The Man from Home | Page 2

under his arm.]
RIBIERE. [as he enters]. Ah, Mariano!
MARIANO. [bowing and greeting him gayly]. Monsieur Ribiere!
J'espère que vous êtes--
[He breaks off, turns on his heel toward the invisible musicians, and
shouts.]
Silenzio!
[He turns again quickly to RIBIERE.]
RIBIERE. [with a warning glance toward hotel]. Let us speak English.
There are not so many who understand.
MARIANO. [politely]. I hope Monsieur still occupy the exalt' position
of secretar' to Monseigneur the Grand-Duke.
RIBIERE. [sits and opens writing-case, answers gravely]. We will not
mention the name or rank of my employer.
MARIANO. [with gesture and accent of despair]. Again incognito!

Every year he come to our hotel for two, three day, but always
incognito.
[He finishes setting the table.]
We lose the honor to have it known.
RIBIERE. [looking at his watch]. He comes in his automobile from
Naples. Everything is to be as on my employer's former visits--strictly
incognito. It is understood every one shall address him as Herr von
Gröllerhagen--
MARIANO [repeating the name carefully]. Herr von Gröllerhagen--
RIBIERE. He wishes to be thought a German.
[Takes a note-book from case.]
MARIANO. Such a man! of caprice? Excentrique? Ha!
RIBIERE. You have said it. Last night he talked by chance to a
singular North American in the hotel at Napoli. To-day he has that
stranger for companion in the automobile. I remonstrate. What use? He
laugh for half an hour!
MARIANO. He is not like those cousin of his at St. Petersburg an'
Moscowa. An' yet though Monseigneur is so good an' generoso, will
not the anarchist strike against the name of royalty himself? You have
not the fear?
RIBIERE [opening his note-book]. I have. He has not. I take what
precaution I can secretly from him. You have few guests?
MARIANO [smiling]. It is so early in the season. Those poor musician'
[nodding off right] they wait always at every gate, to play when they
see any one coming. There is only seex peoples in the 'ole house! All of
one party.
RIBIERE. Good! Who are they?

MARIANO. There is Milor', an English Excellency--the Earl of
Hawcastle; there is his son, the Excellency Honorabile Almeric St.
Aubyn; there is Miladi Creeshe, an English Miladi who is sister-in-law
to Milor' Hawcastle.
RIBIERE [taking notes]. Three English.
MARIANO. There is an American Signorina, Mees
Granger-Seempsone. Miladi Creeshe travel with her to be chaperone.
[Enthusiastically.] She is young, generosa, she give money to every one,
she is multa bella, so pretty, weeth charm--
RIBIERE [puzzled]. You speak now of Lady Creeshe?
MARIANO [taken aback]. Oh no, no, no! Miladi Creeshe is ol' lady
[tapping his ears]. Not hear well. Deaf. No pourboires. Nothing. I speak
of the young American lady, Mees Granger-Seempsone who the
English Honorabile son of Milor' Hawcastle wish to espouse, I think.
RIBIERE. Who else is there?
MARIANO. There is the brother of Mees Granger-Seempsone, a young
gentleman of North America. He make the eyes [laughing] all day at
another lady who is of the party, a French lady, Comtesse de
Champigny. Ha, ha! That amuse' me!
RIBIERE. Why?
MARIANO. Beckoss I think Comtesse de Champigny is a such good
friend of the ol' English Milor' Hawcastle. A maître d'hôtel see many
things, an' I think Milor' Hawcastle and Madame de Champigny have
know each other from long, perhaps. This déjeuner is for them.
RIBIERE. And who else?
MARIANO. It is all.
RIBIERE. Good! no Russians?

MARIANO. I think Milor' Hawcastle and Madame de Champigny have
been in Russia sometime.
RIBIERE [putting his note-book in his pocket]. Why?
MARIANO. Beckoss once I have hear them spik Russian togezzer.
RIBIERE. I think there is small chance that they recognize my
employer. His portrait is little known.
MARIANO. And this North American who come in the
automobile--does he know who he travel wiz? Does he know his
Highness?
RIBIERE. No more than the baby which is not borned.
MARIANO [lifting his eyes to heaven]. Ah!
RIBIERE [looking at his watch]. Set déjeuner on the terrace instantly
when he arrive: a perch, petit pois, iced figs, tea. I will send his own
caviar and vodka from the supplies I carry.
MARIANO. I set for one?
RIBIERE. For two. He desires that the North American breakfast with
him. Do not forget that the incognito is to be absolute.
[Exit into hotel.]
MARIANO. Va bene, Signore!
[Puts finishing-touches to the table.]
[Enter from the grove, LORD HAWCASTLE. He is a well-preserved
man of fifty-six with close-clipped gray mustache and gray hair; his
eyes are quick and shrewd; his face shows some slight traces of high
living; he carries himself well and his general air is distinguished and
high-bred. He wears a suit of thinly striped white flannel and white
shoes, a four-in-hand tie of pale old-rose crape, a Panama hat with

broad ribbon striped