Complete works of gustav.., p.434
Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert, page 434
DOMINIQUE [weeps]: My poor master! At last I find you again. My tears fall like rain along my trunk — my body, I mean! I cannot clasp you in my arms — they even cut off some of my branches! I should like so much to embrace you! Cursed gluttony! you are to blame for all this! [Bends his head and bites off a plum near his face; weeps again] Ah, great heavens, what unhappiness!
JEANNE: Have pity on him, good fairy!
QUEEN [to Paul]: Since thou lovest him, be it so!
(The branches drop off Dominique and his arms appear. At a movement of his head the nest falls off, and eggs roll out of it; one of them breaks, and a bird flies out and disappears)
QUEEN [to Dominique]: But thou wilt go —
DOMINIQUE: Oh, anywhere, everywhere! Since I have pulled up the roots, I ask nothing better than to do something to take off the numbness!
QUEEN [points to columns]: Thou wilt go with thy master in order to help him return the hearts to those that lack them.
DOMINIQUE: Willingly! [Looks at the suspended hearts and scratches his ear] But — see what a quantity there is! I shall have a pretty heavy cargo!
QUEEN: NO. Look! [The hearts diminish to the size of nuts and assume a golden hue] DOMINIQUE: Oh, that is odd! that is certainly very queer! They won't be very heavy now. Let's try them! [Attempts to climb the column L. E.]
QUEEN: No; get down! [The capitals of the columns at R. and L. half open, letting fall a shower of hearts]
DOMINIQUE [gathers them up]: One would think they were only sugared bonbons.
QUEEN: They will be all the easier to take. [To Paul, who has remained motionless beside the column R.] What dost thou there? Why dost thou remain silent?
PAUL [aside]: I lose her at the very moment of victory, when all seemed finished, and I thought she was mine forever!
JEANNE [entreatingly]: Oh, do not despair! Go! Go! if you love me! You know not what destiny awaits you! Do as she commands, at once!
DOMINIQUE: Come, my poor master! We must make one more journey — the last! [Paul extends his mantle to receive some of the hearts, while Dominique puts others in his pockets]
QUEEN [points to horizon]: Go, now!
PAUL [turns to Jeanne and embraces her]: Jeanne!
QUEEN [waves him away]: No! to thy duty! Hers is already accomplished on the earth. I will transport her back to the happy regions where she will await thee, where thou shalt find her when thy virtue has made thee worthy of her love!
(Paul and Dominique go up stage and begin to climb the ruined staircase, stumbling among the stones)
JEANNE: Farewell!
PAUL [from a distance]: Farewell!
(Dominique turns to throw a kiss. The capitals of all the columns half open and allow a stream of little golden hearts to fall. At the same moment the Fairies glide upon the stage and begin to gather up the hearts in their robes. Jeanne stands, much moved, R. I, E. near the Queen, who holds her hand. Paul and Dominique can be seen far off on the horizon)
TENTH TABLEAU. THE VILLAGE FETE.
Scene: A fine park near Paris, the property of the banker, Kloekher. At each side of the stage are large trees and flowering shrubs. A low wall runs across the back, with steps C., forming an entrance. On each side of the steps are tall vases full of flowers. Other vases are placed at regular distances along the wall. Beyond, the open country can be seen, with a view of Paris in the distance. In the centre of the stage is a small grass-plot.
SCENE I.
(Monsieur and Madame Kloekher, Letourneux, Alfred de Cisy, Onésime Dubois, Macaret, Dr. Colombel, Bouvignard, Guests, etc., all in fashionable summer attire. It is evening. As the curtain rises, Guests are arriving from L. and scattering about in various directions. Mme. Kloekher leans on the arm of Alfred de Cisy. Bouvignard hastens on alone, stands still, R., and draws a flask of faience from his pocket, wrapped in a handkerchief. Unfolds it carefully and contemplates it with delight)
MME. KLOEKHER [draws a deep breath] At last we can find a little relief out here, from the village festival, with its noises of horns and drums — most annoying while we were dining!
KLOEKHER: You are right. So tiresome that the very day one chooses to receive his friends, the common people must take that time to have one of their noisy festivals!
LETOURNEUX: Ah, if in their diversions they would only respect morality!
MACARET: Pshaw! They would only come to our doors and cry about their miseries.
COLOMBEL: And we should have to receive them into the hospitals, where we spend altogether too much time on them as it is. [Exit LETOURNEUX [gaily]: To think. that two such good friends as we should ever have been so near a falling-out, my good Kloekher!
KLOEKHER: SO near it! Why we were furious at each other! [Laughs]
LETOURNEUX [laughs]: And what about, I ask? All on account of that little Monsieur Payl!
KLOEKHER [angrily]: That rascally intriguer!
ALFRED [shrugs his shoulders]: A lunatic!
MME. KLOEKHER: A very queer fellow! [sits on a bench L. Alfred sits beside her]
KLOEKHER: DO you know what has become of him?
ALFRED: No. Awfully sorry!
MME. KLOEKHER: YOU are not weeping over it, are you, Onésime, — you who were his friend?
ONESIME: I, Madame? Never in the world, I assure you!
MME. KLOEKHER [laughs]: Wouldn't it be amusing if he could only be here next week, to be one of the ushers at your marriage?
KLOEKHER: Good heavens! don't let us talk any more about that fellow! Suppose we discuss the first plan of action in that new operation of ours, Letourneux?
LETOURNEUX: With pleasure. [They talk together as they pace slowly to and fro up stage]
MME. KLOEKHER [to Onésime]: They say your fiancée is a very sweet girl.
ONESIME: Well, she is certainly not remarkably beautiful! But — there are other advantages!
MACARET: What's the matter with Bouvignard? He seems to be very much engrossed with that thing he's looking at. [Macaret and Onésime approach Bouvignard]
BOUVIGNARD [to Onésime]: You are an artist — look at that! What a design! What an enamel! [Onésime puts out his hand to take the vase] Take care! No, I will point out its beauties to you myself. [Shows it to them from every point of view]
MME. KLOEKHER [in low tones]: Is it all understood, then? I shall receive for next Saturday my invitation to go to the house of Madame the Countess de Trémanville?
ALFRED: And for all the following Saturdays. [Kloekher and Letourneux pass before them, talking and gesticulating] My aunt begs that you will come.
You will find a great difference in the people and the surroundings, I assure you. [Aside] Caught, my little bourgeoise!
MME. KLOEKHER: Oh, thank you! And I shall run no risk of being alarmed as I was the other day, shall I?
ALFRED: NO, no! be sure of that! The fact is, I lost my head, all about nothing; but everything is perfectly arranged now. I adore you, Ernestine! [Indicates Kloekher] You must speak to him of me as a man entirely devoted to his interests, ready to follow his lead, to whom he may safely entrust his most confidential affairs.
MME. KLOEKHER: Oh, certainly, my friend!
ALFRED [aside]: If she doesn't do that, I shall have to fly to Belgium in a week!
MACARET: And have you bought it?
BOUVIGNARD: Yes, for eighty francs — not a sou more — in a wine-shop not far from here.
(Noise of horns and firing of guns heard without)
MME. KLOEKHER [rises]. More noise! This is intolerable! Really, we must complain to the authorities!
(Noise increases; cries of enthusiasm and the movement of a large crowd are heard)
SCENE II.
COLOMBEL [re-enters]: Do you know that out there in the square, among the shops, something very original, extraordinary, and amusing is going on? I have seen many mountebanks in my day, but never one like that! A man out there is selling hearts for a sou apiece.
ALFRED: That is not dear!
A LADY: NO, but very curious!
A GENTLEMAN: It might be worth while to see him. What say you?
ANOTHER GUEST: We should only be compelled to listen to his impertinences.
MACARET: Sometimes these rascals are very amusing, however. [Guests surround Mme. Kloekher]
MME. KLOEKHER: I don't know whether I ought or not — Is he a person one could ask to come in here, Doctor?
COLOMBEL: Oh, for yourself — certainly not, fair lady! You have no need of him. But [To the other Ladies] as for us, from whom you have stolen all our hearts —
KLOEKHER [about to go]: Bah! A truce to your flattery! I am going to call him.
GUESTS: Bravo! Good! Capital idea!
COLOMBEL [goes up stage, makes a sign off R.]: Come here! I shall take the liberty, in my character of a physician, to give you a little surprise, ladies!
SCENE III.
(Enter Paul, wearing long white hair and beard and a large velvet cloak that covers his figure completely. Dominique follows him, dressed as a Chinaman, carrying on his back a large box and a red leather bag, and in his hand a small folding-chair.
They halt upon the grass-plot C. Dominique puts the bag upon the chair)
A LADY: Oh, this is going to be very nice! It amuses me already. I love conjurers.
MME. KLOEKHER: DO you need a table to assist you in performing your tricks?
PAUL: Thank you, Madame. I do not perform tricks. My mission is a higher one. It is to bring about your moral health and amelioration that I am here. I am charged by the Fairies to give you back your stolen hearts!
MEN: What! Our hearts!
ALFRED: He is very polite, your Nostradamus!
PAUL: It is not a matter of politeness. I speak seriously, believe me!
MEN: How funny! How very amusing! [Laughter]
COLOMBEL [to Mme. Kloekher]: Did I not tell you his manner was perfect?
DOMINIQUE [pours a quantity of gilded bonbons from the bag upon the folding-chair] Now, gentlemen, who forbids you? Come, ladies, a little courage! They are pretty, sweet as sugar, and very wholesome!
COLOMBEL: He expresses himself well, this Chinaman from Paris!
DOMINIQUE: NO, Monsieur, we have just arrived from Pipempohé [strokes his moustache], where the Sultan made us the most flattering offers!
GUESTS [laugh]: Pipempohé! The Sultan!
PAUL: And after that I captured them in the fortress of the Gnomes!
GUESTS: The Gnomes! How seriously he speaks!
ONESIME: Let him go on.
PAUL: But I have finished. I tell you once more that, acting upon the commands of the Fairies, I must return to you your hearts.
DOMINIQUE [taps the box on his back]: Hearts! hearts! hearts I Come and get your hearts!
PAUL [checks him]: Be quiet! [Clasps his hands entreatingly] Ah, it is for your sakes that I come! Take them! Hasten, I beg of you!
A LADY: Does one eat them?
MME. KLOEKHER: DO not touch the things! Perhaps they are drugged.
ONESIME: All the same, I am going to risk it! Come on, Bouvignard, I'll buy one for you. Do as I do! [Hands a piece of money to Paul, and begins to crunch a bonbon heart. Bouvignard does the same]
A LADY [speaks low]: Very singular people, these artists!
COLOMBEL [gives money to Paul and takes a bonbon]: Well, of course I must follow Onésime's example, seeing that I brought this funny fellow here.
ONESIME [suddenly strikes his forehead with his hand]: Unhappy that I am! Where is she?
MME. KLOEKHER: Of whom are you speaking?
ONESIME: Clémence!
MME. KLOEKHER [aside]: What are you thinking of, to say that before every one? Remember your approaching marriage!
ONESIME: Never mind my marriage! [Exit calling loudly] Clémence! Clémence!
BOUVIGNARD [raises his voice]: What stupidity to waste money on such trifles as that! [Throws his vase on the floor; it breaks] That's a good thing! Now I will sell my whole collection to obtain a dowry for my poor daughter.
COLOMBEL [.speaks to himself pacing to and fro]: To buy the land, say, a million francs! I'll do it! As to the rest, what with private subscriptions and an appeal to the government, I shall be able to found my great hospital! [Sees that the others are observing him] Yes, gentlemen, I intend to consecrate my future, my time, my science, and all my efforts, to this great work! The practice shall be directed by noted specialists; the halls shall be hung with tapestry; the beds shall be of mahogany. Devil take me if I don't do it!
GUESTS [surprised]: What does this mean?
LETOURNEUX: That stuff contains something that affects the brain.
PAUL: Take one! I do not sell them; I give them freely.
MACARET: Well, at that price — Besides, I don't see what interest he would have in doing any harm! [Eats a bonbon]
PAUL [to Alfred]: And you, Monsieur, surely you are not afraid to try one, when so many others have tasted them?
ALFRED:I! Afraid! The idea! I will take two of them. [Takes two bonbons and eats one]
MME. KLOEKHER: YOU, too?
ALFRED [aside to Mme. Kloekher]: But,it is really excellent — sweeter than honey and soft as a kiss! Share with me the passion that tortures me! Although I have said before that I loved you, what I feel now is a new love. Let us quit this horrible existence! Let us fly far away to some unknown shore, to the depths of a forest or to a desert! It matters not where if we are only together, that I may have the bliss of cherishing you forever! [Puts a bonbon to the lips of Mme. Kloekher; she eats it]
MME. KLOEKHER [drops her veil and takes her husband' s arm affectionately]: Alphonse, my dear!
KLOEKHER: Hey? What?
MME. KLOEKHER: These people bore me! We used to be so cosy together in our pretty home! I love thee!
KLOEKHER [aside]: Now my wife says she loves me!
She has lost her head!
MACARET [sobs in a corner, R.]: Oh! oh! Good heavens! Oh!
KLOEKHER: What is the matter with you?
MACARET [takes no notice of him]: Oh! oh! So many precious days lost! Oh! I am like Titus!
(The Guests, who have all taken the bonbons, now press near Paul)
DOMINIQUE [aside to Paul]: This is going well!
PAUL [aside]: No, we still have some left. Dominique! [Dominique knocks on the box]
PAUL [impatiently]: Come! Come, then!
KLOEKHER [irritated]: This farce is played out! Every one has had enough of it. Get out, now!
PAUL: You have not had one, — you, Alphonse-Jean-Baptiste-Isidore Kloekher!
KLOEKHER: Insolent! Who told you my names?
PAUL: I know them!
KLOEKHER and LETOURNEUX: Get out! Be off!
PAUL: Not until you have taken this heart!
KLOEKHER: I?
PAUL: I conjure you!
KLOEKHER: But this is an outrage!
PAUL: I command you!
KLOEKHER [remains silent with anger a moment, then takes a majestic pose]: By what right? [Paul, without replying, takes off with a single movement, his wig and beard and the velvet robe. Kloekher raises his hands, amazed and shocked as if at the sight of a spectre] He!
MME. KLOEKHER [takes his arm gently, points to Paul, and speaks softly]: Monsieur Paul!
LETOURNEUX [bites his thumb and turns his back]: Paul de Damvilliers!
A LADY: What a delightful surprise!
COLOMBEL: That excellent young man!
ALFRED [presses Paul's hand]: Dear friend! [Guests surround Paul and shake hands with him]
KLOEKHER: Good heavens! is every one his friend? Suppose he should tell! [Suddenly extends his hand] I will have one! [Eats a bonbon]
DOMINIQUE [aside]: That's what we wanted!
KLOEKHER [in a half choked voice]: AH! Wait! Oh, what have I done? I forgot! Those poor men that I caused to be sent away to the prison at Clichy the day before yesterday! [Addresses a Lady] Call François! [To a Gentleman] Pierre! Set them free! Send some one to their assistance!
LETOURNEUX [approaches Kloekher anxiously]: My friend!
KLOEKHER: And that worthy fellow, the inventor, to whom I refused twenty thousand francs. I must see about him! Where is my strong-box?
LETOURNEUX: But you are not serious, Kloekher?
KLOEKHER: Leave me, you! [Letourneux recoilsf with a gesture of astonishment and pity] I am happy! Yes! Do you hear, all of you? Happy that you are here to witness an act of — of — justice, — no.
