Part 3

Gott im Himmel! Would Steinmetz ever refuse an assassinate? He would just kill him one year sooner, that is all. He is dying fast enough for me.

VERA.

[_To herself._] Is it worth while to be so long dying?

RHEINHARDT.

Are you coming in?

VERA.

No, I want to sit out in the air. [_She sits again._

RHEINHARDT.

Ah, then the thesis is finished: or is it given up?

VERA.

Doctor, don't be angry with me for little things, when there may come great ones. [_Shakes his hand._] Just to show that you forgive me this time for telling father. I expect some day you will never forgive me. [RHEINHARDT _looks curiously at her, and exit_. VERA _waits motionless for an instant, then rises with a hard laugh_.] Well, the sooner the better. [_Going across to window back._] Mr. Adene! Mr. Adene!

ADENE.

[_From inside._] Miss Carlyon! Yes, I am coming at once.

_Enter_ ELIZABETH _hurriedly from the house_.

ELIZABETH.

What is it? Why do you call him?

VERA.

I have something to say to him.

ELIZABETH.

Vera, Vera, have you thought well what you are doing?

VERA.

No, and I won't think!

ELIZABETH.

You must not betray your father!

[_Holding her arm._

VERA.

[_Throwing her off._] It is not my father I am betraying!

ELIZABETH.

[_Letting go._] Thank Heaven for that! Oh, child! put all your faith in him, and, whatever you suffer, you will never be lonely or forsaken!

[_Exit_ ELIZABETH, _as_ ADENE _appears on the steps, pen in hand_.

ADENE.

I have just been writing----

VERA.

You are perfectly determined to go?

ADENE.

Of course. Why?

VERA.

Is there nothing you could think of that would turn you back?

ADENE.

No; especially now that your father approves.

VERA.

But will you go on to other places after Bhojâl?

ADENE.

Naturally. Why are you cross-examining me? I will confess everything.

VERA.

And if you find an Englishman who has done wrong ever so long ago to a native, you will expose him?

ADENE.

Certainly, if I find any.

VERA.

Take a man who has left it all behind him . . . who was serving his country in some high and difficult post?

ADENE.

I shall report anything I think ought to be known to the proper authorities. I am not a police agent nor a spy; but I am a historian, and I do not intend to hide things in order to oblige people!

VERA.

Peace and war the same?

ADENE.

Of course there is great latitude allowed in war, but----

VERA.

[_Interrupting._] I know you will do harm! I wish you would wait and think. . . . Wait for six months.

ADENE.

Six months!!

VERA.

You are doing evil work there! You are upsetting the work of government. . . . It is all being reformed. You will be killed yourself . . . . I shall never ask anything but this of you: only wait! Wait till you can think it over! [_Comes a little to him._

ADENE.

[_Mastering some impatience._] My dear Miss Carlyon. I have thought it over long ago. You don't suppose I have worked for years towards this scheme and never asked myself whether it was right?

VERA.

It is not too late to think again.

ADENE.

I cannot understand why you are so troubled.

VERA.

I have told you why.

ADENE.

You can't want to screen any one!

VERA.

Whom could I screen? I know no one but father.

[_She moves a little away from him._

ADENE.

[_Goes to her._] Is it possible that it is my life you care for? I should never have dared to hope it. If it is really that, may I, when I come back----

VERA.

Will you go or will you stay?

ADENE.

I will take every possible care. My life never seemed so precious to me as it does now. If only when I return I may come to you----

VERA.

Will you go or will you stay?

ADENE.

You are unreasonable. [_Takes her hand._] Surely one must take the risks----

VERA.

[_Interrupting._] Leave go, leave go! You are mad! [_He recoils from her._] Your life may well seem precious; you have barely a year of it left!

ADENE.

What do you mean?

VERA.

I have watched you day by day. I saw it in your eyes with that glass. There are a dozen symptoms to make it as clear as daylight. You don't feel much yet, but you're going blind, you're going paralysed, you are dying slowly under my eyes. . . . [ADENE, _incredulous but horror-struck, grasps the back of the chair_.] Dr. Rheinhardt knows it. He has seen my notes and watched you. First blind, then paralysed, then dead! Now go if you can; cross the mountains and ruin good men by raking up their old wrongdoings.

ADENE.

It can't be true! [_Calling out._] Reinhardt, Rheinhardt! Here! Come at once!

RHEINHARDT _appears on the steps_ L.

RHEINHARDT.

Why, what in this world . . .

ADENE.

Is this true? Have you seen anything in me?----

RHEINHARDT.

Woman, woman! you have not told him?

ADENE.

Then it is true. Is there no chance for me?

RHEINHARDT.

My friend, your case is somewhat serious.

ADENE.

She says there is no hope; is a true? What is it?

RHEINHARDT.

[_Slowly._] There is much reason to fear that you may have what we call a glioma in the substance of the brain. But you need not yet be uneasy. You may live a considerable time.

ADENE.

Is there no operation possible?

RHEINHARDT.

None at all, none at all! It would be criminal at present.

ADENE.

How long shall I have the use of my faculties?

RHEINHARDT.

You may well live until some experimentation---- Yes, the subject is being much attended to.

ADENE.

Oh, Rheinhardt, you are my friend. How long can I calculate upon? Two months? One month?

RHEINHARDT.

Longer than that.

ADENE.

Six months? [RHEINHARDT _assents._] Then I must start at once. I can do most of it! [_Coming across to_ VERA.] Thank you. Miss Carlyon, for letting me know. Forgive me for what I said--what I tried to say. I did not, of course, know how painful it was. I shall always--I am privileged now, am I not?--I shall always love and honour you, and be grateful for the anxiety you showed to save me from what you thought a danger. But I shall be happier when I get to work.

VERA.

But you won't go? You won't go! Is it all for nothing?

ADENE.

Will work hurt me, Rheinhardt?

RHEINHARDT.

Far better work than not--if you can.

ADENE.

Oh, I can, sure enough. Miss Carlyon, may I----

VERA.

No, no! Go away from me and forget that you ever saw me. [_She falls on the settee, sobbing._

ADENE.

Good-bye, Rheinhardt. But you must have another look at me, to make certain.

RHEINHARDT.

Of course I must. [_Exit_ ADENE.] Ach, Gott! What a man! But he must break down. He must break down! Oh, if Steinmetz were to be right after all? [_Passing by_ VERA.] Ach! you miserable, you rotten-hearted girl!

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

THE THIRD ACT

_A sitting-room in_ CARLYON'S _house; time_, 10 _p.m. Doors left and right; also in right back corner opening into veranda with aviary_. ELIZABETH _is in the aviary crooning to her Himalayan eagles_; CARLYON _is writing_ L.C.; VERA, _with the_ British Medical Journal _in her hand, watches him rather anxiously till he ceases and begins to read over his letter, then she rises and comes up to him_.

VERA.

Are you busy, Father?

CARLYON.

I am only reasoning with Her Majesty's Government. There, copy that!

[_Gives her the draft letter._

VERA.

There is a thing you ought perhaps to see in this paper--some experiments of Dr. Steinmetz.

[_Offering him the_ B. M. J.

CARLYON.

[_Sharply._] What paper?

VERA.

Only the _British Medical Journal_. You said I could keep it on.

CARLYON.

You have given up all the others?

VERA.

Yes. All except this. There is an article here----

[_Offers it to him again: he does not take it._

CARLYON.

Do you care about this one?

VERA.

[_With a sigh and a smile._] I have read it all through three times.

CARLYON.

[_Rising; peremptorily._] Vera, I don't offer you my work as a _pis aller_. If you wish to go back to your medicine. . . .

VERA.

Dr. Rheinhardt has definitely forbidden me!

CARLYON.

You could win Rheinhardt round in ten minutes. The point is--do you wish it?

VERA.

[_Dispiritedly._] Oh, no; I want only to serve you. When you first spoke of making me your secretary, it came to me like a ray of sunlight.

CARLYON.

But now you have regrets?

VERA.

No. I always felt a sort of doubt and fear of things when I depended on myself; and now that is all gone.

CARLYON.

You don't feel at home in my world yet; naturally.

VERA.

I think I do. It is so restful to have you to guide me and judge for me. Only I do enjoy this old thing--[_showing the_ B. M. J.]--and it takes very little time.

CARLYON.

It is not a question of time; it is a question of divided allegiance.

VERA.

I will give it up it you think right, father.

CARLYON.

No, not just yet. Here are three more letters. [_Hands them to her._] Decline that. Agree to that. Tell the Deputation to come on the 15th at 10 A.M.

VERA.

Yes.

CARLYON.

Also write out a telegram. [_Looks at her and pauses._] No; that is all. Take them upstairs; I may want to dictate something.

VERA.

Yes.

[_Exit_ VERA. CARLYON _sits again_. ELIZABETH, _who has approached from the veranda, looks at_ CARLYON _questioningly_.

CARLYON.

Well, Elizabeth? [_Not looking up, absently._

ELIZABETH.

[_Standing above him._] Aren't you hard upon her? She did so love her medicine! And she has hardly any of her old light-heartedness left.

CARLYON.

She has got some, and I shall have to take that away. Do you know, Elizabeth, you were light-hearted once?

ELIZABETH.

But you won't make her like me?

CARLYON.

Precisely, except that she'll be cleverer. I suppose you are happy enough at the end of the process?

ELIZABETH.

Oh, _I_ am happy if only I can satisfy you. But she will never quite give herself up.

CARLYON.

Oh yes, she will! Why, already she follows without question every word I speak!

ELIZABETH.

[_Coming round in front of him._] Every spoken word, I should hope so! But what about your unspoken thoughts and feelings? Oh, you _know_ she will never be like me. Can you bring _her_ in from another room by wishing for her? Does _she_ come in smiling if you are glad, and sad if you are angry? [CARLYON _shrugs his shoulders_.] Has there ever been any one but me like that?

CARLYON.

[_With a laugh._] Well, Selim for one! And the late Khan of Bhojâl for another! However, since you can read my feelings, do you know what is the matter with me to-night?

ELIZABETH.

No, I know that you are troubled.

CARLYON.

I have had letters from Rajpoor; that man Adene has come back across the frontier from Bhojâl. And that's not all; read this. [_Gives her a letter._

ELIZABETH.

[_Reading._] Well, when once you let him go----

CARLYON.

A sick half-dying man like that--the chances were enormous against his ever returning.

ELIZABETH.

[_Reading._] What is all this long description of the man who has come back with him? "A huge one-armed Mahometan----"

CARLYON.

[_Repeating from memory._] "With a fixed glazed look as though he were seeing something horrible." Bah! that's enough. [_Takes letter._] And now he is on his way to Koreb at Travancore.

ELIZABETH.

What does it mean? I never knew what you did to Koreb.

CARLYON.

No, but _he_ does!

ELIZABETH.

How can you tell?

CARLYON.

I know the man who is with him. I do not forget that look.

ELIZABETH.

Oh! why won't you let _me_ help you?

CARLYON.

There is no difficulty. I'll have Adene back at once to be operated upon.

ELIZABETH.

Surely he knows that an operation is not possible?

CARLYON.

If Vera writes to him that it _is_ possible, he'll come!

ELIZABETH.

Vera? Oh, do take care! She might obey you in everything else, but you'll have to deceive her about him.

CARLYON.

I shall not deceive her. If she flinches, I shall tell her a little truth.

ELIZABETH.

Truth? [_Nervously._] Do you mean you will tell her about me, or something you have never told me? She won't bear it!

CARLYON.

Of course she won't. I should like to see her bear a thing that I mean to crush her!

ELIZABETH.

[_Suddenly throwing herself down and kissing his hand._] Oh, do let it be me! Let me do something for you! If you would only try me----

CARLYON.

What use can I possibly make of you?

ELIZABETH.

[_Continuing._] I have courage enough. When you were vexed with me yesterday, I went and walked in the cage there, among the eagles!

CARLYON.

To punish yourself? [_Grimly._] Well, I suppose they were asleep!

ELIZABETH.

I woke them! Oh, you can't trust her like me; and I will do anything, anything!

CARLYON.

Come, come, Elizabeth! [_Lifts her up._] That letter must come from Vera, and from no one else. [_A ring is heard at the front door._] And I am not anxious. It would want a miracle to unseat me now; and I don't suppose my fortune intends to desert me all of a sudden.

_Enter_ VERA _hurriedly_.

VERA.

Did you hear that bell? I am sure it is Dr. Rheinhardt; I knew his step on the gravel walk.

CARLYON.

It can't be Rheinhardt! Why, he is in Zurich. What is the matter with you?

VERA.

No. He came to Carlisle to the Medical Congress, but----

_Enter a_ SERVANT.

SERVANT.

Dr. Rheinhardt wishes to see you, sir, for a few minutes.

CARLYON.

What can he be coming here for? Show him in.

_Enter_ RHEINHARDT. ELIZABETH _goes to speak with the_ SERVANT, _and so exit with him_.

RHEINHARDT.

[_Addressing_ CARLYON _and ignoring_ VERA, _who looks anxiously at him and then turns away_.] I have come----

CARLYON.

Well, this is a surprise, Doctor. Where have you come from?

RHEINHARDT.

I have come merely for a few minutes, to ask if you know the address in India of Mr. Adene. I had it till he left Rajpoor; but since then a telegram has been returned to me.

CARLYON.

Adene's address? No; let me think.

VERA.

Yes; we can easily find him.

CARLYON.

[_Sharply turning._] You are wrong, Vera. You only know that old address. [_To_ RHEINHARDT.] I had one or two letters from him, but the people at Rajpoor whose address he used have lost sight of him.

RHEINHARDT.

Is there no person he has written to here?

VERA.

[_With an impulse._] Do you mean to go to him?

[RHEINHARDT _stands stiffly, taking no notice_.

CARLYON.

Nobody. I believe he has a sister or something at Clifton.

RHEINHARDT.

Please give me her address and also the address of the people at Rajpoor.

CARLYON.

I do not know the address at Clifton. At Rajpoor it is Stephen Bonsor, Esq.----

RHEINHARDT.

Bah! that is what I have. Have you a 'Bradshaw'? I will go to Clifton.

CARLYON.

But you can't mean to go to Clifton to-night?

RHEINHARDT.

If I can get a train!

[VERA _meantime has fetched him a 'Bradshaw,' which he puts down on the_ British Medical Journal.

[_Sarcastically._] I was not aware that Miss Carlyon any longer professed an interest in these studies!

[_He examines 'Bradshaw'_; VERA _does not reply, but joins_ CARLYON _down centre_.

CARLYON.

[_Apart, to_ VERA.] What made you think he was going himself? He may be only going to write.

VERA.

No, I am sure he is going!

CARLYON.

Why, the operation has never been attempted?

VERA.

Yes. That was what I wanted to show you just now. Steinmetz has done it four times, and killed the patient each time. The _Journal_ is indignant. He can hardly mean to try it! But he won't tell us; he wouldn't even speak to me!

CARLYON.

We'll soon see that! [_Approaching_ RHEINHARDT.] By the way, Doctor, I see that your old master, Steinmetz, has been very successful in performing that operation on the brain, that young Adene----

RHEINHARDT.

Steinmetz my master? Steinmetz was never my master! You call it successful, you call it Steinmetz's section? Very well, I do not complain! It is Steinmetz's section because he has cut open five people and killed four--[_Movement of_ VERA _and of_ CARLYON]--and he is my master because I have only cut open two and killed none! He is your great man.

VERA.

[_Excitedly._] You have done the operation yourself?

RHEINHARDT.

I only followed him; he showed the way. When have I said anything else? And if I do not kill my people it is because I have no originality, I am a plodder, a second-rate man! Bah! he is a bungler!

CARLYON.

Then you _are_ going to India to operate on Adene?

RHEINHARDT.

What does it matter--I am nobody--what I do? Good-night.

CARLYON.

Stop a moment. Vera has just reminded me that we have got a later address. If you are going to operate, or think it possible, we must telegraph to him to come back at once.

RHEINHARDT.

I will not telegraph. What can I promise him? "Come back and let me see if it will kill you to cut out a big bit out of your head!" I will go and find him.

VERA.

[_With a sheet of paper on which she has just been writing._] Look, Dr. Rheinhardt, this is the right address.

[_Gives it him._ CARLYON _frowns, with some surprise_; RHEINHARDT _hesitates, then takes it ungraciously_.

CARLYON.

I advise you to telegraph all the same. The climate of India will be very unfavourable for his recovery.

RHEINHARDT.

Climate? Bah! it has a hundred climates. I shall start to-morrow if there is a steamer. Good-night!

CARLYON.

But you will have to wait three hours for a train.

RHEINHARDT.

Well, there is a waiting-room.

[_Exit_ RHEINHARDT. VERA _is motionless for an instant, then starts after him_.

CARLYON.

[_Peremptorily._] Vera!

VERA.

[_Impulsively._] Oh, father! could I go with him?

CARLYON.

With Rheinhardt to India? Good God, girl, it may come to that yet! [_He paces the room disturbed and angry, then turns upon her._] Then it was all wrong, what you've been telling me about those operations? You said it was impossible.

VERA.

It was, a few months ago.

CARLYON.

Do you mean that you think that Rheinhardt can do it?

VERA.

He never operates unless he is almost certain of success. Oh, how wonderful it would be!

CARLYON.

[_With fury._] Wonderful! Are you a perfect fool, Vera? [_Pause. He continues coldly._] You heard me speak of a telegram to be sent to-night?

VERA.

Yes.

CARLYON.

[_Watching her, taking from his pocket-book a sheet of notepaper._] It was this--to Adene; to return at once, as the operation can be performed.

VERA.

But you did not know then--you did not think it could be performed!

CARLYON.

[_Deliberately._] I thought it was impossible. [_Pause._

VERA.

I don't understand.---- Oh, Father, I can't believe it! I thought you had made up your mind to face all that might come. What you did in Bhojâl was right; why are you afraid of his knowing it? Oh, you are not! You are not a man who can be afraid! You are not; or why did you never speak of him all this time? Why did you never try to stop him?

CARLYON.

I gave the Bhojâl Mountains the chance of stopping him first. And if they failed, then I had magic for him!

VERA.

Magic?

CARLYON.

The promise of a chance of life to a man slowly dying. [_Tapping the telegram._] I had only to send this, and he was bound to come home.

VERA.

Have you been waiting for him like a beast of prey all this time?

CARLYON.

[_With passion._] No, it is he who is waiting for me like a beast of prey. Do you think I have not felt him there all these months? Do you suppose I have not made ready to strike him as he springs?

VERA.

I would never have sent such a telegram. [_Defiant, then instantaneously submissive._] It would be no good. He wouldn't come. He wouldn't even believe you--now!

CARLYON.

[_Coldly._] This telegram is signed by you, not by me. [_She comes up to him and looks at the telegram._] Are you calm enough to listen to reason?

VERA.

I can listen to anything you have got to say. But I would sooner murder him outright than this!

CARLYON.

It may very possibly come to that--especially after you have given Rheinhardt that address--against my wish!

VERA.

You spoke of giving him a later address----

[_Her manner is cowed._

CARLYON.

You knew I did not wish it.

VERA.

Yes, I am sorry.

CARLYON.

You preferred to disobey me; perhaps you mean to disobey me now? I make no appeal because of my danger; I can defend myself without you--or even against you. [_Sits on settee._

VERA.

[_Passionately, on her knees to him._] How could I ever be against you? If anything happens I will die with you!

CARLYON.

There is no question of dying. And if you are ready to judge me and desert me on your first impulse, without caring to understand, it is just as well for me that there is not.

VERA.

Oh! I ought not to judge you! Father, I don't judge you. But make me understand.

CARLYON.

Did you think me right about the poisoning of the well?

VERA.

No, not at first. But I began quickly to see----

CARLYON.

Will you take that as a lesson to show you how to trust me? Vera, I am a man greater than other men. I see my way clearly. I shrink from nothing, and I strike hard. Another man cannot keep pace with me: he cannot criticise me: he must either stand out of my path, or follow me with perfect devotion.

VERA.

Yes, yes; I know. I always feel it. Only that is why I cannot hear you to be plotting. I want always to say what the Bhojâlis said: "He has no fear, and his justice is the justice of a god."

CARLYON.

Do you know what they meant by the justice of a god? That is the very thing you dare not face. A god has his great ends which men know not of, and woe to the men or the nations that block those ends! And so it is with me. So it has been with all great rulers and conquerors of men. You cannot judge them, you cannot judge me, step by step, detail by detail. You need only know that ultimately, taken all in all, what I will is good, and I have never yet failed.

VERA.

[_Moved._] Oh, it is true; I always knew it.

CARLYON.

You want to think me purer and juster than other men? So I am. I have a high and clear standard, and never swerve from it without cause. I am merciful, because I have seldom needed to be cruel; I speak the truth, because I am seldom afraid. But, once or twice, here and there, when things were different, I have never been turned from my purpose by the mere nervous horror of a crime that most men feel; and where the first step led to a second and a third, I have gone on without flinching.

VERA.

I can understand you, father. You have broken ordinary laws, because you listened to higher laws. You have followed your own conscience.

CARLYON.

Conscience? I don't know what it means. I tell you I have seldom, very seldom, broken through what people call justice. But when I did--where other men would flinch and prevaricate, I lied and swore false oaths. Where they would connive at wrong occurring, I did the wrong with my own hands, and cleared away the evidence of it. My own people in Bhojâl knew me; they told in their songs how I could give the tiger fresh hunger and the cobra poison; but they said too, "Best to be in the hand of God, next best in the hand of Kal[^y]ona Sahib."

VERA.

Yes, yes. I am bewildered, but I can see some great right and truth coming out through it all. You saved your own people and all Rajpoor. One man had gone mad with fear----

[_She is going over it, to convince herself._

CARLYON.

[_With swift contempt._] Do you think mere danger made me poison the Bhojâli waters?

VERA.

You told me how it was. Any one who knew all would forgive you!

CARLYON.

Forgive me! I want no forgiveness! I did what I did because it was the right thing to do; not because I was afraid. [_She looks up bewildered._] I did it to make the Bhojâlis rebel, and then to crush them.

VERA.

[_Aghast._] To make them rebel? You poisoned the water to make them----?

CARLYON.

Yes, and all fell out exactly as I meant. They were panicstricken, paralysed, stung to fury, all at one blow. And they struck when they were weak and I was strong!

VERA.

But you said--you said---- I can't believe it!

CARLYON.

Only one thing went wrong. I had too much power over Koreb. The man loved me like a dog, and somehow couldn't fight against me.

VERA.

I know. Oh, I know! Poor Koreb!

CARLYON.