The Cabinet Minister

Arthur Wing Pinero

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9781870259088
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781783197965
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

The text of the West End revival at the Albery Theatre with Maureen Lipman and Derek Nimmo. A masterpiece of dramatic construction in four acts by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, the master-carpenter of the English stage.

The Second Act

Difficulties

[The scene is a handsomely decorated and elegantly furnished morning-room at SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY’s, with every evidence of luxury and refined taste. It is a July morning]

[SIR JULIAN is playing his flute. MR MELTON, a good-looking, well-dressed young man, enters carrying a few sheets of paper]

Mr Melton Pardon me.

[SIR JULIAN’s flute gives a squeak]

Sir Julian Twombley Oh, Melton?

Mr Melton The arrangements for this morning are quite complete, Sir Julian.

Sir Julian Twombley The arrangements?

Mr Melton The arrangements for the opening of the new street.

Sir Julian Twombley Oh, to be sure; I open the new street today. Why on earth shouldn’t a new street be opened by a policeman during the night, quietly?

[The DOWAGER LADY DRUMDURRIS, fashionably dressed for out-of-doors, enters]

Dowager [In a flutter] Julian, good morning. A glorious day for the ceremony, Mr Melton. Is everything arranged?

Mr Melton [Bowing] Everything.

Dowager I have a motive for asking. I and my family accompany Sir Julian and Lady Twombley to lend weight and support.

Mr Melton [To SIR JULIAN] You leave here at twelve, reaching the new street at half-past. You speak from the cluster of lamps by St. Jude’s church.

Dowager Your speech will be terse, elegant, and vigorous, I hope, Julian?

Sir Julian Twombley I hope so. Have you written it, Mr Melton? [MELTON hands him the sheets of paper] Thank you. The usual thing, I suppose?

Mr Melton Quite, quite.

Sir Julian Twombley Thank you. There’s nothing like the usual thing. [Referring to the speech] “By opening up these majestic avenues London takes beer –”

Mr Melton Air.

Sir Julian Twombley I beg your pardon. “– takes air into her system and keeps her place in the race with her sister cities.” Excellent.

Dowager Who will throw the bottle?

Sir Julian Twombley No-one, I hope.

Mr Melton You are thinking of the christening of a ship, Lady Drumdurris.

Dowager Pardon me.

Mr Melton I have to see Superintendent Snudden now as to the police arrangements.

Sir Julian Twombley Dear me! You anticipate no pellets?

Mr Melton Hardly.

Sir Julian Twombley It’s so unfortunate it isn’t a wet day.

Dowager Julian!

Sir Julian Twombley An umbrella is such a safeguard.

Mr Melton I’ll see that the carriage closes easily.

Sir Julian Twombley Thank you. And Lady Twombley might take an extra sunshade.

[MELTON goes out. The DOWAGER closes the door carefully after him]

[Reading] “I can conceive no position more agreeable to a Minister of the Crown than that which –”

Dowager Julian!

Sir Julian Twombley Dora?

Dowager You wonder why I am with you at this early hour. I need hardly say I have a motive.

Sir Julian Twombley I suppose so.

Dowager Knowing that you were not going down to Browning Street this morning, and that Lady Twombley and Imogen were to take Euphemia shopping in Bond Street, I grasped the chance of seeing you alone. Julian, what has happened to your wife?

Sir Julian Twombley To Katherine?

Dowager There is a shocking change.

Sir Julian Twombley Recently?

Dowager It began two or three months ago. She’s not the woman she was at the commencement of the season.

Sir Julian Twombley You alarm me. In what way?

Dowager Every way. Her a...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• Act Four