u had it, that's all I know. If you lost
it, it is not our fault.

ANDROS

Silence!

BLIGH [_a little distance_]

Here's the master of the house, sir.

ANDROS

Ah, indeed! Are you Master Willys?

WILLYS

I am.

ANDROS

Where is the charter?

WILLYS

Your pardon, sir, but how should I know?

ANDROS

You were a member of the Charter Committee, were you not?

WILLYS

I was!

ANDROS

Then where is it?

WILLYS

I am informed that the charter--

ANDROS

Yes?

WILLYS

Was placed--

ANDROS

Yes--yes--

WILLYS

In your hands!

ANDROS

Sir! If you don't tell me where that charter is--

WILLYS

What then, sir?

ANDROS

Do you see this oak tree?

WILLYS

I'm not blind, sir.

ANDROS

I'll have you strung up--strung up in it, sir; I'll have you strung up
in it!

WILLYS

I should hate to have such a fine tree perverted to such a purpose,
sir!

ANDROS

Ah! You would! Colonel Bligh! Colonel!

BLIGH [_distance_]

Yes, Governor!

ANDROS

Send me half a dozen soldiers and a stout rope!

BLIGH

Yes, sir!

ANDROS

Ah! Now perhaps we'll get something from you. Will you tell me or will
you be hanged by your thumbs from that stout limb up there until you
are ready to tell me where the charter is?

TREAT

Governor Andros, I fear you have forgotten yourself in your rage.
Master Willys is entitled to a trial before any such punishment can be
meted out to him.

ANDROS

Silence, or I'll have you strung up with him! Gad, sir, I'll fill this
oak tree with stiff-necked rebellious Connecticut men, but I'll have
that charter!

BLIGH

Here are your men, sir!

ANDROS

Good! One of you climb that oak tree. Here, you, Sergeant.

VOICE

Yes, sir!

ANDROS

Give him a hand there. [_sound of starting to climb the tree_] Have the
men found anything in the house, Colonel?

BLIGH

Not a thing, sir!

WADSWORTH

Look here, sir.

ANDROS

Ah, Captain Wadsworth. Have you something to say?

WADSWORTH

I have, sir.

ANDROS

Speak out.

WADSWORTH

Tell those men to stay out of that tree and I'll tell you.

ANDROS

All right, Sergeant, come down. I thought we'd get something out of
them if we scared them. Well, Captain?

WADSWORTH

Sir, you have lost the charter; that is clear.

ANDROS

Where is it?

WADSWORTH

Just a minute. You have lost it. You also have given us your receipt
for it; therefore you should have it.

ANDROS

And I in