diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/53334-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53334-0.txt | 5260 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5260 deletions
diff --git a/old/53334-0.txt b/old/53334-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 90e74d7..0000000 --- a/old/53334-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5260 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Art of being Bored, by Edouard Pailleron - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Art of being Bored - A Comedy in Three Acts - -Author: Edouard Pailleron - -Translator: Barret H. Clark - -Release Date: October 21, 2016 [EBook #53334] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ART OF BEING BORED *** - - - - -Produced by MFR, Les Galloway and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - The Art of Being Bored - a Comedy in Three Acts: - by Edouard Pailleron: - Translated by Barrett - H. Clark - - Samuel French: Publisher - 25 West Forty-Fifth St.: New York - Samuel French, Ltd. - London - 26 Southampton Street, Strand - - PRICE 35 CENTS - - - - - THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYS—Continued - - =Grammar.= (La Grammaire). A farce in 1 act. By Labiche. An amusing - and charming comedy by one of the greatest of 19th century French - dramatists. 4 men, 1 woman. Price 35 cents. - - =The Two Cowards.= (Les deux Timides). A comedy in 1 act. By Labiche. - A very amusing and human little comedy, in which a strong-willed girl - helps her father choose for her the man she wishes to marry. 2 women, - 3 men. Price 35 cents. - - =Master Patelin, Solicitor.= A comedy in 3 acts. One of the most - famous of early French farces. The setting and characters belong to - the late Middle Ages. The play is concerned with the questionable - dealings of a clever lawyer. 7 men, 2 women. Price 35 cents. - - =Crispin, His Master’s Rival.= A comedy in 1 act. By Le Sage. A famous - comedy by the author of “Gil Blas,” concerned with the pranks of two - clever valets. 18th century costumes and setting. 4 men, 3 women. - Price 35 cents. - - =The Legacy.= A comedy in 1 act. By Marivaux. A delicate high comedy - of intrigue. Marivaux is one of the masters of old French comedy, and - his play is full of deft touches of characterization. 2 women, 4 men. - Price 35 cents. - - =After the Honeymoon.= A farce in 1 act. By Wolfgang Gyalui. A - Hungarian farce full of brilliant dialogue and movement. 1 man, 1 - woman. Price 35 cents. - - =A Christmas Tale.= A poetic play by Maurice Bouchor. A beautiful - little miracle play of love and devotion, laid in 15th century Paris. - 2 men, 2 women. Price 35 cents. - - =The Fairy.= (La Fee). A romantic comedy in 1 act. By Octave Feuillet. - Laid in a hut in Brittany, this little comedy is full of poetic charm - and quiet humor. The element of the supernatural is introduced in - order to drive home a strong lesson. Price 35 cents. - - =Jean-Marie.= A poetic play in 1 act. By Andre Theuriet. A dramatic - play of Norman peasant life. 2 men, 1 woman. Price 35 cents. - - =The Rebound.= A comedy in 1 act. By L. B. Picard. A clever comedy of - intrigue, and a satire on social position. 2 women, 5 men. Price 35 - cents. - - =Lysistrata.= By Aristophanes. An acting version of this brilliant - satire on Athenian foibles. 4 men, 5 women, 1 child. Chorus of old men - and one of Greek matrons, about 15 in each. Price 35 cents. - - =Rosalie.= By Max Maurey. 1 man, 2 women. A “Grand Guignol” comedy in - 1 act, full of bright and clever dialogue. Rosalie, the stubborn maid, - leads her none too amiable master and mistress into uncomfortable - complications by refusing to open the front door to a supposed guest - of wealth and influence. Price 35 cents. - - =The Art of Being Bored.= (Le Monde ou l’on s’ennuie). A comedy in 3 - acts. By Edouard Pailleron. 11 men, 9 women. Probably the best-known - and most frequently acted comedy of manners in the realm of 19th - century French drama. It is replete with wit and comic situations. For - nearly forty years it has held the stage, while countless imitators - have endeavored to reproduce its freshness and charm. Price 50 cents. - - - Every amateur actor and producer should have - “How to Produce Amateur Plays” - BY BARRETT H. CLARK - - - - - THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYS - BY CELEBRATED EUROPEAN AUTHORS - BARRETT H. CLARK - General Editor - - - - - The - ART OF BEING BORED - - _A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS_ - - BY - EDOUARD PAILLERON - - _Translated by_ - BARRETT H. CLARK - - COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY SAMUEL FRENCH - - NEW YORK - SAMUEL FRENCH - PUBLISHER - 25 WEST 45TH STREET - - LONDON - SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. - 26 SOUTHAMPTON STREET - STRAND - - - - - EDOUARD PAILLERON - - -The author of “Le Monde où l’on s’ennuie” was born at Paris in 1834. -Besides this, his masterpiece, he wrote numerous comedies, sentimental -and satirical. Pailleron is in no way concerned with problems or -“ideas”; he is content to depict the foibles and affectations of -society, framing his observations into a harmonious and unified whole. -This play was first produced, at Paris, in 1881, and has since held the -stage. - - * * * * * - -The scenery and costumes are modern. - -Owing to the large number of characters, some attention must be paid -to the grouping of stage pictures. The stage-directions, if carefully -followed, will supply sufficient information to enable the director to -group the actors without difficulty. - - - - -THE ART OF BEING BORED - - -PERSONS IN THE PLAY - - BELLAC - ROGER DE CÉRAN - PAUL RAYMOND - TOULONNIER - GENERAL DE BRIAIS - VIROT - FRANCOIS - SAINT-RÉAULT - GAIAC - MELCHIOR DE BOINES - DES MILLETS - DUCHESSE DE RÉVILLE - MADAME DE LOUDAN - JEANNE RAYMOND - LUCY WATSON - SUZANNE DE VILLIERS - COUNTESS DE CÉRAN - MADAME ARRIÉGO - MADAME DE BOINES - MADAME DE SAINT-RÉAULT - - SCENE: _A drawing-room in_ MADAME DE CÉRAN’S _château at_ SAINT - GERMAIN. - - - - - The Art of Being Bored - - - ACT I - - - _A drawing-room, with a large entrance at the back, opening upon - another room. Entrances up and down stage. To the left, between the - two doors, a piano. Right, an entrance down-stage; farther up, a large - alcove with a glazed door leading into the garden, left; a table, on - either side of which is a chair; to the right, a small table and a - sofa, armchairs, etc._ - -FRANCOIS. (_Looking among the papers which litter the table_) It -couldn’t be on top here—nor here. _Revue Matérialiste_ ... _Revue des -Cours_—_Journal des Savants_—— - - (_Enter_ LUCY.) - -LUCY. Well, Francois, have you found the letter? - -FRANCOIS. No, Miss Lucy, not yet. - -LUCY. Pink paper—opened—no envelope? - -FRANCOIS. Is it addressed to Miss Watson? - -LUCY. Didn’t I tell you it was addressed to me? - -FRANCOIS. But—— - -LUCY. The point is, have you found it? - -FRANCOIS. Not yet, but I shall look everywhere, and ask—— - -LUCY. Don’t ask; there’s no need. But it must be found, so look -carefully. Go over every foot of ground from where you gave us our -letters this morning, to this room. It couldn’t have fallen anywhere -else. Please, please hunt for it! (_She goes out_) - -FRANCOIS. (_Alone, as he returns to the table_) “Hunt, hunt?” _Revue -Coloniale_—_Revue Diplomatique_—_Revue Archéologique_—— - - (_Enter_ JEANNE _and_ PAUL.) - -JEANNE. (_Gaily_) Someone here! (_To_ FRANCOIS) Madame de Céran—— - -PAUL. (_Taking her hand_) Sh! (_To_ FRANCOIS, _gravely_) Is Madame la -comtesse de Céran in the château at present? - -FRANCOIS. Yes, Monsieur. - -JEANNE. (_Gaily_) Very well, tell her that Monsieur and Madame Paul—— - -PAUL. (_As before, coldly_) Be good enough to announce to her that M. -Raymond, Sub-prefect[1] of Agenis, and Mme. Raymond, have arrived from -Paris, and await her pleasure in the drawing-room. - - [1] A prefect is the officer in charge of the administrative affairs - of the Department, one of the ninety-six divisions of France. - -JEANNE. And that—— - -PAUL. (_As before_) Sh! That’s all, please. - -FRANCOIS. Very well, M. le sous-préfet. (_Aside_) Newlyweds!— Shall I -take Monsieur’s—? (_He takes their bags and rugs, and goes out_) - -JEANNE. Now, Paul—— - -PAUL. No “Paul” here: “M. Raymond!” - -JEANNE. What, d’you want me to——? - -PAUL. Not here, I tell you. - -JEANNE. (_Laughing_) What a scowl! - -PAUL. Please, you mustn’t laugh out loud. - -JEANNE. How is this, Monsieur, you are scolding me? (_She throws -herself into his arms, but he disengages himself, terrified_) - -PAUL. Silly! That’s enough to spoil everything! - -JEANNE. Oh! What a bore! - -PAUL. Precisely! That time you struck exactly the right note. You -surely haven’t forgotten all I told you in the train? - -JEANNE. Why, I thought you were joking! - -PAUL. Joking? So you don’t want to be a Prefect’s wife?—Tell me? - -JEANNE. Yes, if it would please you. - -PAUL. Very well, dear. I call you dear, as we are alone, but later on, -before the guests, it must be merely Jeanne. The Comtesse de Céran has -done me the honor of asking me to introduce my young wife to her, and -of spending a few days here at her château. Mme. de Céran’s circle is -one of the three or four most influential in Paris. We are not here to -amuse ourselves. I come here merely a Sub-prefect; I am determined to -leave a Prefect. Everything depends on her—upon us—upon you! - -JEANNE. Upon me? What do you mean? - -PAUL. Of course, on you! Society judges a man by his wife, and society -is right. Therefore be on your guard.—Dignity without pride: a knowing -smile—ears and eyes open, lips closed! Oh, compliments, as many as -you like, and quotations, short and authoritative: for philosophy try -Hegel; for literature, Jean Paul; politics—— - -JEANNE. But I don’t understand politics. - -PAUL. Here all the women talk politics. - -JEANNE. Well, I know nothing whatever about it. - -PAUL. Neither do they, but that doesn’t make any difference. Cite -Pufendorff and Machiavelli as if they were your own relatives, and talk -about the Council of Trent as if you had presided over it. As for -your amusements: music, strolls in the garden, and whist—that’s all -I can allow. Your clothes must be chosen with great care, and as for -Latin—use the few words I’ve taught you. In a week’s time I want it to -be said of you: “Ah, that little Mme. Raymond will be the wife of a -Cabinet Minister some day!” And in this circle, you know, when they say -that a woman will be a Cabinet Minister’s wife, her husband is not very -far from a portfolio. - -JEANNE. What? Do you want to be Minister?—Why? - -PAUL. In order to keep from becoming famous. - -JEANNE. But Mme. de Céran belongs to the opposition; what can you -expect from her? - -PAUL. How simple you are! In the matter of political positions, there -is only the slightest shade of difference between the Conservatives and -their opponents: the Conservatives ask for places and their opponents -accept them. No, no, my child, this is the place where reputations -are made and unmade and made over again; where, under the appearance -of talking literature and art, Machiavellian conspirators hatch -their schemes: this is the private entrance to the ministries, the -antechamber of the Academies, the laboratory of success! - -JEANNE. Heavens! What sort of circle is this? - -PAUL. It is the 1881 edition of the Hotel de Rambouillet: a section of -society where everybody talks and poses, where pedantry masquerades -as knowledge, sentimentality as sentiment, and preciosity as delicacy -and refinement;—here no one ever dreams of saying what one thinks, and -never believes what one says, where friendship is a matter of cold -calculation, and chivalry and manners merely means to an end. It is -where one swallows one’s tongue in the drawing-room just as one leaves -one’s cane in the hallway: in short, Society where one learns the art -of being serious! - -JEANNE. I should say, the art of being bored! - -PAUL. Precisely! - -JEANNE. But if everyone bores everyone else, what possible influence -can it all have? - -PAUL. What influence? How simple you are! You ask what influence -can boredom exert, here in this country? A great deal, I tell you. -You see, the Frenchman has a horror of boredom amounting almost -to veneration. _Ennui_ is for him a terrible god whose worship is -celebrated by good form. He recognizes nothing as serious unless -it is in regulation dress. I don’t say that he practises what he -preaches, but that is only a further reason for believing more firmly: -he prefers believing to finding out for himself. I tell you, this -nation, which is at bottom gay, despises itself for being so; it has -forgotten its faith in the good common sense of its generous laughter; -this sceptical and talkative nation believes in those who have little -to say, this whole-hearted and amiable people allows itself to be -imposed upon by pedantic false pride and the pretentious asininity of -the pontiffs of the white dress necktie: in politics, in science, in -art, in literature, in everything! These they scoff at, hate, flee -as from a pestilence, yet they alone preserve for these things a -secret admiration and perfect confidence! And you ask what influence -has boredom? Ah, my dear girl, there are just two kinds of people -in the world: those who don’t know how to bore themselves, and who -are nobodies; and those who know how to bore themselves, and who are -somebody—besides those who know how to bore others! - -JEANNE. And this is the place you’ve brought me to! - -PAUL. Do you want to be a Prefect’s wife? Tell me? - -JEANNE. Oh, to begin with, I could never—— - -PAUL. Oh, never mind! It’s only for a week! - -JEANNE. A week! Without speaking, without laughing, without being -kissed by you! - -PAUL. That’s before company; but when we are alone—in the dark, oh, -then! Why, it will be delightful; we’ll arrange secret meetings, in -the garden, everywhere—just as we did before we were married—at your -father’s, do you remember? - -JEANNE. Very well, very well! (_She opens the piano and plays an air -from La Fille de Madame Angot_) - -PAUL. (_Terrified_) Very well, then! What are you doing there? - -JEANNE. It’s from the opera we saw last night! - -PAUL. My poor child, so this is the way you follow my advice! - -JEANNE. We sat in a box together—wasn’t it lovely, Paul! - -PAUL. Jeanne! Jeanne!—What if someone should come in! Please! - - (FRANCOIS _appears at the back_.) - -PAUL. Too late! (JEANNE _changes the air she was playing into a -Beethoven Symphony. Aside_) Beethoven,—Bravo! (_He listens to the music -with profound satisfaction_) Ah, it’s a fact that the only place for -music is the _Conservatoire_! - -FRANCOIS. Madame la Comtesse requests Monsieur le sous-préfet to wait -five minutes for her: she is in consultation with Monsieur le baron -Eriel de Saint-Réault. - -PAUL. The Orientalist? - -FRANCOIS. I do not know, Monsieur, he is the son of the scientist whose -father was so talented. - -PAUL. (_Aside_) Who has so many positions to dispose of! He’s -the one!—Ah, M. de Saint-Réault is here, then. I presume Mme. de -Saint-Réault is with him? - -FRANCOIS. Yes, M. le sous-préfet; likewise the Marquise de Loudan and -Mme. Arriégo, but these ladies are at present in Paris, following M. -Bellac’s course—with Mlle. Suzanne de Villiers. - -PAUL. There are no other guests here? - -FRANCOIS. There is Madame la duchesse de Réville, Madame’s aunt. - -PAUL. I don’t refer to the Duchess or to Miss Watson; or to Mlle. de -Villiers: they are the family! I mean guests, like ourselves. - -FRANCOIS. No, M. le sous-préfet, there are no others. - -PAUL. And no one else is expected? - -FRANCOIS. Oh, yes, M. le sous-préfet; M. Roger, the son of Mme. la -comtesse, has just arrived to-day from his scientific investigations -in the Orient. He is expected any moment.—Ah, and then M. Bellac, the -professor, who is to spend a few days here when his lecture course is -over—at least we hope so. - -PAUL. (_Aside_) Ah, that’s why there are so many ladies!—Very well, -thank you. - -FRANCOIS. Then M. le sous-préfet will be good enough to wait? - -PAUL. Yes, and tell Mme. la comtesse not to hurry. (FRANCOIS _goes -out_) Whew! You gave me a turn with that music! But you got out of it -beautifully, changing Lecocq to Beethoven! Rather good, that! - -JEANNE. Stupid, am I not? - -PAUL. I know better now! We still have five minutes; I’ll tell you a -little about these people: it’s best to be on the safe side. - -JEANNE. Oh, never mind! - -PAUL. Come, Jeanne, five minutes! You _must_ know something about them! - -JEANNE. After each “something” you must kiss me! - -PAUL. All right, then; what a child you are! I won’t be long: mother, -son, friend, and guest,—everyone of them very serious! - -JEANNE. How amusing that will be! - -PAUL. Don’t worry, there are two who are not so serious. I have kept -them for the last. - -JEANNE. One moment, please, pay me first! (_She counts on her fingers_) -Madame de Céran, one; her son Roger, two; Miss Lucy, three; the two -Saint-Réault; one Bellac, one Loudan and one Arriégo, that makes eight! -(_She puts her cheek up to be kissed_) - -PAUL. Eight what? - -JEANNE. Eight “somethings“—pay. - -PAUL. _What_ a child! There, there, there! (_He kisses her_) - -JEANNE. Not so fast: retail, if you please. - -PAUL. (_After having kissed her more slowly_) There, does that satisfy -you? - -JEANNE. For the present. Now, let’s have the two who are not serious! - -PAUL. First, the Duchesse de Réville, the aunt, a handsome old lady who -was a beauty in her day—— - -JEANNE. (_Questioningly_) Hmm? - -PAUL. So they say! A bit brusque and direct—but an excellent lady and -very sensible—as you’ll see. But last and best, Suzanne de Villiers! -She, is not at all serious—it’s a fault with her. - -JEANNE. At last, somebody who’s frivolous, thank Heaven! - -PAUL. Girl of eighteen, a tom-boy, chatter-box, free with her tongue -and her manners—with a life-history that reads like a novel. - -JEANNE. Umm! Lovely, let’s hear it! - -PAUL. She’s the daughter of a certain widow— - -JEANNE. Yes? - -PAUL. Well? Daughter of a widow—and that ass Georges de Villiers, -another nephew of the Duchess; she adored him. A natural child. - -JEANNE. Natural? How lovely! - -PAUL. The mother and father are dead. The child was left an orphan at -the age of twelve with a princely heritage and an education to match. -Georges taught her Javanese. The Duchess, who adores her, brought her -into the home of Madame de Céran, who detests her, and gave her Roger -for a tutor. They tried their best to keep her in a convent, but she -ran away twice; they sent her back a third time and—here she is again! -Imagine that state of affairs! And that’s the end of the story—good, -isn’t it? - -JEANNE. So good that you needn’t pay me the two kisses you owe me. - -PAUL. (_Disappointed_) Ohh! - -JEANNE. But I’ll pay you! (_She kisses him_) - -PAUL. Silly! (_The door at the back opens_) Oh! Saint-Réault and Madame -de Céran! No, she didn’t see us. Now—ahem—ready! - - (_Enter_ MME. DE CÉRAN _and_ SAINT-RÉAULT. _They pause in the doorway, - not seeing_ PAUL _and_ JEANNE.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. No, no, no, my friend, not the first poll! Listen to -me, 15-8-15 the first poll—— There was a secret ballot on that one and -therefore on the second: it’s very simple! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. Simple? Simple? Now the second poll, since I have only -four votes on the second poll, with our nine votes on the first -poll—that leaves us only thirteen on the second! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. And our seven on the first—that makes twenty on the -second! Don’t you see? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. (_Enlightened_) Ahhh! - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) Very simple! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I repeat, beware of Dalibert and his Liberals. At -present the Academy is Liberal—at present—at present! (_They come -down-stage, talking_) - -SAINT-RÉAULT. Isn’t Revel also the leader of the New School? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Looking at him_) Ohh! Revel isn’t dead yet, is he? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. Oh, no! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. He isn’t ill? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. (_Slightly embarrassed_) Oh, he’s always in poor health. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Well, then? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. We must always be prepared, mustn’t we?—I’ll keep my eyes -open. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Aside_) There’s something at the bottom of all this! -(_Seeing_ RAYMOND, _and going toward him_) Ah, my dear Monsieur -Raymond, I was forgetting all about you; pardon me! - -PAUL. My dear Countess! (_Presenting_ JEANNE) Madame Paul Raymond! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You are most welcome here, Madame! Consider yourself in -the home of a friend. (_Presenting them to_ SAINT-RÉAULT) Monsieur Paul -Raymond, Sub-prefect of Agenis, Madame Paul Raymond, Monsieur le baron -Eriel de Saint-Réault. - -PAUL. I am especially happy to make your acquaintance since, as a young -man, it was my privilege to know your illustrious father. (_Aside_) He -stuck me on my final examinations! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. (_Bowing_) What a pleasant coincidence, M. le Préfet! - -PAUL. Especially pleasant for me, M. le Baron! - - (SAINT-RÉAULT _goes to the table and writes_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You will find my house a trifle austere for a person of -your youth, Madame. You have only your husband to blame for your stay -here.—It has its moments of monotony, but you may console yourself with -the thought that resignation means obedience, and that in coming here -you had no choice. - -JEANNE. (_Gravely_) As regards that, Mme. la comtesse, “To be free -is not to do what one wishes, but what one judges to be best”—as the -philosopher Joubert has said. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Looking approvingly at_ PAUL) That is quite -reassuring, my dear. But I think you will find that no matter how -intellectual our circle may be, it is not lacking in _esprit_. Indeed -this very evening you will find the _soirée_ particularly interesting. -Monsieur de Saint-Réault has been kind enough to offer to read to us -from his unpublished work on Rama-Ravana and the Sanscrit Legends. - -PAUL. Really! Oh, Jeanne! - -JEANNE. How fortunate we are! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. After which I believe I can promise you something from -Monsieur Bellac. - -JEANNE. The Professor? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Do you know him? - -JEANNE. What woman doesn’t? How delightful that will be! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. An informal talk—_ad usum mundi_—a few words, gems of -wisdom; and finally, the reading of an unpublished play. - -PAUL. Oh! In verse? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The first work of a young man —an unknown poet, who -is to be introduced to me this evening and whose play has just been -accepted by the Théâtre-Francais. - -PAUL. How fortunate we are to be able to enjoy among these charming -people another of these wonderful opportunities that one finds nowhere -except beneath your roof. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Doesn’t this literary atmosphere frighten you, Madame? -Your charms will be wasted at a _soirée_ like this. - -JEANNE. (_Seriously_) “What appears a waste to the vulgar is often a -gain”—as M. de Tocqueville has said. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Looking at her in astonishment—aside to_ PAUL) -She is charming! (SAINT-RÉAULT _rises, and goes toward the door_) -Saint-Réault, where are you going? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. (_As he goes_) To the station—a telegram. Excuse me—I’ll -be back in ten minutes. (_He goes out_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. There is certainly something at the bottom of all this! -(_She looks among the papers on the table—to_ JEANNE _and_ PAUL) I beg -your pardon! (_She rings, and after a moment_ FRANCOIS _appears_) The -papers? - -FRANCOIS. M. de Saint-Réault took them away this morning. They are in -his room. - -PAUL. (_Drawing Le Journal Amusant from his pocket_) If you wish the—— - -JEANNE. (_Quickly checking him and at the same time producing the -Journal des Debats[2] from her pocket and offering it to_ MME. DE -CÉRAN) This is to-day’s paper, Countess. - -[2] The “Journal Amusant” is a comic paper, the “Journal des Debats” a -very old and conservative organ. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. With pleasure—I am curious about—please pardon me -again! (_She opens the paper and reads_) - -PAUL. (_To his wife_) Bravo! Keep it up! The Joubert was excellent and -the de Tocqueville—I say! - -JEANNE. It wasn’t de Tocqueville—it was _I_. - -PAUL. Oh! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Reading_) “Revel very ill.” Just what I thought. -Saint-Réault isn’t losing much time. (_Handing the paper to_ PAUL) I -found out what I wanted to know, thank you. But I shan’t keep you, -you shall be shown to your rooms. We dine sharp at six; you know the -Duchess is very punctual. At four tea is served; at five we take -a stroll and at six have dinner. (_The clock strikes four_) Ah, -four already, and here she is! (_The_ DUCHESS _enters, followed by_ -FRANCOIS, _who brings her chair and her work-basket. A maid brings tea. -The_ DUCHESS _sits in the chair placed for her_) My dear Aunt, allow me -to present—— - -DUCHESS. (_Settling herself_) Wait a minute—wait a minute. There! -Present whom? (_She looks through her lorgnette_) It isn’t Raymond that -you want to present, is it? I’ve known him for a long time. - -PAUL. (_Advancing with_ JEANNE) No, Duchess, but Madame Paul Raymond, -his wife,—if you please! - -DUCHESS. (_Gazing at_ JEANNE, _who bows_) She’s pretty—very pretty! -With my Suzanne, and Lucy, despite her glasses, that makes three pretty -women in my house—and heaven knows that’s not too many! (_She drinks_) -And how on earth did a charming girl like you happen to marry that -awful Republican? - -PAUL. (_Chaffingly_) Oh, Duchess, I a Republican! - -DUCHESS. Well, you were one, at least! (_She drinks again_) - -PAUL. Oh, well, like everyone else, when I was little. That is the -measles of politics, Duchess, everybody has to have it. - -DUCHESS. (_Laughing_) Ah, oh, ah, the measles! Isn’t he funny! (_To_ -JEANNE) And you, my dear, you like a joke once in a while, too? - -JEANNE. Oh, Duchess, I have no objection to a little frivolity—in -moderation. - -DUCHESS. That isn’t very frivolous, but it’s better than nothing. Well, -well—I like a little frivolity myself, especially in a person of your -age. (_To the maid_) Here, take this away. (_She hands her cup to the -maid_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To the maid_) Will you show Madame Raymond to her -room, Mademoiselle? (_To_ JEANNE) Your room is this way, just next to -mine—— - -JEANNE. Thank you, Madame. (_To_ PAUL) Come, dear. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, no, I have put your husband over there on the other -side, among the workers: my son, the Count and Monsieur Bellac, in the -Pavilion, which we call—a little pretentiously, perhaps—the Pavillion -of the Muses. (_To_ PAUL) Francois will show you the way. I thought you -would be able to work better there. - -PAUL. Admirable arrangement, Countess; I thank you. (JEANNE _pinches -him_) Oh! - -JEANNE. (_Sweetly_) Go, my dear. - -PAUL. (_Aside to her_) You’ll come at least and help me unpack my -trunks? - -JEANNE. How can I? - -PAUL. Through the upper corridor. - -DUCHESS. (_To_ MME. DE CÉRAN) If you think it pleases those two to -separate them like that—— - -JEANNE. (_Aside_) I’ve gone too far! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To_ JEANNE) Aren’t you pleased with this arrangement? - -JEANNE. Perfectly, Madame la comtesse; and you know better than anyone -else _quid deceat, quid non_. (_She bows_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To_ PAUL) She is perfectly charming! - - (_They go out_; PAUL _right_, JEANNE _left_.) - -DUCHESS. (_Seated near the table at the left, working at her -fancy-work_) Ah, she knows Latin! She ought to be congenial to the -company! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You know Revel is very ill. - -DUCHESS. He is never anything else,—what’s that to me? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Sitting down_) What do you mean, Aunt? Revel is a -second Saint-Réault. He holds at least fifteen positions: leader of -the New School, for instance—a position which leads to any number of -others! Just the thing for Roger. He returns to-day, and I’ve asked the -Minister’s secretary to dinner this evening, you know. - -DUCHESS. Yes, a new one: Toulonnier. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I take away his position from him to-night. - -DUCHESS. So you want to make your son the leader of a school? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. It’ll be another stepping-stone, you know, Aunt. - -DUCHESS. You have brought him up to be a mere chess-pawn, haven’t you? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I have made of him a serious-minded man, Aunt. - -DUCHESS. Yes, I should think so! A man of twenty-eight, who has -never—done a foolish thing in his life, I’ll wager! It’s a perfect -shame! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. At thirty he will enter the Institute, and at -thirty-five the Chamber of Deputies. - -DUCHESS. So you want to begin again with your son, and do with him as -you did with his father? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Did I make so miserable a failure of him? - -DUCHESS. I say nothing about your husband: a dryasdust creature, with a -mediocre intellect—! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Aunt! - -DUCHESS. Of course, your husband was a fool! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Duchess! - -DUCHESS. A fool who happened to know how to behave himself! You forced -him into politics, you’ll admit that. And then, all you could make of -him was Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. That isn’t much to boast -about. But enough of him; Roger’s another matter: he has brains and -spirit enough—or will have, God willing—or he’s no nephew of mine. That -never occurred to you, did it? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I am thinking of his career. - -DUCHESS. And his happiness? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I have thought of that, too. - -DUCHESS. Ah, yes! Lucy, eh? They correspond, I know that. That’s fine! -A young girl who wears glasses and has a neck like a——! And you call -that thinking of his happiness! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Duchess, you are quite incorrigible! - -DUCHESS. A sort of meteorite, who fell among us, intending to stop two -weeks, and remained two years: a blue-stocking who writes letters to -scholars and translates Schopenhauer! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. A rich, intellectual, highly-educated and well-born -orphan, niece of the Lord-Chancellor, who recommended her: she would be -a splendid wife for Roger, and—— - -DUCHESS. That English iceberg? Brrrr! Just to kiss her would freeze -the nose off his face! But you’re on a false scent. In the first place -Bellac has his eye on her—yes, the Professor! He’s asked me too many -questions about her to leave any doubt in my mind. And what is more, -she seems fond of _him_. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Lucy? - -DUCHESS. Yes, Lucy,—like all the rest of you! You’re all mad over him. -I know more about this than you do.—No, no! Lucy is not the woman for -your son! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I know your schemes: Suzanne is the woman! - -DUCHESS. I don’t deny it. I have brought Suzanne here for that very -purpose. I arranged that he should be her tutor and her master, so to -speak, in order that he might marry her,—and marry her he shall! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You have counted without me, Duchess; I shall never -consent. - -DUCHESS. And why not? A girl who—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Is of questionable origin, questionable attraction, -without education and manners. - -DUCHESS. (_Bursting into laughter_) My living image at her age! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Without fortune! Without family! - -DUCHESS. Without family? The daughter of my poor Georges? My handsome, -good, kind Georges!—And she’s your cousin after all! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. A natural child! - -DUCHESS. Natural? Aren’t all children natural? You amuse me! She’s been -legally recognized! And good heavens, when the devil’s put his finger -in the pie why shouldn’t the rest of us? Me, too, eh? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The devil has put his finger in the pie, but not the way -you think. _You_ are on the false scent. - -DUCHESS. Oh, the Professor! Yes, Bellac. You told me that. You think no -woman can follow his lectures without falling in love with him? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But Suzanne hasn’t missed a single lecture, Aunt, and -she takes notes and corrects them and copies them—I tell you Suzanne is -in earnest. And while he is speaking she never takes her eyes off him; -she drinks in every word. And you think that is all for the sake of -science! Nonsense, it isn’t the science she loves, it’s the scientist. -That is as plain as day. You have only to watch her when she’s with -Lucy. She is dreadfully jealous. And this recently acquired coquetry -in a girl of her disposition—! She sighs, sulks, blushes, turns pale, -laughs, cries—— - -DUCHESS. April showers! She’s just coming into bloom. She’s bored, poor -child! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Here? - -DUCHESS. Here? Do you think it’s amusing here? Do you suppose that if -_I_ were eighteen, I should be here, among all your old ladies and your -old gentlemen? I should say not! I’d associate with young people all -the time; the younger the better, the handsomer the better, the more -admirers I had the better! There are only two things that women never -grow weary of: loving and being loved! And the older I grow the more I -realize that there is no other happiness in the world! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. There are more serious things in life than that, Duchess. - -DUCHESS. More serious than love? Nonsense! Do you mean to say that when -that is gone, there is any other happiness left? When we are old, we -have false pleasures, just as we have false teeth, but there is only -one true happiness, and that is love, love! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, Aunt, you are too romantic! - -DUCHESS. The fault of my years! Women find romance but twice in their -lives: at sixteen in their own hearts, at sixty in the hearts of -others. Well, you want your son to marry Lucy; I want him to marry -Suzanne. You say Suzanne is in love with Bellac; I say, LUCY. Perhaps -we are both wrong; it is for Roger to decide. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. How? - -DUCHESS. I shall explain the whole situation to him the moment he -arrives. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Do you intend——? - -DUCHESS. He is her tutor! (_Aside_) He must know. - - (_Enter_ LUCY.) - -LUCY. (_In a low-cut evening gown_) I believe your son has arrived, -Madame. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The Count! - -DUCHESS. Roger! - -LUCY. His carriage has just come into the court. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. At last! - -DUCHESS. Were you afraid he wouldn’t return? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I feared he would not return in time. I was anxious -about that place for him. - -LUCY. Oh, he wrote me this morning that he would return to-day, -Thursday. - -DUCHESS. And you missed one of the Professor’s lectures in order to see -him that much sooner. Hm, that’s lovely! - -LUCY. That wasn’t the reason, Madame. - -DUCHESS. (_Aside to_ MME. DE CÉRAN) You see?—No? Why then? - -LUCY. No, I was looking for—I—it was another matter. - -DUCHESS. I don’t suppose it is for that Schopenhauer gentleman you are -all dressed up like that, is it? - -LUCY. Is there not to be company this evening, Madame? - -DUCHESS. (_Aside to_ MME. DE CÉRAN) Bellac, that’s as plain as day! -(_To_ LUCY) Let me congratulate you, then. I have nothing to complain -of, except those frightful glasses. Why do you wear such awful things? - -LUCY. Because I cannot see without them, Madame. - -DUCHESS. A nice reason! (_Aside_) Isn’t she practical! I detest -practical people! She’ll pass, she’s not as thin as I thought she was! -These English occasionally disappoint one pleasantly! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Ah, here’s my son! - - (_Enter_ ROGER.) - -ROGER. Mother! Mother! How good it is to see you again! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. How good it is to see you, my dear! (_She holds out her -hand, which he kisses_) - -ROGER. What a long while it is since I’ve seen you!—Once more! (_He -kisses her hand again_) - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) That embrace wouldn’t smother anyone! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The Duchess, my dear! - -ROGER. (_Approaching the_ DUCHESS) Duchess! - -DUCHESS. Call me Aunt, and give me a kiss! - -ROGER. My dear Aunt! (_He starts to kiss her hand_) - -DUCHESS. No! No! On the cheek! You must kiss me on the cheek! That is -one of the privileges of age—Look at him now! Same little fellow as -ever! Oh, you’ve let your moustache grow; isn’t he charming! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I hope, Roger, you will shave that off! - -ROGER. Don’t let it disturb you, Mother, I shall do it at once!—Ah, how -do you do, Lucy? - -LUCY. How do you do, Roger? (_They shake hands_) Have you had a -pleasant trip? - -ROGER. Oh, most interesting. Think of it, an almost unexplored country, -a veritable paradise for the scholar, the poet, and the artist—but I -wrote you all about that! - -DUCHESS. (_Sitting down_) Tell me about the women. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Duchess! - -ROGER. (_Astonished_) What women do you mean, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. Why, the Oriental women they say are so beautiful. Ah, you -villain! - -ROGER. Let me assure you, Aunt, I had no time to investigate -that—detail! - -DUCHESS. (_Indignantly_) Detail, indeed! - -ROGER. (_Smiling_) Besides, the Government did not send me there for -that! - -DUCHESS. What did you see, then? - -ROGER. You will find that in the _Revue Archéologique_. - -LUCY. _Tombs of Eastern Asia_; isn’t that the subject, Roger? - -ROGER. Yes, Lucy; now among those mounds— - -LUCY. Ah, the mounds—those _Tumuli_—— - -DUCHESS. Come, come, you can chatter when you two are alone! Tell me, -aren’t you tired? Did you just arrive? - -ROGER. Oh, no, Aunt. I’ve been in Paris since yesterday. - -DUCHESS. Did you go to the theater last night, Roger? - -ROGER. No, I went at once to see the Minister. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Good! And what did he have to say to you? - -LUCY. I’ll leave you alone! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You needn’t go, LUCY. - -LUCY. Oh, I think I ought to go. I shall return in a few minutes. I’ll -see you later. - -ROGER. (_Taking her hand_) Until later, Lucy. - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) There’s a grand passion indeed! - - (LUCY _goes out_. ROGER _accompanies her as far as the door to the - left, while_ MME. DE CÉRAN _takes her place in the arm-chair, at the - other side of the table_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Now, let’s hear what the Minister had to say! - -DUCHESS. Ah, yes! Let’s hear. We’re anxious to know. - -ROGER. He questioned me as to the results of my trip and asked me to -submit my report as soon as possible, promising me a reward on the day -it was handed in. You can guess what that reward will be. (_He touches -the lapel of his coat, as if to show the ribbon of the Legion of Honor_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Officer? That’s all very well, but I have something -better. And then? - -ROGER. Then he asked me to convey to you his kindest regards, and -begged you keep him in mind when that law came up for consideration by -the Senate. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I shall keep him in mind if he keeps me in mind.—You -must set to work on your report at once. - -ROGER. Immediately! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Did you leave cards for the Speaker of the House? - -ROGER. Yes, this morning, and for General de Briais and Mme. de -Vielfond. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Good! It must be known that you have returned. I’ll have -a paragraph sent to the papers.—And one thing more: those articles you -sent back from the East were very good. But I noticed with astonishment -a tendency toward—what shall I say?—imagination, “fine” writing; -descriptions, irrelevancies—even poetry—(_Reproachfully_) Alfred de -Musset, my son! - -DUCHESS. Yes, the article was most interesting: you must be more -careful. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The Duchess is joking, my dear. But be careful about -poetry; never do it again! You are concerned with serious subjects; you -must be serious yourself. - -ROGER. But I had no idea, Mother!—How can you tell when an article is -serious? - -DUCHESS. (_Holding up a pamphlet_) When the pages aren’t cut! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Your Aunt exaggerates, but take my advice: no more -poetry!—And now, dinner at six. You have an hour to work on your -report. I shan’t keep you any longer. Go to work, my dear. - -DUCHESS. Just a moment! Now that this tender and affecting scene is -over let us talk business, if you please. What about Suzanne? - -ROGER. Oh, the dear child! Where is she? - -DUCHESS. Attending a course of lectures on Comparative Literature. - -ROGER. Suzanne?! - -DUCHESS. Yes, Bellac’s course. - -ROGER. Bellac, who is he? - -DUCHESS. One of this winter’s crop! The season’s fad in scholars. A -gallant knight from the Normal School, who makes love to the ladies, -is made love to by them—and consequently makes a comfortable living. -The Princess Okolitch, who is mad about him, like all the old ladies, -conceived the idea of having him deliver a course of lectures in her -salon, with literature as an excuse, and gossip as a result. It appears -that your pupil, having seen all these grand ladies smitten with this -young, amiable, and loquacious genius, has followed in the footsteps of -her elders. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. It is no use, Duchess—— - -DUCHESS. I beg your pardon; Roger is her tutor and he ought to know -everything! - -ROGER. But what does all this mean, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. It means that Suzanne is in love with this gentleman; now do -you understand? - -ROGER. Suzanne! That child! Nonsense! - -DUCHESS. It doesn’t take so long for a child to change into a woman, -you know. - -ROGER. Suzanne! - -DUCHESS. Well, at least that is what your mother says. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I say that that young lady is openly courting favor with -a man much too serious to marry her, but gallant enough to amuse her, -and to have this going on under my own roof,—though it isn’t as yet -scandalous—is decidedly improper. - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER) Do you hear that? - -ROGER. But, Mother, you surprise me! Suzanne, a little child I left -in short dresses, climbing trees, a child I used to punish with extra -lessons, who used to jump on my knee and call me Daddy—— Come, come! It -is impossible! Such demoralization at her age! - -DUCHESS. Demoralization? Because she is in love! You are a true son of -your mother, if there ever was one! At “her age”! You ought to have -seen me when I was that old! There was a hussar, in a blue and silver -uniform! He was superb! His brains were all in his sword-hilt! But at -my age—! A young heart is like a new land: the discoverer is seldom -the ruler. Now it seems—this Bellac—oh, it doesn’t seem possible, -and yet—young girls, you know—- We must take care! (_Aside_) I don’t -believe a word of it, but I’ll be on my guard!—And that is why I -want you to do me the favor of burying your _Tumuli_ and giving your -attention to her, and her alone. - - (_Enter_ SUZANNE.) - -SUZANNE. (_Stealing up behind_ ROGER, _puts her hands over his eyes_) -Who is it? - -ROGER. (_Rising_) Ehh? - -SUZANNE. (_Stepping in front of him_) Here I am! - -ROGER. (_Surprised_) But,—Mademoiselle! - -SUZANNE. Naughty man! Not to recognize your own daughter! - -ROGER. Suzanne! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) He’s blushing! - -SUZANNE. Well, aren’t you going to kiss me? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Suzanne, that’s not quite the thing—— - -SUZANNE. To kiss your father? The idea! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER) Kiss her, why don’t you! - - (SUZANNE _and_ ROGER _kiss_.) - -SUZANNE. How happy I am! Just think, I had no idea you were coming -home to-day! Mme. de Saint-Réault told me just now at the lecture; so, -without saying a word—I was right near the door—I whisked out and ran -to the station! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Alone? - -SUZANNE. Yes, all alone! Oh, it was fun! The funniest part—wait till I -tell you! When I got to the ticket office I found I didn’t have a sou, -and, what do you think?—a gentleman who was buying his ticket offered -to buy one for me. Oh, he was a very nice young man! He happened to -be going to St. Germain, too, and when he offered to buy my ticket, -another man offered, too: a respectable-looking old gentleman,—and -then another—and after him, any number of others, who were standing -there. They were all going to St. Germain. “But, Mademoiselle, I beg -you—I really cannot allow you to——” “Allow me—no, me,—I beg you, -Mademoiselle!” I let the old respectable gentleman buy the ticket—for -the sake of appearances. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You allowed him to——? - -SUZANNE. I couldn’t very well stay where I was, could I? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. From a perfect stranger? - -SUZANNE. But he was such a respectable old gentleman! And he was very -nice to me! He helped me into the train. So nice of him! Of course, all -the rest were, too; _they_ all got into the compartment with us.—And -it was so jolly! Such fun! They offered me their places, every one! -They opened the window for me, and then fell all over themselves being -nice to me! “This way, Mademoiselle! Not there, you’ll be in the sun!” -And they pulled down their cuffs, and twirled their moustaches, and -bowed and scraped as if I’d been some grand lady—Oh, it’s fun to go by -yourself! And the respectable old gentleman kept talking all the time -about his immense estates, but what did I care about that? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Why, this is outrageous! - -SUZANNE. But the funniest thing of all was when we arrived, I found -my purse in my pocket; I paid the respectable old gentleman for the -ticket, made a pretty curtsey to the other gentlemen, and then I ran -off. Oh, you should have seen how they all looked at me! (_To_ ROGER) -Just as you do now! Why, what’s the matter? Kiss me again! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To the_ DUCHESS) There’s an impropriety even worse -than the rest! - -SUZANNE. Impropriety! - -DUCHESS. You see, she’s perfectly innocent! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. A young girl traveling alone in a train! - -SUZANNE. Doesn’t Lucy go out alone? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Lucy is not a girl of sixteen! - -SUZANNE. No: she’ll never see twenty-four again! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Lucy is able to take care of herself. - -SUZANNE. Why? Because of those glasses of hers? - -DUCHESS. (_Laughing_) Now, Suzanne! (_Aside_) I adore that girl! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Lucy wasn’t expelled from the convent! - -SUZANNE. That isn’t fair, and you know it! I was so bored—! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Your tutor knows—— - -SUZANNE. But he doesn’t know why—you’ll see if it wasn’t unfair. When -I used to get bored in class, I sat near the door leading into the -garden. Oh, it was so easy! I had a clever plan! When everything was -as quiet as could be, I shouted at the top of my voice, “Long live -the great Voltaire!” Sister Séraphine at once ordered me to leave the -room. It was perfectly simple, and it only took a moment. One day when -the sun was shining beautifully, I was looking out of the window, -and all at once I shouted, “Long live Voltaire!” I listened, there -was no answer. I shouted again, “Voltaire!” Silence again! Very much -surprised, I turned around: the Mother Superior was there: I hadn’t -heard her come in! Tableau! But she didn’t send me into the garden, oh, -no! She sent me here! I didn’t care! I had had enough of that convent -life.—I’m a woman now! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Your conduct fails to reveal the fact.—Mme. de -Saint-Réault must be very anxious about you. - -SUZANNE. Oh, the lecture was almost over: she will be here in a moment, -with M. Bellac and the others. Oh, his lecture to-day——! - -DUCHESS. (_Looking at_ ROGER) Hm! - -SUZANNE. And the way those women applauded! And the crowd! And -what wonderful gowns! It was like a wedding at Ste. Clotilde! It -was—(_Throwing a kiss_) superb! - -DUCHESS. (_Looking at_ ROGER) Hm! - -SUZANNE. Superb! You ought to have heard those women! “Charming, -charming!” Madame de Loudan was squeaking like a Guinea-pig. Ugh, ugh! -I detest that woman! - -DUCHESS. (_Looking at_ ROGER) Hm! (_To_ SUZANNE) Are those the notes -you took at the lectures? - -SUZANNE. Oh, I take others besides. (_To_ ROGER) You’ll see! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER, _picking up the notebook from the table, where_ -SUZANNE _had left it on entering_) Well, let’s see—(_The clock strikes -five_) Oh, and my walk! (_Aside to_ ROGER) Now you understand Bellac’s -role in this matter? - -ROGER. No, I—— - -DUCHESS. Examine it, study it,—it’s a manuscript worth your while -deciphering; that’s your profession. - -ROGER. I don’t understand anything about this? - -DUCHESS. It is your duty, you know, as her tutor. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Aside_) That’s a waste of time! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside, looking at_ ROGER) That has waked him up! - -SUZANNE. (_Aside, looking at all of them_) What are they all up to? - - (_The_ DUCHESS _and_ MME. DE CÉRAN _go out_.) - -SUZANNE. Why do you stare at me? Because I went out alone? Are you -angry? - -ROGER. No, Suzanne, but you ought to know better than to—— - -SUZANNE. Are you angry with me? - -ROGER. No, only—— - -SUZANNE. Then it’s because you consider me a woman now, is it? Do you? -Tell me, I want so much to know! - -ROGER. Yes, you are a woman now, and it is for that very reason that we -must respect the conventions. - -SUZANNE. (_Snuggling up to him_) Scold me, I love to hear you, dear! - -ROGER. (_Gently pushing her away_) There now, stay over there. - -SUZANNE. So you don’t want me to call you “dear,” either? - -ROGER. It would be better not to. - -SUZANNE. That isn’t easy. - -ROGER. And there are other questions of propriety which you must -consider. That is exactly what I was objecting to—— - -SUZANNE. Oh, yes, I know, I have no manners. M. Bellac is never tired -of telling me so! - -ROGER. Ah, Monsieur——? - -SUZANNE. But what can you expect? There is no help for it! It’s not my -fault, I tell you, it’s not my fault. It is not so easy as you think; -I made a vow with myself that when you came back you would find me -just as formal as Lucy, that I would wear myself out learning!—Here -I’ve been studying six months—and then all of a sudden you appear and, -whist—there goes six months’ work for nothing! - -ROGER. (_Reproachfully_) For nothing? - -SUZANNE. Oh, how glad I am you’ve come! Oh, how I love you! I adore you! - -ROGER. Suzanne, Suzanne! I beg of you not to use words that you cannot -possibly understand. - -SUZANNE. What? That I don’t understand? I tell you I adore you! You, -you funny old thing, don’t you love me, too? Why are you so funny? Do -you love me better than Lucy? - -ROGER. Suzanne! - -SUZANNE. Are you sure? You’re not going to marry her? - -ROGER. Suzanne! - -SUZANNE. They told me you were. - -ROGER. Nonsense! - -SUZANNE. Then why do you write to her?—Oh, I know; you’ve written -twenty-seven letters to her—I’ve counted them, twenty-seven! - -ROGER. Those were nothing but—— - -SUZANNE. And one more this morning. Were they all “nothing buts”? What -was in that letter that came this morning? - -ROGER. I merely wrote that I should arrive on Thursday. - -SUZANNE. That you would arrive on Thursday? Was that all, really? But -why didn’t you write to me? Then I’d have been the first to see you. - -ROGER. But haven’t I written to you—often? - -SUZANNE. Often? Ten times. And then nothing but little insignificant -notes at the bottom of someone else’s letter—the kind you’d write to a -baby. I’m not a baby any longer: I’ve been thinking a lot these last -six months; I’ve learned a heap of things. - -ROGER. What have you learned? (SUZANNE _leans against his shoulder and -cries_) Why, Suzanne, what’s wrong? - -SUZANNE. (_Wiping her eyes and trying to laugh_) And then I’ve worked—! -Oh, how I worked! Piano, that horrid piano—I’m up to Schumann now, -that’s proper enough, isn’t it? - -ROGER. Oh! - -SUZANNE. Shall I play you something of his? - -ROGER. Not now, later! - -SUZANNE. All right.—And I’ve learned so much! - -ROGER. You are attending Professor Bellac’s lectures, aren’t you? So -he’s taken my place! - -SUZANNE. Yes, he’s been so nice! I love him, too. - -ROGER. Indeed! - -SUZANNE. Are you jealous of him? - -ROGER. I? - -SUZANNE. Tell me if you are; I’ll understand. I’m so jealous! But why -should _you_ be? You’re my father, aren’t you? - -ROGER. Oh, your father—— - -SUZANNE. What’s wrong? Be nice to me, the way you used to! - -ROGER. The way I used to? Oh, no! - -SUZANNE. Yes, the way you used to! (_She attempts to embrace him_) - -ROGER. No, no, no, Suzanne, don’t do that! - -SUZANNE. Why not? - -ROGER. Come now, that’s enough! Run away now! (_Sits on the sofa_) - -SUZANNE. I like you that way! - -ROGER. Be a little bit reasonable. - -SUZANNE. Oh, we’ve had enough reasonableness for to-day. (_She ruffles -his hair, laughing_) - -ROGER. Run away, now! A big girl like you! - -SUZANNE. (_Jealously_) If I were only Lucy—— - -ROGER. Now, now! Please, dear! - -SUZANNE. There, you said “dear.” Forfeit! (_She sits on his knee and -kisses him_) - -ROGER. Again! - -SUZANNE. All right, again! (_She kisses him_) - -ROGER. (_Repulsing her as he rises_) This is too much! - -SUZANNE. I’m an awful tease, am I not? Well, I’ll get my notebooks for -you: they’ll calm us down a little. (_She stops in the doorway and -looks at him_) Oh, here are the ladies and M. Bellac! What! Lucy in an -evening gown? Wait one moment! (_She runs out_) - -ROGER. (_Agitated_) This is decidedly too much! - - (_Enter the_ DUCHESS.) - -DUCHESS. Well? - -ROGER. Well—— - -DUCHESS. How excited you look! - -ROGER. You see, she was so affectionate—too affectionate! - -DUCHESS. Yes, I advise you to complain! See what I have found! (_She -takes a mounted photograph from between the leaves of_ SUZANNE’S -_notebook_) - -ROGER. A picture—— - -DUCHESS. Of the Professor, yes—— - -ROGER. In her notebook. - -DUCHESS. But look here—— - -ROGER. May I——? - -THE LADIES. (_Outside_) What a lovely lesson! Magnificent! - -DUCHESS. There’s the beautiful object! Surrounded by his bodyguard! - - (_Enter_ BELLAC, MADAME ARRIÉGO, MADAME DE LOUDAN, MADAME DE - SAINT-RÉAULT, MADAME DE CÉRAN, _and_ LUCY.) - -MME. DE SAINT-RÉAULT. Superb! Simply superb! - -BELLAC. Oh, spare me, Madame de Saint-Réault! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Ideal! I call it ideal! - -BELLAC. Marquise! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Beautiful! It stirred me to the depths of my being! - -BELLAC. Oh, Madame Arriégo! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Ladies, there is only one thing to say about it all! M. -Bellac was so eloquent that he was positively dangerous! But then—isn’t -he always a little dangerous? - -BELLAC. Please, Madame de Loudan! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. I’m simply mad about your genius! Yes, indeed, mad! -And about you, too! Oh, I don’t hide it. I tell everyone about it! -Brazenly! You are one of the gods on my Olympus! You have become a -fetish to me! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. You know, I have his autograph in my pocket! (_Displays -locket_) There! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Shows a pen which she carries in the bosom of her -gown_) And I carry one of his pens! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside to_ ROGER) Silly sheep! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_To_ MME. DE CÉRAN) Ah, Countess, I didn’t see you at -the lecture to-day? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Introducing_ ROGER) Here is my excuse! Ladies, my son! - -LADIES. Ah, Count! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. The exile has returned! - -ROGER. (_Bowing_) Ladies! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Introduces_ BELLAC _to her son_) Monsieur Bellac—Count -Roger de Céran! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. I see that your excuse was a good one—but Lucy? - -LUCY. I was busy here. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. How could _you_ stay away, his Muse? - -BELLAC. (_Gallantly_) Ah, Marquise, I can only say that _you_ were -there! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. He is charming! (_To_ LUCY) You don’t know what you -missed. - -LUCY. Oh, I know—— - -MME. ARRIÉGO. No, she can have no idea! It was a burning flame, a fire -of passion! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. What flowing eloquence! What delicacy of imagination! - -BELLAC. With such an audience, who could not be eloquent? - -DUCHESS. And what was the subject to-day? - -LADIES. LOVE! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER) Of course! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. So poetic! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. And so scientific! He is half psychologist, half -dreamer; he plays with the scalpel as well as the lyre! It was—there -was only one thing I couldn’t agree with: that the basis of love is -instinct. - -BELLAC. But, Marquise, I was speaking of—— - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Oh, no, no! - -BELLAC. I was speaking of love in Nature! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Instinct! The idea! Ladies, come, we must defend -ourselves! Help me. Come to the rescue, Lucy! - -BELLAC. She will not help you, Marquise; she agrees with me. - -MME. DE SAINT-RÉAULT. Is it possible, Lucy? - -LUCY. Instinct? - -MME. DE SAINT-RÉAULT. In love? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. That would be robbing the soul of its most precious -possession: according to you, then, Lucy, nothing is good, or bad. - -LUCY. (_Coldly_) There is no question about good or bad, Madame, it is -merely a question of the existence of the species. - -LADIES. (_Protesting_) Oh! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) She’s prosaic enough about it! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Indignantly_) Why, you’re stripping love of all its -romance! - -LUCY. Hunter and Darwin—— - -MME. DE LOUDAN. No one better than I knows the weaknesses of the flesh. -Matter dominates and masters us! I know it, I feel it! But leave us at -least the psychic refuge of pure ecstasy! - -BELLAC. But, Marquise—— - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Be quiet, you’re a villain! I will not deny my god; -that would be sacrilege. I’m very angry with you! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) Little fool! - -BELLAC. I hope we shall be reconciled, after you read my book. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. But when will that be? The entire world is waiting for -that book! And you don’t say a word about it! You won’t even tell us -the title! - -LADIES. Tell us the title! At least the title! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Lucy, you make him tell us. - -LUCY. Well, what is the title? - -BELLAC. (_To_ LUCY, _after a moment’s hesitation_) “Miscellanies.” - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Oh, how lovely! But when does it appear? - -BELLAC. I am hurrying it through the press, and I count on its helping -me to the honor to which I aspire. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. To which you aspire? - -MME. ARRIÉGO. What more can he wish? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. What more can the child of Fortune wish? - -BELLAC. Poor Revel is on his last legs, you know. In the event of -anything happening to him, I have announced myself as candidate for the -position of director of the New School. - -DUCHESS. (_To_ MME. DE CÉRAN) Number three! - -BELLAC. Ladies, if Revel should die—which God forbid!—I recommend -myself to your good graces, and your influence. - -LADIES. You may count on us, Bellac! - -BELLAC. (_Approaching the_ DUCHESS) And you, Duchess, may I hope——? - -DUCHESS. You mustn’t ask me anything before dinner. The weakness of the -flesh “dominates me,” as Madame de Loudan says. (_The clock strikes_) -There, you have only fifteen minutes! Get dressed at once, and we’ll -talk the matter over at table. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. At table? But M. Toulonnier hasn’t arrived yet, Duchess. - -DUCHESS. That makes no difference to me. We dine sharp at six, whether -he is here or not. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Dine without him, a General Secretary? - -DUCHESS. Oh, under the Republic! - - (_Enter_ SUZANNE, _with her notebooks under her arm; she puts them on - the table, right_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I am going to meet him. (_To_ BELLAC) My dear Professor, -you will be shown to your room. (_She rings and, a moment later, enter_ -FRANCOIS) - -BELLAC. Pray don’t trouble, Countess, I have the good fortune to know -the way. (_Aside to_ LUCY) Did you get my letter? - -LUCY. Yes, but—— - -(BELLAC _makes a sign for her to be silent, bows and goes out, right_.) - -MME. DE LOUDAN. And now, ladies, let us adjourn and make ourselves -beautiful! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Come! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Come with me, Lucy. - -LUCY. With pleasure, Madame! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. In that gown? Are you not afraid of the seductive charm -of this spring evening, my dear? - -LUCY. Oh, I shan’t be cold! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. You are a true daughter of the Land of Fogs! I am very -much afraid of the night air! - - (MADAME DE LOUDAN _goes out with_ MADAME ARRIÉGO, _left_. _As_ - LUCY _starts to follow_ MADAME DE CÉRAN _into the garden, she is - intercepted by_ FRANCOIS.) - -FRANCOIS. I still can’t find the pink paper, Mademoiselle. - -SUZANNE. (_Picking up a pink paper which she has knocked off the table, -while putting her notebooks on it. Aside_) A pink paper! (_She looks at -the paper_) - -LUCY. Ah, yes, the letter we were looking for this morning! - -SUZANNE. (_Aside, quickly hiding the letter behind her back_) That you -were looking for this morning! - -LUCY. (_As she is leaving the room_) Never mind looking for it now. -(_She goes out into the garden_; FRANCOIS _follows her_) - -SUZANNE. (_Looking at_ LUCY _as_ ROGER _enters_) The letter this -morning! - - (_Enter the_ DUCHESS.) - -DUCHESS. How’s this? You’re not ready yet? Nor you? What are you doing -here? - - (SUZANNE _looks at_ ROGER _without answering_.) - -ROGER. (_To the_ DUCHESS) Ah, these are the notebooks! Give them to me, -Suzanne. (_He goes to her, she hands them to him, looking at him in -silence_) What’s the matter with her? - -DUCHESS. Let me look at those notebooks! - - (ROGER _goes to the_ DUCHESS, _who is seated left_. SUZANNE, _to the - right of the table, tries without being seen to open the paper which - she holds in her left hand_.) - -ROGER. (_Looking at_ SUZANNE—_astonished_) That’s strange! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER, _drawing him toward her_) Come here, closer—my -eyes are bad—— - -ROGER. (_Lowering the notebooks, as he steals a glance at_ SUZANNE. -_Suddenly he seizes the_ DUCHESS _by the arm, and whispers_) Aunt! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER, _aside_) What’s the matter now? - -ROGER. Look! But don’t turn your head! She’s trying to read something! -A letter, you see! She’s trying to hide it, don’t you see? - -DUCHESS. Yes! - -SUZANNE. (_Who has opened the letter; reading_) “I shall arrive -Thursday.” (_Astonished_) From Roger! The one Lucy got this morning! -(_She looks at the letter_) But why is it written that way, without -any signature? (_Continues reading_) “This evening at ten; in the -conservatory. Say you have a headache.” Ah! - -DUCHESS. What can it be? (_Calling_) Suzanne! - -SUZANNE. (_Surprised; puts the letter behind her back, and goes toward -the_ DUCHESS) Yes, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. What are you reading there? - -SUZANNE. I, Aunt? Nothing. - -DUCHESS. I thought that—come here! - -SUZANNE. (_Slipping the letter under the books on the table, as she -goes toward the_ DUCHESS) Yes, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) This is curious! - -SUZANNE. (_Near the_ DUCHESS) What is it, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. Get my mantle for me. - -SUZANNE. (_Hesitating_) But—— - -DUCHESS. You don’t care to? - -SUZANNE. Oh, certainly, Aunt! - -DUCHESS. It’s in my room; hurry! (SUZANNE _goes out. To_ ROGER) Quick! -On the table! - -ROGER. What? - -DUCHESS. The letter! She’s hidden it! I saw her! - -ROGER. Hidden it? (_He goes to the table and looks for the letter_) - -DUCHESS. On the corner, there! Under the black book. Don’t you see -anything? - -ROGER. No—oh, yes!—a pink paper. (_He takes the letter and brings it to -the_ DUCHESS, _reading it as he walks_) Oh! - -DUCHESS. What is it? - -ROGER. (_Reading_) “I shall arrive Thursday.” From Bellac! - -DUCHESS. (_Snatching the letter from him and reading it_) From—? But it -isn’t signed. And the handwriting——? - -ROGER. Yes, disguised. Oh, he’s a crafty one! But “I shall arrive -Thursday” applies to me as well as to him! - -DUCHESS. (_Reading_) “This evening at ten in the conservatory. Say you -have a headache.” A rendezvous! (_Giving him the letter_) Quick, put it -back, I hear her coming! - -ROGER. (_Agitated_) All right. (_Puts letter back in place_) - -DUCHESS. Come now. - -ROGER. Very well. - -DUCHESS. Hurry up! (ROGER _resumes his position by the side of the_ -DUCHESS) And be calm! Here she is. (SUZANNE _re-enters. The_ DUCHESS -_turns over the leaves in the notebook_) Well, these are very good, -very good! - -SUZANNE. Here’s your mantle, Aunt. - -DUCHESS. Thank you, dear. (_Aside to_ ROGER) Speak up. - - (SUZANNE _goes to the table, takes the letter, glances through it, - turning away as before_.) - -ROGER. (_Agitated_) There are—well—er—certain—you have made wonderful -progress—er—I am astonished—(_Aside to_ DUCHESS, _pointing to_ SUZANNE) -Aunt! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) Yes, she’s picked it up again; I saw her. (_The -dinner-gong sounds_) The second bell! Hurry and get dressed, Suzanne! -You’ll never be ready in time. - -SUZANNE. (_Aside as she looks at_ ROGER) A rendezvous! With Lucy! Oh! - - (_She goes up to_ ROGER _without saying a word and, looking him - straight in the eye, takes her notebooks out of his hand, tears them - and throws the pieces angrily to the floor; then she goes out_.) - -ROGER. (_Astonished; turning to the_ DUCHESS) Aunt! - -DUCHESS. A rendezvous! - -ROGER. With Bellac! - -DUCHESS. Nonsense! - -ROGER. (_Falling into a chair_) Who could have imagined such a thing! - - (_Voices heard outside. The door at the back opens._) - -DUCHESS. (_Looking out_) Ah, here comes Toulonnier! And everybody, -_and_ dinner, too! Quick, go and dress! It will calm your nerves; -you’re very pale. - -ROGER. Suzanne! It’s not possible! (_He goes out_) - -DUCHESS. No, it’s not possible! And yet——! - - (_Enter_ MADAME DE CÉRAN, TOULONNIER, M. _and_ MME. DE SAINT-RÉAULT - _and a moment later_, LUCY, MADAME DE LOUDAN, MADAME ARRIÉGO, _with_ - BELLAC _in their midst_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Introducing_ TOULONNIER _to the_ DUCHESS) The -Secretary General, Aunt. - -TOULONNIER. (_Bowing_) Madame la duchesse! - -DUCHESS. My dear Monsieur Toulonnier, we were just going to sit down -without you. - -TOULONNIER. I hope you will pardon me, my dear Duchess, but—business, -you know! We are literally up to the ears in work. You’ll permit me to -leave early, I trust? - -DUCHESS. With pleasure! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Embarrassed_) Ah, Monsieur Bellac! - -TOULONNIER. (_To whom_ MME. DE CÉRAN _introduces_ BELLAC) Monsieur! -(_He and_ BELLAC _shake hands and talk_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Coming to the_ DUCHESS) Be nice to him, Aunt; please. - -DUCHESS. Your Republican friend? Nonsense! A man who gives us twenty -minutes of his time as if he were a king! The idea! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You will at least allow him to escort you to the table? - -DUCHESS. I should think not! Keep him yourself! I’ll take little -Raymond. He’s much more amusing. - - (_Enter_ ROGER, _dressed for dinner_.) - -ROGER. (_To the_ DUCHESS, _frightened_) Aunt! - -DUCHESS. Well, what is it now? - -ROGER. Oh, something—I just overheard something in the corridor -upstairs. It’s unbelievable. - -DUCHESS. Well, what? - -ROGER. I didn’t see who was speaking, but I’m sure I heard—— - - (RAYMOND _and_ JEANNE _enter furtively_.) - -DUCHESS. Well, what? - -ROGER. The sound of a kiss! What do you think of that? - -DUCHESS. Of a what? - -ROGER. Yes, I’m sure I heard it! - -DUCHESS. Well, who—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Introducing to_ TOULONNIER) Monsieur Paul Raymond, -Sub-prefect of Agenis. - -RAYMOND. Monsieur le Secrétaire-Géneral! (_Introducing_ JEANNE) Madame -Paul Raymond. - - (SUZANNE _enters, wearing an evening gown._) - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Seeing_ SUZANNE) Ohh! - -BELLAC. Ah, my young pupil! - - (_Murmurs of astonishment._) - -ROGER. (_To the_ DUCHESS) Look, Aunt! _Décolletée!_ It’s disgraceful! - -DUCHESS. I don’t think so. (_Aside_) She’s been crying. - -FRANCOIS. (_Announcing_) Dinner is served. - -ROGER. (_Approaching_ SUZANNE, _who is conversing with_ BELLAC) I must -know! (_Offering her his arm_) Suzanne! (SUZANNE _looks at him coldly -and takes the arm of_ BELLAC, _who is speaking with_ LUCY) - -BELLAC. (_To_ SUZANNE) How the rest will envy me, Mademoiselle! - -ROGER. (_Aside_) This is too much! (_He offers his arm to_ LUCY) - -DUCHESS. What does this mean?—Come, Raymond, give me your arm. (RAYMOND -_approaches her_) My friend, one must suffer much before one becomes a -Prefect! - -PAUL. The suffering is by no means unpleasant, Duchess. - -DUCHESS. You’re going to sit next to me at the table. We’ll slander the -Government! - -PAUL. Oh, Duchess! And I one of her servants! Oh, no!—But there is -nothing to prevent my listening to you! - - - _Curtain._ - - - - - ACT II - - - (_Same scene as_ ACT I.) - - (BELLAC, TOULONNIER, ROGER, PAUL RAYMOND, MADAME DE CÉRAN, MADAME - DE LOUDAN, _the_ DUCHESS, SUZANNE, LUCY, JEANNE, _seated in a - semi-circle, listening to_ SAINT-RÉAULT, _who is finishing his - lecture_.) - -SAINT-RÉAULT. And make no mistake about it! Profound as these legends -may appear because of their baffling exoticism, they are merely—my -illustrious father wrote in 1834—elemental, primitive imaginings, in -comparison with the transcendental conceptions of Brahmin lore gathered -together in the Upanishads, or indeed in the eighteen Paranas of Vyasa, -the compiler of the Veda. - -JEANNE. (_Aside to_ PAUL) Are you asleep? - -PAUL. No, no—I hear some kind of gibberish. - -SAINT-RÉAULT. Such, in simple terminology, is the _concretum_ of the -doctrine of Buddha.—And at this point I shall close my remarks. - - (_Murmurs. Some of the audience rise._) - -SEVERAL VOICES. (_Weakly_) Very good! Good! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. And now—(_He coughs_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Eagerly_) You must be tired, Saint-Réault? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. Not at all, Countess! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Oh, yes, you must be; rest yourself. We can wait. - -_Several Voices._ You must rest! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. You can’t always remain in the clouds. Come down to -earth, Baron. - -SAINT-RÉAULT. Thank you, but—well, you see, I had already finished. - - (_Everybody rises._) - -SEVERAL VOICES. So interesting!—A little obscure!—Excellent!—Too long! - -BELLAC. (_To the ladies_) Too materialistic! - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) He’s bungled it. - -SUZANNE. (_Calling_) Monsieur Bellac! - -BELLAC. Mademoiselle? - -SUZANNE. Come here, near me. - - (BELLAC _goes to her_.) - -ROGER. (_Aside to the_ DUCHESS) Aunt! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside to_ ROGER) She’s doing it on purpose! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. (_Coming to table_) One word more! (_General surprise. -The audience sits down in silence and consternation_) Or, rather a -favor!—This study of mine, of which, in spite of the narrow limits and -popular character made necessary by my audience—— - -DUCHESS. He is polite, isn’t he? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. The importance will perhaps have been realised,—this -study, I say, was in 1821, sixty years ago, begun, or—I will go so far -as to say, discovered by the genius whose son I have the honor to be—— - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) He’s standing in a dead man’s shoes! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. This trail which he has blazed, I, too, have followed, -and not without distinction, if I may be permitted to say so. Another, -coming after us, has tried to snatch a few words of wisdom from -the eternal Verity of the Sphinx, until our time unfathomed in any -theogony. I speak of Revel, highly esteemed both as scholar and -gentleman. My illustrious father is dead, and Revel is not long for -this earth—if he has not already passed away. Therefore I alone am left -monarch of this new domain of science of which my father, Guillaume -Eriel de Saint-Réault, was the discoverer. I, alone! (_Looking at_ -TOULONNIER) May those who govern us, those who are invested with power -and authority, those upon whom will devolve the delicate task of -choosing a successor to our lamented colleague—whom perhaps we shall -mourn to-morrow—may these eminent men (_Looking at_ BELLAC, _who is -speaking with_ TOULONNIER) in spite of the more or less legitimate -solicitations to which they are prey, make an impartial, enlightened -choice, determined solely by the threefold requirements of age, -aptitude and acquired experience—a choice of a successor worthy to my -illustrious father, and of the great work which is his,—and of which, I -repeat, I am the sole living representative. - - (_Everyone rises. Applause and general confusion. Meanwhile servants - enter with refreshments._) - -SEVERAL VOICES. Splendid! Bravo! - -PAUL. At last I understand what he’s driving at! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. A candidate for Revel’s place! - -BELLAC. In the Academy, the New School, in everything! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Aside_) I might have expected it! - -SERVANT. (_Announcing_) The General! Comte de Briais!—Monsieur Virot! - - (_Enter the_ GENERAL _and_ M. VIROT.) - -GENERAL. (_Kissing_ MADAME DE CÉRAN’S _hand_) Countess! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Ah, Senator—— - -VIROT. (_Kissing_ MADAME DE CÉRAN’S _hand_) Madame la comtesse! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To_ VIROT) Too late! my dear Deputy, too late! - -GENERAL. (_Gallantly_) One cannot come too early to your salon, -Countess! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Monsieur de Saint-Réault was speaking; can one say more? - -GENERAL. (_Bowing to_ SAINT-RÉAULT) My loss! - -VIROT. (_Taking the_ GENERAL _to the left_) Well, Senator, if the House -passes the law, will you vote it down? - -GENERAL. Of course—at least the first time! The Senate must do that -much. - -VIROT. Ah! Duchess! - - (_Together with the_ GENERAL, _they go to greet the_ DUCHESS. PAUL - RAYMOND _and_ JEANNE _slip out of the room into the garden_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To_ SAINT-RÉAULT) You surpassed yourself this evening, -Saint-Réault! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Yes, you surpassed yourself. There is no other word for -it. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Ah, Baron, Baron, what a world you have opened up to -us! How captivating are these first stammering professions of primitive -faith! And that Buddhist Trinity, oh, I’m quite mad about it! - -LUCY. (_To_ SAINT-RÉAULT) Pardon my boldness, Monsieur, but in your -enumeration of the Sacred Books, it seemed to me that you omitted -something. - -SAINT RÉAULT. (_Piqued_) Ah, you think so, Mademoiselle? - -LUCY. I did not hear you mention either the _Mahabharata_ or the -_Ramayana_. - -SAINT RÉAULT. But those are not the Sacred Books, they are merely -poems whose ancient origin rendered them objects of veneration to the -Hindoos. They are works of literature, merely. - -LUCY. But nevertheless, the Academy of Calcutta—— - -SAINT-RÉAULT. I merely give you the opinion of the Brahmins! You have -another of your own? - -SUZANNE. (_Loudly_) Monsieur Bellac! - -BELLAC. Mademoiselle? - -SUZANNE. Give me your arm; let’s take a little walk. I want the air! - -BELLAC. But, Mademoiselle—— - -SUZANNE. Don’t you wish to? - -BELLAC. But just at this time——? - -SUZANNE. Do come! (_She almost drags him out_) - -ROGER. (_To the_ DUCHESS) She’s going out with him! - -DUCHESS. Follow them!—Wait, I’ll go with you—I need a breath of air -myself; he’s put me to sleep with his Brahmins, the old fakir! (_They -go out_) - -TOULONNIER. (_To_ SAINT-RÉAULT) Very learned and full of new ideas—(_In -an undertone_) I caught that hint of yours, my dear Baron. There was -really no need. We are all on your side. (_They shake hands_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To_ SAINT-RÉAULT) I beg your pardon! (_Aside to_ -TOULONNIER) You won’t forget my boy? - -TOULONNIER. I shall no more forget my promise than—I will yours. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You understand, you will receive your six votes in the -Senate. You understand also that on the publication of his report—— - -TOULONNIER. You are well aware, Countess, that we are all on your side. - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE, _as they come in from the garden_) That time they -_did_ see us! - -JEANNE. It was too dark to see anything under the trees. - -PAUL. We were almost caught before dinner. Twice would be too much! I -don’t want to risk it. - -JEANNE. Didn’t you promise to kiss me every time we were in the dark? -Yes or no? - -PAUL. (_Excitedly_) Do you want to be the wife of a Prefect? Yes or no? - -JEANNE. (_Equally excited_) Yes, but meanwhile I’m not going to be his -widow! - - (MADAME DE CÉRAN _goes to them_.) - -PAUL. (_Aside to_ JEANNE) The Countess! (_Aloud_) Really, Jeanne, you -prefer the _Bhagavata_? - -JEANNE. Oh, the _Bhagavata_, my dear—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Did you understand any of that mass of erudition, -Madame? Poor Saint-Réault seemed particularly wordy and obscure this -evening! - -PAUL. (_Aside_) The jealous rival! - -JEANNE. But towards the end, Countess, he was clear enough. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Ah, yes, about his candidacy; you understand? - -JEANNE. Well, after all, if faith requires science to support it, has -not science some need of faith?—as Monsieur de Maistre has said. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Very good indeed! I must introduce you to a gentleman -who will be very useful to you: General de Briais, the Senator. - -JEANNE. And how about the Deputy, Countess? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, the Senator is more powerful! - -JEANNE. But the Deputy is more active! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Really, my dear Raymond, you are very fortunate. -(_Pressing_ JEANNE’S _hand_) And so am I! (_To_ JEANNE) Good—I’ll -introduce you to both! - -PAUL. (_Following_ JEANNE, _who follows_ MME. DE CÉRAN) Angel! - -JEANNE. Aren’t we going where it’s dark pretty soon? - -PAUL. Yes, my angel, but wait until the rest are gone! I’ll tell you: -while the tragedy is being read! - -SERVANT. (_Announcing_) Madame la baronne de Boines—Monsieur Melchior -de Boines! - - (_Enter_ MME. DE BOINES _and_ MELCHIOR.) - -BARONESS. (_To_ MADAME DE CÉRAN, _who is about to receive her_) Ah, my -dear, am I in time? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You are too late for Science, too early for Poetry! I am -waiting for my poet. - -BARONESS. Who is he? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. An unknown. - -BARONESS. Young? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I know nothing whatsoever about him, but I am assured -that this is his first work. Gaiac is bringing him—you know Gaiac, of -the _Conservateur_? They should have been here at nine. I can’t imagine -what keeps them. - -BARONESS. I shall profit by the circumstance, for I came to see neither -scholar nor poet. I came to see _him_, my dear: Bellac! Think of -it, I’ve never met him! He is so attractive, they tell me! Princess -Okolitch is quite mad about him, you know. Where is he? Oh, show him to -me, Countess! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I was just looking for him, and I—(_Seeing_ BELLAC -_enter with_ SUZANNE) There! - -BARONESS. Is that he, coming in with Mlle. de Villiers? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Astonished_) Yes! - -BARONESS. How lovely he is, dear! Isn’t he handsome! And you let him go -about with that young girl! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Aside—looking at_ SUZANNE _and_ BELLAC) That’s -strange—— - -MELCHIOR. And may I shake hands with Roger? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I doubt if you can at this moment. He must be hard -at work. (_Enter the_ DUCHESS _and_ ROGER. _Aside, looking at these -latter_) What’s this—and with the Duchess? - -ROGER. (_To the_ DUCHESS, _greatly agitated_) Well, did you hear, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. Yes, but I saw nothing. - -ROGER. It was certainly a kiss, that time! - -DUCHESS. And a good smack! Who is there here who would kiss like that? - -ROGER. Who, indeed? - -DUCHESS. (_Seeing_ MADAME DE CÉRAN, _as she approaches them_) Your -mother! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. How is this, Roger, aren’t you supposed to be at work? - -ROGER. No, Mother, I—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Well, well, what about your _Tumuli_? - -ROGER. I have plenty of time: I can work on it to-night, and later in -the week. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The idea! The Minister is waiting! - -ROGER. Let him wait, Mother! (_He goes away_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Stupefied_) Duchess, what does this mean? - -DUCHESS. Tell me, isn’t someone going to read us some sort of nonsense -this evening? Some tragedy——? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Yes. - -DUCHESS. Your reading is to be in the next room, isn’t it? Get the -people out of here, will you? I shall need this room at once. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Why? - -DUCHESS. I’ll tell you during the tragedy. - -SERVANT. (_Announcing_) Monsieur le vicomte de Gaiac! Monsieur des -Millets! - - (_Enter_ DE GAIAC _and_ DES MILLETS.) - -DUCHESS. Well—I—look at your poet! There he is! - -SEVERAL VOICES. The poet!—The young poet!—Where?—Where is he? - -GAIAC. Will you ever forgive me, Countess? I was kept at the office. -(_Aside_) I was writing up your _soirée_!—Monsieur des Millets, my -friend the tragic poet, whose talent you will soon have an opportunity -of appreciating. - -DES MILLETS. (_Bowing_) Madame la comtesse! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER) So that is the young poet! He’s an odd one! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. (_Aside to the other ladies_) How awful! - -BARONESS. He’s gray! - -MME. DE SAINT-RÉAULT. Bald! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. He has no talent: he’s much too ugly, my dear! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. We are very happy, Monsieur, my guests and I, to be -favored with your presence! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Approaching him_) A virgin triumph, Monsieur! How -grateful we are! - -DES MILLETS. (_Confused_) Ah, Madame! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. And it is really your first work, Monsieur? - -DES MILLETS. Oh, but I have written several poems! - -GAIAC. Crowned by the Academy, Madame la comtesse. - -JEANNE. (_To_ PAUL, _admiringly_) Crowned! - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) _Mediocritas!_ - -MME. DE CÉRAN. And this is your first attempt in the realm of the -drama? Ah, well, maturity of years guarantees maturity of talent! - -DES MILLETS. Alas, Madame la comtesse, the play was written fifteen -years ago! - -LADIES. Fifteen years!—Is it possible?! Really? - -GAIAC. Ah, Des Millets has faith in his work! We must encourage those -who have faith, should we not, ladies? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Of course! We must encourage the tragic form, must we -not, General? Tragedy—— - -GENERAL. (_Interrupting himself in his conversation with_ VIROT) Eh? -Oh, yes, tragedy! _Horace!_ _Cinna!_ Of course, we must! Tragedy is -necessary for the masses—(_To_ DES MILLETS) May we have the title? - -DES. MILLETS. _Philippe-Auguste!_ - -GENERAL. Fine subject! Good military subject!—In verse, isn’t it? - -DES MILLETS. Oh, General! A tragedy——! - -GENERAL. A good many acts, I suppose? - -DES MILLETS. Five. - -GENERAL. Ha! Ha! Good! Good! - -JEANNE. (_Aside to_ PAUL) Five acts! How lovely! We’ll have plenty of -time——! - -PAUL. Sh-h! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. The road to Parnassus is long! - -MME. DE SAINT-RÉAULT. What a mighty effort! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. It must be encouraged! - - (SUZANNE’S _laugh is heard above the murmur of the conversation_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Suzanne! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ MADAME DE CÉRAN) Lead out young Euripides and his press -agent! Get rid of the lot of them! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Now ladies, shall we go into the large drawing-room and -hear the reading? (_To_ DES MILLETS) Are you ready, Monsieur? - -DES MILLETS. As you please, Madame la comtesse. - -PAUL. (_Aside to_ JEANNE) Age before beauty! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Come, ladies! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Intercepting her_) Oh, but first, Countess, let -us—the ladies and me—carry out our little plot! (_Going to_ BELLAC, -_and saying with an air of supplication_) Monsieur Bellac? - -BELLAC. Marquise? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. I want to ask a great favor of you. - -BELLAC. (_Graciously_) The favor which you ask me becomes as nothing in -comparison with the favor you do me in asking it so charmingly. - -LADIES. Oh, how lovely! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. This poetic tragedy will doubtless occupy the remainder -of the evening; it will certainly prove a fitting climax!—Please say a -few words beforehand—as few as you like! Of course, Genius must not be -overtaxed! But, please just a few words. They will be received like the -Manna of old! - -SUZANNE. Please, Monsieur Bellac! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Be generous! - -BARONESS. We throw ourselves at your feet! - -BELLAC. (_Defending himself_) Oh, ladies! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Come to our assistance, Lucy—you, his Muse! _You_ plead -with him! - -LUCY. Of course; I ask him now. - -SUZANNE. And I, I want him too! - -VOICES. Oh, oh! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Suzanne! - -BELLAC. Well, since you force me—— - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Oh, he will! Quick, a chair! - - (_Commotion about_ BELLAC.) - -MME. ARRIÉGO. A table. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Shall we make a circle? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Give him a little room, ladies. - -BELLAC. Pray, no formality! - -VIROT. (_To the_ GENERAL) You must be careful, the law is very popular. - -LADIES. Sh-h! - -BELLAC. Please, no stage-setting—nothing that— - -VIROT. Well, yes—but the voters? - -GENERAL. My position is perfectly safe! - -LADIES. Sh-h! Oh, General! - -BELLAC. Nothing to suggest the school-room, the platform, or pedantry. -Please, ladies, let it be an informal chat: ask me no questions. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_With clasped hands_) Oh, Monsieur Bellac, tell us -about your book! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. (_With clasped hands_) Yes the book! - -BARONESS. (_With clasped hands_) Your book, yes! - -SUZANNE. (_With clasped hands_) Oh, Monsieur Bellac! - -BELLAC. Irresistible supplications! And yet I must protect myself; -until everyone shall have the opportunity of seeing my book, no one -shall. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_With meaning_) Mm—_no_ one? - -BELLAC. Ah, Marquise, “Take care! There may be a secret!” as Fontenelle -said to Mme. de Coulanges. - -LADIES. Charming! Charming! - -BARONESS. (_Aside to_ MME. DE LOUDAN) How clever! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. He is more than clever. - -BARONESS. What then? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. His wit has wings; you’ll see. - -BELLAC. This is neither the time nor the place, you will admit, ladies, -to plumb the depths of certain of those eternal problems and mysterious -enigmas of life and the Beyond which harass and torment noble souls, -like your own! - -LADIES. Ah, the “Beyond,” my dear, the “Beyond!” - -BELLAC. But, aside from this, I am quite at your service. There is one -point, however, which comes to my mind, a point eternally discussed and -never settled, upon which I ask your leave to say a few words. - -LADIES. DO, do! - -BELLAC. I shall speak, then with a threefold purpose:—first, to fulfill -your request, ladies; (_Looking at_ MME DE LOUDAN) to bring back a -friend who has been led away.—— - -BARONESS. (_Aside to_ MME. DE LOUDAN, _who modestly drops her eyes_) -That is you, my dear! - -BELLAC. (_Looking at_ LUCY) And to combat an adversary who has proved -exceedingly dangerous—in more ways than one. - -LADIES. That means Lucy!—It is Lucy!—Lucy! - -BELLAC. My subject is—Love! - -LADIES. (_Approving_) Ahh!—Ahh! - -DUCHESS. For a change! - -SUZANNE. Bravo! - - (_Low murmurs._) - -JEANNE. (_To_ PAUL) That young lady is feeling very fit, it seems! - -BELLAC. Concerning love!—The weakness which is a strength!—The -sentiment which is a faith! The only religion, perhaps, which knows no -scoffers! - -LADIES. Ah!—Charming!—Charming! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_To the_ BARONESS) Ah, the wings, my dear—the wings! - -BELLAC. I spoke this morning—in the course of my lecture on German -Literature at the Princess’s—of a certain philosopher who made instinct -the basis and the rule of all our actions and all our thoughts. - -LADIES. (_Protesting_) Oh!—Oh!—Oh! - -BELLAC. And now, ladies, I take occasion emphatically to declare that -that opinion is not my opinion, and that I deny the theory with every -fiber of my soul and being! - -LADIES. Good! Excellent! - -BARONESS. (_Aside to_ MME. DE LOUDAN) What pretty hands! - -BELLAC. No, ladies, no! Love is not, as the German philosopher has it, -a purely specific passion; a deceitful illusion shackling mankind in -order to work its own ends! No, a hundred times no! if we have souls! - -LADIES. Yes!—Yes— - -SUZANNE. Bravo! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside to_ ROGER) She is certainly doing that on purpose! - -BELLAC. Leave to the Sophists and to vulgar natures such soul-stunting -theories; do not even consider them; answer them with silence, the -language of the outcast! - -LADIES. Charming!—Charming!—— - -BELLAC. God forbid I should go so far as to deny the sovereign -influence of beauty over the uncertain wills of men! (_Looking about -him_) I see too much about me by way of refutation to that argument! - -LADIES. Ah!—Ah! - -ROGER. (_To the_ DUCHESS) He looked at _her_! - -DUCHESS. Yes. - -BELLAC. But above this material and mortal beauty, there is another, -time-defying, invisible to the naked eye, which the soul of purity -serenely contemplates and cherishes with an unearthly love. That love, -ladies, is the true Love, the mingling of two spirits, their flight far -from the terrestrial mire—into the infinite blue of the ideal! - -LADIES. Bravo! - -DUCHESS. (_To herself, rather loudly_) Nonsense! - -BELLAC. (_Looking at her_) That love, mocked at by some, unknown to -most,—I declare, my hand on my heart, that it does exist! In the souls -of the elect, as Proudhon says—— - -VOICES. (_Protesting_) Oh, Proudhon——! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Oh, Bellac! - -BELLAC. A writer whom I am astonished to find myself quoting—I beg your -pardons! In the souls of the elect, there is nothing of earth. - -LADIES. How delicate! Charming! - -DUCHESS. (_Bursting forth_) Nonsense! - -LADIES. Oh, Duchess! - -BELLAC. (_Bowing to the_ DUCHESS) And yet, it exists. Noble spirits -have felt it, great poets sung its praises, and in the seats of Heaven, -the apotheosis of our dreams, we see, enshrined about with haloes of -ethereal brightness, those immortal figures, everlasting proof of an -undying and psychic love: Beatrice, Laura—— - -DUCHESS. Laura, the mother of eleven, my dear Monsieur! - -LADIES. Duchess! - -DUCHESS. Eleven! And you call her love psychic! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. They were not Petrarch’s, Duchess; let’s have fair play. - -BELLAC. Héloise—— - -DUCHESS. Oh, she! - -BELLAC. And their sisters of more recent date: Elvira, Eloa, and many -others, known and unknown. That cohort of pure and unknown loves, is -growing from day to day—I call all womankind to witness! - -LADIES. Ah, my dear, how true! - -BELLAC. The soul has a language all its own; its aspirations, its -pleasures and its tortures belong to it: are its very existence. And if -it be chained to the body, it is like the wing of a bird: in order to -raise it to the heights! - -LADIES. Ah, bravo! - -BELLAC. (_Rising_) This is what modern science ought to take into -consideration—(_Looking at_ SAINT-RÉAULT) that science which a leaden -materialism drags down to earth—I shall add, since our venerable -master and friend made an allusion not long since—perhaps a trifle -over-hasty—to a loss which science, I hope, will not have to complain -of—I shall add—(_Looking at_ TOULONNIER, _to whom_ SAINT-RÉAULT _is -speaking_) in fine, this is what _he_ should teach to the youth who -have been under the guidance of Revel, he—whoever he may be—who will -be chosen to carry on the work; and not only (asking the pardon of our -illustrious colleague) upon the insufficient authority vested in those -who have “acquired the right,” or erudition, or age—ought he to base -his claim, but upon the irresistible power of a mind imbued with the -spirit of youth and of a fiery ardor which is not to be extinguished! - -VOICES. Bravo!—Charming!—Exquisite!—Delicious! - - (_Everyone rises. Confused murmurs of conversation. The ladies - surround_ BELLAC.) - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) That for you, Saint-Réault! - -PAUL. (_Aside_) Candidate number two! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Ah, Monsieur Bellac! - -SUZANNE. Dear Professor! - -BARONESS. A veritable banquet of the soul! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Beautiful! - -BELLAC. Oh, ladies, I have but given words to your ideas. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Flatterer! Charmer! - -BELLAC. Are we reconciled yet, Marquise? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. How can one be angry with you? (_Introducing the_ -BARONESS) Madame la baronne de Boines—another conquest! She is at your -feet already! - -BARONESS. You made me weep, Monsieur. - -BELLAC. Oh, Madame la baronne! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. Isn’t it superb! - -BARONESS. Superb! - -SUZANNE. And how warm he is! (BELLAC _looks for his handkerchief_) You -haven’t one? Here! (_She gives him her handkerchief_) - -BELLAC. Oh, Mademoiselle! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Suzanne! The idea! - -SUZANNE. (_To_ BELLAC, _as he returns her handkerchief_) Oh, keep it, -I’m going to get you a drink. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Going toward the table before which_ SAINT-RÉAULT -_spoke, upon which is a tray and glasses of sugar-and-water_) Here, -drink! - -ROGER. (_Aside to the_ DUCHESS) Look, Aunt! - -DUCHESS. She’s too brazen about it to be in earnest. - -BELLAC. (_Aside to_ LUCY) And are you convinced? - -LUCY. Oh, for my part, the concept of love—No, I’ll tell you later! - -BELLAC. In a little while? - -LUCY. Yes—would you like a glass of water? (_She goes up-stage_) - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Arriving with a glass of water_) No! Let me! The -god must pardon me: I can offer you only water, as the secret of -Nectar-making is lost! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. (_Arriving with a glass of water_) A glass of water, -Monsieur Bellac? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. No, no—take mine! Mine! - -MME. ARRIÉGO. No, mine! - -BELLAC. (_Embarrassed_) Well, I—— - -LUCY. (_Handing him a glass of water_) Here! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Oh, he’ll choose Lucy, I know!—I’m so jealous!—No, -mine! mine! - -SUZANNE. (_Arriving with another glass of water and forcing it upon_ -BELLAC) No, no, he’ll take mine! Ha, ha! the fourth thief! - -LUCY. But, Mademoiselle—! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. (_Aside_) That little girl has impudence! - -ROGER. (_To the_ DUCHESS, _indicating_ SUZANNE) Aunt! - -DUCHESS. What’s the matter with her? - -ROGER. It’s just since Bellac has come! - - (_The doors are opened and the large drawing-room is seen, lighted._) - -DUCHESS. At last! (_To_ MADAME DE CÉRAN) Take away your company—now is -your chance! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Come, ladies, our tragedy is about to be read! In -the large drawing-room! After the reading we shall take tea in the -conservatory. - -LUCY, BELLAC _and_ SUZANNE. (_Aside_) In the conservatory! - -ROGER. (_Aside to the_ DUCHESS) Did you notice Suzanne? She started! - -DUCHESS. And so did Bellac! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Come, ladies, the Muse is calling us. - - (_The guests pass slowly into the large drawing-room._) - -GENERAL. (_To_ PAUL) What is that, my dear Sub-prefect—three years! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Come, General! - -GENERAL. (_Still talking with_ PAUL) Ah, yes, Countess, the -tragedy!—You are right, one must encourage Art!—Five acts! Oh! - -JEANNE. (_To_ PAUL) It’s settled then, about—later? - -PAUL. Yes, yes, it’s settled. - -GENERAL. (_Returning to_ PAUL) Three years, you say, as Sub-prefect in -the same place? And they say the government isn’t conservative! - -PAUL. That’s pretty good, Senator; excellent! - -GENERAL. Oh! - -TOULONNIER. (_To_ MADAME DE LOUDAN) That’s understood, Marquise! (_To_ -MADAME ARRIÉGO) At your service, my dear madame! - -BELLAC. (_To_ TOULONNIER) Well, General Secretary, may I hope——? - -TOULONNIER. (_Giving him his hand_) It is merely what is due you; you -may count on us! (_He goes off_) - -GENERAL. (_As he comes down to_ PAUL) And what is the spirit of your -_Department_,[3] my dear Sub-prefect? By Jove, you ought to know it, -after three years! - -[3] Modern France is divided into ninety-seven “Departments” which -roughly correspond to the states in the United States. - -PAUL. Well, General, its spirit—why, it—the—its spirit—it hasn’t any!! -(_They go out at the back. As_ SUZANNE _passes the piano she runs her -hand across the keys, making a terrible noise_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Severely to_ SUZANNE) But, Su-zanne! What——! - -SUZANNE. (_As if astonished_) What is it, cousin? - -DUCHESS. (_Stopping her and looking into her face_) What is the matter -with you? - -SUZANNE. (_With a nervous smile_) Me? Oh, I am just amusing myself! - -DUCHESS. What is the matter? - -SUZANNE. Nothing, Aunt, I tell you I am just amusing myself! - -DUCHESS. What is the matter with you? - -SUZANNE. (_Stifling a sob_) Oh, I feel so badly! (_She goes into the -large dining-room and slams the door violently after her_) - -DUCHESS. She’s in love, or I’m no judge—and I _am_ a judge! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To the_ DUCHESS) But what is the matter? (_To_ ROGER) -Why aren’t you at work on your report? What has happened? Please?! - -ROGER. You were right all the while! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Suzanne——? - -ROGER. Suzanne—and that man!! - -DUCHESS. Stop! You’re going to say something foolish! - -ROGER. But I—— - -DUCHESS. (_To_ MADAME DE CÉRAN) We discovered a letter in her -possession. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. From Bellac? - -DUCHESS. I haven’t the slightest idea. - -ROGER. What? - -DUCHESS. Disguised handwriting—unsigned—not the slightest idea! - -ROGER. Oh, you must have! He’s not running any risks.—I say—— - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER) Keep still! (_To_ MADAME DE CÉRAN) Listen to -this: “I shall arrive Thursday——” - -ROGER. To-day!—Therefore either he or I wrote that letter! - -DUCHESS. Will you be still? “This evening at ten, in the Conservatory.” - -ROGER. “Say you have a headache.” - -DUCHESS. Oh, yes, I forgot: “Say you have a headache.” - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Why, it is a rendezvous! - -DUCHESS. There’s no doubt about it. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. With _her_! - -DUCHESS. I don’t know about that! - -ROGER. But I think—— - -DUCHESS. You think! You think!—When it comes to accusing a woman,—it’s -not enough to “think,” you must _see_, and when you have seen, and seen -and seen again—then, well then, it’s not true anyway! (_Aside_) It’s -good to say these things to the young! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. A rendezvous, what did I tell you?! Well, well, what -more could be expected of her, after all? And in my house! Like a girl -of the streets! Now, Duchess, what are you going to do, tell me that? -I asked them to begin in there without me, but I can’t wait here all -evening! I hear the poet; they’ve begun. Please, what are you going to -do? - -DUCHESS. Do? Stay here.—Quarter to ten; if she keeps the appointment -she must come through here, and then I’ll see him. - -ROGER. But if she goes, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. If she goes, my dear nephew? Well! I shall go too! And without -saying a word, I’ll see where they go. And when I see how matters -stand, then and then only, will it be time to act. - -ROGER. (_Sitting down_) I’ll wait. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. It’s useless for you to wait, my dear, we are here. You -have your _Tumuli_, run along! (_She urges him to the door_) - -ROGER. Please, mother! It’s a matter that—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. It concerns your position. Go now, run away! - -ROGER. (_Resisting_.) I should be very sorry to disobey you, but—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Now, Roger! - -ROGER. Please, mother!—I couldn’t write a line this evening, I am too—I -don’t know what—I am very disturbed. My conscience tells me that I have -not acted toward that young girl as I ought. I’m very—Think of it, -Mother—Suzanne!—It would be awful—! I am in a fearful position. - -DUCHESS. Surely you exaggerate! - -ROGER. (_Flaring up_) Really! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Roger! Roger! What do you mean! - -ROGER. I am her tutor; it is my duty to look after her moral -welfare!—Think of my responsibility; that child’s honor is in my hands! -It is a sacred charge placed in my keeping; if I violate my trust -I should be worse than a criminal. And then you talk to me about -_Tumuli! Tumuli! Tumuli!_ The devil take the _Tumuli_! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Terrified_) Oh! - -DUCHESS. Well, well! - -ROGER. And I say, if this is true, if that cad has dared take advantage -of our hospitality and her innocence, I’m going straight to him and -demand a public apology, do you hear? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. My son! - -ROGER. Before everyone! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. This is madness!—Duchess, forgive him, he’s—— - -DUCHESS. Oho! I like to see him like that, you know! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Roger! - -ROGER. No, mother, this is my affair. I’ll wait here. (_He sits down_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Very well, then, I’ll wait, too. - -ROGER. You? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Yes, and I’ll talk to him. - -DUCHESS. But be careful! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, I’ll be careful enough; but if she persists, I shall -give her my opinion on the subject! I’ll wait. (_She sits down_) - -DUCHESS. Not long! Five minutes to ten! If she is going to have her -headache, it is due about now. (_The door at the back swings open -slowly_) Shhh—— - -ROGER. There she is! - - (_As the door opens, the voice of the poet is heard declaiming._) - - POET. (_Outside_) “Then let me cleanse the earth of this vile brood! - Death’s portal shall not check my vengeance, nor - Shall I retreat before the yawning grave——” - - (JEANNE _appears; closes the door_.) - -DUCHESS. The Sub-prefect’s wife! - -JEANNE. (_Astonished at seeing them_) Oh! - -DUCHESS. Come in, don’t be afraid. It would seem that you have had -enough? - -JEANNE. Oh, no, Duchess, but you see, I—— - -DUCHESS. You don’t care for tragedy? - -JEANNE. Oh, yes, I do! - -DUCHESS. Oh, you needn’t say so to be polite; there are seventeen -others who feel as you do! (_Aside_) What can she be up to?—It wasn’t -interesting, was it? - -JEANNE. Quite the contrary! - -DUCHESS. “Quite the contrary,” as you say to the person who asks you -whether it hurt when he stepped on your foot? - -JEANNE. Oh, not at all! There were some very interesting things—there -was one beautiful line. - -DUCHESS. A whole line? - -JEANNE. And the applause was great. (_Aside_) What shall I do? - -DUCHESS. Ha! Ha! What was the beautiful line? - -JEANNE. “Honor is like a god, a god which—” I’m afraid I misquote it, -and spoil the effect. - -DUCHESS. Keep it, my child, keep it! And now you’re running away like -this in spite of the beautiful line? - -JEANNE. I very much regret having to leave. (_Aside_) What shall I say? -(_Brightening_) Oh!—it was either that I was so uncomfortable where I -was sitting, or because it was so warm—I don’t feel very well! - -DUCHESS. Ah! - -JEANNE. My eyes are—I can’t see straight—I have a headache—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN, DUCHESS, ROGER. (_Rising_) A headache?! - -JEANNE. (_Alarmed—aside_) What’s the matter with them? - -DUCHESS. (_After a short pause_) That’s not surprising: there is an -epidemic of headaches. - -JEANNE. You have one too? - -DUCHESS. I? No! One doesn’t have them at my age! You must do something -for it, my child. - -JEANNE. I’m going to take a little walk. You’ll excuse me, won’t you? - -DUCHESS. Of course; by all means! - -JEANNE. (_Holding her head between her hands, and going toward the -door_) Oh, how it aches! Ah! (_Aside_) Paul will find an excuse to get -away! (_She goes out through the door leading to the garden_) - -DUCHESS. (_To_ ROGER) Do you think so? Do you think so? - -ROGER. Oh, Aunt, it’s only a coincidence! - -DUCHESS. Possibly; you know how easily one may be mistaken, and one -must never—(_The door of the drawing-room opens_) Ahh, _this_ time! - -VOICE OF THE POET. (_Heard through the partially opened door as before_) - - “And though there were a hundred, nay a thousand——” - -DUCHESS. Euripides is still at it! - -VOICE OF THE POET. - - “Unarmed, unaided, would I brave their threats, - And make the cowards own their cowardice!” - - (LUCY _appears_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN _and_ ROGER. Lucy! - - (LUCY _goes to the door leading into the garden_.) - -DUCHESS. What, Lucy! Why did you leave the reading? - -LUCY. (_Stopping_) I beg your pardon; I didn’t see you! - -DUCHESS. And yet they say there was a beautiful line: - - “Honor is like a god——” - -LUCY. (_Starting to go_) “Like a god which——” - -DUCHESS. Yes, that’s the one. (_The clock strikes ten._ LUCY _is now at -the door_) And in spite of that, you are determined to go? - -LUCY. Yes, I want a breath of fresh air: I have a headache. (_She goes -out_) - -DUCHESS, ROGER, _and_ MME. DE CÈRAN. (_Sitting down_) Oh! - -DUCHESS. Well, well! This is getting interesting! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Another coincidence! - -DUCHESS. Another? No, not this time! Don’t you think so? Then all of -them are—! Except Suzanne’s case! Come, now, there’s something in the -air. She will not come! I’m willing to wager she won’t come. (_The -drawing-room door opens suddenly, and through it is heard a voice in -the throes of tragic agony_) There she is! - - (_Enter_ SUZANNE _hastily, as though looking for someone_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Rising_) You are leaving the reading, Mademoiselle! - -SUZANNE. (_Impatiently_) Yes, cousin! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Stay here! - -SUZANNE. But, cousin—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Stay! Sit down! - -SUZANNE. (_Dropping on to a piano-stool, and abruptly turning to each -person who addresses her_) Well? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. And why, may I ask, did you leave the reading? - -SUZANNE. Why should I let myself be bored by that old gentleman? - -ROGER. Is that the true reason? - -SUZANNE. I went out because Lucy went out, if you must know! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Miss Watson, Mademoiselle? - -SUZANNE. Yes, indeed: Miss Watson, the pink of perfection, the _rara -avis_—she may do as she likes, but I——! - -ROGER. You, Suzanne? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Let me speak to her! But you Mademoiselle, run about the -streets alone! - -SUZANNE. The way Lucy does! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. And you dress most outrageously. - -SUZANNE. The way Lucy does! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You monopolise M. Bellac and talk to him affectedly—— - -SUZANNE. The way Lucy does! I suppose she doesn’t speak to him, does -she? And to Monsieur, too! (_Indicating_ ROGER) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, but in private! You understand me perfectly. - -SUZANNE. Let’s not talk about “in private!” When anyone has a secret, -he _writes_ it—(_Aside to_ ROGER _between her teeth_) in a disguised -hand! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. What? - -ROGER. (_Aside_) Aunt! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) Shh! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Well? - -SUZANNE. Well, Lucy speaks to whomever she likes; Lucy goes out -whenever she wants to; Lucy dresses just as she likes. I want to do -just like Lucy, because every one loves her! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. And do you know why everyone loves her, Mademoiselle? -Because, in spite of her plainness—a necessary consequence of her -nationality—she is serious, dignified and cultured— - -SUZANNE. (_Rising_) And what about me? Haven’t I been all that? For -the last six months up to this very evening at five o’clock, I worked -hard without resting, and I studied as much as she did; and I learned -as much as she did: “objective” and “subjective” and all that! And -what good did it all do me? Does anyone love me better for it? Doesn’t -everyone always treat me just as if I were a little girl? Everyone!! -Everyone!! (_Looking sidewise at_ ROGER) Who pays any attention to me? -Suzanne, Suzanne!! What does Suzanne count for! And all because I’m not -an old English woman! - -ROGER. Suzanne! - -SUZANNE. Yes, defend her! Oh, I know what to do in order to please -you! Here! (_Taking the_ DUCHESS’S _lorgnette and putting it up to her -eyes and looking through it_) How esthetic! Schopenhauer! The Ego, the -non-Ego! Et Cetera, nyah! nyah! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. We can dispense with your impertinence, Mademoiselle! - -SUZANNE. (_Bowing ceremoniously_) Thank you, cousin! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Yes, impertinence! and your absurd pranks—— - -SUZANNE. Well, what can you expect from a “street gamin” like me! No -wonder I don’t behave any better! (_A little excited_) Of course I -misbehave! I do it on purpose and I’ll continue to do it! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Not under my roof! - -SUZANNE. I did go out with Monsieur Bellac, and I spoke with Monsieur -Bellac, and I have a secret with Monsieur Bellac! - -ROGER. You dare——! - -SUZANNE. And he knows more than you do! And he’s more of a man than you -are! And I like him better than you! I love him! I love him! I love him! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I sincerely hope that you do not realize the gravity of -what you are saying! - -SUZANNE. I _do_ realize it! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Then listen to me! Before you commit any more of the -follies you are threatening us with, think the matter over! You, -least of all, Mademoiselle de Villiers, can afford to have a scandal -connected with _your_ name! - -DUCHESS. Take care, take care! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Well, Duchess, she ought to know, at least—— - -SUZANNE. (_Holding back her tears_) I do know! - -DUCHESS. You know? What? - -SUZANNE. (_Throwing herself into the_ DUCHESS’S _arms and crying_) -Aunt! Aunt! - -DUCHESS. There, there, Suzanne, my child! (_To_ MME. DE CÉRAN) That was -considerate of you—to start that here! (_To_ SUZANNE) There, there, -what is it you know? (_She takes_ SUZANNE _on her knees_) - -SUZANNE. (_Weeping and talking at the same time_) W-what? I—I don’t -know! But I do know there is something against me—and there has been -for a long time! - -DUCHESS. Why, what makes you think——? - -SUZANNE. Nobody, everybody. People look at you and whisper and stop -talking when you come into the room and kiss you, and call you poor -little thing!—If you think children don’t notice those things! - -DUCHESS. (_Wiping her eyes_) Now, dear, dear! - -SUZANNE. And it was just the same at the convent! I knew I wasn’t -like the other girls. Oh, I could see that. They always talked to me -about my father and my mother, and why? Because I didn’t have any! -And once, during recess, I was playing with a girl!—I don’t remember -what I’d done to her—She was furious—and all of a sudden she called me -“Miss Foundling!” She didn’t know what it meant, neither did I! Her -mother had used the word in speaking about me. She told me afterward, -after we had made up.—Oh, I was so unhappy! (_Sobbing_) We looked the -word up in the dictionary, but we didn’t find anything—or we didn’t -understand—(_Angrily_) What did they mean? What have I done that makes -me any different from anybody else? That everything I do is bad? Is it -my fault? - -DUCHESS. (_Kissing her_) No, my child, no my dear! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I am sorry—— - -SUZANNE. (_Sobbing_) Well, then, why does everybody blame me if it -isn’t my fault? Here I seem to be in the way! I know I don’t want to -stay any longer. I am going! Nobody loves me! - -ROGER. (_Deeply moved_) Why do you say that, Suzanne? It’s not so. -Everybody here—I—— - -SUZANNE. (_Angrily as she rises_) You! - -ROGER. Yes, I? And I swear—— - -SUZANNE. You!—Go away from me! I hate you and I never want to see you -again! Never! Do you hear! (_She goes toward the door leading into the -garden_) - -ROGER. Suzanne! Suzanne! Where are you going? - -SUZANNE. I’m going for a walk! For that matter, I am going where I -please! - -ROGER. But why now? Why are you going out? - -SUZANNE. Why? (_She comes down to him_) Why?? (_Looking him in the -eye_) Why? I have a headache! (_All rise_. SUZANNE _goes out_) - -ROGER. (_Agitated_) Well, Aunt, it’s clear now, isn’t it? - -DUCHESS. Less and less! - -ROGER. I shall see him at once! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. What are you going to do? - -ROGER. Merely to do as my aunt has suggested: get to the bottom of the -affair. And I swear if that man—that if it’s true—if he has dared—! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. If he has I shall show him to the door! - -DUCHESS. If he has, I’ll see that he marries her! (_Following_ SUZANNE) -Only, if it isn’t true—well, we’ll see! Come! (_She tries to make_ -MME. DE CÉRAN _go out. Loud applause is heard from the adjoining room; -indistinct murmurs of conversation and moving of chairs_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Well! - -DUCHESS. What’s that I hear? Another beautiful line? No, it’s the end -of the act. Quick, before they come in!! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But my guests? - -DUCHESS. They’ll go to sleep again without your help! Come, come! - - (_They go out. The door at the back opens. Through it are seen guests - in groups, with_ DES MILLETS _in the centre of one_.) - -LADIES. Beautiful!—Great Art!—Very noble! - -PAUL. (_On the threshold of the door_) That act is charming! Don’t you -think so, General? - -GENERAL. (_Yawning cavernously_) Charming! Four to come! - - (PAUL _skilfully maneuvers so that he reaches the door leading to the - garden and disappears through it_.) - - - _Curtain._ - - - - - ACT III - - - SCENE: _A large conservatory lighted by gas. A tiny fountain playing - in the center of a basin; furniture, chairs, clumps of shrubbery; - large plants behind which one might easily slip and hide._ - - (_The_ DUCHESS _and_ MME. DE CÉRAN _enter, right. They look about - stealthily and consult together in low tones._) - -DUCHESS. No one? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. No one. - -DUCHESS. Good! (_She walks toward the center of the stage, then -pauses_) Three headaches! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. It’s atrocious that I should be forced to leave the poet -to—— - -DUCHESS. Oh, well, your poet is reading his poetry! A poet who can read -his poems is happy enough! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But Roger’s conduct has disturbed me! I have never seen -him act that way. What are you doing there, Aunt? - -DUCHESS. I’m stopping the water so that I can hear better, my dear. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Why? - -DUCHESS. So that I can hear better, my dear! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. He is in the garden somewhere—following her, watching -for her. What will happen?—Oh, the poor little thing!—Why, Duchess! You -are putting out the gas! - -DUCHESS. No, I’m only turning it down. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Why? - -DUCHESS. So that I can see better, my dear! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. So—? - -DUCHESS. Heavens, the less we are seen the more we’ll see. Three -headaches,—and only one rendezvous! Aren’t you beginning to see, my -dear? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But what I can’t understand is that Monsieur Bellac—— - -DUCHESS. And what I can’t understand is that Suzanne—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, she! - -DUCHESS. She? Well, you’ll see! They may come now as soon as they wish: -everything’s ready. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. If Roger finds them here together, he might—— - -DUCHESS. Bah! Wait till you see! Wait until you _see_! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But—— - -DUCHESS. Shh! Didn’t you hear something? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Yes! - -DUCHESS. (_Pushing_ MADAME DE CÉRAN _toward the plant at the right, -down-stage_) Just in time!—Come! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. What, you are going to listen? - -DUCHESS. (_Hidden_) I should think so! There is nothing else to be done -but to listen! There! In that corner we’ll be snug as weasels. If it -becomes necessary, we can come out, rest assured of that! Has somebody -come in? - - (JEANNE _enters quietly_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Looking through the branches which hide her_) Yes! - -DUCHESS. Which of the two? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. _It is she!_ - -DUCHESS. Suzanne? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. No! She’s not in _décolletée_. It’s someone else! - -DUCHESS. Someone else? Who? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. I can’t distinguish! - -JEANNE. But come on, Paul! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The little Sub-prefect’s wife! - -DUCHESS. Again! - - (PAUL _enters, right, at the back_.) - -JEANNE. What on earth are you doing to that door? - -PAUL. (_Still in the corner, busied with something_) Necessity is the -mother of invention!—I’m just inventing a little necessity. - -JEANNE. What? - -PAUL. That! - -JEANNE. Eh? (_Nervously_) - -PAUL. (_Coming in_) A great success! - -JEANNE. What do you mean? - -PAUL. That! A little burglar alarm I’ve just installed. Yes, a piece -of wood in the door-hinge. By this means, if anyone should come—oh, -not any one in love,—that would be hardly likely in this place!—but -someone who was trying to take refuge here and avoid the tragedy—there -wouldn’t be any danger. He gives the door a push, there is a squeak and -we—whht!—by the other door, eh? Isn’t that a clever invention? I tell -you, we statesmen—! And now, Madame, since we are at last sheltered -from the eyes of the world, I shed the responsibilities of the public -man; the private citizen reappears, and is ready for the flight of -sentiment too long concealed; I now permit you to call me Paul! - -JEANNE. Oh, what bliss! You are too good, P A U L! - -PAUL. I am good because I am at peace; but, kissing me in the -corridors, you know—the way you did when you came to unpack my trunk, -that—— - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) So it was they! - -PAUL. And in the garden, this evening, too—— - -DUCHESS. Again! - -PAUL. Never again, please! It’s entirely too imprudent for this -house!—And what a place! Didn’t I tell you? It’s a shame that in order -to become a Prefect one has to yawn himself to death in this palace of -boredom! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Eh? - -DUCHESS. (_To_ _Madame de Céran_) Listen to that! Listen to that! - -JEANNE. (_Drawing_ PAUL _down beside her_) Come, dear! - -PAUL. (_Sits down, then gets up and walks about, agitated_) What a -house! And the hosts, and the guests, and everybody else! And Madame -Arriégo! And that poet! And the Marquise! And that English iceberg! And -Roger the wooden man! The Duchess is the only one with any common-sense! - -DUCHESS. That for me! - -PAUL. (_With conviction_) But the rest, oh, my, oh, my! - -DUCHESS. And that for you! - -JEANNE. Oh, come, dear, sit by me! - -PAUL. (_Seating himself, and rising again as before_) And the lectures -and the Literature! And Revel’s candidacy! Clever old fox who keeps -dying every evening and coming back to life every morning! (_He starts -to sit down, then he pauses_) And Saint-Réault! Ah! Saint-Réault! And -the _Ramas-Ravanas_ and all the clap-trap about Buddha! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Indignantly_) Oh! - -DUCHESS. (_Laughing to herself_) Oh, he’s so funny! - -PAUL. And the other one, he’s a wonder! Bellac of the many conquests, -with his Platonic love!! - -JEANNE. (_Dropping her eyes_) He’s silly! - -PAUL. (_Sitting_) Don’t you think so? And that tragedy! Oh, that -tragedy! - -JEANNE. But, Paul, what is it? - -PAUL. And old Phillippe-Auguste with his beautiful verse! Why, -everybody has written verse! That’s no reason why he should read it! -I’ve done it myself! - -JEANNE. You, dear? - -PAUL. Yes, I! When I was a poor student I even used to sell it! - -JEANNE. To a publisher? - -PAUL. No, to a dentist! “Fill-iad, Or the Art of Filling Teeth.”—Poem -in three hundred lines!—Thirty Francs—Listen! - -JEANNE. Oh, no! - - PAUL. “O Muse, be there an ill, to man the greatest curse, - Which Heaven in its wrath spreads o’er the universe, - And sorely, you’ll admit, O Muse, good taste offends, - It is that one which oftentimes upon the teeth descends!— - -JEANNE. Oh, Paul! - - PAUL. “Ah, to tear out that tooth, my cup of joy were full! - Nay, friend, it can be cured, stop! do not let them pull! - Oh, never pull a tooth, e’en when it rots—you’ll rue it! - Let it be filled; but choose a clever man to do it! - Protect that little tooth, bi-cuspéd or incisor, - ’Twill sweeten every meal—’twill make your smile seem nicer!” - -DUCHESS. (_Laughing_) Isn’t he amusing! - -JEANNE. What nonsense you talk! Who would ever believe it to see you -in the drawing-room! (_Imitating him_) Ah, yes, Monsieur le sénateur, -the tide of democracy—the treaties of 1815—Oh! Oh! OH! - -PAUL. And you, dear! You certainly have made an impression on the -hostess! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Hmmm? - -PAUL. My compliments! - -JEANNE. But, dearie, I only did what you suggested! - -PAUL. (_Imitating her_) “I only did what you suggested!”—Ah, little -Miss Saintliness with her little voice! Oh, you filled the Countess -full—of Joubert and Latin and Tocqueville—your own manufacture, too! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. What, her own manufacture? - -DUCHESS. She is lovely! I like her all the more! - -JEANNE. Well, I don’t feel any remorse—A woman who puts us in separate -rooms! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Rising_) And suppose I tell her to leave! - -DUCHESS. Be still! - -JEANNE. And it’s just horrid of her! Yes, she does it on purpose! A -woman knows very well that new-married people always—have things to say -to each other. - -PAUL. (_Tenderly_) Yes, always! - -JEANNE. Always? Really?—Always like this? - -PAUL. What a sweet voice you have! I heard it a little while -ago—talking about the treaties of 1815! Soft, sweet, all-enveloping. -Ah, the voice is the music of the heart—as Monsieur de Tocqueville says! - -JEANNE. Oh, Paul! I don’t like you to laugh at such serious things! - -PAUL. Oh, let me be a little nonsensical, please, dear! I’m so happy -here! By Jove, just now I don’t care a rap whether I’m Prefect of -Carcassonne or not! - -JEANNE. It’s always “just now” with me, Monsieur! That’s the difference! - -PAUL. Dear little wife! (_He kisses her hands_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But such impropriety, I nev— - -DUCHESS. I can’t say that I object to that! - -PAUL. I have a lot of back accounts to settle before I even begin to -collect for the present! When can we get away? Dear little girl, you -don’t know how I adore you! - -JEANNE. Yes, I know—I can judge for myself! - -PAUL. My Jeanne! - -JEANNE. Oh, Paul, say it like that always! Always! - -PAUL. Always! (_Close to her, and very tenderly_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But, Duchess!! - -DUCHESS. Oh! They’re married, aren’t they! - - (_The door squeaks_; PAUL _and_ JEANNE _spring up, startled_.) - -JEANNE _and_ PAUL. Eh? - -JEANNE. Somebody’s coming! - -PAUL. We must flee—as they say in the tragedy! - -JEANNE. Quick! Quick! - -PAUL. You see? My little invention! - -JEANNE. So soon! What luck! (_They go out, right_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Going left_) Well, it is a fortunate thing that they -were interrupted. - -DUCHESS. (_Following her_) I’m sorry they went—but the funny part is -over now! - - (BELLAC _enters right, at the back_; MADAME DE CÉRAN _and the_ DUCHESS - _hide themselves, left_.) - -BELLAC. What a noise that door makes! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To the_ DUCHESS, _as before_) Bellac! - -DUCHESS. Bellac! - -BELLAC. One can’t see very well here! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. You see, it’s true!—Everything is true! - -DUCHESS. Everything? No!—Only a little bit. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The rest is far away. - -DUCHESS. In any case, it’s only a lark, a schoolgirl’s frolic! It can’t -be that—(_The door squeaks_) There she is! Oh, my, how my heart beats! -In cases like this, it’s better to be sure; one can never tell. Can you -see her? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Peering out_) Yes, it’s she; Roger will be here in -a moment, on the lookout for them. Hadn’t we better show ourselves, -Duchess? - -DUCHESS. No, no. I want to see where they stand. I want to catch them -red-handed. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Still looking_) I’m dying of -suspense—_Décolletée_—It’s certainly she. - -DUCHESS. Oh, the little coquette! Let me see! (_She looks through the -leaves_) What’s that? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. What? - -DUCHESS. Look! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Lucy! - -DUCHESS. Lucy! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. What does that mean? - -DUCHESS. I don’t know, but I like that better! - - (PAUL _and_ JEANNE _re-enter, and_ BELLAC _and_ LUCY _conceal - themselves, right_. JEANNE _is behind_ PAUL, _holding him back_.) - -JEANNE. (_To_ PAUL) No, no, Paul, no! - -PAUL. Yes, yes! Let me go a second! I want to see! Nobody could be here -but lovers, at this hour;—and yet, in this house! No, that would be too -much! - -JEANNE. Take care! - -PAUL. Shhh! - -LUCY. Are you there, Monsieur Bellac? - -PAUL. The English girl! - -BELLAC. Yes, Mademoiselle! - -PAUL. And the Professor—the English girl and the Professor! It’s -impossible! Scandal! Would you believe it! An intrigue—a rendezvous! -We’ll stay right here and see what happens! - -JEANNE. What? - -PAUL. After this, you don’t mean to say you want to go? - -JEANNE. Oh, no! (_They hide themselves behind the plants, at the back, -left_) - -LUCY. Are you on this side? - -BELLAC. Here!—I beg your pardon! The conservatory is usually better -lighted—I don’t know why, this evening—(_He walks toward her_) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Aside to the_ DUCHESS) Lucy!—But what about Suzanne? -I’m sure I can’t make it out! - -DUCHESS. Wait a while; we’ll soon see. - -LUCY. But, M. Bellac, what do you mean by this? And your letter this -morning? Why did you write me? - -BELLAC. Because I wanted to talk with you, my dear Miss Lucy. Is this -the first time we have left the others and talked, and exchanged ideas? - -PAUL. (_Struggling to control his laughter_) Oh, exchange ideas! I -never heard it called that before! - -BELLAC. Surrounded as I am here, what other means had I of speaking -with you, alone? - -LUCY. What other means? You might simply offer me your arm and leave -the room with me. I’m no French girl! - -BELLAC. But you are in France. - -LUCY. I may be in France, but I still do as I please. I have no use -for secrets, much less such mysteries as this! You disguise your -handwriting, you did not sign your name, you even wrote on pink -paper—how French you are! - -PAUL. (_Aside to_ JEANNE) He’s a born villain! - -BELLAC. How wonderful you are, austere Muse of Knowledge, superb -Polymnia, proud nymph of the cold Pierian Spring—please sit down! - -LUCY. No, no! Now see what all your precautions have come to; I have -lost that letter! - -DUCHESS. (_Rather loudly_) I see! - - (LUCY _starts_.) - -BELLAC. What is it? - -LUCY. Didn’t you hear——? - -BELLAC. No.—You say you lost——? - -LUCY. What do you suppose the finder of that letter will think? - -DUCHESS. (_Aside to_ MME. DE CÉRAN) Now do you understand? - -LUCY. Of course; there was no envelope or address—— - -BELLAC. Nor my handwriting, nor my signature. You see I wasn’t so -stupid after all! In any case, my intentions were good, my dear Miss -Lucy. Forgive your Professor, your friend, and—and—Sit down, please! - -LUCY. No! Tell me what you have to tell me with so much secrecy, and -we’ll return to the drawing-room! - -BELLAC. (_Detaining her_) Wait! Why didn’t you come to my lecture this -afternoon? - -LUCY. Simply because I spent my time looking for that letter. What have -you to say to me now? - -BELLAC. Are you very anxious to leave me? (_He gives her a packet of -papers tied with a red ribbon_) There! - -LUCY. The proofs! - -BELLAC. (_Agitated_) Of my book! - -LUCY. (_Also moved_) Of your—? Oh, M. Bellac! - -BELLAC. It was my wish to have you see it before anyone else! You only! - -LUCY. (_Taking his hand—effusively_) Oh, my dear friend! My dear friend! - -PAUL. (_As before_) Oh, my, what a gift of love! - - (BELLAC _moves a little to the left_.) - -LUCY. What is it? - -BELLAC. Nothing—nothing.—I thought—Read this book in which I have put -my inmost thoughts, and you will find that we are in perfect accord, I -am sure—except upon one point—Oh, that question——! - -LUCY. Which? - -BELLAC. (_Tenderly_) Is it possible that you really do not believe in -Platonic love? - -LUCY. I? Not in the least! - -BELLAC. (_Graciously_) Very well, but what of our relations? - -LUCY. (_Simply_) Our relations? Friendship! - -BELLAC. (_Playing with the idea_) I beg your pardon! More than -friendship, better than love! - -LUCY. Well, if it’s more than the one and better than the other, then -it’s neither! And now, thank you once more; thank you a thousand times! -But let us go back, shan’t we? (_She starts to go_) - -BELLAC. (_Detaining her_) Wait a moment! - -LUCY. No, no, let us go back! - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) She won’t take the bait! - -BELLAC. (_Always holding her back_) Please wait, I beg you!—Two words! -Two words! Explain to me, tell me—it’s worth the trouble! Come, Lucy! - -LUCY. Come, Bellac! (_Becoming animated, as she passes to the right_) -But see, my friend, listen, M. Bellac—your Platonic love has absolutely -no philosophical basis—— - -BELLAC. Pardon me, that love is a kind of friendship—— - -LUCY. If it’s friendship it is no longer love. - -BELLAC. But it’s a double concept! - -LUCY. If it’s double, it cannot be a unit! - -BELLAC. But there is a fusion! (_He seats himself_) - -LUCY. If it is a fusion, it has no longer an individuality. I’ll -explain my meaning! (_She seats herself_) - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) She’s swallowed the hook! - -LUCY. I deny that any fusion is possible between love, which is based -upon indivisibility, and friendship, which is largely composed of -sympathy; that is to say, that in which the Ego becomes, in a way, the -Non-Ego. I deny absolutely, absolutely——! - -DUCHESS. (_To_ MME. DE CÉRAN) I have often heard people talk about -love, but never that way! - -BELLAC. But, Lucy—— - -LUCY. But, Bellac—Yes or no, the principal factor—— - -BELLAC. But, Lucy—Here’s an example: suppose two beings, two -abstractions, two entities—any man, any woman,—who love each other, but -with an ordinary physiological love—you follow me? - -LUCY. Perfectly! - -BELLAC. Let us suppose these two in the following circumstances; they -are alone at night, together—what would happen? - -DUCHESS. (_To_ MADAME DE CÉRAN) I don’t know, do you? - -BELLAC. Without fail—now pay close attention—without fail, this -phenomenon will take place. - -JEANNE. (_To_ PAUL) It’s so funny! - -PAUL. Do you think so, Madame? - -BELLAC. Both of them, or more probably, one of them, the man—— - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) The male entity! - -BELLAC. Would approach her whom he believes he loves—(_He approaches -her_) - -LUCY. (_Drawing back a little_) But—— - -BELLAC. (_Gently holding her_) No, no, you’ll see! They gaze fixedly -into each other’s eyes, she feels his breath on her cheek, her hair -brushes against his face—— - -LUCY. But, M. Bellac—— - -BELLAC. And then—and then, their Egoes mingle, independently of the Ego -itself, an uninterrupted series of involuntary acts which, by a natural -succession, progressing slowly and inevitably, hurls them, if I may be -permitted the expression, into the maelstrom which, though foreseen, -cannot be avoided—in which Reason and Soul are powerless! - -LUCY. One moment! This process—— - -BELLAC. Listen, listen! Suppose now another couple and another love: a -psychological, not a physiological love—an exception; you still follow -me? - -LUCY. Yes. - -BELLAC. These two, seated side by side, come nearer to each other—— - -LUCY. (_Drawing away_) But that’s the very same thing. - -BELLAC. (_Bringing her back_) Listen to me; there is the slightest -shade of difference. Let me illustrate: they too gaze into each other’s -eyes and they too—— - -LUCY. Well? (_She rises_) - -BELLAC. (_Making her sit down_) But—but—They are oblivious of physical -beauty: it is their souls which commune. They no longer hear each -other’s voices, but rather the palpitation of their thoughts! And then, -finally, by an entirely different process—though springing from the -same source—they too arrive at that obscure and turbulent state of mind -in which the being is ignorant even of its own existence—a delicious -atrophy of the Will which seems the _summum_ and the _terminus_ of -human happiness; they leave the earth to awaken in a free Heaven, for -_their_ love transports them far above the murky clouds of earthly -passion into the pure Ether of the sublimely Ideal! (_A pause_) - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) They’re going to kiss! - -BELLAC. Lucy!! Dear Lucy, don’t you understand? Say that you understand -me! - -LUCY. (_Troubled_) But—it seems to me that these two concepts—— - -PAUL. Oh, the concepts! That’s too much! - -LUCY. The two concepts are identical. - -BELLAC. (_Passionately_) Identical?! Oh, Lucy, you are cruel! -Identical! You must understand that in this case it is entirely -subjective. - -PAUL. Subjective! Oh, I say! - -BELLAC. (_Growing more excited_) Subjective! Lucy! You must understand -me! - -LUCY. (_Greatly moved_) But, Bellac—subjective! - -JEANNE. (_To_ PAUL) He’ll never kiss her! - -PAUL. Then I’ll kiss you! - -JEANNE. (_Defending herself_) Paul! Paul! - - (_Kisses are heard._) - -BELLAC _and_ LUCY. (_Getting up, frightened_) What——? - -DUCHESS. (_Astonished; rising_) What’s this? Are they kissing? - -LUCY. Someone—someone’s there! - -BELLAC. Come, take my hand! - -LUCY. There’s someone listening! I’m sure! - -BELLAC. Come! - -LUCY. I’m fearfully compromised! (_She goes out at the back, left_) - -BELLAC. (_Following her_) I’ll do all in my power—(_He follows her out_) - -PAUL. (_Who, with_ JEANNE, _comes out from the hiding-place_) Platonic -love! Ha! Ha! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) Raymond! - -JEANNE. The Ego! The process! The _terminus_! Ha! Ha! - -DUCHESS. (_Leaving her hiding-place; aside_) Naughty children! Just -wait! (_Quietly approaching them_) - -PAUL. Oh, he’s a regular Tartufe,[4] with his double-meanings! -(_Imitating_ BELLAC) “My dear Mademoiselle; Love is a double concept”—— - -[4] The principal character in Moliere’s famous comedy, “Tartufe,” a -hypocrite, whose name has become proverbial. - -JEANNE. (_Imitating_ LUCY) “But the principal factor”—— - -PAUL. “But, Lucy”—— - -JEANNE. “But, Bellac”—— - -PAUL. “But there is the slightest shade of a difference—Let me -illustrate”—— - -JEANNE. “But they are identical.” - -PAUL. “Identical! You are cruel! It is entirely subjective.” - -JEANNE. “Oh, Bellac, subjective.” - - (_The_ DUCHESS _imitates the sound of kisses by clapping her hands_.) - -PAUL _and_ JEANNE. (_Rising in alarm_) What——? - -JEANNE. Someone! - -PAUL. Caught! - -JEANNE. Someone has been listening! - -PAUL. (_Trying to take her away_) Come, come! - -JEANNE. (_As they go out_) Perhaps they heard what we said before! - -PAUL. “I’ll do all in my power”—! (_They go out left_) - -DUCHESS. (_Laughing_) Ha! Ha! Those ridiculous children! They’re nice, -but they deserve a lesson! I have to laugh! Oh—Lucy—think of it!—She’s -all right! Ah, well, now do you see how matters stand! Suzanne—the -rendezvous—the letter—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, it was Bellac’s letter to Lucy that Suzanne found! - -DUCHESS. She thought it was Roger’s letter to Lucy; that is why she was -so jealous, so furious! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Jealous? You don’t mean to tell me she loves my son? - -DUCHESS. Do you still want him to marry the other girl? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. The other girl? Certainly not! But never Suzanne, Aunt, -never! - -DUCHESS. We haven’t come to that yet! Meanwhile, go and take care of -your tragic poet, and Revel’s successor! I’ll find your son for you, -and see that he gets back his honor! All’s well that ends well! I’m not -nervous now, after all this ado about nothing! But now it’s over; let’s -go! - - (_They are about to go out, left, when the door at the right opens._) - -DUCHESS _and_ MME. DE CÉRAN. What’s this? - -DUCHESS. Again!? Your Conservatory is thick with them! This is lovely! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Who else can it be? - -DUCHESS. Who? (_Struck with an idea_) Oh! (_To_ MME. DE CÉRAN, _placing -her in a corner, left_) Go back to the drawing-room; I’ll tell you -later. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But, I—— - -DUCHESS. You can’t leave your guests all evening! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Trying to see the newcomers_) Who can it be? - -DUCHESS. (_Still urging her out_) I’ll tell you everything. Quick now, -before—— You can’t—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. That’s so. I’ll come back for the tea. - -DUCHESS. Yes, do that! Quick, quick, now! - - (MME. DE CÉRAN _goes out, left_.) - -DUCHESS. Who can it be? Roger, who is spying on Suzanne, or Suzanne, -who is spying on Roger? (_Looking to the right_) Yes, it’s he, my -Bartolo—(_Looking to the left_) And my little jealous girl, who thinks -Roger is with Lucy, and who would like to see how things are coming -on. That’s it. Headache number three: total quite correct! Oh, if -Fortune doesn’t make something out of this, she is insufferably stupid! -(_Carefully turning down the gas_) We need a little added effect! - - (_Enter_ SUZANNE.) - -SUZANNE. (_Hiding_) I knew very well when he had finished walking -around the garden he would end here in the conservatory; he couldn’t -miss it! - - (ROGER _enters_.) - -ROGER. (_As he hides_) She’s here, I saw her come in! I knew very well -when she had finished walking around the garden she would end here in -the conservatory!—Now I know what to expect! - -DUCHESS. Hide-and-seek! - -SUZANNE. (_Listening_) It seems that—his English lady is late! - -ROGER. (_Listening_) Ahh! Bellac isn’t here yet! - -DUCHESS. They’ll keep this up forever unless I stop it!—Sst! - -ROGER. She’s giving him a signal! Oh, if I only dared, I’d take his -place, since he hasn’t come. That’s the way to find out how they feel -toward one another! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) Come, come!—Sst! - -ROGER. Well, I might as well learn what I can!—Ssst! - -DUCHESS. Well! - -SUZANNE. He thinks I’m Lucy!—Oh, I should like to know what he’d say to -her! - -ROGER. (_In an undertone_) Is it you? - -SUZANNE. (_Softly_) Yes! (_Aside; resolutely_) I’ll do it! - -ROGER. She thinks I’m Bellac! - -DUCHESS. Ahh!—Good! They’re off! (_She disappears behind the plants at -the back, left_) - -ROGER. Did you get my letter? - -SUZANNE. (_Aside—angrily_) Yes, I got your letter! I got it! And you -had no idea that I did, either! (_To_ ROGER; _sweetly_) How else should -I have come to meet you? - -ROGER. (_Aside_) “Meet you”—! This is plain enough!—Oh, the poor -child—Now we’ll see!—(_To_ SUZANNE) I was so afraid you wouldn’t come, -my dear—— - -SUZANNE. (_Aside_) “My dear!” Oh! (_To_ ROGER) And yet you saw me leave -the drawing-room a moment ago, my dear! - -ROGER. (_Aside_) They’re on very familiar terms, aren’t they? There’s -no denying that! I’ve got to know! (_To_ SUZANNE) Why don’t you come -nearer? (_He approaches her_) - -SUZANNE. (_Aside_) Oh, he’ll notice that I’m smaller than <Lucy. (_She -sits down_) This way! - -ROGER. Would you like me to sit beside you? - -SUZANNE. Very much! - -ROGER. (_Aside_) Oh-ho! “Very much!” Strange she does take me for -Bellac! My voice is nothing like his—well, let’s see how this will come -out. (_He sits beside her and, turning his back_) How good of you to -come!—You love me just a little bit dear? - -SUZANNE. (_Turning her back to him_) Oh, yes! - -ROGER. (_Aside; as he rises_) She loves him! Oh, the villain, the -rascal! - -SUZANNE. (_Aside_) What’s the matter with him? - -ROGER. (_Sitting beside her again_) Let me be near you, as I used to -be! (_He takes her hand_) - -SUZANNE. (_Aside, indignantly_) He’s taking her hand! - -ROGER. (_Aside, indignantly_) She lets him take her hand! It’s horrible! - -SUZANNE. Oh! - -ROGER. You’re trembling! - -SUZANNE. Why—— You’re trembling—— - -ROGER. No, it’s you!—Can it be—? (_Aside_) We’ll see! (_To_ SUZANNE) -Are you afraid? - -SUZANNE. (_Aside, indignantly, as she rises_) “You!”[5] - -[5] Roger uses the familiar “tu.” - -ROGER. (_Aside, breathing heavily_) Well, they haven’t got that far -anyway? - - (SUZANNE _comes back, resolutely, and re-seats herself near him in - silence_.) - -ROGER. (_Aside, agitated_) What? More? Well!—(_Aside_) Then you’re not -afraid? - -SUZANNE. Afraid? With you? - -ROGER. (_Aside_) With—! So the cad has gone as far as that! I’ll get -to the bottom of this! It’s my duty! Her moral welfare is in my hands. -(_To_ SUZANNE) Well! In that case, why do you avoid me? (_He draws her -to him_) - -SUZANNE. (_Outraged_) Oh! - -ROGER. Why do you turn from me? (_He puts his arm around her_) - -SUZANNE. Oh!! - -ROGER. Why do you deny me your lips? (_He leans over her_) - -SUZANNE. (_Springing to her feet_) This is too much! - -ROGER. This _is_ too much! - -SUZANNE. Look at me, Suzanne!—Not Lucy, but Suzanne! Do you hear? - -ROGER. And this is Roger! Not Bellac, but Roger, do you hear? - -SUZANNE. Bellac? - -ROGER. My poor child! Then it was true? Oh, Suzanne, Suzanne! How you -have hurt me!—Well, he’s coming—I’ll wait for him! - -SUZANNE. Who? - -ROGER. Don’t you understand, I read the letter! - -SUZANNE. The letter?—I read _your_ letter! - -ROGER. My letter? Bellac’s letter? - -SUZANNE. Bellac’s?—It was from you! - -ROGER. From me? - -SUZANNE. From you! To Lucy! - -ROGER. To Lucy? No! To you! To you! To you! - -SUZANNE. To Lucy! Lucy! Lucy, who lost it! - -ROGER. (_Astonished_) Lost it! - -SUZANNE. I was there when she was asking the servant about it! You -don’t mean to say—? And I found it. - -ROGER. (_Understanding_) You found it? - -SUZANNE. Yes, and I knew everything!—Headache, and rendezvous and all -that. And I wanted to see; so I came and you took me for her—— - -ROGER. I? - -SUZANNE. (_Keeping back her tears_) Yes, you! you!—You took me for her, -you told her you loved her!—Yes, you did!—Then why did you tell me -you didn’t love her? You told me just now—and that you weren’t going -to marry her.—Why did you tell me that? You shouldn’t have done that! -Marry her if you want;—but you shouldn’t have told me. That wasn’t -right—if you loved her—you shouldn’t have—— (_Throwing herself in his -arms_) You shouldn’t have! Oh, don’t marry her! Don’t marry her! - -ROGER. Oh, my dear Suzanne! How happy I am! - -SUZANNE. What? - -ROGER. Then that letter you found wasn’t sent to you? - -SUZANNE. To me? - -ROGER. I didn’t send it—I swear! - -SUZANNE. But I—— - -ROGER. I swear! It was sent to Lucy by Bellac! Now I understand: you -thought—just as I did—— Oh, I see everything now!—Oh, my dear Suzanne, -what an awful fright you gave me! It was fearful! - -SUZANNE. But what about? - -ROGER. What about? Oh—it’s absurd—don’t ask—it was base of me. Forgive -me, I beg you, forgive me! - -SUZANNE. Then you’re not going to marry her? - -ROGER. But I’m telling you——! - -SUZANNE. Then I don’t understand at all. Only tell me you won’t marry -her, and I’ll believe you. - -ROGER. Of course I won’t. What a child you are! Don’t cry, wipe your -eyes, my dear Suzanne, there’s nothing to cry about! - -SUZANNE. I can’t help it! - -ROGER. Why? - -SUZANNE. I have only you in the world! I don’t want you to leave me! - -ROGER. Leave you? - -SUZANNE. (_Sobbing_) You know how jealous I am. You—you can’t -understand that! I saw this evening, when I tried to make you jealous -by talking with M. Bellac, that you didn’t seem to care at all. You -didn’t care anything about me! - -ROGER. I wanted to kill him! - -SUZANNE. To kill him? (_Puts her arms around his neck_) How nice you -are! Then you thought—? - -ROGER. Let’s not say any more about that, it’s all over, forgotten, the -past is dead. Let’s begin all over again: from my arrival—How are you, -Suzanne? How are you, dear? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you! Come -to me, dear, the way you used to! (_He seats himself with her beside -him_) - -SUZANNE. Oh, Roger, how nice you are! What lovely things you say! You -love me better than you love her, then? - -ROGER. (_With feeling_) Love you! But isn’t it my duty to love you? As -a relative, as a tutor, as an honest man? Love you! When I read that -letter I don’t know what happened to me—then I understood how deep my -feelings were—yes, I love you, my dear child, my divine creature! More -than I ever imagined I did! And I want you to know—(_Tenderly_)—don’t -you feel that I love you deeply, dear little Suzanne? - -SUZANNE. (_A little surprised at his vehemence_) Yes—Roger—— - -ROGER. The way you look at me—I frightened you—you don’t believe me—I’m -not used to—I’m not used to saying tender things, I’m awkward—I don’t -know how to say those things—one’s emotions are influenced by maternal -training and you know my mother; she has made a dryasdust scientist -of me. Science has been my sole preoccupation—You have been my sole -distraction—the one ray of sunshine in my dreary youth. You have only -me and I have only you—and I, my dear child, whom else have I to love -but you?—And I didn’t know! You have charmed me as one is charmed by a -child!—With your simplicity, with your grace! I was your teacher, but -your pupil as well. While I was nursing your mind to blossom forth into -thought, you were planting seeds of tenderness in my heart. I taught -you to read, you taught me to—love! It was your tiny pink fingers, the -silk of your golden hair that woke my heart to its first kisses! You -crept into my heart then, and you have grown now until your soul has -filled mine! (_Pause_) Now do you believe me? - -SUZANNE. (_Moved, she rises and speaks in a low voice_) Let’s go! - -ROGER. Why?—Where? - -SUZANNE. (_Troubled_) Away from here. - -ROGER. But why? - -SUZANNE. It’s so dark! - -ROGER. But, just a moment ago—— - -SUZANNE. A moment ago I didn’t see what you meant—— - -ROGER. No, stay, stay! There’s no better place than this. I have so -much to tell you. My heart is so full! I don’t know why I tell you all -this—It’s true—It’s so good to say these things—Ah, Suzanne—stay! Dear -Suzanne—(_He holds her_) - -SUZANNE. No, I beg you! - -ROGER. _You?_[6] - -[6] She uses the formal “vous.” - -SUZANNE. (_More and more troubled_) I—beg you—— - -ROGER. But _only_ a moment ago—— - -SUZANNE. Yes, but now—— - -ROGER. Why? - -SUZANNE. I don’t know, I—— - -ROGER. You’re crying! Have I hurt you? - -SUZANNE. No! No! - -ROGER. Have I offended you, without knowing it? - -SUZANNE. No, no,—I don’t know. I don’t understand. Please, let’s go -away from here! - -ROGER. Suzanne!—I don’t understand!—I can’t see! - - (_The_ DUCHESS _appears_.) - -DUCHESS. And do you know why? It is because neither of you can see -what’s as clear as day! (_She turns up the gas_) There! - -ROGER. Aunt! - -DUCHESS. My dear children, how happy you make me! Go on, kiss your -bride! - -ROGER. (_Not understanding at first_) My bride—Suzanne! (_He looks at -his aunt, then at_ SUZANNE) Ohh! It’s true,—I love her! - -DUCHESS. (_Joyously_) Nonsense! Even when it’s as clear as day? (_To_ -SUZANNE) And how about you? - -SUZANNE. (_With downcast eyes_) Oh, Aunt! - -DUCHESS. It seemed—that you could see all the time! Women’s eyes are a -little better than men’s, eh? That idea of mine to turn down the gas -was splendid. So everything’s going nicely now? Well, there is only -your mother to see! - -ROGER. What? - -DUCHESS. Oh, it will be a little difficult!—Here she is! Here they all -come—The whole tragedy! Shh! Not a word! Leave everything in my hands, -I’ll take care of it. What’s all this? - - (_Enter_ MADAME DE CÉRAN, DES MILLETS, _surrounded by ladies, the_ - GENERAL, BELLAC, LUCY, MADAME DE LOUDAN, MADAME ARRIÉGO, PAUL _and_ - JEANNE; _and the others_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Great news, Aunt! - -DUCHESS. What? - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Revel is dead! - -DUCHESS. You’re fooling! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. It’s in the evening papers. Look! (_She hands her a -paper_) - -DUCHESS. Well—(_Takes the paper and reads it_) - -MME. ARRIÉGO. (_To the Poet_) Beautiful, superb! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Beautiful! Inspired! - -GENERAL. Remarkable! One excellent line! - -Des Millets. Oh, General! - -GENERAL. Yes, indeed! An excellent line! “The”—how does it go? “Honor -is like a god which hath one altar only!” - -PAUL. (_To_ JEANNE) A trifle too many feet! - -BELLAC. (_To_ LUCY, _after looking at paper_) He died at six o’clock! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. (_To his wife, showing her paper_) Yes, at six o’clock. -Oh, I have M. Toulonnier’s promise! - -BELLAC. (_To_ LUCY) Toulonnier gave me a formal promise—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_To the_ DUCHESS) Toulonnier is on our side. - -DUCHESS. Well, where is your Toulonnier? - -SAINT-RÉAULT. He just received a telegram. - -MME. DE CÉRAN. (_Aside_) That confirms the appointment. Good!—But -why—? (_Enter_ TOULONNIER) Ah—At last! - -ALL. It’s he! Ah! Ah! - - (TOULONNIER _comes down-stage, surrounded by the company_.) - -MME. DE CÉRAN. My dear Secretary General! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. My dear Toulonnier! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Well, the telegram——? - -BELLAC. It’s about poor Revel, is it not? - -TOULONNIER. (_Embarrassed_) Yes, about Revel. - -BELLAC. Well, what about him? - -DUCHESS. (_Looking at_ TOULONNIER) It says he isn’t dead! - -MME. DE CÉRAN, BELLAC, _and_ SAINT-RÉAULT. (_Showing the papers_) But -the papers! - -DUCHESS. They’re mistaken! - -ALL. Oh! - -DUCHESS. For once! (_To_ TOULONNIER) Aren’t they? - -TOULONNIER. Well, he’s not exactly dead! - -SAINT-RÉAULT. (_Sinking into a chair_) Yet? - -DUCHESS. And I’ll warrant he’s received another appointment! - -TOULONNIER. Commander of the Legion of Honor. - -SAINT-RÉAULT. Again! - -TOULONNIER. (_Showing his telegram_) It will appear in to-morrow’s -Official! (_To_ SAINT-RÉAULT, _sympathetically_) Believe me, I feel -deeply——! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside, looking at_ TOULONNIER) He knew it before he came -this evening! He’s a good one—I too have some important news to -announce! - -ALL. (_Turning toward the_ DUCHESS) Ahh! - -DUCHESS. Two things! - -LUCY. What? - -MME. DE LOUDAN. What, Duchess? - -BELLAC. What? - -DUCHESS. First, the engagement of our friend, Miss Lucy Watson, to -Professor Bellac! - -ALL. Bellac? What!! - -BELLAC. (_Aside_) Duchess! - -DUCHESS. Ah! You must make some reparation. - -BELLAC. Rep—— Oh! With pleasure! Ah, Lucy! - -LUCY. (_Astonished_) Why, Madame! - -DUCHESS. (_Aside_) Reparation, my child! - -LUCY. None is necessary, because there is nothing to repair! However, -my ideas and my inclinations are in perfect harmony. (_She gives her -hand to_ BELLAC) - -BELLAC. Ah, Lucy! - -DUCHESS. Good! Number one! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. You are the happiest of women, Lucy! - -DUCHESS. Second piece of news! - -MME. DE LOUDAN. Another engagement? - -DUCHESS. Yes. - -MME. DE LOUDAN. It’s a regular festival! - -DUCHESS. The engagement of my dear nephew, Roger de Céran—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Duchess! - -DUCHESS. To a girl who is very dear to my heart—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, Aunt! - -DUCHESS. My sole heir—— - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Your——? - -DUCHESS. My fortune and my family name will be hers! My adopted -daughter, Mademoiselle Suzanne de Villiers de Réville. - -SUZANNE. (_Throwing herself into the_ DUCHESS’S _arms_) Oh, my mother! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. But, Duchess! - -DUCHESS. Find a richer and a nobler name! - -MME. DE CÉRAN. Oh, I’m not saying—and yet—(_To_ ROGER) Consider, Roger—— - -ROGER. I love her, mother. - -DUCHESS. (_Looking about her_) Number two! There remains—(_To_ PAUL) -Come here, will you? What reparation are you going to make? - -PAUL. (_Ashamed_) Ah, Duchess, it was you, then? - -JEANNE. (_Confused_) Ah, Madame, then you heard——? - -DUCHESS. Yes, little trickster, I did. - -PAUL. Oh! - -DUCHESS. But, since you didn’t say too much evil of me, I’ll forgive -you. You’ll be Prefect—— - -PAUL. Oh, Duchess! (_He kisses her hand_) - -JEANNE. Ah, Madame—! “Gratitude,” as Saint-Evremont says—— - -PAUL. What’s the use—now? - - - _Curtain._ - - - - - THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYS - - BY CELEBRATED EUROPEAN AUTHORS - - _A New Series of Amateur Plays by the Best Authors, - Ancient and Modern, Especially Translated with - Historical Notes, Suggestions for Staging, - etc., for the use of Schools, Colleges, - and Dramatic Clubs_ - - BARRETT H. CLARK - - _General Editor_ - - Author of “A Study of the Modern Drama,” “Contemporary French - Dramatists,” “How to Produce Amateur Plays,” etc. - -These plays may be produced by amateurs without the payment of a -royalty fee. - - =The Romancers.= A comedy in 3 acts. By Edmond Rostand. 8 men, 1 - woman (extra woman as supers). New translation of this celebrated - and charming little romantic play by the famous author of “Cyrano de - Bergerac” and “Chantecler.” Price 35 cents. - - =The Merchant Gentleman.= (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme). By Moliere. New - translation of one of Moliere’s comic masterpieces. 9 men, 3 women. - Price 75 cents. - - =Pater Noster.= A poetic play in 1 act. By Francois Coppee. 3 men, 3 - women. A dramatic incident of the time of the Paris Commune, in 1871. - Price 35 cents. - - =Indian Summer.= A comedy in 1 act. By Meilhac and Halevy. 2 men, 2 - women. This little play, by two of the most famous writers of comedy - of the last century, has been played at the Comedie Francaise at Paris - for upwards of forty years, and is one of the brightest and most - popular works of the period. Price 35 cents. - - =Modesty.= By Paul Hervieu. 2 men, 1 woman. A delightful trifle in 1 - act by one of the most celebrated of modern dramatists. Price 35 cents. - - =I’m Going.= A comedy in 1 act. By Tristan Bernard. A delightful - comedy of obstinacy and reconciliation. 1 man, 1 woman. Price 35 cents. - - =The Village.= (Le Village). A comedy in 1 act. By Octave Feuillet. - The author here paints the picture of an elderly couple, and shows - that they have not realized their happiness until it is on the point - of being taken from them. 2 women, 2 men. Price 35 cents. - - =The Beneficent Bear.= A comedy in 3 acts. By Goldoni. One of the - best-known comedies of the Father of Italian comedy. A costume piece - laid in 18th century France, the principal character in which is a - good-hearted, though gruff, old uncle. 4 men, 3 women. Price 35 cents. - - - Have you a copy of - “How to Produce Amateur Plays” - BY BARRETT H. CLARK - - - =A Marriage Proposal.= By Anton Tchekoff. 2 men, 1 woman. A comedy - in 1 act, by one of the greatest of modern Russian writers. This - little farce is very popular, and satirizes the people of Russia in an - amusing manner. Price 35 cents. - - =The Green Coat.= By Alfred de Musset and Emile Augier. 3 men, 1 - woman. A slight and comic one-act character sketch of the life of - Bohemian artists in Paris, written by one of France’s greatest poets - and one of her best-known dramatists. Price 35 cents. - - =The Wager.= By Giuseppe Giacosa. 4 men, 4 women. This one-act poetic - comedy, written by the most celebrated dramatist of modern Italy, was - the author’s first work. It treats of a wager made by a proud young - page, who risks his life on the outcome of a game of chess. Price 35 - cents. - - =Phormio.= A Latin comedy in 5 acts. By Terence. 11 men, 2 women. An - up-to-date version of the famous comedy. One of the masterpieces of - Latin drama; the story of a father who returns to find that his son - has married a slave girl. Phormio, the parasite-villain who causes - numerous comic complications, succeeds in unraveling the difficulties, - and all ends happily. Price 35 cents. - - =The Little Shepherdess.= A poetic comedy in 1 act. By Andre Rivoire. - 1 man, 2 women. A charming pastoral sketch by a well-known French poet - and dramatist. Played with success at the Comedie Francaise. Price 35 - cents. - - =The Boor.= By Anton Tchekoff. 2 men, 1 woman. A well-known one-act - farce by the celebrated Russian master; it is concerned with Russian - characters, and portrays with masterly skill the comic side of country - life. Price 35 cents. - - =The Black Pearl.= By Victorien Sardou. Comedy in 3 acts. 7 men, 3 - women. One of Sardou’s most famous comedies of intrigue. A house has, - it is thought, been robbed. But through skilful investigation it is - found that the havoc wrought has been done by lightning. Price 35 - cents. - - =Charming Leandre.= By Theodore de Banville. 2 men, 1 woman. In 1 - act. The author of “Gringoire” is here seen in a poetic vein, yet the - Frenchman’s innate sense of humor recalls, in this satirical little - play, the genius of Moliere. Price 35 cents. - - =The Post-Script.= By Emile Augier. 1 man, 2 women. Of this one-act - comedy Professor Brander Matthews writes: “... one of the brightest - and most brilliant little one-act comedies in any language, and to be - warmly recommended to American readers.” Price 35 cents. - - =The Twins.= By Plautus. 7 men, 2 women. A Latin farce in 5 acts, upon - which Shakespeare founded his Comedy of Errors. Price 35 cents. - - - Order a copy to-day through French’s - “How to Produce Amateur Plays” - BY BARRETT H. CLARK - - =The Fan.= Comedy in 3 acts, by Goldoni. Translated by Henry B. - Fuller. 10 males, 4 females. 1 exterior. 18th century costumes. Plays - 2¼ hours. A particularly good translation of this famous and - popular comedy. “The Fan” has long been a favorite, especially for - girls’ Schools and Colleges, because of its grace and charm in showing - the gay and romantic aspects of everyday life in Italy during the - brilliant 18th century. Price 50 cents. - - =The Coffee-House.= Comedy in 3 acts, by Goldoni. Translated by Henry - B. Fuller. 8 males, 2 females. 1 exterior. 18th century costumes. - Plays 2¼ hours. One of the most famous of the Goldoni comedies. - “The Coffee-House” is now for the first time translated into English. - It is a scintillating example of the Italian master at his gayest. For - advanced casts. Price 50 cents. - - =Love in Livery.= (Le Jeu de l’amour et du hasard). Comedy in 3 acts, - by Marivaux. Translated by Harriet Ford and Marie Louise Le Verrier. - 5 males, 2 females. 1 interior. 17th century costumes. Plays a full - evening. A lively and very actable translation of one of the most - delightful and famous of the French classic comedies of manners. “Love - in Livery” has remained a favorite in France for 200 years. It is - pre-eminently suited to production by girls’ schools. A thoroughly - charming old-world comedy. Price 50 cents. - - =Everyman.= The old English morality play, in 1 act. Anonymous. 17 - characters (11 males, 6 females, but these may be taken by all male or - all female cast). Costumes, 16th century. Plays 1¼ hours. The most - beautiful of all the old English religious plays. It is especially to - be recommended to churches and schools. Price 35 cents. - - =The Forest.= Comedy in 3 acts. By Alexander Ostrovsky. Translated - by Florence Noyes and George Rapall Noyes. 9 males, 3 females. 1 - interior, 2 exteriors. One of the great masterpieces of the Russian - stage. Price 75 cents. - - =Ralph Roister Doister.= Comedy in 5 acts. By Nicholas Udall. 9 males, - 4 females. This is the first English comedy ever written. Price 50 - cents. - - =Ladies and Hussars.= Comedy in 3 acts. By Alexander Fredro. - Translated from the Polish by Florence Noyes and George Rapall Noyes. - 6 males, 7 females. 1 interior. A masterpiece by one of Poland’s - greatest playwrights. Price 50 cents. - - =The Thunderstorm.= Drama in 5 acts. By Alexander Ostrovsky. - Translated by Florence Whyte and George Rapall Noyes. 7 males, 5 - females (extras). Russian costumes. 1 interior, 4 exteriors. One of - the great masterpieces of the Russian stage. Price 75 cents. - - -Our new descriptive Catalogue sent free on request - -SAMUEL FRENCH -FOUNDED 1845 INCORPORATED 1899 -Oldest Play Publisher in the World -25 West 45th Street, NEW YORK CITY - - - =The Doctor in Spite of Himself= (Le Medecin malgre lui). By Moliere. - 6 males, 3 females. A famous farce by the greatest of French - dramatists. Sganarelle has to be beaten before he will acknowledge - that he is a doctor, which he is not. He then works apparently - miraculous cures. The play is a sharp satire on the medical profession - in the 17th Century. Price 35 cents. - - =Brignol and His Daughter.= By Alfred Capus. 5 males, 4 females. In - three acts. The first comedy in English of the most sprightly and - satirical of present-day French dramatists. Price 60 cents. - - =Choosing a Career.= By G. A. de Caillavet. Written by one of the - authors of “Love Watches.” A one-act farce of mistaken identity, full - of humorous situations and bright lines. Price 35 cents. - - =French Without a Master.= By Tristan Bernard. 5 males, 2 females. - A clever one-act farce by one of the most successful of French - dramatists. It is concerned with the difficulties of a make-believe - interpreter who does not know a word of French. Price 35 cents. - - =Panurge’s Sheep.= A comedy in one act. By Meilhac and Halevy. A - famous and often-acted little play based upon the obstinacy of a - charming woman, who is finally induced to marry. 1 man, 2 women. Price - 35 cents. - - =The Law-Suit.= (Der Prozess). A comedy in one act. By Roderich - Benedix. A famous comedy by the well-known dramatist—author of “The - Obstinate Family” and “The Third Man.” The play is full of amusing - situations and bright lines. 3 men. Price, 35 cents. - - =The Third Man.= (Der Dritte). A comedy in one act. By Roderich - Benedix. A highly amusing little comedy based upon the obstinacy of - human beings, and proves the truth of the saying that “love finds a - way.” 3 women, 1 man. Price 35 cents. - - =The Sicilian.= (Le Sicilien). A farce in two acts. By Moliere. One of - the lighter comedies of intrigue. This play is laid in Sicily, and has - to do with the capture of a beautiful Greek slave from her selfish and - tyrannical master. 4 men, 3 women. Price 35 cents. - - =Doctor Love.= (L’Amour Medecin). A farce in three acts by Moliere. An - uproarious farce, satirizing the medical profession. Through it runs - the story of a young girl who pretends to be ill in order that she may - marry the man she loves. 5 men, 4 women. Price, 35 cents. - - =The Affected Young Ladies.= (Les Precieuses ridicules). A comedy - in one act by Moliere. The famous satire on intellectual and social - affectation. Like most of Moliere’s plays, the theme in this is - strikingly modern. 3 women, 6 men. Price 35 cents. - - =Crainquebille.= A play in three scenes. By Anatole France. A - delightful series of pictures of Parisian street life, by the author - of “The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife.” 12 men, 6 women. Price 35 cents. - - =The Imaginary Invalid.= Comedy in 3 acts by Moliere. 8 males, 4 - females. 1 interior. Costumes, 17th century. Plays 1¼ hours. A - simple acting version of Moliere’s celebrated comedy. This is an - exceedingly amusing satire not only upon those who imagine they are - ailing but upon human nature in general. Easily produced. Price 50 - cents. - - - Have you a copy of - “How to Produce Amateur Plays” - BY BARRETT H. CLARK - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber's Notes - -Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations -in hyphenation have been standardised but all other spelling, -punctuation and general disregard of accents remains unchanged. - -Italics are represented thus _italic_ and bold thus =bold=. - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Art of being Bored, by Edouard Pailleron - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ART OF BEING BORED *** - -***** This file should be named 53334-0.txt or 53334-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/3/3/53334/ - -Produced by MFR, Les Galloway and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |