Collected Works (Vol. III)

76 A DRAMATIC VERSION OF DENYS. I am a prisoner then? ALAIN, I state the facts, and leave the inference to Monsieur’s indulgence. But before you alto- gether decline this marriage, it would be perhaps properer did I present you to the lady. DENYS. [Sees that he must humour his strange host; rises and bows in acyutescence with znane sintle and phrase.) Ah, Monsieur, you make me too happy ! [This speech ts not ironical but con- ventional and absurd. ALAIN strikes the gong. Enter PRIEST and bows. ALAIN. Require the presence of the Lady Blanche de Maleétroit, if you please, father. PRIEST (dows). My lord. [Retires. Enter BLANCHE 227 a bridal dress, very shy and ashamed, with downcast eyes. DENYS. [Aside.] Ah! but she is beautiful ! ALAIN, Mademoiselle de Malétroit, allow me to present you to the Damoiseau Denys de Beaulieu. Monsieur Denys, my_ niece. [BLANCHE hears the strange name and ts shocked, looks up and only sees the back of Denys’ head, so low ts he bowing. She understands that he has given another name and regains her self-possession.] Forgive the formality of this introduction, but, after all, your previous acquaintance—[DENyYsS stares wtldly.| Under the circumstances, Blanche, I think I should give your little hand to kiss. [A fause.] It is necessary to be polite, my niece. [BLANCHE, tormented beyond endur- ance, reses up as tf to strike her uncle, sees IYENYS, screams, covers her face with her hands, and sinks on the Hoor. BLANCHE, That is not the man !—my uncle—that is not the man ! ALAIN. [Chuckles.| So? Of course not. I ex- pected as much. It was so unfortunate you could not remember his name. BLANCHE, This is not the man. ALAIN. Aman, niece. [Zurns airily to DENYS.] Tempestiva sequi viro, Monsieur Denys. BLANCHE. Indeed, indeed, I have never seen this person till this moment. [7Zurns to DENYS imploringly.| Sir,if you are a gentleman, you will bear me out. Have I seen you— have you ever seen me—before this accursed hour? DENYS. I have- never had that pleasure. [Zzrns to ALAIN.] This is the first time, my lord, that I have ever met your engaging niece. [Astde.| But he doesn’t care, he’s mad— by ’r Lady, perhaps I’m mad myself. [ Goes off into silent laughter. checks him sternly, ALAIN ALAIN. Sir, you will find I mean no jest. DENYS. Mademoiselle, I ask you a thousand pardons for this scene—none of my making, but of my strange fortune’s.