THE GIRL OF THE STREETS AND THE SOLDIER
Late in the evening near the Augarten Bridge.
Soldier
(Enters whistling, on his way home)
Girl
Hello, my beautiful angel!
Soldier
(Turns and continues on his way)
Girl
Don’t you want to come with me?
Soldier
Oh, I am the beautiful angel?
Girl
Sure, who else? Do come with me. I live very near here.
Soldier
I’ve no time. I must get back to the barracks.
Girl
You’ll get to your barracks in plenty of time. It’s much nicer with me.
Soldier
(Close to her) That’s possible.
Girl
Ps-st! A guard may pass any minute.
Soldier
Rot! A guard! I carry a saber too!
Girl
Ah, come with me.
Soldier
Let me alone. I have no money anyway.
Girl
I don’t want any money.
Soldier
(Stopping. They are under a street-lamp) You don’t want any money? What kind of a girl are you, then?
Girl
The civilians pay me. Chaps like you don’t have to pay me for anything.
Soldier
Maybe you’re the girl my pal told me about.
Girl
I don’t know any pal of yours.
Soldier
You’re she, all right! You know—in the café down the street—He went home with you from there.
Girl
Lots have gone home with me from that café… Oh, lots!
Soldier
All right. Let’s go!
Girl
So, you’re in a hurry now?
Soldier
Well, what are we waiting for? Anyhow, I must be back at the barracks by ten.
Girl
Been in service long?
Soldier
What business is that of yours? Is it far?
Girl
Ten minutes’ walk.
Soldier
That’s too far for me. Give me a kiss.
Girl
(Kissing him) I like that best anyway—when I love some one.
Soldier
I don’t. No, I can’t go with you. It’s too far.
Girl
Say, come to-morrow afternoon.
Soldier
Sure. Give me your address.
Girl
But maybe you won’t come.
Soldier
If I promise!
Girl
Look here—if my place is too far to-night—there … there…
(She points toward the Danube)
Soldier
What’s there?
Girl
It’s nice and quiet there, too … no one is around.
Soldier
Oh, that’s not the real thing.
Girl
It’s always the real thing with me. Come, stay with me now. Who knows, if we’ll be alive to-morrow.
Soldier
Come along then—but quick.
Girl
Be careful! It’s dark here. If you slip, you’ll fall in the river.
Soldier
Would be the best thing, perhaps.
Girl
Sh-h. Wait a minute. We’ll come to a bench soon.
Soldier
You seem to know this place pretty well.
Girl
I’d like to have you for a sweetheart.
Soldier
I’d fight too much.
Girl
I’d cure you of that soon enough.
Soldier
Humph—
Girl
Don’t make so much noise. Sometimes a guard stumbles down here. Would you believe we are in the middle of Vienna?
Soldier
Come here. Come over here.
Girl
You are crazy! If we slipped here, we’d fall into the river.
Soldier
(Has grabbed her) Oh you—
Girl
Hold tight to me.
Soldier
Don’t be afraid…
Girl
It would have been nicer on the bench.
Soldier
Here or there, it doesn’t matter to me… Well, pick yourself up.
Girl
What’s your hurry—?
Soldier
I must get to the barracks. I’ll be late anyhow.
Girl
Say, what’s your name?
Soldier
What’s that to you?
Girl
My name is Leocadia.
Soldier
Humph! I never heard such a name before.
Girl
Listen!
Soldier
Well, what do you want?
Girl
Give me just a dime for the janitor.
Soldier
Humph!… Do you think I’m your meal-ticket? Good-by, Leocadia…
Girl
Tightwad! Pimp!
(He disappears)