The Double Widowing Part 1

The Double Widowing.

by Riviere Dufresny.

CHARACTERS, four men, six women: The Countess, an imperious woman of no particular age Mr. Bramble, her steward Widow, Bramble's wife Tuneless, the Countess's butler who composes music Desmond, Mr. Bramble's nephew, a sentimentalist in love with Arabella Arabella, the Widow's niece, a rationalist in love with Desmond Maid, the Countess's maid Lucy, the Widow's maid Mr. MacPherson, a servant of the Countess Mrs. MacPherson, his wife

The scene is set in a room in the Countess's country house. The time is the early 18th Century.

Lucy I am delighted to see you return, sir. I've been looking for you all over the place, in the gardens, everywhere.

Desmond Good day, Lucy, good day.

Lucy You've come at just the right time. The Countess, and I, and all the house have been waiting for you to return with great impatience. But, quickly--tell me news of your uncle-- Is Mr. Bramble dead or alive?

Desmond I know nothing of it.

Lucy We are in the same incert.i.tude. Only Mrs. Bramble is certain. We've told her he's dead for sure--to make her fall into the trap we've set for her. She thinks she's a widow, and it's on that belief that we build our little project of your marriage, sir.

Desmond What's that?

Lucy I told you, that to facilitate your marriage with Arabella, the Countess, who protects you both, has pulled a thousand strings to prove to my mistress that your uncle is dead. Mrs. Bramble is so sure of being a widow that she put on mourning yesterday, sir.

Desmond What are you telling me?

Lucy I'm telling you business that concerns both of us. For the thirty gold crowns you promised me has the same appeal to me that Arabella has for you. Listen to me, then--. To help us, you must hide from our widow the love you have for Arabella, for if she suspects you love her niece--

Desmond I know all that. I've been through it just now with the Countess.

Lucy Sir, pardon my useless talk. I ought first to talk of the charms of this young beauty who--

Desmond What charms she has, Lucy, what charms! She has so many!

Lucy The most pretty little charms. Not fifteen years old, these charms, and new ones added every day. And, you will marry all of them soon.

Desmond It's the greatest misfortune that can happen to me.

Lucy A misfortune to possess something you love so much! Here's one of your bizarre refinements. You are the most reasonable gentleman in England--but you've no common sense. Speak to me reasonably: do you wish to marry her?

Desmond Do I ever wish it!

Lucy If you wish this marriage ardently, let's work in concert. I hope Arabella will be your wife today.

Desmond Alas, that's what I fear.

Lucy Again! Oh, you exaggerate. Is this crazy love or simply craziness?

Desmond No, Lucy, no--it is not caprice, it is not exaggeration. I fear with my mind that which I want with all my heart. I am well aware that I cannot live without the adorable Arabella. But, I foresee we will be unhappy together. In a word, we are unable to agree about anything.

Lucy And, what is it necessary to agree about to get married?

Desmond If you knew the reception she just gave me--

Lucy She was wrong--

Desmond She received me with an air--

Lucy Is it possible?

Desmond After eight days absence.

Lucy She received you coldly?

Desmond She received me shouting, dancing. I saw her jump about with happiness.

Lucy My word, you're not wise. What! You despair because she's delighted to see you?

Desmond Delighted to see me! I cannot compare that dissipated delight with the sensitive pleasure and pa.s.sion the sight of a loved one should inspire. For example, from the moment I saw her I stood immobile, seized by a languor--my heart beat, my eyes clouded. Ahh! That's the way to express pa.s.sion. But she is incapable of such a solid, pa.s.sionate love--which is the only kind that can content me.

Lucy If I was a man, I'd choose for my wife a woman who was always gay, never moody or sensitive.

Desmond I want sensibility.

Lucy In a mistress--but in a wife, shame!

Desmond It's all an amus.e.m.e.nt.

Lucy It's an amus.e.m.e.nt very dangerous for the husband.

Desmond One can have feelings and be virtuous.

Lucy Virtue doesn't always make a woman faithful. I'd like a woman better who had no pa.s.sions rather than one who is governed by them.

(Enter Arabella, singing.)

Arabella La, la, la, la--la, la, la, la, la.

Desmond Do you hear, Lucy, do you hear?

Lucy She has a nice voice, doesn't she?

Desmond After having seen me before her overcome by emotion--

Arabella La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.