Collected Works (Vol. III)

THE SIRE DE MALETROIT’S DOOR 73 ALAIN, Well, well, that’s all right. Here you are, which is the great thing after all, isn’t it? Sit down, my dear young friend [Denys zncomfortably and slowly takes a chair}, and we shall—er—arrange our little affair. You arrived uninvited, but believe me, most welcome. DENYS. Sir, you persist in error. I am a stranger: Denys de Beaulieu is my name, and I am here under a safe-conduct. That you see me in your house is only owing to—your door. ALAIN, Ah! my door—a hospitable fancy of mine ! DENYS. I don’t understand. I did not wish... oh! ALAIN. My dear sir, we old gentlemen expect this reluctance from young bloods. [With bitter trony.] We bearit. But [flaming out] if the matter touches one’s honour—[r7ses and looks sternly at DENYS]. DENYS. Your honour ? [DENYS zs amazed out of all measure. ALAIN. We try to find some means of overcoming such modesty. DENYS. Is this Ovid or Horace? ALAIN, To business, then, if you will affect igno- rance. [Strikes gong; enter PRIEST, who gtves. DENYS a long keen glance and speaks in an undertone to ALAIN.] Is she in a better frame of mind? PRIEST. She is more resigned, my lord. ALAIN. Now a murrain o’ these languishing wenches in their green-sickness! By’r Lady, she is hard to please. A likely stripling, not ill-born, and the one of her own choosing. Why, what more would she have? PRIEST. The situation is not usual to a young damsel, and somewhat trying to her blushes. ALAIN. She should have thought of that before. This devil’s dance is not to my piping, but since she is in it, by ’r Lady, she shall carry it through. [Afotzons PRIEST fo retire. Exit PRIEST, wth a low reverence to ALAIN and a courteous bow to DENYS. DENYS. [Azses and clears his throat.| Sir, let me —explain that ALAIN. Don’t explain. May I beg you to be seated, my dear young friend. We've been expecting you all night: the lady is ready, though I believe a little tearful : a bride has so much to fear, you know —et corde et gentbus tremtt—eh, my Gaetulian lion? DENYS. [Nazses his hand authoritatively to check speech. Sir! this misunderstanding, for such I am convinced it is, must go no further. I am a stranger here— ALAIN. Well, well, you'll get to know the old place in time. Blanche