LAF. (with a puzzled face, takes paper; he opens it, starts terribly; crumples the paper into a thousand pieces in his clenched fist; walks about in violent agitation.) Oh, not to save twenty countries! not to save my soul from everlasting disgrace, will I stop in my search now! Go! (to Dominique.) Fight indomitably. General Jackson will tell you where. Here is your commission as Captain.
DOM. (takes commission and in doing so, kisses Lafitte’s hand.) Can I not help you?
LAF. Yes. Fight for us both! (exit Dominique by West entrance just as Mariana enters.)
MAR. (she sees Lafitte; speaks in a horrified, low voice.) Jean ...
LAF. Mariana! (he holds her in his arms silently; his cheek on her hair; then holds her from him.) You are well? (Mariana nods.) Ah, (folding her in his arms again.) I have been seeking you night and day; I must have left Barataria almost in the hour you did; I have not been there since. I have lived in terror. Even death has frightened me, since it might claim me before I found you.
MAR. (starts) Oh, Jean—
LAF. (soothing her.) All is well, sweetheart. My life belongs to you. That is why it is a charmed life. Only a little while ago, I escaped from the British. I was journeying along on foot. Beppo kept me company. Suddenly, I heard the tramp of horses. Intuitively I felt that they carried British soldiers. I watched. A turn in the road showed me I was right. I heard Captain McWilliams’ voice, I crouched in the thick undergrowth bordering the road, I tried to quiet Beppo. He barked. I—I was obliged to kill him in order to prevent him from betraying me.... Not for the value of my own life, but to save the country’s. (Mariana put her arms around his neck) Then, so soon as they had gone by, I borrowed a horse and came on. I have sent word to General Jackson. There is no time to spare. Now that I have found you and can put you in secure care, I must go. The British are approaching. They are within nine miles of the city.
MAR. And you?
LAF. (tenderly.) I, sweetheart, am Captain once more. Captain Jean Lafitte, of the American army. Ah, there is so much in my heart!—so much that I want to tell you about my hatred for the Spanish; my feint to the British Commission. You don’t understand. I have never sailed under any flag but that of the republic of Carthagena. My vessels are perfectly regular in that respect. Carthagena is at war with Spain. I capture and sink Spanish vessels and take possession of their cargoes. That is the sum total of my offending. When I shall have told you what we owe to Spaniards,—how hopeless I was—
MAR. (brokenly.) I know—