She takes out one of the golden guineas Roderick gave to her.
They are eating.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Our supper was seasoned, if not by any great elegance, at least by a plentiful store of anecdotes, concerning the highest personages of the city, with whom, according to himself, the captain lived on terms of the utmost intimacy. Not to be behind hand with him, I spoke of my own estates and property as if I was as rich as a duke.
The couple wishing Roderick goodnight.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Had I been an English lad, the appearance of the chamber I occupied might, indeed, have aroused instantly my suspicion and distrust. But we are not particular in Ireland on the score of neatness, hence the disorder of my bed-chamber did not strike me so much.
Broken door.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Was there a lock to the door, or a hasp to fasten it to?
Dress lying over bed.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Though my counterpane was evidently a greased brocade dress of Mrs. O'Reilly.
Cracked mirror.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And my cracked toilet-glass not much bigger than a half-crown, yet I was used to these sort of ways in Irish houses, and still thought myself to be in that of a man of fashion.
Drawers, full of junk.
RODERICK (V.O.)
There was no lock to the drawers, which, when they did open, were full of my hostess' rouge-pots, shoes, stays, and rags.
In the middle of the night, Mrs. O'Reilly comes to Roderick's room on a flimsy pretext, and in the course of events, he has his first woman.
Roderick, Captain and Mrs. O'Reilly.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
I needn't ask whether you had a comfortable bed. Young Fred Pimpleton slept in it for seven months, during which he did me the honor to stay with me, and if he was satisfied, I don't know who else wouldn't be.
Roderick, Captain and Mrs. O'Reilly, their friends. Various cuts.
RODERICK (V.O.)
After breakfast, we drove out to Phoenix Park, where numbers of the young gentry were known to Mrs. O'Reilly, to all of whom she presented me in such a complimentary way that, before half an hour, I had got to be considered as a gentleman of great expectations and large property.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I had little notion then that I had got amongst a set of impostors -that Captain O'Reilly was only an adventurer, and his lady a person of no credit. The fact was, a young man could hardly have fallen into worse hands than those in which I now found myself.
An evening of gambling.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Their friends were always welcome on payment of a certain moderate sum for their dinner after which, you may be sure, that cards were not wanting, and that the company who played did not play for love merely.
Various cuts of the characters present.
RODERICK (V.O.)
What could happen to a man but misfortune from associating with such company? And in a very, very short time I became their prey.
Roderick loses two hundred guineas to Captain O'Reilly in a single hand.
We see Captain O'Reilly cheat, but Roderick does not.
He pays him the 18 gold guineas, remaining from the sum his mother gave him.
RODERICK
I shall have to write out a note for the rest of it, Captain O'Reilly.
Roderick exits to the street. The sound of the gambling can still be heard in the street. He is soon joined by Councillor Mulligan.
COUNCILLOR MULLIGAN
Master Roderick, you appear a young fellow of birth and fortune; let me whisper in your ear that you have fallen into very bad hands -- it's a regular gang of swindlers; and a gentleman of your rank and quality should never be seen in such company. The captain has been a gentleman's gentleman, and his lady of no higher rank. Go home, pack your valise, pay the little trifle you owe me, mount your mare, and ride back again to your parents -it's the very best thing you can do.
Roderick does not reply, and walks slowly away from him down the street.
Roderick enters.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Into a pretty nest of villains, indeed, was I plunged! When I returned to my bed-chamber, a few hours later, it seemed as if all my misfortunes were to break on me at once.
Valise open, wardrobe lying on the ground, and Roderick's keys in the possession of O'Reilly and his wife.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Whom have I been harboring in my house? Who are you, sirrah?
RODERICK
Sirrah! Sirrah, I am as good a gentleman as any in Ireland!
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
You're an impostor, young man, a schemer, a deceiver!
RODERICK
Repeat the words again, and I run you through the body.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Tut, tut! I can play at fencing as well as you, Mr. Roderick James. Ah! You change color, do you? Your secret is known, is it? You come like a viper into the bosom of innocent families; you represent yourself as the heir to my friends the O'Higgins of Castle O'Higgins; I introduce you to the nobility and gentry of this methropolis; I take you to my tradesmen, who give you credit. I accept your note for near two hundred pounds, and what do I find? A fraud.
He holds up the name, Roderick James, printed on the linen.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Not Master O'Higgins of Watertown, but Roderick James of the devil only knows where...
Captain O'Reilly gathers up the linen clothes, silver toilet articles, and the rest of Roderick's gear.
RODERICK
Hark ye, Mr. O'Reilly, I will tell you why I was obliged to alter my name, which is James and the best name in Ireland. I changed it, sir, because, on the day before I came to Dublin, I killed a man in deadly combat -- an Englishman, sir, and a Captain in His Majesty's service; and if you offer to let or hinder me in the slightest way, the same arm which destroyed him is ready to punish you.
So saying, Roderick draws his sword like lightning, and giving a "ha, ha!" and a stamp with his foot, lunges it within an inch of O'Reilly's heart, who starts back and turns deadly pale, while his wife, with a scream, flings herself between them.
MRS. O'REILLY
Dearest Roderick -- be pacified. O'Reilly, you don't want the poor child's blood. Let him escape -- in Heaven's name, let him go.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
(sulkily)
He may go hang for me, and he's better be off quickly, for I shall go to the magistrate if I see him again.
O'Reilly exits. His wife sits down on the bed and begins to cry.
Roderick riding down the street, with his valise.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Where was now a home for the descendant of the James? I was expelled from Dublin by a persecution occasioned, I must confess, by my own imprudence. I had no time to wait and choose. No place of refuge to fly to.
RODERICK (V.O.)