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

Name: Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)
Author: Сомерсет Моэм

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Сомерсет Моэм

Год написания книги

2017

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[Looking at him sharply.] Common report says that at one time you were very much in love with her.

Fouldes

Common report is an ass whose long ears only catch its own braying.

Lady Mereston

I was wondering how far things went. If you could tell Charlie of the relations between you…

Fouldes

My good Maud, there were no relations – unfortunately.

Lady Mereston

Poor George was very uneasy about you at the time.

Fouldes

Your deceased husband, being a strictly religious man, made a point of believing the worst about his neighbours.

Lady Mereston

Don't, Paradine; I know you didn't like one another, but remember that I loved him with all my heart. I shall never get over his death.

Fouldes

My dear girl, you know I didn't mean to wound you.

Lady Mereston

After all, it was largely your fault. He was deeply religious, and as the president of the Broad Church Union he couldn't countenance your mode of life.

Fouldes

[With great unction.] Thank God in my day I've been a miserable sinner!

Lady Mereston

[Laughing.] You're quite incurable, Paradine. But you will help me now. Since his father's death, the boy and I have lived a very retired life, and now we're quite helpless. It would break my heart if Charlie married that woman.

Fouldes

I'll do my best. I think I can promise you that nothing will come of it.

[The door is flung open, and Lady Frederick enters, followed by Mereston, a youngboyish man of twenty-two; by her brother, Sir Gerald O'Mara, a handsome fellow ofsix-and-twenty; by Captain Montgomerie, Admiral Carlisle, and Rose, his daughter. Lady Frederick is a handsome Irishwoman of thirty to thirty-five, beautifullydressed. She is very vivacious, and light-hearted.She has all the Irish recklessnessand unconcern for the morrow. Whenevershe wants to get round anybody she fallsinto an Irish brogue, and then, as she knowsvery well, she is quite irresistible. Captain Montgomerie is a polished, well-groomedman of thirty-five, with suave manners. The Admiral is bluff and downright. Rose is a pretty ingénue of nineteen.

Lady Mereston

Here they are.

Lady Frederick

[Enthusiastically going to him with open arms.] Paradine! Paradine! Paradine!

Mererston

Oh, my prophetic soul, mine uncle!

Fouldes

[Shaking hands with Lady Frederick.] I heard you were at the Casino.

Lady Frederick

Charlie lost all his money, so I brought him away.

Lady Mereston

I wish you wouldn't gamble, Charlie dear.

Mererston

My dear mother, I've only lost ten thousand francs.

Lady Frederick

[To Paradine Fouldes.] I see you're in your usual robust health.

Fouldes

You needn't throw it in my face. I shall probably be very unwell to-morrow.

Lady Frederick

D'you know Admiral Carlisle? This is my brother Gerald.

Fouldes

[Shaking hands.] How d'you do?

Lady Frederick

[Introducing.] Captain Montgomerie.

Captain Montgomerie

I think we've met before.