give me ten thousand gold marks. They owe me something at the excise-office, but I won't haggle. Ten thousand gold marks—nothing more. I don't ask you for the sum, because only a crowned head could pay it. I am speaking frankly, you see. Two men as clever as we are, my lord, have nothing to gain by deceiving each other. If frankness were banished from the earth, it would be re-discovered in a tête-à-tête between two rogues.
FABIANI.
Impossible! I can't give you this signature in blank. Ten thousand gold marks! What would the Queen say? And then, to-morrow I may be disgraced: this signature in blank is my safeguard. This signature in blank is my head.
THE MAN.
What does that matter to me?
FABIANI.
Ask me for something else.
THE MAN.
I want that.
FABIANI.
Jew, give me Jane Talbot's papers.
THE MAN.
My lord, give me the Queen's signature in blank.
FABIANI.
Accursed Jew, I will have to yield. [Draws a paper from his pocket.
THE MAN.
Show me the Queen's signature in blank.
FABIANI.
Show me Talbot's papers.
THE MAN.
Afterward.
[They go close to the lantern. Fabiani stands behind the Jew, and with his left hand holds the paper under the Jew's eyes; he examines it. The Man reads.
"We, Mary, Queen—" It is well. You see, my lord, I am like you. I have calculated upon everything. I have foreseen everything.
FABIANI (draws a dagger with his right hand and plunges it into the Jew's throat).
Except this!
THE MAN.
Oh, traitor! Help!
[He falls. In falling he throws a sealed packet into the darkness behind him; Fabiani does not perceive it.
FABIANI (leaning over the body).
Faith! I believe he is dead. Quick, the papers. [He searches the Jew.] What! he hasn't got them. He has nothing—nothing at all about him! Not a paper! He was lying, the old wretch! He deceived me: he wanted to rob me. Is it possible, you accursed Jew! No, he has nothing. That is clear. I have killed him for nothing. They are all alike, these Jews. To lie and steal, that is all they can do. Come, let us get rid of this corpse; I can't leave it here at the door. [Goes up stage.] I will see if the boatman is still there; he can help me throw it into the Thames.
[He descends, and disappears behind the parapet.
GILBERT (enters from the opposite side).
I thought I heard a cry!
[He perceives the body stretched upon the ground under the lantern.
Some one has been assassinated! The beggar!
THE MAN (lifting himself half-way up).
Ah, you come too late, Gilbert.
[He points to the place where he threw the packet.
Take them. They are the papers which prove that Jane, your betrothed, is daughter and heiress of the last Lord Talbot. My assassin is Lord Clanbrassil, the Queen's favorite. Oh, I suffocate! Gilbert, avenge me! Avenge yourself! [He dies.
GILBERT.
Dead! Avenge myself? What does he mean? Jane, daughter to Lord Talbot? Lord Clanbrassil! The Queen's favorite? Oh, I am lost in wonder! [Shaking the body.] Speak! One word more! He is indeed dead!
SCENE VII
Gilbert, Fabiani
FABIANI (returning).
Who goes there?
GILBERT.
A man has been assassinated.
FABIANI.
No, a Jew.
GILBERT.
Who killed him?
FABIANI.
Faith! You or I.
GILBERT.
Sir?
FABIANI.
No witnesses. A corpse on the ground. Two men beside it. Which is the assassin? There is nothing to prove it is one rather than the other—I rather than you.
GILBERT.
Miserable man! You are the assassin!
FABIANI.
Well, yes! To be frank, I am. What of it?
GILBERT.
I am going to call the constables.
FABIANI.
You are going to help me throw the body into the water.
GILBERT.
I will have you seized and punished.
FABIANI.
You will help me throw the body into the water.
GILBERT.
You are insolent.
FABIANI.
Do as I say! Let us destroy all traces of this. Believe me, you are more interested in the matter than I am.
GILBERT.
Upon my soul!
FABIANI.
One of us two did the deed. I am a great lord, a nobleman. You are a passer-by, a peasant, a man of the people. A noble who kills a Jew pays a fine of four sous; a man of the people who kills one of his fellow-creatures is hanged.
GILBERT.
You would dare—
FABIANI.
