Woman on Her Own, False Gods and The Red Robe: Three Plays By BrieuxBrieux, Eugène
General
Woman on Her Own, False Gods and The Red Robe: Three Plays By Brieux
Brieux, Eugène
French drama
SCENE III:--_Vagret, Madame Vagret, Catialena._
CATIALENA [_holding out an envelope_] This has just come for you, sir.
[_She goes out again_]
VAGRET. What's this? The Basque paper--the _Eskual Herria_--an article
marked with blue pencil. [_He reads_] "Eskual herri guzia hamabartz egun
huntan--" How's one to make head or tail of such a barbarian language!
MADAME VAGRET [_reading over his shoulder_] It's about you--
VAGRET. No!
MADAME VAGRET. Yes. There! "Vagret procuradoreak galdegin--" Wait a
minute. [_Calling through the further doorway_] Catialena! Catialena!
VAGRET. What is it?
MADAME VAGRET. Catialena will translate it for us. [_To Catialena, who
has entered_] Here, Catialena, just read this bit for us, will you?
CATIALENA. _Why, yes, Madame._ [_She reads_] "Eta gaitzegilia ozda
oraino gakpoian Irrysaryko."
VAGRET. And what does that mean?
CATIALENA. That means--they haven't arrested the Irissary murderer yet.
VAGRET. We know that. And then?
CATIALENA. "Baginakien yadanik dona Mauleano tribunala yuye arin edo
tzarrenda berechiazela." That means there are no magistrates at Mauleon
except those they've got rid of from other places, and who don't know
their business--empty heads they've got.
VAGRET. Thanks--that's enough.
MADAME VAGRET. No, no! Go on, Catialena!
CATIALENA. "Yaun hoyen Biribi--"
MADAME VAGRET. Biribi?
CATIALENA. Yes, Madame.
MADAME VAGRET. Well, what does Biribi mean in Basque?
CATIALENA. I don't know.
MADAME VAGRET. What? You don't know? You mean you don't want to say? Is
it a bad word?
CATIALENA. Oh no, Madame, I should know it then.
VAGRET. Biribi--
BERTHA. Perhaps it's a nickname they give you.
MADAME VAGRET. Perhaps that's it. [_A pause_] Well?
CATIALENA. They're speaking of the master.
MADAME VAGRET [_to her husband_] I told you so. [_To Catialena_] Abusing
him?
VAGRET. I tell you that's enough! [_He snatches the paper from Catialena
and puts it in his pocket_] Go back to the kitchen. Hurry now--quicker
than that!
CATIALENA. Well, sir, I swear I won't tell you the rest of it.
VAGRET. No one's asking you to. Be off.
CATIALENA. I knew the master would be angry. [_She turns to go_]
MADAME VAGRET. Catialena!
CATIALENA. Yes, Madame?
MADAME VAGRET. Really now, you don't know what Biribi means?
CATIALENA. No, Madame, I swear I don't.
MADAME VAGRET. That's all right. There's the bell--go and see who it is.
[_Catialena goes_] I shall give that woman a week's notice, and no later
than to-morrow.
VAGRET. But really--
CATIALENA [_returning_] If you please, sir, it's Monsieur Delorme.
MADAME VAGRET. Your examining magistrate?
VAGRET. Yes. He's come to give me his reply. [_To Catialena_] Show him
in.
MADAME VAGRET. What reply?
VAGRET. He has come to return me his brief.
MADAME VAGRET. The brief?
VAGRET. Yes. I asked him to think it over until this evening.
MADAME VAGRET. He'll have to stay to dinner.
VAGRET. No. You know perfectly well his health--Here he is. Run away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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