Three Plays Part 23

LANDOLPH. Excellent! The mother of the Empress Bertha. Good!

It will be enough if her Ladys.h.i.+p wears the ducal crown and puts on a mantle that will hide her other clothes entirely.

(_To Harold_): Off you go, Harold!

HAROLD. Wait a moment! And this gentleman here (_alludes to the Doctor_)?...

DOCTOR. --Ah yes ... we decided I was to be ... the Bishop of Cluny, Hugh of Cluny!

HAROLD. The gentleman means the Abbot. Very good! Hugh of Cluny.

LANDOLPH. --He's often been here before!

DOCTOR (_amazed_). --What? Been here before?

LANDOLPH. --Don't be alarmed! I mean that it's an easily prepared disguise....

HAROLD. We've made use of it on other occasions, you see!

DOCTOR. But....

LANDOLPH. Oh no, there's no risk of his remembering. He pays more attention to the dress than to the person.

DONNA MATILDA. That's fortunate for me too then.

DI NOLLI. Frida, you and I'll get along. Come on t.i.to!

BELCREDI. Ah no. If she (_indicates the Marchioness_) stops here, so do I!

DONNA MATILDA. But I don't need you at all.

BELCREDI. You may not need me, but I should like to see him again myself. Mayn't I?

LANDOLPH. Well, perhaps it would be better if there were three.

HAROLD. How is the gentleman to be dressed then?

BELCREDI. Oh, try and find some easy costume for me.

LANDOLPH (_to Harold_). Hum! Yes ... he'd better be from Cluny too.

BELCREDI. What do you mean--from Cluny?

LANDOLPH. A Benedictine's habit of the Abbey of Cluny. He can be in attendance on Monsignor. (_To Harold_): Off you go! (_To Berthold_). And you too get away and keep out of sight all today. No, wait a bit! (_To Berthold_): You bring here the costumes he will give you. (_To Harold_): You go at once and announce the visit of the "d.u.c.h.ess Adelaide" and "Monsignor Hugh of Cluny." Do you understand? (_Harold and Berthold go off by the first door on the Right_).

DI NOLLI. We'll retire now. (_Goes off with Frida, left_).

DOCTOR. Shall I be a _persona grata_ to him, as Hugh of Cluny?

LANDOLPH. Oh, rather! Don't worry about that! Monsignor has always been received here with great respect. You too, my Lady, he will be glad to see. He never forgets that it was owing to the intercession of you two that he was admitted to the Castle of Canossa and the presence of Gregory VII., who didn't want to receive him.

BELCREDI. And what do I do?

LANDOLPH. You stand a little apart, respectfully: that's all.

DONNA MATILDA (_irritated, nervous_). You would do well to go away, you know.

BELCREDI (_slowly, spitefully_). How upset you seem!...

DONNA MATILDA (_proudly_). I am as I am. Leave me alone!

(_Berthold comes in with the costumes_).

LANDOLPH (_seeing him enter_). Ah, the costumes: here they are. This mantle is for the Marchioness....

DONNA MATILDA. Wait a minute! I'll take off my hat. (_Does so and gives it to Berthold_).

LANDOLPH. Put it down there! (_Then to the Marchioness, while he offers to put the ducal crown on her head_). Allow me!

DONNA MATILDA. Dear, dear! Isn't there a mirror here?

LANDOLPH. Yes, there's one there (_points to the door on the Left_). If the Marchioness would rather put it on herself....

DONNA MATILDA. Yes, yes, that will be better. Give it to me!

(_Takes up her hat and goes off with Berthold, who carries the cloak and the crown_).

BELCREDI. Well, I must say, I never thought I should be a Benedictine monk! By the way, this business must cost an awful lot of money.

THE DOCTOR. Like any other fantasy, naturally!

BELCREDI. Well, there's a fortune to go upon.

LANDOLPH. We have got there a whole wardrobe of costumes of the period, copied to perfection from old models. This is my special job. I get them from the best theatrical costumers.

They cost lots of money. (_Donna Matilda re-enters, wearing mantle and crown_).

BELCREDI (_at once, in admiration_). Oh magnificent! Oh, truly regal!

DONNA MATILDA (_looking at Belcredi and bursting out into laughter_). Oh no, no! Take it off! You're impossible. You look like an ostrich dressed up as a monk.

BELCREDI. Well, how about the doctor?

THE DOCTOR. I don't think I look so bad, do I?

DONNA MATILDA. No; the doctor's all right ... but you are too funny for words.

THE DOCTOR. Do you have many receptions here then?

LANDOLPH. It depends. He often gives orders that such and such a person appear before him. Then we have to find someone who will take the part. Women too....

DONNA MATILDA (_hurt, but trying to hide the fact_). Ah, women too?