Collected Works (Vol. III)

THE SIRE DE MALETROIT’S DOOR trap. I break my sword on the old beast— give it up—up come stairs—ah ! stairs come up—I mean / come—a murrain on these courtly phrases! and here I stand [rzses and dows], Denys de Beaulieu, Damoiseau de Beaulieu, in the Province of Normandy, at your lordship’s service. ALAIN, That is your way of looking after the lady’s reputation. Hear mine! Allow me first to introduce myself as Alain de Malé- troit, Sire de Malétroit, and Warden of the Marches under his Majesty King Charles— DENYS. Whom God preserve ! [ Waves his broken sword. ALAIN, What excellent sentiments, and what an unfortunate omen—dear, dear me! And I have the honour to offer you the hand— I presume you already possess the heart—of the Lady Blanche de Malétroit. DENYS. You—what ? ALAIN, Tut! Tut! The marriage, if you please, will take place in an hour. DENYS. [ Aszde.] Oh, he is mad after all! [Aloud.] What nightmare is this? ALAIN. You are not very polite to the lady—not as polite as your letter. DENYS. My letter? [ALAIN takes up letter from table and reads, 75 ALAIN (reads). ““O white-bosomed Blanche! I am pale and wan with suffering for thy love. Pity me, moonlike queen. Leave to-night the postern door”—my postern door—‘‘ ajar that I may speak with your beauty on the stairs’—my stairs. ‘“ Beware of thy lynx- eyed uncle ”—me—ah ! yes? DENYS. Sir, do you take me for the pernicious idiot that wrote that stuff? ALAIN. Sir, I know that there is a lady and a letter and a door and—a marriage. [udicating the appropriate four guarters of the universe. DENYS. And a sword. If it de broken— ALAIN. Lnteger vite scel— DENYS. I know ¢hat tag at least. [ALAIN claps his hands, walks toward door behind DENYS. The arras swings back and armed men appear. ALAIN. O mator tandem parcas, insane, minort. DENYS. A truce to all this theatrical folly, Mon- sieur de Malétroit. Let me do you the honour to take your words seriously. I decline this marriage. I demand free passage from your house. ALAIN, I regret infinitely that I cannot comply with Monsieur’s most moderate demands— at least [yzezck/y] in the sense he means.