The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson – Swanston Edition. Volume 15

Lawson. I’m no’ very fond of playing hidee in the dark mysel’: and noo that I’m here —

Leslie. I will give you a light. (He lights the candles. Lights up.)

Lawson. God A’michty! William Brodie!

Leslie. Yes, Brodie was good enough to watch with me.

Lawson. But he gaed awa’ … I dinna see … an’ Lord be guid to us, the window’s open!

Leslie. A trap we laid for them: a device of Brodie’s.

Brodie (to Lawson). Set a thief to catch a thief. (Passing to Leslie, aside.) Walter Leslie, God will reward. (Jean signals again.)

Lawson. I dinna like that singin’ at siccan a time o’ the nicht.

Brodie. I must go.

Lawson. Not one foot o’ ye. I’m ower glad to find ye in guid hands. Ay, ye dinna ken how glad.

Brodie (aside to Leslie). Get me out of this. There’s a man there will stick at nothing.

Leslie. Mr. Lawson, Brodie has done his shift. Why should we keep him? (Jean appears at the door, and signs to Brodie.)

Lawson. Hoots! this is my trade. That’s a bit o’ “Wanderin’ Willie.” I’ve had it before me in precognitions; that same stave has been used for a signal by some o’ the very warst o’ them.

Brodie (aside to Leslie). Get me out of this. I’ll never forget to-night. (Jean at door again.)

Leslie. Well, good-night, Brodie. When shall we meet again?

Lawson. Not one foot o’ him. (Jean at door.) I tell you, Mr. Leslie —

SCENE VI

To these, Jean

Jean (from the door). Wullie, Wullie!

Lawson. Guid guide us, Mrs. Watt! A dacent wumman like yoursel’! Whatten a time o’ nicht is this to come to folks’ doors?

Jean (to Brodie). Hawks, Wullie, hawks!

Brodie. I suppose you know what you’ve done, Jean?

Jean. I had to come, Wullie; he wadna wait another minit. He wad have come himsel’.

Brodie. This is my mistress.

Lawson. William, dinna tell me nae mair.

Brodie. I have told you so much. You may as well know all. That good man knows it already. Have you issued a warrant for me … yet?

Lawson. No, no, man: not another word.

Brodie (pointing to the window). That is my work. I am the man. Have you drawn the warrant?

Lawson (breaking down). Your father’s son!

Leslie (to Lawson). My good friend! Brodie, you might have spared the old man this.

Brodie. I might have spared him years ago; and you and my sister, and myself. I might … would God I had! (Weeping himself.) Don’t weep, my good old friend; I was lost long since; don’t think of me; don’t pity me; don’t shame me with your pity! I began this when I was a boy. I bound the millstone round my neck; (it is irrevocable now), and you must all suffer … all suffer for me!.. (for this suffering remnant of what was once a man). O God, that I can have fallen to stand here as I do now. My friend lying to save me from the gallows; my second father weeping tears of blood for my disgrace! And all for what? Ay what? Because I had an open hand, because I was a selfish dog, because I loved this woman.

Jean. O Wullie, and she lo’ed ye weel! But come near me nae mair, come near me nae mair, my man; keep wi’ your ain folks … your ain dacent folks.

Lawson. Mistress Watt, ye shall sit rent free as lang’s there’s breath in William Lawson’s body.

Leslie. You can do one thing still … for Mary’s sake. You can save yourself; you must fly.

Brodie. It is my purpose; the day after to-morrow. It cannot be before. Then I will fly; and O, as God sees me, I will strive to make a new and a better life, and to be worthy of your friendship, and of your tears … your tears. And to be worthy of you, too, Jean; for I see now that the bandage has fallen from my eyes; I see myself, O how unworthy even of you!

Leslie. Why not to-night?

Brodie. It cannot be before. There are many considerations. I must find money.

Jean. Leave me, and the wean. Dinna fash yoursel’ for us.

Leslie (opening the strong-box and pouring gold upon the table). Take this and go at once.

Brodie. Not that … not the money that I came to steal!

Lawson. Tak’ it, William; I’ll pay him.

Brodie. It is in vain. I cannot leave till I have said. There is a man; I must obey him. If I slip my chain till he has done with me, the hue and cry will blaze about the country; every outport will be shut; I shall return to the gallows. He is a man that will stick at nothing.

SCENE VII

To these, Moore

Moore. Are you coming?

Brodie. I am coming.

Moore (appearing in the door). Do you want us all to get thundering well scragged?

Brodie (going). There is my master.

END OF THE THIRD ACT

ACT IV