Hamilton

another who is seated on a chair in front of him. The chessboard is on a small round table between them. Two Quakers are standing near the door on the left. Monroe is conversing with them. The original flag of the United States, thirteen stars in circle and thirteen stripes, is on wall above inner door on left back. The chairs are all Windsor chairs, dark in color. Wainscoting about two feet six inches high. All woodwork in dark oak and walls and ceiling a neutral smoky gray.

Round table down stage L. C. with three chairs around it⁠—two armchairs and one single chair. The high-hack settles are set at an angle and start from the fireplace down stage on either side. They fit in between two thick upright posts which support a crossbeam. Similar posts are suggested right and left at either end of beam. Against the post R. C. is a chair. Three windows in right flat and one similar window in same position in kitchen seen through entrance up right back. Shelves and bottles in kitchen. Through door left back is backing with door and beyond the street.

At rise Melissa is gathering up tankards and wiping is off table right.

Reynolds Standing on chair at upper end table R. I’m selling, I’m selling. First Man Seated R. of table R. down stage end. Keep quiet there, will you? Reynolds Loudly. I’m selling, I’m selling. States’ securities for the price of printing. I’m selling⁠—I’m selling! First Man Can’t hear ourselves speak. Reynolds What’s the use of keeping quiet? Where’s a gentleman to do business if he can’t do it at the Exchange Coffee House? Second Man Seated down R. other side of table. Oh⁠—where’s the gentleman? First Man Send the gentleman here. Reynolds I’m the gentleman. Laughter. I’m selling, I’m selling! Men Sit down. First Man Melissa, a tankard of porter, my dear. Reynolds I’m selling, I’m selling! First Man Sit down, Reynolds! How can you be selling when there are no buyers! Enter Tallyrand up L. at back. Ask that gentleman if he’s nearly finished with the newspaper, Melissa. You see some business between Melissa and the man with the newspaper. He refuses to give it up. Melissa then meets Tallyrand C. at back. He has come on from street L. Reynolds Coming down stage C. Don’t any of you gentlemen want to make easy money? I’m offering you states’ securities for the price of the printing. Here’s a hundred dollars going to the highest bidder. Will anyone bid five? Holding up a paper. First Man What state is it on? Reynolds South Carolina. Laughter from the crowd. First Man I’ll give you sixpence for it. Louder laughter. Giles Seated R. of round table, down stage L. Where’d you get all this paper all of a sudden, Reynolds? William B. Giles is a small, squat man, with swarthy, dirty-looking skin and a sharp eye. His features are thick and his manner coarse. His boots are heavy, his dress untidy, and his voice loud. He has the air of a successful bully and prizefighter. Reynolds R. C. down stage. I got it from the soldiers, Mr. Giles. The poor soldiers have entrusted me⁠— Giles Huh! They’ll be very poor soldiers if they trust you. General laugh. Reynolds Reading from a second paper. Here’s six months’ pay due Private Hiram Mott⁠—ninety-six dollars due from the state of Virginia. Monroe Up stage L. That’s not true, sir; Virginia’s paid every cent she owes. James Monroe is a tall man, but because of broad shoulders and stocky build looks shorter than he is. His manner is the aggressively plain-citizen type. He is dressed plainly. He lacks Jefferson’s gracious bearing, but does not reach Giles’ roughness. Reynolds Ah, it’s easy to see you come from Virginia, sir, but the poor soldiers⁠— Giles Poor soldiers! It’s the fortune of war. Tallyrand He has been settling the score with Melissa up stage. He speaks with a slight French accent. Ha! Ha! The fortune of war! You bring about the war, your soldiers fight for you and conquer your enemies and then you repudiate their claim for pay. The fortune of war! The war for them⁠—the fortune for you, eh? Some laughter. Reynolds mixes with men at back R. Tallyrand is very tall, with legs too small for his fat body. His blond hair is worn in long ringlets over his shoulders. His blue eyes, under heavy lids, have a look of scrutiny. His nose is pointed and aristocratic, but his mouth is large and coarse. His manner is watchful, but pleasant. He is dressed in the height of fashion. He wears a great hat with long curling black plume. When Reynolds goes to the men up R. two of them move away and go off up L.; a third sits R. of table R. Reynolds then sits on sill of centre window on R. Monroe Well, Tallyrand, I thought you had decided to return to France. Changed your mind, eh? Rather risky yet for the aristocrats to go back. Coming down L. of table L. Tallyrand I leave tomorrow. I am settling my score with the beautiful Melissa. Monroe Sitting L. of table. You’re going to take the chance, eh? Well, I hope to follow you in a very short time. Tallyrand Leaving Melissa, who curtseys and goes out up R. To follow me, Senator Monroe? Monroe As Minister to France. Tallyrand Back of table L. Ah, yes, how charming! President Washington has already appointed you, eh? Giles Not yet, but we shall get it all right. Tallyrand We? Oh, you also? Two ministers? Giles No, not two ministers, but it sometimes takes two men to get one job. Enter Schuyler from street up