moved her so deeply?... Happiness?... No, it wasn't happiness.... Why
did she look at me like that? Why did she seem to shrink? There was
something in her glance like a farewell forever. (_He makes a sudden
movement as of fright_) Has it come to that with me?... But how can she
know?... Then others must know it too...! (_He stands staring into
space; then he ascends the terrace slowly and goes into the drawing-room,
from which he returns a few moments later accompanied by Julian_)
JULIAN
And you want to leave all these splendors so soon?
SALA
They'll be here when I come back, I hope.
JULIAN
I hope you will, for the sake of both of us.
SALA
You say that rather distrustingly....
JULIAN
Well, yes--I am thinking of that remarkable article in the Daily Post.
SALA
Concerning what?
JULIAN
What is going on at the Caspian Sea.
SALA
Oh, are the local papers also taking that up?
JULIAN
The conditions in certain regions through which you have to pass seem
really to be extremely dangerous.
SALA
Exaggerations. We have better information than that. According to my
opinion there is nothing back of those articles but the petty jealousy
of English scientists. What you read had been translated from the Daily
News. And it's fully three weeks since it appeared there.--Have you
seen Felix, by the way?
JULIAN
He was at my house only last night. And this morning I called on the
Wegrats. He wanted to have a look at that picture of his mother which I
painted twenty-three years ago.--And one thing and another led to my
telling him everything.
SALA
Oh, you did? (_Thoughtfully_) And how did he take it?
JULIAN
It stirred him rather more than I had thought possible.
SALA
Well, I hope you didn't expect him to fall into your arms as the
recovered son does in the play.
JULIAN
No, of course not.--I told him everything, without any attempt at
sparing myself. And for that reason he seemed to feel the wrong done to
his mother's husband more strongly than anything else. But that won't
last very long. He'll soon understand that, in the higher sense, no
wrong has been done at all. People of Wegrat's type are not made to
hold actual possession of anything--whether it be wives or children.
They mean a refuge, a dwelling place--but never a real home. Can you
understand what I mean by that? It is their mission to take into their
arms creatures who have been worn out or broken to pieces by some kind
of passion. But they never guess whence such creatures come. And while
it is granted them to attract and befriend, they never understand
whither those creatures go. They exist for the purpose of sacrificing
themselves unconsciously, and in such sacrifices they find a happiness
that might seem a pretty poor one to others.... You are not saying a
word?
SALA
I am listening.
JULIAN
And have no reply to make?
SALA
Oh, well--it is possible to grind out scales quite smoothly even when
the fiddle has got a crack....
[_It is growing darker. Felix appears on the terrace._
SALA
Who is that?
FELIX (_on the terrace_)
It's me. The servant told me ...
SALA
Oh, Felix! Glad you came.
FELIX (_coming down into the garden_)
Good evening, Mr. von Sala.--Good evening, Mr. Fichtner.
JULIAN
Good evening, Felix.
SALA
I am delighted to see you.
FELIX
What magnificent old trees!
SALA
Yes, a piece of real woods--all you have to do is to forget the
fence.--What brought you anyhow? I didn't expect you until to-morrow
morning. Have you really made up your mind already?
JULIAN
Am I in the way?
FELIX
Oh, no. There is nothing secret about it.--I accept your offer, Mr. von
Sala, and ask if you would be kind enough to speak to Count Ronsky.
SALA (_shaking Felix by the hand_)
I am glad of it.... (_To Julian_) It has to do with our Asiatic
venture.
JULIAN
What?--You intend to join the expedition?
FELIX
Yes.
SALA
Have you already talked it over with your father?
FELIX
I shall do so to-night.--But that's a mere formality. I am determined,
provided no other obstacles appear....
SALA
I shall speak to the Count this very day.
FELIX
I don't know how to thank you.
SALA
There is no reason at all. In fact, I don't have to say another word.
The Count knows everything he needs to know about you.
VALET (_appearing on the terrace_)
There is a lady asking if you are at home, sir.
SALA
Didn't she give her name?--You'll have to excuse me a moment,
gentlemen. (_He goes toward the valet, and both disappear into the
house_)
JULIAN
You are going away?
FELIX
Yes. And I am very happy this occasion has offered itself.
JULIAN
Have you also informed yourself concerning the real nature of this
undertaking?
FELIX
It means at any rate genuine activity and the opening of wider worlds.
JULIAN
And couldn't those things be found in connection with more hopeful
prospects?
FELIX
That's possible. But I don't care to wait.
[_Sala and Irene enter._
IRENE (_still on the terrace, talking to Sala_)
I couldn't leave Vienna without keeping my promise.
SALA
And I thank you for it, Miss Herms.
IRENE (_descending into the garden with Sala_)
You have a wonderful place here.--How do you do, Julian? Good evening,
Lieutenant.
SALA
You should have come earlier, Miss Herms, so that you could have seen
it in full sunlight.
IRENE
Why, I was here two hours ago. But it was like an enchanted castle. It
was impossible to get in. The bell didn't ring at all.
SALA
Oh, of course! I hope you pardon. If I had had the slightest idea....
IRENE
Well, it doesn't matter. I have made good use of my time. I went on
through the woods as far as Neustift and Salmansdorf.[6] And then I got
out and followed a road that I remembered since many years ago. (_She
looks at Julian_) I rested on a bench where I sat once many, many years
ago, with a close friend. (_Smilingly_) Can you guess, Mr. Fichtner?
The outlook is wonderful. Beyond the fields you have a perfect view of
the whole city as far as the Danube.
[6] Former villages, now suburbs of Vienna, lying still nearer
the city limits than Dornbach, where Sala is living.
SALA (_pointing to the stone seat_)
Won't you sit down here for a while, Miss Herms?
IRENE
Thanks. (_She raises her lorgnette to study the busts of the two
emperors_) It makes one feel quite Roman.... But I hope, gentlemen, I
haven't interrupted any conference.
SALA
Not at all.
IRENE
I have that feeling, however. All of you look so serious.--I think I'll
rather leave.
SALA
Oh, you mustn't, Miss Herms.--Is there anything more you want to ask me
about that affair of ours, Felix?
FELIX
If Miss Herms would pardon me for a minute....
IRENE
Oh, certainly--please!
SALA
You'll excuse me, Miss Herms....
FELIX
It is a question of what I should do in regard to my present
commission.--(_He is still speaking as he goes out with Sala_)
IRENE
What kind of secrets have those two together? What's going on here
anyhow?
JULIAN
Nothing that can be called a secret. That young fellow is also going to
join the expedition, I hear. And so they have a lot of things to talk
over, of course.
IRENE (_who has been following Felix and Sala with her eyes_)
Julian--it's he.
JULIAN (_remains silent_)
IRENE
You don't need to answer me. The matter has been in my mind all the
time.... The only thing I can't understand is why I haven't discovered
it before. It is he.--And he is twenty-three.--And I who actually
thought when you drove me away: if only he doesn't kill himself!... And
there goes his son.
JULIAN
What does that help me? He doesn't belong to me.
IRENE
But look at him! He is there--he's alive, and young, and handsome.
Isn't that enough? (_She rises_) And I who was ruined by it!
JULIAN
How?
IRENE
Do you understand? Ruined....
JULIAN
I have never suspected it.
IRENE
Well, you couldn't have helped me anyhow. (_Pause_) Good-by. Make an
excuse for me, please. Tell them anything you want. I am going away,
and I don't want to know anything more.
JULIAN
What's the matter with you? Nothing has changed.
IRENE
You think so?--To me it is as if all these twenty-three years had
suddenly undergone a complete change.--Good-by.
JULIAN
Good-by--for a while.
IRENE
For a while? Do you care?--Really?--Do you feel sad, Julian?--Now I am
sorry for you again. (_Shaking her head_) Of course, that's the way you
are. So what is there to do about it?
JULIAN
Please control yourself. Here they are coming.
SALA (_returns with Felix_)
Now we're all done.
FELIX
Thank you very much. I shall have to leave now.
IRENE
And to-morrow you are already going away again?
FELIX
Yes, Miss Herms.
IRENE
You're also going toward the city now, Lieutenant, are you not? If you
don't object, I'll take you along.
FELIX
That's awfully kind of you.
SALA
What, Miss Herms...? This is a short visit indeed.
IRENE
Yes, I have still a few errands to do. For to-morrow I must return to
the wilderness. And probably it will be some time before I get to
Vienna again.--Well, Lieutenant?
FELIX
Good-by, Mr. Fichtner. And if I shouldn't happen to see you again....
JULIAN
Oh, we'll meet again.
IRENE
Now the people will say: look at the lieutenant with his mamma in tow.
(_She gives a last glance to Julian_)
SALA (_accompanies Irene and Felix up the steps to the terrace_)
JULIAN (_remains behind, walking back and forth; after a while he is
joined by Sala_) Have you no doubt that your appeal to Count Ronsky
will be effective?
SALA
I have already received definite assurances from him, or I should never
have aroused any hopes in Felix.
JULIAN
What caused you to do this, Sala?
SALA
My sympathy for Felix, I should say, and the fact that I like to travel
in pleasant company.
JULIAN
And did it never occur to you, that the thought of losing him might be
very painful to me?
SALA
What's the use of that, Julian? It is only possible to lose what you
possess. And you cannot possess a thing to which you have not acquired
any right. You know that as well as I do.
JULIAN
Does not, in the last instance, the fact that you need somebody give
you a certain claim on him?--Can't you understand, Sala, that he
represents my last hope?... That actually I haven't got anything or
anybody left but him?... That wherever I turn, I find nothing but
emptiness?... That I am horrified by the loneliness awaiting me?
SALA
And what could it help you if he stayed? And even if he felt something
like filial tenderness toward you, how could that help you?... How can
he or anybody else help you?... You say that loneliness horrifies
you?... And if you had a wife by your side to-day, wouldn't you be
lonely just the same?... Wouldn't you be lonely even if you were
surrounded by children and grandchildren?... Suppose you had kept your
money, your fame and your genius--don't you think you would be lonely
for all that?... Suppose we were always attended by a train of
bacchantes--nevertheless we should have to tread the downward path
alone--we, who have never belonged to anybody ourselves. The process of
aging must needs be a lonely one for our kind, and he is nothing but a
fool who doesn't in time prepare himself against having to rely on any
human being.
JULIAN
And do you imagine, Sala, that you need no human being?
SALA
In the manner I have used them they will always be at my disposal. I
have always been in favor of keeping at a certain distance. It is not
my fault that other people haven't realized it.
JULIAN
In that respect you are right, Sala. For you have never really loved
anybody in this world.
SALA
Perhaps not. And how about you? No more than I, Julian.... To love
means to live for the sake of somebody else. I don't say that it is a
more desirable form of existence, but I do think, at any rate, that you
and I have been pretty far removed from it. What has that which one
like us brings into the world got to do with love? Though it include
all sorts of funny, hypocritical, tender, unworthy, passionate things
that pose as love--it isn't love for all that.... Have we ever made a
sacrifice by which our sensuality or our vanity didn't profit?... Have
we ever hesitated to betray or blackguard decent people, if by doing so
we could gain an hour of happiness or of mere lust?... Have we ever
risked our peace or our lives--not out of whim or recklessness--but to
promote the welfare of someone who had given all to us?... Have we ever
denied ourselves an enjoyment unless from such denial we could at least
derive some comfort?... And do you think that we could dare to turn to
any human being, man or woman, with a demand that any gift of ours be
returned? I am not thinking of pearls now, or annuities, or cheap
wisdom, but of some piece of our real selves, some hour of our own
existence, which we have surrendered to such a being without at once
exacting payment for it in some sort of coin. My dear Julian, we have
kept our doors open, and have allowed our treasures to be viewed--but
prodigal with them we have never been. You no more than I. We may just
as well join hands, Julian. I am a little less prone to complain than
you are--that's the whole difference.... But I am not telling you
anything new. All this you know as well as I do. It is simply
impossible for us not to know ourselves. Of course, we try at times
conscientiously to deceive ourselves, but it never works. Our follies
and rascalities may remain hidden to others--but never to ourselves. In
our innermost souls we always know what to think of ourselves.--It's
getting cold, Julian. Let's go indoors.
(_They begin to ascend the steps to the terrace_)
JULIAN
All that may be true, Sala. But this much you have to grant me. If
there be anybody in the world who has no right to make us pay for the
mistakes of our lives, it is a person who has us to thank for his own
life.
SALA
There is no question of payment in this. Your son has a mind for
essentials, Julian. You have said so yourself. And he feels that to
have done nothing for a man but to put him into the world, is to have
done very little indeed.
JULIAN
Then, at least, everything must become as it was before he knew
anything at all. Once more I shall become to him a human being like
anybody else. Then he will not dare to leave me.... I cannot bear it.
How have I deserved that he should run away from me?... And even if all
that I have held for good and true within myself--even if, in the end,
my very fondness for this young man, who is my son--should prove
nothing but self-delusion--yet I love him now.... Do you understand me,
Sala? I love him, and all I ask is that he may believe it before I must
lose him forever....
[_It grows dark. The two men pass across the terrace and enter the
drawing-room. The stage stands empty a little while. In the meantime
the wind has risen somewhat. Johanna enters by the avenue of trees from
the right and goes past the pool toward the terrace. The windows of the
drawing-room are illumined. Sala has seated himself at a table. The
valet enters the room and serves him a glass of wine. Johanna stops.
She is apparently much excited. Then she ascends two of the steps to
the terrace. Sala seems to hear a noise and turns his head slightly.
When she sees this, Johanna hurries down again and stops beside the
pool. There she stands looking down into the water._
CURTAIN
THE FIFTH ACT
_The garden at the Wegrats'._
REUMANN (_sits at a small table and writes something in his notebook_)
JULIAN (_enters quickly by way of the veranda_)
Is it true, Doctor?
REUMANN (_rising_)
Yes, it's true.
JULIAN
She has disappeared?
REUMANN
Yes, she has disappeared. She has been gone since yesterday afternoon.
She has left no word behind, and she has taken nothing at all with
her--she has simply gone away and never returned.
JULIAN
But what can have happened to her?
REUMANN
We have not been able to guess even. Perhaps she has lost her way and
will come back. Or she has suddenly made up her mind--if we only knew
to what!
JULIAN
Where are the others?
REUMANN
We agreed to meet here again at ten. I visited the various hospitals
and other places where it might be possible to find some trace.... I
suppose the professor has made a report to the police by this time.
FELIX (_enters quickly_)
Nothing new?
REUMANN
Nothing.
JULIAN (_shakes hands with Felix_)
REUMANN
From where do you come?
FELIX
I went to see Mr. von Sala.
REUMANN
Why?
FELIX
I thought it rather possible that he might have a suspicion, or be able
to give us some kind of direction. But he knows nothing at all. That
was perfectly clear. And if he had known anything--had known anything
definite--he would have told me. I am sure of that. He was still in bed
when I called on him. I suppose he thought I had come about my own
matter. When he heard that Johanna had disappeared, he turned very
pale.... But he doesn't know anything.
WEGRAT (_enters_)
Anything?
[_All the others shake their heads. Julian presses his hand._
WEGRAT (_sitting down_)
They asked me to give more details, something more tangible to go by.
But what is there to give?... I have nothing.... The whole thing is a
riddle to me. (_Turning to Julian_) In the afternoon she went out for a
short walk as usual.... (_To Felix_) Was there anything about her that
attracted attention?... It seems quite impossible to me that she could
have had anything in mind when she left the house--that she could know
already--that she was going away forever.
FELIX
Perhaps though....
WEGRAT
Of course, she was very reserved--especially of late, since the death
of her mother.... I wonder if it could be that?... Would you think that
possible, Doctor?
REUMANN (_shrugs his shoulders_)
FELIX
Did any one of us really know her? And who takes a real interest in
another person anyhow?
REUMANN
It is apparently fortunate that such is the case. Otherwise we should
all go mad from pity or loathing or anxiety. (_Pause_) Now I must get
around to my patients. There are a few calls that cannot be postponed.
I shall be back by dinner-time. Good-by for a while. (_He goes out_)
WEGRAT
To think that you can watch a young creature like her grow up--can see
the child turn into girl, and then into a young lady--can speak
hundreds of thousands of words to her.... And one day she rises from
the table, puts on hat and coat, and goes ... and you have no idea as
to whether she has slipped away--if into nothingness or into a new
life.
FELIX
But whatever may have happened, father--she wanted to get away from us.
And in that fact, I think, we should find a certain consolation.
WEGRAT (_shakes his head in perplexity_)
Everything is fluttering away--willingly or unwillingly--but away it
goes.
FELIX
Father, we can't tell what may have happened. It's conceivable, at
least, that Johanna may have formed some decision which she does not
carry out. Perhaps she will come back in a few hours, or days.
WEGRAT
You believe ... you think it possible, do you?
FELIX
Possible--yes. But if she shouldn't come--of course, father, I shall
give up the plan of which I told you yesterday. Under circumstances
like these I couldn't think of going so far away from you for such a
long time.
WEGRAT (_to Julian_)
And now he's going to sacrifice himself for my sake!
FELIX
Perhaps I could arrange to have myself transferred here.
WEGRAT
No, Felix, you know very well that I couldn't accept such a thing.
FELIX
But it's no sacrifice. I assure you, father, that I stay with you only
because I _can't_ go away from you now.
WEGRAT
Oh, yes, Felix, you can--you will be able. And you are not to stay here
for my sake--you mustn't. I could never be sure that it would prove of
any help to me to have you give up a plan which you have taken hold of
with such enthusiasm. I think it would be inexcusable of you to draw
back, and wicked of me to permit it. You must be happy at having found
a way at last, by which you may reach all you have longed for. It makes
me happy, too, Felix. If you missed this opportunity, you would regret
it all your life.
FELIX
But so much may have changed since yesterday--such a tremendous
lot--for you and for me.
WEGRAT
For me, perhaps.... But never mind. I won't stand it--I will not accept
such a sacrifice. Of course, I might accept it, if I could find it of
any special advantage to myself. But I shouldn't have you any more than
if you were gone away ... less ... not at all. This fate that has
descended on us must not add to its inherent power what is still
worse--that it makes us do in our confusion what is against our own
natures. Sometime we always get over every disaster, no matter how
frightful it be. But whatever we do in violation of our innermost
selves can never be undone. (_Turning to Julian_) Isn't that true,
Julian?
JULIAN
You are absolutely right.
FELIX
Thanks, father. I feel grateful that you make it so easy for me to
agree with you.
WEGRAT
That's good, Felix.... During the weeks you will remain in Europe we
shall be able to talk over a lot of things--more perhaps than in the
years gone by. Indeed, how little people know about each other!... But
I am getting tired. We stayed awake all night.
FELIX
Won't you rest a while, father?
WEGRAT
Rest.... You'll stay at home, Felix, won't you?
FELIX
Yes, I shall wait right here. What else is there to do?
WEGRAT
I'm racking my brain until it's near bursting.... Why didn't she say
anything to me? Why have I known so little about her? Why have I kept
so far away from her? (_He goes out_)
FELIX
How that man has been belied--all his life long--by all of us.
JULIAN
There is in this world no sin, no crime, no deception, that cannot be
atoned. Only for what has happened here, there should be no expiation
and no forgetfulness, you think?
FELIX
Can it be possible that you don't understand?... Here a lie has been
eternalized. There is no getting away from it. And she who did it was
my mother--and it was you who made her do it--and the lie am I, and
such I must remain as long as I am passing for that which I am not.
JULIAN
Let us proclaim the truth then, Felix.--I shall face any judge that you
may choose, and submit to any verdict passed on me.--Must I alone
remain condemned forever? Should I alone, among all that have erred,
never dare to say: "It is atoned"?
FELIX
It is too late. Guilt can be wiped out by confession only while the
guilty one is still able to make restitution. You ought to know
yourself, that this respite expired long ago.
SALA (_enters_)
FELIX
Mr. von Sala!--Have you anything to tell us?
SALA
Yes.--Good morning, Julian.--No, stay, Julian. I am glad to have a
witness. (_To Felix_) Are you determined to join the expedition?
FELIX
I am.
SALA
So am I. But it is possible that one of us must change his mind.
FELIX
Mr. von Sala...?
SALA
It would be a bad thing to risk finding out that you have started on a
journey of such scope with one whom you would prefer to shoot dead if
you knew him completely.
FELIX
Where is my sister, Mr. von Sala?
SALA
I don't know. Where she is at this moment, I don't know. But last
evening, just before you arrived, she had left me for the last time.
FELIX
Mr. von Sala....
SALA
Her farewell words to me were: Until to-morrow. You can see that I had
every reason to be surprised this morning, when you appeared at my
house. Permit me furthermore to tell you, that yesterday, of all days,
I asked Johanna to become my wife--which seemed to agitate her very
much. In telling you this, I have by no means the intention of
smoothing over things. For my question implied no desire on my part to
make good any wrong I might have done. It was apparently nothing but a
whim--like so much else. There is here no question of anything but to
let you know the truth. This means that I am at your disposal in any
manner you may choose.--I thought it absolutely necessary to say all
this before we were brought to the point of having to descend into the
depths of the earth together, or, perhaps, to sleep in the same tent.
FELIX (_after a long pause_)
Mr. von Sala ... we shall not have to sleep in the same tent.
SALA
Why not?
FELIX
Your journey will not last that long.
[_A very long pause ensues._
SALA
Oh ... I understand. And are you sure of that?
FELIX
Perfectly. (_Pause_}
SALA
And did Johanna know it?
FELIX
Yes.
SALA
I thank you.--Oh, you can safely take my hand. The matter has been
settled in the most chivalrous manner possible.--Well?... It is not
customary to refuse one's hand to him who is already down.
FELIX (_gives his hand to Sala; then he says_)
And where can she be?
SALA
I don't know.
FELIX
Didn't she give you any hint at all?
SALA
None whatever.
FELIX
But have you no conjecture? Has she perhaps established any
connections--abroad? Had she any friends at all, of which I don't know?
SALA
Not to my knowledge.
FELIX
Do you think that she is still alive?
SALA
I can't tell.
FELIX
Are you not _willing_ to say anything more, Mr. von Sala?
SALA
I am not _able_ to say anything more. I have nothing left to say.
Farewell, and good luck on your trip. Give my regards to Count Ronsky.
FELIX
But we are not seeing each other for the last time?
SALA
Who can tell?
FELIX (_holding out his hand to Sala_)
I must hurry to my father. I think it my duty to let him know what I
have just learned from you.
SALA (_nods_)