The Doctor’s Dilemma

in her eyes. Oh, I am so sorry⁠—so sorry. But he will never do it again: I pledge you my word for that. He has given me his promise: here in this room just before you came; and he is incapable of breaking his word. That was his only real weakness; and now it is conquered and done with forever. Ridgeon Was that really his only weakness? Mrs. Dubedat He is perhaps sometimes weak about women, because they adore him so, and are always laying traps for him. And of course when he says he doesn’t believe in morality, ordinary pious people think he must be wicked. You can understand, can’t you, how all this starts a great deal of gossip about him, and gets repeated until even good friends get set against him? Ridgeon Yes: I understand. Mrs. Dubedat Oh, if you only knew the other side of him as I do! Do you know, doctor, that if Louis dishonored himself by a really bad action, I should kill myself. Ridgeon Come! don’t exaggerate. Mrs. Dubedat I should. You don’t understand that, you east country people. Ridgeon You did not see much of the world in Cornwall, did you? Mrs. Dubedat Naively. Oh yes. I saw a great deal every day of the beauty of the world⁠—more than you ever see here in London. But I saw very few people, if that is what you mean. I was an only child. Ridgeon That explains a good deal. Mrs. Dubedat I had a great many dreams; but at last they all came to one dream. Ridgeon With half a sigh. Yes, the usual dream. Mrs. Dubedat Surprised. Is it usual? Ridgeon As I guess. You haven’t yet told me what it was. Mrs. Dubedat I didn’t want to waste myself. I could do nothing myself; but I had a little property and I could help with it. I had even a little beauty: don’t think me vain for knowing it. I always had a terrible struggle with poverty and neglect at first. My dream was to save one of them from that, and bring some charm and happiness into his life. I prayed Heaven to send me one. I firmly believe that Louis was guided to me in answer to my prayer. He was no more like the other men I had met than the Thames Embankment is like our Cornish coasts. He saw everything that I saw, and drew it for me. He understood everything. He came to me like a child. Only fancy, doctor: he never even wanted to marry me: he never thought of the things other men think of! I had to propose it myself. Then he said he had no money. When I told him I had some, he said “Oh, all right,” just like a boy. He is still like that, quite unspoiled, a man in his thoughts, a great poet and artist in his dreams, and a child in his ways. I gave him myself and all I had that he might grow to his full height with plenty of sunshine. If I lost faith in him, it would mean the wreck and failure of my life. I should go back to Cornwall and die. I could show you the very cliff I should jump off. You must cure him: you must make him quite well again for me. I know that you can do it and that nobody else can. I implore you not to refuse what I am going to ask you to do. Take Louis yourself; and let Sir Ralph cure Dr. Blenkinsop. Ridgeon Slowly. Mrs. Dubedat: do you really believe in my knowledge and skill as you say you do? Mrs. Dubedat Absolutely. I do not give my trust by halves. Ridgeon I know that. Well, I am going to test you⁠—hard. Will you believe me when I tell you that I understand what you have just told me; that I have no desire but to serve you in the most faithful friendship; and that your hero must be preserved to you. Mrs. Dubedat Oh forgive me. Forgive what I said. You will preserve him to me. Ridgeon At all hazards. She kisses his hand. He rises hastily. No: you have not heard the rest. She rises too. You must believe me when I tell you that the one chance of preserving the hero lies in Louis being in the care of Sir Ralph. Mrs. Dubedat Firmly. You say so: I have no more doubt: I believe you. Thank you. Ridgeon Goodbye. She takes his hand. I hope this will be a lasting friendship. Mrs. Dubedat It will. My friendships end only with death. Ridgeon Death ends everything, doesn’t it? Goodbye. With a sigh and a look of pity at her which she does not understand, he goes.

Act IV

The studio. The easel is pushed back to the wall. Cardinal Death, holding his scythe and hourglass like a sceptre and globe, sits on the throne. On the hatstand hang the hats of Sir Patrick and Bloomfield Bonington. Walpole, just come in, is hanging up his beside them. There is a knock. He opens the door and finds Ridgeon there.

Walpole	Hallo, Ridgeon!
	They come into the middle of the room together, taking off their gloves.
Ridgeon	What’s the matter! Have you been sent for, too?
Walpole	We’ve all been sent for. I’ve only just come: I haven’t seen him yet. The charwoman says that old Paddy Cullen has been here with B.B. for the last half-hour. Sir Patrick, with bad news in his face, enters from the inner room. Well: what’s up?
Sir Patrick	Go in and see. B.B. is in there with him.
	Walpole goes. Ridgeon is about to follow him; but Sir Patrick stops him with a look.
Ridgeon	What has happened?
Sir Patrick	Do you remember Jane Marsh’s arm?
Ridgeon	Is that what’s happened?
Sir Patrick	That’s what’s happened. His lung has gone like Jane’s arm. I never saw such a case.