LYDIA (shuddering)
Never!
BIMBO (sighing heavily)
That’s the end of it, then. (At the table.) He’ll have to be crossed off. (He draws a line through the scrawled signature “Robert,” and turns to Lydia.) Our laws strictly forbid us to force a married man unless we obtain his wife’s consent. Let him go.
(He turns aside in disappointment.)
ROBERT (springing to Lydia joyously)
Lydia!
LYDIA (rapturously)
Robert!
BIMBO (turning upon them sharply)
No sweethearting, now. Stand away from her.
(Robert and Lydia, checked, stand looking at each other gloomily.)
ROBERT
Can’t I even kiss her?
BIMBO (horrified)
Kiss your wife—on Sunday! (Sternly.) Where was you brought up?
LYDIA (tenderly)
But you can take comfort from this: you know I want to kiss you, Robert.
BIMBO (crossly)
Well, belike he can wait till Monday. To-morrow we’ll have what’s decent of your cargo aboard us, and you’ll be under way for England again. (To the other pirates.) Take ’em all three to their own ship.
(The Gunner shoves Driscoll toward the Deaf-and-Dumb Man and the Man with the Braided Beard.)
DRISCOLL (during the moment of this release, shouting at Robert)
Blast you! Bla——