The Lucky Man | Page 4

this fine Mr. Cadwell.
Jenny: Fine! He can be easily exposed and trapped. But I warn you, he'll get out of it again with a facility that will surprise you.
Olivia: In spite of all that, Jenny, we must help my brother. You have promised me.
Jenny: I haven't started badly and while Cadwell has been in the country these last two days believe you me, I've not forgotten to rouse Laura's suspiciosn.
Olivia: Here she is--
(Enter Laura)
What's wrong with you then, madam? You look sad to me.
Laura: I don't know, Olivia, I haven't slept.
Olivia: The people who trouble your repose may not care to restore it to you.
Laura: (defensively) You are very good, madam, to take part in something that regards me.
Olivia: I admit to you that I would like to see you at ease.
(Laura turns her head towards Cadwell's apartment)
How little attention you pay to what I say to you! One must be more your friend than I am--
Laura: (interrupting her) Not at all, Olivia. It seems to me I hear you--and if I were not to, should you be taking note of what I am doing?
Olivia: Yes, I ought to, Laura. Don't I have an interest in everything that touches you? Do you imagine I can watch with pleasure as people abuse your good faith? Am I not aware of your unjust preference and ought I not to try to make you know the difference between hearts that are truly attached to you and those that----? Believe me, Laura, I know it, and you will know them as I do, those who love you for yourself, those who sacrifice--
Laura: (to Jenny, turning again towards Cadwell's apartment) Jenny, have you seen--?
Olivia: Madam, I see that I am embarrassing you--
Laura: Olivia, I ask your pardon. I admit to you--
Olivia: (interrupting her) I will leave you--
Laura: (trying to hold her) Oh, no--please--
(Exit Olivia)
Jenny: It's clear that you have some distractions--
Laura: (interrupting) Jenny!
Jenny: Madam?
Laura: Has he gone?
Jenny: Who?
Laura: Has he gone, I said?
Jenny: Mr. Worthy?
Laura: No.
Jenny: Your lackey?
Laura: Who spoke of my lackey? Cadwell--has he left?
Jenny: I don't think he's awake yet.-- For some time, you've become so difficult to serve that it requires far greater penetration and patience than I can muster to stand you. Am I the mistress of your distractions and caprices? People don't say I am the reason you are not loved?
Laura: Jenny?
Jenny: Madam?
Laura: Would you kindly shut up?!
Jenny: No, madam! Really, it's not my fault if Cadwell has spent two days without seeing you. How badly infatuated you are with that little villain!
Laura: Jenny!
Jenny: Madam?
Laura: Once more, would you kindly shut up?
Jenny: No, madam. You've spoken to me and I am responding, and I will speak.
Laura: Well! Jenny, I forbid you to shut up. I don't know what way to prevent you from speaking.
Jenny: You know the doctor told me yesterday, in front of you, that I have a plethora of words so excessive, that if I don't say something-- You see, madam, silence is mortal to me.
Laura: (with exasperation) Oh--speak, Jenny!
Jenny: Ah, I feel better already. Tell me, madam, at the time you used to bore my head with exaggerating the happy state of widowhood, and how nothing in the world would induce you to remarry, had someone told you a man would come to propose to be your husband or lover (one doesn't make much distinction between the two these days) a restless man, always bizarre, always content with himself, never content with others--what would you have said?
Laura: They would have violently offended me.
Jenny: Oh, not offended. If that was so you would feel the outrage and the shame you receive.
Laura: Me?
Jenny: You, madam. Don't you love Cadwell? It is his portrait I have just drawn.
Laura: How you paint him, Jenny!
Jenny: As he is, madam, and as he ought to appear to you. While he wanted to please you and be loved by you, Cadwell was the finest man in the world. But as soon as he saw you would be faithful and loving, has he shown the least regard for you? What haven't you done for him? Think, madam, that you owe yourself something. You will pardon me for the liberty I am about to take. What would you think of an amiable young man, without wealth, lodging with you in the name of your uncle and who has never been in a condition to make expenditures but for your love of him. I wish that this plan to marry him can justify your conduct, but in delaying you permit people to think, to talk. And slowly but surely you're getting a reputation that doesn't do you much honor. I believe, I'd even swear that your passion hasn't gone beyond looks and words. But Laura, is everyone obliged to believe as I do? The world is not