ACT II

_A huge room with whitewashed walls and a ceiling of darkened beams. The windows are small and deeply set, with bars on the outside. The room is crowded with furniture of every kind: wardrobes, chiffoniers, dressers, chests, tables. On the furniture are placed silver services, candelabra, candlesticks, pitchers, table ware, vases, statues, etc.

There is a door in the rear. Portraits of the_ JUDGE _and the_ OLD LADY _hang on the rear wall, one on either side of the door.

A harp stands beside a small sewing-table with an easy chair near it_.

AMELIA _is standing before a table at the right, trying to clean a coffee-set of silver_.

_The sun is shining in through the windows in the background_.

NEIGHBOUR. [_Enters_] Well, child, how is your patience?

AMELIA. Thank you, neighbour, it might be worse. But I never had a worse job than this silver service here. I have worked at it for half an hour and cannot get it clean.

NEIGHBOUR. That's strange, but I suppose there are reasons for it, as the Judge says. Could you sleep last night?

AMELIA. Thank you, I slept very well. But do you know that father spent the whole night in the vineyard with his rattle----?

NEIGHBOUR. Yes, I heard him. What kind of foolish idea was that?

AMELIA. He thought he heard the starlings that had come to eat the grapes.

NEIGHBOUR. Poor fellow! As if the starlings were abroad nights!--And the children?

AMELIA. Well, the children--she is still keeping them in the cellar, and I hope she won't forget to give them something to eat.

NEIGHBOUR. He who feeds the birds will not forget your children, my dear Amelia. And now I'll tell you something which, as a rule, shouldn't be told. There is a small hole in the wall between the Judge's wine-cellar and my own. When I was down there this morning to get the place aired out, I heard voices. And when I looked through the hole, I saw Eric and Thyra playing with a strange little boy.

AMELIA. You could see them, neighbour? And----

NEIGHBOUR. They were happy and well----

AMELIA. Who was their playmate?

NEIGHBOUR. That's more than I can guess.

AMELIA. This whole dreadful house is nothing but secrets.

NEIGHBOUR. That is true, but it is not for us to inquire into them.

JUDGE. [_Enters, carrying a rattle_] So you are in here conspiring, neighbour! Is it not enough that your evil eye has brought the starlings into my vineyard? For you do have the evil eye--but we'll soon put it out. I know a trick or two myself.

NEIGHBOUR. [_To_ AMELIA] Is it worth while to set him right? One who doesn't believe what is told him! [_He goes out_.

AMELIA. No, this is beyond us!

JUDGE. Tell me, Amelia, have you noticed where your mother is looking for things when she believes herself to be alone?

AMELIA. No, father.

JUDGE. I can see by your eyes that you know. You were looking this way. [_He goes up to a chest of drawers and happens to get into the sunlight_] Damn the sun that is always burning me! [_He pulls down one of the shades and returns to the chest of drawers_] This must be the place!--Now, let me see! The stupidest spot is also the cleverest, so that's where I must look--as in this box of perfume, for instance--And right I was! [_He pulls out a number of bank-notes and stocks_] What's this? Twelve English bills of a pound each. Twelve of them!--Oho! Then it is easy to imagine the rest. [_Pushes the bills and securities into his pockets_] But what is it I hear? There are the starlings again! [_He goes to an open window and begins to play the rattle_] Get away there!

OLD LADY. [_Enters_] Are you still playing the ghost?

JUDGE. Are you not in the kitchen?

OLD LADY. No, as you see, I am not. [_To_ AMELIA] Are you not done with the cleaning yet?

AMELIA. No, mother, I'll never get done with it. The silver won't clean, and I don't think it is real.

OLD LADY. Not real? Let me see!--Why, indeed, it's quite black! [_To the_ JUDGE, _who in the meantime has pulled down another shade_] Where did you get this set from?

JUDGE. That one? Why, it came from an estate.

OLD LADY. For your services as executor! What you got was like what you gave!

JUDGE. You had better not make any defamatory remarks, for they are punishable under the law.

OLD LADY. Are you crazy, or was there anything crazy about my remark?

JUDGE. And for that matter, it is silver--sterling silver.

OLD LADY. Then it must be Amelia's fault.

A VOICE. [_Coming through the window from the outside_] The Judge can turn white into black, but he can't turn black into white!

JUDGE. Who said that?

OLD LADY. It seemed as if one of the starlings had been speaking.

JUDGE. [_Pulling down the remaining shade_] Now the sun is here, and a while ago it seemed to be over there.

OLD LADY. [_To_ AMELIA] Who was it that spoke?

AMELIA. I think it was that strange school-teacher with the red muffler.

JUDGE. Ugh! Let us talk of something else.

SERVANT GIRL. [_Enters_] Dinner is served.

[_She goes out; a pause follows_.

OLD LADY. You go down and eat, Amelia.

AMELIA. Thank you, mother. [_She goes out_.

_The_ JUDGE _sits down on a chair close to one of the chests_.

OLD LADY. [_Sliding up to the chest of drawers >where the box of perfume stands_] Are you not going to eat anything?

JUDGE. No, I am not hungry. How about you?

OLD LADY. I have just eaten. [_Pause_.

JUDGE. [_Takes a piece of bread from his pocket_] Then you'll excuse me, I'm sure.

OLD LADY. There's a roast of venison on the table.

JUDGE. You don't say so!

OLD LADY. Do you think I poison the food?

JUDGE. Yes, it tasted of carbolic acid this morning.

OLD LADY. And what I ate had a sort of metallic taste----

JUDGE. If I assure you that I have put nothing whatever in your food----

OLD LADY. Then I don't believe you. But I can assure you----

JUDGE. And I won't believe it. [_Eating his bread_] Roast of venison is a good thing--I can smell it from here--but bread isn't bad either. [_Pause_.

OLD LADY. Why are you sitting there watching that chest?

JUDGE. For the same reason that makes you guard those perfumes.

OLD LADY. So you have been there, you sneak-thief!

JUDGE. Ghoul!

OLD LADY. To think of it--such words between us! _Us_!

[_She begins to weep_.

JUDGE. Yes, the world is evil and so is man.

OLD LADY. Yes, you may well say so--and ungrateful above all. Ungrateful children rob you of the rent; ungrateful grandchildren rob the fruit from the trees. You are right, indeed: the world is evil----

JUDGE. I ought to know, I who have had to witness all the rottenness, and who have been forced to pass the death sentence. That is why the mob hates me, just as if I had made the laws----

OLD LADY. It doesn't matter what the people say, if you have only a clean conscience--[_Three loud knocks are heard from the inside of the biggest wardrobe_] What was that? Who is there?

JUDGE. Oh, it was that wardrobe. It always cracks when there is rain coming. [_Three distinct knocks are heard again_.

OLD LADY. It's some kind of performance started by that strolling charlatan.

_The cover of the coffee-pot which_ AMELIA _was cleaning, opens and drops down again with a bang; this happens several times in succession_.

JUDGE. What was _that_, then?

OLD LADY. Oh, yes, it's that same juggler. He can play tricks, but he can't scare me. [_The coffee-pot acts as before._

JUDGE. Do you think he is one of those mesmerists?

OLD LADY. Well, whatever it happens to be called----

JUDGE. If that's so, how can he know our private secrets?

OLD LADY. Secrets? What do you mean by that?

_A clock begins to strike and keeps it up as if it never meant to stop_.

JUDGE. Now I am getting scared.

OLD LADY. Then Old Nick himself may take me if I stay here another minute! [_The spot of sunlight appears suddenly on the portrait of the_ OLD LADY] Look! He knows that secret, too!

JUDGE. You mean that there is a portrait of _her_ behind yours?

OLD LADY. Come away from here and let us go down and eat. And let us see whether we can't sell off the house and all the rest at auction----

JUDGE. You are right--sell off the whole caboodle and start a new life!--And now let us go down and eat.

THE OTHER ONE _appears in the doorway_.

_The_ JUDGE _and the_ OLD LADY _draw back from him_.

JUDGE. That's an ordinary human being!

OLD LADY. Speak to him!

JUDGE. [_To_ THE OTHER ONE] Who are you, sir?

THE OTHER ONE. I have told you twice. That you don't believe me is a part of your punishment, for if you could believe, your sufferings would be shortened by it.

JUDGE. [_To his wife_] It's--_him_--sure enough! For I feel as if I were turning into ice. How are we to get rid of him?--Why, they say that the unclean spirits cannot bear the sound of music. Play something on the harp, Caroline.

_Though badly frightened, the_ OLD LADY _sits down at the table on which the harp stands and begins to play a slow prelude in a minor key_.

THE OTHER ONE _listens reverently and with evident emotion_.

OLD LADY. [_To the_ JUDGE] Is he gone?

THE OTHER ONE. I thank you for the music, madam. It lulls the pain and awakens memories of better things even in a lost soul--Thank you, madam!--Speaking of the auction, I think you are doing right, although, in my opinion, an honest declaration of bankruptcy would be still better--Yes, surrender your goods, and let every one get back his own.

JUDGE. Bankruptcy? I have no debts----

THE OTHER ONE. No debts!

OLD LADY. My husband _has_ no debts!

THE OTHER ONE. No debts! That would be happiness, indeed!

JUDGE. Well, that's the truth! But other people are in debt to me----

THE OTHER ONE. Forgive them then!

JUDGE. This is not a question of pardon, but of payment----

THE OTHER ONE. All right! Then you'll be made to pay!--For the moment--farewell! But we'll meet frequently, and the last time at the great auction! [_He goes out backward_.

JUDGE. He's afraid of the sun--he, too! Ha-ha!

THE OTHER ONE. Yes, for some time yet. But once I have accustomed myself to the light, I shall hate darkness.

[_He disappears_.

OLD LADY. [_To the_ JUDGE] Do you really think he is--the Other One?

JUDGE. Of course, that's not the way he is supposed to look but then times are changing and we with them. They used to say that he had gold and fame to give away, but this fellow goes around dunning----

OLD LADY. Oh, he's a sorry lot, and a charlatan--that's all! A milksop who doesn't dare to bite, no matter how much he would like to!

THE OTHER ONE. [_Standing in the doorway again_] Take care, I tell you! Take care!

JUDGE. [_Raising his right hand_] Take care yourself!

THE OTHER ONE. [_Pointing at the_ JUDGE _with one hand as if it were a revolver_] Shame!

JUDGE. [_Unable to move_] Woe is me!

THE OTHER ONE. You have never believed in anything good. Now you shall have to believe in the Evil One. He who is _all goodness_ can harm nobody, you see, and so he leaves that to such villains as myself. But for the sake of greater effectiveness, you two must torture yourselves and each other.

OLD LADY. [_Kneeling before_ THE OTHER ONE] Spare us! Help us! Mercy!

THE OTHER ONE. [_With a gesture as if he were tearing his clothes_] Get up, woman! Woe is me! There is One, and One only, to whom you may pray! Get up now, or--Yes, now you believe, although I don't wear a red cloak, and don't carry sword or purse, and don't crack any jokes--but beware of taking me in jest! I am serious as sin and stern as retribution! I have not come to tempt you with gold and fame, but to chastise you with rods and scorpions--[_The clock begins to strike again; the stage turns dark_] Your time is nearly up. Therefore, put your house in order--because die you must! [_A noise as of thunder is heard_] Whose voice is speaking now? Do you think _he_ can be scared off with your rattle when he comes sweeping across your vineyard? Storm and Hail are his names; destruction nestles under his wings, and in his claws he carries punishment. Put on your caul now, and don your good conscience.

[_The rattling of the hail-storm is heard outside_.

JUDGE. Mercy!

THE OTHER ONE. Yes, if you promise repentance.

JUDGE. I promise on my oath----

THE OTHER ONE. You can take no oath, for you have already perjured yourself. But promise first of all to set the children free--and then all the rest!

JUDGE. I promise! Before the sun has set, the children shall be here!

THE OTHER ONE. That's the first step ahead, but if you turn back, then you'll see that I am as good as my name, which is--Legion!

_He raises the rattan, and at that moment the_ JUDGE _comes able to move again_.

_Curtain_.