Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (1970 page)

           
Vendale
. (
drawing her nearer to him
). If you dwell on such an obstacle as that, I shall think but one thought — I shall think I have offended you.

           
Marguerite
. (
turning towards him innocently
). Oh no! (
She stops
,
confused
,
and tries to disengage herself
.) I didn’t mean that! I — I don’t know what I mean! Let me go, Mr. Vendale!

           
Vendale
. (
kissing her
). Call me George!

           
Marguerite
. (
softly
). George!

           
Vendale
. Say you love me!

           
Marguerite
. (
timidly touching his cheek with her lips
). I love you! (
A pause. Footsteps heard outside
. M
ARGUERITE
starts to her feet
.) Leave me! He is coming back!

(M
ADAME
D
OR
wakes with a start. She drops several old gloves
,
which all roll off her lap together
. V
ENDALE
hurries to the back to pick them up for her
. M
ARGUERITE
stands looking towards the door
,
uncertain whether to go or stay
. O
BENREIZER
appears
,
radiant with triumph. He has a jeweller’s case in his hand
,
and is followed by two men
,
who place pots of rare flowers
,
under his directions
,
in different parts of the room
.)

           
Obenreizer
. (
to
M
ARGUERITE
). Look, dearest, at the flowers — and tell me if one of your favourites has been forgotten!

           
Marguerite
. (
confusedly
). You are too kind! How can I thank you?

(
She takes
V
ENDALE’S
locket nervously out of her dress
.)

           
Obenreizer
. My birthday present is not made yet! You are pleased with the flowers; but the flowers will wither with time. I have another and a better gift, which will always remind you of me. Marguerite!
I
have inherited no fortune from my parents. All that
I
possess I owe to my own exertions — and that little “all” I offer to
you
. (
Handing her the jewel-case
.) Wear these, dearest, and give them a beauty which is not their own!

           
Marguerite
. (
opening the case
,
and taking out a diamond necklace
). Oh! how
could
you buy this! How can a girl like me wear such diamonds as these? You will not be offended? I do wish you had been satisfied with only giving me the flowers! (
She has spoken these words — feeling
O
BENREIZER’S
eyes fixed eagerly on her — timidly and with embarrassment. She places the necklace on the table
,
mechanically arranges
V
ENDALE’S
locket round her neck
,
suddenly realises the effect of what she is doing on
O
BENREIZER
,
starts
,
and turns away abruptly to
M
ADAME
D
OR
.) Madame Dor! it’s getting late! Come and help me to dress for dinner.

(
She hurries out
,
taking
M
ADAME
D
OR
with her
. V
ENDALE
remains at the back
,
looking after her
.)

           
Obenreizer
.
His
locket round her neck, and
my
necklace left on the table! I have risked the horrors of discovery — I have sacrificed my honour — I have put my whole future in peril to win her love — and
this
is my reward! Curses on your glitter and your beauty! You have ruined me for life!

(
He snatches up the diamonds, and throws them from him in a frenzy of rage. The moment after
, V
ENDALE
approaches him with both hands extended cordially
.)

           
Vendale
. My dear friend, I have something to say to you! (
A stifled cry of fury and a threatening gesture escape
O
BENREIZER
.
He controls himself the moment after
,
and
,
without taking
V
ENDALE’S
outstretched hands
,
points to a chair
. V
ENDALE
continues
.) What is the matter? Has anything happened to annoy you?

           
Obenreizer
. My nerves are out of order. I’m not quite myself to-day. Don’t notice! You want to speak to me. Take a seat. This is business, I suppose?

           
Vendale
. (
seating himself
,
with a look of surprise
). Business! Something much more interesting than business. I am afraid you are hardly well enough —
 
— ?

           
Obenreizer
. (
seating himself
). I am quite well enough. What is it?

           
Vendale
. Mr. Obenreizer, you must have observed, long since, that I feel no ordinary admiration for your charming ward.

           
Obenreizer
. I have
not
observed it.

           
Vendale
. My admiration has grown into a tenderer and deeper feeling —
 
—

           
Obenreizer
. Friendship, Mr. Vendale?

           
Vendale
.
Love. (O
BENREIZER
starts to his feet
. V
ENDALE
continues
.) I appear to surprise you?

           
Obenreizer
. (
breaking out
). You —
 
— ! (
Masters himself by a great effort
,
and resumes his chair
.) You petrify me.

           
Vendale
. Shall I wait till you have recovered yourself?

           
Obenreizer
. No!

           
Vendale
. You wish me to go on?

           
Obenreizer
. Yes!

           
Vendale
. You are Mademoiselle Marguerite’s guardian. I ask you to confer upon me the greatest of all favours — I ask you to give me her hand in marriage.

           
Obenreizer
. (
breaking out
). You ask me —
 
— ! (
Checks himself
.)

           
Vendale
. I beg your pardon? — I didn’t hear —
 
—

           
Obenreizer
. One word, sir. You have said nothing about this to the young lady herself?

           
Vendale
. I have opened my whole heart to the young lady.

           
Obenreizer
. (
furiously
). Mr. Vendale —
 
— ! (
Controls himself once more
.) Mr. Vendale, what sort of conduct is this? As a man of honour speaking to a man of honour, how can you justify it?

           
Vendale
. The customs of your country and mine differ. Why do you receive my proposals in this strange way? What objection do you see to favouring my suit?

           
Obenreizer
. I see one immense objection. My ward is the daughter of a peasant, and you are the son of a gentleman. In this country, such a marriage as you propose is an outrage on society.

           
Vendale
. Mr. Obenreizer, I may claim to know my own country better than you do. In the estimation of everybody whose opinion is worth having, my wife herself would be the one sufficient justification of my marriage. In offering her my love, I
know
that I am also offering her the respect of all my friends. I am not so rich as you suppose me to be; but I can give my wife a home and a position that are worthy of her. My present income is fifteen hundred a year, and I have the fairest prospect of soon making it more. Do you object to me on pecuniary grounds?

           
Obenreizer
. Yes!

           
Vendale
. (
in astonishment
). Why?

           
Obenreizer
. Because you are not rich enough.                                                              

           
Vendale
. I have just told you that I have fifteen hundred a year!

           
Obenreizer
. Enough, I dare say, for an English wife in your own station. Not more than half enough for a foreign wife, who has all your social prejudices to conquer. Answer me this. On your fifteen hundred a year, can your wife have a house in a fashionable quarter, a footman to open her door, a butler to wait at her table, and a carriage and horses to drive about in? Yes? or No?

           
Vendale
. No!

           
Obenreizer
. One more question, and I have done. Take the mass of your lovely and accomplished countrywomen. Is it, or is it not, the fact, that a lady who has a house in a fashionable quarter, a footman to open her door, a butler to wait at her table, and a carriage and horses to drive about in — is a lady who has gained four steps in female estimation, at starting?

           
Vendale
. (
aside
). He has betrayed himself at last. The mercenary motive is at the bottom of it all! (
To
O
BENREIZER
.) You view this question as a question of terms?

           
Obenreizer
. Of terms beyond
your
reach.

           
Vendale
. On your own showing, you could offer no valid objection to my proposal, if I had three thousand a year. I shall have a word to say to you presently about that part of the question. But I will wait till you have consulted the wishes of Mademoiselle Marguerite, first.

           
Obenreizer
. What has she to do with this discussion?

           
Vendale
. She has the same interest in it that I have.

           
Obenreizer
. What do you mean?