Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2053 page)

I am a lost woman! Armadale and my husband have gone different ways this morning. They will be together again before the day is out. What may this wretch not have told Armadale? What may Armadale not tell my husband? (
She turns furiously on
MANUEL.) Is it money you want? Have you come here to sell me your silence if I am rich, to betray me if I am poor? You have! I see it in your face!

MANUEL.

Pardon me! you see nothing but pulmonary consumption in my face.

MISS G.

Have you told Armadale?

MANUEL.

About what?

MISS G.

About the past time — the time when I was mad enough to listen to you, to believe in you, to love you. (
To herself.
) That cruel smile answers me, he
has
spoken! It was not for nothing that I suspected Armadale this morning. (
To
MANUEL.) Don’t speak to me, don’t drive me mad, give me time to think!

MANUEL.

With the greatest pleasure. (
He walks aside.
) I want time to think myself. I have not said one word about the past time to Armadale — I should have been a born idiot to do so. For his friend’s sake he would have kicked me out of his yacht. (
He looks round at
MISS G.) Shall I tell her I have said nothing? No! no! I shall leave her in her delusion. With this good result. She will stick at no sacrifice to keep Armadale and her husband apart! (
To
MISS G.) Have you done thinking, my dear? I have no concealments from
you.
I confess it. In the course of conversation I have told Mr. Armadale about you and about me.

MISS G. (
advancing on him furiously
).

Why did you tell him? In your own vile interests why did you betray me to
him?

MANUEL.

Don’t you see why? Did I not hear you say just now that Armadale and your husband might be together before the day was out? I speculate on that! It rests with you to part those two gentlemen before the day is out.

MISS G. (
bewildered
).

It rests with me?

MANUEL.

I am Armadale’s sailing-master, and the yacht is ready for sea.

MISS G. (
seizing the idea
).

Oh!!!

MANUEL.

The trial trip is to be for two days at least. Use your influence over your husband — who knows your influence, you tigress in petticoats, better than I do? Begone with your husband before Armadale comes back! The wind is fair. One word from me, and we are off with Armadale on board!

MISS G. (
wildly
).

You want money, and I have got none!

MANUEL (
pointing to the jewels she wears
).

Does a throat like yours want a brooch to set it off? You have a handsome bracelet there. I condemn that handsome bracelet! It distracts my attention from the prettiest wrist in the world!

MISS G. (
piteously
).

They are my husband’s keepsakes!

MANUEL.

If Armadale and your husband get together later in the day, and get talking about
me,
what sort of keepsakes will they be then?

MISS G. (
throwing her brooch and bracelet at him
).

Take them!

MANUEL (
catching them, and uttering a cry of pain
).

The devil take you and your temper! The pin of your brooch has pricked my thumb! (
Looking at his right hand thumb in serious alarm.
) Oh, heavens, I am bleeding! Slight injuries to people’s thumbs have been known to end in lockjaw. Look at it!

MISS G. (
to herself
).

I once trusted this abject wretch!

MANUEL.

You have thrown your miserable jewels at me as if I was a dog; you have wounded my feelings as well as my thumb. I insist on an apology — in the form of something else!

MISS G.

If I fetch my necklace, will it release me from the sight of you?

MANUEL.

Suppose you try. (MISS G.
goes into her room.
MANUEL
puts the jewels into his pocket, pauses, feeling in his pocket, produces and opens a letter.
) What is this? More instructions from Doctor Downward! I am here in my own little interests. Has the Doctor any reason to complain of me for that? Let us see. (
He reads.
) “Telegraph to me if the accident has happened at sea, and if that precious life has
not
been saved. One word — ’Drowned’ — will be enough. Keep your eye on Midwinter and his wife — and count on your reward from me.” It is easy enough for the Doctor to sit at home and write about Mr. Armadale’s “precious life.” But it is not so easy to make the accident that kills him. There
is
such a thing as capital punishment still left — in spite of the philanthropists. And
my
life is not to be trifled with! (
Puts back the letter, and looks impatiently towards
MISS GWILT’S
door.
) What a time she is! I have no patience with a woman who does’nt know where she puts her things! (
He takes up the newspaper from the table.
) The
Leghorn Gazette?
Any news from Leghorn? What is this paragraph marked in ink? “Foundering of the brig
Speranza?
” (
He reads the paragraph eagerly, and starts to his feet.
) Here is the accident, ready made to my hands! Ten minutes work at sea to-night, will let the water into the yacht. Five minutes more, and the boat may be lowered. A turn of my hand, and Armadale will be locked into his cabin. (
He walks to and fro, fanning himself with the newspaper.
) I am in a fever when I think of it! Another vessel will spring a leak to-night, and another owner will be drowned on board!

(MISS G.
re-enters with the necklace.
MANUEL,
who has kept the newspaper in his hand thus far, now puts it back on the table.
)

MISS G. (
handing him the necklace
).

Leave me. Stop! How do I know, now you have got my jewels —
 
— ?

MANUEL.

That I shall perform my part of the bargain? Look out of your window there, with your opera-glass in your hand.

MISS G.

What do you mean?

MANUEL.

Your window looks on the sea. When the yacht sails you will hear a gun fire. When you hear the gun, go to your window. I shall be at the helm — and I will take care that you see Armadale on board. Does that satisfy you?

MISS G.

Yes.

MANUEL.

Have you anything more to say to me? Suppose Armadale finds his way to your husband in the future?

MISS G.

He won’t find his way to my husband. I shall take care to keep them apart.

MANUEL.

Chance may bring them together in spite of your care. Would it be worth something more if I brought you news —
 
— ?

MISS G.

What news?

MANUEL.

Suppose an accident happened to Mr. Armadale? Ah, my tigress, can you prevent an accident?

MISS G.

You villain! Are you tempting me to a crime?

MANUEL.

Is a man in my state of health capable of committing a crime? Vessels have sprung leaks before now. Owners of vessels have sometimes been drowned by accident on board. Think of it, my dear. (MISS G.
recoils from him.
) Hush! I hear footsteps on the stairs!

(
Enter
MIDWINTER
and
ALLAN
on the left.
)

MISS G.

My husband! and Armadale with him.

MANUEL (
aside to her
).

Leave it to me!

ALLAN.

Here is the Captain, after all!

MID. (
distrustfully
).

We have been looking for you, Captain Manuel.

MISS G. (
aside, glancing in terror at
MID.).

There is a change in his voice!

MANUEL (
to
MID.).

The servant showed me in, Sir, supposing Mr. Armadale to be here. This lady was so polite as to say that I might wait a few minutes on the chance of his coming back.

(MIDWINTER,
with his eyes fixed distrustfully on
MANUEL,
acknowledges the explanation by a formal bow.
)

MISS G. (
aside, stealing another look at
MID.).

He doesn’t even look at me!

ALLAN.

All right, captain — all right! How is the wind?

(
He takes
MANUEL
aside up the stage.
MID.
looks anxiously after them.
)

MISS G. (
aside
).

Armadale has told him! I shall die at his feet!

MID. (
remembering his wife, and turning to her
).

I beg your pardon, my love. How pale you look!

ALLAN (
coming down again
).

Midwinter!

MISS G. (
aside, with a sigh of relief
).

Safe — so far!

ALLAN (
to
MID.)

Famous news! the wind is fair, and the yacht is ready to sail.

MID.

One moment, Allan. (
Turning to his wife.
) You are not ill, Lydia, are you?

MISS G.

No — no! not ill! A little faint, that’s all. I don’t think Naples agrees with me.

MID.

We will leave Naples next week. Go to your own room, my darling, and rest a little.

ALLAN (
stopping
MISS G.
as she turns to go
).

Good bye, Mrs. Midwinter, for two days.

MISS G.

A pleasant voyage, Mr. Armadale. (
Aside.
) How he looked at me when he said “for two days!” (
She goes into her own room.
)

ALLAN.

I wish you were coming with us, Midwinter; but I must not ask a newly-married man to part from his wife. (
To
MANUEL.) If the wind holds we ought to be clear of the bay before sunset. Between this and to-morrow, captain, I expect you to make the yacht do great things.