Chapter XXVI

           Enteringhisownroomontheupperfloor,Henryplacedthemanuscriptonhistable,openatthefirstleaf.Hisnerveswereunquestionablyshaken;hishandtrembledasheturnedthepages,hestartedatchancenoisesonthestaircaseofthehotel.

           Thescenario,oroutline,oftheCountess’splaybeganwithnoformalprefatoryphrases.Shepresentedherselfandherworkwiththeeasyfamiliarityofanoldfriend.

           ’Allowme,dearMr.FrancisWestwick,tointroducetoyouthepersonsinmyproposedPlay.Beholdthem,arrangedsymmetricallyinaline.

           ’MyLord.TheBaron.TheCourier.TheDoctor.TheCountess.

           ’Idon’ttroublemyself,yousee,toinvestfictitiousfamilynames.Mycharactersaresufficientlydistinguishedbytheirsocialtitles,andbythestrikingcontrastwhichtheypresentonewithanother.

           TheFirstActopens—’No!BeforeIopentheFirstAct,Imustannounce,injusticetomyself,thatthisPlayisentirelytheworkofmyowninvention.Iscorntoborrowfromactualevents;and,whatismoreextraordinarystill,IhavenotstolenoneofmyideasfromtheModernFrenchdrama.AsthemanagerofanEnglishtheatre,youwillnaturallyrefusetobelievethis.Itdoesn’tmatter.Nothingmatters—excepttheopeningofmyfirstact.

           ’WeareatHomburg,inthefamousSalond’Or,attheheightoftheseason.TheCountess(exquisitelydressed)isseatedatthegreentable.Strangersofallnationsarestandingbehindtheplayers,venturingtheirmoneyoronlylookingon.MyLordisamongthestrangers.