The Ghost Breaker: A Melodramatic Farce in Four Acts Part 19

DOLORES. (C.) From Robledo. Your bullet went straight, Senor. He is dying. He confessed to the Holy Father. I promised to be with him at the end. (_Weeps._)

JARVIS. (_Crosses to_ DOLORES, C.) The end---- (_Realizing_ DOLORES _cared for Robledo._) Then--you---- I didn't know. I might have---- I'm sorry.

DOLORES. 'Tis better so, Senor. My Prince still lives. (JARVIS _steps back_ C.)

PRINCESS. (_Cross to_ DOLORES) Oh, Dolores, my poor child! Maximo, take her back to the inn as quietly as possible. (_They exit._) Oh, Mr.

Warren, let us leave this dreadful place!

JARVIS. Not I, your Highness. You go with them, and wait for me at the inn.

PRINCESS. You cannot persuade me again, Mr. Warren. I will remain.

JARVIS. Please.

PRINCESS. Return with us, then.

JARVIS. Your Highness, I promised to solve the mystery of this castle and to find the treasure. My task is an easy one now.

PRINCESS. Then I will share it with you.

JARVIS. And you groped your way through this old castle to find me. You are game.

PRINCESS. You faced death, perhaps, for me.

JARVIS. You're trembling--you're frightened--you're cold--your hands are cold!

PRINCESS. Oh, I'm not----

(JARVIS _takes_ PRINCESS _to fire; she sits._)

JARVIS. Come over here. You must have been scared to death prowling through the blackness.

PRINCESS. Every nerve of my body is on edge with the happenings of this dreadful place!

JARVIS. Oh, don't cry! Go on, then--cry--cry--cry some more. Just forget you are a Princess and cry, that's it. That's fine. I'll round up this spook tonight for good, and then the va.s.sal's task is done. His fate is in your hands, Highness. What's to become of him? (_Love scene._) Don't send me away. I've loved you from the first, and I shall always love you. I'm no Prince or Duke. I know I'm just a plain American citizen, a man--and all the man in me cries out that I love you! Don't send me away.

PRINCESS. You must go.

JARVIS. You're going to send me away?

PRINCESS. Yes, you must leave Spain. Your life would never be safe here.

(DUKE _sneezes from behind picture_.)

PRINCESS. What was that? (_She goes to lower end of fireplace_; JARVIS R.C.)

JARVIS. Oh, see, that--that's Rusty.

PRINCESS. That would frighten anyone.

JARVIS. I figured that I might need a ghost myself, but Rusty disobeyed orders. Rusty, I told you not to sneeze.

RUSTY. Dat was somebody else, Ma.r.s.e Warren! I didn't sneeze!

PRINCESS. Mr. Warren.

JARVIS. Don't move. Your Highness, I've got your ghost at last.

(_Pointing gun at picture._) There is somebody behind that picture! Come out, or I'll shoot you full of holes.

DUKE. (_Lights at window change to red._ DUKE _coming out_) Don't shoot.

JARVIS. (C.) Your Excellency, you're a long way from Madrid.

DUKE. Madrid---- You fool, you have fallen right into the trap.

(_Crosses_ C.) What I have done has been for your sake, Maria. I purposely deceived him, so that I might get here ahead of him and watch. See, there are his tools. (_Crosses_ R.) And you yourself interrupted him at his work. (_Points over mantel._)

JARVIS. That's an unlucky gesture. How did you know the treasure was there?

DUKE. That's where you were working.

JARVIS. You forgot I have never seen the memorandum.

DUKE. Until you stole it. Can't you see, Maria?

PRINCESS. Yes, one of you two stole the locket.

JARVIS. Which one of us two? (_Walking over to_ DUKE.) You can't lie yourself out of this. Twice tonight you tried to have me murdered. Why didn't you have the nerve to come out in the open? I told you all ghosts were cowards--but you haven't got the courage of a rabbit. If it weren't for her, I'd blow your d.a.m.ned head off, and send you down after that other poor devil! You've got him to answer for, sooner or later. Now, see here--give me that locket---- No, give her the locket--or, by the living G.o.d, I'll break your---- Come on!

PRINCESS. (_Light outside and first border and foots change to amber_) Carlos!

DUKE. (_Cross to_ C. _and_ PRINCESS; _gives locket_) You play a good game, Mr. Warren. Are all Americans like you?

JARVIS. They all play the game in Kentucky.

DUKE. (_Cross to door_ L.) And I thought all Americans were fools.

JARVIS. I saw that from the first, and it helped.

DUKE. Mr. Warren, take her advice, and return to Kentucky. (_Exit_ L.)

JARVIS. Say, hold on----

PRINCESS. (_Stopping_ JARVIS C.) What kind of a place is Kentucky?

JARVIS. G.o.d's good country, lady. Must I go back alone?

PRINCESS. You must go, but you need not go alone.

JARVIS. You mean----? Say it! Say it!