Jésus-Christ.
Antoine fait le signe de la croix et se remet en prières.
The Plays
THE CANDIDATE
Trasnlated by M. Walter Dunne
Written in 1873, this play was first performed in 1874 at the Théâtre du Vaudeville. The drama was a failure, resulting in Flaubert withdrawing it after the fourth performance, amongst the jeers of the press.
CONTENTS
DRAMATIS PERSONNE
ACT I.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
SCENE V.
SCENE VI.
SCENE VII.
SCENE VIII.
SCENE IX.
SCENE X.
SCENE XI.
SCENE XII.
SCENE XIII.
ACT II.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
SCENE V.
SCENE VI.
SCENE VII.
SCENE VIII.
SCENE IX.
SCENE X.
SCENE XI.
SCENE XII.
ACT III.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
SCENE V.
SCENE VI.
SCENE VII.
ACT IV.
SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
SCENE V.
SCENE VI.
SCENE VII.
SCENE VIII.
SCENE IX.
SCENE X.
SCENE XI.
DRAMATIS PERSONNE
ROUSSELIN, aged 56.
MUREL, aged 34.
GRUCHBT, aged 60.
JULIEN DUPRAT, aged 24.
COUNT DE BOUVIGNY, aged 65.
ONÉSJME, his son, aged 20.
DODART, a notary, aged 60.
PIERRE, servant to M. Rousselin.
MADAME ROUSSELIN, aged 38.
LOUISE, her daughter, aged 18.
Miss ARABELLA, an English governess, aged 30.
FELICITE, servant to Gruchet.
MARCHAIS.
HEURTELOT.
LEDRU.
HOMBOURO.
VOINCHET.
BEAUMESNIL.
A VILLAGE POLICEMAN.
PRESIDENT OF THE ELECTORAL UNION.
A WAITER.
A BEGGAR.
Peasants, Workmen, etc.
SCENE: The action takes place in a village.
ACT I.
Scene: A garden before the house of M. Rousselin. A pavilion, R. An iron gate, L.
SCENE I.
(Murel, Pierre, and a servant Pierre stands, C., unfolding a newspaper. Enter M. Murel, L., carrying a large bouquet, which he hands to Pierre.)
MUREL: Pierre, where is Monsieur Rousselin?
PIERRE: In his study, Monsieur Murel. The ladies are in the park, I believe, with Monsieur Onésime de Bouvigny and the English governess.
MUREL: Monsieur Onésime de Bouvigny — that half-cracked idiot! I will wait here until he has gone, because I detest the very sight of him.
PIERRE: And I also, Monsieur.
MUREL: YOU? And why?
PIERRE: Because he is a snake, besides being a braggart and a boaster. And then, too, I have an idea that he comes here on account of [mysteriously] Mademoiselle!
MUREL [in a half whisper]: What! Mademoiselle Louise?
PIERRE: Yes, Monsieur. Unless I am greatly mistaken, these Bouvignys, father and son, being noblemen, would not come bowing and scraping before a mere bourgeois like Monsieur Rousselin, except for the reason I have just mentioned.
MUREL [aside]: The deuce! I must look into this. [Aloud] Listen, Pierre. Some gentlemen will arrive at the house soon to have an interview with your master, Monsieur Rousselin. Do not fail to let me know the moment they come. I will wait here.
PIERRE: Several gentlemen, did you say, Monsieur Murel? And — do they bring news regarding the election? They say that —
MUREL: Enough! Listen to me! You will do me the favour to go immediately to Heurtelot, the bootmaker, and beg him for my sake —
PIERRE: Beg him — for your sake, Monsieur Murel!
MUREL: Pay attention, I tell you! Say to him that he must forget nothing.
PIERRE: Oh, I begin to understand!
MUREL: And that he must be exact in every particular of the instructions he has received, as he is a leader of his class.
PIERRE: I understand perfectly, Monsieur. I will go at once. [Exit.
SCENE II.
MUREL [to M. Gruchet, who enters, L.]: Ah! it is Monsieur Gruchet, if I am not mistaken.
GRUCHET: Yes, in person — Pierre-Antoine Gruchet, at your service, Monsieur.
MUREL: Your visits at this house have become very infrequent of late, it appears to me.
GRUCHET: That is not to be wondered at, considering the change we find in our old friends, the Rousselins. Since they have become so very intimate with these De Bouvignys — and a pretty pair they are! — they put on too many airs to please me.
MUREL: TOO many airs? What do you mean?
GRUCHET [after a slight pause]: Haven't you noticed that their servants now wear buckskins, and that Madame never drives out without two horses? And at dinner — at least, so my maid Félicité informs me — they have all the knives, forks, and spoons changed at each course.
MUREL: But all this does not alter the fact that Monsieur is just the same kindly, generous fellow he always was.
GRUCHET: Certainly not — he is more foolish than blamable. But it is surely a crowning piece of folly for him to show so wild a desire to obtain a deputyship. They say he is forever declaiming and gesticulating before a mirror, and that he even murmurs parliamentary expressions in his sleep!
MUREL [laughs]: Really?
GRUCHET: The title of deputy sounds extremely well, you know. When your name is announced: "Monsieur the Deputy So-and-So" — what a fine effect is produced! Every one salutes you. On one's visiting card, the word "Deputy" comes after the name — how agreeable to the eye! And in travelling, or at the theatre — anywhere, in fact — if any trouble arises, if some person should be insolent to you, or even if a policeman should lay his hand upon your shoulder, you draw yourself up and say, with an air, "Monsieur, you evidently do not know that I am a deputy!"
MUREL: Ha! ha! ha! [Aside] You wouldn't mind being one yourself, my good friend!
GRUCHET: After all, we must not laugh too much at our friend Rousselin's aspirations. If a man has a comfortable house, a few good friends, and a fair amount of tact, he is sure to get on well.
MUREL: Ah, if Monsieur Rousselin succeeds in getting the nomination —
GRUCHET: Well, if he should, what then? He will be the candidate only of the middle class.
MUREL [aside]: Who knows?
GRUCHET: We ought not to be expected to support him, you and I. You see, we are Liberals, and your position, naturally, gives you an influence over the working classes. To be sure, I think you show them rather more consideration than is necessary. I, too, am a friend of the people, but not quite so enthusiastic a friend as you.
MUREL: Well, let us suppose that Rousselin should present his own name —
GRUCHET: I should vote against him.
MUREL [aside]: I was right to be discreet! [Aloud] But, holding such views regarding Monsieur Rousselin, how is it that you care to come to his house?
GRUCHET: I have come here to-day simply to do a slight service for young Julien — you know him.
MUREL: The editor of The Impartial? And how does it happen that you have become the friend of a poet?
GRUCHET: We are not exactly friends. I meet him occasionally at the club, and he has asked me to introduce him to Monsieur Rousselin and his family.
MUREL: He asked you to do this, instead of addressing himself to me, one of the stockholders of The Imparti
al? What could have been his reason?
GRUCHET: I'm sure I don't know.
MUREL [aside]: That is very strange! [Aloud] Well, my friend, I fear that this idea of presenting Monsieur Julien is not a very happy one for you.
GRUCHET: Why do you say that?
MUREL [looks off, L., paces to and fro, then aside]: Confound that rascal Pierre! he has not yet returned. [Aloud] I said it simply because I know that Monsieur detests Bohemians.
GRUCHET: But this particular one —
MUREL: That particular one above all others, I assure you. Only a week ago — [Draws out his watch and looks at it anxiously]
GRUCHET: What is troubling you? You appear very restless.
MUREL: I am, indeed.
GRUCHET: Business affairs, perhaps.
MUREL: Yes, — my own affairs.
GRUCHET: Ah, I thought so! I am not at all surprised.
MUREL: NOW I shall have the pleasure of listening to a moral lecture, I suppose!
GRUCHET: Oh, I know all about the saddle-horses, the cabs, the hunting-parties, picnics, and all the rest of it. Good heavens, man! when a young fellow is simply a representative of a company, he cannot live as if he kept the cash-box in his pocket.
MUREL: Nonsense! I intend to pay all that I owe.
GRUCHET: Meanwhile, if you find yourself embarrassed, why not borrow of our friend Rousselin?
MUREL: Impossible!
GRUCHET: YOU have borrowed of me, you know, and I am not so rich as he.
MUREL: Yes, I know, but Monsieur Rousselin — that is quite a different matter.
GRUCHET: How is it different? — with a man so generous as he, so ready to serve his friends! [Short pause] There is something under all this. You have a reason, my fine fellow, for not wishing to injure your credit in this house.
MUREL: What do you mean?
GRUCHET: YOU are trying to make yourself agreeable to Mademoiselle Rousselin, hoping that a good marriage will —
MUREL: Oh, the devil! Hold your tongue! Yes, I adore her! Hush! here comes Madame Rousselin. For heaven's sake, not a hint of this!
GRUCHET [aside]: Oh, ho! you adore her, eh? My opinion is that your adoration is directed chiefly towards her dot I
SCENE III.
(The same. Enter Madame Rousselin, through the gate, leaning on the arm of Onésime de Bouvigny; followed by Louise Rousselin and Miss Arabella; the latter carries a book )
MUREL [presents his bouquet to Mme. Rousselin]: Permit me, Madame, to offer you —
MME. ROUSSELIN [takes bouquet and tosses it upon a round table standing L.]: Thank you, Monsieur.
ARABELLA: Oh, what splendid gardenias! Where do you find such beautiful flowers, Monsieur Murel?
MUREL: At my home, Miss Arabella, in my conservatory.
ONÉSIME [with an impertinent air]: Have you a conservatory, Monsieur?
MUREL: Yes, Monsieur, — a hot-house.
LOUISE: And it costs him nothing to make himself agreeable to his friends.
MME. R.: If one could only forget his political preferences!
MUREL [aside to Louise]: Your mamma is rather cold to me to-day.
LOUISE [aside to Murel]: Oh, never mind!
MME. R. [sits, R., beside a small table]: Come and sit beside me, my dear Vicomte. Won't you join us, Monsieur Gruchet? [ The gentlemen indicated sit near her ] Well, have they found a satisfactory candidate at last? Tell me all the news.
GRUCHET: A great many things have happened, Madame. The most important —
ONÉSIME [interrupts]: My father declares that Monsieur has only to allow his own name to be presented —
MME. R.: Indeed! Is that really his opinion?
ONÉSIME: Without a doubt. And all our peasants, who know well that their interests are in accord with his ideas —
GRUCHET: Which differ a little, however, from the principles of 'eighty-nine.
ONÉSIME [laughs loudly]: Hal ha! ha! the immortal principles of 'eighty-nine!
GRUCHET: May I ask what you are laughing at, Monsieur?
ONÉSIME: Why — why — my father always laughs when he hears that expression.
GRUCHET: Well, I assure you, without 'eighty-nine and its immortal principles, we should have had no deputies at all.
ARABELLA: YOU are quite right, Monsieur Gruchet, to defend the parliament. When a gentleman becomes a member of that body, it is in his power to do a great deal of good.
GRUCHET [to Mme. R.]: One of the greatest advantages is that one may live in Paris during the winter.
MME. R.: And that is certainly an important consideration. Louise, my dear, come and sit near us. A long sojourn in the country becomes very tiresome, does it not, Monsieur Murel?
MUREL [with animation]: Yes, indeed, Madame. [Aside to Louise] It is quite possible, however, to be very happy in the country sometimes!
GRUCHET: One would think that this simple rural spot was agreeable to no one but persons of little sense!
ARABELLA: Oh, no, no, Monsieur! A person of true sentiment must feel his heart throb with pleasure when he finds himself in the deep shadow of these ancient forests; sweet thoughts must possess him when he gazes across these wide fields; and perhaps — who knows? — in some obscure corner of this village a bright intellect is hidden, — some one whose genius will one day dazzle the world! [Sits, and assumes a pose of sentimental reverie]
MME. R. [satirically]: What a romantic tirade, my dear! Really, you are in a more poetic mood than usual to-day.
ONÉSIME: I think Mademoiselle has just favoured us with a quotation — in admirable fashion, except for a very slight accent — from The Lake, by Monsieur de Lamartine.
MME. R.: Indeed. Do you know the work well?
ONÉSIME: No, Madame. I was never allowed to read the works of that author.
MME. R.: Ah, yes, of course. Your education was of a more serious nature. [Takes a skein of wool from the table and indicates to Onésime that he is to hold up his hands in order that she may pass the skein over them. He obeys, and she begins to wind the wool into a ball] Will you have the kindness to assist me, my dear Vicomte? Please keep your arms well extended — there, that will do perfectly.
ONÉSIME: Oh, I know how to perform this delightful office, Madame. [Slight pause, as Mme. Rousselin winds the wool] We were speaking of rural scenery just now, — do you know, 1 admire exceedingly that little landscape framed in pearls that my sister Elizabeth sent to you.
MME. R.: It is, indeed, a charming work of art. It is now hanging in my boudoir. [Sharply, looking at Louise] Louise, when you have quite finished looking at that magazine, I wish to speak to you.
MUREL [aside]: She certainly suspects me!
MME. R.: I greatly admired the delightful talents of your other sisters also, Vicomte, the last time that we had the pleasure of visiting the Château de Bouvigny.
ONÉSIME: You are very kind, Madame. My mother expects to receive very soon a visit from my great-uncle, the Bishop of Saint-Giraud.
MME. R.: IS the Bishop of Saint-Giraud your uncle, Monsieur?
ONÉSIME: Yes, Madame, and he is also my father's godfather.
MME. R,: Ah, I fear the dear Count, your father, has quite forgotten us by this time — naughty man!
ONÉSIME: Not at all, I assure you, Madame. In fact, I know that he intends very soon to ask Monsieur Rousselin to grant him an interview.
MME. R. [pleased]: Ah!
ONÉSIME: He wishes to consult Monsieur Rousselin about a certain undertaking. [Looks off] Is not that Monsieur Dodart approaching the house?
MUREL [aside, looking off]: The notary! Can it be possible that —
ARABELLA: Yes, it is he. And look! there come Marchais, the grocer, Monsieur Boudois, Monsieur Liégeard, and several other persons.
MUREL [aside]: The devil! What can this mean?
SCENE IV.
(The same. Enter M. Rousselin.)
LOUISE [jumps up and runs to M. Rousseiin]: Ah! it is papa!
ROUSSELIN [with a complacent smile]: L
ook well at him, my child. You may now indeed be proud of him! [Embraces Mme. R.] Good-morning, my dearest!
MME. R.: What has happened? You look absolutely radiant.
ROUSSELIN [sees Murel]: You here, my good Murel? You have heard the news, I suppose, — and you wished to be the first to greet me.
MUREL: I confess I do not understand you, Monsieur.
ROUSSELIN [sees Gruchet]: And Gruchet, too. Ah, my friends, I am delighted as well as touched. [Strikes attitude] Indeed, my fellow-citizens —
GRUCHET: But we don't know what you are talking about.
Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert Page 406