Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 13

GIL. What are you going to put out for sale, if I may be so bold as to ask? The novel madame has written?

CLEM. Ah, so you know already. At all events, Mr. Gilbert, it seems that your _camaraderie_ is not required any further.

GIL. Yes. There's really nothing left for me but to beg to be excused.

I'm sorry.

CLEM. I very much regret, Mr. Gilbert, that you had to witness a scene which might almost be called domestic.

GIL. Oh, I do not wish to intrude any further.

GIL. Madame--Baron, may I offer you a copy of my book as a token that all ill-feeling between us has vanished? As a feeble sign of my sympathy, Baron?

CLEM. You're very good, Mr. Gilbert. I must, however, tell you that this is going to be the last, or the one before the last, that I ever intend to read.

GIL. The one before the last?

CLEM. Yes.

MARG. And what's the last going to be?

CLEM. Yours, my love. [_Draws an advanced copy from his pocket._] I wheedled an advance copy from Kunigel to bring to you, or, rather, to both of us. [_Margaret and Gilbert exchange scared glances._]

MARG. How good of you! [_Taking the book._] Yes, it's mine.

CLEM. We will read it together.

MARG. No, Clement, no. I cannot accept so much kindness. [_She throws the book into the fireplace._] I don't want to hear of this sort of thing any more.

GIL. [_very joyful_]. But, dear madame--

CLEM. [_going toward the fireplace_]. Margaret, what have you done?

MARG. [_in front of the fireplace, throwing her arms about Clement_].

Now, do you believe that I love you!

GIL. [_most gleeful_]. It appears that I'm entirely _de trop_ here. Dear Madame--Baron--[_To himself._] Pity, though, I can't stay for the last chapter. [_Goes out._]

[_Curtain._]

THE INTRUDER

A PLAY

BY MAURICE MAETERLINCK

CHARACTERS

THE GRANDFATHER [_blind_].

THE FATHER.

THE THREE DAUGHTERS.

THE UNCLE.

THE SERVANT.

The present translation of THE INTRUDER is the anonymous version published by Mr. Heinemann in 1892, the editor having, however, made some slight alterations in order to bring it into conformity with the current French text. The particular edition used for this purpose was the 1911 (twenty-third) reprint of Vol. I of M.

Maeterlinck's "Theatre."

A. L. G.

Reprinted from "A Miracle of St. Antony and Five Other Plays" in the Modern Library, by permission of Messrs. Boni & Liveright, Inc.

THE INTRUDER

A PLAY BY MAURICE MAETERLINCK

[_A sombre room in an old Chateau. A door on the right, a door on the left, and a small concealed door in a corner. At the back, stained-gla.s.s windows, in which green is the dominant color, and a gla.s.s door giving on to a terrace. A big Dutch clock in one corner. A lighted lamp._]

THE THREE DAUGHTERS. Come here, grandfather. Sit down under the lamp.

THE GRANDFATHER. There does not seem to me to be much light here.

THE FATHER. Shall we go out on the terrace, or stay in this room?

THE UNCLE. Would it not be better to stay here? It has rained the whole week, and the nights are damp and cold.

THE ELDEST DAUGHTER. But the stars are s.h.i.+ning.

THE UNCLE. Oh the stars--that's nothing.

THE GRANDFATHER. We had better stay here. One never knows what may happen.

THE FATHER. There is no longer any cause for anxiety. The danger is over, and she is saved....

THE GRANDFATHER. I believe she is not doing so well....

THE FATHER. Why do you say that?

THE GRANDFATHER. I have heard her voice.

THE FATHER. But since the doctors a.s.sure us we may be easy....