Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2054 page)

MANUEL.

Between this and to-morrow, Mr. Armadale, I will make the yacht do things she has never done yet.

MID.

May I ask how you know what the vessel will do before you have been to sea in her?

MANUEL.

It is a habit of mine, sir, to look into the future.

ALLAN.

Is there a moon to-night?

MANUEL.

No.

ALLAN.

We must keep a bright look-out. Don’t scruple to wake me if anything happens.

MANUEL.

If anything happens, Mr. Armadale, you may depend on my coming myself to your cabin door.

MID. (
to
MANUEL.)

Have you ever been employed as a sailing-master before?

MANUEL.

Never.

MID.

You were formerly, I think, an officer in the Brazilian Navy?

MANUEL.

A captain in the Brazilian Navy, if you please.

MID.

Will you excuse me if I ask whether you have preserved your captain’s commission?

MANUEL.

Poverty must learn, sir, to excuse everything. I know that my shabby coat is against me. I know that the world judges by outward appearance.

MID.

Stop a minute, Captain Manuel. Considering that we have all got eyes in our heads, and that the object of eyes is to see, it would be rather wonderful if we did
not
judge by outward appearances — at any rate to begin with. As to your coat, you must permit me to say that there are men who might be dressed in the finest broadcloth that ever loom produced, and whom I would not trust with sixpence for all that.

ALLAN (
looking at
MID.
in surprise
).

He’s out of temper! What for, I wonder? (
To
MANUEL.) This gentleman is my best and dearest friend. You won’t object to show him your testimonials, I am sure?

MANUEL.

Show! I request permission, sir, to
overwhelm
your friend with my testimonials.

ALLAN.

All right! all right! (
Aside.
)
He’s
losing his temper now!

MANUEL (
producing a bundle of papers tied with dirty ribbon, and addressing
MID.
with the air of an injured man
).

My testimonials! (
Holding up the ribbon and putting it to his lips.
) You may think this shabby. It is indescribably precious to me — it once bound a woman’s hair. Ha! what memories! I wipe away a tear, and hand you my captain’s commission. (MID.
carefully examines the commission.
)

ALLAN (
looking at
MANUEL).

What fun the fellow is! I wonder Midwinter can keep his countenance!

MANUEL (
to
MID.).

I wait, sir, for your objections. I pause, with an immovable sense of what is due to myself.

MID. (
handing back the commission
).

The commission is regular — I can make no objection to it.

MANUEL (
to
ALLAN).

Observe the effect of document Number One! Now for document Number Two. (
He hands it to
MID.) Testimonial of my capacity. Certificate from the Naval Bureau that I submitted to my lieutenant’s examination and triumphed. I pause for the second time!

MID. (
handing the paper back after examination
).

For the second time, I have no objection to make.

MANUEL.

You have nothing more to say?

MID.

Nothing.

MANUEL.

And this is English justice! One of us must blush for the other. Let it be
me!
(
To
ALLAN.) Mr. Armadale, the wind is fair, and your yacht awaits you ready for sea. (
He withdraws to the door.
)

ALLAN (
aside
).

The sooner I part them the better. (
Approaching
MIDWINTER,
and gaily offering his hand.
) Good-bye, messmate, for a couple of days. The wind is waiting for us, and you have seen the captain’s papers. (
He takes up his hat, and straps his opera-glass over his shoulder.
)

MID.

Wait a minute — wait! (
Aside.
) Stolen or forged, the fellow’s papers are beyond dispute. What am I to do?

MANUEL (
from the door
).

Do you sail to-day, Mr. Armadale, with the breeze, or do you wait in port for a calm?

ALLAN (
to
MID.)

Good-bye!

MID.

Stop! I’ll go down to the port and see you off.

ALLAN.

Bravo! come along!

MID.

I’ll follow you in five minutes. Mind you don’t sail before you see me.

ALLAN.

All right! Now, captain!

(
He goes out on the left.
)

MANUEL (
bowing ceremoniously to
MIDWINTER).

I have the honour, Sir, of wishing you a good morning, and a keener sense of human merit. (
He goes out after
ALLAN.)

MID. (
alone
).

In the name of heaven what am I to do? Allan has money with him — a large sum of money — and I saw him show it before two of the men in the cabin. If ever there were a set of ruffians on board a ship those ruffians are Allan’s crew. If ever I saw a man with scoundrel written on his face, Allan’s sailing-master is that man. My friend is going blindfold into danger, and going without ME! (
A pause.
) No! not without Me — cost what it may! (
Another pause.
) Oh, unsearchable Providence! has the time of atonement come at last? Am I — by saving Allan — to expiate my father’s crime? (MISS G.
opens the door of her room and looks in.
) My wife! what am I to say to her?

MISS G.

Has Mr. Armadale gone?

MID. (
struggling to compose himself
).

Yes.

MISS G. (
timidly
).

Did he go to the office with you?

MID. (
absently
).

The office?

MISS G.

The diligence office for Capua?

MID. (
aside
).

I have got my excuse! (
To his wife.
) No, no! Allan and I only met here at the door.

MISS G.

Has anything happened? You look —
 
—

MID. (
assuming cheerfulness
).

I look embarrassed, don’t I? I have bad news for you, Lydia; I must go to Capua alone.

MISS G.

Alone?

MID.

I have inquired about the accommodation. There is no hotel in which an English lady could pass the night.

MISS G.

Is that all? I care for no discomfort, darling, when I am with you. (MID.
looks uneasily at his watch.
) Why do you look at your watch?

MID.

If I go at once I shall catch the second Diligence, and I shall be all the sooner back again with you.

MISS G.

No, no! I can’t let you go without me! I am anxious — I am ill! Naples is killing me. Let us leave it to-morrow, and never see it again!

MID.

I will be back in time to start for Rome to-morrow night. You can settle everything for me before I return. (
He turns away to his writing-table, and speaks aside.
) Allan will be tired of waiting for me. (
Re-opens a drawer, takes out a key, and gives it to his wife.
) Here is the key of my desk. The bills are in it, the money is in it. Courage, my darling! Good-bye!

MISS G. (
with her arms round his neck
).

Oh, don’t go without me! — don’t go without me!

MID. (
disengaging himself, and placing her on a seat
).

Till to-morrow, Lydia — only till to-morrow! (
He hurries out on the left.
)

MISS G. (
rising, and calling after him
).

Come back! I want to speak to you. He has gone! Is there a purpose in his leaving me? Oh, no, no! I saw his eyes moisten, I felt his dear arms trembling round me when he said good-bye! Miserable creature that I am to suspect
him
of deceiving
me!
It’s Armadale’s fault! It is Armadale who makes me suspect my husband. Has he sailed in his yacht? No: I have not heard the gun fire yet. Shall we be away before he comes back? Yes; we start for Rome to-morrow night. (
A pause.
) It seems a strange time of day to be going to Capua! I wonder what time the Diligence leaves? Perhaps he may miss it — perhaps he may be obliged to come back. (
She rings the bell.
LOUISA
enters on the left.
) I want you to get me some information. Can you find out when the Diligence goes to Capua?

LOUISA.

The landlord is downstairs, ma’am. Perhaps he may know.

MISS G.

Ask the landlord. (LOUISA
goes out.
) Can my husband have deceived me? Has he seen some woman —
 
— ? Absurd! I am the one woman in the world to
him!
No one divides him with me but his friend — his hateful friend! (
She accidentally disarranges some of the things on the table.
) How awkward I am! I must make his table tidy again. (
Enter
LOUISA.)

LOUISA.

The Diligence to Capua, ma’am, goes at six in the morning.

MISS G. (
impatiently
).

You have mistaken me! I want to know about the Diligence in the afternoon.

LOUISA.

There is only one, ma’am — the Diligence that goes in the morning.

MISS G.

The landlord must be wrong!

LOUISA.