He Who Gets Slapped Part 17

[_Timidly_]: Wouldn't you like some moosic?

MANCINI

[_Giving her some cognac_]: Drink, d.u.c.h.ess, drink! Drink it all--that's it. [ZINIDA _drinks it like water, evidently not noticing the taste. She s.h.i.+vers. The clowns disappear one by one._ CONSUELO, _with a sudden flexible movement, falls on her knees before_ ZINIDA _and kisses her hands, warming them between her own_.]

CONSUELO

Dear, dear, you are cold! Poor little hands, dear good one, beloved one----

ZINIDA

[_Pushes her away, gently_]: Ho--home. It will soon be over. It's nothing ... I am ver--very ... home.... You stay here, Briquet--you must. I'm all right.

CONSUELO

You are cold? Here is my shawl.

ZINIDA

No--let me.... [CONSUELO _gets up, and moves aside._]

BRIQUET

And it's all because of your books, Zinida--your mythology. Now tell me, why do you want those beasts to love you? Beasts! Do you understand, HE?

You too, you're from that world. She'll listen more to you. Explain it to her. Whom can those beasts love? Those hairy monsters, with diabolic eyes?

HE

[_Genially_]: I believe--only their equals. You are right, Papa Briquet--there must be the same race.

BRIQUET

Of course, and this is all nonsense--literature. Explain it to her, HE.

HE

[_Takes on a meditative air_]: Yes, you are right, Briquet.

BRIQUET

You see, dear, silly woman--everybody agrees....

MANCINI

Oh! Briquet, you make me sick; you are an absolute despot, an Asiatic.

ZINIDA

[_With the shadow of a smile, gives her hand to be kissed_]: Calm yourself, Louis. It is over--I am going home. [_She stands up, shaking, still chilled._]

BRIQUET

But how? alone, dear?

MANCINI

What! fool! Did you imagine that Count Mancini would leave a woman when she needed help? I shall take her home--let your brutal heart be at rest--I shall take her home. Thomas, run for an automobile. Don't push me Briquet, you are as awkward as a unicorn ... that's the way, that's the way---- [_They are holding her, guiding her slowly toward the door_].

CONSUELO, _her chin resting in her hand, is following them with her eyes. Unconsciously she a.s.sumes a somewhat affected pose._]

MANCINI

I'll come back for you, child---- [_Only_ HE _and_ CONSUELO _are left on the stage. In the ring, music, shrieks, and laughter begin again._]

HE

Consuelo----

CONSUELO

Is that you, HE, dear?

HE

Where did you learn that pose? I have seen it only in marble. You look like Psyche.

CONSUELO

I don't know, HE. [_She sighs and sits on the sofa, keeping in her pose the same artificiality and beauty._] It's all so sad here, to-day. HE, are you sorry for ZINIDA?

HE

What did she do?

CONSUELO

I didn't see. I had closed my eyes, and didn't open them. Alfred says she is a wicked woman, but that isn't true. She has such nice eyes, and what tiny cold hands--as if she were dead. What does she do it for?

Alfred says she should be audacious, beautiful, but quiet, otherwise what she does is only disgusting. It isn't true, is it, HE?

HE

She loves Alfred.

CONSUELO

Alfred? My Bezano? [_Shrugging her shoulders, and surprised_] How does she love him? The same as everyone loves?

HE

Yes--as everyone loves--or still more.