help him on his journey.
MACAIRE. A pound in his pocket? \
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BERTRAND. Keep for nothing? |
> _Aside._
MACAIRE. Bitten! |
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BERTRAND. Sold again! /
DUMONT. I will send you what we have: poor fare, perhaps, for gentlemen
like you.
SCENE V
_MACAIRE, BERTRAND; afterwards CHARLES, who appears on the gallery and
comes down_
BERTRAND. I told you so. Why will you fly so high?
MACAIRE. Bertrand, don't crush me. A pound: a fortune! With a pound to
start upon--two pounds, for I'd have borrowed yours--three months from
now I might have been driving in my barouche, with you behind it,
Bertrand, in a tasteful livery.
BERTRAND (_seeing CHARLES_). Lord, a policeman!
MACAIRE. Steady! What is a policeman? Justice's blind eye. (_To
CHARLES._) I think, sir, you are in the force?
CHARLES. I am, sir, and it was in that character----
MACAIRE. Ah, sir, a fine service!
CHARLES. It is, sir, and if your papers----
MACAIRE. You become your uniform. Have you a mother? Ah, well, well!
CHARLES. My duty, sir----
MACAIRE. They tell me one Macaire--is not that his name, Bertrand?--has
broken gaol at Lyons?
CHARLES. He has, sir, and it is precisely for that reason--
MACAIRE. Well, good-bye. (_Shaking CHARLES by the hand and leading him
towards the door, L.U.E._) Sweet spot, sweet spot. The scenery is....
(_kisses his finger-tips. Exit CHARLES._) And now, what is a policeman?
BERTRAND. A bobby.
SCENE VI
_MACAIRE, BERTRAND; to whom, ALINE with tray; and afterwards MAIDS_
ALINE (_entering with tray and proceeding to lay table, L._). My men,
you are in better luck than usual. It isn't every day you go shares in a
wedding feast.
MACAIRE. A wedding? Ah, and you're the bride.
ALINE. What makes you fancy that?
MACAIRE. Heavens, am I blind?
ALINE. Well, then, I wish I was.
MACAIRE. I take you at the word: have me.
ALINE. You will never be hanged for modesty.
MACAIRE. Modesty is for the poor: when one is rich and nobly born, 'tis
but a clog. I love you. What is your name?
ALINE. Guess again, and you'll guess wrong. (_Enter the other servants
with wine baskets._) Here, set the wine down. No, that is the old
Burgundy for the wedding party. These gentlemen must put up with a
different bin. (_Setting wine before MACAIRE and BERTRAND, who are at
table, L._)
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