Leonore. At last!
(Robert _and the_ Count _enter_; Lenore _runs to meet_ Robert.)
Trast. (_To himself_) So that"s the story! (_To the servant who is about to go out_) Here, come here! (_He takes one of the cards from the tray and puts it in his pocket_)
Lothar. (_Looking at_ Robert _and_ Leonore) What does that mean?
Trast. My card is enough.
(_The servant goes out._)
Robert. Leonore, I"ve brought Count Trast, my benefactor and my best friend.
Leonore. (_Remembering_ Lothar) The gentlemen will permit me to introduce Herr Lothar Brandt? Herr Count von Trast--Herr Robert Heinecke, a playmate of my childhood.
Lothar. (_To himself_) She introduces me to Alma"s brother--That is fine!--The gentlemen will pardon me, but my friends--(_Stutters and clears his throat_)
Trast. Are waiting for you, eh?
Lothar. (_Staring at him_) Exactly! (_As he goes_) What sort of a count is he? (_Turns at the door and bows stiffly, clicking his heels and goes out_)
Leonore. You have been away from home a long time, Herr Count?
Trast. I have inhabited the tropics for a quarter century.
Leonore. For pleasure?
Trast. As much as possible. Meanwhile I have been speculator in coffee, cloves and ivory, and elephant-hunter.
Leonore. (_Laughing_) In which of your many capacities am I to welcome you then, you many-gifted man?
Trast. You may take your choice, Gnadiges Fraulein.
Wilhelm. (_At the door_) The Herr Councillor is at your disposal.
Robert. I must----
Trast. (_To_ Robert) Stay where you are. I have something to say to the manager first. (_To_ Leonore) For ten years, he has been singing your praises; shouldn"t you take the trouble to listen to ten minutes"
praise of me?
Leonore. (_Shaking her finger at_ Trast) You are an old rogue!
Trast. A rogue in your own service! (_He goes out_)
Leonore. (_Taking_ Robert"s _hand_) At last I have you here again!
Robert. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for those words.
Leonore. Oh, how polite we are!--My words aren"t alms! Come here, (_Leads him to the fireplace_) Sit down--here by the fire--beside me.
You mustn"t freeze in cold Germany!--Wait, I"ll start up the fire!
(_She blows with the bellows_) These fireplaces are--impractical things--most impractical, but anyway we can chat in front of it. In India you don"t need fireplaces, do you? (_To herself_) I"m so happy!--Oh, I"m glad to see you again. And now, out with the "but" that you have up your sleeve. I"ll parry it.
Robert. Don"t make my heart too heavy.
Leonore. That"s the last thing I want to do.
Robert. But that"s what you"re doing when you conjure up this ghost of a happiness that is now forever buried.
Leonore. Oh, if you were only as you used to be.
Robert. So I am. Heaven knows!--but there is a gulf between us!
Leonore. Then there was--yes!
Robert. G.o.d!--you must understand me! I cana"t say what"s in my heart--do you remember what you said to me when we parted?
Leonore. Well?
Robert. You said: "Be true to me, Robert."
Leonore. Is that what I said? Exactly that?
Robert. Such a thing one doesn"t forget.
Leonore. They had forbidden us to call each other by our first names.
Robert. But you did it just the same.
Leonore. And why don"t we do it any more?
Robert. You are playing with me.
Leonore. You are right, my friend. And I must not do it. It would look like coquetry, although it is nothing but the joy of seeing you again.
You have shown me plainly enough that the dream of our childhood is over.
Robert. It must be. Your father lifted me out of the gutter in a moment of overflowing generosity. Everything that I think and know and feel I must thank him for. And for that very reason I have lost the right of independent action. I am a dependent of this house, and have not the right to approach its young mistress--in any way whatever.
Leonore. Your own pride punishes your lying words!
Robert. Perhaps it is my pride that forces me to accept this position!
Leonore. And you are not willing to sacrifice a little of it for my sake?
Robert. Don"t torture me! It isn"t that alone! Only think what I am suffering. For the first time, this moment, when I sit opposite you, do I realize anything like a home-coming! But I would be terribly selfish if I allowed myself to admit this feeling. Back there in the alley is my family!--Father, mother, sister--and this family--is my family! Oh, I tell you things have happened back there that you in your goodness can"t even imagine.
Leonore. My dear friend, one doesn"t have to go to India to become estranged from one"s family.