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

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Сомерсет Моэм

Год написания книги

2017

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Anne

Why don't you send cards?

Violet

Oh, I think a letter is so much more polite. Somehow I don't feel old enough to ask people to dine with me in the third person.

Ronny

I'll come and do them the moment Sir Arthur can let me go.

Arthur

You'd better do them before Violet goes out.

Violet

That'll be very soon. The Khedive's mother has asked me to go and see her at half-past three. I'll get the list now, shall I? I don't think I'll wait for Christina. If she wants to see you on business I dare say she'd rather I wasn't there.

Arthur

Very well.

Violet

[To Ronny.] Will you come here when you're ready?

Ronny

Certainly.

[She goes out.]

Arthur

Have you finished that report yet?

Ronny

Not quite, sir. It will be ready in ten minutes.

Arthur

Put it on my desk.

Ronny

All right, sir.

[Exit. Arthur and Anne are left alone. He looks at her reflectively.]

Arthur

Violet is very sensitive to anything that might be considered a slight.

Anne

It's very natural, isn't it? A high-spirited girl.

Arthur

She likes me to tell her my arrangements. It gives her a little feeling of importance to know things before other people.

Anne

Oh, of course. I quite understand. I should do the same in her place.

Arthur

I ought to have remembered and told her that Ronny was going. She was just a little vexed because she thought I'd been fixing things up behind her back.

Anne

Yes, I know. It would naturally put her out for a moment to learn on a sudden that one of the persons she'd been thrown in contact with was going away.

Arthur

[With a twinkle in his eye.] I'm wondering if I must blame you for the loss of an excellent secretary.

Anne

Me?

Arthur

I don't know why the F.O. should suddenly have made up their minds that your brother was wanted in Paris. Have you been pulling strings?

Anne

[Smiling.] What a suspicious nature you have!

Arthur

Anne, own up.

Anne

I thought Ronny was getting into a groove here. There didn't seem to be much more for him to do than he has been doing for some time. If you will have the truth, I've been moving heaven and earth to get him moved.