The Essential Guy de Maupassant Collection. Guy de Maupassant
am sure that he intends to go out this evening.
MME. DE SALLUS
Well, in that case, let us go out too.
JACQUES DE RANDOL
No, no,--I tell you there is nothing more for us to fear.
MME. DE SALLUS
What nonsense! You will end by maddening me with your blindness.
M. DE SALLUS [_from the other end of the drawing-room_]
My dear, I have some good news for you. I have been able to get another night at the Opera for you every week.
MME. DE SALLUS
Really, it is very good of you to afford me the opportunity of applauding Madame Santelli so often.
M. DE SALLUS [_from the same place_]
Well, she is very clever.
JACQUES DE RANDOL
And everybody says she is charming.
MME. DE SALLUS [_irritably_]
Yes; it is only such women who please men.
JACQUES DE RANDOL
You are unjust.
MME. DE SALLUS
Oh, my dear Randol; it is only for such women that men commit follies, and [_sarcastically_], understand me, the measure of a man's folly is often the measure of his love.
M. DE SALLUS [_from the same place_]
Oh, no, my dear girl,--men do not marry them, and marriage is the only real folly that a man can commit with a woman.
MME. DE SALLUS
A beautiful idea, truly, when a woman has to endure all man's caprices.
JACQUES DE RANDOL
Oh, no, not having anything to lose, they have nothing to risk.
MME. DE SALLUS
Ah, men are sad creatures! They marry a young girl because she is demure and self-contained, and they leave her on the morrow to dangle after a girl who is not young and who certainly is not demure, her chief attraction being that all the rich and well-known men about town have at one time been in her favor. The more danglers she has after her, the more she is esteemed, the more she is sought after, and the more she is respected; that is to say, with that kind of Parisian respect which accrues to a woman in the degree of her notoriety--a notoriety due either to the scandal she creates, or the scandal men create about her. Ah, yes, you men are so nice in these things!
M. DE SALLUS [_laughs gently_]
Take care! One would think you were jealous.
MME. DE SALLUS
I? Jealous? For whom do you take me? [_The butler announces_.] Madame is served. [_Hands a letter to_ M. de Sallus.]
MME. DE SALLUS [_to_ Jacques de Randol]
Your arm, M. Jacques de Randol.
JACQUES DE RANDOL [_in a low tone_]
How I love you!
MME. DE SALLUS [_indifferently_]
Just a little, I suppose.
JACQUES DE RANDOL
Ah, no; with all my soul!
M. DE SALLUS [_after reading his letter_]
Come along, then, let us go to dinner. I have to go out this evening.
_Curtain._
MUSOTTE
OR
A CRITICAL SITUATION
A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS
MUSOTTE
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
JEAN MARTINEL
Nephew of M. Martinel, a painter; not yet thirty years of age, but already well known and the recipient of various honors.
LEON DE PETITPR?
Brother to Gilberts Martinel, a young lawyer about thirty years of age.
M. MARTINEL
An old gunmaker of Havre, aged fifty-five.
M. DE PETITPR?
An old magistrate, officer of the Legion of Honor. Aged sixty.
DR. PELLERIN
A fashionable physician of about thirty-five.
MME. DE RONCHARD
Sister to M. de Petitpr?, about fifty-five years of age.
HENRIETTE L?V?QUE
Nicknamed Musotte; a little model, formerly Jean Martinel's mistress. Twenty-two years of age.
MME. FLACHE
A midwife. Formerly a ballet-dancer at the Opera. About thirty-five years of age.
GILBERTE MARTINEL
Daughter of M. and Mme. de Petitpr?, married in the morning to Jean Martinel. About twenty years old.
LISE BABIN
A nurse, about twenty-six.
SERVANTS
_Time: Paris of to-day. The first and third acts take place in_ M. de Petitpr?'s _drawing-room.
The second act takes place in_ Musotte's _bedchamber_.
Act I
SCENE I.
(_A richly yet classically furnished drawing-room in_ M. de Petitpr?'s house. _A table_, C.; _sofas_, R.; _chairs and armchairs_, L. _Wide doors_, C., _opening upon a terrace or gallery. Doors_ R. _and_ L. _of_ C. _Lighted lamps_.)
_Enter from_ R. M. de Petitpr?, Monsieur Martinel, Madame de Ronchard, L?on de Petitpr?, Jean _and_ Gilberte. Gilberte _is in her bridal attire, but without wreath and veil_.
MME. DE RONCHARD [_after bowing to_ M. Martinel, _whose arm she relinquishes, seats herself_ R.]
Gilberte, Gilberte!
GILBERTE [_leaves Jean's arm_]
What is it, Auntie?
MME. DE RONCHARD
The coffee, my dear child.
GILBERTE [_goes to the table_]
I will give you some, Auntie.
MME. DE RONCHARD
Don't soil your gown.
L?ON [_comes up_]
No, no, not to-day shall my sister serve coffee. The day of her marriage! No, indeed, I will take care of that. [_To_ Mme. de Ronchard.] You know that I am a lawyer, my dear Aunt, and therefore can do everything.
MME. DE RONCHARD
Oh, I know your abilities, L?on, and I appreciate them--
L?ON [_smiles, and gives his Aunt a cup of coffee_]
You are too good.
MME. DE RONCHARD [_taking cup, dryly_]
For what they are worth.
L?ON [_aside, turns to the table_]
There she goes again--another little slap at me! That is never wanting. [_offers a cup to_ Martinel.] You will take a small cup, won't you, M. Martinel, and