Carlyon Sahib Part 32

ADENE.

If you would allow it, I would like to see her.

RHEINHARDT.

[_After a pause._] Very well; I also wish you to see her. But [_deliberately_] you have at present no material for thinking about her--one way or the other. [ADENE _starts_.] I will give you some. When first I heard of Steinmetz's experimentations, and saw his mistakes, I said, "If I had the right a.s.sistant, I could save Adene." But I had him not. I wanted--ah, so many things! You will not understand: a doctor who should be also a nurse, who should know my ways--and more. There was just one person, but she was just the one person I could not ask. No. I was too angry.

ADENE.

Then how did she come?

RHEINHARDT.

She came to me herself, suddenly, in London, just as I am starting. She was all pale, with her eyes--she had had some great struggle.

ADENE.

Her father!

RHEINHARDT.

[_Waving down the interruption._] I know not what it was, but it was something. And when she entered at the door, I said, "Here it is come at last; he will be saved!" And he is! [_Rises._] There is your material for thinking! And if you do not know what she is, all the time you are unconscious, all the time you are in the dark, there are others who do.

[_Warming up._] There are others who----

ADENE.

Oh, Rheinhardt, let me see her!

RHEINHARDT.

[_Sharply._] You do not deserve to see her. [_With resignation._] Bah!

what does it matter? I will send her to you. [_At door._] Old Rheinhardt has his work. [_Exit_ RHEINHARDT, _up_.

[ADENE _walks to and fro, thinking_.

_Enter_ SELIM, _and approaches_ ADENE, _who turns away from him, saying_:

ADENE.

Not now, Selim.

[SELIM _turns back and is going off when his eye rests on the knife; he hovers over it, but draws back as_ ADENE _turns, and exit_.

VOICE OF RHEINHARDT INSIDE THE HOUSE.

There! He is on the veranda.

[ADENE _goes up to door_ (C.) _with hands outstretched; to him enter_ VERA _and takes both his hands_.

ADENE.

It is really you! [_Leads her down._] And you have been by me all this time?

VERA.

[_With attempted lightness._] It did seem rather absurd, didn't it? to keep me away from you, when we were such old friends.

ADENE.

Friends! [_Earnestly._] All the way out to Bhojal there were two thoughts with me always: "I love Vera Carlyon; I am presently going to die." I had nothing to give; only a little broken end of life. But I said, "That at least shall be hers. I will work for her these last months; I will pile up my little monument to her father's greatness, and die building it."

VERA.

Go on! You found it was the monument of his shame!

ADENE.

No, no! Not shame: greatness, but greatness so terribly dashed----

VERA.

You can still say that? Oh, thank you, thank you!

ADENE.

Oh, Vera--when the first shock of my discoveries came, it almost maddened me. I mistrusted every one!

VERA.

I know. I have been through that.

ADENE.

Vera, I mistrusted _you_! [VERA _shrinks_.] I thought you knew the whole story and tried to screen him.

VERA.

No, not all! Not all!

[_Murmuring to herself, so as scarcely to break his speech._

ADENE.

I gnashed my teeth inwardly and raged against you. [VERA _draws back from him, shrinking_.] You can't forgive me?

VERA.

I have nothing to forgive.