Part 10 (2/2)

A VOICE

No, it is his legs; they are bent in opposite directions.

A VOICE

No wonder the lady will not come back to him!

[_GWYMPLANE'S dance seems to be reaching a climax; he has nosed about the floor like a dog; he has tried to leap over the roof in order to discover his lost sweetheart, and now he turns facing the audience, his arms outstretched in pitiful dejection. There is an instant's deep silence, and then a great laugh rings out from the audience. The QUEEN herself rocks to and fro, backward and forward behind her fan. JOSEPHINE starts forward, in her face a mixture of amus.e.m.e.nt, giving gradually way to some sinister thought which makes her gaze fixedly at the mountebank with parted lips. Her unswerving glance at length draws his eyes towards her and for one single instant their glances seem to pa.s.s through one another--the exquisite d.u.c.h.ess, the grotesque clown.

No one has seen the look, save PHEDRO, who wipes his lips with an expression of intense amus.e.m.e.nt. Suddenly from behind GWYMPLANE steps DEA, and he returns with an almost imperceptible start to his act. Seeing this lovely apparition, he throws himself at her feet, and she, apparently perceiving him, does not repel him but puts her slim hands in his wild hair, and they go through some tender motions to an exquisite melody upon the flute. Gradually with gestures of pity and love she invites him to go with her, and he hardly believing is about to be led away, when suddenly the oriental melody begins again. The dancer appears. She glances at GWYMPLANE with the hypnotized fascination of utter horror. DEA attempts drawing GWYMPLANE away, but he resists, becoming again a victim to the old charm. The slave girl, with a wild gesture, offers herself to him. Simultaneously, DEA motions him with prayer to go with her. He makes some pitiful indecisive motions between them. DEA wrings her hands; the slave girl smiles; when, with a sudden gesture of despair, GWYMPLANE takes out his knife and makes a motion of cutting out his heart, then sinks upon the ground, and suddenly holds up his heart dripping with blood in his two pale hands. The slave girl tries to s.n.a.t.c.h it, but he gives it to DEA, who presses it against her own. GWYMPLANE breathes his last, and the slave, falling at the feet of DEA, licks the blood from the heart of her dancer off the floor._

_Miniature curtain descends to some strange music recalling the chimes of a clock._]

QUEEN

What an extraordinary pantomime! I think these mummers act too well.

They will leave a memory, and I have far too many memories already.

JOSEPHINE

[_Trying to conceal the impression the play has made on her._]

I shall never have any memories. When the door closes I shall forget.

PRINCE

Perhaps you are not so agile as you think. Something of you may catch in the door when it slams, and go on aching forever.

QUEEN [_tolerantly_]

Inexperience can always afford to be a little ridiculous, can it not?

[_rises_] Well, it has all been very entertaining. I have really immensely enjoyed myself.

[_Turning to her courtiers and taking a brooch from her lace._]

I think we should give the clown some token of tonight's amus.e.m.e.nt.

[_to a servant_] Go and tell Messire Gwymplane to attend us.

PRINCE

The performance of this mountebank has agitated me. [_pa.s.sing his hand over his brow._] I want to forget something in motion, in motion.

JOSEPHINE

[_Looking at him and at the QUEEN, and twinkling with a sort of spiteful mischief._]

It will be delicious to dance tonight. The starving should dance, the replete should dream! Come! [_takes his arm_]

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