Simply and solely as a means of winning you back.
AMADEUS
What makes you think...?
SIGISMUND
What...? That she has succeeded.
AMADEUS
No, Sigismund--she hadn"t lost me--in spite of all that had happened.
In fact, I feel as if I had rather lost her than she--me.
SIGISMUND
That"s awfully kind of you. But now--G.o.d be with you!
AMADEUS (_with something like emotion_)
And when shall we see you again?
SIGISMUND
I don"t know. Perhaps never.---Please don"t imagine that I might take my own life. I shall get over it, being still young.--Oh, my dear Master, if things could only become what they used to be, so that I could sit here at the fireplace while Cecilia was singing--or hammer away at the piano after supper...!
AMADEUS
Don"t be quite so modest, please! The fame of your piano playing has reached Berlin even, I hear.
SIGISMUND
So she has told you that, too?!--But you see, dear Master, all that can never come back--we could no longer feel at ease with each other....
So--never to meet again!
AMADEUS
Never.... Why? Perhaps I shall see you very soon alone. I am also--going away.
SIGISMUND
I know. We were talking of it yesterday, in the dining car. You are to conduct your--number-which-one is it now?
AMADEUS
The fourth.
SIGISMUND
So you have got that far already?--And where are you going anyhow?
AMADEUS
To the Rhine district first of all; then by way of Munich to Italy--Venice, Milan, Rome.
SIGISMUND
Rome...? There we may possibly meet. But you"ll have to pardon me for not coming to your concerts. So far I have not been able to understand your symphonies.... But I am sure I shall sometime! One does grow more and more clever, and sorrow and experiences in particular have a maturing influence.... "Now he"s making fun of it," I suppose you are thinking. But, really, I am not in a very humorous mood. Farewell, my dear Master--and my most respectful compliments to your wife. (_He goes out_)
AMADEUS (_walks back and forth; takes a few deep breaths, as if relieved; goes out into the garden; returns; sits down at the piano and plays a few improvisations; gets up and goes to the writing desk, where he begins to look for something among the papers_) Where"s that Solo?
... She"s going to sing it, and I shall be present...! (_He seats himself at the piano again, apparently in a very happy mood_) Cecilia!... Cecilia!
CECILIA (_enters_)
AMADEUS (_rising_)
Ah, there you are at last, Cecilia!
CECELIA (_very calmly_)
Good-morning, Amadeus.
AMADEUS
A little late.
CECILIA (_smiling_)
Yes. (_She takes off her hat and goes to the mirror to arrange her hair_)
AMADEUS
What made you get out so early?
CECILIA
Various things I had to attend to.
AMADEUS
And may one ask...?
CECILIA
One may.--Look here, what I have got for you. (_She takes a letter from a small bag_)
AMADEUS