Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2058 page)

To the lawyer’s.

(
He goes out with
MISS M. MISS G.
begins to revive. The DOCTOR looks round him.
)

DR. D. (
to
MISS G.).

They have left us. Shall I raise you in the chair?

MISS G. (
faintly
).

Yes. (DR. D.
raises her in the chair.
) Did I hear it? Did I dream it? Midwinter? My husband?

DR. D.

Your husband is saved from the wreck — saved to claim you, after you have declared yourself to be the widow of his friend! There is but one chance for us — we must stick to our story now.

MISS G.

Take me away! Hide me from him, before he comes back!

DR. D.

Hide you? My letter will be in the hands of Armadale’s executors to-morrow morning. If Midwinter finds his way to you there is but one alternative — you must deny him to his face!

MISS G.

I shall die at his feet if he only looks at me!

DR. D.

He won’t look at you.

MISS G.

What do you mean?

DR. D.

What did you tell me yourself? Your husband knows that you have deceived and disgraced him. If you acknowledge him now (in your own words) you submit to be treated like the most abandoned woman living. Thanks to Armadale — remember that!

MISS G. (
vacantly, putting her hand to her head
).

Armadale? My head swims; my mind fails me —
 
—

DR. D.

Rouse yourself! Armadale is living to ruin us both if he is publicly confronted with
you.
(
A knock is heard at the door.
) Hush! somebody outside. Come to your room! (
He half leads, half carries her to the door of her room.
)

MISS G. (
in terror
).

Is it my husband?

DR. D.

Go in, and you shall hear. (
He opens the door on the right. She passes into the room. A second knock is heard at the centre door.
)

DR. D. (
calling
).

Come in! (ALLAN
enters hurriedly. The
DOCTOR
starts back in astonishment.
) Mr. Armadale!

ALLAN.

How are you, Doctor? Has Midwinter been here?

DR. D.

I have seen nothing of him. (
Assuming his bland manner.
) My dear sir! accept my sincere congratulations on your rescue from the sea. By what miracle did you and your friend escape drowning?

ALLAN.

No miracle, Doctor. We escaped, thanks to these clumsy shoulders of mine. The scoundrels fastened down the hatch on us before they left the yacht. Midwinter couldn’t move it. I got
my
shoulders under it, and up it went. We were just in time to swim clear of the sinking vessel.

DR. D.

Can such things be? A man looks at the sun, listens to the birds, walks over the grass, and then fastens down a hatch on his brother man! Who can fathom the abysses of the human heart?

ALLAN.

There we were in the sea, Doctor, for nearly an hour. The storm in which Manuel and his ruffians were drowned in their boat was close on us when the ship picked us up.

DR. D. (
aside
).

What business had the ship to pick them up? Excessively officious on the part of the ship!

ALLAN (
continuing
).

We landed at Naples only two days after my friend’s wife had started for London. We followed her back, and traced her to these lodgings. I expected to find Midwinter here. Between ourselves, Doctor, I’m afraid there’s something wrong about that handsome wife of his.

DR. D.

You astonish me!

ALLAN.

Captain Manuel had certainly some grudge against Midwinter. The scoundrel slipped a letter under Midwinter’s cabin door before the yacht sank. From the time my friend read that letter he has never once spoken to me about his wife.

DR. D.

Bless my soul!

ALLAN.

It’s all guess-work, mind. Manuel never ventured to say a word about Midwinter or his wife to
me.

DR. D. (
aside
).

The deuce he didn’t! If she discovers that, I lose my last hold on her. (
To
ALLAN.) Are you sure of what you say?

ALLAN.

Quite sure. What
can
have become of Midwinter? I wanted to see him, and say good-bye.

DR. D.

Going away?

ALLAN.

Going to Thorpe-Ambrose by the next train.

DR. D.

In a hurry to get home!

ALLAN.

No, no! In a hurry to see Miss Milroy.

DR. D. (
aside
).

Miss Milroy? I’ve got it! (
To
ALLAN,
with sudden gravity.
) Let me save you a useless journey. Miss Milroy is not at Thorpe-Ambrose.

ALLAN.

Not at Thorpe-Ambrose? Where is she?

DR. D.

Under my care.

ALLAN.

Ill!

DR. D.

A nervous derangement. The newspapers reported you drowned, and Miss Milroy saw the report.

ALLAN.

My darling Neelie! Under your care? Do you mean in your house?

DR. D.

In my Sanatorium at Hendon.

ALLAN.

Let’s go there directly!

DR. D.

Contrary to the rules!

ALLAN.

Don’t say that! Stretch a point for once, Doctor!

DR. D.

If I give way, will you be guided by
me?

ALLAN.

Willingly! What am I to do?

DR. D.

Take a cab, drive as far as the turnpike on the road to Hendon, and wait there till I join you.

ALLAN.

How long shall you be?

DR. D.

If you go at once, not ten minutes after
you.

ALLAN.

Thank you a thousand times! I won’t lose a moment!

(
He hurries out.
)

DR. D. (
alone
)

The trap has caught him. Once in my Sanatorium, Mr. Armadale, get out of it if you can! (
He goes to the door on the right.
) The visitor has gone. I want to speak to you.

(MISS G.
appears at the door.
)

MISS G.

Who has been here?

DR. D.

Armadale has been here.

MISS G. (
to herself, with concentrated energy
).

Oh, if wishing it could only kill that man! (
To
DR. D.) What have you done with him?

DR. D.

I have sent him to my Sanatorium.

MISS G.

What for?

DR. D.

Can’t you guess?

MISS G.

Can’t you tell me?

DR. D.

I prefer showing you, my fair friend. Have you any particular reason for wishing to stay in these lodgings?

MISS G.

Stay here? My husband may be in London; he may trace me to this house; he may discover me in my widow’s weeds. Take me away! Anywhere you like, so long as you hide me from my husband’s eyes!

DR. D.

Put on your bonnet. (
She goes to put on her bonnet;
DR. D.
continues, watching her satirically.
) Ah! even under these trying circumstances, there’s a melancholy pleasure in putting on a new bonnet! Let me assist you with your cloak. Is that right? Very good! You wish to know what I am going to do with Armadale? (
He offers his arm. The centre door is suddenly and softly opened.
MIDWINTER
appears on the threshold.
) Come and see!

(
They turn to go out, and discover
MIDWINTER. MISS G.
stands horror-struck.
DR. D.
draws back from her and takes off his hat, bowing to
MIDWINTER,
who stands between them, facing his wife in her widow’s weeds.
)

MID. (
with bitter irony
).

Captain Manuel was not to blame, Madam. Captain Manuel did his best to drown me.

(
A pause.
)

DR. D. (
to
MISS G.)

My child, do you understand this gentleman?

MISS G. (
speaking mechanically
).

No.

MID.

My language shall be plainer. (
To
MISS G.) You are Captain Manuel’s accomplice. You were Captain Manuel’s mistress before you married
me.
(
He advances a step nearer to her.
DR. D.
starts.
) You need be under no alarm, Sir. She is safe in my loathing and contempt. (MISS G.
lifts her head for the first time, stung by the words.
MID.
proceeds.
) There is one of your old love letters! Further falsehood is hopeless. (
He offers her the letter. She remains motionless, refusing to take it.
MIDWINTER
points to
DR. D.) Leave that man, and follow me!

(
He leads the way to the door.
DR. D.
crosses to
MISS G.,
and speaks to her aside.
)

DR. D.

You have his own word for it — he loathes and despises you.

MID. (
at the door
).