The Princess of Bagdad: A Play In Three Acts

Force that door.

Nourvady (to Lionnette)

Tell me that you love me.

Lionnette

Ah! yes, I love you; as he has driven me to it.

(During these words the door was violently shaken, and it opens with a great noise.)

Scene III

THE SAME PERSONS, JOHN, THE COMMISSARY OF POLICE, his Secretary, Two Agents

By an involuntary movement Lionnette places herself on the side opposite to that on which she was with Nourvady. In this way they become separated. Nourvady walks in front of the Commissary of Police. Lionnette seats herself upon the couch, one arm half supported on the back of the couch, the other upon the little table which is there. Her three-quarters' profile is turned towards the audience in an attitude of anger and defiance at what is going on. John points her out to the Commissary, and wants to run towards her. The Commissary stops him.

The Commissary

By virtue of an official mandate, I am required to come at the request of Count Victor Charles John de Hun, who is here, to prove the clandestine presence of the Countess Lionnette de Hun, wife of the said Count Victor Charles John de Hun, in the house of Mr. Nourvady, and to establish according to law the offence of adultery.

Nourvady

Sir!

The Commissary

You will please be silent, sir, and reply only to my questions, if I have any to put to you. (To John.) This gentleman is, I believe, Mr. Nourvady, whom you accuse of being an accomplice with your wife?

John

Yes.

The Commissary (to Lionnette)

Do you deny that, madam?

Lionnette

No. I am, indeed, the legitimate wife of that gentleman, and Countess de Hun, alas!

The Commissary (to an Agent)

See that no one enters here! (To the Secretary.) Sit down and write. (The Secretary sits down and prepares to write.)

Nourvady (to The Commissary)

But really, sir?

The Commissary

I am Commissary of Police in your district; here are my insignia, sir. (He shows one end of his scarf; dictating to his Secretary). Having betaken ourselves to one of the residences of Mr. Nourvady…

Lionnette

That is not correct, sir! Mr. Nourvady is not here in his own house, but in mine; this house and all that is in it belongs to me. Be kind enough to open this cabinet at your left and you will find there my title-deeds of ownership, which prove what I am stating.

The Commissary (to one of his Agents)

Open it. (The Agent gives him all the papers that he finds in the cabinet. The Commissary reads them over.) These papers are not quite according to law; it is a purchase made in your name but you have not ratified it, and your signature is wanting. (While he is speaking he carries the papers to Lionnette.)

Lionnette (taking the papers and signing)

There it is, and as the Count de Hun and I were married under the act of separation of property, and, as he legally gave me the right of acquiring and disposing of my property, I do not know what he wants here, in my house.

John (menacing her)

Madam!

The Commissary

Silence, sir, I beg of you. (Dictating.) We presented ourselves at the house which was indicated to us as one of the residences of Mr. Nourvady. Our visit was foreseen, and an order had been given to the servants to open the door to no one. After three legal summonses on our part, and three refusals on the part of the persons shut up in a room on the first floor, we broke open the door, and found in this room a man and woman, recognized to be Mr. Nourvady and the Countess Lionnette de Hun. The said lady, when we attributed to Mr. Nourvady the ownership of the house, formally declared to us that she was the owner of the house in which we found her, and furnished proofs of the same; also, she affirmed that Mr. Nourvady was paying her a visit there.

John

Add, if you please, sir, that I have disowned all participation in the ownership of this house, acquired without my consent, and by illegitimate means, which will be proofs of the charge of guilt.

The Commissary (to the Secretary)

Record the declaration of the Count de Hun. (Dictating.) After the refusal that was given to us, first by the servants of the house and then by Mr. Nourvady… You were the one, sir, were you not, who refused to open this door? (He turns towards Nourvady.)

Nourvady

Yes, sir.

The Commissary

After the refusal given and repeated three separate times by Mr. Nourvady, to open the door of the room where he was shut up with the Countess de Hun, although, according to the declaration of this lady, he was not in his own house, but her's, and, therefore, under the circumstances, she alone had a right to command there – after these repeated refusals, we found nothing to furnish us with convincing proofs of the charge that the complainant wished us to establish.

(While speaking, The Commissary has run his eye over the stage, looking at the furniture, and lifting up the screens that separated the drawing room from other rooms.)

John

The presence of my wife in this house is sufficient to prove the crime.

The Commissary

No, sir.