Exiles

not blame you. You are free. I cannot blame you. Archie appears at the garden door. Bertha I did not deceive you. She goes out through the folding doors. Richard remains standing at the table. Archie, when his mother has gone, runs down to Richard. Archie Quickly. Well, did you ask her? Richard Starting. What? Archie Can I go? Richard Yes. Archie In the morning? She said yes? Richard Yes. In the morning. He puts his arm round his son’s shoulders and looks down at him fondly.

Second Act

A room in Robert Hand’s cottage at Ranelagh. On the right, forward, a small black piano, on the rest of which is an open piece of music. Farther back a door leading to the street door. In the wall, at the back, folding doors, draped with dark curtains, leading to a bedroom. Near the piano a large table, on which is a tall oil lamp with a wide yellow shade. Chairs, upholstered, near this table. A small cardtable more forward. Against the back wall a bookcase. In the left wall, back, a window looking out into the garden, and, forward, a door and porch, also leading to the garden. Easychairs here and there. Plants in the porch and near the draped folding doors. On the walls are many framed black and white designs. In the right corner, back, a sideboard; and in the centre of the room, left of the table, a group consisting of a standing Turkish pipe, a low oil stove, which is not lit, and a rocking-chair. It is the evening of the same day.

	Robert Hand, in evening dress, is seated at the piano. The candles are not lit but the lamp on the table is lit. He plays softly in the bass the first bars of Wolfram’s song in the last act of Tannhäuser. Then he breaks off and, resting an elbow on the ledge of the keyboard, meditates. Then he rises and, pulling out a pump from behind the piano, walks here and there in the room ejecting from it into the air sprays of perfume. He inhales the air slowly and then puts the pump back behind the piano. He sits down on a chair near the table and, smoothing his hair carefully, sighs once or twice. Then, thrusting his hands into his trousers pockets, he leans back, stretches out his legs, and waits. A knock is heard at the street door. He rises quickly.
Robert	Exclaims. Bertha!
	He hurries out by the door on the right. There is a noise of confused greeting. After a few moments Robert enters, followed by Richard Rowan, who is in grey tweeds as before but holds in one hand a dark felt hat and in the other an umbrella.
Robert	First of all let me put these outside.
	He takes the hat and umbrella, leaves them in the hall and returns.
Robert	Pulling round a chair. Here you are. You are lucky to find me in. Why didn’t you tell me today? You were always a devil for surprises. I suppose my evocation of the past was too much for your wild blood. See how artistic I have become. He points to the walls. The piano is an addition since your time. I was just strumming out Wagner when you came. Killing time. You see I am ready for the fray. Laughs. I was just wondering how you and the vicechancellor were getting on together. With exaggerated alarm. But are you going in that suit? O well, it doesn’t make much odds, I suppose. But how goes the time? He takes out his watch. Twenty past eight already, I declare!
Richard	Have you an appointment?
Robert	Laughs nervously. Suspicious to the last!
Richard	Then I may sit down?
Robert	Of course, of course. They both sit down. For a few minutes, anyhow. Then we can both go on together. We are not bound for time. Between eight and nine, he said, didn’t he? What time is it, I wonder? Is about to look again at his watch; then stops. Twenty past eight, yes.
Richard	Wearily, sadly. Your appointment also was for the same hour. Here.
Robert	What appointment?
Richard	With Bertha.
Robert	Stares at him. Are you mad?
Richard	Are you?
Robert	After a long pause. Who told you?
Richard	She.
	A short silence.
Robert	In a low voice. Yes. I must have been mad. Rapidly. Listen to me, Richard. It is a great relief to me that you have come⁠—the greatest relief. I assure you that ever since this afternoon I have thought and thought how I could break it off without seeming a fool. A great relief! I even intended to send word⁠ ⁠… a letter, a few lines. Suddenly. But then it was too late⁠ ⁠… Passes his hand over his forehead. Let me speak frankly with you; let me tell you everything.
Richard	I know everything. I have known for some time.
Robert	Since when?
Richard	Since it began between you and her.
Robert	Again rapidly. Yes, I was mad. But it was merely lightheadedness. I admit that to have asked her here this evening was a mistake. I can explain everything to you. And I will. Truly.
Richard	Explain to me what is the word you longed and never dared to say to her. If you can or will.
Robert	Looks down, then raises his head. Yes. I will. I admire very much the personality of your⁠ ⁠… of⁠ ⁠… your wife. That is the word. I can say it. It is no secret.
Richard	Then why did you wish to keep secret your wooing?
Robert	Wooing?
Richard	Your advances to her, little by little, day after day, looks, whispers. With a nervous movement of the hands. Insomma, wooing.
Robert	Bewildered. But how do you know all this?
Richard	She told me.
Robert	This afternoon?
Richard	No. Time after time, as it happened.
Robert	You knew? From her? Richard nods. You were watching