Clair de Lune Part 25

We do not know, but we guess possibly.

[_At the word "abducted" GWYMPLANE steps menacingly up to the PRINCE. The QUEEN catches the look of hauteur and hatred that is exchanged between them. She hastily discovers some growing discomfort from which she slides away in her usual fashion by pursuing another channel of thought._]

QUEEN

Nevertheless, why does he seek his partner in your Grace's closet?

PRINCE

Josephine, good G.o.d--what are you?

d.u.c.h.eSS

What you are or would be, Charles--a star of the n.o.bility, shedding its single glory for the last time.

QUEEN

Come, come, cease your language. Why was this mountebank in your Grace's closet?

d.u.c.h.eSS

He flew to the nearest door in the opposite direction from whence came your Majesty's voice. I suppose he lost his head in his embarra.s.sment.

That is a quality of the lower cla.s.ses.

QUEEN

Your answers are tedious evasions. They explain nothing save what you wish to conceal--your dishonour. [_she turns to GWYMPLANE_]

Mountebank, I think you have ruined and frustrated the life of a most important personage in our court.

PHEDRO

Hold, hold. A bat has not torn a lily as you suppose, your Majesty.

QUEEN

No? Then what _has_ happened, Phedro? And do drop your metaphor. We are not wise enough so late to do it justice.

PHEDRO

Two stars have blundered together, that is all. Her Grace the d.u.c.h.ess of Beaumont and His Highness Prince Ian of Vaucluse.

PRINCE

My brother? Here? But my brother is dead! Where can you have imagined to have seen my brother?

PHEDRO

[_Approaches GWYMPLANE making him a low bow._]

Prince Ian of Vaucluse.

[_GWYMPLANE, as if he saw madness, loses the nervous control of his features by which he can efface his terrible grin, and his face grows convulsed with it._]

QUEEN [_regarding him and laughing shrilly_]

Here is some monstrous joke devised by Phedro. Why, Josephine, if this were true, then he--the clown--would be your fiance, nor have a right to reject you, since sharing in your rather disreputable offence. Ah, what folly! [_she places her hand upon her heart, gazing at PRINCE CHARLES_] But how I would like to credit the wildest phantasy tonight.

[_The d.u.c.h.eSS is looking on disdainfully as if witnessing rather a boring farce._]

PHEDRO [_looking intensely at the QUEEN_]

When the thing that we have longed for comes true, it may sound like madness. I have every credential to prove my extraordinary announcement.

QUEEN

[_Looking whimsically from one to another._]

Ah, let us suppose for a moment, Josephine, that this were true.

Surely you would be happy in a marriage so fortified by natural selection, and, as for Charles--the loss of certain things might be replaced by others.

[_She gazes at him tenderly._]

d.u.c.h.eSS

[_In a sudden outburst of confusion and ennui._]

We are all gone mad. I feel as if we were in a web. I marry with a clown--the clown a lord--the lord a deformity. [_She shudders_]

GWYMPLANE

O, I cannot stand this h.e.l.lish whirl another instant. It is biting my ankles off and blinding my eyes in a red sting of madness.

[_He attempts to throw open the door. PHEDRO swiftly forestalls him with widespread arms and a grim expression; GWYMPLANE turns away bowed from his ferocity of pain and bewilderment, while PHEDRO, with an incredible, greased swiftness, lets himself out the door, and returns almost upon the instant with DEA terrified, supported on his arm._]

PHEDRO [_turning suavely to DEA_]

My dear young lady, calm yourself. Where is the letter?

[_DEA takes it from her breast. GWYMPLANE looks at the letter in agonized amazement._]

DEA

You said I was to give it to the Queen.

PHEDRO

You are in the presence of her Majesty.

[_DEA makes a low curtsey, and holds out the letter. The QUEEN takes it from her with a strange, stiff gesture._]