me, take me as your spy; I'll do you men no
harm. Here, take the paper; it's all you need. I have the information,
but I'll give it back to you. (She tears the paper in pieces, flinging
it at them). There, fit the pieces for yourselves!

[The men all gather around the table, placing the paper before
them.

Hop. It's only torn twice. Spread that piece out. What's here?

[They all bend over the paper. There is a movement in the hall.
All the men look up, facing the door.

Hop. Who's there?

Gordon (draws back the curtains, entering from the hall in citizen's
clothes). Your prisoner, sir!

[All the men start, then some go quickly to him. Mrs. S. gives
a cry of "Gordon!" Then she and Fair stand gazing in a
horrified way at him. Charlotte takes a step nearer.

Char. (under her breath). My God!

Hop. (to Gordon). I arrest you as a spy!

Gordon. I am already your prisoner.

Winth. (in an agony). Why did you not escape!

Gordon. I had no chance.

Winth. Ah!

Evans (by the table with the paper). Colonel, look at this paper.
As I'm alive, I think it is a trick! The ink is hardly dry. What if she
meant it for a signal?

Char. A signal! So that's it, you dog! You think I led him into his
surrender; you think it is because I am afraid, and that is why I gave
the paper up to you! A signal, then! If that is so, then every thing I
do must seem a signal. I go up to him so (she goes to Gordon); I take
his hands and look into his eyes; I say to him: Well done; you are a
hero, even though you fail, I throw the curtains back and tell you, you
can search the place: there's no more you can find; he is the last. And
if I take this bowl and crash it at your feet, as I do now, you think
that, too, a signal; and with this candle in my hand (she snatches up
candlestick), instead of lighting you throughout the house, I rush up to
the window here and crash it through the glass, as I do now, and cry to
you: Come on! Come on! You call them all my signals?

[She dashes out of the room and down the hall, as

THE CURTAIN FALLS.

ACT III.

The prison at Columbus. A large, bare room, built of gray stone.
At the back and to the left a door with heavy iron bars leading to
the whitewashed corridor, where a lantern is hanging. A smaller door
on right leading to another room of the prison. High up in the wall
(Left) is a window with ir