Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2024 page)

Wal.
The lady leaves the answer to your letter to
me.

Fosco.
I refuse to accept you as mediator between us. I decline to discuss matters of delicacy in the presence of a witness —
(he points to
PESCA) — who keeps his face hidden from me.

Wal.
You shall see his face. (WALTER
turns to
PESCA.) My friend!
(He presents them to each other.)
Professor Pesca — Count Fosco.

(PESCA
faces
FOSCO
as
WALTER
pronounces his name.
FOSCO
starts back at the sight of him in a sudden panic of terror, which he is for the moment perfectly unable to control.
WALTER
closely observes him. After a pause of a moment he recovers himself, and bows to
PESCA,
with his eyes on the ground.
PESCA,
visibly ill at case, returns the salute in silence.
FOSCO
passes his handkerchief over his forehead, and
addresses
WALTER,
to all outward appearance as resolutely as ever.)

Fosco.
I maintain my refusal, sir, to treat with you.
(He indicates
PESCA
without looking at him.)
If there was anything offensive in my reference to this gentleman as witness, I apologise and withdraw it. In the course of the day I shall expect Miss Halcombe’s answer. Mr. Hartright!
(He bows slightingly to
WALTER.) Professor Pesca!

(He bows profoundly to
PESCA,
still without looking at him, and goes out on the right. The instant his back it turned,
WALTER’S
emotion defies control. He addresses
PESCA
in violent agitation.)

Wal.
Arm me with the terror you have inspired in that man, and you arm me with the weapon I want!

Pesca (lifting his hands in horror).
No! no!

Wal.
You have forgotten
him. He
remembers, and fears
you.
Why?

Pesca.
Don’t ask me!

Wal.
I
must
ask you! I must force the proof out of the count, or Laura loses her place among living beings, and I lose the hope of my life. Yes! I have sworn to restore her to her place in the world, before I ask her to be my wife. Her happiness and
my
happiness are in your hands!

Pesca.
On your honour, and on your soul, is there no other way?

Wal. (bitterly).
You have witnessed the struggle — you have seen how it has ended. What risk do you run in helping me?

Pesca (calmly).
The risk of my life! (WALTER
starts.)
Now listen, knowing that.
(He lowers his voice, and speaks with growing agitation.)
You are right about the man who has just left us. He has betrayed the Brotherhood to which we both belong. His errand in this country is the errand of a Spy. The letter that reached me from Italy ordered me to identify him on his arrival in England.

Wal.
Were you able to do it?

Pesca.
Thank God I was
not
able to do it! He is so altered, or so disguised, since I saw him, that I could not recognise him. From the moment when I failed to do this, the whole responsibility passed away from
me.
I am now the passive instrument that forwards the reports to the chief — nothing more.

Wal.
Has his disguise been penetrated? Has he been recognised yet?

Pesca.
He has had a long respite. He was only recognised last week.

Wal.
A respite from what?

Pesca (dropping his voice to a whisper).
Death.

Wal.
Death!

Pesca.
The sentence of the Brotherhood has been pronounced on him. The laws of the Brotherhood have condemned him to die. Every step he takes is watched. Go where he may, no human laws can save him. He is a doomed man.

Wal.
Does he know of his danger?

Pesca.
He suspected his danger, for the first time, when I turned my face on him, here, at your request.

Wal.
He may attempt to escape!

Pesca.
He is certain to attempt it, after seeing
me.

Wal.
When does the train start for London?

Pesca.
In ten minutes.

Wal.
We are close to the station here. Hark!
(The rumbling of wheels is heard outside.)
A carriage is passing the door!
(He hurries to the window, and looks out.)
The count — driving to the train!
(He returns to
PESCA.) Tomorrow morning he may leave the country. I must follow him to London — I must see him to-night. Give me the means of showing him that I know his secret. You must have a pass-word in the Brotherhood. Whisper it in my ear.

Pesca.
We have no pass-word. We are known by a secret mark that is set on all of us alike. A brand, burnt into the flesh of the left arm — up here.
(He points to the inner side of his left arm just under the arm-pit.)
Mention that mark to the count, and you will say enough.

Wal. (taking his hat).
See Marian for me. Make the best excuse you can. Keep them in this neighbourhood till you hear from me again.

Pesca.
Impossible! If you go to London, I go with you.

Wal.
Why?

Pesca (lowering his voice once more).
You propose to see him to-night. For all I know, to-night may be fixed for his death. There are two men, members of the Brotherhood — -mind, I am not in their confidence; I can only guess — there are two hidden men, waiting the fatal moment, who have studied his habits; who have gained his servants; who know every corner of his house. If you
will
see him, I must warn those two men that you see him on your own affairs. Let them only suspect you of meddling, and you cross their path at the peril of your life!

(MARIAN
enters hurriedly on the left.)

Mar.
Can you come to Laura? She has had some dream about you that has frightened her dreadfully. Nothing but the sight of you will persuade her that you are safe and well.

Wal.
Marian! you have promised to help me. I claim your promise. Our last hope is lost, if I miss the train that gets to London to-night.

Mar.
You are leaving us?

Wal.
I have not a moment to spare. I can only count on your courage and devotion. Take Laura to Carlisle this evening. You shall hear from me to-morrow. Marian! Marian! I trust in
you!

(He draws her to him, kisses her on the forehead, and hurries out on the right. PESCA attempts to follow.
MARIAN
seizes him by the arm.)

Mar. (wildly).
He is going into danger!

Pesca.
Leave hold of me, or he will go alone!

(He disengages himself, and follows
WALTER.
At the same moment,
LAURA
appears in violent agitation on the left.)

Laura.
Walter! Walter! where are you?

Mar.
Merciful God! what am I to tell her? If she gets to the window she will see him!

(She hurries to
LAURA,
and forces her out again, on the left.)

THE LAST SCENE.

DATE: September 26th, 1862. Night.
PLACE: The Drawing-room of Fosco’s Villa in St. John’s Wood.

The stage is divided, vertically, into two unequal portions. The smaller portion (on the actor’s left) represents, a conservatory, communicating with the drawing-room by a glass door in the drawing-room wall. A curtain hangs over the glass, on the side of it turned towards the room. The fireplace and chimney-piece are on the left wall of the room. At the back of the stage a large open French window, raised a little above the level of the drawing-room floor, gives access by means of two or three steps to a little tiled ante-chamber or hall, which has a door at the further end, serving as an exit, and supposed to open into another room. The junction of the ante-chamber with the conservatory on the left is hidden by the wall of the drawing-room, and by the curtains which hang over the French window, hiding both sides of the ante-chamber from view. On the right hand wall of the drawing-room is a door of entrance, supposed to communicate with the interior of the house. The furniture is composed of a table, which must contain a drawer; of a few chairs, and a sofa. In the ante-chamber, placed on a stand, is the cage containing the Count’s canaries. An oil-lamp burns on the table. The conservatory on the left hand side of the room, and the ante-chamber at the back (which has a skylight), are lit by the moon.
FOSCO
and
MADAME FOSCO
are discovered.
MADAME FOSCO
is handing articles of wearing apparel to her husband, who is on his knees, in his shirt-sleeves, packing a small portmanteau.

Fosco (pausing).
Have you found out when the passport-office opens to-morrow morning?

Madame F.
At ten o’clock.

Fosco (continuing his packing).
I wish it had been earlier!

Madame F. (handing him the next article of clothing).
Count!

Fosco.
My angel?

Madame F.
I have aided your plans — I have kept your secrets. Surely I have some title to your confidence? What is the danger which forces this sudden departure on us?

Fosco (aside).
Even her courage may falter if I tell her!
(To
MADAME FOSCO.) You shall know it when we are out of England. In the mean time, whatever the danger may be, you see in your husband a man capable of grappling with it.
(He looks at his luggage.)
So! the portmanteau is filled. Go up to your room, Eleanor, and rest for tonight.

(A knock is heard at the door on the right. A maid-servant enters with a visiting card in her hand.)

The Servant.
A gentleman to see you, sir.

(MADAME FOSCO
takes the card and hands it to her husband.)

Fosco (looking at it).
“Mr. Walter Hartright.”
(Aside.)
The man who presented me to Pesca! He has some motive in coming here.