Clair de Lune | Page 9

in order to
discover his lost sweetheart, and now he turns facing the audience, his
arms outstretched in pitiful dejection. There is an instant's deep silence,
and then a great laugh rings out from the audience. The QUEEN
herself rocks to and fro, backward and forward behind her fan.
JOSEPHINE starts forward, in her face a mixture of amusement, giving
gradually way to some sinister thought which makes her gaze fixedly at
the mountebank with parted lips. Her unswerving glance at length
draws his eyes towards her and for one single instant their glances
seem to pass through one another--the exquisite duchess, the grotesque
clown. No one has seen the look, save PHEDRO, who wipes his lips
with an expression of intense amusement. Suddenly from behind
GWYMPLANE steps DEA, and he returns with an almost imperceptible
start to his act. Seeing this lovely apparition, he throws himself at her
feet, and she, apparently perceiving him, does not repel him but puts
her slim hands in his wild hair, and they go through some tender
motions to an exquisite melody upon the flute. Gradually with gestures
of pity and love she invites him to go with her, and he hardly believing

is about to be led away, when suddenly the oriental melody begins
again. The dancer appears. She glances at GWYMPLANE with the
hypnotized fascination of utter horror. DEA attempts drawing
GWYMPLANE away, but he resists, becoming again a victim to the old
charm. The slave girl, with a wild gesture, offers herself to him.
Simultaneously, DEA motions him with prayer to go with her. He
makes some pitiful indecisive motions between them. DEA wrings her
hands; the slave girl smiles; when, with a sudden gesture of despair,
GWYMPLANE takes out his knife and makes a motion of cutting out his
heart, then sinks upon the ground, and suddenly holds up his heart
dripping with blood in his two pale hands. The slave girl tries to snatch
it, but he gives it to DEA, who presses it against her own.
GWYMPLANE breathes his last, and the slave, falling at the feet of
DEA, licks the blood from the heart of her dancer off the floor.
Miniature curtain descends to some strange music recalling the chimes
of a clock.]
QUEEN
What an extraordinary pantomime! I think these mummers act too well.
They will leave a memory, and I have far too many memories already.
JOSEPHINE
[Trying to conceal the impression the play has made on her.]
I shall never have any memories. When the door closes I shall forget.
PRINCE
Perhaps you are not so agile as you think. Something of you may catch
in the door when it slams, and go on aching forever.
QUEEN [tolerantly]
Inexperience can always afford to be a little ridiculous, can it not?
[rises] Well, it has all been very entertaining. I have really immensely

enjoyed myself.
[Turning to her courtiers and taking a brooch from her lace.]
I think we should give the clown some token of tonight's amusement.
[to a servant] Go and tell Messire Gwymplane to attend us.
PRINCE
The performance of this mountebank has agitated me. [passing his
hand over his brow.] I want to forget something in motion, in motion.
JOSEPHINE
[Looking at him and at the QUEEN, and twinkling with a sort of
spiteful mischief.]
It will be delicious to dance tonight. The starving should dance, the
replete should dream! Come! [takes his arm]
PRINCE
What an exquisite thing for you to say to me--just at this moment.
[QUEEN glances at them with an expression of pain and hatred. An
attendant approaches the QUEEN, who breaks sharply out of her
reverie.]
QUEEN
You have not brought the clown?
ATTENDANT
The owner of the van begs indulgence of your Majesty. The clown has
wandered off somewhere, as is his habit, and cannot be found.
QUEEN

How annoying! Well, the amusement I should have had in giving him
this is really the only reason for such a gift.
[Replaces her brooch and turns to an attendant.]
Tell these mountebanks to leave the palace grounds before dawn.
ATTENDANT
Yes, your Majesty. [bows himself out]
JOSEPHINE
I am glad he did not appear. He would have been horrible to look at
closely.
PRINCE
You are cold. Let me arrange your cloak more closely about your
shoulders.
QUEEN
Wrap my dear sister by all means, Charles, but if you can--from the
inside out.
[Continues her conversation with a courtier.]
JOSEPHINE [in a low voice]
How she dislikes me! But dislike is amusing when the hours are just
ending that make one the slave of its temper.
PRINCE [bending over her]
Tomorrow, Josephine.... Tomorrow you will be safe forever from her
rudeness. She will need us; our united fortunes will be the bank for her
gambling.

JOSEPHINE
Ah! tomorrow--tomorrow!
QUEEN