Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour. Maugham William Somerset
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call himself anybody's chickabiddy.
Protestations of undying affection are never ridiculous when they are accompanied by such splendid emeralds.
[Starting and growing suddenly serious.] And what about Maud?
Well?
Poor girl, it'd simply break her heart. He preached at her steadily for twenty years, and she worshipped the very ground he trod on. She'd have died of grief at his death except she felt it her duty to go on with his work.
I know.
By Jove, it's a good card. You were quite right to refuse the emeralds: these letters are twice as valuable.
Would you like to burn them?
Betsy!
There's the stove. Put them in.
No, I won't.
Why not?
It's too dooced generous. I'll fight you tooth and nail, but it's not fair to take an advantage over me like that. You'll bind my hands with fetters.
Very well. You've had your chance.
But, by Jove, you must have a good hand to throw away a card like that. What have you got – a straight flush?
I may be only bluffing, you know.
Lord, it does me good to hear your nice old Irish brogue again.
Faith, and does it?
I believe you only put it on to get over people.
[Smiling.] Begorrah, it's not easy to get over you.
Lord, I was in love with you once, wasn't I?
Not more than lots of other people have been.
And you did treat me abominably.
Ah, that's what they all said. But you got over it very well.
I didn't. My digestion was permanently impaired by your brutal treatment.
Is that why you went to Carlsbad afterwards instead of the Rocky Mountains?
You may laugh, but the fact remains that I've only been in love once, and that was with you.
[Smiling as she holds out her hand.] Good-night.
For all that I'm going to fight you now for all I'm worth.
I'm not frightened of you, Paradine.
Good-night.
[Yawning and stretching her arms.] Oh I'm so sleepy.
I'm sorry for that. I wanted to have a talk with you.
[Smiling.] I daresay I can keep awake for five minutes, you know – especially if you offer me a cigarette.
Here you are.
[With a sigh.] Oh, what a comfort.
I wanted to tell you, I had a letter this morning from my solicitor to say that he's just bought Crowley Castle on my behalf.
Really. But it's a lovely place. You must ask me to come and stay.
I should like you to stay there indefinitely.
[With a quick look.] That's charming of you, but I never desert my London long.
[Smiling.] I have a very nice house in Portman Square.
[Surprised.] Really?
And I'm thinking of going into Parliament at the next election.
It appears to be a very delightful pastime to govern the British nation, dignified without being laborious.
Lady Frederick, although I've been in the service I have rather a good head for business, and I hate beating about the bush. I wanted to ask you to marry me.
It's nice of you not to make a fuss about it. I'm very much obliged but I'm afraid I can't.
Why not?
Well, you see, I don't know you.
We could spend the beginning of our married life so usefully in making one another's acquaintance.
It would be rather late in the day then to come to the conclusion that we couldn't bear the sight of one another.
Shall I send my banker's book so that you may see that my antecedents are respectable and my circumstances – such as to inspire affection.
I have no doubt it would be very interesting – but not to me.
Ah, don't go yet. Won't you give me some reason?
If you insist. I'm not in the least in love with you.
D'you think that much matters?
You're a friend of Gerald's, and he says you're a very good sort. But I really can't marry every one that Gerald rather likes.
He said he'd put in a good word for me.
If I ever marry again it shall be to please myself, not to please my brother.
I hope I shall induce you to alter your mind.
I'm afraid I can give you no hope of that.
You know, when I determine to do a thing, I generally do it.
That sounds very like a threat.
You may take it as such if you please.
And you've made up your mind that you're going to marry me?
Quite.
Well, I've made up mine that you shan't. So we're quits.
Why don't you talk to your brother about it?
Because it's no business of his.
Isn't it? Ask him!
What do you mean by that?