"That which pleases long, and pleases many, must possess some merit.”—DR. JOHNSON. THE NEW YORK DRAMA TRAGEDIES, A CHOICE COLLECTION OF COMEDIES, WITH FARCES, ETC., CASTS OF CHARACTERS, STAGE BUSINESS, COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, &c., ADAPTED TO THE HOME CIRCLE, PRIVATE THEATRICALS, AND THE AMERICAN STAGE. VOL. 2. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by WHEAT & CORNETT, in the Office CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH. A Farce, in One Act. BY J. R. PLANCHE. CAST OF CHARACTERS. Covent Garden, 1841. Viscount de Ligny....Mr. C. Matthews. Louis... Pierre.. Guards.. Kristina... Katryn. Ireland. Gardiner. EXITS AND ENTRANCES.-R. means Right; L. Left; R. D. Right Door; L. [Preparing to jump. Krist. No, no, no, not on this side. [He stands up.] Oh, dear! oh, dear! if you should be seen. Kat. Don't stand there, at any rate. Adolf. I won't. [Jumps into the garden. Krist. There, now! that's your doing, Katryn. What will become of me? Kat. Would you have had the young man stick D. Left Door; 2 E. Second Entrance: U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Midle on the wall like a broken glass bottle? Door. RELATIVE POSITIONS.-R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right Centre; L. C. Left Centre, &c. The reader is supposed to be on the stage, facing the audience. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Garden. At the back, a wall with a small door in it. A seat, on which are two battledores and a shuttlecock. Enter KRISTINA, L., and KATRYN, R., meeting. Krist. Well, Katryn, has my uncle gone out ? Kat. No, he has changed his mind. He says it's too late to go out this evening. [Opens door. Adolf. Pardon me, dearest Kristina, I am half distracted; I heard that your uncle was about to sell this house, and remove no one knew whither. Immediately on the receipt of this intelligence I left Louvain, galloped hither like a madman-my horse fell dead as I entered the city Krist. Poor Adolf! Kat. Poor horse, you mean. Adolf. On arriving here, I saw a horrid board stuck against the gate, confirming the news of your intended removal: "This house to be sold, with immediate possession." The door was fastened—you might have already departed—I was in a paroxysm of despair, when this precious shuttlecock, like a descending angel, came pat on my Kat. As we are of this. [Taking one of the bat-nose, and announced the presence of my beloved. tledores.] Will you play, mamselle? Krist. Which means that he would rather stay at Brussels, and play at primero with the Governor; he is as fond of that game Krist. No, I'm tired of it. Kat. Which means that you have found some more agreeable occupation. Krist. Hold your tongue, Katryn. I know what you were going to say; and you know I have forbidden you to speak of him. Kat. Oh, certainly, mamselle; I'm dumb. Krist. Poor young man! I shall never see him again. Kat. I didn't mention him then, mamselle. Krist. No, no, Katryn, I know you didn't—and I didn't mean-but I was thinking of something else and so- and so. [Playing with the shuttlecock by herself, she knocks it over the wall—an exclamation is heard without.] Oh, mercy, Katryn! Kat. Affecting incident! Krist. Distressing situation! If my uncle-if your colonel— Adolf. Oh, my colonel and I are at daggersdrawn already. My repeated visits, private and without leave, have been made known to him. He has threatened me with all sorts of punishment-vowed to send a description of me to the Captain of the Watch, and have me dragged to jail here, and exposed to the whole city. You may not believe it, but I am at this moment actually under arrest at Louvain. · Krist. Would to goodness you were! This imprudence will ruin everything. You know the express condition on which my uncle promised to consent was that we should neither meet nor correspond until he had received a satisfactory account of you from the friends he had commis sioned to make inquiries as to your family prospects. Should he discover that you have broken that condition, not only once, but twenty timesAdolf. Tell me only, then Krist. I will tell you nothing here-begone this moment. Katryn shall write to you. Kat. Yes, yes, sir, I'll write to you; but go now directly. Adolf. But that won't do, because Kat. It must do, and you must go. Krist. I will hear nothing. Cruel Adolf, you want my uncle to see you, and break off the match, you do. Adolf. But one word must. Krist. Not a syllable. Nay, if you won't go I [Runs out. Adolf. Kristina! It is most important. Katryn, what must I do? Kat. Don't I keep telling you, sir, you must go directly? There's the door open for you, sir; run as fast as you can, and I'll write as soon as I know Adolf. Write! write! but you won't hear what I have to say; I can't tell you where to write to me. Kat. How? Adolf. My regiment is under orders for the frontier; we may march to-morrow morning-deuce knows where! Kat. Oh, mercy! and you never told my mistress? Adolf. How could I? she wouldn't stay to hear. It doesn't signify; war is about to be declaredwe shall soon be in action, and I will take good care to get killed in the very first charge. Kat. You wouldn't be so foolish. Adolf. I will, as sure as fate, and you may tell her so; if she doesn't grant me ten minutes' interview to arrange some plan for our future correspondence, I'll stake myself on the pikes of the enemy the very first opportunity. Kat. Well, well, let me see if I can manage it; the Baron will go out about nine to play his favorite game of primero with the Governor. Now, if I should leave this door unfastened about half-past nine[The CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH appears at the gate, c. Adolf. My guardian genius! Do that, andWho's this man? and what does he want here? Kat. It's nobody we know. He's only reading the board over the wall. Adolf. He's coming in, confound him-if he should know me! Kat. Then vanish directly. he Captain. [entering and stopping ADOLF as is about to pass him.] I beg your pardon, are you the owner of this house? Adolf. Owner, sir! No, sir. Capt. Oh, merely like myself, perhaps, attracted by the notice of sale. Adolf. Exactly so, sir. Good day, sir. Capt. May I ask if you have bought it, sir? Adolf. Bought it, sir? No-I- [Aside.] He's a devilish cool sort of fellow; I don't half like leaving him here. Capt. But do you mean to buy it, or have you decided on the contrary? because I would not interfere Adolf. Oh, sir, you are perfectly welcome toKat. [aside to ADOLF.] Why don't you go at I'll answer this gentleman. once? Adolf. [aside.] Go-umph! Suppose she does know this gentleman, and suppose this gentleman knows Kristina, and makes that cursed notice an excuse Capt. It's a pretty looking place; could one see the interior of the building? Adolf. [aside.] Confound his impudence! Kat. It's rather late, sir, but- [Aside to ADOLF.] Why don't you go? Adolf. I won't stir from this spot till he leaves it! Kat. What's the matter now? Adolf. He has come to see Kristina, and you know it. Kat. For shame! for shame! I shall go and fetch the Baron, and see if that will make you decamp. [To CAPTAIN.] I will tell my master, sir, you wish to speak to him. Capt. Oh, pray do not disturb him; unless, indeed, this gentleman desires an interview. Adolf. Who, I?-by no means. Kat. I must tell my master, sir. [Aside to ADOLF.] If you are not gone before I return, no door open at half-past nine, mind you. [Exit R. Adolf. I care not. Capt. [aside.] There seems some little mystery here. [Aloud.] Sir, as I said before, I would not, for worlds, interfere; and as you seem to have some understanding about the house with that pretty little person, I withdraw from all competition; the property is yours, sir. Adolf. Indeed, sir! It's my belief, sir, that you did not intend to buy it at all, sir. Capt. To be frank with you-no more than you did, sir! Adolf. Upon my honor! a damned cool fellow. Then, sir, may I ask what business you have here, sir? Capt. Have a care; I may chance to put the same question to you. Adolf. Confound his assurance! [Aloud.] Sir, if I am compelled to justify my right to interrogate you, I will do so, on condition that, with equal good faith, you declare, on your part Capt. Stay, stay! Suffer me to advise, as well as to inform you, never make a confidant of a person you do not know Adolf. But 'sdeath, sir! I insist on knowing— Capt. Hear me out—I had a foolish habit, myself, of explaining my motives to any person who considered himself privileged to ask, and once on a time I unfortunately stumbled on the actual husband of a party concerned, and received a thrust in my left shoulder that laid me up for six months -I feel it still in frosty weather; from that moment, sir, I made up my mind, and whenever I am compelled to confess, I always invent the confession! Adolf. Invent! Capt. Invent! And now, sir, after this candid acknowledgment, if you think you should be any the wiser, I am ready to begin with you, story for story. Adolf. Upon my soul, I cannot help laughing. Capt. It's the best thing, depend upon it. I have been laughing some time, internally, at this rencontre; and, as I am really innocent of any intention to cross or annoy you in any way whatever, I will voluntarily make amends for my malapropos intrusion, by loitering out the remaining ten minutes I must wait in some other part of the neighborhood. Adolf. Sir, I am ashamed of my suspicions, and will not be outdone in courtesy. Pray remain, if it suits your convenience; I will retire, as, indeed, I am bound to do. Capt. Nay, I entreat Krist. Katryn! Katryn! you will make me very angry with you. Have I not told you distinctly that I will not permit his clandestine visits? Kat. Certainly, mamselle, twenty times at least, and have been much obliged to me for paying no attention to you; but as you seem particularly in earnest this evening, I suppose I am to obey you; and therefore I will lock the door, and tell the gardener to let loose the great dog; and then you can go to bed with the comfortable assurance you will never see or hear of Lieutenant Adolf again. Adolf. And I insist. Good evening to you, sir. [Exit at gate. Capt. Humph! Now, if I really troubled myself about my neighbors' affairs as much as, being Captain of the Watch, it is my duty to do, I should make some very particular inquiries concerning that young gentleman. He is not a resident of this city; at least I do not recognize his face, but, positively, it goes against my conscience, when I Krist. What do you mean, Katryn? come out gallivanting myself, to spoil the sport of Kat. I mean that the poor young gentleman's a brother sinner, in my capacity of Custos Morum. regiment is under marching orders, and that if No, no. Let him steer clear of my myrmidons, you do not grant him an interview to-night, he and he has nothing to fear from their commander. has sworn a horrible oath, either to blow his [Clock strikes nine.] Nine o'clock, by Jove! Now brains out himself, or get the enemy to do it for for my appointment with the Marchioness. [Going. him, the very first opportunity. Enter KATRYN, R. Enter KRISTINA, R. Krist. You will go, then, uncle? Krist. Under marching orders? Kat. They move to-morrow; Fate knows where. [Noise without, back of F. Krist. Hark! What noise is that? Kat. Some disturbance at the end of the street. Runs to door.] I can see the lights of the town watch in the distance. Krist. A drunken quarrel, no doubt; let us go into the house, Katryn. Kat. And lock the gate, mamselle? Krist. No; if the watch are close at hand, there can be no danger; and it might drive poor Adolf Kat. To climb over the wall again; so we'll leave on the latch for the present. Krist. I am going to my own room, Katryn. Kat. And I to tell the gardener not to let loose the great dog till master comes home again. [Exeunt separately.-Noise again, nearer. The door is opened suddenly, and the CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH enters. Bar. To the Governor, for an hour or so I shall not be late. [Aside.] The dear Marchioness! Capt. Lucky chance, a gate on the latch. How agreeably surprised she will be; she thinks 'Sdeath, if they had caught me! The Captain of me miles away in the country. [Aloud.] Good the Watch arrested by the watch; a pleasant annight, Kristina; you may be gone to bed, perhaps, before I return. Katryn, lock this door after me; I have got my own key. You need not sit up for me. And mind, if anybody should call about the house after I go out, don't let them in; tell them to come to-morrow. Krist. You are still, then, determined to part with it? Bar. Certainly; I don't like the neighborhood. Kat. But where do you think of moving to, sir? Bar. I don't know, I haven't yet made up my mind. [Aside.] The Marchioness talks of Bruges; perhaps she'll tell me to-night, and then[Aloud.] Good night, Kristina. Lock the door after me, Katryn, there's a good girl. [Exit c. Kat. Yes, sir; certainly, sir-[locks gate]-and unlock it again directly. [Unlocks it. It grows gradually dark during the following dialogue. Krist. Katryn, what are you doing? You don't mean to leave the gate unlocked? Kat. Oh! just as you please, mamselle; only I thought you had an objection to Lieutenant Adolf getting over the wall. Krist. Of course I have; the greatest. Kat. Well, then, if I leave the gate opened, there will be no occasion for his doing so. ecdote for the gossips of Brussels. Ha! ha! I can't help laughing at the notion myself, upon my soul. It was almost a pity to spoil so good a joke. But then, my office, and what's more, my salary, would be in jeopardy. Besides, the fair Marchioness! my capture might have compromised her. Who the deuce is my rival, I wonder? I should like to know the gentleman whose unexpected visit compelled me, for the lady's sake, to risk my neck by jumping from a second floor window, and my reputation by a scuffle with my own unconscious satellites. Is he a young man whose impetuous spirit she dreads, or an old one whose wealthy purse she has designs on? I suspect the latter, by some hints she dropped. Young or old, however, whoever he is, his arrival was confounded mal-apropos. How the plague am I to get home without discovery? my fellows are on the qui vive at both ends of the street. I must take my chance of lying close here till they give up the chase. The BARON opens the garden gate and enters, un heard by CAPTAIN. Bar. [aside, as he enters.] How's this? the gate on the latch? That careless Katryn, when I par 1 ticularly ordered her to lock it after me! She Bar. Rot your tulips! Tell me at once what shall hear of this, and soundly; I am just in the brought you here. temper to fall foul of anybody. The Marchioness ill-gone to bed-not to be seen. Provoking! Capt. [aside.] Where can I have got to? The night is so dark, and I was so confoundedly hard pressed, that I'll be hanged if I know even the street. There are trees here; it must be some garden to a detached house. [Feeling about. Bar. [aside.] Eh! Don't I hear somebody moving about? [Advances and runs against CAPTAIN.] Hallo! Who's there? Capt. [aside.] Zounds! Bar. Who's there? Speak, or I'll run you through the body. Capt. [aside, and drawing.] The devil you will! [Aloud.] Don't be alarmed, it's only a friend. Bar. A friend! What friend? Whose friend? Capt. Everybody's; a friend of the human race. Don't make a noise. Bar. Don't make a noise! I will make a noise, if you don't immediately declare— Capt. I declare I won't do anything if you make a disturbance. I give you fair notice that my sword is drawn, and you may run against it in the dark. Just let me find the way out, andBar. Out, sir! you don't budge a foot till I know who you are, and what business you have in my garden at this hour! Capt. In your garden? Adzooks! the master of the house! Ten thousand pardons, whoever you are, and accept my most grateful thanks for the protection your hospitable walls have afforded me. Bar. Confound your politeness, sir! Answer my question, or I'll call the watch; they are in the street. Capt. Don't think of such a thing, sir. On the contrary, as you are master of this place, I trust to be still further indebted to your generosity. Bar. Confound your impudence, sir! answer me directly, what seek you here? Capt. An asylum. I am the victim of circumstances. [Aside.] I must say something, but I'll be hanged if I know what. [Aloud.] Listen, sir, and I will confide to you the fatal secret. That is, as soon as my agitation will permit me [aside] and I can think of one that will do. Capt. I am coming to that, sir, immediately. A letter, a fatal letter, reached me, sir, in that peaceful paradise, from my sister. Bar. Your sister! you said you were the last of your family-left alone in the world. Capt. [aside.] Did I? [Aloud.] So I did, sir, and so I am, sir-the last male. My sister, sir, my only sister, had taken the veil in the Ursuline Convent, at St. Omer's, so that I was, you see, left alone in the world. Bar. Well, well, go on. Capt. Pardon me, sir, my emotion overcomes me. [Aside.] I'm at a dead lock, I declare! [Aloud.] Where was I? Bar. You had a letter from your sister. Capt. Ah! yes! That letter! that horrible letter! A wretch-a monster in the human shapean infamous seducer, whose name, respect for his noble family compels me to suppress, even to you, my benefactor-this villain, sir, had lured my unfortunate sister from her pious retreat, and carried her off to this city, and then deserted her-left her to perish. Oh, sir! allow my silent tears to flow unchecked. Bar. Poor young man, poor young man, this is indeed a sad story! Capt. I felt assured you would sympathize with me. Bar. I do; I do; but I am still anxious to know-— Capt. How I came into your garden, sir-of course it is but natural you should be--I am coming to that, sir. In receipt of this dreadful information, sir, I immediately set off for Brussels; I arrived here this evening, and went straight to the house in which my unhappy sister had found a temporary refuge; having obtained entrance, I proceeded up-stairs to her chamber the door was fastened--I heard a stifled cry for help!-I recognized my sister's voice-I knocked frantically at the door. Nobody opened it. Bar. But you burst it open, of course? Capt. Instantly. [Aside.] Gad, he helps me out! [Aloud.] With one blow of my foot, and rushing in-I saw!-oh, horror! What do you think I saw, sir? Bar. Your sister in the power of some ruffian? Capt. Exactly so! [Aside.] As well that as anything else. [Aloud.] It was he, the infamous destroyer of her honor; who, fearful of exposure, threatened her with death if she did not sign a paper acquitting him of all knowledge of her flight. Bar. The villain! I should have run him through the body on the spot. Capt. Noble-minded man! you but anticipate my words. One thrust, and he lay a bleeding corpse at my feet! My sister rushed shrieking from the apartment-I followed-found myself in the street Bar. And then the watch, I suppose Capt. Yes, the watch, alarmed by the cry of murder, came running to the spot-I fled-they pursued. In a strange city, not knowing whither to bend my steps, I took the first turnings that presented themselves, entered this street, found a gate unfastened; and now, sir, having made this candid confession, having thrown myself upon your honor and generosity, deliver me, if you SCENE II.-A front chamber. On the L. a chimney-piece-on the R. a door leading to KRISTINA'S apartment. In F., a door opening on a gallery— another door to the L., either in first or upper Bar. I must talk to the Governor on this business. entrance. There is considerable blame to be attached to the police; they should have been cognizant Enter, from her own room, KRISTINA, with a of the arrival of two strangers in this city; should lighted candle, which she places on the table. have discovered immediately the situation of the Krist. He must have arrived. How my heart parties, and rescued your sister from the grasp of a villain. If I knew the Captain of the Watch, I beats! I am doing very wrong in receiving him should tell him to his head he had been guilty of here. But what can I do? The thought of losing gross negligence; as it is, I will speak to the him forever-besides, nobody can say that I enGovernor, and have him reprimanded-perhaps couraged him, or made the appointment; that was Katryn's doing, dear girl; she is so devoted displaced. to me; I must get my uncle to raise her wages. Enter KATRYN, L. Capt. How very kind! Bar. Wait here a moment. I will just reconnoitre indoors. Take good heart-time works wonders your sister may return to the convent— her name is Capt. Louise De Valkenberg. Bar. De Valkenberg? you said De Cortenberg Capt. Yes! De Cortenberg de Valkenberg, etc., etc., etc. Kat. Here he comes, mamselle. Krist. Oh, mercy, Katryn! where is he? Kat. On the stairs, in the dark. I stepped before him, to give you notice. Poor young man! he is in such a fever of impatience. In his agitation he positively squeezed my hand as if it had been yours! Krist. Katryn! Kat. Oh, he couldn't help it, I felt he couldn't! And when I whispered to him that I would do anything to serve you both, he was so grateful that he kissed me over and over again! Bar. Ah! I see! Well, just wait here, as I said, one moment, while I see if the coast be clear. [Aside.] We can't trust women with such secrets. Aloud.] Don't move from that spot; I'll be back directly. [Exit cautiously, R. Capt. Egad! the old boy swallows my story capitally. I may as well pass the night here now as anywhere else, and to-morrow morning what shall I say at home? Why, give out of course that I spent the hours in watching over the safety of the sleeping inhabitants! A footstep! He re-in, mamselle? turns! Enter KATRYN, R. Kat. [in a whisper.] Are you there? Kat. Give me your hand; I'll lead you. Re-enter BARON, R. Bar. [in a whisper.] Where are you? Bar. Stop a minute till I lock the gate; the women are gone to bed. Don't make a noise. I wouldn't have them know anything of the matter. [Locks the gate. Adolf. [aside.] Confusion! it's the Baron! Bar. Now follow me. Bar. Well, why don't you come? Here, give me your hand; I'll lead you. Adolf. [aside.] 'Sdeath! I'm caught! Krist. Katryn, I really think he might have helped that! Kat. No, he couldn't! he was quite overcome, and so was I almost. Poor young fellow, he is a lover! But there's no time to lose. May he come Krist. Why, as he has ventured so far-but it's very wrong, Katryn Kat. To keep him so long in the dark-so it is, mamselle. [Reopens the door, L.] Sir, sir! come in, here's my lady! Enter CAPTAIN, L. Capt. I'm quite ashamed of giving you all this trouble. Kat and Krist. [seeing him.] Ah! Kat. Oh, mercy! Oh, dear! Krist. Katryn! What have you done? Kat. Oh, I don't know! Somebody's changed him! Capt. Pray, ladies, don't be alarmed; if I intrude Kat. [aside.] It's the very gentleman who came about the house this evening. Capt. I beg a thousand pardons-but after the kindness with which I was received by your husband, madame Krist. Husband! Capt. Or your father, or your grandfather-for really, I Kat. Sir, my lady has neither husband, father, or grandfather; but we are not alone in the house, sir-there are servants, sir-and a man-servant and a gardener within call, sir-and a great dog. |