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

heaven they’re beginning. Ah, Mother, I asked you⁠ ⁠… but you want a scandal by all means, and you always⁠— Zinida Let me alone, Louis. He approaches Consuelo, who is alone. Consuelo He, deary, how are you? I thought you didn’t want even to come near me. In a low voice. Did you notice Bezano? He I was waiting for my turn, Queen. It was so difficult to get through the crowd to approach you. Consuelo Through the crowd? With a sad smile. I am quite alone. What do you want, Father? Mancini Child! Auguste.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Pulling away her hand. Let me alone! I’ll soon be⁠—Come here, He. What did you say to him? They all laughed. I couldn’t understand. What? He I joked, Consuelo. Consuelo Please don’t, He, don’t make him angry; he is so terrible. Did you see how he pressed my arm? I wanted to scream. With tears in her eyes. He hurt me! He It’s not too late yet. Refuse him. Consuelo It is too late, He. Don’t talk about it. He Do you want it? I will take you away from here. Consuelo Where to? Laughs. Ah, my dear little silly boy, where could you take me to. All right, be quiet. How pale you are! You too, love me? Don’t He, please don’t! Why do they all love me? He You are so beautiful! Consuelo No, no. It’s not true. They must not love me. I was still a little cheerful, but when they began to speak⁠ ⁠… so nicely⁠ ⁠… and about Italy⁠ ⁠… and to bid farewell, as if I were dying, I thought I should begin to cry. Don’t talk, don’t talk, but drink to⁠ ⁠… my happiness. With a sad smile. To my happiness, He. What are you doing? He I am throwing away the glass from which you drank with the others. I shall give you another one. Wait a minute. Goes to pour champagne. Consuelo walks about thoughtfully. Almost all are gone. Only the principal figures are left. Mancini Coming to her. But it is really becoming indecent, Veronica. Auguste is so nice, he is waiting for you, and you talk here with this clown. Some stupid secrets. They’re looking at you⁠—it is becoming noticeable. It is high time, Veronica, to get rid of these habits. Consuelo Loudly. Let me alone, Father! I want to do so, and will do so. They are all my friends. Do you hear? Let me alone! Baron Don’t, Count. Please, Consuelo, talk to whomever you please and as much as you want. Would you like a cigar, Count? Dear Briquet, please order them to prolong the intermission a little more. Briquet With pleasure, Baron. The orchestra crowd can be a little angry. Goes, and returns shortly. He gives a glass to Consuelo. He Here is your glass. To your happiness, to your freedom, Consuelo! Consuelo And where is yours? We must touch our glasses. He You leave half. Consuelo Must I drink so much? He, deary, I shall become drunk. I still have to ride. He No, you will not be drunk. Dear little girl, did you forget that I am your magician? Be quiet and drink. I charmed the wine. My witchery is in it. Drink, goddess. Consuelo Lingeringly. What kind eyes you have. But why are you so pale? He Because I love you. Look at my kind eyes and drink; give yourself up to my charms, goddess! You shall fall asleep, and wake again, as before. Do you remember? And you shall see your country, your sky.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Bringing the glass to her lips. I shall see all this; is that true? He Growing paler. Yes! Awake, goddess, and remember the time when, covered with snow-white sea-foam, thou didst emerge from the sky blue waters. Remember heaven, and the low eastern wind, and the whisper of the foam at thy marble feet.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Drinking. There! Look! Just a half! Take it. But what is the matter with you? Are you laughing or crying? He I am laughing and crying. Mancini Pushing He away, slightly. Enough, Countess, my patience is exhausted. If Auguste is good enough to allow it, then I, your Father⁠—Your arm, Countess! Will you step aside, sir? Consuelo I am tired. Mancini You are not too tired to chatter and drink wine with a clown, and when your duty calls you⁠—Briquet! Tell them to ring the bell. It is time. Consuelo I am tired, Father. Zinida Count, it is cruel. Don’t you see how pale she has become? Baron What is the matter with you, dear little Consuelo? Consuelo Nothing. Zinida She simply needs a rest, Baron. She hasn’t sat down yet⁠ ⁠… and so much excitement.⁠ ⁠… Sit down here, dear child. Cover yourself and rest a little. Men are so cruel! Consuelo I still have to work. Closing her eyes. And the roses, are they ready? Zinida Ready, dear, ready. You will have such an extraordinary carpet. You will gallop as if on air. Rest. Polly Do you want some moosic? We will play you a song; do you want it? Consuelo Smiling, eyes closed. Yes, I do. The clowns play a soft and naive song: tilly-polly, tilly-polly. General silence. He sits in the corner with his face turned away. Jackson watches him out of the corner of his eye, and drinks wine, lazily. The Baron, in his usual pose, wide and heavily spread legs, looks at the pale face of Consuelo, with his bulging motionless eyes. Consuelo With a sudden cry. Ah! Pain! Zinida What is it, Consuelo? Mancini My child! Are you sick! Calm yourself. Baron Growing pale. Wait a moment.⁠ ⁠… She was too much excited.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo! Consuelo Gets up, looking before her with wide-open eyes, as if she were listening to something within herself. Ah! I feel pain. Here at the heart. Father, what is it? I am afraid. What is it? My feet too⁠ ⁠… I can’t stand.⁠ ⁠… Falls on divan, her eyes wide open. Mancini Running about. Bring a doctor! Heavens, it is terrible! Auguste, Baron.⁠ ⁠… It never happened to her. It is nerves, nerves.⁠ ⁠…