Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2049 page)

The game’s lost!

(
He turns his back on the rest, and stands absorbed in his own thoughts.
)

MAJOR M. (
to
ALLAN).

I don’t give you back the confidence which you have forfeited, Mr. Armadale. I offer you a chance of recovering it, on certain terms. I require you to abstain, for one year, from all communication with my daughter. If, at the end of that time, you and she are of the same mind, I will receive you as a suitor for Miss Milroy’s hand. (ALLAN
at a sign from
MISS M.
bows in silent submission to
MAJOR M.’S
proposal. The
MAJOR
gives
MISS M.
his arm.
) Come, Neelie!

MISS G. (
stepping forward
).

One moment, Major Milroy. (
The
MAJOR
waits.
) Your daughter has failed in politeness to me on more than one occasion, and I have excused her in consideration of her youth. But my forbearance has its limits. When you questioned me just now you looked and spoke as if you doubted me.

MAJOR M.

I only doubt, Miss Gwilt, whether I might not have placed the care of my daughter in more experienced hands.

MISS G. (
haughtily
).

I will afford you the opportunity, sir, of trying the experiment. After what has passed, I beg to withdraw from the position which I hold in your home.

MAJOR M.

As you please, Miss Gwilt. Now, Neelie! (
The
MAJOR
gives his daughter his arm.
)

MISS M. (
in a whisper as they pass
ALLAN).

Submit, for my sake!

(
The
MAJOR
and
MISS M.
go out.
ALLAN
follows them to the door, and looks after them.
MIDWINTER
watches his opportunity of speaking to
MISS GWILT.)

MISS G. (
to the
DOCTOR).

I should have died if I had not spoken! He looked at me as if I was his servant! (
The
DOCTOR
bows absently. Failing to rouse him from his thoughts,
MISS GWILT
turns away.
MIDWINTER
advances to meet her. They walk aside together, while the
DOCTOR speaks his next words. ALLAN
turns from the door, and joins them when the
DOCTOR
is silent.
)

DR. D. (
left alone in front
).

She has lost the last chance of marrying the heir of Thorpe-Ambrose! The handling of Armadale’s money means the handling of his window’s income
now.
I must employ Captain Manuel. I am forced back on a crime.

(
He remains absorbed in his thoughts.
)

ALLAN (
joining
MIDWINTER
and
MISS G.)

What am I to do now? I have seen the last of my darling Neelie for a whole year. I can’t stop here after that — the place is hateful to me! Let’s go to Cowes to-morrow, Midwinter, and hire the first yacht that’s ready for sea. (DR. D.
is roused by
ALLAN’S
voice. He looks round and listens.
) We’ll cruise in the Mediterranean, and get through the time in that way. I’ll go and tell the servants to pack our things and shut up the house. (
He is going;
MIDWINTER
stops him.
)

MID.

Wait a little, Allan. I have something to say to you first.

ALLAN.

All right. I’ll be back in ten minutes. (
He goes out.
MIDWINTER
and
MISS G.
remain at the back, talking together.
)

DR. D. (
still pursuing his thoughts alone in front
).

Armadale goes to the Mediterranean, and Midwinter marries Miss Gwilt; the three meet abroad — and Armadale dies! On that chain of events my fortunes hang! (
He pauses, and looks round at
MIDWINTER.) The first question to settle is the question of Midwinter. Can I rely on what his father’s executor told me? Is he really the other Armadale’s son?

MISS G. (
hurriedly leaving
MIDWINTER,
and addressing the
DOCTOR).

Midwinter is going to speak to you. Don’t answer him till you have spoken to me.

MID. (
approaching
DR. D.
on the other side
).

Dr. Downward, you stand in the place of a father to Miss Gwilt. She has resigned her situation in Major Milroy’s house. In your presence I offer her a home of her own — I ask her to be my wife.

DR. D. (
looking
MIDWINTER
steadily in the face
).

In which of your two names do you ask her — Mr. Allan Armadale, the second?

(MIDWINTER
starts back, thunderstruck.
)

MISS G. (
looking at the
DOCTOR
in astonishment
).

What do you mean?

MID. (
recovering himself
).

I don’t understand you, sir.

DR. D.

Don’t let us waste time and words. You are cousin and namesake of Allan Armadale, of Thorpe-Ambrose, and you have some reason of your own for concealing it which is unknown to
me.
Your secret is safe, sir, in my hands.

MID.

Safe! You have just revealed my secret to Miss Gwilt. I insist on knowing why!

DR. D.

You shall hear directly. (
To
MISS G.,
signing to her privately to go into the reading-room.
) I have a letter to write. Can you find me pen, ink, and paper in the reading-room?

MISS G.

Certainly. (
Aside to the
DR.) Decide on nothing till I come back. (
She goes into the reading-room. The
DR.
speaks with
MIDWINTER. MISS G.
continues, speaking to herself.
) The other Armadale’s son! Two of them in the second generation, as there were two in the first; and I, the child of the one accomplice in that story of treachery and murder, I stand here, saved by a miracle from suicide, saved to know them both! (
She pauses, and absently arranges the writing materials.
)

DR. D. (
continuing the conversation with
MIDWINTER).

Just so! just so! You propose to marry my adopted daughter. What are your means of supporting a wife?

MID.

I have an income of my own — four hundred a year.

DR. D.

Nothing in these days!

MID.

I might add to it. In my happier moments I have aspired to win fame and fortune by my pen. Don’t laugh at my ambition.

DR. D.

I can help your ambition. A new daily paper has started in London, and I am one of the proprietors. I might get you tried as occasional correspondent.

MID. (
delighted
).

Oh, Doctor!

DR. D.

Are you willing to go abroad? Would you object to Italy — say Naples?

MID.

Certainly not. But you forget Miss Gwilt.

DR. D.

I am thinking of Miss Gwilt. If you go to Naples your wife goes with you.

MID. (
amazed
).

You consent!

DR. D.

Hush!

(MISS G.
enters from the reading-room.
)

MISS G.

The writing materials are ready for you, Doctor.

DR. D.

Thank you, my dear. (
To
MID.) You asked me just now why I revealed your secret to this lady. She knows your name, because she has a right to know it. You have my full consent to make her your wife.

MISS G. (
to the
DOCTOR,
reproachfully
).

Have you forgotten what I told you?

DR. D. (
coolly
).

Completely. (
He walks aside.
)

MISS G. (
in distress and embarrassment
).

What can I say?

MID. (
in a whispter
).

Say you love me!

MISS G. (
losing her self-control as
MIDWINTER
looks at her
).

You know I love you!

DR. D. (
returning to them and addressing
MIDWINTER).

One word more on the subject of your name. You must lawfully marry my adopted child. In plainer words, you must marry her in your own name.

MID.

In the name of Allan Armadale?

DR. D.

In the name of Allan Armadale, and in my presence as a witness.

MID. (
appealing to
MISS G.).

May the marriage be private?

MISS G.

I should prefer it in private.

MID. (
to
DR. D.).

I will marry Miss Gwilt in my own name, and in your presence as a witness.

DR. D.

What about the name when you are man and wife?

MID. (
earnestly
).

I must not, I dare not, acknowledge my own name. While Allan Armadale, of Thorpe-Ambrose, lives, it must be concealed from him and from everyone. (
To
MISS G.) I will tell you why, darling, when we are married. In the meantime, can you live, for my sake, under the name that I have assumed?

MISS G. (
hesitating
).

Your request takes me by surprise.

MID.

Look at it as a matter of convenience only. If we passed in the world by the name that is my friend’s as well as mine, think of the misunderstanding to which it might lead.

DR. D. (
aside, at the reading-room door, with an incontrollable burst of surprise
).

He is blundering blindfold on the very purpose that I have in view!

MID. (
continuing to
MISS G.).

Suppose Allan happened to leave this place a single man?

DR. D. (
aside
).

He
will
leave it a single man!

MID.

And suppose a Mrs. Armadale was heard of afterwards? People might think you had married Allan instead of me.