EPILOG

[A parlor in the Hotel Orient, Port Said, furnished as a writing-room for the guests. There is at the right a table with pens, ink, magazines, railway guides and folders. At the left a table with writing materials, blotters, etc. Each table is flanked by two chairs. There are also several comfortable armchairs and a revolving case with time-tables and other hotel literature. From the room a wide central entrance leads through glass doors to a porch with posted placards. There are exits right and left and a window on the left beside the door. The sun shines brightly through this window and also illumines the prospect from the porch. As the curtain rises, Mr. Mathews enters at the centre and casts a critical eye over the room. He puts the papers, etc., into order at both tables and throws several soiled sheets into a wastebasket under the table on the right. Mr. Hanson enters with a large bundle of letters and goes to the opposite table.]

Mathews. Good morning, Mr. Hanson. I hope you slept well.

Hanson. Thank you, Mr. Mathews. My first night in Africa was one of undisturbed repose. What a lovely morning! Is such weather common in Egypt?

Mathews. It is during the season. We often have fine weather at this time of the year.

Hanson. Your hotel seems quite crowded.

Mathews. It filled up yesterday after the arrival of 134your steamer. Most of our guests are tourists who are on their way to Cairo and the Pyramids.

Hanson. Have you seen Miss Richmond this morning?

Mathews. Yes, she is now at breakfast. What a charming lady she is!

Hanson. One of Heaven’s good angels, I should say. My wife and I have been associated with her for two years in her American charities and in this India relief work. Her soul is wrapped up in it. You should see how people respond to her appeal for aid. [He reads the mail as he talks.] One contribution after another. Our fellow-passengers on the ship raised a fund of one hundred pounds.

Mathews. That reminds me to give you this check on behalf of the management. [He takes a check from his wallet.] We desire to show our interest in the cause.

Hanson. Thank you very much. I am certain your kindness will gratify Miss Richmond. [He reads a letter with an enclosure.] Here’s a curious one! From the English missionary at Kermeh—‘ten pounds from our mission for the India relief fund.’ Where is Kermeh?

Mathews. It is far up the Nile—at the Third Cataract. That’s the sort of coöperation that counts; it shows that Miss Richmond’s noble work is known in the remotest regions. [He takes out his check book and writes.] Mr. Hanson, I wish you would add this personal contribution to that of the management. I want to help a little.

Hanson. You are indeed generous. I wish the world could realize the nature of the task that Miss Richmond has undertaken—the feeding of impoverished thousands 135is but a small part of it. There are schools and hospitals to be provided—an effort is being made to raise the whole country to a better standard of living. The fever must be stamped out—[Reads.] Twenty pounds—fifty pounds—Heaven bless them all. [He takes up a telegram.] A dispatch from Paris. [As he reads it, the paper trembles in his hand. He starts up with a cry.]

Mathews. What is the matter?

Hanson. [Excitedly.] The matter! It’s too wonderful to be true. I doubt whether I’m awake! It can’t be possible—yet here it is, black on white. It’s like a voice from Heaven answering Miss Richmond’s prayer. [Hands over the telegram.] Read it, Mr. Mathews.

Mathews. [Reads.] ‘The Messrs. Blaustein have the honor to inform Miss Richmond that securities amounting to ten million pounds’—

Hanson. [Wildly.] It does say ten million? I’m not dreaming?

Mathews. You’re wide awake—it’s ten million. I’m not familiar with the sum, but I know what the figures look like. [He resumes reading.] ‘Securities amounting to ten million pounds have been deposited with them to form a permanent fund known as the Eleanor Richmond Fund, the income thereof to be expended in the interests of Miss Richmond’s great charities throughout the world. Provision is made that one hundred thousand pounds shall be immediately available for Miss Richmond’s relief work in India. The Messrs. Blaustein regret that they are not at liberty to mention the name of the donor, who prefers to remain anonymous because he wishes only one name to be associated with the fund—that 136of Miss Richmond herself.’ Did you ever hear anything like that before in your life, Mr. Hanson?

Hanson. [Almost delirious.] Has there ever been anything like it before? It is stupendous! How can such a gift be kept secret! How can any human being give away ten million pounds without public recognition? Can you realize what burdens it will lift from Miss Richmond’s mind? She can now proceed safely with many noble enterprises which she has long hoped to carry out when funds were available. How she will rejoice at this wonderful answer to her prayers!

Mathews. [Gravely.] By the way, Mr. Hanson, be careful in giving her the information. Good news may cause as severe a shock as bad news. Tell her gradually—

Hanson. You’re right. It’s a wonder it didn’t knock me over—I haven’t had my breakfast yet. I don’t believe a doctor would recommend hearing such news on an empty stomach. [Enter Robert Dorr at the centre. He wears a plain sack suit and no jewelry of any sort. He seems alert and vigorous. Hanson continues to read the mail.]

Dorr. Good morning, Mr. Mathews.

Mathews. Good morning, Mr. Dorr. You are an early riser—the porter told me you went out at five o’clock for a stroll about the harbor.

Dorr. I am enjoying the best of health. You must have observed the improvement in the four days that I have been here. The climate of Egypt is wonderful—bracing, invigorating!

Mathews. [Drily.] Yes, just now—but wait till next summer!

137Dorr. I haven’t time to wait. I’ll take your word for it.

Mathews. By the way, Mr. Dorr, you ought to know Mr. Hanson, secretary to Miss Richmond. Mr. Hanson, Mr. Dorr. You are both Americans—

Dorr. The best of reasons for our knowing each other, Mr. Hanson. I have heard of Miss Richmond’s splendid services for India. You have doubtless taken part in that work?

Hanson. Yes. Mrs. Hanson and I have been associated with Miss Richmond for several years. It has been a pleasure to help even a little in the great cause, but I’ve never been so happy as this morning. What do you think has happened?

Dorr. I’m sure I never could guess.

Hanson. A noble hearted soul has established a fund of ten million pounds to carry on Miss Richmond’s work.

Dorr. Ten millions! Who is your Crœsus?

Hanson. That’s the most remarkable part of it. He is as modest as he is magnanimous—he prefers to remain unknown.

Dorr. What does Miss Richmond say?

Mathews. She doesn’t know it yet. The dispatch arrived from Paris this morning.

Hanson. It will be the happiest day of her life, I am sure.

Dorr. How long do you remain at Port Said?

Hanson. Our steamer leaves day after to-morrow at ten. That reminds me, I must send off a note at once to the steamship office. You will pardon me? [He goes to the table, left, and writes.]

138Mathews. [Beside the table.] Just look at that mail, Mr. Dorr—contributions coming in from all quarters. There are many hundred pounds in all, and yet how small that seems beside those ten millions! How would you like to be able to give such a donation?

Dorr. [Uncomfortably.] I—I think it would be very pleasant—I think I’d rather like it!

Mathews. I should say so! A man with such generous impulses should not hide his light—

Dorr. [Interrupting.] Pardon me, Mr. Mathews, have you a Bradshaw handy?

Mathews. [Indicating to the table, right.] You will find one on that table. [He crosses.] Here it is. [Dorr follows and takes a seat with his back to the others. Mathews turns to the back as if to go out and meets Eleanor Richmond. He comes front with her. Dorr pretends to be reading his Bradshaw.]

Eleanor. Good morning, Mr. Mathews. It’s a full year since I was here. How have you been?

Mathews. Very well. I need not ask—

Eleanor. [Smiling.] Always well and busy. Perhaps I should say always well because I’m busy. What a lovely sunny morning. You seem to furnish such beautiful weather whenever I come to your hotel.

Mathews. I hope you will enjoy your stay here, Miss Richmond.

Eleanor. I always do. I’m sorry it must be such a short stay, but you know—India is calling and I’m needed there. [To Hanson.] Good morning, Hanson—have you breakfasted?

139Hanson. Not yet, Miss Richmond—I’ve been looking over the mail. The fact is, I’m not at all hungry—

Eleanor. You’re not getting ill, I hope? You seem strangely excited about something. Is the fever prevalent now, Mr. Mathews?

Mathews. No, indeed. I don’t think anything serious is the matter with Mr. Hanson. He is simply suffering from a slight shock.

Eleanor. A shock! Why, what has happened?

Hanson. You see I was reading the mail—it’s a goodly batch of letters. Nearly all of them contain donations, both large and small—I was simply overcome by their generosity. Here is one from the English mission at Kermeh in the upper Nile valley. Mr. Mathews has given me a check on behalf of the management of the hotel and a personal contribution as well.

Eleanor. [Gratefully.] Thank you for your aid. It is an inspiration to find people everywhere so anxious to help! [She has taken a seat at the table, left, her back to Dorr. Hanson is seated at her side and Mathews is standing.]

Hanson. [Slowly and seriously.] Miss Richmond, you know that now and then there is an unusually large donation announced in the mail. [She nods expectantly as she looks over the letters.] That happened this morning. [A pause.] It is the most splendid gift that your cause has ever received. [She drops the letters and looks eagerly at Hanson.] This is a trust fund, the interest of which is to be applied to your work. Do not be startled at the sum—it is very great. You remember last year the Earl of Shropshire gave—

140Eleanor. Ten thousand pounds—a munificent sum! And you say this is even more?

Hanson. [Deliberately.] Conceive the Earl of Shropshire’s gift multiplied ten fold—a hundred fold—a thousand fold!

Eleanor. [Rising from her seat.] Hanson, what do you mean?

Hanson. [Rising.] Miss Richmond, the amount is ten million pounds. [A pause. She looks from Hanson to Mathews. Hanson gives her the dispatch. Tense silence as Eleanor reads it. Dorr trembles, but does not look around. The paper shakes in Eleanor’s hand.]

Eleanor. [Faintly.] Ten million pounds—a permanent fund—one hundred thousand pounds immediately available! [She sinks into her chair.] Can this be true? It is like the realization of a fairy-dream. Hanson, I must know the donor of this enormous fund—

Hanson. The dispatch says he prefers to remain anonymous.

Eleanor. I must know. His name may be kept secret if he so desires, but I must see that man and thank him from the bottom of my heart for the good that he is doing. His bounty will reap a perpetual harvest—he must see for himself what his unparalleled generosity will accomplish.

Hanson. Shall I write to the Blausteins at Paris, asking that the donor’s name be communicated to you?

Eleanor. No—I shall let you have a telegram for them. I want to know before I leave Port Said. What a wonderful day this is! You knew of it, Mr. Mathews?

Mathews. Mr. Hanson told me just before you came in. Let me say in all sincerity, it is the kind of support that your noble work has merited all along.

141Eleanor. It makes me happy past all understanding. We can achieve real results now—not temporary relief, but permanent progress. Won’t you get your breakfast, Hanson? I am forgetting all about you. No wonder you seemed so excited. I shall telegraph to the Blausteins at once. [She reaches for a telegram pad and writes.]

Hanson. Very well. [He gathers up the mail, leaving the dispatch from the Blausteins in Eleanor’s possession.] Mr. Mathews, won’t you deposit these remittances in your safe for the present? [Dorr at his table writes out a check.]

Mathews. Certainly. Can I be of further service, Miss Richmond?

Eleanor. Not now, but I shall call upon you later. Let me thank you once more for your kindness! I must get off this dispatch at once.

Mathews. Let me know when I can serve you in any way. [He goes off, centre, with Hanson. Eleanor, when alone at the table, reads the dispatch again, clasps it to her breast and looks upward in thankfulness. Trying to compose her own telegram, she once more reads the other and weeps softly as she does. Dorr rises and turns towards her. She is trying to compose herself to write, but cannot.]

Dorr. [Advancing.] Pardon me, Miss Richmond—I should like to contribute a trifle to your fund. [He hands her the check.]

Eleanor. How good of—[Looks intently at him.] why—I—[In a whisper.] Bobbie Dorr!

Dorr. Yes.

Eleanor. Bobbie Dorr—in Egypt! Oh! what a surprise! Were you sitting over there reading that Bradshaw? I took you for an ill-mannered tourist!

142Dorr. And you recognized me at once—after fifteen years.

Eleanor. Is it as long as that? Then you must not mention the fact again. You’ve grown broader and heavier, Bobbie—you look more sensible, too!

Dorr. And you’re just the same charming Eleanor that you were in the old Lenox days.

Eleanor. The idea of your saying such a thing! I just remarked that you seemed more sensible—now I am inclined to doubt it. What have you been doing all these years?

Dorr. Wandering over the face of Europe and learning many things. I fear you have never forgiven me for the unceremonious way I cleared out after that dance of Aunt Martha’s. I sailed from New York a few hours after that—that last evening we spent together.

Eleanor. I have never forgotten that evening, Bobbie. You seemed like a man possessed of some evil spirit. You remember how you raved about the power of wealth—

Dorr. I meant it then. My money is practically all gone now.

Eleanor. You have run through that great fortune of your grandfather’s? You have spent it all?

Dorr. All but a very little—I couldn’t give you much of a contribution—

Eleanor. [Looking at the check.] How thoughtless of me! Here I have been holding your check all this time without even glancing at it. One thousand pounds! Generous as ever, Bobbie!

Dorr. I’m sorry it isn’t more—

143Eleanor. [Examining the signature.] What’s this? What a strange way of spelling your name!

Dorr. I’ve been known as M. D’Or ever since I left America—it was simply a fancy of mine. Now that I’m through with my money, I shall be plain Bobbie Dorr hereafter.

Eleanor. It certainly sounds better, Bobbie—more like old times. Do you know, I always felt that we should meet again and that you would tell me truly whether or not wealth can buy power—

Dorr. It cannot, Eleanor, I admit that. I spent my money foolishly for the most part—that is, until recently, when I acquired more common sense—but I’m glad I’m done with it. Now I’m going to ask you a favor.

Eleanor. What is it, Bobbie?

Dorr. Won’t you take me along to India?

Eleanor. Take you along to India! Why, this is no pleasure excursion. It means work—the hardest kind of work.

Dorr. [Dejectedly.] I know I don’t amount to much, but I thought I might serve as a second or third assistant secretary. [Brightening.] I was watching your secretary this morning. When the mail comes in I might open the envelopes and hand them over to Mr. Hanson.

Eleanor. And what then?

Dorr. Well, I suppose I’d have to look out of the window until the next mail arrived. But, Eleanor, I’m serious about this—I’m no longer the frivolous youngster I was at Lenox.

Eleanor. We’ve both seen a good bit of life since then, Bobbie. I became interested in charitable work, and 144my labors at home and in India have been crowned with great success. Did you hear us speak before of the wonderful good fortune that has just befallen us—the income of ten million pounds to be annually devoted to our cause? Isn’t it marvelous! I was just about to write in order to learn the name of the donor.

Dorr. I shouldn’t ask the Blausteins about him—they won’t tell you anyway.

Eleanor. How did you know it was the Blausteins? I didn’t mention their name.

Dorr. Why, I—that is, Mr. Hanson happened to mention it to Mr. Mathews before you came in.

Eleanor. And knowing that, you were willing to sit there in that cold-blooded manner reading your Bradshaw?

Dorr. I didn’t want to take you by surprise. I wanted to give you a chance to hear what Mr. Hanson had to say before I forced my unworthy self on your attention.

Eleanor. What Mr. Hanson had to say? It seems to me that you show very little enthusiasm over this wonderful endowment. I must discover the donor; won’t you help me?

Dorr. I don’t see why you bother about him. He’s probably some eccentric old fellow—he must be a queer chap to turn over such a sum to a Board of Trustees—

Eleanor. Board of Trustees—[Reading the dispatch.] The dispatch says nothing about a Board of Trustees!

Dorr. Doesn’t it? Well, you see, they usually do such things in that way. I inferred from what Mr. Hanson said to Mr. Mathews—

Eleanor. [Alert.] Bother Mr. Hanson and Mr. Mathews. [Coming closer.] Bobbie Dorr, tell me the 145truth. You left us fifteen years ago to prove that wealth was power.

Dorr. I know I made myself ridiculous. I believed then that humanity could be bought and sold like merchandise over a counter. For a time I succeeded after a fashion. I know better now. I confess my defeat.

Eleanor. [Watching him.] What did you do with that large fortune, Bobbie?

Dorr. [Evasively.] It’s all gone—no use crying over spilled milk. I’m rather poor now, and glad of it. There’s just enough left to provide for my wants. All the rest is gone. Why do you look at me so strangely? It’s all spent—that is, I got rid of it—I had no further use for it—I—gave it away—I—

Eleanor. Bobbie! It was you!!

Dorr. Eleanor, a few moments ago you remarked to Mr. Hanson that you wanted the donor of that fund to see what good it would accomplish. Now I—I’m willing to confess—provided you take me along to India.

Eleanor. You have triumphed, after all! Wealth is power!

Dorr. Only when such a noble soul as yours dispenses it. [He takes her hand.] Give me a chance, Eleanor! May I go along to India?

Eleanor. Yes. [She picks up her half-finished dispatch to the Blausteins and smilingly they look at it as the curtain falls.]

Early Reviews of

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.