H Dratiia in 
 ftvelcte 
 
 By 
 84nft e. Hndevaon 
 
PS iol^.^" ^^ 
 
 INSIDE THE LINES 
 
 A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS 
 
 ...BY./ 
 
 SAMUEL E. ANDERSON 
 
 C rRAor5( ^ couNaL > 
 
 Campbell County Printing Company, Newport, Kv 
 1900 
 
Library of Conor reae 
 
 Iwo Copies Receivpo 
 JAN 13 1901 
 
 ^ Copyright entry 
 
 SECOND COPY 
 
 
 COPYRIGHT 1900, 
 
 BY 
 
 vSAMUEL E. ANDERSON. 
 
 AliL BIGHTS RESERVED. 
 
Dramatis Personae 
 
 The Prince of Melbourne. 
 
 Cavalier Borge. 
 
 Duke of Sydne3% usurping King. 
 
 Hopper, First Sentry. 
 
 Cropper, Second Sentr}-. 
 
 Lady Glendowyn. 
 
 Lady Catherine. 
 
 Duchess of Sydne3^ 
 
 Garner. 
 
 Officers, Courtiers, Ladies in Wait- 
 ing, Attendants, Serv^ants, Pages, 
 etc., etc. 
 
Inside the Lines 
 
 ACT I. Scene i. A retired balcony i^ith Lady 
 Catherine and a servant. 
 
 Lady Catherine. Hav^e everything made most invit- 
 ing. I expect the Prince to come to sa}' adieu, for soon 
 he starts upon a journey. Everj^thing seems to be ex- 
 actly as I wish it. ^Exit servant. ) Now for m.y decision ! 
 The Prince or Cavalier ? When the Prince was in the 
 full possession of his birthright it was an easy task to 
 choose, but things have changed since first he came. 
 Then his prospects more than made amends for all the 
 lack of ardor in his wooing. The Duke of Sydney 
 played a cunning game ; has tricked him of his inherit- 
 ance and 3^et I wish Borge could have but half his 
 chance. Had he ni}^ knowledge of the Prince's plans 
 he would. Oh dear ! the Prince has grown so cold 
 and distant that to marry him would mean a wasting, 
 chilling life, continually hovering near the fire to keep 
 the blood from freezing. With Borge, how different ! 
 Borge, thy star is in the ascendant ! 
 
 Enter Sei'vant. 
 
 Servant. The Cavalier Borge wishes to speak to 
 your ladyship. 
 
 Lady C. Borge ! If the Prince should come, make 
 some excuse to keep him out of sight until Borge has 
 
 4 
 
gone. Tell Borge that I await him here. Exit Servant. 
 Enter Borge. 
 
 Welcome Borge ! Your coming nicks with my desires. 
 It is seldom those we wish for are so prompt ; besides 
 your visit bears the pass-port to a woman's favor, it is 
 unexpected ; quite. 
 
 Borge. Your w^elcome, Catherine, is very pleasing: 
 it bids me hope for something more. You know a 
 drowning sailor grasps at straws while striving with 
 all his might to carry his shouts to those whose help 
 he seeks before they pass beyond recall. So from the 
 depths of his loneliness man calls to women. My love 
 came upon me with a suddenness and a power just as 
 the sun in the summer solstice, breaking from behind 
 a cloud, mercilessly beats dowai upon the traveller, 
 leaving him irresolute and bereft of power to act. His 
 eddying brain w^hirls round and round as leaves when 
 stirred by autumn winds and is a prey for every fancied 
 ill. In agony I passed from chill to fever, then again 
 to chill, as marshalling the hostile columns of my hopes 
 and fears I watched them struggle on. A portion of 
 my time I pass in bliss as hope soars high and then I 
 sink into the depths of torment as my fears prevail. 
 My love drives me ever onward, but the splendors of 
 your beauty and your virtues dazzle and all but over- 
 come me. My home is far away ; there beneath a 
 sunny sky, the lemon and magnolia, the jasmine, orange 
 and rose exhale their sweetest perfumes, revelling in 
 the thought of having you for mistress. Catherine, I 
 almost fear to hope. 
 
 Lady C. Catherine bids you have no fear. Your 
 love has long been known to me ; I felt the archer 
 drawing his bow before the arrow sought its mark. Is 
 
 5 
 
this the bold and reckless Cavalier Borge ? 
 
 Bo7-ge. Life contains no sweeter bliss than the love 
 of a worthy woman. My dearest Catherine ! 
 
 Lady C. We waste our precious moments in idle 
 dalliance. I fear the Prince. He offered me his hand 
 and I, because of love for you, rejected him. We 
 must be rid of him to share our love in peace. In these 
 disordered times might makes right and private ven- 
 gance mocks the forms of law. Now is the time for 
 3'ou to wrest his power from him. 
 
 Borge. A soldier scorns a traitor, but for you I would 
 risk all. I have encamped with his forces a hundred 
 men who swear allegiance to my cause, an ample num- 
 ber for our purpose. He ma} be led into some quarrel 
 that would justify his death. My troop will back me 
 to a man. In the confusion I will have a good chance 
 to grasp the power he holds. Enough ! The die is 
 cast and b}- no coward hand ! No barrier short of 
 death will keep me back. 
 
 Lady C. By measure of the hazard shall I know 
 the breadth and depth of your regard for me. 
 
 Borge. Quick work I'll make of this, and then I 
 come to claim your hand. 
 
 Lady C. Wait ! I have a better plan than that. 
 Allegiance to my Prince is dear to me, but far dearer 
 the lover I have found in you. This is my sole excuse 
 for this treachery to him. His frowns and sullen 
 looks give ample evidence of jealousy. He hates all 
 those who even gaze me; much more the rival for the 
 hand he seeks. I have no doubt that he would do 
 you harm, in secret, underhanded w^ays, but w^e can 
 overreach him there. I have a secret that will make 
 you safe against all his power. He has conceived a 
 
 6 
 
plan to take his brother from the hands of those who 
 keep him prisoner. To accomplish this he will jour- 
 ney to the castle in disguise ; liberate his brother, 
 carrying him thence to his own camp, and this within 
 the week. A letter will inform you of the very hour. 
 Therefore see that the Duke has knowledge of this 
 plan. His hatred for the Prince will leave no way un- 
 tried to end his life. 
 
 Borgc. All this shall be done exactly in accord with 
 your desires. For care of those she loves commend 
 me to a woman. 
 
 Lady C. Adieu ! Borge. You wear ni}- colors in 
 this fight. 
 
 Borgc. Adieu ! Exit Borge. 
 
 Lady C. It is not without regret that I see him risk 
 his life but one must die. A lover, such as either, 
 should he be disappointed and allowed to live might 
 make some thrust I could not parry. Here's luck to 
 him who wins. With all ni}^ heart I hope it is Borge, 
 I like him well. Exit Lady Catherine. 
 
 ACT I. Scene 2. Three days later. Soldiers gathe?'- 
 ing aiound a camp-fire at night. Officers and men 
 arriving at intervals. 
 
 Eirst Officer. We are in luck ! In these discordant 
 times to breakfast, fight and sup together is a sure 
 token of fortune's favor. Of late the fickle jade seemed 
 flirting with the Duke and to furnish him with every 
 means to injure us. 
 
 Sec^Off. That's true. He seemed to hold the cards 
 and deal each one when it would harm us most. Our 
 Prince was absent when he came, and we, like fools, 
 although he was-4inknown to most of us, in fact to all 
 
 7 
 
the younger ones, placed him in charge of all oiir 
 stores ; thinking as he was kinsman to the King he 
 must be lo3'al to his cause ; then our King is suddenly 
 taken ill and this furnished him excuse to claim he died 
 a natural death. Our unsuspecting friends were 
 trapped as they came in. It seemed that he must crush 
 us in the fight. 
 
 First Off. But fortune now is leaning to our side. 
 You must acknowledge that young Garner came just in 
 the nick of time. He seemed to bring good luck. 
 
 Sec. Off. He came as if he had fallen from the 
 vSky, but if he was the devil I would claim him for my 
 friend. 
 
 Fi?'sf Off. To-night we must lay our plans to take 
 advantage of our luck and hasten the completion of 
 our purpose. 
 
 Sec. Off. Leave to-morrow's care until to-morrow. 
 Let us consecrate this night to merriment ; to-morrow 
 we may be dead. Upon the skirmish line to-day we 
 found a hag, a prophesying hag ; sh^ could not be a 
 hag unless she prophesied. She drew our horoscope 
 and listed there the sequence of our lives and then told 
 of future deeds. She assigned to me promotion and 
 success in ni}- endeavors. In some mysterious way 
 these people seem to lift at least the corner of the veil 
 and see into the future. But to Garner she told a 
 quaint and curious prophecy of love that put that young 
 gallant quite to rout. She told of how he hid his love 
 and was deceiving us. His blushes furnished merri- 
 ment ; we chaffed him until he fled , no doubt to seek 
 the happy wench. 
 
 Third Off. We must have this story from his own 
 lips to-night. 
 
Sec. Off. We shall have rarest sport with him. He 
 is so very shy and thinks these matters are quite serious. 
 
 First Off. That youth bears no stamp of camp car- 
 ousal and you should spare him these rude jests. 
 Rather let us counsel among ourselves how we ma}" 
 lay a snare to take the Duke. 
 
 Third Off. I am growing tired of plans. Discuss 
 them with some old man, one grown so old he takes no 
 more enjoyment from life's good things : this is the 
 season marked for gayety. Here comes Borge. If 
 you are lucky he ma}" deign to yawn while you explain 
 your plans to him. He lately seeks no company and 
 therefore may be well pleased with yours. 
 
 lintcr Borgc. 
 
 Go join Borge. To-night we laugh at love. 
 
 Borge. At whose love ? 
 
 Third Off. At yours, if ever we thought you had a 
 serious one. 
 
 Borge. I am in no humor to be insulted, so choose 
 your words with care. 
 
 Third Off. Of late you have grown far too sullen 
 for your own good. Your lacks of courtesy will make 
 you no friends. 
 
 Borge. I meant no offense. I am a friend to every 
 person here and I wish to have all friendly to me. 
 
 Sec. Off. That is much better. Come, join our 
 company. We promise you some rare sport to-night. 
 Those who dance at love's shrine must pay the fiddler. 
 Borge. What means this continual talk of love ? 
 
 Enter Prince. 
 Prince. Where is Garner ? 
 
 9 
 
Sec. Off. Oh, young Garner has a sweetheart, you 
 will find him there. She is his first, it is said. 
 
 Prince. He is so gentle I should think the lady had 
 the sweetheart. 
 
 Sec. Off. Here he comes. The girl ! The girl ! 
 Garner. What a charge to put on me ! 
 
 Third Off. It's guilt. It's guilt. Look ! see the 
 change of color. The crimson mounts into his very 
 hair. 
 
 Sec. Off. You had your fortune told to-day and we 
 are all waiting to hear that story. 
 
 Garner. That was a grewsome jest. 
 
 Sec. Off. Ha ! Ha ! a jest. I'll wager that it will 
 all come true within the month. 
 
 Garner. I do no think much of such a story. 
 
 Sec. Off. Come, turn about and show your blushes 
 while yet you may. Such fine youths as you were 
 made for love, and even the stupid laggard hastes to 
 taste such joys. A soldier is soon tutored in these 
 things nor needs a prompter long. We are not quit 
 of 3'outh before we have our surfeit, either with some 
 dainty virgin or some cat. 
 
 Garner. A pity it is you were not bred with sense 
 of that refinement that feels the insult of a smutty jest. 
 I have not suffered this before and shall not now. 
 
 Prince. This is no time for anger. Come, I'll be a 
 partner in your guilt, an accessory before the crime. 
 You must introduce me to the girl and should it prove 
 as serious as you take it now I'll see she has a dowry 
 worthy you. A kiss too, if you will, in remembrance 
 
 lo 
 
of her gallant. But I suspect that you will soon refute 
 these slanders on j^our modesty. 
 
 Borge. Shame ! Shame ! to tease this boy at such 
 a rate. It is cowardly to choose the least of all on 
 whom to vent your petty spite. 
 
 Prince. I should like to know the lady who wastes 
 her love on you. 
 
 Borge. You shall. It is the Lady Catherine. 
 
 Prince. Base, braggart knave, you lie. {Borge 
 draws his sword and makes a thrust zvhich is parried by 
 the Prince. Borge is siezed by those about.) You 
 thought to take me unprepared. 
 
 Third Off. Your vicious temper will bring down 
 upon your head well-merited punishment. My fingers 
 have a long time itched to grasp 3'our throat and choke 
 the venom out of you. 
 
 Prince. Your proud and insolent behavior has grown 
 past all endurance and must have a check. These acts 
 must end. Take this man out. Put him in your tent 
 and keep him under guard until my further orders. 
 
 Borge. A valiant leader who bids others settle his 
 private quarrels rather than meet his foe! You dare 
 not face me in a single combat, even here, with your 
 friends about to lend you aid and comfort, A cur who 
 shifts his quarrels upon subordinates is beneath con- 
 tempt. 
 
 Prince. Old offenders hurl their curses at the judge, 
 inviting him to quit his caste and bandy words with 
 them. Your offense is a most serious one and the only 
 proper course is to try you by court-martial. There 
 you will have an opportunity to justify your conduct. 
 
Borgc. Your answer is most discreet. At least it 
 will keep 3'oiir precious life from danger at my hands. 
 
 Prince. {To Second Officer.) Obey my orders. I 
 have enough of this. Exit Second Officer, Soldiers, 
 Borge and all officers except first. To-morrow I start 
 upon a journey, but upon the fifth day from this sum- 
 mon a court-martial to try Borge. 
 
 Garner. If it is not a secret w^hither do you go ? 
 
 Prince. I expect to go inside the lines and castle of 
 the Duke. 
 
 Garner. Go inside the castle of the Duke ! It is 
 madness ! Your imagination surely pictures all the 
 perils without suggestion on our part. It could mean 
 nothing less than instant death. What purpose can 
 you have in this mad trip ? 
 
 Prince. My mother on her deathbed consigned to 
 me the care and custody of my young brother, most 
 solemnly requesting a strict observance of the obliga- 
 tions she then imposed. Lovingly I undertook the 
 charge. I reared him from his early infancy and he 
 became endeared to me by every tie of love and tender- 
 ness ; then the Duke's unnatural acts deprived me of 
 the sunshine of his smile. That delicate boy may be 
 exposed to disease in some vile dungeon or be suffering 
 insults that would break his mother's heart could she 
 know of them. She would then remember my prom- 
 ise. Therefore I have resolved to go to the Duke's 
 castle to seek some way by which my brother may be 
 rescued. 
 
 Garner. And I am resolved to go with you. 
 Prince. That would be madness. There is no 
 reason whatsoever for vour resolution. 
 
Garner. That is the same thing I told you. 
 
 Prince. But for you there is no call to this duty. 
 
 Garner. A hard, cold thing is duty, especially if it 
 lacks our sympathy. It is a duty to keep our plighted 
 faith but more to plight it. A sense of duty could not 
 prevail upon me to volunteer assistance in your private 
 cause. My feeling is a deeper one, partaking of the 
 qualities of friendship. Friendship is an idol to which 
 we may bow with honor and respect and arising, we 
 are chastened, acquit of selfish thoughts and ennobled 
 by our love. 
 
 Prince. The laws of friendship have peculiar beauty, 
 overrating all our virtues and condoning part of every 
 fault, bidding us share our pains and toils, but they 
 forbid that I accept a sacrifice like this. 
 
 Gar?ier. When all is said, I go. 
 
 Prince. To Garner ever falls the tasks imposed by 
 love. I share your company with reluctance for the 
 world would never furnish such another, so loyal, 
 true and brave. 
 
 ACT I. Scene 3. Same night. The camp at night. 
 Borge is discovered cautiously creeping from beneath a 
 tent. Soldiers pessing at intervals. 
 
 Borge. Five, six. There are too many in that 
 crowd, I purpose not to put my plan within so many 
 mouths. I'll wait to seize an occasion more favorable. 
 {Sentry passes.) That sentr}^ startled me, I forgot 
 that I am a prisoner here. He is a damned villian who 
 would enjoy sticking me with his lance. Fortunately 
 with their drink and games they keep a careless watch, 
 but for the future I will be more discreet. Here comes 
 
one of m}' own command. Hist ! Hist ! To what 
 troop do you belong ? 
 
 Soldier. I serve that gallant soldier, the Cavalier 
 Borge. What ! My Lord ! Who bound and tied you 
 like a felon ! I will loose you in a moment. 
 
 Borge. No. No. It is no doubt a pleasing sight 
 to see your leader thus bound, to hear the curses that 
 he spends in rage and know that those may scoff at 
 him who quailed before his flashing e3^e. His gallant 
 plume, no longer at the front, lies grovelling in the 
 dust, a mockery to those for whom it blazoned victor^^ 
 His men, abandoning the glorious memories of the 
 past, will blush to tell they served in his troop ; a sad 
 commentary on their courage and fidelity. With hang- 
 ing head and downcast eye they must deny their leader, 
 ashamed to own the banner under which they fought. 
 When they return home they will meet the cold disdain 
 due cowardice or treason. 
 
 Soldier. I will untie you and avenge this insult to 
 our troop. 
 
 Borge. Stay ! It was by the Prince's order I was so 
 bound. He would visit the full measure of his wrath 
 upon the head of him who cuts a single strand. But 
 you ma}^ render me a better service b}^ carrying a sim- 
 ple package. No, I will not ask it. The sacrifice 
 would be too great, for if you fail it would mean to die 
 on foreign strands, unknown, unmarked by stone or 
 grassy mound, unwept by friend or brother. The task 
 is far too dangerous. 
 
 Soldier. Th^ Cavalier Borge indeed underrates the 
 fealty of all his troop if he thinks there is a single cow- 
 ard in our midst. At your request I stand prepared 
 to give my life, yes, everything. 
 
 14 
 
Borge. Well said and like a soldier of Borge. 
 Hasten with this packet to the Duke. See that it falls 
 into no other hands on peril of you life and mine. Do 
 this well ; you are my trusted friend and confidant. 
 Fare thee well, adieu ! 
 
 ACT II. Scene I. The folloiving day. Tivo seyitries 
 on guard at the Duke's Ihies on the edge of the Forest 
 of Melbourne. 
 
 First Sentiy. I say I understand the creatures, 
 don't tell me that I don't. All women do be most 
 queer with ways that are far beyant the ken of men 
 and farther still beyant their own. It's cause and 
 cause ; and if you ask them for a reason not a reason 
 do you get. If you insist on one, tears and tears and 
 floods of tears, enough to drow^n a trout, come gushing 
 out amid the thunderings of her broken heart. Did 
 you ever know a woman that wasn't built contrariwise 
 to man ? Alack a day ! Alack a day ! If we never 
 had a woman our days would all be free from care and 
 jars and the race would live in peace. They are a 
 necessary evil, I suppose, and meekly I have borne 
 every ill they put upon me. I let them always have 
 their owm way and then they twit me with my lack of 
 courage, and if I fought them they would call me a 
 great, big brute. But I don't care for all this show ; 
 I am so wise they think no wonder is past me and so 
 I keep them scared. 
 
 Seco7id Setitry. They dote on brave men too. That's 
 why I came into the army, so my rank wall show my 
 courage and frighten my sweetheart most to death. 
 I tell you she's a dainty, husky creature, enough to 
 pull a three-ton load or drive a man to pity. When 
 
 15 
 
first I seen her frail form my heart went pitipat, piti- 
 pat, bump, bump, bump, like the old gray mare as she 
 trots down the road to pasture. She sings like a hawk, 
 she goes so high, and her color's like the Maidenblush, 
 the ones on top the barrel : her eyes are shiny as Bill 
 Dobson'.^ coat, the tattered one, and are chestnut 
 brown. And her hands ; you should see her hands, 
 such a purty red ! I will marry her when we have 
 slain the Prince and placed the vile pretender on his 
 rightful throne. 
 
 First Sett. Until you have her tied don't be too 
 sure. These women often balk and he laughs least 
 who laughs too loud. When are we to hear a denounce- 
 ment of your marriage? 
 
 Sec. Soi. As soon as she will fix the day. 
 First Se?i. When does she say that it is to be ? 
 
 Sec. Se7i. My eyes have not been blessed w^ith sight 
 of her since May-day dance. That's where I first met 
 her, and then she squeezed my hand so hard her heart 
 must have been in it or moving there upon her sleeve. 
 She said she loved a soldier lad, that's me. I'll tell 
 you she's a great, big plum. 
 
 First Soi. You were not a soldier then. 
 
 Sec. Se?i. Well no, I hadn't jined them then. Well, 
 she may be gone but if she is, a great, big, brave, 
 swishing, swashing, slashing soldier lad like me could 
 easy get another. {Struts up and doivn brandishing 
 an old flint-lock.) What's yonder in the woods? I 
 believe it's ghosts, or maybe enemies of the King. 
 I^et's go report at once. {Drops gun.) 
 
 First Sen. I believe you're right. The officer 
 should know this thing at once. Ha ! Ha ! They are 
 
 i6 
 
not soldiers. You are an erring coward, fleeing at the 
 sight of danger and leaving me alone to fight them all. 
 That was desertion and I'll get promoted by informing 
 on you. 
 
 Sec. Soi. That wavSn't no desertion. I was going 
 to the guard for help to take them prisoners. Egad, 
 we might do so alone, they don't carry no arms. 
 
 First Sen. Now you're talking ! Trust an old 
 man for wisdom and for finding a way to do things. 
 Fish be not brought to the table with hook and haste 
 alone. Now we must think twice as fast as Peddler 
 Miller when he sells a shawl, and must know even 
 more than him. But you bet we'll get them yet. 
 
 See. Se?i. That's right. Hurrah! And now I .sa 3^ 
 we bring thCvSe spies before the King and tell him how, 
 at the first glimmer of the rising dawn, in a fog so 
 dense we risked our lives, we saw aw^ay off there two 
 robber spies. I wrapped my mortal cloak around me 
 and hailed them in a voice that shook the hills and 
 made them tremble in their boots. 
 
 First Se?i. His imminence would praise our courage 
 and bestow some presents on us and give us an office. 
 
 See. Sen. He's all right. He would cover me with 
 gold and rich comparison. My uniform would be made 
 of nothing but gold and spangles, gold spangles, and 
 all the braid would be gold braid. My plumes would 
 be longer than anybody's, three in length, each pieced 
 upon the other and with a gold tip on the top of each. 
 My boots would be of ermine skin, my horse a dun, 
 and when the band begins to play and I ride down, 
 with the freezing pomp of altered circumstances I'll 
 hand my horse to you and you can w^alk him up and 
 
 17 
 
down. Nobody shall never saj^ that I forgot my 
 friends. 
 
 First Sen. Nobody ever flew as high as you. You 
 run too fast and will stumble before you go a great 
 ways. Only a crazy fool like you w^ould dare to leave 
 me out in the cold like that. 
 
 Sec. Sen. It won't do you any good to sneer at me. 
 I'll maul your head for you, you sneaking hound. 
 {Each caf^efully lays doivji his gun and prepares to fight. ) 
 
 First Sen. Now come on and I will kill you where 
 
 you stand. 
 
 Enter Prince and Garner. 
 
 Sec. Sen. Here they are ! Hey ! Hey ! You can't 
 go through there, you're prisoners. 
 
 Prijice. By what authorit}^ do you make question 
 of m}^ right to pass ? 
 
 Sec. Sen. We are King's men and he won't let 3^ou. 
 He forbids it. 
 
 Prince. The Duke forbids it ! Well, when did the 
 Duke, that base usurper of our rights, that cuckoo, 
 that murderer, assume to issue orders in this realm or 
 forbid a passage to any loyal subject? These arms 
 you have neglected and disowned shall find a foster 
 parent, one who will teach them their duty to all trait- 
 ors and first to 3^ou. 
 
 First Sen. Don't point that gun this w^ay, it's 
 loaded. I could not help it. He told us we had to 
 do it. 
 
 Garner. It seems to me that our journey will be 
 short if you continue thus. Curb your impetuousity. 
 We must await, and patiently, for the guard to be 
 
relieved. So lay aside your haughty mien and let us 
 have a talk with these new friends. 
 
 First Sen. It isn't right for you to want to hurt us. 
 It wasn't our fault. The King expressed us and we 
 had to come. Would you mind to put away that gun? 
 We are both peaceful men and wouldn't want to hurt 
 nobody. Please put it down ! We love our homes 
 and quite a pretty penny would I give to be there now, 
 although my wife's at home herself. 
 
 Pri7ice. It is in stress of adverse circumstances that 
 we prize the protection of a petticoat. Your courage 
 is most rare, sublime ! 
 
 First Sen. If you knew my wife you'd know I had 
 a lot of courage to wish to be at home. These army 
 doings though are not to my liking. My bent is for 
 a little learning and to try to find out the things that 
 we don't know. 
 
 Garner. "A strange world we live in, you and I," 
 none know whence we came and few care why ; but 
 fortune has been very kind and now we have met with 
 one who cares to find the why. As a philosopher you 
 doubtless could expound the due relations of the uni- 
 verse, the essence of theology, theosophy, cosmogony, 
 the ethics of the laws prescribed by termagants, and 
 do all this with a sweep of mind commensurate to the 
 task involved. 
 
 Prince. By all the signs of occultism we are to have 
 another fortune telling bout 
 
 Garner. Don't draw the saber of your rusty wit 
 unless you have surpassing skill to use it. Forgive 
 me for that rebuke. 
 
 19 
 
First Sen. And won't 3'ou please to put away that 
 gun? 
 
 Prince. You shall have no further cause to com- 
 plain of the rudeness of your prisoners. For the pleas- 
 ure of your company I will put it here where it will 
 cause 3'ou no more worry. Are 3^ou now^ a ease? 
 
 First Sen. A ten-ton load is taken from my mind. 
 
 Sec. Sec. Ooch ! But I was scared ! But I was scared ! 
 
 First Sen. And since we are friends wh}^ don't you 
 tell us where you are going ? 
 
 Garner. Sometimes 3'oung men are sent to see the 
 world before they choose a wife. It is a task requir- 
 ing greatest thought, one worthy of yowi skill ; so, 
 before that choice is made pray tell us the signs and 
 indications that should guide us in selection. 
 
 Prince. Oh ! Anything to while awa}' the time and 
 keep impatience within bounds. 
 
 First Sen. I just told Cropper there I knew a 
 woman's wa3'S and now I'll learn 3'ou how to choose. 
 Blind not 3^our e3'e to those plain signs that show the 
 bent of mind : shun the marks of hast3^ temper or one 
 who alwa3^s scolds. The constant nagging of a virtu- 
 ous wife may make more hell than twenty evil deeds. 
 Pay no attention to her gew-gaw airs, for these wear 
 off and onl3^ leave her worse when the3' are gone. 
 Don't choose a balk3' woman ; see that her e3'e is gen- 
 tle, neither large nor small, and clear, with a wide fore- 
 head, good feet, strong hands and arms, straight legs, 
 large bones, smooth coat, for the coat, more than any- 
 thing else, shows what she spends on clothes. 
 
 Prince. That cannot be the Duke who is coming 
 with the guard. 
 
Sec. Sen. Heighho ! Heighho ! And now we leave, 
 for yonder comes the guard. 
 
 J^irst Sen. You must be from foreign parts, here he 
 makes us call him King. 
 
 E^iter Guard. 
 
 Officer. Whom have 3'ou here ? 
 
 First Sen. This morning we have shown more valor 
 than Cannibal in his march on Italy, and we have taken 
 more prisoners than the greatest Benedict ever took. 
 
 Prince. You see that they have not only taken 
 prisoners but all their arms as well. {Exhibits sentries' 
 arms. ) 
 
 Officer. What charge have you against these men ! 
 
 Sec. Sen. Why tuppence each. 
 
 Officer. Clear out, you clacking tongue. 
 
 Prince. We wish to see the King for we have news 
 to tell him about his daughter. 
 
 Officer. His majesty is much worried about her and 
 will receive you most graciously. We go direct from 
 here into the castle. Come with me. Exeunt all ex- 
 cept tcvo new sentries. 
 
 ACT II. Scene 2. Same morning. Reception room 
 of the castle ivith the royal party and attendants. Enter 
 the officer of the guard zvith the Prince. 
 
 Officer. May it please your majesty, to-day we took 
 two prisoners at the front. The one I have detained 
 in the adjoining room, the other I have here, as he 
 claims to bring some news of your daughter. 
 
 King. Bid him step forward. ( The Prince ad- 
 
varices. ) It is our pleasure to hear at once this news. 
 Our ro3^al honor is held in pledge to reward you most 
 liberally, provided that our daughter lives and is un- 
 harmed. If it is otherwise, beware ! 
 
 Prince. The messenger should not be held to make 
 amends for evil tidings should he chance to bear them. 
 You would receive no benefit should pity falsely prompt 
 me to relate but part my tale. We were engaged upon 
 our private business, b}^ chance we have heard news of 
 your daughter and sought to favor you by telling it. 
 It is not the most pleasant and since 3'OU seemed in- 
 clined to hold us responsible for it I must insist that 
 we have assurance of safe conduct on our way before 
 I tell it. 
 
 King. No trifling here ; your news, quickly. 
 
 Prince. I asked a pledge for our safe conduct. 
 Answer, will you give it to me ? 
 
 King. It will be best for you to speak and instantly. 
 
 Prince. It may be wase for you to waste no time in 
 idle threats. Do you think that you will frighten me 
 with this display of anger ? 
 
 King. Your insolence passes my endurance. Ho ! 
 Guards, secure this man w^ithin a dungeon and give 
 his hot head a little time to cool. 
 
 Prince. Go elsewhere then to seek the information 
 I would have furnished. 
 
 Queen. Do not be so hasty. Let him tell his story. 
 
 King. I may have been a trifle hasty. I will listen 
 to your story. 
 
 Prince. First grant my request. 
 
King. By all the honor of a King I pledge ni} self 
 to see you safe beyond ni}^ lines. 
 
 Prince. Both m3^self and my companion ? 
 
 Kiiig. Yes. 
 
 Prince. The message that I bring comes from the 
 Prince direct. He bid me say your daughter is a 
 prisoner in his hands and ill. The King was not aware 
 that she was ill when he refused the Prince's offer of 
 exchange. 
 
 Queen. The King refused the Prince's offer of ex- 
 change ? My daughter a prisoner in his hands and ill! 
 
 Prince. Yes your majesty, so he bid me sa3^ By 
 the fortunes of war she fell into his hands and now vShe 
 feels the want of the attention of her servants and is 
 distressed that she no longer has her mother's care. 
 They keep her very closely confined and she shows 
 some paleness as a result of it. Her cough is slight, 
 not such as should cause you much worry, but proper 
 treatment can be ill supplied by such rude men as have 
 charge of her. The Prince wishes to make an immedi- 
 ate exchange of prisoners, your daughter for his 
 brother. 
 
 Queen. Most joyfully we accede to his request. 
 
 Kijig. At least you might have avSked permission 
 to accept this offer. 
 
 Queen. Ask permission for me to have my child 
 again ? 
 
 King. The Prince has made this offer once before, 
 but there is no fairness in this proposed exchange. 
 My prisoner is an heir to this, my throne. The Prince 
 of Melbourne claims it. This boy is heir to him and 
 
 23 
 
when these two are dead I draw ni}^ title clear from 
 fountain head. This infant child, should his brother 
 chance to die, could not long survive the care I would 
 bestow on him. Then I am King without the shadow 
 of a doubt. Besides we hold a threat above his head. 
 
 Queen. Can 3^ou hesitate to free our child on terms 
 so fair ? 
 
 King. To dicker thus with an eneni}^ is sacrifice of 
 honor and weakens our cause with all who hear of it. 
 Tell him that we will not make this exchange. 
 
 Queen. You surely cannot mean this ! It is but a 
 jest ! Think what you are doing ! Our daughter, 
 yours and mine. You dare not sacrificj a mother's 
 love to plant instead the seeds of hate. 
 
 Prinee. Surelj^ the King but jests. There is not 
 living now beneath the sun a single beast who will not 
 aid its young in time of peril. 
 
 Enter Offieer. 
 
 Offieer. Your majesty, a messenger awaits without 
 who urgently desires to deliver a packet to the king, 
 refusing absolutel}^ to entrust his charge to an}- other 
 person. 
 
 King. Search him carefully before 3^ou bring him 
 into our presence. Assassins lurk about me here, await- 
 ing only opportunity to cut me down. When you are 
 certain that he can do no harm you ma}^ show him in. 
 Exit Officer. Now my good sir, I think I have had 
 quite enough of impudence from you. Your conduct 
 shows that you are some vagabond who needs the lash 
 and you will feel it very shortly. 
 
 Prince. But you have promised, on yowx honor, that 
 we should have safe conduct beyond your lines. 
 
 24 
 
King. I told you if you did not bring good news, 
 beware. 
 
 Enter Officer and Messejiger. 
 
 Mess. Borge sent this packet to your majesty, 
 charging me to let it come into no other hands on peril 
 of his life and mine. 
 
 Ki7ig. The packet, let me have it. Reads. See 
 that each avenue of escape is closed ! Make fast each 
 gate and door ! The tiger's ventured forth from his 
 lair to whet his thirst for blood. Ha ! Ha ! But he 
 will meet a warm reception. The message says that 
 he is now inside our lines, coming to the castle. He 
 should be here before this time. It must be he await- 
 ing in the ante-room. Bring him forth to answer my 
 questions. Exit Officer. Re-enter, bringing Garner. 
 I have just received a message telling me the Prince of 
 Melbourne left his camp last night to come inside my 
 lines. He has turned spy and shall meet the punish- 
 ment of such. I have good reason to believe that 3'ou 
 are the Prince of Melbourne. 
 
 Garner. I have always thought that it w^as a dis- 
 grace to deny myself in order to escape a threatened 
 danger. My name is an honored one nor shall I be 
 the first to put a stain upon it. The Prince of Mel- 
 bourne will meet his doom fearlessly, glorying in the 
 fact that he has been loyal and true to those he loved. 
 I ask a single favor, allow ni}^ friend to take the news 
 back to my men. 
 
 Prince. The halting gait of feigned excuse would 
 vsoon betray me if I were so base as to attempt its use. 
 Your purpose is sublime but it is vain. It would be a 
 stain I could not wipe away vShould I suffer you to 
 
 25 
 
complete your purpose. Besides the King has pledged 
 his royal word that we go free. He would not care 
 to hold his honor quite so cheap. 
 
 King. I hold my honor priceless but it was pledged 
 only on condition that you brought good news. Be- 
 sides you are my enemy and are now completely within 
 my power. Oh no ! 
 
 Gamer. Honor is a jewel you must own to know 
 its value. 
 
 Ki?ig-. I'll make short work of this. Commit them 
 both to a dungeon, making them securely fast with 
 irons. At midnight you will execute them both. 
 Then I shall get the Prince and the pretender too. 
 
 Prince. I am the Prince of Melbourne and with all 
 humility I ask this boon. Grant a reprieve to this 
 young man who wished to give his life that he might 
 save mine. 
 
 King. If that would give 3'ou pleasure he should 
 not live, although he had a thousand lives. Take 
 them out. 
 
 Prince. Not one of you shall lay j-our hands upon 
 me. Your coward master cringes beneath my glance, 
 although I am his prisoner. Your people see the depth 
 of perfidy to which you sink, know how little 3'ou may 
 be trusted and feel contempt for you, knowing as they 
 do the stinking foulness of your soul. I make demand 
 for instant freedom of this lad. If it is not granted I 
 wreak a vengence never dreamed by you. Before I 
 left my camp I took care to make secure what little 
 hold we have on you. Your daughter is now within 
 my power, by orders under seal the warden there will 
 execute your child ere midnight Thursday unless they 
 
 26 
 
are revoked. At that dread hour she will feel the 
 cruel cord begin to gripe, her eyes will begin to start, 
 her breath to burst her lungs, her swollen tongue pro- 
 trude, ceaselessly striving to articulate her unnumbered 
 woes, each tense and rigid muscle enter protest against 
 life's departure : then she quits the struggle, the pur- 
 pled face takes on a ghastly hue, the spasms and 
 twitchings then subside : she is cold in death. All 
 these 3^ou can save her from but only on condition that 
 you give this boy his freedom. I offer to revoke these 
 orders for this young life. 
 
 Queen. This is too horrid and too harsh to bear ! 
 Take everything but give me back ni}^ child. Fling 
 wide the doors and send this boy with flying speed to 
 snatch her from this cruel death. Parchment! Parch- 
 ment! Bring us parchment that he may write his 
 orders. Exit Servant foi' parchment. 
 
 King. What pledge have I that you are not plan- 
 ning treachery and when this boy is free will not hold 
 my child and add demand for other things ? I'll keep 
 him here until 3'ou bring the child and then I'll set 
 him free. 
 
 Prince. Never. I propose to take no chance on the 
 faith of my promise made b}^ you. Re-enter Servant 
 zvith parchment. 
 
 Queen. The parchment's here. Your orders, write 
 them down. 
 
 Gar?ier. Would you have me value life so highly as 
 to leave you now ? 
 
 Prijice. You must leave me. Otherwise this young 
 girl's life goes out and yours is lost without a purpose. 
 
 27 
 
Queen. Quickly ! Quickly ! Write your orders. 
 
 Ki7ig. I am growing very tired of all this fuss and 
 bluster. Take these men out and see that my orders 
 are obeyed. 
 
 Queeti. Sta}^ one moment. You must see that our 
 men follow us sullenly. We are handicapped with 
 broken promises. This trial of cruelty is far too long 
 and should admonish us to add no new^ offense. It 
 would be better to agree to take his offer. 
 
 KiJig. So I shall. So I shall. My anger got the 
 better of m^^ judgment but now I see that you are right. 
 I will agree to accept you offer. 
 
 Pj-ince. Some cunning impulse has prevailed to 
 change j^ourmind. However, I shall do my part. The 
 parchment. Give it to me. Prince writes and seals it. 
 
 King. Hand me the order. ( Takes it. ) Wise 
 Prince ! Erudite Prince ! Enlightened Prince ! Most 
 learned man. To trap this wise Ulysses is indeed a 
 feat that I shall boast of to my dying day. Had you 
 been acute 3'ou would have known that nothing could 
 prevail with me to spare j^our friend: that he was friend 
 to you was quite enough to sign his death-warrant. 
 
 Prince. Your silly twaddle amuses me, it would 
 please me, if it were not so base. 
 
 Kiiig. It is very strange that you do not like my 
 wit. To-morrow you shall taste my medicine and per- 
 haps you will like that better. At present this warrant 
 is all that I desire from you. Have horse and men to 
 go at once to bring my child. Exit attendants. 
 
 Prince. It might save some trouble if you but take 
 the time to read the warrant. 
 
 28 
 
Kmg. {Readi?ig.) To our honored warden, greet- 
 ing : These presents are your warrant only when 
 countersigned by Garner in your presence — only when 
 countersigned by Garner in your presence 
 
 Garne?\ Hurrah ! The King is balked in his design. 
 
 Prince. {Aside. ) Together let us seize an oppor- 
 tunit}^ to force our way out. I'll give the cue. 
 
 King. This is the basest of treachery and positive 
 proof that you keep no faith. 
 
 Prince. I have another reason to present why you 
 should stay the execution of your judgment. A few 
 words will suffice. We are about to pass down this 
 long hall, at the further end of which we may see the 
 blessed light for the last time. As we go forth these 
 men will move to give us room. Their ready knives 
 hang listlessh' at their side. Together ! we are off! 
 
 King. Help me! Help me! Keep them away 
 from me for the}^ are desperate and would do me 
 harm. Stop them! Hoist the drawbridge! Close 
 the gates! lyock the door! Bring me my arms. Let's 
 follow them. Exeunt all. 
 
 ACT III. Scene i. Evening of same day. The 
 dining-room of the palace. King and Queen^ courtiers 
 and ladies in ivaiting. 
 
 Quee7i. My Lord, this is the anniversary of our 
 wedding day, and I have ordered a supper prepared in 
 remembrance of that happy time. Be seated. Our 
 faithful friends will all unite to wish us joy and con- 
 tinued happiness. We drink to the health of our 
 most gracious King. 
 
 29 
 
All. Your majesty's health and joy! 
 
 Couf'tier. As those from the orient say, "May 
 your shadow never grow less." 
 
 King. Now I'll quaff another bowl to that same 
 shadow. Shadow we drink to you. Now we will 
 drink to the shadow of each of us. 
 
 Queen. Do not drink too much of this strong wine. 
 
 Kijig. I'll drink what wine I wish or know the 
 reason why. 
 
 Lady Gle7idowyn. It is the custom, your highness, 
 on occasions such as this to grant some favor as a 
 token of thanksgiving. I should like to ask for one 
 to-night. 
 
 Ki7ig. On you I willingly would bestow any favor 
 that you might ask, or take it, even before it is asked. 
 
 Lady G. I must ask and then I fear I shall ask too 
 much. 
 
 King. Never fear for that. My board is far too 
 great to fear depletion. 
 
 Lady G. The favor that I ask will not deplete your 
 board. When I make bold to ask for favors they are 
 not such as I may buy. It is for love's sake alone I 
 come, to save from your anger one whose nobility has 
 won my favor. 
 
 First Courtic7\ The King is far too gallant to re- 
 fuse a boon like that. 
 
 Seco7id Lady. There is no doubt of that. Come, 
 friends, another toast to the gallant King. 
 
 Ki7ig. Here is to the health and joy of those who 
 please us; to sparkling wit and gracious beauty. Let 
 
 30 
 
me know your lover's name and I will order his re- 
 lease. 
 
 Lady G. The archer Cupid shoots his darts from 
 nooks we least suspect. To-day his shaft struck me, 
 and ever since I pine for love. To-day there came 
 here two strangers, the one so young, so handsome, 
 gallant, courteous, true; a faithful friend that could 
 not but make a faithful husband, and as I looked at 
 him soft glances shot from eye to eye, and then I 
 knew I loved. 
 
 King. I shall gladl}^ give him welcome here. I^et 
 me know his name and I shall send for him. 
 
 Lady G. He has offended you most grievously, 
 but I know his heart is true and that he meant no 
 real offense. I wall answer for his future conduct. 
 And now, your majesty, will you send your men to 
 release young Garner ? 
 
 King. Everywhere I hear that name. Release 
 him ? I could not think of it. He has insulted me 
 before the court and is the dearest friend the Prince 
 of Melbourne has. Ask me anything, but not that. 
 
 Sec. Cour. The King would not refuse to keep a 
 promise that he made the I^ady Glendowyn. 
 
 King. I never promised to pardon Garner. You 
 knew my feelings upon that subject before you asked. 
 
 Sec. Cour. It is the Lady Glendowyn who has 
 asked. I know you hold her in the very highest 
 favor and we plead with her. 
 
 King. If the Lady Glendowyn will make another 
 choice I will gladly aid her with all my wealth and all 
 my power. 
 
 31 
 
Lady G. A lady's love should not be hawked 
 about nor sold to highest bidder. 
 
 Sec. Lady. For the love we bear the Lady Glen- 
 dowyn we all unite to ask you to grant this favor to 
 her lover. 
 
 Ail. Yes, we beg it of you. 
 
 Sec. Cour. To be the husband of the Lady Glen- 
 dowyn is sufficient guarantee that there wall be no 
 treason. Too long she has followed all our fortunes 
 to doubt of this. 
 
 King. I had rather that she had asked me for my 
 right hand. It is true I owe her something, but she 
 knew my feelings in this matter before she asked and 
 so she can blame nobody but herself. 
 
 Lady G. Your majesty condems me to a cheerless 
 life. 
 
 Sec. Cour. We urge you to do this act of kindness. 
 
 Ki?ig. If I granted him a pardon it would only set 
 a prize for acts of the boldest treason. I cannot do it. 
 
 Qiiee?i. I come to aid the Lady Glendowyn. Have 
 you forgot, my love, that this is anniversary of the 
 day, when holding fast my hand, you vowed to love 
 and cherish me, for better or for worse, forever and 
 forever. Have you so soon forgot those happy, happy 
 days, when life was all a dream; when first our daugh- 
 ter came, illuming all our home with her sweet light ? 
 You loved that daughter then, would carry her in 
 your strong arms for hours and hours together, laugh- 
 ing at her lisping trials to call "papa," and tangling 
 her golden tresses in your play. Can you forget all this? 
 A mother's love sinks deeper and ever deeper in the 
 
 32 
 
heart as it grows old. I have come to ask, on this old 
 score, this captive's life for mine : for mine goes out 
 unless by hasty action she is restored to me. The 
 clammy hand of death even now lies hard upon my 
 heart. It is dead, dead, dead. You surely will not 
 refuse my boon. 
 
 King. It must occur to any wife, without a hint 
 from her husband, that to the head alone belongs the 
 final disposition of affairs. These matters are entirely 
 without a woman's sphere and henceforth I put most 
 urgent prohibition against all meddling. 
 
 Queen. The cause in which I vSpeak must offer my 
 excuse for any seeming lack of courtes}^ 
 
 King. The cause in w^hich you speak ! You speak 
 in behalf of two lives that are condemned to death by 
 all the rules of war, and yet, you seem to glory in their 
 acts. 
 
 Queen. I know of nothing braver. He flung away 
 all prudence and came to save his brother. All 
 thought of self he cast aside. It is true that I admired 
 his noble bearing and I would be ashamed if I had not. 
 He bore himself so proudly, so haughtily defied 3'our 
 power. You, the captor, sat trembling there instead 
 of taking up the challenge that he flung into your teeth. 
 
 King. The bold defiance of the devil seems to take 
 possession of all about me, making them forget their 
 treason in speaking for his purposes. 
 
 Queen. I wish for quiet in my grief. Any untimel}^ 
 reproaches ma}^ urge me on until I give my anger full 
 vent. 
 
 King. There is something more than the love for 
 a child in this. You seem intensely fond of this same 
 
 33 
 
Prince. If it is proven that 3'ou love this madcap 
 Prince I'll join 3- our doom to his and place 3'ou in a 
 grave together. 
 
 Qiieeji. This ends all. There are no bounds to the 
 insults that 3^ou heap on those about you. Perhaps I 
 have given more cause for this than I intended. A 
 wife's allegiance should be first to her husband and 
 not her child. M}^ angry passions carried me too far. 
 I entreat your forgiveness and for the future you shall 
 have no reason to complain. To assuage my grief I'll 
 learn to love the more and seek b}^ every act that is 
 known to woman to sooth 3'our cares, lighten your 
 burdens, increase your joys and thus earn 3'our full con- 
 fidence again. Come, kiss me love. Put m3' sincereti^ 
 to the proof : change the hour of execution to the 
 morning and like a Spartan mother I will be there to 
 see their end although with them m3^ daughter dies, 
 but by such means I hope to quiet all suspicion aroused 
 against me. 
 
 Kiyig. I will make this change to test 3^ou, and I 
 extend a cordial invitation to all to see the end of this. 
 
 Lady G. Not I. M3^ soul is filled with grief enough. 
 
 King. Tut, tut. Love is not kindled quite so fast. 
 Besides so small a spark is quickly quenched. In your 
 next venture choose with more care and 3^ou have m3^ 
 promise to aid 3^ou with all m3^ heart. 
 
 Lady G. Oh, that I had the eas>' conscience that 
 keeps 3^ou compan3^ 
 
 King. It is the happiness of a good digestion and 
 an open heart. Come, m3^ Queen, we must prepare 
 for the morrow's work. Exeunt all. 
 
 34 
 
ACT III. Scene 2. Sa??ie day. Corridor ajid cell 
 in the castle prison, at midnight. Queen and attendajit 
 movirig through the corridor. 
 
 Queen. Tread gentl}'. Hide your light under the 
 corner of your cloak. It is death if we are found. 
 The third cell upon the right. Ah, here it is. Before 
 we enter: tell me, are you prepared to finish this work 
 at any cost ? No torment yet devised could satisfy the 
 half of his revenge if he should take us while we are 
 engaged upon this task. 
 
 Atte?idant. Your majest}^, I come prepared. No- 
 body has any interest in his schemes. Each of us feels 
 that nobody is safe from the hxry of his wrath if he 
 makes the least mistake. The slightest thing brings 
 upon our heads the most fearful punishments, he never 
 ceases his angry cursing. Let us get to work. Every- 
 body wishes for the chance to get away. 
 
 Queen. You have provided the cold chisel to cut 
 liis irons ? 
 
 Att. I have it here and a hammer too. 
 
 Qiieen. Hark ! Did you not hear a footstep? 
 
 Att. It was the squeaking of a rat. There are lots 
 of them in here. 
 
 Queen. The merest breath disturbs my overwrought 
 nerves. I tremble at a shadow ; start at the rustle of 
 m}^ gown. This day has been filled with sorrow. 
 May such another never dawn ! The strange perver- 
 sity of fate! To-day is the anniversary of my marriage 
 and I thought to spend it joyfully. Come, unlock the 
 door and let us get to work. Attendant unlocks the 
 
 35 
 
door ayid both enter the cell. These dungeon walls are 
 little to your liking ? 
 
 Prince. Spare your taunts. Leave in peace the 
 little measure of our life remaining. My mind is now 
 transfixed with gloom. Leave us alone, I pray you. 
 
 Queen. You mistake me, my soul is far too sad to 
 revel in a taunt. 
 
 Garner. What is your purpose here ? 
 
 Queen. To-day, in words that froze my blood, I 
 heard the Prince of Melbourne tell of orders that he 
 left to hang my child. Since that time I have her 
 constantly before my eyes, suspended, swaying in the 
 breezes, a cold and stiffened corpse. I sought to save 
 her but my hopes have been blasted by him on whom 
 I should rely for consolation and for succor and so I 
 turn to you. 
 
 Prince. He is your husband. 
 
 Queen. He was my husband. If by any act of self 
 a wife may free herself from mate contemned, despised, 
 disdained : then he no longer bears the right to the 
 title you have bestowed upon him. It is only with 
 abhorence that I look upon him. To-night I leave 
 him and I come to offer you your liber t}^ to accompany 
 you and get my child again. 
 
 Prince. It was not liberty for myself I asked. 
 
 Queen. I have no choice. I offer it to either. 
 
 Gar7ier. It must be for both. A mother trading 
 for the child she loves puts all bounds to price aside. 
 
 Queen. I have not come to barter but to free my 
 child and you can have whatever I can give. 
 
 36 
 
Pri7ice. Have you the key that unlocks these 
 shackles ? 
 
 Queen. He carries it himself bound around his 
 waist, but I have brought a chisel and a hammer too. 
 
 Prince. Such tools will never cut these bars of iron 
 within the limit of the time allotted for our stay on 
 earth. We scarce could tell a dozen strokes before the 
 howling pack would be upon us. 
 
 Queen. Do not despond so quickly. Have hope. 
 Anticipation is often far worse than the reality. See ! 
 here are the means at hand, at least to make an attempt. 
 To see you die like the sheep in the shambles would 
 gratify the ghoulish instincts lodged in him. We have 
 more time for he has changed the hour of execution 
 until morning. Come, come, we lose time, courage ! 
 M}^ daughter ma}^ yet be saved and you be free. Here 
 are the tools. To work ! Despair of woman now 
 drives on the man despondent. We have at least a 
 chance. 
 
 Prince. If there be one chance in one thousand, 
 yes, one chance in one million I would flay the skin 
 from my hands with constant effort. When the skin 
 is gone the flesh would follow, after the flesh the bone, 
 until there should be left but what suffices to thrust a 
 dagger in his breast or draw the trigger of a weapon 
 aimed at him. Garner, I have wakened now to noble 
 effort, we shall be free. But we cannot trust such 
 tools as these for they would sound the alarm before 
 we are fairly started. A fine toothed saw is what we 
 need. 
 
 Queen. Hasten to the kitchen and bring us two 
 saws. Exit Attendant. I will join in this work, it is 
 worthy of a Queen. 
 
 37 
 
Garner. It is the cause we struggle for as well as 
 the labor done that must be weighed. 
 
 Priiice. I^et us get ready for this work. Sit upon 
 the floor so that they may work with speed and have 
 the advantage of free action and direct stroke. 
 
 Queen. Oh, why does he stay so long ? Could any- 
 thing have happened ? Do you think he would betray 
 us ? The fever of impatience burns my brain until I 
 cannot think. Why doesn't he come ? What's that? 
 Was that the King? No. No. It was a phantom 
 of my brain. I fear that I shall lose my reason. 
 
 Garner. He will be here in but a moment. Calm 
 yourself. We have much work to do and will need 
 your strength. 
 
 Priiice. How are we to leave the castle ? 
 
 Queen. The front of this castle is deemed so strong 
 that there he seldom stations many men. My kinsman 
 guards that gate to-night and he will see that all the 
 men are drunk or that their weapons are beyond their 
 reach. Coming from the rear we are upon them before 
 they have a chance to move. The gate will be un- 
 locked. What sound is that ? Is it the King ? Re- 
 enter Attendant ivith saivs. At last ! Here are the saws. 
 
 Prince. To work ! This saw was never fashioned 
 for work like this. Garner, it will hurt you cruelly to 
 bear the pain of steady application. Queen a7id Attend- 
 ant saiv. 
 
 Gajiier. It is a biting thing but it will gnaw us free. 
 
 Prince. (^To Attendant.) You are skilled beyond 
 the Queen in the use of it. Go lend your skill to Gar- 
 ner ; he came upon this ill-starred trip for me alone. 
 
 38 
 
My conscience pricks me that I suffered him to thus 
 tempt fate. Garner groans. 
 
 Prmce. My God ! That stiffled moan has drawn 
 and quartered body, mind and soul. Garner ! Garner! 
 Bear it yet awhile. Afford me an opportunity to ren- 
 der back to you a partial payment for the suffering 
 that you have borne for me. Haste good man ! Hus- 
 band all your strength. Put your best skill in each 
 strong stroke. The prize is worthy of 3'our work. 
 Gariier is released a7id faints. Good Queen, sweet 
 Queen, kind Queen, saw. I bid j^ou saw the foot from 
 my leg. On stumps I'll hobble to his chamber door 
 to execute my vengence. 
 
 Attendant. Let me finish it. In another minute 
 you will be free. 
 
 Enter King. 
 
 Kiyig. Ha ! Ha ! Just in the nick of time. What ! 
 dare you raise your hand against your King ? Attend- 
 a?tt a7id King both fire and the Kijig kills the Attendant. 
 Your long account is settled now. Each of 3^ou vipers 
 shall meet the fate you have so long deserved. My 
 wafe here too ! Whom can we trust when marriage vows 
 have such slack hold to keep our wives within the 
 bounds of decency ? You both shall die and all the 
 world shall know your shame. Queen rushes past him. 
 Ha ! Ha ! You suppose you have escaped me by this 
 tardy flight ! I will punish her more at my leisure. 
 You are the next to play your part. What do you 
 think of it ? 
 
 Prince. My words can bear but a faint and faded 
 meaning of what I would express : the loathing and 
 contempt I feel are far beyond their power. 
 
 39 
 
King. Wh}^ not sneer loose that chain and shackle? 
 I would tr}' it. Your cumiing counts for naught it 
 seems. You will die like a cur upon a bloody sheep. 
 Why not resent such death ? Measure your nerves 
 against mine and calmly stand and watch me load this 
 w^eapon with which I intend to kill you. See how 
 carefull}^ I measure out the grains. Not one of them 
 shall feel the insult of losing its full part in this good 
 work. Now take your ball, a good, round, smooth 
 ball, with patching cut exactly to the size. Prince 
 reaches for the AttendanV s pistol and ammunition pouch, 
 pours some powder dozvn the barrel, drops in an unpatched 
 ball, gives it one ha)'d 7'ap to shake it donm. I have 
 waked the tiger but you have started late. You shall 
 not beat me. No. No. Not that. Hold your mur- 
 derous hand. This is a Kingly quarrel, to be fought 
 with weapons worthy persons of our rank. I'll have 
 them brought. I surrender the castle and all my men, 
 humbling myself to 3'our stern will. Grant only that 
 I may live. Life is so sweet. See ! See ! I throw my 
 weapon down. You are bound in honor not to kill an 
 unarmed foe. Upon my knees I beg you spare me. 
 My wife ! my child ! Have pity, have mercy for ni}^ 
 helpless family. 
 
 Prince. Pity ! Mercy ! An unarmed foe ! When 
 have you shown yourself worth}^ that name of foe ? 
 There are some beasts we shoot without a chance for 
 life. Fires. With one or tivo sharp bloivs of the ham- 
 mer he breaks the shackles. Takes ammunition pouch 
 and pistol. Up ! Garner ! Up ! The}' 're all aroused. 
 The guards will leave their posts and crowd to know 
 the cause of all this noise. Prince takes Garner in his 
 arms. Exit, carrying Garner. 
 
 40 , 
 
Eyiter Soldiers. 
 
 Soldiers. What was that noise ? Where was it ? 
 
 Sec. Sol. There is the smell of smoke in this place. 
 
 Third Sol. What have we here ? The King is dead ! 
 
 Fourth Sol. Are you sure of that ? Yes, it is true. 
 Come roll him out, he stinks. 
 
 First Sol. Go tell the Queen. 
 
 Fourth Sol. Here she conies. 
 
 Re-enter Queen. 
 
 Queen. The Prisoners? Where are the prisoners? 
 
 All. They have escaped. 
 
 Third Sol. Hasten ! We may overtake them yet. 
 
 Qiieen. Go guard the exit to the rear, perhaps they 
 may take that way out. I will arouse the castle. 
 Exeu7it all. 
 
 ACT IV. Scene i. Beside a brook in the forest of 
 Melbourne just before daioi of the following day. Bright 
 moonlight. 
 
 Prince. These forests echo with the welcome call 
 of the winding horn which bids them cease pursuit. 
 I'll find some grassy spot beside this crystal brook, 
 w^herein to lull to rest, fanned by gentle breezes, this 
 bruised and weary body. Gently, mother earth, extend 
 thy loving arms to take the care of the fairest, bravest, 
 noblest youth I ever knew. Take care of him until I 
 go to fetch some cool and sparkling water from the 
 brook to bathe his waxen brow and coax the color back 
 to his pale cheeks. Goes for itater and returning bathes 
 Garner's brozv. There, there, so cool, so sweet, re- 
 
 41 
 
freshing, charging your tired body with new life. 
 Come, Garner ! Garner ! wilt thou not vouchsafe one 
 single smile, one look, one little movememt to bespeak 
 the lingering spark of life? Does not this draught, 
 the purest gift our God has sent, refresh you ; stimu- 
 lating your weak pulse to beat wdth its accustomed 
 stroke and arrest hot fever's progress? What! Not 
 yet returned to life? I'm sickened with this dull and 
 heavy load of fearful dread. Open these eyelids that 
 curtain off from me those eyes of pure celestial blue, 
 that hint of heaven, of life, of love, bringing thoughts 
 and feelings as yet unnamed by us poor mortals. 
 
 Garner. Where am I ? What are we doing here. 
 
 Pririce. The chill that hovered around is warmed 
 by one sweet breath of heaven wafted down to earth. 
 This gives me, impoverished beggar that I am, starved 
 and thirsting, some small crumb of hope, one drop of 
 cheer to moisten ni}^ tongue that it may assiduously 
 court kind words to prompt you back to life. You 
 little dream of what you have conferred on me by your 
 resurrection. It was not an idle bond we sealed when 
 first we clasped our hands and pledged our faith. The 
 heart knew, and chose with feeling that was true 
 before the mind had time to act. Then it was I learned 
 the first responses to the prayer of love. Grant me 
 leave to lisp and chatter forth my joy, as doting par- 
 ents prattle to their infant heir. I wish to tell how all 
 melody seems imprisoned in 3'our voice ; the wood 
 thrush note is turned to discord by the music of it. I 
 wander in a maze of perfumed flowers, choosing the 
 rarest of them all for you and when it sees the per- 
 fection of your grace this faded beauty sinks upon its 
 wilted stem. The flood of your charms overwhelms 
 
me and as I tell your graces over and over my mind's 
 distraught with all the wealth that you have brought 
 to me ; to pay that debt I'll live and strive, even as a 
 brother for his brother, a mother for her child, even 
 as a lover attempting to woo some token of regard 
 from her he loves. 
 
 Gar7ier. Hold me yet awhile in your strong arms, 
 so. I seem to live upon the strength you furnish me. 
 Forever could I lie thus, content ; watching life's 
 stream go drifting by, too happy in my bliss to venture 
 from the shore. I am so happy now ! Have I been 
 here long, pray tell me what has happened ? 
 
 Pri7ice. Your fetters were cut just as the Duke 
 came in. You fainted before he came, and as he 
 taunted me a glimmer of your fate flashed across my 
 mind and as a tiger crunches living prey I, merciless, 
 tore from him his soul, bespattered and besmeared 
 with filth. I bore you limp and lifeless in my arms 
 from those gaping jaws ; it seemed in vain, so long 
 you lingered in death's shadow. I feared your life 
 had sped and w^hile I said "there's hope" my mind 
 mistrusted what my wish affirmed. Then all the world 
 seemed blank, the mocking birds in this bright light 
 sent forth their warbling strains ; those notes broke 
 discordanth^ upon my ear and lost to all sense of har- 
 mony re-echoed my sad thoughts. Those dreary 
 thoughts, like busy hammers striking blow on blow, 
 rent and wrenched my heart until it seemed that it 
 must break beneath the strain. The world had nothing 
 to compensate the loss. By dint of constant coaxing 
 life at length came back to you. Beside myself with 
 joy, so many happy thoughts w^ent flitting through my 
 mind I had not time to pluck, arrange, nor aptly place 
 
 43 
 
the multitude of pictures fancy strew so thickly about. 
 The picture once conceived I sought to fasten it with 
 chain of words most polished, but ere it could be done 
 another took its place and tempted thus the first's 
 abandoned ; so I culled and culled in that v^ast store 
 and then saved none except of you in life again. 
 
 Gamer. Like hasheesh dreams your wordb instil a 
 peace so deep, so solemn, grand, I would it might con- 
 tinue through eternity. Serenade me yet awhile wdth 
 your sweet words. 
 
 Pri7ice. This theme's a harp of many strings that 
 could be touched with variations infinite to sound my 
 joy and happiness. In that delirious joy I viewed 
 again every pleasant scene I ever saw^ ; I seemed to 
 wander on the seashore while the weaves in wanton 
 vSport piled high their foaming crests, then 3'ou came 
 beside me and are no sooner seen than each approach- 
 ing, makes its graceful bow and falls, content to perish 
 after seeing 3^ou. 
 
 Garner. Can such happy, happy times endure for- 
 ever. 
 
 Prijice. I am resolved to task my mind from hour 
 to hour with schemes to please you and it must endure. 
 There are many maids at court, the pick and choice 
 of all belongs to you, the fairest, noblest, kindest, 
 gentlest maid shall grace your nuptials. We shall be 
 four together. 
 
 Garner. Do you thing to favor me in this? Do 
 you think that there is anything that will fill the void 
 and aching depth of absence? So kindly you have 
 removed my dreams I scarcely know they're gone. By 
 this I am to know that you will marry one of them ; 
 
 44 
 
that even now some fair lad}^ in happiness, looks for- 
 ward to the day when she shall call you husband ? 
 
 Pri7ice. There is a lady there that makes some claim 
 to my hand, it was a promise made in early youth that 
 I feel bound to keep. 
 
 Garner. We gaze at joys that others have with 
 intense longing and wondering all the while why it has 
 been so ordered : see others grasp the prize that lies so 
 close our hearts and filch from us our dearest hopes 
 without a question of their worth. 
 
 Prince. They shall not break one single strand of 
 all that bind us. Come, come, you're turning green 
 with jealousy, like the lover begrudging every bit of 
 love bestowed on mother, brother, sister, father, friend, 
 imagining that wdiat is spent on them is wasted from 
 his store, a total loss to him. Love is a flower, the 
 more that it is plucked, the more there bloom in place 
 of those we take. 
 
 Garner. You little know these wives if 3^ou think 
 that they will tamely sit and see the affection spent 
 that they themselves are hungering for. 
 
 Prince. Should my wife be such a shrew as you 
 have thought, we will take ourselves into the tented 
 field and there, amid the grinding crash of arms and 
 strife, will share the joys and sorrows as they come. 
 The law decreed " Survive the fittest," even love. 
 
 Garner. Then hope remains. 
 
 Prifice. We have talked and gabbled like two old 
 maids exchanging thoughts on how to raise a child 
 or bachelors laying dow^n the law to govern wives. 
 There is more serious w^ork for us to do before w^e move 
 into these airy castles. 
 
 45 
 
Gar?ier. I have gathered strength to make the fight 
 anew and fairly meet the brunt of fate. The fights 
 that are unseen are often hardest won. Will you kind- 
 ly lend your strength to my weak ankles ? Exit Pritice 
 a7id Garyier. 
 
 ACT IV. Scene 2. The seco7id day follozving . A 
 small, dark room of the castle. Queen and several 
 attenda7its. 
 
 Attenda?it. Your highness, the body of the King 
 lies w^aiting your final orders. 
 
 Quee?i. I am sinking deeper and deeper into the 
 mire of despondency. All is lost, lost, lost, husband, 
 the faithless fiends who bargained for my very soul 
 and cheated me at the end. They have abandoned me 
 and my child. Oh! my child! Everything seems lost. 
 
 Att. May it please your majesty, where shall we 
 bury him ? 
 
 Ouee7i. In some secluded spot where the sight of 
 the rounded mound will seldom meet my gaze to call 
 to mind the awful horrors of yesterday. Those villains! 
 oh, those villains ! cheating me of what is priceless ! 
 Usury takes at most but part, but they have taken all 
 and left not even vengeance for my share. Not ven- 
 geance for me ? Did I say that they have taken ven- 
 geance from me? No doubt they are laughing, in 
 sport and wnth mockery at how the}^ have deceived the 
 trusting Queen and thwarted her. Let them laugh ! 
 It is a cursed laugh and cursed shall be the laughers. 
 Let me laugh too. Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! M}^ laugh is with- 
 out the sound of mirth, an empty rattle like the grin- 
 ing skeleton of mirth and quiet as pleasing. I stand 
 like a chattering fool that offers prayer to the stinging 
 
 46 
 
knout for mercy and helpless writhes beneath the 
 blows of those he might have destroyed had he but 
 borne before the half of what he now endures. This 
 is the time for action, not for prayers. Dump the body 
 of the King wherever you wish, then bring a hot 
 brazier and branding irons and skewers. Bring me 
 that hated boy, the Prince's brother, and bid him come 
 to meet his brother, who awaits him here and longs to 
 clasp him in his arms. Make this chamber dark and 
 gloomy, lighted only by the flickering glare of one 
 poor torch. Bring with you strong and lusty men ; 
 grimy men that are more like devils than men. I 
 want you to exercise your ingenuity to make it most 
 dreadful. Hasten, obey my orders. I am going mad. 
 Mag? Who calls Mag? Mag? Mag? That's my 
 name. It's long, long years since last its welcome 
 sound has reached my ears. Re-e7iter Attendajit with 
 me7i. Back fiends, back. Would you dare to enter 
 here, to profane with your foul hands the sacred dead, 
 the holy dead ? Leave me alone with my dead child ! 
 
 Att. Your majesty, here is the boy. 
 
 Quee?i. I forgot. Where am I ? Have you told 
 him what I bid you say ? 
 
 Att. We have and he is more than pleased to think 
 his brother has returned for him and grows impatient 
 at dela3\ 
 
 Queen. Have these skewers hot, hissing hot, and as 
 they pierce their burning way take note of how his flesh 
 shall twitch! The stink and smell of burning flesh will 
 seem like incense to my crazy nose. Attendants pre- 
 pare to bind the boy arid he groayis. No shrieks, no 
 groans, no tears. My heart is hardened and turned to 
 stone by the acts of your perfidious brother for whom 
 
 47 
 
you make atonement. Bind him fast. Enter Prince 
 and Soldiers. Villain, villain. Seize this fiend who 
 caused all this woe. 
 
 Prince. Back ! Back ! Every one of you. The 
 castle is in my hands, my soldiers swarm about the 
 halls and further strife is but a waste of life. I grant 
 mercy to all of you. 
 
 Queeyi. Grant mercy to me whom you have so deep- 
 ly wronged ! You are all cowards but watch a mother 
 fight in behalf of her whom she loves. A sword, a 
 sword. Stab, slay, kill, let not one live ! 
 
 PT'i7ice. Close in and do not leave them room to act, 
 this woman is for me. {Queen rushes np07i him ivith 
 a swo7'd. Disarmed, before you make a second stroke. 
 Hold her ! What do 3^ou mean by this relentless rage? 
 
 Qiieen. On bended knees I tugged and strained to 
 cut your shackles, for which you promised to give me 
 back my child. But no sooner are you free than you 
 forget all sense of the obligations due to me and hasten 
 to save yourself, unmindful that my child perished 
 when you failed to revoke the orders for her hanging. 
 
 Pri7ice. I remember the tale I told about her hang- 
 ing, but rest satisfied for she is unharmed and free and 
 in a moment will join you here. Put down your arms. 
 Go bring the child. Exit Soldier. Whence comes 
 this ill-favored crowd ? What does this brazier mean? 
 What have you there ? My God ! My brotlil^- ! Out 
 of the way ! My dear boy ! I^et not a single man 
 leave this room. If they have injured a single hair of 
 him they shall make full amends. Are you hurt? 
 These cords did not hold you so gently as your brother's 
 arms. Come nestle in my lap as you have often done 
 
 48 
 
before. It has been long indeed since last I saw your 
 smiling face. Wipe your tears and show that face as 
 happy as was your w^ont in former days. Have you 
 forgotten those pleasant days when we have romped 
 and played beneath the oaks ? 
 
 Brother. Brother dear, it is so good to see you once 
 again, to feel that I can romp and play without a fear. 
 You will never leave me alone again ? 
 
 Prince. You are not hurt ! 
 
 Brother. I was more scared than hurt. 
 
 Prince. How^ slowdy these days have dragged their 
 weary courses since j^ou were lost to me. 
 
 Queeyi. I am impatient for ni}^ child ! 
 
 Prince. She will be here in but a moment. She was 
 placed out of harm's way when w^e made the assault. 
 
 Queen. I can hardly wait a minute longer. You 
 strained my nerves too much when you described the 
 stern reprisal you w^ould make for any harm that 
 should befall your friend. The vivid picture of her 
 dangling form that I had seen you draw led me to 
 think that 3'ou could add some forms of torture un- 
 known to the fiend himself. 
 
 Prince. I told the truth up to the very point where 
 I stopped. These orders were issued as I have said, 
 but others travelled after, revoking by their later date, 
 those issued first. Our leave was very quickly taken 
 and quite differently from the way we had arranged ; 
 thus it w^as I failed to give you warning that she was 
 safe. We w^ould have been an ingrate if we had mali- 
 ciously left you in such a lurch. Make way, for here 
 she comes. 
 
 49 
 
Enter Attendant and Priyicess. 
 
 Queen. My daughter ! 
 
 Child. Mother ! 
 
 Queefi. My life seems now without a care. I have 
 learned the way to live ; the crooks and turns have 
 disappeared and I look straight forward to our goal. 
 
 Prince. Henceforth you dwell at Murray Wood. 
 I will provide ample accommodation for 3'OU there. 
 If anything is lacking let me know, and I will seek at 
 once to remedy it. 
 
 Queeyi. I start at once, and hope to bid a long 
 farewell to all the suffering I have borne since coming 
 here. In the future 3'OU shall have no better subject. 
 My acts shall prove my loyalty. Adieu. 
 
 Exit Qiieeyi and Daughter. 
 
 Prince. Adieu ! and with my best wishes for a 
 happy future. Now, comrades, let us take formal 
 possession of our lands again. Exeimt all. 
 
 ACT V. Scene i. The follozui?ig day. Room of 
 the palace. Serving maid busily engaged i7i a7'ranging 
 weariyig apparel. Eiiter Eirst Page. 
 
 Eirst Page. Here are some more parcels for the 
 lady. 
 
 Maid. More parcels ! here ! here ! Put them on 
 this table. Eirst Page drops them. You put them 
 down as if you carried bricks. 
 
 Eirst Page. Let me right the damage I have done. 
 Can I help you in any way? 
 
 50 
 
Maid. Do you think that you could press dresses 
 smooth ? 
 
 First Page. I'll press one very smooth, about the 
 waist. 
 
 Maid. Sh ! Sh ! Her ladyship is within. Do not 
 make your advances with so much noise. 
 
 First Page. But you will let me help you with your 
 work? 
 
 Maid. If you insist, I have no way to stop you but 
 you had better be engaged upon some other task. You 
 have not strength enough to press these dresses smooth 
 enough to suit the girls. 
 
 First Page. Indeed, then I shall try again. 
 
 Filter Garner. 
 
 Garner. Ah! I have caught you, have I? The 
 crime consists, not in the loving, we all do that I hope, 
 but in being caught in open protestation of the fact. 
 As this is the first offense it should not be punished 
 too severely. 
 
 Maid. It was not my fault, indeed it was not. 
 
 Garner. You think then that you ought to grow 
 ashamed ? There is no path that you can tread to lead 
 you higher, provided that you love truly. 
 
 Maid. My lady, love comes to us in many forms 
 and we must be careful to know if it is true or only 
 masked. Perhaps your ladyship has felt that doubt. 
 Men are such deceivers. 
 
 Garner. My love is far beyond the range of what I 
 may attain. Within the deep recesses of my heart I 
 buried it but its gentle glow warms all my life. 
 
 51 
 
Enter Second Page. 
 
 Sec. Page. Is Garner here ? The Prince is waiting 
 for him. 
 
 Maid. I have a great curiosity to see that man, 
 report speaks so well of him. 
 
 Sec. Page. Have you seen him here ? I was directed 
 to this chamber to look for him. They told me he 
 was here. 
 
 Maid. This lady has this room. He would not 
 dare intrude. Exit Eirst and Second Pages. 
 
 Garner. I can delay this matter no longer. I wish 
 that I had never ventured out in a garb so ill befitting 
 a modest woman. I fear there is no hope for me 
 because he knows the life that I have led. Those 
 barriers have grown high and have become insuperable 
 obstacles that I can neither force, nor pass by strategy. 
 Although by birth we are so nearly equal, the knowl- 
 edge of my acts would bring the blush of shame to him. 
 He never would excuse my life in camp. He has 
 requested my presence and I shall appear to-day 
 arrayed in the very finest garments that I have. Make 
 haste to bring the best, the very best I have. 
 
 Maid. My lady, to-day the rarest gowns I ever saw 
 have poured so thick and fast I scarcely- knew where 
 they could be stored. Your ladyship has but to suggest 
 and I can have at hand most anything becoming to a 
 woman. See ! this turquoise blue or this pink that 
 may be compared to the inner part of shells. Here is 
 the rarest shade of brown, a color that furnishes so 
 many possibilities for the exercise of taste. 
 
 Garner. You pall me with this quantit}^ and like a 
 child that's seated at a feast I know not which to 
 
 52 
 
choose the first. Take them all away. I will make 
 my appearance before him in the habit of a 3^outh. 
 
 Maid. Goodness gracious me ! You could not 
 think of shocking the court by doing such a thing. 
 
 Gamer. Is it then so shocking for a girl to dress 
 herself in clothes for men, provided that she keeps 
 within the bounds prescribed by modesty ? 
 
 Maid. That would not be within the bounds of 
 modesty. Such an act is immodest and I should leave 
 my place at once to seek another, should you attempt 
 it, if ni}^ character had not receive a shock beyond 
 repair. 
 
 Gamer. Do people judge all things by mere 
 appearances ? 
 
 Maid. Would you ask of them to stop and think ? 
 They crowd so fast upon the heels of each other there 
 is no time to stop. 
 
 Garner. Put them away again. I should be repulsed 
 and scorned by him as some vile thing. I could never 
 survive such ignomy. Yet he must know I did no 
 evil act, no impure word has passed my lips, no action 
 could suggest a thought of wrong. I will go in. Let 
 me throw about my shoulders that dainty wrap that 
 hangs beside my hat. Am I not fair? Can you 
 observe a thing that could be changed for betterment ? 
 
 Maid. Your ladyship is beautiful and everybody 
 must admire you. 
 
 Garner. He cannot miss the thought, "What shall 
 I do with her in this attire ? ' ' 
 
 Maid. The burden of your talk would seem to indi- 
 cate that you misdoubt your power to make the port 
 
 53 
 
for which you sail and if all ladies should shrink like 
 this from the attempt there would be little conquest 
 for our sex. 
 
 Carrier. There are no new worlds for me to con- 
 quer. I simply seek to keep what I now have. I wage 
 a defensive warfare and do not seek for the spoil of 
 others love. Come, put on the final touches. I am 
 resolved to make my appearance at this reception in 
 seemly dress. Use all your art and skill to make me 
 favorable. 
 
 Maid. You are dressed with simplicity but with 
 true art. The dress you wear could not be better. I 
 shall endeavor to emphasize the grace it half conceals. 
 
 Garner. This hat will never suit my dress. 
 
 Maid. It is perfection and becomes you well. But 
 you will not need a hat. 
 
 Garner. Surely you could make this dress agree 
 more with my peculiar stjde of beauty. I would not 
 make my entrance there in any garb that showed the 
 slightest flaw. Give me that other wrap ; that soft, 
 smooth fur will serve to take away all harshness that 
 may strike his eye. What have we here ? A letter ! 
 Reads. ' ' My Dear Borge : — You ask for favors far 
 beyond my power to grant. I have so slight a hold 
 upon my liberty I can scarcely call it mine. The neo- 
 phyte in his cloistered cell has a wider range than I, 
 so closely they watch me. The purpose that we had 
 in mind has gone astray. Not only has he laughed at 
 their strong bars but killed the Duke as well and 
 changed what we designed for favor into grief. Those 
 whom we thought to trap have turned sly and caught 
 us in the net we spread for them. If you can escape 
 
 54 
 
their toils, take instant flight to parts beyond the sea, 
 go to your own home and when the rigor of restraint 
 is somewhat lessened I will join you there to keep the 
 promise that I made to you. Forgive me that the 
 plans on which you staked so much have gone awry ; 
 my disappointment was as keen as yours." How 
 came this letter here ? 
 
 Maid. By a mistake these garments lay a little 
 while in the room of Lady Catherine. I am a stranger 
 to the turns and crooks you make on your way hither; 
 turning to the left instead of right I missed my way 
 and left them for a space of time with her. 
 
 Game?'. It must be hers and yet the purport of this 
 letter is foul treachery. It could not be hers, it must 
 belong to some of her attendants. It is addressed 
 " My Dear Borge." However it is certain that who- 
 ever penned these lines sent on before the message that 
 discovered us to the Duke, knowing full well the con- 
 sequences that she arranged. I will give, this letter to . 
 the Prince and tell him how I came by it so he may 
 guard himself from some foul plot that is now hatching 
 in our midst. If I do that it will impute a charge of 
 treason to the Lady Catherine, for she should know 
 how it came to be placed in my wrap. It would augur 
 ill for me to attempt the disgrace of her whom rumor 
 says the Prince will soon proclaim his wife, nor would 
 I help to destroy his dream of love although I might 
 profit by it. With what grace could I present this 
 letter to blast his hopes of happiness ? It is so easy to 
 tear down, so hard to build aright. But when he held 
 me in his arms he did not seem to care for her. 
 
 Maid. Your ambition has a stronger wing that first 
 \ thought. ^ ^j ^ 
 
 55 
 
 ^|p 
 
Garner. Alas ! it is only from a distance I may 
 gaze ; I have no right to come too close. 
 
 Maid. If there has ever been a lover who could 
 look upon a picture such as this and turn away without 
 regret he must be more or less than human. 
 
 Garner. Do you think that I am fair enough to 
 awaken love in him ? Good fortune is too frail to keep 
 apace with my desires. It is ordered that we should 
 wait beneath the tree of love until the ripened fruit 
 shall fall. I could not, if I would, use any wile to 
 make him break his promise. My courage is not equal 
 to the task of playing in this double part. What shall 
 I do ? My fate is dashing on its wild career and yet 
 I sit helpless nor dare to lift a hand to guide its course. 
 A gambler with his gold upon the dice draws sympathy 
 for the strain he labors under but we must be of stone, 
 remain impassive while the throw is made. I own a 
 baffled hope, a secret longing, the wish for something 
 to surpass the miracle ; a quick resentment against 
 conditions I have no power to alter. I should like to 
 leave all fears behind, be free to voice my thoughts. 
 I tremble for fear that his rebuke may be made stronger 
 by a cloak of charity. 
 
 Maid. Put on a bold front; us all the art of coquetry 
 bequeathed our sex and you may easily lead him to 
 your purpose. 
 
 Garner. He must come willingly, if at all. Exit 
 Garner. 
 
 Re-enter First Page. 
 
 First Page. I have come to claim a kiss for my 
 long wait. 
 
 Maid. But one ? 
 
 56 
 
ACT V. Scene 2, Same day. Same room as that 
 in which the King held his reception. Prince surrounded 
 by his officers and lords and ladies in waiting 2ipon the 
 court. 
 
 Prince. I hope to make rapid progress nor will it 
 take long to reckon up my debts. To you I confide the 
 charge of the regions to the north, to you the eastern 
 provinces, to you the far off province of Anstead, 
 reposing the utmost confidence in your fidelity. Why 
 does not Garner come ? It is strange he is not here. 
 To him I owe the most. 
 
 Lady Cath. Wh)^ do you owe the most to Garner 
 and w^hy do you alwa^'s take delight in telling it ? 
 You owe the most to me. I do not like him and I 
 hope soon to cease to hear his praises. There is a 
 promise you have long ow^ed to me to place me in the 
 light of 3'our afiianced bride. It seems to me that it 
 would be better for you to take some thought of those 
 whose wishes it is your duty to consult. You seem 
 to hold your promise very lightly. 
 
 Prince. I wall immediately make the announcement 
 that 3^ou desire. Rises. Enter Garner. What is the 
 meaning of this masquerade ? You are playing tricks 
 upon me. 
 
 Garner. There conies a time when all of us lose 
 interest in the game of hide and seek and dare to show 
 ourselves for what we are and so I come thus dressed 
 for what I really am. 
 
 Lady C. It passes the bounds of all credulity to 
 masquerade among the troops and then come here, 
 presenting your bold face among these decent folk. 
 
 57 
 
Prince. She came upon my invitation. Caught 
 within the tangle of a hast}^ promise I stand at fault, 
 not knowing what is best to do. 
 
 Gariier. It is true I came upon A^our invitation and 
 if it troubles you I shall not remain here long. None 
 can say that I used a disguise for any purpose not 
 honorable in the strictest meaning of all that term 
 implies. You say you stand at fault and are caught 
 within the tangle of a hasty promise. I release 3^ou 
 freely from any promise you may have made to me and 
 all I ask is that 3^ou justify ni}^ name against this 
 slander. 
 
 PriJice. You have taken my meaning very much 
 amiss. I am far from wishing you to leave. 
 
 E?iter Soldier bring i7ig Borge. 
 
 Soldier. We bring, my lord, the Cavalier Borge in 
 accordance with the instructions that you gave us. 
 
 Lady C. You had arisen, Prince, to make the 
 announcement of our marriage vows. 
 
 Borge. The Prince exchanging marriage vows with 
 Lad}' Catherine ! There is some mistake. 
 
 Prince. I hope to God there is ! I would give one- 
 half my life to know the straight way out. 
 
 Lady C. I pray make haste. There is a certain 
 sickening feeling that is growing upon me. Announce 
 our marriage here so that I may go at once. 
 
 Prince. I have pledged my word and there seems 
 to be no honorable way by which I may escape. 
 
 58 
 
Borge. Permit me to say a few words. The hate 
 I bear you is most intense but I have a greater one. 
 
 Lady C. I pray you do not listen to him, for in set 
 speech he is such a master that he arranges words 
 until they seem to have all meanings or have none. 
 
 Gammer. What plea it is the Cavalier Borge wall 
 enter the Lady Catherine only seems to know. 
 
 Lady C. A strumpet from the camp dares question 
 me! 
 
 Priiice. Silence ! Do not dare to breathe another 
 syllable against her name and pray remember Garner 
 Stands a little nearer to my heart than any other and 
 w^hile you may hold me strictly to observe my promise 
 it does not carry wdth it the privilege to abuse her. 
 
 Lady C. A wife should have the welfare of her 
 husband closest to her heart. An intense love wall 
 brook no opposition nor apportionment among others. 
 Perhaps my zeal has carried me be3^ond discretion 
 when it bade me acquaint you with a tale of how your 
 journey came so soon to end, before it was fairly 
 started. This is the reason why I asked that Borge 
 should not be permitted to speak until I have finished. 
 Borge advised the King that you were coming, the 
 messenger was his trooper, you saw the man. He 
 bore a packet from his lord, the Cavalier Borge. Borge 
 hated 3'ou, you have heard him here admit it and in 
 sullen anger aw^aited a chance to sate his vengeance 
 until it gorged ; that chance at hand, he sent this 
 message as I have said. You will ask me how I know 
 all this and I will tell you that it came from a friend 
 of him who bore this message. Knowing these things, 
 
 59 
 
the wonder ceases that my tongue wagged fast. Borge 
 will make no denial of this story for it is true. Your 
 clemency is well known and upon such a happy occasion 
 it would not be amiss to grant a pardon to your old 
 ally, the Cavalier Borge. I ask this pardon for Borge 
 because he furnished me the chance to prove my devo- 
 tion to your cause. Borge, you are no longer a 
 prisoner, 3'ou ma}^ depart. 
 
 Borge. An artist tells a lie so near the truth that 
 deception can be marked in the detail only and by the 
 closest scrutin3\ The tale you heard is far too true 
 and false as that woman there. 
 
 Lady C. I asked a pardon for Borge in Christian 
 charity and extended him mercy that it seems is quite 
 undeserved. I now repent it and ask that he be led 
 to instant execution ; for the honor of your wife. 
 Away with him! We dare not trust such men ; they 
 turn upon the very ones to whom the}^ owe the most. 
 Away with him! 
 
 Prince. Stop! I will hear the statement Borge 
 desires to make. 
 
 Lady C. He has plagued me with his offers and 
 now he seeks revenge. You would not cheapen me 
 b}' such an exhibition. 
 
 Garner. Borge can doubtless furnish us some very 
 interesting facts ; we hear too many reasons why he 
 should not speak. 
 
 Borge. I planned your death and this is how it came 
 about. The Lady Catherine whispered words of love 
 to me that set my soul on fire, she then suggested that 
 we clear our path of all obstructions that lay within it, 
 
 60 
 
naming you. She said that she refused your offer and 
 that she feared your anger. My information of your 
 journey came from her alone, 3^our confidant, and by 
 my hand passed on to the Duke. 
 
 Lady C. This is false. Every word is absolutely 
 false. 
 
 Prince. What proofs have you ? 
 
 Borge. I have no proofs. I destro3'ed the letter 
 giving me the time of your departure. 
 
 Lady C. You see! 
 
 Prince. It seems to be the word of one against the 
 other's. Garner, what do you think of this? 
 
 Gar?ier. This letter may complete the chain of proof. 
 By the merest accident it fell into my hands and I 
 have been much troubled to decide upon the course I 
 should pursue. Hands Prince the letter and he reads. 
 
 Prince. You are my guardian angel, a load is lifted 
 from my mind, I fully understand. 
 
 Lady C. This letter bears a signature no doubt ? 
 
 Gai-ner. What prompts the Lady Catherine to that 
 thought unless she knows it is not signed ? 
 
 Prince. There is no signature but I remember well 
 this handwriting. Oh faithless woman, thus to tempt a 
 man to build his hopes on such a slender bough, a bough 
 so hanging o'er the brink the slightest wind must 
 send the home into the foaming tide ; and such a 
 bough, that has furnished homes for all the worms 
 that breed ; its heart is eaten up and it is rotten to the 
 core. 
 
 6r 
 
Lady C. Cold ambition is often rash and presses 
 on when we wish to stop. There never was a time 
 since first I took this devious path I would not will- 
 ingly have turned my steps to solid ground. I curse 
 the God and fate that held me fast! 
 
 Prince. Hush ! Man creates his own attending 
 angels here; waits not for heaven nor hell. Our acts 
 are ruled b}^ law and you must suffer now the inevita- 
 ble consequences of yours. You are banished to the 
 Province of Anstead. Go! Exit Lady Catherine. 
 
 Prince. Borge, return again to your own country 
 and never be caught here again on pain of the strictest 
 penalties. See him beyond our lines. Exit Officer 
 and Borge. Now my little lady let me reaffirm all I 
 told you in the wood and add something more, for 
 then I little thought but that you were what I mis- 
 took you for. 
 
 Garner. Those woodsong notes still linger in my 
 ear like chimes of distant silver bells ; a heritage of 
 love I will alwaj^s carry with me. 
 
 Prince. Lords and ladies, your future queen. 
 
 62 
 
a,r.