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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I suppose so.

Violet

But why was it kept from me? Why have you been making a secret of it?

Arthur

Darling, no one's been making a secret of it. I – I thought Anne would have told you.

Violet

Oh, it doesn't matter at all, but Ronny has been in the habit of doing all sorts of things for me. It would have been convenient if I'd been told that a change was going to be made.

Arthur

I'm very sorry. It was only arranged this morning. I received a telegram from the Foreign Office. I thought it would interest Anne, so I sent Ronny along to tell her.

Violet

I hate to be treated like a child.

[There is a moment's embarrassment.]

Anne

It was stupid of me. I ought to have come and told you. I was so pleased and excited that I forgot.

Violet

I don't quite know why you should have been so excited.

Anne

It will be very nice for me to have Ronny so near. You see, now I've given up my flat I shan't come to Egypt very often and I should never have seen Ronny. I can run over to Paris constantly. Besides, it's a step, isn't it? And I want to see him an Ambassador before I die.

Violet

I don't see what good it will do him in Paris to speak Arabic like a native.

Arthur

Oh, well, that is the F.O. all over. The best Persian scholar in the Service has spent the last six years in Washington.

Ronny

It's been a great surprise for me. I expected to remain in Egypt indefinitely.

Violet

[Recovering herself.] I expect you'll have a very good time in Paris. When do you go?

Ronny

There's a boat the day after to-morrow. Sir Arthur thought I'd better take that.

Violet

[Scarcely mistress of herself.] As soon as that! [Recovering, gaily.] We shall miss you dreadfully. I can't imagine what I shall do without you. [To Anne.] You can't think how useful he's been to me since I came here.

Ronny

It's very kind of you to say so.

Violet

He's invaluable at functions and things like that. You see, he knows where everyone should sit at dinner. And at first he used to coach me with details about various people so that I shouldn't say the wrong thing.

Arthur

If you had you'd have said it so charmingly that no one would have resented it.

Violet

I'm so afraid that the man who takes Ronny's place will refuse to write my invitations for me.

Arthur

It's not exactly the duty of my secretaries.

Violet

No, but I do hate doing it myself. And Ronny was able to imitate my handwriting.

Arthur

I'm sure he could never write as badly as you.

Violet

Oh, yes, he could. Couldn't you?

Ronny

I managed to write quite enough like you for people not to notice the difference.

Violet

You know, there are thirty-two invitations to do now.