A Gift for Living Well/I Believe My Heart (reprise)

(Fosco looks away modestly)

[FOSCO]
No, no, no! Well...

I am a man
Of medicine
No opera star
My voice is thin
Though I play cards
And violin
At none of this do I excel

The talent that
I have in spades
Is one for fun
And escapades
A gift for living well!

Attracted to
The lively arts
Breaking bread
Breaking hearts

(He looks at Marian)

Making love
When love has me
Spellbound

(He takes some wine from a servant, fills his glass)

Italian food
The wines of France
I never walk
When I can dance!

(A small pirouette for the ladies)

A gift for living well

A one-man band
I sing the lead
Always self-accompanied

(He plays a few chords on the piano)

I concede
Probably I'm hellbound

A bon vivant
As you can see
A lust for life
As big as... me!
A gift for living well

But enough about me! Raise your glasses

(Fosco raises his glass to the bride and groom)

Sir Percival Glyde!

[ALL]
(raising their glasses)
Oh, what a joyous occasion this is!
Sir Percival Glyde!

[FOSCO]
Dolce vita to you and your misses!

[GLYDE]
This is the moment I've longed for

[MARIAN]
Everything's for the best now

[MR. FAIRLIE]
I'll have an empty nest now!

[ALL]
And here's to the bride!
Cheers for the life they will lead from now on-

(Hartright suddenly interrupts the toast, and addresses Sir Percival Glyde)

[HARTRIGHT]
Please let me speak!
And forgive my interruption!
Please
Hear me out
On a very pressing matter
One that concerns a girl
Her name is Anne, Anne Catherick
She says you've done her wrong
Have you an explanation?

[MR. FAIRLIE]
What impertinence, Mr. Hartright! Know your place, sir! This is-

[GLYDE]
No, no, Mr. Fairlie, I'm glad he asked this. Please. Please. I am happy to clear up the matter of Anne Catherick

Her tale is truly sorrowful
And some would say a tragedy
Her story breaks my heart
I don't know where to start

Her mother was in my employ

(to Mr. Fairlie)

Your brother recommended her
Recall, she worked here too?

[MR. FAIRLIE]
Catherick?

I'm not sure that I do

[GLYDE]
Anne was so sweet as an infant
She used to laugh all the time
She sparkled like the sun
Such a pretty one

And yet she grew up so unhappy
Sullen and angry and sad
She was a troubled child
Acting strange and wild

She once attacked her mother
When she was just sixteen
A fury with no pause
No one knew the cause
To help her grieving mother
And rescue Anne herself
I undertook her care
I tried to see her through
It was the Christian thing to do

When no physician could treat her
I found a haven that would
A trusted private place
To embrace her case

Anne thinks of me as her captor
When I am truly her friend
For all her care I pay
And still she runs away

(Fosco shakes Glyde by the hand)

[FOSCO]
I'm touched by your compassion
Your kindness knows no bounds

[GLYDE]
I've done the best I can
I've done my best for Anne

(Once again Hartright speaks up)

[HARTRIGHT]
She spoke, sir, of a secret
A secret she would tell!

[GLYDE]
Her world has come to be
Utter fantasy
But her safe return
Is my great concern
And I am grateful for
Your help

[LAURA]
Poor Anne
Her story saddens me

[MARIAN]
Yet it explains the mystery

[FOSCO]
Had it not been for Glyde
I'm sure she would have died

[MR. FAIRLIE]
No more, please! Neither Anne Catherick nor her silly mother are any of your business, sir. What's more, my nerves are quite shot...

[FOSCO]
Then a shot of brandy is what I prescribe, Signor!

[MR. FAIRLIE]
Yes. Let us retire at once to my study. Gentlemen...

(Glyde, Fosco and Mr. Fairlie leave. Glyde bows his thanks again to Hartright)

[GLYDE]
Thank you, sir

(Hartright is left with the two women)

[HARTRIGHT]
I don't believe him!
Can't you see he's clearly lying?
As for your uncle
It's the truth that he's denying!

[MARIAN]
Sir, you must leave at once!
You must go right away

[LAURA]
Marian-

[MARIAN]
What reason has he to lie?
How can you hope to stay here?

[LAURA]
Please, Marian!

[MARIAN]
Laura, our future is settled
Soon you will be Lady Glyde
You'll have a perfect life
As that fine man's wife

He is a man of compassion
Look how he helped that poor girl
He has integrity
He's all a man should be!

(Laura looks to Hartright)

[HARTRIGHT]
I clearly don't belong here!
Your sister is quite right
I'll leave for London now!

(Laura runs out, upset)

[HARTRIGHT]
(to Marian)
Are you happy now?!

(He exits. Marian, left alone, crumples, begins to cry)

[MARIAN]
I close my eyes
And I still see his face...

(She exits)

Scene: "The Tryst"

(Hartright is there with his bags and easel, departing. Laura enters in haste, wearing a white nightdress)

[LAURA]
Tell me this isn't happening! Tell me I am walking in my sleep!

[HARTRIGHT]
I'm sorry

[LAURA]
I believe my heart
It believes in you

[LAURA AND HARTRIGHT]
Every part of every thought
Leads me straight to you

(She gives him the sketch that he gave to her during the drawing lesson)

[LAURA]
Take this... something to remember me by

(He leaves)