The Princess of Bagdad: A Play In Three Acts. Dumas Alexandre
Читать онлайн.| Название | The Princess of Bagdad: A Play In Three Acts |
|---|---|
| Автор произведения | Dumas Alexandre |
| Жанр | Зарубежная драматургия |
| Серия | |
| Издательство | Зарубежная драматургия |
| Год выпуска | 0 |
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(She approaches the table, upon which, during this discourse, the servants have put the articles mentioned.)
Mamma!
Gentlemen, here is my son, whom I beg to present to you. Bow, Raoul.
(Raoul bows already like a man of the world, putting his heels together and bending his head; Trévelé and Godler kiss him; Nourvady kisses his hand, after hesitating a moment; Raoul goes back to his mother, who kisses him, putting her arm round his neck.)
Take care, you will crumple my collar.
I beg your pardon, I wanted to kiss you. You don't love me, then?
Oh, yes, I love you very much.
Then you are going to help me pour out the tea?
No; I came to ask not to go to bed yet. I should prefer to play with Jane's little nephew, who has come with his mother to see her, but she will not let me without your permission.
Very well, I give you leave. Run away now, my child.
Good bye. (He goes away running.)
And you go away like that? (Raoul bows again, and wants to go away. Lionnette shows him Richard.) And Mr. Richard? And your father, too?
(At each name mentioned Raoul passes to the person, who kisses him. One can see he is in a great hurry to run away. When he gets to John, the latter takes him in his arms and kisses him very warmly.)
Don't be afraid, I am not going to crumple your collar. (He puts the child on the ground again, who tries afresh to escape.)
And me, Raoul.
(Raoul runs back again and kisses his mother.)
Go and play, my child, go; and amuse yourself well.
(Lionnette, a cup in each hand, presents one to Godler, the other to Trévelé.)
Dare I be so bold?
If you wish it.
And I?
And you, too. Only, take the cups, or you will burn my hands with the tea.
And you, Nourvady?
Thank you, I ask for nothing, not even a cup of tea.
(John chats with Richard in a corner.)
And the Countess will be right never to give you anything. People who ask nothing are often those who wish too much. Under cover of forty millions…
My money has nothing to do with this.
Certainly not; but all the same, when one has forty millions one finds a great many things easier than when one has, like me, only one. Ah, well, I must say, to the credit of Nourvady, it is in vain that he has two millions income at least – because he is a man who makes the best of his capital. He is, after all, the most sentimental of us three, and who takes love most seriously. He is a millionaire Anthony, and in our time it is remarkable.
And useful.
(Richard and John, who have chatted in a corner of the drawing-room, make their way to the terrace, where they chat in sight of the public.)
I do not know why Trévelé always assails me on the score of my fortune, of which I talk as little as possible. I am rich, but it is through no fault of mine. If that had depended on me alone, it certainly would never have happened. I am not clever enough to make forty millions. Fortunately, I had a father who was very intelligent, and, at the same time, very honourable. This father had a large bank at Vienna, which was very prosperous. He died, leaving me forty millions. It was, therefore, necessary to resign myself to accept them.
Easy resignation, I think, and that I should have had like you.
Ah! Madam, a fortune is a burden like anything else, at least for a man, for women have more grace and intelligence in spending money than we. But with much simplicity, a few efforts of the intellect, a little ingenuity in the way of rendering services – there is sometimes a way to get out of the difficulty – for a man.
And you get out of it remarkably well, my dear fellow! If we tease you about your millions, it is because it is the only subject we can joke you upon.
Rest assured, my dear Trévelé, that I am never offended at your jokes.
It is very fortunate for you, for if Nourvady were at all susceptible you would have a nice time.
Why?
Because he kills a bird at every shot.
But I am not a bird.
And he hits the mark eleven times out of twelve, and barely escapes the twelfth.
Fortunately I have an easy temper, which I have acquired by self-control, for I was naturally violent and irritable.
That poor Marnepont discovered something of that.
Don't let us speak of that.
Oh, yes, please let us speak of it. I knew Mr. de Marnepont very well, and I have heard in fact that he was killed. By you, then?
Alas! yes, madam.
In a duel?
Certainly. I did not assassinate him.
He was very annoying.
That was not the only reason of his death. He had other defects. He was insolent, and, above all, a liar.
What insolence was he guilty of? What lie did he tell? I will wager there was a woman in the case.
(Richard is gone. John hears all that is said, leaning upon the back of the couch where his wife is sitting.)
No, madam, it concerned me pitifully. Mr. de Marnepont calumniated me. He said I was hump-backed, which is not true. I have only the left shoulder a little higher than the right.
That is not seen at all.
It is not seen any longer, especially since that duel. In any case, no one says any more about it. My father, it is true, had a round back – at the close of his life principally. He had worked hard, stooping over a desk. That makes one round-shouldered in the end. Poor father! he said to me: "You have one shoulder higher than the other, the left; you get that from me; I ask your pardon for it, and I will endeavour to leave you what will make you forget it. But there are some people who will mock much more willingly at you as you will be very rich. Be strong in all sword-play, then; that will equalize everything." I followed the advice of my father, and I am astonished at the result. Then, as Mr. de Marnepont was a very good shot, I chose the pistol as our weapon. I was affronted, so wished to show him what good play was. We were allowed to fire at will; he fired first, and lodged a ball in my right shoulder, which naturally made me make this movement (he raises his right