Cadwell: Ah, I see now that no one poisoned you. I beg you, madam, give me the letter. (Laura hands it to him puzzled and he begins to read) "I am in the country for the last two days and I am without Laura! The complaisance that I am obliged to show a sick aunt makes me stay in a strange solitude. Couldn't you try to render my condition supportable?

IF YOU DO NOT TAKE IT ON YOURSELF, LAURA--the whole world together cannot help me. I will never love and never adore anyone but you in my life. Adieu." (after having read the letter aloud) This letter is full of scorn for you?

Laura: Oh, Cadwell, Cadwell, you have many enemies or I am very weak.

Cadwell: Still something remains hidden. Madam, I beg you to explain. Let me know who I ought to challenge or distrust.

Laura: No, Cadwell. Be content that I give no credence to the treason that I suspected of you.

Cadwell: Madam, I am the happiest man I the world today--but innocence is always recognized. Yet I fear that mine in the end will succ.u.mb to some new imposture.

Laura: Ah, Cadwell, can your interests be in better hands than mine? I am only too ingenious in finding reasons to excuse you and my suspicions only begin when I cannot find you innocent.

Cadwell: Yet, madam, what would have happened today, had I not by a miracle understood and brought the truth to your eyes? I would have lost forever a heart that my fidelity ought to have preserved for me eternally. Can I be for a moment without mortal uncertainty in the future? Things pa.s.s through my head, each one more bizarre than the rest. I feel I'd rather not see you ever again in my life than to be so cruelly forsaken even once. Me--faithless to my dear Laura! Madam, if you don't a.s.sure me against all that can tempt you against me; if you don't promise to shut the mouths of those who slander me before you--you will see me die of despair.

Laura: You don't love anyone but me, Cadwell?

Cadwell: I hate all that is not you.

Laura: Ah, Cadwell! Don't deceive me!

Cadwell: Why would I do that, madam?

Laura: How do I know? To pile conquest on conquest--to satisfy a ridiculous vanity that all men pride themselves on these days. Such easy things don't do you honor, Cadwell.

Cadwell: Ah, madam, I prefer to die.

Laura: What are you doing today?

Cadwell: Madam, my brother has asked me to visit him.

Laura: Are you going?

Cadwell: Soon, madam.

Laura: When will I see you again?

Cadwell: The very soonest I can.

Laura: Adieu, Cadwell. Think of me.

Cadwell: I am occupied by nothing but you.

(Exit Laura)

Bendish: Well, sir, I'm learning as you see.

Cadwell: You did wonders.

Bendish: Frankly sir, if you hadn't been seconded our ship would have come aground. Truly, the trouble that you had in this adventure--I'm not sorry it happened for I don't doubt that after such a hot alarm you'll take care not to make another such mistake.

Cadwell: (looking at his watch) What time is it? What the devil! Four o'clock. Sophia is waiting for me on the river.

Bendish: Sir!

Cadwell: Shut up!

Bendish: (aside) Ah--what a man! (aloud) Shall I go with you?

Cadwell: (taking a few steps towards leaving) No. (Returning) I forgot. (pulling a letter from his pocket and giving it to Bendish) Take this letter to the d.u.c.h.ess of Devonshire.

Bendish: The d.u.c.h.ess of Devonshire. It's fifteen months since you last saw her.

Cadwell: Go, I tell you.

Bendish: (aside) What a devilish imagination. Ah, she sold land eight days ago. (aloud) I'm going. But where will I find you?

Cadwell: At Charlotte's where I must be precisely at five o'clock, don't you know? Don't wait, for I won't be long.

(Exit Cadwell)

Bendish: Go, go, we are ordered. And by G.o.d all is not going to end as it should. Cursed be the first little she-monkey that gave him his reputation. Really, what's so marvelous about him? Don't I have eyes, a nose, a body like him? It's chance that does everything? Just make a little stir and you will succeed in all things. The d.u.c.h.ess is amorous of so and so. She pa.s.ses for a connoisseur. All the gallant ladies want to know if she's right. All try to please her. One by a veritable infatuation, another by jealousy, another by avenging a lover who had left her, to reawaken the ardors of a languishing lover--all to follow the fashion. For it's fashion in this as in all else. But let's go wait on her. For if I only need to deceive six persons for the remainder of the day, I'll be off quite cheaply.

CURTAIN

ACT III. The same, a short time later.

Worthy: Sister, I've seen Victor as you advised me. I was careful to tell him of Laura's attachment to Cadwell. Doubtless he's informed of what's happening and I didn't think it would be honest for me to further agitate a man who seemed to be in despair. Besides, this is a bad way to earn the heart of a lady we esteem. But, sister, I believe chance has done for us all that we could hope. In short, Arabella, whom I just met, a.s.sured me that she has disabused Laura--that she had just put in her hands a letter from Cadwell--

Olivia: A letter written by Cadwell to Arabella?

Worthy: Yes, I tell you.

Jenny: Ah, madam, how relieved I am! We are going to see the master and the valet greatly abashed. This puppy Cadwell with his impertinent airs, and this rogue of a Bendish, who's starting to be like him. But listen, don't be fooled. Do what is necessary to finish things. If you give them time to repair the damage--

Olivia: Ah, I don't know what to believe. Laura has a very cowardly heart--

Jenny: My G.o.d, Laura loves him! Laura is credulous and Cadwell is a very loveable villain. You must dare all. Take her in a fit of pa.s.sion or you will obtain nothing. As for me, I have taken the trouble to strengthen what you've told her, but I haven't noticed any change in the way she looks.

Worthy: She's choking back her resentment. I have it from Arabella.

Olivia: Go then, brother, go find her. Test her soul. Take advantage of such a favorable opportunity. And be sure something will happen. We are laying many traps for Cadwell. In the end they will enable us to open Laura's eyes.

Worthy: Ah, sister, it's time that you do that, for truly, I am dying. This unjust prejudice for Cadwell is killing me. I really believe I would suffer less if he wasn't deceiving her.

Jenny: What amuses you? You tell us here the finest things in the world. When you are with her you cannot open your mouth. If you saw Cadwell with Laura--he never stops talking even if he repeats the same thing to her a hundred times.

Worthy: He's happy, Jenny.