BARON Silence, Katusha! Oh, my little Vera, I little thought when I let you study music at Petersburg----
VERA [_Smiling wheedlingly_]
That I should marry a musician. But you see, little father, it all ends in music after all. Now I will go and perform on the telephone, I"m not angel enough to bear one in here.
[_She goes toward the door of the hall, smiling happily._]
BARON [_With a last agonized cry of resistance_]
Halt!
VERA [_Turning, makes mock military salute_]
Yes, _papasha_.
BARON [_Overcome by her roguish smile_]
You--I--he--do you love this J--this David so much?
VERA [_Suddenly tragic_]
It would kill me to give him up.
[_Resuming smile_]
But don"t let us talk of funerals on this happy day of sunshine and reunion.
[_She kisses her hand to him and exit toward the hall._]
BARONESS [_Angrily_]
You are in her hands as vax!
BARON She is the only child I have ever had, Katusha. Her baby arms curled round my neck; in her baby sorrows her wet face nestled against little father"s.
[_He drops on a chair, and leans his head on the table._]
BARONESS [_Approaching tauntingly_]
So you vill have a Jew son-in-law!
BARON You don"t know what it meant to me to feel her arms round me again.
BARONESS And a hook-nosed brat to call you grandpapa, and nestle his greasy face against yours.
BARON [_Banging his fist on the table_]
Don"t drive me mad!
[_His head drops again._]
BARONESS Then drive me home--I vill not meet him.... Alexis!
[_She taps him on the shoulder with her parasol. He does not move._]
Alexis Ivanovitch! Do you not listen!...
[_She stamps her foot._]
Zen I go to ze hotel alone.
[_She walks angrily toward the hall. Just before she reaches the door, it opens, and the servant ushers in HERR PAPPELMEISTER with his umbrella. The BARONESS"S tone changes instantly to a sugared society accent._]
How do you do, Herr Pappelmeister?
[_She extends her hand, which he takes limply._]
You don"t remember me? _Non?_ [_Exit servant._]
Ve vere with Mr. Quincy Davenport at Wiesbaden---ze Baroness Revendal.
PAPPELMEISTER _So!_ [_He drops her hand._]
BARONESS Yes, it vas ze Baron"s entousiasm for you zat got you your present position.
PAPPELMEISTER [_Arching his eyebrows_]
_So!_
BARONESS Yes--zere he is!
[_She turns toward the BARON._]
Alexis, rouse yourself!
[_She taps him with her parasol._]
Zis American air makes ze Baron so sleepy.
BARON [_Rises dazedly and bows_]
Charmed to meet you, Herr----
BARONESS Pappelmeister! You remember ze great Pappelmeister.
BARON [_Waking up, becomes keen_]
Ah, yes, yes, charmed--why do you never bring your orchestra to Russia, Herr Pappelmeister?
PAPPELMEISTER [_Surprised_]
Russia? It never occurred to me to go to Russia--she seems so uncivilised.
BARONESS [_Angry_]
Uncivilised! Vy, ve have ze finest restaurants in ze vorld! And ze best telephones!
PAPPELMEISTER _So?_
BARONESS Yes, and the most beautiful ballets--Russia is affrightfully misunderstood.
[_She sweeps away in burning indignation. PAPPELMEISTER murmurs in deprecation. Re-enter VERA from the hall. She is gay and happy._]
VERA He is coming round at once---- [_She utters a cry of pleased surprise._]
Herr Pappelmeister! This is indeed a pleasure!
[_She gives PAPPELMEISTER her hand, which he kisses._]
BARONESS [_Sotto voce to the BARON_]
Let us go before he comes.
[_The BARON ignores her, his eyes hungrily on VERA._]
PAPPELMEISTER [_To VERA_]
But I come again--you have visitors.
VERA [_Smiling_]
Only my father and----
PAPPELMEISTER [_Surprised_]
Your fader? _Ach so!_ [_He taps his forehead._]
Revendal!
BARONESS [_Sotto voce to the BARON_]