The Follies of Love Part 7

Jenny I remember that you recently received about a hundred crowns. What risks is there in falling in with her wishes?

Albert It's true that, right now, I could take them away from her. (to Arabella) Here. Here's the money--go. May these hundred crowns give great success to your law suit.

Arabella Now I am sure of succeeding in our business. (taking the purse) But this aid was quite necessary. Give my lawyer this money, Jenny. I believe he will be diligent in serving me.

Jenny He will lack nothing.

Worthy You may be sure, Madame, that I wish to serve you with all my soul.

Arabella I will go back and return in more decent clothes--to go with you to solicit the judge in this urgent matter and demand justice. Goodbye.

May, one day, heaven reward you for this service to a widow who is to be pitied, who has many sorrows, who is set on by rogues.

(Exit Arabella.)

Jenny (to Worthy) Here's something to speed your business, sir.

Worthy I will take care of the case. I know what to do.

Albert (to Jenny) Be careful of the money.

Jenny Don't be concerned. I am sure, body for body, it is in good hands.

(Exit Jenny.)

Albert You see how this folly grows. Your man doesn't come, and I'm getting worried.

Worthy I don't know what's keeping him. He ought to be here. But, relax, I see him coming.

(Enter Scratch.)

Albert Ah! Sir, come. We both await your arrival with impatience.

Scratch A wise philosopher said elegantly: In all things make haste slowly.

I've been doing research for some time to determine if the malady whose remedy we are seeking resides in the upper or lower regions.

Hippocrates says yes, but Galen says no. It seems to me, time spent reconciling these gentlemen isn't wasted.

Albert Have you discovered, sir, from whence her malady proceeds?

Scratch I've discovered it--clear as crystal.

Albert So much the better. You must know that the beautiful patient is continuously developing some new crisis in her illness. In these remote parts, there are no doctors. This gentleman has counseled me to put her in your hands.

Scratch Without doubt, she'd be better in his. But, I hope to expend my efforts usefully.

Albert You have cured these diseases before?

Scratch Me? Have I cured them? Ah, truly, so I believe. There's a bit of magic in my art. With three words, that I was taught by a Jew in Arabia, I cured a child in the Congo, a kid who really had quite a case of vertigo. I leave it to doctors to practice their science on diseases which pain the body. The object of my specialty is more n.o.ble. It cures all ills which attack the mind. I wish you were to become manic now--atrabalious, mad, even hypochondriacal. So as to have the pleasure of rendering you as wise as I am by tomorrow--and healthy in body, too.

Albert Sir, I am obliged to you for such great zeal.

Scratch Without wasting time, let's go to the beautiful patient.

Albert (stopping him) No, sir, if you please, there's no need. I am going to take the trouble to bring her to you.

(Exit Albert.)

Worthy Everything's going well. Fortune interests herself in our cause. In your absence Arabella, by means of a beautiful ruse, has figured out how to extract these hundred crowns from Albert.

Scratch (amazed) How'd she do that?

Worthy You'll learn everything in time. Now, we must find a way to save Arabella, and be off, without losing a moment. We'll only be able to separate her from this wretch for a single instant. Albert won't leave her, and even follows her about, so we don't know what to do.

Scratch Rely on me. I'll manage it! You have wit, I am not stupid--and the pretended patient understands the merest hint.

Worthy I am thinking of a way that's very crazy--but who cares? The play will be better because it will be stronger. We must convince Albert that with certain words--as you already told him--you can cure her of this illness--but someone else must take the frenzy. I will offer myself, so as to be ready for all emergencies. Let me alone after that.

Scratch But, how do you hope to get Arabella to take part in this plan, without knowing about it?

Worthy I will instruct her in all, I give you my word. But, think only of playing your role well. When Arabella comes back, keep the old man busy to give me time to explain everything to her. A few words are all the instruction she'll need. Albert is late--ah, but I see him leaving the house.

(Enter Albert.)

Albert G.o.d conduct the s.h.i.+p and send it to safe harbor.-- Oh, gentlemen, her folly increases every moment. A military delusion now torments her.

She's turned her ball dress into a uniform, she's taken up armor,--a dragoon's helmet and a large scimitar. She speaks only of blood and combat. My money must serve to raise an army. She wants to draft me.

(Enter Jenny and Arabella. Arabella is in a fantastic military outfit.)

Arabella Death--long live war! I cannot remain useless around here. My outfit is ready. Ah, Marquis, it's fortunate I find you in this place. I've come to say goodbye to you. I've found money to finance my campaign-- and this very night I leave for Germany!

Albert Heavens--what mental aberration!

Arabella By G.o.d, officers are wrong to obtain money from the dirty hands of usurers. Better to intrigue--better to inflate the roster. This fellow (pointing to Albert) loaned me his money. I hold him to be the greatest rogue, the worst Jew, the worst dog that one can find in such affairs. I wish someone would bring me his ears.-- Now, I'm ready to go serve the king. Nothing's left to do, except for you to go with me.

Worthy Wherever you go, I will go. (to Albert) It's prudent to humor her.

Arabella I quit forever the standard of love. Under its banner, I could go far, someday. I have a thousand endearing qualities--wit, manners. I know the secret of humbling the proudest woman. But for what? What do you want of me? I am not made for women. Glory is what I want. This inhuman Glory, with its brilliant flesh enslaves me. The poor s.e.x can die of love and boredom before I'll do anything for them.-- No more delay--I go where Glory calls. Lead my horse, the time is propitious.

Post, run!

Scratch I won't leave her. I'm ready to follow her into the midst of combat.

(Albert surprises Worthy speaking to Arabella.)

Worthy I examined her eyes. From what I see, some violent access takes hold of her, and will be followed by drowsiness. Order an armchair brought here quickly.

Arabella Delay me from reaching the field of battle? From tearing victory from our enemies? Let widows mourn--let lovers cry! Children, follow me, raise your spirits. I see your courage s.h.i.+ne in your faces. Let all here feel the horror and the carnage. Fix bayonets! Firmly--good. The rogues don't dare face us. Ah--cowards, you flee-- No--no quarter-- flee. (faints)

Scratch In a short while, the blood will flow properly again.