NEW. Murder? no indeed. “All's fair in love and war.” Are we not enemies? Is he not the invader of the sacred soil that was my birthplace? Has he not won the heart of the woman I once loved? That affection is now dead, and hatred has risen from the ashes. She scorned me once, and I shall not rest until her happiness is wrecked. GIBBS. Then that explains your treachery towards her brother, Roger Carruth. (DOR. _leans forward; listening_.) NEW. What do you know of Roger Carruth? The world looks upon him as a criminal; he is beyond recall and as good as dead. GIBBS (_looking at him steadily_). You are sure? NEW. Yes, I am confident of that. GIBBS. And the family; do they not suspect? NEW. Suspect? not much; they are too simple for that. You are still in the colonel's regiment? GIBBS. Yes. What are your orders? NEW. Are you at any time placed as sentinel near the colonel's quarters? GIBBS. Yes, any night may find me there. NEW. Well, I must take my chances. To inquire after the colonel's health is sufficient excuse for my appearance in camp at any time. The colonel has given me a standing invitation. GIBBS. Which you will have no hesitation in accepting, I see. NEW. What time are you placed there on guard? GIBBS. Just before taps. NEW. Good, just the thing. After taps will be the time. Lights out, everything quiet. Can I depend upon you, Gibbs? GIBBS. You have my word, sir. NEW. Ha, ha! word? do you think that yours is worth anything? GIBBS. Sometime I hope it will be. NEW. Remember, you owe much to me. Should you turn traitor, your reckoning will be a sorry one. GIBBS. I shall not forget all that you have done for me. Some day I will pay it back with interest. (DOR. _hides_; GIBBS _exit_ C.) NEW. I wonder if I can trust him? He seems docile enough; but sometimes I fancy there's a look in his eye—pshaw! what nonsense. Newcomb, my boy, a clever trick, a bold scheme; but you will win it, never fear. (_Exit_ NEW., C.) DOR. (_frightened, appears from behind portière_). What do I hear? A scheme to take the colonel's life, and by his best friend too. (_Goes to window._) There he goes, oh, the hypocrite. Now I know why I hate him so. With all his fine manners, I have not been deceived. Ugh! I hate even to shake hands with him. Oh dear, if I were only a man, that I might be near the colonel. Whom shall I tell? Who will help me? Ruth must not know, she has enough to bear. (_Goes to mantel and takes_ ROGER'S _picture; music_.) They call me gay, Roger, frivolous and heartless. Perhaps I am, but if they could only look down deep into my heart, they would find the love for you, burning a strong and steadfast flame. (_Places picture on mantel and stands looking at it._) O, Roger, why did you leave me? We all believed in your innocence and could have helped you bear the burden, which now alone must be so heavy. Oh, if you were only here to help me now. (_Bows head on hands and stands weeping; music ceases. Enter_ BIJAH _and_ POLLY.)