He Who Gets Slapped Part 32

HE

Until you get it?

BARON

Until I get it. And you?

HE

I too.

[_Both look at each other, silently, their heads close together.

From the ring one hears the strains of the Tango._]

CURTAIN

ACT IV

_Music in the ring. More disorder in the room than usual. All kinds of actors' costumes hanging on pegs and lying in the corners. On the table a bouquet of fiery-red roses, put there by some careless hand. At the entrance, near the arch, three bareback riders are smoking and chattering; they are all minor actors. All part their hair the same way; two wear small moustaches; the third one is clean-shaven with a face like a bull-dog._

THE CLEAN-SHAVEN ONE

Go on, Henry! Ten thousand francs! It's too much even for the Baron.

THE SECOND

How much are roses now?

THE SHAVEN

I don't know. In winter they are certainly more expensive, but still Henry talks nonsense. Ten thousand!

THE SECOND

The Baron has his own hothouse. They don't cost him anything.

HENRY

[_Throwing away hit cigar, which has burned the tips of his fingers_]: No, Grab, you're silly. There's a whole car-load full! One can smell the roses a mile away. They're to cover the entire arena.

THE SHAVEN

Only the ring.

HENRY

It's all the same. In order to cover the ring, you must have thousands and thousands of roses. You'll see what it looks like, when they've covered everything like a carpet. He ordered them to make it like a carpet! Do you see, Grab?

THE SECOND

What a Baron's craze! Isn't it time yet?

HENRY

No, we have time enough. I rather like it: a fiery-red tango on a fiery-red cover of winter roses!

THE SHAVEN

Consuelo will be galloping on roses. And Bezano?

THE SECOND

And Bezano on thorns. [_Smiles._]

THE SHAVEN

That youngster has no self-respect. I'd have refused.

HENRY

But it is his job. He's got to do it. [_Laughs._] Talk to him about self-respect. He's as angry and proud as a little Satan.

THE SECOND

No, you may say what you like, it's an excellent benefit performance.

It's a joy to look at the crowd. They're so excited.

HENRY

Tss! [_All throw away their cigars and cigarettes, like school boys who are caught, and make way for_ ZINIDA, _who enters with_ HE.]

ZINIDA

What are you doing here, gentlemen? Your place is at the entrance.

HENRY

[_With a respectful smile_]: We are here just for a minute, Madame Zinida. We are going. What a successful evening! And what a glory for Papa Briquet!

ZINIDA

Yes. Go, and please don't leave your places. [_They go._ ZINIDA _pulls a drawer out of the desk, and puts in some papers. She is in her lion tamer's costume._] HE, what were you doing near my lions? You frightened me.

HE