Part 2

OSCAR—[_Rushes in through the archway, speaks rapidly, officiously._] Your excellency, good evening! We are in luck, your excellency. The caps are finished; he was going to send them to-morrow, but he can send them at once if your excellency prefers——

COUNT—[_Stares at him in astonishment; turns to JUHASZ._] What does he say?

JUHASZ—The caps are ready. If your excellency will tell us where to send them——

COUNT—[_Staring at OSCAR._]—Eh? Yes ... wait a moment. [_PAULA appears in the archway; he smiles at her._] Yes.

PAULA—Pardon me for interrupting.

OSCAR—[_Officiously._] Why don’t you come in when his excellency speaks to you?

PAULA—[_Comes nearer._] I only wanted to say the cap-maker telephoned again. I told him to send the caps. His man will be here with them in ten minutes.

COUNT—That was clever of you. Thanks very much.

PAULA—Not at all, your excellency. [_She exits through the archway._]

COUNT—[_His glance has followed her until she vanished._] Well, then ... there was something I wanted to say.

JUHASZ—Where you want the cap sent.

COUNT—Yes. Hm! Nowhere. I’m going to the casino ... my motor will pick me up there.... You keep the cap for me here. I’ll stop for it later.

OSCAR—[_Briskly._] Just as you say, sir. I’ll have it packed up for you at once. Excuse me, excellency. [_Hurries off through the archway._]

COUNT—[_Stares after him in amazement; does not speak until he is gone._] What an extraordinary fellow!

JUHASZ—[_With an apologetic smile._] He is always in a hurry.

COUNT—[_Comes affectionately close to JUHASZ._] Business bad, eh? [_JUHASZ looks quickly at ADELE._] Yes, she told me.

ADELE—I didn’t think we had any secrets from his——

JUHASZ—From his excellency? No. But I don’t like to have you complain——

COUNT—She didn’t complain. She only answered my questions.

JUHASZ—Well, there are a few difficulties, but ... we’ll overcome them somehow. We shan’t go into bankruptcy.

COUNT—I should hope not.

JUHASZ—We’ve worked faithfully ... but one can’t expect the sun to shine all the time. There must be cloudy days, too. But they pass.

COUNT—[_Affectionately._] I should be offended if my friend Juhasz were in trouble and didn’t tell me. Well? You must tell me.

JUHASZ—No real trouble, your excellency. I have my health and a good little wife [_takes her hand_] who loves me.

COUNT—[_To ADELE, approvingly._] That’s right. Bravo!

JUHASZ—And friends ... my smart and loyal Oscar. He is the heart and soul of the business.

COUNT—He seems a bit ... sudden.

JUHASZ—And then there is Paula. She is the policeman of the business. Now, how can I possibly go wrong?

COUNT—Well, my dear Juhasz, I must be off. [_As he shakes hands._] I can only tell you again what I told you once before, when you were in difficulties.... For fifteen years you sat at a desk in my castle at Gerelypuszta. I never had as good a man in my service before or since. It is true you wasted a lot of your time cultivating flowers, and at best you were never very energetic....

JUHASZ—That is something one learns.

COUNT—Never, but that doesn’t matter. It is character that counts with me. That desk has been vacant three years now. I want you to know that, whatever happens, that place is open to you as long as Gerelypuszta belongs to me or my family.

JUHASZ—Oh, your excellency!

COUNT—If I only had someone half as honest as you right now! We are beginning to export cheese on a large scale. Mostly to England.

JUHASZ—Puszta cheese?

COUNT—Yes ... it has been a great success. London is mad about that cheese. And so am I. I took first prize with it in London and in Edinburgh, too. You have no idea how proud that made me.

JUHASZ—I remember your first experiment with that cheese.

COUNT—But you’d never know it now. [_With enthusiasm._] I succeeded in crossing two breeds: Camembert, that over-ripe beauty, with Roquefort, that sharp, sardonic old gentleman. And the child of that marriage I nurtured and reared with my own hands. So naturally I am proud of the career it is making for itself.... Well, I must be going. Remember, let nothing worry you. If everything else fails you: Gerelypuszta, Desk, Cheese! Good night!

ADELE—Good night, your excellency.

JUHASZ—[_Opens the door._] See you later, excellency. [_The COUNT exits. He closes the door._] You shouldn’t have complained to him, dear.

ADELE—I didn’t. He asked me.

JUHASZ—I don’t want to be put in a false position. He has done more for me already than my own father could have done.

ADELE—[_Hesitantly._] Well, now, Peter ... if you have a moment....

JUHASZ—Certainly, my angel. I’m really curious to know what it is that’s agitating this [_takes her head in his hands_] precious little head. [_Looks into her eyes._] See here! There are tears in your eyes! It isn’t anything serious?

ADELE—Yes, Peter, it is serious ... very serious.

JUHASZ—Well?

ADELE—[_Pulls a stool over for him._] Sit down here, Peter.

JUHASZ—Serious as that? [_He sits._]

ADELE—There are two separate things I must talk to you about. And one is harder than the other.

JUHASZ—Let us have the hardest first.

ADELE—If you weren’t such a good man, it wouldn’t be half as difficult to tell you—— [_She dries her eyes._]

JUHASZ—There, there, my dear! I am sure you have done nothing you need to cry about.

ADELE—It’s on your account I’m crying.

JUHASZ—On my account?

ADELE—Peter ... [_Dries her eyes; collects herself._] Those different sums of money ... you gave me ... I made you give me ... these past three years ... because you are so foolish about money ... and can’t refuse anyone who asks you.... I told you I was putting the money in a savings bank.... Well, so I did.... You know it amounts to fifty-one thousand kronen.

JUHASZ—I know.

ADELE—I just found out from Oscar that there had been a meeting of your creditors, and that the lawyer came to see you.... You didn’t tell me.

JUHASZ—No, dear.

ADELE—You didn’t tell me because you were afraid I’d be worried. I know.... You offered the creditors this fifty-one thousand kronen on account of their claims if they would refrain from forcing you into bankruptcy ... and they accepted because they like you and trust you [_bursts into tears_] and know you are the best and most honest man in the world.

JUHASZ—I asked Oscar not to say anything to you about it.

ADELE—He was right to tell me. And now, Peter, it is terrible to have to say it straight to your face....

JUHASZ—You spent some of the money. No matter, my child. Don’t let it worry you.

ADELE—Oh, my God ... my God....

JUHASZ—All the money isn’t worth this agitation. Tell me how much is gone. I’ll raise it somehow.

ADELE—A great deal is gone.

JUHASZ—How much? Whatever you spent, I’m sure you did it for the best.

ADELE—Peter ... forgive me ... it is all gone.

JUHASZ—All?

ADELE—All. There isn’t a heller left.... Peter ... [_Weeping._] Kill me. I have ruined you. [_A brief pause._]

JUHASZ—My dear ... really ... it doesn’t matter.... I thought God knows what had happened ... but if that’s all....

ADELE—Don’t try to make light of it, Peter. I know perfectly well that what the lawyer told you was the creditors’ very last offer. But when I found that out, it was too late. The money was gone.

JUHASZ—Now you mustn’t cry. It’s childish to take the thing so much to heart. Everything will be all right. The lawyer’s heart isn’t made of stone.

ADELE—[_Weeping._] All lawyers’ hearts are made of stone.

JUHASZ—We’ll have a nice little talk with him. My money is your money, isn’t it? It’s all my fault, anyway. Why didn’t I save the money myself?... You had a perfect right to spend it. Kiss me, and tell what else is troubling you.

ADELE—[_Kisses him._] You are so good!

JUHASZ—Well now, out with the other calamity.

ADELE—That is much harder.

JUHASZ—No matter, my dear. It won’t be as bad as you suppose.

ADELE—You know that I have always been a faithful wife to you.... We have no children ... and ours wasn’t exactly a love marriage ... but all my affections were yours. [_JUHASZ takes her hand._] In the whole three years I never looked at or thought of another man ... and that is precisely why it’s so hard for me now.... If I weren’t a respectable woman, it would be easy ... but I simply can’t deceive a man like you.... I can’t.... [_A brief pause._]

JUHASZ—You love ... someone else. [_She only nods. He utters the word for her softly, thoughtfully._] Yes. [_There is a pause._]

ADELE—I respect you too much to let you go on believing for a single moment.... [_Another pause._]

JUHASZ—You don’t love me any more.

ADELE—I do care for you, but....

JUHASZ—But you love someone else.

ADELE—I love _you_ like a brother ... you know yourself I never loved your body ... only your soul.... It was always a struggle for me ... but now that I love another ... I must tell you.

JUHASZ—This comes ... so suddenly.... I—I—— [_ADELE sobs._] You poor, dear child.... It’s only a sort of illness.... It will pass.... Every wife goes through such a crisis ... some time or another.... And I’ll help you through it.... I’ll be as gentle and tactful as I can.... And before you know it, you’ll have forgotten all about it ... and come to your senses ... and be the same happy, contented Adele you used to be.... My good, loyal Adele, I don’t know how another man would act in my place ... but this is how I feel.... But there! Are you crying again?

ADELE—It’s unbearable how good you are!

JUHASZ—Shouldn’t I have said that?

ADELE—Peter ... this isn’t just a passing fancy, as you suppose. I not only love this man....

JUHASZ—What else?

ADELE—I want to belong to him. [_A pause._]

JUHASZ—That is ... more serious. [_Takes an aimless pace or two, sits down, puts his head in his hands._] When you said that ... I felt so ... lonely ... all of a sudden.

[_A delivery boy enters at the door. He carries three big packages and a rocking-horse._]

DELIVERY BOY—Mr. Peter Juhasz?

JUHASZ—[_Goes to him._] Yes, yes. From the toy store?... All right, my son, just put them down. [_Gives the boy a tip; calls._] Adolf!

DELIVERY BOY—Thank you, sir. Good night. [_The boy exits at the door. ADOLF enters through the archway._]

JUHASZ—For your little boy’s birthday to-morrow. A horse, a steamship and an automobile. And this is for your little girl, so that she won’t feel slighted.

ADOLF—[_Tries to kiss his hand._] Oh, thank you ... thank you, sir!

JUHASZ—Yes, yes. Take them away.... Or, wait! Leave the steamship here a moment. I’ll have to show you how it works.... The automobile is quite simple, but the ship has a rather complicated mechanism.... I’ll explain it to you before I go home. [_ADOLF puts the steamship under the down-stage end of the counter at right, then exits through the archway with the remaining packages. JUHASZ turns to ADELE._] Forgive me.... My god-son, you know.

ADELE—[_Who has been weeping silently._] Peter, if you only knew how sorry I am.

JUHASZ—I’m afraid I made it harder for you ... but I have a headache ... and everything came at once.... I’m sorry ... but you _were_ a bit cruel.

ADELE—Kill me, Peter.

JUHASZ—But you were honest with me ... you couldn’t be anything else. And yet I think it would have been less painful to me ... if you had simply betrayed me.

ADELE—I can’t betray you, Peter. I respect you too much. [_Weeping._] Don’t ask me to do that.

JUHASZ—You want to become another man’s wife. How can I prevent you? Go, if you must. He is surely a better man than——

ADELE—No, no!

JUHASZ—But you are leaving me for him.

ADELE—You are a much better man ... and yet ... I can’t explain——

JUHASZ—Younger, better looking....

ADELE—Do you know who it is?

JUHASZ—I don’t want to know.

ADELE—I don’t want to hurt you again ... but you must soon find out.

JUHASZ—Soon find out? [_A brief pause._]

ADELE—Oscar.

JUHASZ—Oscar ... our Oscar?

ADELE—Yes. [_A pause._]

JUHASZ—So that ... so that....

ADELE—[_Ardently._] I love him, Peter, and he adores me. And we are leaving the city.... You will never hear of us again.

JUHASZ—Oscar....

ADELE—All the time we’ve been here together, like one big family, we could have done things behind your back. But a man like you.... We couldn’t bring ourselves to deceive you. Oscar couldn’t either. He loves you like a brother.

JUHASZ—I know ... you are both devoted to me.

ADELE—We are going to Berlin. There a new life awaits us ... but that’s something you can’t understand, because there is no spirit of adventure in you.... To escape from this cage ... out into the wide world ... to try our luck ... and find wealth, perhaps ... and power.... Let me call him in!

JUHASZ—If you like.

ADELE—He is so fond of you. [_Runs to the archway._] Oscar! [_Comes down stage again._] It grieves him so.... [_OSCAR enters through the archway, slowly, sadly. Up stage, between the two counters, he pauses._]

OSCAR—Does he know everything?

ADELE—Yes.

OSCAR—Peter, this moment had to come.

JUHASZ—Never mind that, my son.

OSCAR—[_Begins rhetorically._] From first to last our conduct has been irreproachable——

JUHASZ—It’s my own conduct I’m thinking about, not yours.

OSCAR—I see you intend to act nobly.

JUHASZ—Nobly?

OSCAR—Or else you would kill both of us.

JUHASZ—Please! I don’t want to stand in your way. I don’t know how another man would act in my place, but——

OSCAR _and_ ADELE—[_Simultaneously._] The same! Just the same!

JUHASZ—But it’s the way I feel.

OSCAR—You are the best ... the best ... the best.... [_Suddenly kisses his hand._]

JUHASZ—Have you gone mad?

OSCAR—Pardon me. Before we part forever there is one promise I want to make you on my sacred word of honor. I’ll send you back that money the very first day I get it. Not a day later.

ADELE—[_Quickly; embarrassed._] I couldn’t tell you before.... I had hoped you’d understand. I didn’t spend the fifty-one thousand kronen myself.... I gave them to Oscar.

OSCAR—[_Quickly._] That is, not for me, but for a little enterprise in Berlin in which I have bought an interest. A little shop of which I—that is, we—are to be one-fourth owners. Steger and Company! Steger—that’s Steger. And the Company—that’s me.... At first I thought of putting up my own name instead of Company, but as long as Adele got the money I decided it would be only fair to say Company, and that includes her too....

JUHASZ—She gave the money to you?

OSCAR—I didn’t want it for myself. My God, I can live on bread and water. But I couldn’t ask Adele to share the uncertain existence of a shop clerk.... That would have been, if I may say so, unscrupulous of me. I had to provide for her future.

JUHASZ—If she gave you the money, it’s yours.

OSCAR—I considered that I owed it to _you_ to provide for her future decently. You would have every right to despise me if I hadn’t.

JUHASZ—I must admit ... you managed things cleverly.

OSCAR—[_In an injured tone._] What do you mean by that? I did everything honestly and above board. [_Takes ADELE’S hand._] Our relations couldn’t have been purer if we were two children.

JUHASZ—[_A bit sharply._] Please! I forbid you to discuss that. She is still my wife. There is no question about her purity here.

OSCAR—[_Aggressively._] I might have known you would take that tone. [_PHILIP appears in the archway._]

PHILIP—You are wanted on the telephone, Mr. Juhasz.

JUHASZ—Coming. [_He exits through the archway; PHILIP lets him pass, looks frigidly at ADELE and OSCAR, then exits too._]

ADELE—[_Suddenly._] What did you shout at him for?

OSCAR—I know what I’m doing. Just you cry ... and let me shout. Now hurry and get ready. He’s taken it much too hard to suit me. Where’s your hat?

ADELE—But I’ve got to say good-bye to——

OSCAR—Get your hat when I tell you to! I know what I’m talking about. Have some consideration for my weak heart, and don’t get me excited. [_JUHASZ re-enters._]

JUHASZ—[_Sees the hat in ADELE’S hand._] It was your sister. She wanted to know whether we could come to supper to-night. I told her ... that ... I didn’t know.

OSCAR—Adele is going to her mother’s.

JUHASZ—Right now?

OSCAR—Right now. [_There is a pause._]

JUHASZ—Then ... it’s to-night ... you’re leaving?

OSCAR—We have decided ... as long as everything is settled ... that Adele hadn’t better go to your house any more. That would only make it harder for you ... and we would like to ... spare you ... all we can.

ADELE—It’s your feelings we are considering....

JUHASZ—You are right. That would be best.

ADELE—I’m going to mother’s, and Oscar goes to Berlin to-morrow. And we shan’t see each other again until after the divorce is granted.

OSCAR—We mean to do what’s correct ... everything correct. We owe that much to you. And, on my word of honor, you’ll get your money back as soon as I have it. I shan’t wait for profits. No; I’ll send it to you out of the first money we take in. Without a moment’s delay. Here’s my hand on it.

JUHASZ—[_Waving away the proffered hand._] That’s all right. I don’t think you’d lie to me now.

OSCAR—You know me better than that.

JUHASZ—[_To ADELE, who has put on her things._] Then ... we shan’t see each other ... for a long ... for a long time.... Perhaps never.

OSCAR—[_Uneasily._] Don’t say that. It’s not fair to say that. If ever you are in Berlin, consider our home your own.

JUHASZ—Thank you.

OSCAR—And let’s not prolong our leavetakings. I’ve got to consider my weak heart. Excitement is bad for me.

ADELE—Good-bye, Peter. Will you kiss me?

OSCAR—Kiss her. She’s worthy of it. [_Turns away and dries his eyes._]

JUHASZ—[_Kisses her._] Don’t cry, Adele.... I suppose it had to be ... but not one woman in a thousand would have acted as you have acted.... There! Lift up your head and smile at me.... You were a good wife to me ... and now you are my very good friend. [_ADELE nods._] Shall I see you as far as your mother’s house?

ADELE—No.... I’ll take a cab. Good-bye, Peter. [_She nods silently to OSCAR and passes swiftly through the door. There is a brief pause._]

OSCAR—Only one word more, Peter, about a matter of business, and then we can shake hands and part. I had a talk with the lawyer to-day——

JUHASZ—But, please——

OSCAR—I couldn’t go away and let them throw you into bankruptcy. [_Hands him a document._] Here is the agreement. Read it over when you get home. It stipulates that, in consideration of your unquestionable integrity, your creditors agree not to file a petition in bankruptcy against you, but to wait six months longer ... for the fifty-one thousand kronen you lent me.

JUHASZ—Lent you? Yes, that’s right.

OSCAR—And which I will return to you ... my word of honor ... maybe in two weeks, maybe not for three months, but certainly within six months. My word of honor!

JUHASZ—[_Turning the document over helplessly._] Yes.

OSCAR—But your creditors make one stipulation. Until the fifty-one thousand is paid to them, they want a receiver to run the business instead of you.

JUHASZ—Receiver?

OSCAR—It’s wrong, I know ... but in some ways the creditors are right.... You are too easy with people who owe you money ... and with the people who work for you.... You are not businesslike.... What this place needs is a strong hand.... They tried to get me to take charge, but I.... Of course they didn’t know anything about.... I only said I was leaving the country.... Well, the main thing is that on the day you pay the fifty-one thousand kronen the business is yours again.

JUHASZ—And this ... receiver?... When does he take charge?

OSCAR—On the day I leave.

JUHASZ—You said you were leaving to-morrow.

OSCAR—Yes.

JUHASZ—Well, then——

OSCAR—To-morrow morning at eight the receiver will be here.

JUHASZ—Then the shop doesn’t belong to me any more ... and I may as well stay home to-morrow morning.

OSCAR—What’s the use of exaggerating like that? Certainly you can come to-morrow.

JUHASZ—As a clerk in my own shop?

OSCAR—Can I help it? Didn’t I do everything I could? Didn’t I run around seeing people and making arrangements? [_More and more resentfully._] I didn’t expect any thanks for it, but you needn’t look at me that way. As for the money, my word of honor——

JUHASZ—I know.

OSCAR—[_Takes his hand._] Good luck! [_Points to the archway._] I’m going that way. I shan’t even walk the same street as Adele until the divorce is granted. [_In the archway._] Don’t look at me like that! [_Emotionally._] I had to provide for her future, hadn’t I? [_He exits. JUHASZ is left alone. He looks at the document, crumples it into his pocket, glances around the shop, then sits down near the counter, at right, staring vacantly. PAULA enters through the archway, a letter in her hand._]

JUHASZ—You still here, Paula?

PAULA—About those waterproof coats, Mr. Juhasz. Mr. Oscar referred me to your wife [_notices that ADELE is not there; pauses_]—and she said we didn’t want any waterproof coats, but I think we really should order a few. [_Waits for his answer._]

JUHASZ—[_Lost in thought, still staring absently._] Yes. [_A pause._]

PAULA—Shall I order some, Mr. Juhasz?

JUHASZ—[_Looks up at her._] What? Oh, yes.

PAULA—About a dozen? [_A pause._]

JUHASZ—Paula—— [_He rises._] The fact is that from to-morrow on the shop doesn’t belong to me.

PAULA—Doesn’t belong to you?

JUHASZ—In a word, Paula, my wife has left me and is going to Berlin with Oscar ... and I have failed.... To-morrow morning a receiver, appointed by my creditors, takes charge ... and he’ll be the boss here.... So why should I worry my head about waterproof coats? [_A pause._]

PAULA—I—I don’t know what to say, Mr. Juhasz.

JUHASZ—Don’t say anything, Paula. I didn’t say anything myself. No. And let those letters go for to-night. I can’t have you ruining your eyes.

PAULA—As if you hadn’t troubles enough of your own without worrying about my eyes.

JUHASZ—Troubles?... Well....

PAULA—I can imagine how you must feel.

JUHASZ—Yes, here I stand like a tree in the park that is only good for lovers to meet under....

PAULA—And then go away.

JUHASZ—But first they cut their names in it with a sharp knife. [_ADOLF, carrying his long pole, comes through the archway._] What’s the matter?

ADOLF—It’s eight o’clock, Mr. Juhasz.

JUHASZ—[_Still a bit absently._] Yes, you can really close up now, Adolf. [_ADOLF goes out, pulls the grating half way down._]

COUNT—[_His voice is heard from the street._] Here, here, here! Are you trying to lock me out again? [_He dodges under the grating and enters. He is wearing a motor coat and cap. ADOLF, pole in hand, follows him in, grinning._] Tell me, my friend, do you do that on purpose? [_ADOLF only grins._] Whenever I try to get in you come along with that big stick and pull the grating down. You don’t like me, what? [_ADOLF’S grin is broader._] Here! [_Gives him money._] Here is something for you. Try to like me better. [_ADOLF tries to kiss his hand. The COUNT waves him off._] Never mind that. [_The COUNT comes down right. ADOLF exits through the archway._] He is always trying to close the door in my face. [_Looks at them wonderingly._] What’s the matter? You look so cheerful, Juhasz.

JUHASZ—Excellency.... I don’t know how to tell you. [_PAULA is about to go._] Don’t go, Miss Paula.