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

[He reads it through and looks at her in dismay.

Good God!.. What does it mean?

Pray read it aloud.

I can't.

Then give it to me. [ She takes it from him. ] It's addressed to my brother-in-law, Peter Berolles. The Kate to whom it refers was his wife. [ Reads. ] Dear Peter: I'm sorry you should have had a row with Kate about Roger Bellingham. You are quite wrong in all you thought. There is absolutely nothing between them. I don't know where Kate was on Tuesday night, but certainly she was not within a hundred miles of Roger. This I know because…

[ Interrupting. ] For God's sake don't go on.

[Lady Frederick looks at him and shrugs her shoulders .

It's signed Elizabeth Berolles. And there's a postscript: You may make what use of this letter you like.

What does it mean? What does it mean?

Surely it's very clear? You can't want a more explicit confession of guilt.

I tried to make it as explicit as possible.

Won't you say something? I'm sure there must be some explanation.

I don't know how you got hold of this letter, Lady Mereston. I agree with you, it is compromising. But Kate and Peter are dead now, and there's nothing to prevent me from telling the truth.

[Paradine Fouldes takes a step forward and watches her .

My sister-in-law was a meek and mild little person, as demure as you can imagine, and no one would have suspected her for a moment of kicking over the traces. Well, one morning she came to me in floods of tears and confessed that she and Roger Bellingham [ with a shrug ] had been foolish. Her husband suspected that something was wrong and had kicked up a row.

[ Drily. ] There are men who will make a scene on the smallest provocation.

To shield herself she told the first lie that came into her head. She said to Peter that Roger Bellingham was my lover – and she threw herself on my mercy. She was a poor, weak little creature, and if there'd been a scandal she'd have gone to the dogs altogether. It had only been a momentary infatuation for Roger, and the scare had cured her. At the bottom of her heart she loved her husband still. I was desperately unhappy, and I didn't care much what became of me. She promised to turn over a new leaf and all that sort of thing. I thought I'd better give her another chance of going straight. I did what she wanted. I wrote that letter taking all the blame on myself, and Kate lived happily with her husband till she died.

It was just like you.

But Lord and Lady Peter are dead?

Yes.

And Roger Bellingham?

He's dead too.

Then how can you prove your account of this affair?

I can't.

And does this convince you, Charlie?

Of course.

[ Impatiently. ] Good heavens, the boy's out of his senses. Paradine, for Heaven's sake say something.

Well, much as it may displease you, my dear, I'm afraid I agree with Charlie.

You don't mean to say you believe this cock-and-bull story?

I do.

Why?

Well, you see, Lady Frederick's a very clever woman. She would never have invented such an utterly improbable tale, which can't possibly be proved. If she'd been guilty, she'd have had ready at least a dozen proofs of her innocence.

But that's absurd.

Besides, I've known Lady Frederick a long time, and she has at least a thousand faults.

[ With flashing eyes. ] Thanks.

But there's something I will say for her. She's not a liar. If she tells me a thing, I don't hesitate for a moment to believe it.

It's not a matter of the smallest importance if any of you believe me or not. Be so good as to ring, Charlie.

Certainly.

[ He rings, and a Servant immediately comes in .

Tell my servant that he's to come here at once and bring the despatch-box which is in my dressing-room.

Yes, miladi.

[Exit.

[ Quickly. ] I say, what are you going to do?

That is absolutely no business of yours.

Be a brick, Betsy, and don't give her those letters.

I think I've had enough of this business. I'm proposing to finish with it.

Temper, temper.

[ Stamping her foot. ] Don't say temper to me, Paradine.

[ She walks up and down angrily. Paradine sits at the piano and with one finger strums "Rule Britannia."

Shut up.

[He takes a book, flings it at his head and misses.

Good shot, sir.

I often wonder how you got your reputation for wit, Paradine.

By making a point of laughing heartily at other people's jokes.

[ The Footman enters with the despatch-box, which Lady Frederick opens. She takes a bundle of letters from it.

Betsy, Betsy, for heaven's sake don't! Have mercy.

Was mercy shown to me? Albert!

Yes, miladi.

You'll go to the proprietor of the hotel and tell him that I propose to leave Monte Carlo to-morrow.

[ Aghast. ] Are you going?

Very well, my lady.

Have you a good memory for faces?

Yes, my lady.

You're not likely to forget Lord Mereston?

No, my lady.

Then please take note that if his lordship calls upon me in London I'm not at home.

Lady Frederick!

[ To Footman.] Go.

[ Exit Footman.

What d'you mean? What have I done?

[ Without answering Lady Frederick takes the letters . Paradine is watching her anxiously. She goes up to the stove and throws them in one by one.

What on earth is she doing?

I have some letters here which would ruin the happiness of a very worthless woman I know. I'm burning them so that I may never have the temptation to use them.

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