Базовый курс английского языка - Эккерсли К.Э.
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MAUNSELL (thoughtfully): I don't know. Wax and plaster have worked wonders. I heard of a Huguenot who lived two years in his own town unrecognized. The Marquis de Charron served as a footman at the Tuileries under sentence of death.
HARCOURT: This is England, sir! We've eyes in our heads.
MAUNSELL: We shall need them.
(Sergeant Tryon enters.)
SERGEANT: Your names, gentlemen ...
HARCOURT (sharply): Who the devil are you, sir?
SERGEANT: Sergeant Tryon of the Oxford Garrison. In the name of the Parliament.
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HARCOURT: Now, look here-
SERGEANT: Names, business and destination.
HARCOURT: If you think you've come to any purpose - SERGEANT: I must trouble you, sir.
MAUNSELL: Philip Maunsell of High Holbom, London. Gentleman. Travelling to Shrewsbury.
SERGEANT: When did you arrive?
MAUNSELL: Five minutes ago.
SERGEANT: On horse?
MAUNSELL: By coach.
SERGEANT: And leaving?
MAUNSELL: Tomorrow.
SERGEANT (to Harcourt): Yours, sir?
HARCOURT: Edgar Harcourt. Knight. Cheveley Manor, Devizes. SERGEANT: Arrived?
HARCOURT: This moment.
SERGEANT: A guest?
HARCOURT: For the night. Now look here-
SERGEANT: Have you knowledge of the whereabouts of Charles Stuart?
HARCOURT: First hand.
SERGEANT: What is it?
HARCOURT: Feeding the worms of Worcester.
SERGEANT: Speak to the point, sir.
HARCOURT: It is the point, sir.
SERGEANT: Then it may interest you to know... that Charles Stuart was reported last night... in this town.
(There is a moment's complete silence.)
HARCOURT: In this town?
SERGEANT: You heard me.
MAUNSELL (after a pause): Has he been seen?
SERGEANT: No.
MAUNSELL: Then how-
SERGEANT: A Royalist gave evidence in Hereford. (Hepauses.) The town is being searched from top to bottom. No one may enter or
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leave without permission. If he is here, we shall get him. (He turns to the door.) That is all, gentlemen. Good-night.
(He goes out. The two men stand facing each other. The Landlord
hurries in.)
LANDLORD: Forgive me, gentlemen. I was kept back by the Sergeant. Your drinks are coming ...
MAUNSELL: You heard, landlord, what he said?
LANDLORD: The Prince reported in Evesham! It sounds like a fairy tale...
HARCOURT (mechanically): A fairy tale ...
MAUNSELL: Where do you imagine he could be?
LANDLORD: I don't know, sir. There are some great houses in the neighbourhood, the Trevors, the Mainwarings, the Blakeneys. They'll be turned inside out. God help them, if they find him.
MAUNSELL: God help me, landlord ... if they don't!
LANDLORD: You, sir?
MAUNSELL: I shall lose five thousand pounds.
LANDLORD: Five thousand pounds ...
MAUNSELL: Have you forgotten ... the bet?
LANDLORD: By our Lady, sir!
MAUNSELL: If Charles is not found alive in a fortnight, I have lost. Those are the terms, Sir Edgar?
HARCOURT: Those are the terms.
MAUNSELL: So Godspeed to the arrest of Charles!
LANDLORD: Godspeed...
MAUNSELL: And I tell you, he won't make it easy. He's the cleverest man in England and will beat us yet.
LANDLORD: He won't beat me, sir.
HARCOURT: Nor me.
MAUNSELL: He's beaten us all for a week. Slipped through four counties and kept an army guessing... Why? (He faces them.) I'll tell you. Because they are looking for a ghost. They are looking for a ghost of Charles Stuart. And there is not one trace of Charles Stuart left. Every detail has been changed, clothes, voice, features, manner of walking, character, every mark and detail of the man we know ...
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(his voice dropping) except one ...(He pauses.) The one thing a man may never change, because he does not know he possesses it. HARCOURT: What is that?
(Robert enters with drinks.)
ROBERT: The gentlemen's drinks ...
LANDLORD: On the table, Robert.
HARCOURT: What is that?
MAUNSELL: A mannerism...
(There is a pause. He smiles quietly at them. Robert puts the drinks on
the table.)
Some trick of the hand, the slight movement of an eyelid, unknown to each of us and with us all our days.... Charles Stuart has a mannerism.
(Maunsell and Harcourt go to the table for their drink. Robert crosses the room to attend to the fire.)
LANDLORD: He has!
HARCOURT: What is it? ¦
MAUNSELL (smiling): There's a reward ... for the answer. LANDLORD: But if you know -
MAUNSELL: 1 was two years in the Palace of Whitehall, teacher to Prince Henry. I had time to observe ... Prince Charles. HARCOURT: It is your duty to the Parliament to speak. MAUNSELL (gently): My duty to myself... for six thousand. HARCOURT: Then there's no fear you'll forget it.
MAUNSELL (smiling): No fear. And yet. Sir Edgar, I wonder ... HARCOURT: Wonder, sir!
MAUNSELL: Whether future generations would approve. HARCOURT: This is treason.
LANDLORD (between them): Sir Edgar -
HARCOURT: Explain yourself.
MAUNSELL: A man who can defy England for a week ... has the makings of a king.
HARCOURT: I tell you, sir, England is tired of kings.
MAUN S ELL: She is tired of tyranny. She will never tire of kings. The people will respect a Parliament-they will die for a king. (Putting down his empty glass.) Shall we go in to supper?
