Mrs. Bartlett—[With a shudder.] Are you tryin’ to bribe me, Isaiah—with a treasure that’s been cursed by God?
Bartlett—[As if he hadn’t heard.] D’ye remember long ago, back East, just after we was married, and I was skipper o’ my first whalin’ ship, how that foreigner come to me with the map o’ the pirates’ gold and asked me to charter the ship? D’ye remember o’ how I’d talk to ye o’ findin’ ambergris, a pile o’ it on one vige that’d make us rich? Ye used to take interest then, and all th’ voyage with me ye’d be hopin’ I’d find it, too.
Mrs. Bartlett—That was my sin o’ greed that I’m bein’ punished for now.
Bartlett—[Again as if he hadn’t heard.] And now when it’s come to us at last—bigger nor I ever dreamed on—ye drive me away from ye and say it’s cursed.
Mrs. Bartlett—[Inexorably.] Cursed with the blood o’ the man and boy ye murdered!
Bartlett—[In a mad rage.] Ye lie, woman! I spoke no word!
Mrs. Bartlett—That’s what you kept repeatin’ in your sleep, night after night that first week you was home, till I knew the truth, and could bear no more. “I spoke no word!” you kept sayin’, as if ’twas your own soul had you at the bar of judgment. And “That cook, he didn’t believe ’twas gold,” you’d say, and curse him.
Bartlett—[Wildly.] He was lyin’, the thief! Lyin’ so’s he and the boy could steal th’ gold. I made him own up he was lyin’. What if it’s all true, what ye heard? Hadn’t we the right to do away with two thieves? And we was all mad with thirst and sun. Can ye hold madmen to account for the things they do?
Mrs. Bartlett—You wasn’t so crazed but you remember.
Bartlett—I remember I spoke no word, Sarah—as God’s my judge!