Part 5

[_They listen together for a moment. Then_ RHEINHARDT _looks at her and says abruptly_:

RHEINHARDT.

Good-night! [_Exit_ RHEINHARDT, _up_.

VERA.

Good-night!

[_She waits listening to the horse hoofs, which are heard more and more distinctly; then comes the sound of a man dismounting on a stone floor._ VERA _turns to_ PUNKAH BOY, _who is wide awake and listening, and makes a sign to him. He runs back_ L., _and immediately returns, crying, "Kal[^y]ona Sahib." Excited whispers of the name are heard, off; then_ CARLYON'S _voice speaking to the servants in Hindustani_.

_Enter_ CARLYON, _from_ L. _back round the house_.

CARLYON.

[_Coming forward impulsively._] Vera, it gives me fresh life to see your face! [_Kisses her, then throws himself into the chair. She stands helpless, having stifled her first impulse to run forward and greet him._] Great Heavens, how tired I am! I have ridden fifty miles since midday. [_Throwing himself back and stretching his arms out._] Ah, I suppose I should not have thought much of it once!

VERA.

[_Constrainedly._] Why have you come?

CARLYON.

I thought your heart might fail you. You were all alone.

VERA.

You thought I had been long?

CARLYON.

I was anxious at not hearing from you. I knew it was a heavy burden for you, and I came to help. Did you need help?

VERA.

None.

[_Pause._ CARLYON _gets up and walks a little way, then turns._

CARLYON.

Then why is it not done?

VERA.

It is done--almost all.

CARLYON.

It is? Oh, thank God! I was so tired! I felt this man as a terror hanging over me. I seemed like an old man just now, for the first time. [_Pause; he walks again, then looks at her closely._] You are pale. He is not actually dead?

VERA.

No, he is not dead.

CARLYON.

You do not like to speak of it? Never mind.--Vera, you have been a good and brave daughter to me. You have given me rest, the first time in my life I have ever needed it.

VERA.

There is no rest for you here.

[_She stands leaning backward slightly against the wall, and speaks with effort, throwing the lamplight full on his face._

CARLYON.

What do you mean? [_Putting up his hand._] Turn off that light from my eyes!

VERA.

You must face more light than this. I have not helped you. There is no rest for you here, no rest anywhere that I know of.

CARLYON.

You are not failing me after all?

VERA.

I have watched him till he is almost safe. If you want him to die now you must kill him outright--by force.

CARLYON.

Vera, you have mistrusted me.

VERA.

[_Passionately._] No. I have betrayed you! Can't you ever see it? I have turned against you, and you are beaten! You have told me everything. I alone----

CARLYON.

_You_ daren't lift your voice! I don't fear that.

VERA.

There are proofs enough without me! And witnesses; Selim first----

CARLYON.

[_As if stung._] Be quiet! Let me think. [_Pause._] To think that _you_ should have done it! To think of the vermin I have trusted before, and none of them ever betrayed me!

VERA.

No; _you_ betrayed _them_! Oh, it is their blind faith that has made you so pitilessly false!

CARLYON.

To trust _you_--it was like trusting myself!

VERA.

[_With a bitter laugh._] It was! It was! It was like trusting Judas! [_A pause._] Was I to be a Koreb, mad and heartbroken in prison? Or like Elizabeth, who has lost her very soul, and cannot see that there is any human being in the world but you?

CARLYON.

[_With a scornful laugh._] But _you_ can? Is that it? Good God! to think a wretched instinct like that should master you! To betray _me_ for a chance lover!

VERA.

It was just the opposite. If I had not half-consciously loved him you could never have deluded me. I wanted to stifle my heart, and I all but stifled my conscience with it.

CARLYON.

When did you change? How long have you meant this?

VERA.

I have not changed. I meant it ever since that night, when Elizabeth--[_breaks off_]--when I saw that to trust in you was to go mad!

CARLYON.

And you have been lying to me all this time!

VERA.

Were you to come at him with your poisoned daggers, and I not shield him with as much as a lie? [_Checking herself._] Oh, Father, I did not mean to be like this to you! Father, he is not your enemy any more than I. He will spare you in every way----

CARLYON.

Do you mean he will not press to have me hanged? [_She shakes her head._] You spare me that? [_With fury._] I am not to be killed, after all your hunting? Only maimed and branded and left for stray dogs to tear? I am to "live it down," am I?--crawl on through a weary, interminable life----

VERA.

It can be as short as you will. I will wait and bear the shame for you.

CARLYON.

Suicide, is it? [_With a short laugh._] No, I won't do that for you. The thought of it gives me all my natural spirit again.

VERA.

Yon cannot be afraid of that too?

CARLYON.

Afraid? No. But I have not finished living. Do you think I am an old man? There is as much blood and muscle in my arms as there ever was. I feel life leaping in every limb. I won't kill myself. No! nor let another man kill me! And I won't bear that penance either. There are other places besides England and British India.

VERA.

Oh, why do you rage like this? Can you not face your hour when it comes, take your defeat, like a strong man, steadily?

CARLYON.

Defeat? Defeat? From him and his crazy natives? Who will believe their story against mine? [_She is silent. A slight pause._] But suppose I confess all. Suppose I stand up straight before all Englishmen and bid them judge me: "Here I am: I have broken rules and treaties; I have fought with all weapons; I have had no law nor conscience nor pity--for your enemies! I am yours to chain or unchain; I am your fighting man, your bloodhound, your leashed panther! Have you no use for me?" Do you think, among all the swarming cowards that govern us, I shall not bring a host to my side when I say that?

VERA.

[_Grave and calm._] This is like the madness that goes before a great fall!

CARLYON.

His fall and yours!--when you try to turn and rend me, and are crushed! [_Looking at her._] Before Heaven, I pity you! [_Turning away._] Give me a fresh horse.

VERA.

What are you going to do?

CARLYON.

Do you expect another of my secrets?

VERA.

I will tell them to bring the horse. [_Exit_ VERA.

[CARLYON _crosses_ R., _throws himself down again in the chair, in an attitude of utter weariness, his hands over his eyes_. SELIM _during the last words has stolen out from the trees and creeps towards_ CARLYON _with the knife_. CARLYON _moves his hands from his eyes, sees_ SELIM'S _shadow, and starts swiftly forward as_ SELIM _springs upon the chair from behind. A brief struggle follows_, SELIM _shouting_, CARLYON _silent_. CARLYON _gets the knife, flings_ SELIM _down off the stage_ L., _pursues him for one instant to stab him finally, and returns. There is a slight red scratch on_ CARLYON'S _forehead_.

_Re-enter_ VERA _hurriedly_.

VERA.

Father, Father! Are you hurt?

CARLYON.

[_Furious, with the knife uplifted._] Did you mean it? Did you know he was there?

VERA.

No, no! Oh, are you safe?

[_Pause. He is trembling with excitement._

CARLYON.

[_Exultantly._] Vera, Vera! Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see it? I am saved. Koreb is mad. Adene has nothing but hearsay----

VERA.

[_Shrinking back to coldness._] What do you mean?

CARLYON.

Don't you see that I've just killed Selim, and Selim was the one fatal witness? Adene cannot hurt me now. It is only you. It is all simple for you. You needn't kill him. You needn't say one word that is untrue. Only say nothing, and I am safe. [_With increasing confidence._] You don't answer! Think! You know in your heart you cannot conquer me. And if you could, who would be the better for it? I tell you I am a man who has never failed! [_He stops as if suddenly giddy; then continues in a weaker voice._] I give you now the power of standing beside me. Do not wait too long. Can any one else offer you half such a life?

[_He clings for a moment to the pillar of the veranda for support._

VERA.

[_Alarmed._] You are wounded!

CARLYON.

No, he never touched me. I tell you I killed him. Vera, Vera, why do you try to stand against me? You love me more than that cripple, and I hold the lives of both of you in my hand!

[_Half lifting the knife._

VERA.

Killing us will not help you! And I do not love you more than the truth.

CARLYON.

Truth! Barren truth about past facts that can do no jot or tittle of good to any one! Is it for that you would try to blast my life?

[_He puts his hand to his brow, drops the knife, and falls into the chair._

VERA.

[_Kneeling beside him, and calling._] Dr. Rheinhardt! Dr. Rheinhardt! Quickly! [_To_ CARLYON.] No, stay where you are!

[CARLYON _waits motionless, recovering himself._

_Enter_ RHEINHARDT.

RHEINHARDT.

[_Off._] What is it? [_Entering._] Your father! Wounded!

VERA.

Selim attacked him, but I can't understand why he is like this.

RHEINHARDT.

[_Hurrying up to_ CARLYON.] Let me see.

CARLYON.

[_Pushing him aside and rising cautiously, he speaks wanderingly but without violence._] A little thing like that cannot hurt a man. My horse is tired, terribly tired; you said you would give me one of yours. [_Reeling again; moaning to himself._] You pitiful civilised crowds, I want no more of you! You haven't beaten me, but you can't understand, you can't obey!

[_Moves unsteadily away towards the trees._

VERA.

Where do you want to go?

[_Tries to bring him back._

CARLYON.

[_With a full return of his old manner._] Back beyond the frontier! To the Bhojâl Mountains where the rebels went! I will go to the men who know me and hate me, and worship my broken sword!

VERA.

[_To_ RHEINHARDT, _whispering_.] What can it be?

CARLYON.

[_Swaying as he stands, his hands to his brow._] If I could only see with this blood in my eyes! [_Breaking out with an effort._] This time I come as their friend, with a sword that is not broken.

_Enter_ ADENE _followed by_ NURSE _from sick-room_. CARLYON _points at him_.

Go, marry your cripple, O you who might have been great! He is fit for a half-bribed murderess and a coward! Great God, how I despise you all! Oh, shall I kill you where you stand, or----

[_Reels and clutches the veranda post for support._ RHEINHARDT, _who has watched closely all the time, and looked also at the things on the table, starts forward_.

RHEINHARDT.

Ach, Himmel! the poisoned knife!

CARLYON.

You lie! It is only my eyes that are filled with blood.

VERA.

[_Running to him._] There is no blood in your eyes. Father! Father!

[CARLYON _lifts the knife to his lips, tastes the edge, and drops it with a gesture of despair_.

CARLYON.

Back! Don't touch me, and I shall not die yet!

[ADENE _moves across to_ RHEINHARDT _and speaks with him_.

RHEINHARDT.

That is it! But what poison! He must be stopped!

CARLYON.

[_With a flash of his old manner as he moves off._] Out of my path, sir! I am still Carlyon!

[_He sweeps_ RHEINHARDT _aside, then falls_. RHEINHARDT _loosens his collar_.

RHEINHARDT.

Fetch my case. [_Exit_ NURSE _to house_.] Bring that water.

[VERA _brings it and supports_ CARLYON'S _head. They put it to his lips._

VERA.

[_To_ RHEINHARDT.] What?

NURSE _re-enters with case_.

RHEINHARDT.

Ach! [_Throws up his hands, suggesting no hope._

[_The_ PUNKAH BOY _has during this slipped across the stage to the place where_ CARLYON _dropped the knife_. VERA _and_ ADENE _gaze at one another across the body_.

NURSE.

Ah, what is that boy doing?

ADENE.

He is kissing the knife that Carlyon threw away.

THE END.

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. London & Edinburgh

Transcriber's Notes:-

Page 30 "Pointing to MSS. on table." changed to "Pointing to MS. on table."

Page 39 "Got im Himmel, there it comes." changed to "Gott im Himmel, there it comes."

Page 81 "if Steinmitz were to be right" changed to "if Steinmetz were to be right"

Page 88 "to Korob at Travancore." changed to "to Koreb at Travancore."

Page 149 "an attidude of utter weariness," changed to "an attitude of utter weariness,"

Other than obvious full stop omissions, original spelling and punctuation retained.