William Maugham - Cæsar's Wife - A Comedy in Three Acts

Certainly.

[ She goes out. ]

Have you finished that report yet?

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

Put it on my desk.

All right, sir.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Me?

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?

[ Smiling. ] What a suspicious nature you have!

Anne, own up.

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.

How deceitful of you not to have said a word about it!

I didn't want to make him restless. I knew he'd be mad to go to Paris. I thought it much better not to say anything till it was settled.

D'you think he's mad to go to Paris?

[ Fencing with him. ] Any young man would be.

I wonder if he'd be very much disappointed if I made other arrangements.

What do you mean, Arthur? You wouldn't prevent him from going when I've done everything in the world to get him away.

[ Abruptly. ] Why should you be so anxious for him to go?

[ She looks at him for an instant in dismay. ]

Good heavens, don't speak so sharply to me. I told Violet just now. I wanted him to be more get-at-able. I think he stands a much better chance of being noticed if he's in a place like Paris.

[ With a smile. ] Ah, yes, you said you were coming less frequently to Egypt than in the past. It might be worth while to keep Ronny here in order to tempt you back.

Egypt isn't the same to me that it was.

I hope my marriage has made no difference to our friendship, Anne. You know how deeply I value it.

You used to come and see me very often. You knew I was discreet and you used to talk over with me all sorts of matters which occupied you. I was pleased and flattered. Of course I realised that those pleasant conversations of ours must stop when you married. I only came here this winter to collect my goods and chattels.

You make me feel vaguely guilty towards you.

Of course you're nothing of the sort. But I don't want Violet to feel that I am making any attempt to – to monopolise you. She's been charming to me. The more I know her the more delightful I find her.

It's very nice of you to say so.

You know I've always had a great admiration for you. I'm so glad to see you married to a girl who's not unworthy of you.

I suppose it was a dangerous experiment for a man of my age to marry a girl of nineteen.

I think one can admit that. But you've always been one of the favourites of the gods. You've made a wonderful success of it.

It needs on a husband's part infinite tact, patience, and tolerance.

You have the great advantage that Violet is genuinely in love with you.

I suppose only a fatuous ass would confess that a beautiful girl was in love with him.

You make her very happy.

There's nothing I wouldn't do to achieve that. I'm more desperately in love with Violet even than when I first married her.

I'm so glad. I want nothing but your happiness.

Here is Christina.

[ The door opens as he says these words and an English Butler ushers in Mrs. Pritchard. She is a tall, spare woman, with hair turning grey, comely, upright in her carriage, with decision of character indicated by every gesture; but though masterful and firm to attain her ends, she is an honest woman, direct, truthful and not without humour. She is admirably gowned in a manner befitting her station and importance. ]

Mrs. Pritchard.

[ Exit. ]

I knew it was you, Christina. I felt a sense of responsibility descend upon the house.

[ Kissing him. ] How is Violet?

Lovely.

I was inquiring about her health.

Her health is perfect.

At her age one's always well, I suppose. [ Kissing Anne.] How d'you do? And how are you, my poor Arthur?

You ask me as though I was a doddering old gentleman, crippled with rheumatism. I'm in the best of health, thank you very much, and very active for my years. [Christina has seen a flower on the table that has fallen from a bowl, and picks it up and puts it back in its place. ] Why do you do that?

I don't like untidiness.

I do.

[ He takes the flower out again and places it on the table. ]

I was expecting to find you in your office.

Do you think I'm neglecting my work? I thought it more becoming to wait for you here.

I wanted to see you on a matter of business.

So I understood from your message. I feel convinced you're going to put me in the way of making my fortune.

I'll leave you, shall I?

Oh, no, pray don't. There's not the least reason why you shouldn't hear what it's all about.

You're not going to make my fortune after all. You're going to ask me to do something.

What makes you think that?

You want a third person present to be witness to my brutal selfishness when I refuse. I know you, Christina.