University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—Frankfort. Time, morning. The Doctor, brother of Alonzo, sheriff, guards and citizens meet at the tavern where Conrad slept.
Sheriff
to the Innkeeper.
Did you not hear Alonzo was dead?

Innkeeper.
Dead!

Sher.
Some savage person, murdered him, last night.

Inkeep.
Kill'd him! was he murdered! merciful heavens!
I never heard the like in all my life.

Sher.
He was stabbed about the seventh rib, and died!
And 'tis my duty to investigate
And find, with speed, who that vile villain was.

Inkeep.
Yes, certainly 'tis.

Sher.
We are requested to inquire of you,
Who tarried here last night?

Inkeep.
I do not know.
[Points to the bar.
There is the register—find out his name.

Sher.
Yes, here it is. Now, lead us to his room.

Innkeep.
He's gone!—gone long ago! he left by light!

Sher.
Then, let us search his room.

Innkeep.
Was he the man?

Sher.
'Tis said he was the very man!

Innkeep.
Who saw him?
'Tis best to weigh the thing—not be too sure.

Doctor.
He was the very man!

Innkeep.
How do you know?

Doct.
Alonzo's wife, sir, saw him do the deed.

Innkeep.
Where was he?

Doct.
In the room adjoining hers.
She said she heard his voice, and knew it well.
But there are other things, which made her know it.
Alonzo told his wife, a year ago,
He swore eternal vengeance to his face?

Innkeep.
Well, well! search his room—'tis all no use.

Sher.
Where is his room? we must search his room!

Innkeep.
Porter, take the sheriff to Conrad's room.

(Sheriff, Doctor, and citizens go in his room to search.
Innkeeper
to Edgar.
'Tis strange that Conrad should be such a man!
What circumstance has led them to suspect?
A milder face, than his, I never saw.
He drank my health before he left this morning,
And hoped the governor, who rules the state,
Might be elected—jovial as you please.
I do not understand, why they suspect,
That Conrad killed that man! do you know?

Edgar.
Why, I believe Alonzo's wife, sometime
Before his death, o'erheard him say, 'twas best
To leave the state—that, Conrad threatened death!
Now, I believe she neither saw nor heard him.
But, 'twas a thing long looked for, by them both.

Innkeep.
You don't say so!—I never heard a word!
What quarrel had they? they were always friends?

Edgar.
Yes, they were friends, as far as I have known.

Innkeep.
I want to know, then, why they say 'twas Conrad?
I never saw a countenance so mild!

Edgar.
I always liked him—he was always kind.

Innkeep.
They have no cause to search the room for him!

Edgar.
Perhaps they have some cause!

Innkeep.
What is that cause?

Edgar.
You know, about three years ago, Alonzo
Paid his first addresses to Eudora—

Innkeep.
Well!—now, what has that to do with this case?

Edgar.
That is the very thing to breed a murder!

Innkeep.
Then, you believe that Conrad killed Alonzo!

Edgar.
I should believe that, just as soon as not.

Innkeep.
'Tis strange, that you believe without some proof!
Did any enmity exist between 'em?

Edgar.
I do not know, but I expect there did—
Alonzo did not act the gentleman!

Innkeep.
How! did not act the gentleman!—with whom?

Edgar.
I hate to say, precise,—but, things are such,
That one might think, that, as he loves Eudora—
Knowing, that dead Alonzo did deceive her!—
One, I say, might think that Conrad killed him!
I know what I would do, in such a case.

Innkeep.
Did you say, Alonzo's self deceived her?

Edgar.
'Tis said, he did!—I did not see him do it.

Innkeep.
Ah! is that all?—would you believe such trash?
He, kill a man, because that man deceived
Eudora!—'twas her fault!—she was to blame!
Why did he not unite with some one else?

Edgar.
It may be so, and like enough, I guess.
Such things exist, that death 's the only means
Can give her satisfaction!—this, I know.

Innkeep.
There is some part I have not heard—speak out!

Edgar.
Alonzo promised marriage—did deceive her!
Stole her virtue; and left her on the world!

Innkeep.
What!—he did not ruin Elvira's child!

Edgar.
So says the world.—What every body says,
Of course, is true.

Innkeep.
Then, damn him!—let him die!

Edgar.
I say so, too! I would have done the same;
I say, what Conrad did, was manly—right!

Innkeep.
What! have my child abused? my child! my child!
I'd lose my life, and fifty lives beside,
To shield my daughter from a gaping world!—
He should have killed him in the open streets.

Edgar.
Be mute—the sheriff comes—we must be calm.

Sheriff and citizens return with a handkerchief, found on Conrad's bed.
Sheriff.
Look here! behold this handkerchief, and weep!
This handerchief was left upon his bed!
Look at this living stain, and read his guilt!
[Shows the blood on the handkerchief.
Now, who would ask for better proof than this?
Behold the very cordial of his heart!
See, where the savage wiped his dagger on it!
And, truth, to shame the devil, left it here!
This works materially to his disgrace.

Doctor.
Give it to me—it shall be evidence in court.
[He takes it and cuts it with his knife.
Behold! look here!—the villain's name's upon it!
See where the dagger pierced it, as 'twas wiped!
Oh! my brother! (weeps.)
—Let him travel cross the sea,
But I will find him—justice shall be dealt!
Now, Mr. Sheriff, you have seen this blood!
I do adjure you, by the sorrow which I feel,
To deputize to your men, and bring him back—
'Tis but an evening's ride to where he lives.
Then, by my oath, invested in this writ,
You bring him back, if he is in this world.—
Oh! my brother! my brother! dead and gone!

[Weeps, and goes out.
Sher.
Now, men! if you are men, be firm of heart.
We must, by law, by orders, which you've heard,—
Pursue the murderer—bring him back, in haste.
Therefore, I summon all around, to aid.

Innkeep.
I would not poison such good nature,—will
You bring a just man here, to judge him just?
He did what you, and I, and all had done!
I would have tracked him through white Zembla's snows,
And back, from thence, throughout Arabia's sands—
By heavens! I say, he acted like a man!
[Waves his hand.
A child 's a thing so near a father's self,
He would not see her harmed!—and think you, sir,
I'd have a wife, and know she had been harmed—
Live with her—love her—fold her in my arms—
And, like an easy coward, mope all day,
And sleep all night, and her seducer live?—
Thou art no man!—thou art a thoughtless fool!

Sher.
Come, men! 'tis time—we must obey the law.
We have no use for such a man as that!

[Pointing to the Innkeeper. Exeunt sheriff and his guard.
Edgar
to the Innkeeper.
We have done wisely, in a twofold sense.
But, mark me! did you not observe that skill?
That man who cut the 'kerchief!—mark his oath!
He does not know that Conrad killed his brother—
Any more than you or I—he only thinks!
We all may think—but thinking will not do!—
He knows one thing—he knows three things—
And these three things—all Frankfort knows!
That, dead Alonzo treated her unkind—
Deceived her, in the utmost of her hopes!
And, more than all, he takes it home to self;
And, though he feels, were he in Conrad's place.
He'd do the same—still, he must have revenge!
And more, to change presumption into truth,
He makes old circumstance look young—
Rubs up the tarnished brass of by-gone guilt
And holds it in the sun, as golden truth.
He's right, and still, he's wrong—I'll tell you why—
He should not steal from truth, to make truth rich.
Should he have pierced that which was never torn?
No, no! he may do worse—tear Conrad's heart!
Now, he will swear that handkerchief was cut,
And, that the rent was made by Conrad's dagger!
Therefore, condemned, or not condemned—he's wrong!

Inkeep.
How many ways to kill a dog beside hanging.

Edgar.
Perhaps, it was a party mob, at last!

Innkeep.
I wish it so—for Conrad is a man—
He is a man amongst a thousand men!

Edgar.
Good day! I wish you well.

Innkeep.
The same to you.

[Exeunt omnes.