The Triple Marriage | Page 9

cannot disagree.
Walter Hold, Madame, I've great obligations to you; I am too gallant a
man not to speak to you sincerely. Let me then disabuse you, and say to
you, with all respect, that I owe you that.
Countess Don't finish, you double crosser. I know where that little
speech is going to end.
Trim But, you are very wrong, Madame.
Countess I am wrong, me! I am wrong! In what respect, if you please?
Trim You're wrong to come into the world twenty years before he did.
Why were you in such a hurry? If you loved him with so much
tenderness, you ought to have planned ahead, and seen to it that he was
born five or six years before you.
Countess That depends on me?
Trim No, Madame. But it doesn't depend on him to love you.
Countess Then, why was it necessary to deceive me with false
protestations?
Trim They were not his.
Countess And, whose then?
Trim His father's who let it all happen. You offered to help him in his
needs. The occasion was pressing. He saw a way to profit by your
generosity. For recompense you wanted signs of love. The poor boy put
himself to incredible expense in sighs and protestations. You treated it
as a trifle, and he had no other coin to pay you in.
Countess You say not a word to this, sir?
Walter My word, Madame, he who makes no protest consents.
Trim Would you like me to tell you a way to revenge yourself on him?
Countess You would give me a great satisfaction, because I am beside
myself.

Trim And I, I who speak to you, I am in a rage against him. Let's stand
a little further off.
Walter What the devil's he going to say to her?
Trim What are you looking for in a husband, Madame?"
Countess A nice young man.
Trim Well, I am your man. I will marry you, if you wish.
Countess Get away from me, you wretch!
Trim I will avenge you better than anyone else.
Countess Get out, I tell you--I have a more sure way to punish this
infidel.
Trim That's what I'm afraid of.
Walter And, what have I to fear?
Countess Everything. I am going to marry you, in spite of yourself.
Walter Marry me! Ah, Madame, you wouldn't be as cruel as that.
Countess Yes, perjurer! I have just asked you from your father. I
offered to take you without a penny. My proposition was agreeable and
he accepted it, and that is enough for me. Goodbye, sir. Think about it.
But, get it in your head that I am to be your wife. I have sworn it--it
will be--and I am the one who tells you so,--and I am your very humble
servant.
(Exit Countess.)
Trim She's woman enough to do just as she said--at the very least.
Walter What a mess the crazy old fool has put me in.
(Enter Elizabeth and Anna.)
Elizabeth Oh, brother dear, I really need your help.
Walter Oh, sis, I really need your help.
Elizabeth My father has put me in despair.
Walter My father wishes me to die of sorrow.
Elizabeth Papa intends to marry me to Mr. Nugent.
Walter He wants me to marry the old countess.
Elizabeth I'll die if I do it.
Walter I'll die if I don't resist him.
Anna Here's a good beginning. Our fortunes are parallel--and don't they
resemble each other in other respects?
Walter Ah, Anna! My sister has less to complain of than I. She lacks
the strength to resist--and she will end up living with a man she has the
right to hate; but my fate is more cruel. For, I cannot follow father's

orders or explain to him the reasons that prevent me from doing so.
Anna We are in the same boat!
Walter How can that be?
Anna Explain yourself a little more and we will do the same.
Elizabeth Brother--hide nothing from me, I beg you.
Walter Ah, sister; I dare not speak. The slightest indiscretion and I am
lost.
Anna Same here. A single word is capable of ruining everything.
Elizabeth Brother, do you believe I am capable of betraying you?
Walter I can't conceal anything from you--Trim--tell her what has
happened. I haven't the strength to do it myself.
Trim Me, sir--reveal a secret! You take me for someone else.
Walter All that I will admit--generally--is that I cannot marry from now
on.
Elizabeth Alas, brother, it is no longer permitted that you consent to the
marriage proposed for me.
Walter The hardness of my father has constrained me to certain
measures which I am unable to take back.
Elizabeth The same reason has put me under the necessity of
consenting to