Page:The Iron Hand by Hall Caine.djvu/7

 Victor after the cries have died down beneath the stage)—Why will you make me seem so hard and brutal? I give you every warning, offer you every alternative.

—Kill me, I beseech you; kill me.

—I have no wish to do all this. You compel me. Haven't I gone far enough? Will you force me to go further? Come, now, give me the password and no harm shall come either to you or yours.

(Victor is struggling to control himself. The Captain comes closer).

Perhaps you are afraid of exposure. But your Belgian people will never know. We two can go into the next room. You can whisper the password to me only. When we come back I can say you refused to give it up. So nobody will know.

(passionately, throwing up his head) —Yes, I shall know, and God will know, and I shall be a traitor and a coward.

(to guard, returning to the table)—Bring In the old lady.

(The corporal goes out again by door on right).

—God in Heaven, do you mean that? Brutes, barbarians! Do you call yourselves soldiers? Fight men, not women, sons, not mothers. I see what you're going to do, but you shall not do it. My mother is old. She can't bear the strain—she shan't.

—The Baroness Lambotte.

(The old lady enters with firm step and a proud look).

(rising)—Baroness!

(calmly, to Captain) —You sent for me. What do you wish, sir?

(sitting) —I wish you to use your influence with your son in a matter of the utmost Importance.

—What is it?

—I have been asking him——

(breaking in) —Stop that! My mother is weak after a great bereavement. You shall not torture her (with lowering look and uplifted hand) I forbid It.

—Be silent, my son. Let me hear what the officer has to say. I'm not afraid. I've suffered too much to be afraid of anything now. (Victor controls himself. The Baroness turns back to the Captain). Well, sir?

—I've been asking the Lieutenant to give me the password to the Belgian lines——

—The password to the Belgian lines?

(bowing) —If he is willing to do so I promise to protect him and his family for so long as the imperial army hold possession of this country——

—And if he is not willing, you will take his life—is that It?

—No, not his life, madame.

—Who's, then?

—Yours.

(drawing herself up proudly)—Then he shall not give you the password. I am only an old woman, but I am the daughter of a soldier, the widow of a soldier and the mother of a soldier. My son shall not degrade the honor of a soldier to save his mother's life.

(with a triumphant shout) —Do you hear that? Didn't I tell you that Belgian women could be brave. (Holds out his arm.) Mother!

(embracing him) —Victor!

(to his guard) —Remove her.

(The guard approaches the old lady as if to lay hold of her.)

—Stand back, sirs! Have you German soldiers no mothers in your German homes? (The Captain waves to the guard; they fall back. The Baroness kisses Victor.) Be strong, my son. Do your duty as a soldier without thinking of me. (She turns up stage, glances at the picture of her husband, stops.) Remember your father, my Victor. He is looking down on you. Adieu!

(The Captain and his Lieutenant rise, and all the German soldiers stand at salute as the Baroness, with a firm, proud step, crosses stage and goes down the stairs.)

—And now that you've done your damnedest, let's put an end to this business. What is it to be?

(coming from back of table)—Wait! (To his Lieutenant.) Lieutenant Harnack—a dispatch.

(preparing to write)—I'm ready, sir.

(in front of table, dictating) —"To the general officer commanding—General vou Hindenberg—Second army—Two Belgian soldiers captured here, Lieutenant Victor Lambotte and Private Jonniaux, have been guilty of treachery in war; and two non-combatants, the Baroness Lambotte and Madame Victor Lambotte, mother and wife of the first-named prisoner, have aided and abetted them in conduct which impedes the progress and imperils the safety of the Imperial army. For these offenses