SALA
I am thinking of going to Asia with Count Ronsky.
JULIAN
With Ronsky? Are you going to join that expedition about which so much has been written?
SALA
Yes. Some such undertaking has been tempting me for a long time. Are you perhaps familiar with the Rolston report on the Bactrian and Median excavations of 1892?
JULIAN
No.
SALA
Well, it is positively staggering. Think of it--they suspect that under the refuse and the dust lies a monster city, something like the present London in extent. At that time they made their way into a palace, where the most wonderful paintings were found. These were perfectly preserved in several rooms. And they dug out stairways--built of a marble that is nowhere to be found nowadays. Perhaps it was brought from some island which since then has sunk beneath the sea. Three hundred and twelve steps glittering like opals and leading down into unknown depths....
Unknown because they ceased digging after they had reached the three hundred and twelfth step--G.o.d only knows why! I don"t think I can tell you how those steps pique my curiosity.
JULIAN
But it has always been a.s.serted that the Rolston expedition was lost?
SALA
No, not quite as bad as that. Out of twenty-four Europeans, eight got back after three years in spite of all--and half a dozen of them had been lost before they ever got there. You have to pa.s.s through pretty bad fever belts. And at that time they had to face an attack of the Kurds, too, by which several were done for. But we shall be much better equipped. Furthermore, at the border we shall be joined by a Russian contingent which is traveling under military escort. And here, too, they think of putting a military aspect on the affair. As to the fever--that doesn"t scare me--it can"t do me any harm. As a young man I spent a number of particularly dangerous Summer nights in the _thermae_ of Caracalla--you know, of course, what boggy ground that is--and remained well.
JULIAN
But that doesn"t prove anything.
SALA
Oh yes, a little. There I came across a Roman girl whose home was right by the Appian Way. She caught the fever and died from it.... To be sure, I am not as young as I was then, but so far I have been perfectly well.
JULIAN (_who has already smoked several cigarettes, offers one to Sala_) Don"t you smoke?
SALA
Thanks. Really, I shouldn"t. Only yesterday Dr. Reumann told me I mustn"t.... Nothing particular--my heart is a little restless, that"s all. Well, a single one won"t do any harm, I suppose.
VALET (_enters_)
Miss Herms, sir. She"s asking whether she can see you.
JULIAN
Certainly. Ask her to come in.
VALET (_goes out_)
IRENE HERMS (_enters. She is about forty-three, but doesn"t look it.
Her dress is simple and in perfect taste. Her movements are vivacious, and at times almost youthful in their swiftness. Her hair is deeply blonde in color and very heavy. Her eyes are merry, good-humored most of the time, and easily filled with tears. She comes in with a smile and nods in a friendly manner to Sala. To Julian, who has gone to meet her, she holds out her hand with an expression on her face that is almost happy_) Good evening. Well? (_She has the habit of p.r.o.nouncing that "well" in a tone of sympathetic inquiry_) So I did right after all in keeping my patience a couple of days more. Here I"ve got you back now. (_To Sala_) Can you guess the length of time we haven"t seen each other?
JULIAN
More than three years.
IRENE (_nods a.s.sent and permits him at last to withdraw his hand from hers_) In all our lives that has never happened before. And your last letter is already two months old. I call it "letter" just to save my face. But it was only a view-card. Where in the world have you been anyhow?
JULIAN
Sit down, won"t you? I"ll tell you all about it. Won"t you take off your hat? You"ll stay a while, I hope?
IRENE
Of course.--And the way you look! (_To Sala_) Fine, don"t you think?
I"ve always known that a gray beard would make him look awfully interesting.
SALA (_to Julian_)
Now you"ll have nothing but pleasantries to listen to. Unfortunately I shall have to be moving.
IRENE
You"re not leaving on my account, I hope?
SALA
How can you imagine such a thing, Miss Herms?
IRENE
I suppose you are bound for the Wegrats"?--What do you think of it, Julian? Isn"t it dreadful? (_To Sala_) Please give them my regards.
SALA
I"m not going there now. I"m going home.
IRENE
Home? And you say that in such a matter-of-fact way? I understand you are now living in a perfect palace.
SALA
No, anything but that. A modest country house. It would give me special pleasure, Miss Herms, if sometime you would make sure of it in person.
My garden is really pretty.