The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-09
ACT I.


nel's country house. Butler discovered.
He arranges chairs. smooths the table
cloth, puts newspaper at the back or
ord Avcnels chair. Takes bundle OF
letters from u tray on the SideDoafd
aud lays them before three chairs.
Butler. Here's the lot. and IA pretty
lot it is Glad I'm not his lordship's
secretary. Answering all these let
ters every day would kill me in
week. Give me my pantry and the
silver and | ask no better lot For
his lordShip-one, two-tcounts)-
twenty-four letters. with Il parcel
CTakes up small parcel tied with red
tape and sealed, looks at it. feels it,
weighs it, presses it, Marked I'M
mediate" Looks like as If it had
paper, inside of 1t. More reading
more writing. That pore young man.
the secretary. Some folks are great
ly to be- pitied. Now my lady'S let
ters. One. two--here'S scented one
something sweet from another lady
great ladies love each other a vast
deal more than my friends i'm the
servants hall. Here's Il tradesman's
hill, | take it. Her ladyship isn't in
II hurry tn pay her bills but give her
time. give her time. What's the use
of being a countess. If you can't get
time? One. two. tcounts) eleven let
terS. mostly invitations. Pleasure is
Il weary business Give me my pan
try and my silver Hullo, Here's a
rummy start. The last letter for my
lady is just exactly in the same hand
writing as the packet for my lord,
odd, amt it? Compares themD
Great square hand-same s's: same
is; same-well it doesn't matter to
me. Here's the captains letters
= I,at' 4, a ,
tn" captain has way with him. An
other letter--and another-and-dash
my buttons. If this isn't the rum
mieSt go. Why this letter Is written
In the same handwriting as the other
Two. 1t must he a hospital letter
or church restoring-or Il perma-
nent incapable - well - well - days
down letters before lieutenant's
chair)
tEnter Charlie Nernon.)
Vernon. Her ladyship down yet?
Butler. Not yet. sir. Your letters. sir
iputS them on tray and hands them
Lieutenant Vernon snatches the let
ter whose handwriting has astonished
the butler puts the rest in ms pocket
and tears this one omen and reads
hurriedlyD
Vernon. The DEVIL
tbutler. with impassive face, goes on
table CLOTH setting knives
and forks in proper places. pokes fire)
tNernon walks up and down the room
with vexatiOn)
tButler walks round the table critic
ally. Exit
Vernon. Breads the LETTER AGAIN.
since you have given me no answer
10 my first letter and none To my sec
ond. | shall prove to you that | can
bite as well as bark. | have sent all
the love letters tina. you have been
writing to Lady Avenel to his lord
ship. You will have an opportunity
or explaining things to him-I un-
derstand that you are his guest. This
will make the business all the pleas
anter for you This is a pretty
business. Why the devil didn't Isa-
bel destroy the confounded letters
when we broke it off? This person is
Wok,an. clearly: an uneducated
woman - where is Isabel? Why
doesn't she come down in proper time
for breakfast. oh. confolind the
thing What am to say? There's
ho date. | know there's no date on
any of the letters. lie will think
they were written yesterday
(Enter Lady AvenelD
Lady A. Good morning. Charlie. Have
you got any letters this morning
anything from Clarice?
Vernon. | haven't looked-yet. I've
had something else Ia think about.
Lady A. What is the matter my dear
boy? You look worried
Vernon. ] am worried. Look here, Isa-
Lel-yOu remember two years ago
when thought that you We're in love
with me
Lady A. tcoldly) Well? This is hard
ly the place for these "reminiscences.
IL it?
Vernon. Yes I know 49, but There
were letters-I wrote you--a lot of
letters.
Lady a. What about them? ! daresay
there were-I remember, now. that
there We're.
Vernon. Where are they? Did YOU
burn them?
Lady A. Burn them? Burn them? !
forget-No-I believe they are where
they were then-in my old desk-in
my boudoir.
Vernon. Go and look
Lady A. tRuns out and returns imme-
diatelyD They are gone
Vernon. They are stolen. Do you
know this handwriting?
Lady A. 1t is a common illiterate
hand but think it is the writing of
my last maid whom | had to send
away.
Vernon. Read the letter
Lady A. tReads iD Charlie! Good
heavens! What does the wretched
woman mean?
Vernon. None of my letters have dates.
She believes and she hopes that Lord
Avenel will believe that they were
written yesterday. u.ooks casually
at lsabels cover where there are her
letters) See! Here is letter for
you i'm the same writing. (Hands il }
Lady A. Reads) Madam. have sent
your lovers letters to your husband
for him to read. l hope you will all
three be pleased
Vernon. Where is your husband?