Shuts door and runs to_ PRINCESS C.) Forgive me, Madame, but I
am so frightened. What is it? What is it?
PRINCESS. Control yourself, Nita. Go to bed, child. (NITA _goes to door
5._) I won't need you till six o'clock. (_Exit_ NITA.)
JARVIS. (_Entering_ L.C.) Thank you. Would you mind bolting that door
again? He might return. (PRINCESS _crosses to door and bolts it._) Do
you know what a feud is?
PRINCESS. Feud? Spain is the home of feuds.
JARVIS. So is Kentucky. That's where I came from. You're Spanish?
PRINCESS. Yes.
JARVIS. Then you'll understand--those shots you heard, that was the end
of a feud. I was called home suddenly by the death of my father--shot in
the back--feud--man after man--two families--the Marcums and my own had
shot each other down. Then my Dad fell and I was left to fight it out
alone.
PRINCESS. Couldn't you?
JARVIS. Couldn't I? God only knows what I've been through since. Those
two shots you heard--that was the finish. This morning when I got back
to my hotel, there was a message waiting for me. It was signed Jim
Marcum, head of the family, and proposed that, as we were out of
Kentucky, we meet and end the feud amicably. He asked me to meet him at
this hotel in his room--no matter what hour--he would be waiting. He was
leaving at six in the morning and wanted it settled. It was a pretty
scheme. I knew the man and I saw the trap. I came over here prepared and
went directly to his room. It was on this floor. I flung open the door
and met Jim Marcum face to face. He was waiting. Without a word he
fired. I fired, and he dropped. Now do you understand why the law would
not give me justice?
PRINCESS. Did you kill him?
JARVIS. I don't know--I didn't wait.
PRINCESS. What are you going to do?
JARVIS. I don't know. Do you know what it means to fight single-handed
against fearful odds--to fight an endless fight alone?
PRINCESS. Yes--yes--I know.
JARVIS. Endless fight--without even a single word of encouragement?
PRINCESS. Yes, I know what it means.
JARVIS. You know? How could you know? How could any woman know?
PRINCESS. Yes, I do know, because I too am fighting against fearful
odds.
JARVIS. There is no man to fight for you?
PRINCESS. No man left who dares.
JARVIS. God, if there had only been some woman to fight for in my fight!
PRINCESS. Your mother?
JARVIS. She's gone, too.
PRINCESS. Are you alone?
JARVIS. Alone.
PRINCESS. If you're caught it means yo
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