Lucie Levéque Ayres

“ The man who from public disgrace has been able to build himself into a power, a whole country fears because it cannot subdue, need have no apprehension arising from petitions. Jean Durand of the French army was a very different man from Jean Lafitte, Emperor of Barataria. “If he should ever have cause to hate the Spanish!” he promised me. The cause must have been grievous—a woman, of course—the cause is always a woman, though Jean has said nothing to me about it. However, she has made him a good hater. For that much I am beholden to her.—But I must see Lafitte about the Creole. ”

“ Was I not very nearly killed in Barataria by Lafitte’s order? Would I not have been killed but for the fact that Father Cuthbert unloaded the guns?
MAN. A likely story! You knew from the beginning that Lafitte was Jean Durand. You depended upon that fact in case of emergency.
PED. Have a care. No man shall accuse me of being a coward with impunity.
MAN. I challenge you to deny that you told Lafitte you are Mariana’s brother.
PED. Certainly, I deny it. Lafitte saw in me only the Colonel Tolosa who had had him drugged and court-martialed from Napoleon’s army six years ago. ”

“ 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. Yes, Mariana d’Acosta, come to ask you a great favor.
GOV. C. Anything in my power.
MAR. I have heard of the delayed expedition against Barataria. I will myself, if you will allow me, lead it.
GOV. C. Miss d’Acosta!
MAR. No one is so well qualified for the work as I. I have lived there, days that have been years. I have seen them rob, destroy life and property; kill my nearest and dearest. Oh!—
GOV. C. My poor child!
MAR. I will lead the expedition. I know the way. (Governor Claiborne shakes his head; walks back and forth.) I have seen the British in consultation with those pirates ”

“ PED. (reads.) “Dear Father:—I beg your pardon for my words and actions at Barataria. I shall be at l’hotel des Exiles at 4 o’clock on the 7th. May I see you then? Humbly and in sorrow, Mariana.”— (slaps Manuel on the back.) My boy, love is improving you.
MAN. Have you an eraser?
PED. (takes one out of his pocket.) Always prudent to carry one. (Manuel spreads Mariana’s note on a table; erases heading.) I think I can capture Emperor Lafitte at the time and place mentioned and make beside quite a handsome sum off the Spanish merchants for the capture. ”

“ Keep firm, man! (enter Darblee.)
DAR. Baptiste! (Baptiste falls to the floor.) Lizbette! I won’t have you turning that crazy man of mine crazier. Get out, both of you! (exeunt Lizbette and Baptiste; enter Lafitte.) I’m afraid you may be disappointed in seeing Lafitte. (looking at his watch.) He’s late.
LAF. And Don Manuel?
DAR. Has not yet returned.—I suppose Lafitte will be here though. I never could understand that long absence of his. It must have due to a love affair.
LAF. You’d better keep a quiet tongue. Lafitte is not a man to endure prying into his private affairs. ”

“ Show us the way, Darblee. (exeunt; led by Darblee; enter Mariana and several nuns.)
MOTHER AUGUSTUS. Is this the place?
MAR. Yes. (Mother Augustus motions to a man who rings the bell.)
M. AUG. (to Mariana.) You should give up that silver ring, Mariana, which seems to be so associated with worldly souvenirs.
MAR. This ring! Never. It is an amulet. At sight of it all faith is imperative, all beauty understood, all despondency a sin. (aside.) What is death? He loves me still. (enter Baptiste.) ”

“ Barataria; vicinity of Lafitte’s home, the Red House; the Bay of Barataria at back; luxuriant foliage and flowers. Enter Lafitte; he has flowers in his hand and is followed by a dog.
LAF. (sorrowfully and perplexedly.) Dressed as a nun ... Mariana, dressed as a nun!... (joyfully.) But alive! (looking at the flowers in his hand.) Fairer than the fairest of you,—and alive! I shall see her maybe,—tell her all that she could not hear when I knelt beside her unconscious sweetness. (exeunt Lafitte and dog; voices, good-naturedly boisterous, heard without.) ”

“ BELLA. Baptiste.
DUV. Then go home with him.
BELLA. (kisses her father.) Good-by. (holds her hand out to Dominique.) Good-by. (he comes to her; takes her hand; kisses it; exit Bella.)
DUV. (to Dominique.) Now, sir!—I have no time to join the fighting forces near New Orleans. I will follow you and settle my personal differences with you later.
DOM. (bows; turns; makes a few steps toward exit, followed by Duval; stops; starts.) By heavens!—the British! The men have let them pass without a shot! (to his men.) Forward! (men remain seated; continue playing.) In the name of Lafitte! (all rise.) ”

“ PED. I could make some amends by sending you word of Mariana.
FATH. C. Yes.—I must risk it. (looks off to see that he is unwatched; goes to the three guns, unloads them, still leaving them powder-charged and returns them to their places; speaks to Pedro.) You will feign death upon being fired at. (Pedro nods.) And now, my poor boy, a prayer. (Pedro bows his head.) Merciful Lord of death and life, (pirates return; take up their guns.) help us now in this supreme hour. (Beluche re-measures the distance.) Save him, God, dear Father! (men station themselves.) ”

“ BAP. (comes to table; finds note gone! falls on his knees.) Lordy! Lordy! (crawls around table on his knees looking for paper; enter Bella.)
BELLA. Why, Baptiste! You’d better hurry home before Mr. Darblee discovers your absence.
BAP. Good-by, Miss Bella.
BELLA. Good-by, Baptiste. (exit Baptiste.) Poor fellow! He looks as I feel. Oh, I am so glad Dominique has not come. If he and Pedro d’Acosta meet ... I believe that man to be a sinister and deadly.—I hate State balls! (enter Dominique.) ”

“ Re-iterate my orders to the men of Barataria. (Beluche, humbled, bows; in turning he sees Mariana; he starts and his face is instantly hard.)
BEL. It is well the men of Barataria don’t see you with this woman, or they would refuse to obey your orders. (exit.)
LAF. (turns in bewilderment to Mariana.) What did he mean?
MAR. (looks at him desperately; Lafitte waits; finally she puts out her hands in dumb, piteous supplication.) I thought my brother had been killed ... and my uncle ... all those helpless people....
LAF. Your brother? Where?
MAR. At Barataria ... shot ... by a band of pirates.... ”

“ DOM. (behind the mask, in a hollow voice.) Baptiste— (Baptiste looks up and as he does so, the hat flies out to him; he yells and exits running; enter Darblee, angry, just as Dominique comes forth laughing.)
DAR. Where is he?
DOM. Don’t be angry, uncle. It’s my fault that he didn’t obey you. You haven’t any time for anger any way. Isn’t Bella pretty?
DAR. Very. Tell me about Lafitte. ”

“ No time can be lost. I ordered the expedition off with all speed. Lafitte must be captured. Since the five hundred dollars reward be of no avail, we’ll try fire.
CHAIR. It is like the British to league themselves with those hellish pirates. (exeunt; enter Lafitte.)
LAF. She is not here and I can find no clue as to where she has gone. (leans against mantel; enter several ladies and gentlemen.)
1st LADY. She must have reconsidered her determination to become a nun.
2d LADY. No wonder! I think Don Manuel d’Acosta (Lafitte starts) is the most perfectly fascinating man I ever met. ”

“ MAR. That it is very unbidden.
MAN. That it is the sum of my existence; that it has ruined my life for all things save worship of one idea—you; longing for one good—you; hatred for one opposition—yours. ”

“ Curse this cold! I can scarcely hold my pistol. (sees the cordial bottle; picks it up.) Ah! (takes a drink; slaps the stopper back on and throws the bottle down; makes a wry face.) That’s queer tasting stuff. (the firing has ceased; enter Lafitte.)
LAF. (anxiously.) Surely she could not have been so imprudent— (Pedro sees him; creeps up behind him; aims waveringly.)
PED. (in choking rage.) Damn— (falls; dies; Lafitte turns; sees Pedro; enter Mariana.)
MAR. Jean! (Lafitte starts; throws his cloak over Pedro’s body.) You are not hurt?
LAF. Not hurt, sweetheart. ”

“ LAF. How about now? (draws; exeunt Roysterers.)
DAR. (pointing to Stranger and laying a cautious hand on Lafitte’s arm.) He’s a priest.
LAF. Then he should be attending to his business rather than brawling about drinks. (Stranger turns off swaggeringly and exits, singing Mon Coeur a Toi; Lafitte starts; turns to Darblee.) A priest, did you say?—Then he’d some excuse for wanting drinks. He has no love to keep his heart warm, no hate to make it hot. I’ll pay for the drinks. (goes to door; calls.) Friend! (signs to Stranger to return; enter Stranger.) It is a chilly day. ”

“ MAR. Ah, there is no time to lose. Action is imperative. Write the order.
GOV. C. Pray heaven, I do not wrong you in doing so. (writes; Mariana takes the order.)
[66]
MAR. The nation will bless you for this act. (exeunt; Mariana hurriedly, Governor Claiborne slowly and much perturbed in spirit; enter from opposite direction, Pedro; enter Manuel.)
MAN. (starts.) You! Why, I thought—Does Mariana know you are alive?
PED. Probably not.
MAN. (with sudden change of thought; hurriedly, eagerly.) Would you like to earn the five hundred dollars reward for Lafitte’s head? ”

“ DAR. And the old uncle to give you welcome.
DOM. Spain is a pretty far way off, eh uncle?
DAR. But with Lafitte!—You know, Dominique, I have served Lafitte for years and yet have never seen him.
DOM. You have no idea the wonderful man he is!
DAR. Yes?
DOM. Oh, a man to admire, copy, love; a man to spend your life with, if it were not for Bella. How is Bella? Have you seen her? Is she well?— (notices a bulge in Darblee’s pockets.) What [26] on earth have you in your pockets?
DAR. (pulling out a pair of slippers.) ”

“ I belong to the American army. You will pay dearly.
PED. (savagely.) You won’t be the bill-maker, Emperor Lafitte. (to the men.) Remove his sword. (they remove it; Pedro takes it; breaks it across his knee and throws the pieces aside; exit 1st guard.)
MAN. (turning upon Mariana in a fury of jealousy.) So, Miss! You still love this fellow! Well, American or not, he will be put out of the way! Pedro and I have some scores to settle with him. And as for you, my beauty— (goes to Mariana; she slaps his face.) We’ll see! (takes her forcibly in his arms.) call upon your determined lover now! ”

“ MAN. His name is not Jean Durand, but Jean Lafitte! (Mariana recoils.) He it is who has robbed you; who intends dishonor towards you.
MAR. Silence!
MAN. Who is responsible for the sinking of the American vessel, [58] the death of your uncle, the killing of your brother!
MAR. (remembering the execution.) Ah!—Cowardly liar!
MAN. I can prove the truth of my assertions.
MAR. Do it, on your life! (exit, followed by Manuel; enter several pirates.)
1st PIR. (points to a boat coming up the bay.) That’s a strange boat coming up the Bay. (enter Lafitte and Father Cuthbert.) ”

“ I can find Don Manuel myself.
PED. You—
LAF. For your plunder of an American vessel in the name of Lafitte. I order you shot. (exit. Pedro is conducted to the back of the stage, near the Bay, where two men set about digging his grave.)
1st GRAVE-DIGGER. I have often cautioned the men never to trust anyone no matter what his guarantees, without asking for the pass-word. I’ll bet you this fellow couldn’t have answered. “To-morrow,” I say and if the other fellow answers “and her dupes,” all right, I’ll believe him. (enter Beluche; he goes to Pedro and searches him.) ”

“ PED. (offers Dominique his hand; gives him a hearty shake.) At eleven o’clock on the morning of the 7th, you are to go to the Cafe Marin for an important paper containing news of urgent import for Lafitte. At three o’clock of the same day, you are to bring the documents to Lafitte at l’hotel des Exiles.
DOM. At three o’clock.
PED. I am understood?
DOM. Perfectly. Au revoir. (exit; enter Manuel.)
MAN. Just a word. You’d better make yourself secure with your lady-love. Otherwise, you may find that even with one fortune, you will be unable to get the other. ”

“ There is no need. A sufficient force will be on hand. I have engaged to myself to capture Lafitte. We will all go to St. Philippe; all—except the eight who are to watch this hotel.
MAR. I’ll get my hat. (Pedro crosses to door; holds it open for her.) The Governor (aside) will have received my message and sent succor before they discover— (exeunt Mariana and Pedro; enter 1st guard and three others.)
MAN. (to 1st guard.) All right? (1st guard bows; enter Mariana and Pedro; Manuel advances; takes Mariana’s cloak from Pedro; folds it lovingly about Mariana.) ”

“ They are here. (Marquis goes to Mariana; leads her away; exeunt nuns and lady passengers; the men draw their swords and exeunt to the defense, except father Poularde, who follows the ladies; fighting; the clash of swords heard without; enter Pedro, forcing his way in in a hand fight; he has blood on his face, which has trickled down from a cut on his head; he is followed by Manuel and the Creole’s crew; exit Manuel in search of Mariana.) ”

“ Mother could never have loved other than a fine man.
BEL. Did she ever tell you his name?
BELLA. No.—Sometimes I think they may have made a mistake about his being dead;—don’t you think so?
BEL. No,—he is dead. (turns to go.)
BELLA. (puts her hand on his arm.) You will send Dominique to me?
BEL. Yes.
BELLA. Thank you.—I do like you. (exeunt severally Bella and Beluche; distant sounds of battle; enter several pirates; they look surly, scowling.)
1st PIR. Do you hear that firing?
2d PIR. I’m not deaf. (shivers; draws his coat about him.)
1st PIR. I don’t believe in Lafitte’s co-operation ”