William Maugham - Plays - Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour

I did, Lady Frederick.

No, you wanted to dun me. I'm disappointed in you. I did think, after all the things I've had from you, you wouldn't treat me like that.

But I assure your ladyship…

Not another word. You came to ask for a cheque. You shall have it.

No, Lady Frederick, I wouldn't take it.

What is the exact figure, Madame Claude?

I – I don't remember.

Seven hundred and fifty pounds, seventeen and ninepence. You see, I remember. You came for your cheque and you shall have it.

[She sits down and takes a pen.

Now, Lady Frederick, I should look upon that as most unkind. It's treating me like a very second-rate establishment.

I'm sorry, but you should have thought of that before. Now I haven't got a cheque; how tiresome.

Oh, it doesn't matter, Lady Frederick. I promise you it never entered my 'ead.

What shall I do?

You can write it on a sheet of paper, you know.

[ With a look, aside to him. ] Monster! [ Aloud. ] Of course I can. I hadn't thought of that. [ She takes a sheet of paper. ] But how on earth am I to get a stamp?

[ Much amused. ] I happen to have one on me.

I wonder why on earth you should have English stamps in Monte Carlo?

[ Handing her one. ] A penny stamp may sometimes save one a hundred louis.

[ Ironically. ] Thanks so much. I write the name of my bank on the top, don't I? Pay Madame Claude…

Now, it's no good, Lady Frederick, I won't take it. After all I 'ave my self-respect to think of.

It's too late now.

[ Sniffing a little. ] No, no, Lady Frederick. Don't be too 'ard on me. As one lady to another I ask you to forgive me. I did come about my account, but – well, I don't want the money.

[ Looking up good-humouredly. ] Well, well. [ She looks at the cheque. ] It shall be as you wish. There. [ She tears it up. ]

Oh, thank you, Lady Frederick. I look upon that as a real favour. And now I really must be getting off.

Must you go? Well, good-bye. Paradine, take Madame Claude to her motor. Ada!

[She kisses her on the cheek.

[ Going. ] I am pleased to have seen you.

[Paradine offers his arm and goes out with Madame Claude. Lady Frederick goes to the window, stands on a chair and waves her handkerchief. While she is doing this Captain Montgomerie enters .

How d'you do?

[ Getting down. ] How nice of you to come. I wanted to see you.

May I sit down?

Of course. There are one or two things I'd like to talk to you about.

Yes?

First I must thank you for your great kindness to Gerald. I didn't know last night that he owed you a good deal of money.

It's a mere trifle.

You must be very rich to call nine hundred pounds that?

I am.

[ With a laugh. ] All the same it's extremely good of you to give him plenty of time.

I told Gerald he could have till to-morrow.

Obviously he wants to settle with you as soon as ever he can.

[ Quietly. ] I often wonder why gambling debts are known as debts of honour.

[ Looking at him steadily. ] Of course I realise that if you choose to press for the money and Gerald can't pay – he'll have to send in his papers.

[ Lightly. ] You may be quite sure I have no wish to bring about such a calamity. By the way, have you thought over our little talk of last night?

No.

You would have been wise to do so.

My dear Captain Montgomerie, you really can't expect me to marry you because my brother has been so foolish as to lose more money at poker than he can afford.

Did you ever hear that my father was a money-lender?

A lucrative profession, I believe.

He found it so. He was a Polish Jew called Aaron Levitzki. He came to this country with three shillings in his pocket. He lent half-a-crown of it to a friend on the condition that he should be paid back seven and six in three days.

I'm not good at figures, but the interest sounds rather high.

It is. That was one of my father's specialities. From these humble beginnings his business grew to such proportions that at his death he was able to leave me the name and arms of the great family of Montgomerie and something over a million of money.

The result of thrift, industry, and good fortune.

My father was able to gratify all his ambitions but one. He was eaten up with the desire to move in good society, and this he was never able to achieve. His dying wish was that I should live in those circles which he knew only…

Across the counter?

Precisely. But my poor father was a little ignorant in these matters. To him one lord was as good as another. He thought a Marquess a finer man than an Earl, and a Viscount than a Baron. He would never have understood that a penniless Irish baronet might go into better society than many a belted earl.

And what is the application of this?

I wanted to explain to you one of the reasons which emboldened me last night to make you a proposal of marriage.

But surely you know some very nice people. I saw you lunching the other day with the widow of a city knight.

Many very excellent persons are glad to have me to dine with them. But I know quite well that they're not the real article. I'm as far off as ever from getting into those houses which you have been used to all your life. I'm not content with third-rate earls and rather seedy dowagers.

Forgive my frankness, but – aren't you rather a snob?

My father, Aaron Levitzki, married an English woman, and I have all the English virtues.

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