The Lucky Man | Page 4

niece. Omit nothing that
might serve to render you happy.
Worthy: I could never do it.
Jenny: What! Such false delicacy--
Worthy: But, sis, please--
Olivia: (interrupting him) Brother, do you want to marry Laura or not?
Worthy: Yes, I mean to do it!
Olivia: Then do what you're told and we will take care of the rest.
Worthy: My happiness is in your hands.
Jenny: Get going then!
(Exit Worthy looking very uncertain and ill at ease)
Olivia: Jenny, what's Laura doing?
Jenny: I've just finished dressing her. She'll soon be here.
Olivia: We've got to find a way to expose this fine Mr. Cadwell.
Jenny: Fine! He can be easily exposed and trapped. But I warn you,
he'll get out of it again with a facility that will surprise you.
Olivia: In spite of all that, Jenny, we must help my brother. You have
promised me.

Jenny: I haven't started badly and while Cadwell has been in the
country these last two days believe you me, I've not forgotten to rouse
Laura's suspiciosn.
Olivia: Here she is--
(Enter Laura)
What's wrong with you then, madam? You look sad to me.
Laura: I don't know, Olivia, I haven't slept.
Olivia: The people who trouble your repose may not care to restore it to
you.
Laura: (defensively) You are very good, madam, to take part in
something that regards me.
Olivia: I admit to you that I would like to see you at ease.
(Laura turns her head towards Cadwell's apartment)
How little attention you pay to what I say to you! One must be more
your friend than I am--
Laura: (interrupting her) Not at all, Olivia. It seems to me I hear
you--and if I were not to, should you be taking note of what I am
doing?
Olivia: Yes, I ought to, Laura. Don't I have an interest in everything
that touches you? Do you imagine I can watch with pleasure as people
abuse your good faith? Am I not aware of your unjust preference and
ought I not to try to make you know the difference between hearts that
are truly attached to you and those that----? Believe me, Laura, I know
it, and you will know them as I do, those who love you for yourself,
those who sacrifice--
Laura: (to Jenny, turning again towards Cadwell's apartment) Jenny,
have you seen--?
Olivia: Madam, I see that I am embarrassing you--
Laura: Olivia, I ask your pardon. I admit to you--
Olivia: (interrupting her) I will leave you--
Laura: (trying to hold her) Oh, no--please--
(Exit Olivia)
Jenny: It's clear that you have some distractions--
Laura: (interrupting) Jenny!
Jenny: Madam?
Laura: Has he gone?
Jenny: Who?

Laura: Has he gone, I said?
Jenny: Mr. Worthy?
Laura: No.
Jenny: Your lackey?
Laura: Who spoke of my lackey? Cadwell--has he left?
Jenny: I don't think he's awake yet.-- For some time, you've become so
difficult to serve that it requires far greater penetration and patience
than I can muster to stand you. Am I the mistress of your distractions
and caprices? People don't say I am the reason you are not loved?
Laura: Jenny?
Jenny: Madam?
Laura: Would you kindly shut up?!
Jenny: No, madam! Really, it's not my fault if Cadwell has spent two
days without seeing you. How badly infatuated you are with that little
villain!
Laura: Jenny!
Jenny: Madam?
Laura: Once more, would you kindly shut up?
Jenny: No, madam. You've spoken to me and I am responding, and I
will speak.
Laura: Well! Jenny, I forbid you to shut up. I don't know what way to
prevent you from speaking.
Jenny: You know the doctor told me yesterday, in front of you, that I
have a plethora of words so excessive, that if I don't say something--
You see, madam, silence is mortal to me.
Laura: (with exasperation) Oh--speak, Jenny!
Jenny: Ah, I feel better already. Tell me, madam, at the time you used
to bore my head with exaggerating the happy state of widowhood, and
how nothing in the world would induce you to remarry, had someone
told you a man would come to propose to be your husband or lover
(one doesn't make much distinction between the two these days) a
restless man, always bizarre, always content with himself, never
content with others--what would you have said?
Laura: They would have violently offended me.
Jenny: Oh, not offended. If that was so you would feel the outrage and
the shame you receive.
Laura: Me?

Jenny: You, madam. Don't you love Cadwell? It is his portrait I have
just drawn.
Laura: How you paint him, Jenny!
Jenny: As he is, madam, and as he ought to appear to you. While he
wanted to please you and be loved by you, Cadwell was the finest man
in