DRAMATIS PERSONAE
JACQUES DE RANDOL
Time: Paris, 1890
SCENE I.
Mme. de Sallus in her drawing-room, seated
in a corner by the fireplace. Enter Jacques
de Randol noiselessly; glances to see that
no one is looking, and kisses Mme. de Sallus
quickly upon her hair. She starts; utters
a faint cry, and turns upon him.
Oh! How imprudent you are!
Don’t be afraid; no one saw me.
But the servants!
Oh, they are in the outer hall.
How is that? No one announced you
No, they simply opened the door for me.
But what will they think?
Well, they will doubtless think that I don’t
count.
But I will not permit it. I must have you announced
in future. It does not look well.
Jacques de Randol [laughs]
Perhaps they will even go so far as to announce your
husband—
Jacques, this jesting is out of place.
Forgive me. [Sits.] Are you waiting for anybody?
Yes—probably. You know that I always
receive when I am at home.
I know that I always have the pleasure of seeing you
for about five minutes—just enough time
to ask you how you feel, and then some one else comes
in—some one in love with you, of course,—who
impatiently awaits my departure.
Mme. De Sallus [smiles]
Well, what can I do? I am not your wife, so how
can it be otherwise?
Ah! If you only were my wife!
