Page:The Iron Hand by Hall Caine.djvu/9

 Marie (then, breaking off in quick, hushed whispers) Father, I have something to tell you. The King is at the lodge.

(startled)—The King!

—Yes, at the lodge of the Chateau. He wished to take up his quarters in our house and sent me on ahead to see that all was clear.

(recovering himself and trying to conceal the private conversation audibly) —Go on, my son, you confess—

(also audibly) —Father, I confess (again dropping his voice to a quick whisper) I was to give a signal that all was safe. Then the King and his guard were to come immediately.

(whispering) —A signal? What signal?

—The bell—the bell that rings in the lodge half a mile down the drive. You know where the bell is—under the portrait of my father, by the door—the white button on the brass plate. (The priest is moving.) No, no, don't look around. You know it. Father?

—(breathlessly) Yes, yes.

—I tried to reach it myself, but couldn't do so without being observed. But you can—

— I?

(The German Captain is heard speaking to his Lieutenant.)

(raising his voice again) —You confess, my son—

(in audible voice as before)—Father, I confess— (again dropping into a hurried whisper). There's no time to lose. The German Sergeant and his men will be back presently. Meantime there's nobody here now except the Captain and his Lieutenant and the guard at the gate. If the King can arrive before the Germans' return—

(The German Lieutenant is seen to be drawing the Captain's attention to the old priest and his penitent. Their suspicions are aroused by the eagerness of' the conversation).

(rising and approaching priest) —The confession seems to be a long one, Reverend Father. I have still something to say to your penitent.

(with dignity, waving Captain aside) —The confession is over, sir. The prayers for the dying!

(The Captain bows and goes back to his place at the table).

(audibly) —Kyrie eleison. Christie eleison. Pater noster. Ave Maria. In manus tuas. Domlne, comniendo spiritum meum.

(audibly) —Domine Jesu Christie, suscipe spiritum meum. (Again in quick whispers): After you have rung the bell stand by the door. As soon as the King and his guard have crossed the gateway at the end of the lawn the bell in this room will ring.

—The bell in this room, my son?

—Yes, the bell above the clock. Don't look up at it, father.

—I won't, my son, I won't.

—As soon as you hear the bell you will unbolt the door, and the moment you hear the password——

—The password?

—"The Call of the King"—that's the password. The moment you hear it you will throw the door open.

Yes, yes.

—And now go, leave me, lose no more time, or the sergeant will be back before the King can get here.

(raising his voice, as before)—Maria, mater, gratiae, mater misericordia, tu me ab hoste protege et hora mortis suscipe.

(Rises, leaving Victor kneeling by his chair, and goes staggeringly up stage.)

(to Father L.)—Does he still refuse to give it up?

(The old priest bows his head as if in assent, staggers to wall at back and falls against it face forward, with both hands before him, as if under strain of great emotion. But the audience sees that one of the old priest's hands is on the white button under the portrait, the bell communicating with the lodge of the chateau, half a mile away. During the following scene the priest continues to stand there with his forehead resting against the wall.)

(rising from the table and coming down to Victor)—It is not even yet too late. Give me the password before the sergeant returns with my general's order, and I will save your life and the lives of your mother, your wife