He Who Gets Slapped, Leonid Andreyev [great novels to read .txt] 📗

is not educated. When she is off her horse, any good housemaid from a decent house has nicer manners, and speaks better. Nonchalantly. Don’t you think she’s stupid? Mancini No, she’s not stupid. And you, He, are a fool. What need has a woman of intelligence? Why, He, you astonish me. Consuelo is an unpolished jewel, and only a real donkey does not notice her sparkle. Do you know what happened? I tried to begin to polish her⁠— He Yes, you took a teacher. And what happened? Mancini Nodding his head. I was frightened⁠—it went too fast⁠—I had to dismiss him. Another month or two, and she would have kicked me out. Laughs. The clever old diamond merchants of Amsterdam keep their precious stones unpolished, and fool the thieves. My father taught me that. He The sleep of a diamond. It is only sleeping, then. You are wise, Mancini. Mancini Do you know what blood flows in the veins of an Italian woman? The blood of Hannibal and Corsini⁠—of a Borgia⁠—and of a dirty Lombardi peasant⁠—and of a Moor. Oh! an Italian woman is not of a lower race, with only peasants and gypsies behind her. All possibilities, all forms are included in her, as in our marvelous sculpture. Do you understand that, you fool? Strike here⁠—out springs a washerwoman, or a cheap street girl whom you want to throw out, because she is sloppy and has a screechy voice. Strike there⁠—but carefully and gently, for there stands a queen, a goddess, the Venus of the Capitol, who sings like a Stradivarius and makes you cry, idiot! An Italian woman⁠— He You’re quite a poet, Mancini! But what will the Baron make of her? Mancini What? What? Make of her? A baroness, you fool! What are you laughing at? I don’t get you? But I am happy that this lovesick beast is neither a duke nor a prince⁠—or she would be a princess and I⁠—what would become of me? A year after the wedding they would not let me even into the kitchen laughing not even into the kitchen! I, Count Mancini, and she a⁠—a simple⁠— He Jumping up. What did you say? You are not her father, Mancini? Mancini Tss⁠—the devil⁠—I am so nervous today! Heavens, who do you think I am? “Her father?” Of course tries to laugh how silly you are⁠—haven’t you noticed the family resemblance? Just look, the nose, the eyes⁠—Suddenly sighs deeply. Ah, He! How unhappy I am! Think of it. Here I am, a gentleman, nearly beaten in my struggle to keep up the honour of my name, of an old house, while there in the parquet⁠—there sits that beast, an elephant with the eyes of a spider⁠ ⁠… and he looks at Consuelo⁠ ⁠… and.⁠ ⁠… He Yes, yes, he has the motionless stare of a spider⁠—you’re right! Mancini Just what I say⁠—a spider! But I must, I shall compel him to marry her. You’ll see⁠—Walking excitedly up and down, playing with his cane. You’ll see! All my life I’ve been getting ready for this battle. He continues to walk up and down. Silence. Outside, great stillness. He Listening. Why is it so quiet out there? What a strange silence. Mancini Disgusted. I don’t know. Out there it is quiet⁠—but here touching his forehead with his cane here is storm, whirlwind. Bends over the clown. He, shall I tell you a strange thing⁠—an unusual trick of nature? Laughs, and looks very important. For three centuries the Counts Mancini have had no children! Laughs. He Then how were you born? Mancini Sh! Silence! That is the secret of our sainted mothers! Ha-ha! We are too ancient a stock⁠—too exquisitely refined to trouble ourselves with such things⁠—matters in which a peasant is more competent than ourselves. Enter an usher. What do you want? The manager is on the stage. The Usher Yes, sir. Baron Regnard wished me to give you this letter. Mancini The Baron? Is he there? The Usher Baron Regnard has left. There is no answer. Mancini Opening the envelope, his hand shaking. The devil⁠—the devil! The usher is going. He Just a minute. Why is there no music? This silence.⁠ ⁠… The Usher It is the act with Madame Zinida and her lions. He goes. Mancini is reading the Baron’s note for the second time. He What’s the matter, Mancini? You shine like Jackson’s sun. Mancini What’s the matter, did you ask? What’s the matter? What’s the matter? Balancing his cane, he takes steps like a ballet-dancer. He Mancini! Mancini rolls his eyes, makes faces, dances. Speak, you beast! Mancini Holds out his hand. Give me ten francs! Quick⁠—ten francs⁠—here, come on. Puts it automatically into his vest pocket. Listen, He! If in a month I don’t have a car of my own, you may give me one of your slaps! He What! He’s going to marry? He’s decided? Mancini What do you mean by “decided?” Laughs. When a man has the rope about his neck, you don’t ask him about his health! Baron⁠—Stops suddenly, startled. Briquet is staggering in like a drunken man, his hand over his eyes. He Goes to him, touches his shoulder gently. What is the matter, Papa Briquet? Tell me! Briquet Groaning. Oh, oh, I can’t⁠ ⁠… I can’t⁠ ⁠… Ah⁠— He Something has happened? You are ill? Please speak. Briquet I can’t look at it! Takes his hands from his eyes, opens them wide. Why does she do it? Ah, ah, why does she do it? She must be taken away; she is insane. I couldn’t look at it. Shivers. They will tear her to pieces. He⁠—her lions⁠—they will tear her⁠— Mancini Go on, Briquet. She is always like that. You act like a child. You ought to be ashamed. Briquet No⁠—Today she is mad! And what is the matter with the crowd? They are all like dead people⁠—they’re not even breathing. I couldn’t stand it. Listen⁠—what’s that? All listen. There is the same silence. Mancini Disturbed. I’ll go and see.