Leonie (_drawing a paper from her pocket_).
Ah--I brought mine with me. Perhaps it might interest you.
Beata.
Not in the least, my dear.
Leonie.
You are mentioned in it, too.
Beata (_smiling_).
Really?
Leonie.
Only between the lines, of course.
Beata.
Between the lines? What do you mean?
Leonie.
This is the paragraph; the one marked with a blue pencil. Don"t be horrified. It will make you laugh, of course. I laughed over it myself.
(Beata _takes the paper, looking firmly at_ Leonie _as she does so. She reads the paper, throws it aside, and looks at_ Leonie _again, without speaking_.) Good heavens, how pale you are! I didn"t realise-- Shall I get you a gla.s.s of water?
Beata.
No, thanks. (_Controlling herself with an effort_.) Does Richard know of this?
Leonie.
Oh, yes. Doesn"t Michael?
Beata.
Certainly not.--He would have-- Will you let me have this paper?
Leonie.
To show Michael?
Beata.
Naturally. In a matter involving his honour----
Leonie.
You don"t mean to make a scandal?
Beata.
What do you call a scandal? Haven"t you made one in bringing me this?
Leonie.
I mean that your husband might----
Beata.
My husband will do as he sees fit.
Leonie.
You are very sure of yourself.
Beata.
My dear Leonie, remember that you are in my house.
Leonie.
My dear Beata, we are always in each other"s houses; we can"t meet at the street corners, like servants.
Beata.
You are right. Say what you were going to say.
Leonie.
Oh, I have held my tongue so long!
Beata.
Why have you, if you had anything to say?
Leonie.
Listen, Beata. I am not going to discuss the relations between my husband and yourself. It"s a subject that no longer interests me. But it was you who took him away from me, and when I found you had taken him, I turned to my boy instead. Then you took him too. Now I have nothing left--nothing but my position in society, which I have built up slowly, year by year, by my own efforts, as you know. I am in the Princess Agnes"s most intimate set, I am patroness of--but all this doesn"t interest you. But how have I accomplished it? Simply by keeping my eyes shut and appearing to sanction your friendship with Richard.--And now, if you persist in dragging your husband in, there will be a scandal, and I shall have to sue for a divorce; and that will be excessively unpleasant for us all. Don"t you agree with me?
Beata.
I might say so many things in reply.--In the first place, whatever I have taken was never really yours.--But no matter. I will only ask you one thing: have you thought of Ellen and Norbert?
Leonie.