The Cabinet Minister: A farce in four actsPinero, Arthur Wing
General
The Cabinet Minister: A farce in four acts
Pinero, Arthur Wing
Comedy plays; English drama -- 19th century
But that is not the worst. It tells me that you are in trouble--you, the
best friend I have in the world, my benefactress. Oh, what shall I do?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Hold your tongue about it.
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
Ah! why did I read it through?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Because you were a little curious, I'm afraid.
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
I shan't sleep for it.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Thank you, I can do all my own lying awake. Mind your own concerns for
the future, Gaylustre.
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
It _is_ my concern when I can help you.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
_You_ help me?
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
Ah, yes. Oh, let me, Lady Twombley! I don't ask to be confided in, I
only ask to be allowed to bring my brother to see
you--to-night--to-morrow.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Your brother?
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
Mr. Lebanon--my Joseph. I would trust him as I'd trust myself. I have
known him do such things in the way of raising money upon what he calls
personal and other security----
LADY TWOMBLEY.
A money-lender?
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
Lady Twombley! Oh!
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Does Mr. Lebanon help--people--in difficulties?
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
Oh, doesn't he!
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Oh!
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
Will you see him, Lady Twombley?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Don't ask me. Perhaps.
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
To-night?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Perhaps, I tell you.
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
At what time? LADY TWOMBLEY.
Half-past nine--sharp.
MRS. GAYLUSTRE.
[To herself.] Done!
[SIR JULIAN enters with LADY MACPHAIL, MACPHAIL, and the DOWAGER. BROOKE
follows with DRUMDURRIS, then after an interval LADY EUPHEMIA, EGIDIA,
and IMOGEN appear.]
SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.
[To LADY TWOMBLEY, reprovingly.] My dear, Lady Macphail and Sir Colin
are going.
DOWAGER.
[To LADY TWOMBLEY.] You are neglecting them. What can be your motive?
LADY TWOMBLEY.
[To LADY MACPHAIL.] I hope Sir Julian has explained----
LADY MACPHAIL.
Certainly. But I must take my boy away. He dines at six to avoid late
hours.
[IMOGEN talks to MACPHAIL.]
DOWAGER.
[Quietly to LADY TWOMBLEY.] Look! they are talking.
LADY MACPHAIL.
Colin rises at five every morning.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Dear me, how awful!
LADY MACPHAIL.
He loves to watch the sunrise from the jagged summit of Ben-na-fechan.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
But there's no Ben-na-what-you-may-call-it here.
LADY MACPHAIL.
No. But he sits upon the roof of our lodgings in Clarges Street.
Good-bye, Lady Twombley.
[They shake hands.]
LADY TWOMBLEY.
[To MACPHAIL.] Good-bye. You must come and see me on one of my Tuesdays.
MACPHAIL.
Aye, with my mother.
[He turns to IMOGEN; they shake hands.]
IMOGEN.
Good-bye, Sir Colin.
DOWAGER.
[To LADY TWOMBLEY.] There again! look!
BROOKE TWOMBLEY.
Why, here's Valentine! Valentine!
LADY TWOMBLEY.
[Inquiringly.] Valentine?
[BROOKE brings on VALENTINE.]
VALENTINE WHITE.
[To BROOKE.] Let me go! I was trying to find my way out.
BROOKE TWOMBLEY.
[To LADY TWOMBLEY.] Here's Valentine, come back.
IMOGEN.
Valentine!
VALENTINE WHITE.
Imogen!
IMOGEN.
Oh, my dear Val! My dear old Val!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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