Олдос Хаксли - Mortal Coils

PAUL. You have no idea, Miss Toomis, how difficult it is for a man of truly noble feelings to get over the fact of your great wealth. When I heard that you were the possessor of a hundred million dollars….

AMY. Oh, I'm afraid it's more than that. It's two hundred million.

PAUL…. of two hundred million dollars, then … it only makes it worse; I was very melancholy, Miss Toomis. For those two hundred million dollars were a barrier, which a descendant of Crusaders and preux chevaliers could not overleap. Honour, Miss Toomis, honour forbade. Ah, if only that accursed money had not stood in the way…. When I first saw you oh, how I was moved by that vision of beauty and innocence—I wanted nothing better than to stand gazing on you for ever. But then I heard about those millions. Dolphin was lucky to have felt no restraints. But enough, enough. ( He checks a rising tide of emotion .) Give poor Dolphin another chance, Miss Toomis. At bottom he is a good fellow, and he may learn in time to esteem you for your own sake and to forget the dazzling millions.

AMY. Never. I can only marry a man who is entirely disinterested.

PAUL. But, can't you see, no disinterested man could ever bring himself to ask you? How could he prove his disinterestedness? No one would believe the purity of his intentions.

AMY ( much moved ). It is for me to judge. I know a disinterested man when I see him. Even in America we can understand honour.

PAUL ( with a sob in his voice ). Good–bye Miss Toomis.

AMY. But no, I don't want it to be good–bye.

PAUL. It must be. Never shall it be said of a Barbazange that he hunted a woman for her money.

AMY. But what does it matter what the world says, if I say the opposite?

PAUL. You say the opposite? Thank you, thank you. But no, good–bye.

AMY. Stop. Oh! you're forcing me to do a most unwomanly thing. You're making me ask you to marry me. You're the only disinterested man I've ever met or, to judge from what I've seen of the world, I'm ever likely to meet. Haven't you kept away from me in spite of your feelings? Haven't you even tried to make me listen to another man—a man not worthy to black your boots? Oh, it's so wonderful, so noble! It's like something in a picture play. Paul, I offer myself to you. Will you take me in spite of my millions?

PAUL ( falling on his knees and kissing the hem of AMY'S skirt ). My angel, you're right; what does it matter what the world says as long as you believe in me? Amy, amie, bien–aimée…. Ah, it's too good too, too good to be true! ( He rises to his feet and embraces her with an unfeigned enthusiasm .)

AMY. Paul, Paul…. And so this is love. Isn't it wonderful?

PAUL ( looking round anxiously ). You mustn't tell anyone about our engagement, my Amy. They might say unpleasant things in the hotel, you know.

AMY. Of course I won't talk about it. We'll keep our happiness to ourselves, won't we?

PAUL. Entirely to ourselves; and to–morrow we'll go to Paris and arrange about being married.

AMY. Yes, yes; we'll take the eight o'clock train.

PAUL. Not the eight o clock, my darling. I have to go to the bank to–morrow to do a little business. We must wait till the twelve thirty.

AMY. Very well, then. The twelve–thirty. Oh, how happy I am!

PAUL. So am I, my sweetheart. More than I can tell you. ( The sound of a window being opened is heard. They look up and see the BARONESS dressed in a peignoir of the tenderest blue, emerging on to the right hand of the three balconies .)

AMY. Oh, my soul! I think I'd better go in. Good–night, my Paul. ( She runs in .)

SIMONE. Has that horrid little American girl gone? ( She peers down, then, reassured, she blows a kiss to PAUL.) My Romeo!

PAUL. I come, Juliet.

SIMONE. There's a kiss for you.

PAUL ( throwing kisses with both hands ). And there's one for you. And another, and another. Two hundred million kisses, my angel.

SIMONE ( giggling ). What a lot!

PAUL. It is; you re quite right. Two hundred million…. I come, my Juliet. ( He darts into the hotel, pausing when just inside the door and out of sight of the BARONESS, to mop himself once again with his enormous handkerchief. The operation over, he advances with a resolute step, The BARONESS stands for a moment on the balcony. Then, seeing DOLPHIN and LUCREZIA coming in from the left, she retires, closing the window and drawing the curtains behind her . DOLPHIN comes striding in ; LUCREZIA follows a little behind, looking anxiously up at him .)

LUCREZIA. Please, please….

DOLPHIN. NO, I won t listen to anything more. ( He walks with an agitated step up and down the stage . LUCREZIA stands with one hand resting on the back of a chair and the other pressed on her heart.) Do you mean to say you deliberately went and told her that I was only after her money? Oh, it's too bad, too bad. It's infamous. And I hadn't the faintest notion that she had any money. Besides, I don't want money; I have quite enough of my own. It's infamous, infamous!

LUCREZIA. I know it was a horrible thing to do. But I couldn't help it. How could I stand by and see you being carried off by that silly little creature?

DOLPHIN. But I cared for her.

LUCREZIA. But not as I cared for you. I've got red blood in my veins; she's got nothing but milk and water. You couldn't have been happy with her. I can give you love of a kind she could never dream of. What does she know of passion?

DOLPHIN. Nothing, I am thankful to say. I don't want passion; can't you understand that? I don't possess it myself and don't like it in others. I am a man of sentimental affections, with a touch of quiet sensuality. I don't want passion, I tell you. It's too violent; it frightens me. I couldn't possibly live with you. You'd utterly shatter my peace of mind in a day. Oh, how I wish you'd go away.

LUCREZIA. But Sidney, Sidney, can't you understand what it is to be madly in love with somebody? You can't be so cruel.

DOLPHIN. You didn't think much of my well–being when you interfered between Miss Toomis and me, did you? You've probably ruined my whole life, that's all. I really don't see why you should expect me to have any pity for you.

LUCREZIA. Very well, then, I shall kill myself. ( She bursts into tears .)

DOLPHIN. Oh, but I assure you, one doesn't kill oneself for things like that. ( He approaches her and pats her on the shoulder .) Come, come, don't worry about it.

LUCREZIA ( throws her arms round his neck ). Oh, Sidney, Sidney….

DOLPHIN ( freeing himself with surprising energy and promptitude from her embrace ). No, no, none of that, I beg. Another moment and we shall be losing our heads. Personally I think I shall go to bed now. I should advise you to do the same, Miss Grattarol. You're overwrought. We might all be better for a small dose of bromide. ( He goes in .)

LUCREZIA ( looking up and stretching forth her hands ). Sidney…. (DOLPHIN does not look round, and disappears through the glass door into the hotel , LUCREZIA covers her face with her hands and sits for a little sobbing silently. The nightingale sings on. Midnight sounds with an infinite melancholy from all the twenty campaniles of the city in the valley. From far away comes the spasmodic throbbing of a guitar and the singing of an Italian voice, high–pitched, passionate, throaty. The seconds pass , LUCREZIA rises to her feet and walks slowly into the hotel. On the threshold she encounters the VICOMTE coming out .)

PAUL. You, Signorina Lucrezia? I've escaped for a breath of fresh, cool air. Mightn't we take a turn together? (LUCREZIA shakes her head .) Ah, well, then, good–night. You'll be glad to hear that Miss Toomis knows all about Correggio now.