| “Time for us to go, Time for us to go, When the money’s out, and the liquor’s done, Why, it’s time for us to go.” |
(He goes tapping up to door, turns on the threshold, and listens. Gaunt turns a page. Pew, with a grimace, strikes his hand upon the pocket with the keys, and goes.)
ACT II
The Stage represents the parlour of the “Admiral Benbow” inn. Fireplace, R., with high-backed settles on each side; in front of these, and facing the audience, R., a small table laid with a cloth. Tables, L., with glasses, pipes, etc. Broadside ballads on the wall. Outer door of inn, with half-door in L., corner back; door, R., beyond the fireplace; window with red half-curtains; spittoons; candles on both the front tables; night without
SCENE I
Pew; afterwards Mrs. Drake, out and in.
Pew (entering). Kind Christian friends——(listening, then dropping the whine). Hey? nobody! Hey? A grog-shop not two cable-lengths from the Admiral’s back-door, and the Admiral not there? I never knew a seaman brought so low: he ain’t but the bones of the man he used to be. Bear away for the New Jerusalem, and this is what you run aground on, is it? Good again; but it ain’t Pew’s way; Pew’s way is rum.—Sanded floor. Rum is his word, and rum his motion.—Settle—chimbly—settle again—spittoon—table rigged for supper. Table—glass. (Drinks heeltap.) Brandy and water; and not enough of it to wet your eye; damn all greediness, I say. Pot (drinks), small beer—a drink that I ab’or like bilge! What I want is rum. (Calling and rapping with stick on table.) Halloa, there! House, ahoy!
Mrs. Drake (without). Coming, sir, coming. (She enters, R.) What can I do——? (Seeing Pew.) Well, I never did! Now, beggar-man, what’s for you?