The Lonely Way-Intermezzo-Countess Mizzie Part 77

CECILIA

Oh, I remember--I remember! (_She wants to leave_)

AMADEUS

Stay, Cecilia, stay! The day after to-morrow I shall be gone--stay!

CECILIA

Please don't speak to me like that! I am no longer what I used to be--no longer proud, or calm, or good. Who knows how little might be needed to make me the victim of a certain unscrupulous seducer!

AMADEUS

Cecilia!

CECILIA

Have you so many friends to lose? One is all I have.--Good-night.

(_She tries to get away_)

AMADEUS (_seizing her by the hand_)

Cecilia, we have long ago bidden each other good-by as man and wife--but we have also made up our minds to take life lightly, to be free, and to lay hold of every happiness that comes within our reach.

Should we be mad enough, or cowardly enough, to shrink from the highest happiness ever offered us...?

CECILIA

And what would it lead to ... my friend?

AMADEUS

Don't call me that! I love you and I hate you, but in this moment I am not your friend. What you have been to me--wife, comrade ... what do I care! To-day I want to be--your lover!

CECILIA

You mustn't...! You can't ... no....

AMADEUS

Not your lover then ... but what is both worse and better ... the man who takes you away from another one--the one with whom you are betraying someone else--the one who means to you both bliss and sin at once!

CECILIA

Let me loose, Amadeus.

AMADEUS

No more beautiful adventure will ever blossom by the wayside for either one of us, Cecilia, as long as we may live!

CECILIA

And none more dangerous, Amadeus!

AMADEUS

Wasn't that what you were longing for...?

CECILIA

Good-night, Amadeus.

AMADEUS

Cecilia! (_He holds her fast and draws her closer to himself_)

CURTAIN

THE THIRD ACT

_The same room. It is the morning of the following day. The stage is empty at first. Then Amadeus enters from his room at the left. He wears a dressing-gown, but is otherwise fully dressed. He pa.s.ses slowly and pensively across the room to the writing desk, from which he picks up the waiting pile of letters. Then he puts the letters down again. He feels chilly, looks around, notices that a window is open, and goes to close it. Then he stands listening for a while at the door to Cecilia's room. Finally he returns to the writing desk and begins to pull out ma.n.u.scripts from its drawers._

AMADEUS

Let's get things in order.... I wonder how this is going to turn out?--I'll write her from some place along my route. I shall never come back here any more.... I couldn't stand it ... no, I couldn't!

(_Holding a ma.n.u.script in his hand_) The Solo--her Solo! Well, I shall not be present to hear her sing it.

CHAMBERMAID (_entering_)

The men are here to take away the trunk. Here's the check from the expressman.

AMADEUS

All right. Tell them to use the back stairs in taking out the things.

CHAMBERMAID (_goes out_)

AMADEUS

... When I say good-by to-morrow, she won't guess it is forever.... And the boy ... the boy...? (_He walks back and forth_) ... But it has to be. (_Abruptly_) I'll leave this very evening--not to-morrow. Yes, this very evening. (_He begins to pile up sheet music_) I'll have a talk with the Director. If he says no, I'll simply break away. I won't come back here. (_He goes to Cecilia's door again_) I suppose she's still asleep. (_He comes forward and sits down on the couch, leaning his head in his hands_) We have to take lunch together, and she won't guess that it is for the last time.... She won't guess.... And why not? Let her find out ... right now ... I am going to have it out with her. Yes, indeed. (_Rising_) One can't write a thing of that kind. I'll tell her everything. I'll tell her that I can't bear it--that it drives me crazy to think of the other fellow. And she'll understand. And even if she should plead with me to forgive her ... even if she ... oh! (_He goes to her door_) I must tell her at once.... Oh, I feel like choking her!... Cecilia! (_He knocks at her door, but gets no answer_) What does that mean? (_He goes into her room_) She's gone! (_He stays away for about half a minute and comes back by way of the door leading to the garden; then he rings_) Where can she....

CHAMBERMAID (_enters_)