Under the Gaslight/Act V
ACT V.
SCENE I.—An elegant boudoir at Courtland's cottage, Long Branch; open window and balcony at back; moonlight exterior; tree overhanging balcony.
Bed is at U. E. L.; toilette table R.; arm chair C.; door L. 2 E.; lighted lamp on toilette table; dresses on chair by bed L. H. and by window on R. (Music.)
Pearl is discovered (en negligee) brushing her hair out at table before mirror.
Pearl. I don't feel a bit sleepy. What a splendid drive we had! I like that foreigner. What an elegant fellow he is! Ray is nothing to him. I wonder if I'm in love with him. Pshaw! What an idea! I don't believe I could love anybody much. How sweetly he writes!—(picks up letter and sits on chair C.) "You were more lovely than ever to-night; with one more thing, you d bean angel!" Now, that's perfectly splendid: "with one more thing, you'd be an angel—that one thing is love. They tell me Mr. Trafford is your professed admirer. I'm sure he could never be called your lover—for he seems incapable of any passion but Melancholy." It's quite true. Ray does not comprehend me. (Takes up another letter.) "Pearl, forgive me if I have been cross and cold. For the future, I will do my duty, as your affianced husband, better." Now, did ever anyone hear such talk as that from a lover? Lover!—O, dear! I begin to feel that he can love, but not me. Well, I'd just as soon break—if he'd be the first to speak. How nice and fresh the air is! (she turns down lamp.) It's much nicer here, than going to bed. (Settles her self in tete-a-tete for a nap. Pause.)
[Moonbeams fall on Byke, who appears above the balcony. He gets over the rail and enters.
Byke. Safely down! I've made no mistake—no, this is her room. What a figure I am for a lady's chamber. (Goes to table, picks up delicate lace handkerchief, and wipes his face.) Phew! Hot! (Puts handkerchief in his pocket.) Now for my bearings. (Taking huge clasp-knife from his pocket.) There's the bed where she's sleeping like a precious infant, and here— (Sees Pearl in chair and steals round at back, looking down at hher.) It's so dark—I can't recognize the face. It's a wonder she don't feel me in the air and dream of me. If she does she'll wake sure—but it's easy to settle that. (Takes phial of chloroform from his pocket, saturated the handkerchief he picked up, and applies it.) So!—now my charmer—we'll have the ear-rings. (Takes them out.) What's here (Going to table.) Bracelets—diamonds! (Going to dresses, and feeling in the pockets.) Money! That's handy. (He puts all in a bag, and hands them over balcony.) Now for the drawers, there's where the treasure must be. Locked? (Tries them with bunch of keys) Patent lock, of course! It amuses me to see people buying patent locks, when there's one key will fit 'em all. (Produces small crowbar, and just as he is about to force the drawer, a shout is heard, and noise of wagon.) What's that? (Jumps, catching at bureau, which falls over.) Damnation!
Pearl. (Starting up.) Who's there? What's that?
Byke. Silence, or I'll kill you!
Pearl. Help! Help!
Byke. (Running to bureau for knife.) You will have it my pretty one. (Pearl runs to door L.)
Pearl. Save me! Save me! (Byke pursues her, the door bursts open and Ray and Laura enter. Byke turns and runs to balcony, and confronts Snorkey and Bermudas, who have clambered over.)
Laura. Just in time.
Ray. (Seizing Byke.) Scoundrel!
Snorkey. Hold him, Governor! Hold him. (Assists Ray to bind Byke in chair R. H.)
Ber. Sixty-sixth and last round. The big 'un floored, and Bermudas as fresh as a daisy.
Pearl. Dear, dear Laura, you have saved me.
Ray. Yes, Pearl; from more than you can tell.
Laura. No, no, her saviors are there. (Pointing to Ber. and Snor.) Had it not been for the one, I should never have learned your danger, and but for the other, we could never have reached you in time.
Snorkey. Bermudas and his fourth editions did it. Business enterprise and Bermudas' pony express worked the oracle this time.
Ber. The way we galloped! Sa-ay, my pony must have thought the extras was full of lively intelligence.
Pearl. Darling Laura, you shall never leave us again.
Ray. No! never.
Snorkey. Beg pardon, Cap'n, what are we to do with this here game we've brought down ?
Ray. The Magistrates will settle with him.
Snorkey. Come, old fellow!
Byke. One word, I beg. My conduct, I know, has been highly reprehensible. 1 have acted injudiciously, and have been the occasion of more or less inconvenience to every one here. But I wish to make amends, and therefore I tender you all in this public manner my sincere apologies. I trust this will be entirely satisfactory.
Ray. Villain!
Byke. I have a word to say to you, sir.
Snorkey. Come, that's enough.
Byke. My good fellow, don't interrupt gentlemen who are conversing together. (To Ray.) I address you, sir—you design to commit me to the care of the officers of the law?
Ray. Most certainly.
Byke. And you will do your best towards having me incarcerated in the correctional establishments of this country? (Ray bows.)
Snorkey. How very genteel!
Byke. Then I have to say if you will, I shall make a public exposure of certain matters connected with a certain young lady.
Laura. Do not think that will deter us from your punishment. I can bear even more than I have—for the sake of justice.
Byke. Excuse me, hut I did not even remotely refer to you.
Laura. To whom, then?
Byke. (Pointing to Pearl.) To her.
Ray. Miss Courtland?
Byke. O, dear! no, sir. The daughter of old Judas—the spurious child placed your cradle, Miss Laura Courtland, when you were abducted from it by your nurse.
Pearl. What does he say?
Byke. That you're a beggar's child—we have the proofs! Deliver me to prison, and I produce them.
Ray. Wretch!
Pearl. Then it's you, dear Laura, have been wronged—while I ———
Laura. You are my sister still—whatever befalls!
Pearl. Oh, I'm so glad it's so! Ray won't want to marry me, now—at least, I hope so; for I know he loves you—he always loved you—and you will be happy together.
Ray. Pearl, what are you saying?
Pearl. Don't interrupt me! I mean every word of it. Laura, I've been very foolish, I know. I ought to have tried to reunite you—but there is time.
Ray. Dear Laura! Is there, indeed, still time? (She gives her hand.)
Byke. Allow me to suggest that a certain proposition I had the honor to submit has not yet been answered.
Ray. Release him. (Snorkey undoes his cords.)
Byke. Thank you—not so rough! Thank you.
Ray. Now, go—but remember, if you ever return to these parts you shall be tried, not only for this burglary, but for the attempt to kill that poor fellow.
Byke. Thank you. Good-bye. (To Snorkey.) Good-bye, my dear friend; overlook our little dispute, and write to me. (Aside.) They haven't caught Judas, and she shall make them pay handsomely for her silence, yet.
Peach. O Miss! O, such an accident—old Judas!
Laura and Byke. Well?
Peach. She was driving along the road away from here—just now, when her horse dashed close to the cliff and tumbled her down all of a heap. They've picked her up, and they tell me she is stone dead.
Byke. (Aside.) Dead! And carried her secret with her! All's up. I'll have to emigrate. (Aloud.) My friends, pardon my emotion—this melancholy event has made me a widower. I solicit your sympathies in my bereavement. [Exit L.
Ber. Go to Hoboken and climb a tree! I guess I'll follow him and see he don't pick up anything on his way out.
Snorkey. Well there goes a pretty monument of grief. Ain't he a cool 'un? If I ever sets up an ice cream saloon, I'll have him for head freezer.
Peach. O, Miss Laura, mayn't I live with you now, and never leave no more.
Laura. Yes, you shall live with, me as long as you please.
Snorkey. That won't be long if I can help it (Peach blushes.) Beg pardon. I suppose we'd better be going! The ladies must be tired Cap'n at this time of night.
Ray. Yes, it is night! It is night always for me. (Moving towards door L.)
Laura. (Placing one hand on his shoulder, taking his hand.) But there is a to-morrow. You see it cannot be dark forever.
Pearl. Hope for to-morrow, Ray.
Laura. We shall have cause to bless it, for it will bring the long sought sunlight of our lives.
Curtain.
R. Snorkey. Laura. Ray. Pearl. Peachblossom. L. H.