Act II, Scene I
ACT II.
SCENE FIRST.
-- A cellar belonging to the villa, entered only by a ladder
from a small door above, L. C.
Strut. (discovered)
Well, my master has done a nice job for himself, it should seem,
with all his machinery and magic; the making of a man has unmade
him for life, and I seem destined to share all his advantages.
Because his hopeful bantling chose to amuse itself with
strangling a child, much in the same way, I suppose, that our
ordinary brats do kittens, out of pure kindness; they have seized
hold of me and popped me into this underground apartment to keep
me out of mischief; as if they thought I shared my master's
propensities, and had a penchant for making of men and
strangling of children. And so, after having taught me
philosophy, my master has left me here to practise it. Now, if
this were a wine cellar, there would be some kind of consolation;
I might, by the magic of a butt of good liquor, convert this
dungeon into a fairy palace, and when I could stand no longer,
fancy these hard stones were like silken cushions. But everything
now has the appearance of a cursed uncomfortable reality. Ha! I
think I hear some one coming. I suppose it's old Quadro, who is
about to set me at liberty, or at least to afford me the
consolation of a flagon of his best. (the trap-door above
opens, a ladder is put down, and QUADRO descends, followed by
LISETTA) Ah! how d'ye do; I'm so glad to see you. I hope you
are come to bring me comfort in one shape or the other.
Quad.
Oh, yes! the best of all possible comfort, the news of a speedy
termination to all your miseries; you {17} will very shortly be
exalted, my fine fellow, elevated, tucked up, dance upon nothing.
Strut.
Don't mention it. I assure you such allusions are altogether
unpleasant to my feelings; for though you may consider my master
a bit of a mountebank, I assure you that I have never been
accustomed to dance on a tight rope: and as to hanging. (to
LISETTA) Oh! you dear little creature, I've dreamt of nothing
but hanging round your neck -- whilst for tucking up, I had hoped
we should have both been tucked up together in the bridal bed
before this.
Liset.
Oh, for shame, sir.
Quad.
Oh! you did, did you? I can tell you that there is a very narrow
bed in preparation for you, where you will find it most
convenient to lie alone, and where you will be tucked up with the
sexton's shovel.
Strut.
I am surprised at your mentioning such indelicacies before a
young lady.
Quad.
In the confusion occasioned by the appearance of his delectable
companion, your pretty master effected his escape; but I took
care to grapple you. I considered the nabbing of such a fellow as
you to be in my department, and so I popped you into this cellar.
Strut.
It would have been much more handsome of you to pop me in the
cellar where you keep the wine.
Quad.
And you will be hanged, for having aided, abetted, and assisted
your master in the formation of a monster, and as an accessory in
the young Prince's murder.
Strut.
Signor Quadro, you shock me. Me accused of assisting to make a
man? Let me tell you I was never before suspected of such an
offence; not even by the beadle of our parish, and he was a sharp
chap at nosing out such matters, I warrant ye.
Quad.
But now, sir, you are in my clutches, you won't get off so easy,
you may depend on it.
Strut.
Oh, Mr. Frankenstein, Mr. Frankenstein, this is a pretty mess you
have got me into, to stand god-father to your monster. (he
sits down at the back.)
Liset.
Now, my dear father, how can you be so harsh to this poor young
man? I don't really believe he had any hand in the making of
anything half so ugly.
Quad.
Did not I say it from the beginning; did not I always insist that
they were a brace of vagabonds, and that no good would come of
harbouring them?
Liset.
But now my own good, kind, dear father, seeing that what is done
cannot be undone, and that hanging this {18} young man would only
make bad worse, could not you contrive to let him go?
Quad.
Let him go, indeed, what for?
Liset.
Why just to oblige me, father; for really he is a tolerably
well-behaved young man enough, and not so much amiss to look at.
Quad.
Oh, you think so? And then, I suppose, the next thing is that you
must go with him, eh, you minx? Go and see him hanged if you
like.
Liset.
Now my dear, good, kind father, you don't know, though you are
rather old, how well you look when you are doing a good-natured
action. (she makes signs behind his back to STRUTT, to take
advantage of the opportunity and go up the ladder.)
Quad.
(C.)
You coaxing Jezebel. But don't think to wheedle me out of my
duty.
Liset.
(R. C.)
Now look in my face. (places one hand on each side of his
face, as if to turn it towards her; STRUTT watches his
opportunity and silently ascends the ladder) Look in my face,
and frown a refusal if you can. Will you let him go?
Quad.
No, I won't.
Liset.
You are sure you won't?
Quad.
No, I'll be hanged in his place, if I do. (STRUTT has now
gained the top of the ladder.)
Liset.
Then I'd advise him to do as I shall, to be off without asking
your leave, and let you enjoy the comforts of this place by
yourself. (she runs to the ladder, and with STRUTT's
assistance hastily ascends it, after which they quickly draw up
the ladder.)
Quad.
Why, you jade, you vixen, you undutiful hussy, what do you mean?
Liset.
Only to let you stay there, father, till the young man is out of
your reach; for I could not bear that you should have his death
upon your conscience, father; I could not, indeed.
Quad.
Go, both of you, and people the world with monsters, if you will;
you can produce none worse than an unnatural daughter.
Strut.
Good bye, old gentleman. (STRUTT and LISETTA disappear with
the ladder, QUADRO rushes out in a rage, R.)
Act
Scene
