University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

An opening among wretched lanes in Whitefriars—On a board over the door of a large dilapidated house, are the words “Trapbois, Money Lente.”
Enter Nigel followed by Trapbois and Skourlie, who are in earnest conversation.
Skour.
(to Trapbois.)
But are you sure?

Trap.
I tell you, I've the jewels
Pledged in my hands on purpose. (To Nigel)
There's our house, sir,—
(to Skourlie.)
So you will be ready with your mortgage deeds,
To be paid off. (Knocks at his own door.)
You've notice, mind.

[The door being opened, Nigel and Trapbois go into the house.
Skour.
(alone.)
Some devil
Has cross'd me here. Nigel redeem! and that
With the king's jewels! having him once lodged
Here, in Whitefriars, I thought the prey secure.

Enter Dalgarno, followed by Peppercole and officers, who take their stand at the back of the stage.
Dalg.
Where have you sheltered Nigel? There's a warrant
For this day's brawl i'th'Park.

Skour.
My lord, no process
Runs here, but from the star-chamber.

Dalg.
I ask
Where is he?

Skour.
In his lodging: in the cobweb
Of the old spider, Trapbois. Bare apartments
To house a fav'rite.

Dalg.
Fav'rite!

Skour.
Yes: it seems
His credit has, of late, most wond'rously
Shot up at court.

Dalg.
His credit? Why, by six
To-morrow afternoon, his all i'th'world
Will be the mem'ry of some land he had—
Scant credit for a fav'rite!

Skour.
Yet he means
To pay our mortgage off, and that with funds
Provided by the king.

Dalg.
What, by the king
Of Eldorado? Long will Nigel gape,
If 'tis th'exchequer of king James he looks to.

Skour.
King James has other means—certain crown jewels—

Dalg.
And what of them?

Skour.
Which he has lent to Nigel,
At Heriot's intercession, to obtain
Advances on. But now I had the fact
From Trapbois, who is set to find the money.

Dalg.
Curse on their Scotch intrigue! fav'rite indeed!
Is there no help? Could nothing be devised
Out of this morning's brawl, to fret the king
Against him?

Skour.
That were likely.

Dalg.
To expose
A naked rapier is, with gentle Jamie,
A more unseemly fault than to fly from it.

Skour.
Have a star-chamber warrant then, and seize him.

Dalg.
That shall be done. But, for the jewels, Skourlie,
Shew me the way to stop the ill they lead to—
His land's redemption.

Skour.
There's but one; to borrow
Those baubles, without which he cannot muster
The gold for this repurchase—but to borrow
The jewels, of old Trapbois, just till six
To-morrow afternoon, no longer. Then,
Nigel may raise Peru, it comes too late.

Dalg.
Borrow? How borrow? Death, there is no hazard
I would not run to have them in my hold
One day! Well how thou gap'st now with thy “borrow!”
Thou dost not think he walks abroad o'nights
With such a handful, for a sturdy knave
To knock him down, and rake him?

Skour.
Nay, not so;
But if—your ear— (Observing the officers, he whispers to Dalgarno.)


Pep.
(To the officers.)
These manners for a lord!
Broil me like any rasher, if I palate
Such incivility: why, rabbit me,
I am a soldier, sirs.

Dalg.
(Turning round.)
Who talks so loud?

Pep.
(Sneaking a few paces backward.)
My lord, I did but say I was a soldier.

Dalg.
No doubt, you did but say so. (To Skourlie.)
While he sleeps?
The exploit looks likely.

Skour.
And as safe as lying:
You'll not ev'n break the old man's rest. The leads
Over my office run behind his house;
And from that stage up to his chamber window,
(Whose grating has these several days hung loose,
Through fear, I guess, of charge for its repair,)
The height's not far. Besides, you will not keep
The trinkets beyond six to-morrow evening.

Dalg.
You'll act as guide?

Skour.
My nerves, my lord, are weak;
The valiant captain now—

Dalg.
The valiant captain
Is quite as rank a coward as thyself.

Skour.
True, but he knows the chamber; has been suitor
Unto the daughter: not, indeed, encouraged,
But oft times there.

Dalg.
We'll take him, lacking better.
This is a frolic to repay some hazard.

Skour.
And yet there's none. (To Peppercole.)
Captain!
(To Dalgarno.)
I'll find you cloaks,
Masks, and such implements else as you shall need,
And wait upon you speedily. At midnight
You'll do't in safety.

[Exeunt Skourlie, Peppercole, and Officers.
Dalg.
I have known no prank
Compass'd, since first I made this fellowship
With my star-wandering boys, my night companions—
Nay, none that high-born minion of the moon
Or taking rogue e'er did, in merrier times,
When mad prince Hal cried “Stand,” to Gadshill trav'lers,
Or Robin Huntingdon took toll in Sherwood
From portly priests, more fraught with golden issues
Than this night's enterprize! The jewels gain'd,
I bar my Scot of his pawn'd heritage,
Drive him a beggar from this girl's idolatry,
And crush the only influence that could claim
The windfall of these northern forfeitures.
O, that 'twere dead o'night, and the deed done!
For darkness is the dawn of brave men's fortunes,
The menstruum of the real alchymy!

[Exit.