He Who Gets Slapped - Leonid Andreyev (books under 200 pages .TXT) š
- Author: Leonid Andreyev
Book online Ā«He Who Gets Slapped - Leonid Andreyev (books under 200 pages .TXT) šĀ». Author Leonid Andreyev
Now smile. Widerā ābroaderā ādo you call that a smile? Soā āthatās better. There is something, yesā ābut for full developmentsā āSadly. Probably you canāt even turn a somersault?
Gentleman
Sighs. No.
Jackson
How old are you?
Gentleman
Thirty-nine. Too late? Jackson moves away with a whistle. There is a silence.
Zinida
Softly. Take him.
Briquet
Indignant. What the hell shall I do with him if he doesnāt know a thing? Heās drunk!
Gentleman
Honestly I am not. Thank you for your support, Madame. Are you not the famous Zinida, the lion tamer, whose regal beauty and audacityā ā
Zinida
Yes. But I do not like flattery.
Gentleman
It is not flattery.
Mancini
You are evidently not accustomed to good society, my dear. Flattery? This gentleman expresses his admiration in sincere and beautiful wordsā āand youā āyou are not educated, Zinida. As for myselfā ā
Enter Consuelo and Bezano in circus costume.
Consuelo
You here, Daddy?
Mancini
Yes, my child, you are not tired? Kisses her on the forehead. My daughter, sir, Countess Veronica. Known on the stage as Consuelo, The Bareback Tango Queen. Did you ever see her?
Gentleman
I have enjoyed her work. It is marvellous!
Mancini
Yes! Of course. Everyone admits it. And how do you like the name, Consuelo? I took it from the novel of George Sand. It means āConsolation.ā
Gentleman
What a wonderful knowledge of books!
Mancini
A small thing. Despite your strange intention, I can see, sir, that you are a gentleman. My peer! Let me explain to you, that only the strange and fatal misfortunes of our ancient familyā āāsic transit gloria mundi,ā sir.
Consuelo
Itās a bore, Daddyā āWhereās my handkerchief, Alfred?
Bezano
Here it is.
Consuelo
Showing the handkerchief to the gentleman. Genuine Venetian. Do you like it?
Gentleman
Again bowing. My eyes are dazzled, how beautiful! Papa Briquet, the more I look around me the more I want to stay with you. Makes the face of a simpleton. On the one hand a count, on the otherā ā
Jackson
Nods approval. Thatās not bad. Look here, think a bitā āfind something. Everyone here thinks for himself.
Silence. The gentleman stands with a finger on his forehead, thinking.
Gentleman
Find somethingā āfind somethingā āā ā¦ Eureka!
Polly
That means found. Come!
Gentleman
Eurekaā āI shall be among you, he who gets slapped. General laughter. Even Briquet smiles.
Gentleman
Looks at them smiling. You see I made even you laughā āis that easy? All grow serious. Polly sighs.
Tilly
No, itās not easy. Did you laugh, Polly?
Polly
Sure, a lot. Did you?
Tilly
I did. Imitating an instrument, he plays with his lips a melody at once sad and gay.
Jackson
āHe Who Gets Slapped,ā thatās not bad.
Gentleman
Itās not, is it? I rather like it myself. It suits my talent. And comrades, I have even found a nameā āyouāll call me āHe.ā Is that all right?
Jackson
Thinking. āHeāā āNot bad.
Consuelo
In a singing, melodic voice. āHeā is so funnyā āāHeāā ālike a dog. Daddy, are there such dogs?
Jackson suddenly gives a circus slap to the gentleman. He steps back and grows pale.
Gentleman
What!ā āGeneral laughter covers his exclamation.
Jackson
He Who Gets Slapped. Or didnāt you get it?
Polly
Comically. He says he wants moreā āThe gentleman smiles, rubbing his cheek.
Gentleman
So sudden.ā āWithout waiting.ā āHow funnyā āyou didnāt hurt me, and yet my cheek burns.
Again there is loud laughter. The clowns cackle like ducks, hens, cocks; they bark. Zinida says something to Briquet, casts a glance toward Bezano, and goes out. Mancini assumes a bored air and looks at his watch. The two actresses go out.
Jackson
Take him, Papa Briquetā āhe will push us.
Mancini
Again looking at his watch. But bear in mind, that Papa Briquet is as close as Harpagon. If you expect to get good money here you are mistaken. He laughs. A slap? Whatās a slap? Worth only small change, a franc and a half a dozen. Better go back to society; you will make more money there. Why for one slap, just a light tap, you might say, my friend, Marquis Justi, was paid fifty thousand lire!
Briquet
Shut up, Mancini. Will you take care of him, Jackson.
Jackson
I can.
Polly
Do you like music? A Beethoven sonata played on a broom, for instance, or Mozart on a bottle?
He
Alas! No. But I will be exceedingly grateful if you will teach me. A clown! My childhoodās dream. When all my school friends were thrilled by Plutarchās heroes, or the light of scienceā āI dreamed of clowns. Beethoven on a broom, Mozart on bottles! Just what I have sought all my life! Friends, I must have a costume!
Jackson
I see you donāt know much! A costume putting his finger on his forehead is a thing which calls for deep thought. Have you seen my Sun here? Strikes his posterior. I looked for it two years.
He
Enthusiastically. I shall think!
Mancini
It is time for me to go. Consuelo, my child, you must get dressed. To He. We are lunching with Baron Regnard, a friend of mine, a banker.
Consuelo
But I donāt want to go, Daddy. Alfred says I must rehearse today.
Mancini
Horrified, holding up his hands. Child, think of me, and what a situation you put me in! I promised the Baron, the Baron expects us. Why, it is impossible! Oh, I am in a cold sweat.
Consuelo
Alfred saysā ā
Bezano
Drily. She has to work. Are you rested? Then come on.
Mancini
Butā āthe devil take me if I know what to make of it. Hey, Bezano, bareback rider! Are you crazy? I gave you permission for Artās sake, to exercise my daughterās talentā āand youā ā
Consuelo
Go along, Papa, and donāt be so silly. Weāve got to work, havenāt we? Have lunch along with your Baron. And Daddy, you forgot to take a clean handkerchief again, and I washed two for you yesterday. Where did you put them?
Mancini
Ashamed, blushing. Why, my linen is washed by the laundress, and you, Consuelo, are still playing with toys. It is stupid! Youāre a chatterbox. You donāt think. These gentlemen might imagine Heaven knows
Free e-book Ā«He Who Gets Slapped - Leonid Andreyev (books under 200 pages .TXT) šĀ» - read online now
Similar e-books:
Comments (0)