Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2050 page)

DR. D. (
aside
).

People will think that before you are a month older!

MID.

Suppose, again, that my friend died?

DR. D. (
aside
).

He
will
die.

MID.

And suppose I was absent from you at the time?

DR. D. (
aside
).

You will be absent to a dead certainty!

MID.

In that case, people hearing of a Mrs. Armadale, might think you were Allan’s widow.

DR. D. (
aside
).

And, in
that
case, she might claim the widow’s income, and I might take half of it. I couldn’t have described my own conspiracy in plainer terms!

MISS G. (
to
MID.).

Say no more. I see that it is necessary. I consent. (MID.
gratefully kisses her hand.
)

DR. D. (
cheerfully
).

Bless you, my children! What a comfort it is when lovers and parents understand each other! (
To
MISS G.) Is there anyone in the reading-room?

MISS G.

No one.

DR. D. (
aside
).

Now for Manuel!

(
He enters the reading-room.
)

MISS G. (
to
MID.)

Excuse me one moment! (
She follows the
DOCTOR
noiselessly. When he enters the reading-room, and turns to shut the door, he finds it already closed, and
MISS G.
confronting him.
MISS G.
addresses the
DOCTOR
with suppressed agitation.
) You have forced me into marrying him!

DR. D.

Forced you into marrying the man you love!

MISS G. (
in low, awestruck tones
).

Remember what I told you. My mother — the quarrel — the two brothers. Midwinter’s father was one of them, and I only know it now. I’m afraid! I’m afraid!

DR. D.

Superstition? In a cultivated mind like yours? My child, I am astonished at you!

MISS G.

It’s more than superstition, Doctor. I look back at my own past life — the guilty, miserable past. Midwinter knows nothing of it; Midwinter loves me. I am vilely deceiving him!

DR. D.

Answer me one question. Have you, or have you not, repented the past?

MISS G.

Sincerely, bitterly, Heaven knows!

DR. D.

A fault sincerely repented is a fault expunged from your life. Go back to Midwinter and make him happy!

MISS G.

Oh, Doctor! Doctor! I wish I could change consciences with
you!

(
She leaves the reading-room, closing the door after her, and rejoins
MIDWINTER. DR. D.
seats himself at the table, and begins to write.
)

MID. (
to
MISS G.).

My darling! we are alone at last.

MISS G. (
sadly
)

Have you no doubt of the future?

MID. (
putting his arm round her
).

Not the shadow of a doubt when I look at
you.

(
He takes her to a chair, and seats himself by her, with his arm round her. They talk in whispers.
DR. D.
speaks in the next room.
)

DR. D.

Manuel’s instructions. (
He reads to himself.
) “You are to go to Naples, and you are to wait there for the appearance of an English gentleman cruising in his yacht. The gentleman’s name is Armadale. You are to become acquainted with him, you are to make yourself indispensable to him, and you are to wait further instructions.” (
He pauses and speaks.
) Suppose there should be no time for further instructions? Suppose I risk it, and give Manuel a hint? (
He writes, and repeats what he writes.
) “Mr. Armadale is fond of the sea. The sea is the fertile cause of accidents. If Mr. Armadale should unfortunately meet with an accident” — (
he speaks the next words with a strong emphasis on them
) — ”move heaven and earth to save his precious life.” (
He folds the paper, and rises.
) That will do. Manuel will understand what “saving his precious life” means. Where is he now? I told him to wait among the trees, in case I wanted him. (
He goes to the window and waves his handkerchief.
MID.
speaks in the next room.
)

MID.

Say you love me!

MISS G. (
smiling
).

Again?

MID.

Again and again!

MISS G. (
passionately
).

I love you!

DR. D. (
at the reading-room window, in an under tone
).

Manuel!

MANUEL (
speaking softly outside
).

Here.

(
The next moment he appears at the window of the reading-room, entering from the right-hand side of the stage. He is dressed in a shabby pilot-coat buttoned up to the throat; he wears old blue trousers, with tarnished gold lace down the seam; a sailor’s hat on his head. Shabby as he is, he still retains the bearing of a gentleman. It is essential that he should not appear to the audience totally unworthy of
MISS GWILT’S
regard. The scene between the two is played throughout in an under tone.
)

DR. D. (
to
MANUEL).

Stay where you are in case of accidents. (
He glances at the partition door.
) And speak low. We are not alone.

MANUEL (
in a foreign accent
).

You want my services?

DR. D.

Yes.

MANUEL.

And you pay me?

DR. D.

Double what I promised you in London, if you are bold enough to do what I tell you.

MANUEL.

Bold enough? Is it serious, then?

DR. D.

Most serious! (
He give
MANUEL
the paper.
) There are your instructions, so far.

(MANUEL,
as he takes the paper, starts, looks over his left shoulder, and hurriedly climbs in at the window.
)

DR. D. (
alarmed
).

What are you about?

MANUEL.

Do you want me to be seen? Somebody outside! Somebody coming this way!

DR. D.

Hush! there are people in the next room. Read your instructions. Tell me if you understand them.

(
He lifts the curtain over the reading-room door, and looks in.
MANUEL
opens the paper, looks over it, and speaks to
DR. D.,
who is still watching through the window.
)

MANUEL.

One word about this. (
He reads from the instructions.
) “The sea is the fertile cause of accidents. If Mr. Armadale should unfortunately meet with an accident, move heaven and earth to save his precious life.” Does “save his precious life” mean, by the rule of contraries, “drown him like a dog”? (DR. D.
looks at him.
) Thank you. I see what it means in your face. Where is Mr. Armadale now?

(ALLAN
appears at the fishing-house door. The ringing of a bell is heard faintly in the distance.
)

DR. D. (
pointing through the window
).

There!

(MANUEL
attempts to look through the window.
DR. D.
holds him back until
ALLAN
appears more plainly in view.
)

ALLAN (
to
MISS G.
and
MIDWINTER).

The dinner-bell, my good friends! Midwinter, take Miss Gwilt to the house. I will follow with the Doctor.

(MIDWINTER
and
MISS GWILT
rise and go to the door.
ALLAN
advances, and looks about him for
DR. D.)

DR. D. (
to
MANUEL,
pointing out
ALLAN).

Now look at him!

MANUEL (
looking
).

Is that the man?

DR. D. (
dropping the window curtain
).

Yes!

ALLAN (
calling to
MID.
and
MISS G.).

I say! what has become of the Doctor?

MISS G.

The Doctor is writing letters in the reading-room.

(MISS G.
and
MID.
disappear.
ALLAN
crosses to the partition door, and knocks.
)

ALLAN.

Doctor!

DR. D. (
to
MANUEL,
who turns in terror to the back window
).

Wait here till the coast is clear. (
He opens the partition door, closes it behind him, and blandly confronts
ALLAN.) Yes, Mr. Armadale?

ALLAN.

Dinner is ready, Doctor. Come and make one of us. Come and see my new house.

DR. D. (
cordially
).

With the greatest pleasure, my dear sir! (
With a low bow, leaving
ALLAN
to pass out first.
) After you, Mr. Armadale!

ALLAN.

Nonsense! You go first.

DR. D.

I couldn’t think of it.

ALLAN.

Together, then? Will that do for you?

DR. D.

Delighted, I am sure! Shall we say arm in arm? (
He offers his arm to
ALLAN.)

ALLAN.

Oh! by all means! Arm in arm!

(
They go out together by the fishing-house door.
MANUEL
remains listening at the partition door.
)