The Lucky Man Part 16

Cadwell: (laughing) Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Bendish: What's making you laugh so?

Cadwell: (still laughing) Ah, ah, ha, ha.

Bendish: Tell me what it is, so I can laugh, too.

Cadwell: I was at the Opera as you know.

Bendish: Indeed, you were there. What the devil do you want? You were in the pit, on the stage, in the balcony--there wasn't a place there you didn't get into.

Cadwell: Didn't you see me in one of the wings?

Bendish: Indeed, I saw you there, and I saw it when the house began to hiss you. They didn't hiss you like they do bad actors. If you persist, you will start a fas.h.i.+on of being hissed by spectators, fools, obviously.

What the devil contortions were you making first on one foot, then the other?

Cadwell: I was ogling a lady in the second balcony that I believe I know.

Bendish: Do you call that ogling? Oh, at least I am not so gauche, now I know how to ogle. To shrug, turn one's head, kiss the tip of your gloves very tenderly, that's called ogling, right? Well, did she respond to this ogling?

Cadwell: So well that I went up to her lodge, where I stayed but a moment with her because of a jealous husband who put his head through the curtain to find us. We didn't wait for him so we went to another lodge where we watched him quarrel with a woman who had taken our original seats.

I believe he even struck her with his fist. This caused such a disturbance that the music stopped. We didn't want to wait for the end of the adventure. So I took her home. Don't you find that funny?

Bendish: Not at all. Of all this, I only like the ogling part. I intend to study under you. You seem to me to be an expert at this work.

Cadwell: Me? I am only a school boy. I will show you a chap at the Opera who can put the whole stage down.

Bendish: Isn't he the one who's always sweet, who believes all the ladies are in love with him, who gushes, sighs,--and who can be heard from the back of the theatre.

Cadwell: You've got him.

Bendish: Ah, yes, I know him. Is he a lively fellow, too?

Cadwell: He says so.

Bendish: Is he rich?

Cadwell: Why?

Bendish: That's what I call lucky. Ah, I could be, too, since it's so easy. I intend to return to the Opera to ogle. (looking about him) Isn't there anybody here who likes ogling?

Cadwell: Shut up, you are so stupid.

Bendish: (hearing a knocking) Someone's knocking at the little stairway.

Cadwell: Who can it be?

Bendish: I don't know. Shall I see?

Cadwell: See. At this hour I won't wait on anyone.

(Bendish goes to the door and after an instant returns)

Bendish: They ask to speak to you and they want to know if you are alone.

Cadwell: Who is this fellow?

Bendish: He won't say. I've never seen him before.

Cadwell: His name?

Bendish: He won't say. Send him off, sir. For fear of a mischance. He doesn't look right.

Cadwell: You say that you've never seen him before?

Bendish: Right. But his mysterious demeanor, a pushed down hat, a cape that hides his nose--how the devil can I tell?

Cadwell: Is it his cape or his face that doesn't look right?

Bendish: Sir, there's talk of thieves. Suppose he's one?

Cadwell: Aren't there two of us?

Bendish: We are only one all the same.

Cadwell: Do what I tell you.

(Bendish goes and returns with Captain Slice)

Bendish: Enter, sir.

Slice: Is it you, sir, they call Mr. Cadwell?

Cadwell: Yes, sir.

Slice: Can we be overheard?

Cadwell: Not if you don't speak very loud.

Slice: Would you please have your man retire?

Bendish: (frightened and glad to go) Willingly.

Cadwell: Stay! (to Slice) Sir, Bendish is discreet. One can say anything before him.

Slice: It's a matter of some consequence.

Cadwell: I hide nothing from him--