Part 12
ALEXANDRA—[_Embarrassed; helplessly._] I want to know you. I want to hear all about you as quickly as possible. [_Almost in tears._] But I don’t know how to go about it.
AGI—Have you thought of to-morrow morning?
ALEXANDRA—I don’t want to think about that yet. The few moments we have together now ... mustn’t be spoiled ... for you or for me——
AGI—To-morrow they’ll sweep me out like rubbish.
ALEXANDRA—And what if I don’t let them, Hans?
AGI—Just the same, I shall go. Just the same.
ALEXANDRA—[_Notices CÆSAR._] What are you waiting for?
CÆSAR—For your orders, your highness.
ALEXANDRA—[_Comes toward him._] There is nothing. You may go.
CÆSAR—Yes, your highness. [_But he does not move._]
ALEXANDRA—You may go.
CÆSAR—Leave the room, your highness?
ALEXANDRA—At once, Cæsar.
CÆSAR—Your highness.
ALEXANDRA—Yes?
CÆSAR—It appears that I myself served Father Hyacinth the tea instead of soup. But then so many extraordinary things have happened to-night, it is no wonder——
ALEXANDRA—You may go, Cæsar.
CÆSAR—Yes, your highness. I am certain the world is coming to an end, your highness. [_He sobs and exits weeping at left. AGI goes to door through which CÆSAR made his exit, and remains standing there, looking at ALEXANDRA. There is a pause._]
AGI—[_After a glance into the ballroom._] The ballroom is empty. The guests are leaving. [_Speaks softly with passionate warmth._] And now we are quite alone, princess. Perhaps only for a few minutes ... and then all that was beautiful in my life ... will be gone.
ALEXANDRA—[_Trembling._] I have never before ... been alone with a man.
AGI—[_Comes toward her._] Are you afraid of me?
ALEXANDRA—I don’t know. But if it’s fear ... then I want always to be afraid.
AGI—The last time ... perhaps the last moment I shall see you. Do you love me?
ALEXANDRA—[_Almost stammering; like a child._] If it’s love ... then ... it’s just the same as ... when I was a little girl ... and the Emperor came. [_He regards her in astonishment._] Yes ... I had seen many portraits of the Emperor ... with a golden crown on his head ... in all his glitter and glory ... and then once, when he visited us, in civilian clothes—— [_Regretfully._] I didn’t recognize him.
AGI—My beautiful princess! [_Comes nearer to her._]
ALEXANDRA—[_Trembling._] Don’t come too near, Hans.
AGI—Are you so afraid of me? [_Takes her hand._]
ALEXANDRA—[_Draws back._] I don’t like ... you to touch me.... How cold your hand is!
AGI—No. It’s yours that’s hot. What are you thinking that makes your hand tremble in mine?
ALEXANDRA—Of something reckless, and——
AGI—And of what?
ALEXANDRA—And of my rank, Hans. [_There is a pause. ALEXANDRA glances toward the table._] Won’t you have something to eat?
AGI—No.
ALEXANDRA—Why won’t you eat?
AGI—I am not hungry. [_Turns to her ardently._] I’m thirsty.
ALEXANDRA—[_Trembling._] Will you drink something?
AGI—No. I am thirsty for you, for your mouth and your eyes ... and your voice....
ALEXANDRA—[_Terrified._] You mustn’t look at me like that!
AGI—[_Passionately._] When I look into your eyes ... deep into your eyes ... we seem to be mounting together on the crest of a flame——
ALEXANDRA—[_In alarm._] What do you mean?
AGI—Upward ... ever upward ... higher ... along the path....
ALEXANDRA—[_Alarmed, child-like._] What path are you talking about?
AGI—[_Coming nearer to her._] The path you pointed out to me.... Before, I lacked the courage to realize ... that I am the rival of a king. But now I know it. And now I know I have won. Before, I only stammered, but now, now I want to sing ... because I have triumphed, triumphed over every obstacle.... And now——
ALEXANDRA—[_Stares at him in terror._] And now?
AGI—I know that to-morrow my triumph will be over. [_Takes her hands._] But to-night, your highness, we shall see who is king, he or I!
ALEXANDRA—[_Faint with terror._] You frighten me!
AGI—My silence should have frightened you more.
ALEXANDRA—[_Terrified._] Now ... you want to take your revenge....
AGI—I love you.
ALEXANDRA—[_Looks terror-stricken into his eyes._] How you hate me now——
AGI—And I won’t have you pity me! Soon they will all come back. Another minute and I’ll be a servant again. A dismissed servant! Must it end like that? Can’t I even make you arrogant again? Can’t I make you insult me ... so that in my rage I may take you in my arms and carry you off ... out into the night ... among your roses ... and kiss that haughty mouth.... [_He is about to embrace her._]
ALEXANDRA—[_Terrified, but resisting him affectionately rather than resentfully._] Hans! Hans! [_There is a noise off left. They separate slowly._] [_There is a pause. CÆSAR enters at left, leaving the double doors open behind him._]
ALEXANDRA—[_Goes slowly towards him._] What do you want?
CÆSAR—His highness, the Crown Prince, is preparing to retire. He has received a telegram. His mother, the Royal Princess Maria Dominica, is coming to-morrow morning.
ALEXANDRA—His mother? Coming here?
CÆSAR—Yes, your highness! [_There is a long pause._]
CÆSAR—I take the liberty to report that his highness, the Crown Prince, will shortly pass through this room.
ALEXANDRA—[_Nervously._] Hyacinth isn’t back yet ... and we are here ... like this ... we two....
CÆSAR—If your highness should desire to go through the yellow room ... there is still time. [_He indicates the doors back left._]
ALEXANDRA—[_Proudly._] How dare you, Cæsar? Are you drunk?
CÆSAR—[_Tragically._] No, your highness, I beg pardon, I’m sure. I’ve only gone out of my mind.
ALEXANDRA—That will do, Cæsar. [_He bows and crosses to left. There is a pause. Through the door at left come two lackeys bearing lighted candelabra. Behind them come ALBERT, WUNDERLICH and LUETZEN. The procession passes slowly across the stage. When ALBERT comes abreast of the table he stops, smiling. The two lackeys with the candelabra reach the door at right, open it and take their places on either side. WUNDERLICH and LUETZEN pause on the threshold._]
ALBERT—[_Unaffectedly pleasant._] My dear Xara, how fortunate still to find you here and bid you good night. [_Extends his hand._] I was to have gone to-morrow. But now I am happy to tell you that my mother arrives in the morning. Or did you know it?
ALEXANDRA—They told me, Albert. I am very glad.
ALBERT—She is extremely fond of you.
ALEXANDRA—I am fond of her too, Albert, very.
ALBERT—Your mother has gone to bed. But she feels much better. She did a bit too much to-day. I warned her not to. But she is such a charming hostess, she wouldn’t heed my advice. [_HYACINTH enters at left, followed, a few moments later, by SYMPHOROSA. HYACINTH comes slowly into the room. SYMPHOROSA lingers in the doorway._]
ALEXANDRA—Mother is never happier than when she is making her guests comfortable.
ALBERT—But one shouldn’t overdo it. I have really reproached myself on her account. My mother will scold me for it too. But, happily, it’s nothing serious. Good night, Xara. [_Extends his hand to her. ALEXANDRA courtesies low._]
ALBERT—[_As if he had just noticed AGI._] Ah, the professor! Good night, Professor. Your discourse was very interesting ... particularly the manner of delivery.... Very original, yes ... a bit belligerent, but original. As her highness was taken ill so suddenly, I hadn’t the opportunity to offer my very humble comment. I would never have supposed that you could be such an insubordinate young fool.
ALEXANDRA—[_Uneasily, forcing a smile._] Albert, you are mistaken——
ALBERT—No, no, these astronomical impertinences are very interesting. [_To HYACINTH._] He sat down with us quite unassumingly and then with a flourish he lifted us up to the sky ... and he stayed up there ... and dropped me with a thud.... [_To AGI._] But you spoke with spirit. Very smart.... Always higher, higher——
ALEXANDRA—Pardon me, but your sarcastic criticism is unjust, Albert. He is not like us.
ALBERT—I noticed that.
ALEXANDRA—[_More and more excitedly._] He is a scientist; he is a free spirit.... He has the right to speak more freely than we....
ALBERT—You defend his bad manners just as graciously as you suffered them a while ago. You are a brave and clever girl—a perfect martyr. I have just learned from your mother that you ... [_sarcastically_] were the innocent target of certain unwelcome attentions ... and that you have endured them with such patience, such goodness....
ALEXANDRA—[_Very agitated; looks from ALBERT to AGI in fear that they will quarrel._] Mother is mistaken, Albert. And you judge him wrongly. You don’t understand him.
ALBERT—[_Ironically._] It is not easy to understand him.
ALEXANDRA—[_Excitedly._] You can’t possibly understand him. [_ALBERT laughs mockingly._] Don’t laugh at him, Albert. He is a scientist and a poet.... He is an astronomer.
ALBERT—An ill-bred little astronomer.
AGI—[_With a threatening movement._] Your highness!
ALEXANDRA—[_Trembling with excitement; passionately._] Albert, you are going too far. You must not say that.
ALBERT—But he is.
ALEXANDRA—I won’t have him insulted ... like this——
AGI—[_To ALBERT._] Your highness, I——
ALBERT—[_Quite composed._] You are an impertinent little upstart. [_With a little shriek of dismay ALEXANDRA throws herself in front of AGI. She is highly excited._] Don’t answer him, Hans. [_Looks at him._] I forbid it. [_Raises her voice._] Hans! [_For a moment she hesitates, looks at ALBERT, then throws herself on AGI, embraces him passionately, kisses him and rests a moment against his chest. On the thresholds of the four doors the people stand as follows: At left, SYMPHOROSA; at right, two lackeys with candles, and LUETZEN; back right, WUNDERLICH alone. At the moment of the kiss they all withdraw slowly. HYACINTH does not go. He only takes a few steps backwards. ALEXANDRA releases AGI, stands a moment stiff and staring, then leans half fainting against the edge of the table._]
ALBERT—[_Lightly, softly, ironically._] Oh! That’s different. Quite different. In that case ... I beg your pardon, Professor. [_Makes a military bow to ALEXANDRA and AGI._] Good night. [_He exits at right. There is a pause. SYMPHOROSA enters at left and leads the half swooning ALEXANDRA gently, tenderly off back left. When they both have gone, HYACINTH approaches AGI gravely, almost threateningly, stops in front of him and kisses him suddenly. Smiling graciously, HYACINTH hurries off at left. AGI stares after him._]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
ACT THREE
ACT THREE
_Early morning of the following day. A salon of the guest suite assigned to MARIA DOMINICA. Doors at right and left. At back, on the left, is the entrance from the hallway. When the curtain rises SYMPHOROSA is speaking to the CHAMBERMAID._
SYMPHOROSA—We do not know how soon her highness Maria Dominica may arrive. Her telegram said this morning, but there is no train in the morning, so she must be coming by motor. That means we may look for her at any moment.
CHAMBERMAID—Yes, your highness. [_BEATRICE enters at left._]
SYMPHOROSA—[_Hurries to her and embraces her._] Darling ... why are you up so early? It’s barely seven o’clock. There, there!... Do you feel better?
BEATRICE—[_Unhappily._] I haven’t slept. I never closed an eye, I was so restless.... Is the guest suite ready?
CHAMBERMAID—Everything is in perfect order.
BEATRICE—[_Tearfully._] The bath?
CHAMBERMAID—We have just lit the fire. The water will be warm in half an hour. [_At a nod from BEATRICE she exits at right._]
BEATRICE—Is she to have these three rooms?
SYMPHOROSA—Yes. This salon—— [_Points to the right_] and that one; the bedroom with the dressing room; and the bath. [_BEATRICE dries her eyes._]
SYMPHOROSA—Don’t cry, dear. The good Lord will help us.
BEATRICE—Only He _can_ help us now. When does Dominica arrive?
SYMPHOROSA—Can’t tell exactly. She is coming by motor.
BEATRICE—If she had only come yesterday—even yesterday evening——
SYMPHOROSA—[_Sighs._] Ah, yes....
BEATRICE—This beautiful summer day! And to think that it is the most tragic day of my life! Could you ever have believed that Maria Dominica would be on her way to ask my daughter’s hand in marriage with her son ... and I awaiting her in tears? [_Weeps._]
SYMPHOROSA—My dear! [_Embraces her._]
BEATRICE—How _is_ Albert?
SYMPHOROSA—He is asleep.
BEATRICE—Fortunate man! And Alexandra?
SYMPHOROSA—She came down at six, and went riding. Alone. I hear you talked with her last night.
BEATRICE—Yes. She came to my bedside at three o’clock. Oh, that I had been spared that interview!
SYMPHOROSA—Was she disrespectful?
BEATRICE—No, she was repentant. She told me everything—everything that happened.
SYMPHOROSA—The very last thing too?
BEATRICE—If only she hadn’t told me that!
SYMPHOROSA—What did you say to her?
BEATRICE—Not a word. I wasn’t able to. My whole body turned to ice.
SYMPHOROSA—What did she do?
BEATRICE—Kissed my hand and went out. I haven’t seen her since. [_A brief pause._] That man—is he still here?
SYMPHOROSA—He is here—but——
BEATRICE—[_Explosively._] He is here?
SYMPHOROSA—Yes, but——
BEATRICE—There is no _but_ which can justify his being here still.
SYMPHOROSA— ... But he is packing his trunk.
BEATRICE—[_To the CHAMBERMAID who has entered at right._] Well?
CHAMBERMAID—Your highness, a motor is entering the grounds. You can see it from the window. There are two ladies in it.
BEATRICE—Now my Calvary begins. Symphorosa—don’t leave me. Where is Hyacinth?
SYMPHOROSA—Gone out for a walk.
BEATRICE—I don’t want to see him. Last night I sent for him to give him a scolding.
SYMPHOROSA—Yes?
BEATRICE—And he scolded me instead. Let him keep out of my sight.
SYMPHOROSA—Why are you so angry with him?
BEATRICE—Because he was right.
CÆSAR—[_Enters at left._] Your highness, the motor has driven up.
BEATRICE—We’re coming, we’re coming. [_She exits quickly with SYMPHOROSA. CÆSAR exits at back. The door remains open. Off stage their voices are heard in an exchange of greetings. DOMINICA enters with BEATRICE and SYMPHOROSA. She wears a motoring coat. Behind her comes the COUNTESS, who helps her off with the coat, hat and veil and gives them to the CHAMBERMAID, who exits at right, taking the things with her._]
DOMINICA—[_Animatedly continuing the conversation begun outside._] ... simply by starting at four this morning, my dear. I’m not fond of travelling by day in the summertime. I can’t endure the heat. The car ran beautifully. Barely three hours. And the distance is over two hundred kilometers.
BEATRICE—Well, what time did you rise?
DOMINICA—At half-past two. While you were still dancing here. [_BEATRICE sighs._]
SYMPHOROSA—What an energetic woman you are, Dominica! How youthful!
DOMINICA—[_With spiritual fervor._] There is nothing I can’t be ... for my son. [_BEATRICE sighs._] That’s the second time you have sighed.
BEATRICE—I was thinking of my poor dear husband. How fond he was of you.
DOMINICA—I was fond of him too ... very.
BEATRICE—Symphorosa, will you go and see that everything is ready? We hadn’t expected you so early.
DOMINICA—I didn’t telegraph the hour of my arrival because you never can be sure when you are motoring. But I don’t mind waiting. [_Sits._] What a joy it is to sit down again without having a landscape rushing past you!
SYMPHOROSA—Excuse me, dear, while I see that everything has been made comfortable for you. [_She exits at right._]
BEATRICE—Will you have breakfast now?
DOMINICA—Later, thank you. We had some tea before we started. If you please, Countess, tell Luetzen he is not to awaken my son on my account, not before his accustomed hour. [_The COUNTESS exits at right._] I hear you were up late last night, dissipating with Albert. He likes that.
BEATRICE—Oh ... he is so gracious ... so easy to entertain....
DOMINICA—Don’t be modest. I daresay you contrived all sorts of schemes to amuse and entertain him.
BEATRICE—[_Bitterly._] We did our best, of course.
DOMINICA—And now, my dear, let us come to the point. I am a simple, practical woman, you know. They haven’t nicknamed me “the cook” in Vienna for nothing.
BEATRICE—Oh!
DOMINICA—Tut, tut! I know that’s what they call me, and I am proud of it. But, first of all, give me a nice kiss. [_They stand up and kiss._] That’s right! [_They sit._] And now to business. You realize why I am here.
BEATRICE—Oh, Dominica!
DOMINICA—In a word: My son wishes to marry your daughter. [_They rise again, kiss, and sit down. BEATRICE weeps._]
DOMINICA—Don’t cry, Beatrice. This is nothing to cry about.
BEATRICE—No, certainly not ... but I am so overwhelmed.
DOMINICA—Compose yourself, dear. Albert telegraphed me yesterday that he didn’t trust himself to speak to you about Alexandra without me. You know he never makes a step without me.
BEATRICE—A good, dutiful son.
DOMINICA—Yes, so he is. [_Majestically._] Happy the people who get such a king.... But there! He asked me to come at once so that he might tell her how enchanted he is with her. [_Both rise, embrace and kiss each other, then sit down._]
BEATRICE—Oh, my dear Dominica!
DOMINICA—I don’t wonder. She is such a perfect creature,—beautiful, good, clever and queenly. That is what I admire most about her—her proud, imperious ways.
BEATRICE—How nice of you to say so!
DOMINICA—Haven’t you noticed that in the past ten years our young women have become infected with a certain rather vulgar freedom of manner, imported from foreign countries? Not she. She is grave, majestic, aloof, perhaps a bit too aloof ... I mean a bit too cold toward her inferiors.
BEATRICE—Cold? Oh, I wouldn’t say that.
DOMINICA—That is precisely what I admire in her.
BEATRICE—She has altered of late. She is quite warm to her inferiors now.
DOMINICA—To think that the desire of my sainted husband is at last to be fulfilled! This marriage, you know, was his——
BEATRICE—His most cherished wish. [_Sighs._]
DOMINICA—I am very happy, Beatrice, that the obstacles which lay in the way of this marriage are vanished. Now Albert can follow the call of his heart. [_She sighs deeply._]
BEATRICE—Now it’s you who sighed.
DOMINICA—I don’t deny it, Beatrice. It is no great credit to our diplomats that my son must marry for love. It grieves me to think that the incompetence of our diplomats should compel my son to follow the call of his heart.
BEATRICE—Perhaps he’ll be happier for it.
DOMINICA—If we had had a Metternich, Albert might have been very unhappy, but then there would have been a real marriage. Don’t be angry at my candor.... One’s Family, you know!... We are not what we are—to strive for _personal_ happiness.
BEATRICE—Alas, no.
DOMINICA—If you knew what Albert has gone through. First that Russian girl, Olga Constantinovna....
BEATRICE—Oh, I know. And then the English girl, Patricia.
DOMINICA—You know that, too?
BEATRICE—I have followed his political career with the utmost interest. And then, in Dresden, came Leopoldine Charlotte ... the fat one.
DOMINICA—How well you know everything! From there he went to Portugal.
BEATRICE—In the middle of July ... Silvina Gonzaga, that odious infanta.
DOMINICA—Odious? That doesn’t describe her. Perhaps there is a word for it in Portuguese. In any case “odious” is quite inadequate. And then came that amazing affair with Marie Hermine in Brussels.
BEATRICE—She is fully two heads taller than Albert.
DOMINICA—Yes. But we never knew it because she had always sent us bust portraits.
BEATRICE—Yes, I know.
DOMINICA—How perfectly charming of you to _know_ everything!
BEATRICE—Oh, well, you see, I have regarded Albert as one of the family ever since he was a child. [_HYACINTH enters at back._]
HYACINTH—Welcome, Dominica. [_Embraces her._]
DOMINICA—Karl!
HYACINTH—[_Crosses to BEATRICE, kisses her on the forehead._] Good morning, Beatrice. You are looking splendid, Dominica.
DOMINICA—You, of all people! Are you here for a holiday?
HYACINTH—Only for a few days. But perhaps I am interrupting your——
DOMINICA—Not at all. Well, here I am, and you know why I am here.
HYACINTH—And I am delighted. [_Takes her hand; kisses it._]
DOMINICA—We were just talking of how my poor son had been tossed about by the exigencies of politics before he arrived at last in the calm, happy harbor of your dear family. Olga Constantinovna——
HYACINTH—Of the blue eyes. A magnificent girl.
DOMINICA—Do you know her?
HYACINTH—I danced with her mother in Munich.
DOMINICA—Odd to hear you say that.
HYACINTH—Oh, in those days——
DOMINICA—She really was a beautiful girl. But politics, you know. And when King Edward left Marienbad that ended all hope of an alliance with England. Whereupon the English princess began studying the Bulgarian language. With an eye to the Bulgarian crown prince.
HYACINTH—What did Albert do?
DOMINICA—We sent him on a trip into Africa to heal his broken heart.
BEATRICE—And Patricia learned to speak Bulgarian.
DOMINICA—Fluently. But nothing came of that either. She was married in Sweden to Prince Olaf. Now, with all her Bulgarian erudition, she lives among the Swedes. I hear that the Bulgarian minister to Stockholm is delirious with joy because she always speaks Bulgarian with him. And out of that, between Sweden and Bulgaria ... came an enormous trade in pig iron. To this day the good Bulgarians do not dream to what they owe all that iron.
BEATRICE—And don’t you know why nothing came of the Bulgarian marriage?
DOMINICA—I understand that the Serbs thwarted Delcassé’s schemes.
BEATRICE—That is the official explanation. The real reason is more interesting. Patricia’s family sent Arthur and the Bulgarian court sent Philip for a final conference. As you know, Arthur can’t hear a thing with his left ear, and Philip is totally deaf in his right ear. At the court dinner, where the conference was to take place, they were seated side by side, in the order that rank and etiquette demanded, so that each had his deaf ear turned to the other. But neither of them realized it. In the beginning each spoke a few words, but receiving no answer, became offended and said no more. Both of them went home in a rage and that is how Patricia came to be a Swedish princess, and why there is so much pig iron in Bulgaria to-day.
HYACINTH—I never heard that story before. And so, Dominica, you are taking our little girl away from us.
DOMINICA—Yes, Karl. Is she still asleep?
BEATRICE—No. She went riding early this morning.
DOMINICA—When can I see her?
BEATRICE—[_In a panic._] When can you see her?... Ah-h-h ... God! [_She is greatly distressed; presses her hand to her forehead._] My head.... Oh! [_Sways weakly._]
HYACINTH—[_Forcibly._] My dear, I beg of you, I sincerely urge you not to be ill; I forbid you to be ill.
DOMINICA—What’s the matter with you, dear?
BEATRICE—It started last night ... at supper ... a sudden weak spell....
HYACINTH—It was very inconsiderate of you.
BEATRICE—But Karl——
DOMINICA—If you really don’t feel well——
HYACINTH—What if she _doesn’t_ feel well? I don’t feel so well myself just now. I forbid you to faint.... Sit down. [_With an expression of dread, BEATRICE sits._]
DOMINICA—[_Goes to her in alarm._] But what is the matter?
HYACINTH—[_Restraining her._] I shall tell you, Dominica.
BEATRICE—[_Terrified; quavering._] Karl! Karl!
HYACINTH—Peace! Let me speak now. Dominica, you are regarded—and not without reason—as the cleverest woman in Europe.
DOMINICA—But Karl!
HYACINTH—Now don’t be modest. You’ll be needing all your cleverness in a moment. For we have a bit of a difficulty here. I don’t consider it so, but Beatrice, apprehensive as usual, does.... Something has happened, Dominica.
DOMINICA—Jesus and Mary! Not to Alexandra?
HYACINTH—There! Didn’t I say she was the cleverest woman in——
DOMINICA—Something has happened ... to Alexandra?
HYACINTH—No, but almost.
BEATRICE—[_Terrified._] Karl!
DOMINICA—Good heavens!
HYACINTH—I implore you, don’t you faint too.
DOMINICA—Karl! You terrify me.
HYACINTH—On the contrary. I am reassuring you.
DOMINICA—What happened, in heaven’s name?
HYACINTH—Simply this—that since Albert came here he has conducted himself like a fish.
DOMINICA—Like a fish? [_DOMINICA is sitting at left, BEATRICE at right and HYACINTH stands between them._]
BEATRICE—How can you say such a thing?
HYACINTH—It is true. He was cold and mute.
DOMINICA—Poor Albert! That was on my account. He wanted me to be here before he——
HYACINTH—No one in the world could have suspected that. Least of all Alexandra, who was quite attracted by him and who was deeply wounded by his indifference.
DOMINICA—Did he make it as conspicuous as that?