Jacques and His Master by Milan Kundera

Author:Milan Kundera
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

SCENE FOUR

During the last speeches of the previous scene, the MOTHER and the DAUGHTER come on to the rostrum from the back of the stage.

INNKEEPER: Can’t you imagine her fury? She tells the Marquis that she doesn’t love him, and he frolics for joy! This is a proud lady, gents. (Turns towards the MOTHER and the DAUGHTER.) She ran into these two creatures again. She’d known them before. The Mother and the Daughter. A court case had brought them to Paris: they lost it and were ruined. The mother was reduced to running a gambling-den.

MOTHER: (From the top of the rostrum) Needs must. I tried to get my girl into the Opera. Is it my fault that the silly goose’s got a voice like a rusty hinge?

INNKEEPER: The gambling-den was frequented by men who would gamble, have some supper, and then one or two of them would generally stay on and sleep with either the mother or the daughter. They were really just . . .

JACQUES: Yes, they were just . . . but let’s drink to them all the same.

(JACQUES raises his glass; they clink and drink.)

MOTHER: (Addressing the INNKEEPER) To be candid, Mme la Marquise, we pursue a delicate and risky profession.

INNKEEPER: (Going towards them on the rostrum) I hope you are not too well known in this profession?

MOTHER: Happily, I think not. Our . . . business . . . is in the rue Hambourg . . . far enough outside of . . .

INNKEEPER: I imagine you’re not especially attached to this profession? Should I suggest a somewhat brighter lot in life for you, might you go along with it?

MOTHER: (Gratefully) Oh, Mme la Marquise!

INNKEEPER: But you must do as I say to the last particular.

MOTHER: Count on us.

INNKEEPER: Good. Go home. Sell your furniture. And get rid of those clothes which are a touch on the loud side.

JACQUES: (Raising his glass) To the young lady’s health. She has a melancholy look about her, no doubt from changing men every night.

INNKEEPER: (To JACQUES, from the top of the rostrum) It’s not a laughing matter. If only you knew just how revolting it can be, sometimes. (To the two ladies) I’m going to take a small flat for you. I shall furnish it as soberly as possible. You will only leave it in order to go to church and back. In the street your eyes will always be lowered, and you will never go out without each other. You will speak only of God. I, needless to say, will never visit you. I am unworthy . . . of the company of such saintly women . . . now, run along, do exactly as I’ve said!

(The two women leave.)

MASTER: This woman frightens me.

INNKEEPER: (To the MASTER, from the back of the stage) And you hardly know her yet.

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