SCENE IV.
Morning in a business street down-town. Many people are passing, among them the Priest, the Suburban, and the Loafer. A crowd thickens before the bulletin boards of “The Earth,” a prominent daily newspaper. At the extreme left are the headquarters of “The Universe,” a rival paper. Not far from “The Earth” building can be seen the modest sign of the eminent physician:—
DR. ESMERALD THORNE.
Office Hour 12-1 o’clock.
(A door opens within. Dr. Thorne appears in the entrance to the corridor.)
Enter Dr. Thorne (upon the sidewalk.
Standing irresolute, he seems to wince
from the daylight and the morning
air; he mutters).
Now it is light, I can find my way to Helen. (Steps slowly along the sidewalk; shades his eyes from the sun. He wears no hat, and his pallor has increased. No person addresses him.)
(On the bulletin boards of “The Earth” can be seen the following announcement:
War with the Island of Borneo.
Borneo Lays Down Her Ultimatum.
The President has Called for Volunteers.
Panic in Stock Street.
Santa Ma Fallen 30 Points Since Yesterday.
Dissension at the City Hospital.
Rumors of Accident at the West End.)
Enter Dr. Gazell (a short, blond, thick-set,
suave man of middle age) and Dr.
Carver (a very young man; the latter
reading a fresh copy of “The Universe”).
Dr. Gazell (with emotion). Shocking! Shocking! I cannot express—I am overcome!
Dr. Carver (without emotion). Yes. It is very sad. You’ll be apt to find these things in “The Universe” before “The Earth” gets them. I wonder if he—
Dr. Gazell. No. Never. He was above reproach. A hard man to get along with—willful, but above reproach. I am greatly shocked!
Dr. Thorne (stepping out into the crowd). Ah, Gazell! Good-morning. I am—I am very glad to see you, Dr. Gazell (pathetically).
(Dr. Gazell continues reading his paper. He does not look up.)
Dr. Thorne (with embarrassment). Gazell! (He moves directly in front of the office of “The Earth.” At that moment a new bulletin flashes in large letters, over the heads of the crowd, these words:—
Rumor Confirmed.
Shocking Accident!
Terrible Tragedy.
Runaway at the West End.
Mrs. Frederick Fayth Dangerously Hurt.
The Eminent and Popular Physician,
Dr. Esmerald Thorne,
Killed Instantly.)
(Dr. Thorne reads, and reels; stares about him appealingly.)
(Murmurs are heard from the crowd.)
Enter two Office Girls.
(First Office Girl starts, and points to the bulletin.)
Second Office Girl. Oh! Oh! (She bursts into tears.)
Suburban. Too bad! He was a clever fellow. He saved my little boy’s life last summer.
Loafer. He took a t’orn out av me eye onct and divil a cint did he charrge for ’t.
Priest. Pater Noster in Cœlo—gone without absolution, poor soul! An attractive heretic—merciful to the poor of my parish.
Dr. Gazell. He drove too fast a horse. And he drove the horse too fast. I always told him so. But I am greatly agitated by this!
Dr. Carver (reading aloud). Now “The Universe” had it already in type: “Dr. Thorne was dragged for some distance before the horse broke free. He was found near the buggy, which was a wreck. The robe was over him, and his face was hidden. Life was extinct when he was discovered, which was not for an unaccountably long time. His watch had stopped at five minutes past seven o’clock. He was not immediately identified. By some unpardonable blunder the body of the distinguished and favorite physician was taken to the morgue.”
Dr. Gazell. That accounts for it.
Dr. Carver (reads on). “It was not until nearly midnight that the mistake was discovered. A message was dispatched to the elegant residence of the popular doctor. Mrs. Thorne is a young and beautiful woman, on whom, with their only child, an infant son, this blow falls with uncommon cruelty.”
Dr. Thorne (utters a long, heartrending moan. But no person hears the sound. He stretches out his hands. The crowd shrinks from but does not see him. Staring at the bulletin, he stands apart. He raises his clenched right hand in the air; speaks). It is a dastardly lie! It is one of those cursed canards manufactured to harass men—and—break the hearts of women. God!—She has seen it by this time. Let me pass! Let me go to her! You may kill her with this, but you can’t kill me. Gentlemen, make way for me! I am Dr. Thorne!
(The crowd pays no attention to this outcry.)
Enter Newsboy (shrilly piping).
Newsboy. “Earth!” “Universe!” Latest—8.30. All about the accident! Dr. Thorne killed instantly—Mrs. Fayth still breathin’—“Earth,” sir? Two cents, sir.
(Dr. Thorne clutches the newsboy by the arm, and would tear the paper from him. Dr. Thorne’s fingers grope over it—touch it. He tries several times to obtain it. The paper remains in the hands of the boy.)
Enter Brake, the broker.
(Dr. Thorne staggers against Brake, who is reading “The Universe.”)
[Exit the Suburban, consulting his watch.
Dr. Thorne (more gently; addresses the loafer). Jerry! Is that you, Jerry! Tell these gentlemen, will you, that I am Dr. Thorne? I should take it—kindly—of you, Jerry.
Loafer (stares; mutters). Divil a cint did he charrge me for ’t.
Dr. Thorne (addresses the broker). Oh, Brake! I am glad to see you! I couldn’t get down to save my Santa Ma. But that is of no consequence.... I’ve been hurt—an accident—and I am confused. I am suffering from hallucinations. They have got beyond my control. I wonder if you wouldn’t call a cab for me? I thought Dr. Gazell would take me home in his carriage,—but he didn’t seem to hear me when I spoke to him. If you’ll call a cab, I’ll get home—to my wife.
[Exeunt Dr. Gazell, Dr. Carver, and
Brake, without replying.
(Dr. Thorne watches them with a piteous expression; stands back and apart from the crowd.)
End of Act I.