He Who Gets Slapped Part 41

I am laughing and crying.

MANCINI

[_Pus.h.i.+ng HE away, slightly_]: Enough, Countess, my patience is exhausted. If Auguste is good enough to allow it, then I, your Father--Your arm, Countess! Will you step aside, sir?

CONSUELO

I am tired.

MANCINI

You are not too tired to chatter and drink wine with a clown, and when your duty calls you--Briquet! Tell them to ring the bell. It is time.

CONSUELO

I am tired, Father.

ZINIDA

Count, it is cruel. Don't you see how pale she has become?

BARON

What is the matter with you, dear little Consuelo?

CONSUELO

Nothing.

ZINIDA

She simply needs a rest, Baron. She hasn't sat down yet ... and so much excitement.... Sit down here, dear child. Cover yourself and rest a little. Men are so cruel!

CONSUELO

I still have to work. [_Closing her eyes._] And the roses, are they ready?

ZINIDA

Ready, dear, ready. You will have such an extraordinary carpet. You will gallop as if on air. Rest.

POLLY

Do you want some moosic? We will play you a song; do you want it?

CONSUELO

[_Smiling, eyes closed_]: Yes, I do.

[_The clowns play a soft and nave song: tilly-polly, tilly-polly.

General silence._ _HE sits in the corner with his face turned away._ JACKSON _watches him out of the corner of his eye, and drinks wine, lazily_. _The_ BARON, _in his usual pose, wide and heavily spread legs, looks at the pale face of_ CONSUELO, _with his bulging motionless eyes_.]

CONSUELO

[_With a sudden cry_]: Ah! Pain!

ZINIDA

What is it, Consuelo?

MANCINI

My child! Are you sick! Calm yourself.

BARON

[_Growing pale_]: Wait a moment.... She was too much excited....

Consuelo!

CONSUELO

[_Gets up, looking before her with wide-open eyes, as if she were listening to something within herself_]: Ah! I feel pain. Here at the heart. Father, what is it? I am afraid. What is it? My feet too ... I can't stand.... [_Falls on divan, her eyes wide open._]

MANCINI

[_Running about_]: Bring a doctor! Heavens, it is terrible! Auguste, Baron.... It never happened to her. It is nerves, nerves.... Calm yourself, calm, child----

BRIQUET

Bring a doctor! [_Somebody runs for a doctor._]

JACKSON

[_In a voice full of fear_]: HE, what is the matter with you?

HE

It is death, Consuelo, my little Queen. I killed you. You are dying.

[_He cries, loudly and bitterly._ CONSUELO _with a scream, closes her eyes, and becomes silent and quiet_. _All are in terrible agitation. The_ BARON _is motionless, and sees only_ CONSUELO.]

MANCINI

[_Furious_]: You are lying, rascal! d.a.m.ned clown! What did you give her?

You poisoned her! Murderer! Bring a doctor!

HE