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Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour
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Год написания книги
2017
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I wonder why you're so reckless.
Lady Frederick
When my husband was alive I was so utterly wretched. And afterwards, when I looked forward to a little happiness, my boy died. Then I didn't care any more. I did everything I could to stupefy myself. I squandered money as other women take morphia – that's all.
Fouldes
It's the same dear scatter-brained, good-hearted Betsy that I used to know.
Lady Frederick
You're the only person who calls me Betsy now. To all the others I'm only Elizabeth.
Fouldes
Look here, what are you going to do with this dressmaker?
Lady Frederick
I don't know. I always trust to the inspiration of the moment.
Fouldes
She'll make a devil of a fuss, won't she?
Lady Frederick
Oh, no; I shall be quite nice to her.
Fouldes
I daresay. But won't she be very disagreeable to you?
Lady Frederick
You don't know what a way I have with my creditors.
Fouldes
I know it's not a paying way.
Lady Frederick
Isn't it? I bet you a hundred louis that I offer her the money and she refuses it.
Fouldes
I'll take that.
Lady Frederick
Here she is.
[Madame Claude enters, ushered in by the Servant. She is a stout, genteel person, very splendidly gowned, with a Cockneyaccent. Her face is set to sternness, decisionto make a scene, and general sourness.
Servant
Madame Claude.
[Exit Servant. Lady Frederick goes up to her enthusiastically and takes both herhands.
Lady Frederick
Best of women. This is a joyful surprise.
Madame Claude
[Drawing herself up.] I 'eard quite by chance that your ladyship was at Monte.
Lady Frederick
So you came to see me at once. That was nice of you. You're the very person I wanted to see.
Madame Claude
[Significantly.] I'm glad of that, my lady, I must confess.
Lady Frederick
You dear creature. That's one advantage of Monte Carlo, one meets all one's friends. Do you know Mr. Fouldes? This is Madame Claude, an artist, my dear Paradine, a real artist.
Madame Claude
[Grimly.] I'm pleased that your ladyship should think so.
Fouldes
How d'you do.
Lady Frederick
Now, this gown. Look, look, look. In this skirt there's genius, mon cher. In the way it hangs my whole character is expressed. Observe the fullness of it, that indicates those admirable virtues which make me an ornament to Society, while the frill at the bottom just suggests those foibles – you can hardly call them faults – which add a certain grace and interest to my personality. And the flounce. Paradine, I beseech you to look at it carefully. I would sooner have designed this flounce than won the Battle of Waterloo.
Madame Claude
Your ladyship is very kind.
Lady Frederick
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Книгу прочитать не могу, везде ЛитРес свой нос сунул, как и где скачать полную версию бесплатно!?!?