ETHEL HALE FREEMAN A DRAMATIZATION OF IONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS WALTER H. BAKER 6 Co., BOSTON . $inero's price, 50 ent Jac') TRE AMAZONS ^ arce * n Th rea Acts. Seven males, five females. L, L, i Costumes, modern ; scenery, not difficult. Plays a full evening. Farce in Four Acts. Ten males, nine femaie8 . costumes, modern society; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. DANDY S'CK Farce in Three Acts. Sevon males, four females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays two hours and a half. THE 6AY IOSD QUBX two interiors and an exterior. Plays a full evening. HI? HfWCp IV ADHPD Comedy in Four Acts. Nine males, four UI3 milX W UK1WM females . costumes, modern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. THF ffflBRY BflPSF Comedy in Three Acts. Ten males, five females . Costumes, modern; scenery easy. Plays two hours and a half. I D1C Drama in Five Acts. Seven males, seven females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. LADY BOUNTIFUL Play in Four ActS * ^S 111 male8 > seven fe- LiAVl OvviMllvLt ma i e8t Costumes, modern ; scenery, four in- teriors, not easy. Plays a full evening. I FTTY I >rania ln Four Acts and an Epilogue. Ten males, five fe- **~** males. Costumes, modern ; scenery complicated. Plays a full evening Sent prepaid on receipt of price by Walter ^, 'BaSet: a Company No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts A Dramatization of MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE A Dramatization of Monsieur Beaucaire By ETHEL HALE FREEMAN Made from Booth Tarkington's popular novel with the con- sent of that author, his publishers and his collabora- tors in the play of the same title popularized by the latl Richard Mansfield. READ CAREFULLY This dramatization is intended for the use of amateur player* acting in schools, colleges or under other strictly private conditions of performance, and must not be presented for profit or before a paying audience save for charitable purposes. Presentations given for paid admissions or for the pecuniary benefit of any club or in- dividual are strictly forbidden, all acting rights being strictly re- served under the author's copyright. Permission may be secured for performance of this play by amateurs subject to the above in- variable conditions by payment to the author of a royalty of ten dollars ($10.00) for each performance. Such payments should be made and all correspondence on this subject addressed to ETHEL HALE FREEMAN, 8 West St., Northampton, Mass. BOSTON WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 1916 A Dramatization of MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE CHARACTERS FRANCOIS. VICTOR. SERVANT TO BEAU NASH. LADY MARY CARLYSLE. LADY MALBOURNE. LADY CLARISE. LADY RELLERTON. LADY BARING-GOULD. ESTELLE. MARIE. M. BEAUCAIRE. DUKE OF WlNTERSET. MR. MOLYNEUX. HARRY RACKELL. CAPT. BADGER. BEAU NASH. LORD TOWNBRAKE. MR. BANTISON. SIR HUGH GUILFORD. HENRI DE BEAUJOLAIS. MARQUIS DE MIREPOIX. Servants to Beaucaire, Marquis, Winterset and Lady Malbourne. SYNOPSIS ACT I. Scene i. A room in Beaucaire's lodging. Scene 2. Lady Malbourne's house. ACT II. Scene i. A park. Late in the morning. Scene 2. The same. Late afternoon. Scene 3. The same. Evening. ACT III. The assembly room. One week later. COPYRIGHT, 1916, by ETHEL HALE FREEMAN As author and proprietor All rights reserved Dramatized for "CAP AND BELLS' Smith College 2114989 DIRECTIONS FOR SCENERY This play may be staged by a simple composition of columns and curtains in Acts I and III, and by four ex- terior flats in Act II. REQUISITES FOR SETTING Six marble pillars ; four curtains, preferably of an cru color ; one pair of curtains, rose-color with border of pink roses ; a pair of wide steps, and platform ; ex- terior back drop and four wood wings. ACT I. Scene i. Set the stage far down to the front, using rose curtains in the centre. 7 DIRECTIONS FOR SCENERY ACT I. Scene 2. Move central pillars to either side of steps at centre of upper stage. Remove rose curtains, disclosing exterior back-drop. ACT II. Set a simple exterior, using back-drop and four wood wings. DIRECTIONS FOR SCENERY ACT III. Right and Centre stage, same as Act I, Scene 2. On Left, enclose a small room, rose curtains at the front, plain wall at rear. A border of pink roses may effectively be used to dress this scene. STAGE PROPERTIES Three chairs, style of Louis XIV ; card-table, same period ; marble bench ; palms and ferns. 10 COSTUMES COSTUMES BEAUCAIRE. First. Dark green or black cloth coat, lace cuffs, white stock ; black satin breeches, pumps ; black wig. Second, White satin suit, delicate design of pink roses on the coat ; white plumed hat ; dress sword. HENRI AND MIREPOIX. Light velvet or satin suit ; dress sword. WINTERSET. Black velvet ; large black hat. OTHER GENTLEMEN. Velvet or satin coat, satin breeches, lace cuffs, white stock ; pumps. CAPT. BADGER. English uniform of early eighteenth century. WINTON AND SERVANT TO BEAU NASH. Cloth suit, wide cuffs, stock ; white stockings. SERVANTS TO BEAUCAIRE. Black cloth suit, wide cuffs, black stock, white stockings. LADY MARY. Pale blue satin, empire style. OTHER LADIES. Empire dress, varying in light colors ; fan, parasol, large hat. MARIE. Short black dress ; cuffs, kerchief, cap, small lace apron. PROPERTIES ACT I. Scene i. Cloak and purse for Francois ; cards and dice on table. Scene 2. Red or pink roses for Lady Mary ; dress sword for Beaucaire ; fan for Lady Clarise ; order of dance for Lady Malbourne. ACT II. Scene i. Parasol for Lady Malbourne. Scene 2. Swords for Capt. Badger, Beaucaire, Molyneux and Townbrake ; bandage for Townbrake. PROPERTIES 1 1 Scene j. Six black masks for Winterset and other men ; six long cloaks ; twelve swords for all men except Beaucaire ; dress sword for Beaucaire ; rope for gentleman ; long whip for Winterset. ACT III. Red rose for Lady Clarise ; fan for Lady Clarise ; orders for Beaucaire ; cards and dice on table ; crutch and bandage for Sir Hugh. PLEASE NOTICE The acting rights in this play are strictly reserved by the author to whom applications for its use should be addressed. Amateurs may obtain permission to produce it privately under the conditions specified on the title page, on pay- ment of a fee of $10.00 for each performance, always in advance. Correspondence on this subject should be ad- dressed and all such payments made to ETHEL HALE FREEMAN, 8 West St., Northampton, Mass., though pay- ment of royalty may be made, as a matter of convenience, through the publishers. Attention is called to the penalties provided by law for any infringements of her rights, as follows : "Snc. 4966: Any person publicly performing or representing any dramatic or musical composition for which copyright has been obtained, without the consent of the proprietor of said dramatic or musical composi- tion, or his heirs and assigns, (hall be liable for damages therefor, such damages in all cases to be assessed at such sum, not less than one hundred dollars for the first and fifty dollars for every subsequent performance, as to the court shall appear to be just. If the unlawful performance and rep- resentation be wilful and for profit, such person or persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year." U. S. REVISED STATUTES, Tit It do, Chap. 3. A Dramatization of Monsieur Beaucaire ACT I SCENE 1. A room in M. BEAUCAIEE'S lodg- ings. 1 A loud knock is heard, upper center, SERVANT. [Outside.] I will see him, fellow, and there's an end ! FRANgois. [At door.] No, no, Monsieur, he is not . . . [SERVANT to BEAU NASH appears u. o. SERVANT. You mean to tell me that he is not at home ? FRANCOIS. I do, oui, he is not at home. 1 See directions for scenery. 13 14 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE SERVANT. Bah ! I will see for myself I FRANCOIS. Pardon. You will ree-main outside, if you .please ! SERVANT. By the furies, I will not stay outside ! FRANCOIS. Pardon . . . SERVANT. [Incensed.] Deuce take your pardons ! Make way, sir. Where's the barber, I say ? [Enter from R. M. BEAUCAIRE with MOLYNEUX. FRANCOIS. Sir, you call our master a " barber " one more time, an' we kill you ! SERVANT. Ho, ho ! A pretty threat ! He didn't deny it, did he ? Make way ! M. BEAUCAIRE. [To MOLYNEUX.] You mus' then leave me ? . . . A chair for M. Molyneux. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 1$ SERVANT. Ah ! there he is ! Mr. Victor, a message to you from Mr. Nash. M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah! more instructions from Meestaire Nash ? One was not enough he think'. You English mus' al-ways do a thing twice eh ? [M. BEAU- CAIRE takes the letter and reads it.~\ Ah, you are yet there, little frien' ? SERVANT. There's a reply, isn't there, Mr. Barber ? FRANgois. [Threatening.] Hein ! M. BEAUCAIRE. My man shall bring it to him. You may go. {Exit SERVANT. To MOLYNEUX.] Your Mees- taire Nash, he mak' me laugh, Monsieur. He tell me, here, very cross, I mus' not come again to the Pump-Room. MOLYNEUX. Ah! M. BEAUCAIRE. Was not once an' before all those people, enough ? 16 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE MOLYNEUX. Oh, Monsieur ! I cannot think of you as a barber, and to our Nash, who is as sensitive as a potted plant, the shock has been most un- settling. M. BEAUCAIRE. [Thoughtfully.] Ah yes, yes. MOLYNEUX. And to all of us, Monsieur, I own it. But, barber or no barber, I like to play with you, for you, sir, are as straight as an Englishman. M. BEAUCAIRE. Monsieur, Monsieur ! Your manner, is it not as kin' as a Frenchman ? Your great-gran'fa- ther was French, not so ? FRANCOIS. [In doorway.] M. le Due de "Winterset est dessu^ Monseigneur. [MOLYNEUX crosses to L. M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah he haf come again. May I ask do you never play with that gentleman, sir, his Grace of Winterset ? MOLYNEUX. Ah, I am not rich enough. [L. c.] MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE I/ M. BEAUCAIRE. [o.] Eh, but he is, of course, hones' ? MOLYNEUX. [Franldy.~] I like better to play with you, my friend. \Enter YICTOR, u. c. YICTOR. M. le Due de Winterset CEaise poi M. Molyneux. [FRANCOIS comes to MOLYNEUX and helps him on with his cape. Enter DUKE OF WINTERSET. MOLYNEUX. Good-evening, Your Grace. M. BEAUCAIRE. I am honor', M. le Due. WINTERSET. Good-evening, Beaucaire. You are not leav-*/" ing, Molyneux? MOLYNEUX. Your pardon I am waiting on my young cousin, the Lady Clarise, whom I am to escort to-night to Lady Malbourne's ball. 18 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE WlNTERSET. Oh, yes. Make up a table there, Molyneux ; young Badger and Townbrake will play. Pity you are not a gentleman, Beaucaire. I warrant you could dance. M. BEAUCAIRE. At leas' I could gaze, Monsieur, at your Eng- 1 T /> * *F lish fair. [WINTERSET gives his cloak to VICTOR, U. R., and busies himself with cards, soon sitting at table D. R. c. MOLYNEUX. [L. c.] You admire our ladies ? Who does not ? They are after all the crown of flowers we work for, fight for, and behave well for. M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah ! You have also, then, the romance ? I knew you mus' have it the what shall I call ? the vibration un'erneath your so calm waist- coat. MOLYNEUX. You are a surprising fellow, Beaucaire. But I must undeceive you. We English do not care two-pence for what you call " romance." We are so obstinately logical, you know. And there is apt to be danger in romance. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 19 M. BEAUCAIRE. [Pityingly.'] But your ladies how they mus' miss it ! MOLYNEUX. There you mistake, my young friend Romance is too prone to deceive. If you play with it upon an Englishman, he may take you too seriously forgive you yes, perhaps but he will never forget. If you play with it upon the heart of an English lady, she will never for- get or forgive. M. BEAUCAIRE. I thank you for my lesson, Monsieur. [Bows. MOLYNEUX. Good-evening. [MOLYNEUX goes out u. c., followed by FRANCOIS and VICTOR. M. BEAUCAIRE. [Going u. C.] Adieu, Monsieur. [Pausing u. L. c.] " She will never forget or forgive." Ah, yes, it is true of mos^ of your English fair, but one, ah, there is at leas' one whose kin' heart will forgive a little romance we shall see, M. Molyneux, that there is one ! 20 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE "WlNTERSET. "Well, Beaucaire ? [M. BEAUCAIEE turns quickly in apol- ogy- M. BEAUCAIRE. Your servant, M. le Due. [He sits opposite WINTERSET. As they begin to play, FRANCOIS enters. He has a military cape over his arm. He pauses at M. BEATJCAIRE'S left and bows before speaking. Pardonj Mqnseignettrs,-le. mantel appartient a 1'uiTdes gentileshommes je ne sais a qui. M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah, one of the gentlemen forget his mantle ; could you tell whom it belong, my frien' ? WlNTERSET. Let me see it looks like Badger's ; yes, 'tis one of Captain Badger's. M. BEAUCAIRE. Franyois, ree-turn it to the Captain who was here this af'-noon. FRANCOIS. Oui, Monseigneur - [Exit, u. c. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 21 M. BEAUCAIRE. An' now, my frien', we shall not be interrup' again. {.They play. WINTERSET. Stay ! That is mine, I think. M. BEAUCAIKE. [Rising.] Is not the room too warm, Mon- sieur ? [As he crosses L., FRANgoiS announces. FKA f *V&^ M. le Capitane est renvenu, lui-meme. A~y\JU [Enter CAPT. BADGER. CAPT. BADGER. Good-evening, Winterset Beaucaire, I came to find my cloak and met your servant just outside, bringing it to me. M. BEAUCAIRE. [L.] Franpois has restored to you your cape ? CAPT. BADGER. The cape was nothing. But, deuce take it, when a sharp little fellow sees a handful of gold lying loose in one's pocket, and leaves it there gad ! but there's a lad worth keeping your eye on ! 22 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIRE. I hope my man knew his duty, sir. CAPT. BADGER. But the pay for half my company was in this pocket, gentlemen ! WINTERSET. Ah, most servants might think it their "duty" to take it! M. BEAUCAIRE. My servants are all hones', Monsieur. CAPT. BADGER. Then you are more fortunate than the king ! Here, fellow. This is to encourage your hon- esty. {Giving money to FRANCOIS.] May it never lessen. Merci, merci, Monsieur. CAPT. BADGER. A bright lad, eh, Beaucaire ? Good face ; . . . I never forget a face. "What's his name ? M. BEAUCAIRE. Francois. CAPT. BADGER. "When he's for sale, let me know. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 23 M. BEAUCAIRE. I cannot let you have Franois, Monsieur. CAPT. BADGER. You're coming, of course, to Lady Mai- bourne's, Duke? WlNTERSET. Yes, I promised Nash I'd call in about nine. Lady Mary Carlysle will attend. M. BEAUCAIRE. Oh 1 [Scarcely audible. CAPT. BADGER. Aha, then it will be a ball indeed 'Til then, sir. [Slight bow.'] Good-night, Beaucaire ; as for you, boy, look to Badger if you want to change masters eh, Beaucaire ? M. BEAUCAIRE. You cannot have him, Monsieur. Fran- cois \He whispers to FRANpois. CAPT. BADGER looks hard at FRANCOIS and exit. M. BEAUCAIRE and WIN- TERSET now settle down to play in earnest. FRANCOIS exit D. R. ; he soon reappears u. c. and the door D. R. opens noiselessly disclosing JEAN and the other servants just outside. 24 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIKE. Pardon. Was not that a mistake ? WlNTERSET. [Crossly.] Eh ? Deal again if you like. [A pause. At a signal from FRANpoIS all six of M. BEAUCAIKE'S servants steal into the room. /Suddenly M. BEAUCAIRE leans forward and plucks a card from WINTERSET'S sleeve. M. BEAUCAIRE. Merci, M. le Due ! WlNTERSET. It means the dirty work of silencing you with my bare hands ! [He starts to spring toward M. BEAU- CAIRE. M. BEAUCAIRE. [Quickly, .] Do not move ! Observe behind you. Is it not a compliment to Monsieur that I procure six large men to subdue him ? They are quite devot' to me, and Monsieur is alone. WlNTERSET. It's murder, is it, you carrion ? MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 2$ M. BEAUCAIEE. What words ! No, no, no ! no killing. A such word to a such host ! No, no, not mur-r-der ; only disgrace ! [Laughs. WlNTERSET. You little devilish scullion ! [At these words M. BEAUCAIRE'S men lay hands on WINTERSET. M. BEAUCAIRE. [Raises his hand and his men release WIN- TERSET.] Tut, tut ! But I forget. Monsieur has pursue' his studies of deportment amongs' his fellow countrymen. WlNTERSET. Do you dream, that a soul in Bath will take your word that I that I M. BEAUCAIRE. That M. le Due de Winterset had a card up his sleeve ? WINTERSET. [Low tone, growling the words out slowly.'} You pitiful stable-boy, born in a stable M. BEAUCAIRE. Is it not an honor to be born where Monsieur must have been bred ? 26 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE WINTERSET. You scurvy foot- boy, you barber, you cut- throat groom M. BEAUCAIRE. Overwhelm' ! M. le Due appoint me to all the office of his househol'. WlNTERSET. Fool ! There are not five people of quality in Bath will speak to you. M. BEAUCAIRE. No, Monsieur, not on the parade ; but how many may come to play me here ? Because I will play always, night and day, for what one will, for any long, and always fair, Monsieur, always fair with the cards, with-the-diee, or with the small sword, but always fair, Monsieur, al-ways fair ! WlNTERSET. You outrageous varlet! Every one knows you came to England as the French Ambassa- dor's barber. What man of fashion will listen to you ? Who will believe you ? M. BEAUCAIRE. All people, Monsieur. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 2? WlNTERSET. Bah' M. BEAUCAIRE. Will Monsieur not reseat himself ? So. Jean, Victor, and you others retire ; go into the hallway. [All exeunt except FRANCOIS.] At- tend at the entrance, Frai^ois. Go ; now we shall talk. Monsieur, I wish you to think very cool. Then listen : I will be briefly. It is that I am well known to be all, entire hones' every one say that. And is there never a whisper come to Monsieur le Due that not all people believe him to play al-ways hones' ? Ha, ha ! Did it almos' be said to him las' year WnSTTERSET. You dirty scandal-monger ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Monsieur, Monsieur ! True I am notreco'nize on the parade ; that my frien's who come here do not present me to their ladies ; that Meestaire Nash has reboff' me in the pump- room ; still do not all say I am hones' and will I not be belief even I, when I lif up my voice and charge you aloud with what is already w'isper ? WlNTERSET. How much do you want ? 28 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIRE. {Laughing^ I catch you cheatin' an' you offer me money money ! Pouff ! No, no, no, it is not that ! It is that M. le Due, impoverish', somewhat in a bad odor as he is, yet command the entree anywhere onless I Ha, ha ! Eh, Monsieur ? WlNTERSET. Ha ! You dare think to force me M. BEAUCAIRE. Monsieur have talk with his friends of Lady Malbourne's ball Is it kin', Monsieur, to flaunt your privilege before a poor gam'ler ? No, Monsieur need have more pity I mus' cul- tivate it for him. WlNTERSET. Pity ! Bah ! M. BEAUCAIRE. So Monsieur begin by takin' me to Lady Malbourne' ball, to-night WINTERSET. Curse your impudence ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Sit quiet. You see, that's all ; we goin' to- gether. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 29 WlNTERSET. No! M. BEAUCAIRE. Certain. I make all my little plan 'tis all arrange. "WlNTERSET. No! M. BEAUCAIRE. Yes. You goin' take me to-night and after then I have the entree. Is it much I ask? That one little favor, and I never w'isper, never breathe that it is to say I keep always forever silent of Monsieur's misfortune. WlNTERSET. You have the entree ! Go to a lackey's rout and dance with the kitchen maids. If I would I could not present you to Bath society. You would be thrust from Lady Malbourne's door five minutes after you entered it. M. BEAUCAIRE. Oh, no, no, no ! WlNTERSET. Half the gentlemen of Bath have been here to play. They would know you, wouldn't they, fool ? 30 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIRE. No you mistake, they will not know me. Beside you goin' presen' me to the ladies, at las' ! To Lady Mary Carlysle. WlNTERSET. Ha, indeed ! Lady Mary Carlysle, of all women alive, would be the first to prefer the devil to a man of no birth, barber. M. BEAUCAIRE. Oh is that why she have tolerate you? Ha, ha ! WlNTERSET. Also dolt she would know you, if you escaped the others. She stood within a yard of you when Nash expelled you from the pump- room. M. BEAUCAIRE. [ Angrily. ~\ You think I did not see ? WlNTERSET. Do you think because I introduce you, Bath will receive a barber ? M. BEAUCAIRE. [Proudly.] I beg to call Monsieur's atten- tion I have renounce' that professi'n. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 31 WlNTERSET. Fool! M. BEAUCAIRE. I am now a man of honour ! WlNTERSET. Faugh ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Shall you be shame' for your guest's manner ? ^o, no ! My appearance, is it of the people ? Clearly, no. Do I not compare in taste of ap- parail with your young Englishmen ? Ha, ha ! It is to be hope', Monsieur, it is to be hope' ! You shall have nothin' to worry you nothin' in the worl' I am goin' assassinate my poor mus^achio likewise remove this horrible, dark p^ruqoe, and these remarkable patches and emerge^ in my own hair Behol' ! When it is dress', I am transform'. [Sweeping off the Hack wig and revealing his own origlit hair. WlNTERSET. Ho, ho ! Think you one cannot tell a gentle- man from a stable-boy ? Perhaps you think you were born a gentleman ? M. BEAUCAIRE. [Slowly.'] No I was not born a gentleman, no I was not born a gentleman, I was born a 32 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE lebi! Ah, you need have nottin' to worry you, Monsieur, nottin' in the worl'. No one shall reco'nize M. Beaucaire or " Victor." WlNTEESET. Curse you do you think I am going to be saddled with you wherever I go ? M. BEAUCAIEE. No, no, Monsieur, all I requi' all I beg is this one evenin' after, I shall not need Mon- sieur. WlNTERSET. Take heed to yourself after ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Conquered, conquered for to-night ! Ah, I shall meet some strange frien's of yours after to-night, not so? I mus' try not to be too much frighten'. [Front.l " Victor," the artis', is condemn' to death ! His throat shall be cut with his own razor. " M. Beaucaire " [throw- ing dice in his black wig and hurling it out D. E.] " M. Beaucaire " shall be choke' with his own dice-box. Who is this Phoenix to re- main ? Choose for me, Monsieur, choose for me. Shall it be comte, vicomte, marquis, chev- alier or what ? Ah, no, no, no ! Out of com- pliment to Monsieur, should I desire to be any- MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 33 thing that he is not ? Ah, no, no, no 1 I shall be M. le Due, M. le Due de Chateaurien. Ha, ha ! You see ? You are my confrere ! WINTERSET. Ah, indeed ! M. BEAUCAIRE. But how I forget my age. I am twenty- three. I rejoice too much to be of the quality. Your pardon, Monsieur. WlNTERSET. All England does not possess such a rascal of impertinence. M. BEAUCAIKE. Your England ah, it is too much for me I am goin' tell you a secret. The ladies of your country, they are very different than ours. One may adore the demoiselle one must wor- ship the lady of England. Ours are flowers, yours are stars. Ah, yes, and there is one among these stars, ah, yes, there is one, the poor Frenchman have observe from his humble distance. Even there he can bask in the glow- ing. Ah, what radiance ! Those people up there over the sky, they wish to show they wish the poor earth to be happy they smile and they make this lady ! 34 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE "WlNTEESET. Ha, ha, ha ! M. BEAUCAIEE. Ah, you laugh ! What do you know, Mon- sieur, what do you know ? The heart of a lady is a blank to you you have nothing of the fibre oh, yes, you can laugh the war is open', an' by me ! There is one great step taken. Until to-night, there was nothing for you to ruin, to-morrow you have got a noble of France, your own protege, to besiege and sack. It shall be a game of romance, Monsieur a game of superb romance ! WlISTTEESET. Stop, do you forget Mr. Molyneux what he said of an English lady ? M. BEAUCAIEE. I do not forget I defy his words. There is one heart that can beat with romance as there is one name in England more beautiful than all the res', and that is " Mary." Ah jus' to watch her an' to wonder ! It is strange, but I have almos' cry out in rapture at a look I have see' her another man a look for another ! Ah, yes an' to many others an' to you one day a rose, Monsieur, while I I could not be MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 35 so bless' as be the groun' beneath her little shoe ! But to-night, Monsieur, ha, ha ! to- night [elaborate bows] two princes, you an' me, M. le Due de Winterset and M. le Due de Chateaurien an' we are goin' arm in arm to that ball, an' / am goin' have one of those looks, I ! And a rose ! I ! It is time ! But ten minutes, Monsieur, while I go in the nex' room an' assassinate my mustachio an' inves' myself in white satin. Ha, ha ! I shall be very gran*, Monsieur, I shall be very gran' ! Francois, sen' Louis to me ; Yictor, two chairs for Monsieur le Due an' me ; we are goin' out into the worl' to-night ! [Loud and joyous as he runs off L. CURTAIN SCENE 2. LADY MALBOURNE'S house. LADY MALBOURNE stands D. R. c. ; ESTELLE on her R. ; WINTON, u. c. ; MARIE, D. R. WIN-TON. [c., announcing^ Mr. Harry Rackell. [Enter HARRY, buoyantly, u. 0. 36 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE LADY MALBOURNE. What, Harry ! Ah, we heard you had re- turned from France. [D. B. c. HARRY. Do you not observe my Parisian pirouette ? LADY MALBOURNE. Dear boy! you are quite dazzling surely. "Welcome once more to Bath. HARRY. Will you not greet me as kindly, Estelle ? ESTELLE. Do not come to me for compliments until I have observed you quite thoroughly. HARRY. Oh, your pardon. I had forgot you had en- tered the ballroom of fashion. Dear me you are quite quite a lady, I see. ESTELLE. Sir! HARRY. \Sighing.~] Alas! Will you never again race me over the lawn, or play castle on the wall ? But, Madam, you will, at least, permit me to paint you. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 37 LADY MALBOUENE. Indeed, yes, Harry. You need not pout, Estelle, for you know very well that your hair and color will never be better. ESTELLE. [Laughing.] Now is not that a gloomy ob- servation. friend Harry ? But so it goes, does it not ? No sooner may one enter the gay ball- room than lo ! the music stops. Oh, yes, paint me at once/ or teach your art to transcend the HARRY. Let us begin, then, at once [HARRY and ES- TELLE move L. c. together], before youth cools down and the ruthless grip of time - [BEAU NASH appears u. C., where he crosses L. to R. ; HARRY sees him and stops abruptly] Bah ! cease emotions. I am cut off by a wagging fop. [ESTELLE laughs. LADY MALBOURNE frowns in disapproval.] What a perfect doll is our Beau, a powdered, exquisite rosette no, a captious poppy bobbing on its stem ! ESTELLE. Take care, Harry ; mother will place a keen eye on your manners to-night. HARRY. "Madam Mother" shall be rewarded you 38 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE shall see me when the pompadours arrive. No one shall match me for velvet and elegance ! ESTELLE. Softly, Harry ; mother, you know, believes you are vastly clever ; be careful not to arouse her attention or she will discover how really dull you can be. [LADY MALBOURNE is giving directions to MAEIE. HARRY. Nonsense, Estelle. It is quite impossible for me to be dull. Besides, since leaving England, I have looked on things which would startle music in a stone. I have seen LADY MALBOURNE. What have you seen, young Harry ? HARRY. Such painting, Madam ! LADY MALBOURNE. Ah, indeed ! HARRY. [Crossing c., earnestly."] Through the cour- tesy of our Ambassador, I was permitted to enter the Galerie Royale where some new MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 39 paintings were hung by a great French mas- ter, though yet scarcely known. There was one it was of a young prince LADY MALBOURNE. My dear Harry, I applaud your fervor, but ah, excuse me Winton, set more lights in the second card-room. Marie, the ladies who arrive in chairs will be conducted to the recep- tion speciale. ESTELLE. [Sweetly. ~\ Harry, you may tell me about the portraits. Come into the conservatory. HARRY. Gladly. [.They start out D. L. "WlNTON. Lord Townbrake ! HARRY. [After one glance over his shoulder at TOWN- BRAKE.] Just in time. It's unpardonable for an English lord to possess a face like his ! [They laugh and exeunt D. L. TOWNBRAKE. Ah, Lady Malbourne, your servant. Is it possible I am here before Nash ? Ah, I forgot, he appears after we are gathered to make a sensation, of course. Quite so. 40 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE WlNTON. Mr. Bantison, Lady Clarise. {Enter BANTISON ; LADY CLAH^SE and MOLYNEUX behind. LADY MALBOUENE. {With evident pleasure but not losing her dignity.'] My dear child, delighted. And is not Mr. Molyneux to come, also ? MOLYNEUX. But two steps behind, Lady Malbourne. Think you it would be prudent for me to en- trust my young cousin to this foolish Bantison ? My compliments, Madame. BANTISON. What's that, Molyneux ? LADY MALBOUENE. He says you are not a safe escort for Lady Clarise. Fie, Mr. Bantison ! BANTISON. Eh? Ha, why no ah of course you know I vow I should run away with her on the spot ; ha, ha ! MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 4! LADY CLAEISE. How witty you are, Mr. Bantison ; now who but you could do such a thing as " run away on the spot " ? BANTISON. Eh ? ah ah I don't follow ah. WINTON. Beau Nash. \Enter BEAU NASH, u. c. ; Tie enters pompously, and out once assumes a place of importance E. c. LADY MALBOUENE is on his E. TOWN- BEAKE has moved D. E. BANTISON, LADY CLAE}:SE L. o. MOLYNEUX u. L. c. ALL. Ah! BEAU NASH. My compliments, Lady Malbourne. Good- evening, all. LADY MALBOUENE. My dear Beau, pray tell me, are the colors right and the ferns, do say that the ferns are BEAU NASH. [ Very seriously.~] Ah too bright a green at the mirror, and a trifle dark in yonder retreat. 42 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE Otherwise ah very well; yes, I may pro- nounce it very well done. LADY MALBOUENE. Oh, I am so happy ! And will you not cor- rect the order of the dance ? [She hands him a paper. BEAU NASH. [ With great importance."] Ah, yes, certainly at once. Hm ! Harry Rackell who is he ? [He and LADY MALBOUBNE start down stage. LADY MALBOUENE. A young artist, just returned from Paris. BEAU NASH. Hm ah LADY MALBOUENE. He has been presented at the Assembly at Lyons. BEAU NASH. Ah, that will do. Of course one must make sure of these little matters. TOWNBEAKE. Eh ? Kackell ? Is he back ? Clumsy young cur ; hope he's improved. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 43 LADY CLAR!SE. Have you ever tried the Paris cure, Lord Town brake ? TOWNBRAKE. Eh ? What ? What Paris cure ? LADY CLAEISE. Mr. Rackell's. Come, Mr. Bantison, you may lead me through the rooms. [Exeunt LADY CLAR!SE and BANTI- SON D. L. MOLYNEUX. I do not see your charming daughter, Lady Malbourne. LADY MALBOURNE. She is relieving the room of Harry's crude manners there beyond. MOLYNEUX. Ah, giving him a few finishing touches. I'll plead for a lesson, as well [Exit, D. L. BEAU NASH. And who is to lay claim to the Beauty of Bath ? Winterset, no doubt ? LADY MALBOURNE. I believe Lady Mary is to favor Mr. Moly- 44 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE neux to-night. [A trifle disturbed.] The Duke is less prompt than usual. "WlNTON. Sir Hugh Guilford, Captain Badger, Lady Baring-Gould. [Enter the same ; TOWNBRAKE crosses to D. L. c.] Lady Rellerton, Lady Mary Carlysle. [A silence j the men watch eagerly. MOLYNEUX appears at door, D. L., bringing two other ladies. Enter LADY RELLERTON and LADY MARY, u. C. A. silence y all turn and bow pro- foundly ; then group nearer LADY MARY. BEAU NASH. [To LADY MALBOURNE.] I think we may allow the musicians to begin. [LADY MALBOURNE signals to WIN- TON, who motions to musicians, off u. L. A few notes sound from an ad- joining room. SIR HUGH and BAN- TISON move with ladies toward D. K. CAPT. BADGER. "Winterset is not here. {Joining TOWNBRAKE, D. L. MoLY- NEUX also joins them. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 45 TOWNBRAKE. So much the better for our cards. CAPT. BADGER. Oh, he will come. MOLYNEUX. 'Tis said some one is coming with him. \Reenter HARRY with ESTELLE, D. L. WlNTON. The Duke of Winterset the Due de Cha- teaurien. [WINTERSET and M. BEAUCAIRE a/p- pear, u. o. LADY MALBOURNE. Ah, my dear Winterset. For the first time the violins begin before you are come. [LADY MARY crosses to D. L. WINTERSET. Pardon, Madam, I was waiting upon this gentleman. May I present to you the Duke of Chateaurien, who is newly arrived in Bath. LADY MALBOURNE. Ah, sir, I must forgive the Duke's tardiness since you are the excuse. [Bowing. 46 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIRE. Madame is mos' kin'. Will she receive my ielicitations ? [Bows ; music now plays for dance. BEALF NASH. Charming^ charming', a foreign duke ! I con- fratulate you, Lady Malbourne. [Aside.'] And ow delicately his vest harmonizes with the background ! Quite, quite charming ! Pray permit me. [Bows and offers his hand and leads her to the dance. M. BEAUCAIRE, who has been talking with LADY BARING- GOULD and TOWKBRAKE, now ap- proaches LADY MARY, D. c. M. BEAUCAIRE. Madame, I have the honour to be the leas' worthy to offer you my han' ; will not she .the most gracious accept it ? LADY MARY. It is a pleasure, M. de Chateaurien. [He bows ; he leads LADY MARY ; they dance. Exit WINTERSET, angrily, D. L. M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah, Mademoiselle, I would have that dance las' for for al-ways. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 47 \Eeenter WINTERSET, D. L., as the dance ends. As the dance breaks up, the gen- tlemen, TOWNBRAKE, BANTISON, SlR HUGH and MOLYNEUX move off u. L. BEAU NASH escorts ladies off u. R., leaving upon stage LADY MARY with M. BEAUCAIRE, D. R. c., WINTERSET at R. of LADY MARY. CAPT. BADGER and LADY CLARKE, D. L. Music stops. WINTERSET. Lady Mary will, I trust, permit me to lead her through the halls. LADY MARY. I thank you, Duke, but as you see I am al- ready bestowed. WINTERSET. Ah, I thought the Duke of Chateaurien had promised he would grace the card-room ? M. BEAUCAIRE. Is it so soon ? Then the card-room will ap- plaud that I relinquish not my pos' as a lady's escort. [Bows ; they go u. c. WINTERSET re- turns furiously, D. L., and exit. 48 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE CAPT. BADGER. I vow, Lady Clarise, if yonder fellow were not so provokingly gracious I should be roused to a mortal jealousy. You have had eyes for no one since he arrived. LADY CLARISE. Did you not see his superb step in the dance ? CAPT. BADGER. Well, that proves not that he is honester than another man, I think. LADY CLARISE. I was not praising his honesty, Captain Badger. No one could excel you in that. CAPT. BADGER. Clarise ! LADY CLAR^SE. Lady Clarise, if you please. [MoLYNEtrx and LADY MALBOURNE appear ', u. 0. CAPT. BADGER. I vow, Madam, if you torment me longer I will ride, this night, to the most perilous point on the frontier, and MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 49 LADY CLABISE. And shout gaily, no doubt, to the enemy " Come, gentlemen, do me the courtesy to shoot me ; I am weary of pursuing the Lady Clarise." CAPT. BADGER. Never ! Let us go into the gardens. \Exeunt off D. L. MOLYNEUX conies D., with LADY MALBOUENE. MOLYNEUX. Can you think so, Madame ? LADY MALBOUENE. Why not, sir ? "Where there is youth, there is folly. MOLYNEUX. Your.g Harry hath a fine eye to my manner of thinking. LADY MALBOUENE. Is it not dull compared with Estelle's ? MOLYNEUX. Whose could be otherwise ? Yet, believe me, he's a good lad. LADY MALBOUENE. I did not know you were so profound a searcher of character, Mr. Molyneux. 50 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE MOLYNEUX. Could one favored by your friendship remain dull in perception, Madame ? LADY MALBOUENE. Your alertness, then, has found more than one subject for study to-night. Lady Mary MOLYNEUX. [Quickly.'] Ah ? LADY MALBOTJKNE. Is there not a new luster in her eyes ? MOLYNEUX. They are, indeed, like stars or is it sunlight, reflected from France, in them ? [Reenter WHSTTEKSET with LADY REL- LEETON, u. c. They come to E. c. Reenter the others D. E. and D. L. LADY MALBOUENE. {After watching WINTEESET.] The sunlight of France is kindling a dangerous gleam in some English eyes. See the big Duke chafing in his curls ! \They laugh lightly / music / couples return. As M. BEAUCAIEE and LADY M.AT&Y pass a shout goes up from out- side. MOLYNEUX and LADY MAL- BOUENE come L. c. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 5 1 M. BEAUCAIRE. [Pausing.] What enchanting people ! I should like to shout with them. LADY MARY. I am honored, M. de Chateaurien. M. BEAUCAIRE. No, no ! BehoP a poor Frenchman whom Emperors would envy. [They turn away from audience. They linger u. c. talkvng together. M. BEAU- CAIRE removes his sword and hands it to FRANCOIS, who turns and moves a little D. R. c. CAPT. BADGER sud- denly perceives FRANCOIS, and starts. CAPT. BADGER. Molyneux, Molyneux, who is that ? MOLYKEUX. Do you mean that servant ? CAPT. BADGER. Where is it that I have seen him ? MOLYNEUX. I see nothing in him familiar or startling. M. BEAUCAIRE. Francois. 52 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE CAPT. BADGER. Ah, that name, that face ! {Stepping up to FRANCOIS.] Fellow, I remember you very well, out cannot understand your presence here. Will you kindly tell me whom you are attending? {Looking hard at him.'] Where is your master ? [At this moment WINTERSET is standing very near. FRANOIS adroitly turns to him and hows as though in attendance upon him.] Humph ! Winterset. LADY CLAR^SE. [Amused.] How easily you are ruffled, Captain ! [TOWNBRAKE and LADY BARING- GOULD cross to group R. CAPT. BADGER. What is Winterset doing with a French serv- ant ? It's scarce three hours since I left that fellow at a gambler's lodgings. LADY CLARISE. Wonderful! Captain is becoming a de- tective. CAPT. BADGER. Hold ! Why may it not be MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 53 LADY CLAR!SE. And I suppose if I were to tell you that that very, very graceful and pleasing servant did not belong to Winterset, but to the distinguished visitor, you would conclude with your indubi- table precision that the Duke was related to the gambler himself. [M. BEAUCAIRE and LADY MARY withdraw u. L. from u. c.] Ah, Cap- tain, you are, indeed, a boy, a most hot-headed, though not entirely wicked, boy. [She smiles at him provokingly over her fan. In the meantime the crowd has gathered about BANTISON, R. c., who, delighted by their attention, is letting his imagination run riot by improvis- ing recollections concerning the home of the new Duke. BEAU NASH and LADY BARING-GOULD are one half U. R. C. The ladies laugh from time to time as he proceeds, the gentlemen nod and talk together, but a few monosyllabic roars from WINTERSET are out of key with the exclamations and expressions of the others. CAPT. BADGER regards BANTISON pityingly as he and LADY CLAR^SE approach him. BANTISON. Ah, true, true, a most engaging fellow ; such blue blood very blue. Ah, Lady Baring- 54 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE Gould, my dear Badge, I was remarking to Lady Malbourne how gratifying it is to me to observe the Duke de Chateaurien. For some years ago I had the great pleasure of visiting the chateau. [HARRY and ESTELLE are D. L. LADIES. Did you ? BANTISON. Ah, yes, yes ; dear, old, delightful castle. I assure you ah, yes mossy towers, winding fardens, and all of that sort of thing, you now. LADIES. How enchanting, Bantison ! Oh, yes ; en- chanting, enchanting, quite so. CAPT. BADGER. Bah! BANTISON. Eh? CAPT. BADGER. Do you mean that you are acquainted with the young man's family ? BANTISON. Eh ? Oh eh I believe they were away at the time. MONSIEUR BE A UCAIRE 55 CAPT. BADGER. But you saw their portraits, no doubt ? [HARRY listens eagerly. BANTISON. Ah no doubt yes. CAPT. BADGER. And the present Duke, was he among them ? BANTISON. Hang it all ! If you are going to quarrel the ladies ! CAPT. BADGER. \Bowing c.] As you please. ESTELLE. What is it, Harry, that you are making so poor a failure to restrain ? HARRY. Did he not say a painting of the Duke ? ESTELLE. Well ! Can you think of nothing but paint- ing? HARRY. Could I but remember where I have seen it 1 $6 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE ESTELLE. What? HAEKY. That face in a gallery near the king. Yes ; yes, it was in the Galerie Koyale ! ESTELLE. Harry ! Are you mad ? HARRY. No ; Estelle ! [Breathless.] Estelle ! ESTELLE. Well? [M. BEAUCAIRE and LADY MARY turn as if to come down from steps, u. 0., then linger. HARRY. Ah, there he is coming this way ; look, look! ESTELLE. Harry, I can make nothing of what you are say- ing. It is the new Duke who is coming toward us. He is visiting his Grace of Winterset ; it is the Duke of Chateaurien. [Again M. BEAU- CAIRE and LADY MARY start to descend from u. c. HARRY gazes at M. BEAUCAIRE, uncon- sciously moving toward him. ESTELLE, touch- ing his arm.'] Harry ! if you do not cease staring MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE $7 so rudely when a foreign guest arrives in Bath, you will find yourself dropped from the Assem- blies. Are these your newly acquired Parisian manners ? HARRY. Your pardon, my dear Estelle ! \They join a group, B. SIR HUGH. So glad you are with us, my boy. HARRY. I thank you, Sir Hugh. SIR HUGH. A painter too ; gad, now you must all sit for him, ladies. HARRY. Is that a commission, sir ? SIR HUGH. Eh ? You will take me up, no doubt ! Lady Baring-Gould, think you he can do justice to your curls ? [All laugh. Beenter M. BEAUCAIRE and LADY MARY at u. c. ; WINTER- SET takes out LADY RELLERTON D. L. exit. 58 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE BEAU NASH. [To LADY MALBOURNE on L.] Quite, quite perfect, Lady Malbourne. [Indicating M. BEAUCAIKE and LADY MARY. TOWNBRAKE. A handsome fellow, to be sure, but with no taste whatever for cards. BEAU NASH. [L.] Indeed ? That is very odd ; he has the eye of a shrewd player. BANTISON. No, no, don't agree with you, Beau ! I fancy hunting and dancing are altogether his line. Now what is your opinion, Lady Malbourne ? [The groups withdraw as M. BEAUCAIRE and LADY MARY approach. Reenter M. BEAUCAIRE and LADY MARY. They advance c. ; WINTERSET u. c., and follows down as M. BEAUCAIRE and LADY MARY approach D. L. M. BEAUCAIRE. Am I to be lef ' in such on-happiness ? That rose I have beg for so long MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 59 LADY MARY. Never ! [As they move down stage, the other groups withdraw u. R. and u. L. Exeunt TOWNBRAKE, LADY BARING- GOULD, BANTISON and LADY, and MOLYNEUX and LADY. M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah, I do not deserve it, I know so well ! But LADY MARY. Never ! [Exit first group. M. BEAUCAIRE. It is the greatness of my on worthiness that, alone, can claim your charity ; let your kin' heart give this little red rose, this great alms, to the poor beggar. [WiNTERSET appears u. c. and comes down ike stairs. LADY MARY. Never ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah, give the rose. LADY MARY. Never ! Never ! 60 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah! LADY MARY. Never ! [Drops rose at his feet as she makes her exit D. L. Cheers outside as LADY MARY goes out. The others bow to LADY MALBOURNE, and start to go, severally. WlNTERSET. [Advancing.] A rose lasts 'til morning. [Enter FRANCOIS, D. c., and stands be- hind WlNTERSET. M. BEAUCAIRE. 'Tis already the daylight, Monsieur ; was it not enough honour for you to han' out Madame, the aunt of Lady Mary ? Lady Rellerton retain much trace of beauty. 'Tis strange you did not appear more happy. WlNTERSET. The rose is of an unlucky color, I think. M. BEAUCAIRE. The color of a blush, my brother. WINTERSET. Unlucky, I still maintain. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 6l M. BEAUCAIRE. The color of the veins of a Frenchman. Ha, ha ! What price would be too high ? A rose is a rose ! A good-night, my brother, a good- night. I wish you dreams of roses, red roses, only beautiful red, red roses. [Laughing and talking of ladies up stage. WlNTERSET. Stay ! Did you see the look she gave those street folk when they shouted for her ? And how are you higher than they, when she knows ? As high as yonder horse-boy ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Fra^ois, my chair. {Exit FRANOIS, D. L.] Mesdames, Mesdemoiselles, good-night to this faires' Assembly and add, I beg, to your long lis' of English brave, the name of one French- man who leave his heart with you. [Goes u. c. and pauses on the step ; to WINTERSET.] Red roses, my brother, only roses. I wish you dreams of red, red roses ! CURTAIN ACT II SCENE 1. A park) late in the morning. At the back, SIR HUGH is walking with several ladies. MOLYNEUX stands with LADY MALBOURNE, u. L. c., CAPT. BADGER and LADY CLARISE and LADY BARING-GOULD stand u. c., HARRY and ESTELLE sit on the bench, D. R. c. As the curtain rises, LADY MALBOURNE comes a little forward, MOLYNEUX following. LADY MALBOURNE. Estelle ! Estelle ! Behold your work, Mr. Molyneux. Perhaps you are able to convey to my daughter that we are starting for the Bazaar. MOLYNEUX. Certainly, yes. [He steps c. toward ES- TELLE.] Miss Malbourne, ahem ! [Embar- rassed, he returns to LADY MALBOURNE.] Ah er why tell her at all, Madam ? Upon my word she will not miss you. [The others laugh.~\ Permit me. [He takes her parasol and they go u. toward the others. 62 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 63 SIR HUGH. Ladies, what say you? Shall we to the bazaar? LADY BARING-GOULD. Yes, pray let us go. Do not be vexed, my dear Lady Malbourne ; remember there was a time when you LADY MALBOURNE. Never ! Talked moonshine and in broad daylight ? MOLYNEUX. And in Heaven's name, why not ? LADY MALBOURNE. [Laughing.] I marvel you have stayed a bachelor, Mr. Molyneux. [Laughing, they move U. C. All but HARRY and ESTELLE go out, gradu- ally, in pairs, during following dia- logue. HARRY. Is it true, Estelle ? You do not scorn to be the wife of a poor painter ? ESTELLE. Not a poor painter, Harry, an artist. I love you because you love and believe in beau- tiful things. No one could help trusting you. 64 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE HARRY. Dear Estelle ! If I could put into words all I would say to you but no one could no one has ever been able to say it, except in music. But I can work for you, and put my will to de- serve you into every stroke of my brush. ESTELLE. Come, let us walk together and talk of the things we will try to do. {Exeunt off p. L. CAPT. BADGER is just following LADY CLARISE off u. R. when he stops suddenly as he perceives LADY MARY and M. BEAUCAIRE enter u. L. c. LADY MARY. You will dine with us to-night, M. le Due ? M. BEAUCAIRE I shall come. But the feas' is superfluous, Mademoiselle, to that feas' I have al-ways, when you graciously permit me to be near. [Exit CAPT. BADGER abruptly. LADY MARY. I know not how to answer you, sir. But I had forgot to thank you for the verses of your French poet. They are very beautiful. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 65 M. BEAUCAIRE. I thank you for him, Mademoiselle. How happy it will make him when he know' ! LADY MARY. He is, then, a friend of yours ? M. BEAUCAIRE. Oh, yes he is a dear frien'. But is there not, in the verses, too much for you of of the romance, Lady Mary ? LADY MARY. {Laughing lightly^ You think we English have no romance, sir ? M. BEAUCAIRE. [Aside.] If I could but know how much! [To her.] Mr. Molyneux tell me it is a thing of danger in England. [Aside.] Ah, for me yes! LADY MARY. A danger only when it is used wrongly, sir. Is it not like a cloak that should adorn, but not disguise ? An innocent romance we quite adore ; did you not see Estelle Malbourne walking in the woods yonder with dear young Harry ? A boy without a penny, sir, and she, the daughter of a lady of the "proudest pedi- 66 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE gree. Theirs is romance truly, but it does not hurt them. It will but teach them to climb the wall. [In half whisper, looking front. M. BEAUCAIRE. [Softly."} Yes, to climb the wall and to look over into the rich gardens beyond. Who does not long to climb that wall and who does not try ? Ah, Lady Mary, tell me one thing, I beg. You would not think it wrong to climb up there for a man to reach that faires' garden by wearing for a little, jus' a trifle, the cloak of another's disguise ? LADY MARY. What is that you ask, sir ? I do not fully understand. M. BEAUCAIRE. If I could only make you to see. Ah, Mademoiselle, a man will do anything to reach that garden an' has he not the right if he belong there ? LADY MARY. You puzzle me, sir, I confess. Why need there be any disguise for a true man ? M. BEAUCAIRE. [Aside.'] Is it can it be ? No, no, I will not let them fade, those roses, I will hoi' them MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 67 too close to my heart ! [To her.'} Madem- oiselle, one day I will tell you why I ask these strange questions you trus' me, Madem- oiselle ? LADY MARY. It were either dull or ungracious in me to do otherwise, Monsieur. [Enter CAPT. BADGER, u. R. ; he cornea obrwpily, D. c. CAPT. BADGER. Pardon, Lady Mary, Lady Rellerton begs you to drive with her and with Clarise. Will you not join them ? LADY MARY. [Wearily.] Yes. [Very sweetly.'] M. de Chateaurien, we shall be waiting for you to- night. M. BEAUCAIRE. Mademoiselle, your servant al-ways. [Bows. LADY MARY starts u. L. M. BEAUCAIRE fol- lows her u., and bows her off u. L. ; then he re- turns D. L. c.] Captain Badger poor you an' me are lef in the col' shadow. The sun has gone. CAPT. BADGER. You may keep your poetry to yourself, sir ! 68 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIEE. Ah ? I thought I had been present' to you at Lady Malbourne ! I see I am mistaken. CAPT. BADGER. Fellow ! My forbearance to disclose your low birth was merely out of delicacy to a lady How you deceived the Duke M. BEAUCAIEE. Monsieur ! CAPT. BADGER. That, I say, has no bearing on the matter. Enough that you play suitor to this lady M. BEAUCAIRE. Sir! CAPT. BADGER. Do I not make myself clear ? Then permit me to tell you bluntly that you are an im- postor. Chateaurien is nothing ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah, so, Monsieur ! Yery well nothing means nothing. But we shall see. I advise you make good practice with your swor' ! {Enter LADY CLARisE during last speech. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 69 LADY CLAUSE. Captain, Captain I knew it a quarrel with the Duke, and your promise to me ; what of that, sir ? CAPT. BADGEE. Pray return to the carriage, Madam ; this is no encounter for a lady to witness. LADY CLARISE. And is it an encounter for a gentleman to enter ? What strange notion has taken posses- sion of you, that you dare bring charges against a duke ? CAPT. BADGER. It were cause enough, Madam, that you are so ready to espouse his cause. He has insulted all the ladies with his insufferable deception quite as completely as he has bewitched you with his insolent affectation. LADY CLARISE. What folly to permit your pride and jealousy yes, I fear that is the word, sir to plunge you into a quarrel with a French gentleman 1 CAPT. BADGER. A gentleman ! 70 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE LADY CLAUSE. Can you prove, sir, that he is less ? You are in danger of being laughed at, Captain. CAPT. BADGER. And you, Madam, run the risk of believing in an unknown trifler who hides his low birtn beneath a satin coat and the title of a duke. Since you are so vehement in his behalf, Madam, I will confide to you the intelligence that a certain French lackey who was con- stantly in attendance upon that young gambler, known as Beaucaire myself discovered wait- ing at Lady Malbourne's ball as the chief at- tendant upon this Chateaurien. LADY CLAR!SE. [Laughing.'] A monstrous proof ! And do servants never change their masters? Think you, when a foreign duke arrives at Bath, a mere gambler could retain his followers ? CAPT. BADGEB. Your excuses are highly ingenious, Madam ! LADY CLARISE. Will you correct me, M. de Chateaurien, if I have deduced wrongly ? MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE /I M. BEAUCAIRE. "With the permission of Mademoiselle I will answer that question with my swor'. CAPT. BADGER. Aha ! You see ! LADY CLAR!SE. [Quickly.] No, no, I beg you, do not fight. Deny his taunts, M. le Due. CAPT. BADGER. It would be useless, Clarise ; I would not be- lieve him if he did. M. BEAUCAIRE. Mademoiselle, I give you my word I am of as good birth as he is that enough ? LADY CLARISE. Yes, yes, Monsieur. [Sows; turning to CAPT. BADGER.] Captain Badger, you had nearly won my heart henceforth, you must seek your lady elsewhere. [Exit, u. R. M. BEAUCAIRE. An' she is an English lady ! CAPT. BADGER. Sir! Another word of her and I will not stand upon ceremony. Harry Harry Rackell ! 72 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE {Enter HARRY tr. L., followed ~by MOLYNEUX U. K.] Harry, this person wishes to fight me. Though convinced of his low birth, I will deign to cross swords with him for the sake of ridding Bath of an impostor. HARRY. Sir ! Tell me first CAPT. BADGER. [Waving off his interruption.'] Will you kindly act as my second ? His lackey will no doubt act for him. M. BEAUCAIRE. [D. L.] My servant knows better his place, sir! Mr. Molyneux, may I presume on your kindness ? MOLYNEUX. Certainly, sir. CAPT. BADGER. One moment, Molyneux. Do not mix your name with that fellow's affairs. Do you sup- pose I am acting without reason ? Harry, you will find me at my lodgings. HARRY. [c.] But I must decline your invitation to act for you. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 73 CAPT. BADGER. [D. R.] What ! HARRY. You may have ray reason if you wish, Cap- tain ; I know you will laugh at it. CAPT. BADGER. I think nothing you could say or do will afford me the slightest merriment in the future, Mr. Rackell. [Turns angrily on his heel. HARRY. [Crosses c.] "Wait, Captain, I dislike to re- fuse you. If you really think this gentleman is an impostor, I don't blame you for fighting him. CAPT. BADGER. Thank you ! HARRY. But I don't believe he is. And I hate scandal, sir and since the man or woman does not breathe who may be entirely free from it, I prefer to judge from faces not stories. MOLYNEUX. "Well said, Harry ! 74 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE CAPT. BADGER. Ah, your chin is still quite smooth, I see. I had thought you were full-grown, Master Harry. It is evident a pretty face may subdue you as well as the ladies. HARRY. Say what you like, I will bear you no malice, Captain Badger. And though I know it will cost me another laugh, I will tell you why I refuse to act for you. It is because this gentle- man bears so striking a resemblance to a certain face I have seen in the royal galleries at Paris no less, indeed, than the king's own cousin, Louis Philippe de Yalois. Were I to act against this gentleman, I should feel I were committing an affront against a royal prince of France. [M. BEAUCAIRE beams. M. BEAUCAIRE. [Aside."] An' he is an Englishman! [To HARRY.] I thank you for your kin' sentiment, Monsieur. CAPT. BADGER. Sentiment! Pah! Molyneux, have the foodness to request Townbrake to attend me. entimental ninny ! [Snapping his fingers at HARRY. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 7$ M. BEAUCAIRE. Captain Badger, I will answer your insulta here at five o'clock, to-day. [CAPT. BADGER strides off u. R. growl- ing. M. BEAUCAIRE offers his hand to HARRY, looking with interest into the young man's face. CURTAIN SCENE 2. The same, late in the afternoon* MOLYNEUX is advancing to CAPT. BADGEB who is lying disarmed against TOWN- BRAKE'S knees. M. BEAUCAIRE is replace ing his sword in its scabbard and rearrang- ing his toilet D. L. M. BEAUCAIRE. Shall I sen' you a doctor, Monsieur ? Fran- cois, despatch Jean for a doctor. I hope I have not prick' you in an ugly place ? CAPT. BADGER. Curse you, hound ! The devil fought with you. /6 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAITCAIEE. Oh, no only that kin' angel, my honour. An' now, gentlemen, I beg you to excuse me. My men shall ren'er you any service. My thanks to you again, M. Molyneux. Farewell, gentlemen ; in an appointment with a lady one mus' be never one secon' late. Adieu. [Exit, u. L. CAPT. BADGEE. Zounds ! Will nothing stop his impudence ? A lady yes, and no less a lady than the Beauty of Bath. Oh, 'tis insufferable ! TOWISTBEAKE. Quiet, I say, Badger, or you'll pay for it, you know. He certainly made a clean hit, you know. [CAPT. BADGEE groans with disgust. Enter WIISTTEESET, u. E., in deep con- cern. "WnSTTEESET. My dear Captain, I am at a loss for words. [Crossing quietly to B. 0. CAPT. BADGEE. And I for blood with thanks to your French duke! WlNTEESET. Alas ! I have just heard the truth. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE ff CAPT. BADGER Then you'd better convince Molyneux. He acted on the varlet's behalf. WINTERSET. \A step toward MOLYNEUX.] No! Can it be possible ? Say no more, gentlemen, for my shame overcomes me that I should have in- troduced him. Ah teach me what I may do to atone for this ! CAPT. BADGER. Oh, I don't blame you, Winterset ; you were no duller than the rest of us and 'twas a deuced clever disguise. Make him pay for it that's all I ask. WINTERSET. How shall it be done, my dear friends ? I am zealous to embrace any plan that may cancel my disastrous mistake. CAPT. BADGER. Then don't attempt to kill him. Zounds! the devil himself could not fight better. WINTERSET. It is a risk that is evident. TOWNBRAKE. He's no gentleman and don't deserve to be fought with. Fall on him when he's alone. 78 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE WlNTEESET. All of us that's it. TOWNBEAKE. Lash him to a post and let our lackeys lay on $o him ! WINTEBSET. [E. c.J Ah ah you have hit it, Townbrake. .And if it could be brought about in the presence <of the ladies, I vow I should be satisfied. CAPT. BADGEE. -Yes yes ! Good, lads ! MOLYNEUX. That seems scarcely worthy of you, gentle- men. Is it true, Winterset, that you are con- vinced of your mistake ? I have heard no proof. WlNTEESET. Alas, Mr. Molyneux ! It is with a heavy 'heart that I confirm the facts. I have dis- <covered that Beaucaire left Bath on the very night of Chateaurien's arrival. Captain Badger ihaci sent me the startling news concerning one of Beaucaire's servants, and upon inquiry 1 find 4hat all of them now belong to Chateaurien. MOLYNEUX. I am heartily sorry. In spite of what you isay, he appears a gentleman. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE ?g TOWNBRAKE. At first, of course ; but it is easy to see now how low-born and ill-mannered the cur is. MOLYNEUX. Ah ! well, I am sorry. TOWNBRAKE. Join us, then, Molyneux ; we will take masks and cloaks, and surprise him this very evening. WlNTERSET. Before the ladies, do not forget that point. CAPT. BADGER. Humph! That will not be difficult! Is there not a full moon to-night, and he's dining at Lady Rellerton's, is he not, Winterset ? [Stage grows darker. WINTERSET. Too true, indeed, Captain. The young French rascal is at this moment chattering glibly at the side of Lady Mary ; and, gentle- men be it said to our dishonour they will certainly stroll out to the park on a night like this. MOLYNEUX. Our scheme is concluded, then ? 80 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE WlNTERSET. Get Harry Rackell; we want six men, at least. MOLYNEUX. He will not come. CAPT. BADGEE. To lay hands on a royal peer of France? Not he ! [They all laugh. WlNTEESET. Then send, one of you, for Sir Hugh. TOWKBEAKE. I'll join you in an hour at your house, Win- terset. Come, Captain, I'll see you disposed. MOLYNEUX. I, too, in apology, friend Badger. CAPT. BADGEE. Oh, I forgive you, Molyneux ; only lash the villain soundly ! WlNTEESET. Trust us, Captain. In an hour, gentlemen. TOWNBEAKE. My man shall bring masks for all. In an hour, then. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 8l [Exeunt all but WINTERSET, u. L. He watches them off, then rubs his hands, smiling grimly. WlNTERSET. Ha! Those red roses begin to fade my young Frenchman ! CURTAIN SCENE 3. The same. Night. Just before the curtavn rises, catches of a French song come from off stage, ending " Ohmon pays, Sois Tries amours toujours." The stage is obscure. Off R. there is a soft light, barely suggestive of a moon. M. BEAUCAIRE and LADY MARY enter u. L. and walk slowly to R. c., near the bench. M. BEAUCAIRE. Mademoiselle, I, too, have been a wanderer, but my dreams were not of France ; no, I do not dream of that home, of that dear country. It is of a dearer country, a dream country a country of gol' and snow ah ! gol' and snow, and the blue sky of a lady's eyes ! 82 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE LADY MAEY. I had thought the ladies of France were dark, sir. M. BEAUCAIEE. Cruel ! It is that she will not understand ! Have I speak of the ladies of France? No, no, no ! It is of the faires' country ; yes, 'tis a province of heaven, Mademoiselle. Do I not renounce my allegiance to France ? Oh, yes ! I am subjec' no, content to be slave in the Ian' of the blue sky, the gol', and the snow. [She moves to bench and sits upon it still turning away from him. LADY MAEY. A very pretty figure; but does it not hint a notable experience in the making of such speeches ? M. BEAUCAIEE. Tormentress ! No. It prov' only the inspi- ration it is to know you. LADY MAEY. We English ladies hear plenty of the like, sir ; and we even grow brilliant enough to de- tect the assurance that lies underneath the courtesies of our own gallants. M. BEAUCAIEE. Merci ! I should believe so ! MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 83 LADY MARY. We come, in time, to believe that true feel- ing comes faltering forth, not glibly ; that smoothness betokens the adept in the art, sir, rather than your true your true M. BEAUCAIRE. [Coming closer to her.] Your true lover. [She rises.] I know what make you to doubt me ; they have to? you the French do nothing al-ways but make love, is it not so ? Yes, you think* I am like that. You think I am like that now ! I suppose I am unriz'nable, but I would have the snow not so col' for jus' me. [Faintly a hunting horn sounds in the distance.] Turn to me [He takes her hand L.] Turn to me ! [The horn sounds nearer; she looks up at him. LADY MARY. All the cold was gone from the snow long ago. M. BEAUCAIRE. My beautiful ! My beautiful ! [They both stand and instinctively take one step together, D. stage. Suddenly a clatter is heard and wild halloo. 84 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE VOICES. [Of stage.'] 'Ware the road! 'Ware the road! [LADY MARY seizes his arm and draws him further D. R. Six men with drawn swords rush on from u. L. MEN. Barber! Kill the barber! Barber! Kill the barber ! M. BEAUCAIRE. [Drawing.] A moi ! a moi ! Francois, Louis, Berquin ! A moi, Franpois ! [The men attack M. BEAUCAIRE who defends himself with re- markable agility. ~\ Sacred swine ! To en- danger a lady, to make this brawl in a lady's presence ! [To LADY MARY.] Pray go ! LADY MARY. No! MEN. Barber ! Barber ! M. BEAUCAIRE. See how he use' his steel ! Ha, ha ! [He cleaves the space about him. As he hits TOWN- BRAKE and engages with Gentleman No. 1, Gentleman No. 2 comes from behind and touches him ; quick time.'] Canaille ! MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 85 [lie whirls about and fences on all sides at once. He brings to the ground Gentleman No. 2. WINTERSET stands, half hidden, u. L. WINTERSET. Is it not a compliment to bring six large men to subdue Monsieur ? M. BEAUCAIRE. Ob, you are there, my f rien' ! In the rear a little in the rear, I think. Ha, ha ! LADY MARY. Sir Hugh Guilford ! If you will not help him, give me your sword ! SIR HUGH. Do not be alarmed, Madame, Lady Rellerton is at hand, and your coach you will please join her. LADY MARY. Never ! Ah, what cowards ! Will you mur- der the Duke ? [Quick time. SIR HUGH. The Duke ! We will not kill him, unless be easy, dear Madame, 'twill be explained \Enter LADY KELLERTON, D. R. LADY KELLERTON. Do not stay here, Mary ; the coach is waiting. 86 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE LADY MARY. I will not come ! SIR HUGH. Gad's life ! 'Twere time the varlet had his lashing ! D'ye hear her ? MOLYNEUX. Barber or no barber, he fights as few gentle- men could. Ah ah ! Look at that ! 'Tis a shame ! [M. BEAUCAIKE is at last "brought down by a lunge from behind by Gentle- man No. 1. M. BEAUCAIKE. A moi ! a moi ! Francois ! MOLYNEUX. Shame ! 'Twas dastardly to take him so. He's no barber, no, and never was ! WlNTERSET. Truss him up, lads. Now, Whiffen, you have a fair audience, lay on and baste him. [Gentleman No. 1 and BANTISON come toward M. BEAUCAIRE and begin to drag him back toward u. c. WINTER- SET takes a long whip from under his cloak. Gentleman No. 1 binds ropes about M. BEAUCAIRE'S arms behind. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 87 M. BEAUCAIEE. A moi, Francois ! [In the distance M. BEAUCAIEE'S men shout off stage, " Monseigneur ! Mon- seigneur ! " Clatter off stage as shouts come nearer. M. BEAUCAIEE'S men rush on, swords drawn. M. BEAUCAIEE'S MEN. Chateaurien ! Chateaurien ! [FEANC.OIS and Louis leap to the side of M. BEAUCAIEE. Louis pierces Gentleman No. 1, who falls; he then releases M. BEAUCAIEE, and he and FEANC.OIS support him, while JEAN routs TOWNBEAKE and BANTISON. YICTOE speeds towards SIE HUGH, bringing him down at a blow: BEE- QUIIST engages TOWNBEAKE ; the other two attack WlNTEESET, who tries to evade fighting. M. BEAUCAIEE stag- gers D. stage in the arms of FEAN^OIS and Louis. MOLYNEUX. [As SIE HuGH/aZZs.] Our just deserts ! M. BEAUCAIEE. Tiens ! Tiens ! mes enfants ! [His men cease fighting. LADY MAEY goes to him and gives 88 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE him her hands. He springs up and bowsJ\ I make ten thousan' apology to be the cause of such a melee in your presence. [His men now group L. c., wh^le the gentlemen retire to cor- ners] Ah belitre ! un peu, et il aurait ete trop tard. FEANgOIS. [Coming forward and kneeling. ,] Pardon! Monseigneur nous a commande de suivre a lointain, et de rester oscure. II y avait trop de vent contre le voix de Monseigneur. M. BEAUCAIEE. Yoyez la prix qui peut etre, mes enfants ! [Pointing to the rope. Oh, Monseigneur ! M. BEAUCAIEE. Mais ce n'est pas fait ! FEANCOIS. C'erait impossible ! M. BEAUCAIEE. Oui. Et vous avez fait tres bien, tres bien, mes enfants. And now one must ask our gal- lants yonder what make them to turn highway- MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 89 men. One should come to a polite understand- ing with them, not so ? \His men withdraw u. C., but near him he confronts the gentlemen. LADY MARY. Monseigneur ! [M. BEAUCAIRE turns sud- denly^ but the movement causes him to feel faint ; he claps his hand over his wound on right shoulder.} You are hurt ! M. BEAUCAIRE. It is nothing. I am a little but jus' a tri- fling bruise' ; 'tis all. LADY MARY. You shall ride in the coach. "Will you be pleased, M. de Chateaurien ? M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah, my beautiful ! I wish that ride might las' for al-ways ! Can you say that, Madem- oiselle ? LADY MARY. Monseigneur, I would what you would have be should be. What do you not deserve ? You are the bravest man in the world ! [TOWNBRAKE and BANTISON start with SIR HUGH to go u. L. c. 90 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIRE. Ha, ha ! I am jus' a poor Frenchman. LADY MARY. Would that a few Englishmen had shown themselves as "poor" to-night [Gentle- man No. 1, BANTISON and MOLYNEUX are helping SIR HUGH off u. R., behind M. BEAU- CAIRE and LADY MARY.] The vile cowards to attack you ! My little poltroons, what are you doing with your fellow -craven, Sir Hugh Guilford ? MOLYNEUX. Madame, Sir Hugh's leg is broken. Lady Rellerton graciously permits him to be taken to the coach. LADY MARY. I do not permit it, M. de Chateaurien rides with us. MOLYNEUX. But LADY MARY. Sir ! Leave the wretch to groan by the roadside, which plight I would were that of all of you ! But there will be a pretty story for the gossips to-morrow ! Fine gentlemen, you ; hardy bravos, by heaven ! To try a gen- MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 91 tleman's skill at fencing by surprising him and falling upon him as if you were highwaymen. You presume too far on the Duke's good na- ture to resort to such a trick. But all Bath shall know of it, I promise you and then ah, the wits ! Heaven save you from the wits 1 MOLYNEUX. Madam LADY MARY. Address me no more ! M. de Chateaurien, Lady Rellerton and I will greatly esteem the honour of your company ; will you come ? WlNTERSET. [Coming L. c. and unmasking.] Lady Mary Carlysle will no doubt listen to a word of counsel on this point. LADY KELLERTON. Gracious heavens, 'tis Winterset ! LADY MARY. Turned highwayman and cut-throat ! M. BEAUCAIRE. No, no [laughs], he only oversee' ; he is jus' a little bashful, sometime'. He is a great man, but he don' want all the glory ! 92 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE WlNTERSET. Barber ! a lackey who has himself followed by six other lackeys M. BEAUCAIRE. Have prove a match for your Bath noble' not so ? I think mine mus' be the bes' six. Ha, ha! LADY MARY. M. de Chateaurien, we are waiting for you. M. BEAUCAIRE. Pardon. He has something to say ; maybe it is bes' if you hear it now. LADY MARY. I wish to hear nothing from him ever ! WINTERSET. My faith, Madam, this saucy fellow has paid you the last insult. He is so sure of you he does not fear you will believe LADY MARY. I'll hear no more. WINTERSET. You will bitterly repent it, Madam ; for your own sake, I beg MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 93 M. BEAUCAIRE. And I also. Permit me, Mademoiselle; let him speak. LADY MARY. Then let him be brief. His explanation of an attack upon my friend and in my presence should be made to my brother. WlNTERSET. Madam, I have endeavored only to expunge a debt I owed to Bath, and to avenge an insult offered to yourself through LADY MARY. Sir, sir, my patience will bear little more ! M. BEAUCAIRE. A thousan' apology. You will listen, I only beg, Lady Mary ? LADY MARY. Well? WlNTERSET. You recollect that several months ago a French gambler came to Bath, calling himself Beaucaire ; that he was proved to be no less than a lackey of the French king's Ambassador, Victor by name, de Mirepoix's barber. One evening, three weeks gone, I observed a very 94 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE elegant equipage draw up to my door, and the Duke of Chateaurien was announced. He de- clared himself a noble, travelling for pleasure. He had taken lodgings in Bath for a season, he said, and called, at once, to pay his respects to me. His tone was so candid in truth, I am the simplest of men, very easily gulled LADY MAEY. Is your farrago nigh done, sir ? WlNTERSET. A few moments, Madam. His stroke was so bold that I did not for a moment suspect him ; and, to my poignant regret, that very evening I had the shame of presenting him to yourself. LADY MARY. The shame, sir ? WlNTERSET. Ay, the shame ! All ran merrily with him until to-day, when Captain Badger denounced him as an impostor, vowing that Chateaurien was nothing. [LADY MARY starts; she is studying M. BEAUCAIRE'S face.~\ Poor Captain Badger was stabbed this very afternoon, and sending for these gentlemen and myself he imparted to us a very horrifying intelligence. He had discovered that a lackey whom he had seen at Beaucaire's lodgings was in constant at- MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 95 tendance upon Chateaurien. Beaucaire had disappeared. The Captain looked closely at this Chateaurien at their next meeting, and identified the gambler beyond the faintest doubt. Look at him, Madam, if he will dare the inspection ; you saw this Beaucaire well the day Mr. Nash expelled him from the rooms. Is not this he ? [M. BEAUCAIKE steps dose to her and looks straight into her face. M. BEAUCAIKE. Look! LADY MARY. Oh, oh ! [Putting out her hand to LADY REL- LERTON WlNTERSET. Is it not so ? LADY MARY. I do not know I cannot tell. "WlNTERSET. This is why, with the aid of these gentlemen, I arranged to give the rascal a lashing under your own eyes, a satisfaction due the lady into whose presence he had dared to force himself. 96 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIRE. " Noblesse oblige " ? LADY MARY. It is false ? M. BEAUCAIEE. Monsieur should not have been born so high. He could have made little book ! LADY MAKY. You mean it is false ? BANTISON. 'Od's blood, is she not convinced ? Fellow, were you not the Ambassador's barber ? LADY MAKY. It is all false ! M. BEAUCAIKE. The mos't fine art, Mademoiselle. How long you think it take M. de "Winterset to learn that speech after he write it out ? It is a mix of what is true an' the mos' chaste art. MOLYNEUX. Will you answer a question ? M. BEAUCAIRE. Oh, with pleasure, Monsieur. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 97 MOLYNEUX. Were you ever a barber ? M. BEAUCAIKE. No, Monsieur. [Laughs merrily. BANTISON. Pah! Let me question him. Now, fellow, a confession may save you from jail. Do you deny you are Beaucaire ? M. BEAUCAIRE. {Begins to sway from fainfaess.~\ Deny to such a judge ? BANTISON. Ha ! What more do you want, Molyneux ? Fellow, do you deny that you came to London in the Ambassador's suite ? M. BEAUCAIRE. No, I do not deny. BANTISON. He admits it ! Didn't you come as his barber ? [M. BEAUCAIRE is swaying; comes up close behind him. M. BEAUCAIRE. Yes, my frien', as his barber. [LADY MARY exclaims. 98 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE MOLYNEUX. I'm sorry. You fight like a gentleman. M. BEAUCAIRE. I thank you, Monsieur. MOLYNEUX. You called yourself Beaucaire ? M. BEAUCAIKE. Yes, Monsieur. [He sways again / all his servants come towards him; FRANCOIS and Louis support him. MOLYNEUX. I wish devil take me ! but I'm sorry you are hurt. LADY MARY. Assist Sir Hugh to my carriage. [Gentlemen Nos. 1 and 2 take SIR Huo-H of u. R., BANTISON and TOWN- BRAKE following with LADY REL- LERTON. MOLYNEUX waits u. o. for LADY MARY, who stands one half D. R. c. WlNTERSET. Fellow ! [He strides D. L. c. to M. BEAU- CAIRE. As he comes near, VICTOR springs out MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 99 threateningly. .] Curse your insolence ! Beau- caire, if you have not left Bath by to-morrow noon you will be clapped into jail, and the lashing you escaped to-night shall be given you thrice tenfold ! M. BEAUCAIRE. [c.] I shall be in the Assembly Room' at nine o'clock, one week from to-night. You mus' keep in the background, Monsieur. Ha, ha ! Mademoiselle, farewell ! My faires' flower my golden song ! [LADY MARY deigns no answer, but sweeps out on the arm of MOLYNEUX, U. R., to/M&j WINTERSET follows, grin- ning. M. BEAUCAIRE. Only ros-es ! [He falls into the arms of his servants : FRANCOIS reverently kisses his sword. CURTAIN ACT III 43CENE. The Assembly Rooms, one week later. Music and laughter. ^As the curtain rises, LADY CLARISE is stand- ing D. R. c., talking to BANTISON and SIR HUGH, who has a crutch ; his leg is bound up. Both gentlemen are laughing loudly. BANTISON. Gad ! Madam, you're vastly amusing. SIR HUGH. What said the old chap when you turned the laugh against him ? LADY CLAR^SE. Do you know, he had the rare wisdom to say 'nothing which was fortunate for me for I was just then culling bits of conversation from 'the couple on my right most valuable bits ;and most ah, dear me you are too young to liear them, gentlemen. [They burst into laughter. BANTISON. Oh, I say ! Do tell us, Lady Clarise. 100 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE IO* LADY CLARISE. But poor, dear Sir Hugh must not stand, or I shall need a staff myself out of sympathy. BANTISON. I'll fetch a chair \Starts towards one R. As he leave* LADY CLARISE, CAPT. BADGER con- fronts her ; she turns away. CAPT. BADGER. Clarise ! LADY CLARISE. Sir Hugh, how horribly it must pain you to stand. I am deeply sorry. CAPT. BADGER. Yet you have no pity for me, and my hurt ia a thousand times worse. SIR HUGH. Be generous, Madam. Did not the Captain, render us all a service to to LADY CLAR!SE. Sirs ! I did not attend the Assembly in order- to renew my acquaintance with Captain Badger. Ah, there is Harry ; he can offer a mood friendly to mine. [She joins HARRY ; BANTISON holds th& chair awkwardly. 102 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE BANTISON. But I say, Lady Clarise, you must tell us, you know those bits of conversation LADY CLAUSE. [Sweetly.'] After the cards, Mr. Bantison, after the cards. [She and HAEEY retire D. L. A group, U. c., comes down, surrounding BEAU NASH; BANTISON, CAPT. BADGER and SIR HUGH move D. E. 0. LADY BAEING-GOULD. Do assure us, Mr. Nash, have they indeed arrived? BEAU NASH. A most felicitous fact, dear ladies. LADY MALBOUENE. And is the young prince so charming and gracious ? 'Tis said his face is as pretty as a girl's. BEAU NASH. It is, indeed, Madam, utterly engaging. LADIES. Ah! MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE IO3 LADY CLARISE. [R. of HARRY.] Now, Harry ! You can go. Estelle looks most unhappy. \He bows and drops quickly to the side of ESTELLE, u. L. c. ; they move behind others to D. R.] Mr. Nash, you are a very brave man, I perceive. BEAU NASH. Lady Clarise, you are preparing a thrust be ready to assist me, gentlemen. LADY CLARISE. [D. L. c.] Why, sir, you have the great calmness to admit still more unknown French- men to Bath. BEAU NASH. [c., bowing. ] Madam, I think this time I make no mistake. [He goes nearer LADY CLAR!SE and talks with her, D. L. c.] TOWNBRAKE. [Coming D. o.] Is it possible she is not yet convinced of that fellow Beaucaire's MEN. Hush! TOWNBRAKE. Eh? 104 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE BANTISON. Keep still, Townbrake. TOWNEKAKE. \In wonder ^\ Madam Clarise! And I'd have sworn she was the cleverest lady of them all. BANTISON. Hush ! I say ! She will not stay, if we utter one word against that French barber LADY CLAK!SE. [Turning upon him.'] Sir, of whom were you speaking, pray ? BANTISON. I beg your pardon, Lady Clarise Ah, here is the Duke. [As he speaks, WINTERSET, with LADY MARY on his arm, appears u. c. He beams upon them all. BEAU NASH hastens up to greet them, coming down between tlietn. BEAU NASH. Welcome, Lady Mary and you, Duke. [As they come D., the group separates and the gentle- men and ladies drop to either side. LADY CLAR!SE greets LADY MARY with marked cool~ MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE IO5 ness. BEAU NASH, aside to WINTERSET.] I had news of the rascal to-night. He lay at a farm till yesterday, when he disappeared; his ruffians, too. WlNTERSET. You have arranged ? BEAU NASH. Fourteen bailiffs are watching without. He could not come within gunshot. If they clap eyes on him, they will hustle him to jail, and his cut-throats shall not avail him a hair's weight. The impertinent swore he'd be here by nine, did he ? WlNTERSET. He said so ; and 'tis a rash dog we know. BEAU NASH. It is just nine now. WlNTERSET. Send out to see if they have taken him. BEAU NASH. Gladly. [Motions to WINTON, who goes out u. 0. LADY CLAR^SE. Take care, lest your French ambassador, the 106 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE Marquis de Mirepoix, should prove to be a shoemaker ! {Enter WINTON, announcing, u. 0. "WiNTON. His highness the French prince, his ambassa- dor and suite. BEAU NASH. Ah! [Advances rapidly. All bow low. Two gentlemen appear u. c. and stand in salutation. FIRST GENTLEMAN. M. le Comte de Beaujolais, M. le Marquis de Mirepoix. [.Enter HENRI, followed by MIREPOIX. BEAU NASH greets them and presents them to ladies. A general flutter ; music sounds. LADY MARY, feeling faint, leans against wall L., followed by WINTERSET. The others, led by young HENRI and ladies, go gradu- ally 0^" D. R., while he smiles and says : HENRI. Ah, it is charming charming this garden of flowers ; we are in enchantment, eh, Mirepoix ? [.Exeunt all except LADY MARY and WINTERSET. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE WlNTEBSET. Alas, Madain, you are pale. LADY MABY. It is nothing. WlNTEBSET. Wait here ; I will fetch you a glass of ne- gus \Exit, D. B. SJie unconsciously rests one hand on the portiere, and as she sways it swings to one side, disclosing MOLY- NEUX and M. BEAUCAIBE at table, playing. M. BEAUCAIBE. [Bringing lier a chair in an instant^ Mad- emoiselle ! LADY MABY. Do not touch me. [He sets down chair.'] Mr. Molyneux, you seek strange company. MOLYNEUX. [Bowing deeply.'] Madam, I am honored by the presence of both of you. LADY MABY. Oh, are you mad ? MOLYNEUX. This gentleman has exalted me with his con- fidence, Madam. 108 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE LADY MARY. "Will you add your ruin to the scandal of this fellow's presence here ? How he obtained en- trance M. BEAUCAIRE. Pardon, Mademoiselle, did I not say I should come ? Mr. Molyneux was so obliging as to answer for me to the fourteen Men's of M. de "Winterset and Meestaire JSTash. LADY MARY. Mr. Molyneux, I give you a chance to save yourself from disgrace and your companion from jail. Come, sir M. BEAUCAIRE. Mademoiselle ! LADY MARY. I desire to hear nothing from your com- panion. M. BEAUCAIRE. I could not tell you on that night LADY MARY. You may inform your high-born friend, Mr. Molyneux, that I heard everything he had to say ; that my pride once had the pleasure of listening to his high-born confession ! MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 1 09 M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah ! is it gentle to taunt one with his birth, Mademoiselle ? Ah, no ! There is a man in my country who say strange things of that that a man is not his father, but himself. LADY MARY. You may inform your friend, Mr. Molyneux, that he had a chance to defend himself against accusation ; that he said all M. BEAUCAIRE. That I did say all I could have strength for. Ah, Mademoiselle, you did not see as it was right that I had been stung by a big wasp. It was nothing a scratch ; but, Madem- oiselle, the sky went roun' and the moon dance' on the earth. I could not wish that big wasp to see he had stung me; so I mus' say only what I can have strength for, and stan' straight till he is gone. Besides! There are other rizzons. Ah, you mus' belief ! My Molyneux I sen' for, and I tell him all. because he show courtesy to the yo'ng Frenchman, and I can trus' him. I trus' you, Mademoiselle long ago and would have tol' you everything, ex- cep' jus' because well, for for the romance the fun ! You belief ? Ah, it is so clearly so ; you do belief, Mademoiselle ? [A paweJ] Can there be no faith in in If you had 110 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE not belief me to be an impostor ; if I had never .said I was Chateaurien, if I had been jus' that Monsieur Beaucaire of the story they tol' you, Jbut never with the heart of a lackey, an hones' man, a man, the man you knew, himself, could you would you would you have let me walk by your side in the autumn moonlight ? [She looks at him unsteadily an instant, then turns away.] Mademoiselle, I have the honor to ask you : if you had known this Beaucaire was hones', though of peasant birth, would you LADY MARY. Mr. Molyneux, will you please give me your arm ? MOLYNEUX. [Bowing, but resolute.'] Pardon me, Madam. [Crossing to L. 0. M. BEAUCAIRE. An' live men are jus' names ! [LADY MARY looks in angry surprise at MOLYNEUX. At this moment WIN- TERSET returns, followed by TOWN- BRAKE, BEAU NASH, CAPT. BADGER, WINTON and BANTISON. BANTISON. You may well say he is in MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE III "WlNTEBSET. Molyneux hath gone mad ! BEAU NASH. What's to be done ? "WlNTEESET. Send the bailiffs Ah, Madam ! [Perceiving LADY MABY, he quickly joins her, B. 0., and leads her a little u. o. BEAU NASH. [Quickly.] Fie, fie ! A file of bailiffs ? The scandal ! BANTISON. Ha 1 There he is surround him, fellows, and quietly force him out ! M. BEAUCAIBE. Ah ! Six more large men. WINTEBSET. [Over his shoulder.] Lay hands on him! Tear those orders from him ! BANTISON. 'Od's blood, the dog hath murdered some royal prince. 112 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE MOLYNEUX. {Stepping in front 0/*M. BEAUCAIKE.] One word ! before you offer an outrage you will re- pent all your life ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Or let M. de Winterset come alone. WlNTERSET. Do you expect me to fight a cut-throat barber, and with bare hands ? M. BEAUCAIKE. I think one does not expec' Monsieur to fight any body nor would I soil my han's with a WlNTERSET. Stuff his lying mouth with his orders. MOLYNEUX. One moment ! M. BEAUCAIRE. But do not fear I was not goin' reveal that secret. I do not break my promise even to you. WlNTERSET. Tell all the wild lies you like much good may it do you. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 113 M. BEAUCAIRE. You absolv' me then ? Ah, ha ! Then, but Mademoiselle, I have the honor to reques' you leave the room. You shall miss no details if these frien's of yours kill me, on the honour of a French gentleman. BANTISON. {Laughing.'] A French what ? TOWNBRAKE. Do you dare keep up the pretence ? Know, you villain barber, that your master, the Marquis de Mirepoix is in the next room. MOLYNEUX. [Eagerly.'} Monseigneur, shall I not M. BEAUCAIKE. Tell him come here at once. [Exit MOLT- NEUX hurriedly, D. R.] Ah, my frien's, now you will see Beaucaire's kin' master. I will no more puzzle you, my good, hones' English, by being " Victor " or " Beaucaire " or " Chateau- rien " : the fair romance is over it is quite finish' an' I mus' be only myself. TOWNBRAKE. From this fellow's chatter one would believe that in France it were the thing to move in a constant masquerade. 114 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE M. BEAUCAIKE. Masquerade ? yes do we not all of us move so ? W ho can see beneath the real mask and so, Mademoiselle and gentlemen, so I [He is interrupted by the sudden opening of the door D. R., whereupon young HENRI bursts in, and running to M. BEAUCAIRE throws his arms about him. HENRI. Philippe ! my brother, I have come to take you back with me. [All stare. M. BEAUCAIRE. [Continuing.'] So I will raise my mask and throw it at your feet. [Bows. LADY MARY turns pale and trem- bles. WINTERSET growls disagree- ably. ToWNBRAKE is open-mouthed. The ladies, led by LADY CLARiSE,/^ low in D. R. with MOLYNEUX and HARRY. All group across D. R. to u. R. c. LADY MARY and WINTERSET move D. L. c., M. BEAUCAIRE and HENRI stand c. BEAU NASH staggers against CAPT. BADGER. WINTON has retired to u. R. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 11$ MlREPOIX. My warmest felicitations ; there is no longer need for your incognito. M. BEAUCAIRE. Thou best of masters ! So I am forgiven alas ! My frien's, one mus' need to be forgiven when one's cousin is angry, an' when that cousin is the King of France. [All stare; BEAU NASH wilts again against TOWNBRAKE.] Henri, I wish you had share' my masque I have been so gay ! I am a great actor, Henri ! These gentlemen are yet scarce convince' that I am not a lackey. All but one, an' he mark that young gentleman, Mirepoix he reco'nize me in spite of my naughty prank. M. Harry, I have the honour commission you pain' my nex' portrait for the Galerie Royale. [A general murmur / HARRY, speechless, bows profoundly. LADY [To LADY MALBOURNE.] Name and fortune in one for Harry ! M. BEAUCAIRE. But I forget. [Turning to LADY MARY.] Faires' of all the English fair, I beg the honor to presen' to Lady Mary Carlysle M. le Comte de Beaujolais. liady Mary has been very kin' Il6 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE to me, my frien's ; you mus' help me make my ackno wledgment. HENRI. [Taking LADY MARY'S hand, kissing it and bowing.] Permit me, Mademoiselle ! BEAU NASH. {Coming forward.] Your Highness, accept the humblest apologies of one who was not honoured by your confidence. Had we but kno\vn your rank M. BEAUCAIRE. Ah, had you but known ! I forgive you and all but one from my heart, gentlemen. 'Tis true, there is not a peasant in all France who could watch a gentleman fight six men at once an' still call him a lackey. But, Henri, they are won'-erful, this English people, holding on an idea once it is in their head' ! TOWNBRAKE. [Coming forward.] But, your Highness, what a danger to yourself, what a risk, this little game ! CAPT. BADGER. [Coming forward.] Need I say you have my apology, sir ? MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 1 1/ M. BEAUCAIKE. One moment, sir. I would speak with a noble lady, the Lady Clarise. [She comes for- ward as the others draw slightly off.~\ Madem- oiselle, I han' over his apology to you. I beg you forgive him as generously as you have espouse' my side. Will you, Lady Clarise ? LADY CLAUSE. If it is Monseigneur's wish. M. BEAUCAIRE. Forgive an' forget ? LADY CLAR^SE. Yes. M. BEAUCAIRE. Captain, we forgive you together. Take her an' guard her as valiantly as you fought agains' me. HENRI. Quoi Philippe ? M. BEAUCAIRE. Tiens ! We are f rien' now. CAPT. BADGER. I thank you, your Highness. Il8 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE TOWNBRAKE. But why, Monsieur pardon if I ask why you came all the way to England to pretend you were a barber ? It's rather a stiff one, you know. \_0thers try to restain TOWNBRAKE. MIEEPOIX. Ah, he would not be content with me he would wander over a strange country. M. BEAUCAIEE. Tell them, Henri. [ While HENRI speaks, M. BEAUCAIRE watches LADY MARY'S face wistfully. HENRI. They do not yet know ? Faires' desmoiselles, gentlemen, it is that my brother have a what you say strong head ; he will not in every- thing obey the king. The king arrange for him a marriage with a noble lady yes, good an' accomplish', an' mos' aimiable. But my brother, he love romance, he will choose for himself. He run away. But now the king grow lonesome for him, he very fon' of my brother, my Men's, an' he forgive him. He can marry whom he will. M. BEAUCAIRE. So with me there is no mask, an' since M. de Winterset himself have absolve' me from a very MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 119 strange secret, I choose fling down another mask al-so, an' declare the man who introduce me at the price of his honour, and then, betray me, to redeem it, is that coward, that card-cJieat there ! [All drop away from WLNTERSET, instinctively. WINTERS ET. [Savagely.] I don't know who you are. Hide behind as many toys and ribbons as you like ; I'll know the name of the man who dares bring such a charge ! MIREPOIX. [Sharply.'] Sir! [Then checking himself he bows, first to M. BEAUCAIRE, then to LADY MARY and the others.] Permit me, Lady Mary and gentlemen, to assume the honor of presenting to you : His Highness, Prince Louis- Philippe de Valois, Duke of Orleans, Duke of Chartres, Duke of Nemours, Duke of Mont- pensier, First Prince of the Blood Royal, First Peer of France, Lieutenant-General of French Infantry, Governor of Dauphine, Knight of the Golden Fleece, Grand Master of the Order of Notre Dame, of Mount Carmel, and of St. Laz- arus in Jerusalem ; and cousin to His most Christian Majesty, Louis the Fifteenth, King of France. [Bows. 120 MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE HENRI. [To LADY MARY.] Those are a few of my brother's names. Old Mirepoix has the long breath, but it take' a strong man two day' to say all of them. WINTERSET. [Going to door u. c.] The Duke of Orleans will receive a message from me within the hour! M. BEAUCAIRE. [Going a little u. o.] I tol' you that I would not soil my han' with you. Whoever bring your message will receive a little beating from Franjois. [A general buzz chiefly between HENRI and the ladies, the gentlemen giving their polite attention. M. BEAUCAIRE steps to LADY MARY. LADY MARY. Monseigneur, can you forgive me ? It is a bitter mistake I have made. Forgive ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Forgive ? It is nothing less than nothing. There is only jus' one in the whole worl' who would not have treat' me the way that you treat' me. It is to her that I am goin' to make reparation. You know something, Henri ? I MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE 121 gom' espouse My frien's, I ask your felicitations. HENRI. And the king does not compel him ! M. BEAUCAIRE. Henri, you want to fight me? Don' you think the king of France is a wiser man than me ? \Offers his hand to LADY MARY. Music outside plays a strain from " Un Voyageur"~\ Mademoiselle is fatigue'. Will she honour me? [He leads her slowly u. c. All turn half way from D. stage ; front lights going slowly down. At u. C. they pause y he bows low y she courtesies, facing front, then goes out} he remains in bow^ng posture. CURTAIN THE TIME OF HIS LIFE A Comedy in Three Acts by C. Leona Dalrymple. Six males, three females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors, or can be played in one. Plays two hours and a half. A side-splitting piece, full of action and a sure success if competently acted. Tom Carter's little joke of im- personating the colored butler has unexpected consequences that give him " the time of his life." Very highly recommended lor high school per- formance. Price, 25 cents THE COLLEGE CHAP A Comedy Drama in Three Acts by Harry L. Newton and John Pierre Roche. Eleven males, seven females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays two and a half hours. An admirable play for ama- teurs. Absolutely American in spirit and up to date ; full of sympathetic interest but plenty of comedy ; lots of healthy sentiment, but nothing " mushy." Just the thing for high schools ; sane, effective, and not dif- ficult. Price, 2_s cents THE DEACON'S SECOND WIFE A Comedy in Three Acts by Allan Abbott. Six males, six females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior, one exterior. Plays two hours and a half. A play of rural life specially written for school performance. All the parts are good and of nearly equal opportunity, and the piece is full of laughs. Easy to produce ; no awkward sentimental scenes ; can be strongly recommended for high schools. Price, 23 cents THE TEASER A Rural Comedy in Three Acts by Charles S. Allen. Four male, three female characters. Scene, an easy interior, the same for all three acts ; costumes, modern. Plays an hour and a half. An admirable play for amateurs, very easy to get up, and very effective. Uraliah Higgins, a country postman, and Brasilia Todd are capital comedy parts, introducing songs or specialties, if desired. Plenty of incidental fun. Price, 25 cents COUNTRY FOLKS A Comedy Drama in Three Acts by Anthony E. Wills. Six males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior. Plays two and a quarter hours. An effective and up-to-date play well suited for amateur performance. All the parts good and fairly even in point of opportunity ; the ladies' parts especially so. Easy to stage, and well suited for schools. Well recommended. Price, 25 cents THE MISHAPS OF MINERVA A Farce in Two Acts by Bertha Currier Porter. Five males, eight fe- males. Costumes, modern ; scene, an interior. Plays one and a half hours. An exceptionally bright and amusing little play of high class and recommended to all classes of amateur players. Full of action and laughs, but refined. Irish low comedy part. Strongly endorsed. Price, 23 cents Two New Prompt Books Edited by GRANVILLE BARKER THE WINTER'S TALE By William Shakespeare An acting edition with a producer's preface by Granvlllt Barker With Costume Designs by Albert Rothenstein At produced by Lillah McCarthy at the Savoy Theatre, London An admirable stage version of this play suitable for school performance, if desired, under simplified conditions as to scenery. Mr. Rothenstein's illustrations contain many helpful suggestions as to costuming. Price, 23 cents TWELFTH NIGHT By William Shakespeare An acting edition with a producer 's preface by Granville Barter With Illustrations and Costume Designs by Norman Wilkinson At produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, by Lillah McCarthy Uniform in appearance and style with the above and similarly helpful for performance by amateurs as well as by professional talent. Price, 25 cents Mr. Barker's " producer's prefaces " are a trial step in the direction of providing less experienced actors and managers of the great plays with the results of an expert consideration of them from an acting standpoint. Like Miss Fogerty's admirable work in connection with the five plays listed elsewhere, they are designed not merely to answer the questions that must arise but to put the inexperienced producer into such a relation with the text that his own intelligence will be able to cope with his prob- lem without help or suggestion. One learns how a man like Mr. Barker approaches a play with the idea of staging it, and so how another may do the same thing. In this they will be seen to be truly and genuinely educational as well as merely helpful. Sent postpaid by mail on receipt of price Walter H. Baker & Co., 5 Hamilton Place BOSTON, MASS. THE ELOPEMENT OF ELLEN A Farce Comedy in Three Acts by Marie J. Warren. Four males, three females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior and one exte- rior. PJays an hour and a half. A bright and ingenious little play, ad- mirably suited for amateur acting. Written for and originally produced by Wellesley College girls. Strongly recommended. Price, 23 cents A VIRGINIA HEROINE A Comedy in Three Acts by Susie G. McGlone. Eleven female char- acters. Scenery, easy ; costumes, modern. Plays one hour and forty-five minutes. Irish and Negro comedy parts, and two character parts; most of the characters young. A very easy and interesting play for girls, well suited for school performance. Romantic interest with lots of comedy. Price, 23 cents OUR CHURCH FAIR A Farcical Entertainment in Two Acts by Jessie A. Kelley. Twelve females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, unimportant. Plays an hour and a quarter. A humorous picture of the planning of the annual church fair by the ladies of the sewing circle. Full of local hits and general human nature, and a sure laugh-producer in any community. Can be recom- mended. Price, 25 cents ALL CHARLEY'S FAULT A Farce in Two Acts by Anthony E. Wills. Six males, three females. Scenery, an easy interior ; costumes, modern. Plays two hours. A very lively and laughable piece, full of action and admirably adapted for ama- teur performance. Dutch and Negro comedy characters. Plays very rapidly with lots of incident and not a dull moment. Strongly recom- mended. Price, 75 cents HOW THE STORY GREW An Entertainment for Women's Clubs in One Act by O. W. Gleason. Eight female characters. Costumes, modern ; scenery, unimportant ; may be given on a platform without any. Plays forty-five minutes. A very easy and amusing little piece, full of human nature and hitting off a well- known peculiarity of almost any community. Written for middle-aged women, and a sure hit with the audience. Price, 75 cents THE COUNTRY DOCTOR A Comedy Drama in Four Acts by Arthur Lewis Tubbs. Six males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays two hours. Easy to stage and full of interest. The female parts are the stronger, being exceptionally good. Negro and " hayseed " comedy parts. A very strong dramatic piece. Can be recommended. Price, 25 cents New Plays for Girls' Schools By Elsie Fogerty and others The following adaptations from standard plays, classical and modern, have been specially arranged for amateur performance in girls' schools. The text is accompanied in all cases by all necessary plates and diagrams, and by full and minute marginal notes and instructions for production. A copious introduction gives a full description of the stage, the lighting, the costumes, properties, both stage and hand, and answers in advance all possible questions that may come up in the process of rehearsal. In all respects they are the most complete and helpful versions of plays ever offered for acting. The Alkestis of Euripides The Antigone of Sophocles Adapted by Elsie Fogerty Adapted by Elsie Fogerty Nine characters and chorus. Eleven characters and chorus. Plays an hour and a half. Plays two hours. Price, 23 cents Price, 25 cents Scenes Prom the Greal Novelists Adapted by Elsie Fogerty Scenes from THE ABBOTT, by Scott. "The Changing of the Keys." Seven characters plays forty minutes. Scene from THE MILL ON THE FLOSS, by George Eliot. " Mrs. Pullet's New Bonnet." Five characters plays twenty minutes. Scene from ADAM BEDE, by George Eliot. " Mrs. Poyser has her Say." Five characters plays twenty-five minutes. Scene from A CHRISTMAS CAROL, by Dickens. " The Cratchits' Christmas Dinner." Eight characters plays forty minutes. Price, 25 cents The Masque of Comus The Enterprise of the Mayflower By Milton. Adapted by Lucy Chafer In Four Acts, by Amice Macdonell Nine characters and chorus. Plays For Children. Fourteen characters, forty minutes ; with music. Plays an hour an a half. Price, 25 cents Price, 25 cents Sf post-paid by mail on receipt of price BAKER, 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Mass. RED ACRE FARM A Rural Comedy Drama in Three Acts by Gordan V. May. Seven males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, one interior, one exte- rior. Plays two hours. An easy and entertaining play with a well-bal- anced cast of characters. The story is strong and sympathetic and the comedy element varied and amusing. Barnaby Strutt is a great part for a good comedian ; " Junior " a close second. Strongly recommended. Price, 25 cents THE COUNTRY MINISTER A Comedy Drama in Five Acts by Arthur Lewis Tubbs. Eight males, five females. Costumes, modern ; scenery not difficult. Plays a full even- ing. A very sympathetic piece, of powerful dramatic interest ; strong and varied comedy relieves the serious plot. Ralph Underwood, the minister, is a great part, and Roxy a strong soubrette ; all parts are good and full of opportunity. Clean, bright and strongly recommended. Price, 2$ cents THE COLONEL'S MAID A Comedy in Three Acts by C. Leona Dalrymple. Six males, three females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays a full even- ing. An exceptionally bright and amusing comedy, full of action ; all the parts good. Capital Chinese low comedy part ; two first-class old men. This is a very exceptional piece and can be strongly recommended. Price, 25 cents MOSE A Comedy in Three Acts by C. W. Miles. Eleven males, ten females. Scenery, two interiors ; costumes, modern. Plays an hour and a half. A lively college farce, full of the true college spirit. Its cast is large, but many of the parts are small and incidental. Introduces a good deal of singing, which will serve to lengthen the performance. Recommended highly for co-educational colleges. Price, 15 cents OUR WIVES A Farce in Three Acts by Anthony E. Wills. Seven males, four fe- males. Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays two hours and a half. A bustling, up-to-date farce, full of movement and action ; all the parts good and effective ; easy to produce ; just the thing for an ex- perienced amateur club and hard to spoil, even in the hands of less practical players. Free for amateur performance. Price, 25 cents THE SISTERHOOD OF BRIDGET A Farce in Three Acts by Robert Elwin Ford. Seven males, six fe- males. Costumes, modern; scenery, easy interiors. Plays two hours. An easy, effective and very humorous piece turning upon the always in- teresting servant girl question. A very unusual number of comedy parts; all the parts good. Easy to get up and well recommended. Price, 35 cents TAKING THE CENSUS IN BINGVILLE An Entertainment in One Act by Jessie A. Kelley. Fourteen males, eight females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, unimportant. Plays an hour and a half. One of the always popular go-as-you-please entertainments; just a lot of laughs strung on a very slender wire of story. Full of eccen- tric character bits and chances for local hits. A sure success for the laughter-loving. Recommended for church societies or intimate com- munities. Price, 23 cents MISS PRIM'S KINDERGARTEN An Entertainment in One Scene by Jessie A. Kelley. Ten males, eleven females. No scenery or curtain needed ; costumes introduce grown people dressed as children. Plays an hour and a half. Full of laughs and a sure hit with the audience. All the parts very easy except the Teacher's, and as it is possible for her to use a book, the entertain- ment can be got up with exceptional ease and quickness. Can be recom- mended. Price, 23 cents THE PACKING OF THE HOME MIS- SIONARY BARREL An Entertainment in One Scene by Mrs. Henry A. Hallock. Ten fe- males. Costumes, modern ; scenery, unimportant. Plays thirty minutes. One of those little satires of feminine ways that are so popular even with the ladies; very shrewd and effective, but perfectly good-natured. An as- sured success and very easy to get up. Strongly recommended. Price, ij cents A MODERN SEWING SOCIETY An Entertainment in One Scene by O. W. Gleason. Fourteen females. Costumes, modern ; no scenery required. May be easily presented on a bare platform. Plays forty-five minutes. A humorous picture of this much-abused institution, briskly and vivaciously written and full of " points." Its characters offer a wide variety of opportunity for local hits, and satire of local characters and institutions. Price, 15 cents HOW THE CLUB WAS FORMED An Entertainment in Three Scenes by Mrs. O. W. Gleason. Eighteen females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, unimportant. Plays one and a half hours. A humorous skit on the Woman's Club suited for perform- ance by either young or middle-aged women. Full of points and chances for local hits and thus a sure laugh-maker. Parts well distributed ; can oe recommended. Price, fj cents SCENES IN THE UNION DEPOT A Humorous Entertainment in One Scene by Laura M. Parsons. Twenty-four males, eighteen females and eight children, but can be played by less if desired. Scenery, unimportant ; costumes, modern. Full of humorous points and chances to introduce local hits. Plays from an hour up, according to specialties introduced. Price, 25 cents THE CRIMSON COCOANUT And Other Plays By Ian Hay This collection contains the following titles, all of which can be con- fidently recommended for amateur performance in schools or elsewhere as high in tone and exceptionally amusing. Mr. Hay is well known as a novelist and literary man. THE CRIMSON COCOANUT An Absurdity in One Act. Four males, two females. Costumes, modern ; scenery, an interior. Plays thirty-five minutes. Mr. Pincher, of Scot- land Yard, in pursuit of some dangerous anarchists, entangles the lady of his choice and her father in some humorous perils, but ends by cap- turing both the criminals and the lady. Author's royalty of $5.00 for amateur performance. A LATE DELIVERY A Play in Three Episodes. Three males, two females. Scene, an in- terior ; costumes, modern. Plays forty minutes. Bill, a middle-aged admirer of Marjorie, learns just as he has finished a letter to her propos- ing marriage that Tim, a young man, is also in love with her. He as- sumes her to love his rival and does not mail the letter. She finds it on his desk and opens it, and learning the truth makes choice of the older and better man. Royalty for amateurs, $5.00 for each performance. THE MISSING CARD A Comedietta in One Act. Two males, two females. Scene, an in- terior ; costumes, modern. Plays thirty minutes. Two elderly admirers of Mrs. Millington decide to deal the pack to see which shall first propose to her, the one who gets the Queen of Hearts to win. She privately takes this card out of the pack and when they have gone through it in vain, announces her engagement to another man. Royalty for amateurs, $5.00 a performance. Price, all three in one volume, jo cents THE MARRIAGE OF JACK AND JILL A Mother Goose Entertainment in Two Scenes By Lilian Clisby Bridgham Forty children. Costumes, wedding ; no scenery required. Plays forty minutes. A Mother Goose wedding and reception carried out by the smallest children. Very pretty and easy to get up ; strongly recommended. Not a pantomime merely, but calls for some speaking parts. Price, 25 cents f&ice, 50 THP MAfiWTBAT F* 1 " 00 ln Three Acts. Twelve males, four 1UC ITlAUIJIKAiL, , emaleR> costumes, modern; scenery, all Interior. Flays two boors and a half. THi NOTOMODS BBS. EflBSMTH ^^JSSJSi Costiur.es, modern ; scenery, all Interiors. Plays a full evening. THP PDflFI Hi ATF pl *y to Four Acta - S* 7611 n^es. BTe females. " ' ' ' U Scenery, three interio-s, rather elaborate; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. THP CTHHAT MICTS?^ Farce In Three Acts. Nine males, seven mfc X/nUULfflDiK03 feffia i eg costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. TBE SECOND MRS. TAMQOERAY tumes, modern ; scenery, three Interiors. Plays a full evening. ^WFFT I A VFNUFD Comedy in Three Acts. Seven males, four 9WKE1 fcATHWKB females> Scene, a single interior; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. THP TIMFS Comedy in Four Acts. Six males, seven females. lib 1 ilLJ scene, a single Interior; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. THF WFAFR WY Comedy in Three Acts. Eight males, eight UU TTLAHLft OL.A females Costumes, modern ; scenery, two interiors. Plays a full evening. A WIFF WITHOUT A SMH F Vomodj in Three Acts. Five t H irc nuavui A DIOILC malegj four femalei modem ; scene, a single Interior. Plays a full evening. Sent prepaid on receipt of price by Waiter fy I3afeer & Company No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts C|)e 3#tlltatn barren Ctritton of Paps $rice, 15 Centg <arf) AQ VAFI I II?F IT Coiredy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, foui AJ IvU LJrVCIl females. Costumes, picturesque ; scenery, va- ried. Plays a full evening. r 4 Mil IF Drama in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. Cos- VAlflllL(C tuines, modern ; scenery, varied. Plays a full evening. in Five Acts. Thirteen males, three females. scenery varied ; oostuaies, Greek. Plays a full evening. ^TIIADT Tragedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four fe- OIUAMI males, and supernumeraries. Costun.er., of Uie period ; scenery, varied and elaborate. Plays a full evening. THP MFPfHAKT OF VFMfP -omedy in Five Acts. Seventeen lUC MCKWnAni Ur VCniWC males, three females. Costumes, picturesque ; scenery varied. Plays a full evening. P^y ln Five Acts. Fifteen males, two females. Scen- ery elaoorate ; costumes ot the period. Plays a full evening. TIIF DIVAIC Comedy in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. 1 llu ni f AI<J Scenery varied ; costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER 2S2&S ried ; costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL three females. Costumes, picturesque : scenery, varied. Plays a full evening. Sent prepaid on receipt of price by Walter ^. I3a&et a Company No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts