And your young man knows it?
ETHEL
I tell you I have not discussed it with Mr. St. Aubyn.
PIKE
[emphatically]
I reckon not! Well, sir, do you know what's the first thing Mr. St. Aubyn will do when he hears his father's made such a proposition to you? He'll take the old man out in the back lot and give him a thrashing he won't forget to the day of his death!
[The roll of drums is heard, distant, as if sounding below the cliff; bugle sounds at the same time.]
[MARIANO and MICHELE run hurriedly from the hotel and lean over balustrade at back, as if watching something below the cliff.]
[RIBIERE enters quickly with them, takes one quick glance in same direction, and hurries off.][pg 070]
[PIKE and ETHEL, surprised, turn to look.]