GAUNT. Ay, daughter, but my soul—my lost soul! PEW (_rising on his elbow_). Rum? You’ve done me. For God’s sake, rum. (ARETHUSA _pours out a glass_, _which_ KIT _gives to him_.) Rum? This ain’t rum; it’s fire! (_With great excitement_.) What’s this? I don’t like rum? (_Feebly_.) Ay, then, I’m a dead man, and give me water. GAUNT. Now even his sins desert him. PEW (_drinking water_). Jack Gaunt, you’ve always been my rock ahead. It’s thanks to you I’ve got my papers, and this time I’m shipped for Fiddler’s Green. Admiral, we ain’t like to meet again, and I’ll give you a toast: Here’s Fiddler’s Green, and damn all lubbers! (_Seizing_ GAUNT’S _arm_.) I say—fair dealings, Jack!—none of that heaven business: Fiddler’s Green’s my port, now, ain’t it? GAUNT. David, you’ve hove short up, and God forbid that I deceive you. Pray, man, pray; for in the place to which you are bound there is no mercy and no hope. PEW. Ay, my lass, you’re black, but your blood’s red, and I’m all a-muck with it. Pass the rum, and be damned to you. (_Trying to sing_)— ‘Time for us to go, Time for us—’ (_He dies_.) GAUNT. But for the grace of God, there lies John Gaunt! Christopher, you have saved my child; and I, I, that was blinded with self-righteousness, have fallen. Take her, Christopher; but O, walk humbly! * * * * * CURTAIN MACAIRE A MELODRAMATIC FARCE IN THREE ACTS PERSONS REPRESENTED ROBERT MACAIRE. BERTRAND. DUMONT, Landlord of the _Auberge des Adrets_. CHARLES, a Gendarme, Dumont’s supposed son. GORIOT. THE MARQUIS, Charles’s Father. THE BRIGADIER of Gendarmerie. THE CURATE. THE NOTARY. A WAITER. ERNESTINE, Goriot’s Daughter. ALINE. MAIDS, PEASANTS (_Male and Female_), GENDARMES. The Scene is laid in the Courtyard of the _Auberge des Adrets_, on the frontier of France and Savoy. The time 1800. The action occupies an interval of from twelve to fourteen hours: from four in the afternoon till about five in the morning. * * * * * NOTE.—_The time between the acts should be as brief as possible_, _and the piece played_, _where it is merely comic_, _in a vein of patter_. ACT I. _The Stage represents the courtyard of the Auberge des Adrets_. _It is surrounded by the buildings of the inn_, _with a gallery on the first story_, _approached_, _C._, _by a straight flight of stairs_. _L. C._, _the entrance doorway_. _A little in front of this_, _a small grated office_, _containing business table_, _brass-bound cabinet_, _and portable cash-box_. _In front_, _R. and L._, _tables and benches_; _one_, _L._, _partially laid for a considerable party_. SCENE I