GOV C. (reads.)—“Captain!... thirty thousand dollars!” ... (hands the paper to the Chairman.)
LAF. If you will not accept my services, I shall instantly leave the country. I will not suffer the imputation of having co-operated towards an invasion from Barataria which cannot fail to take place. (Governor Claiborne walks about.)
CHAIR. (doubtfully still.) The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate are here—
GOV. C. It would do no harm to see them and find out whether they think it fit to submit the matter to the Legislature and to General Jackson.
LAF. I can only give you ten minutes in which to decide.
GOV. C. (resentfully.) You are autocratic.
LAF. I must be. A matter dearer life, country, heaven, claims my attention and cannot wait. I will await your early return here. (exeunt Governor Claiborne and the Chairman; Lafitte becomes impatient; looks at his watch; finally sits near the fire and absent-mindedly picks up a charred remnant of Mariana’s note which had fallen on the hearth.) A love note, probably.... (he holds it up; throws it into the fire; then, looking upon the flame, he softly and unconsciously whistles Mon Coeur a Toi.)
CURTAIN.
