Minna Von Barnhelm Part 4

No, Madam. Marloff a debtor to me! that can hardly be. Let us look, however.

(Takes out a pocketbook, and searches.) I find nothing of the kind.

LADY.

You have doubtless mislaid his note; besides, it is nothing to the purpose. Permit me!!!!!

MAJ. T.

No, Madam; I am careful not to mislay such doc.u.ments. If I have not got it, it is a proof that I never had it, or that it has been honoured and already returned by me.

LADY.

Major!

MAJ. T.

Without doubt, Madam; Marloff does not owe me anything--nor can I remember that he ever did owe me anything. This is so, Madam. He has much rather left me in his debt. I have never been able to do anything to repay a man who shared with me good and ill luck, honour and danger, for six years. I shall not forget that he has left a son. He shall be my son, as soon as I can be a father to him. The embarra.s.sment in which I am at present!!!!!

LADY.

Generous man! But do not think so meanly of me. Take the money, Major, and then at least I shall be at ease.

MAJ. T.

What more do you require to tranquillize you, than my a.s.surance that the money does not belong to me? Or do you wish that I should rob the young orphan of my friend? Rob, Madam; for that it would be in the true meaning of the word. The money belongs to him; invest it for him.

LADY.

I understand you; pardon me if I do not yet rightly know how to accept a kindness. Where have you learnt that a mother will do more for her child than for the preservation of her own life? I am going!!!!!

MAJ. T.

Go, Madam, and may you have a prosperous journey! I do not ask you to let me hear from you. Your news might come to me when it might be of little use to me. There is yet one thing, Madam; I had nearly forgotten that which is of most consequence. Marloff also had claims upon the chest of our old regiment. His claims are as good as mine. If my demands are paid, his must be paid also. I will be answerable for them.

LADY.

Oh! Sir... but what can I say? Thus to purpose future good deeds is, in the eyes of heaven, to have performed them already. May you receive its reward, as well as my tears.

(Exit.)

SCENE VII.

Major von Tellheim

MAJ. T.

Poor, good woman! I must not forget to destroy the bill.

(Takes some papers from his pocketbook and destroys them.) Who would guarantee that my own wants might not some day tempt me to make use of it?

SCENE VIII.

Just, Major von Tellheim

MAJ. T.

Is that you, Just?

JUST. (wiping his eyes).

Yes.

MAJ. T.

You have been crying?

JUST.

I have been writing out my account in the kitchen, and the place is full of smoke. Here it is, sir.

MAJ. T.

Give it to me.

JUST.

Be merciful with me, sir. I know well that they have not been so with you; still!!!!!

MAJ. T.

What do you want?

JUST.

I should sooner have expected my death, than my discharge.

MAJ. T.

I cannot keep you any longer: I must learn to manage without servants.

(Opens the paper, and reads.) "What my master, the Major, owes me:--Three months and a half wages, six thalers per month, is 21 thalers. During the first part of this month, laid out in sundries--1 thaler 7 groschen 9 pfennigs. Total, 22 thalers 7gr. 9pf." Right; and it is just that I also pay your wages, for the whole of the current month.

JUST.

Turn over, sir.

MAJ. T.

Oh! more?

(Reads.) "What I owe my master, the Major:--Paid for me to the army-surgeon twenty-five thalers. Attendance and nurse during my cure, paid for me, thirty-nine thalers. Advanced, at my request, to my father--who was burnt out of his house and robbed--without reckoning the two horses of which he made him a present, fifty thalers. Total 114 thalers. Deduct the above 22 thalers, 7gr. 9pf.; I remain in debt to my master, the Major, 91 thalers, 16gr. 3pf." You are mad, my good fellow!

JUST.

I willingly grant that I owe you much more; but it would be wasting ink to write it down. I cannot pay you that: and if you take my livery from me too, which, by the way, I have not yet earned,--I would rather you had let me die in the workhouse.

MAJ. T.

For what do you take me? You owe me nothing; and I will recommend you to one of my friends, with whom you will fare better than with me.

JUST.

I do not owe you anything, and yet you turn me away!

MAJ. T.

Because I do not wish to owe you anything.

JUST.

On that account? Only on that account? As certain as I am in your debt, as certain as you can never be in mine, so certainly shall you not turn me away now. Do what you will, Major, I remain in your service; I must remain.

MAJ. T.

With your obstinacy, your insolence, your savage boisterous temper towards all who you think have no business to speak to you, your malicious pranks, your love of revenge,!!!!!

JUST.

Make me as bad as you will, I shall not think worse of myself than of my dog. Last winter I was walking one evening at dusk along the river, when I heard something whine. I stooped down, and reached in the direction whence the sound came, and when I thought I was saving a child, I pulled a dog out of the water. That is well, thought I. The dog followed me; but I am not fond of dogs, so I drove him away--in vain. I whipped him away--in vain. I shut him out of my room at night; he lay down before the door. If he came too near me, I kicked him; he yelped, looked up at me, and wagged his tail. I have never yet given him a bit of bread with my own hand; and yet I am the only person whom he will obey, or who dare touch him. He jumps about me, and shows off his tricks to me, without my asking for them. He is an ugly dog, but he is a good animal. If he carries it on much longer, I shall at last give over hating him.