BURGOYNE. (_springing up and speaking to the sergeant in a startling voice_). Where is the man who brought these?
Burgoyne goes out with a haste that sets the officers exchanging looks.
SWINDON. (_to Christy_). Do you know Anthony Anderson, the Presbyterian minister?
CHRISTY. Of course I do. (_Implying that Swindon must be an ass not to know it._)
CHRISTY. (_staring round_). I don’t know.
RICHARD. Answer properly, you jumping jackass. What do they know about Dick?
CHRISTY. Well, you are Dick, ain’t you? What am I to say?
SWINDON. Address me, sir; and do you, prisoner, be silent. Tell us who the prisoner is.
SWINDON. You are sure he is not Anderson.
RICHARD. (_exasperatedly_). Me, me, me, you—
RICHARD. (_impatiently_). Yah! (_To Christy_) He wants to know am I Minister Anderson. Tell him, and stop grinning like a zany.
CHRISTY. (_grinning more than ever_). YOU Pastor Anderson! (_To Swindon_) Why, Mr. Anderson’s a minister—-a very good man; and Dick’s a bad character: the respectable people won’t speak to him. He’s the bad brother: I’m the good one, (_The officers laugh outright. The soldiers grin._)
THE SERGEANT. I did, sir. I found him in the minister’s house, sitting at tea with the lady with his coat off, quite at home. If he isn’t married to her, he ought to be.
SWINDON. Did he answer to the minister’s name?
THE SERGEANT. Yes sir, but not to a minister’s nature. You ask the chaplain, sir.
SWINDON. (_to Richard, threateningly_). So, sir, you have attempted to cheat us. And your name is Richard Dudgeon?
RICHARD. You’ve found it out at last, have you?
SWINDON. Dudgeon is a name well known to us, eh?
RICHARD. Yes: Peter Dudgeon, whom you murdered, was my uncle.
SWINDON. Hm! (_He compresses his lips and looks at Richard with vindictive gravity._)
CHRISTY. Are they going to hang you, Dick?
RICHARD. Yes. Get out: they’ve done with you.
CHRISTY. And I may keep the china peacocks?
RICHARD. (_jumping up_). Get out. Get out, you blithering baboon, you. (_Christy flies, panicstricken._)
SWINDON. (_rising—all rise_). Since you have taken the minister’s place, Richard Dudgeon, you shall go through with it. The execution will take place at 12 o’clock as arranged; and unless Anderson surrenders before then you shall take his place on the gallows. Sergeant: take your man out.