The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. StevensonStevenson, Robert Louis
General
The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Drama
PEW (_sotto voce_). All snug. (_Coming down_.) So that was you, my
young friend Christopher, as shot by me on the road; and so you was hot
foot after old Pew? Christopher, my young friend, I reckon I’ll have the
bowels out of that chest, and I reckon you’ll be lagged and scragged for
it. (_At these words_ ARETHUSA _locks the door_, _and takes the key_.)
What’s that? All still. There’s something wrong about this room. Pew,
my ’art of oak, you’re queer to-night; brace up, and carry off. Where’s
the tool? (_Producing knife_.) Ah, here she is; and now for the chest;
and the gold; and rum—rum—rum. What! Open? . . . old clothes, by God! . . .
He’s done me; he’s been before me; he’s bolted with the swag; that’s
why he ran: Lord wither and waste him forty year for it! O Christopher,
if I had my fingers on your throat! Why didn’t I strangle the soul out
of him? I heard the breath squeak in his weasand; and Jack Gaunt pulled
me off. Ah, Jack, that’s another I owe you. My pious friend, if I was
God Almighty for five minutes! (GAUNT _rises and begins to pace the
stage like a quarterdeck_, _L._) What’s that? A man’s walk. He don’t
see me, thank the blessed dark! But it’s time to slip, my bo. (_He
gropes his way stealthily till he comes to Gaunt’s table_, _where he
burns his hand in the candle_.) A candle—lighted—then it’s bright as
day! Lord God, doesn’t he see me? It’s the horrors come alive. (GAUNT
_draws near and turns away_.) I’ll go mad, mad! (_He gropes to the
door_, _stopping and starting_.) Door. (_His voice rising for the first
time_, _sharp with terror_.) Locked? Key gone? Trapped! Keep off—keep
off of me—keep away! (_Sotto voce again_.) Keep your head, Lord have
mercy, keep your head. I’m wet with sweat. What devil’s den is this? I
must out—out! (_He shakes the door vehemently_.) No? Knife it is
then—knife—knife—knife! (_He moves with the knife raised towards_ GAUNT,
_intently listening_, _and changing his direction as_ GAUNT _changes his
position on the stage_.)
ARETHUSA (_rushing to intercept him_). Father, father, wake!
GAUNT. Hester, Hester! (_He turns_, _in time to see_ ARETHUSA _grapple_
PEW _in the centre of the Stage_, _and_ PEW _force her down_.)
ARETHUSA. Kit! Kit!
PEW (_with the knife raised_). Pew’s way!
SCENE IV
_To these_, KIT
(_He leaps through window_, _R._, _and cuts_ PEW _down_. _At the same
moment_, GAUNT, _who has been staring helplessly at his daughter’s
peril_, _fully awakes_.)
GAUNT. Death and blood! (KIT, _helping_ ARETHUSA, _has let fall the
cutlass_. GAUNT_ picks it up and runs on_ PEW.) Damned mutineer, I’ll
have your heart out! (_He stops_, _stands staring_, _drops cutlass_,
_falls upon his knees_.) God forgive me! Ah, foul sins, would you blaze
forth again? Lord, close your ears! Hester, Hester, hear me not! Shall
all these years and tears be unavailing?
ARETHUSA. Father, I am not hurt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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