^■^ Sinned Against A Comedy-Drama PROLOGUE AND FOUR ACTS. WITJI STAGE Bl>ilNK8S AND DtRECTIONS AND niAGRAMS (»K THE 80ENE«. New York: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY ALL UIGHTS KESKIiVKD. Sinned Against A Comedy-Drama. PROLOGUE AND FOUR 'ACTS WITH STAGE BUSINESS AND DIEECTIONS AND DIAGRAMS OF THE 80ENES. h. New Yokk : PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1881. 7^ Eutered according to an act of Congress in the year 1881 in the office of the Tiibrarian of Congress at Washington. Characters. Pkof. Paul Cuexevierre— Master of Arts, theoretically, but ignorant of all, practically. Major John Pearle— "Full of wise saws, with modern instances." Commodore Pearle— Salt-water diluted with the milk of human kindness. Abel Flint— General Solicitor, Counsellor and Friend . Gilbert Pryor — A mutual friend. Arthur Doyle— Another, of different principles. Boyd Arnold — With no principles and less nerve. Caleb Dunn — " Off color" as to color, but "true blue" in blood. Lieut. Allen Pearle— Timid, but heroic. Lieut. Walter Peakle— Bold, but effeminate. Arthur Bender — Grandiloquent, but business-like. The Managing Editor. Traoy — A broker, short, but satisfactory. A Telegraph Operator. Cooper — A buUetinist. Servant. Messenger Boy. Agnes Pearle, aged 8, ) - With a fatal fortune. Agnes Pearle, aged 18, ) Lillian Ciienevierre, aged 9, ) - With a fatal defect — almost. Lillian Chenevierre, aged 19, ) Mrs. Paul Chenevierre, at 30, ) . - With a fatal passion. Mrs. Boyd Arnold, at 30, ) Miss Comfort Pearle— With a consoling grief. PAKLOK BACKING. SXOW LANDSCAPE. > O - Table & Chair. PROLOGUE Scene I. — Elm Tree Cottage, New Haven, Christ- mas Eve., 1852. Handsome parlor box-set. Set fire-place with wood-fire r. 2 e. Flower-stand in bay window l. 2 e. Sofa l. c. Table r. c. Rich modem furniture. Garden or wood flat l. seen through bay window. Trees in front of each wing-post, and side of stage thrown opeu. Snow seen falling through the act. The contrast between the colors of mterior, which are rich and warm, and the cold grey of the exterior seen through the window, should be well marked. M.\jor Pearle at table, r. c; Flint r. of table, and Commodore Pearle pacing floor c. discovered. Commodore. It's a waste of money, I tell you ; and I won't stand to idle as a stow-away in the cook's galley, and see it foundered. Fifty thousand dollars ! It will be thrown away like a blank cartridge in a salute. The idea of your spending fifty thousand dollars on that pedagogue's nonsensical experiments. An iron man-o'war! The whole idea is preposterous. It will go straight to the bottom, of course. And a shot tower for a battery ! I appeal to you, Abel Flint,— you're a man of common sense. (Flint snuffs and offers box.) Bah! Don't sniffle at me ! Flint. {Grttffiy.) Humph! The hale will's a folly. I hope I've drawn it sae it can be brecken. (Sfitiffs.) Pearle. Well, I must say you are two of the most unreasonable advisers I ever listened to. I made my money in my own way, and I'll bestow it as I please. (Speaking slowly as 7w lorites.) There are three things I never take under any circumstances: An insulting blow, an unwilling kiss, and bad advice. There, how's that for a codicil ? Com. {After reading.) What! More waste ! Great Neptune! Jack, you don't mean it seriously ? Such a waste of money, and at your age, too. You on your last cruise, and no chance for more prize money ! I appeal to you. Flint, (Flint offers snuff-box.) Bah ! Don't sniffle at me ! Flint. {Seeing Peable writing again.) You ha' better sign afore the auld fule makes it mair. Com. Hold hard. Jack, hold hard! (Skigh bells heard off l. n.) I'll sign. But shiver my bowsprit if I don't feel as if I were on a piratical eruise. rob- bing widows and orphans! (Commodore and Flint sign papers.) Enter Gilbert Pryor and Prof. Chenevierre with Agnes and Lil LiAN in their arms, l. u. e. ci-oss to door and ring. Enter Caleb c. D. from dining-room and admits them. Enter Boyd Arnold and Mrs. Chenevierre, r. u. opening and cross to sofa. l. c. Peakle. We had nearlj' given you up for the night, Gilbert. Pryob. The storm delayed the train. Pearle. Ah! better late than never, {Hurts foot.) and better gout than am- putation, I suppose ; though I doubt it. Mrs. Chenevikeke. Come here, Lillian ; your hood is covered vs-ith snow. Prof. Chenevierre. No ! No ! Lillian is papa's own leetle lady, and so papa sail play ze nurse. {SJiaki.ng her hood, splashing Arnold.) Mrs. C. {Aside to Arnold. ) You see, even his child does not love me. Arnold. {Aside to Mrs. C.) You shall be rid of both soon. Pryor. (To Mrs. C.) I am glad to see you looking as charming as ever, madame. Mrs. C. Thanks! And you have been well, I see, by your appearance. Prof. C. Ah ! zese are fine compliments behind ze back ! I sail not be jeal- ous ! Ze truly fond husband loaf to see his wife admired. Pryor. {Pointedly at Mrs. C.) And the truly loving wife loves admiration only for his sake whose she is. Mrs. C. {Pointedly at Arnold.) Oh! wise philosophers both, who do not know that with hundreds of slaves at her feet, a woman's only gratification is in having a master {Aside.) And he should be a man and not a plaything, {In- dicating Arnold.) or a pedagogue, (^S/ieemi*; «f Chenevierre.) Enter Miss Comfort Pearle, c. Comfort. Oh ! something dreadful is foreboding ! I know there's trouble in store for this unhappy house ! Oh! Gilbert! Gilbert! how could you ! Pro- fessor ! I'm astonished at a man of your age and discretion ! Pearle. Why, what's the matter now ? Prof. C, Ah ! ma chere, how haf I offend you ? Comfort. Don't you know that both of you entered the door just now left foot foremost ! {All laugh.) It's an omen of dire import ! Pearle. Well, before the impending disaster breaks upon us, let us go into supper. {Laughter. Miss Comfort indignant. Exit Pearle, Commodore and Flint, o. d.) Prof. C. Ah ! mon ami ! I fear you will be corrupted in zis terrible company of dissolute old millionaires. You vill be drawn into ze vortex of wicked money-making I am disgust wiz zem. Zey tells to me nozing but stocks and investments and dividends and interest, and all zat vicked stuff vich I cannot understand at all. And you, who used to talk wiz me of ze new book, and ze fine painting, you talk only of ze stock and ze trade. Pryor. And your iron ship. Prof. C. Oui ! Oui ! I am ze ungrateful. It is only you vat belief in ze sheep. But you will be ruined by ze money croakers, and become one old miser- able millionaire like Fhnt. You haf bettaire come back to ze old cottage and take more lessons in French and contentment and virtue from me. Pryor. I have no doubt I should be happier in the end, old friend, but still, for me this active life, this hard but absorbing struggle has grand attractions, new hopes, new ambitions, new achievements ! These are the real joys of liv- ing. Prof. C. To me zey are ze terrors ! I leave you zem. For me, ze loving wife, ze dutiful child, ze humble cottage, ze quiet hearth, ze true friend. Pryor. And the iron ship. Prof. C. Ah 1 do not tor.neat me viz my weakness I But, it will come to he some day. My invention is true I it is good I it will revolutionize ze world ? Nevaire fear! {Sleigh bells and college song heard.) Ze merry pupil vat no storm can fright. Hear, babies, it is "old Yale broke loose," as ze slangey Sophomores say. {Song and bells more distinct. Children and Professor go to window, L. looking out.) You may haf ze great city wis its bustle and trouble. You may desert me for Wall street. Ah ! all my old pupils whom I loaf run away in time and leave me desolate. I make friends of ze little ones. (To child- ren.) You sail be ze friends ? And you ? (Kissing thetn.) Lillian. Be oar hr bby-horse, papa, and ride us into supper. Prof. C. Ah ! here is friendship truly ! Tm-n your old friend into ze cock- horse! (Puts children on his shoulders.) Ah! zat is often ze way viz friend- ship. It lead or it drive you to many foolish acts. Ah! but it is so always! Let ze little ones have zare hobby in youth ; in old age zay too must play ze packhorse. (Exit with children o. d, into dining-room.) Comfort. Come, Mrs. Chenevierre, you and your friend, for supper is waiting, and it's ill luck to keep a hot dinner too long on the table. (Exit with Prtob into dining-room.) Mrs. C. (Abruptly.) I am weary of this shilly-shally. Let us leave this house at once, and his hated roof forever. It is strange I must make up your mind for you. Arnold. I have hesitated only for reputation's sake — yours as well as mine. Mrs. 0. You should have thought of that years ago, before your perfidy com- pelled me to marry one I despised. Arnold. I am ready, or desperate enough, to do whatever you say. Mrs. C. Then go at once to your sleigh, without a word to any one. I will join you. If you have any resolution left, do as I bid you, and leave me to di- vert suspicion. Arnold. It's a criminal offence to run away with another man's wife in this straight-laced state of blue laws. Mrs. C. No risk to you then, for it seems I must run away with you. (Exit Arnold muffling up, off l.) And now to bid him farewell forever and mislead pursuit. (At table r. c. writes hastily.) Enter Caleb from Dining-room. Caleb. Miss Comfort is waiting supper for you, ma'am. Mrs. C. Oh ! it is you, Caleb ! Will you say that I do not care to sup ; and make Mr. Arnold's excuses also. He has left suddenly. And, Caleb — wait a moment. Here is a note to my husband. (Writing.) Give it to him after din- ner. There ! ( Gives note. Exit Caleb, c. d. ) And now for flight forever from his hated home ! (Exit r. u. ) Enter Arthur Doyle by bay window. He is covered with snow ; he sneaks in, and forward to fire, where he warms himself, blow- ing fingers. DoYLK. Whew ! how cold it is ?. Cursed if I ever spend another winter at the North, even te follow him. I have been standing in the most exposed part of the garden for an hour, until I'm frozen through, and he snugly esconoed here making love to that pretty woman. I must know who she is. Possibly 10 she Isold Pearle's daughter with big expectations. (Seeti will.) What's this? A will, fully signed, witnessed and ready for probate. (Beads.) " To my be- loved sister. Comfort Pearle, spinster, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars together with." — One hundred thousand dollars without the "'together with " is'nt bad for a lone body of fifty or thereabouts. (Heads.) " To Gilbert Pryor, iatokenof the love and affection Ibear him, I bequeath in furtherance of his scheme of building an iron ship of war on plans perfected by Professor Paul Chene- vierre for the defense of the harbors it the country, the sum of fifty thousand dollars." And here's another fifty thousand in the codicil. {Laughs.) Romark- able codicil it is, too. I'll keep this. It may be useful some day. {At fire irarm- ing himself. Sleigh bells heard. ) Re-enter Mrs. Chenevierre hastily r. u. d., muffled. Sleigh bells heard l.; she crosses to window l. Mrs. C. Ah! he is there! {Turns and tneetsDoyhE 'r. c, she utters a slight scream, wJien he runs to her, l. o. and stippresses her cry.) Who are you, sir ? Doyle. Hush ? don't scream or talk so loud. I'm his friend and yours : Arnold's friend. You are about to join him. Mks. C. But your name ; your purpose ? DoYi.E. I have no disposition to delay you, but before I can deliver his mes- sage, I must know your name. Mrs. C. His message! Has he gone? {Runs to window, x.. and looks out.) Doyle. No ; not gone, but he sent me to say to you — that is, to a lady here. Mrs. C. Yes! Yes! I am she. Doyle. That is, you are Miss — that is to say you are Mrs. — Mrs. C. Yes! I am Mrs. Chenevierre. I was to join him in five minutes. Why should he send me a message ? What message ? Doyle. Mrs Chenevierre? Wife of — wife of ? — Mrs. C. Yes ! Yes ! Professor Chenevierre's wife. Doyle. {Aside.) A light breaks on me. {Aloud.) And you were once Miss Lillian Ccmstock ? ]VIr9. C. Yes ! Yes ! Doyle. {Aside.) Whew! The girl whom he ruined when a student here. {Alond.) And you were about to fiy with him? Mrs. C. His message ! Give me that and cease your impertinence. Doyle. His message, madam, his message ? Oh ! Yes, I forgot. It was. permit me to say, {Bowing low.) the finest compliment he could pay a lady. It was, "do not delay a moment." Madam do not let me detain you another second; he is wildly impatient. {Bows 7ier up c. and s7ie exits l. u. e. He re- turns to fire.) "Mrs. Chenevierre." {Making note in book.) "Professor in College." "Old Flame." So, Mr. Arnold, your youthful follies come back to plague you, do they? {At window sleigh bells heard l.) They are off, and I shall not be long in following . {As Mrs. Cheniverre exits and Doy'le comes foripard, Caleb enters c. d. and observes him closely, steadilj following him to window, and catching him by the arm. Doyle turns, and they regard each other savagely.) You yellow scoundrel ! have I found you at last ? Caleb. Is ye come here for to take me back into slavery ? Doyle. Yes! curse you, I'll have you, if there is law in the state. Caleb. No, you won't, Massa Doyle ; no you won't. De law what will send me back to be your slave is de same law here for white man an' for eulli'd full s, and it will send you to prison, fust. Doyle. What do you mean, you scoundrel ? Caleb. Dar's law here for you too, sah. You come in dis house like a tief, sah, and de law will punish you for a tief,' too. Doyle. You insolent scoundrel ! Caleb. And I'se gwiue to call in de folks and arrest you for a tief— you licar dat ? Doyle. Hush I don't talk so loud ! Caleb. {Loui tchisper.) I'se gwiue to do it, sho', if you don't write out my freedom papers. Doyle. What ? Caleb. I aint gwine back to slavery, I tells you dat. I'se got you in a tight place, sah I and I mean to have my freedom papers, or I call de gentlemen from de Oder room and 'rest you for a tief. Pearle. {Without 0.) Caleb! Caleb. You hear dat ! Dey's calling me. I aint got more'n a minute to lose. I gives you dat minute to write my freedom papers in. Doyle, The fellow's desperate ! Caleb. Sit down dar and write. {Doyj.^ sits.) Write 'em plain, sah, and write 'em straight, and read 'em as you write, sah ! And read 'em straight. Doyle. {Reading as lie rorites.) "I hereby renounce and remit all lawful claims which I possess to the service of the mullato boy, Caleb, bought by me from John Marshall, of New Orleans." Pearle. {Calling witlioiit.) Caleb! Caleb. {Taking papers.) Mas' Doyle, you never bother me again, and I say nothing 'bout dis, but you better not come prowling round here like a low ornery poor-white in a hen-roost ! Clar out, now ! you better be gone before I come back. {Exit c. d.) Doyle. {At windoic, and trying to open it.) An infernal narrow escape! What luck should have brought that cursed runaway to thwart me at this mo- ment ? Curse the window ! Won't it open ? Too late! {Conceals himself.) Enter Peakle and Caleb from clining--room c. d. Caleb helps Peaele forward. Pearle. Easy, easy, Caleb. Confound the gout ! It won't even allow me to eat any longer. Ah ! Caleb, I hope you avoid high living, low scandal and the police. Caleb. I haven't got your complaint, sah, and the police haven't got me ; l)ut I tink, sah, it's my bounden duty, sah, to speak to you 'bout a bit of scandal, sah ! Pearle. No, j'ou won't ; I despise small scandal as I do big law-suits and sharp speculations. They all lead to ruin. Don't bother me with gossip. I want to sleep if I can. {Lies on sofa icith head towards audience.) Caleb, But, sah ! if dis was in yer own house ? Pearle. {Half rising.) What do j^ou mean, you yellow scoundrel ? Caleb. Not as it war any of your own family, sah. Pearle. Well for you that it isn't. But if it affects none of my family, then it's none of my business, and I won't be bothered with it. The man who circu- lates scandal is just as culpable as the scoundrel who originates it. {Puts hand- kerchief over face and lies back yawning.) Caleb. {Aside.) W'all, if I had a house and dere was a flirtation like dis a going on in it, I'd know what it was all about. I'll see if she's dar. {Looking in n.v.o.^ But she's not dar ! {Goes up d. l. e.) Der front door has been open, too, and de little shoe -print in de snow pints away from de house. She's done gone 12 away, sho's I lib. I tiiik I'll gib dis letter to de ProfcFsor at once, for dar's mis- chief a coming out all dis dam nonsense. {Exit into dining-room, c. d^ Doyle. What an absurd old ass not to listen to that gossip. I might have heard all about it. c. D. opened, discovering- all at table. Prof. Chenevieere, -witli nap- kin around his neck, ajDpears at c. n. and enters with letter. Prof. Chenea'iekre. Ah ! tank you, Caleb. I will find madam, ze truant. How very considerate of her to drop me ze billet and diiect ze servant not lo in- terrupt ze supper. It is always ze way wiz her : ever so considerate, so loving I Surely zare is not in all life so great a happiness as ze possession of ze true and loving dame in whom zare is perfect trust. {Iteada.) "Monsieur!" Zat is formal to begin wiz. It is like ze invitation to cold tea and crackers wiz ze old maids and blue stocks. {Reads.) "For years I have curbed the irresistible im- pulse vich leads me now to follow vare years ago my heart vent." {Looks puz- zled and repeats.) Oh I zis is not her lettaire 1 Yes! But it is not for me I {Looking at address.) Yes! Zare is some mistake, fci-he haf enclosed ze wrong lettaire in ze right envelope. No! no! no! It is mine! It is from her! {Reads.) " I married you ven I loafed anozer. I haf nevaire loaf you. and encountering once more ze man of my loaf I haf left your house to share his fortunes." Mon Dieu! zis is one frightful nightmare ! Vat could I hat eat for supper ? {Reads.) "I haf left your house to share his fortune " {Ritshes through door, r. f. and then back again.) She is not there ! My God ! do I not dream ? In mercj' let me not vake to find it true I {Lauglis.) Oh ! zare is some blunder, some stupid joke! No! no! it is her hand— ze hand vich haf wrote ze loving lettaire I haf kissed a thousand times ! But yet, — yet I do not kiss— I cannot read. {Faints in chair, r o. Sleigh hells and college song heard off l. Caleb opens c. d, and looks in, and all irithin laugh. Doyle comes forward stealthily, takes up letter and reads.) Doyle. Evidently sentimental. Arnold was right in saying she gushed; a most inexcusable fault in a pretty woman, and one which invariably turns to bad temper in old age. {Reads.) " I married you when I loved another, and en- countering once more the man of my love I have left your house to share his fortunes." Devilish good exchange, too ! A poor professor for a rich planter. Five hundred negroes on the plantation— if he has one. {Reads.) " Do not at- tempt to follow or find me. I will never return to you or bear the hated name of Lillian Chenevierre." Hallo! he's waking ! {Drops letter near chair and se- cretes himself l. 2. e. ) Enter Lillian from dining-room, c. d. Lillian. Papa ! Mamma ! Tiiey are calling you for tea. Why, papa, you are asleep. {Picks uplelter, laughing.) Papa! Papa! {Shakes him. Prof. C. wakes and rises. ) Prof. C. Oh ! zo ! It was ail a dream ! Zat salade vich I mix for lunch must have been full of indigestion. Vas I asleep, baby ? Did you find papa asleep ? Lillian. And they are calling for you and mamma to come to tea. Prof. C. Oh ! Mamma ! Vare is your mamma ? Haf you seen mamma ? Is she not at ze table ? Lillian. No, papa ! But here is a beautiful letter from her. Prof. C. {Snatching letter from her rudely ) You haf not read it ? {She cries.) Oh ! haf I hurt your little heart? Papa is a great brute to be so cruel 13 to his little child. Come, baby ; Hush ! Baby hush! {Looks at letter.) My God! I did QOt dream ! It is real ! It is true ! Ze lettaire, Lillian, ze lettaire — you hat" not read ze lettaire ? — you do not know what him say ? Lillian. Why, no, papa ; you know I cannot read. Pbof. C. No, no I zat is true. I forgot. My baby cannot read. {Aside.) And please God, she nevaire shall ; nevaire ! She shall nevaire learn to read of her mother's shame I Now, baby, listen ; we must go away now, into ze snow ; out into ze cold world I Run for your wraps, ma chere ; put on ze hood and ze cloak, and bring papa his great coat. Be good ; be quiet. Bring yourself back to papa wrapped up warm. {Exit Lillian k. c. d.) I vill confide to ze major zis terrible secret. He vill allay suspicion ; he vill distract ze scandal-mongers; he vill safe my good name. Major ! {Shakes Major Pearle who does not stir, goes to door \i. c. then back again to Pearle, and pulls handkerchief from his face.) Major! {Starts back.) Dead! Doyle, {h. at window.) Dead! Then the will is valuable already ! Prof. C. Dead ! He is indeed to be envied ! Vy ! vy ! could it not haf been me ? {Laughter heard without c ) I must trust to Gilbert. I will write to him ; he alone sail know the story of my dishonor. ( Writes hastily at table.) Re-enter Lillian k. u. e. wrapped up and wearing the great coat of Chenevierre. Ah ! you are too lovelj', my little angel ! Ve vi.l go avay ! It is out in ze cold world, but you vill be warm and snug against papa's heart, vill you not ? Papa will hug you close, nevaire fear, darling ! It is dreary— it is dreary that I see be- fore us, but God vill be viz us, my darling. Lie close, baby ! Make no noise ! Put your warm cheek against papa's. God have mercy ! God have mercy ! {Staggers towards c. d. As lie goes up o. door is opened by Caleb. Prof. C. crouches l. near flat, unseen. Doyle has crossed to sofa, and feels Major Peable's pulse. As Caleb looks in Doyle beckons him. Commodore is seen at table, glass in hand, standing. ) Com. You shall drink a toast fit for the eve: — a toast to happ}'' homes and loving hearts in every land and on every sea this blessed night ! All. Happy homes and loving hearts to all ! {They drink. Caleb at sofa with Doyle. Chenevierre rises, looks carefully about and steals off slowly l.u.e. Caleb goes up and calls Commodore and Flint, tcho leave table and come forward. Doyle crosses to table, and is seen to secure letter of Chenevierre, and then goes to bay-window. SleigJi-bells and song as before. Chenevierre at fall of curtain is seen outside of widoic. Doyle at tcindow. Major on sofa. Commodore and Flint, one on r. a7id the other on l. of the Major. Caleb r. c. Others rt table evidently not recognizing Pearle's death. Com. Poor old shipmate ? He's cast anchor at last ! Flint. {Snuffing.) Yes. Case closed. Judgment reserved ! (QUICK ACT DROP.) Note. — Ten years are supposed to elapse between the action or the PROLOGUE and THE FIRST ACT. CHAMBER OK OFFICE BACKING. PARLOR. K VV o o : : .-...•0 FLAT. > < ACT I. Scene I. — Private Parlor of a New York Hotel, April, 1862. Parlor flat in 3 g., with two doors, through which is seen hall, and chamber or office backing. in tipper grooves. Door r. 2 e. Table and chair e. c. Mks. Arnold seated r. and Doyle, standing behind her chair and bending over her, discovered Doyle. I am aware, madame, that you are a very obstinate woman, but you must not forget that I also am a very positive man. Mrs. Arxold. Why should you so suddenly develop opposition to my wishes. Doyle. For ^i^m/- protection. {Amle.) — and »i^ profit. Mrs. a. I have not seen my child for ten years. Do not suppose because I was wicked then, that I am altogether heartless still. Since I may have my child's companionship without danger of exposure of the past, — Doyle. Without danger ? Do you not see that your scheme is full of danger? You are unknown here ; intimate with all your husband's old friends, but grown be- yond their recollection. Your scheme — I may say owr scheme,— aims to make his old friend, Gilbert Pryor, your husband, and his pretty ward. Miss Pearle, my wife. Your husband and child are lost in obscurity, when suddenly you conceive an in- sane desire to see your child, and at Pryor's suggestion take her as a companion. Mrs. a. It is easy enough, if you do not oppose. Doyle. But I shall oppose, and that, too, to the extent of exposing you I Enter Servant with card, r. 0. v>. Mrs. A. {Taking card.) Miss Pearle, her brother and her aunt. {To serv- ant.) Show them here. {Exit servant.) I leave you to entertain them 'till Mr. Pryor comes. Say I will return shortly. {Exit r. 2. e.) Doyle. I could better entertain if the aunt and brother were absent. Enter servant, showing in Agnes, Comfort and Allen Pearle. r. c. d. Good morning, ladies : I am delighted to see you. Agnks. Well, then, do set about consoling Aunt Comfort. Comfort. Oh ! Mr. Boyle,— Doyle. Doyle, madam, Doyle. Comfort. Excuse me. I knew it was something like a blister. But I'm in such a state of mind ! As we got out at the door just now, we encountered a man — (Catching her breath.) Allen. Very naturally, Broadway is full of them. Comfort. With his umbrella hoisted, and the sun a shining its brightest. Oh ! there's ruin impending somewhere ! (Sits l. ) Doyle. I am desired by Mrs. Arnold to entertain you for a few moments. She is engaged with Mr. Pryor. Agnes. Is Gilbert here V Doyle. Gilbert ? Agnes. Yes,— Mr. Pryor, I mean. Doyle. Do you call him Gilbert also ? Agnes. Why not ? He is my guardian. Does she call him Gilbert ? Doyle. Why not V She is— Agnes. Is what y Doyle. His partner. Agnes. Partner 1 Doyle. In business only, of course,— just yet. You know she is largely interested in the ship he is building. Agnes. Indeed ! Interested in the ship or its builder ? Doyle. Evidently in a jealous mood— I'll humor it. (Aloud.) The sus- picion does credit to your wo;Tian's sagacity. Miss Pearle. Mrs. Arnold has ad- vanced Mr. Pryor very large sums — a small fortune, in fact, to aid him in his pet project. Agnes. What siuu has she advanced Mr. Pryor ? Doyle. She holds one thousand shares of his stock, supposed to represent $100,000, but it is saleable just now only at ninety cents on the dollar. Agnes. Tell her I will buy it at its full value. Doyle. (Aside.) The devil you will! Not if I know it. I don't propose to have m^ prospective fortune in such securities. (Almid.) Oh! nothing could induce her to sell now, and particularly, to yon. Agnes. Why not to me ? Doyle. It is the evidence of the tine character of Mrs. Arnold that she has always insisted with your guardian that none of your fortune in trust in his hands should be invested in this thing of his. Agnes. Indeed ! And pray how long has she been his adviser as to the dis- position of my fortune ? Enter Gilbert Pryor r. c. Oh I Guardy — it is you ? I thought you were with her. Pryor. Mrs. Arnold ? Oh ! I have just come by appointment to see her. Agnes. He told me you were with her already. Doyle. I was in error, (Aside to hsr.) by a few moments only. Agnes. (With forced merriment.) We are evidently ou she would be something more than companion, and in view of his own and her piospects in life he thinks it wisest she should learn in earnest to make her own living. So he has preferred to have her independent with strangers rather than a dependant with old friends. Agnes. I thought the building of the ship was to enrich you both ? Pryoe. I am sorry to say, dear, that it has probably impoverished me with- out benefiting him. Agnes. What do you mean ? Peyor. In a few days it will be necessary to tell you all about my embarrass- ments from which this noble woman has most unselfishly relieved me till now (She turns aioay petulantly.) My affairs do not interest you. But I must, at any rate, speak of Lillian. For years, you know, she and her father have been my sole care. For ten years he has lived in my ship-yard in absolute seclusion guarding her, and guarding from her the sad secret of his life and hers. So greatly has he exaggerated h's troubles and the danger of her learning his se- cret, that he has brought her up absolutely in ignorance of how to read or write, and her education has been wholly through reading and conversation with him. Until withm a few months— since your brother was detailed by the government to inspect the ship— she has hardly known another man than her father and my- self. Re-enter Doyle r. 2 e. Doyle. Mr. Pryor, Mrs. Arnold is anxious to meet the young lady alone. Will you and the ladies not walk into her rooms? Agnes. No ! I'm going away \ Make my excuse, please. Come, Aunty. Doyle. I hope Miss Pearle is not displeased ? Agnes. With you, my dear Mr. Doyle? No; you are always too entertaining. Good bye ! Bye-bye, Guardy ! I leave you to business uninterrupted. (Piqued. Exit R. c. icith Comfort.) Pryor. (Aside.) " Always too entertaining ?" What could she mean by ad- dressing him in that manner? (Absently.) 18 Doyle. Miss Pearle is perfectly eliarming. Peyor. {Suddenly recollecting. ) Oh ! yes ; very charmiug always ! And she says you are too eutertaining. But she always was inchnetl to be satirical. {Exits R. 2 E.) Doyle. {Rings bell.) How to break off this arrangement without exposing Mrs. Arnold to all, puzzles me. The daughter must be told in order to drive her away. {Enter servant r. o.) Show Miss Chenevierre, who is in the public parlor, here. {Exit servant r. o.) But to expose Mrs. Arnold to Pryor would naturally break off her designs upon him. It requires ingenuity and nerve to accomplish this intrigue. Enter servant showing in Chenevierre, Lillian and Allen Pearle r. c. She's devilish pretty at any rate. Allen. Mr. Doyle, this is Prof. Chenevierre, and Miss Lillian. Doyle. You are very welcome, I am sure ; though madame did not expect Mr. Chenevierre, or any one but the young lady. Lillian. Papa, papa ! You will not leave me ? Allen. Never, Miss Lillian, never I That is — I beg pardon — Prof. Chenevierre. Vat ees it, ma chere ? Your little heart haf its courage lose at ze moment final ? Lillian. I must leave you, papa ? Must I leave you ? Prof. C. Non, non, ma chere. It vill make us all ze at heart more close, zis brief parting. I haf done zis against ze best judgment of my own heart, but Gilbert — ze good Gilbert — he tink it for ze best. You vill clieer up, ma chere ! You vill papa's heart break vis ze knowledge zat you are not happy and content ? Lillian. No, no, papa ! I am very happy 1 most content aud happy 1 {Kisses Mm ) Allen. {Aside.) How beautiful she is! {To her.) Do you know Miss Chenevierre— that is— Have you the intelligence— (J.s?"f?e. ) Oh ! of course she has! {Aloud.) But do you comprehend,— does anj'body ever tell you how beautiful you are looking ? Lillian. No; nobody says so — (Prof. Chenevierre between tliein.) except papa ! {Coquettish business between Lillian and Allen. ) Prof. C. Monsieur le Lieutenant I ve ai'e onc^ too many each of us. Let us to ze ozzer apartment retire ourselves. Allen. Bat we are to see Miss Lillian again ? Lillian. Oh ! yes ! yes ! You must wait. Allen. With the greatest pleasure. Llllian. I mean — papa! (Prof. Chenevierre w^^^^iv / take it ; he ptUs her back.) My child, I imploi'c, — I beg you will not read that letter ! It is mine! — stolen by him ! Written years ago and so bitterly repented of 1 I beg !— I implore oq my bended knees do not read it ! (KneeU ) Lir.LiAN. Pardon, madanie — but, I cannot read ! Mrs. a. Thank Heaven I Thank Heaven ! Lir.LiAN. {Lifting her up.) Pray, madauie, becalm, — and you, — yourself, — you shall read me the letter. (Mks. Arnold ulirinkxfrom her an fthe offers letter. Doyle, hastily snatelieii it.) Doyle. I beg pardon, — but 1 will read it ! Mrs. a. No, no — in mercy — no ! {Struggling with him. ) Lillian. {Aside.) What strange mystery and agitation ! Doyle. You must understand, Miss Chenevierre, that this letter is ten years old ; that it was written by this lady, and was addressed — Mrs. A. No! no! no! {Struggling with him.) Lillian. It was addressed,— to whom? Doyle. It was addressed by this lady to— your father. Lillian. My father! Pardon, sir.— to my father ? Doyle. Yes. Lillian. Pardon, will yon permit me? {TaJces letter.) Sir, I do not believe you ! Mrs. a. Do not indeed, my child. He lies ! Doyle. Bat the letter does not. Let it be read ! Lillian. How came you with a letter addressed to my father? Mes. a. The villian stole it ! Lillian. Then he would not read it correctly ? Mks. a. Do not trust — do not believe him, my child ! Lillian. I will not ! I will trust no one ! It shall be read to me— by my father? {Thrown open r. o. and calls.) Papa! Papa! '{Goes out in hall.) Mrs. a. My God ! Is he here ? Hide me ! Doyle. CJourage, woman ! Would you have the whole house aroused to know your guilt and witness your exposure ? (Chenevierre appears in hall and comes f(Yi'ward. ) Mrs. a. Undo the ruin you iiave wrought ! Save me, I implore ! Enter Chenevierre and Lillian k. c. Lillian. Madame, this is my father! (Mks. Arnold draws herself up grandly as if defying exposure. C/Iienevierre recognizes her, clasps Lillian ti> his breast, putting her r. of him. A moment in this attitude, when he bends to Mrs. Arnold, and speaks aside. ) Prof. C. (^.wZ^ ^o Mrs. Arnold) For ma eliild's sake! for pity ! for ze loaf of heaven 1 Silence ! Mks. a. For her sake !— yes. silence ! Lillian. Papa! There is some mystery here which you conceal from me. Papa, years ago, this letter,— so lie says.— was addressed to you by this lady. Read it to me ! {She gives it to b/m. lie sttrts at sigJit of it, irhen she cla^sps his arm ex/ilaiming.) Papa! Mrs. A. Merc}^ ! — mercy I For tlie love of Heaven do not mnke her curse me, too! LiLLLVN. Papal Head it '. Mrs. a. My child ! I implore ! I forbid you to ask this sacrifice I Lillian. Father I Read the letter ! ( Tableau. ) PpwOF. C. Certainment, ma chile, wiz pleaisure. It is nozing zat it should all zis turmoil warrant about him. {Reads.) "Monsieur." Mks. a. {Aside to V^of. Chenevieeke,) In heaven's name, mercy I Prof. C. {Aside to her.) In ze name of heaven, silence ! {Reads.) "Mon- sieur, it ees viz pleaisure and gratification ze utmost," — you see ze writer as she proceed, grow emphatique. — "zat I haf myself doze grand honaire— (^*j- tates for words.) ze grand honaire — to you extend, as alzo to ze Commodore Pearle of ze Navy distingue, and to Major Pearle and Monsieur Pryor, to tea un invitation — " Lillian. And is that all ? Prof. G. Every word, ma chere. Un invitation most ridiculous. You see it is nozing. We destroy him. (About to tearitwJien 'Doyi.ts. interferes, andheturns fiercely upon Mm; calms himself.) Monsieur, zis lettaire is to me direct, and him I destroy thus ! {Tears it ^cp. Aside to Mrs. Arnold.) If you peace value, and ever her happiness contemplate, avoid us hereafter. {Aloud to Lillian.) Come, Lillian, let us begone. Ve haf made un grand mistake ridiculous. {Lauffhs.) Zis is not not ze lady vat I haf desire you to see. Ve vill bid her adieu .' { Turns up c. with Lillian. ) Doyle. But, sir, I demand — Prof. C. {Turns fiercely on him.) Demand nozing! Beware j'ou silence keep ! Sare, if you dare ever to speak vat you know I vill tear you as I haf zis paper tear— all to pieces ! {Throws scraps over him. Prof. Cuenevierre stand- ing over Doylk who cowers l. Lillian k. «/ Prof. Chenevierue reho is in c. clinging to him, amazed at his passion. Mrs. Arnold k. v.. ooerwhelmed and in tears.) MODERATE ACT DROP. Note. — One month is supposed to elvpse retween the A(:Tif)N of the First and Seooxd Act.s. LANDSC^APE BACKING OF SIIIP-YAKD. \ SET HOUSK. \. i ACT II, Scene I. — A Shipyard. Greenpoint, Long Island, April, 1862. Office exterior, l. c. 3rd g. with backing and furniture seen through window i^. c. Rude board fence r. Flat in upper grooA e, showing iron-clad on stocks. Fence from office to l. 1 e. Gate in fence r. to open inwardly, with signs, "Positively no Admssion," and "Post no Bills" printed on it. but the whole covered with hand-bills. Carpenter's bench l. Allen Pearle, coatless, r. c. and Pryor c. reading letter, discovered. Chenevierre occasionally seen inside set house Caleb at gate r. 2 e. Allen. {Looking at s/u'p u.) There, Gill)ert, we may safely say, I tliink, she is ready for launching. , Pryok. {Referring to letter.) And this says that in less than a month she must be ready for fighting. {Knocldng at the gate. Caleb openn it.) Enter Agnes Pearle and Miss Comfort r. 2 e. Agnes. {Ritnnliig to Pkyok. ) Here we are, giiardy 1 Are we in time for the launch ? Allen. And for lunch, toersl Pryor. And there is one legac}' which I must leave you also. It has been one of my chief fears that if trouble comes to me, that old Chenevierre and his daughter may suffer. I want you to make them your wards as for years they have been my care. Agnes. Never fear for theuL They shall be my special care. Leave me here for a moment. (A.nde.) He loves this strange woman ! 1 am but a weak girl, fit only to be petted, not worth consulting or advising with ! He loves her ! Lillian. (Coming forward.) Oh ! my dear ! you are in tears : Prof. C. (Coming forward.) Vat is it? Who haf your leetle heart hurt? What gross brute your heart haf pained, eh ? Agnes. It is nothing, nothing, dear,— It is joy,— joy at something I have in store for you,— for both, — for all of us. Something that is to happen that will make us all happy. Lillian. Oh! charming! charming! Papsi! Papa! we shall be happy ! Agnes. I'm going to take you awiy from this dull place. Lillian. Oh ! that will be too delightful ! 29 Agnes. Out into the bright world agaiu : Prof. C. (Cte^m^r Lillian.) No! no! Zat must not be. My darling must viz papa stay. Not into ze world ; no ! no I Agnes. That must be, Grandpa. Gilbert,— Mr. Pryor,— says so. Lillian shall be a little lady. Prof. C. (Proudly.) Pardonnez-moi, ma chere, — ma chile vas alway a lady— she vas born zo ! But she is papa's leetle lady,— are you not, ma chere? —and vill papa's chile remain alway. Not ze cold world vat haf zo wTong her,— so cruelly sinnei against her young life,— shall claim her now. She vill wiz pa- pa remain, vill she not, ma chere ?— happy in ze seclusion vere haf ever been peace. Lillian. Oh! Papa! I shall be happy with the good Agnes— (He starts.) and you 1 (Embracing him.) Agnes. You shall both be happy once more with me. Go at once, Lillian ! Take Grandpa and dress him in his finest suit. Now you must do as I say. (Chenevierrk protesting, and Lillian and Agnes pushing him off c.) You musi obey. Grandpa, for we are going to make Lillian very happy. Lillian. Oh ! Papa ! Come away and prepare. (Kisses Agnes. ) Oh ! you dear good angel! No! no! Papa, you will not say nay. You will do what she says,— what Gilbert says. (Kissing Agnes. ) Oh ! you have made me so happy ! (Exit behind office with Chenevierre.) Re enter Mrs. Arnold and Doyle c. Agnes. (Looking at papers. ) These are the deeds of separation. Mrs. Arnold. ( To Doyle. ) If ever your opportunity offers, it will come to-day From what you tell me, it is clear she is jealous of him. Doyle. Then you conclude, of course, she loves him ? Mks. a. Only a man would not have seen that long ago. But you are not so unreasonable as to demand her fortune and her affection, too ? DoYi K. Well, we'll get her fortune first, and love may afterward take care of itself. I am niost in need of the first. Mrs. a. You must ply your suit boldly. She is not to be won by dalliance. You must win her to help me. She must be out of my path. She shall not wed him ! By my hate 1 swear it ! He shall not wo 'Pel. Ins. O ACT III. Scene I. — Editorial Rooms of a New York Journal, April, 1862. Double apartment. Office flat u. g. Right half furnished in of- fice style with desks, tables, newspaper files, etc., without carpet Left half represents an elegant private office, richly carpeted? suitably furnished with book-case, table, busts; etc. Lounge l. h. Desk and telegraph instrument against party-wall. Stairway at rear by which entrance is made* Two practicable windows pre- pared for displaying bulletins at e. 2 and 3 g. Calcium light to shine upon them from off r 3 e. Table r. c. Stock telegraph in- strumentR. 1 e. Observe contrast in coloring, setting, etc., bet- ween public and private office. Managing Editor at desk l. c. Telegraph Operator at table reading. Bender and others at table R. c. writing, Boy asleep under table. Cooper writing bul- letin as curtain rises. Managing Editor. Read the bulletin for corrections before displaying it. How is the crowd below, Bender ? Bender. Large and increasing. If the effete raonarchs of depraved and dissolute Europe could look upon a compact congregation of American citizens like this, it would impart additional and perceptible vibration to their tottering thrones. You may rest assured of that. Sir, rest assured of that I Man. Ed. Read the bulletin. Bender. {Reading.) "The enemy's iron-clad is bearing down upon the Cumberland, F.ieut. AValter Pearle, commanding. A terrible conflict is pend- ing." Man. Ed. All right ; display it, and see how the crowd takes it. (Cooper puts bnlletin on window which is closed, and bulletin thus displayed. After a few sec- onds groans and then cheers heard off \i. ri. ) They seem determined to keep their courage up. Enter Pryor. Agnes, Prof. Ciienevierre and Lillian by stairway. Pkyok. (Coming forwa7-d to Ma'Sagi'SO Editor.) My dear Judson, I've ven- tured to intrude, though I know you must be busy. I am expecting despatches from Pearle, and if you can use them — 34 Max. Ed. Delighted, my dear iellow. Write an order to the telegraph com- pany to repeat theui here. Sit here. (F uxor sits at his desk.) Come this way, ladies. I'll surrender the old gentleman's room to you. (Opens door in party- wall.) You'll find this more comfortable than the office. (Shows Agnes and Lillian into room. Pktok writes outside. Chenevieuue goei^' to the stock instru- ment. LiLLiAX. Oh I my iv>or Agnes I Will t!)c vile world never cease to torment us? Agxes. Oh ! IJUian ! I am broken-hearted with so many conflicting feelings and emotions. (They fall on eaeh others necks and weep.) PiiOF. CiiENEViERKE. (At telegraph inst?-unient.) Mon Dieu! ze stock at 84 I At zis rate ze poor unhappy Agnes vill be ruin viz good fortune. She say to me buy all ze stock of ze sheep. Ze more she buy, ze more it go up instead of down- It is ze luck of ze diable. Enter Commodore, Miss Comfort and Flint hy stairway. ('oMxMODOKE. Who's in command of this ciaft ? Man. En. Well, sir, may 1 ask—? Co.M. Yes, sir, you may ask, Sir, but please answer first. ]VIy name is Pearle, — Commodore Pearle. Pryok. Ah! Commodore! And Flint! (To Editor.) ]\[y dear Jud^on, ihese gentlemen are friends of mine. Commodore Pearle is father of the Com- mander of the Cumberland- CoM. Yes, sir. And my boy is taking her into his first fight— and I'll answer for him, he makes a record the service will be proud of. I've known him, and his ship, too, these iwenty-five years, and ship and commander are made of true timber, well seasoned and stout-hearted and no mistake. Man. Ed. I am expecting news of her victory every moment. 1 beg you'll remain and hear the goad news. Telegrax^ii Operator. (Handing despatch.) Here's news of her now. Com. Ah ! now we shall hear of him ! Read it aloud, man, read it aloud. Man. Ed. ( Who ha>s read it.) Cooper, post this at once ! (Aside to Pryor.) How are your friend's nerves ? Pryor. Is the news bad ? ]Man. Er>. Better get him in tlie other r(X>m. Com. What's all this whispering in corners? Out with tlie news, man ! Pryor. I fear it is bad, Commcxlore. Com. Fear I Of course you fear. Building ships like casemates changes men's natures and makes them afraid. A full free deck for me and cutlasses and grappling irons against all your pent up shot-towers with pigeon holes for port- holes. (Cooper puts up bulletin, as folknrs :) "the CUMBERLAND WAITED UNTIL THE ENEMY WAS WITHIN ONE HUNDRED YARDS BEFORE RAINING A FULL BROADSIDE INTO HER." Com. And sunk her, of course ! Brave boy ! brave boy ! Pryor. Keep cool, Commodore ! Bear up stoutly ! Com. Keep cool ? Damn it ! do you take me for a salamander ? Miss Comfort. And to think of the poor miserable sinners that are killed by our dear boy, which he would never have the heart to do, I'm sure, for a tenderer never was. nor a sweeter-hearted lad. And they, too, all in their fresh new suits, and to think of them ruined by the salt water, which is very damaging to new cloth. (Cooper add.^ to bulletin, asfolloicx:) '•THE ENEMY STRITK THE CTMHEIILAND AMIDSHIPS, LAYING IIEK SIDE OPEN." Com. Wliat ! struck the Cumberland ? It's a damned lying despatch. I've sailed the Cumberland twenty years on every sea— (Pryok and Flint quiet him.') But strike the Cumberland! Why Flint it's too damned preposterous! Flint. Ya cafina tell what the deil's the end 'till ye hear all ! (Coopek adds to bulletin.} "sue THEN DREW OFF AND FIRED A IJROADSIDE SINKING THE CUM- BERLAND." Com. Sinking the Cumberland ! Ila! ha! ha! Now they've got the wrong vessel sunk ! Pryor. Patience ! Patience ! T'ommodore, I tear it is all too true. Com. Sunk! The Cumberland sunk! Ye damned lying knaves! Would you make money on the pretended dishonor of the navy ! Sunk! sunk ! My old ship sunk? Flint! Flint, is it true, man? Is it true? No? Y'es? Flint! Flint! Sunk! sunk! The Cumberland sunk! (Pryor, Flint a/i(? Miss Comfort lead him into inner room to lounge.) Why, Agnes! did you hear, girl ? They say the Cumberland is sunk ! Is it so, Gilbert ? (Pryor nodn ax^ent.) Then — vay — boy — is — dead! {Sinks on lounge. k.G'S'S.Band'^inSiCou- ¥o\n kneeling bedde him. V ry on beside A.q,s^s,. Lillian m te«/-s l. o. Cuene- viERHE enters room, Lillian runs to Mm in tears. ) Prof. C. Yat is it, ma chere enfant ? Vat ails ma chile ? Lillian, macliere ! ma darling? Haf I your leetle heart broke at last ? Lillian. Oh! papa! it is the wicked world ! Oh! why did we come into the wicked world ? I entreated you to give up the happy home, ■where you were content, — where we had no friends but each other, where I had your love and no other had my love. And we come into the gay world, with its fine dress and its fine gentlemen. It is all tears ever since. The good Gilbert has changed to the wild gambler in stocks. Agnes who was all smiles before, is all tears now, — and all are very unhappy, — and there is parting and weeping, — and he goes away, the good captain, and the next thing we hear is ruin— and the battle and danger — and now — they tell me, comes death ! Oh! papa! he is not dead! tell me that he is not dead ! ( Weeps on his breast. Ciienevierre patting her on back for a moment. ) Prof. C. Non! ma chere, not dead! Zat is not death vat ze gallant Walter haf overtake. lie haf gone down in ze deep water amid zc roar of ze grand battle ! But zat is not death ! lie haf blot out by one sublime proof of ze pos- session of ze grandest virtue, patriotism, — all ze small vice and weakness of his life. Death? It is not death, dying zo! He who haf for his country die haf but take new security of immortal life,— of imperishable fame ! Not dead, ma chei e ! ze gallant Walter is not dead ! Lillian. {Hesitatingly.) But— the— the— Captain,— Allen ? Prof. C. Oh ! ze ozer Capitaine ? It is ze ozer Gapitaine vat you wish to hear about ? Oh ! it is not ze dead—? Ah ! oh ! (Ciienevierre signifies that a new light dawns upon him. She hangs her head, confused.) Agnes. {To Pryor.) Do you really know nothing of Allen ? Pryor. I hope to hear news that he has reached the bay, aad if so, the enemy can never escape, and I'll be sworn not all the shot and shell in Christen- dom can penetrate the armor of his ship. Man. Ed. ( To Pryop.. ) Ah ! here's news for you, Pryor ! Cooper post this at once. ( To Pryor. ) Now, you'll have your nerves tried, Pkyoi;. Nolhing bad is it ? Mas. Ed. No : All right : By the way, that oixler to the Telegraph Com- pany. Thanks: (Mings bell. Bat/ rmi»es fi'om sleep, comes forward ) Tele- graph Office I Rush! {Exit hay.) All your despatches will be repeated over 9ur lines to avoid delay. (CooPEK^tti^s uj-) despatch, as follows:) "the lEON BATTERY FROM NEW YORK, MEUT. ALT.EN PEAEI.E C'OM- MANOING, ARRIVED-, AND- AT OSOE ATTACKED." {Cheers mitside r.) Pryor. Thank H{;aven 1 ( Goes into i^mer room. ) I bring you great news, Agnes-! Be brave and trustful, dear. Allen is safe! His ship is already in the fight ! Ah ! if she could have arrived a day sooner, Walter might have been spared. Tel. Or. More bulletins. (MANAfixNO Editor vernds and Jiandt* ^^Coofer wIio' posts it. ) "the first fire of peart.e i>ismot-ntei> the row- runs of the enemy." FiloF. C. Ze stock at 85 ! Mon Dieu ! I haf all ze poor chile's hopes of bankruptcy ruin complete. If ze confounded stock go much higher she vill be zo rich zat she vill nevaire forgive me for not ruin her. Unless rat stoek before anozer hour go down, her fortune is. made an she is forever ruin. Pryor. ( ^'o Agnes. ) Can you understand all I have said! Agnes. No ! not all ! Answer me this. If your ship fails— if slie Is sunk — if the Government refuses to take her,— are you ruined ? Pryor. Financially, absolutely ; and heavily in debt. AoxES. Then if the ship fails, yon are poor, and .'*Jie is rich. You would not, —you have said so often, have yon not,— if you were poor you would not seek this woman's hand. Pryor. My dear little woman, if i* will calm you let me say to you that, lich or poor, I would not seek Mrs. Arnokr's hand. Agnes. Do yon mean that ? Pryor. I have not the slightest lo-ve for her ;. and furt?ier, if yon will let me tell you— I have been reared in such strict philosophy and principle, that being bankrupt- as I may be to-night — I would not ask a rich woman to help me again to fortune by marriage. I could not do that. I might ask one whom I 1-oved, if I knew she loved !n:e, to wait,— but I would not drag her down, nor lift myself at her expense,— at the cost of my own self-esteem. Agnes. {A.^ide.) He does not lovelier! If I were onlj^ poor he would no^ be lost tome! {Aloud.) Professor! fJllian ! vdiere is your father ': Enter Chenevierre by door in pnrtr-wnl]. Professor! Now, tell me again. You have purchased all h>'r shra-es of this stock ? Prof. C. All, ma chile. Every one. Mr. Tracey haf 'em in his safe close locked. She haf for zem receiv-ed seventy thousand dollars. Agnes. And she does not know whose money Iwught them ? Prof. C. Of ze truth not one sylkble. Agnes. And you have bought as much more in tlie maricet ! Prof. C. More, more zan zat, ma chere. Ah ! you haf a faithful guardian. You are being ruined and besigared faster zan your hopes. In a month, if zis- goes on as it haf begun, you vill be as poor as ze church mouse viz ze fashionable pastor. Agnes. As poor as he is ! Say, tluit. guardian, say tliat ! That is what I Tcish !. Prof. C. As poor as lie is? Ze mouse ■* Agnes. It is pride and poverty, and my wealth and suspicion that keep us apart. Prof. C. Apart from — ze mouse ? Agxes. Oh I he will love me again, — will he not, — when he knows I am bank- rupt as he ? Prof. C. {Puzzled.) Vat is zat vich you say? Ze mouse loaf j'ou again? Agnes. Nothing! Nothing! Prof. C. {Puzzled.) Ze girl is more puzzling zan ze stock broker. Between ze slang of ze one, and ze sentiment of ze ozer, I sail go crazy. Ah ! they are both speculat )rs by nature. Ze young girl vill risk fortune for ze loaf of some- body who care nozing for her, and ze broker risk loaf, affection, eve n honor, too, for ze fortune vich he squander. (Cooper has meantime written another bul- letin and puts it up. Managing Editor hands Fry on a despatch.) Man. Ed. Here, Prj'or, is the first of your despatches. Pryor. {Reads.) " After the assault, the enemy much damaged, retreated, pursued by Lieut. Pearle." {Bulletin is the same. Cheers outside n. Vrxoh sinks into chair in inner office.) Prof. C. Buy ! Buy ! vat more is zare to bu}^ ? I have bought all ze stock zare is ! If it go higher, ze pauvre girl is rich ! But rich she no vant to be ! She vant to be ruin ! If she lose all she haf she is happy. If she haf not lose every zing zen she is ruin. I wonder vat him haf reach now ! {Goes to gold and stork telegraph.) Gold 103,— zat is big fall,— Erie— New York Central— C. C. & I. Ah! 90! Sacrebleu! ze back of ze camel haf broke ! Tel. 0\\ Here's another coming ! ( Takes despatch. ) Lillian. ( To Pkyor. ) If the ship is safe— the— the— Captain— Allen is safe ? Pryor. I hope so. Lillian. Are you not sure so ? Pryor. Almost— certainly— He may, of course, be wounded. Lillian. Wounded! No! no! He is not wounded ! he will die ! Agnes. Oh ! Gilbert ! You do not think Allen is hurt ? Pryor. Now, my dear girls, won't 5^ou be quiet ? I cannot, of course, tell. Man. Ed. Another despatch, Pryor ! No tears in tiiat, ladies. Pryor. {Reads. Coover posts it at the same time.) *' The enemy was run ashore, and blown up. Lieut. Pearle is returning." Lillian. Unhurt ? Uninjured ? Agnes. Can you not ask ? Can you not ask after Allen ? Man. Ed. Another despatch, Pryor ! Keep cool, ladies, keep cool ! All is right or will be I'm sure. Prvoh. {Reads. Cooper jwsts bulletin.) "The iron liattery has landed. The crew are bearing Lieut. Pearle ashore." Agnes. Bearing him ashore ? Lillian. He is dead ! he is dead ! Oh ! papa ! Re enter Chenevierre by door in part}' wall. Oh ! ^lapa ! The good Captain is dead ! Prof. C. Non!non! It cannot be! Come viz me, ma chile,— come viz me, Agnes. {He, Pryor, Agnes, and Lillian go to Telegraph Operator. To Op- erator.) Are you in communication viz ze Operator at ze Fortress? Tel. Op. Yes, I have him. Prof. C. Zay to him— Can he deliver un message to ze gallant Lieut. Pearle. {Instrument 'working. ) Vat him sa}', eh ? Tel. Op. Yes, he can reach him at once. Prof. C. Ah I ha 1 Zat is goot 1 Now, ma chere, bo vera cool — vera cool, — like your pere! Now, zare, z-iy to liini zis— zay, " Lieut. Allen Pearle— your sister, Miss Lillian, ze old Professor and 1 avait ze reply at ze telegraph office. Are you wounded?" And sign him viz ze name of Gilbert Pryor. (Telegr.vp-k Operator repeats after' him.} Tel. Op. All right ! He says he will deliver at once. I'll keep current open for answer. (Reads paper. ) Pp.of. C. Do not believe it. ma darlings. It is not alvay zat ze good die young. Keep brave hearts ! Keep brave hearts like mine! (To Operator.) Vy ze di- able you not him hurry, eh ? ( To Agnes. ) Ah 1 do not be impatient, ma chile ! You see I haf brave heart and cool! Eh! You see I smile, and am happy- All is well. (Instrument ticks.) Aha! vat him zay now? Tei,. Op.' He says they are carrying Lieut. Pearle to the Fortress. (Chene- YiEiiRE staggered. Lillia.^ clings to Mm ; Agnes io Pryob. ) Pryor. Do not let anybody lireak in on you. Let me know first of all of hi.* welfare. Tel. Op. All right, sir. But you'll have to be patient. (Takes up paper.) Agnes. I fear to hear the worst. AVhy should they carry him, if he be not hurt ? Prof. C. In triumph, ma chei-e. In ze ancient days of ze Roman Republic, ze brafe soldier from ze gate to ze Capitol was borne on ze shoulders of citizens whom he defend. \y not in ze heroic day of zis grander Republic? (To Op- erator.) Vy not you hurry, eh ? Tel Op. (Languidly.) K\\\ he's calling now ! Prof. C. Yell! veil! vat him zaj'? Tel. Op. Oh ! you'll have to give him a chance to do a little talking. Here it comes! (Reads.) " From Lieut. — Allen — Pearle,— to Gilbert Pryor." Pryor. From himself ! Then he is alive ! Prof. C. Vat I tell you, eh ? You see, ma chere ! — he luif not die. All is veil ! Hear— hear — vat he say ? Tel. Op. (Reads.) "Out— of— the— jaws— of— death." Prof. C. "Out of ze jaws of death !" All ! ha ! did I not tell you zo ? Tel. Op. (Reads.) " Out— of— the— mouth— of— hell." Prof. C. "Out of ze mouse of hell!" Ah! ha! ze hnwe six hundred! You hear ! All is veil ! " Out of ze mouse of hell !"' Tel. Op. (Reads.) "Victorious." Pryor and Agnes. Thank Heaven ! Tel. Op. (Reads.) "But— blind— for — life!" (Lillian /«mfe in Ciiene- yierr's arms. Agnes turns to Pryor convuUively. He and Managing Editois bear Jier into Library.) Prof. C. Oh ! she is dead ! ma chere enfant ! Ma chere ! look to me I Speak to me ! Vill you damn fools look on and see lier die ? Ze doctaire ! Ze water! (On floor.) Oh ! ma pauvre chile ! haf I nurtured you so long^ to see you perish zo miserable ! Oh ! Mon Dieu! Haf pity on my sorrows! Haf pity! — Damn you ! vill you not bring ze water and call ze doctaire ? ^' Enter Doyle and Mrs. Arnold by stair-way. V^ill not Heaven nor man haf pity and gif help? Lillian ! ma chere, speak to me ! (Mrs. Arnold comes forward and kneels to help her. Chenevierre springs- up, dra/ioing Lill? an loith Mm. ) Avay ! Lay not 3'our hand upon her ! You haf her desert in life — you «all not b_v ze touch desecrate her in death. Avay ! Avaj^ ! Drags \iUM.\yi into inner room., mliere ?ie. A(!Nes and Pkyor revive h('r.\ Lillian. {Remving:) He is not dead ? He is not dead ? Prof. C. Non, ma chere ! not dead ! it is only wounded. He is not bad ! he is not bad at all. He vill be all right in ze few days. Oh ! you vill smile again! Ah ! Gilbert, she smile again ! You vill recover, ma chere ! you vill not go faint again ! Ah ! I am zo happy zat I see you smile again ! Mes. Arnold. (To Doyle.) It is your last opportunity. The success of his Battery will encourage him to ask her hand. Make public your claim at once. Prof. C. Ah ! ma chere, it is zo good zat you smile again ! You see, Gil- bert, zat ze color has come back, ze eye look bright again. You vill be happy Tiz ze good Agnes. {Aside.) And she I ze pauvre Agnes— I haf ruin her life ! Ze damn stock he go up— up. I vender vere him go now. {Goes to stock ind.) Man. Ed. Another despatch, Pryor— no tears in that ladies, I assure you. Agnes. Is it good news, Gilbert ? Prtor. {Clasping her.) The best, darling; the best that ever came to me I Agnes. You will let us who love you hear it ? Pryor. Yes, all of you may hear it ! It is a sequel to a heart's long history, but it can be briefly told. For years, Agaes, the affection of your guardian has been the love of the most passionate youth. I dared not breatli it. My relation of guardian, — your age so much less than mine, — forbade it for a longtime. I had risked all my wealth in this one venture and was nigh bankrupt. If I had wooed and won you while you were rich and young, men would have said that I had imposed alike upon your innocence and our relations go doubly enrich mjself. I waited until as rich as yourself and no longer your guardian, I could confers that old love to you, and tell yoa I was again your equal in wealtli. Agnes. But not my equal in love ! Oh! no ! guardy I you can never guess how deeply I have loved you since I grew to comprehend a woman's devotion. Prof. C. {At stock ind.) Ze damn stock at par ! Zen ze ruin is complete. Pryor. Both barriers alike removed, — all barriers between us are levelled by this brief despatch. It is official. {Reads.) "The government accepts the Pryor Battery, and contracts for three like her at your former price." Does it mean, too, I win you ? Agnes. Oh! Gilbert! I have so wronged you,— liave so misunderstood your noble pride, — your unselfish reserve ! Prof. C. {Distractedly, kneeling to Kq^ks.) Pardon! pardon! ma pauvre chile ! I haf obey your orders too faithfully ! Ze ruin is complete ! Ze specula- tion is all go wrong ! I haf bankrupt you indeed. Pryor. Bankrupted her ? Why, what do you mean ? Agnes. Do not blame him ! It was all my fault ! It means, Gilbert, that, believing that a false pride kept you from loving me. — suspecting that a differ- ence in our fortunes separated us,— I wildly plunged into speculation to reduce myself to poverty like yours. Now, that j^ou are rich, it is I that am poor, and pride, inexorable to the last, forbids me to love you! {Kneeling.) Pryor. (Raising her. ) That foolish pride, darling, shall separate us no longer. Doyle. {Forward and separating them. ) Then I fear I must. This lady has already promised to be my wife. Pryor. Your wife ! ( Tableau. Agnes l. Doyle l. o. Pryor o. Miss Com- fort, Commodore and Flint l. at sofa, startled, Chenevierre and Lillian o. behind Pryor. Mrs. Arnold looking in at door triumphantly. Managing Editor and others on r. of party-ioall not sharing general excitement, except Bender, icho, on tip-toe, peers over Mrs. Arnold's head. Chenevierre advances to L. 0/ Doyle, a/i(Z Lillian to l. of Aqses loliom she suppo)'ts.) Prof. C. Zen, sare, I must forbid ze banns. {All start. Doyle laughs.) You haf not ask ze consent of her guardian ! QUICK ACT DROP. I O STOOL. 1=1 Tete-a-tete, j O DESK. > ACT IV. Scene I.-^Parlors of Agnes Pearle's house. New York, April, 1862. Parlor flat with balcony window c. Doors r. and l. u. e. Door L. 2 E. Piano e. about 2 g. Desk and library in 2 g. Tete-a-tete R. forward. Another sofa e. against flat. Eich furniture, statu- ary, flower-stands, etc., etc., in finest style of rich city ;residence of present day. Agxes writing r. Lillian near her, and Comfort Pearle on sofa lounge l. c. discovered. LiLt-iAN. My love, you have shared with me your happiness ! May I not know the sorrow that distresses you ? Miss Comfort. Yes, Agnes, dearie, tell the truth and shame the devil : I sometimes tell it myself. Pour your sorrows into my bosom 'till it runs over like a bath-tub with both faucets left running over night and all forgotten, which, as you know, happened not long ago, flooding the bath-room, and totally ruining the sitting-room ceiling which had just been newly frescoed, and the bill, I re- call, was "most outrageous. We have never had any happiness in this house, since that painful accident I Agnes. Oh ! Aunty ! hush ! I am near enough to distraction already. CoMFOBT. Let me comfort you, dearie. I know these recollections are not pleasant, but it is so consoling to remember what an unhappy world it is. Agnes. You weie going to meet Allen. Will you not go and leave me alone for a time ? CoMFOKT. Yes, yes, I'm ready, but that dilatory brother of mine isn't. I never knew him to be but once, and that was at liis wedding, which, alas ! was a sad event. It rained, my dears, and I asked the minister and appealed to the ushers and implored the sexton— which he was also an undertaker,— it was such a terrible omen ! I begged them to postpone the- unhappy sacrafice which it proved to be, my dears,— and I would advise you never to marry on a rainy day,— for the poor dear thing died when Walter was born, and the Commodore took to sea, and rum, too, for a time; yes! and fought those terrible cannibals in Japan,— which it is true' my dears, dress in the most scandalous disregard of decent styles— and now, poor Walter! he's been drowned,-all along of that rain on their wedding- day! Enter Commodore r. u. e. Oh ! my poor, dear brother ! I was just telling the poor dears of all your troubles ! CoMMODOKE. Well, you had better take a reef in yonr tongue. There's plenty of sorrow and trouble without casting a scoop-net to rake up mine. This is no time for sorrow, lassies. Cheer up! I'm happy, don't you see? Allen's coming home to-night ! The hero of the hour 1 A hero, I tell you ! To be sure Walter's not by his side, but heroes both ! heroes alike ! No need for tears ! No need at all! Brave boys, both ! Brave boys! Brave boys! (Exit with Comvort uv.-e.. Lillian has sunk at Agsks' feet and buried her face in her lap ; both sobbing.) Agnes. There, dear, be brave ! You ought to be as brave as I am. Lillian. Agnes, my dear, listen to me for one moment, and you shall say that Lillian is not the little fool that you think her. This man,— this bold man, — have you loved hmi long ? Agnes. I have not known him long. Lillian. And you think he loves you,— or your fortune ? Agnes. Possibly both ! certainly the fortune. Lillian. Ah ! It is precisely so. But now, you have no fortune. Agnes. He does not know that, yet. Lillian. Ah, precisely. When you tell him that then he will lovu you no longer. Agnes. I liave hoped so, and for that reason, have sent for him. But he docs not wish to meet Gilbert again, and insists on seeing me alone, and urges some absurd conditions which I have granted. (Starts. Aside.) Granted? yes, grant- ed. Have I done wisely ? Have I been discreet ? Lillian. What ails you ? You are excited,— you are nervous ! Agnes. I believe I am crazy ! (Aside.) If he means wrong how may he not misconstrue my letter,— my promise,— niy appointment? If Gilbert knew of such a letter, would he ever forgive me? (Aloud.) Lillian ! help me! help me undo this new folly 1 have committed. ( Goes to desk. u. 1 e. a7id writes hastily/. ) Lillian. What is it? What is it I shall do? Agnes. An envelope, — quick! Lillian. (Holding envelope be?iind her.) There is many a folly committed to the insecurity of the envelope ! You are not writing what you will regret ? Agnes. No! I undo one folly I have already regretted. (Hands he)' letter.) See that Caleb delivers this letter at once, without fail, without delaj^- and then, dear, come to me for I am nearly dead with nervousness. (Exit l. v. e.) Lillian. (Lookiyig at letter.) Deliver without delay. But to whom ? ( r^fr^s it over aivd over.) Ah! Papa! why have you curbed the power to gratify the curiosity of my sex ? (Ring.) I will see if Caleb knows what it sa,ys. Enter Caleb l. u. e. Cr.leb, Miss Pearle wishes you to deliver this letter without delay. Caleb. Who am it gwine to Miss? Lillian. Can you not read ? Caleb. Yes, yes! I kin read. Miss Lillian, I kin read some writin' — printin' writin'. Miss — but dat ar' such a bad scrawl. Ugh ! Miss Agnes must hab been mighty mad when she wrote dat ! I hab to git you to read 'em, i\Iiss. (Hands her letter. Bell rings, Caleb goes off l. u. e. ) Lillian. The poor ignorant blackamoor ! What a crime to keep him in such ignorance ! Enter Prof. Chenevieree and Tracy l. it. e. Ah ! Papa ! He will help me out of this perplexity ! ( Goes to Chenevieere and brings kirn down r. c.) You have come in good time. (SeesTviKox.) Pardon ! Monsieur. 43 Tracy. {Bowing. Amle.) The old man's jjone rather long of handsoma girls. Lillian. Will not Monsieur be seated? (Tracy sUs-l. on lounge.) Papa, Agnes has given me this letter to deliver without fail and without delay, and she went away half distracted, without telling me the address, and you know, papa, you have forbidden me to learn to read and write. Prof. Chenevierre. Ah ! and so you haf not had him delivered, eh? Ah! ve vill see. (Beads. Aside.) " Mr. Arthur Doyle." Aha ? zo she write him again ! (Aloicd.) All right, ma chere ! ze lettaire haf ze proper p(!rson reach— {Aside) under all ze circumstances. (Aloud.) Lillian, ma chere, say to Agnes zat Mr. Tracy haf come viz good news. Lillian. From Allen? (Confused.) From the Captain ? Prof. C. From ze Capitaine. Oh ! he vill vizin ze hour be here. Ze sur. geon his eyes haf examine, and he vill see sometimes, once more again, directly. Lillian. And he will recover ? Ah ! you cheer me up indeed ! Agnes will be so happy to hear what you say ! ( Goes to r. r. e. returns mid embraces her fatJier.) Oh! you dear, darling papa! You have made me so happy ! (Exit-R.v.'E..) Prof. C. Monsieur, vill you be brief, for zare are vera important events in ze next hour to be brought about ? Tracy. It isn't a long account, if a big one, I have to settle. Enter Agnes and Lilijan r. v. e. Agnes. Ah ! my dear guardian, it is so good of you t(j tell us this of my dear brother. Is it all true ? You do not cheer us with vain hopes ? Prof. C. Oui ! oui ! All go well viz him. Here is Monsieur Tracy, ze broker, viz your accounts of ze stock. Agnes. I hope, Mr. Tracy, you have not ])een involved by my mad specula- tions and heavy losses ? Tracy. Losses, Miss, losses ? (Aside. ) She's evidently lost her senses ! Prof. C. (Aside.) Now come ze exposure of ze great fool zat I am, vat know not how her money to lose in ze stocks, vich most of ze fools do visout effort ! Tracy. Instead of losing, Miss, you have made a small fortune by this single transaction. Agnes. A small fortune ! Tracy. There is a balance to your credit, which this account will show, of $49,513, which I have the honor to hand you in this check, duly certified. And, I beg further to add Miss Pearle, that you are the only lady I have known to take a penny out of the street in a twelve-month. (Aside to CiiKNEviEiiRE.) Is that account brief enough, old boy ? (E.rit laughing l. r. e.) Agnes. This shatters my last hope ! Prof. C. Ze last hope ? Vy, ma chile, vy should good fortune shatter ze hope ? Agnes. Ah ! Lillian's suggestion fails. Mr. Doyle will never release me now. Prof. C. (Mysteriously.) Ah ! Ah ! Hist ! Silence ! Ma chile, trust to me ! I vill release you. Agnes. Oh ! how, Guardy? how can it be done honorably? Prof. C. Zat is vat I am here at zis minute to do. Fear nozing, ma chere ; it sail be done honorably an' vis out sacrifice. But you must obey— bof of you, my darlings,— and zen ve vill be all happy again ! (Aside.) Ah ! it is just ze hour arranged for. (Aloud.) Ma chere Agnes, I am fatigued. Vill you not play and sing to me ? Agnes. I fear, in my nervous state, I cannot entertain you. 44 Prof. C. But it vill soothe me to ze nap. I vill lie here vile you sing'. {At lounge l. o . ) Agnes. {Atpia7io.) What shall I play for you, Grandpa? Peof. C. Somezing soft and melodious. Suppose you play and sing me, "LaReve." Agnks. {Starts.) Why do you ask for that ? What do you know or suspect ? Prof. C. Suspect ? Nozing. Agnes. But you know — Pkof. C. I know zat you haf promise to obey me — and zat it is necessary to save you zat you sail for me play " La Reve !" Agnks. I know not what you suspect, but beware how you humiliate me in Ms eyes ! I will not play "La Reve !" Pkof. C. Oh ! yes, you vill, ma chere I Agnes. Will ! Professor 1 Prof. C. Yes, you vill obey for ze honor of your name ; for ze honor of ze name vich Gilbert Pryor vill give you ; for ze happiness of both ! Obey me vea 1 say to you play "La Reve." (Lillian haa gone to piano and begins singing "Zt* Reve,'" Agnes starts, and Ciienkviekre cautioning her in pantomime to keep si- lent, conceals her, and then lies down an lounge l. c. "l Enter Doyle by way of balcony window c. He comes softly and slowly forward and kneels beside Lillian at piano. She laughs, but conceals her face from him. Enter l. u. e. Pryor, Flint and Caleb, who softly move forward observing Doyle. Agnes for- ward L. Chenevierre rises slowly to sitting posture. Dotle. Agnes ! darling Agnes ! I am here at your call ! (Lillian turns upon him, laughing.) Damnation! I've compromised the wrong woman ! {Sees Cueneviekke. Aside.) The old guardian ! (Sees Flint.) And old skinflint, too : {Sees Pryor.) And my rival, also! And Agnes herself ! This is better still ! She shall still be compromised in all their eyes. Pkof. C. Bou jour, ^Monsieur. It is un vera pleasant evening. Doyle. I did not anticipate the pleasure of seeing you here,— or our other dear friends. In fact, I thought it was understood when Agnes sang the signal agreed on, I was to find her alone. Prof. C. An ven you steal in by ze vay by vich she did not expect you, you find here her friends assembled as if by concert ! Doyle. {StartiTig and suspicious.) By concert ? What ami to understand by all this ? Prof. C. All zis ? Zare is nozing vera odd in lier friends being viz ze lady. Doyle. Miss Pearle in tears — your appearance — Prof. C. Vy ! zare is nozing odd in my appearance, is'zare ? {Turns around, examines himself.) I tink ze oddity lies in your appearance by ze balcony like ze burglar, ven you might have come in ze door;^ — like ze sneak thief. 1 suppose zat music haf peculiar charms for you. Doyle. Her music,— when played by concert. Prof. C. I haf hear zat it haf power to soothe ze savage beast. Doyle. No personalities. Sir. Prof. C. Yat? You take ma quotation about ze savage beast to be personal. You are welcome to ze construction, Monsieur. But, come, sit down. Monsieur Doyle. Ladies and gentlemen, make yourselves comfortable. I haf a few words to say to Monsieur Doyle in your presence. It was for zat I sent for him. Doyle. You sent for me ? Prof. C. Yes. Doyle. On the contrary, I came at Miss Pearle's request,— in fact by concert with her. Her appointment was in writing. Here it is. (Hands letter to Chen- EviEERE. ) You may read it aloud. I Agnes. {Rising indignantly.) Sir! I forbid it! Give it to me! Peof. C. Ah ! but zare is some mistake. I forward zis lettaire to you myself. Doyle. You ? Prof. C. Yes ? By ze hand of Caleb. Eh ! Caleb, is zis not ze lettaire I give you for Monsieur Doyle ? (Caleb bows. ) Ah ! zo ! I have anozer for you, sare, vich 1 haf delight to deliver in person. {Hands Mm letter.) Agnes. It is the one I wrote to-night. Prof. C. True! And bof of zem are very simple notes, too. {Reads.) "Mr. Doyle." Vera formal, you see. " I can understand vy under all ze cir. cumstances you do not vish to meet Mr. Pry or again."— Ah ! she vill understand bettaire still before ze evening haf done. " and vile I tink zat your suggestion zat I play ' La Reve' as a signal to inform you zat I am alone, is a needless pre- caution I consent to do so, as I desire to see you at once upon ze important busi- ness of cancelling our engagement, which must be as hateful, now that I am bankrupt, to you as it is to ze unhappy Agnes Pearle." Zat is vera formal appoint- ment, Monsieur,— I would not ze balcony scale and my neck risk on such cold invitation. Particularly, if it had been followed up by such a note as I tink you ' vill zat one find to be. {Quietly tears up the one he has read.) Doyle. {Reads.) " I have reflecced that the manner of the appointment su"-- gested by you this morning may be looked upon as indelicate. I will send niy servant to let you know when I can see you upon the business named." Peof. C. Permittez moi. ( Takes letter and tears it up, throwing away scraps. ) Lettaires of zat kind are best not written or preserved. Be seated Monsieur here. {Puts him on lounge.) Ma chere, sit viz ze dear Agues here. {On tete-a tete.) Flint and Gilbert, make yourselves comfortable vere you like. {Sits on lounge. ) Flint, (c.) Ne'er ye mind me. Fll sit outside the bar as consultin' counsel. Pkof. C. ( To Doyle. ) Monsieur vill now understand vy lie haf been sum- mond here — by concert. He vill understand also zat he is not likely to be vel- come again, ven I tell him of his past life un little history. Doyle. Excuse me, but I am not interested in your story. {Rising.) Peof. C. Ah ! but I assure you. Monsieur, you vill be before I am half done. (Rising.) Sit down. Doyle. I decline any more tiifllng, sir. (To Agnes.) My dear Miss Pearle— Peof. C. (Interjwsing.) Pardounez moi, but you vill address all further communications for Miss Peaile, to htr guardian. Doyle. What ! Talk to my affianced wife through you ! (Tries to push him aside. Chenevieree resists, and suddenly pushes Doyle to lounge and into seat. Doyle hastily rises, pushes Chenevieree across to ii. o. violently and draws a pistol, pointing it at Peyoe, who has hastily seized piano-stool and taken o. Caleb in D. L. draws knife. Lillian throics herself before Ciiknevikere. Agnes, witli scream, throws herself at Pryok's feet, and before him. Tableau.) Pryoe. Now, sir, fire! But remember, if you miss, you are a dead man. ( Tableau. Doyle guardedly drops pistol to his side.) I thought you had not the courage. (D0Y1.E. puts pistol away.) I'll surrender my arms where they belong, —to the piano. (Puts stool down and ha?ids AoiiEB to tete-a-tete.) And now, Mr. Doyle, will you please sit down and listen to the Professor's story without in- teiTuption y (Doyi.k sn.Uenli/ n/'ta on hnuvjc to Im v.. Puyor o. Ac4nes and Lil- lian. K.) PiioF. C. Do you feel in ze mood to hear ze story now? Once upon a time — DoYLK. Oil ! now, really, begin sometime this side of the flood ! PijOF. C. Pardon, Monsieur ! Ze story is not long. It only comes down to time of ze deluge, — for you. My story relates to a man of winning manners and vera handsome features— a gentleman to all appearance. He stood about five feet eight inches in height; straight, erect, spare figure like Monsieur— viz black hair— like zat of Monsieur — black and piercing eyes,— in fact, pre-disposed to glare, — like Monsieur's. Somezing like fifteen years ago, zis gentleman, who was zen a gambler, as veil as an adventurer as he is now, — in a game of cards on a Mississippi River steamboat won in ze person of a slave boy, — a mulatto, — just such a looking fellow as Caleb here, —won him by cards, — won him by cheat— (Doyle spvingi^ up. Chexeviekke rixei*. Pryok forward v. Ladies^ excited. Q,Ki.^Yifoi-ward\.. o.) PiJYOR. Don't be alarmed, ladies. Cheating is the word, sir. Sit down again, and listen to the end. Do Y I.E. It is rather tedious. Prof. C. {At lounge arf at n.) Ilaf patience. Monsieur,— you will find it vera interesting, direct. Enter hastily l. u. e. Mrs. Arnold and forward c. CiiENEvrERRE on seeing her, hastily crosses to r. clasping Lilli.^n. Mrs. Arnold. (7'« Agnes.) My poor, deceived, betrayed friend I I have only this moment heard of this unfortunate, — this disgraceful affair. And it mortifies me beyond conception that a friend of mine has been guilty of com- promising your reputation before all the world. (Agnes hJiows her disdahi. To Doyle.) Mr. Doyle, I trust, sir, in view of the ardent affection I know you feel for Miss Pearle that you will make her the only reparation in your power. Doyle. I require no suggestion to do my duty. (7'6> Agnes.) I confess, Miss Pearle, that in the ardor of my unbounded affection, I liave been led to a foolish act which compromises you in the eyes of your friends and the world. I offer to make the reparation due by marrying you at on once. {Crosses r. c. to her.) Pkyor. {Tnte7'r>iptmg.) Excuse me, but I intend to marr^^ tliis lady myself. Put all trifling aside, sir. I will protect her fiom any machinations on your part, and that of others. (Pointedly at Mrs. Arnold.) Prof. C. {To Pryor. Adde.) Mon friend ! vat is it you do ? I entreat you silence. For ma cliile's sake do not arouse ze diable. Prvor. Fear nothing, but listen. (7'(> Agnes.) Sit here, love. Take cour- age, darling ; it is for your protection. Be seated, Mrs. Arnold, while I finish the Professor's story. Prof. C. {Aside to V\i\(.m.) Remember ma chile— pity ma poor Lillian ! Pkyor. This gambler and adventurer of whom the Professor was speaking, proved on another occasion to be even more contemptible. It is now just twelve years ago that the slave thus won at cards, escaped from his master and became a house servant in the employ of Miss Pearle's father. That boy was Caleb, and just ten years ago Caleb detected his old master — this swindling adventurer — sneaking into Mr. Pearle's house. While there he learned by accident the shame- ful secret of an unhappy woman who having fled from the loving care of a de- voted husband — Prof. C. Oh! Gilbert! Oh! mon friend ! I appeal for ma chile's sake— do not expose zis women vat T haf loaf ! 47 Pryoe. By means of that infamous secret he has dishonorably preyed upon the unhappy creature. He has compelled her to aid him in entrapping an inno- cent girl into marriage by compromising her name publicly. Compelled to take others into his confidence, he has told his plans to his old servant Caleb, but he with more honor than his master possessed, revealed to myself and Mr. Flint, Doyle's every movement ; and thus he and his confederate have been entrapped. Prof. C. (Aside to Peyor. ) Pardon her ! Let her be forgiven, and not ex- pose. Be careful zat you excite her not to revenge herself. Do not arouse her ! Do not madden her ! She vill betray all in her rage ! She haf ze vill ! She haf ze vill ! (Goes up o. with Pkyok and Flint appealing.) Doyle. {Aside, Jiaving overheard last icords.) "She has the will!" Did he say she had the will ? They suspect that Mrs. Arnold took old Pearle's will. I think 1 see my way to use the will at last. My game is up with Agnes — that's clear. I must keep on good terms with Mrs. Arnold, — as long as her money lasts, at least. And to do so, I must reheve her of their suspicions that she carried off the will. {Aloud.) I see, Mr. Pryor, you suspect Mrs. Arnold of an act she did not commit. You do her great injustice. She has not the will. Prof. C. She haf not ze vill ! Mon Dieu ! He does not know her ! Doyle. I took the will mj'^self. Pryor. The will ? What will ? Flint. {Suddenly forward o.) What is it ye say aboot a will, mon ? What will do ye speak of ? Doyle. You suspect Mrs. Arnold of having abstracted on the night she fled from— Prof. C. {Aside to Mm r,. c.) Zay nozing more ! I entreat — I implore — for ma chile's sake pity! (Flint beckons Caleb, ichispers and sends him offh. v. e.) Doyle. {Aside. ) Oh ! I forgot the daughter was here. I'll make my terms now. (Aside to CiiE^EYiERUE.) Silence for silence. Professor. Is it agreed? Protection for protection ! Silence for silence ! ( They exchange sigtis. Chene- vieere goes to Lillian r. ) Flint. (Snuffing.) Ye ken who taket the will. Sae do I noo ? Doyle. I admit I took it. And I am ready to deliver it up,— conditionally. Flint. Dunna ye think ye'd better tak guid advice and return stolen property wi'out making great ado aboot conditions ? Enter Bender and Caleb l. u. e. with bag of papers which Caleb takes to Flint, while Bender remains up l. Doyle. The will for the deed— and the deed I'll dictate. Flint. (Examining bag of papers.) It was ae will of John Pearle's, were it not? Doyle. It was. Able, it was ! Have you got a copy of it there? (Laughing.) Flint. It had na codicil, had it, which were of a queer sort ? Doyle. A queer codicil it was, Abel ; very queer indeed, and one which Mr. Pryor would doubtless enjoy reading. Flint. Which read after this wise : (Reads.) "And I further bequeathe to the afore-mentioned Gilbert Pryor the further sum of fifty thousand dollars to be used by him in the building of said iron-clad ship, together with my love and blessing and the recommendation to him that he shall always follow as a rule of his life that precept, to the observance of which I attribute all success in my own career — Fear God,— Pay cash,— Open your heart, — Shut your mouth, and bolt the doctor out." 4s Doyle. That's a true copy. Flint. That's the original ! Doyle. The original ? How came you by it ? You have stolen my papers : Flint. All by reason of a search-warrant, my lad. Doyle. You have searched ray desk ? Flint. Ay, an' your hoose ! An' we find ye had stolen copies of the plans of Pryor's battery obtained by bribery of this boy Caleb. An' by virtue of anither warrant which this man bears, {Pointing to Bender. ) ye may consider ye'self nnder arrest. Bender. You may rest assured of that, sir ; rest assured of that. {Offering liandcuffs.) Doyle. You are a detective ? Bender. Rest assured of that ! Been on your track a long time, sir. And I've done enough heavy sitting around in hotels and gambling hells, ship-yards and newspaper offices, discussing politics and editing journals sufficient to have saved half a dozen imperilled Republics of our glorious ancestors ! Flint. Ye are a prisoner, mon, charged wi' high treason. I have ample evi- dence ye hae been playing the spy. Ye sent the plans of the battery to the en- emy ! Ye shall be tried before a Court-Martial, and I doot not the last speech uttered by the Court will be " An' may the Laird hae mercy on your alleged soul.'' (Bender off'ers handcuff's. Doyle looks at him a moment and then coolly puts up his wrists to be manacled. Bender puts them on hiin with a snap. ) Doyle. Really, ladies and gentlemen, this singular denouement to what I had been led to anticipate as a pleasant gathering— of two. {All turn away. To Bender. ) I should like to see your warrant, sir. (Bender shows it. ) Oh ! thanks ■ {Aside.) This is getting to be serious. {Aside to Pryor, putting his arm through his.) Of course you understand, Mr Pryor, that it will not do to let this little affair proceed so far as to publicly compromise the reputation of Miss Pearle. Pryor. {Disengaging arm and putting his tlirouhg Doyle's. ) Give yourself no further C3ucern. When she is my wife, no one will dare whisper aught against her, — not even a spy ! Doyle. {Aside.) Curse his coolness ! {Turns to Vr^ok who turns his hack on him — then to Mrs. Arnold who huries face in lounge l. — then to Agnes wJio turns to Pryor and leans on his arm. Then to Flint who points to Bender- Caleb l. d. e) Officer, take me away ! Bender. Rest assured of that, sir ; rest assured of that ! {As Bender leads him up c. Doyle stops, attempts to raise hat with manacled hands — at which Lillian turns to her father r. and Agnes buries her head on Pryor's shoulder. Doyle and Bender turn to go toicard l. u. e. when Enter Commodore and Comfoet Pearle leading in Allen Pearle whose eyes are bandaged. Doyle and Bender meet tliem at door. Doyle starts back as tbey enter ; Bender takes Doyle oft" l. u. e. Pryor and Chenevieere see Allen up c, but Lillian and Agnes do not. Prof. C. {To Lillian.) Ma chile, look up and smile.— he is gone! Pryok. (To Agnes.) Courage, my darling ! All the trouble is past now. Prof. C. You haf strong hearts for ze good news now, eh ? Peyoe. He is gone, darling ! — but here, — here is Allen. Agnes. {HtmntJig to him o.) Oh ! Allen ! Allen ! is it you really safe again ? {She embraces him. Lillian, a. little timidly, goes toirurds him.^ 49 Allen. My darlins: sister I But you must not weep for me— I am hurt, but it is scotched only, not killed. The doctors say I shall see again, directly. (Lih- uplTS puts lier liead on his right shoulder, iceeping.) Eh! who is this? It isn't Aunt Comfort ; is it? I hope it isn't, — that is to say, — why don't some of you toil me it isn't Aunt Comfort ? Lillian. You have come back to us, and you are safe once more, so I weep for joy. Allen. Oh ! Miss Lillian ! is it you ? Yes ! Yes ! I know that it is you ! I have come back — very glad indeed to see you again ! Lillian. (Sobbing.) But, you will see me no more ! Allen. No! No! — not blind— not so blind that I shall not recover soon. I hope to see you once more. It is only the — the — what you call the vision — ob- structed for the moment. Oh ! my darling, you must be eyes and hands and love and all to me now. {Embracing her. She and Agnes lead him up to sofa R. u. E, where they sit beside him. ) Mrs. a. Do I understand that I am to consider myself, too, under arrest ? Flint. Ye are perfectly recht, ma'am ; ye may ! Prof. C. {Appealing to Flint. ) Nou ! Non ! Flint ! Haf your heart no pity for ze pnuvre,— ze weak,— ze sinful woman ? Non ! you sail not ! You would not put ma chile's happiness in peril ? Flint. But. Justice, mon!— the claim of the Government! Prof. C. Justice! Let justice go hang! Ze Government? Vat is all ze governments of ze vorld to ze happiness of ma chile ? Non ! Non ! She must go avay unharm, — free to depart. She vill be silent, — she vill be goot, — she vill l)e happy again in her repentance ! Flint. Curse ye sentiment ! But let her be gane for guid. {Up c. joins Comfort Pearle l. c. Agnes and Lillian lead Allen forward to tete-a-tete where he and Lillian sit. Chenevierre stands k. c. observing them. Commo- dore up R. Pryor c. Mrs. Arnold l. ) Mrs. A. Thanks! Thanks! Gilbert Pryor, I have at least the right to for- giveness by you. Pryor. It is not for me to forgive. Mrs. a. It was a mad love for you that has made me desperate. You will, at least, forgive me. will you not ? Pryor. Look elsewhere for forgiveness. There! (PoiVifo to Chenevieere. Mrs. Arnold draics herself up haughtily and goes to door l. 3 e. Prof. C. Non ! Not to me ! Look higher ! {Points up. She looks abashed, bows and exits l. 2 e. Agnes joins Pryor c. , and they sit on lounge l. Com- fort and Flint com^e forward c. Chenevierre l. looking off after Mrs. Arnold.) Comfort. Abel Flint, do you see what happiness we've missed by making old fools of ourselves,— by not marrying ? Flint. {Snuffing and offering to Comfort.) Nae ; I taket there's ae as muckle comfort in making ithers happy asains sel. Prof. C. It is ze grande satisfaction of life ! It is far bettaire zat you sail be sinned against, zau sin against ozzers. As your good brother would zay : " There are three tings zat are vera easy to perform and cost nozing, — "To do ze right ting,— To speak ze kind word.— To act ze good deed," CURTAIN. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 016 103 757 6^