The Washington times., 1922-12-17


HEDDA (,otth 10y tormdHty)-That
Is well. Come and stand before
me.
JANEK (obeyin0, toith slight mock
ery)-Excellency! The flowers In
the garden have languished-they
have been so long deprived Of
your gracious presence!
HEDDA ignoring this speech)-I
have been iii with fever, as you
doubtless know. Much has been
kept from me. But nvw | am
strong enough to hear the truth.
l wish to learn the facts concern
ing the death Of the distinguished
English gentleman who was our
guest a month ago.
JANEK (siIken-poiced)-T young
mistress knows best what she Is
able to bear.
HEDDA fDith cold controD-It
was you, was II not. who found
his body In the river?
JANEK (,oifh a mdsk-Nke fdce)-
Yes. Floating face-downward be-
meath the second bamboo bridge.
1t was there | found the English
lord.
HEDDA (stOnuy cdInJ
him to me, exactly as you found
him. 81
JANEK (ioith shrm9 OF protest.
Will It not bring evil dreams?
HEDDA fstayin0 at him penetrat.
tR0Iy)-Recall his face to mind.
Was there Disagreement? Marks
of violence?
JANEK (,oith a yelled olance)-
None.
HEDDA (insistentIy)-Was there
no sign Of struggle upon the
river-bank that might indicate q
crime?
JANEK (,oith a fash of dertsion)-
A crimey Even the Dutch au.
thorities have repudieted the
idea. 1t was agreed that the
English captain had missed lis
footing In the dark while cross
ing the bridge. There was a mist
that night. The river was swol-
len. with q shrug.) The tan
gle-weed accomplished the rest.
HDDDA (steadying herself ,cith an
effort of UiIl)-What valuables
were upon the English gentleman
when you found him?
JANEK-ssch as would befit
man Of rank. All these were sur.
- rendered To the master, who, in
turn, delivered them to the au.
thOrities.
HEDDA f0dzfng frcdIv at him)-
ALL of them?
JANEK fretuvwiNg her gaze)--AlI
but a few scraps of paper, drop
ped upon the bank. Would II in
terest the njonja-besar to see
these?
HEDDA (pdIe)--My letters. So It
Is true--you have them!
JANBK ftmpasstpely)--It is true
! have them, excellency.
HEDDA femotiom breaking through
htr CONTROL Then we are vast
ing time! Give them to me
take your reward and go! There
10 the money. You need not fear
but what ] have been generous.
JANEK fptfh q short laugh)--
Money! Am I light-boy to be
bribed?
HEDDA fscornfnllp)-Then II is
not enough!
JANEK f,cith blazing epes and a
Hghtntng-itke change Of mdnner)
II am an Eurasian. I have
white blood in my veins!
HEDDA--white blood? Good. Now
is your chance to prove Il!
JANEK ftnsolcntlv)-Pah! am
not telling II TO boast. Tie ap-
proochcs nearer pifh sugges-
fion NJ a stodgger.) But to estab-
lish myself upon proper footing.
HEDDA fco!dIy)-Be careful You
do not assume too much.
JANEK (bifterly)--My father was
an Englishman. my mother Ma
lay. am a result Of one of the
back-stairs loves OF India. The
consequence Of forgotten hour
In a libertine's life. All English
men are hbertines!
HEDDA fshdrpIN)--All this is not
important tn the moment. II has
no bearing-- ~
JANEK-Pardon! II is OF much
significance. Within this yellow
body 10 a white mans heart. with
all a white mans pride and pas
sion. II Ii because Of this that
you shall not buy your letters TO
your lover with gold or silver.
No! That might have satisfied
the Asiatic--but white blood de-
mands a higher price!
HDDDA fpicking mp the bag of
money front the table and drop