Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour — John Shaqi
Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of HonourMaugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
General
Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
English drama
Poor girl, it'd simply break her heart. He preached at her steadily for
twenty years, and she worshipped the very ground he trod on. She'd have
died of grief at his death except she felt it her duty to go on with his
work.
LADY FREDERICK.
I know.
FOULDES.
By Jove, it's a good card. You were quite right to refuse the emeralds:
these letters are twice as valuable.
LADY FREDERICK.
Would you like to burn them?
FOULDES.
Betsy!
LADY FREDERICK.
There's the stove. Put them in.
[_He takes them up in both hands and hurries to
the stove. But he stops and brings them
back, he throws them on the sofa._
FOULDES.
No, I won't.
LADY FREDERICK.
Why not?
FOULDES.
It's too dooced generous. I'll fight you tooth and nail, but it's not
fair to take an advantage over me like that. You'll bind my hands with
fetters.
LADY FREDERICK.
Very well. You've had your chance.
FOULDES.
But, by Jove, you must have a good hand to throw away a card like that.
What have you got--a straight flush?
LADY FREDERICK.
I may be only bluffing, you know.
FOULDES.
Lord, it does me good to hear your nice old Irish brogue again.
LADY FREDERICK.
Faith, and does it?
FOULDES.
I believe you only put it on to get over people.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_Smiling._] Begorrah, it's not easy to get over you.
FOULDES.
Lord, I was in love with you once, wasn't I?
LADY FREDERICK.
Not more than lots of other people have been.
FOULDES.
And you did treat me abominably.
LADY FREDERICK.
Ah, that's what they all said. But you got over it very well.
FOULDES.
I didn't. My digestion was permanently impaired by your brutal
treatment.
LADY FREDERICK.
Is that why you went to Carlsbad afterwards instead of the Rocky
Mountains?
FOULDES.
You may laugh, but the fact remains that I've only been in love once,
and that was with you.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_Smiling as she holds out her hand._] Good-night.
FOULDES.
For all that I'm going to fight you now for all I'm worth.
LADY FREDERICK.
I'm not frightened of you, Paradine.
FOULDES.
Good-night.
[_As he goes out_, CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE _enters_.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_Yawning and stretching her arms._] Oh I'm so sleepy.
CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE.
I'm sorry for that. I wanted to have a talk with you.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_Smiling._] I daresay I can keep awake for five minutes, you
know--especially if you offer me a cigarette.
CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE.
Here you are.
[_He hands her his case and lights her cigarette._
LADY FREDERICK.
[_With a sigh._] Oh, what a comfort.
CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE.
I wanted to tell you, I had a letter this morning from my solicitor to
say that he's just bought Crowley Castle on my behalf.
LADY FREDERICK.
Really. But it's a lovely place. You must ask me to come and stay.
CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE.
I should like you to stay there indefinitely.
LADY FREDERICK.
[_With a quick look._] That's charming of you, but I never desert my
London long.
CAPTAIN MONTGOMERIE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account