Plays of William E. Henley and R.L. Stevenson Part 19

(JEAN WATT _is heard singing without two bars of_ '_Wanderin' Willie_,'

_by way of signal_.)

LESLIE. What is that?

BRODIE. A signal.

LESLIE. What does it mean?

BRODIE. Danger to me; there is someone coming.

LESLIE. Danger to you?

BRODIE. Some one is coming. What are you going to do with me? (_A knock at the door_.)

LESLIE (_after a pause_). Sit down. (_Knocking_.)

BRODIE. What are you going to do with me?

LESLIE. Sit down. (BRODIE _sits in darkest part of stage_. LESLIE _opens door_, _and admits_ LAWSON. _Door open till end of Act_.)

SCENE V

BRODIE, LAWSON, LESLIE

LAWSON. This is an unco' time to come to your door; but eh, laddie, I couldna bear to think o' ye sittin' your lane in the dark.

LESLIE. It was very good of you.

LAWSON. I'm no very fond of playing hidee in the dark mysel'; and noo that I'm here-

LESLIE. I will give you a light. (_He lights the candles_. _Lights up_.)

LAWSON. G.o.d A'michty! William Brodie!

LESLIE. Yes, Brodie was good enough to watch with me.

LAWSON. But he gaed awa' . . . I dinna see . . . an' Lord be guid to us, the window's open!

LESLIE. A trap we laid for them: a device of Brodie's.

BRODIE (_to_ LAWSON). Set a thief to catch a thief. (_Pa.s.sing to_ LESLIE, _aside_.) Walter Leslie, G.o.d will reward. (JEAN _signals again_.)

LAWSON. I dinna like that singin' at siccan a time o' the nicht.

BRODIE. I must go.

LAWSON. Not one foot o' ye. I'm ower glad to find ye in guid hands.

Ay, ye dinna ken how glad.

BRODIE (_aside to_ LESLIE). Get me out of this. There's a man there will stick at nothing.

LESLIE. Mr. Lawson, Brodie has done his shift. Why should we keep him?

(JEAN _appears at the door_, _and signs to_ BRODIE.)

LAWSON. Hoots! this is my trade. That's a bit o' 'Wanderin' Willie.'

I've had it before me in precognitions; that same stave has been used for a signal by some o' the very warst o' them.

BRODIE (_aside to_ LESLIE). Get me out of this. I'll never forget to-night. (JEAN _at door again_.)

LESLIE. Well, good-night, Brodie. When shall we meet again?

LAWSON. Not one foot o' him. (JEAN _at door_.) I tell you, Mr. Leslie-

SCENE VI

_To these_, JEAN

JEAN (_from she door_). Wullie, Wullie!

LAWSON. Guid guide us, Mrs. Watt! A dacent wumman like yoursel'!

Whatten a time o' nicht is this to come to folks' doors?

JEAN (_to_ BRODIE). Hawks, Wullie, hawks!

BRODIE. I suppose you know what you've done, Jean?

JEAN. I _had_ to come, Wullie, he wadna wait another minit. He wad have come himsel'.

BRODIE. This is my mistress.

LAWSON. William, dinna tell me nae mair.

BRODIE. I have told you so much. You may as well know all. That good man knows it already. Have you issued a warrant for me . . . yet?

LAWSON. No, no, man: not another word.

BRODIE, (_pointing to the window_). That is my work. I am the man.

Have you drawn the warrant?

LAWSON (_breaking down_). Your father's son!

LESLIE (_to_ LAWSON). My good friend! Brodie, you might have spared the old man this.

BRODIE. I might have spared him years ago; and you and my sister, and myself. I might . . . would G.o.d I had! (_Weeping himself_.) Don't weep, my good old friend; I was lost long since; don't think of me; don't pity me; don't shame me with your pity! I began this when I was a boy.