Worthy:
Sister, I've seen Victor as you advised me. I was careful to tell him
of Laura's attachment to Cadwell. Doubtless he's informed of what's
happening and I didn't think it would be honest for me to further
agitate a man who seemed to be in despair. Besides, this is a bad way
to earn the heart of a lady we esteem. But, sister, I believe chance
has done for us all that we could hope. In short, Arabella, whom I
just met, assured me that she has disabused Laura--that she had just
put in her hands a letter from Cadwell--
Olivia:
A letter written by Cadwell to Arabella?
Worthy:
Yes, I tell you.
Jenny:
Ah, madam, how relieved I am! We are going to see the master and the
valet greatly abashed. This puppy Cadwell with his impertinent airs,
and this rogue of a Bendish, who's starting to be like him. But
listen, don't be fooled. Do what is necessary to finish things. If you
give them time to repair the damage--
Olivia:
Ah, I don't know what to believe. Laura has a very cowardly heart--
Jenny:
My God, Laura loves him! Laura is credulous and Cadwell is a very
loveable villain. You must dare all. Take her in a fit of passion or
you will obtain nothing. As for me, I have taken the trouble to
strengthen what you've told her, but I haven't noticed any change in
the way she looks.
Worthy:
She's choking back her resentment. I have it from Arabella.
Olivia:
Go then, brother, go find her. Test her soul. Take advantage of such a
favorable opportunity. And be sure something will happen. We are
laying many traps for Cadwell. In the end they will enable us to open
Laura's eyes.
Worthy:
Ah, sister, it's time that you do that, for truly, I am dying. This
unjust prejudice for Cadwell is killing me. I really believe I would
suffer less if he wasn't deceiving her.
Jenny:
What amuses you? You tell us here the finest things in the world. When
you are with her you cannot open your mouth. If you saw Cadwell with
Laura--he never stops talking even if he repeats the same thing to her
a hundred times.
Worthy:
He's happy, Jenny.
Jenny:
Go. Become him if you can.
(Exit Worthy)
Olivia:
But Jenny, the more I think of what my brother just said, the less
likely I think it.
Jenny:
I don't understand it any better than you. Cadwell was very gay when
he left. Laura wasn't sad. There's a misunderstanding somewhere or
Cadwell has played a tick of his specialty.
Olivia:
What could he have said against such strong proof?
Jenny:
My word, I don't know. What should I say to you? He opens his big
eyes, he sighs, he threatens, he weeps, he falls to his knees, he
walks about with long strides, breaks a chair, tears a ruffle, bites
his nails, tears his hair, and in the end, he's right.
Olivia:
Nice manners to justify oneself!
Jenny:
If I hadn't seen him play the same role with her a thousand times, I
wouldn't know what to say. He made me cry in the beginning, but now I
am cured.-- But you, madam, who speak as if you wish to help your
brother, who can do it better than you? For I'm not blind. I've
noticed for a long time that Cadwell watches you, and because I see
that you respond well enough to all his tricks, I believe that you are
not lacking in what it takes to prevail on his passion and undeceive
Laura.
Olivia:
You have good eyes, Jenny. Well, since you have observed it, I am
going to make you my confidant. It's something I've thought of for
some time, but it's the last remedy I wish to employ because I find it
the most shameful.
Jenny:
Bah, madam, it is not shameful to punish a rascal.
Olivia:
Besides, I'm afraid he will distrust me.
Jenny:
Indeed! Him! He wouldn't distrust you if you told him you hated him.
He is so sure of his own worth that he thinks people are forced to
love him just by looking at him.--I hear someone. Perhaps it's him.
He'll fall in any trap you set for him.
Olivia:
He's more clever than you can imagine.
Jenny:
If he didn't do foolish things he wouldn't need all his trickery. It's
for you to embroil him so well that nothing he can do will be enough
to get him out of it.
Olivia:
Let me do it.
(Exit Jenny) (Then enter Cadwell)
Cadwell: (with pretended embarrassment)
I don't know what I ought to do, madam.
Olivia:
You must read your own thoughts and take counsel.
Cadwell:
Ought I to stay, madam, and expose myself to the greatest peril I have
run in my life?
Olivia:
This enigma is very difficult to solve. But I do not see what peril
you run in remaining here.
Cadwell:
Ah, madam, how badly my eyes serve me! That my sighs are so badly
explained. What? All my actions have not made themselves understood?
Olivia:
I have only noticed in you that you are prodigiously at ease with the
whole world.
Cadwell:
Ah, madam! If I haven't kept honest appearances for the others, much
different are the ones I've had for you. You owe me a complete account
of them. I have done it only to better hide my love.
Olivia:
Ah, Cadwell, are you thinking carefully of what you are saying to me?
Cadwell:
Yes, madam, I have thought of it. I know all that I risk. I know that
I lose Laura forever if you abuse the sincere declaration I am making
to you. But I know that I cannot live and hide my feelings for you.
Olivia:
I've seen too much of you to believe you are sincere.
Cadwell:
Eh! What do my feelings say to you, madam, who cannot be convinced by
the strongest passion that ever was experienced?
Olivia:
Don't you swear that all the time to Laura?
Cadwell:
Judge by the continual reproaches I receive from her.
Olivia:
But you deceive her then?
Cadwell:
Why, madam, don't you know how things are done? Don't you know that an
uncle ordered me to attach myself to her, and that her great wealth
put this project in his head. I was not then engaged elsewhere. I
consented to all he wished. But I saw you, madam, and love made me
neglect a very considerable fortune.
Olivia:
Ah, Cadwell. I don't know if all you tell me is true. But I am sure I
wish at least--
Cadwell: (interrupting her and falling on his knees)
Ah, madam! Permit me, I beg you, to throw myself at your feet. I
conjure you in the name of the most lively tenderness of a passion
which will never end to put me to the strongest test you can invent.
Do you want Laura's letters? I abandon them to you. Do you want me
never to see her again? I consent. Do you want me to smash her
portrait before your eyes? I will do it. There's nothing I won't
sacrifice. Command it!
Olivia:
I wish that you had never spoken.
Cadwell:
Had I offered you my first vows! I would still be faithful.
Olivia:
But Cadwell, what are you asking from me?
Cadwell:
That you love me, that you think it, and that you tell me--endlessly.
Olivia:
You will betray me.
Cadwell:
No, madam, never.
Olivia:
Put it in writing.
Cadwell:
In my blood if necessary.
Olivia:
You no longer love Laura? You will live eternally for me? You promise
me this and your hand is ready to sign the declaration?
Cadwell:
Right now. Command me!
Olivia:
Don't forget then, Cadwell, to put in all that confirms your oaths.
Cadwell:
I am going to bring it to you, madam, while you in turn will give me
proofs of your affection.
Olivia:
You will be content.
Cadwell:
That's enough.
Olivia:
I will wait for you.
(Exit Cadwell) (Then, enter Jenny)
Jenny:
Well, madam?
Olivia:
Everything's going fine. And my brother--what's he doing?
Jenny: (seeing Laura enter with Worthy)
Nothing much, madam.-- Here he is.
(Enter Worthy and Laura)
Worthy:
What, madam! Nothing can dissuade you!
Laura:
Stop, Worthy. I know more about all that than you. It's as I told you.
Worthy:
The letter that Arabella gave to Laura--was a letter written to Laura.
Laura: (to Olivia)
That's the way it is.
Worthy: (to Olivia)
Arabella for inexplicable reasons takes the opportunity of using the
letter to injure Cadwell.
Olivia:
Well, brother, the matter is doubtful. Laura loves Cadwell, she takes
his side. What do you find extraordinary in that?
Laura:
The thing is not doubtful, madam. There are circumstances which assure
me it is true.
Olivia: (to Worthy)
Madam's right. Show her he has deceived her so that Cadwell cannot
deny it, then--
Laura: (interrupting)
Oh, I tell you if you can bring that about I will never see him again
in my life.
Worthy:
But, madam, what more is necessary?
Olivia:
Oh, brother! How silly you are. (taking him to a nearby room) Come
into this room, I want to talk to you.
Worthy:
But--
Olivia: (interrupting him)
I want to talk to you, I tell you. Follow me.
(Exit Olivia and Worthy)
Laura:
Ah, I've seen more than I want to see. They intend to hunt Cadwell out
of my heart. They are taking measures to do it that will not succeed.
Jenny:
For that they are wrong, madam. For me, at present I am on his side.
He tells you that he loves you--why not believe him? They suspect him
wrongly. They say he deceives you--all the world believes it. What
does it matter? You are the interested party--he made you listen to
what he pleased, that's all. Must he render an account of his actions
to others?
Laura:
My God, Jenny, I understand that language. But be advised that I am
not a dupe. I have eyes like others--in an affair that was nobody's
business but mine.
Jenny:
I am speaking seriously, madam. That young fellow loves you terribly.
(Exit Jenny, then enter Cadwell)
Cadwell:
Stay, madam--here--
Laura: (interrupting him)
What have you there? What do you intend to do with that letter?
Cadwell:
I am come to bring it to you, madam.
Laura:
May I see it?
Cadwell:
If you will bear with me. I must tell you the reasons that brought me
to write it.
Laura:
I am listening to you.
Cadwell:
You must help me in this business.
Laura:
Speak quickly then.
Cadwell:
Madam, I can no longer stand all the nasty things said about us. I
know that Olivia is part of it. I have decided to stop them, and I
have found the way by pretending to make love to her.
Laura:
What?
Cadwell:
Listen, madam. Here's the best part. From the first interview, I have
so well advanced that we are come to terms.
Laura:
What are you saying?
Cadwell:
Hear the rest, I beg you. She has exacted a promise from me that I
will never love anyone other than herself. And she has even engaged
that I must put in that I never loved you.
Laura:
You were able to write it?
Cadwell:
Pardon me for doing so. All appeared permissible to me to avenge you.
Laura:
And what can assure me that this pretence doesn't hide a truth?
Cadwell:
Everything, madam. And especially the care I have taken not to put
this paper in her hands until you have seen it.
Laura:
Ah, Cadwell, I will never be able to accept such a pretence.
Cadwell:
Ah, madam, I beg you. Now I have the letter to Olivia in my hands.
Laura:
Show me this paper.
Cadwell:
Madam, I hear Olivia. Contain yourself, I beg you.
Laura:
It will be hard.
Cadwell:
It must be done.
(Enter Olivia)
Laura:
Where have you come from, madam?
Olivia:
I've just come from a conversation with my brother which concerns you.
Cadwell: (giving Olivia his letter)
Madam, here's more than you asked me for. (Olivia takes the letter,
reads it, and hands it to Laura) Madam, what are you doing?
Olivia:
Cadwell: do not be surprised if, after having deceived so many times,
you are deceived in your turn. I never loved you and I have not the
least jealousy--but I could no longer suffer you to trick a person who
does not deserve your trickery. Besides, my brother's interest engaged
me to all this. I am going to disclose your perfidy. But in the future
profit from this mischance. You have wit, mix in a little sincerity,
and someday I hope you will thank me for the advice I have given you.
(to Laura) Read, madam.
Laura: (reading the letter to herself in a low voice)
Cadwell.
Olivia: (After Laura has finished reading)
Well, what do you say to that?
Laura:
That I am delighted, madam, to know your good faith, and to be
persuaded that you didn't wish to betray me.
Olivia:
You will continue to see Cadwell?
Laura:
Yes, madam.
Olivia:
You will continue to love him?
Laura:
More than I have ever done in my life.
Olivia:
Then I must never see you again!
(Exit Olivia)
Laura:
Cadwell, I must leave. (in a tone marked with rage) I cannot leave her
much longer in her error.
(Exit Laura)
Cadwell:
What do you make of that? Laura doesn't appear to me much disabused.
The uncertainty she was in when leaving me, her eyes which couldn't
keep back some tears--all these things bode me no good. My shock at
first, would have betrayed me without a doubt. What does it matter?
Well, so much the worse for her. I take every precaution possible to
spare her chagrin. If she must chagrin herself, I consent. The trick
I'm using is not true, but it's possibly true or so it appears to me,
and she ought always to give me consideration for the trouble I take
to try to deceive her.
(Enter Worthy)
Worthy:
Ah, my dear Cadwell, I am delighted.
Cadwell:
Eh! What for, Worthy?
Worthy:
By what they just told me.
Cadwell:
Eh! What have they just told you?
Worthy:
That you love my sister.
Cadwell:
It's true.
Worthy:
Oh, fine! I've come to assure you that nothing can prevent you from
being happy together.
Cadwell:
Eh, how?
Worthy:
If you wish it, I promise you, I will employ all my credit with her to
make her agree to marry you.
Cadwell:
I don't intend to get married.
Worthy:
What then?
Cadwell:
That's the way it is.
Worthy:
Didn't you tell me that you love my sister?
Cadwell:
I remain in agreement.
Worthy:
Uh--what do you intend by loving her?
Cadwell:
To love her.
Worthy:
Cadwell!
Cadwell:
Worthy!
Worthy:
You're not thinking of it.
Cadwell:
Pardon me.
Worthy:
You love my sister without thinking of marrying her?
Cadwell:
Do you marry all those you love?
Worthy:
There are certain men who ought not to love at all with ideas like
that.
Cadwell:
That I intend to see.
Worthy:
You're losing your mind.
Cadwell:
I don't see anything peculiar about a man not wanting to get married.
Worthy:
Goodbye, Cadwell. You won't always be so happy or so clever.
(Exit Worthy)
Cadwell:
We shall see. God, this is funny. Once, I would have accepted the
role, but after the trick his sister just played me--
(Enter Bendish)
Bendish:
Truly, you're prompt, I just came from Charlotte's--
Cadwell:
Peace!
Bendish:
I learned there that--
Cadwell:
Peace!
Bendish:
I went for your scarf--
Cadwell:
Shut up!
Bendish:
Your jerkin--
Cadwell:
Will you shut up!
Bendish: (aside)
Listen!
Cadwell:
Bendish?
Bendish:
Sir?
Cadwell:
Give me the mirror. (Bendish goes and returns with the objects as they
are called for) Listen--my snuff box--wait--bring the armchair-- Eh!
My writing table.-- No, give me a comb. Come on then,--will you hurry
up?
Bendish:
Tell me exactly what you want--
Cadwell:
I don't know. I want to sit down. (aside) Madam Olivia, madam Olivia,
you have played me at trick--
(Enter Jenny)
Jenny:
Madam, wants to know if you sup here?
Cadwell:
Why, Jenny?
Jenny:
Because if you don't sup here she will go in town.
Cadwell:
I don't wish to constrain her, Jenny.
Jenny:
Eh! You don't constrain her as much as you think. Are you supping here
or not?
Cadwell:
I will sup here if that will give her pleasure.
Jenny:
I will go tell madam.
(Exit Jenny)
Cadwell:
Do you know what has happened?
Bendish:
Nobody is speaking of anything else downstairs.
Cadwell:
But is Laura persuaded that the thing is as I wish her to understand
it?
Bendish:
Apparently, since she wanted to know if you will sup with her.
Cadwell:
On my oath, this is really funny.
Bendish:
Very droll.
Cadwell:
Assuredly, she doubts nothing. What she has just sent to ask confirms
that sufficiently. But finish. What did Caroline want with me?
Bendish:
That she never wants to see you; that she regards you at all times as
a man without faith, without honor, slanderous, indiscreet, a traitor,
rascal, unfaithful.
Cadwell:
Eh! What did you say?
Bendish:
I said nothing, sir. It was Charlotte. (pulling from his pocket a pair
of gloves and presenting them to Cadwell) Still, she gave me a pair of
gloves to oblige you to go there. (The Petite Chevalier appears) Wait
--here's her nephew who has come to fetch you without a doubt.
(Enter the Little Gentleman)
L. Gent.:
Eh! Good day my friend.
Cadwell:
Eh: Good day child. Where are you going?
L. Gent.: I've come to see you. Are you angry about it?
Cadwell:
No, not at all. Hold on then.
L. Gent.:
I intend to kiss you.
Cadwell: (embracing him)
Here's the way it's done.
L. Gent.: (embracing Cadwell a second time)
And for my aunt, don't I get one?
Cadwell: (retiring)
Well--is it enough? Fie then, little trickster, you've ruined my wig.
L. Gent.:
Yes, that's true. I made a big booboo. (to Bendish) Eh. Good day,
Bendish. (presenting his hand to Bendish) Touch that.
Bendish: (touching his hand)
That's how it is done.
Cadwell:
Give him a seat.
L. Gent.:
No. I don't know how to stay seated.
Bendish: (to Cadwell)
Can he be trusted?
Cadwell: (to Little Gentleman)
Come here.
L. Gent.: (throwing Cadwell's wig on the floor)
Well?
Cadwell:
What a villain to father a child like this! Isn't it time to grow
wise?
L. Gent.:
And you who are much larger than I? My aunt says you are not very
wise.
Cadwell:
Your aunt is crazy. Was it she who sent you here?
L. Gent.:
She bet me half a crown that I wouldn't dare to come here to see if
you were home.
Cadwell:
You made a bet?
L. Gent.:
Certainly.
Bendish: (aside)
Plague. He knows. The little gossip has got him.
Cadwell: (grabbing the Little Gentleman's nose)
What have you got there? (making him take some tobacco) There.
L. Gent.:
Ah, fie! Plague on the villain and his tobacco. Hold on, you will see
if I don't tell my aunt.
Cadwell:
Will you shut up?
L. Gent.:
Why'd you make me take tobacco then?
Cadwell:
Peace.
L. Gent.:
If I don't make my aunt scold you.
Cadwell:
Little gallows bird.
L. Gent.:
Patience.-- You call my aunt crazy?
Cadwell:
Bendish.
Bendish:
Sir?
L. Gent.:
When my aunt knows--
Cadwell:
Shut his mouth. He cries like a little demon.
L. Gent.:
I will tell all this to my aunt.
Bendish:
Still?
Cadwell:
Bring him to me. (Bendish marches the little Gentleman to Cadwell) My
poor little man, I beg you. Don't make so much noise.
L. Gent.:
You will see with your tobacco.
Cadwell:
Well, I won't give you anymore.
L. Gent.:
If you hadn't done that I would have told you something.
Cadwell:
What?
L. Gent.:
No, you'll never know.
Cadwell:
I beg you.
L. Gent.:
No.
Cadwell:
My little dear.
L. Gent.:
No.
Cadwell:
Eh. The little animal doesn't see that I'm mocking him and that I know
everything he intends to tell me.
L. Gent.:
Yes? Do you know that my aunt told me to come here and to bring you to
her, and that she told me to make it appear as if it came from me? But
because of your tobacco you will know nothing. I know how to punish
you.
Cadwell:
And I--I don't want to listen to you.
L. Gent.:
And I--I have no desire to say anything further, either.
Bendish:
The good little messenger.
Cadwell:
Are my porters below?
Bendish:
Yes, sir.
Cadwell:
Follow me.
CURTAIN