The Lucky Man Part 13

Cadwell: Peace!

Bendish: I went for your scarf--

Cadwell: Shut up!

Bendish: Your jerkin--

Cadwell: Will you shut up!

Bendish: (aside) Listen!

Cadwell: Bendish?

Bendish: Sir?

Cadwell: Give me the mirror. (Bendish goes and returns with the objects as they are called for) Listen--my snuff box--wait--bring the armchair-- Eh!

My writing table.-- No, give me a comb. Come on then,--will you hurry up?

Bendish: Tell me exactly what you want--

Cadwell: I don't know. I want to sit down. (aside) Madam Olivia, madam Olivia, you have played me at trick--

(Enter Jenny)

Jenny: Madam, wants to know if you sup here?

Cadwell: Why, Jenny?

Jenny: Because if you don't sup here she will go in town.

Cadwell: I don't wish to constrain her, Jenny.

Jenny: Eh! You don't constrain her as much as you think. Are you supping here or not?

Cadwell: I will sup here if that will give her pleasure.

Jenny: I will go tell madam.

(Exit Jenny)

Cadwell: Do you know what has happened?

Bendish: n.o.body is speaking of anything else downstairs.

Cadwell: But is Laura persuaded that the thing is as I wish her to understand it?

Bendish: Apparently, since she wanted to know if you will sup with her.

Cadwell: On my oath, this is really funny.

Bendish: Very droll.

Cadwell: a.s.suredly, she doubts nothing. What she has just sent to ask confirms that sufficiently. But finish. What did Caroline want with me?

Bendish: That she never wants to see you; that she regards you at all times as a man without faith, without honor, slanderous, indiscreet, a traitor, rascal, unfaithful.

Cadwell: Eh! What did you say?

Bendish: I said nothing, sir. It was Charlotte. (pulling from his pocket a pair of gloves and presenting them to Cadwell) Still, she gave me a pair of gloves to oblige you to go there. (The Pet.i.te Chevalier appears) Wait --here's her nephew who has come to fetch you without a doubt.

(Enter the Little Gentleman)

L. Gent.: Eh! Good day my friend.

Cadwell: Eh: Good day child. Where are you going?

L. Gent.: I've come to see you. Are you angry about it?

Cadwell: No, not at all. Hold on then.

L. Gent.: I intend to kiss you.

Cadwell: (embracing him) Here's the way it's done.

L. Gent.: (embracing Cadwell a second time) And for my aunt, don't I get one?

Cadwell: (retiring) Well--is it enough? Fie then, little trickster, you've ruined my wig.

L. Gent.: Yes, that's true. I made a big b.o.o.boo. (to Bendish) Eh. Good day, Bendish. (presenting his hand to Bendish) Touch that.

Bendish: (touching his hand) That's how it is done.

Cadwell: Give him a seat.

L. Gent.: No. I don't know how to stay seated.

Bendish: (to Cadwell) Can he be trusted?

Cadwell: (to Little Gentleman) Come here.

L. Gent.: (throwing Cadwell's wig on the floor) Well?

Cadwell: What a villain to father a child like this! Isn't it time to grow wise?

L. Gent.: And you who are much larger than I? My aunt says you are not very wise.

Cadwell: Your aunt is crazy. Was it she who sent you here?

L. Gent.: She bet me half a crown that I wouldn't dare to come here to see if you were home.