He Who Gets Slapped Part 31

She loves you.

BEZANO

Did she tell you that herself?

HE

What a petty, what a stupid, what a human pride! But _you_ are a little G.o.d! A G.o.d, youth! Why don't you want to believe me? Or does the street, from which I have come, bother you? But look, look yourself.

Look in my eyes, do such eyes lie? Yes, my face is ugly, I make faces and grimaces, I am surrounded by laughter, but don't you see the G.o.d behind all this, a G.o.d, like you? Look, look at me! [BEZANO _bursts out laughing_.] What are you laughing at, youth?

BEZANO

You look now as you did that evening in the ring. You remember? When you were a great man, and they sent for you from the Academy, and suddenly--Hup! HE Who Gets Slapped!

HE

[_Laughing the same way_]: Yes, yes, you are right, Bezano. There is a resemblance. [_With a strained expression, taking a pose_] "It seems to me they sent for me from the Academy!"

BEZANO

[_Displeased_]: But I don't like this play. You can present your face for slaps if you want to, but don't dare to expose mine. [_Turns to go._]

HE

Bezano!

BEZANO

[_Turning round_]: And never let me hear any more about Consuelo, and don't dare to tell me again that I am a G.o.d! It is disgusting.

[BEZANO _goes out angrily, striking his boot with his whip. HE is alone. Wrathfully, with a tortured expression, he makes a step towards the jockey, then stops, with soundless laughter, his head thrown backwards. The_ BARON _and_ MANCINI _find him in this position, when they enter_.]

MANCINI

[_Laughing_]: What a cheerful chap you are, HE! You laugh when you are alone. [_HE laughs aloud._] Stop it fool! How can you stand it?

HE

[_Bowing low, with a large gesture_]: How do you do, Baron? My humblest respects to you, Count. I beg your pardon, Count, but you found the clown at work. These are, so to speak, Baron, his every-day pleasures.

MANCINI

[_Lifting his eyebrows_]: Tsss. But you are a clever man, HE. I shall ask Papa Briquet to give you a benefit performance. Shall I, HE?

HE

Please do me the favour, Count.

MANCINI

Don't overdo. Be more simple, HE. [_Laughs._] But how many slaps will you get at your benefit performance, when even on weekdays they ring you like a gong! A funny profession, isn't it, Baron?

BARON

Very strange. But where is the Countess?

MANCINI

Yes, yes. I shall go for her at once. Dear child, she is so absorbed in her benefit performance and her work. They call this jumping _work_, Baron.

BARON

I can wait a little. [_Sits down, with his silk hat on his head._]

MANCINI

But why? I shall hurry her up. I shall be back at once. And you, HE, be a nice host, and entertain our dear guest. You will not be bored in his company, Baron.

[_He goes out. HE strides about the stage, smiling and glancing from time to time at the_ BARON. _The latter sits with his legs spread apart and his chin on the top of his cane. The silk hat remains on his head. He is silent._]

HE

In what way would you like me to entertain you, Baron?

BARON

In no way! I don't like clowns.

HE

Nor I Barons.

[_Silence. HE puts on his derby hat, takes a chair with a large gesture, and puts it down heavily, in front of the_ BARON. _HE sits astride it, imitating the pose of the_ BARON, _and looks him in the eyes. Silence._]

HE

Can you be silent very long?

BARON

Very long.

HE

[_Taps on the floor with his foot_]: And can you wait very long?

BARON

Very long.