Yes, and it is partly raised so that still farther off you can see a pile of furniture, steps, goblets, chandeliers--all glittering in full daylight.
FELIX
But that"s Julian Fichtner"s picture?
SALA
Exactly.
FELIX
I had not the slightest idea that the figure of that woman was meant for Irene Herms.
WEGRAT
Twenty-five years have pa.s.sed since he painted that picture. It caused a tremendous sensation at the time. It was his first big success. And to-day I suppose there are lots of people who no longer remember his name.--Come to think of it, I asked Irene Herms about him. But strange to say, not even his "perennial best girl" could tell where in this world he happens to be straying.
FELIX
I talked with him only a few days ago.
WEGRAT
What? You have seen Julian Fichtner? He was in Salzburg?--When?
FELIX
Only about three or four days ago. He looked me up, and we spent the evening together.
[_Mrs. Wegrat throws a quick glance at Dr. Reumann._
WEGRAT
How is he doing? What did he tell you?
FELIX
He has turned rather gray, but otherwise he didn"t seem to have changed at all.
WEGRAT
How long can it be now since he left Vienna? Two years, isn"t it?
MRS. WEGRAT
A little more.
FELIX
He has traveled far and wide.
SALA
Yes, now and then I have had a postcard from him.
WEGRAT
So have we. But I thought you and he were corresponding regularly.
SALA
Regularly? Oh, no.
JOHANNA
Isn"t he a friend of yours?
SALA
As a rule I have no friends. And if I have any, I repudiate them.
JOHANNA
But you used to be quite intimate with him.
SALA
He with me rather than I with him.
FELIX
What do you mean by that, Mr. von Sala?
JOHANNA
Oh, I can understand it. I suppose you have had the same experience with most people.
SALA
Something very much like it, at least.
JOHANNA
Yes, one can see it from what you write, too.
SALA
I hope so. Otherwise it might just as well have been written by somebody else.