could make you change your mind about our
marriage. I was drunk, sir, and I believed him: heaven knows I
am sober now, and can see my folly; but I believed him then, and
followed him. He brought me here, he told me your chest was full
of gold that would make men of us for life. At that I saw my
fault, sir, and drew my cutlass; and he, in the wink of an eye,
roared out for help, leaped at my throat like a weasel and had me
rolling on the floor. He was quick, and I, as I tell you, sir,
was off my balance.
GAUNT. Is this man, Pew, your enemy?
KIT. No sir; I never saw him till to-night.
GAUNT. Then, if you must stand the justice of your country, come
to the proof with a better plea. What? lantern and cutlass
yours; you the one that knew the house; you the one that saw; you
the one overtaken and denounced; and you spin me a galley yarn
like that? If that is all your defence, you'll hang, sir, hang.
ARETHUSA. Ah! Father, I give him up: I will never see him,
never speak to him, never think of him again; I take him from my
heart; I give myself wholly up to you and to my mother; I will
obey you in every point - O, not at a word merely - at a finger
raised! I will do all this; I will do anything - anything you
bid me; I swear it in the face of heaven. Only - Kit! I love
him, father, I love him. Let him go.
[GAUNT. Go?
ARETHUSA. You let the other. Open the door again - for my sake,
father - in my mother's name - O, open the door and let him go.]
KIT. Let me go? My girl, if you had cast me out is morning,
good and well: I would have left you, though it broke my heart.
But it's a changed story now; now I'm down on my luck, and you
come and stab me from behind. I ask no favour, and I'll take
none; I stand here on my innocence, and God helping me I'll clear
my good name, and get your love again, if it's love worth having.
[Now, Captain Gaunt, I've said my say, and you may do your
pleasure. I am my father's son, and I never feared to face the
truth.
GAUNT. You have spoken like a man, French, and you may go. I
leave you free.
KIT. Nay, sir, not so: not with my will. I'm accused and
counted guilty; the proofs are against me; the girl I love has
turned upon me. I'll accept no mercy at your hands.] Captain
Gaunt, I am your prisoner.
ARETHUSA. Kit, dear Kit -
GAUNT. Silence! Young man, I have offered you liberty without
bond or condition. You refuse. You shall be judged. Meanwhile
(OPENING THE DOOR, R.), you will go in here. I keep your
cutlass. The night brings counsel: to-morrow shall decide. (HE
LOCKS KIT IN, LEAVING THE KEY IN THE DOOR.)
SCENE V
GAUNT, ARETHUSA, afterwards PEW
ARETHUSA. Father, you believe in him; you do; I know you do.
GAUNT. Child, I am not given to be hasty. I will pray and sleep
upon this matter. (A KNOCKING AT THE DOOR, C.) Who knocks so
late? (HE OPENS.)
PEW (ENTERING). Cap'n, shall I fetch the constable?
GAUNT. No.
PEW. No? Have ye killed him?
GAUNT. My man, I'll see you into the road. (HE TAKES PEW BY THE
ARM, AND GOES OUT WITH HIM.)
SCENE VI
ARETHUSA
ARETHUSA. (LISTENS; THEN RUNNING TO DOOR, R.) Kit - dearest!
wait! I will come to you soon.
(GAUNT RE-ENTERS, C., AS THE DROP FALLS.)
ACT IV.
The Stage represents the Admiral's house, as in Acts I. and III.
A chair, L., in front. As the curtain rises, the Stage is dark.
Enter ARETHUSA, L., with candle; she lights another; and passes
to door, R., which she unbolts. Stage light
SCENE I
ARETHUSA, KIT
ARETHUSA. Come, dear Kit, come!
KIT. Well, I'm here.
ARETHUSA. O Kit, you are not angry with
Dock. What brought you? Why did you open my door while I slept
to such a companion? Christopher French, I have two treasures.
One (LAYING HIS HAND ON ARETHUSA'S SHOULDER) I know you covet.
Christopher, is this your love?
KIT. Sir, I have been fooled and trapped. That man declared he
knew you, declared he could make you change your mind about our
marriage. I was drunk, sir, and I believed him: heaven knows I
am sober now, and can see my folly; but I believed him then, and
followed him. He brought me here, he told me your chest was full
of gold that would make men of us for life. At that I saw my
fault, sir, and drew my cutlass; and he, in the wink of an eye,
roared out for help, leaped at my throat like a weasel and had me
rolling on the floor. He was quick, and I, as I tell you, sir,
was off my balance.
GAUNT. Is this man, Pew, your enemy?
KIT. No sir; I never saw him till to-night.
GAUNT. Then, if you must stand the justice of your country, come
to the proof with a better plea. What? lantern and cutlass
yours; you the one that knew the house; you the one that saw; you
the one overtaken and denounced; and you spin me a galley yarn
like that? If that is all your defence, you'll hang, sir, hang.
ARETHUSA. Ah! Father, I give him up: I will never see him,
never speak to him, never think of him again; I take him from my
heart; I give myself wholly up to you and to my mother; I will
obey you in every point - O, not at a word merely - at a finger
raised! I will do all this; I will do anything - anything you
bid me; I swear it in the face of heaven. Only - Kit! I love
him, father, I love him. Let him go.
[GAUNT. Go?
ARETHUSA. You let the other. Open the door again - for my sake,
father - in my mother's name - O, open the door and let him go.]
KIT. Let me go? My girl, if you had cast me out is morning,
good and well: I would have left you, though it broke my heart.
But it's a changed story now; now I'm down on my luck, and you
come and stab me from behind. I ask no favour, and I'll take
none; I stand here on my innocence, and God helping me I'll clear
my good name, and get your love again, if it's love worth having.
[Now, Captain Gaunt, I've said my say, and you may do your
pleasure. I am my father's son, and I never feared to face the
truth.
GAUNT. You have spoken like a man, French, and you may go. I
leave you free.
KIT. Nay, sir, not so: not with my will. I'm accused and
counted guilty; the proofs are against me; the girl I love has
turned upon me. I'll accept no mercy at your hands.] Captain
Gaunt, I am your prisoner.
ARETHUSA. Kit, dear Kit -
GAUNT. Silence! Young man, I have offered you liberty without
bond or condition. You refuse. You shall be judged. Meanwhile
(OPENING THE DOOR, R.), you will go in here. I keep your
cutlass. The night brings counsel: to-morrow shall decide. (HE
LOCKS KIT IN, LEAVING THE KEY IN THE DOOR.)
SCENE V
GAUNT, ARETHUSA, afterwards PEW
ARETHUSA. Father, you believe in him; you do; I know you do.
GAUNT. Child, I am not given to be hasty. I will pray and sleep
upon this matter. (A KNOCKING AT THE DOOR, C.) Who knocks so
late? (HE OPENS.)
PEW (ENTERING). Cap'n, shall I fetch the constable?
GAUNT. No.
PEW. No? Have ye killed him?
GAUNT. My man, I'll see you into the road. (HE TAKES PEW BY THE
ARM, AND GOES OUT WITH HIM.)
SCENE VI
ARETHUSA
ARETHUSA. (LISTENS; THEN RUNNING TO DOOR, R.) Kit - dearest!
wait! I will come to you soon.
(GAUNT RE-ENTERS, C., AS THE DROP FALLS.)
ACT IV.
The Stage represents the Admiral's house, as in Acts I. and III.
A chair, L., in front. As the curtain rises, the Stage is dark.
Enter ARETHUSA, L., with candle; she lights another; and passes
to door, R., which she unbolts. Stage light
SCENE I
ARETHUSA, KIT
ARETHUSA. Come, dear Kit, come!
KIT. Well, I'm here.
ARETHUSA. O Kit, you are not angry with