THE COUNT AND THE GIRL OF THE STREETS
It is morning toward six o’clock. A poorly furnished room with one window. The dirty yellowish blinds are down. Tattered, greenish curtains. On the dresser are several photographs, and beside them a cheap woman’s hat of conspicuously bad taste. Behind the mirror are cheap Japanese fans. On the table over which is drawn a reddish cover is an oil-lamp. It is burning low with a disagreeable odor, and has a shade of yellow paper. Beside it is a pitcher with remains of beer, and a half-empty glass.—On the floor beside the bed a woman’s clothes are lying in disorder. They look as though they had just been quickly thrown off. The Girl lies sleeping in the bed, breathing quietly. The Count is lying on the sofa fully dressed with his light overcoat on. His hat lies on the floor at the head of the sofa.
Count
(Stirs, rubs his eyes, sits up suddenly, remains seated, and looks around) Where am I?… Oh, yes … I actually went home with the woman, it seems… (He rises quickly, notices her bed) Oh, there she is… Queer, what sort of things can happen, even at my age. I haven’t the faintest notion, did they carry me up here? No… I remember—coming into the room… I was still awake then, or waked up … or … or maybe it’s only the room that reminds of something?… ’Pon my soul, yes, of course … it was yesterday I saw it… (Looks at his watch) What! yesterday, a couple of hours ago!—But, I knew, that something had to happen… I felt it in my bones … when I began to drink yesterday, I felt that … and what has happened?… Nothing… Or did there…? ’Pon my soul … for … for ten years it hasn’t happened to me that I don’t know… Well, let’s be honest at any rate, I was drunk… If I only knew since when… I remember perfectly when Bobby and I went into the all-night café, and … no, no… We left together … and then on the way… Yes, that’s it, Bobby and I rode in my carriage… But, why do I worry my brains about it? It doesn’t really matter. Let’s see that we get out of here. (Rises. The lamp shakes) Oh! (Looks at the sleeping Girl) Well, she sleeps the sleep of the just. I don’t remember anything—but I’ll put the money on the table … and then, good-by… (He stands in front of her, and looks at her for a considerable time) If I didn’t know what she is! (Studies her) I’ve known many who didn’t look as virtuous even in their sleep. ’Pon my soul… Bobby would say again, I’m philosophizing, but the truth is, sleep makes all equal, so it seems to me—like its brother, death… Hm, I should like to know, whether… No, I’d remember that… No, no, I dropped like a log on the sofa right away … and nothing happened… It is unbelievable how much alike all women sometimes look… Well, let’s go (He is about to go) Oh, of course.
(He takes his wallet, and is about to take out a banknote)
Girl
(Awakening) Well … who’s there so early in the morning—? (Recognizing him) Good morning, sonny!
Count
Good morning. Have a good sleep?
Girl
(Stretching) Oh, come here. Give me a little kiss.
Count
(Bends down to her, considers, and draws back) I was just going…
Girl
Going?
Count
It’s really about time.
Girl
You want to go away?
Count
(Half-embarrassed) Well…
Girl
Well, good-by, you’ll come some other time.
Count
Yes, good-by. But, won’t you give me your hand?
Girl
(Reaches out her hand from under the cover)
Count
(Takes her hand, and kisses it mechanically, and becoming aware of it, he smiles) Just as with a princess. Besides, if one only…
Girl
Why do you look at me that way?
Count
If one only sees the head, as now … anyway, each and every one looks innocent when she first awakes … ’pon my soul, one might imagine almost anything, if the kerosene didn’t smell so…
Girl
Yes, the lamps are always a nuisance.
Count
How old are you really?
Girl
Well, what would you guess?
Count
Twenty-four.
Girl
Oh, of course!
Count
Older?
Girl
I’m not yet twenty.
Count
And how long have you been…
Girl
A year.
Count
You began early.
Girl
Better too early, than too late.
Count
(Sits down upon her bed) Tell me, are you really happy?
Girl
Am I, what?
Count
I mean, are things going well with you?
Girl
Oh, things always go well with me.
Count
Yes… Well, did it never occur to you that you might become something else?
Girl
What might I become?
Count
Well… You are a very pretty girl. You might take a lover, for example.
Girl
Do you imagine I haven’t any?
Count
Yes, I know that—But I mean just one single one, who would take care of you, so that you wouldn’t have to go with everybody.
Girl
I don’t go with everybody. Thank heaven, I don’t have to. I pick those I want.
Count
(Looks around the room)
Girl
(Noticing it) We move downtown next month, to the Spiegelgasse.
Count
We? Who?
Girl
Well, the Madam, and the couple of other girls who live here.
Count
There are others—
Girl
Next door … don’t you hear?… that is Milly. She was in the café too.
Count
I hear some one snoring.
Girl
That’s Milly. She will snore the whole day long until ten o’clock to-night. Then she gets up, and goes to the café.
Count
What an awful life!
Girl
Of course it is. It annoys the Madam a lot. I’m always on the streets by noon.
Count
What do you do on the streets at noon?
Girl
What do you suppose I do? I’m going on my beat then.
Count
Oh, yes … of course… (Rises, takes out his wallet, and puts a banknote on the table) Good-by!
Girl
Going already… Good-by… Call again soon.
(Turns on her side)
Count
(Stands still) Tell me, is everything a matter of indifference to you already?
Girl
What?
Count
I mean, don’t you get pleasure out of anything any more?
Girl
(Yawning) I want to sleep.
Count
It’s all the same to you whether he is young or old or whether he…
Girl
Why do you ask?
Count
… Well (Suddenly hitting upon a thought) ’pon my soul, now I know of whom you remind me, it’s…
Girl
Do I look like some one?
Count
Unbelievable, unbelievable. Now please, don’t talk, at least not for a minute… (Looking at her) The very same features. (He kisses her suddenly on the eyes), the very image.
Girl
Well…
Count
’Pon my soul, it’s too bad that you … aren’t something different… You could make your fortune!
Girl
You talk just like Frank.
Count
Who is Frank?
Girl
The waiter in our café.
Count
In what way am I just like Frank?
Girl
He is also always telling me I might make my fortune, and wanting me to marry him.
Count
Why don’t you?
Girl
No thank you… I don’t want to marry, no, not for any price… Later on, perhaps.
Count
The eyes … the very same eyes… Bobby would surely call me a fool.—But I must kiss your eyes once more … so … and now God bless you, now I must go.
Girl
Good-by…
Count
(At the door) Tell me … aren’t you a bit surprised?…
Girl
At what?
Count
That I don’t want anything of you.
Girl
There are many men who aren’t in the mood in the morning.
Count
Of course… (To himself) Absurd, that I expect to be surprised… Well, good-by… (He is near the door) But really, I’m disappointed. I ought to know that women like her care only about money … what am I saying … it is beautiful, that at least she doesn’t pretend; should make one glad… (Aloud) Do you know, I shall come to see you again soon?
Girl
(With closed eyes) All right.
Count
When are you at home?
Girl
I’m always at home. You only have to ask for Leocadia.
Count
Leocadia… All right—Well, God bless you. (At the door) The wine is still in my head. But after all it is sublime… I am with a woman like her and haven’t done anything but kiss her eyes, because she reminded me of some one… (Turns toward her) Tell me, Leocadia, does it often happen that any one leaves you in this way?
Girl
What way?
Count
As I do.
Girl
In the morning?
Count
No … have you ever had any one with you,—who didn’t want anything of you?
Girl
No, that has never happened to me.
Count
Well, what do you think then? Do you think I didn’t like you?
Girl
Why shouldn’t you like me? You liked me well enough by night.
Count
I like you now, too.
Girl
But you liked me better last night.
Count
What makes you think that?
Girl
Why ask such foolish questions?
Count
Last night … well, tell me, didn’t I drop right down on the sofa?
Girl
Certainly … with me.
Count
With you?
Girl
Yes, don’t you remember?
Count
I did … both of us…
Girl
But you fell asleep right away.
Count
Right away… So … that’s what happened?…
Girl
Yes, sonny. But you must have been terribly drunk, that you don’t remember.
Count
So… And yet … there is a faint resemblance… Good-by… (Listens) … What is the matter?
Girl
The servant is up. Give her a tip as you go out. The outside door is open, so you won’t have to give anything to the janitor.
Count
(In the anteroom) Well… It would have been beautiful, if I had kissed her only on the eyes. It would have been almost an adventure… But it wasn’t my destiny. (The servant opens the door) Ah—here… Good-night.—
Servant
Good morning!
Count
Of course … good morning … good morning.