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

something cheerful.⁠ ⁠… You know, when you paint the laughter on your face, you are very good looking, but now, too, you are very, very nice. Come on, He, why don’t you lie down? He Consuelo! Are you going to marry the Baron? Consuelo Indifferently. It seems so. The Baron is hanging by a thread! He, there is one little sandwich left. Eat it. He Thank you, my queen. Eats. And do you remember my prediction? Consuelo What prediction? How quickly you swallow! Does it taste good? He Very good. That if you marry the Baron, you.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Oh, that’s what you’re talking about.⁠ ⁠… But you were making fun. He Nobody can tell, my Queen. Sometimes one makes fun, and suddenly it turns out to be true; the stars never talk in vain. If sometimes it is difficult for a human being to open his mouth and to say a word, how difficult it must be for a star. Think of it. Consuelo Laughing. I should say. Such a mouth! Makes a tiny mouth. He No, my dear little girl, were I in your place, I would think it over. And suppose suddenly you should die? Don’t marry the Baron, Consuelo! Consuelo Thinking. And what is⁠—death? He I do not know, my Queen. Nobody knows. Like love! Nobody knows. But your little hands will become cold, and your dear little eyes will be closed. You will be away from here. And the music will play without you, and without you the crazy Bezano will be galloping, and Tilly and Polly will be playing on their pipes without you: tilly-polly, tilly-polly⁠ ⁠… tilly-tilly, polly-polly.⁠ ⁠… Consuelo Please don’t, He darling⁠—I am so sad, anyway⁠ ⁠… tilly-tilly, polly-polly⁠ ⁠… Silence. He looks at Consuelo. He You were crying, my little Consuelo? Consuelo Yes, a little. Alfred made me nervous. But tell me, is it my fault that I can’t do anything today? I tried to, but I couldn’t. He Why? Consuelo Ah, I don’t know. There is something here. Presses her hand against her heart. I don’t know. He, I must be sick. What is sickness? Does it hurt very much? He It is not sickness. It is the charm of the far off stars, Consuelo. It is the voice of your fate, my little Queen. Consuelo Don’t talk nonsense, please. What should the stars care about me? I am so small. Nonsense, He! Tell me rather another tale which you know: about the blue sea and those gods, you know⁠ ⁠… who are so beautiful. Did they all die? He They are all alive, but they hide themselves, my goddess. Consuelo In the woods or mountains? Can one come across them? Ah, imagine He⁠ ⁠… I come across a god, and he suddenly takes a look at me! I’d run away. Laughs. This morning when I went without breakfast, I became so sad, so disgusted, and I thought: if a god should come, and give me something to eat! And as I thought it, I suddenly heard, honestly it’s true, I heard: “Consuelo, somebody’s calling you.” Angrily. Don’t you dare laugh! He Am I laughing? Consuelo Honestly, it’s true. Ah, He, but he didn’t come. He only called me and disappeared, and how can you find him? It hurt me so much, and hurts even now. Why did you remind me of my childhood? I’d forgotten it entirely. There was the sea⁠ ⁠… and something⁠ ⁠… many, many closes her eyes, smiling. He Remember, Consuelo. Consuelo No. Opening her eyes. I forget everything about it. Looks around the room. He, do you see what a poster they made for my benefit performance? It’s Father’s idea. The Baron liked it. He laughs. Silence. He Slowly. Consuelo, my Queen! Don’t go to the Baron today. Consuelo Why? After a silence. How fresh you are, He. He Lowering his head, slowly. I don’t want it. Consuelo Getting up. What? You don’t want it? He Bowing his head still lower. I do not want you to marry the Baron Imploring. I⁠ ⁠… I shall not allow it⁠ ⁠… I beg you! Consuelo Whom, then, would you ask me to marry? You, perhaps, you fool? With a rancorous laugh. Are you crazy, my darling? “I shall not allow.” He! He will not allow me! But it is unbearable! What business is it of yours? Walking up and down the room, looks over her shoulder at He, with anger. Some fool clown, whom they can kick out of here any minute. You make me sick with your stupid tales. Or you like slaps so much. Fool, you couldn’t invent anything better than a slap! He Without lifting his head. Forgive me, my Queen. Consuelo He is glad when they laugh at him. Some god! No, I shan’t forgive. I know you. Makes same gesture as Mancini. You have something there! Laughs⁠ ⁠… so nicely⁠ ⁠… plays, plays, and then suddenly⁠—hop! Obey him! No, darling, I am not that kind! Carry my train, that is your business⁠—fool! He I shall carry your train, my Queen. Forgive me. Give me back the image of my beautiful, piteous goddess. Consuelo Quieting down. You’re playing again? He I am. Consuelo Laughing. You see! Sits down. Foolish He. He I see everything, my Queen. I see how beautiful you are, and how low under your feet your poor court fool is lying. Somewhere in the abyss his little bells are ringing. He kneels before you and prays; forgive and pity him, my divine one. He was too impudent; he played so cheerfully that he went too far and lost his tiny little mind, the last bit of understanding he had saved up. Forgive me! Consuelo All right. I forgive you. Laughs. And now will you allow me to marry the Baron? He Also laughing. And nevertheless I will not allow it. But what does a queen care about the permission of her enamoured fool? Consuelo Get up. You are forgiven. And do you know why? You think because of your words? You are a cunning beast, He! No, because of the sandwiches.