Van Zorn : $b A comedy in three acts

FARNHAM’S _studio, a little after ten in the evening. When the curtain rises the room is dark, save for the light of the fire which is now burning in the grate._

FARNHAM _is lying stretched on the window seat. Presently he gets up rather lazily, turns on the light, looks at his watch and stands in the middle of the room with his hands thrust deep into the pockets of a black velvet house coat. Apart from this coat he is in evening dress. He moves about aimlessly, yawns, and takes a cigar from the box on the table. As he is lighting it, the bell rings. He remains motionless for a little while, and a strange hard smile comes over his face. Finally, with a shrug of his shoulders he goes to the door and admits_ VAN ZORN, _who is dressed in ordinary business clothes. His face wears a serious expression and he greets_ FARNHAM _with a kindly but somewhat uncanny smile. Then he looks towards the portrait on the easel, which has been moved back to its original place in Act I._

Farnham. [_Still smiling drily_]

For such a demon of punctuality, it seems to me that you are a bit late.

Van Zorn. [_Smiling as before_]

Am I so insufferably punctual that I cannot have five minutes’ grace?

[_He takes off his overcoat_]

Farnham. [_Taking his coat and hat and putting them on the window seat_]

Oh, no offence. You have made your own reputation.

[VAN ZORN _goes to the fire_]

Are you cold?

Van Zorn. It’s rather cool outside.

Farnham. [_With a grin_]

I noticed that when I came out of the subway. Aren’t you going to sit down?

Van Zorn. Presently.

Farnham. Take your time about it. Have a cigar.

[_He holds out the box and smiles_]

Van Zorn. I’ll take one later, if you don’t mind.

Farnham. It’s a Pedro.

Van Zorn. Not now.

Farnham. [_Coaxingly_]

Colorado.

[VAN ZORN _shakes his head and smiles patiently_]

Very well. Pardon me if I appear to urge you.

Van Zorn. I can think of no one who should ask me to pardon him.

Farnham. You remind me of the noble Spaniard who had no enemies because he had killed them all.

Van Zorn. [_Smiling faintly_]

I have never killed anybody, to my knowledge. I may once have had something to do with bringing a man back to life again.

Farnham. That was good. Did he thank you for it?

Van Zorn. He didn’t say very much.

Farnham. They don’t as a rule, I believe. By the way,

[_Grinning_]

when do you intend to tackle Old Hundred?

Van Zorn. [_Frowning slightly_]

I dined with Lucas this evening--if you mean Lucas.

Farnham. [_Surprised_]

Oho! You did?--Did he get drunk?

Van Zorn. He did not.

Farnham. [_Not too pleasantly_]

Oh well, you needn’t be discouraged over that. There’ll be time enough between now and midnight.

Van Zorn. [_Distinctly_]

There will be time enough between now and midnight for more things than you may have considered.

Farnham. [_Puzzled_]

I have no doubt of it. But no matter about Lucas. Tell me something more about your destiny.

[_Drily_]

How _is_ your destiny this evening, anyway?

Van Zorn. [_Still standing by the fire_]

My destiny is a very good destiny, but unfortunately it has encountered one that is better.--Unfortunately for myself I mean,--not in any sense for others.

Farnham. [_Patronizingly_]

You are a good fellow--altogether too good to be put at a disadvantage. But this once--only this once, upon my word--I can’t help repeating that I didn’t think much of it. One interview, and all that sort of thing. You see, it wasn’t quite in your line.

[_Pause_]

Well, how much am I to know?--and how soon am I to know it?

[_Drily_]

Suppose you sit down in that chair.

[_Indicating the large chair_]

The consequent relaxation may be a good thing for you.

Van Zorn. Thank you, I will.

[_He sits down and begins to drum with his fingers on the arms of the chair_]

Farnham. [_Sitting down_]

Now you look more comfortable.

Van Zorn. [_Abruptly_]

I told you, Farnham, that I thought Lucas and I might possibly be of service to each other.

Farnham. [_Wearily_]

Can’t you forget Lucas for the rest of this evening? Granting all his noble qualities--including his indefatigable industry--I don’t yet understand that you came here to talk about him.

Van Zorn. [_Earnestly_]

Farnham, if you had known what you were asking, you would never have asked me to forget Lucas this evening. I may forget my name, and my age, and my way to Forty-second Street, but I shall not be likely to forget Lucas this evening.

[_Pause_]

You told me this morning, I believe, that you had had enough of him for one day.

Farnham. [_Puzzled and irritated_]

Most assuredly I did, and I meant what I said. I’ll be as glad as anybody if you can straighten him out, but what the devil sense is there in harping on him from morn till dewy eve? Why not let Lucas go for the present?

[_Becoming more incisive_]

You started out this afternoon, I believe, to acquire some very special information that doesn’t seem to be forthcoming.

Van Zorn. [_Slowly_]

It will come.... And as for letting Lucas go--

Farnham. [_Throwing up his hands_]

Good God!

Van Zorn. [_Calmly_]

--letting Lucas go will be very difficult. In fact, it will be out of the question. Instead of letting Lucas go, I fear that we shall be under the necessity of letting Lucas come.

Farnham. [_Unpleasantly_]

What are you talking about? I didn’t ask him to come, did I?

Van Zorn. [_As before_]

You did not, and _I_ did not.

[_Drumming with his fingers_]

But he is coming all the same. I have no doubt that he has been coming--through the ages.

Farnham. [_Laughing drily_]

So that’s it. More of your infernal Destiny, I suppose.

Van Zorn. [_Earnestly_]

Whatever you do, Farnham, you had better wait a while before you begin to find fault with Destiny. For I should be inclined to say that you are going to be far more fortunate than I am, or am ever likely to be.

[_He looks thoughtfully about the studio_]

Farnham. Oh, you needn’t try to smooth it over like that. I only meant that I was looking forward to this evening for a different kind of talk from this.

Van Zorn. [_Quietly_]

You will have it yet.

Farnham. [_Wearily_]

With Lucas?

Van Zorn. [_With deliberation_]

Farnham, if I don’t give you certain information that you have every reason to expect, it is because I don’t feel that I am in a position to give it. But I will say,

[_Smiling_]

at the risk of my life, that Lucas has been straightened out. I don’t know just how I know it, but I know it.

[_With another smile_]

Your engaging friend Otto brought the news this afternoon--

[_Casually_]

not long after Lucas left Mrs. Lovett’s house.

Farnham. [_Rising and speaking sharply_]

Lucas at Mrs Lovett’s house?... You are keeping something back from me, and I should like very much to know what it is.

Van Zorn. [_Reluctantly_]

Yes, I am keeping something back. And I have something else that I was requested, and finally persuaded, to give to you this evening. I would rather not do it, but it may be as well that I should.

Farnham. [_With dry fervor_]

I hope it will be something more tangible than what you have been giving me.

Van Zorn. [_Giving him a small object_]

There it is.

Farnham. [_After a stupefied pause_]

Man alive, are you out of your senses? This is Villa Vannevar’s ring. What the devil has been going on?

[_Sharply_]

Why don’t you tell me?

Van Zorn. Miss Vannevar will do that.

[FARNHAM _scowls incredulously_]

She and Lucas have been together, at her special request, since eight o’clock. Until she comes, please remember that I am acting only as a messenger.

Farnham. [_Looking from the ring to_ VAN ZORN]

Are you all trying to make a fool of me? Are you the friend that I have been trusting and praising all these years?

[_With a falling inflection_]

I’d better build a cabin in the woods.... What does all this insanity mean, anyhow? You can answer that question, if you have a mind to, and you know it damned well.

Van Zorn. [_Quietly_]

Farnham. [_Pause_]

You are going to have two more visitors this evening, and they are nearly due. They are not going to stay, in all probability, more than fifteen minutes. When they are gone, you and I may have something more to say to each other.

Farnham. That is altogether possible.

Van Zorn. [_Rising_]

And if I have been the indirect means of this sudden change in the course of events, I wish you to know that I believe, as I stand here, that events would have taken the same course, though not quite so suddenly, if I had never gone to Mrs. Lovett’s house this afternoon. I mean, you understand, so far as events concern you personally. So be a good fellow and try to keep a little of your old faith in me.

[_Pause_]

Do you hear a motor coming?

[_He takes out his watch and smiles wearily at_ FARNHAM]

They are on time, if I was not.

[_The bell rings._ FARNHAM _admits_ LUCAS _and_ VILLA VANNEVAR. LUCAS _has more color in his face, and his eyes are brighter than in the morning. He carries himself through the following scene with far more dignity and ease than might be expected, with now and then a facial suggestion of appreciative humor. Of the two_ VILLA _is the more excited, but hers is the excitement of determination rather than of embarrassment or fear_]

Farnham. [_To the three, after rather formal greetings to_ LUCAS _and_ VILLA]

Well, I have the honor to report that I am still in the dark.

[_With a hard smile_]

Won’t you all sit down?

[_They remain standing_]

Villa. [_Going to_ FARNHAM _and speaking with suppressed excitement_]

Oh, but I am glad to hear you say that--that you are in the dark.

[_He nods with condescension and she steps back a little_]

I was afraid you didn’t know it.

[_Pause_]

Weldon, do you know what it was doing to me? But you don’t, because you can’t. I shall have to tell you what it was doing. It was driving me mad.

Farnham. [_Drily, with a glance at_ LUCAS]

Kindly go on.

Villa. It was killing me.

[FARNHAM _nods again_]

I know you are going to think some dreadful things about me,--and say them too, I suppose.

[_Rapidly_]

But whatever you do or say, don’t ever forget that I am the cause of all that’s happened this evening. I took the matter into my own hands--just because I couldn’t wait. And when my mind was once made up that I couldn’t wait,--well, I couldn’t wait.

[_He nods again_]

And I couldn’t see much need of spending days and nights in talking about it.

Farnham. [_With a shrug, and another look at_ LUCAS]

Naturally not.

Villa. [_To_ VAN ZORN, _who is standing near the fire_]

And you

[_Gratefully but rapidly_]

--you remember what I told you when I got over that foolish fit of crying. I told you that nothing could ever make me change, and I asked you to help me. You told me first that you would rather not, and you said something that I didn’t hear about circumstances; but finally you did agree to do a little--just because you could see that I was so much in earnest--and that nothing could ever make me change--and that I couldn’t wait.

[VAN ZORN _replies with a slow nod, and_ FARNHAM _grins at_ LUCAS _with sardonic incredulity_]

Farnham. [_To_ VILLA, _with a dry laugh_]

Will you be so kind as to let me know what this thing is or was,--you haven’t yet given it a name--that was driving you mad, and killing you, and whatever else it may have been doing? You don’t look to me like a dying person, as you stand there now.

Villa. [_Impatiently_]

Oh, you know what it was. It was our horribly false position--pretending to care for each other when we didn’t--I mean when we didn’t care enough.

Farnham. [_Unpleasantly_]

In that case, perhaps you will be good enough to tell me what sort of position you would call this that we are in now.

[_He looks at_ LUCAS _and_ VAN ZORN]

Lucas, why do you stand there like that? Why don’t you say something--if you have anything to say?

Villa. [_Quickly, looking from_ LUCAS _to_ FARNHAM]

He can’t speak yet, for I shan’t let him. I shan’t let anybody speak until I have said what I have to say. No, not one of you three can say a word until I tell you that I have asked George Lucas to marry me.

[FARNHAM _and_ VAN ZORN _are almost equally surprised at this announcement, though the latter quickly regains his usual composure_. LUCAS _looks at first as if he would like to get away, but endures his unlooked-for prominence with an Indian-like resignation_]

There!

[_With her hands behind her back_]

Now you may all speak at once, if you care to.

Farnham. [_Going to_ VILLA, _after a pause, and taking one of her hands_]

Villa, what is the matter with you this evening? Has the moon driven you insane?

[_To_ LUCAS, _sharply_]

Lucas, why don’t you say something?

Lucas. [_With a dry cough_]

You are quite right. The time has come for me to speak.

Farnham. Well, if the time has come for you to speak, why the devil don’t you?

Lucas. [_Calmly, but uncomfortably and with several oratorical pauses_]

I am going to say something--and I don’t see how it is going to take me very long to say it.

[_With another cough_]

Knowing--as I need hardly tell you now--that I could not, in view of my past and present circumstances--presume to ask of this lady the kind of question that she has taken upon herself to ask of me--and this time without wholly anticipating its immediate effect upon one’s nervous organization,--well, I can only say that she has acted in accordance with her own convictions in regard to the solution of a rather difficult problem, and has thereby placed me under excessive obligations--that she cannot expect ever to be entirely fulfilled.

[_To_ FARNHAM, _with a faint smile_]

Whatever else you may wish me to say will be related, with your permission, at another time.

Farnham. [_With cold humor_]

“She has acted in accordance with her own convictions in regard to the solution of a rather difficult problem.”

[_To_ VAN ZORN, _drily_]

As she sees it, I suppose.

Van Zorn. Is there more than one way to see it?

Farnham. I see it as a bit of impetuous farce.

Villa. [_Protesting violently_]

No, don’t say impetuous. Say anything but that. Say determined--ordained--premeditated--desperate--anything but impetuous. I’ll not have anybody--not even George--tell me that I was impetuous when I was only sensible. You might as well call me--I don’t know what. You might as well call me a fool.

Farnham. [_With reluctant humor_]

Do you know, my dear young lady, that you are using some rather positive language?

Villa. [_Still excited_]

I don’t care. I must use it, in order to make myself understood.

[_To_ LUCAS]

Tell him, George, about the ring.

Farnham. [_Satirically_]

Yes, George, let us hear about the ring.

Lucas. She means that the ring would have been returned to you in any case.

Farnham. [_To_ VAN ZORN, _with fine irony_]

And this is your work.

Van Zorn. [_Distinctly_]

No, my friend, you are mistaken. It is not the work of any human being--in this room, or out of it.

Farnham. [_Wearily_]

Oh, the devil! I’ve heard all that before.

[VAN ZORN _shrugs his shoulders and looks at the fire_]

Villa. [_Earnestly_]

Weldon, let me tell you again what I told you when I came in.

[_With intensity_]

It was killing me. It was driving me mad.

Farnham. [_Throwing up his hands_]

For heaven’s sake, are you going to drag that nonsense in again?

Villa. It meant the torture of our two lives.... The ruin of them, for all we know.

Farnham. [_With a careless absence of emotion_]

Lives are not so easily ruined as all that. If they were, some of us would be ruined before we were born.

Van Zorn. [_With a faint smile_]

Some of us are, Farnham.

Farnham. [_To_ VAN ZORN, _with hesitation_]

Don’t you think that you have contributed about enough to the needless absurdity and injustice of all this....

Villa. [_Quickly_]

No, you must not say that to him. It was I who did this, and it was I who insisted that it should be done tonight. If your best friend had not helped me, I should have done it sooner or later without him.... Now will you let me go on from where I was when you interrupted me?

Farnham. [_With evident admiration_]

Yes, if you remember where that was.

Villa. [_With animation_]

It was where I was going to say something more about George.

[FARNHAM _looks at_ LUCAS, _who is looking at the bust of Shakespeare_]

Weldon, there are certain people in this world who are made for each other. You may laugh at me for saying so--I know it isn’t very original--but I believe it to be true, and that makes it just the same as if it _were_ true. Well then, I believe that George Lucas and I have belonged to each other since the beginning of our lives, and I have known it ever since I can remember. I knew him long before I knew you, and I know more about him than you have ever known or ever can know;

[FARNHAM _looks again at_ LUCAS]

and once, when I was so scared and happy that I didn’t know what to do--this was ages ago--I told Auntie all about it.

[_With comical directness_]

Auntie didn’t like--his father.

Farnham. [_With venomous humor_]

And what did Auntie say?

Villa. [_With a shrug and a rueful laugh_]

Oh dear! If I were to try to tell you what she said, I shouldn’t know how to begin or where to end. It doesn’t make so much difference what Auntie said, so long as she said--what she said.

[_With unconscious humor, looking down_]

She didn’t like George’s father.

Farnham. [_Grinning at_ LUCAS]

Did she like George?

[_Pause_]

George doesn’t seem to have anything more to say.

Lucas. [_With dry emphasis_]

Yes, George has one thing more to say. He has to say that he has not yet accepted the lady’s offer.

Farnham. [_Scowling_]

Then why are you here?

Lucas. To do so in your presence--now that you understand the situation.

Farnham. But I don’t understand the situation--except in the vaguest kind of way.... I knew about it in that way before.

Van Zorn. [_Still standing by the fire_]

Farnham, I don’t like to interrupt you.

Farnham. Oh--you don’t....

Van Zorn. But why debate the inevitable? It will do no manner of good, and it will be likely, as Miss Vannevar has already implied, to take up a great deal of time.

Farnham. [_Drily_]

Have you been coaching them?

[VAN ZORN _makes a gesture of resigned protest, but says nothing_]

Well, you haven’t told me what you said to Lucas during dinner.

Van Zorn. I told Lucas that Miss Vannevar wished very much to see him as soon as possible after eight o’clock.

Farnham. Was that all?

Van Zorn. Substantially, yes.

Farnham. Mightn’t that leave a pretty wide margin for conjecture?

Van Zorn. It might, but it doesn’t. Please remember that when I told you of my interest in Lucas, I was not anticipating the developments that have transpired.

Farnham. [_Unwilling to let the subject go_]

But you are the cause of these developments, for all that. What did you say to Villa after Otto went away?

Van Zorn. [_With a slight weariness_]

I didn’t find a great deal to say. I told her pretty much what I have told you,--that Lucas and I were going to be of service to each other, and that I had complete confidence in him. Please do not ask me to go any further into details--just now.

[_With a friendly smile_]

My dear Farnham, if you were to form at your time of life the fatal habit of clinging to ruins, and of refusing to accept what has irrevocably taken place, there is no knowing what might happen to you--and to your art.

Farnham. Do you remember that you used to call yourself a friend of mine?

[_He speaks half-heartedly, and seems to regret having spoken_]

Van Zorn. [_Distinctly_]

I was never in my life more convinced of my complete loyalty to you, or of your complete faith in me. I was not expecting to say so this evening, unless to you alone, but never mind that now.

Farnham. [_Rather ruefully_]

I suppose that’s your fantastic, esoteric, oriental way of telling a fellow that he has said something foolish. I don’t say it’s a bad way, you understand--

[_He stops, and has another look at_ LUCAS, _who smiles in approval_]

Villa. [_Going to_ FARNHAM _and putting her hands on his arms_]

You needn’t try to be angry any longer, for I can see by the look in your eyes that you can’t.

[_Shaking him a little and beginning to laugh_]

You ought not to be angry, for you are so glad to get rid of me that you don’t know what to do with yourself. You may tell me that I ought not to say so, but you can’t put the words back into my mouth--’cause I’ve got my teeth together.

[_She shows her teeth and laughs at him_]

Farnham. [_Taking her hands and smiling_]

I don’t remember having said that I was angry.

[_He pushes her away gently_]

Villa. [_Putting her hands behind her and laughing_]

There was no need of your _saying_ it.

Farnham. [_Drily_]

Then that must have been the reason why I didn’t say it.

[_Pause_]

But don’t you think that I had just the slightest conceivable reason for being--for being a trifle annoyed, we’ll say?

Villa. [_With feline demureness_]

Well, I rather suppose you did.

[_Looking at him brightly_]

But it’s all over now, _isn’t_ it?

Farnham. [_Trying not to laugh_]

And so you find your escape from me a very simple matter.

[_With mild sarcasm_]

It seems to be one of the prerogatives of womankind to discover now and then that some problems _are_ very simple.

Villa. [_She looks at_ LUCAS, _then for a longer time at_ VAN ZORN, _who still remains by the fire, and finally at_ FARNHAM _again_]

And that others are very difficult.

[FARNHAM _glances at_ VAN ZORN, _who stands looking at the burning coals. There is a pause, which is broken by the ringing of the bell._ FARNHAM _admits_ OTTO, _who stands for a time in meek bewilderment after looking from one to the other_]

Otto. I--I saw the light, and so I came over--from Petherick’s.

Farnham. [_Drily amused_]

Of course you did, Otto. That was the right thing for you to do. We have all seen the light, even if we haven’t all come over from Petherick’s.

[_Patting his shoulder_]

Now take a look around you, little friend, and tell us what you see besides the light.

Otto. [_Looking from_ LUCAS _to_ VILLA]

Oh--good evening.

[_He plays with his hat_]

I saw the light, and so I came over.

[_To_ LUCAS]

Did you see the light, Phœbus, and did you come over?

Lucas. [_Avoiding over-confidence_]

Yes, Otto, I may be said to have seen the light, and to have come over--though not from Petherick’s.

Otto. [_With a long sigh_]

That’s illuminating, and I thank you kindly.

[_He looks at_ VAN ZORN, _who smiles and nods_]

Good evening.

[_To_ VILLA]

Are you sure that I’m not in the way?

[_He makes a puzzled grimace and looks at_ FARNHAM, _who grins_]

Villa. [_Laughing nervously_]

We are sure of one thing, Otto, and that is that you are not very cordial with your old friends. Aren’t you going to congratulate me on my engagement to George Lucas? We are going to be married--sometime.

Otto. [_After a stupefied pause_]

Are you?

[_He looks again from one to another, and finally addresses_ VAN ZORN]

I knew this afternoon that something was going to happen. Of course it was none of my business, but you--you understand me, I’m sure.

[_He wipes his forehead with his handkerchief_]

Farnham. [_With lingering sarcasm_]

We understand you, Otto. You saw the light and you came over. Everything has been explained, and we are all going to try to be happy.

Otto. [_Looking again from one to another, and beginning to beam_]

Do you know, Farnham, that I--that I rather like this?

Farnham. I’m glad to hear you say so, Otto. We study to please.

Otto. [_To_ VAN ZORN, _who appears to be mildly amused_]

Do _you_ like this?

Van Zorn. It has my unqualified approval. In addition, it was undoubtedly inevitable.

Otto. [_With an air of discovery_]

Doesn’t that make it all the better?

Van Zorn. I am sure that you have every reason to congratulate your friends on their mutual good fortune.

Otto. [_After shaking hands, rather suddenly, with_ VILLA _and_ LUCAS]

Farnham, old man, the more I think of this, the better I like it. There’s a--there’s a kind of destiny about it.

Farnham. [_Patting Otto’s shoulder_]

Otto, we can always look to you for the right word.

[_Wearily, with a mild trace of venom_]

I’ve been trying to think of that word “destiny” all the evening.

Villa. [_Giving_ FARNHAM _her hand_]

And I have been trying to think of something more to say to _you_, Weldon, but somehow I can’t just now. So I think George had better take me home. And then, I suppose I’ll have a talk with....

[_She sighs_]

Farnham. [_With an unfeeling grin_]

With Auntie?

Villa. Yes, with Auntie.

[_She breaks into childish laughter_]

Poor Auntie!

[_Pause_]

Well, good night. I won’t say good-bye, for that would be too solemn.

Farnham. [_Holding her hand_]

Good night. And I hope you will be very happy.

[_Shaking hands with_ LUCAS]

Good night, George,--and my congratulations. You will excuse me if I don’t make a speech.

Villa. [_To_ VAN ZORN, _who comes forward_]

Good night.

[_She gives him her hand and looks at him as if a little frightened_]

Van Zorn. [_Holding her hand_]

Good night.

[_They look into each other’s eyes for some time. She leaves him slowly and moves towards the door. He returns to his former place by the fire, after speaking with_ LUCAS]

Villa. [_While_ LUCAS _is shaking hands with_ VAN ZORN]

Good night, Otto.

Otto. [_Still bewildered_]

Good night. I don’t think I’ll make a speech either. On the contrary I may as well go home to my mousy garret, light my guttering candle, and work away for a while at my popular song.

Villa. [_Laughing_]

But you never told me that you were writing a popular song. How does it go, and what is it about?

Otto. [_Solemnly_]

It’s a sad story, and it doesn’t go very fast.

[_Doubtfully_]

And it may not be altogether appropriate to the present auspicious occasion.

Villa. [_Laughing_]

Oh, yes it is--perfectly. How does it go, Otto?

Otto. [_Scratching his ear thoughtfully_]

I’ve only got four lines of it.

[_He appears to be reading them from the inside of his hat_]

Villa. [_Shaking him_]

But how do they go?

Otto. They go like this:

[_He repeats the following lines with comical solemnity, punctuating them with sharp pauses_]

Oh, long shall we remember the dark days that followed then, And how our faith in truth and honor sank; For we knew the dear old home would never be the same again, When Father robbed the baby’s little bank.

Lucas. [_Laughing_]

Can you keep it up to that level, Otto?

Otto. [_Scratching his ear_]

I think so.

[_With owlish innocence_]

But of course you understand that there’s nothing prophetic about it--nothing personal. I wouldn’t have any words of mine cast a shadow on this propitious hour--no, not even if my friend Farnham were to give me a small potion of his Double X Rattlesnake Rye over yonder.

[_He nods towards the bust of Shakespeare_]

I’m delicate, and I may not be with you very long.

Villa. [_To_ FARNHAM, _laughing_]

Before you give it to him, I think it will be safer for me to go away. Good night again.

[FARNHAM _goes with_ VILLA _and_ LUCAS _to the vestibule, closing the door slowly and thoughtfully as he returns_. OTTO, _in the meantime, has gone to the cabinet, from the depths of which he has produced a bottle of whiskey_. VAN ZORN, _standing by the fire, watches_ OTTO _with a look of abstracted amusement_.]

Farnham. [_Returning_]

Well, Otto, you seem to be in a romantic frame of mind this evening. You aren’t unhappy, are you?

Otto. [_Wiping his lips_]

No, I don’t complain.

Farnham. [_Patronizingly, to_ VAN ZORN]

Otto never complains. He eats his crust at sunset, and he drains his cup of bitterness without so much as making a face. Don’t you, Otto?

Otto. [_Moving towards the door_]

Don’t ask me to talk this evening. You have shaken me up, and I’m delicate. I may be on my way to eminence, or I may be merely another case of the gods seeing otherwise. In either event, it will be all right, for the universe will take care of us all. Throw on my grave a flower. Fare you well, gentlemen both, and peace be with you.

[OTTO _lays his hand on his heart, bows deferentially, and disappears slowly and silently_]

Van Zorn. [_Smiling faintly_]

You must not undervalue that youth, Farnham.

Farnham. [_Opening the cigar box_]

I shall never again undervalue anything that has a destiny.

[_Holding out the box_]

Here--have a cigar. And for God’s sake have it this time or you’ll make me peevish.

Van Zorn. Thank you.

[_He takes a match from Farnham and lights his cigar_]

Farnham. [_Lighting his cigar_]

I suppose Otto has a destiny, hasn’t he?

Van Zorn. [_Drily_]

I suppose he has.

Farnham. [_Giving him a queer look_]

And what about Lucas--and _his_ destiny?

[_He sits down and invites_ VAN ZORN _to take the large chair as before_]

Van Zorn. [_Calmly_]

I don’t know that I pretend to be a prophet,

[FARNHAM _grins_]

but I should venture to say that Lucas’s destiny will not be altogether a bad one. Being human and not a fool, he must in the nature of things have ambitions that he will never realize. On the other hand, he will have a great deal of happiness, I believe.

[_Looking earnestly at_ FARNHAM]

But neither he nor I can have what _you_ are going to have.

[FARNHAM _begins to beam with approval and anticipation_]

I won’t say that you have it already

[_He glances toward the picture and scowls_]

--for that might not be good for you ... and it might not be true.

Farnham. [_Affecting modesty_]

You may be within a gunshot of being right, but this day’s work doesn’t seem to be very promising--that is, to the uninitiated.

[_Clasping his knee_]

I suppose, however, that _you_ feel a great deal better.

Van Zorn. Why do you say that?

Farnham. After what you have done?

Van Zorn. [_With a frown_]

I have done nothing. I thought that was understood.

Farnham. [_Laughing a little_]

Oh yes, you have, in spite of your cosmic modesty. Haven’t you cleared the air? Haven’t you raised the curtain?

Van Zorn. [_Apparently after some hesitation_]

Would you talk like that, Farnham, if you knew me a little better ... if you knew, as I know, what I have lost?

Farnham. [_With a trace of his old manner_]

We have things before we lose them. That’s old, I know; but I believe it’s true.

Van Zorn. [_More earnestly_]

Yes, Farnham, it is quite true. And it is most distinctly what I have had that I have now lost.

Farnham. [_Puzzled_]

Go on. You are talking; I’m only listening.

Van Zorn. [_Very distinctly_]

What is your notion of the best thing for a man to do when he has lost his belief that he has something to live for?

Farnham. [_Pretending not to understand_]

Why, that’s easy. Find something new to live for.

Van Zorn. [_Getting up and speaking as if half to himself_]

There may be a certain amount of wisdom in that. And yet you do not wholly understand me.

Farnham. [_With unconscious emphasis_]

And who the devil does?

Van Zorn. [_Looking steadily at_ FARNHAM]

Do you know what it is, Farnham, that I am facing?

Farnham. [_With a forced laugh_]

You are facing _me_, for the moment. I’m not much to be facing, I grant you; but you might have to face something worse.

[_With a glance at the picture_]

The deadliest thing about me, at present, seems to be my ability to paint pictures like that one over there.

Van Zorn. [_Becoming more and more serious_]

I seem to be facing you, Farnham, but the truth is that I am facing myself. Whichever way I look now, I look forward into a thousand mirrors; and I see myself--only myself--Van Zorn. If I had one talent, I should see that; and I should thank God for it. But it isn’t there. There is nothing there but--Van Zorn.

[_He smokes for a time in thought_]

Farnham, do you wonder that there are people in this world who howl about property?... Yes; my property, if you like.

Farnham. [_Laughing_]

Good! That sounds as if the yeast were beginning to work. You needn’t worry; you’ll find something to live for.

[_Getting up and stretching himself comfortably_]

Why don’t you begin by tearing down a row of rotten tenements--just for the fun of it--and putting up some thing--oh, something sanitary and ornamental? Then the tired father could come home and cleanse his honest hide in a white enameled bath-tub--only of course he wouldn’t,--and after dinner the entire family could sit around a gilded radiator and sing songs by the most eminent composers, as Otto would say, of their native land.

[_Laughing_]

Hear me, Norma, but don’t excite yourself. You are still young, and there’s going to be no end of time.

Van Zorn. [_With a dutiful smile_]

There is something in what you say.

Farnham. [_With easy patronage_]

You bet there is. And then there is always this “business” of yours: “Van Zorn and Lucas, the eminent comedians.” Don’t you see _that_, when you look forward into your thousand mirrors?

Van Zorn. [_Looking down_]

Yes, I see it. The business will succeed.

Farnham. To be sure.

[_Becoming over-confident_]

Van Zorn, from whom all blessings flow, do you realize that we are beaten by Old Hundred?

Van Zorn. [_Gravely_]

I don’t like your word--beaten.

Farnham. [_Piqued but persistent_]

Neither do I,--but I didn’t invent it, and I won’t say it again. But I should like to ask you one question. When you came in this evening, you said something about your destiny being a very good destiny; and you said, also, that it had encountered--I think that was your word--one that was better. Now, if I have a right to ask the question, I wish you would be good enough to tell me what the devil Lucas was doing this afternoon at Mrs. Lovett’s.

Van Zorn. He came to tell Miss Vannevar that he was going west, and to say good-bye.

Farnham. Going west--eh?

[_Excited but satirical_]

And if you hadn’t kept Lucas from going west--whatever that means--I suppose you would have been contented for all time with your--your one interview.

Van Zorn. [_After some deliberation_]

If Lucas had gone--west,--you would still have recovered your ring.

[_They look at each other until Farnham shrugs his shoulders and looks at the floor_]

When Lucas changed his mind about going, he was not in any manner influenced by the ring or by the person who wore it.

[_Pause_]

But why say more about that?

[_His last words come rather thickly; he moves away and finally remains standing before the picture_]

By the way, Farnham, what are you going to do with this picture?

Farnham. [_Drily_]

You speak as if you wanted it yourself.

Van Zorn. Will you give it to me?

[_He is evidently in earnest_]

Farnham. [_Cynically_]

Yes, take it. Take everything in sight.

Van Zorn. [_Thoughtfully_]

I could almost believe that this picture was painted for me--without your knowledge.

Farnham. [_Drily_]

More destiny?

Van Zorn. [_Taking a small knife from his pocket_]

I don’t know what else to call it.

[_He begins to cut the head and shoulders from the canvas_]

Farnham. [_Going quickly towards him_]

Here! What do you think you are doing?

Van Zorn. [_Cutting diligently_]

I am getting rid of one of the most insincere

[_Cuts_]

and exasperating

[_Cuts_]

bits of charlatanry

[_Cuts_]

that man’s eyes have ever looked on. I am doing it partly for the good of your artistic conscience, and partly for reasons of my own.

Farnham. [_Unable to protest_]

All right, the thing is yours.

[_With cynical observation_]

But I suppose you know that you are disintegrating twenty-five hundred dollars worth of high art?

Van Zorn. [_Throwing the piece of canvas into the fire_]

Is that your figure?

Farnham. For the present, yes. And therefore it seems to me that your eccentric little ingle-flame over there is just a bit extravagant.

Van Zorn. [_Punching the burning canvas with the poker_]

I shouldn’t worry about that if I were you. We are living in an extravagant age.

[_He puts away the poker and stands watching the fire. At length he turns to_ FARNHAM _and speaks with a subdued intensity and a new emphasis_]

It is your age, Farnham, and you had better not play with it.

[_Slowly_]

If I were you, I should try to meet it half way.

[VAN ZORN _throws his cigar into the fire and stands looking at the smouldering canvas, holding his hands behind him_. FARNHAM _goes toward him slowly, holds out his hand and looks for a moment into_ VAN ZORN’S _eyes_. VAN ZORN _takes his hand, lets it go, and continues to look down into the fire_]

Farnham. [_Embarrassed and with evident regret_]

I’m sorry, old fellow, but I didn’t quite ... I didn’t realize that you were quite so much in earnest.

[VAN ZORN _makes no reply, but remains looking at the fire_. FARNHAM _sits down on the edge of the window seat and looks thoughtfully at the floor before him. Finally he looks again at Van Zorn, and a slow incredulous smile comes over his face. Then he shrugs his shoulders, as if he was still in doubt about something, and the curtain falls slowly._]

THE END

The following pages contain advertisements of a few of the Macmillan books on kindred subjects.

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The King of the Dark Chamber

By

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Nobel Prizeman in Literature, 1913; Author of “Gitangali,” “The Gardener,” “The Crescent Moon,” “Sadhana,” “Chitra,” “The Post-Office,” etc. Cloth 12 mo.

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Transcriber’s Notes

‣ Italics represented with _underscores_.

‣ Small Caps converted to ALL CAPS.

‣ Duplicate chapter headers omitted.

‣ Obvious typographic errors silently corrected.

‣ On p. 148, three misspellings of "Pethrick" changed to "Petherick".

‣ Footnote numbered and moved to follow the citing paragraph.