Waltz of the Toreadors Page #3

- How's your wife, Grogan?

Oh, running well. I treat her

as an early-model motorcar, you know.

It's fascinating how these ancient machines

continue to work so efficiently.

Hmm, well, you'd better go up

and lubricate my old heap.

Damn good parade

they gave you today, General.

Yes, it was,

wasn't it?

They'll miss you, won't they?

Well, I hope so, yes.

You'll be at home more.

Do you imagine I hadn't thought of that?

Just look at me.

All the gold trimmings here, you see.

Underneath, a boy's heart dying to give his all.

And that's what they call a fine career.

Would it help if I told you much the same story?

Not in the slightest.

I haven't marked your card yet.

And me, too.

You promised me the polka, Ghislaine.

Don't forget me. I was going to have the waltz

before the English arrived.

Only two dances left.

Now, who shall it be?

Me, Ghislaine. I asked you before the others.

All right, Andr.

I shall have you,

because your name begins with A.

And you, Zachariah,

because your name begins with Z.

A bientt, Messieurs.

Oh, Ghislaine!

Ghislaine, I'll change my name.

- Quite finished, young man?

- Oh, so sorry, sir.

May I see your carnet de bal,

mademoiselle?

But...my card is full, Major.

lt is Major, is it not?

Major Fitzjohn, commanding Her Majesty's

1 1th Dragoons, at your service.

Then I cannot refuse, sir.

Ghislaine!

Yes, Leo.

lt is I.

Ghislaine.

Ghislaine! What are you doing here?

There's going to be a devil of a row.

- Good. That's why I came.

- Sh, my love, she's got ears everywhere.

Oh, let me look at you.

You.

Myself.

My own.

I took the night express, and then the packet,

and then the day express.

Oh, my Amazon!

But should you have travelled so far alone?

- On the train, a man spoke to me.

- What?!

- He asked me the time.

- Swine!

But I was perfectly calm.

- I was armed.

- Careful!

Oh, you have it still.

Hmm. It has protected me all these years.

- For you, Leo.

- Thank you. Thank you.

But now I find you are retired.

Oh, only from the army, my darling,

never from our great love.

Oh, good. That's all I want to know.

- Ghislaine, you can't stay here.

- Of course I can.

Emily's next door. It's quite impossible.

Everything is possible now, Leo.

Yes, it is. Of course it is. But not here.

Allow me to take a room at the inn for you, for us.

I have already taken it.

Oh, wonderful.

You've arranged everything, then.

Everything, and I have here in my reticule

evidence that will make you free, Leo.

Our long years will not have been wasted.

17 years.

17 years since the cavalry ball at Saumur.

I'd just been posted to France, Major Fitzjohn.

Oh, Leo, the enchantment of that first waltz.

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