THE ITALIAN SINGER By Carmontelle

Translated and adapted by Frank J. Morlock

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 
Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about 
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 
frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at 
http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130

                    
                     C 2003

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CHARACTERS

DE SAINT-HYGIN

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN, his daughter

DELAMARRE

OCTAVINI, an Italian musician

A LACKEY

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The action takes place in the home of Mr. de Saint-Hygin.

DE SAINT-HYGIN: Let's stop here, Mr. Delamarre. Since you must speak to me, we will be better here than in the salon which is being prepared for the concert.

DELAMARRE: You're having a concert today?

SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, my daughter really loves music and I am not annoyed to give her amusement like that sometimes.

DELAMARRE: That's very well done. I have to speak to you about her.

SAINT-HYGIN: Look, sit down.

DELAMARRE: Don't you want to marry her?

SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, if I find a good match.

DELAMARRE: I think I've got just the thing for you.

SAINT-HYGIN: What's this?

DELAMARRE: He's a Venetian banker who wants to establish himself in Paris.

SAINT-HYGIN: And how much do you think he's got?

DELAMARRE: One of my friends who sent him to me, and who knows his fortune and what his bank is worth says he has forty to fifty thousand pounds of income.

SAINT-HYGIN: The Devil! That would be a very good business! My daughter has a fortune, but I would never find a like match here. What's his name?

DELAMARRE: Mr—Mr—It's the devil of a name that I can never remember; that doesn't matter, he's young enough, not very bad looking.

SAINT-HYGIN: I think we mustn't lose this match.

DELAMARRE: I think like you; but as he knows little of Paris society, there's nothing to fear.

SAINT-HYGIN: At least he knows his correspondents, and those folks, who are aware of his condition might have daughters to marry; so there's no time to waste.

DELAMARRE: Would you like me to bring him today?

SAINT-HYGIN: Why not? He must love music and the concert is a perfect opportunity.

DELAMARRE: That's very well said; but the thing is I have some business, and I don't know at what time I can return.

SAINT-HYGIN: Eh! stop by his place; and if he's there, send him to me.

DELAMARRE: Yes, you are right. I won't lose a moment.

SAINT-HYGIN: I won't thank you again.

DELAMARRE: You are making fun of me.

SAINT-HYGIN: Come back as soon as you can.

DELAMARRE: Perhaps I won't be long.

SAINT-HYGIN: Come, so much the better; goodbye my friend and au revoir.

(Exit Delamarre and enter Mlle De Saint-Hygin.)

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: Well, papa, not one violin has arrived yet; there are only basses. Do you conceive what these people are being made to wait today, again, like last time?

SAINT-HYGIN: They will come, they will come.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: This is nerve-wracking.

SAINT-HYGIN: Let's leave that for a moment.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: Let me go see again.

SAINT-HYGIN: No, I have something to say to you in the meantime. You love Italian music?

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: Surely, because it's all I know. . SAINT-HYGIN: As for me, I don't like it very much; but that doesn't matter.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: My answer to you is that you will end by not wanting to hear any other.

SAINT-HYGIN: That could be, but let's get back to our business. Would you be annoyed to marry a very rich Venetian? Speak to me naturally.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: A Venetian?

SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, he's a man young enough, a banker.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: And will I have to go to Venice?

SAINT-HYGIN: No, he's coming to establish himself in Paris.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: Since I won't be far from you, Papa, all that will be very agreeable to me.

SAINT-HYGIN: This will be decided from today; it's Delamarre who proposed this to me, and this banker is going to come here any minute perhaps, all alone even. You will see him. They say he has between forty and fifty thousand pounds of income; there can be no hesitation.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: Doubtless, first of all that this is certain?

SAINT-HYGIN: Oh, very certain. One of his correspondents has assured Mr. Delamarre,

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: I hear someone, perhaps it is him.

LACKEY: (entering, announcing) Mr. Octavini.

SAINT-HYGIN: (going to him) It's himself. Sir, give yourself the trouble of coming in.

OCTAVINI: (in a clear voice) The gentleman is Mr. De Saint-Hygin?

SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, sir; and here's my daughter who will be charmed to get acquainted with you.

(She curtsies.)

OCTAVINI: Miss, I am your servant. I'm not yet very good in the language of this country, but I've heard a lot said about Miss's fondness for our music.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, sir, I love Italian music a great deal.

OCTAVINI: I'm really annoyed not to have been here much longer.

DE SAINT-HYGIN: Ah, that will be repaired: they say you plan to stay here forever.

OCTAVINI: Oh, forever! I am not yet really sure.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: (to her father) Papa, he has a funny voice, this gentleman.

DE SAINT-HYGIN: Shh! Peace. (aloud) Sir, from what they've told me, it will be easy for you to decide, and there's no one who wouldn't want to ally themselves with a man as honest as you; my daughter has a fortune, she will have yet more, and they must have told you that I will be charmed for my part, that all this can be agreed upon.

OCTAVINI: Sir, after the concert, you will see if I sing well, and then, if you please, money doesn't matter to me, I am always satisfied to live in Paris wherever I have you.

DE SAINT-HYGIN: The concert is not a thing which ought to delay us; I am going to send someone to find my notary; who will show you the condition of my daughter's fortune.

OCTAVINI: I have no need to see it.

DE SAINT-HYGIN: Excuse me. When you're getting married it's necessary that all these formalities take place. Isn't that the custom in your country?

OCTAVINI: Pardon me, but I haven't been to any marriages. Miss is getting married?

DE SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, if you wish.

OCTAVINI: I cannot prevent it.

DE SAINT-HYGIN: (to his daughter) He doesn't know what is being said to him. (aloud) Sir, I am going to speak to you plainly: they told me that you want to get married.

OCTAVINI: Me?

DE SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, sir, and as you do not know our language, I don't wish to be roundabout in telling you that if you want to marry my daughter, the business is over.

OCTAVINI: Sir, I see plainly this is a joke; that's why I don't say anything.

DE SAINT-HYGIN: No, I am not joking, after what we were told about you, we would be charmed.

OCTAVINI: Sir, I came for the concert.

SAINT-HYGIN: Well, you will hear the concert. Is it because my daughter doesn't please you?

OCTAVINI: I am not saying she isn't pretty, but for marriage, it is otherwise: you know quite well, I cannot.

SAINT-HYGIN: Why? In your situation it's necessary to marry and live in Paris, if you want to keep a nice house here.

OCTAVINI: Yes, but sir, I am perhaps running back and forth between countries.

SAINT-HYGIN: That's a subtrefuge; if you have engagements with others, that's different.

OCTAVINI: No, I am not engaged.

SAINT-HYGIN: If you are not engaged, why don't you want my daughter? I think you don't really understand what I have the honor of telling you.

OCTAVINI: Sir, I speak well enough; I am not for marrying.

SAINT-HYGIN: Then you were perhaps told bad things about French women?

OCTAVINI: Sir, as for the ladies, I am very charmed by what I see in this country, but I cannot say.

SAINT-HYGIN: Sir, when you know my daughter, I flatter myself you will think differently; I don't see why we cannot finish our business right away.

MLLE DE SAINT-HYGIN: But Papa, this is pressing the gentleman too much.

OCTAVINI: Yes, miss said it and the concert will be better for me.

SAINT-HYGIN: But I beg you, tell me a reason.

OCTAVINI: Sir —

DE SAINT-HYGIN: Mr. Delamarre —

OCTAVINI: Delamarre told me to come here to sing today, that's the truth.

SAINT-HYGIN: He's going to come; he can explain all this better to you than I can.

OCTAVINI: I understand very well, it's for that that I say it is true, certainly.

SAINT-HYGIN: I don't understand a thing.

LACKEY: (entering) Mr. Delamarre.

DELAMARRE: My word, my friend, I am really put out; but they told me that our man in question had gone for a stroll in Saint Cloud, and that he won't be back until very late.

SAINT-HYGIN: Fine! here he is.

DELAMARRE: That's Mr. Octavini.

SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, he says he cannot get married, that he has reasons he cannot tell me.

DELAMARRE: (smiling) What, you thought he was —

SAINT-HYGIN: Damn! Are you going to be like him, and everybody making fun of me today?

DELAMARRE: No, but listen to me.

SAINT-HYGIN: It's useless to talk, I heard all that, and you know how to play tricks very disagreeable for an honest man. After all, one doesn't like to be refused, and that's not pleasant.

DELAMARRE: But he cannot do otherwise.

SAINT-HYGIN: Why then did you tell me?

OCTAVINI: Mr. Delamarre, this gentleman is angry with me; I don't know why.

DELAMARRE: It's because he took you for someone else. Mr. Octavini is a celebrated Italian singer that I sent to Miss Saint-Hygin for her to hear him, but who I do not intend to give her for her husband.

OCTAVINI: Sir, you see plainly now.

SAINT-HYGIN: Yes, yes, sir. Come on, come on, let's go to the concert. (to Mr. Delamarre) Why didn't you tell me as well?

DELAMARRE: I didn't know what was going to happen.

OCTAVINI: The gentleman is no longer angry with me?

SAINT-HYGIN: No, no, sir; and you are very correct. Let's go, move on, move on.

(They all go to the concert.)

CURTAIN