Part 5

Well, you see, I have an idea one shouldn’t lightly spoil in advance something which may be very beautiful.

ACTRESS

Possibly!…

COUNT

To tell the truth, love in the morning seems rather horrible to me.

ACTRESS

Well—you are about the worst case of lunacy I have ever met!

COUNT

I am not talking about women in general … because in general it doesn’t make any difference anyway. But women like you … no, you may call me a fool a hundred times over. But women like you … one doesn’t take them before breakfast. And so … you know … so…

ACTRESS

Oh, but you are a darling!

COUNT

You understand, what I have said, don’t you? I sort of imagine it like…

ACTRESS

How do you imagine it?

COUNT

Like this… I wait for you in a carriage after the play, then we drive somewhere for supper—

ACTRESS

I am not Miss Birken.

COUNT

I didn’t mean to say you were. Only, it seems to me, you have to be in the right sort of mood for everything. In my case the mood doesn’t come until supper. The most beautiful thing of all is when we drive home together, and then…

ACTRESS

And then?

COUNT

And then … well, that depends upon circumstances.

ACTRESS

Do sit closer. Closer.

COUNT

(_Sitting down on the bed_) Seems to me, that out of the pillows comes a fragrance … mignonette—isn’t it?

ACTRESS

It’s very warm in here, don’t you think so?

COUNT

(_Bends down, and kisses her neck_)

ACTRESS

Oh, Count, that is contrary to your program.

COUNT

Who said anything about “program.” I never have any program.

ACTRESS

(_Drawing him close to her_)

COUNT

It really is very warm.

ACTRESS

Do you think so? And so dark, just as if it were evening… (_Draws him toward her_) It is evening … it is night… Close your eyes, if there is too much light for you. Come!… Come!…

COUNT

(_Offers no further resistance_)

* * * * *

ACTRESS

And what about atmosphere now, you poseur?

COUNT

You are a little devil.

ACTRESS

What a thing to say!

COUNT

Well, then an angel.

ACTRESS

You should have been an actor! Really! You understand women! And do you know, what I shall do now?

COUNT

Well?

ACTRESS

I shall tell you that I shall never see you again.

COUNT

But why?

ACTRESS

Never, never. You are too dangerous! You would drive a woman mad. Here you are standing before me, as though nothing had happened.

COUNT

But…

ACTRESS

Please remember, Count, I have just given you everything.

COUNT

I shall never forget it!

ACTRESS

And what about to-night?

COUNT

What do you mean?

ACTRESS

Well—you wanted to wait for me after the theater?

COUNT

Oh, yes, let’s say, the day after to-morrow.

ACTRESS

What do you mean by “the day after to-morrow”? We were talking about to-day.

COUNT

There wouldn’t be much sense in that.

ACTRESS

Old man!

COUNT

You don’t quite understand me. What I mean has rather to do, how shall I express myself, rather concerns the soul.

ACTRESS

What concern of mine is your soul?

COUNT

Believe me, it has much to do with it. It seems all wrong to me, this notion, that you can separate the two.

ACTRESS

Don’t bother me with your philosophy. If I want any of that, I can read books.

COUNT

One never learns from books.

ACTRESS

Very true! And that’s why you ought to wait for me to-night. As to the soul, we will come to some sort of an understanding, you villain!

COUNT

Well, then, if I may, I shall wait in my carriage…

ACTRESS

You shall wait for me here in my home—

COUNT

… After the play.

ACTRESS

Of course.

(_He buckles on his sword_)

ACTRESS

What are you doing?

COUNT

It seems to me it is time for me to go. For a formal call I have stayed a bit too long as it is.

ACTRESS

Well, this evening it shall be a formal call.

COUNT

Do you think so?

ACTRESS

I’ll take care of that. And now give me a last kiss, you darling little philosopher. Here, you seducer, you … sweet child, you seller of souls, you … panther. (_After she has ardently kissed him several times, she thrusts him violently away_) Count, you have done me a great honor.

COUNT

Not at all, mademoiselle! (_At the door_) Au revoir.

ACTRESS

Good-by, and love to Steinamanger.

THE COUNT AND THE GIRL OF THE STREETS

_It is morning toward six o’clock. A poorly furnished room with one window. The dirty yellowish blinds are down. Tattered, greenish curtains. On the dresser are several photographs, and beside them a cheap woman’s hat of conspicuously bad taste. Behind the mirror are cheap Japanese fans. On the table over which is drawn a reddish cover is an oil-lamp. It is burning low with a disagreeable odor, and has a shade of yellow paper. Beside it is a pitcher with remains of beer, and a half-empty glass.—On the floor beside the bed a woman’s clothes are lying in disorder. They look as though they had just been quickly thrown off. The GIRL lies sleeping in the bed, breathing quietly. The COUNT is lying on the sofa fully dressed with his light overcoat on. His hat lies on the floor at the head of the sofa._

COUNT

(_Stirs, rubs his eyes, sits up suddenly, remains seated, and looks around_) Where am I?… Oh, yes … I actually went home with the woman, it seems… (_He rises quickly, notices her bed_) Oh, there she is… Queer, what sort of things can happen, even at my age. I haven’t the faintest notion, did they carry me up here? No… I remember—coming into the room… I was still awake then, or waked up … or … or maybe it’s only the room that reminds of something?… ’Pon my soul, yes, of course … it was yesterday I saw it… (_Looks at his watch_) What! yesterday, a couple of hours ago!—But, I knew, that something had to happen… I felt it in my bones … when I began to drink yesterday, I felt that … and what has happened?… Nothing… Or did there…? ’Pon my soul … for … for ten years it hasn’t happened to me that I don’t know… Well, let’s be honest at any rate, I was drunk… If I only knew since when… I remember perfectly when Bobby and I went into the all-night café, and … no, no… We left together … and then on the way… Yes, that’s it, Bobby and I rode in my carriage… But, why do I worry my brains about it? It doesn’t really matter. Let’s see that we get out of here. (_Rises. The lamp shakes_) Oh! (_Looks at the sleeping GIRL_) Well, she sleeps the sleep of the just. I don’t remember anything—but I’ll put the money on the table … and then, good-by… (_He stands in front of her, and looks at her for a considerable time_) If I didn’t know what she is! (_Studies her_) I’ve known many who didn’t look as virtuous even in their sleep. ’Pon my soul… Bobby would say again, I’m philosophizing, but the truth is, sleep makes all equal, so it seems to me—like its brother, death… Hm, I should like to know, whether… No, I’d remember that… No, no, I dropped like a log on the sofa right away … and nothing happened… It is unbelievable how much alike all women sometimes look… Well, let’s go (_He is about to go_) Oh, of course.

(_He takes his wallet, and is about to take out a banknote_)

GIRL

(_Awakening_) Well … who’s there so early in the morning—? (_Recognizing him_) Good morning, sonny!

COUNT

Good morning. Have a good sleep?

GIRL

(_Stretching_) Oh, come here. Give me a little kiss.

COUNT

(_Bends down to her, considers, and draws back_) I was just going…

GIRL

Going?

COUNT

It’s really about time.

GIRL

You want to go away?

COUNT

(_Half-embarrassed_) Well…

GIRL

Well, good-by, you’ll come some other time.

COUNT

Yes, good-by. But, won’t you give me your hand?

GIRL

(_Reaches out her hand from under the cover_)

COUNT

(_Takes her hand, and kisses it mechanically, and becoming aware of it, he smiles_) Just as with a princess. Besides, if one only…

GIRL

Why do you look at me that way?

COUNT

If one only sees the head, as now … anyway, each and every one looks innocent when she first awakes … ’pon my soul, one might imagine almost anything, if the kerosene didn’t smell so…

GIRL

Yes, the lamps are always a nuisance.

COUNT

How old are you really?

GIRL

Well, what would you guess?

COUNT

Twenty-four.

GIRL

Oh, of course!

COUNT

Older?

GIRL

I’m not yet twenty.

COUNT

And how long have you been…

GIRL

A year.

COUNT

You began early.

GIRL

Better too early, than too late.

COUNT

(_Sits down upon her bed_) Tell me, are you really happy?

GIRL

Am I, what?

COUNT

I mean, are things going well with you?

GIRL

Oh, things always go well with me.

COUNT

Yes… Well, did it never occur to you that you might become something else?

GIRL

What might I become?

COUNT

Well… You are a very pretty girl. You might take a lover, for example.

GIRL

Do you imagine I haven’t any?

COUNT

Yes, I know that—But I mean just one single one, who would take care of you, so that you wouldn’t have to go with everybody.

GIRL

I don’t go with everybody. Thank heaven, I don’t have to. I pick those I want.

COUNT

(_Looks around the room_)

GIRL

(_Noticing it_) We move downtown next month, to the Spiegelgasse.

COUNT

We? Who?

GIRL

Well, the Madam, and the couple of other girls who live here.

COUNT

There are others—

GIRL

Next door … don’t you hear?… that is Milly. She was in the café too.

COUNT

I hear some one snoring.

GIRL

That’s Milly. She will snore the whole day long until ten o’clock to-night. Then she gets up, and goes to the café.

COUNT

What an awful life!

GIRL

Of course it is. It annoys the Madam a lot. I’m always on the streets by noon.

COUNT

What do you do on the streets at noon?

GIRL

What do you suppose I do? I’m going on my beat then.

COUNT

Oh, yes … of course… (_Rises, takes out his wallet, and puts a banknote on the table_) Good-by!

GIRL

Going already… Good-by… Call again soon.

(_Turns on her side_)

COUNT

(_Stands still_) Tell me, is everything a matter of indifference to you already?

GIRL

What?

COUNT

I mean, don’t you get pleasure out of anything any more?

GIRL

(_Yawning_) I want to sleep.

COUNT

It’s all the same to you whether he is young or old or whether he…

GIRL

Why do you ask?

COUNT

… Well (_Suddenly hitting upon a thought_) ’pon my soul, now I know of whom you remind me, it’s…

GIRL

Do I look like some one?

COUNT

Unbelievable, unbelievable. Now please, don’t talk, at least not for a minute… (_Looking at her_) The very same features. (_He kisses her suddenly on the eyes_), the very image.

GIRL

Well…

COUNT

’Pon my soul, it’s too bad that you … aren’t something different… You could make your fortune!

GIRL

You talk just like Frank.

COUNT

Who is Frank?

GIRL

The waiter in our café.

COUNT

In what way am I just like Frank?

GIRL

He is also always telling me I might make my fortune, and wanting me to marry him.

COUNT

Why don’t you?

GIRL

No thank you… I don’t want to marry, no, not for any price… Later on, perhaps.

COUNT

The eyes … the very same eyes… Bobby would surely call me a fool.—But I must kiss your eyes once more … so … and now God bless you, now I must go.

GIRL

Good-by…

COUNT

(_At the door_) Tell me … aren’t you a bit surprised?…

GIRL

At what?

COUNT

That I don’t want anything of you.

GIRL

There are many men who aren’t in the mood in the morning.

COUNT

Of course… (_To himself_) Absurd, that I expect to be surprised… Well, good-by… (_He is near the door_) But really, I’m disappointed. I ought to know that women like her care only about money … what am I saying … it is beautiful, that at least she doesn’t pretend; should make one glad… (_Aloud_) Do you know, I shall come to see you again soon?

GIRL

(_With closed eyes_) All right.

COUNT

When are you at home?

GIRL

I’m always at home. You only have to ask for Leocadia.

COUNT

Leocadia… All right—Well, God bless you. (_At the door_) The wine is still in my head. But after all it is sublime… I am with a woman like her and haven’t done anything but kiss her eyes, because she reminded me of some one… (_Turns toward her_) Tell me, Leocadia, does it often happen that any one leaves you in this way?

GIRL

What way?

COUNT

As I do.

GIRL

In the morning?

COUNT

No … have you ever had any one with you,—who didn’t want anything of you?

GIRL

No, that has never happened to me.

COUNT

Well, what do you think then? Do you think I didn’t like you?

GIRL

Why shouldn’t you like me? You liked me well enough by night.

COUNT

I like you now, too.

GIRL

But you liked me better last night.

COUNT

What makes you think that?

GIRL

Why ask such foolish questions?

COUNT

Last night … well, tell me, didn’t I drop right down on the sofa?

GIRL

Certainly … with me.

COUNT

With you?

GIRL

Yes, don’t you remember?

COUNT

I did … both of us…

GIRL

But you fell asleep right away.

COUNT

Right away… So … that’s what happened?…

GIRL

Yes, sonny. But you must have been terribly drunk, that you don’t remember.

COUNT

So… And yet … there is a faint resemblance… Good-by… (_Listens_) … What is the matter?

GIRL

The servant is up. Give her a tip as you go out. The outside door is open, so you won’t have to give anything to the janitor.

COUNT

(_In the anteroom_) Well… It would have been beautiful, if I had kissed her only on the eyes. It would have been almost an adventure… But it wasn’t my destiny. (_The servant opens the door_) Ah—here… Good-night.—

SERVANT

Good morning!

COUNT

Of course … good morning … good morning.

FOOTNOTES

[1] The Luna Park of Vienna.

[2] A Parisian dancer, famous in the nineties.

[3] A monotonous, treeless region in the great plain of Hungary.

[4] A provincial town in Hungary about 60 miles south of Vienna.

End of Project Gutenberg's Hands Around [Reigen], by Arthur Schnitzler