v. Wolters.
No, Countess. But--pardon me, I don't want to be indelicate--but did he
ever call you by some little--little term of endearment--some--
(_Stops, embarrassed._)
The Lady.
Why do you ask?
v. Wolters.
At the very end, he kept murmuring something that sounded like
"Girlie"--or----
The Lady (_indignantly_).
My dear Herr von Wolters, our intimacy was of a different sort.
v. Wolters.
Pardon me, Countess, but you yourself asked. (_She nods. A short
pause._)
The Lady.
Good heavens--these curtains over the mirrors! They make me feel as if
I were looking a blind man in the eyes!
v. Wolters.
Would you like to have me remove them?
The Lady.
No, no. Never mind. I want to ask you something, Herr von Wolters. Tell
me, what do you think of me?
v. Wolters (_confused_).
What do you mean, Countess?
The Lady.
I want to know what I have done that I should be doomed to bring so
much sorrow into the lives of others. I had only just left school when
a strange young man shot himself under my window. It was on my account
that my husband was transferred here from his former garrison. Tell me,
what mark of Cain do I bear that all men follow me? I dress as simply
as I can. I never go out without a double veil. Sometimes I have
actually been tempted to throw vitriol in my face!
v. Wolters (_candidly_).
Oh, that would have been a shame, Countess!
The Lady (_severely_).
Herr von Wolters!
v. Wolters.
Yes, Countess, to mar that image of divinity would be a sin--and I do
not hesitate to repeat it beside the coffin of my friend.
The Lady.
Don't! (_Reaches him her hand, which he kisses respectfully._) Dear me,
how strange it seems! Yesterday we scarcely knew one another--those few
visits at my house don't count. To-day--this short conversation--and
here we are, sitting side by side, the guardians of a secret which will
be buried forever with him. It will, Herr von Wolters?
v. Wolters.
Ah, my dear Countess, please do not offend me.
The Lady.
Very well, I shall not worry. Did you love him very dearly?
v. Wolters.
I thought a great deal of him, Countess. He took care of me when I was
a young fellow quite alone in the world. He was so-- Really, I don't
know how I shall-- (_breaking down._)
The Lady.
Courage, dear friend! We must both try to be brave.
v. Wolters (_firmly_).
Thank you, Countess. You will not have to reprove me again.
The Lady.
You evaded my question before. Do you consider me very guilty, Herr von
Wolters?
v. Wolters.
He loved you, Countess. That makes you holy in my eyes.
The Lady.
I thank you for that word--little as I deserve it. It has never been my
way to undervalue myself. But your opinion meant so much to me----
v. Wolters (_puzzled_).