1906
A DRAMATIC VERSION! OF
R. L. STEVENSON’S STORY
THE SIRE DE MALETROIT’S DOOR
(Written in collaboration with GERALD KELLY)
SCENE I.
The SIRE DE MALETROIT sitting before
the fire. A chime of bells—eleven.
ALAIN,
’Leven o° th’ clock! Plague take these
lovers! What? do they make a Malétroit
wait? [Picks up letter from table—reads]
‘‘ Mademoiselle ”— um, um — ‘‘ my words
might show that love which I cannot declare
in writing ”’—very likely—‘‘nor raise a blush
on that alabaster brow”—um! um! ah !—
‘‘embrace of the eyes”—is the fellow an
octopus ?—‘* Tho’ you do not respond to my
letters ’’—ah !—‘‘yet I would not have you
leave me” —I daresay not—‘‘ Pity me, moon-
like queen ”’—moonlike? um !—‘‘ Leave the
postern door ajar”’—well, it is ajar—‘‘that I
may speak with your beauty on the stairs”
—um—can’t meet him there. Cold! cold!
[Snzfs.] A pretty letter. [Zhrozws it aside.)
Andrew ! some more logs. [Her ANDREW.]
I expect company. [Chuckles long.] The old
Burgundy, Andrew. [#xz¢ ANDREW.] I
propose to squeeze Duke Charles’ grapes,
though fate and my age forbid me a smack
at his forces — neu sinas Medos equttare
tnultos—but our good King is no Augustus.
[Strikes gong. Enter PRIEST quietly
and quickly, ALAIN does not turn
round,
Good evening, father. All is ready?
PRIEST.
All, my lord.
1 This play has been publicly performed within the United Kingdom.
Stationers’ Hall. All rights reserved.
ALAIN,
It is near the time,
in her room?
She has remained
PRIEST.
All the day.
ALAIN.
Has she attempted no message? eh?
PRIEST,
Sir, she ——
ALAIN.
[Jzterrupts.| She has not succeeded, at
least?
PRIEST,
I am still Father Jerome.
[ Pause.
ALAIN.
She is ready dressed as I ordered? And
now praying in the Chapel ?
[ALAIN gets up and can now see PRIEST.
PRIEST,
As you ordered, my lord.
ALAIN,
Content?
[PRIEST puts out his hands with the
gesture ‘* hardly.”
PRIEST.
Young maids are wilful, my lord.
It is entered at
68