Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 270

BENVENUTA. To fit the little Child--

BEELZEBUBB [_interrupting sharply_]. I beg of you! I understand. The coat is of what color?

BENVENUTA. It is the coat of the second of the Magi--

[_He puts up his hand, and she checks herself._]

It is of carmine silk damask with gold thread, and the inner vest is of white lawn. I wish it precisely like the picture, since you promise so much.

BEELZEBUBB. It shall be so. I will undertake to bring you the coat. And in exchange I ask only that you sign your name here.

[_He takes out a parchment contract, with a great red seal on it._]

I regret that ink will not do. You must p.r.i.c.k one of your fingers. I am very sorry, but there is no other way.

BENVENUTA. p.r.i.c.k my finger? Once?

BEELZEBUBB. Only once, to secure the drop of blood. I am sorry to ask it, but--

BENVENUTA. As though it never happened to me before!

[_She p.r.i.c.ks her finger and squeezes out a drop of Blood. He whips out a quill pen, and deftly wets it with the blood._]

BEELZEBUBB. You will sign here.

BENVENUTA. And what does it say? I should be loath to sign anything unworthy of my family, or of this n.o.ble convent--

BEELZEBUBB. There is nothing novel about it--the form is quite usual, and has been signed, I a.s.sure you, by many of the highest families in Venice. It merely binds me at once to furnish you the rich coat, and you to give me your little flame of a soul--when I come for it. That is all.

BENVENUTA. Give me the pen.

[_She signs the contract. He pa.s.ses his hand thrice across the pouch and then takes from it the coat, and lays it across her lap.

He steps back and bows stiffly, folding the contract and smiling._]

BEELZEBUBB. My dear young lady--my dear little sister.

[_He bows again, and vanishes; again the organ is heard, and Benvenuta is left, her face glowing in ecstasy, the carmine coat across her knees._]

[_Curtain._]

[SCENE III: _The Chapter Room. Night. The Abbess giving orders to Grimana, Rosalba, the Sister Sacristan and others, about the midnight office._]

ABBESS. All are to be present. None are to be indulged. I beg you, so inform the sisters.

[_Rosalba goes out._]

And the novices are all to be in their places. I know the hour is late for them, and many are young, but this is an exceptional night.

Stay.--The novice Atalanta Badoer--I shall require her apart from the others. She will be needed with her lute.

GRIMANA. I will look to it, Reverend Mother.

[_She sets about to gather her embroidery._]

ABBESS. Now in the matter of the relics and vestments?

SISTER SACRISTAN. The relics are all re-furbished and repacked in new cotton-wool, Reverend Mother.

ABBESS. And the vestments?

SISTER SACRISTAN. The vestments are all in order--

[_She is about to mention something about the vestments, but stops herself._]

ABBESS. Go on.

SISTER SACRISTAN. I must report, as a matter of duty, Reverend Mother, that certain goods--a piece of fine lawn--cannot be found. It was laid out here to be used for the new surplice for His Eminence.

ABBESS. I do not like this. Tell me what you know of it.

SISTER SACRISTAN. This is all I know. Except that when I returned here, the door to the Sacristy Closet was open--

ABBESS. Who was here at the time?

SISTER SACRISTAN. Sister Benvenuta was left here. When I returned she was gone, and the closet was open, and the lawn--

GRIMANA [_interceding_]. I beg you, Reverend Mother--

ABBESS. Sister Grimana, I have given you your task. Be about it.

[_Grimana touches the b.u.t.tons of her cape one by one, and then turns and goes out._]

Sister, remember that the Sister Benvenuta comes of the n.o.ble house of the Loredani. Guard your tongue.

[_The Sister Sacristan stands gloomily biting her lips._]

If she has removed the cloth to some other place, it does not matter.

Remember who she is, and that she is after all a child in mind, in heart. We will speak no more of this.

SISTER SACRISTAN. No, Reverend Mother.

ABBESS. Send Sister Rosalba to me.

SISTER SACRISTAN. She is coming now, Reverend Mother.

[_Rosalba comes in and the Sister Sacristan goes out._]

ABBESS. I wish to speak with Benvenuta, Sister.