The Rim Of The World: A Fantasy
by
THE RIM OF THE WORLD
A FANTASY
To MARJORIE JONES
“The Rim of the World” was first produced by the Liberal Club, New York City, at Webster Hall, in 1915, with the following cast:
The Maid ……… Jo Gotsch
The Gypsy …….. Floyd Dell
The King………. Edward Goodman
The Princess…… Marjorie Jones
Morning. A room in a palace, opening on a balcony. Through the arched broad window at the back is seen the sky, just beginning to be suffused with the rosy streakings of dawn. A large, wide heavy seat stands on a dais, with a low square stool beside it. A girl kneels on the stool, with her head and arms on the chair, dozing.
The dark figure of a man appears on the balcony. He puts a leg over the window-ledge and climbs in slowly.
A little noise wakes the girl. She stirs, looks round, jumps up, and starts to scream
.
THE MAN.
Oh, not so loud!
THE GIRL.
( finishes the scream in a subdued voice.)
THE MAN.
That’s better! But you ought to be more careful.
You might wake somebody up.
THE GIRL.
Who are you?
THE MAN.
That’s just what I was about to ask you
–tell me, are you a Princess, or a maidservant?
THE GIRL.
A Princess?–did you really think I might be a Princess?
THE MAN.
Well, there are pretty Princesses.
But I had rather you were a maidservant.
THE GIRL.
Would you? Well, so I am!
THE MAN.
Thank you, my dear. And what would you like me to be?
THE MAID.
I’m afraid you’re somebody not quite proper!
THE MAN.
Right, my dear. You are a person of marvellous discernment. I am, in fact–
THE MAID.
The king of the Gypsies!
THE GYPSY.
How did you know?
THE GIRL.
I guessed it!
THE GYPSY.
H’m. You knew, I suppose, that our band has just encamped outside the city?
THE MAID.
Yes.
THE GYPSY.
And you have heard of the exploits of the Gypsy king. You know that there is no wall high enough to keep him out, no force of soldiers strong enough–
THE MAID.
I know it by your eyes. They have the gypsy look in them.
THE GYPSY.
Where have you ever seen gypsies before?
THE MAID.
Never mind. But tell me–the wall around the palace is seventeen feet high–
THE GYPSY.
True enough!
THE MAID.
A guard of soldiers continually marches around it–
THE GYPSY.
Very true!
THE MAID.
And there are spikes on the top. How did you get over?
THE GYPSY.
That is my secret. Would I be the gypsy king if everybody knew what I know?
THE MAID.
Won’t you tell me ?
THE GYPSY.
Women have asked me that many times. But I never tell. But, though I won’t tell you how I entered, I don’t mind telling you why.
THE MAID.
Oh, I know that already!
THE GYPSY.
You think, perhaps, that I am a thief as well as a housebreaker–that it is in the hope of royal treasure left unguarded that I have come here. …