He Who Gets Slapped - Leonid Andreyev (books under 200 pages .TXT) 📗

a memory I have. Laughs. But we shall have a very nice meal today. Don’t eat very many sandwiches.⁠ ⁠… Yes, positively I like you. You must cry more often, my child; it washes off your superfluous simplicity. You become more of a woman. Consuelo Am I so simple, Father? Mancini Very.⁠ ⁠… Too much. I like it in others, but not in you. Besides, the Baron.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Nonsense. I am not simple. But you know, Bezano scolded me so much, that even you would have cried. The devil knows.⁠ ⁠… Mancini Tsss.⁠ ⁠… Never say “the devil knows.” It isn’t decent. Consuelo I say it only when I am with you. Mancini You must not say it when you are with me, either. I know it without you. Laughs. Consuelo Ha! Listen, Father! It’s a new number of Alfred’s. He makes such a jump! Jim says he’s bound to break his neck. Poor fish.⁠ ⁠… Mancini Indifferently. Or his leg, or his back; they all have to break something. Laughs. They are breakable toys. Consuelo Listening to the music. I’ll be lonesome without them, Father! The Baron promised to make a ring for me to gallop over as much as I want. He’s not lying? Mancini A ring? Laughs. No, it’s not a lie. By the way, child, when speaking of Barons, you must say, “he does not tell the truth,” and not, “he lies.” Consuelo It’s just the same. It’s nice to be wealthy, Father; you can do what you want, then. Mancini With enthusiasm. Everything you want. Everything, my child. Ah! Our fate is being decided today. Pray our clement God, Consuelo. The Baron is hanging on a thread. Consuelo Indifferently. Yes? Mancini Making the gesture with his fingers. On a very thin, silk thread. I am almost sure that he will make his proposal today. Laughs. Winter roses, and the web of a spider amongst the roses, in order that my dear little fly.⁠ ⁠… He is such a spider. Consuelo Indifferently. Yes, a terrible spider. Father, oughtn’t I to let him kiss my hand yet? Mancini By no means. You don’t know yet, darling, what these men are. Consuelo Alfred never kisses. Mancini Alfred! Your Alfred is a cub, and he mustn’t dare. But with men of that sort, you must be extremely careful, my child. Today he would kiss your little finger, tomorrow your hand, and after tomorrow you would be on his lap. Consuelo Foui! Father, what are you talking about? You should be ashamed! Mancini But I know.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Don’t you dare! I don’t want to hear such dirty things. I shall give the Baron such a slap! A better one than He⁠—let him only try. Mancini With a deprecating gesture. All men are like that, child. Consuelo It isn’t true. Alfred is not. Ah! But where is He? He said he’d run, and he hasn’t come back. Mancini The buffet here is closed, and he has to get the sandwiches somewhere else. Consuelo, as your father, I want to warn you about He. Don’t trust him. He knows something. Twirls his finger close to his forehead. His game is not fair. Consuelo You say it about everybody. I know He; he is such a nice man, and he loves me so much. Mancini Believe me, there is something in it. Consuelo Father, you make me sick with your advice. Ah! He, thank you. He, breathing somewhat heavily, enters and gives her the sandwiches. He Eat, Consuelo. Consuelo A hot one.⁠ ⁠… But you were running, He? I am so grateful. Eats. He, do you love me? He I do, my Queen. I am your court fool. Consuelo Eating. And when I leave, will you find another queen? He Making a ceremonious bow. I shall follow after you, my incomparable one. I shall carry the train of your dress and wipe away my tears with it. Pretends to cry. Mancini Idiot! Laughs. How sorry I am, He, that those wonderful times have passed, when, in the court of the Counts Mancini, there were scores of motley fools who were given gold and kicks.⁠ ⁠… Now, Mancini is compelled to go to this dirty circus in order to see a good fool; and still, whose fool is he? Mine? No. He belongs to everybody who pays a franc. We shall very soon be unable to breathe because of Democracy. Democracy, too, needs fools! Think of it, He; what an unexampled impertinence. He We are the servants of those who pay. But how can we help it, Count? Mancini But is that not sad? Imagine: we are in my castle. I, near the fireplace with my glass of wine, you, at my feet chatting your nonsense, jingling your little bells⁠—diverting me. Sometimes you pinch me too with your jokes: it is allowed by the traditions and necessary for the circulation of the blood. After a while⁠—I am sick of you, I want another one.⁠ ⁠… Then I give you a kick and.⁠ ⁠… Ah, He, how wonderful it would be! He It would be marvellous, Mancini! Mancini Yes. Certainly! You would be getting gold coins, those wonderfully little yellow things.⁠ ⁠… Well, when I become rich, I shall take you. That’s settled. Consuelo Take him, Father.⁠ ⁠… He And when the count, tired of my chattering, will give me a kick with his Highness’s foot, then I shall lie down at the little feet of my queen, and shall.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Laughing. Wait for another kick? I’m finished. Father, give me your handkerchief, I want to wipe my hands. You have another one in your pocket. Oh, my goodness, I must work some more! Mancini Uneasy. But don’t forget, my child! Consuelo No, today I won’t forget! Go on! Mancini Looking at his watch. Yes, it is time.⁠ ⁠… He asked me to come over when you were ready. You must change your dress before I come back. Laughing. Signori, miei complimenti. He goes out, playing with his cane. Consuelo sits on the corner of the divan, and covers herself with her shawl. Consuelo Hello, He! Come and lie down at my feet, and tell me