The Lady Eve Page #9

He put on the groom's uniform on his day

off, then he'd be the groom that day.

The rest of the time

he was just a stable boy.

- A stable boy?

- Yes, a boy who cleans up the stables.

Oh, you don't think

much of my choice.

Well, he didn't look so bad

in the groom's uniform...

with the tight pants, the boots with

yellow tops and the little fat silk hat.

- Don't you think they're cute?

- I do not.

Oh, now you're upset. I never know

when to keep my mouth closed.

I was always taught

to be frank and honest.

It was nothing, darling. We ran away,

but they caught us and brought us back.

And that's all there was to it.

That's all there was to it,

except they discharged him.

Good. When they brought you back,

it was before nightfall,

I trust.

- Oh, no.

- You were out all night?

My dear, it took them

weeks to find us.

We'd made up different names

at the different inns we stayed at.

Oh, you'd die laughing

at some of the names we thought of.

I remember there was one...

- Yes, I'm sure I would.

- Oh, now you're upset.

- Eve.

- Yes, darling?

If there's one thing

that distinguishes a man from a beast,

it's the ability to understand,

and understanding, forgive.

Surely the qualities of mercy,

understanding and sweet forgiveness...

- Sweet what?

- Sweet forgiveness!

Oh.

I won't conceal from you that I wish

this hadn't happened.

But it has, and so it has.

A girl of 16 is practically

an idiot anyway,

so I can't very well

blame you for something...

that was practically done

by somebody else.

I want to thank you

for being so frank.

The name of Angus will never

cross my lips again,

and I hope that you

will do likewise.

Now let us smile

and be as we were.

I knew you'd be that way. I knew it

the moment I saw you standing beside me.

I knew you'd be both

husband and father to me.

I knew I could trust

and confide in you.

I suppose that's why

I fell in love with you.

Thank you.

I wonder if now would be

the time to tell you about Herman.

Herman. Herman?

Who was Herman?

Vernon? I thought

you said Herman!

- Vernon was Herman's friend.

- What a friend!

- Cecil?

- It's pronounced "Ceh-cil. "

- What did you say, dear?

- "How do you mean Hubert or Herbert?"

- They wereJohn's twin cousins.

- John! Who was John?

'Board!

But that's unheard of!

That's what lawyers are for!

- He says...

- Who says?

I don't know.

I naturally presumed it was her lawyer,

but he says she says she won't

have anything to do with lawyers.

- That's entirely irregular!

- Well, it's a thought.

I tell you,

I won't see any lawyers!

But these things

are always handled by lawyers.

This isn't going to be. This is

entirely between my husband and myself.

- Poppycock!

- What's the matter with you?

They want to make a settlement.

They'll give you half when you

leave for Reno...

and the balance at the end of six weeks.

Name your own price.

For once that we have a chance

to make some honest money...

Oh, tell him to go peel an eel!

I don't think you realize

the beauty of your situation.

You're holding a royal flush.

You've got him right by the ears.

You know, I had nothing to do

with this arrangement.

But now that you're in it,

you might as well go...

Will you let me speak

with Mr. Pike, please?

She's on the phone.

She wants to talk to Mr. Pike.

We can't allow that.

That's entirely irregular!

Shut up.

Will you talk to her?

I'll rot before

I'll talk to her.

- Mr. Pike, I advise you against

- Lay off!

Hello, Eve.

This is Horace talking.

Hello, darling. L...

I'm awfully sorry about

the trouble I've made you all.

I thought I had a reason, but now I...

Well... I just wanted

to tell you this.

I won't see any lawyers, because

there's nothing to see them about.

I don't want any money;

I don't want anything.

He can have back his jewelry

and anything else there is,

and I'll go to Reno

at my own expense.

I think that's only fair.

There's only one thing I want.

I want to see him first, and I...

I want him to ask me to be free.

That's all. No money, no nothing.

Only he has to come here

to ask me, because...

well, there's something

I want to say to him...

before we part.

Just a minute, Eve. All she wants is

for you to go to New York and ask her.

- It's a trick!

- Will you keep out of this?

Well, that's all she wants.

When can you go?

If she's waiting for me to ask her,

she can wait till Havana freezes over.

- Quite right.

- I'll have to call you back, Eve.

He just stepped out of the office

for a minute. I'll call you back.

Now you listen, you numbskull!

Go ahead and talk. I'm listening.

Hello? Yes, Horace.

I'm sorry, Eve.

He won't do it.

I thought it was

a pretty fair offer.

As a matter of fact,

I think you're a sucker to make it.

But he won't do it.

He seemed very bitter.

I'm sorry.

Oh, let me speak to him.

Please, Horace!

I don't think

he'd talk to you, Eve.

And anyway, he's gone

to say good-bye to his mother.

Where is he going?

No.

Thank you, Horace.

- Why, Hopsie!

- Hopsie?

Hopsie.

Jean!

I'm sorry, but if you knew

what it meant to me to find you again.

- Can we go to your cabin or someplace?

- Now just a minute.

Oh, Colonel,

I'm delighted to see you again.

We must play cards this trip.

Steward, some champagne for the colonel.

- Certainly, Mr. Pike.

- Come on.

You really haven't the right

to drag me off like this, Hopsie.

Are you sure we're on

the right boat, Sylvester?

Oh, why didn't you take me in your arms

that day? Why did you let me go?

Why did we have to go

through all this nonsense?

Don't you know you're

the only man I ever loved?

Don't you know I couldn't

look at another man if I wanted to?

Don't you know I waited

all my life for you, you big mug?

- Will you forgive me?

- For what? Oh, you mean on the boat.

The question is,

can you forgive me?

- What for?

- Oh, you still don't understand.

I don't want to understand.

I don't want to know. Whatever it is,

keep it to yourself.

All I know is, I adore you.

I'll never leave you again.

We'll work it out somehow.

There's just one thing.

I feel it's only fair to tell you.

It would never have happened

except she looked like you.

- I have no right to be in your cabin.

- Why?

- Because I'm married.

- But so am I, darling. So am I.

Positively the same dame!

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