The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson

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! 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!

Arethusa. Kit, I am afraid. O Kit, he will kill my father.

Kit. Afraid. I’m glad of that. Now, you’ll see I’m worth my salt at something. Ten to one he’s back to Mrs. Drake’s. I’ll after, and lay him aboard.

Arethusa. O Kit, he is too strong for you.

Kit. Arethusa, that’s below the belt! Never you fear; I’ll give a good account of him.

Arethusa (taking cutlass from the wall). You’ll be none the worse for this, dear.

Kit. That’s so (making cuts). All the same, I’m half ashamed to draw on a blind man; it’s too much odds. (He leaps suddenly against the table.) Ah!

Arethusa. Kit! Are you ill?

Kit. My head’s like a humming top; it serves me right for drinking.

Arethusa. O, and the blind man! (She runs, L., to the corner cupboard, brings a bottle and glass, and fills and offers glass.) Here, lad, drink that.

Kit. To you! That’s better. (Bottle and glass remain on Gaunt’s table.)

Arethusa. Suppose you miss him?

Kit. Miss him! The road is straight; and I can hear the tap-tapping of that stick a mile away.

Arethusa (listening). St! my father stirring in his room!

Kit. Let me get clear; tell him why when I’m gone. The door – ?

Arethusa. Locked!

Kit. The window!

Arethusa. Quick, quick! (She unfastens R. window, by which Kit goes out.)