Puck — October 2, 1878 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PUCK. “4 PUCK’S COMEDY-STORIES. vi. 5 TRUFFLES, Adapted from the French of Enovano Maxrin and Atarxr Mox- wire by B.B. Vattentixe, [(Continued.) EpMunp (entering). What, still here, cousin ? BoreALL. A Yes, still here. (Zo Lucy) Not a word. (Zo. Epausp) I should have gone long ago if your wife hadn’t kept me. Epmunp. And what have you to say, my dear Lucy? [Lucy doesn's answer.) BOREALL. My sweet cousin told mie that if it depended on her I should dine here to-day. Epsunp (#0 Lucy). You said that? [Lucy doesn't answer.) BorFALL. Yes; she said so. Epmunp, And my wife wishes you to stay? [Lucy és still silent.) BorkaLL, Yes; she wishes it. Epmunp (a /ittle spitefully). She thinks, then, that it would be better for us not to dine alone? Boreatt, She thinks so, Lucy. Yes. (Zo Boreatt) And, in order to show that you pardon our rudeness by our neglect- ing to ask you, please stay and dine with us. BorEatt. You see. Lucy (aside). If Iam left alone with him, I know I shall begin to cry. EpMunp. ‘This is something quite new. Very well; if Mrs, Dawlish wishes it, all right; stay. BoREALL. . He consents, also. Ah, my good friend. Heaven be praised, I shall have some of the turkey, [He throws himself on the sofa] - Lucy, Are you ill again? BOREALL (Jounding up). % On the contrary, I feel very well. I never felt better in my life. No pot-luck for me with Mrs. Boreall and that fool of an inventor. But tell me, is it really true—it isn’t a joke ? Epsunp. Behold the proof. (/e rings.) Boreatt (aside), Idream! I dream! Jane (entering). You rang, sir. (Apart) ‘Io show the old gentleman out, I suppose? Then I shall be able to go myself. Epmunp. No, Jane; you can’t go out now. Put an- other cover on the table and serve dinner. Jane (astonished), Oh, dear. Lucy. Make haste, Jane. Boreatu. Jane (in @ disagreeable tone). In the kitchen, before the fire. BOREALL. The fire? What kind of fire? It should be avery gentle one. The bird should feel it very delicately, and not be brutally caressed by a fierce heat. Now you have asked me, my dear. children, you'll never repent of it. I'll just go'and take a look at the dinner. I un- derstand these matters, I want the things to look as beautiful as the rays of the setting sun. -No one knows more about truffles than I do, ‘TT have sold so many of them, and have eaten such quantities! ©Ah! that turkey will smell deliciously. How divinely savory. And I'm going to ask you:to allow me to carve it; for there are some people who hack poultry all to pieces... The monsters will be punished in the next world. It will be so delightful to dine with you, my dear children. I love you so dearly; and I feel in a complete state of beati- tude. Truffles make a man better. Follow me, Jane. [He goes out, followed by JaNt.] Epaunp (seated on the sofa). I hope you're satisfied now, madam. Lucy (seated on the left). I—why satisfied ? Epaunp. Because we are not going to dine together. Lucy. It was scarcely possible to get rid of him. Have I done as you wish? Epaunp. No, you haven't. Lucy. ‘Then I ask your pardon. EpMunp. That’s right—assume the air of a martyr. Bend your head like a weeping willow. You would look well on a pedestal with a handker- chief in your right hand. Lucy (geting her handkerchief and sobbing). Oh! (She rises.) Epmunp (going quickly towards her). Are you crying, Lucy ? Lucy. 1? Oh, no; I’m not crying. EpMunp. You're concealing something from me. ‘These silent tears, which flow for the first time since our marriage—with what are they in- tended to reproach me? Lucy. Oh, it isn’t your fault. Epunp, Yes; I was rough and disagreeable. Lucy, I cried before that. Epaunp. You see that you are keeping something from me. (He takes her hand in his.) Tell me, Lucy, what have I done to offend you? Lucy. Nothing. EpMunp. That nothing means a great deal. Lucy (drawing her hands away). Let me be quiet. Epunp. You repulse me, Ah, this is becoming very serious. Is this some caprice on your part —some whim? You have something on your mind—some trouble. (Lucy és silent.) Lucy, you don’t answer me. My own'dear Lucy will not answer me—her husband. This is too No, bad—we were so contented, so happy. Lucy, do you not love me any more? Lucy. Oh! I love you more than ever. If I didn’t love you so much, I should not be so miser- Excuse me. (Zo Jane} Where is the turkey? able. EpMunp. You unhappy? 4 Lucy. Yes, I am jealous. Epsunp. Jealous! Of whom? Great Heavens! Lucy. You dearly love that St. Clair woman. Epmunpo. What St. Clair? Lucy. Miss St. Clair,an actress at the U1 Theatre. ion Square You may well appear astonished. Epunb. Lucy, you are mad. Lucy. I know that you loved her at one time. Epaunp. Lucy, I never lo nybody but you. 1 don’t say that I haven't had fancies. Ev body has had. But I swear to you that I never heard of M Clair—ever as being a mem- ber of the Union Square Company. Lucy (rising). ‘Then I will show her to you, she is here. Epuunp (rising and lookir Here? about hin). Lucy, is album. Now sir. ¢ shows the portrait in question.} Epmunb, ‘That? Why, that's Rose Eytinge. Lucy. Miss Rose Eytinge ? [She opens the album again.) Epmunp. Why, she’s playing at the Broadway ‘Theatre, in “A Woman of the People.” Lucy, So it is. Epaunp. I assure you, on my honor—but who put such an idea in your head ? Lucy. Your cousin. _ _ Epnunp (gelling up again’. That beast of a Boreall. Lucy, He told me about Miss St. Clair; understand for what reason, Epmunp. I can; we hadn’t invited him to dinner, and so he has revenged himself. He has truffles on the brain, But he isn’t usually given to making mischief. Epmunb. . That’s true; but he is such a gourmand. And if he believes I am going to overlook this— Lucy. What shall you do? Epmunp. Kick him clean out of doors. Lucy. Forgive him, Had it not been for his un- kindness, I might never have known how much I love you. EpMunp. I have given way once, but this time ] am resolute. Lucy. Well, remember you have to pay mea pe- nalty of some kind. Let it be in his favor. 1 wish you to do it in the mildest possible man- ner. ‘ Epaunp, Oh! these women. Lucy. Oh! these men. comicbooks.com