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

Time for us to go,
And when we’d clapped the hatches on,
’Twas time for us to go.”

SCENE IV

Kit, Arethusa, Gaunt

Arethusa. Now, Kit?

Kit. Well, sir, and now?

Gaunt. I find you here in my house at this untimely and unseemly hour; I find you there in company with one who, to my assured knowledge, should long since have swung in the wind at Execution Dock. What brought you? Why did you open my door while I slept to such a companion? Christopher French, I have two treasures. One (laying his hand on Arethusa’s shoulder) I know you covet: Christopher, is this your love?

Kit. Sir, I have been fooled and trapped. That man declared he knew you, declared he could make you change your mind about our marriage. I was drunk, sir, and I believed him: heaven knows I am sober now, and can see my folly; but I believed him then, and followed him. He brought me here, he told me your chest was full of gold that would make men of us for life. At that I saw my fault, sir, and drew my cutlass; and he, in the wink of an eye, roared out for help, leaped at my throat like a weasel, and had me rolling on the floor. He was quick, and I, as I tell you, sir, was off my balance.

Gaunt. Is this man, Pew, your enemy?

Kit. No, sir; I never saw him till to-night.

Gaunt. Then, if you must stand the justice of your country, come to the proof with a better plea. What? lantern and cutlass yours; you the one that knew the house; you the one that saw; you the one overtaken and denounced; and you spin me a galley yarn like that? If that is all your defence, you’ll hang, sir, hang.

Arethusa. Ah!.. Father, I give him up: I will never see him, never speak to him, never think of him again; I take him from my heart; I give myself wholly up to you and to my mother; I will obey you in every point – O, not at a word merely – at a finger raised! I will do all this; I will do anything – anything you bid me; I swear it in the face of heaven. Only – Kit! I love him, father, I love him. Let him go.

Gaunt. Go?

Arethusa. You let the other. Open the door again for my sake, father – in my mother’s name – O, open the door and let him go.

Kit. Let me go? My girl, if you had cast me out this morning, good and well: I would have left you, though it broke my heart. But it’s a changed story now; now I’m down on my luck, and you come and stab me from behind. I ask no favour, and I’ll take none; I stand here on my innocence, and God helping me I’ll clear my good name, and get your love again, if it’s love worth having. Now, Captain Gaunt, I’ve said my say, and you may do your pleasure. I am my father’s son, and I never feared to face the truth.

Gaunt. You have spoken like a man, French, and you may go. I leave you free.

Kit. Nay, sir, not so: not with my will. I’m accused and counted guilty; the proofs are against me; the girl I love has turned upon me. I’ll accept no mercy at your hands. Captain Gaunt, I am your prisoner.

Arethusa. Kit, dear Kit —

Gaunt. Silence! Young man, I have offered you liberty without bond or condition. You refuse. You shall be judged. Meanwhile (opening the door, R.), you will go in here. I keep your cutlass. The night brings counsel: to-morrow shall decide. (He locks Kit in, leaving the key in the door.)

SCENE V

Gaunt, Arethusa, afterwards Pew

Arethusa. Father, you believe in him; you do; I know you do.

Gaunt. Child, I am not given to be hasty. I will pray and sleep upon this matter. (A knocking at the door, C.) Who knocks so late? (He opens.)

Pew (entering). Cap’n, shall I fetch the constable?

Gaunt. No.

Pew. No? Have ye killed him?

Gaunt. My man, I’ll see you into the road. (He takes Pew by the arm, and goes out with him.)

SCENE VI

Arethusa

Arethusa. (Listens; then running to door, R.) Kit – dearest Kit! wait! I will come to you soon. (Gaunt re-enters, C., as the drop falls.)

ACT IV

The Stage represents the Admiral’s house, as in Acts I. and III. A chair, L., in front. As the curtain rises, the Stage is dark. Enter Arethusa, L., with candle; she lights another; and passes to door, R., which she unbolts. Stage light

SCENE I

Arethusa, Kit

Arethusa. Come, dear Kit, come!

Kit. Well, I’m here.

Arethusa. O Kit, you are not angry with me.

Kit. Have I reason to be pleased?

Arethusa. Kit, I was wrong. Forgive me.

Kit. O yes. I forgive you. I suppose you meant it kindly; but there are some kindnesses a man would rather die than take a gift of. When a man is accused, Arethusa, it is not that he fears the gallows – it’s the shame that cuts him. At such a time as that, the way to help was to stand to your belief. You should have nailed my colours to the mast, not spoke of striking them. If I were to be hanged to-morrow, and your love there, and a free pardon and a dukedom on the other side – which would I choose?

Arethusa. Kit, you must judge me fairly. It was not my life that was at stake, it was yours. Had it been mine – mine, Kit – what had you done, then?

Kit. I am a downright fool; I saw it inside out. Why, give you up, by George!

Arethusa. Ah, you see! Now you understand. It was all pure love. When he said that word – O! death and that disgrace!.. But I know my father. He fears nothing so much as the goodness of his heart; and yet it conquers. He would pray, he said; and to-night, and by the kindness of his voice, I knew he was convinced already. All that is wanted is that you should forgive me.

Kit. Arethusa, if you looked at me like that I’d forgive you piracy on the high seas. I was only sulky; I was boxed up there in the black dark, and couldn’t see my hand. It made me pity that blind man, by George.

Arethusa. O, that blind man! The fiend! He came back, Kit: did you hear him? he thought we had killed you – you!

Kit. Well, well, it serves me right for keeping company with such a swab.

Arethusa. One thing puzzles me: how did you get in? I saw my father lock the door.

Kit. Ah, how? That’s just it. I was a sheet in the wind, you see. How did we? He did it somehow… By George, he had a key! He can get in again.

Arethusa. Again? that man!

Kit. Ay can he! Again! When he likes!