The Man from Home Part 16

PIKE. Good for you.

IVANOFF. I was able to do little for the cause, though I tried.

VASILI. How did you try?

IVANOFF. I transferred funds of the government to the Society of the Blue Fifty. Never one ruble for myself. [Strikes himself on the breast.]

It was for Russia's sake--not mine!

VASILI [sharply]. But you committed the great Russian crime of getting yourself caught?

IVANOFF. Through treachery. There was an Englishman who lived in Petersburg. He had contracts with the government--I thought he was my best friend. I had married in my student days in Paris--ah, it is the old story [bitterly]! I knew that this Englishman admired my wife; but I trusted him--as I trusted her--and he made my house his home. I had fifty thousand rubles in my desk to be delivered to my society. The police came to search; they found only me--but not my wife nor my English friend--nor the fifty thousand rubles! I went to Siberia. Now I search for those two.

VASILI [gravely]. Was it they who sent the police?

IVANOFF. After they had taken the money and were beyond the frontier themselves. That is all I have against them.

PIKE [gently]. Looks to me like it would be enough.

VASILI. Then, by your own confession, you are an embezzler and a revolutionist.

PIKE [going to VASILI quickly]. Why, the man's down; you wouldn't go back on him now.

[With a half chuckle.]

Besides, you've made yourself one of his confederates.

VASILI. Upon my soul, so I have.

[Bursts into laughter and lays his hands on PIKE'S shoulders.]

My friend, from my first sight of you in the hotel at Napoli I saw that you were a great man.

PIKE [grinning]. What are you doing, running for Congress?

VASILI [after a grave look at IVANOFF, turns to PIKE again]. I do not think that the carabiniere went away without suspicion.

IVANOFF. Suspicion! They will watch every exit from the hotel and its grounds. What can I do, until darkness--

PIKE [motioning toward the hotel]. Why, Doc's got the whole lower floor of this wing--you're his chauffeur--

VASILI [quickly, grimly]. I was about to suggest it. I have a room that can easily be spared to Professor Ivanoff.

IVANOFF [going to them, greatly touched]. My friends, G.o.d bless both of you!

[As he speaks he shakes hands with PIKE and turns to offer his hand to VASILI, who, apparently without noticing it, goes up toward the hotel.]

PIKE. Don't waste time talkin' about that. I shouldn't be surprised if you were hungry.

[Takes him by elbow and walks him to door of hotel.]

IVANOFF. I have had no food for a day.

VASILI [grimly]. My valet de chambre will attend to Professor Ivanoff's needs. No one shall be allowed to enter his room.

PIKE. And don't you go out of it, either.

VASILI. He shall not. This way.

[The three go into the hotel. Immediately on their disappearance LADY CREECH'S curtains are whisked aside; she pops out of the window with the suddenness of Punch, leans far out with her head upside down, at the risk of her neck, trying to watch them even after they have entered the hotel. Laughter of MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY heard at left. LADY CREECH waves her hand as if signalling in that direction and withdraws from window.]

[Enter HORACE and MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY from the garden, he carrying her parasol and looking into her eyes. She is laughing.]

[Enter LADY CREECH from the hotel, wildly excited.]

LADY CREECH. Have you seen my brother--where is Lord Hawcastle?

HORACE. On the other side of the hotel, Lady Creech; down there on the last terrace just as far as you can go.

[Exit LADY CREECH down left.]

HORACE. Ah, but you laugh at me, chere Comtesse!

MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [gently]. It is because I cannot believe you are always serious.

HORACE. Serious? Like a lady to her knight of old, set me some task to prove how serious I am. [Deliriously.] Anything!

MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY. Ah, gladly! Complete those odious settlement!

Overcome the resistance of this bad man who so trouble your sweet sister!

HORACE. You promise me when it is settled that I may speak to you [becomes suddenly nervous and embarra.s.sed]--that I may speak to you--

MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [sweetly]. Yes--speak to me--

HORACE. Speak as--as you must know I want to speak--as I hardly dare--

MADAME DE CHAMPIGNY [softly, her eyes upon the ground]. Ah, that shall be when you please, dear friend.

HORACE [almost choked with grat.i.tude]. Oh!

[He kisses her hand.]

[HAWCASTLE and LADY CREECH enter from the garden, LADY CREECH talking excitedly.]

[ALMERIC enters through the gates.]

LADY CREECH. I tell you I couldn't hear a word they said, they mumbled their words so. But upon my soul, Hawcastle, if I couldn't hear, didn't I _see_ enough?

HAWCASTLE. Upon my soul, I believe you did.