Part 14 (2/2)

MANSON. Hereafter, then.

[Enter AUNTIE and VICAR by door to right.]

AUNTIE [off]. Leave him to me, William! I'll soon settle the matter! [Entering.] The man must be possessed of some evil spirit! . . .

Why--it's my brother James! . . .

[MANSON has risen, and is now the butler once more. He speaks into the ear-trumpet.]

MANSON. Your sister and the vicar, my lord.

BISHOP [behind table, rising]. Ah! Well, Martha!--No, no, no, if you please! [He restrains her approach.] Observe the retribution of an unchastened will. You have never seen my face for sixteen years! However, like a cloud, I blot out your transgressions from this hour!

And so this is your husband ?--Not a word, sir; not a single word!--the sausages were delicious, and your place has been most agreeably occupied by your brother!

VICAR. My brother! Then you . . . What do you mean?

BISHOP [testily]. I mean what I say, sir! Your brother, _my_ brother, _our_ brother here, of course, our Oriental brother!

AUNTIE. James, you are making a mistake: this is our new butler--our _Indian_ butler.

BISHOP. Your Indian--WHAT?

[He stands cogitating horribly until the end of the act, facing towards MANSON.]

AUNTIE. What has made him like this? He seems possessed!

MANSON. He is! . . .

I have just been having some trouble with _another_ devil, ma'am.

AUNTIE. Meaning, of course . . . What has become of him?

MANSON [with his eye]. _He_ is cast out forever.

AUNTIE. Where is he now?

MANSON. He walks through dry places seeking--[he probes her soul]--_other_ habitations.

AUNTIE. Manson! This is your doing! Oh, you have saved us!

MANSON. I am trying to, ma'am; but, G.o.d knows, you make it rather difficult!

[A change comes over her face, as the curtain slowly falls.]

THE THIRD ACT

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