A woman’s not a Firm, Miss. And Lord forbid she ever should be!
Sally. The women are much obliged to you, Mr. Joey, for another compliment!
Joey. The women are heartily welcome, Miss Goldstraw.
Sally. You have a very sudden way of making love. Have you ever done it before?
Joey. I’ve tried, Miss—but I never got as far as this. I would be slower about it, I do assure you, if I only had the time. The Wapours are waiting for me. And, after the Wapours, there’s Master George’s luggage to be taken to Mr. Openrazor’s house. And, after that, there’s no knowing, in the state of my mind, what may happen next. I think I might persuade you, Miss, if I might make so bold as to speak with my arm—and if you’d be so obliging as to listen with your waist. (Puts his arm round her.)
Sally. The “Wapours” are not waiting for me, Mr. Joey; and I want time to decide. (Disengaging herself.) The institution of marriage is a very serious thing. And the sooner a man and a woman learn to view it in that light, the better it may be afterwards for all parties.—I wish you good morning!
(Exit, right.)
Joey (looking after her). Beautiful language! I’ll fix it in my mind, before I forget it. (Trying to repeat the words.) “The institution of a man and a woman is a very serious thing. And the sooner they’re married afterwards, the better for all parties.” Lord! how true!
(Exit, left.)
THIRD SCENE.—The drawing-room at OBENREIZER’S lodgings—as shown in the First Scene of the Second Act: with this difference, that it is now supposed to be night, and the lamps are lit. Dinner, untouched, is on the table. MARGUERITE, OBENREIZER, and VENDALE are discovered. The two last wear their travelling costume. OBENREIZER is on his knees, at the back of the stage, packing a portmanteau. VENDALE, near the front, sits thoughtfully at the table, with a cigar in his mouth, which he has allowed to go out. His luggage, ready for the journey, is seen in a corner of the room. MARGUERITE, restless and agitated, passes backwards and forwards, giving OBENREIZER the various things he wants to pack for the journey. These different objects are so arranged on a side table, as to oblige MARGUERITE to pass and repass VENDALE on her way backwards and forwards. The words she says to VENDALE, at the beginning of the scene, are all spoken in an under tone of warning at the time when she passes him. MADAME DOR sits in an unoccupied part of the stage, with her back turned as usual, cleaning the gloves with which OBENREIZER is going to travel.
Obenreizer. (receiving a folded coat from MARGUERITE). I really can’t allow you, dearest, to wait upon me in this way! You must not fatigue yourself by going backwards and forwards with my things for the journey!
Marguerite. I am not in the least fatigued—and I beg to be allowed to help you. (She returns to the side table, takes up the next thing wanted, and, stopping a moment, speaks to VENDALE, on her way back to OBENREIZER.) Change your mind, George! Don’t travel with him!
(She goes on to OBENREIZER.)
Vendale. (speaking to himself). How strangely she persists in warning me not to go! The suddenness of this journey has shaken her nerves. (To MARGUERITE, as she passes.) There is really nothing, love, to alarm you!
Marguerite. (passing back by VENDALE, from the side table). You know the little photograph I have got of you. This afternoon he took it up, and looked at it. (Goes on to OBENREIZER—returns—and continues to VENDALE.) I saw his face in the glass when he looked at your portrait. George! you have offended him!
Vendale. I!
Marguerite. (after first fetching the next thing). He is as merciless as a tiger! He is as secret as the grave! Don’t go with him, George!
(Goes on with the next travelling article to OBENREIZER.)
Vendale. (as MARGUERITE passes him again). My darling! you are completely mistaken. (MARGUERITE takes the next thing from the table, without answering. VENDALE continues as she passes back.) He and I were never better friends than we are at this moment!
(MARGUERITE shakes her head, and goes on to OBENREIZER.)
Marguerite. (returning). Don’t go, George!
Vendale. (stopping her). I know, love, how hard it is to part——! (MARGUERITE disengages herself, and fetches the last thing from the table.)
Marguerite. (passing back). I can submit to the parting, if you will only go alone! (Passes on to OBENREIZER, and comes back rapidly to VENDALE, before OBENREIZER can close his portmanteau.) It will be too late in a minute more! Change your mind, George! change your mind!
Obenreizer. (coming down to the front). Ten thousand thanks, Marguerite, for your help! Vendale! Time gallops with us travellers—in five minutes more, we must be off! (VENDALE rises, and tries to quiet MARGUERITE, while OBENREIZER is looking for his courier’s bag.) My travelling-bag?—Ah! here it is! (He takes the bag from a chair, opens it, and addresses VENDALE.) Can I take anything for you? You have no travelling-bag. Here is the compartment for papers, open at your service!
Vendale. Many thanks. I have only one paper of importance about me, and that paper I am bound to take charge of myself. I won’t part with it till we get to Neuchâtel.
Obenreizer. (aside—with a smile). Won’t you!
Marguerite. (to VENDALE). Look at him now!
Obenreizer. (turning away at the same moment). Madame Dor! my gloves! (MADAME DOR hands them to him over her shoulder.) Guardian angel of my baggage—beautifully cleaned!
Vendale. (quieting MARGUERITE). You hear him? He is in the best possible spirits! You are frightened, darling, at your own fancy.
Enter JOEY LADLE.
Joey. Master George!
Vendale. (impatiently). The luggage is all right, Joey! You needn’t wait.
Joey (producing a letter). I’ve brought you another letter, sir, from foreign parts. It’s been sent on, by private express, from Dover to our office. (VENDALE opens the letter.)
Marguerite. (to VENDALE). Is your journey put off?
Obenreizer. (to VENDALE). News from the Swiss Firm?
Vendale. Let me read the letter! (MARGUERITE, OBENREIZER, and JOEY all draw aside, and all eagerly watch VENDALE. VENDALE reads the letter.) “Sir,—Not half an hour after our second partner, Monsieur Rolland, had written to you, a deplorable calamity happened in his family. A fatal accident has deprived him of his son and only child. Monsieur Rolland, overwhelmed by this misfortune, is unable to attend to any business, and has been ordered away by his medical man. Our other partner—Monsieur Defresnier—is, as you know, detained at Milan by business. In this condition of things, I am obliged to request you to send the forged receipt on to M. Defresnier who is alone competent to deal with the question, in the present affliction of the other principal of our Firm.