Three Plays Part 27

DI NOLLI. Yes, but for a serious purpose.

BELCREDI. Well, exactly. If it has been serious for the others ... for Frida, now, for instance. (_Then turning to the doctor_): I swear, doctor, I don't yet understand what you want to do.

DOCTOR (_annoyed_). You'll see! Let me do as I wish.... At present you see the Marchioness still dressed as....

BELCREDI. Oh, she also ... has to masquerade?

DOCTOR. Of course! of course! In another dress that's in there ready to be used when it comes into his head he sees the Countess Matilda of Canossa before him.

FRIDA (_while talking quietly to Di Nolli notices the doctor's mistake_). Of Tuscany, of Tuscany!

DOCTOR. It's all the same!

BELCREDI. Oh, I see! He'll be faced by two of them....

DOCTOR. Two, precisely! And then....

FRIDA (_calling him aside_). Come here, doctor! Listen!

DOCTOR. Here I am! (_Goes near the two young people and pretends to give some explanations to them_).

BELCREDI (_softly to Donna Matilda_). I say, this is getting rather strong, you know!

DONNA MATILDA (_looking him firmly in the face_). What?

BELCREDI. Does it really interest you as much as all that--to make you willing to take part in...? For a woman this is simply enormous!...

DONNA MATILDA. Yes, for an ordinary woman.

BELCREDI. Oh, no, my dear, for all women,--in a question like this! It's an abnegation.

DONNA MATILDA. I owe it to him.

BELCREDI. Don't lie! You know well enough it's not hurting you!

DONNA MATILDA. Well then, where does the abnegation come in?

BELCREDI. Just enough to prevent you losing caste in other people's eyes--and just enough to offend me!...

DONNA MATILDA. But who is worrying about you now?

DI NOLLI (_coming forward_). It's all right. It's all right.

That's what we'll do! (_Turning towards Berthold_): Here you, go and call one of those fellows!

BERTHOLD. At once! (_Exit_).

DONNA MATILDA. But first of all we've got to pretend that we are going away.

DI NOLLI. Exactly! I'll see to that ... (_to Belcredi_) you don't mind staying here?

BELCREDI (_ironically_). Oh, no, I don't mind, I don't mind!...

DI NOLLI. We must look out not to make him suspicious again, you know.

BELCREDI. Oh, Lord! _He_ doesn't amount to anything!

DOCTOR. He must believe absolutely that we've gone away.

(_Landolph followed by Berthold enters from the right_).

LANDOLPH. May I come in?

DI NOLLI. Come in! Come in! I say--your name's Lolo, isn't it?

LANDOLPH. Lolo, or Landolph, just as you like!

DI NOLLI. Well, look here: the doctor and the Marchioness are leaving, at once.

LANDOLPH. Very well. All we've got to say is that they have been able to obtain the permission for the reception from His Holiness. He's in there in his own apartments repenting of all he said--and in an awful state to have the pardon!

Would you mind coming a minute?... If you would, just for a minute ... put on the dress again....

DOCTOR. Why, of course, with pleasure....

LANDOLPH. Might I be allowed to make a suggestion? Why not add that the Marchioness of Tuscany has interceded with the Pope that he should be received?

DONNA MATILDA. You see, he has recognized me!

LANDOLPH. Forgive me ... I don't know my history very well.

I am sure you gentlemen know it much better! But I thought it was believed that Henry IV. had a secret pa.s.sion for the Marchioness of Tuscany.

DONNA MATILDA (_at once_). Nothing of the kind! Nothing of the kind!

LANDOLPH. That's what I thought! But he says he's loved her ... he's always saying it.... And now he fears that her indignation for this secret love of his will work him harm with the Pope.

BELCREDI. We must let him understand that this aversion no longer exists.

LANDOLPH. Exactly! Of course!

DONNA MATILDA (_to Belcredi_). History says--I don't know whether you know it or not--that the Pope gave way to the supplications of the Marchioness Matilda and the Abbot of Cluny. And I may say, my dear Belcredi, that I intended to take advantage of this fact--at the time of the pageant--to show him my feelings were not so hostile to him as he supposed.

BELCREDI. You are most faithful to history, Marchioness....

LANDOLPH. Well then, the Marchioness could spare herself a double disguise and present herself with Monsignor (_indicating the doctor_) as the Marchioness of Tuscany.

DOCTOR (_quickly, energetically_). No, no! That won't do at all. It would ruin everything. The impression from the confrontation must be a sudden one, give a shock! No, no, Marchioness, you will appear again as the d.u.c.h.ess Adelaide, the mother of the Empress. And then we'll go away. This is most necessary: that he should know we've gone away. Come on! Don't let's waste any more time! There's a lot to prepare.

(_Exeunt the doctor. Donna Matilda, and Landolph, Right_).

FRIDA. I am beginning to feel afraid again.