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

That’s why. You were so lovely, you panted so when you brought them. Poor darling He. From tomorrow you may be at my feet again. And as soon as I whistle, “tuwhooo”⁠— He I shall instantly lie down at thy feet, Consuelo. It is settled! But all my little bells fell off today and⁠— Bezano appears, confused. Consuelo Alfred! You came for me? Bezano Yes. Will you work some more, Consuelo? Consuelo Certainly. As much as you want. But I thought, Alfred, you were mad at me? I shan’t dawdle any more. Bezano No. You didn’t dawdle. Don’t be offended, because I yelled so much. You know when one has to teach, and⁠— Consuelo My goodness, do you think I don’t understand? You are too nice, unbearably nice, to like teaching such a fool as me. Do you think I don’t understand? Come on! Bezano Come on! Hello, He! I haven’t seen you yet today. How are you? He How are you, Bezano? Wait, wait a minute⁠—stay here a minute, both of you⁠—that way. Yes! Consuelo and Bezano stand side by side, the jockey scowling, Consuelo laughing and flushing. Consuelo Like Adam and Eve? How foolish you are! Terribly. She runs away. I shall only change my slippers, Alfred. He Consuelo! And how about Father and the Baron? They will come soon, to take you with them. Consuelo Let them come. They can wait. Not very important people. Runs away. Bezano hesitatingly follows her. He Stay here for a while, Bezano. Sit down. Bezano What more do you want? I have no time for your nonsense. He You can remain standing if you want. Bezano⁠—you love her? Silence. Bezano I shall allow nobody to interfere with my affairs. You allow yourself too many liberties, He. I don’t know you. You came from the street, and why should I trust you? He But you know the Baron? Listen. It is painful for me to pronounce these words: she loves you. Save her from the spider! Or are you blind, and don’t see the web, which is woven in every dark corner. Get out of the vicious circle in which you are turning around, like a blind man. Take her away, steal her, do what you want⁠ ⁠… kill her even, and take her to the heavens or to the devil! But don’t give her to this man! He is a defiler of love. And if you are timid, if you are afraid to lift your hand against her⁠—kill the Baron! Kill! Bezano With a smile. And who will kill the others, to come? He She loves you. Bezano Did she tell you that herself? He What a petty, what a stupid, what a human pride! But you are a little god! A god, youth! Why don’t you want to believe me? Or does the street, from which I have come, bother you? But look, look yourself. Look in my eyes, do such eyes lie? Yes, my face is ugly, I make faces and grimaces, I am surrounded by laughter, but don’t you see the god behind all this, a god, like you? Look, look at me! Bezano bursts out laughing. What are you laughing at, youth? Bezano You look now as you did that evening in the ring. You remember? When you were a great man, and they sent for you from the Academy, and suddenly⁠—Hup! He Who Gets Slapped! He Laughing the same way. Yes, yes, you are right, Bezano. There is a resemblance. With a strained expression, taking a pose. “It seems to me they sent for me from the Academy!” Bezano Displeased. But I don’t like this play. You can present your face for slaps if you want to, but don’t dare to expose mine. Turns to go. He Bezano! Bezano Turning round. And never let me hear any more about Consuelo, and don’t dare to tell me again that I am a god! It is disgusting. Bezano goes out angrily, striking his boot with his whip. He is alone. Wrathfully, with a tortured expression, he makes a step towards the jockey, then stops, with soundless laughter, his head thrown backwards. The Baron and Mancini find him in this position, when they enter. Mancini Laughing. What a cheerful chap you are, He! You laugh when you are alone. He laughs aloud. Stop it fool! How can you stand it? He Bowing low, with a large gesture. How do you do, Baron? My humblest respects to you, Count. I beg your pardon, Count, but you found the clown at work. These are, so to speak, Baron, his everyday pleasures. Mancini Lifting his eyebrows. Tsss. But you are a clever man, He. I shall ask Papa Briquet to give you a benefit performance. Shall I, He? He Please do me the favour, Count. Mancini Don’t overdo. Be more simple, He. Laughs. But how many slaps will you get at your benefit performance, when even on weekdays they ring you like a gong! A funny profession, isn’t it, Baron? Baron Very strange. But where is the Countess? Mancini Yes, yes. I shall go for her at once. Dear child, she is so absorbed in her benefit performance and her work. They call this jumping work, Baron. Baron I can wait a little. Sits down, with his silk hat on his head. Mancini But why? I shall hurry her up. I shall be back at once. And you, He, be a nice host, and entertain our dear guest. You will not be bored in his company, Baron. He goes out. He strides about the stage, smiling and glancing from time to time at the Baron. The latter sits with his legs spread apart and his chin on the top of his cane. The silk hat remains on his head. He is silent. He In what way would you like me to entertain you, Baron? Baron In no way! I don’t like clowns. He Nor I Barons. Silence. He puts on his derby hat, takes a chair with a large gesture, and