St. Aubyn will do when he hears his father's made such a
proposition to you? He'll take the old man out in the back lot and give
him a thrashing he won't forget to the day of his death!
[The roll of drums is heard, distant, as if sounding below the cliff;
bugle sounds at the same time.]
[MARIANO and MICHELE run hurriedly from the hotel and lean over
balustrade at back, as if watching something below the cliff.]
[RIBIERE enters quickly with them, takes one quick glance in same
direction, and hurries off.]
[PIKE and ETHEL, surprised, turn to look.]
MARIANO [calling to ETHEL as he enters]. A bandit of Russia,
Mademoiselle! The soldiers think he hide in a grotto under the cliff!
[ALMERIC comes on rapidly from the hotel, carrying a shot-gun.]
ALMERIC [enthusiastically, as he enters]. Oh, I _say_, fair sport, by
Jove! Fair sport!
PIKE [to ETHEL, indicating ALMERIC, chuckling]. I saw _him_ on the road
here--what's he meant for?
ALMERIC. Think I'll have a chance to pot the beggar, Michele?
[He joins MICHELE at balustrade.]
MICHELE. No, Signore, there are two companies of carabiniere.
[PIKE, delighted, chuckles aloud.]
ETHEL [angry, calling]. Almeric!
ALMERIC [turning]. Hallo!
ETHEL [frigidly]. I wish to present my guardian to you. [To PIKE.]
_This_ is Mr.
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