Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2023 page)

Wal. (taking her hand).
Go where I may, we will never be parted again!

Mr. K. (to
WALTER,
aside).
I wish to speak to you when the ladies have left the room.

Wal. (to
LAURA). Go with Marian. Rest, Laura, rest!

(He kisses her hand.
MARIAN
takes her out on the left. The Chambermaid follows them.
WALTER, PESCA,
and
MR. KYRLE
resume their places at the table.)

Mr. K.
Mr. Hartright, let us begin by looking facts in the face. You have claimed the right to assert Lady Glyde’s identity, in the presence of the tenantry on her uncle’s estate; and the tenantry have decided against you. Will you let me — as your professional adviser — help you to understand your position? May I tell you plainly why you have failed?

Pesca.
Hear him, Walter, for your own sake.

Wal. (controlling himself).
Speak, sir.

Mr. K.
In the first place, you have damaged your own case at starting —
 
—

Wal.
How?

Mr. K.
You declare that Miss Halcombe discovered Lady Glyde imprisoned in the lunatic asylum under Anne Catherick’s name —
 
—

Wal.
Well?

Mr. K.
What course do you and Miss Halcombe take on making that alleged discovery? Do you appeal to the proprietor of the asylum? Do you employ lawful and honest means of proving the lady’s identity, and claiming her release? No! you bribe a nurse to be false to the trust placed in her, and to let the patient escape.

Wal.
Could we leave her to wait the slow remedy of the law? Could we leave her, with her mind already shaken, to lose her senses in the asylum?

Pesca (to
MR. KYRLE). Oh no! Surely, sir, they could not do that?

Mr. K.
I don’t say they could. I only say that their own natural proceeding throws suspicion on their own case at starting.

Pesca (to
WALTER). That is true.

Wal. (impatiently).
True or not, Laura’s personal statement ought to have satisfied everybody.

Mr. K.
Ought it? What
is
her statement? She says she was decoyed to London by a false telegram. She says she was met by the count at the station, and taken to a strange house, on the pretence that Miss Halcombe had returned to London, and was waiting there to see her. She says that she only saw two men (both strangers), who put extraordinary questions to her — that she became alarmed, and turned faint — that the smelling salts and the water supplied to her were both medicated — that she lost her senses — and that she came to herself in the asylum, with Anne Catherick’s clothes on her, placed there under Anne Catherick’s name.

Wal.
All true!

Mr. K.
And none of it proved to be true. What does Count Fosco say on his side? He appeals to the certificate of death. Evidence! He appeals to the old nurse from Limmeridge, who came to London to perform the last offices — and who recognised the body. Evidence! He appeals to the proprietor of the asylum — a man of high character — who identifies his former patient. Evidence! You declare that the witnesses are deceived by the likeness between the two women. You assert that it is not Lady Glyde, but Anne Catherick, who lies buried in Limmeridge churchyard. What proof do you produce in support of that assertion? Your own conviction — nothing more!

Wal.
What proof
can
I produce?

Mr. K. (rising).
Produce evidence which does not depend on your assertion or Miss Halcombe’s. Produce evidence which absolutely proves that Lady Glyde was alive in Hampshire, the day after the doctor’s certificate declares her to have died in London. Get proof of
that
— proof in person or proof in writing — and you win your case.

Wal. (rising).
I
will
get it!

Pesca.
How?

(MARIAN
appears at the entrance on the left.)

Mr. K.
How — indeed! All
my
experience fails to show me. Mr. Hartright, the struggle, as I told you from the first, is a hopeless one. Give it up.

Wal.
Never! (MARIAN
advances a little.)

Pesca (to
WALTER —
rising as he speaks).
Think of what you risk if you go on!

Wal.
Come what may of it, I
will
go on!

Mar. (placing herself by his side).
Come what may of it, I go with him! (WALTER
presses
MARIAN’S
hand.

Pesca.
Miss Halcombe!

Mr. K.
May you both succeed! I can say no more.

(He gathers up the papers; bows to
MISS HALCOMBE;
and leaves them. At the right side entrance, he is met by a groom in livery, with a letter in his hand.)

The Groom.
I beg your pardon, sir. Is Miss Halcombe here?

Mr. K. (pointing to
MARIAN). There is Miss Halcombe.

(He goes out. The Groom advances; gives the letter to
MARIAN;
retires to the back, and waits.)

Mar. (opening the letter).
From Count Fosco! I decline to receive it.

(She turns to give the letter back to the Servant.
WALTER
stops her.)

Wal.
Let me look at it. (MARIAN
gives him the letter. He runs his eye over it, considers for a moment, and addresses the Servant.)
No answer.
(The Servant goes out.
WALTER
turns to
MARIAN.) Have you left Laura better?

Mar.
I have left her sleeping — I came here to tell you so. Do you wish me to go?

Wal.
You shall decide for yourself. You heard what I said to the servant. Now hear the count’s letter. (He reads the letter.) “Admirable woman! A word to compose your mind for the future. After the decision of today, you have nothing to fear from me — on these conditions, that you silence Mr. Hartright, and that you remain in retirement. The fair companion of your retreat shall not be molested. The proprietor of the asylum has no wish to risk another scandal by receiving his patient again. Let me hear, dear lady, that you accept the terms of peace. If the servant fails to bring a written reply, I will assume that you offer me the privilege of receiving my answer from yourself. — FOSCO.”

Mar. (astonished).
You have sent him the message which will bring him here!

Wal. (calmly).
I want him here.

Mar.
Why?

Wal.
The writer of this letter is the man who met Lady Glyde at the terminus, on her arrival in London. The count can prove our case — and the count
shall
prove it!

Mar.
Walter!!!

Wal.
Leave me before the count comes. Leave me with my friend — here.

Pesca.
With me?

Wal.
Alone — with you.
(He takes
MARIAN’S
hand, and leads her towards the left entrance.)
I am not groping my way in the dark, Marian — I am acting on deliberate conviction. Keep Laura quiet; let her suspect nothing. (MARIAN
goes out, turning at the last moment to look anxiously after
WALTER. WALTER
returns to
PESCA,
and abruptly questions him.)
Have you ever seen Count Fosco before to-day?

Pesca (starting).
I have seen him once before — in London.

Wal.
Did he see you?

Pesca.
No.

Wal.
Do you think he saw you at the Inquiry, this morning?

Pesca.
I was lost in the crowd. It is impossible he could have seen me.

Wal.
I want him to see you. In my presence.

Pesca.
You have some reason for this!

Wal.
Have you forgotten the churchyard at Old Welmingham, and the letter from Italy which dashed your spirits for the whole morning?

Pesca (alarmed).
What do you know about my letter?

Wal.
Only what you told me. It came from the secret Political Society, which you joined years since in Italy, and it addressed you on private affairs.

Pesca (more and more uneasy).
Well?

Wal.
Well — I know the count to be an Italian. I have heard that he is also reported to be a Spy. I want to see if — in either of those two characters —
he
knows
you.

Pesca (distressed).
Ask me anything else, Walter! I cannot do this.

(He attempts to leave the room.
WALTER
stops him.)

Wal.
I ask you to do it, in the name of our friendship. Do you refuse me?

Pesca (reluctantly).
You know I cannot refuse you!

Wal. (pressing his hand).
I hear some one coming. If it is the count, keep your back turned on him until I call to you.

(PESCA
retires to the window, and stands looking out.
FOSCO
appears on the right. He suspiciously notices
PESCA,
who stands with his back towards
FOSCO —
then sees
WALTER,
and approaches him.)

Fosco (with grave politeness).
Permit me to explain my intrusion, sir. I am here to see Miss Halcombe.

Wal.
Miss Halcombe declines to see you.

Fosco.
The lady owes me an answer to a letter of mine.