Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour. Maugham William Somerset

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      Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour

      LADY FREDERICK

CHARACTERS

      Lady Frederick Berolles

      Sir Gerald O'Mara

      Mr. Paradine Fouldes

      Marchioness of Mereston

      Marquess of Mereston

      Admiral Carlisle

      Rose

      Lady Frederick's Dressmaker

      Lady Frederick's Footman

      Lady Frederick's Maid

      Thompson

      A Waiter at the Hotel Splendide

Time: The Present Day

      Acts I and II —Drawing-room at the Hotel Splendide, Monte Carlo.

      Act III —Lady Frederick's Dressing-Room.

The Performing Rights of this play are fully protected, and permission to perform it, whether by Amateurs or Professionals, must be obtained in advance from the author's Sole Agent, R. Golding Bright, 20 Green Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C., from whom all particulars can be obtained

      THE FIRST ACT

      Scene: Drawing-room of the Hotel Splendide at Monte Carlo. A large, handsomely furnished room, with doors right and left, and French windows at the back leading to a terrace. Through these is seen the starry southern night. On one side is a piano, on the other a table with papers neatly laid out on it. There is a lighted stove.

      Lady Mereston, in evening dress, rather magnificently attired, is reading the papers. She is a handsome woman of forty. She puts down the paper impatiently and rings the bell. A servant answers. He has a French accent.

Lady Mereston

      Did Mr. Paradine Fouldes come this evening?

Servant

      Yes, miladi.

Lady Mereston

      Is he in the hotel now?

Servant

      Yes, miladi.

Lady Mereston

      Will you send some one up to his room to say I'm waiting to see him?

Servant

      Pardon, miladi, but the gentleman say 'e was on no account to be disturbed.

Lady Mereston

      Nonsense. Mr. Fouldes is my brother. You must go to him immediately.

Servant

      Mr. Fouldes his valet is in the 'all. Will your ladyship speak with him?

Lady Mereston

      Mr. Fouldes is more difficult to see than a cabinet minister. Send his servant to me.

Servant

      Very good, miladi.

      [Exit Servant, and presently Thompson, Mr. Fouldes' man, comes in.

Thompson

      Your ladyship wished to see me.

Lady Mereston

      Good evening, Thompson. I hope you had a comfortable journey.

Thompson

      Yes, my lady. Mr. Fouldes always has a comfortable journey.

Lady Mereston

      Was the sea calm when you crossed?

Thompson

      Yes, my lady. Mr. Fouldes would look upon it as a great liberty if the sea was not calm.

Lady Mereston

      Will you tell Mr. Fouldes that I should like to see him at once?

Thompson

      [Looking at his watch.] Excuse me, my lady, but Mr. Fouldes said no one was to disturb him till ten o'clock. It's more than my place is worth to go to him at five minutes to.

Lady Mereston

      But what on earth's he doing?

Thompson

      I don't know at all, my lady.

Lady Mereston

      How long have you been with Mr. Fouldes?

Thompson

      Twenty-five years, my lady.

Lady Mereston

      I should have thought you knew how he spent every minute of his day.

[Paradine comes in. He is a very well-dressed man of forty-odd. Self-possessed, worldly, urbane. He is never at a loss or put out of countenance. He overhears Lady Mereston's last words.Fouldes

      When I engaged Thompson I told him the first thing he must learn was the very difficult feat of keeping his eyes open and shut at one and the same time.

Lady Mereston

      My dear Paradine, I've been waiting to see you for the last two hours. How tiresome you are.

Fouldes

      You may give me a kiss, Maud, but don't be rough.

Lady Mereston

      [Kissing his cheek.] You ridiculous creature. You really might have come to see me at once.

Fouldes

      My dear, you cannot grudge me a little repose after a long and tedious journey. I had to repair the ravages to my person caused by twenty-seven hours in the train.

Lady Mereston

      Don't be so absurd. I'm sure your person is never ravished.

Fouldes

      Ravaged, my dear, ravaged. I should look upon it as an affectation at my age if I were not a little upset by the journey from London to Monte Carlo.

Lady Mereston

      I'll be bound you ate a very hearty dinner.

Fouldes

      Thompson, did I eat any dinner at all?

Thompson

      [Stolidly.] Soup, sir.

Fouldes

      I remember looking at it.

Thompson

      Fish, sir.

Fouldes

      I trifled with a fried sole.

Thompson

      Bouchées à la Reine, sir.

Fouldes

      They have left absolutely no impression upon me.

Thompson

      Tournedos à la Splendide.

Fouldes

      They were distinctly tough, Thompson. You must lodge a complaint in the proper quarter.

Thompson

      Roast pheasant, sir.

Fouldes

      Yes, yes, now you mention it, I do remember the pheasant.

Thompson

      Chocolate ice, sir.

Fouldes

      It was too cold, Thompson. It was distinctly too cold.

Lady Mereston

      My dear Paradine, I think СКАЧАТЬ