Then I have the advantage
over you, Hawcastle. He's just done it.
HAWCASTLE [startled]. What?
LADY CREECH [continuing]. Got him a pardon from Russia by telegraph.
HAWCASTLE. You don't mean that!
LADY CREECH. Ethel has just told me.
HAWCASTLE. My God!
[He springs forward and touches a bell on wall.]
LADY CREECH. An outrage! Our plans all so horribly upset--
HAWCASTLE [turning and coming down steps]. No, they're not.
[MARIANO appears in the doorway.]
HAWCASTLE. Mariano, I'm off for Naples. Sharp's the word!
MARIANO. It is too late for the boat, Milor'. You must drive to
Castellamare for the train.
HAWCASTLE. There's a carriage waiting for me at the gate yonder. Get
these things into it quick--quick!
[MARIANO beckons porters from the hotel. Porters enter sharply and carry
bags, etc., off.]
[Meanwhile, HAWCASTLE, without pause, continues rapidly and in an
excited voice to ALMERIC and LADY CREECH.]
You must see it through; you mustn't let the thing fail; what's more,
you've got to hurry it, just as if I were here. This girl gave her word
last night that she'd stick.
LADY CREECH. But she's behaving very peculiarly this morning.
Outrageously would be nearer it.
HAWCASTLE. How?
LADY CREECH. Shedding tears over this Ivanoff's story. What's more, she
has sent that dreadful Pike person to him with assistance.
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