in.

HAWCASTLE. My dear young friend, imagine that a badly wanted man appears
upon the pergola here and makes an appeal of I know not what nature to
one of your fellow-countrymen, who--for the purposes of argument--is at
work upon this car. Say that the too-amiable American conceals the
fugitive under the automobile, and afterward, with the connivance of a
friend, deceives the officers of the law and shelters the criminal, say
in a room of that lower suite yonder.

[His voice shows growing excitement as a man's shadow appears on the
shade of the window nearest the door.]

Imagine, for instance, that the shadow which at this moment appears on
the curtain were that of the wanted man--_then_, would you not agree
that a moderate and reasonable request of your fellow-countryman might
be acceded to?

PIKE [swallowing painfully]. What would be the nature of that request?

HAWCASTLE. It would concern a certain alliance; _might_ concern a
certain settlement.

PIKE. If the request were refused, what would the consequences be?

HAWCASTLE. Two years, at least, for the American, and the friend who had
been his accessory. Altogether I should consider it a disastrous
situation.

PIKE [thoughtfully]. Yes; looks like it.

HAWCASTLE [with sharp significance]. If this fellow-countryman of yours
were assured that the law would be made to take its course if a
favorable answer were not received--say, by ten o'clock to-night--what,
in your opinion, would his answer be?

PIKE [plaintively]. Well, it would all depend upon which of my
countrymen you caught. If it depended on the one I know best, he'd tell
you he'd see you in _hell_ first!

[The two remain staring fixedly at each other as the curtain slowly
descends.]

END OF THE SECOND ACT

THE THIRD ACT

SCENE: A handsome private salon in the hotel the same evening. There are
cabinets against the walls, buhl tables, luxurious tapestried chairs,
etc. At back, double doors, wide open, disclose a brilliantly lit
conservatory and hall with palms and oleanders in bloom. On the left a
heavily curtained window looks out upon the garden; on the right is a
closed door. Unseen, an orchestra is playing an aria from "Pagliacci."

The rise of the curtain discloses PIKE sitting in a dejected attitude in
an arm-chair. He wears a black tie, collar and linen as before, black
trousers, a white waistcoat, cut rather low, and a black
frock-coat--"Western statesman" style--not fashiona