Plays of William E. Henley and R.L. Stevenson Part 10

JEAN. Eh man, Deacon, the proud wumman I'll be gin he's only half sae guid.

BRODIE. Well, well, if I win through this, we'll see what we can do for him between us. (_Leading her out_, _C._) And now, go-go-go.

LAWSON (_without_, _L._). I ken the way, I ken the way.

JEAN (_starring to door_). It's the Fiscal; I'm awa. (BRODIE, _L._).

SCENE III

_To these_, LAWSON, _L._

LAWSON. A braw day this, William. (_Seeing_ JEAN.) Eh Mistress Watt?

And what'll have brocht you here?

BRODIE (_seated on bench_). Something, uncle, she lost last night, and she thinks that something she lost is here. _Voila_.

LAWSON. Why are ye no at the kirk, woman? Do ye gang to the kirk?

JEAN. I'm mebbe no what ye would just ca' reg'lar. Ye see, Fiscal, it's the wean.

LAWSON. A bairn's an excuse; I ken that fine, Mistress Watt. But bairn or nane, my woman, ye should be at the kirk. Awa wi' ye! Hear to the bells; they're ringing in. (JEAN _curtsies to both_, _and goes out C._ _The bells which have been ringing quicker_, _cease_.)

SCENE IV

LAWSON (_to_ BRODIE, _returning C. from door_). _Mulier formosa superne_, William: a braw la.s.s, and a decent woman forbye.

BRODIE. I'm no judge, Procurator, but I'll take your word for it. Is she not a tenant of yours?

LAWSON. Ay, ay; a bit house on my land in Liberton's Wynd. Her man's awa, puir body; or they tell me sae; and I'm concerned for her [she's unco bonnie to be left her lane]. But it sets me brawly to be finding faut wi' the puir la.s.s, and me an elder, and should be at the plate.

[There'll be twa words about this in the Kirk Session.] However, it's nane of my business that brings me, or I should tak' the mair shame to mysel'. Na, sir, it's for you; it's your business keeps me frae the kirk.

BRODIE. My business, Procurator? I rejoice to see it in such excellent hands.

LAWSON. Ye see, it's this way. I had a crack wi' the laddie, Leslie, _inter pocula_ (he took a stirrup-cup wi' me), and he tells me he has askit Mary, and she was to speak to ye hersel'. O, ye needna look sae gash. Did she speak? and what'll you have said to her?

BRODIE. She has not spoken; I have said nothing; and I believe I asked you to avoid the subject.

LAWSON. Ay, I made a note o' that observation, William [and a.s.soilzied mysel']. Mary's a guid la.s.s, and I'm her uncle, and I'm here to be answered. Is it to be ay or no?

BRODIE. It's to be no. This marriage must be quashed; and hark ye, Procurator, you must help me.

LAWSON. Me? ye're daft! And what for why?

BRODIE. Because I've spent the trust-money, and I can't refund it.

LAWSON. Ye reprobate deevil!

BRODIE. Have a care, Procurator. No wry words!

LAWSON. Do you say it to my face, sir? Dod, sir, I'm the Crown Prosecutor.

BRODIE. Right. The Prosecutor for the Crown. And where did you get your brandy?

LAWSON. Eh?

BRODIE. Your brandy! Your brandy man! Where do you get your brandy?

And you a Crown official and an elder!

LAWSON. Whaur the deevil did ye hear that?

BRODIE. Rogues all! Rogues all, Procurator!

LAWSON. Ay, ay. Lord save us! Guidsake, to think o' that noo! . . .

Can ye give me some o' that Cognac? I'm . . . I'm sort o' shaken, William, I'm sort o' shaken. Thank you, William! (_Looking_, _piteously at gla.s.s_.) _Nunc est bibendum_. (_Drinks_.) Troth, I'm set ajee a bit. Wha the deevil tauld ye?

BRODIE. Ask no questions, brother. We are a pair.

LAWSON. Pair, indeed! Pair, William Brodie! Upon my saul, sir, ye're a brazen-faced man that durst say it to my face! Tak' you care, my bonnie young man, that your craig doesna feel the wecht o' your hurdies. Keep the plainstanes side o' the gallows. _Via trita_, _via tuta_, William Brodie!

BRODIE. And the brandy, Procurator? and the brandy?

LAWSON. Ay . . . weel . . . be't sae! Let the brandy bide, man, let the brandy bide! But for you and the trust-money . . . d.a.m.ned! It's felony.

_ Tutor in rem suam_, ye ken, _tutor in rem suam_. But O man, Deacon, whaur is the siller?

BRODIE. It's gone-O how the devil should I know? But it'll never come back.

LAWSON. Dear, dear! A' gone to the winds o' heaven! Sae ye're an extravagant dog, too. _Prodigus et furiosus_! And that puir la.s.s-eh, Deacon, man, that puir la.s.s! I mind her such a bonny bairn.

BRODIE (_stopping his ears_). Brandy, brandy, brandy, brandy, brandy

LAWSON. William Brodie, mony's the long day that I've believed in you; prood, prood was I to be the Deacon's uncle; and a sore hearing have I had of it the day. That's past; that's past like Flodden Field; it's an auld sang noo, and I'm an aulder man than when I crossed your door. But mark ye this-mark ye this, William Brodie, I may be no sae guid's I should be; but there's no a saul between the east sea and the wast can lift his een to G.o.d that made him, and say I wranged him as ye wrang that la.s.sie. I bless G.o.d, William Brodie-ay, though he was like my brother-I bless G.o.d that he that got ye has the hand of death upon his hearing, and can win into his grave a happier man than me. And ye speak to me, sir?

Think shame-think shame upon your heart!

BRODIE. Rogues all!

LAWSON. You're the son of my sister, William Brodie. Mair than that I stop not to inquire. If the siller is spent, and the honour tint-Lord help us, and the honour tint!-sae be it, I maun bow the head. Ruin shallna come by me. Na, and I'll say mair, William; we have a' our weary sins upon our backs, and maybe I have mair than mony. But, man, if ye could bring _half_ the jointure . . . [_potius quam pereas_] . . . for your mither's son? Na? You couldna bring the half? Weel, weel, it's a sair heart I have this day, a sair heart and a weary. If I were a better man mysel' . . . but there, there, it's a sair heart that I have gotten.

And the Lord kens I'll help ye if I can. [_Potius quam pereas_.]

SCENE V

BRODIE. Sore hearing, does he say? My hand's wet. But it's victory.

Shall it be go? or stay? [I should show them all I can, or they may pry closer than they ought.] Shall I have it out and be done with it? To see Mary at once [to carry bastion after bastion at the charge]-there were the true safety after all! Hurry-hurry's the road to silence now.