Chapter III: Act II

_Barataria; vicinity of Lafitte’s home, the Red House; the Bay of Barataria at back; luxuriant foliage and flowers. Enter Lafitte; he has flowers in his hand and is followed by a dog._

LAF. (_sorrowfully and perplexedly._) Dressed as a nun ... Mariana, dressed as a nun!... (_joyfully._) But alive! (_looking at the flowers in his hand._) Fairer than the fairest of you,—and alive! I shall see her maybe,—tell her all that she could not hear when I knelt beside her unconscious sweetness. (_exeunt Lafitte and dog; voices, good-naturedly boisterous, heard without._)

1st V. How many yards?

2nd V. Two hundred, if one. (_cries of “Ah!” and laughter; enter a hunting party returning from the woods; two of the men carry a deer._)

1st H. He would have us believe that he can shoot as well as the Emperor!

3d H. (_in good humored raillery._) Oh, he can do everything,—sail a ship, too. But he didn’t give himself the chance of being caught on the Creole. (_laughter._)

2d H. Anyone might think I had had intentions of going on the Creole to hear you talk.

3rd H. My boy, no. You know the Emperor is prescient; at least that his marvelous skill and intuition made him seem so.

2d H. I know that the Emperor is our man, long life to him!

ALL. Bravo!

2d H. That he is as just as he is powerful and as kind-hearted as he is strong! (_enter Lizbette, sorting some herbs and singing in a moaning low voice._)

ALL. Bravo!

2d H. (_pointing to Lizbette._) Who but the Emperor would allow a witch like that to roam the Island at liberty.

ALL. Three cheers for the Emperor! (_exeunt hunters; Lizbette looks after them angrily._)

LIZ. Yo’ze sorry kase Marser Lafitte done change me fum a slave to a free ooman. Ne mine. I knows how to sarve ’im yit. I done fund out how to get p’mission to hep nuss dat purty young leddy,—to hep save her life. Good ting fe’ me, Fader Cuthbert uz done gone, kase ee woon’t a let me do it. (_enter Baptiste._)

BAP. Good-day to you, Aun’ Lizbette.

LIZ. How yo gettin’ on?

BAP. Mizzable, tank yo.

LIZ. De sperrit?

BAP. Ont leave anyting whar I puts it. (_pulls out a madras handkerchief to wipe his face, and in doing so drops money on the ground; Lizbette picks it up and appropriates it unperceived._)

LIZ. De powers done signify as how yo likely steal dem tings wat disappear.

BAP. (_dumbfounded_) Who me?

LIZ. (_nods her head impressively._) Wat yo come fo’?

BAP. (_dazedly._) Lordy!—Miss Bella wan t’know wat to do in a case o jealousy?—supposin’ like a lover’s jealousy?

LIZ. Nuttin’. Keep still. Things will come right troo a disguise.

BAP. An’ dis—(_takes out the serpent-head locket._) I dunno who dat sen’ it, but de owner wan t’know ef her lover gwine be true to her? (_Lizbette takes the locket._) I done got some money here wat Miss Bella sont yo..., (_looks for the money; finds none; Lizbette shakes her head._)

LIZ. Wat use try to fool de powers?

BAP. (_distracted._) But Aun’ Lizbette ... (_Lizbette shakes her head._) Lordy! I’ll give you de las’ cent I got, Aun’ Lizbette—all de money I kin make so you woan gimme dat rep’tation. Dat sperrit jes sot on chasin’ me to dem blood-houn’s.

LIZ. Wy ont yo try to hep dat sperrit? Ef yo could see ’im onst—

BAP. I doan wan t’see ’im!

LIZ. (_contemptuously._) Yo skeert.

BAP. Yo ain bin hanted.

LIZ. Kase I ain skeert an’ I’ze frenly to ’em. (_exeunt; enter Lafitte and his dog. Lafitte sits; lets his hand fall on his dog._)

LAF. Beppo, dear little friend, she has been very ill; she hasn’t even known that we live. She doesn’t know it now.—But she is better, Bep, old boy ... better! Weak and very nervous, they say, but quite conscious. It was the shock— (_getting up and calling._) Narbonne. (_enter Narbonne._) Order the false commander of the Creole brought before me. (_Narbonne bows and exits; Lafitte walks about; enter Pedro in chains and escorted by pirates; Lafitte faces about as they enter; both start._) What! (_to the man._) Is this the man who commanded the Creole?

1st PIR. This is the man.

LAF. Colonel Tolosa, what have you to say in your own defense? (_Pedro is silent._) Perhaps you know the whereabouts of that ally of yours, Don Manuel d’Acosta?

PED. I can—

LAF. Silence! I will not send you to your reckoning with an added villainy. I can find Don Manuel myself.

PED. You—

LAF. For your plunder of an American vessel in the name of Lafitte. I order you shot. (_exit. Pedro is conducted to the back of the stage, near the Bay, where two men set about digging his grave._)

1st GRAVE-DIGGER. I have often cautioned the men never to trust anyone no matter what his guarantees, without asking for the pass-word. I’ll bet you this fellow couldn’t have answered. “To-morrow,” I say and if the other fellow answers “and her dupes,” all right, I’ll believe him. (_enter Beluche; he goes to Pedro and searches him._)

2d G-D. You shouldn’t speak the pass-word except upon necessity. (_Beluche throws unimportant things found on Pedro to the ground._)

1st G-D. (_looks at Pedro; laughs_) Ha! Dead men tell no tales. (_Beluche finds a small picture; looks at it studiously._)

BEL. (_aside._) There is something familiar about this face. Ahbah! (_throws picture aside; pirates nearer the front have been drawing lots with dice._)

1st PIR. (_to a comrade._) You, one. (_they throw again._)

ALL. Two! (_two of the men stand apart; balance throw again._) Three! (_the three appointed by lot go to back of stage; Beluche measures off the distance; they place themselves on line._)

BEL. One, (_they raise their guns._) two. (_enter Father Cuthbert._)

FATH. C. Pedro!—Stop! (_to the men._) Would you send a soul into eternity without preparation? Leave us. I will be responsible for the prisoner.

BEL. He may escape.

FATH. C. He is bound. I will call you when he shall have confessed.

BEL. (_motions the men away; to Father Cuthbert, reluctantly._) Ten minutes. (_the men stack their guns against a tree and exeunt._)

FATH. C. (_turning to Pedro._) Quickly. What have you done?

PED. I was tempted and fell. I got command of a pirate ship and attacked and sank an American vessel.

FATH. C. (_overwhelmed._) Miserable man!

PED. There is no hope, you see.

FATH. C. No. Lafitte himself, could not have one rule for his men and another for outsiders. But you—Mariana’s brother!

PED. He does not know that I am Mariana’s brother. Once, in Bayonne, unperceived by him, I saw my sister’s lover, but I had no idea that Lafitte was the long-mourned-for man.

FATH. C. He does not know that you are Mariana’s brother!

PED. No. In view of my coming execution I have spared him the knowledge.

FATH. C. (_walking about_) It must not be. It would be an eternal barrier between them. Yet—how? How useless to appeal for extra time to the men.

PED. I could make some amends by sending you word of Mariana.

FATH. C. Yes.—I must risk it. (_looks off to see that he is unwatched; goes to the three guns, unloads them, still leaving them powder-charged and returns them to their places; speaks to Pedro._) You will feign death upon being fired at. (_Pedro nods._) And now, my poor boy, a prayer. (_Pedro bows his head._) Merciful Lord of death and life, (_pirates return; take up their guns._) help us now in this supreme hour. (_Beluche re-measures the distance._) Save him, God, dear Father! (_men station themselves._) Save him, forgive him, God, dear Mother!

BEL. One! (_men raise their guns; Father Cuthbert blesses Pedro silently._) Two! (_enter Mariana; she wears a long, trailing white dress and her hair is loosely twisted._) Three! (_men fire; at the same moment Mariana recognizes Pedro, screams and runs to him as he falls face-downward; enter Lizbette; Father Cuthbert lifts Mariana from Pedro’s body and motions to Lizbette to take her._)

LIZ. (_with her arms around Mariana; leading her away._) Come ’long, honey;—come ’long wid yo po’ ole Lizbette.... (_exeunt Lizbette and Mariana, the latter sobbing._)

FATH. C. Gentlemen, I beg a great favor of you;—that the prisoner’s body be left in my charge.

BEL. His head should be stuck up on a pole for buzzards to pick at! (_knocks the body contemptuously with his gun; Father Cuthbert puts out his hand deprecatingly._)

PIRATES. Ah!

FATH. C. I knew this man long ago,—and the law is now satisfied.

BEL. (_reluctantly._) Well,—out of respect for you.

FATH. C. Thank you. (_bows; kneels beside the body; the men turn to exit and Beluche in going picks up the little picture he had found on Pedro and thrown aside; he puts it in his coat pocket; exeunt men and Beluche; Father Cuthbert looks to see that they have all gone, takes from the ground a long, hooded overcoat which he had carried over his arm when he entered; touches Pedro who rises._) Put this on, (_Pedro puts on overcoat._) and make the most of your chances. (_Father Cuthbert pulls the hood over Pedro’s face._) Fortunately it is a new coat they have never seen.

PED. You have saved my life.

FATH. C. Go. Don’t forget about Mariana. (_Pedro nods; exit._) God help him! (_he goes to the grave, takes up a spade and fills in the grave quickly; enter Beluche._)

BEL. (_suspiciously._) You’ve made short work of it. Why didn’t you call in one of the men to help you?

FATH. C. (_fixing the earth._) Sentiment, I suppose.

BEL. (_poking the newly broken ground with his stick._) The earth is very sweet and clean for such as this.

FATH. C. (_puts out his hand deprecatingly._) My friend—(_enter Lizbette._) How is the young lady, Lizbette?

LIZ. Tollable easy, sah.

FATH. C. (_sternly._) You haven’t been practicing your voo-doo arts on her?

LIZ. Naw, sah.

FATH. C. Very well. See that you don’t. (_exeunt Father Cuthbert and Beluche._)

LIZ. (_looking after them._) Huh! I dunno who dat gwine hep ’er, me, if tain Lizbette I done bin ’bliged t’give ’er sometin’ to make ’er sleep. She war plum crazy. En dose white leddies dunno nuttin. Ne mine. Lizbette know. She done put ’er t’sleep ez peaceful z’a lamb, en wen she wake up, she ont remember. (_takes an opaque white bottle out of her pocket._) Dish hyar remedy fo, blues ... I knows it, kase iss marked “Cordial” on de bottle an’ issa white bottle. (_buries the bottle up to its stopper on one end of the grave._) People say it heps ’em lots. (_takes out a black bottle from her pocket._) An’ dish hyar rank pison might z’well season some, too. (_enter unperceived by Lizbette, Father Cuthbert; she buries the black bottle up to the stopper in the other end of the grave and exits._)

FATH. C. Up to her same old tricks. (_goes to grave; finds the last bottle Lizbette buried; looks for and finds the first; reads._) “Cordial.” I’ll do a little voo-doo work myself. (_takes from his pocket an empty flask; pours the contents of the cordial bottle into his flask._) Harmless enough remedies; but her influence becomes dangerous. (_pours the poison from the black bottle into the cordial bottle and the blues remedy from his flask into the black bottle; he re-buries the bottles as he found them._) A good thing to nonplus her occasionally in her practices. (_exit; re-enter Lizbette with Bella’s locket in her hand._)

LIZ. Snake head got pow’ful signification. (_enter unperceived, Dominique; Lizbette goes to grave; holds locket high over it; shuts her eyes and sways; speaks in ghostly monotone._) Wat you know....

DOM. (_looks up; starts._) What are you doing with that locket? Where did you get it?

LIZ. I dunno, sah, whar it come fum. It uz sent to me an’ll be sont fo’ agin.

DOM. Why?

LIZ. Fo’ advisement; to fin’ out ef de lady’s lover am true to ’er.

DOM. Give me that locket instantly. (_Lizbette hands it to him._) No. (_hands it back to Lizbette gloomily; aside_) She wouldn’t let me have it herself. (_Lizbette holds the locket aloft once more shuts her eyes and sways; Dominique walks about excitedly with his eyes on the ground; enter unperceived, Beluche._)

LIZ. (_in ghostly monotone_). Wat yo know.... (_Beluche who had advanced snatches the locket from her, flings it violently on the ground and puts his foot on it._)

DOM. (_in amazed indignation; angrily._) If you please!—

BEL. (_becoming conscious of Dominique._) Ah, yes. (_stoops; picks up the locket and straightens it out._) Your pardon. (_suavely._) Snakes always throw me into uncontrollable temper. (_hands the locket to Dominique_) May I inquire whose it is?

DOM. (_curtly._) No, you may not.

BEL. (_intensely._) Then I will tell you one thing. You had better be on your greatest guard against a certain fat man. Beware of him!—let your sweetheart beware of him! Otherwise when you will think your love and happiness most secure, they will be ravished from you with utter cruelty.

DOM. Are you crazy?

BEL. Yes,—sixteen years crazy. But you—You have neither great wealth nor grand name. I am sorry for your youth. I warn you. (_exit._)

DOM. Beluche—Well, of all.... (_night sets in; enter Pedro, cloaked and hooded; he looks on the ground for the little picture he had seen Beluche throw aside; he is not seen by Lizbette and Dominique._) Here. (_Dominique gives the locket to Lizbette; Pedro looks up; recognises Bella’s locket; Dominique speaks recklessly, moodily._) While you have your hand in, you may as well tell me whether I have a rival or no. (_Pedro hears; understands Bella’s defense of pirates; exits without having been observed; Lizbette once more holds the locket aloft; shuts her eyes and sways._)

LIZ. (_in ghostly monotone._) I seen a gemman ... dressed like de bridegroom ... ee fat, but ee not t’all stiff-jinted, dough; an’ ee do make love rapchewrous!

DOM. (_intolerantly._) Ah! (_aside._) I’ll look for the man in the locket. (_exit._)

LIZ. Dis snake head pow’ful significant. (_the moon rises, Lizbette puts locket in her bosom; takes her bottles from the grave and exits. Enter Lafitte; he walks across stage; sits absent-mindedly; rests his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Enter Mariana. “Her eyes are open, but their sense is shut.” She wears a long, filmy, trailing white dress; her hair falls over her shoulders; she has her back turned to Lafitte; she touches the tall flowers lightly going from one to another—_)

MAR. (_in a low, soft voice to a flower._) I am jealous of these long thoughts of yours. (_encircling the flower-stalk with her arms, she puts her cheek against the flowers; smiles tenderly; then starts apprehensively._) Did you hear that?... (_calmly._) The wind. I know a secret about the wind. It blows and blows till the world is full of a great white tempest that builds us—up to heaven!... (_fearfully._) Hush! What was that? (_Lafitte looks up; sees Mariana; starts; rises._)

LAF. Mariana! (_she starts; trembles, but does not turn; Lafitte advances; holds out his arms._) Mariana!

MAR. (_waking._) Ah! (_she turns; throws herself in his arms._) I am so glad you are come!

LAF. (_overcome with emotion; passing his hand gently again and again over her bowed head._) My sweetheart—

MAR. My heart is so full.... It has been such a long while since you went away....

LAF. Such a long while, sweetheart. But now—

MAR. You won’t leave me?

LAF. I won’t leave you, even though—

MAR. What?

LAF. Tell me. I have been tortured. You—are a nun?

MAR. No: only a novice, free to leave at any time.

LAF. Thank God!

MAR. He would not let me be a nun, Jean. He brought me here to you. (_Lafitte takes his hat off, lets the hand holding it fall to his side and with his other arm around Mariana; lifts his head to heaven._) Jean—

LAF. Yes?

MAR. I.... (_passes her hand across her forehead in bewildered anguish._) Oh, I have had such horrible dreams!... They were dreams?

LAF. (_soothingly._) Dreams, sweetheart.

MAR. My uncle ... my brother ... I dreamed they were killed!

LAF. (_lovingly._) Did you not think sometimes _I_ was dead?

MAR. Yes.

LAF. Death cannot claim those you love.

MAR. Your voice is so comforting.

LAF. How could it be otherwise in this beautiful hour? Come, sweetheart, let us walk by the shore. The great, calm heart of Nature will strengthen you. (_they walk up stage._) See how the little waves, like baby hands, pat the Earth’s breast all night long. (_exeunt. Enter as they disappear, Manuel; he is dressed in pirate clothes._)

MAN. (_looking after them._) Curse the luck! It isn’t enough that I must thrust myself into a dead pirate’s clothes in order to save my head on that Creole expedition, but I must find myself checkmated at last in spite of everything! (_enter Mariana; her step is light and she is singing softly and blithely._) Mariana—(_kneels._)

MAR. (_startled._) Ah!

MAN. I beg your forgiveness for my words and conduct on the ship. I was beside myself—wild with fear lest you should be taken from me—taken to worse than death. I risked my life—I risk it now to save you.

MAR. (_with transcendent happiness._) There is no need. Jean is here. Jean loves me.

MAN. (_rising._) Jean is a pirate!

MAR. (_turning away in slighting reproval._) Ah!

MAN. Not in make-believe as I was, but in hard, vicious reality.

MAR. (_turning upon him._) Take care.

MAN. His name is not Jean Durand, but Jean Lafitte! (_Mariana recoils._) He it is who has robbed you; who intends dishonor towards you.

MAR. Silence!

MAN. Who is responsible for the sinking of the American vessel, the death of your uncle, the killing of your brother!

MAR. (_remembering the execution._) Ah!—Cowardly liar!

MAN. I can prove the truth of my assertions.

MAR. Do it, on your life! (_exit, followed by Manuel; enter several pirates._)

1st PIR. (_points to a boat coming up the bay._) That’s a strange boat coming up the Bay. (_enter Lafitte and Father Cuthbert._)

2d PIR. An English boat, isn’t it?

LAF. Bearing a flag of truce. (_to his men._) Bring torches, and see that the hospitality of the Island is practiced. (_exeunt several men; the boat lands; Captains McWilliams and Lockyer and several other Englishmen disembark._)

CAP. L. (_to Lafitte._) Have I the honor of addressing the Commander of Barataria? (_Lafitte bows; enter pirates with pine torches_) I beg to present him this letter from Colonel Nicholls of the British navy. (_hands Lafitte a letter._)

LAF. (_reading._)—“I invite you, with your brave followers, to enter into the service of Great Britain—”

PIRATES. (_threateningly._) What!

LAF. (_makes a peremptorily quieting gesture; reads._)—“You shall have the grade of Captain—”

C. McW. Your property shall be guaranteed to you and your persons protected. (_enter pirates carrying dining table and chairs._)

CAPT. L. And here (_handing Lafitte another paper._) are instructions to me by Sir W. H. Percy, Captain of the Hermes, senior officer in the Gulf of Mexico. (_pirates dress the table with viands and wine._)

LAF. (_reads._)—“lands will at the conclusion of the war be alloted to them in His Majesty’s colonies in America”—

CAPT. L. And in addition, as you will see, thirty thousand dollars conferred upon you, payable at your option in Pensacola or New Orleans.

C. McW. You surely cannot let slip such an opportunity of acquiring fortune and consideration.

LAF. In a day or two—

CAPT. L. No reflection should be necessary. As a Frenchman, you are now of course, a friend of Great Britain.

LAF. And as an American?

CAPT. L. You are outlawed the American Government and exposed, if taken, to infamy and death.

C. McW. Whereas in the British service you would have respect, an enviable prospect of promotion,—

LAF. (_leading the way to the table._) Let us sit.

C. McW. (_they seat themselves._) And proper appreciation.

CAPT. L. Your services would be immensely important in carrying out the operations which the British government has planned against lower Louisiana.

LAF. How so?

CAPT. L. Your knowledge of the country would serve us unerringly, (_enter at back Manuel, who beckons cautiously; enter Mariana._) Then, so soon as possession of Louisiana is obtained, the army will penetrate into the upper country and act in concert with the forces in Canada. Everything is prepared for carrying on the war in that quarter with the utmost vigor.

LAF. You are confident of success?

C. McW. We are sure of it. The French and Spanish population of Louisiana will support us.

LAF. (_reflectively._) The negroes, too.

CAPT. L. Will render us great assistance, because we will incite them to insurrection by offering them their liberty.

C. McW. Come. What do you say?

LAF. (_rising, glass in hand._) I drink—

CAPT. L. Lafitte forever! He drinks to His Majesty, King George the Third!

LAF. I drink to—Success!

ALL. Hear! (_all drink: Father Cuthbert puts down his glass sadly, without tasting the wine_.)

MAR. (_in choked surprise and horror._) Lafitte! (_exit Manuel_)

FATH. C. (_rising_) Mariana.

MAR. Do not speak to me! (_all rise._)

LAF. (_advancing a step or two._) Mariana.

MAR. (_recoiling and speaking with headlong passion._) Hypocrite!—traitor!—murderer! (_exit, following Manuel_.)

CURTAIN.

ACT III.