The Princess of Bagdad: A Play In Three Acts

Good bye. (He goes away running.)

Lionnette

And you go away like that? (Raoul bows again, and wants to go away. Lionnette shows him Richard.) And Mr. Richard? And your father, too?

(At each name mentioned Raoul passes to the person, who kisses him. One can see he is in a great hurry to run away. When he gets to John, the latter takes him in his arms and kisses him very warmly.)

John

Don't be afraid, I am not going to crumple your collar. (He puts the child on the ground again, who tries afresh to escape.)

Lionnette (who during this time is serving the tea)

And me, Raoul.

(Raoul runs back again and kisses his mother.)

Lionnette (with a sigh)

Go and play, my child, go; and amuse yourself well.

(Lionnette, a cup in each hand, presents one to Godler, the other to Trévelé.)

Godler (touching Lionnette's hand with his lips)

Dare I be so bold?

Lionnette

If you wish it.

Trévelé

And I?

Lionnette

And you, too. Only, take the cups, or you will burn my hands with the tea.

Godler

And you, Nourvady?

Nourvady

Thank you, I ask for nothing, not even a cup of tea.

(John chats with Richard in a corner.)

Trévelé

And the Countess will be right never to give you anything. People who ask nothing are often those who wish too much. Under cover of forty millions…

Nourvady

My money has nothing to do with this.

Trévelé

Certainly not; but all the same, when one has forty millions one finds a great many things easier than when one has, like me, only one. Ah, well, I must say, to the credit of Nourvady, it is in vain that he has two millions income at least – because he is a man who makes the best of his capital. He is, after all, the most sentimental of us three, and who takes love most seriously. He is a millionaire Anthony, and in our time it is remarkable.

Godler

And useful.

(Richard and John, who have chatted in a corner of the drawing-room, make their way to the terrace, where they chat in sight of the public.)

Nourvady

I do not know why Trévelé always assails me on the score of my fortune, of which I talk as little as possible. I am rich, but it is through no fault of mine. If that had depended on me alone, it certainly would never have happened. I am not clever enough to make forty millions. Fortunately, I had a father who was very intelligent, and, at the same time, very honourable. This father had a large bank at Vienna, which was very prosperous. He died, leaving me forty millions. It was, therefore, necessary to resign myself to accept them.

Lionnette

Easy resignation, I think, and that I should have had like you.

Nourvady

Ah! Madam, a fortune is a burden like anything else, at least for a man, for women have more grace and intelligence in spending money than we. But with much simplicity, a few efforts of the intellect, a little ingenuity in the way of rendering services – there is sometimes a way to get out of the difficulty – for a man.

Trévelé

And you get out of it remarkably well, my dear fellow! If we tease you about your millions, it is because it is the only subject we can joke you upon.

Nourvady (holding out his hand to him)

Rest assured, my dear Trévelé, that I am never offended at your jokes.

Godler (to Trévelé)

It is very fortunate for you, for if Nourvady were at all susceptible you would have a nice time.

Trévelé

Why?

Godler

Because he kills a bird at every shot.