Arrah Na Pogue by Dion Boucicault

Author:Dion Boucicault
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408146613
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2019-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

Scene Two

The Armoury in O’Grady’s house.

The O’Grady and Major Coffin.

Major Really, Colonel, I cannot understand the grounds on which you profess to believe in the innocence of this fellow.

O’Grady Sir, I have known him to be an honest man ever since he was a child.

Major But he has confessed his guilt.

O’Grady That is the only bad feature in the case.

Major Bad feature! What evidence can be more conclusive? Don’t you believe his word?

O’Grady Egad, Major, if you think that he is capable of picking a pocket, won’t you let me think him capable of telling a lie?

Major The court-martial will decide that question. I am anxious to despatch this fellow’s case at once, for the country is agitated, and prompt measures are required to restore order. It is my firm conviction that an example is particularly required at this moment to check a popular disturbance. This man’s case admits of no doubt, and his execution will, I hope, prove a salutary public lesson. That being my firm conviction, Colonel, I trust you will excuse my prolonging any discussion upon the point. Good morning.

Exit Major.

O’Grady There goes a kind-hearted gentleman, who would cut more throats on principle and firm conviction than another black-guard would sacrifice to the worst passions of his nature. lf there be one thing that misleads a man more than another thing, it is having a firm conviction about anything.

Enter Fanny Power.

Fanny You are quite right, I had a firm conviction. But if ever I have another – if ever I trust one of your sex again, may I be deceived, as I shall deserve to be!

O’Grady What has happened?

Fanny A change has come over me since last night. I am no longer the fool I was. I have learned a bitter lesson. Oh, may you never know what it is to be deceived by the being you love!

O’Grady That will depend a good deal on yourself, my dear.

Fanny May you never find the idol of your heart to be a worthless, treacherous, unfeeling thing, whose life is one long falsehood.

O’Grady What is the matter with her?

Fanny Oh! When I compare you with other men, how noble, how good you appear.

O’Grady (aside) I wonder what I’ve been doing?

Fanny And how base I feel when I reflect on the past.

O’Grady Then don’t reflect on it. Why should you remember it? Upon my word I’ll forget it, with all my heart, whatever it is.

Fanny Will you forgive me?

O’Grady The man who hesitates to forgive a woman, under any circumstances, even when he hasn’t the smallest notion of what she is talking about, deserves –

Fanny That’s enough – I ask no protestations – I have had over enough of them. Now to business, do you love me?

O’Grady Ah, Fanny! I do, I do!

Fanny You do. Oh, yes. I know too well that I have inspired you, and you only, with a true and faithful devotion – fool, fool that I have been!

O’Grady I can’t quite follow the process of reasoning by which you get to that result.

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