Tom Jones Page #7

what to say if you do.

Free chair, sir. Free chair.

You must be a pauper if you can't

go in a chair. Or a miser!

I thought you were Mrs Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick...

Sir, I am unfamiliar

with customs in the country,

but in town it is considered impolite

to keep a lady waiting.

With our usual good breeding, we will not

follow this particular conversation further,

but attend results on the following day.

Our hero released from Lady Bellaston

a torrent of affection -

as well as a flood of gifts,

which he found suitably embarrassing

and quite irresistible.

- We must have you looking your best.

- Lady Bellaston...

Isn't that what Miss Western would want?

Come back precisely at four.

I shall have news for you then.

- Send the bill to me, sir.

- Yes, milady. Very good, milady.

Good day, milady.

How could Tom know that Sophie was

now staying here with Lady Bellaston?

And being besieged

by a certain Lord Fellamar,

a gentleman with an eye for any beauty -

especially when a fortune was attached.

I do beg you to excuse the play.

But when may I see you again?

Forgive me, my lord.

I'm afraid my plans for remaining

in London are still a little uncertain.

Good day, my lord.

Aaah... Aaah...

Oh, my la... Sophie!

Tom!

I see, Sophie,

you're somewhat surprised.

- What are you doing here?

- I came to look for you.

I found your pocket book at Upton

and came to ask if I might return it.

- How dare you mention that place to me?!

- Oh, Sophie, let me ask your pardon.

My pardon?! After what I heard at the inn?

You cannot despise me

more than I do myself.

I thought, Miss Western,

you were at the play.

The play caused so violent an uproar,

I got frightened and came home.

Where I found this gentleman.

He has apparently found the pocket book

I told your ladyship I had lost

and wishes to return it.

And when I do so, all I ask is that I might

have the honour of presenting it in person.

I presume, sir, you are a gentleman,

and my doors are never shut

to people of fashion.

Thank you, madam. Ladies.

Your cane, sir.

Oh.

A handsome fellow. I don't remember

ever to have seen his face before.

Nor I neither, madam.

I suspected it was Mr Jones himself.

- Did your ladyship indeed?

- Yes.

I can't imagine

what put the idea into my head,

for, to give this fellow his due,

he was very well dressed.

I think, dear Sophie, that is

not often the case with your friend.

I thought your ladyship

had said he was handsome.

- Whom, pray?

- Mr Jones.

I meant, of course,

the gentleman who was with us just now.

Oh, Sophie, Sophie...

This Mr Jones, I fear,

still runs in your head.

I assure you, madam,

Mr Jones means no more to me

than the gentleman who has just left us.

Forgive me teasing you.

I promise...

I'll never mention his name again.

Take this to Lord Fellamar

and beg him to attend me tomorrow.

She is the only daughter

of a country booby squire.

At the playhouse she blazed like a star.

The first moment I saw her,

I loved her to distraction.

Her father's estate

is a good Pounds. 3,000 a year.

Then, madam, I think it

the best match in all England.

Then, if you like her, my lord,

you shall have her.

Honor!

A letter from my mistress.

- Upstairs?

- Honor!

- In here.

- I told my mistress she should...

Get behind that curtain

and don't speak! Shh!

- My dear, charming Lady Bellaston.

- Dear? Charming?

You've been avoiding me.

I should scold you.

But I don't think I intend to.

- Shh! There is a lady...

- A lady? One of your ladies, I suppose.

- Where is she?

- Uh-uh-uh-uh...

There is a lady in the next room...

a- dying, madam.

What scheme have you and Sophie

been plotting behind my back?

- Madam, I don't understand.

- Answer me one question:

Have you not betrayed my honour to her?

Am I neglected,

slighted for a country girl,

for an idiot?

Neglected, madam?

"I charge you not to think of visiting

again", Sophie desperately wrote to Tom.

"The truth will certainly be discovered. "

"Something favourable

perhaps may happen. "

"Until then, we must be patient. "

Courage, mon vieux.

Lord Fellamar is one of the most

gallant young fellows about town.

Make love to you, indeed!

I only wish he would.

You would be mad to refuse him.

Then I shall most certainly be mad.

Entrez.

Madam. Miss Western

is hardly encouraging.

My dear lord, you certainly need a cordial.

Fie upon it. Have more resolution.

Are you frightened by the word "rape"?

All women love a man of spirit.

Remember the story of the Sabine ladies.

I believe they made tolerably

good wives afterwards.

Come this evening at nine.

I will see she is alone.

Oh, I am so entangled with this woman

that I don't know how to extricate myself.

- I know. Propose marriage to her.

- To Lady Bellaston?!

Aye. Propose marriage to her

and she'll call it off in a moment.

You've not a penny, and she'll think

you're marrying her for her wealth.

It's very convincing for a man

in your desperate situation.

But what if she took me at my word?

Then I'm caught in my own trap.

I promise you she won't.

She'll be the one to break it off.

- Lord Fellamar.

- Miss Western, it is I.

- I fear I break in upon you abruptly.

- Indeed, my lord, I am a little surprised.

Love... Love has deprived me

of all reason.

My lord, I neither understand

your words nor your behaviour.

You're the most adorable,

most divine creature.

I do assure you, my lord,

I shall not wait to hear any more.

If I were master of the world,

I would lay it at your feet!

My lord, I beg you to stop.

Let go my hand.

I will never see you again.

Then, madam, we must make

the best use of this moment.

What do you mean?

I have no fear but of losing you, madam!

Where is she?

Damn me if I won't unkennel her now!

Aaagh!

Oh, Father!

- Your father?

- Yes. And who in hell are you?

I, sir, am Lord Fellamar,

the happy man whom I hope

you will accept as your son-in-law.

You're a son of a whore,

for all your fancy falderals!

- I resent your tone, sir.

- Resent, me arse!

I'll teach you to father-in-law me!

Ooh!

Father, put me down!

Put me down, Father!

"Dearest madam,"

Tom had carefully written,

"I am extremely concerned for fear

your reputation should be exposed. "

"There is only one way to secure it -

that you bestow on me the legal right

to call you mine for ever. Thomas Jones. "

I shall not receive

Mr Jones if he calls here again.

In London, love and scandal are

considered the best sweeteners of tea.

I do not doubt that my niece will welcome

the favours of a man like Lord Fellamar.

This Blifil is a hideous kind of fellow.

But, as you know, Bell,

all country gentlemen are.

I don't then wonder at Sophie's

infatuation for this Jones creature.

He's an agreeable fellow to look at.

Miss Western, will you believe me

when I tell you

that he has the audacity

to make love to me?

Oh, these men!

I would've torn the eyes out of a prince if

he had attempted such freedoms with me!

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