Hamilton

At rise Melissa is gathering up tankards and wiping is off table right.

Reynolds

Standing on chair at upper end table R. I’m selling, I’m selling.

First Man

Seated R. of table R. down stage end. Keep quiet there, will you?

Reynolds

Loudly. I’m selling, I’m selling. States’ securities for the price of printing. I’m selling⁠—I’m selling!

First Man

Can’t hear ourselves speak.

Reynolds

What’s the use of keeping quiet? Where’s a gentleman to do business if he can’t do it at the Exchange Coffee House?

Second Man

Seated down R. other side of table. Oh⁠—where’s the gentleman?

First Man

Send the gentleman here.

Reynolds

I’m the gentleman. Laughter. I’m selling, I’m selling!

Men

Sit down.

First Man

Melissa, a tankard of porter, my dear.

Reynolds

I’m selling, I’m selling!

First Man

Sit down, Reynolds! How can you be selling when there are no buyers! Enter Tallyrand up L. at back. Ask that gentleman if he’s nearly finished with the newspaper, Melissa.

You see some business between Melissa and the man with the newspaper. He refuses to give it up. Melissa then meets Tallyrand C. at back. He has come on from street L.

Reynolds

Coming down stage C. Don’t any of you gentlemen want to make easy money? I’m offering you states’ securities for the price of the printing. Here’s a hundred dollars going to the highest bidder. Will anyone bid five? Holding up a paper.

First Man

What state is it on?

Reynolds

South Carolina. Laughter from the crowd.

First Man

I’ll give you sixpence for it. Louder laughter.

Giles

Seated R. of round table, down stage L. Where’d you get all this paper all of a sudden, Reynolds?

Exit Schuyler L. to street. Giles thinks hard and looks ugly, then laughs and comes down to R. of table L. and drinks.

Reynolds

Who has been listening and enjoying the row, says meditatively. Shake the people’s faith in him.

Curtain warning.

Giles

Turning to him. What d’you say?

Reynolds

Smiling. Shake the people’s faith in him.

Giles

You’ve been listening, eh?

Reynolds

Well, that’s the only way I get a living, Mr. Giles⁠—keeping my ears open.

Picking up his hat from beside him.

Giles

Well, keep your mouth shut.

Sits R. of table L. and chews a toothpick.

Reynolds

Rising and coming to C. slowly, laughing. Pretty hard job to shake the people’s faith in Alexander Hamilton, ain’t it?

Giles

Mind your own damn business.

Reynolds

Laughs and crosses to chair back of table L.; puts his hat down on table. You’ve tried to prove him incompetent; you’ve tried to prove him dishonest; but there’s one thing you haven’t tried, Mr. Giles. Back of table.

Giles

Turning away from him. Go to the devil.

Reynolds

And it’s strange you haven’t thought of it. How about a woman?

Giles is silent a moment. Rolls toothpick around in his mouth, spits it out, replaces it with another, and then looks at Reynolds.

Giles

You’re a little gentleman, ain’t yer, Reynolds?

Reynolds

Women are the deuce for tangling up a man’s finances.

Giles

You know all about it, don’t you?

Reynolds

Yes, I know a good deal about women. I’m married, you know.

Giles

Yes, I know.

Reynolds

I know a good deal about men, too. Now Mrs. Hamilton is away, been away a long time in England. Now, what do you say⁠—

Enter Woman with baby in her arms. She comes from the hall; the street door is closed. Zekiel half closes the room door and remains in the room holding the doorknob. Woman has a state certificate in her hand.

Hamilton

What can I do for you?

Up stage centre, L. of Woman.

Woman

Coming to R. C. Are you Colonel Hamilton?

Hamilton

Yes. Pulling the chair he was sitting on. Sit down. She sits. What is it?

Woman

My husband is Zackery Whalen, sir. He fought in the war, sir. He’s a cripple and can’t work. He fought under you, sir. It was that winter at Valley Forge⁠—his feet froze so many times, sir. He’s on a pension, but we can’t get the money.

Hamilton

Can’t get it from your state?

Woman

We sometimes get it, but not lately at all⁠—only promises, sir. You see, ours is due from Rhode Island. If it had been Virginia or New Hampshire, it’d been all right, because they are paying their men, but Rhode Island says they can’t.

Hamilton looks toward Schuyler.

Hamilton

What do you wish me to do?

Woman

I heard General Washington spoke at a meeting of the soldiers last night and he gave his word that everyone would be paid. I know he will keep his word, sir, but we can’t wait.

Hamilton

Kindly. Why did you come to me?

Woman

They told me that you were Secretary of the Treasury, where all the money is.

Hamilton

Zekiel exits R. laughing; closes door. Hamilton laughs, walks over to table C., sits, looks at food, feels loneliness, feels heat⁠—rises⁠—opens window L. onto balcony. Takes out handkerchief and wipes brow. Returning to C. table he chuckles at Bill on table L. as he passes. Sits down behind C. table and is pouring out a glass of wine when there is faint knocking at outer door, which he hardly hears and attaches no importance to. He is about to drink the wine when the knocking repeated louder. He puts down the glass and opens room-door and listens. It comes again. He goes out and unbolts street-door and opens it.

Mrs. Reynolds

Outside. Is this Alexander Hamilton’s house?

Hamilton

Yes, this is Mr. Hamilton’s house.

Mrs. Reynolds

Is he at home?

Hamilton

Yes, he is at home. What do you want?

Mrs. Reynolds

I want to see him.

Hamilton

Won’t it do tomorrow?

Mrs. Reynolds

Oh, no. I must see him tonight.

Hamilton

Come in.

Enter Mrs. Reynolds. He closes street door but not room door. Mrs. Reynolds wears a short, white muslin dress, filmy and simple. It is short-waisted, and cut low. Over this a straight, blue cape, with a little hood on back. Her hair is in ringlets. She looks like a sweet little schoolgirl. Her slippers are black, with white stockings and with black ribbons crossed over ankle. She comes to C. above table, taking in the room with a glance. Hamilton follows and is on her R.

Mrs. Reynolds

May I see him?

Hamilton

I am Mr. Hamilton.

Mrs. Reynolds

Wide-eyed. Oh-h⁠—are you Alexander Hamilton? I thought he was quite old. Why, you’re young, aren’t you?

Hamilton

Betsy

In ten minutes, then, I shall take the reins and drive you away.

Exits L., brightly. He follows her to door.

Jay

You must be proud of your daughters, General Schuyler.

Schuyler

Proud? Why, since they’ve been back my bosom has so swelled with pride that my foot has sunk into insignificance.

Hamilton

Taking chair from L. of table and placing it L. C. in front of table. Will you sit down, Judge? Indicates chair R. of table. There was something you wished to say to me?

Jay

Coming to chair R. of table. Yes⁠—er⁠—yes. Ahem! What a very pleasant room you have here.

Tentatively.

Hamilton

I’m beginning to doubt it, Judge Jay.

Jay

Surprised. To doubt it? Why?

Sits R. of table.

Hamilton

That is precisely the remark Mr. Jefferson made when he had something unpleasant to say to me.

Sits L. C. in front of table, but facing somewhat toward Jay.

Jay

You are right. I have something that it is not easy to say to you.

Schuyler

Do you wish me to go, Judge?

Jay

No, General, I very much desire that you should stay. Mr. Hamilton, it is sometimes difficult to determine how far a public man realizes the extent of his influence on the character of others. You are a modest man, but I think you must know that the eyes of the nation are turned toward you as an honorable man who is to steer this country clear of grave dangers.