If I Had a Father

he sends for me. Where could Gervaise have picked him up?⁠—Nobody here? Reenter Col. Gervaise and hurries to him with outstretched hand. Col. Gervaise My dear sir! I am greatly obliged to you. This is very kind. Warren Stepping back. Excuse me.⁠—I do not understand. Col. Gervaise I beg your pardon. I ought to have explained. Warren I believe something of the sort is necessary. Col. Gervaise You are my master’s friend. Warren I should be proud of the honour. Can I be of any service to him? Col. Gervaise I believe I can trust you. I will trust you⁠—I am his father. Warren Whose father? Belzebub’s? Col. Gervaise Arthur’s⁠—your friend Gervaise’s. I am Sir Walter Gervaise. You must help me to help him. Warren regards him for a moment. Warren Stiffly. Sir Walter, I owe your son much⁠—you nothing yet. I am his friend. Col. Gervaise There is not a moment to lose. Listen. An old man came about the place a few weeks ago, looking for his daughter. He has been got out of the way, but I have learned where he is: I want you to bring him. Warren I would serve your son blindfold: you must excuse me if I wish to understand first. Col. Gervaise Arthur is in trouble. He has a secret.⁠—God forgive me!⁠—I feared it was a bad one. Warren You don’t know him as I do! Col. Gervaise I know him now⁠—and can help him. Only I can’t prove anything yet. I must have the old man. I’ve found his daughter, and suspect the villain: if I can bring the three together, all will come out, sure enough. The boy I sent for you will take you to the father. He will trust you, and come. Bell rings. I must go to Arthur now. Exit. Warren What a strange old fellow! An officer⁠—and disguise himself! Enter Bill. Bill Here you are, sir! Warren No vast amount of information in that statement, my boy! Bill Well, sir⁠—here I are, sir. Warren That is a trifle more to the point, though scarcely requiring mention. Bill Then, here we are, sir. Warren That’ll do⁠—if you know what comes next? Bill I do, sir. Warren Go on, then. Bill Here goes! Come along, sir. You’ll have to take a bobby, though. Warren We’ll see about that. You go on. Exeunt. Enter Gervaise, followed by Col. Gervaise. Gervaise What a time you have been, William! Col. Gervaise I’m sorry, sir. Did you want anything? Gervaise No. But I don’t like to be left. You are the only friend I have. Col. Gervaise Thank you, sir. A man must do his duty, but it’s a comfort when his colonel takes notice of it. Gervaise Is it all from duty, William? Yet why should I look for more? There was a little girl I tried to do my duty by once⁠—My head’s rather queer still, William. Col. Gervaise Is there nothing to be done, sir? Gervaise No; it’s here⁠—putting his hand to his head⁠—inside. Col. Gervaise I meant about the little girl, sir.⁠—I can keep dark as well as another.⁠—When there’s anything on a man’s mind, sir⁠—good or bad⁠—it’s a relief to mention it. If you could trust me⁠—A pause. Men have trusted their servants and not repented it. Gervaise No doubt⁠—no doubt. But there is no help for me. Col. Gervaise You cannot be sure of that, sir. Gervaise You would help me if you could, I believe. Col. Gervaise God knows I would, sir⁠—to the last drop of my blood. Gervaise That’s saying much, William. A son couldn’t say more⁠—no, nor a father either. Col. Gervaise Oh! yes, he could, sir. Gervaise And mean it? Col. Gervaise Yes. Gervaise If I had a father, William, I would tell him all about it. I was but two years old when he left me. Col. Gervaise Then you don’t remember him, sir? Gervaise I often dream about him, and then I seem to remember him. Col. Gervaise What is he like, sir?⁠—in your dreams, I mean. Gervaise I never see him distinctly: I try hard sometimes, but it’s no use. If he would but come home! I feel as if I could bear anything then.⁠—But I’m talking like a girl! Col. Gervaise Where is your father, sir? Gervaise In India. Col. Gervaise A soldier, sir? Gervaise Yes. Colonel Gervaise⁠—you must have heard of him. Sir Walter he is now. Col. Gervaise I’ve heard of him, sir⁠—away in the north parts he’s been, mostly. Gervaise Yes. How I wish he would come home! I would do everything to please him. I have it, William! I’ll go to India. I did think of going to Garibaldi⁠—but I won’t⁠—I’ll go to India. I must find my father. Will you go with me? Col. Gervaise Willingly, sir. Gervaise Is there any fighting there now? Col. Gervaise Not at present, I believe. Gervaise That’s a pity. I would have listed in my father’s regiment, and then⁠—that is, by the time he found me out⁠—he wouldn’t be ashamed of me. I’ve done nothing yet. I’m nobody yet, and what could he do with a son that was nobody⁠—a great man like him! A fine son I should be! A son ought to be worthy of his father. Don’t you think so, William? Col. Gervaise That wouldn’t be difficult, sir!⁠—I mean with most fathers. Gervaise Ah! but mine, you know, William!⁠—Are you good at the cut and thrust? Col. Gervaise Pretty good, sir, I believe. Gervaise Then we’ll have a bout or two. I’ve got rusty.⁠—Have I said anything odd⁠—or⁠—or⁠—I mean since I’ve been ill? Col. Gervaise Nothing you need mind, sir. Gervaise I’m glad of that.⁠—I feel as if⁠—putting his hand to his head. William! what could you do for a man⁠—if he was your friend?⁠—no, I mean, if he was your enemy? Col. Gervaise I daren’t say, sir. Gervaise Is the sun shining? Col. Gervaise Yes, sir. It’s a lovely day. Gervaise What a desert the sky is!⁠—so dreary and wide and waste!⁠—Ah! if I might but creep into a hole in a tree, and feel it closing about me! How comfortable those toads must feel! Col. Gervaise Aside. He’s getting lightheaded again! I must send for the doctor. Exit. Gervaise But the tree would rot, and the walls