GAVIN. You have me. Let the gipsy go.
LORD RINTOUL (to halliwell, slyly). Are you to let the gipsy go — (Laughs) — Halliwell?
(He and halliwell look at each other and are merry over the situation. Their laughter increases.)
You don’t join with us, Mr. Dishart, in our homely mirth?
HALLIWELL. It can’t be expected of him till he knows the reason of it. As you justly say, sir, we have you, but the cream of the situation is that you have put yourself into our hands for nothing. You have surprised us, Mr. Dishart, but we have also a surprise for you. (Bowing ironically) Allow me to tell you that the gipsy is not here; she has not been arrested, and we know where she is no more than yourself. (Laughs and rejoins rintoul.)
GAVIN. This is idle, sir. She is in that room.
LORD RINTOUL. In that room?
(Neither of them credits him.)
GAVIN.! KNOW IT.
(FELICE has come in with lighted candle and is about to go upstairs, listening eagerly.)
LORD RINTOUL (puzzled). Felice!
(She comes forward in concealed trepidation.)
YOU TOLD ME HER LADYSHIP WAS IN HER ROOM?
FELICE. YES, MY LORD.
GAVIN. It was this girl who —— —
(He stops, seeing FELICE sign to him imploringly, LORD RINTOUL sees it also; he looks sternly from one to the other, FELICE would get between him and the door, but by a gesture he stops her. He opens door.)
LORD RINTOUL. Babbie,! WANT YOU.
(BABBIE, after pause, comes out, now dressed as befits her rank — not a full evening dress, but in striking contrast to the gipsy, GAVIN gets a great shock. She controls her emotion, FELICE is relieved.)
You know this gentleman? He insists that there was a gipsy girl in your room.
BABBIE (self-controlled). I was quite alone, father.
LORD RINTOUL. You heard what Lady Barbara said, Mr. Dishart?
GAVIN (manfully). I heard. I made — a strange mistake.
HALLIWELL. We should all like to know how, sir?
(gavin looks at FELICE.)
FELICE. I think I can explain, my lord. This gentleman, he was shown in here, and he ask me if a gipsy girl here. He seem very excited — I think good jest to say, ‘Yes.’ He say, ‘Where, where?’ I point to her ladyship’s room and run away laughing.
GAVIN. Yes, it was she who told me.
(lord rintoul signs sternly to her to go babbie and felice exchange glances as felice exits, gavin pulls himself together.)
HALLIWELL. Not so fast, sir. Rintoul, I must ask you to make out the warrant for this man’s arrest.
BABBIE. What?
LORD RINTOUL. I wonder.
BABBIE. What has he done?
HALLIWELL (expecting approval of himself). Listen to this, Lady Barbara. It was he who prevented my seizing those weavers. It was he who blew the horn and roused the town. The woman he passed off as his wife was the gipsy, and he did it so that she might escape us. He has confessed it all!
BABBIE (to GAVIN). Why?
HALLIWELL. I drew it out of him. I pretended that we had caught the gipsy, and he offered himself in her place. It was all done to save her.
BABBIE. I see.
LORD RINTOUL. In a way it was a chivalrous thing to do, Halliwell.
HALLIWELL. Our duty is quite clear. (Folds arms, looks at gavin.) The warrant!
LORD RINTOUL. If you insist. (He sits at table, but reluctantly.)
BABBIE. NO!
GAVIN. Don’t be so sorry for me — Lady Barbara. This seems a very little matter to me — now.
HALLIWELL. Rintoul! (Indicating that he wants the warrant.)
BABBIE. No, father, you shall not.
LORD RINTOUL (growing stern). Why not?
BABBIE. Because this is the man I love. —
(This has its startling effect on all three.)
And he loves me, and I will not give him up. At first it appalled me, it appals me still. I may be mad, I know I am mad, but Mr. Dishart is the one man on earth to me, father, and I will never marry any other.
HALLIWELL (at last finding his tongue and crossing to rintoul). It was you who invited him about the place, Rintoul — it was you who flung them together!
LORD RINTOUL. Is what Lady Barbara says true?
(LORD RINTOUL’S good nature is all gone now.)
GAVIN (to RINTOUL). She was all the world to me.
BABBIE. Was?
GAVIN. Is. I cannot wonder at your anger — it must seem monstrous to you that I should have raised my eyes to her.
HALLIWELL. Oh no! a minister is always looking upwards, is he not?
GAVIN. You speak scornfully, sir, but I believe you have found the reason why I love her.
LORD RINTOUL. Damnation — the warrant! (Goes to writing-table.)
BABBIE. If you sign that, father, won’t it mean getting into the song yourself?
LORD RINTOUL (on consideration, throwing down pen and picking up warrant). I give you one last chance, sir. This shall not be issued if I have your word that you never approach my daughter again. (Turns and looks at babbie.)
GAVIN. I make no bargains — I decline. But I am a man of honour, I hope, and I would marry no man’s daughter without his consent — you may be sure of that.
(BABBIE’S head jerks up at this.)
Nor would she, I am certain, marry anyone against your wish.
(This is not precisely how BABBIE is looking.)
LORD RINTOUL. SO she has repeatedly said. (Looking up at BABBIE.)
(She hangs her head. He considers warrant.) I shall think it over. (Puts warrant in pocket.)
HALLIWELL. Quite a family affair. And now, my reverend gentleman, as it seems no immediate action is to be taken, I think you expressed a desire to go. (Holds out gavin’s hat)
Allow me.
GAVIN (taking hat). As for you, sir, you are naturally perturbed; but your breeks fit you beautifully.
(RINTOUL laughs, GAVIN looks at him, then goes to BABBIE, kisses her and exits after glancing at RINTOUL and HALLIWELL. HALLIWELL runs off after him.)
LORD RINTOUL (to BABBIE). By all that’s infernal — he kissed you!
BABBIE (large-eyed). I thought he did, father! (Runs to armchair by fire and sits.)
LORD RINTOUL (following her down). You shall suffer for this!
(Re-enter halliwell.)
HALLIWELL. But the man — the man — is he to get off scot-free?
LORD RINTOUL. I’ll see to him — I tell you I’ll make short shrift of him. (With idea) Halliwell, suppose — we do arrest him, then — but no, that would drag me into it. (He has produced warrant again — again pockets it.)
HALLIWELL. Here’s an idea. If I — but they would get wind of that!
(BABBIE gets up quickly and kneels in chair, looking at them.)
LORD RINTOUL (producing warrant).