Scene 6
Secretary (enters).
Good-evening.
Leonard.
The secretary! To what do I owe the honour of——
Sec.
You’ll soon see, my boy.[E]
Leonard.
You’re very familiar.[E] We were at school together, of course——
Sec.
And perhaps we shall die together. (Producing pistols.) Do you know how to use these things?
Leonard.
I don’t understand you.
Sec. (cocks one).
Do you see? That’s the way you do it. Then you aim at me, so, and fire.
Leonard.
What are you talking about?
Sec.
One of us two has got to die. Die! At once!
Leonard.
Die?
Sec.
You know why.
Leonard.
By God, I don’t.
Sec.
Never mind. You’ll remember when you breathe your last.
Leonard.
I haven’t the faintest idea.
Sec.
Now just come to your senses. Or else I might shoot you down for a mad dog that has bitten what is dearest to me, without knowing what I was doing;—as it is I’ve got to treat you as an equal for half an hour.
Leonard.
Don’t talk so loud. If any one heard you——
Sec.
If any one could hear, you’d have called out long ago. Well?
Leonard.
If it’s on the girl’s account, I can marry her. I’d half made up my mind to, when she was here.
Sec.
She’s been and gone again, without seeing you on your knees in remorse and contrition? Come! Come!
Leonard.
I beg you! I will do anything you wish. I’ll get engaged to her to-night.
Sec.
Either I do that or nobody. And if the world depended on it, you shan’t touch the hem of her garment again. Come with me. Into the woods! Look here, I’ll take you by the arm and if you make so much as a sound on the road, I’ll——(raising a pistol). Believe me. Anyhow we’ll take the back way through the gardens, to keep you out of temptation.
Leonard.
One’s mine; give it me.
Sec.
So that you can throw it away and force me to let you run away, or murder you, what? Have patience till we get to the spot, then I’ll divide squarely with you.
Leonard (accidentally knocks his glass off the table when going out).
Shall I never drink again?
Sec.
Buck up, boy, you may come off all right. God and the devil are forever fighting for the world, it seems. Who knows which is master? (Takes his arm; both go out.)