Julie. In half-an-hour then. Oh, I’m so tired, I can’t do anything; I can’t repent, I can’t run away, I can’t stay, I can’t live, I can’t die. Help me now! Give me orders and I’ll obey like a dog. Do me this last service! Save my honor—save my name! You know what I ought to will, but don’t will. Do you will it and order me to accomplish it.
John. I don’t know—but now I can’t either. I can’t make it out myself—it’s just as though it were the result of this coat I’ve just put on, but I can’t give you any orders. And now, after the Count has spoken to me, I can’t explain it properly—but—ah! it’s the livery which I’ve got on my back. I believe if the Count were to come in now and order me to cut my throat I’d do it on the spot.
Julie. Then just do as though you were he, and I were you. You could imagine it quite well a minute ago, when you were before me on your knees. Then you were a knight. Have you ever been to the theater and seen the mesmerist? [JOHN makes a gesture of assent.] He says to the medium, “Take the broom"; he takes it; he says “Sweep,” and he sweeps.
John. But in that case the medium must be asleep.
Julie.[Exalted.] I am already asleep. The whole room looks as though it were full of smoke—and you look like an iron furnace—which is like a man in black clothes and top hat—and your eyes glow like coals when the fire goes out—and your face is a white blur like cinders. The sunlight has now reached the floor and streams over JOHN.] It’s so warm and fine. [She rubs her hands as though she were warming them by a fire.] And then it’s so light—and so quiet.
John.[Takes the razor and puts it in her hand.] There is the broom, go, now that it’s light, outside into the barn—and [He whispers something in her ear.]
Julie.[Awake.] Thank you. Now I’m going to have peace, but tell me now that the first shall have their share of grace too. Tell me that, even though you don’t believe it.
John. The first? No, I can’t do that; but, one minute, Miss Julie—I’ve got it, you don’t belong any longer to the first—you are beneath the last.
Julie. That’s true—I am beneath the very last, I am the last myself. Oh—but now I can’t go. Tell me again that I must go.
John. No, I can’t do that again now either. I can’t.