Do you?--Well, you look rather pale, Maria.
MIZZIE
Oh, you think so?
PROFESSOR
And how long will you be gone?
MIZZIE
Until the Fall probably--perhaps until very late in the Fall even.
PROFESSOR
Then we can resume our lessons next November at the earliest, I suppose?
MIZZIE (_smiling_)
I don"t think we shall....
PROFESSOR
Oh, you don"t think so? (_They look hard at each other_)
MIZZIE
No, I don"t.
PROFESSOR
Which means, Maria--that I am discharged.
MIZZIE
How can you put it that way, Rudolph? That is not quite fair.
PROFESSOR
Pardon me. But it really came a little more suddenly than I had expected.
MIZZIE
Better that than have it come too slow. Don"t you think so?
PROFESSOR
Well, girl, I have no intention whatever to make any reproaches.
MIZZIE
Well, you have no reason. And it wouldn"t be nice either. (_She holds out her hand to him_)
PROFESSOR (_takes her hand and kisses it_)
Will you please excuse me to the Count?
MIZZIE
Are you going already...?
PROFESSOR (_unconcernedly_)
Isn"t that better?
MIZZIE (_after a pause, during which she looks straight into his eyes_) Yes, I think so. (_They shake hands_)
PROFESSOR
Good luck, Maria.
MIZZIE
Same to you.... And remember me to your wife and the children.
PROFESSOR
I won"t forget, Countess. (_He goes out_)
MIZZIE (_remains on the same spot for a little while, following him with her eyes_)
COUNT (_on the terrace_)
Everything is ready. We"ll leave at nine-thirty to-morrow night.--But what has become of the professor?
MIZZIE
I sent him away.
COUNT
Oh, you did?--And can you guess who has the compartment between yours and mine?... Egon and his young gentleman. Won"t they be surprised though?
MIZZIE
Yes ... won"t they? (_She goes into the house_)