HAWCASTLE. What sort of assistance?
LADY CREECH. Money. I don't know how much, but I'm sure it was a lot.
ALMERIC [with a sudden inspiration]. By Jove! Buying the beggar off,
perhaps, to keep him from making a scandal for us.
HAWCASTLE [excitedly]. That's what she's trying to do!
LADY CREECH. Then why do you go?
HAWCASTLE. Because I'm not sure she can. [Going to steps.] Wire me at
the Bertolini, Naples. [Turning at stoop.] This shows she means to
stick.
LADY CREECH. For the sake of her promise.
HAWCASTLE [emphatically]. Yes, and for the sake of the name.
[He runs out rapidly.]
[PIKE enters from the grove, smoking.]
PIKE [thoughtfully]. Your pa seems in a hurry.
[LADY CREECH and ALMERIC turn, startled. LADY CREECH haughtily sweeps
away, entering the hotel.]
ALMERIC [cheerfully]. Oh yes, possibly--he's off, you know--to catch a
train. He's so easily worried by trifles.
[PIKE looks at ALMERIC with a sort of chuckling admiration.]
PIKE. Well, you don't worry--not too easy; do you, son?
ALMERIC. Oh, one finds nothing in particular this morning to bother one.
PIKE [assenting]. Nothing at all.
ALMERIC. Not I. Of course, Miss Ethel is standing to her promise?
PIKE [grimly]. Yes, she is.
ALMERIC. The Governor only thought it best to clear out a bit until we
were certain that she manages to draw off this convict chap.
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