Hands Around [Reigen]: A Cycle of Ten Dialogues

by Arthur Schnitzler

THE ACTRESS AND THE COUNT

The bedroom of the Actress, luxuriously furnished. It is midday. The curtains are still down; a candle is burning on the dressing-table. The Actress is disclosed in her four-poster bed. Many newspapers are strewn about on the cover. The Count in the uniform of a captain of the Dragoons enters. He remains standing at the door.

Actress

Ah, Count.

Count

Your mother said I might, otherwise I would not—

Actress

Please, come closer.

Count

I kiss your hand. Pardon me—when you come in from the street … I can’t see a thing yet. So … here we are (at her bed). I kiss your hand.

Actress

Please sit down, Count.

Count

Your mother said, My daughter isn’t well… Nothing serious, I hope.

Actress

Nothing serious? I was on the verge of death.

Count

Oh, dear, oh, dear, is it possible?

Actress

It is very good of you to have taken the trouble to call.

Count

On the verge of death! And only last night you acted divinely.

Actress

It was a great triumph, wasn’t it?

Count

Tremendous!… The audience was carried away. I won’t say anything about myself.

Actress

Thanks, for the beautiful flowers.

Count

Nothing at all, Mademoiselle.

Actress

(Indicating with her eyes a large flower-basket, which stands on a little table near the window) There they are.

Count

You were literally overwhelmed with flowers and wreaths yesterday.

Actress

They are still in my dressing-room. All I brought home was your flowers.

Count

(Kissing her hand) How sweet of you.

Actress

(Suddenly seizes his hand, and kisses it)

Count

But, Mademoiselle.

Actress

Don’t be frightened, Count, it doesn’t put you under any obligations.

Count

You are a strange being … a sort of a problem almost—

(Pause)

Actress

Miss Birken, I suppose, is much less of a problem.

Count

That little lady isn’t a problem at all, although … I really know her only very slightly.

Actress

Oh!

Count

That’s the actual truth. But you are a problem. I’ve always had a yearning for a problem. It’s really been a deep personal loss to me, that until yesterday… I never saw you act.

Actress

Really?

Count

Yes! You see, going to the theater is so complicated. I am used to dining late … then when I get there, the best part of the play is over. Isn’t that true?

Actress

From now on, I suppose, you will dine earlier.

Count

I’ve thought of that too. Or maybe I won’t dine at all. Dining isn’t a special pleasure anyhow.

Actress

Are there any pleasures left to an old man like you?

Count

That’s a question I often ask myself. But I am not an old man. There must be some other reason.

Actress

Do you think so?

Count

Yes. Bobby, for instance, says, that I am a philosopher. You know he means that I do too much thinking.

Actress

Yes … thinking is a misfortune.

Count

I have too much time, that’s why I reflect. You see, I’ve often thought if they would transfer me to Vienna, things would be better. There’s diversion here, stimulation. But at the bottom, it’s not really very different from up there.

Actress

What do you mean by “up there”?

Count

Well, down there, you know, in Hungary, in the God forsaken country towns, where I’ve been stationed most of the time.

Actress

And what did you do in Hungary?

Count

Well, as I am telling you, military service.

Actress

Yes, but why did you stay in Hungary so long?

Count

Oh, things happen that way.

Actress

But it must be enough to drive one mad.

Count

But why? You have a lot more work there, than here. You know, drilling recruits, breaking in mounts … and the country really isn’t as bad as they say. They are really quite beautiful, the lowlands—and marvelous sunsets. Too bad I’m not a painter, I’ve often thought if I were, I would paint them. We had a young chap, Splany, in our regiment, who could do it.—But, dear me, what dull stories I am telling you.

Actress

Please go on; they are delightful!

Count

Do you know, the nice thing about you is the way one can chat with you, Bobby told me all about it. And it’s so seldom one can find any one like that.

Actress

Down there in Hungary, I suppose.

Count

But it’s quite the same in Vienna! People are always the same. Where there are more of them, the crowd is larger. That’s the whole difference. Tell me, do you really like people?

Actress

Like them—? I hate them! I hate to look at them. I never see any one. I’m always alone. Nobody enters my house.

Count

You see, I sort of thought that you hated people. It must often be the case with artists. If one lives in the higher regions… Well, you are lucky, you know at least why you live!

Actress

Who told you that? I haven’t the slightest notion what I’m living for!

Count

But really—to be famous—to be fêted—

Actress

Does that mean happiness?

Count

Happiness? There really is no such thing as happiness. All the things that people talk about most, don’t exist … for instance, love. That’s one of them.

Actress

I suppose you are right.

Count

Enjoyment … intoxication … very good, nobody can deny them … they are something real. Now, when I am enjoying myself … very good, I am aware that I am enjoying myself. Or I am intoxicated, good. That also is something real. And when it’s over, well then it’s over.

Actress

(Grandly) It is over.

Count

But as soon as one does not, how shall I express it, as soon as one does not give oneself up to the moment, I mean, if one thinks of the future or the past … well, everything is over in a moment… Afterwards … there is sadness … before … there is uncertainty … in a word, one only becomes confused. Isn’t that so?

Actress

(Nods with wide open eyes) It seems, you have grasped the essence of things.

Count

And, you see, when you have once clearly grasped this, it really doesn’t matter whether you live in Vienna or in the Puszta[3] or in Steinamanger.[4] You see, for instance … where may I put my cap? Yes, thank you … what were we talking about?

Actress

About the Puszta.

Count

Of course. Well, as I said, there isn’t much difference, whether I spend the evening in the officers’ mess or at the club. It’s all the same.

Actress

And what about love?

Count

If you believe in it, some one will always be there who will love you.

Actress

Like Miss Birken, for example.

Count

I really don’t see why you always have to come back to that little lady.

Actress

But she’s your mistress, isn’t she?

Count

Who says so?

Actress

Everybody knows it.

Count

Except myself, strange to say.

Actress

But you fought a duel on her account!

Count

Maybe. I was even killed without my knowing it.

Actress

You are a gentleman, won’t you sit closer to me?

Count

With pleasure.

Actress

Here. (She draws him to her, and passes her hand through his hair) I knew you would come to-day.

Count

How did you know?

Actress

I knew it last night in the theater.

Count

You saw me from the stage, then?

Actress

But man alive! Didn’t you notice that I acted for you alone?

Count

No, really?

Actress

I was as on wings, when I saw you sitting in the first row.

Count

As on wings? On my account? I hadn’t the slightest suspicion that you noticed me!

Actress

Your aristocratic reserve is enough to drive one to despair.

Count

But…

Actress

“But”!… At least, take your saber off!

Count

If you permit.

(Takes it off, and leans it against the bed)

Actress

And now give me a kiss.

Count

(Kisses her, she clings to him)

Actress

It would have been better if I had never seen you.

Count

But this seems better to me.

Actress

Count, you are a poseur!

Count

I—why?

Actress

Can’t you imagine how happy many a man would be if he were in your place!

Count

I’m perfectly happy.

Actress

Well, I thought happiness didn’t exist. Why do you look at me that way? I believe you are afraid of me, Count!

Count

I told you, Mademoiselle, you are a problem.

Actress

Oh, don’t bother me with your philosophy … come to me. And ask me for anything at all … you can have whatever you want. You are so handsome.

Count

Well then, may I ask (kissing her hand) that I may call again this evening?

Actress

This evening … but I have to act then.

Count

After the play.

Actress

And you ask for nothing else?

Count

I shall ask for everything else after the play.

Actress

(Hurt) You can beg a long while then, you abominable poseur.

Count

But, see, we’ve been perfectly frank with each other so far … it seems to me it would be so much more beautiful after the play … much cozier than now, when … I have a sort of feeling the door might open any moment…

Actress

It does not open from the outside.

Count

Well, you see, I have an idea one shouldn’t lightly spoil in advance something which may be very beautiful.

Actress

Possibly!…

Count

To tell the truth, love in the morning seems rather horrible to me.

Actress

Well—you are about the worst case of lunacy I have ever met!

Count

I am not talking about women in general … because in general it doesn’t make any difference anyway. But women like you … no, you may call me a fool a hundred times over. But women like you … one doesn’t take them before breakfast. And so … you know … so…

Actress

Oh, but you are a darling!

Count

You understand, what I have said, don’t you? I sort of imagine it like…

Actress

How do you imagine it?

Count

Like this… I wait for you in a carriage after the play, then we drive somewhere for supper—

Actress

I am not Miss Birken.

Count

I didn’t mean to say you were. Only, it seems to me, you have to be in the right sort of mood for everything. In my case the mood doesn’t come until supper. The most beautiful thing of all is when we drive home together, and then…

Actress

And then?

Count

And then … well, that depends upon circumstances.

Actress

Do sit closer. Closer.

Count

(Sitting down on the bed) Seems to me, that out of the pillows comes a fragrance … mignonette—isn’t it?

Actress

It’s very warm in here, don’t you think so?

Count

(Bends down, and kisses her neck)

Actress

Oh, Count, that is contrary to your program.

Count

Who said anything about “program.” I never have any program.

Actress

(Drawing him close to her)

Count

It really is very warm.

Actress

Do you think so? And so dark, just as if it were evening… (Draws him toward her) It is evening … it is night… Close your eyes, if there is too much light for you. Come!… Come!…

Count

(Offers no further resistance)

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Actress

And what about atmosphere now, you poseur?

Count

You are a little devil.

Actress

What a thing to say!

Count

Well, then an angel.

Actress

You should have been an actor! Really! You understand women! And do you know, what I shall do now?

Count

Well?

Actress

I shall tell you that I shall never see you again.

Count

But why?

Actress

Never, never. You are too dangerous! You would drive a woman mad. Here you are standing before me, as though nothing had happened.

Count

But…

Actress

Please remember, Count, I have just given you everything.

Count

I shall never forget it!

Actress

And what about to-night?

Count

What do you mean?

Actress

Well—you wanted to wait for me after the theater?

Count

Oh, yes, let’s say, the day after to-morrow.

Actress

What do you mean by “the day after to-morrow”? We were talking about to-day.

Count

There wouldn’t be much sense in that.

Actress

Old man!

Count

You don’t quite understand me. What I mean has rather to do, how shall I express myself, rather concerns the soul.

Actress

What concern of mine is your soul?

Count

Believe me, it has much to do with it. It seems all wrong to me, this notion, that you can separate the two.

Actress

Don’t bother me with your philosophy. If I want any of that, I can read books.

Count

One never learns from books.

Actress

Very true! And that’s why you ought to wait for me to-night. As to the soul, we will come to some sort of an understanding, you villain!

Count

Well, then, if I may, I shall wait in my carriage…

Actress

You shall wait for me here in my home—

Count

… After the play.

Actress

Of course.

(He buckles on his sword)

Actress

What are you doing?

Count

It seems to me it is time for me to go. For a formal call I have stayed a bit too long as it is.

Actress

Well, this evening it shall be a formal call.

Count

Do you think so?

Actress

I’ll take care of that. And now give me a last kiss, you darling little philosopher. Here, you seducer, you … sweet child, you seller of souls, you … panther. (After she has ardently kissed him several times, she thrusts him violently away) Count, you have done me a great honor.

Count

Not at all, mademoiselle! (At the door) Au revoir.

Actress

Good-by, and love to Steinamanger.

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