Cæsar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts

Name: Cæsar&apos;s Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)
Author: Сомерсет Моэм

Автор

Сомерсет Моэм

Год написания книги

2017

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Won't you stop and say good-night to Anne?

Ronny

No, if you don't mind, I'd like to go quickly.

Violet

Very well. And try to forgive me, Ronny.

Ronny

Good-night.

[He takes her hand and they look into one another's eyes.]

Violet

Good-night.

[He goes out. Violet clasps her hands to her heart as though to ease its aching. Anne and Arthur return.]

Anne

Where is Ronny?

Violet

He's gone. It was so late. He asked me to say good-night to you.

Anne

Thank you. It must be very late. I'll say good-night too. [She bends down and kisses Violet.] Good-night, Arthur.

Arthur

Good-night. [She goes out. Arthur sits down. A Sais comes in and turns out some of the lights. In the distance is heard the wailing of an Arab song. Arthur motions to the Sais.] Leave these. I'll turn them out myself. [The Sais goes in and turns out all the lights in the lower rooms but one. The light remains now only just round Arthur and Violet. The Arab song is like a wail of pain.] That sounds strangely after the waltzes and one-steps that we've heard this evening.

Violet

It seems to come from very far away.

Arthur

It seems to wail down the ages from an immeasurable past.

Violet

What does it say?

Arthur

I don't know. It must be some old lament.

Violet

It's heartrending.

Arthur

Now it stops.

Violet

The garden is so silent. It seems to be listening too.

Arthur

Are you awfully unhappy, Violet?

Violet

Awfully.

Arthur

It breaks my heart that I, who would do anything in the world for you, can do so little to console you.

Violet

Had you any idea that Ronny no longer cared for me?

Arthur

How should I know what his feelings were?

Violet

It never occurred to me that he could change. I felt so secure in his love. It never occurred to me that anyone could take him from me.

Arthur

Did he tell you he didn't care for you any more?

Violet

No.

Arthur