Madame Aubin
Verlaine, Paul, 1844-1896
English
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Below is a summary of Madame Aubin
MADAME AUBIN
a play in one act and in prose
by Verlaine, 1895
Translated and adapted by Frank J. Morlock
Characters:
A Servant
Aubin
Madame Marie Aubin
Peltier
An Officer
The action takes place in the room of a hotel.
PELTIER (to a servant who is leaving)
That's fine. We'll ring when we need you.
(to Marie)
A day and a night of rest, my darling, right? After which we'll leave,
crossing Switzerland for Brindisi without any stop and reach the
Orient as it was agreed.
MARIE
It was agreed?
PELTIER
Eh! Yes.
MARIE
It's true. Indeed, as you like.
PELTIER
What do you mean? Since you approve, I'm going to peruse the train
schedule. You'll allow me.
MARIE
My God, yes.
(A short pause during which Marie looks at her ring and munches on a
cake she has taken from a gold comfit box.)
PELTIER (after having written some notes in pencil)
There. At noon tomorrow we'll take the Express and we'll stop wherever
you like. Look. (offering Marie his notes)
MARIE
My friend, you are perfect. I'm going to think it over. Would you
listen to me for a moment to discuss something else?
PELTIER
Speak my darling.
MARIE
I want to call a halt to our adventure here.
PELTIER
I don't understand.
MARIE
Don't interrupt me. What we are doing is crazy. It's not ridiculous,
it's crazy. We will be far less happy than we were there. And it truly
required all the influence of your charming character and the
persuasion of your frankness (offering him her hand which he holds and
keeps) to make me take this enormous step. It's no longer time, I know
or rather I suspect, to go back on such an impulse, but after all,
what do you want? And I am in despair after all this bravura which
decided me, sustained me, swept me off my feet during this long
journey from Paris to this chancy place. Ah, I'm afraid.
PELTIER (overwhelmed by surprise rather than skeptical and resolved as
he had appeared up until now.)
Afraid of whom and what? (he lets Marie's hand fall and crosses his
arms waiting to hear more)
MARIE
Of the past, first of all. Fear! Remorse because of the past. And
certainly my husband doesn't deserve all this outrage. He's a man with
faults, surely, even vices, perhaps. But he's honorable and even
righteous. And now I think of it these quarrels between him and me
must rather proceed from me, spoiled child and over-free young girl
that I was before my marriage with this honest, with this gallant man.
PELTIER
Let's leave Aubin out of this. In the end what do you mean and what do
you want me to do? Return to Paris and your abandoned household?
MARIE
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