The Unforseen Return | Page 6

justify yourself; but I, who never get mixed up in anything
adventurous and who haven't seen the conclusion of this affair--what

kind of role must I play--and what will people say of it, I pray?
Roger: They'll say that people are known by the company they
keep--and that the company made you get married. My master has so
many friends--you have only to pick.
Lucy: Take one, madame. The crazier things are--the more fun. Come
on--make a choice!
Clarissa: I'll marry the devil. Now that you mention it, I think I'll marry
off Lucy--because of the company. It's a very contagious example.
Edward: I wish you'd follow our example. I have a young friend who is
alienated from his family. That's the way to recommend him. Has he
told you of his feelings?
Clarissa: No. This sort of marriage doesn't interest me. I don't follow
anyone's lead. I want to take a husband as independent as I am.
Edward: Well said. My friend isn't the type to let you put a bridle on
him.
Roger: But here is the Squire who comes to see you. I am going to see
if everything is ready for your supper.
(Exit Roger to the house)
Squire: (entering from the street) Your servant, my friend. Ah, ladies, I
am delighted to see you. You are waiting for me and that's very proper.
I am the very soul of your parties, I admit. The premier mover in your
pleasures, I know it. Where are we now? Is the supper ready? Are we
getting married? Shall we abandon ourselves to wine? Come on, bring
on the gaiety--I've never been in such a mood, in such spirits--I defy
you to bore me.
Clarissa: Truly, Squire, you were wise to wait.
Lucy: It would be silly if a Squire were the first to come! One would
think he had nothing to do.
Squire: I assure you ladies that my coach cannot fly faster. It's less than
three quarters of an hour since I left Saint James. You know I usually
use arabian horses. There are simply no better horses for a quick
rendezvous.
Edward: What affair is so pressing?
Squire: If we didn't have flying carriages like that we'd miss half our
opportunities.
Melinda: And since when, Squire, are you mixed up with going to court?
It seems that you ordinarily stay at Oxford.

Squire: Well, what of it, my dear.
(To Edward) Here you are awash in pleasure--you swim in delights.
You know the interest that I take in all that concerns you. What
happiness when two well tested hearts approach the long awaited
moment--there one sees the ending of--a novel. This is a great day for
you.
Edward: I feel my happiness in all this talk.
(To Squire) But tell me, I beg you, have you been, as you promised, to
the jeweler for the diamonds?
Squire: (to Clarissa) And you pretty cousin, what is it? Your heart says
nothing to you? The example should encourage you--don't you wish, in
marrying, to pay your debts to love and nature? It is terrible to be
useless in this world.
Clarissa: I am not bored yet with my virginity.
Squire: Whenever you please we will take the same momentous
step--hearts united. I am made for the ladies, and, in all modesty, the
ladies are made for me. May I be damned if you are not to my taste. I
am ready to love you one day to the point of adoration--to the point of
madness! But not to the point of marriage. I like amours without
consequences-- you understand me, I'm sure?
Lucy: Truly, this speech is so plain it needs no commentary. What!
Squire! For shame!
Squire: You can't know how much this little fellow shames me. It is
true this little bourgeois hasn't an equal, and that I treat him like family,
introduce him into society, teach him to gamble, educate his taste in
manners, furniture, and horses. I lead him a little astray--but these little
gentlemen are not very happy unless one inspires them with the
manners of the court and they learn to ruin themselves in two or three
years.
Lucy: Have you many scholars?
Squire: Where is Roger? I don't see him here. He's a pretty fellow. I
love him. I find him admirable as a trickster, to keep off creditors, to
calm usurers, to persuade and pacify merchants. To sell all the furniture
in a house quietly and quickly. How fashionable, how witty of your
father, how prudent, to leave you a governor so wise, an economist so
knowing. This rogue values twenty thousand pounds rent, the same
way a baby does a half penny.

(Enter Roger)
Roger: Ladies and gentlemen, when you wish to enter supper is ready.
Squire: Yes. Well said. We mustn't