Roses: Four One-Act Plays Part 29

Me? Oh, yes--me too. (_She goes out_. v. Wolters _walks to and fro, pauses to listen in front of the curtain, turns on the electric lamp, again walks to and fro, etc. At a slight movement of the curtain, he stops, expectant_. The Lady, _still veiled, comes forward slowly until she has reached one of the chairs on the left. A pause._)

The Lady.

Ah, Herr von Wolters--to let them close the coffin before I--I had seen him--I must confess, I had not expected that of you, Herr von Wolters.

v. Wolters.

I didn't dare prevent it, Countess--just because of your coming. It was the only way to have the house to ourselves.

The Lady.

Don't call me countess, Herr von Wolters. I am not a countess here.

(_Glancing toward the door._) I am only an unhappy woman whom no one in this house knows, whom no one is to know.

v. Wolters.

Wouldn't you care to rest for a moment?

The Lady.

Are we quite safe here?

v. Wolters.

Quite. The little girl who, you say, is not unknown to you, is outside at the entrance. I have told her mother of your visit and she will not enter the house. If you wish, however, we can lock the door.

The Lady.

Yes, do. Or, no, perhaps it would be better not to--in case any one----

v. Wolters.

Very well.

The Lady.

(_Throws back her veil, revealing a very beautiful face, which is deathly pale and wears an expression of the deepest affliction. She sinks into the chair. A pause._) I wanted to lay my roses on his breast. Ah, Herr von Wolters, I loved that man with an infinite love.

Perhaps grief will give my life a new and holier meaning--who knows? We seek beauty--and find grief. Tell me, Herr von Wolters, you were his best friend, did you never suspect----?

v. Wolters.

Never, never.

The Lady.

And when you received my letter early this morning asking you to come at once--not even then?

v. Wolters.

I could draw--various conclusions--from that.

The Lady.

For instance----?

v. Wolters.

Oh, please--really, you must excuse me----

The Lady.

No, Herr von Wolters. We are here--but why don't you sit down? (_He does so._) We are here together, you and I, to hold the last rites over our sainted dead. His friend and his beloved who else has any right to be here? Herr von Wolters, I have given you my full confidence--I have made a strange confession to you. You will not betray me?

v. Wolters.

Ah!

The Lady.

And so, in this sacred hour, there must be no concealment between us.

Answer me now. What does the world say?

v. Wolters (_embarra.s.sed_).

The world says so many things, Countess.

The Lady.

Tell me, to what extent has my name been a.s.sociated with this affair?

v. Wolters.

I can't conceal the fact from you, Countess. Your name is mentioned.

The Lady (_thoughtfully_).

Yes, that's what my husband says.

v. Wolters.

But please let me add that not a shadow, not the slightest suspicion, has ever----

The Lady.

But what else can they think?

v. Wolters.