Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 40

MARCEL. Thank you!

FRANcOISE. I took good care of your dignity, you may be sure of that.

Here we were together; I told him the story of my life during the last year--how I loved you--and then he broke down. When I learned the truth, he said he would go away for my happiness' sake.

MARCEL. I was a coward to deceive that man! Is this a final sentence that you pa.s.s on me?

FRANcOISE. Marcel!

MARCEL. Both of you are big! You have big hearts. I admire you both more than I can say.

FRANcOISE [_incredulously_]. Where are you going? To get him to fight with you?

MARCEL [_returning to her; angrily_]. How can I, now? After what you have done, it would be absurd. Why the devil did you have to mix yourself up in something that doesn't concern you? I was only looking for a chance to fight that duel!

FRANcOISE. Looking for a chance?

MARCEL. Oh, I--

FRANcOISE. Why?

MARCEL [_between his teeth_]. That's my affair! Everybody has his enemies--his insults to avenge. It was a very good thing that gentleman didn't happen across my path!

FRANcOISE. How dare you recall what he has been generous enough to forget?

MARCEL. How do you know that I haven't a special reason for fighting this duel? A legitimate reason, that must be concealed from you?

FRANcOISE. You are mistaken, dear: I guess that reason perfectly.

MARCEL. Really?

FRANcOISE. I know it.

MARCEL [_bursting forth_]. Oh! Good! You haven't always been so frightfully profound.

FRANcOISE. Yes, I have, and your irony only proves that I have not been so much mistaken in what I felt by intuition.

MARCEL. Ah, marriage.

FRANcOISE. Ah, duty!

MARCEL. I love Madame Guerin, don't I?

FRANcOISE. I don't say that.

MARCEL. You think it.

FRANcOISE. And if I do? Would it be a crime to think it? You once loved her--perhaps you have seen her again, recently? Do I know where you go?

You never tell me.

MARCEL. I tell you too much!

FRANcOISE. I think you do.

MARCEL. You're jealous!

FRANcOISE. Common, if you like. Come, you must admit, Marcel, Madame Guerin is in some way responsible for your excitement now?

MARCEL. Very well then, I love her, I adore her! Are you satisfied?

FRANcOISE. You should have told me that first, my dear; I should never have tried to keep you away from her.

[_She breaks into tears._]

MARCEL. She's crying! Good, there's liberty for you!

FRANcOISE [_bitterly_]. Liberty? I did not suffer when I promised you your liberty.

MARCEL. That was your "resignation."

FRANcOISE. You knew life, I did not. You ought never to have accepted it!

MARCEL. You're like all the rest!

FRANcOISE [_more excited_]. Doesn't unhappiness level us all?

MARCEL. I see it does!

FRANcOISE. What can you ask for, then? So long as you have no great happiness like mine you are ready enough to make any sacrifice, but when once you have it, you never resign yourself to losing it.

MARCEL. That's just the difficulty.

FRANcOISE. Be a little patient, dear: I have not yet reached that state of cynicism and subtlety which you seem to want in your wife--I thought I came near to your ideal once! Perhaps there's some hope for me yet: I have promised myself to do my best to satisfy your ideal.

MARCEL [_moved_]. I don't ask that.

FRANcOISE. You are right, I am very foolish to try to struggle. What is the good? It will suffice when I have lost the dearest creature on earth--through my foolishness, my blunders!

MARCEL. The dearest creature?

FRANcOISE. I can't help it if he seems so to me!

MARCEL [_disarmed_]. You--you're trying to appeal to my vanity!

FRANcOISE. I am hardly in the mood for joking.

MARCEL [_tenderly, as he kneels at her feet_]. But you make me say things like that--I don't know what! I am not bad--really bad! No, I have not deceived you! I love you, and only you! You! You know that, Francoise! Ask--ask any woman! All women!

[_A pause._]