The Devil

OLGA, in hard voice, speaks while writing

Sir, your behavior of this evening has shown me that you are no longer—

DEVIL, continuing

—able to keep up the wretched farce of mere friendship. I read your inmost thought tonight and—Karl—the knowledge that you love me has made me unspeakably happy. Dearest—

[OLGA looks up at the DEVIL, who is standing now at her L. He repeats "Dearest" and points to letter. She resumes writing.

—why should we struggle any longer against the resistless tide that is drawing us together? My strength is gone.

[OLGA looks up again. The DEVIL repeats "My strength is gone" by motion of lips, making no sound. She writes:

—without you I am lost in the black waters—save me, Karl. With your strong arms about me—with your lips to mine—I care not where we drift. I am yours, all yours. You are the master of my soul. Do not leave me, Karl; I love you, I cannot live without you. God bless you!

[OLGA'S head falls forward on her arm

OLGA, as if awakening

What have I written?

DEVIL, folding letter

What was in your heart!

OLGA, laughs hysterically

I have written everything I had meant never to say.

DEVIL, taking up letter

If women wrote time tables, they would tell all the hours that the trains didn't start and all the places you mustn't stop at to get to your destination.

[DEVIL puts the letter into envelope.

OLGA, horrified

What are you doing?

DEVIL, coldly

I will deliver the letter. Women sometimes do not write what they want, but they always want what they write.

OLGA

He must not. He shall not see it.

[HERMAN comes down stairs

HERMAN

Good! You're the kind of guest I like—when all the rest have deserted the ship you stay and keep the hostess company.

DEVIL, crosses to C., putting letter into his pocket

Madame has been so entertaining, that I—

HERMAN, crossing to bell R.

Well, let's have another cognac before you go—quite en famille.

DEVIL

Thank you very much, but I have an important call very early in the morning. Madame,—

[Goes to OLGA, kisses her hand.

[To HERMAN:

I have spent a very pleasant evening at your house.

HERMAN, coming to him C., they shake hands

The pleasure is mine.

[DEVIL starts to go. OLGA utters a suppressed cry.

DEVIL

Madame?

OLGA, frightened to death, with a forced smile trying to appear undisturbed

There was a piece of paper here. Did you perhaps take it by mistake?

[She is almost crying from fright.

DEVIL, coming down stairs, taking the letter out of his pocket

[Going towards HERMAN as if he was going to give him the letter.

Do you mean this?

OLGA, deathly pale

No, no It was not that.

[Laughing bitterly.

DEVIL, bowing

Madame.

[Bows to HERMAN. Goes off upstairs. Bows low to both and goes out.

HERMAN crosses to OLGA

Well, I'm glad it's over. You look tired, dearie.

OLGA, standing by table L.

I am tired.

HERMAN

You look flushed. But it's very becoming, you never looked prettier.

[OLGA is leaning backwards over the table, he takes her hand.

My darling wife.

[Goes to kiss her.

OLGA, unkind

Please, please don't.

HERMAN, crosses to C. Looks at his watch

It is after four o'clock, Olga.

[Tries to kiss her again.

OLGA

Please, please don't. I feel so nervous.

HERMAN

Your cheeks are burning.

[Pats her cheeks.

OLGA, nervous, impatient

Please—

HERMAN

All right, all right, I'm going.

[He goes towards the door on the R.

Are you going to stay here?

OLGA, at table L.

Let me rest a minute.

HERMAN

As you please.

[MAN SERVANT comes in above platform, and goes up side stairs.

OLGA, to servant

What do you want?

MAN SERVANT

The lights, Madame.

OLGA

Turn off the lights.

[The MAN SERVANT puts all the lights out. The lamps in the street and the garden are lighted, but the room is dark.

HERMAN

It would be wiser to sleep, my dear.

[He waits a minute, shrugs his shoulders, then goes out R.

OLGA, stands leaning on the table

To go to sleep....

[The DEVIL can be seen outside in his fur overcoat, crossing through the garden. As he passes a lamp in the garden his shadow reaching up to the ceiling is thrown on the white wall of the room, OLGA is crossing to R. He takes his hat off, at which moment she sees the shadow on the wall, OLGA shrieks.

No!

[She drops into a chair.

CURTAIN

ACT III

SCENE.—Like Act I. The afternoon of the next day, about three o'clock. When the curtain rises, the DEVIL is seated in a big chair. Bell rings off stage R. HEINRICH enters R.

DEVIL, rising from chair

What do you want?

HEINRICH

There is a lady, sir.

DEVIL

What kind of a lady?

HEINRICH

A real lady, sir.

DEVIL

What does she want?

HEINRICH

She wants to see my master. I told her he was not up yet, but she said she would wait.

DEVIL

Do you know who the lady is? Have you seen her before?

HEINRICH

Never.

DEVIL

Ask her to step in here.

[HEINRICH goes off, shows ELSA in.

[DEVIL bows.

Ah!

ELSA

You seem to be everywhere. What are you doing here? Are you his secretary?

DEVIL

No, merely a good friend. Nothing else. I just happened in. By the way, how do you do?

ELSA

How do you do?

[Crosses to couch, sits.

I didn't know there was anybody in this room or I would not have come in. But as it is only you I don't mind.

[ELSA sits down, intentionally turning her back to the DEVIL.

DEVIL

Karl is expecting you, then?

ELSA

Oh, no.

DEVIL

Will you permit me to prepare him for this pleasant surprise?

ELSA

No, thank you. Don't disturb him. I can look around while I'm waiting. I have never been here before.

DEVIL

I know it.

ELSA

Who told you?

DEVIL

The man—a lady might come every day and escape notice—but coming for the first time she would be sure to attract his attention.

ELSA

I feel embarrassed coming here alone.

DEVIL

I know that, too.

ELSA

From the same source?

DEVIL

Yes; he said you were a real lady.

ELSA

He is the only one here who has spoken to me like a gentleman.

DEVIL

He must have thought you were a model.

ELSA, rises; angrily

How dare you?

DEVIL

A servant can only speak like a gentleman to—his equals.

ELSA, sits down again; sarcastically

Then I was mistaken—it is not Heinrich who is the servant.

DEVIL

Who knows—perhaps he is a clergyman.

ELSA

I don't understand you.

DEVIL

Only two people in the world may open the door of a bachelor's apartment to a young lady—the man servant, or a clergyman with a marriage certificate —you can take your choice.

ELSA

Let me tell you I was once left alone with a gentleman who tried to kiss me, and I slapped his face.

DEVIL

Indeed? I was once left alone with a lady who tried to slap me and I kissed her face.

[Enter HEINRICH.

ELSA, controlling herself with difficulty

Oh!

DEVIL

Heinrich! There's a little leather satchel in the pocket of my overcoat.

[HEINRICH goes out.

ELSA

Don't be afraid. This is not my day for crying.

DEVIL

It's when a girl laughs that I'm most afraid.

[HEINRICH brings the satchel, puts it on the table L. C. and goes into studio.

Why did you come here?

ELSA

I intend to sit for my portrait—to do that, I must come every day.

DEVIL

You intend to come here every day, and to do that you must have your portrait painted.

ELSA

You are clever at twisting words.

DEVIL

Perhaps you know there is another lady coming every day to have her portrait painted?

ELSA

Yes, I know. That's why I want mine painted—we'll see which will be the better likeness.

DEVIL

Come now—you must let me sit down—this time I want you to be right.

[Raises her and swings her in front of him.

[DEVIL sits on couch, ELSA leans on table.

Are you aware—

ELSA

This is awful—you question me like a judge.

DEVIL

It is you who answer like a prisoner. Do you know that Karl is in love with Olga?

ELSA, bitterly

Do I know it!

DEVIL

And you still mean to fight?

ELSA

Yes, I mean to fight—you gave me good advice.

DEVIL

That was yesterday.

ELSA

Well—this is to-day.

DEVIL, impressively

Yesterday was your winning day. Yesterday it was written that you, Elsa, would succeed in whatever thing you made up your mind to do, with the whole strength of your will.

ELSA

Last night I made up my mind to—

DEVIL, interrupting gravely

—to dance every dance—

[Pause

You danced every dance.

ELSA, defiantly

Karl asked me to marry him last night.

DEVIL

—and you refused.

ELSA

Yes—but to-day I shall—

DEVIL

To-day is not your winning day—yesterday you chose—to-day you will have no choice.

ELSA

I won't give him up—I can't—I don't know how.

DEVIL

You will have to learn—let me see—I think I know some one who has learned the lesson and can teach it to you—

[Goes to hall door which he opens.

Why, Mimi! Why do you wait out there? Come in here where it's warm!

[MIMI comes in—DEVIL seats MIMI C. He regards them both with a satanic smile—begins to hum a tune and exits L., singing as he gets out; he laughs—his laugh dies away outside.

MIMI, sitting on small chair C. After a silence

Are you waiting for the painter, too, Madame?

ELSA, seated on couch

Yes.

MIMI

Yes—

[Pause.

He must have been on a spree last night.

[Smiling.

When he goes on a spree he always sleeps late.

ELSA, somewhat embarrassed

Yes?

MIMI, making conversation

Yes. If you haven't slept for a long time, then—you must sleep a long time.

ELSA

Yes?

MIMI

Yes. Madame—

[Silence.

Is Madame going to have her portrait painted?

ELSA

Yes.

MIMI

Yes, Madame—I know all the ladies that come here—

[Quick look from ELSA.

I'm quite at home here—I'm his model

[Explaining.

I don't pay for my portraits.

[Regarding ELSA.

You have a splendid profile, Madame.

ELSA

You always say "Madame"—I am not married. My name is—

MIMI, interrupting

I know your name. I've heard it often. You belong to a very rich family. I know what that means, I used to be well off, too. I wasn't always obliged to work for a living.

ELSA

No?

MIMI

I was a chorus girl, but I had bad luck.

ELSA

I am so sorry for you.

MIMI

[Silence.

I know all about you and Herr Karl.

[Rises, goes C.

ELSA

From whom?

MIMI

I know everything that goes on in this house. I told you I was his model—I sew on buttons and count the laundry.

[Importantly.

ELSA

Does the laundry-woman steal?

MIMI

No. But she uses strong blueing—I know everything Herr Karl thinks of.

[Pointing at ELSA.

ELSA, as if she was getting interested

And does that interest you?

MIMI

Yes, indeed it does. But that's all over now

ELSA

Why so?

MIMI

Because he is going to get married

ELSA

But he will paint just the same—he will want models.

MIMI

Yes, but—

[Ingeniously.

you know, when one has sewn on buttons—and counted the laundry—then to be—just a plain model—that hurts.

[Goes up C.; ELSA crosses.

ELSA

And you like Herr Karl?

MIMI, repressing her feelings

Yes—I—I like him—he's such a dear boy.

ELSA

Does he paint you now?

MIMI, coming to head of couch; sadly

No. He only paints landscapes and—bank presidents.

ELSA

Then you did not come to pose to-day?

MIMI

A model always comes to pose. It's tiring work, too, I can tell you—and if the artist wants to make love —it isn't her fault—and—

[Sighs.

Oh, it's such a rest.

ELSA

Oh, please.

[Draws herself up stiffly, offended.

MIMI

Now I've offended you—I ought to have known better—my people are all refined—I wasn't born a model.

ELSA

I'm sorry I showed it—but—I—I'm nervous to-day.

MIMI, brightening

Oh, I know what it is—I used to suffer dreadfully from nervousness when I was in the chorus.

ELSA

Come over here, Mimi; I want to talk to you.

MIMI, goes over and sits on the couch

You can talk to me about everything, I'm not a bad sort, really I'm not. I've known all along about Herr Karl and—and you—he's such a kind man. I was crying when I went away yesterday, and he felt sorry for me and he came to see me on his way to the ball—in his evening clothes—but I didn't receive him. If it's over, it may as well be over.

ELSA

Was he fond of you?

MIMI

I loved him, but what's the use? It's like the railway —the station is there and the train comes and then the train goes away, and the station cannot run after it; if the station is small, the train only stops a minute, and—

[Sighs.

one must wait until another train comes

ELSA

You loved him and can speak like that?

MIMI

Yes, I loved him, but it's all over now. I was foolish to come here again when I'd made up my mind I wouldn't, but now I'm sensible again; I'll go away and try to forget him, I hope he will be—hap-hap—happy!

[Begins to cry, looks for handkerchief in muff, but can't find it. ELSA takes handkerchief out of "weeping satchel," and gives it to her.

ELSA

Poor Mimi! Poor Mimi!

MIMI, wiping her eyes with handkerchief, then returning it to ELSA.

I—hope—you will be—hap—happy—too!

ELSA

I—happy?

MIMI

You are going to marry Karl—

ELSA

No—no—I'm not.

MIMI

But it's you he's in love with—

ELSA

No, Mimi; I'm not the one—it's some one else.

MIMI

You don't mean Mrs. Zanden—it can't be—why, she's your friend.

ELSA

She was.

MIMI

I don't believe it—it's not love—it's a madness—a—

ELSA, jumping at the idea

An infatuation?

MIMI

Yes, that's it—he's not in love with her—he's not himself.

ELSA

You think so?

MIMI

Yesterday he acted as if he were under some strange—

[Rises.

[MIMI looks nervously behind her on both sides, ELSA follows her example.

under some strange—

ELSA

Influence?

MIMI

Yes.

[The two girls look at each other in silence—-for what seems like a minute.

ELSA

Mimi, who is that man?

MIMI, looks behind her again nervously

I don't know—I hate him.

ELSA, after looking behind her

So do I.

[They grasp each other's hands across the table.

[A pause.

MIMI, holding ELSA'S hand

I'm glad I came, I feel better already for having seen you. I'm going to be sensible now. I'm going away—and I'm never coming back!

[In altered voice.

What time is it?

ELSA

It's almost three o'clock.

MIMI

Three o'clock! Then I must hurry. I have an appointment at half past—he's an illustrator—such a talented boy; he's just had a picture accepted by the Fleigende Blatter.

ELSA

And you are posing for him?

MIMI

Oh, yes; but tonight he goes to the artists' dinner, and I have to find his dress studs, and iron a tie for him, and trim his cuffs.

[Makes gesture of cutting with scissors outside the edge of her cuff.

Good-bye.

[Goes out quickly.

ELSA

[Looks after MIMI, then around the room, suddenly begins to sob, and calls in frightened voice:

Mimi! Mimi!

[Runs off.

[DEVIL enters just as ELSA leaves.

[DEVIL rings bell on table.

HEINRICH, entering

Did you ring, sir?

DEVIL

Where is my tea? Have you any rum in the house?

HEINRICH

Yes, sir.

DEVIL

I'll have some with my tea. Is your master getting up?

HEINRICH

Yes, sir.

DEVIL

Has anyone called to see him this morning?

HEINRICH

Mrs. Zanden's maid has been here three times.

DEVIL

What did she want?

HEINRICH

She inquired whether Mrs. Zanden could see my master. I told her I had strict orders not to call him before three.

DEVIL

Hurry with the tea.

[Door bell rings.

I'll have it in here.

[DEVIL goes into studio.

[HEINRICH goes out to hall, door slams, OLGA speaking outside.

OLGA

Is your master at home?

HEINRICH

Yes, Madame.

OLGA, entering

My maid told me I could not see him until three—it is three o'clock now.

HEINRICH

I am very sorry, Madame, but you will have to wait a few minutes longer. I will tell him that you are here.

OLGA

Thank you.

[HEINRICH crosses to studio door.

Wait! Has anyone called to see your master this morning?

HEINRICH

No, Madame.

OLGA

Didn't anyone leave a letter for him?

HEINRICH

No, Madame.

OLGA, aside

Thank God! Please tell him I'm here.

HEINRICH

I'm afraid, Madame, you will have to wait a moment; but I will tell the doctor——

OLGA, quickly

What doctor?

HEINRICH

The gentleman who was here with you yesterday.

OLGA, aside

Dr. Miller? He—is—in—there?

HEINRICH

Yes, Madame.

OLGA, aside

Then I'm too late.

[To HEINRICH, reluctantly

Did you see Dr. Miller give a letter to your master? A piece of paper?

HEINRICH

Possibly, Madame, but I don't remember.

OLGA

Tell Dr. Miller to come at once. Say a lady wishes to speak to him, but don't give him my name.

[HEINRICH goes out.

[OLGA walks up and down terribly agitated.

[DEVIL enters.

DEVIL

Are you the lady who wishes to see me at once?

OLGA

Oh, tell me—did you—have you...?

DEVIL, nods

Yes—delivered.

[OLGA sinks into chair, clasping her hands tightly.

[Enter HEINRICH, busy with tea things.

Put it here. Thank you.

OLGA

[Without looking at the DEVIL.

Did he read it?

DEVIL

Yes.

[Is busy with his tea.

[Silence.

OLGA

My God!

DEVIL

[Now standing behind OLGA, tea cup in his hand.

After he read it, he buried his face in the pillow and cried.

OLGA

He cried?

DEVIL

I hate men who cry.

OLGA

I did not want him to have that letter. I wanted to speak to him first. I wanted to ask him to give me my letter back unopened I am too late.

DEVIL

You were not too late. It's I that was too early.

OLGA

He cried?

DEVIL

From joy.

OLGA

I haven't the courage to speak to him, and yet I feel that I must. I would like to go away, but something holds me; something I cannot—I cannot—oh, what will become of me?

HEINRICH, at door

My master will be here in a moment, sir.

[HEINRICH goes out.

DEVIL

I must be going.

OLGA

Don't go! Please stay. I don't want to be alone with him.

DEVIL

But if I am here you cannot speak to him about the letter. I shall only be in the way.

OLGA, very weak

Very well, then, I shall speak to him quite frankly. I shall ask him for the last time—

KARL, voice from the studio

Heinrich!

DEVIL, quick

There he is.

OLGA, very weak

Please stay.

DEVIL, pointing to the small door at L.

I shall be here. If you need me, call.

[DEVIL goes out.

[KARL comes in from the studio.

KARL, kisses OLGA'S hand passionately

Olga! I ought to go on my knees and beg your pardon for what I did last night.

OLGA

Speak low—Dr. Miller is in there.

KARL

Olga—can you ever——

OLGA

No, no; it is I who should ask forgiveness I was to blame. I lost control of myself. After what happened, I wanted to know—I wanted to make sure—but, you understand now, my letter has told you everything.

KARL

What letter?

OLGA, reproachfully

Karl, I understand. You want to spare me—you're being discreet; but you don't know me; I mean every word of that letter, I'm glad I wrote it——

KARL

But I didn't get any letter.

OLGA

Didn't Doctor Miller give you a letter?

KARL

No, no; really.