He Who Gets Slapped: A Play in Four Acts

by Leonid Andreyev

You saw, too! And!... what——

Briquet

Come home—come home. [To the others] You can do what you like here. Zinida, come home.

Polly

You can't go, Papa. There's still your number.

Zinida

[Her eyes meet those of Bezano]: Ah! Bezano. [Laughs long and happily.] Bezano! Alfred! Did you see? My lions do love me! [Bezano, without answering, leaves the stage. Zinida seems to wither and grow dim, as a light being extinguished. Her smile fades, her eyes and face grow pale. Briquet anxiously bends over her.]

Briquet

[In a slow voice]: A chair! [Zinida sits. Her head drops on her shoulder, her arms fall, she begins to shiver and tremble. Some one calls, "Cognac"—an actor runs to get it.]

Briquet