Miss Mary (angrily to the DUCHESS). I'm ashamed of you! (To OAKHURST, advancing.) I don't ask pardon for my intrusion. If you are Alexander Morton, you are my kinsman, and you will know that I cannot introduce myself better than as the protector of an injured woman. Come here! (To the DUCHESS, dragging her towards OAKHURST.
To OAKHURST.) Look upon this woman: she claims to be--Starbottle (stepping between MISS MARY and the DUCHESS). A moment, Miss Mary, a single moment! Permit me to--er--explain. The whole thing, the--er--situation reminds me, demn me, of most amusing incident at Sacramento in '52. Large party at Hank Suedecois: know Hank? Confirmed old bach of sixty. Dinner for forty. Everything in style, first families, Ged,--Judge Beeswinger, Mat Boompointer, and Maje Blodgett of Ahlabam: know old Maje Blodgett? Well, Maje was there. Ged, sir, delay,--everybody waiting. I went to Hank.
"Hank," I says, "what's matter? why delay?"--"Star," he says,--always called me Star,--"Star,--it's cook!"--"Demn cook," I says:
"discharge cook,--only a black mulatto anyway!"--"Can't, Star," he says: "impossible!"--"Can't?" says I.--"No," says he. "Listen, Star," he says, "family secret! Honor! Can't discharge cook, because cook--demn it--'s MY wife!" Fact, sir, fact--showed marriage certificate--married privately seven years! Fact, sir--The Duchess (to MISS MARY). Some other time, miss, let us go now.
There's a mistake, miss, I can't explain. Some other time, miss!
See, miss, how cold and stern he looks! another time, miss!
(Struggling.) For God's sake, miss, let me go!
Miss Mary. No! This mystery must be cleared up now, before I enter HIS house,--before I accept the charge of this--Starbottle (interrupting, and crossing before MISS MARY). A moment--a single moment, miss. (To OAKHURST.) Mr. Morton, you will pardon the exuberance, and perhaps, under the circumstances, somewhat natural impulsiveness, of the--er--***, for which I am perhaps responsible; I may say--er--personally, sir,--personally responsible--Oakhurst (coldly). Go on, sir.
Starbottle. The lady on my right is--er--the niece of your father,--your cousin. The lady on my left, engaged in soothing the--er--bashful timidity of infancy, is--er--that is--er--claims to be, the mother of the child of Alexander Morton.
Oakhurst (calmly). She is right.
Miss Mary (rushing forward). Then you are--Oakhurst (gently restraining her). You have another question to ask: you hesitate: let me ask it. (Crossing to the DUCHESS.) You have heard my answer. Madam, are you the legal wife of Alexander Morton?
The Duchess (sinking upon her knees, and dropping her face in her hands). No!
Oakhurst. Enough: I will take the child. Pardon me, Miss Morris, but you have heard enough to know that your mission is accomplished, but what else passes between this woman and myself becomes no stranger to hear. (Motions toward room L.)
Miss Mary (aside). It is HIS son. I am satisfied (going). Come, colonel.
[Exeunt into room L., STARBOTTLE and MISS MARY.
The Duchess (crossing to OAKHURST, and falling at his feet).
Forgive me, Jack, forgive me! It was no fault of mine. I did not know that you were here. I did not know that you had taken his name!
Oakhurst. Hush--on your life!
The Duchess. Hear me, Jack! I was anxious only for a home for my child. I came to HER--the schoolmistress of Red Gulch--for aid. I told her the name of my boy's father. She--she brought me here.
Oh, forgive me, Jack! I have offended you!
Oakhurst. How can I believe you? You have deceived HIM. You have deceived me. Listen! When I said, a moment ago, you were not the wife of Alexander Morton, it was because I knew that your first husband--the Australian convict Pritchard--was still living; that you had deceived Sandy Morton as you had deceived me. That was why I left you. Tell me, have you deceived me also about him, as you did about the other? Is HE living, and with you; or dead, as you declared.
The Duchess (aside). He will kill me if I tell him. (Aloud.) No, no. He is gone--is dead these three years.
Oakhurst. You swear!
The Duchess (hesitates, gasps, and looks around for her child; then seizing it, and drawing it toward her). I--swear.
Oakhurst. Enough. Seek not to know why I am here, and under his name. Enough for you that it has saved your child's future, and secured him his heritage past all revocation. Yet remember! a word from you within the next few days destroys it all. After that, I care not what you say.
The Duchess. Jack! One word, Jack, before I go. I never thought to bring my shame to you!--to HIM!
Oakhurst. It was no trick, then, no contrivance, that brought her here. No: it was fate. And at least I shall save his child.
Re-enter STARBOTTLE, MISS MARY, and DUCHESS.
Col. Starbottle (impressively). Permit me, Mr. Alexander Morton, as the friend of my--er--principal to declare that we have received--honorable--honorable--satisfaction. Allow me, sir, to grasp the hand, the--er--cherished hand of a gentleman who, demn me! has fulfilled all his duties to--er--society and gentlemen.
And allow me to add, sir, should any invidious criticism of the present--er--settlement be uttered in my presence, I shall hold that critic responsible, sir--er--personally responsible!
Miss Mary (sweeping truculently and aggressively up to JOHN OAKHURST). And permit ME to add, sir, that, if you can see your way clearly out of this wretched muddle, it's more than I can.
This arrangement may be according to the Californian code of morality, but it doesn't accord with my Eastern ideas of right and wrong. If this foolish, wretched creature chooses to abandon all claim upon you, chooses to run away from you,--why, I suppose, as a GENTLEMAN, according to your laws of honor, you are absolved.