THE BOUDOIR

By Carmontelle

EText by Dagny
EText by Dagny
This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in 
print or other media may be made without the express consent of the 
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performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or 
audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee 
or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank 
Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or 
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http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130

                    

                     Translated and adapted by

                     Frank J. Morlock
                     C 2002

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CHARACTERS

DE BOURVAL

MISS SAINT EDME

THE CHEVALIER DE GORVILLE

SOPHIE, Miss Saint Edme's Chambermaid

D'ORSANT, the Chevalier's uncle

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The action takes place in De Bourval's home in a new boudoir decorated with mirrors, nice paintings, expensive and fashionable furniture.

DE BOURVAL: (entering first) Come in and close the door; look around a bit. What do you think of this boudoir?

D'ORSANT: I think it's delicious. I haven't seen anything like it.

DE BOURVAL: I didn't want it to lack the least thing.

D'ORSANT: It has harmony, elegance, and charm! and at the same time, despite the richness of the decoration, they are so well distributed, with so much taste that the eyes is as pleased as it is enchanted.

DE BOURVAL: You really guess the author?

D'ORSANT: It's our friend?

DE BOURVAL: Just him. And the paintings?

D'ORSANT: Ah, by Jove, that's not difficult! the father of graces and cupids is always easy to recognize.

DE BOURVAL: You must see this in detail.

D'ORSANT: No question. But what folly for a man of your age to have such a sensuous boudoir built.

DE BOURVAL: Far from being a folly, when you know my plan, you surely won't fail to approve.

D'ORSANT: You are rich and you are right to satisfy yourself, so I may be wrong.

DE BOURVAL: It's not that; listen to me.

D'ORSANT: I really want to.

DE BOURVAL: You know that Miss de Saint Edme's father, when he died, directed me to find a husband for his daughter when she came of age. It was three months ago that I took her from the convent with this plan, and she's dwelling here.

D'ORSANT: Yes.

DE BOURVAL: She doesn't have a great fortune.

D'ORSANT: I think I understand you.

DE BOURVAL: Well, yes, I want to marry her.

D'ORSANT: She is very young for you.

DE BOURVAL: I know it, but that's not what's holding me back.

D'ORSANT: Then what is?

DE BOURVAL: I fear she may lack emotion; at her age you are not so formed that you lack vivacity; in the end, I want to pull her out of the sort of indifference in which I see her.

D'ORSANT: And how?

DE BOURVAL: I want to touch her heart, to make it blossom with love, and to profit by those first flutterings to decide her in my favor. If I were younger, I wouldn't have recourse to these means; but as all you see here has charmed you, it seems to me that she must lose her indifference, and that seeing the trouble I have gone to for her, her gratitude will favor the desire I have to marry her.

D'ORSANT: My friend, this plan is more clever than delicate, and reeks of a man who has lived a little.

DE BOURVAL: I don't deny it, but — (Reciting) In love there's no crime To sometimes use the art of pleasing.

D'ORSANT: I understand you very well; but who will answer that you will become the object of her thoughts, of her desires.

DE BOURVAL: It seems to me that I must hope for it through this attempt at joy I am preparing for her, this proof of cares that I will take to foresee all that may please her.

D'ORSANT: It was a mistake not to depict here only the loves of Jupiter, instead of those of Apollo, of Adonis, of Endymion, of Mars : that would have better directed her thoughts towards you.

DE BOURVAL: I don't like that nasty joke, I warn you.

D'ORSANT: But doesn't she know other men than you?

DE BOURVAL: Very little at least, and up to now, having no feeling for them, she has seen them only with indifference, like her companions in the convent.

D'ORSANT: You think that my nephew the Chevalier for example —

DE BOURVAL: Your nephew is a rascal.

D'ORSANT: In the end, I don't know what's going to happen to you, but don't be surprised if nothing comes of all this you are flattering yourself with.

DE BOURVAL: We shall see.

D'ORSANT: I wish with all my heart to be mistaken. When will you make this test?

DE BOURVAL: Momentarily. Sophie's been informed and is to bring Miss Saint Edme here, while I go finish some business at my notary's and have the contract prepared.

D'ORSANT: Then I may be able to congratulate you this evening?

DE BOURVAL: I hope so.

D'ORSANT: Let's go; I will return to see you,.

DE BOURVAL: You will do me great pleasure.

D'ORSANT: Hold on, here's Sophie, give her your directions, but remember —

DE BOURVAL: Yes, yes, till soon.

(Exit D'Orsant.)

DE BOURVAL: (to Sophie who enters) Ah, indeed, my dear Sophie, you remember all I've told you?

SOPHIE: Yes, sir.

DE BOURVAL: When Miss de Saint Edme enters here, observe the impression that she receives: if it's that of joy or languor; if she is touched by my attention, if —

SOPHIE: Eh, sir, you've already told me that a hundred times.

DE BOURVAL: It's true I've been a bit repetitious, but it's the desire to see her emerge from this torpor she seems to be in.

SOPHIE: I know your reasons and I guess your plans.

DE BOURVAL: I would really like to be here for this test; but it's important that she fell free, that she reflect by herself on what she's experiencing; after that I will present myself, and if it happens that she — You see me carried away by this idea! I feel! Come, I'll never finish, and that's the same as recoiling from my happiness. I am going to conclude some business while waiting. Goodbye, I will be back as soon as I can, but I intend to give her all the time to feel, to weigh, to examine —

SOPHIE: Well, sir, get out of here.

DE BOURVAL: You are right, it's that — Goodbye.

(De Bourval leaves.)

SOPHIE: Finally he's gone. What means men employ to seduce us! I hear someone. It's the Chevalier.

CHEVALIER: (entering) Yes, it's me, my dear Sophie.

SOPHIE: Get out of here, I beg you.

CHEVALIER: Why? I didn't know about this place here.

SOPHIE: Yes, but I don't intend to stay here with you.

CHEVALIER: I have only a word to say to you.

SOPHIE: Well, hurry up in that case.

CHEVALIER: My uncle just came out of here; you know to what degree he loves me. I spoke to him yesterday about Miss de Saint Edme with exaltation, with all the love I am experiencing for her.

SOPHIE: You love her?

CHEVALIER: Ah, surely! I adore her, I — But let me finish. My uncle seemed to dream, today his first sortie was to come here; I saw him enter from my window; if he came to propose to Mr. De Bourval to grant me Miss de Saint Edme's hand, and if he consented to it, I would die of joy! That's what I want to know; they were shut up in here a long time, from what they told me, I saw my uncle leave laughing; I was ready to jump on his neck, but I restrained myself; above all, I want to learn from you if I am not mistaken.

SOPHIE: I don't know what those gentlemen were discussing, but I don't think Mr. De Bourval's plan fits in with your desires. And does Miss de Saint Edme love you?

CHEVALIER: Alas, I don't know; in vain I search her eyes for some hope; they tell me nothing.

SOPHIE: You've never told her of your love?

CHEVALIER: I've always planned to, and the fear of not succeeding makes me prefer uncertainty over the wish to clarify my fate.

SOPHIE: I hear some noise.

CHEVALIER: Perhaps it is she.

SOPHIE: Yes, truly. I don't want for you to be together.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: (before entering) Sophie!

SOPHIE: Miss?

CHEVALIER: Only let me see her.

SOPHIE: Well, get into that wardrobe. You will see her through the flowers that are painted on the mirror that is painted on the door and you won't budge.

CHEVALIER: I consent to that.

(The Chevalier enters the wardrobe.)

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Sophie?

SOPHIE: In here, Miss.

(She goes to the door.)

MISS DE SAINT EDME: (appearing) I've been looking for you since — (completely shocked) Ah!

SOPHIE: What's wrong with you?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Why, Sophie, it because — it's charming!

SOPHIE: Yes, it is very nice.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Very nice?

SOPHIE: Yes, it's beautiful if you like; there's a lot of gold.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Gold? It's not the gold which pleases me; there are flowers, scents, paintings, mirrors. How much to be seen at the same time!

SOPHIE: That's not what seems the most pretty to you, tell the truth.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I could spend my life here.

SOPHIE: All alone?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: All alone — Why, I think so, yes.

SOPHIE: And what would you do there?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I would think — and a lot.

SOPHIE: And after having thought?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I would sketch, I would read, I would sing, I would write.

SOPHIE: You would write, and to whom?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I don't know to whom, but perhaps I will know.

SOPHIE: You would never be bored?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: No.

SOPHIE: But I don't see anything gay in all this, at first glance.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: The whole thing is ravishing!

SOPHIE: But what? Investigate.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: These pictures, for example; nature is embellished by them; you would always want it to be like that, always brilliant. Don't you find the faces have something more or less divine in them?

SOPHIE: What's the subject of this picture here?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: It's Venus finding Adonis dozing, and becoming amorous of him.

SOPHIE: (smiling) Amorous?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Yes, amorous. Why are you laughing?

SOPHIE: Me, laughing? Ah, miss, see Venus: she resembles you as if she were your portrait, don't you think so?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: (distractedly) Yes.

SOPHIE: Why, you are not looking at her. Well, in that case respond. You are looking at Adonis?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: It's true; because I think — I would never dare to tell you —

SOPHIE: Fine! Come on, talk.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I find that it resembles —

SOPHIE: Who?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: The Chevalier de Gorville.

SOPHIE: Yes, it's true.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I can't explain it, but I'm annoyed that he's sleeping. If his eyes were open —

SOPHIE: You think that he will look at you?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Why —

SOPHIE: Would you like that? Get it over with.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: (sighing and allowing herself to collapse on the ottoman) Ah!

CHEVALIER: (emerging from the wardrobe and throwing himself and her feet) Your wishes have been foreseen. I love you, I adore you — since the day I had the joy of making your acquaintance, and it's for my whole life. Do you approve this love you inspire me with? You are not responding.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Ah, Sophie, I didn't think that this boudoir was so dangerous!

SOPHIE: It's not for you that it is most.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Chevalier, you have surprised me.

CHEVALIER: It's true, but do you forgive me for it?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: What good would it do me to love you?

CHEVALIER: To make my happiness! I don't dare to say yours, but it's all that I can ever desire more ardently.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I see you today so differently than I had up to now.

CHEVALIER: That's because you doubt my heart, no question; you are not being fair to me; you are not being fair to your self.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Get up, Chevalier, I beg you.

CHEVALIER: Consent for me to have my uncle demand you of Mr. De Bourval.

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Well, I am not opposed to it.

CHEVALIER: Ah, I will die of joy from the excess of my happiness. Yes, I swear at your feet to adore you all my life. (he kisses her hands)

DE BOURVAL: (low to Mr. D'Orsant as they enter) Don't make any noise, they are still here. (coming in and exclaiming) Ah, heavens! what do I see? What are you up to there, Miss?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: I was investigating your boudoir, sir; it is delightful, and I am greatly obliged to you.

DE BOURVAL: (speechless) What do you mean?

MISS DE SAINT EDME: Yes, without it, perhaps I would never have known that the Chevalier loves me, perhaps I wouldn't have been as receptive to him; it's to you that I owe all my happiness.

DE BOURVAL: Sophie? —

SOPHIE: Sir, she is sensitive, she agrees to it; isn't that what you wanted to know?

D'ORSANT: (to De Bourval) My friend, that rascal is more dangerous than you thought he was,

CHEVALIER: Ah, uncle, you love me!

D'ORSANT: I hear you and there's no need for you to explain yourself. (to Mr. de Bourval) Come, my friend, imitate me. I am giving all my fortune to my nephew; grant him Miss De Saint Edme, you will be fulfilling the wishes of her father completely.

DE BOURVAL: (low) But you know —

D'ORSANT: Those were desires and not love that you had, and you will easily find with another what you are losing with her.

DE BOURVAL: In that case, peace.

D'ORSANT: This test was mad, I predicted it.

DE BOURVAL: Now I agree.

D'ORSANT: Consent with grace.

DE BOURVAL: Come, be happy, and I will be charmed.

CHEVALIER Ah, sir! Ah, uncle! Ah, miss!

(They all embrace.)

D'ORSANT: (smiling) My friend, we are making them happy; we owe it to our very selves, right?

DE BOURVAL: Yes, yes, but my friend is a great rogue.

(They all leave.)

CURTAIN