Trast. Hm!--Permit me to tell you a little tale. In a journey through Central Asia I stopped at the house of a Thibetan Chief. I was dusty and footsore. He received me, sitting on his throne. Beside him was his charming little wife. "Rest yourself, traveler," he said to me, "my wife will prepare you a bath and then we men shall dine together." And he gave me over to his young wife.--Gentlemen, if ever in my life my self-control was put to test it was in that hour--And when I returned to the hall, what did I find? The attendants under arms, threatening voices and half-drawn swords. "You must die!" cried my host, "you have given a deadly insult to the honor of my house. You have scorned to accept the most sacred thing I could offer you."--You see, gentlemen, I am still living, for eventually the deficient sense of honor of the barbaric European was forgiven. (They laugh) If you happen to know any of our modern writers on the theme of adultery you might tell them this story.
(All laugh, and move gradually towards the left.)
Trast. (Continuing) Gentlemen, I don't want to be considered immoral. The study of the puzzles of civilization is a thing apart.--You see it lies in the nature of your so-called honor, that it may only be possessed by the certain few, the demi-gods; for it is an emotional luxury that loses value in direct proportion as it is appropriated by the rabble.
Kurt. But that is a paradox. Count. Is it not permitted to everyone to be a man of honor?
Trast. On the contrary. Then the poorest devil in the alley might dispute the honor of a gentleman. (Kurt is perplexed)
Lothar. If he acts according to honor, then he must be a gentleman.
Trast. Hm! Really? May I tell you another, a shorter story?--But I am afraid I'm boring you.
Lothar and Hugo. (Laughing) No!--No!
Trast. It took place somewhere in South America--the Spaniards are the aristocrats there,--the population is a mixture of negroes, Indians, and a sort of white trash. A product of this mixed race,--his name was--hm--Pepe--had the opportunity of being transported to the Spanish mother country where he (Breathes on his left elbow) absorbed a little of the pure Castillan sense of honor. (Robert enters without being heard and listens) When he came back, after several years, he found his little sister on all too intimate terms with a young aristocrat--Gentleman, we mustn't get angry, Considering her origin it was the girl's destiny. But the young fellow dared to attempt to avenge his sister's honor, not as a mestizo but as a Hidalgo!
Kurt. (In a hurt voice) Listen, that means me!