University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

ALL,
speaking as they enter.
Treason, Sandys, treason!
Where is this lady? Is the wager lost,
Or do you mock us?

SIR GEORGE,
to them.
Were you not entreated
To wait my summons? Do not be amazed,
She came upon a charitable errand.
(To Lady Grace.)
And so, dear lady, having heard your tale
And helped your client, you will suffer me
To be your honoured escort.

LADY GRACE.
You are thanked
With all the words I have.

CAPEL.
It is Lady Grace!

RAYMOND.
I am struck dumb.

FITZERSE.
If I had met a ghost
I should be less disturbed.

LORD LYNTON,
gravely advancing with Lady Grace's hat and cloak.
Pray you, permit me;
Your charitable errand being fulfilled,
You may resume your cloak.
(He puts it on for her; she stands in manifest embarrassment.)
The hour is late;
My carriage can convey you home, unless
Some exigence of charitable duty
Demand a journey with this gentleman.

LADY GRACE.
I claim your gentle judgment, having never
Deserved a doubt.

LORD LYNTON,
conducting her to the door.
I do not judge a woman;
I trust her—when I can.

(Raymond, Capel, and Fitzerse all draw back to let Lady Grace pass.—Raymond opens the door for her.)
LADY GRACE.
Thank you. Good-night.
I shall meet you at the ball on Thursday?

RAYMOND.
Yes;
I book you for a valse.

LADY GRACE.
I do not dance.

RAYMOND.
You did not—all things change—I live in hope.

LADY GRACE,
aside.
Means he to twit me with my past? I like not
That phrase of ‘change’ and ‘hope.’
(She turns as she is leaving the room, and speaks with great dignity.)
My presence here
Is a dark sentence; pray decipher it
By the unflinching lustre of my life,
And you shall find the words are—innocent.

(They stand silent.—Exit Lady Grace.)
RAYMOND,
returning to the others.
A little strange, my friends, a little awkward,
But carried like a queen.

CAPEL.
Who would have dreamed
Of this! Now, Sandys, read the riddle for us.

FITZERSE.
One point is clear, the wager is not won.
Confess that you have failed.

SIR GEORGE.
If it be failure
To win one woman while you seek another.

ALL,
except Lord Lynton.
Come, come, explain.

SIR GEORGE.
I will not speak one word.
I leave you to your guesses. Let us talk
Of this at supper.

(He ushers them to the door.—Exeunt Raymond, Capel, and Fitzerse.—Lord Lynton stops and turns to Sir George.)
LORD LYNTON.
Twenty years ago
There had been blood for this. But we, to-day,
Leave every question to defend itself;
And if a woman needs defence, I think
She scarce deserves it. Will you tell me plainly
What this thing means?

SIR GEORGE.
Have you a right to ask?

LORD LYNTON.
I had.

SIR GEORGE.
You give it up? Well, you are wise,
If your right hangs on any word of mine;
For I say nought but this:
I hold the lady virtuous.

LORD LYNTON.
You are bound
To say so much.

SIR GEORGE.
I am bound to say no more.
If this content you, well.

LORD LYNTON.
And if it do not?

SIR GEORGE,
shrugging his shoulders.
Why then, well, too! I am either way content.

(Exeunt.)