LANDLORD AND TENANT. AN IRISH DRAMA, IN FOUR ACTS. BY H. A. LEWIS. ST. LOUIS, MO.: THE GILBERT BOOK COMPANY, 1883. LANDLORD AND TENANT. M IRISH DRAMA, m FOUR ACTS. BY H. A. LEWia ffj R 11 1882 ""^yo,^:-'-^'^ ST. LOUIS, MO.: THE GILBERT BOOK COMPANY, 1882. r Entered according to Act of Congress in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-two, by HC. .A.. LEVv^IS, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. David atwood, PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER, MADISO^, WIS. LANDLORD AND TENANT. PERSONS REPRESENTED. LOKD DuNROSE, Earl of Dunrose Castle, Ireland. Lord Arthur, Son of Lord Dunrose. Pat McTiernan, Valet to Lord Arthur. John Macguire, Steward of Dunrose Castle. Tim Grady, Bailiff. Collins, Attorney for the Crown. Fltnnagan, Attorney at Law. Brady, Irish-American Attorney. Dennis O'Brian, Grandson of John O'Brian. John O'Brian. Servant on Dunrose Estate. Margaret O'Brian, Wife of John O'Brian. Lena O'Brian, Granddaughter of John O'Brian. Bridget O'Brian, Granddaughter of John O'Brian. Lady Dunrose, Wife of Lord Dunrose. Lady Cecilia, Daughter of Lord Dunrose. Judge, Guards and Jury. ACT I. Scene 1.— Lodgings in London. Lord Arthur and Pat Mc- Tiernan. Lord Arthur (well in Ms cups). Home again ! Home again ! Well, it is a relief to get back to Old England once more, and out of that blasted country. Give me a chair. Say, now, by Jove, are you sure this is ray place ? No mistake ? No scenes ? No more rows ? I had enough of that sort of thing in America. That blasted malaria, it is all through me, even in my hair. My hat don't fit. Take it away. Pat McTiernan. Yes, sir, this is your place ; rest easy about that ; no trouble here. (Aside.) His conscience hurts him, and he has been drinking a little drop too much and calls it malaria. Well, this is pretty good. But I will get him into bed, for, the journey has been too much for him and he needs rest, for the governor will 4 LAiTDLORD AND TENANT. Avant to see liiin to morrow, and he will then have malaria in his head and hair sure enough, for my Lord, you drew too many drafts on the governor. (Aloud.) Now, as you are not well, just let me put you into bed, my Lord, and you will feel better. Lord Arthur. Well, may be I would. But, Pat, what do you think will become of Lena? And if the governor only knew about her, what would he do? And the drafts — do you think they have reached here yet? By Jove, I am ruined; and my constitution is full of that accursed malaria, and it seems I will never get rid of it. Pat McTiernan. Cheer up, my Lord; never take more trouble on your head than you can kick off at your heels, you know. And remember all the fun you had while in America — hunting, fishing and gambling. Lord Arthur. Yes, gambling; and the drafts, and the woman, and my father when he finds it all out. Don't tell him, Pat, for the world; don't tell him. Oh, that malaria! that malaria! Let me get to bed. What is that knocking at the door? Oh, my father's voice. Let me retire, quick. I cannot sep him to night, my constitution is so racked. Oh, the malaria! Tell him that, Pat, but not about the woman and tlie gambling; but about hunting and fishing, and how expensive it all is — that is a good fellow. (Lord Autkxjr enters another room.) Pat McTierncm. Now for my Lord, and a pretty tale I must tell; all for the sake of a man, my master, whose vices are many and whose virtues are few, and merits the contempt of every man and woman. But the woman he so basely deserted — he may well think of her; for unless I am mistaken as to the situation, Pat McTiernan has set the ball in motion that will humble the proud house of Dun- rose, and make my L )rd Arthur have reason to say, I have malaria all through me. (Eater Lord Dunuose.) Lord DiiiiroHe. Well, Pat, where is your master; he is here, I sup- pose? I want to see him. Tell him so. Pat McTiernan. Your Lordship, he is here; but on account of be- ing knocked up from the journey and having the malaria pretty bad, he has retired, sir. Lord Dunrose. What, retired ? and not to see me ? Go and tell him I want to see him at once. Pat McTiernan. Very good, sir. (Aside.) Now the war opsns and a fine time we will have of it, to be sure. Lord Dunrose. Hold, Pat; do you say he has already retired? LAN"DLOED AND TENANT. 5 Pat McTienian. I did, your Lordship. Lord Dixnross. Here, here ! Come back here, and I will ask you a few questions, and see to it that you tell me truth; and you can tell your master in the morning, I want to see him at once. Pat McTiernan. As it please your Lordship; and how could I de- ceive j'our Lordship about anything. Lord Dunrose. Now. Pat, I want to know what your master did with all the money he spent in America. I hear he took old O'Brian's granddaughter away from Dunrose Castle, and that she went to America with him; but keeping her does not account for the extravagance he indulged in Did he bring her back with him? Pat McTiernan. Your Lordship knows it is not the duty of a servant to inquire into his master's concerns, and leastways tell what he sees that would not be to the credit of his master; but the young woman was left in New York. (Aside.) But in good hands, that will not stop with her long, if my name is Pat McTiernan, and can judge. Ljord Daaroae. You have grown very honest in your duty to your master, but this won't do to me; for while you serve him you are in my service; for he being my son and under my protection, makes you mj'- servant while serving him. So now to it, and tell me what you know. Did he bet or gamble in any way while over there? Pat McTiernan. Your Lordship knows all gentlemen gamble with their friends, and a lord would not be a lord who would not bet on a horse-race. And my master is a very line gentleman and fol- lows the example of his most noble father, and tried to keep up the reputation of his ancestors while in America, and may be it did take a good bit of money ; but I know my place, sir, and do not ask ques- tions of my betters. Lord Dunrose. Where did he go? and what did he do? Pat McTiernan. Your Lordship well knows it is- an awful big country, and he went all over it. Hunted buflfalo on the Staked Plains, hooked trout in the Rocky Mountains, killed bear in the Yel- lowstone Park, and panthers in New Mexico; and as there are mighty few railroads in that country, it takes a good bit of money to travel And money seems so plenty where tiiey dig it out of the mountains, it goes easy; and for ray master to live as the rest of the fine young men out there, it cost him a good bit of money. Ah! your Lord- ship, to see a bushel of gold pieces stacked upon the gambling table makes a man's mouth water for it, and before he knows it will run 6 LANDLORD AND TENANT. his haad ia his pocket for his moaey to win some of it. Every- body is trying his best to win that pile of money. Ah, you never saw the likes of it. And away out West, where you wouldn't think the likes of money ever was at all. Lord Dunrose. Yes, yes; I see it all. You have told enough; I see it all. You never saw any one win in that game, I will warrant. Pat McTCeriicm. Ah, sure and I did. One man won a bucketful and then lost all again. Bad luck to him ! Lord Dunrose. I see how it all is. Tell your master [ want to see him the first thing in the morning, and to let nothing interfere with his coming to me. Do you hear? Pat MoTieraan. I do, your Lordship, and will deliver your mes- sage. (Ande.) And little he'll want to come, to be sure. (Exit Lord Dunrose. Eater Lord Arthur.) Lord Arthur. Pat, Pat, bring me some brandy and soda. This malaria! this malaria! it will be the death of me! What did the old governor say ? Was he much mad ? Pat McTiernan. His Lordship was very anxious to see you, and says he must see you the first thing in the morning. Lord Arthur. He wanted to see me, and must see me in the morn- ing; and did he say what he wanted to see me about? Pat McTiernan. He asked me about the trip, and what you did with so much money, and whether or not you gambled. Lord Arthur. I see. I am ruined man, a ruined man, when the old governor finds it all out. And the girl, does he know about her, too? Pat McTiernan. Yes, my master; he asked me about her also, and if you brought her back with you. But when I told him you left her in New York, he seemed to be satisfied with it. Lord Arthur. This malaria (holding glass in his hand), it will be the death of me ! I wish this glass was large enough, I would drown myself in it. But here goes to drown myself from the inside. Now, Pat, stow me away where I can forget myself and go to sleep. Oh, if there be one joy left for me on earth, its name is brandy and soda. Oh, this malaria! It is all through me. (End of scene 1.) Scene II. — Lord Danrose's Mansion in London. Enter Lord Dunrose. Lord Dunrose. Well, I do not like the fix this confounded boy has gotten me into. It is not pleasant; it is perplexing, for I do not LANDLOED AND TENANT. 7 exactly see my way out of it. How he could have spent five thou sands pounds in one year, in such a country as the United States, to keep up the dignity of the name he bears, is what I do not under- stand. I can't see through it. I shall have a sharp talk with him. As far as the girl goes, it does not much matter. I cannot blame him, for she was very pretty, and he turned Iier loose, too, where she can get her living by tying to the first man who has money and will take her as his mistress. But to have so much trouble to collect rents from those brutes of tenants, and have a son with such a genius for spending money, do not go well together. But we will see. It may not be so bad after all. (Eater Lord Arthur.) Ho'w now, Arthur? I did not; get to see you last night. Your man said you were very tired and not well, so had retired early. Hope you are all right to-day, and returned full of valuable information of America, and ready to shine when the Queen calls you to the House of Lords. Lord Arthur. I am most happ}^ to see you, father, and looking so well. I was not well last night and retired early. Malaria, sir; have been troubled with it of late. Have seen a great deal of America, but it is all a bore, I assure you, sir — positively all a bore. All so primitive; nothing worth mentioning or caring for. To be sui"e there is the hunting and fishing, but one has to go so far to get it. And when you get where the game is, any common fellow who chances to come up with you, if he is a better shot than you are, will carry off the game. All a bore, I assure you, and so very expensive. Every one you meet wants to make all he can out of 5'ou; and one pays so dearly for all he gets. I have brought a few trifles as souv- enirs of the exploits I had while there, but they are not worth men- tioning, I assure you; only valuable from association. Lord Dunrose. You certainly enjoyed yourself while there. Lord Arthur. Well, yes, after a fashion; but everything was so very primitive and uncongenial, you know. Everybody on perfect social equality; no distinction between a gentleman and his groom you know. By Jove, it was disgusting. Lord Dunrose. It seems to me, you indulged slightly in that sort of thing yourself before leaving for America. Ha! ha! Lord Arthur. How so ? I assure you I do not comprehend. Lord Dunrose. Well, Lena O' Brian, for instance, was a maid at Dunrose Castle, and I have been informed that you persuaded her to leave there and go with you to America. Lord Arthur. Who told you so ? 8 LANDLOfiD AND TENANT. Lord Dunrose. Now, come, I am not blaming you for it. I admit she was very pretty; but, you know, choose even your mistresses from your own circle, if you want to avoid trouble. But you got rid of her like a man, and left her in New York. A very good place to leave her. Lord Arthur. Who told you all that nonsense. You would make it appear that you were better posted in my affairs than I am myself. By Jove, you would. Lord Danrose. Well, never mind, it is something else I wanted to talk to you about. My agent informed me you had drawn on him for five thousand pounds while you were gone. Are the drafts yours, or are they forgeries ? I must know, for if they are not yours, he shall lose every one of them he has paid; for you had enough money when you left here to have lasted until your return. Lord Arthur. Well, by Jove, that fellow promised not to forward them for collection until such lime as I could meet them, and I do not think it will amount to that much. It is very expensive in America, you know, and then a fellow has to keep up with the men he runs with, you know; and by Jove, I was with the best bloods, and we had a capital time. They bet higli and have the best of everything the land affords, no matter what it costs; and I kept up with the best of them, and sustained the reputation of the British peerage, you know; by Jove I did. Then out West there was the game of "Monte;" and the way tlie boys play it, by Jove it is good. Thou- sands change hands in less than no time. By Jove, they play high and no mistake; you " bet " they do. Lord Dunrose. And you played with the boys? Lord Arthur. Oh, yes; I learned the game for amusement. You see there was not mucli else to do out there. Lord Dunrose. I should like to know how the game is played. Lord Arthur. Don't you do it t Don't you do it ! Lord Dunrose. Don't do what? Lord Arthur. Try to learn monte. It is too expensive ; you would be a pauper in a week. Poker ain't a circumstance. Tjord Dunrose. Ah, I see. I see where all the money went to. So you undertook to learn this game, and found, when too late, how expensive it was. Lord Arthur (aside). I have given myself dead away, and do not know how to get out of it. I wish Pat was here, the dirty black- guard; he could help me out of it, I know. (Aloud.) Oh, not by LANDLORD AND TENANT. 9 any means, I assure you. Only played a little for amusement, but saw how itwas from observation, you know; by Jove I did. (Aside.) I feel the malaria coming on. Lord DunroHc. Well, well, we will have to collect the rents more closely, and not let any of the brutes escape; and you will have to live more quietly now than I had intended you should. Lord Arthur (aside). It is a great relief to get out of it so easily, and as long as he goes for the tenants, it is all right with me. (Aloud.) Thank you, father, I always knew you were a trump ; by Jove I did. Lord Dunrose. Well, you know, I used to be a little inclined that way myself; very fond of the girls. Ha! ha! And I see you are a chip oflF of the old block. I can not blame you for what I used to do myself But be careful in the future, my boy, be careful in the future. (Enter Ladies Dunrose and Cecilia.) Lord Arthur. My very dear mother, and my dear sister, how do you both do ? I assure you I am very glad to see you after my long absence. Lady Dunrose. I am very well, and happy to see you back once more. Lady Cecilia. I am delighted to see you, but Pa says you have been very naughty and spent so much money it will most break us up ; and those miserable wretches of tenants have no feeling for us, and only think of themselves. They do not want to pay the rent, and say their houses are not good enough — the mean things, when they are as good as they are used to having. Lady Dunrose. Well, my dear son, we have, as your sister says, been very much distressed ; but I feel like turning every one of those ungrateful wretches out of our houses and farms, for the}' try t ' give us all the trouble they can, and are wanting everything but to pay their rent; and that is too high for them, they say, and harp on their rights, as if they had any rights! Why, they have none ! And if I had my way, and it was left to me, I would turn them all out of doors and let them try that a while, and I. pledge my word they would be glad enough to pay the rent in the future, and make no complaint about it. Lord Dunrose. As your mother and sister have just said, the ten- ants are giving us all the trouble they can, and every mail brings news of some additional complaints from some of them. I have so 10 LAN'DLORD AND TENANT. far refrained from proceeding to extremities, but we must live, our- selves, and have money to keep up our establishment; we must live and entertain befitting our station, and to do so we must have our rents paid. L