TENTH SCENE.
Archibald Alexander translation
THE SAME. THE VALET DE CHAMBRE. THE QUEEN. THE TWO MAIDS OF HONOUR.
Valet.
Your Majesty!
(The Queen rustles over from the left to the right, without bestowing a glance on the two men. At the door on the right she gives the Valet a scroll with which he advances. Then she goes out, followed by the Maids of Honour.)
The Marshal.
Now the hastily contrived reward of our misdeeds is at hand. (To Jean.) My noble sir, bestir yourself. (To The Painter.) That is the handsome Jean as an angel of justice! (He unfolds the scroll and reads, laughing.)
The Painter.
And to me, what do you bring to me?
The Valet.
(With an expression of awkward contempt.) You?--Nothing!
The Painter.
Exquisite!
The Valet.
But yes! Your reward shall be meted out to you in the office of the Marshal of the court.
The Painter (amused).
Indeed?
The Valet.
Yes! (Behind the scenes on the right are heard cries of "Jean! Jean!")
The Deaf Maid of Honor.
(Hurries in from the right.) Jean! Have you forgotten her Majesty?
The Valet (sweetly).
Oh, no! Tell her Majesty I am coming directly.
The Painter and The Marshal.
(Look at each other, and break out into laughter.)
The Marshal.
Look, look, my friend! He seems to have got into bad habits.
The Painter (pointing at him).
It is rightly so. I had almost begged him, at the court where we men are forbidden, proudly to represent the eternal masculine. (Laughing, they both bow to him.)
(Exit The Valet.)
The Painter.
But we are going into the flowery open, to our merry pursuits.
The Marshal.
And to combat! (They walk arm in arm, bowing right and left, toward the door, past The Marquises, who, without hiding their disrespect, nevertheless recognise them in a not uncourtly fashion.)
Curtain.
FOOTNOTE:
Footnote 1: Milchbart--literally "milky beard."
Footnote 2: The colonel.
Footnote 3: The document is defective here--showing "--iry." I have inserted the word "fairy" based on context.--Transcriber.