Madame Aubin | Page 5

In my turn I will say to you: Let's be
serious. Admit it: You encouraged me to do this thing. And exactly as
you say it was quite natural for me to undertake it, and still is; I concur
in your reasoning, and will pursue it like a fashionable man or
otherwise!
(Marie recoils abruptly. Peltier takes a step forward.)
PELTIER And I am going to prove it to you!
MARIE (rigid and henceforth not giving an inch) Fie!
PELTIER You are going to see.
(Aubin abruptly opens the door and appears.)
AUBIN (addressing himself exclusively to Peltier) Yes, it's I, the one
you didn't expect. No need to tell you how I caught wind of your plot
and was able to overtake you so soon. The essential thing is that four
officers from the garrison are indeed willing to serve as seconds and are
awaiting us in a nearby woods with swords and pistols as you please
even though I have indeed the right to choose the weapons.
PELTIER I'll come with you.

AUBIN (to his wife, aloud, taking her hand which he kisses) You,
Marie, await me here--dead or alive. Do you understand me, my pretty?
(Aubin and Peltier leave)
MARIE What an affair! Am I really dreaming in the end. (throwing
herself on a sofa which might soon have become dangerous) A little
order in my thoughts. (pressing her fingers to her forehead) There.
There.--Yes, what I was telling Mr. Peltier is still true. I was a spoiled
child when Aubin took me. He spoiled me, too. I became accustomed
to prolonging my childhood and my youth in the married state. I was
willful, demanding, capricious. At the beginning my husband found
this charming, then he tired of it. Quarrels, harshness on his part, on
mine sulks. Seven years later Peltier appeared. A charming man, surely.
But less so than Aubin, now that I see things clearly. And at bottom,
this stupid departure is still more my fault than his. A moment of
feminine scorn which with our mores a man is praised for profiting
from. I couldn't hold it against him just now for wanting what was
implied by our innocent prank and a little fortitude helped me confine it
to its character of folly and nothing more. But what? While I tell myself
these things, two likable men who both love me, and of which I
decidedly prefer one, my husband, are fighting over me. O Mercy! Just
as if I were a young girl. And indeed! O punishment! Me! Me! What
anguish and what a situation! And the future! During these sweet words
with Aubin just now. I've the great misery of waiting for him or the
other one. All the same, I've resisted. And there was a moment when I
had some merit. But this trip! And this waiting! My God, you in whom
one must believe despite all the opinions of folks these days, My
God--have pity on me in my misery! (long silence during which she
remains prostrated.)
AUBIN (enters, wounded in the shoulder, supported by an Officer) It's
over. Madame Aubin, I present you one of my seconds.
(To the officer) Sir?
OFFICER (bowing before Marie) Count de Givors.
AUBIN Count de Givors, I present you my wife.
MARIE (who, since her husband's entrance has had eyes only for him,
mechanically) Sir. (leaping after a fashion on his neck) Ah, my friend.
Why, why, you are wounded.
AUBIN It's nothing. A bullet that they'll quickly extract from me. And

then, right? as soon as my wound is dressed on our way to Paris? By
the way, you know, Peltier has nothing.
MARIE (literally superb) Who cares?
(Silence)
AUBIN (immensely joyful) Huh?
OFFICER (to both) Excuse me. (he withdraws after having bowed,
escorted out by both)
AUBIN (to his wife) Explain yourself, Marie.
(Peltier enters)
MARIE (to Peltier) Sir. Say if you have ever had the right to call
yourself my lover?
PELTIER On my oath as an honest and gallant man which my return to
this room confirms: Aubin, I swear No. This departure was a delirium
from which Madame awakened first, pure and invincible. Invincible
because I wanted to have the last word and she had it; and that was a no
not to be misunderstood.
AUBIN* Indeed, each has fulfilled his duty here. I, after your folly
rushed to get back my wife and to forgive her after a duel. You, Marie,
having remained a good spouse. And I will answer to you that the
misunderstandings which serve to excuse you, are dead forever. How
happy we are going to be. And you, Peltier, what need is there for an
explanation? Given our civilization's disapproval of your attempt to do
me out of my wife, as for me, I'd bear