Plays by August Strindberg

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TheProjectGutenbergEBookofPlaysbyAugustStrindberg,SecondseriesbyAugustStrindberg

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Title:PlaysbyAugustStrindberg,Secondseries

Author:AugustStrindberg

ReleaseDate:December13,2004[EBook#14347]

Language:English

Charactersetencoding:ASCII

***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKPLAYSBYSTRINDBERG***

ProducedbyNicoleApostola

PLAYSBYAUGUSTSTRINDBERG

SECONDSERIES

THEREARECRIMESANDCRIMESMISSJULIATHESTRONGERCREDITORS

PARIAH

TRANSLATEDWITHINTRODUCTIONSBYEDWINBJOeRKMAN

AUTHORIZEDEDITION

CONTENTS

Introductionto"ThereAreCrimesandCrimes"THEREARECRIMESANDCRIMES

Introductionto"MissJulia"Author'sPrefaceMISSJULIA

Introductionto"TheStronger"THESTRONGER

Introductionto"Creditors"CREDITORS


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Introductionto"Pariah"PARIAH

THEREARECRIMESANDCRIMESINTRODUCTION

Strindbergwasfiftyyearsoldwhenhewrote"ThereAreCrimesandCrimes."Inthesameyear,1899,heproducedthreeofhisfinesthistoricaldramas:"TheSagaoftheFolkungs,""GustavusVasa,"and"EricXIV."Justbefore,hehadfinished"Advent,"whichhedescribedas"AMystery,"andwhichwaspublishedtogetherwith"ThereAreCrimesandCrimes"underthecommontitleof"InaHigherCourt."Backofthesedramaslayhisstrangeconfessionalworks,"Inferno"and"Legends,"andthefirsttwopartsofhisautobiographicaldream-play,"TowardDamascus"--allofwhichwerefinishedbetweenMay,1897,andsometimeinthelatterpartof1898.Andbackoftheseagainlaythatperiodofmentalcrisis,when,atParis,in1895and1896,hestrovetomakegoldbythetransmutationofbasermetals,whileatthesametimehisspiritwastravellingthroughallthesevenhellsinitssearchfortheheavenpromisedbythegreatmysticsofthepast.

"ThereAreCrimesandCrimes"may,infact,beregardedashisfirstdefinitestepbeyondthatcrisis,ofwhichtheprecedingworkswereatoncetherecordandclosingchord.When,in1909,heissued"TheAuthor,"beingalongwithheldfourthpartofhisfirstautobiographicalseries,"TheBondwoman'sSon,"heprefixedtoitananalyticalsummaryoftheentirebodyofhiswork.Oppositetheworksfrom1897-8appearsinthissummarythefollowingpassage:"Thegreatcrisisattheageoffifty;revolutionsinthelifeofthesoul,desertwanderings,SwedenborgianHeavensandHells."Butconcerning"ThereAreCrimesandCrimes"andthethreehistoricaldramasfromthesameyearhewritestriumphantly:"Lightafterdarkness;newproductivity,withrecoveredFaith,HopeandLove--andwithfull,rock-firm

Certitude."

InitsGermanversiontheplayisnamed"Rausch,"or"Intoxication,"whichindicatesthepartplayedbythechampagneintheplungeof_Maurice_fromthepinnaclesofsuccesstothedepthsofmisfortune.Strindberghasmoreandmorecometoseethatamoderationvergingcloselyonasceticismiswiseformostmenandessentialtothemanofgeniuswhowantstofulfilhisdivinemission.Andhedoesnotscorntopresshomeeventhiscomparativelyhumblelessonwiththenaivedirectnessandfieryzealwhichformsuchconspicuousfeaturesofallhiswork.

Butinthetitlewhichbounditto"Advent"attheirjoint

publicationwehaveabettercluetowhattheauthorhimselfundoubtedlyregardsasthemostimportantelementofhiswork--itsreligioustendency.The"highercourt,"inwhicharetriedthecrimesof_Maurice_,_Adolphe_,and_Henriette_,is,ofcourse,thehighestonethatmancanimagine.Andthecrimesofwhichtheyhaveallbecomeguiltyarethosewhich,as_Adolphe_remarks,"arenotmentionedinthecriminalcode"--inaword,crimesagainstthespirit,againsttheimpalpablepowerthatmovesus,againstGod.Theplay,seeninthislight,picturesadeep-reachingspiritualchange,leadingusstepbystepfromthesouladriftonthewaters


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oflifetothestatewhereitisdefinitelyorientedandimpelled.

Therearetwodistinctcurrentsdiscernibleinthisdramaticrevelationofprogressfromspiritualchaostospiritualorder--fortoordertheplaymustbesaidtolead,andprogressisimpliedinitsonwardmovement,iftherebeanythingatallinourgrowingmodernconvictionthat_any_vitalfaithisbetterthannoneatall.Oneofthecurrentsinquestionreferstothemeansratherthantheend,totheroadratherthanthegoal.Itbringsusbacktothoseuncannysoul-adventuresbywhichStrindberghimselfwonhiswaytothe"full,rock-firmCertitude"ofwhichtheplayinitsentiretyisthefirsttangibleexpression.Theelementsenteringintothiscurrentarenotonlymystical,butoccult.TheyarederivedinpartfromSwedenborg,andinpartfromthatpicturesqueFrenchdreamerwhosignshimself"SarPeladan";butmostlytheyhavesprungoutofStrindberg'sownexperiencesinmomentsofabnormaltension.

Whathappened,orseemedtohappen,tohimselfatParisin1895,andwhathelaterdescribedwithsuchbewilderingexactitudeinhis"Inferno"and"Legends,"allthisisherepresentedindramaticform,butalittletoneddown,bothtosuittheneedsofthestageandthecalmermoodoftheauthor.Coincidenceislaw.Itisthefinger-pointofProvidence,thesignaltomanthathe

mustbeware.Mysteryisthegospel:thesecretknittingofmantoman,offacttofact,deepbeneaththesurfaceofvisibleandaudibleexistence.Fewwriterscouldtakeusintosucharealmofprobableimpossibilitiesandpossibleimprobabilitieswithoutlosingallclaimtoseriousconsideration.IfStrindberghasthusventuredtoourgainandnolossofhisown,hissuccesscanbeexplainedonlybythepresenceintheplayofthatsecond,parallelcurrentofthoughtandfeeling.

Thisdeepercurrentisassimpleastheonenearerthesurfaceisfantastic.Itisthemanifestationofthat"rock-firmCertitude"towhichIhavealreadyreferred.AndnothingwillbringusnearertoitthanStrindberg'sownconfessionoffaith,giveninhis

"SpeechestotheSwedishNation"twoyearsago.Inthatpamphletthereisachapterheaded"Religion,"inwhichoccursthispassage:"Since1896IhavebeencallingmyselfaChristian.IamnotaCatholic,andhaveneverbeen,butduringastayofsevenyearsinCatholiccountriesandamongCatholicrelatives,IdiscoveredthatthedifferencebetweenCatholicandProtestanttenetsiseithernoneatall,orelsewhollysuperficial,andthatthedivisionwhichonceoccurredwasmerelypoliticalorelseconcernedwiththeologicalproblemsnotfundamentallygermanetothereligionitself.AregisteredProtestantIamandwillremain,butIcanhardlybecalledorthodoxorevangelistic,butcomenearesttobeingaSwedenborgian.IusemyBibleChristianityinternallyandprivatelytotamemysomewhatdecivilizednature--

decivilisedbythatveterinaryphilosophyandanimalscience(Darwinism)inwhich,asstudentattheuniversity,Iwasreared.AndIassuremyfellow-beingsthattheyhavenorighttocomplainbecause,accordingtomyability,IpractisetheChristianteachings.Foronlythroughreligion,orthehopeofsomethingbetter,andtherecognitionoftheinnermostmeaningoflifeasthatofanordeal,aschool,orperhapsapenitentiary,willitbepossibletobeartheburdenoflifewithsufficientresignation."

Here,aselsewhere,itismadepatentthatStrindberg's


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religiosityalways,oncloseranalysis,reducesitselftomorality.Atbottomheisfirstandlast,andhasalwaysbeen,amoralist--amanpassionatelycravingtoknowwhatisRIGHTandtodoit.Duringthemiddle,naturalisticperiodofhiscreativecareer,thisfundamentaltendencywasinpartobscured,andheengagedinthegameofintellectualcuriosityknownas"truthfortruth'sownsake."Oneofthechiefmarksofhisfinalandmysticalperiodishisgreatercourageto"behimself"inthisrespect--andthismeansnecessarilyareturn,oranadvance,toapositionwhichthelateWilliamJamesundoubtedlywouldhaveacknowledgedas"pragmatic."Tocombattheassertionofover-developedindividualismthatweareendsinourselves,thatwehavecertaininalienablepersonal"rights"topleasureandhappinessmerelybecausewehappentoappearhereinhumanshape,thisisoneofStrindberg'smostardentaimsinallhislaterworks.

Astothehigherandmoreinclusiveobjecttowhichourlivesmustbeheldsubservient,heisnotdogmatic.Itmaybeanotherlife.HecallsitGod.AndthecodeofservicehefindsinthetenetsofalltheChristianchurches,butprincipallyintheCommandments.Theplainandprimitivevirtues,thefaiththatimplieslittlemorethansquaredealingbetweenmanandman--thesefigureforemostinStrindberg'sideals.Inanageofsupremeself-seeking

likeours,suchanoutlookwouldseemtohavesmallchanceofpopularity,butthatitembodiesjustwhatthetimemostneedsis,perhaps,madeevidentbythereceptionwhichthepublicalmostinvariablygrants"ThereAreCrimesandCrimes"whenitisstaged.

Withallitsapparentdisregardofwhatiscommonlycalledrealism,andwithitsoccasional,butquiteunblushing,useofmethodsgenerallyheldsuperseded--suchasthecasualintroductionofcharactersatwhatevermomenttheyhappentobeneededonthestage--ithas,fromthestart,beenamongthemostfrequentlyplayedandmostenthusiasticallyreceivedofStrindberg'slaterdramas.AtStockholmitwasfirsttakenupbytheRoyalDramaticTheatre,andwaslaterseenonthetinystageoftheIntimate

Theatre,thendevotedexclusivelytoStrindberg'sworks.ItwasoneoftheearliestplaysstagedbyReinhardtwhilehewasstillexperimentingwithhisLittleTheatreatBerlin,andithasalsobeengiveninnumerousGermancities,aswellasinVienna.

ConcerningmyownversionoftheplayIwishtoaddawordofexplanation.StrindberghaslaidthesceneinParis.Notonlythescenery,butthepeopleandthecircumstancesareFrench.YethehasmadenoattemptwhatevertomakethedialoguereflectFrenchmannersofspeakingorwaysofthinking.Ashehasgivenittous,theplayisFrenchonlyinitsmostsuperficialaspect,initssetting--andthissettinghehaschosensimplybecauseheneededacertainmachineryofferedhimbytheCatholic,butnotbythe

Protestant,churches.Therestoftheplayispurelyhumaninitsnoteandwhollyuniversalinitsspirit.ForthisreasonIhaveretainedtheFrenchnamesandtitles,buthaveotherwisestriventobringeverythingascloseaspossibletoourownmodesofexpression.Shouldapparentincongruitiesresultfromthismanneroftreatment,Ithinktheywilldisappearifonlythereaderwilltrytorememberthatthecharactersoftheplaymoveinanexistencecunninglywovenbytheauthoroutofscrapsofephemeralrealityinorderthathemayshowusthemirageofamoreenduringone.


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THEREARECRIMESANDCRIMESACOMEDY1899

CHARACTERS

MAURICE,aplaywrightJEANNE,hismistressMARION,theirdaughter,fiveyearsoldADOLPHE,apainterHENRIETTE,hismistressEMILE,aworkman,brotherofJeanneMADAMECATHERINETHEABBEAWATCHMANAHEADWAITERACOMMISSAIRETWODETECTIVESAWAITERAGUARD

SERVANTGIRL

ACTI,SCENE1.THECEMETERY2.THECREMERIE

ACTII,SCENE1.THEAUBERGEDESADRETS2.THEBOISDEBOULOGNE

ACTIII,SCENE1.THECREMERIE2.THEAUBERGEDESADRETS

ACTIV,SCENE1.THELUXEMBOURGGARDENS2.THECREMERIE

(AllthescenesarelaidinParis)

THEREARECRIMESANDCRIMES

ACTIFIRSTSCENE

(TheupperavenueofcypressesintheMontparnasseCemeteryatParis.Thebackgroundshowsmortuarychapels,stonecrosseson

whichareinscribed"OCrux!AveSpesUnica!"andtheruinsofawind-millcoveredwithivy.)

(Awell-dressedwomaninwidow'sweedsiskneelingandmutteringprayersinfrontofagravedecoratedwithflowers.)

(JEANNEiswalkingbackandforthasifexpectingsomebody.)

(MARIONisplayingwithsomewitheredflowerspickedfromarubbishheapontheground.)


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(TheABBEisreadinghisbreviarywhilewalkingalongthefurtherendoftheavenue.)

WATCHMAN.[EntersandgoesuptoJEANNE]Lookhere,thisisnoplayground.

JEANNE.[Submissively]Iamonlywaitingforsomebodywho'llsoonbehere--

WATCHMAN.Allright,butyou'renotallowedtopickanyflowers.

JEANNE.[ToMARION]Droptheflowers,dear.

ABBE.[ComesforwardandissalutedbytheWATCHMAN]Can'tthechildplaywiththeflowersthathavebeenthrownaway?

WATCHMAN.Theregulationsdon'tpermitanybodytotoucheventheflowersthathavebeenthrownaway,becauseit'sbelievedtheymayspreadinfection--whichIdon'tknowifit'strue.

ABBE.[ToMARION]Inthatcasewehavetoobey,ofcourse.What'syourname,mylittlegirl?

MARION.MynameisMarion.

ABBE.Andwhoisyourfather?

(MARIONbeginstobiteoneofherfingersanddoesnotanswer.)

ABBE.Pardonmyquestion,madame.Ihadnointention--Iwasjusttalkingtokeepthelittleonequiet.

(TheWATCHMANhasgoneout.)

JEANNE.Iunderstoodit,ReverendFather,andIwishyouwouldsaysomethingtoquietmealso.Ifeelverymuchdisturbedafter

havingwaitedheretwohours.

ABBE.Twohours--forhim!Howthesehumanbeingstortureeachother!OCrux!Avespesunica!

JEANNE.Whatdotheymean,thosewordsyoureadallaroundhere?

ABBE.Theymean:Ocross,ouronlyhope!

JEANNE.Isittheonlyone?

ABBE.Theonlycertainone.

JEANNE.Ishallsoonbelievethatyouareright,Father.

ABBE.MayIaskwhy?

JEANNE.Youhavealreadyguessedit.Whenheletsthewomanandthechildwaittwohoursinacemetery,thentheendisnotfaroff.

ABBE.Andwhenhehasleftyou,whatthen?


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JEANNE.Thenwehavetogointotheriver.

ABBE.Oh,no,no!

JEANNE.Yes,yes!

MARION.Mamma,Iwanttogohome,forIamhungry.

JEANNE.Justalittlelonger,dear,andwe'llgohome.

ABBE.Woeuntothosewhocallevilgoodandgoodevil.

JEANNE.Whatisthatwomandoingatthegraveoverthere?

ABBE.Sheseemstobetalkingtothedead.

JEANNE.Butyoucannotdothat?

ABBE.Sheseemstoknowhow.

JEANNE.Thiswouldmeanthattheendoflifeisnottheendofourmisery?

ABBE.Andyoudon'tknowit?

JEANNE.WherecanIfindout?

ABBE.Hm!Thenexttimeyoufeelasifyouwantedtolearnaboutthiswell-knownmatter,youcanlookmeupinOurLady'sChapelattheChurchofSt.Germain--Herecomestheoneyouarewaitingfor,Iguess.

JEANNE.[Embarrassed]No,heisnottheone,butIknowhim.

ABBE.[ToMARION]Good-bye,littleMarion!MayGodtakecareofyou![Kissesthechildandgoesout]AtSt.GermaindesPres.

EMILE.[Enters]Goodmorning,sister.Whatareyoudoinghere?

JEANNE.IamwaitingforMaurice.

EMILE.ThenIguessyou'llhavealotofwaitingtodo,forIsawhimontheboulevardanhourago,takingbreakfastwithsomefriends.[Kissingthechild]Goodmorning,Marion.

JEANNE.Ladiesalso?

EMILE.Ofcourse.Butthatdoesn'tmeananything.Hewritesplays,andhislatestonehasitsfirstperformancetonight.Isupposehehadwithhimsomeoftheactresses.

JEANNE.Didherecogniseyou?

EMILE.No,hedoesn'tknowwhoIam,anditisjustaswell.Iknowmyplaceasaworkman,andIdon'tcareforanycondescensionfromthosethatareaboveme.

JEANNE.Butifheleavesuswithoutanythingtoliveon?

EMILE.Well,yousee,whenitgetsthatfar,thenIsupposeI


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shallhavetointroducemyself.Butyoudon'texpectanythingofthekind,doyou--seeingthatheisfondofyouandverymuchattachedtothechild?

JEANNE.Idon'tknow,butIhaveafeelingthatsomethingdreadfulisinstoreforme.

EMILE.Hashepromisedtomarryyou?

JEANNE.No,notpromisedexactly,buthehasheldouthopes.

EMILE.Hopes,yes!Doyouremembermywordsatthestart:don'thopeforanything,forthoseaboveusdon'tmarrydownward.

JEANNE.Butsuchthingshavehappened.

EMILE.Yes,theyhavehappened.But,wouldyoufeelathomeinhisworld?Ican'tbelieveit,foryouwouldn'tevenunderstandwhattheyweretalkingof.NowandthenItakemymealswhereheiseating--outinthekitchenismyplace,ofcourse--andIdon'tmakeoutawordofwhattheysay.

JEANNE.Soyoutakeyourmealsatthatplace?

EMILE.Yes,inthekitchen.

JEANNE.Andthinkofit,hehasneveraskedmetocomewithhim.

EMILE.Well,that'srathertohiscredit,anditshowshehassomerespectforthemotherofhischild.Thewomenoverthereareaqueerlot.

JEANNE.Isthatso?

EMILE.ButMauriceneverpaysanyattentiontothewomen.Thereissomething_square_aboutthatfellow.

JEANNE.That'swhatIfeelabouthim,too,butassoonasthereisawomaninit,amanisn'thimselfanylonger.

EMILE.[Smiling]Youdon'ttellme!Butlisten:areyouhardupformoney?

JEANNE.No,nothingofthatkind.

EMILE.Well,thentheworsthasn'tcomeyet--Look!Overthere!Therehecomes.AndI'llleaveyou.Good-bye,littlegirl.

JEANNE.Ishecoming?Yes,that'shim.

EMILE.Don'tmakehimmadnow--withyourjealousy,Jeanne![Goesout.]

JEANNE.No,Iwon't.

(MAURICEenters.)

MARION.[Runsuptohimandisliftedupintohisarms]Papa,papa!


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MAURICE.Mylittlegirl![GreetsJEANNE]Canyouforgiveme,Jeanne,thatIhavekeptyouwaitingsolong?

JEANNE.OfcourseIcan.

MAURICE.ButsayitinsuchawaythatIcanhearthatyouareforgivingme.

JEANNE.Comehereandletmewhisperittoyou.

(MAURICEgoesupclosetoher.)

(JEANNEkisseshimonthecheek.)

MAURICE.Ididn'thear.

(JEANNEkisseshimonthemouth.)

MAURICE.NowIheard!Well--youknow,Isupposethatthisisthedaythatwillsettlemyfate?Myplayisonfortonight,andthereiseverychancethatitwillsucceed--orfail.

JEANNE.I'llmakesureofsuccessbyprayingforyou.

MAURICE.Thankyou.Ifitdoesn'thelp,itcanatleastdonoharm--Lookoverthere,downthereinthevalley,wherethehazeisthickest:thereliesParis.TodayParisdoesn'tknowwhoMauriceis,butitisgoingtoknowwithintwenty-fourhours.Thehaze,whichhaskeptmeobscuredforthirtyyears,willvanishbeforemybreath,andIshallbecomevisible,Ishallassumedefiniteshapeandbegintobesomebody.Myenemies--whichmeansallwhowouldliketodowhatIhavedone--willbewrithinginpainsthatshallbemypleasures,fortheywillbesufferingallthatIhavesuffered.

JEANNE.Don'ttalkthatway,don't!

MAURICE.Butthat'sthewayitis.

JEANNE.Yes,butdon'tspeakofit--Andthen?

MAURICE.Thenweareonfirmground,andthenyouandMarionwillbearthenameIhavemadefamous.

JEANNE.Youlovemethen?

MAURICE.Ilovebothofyou,equallymuch,orperhapsMarionalittlemore.

JEANNE.Iamgladofit,foryoucangrowtiredofme,butnotof

her.

MAURICE.Haveyounoconfidenceinmyfeelingstowardyou?

JEANNE.Idon'tknow,butIamafraidofsomething,afraidofsomethingterrible--

MAURICE.Youaretiredoutanddepressedbyyourlongwait,whichoncemoreIaskyoutoforgive.Whathaveyoutobeafraidof?


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JEANNE.Theunexpected:thatwhichyoumayforeseewithouthavinganyparticularreasontodoso.

MAURICE.ButIforeseeonlysuccess,andIhaveparticularreasonsfordoingso:thekeeninstinctsofthemanagementandtheirknowledgeofthepublic,nottospeakoftheirpersonalacquaintancewiththecritics.Sonowyoumustbeingoodspirits--

JEANNE.Ican't,Ican't!Doyouknow,therewasanAbbehereawhileago,whotalkedsobeautifullytous.Myfaith--whichyouhaven'tdestroyed,butjustcoveredup,aswhenyouputchalkonawindowtocleanit--Icouldn'tlayholdonitforthatreason,butthisoldmanjustpassedhishandoverthechalk,andthelightcamethrough,anditwaspossibleagaintoseethatthepeoplewithinwereathome--To-nightIwillprayforyouatSt.Germain.

MAURICE.NowIamgettingscared.

JEANNE.FearofGodisthebeginningofwisdom.

MAURICE.God?Whatisthat?Whoishe?

JEANNE.Itwashewhogavejoytoyouryouthandstrengthtoyourmanhood.Anditishewhowillcarryusthroughtheterrorsthat

lieaheadofus.

MAURICE.Whatislyingaheadofus?Whatdoyouknow?Wherehaveyoulearnedofthis?ThisthingthatIdon'tknow?

JEANNE.Ican'ttell.Ihavedreamtnothing,seennothing,heardnothing.ButduringthesetwodreadfulhoursIhaveexperiencedsuchaninfinityofpainthatIamreadyfortheworst.

MARION.NowIwanttogohome,mamma,forIamhungry.

MAURICE.Yes,you'llgohomenow,mylittledarling.[Takesherintohisarms.]

MARION.[Shrinking]Oh,youhurtme,papa!

JEANNE.Yes,wemustgethomefordinner.Good-byethen,Maurice.Andgoodlucktoyou!

MAURICE.[ToMARION]HowdidIhurtyou?Doesn'tmylittlegirlknowthatIalwayswanttobenicetoher?

MARION.Ifyouarenice,you'llcomehomewithus.

MAURICE.[ToJEANNE]WhenIhearthechildtalklikethat,youknow,IfeelasifIoughttodowhatshesays.Butthenreason

anddutyprotest--Good-bye,mydearlittlegirl![Hekissesthechild,whoputsherarmsaroundhisneck.]

JEANNE.Whendowemeetagain?

MAURICE.We'llmeettomorrow,dear.Andthenwe'llneverpartagain.

JEANNE.[Embraceshim]Never,nevertopartagain![Shemakesthesignofthecrossonhisforehead]MayGodprotectyou!


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MAURICE.[Movedagainsthisownwill]Mydear,belovedJeanne!

(JEANNEandMARIONgotowardtheright;MAURICEtowardtheleft.Bothturnaroundsimultaneouslyandthrowkissesateachother.)

MAURICE.[Comesback]Jeanne,Iamashamedofmyself.Iamalwaysforgettingyou,andyouarethelastonetoremindmeofit.Herearetheticketsfortonight.

JEANNE.Thankyou,dear,but--youhavetotakeupyourpostofdutyalone,andsoIhavetotakeupmine--withMarion.

MAURICE.Yourwisdomisasgreatasthegoodnessofyourheart.Yes,Iamsurenootherwomanwouldhavesacrificedapleasuretoserveherhusband--Imusthavemyhandsfreetonight,andthereisnoplaceforwomenandchildrenonthebattle-field--andthisyouunderstood!

JEANNE.Don'tthinktoohighlyofapoorwomanlikemyself,andthenyou'llhavenoillusionstolose.Andnowyou'llseethatIcanbeasforgetfulasyou--IhaveboughtyouatieandapairofgloveswhichIthoughtyoumightwearformysakeonyourdayofhonour.

MAURICE.[Kissingherhand]Thankyou,dear.

JEANNE.Andthen,Maurice,don'tforgettohaveyourhairfixed,asyoudoallthetime.Iwantyoutobegood-looking,sothatotherswilllikeyoutoo.

MAURICE.Thereisnojealousyin_you_!

JEANNE.Don'tmentionthatword,forevilthoughtsspringfromit.

MAURICE.JustnowIfeelasifIcouldgiveupthisevening'svictory--forIamgoingtowin--

JEANNE.Hush,hush!

MAURICE.Andgohomewithyouinstead.

JEANNE.Butyoumustn'tdothat!Gonow:yourdestinyiswaitingforyou.

MAURICE.Good-byethen!Andmaythathappenwhichmusthappen![Goesout.]

JEANNE.[AlonewithMARION]OCrux!Avespesunica!

(Curtain.)

SECONDSCENE

(TheCremerie.Ontherightstandsabuffet,onwhichareplacedanaquariumwithgoldfishanddishescontainingvegetables,fruit,preserves,etc.Inthebackgroundisadoorleadingtothekitchen,whereworkmenaretakingtheirmeals.Attheotherendofthekitchencanbeseenadoorleadingouttoagarden.Onthe


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left,inthebackground,standsacounteronaraisedplatform,andbackofitareshelvescontainingallsortsofbottles.Ontheright,alongtablewithamarbletopisplacedalongthewall,andanothertableisplacedparalleltothefirstfurtheroutonthefloor.Straw-bottomedchairsstandaroundthetables.Thewallsarecoveredwithoil-paintings.)

(MME.CATHERINEissittingatthecounter.)

(MAURICEstandsleaningagainstit.Hehashishatonandissmokingacigarette.)

MME.CATHERINE.Soit'stonightthegreateventcomesoff,MonsieurMaurice?

MAURICE.Yes,tonight.

MME.CATHERINE.Doyoufeelupset?

MAURICE.Coolasacucumber.

MME.CATHERINE.Well,Iwishyouluckanyhow,andyouhavedeservedit,MonsieurMaurice,afterhavinghadtofightagainstsuchdifficultiesasyours.

MAURICE.Thankyou,MadameCatherine.Youhavebeenverykindtome,andwithoutyourhelpIshouldprobablyhavebeendownandoutbythistime.

MME.CATHERINE.Don'tletustalkofthatnow.IhelpalongwhereIseehardworkandtherightkindofwill,butIdon'twanttobeexploited--Canwetrustyoutocomebackhereaftertheplayandletusdrinkaglasswithyou?

MAURICE.Yes,youcan--ofcourse,youcan,asIhavealreadypromisedyou.

(HENRIETTEentersfromtheright.)

(MAURICEturnsaround,raiseshishat,andstaresatHENRIETTE,wholookshimovercarefully.)

HENRIETTE.MonsieurAdolpheisnothereyet?

MME.CATHERINE.No,madame.Buthe'llsoonbeherenow.Won'tyousitdown?

HENRIETTE.No,thankyou,I'llratherwaitforhimoutside.[Goesout.]

MAURICE.Who--was--that?

MME.CATHERINE.Why,that'sMonsieurAdolphe'sfriend.

MAURICE.Was--that--her?

MME.CATHERINE.Haveyouneverseenherbefore?

MAURICE.No,hehasbeenhidingherfromme,justasifhewasafraidImighttakeherawayfromhim.


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MME.CATHERINE.Ha-ha!--Well,howdidyouthinkshelooked?

MAURICE.Howshelooked?Letmesee:Ican'ttell--Ididn'tseeher,foritwasasifshehadrushedstraightintomyarmsatonceandcomesoclosetomethatIcouldn'tmakeoutherfeaturesatall.Andsheleftherimpressionontheairbehindher.Icanstillseeherstandingthere.[Hegoestowardthedoorandmakesagestureasifputtinghisarmaroundsomebody]Whew![Hemakesagestureasifhehadprickedhisfinger]Therearepinsinherwaist.Sheisofthekindthatstings!

MME.CATHERINE.Oh,youarecrazy,youwithyourladies!

MAURICE.Yes,it'scraziness,that'swhatitis.Butdoyouknow,MadameCatherine,Iamgoingbeforeshecomesback,orelse,orelse--Oh,thatwomanishorrible!

MME.CATHERINE.Areyouafraid?

MAURICE.Yes,Iamafraidformyself,andalsoforsomeothers.

MME.CATHERINE.Well,gothen.

MAURICE.Sheseemedtosuckherselfoutthroughthedoor,andinherwakerosealittlewhirlwindthatdraggedmealong--Yes,youmaylaugh,butcan'tyouseethatthepalmoverthereonthebuffetisstillshaking?She'stheverydevilofawoman!

MME.CATHERINE.Oh,getoutofhere,man,beforeyouloseallyourreason.

MAURICE.Iwanttogo,butIcannot--Doyoubelieveinfate,MadameCatherine?

MME.CATHERINE.No,IbelieveinagoodGod,whoprotectsusagainstevilpowersifweaskHimintherightway.

MAURICE.Sothereareevilpowersafterall!IthinkIcanheartheminthehallwaynow.

MME.CATHERINE.Yes,herclothesrustleaswhentheclerktearsoffapieceoflinenforyou.Getawaynow--throughthekitchen.

(MAURICErushestowardthekitchendoor,wherehebumpsintoEMILE.)

EMILE.Ibegyourpardon.[Heretiresthewayhecame.]

ADOLPHE.[Comesinfirst;afterhimHENRIETTE]Why,there's

Maurice.Howareyou?Letmeintroducethisladyheretomyoldestandbestfriend.MademoiselleHenriette--MonsieurMaurice.

MAURICE.[Salutingstiffly]Pleasedtomeetyou.

HENRIETTA.Wehaveseeneachotherbefore.

ADOLPHE.Isthatso?When,ifImayask?

MAURICE.Amomentago.Righthere.


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ADOLPHE.O-oh!--Butnowyoumuststayandhaveachatwithus.

MAURICE.[AfteraglanceatMME.CATHERINE]IfIonlyhadtime.

ADOLPHE.Takethetime.Andwewon'tbesittinghereverylong.

HENRIETTE.Iwon'tinterrupt,ifyouhavetotalkbusiness.

MAURICE.Theonlybusinesswehaveissobadthatwedon'twanttotalkofit.

HENRIETTE.Thenwe'lltalkofsomethingelse.[TakesthehatawayfromMAURICEandhangsitup]Nowbenice,andletmebecomeacquaintedwiththegreatauthor.

MME.CATHERINEsignalstoMAURICE,whodoesn'tnoticeher.

ADOLPHE.That'sright,Henriette,youtakechargeofhim.[Theyseatthemselvesatoneofthetables.]

HENRIETTE.[ToMAURICE]YoucertainlyhaveagoodfriendinAdolphe,MonsieurMaurice.Henevertalksofanythingbutyou,andinsuchawaythatIfeelmyselfratherthrowninthebackground.

ADOLPHE.Youdon'tsayso!Well,Henrietteonhersideneverleavesmeinpeaceaboutyou,Maurice.Shehasreadyourworks,andsheisalwayswantingtoknowwhereyougotthisandwherethat.Shehasbeenquestioningmeaboutyourlooks,yourage,yourtastes.Ihave,inaword,hadyouforbreakfast,dinner,andsupper.Ithasalmostseemedasifthethreeofuswerelivingtogether.

MAURICE.[ToHENRIETTE]Heavens,whydidn'tyoucomeoverhereandhavealookatthiswonderofwonders?Thenyourcuriositycouldhavebeensatisfiedinatrice.

HENRIETTE.Adolphedidn'twantit.

(ADOLPHElooksembarrassed.)

HENRIETTE.Notthathewasjealous--

MAURICE.Andwhyshouldhebe,whenheknowsthatmyfeelingsaretiedupelsewhere?

HENRIETTE.Perhapshedidn'ttrustthestabilityofyourfeelings.

MAURICE.Ican'tunderstandthat,seeingthatIamnotoriousformyconstancy.

ADOLPHE.Well,itwasn'tthat--

HENRIETTE.[Interruptinghim]Perhapsthatisbecauseyouhavenotfacedthefieryordeal--

ADOLPHE.Oh,youdon'tknow--

HENRIETTE.[Interrupting]--fortheworldhasnotyetbeheldafaithfulman.


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MAURICE.Thenit'sgoingtobeholdone.

HENRIETTE.Where?

MAURICE.Here.

(HENRIETTElaughs.)

ADOLPHE.Well,that'sgoingit--

HENRIETTE.[InterruptinghimanddirectingherselfcontinuouslytoMAURICE]DoyouthinkIevertrustmydearAdolphemorethanamonthatatime?

MAURICE.Ihavenorighttoquestionyourlackofconfidence,butIcanguaranteethatAdolpheisfaithful.

HENRIETTE.Youdon'tneedtodoso--mytongueisjustrunningawaywithme,andIhavetotakebackalot--notonlyforfearoffeelinglessgenerousthanyou,butbecauseitisthetruth.ItisabadhabitIhaveofonlyseeingtheuglysideofthings,andIkeepitupalthoughIknowbetter.ButifIhadachancetobewithyoutwoforsometime,thenyourcompanywouldmakemegood

oncemore.Pardonme,Adolphe![Sheputsherhandagainsthischeek.]

ADOLPHE.Youarealwayswronginyourtalkandrightinyouractions.Whatyoureallythink--thatIdon'tknow.

HENRIETTE.Whodoesknowthatkindofthing?

MAURICE.Well,ifwehadtoanswerforourthoughts,whocouldthenclearhimself?

HENRIETTE.Doyoualsohaveevilthoughts?

MAURICE.Certainly;justasIcommittheworstkindofcrueltiesinmydreams.

HENRIETTE.Oh,whenyouaredreaming,ofcourse--Justthinkofit---No,Iamashamedoftelling--

MAURICE.Goon,goon!

HENRIETTE.LastnightIdreamtthatIwascoollydissectingthemusclesonAdolphe'sbreast--yousee,Iamasculptor--andhe,withhisusualkindness,madenoresistance,buthelpedmeinsteadwiththeworstplaces,asheknowsmoreanatomythanI.

MAURICE.Washedead?

HENRIETTE.No,hewasliving.

MAURICE.Butthat'shorrible!Anddidn'titmakeYOUsuffer?

HENRIETTE.Notatall,andthatastonishedmemost,forIamrathersensitivetootherpeople'ssufferings.Isn'tthatso,Adolphe?


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ADOLPHE.That'sright.Ratherabnormallyso,infact,andnottheleastwhenanimalsareconcerned.

MAURICE.AndI,ontheotherhand,amrathercalloustowardthesufferingsbothofmyselfandothers.

ADOLPHE.Nowheisnottellingthetruthabouthimself.Orwhatdoyousay,MadameCatherine?

MME.CATHERINE.Idon'tknowofanybodywithasofterheartthanMonsieurMaurice.HecamenearcallinginthepolicebecauseIdidn'tgivethegoldfishfreshwater--thoseoverthereonthebuffet.Justlookatthem:itisasiftheycouldhearwhatIamsaying.

MAURICE.Yes,herewearemakingourselvesoutaswhiteasangels,andyetweare,takingitallinall,capableofanykindofpoliteatrocitythemomentglory,gold,orwomenareconcerned--Soyouareasculptor,MademoiselleHenriette?

HENRIETTE.Abitofone.Enoughtodoabust.Andtodooneofyou--whichhaslongbeenmycherisheddream--Iholdmyselfquitecapable.

MAURICE.Goahead!Thatdreamatleastneednotbelongincomingtrue.

HENRIETTE.ButIdon'twanttofixyourfeaturesinmyminduntilthisevening'ssuccessisover.Notuntilthenwillyouhavebecomewhatyoushouldbe.

MAURICE.Howsureyouareofvictory!

HENRIETTE.Yes,itiswrittenonyourfacethatyouaregoingtowinthisbattle,andIthinkyoumustfeelthatyourself.

MAURICE.Whydoyouthinkso?

HENRIETTE.BecauseIcanfeelit.ThismorningIwasill,youknow,andnowIamwell.

(ADOLPHEbeginstolookdepressed.)

MAURICE.[Embarrassed]Listen,Ihaveasingleticketleft--onlyone.Iplaceitatyourdisposal,Adolphe.

ADOLPHE.Thankyou,butIsurrenderittoHenriette.

HENRIETTE.Butthatwouldn'tdo?

ADOLPHE.Whynot?AndInevergotothetheatreanyhow,asIcannotstandtheheat.

HENRIETTE.Butyouwillcomeandtakeushomeatleastaftertheshowisover.

ADOLPHE.Ifyouinsistonit.OtherwiseMauricehastocomebackhere,whereweshallallbewaitingforhim.

MAURICE.Youcanjustaswelltakethetroubleofmeetingus.In


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fact,Iask,Ibegyoutodoso--Andifyoudon'twanttowaitoutsidethetheatre,youcanmeetusattheAubergedesAdrets--That'ssettledthen,isn'tit?

ADOLPHE.Waitalittle.Youhaveawayofsettlingthingstosuityourself,beforeotherpeoplehaveachancetoconsiderthem.

MAURICE.Whatistheretoconsider--whetheryouaretoseeyourladyhomeornot?

ADOLPHE.Youneverknowwhatmaybeinvolvedinasimpleactlikethat,butIhaveasortofpremonition.

HENRIETTE.Hush,hush,hush!Don'ttalkofspookswhilethesunisshining.Lethimcomeornot,asitpleaseshim.Wecanalwaysfindourwaybackhere.

ADOLPHE.[Rising]Well,nowIhavetoleaveyou--model,youknow.Good-bye,bothofyou.Andgoodlucktoyou,Maurice.To-morrowyouwillbeoutontherightside.Good-bye,Henriette.

HENRIETTE.Doyoureallyhavetogo?

ADOLPHE.Imust.

MAURICE.Good-byethen.We'llmeetlater.

(ADOLPHEgoesout,salutingMME.CATHERINEinpassing.)

HENRIETTE.Thinkofit,thatweshouldmeetatlast!

MAURICE.Doyoufindanythingremarkableinthat?

HENRIETTE.Itlooksasifithadtohappen,forAdolphehasdonehisbesttopreventit.

MAURICE.Hashe?

HENRIETTE.Oh,youmusthavenoticedit.

MAURICE.Ihavenoticedit,butwhyshouldyoumentionit?

HENRIETTE.Ihadto.

MAURICE.No,andIdon'thavetotellyouthatIwantedtorunawaythroughthekitcheninordertoavoidmeetingyouandwasstoppedbyaguestwhoclosedthedoorinfrontofme.

HENRIETTE.Whydoyoutellmeaboutitnow?

MAURICE.Idon'tknow.

(MME.CATHERINEupsetsanumberofglassesandbottles.)

MAURICE.That'sallright,MadameCatherine.There'snothingtobeafraidof.

HENRIETTE.Wasthatmeantasasignalorawarning?

MAURICE.Probablyboth.


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HENRIETTE.Dotheytakemeforalocomotivethathastohaveflagmenaheadofit?

MAURICE.Andswitchmen!Thedangerisalwaysgreatestattheswitches.

HENRIETTE.Hownastyyoucanbe!

MME.CATHERINE.MonsieurMauriceisn'tnastyatall.Sofarnobodyhasbeenkinderthanhetothosethatlovehimandtrustinhim.

MAURICE.Sh,sh,sh!

HENRIETTE.[ToMAURICE]Theoldladyisratherimpertinent.

MAURICE.Wecanwalkovertotheboulevard,ifyoucaretodoso.

HENRIETTE.Withpleasure.Thisisnottheplaceforme.Icanjustfeeltheirhatredclawingatme.[Goesout.]

MAURICE.[Startsafterher]Good-bye,MadameCatherine.

MME.CATHERINE.Amoment!MayIspeakawordtoyou,Monsieur

Maurice?

MAURICE.[Stopsunwillingly]Whatisit?

MME.CATHERINE.Don'tdoit!Don'tdoit!

MAURICE.What?

MME.CATHERINE.Don'tdoit!

MAURICE.Don'tbescared.Thisladyisnotmykind,butsheinterestsme.Orhardlythateven.

MME.CATHERINE,Don'ttrustyourself!

MAURICE.Yes,Idotrustmyself.Good-bye.[Goesout.]

(Curtain.)

ACTII

FIRSTSCENE

(TheAubergedesAdrets:acafeinsixteenthcenturystyle,withasuggestionofstageeffect.Tablesandeasy-chairsarescattered

incornersandnooks.Thewallsaredecoratedwitharmourandweapons.Alongtheledgeofthewainscotingstandglassesandjugs.)

(MAURICEandHENRIETTEareineveningdressandsitfacingeachotheratatableonwhichstandsabottleofchampagneandthreefilledglasses.Thethirdglassisplacedatthatsideofthetablewhichisnearestthebackground,andthereaneasy-chairiskeptreadyforthestillmissing"thirdman.")


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MAURICE.[Putshiswatchinfrontofhimselfonthetable]Ifhedoesn'tgetherewithinthenextfiveminutes,heisn'tcomingatall.Andsupposeinthemeantimewedrinkwithhisghost.[Touchesthethirdglasswiththerimofhisown.]

HENRIETTE.[Doingthesame]Here'stoyou,Adolphe!

MAURICE.Hewon'tcome.

HENRIETTE.Hewillcome.

MAURICE.Hewon't.

HENRIETTE.Hewill.

MAURICE.Whatanevening!Whatawonderfulday!Icanhardlygraspthatanewlifehasbegun.Thinkonly:themanagerbelievesthatImaycountonnolessthanonehundredthousandfrancs.I'llspendtwentythousandonavillaoutsidethecity.Thatleavesmeeightythousand.Iwon'tbeabletotakeitallinuntilto-morrow,forIamtired,tired,tired.[Sinksbackintothechair]Haveyoueverfeltreallyhappy?

HENRIETTE.Never.Howdoesitfeel?

MAURICE.Idon'tquiteknowhowtoputit.Icannotexpressit,butIseemchieflytobethinkingofthechagrinofmyenemies.Itisn'tnice,butthat'sthewayitis.

HENRIETTE.Isithappinesstobethinkingofone'senemies?

MAURICE.Why,thevictorhastocounthiskilledandwoundedenemiesinordertogaugetheextentofhisvictory.

HENRIETTE.Areyouasbloodthirstyasallthat?

MAURICE.Perhapsnot.Butwhenyouhavefeltthepressureofother

people'sheelsonyourchestforyears,itmustbepleasanttoshakeofftheenemyanddrawafullbreathatlast.

HENRIETTE.Don'tyoufinditstrangethatyonaresittinghere,alonewithme,aninsignificantgirlpracticallyunknowntoyou--andonaneveninglikethis,whenyououghttohaveacravingtoshowyourselflikeatriumphantherotoallthepeople,ontheboulevards,inthebigrestaurants?

MAURICE.Ofcourse,it'sratherfunny,butitfeelsgoodtobehere,andyourcompanyisallIcarefor.

HENRIETTE.Youdon'tlookveryhilarious.

MAURICE.No,Ifeelrathersad,andIshouldliketoweepalittle.

HENRIETTE.Whatisthemeaningofthat?

MAURICE.Itisfortuneconsciousofitsownnothingnessandwaitingformisfortunetoappear.

HENRIETTE.Ohmy,howsad!Whatisityouaremissinganyhow?


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MAURICE.Imisstheonlythingthatgivesvaluetolife.

HENRIETTE.Soyoulovehernolongerthen?

MAURICE.NotinthewayIunderstandlove.Doyouthinkshehasreadmyplay,orthatshewantstoseeit?Oh,sheissogood,soself-sacrificingandconsiderate,buttogooutwithmeforanight'sfunshewouldregardassinful.OnceItreatedhertochampagne,youknow,andinsteadoffeelinghappyoverit,shepickedupthewinelisttoseewhatitcost.Andwhenshereadtheprice,shewept--weptbecauseMarionwasinneedofnewstockings.Itisbeautiful,ofcourse:itistouching,ifyouplease.ButIcangetnopleasureoutofit.AndIdowantalittlepleasurebeforeliferunsout.SofarIhavehadnothingbutprivation,butnow,now--lifeisbeginningforme.[Theclockstrikestwelve]Nowbeginsanewday,anewera!

HENRIETTE.Adolpheisnotcoming.

MAURICE.No,nowhewon't,come.AndnowitistoolatetogobacktotheCremerie.

HENRIETTE.Buttheyarewaitingforyou.

MAURICE.Letthemwait.Theyhavemademepromisetocome,andItakebackmypromise.Areyoulongingtogothere?

HENRIETTE.Onthecontrary!

MAURICE.Willyoukeepmecompanythen?

HENRIETTE.Withpleasure,ifyoucaretohaveme.

MAURICE.OtherwiseIshouldn'tbeaskingyou.Itisstrange,youknow,thatthevictor'swreathseemsworthlessifyoucan'tplaceitatthefeetofsomewoman--thateverythingseemsworthlesswhen

youhavenotawoman.

HENRIETTE.Youdon'tneedtobewithoutawoman--you?

MAURICE.Well,that'sthequestion.

HENRIETTE.Don'tyouknowthatamanisirresistibleinhishourofsuccessandfame?

MAURICE.No,Idon'tknow,forIhavehadnoexperienceofit.

HENRIETTE.Youareaqueersort!Atthismoment,whenyouarethemostenviedmaninParis,yousithereandbrood.Perhapsyour

conscienceistroublingyoubecauseyouhaveneglectedthatinvitationtodrinkchicorycoffeewiththeoldladyoveratthemilkshop?

MAURICE.Yes,myconscienceistroublingmeonthatscore,andevenhereIamawareoftheirresentment,theirhurtfeelings,theirwell-groundedanger.Mycomradesindistresshadtherighttodemandmypresencethisevening.ThegoodMadameCatherinehadaprivilegedclaimonmysuccess,fromwhichaglimmerofhopewastospreadoverthepoorfellowswhohavenotyetsucceeded.AndI


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haverobbedthemoftheirfaithinme.Icanhearthevowstheyhavebeenmaking:"Mauricewillcome,forheisagoodfellow;hedoesn'tdespiseus,andheneverfailstokeephisword."NowIhavemadethemforswearthemselves.

(Whileheisstillspeaking,somebodyinthenextroomhasbeguntoplaythefinaleofBeethoven'sSonatainD-minor(Op.31,No.3).Theallegrettoisfirstplayedpiano,thenmoreforte,andatlastpassionately,violently,withcompleteabandon.)

MAURICE.Whocanbeplayingatthistimeofthenight?

HENRIETTE.Probablysomenightbirdsofthesamekindaswe.Butlisten!Yourpresentationofthecaseisnotcorrect.RememberthatAdolphepromisedtomeetushere.Wewaitedforhim,andhefailedtokeephispromise.Sothatyouarenottoblame--

MAURICE.Youthinkso?Whileyouarespeaking,Ibelieveyou,butwhenyoustop,myconsciencebeginsagain.Whathaveyouinthatpackage?

HENRIETTE.Oh,itisonlyalaurelwreaththatImeanttosenduptothestage,butIhadnochancetodoso.Letmegiveittoyounow--itissaidtohaveacoolingeffectonburningforeheads.

[Sherisesandcrownshimwiththewreath;thenshekisseshimontheforehead]Hailtothevictor!

MAURICE.Don't!

HENRIETTE.[Kneeling]HailtotheKing!

MAURICE.[Rising]No,nowyouscareme.

HENRIETTE.Youtimidman!Youoflittlefaithwhoareafraidoffortuneeven!Whorobbedyouofyourself-assuranceandturnedyouintoadwarf?

MAURICE.Adwarf?Yes,youareright.Iamnotworkingupintheclouds,likeagiant,withcrashingandroaring,butIforgemyweaponsdeepdowninthesilentheartofthemountain.Youthinkthatmymodestyshrinksbeforethevictor'swreath.Onthecontrary,Idespiseit:itisnotenoughforme.YouthinkIamafraidofthatghostwithitsjealousgreeneyeswhichsitsoverthereandkeepswatchonmyfeelings--thestrengthofwhichyoudon'tsuspect.Away,ghost![Hebrushesthethird,untouchedglassoffthetable]Awaywithyou,yousuperfluousthirdperson--youabsentonewhohaslostyourrights,ifyoueverhadany.Youstayedawayfromthefieldofbattlebecauseyouknewyourselfalreadybeaten.AsIcrushthisglassundermyfoot,soIwillcrushtheimageofyourselfwhichyouhaverearedinatempleno

longeryours.

HENRIETTE.Good!That'stheway!Wellspoken,myhero!

MAURICE.NowIhavesacrificedmybestfriend,mymostfaithfulhelper,onyouraltar,Astarte!Areyousatisfied?

HENRIETTE.Astarteisaprettyname,andI'llkeepit--Ithinkyouloveme,Maurice.


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MAURICE.OfcourseIdo--Womanofevilomen,youwhostirupman'scouragewithyourscentofblood,whencedoyoucomeandwheredoyouleadme?IlovedyoubeforeIsawyou,forItrembledwhenIheardthemspeakofyou.AndwhenIsawyouinthedoorway,yoursoulpoureditselfintomine.Andwhenyouleft,Icouldstillfeelyourpresenceinmyarms.Iwantedtofleefromyou,butsomethingheldmeback,andthiseveningwehavebeendriventogetherasthepreyisdrivenintothehunter'snet.Whoseisthefault?Yourfriend's,whopanderedforus!

HENRIETTE.Faultornofault:whatdoesitmatter,andwhatdoesitmean?--Adolphehasbeenatfaultinnotbringingustogetherbefore.Heisguiltyofhavingstolenfromustwoweeksofbliss,towhichhehadnorighthimself.Iamjealousofhimonyourbehalf.Ihatehimbecausehehascheatedyououtofyourmistress.Ishouldliketoblothimfromthehostoftheliving,andhismemorywithhim--wipehimoutofthepasteven,makehimunmade,unborn!

MAURICE.Well,we'llburyhimbeneathourownmemories.We'llcoverhimwithleavesandbranchesfaroutinthewildwoods,andthenwe'llpilestoneontopofthemoundsothathewillneverlookupagain.[Raisinghisglass]Ourfateissealed.Woeuntous!Whatwillcomenext?

HENRIETTE.Nextcomesthenewera--Whathaveyouinthatpackage?

MAURICE.Icannotremember.

HENRIETTE.[Opensthepackageandtakesoutatieandapairofgloves]Thattieisafright!Itmusthavecostatleastfiftycentimes.

MAURICE.[Snatchingthethingsawayfromher]Don'tyoutouchthem!

HENRIETTE.Theyarefromher?

MAURICE.Yes,theyare.

HENRIETTE.Givethemtome.

MAURICE.No,she'sbetterthanwe,betterthaneverybodyelse.

HENRIETTE.Idon'tbelieveit.Sheissimplystupiderandstingier.Onewhoweepsbecauseyouorderchampagne--

MAURICE.Whenthechildwaswithoutstockings.Yes,sheisagoodwoman.

HENRIETTE.Philistine!You'llneverbeanartist.ButIamanartist,andI'llmakeabustofyouwithashopkeeper'scapinsteadofthelaurelwreath--HernameisJeanne?

MAURICE.Howdoyouknow?

HENRIETTE.Why,that'sthenameofallhousekeepers.

MAURICE.Henriette!


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(HENRIETTEtakesthetieandtheglovesandthrowsthemintothefireplace.)

MAURICE.[Weakly]Astarte,nowyoudemandthesacrificeofwomen.Youshallhavethem,butifyouaskforinnocentchildren,too,thenI'llsendyoupacking.

HENRIETTE.Canyoutellmewhatitisthatbindsyoutome?

MAURICE.IfIonlyknew,Ishouldbeabletotearmyselfaway.ButIbelieveitmustbethosequalitieswhichyouhaveandIlack.Ibelievethattheevilwithinyoudrawsmewiththeirresistiblelureofnovelty.

HENRIETTE.Haveyouevercommittedacrime?

MAURICE.Norealone.Haveyou?

HENRIETTE.Yes.

MAURICE.Well,howdidyoufindit?

HENRIETTE.Itwasgreaterthantoperformagooddeed,forbythatweareplacedonequalitywithothers;itwasgreaterthanto

performsomeactofheroism,forbythatweareraisedaboveothersandrewarded.Thatcrimeplacedmeoutsideandbeyondlife,society,andmyfellow-beings.SincethenIamlivingonlyapartiallife,asortofdreamlife,andthat'swhyrealitynevergetsaholdonme.

MAURICE.Whatwasityoudid?

HENRIETTE.Iwon'ttell,forthenyouwouldgetscaredagain.

MAURICE.Canyouneverbefoundout?

HENRIETTE.Never.Butthatdoesnotpreventmefromseeing,

frequently,thefivestonesatthePlacedeRoquette,wherethescaffoldusedtostand;andforthisreasonIneverdaretoopenapackofcards,asIalwaysturnupthefive-spotofdiamonds.

MAURICE.Wasitthatkindofacrime?

HENRIETTE.Yes,itwasthatkind.

MAURICE.Ofcourse,it'shorrible,butitisinteresting.Haveyounoconscience?

HENRIETTE.None,butIshouldbegratefulifyouwouldtalkofsomethingelse.

MAURICE.Supposewetalkof--love?

HENRIETTE.Ofthatyoudon'ttalkuntilitisover.

MAURICE.HaveyoubeeninlovewithAdolphe?

HENRIETTE.Idon'tknow.Thegoodnessofhisnaturedrewmelikesomebeautiful,allbutvanishedmemoryofchildhood.Yettherewasmuchabouthispersonthatoffendedmyeye,sothatIhadto


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spendalongtimeretouching,altering,adding,subtracting,beforeIcouldmakeapresentablefigureofhim.Whenhetalked,Icouldnoticethathehadlearnedfromyou,andthelessonwasoftenbadlydigestedandawkwardlyapplied.Youcanimaginethenhowmiserablethecopymustappearnow,whenIampermittedtostudytheoriginal.That'swhyhewasafraidofhavingustwomeet;andwhenitdidhappen,heunderstoodatoncethathistimewasup.

MAURICE.PoorAdolphe!

HENRIETTE.Ifeelsorryforhim,too,asIknowhemustbesufferingbeyondallbounds--

MAURICE.Sh!Somebodyiscoming.

HENRIETTE.Iwonderifitcouldbehe?

MAURICE.Thatwouldbeunbearable.

HENRIETTE.No,itisn'the,butifithadbeen,howdoyouthinkthesituationwouldhaveshapeditself?

MAURICE.Atfirsthewouldhavebeenalittlesoreatyoubecause

hehadmadeamistakeinregardtothemeeting-place--andtriedtofindusinseveralothercafes--buthissorenesswouldhavechangedintopleasureatfindingus--andseeingthatwehadnotdeceivedhim.Andinthejoyathavingwrongedusbyhissuspicions,hewouldlovebothofus.Andsoitwouldmakehimhappytonoticethatwehadbecomesuchgoodfriends.Ithadalwaysbeenhisdream--hm!heismakingthespeechnow--hisdreamthatthethreeofusshouldformatriumviratethatcouldsettheworldagreatexampleoffriendshipaskingfornothing--"Yes,Itrustyou,Maurice,partlybecauseyouaremyfriend,andpartlybecauseyourfeelingsaretiedupelsewhere."

HENRIETTE.Bravo!Youmusthavebeeninasimilarsituation

before,oryoucouldn'tgivesuchalifelikepictureofit.DoyouknowthatAdolpheisjustthatkindofathirdpersonwhocannotenjoyhismistresswithouthavinghisfriendalong?

MAURICE.That'swhyIhadtobecalledintoentertainyou--Hush!Thereissomebodyoutside--Itmustbehe.

HENRIETTE.No,don'tyouknowthesearethehourswhenghostswalk,andthenyoucanseesomanythings,andhearthemalso.Tokeepawakeatnight,whenyououghttobesleeping,hasformethesamecharmasacrime:itistoplaceoneselfaboveandbeyondthelawsofnature.

MAURICE.Butthepunishmentisfearful--Iamshiveringorquivering,withcoldorwithfear.

HENRIETTE.[Wrapsheroperacloakabouthim]Putthison.Itwillmakeyouwarm.

MAURICE.That'snice.ItisasifIwereinsideofyourskin,asifmybodyhadbeenmeltedupbylackofsleepandwerebeingremouldedinyourshape.Icanfeelthemouldingprocessgoingon.ButIamalsogrowinganewsoul,newthoughts,andhere,where


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yourbosomhasleftanimpression,Icanfeelmyownbeginningtobulge.

(Duringthisentirescene,thepianistinthenextroomhasbeenpracticingtheSonatainD-minor,sometimespianissimo,sometimeswildlyfortissimo;nowandthenhehaskeptsilentforalittlewhile,andatothertimesnothinghasbeenheardbutapartofthefinale:bars96to107.)

MAURICE.Whatamonster,tositthereallnightpracticingonthepiano.Itgivesmeasickfeeling.DoyouknowwhatIpropose?LetusdriveouttotheBoisdeBoulogneandtakebreakfastinthePavilion,andseethesunriseoverthelakes.

HENRIETTE.Bully!

MAURICE.ButfirstofallImustarrangetohavemymailandthemorningpaperssentoutbymessengertothePavilion.Tellme,Henriette:shallweinviteAdolphe?

HENRIETTE.Oh,that'sgoingtoofar!Butwhynot?Theasscanalsobeharnessedtothetriumphalchariot.Lethimcome.[Theygetup.]

MAURICE.[Takingoffthecloak]ThenI'llring.

HENRIETTE.Waitamoment![Throwsherselfintohisarms.]

(Curtain.)

SECONDSCENE

(Alarge,splendidlyfurnishedrestaurantroomintheBoisdeBoulogne.Itisrichlycarpetedandfullofmirrors,easy-chairs,anddivans.Thereareglassdoorsinthebackground,andbesidethemwindowsoverlookingthelakes.Intheforegroundatableis

spread,withflowersinthecentre,bowlsfulloffruit,wineindecanters,oystersonplatters,manydifferentkindsofwineglasses,andtwolightedcandelabra.Ontherightthereisaroundtablefullofnewspapersandtelegrams.)

(MAURICEandHENRIETTEaresittingoppositeeachotheratthissmalltable.)

(Thesunisjustrisingoutside.)

MAURICE.Thereisnolongeranydoubtaboutit.Thenewspaperstellmeitisso,andthesetelegramscongratulatemeonmysuccess.Thisisthebeginningofanewlife,andmyfateis

weddedtoyoursbythisnight,whenyouweretheonlyonetosharemyhopesandmytriumph.FromyourhandIreceivedthelaurel,anditseemstomeasifeverythinghadcomefromyou.

HENRIETTE.Whatawonderfulnight!Havewebeendreaming,oristhissomethingwehavereallylivedthrough?

MAURICE.[Rising]Andwhatamorningaftersuchanight!Ifeelasifitweretheworld'sfirstdaythatisnowbeingilluminedbytherisingsun.Onlythisminutewastheearthcreatedand


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strippedofthosewhitefilmsthatarenowfloatingoffintospace.ThereliestheGardenofEdenintherosylightofdawn,andhereisthefirsthumancouple--Doyouknow,IamsohappyIcouldcryatthethoughtthatallmankindisnotequallyhappy--Doyouhearthatdistantmurmurasofoceanwavesbeatingagainstarockyshore,asofwindssweepingthroughaforest?Doyouknowwhatitis?ItisPariswhisperingmyname.Doyouseethecolumnsofsmokethatriseskywardinthousandsandtensofthousands?Theyarethefiresburningonmyaltars,andifthatbenotso,thenitmustbecomeso,forIwillit.AtthismomentallthetelegraphinstrumentsofEuropeareclickingoutmyname.TheOrientalExpressiscarryingthenewspaperstotheFarEast,towardtherisingsun;andtheoceansteamersarecarryingthemtotheutmostWest.Theearthismine,andforthatreasonitisbeautiful.NowIshouldliketohavewingsforustwo,sothatwemightrisefromhereandflyfar,faraway,beforeanybodycansoilmyhappiness,beforeenvyhasachancetowakemeoutofmydream--foritisprobablyadream!

HENRIETTE.[Holdingoutherhandtohim]Hereyoucanfeelthatyouarenotdreaming.

MAURICE.Itisnotadream,butithasbeenone.Asapooryoungman,youknow,whenIwaswalkinginthewoodsdownthere,and

lookeduptothisPavilion,itlookedtomelikeafairycastle,andalwaysmythoughtscarriedmeuptothisroom,withthebalconyoutsideandtheheavycurtains,astoaplaceofsupremebliss.Tobesittinghereincompanywithabelovedwomanandseethesunrisewhilethecandleswerestillburninginthecandelabra:thatwasthemostaudaciousdreamofmyyouth.Nowithascometrue,andnowIhavenomoretoaskoflife--Doyouwanttodienow,togetherwithme?

HENRIETTE.No,youfool!NowIwanttobeginliving.

MAURICE.[Rising]Tolive:thatistosuffer!Nowcomesreality.Icanhearhisstepsonthestairs.Heispantingwithalarm,and

hisheartisbeatingwithdreadofhavinglostwhatitholdsmostprecious.CanyoubelievemeifItellyouthatAdolpheisunderthisroof?Withinaminutehewillbestandinginthemiddleofthisfloor.

HENRIETTE.[Alarmed]Itwasastupidtricktoaskhimtocomehere,andIamalreadyregrettingit--Well,weshallseeanyhowifyourforecastofthesituationprovescorrect.

MAURICE.Oh,itiseasytobemistakenaboutaperson'sfeelings.

(TheHEADWAITERenterswithacard.)

MAURICE.Askthegentlemantostepin.[ToHENRIETTE]Iamafraidwe'llregretthis.

HENRIETTE.Toolatetothinkofthatnow--Hush!

(ADOLPHEenters,paleandhollow-eyed.)

MAURICE.[Tryingtospeakunconcernedly]Thereyouare!Whatbecameofyoulastnight?


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ADOLPHE.IlookedforyouattheHoteldesArretsandwaitedawholehour.

MAURICE.Soyouwenttothewrongplace.WewerewaitingseveralhoursforyouattheAubergedesAdrets,andwearestillwaitingforyou,asyousee.

ADOLPHE.[Relieved]Thankheaven!

HENRIETTE.Goodmorning,Adolphe.Youarealwaysexpectingtheworstandworryingyourselfneedlessly.Isupposeyouimaginedthatwewantedtoavoidyourcompany.Andthoughyouseethatwesentforyou,youarestillthinkingyourselfsuperfluous.

ADOLPHE.Pardonme:Iwaswrong,butthenightwasdreadful.

(Theysitdown.Embarrassedsilencefollows.)

HENRIETTE.[ToADOLPHE]Well,areyounotgoingtocongratulateMauriceonhisgreatsuccess?

ADOLPHE.Oh,yes!Yoursuccessistherealthing,andenvyitselfcannotdenyit.Everythingisgivingwaybeforeyou,andevenIhaveasenseofmyownsmallnessinyourpresence.

MAURICE.Nonsense!--Henriette,areyounotgoingtoofferAdolpheaglassofwine?

ADOLPHE.Thankyou,notforme--nothingatall!

HENRIETTE.[ToADOLPHE]What'sthematterwithyou?Areyouill?

ADOLPHE.Notyet,but--

HENRIETTE.Youreyes--

ADOLPHE.Whatofthem?

MAURICE.WhathappenedattheCremerielastnight?Isupposetheyareangrywithme?

ADOLPHE.Nobodyisangrywithyou,butyourabsencecausedadepressionwhichithurtmetowatch.Butnobodywasangrywithyou,believeme.Yourfriendsunderstood,andtheyregardedyourfailuretocomewithsympatheticforbearance.MadameCatherineherselfdefendedyouandproposedyourhealth.Weallrejoicedinyoursuccessasifithadbeenourown.

HENRIETTE.Well,thosearenicepeople!Whatgoodfriendsyouhave,Maurice.

MAURICE.Yes,betterthanIdeserve.

ADOLPHE.Nobodyhasbetterfriendsthanhedeserves,andyouareamangreatlyblessedinhisfriends--Can'tyoufeelhowtheairissoftenedto-daybyallthekindthoughtsandwishesthatstreamtowardyoufromathousandbreasts?

(MAURICErisesinordertohidehisemotion.)


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ADOLPHE.Fromathousandbreaststhatyouhaveridofthenightmarethathadbeencrushingthemduringalifetime.Humanityhadbeenslandered--andyouhaveexoneratedit:that'swhymenfeelgratefultowardyou.To-daytheyareoncemoreholdingtheirheadshighandsaying:Yousee,wearealittlebetterthanourreputationafterall.Andthatthoughtmakesthembetter.

(HENRIETTEtriestohideheremotion.)

ADOLPHE.AmIintheway?Justletmewarmmyselfalittleinyoursunshine,Maurice,andthenI'llgo.

MAURICE.Whyshouldyougowhenyouhaveonlyjustarrived?

ADOLPHE.Why?BecauseIhaveseenwhatIneednothaveseen;becauseIknownowthatmyhourispast.[Pause]Thatyousentforme,Itakeasanexpressionofthoughtfulness,anoticeofwhathashappened,afranknessthathurtslessthandeceit.YouhearthatIthinkwellofmyfellow-beings,andthisIhavelearnedfromyou,Maurice.[Pause]But,myfriend,afewmomentsagoIpassedthroughtheChurchofSt.Germain,andthereIsawawomanandachild.Iamnotwishingthatyouhadseenthem,forwhathashappenedcannotbealtered,butifyougaveathoughtorawordtothembeforeyousetthemadriftonthewatersofthegreatcity,

thenyoucouldenjoyyourhappinessundisturbed.AndnowIbidyougood-by.

HENRIETTE.Whymustyougo?

ADOLPHE.Andyouaskthat?Doyouwantmetotellyou?

HENRIETTE.No,Idon't.

ADOLPHE.Good-bythen![Goesout.]

MAURICE.TheFall:andlo!"theyknewthattheywerenaked."

HENRIETTE.Whatadifferencebetweenthissceneandtheoneweimagined!Heisbetterthanwe.

MAURICE.Itseemstomenowasifalltherestwerebetterthanwe.

HENRIETTE.Doyouseethatthesunhasvanishedbehindclouds,andthatthewoodshavelosttheirrosecolour?

MAURICE.Yes,Isee,andthebluelakehasturnedblack.Letusfleetosomeplacewheretheskyisalwaysblueandthetreesarealwaysgreen.

HENRIETTE.Yes,letus--butwithoutanyfarewells.

MAURICE.No,withfarewells.

HENRIETTE.Weweretofly.Youspokeofwings--andyourfeetareoflead.Iamnotjealous,butifyougotosayfarewellandgettwopairsofarmsaroundyourneck--thenyoucan'ttearyourselfaway.

MAURICE.Perhapsyouareright,butonlyonepairoflittlearms


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isneededtoholdmefast.

HENRIETTE.Itisthechildthatholdsyouthen,andnotthewoman?

MAURICE.Itisthechild.

HENRIETTE.Thechild!Anotherwoman'schild!AndforthesakeofitIamtosuffer.WhymustthatchildblockthewaywhereIwanttopass,andmustpass?

MAURICE.Yes,why?Itwouldbebetterifithadneverexisted.

HENRIETTE.[Walksexcitedlybackandforth]Indeed!Butnowitdoesexist.Likearockontheroad,arocksetfirmlyintheground,immovable,sothatitupsetsthecarriage.

MAURICE.Thetriumphalchariot!--Theassisdriventodeath,buttherockremains.Curseit![Pause.]

HENRIETTE.Thereisnothingtodo.

MAURICE.Yes,wemustgetmarried,andthenourchildwillmakeusforgettheotherone.

HENRIETTE.Thiswillkillthis!

MAURICE.Kill!Whatkindofwordisthat?

HENRIETTE.[Changingtone]Yourchildwillkillourlove.

MAURICE.No,girl,ourlovewillkillwhateverstandsinitsway,butitwillnotbekilled.

HENRIETTE.[Opensadeckofcardslyingonthemantlepiece]Lookatit!Five-spotofdiamonds--thescaffold!Canitbepossiblethatourfatesaredeterminedinadvance?Thatourthoughtsareguidedasifthroughpipestothespotforwhichtheyarebound,

withoutchanceforustostopthem?ButIdon'twantit,Idon'twantit!--DoyourealisethatImustgotothescaffoldifmycrimeshouldbediscovered?

MAURICE.Tellmeaboutyourcrime.Nowisthetimeforit.

HENRIETTE.No,Ishouldregretitafterward,andyouwoulddespiseme--no,no,no!--Haveyoueverheardthatapersoncouldbehatedtodeath?Well,myfatherincurredthehatredofmymotherandmysisters,andhemeltedawaylikewaxbeforeafire.Ugh!Letustalkofsomethingelse.And,aboveall,letusgetaway.Theairispoisonedhere.To-morrowyourlaurelswillbewithered,thetriumphwillbeforgotten,andinaweekanothertriumphanthero

willholdthepublicattention.Awayfromhere,toworkfornewvictories!Butfirstofall,Maurice,youmustembraceyourchildandprovideforitsimmediatefuture.Youdon'thavetoseethemotheratall.

MAURICE.Thankyou!Yourgoodheartdoesyouhonour,andIloveyoudoublywhenyoushowthekindnessyougenerallyhide.

HENRIETTE.AndthenyougototheCremerieandsaygood-bytotheoldladyandyourfriends.Leavenounsettledbusinessbehindto


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makeyourmindheavyonourtrip.

MAURICE.I'llclearupeverything,andto-nightwemeetattherailroadstation.

HENRIETTE.Agreed!Andthen:awayfromhere--awaytowardtheseaandthesun!

(Curtain.)

ACTIII

FIRSTSCENE

(IntheCremerie.Thegasislit.MME.CATHERINEisseatedatthecounter,ADOLPHEatatable.)

MME.CATHERINE.Suchislife,MonseiurAdolphe.Butyouyoungonesarealwaysdemandingtoomuch,andthenyoucomehereandblubberoveritafterward.

ADOLPHE.No,itisn'tthat.Ireproachnobody,andIamasfondaseverofbothofthem.Butthereisonethingthatmakesmesickat

heart.Yousee,IthoughtmoreofMauricethanofanybodyelse;somuchthatIwouldn'thavegrudgedhimanythingthatcouldgivehimpleasure--butnowIhavelosthim,andithurtsmeworsethanthelossofher.Ihavelostbothofthem,andsomylonelinessismadedoublypainful.AndthenthereisstillsomethingelsewhichIhavenotyetbeenabletoclearup.

MME.CATHERINE.Don'tbroodsomuch.Workanddivertyourself.Now,forinstance,doyouevergotochurch?

ADOLPHE.WhatshouldIdothere?

MME.CATHERINE.Oh,there'ssomuchtolookat,andthenthereis

themusic.Thereisnothingcommonplaceaboutit,atleast.

ADOLPHE.Perhapsnot.ButIdon'tbelongtothatfold,Iguess,foritneverstirsmetoanydevotion.Andthen,MadameCatherine,faithisagift,theytellme,andIhaven'tgotityet.

MME.CATHERINE.Well,waittillyougetit--ButwhatisthisIheardawhileago?IsittruethatyouhavesoldapictureinLondonforahighprice,andthatyouhavegotamedal?

ADOLPHE.Yes,it'strue.

MME.CATHERINE.Mercifulheavens!--andnotaworddoyousayabout

it?

ADOLPHE.Iamafraidoffortune,andbesidesitseemsalmostworthlesstomeatthismoment.Iamafraidofitasofaspectre:itbringsdisastertospeakofhavingseenit.

MME.CATHERINE.You'reaqueerfellow,andthat'swhatyouhavealwaysbeen.

ADOLPHE.Notqueeratall,butIhaveseensomuchmisfortunecome


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inthewakeoffortune,andIhaveseenhowadversitybringsouttruefriends,whilenonebutfalseonesappearinthehourofsuccess--YouaskedmeifIeverwenttochurch,andIansweredevasively.ThismorningIsteppedintotheChurchofSt.GermainwithoutreallyknowingwhyIdidso.ItseemedasifIwerelookingforsomebodyinthere--somebodytowhomIcouldsilentlyoffermygratitude.ButIfoundnobody.ThenIdroppedagoldcoininthepoor-box.ItwasallIcouldgetoutofmychurch-going,andthatwasrathercommonplace,Ishouldsay.

MME.CATHERINE.Itwasalwayssomething;andthenitwasfinetothinkofthepoorafterhavingheardgoodnews.

ADOLPHE.Itwasneitherfinenoranythingelse:itwassomethingIdidbecauseIcouldn'thelpmyself.ButsomethingmoreoccurredwhileIwasinthechurch.IsawMaurice'sgirlfriend,Jeanne,andherchild.Struckdown,crushedbyhistriumphalchariot,theyseemedawareofthefullextentoftheirmisfortune.

MME.CATHERINE.Well,children,Idon'tknowinwhatkindofshapeyoukeepyourconsciences.Buthowadecentfellow,acarefulandconsideratemanlikeMonsieurMaurice,canallofasuddendesertawomanandherchild,thatissomethingIcannotexplain.

ADOLPHE.NorcanIexplainit,andhedoesn'tseemtounderstandithimself.Imetthemthismorning,andeverythingappearedquitenaturaltothem,quiteproper,asiftheycouldn'timagineanythingelse.Itwasasiftheyhadbeenenjoyingthesatisfactionofagooddeedorthefulfilmentofasacredduty.Therearethings,MadameCatherine,thatwecannotexplain,andforthisreasonitisnotforustojudge.Andbesides,yousawhowithappened.Mauricefeltthedangerintheair.Iforesawitandtriedtopreventtheirmeeting.Mauricewantedtorunawayfromit,butnothinghelped.Why,itwasasifaplothadbeenlaidbysomeinvisiblepower,andasiftheyhadbeendrivenbyguileintoeachother'sarms.Ofcourse,Iamdisqualifiedinthiscase,butIwouldn'thesitatetopronounceaverdictof"notguilty."

MME.CATHERINE.Well,now,tobeabletoforgiveasyoudo,that'swhatIcallreligion.

ADOLPHE.Heavens,coulditbethatIamreligiouswithoutknowingit.

MME.CATHERINE.Butthen,to_let_oneselfbedrivenortemptedintoevil,asMonsieurMauricehasdone,meansweaknessorbadcharacter.Andifyoufeelyourstrengthfailingyou,thenyouaskforhelp,andthenyougetit.Buthewastooconceitedtodothat--Whoisthiscoming?TheAbbe,Ithink.

ADOLPHE.Whatdoeshewanthere?

ABBE.[Enters]Goodevening,madame.Goodevening,Monsieur.

MME.CATHERINE.CanIbeofanyservice?

ABBE.HasMonsieurMaurice,theauthor,beenhereto-day?

MME.CATHERINE.Notto-day.Hisplayhasjustbeenputon,andthatisprobablykeepinghimbusy.


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ABBE.Ihave--sadnewstobringhim.Sadinseveralrespects.

MME.CATHERINE.MayIaskofwhatkind?

ABBE.Yes,it'snosecret.Thedaughterhehadwiththatgirl,Jeanne,isdead.

MME.CATHERINE.Dead!

ADOLPHE.Mariondead!

ABBE.Yes,shediedsuddenlythismorningwithoutanypreviousillness.

MME.CATHERINE.OLord,whocantellThyways!

ABBE.Themother'sgriefmakesitnecessarythatMonsieurMauricelookafterher,sowemusttrytofindhim.Butfirstaquestioninconfidence:doyouknowwhetherMonsieurMauricewasfondofthechild,orwasindifferenttoit?

MME.CATHERINE.IfhewasfondofMarion?Why,allofusknowhowhelovedher.

ADOLPHE.There'snodoubtaboutthat.

ABBE.Iamgladtohearit,anditsettlesthemattersofarasIamconcerned.

MME.CATHERINE.Hastherebeenanydoubtaboutit?

ABBE.Yes,unfortunately.Ithasevenbeenrumouredintheneighbourhoodthathehadabandonedthechildanditsmotherinordertogoawaywithastrangewoman.Inafewhoursthisrumourhasgrownintodefiniteaccusations,andatthesametimethefeelingagainsthimhasrisentosuchapointthathislifeis

threatenedandheisbeingcalledamurderer.

MME.CATHERINE.GoodGod,whatis_this_?Whatdoesitmean?

ABBE.NowI'lltellyoumyopinion--Iamconvincedthatthemanisinnocentonthisscore,andthemotherfeelsascertainaboutitasIdo.ButappearancesareagainstMonsieurMaurice,andIthinkhewillfinditratherhardtoclearhimselfwhenthepolicecometoquestionhim.

ADOLPHE.Havethepolicegotholdofthematter?

ABBE.Yea,thepolicehavehadtostepintoprotecthimagainst

allthoseuglyrumoursandtherageofthepeople.ProbablytheCommissairewillbeheresoon.

MME.CATHERINE.[ToADOLPHE]Thereyouseewhathappenswhenamancannottellthedifferencebetweengoodandevil,andwhenhetrifleswithvice.Godwillpunish!

ADOLPHE.Thenheismoremercilessthanman.

ABBE.Whatdoyouknowaboutthat?


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ADOLPHE.Notverymuch,butIkeepaneyeonwhathappens--

ABBE.Andyouunderstanditalso?

ADOLPHE.Notyetperhaps.

ABBE.Letuslookmorecloselyatthematter--Oh,herecomestheCommissaire.

COMMISSAIRE.[Enters]Gentlemen--MadameCatherine--IhavetotroubleyouforamomentwithafewquestionsconcerningMonsieurMaurice.Asyouhaveprobablyheard,hehasbecometheobjectofahideousrumour,which,bytheby,Idon'tbelievein.

MME.CATHERINE.Noneofusbelievesiniteither.

COMMISSAIRE.Thatstrengthensmyownopinion,butforhisownsakeImustgivehimachancetodefendhimself.

ABBE.That'sright,andIguesshewillfindjustice,althoughitmaycomehard.

COMMISSAIRE.Appearancesareverymuchagainsthim,butIhave

seenguiltlesspeoplereachthescaffoldbeforetheirinnocencewasdiscovered.Letmetellyouwhatthereisagainsthim.Thelittlegirl,Marion,beingleftalonebyhermother,wassecretlyvisitedbythefather,whoseemstohavemadesureofthetimewhenthechildwastobefoundalone.Fifteenminutesafterhisvisitthemotherreturnedhomeandfoundthechilddead.Allthismakesthepositionoftheaccusedmanveryunpleasant--Thepost-mortemexaminationbroughtoutnosignsofviolenceorofpoison,butthephysiciansadmittheexistenceofnewpoisonsthatleavenotracesbehindthem.TomeallthisismerecoincidenceofthekindIfrequentlycomeacross.Buthere'ssomethingthatlooksworse.LastnightMonsieurMauricewasseenattheAubergedesAdretsincompanywithastrangelady.Accordingtothewaiter,

theyweretalkingaboutcrimes.ThePlacedeRoquetteandthescaffoldwerebothmentioned.Aqueertopicofconversationforapairofloversofgoodbreedingandgoodsocialposition!Buteventhismaybepassedover,asweknowbyexperiencethatpeoplewhohavebeendrinkingandlosingalotofsleepseeminclinedtodigupalltheworstthatliesatthebottomoftheirsouls.FarmoreseriousistheevidencegivenbytheheadwaiterastotheirchampagnebreakfastintheBoisdeBoulognethismorning.Hesaysthatheheardthemwishthelifeoutofachild.Themanissaidtohaveremarkedthat,"Itwouldbebetterifithadneverexisted."Towhichthewomanreplied:"Indeed!Butnowitdoesexist."Andastheywentontalking,thesewordsoccurred:"Thiswillkillthis!"Andtheanswerwas:"Kill!Whatkindofwordis

that?"Andalso:"Thefive-spotofdiamonds,thescaffold,thePlacedeRoquette."Allthis,yousee,willbehardtogetoutof,andsowilltheforeignjourneyplannedforthisevening.Theseareseriousmatters.

ADOLPHE.Heislost!

MME.CATHERINE.That'sadreadfulstory.Onedoesn'tknowwhattobelieve.


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ABBE.Thisisnottheworkofman.Godhavemercyonhim!

ADOLPHE.Heisinthenet,andhewillnevergetoutofit.

MME.CATHERINE.Hehadnobusinesstogetin.

ADOLPHE.Doyoubegintosuspecthimalso,MadameCatherine?

MME.CATHERINE.Yesandno.Ihavegotbeyondhavinganopinioninthismatter.Haveyounotseenangelsturnintodevilsjustasyouturnyourhand,andthenbecomeangelsagain?

COMMISSAIRE.Itcertainlydoeslookqueer.However,we'llhavetowaitandhearwhatexplanationshecangive.Noonewillbejudgedunheard.Goodevening,gentlemen.Goodevening,MadameCatherine.[Goesout.]

ABBE.Thisisnottheworkofman.

ADOLPHE.No,itlooksasifdemonshadbeenatworkfortheundoingofman.

ABBE.Itiseitherapunishmentforsecretmisdeeds,oritisaterribletest.

JEANNE.[Enters,dressedinmourning]Goodevening.Pardonmeforasking,buthaveyouseenMonsieurMaurice?

MME.CATHERINE.No,madame,butIthinkhemaybehereanyminute.Youhaven'tmethimthensince--

JEANNE.Notsincethismorning.

MME.CATHERINE.LetmetellyouthatIshareinyourgreatsorrow.

JEANNE.Thankyou,madame.[TotheABBE]Soyouarehere,Father.

ABBE.Yes,mychild.IthoughtImightbeofsomeusetoyou.Anditwasfortunate,asitgavemeachancetospeaktotheCommissaire.

JEANNE.TheCommissaire!Hedoesn'tsuspectMauricealso,doeshe?

ABBE.No,hedoesn't,andnoneofusheredo.Butappearancesareagainsthiminamostappallingmanner.

JEANNE.Youmeanonaccountofthetalkthewaitersoverheard--itmeansnothingtome,whohasheardsuchthingsbeforewhenMauricehadhadafewdrinks.Thenitishiscustomtospeculateoncrimesandtheirpunishment.Besidesitseemstohavebeenthewomanin

hiscompanywhodroppedthemostdangerousremarks.Ishouldliketohavealookintothatwoman'seyes.

ADOLPHE.MydearJeanne,nomatterhowmuchharmthatwomanmayhavedoneyou,shedidnothingwithevilintention--infact,shehadnointentionwhatever,butjustfollowedthepromptingsofhernature.Iknowhertobeagoodsoulandonewhocanverywellbearbeinglookedstraightintheeye.

JEANNE.Yourjudgmentinthismatter,Adolphe,hasgreatvalueto


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me,andIbelievewhatyousay.ItmeansthatIcannotholdanybodybutmyselfresponsibleforwhathashappened.Itismycarelessnessthatisnowbeingpunished.[Shebeginstocry.]

ABBE.Don'taccuseyourselfunjustly!Iknowyou,andtheseriousspiritinwhichyouhaveregardedyourmotherhood.Thatyourassumptionofthisresponsibilityhadnotbeensanctionedbyreligionandthecivillawwasnotyourfault.No,weareherefacingsomethingquitedifferent.

ADOLPHE.Whatthen?

ABBE.Whocantell?

(HENRIETTEenters,dressedintravellingsuit.)

ADOLPHE.[RiseswithanairofdeterminationandgoestomeetHENRIETTE]Youhere?

HENRIETTE.Yes,whereisMaurice?

ADOLPHE.Doyouknow--ordon'tyou?

HENRIETTE.Iknoweverything.Excuseme,MadameCatherine,butI

wasreadytostartandabsolutelyhadtostepinhereamoment.[ToADOLPHE]Whoisthatwoman?--Oh!

(HENRIETTEandJEANNEstareateachother.)

(EMILEappearsinthekitchendoor.)

HENRIETTE.[ToJEANNE]Ioughttosaysomething,butitmattersverylittle,foranythingIcansaymustsoundlikeaninsultoramockery.ButifIaskyousimplytobelievethatIshareyourdeepsorrowasmuchasanybodystandingclosertoyou,thenyoumustnotturnawayfromme.Youmustn't,forIdeserveyourpityifnotyourforbearance.[Holdsoutherhand.]

JEANNE.[Lookshardather]Ibelieveyounow--andinthenextmomentIdon't.[TakesHENRIETTE'Shand.]

HENRIETTE.[KissesJEANNE'Shand]Thankyou!

JEANNE.[Drawingbackherhand]Oh,don't!Idon'tdeserveit!Idon'tdeserveit!

ABBE.Pardonme,butwhilewearegatheredhereandpeaceseemstoprevailtemporarilyatleast,won'tyou,MademoiselleHenriette,shedsomelightintoalltheuncertaintyanddarknesssurroundingthemainpointofaccusation?Iaskyou,asafriendamong

friends,totelluswhatyoumeantwithallthattalkaboutkilling,andcrime,andthePlacedeRoquette.Thatyourwordshadnoconnectionwiththedeathofthechild,wehavereasontobelieve,butitwouldgiveusaddedassurancetohearwhatyouwerereallytalkingabout.Won'tyoutellus?

HENRIETTE.[Afterapause]ThatIcannottell!No,Icannot!

ADOLPHE.Henriette,dotell!Giveusthewordthatwillrelieveusall.


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HENRIETTE.Icannot!Don'taskme!

ABBE.Thisisnottheworkofman!

HENRIETTE.Oh,thatthismomenthadtocome!Andinthismanner![ToJEANNE]Madame,IswearthatIamnotguiltyofyourchild'sdeath.Isthatenough?

JEANNE.Enoughforus,butnotforJustice.

HENRIETTE.Justice!Ifyouknewhowtrueyourwordsare!

ABBE.[ToHENRIETTE]Andifyouknewwhatyouweresayingjustnow!

HENRIETTE.DoyouknowthatbetterthanI?

ABBE.Yes,Ido.

(HENRIETTElooksfixedlyattheABBE.)

ABBE.Havenofear,forevenifIguessyoursecret,itwillnotbeexposed.Besides,Ihavenothingtodowithhumanjustice,but

agreatdealwithdivinemercy.

MAURICE.[Entershastily,dressedfortravelling.Hedoesn'tlookattheothers,whoarestandinginthebackground,butgoesstraightuptothecounter,whereMME.CATHERINEissitting.]Youarenotangryatme,MadameCatherine,becauseIdidn'tshowup.IhavecomenowtoapologisetoyoubeforeIstartfortheSouthateighto'clockthisevening.

(MME.CATHERINEistoostartledtosayaword.)

MAURICE.Thenyouareangryatme?[Looksaround]Whatdoesallthismean?Isitadream,orwhatisit?Ofcourse,Icanseethat

itisallreal,butitlookslikeawaxcabinet--ThereisJeanne,lookinglikeastatueanddressedinblack--AndHenriettelookinglikeacorpse--Whatdoesitmean?

(Allremainsilent.)

MAURICE.Nobodyanswers.Itmustmeansomethingdreadful.[Silence]Butspeak,please!Adolphe,youaremyfriend,whatisit?[PointingtoEMILE]Andthereisadetective!

ADOLPHE.[Comesforward]Youdon'tknowthen?

MAURICE.Nothingatall.ButImustknow!

ADOLPHE.Well,then--Marionisdead.

MAURICE.Marion--dead?

ADOLPHE.Yes,shediedthismorning.

MAURICE.[ToJEANNE]Sothat'swhyyouareinmourning.Jeanne,Jeanne,whohasdonethistous?


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JEANNE.Hewhoholdslifeanddeathinhishand.

MAURICE.ButIsawherlookingwellandhappythismorning.Howdidithappen?Whodidit?Somebodymusthavedoneit?[HiseyesseekHENRIETTE.]

ADOLPHE.Don'tlookfortheguiltyonehere,forthereisnonetohefound.Unfortunatelythepolicehaveturnedtheirsuspicioninadirectionwherenoneoughttoexist.

MAURICE.Whatdirectionisthat?

ADOLPHE.Well--youmayaswellknowthat,yourrecklesstalklastnightandthismorninghasplacedyouinalightthatisanythingbutfavourable.

MAURICE,Sotheywerelisteningtous.Letmesee,whatwerewesaying--Iremember!--ThenIamlost!

ADOLPHE.Butifyouexplainyourthoughtlesswordswewillbelieveyou.

MAURICE.Icannot!AndIwillnot!Ishallbesenttoprison,butitdoesn'tmatter.Marionisdead!Dead!AndIhavekilledher!

(Generalconsternation.)

ADOLPHE.Thinkofwhatyouaresaying!Weighyourwords!Doyourealisewhatyousaidjustnow?

MAURICE.WhatdidIsay?

ADOLPHE.YousaidthatyouhadkilledMarion.

MAURICE.Isthereahumanbeingherewhocouldbelievemeamurderer,andwhocouldholdmecapableoftakingmyownchild'slife?Youwhoknowme,MadameCatherine,tellme:doyoubelieve,

canyoubelieve--

MME.CATHERINE.Idon'tknowanylongerwhattobelieve.Whattheheartthinkeththetonguespeaketh.Andyourtonguehasspokenevilwords.

MAURICE.Shedoesn'tbelieveme!

ADOLPHE.Butexplainyourwords,man!Explainwhatyoumeantbysayingthat"yourlovewouldkilleverythingthatstoodinitsway."

MAURICE.Sotheyknowthattoo--Areyouwillingtoexplainit,

Henriette?

HENRIETTE.No,Icannotdothat.

ABBE.Thereissomethingwrongbehindallthisandyouhavelostoursympathy,myfriend.AwhileagoIcouldhaveswornthatyouwereinnocent,andIwouldn'tdothatnow.

MAURICE.[ToJEANNE]Whatyouhavetosaymeansmoretomethananythingelse.JEANNE.[Coldly]Answeraquestionfirst:whowas


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ityoucursedduringthatorgieoutthere?

MAURICE.HaveIdonethattoo?Maybe.Yes,Iamguilty,andyetIamguiltless.Letmegoawayfromhere,forIamashamedofmyself,andIhavedonemorewrongthanIcanforgivemyself.

HENRIETTE.[ToADOLPHE]Gowithhimandseethathedoesn'tdohimselfanyharm.

ADOLPHE.ShallI--?

HENRIETTE.Whoelse?

ADOLPHE.[Withoutbitterness]Youarenearesttoit--Sh!Acarriageisstoppingoutside.

MME.CATHERINE.It'stheCommissaire.Well,muchasIhaveseenoflife,Icouldneverhavebelievedthatsuccessandfameweresuchshort-livedthings.

MAURICE.[ToHENRIETTE]Fromthetriumphalchariottothepatrolwagon!

JEANNE.[Simply]Andtheass--whowasthat?

ADOLPHE.Oh,thatmusthavebeenme.

COMMISSAIRE.[Enterswithapaperinhishand]AsummonstoPoliceHeadquarters--to-night,atonce--forMonsieurMauriceGerard--andforMademoiselleHenriettaMauclerc--bothhere?

MAURICEandHENRIETTE.Yes.

MAURICE.Isthisanarrest?

COMMISSAIRE.Notyet.Onlyasummons.

MAURICE.Andthen?

COMMISSAIRE.Wedon'tknowyet.

(MAURICEandHENRIETTEgotowardthedoor.)

MAURICE.Good-byetoall!

(Everybodyshowsemotion.TheCOMMISSAIRE,MAURICE,andHENRIETTEgoout.)

EMILE.[EntersandgoesuptoJEANNE]NowI'lltakeyouhome,sister.

JEANNE.Andwhatdoyouthinkofallthis?

EMILE.Themanisinnocent.

ABBE.ButasIseeit,itis,andmustalwaysbe,somethingdespicabletobreakone'spromise,anditbecomesunpardonablewhenawomanandherchildareinvolved.

EMILE.Well,Ishouldratherfeelthatway,too,nowwhenit


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concernsmyownsister,butunfortunatelyIampreventedfromthrowingthefirststonebecauseIhavedonethesamethingmyself.

ABBE.AlthoughIamfreefromblameinthatrespect,Iamnotthrowinganystoneseither,buttheactcondemnsitselfandispunishedbyitsconsequences.

JEANNE.Prayforhim!Forbothofthem!

ABBE.No,I'lldonothingofthekind,foritisanimpertinencetowanttochangethecounselsoftheLord.Andwhathashappenedhereis,indeed,nottheworkofman.

(Curtain.)

SECONDSCENE

(TheAubergedesAdrets.ADOLPHEandHENRIETTEareseatedatthesametablewhereMAURICEandHENRIETTEweresittinginthesecondact.AcupofcoffeestandsinfrontofADOLPHE.HENRIETTEhasorderednothing.)

ADOLPHE.Youbelievethenthathewillcomehere?

HENRIETTE.Iamsure.Hewasreleasedthisnoonforlackofevidence,buthedidn'twanttoshowhimselfinthestreetsbeforeitwasdark.

ADOLPHE.Poorfellow!Oh,Itellyou,lifeseemshorribletomesinceyesterday.

HENRIETTE.Andwhataboutme?Iamafraidtolive,darehardlybreathe,darehardlythinkeven,sinceIknowthatsomebodyisspyingnotonlyonmywordsbutonmythoughts.

ADOLPHE.SoitwashereyousatthatnightwhenIcouldn'tfindyou?

HENRIETTE.Yes,butdon'ttalkofit.IcoulddiefromshamewhenIthinkofit.Adolphe,youaremadeofadifferent,abetter,stuffthanheorI--

ADOLPHE.Sh,sh,sh!

HENRIETTE.Yes,indeed!Andwhatwasitthatmademestayhere?Iwaslazy;Iwastired;hissuccessintoxicatedmeandbewitchedme--Icannotexplainit.Butifyouhadcome,itwouldneverhavehappened.Andto-dayyouaregreat,andheissmall--lessthanthe

leastofall.Yesterdayhehadonehundredthousandfrancs.To-dayhehasnothing,becausehisplayhasbeenwithdrawn.Andpublicopinionwillneverexcusehim,forhislackoffaithwillbejudgedasharshlyasifhewerethemurderer,andthosethatseefarthestholdthatthechilddiedfromsorrow,sothathewasresponsibleforitanyhow.

ADOLPHE.Youknowwhatmythoughtsareinthismatter,Henriette,butIshouldliketoknowthatbothofyouarespotless.Won'tyoutellmewhatthosedreadfulwordsofyoursmeant?Itcannotbea


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chancethatyourtalkinafestivemomentlikethatdealtsolargelywithkillingandthescaffold.

HENRIETTE.Itwasnochance.Itwassomethingthathadtobesaid,somethingIcannottellyou--probablybecauseIhavenorighttoappearspotlessinyoureyes,seeingthatIamnotspotless.

ADOLPHE.Allthisisbeyondme.

HENRIETTE.Letustalkofsomethingelse--Doyoubelievetherearemanyunpunishedcriminalsatlargeamongus,someofwhommayevenbeourintimatefriends?

ADOLPHE.[Nervously]Why?Whatdoyoumean?

HENRIETTE.Don'tyoubelievethateveryhumanbeingatsometimeoranotherhasbeenguiltyofsomekindofactwhichwouldfallunderthelawifitwerediscovered?

ADOLPHE.Yes,Ibelievethatistrue,butnoevilactescapesbeingpunishedbyone'sownconscienceatleast.[Risesandunbuttonshiscoat]And--nobodyisreallygoodwhohasnoterred.[Breathingheavily]Forinordertoknowhowtoforgive,onemusthavebeeninneedofforgiveness--Ihadafriendwhomweusedto

regardasamodelman.Heneverspokeahardwordtoanybody;heforgaveeverythingandeverybody;andhesufferedinsultswithastrangesatisfactionthatwecouldn'texplain.Atlast,lateinlife,hegavemehissecretinasingleword:Iamapenitent![Hesitsdownagain.]

(HENRIETTEremainssilent,lookingathimwithsurprise.)

ADOLPHE.[Asifspeakingtohimself]TherearecrimesnotmentionedintheCriminalCode,andthesearetheworseones,fortheyhavetobepunishedbyourselves,andnojudgecouldbemoreseverethanweareagainstourownselves.

HENRIETTE.[Afterapause]Well,thatfriendofyours,didhefindpeace?

ADOLPHE.Afterendlessself-torturehereachedacertaindegreeofcomposure,butlifehadneveranyrealpleasurestoofferhim.Heneverdaredtoacceptanykindofdistinction;heneverdaredtofeelhimselfentitledtoakindwordorevenwell-earnedpraise:inaword,hecouldneverquiteforgivehimself.

HENRIETTE.Never?Whathadhedonethen?

ADOLPHE.Hehadwishedthelifeoutofhisfather.Andwhenhisfathersuddenlydied,thesonimaginedhimselftohavekilledhim.

Thoseimaginationswereregardedassignsofsomementaldisease,andhewassenttoanasylum.Fromthishewasdischargedafteratimeaswhollyrecovered--astheyputit.Butthesenseofguiltremainedwithhim,andsohecontinuedtopunishhimselfforhisevilthoughts.

HENRIETTE.Areyousuretheevilwillcannotkill?

ADOLPHE.Youmeaninsomemysticway?


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HENRIETTE.Asyouplease.Letitgoatmystic.Inmyownfamily--Iamsurethatmymotherandmysisterskilledmyfatherwiththeirhatred.Yousee,hehadtheawfulideathathemustopposeallourtastesandinclinations.Whereverhediscoveredanaturalgift,hetriedtorootitout.Inthatwayhearousedaresistancethataccumulateduntilitbecamelikeanelectricalbatterychargedwithhatred.Atlastitgrewsopowerfulthathelanguishedaway,becamedepolarised,losthiswill-power,and,intheend,cametowishhimselfdead.

ADOLPHE.Andyourconsciencenevertroubledyou?

HENRIETTE.No,andfurthermore,Idon'tknowwhatconscienceis.

ADOLPHE.Youdon't?Well,thenyou'llsoonlearn.[Pause]HowdoyoubelieveMauricewilllookwhenhegetshere?Whatdoyouthinkhewillsay?

HENRIETTE.Yesterdaymorning,youknow,heandItriedtomakethesamekindofguessaboutyouwhilewewerewaitingforyou.

ADOLPHE.Well?

HENRIETTE.Weguessedentirelywrong.

ADOLPHE.Canyoutellmewhyyousentforme?

HENRIETTE.Malice,arrogance,outrightcruelty!

ADOLPHE.Howstrangeitisthatyoucanadmityourfaultsandyetnotrepentofthem.

HENRIETTE.ItmustbebecauseIdon'tfeelquiteresponsibleforthem.Theyarelikethedirtleftbehindbythingshandledduringthedayandwashedoffatnight.Buttellmeonething:doyoureallythinksohighlyofhumanityasyouprofesstodo?

ADOLPHE.Yes,wearealittlebetterthanourreputation--andalittleworse.

HENRIETTE.Thatisnotastraightforwardanswer.

ADOLPHE.No,itisn't.ButareyouwillingtoanswermefranklywhenIaskyou:doyoustillloveMaurice?

HENRIETTE.IcannottelluntilIseehim.ButatthismomentIfeelnolongingforhim,anditseemsasifIcouldverywelllivewithouthim.

ADOLPHE.It'slikelyyoucould,butIfearyouhavebecomechained

tohisfate--Sh!Herehecomes.

HENRIETTE.Howeverythingrepeatsitself.Thesituationisthesame,theverywordsarethesame,aswhenwewereexpectingyouyesterday.

MAURICE.[Enters,paleasdeath,hollow-eyed,unshaven]HereIam,mydearfriends,ifthisbeme.Forthatlastnightinacellchangedmeintoanewsortofbeing.[NoticesHENRIETTEandADOLPHE.]


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ADOLPHE.Sitdownandpullyourselftogether,andthenwecantalkthingsover.

MAURICE.[ToHENRIETTE]PerhapsIamintheway?

ADOLPHE.Now,don'tgetbitter.

MAURICE.Ihavegrownbadinthesetwenty-fourhours,andsuspiciousalso,soIguessI'llsoonbelefttomyself.Andwhowantstokeepcompanywithamurderer?

HENRIETTE.Butyouhavebeenclearedofthecharge.

MAURICE.[Picksupanewspaper]Bythepolice,yes,butnotbypublicopinion.HereyouseethemurdererMauriceGerard,onceaplaywright,andhismistress,HenrietteMauclerc--

HENRIETTE.Omymotherandmysisters--mymother!Jesushavemercy!

MAURICE.AndcanyouseethatIactuallylooklikeamurderer?Andthenitissuggestedthatmyplaywasstolen.Sothereisn'tavestigeleftofthevictoriousherofromyesterday.Inplaceofmy

own,thenameofOctave,myenemy,appearsonthebill-boards,andheisgoingtocollectmyonehundredthousandfrancs.OSolon,Solon!Suchisfortune,andsuchisfame!Youarefortunate,Adolphe,becauseyouhavenotyetsucceeded.

HENRIETTE.Soyoudon'tknowthatAdolphehasmadeagreatsuccessinLondonandcarriedoffthefirstprize?

MAURICE.[Darkly]No,Ididn'tknowthat.Isittrue,Adolphe?

ADOLPHE.Itistrue,butIhavereturnedtheprize.

HENRIETTE.[Withemphasis]ThatIdidn'tknow!Soyouarealso

preventedfromacceptinganydistinctions--likeyourfriend?

ADOLPHE.Myfriend?[Embarrassed]Oh,yes,yes!

MAURICE.Yoursuccessgivesmepleasure,butitputsusstillfartherapart.

ADOLPHE.That'swhatIexpected,andIsupposeI'llbeaslonelywithmysuccessasyouwithyouradversity.Thinkofit--thatpeoplefeelhurtbyyourfortune!Oh,it'sghastlytobealive!

MAURICE.Yousaythat!WhatamIthentosay?Itisasifmyeyeshadbeencoveredwithablackveil,andasifthecolourandshape

ofalllifehadbeenchangedbyit.ThisroomlooksliketheroomIsawyesterday,andyetitisquitedifferent.Irecognisebothofyou,ofcourse,butyourfacesarenewtome.IsithereandsearchforwordsbecauseIdon'tknowwhattosaytoyou.Ioughttodefendmyself,butIcannot.AndIalmostmissthecell,foritprotectedme,atleast,againstthecuriousglancesthatpassrightthroughme.ThemurdererMauriceandhismistress!Youdon'tlovemeanylonger,Henriette,andnomoredoIcareforyou.To-dayyouareugly,clumsy,insipid,repulsive.


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(Twomenincivilianclotheshavequietlyseatedthemselvesatatableinthebackground.)

ADOLPHE.Waitalittleandgetyourthoughtstogether.Thatyouhavebeendischargedandclearedofallsuspicionmustappearinsomeoftheeveningpapers.Andthatputsanendtothewholematter.Yourplaywillbeputonagain,andifitcomestotheworst,youcanwriteanewone.LeaveParisforayearandleteverythingbecomeforgotten.Youwhohaveexoneratedmankindwillbeexoneratedyourself.

MAURICE.Ha-ha!Mankind!Ha-ha!

ADOLPHE.Youhaveceasedtobelieveingoodness?MAURICE.Yes,ifIeverdidbelieveinit.Perhapsitwasonlyamood,amanneroflookingatthings,awayofbeingpolitetothewildbeasts.WhenI,whowasheldamongthebest,canbesorottentothecore,whatmustthenbethewretchednessoftherest?

ADOLPHE.NowI'llgooutandgetalltheeveningpapers,andthenwe'llundoubtedlyhavereasontolookatthingsinadifferentway.

MAURICE.[Turningtowardthebackground]Twodetectives!--Itmeans

thatIamreleasedundersurveillance,sothatIcangivemyselfawaybycarelesstalking.

ADOLPHE.Thosearenotdetectives.That'sonlyyourimagination.Irecognisebothofthem.[Goestowardthedoor.]

MAURICE.Don'tleaveusalone,Adolphe.IfearthatHenrietteandImaycometoopenexplanations.

ADOLPHE.Oh,besensible,Maurice,andthinkofyourfuture.Trytokeephimquiet,Henriette.I'llbebackinamoment.[Goesout.]

HENRIETTE.Well,Maurice,whatdoyouthinknowofourguiltorguiltlessness?

MAURICE.Ihavekillednobody.AllIdidwastotalkalotofnonsensewhileIwasdrunk.Butitisyourcrimethatcomesback,andthatcrimeyouhavegraftedontome.

HENRIETTE.Oh,that'sthetoneyoutalkinnow!--Wasitnotyouwhocursedyourownchild,andwishedthelifeoutofit,andwantedtogoawaywithoutsayinggood-byetoanybody?AndwasitnotIwhomadeyouvisitMarionandshowyourselftoMadameCatherine?

MAURICE.Yes,youareright.Forgiveme!YouprovedyourselfmorehumanthanI,andtheguiltiswhollymyown.Forgiveme!ButallthesameIamwithoutguilt.WhohastiedthisnetfromwhichIcanneverfreemyself?Guiltyandguiltless;guiltlessandyetguilty!Oh,itisdrivingmemad--Look,nowtheysitoverthereandlistentous--Andnowaitercomestotakeourorder.I'llgooutandorderacupoftea.Doyouwantanything?

HENRIETTE.Nothing.


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(MAURICEgoesout.)

FIRSTDETECTIVE.[GoesuptoHENRIETTE]Letmelookatyourpapers.

HENRIETTE.Howdareyouspeaktome?

DETECTIVE.Dare?I'llshowyou!

HENRIETTE.Whatdoyoumean?

DETECTIVE.It'smyjobtokeepaneyeonstreet-walkers.Yesterdayyoucameherewithoneman,andtodaywithanother.That'sasgoodaswalkingthestreets.Andunescortedladiesdon'tgetanythinghere.Soyou'dbettergetoutandcomealongwithme.

HENRIETTE.Myescortwillbebackinamoment.

DETECTIVE.Yes,andaprettykindofescortyou'vegot--thekindthatdoesn'thelpagirlabit!

HENRIETTE.OGod!Mymother,mysisters!--Iamofgoodfamily,Itellyou.

DETECTIVE.Yes,first-ratefamily,Iamsure.Butyouaretoowellknownthroughthepapers.Comealong!

HENRIETTE.Where?Whatdoyoumean?

DETECTIVE.Oh,totheBureau,ofcourse.Thereyou'llgetanicelittlecardandalicensethatbringsyoufreemedicalcare.

HENRIETTE.OLordJesus,youdon'tmeanit!

DETECTIVE.[GrabbingHENRIETTEbythearm]Don'tImeanit?

HENRIETTE.[Fallingonherknees]Saveme,Maurice!Help!

DETECTIVE.Shutup,youfool!

(MAURICEenters,followedbyWAITER.)

WAITER.Gentlemenofthatkindarenotservedhere.Youjustpayandgetout!Andtakethegirlalong!

MAURICE.[Crushed,searcheshispocket-bookformoney]Henriette,payforme,andletusgetawayfromthisplace.Ihaven'tasouleft.

WAITER.SotheladyhastoputupforherAlphonse!Alphonse!Do

youknowwhatthatis?

HENRIETTE.[Lookingthroughherpocket-book]Oh,mercifulheavens!Ihavenomoneyeither!--Whydoesn'tAdolphecomeback?

DETECTIVE.Well,didyoueverseesuchrotters!Getoutofhere,andputupsomethingassecurity.Thatkindofladiesgenerallyhavetheirfingersfullofrings.

MAURICE.Canitbepossiblethatwehavesunksolow?


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HENRIETTE.[TakesoffaringandhandsittotheWAITER]TheAbbewasright:thisisnottheworkofman.

MAURICE.No,it'sthedevil's!--ButifweleavebeforeAdolphereturns,hewillthinkthatwehavedeceivedhimandrunaway.

HENRIETTE.Thatwouldbeinkeepingwiththerest--Butwe'llgointotherivernow,won'twe?

MAURICE.[TakesHENRIETTEbythehandastheywalkouttogether]Intotheriver--yes!

(Curtain.)

ACTIV

FIRSTSCENE

(IntheLuxembourgGardens,atthegroupofAdamandEve.Thewindisshakingthetreesandstirringupdeadleaves,straws,andpiecesofpaperfromtheground.)

(MAURICEandHENRIETTEareseatedonabench.)

HENRIETTE.Soyoudon'twanttodie?

MAURICE.No,Iamafraid.IimaginethatIamgoingtobeverycolddownthereinthegrave,withonlyasheettocovermeandafewshavingstolieon.Andbesidesthat,itseemstomeasiftherewerestillsometaskwaitingforme,butIcannotmakeoutwhatitis.

HENRIETTE.ButIcanguesswhatitis.

MAURICE.Tellme.

HENRIETTE.Itisrevenge.You,likeme,musthavesuspectedJeanneandEmileofsendingthedetectivesaftermeyesterday.Sucharevengeonarivalnonebutawomancoulddevise.

MAURICE.ExactlywhatIwasthinking.Butletmetellyouthatmysuspicionsgoevenfurther.Itseemsasifmysufferingsduringtheselastfewdayshadsharpenedmywits.Canyouexplain,forinstance,whythewaiterfromtheAubergedesAdretsandtheheadwaiterfromthePavilionwerenotcalledtotestifyatthehearing?

HENRIETTE.Ineverthoughtofitbefore.ButnowIknowwhy.They

hadnothingtotell,becausetheyhadnotbeenlistening.

MAURICE.ButhowcouldtheCommissairethenknowwhatwehadbeensaying?

HENRIETTE.Hedidn'tknow,buthefigureditout.Hewasguessing,andheguessedright.Perhapshehadhadtodealwithsomesimilarcasebefore.

MAURICE.Orelseheconcludedfromourlookswhatwehadbeen


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saying.Therearethosewhocanreadotherpeople'sthoughts--Adolphebeingthedupe,itseemedquitenaturalthatweshouldhavecalledhimanass.It'stherule,Iunderstand,althoughit'svariedattimesbytheuseof"idiot"instead.Butasswasnearerathandinthiscase,aswehadbeentalkingofcarriagesandtriumphalchariots.Itisquitesimpletofigureoutafourthfact,whenyouhavethreeknownonestostartfrom.

HENRIETTE.Justthinkthatwehaveletourselvesbetakeninsocompletely.

MAURICE.That'stheresultofthinkingtoowellofone'sfellowbeings.Thisisallyougetoutofit.Butdoyouknow,_I_suspectsomebodyelsebackoftheCommissaire,who,by-the-bye,mustbeafull-fledgedscoundrel.

HENRIETTE.YoumeantheAbbe,whowastakingthepartofaprivatedetective.

MAURICE.That'swhatImean.Thatmanhastoreceiveallkindsofconfessions.Andnoteyou:AdolphehimselftoldushehadbeenattheChurchofSt.Germainthatmorning.Whatwashedoingthere?Hewasblabbing,ofcourse,andbewailinghisfate.AndthenthepriestputthequestionstogetherfortheCommissaire.

HENRIETTE.Tellmesomething:doyoutrustAdolphe?

MAURICE.Itrustnohumanbeinganylonger.

HENRIETTE.NotevenAdolphe?

MAURICE.Himleastofall.HowcouldItrustanenemy--amanfromwhomIhavetakenawayhismistress?

HENRIETTE.Well,asyouwerethefirstonetospeakofthis,I'llgiveyousomedataaboutourfriend.YouheardhehadreturnedthatmedalfromLondon.Doyouknowhisreasonfordoingso?

MAURICE.No.

HENRIETTE.Hethinkshims

Plays by August Strindberg

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