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 Bhojal 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.