The Double Widowing | Page 8

support.
Lucy Without support! That's why you ought to pacify the Countess. That way you would peaceably obtain your husband's wealth. Then, find some young man to be your support.
Widow Ah, Lucy. If I think of accommodating the Countess, it is not to gain peace. But, before I give her anything, I wish to consult with some smart man.
Lucy (low) Like Desmond. (Aloud) Some smart fellow who--
Widow Some man of good counsel.
Lucy Very good.
Widow A man with a head.
Lucy By the way, Desmond came this afternoon.
Widow Desmond's come--
Lucy Yes, Madame. He's a smart fellow, Desmond.
Widow Assuredly.
Lucy A man of good counsel.
Widow Without a doubt.
Lucy A man with a head. If you told him your difficulties--
Widow He knows my husband's business--
Lucy Yours will be in good hands.
Widow Go--tell him that he can find me in the garden.
Lucy Right away, Madame.
Widow A wise person ought to take advice.
Lucy You will follow Desmond's. What wisdom. What wisdom.
[Curtain in the original. End of Act I.]
Widow Ah, Lucy, how ashamed I am to tell you of the distant vows I have made to Desmond.
Lucy So long as those distant vows don't come too soon, I approve of them.
Widow If I were less virtuous than those ancient wives who could envisage no other consolation except to swallow the ashes of their husbands!
Lucy You see in your nephew the living features of your husband, his uncle. Catching the possessor of those features will cure you of your scruples.
Widow Lucy, do you suppose Desmond misunderstands my motives?
Lucy Not at all. I'm sure he understands them perfectly. But, be discreet. A man understands a widow's hint.
Widow I have always spoken to him with an indifference, a frigidity--
Lucy See the fate of virtue--
Widow I have expressed all the ideas of tenderness with perfect circumspection, but--shrewdly, delicately, with refinement. Really, without these precautions, I would expose myself to continual remorse. I would imagine, without end, that the soul of the departed reproached me. Yes, even in this moment, I hear his complaints, the sound of his voice, actually in my ears.
(Enter Desmond, after Lucy has signalled him to do so.)
Desmond Madame.
Widow Ah, Heaven, shh! It's you, Desmond. You've frightened me. I thought I heard the voice of my husband.
Desmond Really, there's quite a resemblance in our voices. The whole world used to mistake us.
Widow My husband had a very agreeable voice.
Desmond Let's talk business.
Widow The resemblances in families is remarkable. You've got your uncle's manners--even his brusqueness.
Desmond Following the advice I have given you--
Widow You have his gestures, his manner, his way of looking. I love most your way of looking--
Desmond Let's think about finishing.
Widow What still charms me in my husband is your softness, your wit, your entire person.
Desmond Madame, I've spoken to the Countess, and I think it's important that you pacify her--but you are not honoring me with your attention.
Widow With my attention! It's you who don't listen to me.
Desmond But really, it's wise to give in to her--
Widow You urge me to give away all my wealth?
Desmond Only a small part of it. Otherwise, you jeopardize--
Widow You don't know how much better it would be if I keep it. It would be better for you.
Desmond For me?
Widow For, in the future--you understand, sir. I could really, for you-- Right, Lucy--I can't explain any more, sir. You understand, don't you--
Desmond I--
Widow Because propriety prevents me from saying to you--
Lucy You've told him that already.
Widow I will say only, that having reflected on what the Countess didn't say, I fear that the husband she intends for Arabella is none other than yourself.
Desmond Me, Madame?
Lucy The gentleman would be wiser to go to the source of the wealth.
Widow I believe it, but from the fear that the Countess will give you, in spite of yourself, to Arabella, I have resolved not to give my money until the marriage contract is signed--and a husband other than yourself is the lucky man. And, I have a thousand other good reasons to communicate to you about this. But, I can't say a word now. Follow me, Lucy.
(Exit Widow.)
Desmond Lucy.
Lucy Sir, I have to go.
(Exit Lucy.)
Desmond What to do now?
(Enter Arabella.)
Arabella Tell me quickly--how did your conversation go with my aunt?
Desmond I think I've convinced her that she should let me arbitrate between her and the Countess.
Arabella That's funny.
Desmond She's disposed to agree to whatever I suggest, and--in a word--she's working for our marriage, without even knowing it.
Arabella Without knowing it. That makes me delighted.
Desmond Do you understand what our happiness is?
Arabella You will judge against her interest. Nothing could be funnier. It charms me totally.
Desmond You are pleased by the joke. The humor of it is what touches you. Your first sensation ought to be a passionate feeling of happiness.
Arabella Happiness touches me, too.
Desmond Too, too. You have a delightful choice of words--very revealing.
Arabella