Part 4

PAULA—He won’t accept it. He’d rather starve.

COUNT—[_With a touch of exasperation._] Curious that your friends never have such scruples, only your enemies.

PAULA—Have you noticed how badly he looks? That’s from worrying about me.

COUNT—It’s from staying up nights, pacing to and fro beneath my window. He has the bad taste to suppose that I would seduce one of my employees in my own house.... But ... sunbeam ... our love deserves a worthier setting ... doesn’t it?... A flight to Paris by the swiftest motor we can find ... and from there southward to the sea ... under the skies of Spain that God only made for people to love under.... [_Comes nearer to her. JUHASZ enters at left._]

JUHASZ—I beg pardon. I only wanted to give Miss Paula these.

COUNT—[_Crossly._] Certainly. Certainly.

JUHASZ—[_Gives PAULA a bundle of closely written pages._] Here are the detailed statements his excellency wants. Mr. Santha was kind enough to get them up last night.

PAULA—He did them for me? [_Looks at the pages; smiles; to the COUNT._] Forty pages, all closely written. Oh, that dear Mr. Santha! I don’t know how to thank him. [_Gives the pages to the COUNT._]

COUNT—[_Looks at them._] Mr. Santha wrote these?

PAULA—Wasn’t it darling of him? Think of it! He must have worked all night, the poor——

COUNT—[_Comparing them with the summaries._] Curious how like these are the ones you wrote yourself.

PAULA—Oh, I may as well confess it, your excellency. I didn’t write those either. Mr. Juhasz did.

COUNT—Oh? Juhasz did?

JUHASZ—It was only three pages ... and Miss Paula’s eyes bothered her.

COUNT—[_With a sheaf of pages in each hand._] So, then, Juhasz wrote these three pages, and Santha wrote these forty?

PAULA—Yes.

COUNT—[_He rings. SANTHA enters._] Wait a moment, Santha. [_To JUHASZ._] There was a light in your room until four this morning. What were you doing up so late?

JUHASZ—I’m not a very successful liar, excellency. I wrote the detailed statements too....

COUNT—Thank you, Santha. You may go. [_He throws the statements on the table. SANTHA exits at left._]

PAULA—I am very grateful to you, Mr. Juhasz.

JUHASZ—Oh, I am glad to have been of service. [_He exits at left._]

COUNT—Tell me ... isn’t this Juhasz in love with you?

PAULA—[_In honest amazement._] How can you say such a thing? It is nothing but his goodness, his exaggerated sense of gratitude. He thinks he owes me his aid and his protection because I followed him here into exile.

COUNT—I’ll exile him for good this time. Wait and see.

PAULA—You won’t be unkind to him ... please ... don’t be.

COUNT—Don’t worry.... I’ll be absolutely just with him. I’ll simply confront him with the case of this fellow Mate whom he can’t bring himself to dismiss. And I’ll say to him, “Now, it’s Mate or you.” And as it is perfectly certain that he will never be able to harden his heart to the point of dismissing anyone, he’ll have no alternative but to go himself. And then ... [_ardently_] my happiness begins ... and yours, Paula ... for you are my last love ... and last love is like the setting sun ... full of fire and gold.... [_He approaches her ardently. JUHASZ enters at left, a big book under his arm._]

JUHASZ—The swine aren’t entered in the books.

COUNT—Oh!... There’s a limit to everything! [_Goes to the door at left, calling angrily._] Mr. Santha! Didn’t I say I was not to be disturbed while dictating? Where is the fellow! [_Exits at left, leaving the door open._]

JUHASZ—[_To PAULA, quickly._] I heard all the dreadful things he said to you. And it’s my fault. I brought you here.

PAULA—But, Mr. Juhasz——

JUHASZ—I brought you here ... and now I don’t know what to do.... I ... I’ll talk to him ... and forbid him to——

PAULA—Please, Mr. Juhasz, don’t do anything of the kind!

JUHASZ—He wants to get rid of me anyhow. I know I’m in his way ... because he wants you.... But don’t worry, my child, I shan’t let him _drive_ me away. [_The COUNT enters at left._]

COUNT—Absolutely demoralized! All of them.

JUHASZ—The swine....

COUNT—Don’t bother me now with your swine. Come back later. [_JUHASZ exits at left._]

COUNT—It gets worse all the time. He used to give us at least a few minutes together, but now he keeps popping in like a—— [_Stops, enraged, for a word._]

PAULA—He heard what you said to me before.

COUNT—Did he say anything to you?

PAULA—He promised to ... watch you closer than ever ... from now on.

COUNT—That’s an insult to you! Why don’t you forbid it?

PAULA—I thought of doing it, but when he looks at you ... with those soft, kind eyes of his——

COUNT—I know. He has eyes like a devoted horse. I can’t endure them either.... But now I’ve had enough. The thing must end to-day. If he comes in once more, you must go out, my dear, and leave me alone with him.

PAULA—He won’t come in again. You made it plain to him that he mustn’t.

COUNT—You don’t know him. He’ll be in the moment he hears what he is listening for. I’m perfectly certain he’s listening. [_Goes toward the door at left._] Watch. [_Loudly._] Paula, I wonder if you know how sweet, how charming, how utterly adorable you are. [_Approaches the door as he speaks._] [_JUHASZ enters quickly, determinedly at left. When he sees the COUNT standing there, smiling sarcastically, he stops short in the doorway, abashed._]

JUHASZ—May I talk to you about the swine now?

COUNT—Come in. [_To PAULA, sternly._] Make a copy of what I have dictated, Miss Paula.

PAULA—Yes, sir. [_Rises, gathers up her papers._]

COUNT—[_Sternly._] A clean and correct copy.

PAULA—Yes, your excellency. [_She exits at right._]

JUHASZ—The swine, your excellency——

COUNT—Never mind that, Juhasz.... There is something else I want to talk with you about.... There are many complaints against you. Very many!

JUHASZ—I know your excellency isn’t satisfied with me.

COUNT—But my pigeons are satisfied, eh?

JUHASZ—Is that what you are displeased about, sir?

COUNT—You feed them too much. They are so fat they won’t fly any more. And when I ask for a pigeon for my luncheon I am informed that Mr. Juhasz won’t permit one to be killed.

JUHASZ—I’m so sorry for the poor soft little creatures....

COUNT—And aren’t you sorry for the poor soft little ox?

JUHASZ—I don’t know him personally, sir.

COUNT—Humph!

JUHASZ—It doesn’t seem right to me ... to eat your personal acquaintances.

COUNT—[_Significantly._] It does to me.

JUHASZ—If that’s the only complaint....

COUNT—It isn’t. There are many more. You and I will have to part company, Juhasz. I can’t keep you here any longer.... Now every time I broach the subject ... you look at me like that.

JUHASZ—[_Averts his eyes._] I’m sorry, sir.

COUNT—[_Irritably._] I once had a horse named Trafalgar. He was just like you.

JUHASZ—Like me?

COUNT—He broke his leg ... and I couldn’t have him shot because he used to look at me ... exactly as you do. [_In spite of himself, JUHASZ looks at him._] Don’t look at me like that! I forbid it!

JUHASZ—[_Looking away._] Yes, your excellency.

COUNT—[_Consults a memorandum._] Here is a long list of your offenses. First, there’s that potter, Mano Steiner, who owes us eight thousand kronen. You granted him an extension of one year. What for?

JUHASZ—Pots, your excellency.

COUNT—I know that.

JUHASZ—And the poor fellow has had so much trouble of late.

COUNT—Trouble?

JUHASZ—Business trouble.

COUNT—You have no right to be charitable at my expense.

JUHASZ—Wasn’t there some other complaint, too, sir?

COUNT—Yes, lots of them. [_Consults the memorandum._] You owe three hundred and thirty kronen to the all-night café.

JUHASZ—Not for myself, excellency.

COUNT—I know. You assumed that fellow Mate’s debts. And now that he has credit again he has resumed his drinking.

JUHASZ—Oh, your excellency, he didn’t owe the three hundred and thirty kronen for drinks.

COUNT—For what, then?

JUHASZ—For hard-boiled eggs.

COUNT—Is that what he told you? Let me see. That would make 640 hard-boiled eggs in a single month. Or twenty-one a day.

JUHASZ—Yes, the poor fellow has to eat twenty-two every day. The doctor has put him on an egg diet.... But that bill at the café is paid.

COUNT—Juhasz, Juhasz, it’s sinful the way you let people rob you. I suppose you haven’t a heller to your name.

JUHASZ—Well, just at present——

COUNT—I thought so.

JUHASZ—What is next on the list, your excellency?

COUNT—The next is very serious. It concerns your protégé, Mate. We have discovered that he is Goldberger’s spy.

JUHASZ—I don’t believe it, sir.

COUNT—[_Picks up a letter._] Perhaps this letter, written in his own hand, may convince you. It is written to Goldberger, acknowledging the receipt of two hundred kronen in payment for a full list of our customers.... There is no possible doubt about it now.... The foreman wanted the man discharged a month ago, but you refused to permit it.

JUHASZ—But I didn’t know he had done this, your excellency.

COUNT—Well, you know it now. And I trust you have no further doubt that the man must be dismissed.

JUHASZ—Well ... if he has done this ... then ... I think the foreman ought to dismiss him.

COUNT—The foreman ought? Oh, no, Juhasz! You’ll dismiss him yourself.

JUHASZ—[_Aghast._] I?

COUNT—It’s your last chance. Here is the letter. [_Gives it to him._] Mate is waiting out there. You will tell him he is dismissed. [_Rings._] I’ll be back in five minutes. If Mate is dismissed I’ll be willing to believe that there is some hope you may mend your ways. If he’s not dismissed, then, my son, you and I part company. [_SANTHA enters._] Send Mate in here. [_SANTHA exits at left._] Five minutes!

JUHASZ—Excellency, may I ask one favor?

COUNT—Well?

JUHASZ—Make it ... ten minutes. It’s not so easy for me.

COUNT—Very good. Ten minutes. [_Takes out his watch._] What time have you got?

JUHASZ—[_Takes out his watch._] Ten-thirty.

COUNT—At ten-forty Mate is dismissed or you leave this place to-day. [_He exits at back. Left alone, JUHASZ scratches his head ruefully. PAULA enters at right._]

JUHASZ—For goodness’ sake, Paula ... don’t come in now ... every moment is precious.... [_Pushes her gently toward the door at right._]

PAULA—What’s the matter?

JUHASZ—I’ve no time to lose now.... I’ve got to hurt someone ... very much ... in order to be able to stay near you ... and protect you. Don’t ask me. [_Pushes her toward the door._]

PAULA—What has happened? [_MATE enters at right._]

JUHASZ—The Count thinks he knows me. But this time I’ll show him he’s wrong. Give me your hand. Give me strength. [_Clasps her hand._] Go now, Paula, and rely on me.... You shall see how strong I can be. In ten minutes it will be over. [_PAULA exits at right. JUHASZ closes the door behind her, pauses a moment to collect his courage, then, without turning to face MATE, bellows at him._] So there you are!

MATE—I’ve got regards for you, boss, from Budapest. I was in your shop.

JUHASZ—Never mind that now.

MATE—I bought a necktie there. [_Shows his cravat._] Maybe you recognize it. The people all sent their regards.

JUHASZ—Never mind that now, please.... [_Fingers the cravat._] Thanks, but we have something else to discuss just now.

MATE—[_Genially._] They told me business was fine.... And they are all expecting you back soon.

JUHASZ—Now, Mate, please don’t keep interrupting. I’ve something very serious—— [_Flourishes the letter._] You have caused me a great deal of trouble, Mate.

MATE—[_Smoothly._] Oh, don’t say that, boss! I’d rather be dead than cause you any trouble.

JUHASZ—[_Distressed._] Now don’t talk like that——

MATE—But, if——

JUHASZ—[_With determination._] Be still now. And let me talk.

MATE—[_With an injured expression._] All right.

JUHASZ—[_Relenting._] Or ... what were you going to say?

MATE—[_Aggrieved._] Oh, nothing.

JUHASZ—I didn’t mean to be rude. I am a bit excited, you see. [_Flourishes the letter._] This letter was just handed to me. [_Looks at it._] You took ... two hundred kronen ... from Baron Goldberger. [_Shows it to him._] Is this your handwriting?

MATE—If you say it is——

JUHASZ—Mate, don’t make it harder for me. It’s painful enough as it is. And I have so little time.... Is this your handwriting?

MATE—Well, yes.

JUHASZ—There, you see! [_A brief pause. He looks at his watch._]

MATE—Well, I know what to expect. Get it over with.

JUHASZ—You are a traitor, Mate. This letter proves it.

MATE—That’s all right. You can discharge me if you want to.

JUHASZ—Why do you make it harder for me, Mate? Do you think I like to do this?... You don’t even say a word in your own defense.

MATE—What’s the use of my saying anything? I know that I’ve got the sack.

JUHASZ—But how could you do such a thing? _Why_ did you do it? _Why?_

MATE—If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. I’m a liar, I am. Everybody says so.

JUHASZ—Don’t be so pig-headed! Did you ... perhaps ... need the money for something urgent?... You haven’t a family, have you?

MATE—I have a crippled father.

JUHASZ—There! I knew there was something. Why didn’t you say so? Have you no faith in me? [_Fingers MATE’S cravat._] What did they ask you for this necktie?

MATE—Four kronen.

JUHASZ—Why, it only sells for three!

MATE—I only paid two.... There are so many wicked people in the world, Mr. Juhasz. I’d have been a different man if I’d ’a been treated right ... but I wasn’t.... Everybody around here was always down on me.... And now they’ve got me where they want me....

JUHASZ—[_With heat._] Have they? Not yet. Make no mistake about that. [_Pumping up his determination._] So you have a crippled father?

MATE—Yes, my poor father!

JUHASZ—It seems to me I heard you were an orphan.

MATE—They say all kinds of things about me around here. My father lives in Szentes. If you can call it living. [_Working himself up into a passion._] If you must know, I sent the two hundred kronen to him.

JUHASZ—[_Eagerly._] Can you prove that?

MATE—Certainly.

JUHASZ—How?

MATE—By this. [_Shows him a photograph._]

JUHASZ—By this? This is a photograph.

MATE—Of my father. The picture of my poor old father.

JUHASZ—But this is a photograph of the actor, Girardi.

MATE—They resemble each other a lot. Everybody says so.

JUHASZ—[_Thoughtfully._] Hum! And what does this prove?

MATE—That he’s the one ... I sent the dirty money to.

JUHASZ—[_Undeceived._] No, Mate. You are lying to me. [_Returns the photograph to him._] This is unpardonable.... They were perfectly right in what they said about you. [_Looks at his watch._] You are dismissed, Mate ... and now you may go. [_Does not trust himself to look at MATE, but gives him a shove toward the door._]

MATE—[_Kisses the photograph._] Poor father! Who’ll send you money now ... the first of every month?

JUHASZ—[_Greatly distressed._] Please ... stop that ... and go!

MATE—And my poor little girl ... who’ll feed her now?

JUHASZ—You have a child, too?... I don’t want to hear about it.

MATE—I didn’t say anything to you. [_Starts to go._] My poor, sick little girl!

JUHASZ—[_Restrains him; greatly distressed._] Is she ill?

MATE—What do you care?

JUHASZ—How old is she?

MATE—[_Dries his eyes._] Two years old. Her mother is dead. We planted flowers on her grave.

JUHASZ—This is harrowing.... I know you are lying again.... I mustn’t listen to you. [_Looks at his watch._]

MATE—A little blonde baby. With hair like flax.

JUHASZ—Ten-thirty-six. You are dismissed. [_Puts his hands over his ears._]

MATE—She always says to me, “Papa ... Papa send money.”

JUHASZ—I’m not listening to you.... You are lying.... But I can’t hear you.

MATE—My poor innocent angel. Her medicines alone cost me.... Oh, how _can_ a man go straight when he has a crippled father and a sick baby to keep?

JUHASZ—[_Takes his hands from his ears._] I didn’t hear you.... You are dismissed.

MATE—The doctor prescribed sulphur for her ... and milk.

JUHASZ—I’m not listening.

MATE—No.... But I wish I knew how to close my ears when my poor hungry baby cries, “Papa, papa....”

JUHASZ—[_At the end of his endurance._] Liar!... You are dismissed.... [_Reconsiders it, angrily._] You are not dismissed! Oh, how can I tell whether you are lying or not?

MATE—[_Low, reproachfully._] Oh, Mr. Juhasz!

JUHASZ—[_Angrily._] Be still! [_Less angrily._] Sit down. [_Less angrily yet._] Have a cigarette.

MATE—[_Drying his eyes._] I only smoke cigars.

JUHASZ—[_Crossly pushes the humidor toward him._] There! [_MATE takes one._] Not those.... [_Shouts._] Take a Havana. [_MATE sticks several in his pocket._] Stop that crying.... And tell me instead, whether you are lying to me or not.

MATE—[_Snivelling._] When all a man earns is eighty kronen a month....

JUHASZ—I know, I know.

MATE—And has to send forty to his father, and thirty to his sick boy.... [_as JUHASZ makes a gesture of surprise_] I mean girl ... what has he got left? Ten kronen! Can you live on ten kronen a month?

JUHASZ—It’s terrible, I know.... Mate.... [_Scratches his head in bewilderment._] I wish I knew what to do.

MATE—If I had anything left to pawn ... but I haven’t.

JUHASZ—[_Feels involuntarily for his watch chain._] If I had any money myself.... But just at present ... I regret to say....

MATE—[_His eyes fixed on JUHASZ’S chain._] If I had a watch ... or a chain....

JUHASZ—[_Takes out his watch._] What’s the matter with your baby?

MATE—It’s anæmic.

JUHASZ—Poor child! [_Takes his watch off the chain._]

MATE—[_Watching him greedily._] That comes from being undernourished.

JUHASZ—[_Gives him the watch._] What the child needs is plenty of fresh milk.

MATE—[_Regarding the watch in his palm with pretended amazement._] What’s this?

JUHASZ—A gold watch.

MATE—[_Offers to return it._] But, please——

JUHASZ—Stop annoying me! [_Pushes it back._] The pawnbroker will lend you a hundred kronen on it.... Some day, when you have the money, you can redeem it.

MATE—But, Mr. Juhasz——

JUHASZ—Take it. You can’t get anything on the chain. It’s plated.

MATE—[_Pockets the watch. His voice is tearful._] People like you, Mr. Juhasz, give a man faith again.

JUHASZ—Stop your crying.... I’ll speak to his excellency about you. Maybe I can persuade him to keep you on.

MATE—He’s a good-hearted man.... I’d have spoken to him myself only—— [_With a hopeless gesture he indicates his tattered coat._] I couldn’t let him see me in this condition.

JUHASZ—[_Grasps both lapels of his own coat; despairingly._] The man will have the coat off my back!

MATE—[_Takes a protesting stride toward him._] But Mr. Juhasz ... you don’t suppose that I——

JUHASZ—No, no ... but stop talking like that ... or I’ll have to take it off.... Merciful heaven! To think that such poverty exists in our very midst!

MATE—[_Weeping._] You have made a better man of me, Mr. Juhasz.

JUHASZ—There ... there, my boy ... don’t worry ... everything will be all right.... Just rely on me.... I’ll take care of you. [_Puts an arm about him; his voice quavers with tenderness and pity._] Come what may, I’ll help you. [_The COUNT appears in the doorway at back._] We’ll overlook what you have done ... and I’ll see to it that your wages are raised. [_The COUNT enters. Seeing him, JUHASZ lets his arm fall from MATE’S shoulder. There is a pause._]

COUNT—Is this the way you dismiss the man, Mr. Juhasz?

JUHASZ—[_In great embarrassment._] Your excellency....

COUNT—I gave you ten minutes to do it in. What time is it now?

JUHASZ—[_Involuntarily feels for his watch._] The ten minutes ... are up, sir.

COUNT—Where’s your watch?

JUHASZ—My watch?... Er....

COUNT—You had it ten minutes ago. [_To MATE._] Have _you_ got it? [_MATE nods, abashed._] Give it here. [_MATE gives it to him._] Now get out of here. And don’t let me see your face about my place again. [_MATE slinks out at left._] So you forgave him? [_JUHASZ is silent._] And promised to raise his wages? [_JUHASZ is silent._] And gave him the watch you got from me ten years ago?

JUHASZ—Excellency, I couldn’t help it.... I can’t bear to see people suffer.

COUNT—Juhasz, you can’t stay here any longer. I’ll give you six months’ wages in lieu of notice.

JUHASZ—I don’t want to be paid for leaving.... I’ll go just the same....

COUNT—[_Crossly._] I can’t send you away without a kreutzer to your name! What the devil _is_ one to do with you? Anyone else in your place would have been thrown out bodily, but you!... [_Roars at him._] Am I to throw you out because you have the disposition of a saint!

JUHASZ—You needn’t throw me out, sir. I’m going of my own account.

COUNT—[_Angrily._] Hold your tongue! You are too damned good for this world!

JUHASZ—[_Pacifyingly._] You oughtn’t excite yourself, excellency.... There is really no need for it ... and you might bring on a stroke——

COUNT—It’s all very well to be soft-hearted and charitable and forgiving. I’d like to be that way myself. But it’s a luxury I can’t afford.

JUHASZ—I’m no use around here.... I know that, sir——

COUNT—[_Shouts._] Don’t look at me like that! This is unheard of! I come in with the fixed intention of giving you the sack, and here I am—— Unheard of! [_Angrier yet._] Now I’m the Juhasz! [_Roars._] Do you expect me to send you away because you try to help everybody who is in trouble?

JUHASZ—A man like me does more harm around the place than a hundred lazy workmen.... You mustn’t consider me, sir.... I’ll be all right. I’ll go somewhere and wait until my money comes ... from Berlin. Then I’ll have my shop back. [_He raises his eyes to the COUNT, then recollects that it is forbidden._] I beg pardon. [_He turns his back._]

COUNT—Such credulity! Such optimism! [_Goes up to him._] You are the most absurd old baby I ever—— You can look at me now ... you soft-hearted [_JUHASZ looks at him_] old lamb, you.... The only thing to do with you ... is ... hug you. [_Puts an arm affectionately around JUHASZ’S shoulder. PAULA enters at right. Seeing her, the COUNT withdraws his arm. There is a brief pause._] I’m a fine dismisser myself! [_To JUHASZ._] Run along, my son ... go out to your pigeons ... and tell them that the old master can’t eat his personal acquaintances either. [_JUHASZ flashes PAULA a triumphant glance and exits quickly at left._]

PAULA—If I had come in a minute later you’d have been kissing him.

COUNT—Quite likely. It’s no use. I can’t get rid of him.

PAULA—I’ve thought of a way.

COUNT—To get him out of here?

PAULA—Yes, and of his own free will.

COUNT—It isn’t possible.

PAULA—It is. But it will cost a great deal.

COUNT—I’ll pay whatever it costs.

PAULA—Mr. Juhasz can have his shop back by paying fifty-one thousand kronen to the attorney for his creditors.

COUNT—But, my dear, you said yourself that he’d never let me pay it for him.

PAULA—Yes, but he is not to know that you are paying it.

COUNT—Who then——

PAULA—He must be made to believe that the money was sent by the person from whom he’s expecting it. From Oscar Mezei ... in Berlin.

COUNT—I see. Not bad!

PAULA—Very simple. Have your cashier put fifty-one thousand kronen in an envelope and with it a notification that the money comes from a Berlin bank. Can he do that?

COUNT—[_Enthusiastically._] I’ll make him do it. And as soon as Juhasz gets the money——

PAULA—He will hurry with it to the city ... to pay off his creditors ... and take over his shop ... and stay in it.