Cæsar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts. Maugham William Somerset

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      You see, I expected a pompous couple who knew all about everything and were going to tell me exactly how Egypt ought to be governed. A Member of Parliament doesn't inspire confidence in the worried bosom of a Government official.

Violet

      I don't know if you think you're putting Mr. and Mrs. Appleby at their ease, Arthur.

Arthur

      Oh, but I shouldn't say this if I hadn't been most agreeably disappointed.

Mrs. Appleby

      I never forget the days when Mr. Appleby used to light the kitchen fire himself and I used to do the week's washing every Monday morning. I don't think we've changed much since then, either of us.

Arthur

      I know, and I'm really grateful to the Foreign Office for having given you your letter.

Mrs. Appleby

      It's been a great treat to us to come and see you. And it's done my heart good to see Lady Little. If you don't mind my saying so she's like a spring morning and it makes one glad to be alive just to look at her.

Violet

      Oh, don't!

Arthur

      I'm inclined to feel very kindly to everyone who feels kindly towards her. You must enjoy yourselves in Upper Egypt and when you come back to Cairo you must let us know.

Appleby

      I'm expecting to learn a good deal from my journey.

Arthur

      You may learn a good deal that will surprise you. You may learn that there are races in the world that seem born to rule and races that seem born to serve; that democracy is not a panacea for all the ills of mankind, but merely one system of government like another, which hasn't had a long enough trial to make it certain whether it is desirable or not; that freedom generally means the power of the strong to oppress the weak, and that the wise statesman gives men the illusion of it but not the substance – in short, a number of things which must be very disturbing to the equilibrium of a Radical Member of Parliament.

Anne

      On the other hand, you'll see our beautiful Nile and the temples.

Arthur

      And perhaps they'll suggest to you that however old the world is it's ever young, and that when all's said and done the most permanent on the face of the earth is what seems the most transitory – the ideal.

Appleby

      Fanny, it looks to me as though we'd bitten off as big a piece of cake as we can chew with any comfort.

Mrs. Appleby

      Oh, well, we'll do our best. And though I never could do arithmetic I've always thought perhaps one might be saved without. Good-bye, Lady Little, and thank you for having us.

Violet

      Good-bye.

      [There are general farewells and they go to the door. Ronny opens it for them. They go out.]

Ronny

      I forgot to tell you, sir, Mrs. Pritchard has just telephoned to ask if she can see you on a matter of business.

Arthur

      [With a grim smile.] Say I'm very busy to-day, and I regret exceedingly that it will be quite impossible for me to see her.

Ronny

      [With a twinkle in his eye.] She said she was coming round at once.

Arthur

      If she's made up her mind to see me at all costs she might have saved herself the trouble of ringing up to find out if it was convenient.

Anne

      Your sister is a determined creature, Arthur.

Arthur

      I know. I have some authority in the affairs of this country, but none over dear Christina. I wonder what she wants.

Violet

      Let us hope for the best.

Arthur

      I've noticed that whenever anyone wants to see me very urgently it's never to give me anything. When Christina wants to see me urgently my only safety is in instant flight.

Violet

      You must be nice to her, Arthur. If you're not she'll only take it out of me.

Arthur

      It's monstrous, isn't it?

Violet

      After all, she kept house for you for ten years. Admirably, mind you.

Arthur

      Admirably. She has a genius for order and organisation in the house. Everything went like clockwork. She never wasted a farthing. She saved me hundreds of pounds. She led me a dog's life. I've come to the conclusion there's nothing so detestable as a good housekeeper.

Violet

      How fortunate you married me, then! But you can't expect her to see that point of view. It's very hard for her to be turned out of this very pleasant billet, and it's natural that when you won't do something she asks you she should put it down to my influence.

Anne

      It must have been a very difficult position for you.

Violet

      I did all I could to make her like me. I did feel rather like a usurper, you know. I tried to make her see that I didn't at all want to put on airs.

Arthur

      Fortunately she's taken it very well. I confess I was a little nervous when she told me she meant to stay on in Egypt to be near her son.

Anne

      It would be a detestable person who didn't like Violet, I think.

Arthur

      Detestable. I should have no hesitation in having him deported.

Ronny

      I think I'd better be getting back to my work.

Anne

      Oh, Ronny, would you like me to come and help you with your packing?

Violet

      [To Ronny.] Are you going somewhere?

Ronny

      I'm leaving Cairo.

Anne

      Didn't you know? Ronny has just been appointed to Paris.

Violet

      Is he going to leave Egypt for good?

      [She is taken aback by the news. She clenches her hand on the rail of a chair; Arthur and Anne notice the little, instinctive motion.]

Ronny

      I suppose so.

Violet

      But why was it kept from me? Why have you been making a secret of it?

Arthur

      Darling, no one's been making a secret of it. I – I thought Anne would have told you.

Violet

      Oh, it doesn't matter at all, but Ronny has been in the habit of doing all sorts of things for me. It would have been convenient if I'd been told that a change was going to be made.

Arthur

      I'm very sorry. It was only arranged this morning. I received a telegram from the Foreign Office. I thought it would interest Anne, so I sent Ronny along to tell her.

Violet

      I hate to be treated like a child.

      [There is a moment's embarrassment.]

Anne

      It was stupid of me. I ought to СКАЧАТЬ